bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Traumatic Brain Injury: Oxidative Stress and Novel Anti-Oxidants Such as Mitoquinone and Edaravone
Authors: Ismail Helene , Shakkour Zaynab , Tabet Maha , Abdelhady Samar , Kobaisi Abir , Abedi Reem , Nasrallah Leila , Pintus Gianfranco , Al-Dhaheri Yusra , Mondello Stefania , El-Khoury Riyad , Eid Ali H. , Kobeissy Firas , Salameh Johnny
Published: October 2020

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a major health concern worldwide and is classified based on severity into mild, moderate, and severe. The mechanical injury in TBI leads to a metabolic and ionic imbalance, which eventually leads to excessive production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and a state of oxidative stress. To date, no drug has been approved by the food and drug administration (FDA) for the treatment of TBI. Nevertheless, it is thought that targeting the pathology mechanisms would alleviate the consequences of TBI. For that purpose, antioxidants have been considered as treatment options in TBI and were shown to have a neuroprotective effect. In this review, we will discuss oxidative stress in TBI, the history of antioxidant utilization in the treatment of TBI, and we will focus on two novel antioxidants, mitoquinone (MitoQ) and edaravone. MitoQ can cross the blood brain barrier and cellular membranes to accumulate in the mitochondria and is thought to activate the Nrf2/ARE pathway leading to an increase in the expression of antioxidant enzymes. Edaravone is a free radical scavenger that leads to the mitigation of damage resulting from oxidative stress with a possible association to the activation of the Nrf2/ARE pathway as well.
Vitamin C Attenuates Oxidative Stress and Behavioral Abnormalities Triggered by Fipronil and Pyriproxyfen Insecticide Chronic Exposure on Zebrafish Juvenile
Authors: Robea Madalina Andreea , Jijie Roxana , Nicoara Mircea , Plavan Gabriel , Ciobica Alin Stelian , Solcan Carmen , Audira Gilbert , Hsiao Chung-Der , Strungaru Stefan-Adrian
Published: October 2020

Chronic exposure to synthetic insecticides in the early life of a child can lead to a series of disorders. Several causes as parental age, maternal smoking, birth complications, and exposure to toxins such as insecticides on childhood can lead to Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) occurrence. The aim of this study was to evaluate the potential protective role of vitamin C (Vit. C) from children’s supplements after 14 days chronic exposure to insecticide mixture fipronil (Fip) + pyriproxyfen (Pyr) on juvenile zebrafish for swimming performances, social behavior and oxidative stress associated with ASD model. Juvenile (14–17 mm) wild-type AB zebrafish (Danio rerio) (45 days) were exposed to relevant concentrations: vit. C (25 µg L−1), Fip (600 µg L−1/1.372 μM) + Pyr (600 µg L−1/1.89 μM), and [Fip (600 µg L−1/1.372 μM) + Pyr (600 µg L−1 /1.89 μM)] + vit. C (25 µg L−1). Our results showed that insecticides can disturb the social behavior of zebrafish during 14 days of the administration, decreased the swimming performances, and elevated the oxidative stress biomarkers of SOD (superoxide dismutase), GPx (glutathione peroxidase), and MDA (malondialdehyde). The vitamin C supplement significantly attenuated the neurotoxicity of insecticide mixture and oxidative stress. This study provides possible in vivo evidence to show that vitamin C supplements could attenuate oxidative stress and brain damage of fipronil and pyriproxyfen insecticide chronic exposure on zebrafish juvenile.
Properties of a New Food Supplement Containing Actinia equina Extract
Authors: Lanza Marika , Casili Giovanna , Torre Giovanna Loredana La , Giuffrida Daniele , Rotondo Archimede , Esposito Emanuela , Ardizzone Alessio , Rando Rossana , Bartolomeo Giovanni , Albergamo Ambrogina , Vadalà Rossella , Salvo Andrea
Published: October 2020

