bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Self-Regulation in Informal Workplace Learning: Influence of Organizational Learning Culture and Job Characteristics
Authors: Kittel Anne F. D. , Kunz Rebecca A. C. , Seufert Tina
Published: March 2021

The digital shift leads to increasing changes. Employees can deal with changes through informal learning that enables needs-based development. For successful informal learning, self-regulated learning (SRL) is crucial, i.e., to set goals, plan, apply strategies, monitor, and regulate learning for example by applying resource strategies. However, existing SRL models all refer to formal learning settings. Because informal learning differs from formal learning, this study investigates whether SRL models can be transferred from formal learning environments into informal work settings. More precisely, are all facets relevant, and what are the relational patterns? Because informal workplace learning occurs through interaction with the context, this study investigates the influence of context, i.e., organizational learning culture and job characteristics (autonomy, task identity, and feedback) on SRL. Structural equation modeling of N = 170 employees in various industries showed the relevance of the self-reported metacognitive strategies planning, monitoring, and regulation; the resource strategies help-seeking and effort regulation; and deep processing strategy elaboration. However, there was no evidence for organization strategies. The learning strategies were associated with self-efficacy and mastery-approach goal orientation. Regarding context, results supported indirect effects over self-motivational beliefs of learning strategies. Organizational learning culture was connected with mastery-approach goal orientation, whereas job characteristics autonomy and feedback were related to self-efficacy, which were again related to SRL strategies. Therefore, context can empower employees not only to accomplish their tasks but to develop themselves by applying SRL strategies. The results are discussed, and practical implications are outlined.
Shared Decision-Making: An Autoethnography About Service User Perspectives in Making Choices About Mental Health Care and Treatment
Authors: Fox Joanna
Published: March 2021

Shared decision-making (SDM) between mental health medication prescribers and service users is a central pillar in the recovery approach, because it supports people experiencing mental ill-health to explore their care and treatment options to promote their well-being and to enable clinicians to gain knowledge of the choices the service user prefers. SDM is receiving increasing recognition both in the delivery of physical and mental health services; and as such, is of significance to current practice. As an expert-by-experience with over 30 years of receiving mental health treatment, I have made many choices about taking medication and accessing other forms of support. The experiences of SDM have been variable over my career as a service user: both encounters when I have felt utterly disempowered and interactions when I have led decision-making process based on my expertise-by-experience. In this article, I recount two experiences of exploring care and treatment options: firstly, a discharge planning meeting; and secondly, the choice to take medication over the long-term, despite the side effects. The article will explore both opportunities and barriers to effective shared decision-making, as well as skills and processes to facilitate this approach. The need to balance power between service users and professionals in this interaction is highlighted, including the need to respect expertise built on lived experience, alongside that of clinical expertise. This narrative is framed within an autoethnographic approach which allows me to contextualize my personal experiences in the wider environment of mental health care and support.
COVID/HIV Co-Infection: A Syndemic Perspective on What to Ask and How to Answer
Authors: Gesesew Hailay Abrha , Mwanri Lillian , Stephens Jacqueline H. , Woldemichael Kifle , Ward Paul
Published: March 2021

The present commentary explored the intersecting nature of the COVID-19 and HIV pandemics to identify a shared research agenda using a syndemic approach. The research agenda posits the following questions. Questions around HIV infection, transmission, and diagnosis include: (i) molecular, genetic, clinical, and environmental assessments of COVID-19 in people living with HIV, (ii) alternative options for facility-based HIV testing services such as self- and home-based HIV testing, and (iii) COVID-19 related sexual violence and mental health on HIV transmission and early diagnosis. These and related questions could be assessed using Biopsychosocial and socio-ecological models. Questions around HIV treatment include: (i) the effect of COVID-19 on HIV treatment services, (ii) alternative options for facility-based treatment provision such as community-based antiretroviral therapy groups, and (iii) equitable distribution of treatment and vaccines for COVID-19, if successful. Bickman's logic model and the social determinants of health framework could guide these issues. The impact of stigma, the role of leveraging lessons on sustained intra-behavioral change, the role of medical mistrust and conspiracy beliefs, and the role of digital health on integrated management of HIV care and spectrum of care of COVID-19 need assessment using several frameworks including Goffman's stigma framework, Luhmann's Trust theory, and Gidden's theory of structuration. In conclusion, the potential research agenda of this commentary encompasses a variety of research fields and disciplinary areas—clinicians, laboratory scientists, public health practitioners, health economists, and psychologists—, and suggests several theoretical frameworks to guide examination of complex issues comprehensively.
COVID-19 Is Not the Flu: Four Graphs From Four Countries
Authors: Stojanovic Jovana , Boucher Vincent G. , Boyle Jacqueline , Enticott Joanne , Lavoie Kim L. , Bacon Simon L.
Published: March 2021

Background: COVID-19 has caused a global public health emergency. Government mitigation strategies included a series of behavior-based prevention policies that had a likely impact on the spread of other contagious respiratory illnesses, such as seasonal influenza. Our aim was to explore how 2019–2020 influenza tracked onto COVID-19 pandemic and its mitigation methods.

