bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Delivery of Cinnamic Aldehyde Antioxidant Response Activating nanoParticles (ARAPas) for Vascular Applications
Authors: Cartaya Ana E. , Lutz Halle , Maiocchi Sophie , Nalesnik Morgan , Bahnson Edward M.
Published: April 2021

Selective delivery of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) activators to the injured vasculature at the time of vascular surgical intervention has the potential to attenuate oxidative stress and decrease vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) hyperproliferation and migration towards the inner vessel wall. To this end, we developed a nanoformulation of cinnamic aldehyde (CA), termed Antioxidant Response Activating nanoParticles (ARAPas), that can be readily loaded into macrophages ex vivo. The CA-ARAPas-macrophage system was used to study the effects of CA on VSMC in culture. CA was encapsulated into a pluronic micelle that was readily loaded into both murine and human macrophages. CA-ARAPas inhibits VSMC proliferation and migration, and activates Nrf2. Macrophage-mediated transfer of CA-ARAPas to VSMC is evident after 12 h, and Nrf2 activation is apparent after 24 h. This is the first report, to the best of our knowledge, of CA encapsulation in pluronic micelles for macrophage-mediated delivery studies. The results of this study highlight the feasibility of CA encapsulation and subsequent macrophage uptake for delivery of cargo into other pertinent cells, such as VSMC.
Use of Treated Non-Ferrous Metallurgical Slags as Supplementary Cementitious Materials in Cementitious Mixtures
Authors: Gholizadeh Vayghan Asghar , Horckmans Liesbeth , Snellings Ruben , Peys Arne , Teck Priscilla , Maier Jürgen , Friedrich Bernd , Klejnowska Katarzyna
Published: April 2021

This research investigated the possibility of using metallurgical slags from the copper and lead industries as partial replacement for cement. The studied slags were fayalitic, having a mainly ferro-silicate composition with minor contents of Al2O3 and CaO. The slags were treated at 1200–1300 °C (to reduce the heavy metal content) and then granulated in water to promote the formation of reactive phases. A full hydration study was carried out to assess the kinetics of reactions, the phases formed during hydration, the reactivity of the slags and their strength activity as supplementary cementitious material (SCM). The batch-leaching behaviour of cementitious mixtures incorporating treated slags was also investigated. The results showed that all three slags have satisfactory leaching behaviour and similar performance in terms of reactivity and contribution to the strength development. All slags were found to have mediocre reactivity and contribution to strength, especially at early ages. Nonetheless, they passed the minimum mechanical performance requirements and were found to qualify for use in cement.
Influencing Factors in Autotransplantation of Teeth with Open Apex: A Review of the Literature
Authors: Pecci Lloret María P. , Martínez Elena Pina , Rodríguez Lozano Francisco J. , Pecci Lloret Miguel R. , Guerrero Gironés Julia , Riccitiello Francesco , Spagnuolo Gianrico
Published: April 2021

Dental autotransplantation is the process by which a tooth located in its natural socket is extracted and relocated to another socket in which the tooth is missing or has been extracted due to various reasons such as trauma, extensive caries or periapical pathology, among other reasons. This proposed technique offers a more conservative alternative for patients in comparison with prosthetic or implant techniques, especially in young patients where implants are contraindicated until their maxillary bone system’s growth ends. Thus, the objective of this review was to present a qualitative synthesis of the risk factors that influence the results of open apex dental autotransplantation in humans. After confirming that there are various factors that influence dental autotransplantation, it was concluded that the extra-alveolar time of the donor tooth and the periodontal damage of the root of the donor tooth are the factors of greatest interest in the literature, both closely linked to the use of 3D replication of the transplanted tooth.
Optimizing CNT Loading in Antimicrobial Composites for Urinary Tract Application
Authors: Gomes Marisa , Gomes Luciana C. , Teixeira-Santos Rita , Pereira Manuel F. R. , Soares Olívia S. G. P. , Mergulhão Filipe J.
Published: April 2021

Several methodologies have been implemented with the intent of preventing or reducing the formation of biofilms on indwelling urinary devices. The use of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) in the biomedical field has been increasing, particularly in the production of antimicrobial and antifouling coatings. Despite their proven antimicrobial properties, their use as coating materials for urinary tract devices (UTDs) is still poorly documented. In the present work, CNT/poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) composite materials containing different CNT loadings were prepared and further tested against Escherichia coli under conditions prevailing in UTDs. Besides CNT loading optimization, textural modifications were also introduced on the surface of CNTs to improve the antibiofilm properties of the final composites. Material characterization included the textural evaluation of CNTs and the assessment of surface morphology by scanning electron microscopy, while the surface hydrophobicity was determined by contact angle measurements. Biofilm analysis was performed by determining the number of culturable and total cells and by confocal laser scanning microscopy. Results revealed that, by filling the PDMS matrix with 3 wt% CNT loading, a significant reduction in cell culturability (39%) can be achieved compared to PDMS. Additionally, the textural modifications induced by ball-milling treatment proved to be effective on the inhibition of biofilm formation, reducing the amount of biofilm per surface area, biofilm thickness and surface coverage in 31, 47 and 27%, respectively (compared to surfaces where CNTs were not ball-milled).
To Swab or Not to Swab? The Lesson Learned in Italy in the Early Stage of the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Berchialla Paola , Giraudo Maria Teresa , Fava Carmen , Ricotti Andrea , Saglio Giuseppe , Lorenzoni Giulia , Sciannameo Veronica , Urru Sara , Prosepe Ilaria , Lanera Corrado , Azzolina Danila , Gregori Dario
Published: April 2021

