ALBERT

Description: The monoamine serotonin, 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT), is a remarkable molecule with conserved production in prokaryotes and eukaryotes and a wide range of functions. In the gastrointestinal tract, enterochromaffin cells are the most important source for 5-HT production. Some intestinal bacterial species are also able to produce 5-HT. Besides its role as a neurotransmitter, 5-HT acts on immune cells to regulate their activation. Several lines of evidence indicate that intestinal 5-HT signaling is altered in patients with inflammatory bowel disease. In this review, we discuss the current knowledge on the production, secretion, and signaling of 5-HT in the intestine. We present an inventory of intestinal immune and epithelial cells that respond to 5-HT and describe the effects of these signaling processes on intestinal homeostasis. Further, we detail the mechanisms by which 5-HT could affect inflammatory bowel disease course and describe the effects of interventions that target intestinal 5-HT signaling.

Description: (1) Background: Physical restraint in psychiatric settings must be determined by health care professionals for ensuring their patients’ safety. However, when a patient cannot participate in the process of deciding what occurs in their own body, can they even be considered as a personal self who lives in and experiences the lifeworld? The purpose of this study is to review the existential capability of the body from Merleau-Ponty’s phenomenology to explore ways of promoting human rights in physical restraint. (2) Methods: A philosophical reflection was contemplated regarding notions of the body’s phenomenology. (3) Results: Merleau-Ponty’s body phenomenology can explain bodily phenomena as a source of the personal subject, who perceives and acts in the world, and not as a body alienated from the subject in health and illness. Patients, when they are physically restrained, cannot be the self as a subject because their body loses its subjecthood. They are entirely objectified, becoming objects of diagnosis, protection, and control, according to the treatment principles of health care professionals. (4) Conclusions: The foundation of human rights, human being’s dignity lies in the health professionals’ genuine understanding and response to the existential crisis of the patient’s body in relation to its surrounding environment.

Description: During the past year, health care environments have struggled to cope with the various impacts of COVID-19 around the world. Health care facilities need to help strengthen resistance to pathogen threats and provide care for patients and health workers in the safest possible way. Architectural design strategies can play a significant role in infection prevention and control. The current study aims to examine the experiences of health workers with hospital spaces during the COVID-19 pandemic. Identifying the difficulties they face, the present study attempts to shed light on the role of the health care layout configuration in combating pandemics. The authors conducted observations at four hospitals and a series of online semi-structured interviews with 162 health care staff from March to May 2020. The study indicated that space configuration and the hospitalization of patients, layout and circulation of the environment, operation services such as indoor environment conditions, maintenance of health care system, and organizational support for health care staff were the most critical factors affecting infection control in health care environments. The initial zoning and separation of patients were the most effective methods of controlling infection. Hospitals with clustered plan layouts were found to be the most effective buildings for the zoning of COVID-19 patients during the pandemic and for infection control.

Description: Recently, there has been enormous development due to advancements in technology. Industries and enterprises are moving towards a digital system, and the oil and gas industries are no exception. There are several threats and risks in digital systems, which are controlled through cyber-security. For the first time in the theory of fuzzy sets, this research analyzes the relationships between cyber-security and cyber-crimes in the oil and gas sectors. The novel concepts of complex intuitionistic fuzzy relations (CIFRs) are introduced. Moreover, the types of CIFRs are defined and their properties are discussed. In addition, an application is presented that uses the Hasse diagram to make a decision regarding the most suitable cyber-security techniques to implement in an industry. Furthermore, the omnipotence of the proposed methods is explained by a comparative study.

Description: With most epidemiological studies focused on poultry, dogs are often overlooked as a reservoir of Campylobacter, even though these animals maintain close daily contact with humans. The present study aimed to obtain a first insight into the presence and characteristics of Campylobacter spp. in different canine populations in Portugal, and to evaluate its zoonotic potential through genomic analysis. From a total of 125 rectal swabs collected from companion (n = 71) and hunting dogs (n = 54) living in two different settings, rural (n = 75) and urban (n = 50), 32 Campylobacter spp. isolates were obtained. Four different Campylobacter species were identified by Multiplex PCR and MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry, of which Campylobacter jejuni (n = 14, 44%) was overall the most frequently found species. Relevant resistance phenotypes were detected in C. jejuni, with 93% of the isolates being resistant to ciprofloxacin, 64% to tetracycline, and 57% to ampicillin, and three isolates being multi-drug-resistant. Comparison of the phenotypic and genotypic traits with human isolates from Portuguese patients revealed great similarity between both groups. Particularly relevant, the wgMLST analysis allowed the identification of isolates from human and dogs without any apparent epidemiological relationship, sharing high genetic proximity. Notwithstanding the limited sample size, considering the high genomic diversity of C. jejuni, the genetic overlap between human and dog strains observed in this study confirmed that the occurrence of this species in dogs is of public health concern, reinforcing the call for a One Health approach.

Description: Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease type 2A (CMT2A) is the most common hereditary axonal neuropathy caused by mutations in MFN2 encoding Mitofusin-2, a multifunctional protein located in the outer mitochondrial membrane. In order to study the effects of a novel MFN2K357T mutation associated with early onset, autosomal dominant severe CMT2A, we generated a knock-in mouse model. While Mfn2K357T/K357T mouse pups were postnatally lethal, Mfn2+/K357T heterozygous mice were asymptomatic and had no histopathological changes in their sciatic nerves up to 10 months of age. However, immunofluorescence analysis of Mfn2+/K357T mice revealed aberrant mitochondrial clustering in the sciatic nerves from 6 months of age, in optic nerves from 8 months, and in lumbar spinal cord white matter at 10 months, along with microglia activation. Ultrastructural analyses confirmed dysmorphic mitochondrial aggregates in sciatic and optic nerves. After exposure of 6-month-old mice to lipopolysaccharide, Mfn2+/K357T mice displayed a higher immune response, a more severe motor impairment, and increased CNS inflammation, microglia activation, and macrophage infiltrates. Overall, ubiquitous Mfn2K357T expression renders the CNS and peripheral nerves of Mfn2+/K357T mice more susceptible to mitochondrial clustering, and augments their response to inflammation, modeling some cellular mechanisms that may be relevant for the development of neuropathy in patients with CMT2A.

Description: The distribution characteristics, environmental contamination states, and potential ecological risks of chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), arsenic (As), lead (Pb), and cadmium (Cd) in seawater, sediment and breeding feed were studied in a typical mariculture area in western Guangdong of China. Pearson correlation analysis was used to determine metal homology, and the single-factor index, potential ecological risk index, hazard quotient (HQ), and joint probability curve (JPC) were used to evaluate pollution states and ecological risk of metals. Four main statements can be concluded from the results: (1) Pb and Cu showed a similar distribution pattern in the seawater and sediment and their contents in the breeding wastewater exceeded the standard limits in several stations. (2) Cr, Cu, and As have similar sources in the feeds, which may be an important source of metals in water. (3) The risk assessment revealed that the sediment from the studied areas was at a low ecological risk of heavy metal, whereas, water in the pond and outfall was slightly polluted by Pb, and water in the cages and outfall were slightly polluted by Cu. (4) Both the hazard quotient (HQ) and joint probability curve showed the overall risk probabilities (ORPs) in the waters ranked as Cu 〉 Cr 〉 Pb 〉 Cd 〉 As. Although Pb and Cd had HQ values greater than 1, their ORPs were acceptable. This study highlights that multiple evaluation models are more reliable than the single ecological risk assessment for evaluating heavy metal pollution risks in the mariculture area.

Description: Estimation of probability density functions (pdf) is considered an essential part of statistical modelling. Heteroskedasticity and outliers are the problems that make data analysis harder. The Cauchy mixture model helps us to cover both of them. This paper studies five different significant types of non-parametric multivariate density estimation techniques algorithmically and empirically. At the same time, we do not make assumptions about the origin of data from any known parametric families of distribution. The method of the inversion formula is made when the cluster of noise is involved in the general mixture model. The effectiveness of the method is demonstrated through a simulation study. The relationship between the accuracy of evaluation and complicated multidimensional Cauchy mixture models (CMM) is analyzed using the Monte Carlo method. For larger dimensions (d ~ 5) and small samples (n ~ 50), the adaptive kernel method is recommended. If the sample is n ~ 100, it is recommended to use a modified inversion formula (MIDE). It is better for larger samples with overlapping distributions to use a semi-parametric kernel estimation and more isolated distribution-modified inversion methods. For the mean absolute percentage error, it is recommended to use a semi-parametric kernel estimation when the sample has overlapping distributions. In the smaller dimensions (d = 2) and a sample is with overlapping distributions, it is recommended to use the semi-parametric kernel method (SKDE) and for isolated distributions, it is recommended to use modified inversion formula (MIDE). The inversion formula algorithm shows that with noise cluster, the results of the inversion formula improved significantly.

Description: The increasing use of magnetic nanoparticles as heating agents in biomedicine is driven by their proven utility in hyperthermia therapeutic treatments and heat-triggered drug delivery methods. The growing demand of efficient and versatile nanoheaters has prompted the creation of novel types of magnetic nanoparticle systems exploiting the magnetic interaction (exchange or dipolar in nature) between two or more constituent magnetic elements (magnetic phases, primary nanoparticles) to enhance and tune the heating power. This process occurred in parallel with the progress in the methods for the chemical synthesis of nanostructures and in the comprehension of magnetic phenomena at the nanoscale. Therefore, complex magnetic architectures have been realized that we classify as: (a) core/shell nanoparticles; (b) multicore nanoparticles; (c) linear aggregates; (d) hybrid systems; (e) mixed nanoparticle systems. After a general introduction to the magnetic heating phenomenology, we illustrate the different classes of nanoparticle systems and the strategic novelty they represent. We review some of the research works that have significantly contributed to clarify the relationship between the compositional and structural properties, as determined by the synthetic process, the magnetic properties and the heating mechanism.

Description: Mycotic keratitis is common in warm, humid regions with a varying profile of pathogenic fungi according to geographical origin, socioeconomic status, and climatic condition. Clinical diagnosis can be challenging in difficult cases and those refractory to treatment. Fungal hyphae on microscopic examination and culture isolation have been the gold standard in the laboratory diagnosis of fungal keratitis. A culture isolate of the aetiological fungus is essential to perform antifungal susceptibility testing. As the culture isolation of fungi is time-consuming, causing delays in the initiation of treatment, newer investigative modalities such as in vivo confocal microscopy and molecular diagnostic methods have recently gained popularity. Molecular diagnostic techniques now help to obtain a rapid diagnosis of fungal keratitis. Genomic approaches are based on detecting amplicons of ribosomal RNA genes, with internal transcribed spacers being increasingly adopted. Metagenomic deep sequencing allows for rapid and accurate diagnosis without the need to wait for the fungus to grow. This is also helpful in identifying new emerging strains of fungi causing mycotic keratitis. A custom-tear proteomic approach will probably play an important diagnostic role in future in the management of mycotic keratitis. Positive repeat cultures are being suggested as an important gauge indicative of a poor prognosis. Positive repeat fungal cultures help to modify a treatment regimen by increasing its frequency, providing the addition of another topical and oral antifungal agent along with close follow-up for perforation and identifying need for early therapeutic keratoplasty. The role of collagen crosslinking in the treatment of fungal keratitis is not convincingly established. Rapid detection by multiplex PCR and antifungal susceptibility testing of the pathogenic fungi, adopted into a routine management protocol of fungal keratitis, will help to improve treatment outcome. Early therapy is essential in minimizing damage to the corneal tissue, thereby providing a better outcome. The role of conventional therapy with polyenes, systemic and targeted therapy of antifungal agents, newer azoles and echinocandins in fungal keratitis has been widely studied in recent times. Combination therapy can be more efficacious in comparison to monotherapy. Given the diversity of fungal aetiology, the emergence of new corneal pathogenic fungi with varying drug susceptibilities, increasing the drug resistance to antifungal agents in some genera and species, it is perhaps time to adopt recent molecular methods for precise identification and incorporate antifungal susceptibility testing as a routine.

Description: This paper analyzes the impact of the managerial ability and level of compensation on firm value in small and medium enterprises. The ability of managers is important for the sustainability and growth of small and medium enterprises because they lack awareness of resources, technology, and reputation compared to large enterprises. The managerial ability is the ability to efficiently utilize resources and choose the investment plan with the highest future net cash flows. Managerial ability is also an indicator of the level of compensation for executives. Therefore, the level of executive compensation can help a firm value or growth if it is based on managerial abilities. In addition, high executive compensation standards can be an opportunity or motivation to work hard for the wealth of companies and shareholders. We analyzed 1872 small and medium-sized companies listed on the Korean stock market to achieve the purpose of the research. We analyzed the accounting period of 6 years from 2012 to 2017. Our results have had a positive impact on firm value with executive compensation. In groups with excellent managerial skills, executive compensation has had a positive (+) impact on firm value. However, executive compensation did not have a significant impact on firm value in groups with poor managerial skills. These results validate that the CEO’s role in small and medium enterprise is important and that the level of compensation for executives is important to motivate. It also suggests that executive compensation cannot affect the firm value in groups with low managerial abilities.

Description: Regional climate change assessments show a likely temperature increase that is higher than the global average for all seasons in Africa, which would have extreme negative implications for ecosystem health and productivity. Most extreme climate change effects in West Africa are predicted to occur in desert and grassland areas. It is important for smallholder farmers in this region to understand the implications of these projections to their livelihood and to identify appropriate adaptation strategies. A grazing game was used to explore gender-specific adaptive responses to climate variability in the semiarid region of Ghana. The game was designed to understand the decision-making processes that result in the overgrazing of animals, leading to desertification based on the players’ interactions with the environment. A total of 44 grazing games comprising 22 games for male-headed households (HH) and 22 games for female-HH were played from August to December 2014 from 14 communities within the Bolgatanga Municipality and the Bongo district. The study revealed that males migrate to the southern part of the country to work on other people’s farms during the dry season as an adaptation strategy, while females engage in off-farm activities such as shea-butter production and basketry. Results of the game showed that males produced the highest number of cattle but created the largest desert patches. Females, on the other hand, were more conscious about the environment (long-term condition of the rangeland) than the short-term income benefits from the sale of cattle; hence, they created fewer desert patches. Strategies such as reducing the number of cattle to allow for the re-growth of vegetation in periods of feed scarcity, ploughing for one another using bulls, and family support using income from the sale of livestock were employed by both gender groups. The involvement of female farmers in decision-making is crucial to improve natural resource management.