Materials and Methods: We linked the WHO FluNet database and COVID-19 confirmed cases (Johns Hopkins University) for four countries across the northern (Canada, the United States) and southern hemispheres (Australia, Brazil) for the period 2016–2020. Graphical presentations of longitudinal data were provided.

Results: There was a notable reduction in influenza cases for the 2019–2020 season. Northern hemisphere countries experienced a quicker ending to the 2019–2020 seasonal influenza cases (shortened by 4–7 weeks) and virtually no 2020 fall influenza season. Countries from the southern hemisphere experienced drastically low levels of seasonal influenza, with consistent trends that were approaching zero cases after the introduction of COVID-19 measures.

Conclusions: It is likely that the COVID-19 mitigation measures played a notable role in the marked decrease in influenza, with little to no influenza activity in both the northern and southern hemispheres. In spite of this reduction in influenza cases, there was still community spread of COVID-19, highlighting the contagiousness of SARS-CoV-2 compared to influenza. These results, together with the higher mortality rate from SARS-CoV-2 compared to influenza, highlight that COVID-19 is a far greater health threat than influenza.
Work Habit-Related Sleep Debt; Insights From Factor Identification Analysis of Actigraphy Data
Authors: Goto Yuki , Fujiwara Koichi , Sumi Yukiyoshi , Matsuo Masahiro , Kano Manabu , Kadotani Hiroshi
Published: March 2021

The present study investigates the factors of “Weekday sleep debt (WSD)” by comparing activity data collected from persons with and without WSD. Since it has been reported that the amount of sleep debt as well the difference between the social clock and the biological clock is associated with WSD, specifying the factors of WSD other than chronotype may contribute to sleep debt prevention. We recruited 324 healthy male employees working at the same company and collected their 1-week wrist actigraphy data and answers to questionnaires. Because 106 participants were excluded due to measurement failure of the actigraphy data, the remaining 218 participants were included in the analysis. All participants were classified into WSD or non-WSD groups, in which persons had WDS if the difference between their weekend sleep duration and the mean weekday sleep duration was more than 120 min. We evaluated multiple measurements derived from the collected actigraphy data and trained a classifier that predicts the presence of WSD using these measurements. A support vector machine (SVM) was adopted as the classifier. In addition, to evaluate the contribution of each indicator to WSD, permutation feature importance was calculated based on the trained classifier. Our analysis results showed significant importance of the following three out of the tested 32 factors: (1) WSD was significantly related to persons with evening tendency. (2) Daily activity rhythms and sleep were less stable in the WSD group than in the non-WSD group. (3) A specific day of the week had the highest importance in our data, suggesting that work habit contributes to WSD. These findings indicate some WSD factors: evening chronotype, instability of the daily activity rhythm, and differences in work habits on the specific day of the week. Thus, it is necessary to evaluate the rhythms of diurnal activities as well as sleep conditions to identify the WSD factors. In particular, the diurnal activity rhythm influences WSD. It is suggested that proper management of activity rhythm may contribute to the prevention of sleep debt.
Machine Learning Applications to Kronian Magnetospheric Reconnection Classification
Authors: Garton Tadhg M. , Jackman Caitriona M. , Smith Andrew W. , Yeakel Kiley L. , Maloney Shane A. , Vandegriff Jon
Published: March 2021

The products of magnetic reconnection in Saturn’s magnetotail are identified in magnetometer observations primarily through characteristic deviations in the north–south component of the magnetic field. These magnetic deflections are caused by traveling plasma structures created during reconnection rapidly passing over the observing spacecraft. Identification of these signatures have long been performed by eye, and more recently through semi-automated methods, however these methods are often limited through a required human verification step. Here, we present a fully automated, supervised learning, feed forward neural network model to identify evidence of reconnection in the Kronian magnetosphere with the three magnetic field components observed by the Cassini spacecraft in Kronocentric radial–theta–phi coordinates as input. This model is constructed from a catalog of reconnection events which covers three years of observations with a total of 2093 classified events, categorized into plasmoids, traveling compression regions and dipolarizations. This neural network model is capable of rapidly identifying reconnection events in large time-span Cassini datasets, tested against the full year 2010 with a high level of accuracy (87%), true skill score (0.76), and Heidke skill score (0.73). From this model, a full cataloging and examination of magnetic reconnection events in the Kronian magnetosphere across Cassini's near Saturn lifetime is now possible.
Should Robotic Surgery Simulation Be Introduced in the Core Surgical Training Curriculum?
Authors: Bhakhri Kunal , Harrison-Phipps K. , Harling Leanne , Routledge T.
Published: March 2021

Introduction:The focus of this research is to qualitatively analyse the literature and address the knowledge gap between robotic surgery simulation (RoSS) and core surgical training curriculum. It will compare the effectiveness and the benefits of using robotic simulators in training as compared to the current standard training methods.

Materials and Methods:A qualitative research of literature was carried out with the use of critical analysis formatting to expand the search. The inclusion criteria entailed selecting academic resources that focused on Robotic Surgery Simulation (RoSS) and core surgical curriculum. The Online databases used in the search took into account information retrieval from stakeholders.

