bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Design Improvements on Fast, High-Order, Incremental Sigma-Delta ADCs for Low-Noise Stacked CMOS Image Sensors
Authors: Freitas Luis Miguel Carvalho , Morgado-Dias Fernando
Published: August 2021

Modern CMOS imaging devices are present everywhere, in the form of line, area and depth scanners. These image devices can be used in the automotive field, in industrial applications, in the consumer’s market, and in various medical and scientific areas. Particularly in industrial and scientific applications, the low-light noise performance or the high dynamic-range features are often the cases of interest, combined with low power dissipation and high frame rates. In this sense, the noise floor performance and the power consumption are the focus of this work, given that both are interlinked and play a direct role in the remaining sensor features. It is known that thermal and flicker noise sources are the main contributors to the degradation of the sensor performance, concerning the sensor output image noise. This paper presents an indirect way to reduce both the thermal and the flicker noise contributions by using thin-oxide low voltage supply column readout circuits and fast 3rd order incremental sigma-delta converters with noise shaping capabilities (to provide low noise output digital samples—74 μVrms; 0.7 e−rms; at 105 μV/e−), and thus performing correlated double sampling in a short time (19 μs), while dissipating significant low power (346 μW). Throughout the extensive parametric transistor-level simulations, the readout path produced 1.2% non-linearity, with a competitive saturation capacity (6.5 ke−) pixel. In addition, this paper addresses the readout parallelism as the main point of interest, decoupling resolution from the image noise and the frame rate, at virtually any array resolution. The design and simulations were performed with Virtuoso 6.17 tools (Cadence Design Systems, San Jose, CA, USA) using Spectre models from TS18IS Image Sensor 0.18 µm Process Development Kit (Tower Jazz Semiconductor, Migdal Haemek, Israel).
Thermosonication Combined with Natural Antimicrobial Nisin: A Potential Technique Ensuring Microbiological Safety and Improving the Quality Parameters of Orange Juice
Authors: Zhao Qinyu , Yuan Quyu , Gao Chenxu , Wang Xiaoyang , Zhu Bihe , Wang Jiaqi , Sun Xiangyu , Ma Tingting
Published: August 2021

Currently, thermal pasteurisation (TP) remains the most widely applied technique for commercial orange juice preservation; however, a high temperature causes adverse effects on the quality attributes of orange juice. In order to explore a novel non-thermal sterilization method for orange juice, the impacts of thermosonication combined with nisin (TSN) and TP treatments on the quality attributes including microbial and enzyme inactivation and the physicochemical, nutritional, functional, and sensory qualities of orange juice were studied. Both TP and TSN treatments achieved desirable bactericidal and enzyme inactivation effects, and nisin had a significant synergistic lethal effect on aerobic bacteria in orange juice (p < 0.05). Additionally, TSN treatment significantly improved the color attributes of orange juice and well maintained its physicochemical properties and sensory quality. More importantly, TSN treatment significantly increased the total polyphenols content (TPC) and total carotenoids (TC) by 10.03% and 20.10%, increased the ORAC and DPPH by 51.10% and 10.58%, and the contents of total flavonoids and ascorbic acid were largely retained. Correlation analysis of antioxidant activity showed that the ORAC and scavenging ability of DPPH radicals of orange juice are mainly attributed to TC and TPC. These findings indicate that TSN shows great potential application value, which could guarantee the microbiological safety and improve the quality attributes of orange juice.
Dietary Regulation of Oxidative Stress in Chronic Metabolic Diseases
Authors: Jiang Shuai , Liu Hui , Li Chunbao
Published: August 2021

Oxidative stress is a status of imbalance between oxidants and antioxidants, resulting in molecular damage and interruption of redox signaling in an organism. Indeed, oxidative stress has been associated with many metabolic disorders due to unhealthy dietary patterns and may be alleviated by properly increasing the intake of antioxidants. Thus, it is quite important to adopt a healthy dietary mode to regulate oxidative stress and maintain cell and tissue homeostasis, preventing inflammation and chronic metabolic diseases. This review focuses on the links between dietary nutrients and health, summarizing the role of oxidative stress in ‘unhealthy’ metabolic pathway activities in individuals and how oxidative stress is further regulated by balanced diets.
Message in a Bottle: Unveiling the Magneto-Ionic Complexity of AGNs through the Stokes QU-Fitting Technique
Authors: Pasetto Alice
Published: August 2021

Here, I overview one of the available techniques for the analysis of broad-band spectropolarimetric data, the Stokes QU-fitting. Since broad-band receivers have been installed at most radio facilities, the collection of radio data, both the total intensity and the linear polarization, is revealing interesting features in their spectra. The polarized light, and therefore its properties, i.e. the fractional polarization p and the polarized angle χ, are now finally well sampled in wide wavelength ranges. The new complex behaviors revealed by the data can be studied using the Stokes QU-fitting, which consists of modeling the Stokes parameters Q and U using wavelength-dependent analytical models, available in the literature. This technique provides a very good diagnostic of the nature and structure of the magnetized plasma, with the possibility to identify complex structures, internal or external, of the source of study. A summary of the available and most used models describing the polarization behavior, is presented. Moreover, some of the most significant observational works which use this technique are also summarized.
Supervised Machine Learning Approach to Identify Early Predictors of Poor Outcome in Patients with COVID-19 Presenting to a Large Quaternary Care Hospital in New York City
Authors: Zucker Jason , Gomez-Simmonds Angela , Purpura Lawrence J. , Shoucri Sherif , LaSota Elijah , Morley Nicholas E. , Sovic Brit W. , Castellon Marvin A. , Theodore Deborah A. , Bartram Logan L. , Miko Benjamin A. , Scherer Matthew L. , Meyers Kathrine A. , Turner William C. , Kelly Maureen , Pavlicova Martina , Basaraba Cale N. , Baldwin Matthew R. , Brodie Daniel , Burkart Kristin M. , Bathon Joan , Uhlemann Anne-Catrin , Yin Michael T. , Castor Delivette , Sobieszczyk Magdalena E.
Published: August 2021