Description: Background: In this study, we aimed to identify factors correlating with satisfaction with orthognathic surgery in order to improve its outcome. Methods: We recruited 77 participants who had received orthognathic surgery and 32 age- and gender-matched normal-controls. Questionnaires that included devised questions for family support, Big Five Inventory, Derriford Appearance Score, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey, and a visual analogy scale for satisfaction, were completed before and one month and nine months after the surgery. The statistical analysis methods included descriptive statistics, t-test, and Pearson correlation. Results: All participants received the preoperative and one-month follow-up, while 28 also completed the nine-month follow-up. Satisfaction was not significantly related to demographic data, but long-term satisfaction was related to an extraverted personality. The preoperative and postoperative results of the Derriford Appearance Scale were related to short-term and long-term satisfaction. Furthermore, both the preoperative and one-month postoperative Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index findings were significantly related to short-term satisfaction. The postoperative 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey was significantly related to short-term and long-term satisfaction. Conclusions: Not only subjective distress and dysfunction of appearance but also sleep problems and quality of life were correlated to satisfaction with orthognathic surgery. In the future, relevant interventions can be developed to further improve patient’s satisfaction and their physical and mental health.

Description: Due to recent abnormal weather caused by global warming, peach flowering has gradually accelerated, and spring frost damage caused by premature de-acclimation has increased. In this study, under a simulated spring frost environment using a Soil–Fruit–Daylit–System (SFDS) chamber, we investigated whether treatment with 2% cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) could enhance the freezing tolerance of the flower buds from 2-year-old whole peach trees. Visual changes in the ice propagation were observed using an infrared camera at the same time. After the peach flower buds in the calyx red stage were placed in the SFDS chamber with a minimum temperature of −4 °C for ~20 h, the percentage of browning in the pistils and stamens was 57.0% in the control group and 14.1% in the group treated with 2% CNCs. During the first pink stage, the percentages of browning in the pistils and stamens in the control group and the group treated with 2% CNCs were 98.2% and 70.3%, respectively. However, when peach flower buds in the group treated with 2% CNCs were exposed to a −6 °C-targeted chamber, they could not mitigate frost injury. Almost all flower buds were damaged. Infrared thermal images showed that the first exotherm in the control group began at 2:33:03 am, whereas that of the group treated with 2% CNCs began at 3:01:33 am. The control started to express exothermic behavior at −4.2 °C, while the group treated with 2% CNCs started expressing exothermic behavior at −5.1 °C. Thus, treatment with 2% CNCs enhanced the freezing tolerance by −0.9 °C and delayed the first instance of exothermic behavior by ~28 min. These results indicate that treatment with 2% CNCs could mitigate the frost damage of peach flower buds in a frost environment of −5 °C.

Description: Obesity is a highly prevalent public health concern, attributed to multifactorial causes and limited in treatment options. Several comorbidities are closely associated with obesity such as the development of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Bariatric surgery, which can be delivered in multiple forms, has been remarked as an effective treatment to decrease the prevalence of obesity and its associated comorbidities. The different types of bariatric surgery create a variety of new pathways for food to metabolize in the body and truncate the stomach’s caliber. As a result, only a small quantity of food is tolerated, and the body mass index noticeably decreases. This review describes the improvements of obesity and its comorbidities following bariatric surgery and their mechanism of improvement. Additionally, endocrine function improvements after bariatric surgery, which contributes to the patients’ health improvement, are described, including the role of glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1), fibroblast growth factors 19 and 21 (FGF-19, FGF-21), and pancreatic peptide YY (PYY). Lastly, some of the complications of bariatric surgery, including osteoporosis, iron deficiency/anemia, and diarrhea, as well as their potential mechanisms, are described.

Description: Mastering the lodging risk of planting environment is of great significance to the optimal layout of maize varieties and the breeding of lodging resistant varieties. However, the existing lodging risk models are still at the stage of single or multi-factors independent analysis, and lack of assessment for different lodging types. To address this issue, based on the mechanism of different lodging types, the Archimedean copula function was used to describe the joint probability distribution of wind speed and precipitation, and the lodging risk assessment model of maize was established. By comparing the goodness of fit, when the rank correlation coefficient of these two is positive and negative, the corresponding optimal joint probability distribution functions are the Gumbel copula and Frank copula. According to the spatial distribution of lodging risk, the area from Liaodong Bay northward to Tongyu, Jilin province in the Northeast and the North China Plain has a high frequency of lodging, in which the probability of stalk lodging is two to four times that of root lodging. Finally, we discussed how to apply the lodging risk distribution results to optimize the maize variety test sites to improve the efficiency and reliability of the existing test system. The method proposed in this paper comprehensively considers the synergistic effect of multiple factors and can provide technical support for other risk assessment.

Description: Through exploring specific conditions (diabetes, heart failure, related vascular/metabolic diagnoses) and their multimorbidities, I develop a more thorough means to adjust confounders of clinical targets within main or interactive contexts in epidemiological panel studies. Regression-based multiple indicators-multiple causes (MIMIC) models combine multiple or moderated regression and confirmatory factor analysis. In a novel specification, each of twenty depressive symptoms is both a “formative” (causal) indicator and a “reflective” (effect) indicator of a latent trait (Depression). Although both indicators provide identical information (under different variable names), formative indicators provide “exogenous” information (outside the model) to estimate, within groups or subgroups, “endogenous” effects (recovered by the model) from the latent trait and its reflective indicators. Formative indicators within the multiple regressions constitute comprehensive proxies for unspecified confounders by completely mediating all unspecified confounder effects on the endogenous latent trait and its reflective indicators, the latter estimated through confirmatory factor analysis. Findings of symptom clusters of Depression in these specific conditions, and in subgroups that capture their synergies, corroborate parallel MIMIC models with instrumental variables that specify several known confounders, but suggest some confounding biases remain. All multimorbidities involve synergy from co-occurring diabetes and heart failure. There may be opportunities to target screening and optimize metformin treatment for these co-occurring conditions. This strategy avoids the need to specify all confounders, which may not be possible or verifiable.

Description: The Y Balance Test (YBT) is a dynamic balance assessment typically used in sports medicine. This work proposes a deep learning approach to automatically score this YBT by estimating the normalized reach distance (NRD) using a wearable sensor to register inertial signals during the movement. This paper evaluates several signal processing techniques to extract relevant information to feed the deep neural network. This evaluation was performed using a state-of-the-art human activity recognition system based on recurrent neural networks (RNNs). This deep neural network includes long short-term memory (LSTM) layers to learn features from time series by modeling temporal patterns and an additional fully connected layer to estimate the NRD (normalized by the leg length). All analyses were carried out using a dataset with YBT assessments from 407 subjects, including young and middle-aged volunteers and athletes from different sports. This dataset allowed developing a global and robust solution for scoring the YBT in a wide range of applications. The experimentation setup considered a 10-fold subject-wise cross-validation using training, validation, and testing subsets. The mean absolute percentage error (MAPE) obtained was 7.88 ± 0.20%. Moreover, this work proposes specific regression systems to estimate the NRD for each direction separately, obtaining an average MAPE of 7.33 ± 0.26%. This deep learning approach was compared to a previous work using dynamic time warping and k-NN algorithms, obtaining a relative MAPE reduction of 10%.

Description: Aquafaba (AQ) emulsification properties are determined by genetics and seed processing conditions. The physicochemical properties and hydration rates of chickpea (CDC Leader) as a control with proven emulsifying properties were recently reported. Here, we identify correlations between soybean (Backtae, Seoritae, and Jwinunikong) physical, chemical, and hydration properties as well as AQ yield from seed and functional (emulsion and foaming) properties. In addition, a total of 20 compounds were identified by NMR including alcohols (isopropanol, ethanol, methanol), organic acids (lactic acid, acetic acid, succinic acid, citric acid, and malic acid), sugars (glucose, galactose, arabinose, sucrose, raffinose, stachyose), essential nutrients (choline, phosphocholine), amino acids (alanine, glutamine), and polyphenols (resveratrol, glycitin). The process used in this study utilizes a soaking step to hydrate the seed of the selected Korean soybean cultivars. The product, AQ, is an oil emulsifier and foaming agent, which is suitable for use as an egg substitute with improved emulsion/foam formation properties when compared with a chickpea-based AQ.

Description: The intent of this review is to survey physiological, psychological, and societal obstacles to the control of eating and body weight maintenance and offer some evidence-based solutions. Physiological obstacles are genetic and therefore not amenable to direct abatement. They include an absence of feedback control against gaining weight; a non-homeostatic relationship between motivations to be physically active and weight gain; dependence of hunger and satiation on the volume of food ingested by mouth and processed by the gastrointestinal tract and not on circulating metabolites and putative hunger or satiation hormones. Further, stomach size increases from overeating and binging, and there is difficulty in maintaining weight reductions due to a decline in resting metabolism, increased hunger, and enhanced efficiency of energy storage. Finally, we bear the evolutionary burden of extraordinary human capacity to store body fat. Of the psychological barriers, human craving for palatable food, tendency to overeat in company of others, and gullibility to overeat when offered large portions, can be overcome consciously. The tendency to eat an unnecessary number of meals during the wakeful period can be mitigated by time-restricted feeding to a 6–10 hour period. Social barriers of replacing individual physical work by labor-saving appliances, designing built environments more suitable for car than active transportation; government food macronutrient advice that increases insulin resistance; overabundance of inexpensive food; and profit-driven efforts by the food industry to market energy-dense and nutritionally compromised food are best overcome by informed individual macronutrient choices and appropriate timing of exercise with respect to meals, both of which can decrease insulin resistance. The best defense against overeating, weight gain, and inactivity is the understanding of factors eliciting them and of strategies that can avoid and mitigate them.

Description: Calcineurin, also known as protein phosphatase 2B, is a heterodimeric serine threonine phosphatase involved in numerous signaling pathways. During the past 50 years, calcineurin has been the subject of extensive investigation. Many of its cellular and physiological functions have been described, and the underlying biophysical mechanisms are the subject of active investigation. With the abundance of techniques and experimental designs utilized to study calcineurin and its numerous substrates, it is difficult to reconcile the available information. There have been a plethora of reports describing the role of calcineurin in cardiac disease. However, a physiological role of calcineurin in healthy cardiomyocyte function requires clarification. Here, we review the seminal biophysical and structural details that are responsible for the molecular function and inhibition of calcineurin. We then focus on literature describing the roles of calcineurin in cardiomyocyte physiology and disease.

Description: Heavy metals (HMs) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are toxic components of atmospheric particles. These pollutants induce a wide variety of responses in plants, leading to tolerance or toxicity. Their effects on plants depend on many different environmental conditions, not only the type and concentration of contaminant, temperature or soil pH, but also on the physiological or genetic status of the plant. The main detoxification process in plants is the accumulation of the contaminant in vacuoles or cell walls. PAHs are normally transformed by enzymatic plant machinery prior to conjugation and immobilization; heavy metals are frequently chelated by some molecules, with glutathione, phytochelatins and metallothioneins being the main players in heavy metal detoxification. Besides these detoxification mechanisms, the presence of contaminants leads to the production of the reactive oxygen species (ROS) and the dynamic of ROS production and detoxification renders different outcomes in different scenarios, from cellular death to the induction of stress resistances. ROS responses have been extensively studied; the complexity of the ROS response and the subsequent cascade of effects on phytohormones and metabolic changes, which depend on local concentrations in different organelles and on the lifetime of each ROS species, allow the plant to modulate its responses to different environmental clues. Basic knowledge of plant responses toward pollutants is key to improving phytoremediation technologies.

Description: Avian cranial anatomy is constrained by the competing (or complementary) requirements and costs of various facial, muscular, sensory, and central neural structures. However, these constraints may operate differently in flighted versus flightless birds. We investigated cranial sense organ morphology in four lineages of flightless birds: kiwi (Apteryx), the Kakapo (Strigops habroptilus), and the extinct moa (Dinornithiformes) from New Zealand; and the extinct elephant birds from Madagascar (Aepyornithidae). Scleral ring and eye measurements suggest that the Upland Moa (Megalapteryx didinus) was diurnal, while measurements for the Kakapo are consistent with nocturnality. Kiwi are olfactory specialists, though here we postulate that retronasal olfaction is the dominant olfactory route in this lineage. We suggest that the Upland Moa and aepyornithids were also olfactory specialists; the former additionally displaying prominent bill tip sensory organs implicated in mechanoreception. Finally, the relative size of the endosseous cochlear duct revealed that the Upland Moa had a well-developed hearing sensitivity range, while the sensitivity of the kiwi, Kakapo, and aepyornithids was diminished. Together, our results reveal contrasting sensory strategies among extant and extinct flightless birds. More detailed characterisation of sensory capacities and cranial anatomy in extant birds may refine our ability to make accurate inferences about the sensory capacities of fossil taxa.

