bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Optimizing the Production-Living-Ecological Space for Reducing the Ecosystem Services Deficit
Authors: Fu Xinxin , Wang Xiaofeng , Zhou Jitao , Ma Jiahao
Published: September 2021

With rapid urbanization and industrialization, China’s metropolises have undergone a huge shift in land use, which has had a profound impact on the ecological environment. Accordingly, the contradictions between regional production, living, and ecological spaces have intensified. The study of the optimization of production-living-ecological space (PLES) is crucial for the sustainable use of land resources and regional socio-economic development. However, research on the optimization of land patterns based on PLES is still being explored, and a unified technical framework for integrated optimization has yet to be developed. Ecosystem services (ES), as a bridge between people and nature, provide a vehicle for the interlinking of elements of the human-land system coupling. The integration of ES supply and demand into ecosystem assessments can enhance the policy relevance and practical application of the ES concept in land management and is also conducive to achieving ecological security and safeguarding human well-being. In this study, an integrated framework comprising four core steps was developed to optimize the PLES in such a way that all ecosystem services are in surplus as far as possible. It was also applied to a case study in the middle and lower reaches of the Yellow River Basin. A regression analysis between ES and PLES was used to derive equilibrium thresholds for the supply and demand of ES. The ternary phase diagram method was used to determine the direction and magnitude of the optimization of the PLES, and finally, the corresponding optimization recommendations were made at different scales.
Evaluating the Efficiency of DNA Metabarcoding to Analyze the Diet of Hippocampus guttulatus (Teleostea: Syngnathidae)
Authors: Lazic Tamara , Pierri Cataldo , Corriero Giuseppe , Balech Bachir , Cardone Frine , Deflorio Michele , Fosso Bruno , Gissi Carmela , Marzano Marinella , Nonnis Marzano Francesco , Pesole Graziano , Santamaria Monica , Gristina Michele
Published: September 2021

Seahorses are considered a flagship species for conservation efforts and due to their conservation status, improving knowledge on their dietary composition while applying a non-invasive approach, could be useful. Using Hippocampus guttulatus as a case study, the present study represents pioneering research into investigating the diet of seahorses by NGS-based DNA metabarcoding of fecal samples. The study developed and tested the protocol for fecal DNA metabarcoding during the feeding trials where captive seahorses were fed on a diet of known composition; the process was subsequently applied on fecal samples collected from wild individuals. The analysis of samples collected during the feeding trials indicated the reliability of the applied molecular approach by allowing the characterization of the effectively ingested prey. In the field study, among detected prey species, results revealed that the majority of the seahorse samples contained taxa such as Amphipoda, Decapoda, Isopoda, and Calanoida, while less common prey taxa were Gastropoda and Polyplacophora. As only a small amount of starting fecal material is needed and the sampling procedure is neither invasive nor lethal. The present study indicates DNA metabarcoding as useful for investigating seahorse diet and could help define management and conservation actions.
Modelling the Process of Production of Diesel Fuels by the Use of Generalized Nets
Authors: Stratiev Danail Dichev , Stratiev Dicho , Atanassov Krassimir
Published: September 2021

The process of commodity diesel fuel production in a refinery has been modelled by the use of the Generalized Net (GN) apparatus. GNs are extensions of Petri nets and of all their modifications and extensions. The model accounts for the orders of different grades of diesel fuel and the available amounts of the different diesel fuel components. It can be used for the synchronization and optimization of these processes.
An Analytical Solution to the Problem of Hydrogen Isotope Passage through Composite Membranes Made from 2D Materials
Authors: Bubenchikov Alexey Mikhailovich , Bubenchikov Mikhail Alekseevich , Chelnokova Anna Sergeevna , Jambaa Soninbayar
Published: September 2021

An analytical solution to the problem of wave transport of matter through composite hyper-fine barriers is constructed. It is shown that, for a composite membrane consisting of two identical ultra-thin layers, there are always distances between the layers at which the resonant passage of one of the components is realized. Resonance makes it possible to separate de Broiler waves of particles with the same properties, which differ only in masses. Broad bands of hyper-selective separation of a hydrogen isotope mixture are found at the temperature of 40 K.
Deep Modeling of Regulating Effects of Small Molecules on Longevity-Associated Genes
Authors: You Jiaying , Hsing Michael , Cherkasov Artem
Published: September 2021

Aging is considered an inevitable process that causes deleterious effects in the functioning and appearance of cells, tissues, and organs. Recent emergence of large-scale gene expression datasets and significant advances in machine learning techniques have enabled drug repurposing efforts in promoting longevity. In this work, we further developed our previous approach—DeepCOP, a quantitative chemogenomic model that predicts gene regulating effects, and extended its application across multiple cell lines presented in LINCS to predict aging gene regulating effects induced by small molecules. As a result, a quantitative chemogenomic Deep Model was trained using gene ontology labels, molecular fingerprints, and cell line descriptors to predict gene expression responses to chemical perturbations. Other state-of-the-art machine learning approaches were also evaluated as benchmarks. Among those, the deep neural network (DNN) classifier has top-ranked known drugs with beneficial effects on aging genes, and some of these drugs were previously shown to promote longevity, illustrating the potential utility of this methodology. These results further demonstrate the capability of “hybrid” chemogenomic models, incorporating quantitative descriptors from biomarkers to capture cell specific drug–gene interactions. Such models can therefore be used for discovering drugs with desired gene regulatory effects associated with longevity.
Analysis of New RGB Vegetation Indices for PHYVV and TMV Identification in Jalapeño Pepper (Capsicum annuum) Leaves Using CNNs-Based Model
Authors: Yee-Rendon Arturo , Torres-Pacheco Irineo , Trujillo-Lopez Angelica Sarahy , Romero-Bringas Karen Paola , Millan-Almaraz Jesus Roberto
Published: September 2021