Evidence Synthesis:In this article, we compiled and scrutinized the available relevant literature comparing performance assessments, surgical skills transfer and assessment tools between robotic surgery simulation (RoSS) and current training platforms in open and minimal access surgery. Data that has been published underpins the authenticity of robotic Surgery Simulation (RoSS), based on a combination of observational evaluation and simulation scores.

Conclusion:The introduction of robotic surgery simulation (RoSS) has the potential to bring major improvements in the surgical training curriculum. RoSS platforms are more robust in terms of ensuring rapid surgical skills transfer/ acquisition, assessment is standardized, unbiased and the training covers non-technical skills aspects.
Vaccination With Recombinant Adenoviruses Expressing the Bluetongue Virus Subunits VP7 and VP2 Provides Protection Against Heterologous Virus Challenge
Authors: Rojas José Manuel , Barba-Moreno Diego , Avia Miguel , Sevilla Noemí , Martín Verónica
Published: March 2021

Bluetongue virus (BTV) is the causative agent of a disease that affects domestic and wild ruminants and leads to critical economic losses. BTV is an arbovirus from the Reoviridae family that is typically transmitted by the bite of infectedCulicoidesmidges. BTV possesses multiple serotypes (up to 28 have been described), and immunity to one serotype offers little cross-protection to other serotypes. The design of vaccines that provide protection across multiple serotypes is therefore highly desirable to control this disease. We previously reported that a recombinant replication-defective human adenovirus serotype 5 (Ad5) that expresses the VP7 inner core protein of BTV serotype 8 (Ad5VP7-8) induced T-cell responses and provided protection. In the present work, we evaluated as BTV vaccine the combination of Ad5VP7-8 with another recombinant Ad5 that expresses the outer core protein VP2 from BTV-1 (Ad5VP2-1). The combination of Ad5VP2-1 and Ad5VP7-8 protected against homologous BTV challenge (BTV-1 and BTV-8) and partially against heterologous BTV-4 in a murine model. Cross-reactive anti-BTV immunoglobulin G (IgG) were detected in immunized animals, but no significant titers of neutralizing antibodies were elicited. The Ad5VP7-8 immunization induced T-cell responses that recognized all three serotypes tested in this study and primed cytotoxic T lymphocytes specific for VP7. This study further confirms that targeting antigenic determinant shared by several BTV serotypes using cellular immunity could help develop multiserotype BTV vaccines.
Schistosoma japonicum Infection Leads to the Reprogramming of Glucose and Lipid Metabolism in the Colon of Mice
Authors: Yang Xiaoying , Ding Weimin , Qian Xinyu , Jiang Pengfei , Chen Qingqing , Zhang Xin , Lu Yang , Wu Jiacheng , Sun Fenfen , Pan Zhihua , Li Xiangyang , Pan Wei
Published: March 2021

The deposition of Schistosoma japonicum (S. japonicum) eggs commonly induces inflammation, fibrosis, hyperplasia, ulceration, and polyposis in the colon, which poses a serious threat to human health. However, the underlying mechanism is largely neglected. Recently, the disorder of glucose and lipid metabolism was reported to participate in the liver fibrosis induced by the parasite, which provides a novel clue for studying the underlying mechanism of the intestinal pathology of the disease. This study focused on the metabolic reprogramming profiles of glucose and lipid in the colon of mice infected by S. japonicum. We found that S. japonicum infection shortened the colonic length, impaired intestinal integrity, induced egg-granuloma formation, and increased colonic inflammation. The expression of key enzymes involved in the pathways regulating glucose and lipid metabolism was upregulated in the colon of infected mice. Conversely, phosphatase and tensin homolog deleted on chromosome ten (PTEN) and its downstream signaling targets were significantly inhibited after infection. In line with these results, in vitro stimulation with soluble egg antigens (SEA) downregulated the expression of PTEN in CT-26 cells and induced metabolic alterations similar to that observed under in vivo results. Moreover, PTEN over-expression prevented the reprogramming of glucose and lipid metabolism induced by SEA in CT-26 cells. Overall, the present study showed that S. japonicum infection induces the reprogramming of glucose and lipid metabolism in the colon of mice, and PTEN may play a vital role in mediating this metabolic reprogramming. These findings provide a novel insight into the pathogenicity of S. japonicum in hosts.
Human–Machine Interface Design for Monitoring Safety Risks Associated with Operating Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems in Urban Areas
Authors: Friedrich Max , Vollrath Mark
Published: March 2021

The envisioned introduction of autonomous Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (sUAS) into low-altitude urban airspace necessitates high levels of system safety. Despite increased system autonomy, humans will most likely remain an essential component in assuring safety. This paper derives, applies, and evaluates a display design concept that aims to support safety risk monitoring of multiple sUAS by a human operator. The concept comprises of five design principles. The core idea of the concept is to limit display complexity despite increasing the number of sUAS monitored by primarily visualizing highly abstracted information while hiding detailed information of lower abstraction, unless specifically requested by the human operator. States of highly abstracted functions are visualized by function-specific icons that change hue in accordance to specified system states. Simultaneously, the design concept aims to support the human operator in identifying off-nominal situations by implementing design properties that guide visual attention. The display was evaluated in a study with seven subject matter experts. Although preliminary, the results clearly favor the proposed display design concept. The advantages of the proposed design concept are demonstrated, and the next steps for further exploring the proposed display design concept are outlined.
Special Issue: Deicing and Anti-Icing of Aircrafts
Authors: Sakaue Hirotaka
Published: March 2021