Marine species represent a great source of biologically active substances; Actinia equina (AE), an Anthozoa Cnidaria belonging to the Actinidiae family, have been proposed as original food and have already been included in several cooking recipes in local Mediterranean shores, and endowed with excellent nutraceutical potential. The aim of this study was to investigate some unexplored features of AE, through analytical screening and an in-vitro and in-vivo model. An in-vitro study, made on RAW 264.7 stimulated with H2O2, showed that the pre-treatment with AE exerted an antioxidant action, reducing lipid peroxidation and up-regulating antioxidant enzymes. On the other hand, the in-vivo study over murine model demonstrated that the administration of AE extracts is able to reduce the carrageenan (CAR)-induced paw edema. Furthermore, the histological damage due to the neutrophil infiltration is prevented, and this highlights precious anti-inflammatory features of the interesting food-stuff. Moreover, it was assessed that AE extract modulated nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-kB) and The nuclear factor erythroid 2–related factor 2 (Nrf-2) pathways. In conclusion, our data demonstrated that thanks to the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, AE extract could be used as a new food supplement for inflammatory pathology prevention.
Transcriptomic Insights into the Effect of Melatonin in Saccharomyces cerevisiae in the Presence and Absence of Oxidative Stress
Authors: Sunyer-Figueres Mercè , Vázquez Jennifer , Mas Albert , Torija María-Jesús , Beltran Gemma
Published: October 2020

Melatonin is a ubiquitous indolamine that plays important roles in various aspects of biological processes in mammals. In Saccharomyces cerevisiae, melatonin has been reported to exhibit antioxidant properties and to modulate the expression of some genes involved in endogenous defense systems. The aim of this study was to elucidate the role of supplemented melatonin at the transcriptional level in S. cerevisiae in the presence and absence of oxidative stress. This was achieved by exposing yeast cells pretreated with different melatonin concentrations to hydrogen peroxide and assessing the entry of melatonin into the cell and the yeast response at the transcriptional level (by microarray and qPCR analyses) and the physiological level (by analyzing changes in the lipid composition and mitochondrial activity). We found that exogenous melatonin crossed cellular membranes at nanomolar concentrations and modulated the expression of many genes, mainly downregulating the expression of mitochondrial genes in the absence of oxidative stress, triggering a hypoxia-like response, and upregulating them under stress, mainly the cytochrome complex and electron transport chain. Other categories that were enriched by the effect of melatonin were related to transport, antioxidant activity, signaling, and carbohydrate and lipid metabolism. The overall results suggest that melatonin is able to reprogram the cellular machinery to achieve tolerance to oxidative stress.
Front-End of Vehicle-Embedded Speech Recognition for Voice-Driven Multi-UAVs Control
Authors: Park Jeong-Sik , Na Hyeong-Ju
Published: October 2020

For reliable speech recognition, it is necessary to handle the usage environments. In this study, we target voice-driven multi-unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) control. Although many studies have introduced several systems for voice-driven UAV control, most have focused on a general speech recognition architecture to control a single UAV. However, for stable voice-controlled driving, it is essential to handle the environmental conditions of UAVs carefully, including environmental noise that deteriorates recognition accuracy, and the operating scheme, e.g., how to direct a target vehicle among multiple UAVs and switch targets using speech commands. To handle these issues, we propose an efficient vehicle-embedded speech recognition front-end for multi-UAV control via voice. First, we propose a noise reduction approach that considers non-stationary noise in outdoor environments. The proposed method improves the conventional minimum mean squared error (MMSE) approach to handle non-stationary noises, e.g., babble and vehicle noises. In addition, we propose a multi-channel voice trigger method that can control multiple UAVs while efficiently directing and switching the target vehicle via speech commands. We evaluated the proposed methods on speech corpora, and the experimental results demonstrate that the proposed methods outperform the conventional approaches. In trigger word detection experiments, our approach yielded approximately 7%, 12%, and 3% relative improvements over spectral subtraction, adaptive comb filtering, and the conventional MMSE, respectively. In addition, the proposed multi-channel voice trigger approach achieved approximately 51% relative improvement over the conventional approach based on a single trigger word.
Shear Failure Mode and Concrete Edge Breakout Resistance of Cast-In-Place Anchors in Steel Fiber-Reinforced Normal Strength Concrete
Authors: Lee Jong-Han , Choi Eunsoo , Cho Baik-Soon
Published: October 2020