Recently, deep-learning techniques have become the foundations for many breakthroughs in the automated identification of plant diseases. In the agricultural sector, many recent visual-computer approaches use deep-learning models. In this approach, a novel predictive analytics methodology to identify Tobacco Mosaic Virus (TMV) and Pepper Huasteco Yellow Vein Virus (PHYVV) visual symptoms on Jalapeño pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) leaves by using image-processing and deep-learning classification models is presented. The proposed image-processing approach is based on the utilization of Normalized Red-Blue Vegetation Index (NRBVI) and Normalized Green-Blue Vegetation Index (NGBVI) as new RGB-based vegetation indices, and its subsequent Jet pallet colored version NRBVI-Jet NGBVI-Jet as pre-processing algorithms. Furthermore, four standard pre-trained deep-learning architectures, Visual Geometry Group-16 (VGG-16), Xception, Inception v3, and MobileNet v2, were implemented for classification purposes. The objective of this methodology was to find the most accurate combination of vegetation index pre-processing algorithms and pre-trained deep- learning classification models. Transfer learning was applied to fine tune the pre-trained deep- learning models and data augmentation was also applied to prevent the models from overfitting. The performance of the models was evaluated using Top-1 accuracy, precision, recall, and F1-score using test data. The results showed that the best model was an Xception-based model that uses the NGBVI dataset. This model reached an average Top-1 test accuracy of 98.3%. A complete analysis of the different vegetation index representations using models based on deep-learning architectures is presented along with the study of the learning curves of these deep-learning models during the training phase.
Cytological Study of Cypripedium japonicum Thunb. (Orchidaceae Juss.): An Endangered Species from Korea
Authors: Choi Bokyung , Gang Geun-Hye , Kim Hyeonjin , Byun Hyejoo , Kwak Minyeong , So Soonku , Myeong Hyeon-Ho , Jang Tae-Soo
Published: September 2021

Changes in chromosome number and karyotype evolution are important to plant diversification, as they are both major drivers of speciation processes. Herein, chromosome number, karyotype, and genome size of the Korean lady’s slipper orchid Cypripedium japonicum Thunb., an endangered species, were investigated in natural populations. Furthermore, all cytological data from this species are reported herein for the first time. The chromosome number of all investigated C. japonicum plants was diploid (2n = 2x = 22), with x = 11 as base chromosome number, whereby the species can now be clearly distinguished from the Japanese lady’s slipper orchid. The karyotypes of all studied individuals were of similar length, symmetrical, and rather unimodal. Flow cytometry of the C. japonicum revealed that the genome size ranged from 28.38 to 30.14 pg/1C. Data on chromosome number and karyotypes were largely consistent with previous results indicating that Korean (x = 11) populations of C. japonicum are more closely related to Chinese populations (x = 11) compared to Japanese (x = 10) populations. These comprehensive cytological results will benefit the efforts to discriminate the geographically isolated and endangered Eastern Asian (China, Japan, and Korea) lady’s slipper orchid species.
Multiresolution Forecasting for Industrial Applications
Authors: Stier Quirin , Gehlert Tino , Thrun Michael C.
Published: September 2021

The forecasting of univariate time series poses challenges in industrial applications if the seasonality varies. Typically, a non-varying seasonality of a time series is treated with a model based on Fourier theory or the aggregation of forecasts from multiple resolution levels. If the seasonality changes with time, various wavelet approaches for univariate forecasting are proposed with promising potential but without accessible software or a systematic evaluation of different wavelet models compared to state-of-the-art methods. In contrast, the advantage of the specific multiresolution forecasting proposed here is the convenience of a swiftly accessible implementation in R and Python combined with coefficient selection through evolutionary optimization which is evaluated in four different applications: scheduling of a call center, planning electricity demand, and predicting stocks and prices. The systematic benchmarking is based on out-of-sample forecasts resulting from multiple cross-validations with the error measure MASE and SMAPE for which the error distribution of each method and dataset is estimated and visualized with the mirrored density plot. The multiresolution forecasting performs equal to or better than twelve comparable state-of-the-art methods but does not require users to set parameters contrary to prior wavelet forecasting frameworks. This makes the method suitable for industrial applications.
Theoretical and Experimental Analysis of Dynamic Characteristics for a Valve Train System
Authors: Hu Bo , Li Yunzhe , Yin Lairong
Published: September 2021