In-flight icing for aircrafts is a large concern for all those involved in aircraft operations [...]
Wood-Based Compost Affects Soil Fertility and the Content of Available Forms of Nutrients in Vineyard and Field-Scale Agroecosystems
Authors: Pizzeghello Diego , Bellin Livio , Nardi Serenella , Francioso Ornella , Squartini Andrea , Concheri Giuseppe
Published: March 2021

To counteract the loss of organic matter of agricultural soils, the use of compost from green and woody residues is a promising strategy. In this study, an organic farm (NE Italy) was investigated to determine the effect of management practices on physical and chemical soil properties. The organic system received three years ago a single high dose (60 t ha−1) of a wood-based compost (WBC), and it was compared with a conventional farm that annually managed mineral plus manure fertilization. In both systems, soil samples from a vineyard and field-scale rotation were collected, together with soil samples from an area not cultivated and not treated neither with compost nor with fertilizers or manure (untreated = control). Soil samples were characterized for soil fertility parameters, extractable fractions of macro- and micronutrients with DTPA and Mehlich3, and their total content. WBC was physically, chemically, and biologically characterized. The results showed that WBC fulfilled the requirements prescribed by Italian legislation, and the absence of phytotoxicity and conversely a stimulating activity towards root development was evidenced. From the DNA metabarcoding of the bacterial community, WBC revealed several peculiarities, including the dominance of taxa such as the order Acidimicrobiales, the families Anerolineaceae, Cytophagaceae, Caldimicrobiacese, Saprospiraceae and the archaeon Candidatus Nitrososphaera. Concerning the fertility of soils, the addition of WBC in both the vineyard and field-scale considerably affected some important soil parameters compared to those of conventional fertilization and untreated soil. Among these, WBC strongly increased the organic C content and the amount of the available P. In addition, the concentrations of macro- and micronutrients extractable by DTPA were generally higher with WBC than conventional fertilization. On the contrary, Mehlich3 extractable metals and total metals content were not affected by fertilization. The principal component analysis indicated that organic C, macronutrients (CaDTPA, KDTPA, and POlsen), as well as micronutrients (BDTPA, FeDTPA, and MoDTPA) are principal factors that properly separated conventional fertilization from organic fertilization. Beside this, within the same management, cases by agroecosystem were also well revealed by cluster analysis. In essence, in the short-term, the organic system led to a significant improvement in organic C and plant-available nutrients over the conventional system.
Zinc and/or Selenium Enriched Spirulina as Antioxidants in Growing Rabbit Diets to Alleviate the Deleterious Impacts of Heat Stress during Summer Season
Authors: Hassan Fawzia , Mobarez Samia , Mohamed Manal , Attia Youssef , Mekawy Aml , Mahrose Khalid
Published: March 2021

Effects of dietary supplemental zinc and/ or selenium enriched spirulina (Zn-Sp, Se-Sp and Zn-Se-Sp, respectively) as antioxidants on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, plasma biochemicals and antioxidant status of growing rabbits under summer conditions were evaluated. A total of 160 New Zealand White male rabbits at six-weeks-old were randomly assigned to four groups. The first group received untreated diet (control). The other groups received diet supplemented with 100 mg Zn-Sp/kg diet, 0.5 mg Se-Sp/kg diet or 100 mg Zn-Sp+ 0.5 mg Se-Sp, respectively. The findings showed that the supplemented diets enhanced growth performance of rabbits at marketing. Rabbits fed Zn-Sp exhibited high dry and organic matter digestibilities while those fed Zn-Sp and Zn-Se-Sp diet supplemented achieved high crude protein digestibility. Rabbits fed diet supplemented with Zn-Se-Sp gave the highest hot carcass weight when competed with their counterparts. Zn-Sp and Zn-Se-Sp supplemented diets tended to promote dressing percentage. Low concentrations of plasma total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol and VLDL-cholesterol were recorded by Se-Sp and Zn-Se-Sp groups. Rabbits fed Se-Sp, Zn-Se-Sp had the greatest HDL, plasma TAC and catalase and the lowest TBARs. Conclusively, dietary supplementation of 100 mg Zn-Sp, 0.5 mg Se-Sp or their combination could improve growth performance, nutrients digestibility and antioxidant status of heat stressed growing rabbits.
Comparative Transcriptome Analysis Identifies Candidate Genes Related to Black-Spotted Pattern Formation in Spotted Scat (Scatophagus argus)
Authors: Lin Xiaozhan , Tian Changxu , Huang Yang , Shi Hongjuan , Li Guangli
Published: March 2021