Background: The progression of clinical manifestations in patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) highlights the need to account for symptom duration at the time of hospital presentation in decision-making algorithms. Methods: We performed a nested case–control analysis of 4103 adult patients with COVID-19 and at least 28 days of follow-up who presented to a New York City medical center. Multivariable logistic regression and classification and regression tree (CART) analysis were used to identify predictors of poor outcome. Results: Patients presenting to the hospital earlier in their disease course were older, had more comorbidities, and a greater proportion decompensated (<4 days, 41%; 4–8 days, 31%; >8 days, 26%). The first recorded oxygen delivery method was the most important predictor of decompensation overall in CART analysis. In patients with symptoms for <4, 4–8, and >8 days, requiring at least non-rebreather, age ≥ 63 years, and neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio ≥ 5.1; requiring at least non-rebreather, IL-6 ≥ 24.7 pg/mL, and D-dimer ≥ 2.4 µg/mL; and IL-6 ≥ 64.3 pg/mL, requiring non-rebreather, and CRP ≥ 152.5 mg/mL in predictive models were independently associated with poor outcome, respectively. Conclusion: Symptom duration in tandem with initial clinical and laboratory markers can be used to identify patients with COVID-19 at increased risk for poor outcomes.
Alveolar Volume Following Different Timings of Secondary Bone Grafting in Patients with Unilateral Cleft Lip and Palate. A Pilot Study
Authors: Brudnicki Andrzej , Regulski Piotr A. , Sawicka Ewa , Fudalej Piotr S.
Published: August 2021

This study was intended to evaluate the relationship between secondary alveolar bone grafting (SABG) timing and the alveolar volume in patients with unilateral cleft lip and palate (UCLP). The material consisted of CTs of 35 patients (17 males, 18 females) with UCLP who underwent a one-stage primary cleft repair at a mean age of 8.4 months and SABG at different timings ranges of 1.8–18.8 years. The mean age at CT was 17.2 years. The relative coefficient (Ꞷ) which was independent from factors such as individual maxillary size, gender or age at the CT was introduced in order to compare volumes of the cleft-side in relation to the non-cleft-side alveolus. Pearson correlation coefficient r between Ꞷ coefficient and SABG timing was weak negative (r = −0.34, p = 0.045). The multiple regression analysis implied that the dependent variable-Ꞷ coefficient was associated with independent variables (cleft repair and SABG timings and age at CT) with r2 = 0.228. Only patient’s age at SABG explained the dependent variable (p = 0.003). The study cautiously indicates a tendency to larger alveolar volume following earlier timing of SABG. Nevertheless, the further research on a larger group of patients should be performed before formulating any clinical indications.
Feasibility of Wet and Non-Wet Placement of Seprafilm in Laparoscopic Surgeries: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Hsu Chun-Shuo , Ding Dah-Ching
Published: August 2021

Seprafilm becomes brittle and sticky after contact with water, rendering it difficult to use in laparoscopic surgery. Hence, Seprafilm is not used frequently in laparoscopic surgery. This prospective randomized controlled trial aimed to compare the feasibility of two methods of application of Seprafilm: wet and non-wet. Two groups comprised 30 patients, each with 180 pieces of Seprafilm. Symptomatic patients who underwent laparoscopic surgeries, including hysterectomy and adnexal surgeries, were recruited. Successful application of Seprafilm was defined as a smooth attachment to the site of application. Sticky and fractured Seprafilm sheets were defined as failed applications. Between March 2016 and December 2017, 60 patients underwent laparoscopic Seprafilm placement. The preparation time was 32.67 ± 16.63 and 79.50 ± 22.01 s in the non-wet and wet groups, respectively (p < 0.00). The success rate of application was 95.4% in the non-wet group and 98.3% in the wet group (p = 0.09). Placement time was 599.50 ± 90.18 s and 592.53 ± 105.82 s in the non-wet and wet groups, respectively (p = 0.25). In conclusion, the wet and non-wet application methods of Seprafilm were feasible in laparoscopic surgeries. The preparation time was different between the two groups. However, the rate of successful application and placement time was not different between the two groups.
Current Status and Future Perspective of Artificial Intelligence in the Management of Peptic Ulcer Bleeding: A Review of Recent Literature
Authors: Yen Hsu-Heng , Wu Ping-Yu , Chen Mei-Fen , Lin Wen-Chen , Tsai Cheng-Lun , Lin Kang-Ping
Published: August 2021