Description: Ischemic strokes (IS) and spinal cord injuries (SCI) are major causes of disability. RhoA is a small GTPase protein that activates a downstream effector, ROCK. The up-regulation of the RhoA/ROCK pathway contributes to neuronal apoptosis, neuroinflammation, blood-brain barrier dysfunction, astrogliosis, and axon growth inhibition in IS and SCI. Noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs), such as microRNAs (miRNAs) and long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs), were previously considered to be non-functional. However, they have attracted much attention because they play an essential role in regulating gene expression in physiological and pathological conditions. There is growing evidence that ROCK inhibitors, such as fasudil and VX-210, can reduce injury in IS and SCI in animal models and clinical trials. Recently, it has been reported that miRNAs are decreased in IS and SCI, while lncRNAs are increased. Inhibiting the Rho/ROCK pathway with miRNAs alleviates apoptosis, neuroinflammation, oxidative stress, and axon growth inhibition in IS and SCI. Further studies are required to explore the significance of ncRNAs in IS and SCI and to establish new strategies for preventing and treating these devastating diseases.

Description: The influence of four naturally occurring mineral additives (zeolite, diatomite, trass and bentonite) on the hydration and properties of cement pastes and mortars was investigated. The materials change the phase composition, heat of hydration (determined by calorimetry) and mechanical properties of composites. After 28 days, the amount of Ca(OH)2 was reduced by up to 23% and up to 35% more C-S-H was formed, as proved by TG measurements. Differences were observed in the kinetics of heat release, especially for 25% of the addition. In the calorimetric curves, an additional exothermic effect is observed, related to the alteration in the hydration of C3A in cement. From the point of view of beneficial influence on mechanical properties of mortars, the additives could be ranked as follows: bentonite 〈 diatomite, zeolite 〈 trass after 2 days and bentonite 〈 diatomite 〈 trass 〈 zeolite after 28 days of curing. The highest compressive strength (58.5 MPa) was observed for the sample with a 10% addition of zeolite. Zeolite, trass, bentonite and diatomite are all pozzolanic materials; however, their activity varies to an extent due to the differences in their specific surface area and the content of the amorphous phase, responsible for the pozzolanic reaction.

Description: A generalized proportional vector-order fractional derivative in the Caputo sense is defined and studied. Two types of existence results for the mild solutions of the initial value problem for nonlinear Caputo-type generalized proportional vector-order fractional differential equations are obtained. With the aid of the Leray–Schauder nonlinear alternative and the Banach contraction principle, the main results are established. In the case of a local Lipschitz right hand side part function, the existence of a bounded mild solution is proved. Some examples illustrating the main results are provided.

Description: Besides their role in cell metabolism, mitochondria display many other functions. Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA), the own genome of the organelle, plays an important role in modulating the inflammatory immune response. When released from the mitochondrion to the cytosol, mtDNA is recognized by cGAS, a cGAMP which activates a pathway leading to enhanced expression of type I interferons, and by NLRP3 inflammasome, which promotes the activation of pro-inflammatory cytokines Interleukin-1beta and Interleukin-18. Furthermore, mtDNA can be bound by Toll-like receptor 9 in the endosome and activate a pathway that ultimately leads to the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines. mtDNA is released in the extracellular space in different forms (free DNA, protein-bound DNA fragments) either as free circulating molecules or encapsulated in extracellular vesicles. In this review, we discussed the latest findings concerning the molecular mechanisms that regulate the release of mtDNA from mitochondria, and the mechanisms that connect mtDNA misplacement to the activation of inflammation in different pathophysiological conditions.

Description: Business organizations all around the globe are looking to expand circular models into their supply chains to harness economic and environmental benefits. Moreover, the act of giving incentives to retailers by the manufacturer is also quite prevalent in the present business environment. These incentives are offered to promote the sales of products of a manufacturer. Therefore, this paper examines the optimal decisions for a dual-retailer closed-loop supply chain (CLSC) in which the manufacturer bestows the credit period to the one retailer (a firm that possesses shallow market penetration and has a higher insistence on the usage of the capital venture), and cash discount to the next retailer (a firm that occupies the market to a greater extent and receives lower thrust on the usage of invested capital) under a non-coordinated system and coordinated systems. This study proposes the mathematical model to determine the optimal decisions of the manufacturer in terms of credit period and cash discount and also compute the optimal decisions of the retailers for their retail prices and order quantities to maximize individual’s profit in the CLSC. Moreover, numerical analysis and sensitivity analysis is performed to get insights into the optimal decisions of the manufacturer and retailers. The results of sensitivity analysis show that credit period and cash discount increases with the rise in price elasticity, and decreases with an increase in cross-price elasticity. The findings also confirm that members of dual-retailer CLSC under coordination and manufacture’s incentive scenario generate higher environmental and economic benefits required to attain sustainability in production and consumption.

Description: In this paper, we introduce the MSCI China A-shares index (MCASI) and analyze MCASI’s properties. From the perspective of index investment, we found that MCASI’s investor sentiments, both overnight sentiment and BW sentiment, provide significant predictability for future MCASI returns, supported by the in-sample and out-of-sample results. From the perspective of sector investment, we show that the sector portfolio of “information transfer, software and information technology services” performs the best among the 10 sector portfolios. In addition, seven approaches of the optimal portfolio in ten sectors are examined, and the results suggest that the classic Markowitz portfolio approach is recommended. Our empirical analysis is helpful for domestic and foreign investors seeking to form investment strategies for MSCI China A-shares.

Description: Double and triple bonds have significant effects on the biological activities of lipids. Determining multiple bond positions in their molecules by mass spectrometry usually requires chemical derivatization. This work presents an HPLC/MS method for pinpointing the double and triple bonds in fatty acids. Fatty acid methyl esters were separated by reversed-phase HPLC with an acetonitrile mobile phase. In the APCI source, acetonitrile formed reactive species, which added to double and triple bonds to form [M + C3H5N]+• ions. Their collisional activation in an ion trap provided fragments helpful in localizing the multiple bond positions. This approach was applied to fatty acids with isolated, cumulated, and conjugated double bonds and triple bonds. The fatty acids were isolated from the fat body of early-nesting bumblebee Bombus pratorum and seeds or seed oils of Punicum granatum, Marrubium vulgare, and Santalum album. Using the method, the presence of the known fatty acids was confirmed, and new ones were discovered.

Description: In this paper, we provide a mathematical and statistical methodology using heteroscedastic estimation to achieve the aim of building a more precise mathematical model for complex financial data. Considering a general regression model with explanatory variables (the expected value model form) and the error term (including heteroscedasticity), the optimal expected value and heteroscedastic model forms are investigated by linear, nonlinear, curvilinear, and composition function forms, using the minimum mean-squared error criterion to show the precision of the methodology. After combining the two optimal models, the fitted values of the financial data are more precise than the linear regression model in the literature and also show the fitted model forms in the example of Taiwan stock price index futures that has three cases: (1) before COVID-19, (2) during COVID-19, and (3) the entire observation time period. The fitted mathematical models can apparently show how COVID-19 affects the return rates of Taiwan stock price index futures. Furthermore, the fitted heteroscedastic models also show how COVID-19 influences the fluctuations of the return rates of Taiwan stock price index futures. This methodology will contribute to the probability of building algorithms for computing and predicting financial data based on mathematical model form outcomes and assist model comparisons after adding new data to a database.

Description: TEOSINTE-BRANCHED1/CYCLOIDEA/PCF (TCP) transcription factors play an essential role in regulating various physiological and biochemical functions during plant growth. However, the function of TCP transcription factors in G. hirsutum has not yet been studied. In this study, we performed genome-wide identification and correlation analysis of the TCP transcription factor family in G. hirsutum. We identified 72 non-redundant GhTCP genes and divided them into seven subfamilies, based on phylogenetic analysis. Most GhTCP genes in the same subfamily displayed similar exon and intron structures and featured highly conserved motif structures in their subfamily. Additionally, the pattern of chromosomal distribution demonstrated that GhTCP genes were unevenly distributed on 24 out of 26 chromosomes, and that fragment replication was the main replication event of GhTCP genes. In TB1 sub-family genes, GhTCP62 was highly expressed in the axillary buds, suggesting that GhTCP62 significantly affected cotton branching. Additionally, subcellular localization results indicated that GhTCP62 is located in the nucleus and possesses typical transcription factor characteristics. The overexpression of GhTCP62 in Arabidopsis resulted in fewer rosette-leaf branches and cauline-leaf branches. Furthermore, the increased expression of HB21 and HB40 genes in Arabidopsis plants overexpressing GhTCP62 suggests that GhTCP62 may regulate branching by positively regulating HB21 and HB40.

Description: The papain-like cysteine proteases (PLCPs), the most important group of cysteine proteases, have been reported to participate in the regulation of growth, senescence, and abiotic stresses in plants. However, the functions of PLCPs and their roles in stress response in microalgae was rarely reported. The responses to different abiotic stresses in Haematococcus pluvialis were often observed, including growth regulation and astaxanthin accumulation. In this study, the cDNA of HpXBCP3 containing 1515 bp open reading frame (ORF) was firstly cloned from H. pluvialis by RT-PCR. The analysis of protein domains and molecular evolution showed that HpXBCP3 was closely related to AtXBCP3 from Arabidopsis. The expression pattern analysis revealed that it significantly responds to NaCl stress in H. pluvialis. Subsequently, transformants expressing HpXBCP3 in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii were obtained and subjected to transcriptomic analysis. Results showed that HpXBCP3 might affect the cell cycle regulation and DNA replication in transgenic Chlamydomonas, resulting in abnormal growth of transformants. Moreover, the expression of HpXBCP3 might increase the sensitivity to NaCl stress by regulating ubiquitin and the expression of WD40 proteins in microalgae. Furthermore, the expression of HpXBCP3 might improve chlorophyll content by up-regulating the expression of NADH-dependent glutamate synthases in C. reinhardtii. This study indicated for the first time that HpXBCP3 was involved in the regulation of cell growth, salt stress response, and chlorophyll synthesis in microalgae. Results in this study might enrich the understanding of PLCPs in microalgae and provide a novel perspective for studying the mechanism of environmental stress responses in H. pluvialis.

Description: Cutaneous melanoma is the deadliest type of skin cancer and current treatment is still inadequate, with low patient survival rates. The polyphenol xanthohumol has been shown to inhibit tumourigenesis and metastasization, however its physicochemical properties restrict its application. In this work, we developed PLGA nanoparticles encapsulating xanthohumol and tested its antiproliferative, antitumour, and migration effect on B16F10, malignant cutaneous melanoma, and RAW 264.7, macrophagic, mouse cell lines. PLGA nanoparticles had a size of 312 ± 41 nm and a PdI of 0.259, while achieving a xanthohumol loading of about 90%. The viability study showed similar cytoxicity between the xanthohumol and xanthohumol-loaded PLGA nanoparticles at 48 h with the IC50 established at 10 µM. Similar antimigration effects were observed for free and the encapsulated xanthohumol. It was also observed that the M1 antitumor phenotype was stimulated on macrophages. The ultimate anti-melanoma effect emerges from an association between the viability, migration and macrophagic phenotype modulation. These results display the remarkable antitumour effect of the xanthohumol-loaded PLGA nanoparticles and are the first advance towards the application of a nanoformulation to deliver xanthohumol to reduce adverse effects by currently employed chemotherapeutics.

Description: Remotely sensed vegetation indices (VIs) have been widely used to estimate the aboveground biomass (AGB) carbon stock of coastal wetlands by establishing Vis-related linear models. However, these models always have high uncertainties due to the large spatial variation and fragmentation of coastal wetlands. In this paper, an efficient coastal wetland AGB model for the Bohami Rim coastal wetlands was presented based on multiple data sets. The model was developed statistically with 7 independent variables from 23 metrics derived from remote sensing, topography, and climate data. Compared to previous models, it had better performance, with a root mean square error and r value of 188.32 g m−2 and 0.74, respectively. Using the model, we firstly generated a regional coastal wetland AGB map with a 10 m spatial resolution. Based on the AGB map, the AGB carbon stock of the Bohai Rim coastal wetland was 2.11 Tg C in 2019. The study demonstrated that integrating emerging high spatial resolution multi-remote sensing data and several auxiliary metrics can effectively improve VIs-based coastal wetland AGB models. Such models with emerging freely available data sets will allow for the rapid monitoring and better understanding of the special role that “blue carbon” plays in global carbon cycle.

Description: Strong evidence from studies on primates and rodents shows that changes in pupil diameter may reflect neural activity in the locus coeruleus (LC). Pupillometry is the only available non-invasive technique that could be used as a reliable and easily accessible real-time biomarker of changes in the in vivo activity of the LC. However, the application of pupillometry to preclinical research in rodents is not yet fully standardized. A lack of consensus on the technical specifications of some of the components used for image recording or positioning of the animal and cameras have been recorded in recent scientific literature. In this study, a novel pupillometry system to indirectly assess, in real-time, the function of the LC in anesthetized rodents is presented. The system comprises a deep learning SOLOv2 instance-based fast segmentation framework and a platform designed to place the experimental subject, the video cameras for data acquisition, and the light source. The performance of the proposed setup was assessed and compared to other baseline methods using a validation and an external test set. In the latter, the calculated intersection over the union was 0.93 and the mean absolute percentage error was 1.89% for the selected method. The Bland–Altman analysis depicted an excellent agreement. The results confirmed a high accuracy that makes the system suitable for real-time pupil size tracking, regardless of the pupil’s size, light intensity, or any features typical of the recording process in sedated mice. The framework could be used in any neurophysiological study with sedated or fixed-head animals.