Concrete edge failure of a single anchor in concrete is strongly dependent on the tensile performance of the concrete, which can be greatly improved by the addition of steel fibers. This study investigated the effect of steel fibers on the shear failure mode and edge breakout resistance of anchors installed in steel fiber-reinforced concrete (SFRC) with fiber volume percentages of 0.33, 0.67, and 1.00%. The anchor used in the study was 30 mm in diameter, with an edge distance of 75 mm and embedment depth of 240 mm. In addition to the anchor specimens, beam specimens were prepared to assess the relationship between the tensile performance of SFRC beams and the shear resistance of SFRC anchors. The ultimate flexural strength of the beam and the breakout shear resistance of the anchor increased almost linearly with increasing volume fractions of fiber. Therefore, based on the ACI 318 design equation, a term was proposed using the ultimate flexural strength of concrete instead of the compressive strength to determine the concrete breakout shear resistance of an anchor in the SFRC. The calculated shear resistance of anchors in both the plain concrete and SFRC were in good agreement with the measurements. In addition to the load capacity of the SFRC anchors, the energy absorption capacity showed a linear increase with that of the SFRC beam.
An Experimental Approach on Beating in Vibration Due to Rotational Unbalance
Authors: Chitariu Dragos-Florin , Negoescu Florin , Horodinca Mihaita , Dumitras Catalin-Gabriel , Dogan Gures , Ilhan Mehmet
Published: October 2020

This paper proposes a study in theoretical and experimental terms focused on the vibration beating phenomenon produced in particular circumstances: the addition of vibrations generated by two rotating unbalanced shafts placed inside a lathe headstock, with a flat friction belt transmission between the shafts. The study was done on a simple computer-assisted experimental setup for absolute vibration velocity signal acquisition, signal processing and simulation. The input signal is generated by a horizontal geophone as the sensor, placed on a headstock. By numerical integration (using an original antiderivative calculus and signal correction method) a vibration velocity signal was converted into a vibration displacement signal. In this way, an absolute velocity vibration sensor was transformed into an absolute displacement vibration sensor. An important accomplishment in the evolution of the resultant vibration frequency (or combination frequency as well) of the beating vibration displacement signal was revealed by numerical simulation, which was fully confirmed by experiments. In opposition to some previously reported research results, it was discovered that the combination frequency is slightly variable (tens of millihertz variation over the full frequency range) and it has a periodic pattern. This pattern has negative or positive peaks (depending on the relationship of amplitudes and frequencies of vibrations involved in the beating) placed systematically in the nodes of the beating phenomena. Some other achievements on issues involved in the beating phenomenon description were also accomplished. A study on a simulated signal proves the high theoretical accuracy of the method used for combination frequency measurement, with less than 3 microhertz full frequency range error. Furthermore, a study on the experimental determination of the dynamic amplification factor of the combination vibration (5.824) due to the resonant behaviour of the headstock and lathe on its foundation was performed, based on computer-aided analysis (curve fitting) of the free damped response. These achievements ensure a better approach on vibration beating phenomenon and dynamic balancing conditions and requirements.
Energy Loss in Skimming Flow over Cascade Spillways: Comparison of Artificial Intelligence-Based and Regression Methods
Authors: Nouri Meysam , Sihag Parveen , Salmasi Farzin , Kisi Ozgur
Published: October 2020