The valve train is one of the main sources of engine vibration, and its dynamic performance is crucial for output power and fuel consumption. The flexibilities of slender bars and beams should be emphasised in the design of valve trains to develop high-power and high-speed engines with industrial applications. A flexible dynamic model of a valve train system is proposed. In the proposed model, the components, except the cam and gear bodies, are modelled as flexible bodies with multidirectional deformations. The gyroscopic effects of the camshaft, cams and gear discs are also considered to predict dynamic responses at high speeds accurately. Gear meshing, the friction of the cam–tappet pair, the centrifugal force of the cams and valve clearance are also considered. Experiments on housing vibration and pushrod stress are conducted to validate the proposed model. Results show that the proposed model can predict the dynamic stress of the flexible components well and predict the trend shown by the housing vibration. The proposed model shows that excessive cam rotation speed and valve clearance will cause intense bounce and jump phenomena. The proposed model can be an important reference for designing engine work speed, adjusting valve clearance and improving component durability.
A Novel Analytical Design Technique for a Wideband Wilkinson Power Divider Using Dual-Band Topology
Authors: Omi Asif I. , Islam Rakibul , Maktoomi Mohammad A. , Zakzewski Christine , Sekhar Praveen
Published: September 2021

In this paper, a novel analytical design technique is presented to implement a coupled-line wideband Wilkinson power divider (WPD). The configuration of the WPD is comprised of three distinct coupled-line and three isolation resistors. A comprehensive theoretical analysis is conducted to arrive at a set of completely new and rigorous design equations utilizing the dual-band behavior of commensurate transmission lines. Further, the corresponding S-parameters equations are also derived, which determine the wideband capability of the proposed WPD. To validate the proposed design concept, a prototype working at the resonance frequencies of 0.9 GHz and 1.8 GHz is designed and fabricated using 60 mils thick Rogers’ RO4003C substrate. The measured result of the fabricated prototype exhibits an excellent input return loss > 16.4 dB, output return loss > 15 dB, insertion loss < 3.30 dB and a remarkable isolation > 22 dB within the band and with a 15 dB and 10 dB references provide a fractional bandwidth of 110% and 141%, respectively.
Simulation-Based Resilience Quantification of an Indoor Ultrasound Localization System in the Presence of Disruptions
Authors: Jain Aishvarya Kumar , Schott Dominik Jan , Scheithauer Hermann , Häring Ivo , Höflinger Fabian , Fischer Georg , Habets Emanuël A. P. , Gelhausen Patrick , Schindelhauer Christian , Rupitsch Stefan Johann
Published: September 2021

Time difference of arrival (TDOA) based indoor ultrasound localization systems are prone to multiple disruptions and demand reliable, and resilient position accuracy during operation. In this challenging context, a missing link to evaluate the performance of such systems is a simulation approach to test their robustness in the presence of disruptions. This approach cannot only replace experiments in early phases of development but could also be used to study susceptibility, robustness, response, and recovery in case of disruptions. The paper presents a simulation framework for a TDOA-based indoor ultrasound localization system and ways to introduce different types of disruptions. This framework can be used to test the performance of TDOA-based localization algorithms in the presence of disruptions. Resilience quantification results are presented for representative disruptions. Based on these quantities, it is found that localization with arc-tangent cost function is approximately 30% more resilient than the linear cost function. The simulation approach is shown to apply to resilience engineering and can be used to increase the efficiency and quality of indoor localization methods.
Techniques for In Situ Monitoring the Performance of Organic Coatings and Their Applicability to the Pre-Finished Steel Industry: A Review
Authors: Savill Tim , Jewell Eifion
Published: September 2021

A review is carried out in this paper into techniques that currently exist for, of have the potential to be used for, monitoring the performance of organic coating. Specific attention is paid to the applicability of each method to pre-finished steel used in the construction industry as these are rarely monitored in situ and their expected performance is often only estimated from lab-based accelerated corrosion testing. Monitoring could allow more accurate estimates of building cladding lifespan and required maintenance schedules; provide customers with active performance data; additionally, with a better understanding of performance, more appropriate coatings or coating weights could be selected for a construction project, offering economic benefits as part of smart building developments. An introduction to coatings, their use for corrosion protection, failure mechanisms, and relevant monitoring techniques is given before current assessment techniques are described in terms of their working principles. Examples of recent work are presented for the techniques that have been investigated for monitoring or directly relatable purposes. The review concludes that there are several good reasons why an optimum corrosion monitoring technology does not currently exist, however, promising research is emerging in the field of wireless and embedded sensor design which is providing optimistic results.
The Impact of Corporate Governance Mechanism over Financial Performance: Evidence from Romania
Authors: Dănescu Tatiana , Spătăcean Ioan-Ovidiu , Popa Maria-Alexandra , Sîrbu Carmen-Gabriela
Published: September 2021