Description: Along with the cells that are exposed to radiation, non-irradiated cells can unveil radiation effects as a result of intercellular communication, which are collectively defined as radiation induced bystander effects (RIBE). Exosome-mediated signalling is one of the core mechanisms responsible for multidirectional communication of tumor cells and their associated microenvironment, which may result in enhancement of malignant tumor phenotypes. Recent studies show that exosomes and exosome-mediated signalling also play a dynamic role in RIBE in cancer cell lines, many of which focused on altered exosome cargo or their effects on DNA damage. However, there is a lack of knowledge regarding how these changes in exosome cargo are reflected in other functional characteristics of cancer cells from the aspects of invasiveness and metastasis. Therefore, in the current study, we aimed to investigate exosome-mediated bystander effects of 2 Gy X-ray therapeutic dose of ionizing radiation on the invasive potential of MCF-7 breast cancer cells in vitro via assessing Matrigel invasion potential, epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT) characteristics and the extent of glycosylation, as well as underlying plausible molecular mechanisms. The findings show that exosomes derived from irradiated MCF-7 cells enhance invasiveness of bystander MCF-7 cells, possibly through altered miRNA and protein content carried in exosomes.

Description: Synthesis of Ni/C nanostructured composites based on a natural raw material, i.e., wheat straw, is carried out in this work. The synthesis is performed by one- and two-stage methods using NiCl2 as the activating agent. The X-ray diffraction and EDS analyses reveal the presence of metallic nickel in the structure of the composites, whereas magnetic measurements showed that nickel was contained in the porous carbon matrix in the nanoparticle state. For nanocomposites synthesized by the one-stage method, the largest contribution to the formation of the porous structure might be attributed to pores with radii from 5 to 30 nm; for a nanocomposite synthesized in two stages, the pore distribution function exhibits a narrow isolated peak with a maximum of around 2.6 nm. Based on the obtained magnetic data, the coercive force, specific saturation magnetization and nickel content in nanocomposites are calculated. For the measured values of the coercive force, the average size of magnetic moment carriers is determined to be ~100 nm for the two-stage synthesis nanocomposite and ~100 ÷ 110 nm for the one-stage synthesis nanocomposites. The developed Ni/C nanocomposites might be used as a cheap material for energy storage applications or as magnetically controlled adsorbents.

Description: Parkinson’s disease (PD) is characterized by the progressive accumulation of neuronal intracellular aggregates largely composed of alpha-Synuclein (αSyn) protein. The process of αSyn aggregation is induced during aging and enhanced by environmental stresses, such as the exposure to pesticides. Paraquat (PQ) is an herbicide which has been widely used in agriculture and associated with PD. PQ is known to cause an increased oxidative stress in exposed individuals but the consequences of such stress on αSyn conformation remains poorly understood. To study αSyn pathogenic modifications in response to PQ, we exposed Drosophila expressing human αSyn to a chronic PQ protocol. We first showed that PQ exposure and αSyn expression synergistically induced fly mortality. The exposure to PQ was also associated with increased levels of total and phosphorylated forms of αSyn in the Drosophila brain. Interestingly, PQ increased the detection of soluble αSyn in highly denaturating buffer but did not increase αSyn resistance to proteinase K digestion. These results suggest that PQ induces the accumulation of toxic soluble and misfolded forms of αSyn but that these toxic forms do not form fibrils or aggregates that are detected by the proteinase K assay. Collectively, our results demonstrate that Drosophila can be used to study the effect of PQ or other environmental neurotoxins on αSyn driven pathology.

Description: Psoriasis is a recurrent, chronic, immune-mediated, systemic inflammatory disease of the skin, joints, and other organic systems. After atopic dermatitis, chronic stationary psoriasis is the most common inflammatory skin disease, affecting an average of 2–4% of the world’s population. The disease carries a significant burden due to its numerous comorbidities and the major impact on patients’ social and emotional aspects of life. According to current knowledge, psoriasis is a multifactorial disease that occurs in genetically predisposed individuals under various environmental factors, which trigger an immune response disorder with a series of complex inflammatory cascades. The disease is initiated and maintained by mutual interaction of the innate and adaptive immune cells, primarily dendritic cells, T lymphocytes, and keratinocytes, whose leading role alternates at different stages of the disease, consisting mainly in the IL-23/Th17 pathway. Inflammatory events result in consequent epidermal and dermal changes and evolution of the characteristic psoriatic phenotype, respectively. This paper aims to present a comprehensive overview of current knowledge on psoriasis genetic and environmental etiological factors, immunopathogenesis, and the leading cellular and cytokine participants in the inflammatory pathways of this disease.

Description: With the rapid development in the global economy and technology, urbanization has accelerated. It is important to characterize the urban expansion and determine its driving force. In this study, we used the Xiaonan District in Hubei Province, China, as an example to map and quantify the spatiotemporal dynamics of urban expansion from the two perspectives of built-up area and urban land in 1990–2020 by using remote sensing images. The location of rivers was found to be a primary limiting factor for spatial patterns and expansion of the built-up area. The transfer of the city center and the main direction of expansion generally corresponded well to the topography, policies, and development strategies. The built-up area expanded faster than the urban population in 1995–2020, which caused a waste in land resources. The results showed that the urban expansion first decreased and then increased during the research period. The increase in the proportion of the secondary industry was the main driving force of the urban expansion. Based on the characteristics of urban expansion in the past three decades, we conclude that the urban land of Xiaonan District will expand quickly in the future and will occupy vast agricultural land. The government must deploy control measures to balance the benefits and costs of urban expansion.

Description: Wave energy has great prospect among many forms of marine renewable energy for its high density and storage. This paper proposes an underwater direct drive wave energy converter (UDDWEC), which is composed of a submerged point absorbing buoy and a linear-rotating axial flux permanent magnetic generator (LR-AFPMG). In addition, a maximum energy capture control strategy, resonance control, is derived for UDDWEC, based on small amplitude oscillation and hydrodynamic analysis. The proposed control strategy assumes the availability of sea condition such as wave height and period. This control strategy has three main characteristics. Firstly, this control strategy is derived based on hydrodynamic analysis of the submerged point absorber. Added mass, radiation damping and other hydrodynamic parameters are obtained to participate in UDDWEC dynamic model. Secondly, a LR-AFPMG is applied as power take-off device to realize energy conversion, which can improve the power density. Thirdly, small amplitude oscillation can be changed into long stroke rotary motion through the LR-AFPMG. The reliability and effectiveness of the proposed control strategy are assessed at various operation conditions for a heaving system and the validity for the UDDWEC is verified.

Description: The carbon dioxide (CO2) methanation reaction is a process that produces methane (CH4) by reacting CO2 and H2. Many studies have been conducted on this process because it enables a reduction of greenhouse gases and the production of energy with carbon neutrality. Moreover, it also exhibits a higher efficiency at low temperatures due to its thermodynamic characteristics; thus, there have been many studies, particularly on the catalysts that are driven at low temperatures and have high durability. However, with regards to employing this process in actual industrial processes, studies on both toxic substances that can influence catalyst performance and regeneration are still insufficient. Therefore, in this paper, the activity of a Ni catalyst before and after hydrogen sulfide (H2S) exposure was compared and an in-depth analysis was conducted to reveal the activity performance through the regeneration treatment of the poisoned catalyst. This study observed the reaction activity changes when injecting H2S during the CO2 + H2 reaction to evaluate the toxic effect of H2S on the Ni-Ce-Zr catalyst, in which the results indicate that the reaction activity decreases rapidly at 220 °C. Next, this study also successfully conducted a regeneration of the Ni-Ce-Zr catalyst that was poisoned with H2S by applying H2 heat treatment. It is expected that the results of this study can be used as fundamental data in an alternative approach to performance recovery when a small amount of H2S is included in the reaction gas of industrial processes (landfill gas, fire extinguishing tank gas, etc.) that can be linked to CO2 methanation.

Description: In early 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic revealed a faceless, non-adversarial threat that endangered Israelis and Palestinians with the same ferocity. However, the capacities of the health systems to address it were not equal, with Israel more equipped for the outbreak with infrastructure, resources, manpower and later, vaccines. The pandemic demonstrated the life-saving benefits of cooperation and the self-defeating harms brought by non-cooperation. These trends are explored here by an international team of public health and environmental scholars, including those from different sides of the Israeli–Palestinian conflict. This article explores the importance of recognizing the Israeli and Palestinian jurisdictions as a single epidemiological unit, and illustrates how doing so is a pragmatic positioning that can serve self-interest. We demonstrate how despite political shocks precipitating non-cooperation, there has been a recurrent tendency towards limited cooperation. The paper concludes with lessons over the need for reframing public health as a potential bridge, the need for structural changes creating sustainable platforms for accelerated transboundary cooperation to enable the steady management of current and future public and environmental health crises regardless of dynamic political crises, and the importance of civil society and international organizations in forging collaboration in advance of governmental engagement.

Description: Background: Several immunotherapy (IT) agents are FDA approved for treatment of melanoma and non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The addition of stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) or stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) to immunotherapy looks promising. A systematic review was conducted to evaluate the possible synergistic effects of immune checkpoints inhibitors (ICIs) and stereotactic radiation therapy in melanoma and NSCLC. Materials and methods: Pubmed databases from January 2010 to December 2020 were reviewed to identify English language studies reporting control of local and abscopal effect of the combination of ICI-SBRT/SRS in metastatic NSCLC and melanoma cancer. The inclusion criteria were followed according to PICO criteria. Results: Thirty-nine articles were included of the 2141 initial results. The reported rates for local control were 16.5–100% and 40–94% in brain and extracerebral metastases, respectively. Distant/abscopal response rates were 1–45% in extracerebral metastases. Abscopal effect could not be evaluated in brain metastases because it was not reported in studies. Treatments were well tolerated with few grade 4 toxicities and no grade 5. Conclusions: The combined treatment of ICI-SBRT/SRS achieves high local control and non-negligible abscopal response in patients with extracerebral metastases, with its benefit in cerebral metastases being more controversial. Clinical trials are needed to better characterize the potential synergism.

Description: The nature of genome organization into two basic structural compartments is as yet undiscovered. However, it has been indicated to be a mechanism of gene expression regulation. Using the classification approach, we ranked genomic marks that hint at compartmentalization. We considered a broad range of marks, including GC content, histone modifications, DNA binding proteins, open chromatin, transcription and genome regulatory segmentation in GM12878 cells. Genomic marks were defined over CTCF or RNAPII loops, which are basic elements of genome 3D structure, and over 100 kb genomic windows. Experiments were carried out to empirically assess the whole set of features, as well as the individual features in classification of loops/windows, into compartment A or B. Using Monte Carlo Feature Selection and Analysis of Variance, we constructed a ranking of feature importance for classification. The best simple indicator of compartmentalization is DNase-seq open chromatin measurement for CTCF loops, H3K4me1 for RNAPII loops and H3K79me2 for genomic windows. Among DNA binding proteins, this is RUNX3 transcription factor for loops and RNAPII for genomic windows. Chromatin state prediction methods that indicate active elements like promoters, enhancers or heterochromatin enhance the prediction of loop segregation into compartments. However, H3K9me3, H4K20me1, H3K27me3 histone modifications and GC content poorly indicate compartments.

Description: Voids in polymer matrix composites are one of the most common manufacturing defects, which may influence the mechanical properties and structural behavior of the final parts made of composites by various manufacturing methods. Therefore, numerous non-destructive testing (NDT) techniques were developed and applied for quality control and in-service testing of such structures. In this paper, the authors analyzed various alternatives to the reference technique, X-ray computed tomography (XCT) NDT, which is used for industrial testing of composite disks having defects in the form of the lower density areas. Different candidates, namely: vibration-based testing, infrared thermography, vibro-thermography, as well as ultrasonic testing were analyzed in terms of their sensitivity and technical feasibility. The quality of the results, the complexity of the testing procedure, time and labor consumption, and the cost of the equipment were analyzed and compared with the reference technique. Based on the conducted research the authors finally proposed a hybrid approach to quality control, using a combination of two NDT techniques–infrared thermography (for initial scanning and detection of near-surface defects) and ultrasonic testing (for a more detailed analysis of products that pass the first testing procedure). It allowed for replacing the costly XCT diagnostics with a much cheaper, but almost equally effective, alternative.

Description: As antimicrobial resistance has been increasing, new antimicrobial agents are desperately needed. Azalomycin F, a natural polyhydroxy macrolide, presents remarkable antimicrobial activities. To investigate its pharmacokinetic characteristics in rats, the concentrations of azalomycin F contained in biological samples, in vitro, were determined using a validated high-performance liquid chromatography–ultraviolet (HPLC-UV) method, and, in vivo, samples were assayed by an ultra-high performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometric (UPLC–MS/MS) method. Based on these methods, the pharmacokinetics of azalomycin F were first investigated. Its plasma concentration-time courses and pharmacokinetic parameters in rats were obtained by a non-compartment model for oral (26.4 mg/kg) and intravenous (2.2 mg/kg) administrations. The results indicate that the oral absolute bioavailability of azalomycin F is very low (2.39 ± 1.28%). From combinational analyses of these pharmacokinetic parameters, and of the results of the in-vitro absorption and metabolism experiments, we conclude that azalomycin F is absorbed relatively slowly and with difficulty by the intestinal tract, and subsequently can be rapidly distributed into the tissues and/or intracellular f of rats. Azalomycin F is stable in plasma, whole blood, and the liver, and presents plasma protein binding ratios of more than 90%. Moreover, one of the major elimination routes of azalomycin F is its excretion through bile and feces. Together, the above indicate that azalomycin F is suitable for administration by intravenous injection when used for systemic diseases, while, by oral administration, it can be used in the treatment of diseases of the gastrointestinal tract.

Description: Wine batch distillation in a copper pot still heated directly by combustion is unusual. It is a niche sector. Few studies are available on the subject and even fewer have studied it from a thermal point of view. In a context of ecology awareness and regularly increasing gas taxes, finding less energy consuming and more performing solutions has become necessary. Two methods already exist to recover energy for such pot stills, however improvements could be made. The present study focuses on the heating zone of an experimental pot still. First, a thermal diagnosis based on a nodal model is conducted in transient regime. The major sites of energy expenditure and waste are thus identified and quantified. Results highlight significant losses both in combustion smoke and by conduction to the environment resulting from a limited thermal performance of the system. Proposals are then made to enhance it. For instance, the preheating could be optimized and more thermal waste could be recovered.