Testing for the SARS-CoV-2 infection is critical for tracking the spread of the virus and controlling the transmission dynamics. In the early phase of the pandemic in Italy, the decentralized healthcare system allowed regions to adopt different testing strategies. The objective of this paper is to assess the impact of the extensive testing of symptomatic individuals and their contacts on the number of hospitalizations against a more stringent testing strategy limited to suspected cases with severe respiratory illness and an epidemiological link to a COVID-19 case. A Poisson regression modelling approach was adopted. In the first model developed, the cumulative daily number of positive cases and a temporal trend were considered as explanatory variables. In the second, the cumulative daily number of swabs was further added. The explanatory variable, given by the number of swabs over time, explained most of the observed differences in the number of hospitalizations between the two strategies. The percentage of the expected error dropped from 70% of the first, simpler model to 15%. Increasing testing to detect and isolate infected individuals in the early phase of an outbreak improves the capability to reduce the spread of serious infections, lessening the burden of hospitals.
Cavity Detection in Steel-Pipe Culverts Using Infrared Thermography
Authors: Kalhor Davood , Ebrahimi Samira , Tokime Roger Booto , Mamoudan Farima Abdollahi , Bélanger Yohan , Mercier Alexandra , Maldague Xavier
Published: April 2021

Finding efficient and less expensive techniques for different aspects of culvert inspection is in great demand. This study assesses the potential of infrared thermography (IRT) to detect the presence of cavities in the soil around a culvert, specifically for cavities adjacent to the pipe of galvanized culverts. To identify cavities, we analyze thermograms, generated via long pulse thermography, using absolute thermal contrast, principal components thermography, and a statistical approach along with a combination of different pre- and post-processing algorithms. Using several experiments, we evaluate the performance of IRT for accomplishing the given task. Empirical results show a promising future for the application of this approach in culvert inspection. The size and location of cavities are among the aspects that can be extracted from analyzing thermograms. The key finding of this research is that the proposed approach can provide useful information about a certain type of problem around a culvert pipe which may indicate the early stage of the cavity formation. Becoming aware of this process in earlier stages will certainly help to prevent any costly incidents later.
The Effects of Visuomotor Training on the Functional Recovery of Post-Surgery Musculoskeletal Conditions: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Andrenelli Elisa , Sabbatini Luciano , Ricci Maurizio , Ceravolo Maria Gabriella , Capecci Marianna
Published: April 2021

(1) Background: Musculoskeletal conditions show increasing prevalence and high economic/human burden. Recovery for hip or knee surgery may require more than 26 weeks, while universally accepted rehabilitation guidelines are missing. Provided that multisensory-based training enhances motor learning, the study aims to verify if visuomotor training accelerates the recovery of lower limb motor function after orthopedic surgery. (2) Methods: Post-surgery subjects were randomly assigned to receive visuomotor training as an add-on to the conventional physical therapy (VTG), or receive the conventional therapy alone (CG). Subjects performed 40 one-hour training sessions in 8 weeks. The primary endpoint was the improvement in the Lower Extremity Functional Scale (LEFS) over the minimally clinical important difference (MCID) at 4 weeks post-randomization. The secondary endpoint included pain reduction. (3) Results: Eighteen patients were equally distributed into the VTG and CG groups. While LEFS and pain scores significantly improved in both groups, the VTG exceeded the LEFS MCID by 12 points and halved the pain value after the first 4 weeks of treatment, while the CG reached the endpoints only after treatment end (p = 0.0001). (4) Conclusions: Visuomotor training offers an innovative rehabilitation approach that accelerates the recovery of lower limb motor function in patients undergoing orthopedic surgery.
OPMSS: Optimal Producer Mobility Support Solution for Named Data Networking
Authors: Hussaini Muktar , Naeem Muhammad Ali , Kim Byung-Seo
Published: April 2021

Named data networking (NDN) is designed as a clean-slate Internet architecture to replace the current IP Internet architecture. The named data networking was proposed to offer vast advantages, especially with the advent of new content distributions in IoT, 5G and vehicular networking. However, the architecture is still facing challenges for managing content producer mobility. Despite the efforts of many researchers that curtailed the high handoff latency and signaling overhead, there are still some prominent challenges, such as non-optimal routing path, long delay for data delivery and unnecessary interest packet losses. This paper proposed a solution to minimize unnecessary interest packet losses, delay and provide data path optimization when the mobile producer relocates by using mobility update, broadcasting and best route strategies. The proposed solution is implemented, evaluated and benchmarked with an existing Kite solution. The performance analysis result revealed that our proposed Optimal Producer Mobility Support Solution (OPMSS) minimizes the number of unnecessary interest packets lost on average by 30%, and an average delay of 25% to 30%, with almost equal and acceptable signaling overhead costs. Furthermore, it provides a better data packet delivery route than the Kite solution.
Transient Response of Bridge Piers to Structure Separation under Near-Fault Vertical Earthquake
Authors: An Wenjun , Song Guquan
Published: April 2021

