bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Pure Trans-Resveratrol Nanoparticles Prepared by a Supercritical Antisolvent Process Using Alcohol and Dichloromethane Mixtures: Effect of Particle Size on Dissolution and Bioavailability in Rats
Authors: Ha Eun-Sol , Park Heejun , Lee Seon-Kwang , Sim Woo-Yong , Jeong Ji-Su , Baek In-hwan , Kim Min-Soo
Published: April 2020

The aim of this study was to prepare pure trans-resveratrol nanoparticles without additives (surfactants, polymers, and sugars) using a supercritical antisolvent (SAS) process with alcohol (methanol or ethanol) and dichloromethane mixtures. In addition, in order to investigate the effect of particle size on the dissolution and oral bioavailability of the trans-resveratrol, two microparticles with different sizes (1.94 μm and 18.75 μm) were prepared using two different milling processes, and compared to trans-resveratrol nanoparticles prepared by the SAS process. The solid-state properties of pure trans-resveratrol particles were characterized. By increasing the percentage of dichloromethane in the solvent mixtures, the mean particle size of trans-resveratrol was decreased, whereas its specific surface area was increased. The particle size could thus be controlled by solvent composition. Trans-resveratrol nanoparticle with a mean particle size of 0.17 μm was prepared by the SAS process using the ethanol/dichloromethane mixture at a ratio of 25/75 (w/w). The in vitro dissolution rate of trans-resveratrol in fasted state-simulated gastric fluid was significantly improved by the reduction of particle size, resulting in enhanced oral bioavailability in rats. The absolute bioavailability of trans-resveratrol nanoparticles was 25.2%. The maximum plasma concentration values were well correlated with the in vitro dissolution rate. These findings clearly indicate that the oral bioavailability of trans-resveratrol can be enhanced by preparing pure trans-resveratrol nanoparticles without additives (surfactants, polymers, and sugars) by the SAS process. These pure trans-resveratrol nanoparticles can be applied as an active ingredient for the development of health supplements, pharmaceutical products, and cosmetic products.
Phenolic Compounds and Bioaccessibility Thereof in Functional Pasta
Authors: Melini Valentina , Melini Francesca , Acquistucci Rita
Published: April 2020

Consumption of food products rich in phenolic compounds has been associated to reduced risk of chronic disease onset. Daily consumed cereal-based products, such as bread and pasta, are not carriers of phenolic compounds, since they are produced with refined flour or semolina. Novel formulations of pasta have been thus proposed, in order to obtain functional products contributing to the increase in phenolic compound dietary intake. This paper aims to review the strategies used so far to formulate functional pasta, both gluten-containing and gluten-free, and compare their effect on phenolic compound content, and bioaccessibility and bioavailability thereof. It emerged that whole grain, legume and composite flours are the main substituents of durum wheat semolina in the formulation of functional pasta. Plant by-products from industrial food wastes have been also used as functional ingredients. In addition, pre-processing technologies on raw materials such as sprouting, or the modulation of extrusion/extrusion-cooking conditions, are valuable approaches to increase phenolic content in pasta. Few studies on phenolic compound bioaccessibility and bioavailability in pasta have been performed so far; however, they contribute to evaluating the usefulness of strategies used in the formulation of functional pasta.
New Mechanisms of Action of Natural Antioxidants in Health and Disease
Authors: Hrelia Silvana , Angeloni Cristina
Published: April 2020

Natural antioxidants have been proposed to have beneficial effects on health and on different disease states, such as neurodegenerative and cardiovascular diseases, diabetes and cancer [...]
The Relevance of Oxidative Stress in the Pathogenesis and Therapy of Retinal Dystrophies
Authors: B. Domènech Elena , Marfany Gemma
Published: April 2020

Retinal cell survival requires an equilibrium between oxygen, reactive oxygen species, and antioxidant molecules that counteract oxidative stress damage. Oxidative stress alters cell homeostasis and elicits a protective cell response, which is most relevant in photoreceptors and retinal ganglion cells, neurons with a high metabolic rate that are continuously subject to light/oxidative stress insults. We analyze how the alteration of cellular endogenous pathways for protection against oxidative stress leads to retinal dysfunction in prevalent (age-related macular degeneration, glaucoma) as well as in rare genetic visual disorders (Retinitis pigmentosa, Leber hereditary optic neuropathy). We also highlight some of the key molecular actors and discuss potential therapies using antioxidants agents, modulators of gene expression and inducers of cytoprotective signaling pathways to treat damaging oxidative stress effects and ameliorate severe phenotypic symptoms in multifactorial and rare retinal dystrophies.
Code Visualization for Performance Improvement of Java Code for Controlling Smart Traffic System in the Smart City
Authors: Park Bo Kyung , Kang Geon-Hee , Son Hyun Seung , Jeon Byungkook , Kim R. Young Chul
Published: April 2020