Spotted scat (Scatophagus argus) is an economically important marine aquaculture and ornamental fish species in Asia, especially in southeast China. In this study, skin transcriptomes of S. argus were obtained for three types of skin, including black-spotted skin (A), non-spotted skin (B) and caudal fin (C). A total of nine complementary DNA (cDNA) libraries were obtained by Illumina sequencing. Bioinformatics analysis revealed that 1358, 2086 and 487 genes were differentially expressed between A and B, A and C, and B and C, respectively. The results revealed that there were 134 common significantly differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and several key genes related to pigment synthesis and pigmentation, including tyrp1, mitf, pmel, slc7a2, tjp1, hsp70 and mart-1. Of these, some DEGs were associated with pigmentation-related Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathways, such as tyrosine metabolism, melanogenesis, the Wnt signaling pathway and the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway. The results will facilitate understanding the molecular mechanisms of skin pigmentation differentiation in S. argus and provide valuable information for skin coloration, especially the formation of spotted patterns on other marine fish species.
Learning to Be an Orangutan—Implications of Life History for Orangutan Rehabilitation
Authors: Preuschoft Signe , Yassir Ishak , Putri Asti Iryanti , Aoliya Nur , Yuliani Erma , Badriyah Siti Nur , Corbi Paloma , Sugianto Yoyok , Sitepu Bina Swastas , Mukhlisi  , Kalcher-Sommersguter Elfriede
Published: March 2021

Orangutans depend on social learning for the acquisition of survival skills. The development of skills is not usually assessed in rescued orphans’ pre-release. We collected data of seven orphans over an 18-months-period to monitor the progress of ontogenetic changes. The orphans, 1.5–9 years old, were immersed in a natural forest environment with human surrogate mothers and other orphans. Social interactions deviated significantly from those of wild mother-reared immatures. Infants spent more time playing socially with peers, at the expense of resting and solitary play. Infants were also more often and at an earlier age distant from their human surrogate mothers than wild immatures are from their biological mothers. We found important changes towards an orangutan-typical lifestyle in 4- to 7-year-old orphans, corresponding to the weaning age in maternally reared immatures. The older orphans spent less time interacting with human surrogate mothers or peers, started to use the canopy more than lower forest strata and began to sleep in nests in the forest. Their time budgets resembled those of wild adults. In conclusion, juvenile orphans can develop capacities that qualify them as candidates for release back into natural habitat when protected from humanising influences and immersed in a species-typical environment.
Characterization of Primary Cultures of Normal and Neoplastic Canine Melanocytes
Authors: Sforna Monica , Chiaradia Elisabetta , Porcellato Ilaria , Silvestri Serenella , Moretti Giulia , Mechelli Luca , Brachelente Chiara
Published: March 2021

Although numerous animal models, especially mouse models, have been established for the study of melanoma, they often fail to accurately describe the mechanisms of human disease because of their anatomic, physiological, and immune differences. The dog, as a spontaneous model of melanoma, is nowadays considered one of the most valid alternatives due to the heterogeneity of clinical presentations and of histological and genetic similarities of canine melanoma with the human counterpart. The aim of the study was to optimize a protocol for the isolation and cultivation of healthy and neoplastic canine melanocytes derived from the same animal and obtained from cutaneous and mucosal (oral) sites. We obtained five primary tumor cell cultures (from 2 cutaneous melanoma, 2 mucosal melanoma and 1 lymph node metastasis) and primary normal melanocyte cell cultures (from normal skin and mucosa) from the same dogs. Immunocytochemical characterization with Melan A, PNL2 and S100 antibodies confirmed the melanocytic origin of the cells. This work contributes to expanding the case record of studies on canine melanoma cell cultures as suitable model to study human and canine melanoma. To the authors’ knowledge, this is the first report of isolation of normal skin and mucosal canine melanocytes.
Occurrence and Antimicrobial Resistance of Arcobacter spp. Recovered from Aquatic Environments
Authors: Sciortino Sonia , Arculeo Pietro , Alio Vincenzina , Cardamone Cinzia , Nicastro Luisa , Arculeo Marco , Alduina Rosa , Costa Antonella
Published: March 2021

Arcobacter spp. are emerging waterborne and foodborne zoonotic pathogens responsible for gastroenteritis in humans. In this work, we evaluated the occurrence and the antimicrobial resistance profile of Arcobacter isolates recovered from different aquatic sources. Besides, we searched for Arcobacter spp. in seaweeds and the corresponding seawater samples. Bacteriological and molecular methods applied to 100 samples led to the isolation of 28 Arcobacter isolates from 27 samples. The highest prevalence was detected in rivers followed by artificial ponds, streams, well waters, and spring waters. Seaweeds contained a higher percentage of Arcobacter than the corresponding seawater samples. The isolates were identified as Arcobacter butzleri (96.4%) and Arcobacter cryaerophilus (3.6%). All the isolates showed a multi-drug resistance profile, being resistant to at least three different classes of antibiotics. Molecular analysis of genetic determinants responsible for tetracycline resistance in nine randomly chosen isolates revealed the presence of tetO and/or tetW. This work confirms the occurrence and the continuous emergence of antibiotic-resistant Arcobacter strains in environmental samples; also, the presence of quinolone-resistant Arcobacter spp. in aquatic sources used for water supply and irrigation represents a potential risk for human health.
Methicillin-Resistant and Methicillin-Susceptible Staphylococcus from Vervet Monkeys (Chlorocebus sabaeus) in Saint Kitts
Authors: Hoefer Andreas , Boyen Filip , Beierschmitt Amy , Moodley Arshnee , Roberts Marilyn C. , Butaye Patrick
Published: March 2021