Given the possible separation problem caused by the double-span continuous beam bridge under the action of the vertical earthquake, considering the wave effect, the transient wave characteristic function method and the indirect mode superposition method are used to solve the response theory of the bridge structure during the earthquake. Through the example analysis, the pier bending moment changes under different vertical excitation periods and excitation amplitudes are calculated. Calculations prove that: (1) When the seismic excitation period is close to the vertical natural vibration period of the bridge, the main girder and the bridge pier may be separated; (2) When the pier has a high height, the separation has a more significant impact on the longitudinal displacement of the bridge, but the maximum relative displacement caused by the separation is random; (3) Large-scale vertical excitation will increase the number of partitions of the structure, and at the same time increase the vertical collision force between the main girder and the pier, but the effect on the longitudinal displacement of the form is uncertain; (4) When V/H exceeds a specific value, the pier will not only be damaged by bending, but will also be damaged by axial compression.
Effectiveness of Silicon Platelet-Rich Fibrin and Autologous Bone on Bone Regeneration in Rabbit Calvarian Defects: A Radiological and Histological Study
Authors: Hernández-Suarez Argimiro , Rizo-Gorrita María , Suárez-Vega Dubraska , Velazco Gladys , Rodriguez Gelfenstein Ivan , Vázquez-Pachón Celia , Serrera-Figallo María-Ángeles , Torres-Lagares Daniel
Published: April 2021

Repairing bone defects in oral surgery often requires the use of bone regeneration techniques. Silicon is an element that has been employed as regeneration material in several studies. In our study, silicon was combined with autologous bone and platelet-rich fibrin (PRF) membranes to analyse the behaviour of this element in bone regeneration. Four circumferential defects were created in the cranial vault of five New Zealand rabbits. The following elements were applied to the regeneration of the defects: (P): PRF; (S): silicon and (B): autologous bone, with the following distribution of study groups: Group 1 (PSB); Group 2 (PS); Group 3 (SB) and Group 4 (CONTROL): unregenerate group. The animals were sacrificed after 3 weeks. Computed microtomography studies (μ-CT) were carried out, as well as histomorphometric ones. The ANOVA statistical test was used with a Bonferroni post-hoc test to compare the results (p ≤ 0.05). Radiologically, groups PSB and SB were better as far as quantity and percentage of healthy bone observed, but not significantly compared to the control group. The PS group was significantly worse. The histological test revealed that the PSB group was the one to present the largest area, percentage and perimeter of mineralised bone. On evaluating the forming bone (osteoid), no difference was observed across the groups with the exception of the bone perimeter, where the SB group was significantly better. The bone height variable showed no significant differences. In conclusion we can state that the combination of PRF, autologous bone and silicon provides good results at 3 weeks whilst the PS group shows the worst results. This highlights the importance of autologous bone forming part of the graft material in order for the bone to mineralise.
Numerical Modelling of Ultrasonic Guided Wave Propagation and Defect Detection in Offshore Steel Sheet Piles
Authors: Dhutti Anuj , Dhutti Anurag , Malo Sergio , Marques Hugo , Balachandran Wamadeva , Gan Tat-Hean
Published: April 2021

Sheet piles are significantly more prone to advanced corrosion rates due to accelerated low water corrosion. Current inspection and assessment techniques are costly, time-consuming and labour-intensive. Guided wave testing (GWT) has gained increased attention due to its capability of screening long distances; however, it has not been used previously to inspect the active zone in steel sheet piles. This paper focuses on the numerical modelling of wave propagation and defect detection in U-shaped piles to demonstrate the capabilities of GWT for the inspection of non-accessible areas of steel sheet piles. Two shear transducer arrays were designed, bearing high SH0 mode purity and directionality. A wave propagation comparison study concluded that the back wall reflection signal from the web of a U-pile was 11.5% higher than the respective signal from the plate, and the excitation signal in the flange, at 5.65 m and 7.12 m, was respectively 35% and 46% less than the excitation signal in the web at the same distance. Defect reflection, measured from five representative defect scenarios, ranged from 7.5 to 47% of the signal amplitude in the web of the pile and 5 to 32.5% in the flange of the pile.
Effects of Spontaneous Neural Activity during Learning Football Juggling—A Randomized Control Trial
Authors: Chen Dandan , Liu Min , Klich Sebastian , Zhu Lina , Dong Xiaoxiao , Xiong Xuan , Chen Aiguo
Published: April 2021

To establish the characteristics of spontaneous neural activity during learning football juggling. We used fMRI to see which parts of the brain were changed by learning football juggling. Through recruitment, 111 college students (37 females and 74 males) were selected and randomly divided into football juggling (FJ) (n = 68, 23 females and 45 males) and a control group (CON) (n = 43, 14 females and 29 males). The FJ group learned football juggling 70 times, while CON had regular study sessions at the same time. Static functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) was used to measure the dynamic changes of spontaneous nerve activity during learning football juggling. The result shows that the ALFF value in the right cerebellum 8 area was significantly higher than that before the 70 times of learning football juggling. The present study provides initial evidence that learning football juggling 70 times effectively increased the level of spontaneous neural activity in the cerebellum region. These promising findings provide new evidence to fully reveal the relationship between motion learning and brain plasticity.
Toward Adaptability of E-Evaluation: Transformation from Tree-Based to Graph-Based Structure
Authors: Margienė Asta , Ramanauskaitė Simona
Published: April 2021