In an intelligent smart city like Sejong city in Korea, automatic and smart software is absolutely necessary for autonomous traffic and vehicles control systems. Therefore, these systems need to have an accurate and timely performance; otherwise, safety issues may arise. To resolve this, we propose our code visualization approach to adapt an object-oriented smart traffic control simulator, which analyzes Java code’s complexity and identifies bad codes against performance. To achieve an accurate performance, we must repeatedly perform refactoring until attaining a range of system-defined performances through effective code visualization. As a result, we enhance the code complexity of the cyber-physical system-based software to achieve the exact performance. With this approach, we expect to obtain an accurate performance and complexity improvement of the object-oriented traffic control simulator without significant power consumption.
Illustration of the Effects of Five Fungi on Acacia saligna Wood Organic Acids and Ultrastructure Alterations in Wood Cell Walls by HPLC and TEM Examinations
Authors: Mansour Maisa , Hamed Safa Abd , Salem Mohamed , Ali Hayssam
Published: April 2020

In the present study, Acacia saligna (Labill.) H.L.Wendl. wood blocks with dimensions of 0.5 × 1 × 2 cm were inoculated with five molds (Aspergillus niger, A. flavus, Alternaria tenuissima, Fusarium culmorum, and Trichoderma harzianum) and the changes in the organic acids (oxalic, citric, tartaric, succinic, glutaric, acetic, propionic, and butyric) of powdered wood were analyzed by HPLC. The effects of the five inoculated fungi on the alterations to the wood cell wall ultrastructures were examined by TEM. The wood became more acidic as it was inoculated with the studied fungi. From the HPLC analysis, the oxalic acid (293.34 µg/g o.d.) in the A. saligna, A. tenuissima (167.33 µg/g o.d.), and T. harzianum (245.01 µg/g o.d.) wood decreased, but it increased in the A. flavus (362.08 µg/g o.d.), A. niger (1202.53 µg/g o.d.), and F. culmorum (431.85 µg/g o.d.) inoculated wood. Citric acid was observed in the wood inoculated with A. flavus (110 µg/g o.d) and A. niger (2499.63 µg/g o.d). Tartaric (1150.98 µg/g o.d), acetic (2.04 µg/g o.d), and propionic (1.79 µg/g o.d) acids were found in the wood inoculated with A. niger. Butyric acid was found in small amounts. A loss of wood substances appeared as the electron-lucent increased in the middle lamella and the layers of the secondary wall. Within the secondary cell wall regions, checks and splits were also noted, which resulted from the effects of the acids on the carbohydrates, according to the fungus type and the acids. In conclusion, increasing the amount of organic acids in the wood samples through inoculation with fungi results in more degradations in the wood, especially in the wood inoculated with A. niger.
Construction Safety Risk Assessment for Existing Building Renovation Project Based on Entropy-Unascertained Measure Theory
Authors: Li Wenlong , Li Qin , Liu Yijun , Li Huimin , Pei Xingwang
Published: April 2020

With the development of society, there are more and more existing building renovation projects. According to the common construction safety problems, and based on the characteristics of the construction process of renovation project, this paper established a construction safety risk assessment model of renovation project based on entropy-unascertained measure theory. Firstly, the assessment index system was determined by risk identification and analysis. Secondly, the unascertained measure theory was applied to the construction safety risk assessment of renovation project, and the weight of each index was determined by the entropy weight method. Finally, taking the actual renovation projects as examples to calculate its safety risk grade, it is found that the assessment results of the model are basically consistent with the actual situation of the site by comparison. The research shows that the model can provide a new idea to quantitatively assess the construction safety risk of renovation project and provide a reliable basis for the management and control of the construction safety of existing building renovation project.
Smart Manufacturing Systems and Applied Industrial Technologies for a Sustainable Industry: A Systematic Literature Review
Authors: Cioffi Raffaele , Travaglioni Marta , Piscitelli Giuseppina , Petrillo Antonella , Parmentola Adele
Published: April 2020

Smart manufacturing is considered as a new paradigm that makes work smarter and more connected, bringing speed and flexibility through the introduction of digital innovation. Today, digital innovation is closely linked to the “sustainability” of companies. Digital innovation and sustainability are two inseparable principles that are based on the concept of circular economy. Digital innovation enables a circular economy model, promoting the use of solutions like digital platforms, smart devices, and artificial intelligence that help to optimize resources. Thus, the purpose of the research is to present a systematic literature review on what enabling technologies can promote new circular business models. A total of 31 articles were included in the study. Our results showed that realization of the circular economy involved two main changes: (i) managerial changes and (ii) legislative changes. Furthermore, the creation of the circular economy can certainly be facilitated by innovation, especially through the introduction of new technologies and through the introduction of digital innovations.
Experiment-Based Process Modeling and Optimization for High-Quality and Resource-Efficient FFF 3D Printing
Authors: Elkaseer Ahmed , Schneider Stella , Scholz Steffen G.
Published: April 2020