In this study, the energy dissipation of cascade spillways was studied by conducting a series of laboratory experiments. Five spillways slope angles (α) (10°, 20°, 30°, 40°, and 50°), various step numbers (N) ranging from 4 to 75, and a wide range of discharges (Q), were considered. Some data-based models were developed to explain the relationships between hydraulic parameters. Multiple linear and nonlinear regression-based equations were developed based on dimensional analysis theory to compute energy dissipation over cascade spillways. For testing the robustness of developed data-based models, M5P, stochastic M5P, and random forest (RF) were used as new artificial intelligence (AI)-based techniques. To relate the input and output variables of energy dissipation, AI-based and regression approaches were developed. It was found that the formulation based on the stochastic M5P approach in solving energy dissipation problems over cascade spillways is more successful than the other regression and AI-based methods. Sensitivity analysis suggests that spillway slope in degrees (α) is the most influential input variable in predicting the relative energy dissipation (%) of the spillway in comparison to other input variables.
Specific c-Jun N-Terminal Kinase Inhibitor, JNK-IN-8 Suppresses Mesenchymal Profile of PTX-Resistant MCF-7 Cells through Modulating PI3K/Akt, MAPK and Wnt Signaling Pathways
Authors: Ozfiliz Kilbas Pelin , Sonmez Ozlem , Uysal-Onganer Pinar , Coker Gurkan Ajda , Obakan Yerlikaya Pinar , Arisan Elif Damla
Published: October 2020

Paclitaxel (PTX) is a widely used chemotherapeutic agent in the treatment of breast cancer, and resistance to PTX is a common failure of breast cancer therapy. Therefore, understanding the effective molecular targets in PTX-resistance gains importance in identifying novel strategies in successful breast cancer therapy approaches. The aim of the study was to investigate the functional role of PTX resistance on MCF-7 cell survival and proliferation related to PI3K/Akt and MAPK pathways. The generated PTX-resistant (PTX-res) MCF-7 cells showed enhanced cell survival, proliferation, and colony formation potential with decreased cell death compared to wt MCF-7 cells. PTX-res MCF-7 cells exhibited increased motility profile with EMT, PI3K/Akt, and MAPK pathway induction. According to the significant SAPK/JNK activation in PTX-res MCF-7 cells, specific c-Jun N-terminal kinase inhibitor, JNK-IN-8 is shown to suppress the migration potential of cells. Treatment of JNK inhibitor suppressed the p38 and SAPK/JNK and Vimentin expression. However, the JNK inhibitor further downregulated Wnt signaling members in PTX-res MCF-7 cells. Therefore, the JNK inhibitor JNK-IN-8 might be used as a potential therapy model to reverse PTX-resistance related to Wnt signaling.
Recombinant Oleate Hydratase from Lactobacillus rhamnosus ATCC 53103: Enzyme Expression and Design of a Reliable Experimental Procedure for the Stereoselective Hydration of Oleic Acid
Authors: Castagna Antonio , De Simeis Davide , Ferrandi Erica E. , Marzorati Stefano , Monti Daniela , Serra Stefano , Valentino Mattia
Published: October 2020

Different microbial strains are able to transform oleic acid (OA) into 10-hydroxystearic acid (10-HSA) by means of the catalytic activity of the enzymes oleate hydratase (EC 4.2.1.53). Lactobacillus rhamnosus ATCC 53103 performs this biotransformation with very high stereoselectivity, affording enantiopure (R)-10-HSA. In this work, we cloned, in Escherichia coli, the oleate hydratase present in the above-mentioned probiotic strain. Our study demonstrated that the obtained recombinant hydratase retains the catalytic properties of the Lactobacillus strain but that its activity was greatly affected by the expression procedure. According to our findings, we devised a reliable procedure for the hydration of oleic acid using a recombinant E. coli whole-cell catalyst. We established that the optimal reaction conditions were pH 6.6 at 28 °C in phosphate buffer, using glycerol and ethanol as co-solvents. According to our experimental protocol, the biocatalyst does not show significant substrate inhibition as the hydration reaction can be performed at high oleic acid concentration (up to 50 g/L).
Heterogeneous Catalytic Ozonation of Phenol by a Novel Binary Catalyst of Fe-Ni/MAC
Authors: Yang Yunlong , Shi Xianwei , Zhao Min , Chu Shuyi , Xiao Jibo
Published: October 2020