With the decreasing incidence of peptic ulcer bleeding (PUB) over the past two decades, the clinician experience of managing patients with PUB has also declined, especially for young endoscopists. A patient with PUB management requires collaborative care involving the emergency department, gastroenterologist, radiologist, and surgeon, from initial assessment to hospital discharge. The application of artificial intelligence (AI) methods has remarkably improved people’s lives. In particular, AI systems have shown great potential in many areas of gastroenterology to increase human performance. Colonoscopy polyp detection or diagnosis by an AI system was recently introduced for commercial use to improve endoscopist performance. Although PUB is a longstanding health problem, these newly introduced AI technologies may soon impact endoscopists’ clinical practice by improving the quality of care for these patients. To update the current status of AI application in PUB, we reviewed recent relevant literature and provided future perspectives that are required to integrate such AI tools into real-world practice.
A Transcriptomic Analysis of Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinomas for Prognostic Indications
Authors: Chi Li-Hsing , Wu Alexander T. H. , Hsiao Michael , Li Yu-Chuan (Jack)
Published: August 2021

Survival analysis of the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) dataset is a well-known method for discovering gene expression-based prognostic biomarkers of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). A cutoff point is usually used in survival analysis for patient dichotomization when using continuous gene expression values. There is some optimization software for cutoff determination. However, the software’s predetermined cutoffs are usually set at the medians or quantiles of gene expression values. There are also few clinicopathological features available in pre-processed datasets. We applied an in-house workflow, including data retrieving and pre-processing, feature selection, sliding-window cutoff selection, Kaplan–Meier survival analysis, and Cox proportional hazard modeling for biomarker discovery. In our approach for the TCGA HNSCC cohort, we scanned human protein-coding genes to find optimal cutoff values. After adjustments with confounders, clinical tumor stage and surgical margin involvement were found to be independent risk factors for prognosis. According to the results tables that show hazard ratios with Bonferroni-adjusted p values under the optimal cutoff, three biomarker candidates, CAMK2N1, CALML5, and FCGBP, are significantly associated with overall survival. We validated this discovery by using the another independent HNSCC dataset (GSE65858). Thus, we suggest that transcriptomic analysis could help with biomarker discovery. Moreover, the robustness of the biomarkers we identified should be ensured through several additional tests with independent datasets.
Price Signal of Tilled Land in Rural China: An Empirically Oriented Transaction Costs Study Based on Contract Theory
Authors: Hu Chao , Tao Jianping , Zhang Donghao , Adams Damian
Published: August 2021

Prices are effective signals of many market conditions, while underpricing of tilled land in rural China poses a dilemma to this common sense. Using n = 191 imputed contracts in rural China, this paper aims to investigate the role of ambiguous property rights in the context of agricultural reforms. Using rank statistics, several candidate variables in the transaction costs function fc(•) were identified, including BMI (Body Mass Index), Knowledge, Subtraction and Farming Experience. The results show clear evidence for underpricing to restrain competition under ambiguous property rights. More illuminatingly, non-parametric regression analysis specifies a well-founded transaction costs function: increasing Subtraction by one unit increases transaction costs by the equivalent of US$513.40, while a one-year increase of farming experience reduces transaction costs by US$116.20, ceteris paribus. It concludes that social costs behind underpricing are detrimental to China’s rural reform. This study contributes to economic theory, with important implications for policy makers. To encourage smooth transmission of price signals, it is important to consider farmer characteristics and develop professional farmers.
Is the Naturalization of the Townscape a Condition of De-Industrialization? An Example of Bytom in Southern Poland
Authors: Solarski Maksymilian , Krzysztofik Robert
Published: August 2021

A characteristic element of the transformations of cities in Central and Eastern Europe after 1990 was the emergence of shrinking cities. The main problem related to shrinking cities is around how this process developed as a result of rapidly intensifying de-industrialization. While many studies in this area are devoted to demographic, social, and economic issues, relatively few studies address the spatial dimension. In this article, the example of spatial development in the (post-) mining city of Bytom in southern Poland is discussed, pointing to the need for a multifaceted approach to this issue. This article begins with an attempt to contextualize this issue within a broader time perspective. Such an analysis makes it possible to better situate contemporary changes in the context of the processes that were visible in previous periods. Next, these changes are described using two methods. The basis of the first method is comparisons between the different types of land use. The second method, which is emphasized, is the method of A. Macias, which indicates the degree of naturalization/anthropogenization of space. Macias’ method is crucial in the context of discussions about the future of post-mining towns, where attention is paid, among other things, to the issue of sustainable development.
Color-Specific Recovery to Extreme High-Light Stress in Plants
Authors: Parrine Débora , Greco Todd M. , Muhammad Bilal , Wu Bo-Sen , Zhao Xin , Lefsrud Mark
Published: August 2021