This article reports on the investigation of the effects of process parameters and their interactions on as-built part quality and resource-efficiency of the fused filament fabrication 3D printing process. In particular, the influence of five process parameters: infill percentage, layer thickness, printing speed, printing temperature, and surface inclination angle on dimensional accuracy, surface roughness of the built part, energy consumption, and productivity of the process was examined using Taguchi orthogonal array (L50) design of experiment. The experimental results were analyzed using ANOVA and statistical analysis, and the parameters for optimal responses were identified. Regression models were developed to predict different process responses in terms of the five process parameters experimentally examined in this study. It was found that dimensional accuracy is negatively influenced by high values of layer thickness and printing speed, since thick layers of printed material tend to spread out and high printing speeds hinder accurate deposition of the printed material. In addition, the printing temperature, which regulates the viscosity of the used material, plays a significant role and helps to minimize the dimensional error caused by thick layers and high printing speeds, whereas the surface roughness depends very much on surface inclination angle and layer thickness, which together determine the influence of the staircase effect. Energy consumption and productivity are primarily affected by printing speed and layer thickness, due to their high correlation with build time.
Concentration in Saliva and Antibacterial Effect of Xylitol Chewing Gum: In Vivo and In Vitro Study
Authors: Cocco Fabio , Cagetti Maria Grazia , Majdub Osama , Campus Guglielmo
Published: April 2020

Purpose. The saliva concentration of xylitol released from two chewing gums was recorded, the first containing xylitol as the only sweetener (100% xylitol) and the second containing only 22% of the polyol. In addition, the in vitro antibacterial effect of the two chewing gums was evaluated. Materials and Methods. The salivary concentration of Xylitol in 32 subjects was determined before and at 0.30, 1.00, 2.00, 5.00, and 10.00 min while using the chewing gums, and at 15.00, 20.00, and 25.00 min after the gums were discarded. In vitro antibacterial activity was determined on a pooled subgingival plaque sample obtained from four patients with periodontal disease. Cariogenic and periodontal bacteria were evaluated before and 15 min, 60 min, and 24 h after gum contact. Results. Using the 100% xylitol chewing gum, saliva levels increased bimodally, one peak after 30 s (1.49 ± 1.41 logμg/L) and a second one at a 10-min evaluation (1.41 ± 1.11 logμg/L); the 22% chewing gum peaked only two minute after contact (1.21 ± 1.24 logμg/L). Overall, a statistically significantly higher salivary concentration of xylitol was detected using the 100% xylitol gum. All bacteria decreased after the addition of the two chewing gums; the 100% gum achieved a greater decrease than the 22% gum. Conclusion. The use of both chewing gums increased the concentrations of xylitol in saliva, with a statistically significantly higher concentration using the 100% xylitol gum. Cariogenic and periodontal bacteria were reduced by both chewing gums; 100% xylitol gum produced the highest and longest lasting effect. This study opens up to the use of xylitol against periodontal disease.
Simulation of the Daily Activity Plans of Travelers Using the Park-and-Ride System and Autonomous Vehicles: Work and Shopping Trip Purposes
Authors: Ortega Jairo , Hamadneh Jamil , Esztergár-Kiss Domokos , Tóth János
Published: April 2020

The preferences of travelers determines the utility of daily activity plans. Decision-makers can affect the preference of travelers when they force private car users to use park-and-ride (P&R) facilities as a way of decreasing traffic in city centers. The P&R system has been shown to be effective in reducing uninterrupted increases in traffic congestion, especially in city centers. Therefore, the impacts of P&R on travel behavior and the daily activity plans of both worker and shopper travelers were studied in this paper. Moreover, autonomous vehicles (AVs) are a promising technology for the coming decade. A simulation of the AV as part of a multimodal system, when the P&R system was integrated in the daily activity plans, was carried out to determine the required AV fleet size needed to fulfill a certain demand and to study the impacts of AVs on the behavior of travelers (trip time and distance). Specifically, a group of travelers, who use private cars as their transport mode, was studied, and certain modifications to their daily activity plans, including P&R facilities and changing their transport mode, were introduced. Using the MATSim open-source tool, four scenarios were simulated based on the mentioned modifications. The four scenarios included (1) a simulation of the existing transport modes of the travelers, (2) a simulation of their daily activity plans when their transport modes were changed to AVs, (3) a simulation of the travelers, when P&R facilities were included in their activity chain plans, and (4) a simulation of their daily activity plans, when both P&R and AVs were included in their activity chain plans. The result showed that using the P&R system increased overall travel time, compared with using a private car. The results also demonstrated that using AVs as a replacement for conventional cars reduced travel time. In conclusion, the impact of P&R and AVs on the travel behavior of certain travelers was evaluated in this paper.
The Influence of Noise Emitted by Vehicles on Pedestrian Crossing Decision-Making: A Study in a Virtual Environment
Authors: Soares Francisco , Silva Emanuel , Pereira Frederico , Silva Carlos , Sousa Emanuel , Freitas Elisabete
Published: April 2020

When crossing a road, pedestrians must detect traffic, combine data coming from different perceptual modalities, evaluate the time envelope for safely cross the street, and monitor the position of oncoming vehicles to perform corrective actions if needed. This study analyzed the influence of noise emitted by vehicles, or its absence, on pedestrians’ crossing decision-making. Experiments were performed in a virtual environment using two road scenarios. Participants were presented with stimuli of approaching vehicles that varied regarding speed, movement patterns, and auditory condition: one concerning the approaching of an electric vehicle, another regarding the approaching of a gasoline combustion vehicle, and, finally, a condition regarding the absence of auditory cues. Participants were tasked with indicating the moment when they decided to cross the street. The results show that, despite the noise variations caused by the type of vehicle and its speed pattern, the participants’ decision to cross was mostly based on vehicle distance. When a vehicle approaches the crosswalk from a short distance and with no occlusion to the pedestrian’s visibility, the sound does not seem to influence the pedestrians’ crossing decision-making.
FCN-Based 3D Reconstruction with Multi-Source Photometric Stereo
Authors: Wang Ruixin , Wang Xin , He Di , Wang Lei , Xu Ke
Published: April 2020