Antimicrobial resistance has been described in all ecosystems, including wildlife. Here we investigated the presence of methicillin-resistant and susceptible staphylococci in both colony-born and wild vervet monkeys (Chlorocebus sabaeus). Through selective isolation, PCR, MALDI-TOF, and whole-genome sequencing, methicillin-resistant and susceptible Staphylococcus spp. isolated from vervet monkeys were characterized. We obtained putatively methicillin-resistant staphylococci from 29 of the 34 nasal samples collected. Strains were identified by MALDI-TOF analysis. Staphylococcus cohnii (n = 15) was the most commonly isolated species, while nine other species were isolated one or two times. PCR analysis indicated that eight [28%] strains were mecA positive. The whole-genome sequencing [WGS] included eight methicillin-resistant strains (S. epidermidis (n = 2), S. cohnii (n = 3), S. arlettae (n = 2) and S. hominis (n = 1)), nine additional S. cohnii strains and two strains that could not be identified by MALDI-TOF, but genetically characterized as one S. cohnii and one S. warneri. Different resistance genes carried by different mobile genetic elements, mainly blaZ (n = 10) and tet(K) (n = 5) were found, while msr(A), cat, fosB, dfrG, erm(C), mph(C) and str were identified in one to three strains. Phylogenetic analysis of the S. cohnii strains based on SNPs indicated four clusters associated with colony born or wild. In addition, one singleton S. cohnii isolated did not form a separate group and clustered within other S. cohnii strains submitted to the NCBI. In this study, we demonstrated the presence of AMR and mobile genetic elements to both colony-born and wild vervet monkeys. We also identified a previously undescribed prevalence of S. cohnii in the nasal flora of these monkeys, which merits further investigation.
Antioxidant and Neuroprotective Activity of Extra Virgin Olive Oil Extracts Obtained from Quercetano Cultivar Trees Grown in Different Areas of the Tuscany Region (Italy)
Authors: Barbalace Maria Cristina , Zallocco Lorenzo , Beghelli Daniela , Ronci Maurizio , Scortichini Serena , Digiacomo Maria , Macchia Marco , Mazzoni Maria Rosa , Fiorini Dennis , Lucacchini Antonio , Hrelia Silvana , Giusti Laura , Angeloni Cristina
Published: March 2021

Neurodegenerative diseases are driven by several mechanisms such as inflammation, abnormal protein aggregation, excitotoxicity, mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative stress. So far, no therapeutic strategies are available for neurodegenerative diseases and in recent years the research is focusing on bioactive molecules present in food. In particular, extra-virgin olive oil (EVOO) phenols have been associated to neuroprotection. In this study, we investigated the potential antioxidant and neuroprotective activity of two different EVOO extracts obtained from Quercetano cultivar trees grown in two different areas (plain and hill) of the Tuscany region (Italy). The different geographical origin of the orchards influenced phenol composition. Plain extract presented a higher content of phenyl ethyl alcohols, cinnammic acids, oleacein, oleocanthal and flavones; meanwhile, hill extract was richer in lignans. Hill extract was more effective in protecting differentiated SH-SY5Y cells from peroxide stress thanks to a marked upregulation of the antioxidant enzymes heme oxygenase 1, NADPH quinone oxidoreductase 1, thioredoxin Reductase 1 and glutathione reductase. Proteomic analysis revealed that hill extract plays a role in the regulation of proteins involved in neuronal plasticity and activation of neurotrophic factors such as BDNF. In conclusion, these data demonstrate that EVOOs can have important neuroprotective activities, but these effects are strictly related to their specific phenol composition.
Flavonoids-Macromolecules Interactions in Human Diseases with Focus on Alzheimer, Atherosclerosis and Cancer
Authors: Atrahimovich Dana , Avni Dorit , Khatib Soliman
Published: March 2021

Flavonoids, a class of polyphenols, consumed daily in our diet, are associated with a reduced risk for oxidative stress (OS)-related chronic diseases, such as cardiovascular disease, neurodegenerative diseases, cancer, and inflammation. The involvement of flavonoids with OS-related chronic diseases have been traditionally attributed to their antioxidant activity. However, evidence from recent studies indicate that flavonoids’ beneficial impact may be assigned to their interaction with cellular macromolecules, rather than exerting a direct antioxidant effect. This review provides an overview of the recent evolving research on interactions between the flavonoids and lipoproteins, proteins, chromatin, DNA, and cell-signaling molecules that are involved in the OS-related chronic diseases; it focuses on the mechanisms by which flavonoids attenuate the development of the aforementioned chronic diseases via direct and indirect effects on gene expression and cellular functions. The current review summarizes data from the literature and from our recent research and then compares specific flavonoids’ interactions with their targets, focusing on flavonoid structure–activity relationships. In addition, the various methods of evaluating flavonoid–protein and flavonoid–DNA interactions are presented. Our aim is to shed light on flavonoids action in the body, beyond their well-established, direct antioxidant activity, and to provide insights into the mechanisms by which these small molecules, consumed daily, influence cellular functions.
Antioxidant and Antiglycation Effects of Polyphenol Compounds Extracted from Hazelnut Skin on Advanced Glycation End-Products (AGEs) Formation
Authors: Spagnuolo Ludovica , Della Posta Susanna , Fanali Chiara , Dugo Laura , De Gara Laura
Published: March 2021