Iron-nickel supported on modified active carbon (Fe-Ni/MAC) was prepared and characterized by XRD, SEM, XPS and EDS, followed by evaluating the practicability of Fe-Ni/MAC in treating real wastewater with a high concentration of phenol. Results showed that the optimal conditions for catalytic ozonation obtained by response surface methodology (RSM) were catalyst 10 g/L, ozone 68 mg/L, pH 9 and reaction time 90 min. Fe-Ni alloy and NiFe2O4 were demonstrated to be the dominant active species involved in catalytic reaction. The Fe-Ni/MAC catalyst can be reused six times with a satisfactory performance and little leaching of metal ions. Although some radicals like ·OH and ·O2− functioned well, singlet oxygen (1O2) was regarded as the most important radical in the Fe-Ni/MAC process. Most noticeably, the fluorescence excitation emission matrices (EEMs) certified that as much as 1243 mg/L phenol in the real wastewater was completely degraded, which made Fe-Ni/MAC a fairly practical catalyst.
Facile Synthesis of Anatase–Rutile Diphase N-doped TiO2 Nanoparticles with Excellent Visible Light Photocatalytic Activity
Authors: Liu Jun , Li Xuli , Hou Haobo , Zhou Min
Published: October 2020

To further boost the charge separation and photocatalytic activity of TiO2 under visible light, the anatase–rutile mixed-phase nitrogen-doped (N-doped) TiO2 nanoparticles were successfully synthesized through a facile one-step calcining procedure using TiN as raw materials. The crystal phases, morphologies, chemical compositions, textural structures, and optical properties of as-obtained N-doped TiO2 were characterized by the corresponding analytical techniques. The photocatalytic activities of as-fabricated samples were evaluated by degrading 4-chlorophenol (4-CP) and methylene blue (MB) aqueous solution under visible light irradiation. The results revealed that the ratio of rutile to anatase increased with the improvement of sintering temperature, and the sample prepared at 500 °C had the best photocatalytic activity. This might be because it possessed the most appropriate rutile/anatase proportion as well as the nitrogen doping. The transient photocurrent responses, photoluminescence spectra (PL) measurements, and active species trapping experiments were implemented to disclose the photocatalytic mechanism. This work will provide a further insight into the synthesis of highly efficient N-doped TiO2 photocatalysts for organic contaminant removal.
Eco-Friendly and Solvent-Less Mechanochemical Synthesis of ZrO2–MnCO3/N-Doped Graphene Nanocomposites: A Highly Efficacious Catalyst for Base-Free Aerobic Oxidation of Various Types of Alcohols
Authors: Kuniyil Mufsir , Kumar J. V. Shanmukha , Adil Syed Farooq , Assal Mohamed E. , Shaik Mohammed Rafi , Khan Mujeeb , Al-Warthan Abdulrahman , Siddiqui Mohammed Rafiq H. , Khan Aslam , Bilal Muhammad , Iqbal Hafiz M. N. , Al-Masry Waheed A.
Published: October 2020

In recent years, the development of green mechanochemical processes for the synthesis of new catalysts with higher catalytic efficacy and selectivity has received manifest interest. In continuation of our previous study, in which graphene oxide (GRO) and highly reduced graphene oxide (HRG) based nanocomposites were prepared and assessed, herein, we have explored a facile and solvent-less mechanochemical approach for the synthesis of N-doped graphene (NDG)/mixed metal oxide (MnCO3–ZrO2) ((X%)NDG/MnCO3–ZrO2), as the (X%)NDG/MnCO3–ZrO2 nano-composite was synthesized using physical grinding of separately synthesized NDG and pre-calcined (300 °C) MnCO3–ZrO2 via green milling method. The structures of the prepared materials were characterized in detail using X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscope (FESEM), Energy Dispersive X-Ray Analysis (EDX), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Raman, Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and N2 adsorption-desorption isotherm analysis. Besides, the obtained nanocomposites were employed as heterogeneous oxidation catalyst for the alcohol oxidation using green oxidant O2 without involving any surfactants or bases. The reaction factors were systematically studied during the oxidation of benzyl alcohol (PhCH2OH) as the model reactant to benzaldehyde (PhCHO). The NDG/MnCO3–ZrO2 exhibits premium specific activity (66.7 mmol·g−1·h−1) with 100% conversion of PhCH2OH and > 99.9% selectivity to PhCHO after only 6 min. The mechanochemically prepared NDG based nanocomposite exhibited notable improvement in the catalytic efficacy as well as the surface area compared to the pristine MnCO3–ZrO2. Under the optimal circumstances, the NDG/MnCO3–ZrO2 catalyst could selectively catalyze the aerobic oxidation of a broad array of alcohols to carbonyls with full convertibility without over-oxidized side products like acids. The NDG/MnCO3–ZrO2 catalyst were efficiently reused for six subsequent recycling reactions with a marginal decline in performance and selectivity.
Development of a NanoMIPs-SPR-Based Sensor for β-Lactoglobulin Detection
Authors: D’Aurelio Roberta , Ashley Jon , Rodgers Thomas , Trinh Linda , Temblay Jeff , Pleasants Mike , Tothill Ibtisam
Published: October 2020