As a classical method widely used in 3D reconstruction tasks, the multi-source Photometric Stereo can obtain more accurate 3D reconstruction results compared with the basic Photometric Stereo, but its complex calibration and solution process reduces the efficiency of this algorithm. In this paper, we propose a multi-source Photometric Stereo 3D reconstruction method based on the fully convolutional network (FCN). We first represent the 3D shape of the object as a depth value corresponding to each pixel as the optimized object. After training in an end-to-end manner, our network can efficiently obtain 3D information on the object surface. In addition, we added two regularization constraints to the general loss function, which can effectively help the network to optimize. Under the same light source configuration, our method can obtain a higher accuracy than the classic multi-source Photometric Stereo. At the same time, our new loss function can help the deep learning method to get a more realistic 3D reconstruction result. We have also used our own real dataset to experimentally verify our method. The experimental results show that our method has a good effect on solving the main problems faced by the classical method.
Effect of Ionic Conductors on the Suppression of PTC and Carrier Emission of Semiconductive Composites
Authors: Cui Yingchao , Yin Hongxia , Xing Zhaoliang , Guo Xiangjin , Zhao Shiyi , Wei Yanhui , Li Guochang , Xin Meng , Hao Chuncheng , Lei Qingquan
Published: April 2020

The positive temperature coefficient (PTC) effect of the semiconductive layers of high-voltage direct current (HVDC) cables is a key factor limiting its usage when the temperature exceeds 70 °C. The conductivity of the ionic conductor increases with the increase in temperature. Based on the characteristics of the ionic conductor, the PTC effect of the composite can be weakened by doping the ionic conductor into the semiconductive materials. Thus, in this paper, the PCT effects of electrical resistivity in perovskite La0.6Sr0.4CoO3 (LSC) particle-dispersed semiconductive composites are discussed based on experimental results from scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and a semiconductive resistance test device. Semiconductive composites with different LSC contents of 0.5 wt%, 1 wt%, 3 wt%, and 5 wt% were prepared by hot pressing crosslinking. The results show that the PTC effect is weakened due to the addition of LSC. At the same time, the injection of space charge in the insulating sample is characterized by the pulsed electroacoustic method (PEA) and the thermally stimulated current method (TSC), and the results show that when the content of LSC is 1 wt%, the injection of space charge in the insulating layer can be significantly reduced.
Helicopter Safe Landing Trajectory after Main Rotor Actuator Failures
Authors: Wang Yunjie , Jiang Chen , Zhang Yuwen , Wang Haowen
Published: April 2020

Main rotor actuator failure leads to catastrophic accidents for single main rotor helicopters. This paper focuses on safe landing trajectories after an actuator is locked in place by the remaining actuators, without introducing other control inputs. A general swashplate geometry is described, and new reconfiguration solutions for the control mixer are presented. The safe landing trajectories are obtained by formulating a nonlinear optimal control problem based on a nonlinear helicopter dynamic model and geometry constraints due to actuator failure. Safe landing trajectory results are shown with various initial forward velocities of all actuator failure cases. The safe initial speed boundaries are also explored by employing speed sweeps.
Towards the Quantification of 5f Delocalization
Authors: Tobin J. G. , Nowak S. , Yu S.-W. , Alonso-Mori R. , Kroll T. , Nordlund D. , Weng T.-C. , Sokaras D.
Published: April 2020

By using M4,5 X-ray Emission Spectroscopy (XES) in the tender X-ray regime, it is possible to quantify 5f delocalization in the actinides. Previous analyses, utilizing the Branching Ratio (BR) in the N4,5 X-ray Absorption Spectroscopy (XAS), could not discriminate between the cases of localized n = 2 and delocalized n = 3, in uranium materials, where n is the number of 5f electrons on the U entity. Here, it is shown that, by employing the ubiquitous 6p → 3d XES as a point of normalization, the localized n = 2 and delocalized n = 3 cases can be easily distinguished and quantified.
Evaluation of Photodynamic Therapy Using a Diode Laser 635 nm as an Adjunct to Conventional Chemo-Mechanical Endodontic Procedures against Enterococcus faecalis Biofilm: Ex-Vivo Study
Authors: Tenore Gianluca , Palaia Gaspare , Migliau Guido , Mohsen Ahmed , Rocchetti Federica , Gaimari Gianfranco , Impellizzeri Alessandra , Salapata Yolanda , Berlutti Francesca , Polimeni Antonella , Romeo Umberto
Published: April 2020