In the context of the globalization and internationalization of economies, to efficiently attract financial and intellectual capital that is necessary for business sustainability, the mechanisms of corporate governance have to be based on gaining the trust of all the interested parties. These objectives require an organizational culture and a climate which is based on correctness, responsibility, transparency, and efficiency, in which ethical principles govern the spread of behaviors in the entire entity. This research identifies the relation between the corporate governance and the entities’ financial performance using the specific context of Romania. The findings of this study reveal new insights on the corporate governance and financial performance based on a sample of companies listed on the Bucharest Stock Exchange. The results show a positive correlation between the net accounting results, earnings per share, and the duality of the CEO, and a negative correlation between price per share and the duality of the CEO.
Blockchain-Enabled Supply Chain Traceability in the Textile and Apparel Supply Chain: A Case Study of the Fiber Producer, Lenzing
Authors: Ahmed Wafaa A. H. , MacCarthy Bart L.
Published: September 2021

Supply chain traceability is a dominant concern for many industries, regulators, and policymakers. In the textile and apparel industries, social, environmental, and sustainability issues are frequent causes for concern, highlighting the need for effective traceability solutions. Blockchain technology has characteristics that make it attractive for supply chain traceability applications. However, the literature lacks discussion of empirical cases. We discuss current blockchain applications in the textile and apparel industries and analyze an exemplar of a prominent blockchain traceability solution adopted by a world-leading fiber producer, the Lenzing group. In this study, we identify two related objectives for traceability-product authentication and supply chain sustainability. The case study analysis has stimulated a rich discussion about the different levels of traceability achievable across the supply chain, the digital identification of products, and the extension of blockchain solutions across the whole supply network. Significant technical and business challenges exist in extending traceability to the upstream raw material supply chain and to the dispersed garment manufacturing networks downstream. More broadly, the study highlights the need to (1) clarify the objectives of a traceability initiative, and (2) scope a traceability solution appropriately, both horizontally across the supply chain and vertically with respect to the granularity of the items traced.
Sustainable Water Use Practices: Understanding and Awareness of Masters Level Students
Authors: Hunt Dexter V. L. , Shahab Zeerak
Published: September 2021

Present water consumption in the UK is unsustainable, with increasing societal and environmental pressures driving water stress. Personal use of water is a significant contributor to water demand and considering the number of universities and students in the UK the water use practices therein cannot be ignored. Therefore, this paper aims to deepen the theme of water consumption in the United Kingdom from the point of view of use practices for students. The originality in this research lies in better understanding whether UK Masters level students have a basic awareness of personal water consumption and water pricing and whether they have a preferred approach to reducing their water consumption—through a behavioral change, or through adoption of technologies. Through use of a questionnaire approach applied to five cohorts (2017 to 2021) of Masters level students, the level of understanding and awareness towards their own domestic water use both now and in the future was demonstrated. Key findings suggest that Masters students underestimated their water use by 76% compared to the average UK national range and that there was an overall preference to adopt water saving technologies rather than changing user behavior (40% vs. 27%). The study concludes that it is important to approach water conservation from an SPT perspective in order to achieve meaningful change in water use practices. Qualitative and quantitative research is analyzed in light of theoretical models (i.e., Social Practice and Attitude Behavior Framework ABC) in order to make recommendations for greater societal prominence for this issue through media and education.
Understanding the Spatiotemporal Pattern of Crimes in Changchun, China: A Bayesian Modeling Approach
Authors: Liu Daqian , Song Wei , Xiu Chunliang , Xu Jun
Published: September 2021

Chinese cities have been undergoing extraordinary changes in many respects during the process of urbanization, which has caused crime patterns to evolve accordingly. This research applies a Bayesian spatiotemporal model to explore and understand the spatiotemporal patterns of crime risk from 2008 to 2017 in Changchun, China. The overall temporal trend of crime risk, the effects of land use covariates, spatial random effects, and area-specific differential trends are estimated through a Bayesian spatiotemporal model fitted using the Integrated Nested Laplace Approximation (INLA). The analytical results show that the regression coefficient for the overall temporal trend of crime risk changed from significantly positive to negative after the land use variables are incorporated into the Bayesian spatiotemporal model. The covariates of road density, commercial and recreational land per capita, residential land per capita, and industrial land per capita are found to be significantly associated with crime risk, which relates to classic theories in environmental criminology. In addition, some areas still exhibit significantly increasing crime risks compared with the general trend even after controlling for the land use covariates and the spatial random effects, which may provide insights for law enforcement and researchers regarding where more attention is required since there may be some unmeasured factors causing higher crime trend in these areas.
Sustainable Finance and the 2030 Agenda: Investing to Transform the World
Authors: Miralles-Quirós María Mar , Miralles-Quirós José Luis
Published: September 2021

On 25 September 2015, the member states of the United Nations approved an initiative in New York called “Transforming our world: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development” [...]
Cognitive and Functional Differences in Aging with and without Intellectual Disabilities: Observational Study
Authors: Tena-Bernal Olga , Sánchez-Peña Marta , Gómez-Cabello Alba , Salavera Carlos , Usán Pablo , Calatayud Estela
Published: September 2021