The COVID-19 pandemic and quarantine have forced students to use distance learning. Modern information technologies have enabled global e-learning usage but also revealed a lack of personalization and adaptation in the learning process when compared to face-to-face learning. While adaptive e-learning methods exist, their practical application is slow because of the additional time and resources needed to prepare learning material and its logical adaptation. To increase e-learning materials’ usability and decrease the design complexity of automated adaptive students’ work evaluation, we propose several transformations from a competence tree-based structure to a graph-based automated e-evaluation structure. Related works were summarized to highlight existing e-evaluation structures and the need for new transformations. Competence tree-based e-evaluation structure improvements were presented to support the implementation of top-to-bottom and bottom-to-top transformations. Validation of the proposed transformation was executed by analyzing different use-cases and comparing them to the existing graph-to-tree transformation. Research results revealed that the competence tree-based learning material storage is more reusable than graph-based solutions. Competence tree-based learning material can be transformed for different purposes in graph-based e-evaluation solutions. Meanwhile, graph-based learning material transformation to tree-based structure implies material redundancy, and the competence of the tree structure cannot be restored.
Therapeutic Approach of KRAS Mutant Tumours by the Combination of Pharmacologic Ascorbate and Chloroquine
Authors: Kapuy Orsolya , Makk-Merczel Kinga , Szarka András
Published: April 2021

The Warburg effect has been considered a potential therapeutic target to fight against cancer progression. In KRAS mutant cells, PKM2 (pyruvate kinase isozyme M2) is hyper-activated, and it induces GLUT1 expression; therefore, KRAS has been closely involved in the initiation of Warburg metabolism. Although mTOR (mammalian target of rapamycin), a well-known inhibitor of autophagy-dependent survival in physiological conditions, is also activated in KRAS mutants, many recent studies have revealed that autophagy becomes hyper-active in KRAS mutant cancer cells. In the present study, a mathematical model was built containing the main elements of the regulatory network in KRAS mutant cancer cells to explore the further possible therapeutic strategies. Our dynamical analysis suggests that the downregulation of KRAS, mTOR and autophagy are crucial in anti-cancer therapy. PKM2 has been assumed to be the key switch in the stress response mechanism. We predicted that the addition of both pharmacologic ascorbate and chloroquine is able to block both KRAS and mTOR pathways: in this case, no GLUT1 expression is observed, meanwhile autophagy, essential for KRAS mutant cancer cells, is blocked. Corresponding to our system biological analysis, this combined pharmacologic ascorbate and chloroquine treatment in KRAS mutant cancers might be a therapeutic approach in anti-cancer therapies.
Hydrocephalus Induced by Intraventricular Peroxiredoxin-2: The Role of Macrophages in the Choroid Plexus
Authors: Chen Ting , Tan Xiaoxiao , Xia Fan , Hua Ya , Keep Richard F. , Xi Guohua
Published: April 2021

The choroid plexus (CP) is the primary source of cerebrospinal fluid in the central nervous system. Recent evidence indicates that inflammatory pathways at the CP may be involved in hydrocephalus development. Peroxiredoxin 2 (Prx2) is a major component of red blood cells. Extracellular Prx2 is proinflammatory, and its release after red blood cell lysis may contribute to hydrocephalus after intraventricular hemorrhage. This study aimed to identify alterations in CP macrophages and dendritic cells following intracerebroventricular Prx2 injection and investigate the relationship between macrophages/dendritic cells and hydrocephalus. There were two parts to this study. In the first part, adult male Sprague–Dawley rats received an intracerebroventricular injection of Prx2 or saline. In the second part, Prx2 was co-injected with clodronate liposomes or control liposomes. All animals were euthanized at 24 h after magnetic resonance imaging. Immunohistochemistry was used to evaluate macrophages in CP, magnetic resonance imaging to quantify hydrocephalus, and histology to assess ventricular wall damage. The intracerebroventricular injection of Prx2 not only increased the OX-6 positive cells, but it also altered their location in the CP and immunophenotype. Co-injecting clodronate liposomes with Prx2 decreased the number of macrophages and simultaneously attenuated Prx2-induced hydrocephalus and ventricular wall damage. These results suggest that CP macrophages play an essential role in CP inflammation-induced hydrocephalus. These macrophages may be a potential therapeutic target in post-hemorrhagic hydrocephalus.
Efficient Degradation of 2-Mercaptobenzothiazole and Other Emerging Pollutants by Recombinant Bacterial Dye-Decolorizing Peroxidases
Authors: Alsadik Aya , Athamneh Khawlah , Yousef Ahmed F. , Shah Iltaf , Ashraf Syed Salman
Published: April 2021