Plants pigments, such as chlorophyll and carotenoids, absorb light within specific wavelength ranges, impacting their response to environmental light changes. Although the color-specific response of plants to natural levels of light is well described, extreme high-light stress is still being discussed as a general response, without considering the impact of wavelengths in particular response processes. In this study, we explored how the plant proteome coordinated the response and recovery to extreme light conditions (21,000 µmol m−2 s−1) under different wavelengths. Changes at the protein and mRNA levels were measured, together with the photosynthetic parameters of plants under extreme high-light conditions. The changes in abundance of four proteins involved in photoinhibition, and in the biosynthesis/assembly of PSII (PsbS, PsbH, PsbR, and Psb28) in both light treatments were measured. The blue-light treatment presented a three-fold higher non-photochemical quenching and did not change the level of the oxygen-evolving complex (OEC) or the photosystem II (PSII) complex components when compared to the control, but significantly increased psbS transcripts. The red-light treatment caused a higher abundance of PSII and OEC proteins but kept the level of psbS transcripts the same as the control. Interestingly, the blue light stimulated a more efficient energy dissipation mechanism when compared to the red light. In addition, extreme high-light stress mechanisms activated by blue light involve the role of OEC through increasing PsbS transcript levels. In the proteomics spatial analysis, we report disparate activation of multiple stress pathways under three differently damaged zones as the enriched function of light stress only found in the medium-damaged zone of the red LED treatment. The results indicate that the impact of extreme high-light stress on the proteomic level is wavelength-dependent.
The Role of the Songbird Trade as an Anthropogenic Vector in the Spread of Invasive Non-Native Mynas in Indonesia
Authors: Nijman Vincent , Campera Marco , Imron Muhammad Ali , Ardiansyah Ahmad , Langgeng Abdullah , Dewi Tungga , Hedger Katherine , Hendrik Rifqi , Nekaris K. Anne-Isola
Published: August 2021

The wildlife trade has facilitated the introduction of invasive non-native species, which may compete with native species for resources and alter ecosystems. Some of these species have great potential to become invasive if released or escaped from captivity. Here we studied the pet trade in a group of open countryside birds, the mynas (Acridotheres spp.) in Indonesia, and identified the areas that are at high risk of facing the establishment of these species. Mynas are among the most invasive birds in Southeast Asia. Once established in a new area, they are almost impossible to eradicate and can have strong negative impacts on the ecosystem. Preventing their introduction is therefore essential. Yet, invasive non-native mynas continue to be traded openly. We present data on the trade in seven species of mynas on Java, Bali and Lombok, with three species being native to parts of one or two of these islands, but not to the remainder, and four that are non-native to the region. From 2016 to 2021 we conducted 255 surveys of 30 animal markets. We recorded over 6000 mynas that were offered for sale outside their native range. Areas most at risk because of their high prevalence in specific animal markets, are Greater Jakarta, eastern Java, Bali and Lombok. The number of invasive non-native mynas recorded was positively related to the size of the animal market. Indonesia is signatory to several international agreements (CBD, ASEAN) that have policies and guidelines to prevent the introduction of invasive non-native species, but compliancy is weak. Annually hundreds and possibly thousands of invasive non-native mynas are released by Indonesian conservation authorities in regions that are outside their native range. Effective management of, and regulation of trade in, potential invasive non-native birds in Indonesia falls short and inadvertently greatly aids both their introduction and establishment.
The Detection of Stem-Like Circulating Tumor Cells Could Increase the Clinical Applicability of Liquid Biopsy in Ovarian Cancer
Authors: Gening Snezhanna O. , Abakumova Tatyana V. , Gafurbaeva Dina U. , Rizvanov Albert A. , Antoneeva Inna I. , Miftakhova Regina R. , Peskov Andrey B. , Gening Tatyana P.
Published: August 2021

Stem properties allow circulating tumor cells (CTCs) to survive in the bloodstream and initiate cancer progression. We aimed to assess the numbers of stem-like CTCs in patients with ovarian cancer (OC) before treatment and during first-line chemotherapy (CT). Flow cytometry was performed (Cytoflex S (Beckman Coulter, CA, USA)) using antibodies against CD45; epithelial markers EpCAM and cytokeratin (CK) 8,18; mesenchymal vimentin (vim); and stem-like CD44, CD133 and ALDH. This study included 38 stage I–IV OC patients (median age 66 (Q1–Q3 53–70)). The CK+vim- counts were higher (p = 0.012) and the CD133+ALDHhigh counts were lower (p = 0.010) before treatment in the neoadjuvant CT group than in the adjuvant group. The patients with ascites had more CK+vim- cells before treatment (p = 0.009) and less EpCAM-vim+ cells during treatment (p = 0.018) than the patients without ascites. All the CTC counts did not differ significantly in paired samples. Correlations were found between the CK-vim+ and CD133+ALDHhigh (r = 0.505, p = 0.027) and EpCAM-vim+ and ALDHhigh (r = 0.597, p = 0.004) cells before but not during treatment. Multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that progression-free survival was longer with the presence of surgical treatment (HR 0.06 95% CI 0.01–0.48, p = 0.009) and fewer CD133+ALDHveryhigh cells (HR 1.06 95% CI 1.02–1.12, p = 0.010). Thus, CD133+ALDH+ CTCs have the greatest prognostic potential in OC among the phenotypes studied.
Timely and Blood-Based Multiplex Molecular Profiling of Acute Stroke
Authors: Dias Alexandre , Silva Isabel , Pinto Inês Mendes , Maia Luís F.
Published: August 2021