Description: The angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) is the receptor used by SARS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2 coronaviruses to attach to cells via the receptor-binding domain (RBD) of their viral spike protein. Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, several structures of protein complexes involving ACE2 and RBD as well as monoclonal antibodies and nanobodies have become available. We have leveraged the structural data to design peptides to target the interaction between the RBD of SARS-CoV-2 and ACE2 and SARS-CoV and ACE2, as contrasting exemplar, as well as the dimerization surface of ACE2 monomers. The peptides were modelled using our original method: PiPreD that uses native elements of the interaction between the targeted protein and cognate partner(s) that are subsequently included in the designed peptides. These peptides recapitulate stretches of residues present in the native interface plus novel and highly diverse conformations surrogating key interactions at the interface. To facilitate the access to this information we have created a freely available and dedicated web-based repository, PepI-Covid19 database, providing convenient access to this wealth of information to the scientific community with the view of maximizing its potential impact in the development of novel therapeutic and diagnostic agents.

Description: Musculoskeletal ailments affect millions of people around the world and place a high burden on healthcare. Traditional treatment modalities are limited and do not address underlying pathologies. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have emerged as an exciting therapeutic alternative and Wharton’s jelly-derived mesenchymal stem cells (WJSCs) are some of these. This review reports the clinical and functional outcomes of the applications of WJSCs in orthopedic surgery. A systematic review was conducted utilizing the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. The studies that used culture-expanded, mesenchymal stem or stromal cells, MSCs and/or connective tissues procured from Wharton’s jelly (WJ), from January 2010 to October 2021, were included. Conventional non-operative therapies and placebos were used as comparisons. Six studies that directly discussed WJSCs use in an animal model or the basic scientific testing using an injury model were identified. Five publications studied cartilage injury, three studied degenerative disc disease, one was related to osteoarthritis, and one was related to osteochondral defects. The results of these studies suggested the benefits of WJSCs in the management of these orthopedic pathologies. To adequately assess the safety and efficacy of WJSCs in orthopedic surgery, further randomized controlled clinical studies are necessary.

Description: We explored gender differences in sexual behavior, and their relevance to mental health among high school students in South Korea. This study was based on data from the 14th Korea Youth Risk Behavior Web-Based Survey (2018). The subjects were 2460 high school students who reported sexual experiences. Student′s t-test, ANOVA, and Rao-Scott chi-squared test were performed to identify the significance of the differences. Boys had earlier sexual debuts (Rao-Scott χ2 = 53.55, p 〈 0.001), a lower frequency of using contraceptives (Rao-Scott χ2 = 26.57, p 〈 0.001), and lower rates of sex education in school (Rao-Scott χ2 = 11.20, p = 0.004). With respect to mental health factors, there was a difference in suicidality according to sexual risk behaviors, with a stronger association found in boys. In girls, there was an association between pregnancy experiences and suicidal ideation (Rao-Scott χ2 = 9.90, p = 0.003), plans (Rao-Scott χ2 = 17.25, p 〈 0.001), and attempts (Rao-Scott χ2 = 23.11, p 〈 0.001). Our findings suggest differences by gender and age group in the association between sexual behavior and mental health. It is necessary to devise a sex education strategy for adolescents considering gender and early versus late adolescent development period.

Description: Warm mix asphalt (WMA) technology can bring certain environmental and technical benefits through reducing the temperature of production, paving, and compaction of mixture asphalt. Recent studies have shown that some WMA additives are able to reduce the temperature by increasing the lubricating properties of asphalt binder-based on the tribological theory, this paper studied the mechanism of adsorbing and lubricating film of base asphalt and WMA on the surface of stone by molecular dynamics (MD) simulation method, and the effect of surfactant WMA additive on the lubrication performance of the shear friction system of “stone–asphalt–stone”. The model of base asphalt lubricating film, including saturates, aromatics, resin and asphaltene, as well as the model of warm mix asphalt lubricating film containing imidazoline-type surfactant WMA (IMDL WMA) additive molecule, were established. The shear friction system of “stone–asphalt–stone” of base asphalt and warm mix asphalt was built on the basis of an asphalt lubrication film model and representative calcite model. The results show that the addition of IMDL WMA additive can effectively improve the lubricity of asphalt, reduce the shear stress of asphalt lubricating film, and increase the stability of asphalt film. The temperature in the WMA lubricating film rises, while the adsorption energy on the stone surface decreases with the increase of shear rate, indicating that the higher the shear rate is, the more unfavorable it is for the WMA lubricating film to wrap on the stone surface. In addition, the shear stress of the WMA lubricating film decreased with increasing temperature, while the shear stress of the base asphalt lubricating film increased first and then decreased, demonstrating that the compactability of the asphalt mixture did not improve linearly with the increase of temperature.

Description: Faced with the biggest virus outbreak in a century, world governments at the start of 2020 took unprecedented measures to protect their healthcare systems from being overwhelmed in the light of the COVID-19 pandemic. International travel was halted and lockdowns were imposed. Many nations adopted measures to stop the transmission of the virus, such as imposing the wearing of face masks, social distancing, and limits on social gatherings. Technology was quickly developed for mobile phones, allowing governments to track people’s movements concerning locations of the virus (both people and places). These are called contact tracing applications. Contact tracing applications raise serious privacy and security concerns. Within Europe, two systems evolved: a centralised system, which calculates risk on a central server, and a decentralised system, which calculates risk on the users’ handset. This study examined both systems from a threat perspective to design a framework that enables privacy and security for contact tracing applications. Such a framework is helpful for App developers. The study found that even though both systems comply with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), Europe’s privacy legislation, the centralised system suffers from severe risks against the threats identified. Experiments, research, and reviews tested the decentralised system in various settings but found that it performs better but still suffers from inherent shortcomings. User tracking and re-identification are possible, especially when users report themselves as infected. Based on these data, the study identified and validated a framework that enables privacy and security. The study also found that the current implementations using the decentralised Google/Apple API do not comply with the framework.

Description: In the last decades, silk fibroin and wool keratin have been considered functional materials for biomedical applications. In this study, fabrics containing silk fibers from Bombyx mori and Tussah silk fibers from Antheraea pernyi, as well as wool keratin fabrics, were grafted with phosmer CL and phosmer M (commercial names, i.e., methacrylate monomers containing phosphate groups in the molecular side chain) with different weight gains. Both phosmers were recently proposed as flame retarding agents, and their chemical composition suggested a possible application in bone tissue engineering. IR and Raman spectroscopy were used to disclose the possible structural changes induced by grafting and identify the most reactive amino acids towards the phosmers. The same techniques were used to investigate the nucleation of a calcium phosphate phase on the surface of the samples (i.e., bioactivity) after ageing in simulated body fluid (SBF). The phosmers were found to polymerize onto the biopolymers efficiently, and tyrosine and serine underwent phosphorylation (monitored through the strengthening of the Raman band at 1600 cm−1 and the weakening of the Raman band at 1400 cm−1, respectively). In grafted wool keratin, cysteic acid and other oxidation products of disulphide bridges were detected together with sulphated residues. Only slight conformational changes were observed upon grafting, generally towards an enrichment in ordered domains, suggesting that the amorphous regions were more prone to react (and, sometimes, degrade). All samples were shown to be bioactive, with a weight gain of up to 8%. The most bioactive samples contained the highest phosmers amounts, i.e., the highest amounts of phosphate nucleating sites. The sulphate/sulphonate groups present in grafted wool samples appeared to increase bioactivity, as shown by the five-fold increase of the IR phosphate band at 1040 cm−1.

Description: Climate change-related natural disasters, including wildfires and extreme weather events, such as intense storms, floods, and heatwaves, are increasing in frequency and intensity. These events are already profoundly affecting human health in the United States and globally, challenging the ability of communities to prepare, respond, and recover. The purpose of this research was to examine the peer-reviewed literature on community resilience initiatives in one of the most densely populated and economically important regions, the Northeastern United States, and to identify evidence-based interventions and metrics that had been field-tested and evaluated. This paper addresses two critical gaps in the literature: (1) what strategies or interventions have been implemented to build or enhance community resilience against climate change-related natural disasters; and (2) what metrics were used to measure community resilience as an outcome of those strategies or interventions? This review provides a succinct list of effective interventions with specific health outcomes. Community or state-level health officials can use the results to prioritize public health interventions. This review used existing database search tools to discover 205 studies related to community resilience and health outcomes. Methods set criteria to assess if interventions were able to measure and change levels of community resilience to the health impacts associated with a changing climate. Criteria included: (a) alignment with the United States’ National Preparedness Goal for reducing risks to human health and for recovering quickly from disasters; (b) derived from publicly available data sources; (c) developed for use by communities at a local scale; and (d) accessible to modestly resourced municipalities and county health agencies. Five (5) peer-reviewed, evidence-based studies met all of the selection criteria. Three of these articles described intervention frameworks and two reported on the use of standardized tools. Health-related outcomes included mental health impacts (PTSD/depression), mental stress, emergency preparedness knowledge, social capital skills, and emergency planning skills. The paper recommends the COAST project, COPEWELL Rubric for self-assessment, and Ready CDC intervention as examples of strategies that could be adapted by any community engaged in building community resilience.

Description: The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of Bacillus subtillis PB6, chromium propionate or a combination of the two on the performance, egg and eggshell quality, nutrient metabolizability and serum biochemistry of layer breeders. White Plymouth Rock and Red Rhodes Island breeder hens at 55 weeks of age were allocated in individual cages using a completely randomized block design with 16 replicates. Hens were fed control, control + probiotic (500 g/ton of Bacillus subtilis PB6), control + CrProp (50 g/ton of chromium propionate) and control + probiotic + CrProp diets from 55 to 70 weeks of age. Productive parameters and eggshell quality as well as cortisol and blood biochemistry were grouped each 28 d as well as for the overall period. The metabolizability of nutrients and energy was determined at 70 weeks of age. In the overall period, hens fed the control + probiotic or control + probiotic + CrProp diets had significantly higher egg production, egg mass, shell percentage, thickness and shell strength. The metabolizability of dry matter, nitrogen and energy increased in hens that were fed the control + probiotic + CrProp diet. In conclusion, diets supplemented with Bacillus subtillis PB6 and chromium propionate resulted in improved productive performance, eggshell quality and nutrient metabolizability of layer breeders, without modifying serum cortisol, albumin and triglycerides.

Description: Infections caused by non-tuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) have been a public health problem in recent decades and contribute significantly to the clinical and economic burden globally. The diagnosis of infections is difficult and time-consuming and, in addition, the conventional diagnostics tests do not have sufficient discrimination power in species identification due to cross-reactions and not fully specific probes. However, technological advances have been made and the whole genome sequencing (WGS) method has been shown to be an essential part of routine diagnostics in clinical mycobacteriology laboratories. The use of this technology has contributed to the characterization of new species of mycobacteria, as well as the identification of gene mutations encoding resistance and virulence factors. Sequencing data also allowed to track global outbreaks of nosocomial NTM infections caused by M. abscessus complex and M. chimaera. To highlight the utility of WGS, we summarize recent scientific studies on WGS as a tool suitable for the management of NTM-induced infections in clinical practice.

Description: Food processing systematically aims at meeting the needs of consumers who are looking for total high quality and perfect food safety. As the various thermal and non-thermal food preservation technologies often affect the natural properties in terms of sensation, flavor, texture, etc., instant controlled pressure drop (DIC) has been conceived as a relevant, innovative process in this field. DIC uses high saturated steam pressure and short duration to provide a new way to expand biological matrices, improve drying, decontaminate, and extract biologically active compounds, among other attributes. Therefore, this review focuses on describing the applications of DIC technology on a wide range of products such as foods and by-products that have been processed both in the laboratory and on an industrial scale. The application of DIC has shown the possibility of a significant leap in quality improvement and cost reduction in the food industry. DIC reduces the drying time of fruits and vegetables, and improves the extraction of essential oils, vegetable oils, and antioxidant components. It also provides strong decontamination, eliminates vegetative microorganisms and spores, and reduces non-nutritional and allergenic components. Over the past 33 years, this technology has continued to expand its food applications and improve its characteristics on an industrial scale. But there are still many food unit operations that can be taken to the next level with DIC.

Description: During mechanical stimulation-induced bone remodeling, interstitial fluid around microcracks may produce a flow field with gradient fluid shear stress (FSS). Osteoclast precursors can sense this gradient FSS and migrate toward the low FSS region. However, the local distribution of wall FSS on bone cells under a flow field with globally gradient FSS remains unknown. In this study, finite element models of a modified plate flow chamber with cells were constructed. The effect of oscillatory flow with different FSS levels and cell spacings or frequencies on the distribution of local wall FSS around cells was simulated by using a fluid–solid coupling method. Results showed that the polarization of wall FSS distribution in a cell decreased with the increase in cell spacing. At a low FSS level, the frequency of oscillatory flow had a minimal effect on the wall FSS distribution. At a high FSS level, the increase in flow frequency enhanced the fluctuation of local wall FSS distribution on cells. These results provide a basis for future research on the flow-induced migration of osteoclast precursors and clarify the mechanism of mechanical stimulation-induced bone resorption.

Description: Causes of the progression of periodontitis such as an imbalance between the immune response by the host by the release of inflammatory mediators in the response of the oral pathogenic dysbiotic biofilm have been identified. New insights on specific cell signaling pathways that appear during periodontitis have attracted the attention of researchers in the study of new personalised approaches for the treatment of periodontitis. The gold standard of non-surgical therapy of periodontitis involves the removal of supra and subgingival biofilm through professional scaling and root planing (SRP) and oral hygiene instructions. In order to improve periodontal clinical outcomes and overcome the limitations of traditional SRP, additional adjuvants have been developed in recent decades, including local or systemic antibiotics, antiseptics, probiotics, anti-inflammatory and anti-resorptive drugs and host modulation therapies. This review is aimed to update the current and recent evolution of therapies of management of periodontitis based on the adjunctive and target therapies. Moreover, we discuss the advances in host modulation of periodontitis and the impact of targeting epigenetic mechanisms approaches for a personalised therapeutic success in the management of periodontitis. In conclusion, the future goal in periodontology will be to combine and personalise the periodontal treatments to the colonising microbial profile and to the specific response of the individual patient.