In recent years, concerns are being raised about the potential harmful effects of emerging pollutants (EPs) on human and aquatic lives. Extensive research is being conducted on developing efficient remediation strategies to target this new class of toxic pollutants. Studies focused on biological (enzyme-based) methods have shown potential as greener and possibly more economical alternatives to other treatment approaches, such as chemical methods. The current study focused on the use of recombinantly produced novel bacterial peroxidases, namely dye-decolorizing peroxidases (DyPs), to study their effectiveness in degrading a number of diverse EPs. In this context, a sensitive bioanalytical Liquid chromatography—tandem mass spectrometry (LCMSMS)-based method was developed to simultaneously detect a mixture of 31 EPs and to examine their degradability by a panel of seven different recombinant bacterial DyPs (rDyPs). We show that up to 8 of the 31 tested EPs could be degraded by at least one of the DyPs tested. The results also indicated that not all rDyPs behaved similarly in their abilities to degrade EPs, as some rDyPs (such as SviDyP and CboDyP) showed a promising potential to degrade EPs while others (such as ScDyP) were almost ineffective. Additionally, the role of redox mediators for effective emerging pollutant degradation by rDyPs was also examined, which showed dramatic improvement in the DyP-mediated degradation of five different EPs. Detailed analysis of 2-mercaptobenzothiazole degradation by SviDyP showed that six distinct breakdown products were generated. The present study showed for the first time that recombinant bacterial DyPs can be used for wastewater remediation by degrading a range of different EPs.
Alteration in the Cerebrospinal Fluid Lipidome in Parkinson’s Disease: A Post-Mortem Pilot Study
Authors: Fernández-Irigoyen Joaquín , Cartas-Cejudo Paz , Iruarrizaga-Lejarreta Marta , Santamaría Enrique
Published: April 2021

Lipid metabolism is clearly associated to Parkinson’s disease (PD). Although lipid homeostasis has been widely studied in multiple animal and cellular models, as well as in blood derived from PD individuals, the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) lipidomic profile in PD remains largely unexplored. In this study, we characterized the post-mortem CSF lipidomic imbalance between neurologically intact controls (n = 10) and PD subjects (n = 20). The combination of dual extraction with ultra-performance liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization quadrupole-time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UPLC-ESI-qToF-MS/MS) allowed for the monitoring of 257 lipid species across all samples. Complementary multivariate and univariate data analysis identified that glycerolipids (mono-, di-, and triacylglycerides), saturated and mono/polyunsaturated fatty acids, primary fatty amides, glycerophospholipids (phosphatidylcholines, phosphatidylethanolamines), sphingolipids (ceramides, sphingomyelins), N-acylethanolamines and sterol lipids (cholesteryl esters, steroids) were significantly increased in the CSF of PD compared to the control group. Interestingly, CSF lipid dyshomeostasis differed depending on neuropathological staging and disease duration. These results, despite the limitation of being obtained in a small population, suggest extensive CSF lipid remodeling in PD, shedding new light on the deployment of CSF lipidomics as a promising tool to identify potential lipid markers as well as discriminatory lipid species between PD and other atypical parkinsonisms.
Manipulating the Structure and Characterization of Sr1−xLaxTiO3 Nanocubes toward the Photodegradation of 2-Naphthol under Artificial Solar Light
Authors: Le Minh-Vien , Vo Ngoc-Quoc-Duy , Le Quoc-Cuong , Tran Vy Anh , Phan Thi-Que-Phuong , Huang Chao-Wei , Nguyen Van-Huy
Published: April 2021

Effective La-doped SrTiO3 (Sr1−xLaxTiO3, x = 0–0.1 mol.% La-doped) nanocubes were successfully synthesized by a hydrothermal method. The influence of different La dopant concentrations on the physicochemical properties of the host structure of SrTiO3 was fully characterized. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) revealed that the Sr2+ in the crystal lattice of SrTiO3 was substituted by La3+. As a result, the absorption region of the Sr1−xLaxTiO3 could be extended to visible light. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images confirmed that their morphologies are associated with an increased surface area and an increased La-doping concentration. The decrease in the photoluminescence (PL) intensity of the dopant samples showed more defect levels created by the dopant La+3 cations in the SrTiO3 structure. The photocatalytic activities of Sr1−xLaxTiO3 were evaluated with regard to the degradation of 2-naphthol at typical conditions under artificial solar light. Among the candidates, Sr0.95La0.05TiO3 exhibited the highest photocatalytic performance for the degradation of 2-naphthol, which reached 92% degradation efficiency, corresponding to a 0.0196 min−1 degradation rate constant, within 180 minutes of irradiation. Manipulating the structure of Sr1−xLaxTiO3 nanocubes could produce a more effective and stable degradation efficiency than their parent compound, SrTiO3. The parameters remarkably influence the Sr1−xLaxTiO3 nanocubes’ structure, and their degradation efficiencies were also studied. Undoubtedly, substantial breakthroughs of Sr1−xLaxTiO3 nanocube photocatalysts toward the treatment of organic contaminants from industrial wastewater are expected shortly.
Remdesivir and Ledipasvir among the FDA-Approved Antiviral Drugs Have Potential to Inhibit SARS-CoV-2 Replication
Authors: Pirzada Rameez Hassan , Haseeb Muhammad , Batool Maria , Kim MoonSuk , Choi Sangdun
Published: April 2021