The study aimed to evaluate the antimicrobial effect of photodynamic therapy (PDT) with the use of Toluidine Blue (TB) on extracted teeth infected with biofilms of Enterococcus faecalis. Fifty-four extracted teeth with single-roots and single canals were mechanically shaped, autoclaved, and contaminated with E. faecalis. They were randomly divided into six groups: two groups were negative and positive control groups, two groups were subjected to mechanical instrumentation and PDT with different pre-irradiation times and irradiation times, and two groups were subjected to chemo-mechanical endodontic treatment and PDT with different pre-irradiation times and irradiation times. In PDT groups, after the application of TB, the canals were irradiated with a diode laser of wavelength 635 nm, with a fiber diameter of 200 μm and 100 mW of power in continuous mode. The bacterial load was evaluated using a BioTimer Assay protocol. The greatest reduction of bacterial load was observed in groups of combined PDT with chemo-mechanical treatment. The reductions of bacterial load in groups of combined PDT with chemo-mechanical treatment, and in the positive control group, were significant (p < 0.01) when compared to that of the negative control group. Photodynamic therapy as an adjunctive modality may improve the disinfection capacity of conventional endodontic treatment against E. faecalis.
Definition and Application of a Protocol for Electronic Nose Field Performance Testing: Example of Odor Monitoring from a Tire Storage Area
Authors: Bax Carmen , Sironi Selena , Capelli Laura
Published: April 2020

Odor pollution is nowadays recognized as a serious environmental concern. Italy still lacks a national regulation about odors, but several regions issued specific guidelines and regulations regarding odor emissions management, which combine olfactometric measurements with dispersion modeling for assessing odor impacts and verifying compliance with acceptability criteria. However, in cases of variable or diffuse sources, this approach is sometimes hardly applicable, because odor emission rates can hardly be estimated. In such cases, electronic noses, or more generally, Instrumental Odor Monitoring Systems (IOMS), represent a suitable solution for direct odor measurement. Accordingly, IOMS are explicitly mentioned in the most recent regional regulations as advanced tools for odor impact assessment. In Italy, data from instrumental odor monitoring have started to have regulatory value; thus the need arises to have specific quality programs to ensure and verify the reliability of IOMS outcomes. This paper describes the monitoring by a commercial electronic nose (EOS507F) of odors from an area dedicated to tire storage, a diffuse source with variable emissions over time, for which dispersion modeling is not applicable. The paper proposes also a protocol for IOMS performance testing in the field, to provide experimental data to support technical groups working on standardization both on the national and European level.
Positron Processes in the Sun
Authors: Gopalswamy Nat
Published: April 2020

Positrons play a major role in the emission of solar gamma-rays at energies from a few hundred keV to >1 GeV. Although the processes leading to positron production in the solar atmosphere are well known, the origin of the underlying energetic particles that interact with the ambient particles is poorly understood. With the aim of understanding the full gamma-ray spectrum of the Sun, I review the key emission mechanisms that contribute to the observed gamma-ray spectrum, focusing on the ones involving positrons. In particular, I review the processes involved in the 0.511 MeV positron annihilation line and the positronium continuum emissions at low energies, and the pion continuum emission at high energies in solar eruptions. It is thought that particles accelerated at the flare reconnection and at the shock driven by coronal mass ejections are responsible for the observed gamma-ray features. Based on some recent developments I suggest that energetic particles from both mechanisms may contribute to the observed gamma-ray spectrum in the impulsive phase, while the shock mechanism is responsible for the extended phase.
In-Operando Impedance Spectroscopy and Ultrasonic Measurements during High-Temperature Abuse Experiments on Lithium-Ion Batteries
Authors: Zappen Hendrik , Fuchs Georg , Gitis Alexander , Sauer Dirk
Published: April 2020

Lithium-Ion batteries are used in ever more demanding applications regarding operating range and safety requirements. This work presents a series of high-temperature abuse experiments on a nickel-manganese-cobalt oxide (NMC)/graphite lithium-ion battery cell, using advanced in-operando measurement techniques like fast impedance spectroscopy and ultrasonic waves, as well as strain-gauges. the presented results show, that by using these methods degradation effects at elevated temperature can be observed in real-time. These methods have the potential to be integrated into a battery management system in the future. Therefore they make it possible to achieve higher battery safety even under the most demanding operating conditions.
The Cytosolic Phospholipase A2α N-Terminal C2 Domain Binds and Oligomerizes on Membranes with Positive Curvature
Authors: Ward Katherine E. , Sengupta Ranjan , Ropa James P. , Amiar Souad , Stahelin Robert V.
Published: April 2020

Group IV phospholipase A2α (cPLA2α) regulates the production of prostaglandins and leukotrienes via the formation of arachidonic acid from membrane phospholipids. The targeting and membrane binding of cPLA2α to the Golgi involves the N-terminal C2 domain, whereas the catalytic domain produces arachidonic acid. Although most studies of cPLA2α concern its catalytic activity, it is also linked to homeostatic processes involving the generation of vesicles that traffic material from the Golgi to the plasma membrane. Here we investigated how membrane curvature influences the homeostatic role of cPLA2α in vesicular trafficking. The cPLA2α C2 domain is known to induce changes in positive membrane curvature, a process which is dependent on cPLA2α membrane penetration. We showed that cPLA2α undergoes C2 domain-dependent oligomerization on membranes in vitro and in cells. We found that the association of the cPLA2α C2 domain with membranes is limited to membranes with positive curvature, and enhanced C2 domain oligomerization was observed on vesicles ~50 nm in diameter. We demonstrated that the cPLA2α C2 domain localizes to cholesterol enriched Golgi-derived vesicles independently of cPLA2α catalytic activity. Moreover, we demonstrate the C2 domain selectively localizes to lipid droplets whereas the full-length enzyme to a much lesser extent. Our results therefore provide novel insight into the molecular forces that mediate C2 domain-dependent membrane localization in vitro and in cells.
Evolution of Angiotensin Peptides and Peptidomimetics as Angiotensin II Receptor Type 2 (AT2) Receptor Agonists
Authors: Vasile Silvana , Hallberg Anders , Sallander Jessica , Hallberg Mathias , Åqvist Johan , Gutiérrez-de-Terán Hugo
Published: April 2020