Description: COVID-19 has brought serious challenges to education and many other sectors. Within the educational context, the main difficulties experienced have been reported as challenges related to not only mechanical impediments—such as technology or infrastructure—but also to methodological and personal features, such as lack of motivation or online learning/teaching experiences. The abrupt transition from face-to-face to online education has created the need for some specific abilities, such as digital literacy on the side of the learners at all educational levels. In this context, this mixed-method study aims to determine the digital literacy levels of learners belonging to different school levels and whether age, gender and school degree were significant variables. This study also investigates the technology-related challenges students experienced during COVID-19 pandemic. The sample consisted of 510 participants representing different school levels, age groups, and genders; in addition, a smaller representative group (n = 30) revealed their own evaluations related to their levels of digital literacy and the technology-related challenges they had about online learning. The findings suggest that there is a statistically significant relationship between students’ digital literacy and their gender and school degree, while age was not found to be a statistically significant variable. The qualitative self-reported data suggested that learners have sufficient levels of digital literacy, and that the major technology-related challenges were reported to be lack of the necessary technologies and difficulties in adapting to a new approach to learning.

Description: Conflicts are ubiquitous in forest management because of several overlapping temporal and spatial issues (see examples in tropical and temperate areas [...]

Description: Due to their excellent mechanical properties, Co-based alloys are one of the main candidates to replace Ni-based alloys in high temperature application. Knowledge about oxidation resistance of Co-based alloy MAR M-509 and the extent of its aluminizing on its oxidation resistance is limited. Therefore, in the present study, an aluminide layer was manufactured by low activity chemical vapor deposition (LA-CVD) on MAR M-509. Aluminized and uncoated alloys were investigated in terms of oxidation kinetics and oxidation resistance during isothermal and cyclic oxidation at 1000 and 1100 °C. Material in the as-cast and after exposure was analyzed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), thermogravimetry (TG) and glow-discharge optical emission spectrometry (GD-OES). Obtained results allowed for elucidating of degradation mechanism including nitridation process of carbides for MAR M-509. It was found that aluminizing of MAR M-509 significantly decreases its oxidation kinetics by the factor of 2.5 and 1.5 at 1000 and 1100 °C respectively. Moreover, the suppression of identified degradation mechanism in case of aluminized alloy was found until occurrence of breakaway oxidation of the aluminide layer. It was also proposed that further increase in oxidation resistance can be successively achieved by an increase in aluminide layer thickness.

Description: Cooperative driving is an essential component of intelligent transport systems (ITSs). It promises greater safety, reduced accidents, efficient traffic flow, and fuel consumption reduction. Vehicle platooning is a representative service model for ITS. The principal sub-systems of platooning systems for connected and automated vehicles (CAVs) are cooperative adaptive cruise control (CACC) systems and platoon management systems. Based on vehicle state information received through vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) communication, the CACC system allows platoon vehicles to maintain a narrower safety distance. In addition, the platoon management system using V2V communications allows vehicles to perform platoon maneuvers reliably and accurately. In this paper, we propose a CACC system with a variable time headway and a decentralized platoon join-in-middle maneuver protocol with a trajectory planning system considering the V2V communication delay for CAVs. The platoon join-in-middle maneuver is a challenging research subject as the research must consider the requirement of a more precise management protocol and lateral control for platoon safety and string stability. These CACC systems and protocols are implemented on a simulator for a connected and automated vehicle system, PreScan, and we validated our approach using a realistic control system and V2V communication system provided by PreScan.

Description: Rosa gallica var. aegyptiaca is a species of flowering plant belonging to the Rosaceae family that plays an important role as a therapeutic agent for the treatment of specific types of cancer, microbial infections, and diabetes mellitus. This work presents the first report on the evaluation of the antioxidant and antimicrobial potential along with the phytochemical analysis of Rosa gallica var. aegyptiaca leaves. Five leaf extracts of hexane, chloroform, methanol, hydromethanol 80%, and water were prepared. Assessment of antioxidant activity was carried out via DPPH radical scavenging assay. Antimicrobial activity against five foodborne pathogenic bacteria—including Listeria monocytogenes, Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, and Salmonella enteritidis—and the fungus Candida albicans, was examined using the disc diffusion method. Total phenolic content and total flavonoid content were determined using the Folin–Ciocalteu reagent and aluminum chloride methods, respectively. Isolation, identification, and quantification of phenolic compounds were performed using HPLC-DAD analysis. Amongst the five leaf extracts that were investigated, hydromethanol 80% extract possessed the highest extraction yield, antioxidant activity, total phenolic content, and antimicrobial activity against all tested microbial strains. Moreover, this extract furnished six active phenolic compounds: gallic acid (1), (+) catechin (2), chlorogenic acid (3), (–) epicatechin (4), quercetin-3-O-α-d-(glucopyranoside) (5), and quercetin (6). This study provides an alternative utilization of R. gallica var. aegyptiaca leaves as a readily accessible source of natural antioxidants and antimicrobials in the food and pharmaceutical industries.

Description: The quality and economic value of saffron, one of the most counterfeited spices, are based on three key substances that are relatively easy to measure: crocines (colour); picrocrocines (bitter); safranal (odour impact). Despite being well-known, as their concentration is correlated to sensory intensity, a detailed sensory evaluation, performed by a trained panel, supported by advanced analytical approaches, may better show the relationships between saffron composition and sensory perception. Three saffron samples of different Italian origins (Sardinia and Tuscany) were evaluated by a trained sensory panel and their chemical composition was determined by HPLC (High Performance Liquid Chromatography) and spectrophotometry. Safranal concentration and the perceived odour intensity were positively correlated while relationships between picrocrocine and bitter perception were more complex to detect. By correlating (Multiple Factor Analysis) saffron sensorial and chemical profiles, this work aims at improving saffron characterisation while providing better information on the quality of this valuable spice.

Description: In the present work, TiO2/ZnO hybrid nanosponges have been synthesized for the first time. First, TiO2 nanosponges were obtained by anodization under hydrodynamic conditions in a glycerol/water/NH4F electrolyte. Next, in order to achieve the anatase phase of TiO2 and improve its photocatalytic behaviour, the samples were annealed at 450 °C for 1 h. Once the TiO2 nanosponges were synthesized, TiO2/ZnO hybrid nanosponges were obtained by electrodeposition of ZnO on TiO2 nanosponges using different temperatures, times, and concentrations of zinc nitrate (Zn(NO3)2). TiO2/ZnO hybrid nanosponges were used as photoanodes in photoelectrochemical water splitting tests. The results indicate that the photoelectrochemical response improves, in the studied range, by increasing the temperature and the Zn(NO3)2 concentration during the electrodeposition process, obtaining an increase in the photoelectrochemical response of 141% for the TiO2/ZnO hybrid nanosponges electrodeposited at 75 °C with 10 mM Zn(NO3)2 for 15 min. Furthermore, morphological, chemical, and structural characterization was performed by Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FE-SEM) with Energy Dispersive X-Ray spectroscopy (EDX), Raman Confocal Laser Spectroscopy, X-Ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS), and Grazing Incidence X-Ray Diffraction (GIXRD).

Description: In order to assess the sustainability of silvicultural treatments in semiarid forests, it is necessary to know how they affect the nutrient dynamics in the forest. The objective of this paper is to study the effects of silvicultural treatments on the net N mineralization and the available mineral N content in the soil after 13 years following forest clearings. The treatments were carried out following a randomized block design, with four treatments and two blocks. The distance between the two blocks was less than 3 km; they were located in Chelva (CH) and Tuéjar (TU) in Valencia, Spain. Within each block, four experimental clearing treatments were carried out in 1998: T0 control; and T60, T75 and T100 where 60%, 75% and 100 of basal area was eliminated, respectively. Nitrogen dynamics were measured using the resin tube technique, with disturbed samples due to the high stoniness of the plots. Thirteen years after the experimental clearings, T100, T75 and T60 treatments showed a twofold increase in the net mineralization and nitrification rates with respect to T0 in both blocks (TU and CH). Within the plots, the highest mineralization was found in sites with no plant cover followed by those covered by undergrowth. These results can be explained in terms of the different litterfall qualities, which in turn are the result of the proportion of material originating from Pinus halepensis Mill. vs. more decomposable undergrowth residues.

Description: In this paper, a dual-polarized four-port 2 × 2 series fed antenna array operating at 28 GHz with beam-switching capability is proposed. The antenna array uses a simple passive beamforming network to switch the main beam. The presented antenna design is suitable for 5G user equipment and high data rates applications by which it has a compact size with low cost and complexity. The size of the antenna is 37.2 × 37.2 mm2 including the ground plane, and it produces 10 different switched beams by using only two simple 3 dB/90∘ couplers which create the required amplitudes and phase excitations for the antenna elements. A one-port simple feeding mechanism including Peregrine PE42525 SPDT switch modules and a power divider is used to generate and measure the 10 switched beams. The antenna design is implemented on a two-layer 0.203 mm thick low-loss (tanδ = 0.0027) Rogers 4003C substrate, and it has a measured 10 dB impedance bandwidth of 4 GHz (14.3%, from 26 GHz to 30 GHz) for all ports. Measured peak isolation between any dual-polarized ports of the antenna is better than 30 dB. The antenna has an average measured realized gain of 8.9 dBi and around 10 dB side lobe level (SLL) for all beams. The antenna has 3-dB coverage of 80∘ to 90∘ in 2D space and it has a maximum of ±26∘ beam-steering angle. The antenna is designed and simulated using Ansys HFSS and fabricated using regular PCB processing.

Description: Changes in common and widespread insect populations such as the domestic filth fly in urban cities are useful and relevant bioindicators for overall changes in the insect biomass. The current study surveyed necrophagous flies by placing a weekly trap from June–September over a two-year period in the city of New Haven, Connecticut, to compare data on fly abundance and diversity with data collected 78 years earlier. Climate and land cover changes were also assessed in combination with the fly population for each period. The survey results suggest the domestic filth fly population is now less diverse with decreased species richness and changes in the relative abundance of species. In both surveys, 95–96% of the population was composed of only three species. The current survey data indicate the numerical dominance of Lucilia sericata has decreased, the abundance of several species, notably Lucilia coeruleiviridis, has increased, and Lucilia illustris is absent. Species that showed a significant interaction with temperature in the 1940s survey have now increased in abundance, with several of the trapped species continuing to show an interaction with temperature and rainfall. Analysis of the land cover and climate data characterizes the trap site as a region exposed to a prolonged period of industrialization and urbanization, with only 7% of the land cover remaining undeveloped and over 50% impervious, coupled with an increase in temperature and rainfall. This study serves as a model for changes in domestic filth fly populations and other insects in similarly highly urbanized established cities.

Description: The construction sector is one of the main contributors to greenhouse gas emissions and consumers of energy, making it one of the most relevant sectors when planning reduction strategies and policies. The use of timber in the built environment has been identified as a key strategy to reduce the carbon footprint of the construction sector. In this paper, we use the concept of policy gap analysis to identified underlying challenges in the implementation of timber construction on three Nordic countries, Finland, Norway, and Sweden. We carried out a series of semi-structured interviews with experts from the countries of study. The interviews came from industry, government, and construction companies. The use of the gap analysis approach was useful not only to identify areas that are being targeted but also those areas that were not covered by any programme at the time of study. The results showed that the studied programmes have a large level of coverage and congruence with the identified challenges. Moreover, they also showed that challenges related to fire safety regulations and insurance policies for timber buildings still need to be addressed, whereas the challenges of high price variability and lack of promotion are being addressed by multiple programmes. With this work, we have seen how timber construction is gaining momentum and how the challenges have been addressed systematically.

Description: We consider alternative possibilities for hedging spot positions on the FTSE LATIBEX Index, the index of the only international market exclusively for Latin American firms that is denominated by the euro. Since there is not a futures market on the index, it is unclear whether a relatively successful hedge can be found. We explore the plausibility of employing futures on four stock market indices: EUROSTOXX 50, S&P500, BOVESPA, and IPC, and simulate the results that could be obtained by a hedge position based on either unconditional or conditional second order moments estimated from different asymmetric GARCH models. Several criteria for hedging effectiveness suggest that futures contracts on BOVESPA should be preferred, and that a salient reduction in risk can be achieved over the unhedged LATIBEX portfolio. The evidence in favor of a better performance of conditional moments is very clear, without significant differences among the alternative GARCH specifications.