The rapid spread of the virus, the surge in the number of deaths, and the unavailability of specific SARS-CoV-2 drugs thus far necessitate the identification of drugs with anti-COVID-19 activity. SARS-CoV-2 enters the host cell and assembles a multisubunit RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) complex of viral nonstructural proteins that plays a substantial role in the transcription and replication of the viral genome. Therefore, RdRp is among the most suitable targets in RNA viruses. Our aim was to investigate the FDA approved antiviral drugs having potential to inhibit the viral replication. The methodology adopted was virtual screening and docking of FDA-approved antiviral drugs into the RdRp protein. Top hits were selected and subjected to molecular dynamics simulations to understand the dynamics of RdRp in complex with these drugs. The antiviral activity of the drugs against SARS-CoV-2 was assessed in Vero E6 cells. Notably, both remdesivir (half-maximal effective concentration (EC50) 6.6 μM, 50% cytotoxicity concentration (CC50) > 100 µM, selectivity index (SI) = 15) and ledipasvir (EC50 34.6 μM, CC50 > 100 µM, SI > 2.9) exerted antiviral action. This study highlights the use of direct-acting antiviral drugs, alone or in combination, for better treatments of COVID-19.
Modulation of microRNome by Human Cytomegalovirus and Human Herpesvirus 6 Infection in Human Dermal Fibroblasts: Possible Significance in the Induction of Fibrosis in Systemic Sclerosis
Authors: Soffritti Irene , D’Accolti Maria , Ravegnini Gloria , Arcangeletti Maria-Cristina , Maccari Clara , De Conto Flora , Calderaro Adriana , Caselli Elisabetta
Published: April 2021

Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) and Human herpesvirus 6 (HHV-6) have been reportedly suggested as triggers of the onset and/or progression of systemic sclerosis (SSc), a severe autoimmune disorder characterized by multi-organ fibrosis. The etiology and pathogenesis of SSc are still largely unknown but virological and immunological observations support a role for these beta-herpesviruses, and we recently observed a direct impact of HCMV and HHV-6 infection on the expression of cell factors associated with fibrosis at the cell level. Since miRNA expression has been found profoundly deregulated at the tissue level, here we aimed to investigate the impact on cell microRNome (miRNome) of HCMV and HHV-6 infection in in vitro infected primary human dermal fibroblasts, which represent one of the main SSc target cells. The analysis, performed by Taqman arrays detecting and quantifying 754 microRNAs (miRNAs), showed that both herpesviruses significantly modulated miRNA expression in infected cells, with evident early and late effects and deep modulation (>10 fold) of >40 miRNAs at each time post infection, including those previously recognized for their key function in fibrosis. The correlation between these in vitro results with in vivo observations is strongly suggestive of a role of HCMV and/or HHV-6 in the multistep pathogenesis of fibrosis in SSc and in the induction of fibrosis-signaling pathways finally leading to tissue fibrosis. The identification of specific miRNAs may open the way to their use as biomarkers for SSc diagnosis, assessment of disease progression and possible antifibrotic therapies.
Weapons Evolve Faster Than Sperm in Bovids and Cervids
Authors: Reuland Charel , Simmons Leigh W. , Lüpold Stefan , Fitzpatrick John L.
Published: April 2021

In polyandrous species, males face reproductive competition both before and after mating. Sexual selection thus shapes the evolution of both pre- and postcopulatory traits, creating competing demands on resource allocation to different reproductive episodes. Traits subject to strong selection exhibit accelerated rates of phenotypic divergence, and examining evolutionary rates may inform us about the relative importance and potential fitness consequences of investing in traits under either pre- or postcopulatory sexual selection. Here, we used a comparative approach to assess evolutionary rates of key competitive traits in two artiodactyl families, bovids (family Bovidae) and cervids (family Cervidae), where male–male competition can occur before and after mating. We quantified and compared evolutionary rates of male weaponry (horns and antlers), body size/mass, testes mass, and sperm morphometrics. We found that weapons evolve faster than sperm dimensions. In contrast, testes and body mass evolve at similar rates. These results suggest strong, but differential, selection on both pre- and postcopulatory traits in bovids and cervids. Furthermore, we documented distinct evolutionary rates among different sperm components, with sperm head and midpiece evolving faster than the flagellum. Finally, we demonstrate that, despite considerable differences in weapon development between bovids and cervids, the overall evolutionary patterns between these families were broadly consistent.
Spatial and Direction-Based Characterization of Microstructures and Microhardness of TA15 Titanium Alloy Produced by Electron Beam Melting
Authors: Ran Jiangtao , Sun Xiaojing , Wei Shiliang , Chen Zhuo , Zhao Hong
Published: April 2021