The advanced glycation end-products (AGEs) arise from non-enzymatic reactions of sugar with protein side chains, some of which are oxido-reductive in nature. Enhanced production of AGEs plays an important role in the pathogenesis of diabetic complications as well as in natural aging, renal failure, oxidative stress, and chronic inflammation. The aim of this work is to study antiglycation effects of polyphenol compounds extracted by hazelnut skin that represents an example of polyphenols-rich food industry by-product, on AGEs formation. AGEs derived from incubation of bovine serum albumin (BSA) and methylglyoxal (MGO) were characterized by fluorescence. The phenolics identification and total polyphenol content in hazelnut skin extracts were analyzed by HPLC-MS and the Folin–Ciocalteu method, respectively. Antioxidant efficacy was evaluated by monitoring total antioxidant activity to assess the ABTS radical scavenging activity of samples by TEAC assay and oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) assay, expressed as millimoles of Trolox equivalents per gram of sample. Data here presented suggest that phenolic compounds in hazelnut skin have an inhibitory effect on the BSA-AGEs model in vitro, and this effect is concentration-dependent. The putative role of the hazelnut skin antioxidative properties for hindering AGEs formation is also discussed. Because of AGEs contribution to the pathogenesis of several chronic diseases, foods enriched, or supplements containing natural bioactive molecules able to inhibit their production could be an interesting new strategy for supporting therapeutic approaches with a positive effect on human health.
Fate of β-Carotene within Loaded Delivery Systems in Food: State of Knowledge
Authors: Maurya Vaibhav Kumar , Shakya Amita , Aggarwal Manjeet , Gothandam Kodiveri Muthukaliannan , Bohn Torsten , Pareek Sunil
Published: March 2021

Nanotechnology has opened new opportunities for delivering bioactive agents. Their physiochemical characteristics, i.e., small size, high surface area, unique composition, biocompatibility and biodegradability, make these nanomaterials an attractive tool for β-carotene delivery. Delivering β-carotene through nanoparticles does not only improve its bioavailability/bioaccumulation in target tissues, but also lessens its sensitivity against environmental factors during processing. Regardless of these benefits, nanocarriers have some limitations, such as variations in sensory quality, modification of the food matrix, increasing costs, as well as limited consumer acceptance and regulatory challenges. This research area has rapidly evolved, with a plethora of innovative nanoengineered materials now being in use, including micelles, nano/microemulsions, liposomes, niosomes, solidlipid nanoparticles, nanostructured lipids and nanostructured carriers. These nanodelivery systems make conventional delivery systems appear archaic and promise better solubilization, protection during processing, improved shelf-life, higher bioavailability as well as controlled and targeted release. This review provides information on the state of knowledge on β-carotene nanodelivery systems adopted for developing functional foods, depicting their classifications, compositions, preparation methods, challenges, release and absorption of β-carotene in the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) and possible risks and future prospects.
A Trial Acoustic Improvement in a Lecture Hall with MPP Sound Absorbers and FDTD Acoustic Simulations
Authors: Cingolani Matteo , Fratoni Giulia , Barbaresi Luca , D’Orazio Dario , Hamilton Brian , Garai Massimo
Published: March 2021

Sound absorbing micro-perforated panels (MPPs) are being increasingly used because of their high quality in terms of hygiene, sustainability and durability. The present work investigates the feasibility and the performance of MPPs when used as an acoustic treatment in lecture rooms. With this purpose, three different micro-perforated steel specimens were first designed following existing predictive models and then physically manufactured through 3D additive metal printing. The specimens’ acoustic behavior was analyzed with experimental measurements in single-layer and double-layer configurations. Then, the investigation was focused on the application of double-layer MPPs to the ceiling of an existing university lecture hall to enhance speech intelligibility. Numerical simulations were carried out using a full-spectrum wave-based method: a finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) code was chosen to better handle time-dependent signals as the verbal communication. The present work proposes a workflow to explore the suitability of a specific material to speech requirements. The measured specific impedance complex values allowed to derive the input data referred to MPPs in FDTD simulations. The outcomes of the process show the influence of the acoustic treatment in terms of reverberation time (T30) and sound clarity (C50). A systematic comparison with a standard geometrical acoustic (GA) technique is reported as well.
The Assessment of the Technical Condition of Complex Fatigued Load-Carrying Structures
Authors: Misiewicz Robert , Więckowski Jędrzej Stanisław
Published: March 2021

This article presents a research approach that enables the assessment of the technical condition of complex technical objects. The main emphasis is placed on the load-carrying structures of these objects. The procedure applying experimental research techniques and computer computations using the finite element method is described. The combination of the two techniques assesses the technical condition of the structure. The described approach is presented using the example of two objects.
Leading-Edge Vortex Characteristics of Low-Aspect-Ratio Sweptback Plates at Low Reynolds Number
Authors: Han Jong-Seob , Breitsamter Christian
Published: March 2021