The lifespan of people with cognitive disabilities (ID) has increased significantly, but the cognitive aspects together with the functional ones comparing normal aging and those with intellectual disabilities had not been previously studied. Objective: This study analyzed the cognitive and functional differences in older adults aging with ID (and with DS), compared with their peers without disabilities, in order to identify the most adapted interventions. Methodology: This study evaluated the outcome variables of MEC, Set-Test, Barthel, Lawton–Brody, and Tinetti with 247 participants: 146 without ID and 101 ID (29 with DS and 72 without DS). Results: At the cognitive level, older people with ID presented lower scores both in MEC (p < 0.01), globally and in each cognitive domain (except in short-term memory), and in verbal fluency (Set-Test) than older people without ID; however, the diagnosis of cognitive impairment and dementia is higher in people without ID. At the functional level, there are no differences in ABDL, but there are in AIDL and Tinetti (p < 0.01), where participants without ID obtain higher scores. The most frequent pathologies in people with ID were obesity and epilepsy. Conclusions: The lower cognitive and functional performance in ID is associated with the disability itself, the low educational level, the neurocognitive underdiagnosis, and the use of poorly adapted assessment tools. The cognitive and functional results indicated the importance of interventions adapted to the characteristics of this population, in their aging process.
A Model Based System Commissioning Approach for Nuclear Facilities
Authors: Gaignebet Alan , Chapurlat Vincent , Zacharewicz Gregory , Richet Victor , Plana Robert
Published: September 2021

Commissioning is considered as a critical phase in the delivery of a Nuclear Facility (NF) as it is the first stage in the authorization of the NF to be exploited. Most of the nuclear projects start to overrun costs during commissioning mainly since this phase is not addressed properly and is affected by many issues from previous phases (Design, Procurement, and Construction). This article proposes a general methodology to prepare and realize the commissioning activities. Using models to do so improves communication and removes ambiguities between stakeholders. It also formalizes and clarifies the commissioning organization and activities prior to any implementation. It also allows for capitalizing and sharing the experience from previous projects, by drawing references models and good practices patterns. The so-called Model Based commissioning method is elaborated around concepts, languages, processes, tools, and patterns inspired from Model Based System Engineering (MBSE) principles and practices. The theoretical foundations will be supported by results from nuclear facilities demonstrating the added value.
Enabling Socio-Ecological Resilience in the Global South: Insights from Chennai, India
Authors: Tajuddin Nilofer , Dąbrowski Marcin
Published: September 2021

Addressing climate change adaptation in the cities of the Global South is crucial as they are the most at risk and, arguably, the least capable of coping with it due to their rapid expansion, informal development, and limited institutional capacity. This paper explores this challenge in the case of Chennai, India, a city which, in recent years, has faced several climate related disasters, including floods. Building on an innovative combination of research methods (policy documents analysis, stakeholder interviews, and a community workshop), the study analyses the barriers and explores potentials for operationalising socio-ecological resilience in Chennai in the face of an ongoing conflict between rapid urbanisation and the natural water system, compromising the region’s hydrological capacity and resilience to flooding. In particular, drawing on the notion of evolutionary resilience and multi-level approach, the paper investigates (1) the scope for developing an integrated vision for resilience of the Chennai region (macro level); (2) the presence and the capacity of institutions to connect the different stakeholders and mediate their interests (meso level); and (3) the barriers and potentials developing local adaptation strategies in a bottom-up manner (micro level). The study sheds light on the under-researched issue of socio-ecological resilience in Chennai, while identifying potentials for implementing it through a combination of top down and bottom-up approaches, which in turn provides useful lessons for planning for resilience in other cities in the Global South.
Effects of Depth-Based Object Isolation in Simulated Retinal Prosthetic Vision
Authors: Avraham David , Yitzhaky Yitzhak
Published: September 2021

Visual retinal prostheses aim to restore vision for blind individuals who suffer from outer retinal degenerative diseases, such as retinitis pigmentosa and age-related macular degeneration. Perception through retinal prostheses is very limited, but it can be improved by applying object isolation. We used an object isolation algorithm based on integral imaging to isolate objects of interest according to their depth from the camera and applied image processing manipulation to the isolated-object images. Subsequently, we applied a spatial prosthetic vision simulation that converted the isolated-object images to phosphene images. We compared the phosphene images for two types of input images, the original image (before applying object isolation), and the isolated-object image to illustrate the effects of object isolation on simulated prosthetic vision without and with multiple spatial variations of phosphenes, such as size and shape variations, spatial shifts, and dropout rate. The results show an improvement in the perceived shape, contrast, and dynamic range (number of gray levels) of objects in the phosphene image.
On the Solutions of the b-Family of Novikov Equation
Authors: Wang Tingting , Han Xuanxuan , Lu Yibin
Published: September 2021

In this paper, we study the symmetric travelling wave solutions of the b-family of the Novikov equation. We show that the b-family of the Novikov equation can provide symmetric travelling wave solutions, such as peakon, kink and smooth soliton solutions. In particular, the single peakon, two-peakon, stationary kink, anti-kink, two-kink, two-anti-kink, bell-shape soliton and hat-shape soliton solutions are presented in an explicit formula.
Modelling the Renal Excretion of the Mycotoxin Deoxynivalenol in Humans in an Everyday Situation
Authors: van den Brand Annick D. , Hoogenveen Rudolf , Mengelers Marcel J. B. , Zeilmaker Marco , Eriksen Gunnar S. , Uhlig Silvio , Brantsæter Anne Lise , Dirven Hubert A. A. M. , Husøy Trine
Published: September 2021