The extracted position and characterization direction of specimens have an unignorable effect on the microstructural characteristics of materials produced by electron beam melting (EBM). This study focused on the effects of extracted position and characterization direction on the microstructure, defect distribution and Vickers hardness of TA15 titanium alloy fabricated by electron beam melting. Results show that the microstructure at the bottom end of TA15 specimens is coarser and hot cracks are visible at this end. Grain morphology in longitudinal direction is columnar while that in transversal direction is chessboard-like. The results of defect analysis show that gas pores are visible in transversal direction while lack of fusion exists in longitudinal direction. The average relative density of TA15 specimens in transversal direction is higher than that in longitudinal direction. The results of energy spectrum analysis show that there is evaporation of Al during the forming process, but no elements segregation and enrichment are observed. This study provides important insights on the microstructure analysis and defect evaluation of materials made by EBM technology.
A Literature Synthesis of Actions to Tackle Illegal Parrot Trade
Authors: Sánchez-Mercado Ada , Ferrer-Paris José R. , Rodríguez Jon Paul , L. Tella José
Published: April 2021

The order Psittaciformes is one of the most prevalent groups in the illegal wildlife trade. Efforts to understand this threat have focused on describing the elements of the trade itself: actors, extraction rates, and routes. However, the development of policy-oriented interventions also requires an understanding of how research aims and actions are distributed across the trade chain, regions, and species. We used an action-based approach to review documents published on illegal Psittaciformes trade at a global scale to analyze patterns in research aims and actions. Research increased exponentially in recent decades, recording 165 species from 46 genera, with an over representation of American and Australasian genera. Most of the research provided basic knowledge for the intermediary side of the trade chain. Aims such as the identification of network actors, zoonosis control, and aiding physical detection had numerous but scarcely cited documents (low growth rate), while behavior change had the highest growth rate. The Americas had the highest diversity of research aims, contributing with basic knowledge, implementation, and monitoring across the whole trade chain. Better understanding of the supply side dynamics in local markets, actor typology, and actor interactions are needed. Protecting areas, livelihood incentives, and legal substitutes are actions under-explored in parrots, while behavior change is emerging.
Some Web-Based Experiences from Flipped Classroom Techniques in AEC Modules during the COVID-19 Lockdown
Authors: Mosquera Feijóo Juan Carlos , Suárez Fernando , Chiyón Isabel , Alberti Marcos García
Published: April 2021

The classroom closure during the first semester of 2020 entailed decisive changes in higher education. Universities have become more digital in both the availability of e-resources and pervasive devices and how students communicate with lecturers and classmates. Learners adapted their study habits with a growing role of self-paced, internet-based strategies. Some flipped learning approaches have proven their efficacy under the remote-teaching physical constraints. This study aimed to appraise the outcomes from the implementation of various web-based, learning-aid tools on flipped teaching approaches in engineering modules. The open educational resources (OER) performed satisfactorily during the lockdown period in three universities from two countries with similar higher education models. Such resources encompassed classroom response systems and web-based exercise repositories, designed for diverse purposes such as autonomous learning, self-correction, flipped classroom, peer assessment, and guided study. The acquired experiences reveal that OER helped students to enhance their engagement, reach the deeper levels of the cone of learning, and widen their range of learning abilities. This procedure is easily attainable for architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) courses and lifelong learning settings. Feedback from students, instructors’ perceptions, and learning outcomes show the suitability and effectiveness of the web-based learning assistant procedure presented here.
Presence Effects in Virtual Reality Based on User Characteristics: Attention, Enjoyment, and Memory
Authors: Kim Si Jung , Laine Teemu H. , Suk Hae Jung
Published: April 2021

Presence refers to the emotional state of users where their motivation for thinking and acting arises based on the perception of the entities in a virtual world. The immersion level of users can vary when they interact with different media content, which may result in different levels of presence especially in a virtual reality (VR) environment. This study investigates how user characteristics, such as gender, immersion level, and emotional valence on VR, are related to the three elements of presence effects (attention, enjoyment, and memory). A VR story was created and used as an immersive stimulus in an experiment, which was presented through a head-mounted display (HMD) equipped with an eye tracker that collected the participants’ eye gaze data during the experiment. A total of 53 university students (26 females, 27 males), with an age range from 20 to 29 years old (mean 23.8), participated in the experiment. A set of pre- and post-questionnaires were used as a subjective measure to support the evidence of relationships among the presence effects and user characteristics. The results showed that user characteristics, such as gender, immersion level, and emotional valence, affected their level of presence, however, there is no evidence that attention is associated with enjoyment or memory.
Detection of Diseases in Tomato Leaves by Color Analysis
Authors: Luna-Benoso Benjamín , Martínez-Perales José Cruz , Cortés-Galicia Jorge , Flores-Carapia Rolando , Silva-García Víctor Manuel
Published: April 2021