Stroke is a leading cause of death and disability in the world. To address such a problem, early diagnosis and tailored acute treatment represent one of the major priorities in acute stroke care. Since the efficacy of reperfusion treatments is highly time-dependent, there is a critical need to optimize procedures for faster and more precise diagnosis. We provide a concise review of the most relevant and well-documented blood–protein biomarkers that exhibit greater potential for translational to clinical practice in stroke differential diagnosis and to differentiate ischemic stroke from hemorrhagic stroke, followed by an overview of the most recent point-of-care technological approaches to address this problem. The integration of fluid-based biomarker profiling, using point-of-care biosensors with demographic, clinical, and neuroimaging parameters in multi-dimensional clinical decision-making algorithms, will be the next step in personalized stroke care.
Study on the Importance of a Slicer Selection for the 3D Printing Process Parameters via the Investigation of G-Code Readings
Authors: Bryła Jakub , Martowicz Adam
Published: August 2021

The work deals with the investigation of the variation of the selected 3D printing process properties that originate from the choice of a slicer. Specifically, the main aim of the present study was to assess the induced changes of the kinematic and geometric properties considered by the slicer for the printing process making use of the G-code readings. The paper provides adequate definitions and formulas required to characterize the slicer’s configuration. Next, the selected cases of the process parameters’ changes were studied, primarily taking into account varying layer height and infill. The authors performed a detailed analysis regarding the geometric implications at the mesoscale due to the slicer’s settings. Appropriate modifications of the slicer’s properties were also proposed and verified, making it possible to match the geometric and kinematic characteristics of the printed part.
The Real-Life Application of Differential Evolution with a Distance-Based Mutation-Selection
Authors: Bujok Petr
Published: August 2021

This paper proposes the real-world application of the Differential Evolution (DE) algorithm using, distance-based mutation-selection, population size adaptation, and an archive for solutions (DEDMNA). This simple framework uses three widely-used mutation types with the application of binomial crossover. For each solution, the most proper position prior to evaluation is selected using the Euclidean distances of three newly generated positions. Moreover, an efficient linear population-size reduction mechanism is employed. Furthermore, an archive of older efficient solutions is used. The DEDMNA algorithm is applied to three real-life engineering problems and 13 constrained problems. Seven well-known state-of-the-art DE algorithms are used to compare the efficiency of DEDMNA. The performance of DEDMNA and other algorithms are comparatively assessed using statistical methods. The results obtained show that DEDMNA is a very comparable optimiser compared to the best performing DE variants. The simple idea of measuring the distance of the mutant solutions increases the performance of DE significantly.
Pretreatment to Leaching for a Primary Copper Sulphide Ore in Chloride Media
Authors: Quezada Víctor , Roca Antoni , Benavente Oscar , Cruells Montserrat , Melo Evelyn , Hernández María
Published: August 2021

The dissolution of copper sulphide ores continues to be a challenge for the copper industry. Several media and leaching alternatives have been proposed to improve the dissolution of these minerals, especially for the leaching of chalcopyrite. Among the alternatives, pretreatment prior to leaching was proposed as an option that increases the dissolution of copper from sulphide ores. In this study, a mineral sample from a copper mining company was used. The copper grade of the sample was 0.79%, and its main contributor was chalcopyrite (84%). The effect of curing time (as pretreatment) in a chloride media on copper sulphide ore was evaluated at various temperatures: 25, 50, 70 and 90 °C. The pretreated sample and leaching residues were characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and reflected light microscopy. Pretreatment products such as CuSO4, NaFe3(SO4)2(OH)6, and S0 were identified although with difficulty, due to the low presence of chalcopyrite in the initial sample (1.99%). Under the conditions of 15 kg/t of H2SO4, 25 kg/t of NaCl, and 15 days of curing time, a copper extraction of 93.1% was obtained at 90 °C with 50 g/L of Cl− and 0.2 M of H2SO4.
Reliability Design of Mechanical Systems Such as Compressor Subjected to Repetitive Stresses
Authors: Woo Seongwoo , O’Neal Dennis L.
Published: August 2021

This study demonstrates the use of parametric accelerated life testing (ALT) as a way to recognize design defects in mechanical products in creating a reliable quantitative (RQ) specification. It covers: (1) a system BX lifetime that X% of a product population fails, created on the parametric ALT scheme, (2) fatigue and redesign, (3) adapted ALTs with design alternations, and (4) an evaluation of whether the system design(s) acquires the objective BX lifetime. A life-stress model and a sample size formulation, therefore, are suggested. A refrigerator compressor is used to demonstrate this method. Compressors subjected to repetitive impact loading were failing in the field. To analyze the pressure loading of the compressor and carry out parametric ALT, a mass/energy balance on the vapor-compression cycle was examined. At the first ALT, the compressor failed due to a cracked or fractured suction reed valve made of Sandvik 20C carbon steel (1 wt% C, 0.25 wt% Si, 0.45 wt% Mn). The failure modes of the suction reed valves were similar to those valves returned from the field. The fatigue failure of the suction reed valves came from an overlap between the suction reed valve and the valve plate in combination with the repeated pressure loading. The problematic design was modified by the trespan dimensions, tumbling process, a ball peening, and brushing process for the valve plate. At the second ALT, the compressor locked due to the intrusion between the crankshaft and thrust washer. The corrective action plan specified to perform the heat treatment to the exterior of the crankshaft made of cast iron (0.45 wt% C, 0.25 wt% Si, 0.8 wt% Mn, 0.03 wt% P). After these design modifications, there were no troubles during the third ALT. The lifetime of the compressor was secured to have a B1 life of 10 years.
High-Pressure Torsion for Synthesis of High-Entropy Alloys
Authors: Edalati Kaveh , Li Hai-Wen , Kilmametov Askar , Floriano Ricardo , Borchers Christine
Published: August 2021