The dietary exposure to the mycotoxin deoxynivalenol (DON) can be assessed by human biomonitoring (HBM). Here, we assessed the relation between dietary DON intake and the excretion of its major metabolite DON-15-glucuronide (DON15GlcA) through time, in an everyday situation. For 49 volunteers from the EuroMix biomonitoring study, the intake of DON from each meal was calculated and the excretion of DON and its metabolites was analyzed for each urine void collected separately throughout a 24-h period. The relation between DON and DON15GlcA was analyzed with a statistical model to assess the residence time and the excreted fraction of ingested DON as DON15GlcA (fabs_excr). Fabs_excr was treated as a random effect variable to address its heterogeneity in the population. The estimated time in which 97.5% of the ingested DON was excreted as DON15GlcA was 12.1 h, the elimination half-life was 4.0 h. Based on the estimated fabs_excr, the mean reversed dosimetry factor (RDF) of DON15GlcA was 2.28. This RDF can be used to calculate the amount of total DON intake in an everyday situation, based on the excreted amount of DON15GlcA. We show that urine samples collected over 24 h are the optimal design to study DON exposure by HBM.
Phage Treatment Trial to Eradicate LA-MRSA from Healthy Carrier Pigs
Authors: Tuomala Henni , Verkola Marie , Meller Anna , Van der Auwera Jasper , Patpatia Sheetal , Järvinen Asko , Skurnik Mikael , Heikinheimo Annamari , Kiljunen Saija
Published: September 2021

The increase of livestock-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (LA-MRSA) causes a threat to human health. LA-MRSA can be transmitted from animals to animal caretakers, which may further spread MRSA to communities and health care facilities. The objective of this work was to study the efficacy of phage treatment in the eradication of LA-MRSA from healthy carrier pigs. A total of 19 MRSA -positive weanling pigs were assigned to a test (n = 10) and a control group (n = 9). A phage cocktail containing three Staphylococcus phages, or a control buffer was administered to the nares and skin of the pigs three times every two days, after which the phage and MRSA levels in nasal and skin swab samples were monitored for a three-week period. The sensitivity of the strains isolated during the follow-up period to the phage cocktail and each phage individually was analyzed and the pig sera were tested for antibodies against the phages used in the cocktail. The phage treatment did not cause any side effects to the pigs. Phages were found in the skin and nasal samples on the days following the phage applications, but there was no reduction in the MRSA levels in the sampled animals. Phage-resistant strains or phage-specific antibodies were not detected during the experiment. The MRSA load in these healthy carrier animals was only 10–100 CFU/swab or nasal sample, which was likely below the replication threshold of phages. The effectiveness of phage treatment to eradicate MRSA from the pigs could thus not be (reliably) determined.
Optimisation of Neuraminidase Expression for Use in Drug Discovery by Using HEK293-6E Cells
Authors: Campbell Ashley C. , Tanner John J. , Krause Kurt L.
Published: September 2021

Influenza virus is a highly contagious virus that causes significant human mortality and morbidity annually. The most effective drugs for treating influenza are the neuraminidase inhibitors, but resistance to these inhibitors has emerged, and additional drug discovery research on neuraminidase and other targets is needed. Traditional methods of neuraminidase production from embryonated eggs are cumbersome, while insect cell derived protein is less reflective of neuraminidase produced during human infection. Herein we describe a method for producing neuraminidase from a human cell line, HEK293-6E, and demonstrate the method by producing the neuraminidase from the 1918 H1N1 pandemic influenza strain. This method produced high levels of soluble neuraminidase expression (>3000 EU/mL), was enhanced by including a secretion signal from a viral chemokine binding protein, and does not require co-expression of additional proteins. The neuraminidase produced was of sufficient quantity and purity to support high resolution crystal structure determination. The structure solved using this protein conformed to the previously reported structure. Notably the glycosylation at three asparagine residues was superior in quality to that from insect cell derived neuraminidase. This method of production of neuraminidase should prove useful in further studies, such as the characterisation of inhibitor binding.
Phage Therapy Experience at the Eliava Phage Therapy Center: Three Cases of Bacterial Persistence
Authors: Zaldastanishvili Elisabed , Leshkasheli Lika , Dadiani Mariam , Nadareishvili Lia , Askilashvili Lia , Kvatadze Nino , Goderdzishvili Marina , Kutateladze Mzia , Balarjishvili Nana
Published: September 2021