Description: This study aimed to investigate the effects of multi-bacteria solid-state fermented diets with different crude fiber (CF) levels on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, and microbial flora of finishing pigs. The multi-bacteria solid-state fermented diets were made up of Lactobacillus amylovorus, Enterococcus faecalis, Bacillus subtilis, and Candida utilis. According to a 2 (factors) × 2 (levels) design, with the two factors being multi-bacteria solid-state fermentation (fed non-fermented diet or multi-bacteria fermentation) or CF levels (fed a basal diet containing 2.52% CF or 7.00% CF), a total of 36 finishing pigs (70.80 ± 5.75 kg) were divided into 4 treatments with 9 barrows per group: (1) pigs fed a diet containing 7.00% CF (HF), (2) pigs fed a multi-bacteria fermentation diet containing 7.00% CF (HFM), (3) pigs fed a diet containing 2.52% CF (LF), and (4) piglets fed a multi-bacteria fermentation diet containing 2.52% CF (LFM). This experiment lasted 28 days. The multi-bacteria solid-state fermented diet increased the backfat thickness (p 〈 0.05) and apparent total tract nutrient digestibility (ATTD) of CF, neutral detergent fiber (NDF), acid detergent fiber (ADF), crude protein (CP), 8 amino acids (Trp, Asp, Gly, Cys, Val, Met, Ile, and Leu), total essential amino acids (EAA), total non-essential amino acids (NEEA), and total amino acids (TAA) (p 〈 0.05). Multi-bacteria solid-state fermented diet increased serum concentrations of HDL-c, ABL, TP, and GLU, the serum enzyme activities of GSH-Px, T-AOC, SOD, and CAT (p 〈 0.05), the relative abundance of Lactobacillus, Oscillospira, and Coprococcus (p 〈 0.05), and the abundance of YAMINSYN3-PWY, PWY-7013, GOLPDLCAT-PWY, ARGORNPROST-PWY, and PWY-5022 pathways (p 〈 0.05). The multi-bacteria solid-state fermented diet reduced the digestion amount of CF, NDF, and ADF (p 〈 0.05), the serum concentrations of TC, TG, LDL-c, BUN, and MDA (p 〈 0.05), the relative abundance of Streptococcaceae (p 〈 0.05), and the abundance of PWY-6470, PWY0-862, HSERMETANA-PWY, LACTOSECAT-PWY, MET-SAM-PWY, PWY-6700, PWY-5347, PWY0-1061, and LACTOSECAT-PWY pathways (p 〈 0.05). The high-fiber diet increased average daily feed intake (p 〈 0.05), the serum concentrations of TC, TG, LDL-c, BUN, and MDA (p 〈 0.05), the relative abundance of Clostridiaceae_Clostridium and Coprococcus (p 〈 0.05), and the abundance of TCA-GLYOX-BYPASS, GLYCOLYSIS-TCA-GLYOX-BYPASS, and PWY-6906 pathways (p 〈 0.05). The high-fiber diet reduced chest circumference (p 〈 0.05) and ATTD of ether extract (EE), CF, NDF, ADF, Ca, CP, 18 amino acids (Trp, Thr, Val, Met, Ile, Leu, Phe, Lys, His, Arg Asp, Ser, Glu, Gly, Ala, Cys, Tyr, and Pro), EAA, NEAA, and TAA (p 〈 0.05). The high-fiber diet also reduced the serum concentrations of HDL-c, TP, ABL, and GLU, the serum enzyme activities of T-AOC, GSH-Px, SOD, and CAT (p 〈 0.05), and the relative abundance of Akkermansia and Oscillospira (p 〈 0.05). There was no significant effect of the interaction between multi-bacteria fermentation and dietary CF levels, except on the digestion amount of CF (p 〈 0.05). The 7.00% CF had a negative effect on the digestion of nutrients, but multi-bacteria solid-state fermentation diets could relieve this negative effect and increase backfat thickness. High-fiber diets and multi-bacteria solid-state fermentation improved the diversity and abundance of fecal microorganisms in finishing pigs.

Description: In Europe, the qualification of injection anchors in masonry under static and quasi-static actions is based on an assessment of tests performed in undamaged masonry. Nevertheless, in seismic prone countries like Italy the influences deriving from earthquake actions cannot be disregarded. Masonry elements are very sensitive to cyclic/seismic action and research on the behavior of anchors in damaged masonry is rather limited. The paper presents the results of an experimental campaign aimed at evaluating the residual tensile strength of adhesive anchors installed into undamaged walls that were subsequently subjected to cyclic in-plane loading to simulate seismic actions before. Consequently, the anchors experienced different stresses depending on their location within the walls. Overall, 29 tests were performed with anchors placed both, in undamaged and damaged areas. The results showed that there is a correlation between residual tensile strength and masonry initial conditions, and therefore the installation of anchors in masonry elements should be carefully planned avoiding areas that could be heavily damaged during seismic events or considering redundant connections in critical areas. In particular, it seems that the width of the crack (created by cyclic actions) that passes nearby/into the anchor borehole is the main parameter that affects the ultimate resistance of the anchors.

Description: The United Nations 2030 Agenda has emphasized the potential of digital technology to enhance sustainability performance, assuming that digital transformation can enable firms’ convergence toward the Sustainable Development Goals. Despite this, the literature is unclear regarding whether there is a positive relationship between digitalization and sustainability, as the effects of digital transformation are controversial. The main goal of this study was to assess the hypothesis that digital technology contributes to the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals within the UN 2030 Agenda. To test this hypothesis, a textual analysis was performed to assess Italian firms’ digitalization efforts; the obtained results were then related to the selected firms’ ESG scores using a regression analysis. The analysis focused on Italian FTSE MIB listed firms for the period 2016–2019. The findings show a positive relation between digitalization and Sustainable Development Goals, highlighting the relevance of digital technology in implementing the sustainability agenda.

Description: An approximate model based on friction-coefficient formalism is developed to predict the mixed-gas permeability and selectivity of polymeric membranes. More specifically, the model is a modification of Kedem’s approach to flux coupling. The crucial assumption of the developed model is the division of the inverse local permeability of the mixture component into two terms: the inverse local permeability of the corresponding pure gas and the term proportional to the friction between penetrants. Analytical expressions for permeability and selectivity of polymeric membranes in mixed-gas conditions were obtained within the model. The input parameters for the model are ideal selectivity and solubility coefficients for pure gases. Calculations have shown that, depending on the input parameters and the value of the membrane Peclét number (the measure of coupling), there can be both a reduction and an enhancement of selectivity compared to the ideal selectivity. The deviation between real and ideal selectivity increases at higher Peclét numbers; in the limit of large Peclét numbers, the mixed-gas selectivity tends to the value of the ideal solubility selectivity. The model has been validated using literature data on mixed-gas separation of n-butane/methane and propylene/propane through polymeric membranes.

Description: This paper summarizes the results from microclimatic monitoring of the impacts related to the construction and exploration phase of a hydroelectric powerplant in the upper Douro River (Portugal). Reference climatic elements for both periods were obtained and the impacts of the reservoir water mass on the region’s microclimate were evaluated. For this purpose, Sen’s slope estimate non-parametric test was used to detect the meteorological variables’ trends over 10 years, considering the division into the construction (2011–2015) and exploration (2016–2020) phases. A network of meteorological stations located close to the dam, in addition to a control station relatively distant from the dam, was used to collect the meteorological data. The control station is still integrated into the same regional climatic context but not exposed to the direct influence of the resulting reservoirs. As a result, temporal differences were determined for temperature and relative humidity. The results show a statistically significant increase in the minimum relative humidity, accompanied by a statistically significant decrease in the daily and seasonal temperature amplitudes between the construction and the exploration phase periods. These outcomes thereby suggest that large reservoirs affect the local climate and may create new microclimates, in the surrounding area, with both positive and negative potential effects.

Description: Cadmium (Cd) is one of the most injurious heavy metals, affecting plant growth and development. Melatonin (N-acetyl-5-methoxytryptamine) was discovered in plants in 1995, and it is since known to act as a multifunctional molecule to alleviate abiotic and biotic stresses, especially Cd stress. Endogenously triggered or exogenously applied melatonin re-establishes the redox homeostasis by the improvement of the antioxidant defense system. It can also affect the Cd transportation and sequestration by regulating the transcripts of genes related to the major metal transport system, as well as the increase in glutathione (GSH) and phytochelatins (PCs). Melatonin activates several downstream signals, such as nitric oxide (NO), hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), and salicylic acid (SA), which are required for plant Cd tolerance. Similar to the physiological functions of NO, hydrogen sulfide (H2S) is also involved in the abiotic stress-related processes in plants. Moreover, exogenous melatonin induces H2S generation in plants under salinity or heat stress. However, the involvement of H2S action in melatonin-induced Cd tolerance is still largely unknown. In this review, we summarize the progresses in various physiological and molecular mechanisms regulated by melatonin in plants under Cd stress. The complex interactions between melatonin and H2S in acquisition of Cd stress tolerance are also discussed.

Description: In the first quarter of 2020, Italy became one of the earliest hotspots of COVID-19 infection, and the government imposed a lockdown. During the lockdown, an online survey of 2053 adults was conducted that asked about health behaviors and about the psychological and overall impact of COVID-19. The present study is a secondary analysis of that data. We hypothesized that self-control, higher socio-economic status, existing health conditions, and fear of infection were all inversely related to actions (or intentions) that violated the lockdown (i.e., infractions). Using partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM), we found that only the fear of infection significantly dissuaded people from violating lockdown rules. Since it is not practical or ethical to sow a fear of infection, our study indicates that enacting rules and enforcing them firmly and fairly are important tools for containing the infection. This may become more important as vaccines become more widely available and people lose their fear of infection.

Description: In this paper, we develop an economic order quantity (EOQ) model for fixed shelf-life items and a non-increasing demand. The objective of this model is to maximize the total profit. We find the criterion to decide (i) the interior maximum solution or (ii) the boundary maximum solution. Eight numerical examples are given to illustrate all possible scenarios of this generalized model. Our results identify a scenario for which the maximum profit is always negative. This is highly relevant for firms in the public sector operating at a financial loss.

Description: To improve the quality and control accuracy of the farming tractor electro-hydraulic hitch system, a variable-universe fuzzy control algorithm is introduced herein based on force–position mixed adjustment. (1) Background: This research sought to improve the operation quality and control precision of the tractor electro-hydraulic suspension operation system by solving the slow response and low precision problems in the target value control of the system. (2) Methods: According to the characteristics of the operating system, the working principle is discussed. The variable-universe fuzzy controller and the control module were designed based on MC9S12XS128. At the same time, we used Matlab/Simulink to study the step response, and field tests were carried out based on the existing test conditions. (3) Results: In the response stage, the variable-universe fuzzy control only needs 5.85 s, and there is no overshoot problem; in the normal tillage stage, the maximum tillage depth difference is only 1.6 cm, and the traction force is 428 N, which is closer to the expected value. (4) Conclusions: The farming quality and efficiency of the operating system were improved. Additionally, the operating system can also provide technical support for intelligent agricultural machinery and the field management mode in the future.

Description: Every biological image contains quantitative data that can be used to test hypotheses about how patterns were formed, what entities are associated with one another, and whether standard mathematical methods inform our understanding of biological phenomena. In particular, spatial point distributions and polygonal tessellations are particularly amendable to analysis with a variety of graph theoretic, computational geometric, and spatial statistical tools such as: Voronoi polygons; Delaunay triangulations; perpendicular bisectors; circumcenters; convex hulls; minimal spanning trees; Ulam trees; Pitteway violations; circularity; Clark-Evans spatial statistics; variance to mean ratios; Gabriel graphs; and, minimal spanning trees. Furthermore, biologists have developed a number of empirically related correlations for polygonal tessellations such as: Lewis’s law (the number of edges of convex polygons are positively correlated with the areas of these polygons): Desch’s Law (the number of edges of convex polygons are positively correlated with the perimeters of these polygons); and Errara’s Law (daughter cell areas should be roughly half that of their parent cells’ areas). We introduce a new Pitteway Law that the number of sides of the convex polygons in a Voronoi tessellation of biological epithelia is proportional to the minimal interior angle of the convex polygons as angles less than 90 degrees result in Pitteway violations of the Delaunay dual of the Voronoi tessellation.

Description: The aim of this meta-analysis was to quantify the change in sedentary time during the COVID-19 pandemic and its effect on health outcomes in the general population. One thousand six hundred and one articles published after 2019 were retrieved from five databases, of which 64 and 40 were included in the systematic review and meta-analysis, respectively. Studies were grouped according to population: children (65 years). Average sedentary time was calculated, with sub-analyses performed by country, behaviour type and health outcomes. Children were most affected, increasing their sedentary time by 159.5 ± 142.6 min day−1, followed by adults (+126.9 ± 42.2 min day−1) and older adults (+46.9 ± 22.0 min day−1). There were no sex differences in any age group. Screen time was the only consistently measured behaviour and accounted for 46.8% and 57.2% of total sedentary time in children and adults, respectively. Increases in sedentary time were negatively correlated with global mental health, depression, anxiety and quality of life, irrespective of age. Whilst lockdown negatively affected all age groups, children were more negatively affected than adults or older adults, highlighting this population as a key intervention target. As lockdowns ease worldwide, strategies should be employed to reduce time spent sedentary. Trial registration: PROSPERO (CRD42020208909).

Description: Physical processes play important roles in controlling eutrophication and oligotrophication. In stratified lakes, internal waves can cause vertical transport of heat and nutrients without breaking the stratification, through boundary mixing events. Such is the case in tropical Valle de Bravo (VB) reservoir lake, where strong diurnal winds drive internal waves, boundary mixing, and hypolimnetic warming during stratification periods. We monitored VB during 21 years (2001–2021) when important water-level fluctuations occurred, affecting mixing and nutrient flux. Stability also varied as a function of water level. Hypolimnetic warming (0.009–0.028 °C day−1) occurred in all the stratifications monitored. We analyzed temperature distributions and modeled the hypolimnion heat budget to assess vertical mixing between layers (0.639–3.515 × 10−6 m3 day−1), vertical diffusivity coefficient KZ (2.5 × 10−6–13.6 × 10−6 m2 s−1), and vertical nutrient transport to the epilimnion. Nutrient flux from the metalimnion to the epilimnion ranged 0.42–5.99 mg P m−2day−1 for soluble reactive phosphorus (SRP) and 5.8–101.7 mg N m−2day−1 for dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN). Vertical mixing and the associated nutrient fluxes increase evidently as the water level decreases 8 m below capacity, and they can increase up to fivefold if the water level drops over 12 m. The observed changes related to water level affect nutrient recycling, ecosystemic metabolic balance, and planktonic composition of VB.