Food manufacturers are aiming to manage the levels of cross-contamination of allergens within food processing plants and ultimately move away from precautionary labelling. Hence, the need for rapid methods to detect allergens cross-contamination. A sensitive and selective label-free nanoMIPs based sensor was developed and tested for the detection of β-lactoglobulin (BLG). NanoMIPs were synthesized using solid-phase synthesis and appeared as spherical nanoparticles with sizes ranging from 264–294 nm, using dynamic light scattering (DLS). The nanoMIPs were functionalized with amine groups and attached to the surface of the SPR gold chip via amine-coupling protocol. The SPR nanoMIPs-based sensor demonstrated a detection limit of 3 ng mL−1 (211 pM) over a linear range of 1–5000 ng mL−1, with binding affinity of 7.0 × 10−8 M and specificity towards BLG. With further testing and final optimization, the developed nanosensor can be integrated on-line or at-line cleaning-in-place (CIP) wash systems, allowing to effectively monitor milk protein allergens as a rapid, point-of-source methodology.
On the Asymptotic Distribution of Ridge Regression Estimators Using Training and Test Samples
Authors: Sengupta Nandana , Sowell Fallaw
Published: October 2020

The asymptotic distribution of the linear instrumental variables (IV) estimator with empirically selected ridge regression penalty is characterized. The regularization tuning parameter is selected by splitting the observed data into training and test samples and becomes an estimated parameter that jointly converges with the parameters of interest. The asymptotic distribution is a nonstandard mixture distribution. Monte Carlo simulations show the asymptotic distribution captures the characteristics of the sampling distributions and when this ridge estimator performs better than two-stage least squares. An empirical application on returns to education data is presented.
N-Type Charge Carrier Transport Properties of BDOPV-Benzothiadiazole-Based Semiconducting Polymers
Authors: Wang Siyu , Otep Sultan , Kimpel Joost , Mori Takehiko , Michinobu Tsuyoshi
Published: October 2020

High-performance n-type organic semiconducting polymers are key components of next-generation organic electronics. Here, we designed and synthesized two electron deficient organic polymers composed of benzodifurandione-based oligo (p-phenylenevinylene) (BDOPV) and benzothiadiazole by Stille coupling polycondensation. BDOPV-benzothiadiazole-based copolymer (PBDOPV-BTT) possesses a D-A1-D-A2 type backbone with intramolecular charge–transfer interactions, while PBDOPV-BTTz is an all-acceptor polymer. The former has a higher molecular weight (Mn) of 109.7 kg∙mol−1 than the latter (Mn = 20.2 kg∙mol−1). The structural difference of these polymers was confirmed by the optical absorption spectra. PBDOPV-BTT showed a more bathochromically shifted absorption spectrum than PBDOPV-BTTz. The longer wavelength absorption of PBDOPV-BTT was due to the intramolecular charge transfer. Therefore, PBDOPV-BTT had a narrower band gap than PBDOPV-BTTz. However, this feature was not reflected by the lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO) levels. Both polymers displayed almost the same LUMO level of −3.8 eV. Accuracy of this observation was cross-verified by density functional theory (DFT) calculations. The electron-transporting properties were investigated by thin film transistors. PBDOPV-BTT showed an electron mobility (μe) of 1.02 × 10−2 cm2 V−1 s−1 under the optimized annealing conditions. PBDOPV-BTTz exhibited poorer transistor performances with the optimized μe of 9.54 × 10−6 cm2 V−1 s−1. Finally, the grazing-incidence wide angle X-ray scattering (GIWAXS) measurements of both polymer films revealed the higher crystallinity of PBDOPV-BTT with the edge-on orientation.
IOTA-BT: A P2P File-Sharing System Based on IOTA
Authors: Hou Li-Yuan , Tang Tsung-Yi , Liang Tyng-Yeu
Published: October 2020