High-pressure torsion (HPT) is widely used not only as a severe plastic deformation (SPD) method to produce ultrafine-grained metals but also as a mechanical alloying technique to synthesize different alloys. In recent years, there have been several attempts to synthesize functional high-entropy alloys using the HPT method. In this paper, the application of HPT to synthesize high-entropy materials including metallic alloys, hydrides, oxides and oxynitrides for enhanced mechanical and hydrogen storage properties, photocatalytic hydrogen production and high light absorbance is reviewed.
Synthesis, Antibacterial and Pharmacokinetic Evaluation of Novel Derivatives of Harmine N9-Cinnamic Acid
Authors: Liang Yan , He Dian , Zhou Deshun , Li Junshuai , Tang Lei , Wang Zhen
Published: August 2021

A series of 16 new derivatives of harmine N9-Cinnamic acid were synthesized and fully characterized using NMR and MS. The in vitro antibacterial evaluation revealed that most of the synthesized harmine derivatives displayed better antibacterial activities against Gram-positive strains (S. aureus, S. albus and MRSA) than Gram-negative strains (E. coli and PA). In particular, compound 3c showed the strongest bactericidal activity with a minimum inhibitory concentration of 13.67 μg/mL. MTT assay showed that compound 3c displayed weaker cytotoxicity than harmine with IC50 of 340.30, 94.86 and 161.67 μmol/L against WI-38, MCF-7 and HepG2 cell lines, respectively. The pharmacokinetic study revealed that the distribution and elimination of 3c in vivo were rapid in rats with an oral bioavailability of 6.9%.
Wastewater Based Epidemiology Perspective as a Faster Protocol for Detecting Coronavirus RNA in Human Populations: A Review with Specific Reference to SARS-CoV-2 Virus
Authors: Mousazadeh Milad , Ashoori Razieh , Paital Biswaranjan , Kabdaşlı Işık , Frontistis Zacharias , Hashemi Marjan , Sandoval Miguel A. , Sherchan Samendra , Das Kabita , Emamjomeh Mohammad Mahdi
Published: August 2021

Wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) has a long history of identifying a variety of viruses from poliovirus to coronaviruses, including novel Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The presence and detection of SARS-CoV-2 in human feces and its passage into the water bodies are significant public health challenges. Hence, the hot issue of WBE of SARS-CoV-2 in the coronavirus respiratory disease (COVID-19) pandemic is a matter of utmost importance (e.g., SARS-CoV-1). The present review discusses the background, state of the art, actual status, and prospects of WBE, as well as the detection and quantification protocols of SARS-CoV-2 in wastewater. The SARS-CoV-2 detection studies have been performed in different water matrixes such as influent and effluent of wastewater treatment plants, suburban pumping stations, hospital wastewater, and sewer networks around the globe except for Antarctica. The findings revealed that all WBE studies were in accordance with clinical and epidemiological data, which correlates the presence of SARS-CoV-2 ribonucleic acid (RNA) with the number of new daily positive cases officially reported. This last was confirmed via Reverse Transcriptase-quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-qPCR) testing which unfortunately is not suitable for real-time surveillance. In addition, WBE concept may act as a faster protocol to alert the public health authorities to take administrative orders (possible re-emerging infections) due to the impracticality of testing all citizens in a short time with limited diagnostic facilities. A comprehensive and integrated review covering all steps starting from sampling to molecular detection of SARS-CoV-2 in wastewater has been made to guide for the development well-defined and reliable protocols.
Zoonotic Blood-Borne Pathogens in Non-Human Primates in the Neotropical Region: A Systematic Review
Authors: Carrillo-Bilbao Gabriel , Martin-Solano Sarah , Saegerman Claude
Published: August 2021

Background: Understanding which non-human primates (NHPs) act as a wild reservoir for blood-borne pathogens will allow us to better understand the ecology of diseases and the role of NHPs in the emergence of human diseases in Ecuador, a small country in South America that lacks information on most of these pathogens. Methods and principal findings: A systematic review was carried out using PRISMA guidelines from 1927 until 2019 about blood-borne pathogens present in NHPs of the Neotropical region (i.e., South America and Middle America). Results: A total of 127 publications were found in several databases. We found in 25 genera (132 species) of NHPs a total of 56 blood-borne pathogens in 197 records where Protozoa has the highest number of records in neotropical NHPs (n = 128) compared to bacteria (n = 12) and viruses (n = 57). Plasmodium brasilianum and Trypanosoma cruzi are the most recorded protozoa in NHP. The neotropical primate genus with the highest number of blood-borne pathogens recorded is Alouatta sp. (n = 32). The use of non-invasive samples for neotropical NHPs remains poor in a group where several species are endangered or threatened. A combination of serological and molecular techniques is common when detecting blood-borne pathogens. Socioecological and ecological risk factors facilitate the transmission of these parasites. Finally, a large number of countries remain unsurveyed, such as Ecuador, which can be of public health importance. Conclusions and significance: NHPs are potential reservoirs of a large number of blood-borne pathogens. In Ecuador, research activities should be focused on bacteria and viruses, where there is a gap of information for neotropical NHPs, in order to implement surveillance programs with regular and effective monitoring protocols adapted to NHPs.
A New Function for Amyloid-Like Interactions: Cross-Beta Aggregates of Adhesins form Cell-to-Cell Bonds
Authors: Lipke Peter N. , Mathelié-Guinlet Marion , Viljoen Albertus , Dufrêne Yves F.
Published: August 2021