In this retrospective descriptive study we focus on cases of three patients who underwent phage therapy procedures at Eliava Phage Therapy Center (EPTC) in Tbilisi, Georgia. Patients with chronic infectious diseases related to Pseudomonas aeruginosa (two patients, lower respiratory tract infection (LRTI)) and Klebsiella pneumoniae (one patient, urinary tract infection (UTI)) are among those very few EPTC patients whose pathogens persisted through phage therapy. By looking at bacterial strains and personalized phages used against them we tried to point towards possible adaptation strategies that are employed by these pathogens. Genome restriction-based Pulsed Field Gel Electrophoresis (PFGE) profiling of strains isolated before and after phage therapy hints towards two strategies of adaptation. In one patient case (Pseudomonas aeruginosa related lung infection) bacterial strains before and after phage therapy were indistinguishable according to their PFGE profiles, but differed in their phage susceptibility properties. On the other hand, in two other patient cases (Pseudomonas aeruginosa related LRTI and Klebsiella pneumoniae related UTI) bacterial adaptation strategy seemed to have resulted in diversification of infecting strains of the same species. With this work we want to attract more attention to phage resistance in general as well as to its role in phage therapy.
Impact of Green Roofs and Vertical Greenery Systems on Surface Runoff Quality
Authors: Hachoumi Imane , Pucher Bernhard , De Vito-Francesco Elisabetta , Prenner Flora , Ertl Thomas , Langergraber Guenter , Fürhacker Maria , Allabashi Roza
Published: September 2021

Green roofs (GRs) and vertical greenery systems (VGSs) can contribute certain pollutants to stormwater runoff, affecting the quality of the receiving waters. The objective of this review paper is to discuss the potential impact of these systems on the quality of urban runoff. In the green building systems section, a series of materials used in greenery systems and their specific application are presented and environmentally relevant substances that could be leached out from these materials are identified as potential pollutants. After the identification of environmentally relevant pollutants that have already been measured in urban runoff and originate from these systems, an assessment of their pathways, fate, and impact in the aquatic environment is performed. Since GRs and VGSs are already considered to be solutions for stormwater quantity and quality management in urban areas, recommendations for mitigating their environmental impact through runoff are needed. It can be concluded that special focus should be placed on measures that target the pollution source, such as optimizing GR and VGS construction practices and materials used, as well as establishing appropriate decentralized stormwater treatment measures. Both of these approaches will help to reduce or even entirely avoid the emission of relevant pollutants into the aquatic environment.
Integrated Assessment of Groundwater Potential Using Geospatial Techniques in Southern Africa: A Case Study in the Zambezi River Basin
Authors: Ndhlovu George Z. , Woyessa Yali E.
Published: September 2021

Groundwater resources are largely used in rural communities of river basins due to their acceptable water quality and reliability for domestic purposes where little or no treatment is required. However, groundwater resources have been affected by changes in land use, mining activities, agricultural practices, industrial effluent, and urbanisation among anthropogenic influences while climate change impacts and volcanic eruptions have affected its involvement among the natural phenomena. The purpose of the study was to assess groundwater potential in the basin with the use of Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP), remote sensing, GIS techniques, and groundwater occurrence and movement influencing factors. These factors were used to produce seven thematic maps, which were then assigned weights and scale using an AHP tool, based on their degree of influence on groundwater occurrence and movement. A weighted groundwater potential map was produced with four zones denoted as 0.4% (317 km2) for very good potential; 27% (19,170 km2) for good potential; 61% (43,961 km2) for moderate potential and 12% (8639 km2) for poor potential. Validation, using existing boreholes, showed that 89% were overlain on moderate to very good potential zones and henceforth considered to be a novel approach which is useful for groundwater resources assessment and integrated water management in the basin.
Ações de educação em saúde às pessoas com hipertensão arterial: espaço para processo terapêutico, troca de conhecimentos e experiências
Authors: Paraizo-Horvath Camila Maria Silva , Negrão Maria de Lourdes Barbosa , Rodrigues Patrícia Araújo , Dázio Eliza Maria Rezende , Resck Zélia Marilda Rodrigues , Fava Silvana Maria Coelho Leite
Published: September 2021

Objetivo: Analisar as ações de educação em saúde desenvolvidas às pessoas com hipertensão arterial sistêmica. Metodologia: Realizado a partir de uma pesquisa bibliográfica no Portal Capes utilizando os descritores: educação em saúde, hipertensão e saúde da família, com marco temporal estudos dos últimos cinco anos. Resultados:  A reflexão foi dividida em dois eixos teóricos de discussão: Orientações coletivas: espaço para troca de conhecimentos e experiências e Orientações individualizadas: espaço para processo terapêutico com o envolvimento dos familiares. Conclusões: As atividades desenvolvidas em grupos permitiram trocas de experiências entre os participantes e também a formação de vínculos no convívio com outras pessoas que enfrentaram os mesmos problemas de saúde. Já a atenção individualizada mostrou-se importante para conhecer o contexto sociocultural onde a pessoa está inserida, apontando os diversos fatores e potenciais que possam ser determinantes para desenvolver o empoderamento.
Conhecimento dos profissionais de saúde bucal sobre o processamento de produtos para a saúde
Authors: Silva Darlyani Mariano da , Sanches Ana Paula Mhirdaui , Roseira Camila Eugenia , Figueiredo Rosely Moralez de , André Silvia Carla da Silva
Published: September 2021