Angiotensin II receptor type 1 and 2 (AT1R and AT2R) are two G-protein coupled receptors that mediate most biological functions of the octapeptide Angiotensin II (Ang II). AT2R is upregulated upon tissue damage and its activation by selective AT2R agonists has become a promising approach in the search for new classes of pharmaceutical agents. We herein analyzed the chemical evolution of AT2R agonists starting from octapeptides, through shorter peptides and peptidomimetics to the first drug-like AT2R-selective agonist, C21, which is in Phase II clinical trials and aimed for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. Based on the recent crystal structures of AT1R and AT2R in complex with sarile, we identified a common binding model for a series of 11 selected AT2R agonists, consisting of peptides and peptidomimetics of different length, affinity towards AT2R and selectivity versus AT1R. Subsequent molecular dynamics simulations and free energy perturbation (FEP) calculations of binding affinities allowed the identification of the bioactive conformation and common pharmacophoric points, responsible for the key interactions with the receptor, which are maintained by the drug-like agonists. The results of this study should be helpful and facilitate the search for improved and even more potent AT2R-selective drug-like agonists.
Connexin 43 Deficiency Is Associated with Reduced Myocardial Scar Size and Attenuated TGFβ1 Signaling after Transient Coronary Occlusion in Conditional Knock-Out Mice
Authors: Valls-Lacalle Laura , Consegal Marta , Ruiz-Meana Marisol , Benito Begoña , Inserte Javier , Barba Ignasi , Ferreira-González Ignacio , Rodríguez-Sinovas Antonio
Published: April 2020

Previous studies demonstrated a reduction in myocardial scar size in heterozygous Cx43+/- mice subjected to permanent coronary occlusion. However, patients presenting with ST segment elevation myocardial infarction often undergo rapid coronary revascularization leading to prompt restoration of coronary flow. Therefore, we aimed to assess changes in scar size and left ventricular remodeling following transient myocardial ischemia (45 min) followed by 14 days of reperfusion using Cx43fl/fl (controls) and Cx43Cre-ER(T)/fl inducible knock-out (Cx43 content: 50%) mice treated with vehicle or 4-hydroxytamoxifen (4-OHT) to induce a Cre-ER(T)-mediated global deletion of the Cx43 floxed allele. The scar area (picrosirius red), measured 14 days after transient coronary occlusion, was similarly reduced in both vehicle and 4-OHT-treated Cx43Cre-ER(T)/fl mice, compared to Cx43fl/fl animals, having normal Cx43 levels (15.78% ± 3.42% and 16.54% ± 2.31% vs. 25.40% ± 3.14% and 22.43% ± 3.88% in vehicle and 4-OHT-treated mice, respectively, p = 0.027). Left ventricular dilatation was significantly attenuated in both Cx43-deficient groups (p = 0.037 for left ventricular end-diastolic diameter). These protective effects were correlated with an attenuated enhancement in pro-transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGFβ1) expression after reperfusion. In conclusion, our data demonstrate that Cx43 deficiency induces a protective effect on scar formation after transient coronary occlusion in mice, an effect associated with reduced left ventricular remodeling and attenuated enhancement in pro-TGFβ1 expression.
Role of 3-Mercaptopyruvate Sulfurtransferase in the Regulation of Proliferation and Cellular Bioenergetics in Human Down Syndrome Fibroblasts
Authors: Panagaki Theodora , Randi Elisa B. , Szabo Csaba
Published: April 2020

Down syndrome (trisomy of human chromosome 21) is a common genetic disorder. Overproduction of the gaseous mediator hydrogen sulfide (H2S) has been implicated in the pathogenesis of neurological and metabolic deficits associated with Down syndrome. Several lines of data indicate that an important enzyme responsible for H2S overproduction in Down syndrome is cystathionine-β-synthase (CBS), an enzyme localized on chromosome 21. The current study explored the possibility that a second H2S-producing enzyme, 3-mercaptopyruvate sulfurtransferase (3-MST), may also contribute to the development of functional deficits of Down syndrome cells. Western blotting analysis demonstrated a significantly higher level of 3-MST protein expression in human Down syndrome fibroblasts compared to cells from healthy control individuals; the excess 3-MST was mainly localized to the mitochondrial compartment. Pharmacological inhibition of 3-MST activity improved mitochondrial electron transport and oxidative phosphorylation parameters (but did not affect the suppressed glycolytic parameters) and enhanced cell proliferation in Down syndrome cells (but not in healthy control cells). The findings presented in the current report suggest that in addition to the indisputable role of CBS, H2S produced from 3-MST may also contribute to the development of mitochondrial metabolic and functional impairments in Down syndrome cells.
Multitarget Evaluation of the Photocatalytic Activity of P25-SiO2 Prepared by Atomic Layer Deposition
Authors: Martín-Sómer Miguel , Benz Dominik , van Ommen J. Ruud , Marugán Javier
Published: April 2020