Description: Over the last two decades, Mineral Resources Tasmania has been developing regional 3D geological and geophysical models for prospective terranes at a range of scales and extents as part of its suite of precompetitive geoscience products. These have evolved in conjunction with developments in 3D modeling technology over that time. Commencing with a jurisdiction-wide 3D model in 2002, subsequent modeling projects have explored a range of approaches to the development of 3D models as a vehicle for the better synthesis and understanding of controls on ore-forming processes and prospectivity. These models are built on high-quality potential field data sets. Assignment of bulk properties derived from previous well-constrained geophysical modeling and an extensive rock property database has enabled the identification of anomalous features that have been targeted for follow-up mineral exploration. An aspect of this effort has been the generation of uncertainty estimates for model features. Our experience is that this process can be hindered by models that are too large or too detailed to be interrogated easily, especially when modeling techniques do not readily permit significant geometric changes. The most effective 3D modeling workflow for insights into mineral exploration is that which facilitates the rapid hypothesis testing of a wide range of scenarios whilst satisfying the constraints of observed data.

Description: Copper (Cu) has a narrow range between optimal concentrations as a micronutrient critical for phytoplankton growth and concentrations potentially toxic to living organisms. This sensitivity indicates an ecosystem vulnerability that threatens not only nature but also human health due to bioaccumulation. An important source of elevated Cu concentrations in coastal environments are biocides used as antifouling protection on ships. A pilot study conducted in the Marine Protected Area (MPA) of the Krka Estuary (Croatia) over a period of 16 months investigated the relationship between ship traffic and Cu concentrations. The aim was to contribute to more informed environmental management by assessing the associated risks. In the study presented here, Cu concentrations were monitored, analyzed, and correlated with vessel traffic. Observations revealed that the seasonal increase in maritime traffic caused by nautical tourism was associated with an increase in Cu concentrations of more than five times, posing a toxicity risk to the environment. In order to understand the distribution of copper emissions, a mapping of maritime traffic was carried out by counting transits, radar imagery, and drone photography. This approach has proven sufficient to identify the potential risks to the marine environment and human health, thus providing an effective assessment tool for marine stakeholders.

Description: In this study, a resistive humidity sensor for moisture detection at room temperature is presented. The thin film proposed as a critical sensing element is based on a quaternary hybrid nanocomposite CNHox//SnO2/ZnO/PVP (oxidated carbon nanohorns–tin oxide–zinc oxide–polyvinylpyrrolidone) at the w/w/w/w ratios of 1.5/1/1/1 and 3/1/1/1. The sensing structure consists of a Si/SiO2 dielectric substrate and interdigitated transducers (IDT) electrodes, while the sensing film layer is deposited through the drop-casting method. Morphology and composition of the sensing layers were investigated through scanning electron microscopy with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDX), X-ray diffraction, and Raman spectroscopy. Each quaternary hybrid nanocomposite-based thin film’s relative humidity (RH) sensing capability was analyzed by applying a direct current with known intensity between two electrodes and measuring the voltage difference when varying the RH from 0% to 100% in a humid nitrogen atmosphere. While the sensor with CNHox/SnO2/ZnO/PVP at 1.5/1/1/1 as the sensing layer has the better performance in terms of sensitivity, the structure employing CNHox//SnO2/ ZnO/PVP at 3/1/1/1 (mass ratio) as the sensing layer has a better performance in terms of linearity. The contribution of each component of the quaternary hybrid nanocomposites to the sensing performance is discussed in relation to their physical and chemical properties. Several alternative sensing mechanisms were taken into consideration and discussed. Based on the measured sensing results, we presume that the impact of the p-type semiconductor behavior of CNHox, in conjunction with the swelling of the hydrophilic polymer, is dominant and leads to the overall increasing resistance of the sensing film.

Description: The optimization problem of cloaking a perfectly electric conducting or dielectric spherical core is investigated. The primary excitation is due to an external magnetic dipole. The chaotic accelerated particle swarm optimization (CAPSO) algorithm is adjusted and applied to this optimization problem. The optimization variables are the radii, the permittivities and the permeabilities of a small number of spherical shells covering the core. Several feasible optimal designs are obtained, which exhibit perfect or almost perfect cloaking performance for all angles of observation. These optimal designs correspond to two, three or four spherical coating layers composed of ordinary materials. Detailed parametric investigations of the cloaking mechanism with respect to the type and radius of the core and the location of the primary dipole are carried out. The presented optimization procedure and the reported results are expected to be useful in applications like scattering and characterization of optical particles as well as in designing low-profile receiving antennas.

Description: The battery storage system (BSS) is one of the key components in many modern power applications, such as in renewable energy systems and electric vehicles. However, charge imbalance among batteries is very common in BSSs, which may impair the power efficiency, reliability, and safety. Hence, various battery equalization methods have been proposed in the literature. Among these techniques, switched-capacitor (SC)-based battery equalizers (BEs) have attracted much attention due to their low cost, small size, and controllability. In this paper, seven types of SC-based BEs are studied, including conventional, double-tiered, modularized, chain structure types I and II, series-parallel, and single SC-based BEs. Mathematical models that describe the charge–discharge behaviors are first derived. Next, a statistical analysis based on MATLAB simulation is carried out to compare the performance of these seven BEs. Finally, a summary of the circuit design complexity, balancing speed, and practical implementation options for these seven topologies is provided.

Description: The influence of different concentrations of heavy metals (Cu, Mn, Ni, Zn) was analyzed in the Salsola vermiculata germination pattern, seedling development, and accumulation in seedlings. The responses to different metals were dissimilar. Germination was only significantly reduced at Cu and Zn 4000 μM but Zn induced radicle growth at lower concentrations. Without damage, the species acted as a good accumulator and tolerant for Mn, Ni, and Cu. In seedlings, accumulation increased following two patterns: Mn and Ni, induced an arithmetic increase in content in tissue, to the point where the content reached a maximum; with Cu and Ni, the pattern was linear, in which the accumulation in tissue was directly related to the metal concentration in the medium. Compared to other Chenopodiaceae halophyte species, S. vermiculata seems to be more tolerant of metals and is proposed for the phytoremediation of soils contaminated by heavy metals.

Description: The rapid growth of the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) sector requires additional infrastructure, such as more micro-datacenters and telecom stations, to support the higher internet speeds and low latency requirements of 5G networks. The increased power requirements of the new ICT technologies necessitate the proposal of new power supplies, in an attempt to support the increase in energy demand and running costs. This work provides an in-depth theoretical analysis on the losses of the individual stages of commercially available PSU and proposes a new multicell PSU, the buck PFC converter, which offers a higher overall efficiency at varying load levels. The theoretical results are verified using simulation results, via a PSIM Thermal Module, and using experimental data. The results indicate that multicell structures can improve the overall PSU efficiency by 1.2% at 50% rated power and more than 2.1% at full power. Finally, taking into consideration the economic implications of this study, it is shown that the proposed multicell structure may increase the PSU costs by 10.78%, but the payback period is in the order of just 3.3 years.

Description: 3D visual recognition is a prerequisite for most autonomous robotic systems operating in the real world. It empowers robots to perform a variety of tasks, such as tracking, understanding the environment, and human–robot interaction. Autonomous robots equipped with 3D recognition capability can better perform their social roles through supportive task assistance in professional jobs and effective domestic services. For active assistance, social robots must recognize their surroundings, including objects and places to perform the task more efficiently. This article first highlights the value-centric role of social robots in society by presenting recently developed robots and describes their main features. Instigated by the recognition capability of social robots, we present the analysis of data representation methods based on sensor modalities for 3D object and place recognition using deep learning models. In this direction, we delineate the research gaps that need to be addressed, summarize 3D recognition datasets, and present performance comparisons. Finally, a discussion of future research directions concludes the article. This survey is intended to show how recent developments in 3D visual recognition based on sensor modalities using deep-learning-based approaches can lay the groundwork to inspire further research and serves as a guide to those who are interested in vision-based robotics applications.

Description: High energy consumption, rising environmental concerns and depleting fossil fuels demand an increase in clean energy production. The enhanced resiliency, efficiency and reliability offered by microgrids with distributed energy resources (DERs) have shown to be a promising alternative to the conventional grid system. Large-sized commercial customers like institutional complexes have put significant efforts to promote sustainability by establishing renewable energy systems at university campuses. This paper proposes the integration of a photovoltaic (PV) system, energy storage system (ESS) and electric vehicles (EV) at a University campus. An optimal energy management system (EMS) is proposed to optimally dispatch the energy from available energy resources. The problem is mapped in a Linear optimization problem and simulations are carried out in MATLAB. Simulation results showed that the proposed EMS ensures the continuous power supply and decreases the energy consumption cost by nearly 45%. The impact of EV as a storage tool is also observed. EVs acting as a source of energy reduced the energy cost by 45.58% and as a load by 19.33%. The impact on the cost for continuous power supply in case of a power outage is also analyzed.

Description: Speaker recognition deals with recognizing speakers by their speech. Most speaker recognition systems are built upon two stages, the first stage extracts low dimensional correlation embeddings from speech, and the second performs the classification task. The robustness of a speaker recognition system mainly depends on the extraction process of speech embeddings, which are primarily pre-trained on a large-scale dataset. As the embedding systems are pre-trained, the performance of speaker recognition models greatly depends on domain adaptation policy, which may reduce if trained using inadequate data. This paper introduces a speaker recognition strategy dealing with unlabeled data, which generates clusterable embedding vectors from small fixed-size speech frames. The unsupervised training strategy involves an assumption that a small speech segment should include a single speaker. Depending on such a belief, a pairwise constraint is constructed with noise augmentation policies, used to train AutoEmbedder architecture that generates speaker embeddings. Without relying on domain adaption policy, the process unsupervisely produces clusterable speaker embeddings, termed unsupervised vectors (u-vectors). The evaluation is concluded in two popular speaker recognition datasets for English language, TIMIT, and LibriSpeech. Also, a Bengali dataset is included to illustrate the diversity of the domain shifts for speaker recognition systems. Finally, we conclude that the proposed approach achieves satisfactory performance using pairwise architectures.

Description: Human dipeptidyl-peptidase III (hDPP III) is capable of specifically cleaving dipeptides from the N-terminal of small peptides with biological activity such as angiotensin II (Ang II, DRVYIHPF), and participates in blood pressure regulation, pain modulation, and the development of cancers in human biological activities. In this study, 500 ns molecular dynamics simulations were performed on free-hDPP III (PDB code: 5E33), hDPP III-Ang II (PDB code: 5E2Q), and hDPP III-IVYPW (PDB code: 5E3C) to explore how these two peptides affect the catalytic efficiency of enzymes in terms of the binding mode and the conformational changes. Our results indicate that in the case of the hDPP III-Ang II complex, subsite S1 became small and hydrophobic, which might be propitious for the nucleophile to attack the substrate. The structures of the most stable conformations of the three systems revealed that Arg421-Lys423 could form an α-helix with the presence of Ang II, but only part of the α-helix was produced in hDPP III-IVYPW. As the hinge structure in hDPP III, the conformational changes that took place in the Arg421-Lys423 residue could lead to the changes in the shape and space of the catalytic subsites, which might allow water to function as a nucleophile to attack the substrate. Our results may provide new clues to enable the design of new inhibitors for hDPP III in the future.

Description: “Clean water and sanitation” is listed as one of the 17 United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals and implementing circular economy principles in the water sector has been widely regarded as an important approach in achieving this goal. In the era of Industry 4.0, research and practice in the digitalisation of the water sector to create a smart water system have attracted increasing attention. Despite the growing interest, limited research has been devoted to how digital technologies might enhance circularity. In practice, smart water systems often fail to promote circularity in such aspects as water reuse and resources recovery. This paper aims to identify the main barriers to implementing circularity in the smart water management system in Zhejiang, China. The research adopts a mixed research method that includes a literature review to identify the potential barriers from the existing studies, a case study to determine the most critical barriers in practice, and a fuzzy Delphi method to reach a consensus on the crucial barriers. The research identified 22 main barriers to implementing circular economy in smart water management. The barriers are divided into three categories: infrastructure and economic, technology, and institution and governance. The results show that the barriers related to recycling technologies, digital technology know-how, and the lack of CE awareness raise the most concern. Our findings also indicate that experts are interested in the decentralized wastewater treatment system. This research provides significant insights that practitioners, researchers, and policymakers can use in developing and implementing digital-based CE strategies to reduce water scarcity and pollution.

Description: The Internet of Robotic Things (IoRT) has emerged as a promising computing paradigm integrating the cloud/fog/edge computing continuum in the Internet of Things (IoT) to optimize the operations of intelligent robotic agents in factories. A single robot agent at the edge of the network can comprise hundreds of sensors and actuators; thus, the tasks performed by multiple agents can be computationally expensive, which are often possible by offloading the computing tasks to the distant computing resources in the cloud or fog computing layers. In this context, it is of paramount importance to assimilate the performance impact of different system components and parameters in an IoRT infrastructure to provide IoRT system designers with tools to assess the performance of their manufacturing projects at different stages of development. Therefore, we propose in this article a performance evaluation methodology based on the D/M/c/K/FCFS queuing network pattern and present a queuing-network-based performance model for the performance assessment of compatible IoRT systems associated with the edge, fog, and cloud computing paradigms. To find the factors that expose the highest impact on the system performance in practical scenarios, a sensitivity analysis using the Design of Experiments (DoE) was performed on the proposed performance model. On the outputs obtained by the DoE, comprehensive performance analyses were conducted to assimilate the impact of different routing strategies and the variation in the capacity of the system components. The analysis results indicated that the proposed model enables the evaluation of how different configurations of the components of the IoRT architecture impact the system performance through different performance metrics of interest including the (i) mean response time, (ii) utilization of components, (iii) number of messages, and (iv) drop rate. This study can help improve the operation and management of IoRT infrastructures associated with the cloud/fog/edge computing continuum in practice.