Amyloid structures assemble through a repeating type of bonding called “cross-β”, in which identical sequences in many protein molecules form β-sheets that interdigitate through side chain interactions. We review the structural characteristics of such bonds. Single cell force microscopy (SCFM) shows that yeast expressing Als5 adhesin from Candida albicans demonstrate the empirical characteristics of cross-β interactions. These properties include affinity for amyloid-binding dyes, birefringence, critical concentration dependence, repeating structure, and inhibition by anti-amyloid agents. We present a model for how cross-β bonds form in trans between two adhering cells. These characteristics also apply to other fungal adhesins, so the mechanism appears to be an example of a new type of cell–cell adhesion.
Environmental Heterogeneity Leads to Spatial Differences in Genetic Diversity and Demographic Structure of Acer caudatifolium
Authors: Luo Min-Xin , Lu Hsin-Pei , Chai Min-Wei , Chang Jui-Tse , Liao Pei-Chun
Published: August 2021

Under climate fluctuation, species dispersal may be disturbed by terrain and local climate, resulting in uneven spatial-genetic structure. In addition, organisms at different latitudes may be differentially susceptible to climate change. Here, we tracked the seed dispersal of Acer caudatifolium using chloroplast DNA to explore the relationships of terrain and local climate heterogeneity with range shifts and demography in Taiwan. Our results showed that the extant populations have shifted upward and northward to the mountains since the Last Glacial Maximum. The distributional upshift of A. caudatifolium is in contrast to the downward expansion of its closest relative in Taiwan, A. morrisonense. The northern populations of A. caudatifolium have acquired multiple-source chlorotypes and harbor high genetic diversity. However, effective gene flow between the north and south is interrupted by topography, geographic distance, north-south differences in October rainfall, and other climate heterogeneities, blocking southward genetic rescue. In addition, winter monsoon-driven rainfall may cause regional differences in the phenological schedule, resulting in adaptive effects on the timing of range shift and the genetic draft of chlorotype distribution. Terrain, distance, and local climate also differentiate the northernmost populations from the others, supporting the previous taxonomic treatment of Acer kawakamii var. taitonmontanum as an independent variety.
Reading between the Lines: RNA-seq Data Mining Reveals the Alternative Message of the Rice Leaf Transcriptome in Response to Heat Stress
Authors: Vitoriano Charles Barros , Calixto Cristiane Paula Gomes
Published: August 2021

Rice (Oryza sativa L.) is a major food crop but heat stress affects its yield and grain quality. To identify mechanistic solutions to improve rice yield under rising temperatures, molecular responses of thermotolerance must be understood. Transcriptional and post-transcriptional controls are involved in a wide range of plant environmental responses. Alternative splicing (AS), in particular, is a widespread mechanism impacting the stress defence in plants but it has been completely overlooked in rice genome-wide heat stress studies. In this context, we carried out a robust data mining of publicly available RNA-seq datasets to investigate the extension of heat-induced AS in rice leaves. For this, datasets of interest were subjected to filtering and quality control, followed by accurate transcript-specific quantifications. Powerful differential gene expression (DE) and differential AS (DAS) identified 17,143 and 2162 heat response genes, respectively, many of which are novel. Detailed analysis of DAS genes coding for key regulators of gene expression suggests that AS helps shape transcriptome and proteome diversity in response to heat. The knowledge resulting from this study confirmed a widespread transcriptional and post-transcriptional response to heat stress in plants, and it provided novel candidates for rapidly advancing rice breeding in response to climate change.
Antioxidant Activity and Anti-Photoaging Effects on UVA-Irradiated Human Fibroblasts of Rosmarinic Acid Enriched Extract Prepared from Thunbergia laurifolia Leaves
Authors: Pattananandecha Thanawat , Apichai Sutasinee , Julsrigival Jakaphun , Ungsurungsie Malyn , Samuhasaneetoo Suched , Chulasiri Pat , Kwankhao Pakakrong , Pitiporn Supaporn , Ogata Fumihiko , Kawasaki Naohito , Saenjum Chalermpong
Published: August 2021