This work presents the evaluation of the photocatalytic activity of P25 TiO2 particles, coated with SiO2, using atomic layer deposition (ALD) for the photocatalytic removal of methylene blue, oxidation of methanol and inactivation of Escherichia coli bacteria in water and its comparative evaluation with bare P25 TiO2. Two different reactor configurations were used, a slurry reactor with the catalyst in suspension, and a structured reactor with the catalyst immobilized in macroporous foams, that enables the long-term operation of the process in continuous mode, without the necessity of separation of the particles. The results show that the incorporation of SiO2 decreases the efficiency of the photocatalytic oxidation of methanol, whereas a significant improvement in the removal of methylene blue is achieved, and no significant changes are observed in the photocatalytic inactivation of bacteria. Adsorption tests showed that the improvements, observed in the removal of methylene blue by the incorporation of SiO2, was mainly due to an increase in its adsorption. The improvement in the adsorption step as part of the global photocatalytic process led to a significant increase in its removal efficiency. Similar conclusions were reached for bacterial inactivation where the loss of photocatalytic efficiency, suggested by the methanol oxidation tests, was counteracted with a better adherence of bacteria to the catalyst that improved its elimination. With respect to the use of macroporous foams as support, a reduction in the photocatalytic efficiency is observed, as expected from the decrease in the available surface area. Nevertheless, this lower efficiency can be counteracted by the operational improvement derived from the easy catalyst reuse.
Binary Expression Enhances Reliability of Messaging in Gene Networks
Authors: Gama Leonardo R. , Giovanini Guilherme , Balázsi Gábor , Ramos Alexandre F.
Published: April 2020

The promoter state of a gene and its expression levels are modulated by the amounts of transcription factors interacting with its regulatory regions. Hence, one may interpret a gene network as a communicating system in which the state of the promoter of a gene (the source) is communicated by the amounts of transcription factors that it expresses (the message) to modulate the state of the promoter and expression levels of another gene (the receptor). The reliability of the gene network dynamics can be quantified by Shannon’s entropy of the message and the mutual information between the message and the promoter state. Here we consider a stochastic model for a binary gene and use its exact steady state solutions to calculate the entropy and mutual information. We show that a slow switching promoter with long and equally standing ON and OFF states maximizes the mutual information and reduces entropy. That is a binary gene expression regime generating a high variance message governed by a bimodal probability distribution with peaks of the same height. Our results indicate that Shannon’s theory can be a powerful framework for understanding how bursty gene expression conciliates with the striking spatio-temporal precision exhibited in pattern formation of developing organisms.
A Smart Glucose Monitoring System for Diabetic Patient
Authors: Rghioui Amine , Lloret Jaime , Harane Mohamed , Oumnad Abdelmajid
Published: April 2020

Diabetic patients need ongoing surveillance, but this involves high costs for the government and family. The combined use of information and communication technologies (ICTs), artificial intelligence and smart devices can reduce these costs, helping the diabetic patient. This paper presents an intelligent architecture for the surveillance of diabetic disease that will allow physicians to remotely monitor the health of their patients through sensors integrated into smartphones and smart portable devices. The proposed architecture includes an intelligent algorithm developed to intelligently detect whether a parameter has exceeded a threshold, which may or may not involve urgency. To verify the proper functioning of this system, we developed a small portable device capable of measuring the level of glucose in the blood for diabetics and body temperature. We designed a secure mechanism to establish a wireless connection with the smartphone.
Application of Upgraded Drop-In Fuel Obtained from Biomass Pyrolysis in a Spark Ignition Engine
Authors: Veses Alberto , Martínez Juan , Callén María , Murillo Ramón , García Tomás
Published: April 2020

This paper reports the performance of a spark ignition engine using gasoline blended with an upgraded bio-oil rich in aromatics and ethanol. This upgraded bio-oil was obtained using a two-step catalytic process. The first step comprised an in-situ catalytic pyrolysis process with CaO in order to obtain a more stable deoxygenated organic fraction, while the second consisted of a catalytic cracking of the vapours released using ZSM-5 zeolites to obtain an aromatics-rich fraction. To facilitate the mixture between bio-oil and gasoline, ethanol was added. The behaviour of a stationary spark ignition engine G12TFH (9600 W) was described in terms of fuel consumption and electrical efficiency. In addition, gaseous emissions and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) concentrations were determined. Trial tests suggested that it is possible to work with a blend of gasoline, ethanol and bio-oil (90/8/2 vol%, herein named G90E8B2) showing similar fuel consumption than pure gasoline (G100) at the same load. Moreover, combustion could be considered more efficient when small quantities of ethanol and organic bio-oil are simultaneously added. A reduction, not only in the PAH concentrations but also in the carcinogenic equivalent concentrations, was also obtained, decreasing the environmental impact of the exhaust gases. Thus, results show that it is technically feasible to use low blends of aroma-rich bio-oil, ethanol and gasoline in conventional spark ignition engines.
Ultracapacitors for Port Crane Applications: Sizing and Techno-Economic Analysis
Authors: Kermani Mostafa , Parise Giuseppe , Chavdarian Ben , Martirano Luigi
Published: April 2020