BitTorrent (BT) is the most popular peer-to-peer file-sharing system. According to official BT information, more than 100 million active users use BT for file transfers every month. However, BT mainly relies on either a central tracker (tracker) or distributed hash table (DHT) for locating file seeders while it runs a risk of a single point of failure or cyber-attacks such as Sybil and Eclipses. To attack this problem, we proposed a Peer-to-Peer (P2P) file-sharing system called IOTA-BT by integrating BitTorrent with IOTA in this paper. The advantages of IOTA over blockchain include scalability for high throughput, compatibility with Internet of Things (IoT) footprints, zero transaction fees, partition-tolerant, and quantum-resistant cryptography. The autopeering and neighbor selection of the Coordicide of IOTA is aimed at defending a Sybil or Eclipse attack. IOTA-BT inherits these advantages from IOTA. Moreover, our experimental results have shown that the cost of executing BT functions, such as releasing torrent files and retrieving seeder information on IOTA-BT, is acceptable for improving the security of BT. IOTA-BT can indeed efficiently provide users with a P2P file-sharing environment of higher security.
Cloud-Based Virtual Port-Container Terminal Establishment and Operation Analysis
Authors: Cho Gyusung , Lee Suk-Hwan
Published: October 2020

Worldwide, governments are making efforts to enhance the efficiency of port terminals by applying new technologies developed in the context of the Fourth Industrial Revolution. This study aims to systematically analyze port productivity and operational efficiency by establishing cloud-based virtual port-container terminals using operational data from Busan Port terminals. Accordingly, the integrated aspect-oriented modeling approach is applied to actual operational data from port-container terminals to develop a reusable, extendible and modifiable control system. This technique is used to establish a virtualized port-container terminal. In addition, this study presents a way to solve various problems arising from port-container terminals by analyzing real-time operation data generated by the terminals through a cloud system, as well as suggests ways to streamline operations. The methodology presented in this study can be applied to establish optimal operating systems for various ports and to develop and operate future port-container terminal systems.
Computationally Efficient Modeling of DC-DC Converters for PV Applications
Authors: Corti Fabio , Laudani Antonino , Lozito Gabriele Maria , Reatti Alberto
Published: October 2020

In this work, a computationally efficient approach for the simulation of a DC-DC converter connected to a photovoltaic device is proposed. The methodology is based on a combination of a highly efficient formulation of the one-diode model for photovoltaic (PV) devices and a state-space formulation of the converter as well as an accurate steady-state detection methodology. The approach was experimentally validated to assess its accuracy. The model is accurate both in its dynamic response (tested in full linearity and with a simulated PV device as the input) and in its steady-state response (tested with an outdoor experimental measurement setup). The model detects automatically the reaching of a steady state, thus resulting in lowered computational costs. The approach is presented as a mathematical model that can be efficiently included in a large simulation system or statistical analysis.
A Review of Lithium-Ion Battery Fire Suppression
Authors: Ghiji Mohammadmahdi , Novozhilov Vasily , Moinuddin Khalid , Joseph Paul , Burch Ian , Suendermann Brigitta , Gamble Grant
Published: October 2020