A sweptback angle can directly regulate a leading-edge vortex on various aerodynamic devices as well as on the wings of biological flyers, but the effect of a sweptback angle has not yet been sufficiently investigated. Here, we thoroughly investigated the effect of the sweptback angle on aerodynamic characteristics of low-aspect-ratio flat plates at a Reynolds number of 2.85 × 104. Direct force/moment measurements and surface oil-flow visualizations were conducted in the wind-tunnel B at the Technical University of Munich. It was found that while the maximum lift at an aspect ratio of 2.03 remains unchanged, two other aspect ratios of 3.13 and 4.50 show a gradual increment in the maximum lift with an increasing sweptback angle. The largest leading-edge vortex contribution was found at the aspect ratio of 3.13, resulting in a superior lift production at a sufficient sweptback angle. This is similar to that of a revolving/flapping wing, where an aspect ratio around three shows a superior lift production. In the oil-flow patterns, it was observed that while the leading-edge vortices at aspect ratios of 2.03 and 3.13 fully covered the surfaces, the vortex at an aspect ratio of 4.50 only covered up the surface approximately three times the chord, similar to that of a revolving/flapping wing. Based on the pattern at the aspect ratio of 4.50, a critical length of the leading-edge vortex of a sweptback plate was measured as ~3.1 times the chord.
Review of Liquid Argon Detector Technologies in the Neutrino Sector
Authors: Majumdar Krishanu , Mavrokoridis Konstantinos
Published: March 2021

Liquid Argon (LAr) is one of the most widely used scintillators in particle detection, due to its low cost, high availability and excellent scintillation properties. A large number of experiments in the neutrino sector are based around using LAr in one or more Time Projection Chambers (TPCs), leading to high resolution three-dimensional particle reconstruction. In this paper, we review and summarise a number of these Liquid Argon Time Projection Chamber (LArTPC) experiments, and briefly describe the specific technologies that they currently employ. This includes single phase LAr experiments (ICARUS T600, MicroBooNE, SBND, LArIAT, DUNE-SP, ProtoDUNE-SP, ArgonCube and Vertical Drift) and dual phase LAr experiments (DUNE-DP, WA105, ProtoDUNE-DP and ARIADNE). We also discuss some new avenues of research in the field of LArTPC readout, which show potential for wide-scale use in the near future.
Toward Emerging Innovations in Electrochemical Biosensing Technology
Authors: Kim Tae Hyun
Published: March 2021

With the progress of nanoscience and biotechnology, advanced electrochemical biosensors have been widely investigated for various application fields. Such electrochemical sensors are well suited to miniaturization and integration for portable devices and parallel processing chips. Therefore, advanced electrochemical biosensors can open a new era in health care, drug discovery, and environmental monitoring. This Special Issue serves the need to promote exploratory research and development on emerging electrochemical biosensor technologies while aiming to reflect on the current state of research in this emerging field.
Prediction of Mean Responses of RC Bridges Considering the Incident Angle of Ground Motions and Displacement Directions
Authors: Tehrani Payam , Mitchell Denis
Published: March 2021

Inelastic dynamic analyses were carried out using 3D and 2D models to predict the mean seismic response of four-span reinforced concrete (RC) bridges considering directionality effects. Two averaging methods, including an advanced method considering displacement direction, were used for the prediction of the mean responses to account for different incident angles of ground motion records. A method was developed to predict the variability of the mean displacement predictions due to variability in the incident angles of the records for different averaging methods. When the concepts of averaging in different directions were used, significantly different predictions were obtained for the directionality effects. The accuracy of the results obtained using 2D and 3D analyses with and without the application of the combination rules for the prediction of the mean seismic demands considering the incident angle of the records was investigated. The predictions from different methods to account for the records incident angles were evaluated probabilistically. Recommendations were made for the use of the combination rules to account for the directivity effects of the records and to predict the actual maximum displacement, referred to as the maximum radial displacement.
Rapid In Situ Biomonitoring of Subsoil Contamination by Applying an Algae-Soaked Disc Seeding Assay
Authors: Nam Sun-Hwa , Kwak Jin Il , An Youn-Joo
Published: March 2021

Various pollutants are pervasive in soil environments due to human activities, thereby damaging soil ecosystems. In this study, extension of a previously developed algae-soaked disc seeding assay for periodic evaluation of subsoil contamination over time was described. The assay can be used in different contamination configurations of silver nanoparticles in combination with examination of cell morphology, esterase activity, oxidative stress, and membrane permeability. In addition, we periodically attempted to repeat the algae-soaked disc seeding assay every three weeks. We evaluated applicability of this algae-soaked disc seeding assay using alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii exposed to heterogeneous silver nanoparticle-contaminated soils. The results demonstrated that this assay is applicable for monitoring a change of subsoil contamination by periodic evaluation over time. The developed assay was identified as a periodically rapid in situ biomonitoring technique to measure subsoil contamination over time.