Agricultural productivity is an important factor for the economic development of a country. Therefore, the diagnosis of plant diseases is a field of research of utmost importance for the agricultural sector as it allows us to help recommend strategies to avoid the spread of diseases, thus reducing economic losses. Currently, with the rise of computer systems, computer systems have been developed that allow computer-assisted diagnosis in different research fields, including the agricultural sector. This work proposes the development of a methodology that allows the detection of three types of diseases in tomato leaves (late blight, tomato mosaic virus and Septoria leaf spot) by image analysis and pattern recognition. The methodology is divided into three stages: (1) segmentation of the leaf and of the lesion, (2) feature extraction using color moments and Gray Level Co-occurrence Matrix (GLCM) and (3) classification. For the segmentation process, it is proposed to use a range of pixel colors that represent healthy and diseased areas in tomato leaves using values proposed by an expert in the area of phytopathology. For the classification it is proposed to use a decision rule in which if two of the Support Vector Machines (SVM) classifiers, K Nearest Neighbors (K-NN) and Multilayer Perceptron (MLP) give the same result, then this is taken for the final decision. The result of the methodology is compared with other classifiers using the value of its accuracy and validated with cross validation.
Practical Aspects of Cylinder Deactivation and Reactivation
Authors: Zsiga Norbert , Ritzmann Johannes , Soltic Patrik
Published: April 2021

Cylinder deactivation is an effective measure to reduce the fuel consumption of internal combustion engines. This paper deals with several practical aspects of switching from conventional operation to operation with deactivated cylinders, i.e., gas spring operation with closed intake and exhaust valves. The focus of this paper lies on one particular quantity-controlled stoichiometrically-operated engine where the load is controlled using the valve timing. Nevertheless, the main results are transferable to other engines and engine types, including quality-controlled engines. The first aspect of this paper is an analysis of the transition from fired to gas spring operation, and vice versa, as well as the gas spring operation itself. This is essential for mode changes, such as cylinder deactivation or skip-firing operation. Simulation results show that optimizing the valve timing in the last cycle before deactivating/first cycle after reactivating a cylinder, respectively, is advantageous. We further show that steady-state gas spring operation is reached after approximately 6 s regardless of the initial conditions and the engine speed. The second aspect of this paper experimentally verifies the advantage of optimized valve timings. Furthermore, we show measurements that demonstrate the occurrence of an unavoidable torque ripple, especially when the transition to and from the deactivated cylinder operation is performed too quickly. We also confirm with our experiments that a more gradual mode transition reduces the torque drop.
Designing of Drive Systems in the Aspect of the Desired Spectrum of Operation
Authors: Dzitkowski Tomasz , Dymarek Andrzej , Margielewicz Jerzy , Gąska Damian , Orzech Lukasz , Lesiak Krzysztof
Published: April 2021

A method for selecting dynamic parameters and structures of drive systems using the synthesis algorithm is presented. The dynamic parameters of the system with six degrees of freedom, consisting of a power component (motor) and a two-speed gearbox, were determined, based on a formalized methodology. The required gearbox is to work in specific resonance zones, i.e., meet the required dynamic properties such as the required resonance frequencies. In the result of the tests, a series of parameters of the drive system, defining the required dynamic properties such as the resonance and anti-resonance frequencies were recorded. Mass moments of inertia of the wheels and elastic components, contained in the required structure of the driving system, were determined for the selected parameters obtained during the synthesis.
Self-Tuning Observer for Sensor Fault-Tolerant Control of Induction Motor Drive
Authors: Kuchar Martin , Palacky Petr , Simonik Petr , Strossa Jan
Published: April 2021

This paper introduces a new solution for the speed and current sensor fault-tolerant direct field-oriented control of induction motor drives. Two self-adjusting observers derived from a modified current-based model reference adaptive system (CB-MRAS) are presented. Finally, the recursive least squares method was used to estimate the parameters of the used observers. The method, in the proposed solution, provides a very fast and accurate finding of the observer parameters while maintaining relative simplicity and ease of implementation. The presented algorithm eliminates the CB-MRAS observer dependence on the induction motor parameters and also compensates for the inaccuracies in the evaluation of the stator voltage vector. The proposed fault-tolerant control offers the drive operation while either a speed sensor or one/two current sensors fault occurs. The drive still works with the direct field-oriented control even when no current sensors are healthy. The proposed scheme was simulated in the MATLAB/Simulink software environment. Then the algorithm was implemented in a floating-point digital signal controller (DSC) TMS320F28335 and tested on an induction motor drive prototype of rated power of 2.2 kW to validate the proposed schemes.
Rice Bran Fermentation Using Lactiplantibacillus plantarum EM as a Starter and the Potential of the Fermented Rice Bran as a Functional Food
Authors: Moon Song-Hee , Chang Hae-Choon
Published: April 2021

Rice bran was fermented using a functional starter culture of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum EM, which exhibited high cholesterol removal and strong antimicrobial activity. Highest viable cell counts (9.78 log CFU/mL) and strong antimicrobial activity were obtained by fermenting 20% rice bran supplemented with 1% glucose and 3% corn steep liquor (pH 6.0) at 30 °C for 48 h. The fermented rice bran slurry was hot air-dried (55 °C, 16 h) and ground (HFRB). HFRB obtained showed effective cholesterol removal (45–68%) and antimicrobial activities (100–400 AU/mL) against foodborne pathogenic bacteria and food spoilage fungi. Phytate levels were significantly reduced during fermentation by 53% due to the phytase activity of L. plantarum EM, indicating HFRB does not present nutrient deficiency issues. In addition, fermentation significantly improved overall organoleptic quality. Our results indicate that HFRB is a promising functional food candidate. Furthermore, HFRB appears to satisfy consumer demands for a health-promoting food and environmental and legal requirements concerning the re-utilization of biological byproducts.