The current study investigated the inhibiting effect on reactive oxygen species (ROS), reactive nitrogen species (RNS), and matrix metalloproteinase-1 (MMP-1) production in a cell-based study of standardized rosmarinic acid enriched extract (SRAEE) prepared from Thunbergia laurifolia leaves. HPLC chromatogram revealed that rosmarinic acid is a major component in prepared SRAEE, followed by caffeic acid. SRAEE exhibited antioxidant activity both in vitro and cell-based studies. SRAEE showed scavenging effects on nitric oxide and superoxide anion and inhibition effects on lipid peroxidation in vitro. SRAEE also inhibited ROS and MMP-1 production in normal human dermal fibroblast cells induced by H2O2 and UVA, respectively, without exerted cytotoxicity. Additionally, collagen degradation was protected by SRAEE induced by UVA. Nitric oxide and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) productions were also inhibited by SRAEE in RAW264.7 mouse macrophage cells induced by combined lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-interferon-γ (IFN-γ). The results indicated that SRAEE is a potential candidate as a natural pharmaceutical active ingredient for cosmeceutical product application.
Enhancing Resveratrol Bioproduction and Anti-Melanogenic Activities through Elicitation in DJ526 Cell Suspension
Authors: Kantayos Vipada , Kim Jin-Suk , Baek So-Hyeon
Published: August 2021

Resveratrol, a secondary plant metabolite, and its derivatives, including piceid, show several potential health-related biological activities. However, resveratrol production is uncommon in plants; thus, resveratrol-enriched rice (DJ526) is produced for its nutritional and therapeutic value. Here, a DJ526 cell suspension was treated with various elicitors to determine its resveratrol-production potential and elicit its biological activity. Treatments with most elicitors produced more piceid than resveratrol; as elicitation periods increased, the average piceid levels were 75-fold higher than resveratrol levels. This increase is associated with glycosylation during growth and development. The duration of exposure and concentrations of elicitors were crucial factors affecting resveratrol synthase expression. Of all the elicitors tested, jasmonic acid and methyl jasmonate (MeJA) were strong elicitors; they increased resveratrol production to ≤115.1 μg g−1 (total resveratrol and piceid content). Moreover, 5 μM of MeJA increased total resveratrol production by >96.4% relative to the control production. In addition, the extract of cell suspension treated with 5 μM of MeJA significantly reduced melanin content and cellular tyrosinase activity (24.2% and 21.5% relative to the control, respectively) in melan-a cells without disturbing cell viability. Overall, elicitation can enhance resveratrol production and elicit the biological activity of the compound, in this case, its anti-melanogenic activities, in DJ526 cell suspension.
Comparison of Polyphenol, Sugar, Organic Acid, Volatile Compounds, and Antioxidant Capacity of Commercially Grown Strawberry Cultivars in Turkey
Authors: Urün Ipek , Attar Sule Hilal , Sönmez Duygu Ayvaz , Gündeşli Muhammet Ali , Ercişli Sezai , Kafkas Nesibe Ebru , Bandić Luna Maslov , Duralija Boris
Published: August 2021

The aim of this study was to compare certain important fruit quality parameters such as sugars, organic acids, total phenolic content, antioxidant capacity, and volatile compounds of 10 commercial strawberry cultivars grown in the research and experimental area in Yaltir Agricultural Company located in Adana provinces of Turkey. As for the sugar content of strawberry fruits, fructose was identified as the dominant sugar and the highest value (4.43%) was found in the cultivar “Rubygem”. In terms of organic acid, among the examined strawberry cultivars, “Calinda” had the greatest level of citric acid (711.45 mg g−1). Regarding vitamin C content, the highest amount was found in the cultivar “Sabrina” (25.08 mg 100 g−1). Ellagic acid was the main phenolic acid in all examined cultivars (except the “Plared” cultivar), and the highest amount was detected in the “Fortuna” cultivar (3.18 mg 100 g−1). We found that the cultivar FL-127 had the highest total phenolic content (158.37 mg gallic acid equivalent 100 g−1 fresh weight base). Regarding antioxidant capacities, the highest value (88.92%) was found in the cultivar Victory among all the cultivars studied. The detailed analysis of volatile compounds was performed by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) and 34 compounds were detected. Among them, esters, acids, and alcohols were found to be the major volatile compounds in strawberry fruits. In conclusion, strawberry fruits belong to ten cultivars showed abundant phenolic compounds and at the same time have high antioxidant activity.
Transcriptomic Reprograming of Xanthomonas campestris pv. campestris after Treatment with Hydrolytic Products Derived from Glucosinolates
Authors: Madloo Pari , Lema Margarita , Rodríguez Victor Manuel , Soengas Pilar
Published: August 2021

The bacterium Xanthomonas campestris pv. campestris (Xcc) causes black rot disease in Brassica crops. Glucosinolates are known to be part of the defence system of Brassica crops against Xcc infection. They are activated upon pathogen attack by myrosinase enzymes. Their hydrolytic products (GHPs) inhibit the growth of Xcc in vitro. However, the mechanisms underlying this inhibition and the way Xcc can overcome it are not well understood. We studied the transcriptomic reprogramming of Xcc after being supplemented with two chemically different GHPs, one aliphatic isothiocyanate (allyl-ITC) and one indole (indol-3-carbinol), by RNA-seq. Based on our results, the arrest in Xcc growth is related to the need to stop cell division to repair damaged DNA and cell envelope components. Otherwise, GHPs modify energy metabolism by inhibiting aerobic respiration and increasing the synthesis of glycogen. Xcc induces detoxification mechanisms such as the antioxidant defence system and the multidrug efflux system to cope with the toxic effects driven by GHPs. This is the first time that the transcriptomic reprogramming of a plant pathogenic bacterium treated with GHPs has been studied. This information will allow a better understanding of the interaction of a plant pathogen mediated by GSLs.