Objetivo: avaliar o conhecimento da equipe de saúde bucal sobre o processamento de produtos para a saúde na Atenção Primária à Saúde. Material e Métodos: estudo exploratório-descritivo de abordagem quantitativa, realizado por meio da aplicação de um questionário estruturado. Dos 74 profissionais de saúde bucal alocados nas unidades, 43 participaram da pesquisa, sendo 22 auxiliares de saúde bucal e 21 odontólogos. Resultados: identificou-se que há lacunas no conhecimento da equipe quanto ao processo de esterilização (particularmente no que se refere aos recursos materiais) bem como o uso de indicadores para o monitoramento do processo. O uso de papel Kraft para embalagens foi apontado como correto por 37,2% (16) dos entrevistados. A ausência de informações impressas disponíveis nas unidades foi apontada por 81,3% (35) dos profissionais. Conclusão: as deficiências de conhecimento sobre processamento de produtos para a saúde apontadas podem comprometer a qualidade do processamento de produtos à saúde e contribuir para o aumento do risco de infecções relacionadas à assistência à saúde.
Práticas Tradicionais de Saúde em Comunidades Rurais: desafio para a Atenção Primária em Saúde
Authors: Oliveira Marcus Vilhena Silva , Nogueira Laura Maria Vidal , Rodrigues Ivaneide Leal Ataide , Paiva Barbara Lopes , Caldas Samantha Pereira
Published: September 2021

Este estudo tem como objeto o conhecimento dos profissionais das Equipes de Estratégia Saúde da Família e Programa Agentes Comunitários de Saúde a respeito das práticas tradicionais de saúde utilizadas pelas comunidades assistidas. Estudo de natureza descritiva, desenvolvido com uma abordagem quantitativa, realizado no perímetro rural do município de Benevides. Foram inseridas na pesquisa 83 profissionais, sendo 72 da Estratégia Saúde da Família e 11 do Programa Agentes Comunitários de Saúde.  Foi utilizado para coleta de dados um instrumento correspondente a uma escala de Likert adaptado para esta pesquisa. Muitos desafios se apresentam aos profissionais da Atenção Primária em Saúde para alcançar qualidade nos atendimentos, principalmente respeitando os aspectos culturais de cada comunidade. Faz-se necessária parceria de todos os setores envolvidos no processo saúde-doença, um desafio não somente para a equipe de saúde local, mas para os gestores e formuladores das políticas públicas de saúde.
Imunização contra o vírus do papiloma humano: taxa de conclusão e abstenção do esquema de vacinação em um grupo de adolescentes no Distrito Federal
Authors: Gonçalves Vinícius Augusto , Félix Mariana Silva , Farias Vênus Déia Alves de , Vasconcelos Érico Augusto Rosas de
Published: September 2021

O human papillomavirus (HPV) é considerado o agente infeccioso de transmissão sexual mais comum em todo o mundo. Relacionado ao câncer de colo de útero e causador das verrugas genitais é o terceiro tipo de câncer mais letal no Brasil. Devido o início sexual precoce e o aumento a exposição ao vírus, foi identificada a necessidade de prevenção a nível primário. Assim, vacinas contra alguns subtipos do HPV foram desenvolvidas como forma profilática. O Governo do Distrito Federal (GDF) incluiu em 2013 a campanha de vacinação, em esquema de três doses, para imunizar meninas entre 11 a 13 anos. O objetivo da campanha era que 100% do público alvo fosse imunizado. Esta pesquisa teve como objetivo analisar a taxa de iniciação, conclusão e abstenção do público alvo da campanha a fim de avaliar o alcance e a eficiência do programa de vacinação proposto pelas autoridades competentes. Com caráter quantitativo e descritivo, esta pesquisa utilizou registros feitos pela Vigilância Epidemiológica num colégio localizado no Gama-DF. Observou-se no estudo que das meninas que aderiram à campanha apenas 72,5% concluíram o esquema vacinal, taxa inferior a ambiciosa meta estipulada pelo GDF e tampouco, em comparação, à estipulada pelo Ministério da Saúde, que iniciara a campanha em âmbito nacional em 2014.
Os marcos legais das políticas públicas de plantas medicinais e fitoterápicos no Brasil
Authors: Gonçalves Rodrigo Noll , Gonçalves Jéssica Rodrigues da Silva Noll , Buffon Marilene da Cruz Magalhães , Negrelle Raquel Rejane Bonato , Mazza Verônica de Azevedo
Published: September 2021

Apresenta-se resultado de pesquisa documental sobre a evolução dos marcos legais associados às políticas públicas de plantas medicinais e fitoterápicos no Brasil. Realizou-se a identificação e análise do conteúdo de Leis, Decretos, Resoluções, Políticas, Portarias e Instruções Normativas relacionadas ao tema. Apesar de consideradas intrínsecas à cultura popular, a legislação instituiu-se de forma recente no Brasil. Constatou-se que as mudanças na legislação sanitária foram significativas e tornaram as exigências para o setor de fitoterápicos brasileiro, especialmente quanto à qualidade dos produtos, mais próximas dos padrões encontrados na legislação internacional. Porém, evidencia-se ainda uma carência de políticas públicas que incentivem a inserção destas práticas dentro dos serviços de saúde, a fim de preencher a lacuna existente entre a regulamentação e a prática instituída nestes serviços.