The use of energy storage with high power density and fast response time at container terminals (CTs) with a power demand of tens of megawatts is one of the most critical factors for peak reduction and economic benefits. Peak shaving can balance the load demand and facilitate the participation of small power units in generation based on renewable energies. Therefore, in this paper, the economic efficiency of peak demand reduction in ship to shore (STS) cranes based on the ultracapacitor (UC) energy storage sizing has been investigated. The results show the UC energy storage significantly reduce the peak demand, increasing the load factor, load leveling, and most importantly, an outstanding reduction in power and energy cost. In fact, the suggested approach is the start point to improve reliability and reduce peak demand energy consumption.
An Improved Stability Criterion for Load Frequency Control of Power Systems with Time-Varying Delays
Authors: Chen Bi-Ying , Shangguan Xing-Chen , Jin Li , Li Dan-Yun
Published: April 2020

This paper aims at developing a novel stability criterion to access the influence of the time-varying delay on the stability of power systems equipped with a proportional-integral (PI)-based load frequency control (LFC). The model of the LFC scheme considering time-varying communication delays is established at first. Then, an improved stability condition related to the information of delay bounds is deduced by constructing an augmented Lyapunov–Krasovski functional and using a matrix inequality, and it is expressed as linear matrix inequalities (LMIs) for easily checking. Finally, case studies for one-area and two-area LFC systems are carried out to show the relationship between delay margins ensuring the stability and the PI gains of the LFC, and also verify the superiority of proposed stability criterion compared with the previous ones.
Assessing Seed Handling Processes to Facilitate a Community-Engaged Approach to Regional Forest Restoration
Authors: Cobb Meredith , Woods Michaela J. , McEwan Ryan W.
Published: April 2020

In the Midwestern United States, there is a strong management impetus toward reforestation to replace trees lost to due to tree mortality and to establish forests on previously cleared properties. Here, we describe a public outreach and volunteer effort that aimed to generate positive, community-engaged restoration outcomes and report on a practical experiment involving seed handling. We obtained tree seeds that were donated by members of the community to local land managers. We evaluated the size of the seeds collected and tested the influence of common stratification media (none, sand and vermiculite) and seed size on germination success of three tree genera involved in restoration efforts: Quercus, Carya and Juglans (oak, hickory and walnut). We found a species-specific effect of media on germination, such that Carya and Quercus showed little response to their stratification media, but Juglans had higher germination rates when stratified with vermiculite. Further, all genera of seeds germinated faster when stratified with either media than without. Thus, we suggest stratifying these seeds with media to promote germination success. We also tested for seed size as a predictor of mortality during stratification, following the logic that a size-based selection criterion might save time and space during stratification. We found species-specific impacts of seed size on germination, but relationships were highly variable, and we suggest avoiding screening seeds based on their size. In addition to these scientific results, we describe the broader forest restoration project, which may be a useful model for engaging the community in restoration efforts.
Selection of Saccharomyces cerevisiae Starter Strain for Merwah Wine
Authors: Feghali Nadine , Bianco Angela , Zara Giacomo , Tabet Edouard , Ghanem Chantal , Budroni Marilena
Published: April 2020

In order to select Saccharomyces cerevisiae starter strains for ‘‘Merwah’’ wine production, three strains (M.6.16, M.10.16, and M.4.17) previously isolated from ‘‘Merwah’’ must and characterized at the lab scale were tested in pilot-scale fermentation in a Lebanese winery during the 2019 vintage. The three inoculated musts were compared to that obtained with a spontaneous fermentation. During the fermentations, must samples were taken to evaluate the dominance of the inoculated strains, and at the end of fermentation, the obtained wines were subjected to chemical and sensorial characterization. Molecular monitoring by interdelta analysis revealed that only M.4.17 was able to complete the fermentation and dominate over the wild yeasts. Based on the analysis of principal technological parameters (i.e., residual sugar, fermentative vigor, sulfur production, and acetic acid) and sensorial analysis of the wines obtained, M.4.17 was selected as an adequate starter for the production of typical ‘‘Merwah’’ wine.
Flow-Based Optimization of Products or Devices
Authors: Basse Nils T.
Published: April 2020

Flow-based optimization of products and devices is an immature field compared to corresponding topology optimization based on solid mechanics [...]
The Food Systems in the Era of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) Pandemic Crisis
Authors: Galanakis Charis M.
Published: April 2020

The World Health Organization (WHO) declared the outbreak of coronavirus disease (COVID-19, broadly referred to as “coronavirus”) a global pandemic, while thousands of infections and deaths are reported daily. The current article explores the food systems in the era of the COVID-19 pandemic crisis. It provides insights about the properties of bioactive ingredients of foods and herbs for the support of the human immune system against infections before discussing the possibility of COVID-19 transmission through the food chain. It also highlights the global food security issues arising from the fact that one-third of the world’s population is on lockdown. Finally, it underlines the importance of sustainability in the food chain in order to avoid or reduce the frequency of relevant food and health crises in the future.