Lithium-ion batteries (LiBs) are a proven technology for energy storage systems, mobile electronics, power tools, aerospace, automotive and maritime applications. LiBs have attracted interest from academia and industry due to their high power and energy densities compared to other battery technologies. Despite the extensive usage of LiBs, there is a substantial fire risk associated with their use which is a concern, especially when utilised in electric vehicles, aeroplanes, and submarines. This review presents LiB hazards, techniques for mitigating risks, the suppression of LiB fires and identification of shortcomings for future improvement. Water is identified as an efficient cooling and suppressing agent and water mist is considered the most promising technique to extinguish LiB fires. In the initial stages, the present review covers some relevant information regarding the material constitution and configuration of the cell assemblies, and phenomenological evolution of the thermal runaway reactions, which in turn can potentially lead to flaming combustion of cells and battery assemblies. This is followed by short descriptions of various active fire control agents to suppress fires involving LiBs in general, and water as a superior extinguishing medium in particular. In the latter parts of the review, the phenomena associated with water mist suppression of LiB fires are comprehensively reviewed.
A Novel Fault Location Method of a 35-kV High-Reliability Distribution Network Using Wavelet Filter-S Transform
Authors: Guo Shuyu , Miao Shihong , Zhao Haipeng , Yin Haoran , Wang Zixin
Published: October 2020

Timely and accurate fault location for a 35-kVhigh-reliability distribution network is one of the key technologies to improve the safety and efficiency of distribution network operations. A novel fault location method of 35-kV high-reliability distribution network is proposed in this paper. First, the distributed multipoint fault location model is established based on the power structure of a 35-kV high-reliability distribution network. The distribution of voltage and current traveling waves along the lines is comprehensively considered in this model. Secondly, we analyze the influence of noise interference, analog-digital conversion frequency, and conversion bits on the location accuracy. The simulation method of noise and analog-digital conversion is proposed based on simulated samples. Then, a wavelet filter is used to reduce the influence of noise on the calibration of the traveling wave arrival time, and matrix modulus of S transform is used to identify the arrival time for the wave. Finally, the simulation model of a 35-kV high-reliability distribution network is established to analyze the location accuracy in the case of single-phase to ground via resistance, two-phase short-circuit to ground via resistance, and three-phase short-circuit faults. The simulation results indicate that the proposed method has high location accuracy under the above fault conditions.
Involvement of the MEN1 Gene in Hormone-Related Cancers: Clues from Molecular Studies, Mouse Models, and Patient Investigations
Authors: Abou Ziki Razan , Luo Yakun , Vlaeminck-Guillem Virginie , Le Romancer Muriel , Zhang Chang
Published: October 2020

MEN1 mutation predisposes patients to multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 (MEN1), a genetic syndrome associated with the predominant co-occurrence of endocrine tumors. Intriguingly, recent evidence has suggested that MEN1 could also be involved in the development of breast and prostate cancers, two major hormone-related cancers. The first clues as to its possible role arose from the identification of the physical and functional interactions between the menin protein, encoded by MEN1, and estrogen receptor α and androgen receptor. In parallel, our team observed that aged heterozygous Men1 mutant mice developed cancerous lesions in mammary glands of female and in the prostate of male mutant mice at low frequencies, in addition to endocrine tumors. Finally, observations made both in MEN1 patients and in sporadic breast and prostate cancers further confirmed the role played by menin in these two cancers. In this review, we present the currently available data concerning the complex and multifaceted involvement of MEN1 in these two types of hormone-dependent cancers.
Evaluating the Effectiveness of Urban Hedges as Air Pollution Barriers: Importance of Sampling Method, Species Characteristics and Site Location
Authors: Blanuša Tijana , Qadir Zeenat Jabeen , Kaur Amanpreet , Hadley James , Gush Mark B.
Published: October 2020

Urban hedgerows can act as barriers to roadside particulate air pollution, but details on methodologies to quantify pollutant capture, most efficient species to use, and practical planning advice are still evolving. We aimed to compare three widely used approaches to quantify particulate accumulation and deposition, and to ascertain the most cost-effective and robust approach for the rapid screening of various types of hedges. Secondly, using the most efficient methodology, we screened the summertime deposition of particulates on roadside hedges in Reading (UK), not just on species with differing leaf surface characteristics, but also along a transect of the hedge depth. Finally, we also compared particles’ capture by hedge leaf surfaces in locations with different traffic intensities, to try and ascertain the extent of reduction of particles’ concentration in various hedge types and urban locations. Results suggest that the gravimetric determination of particulate capture was most rapid and cost-effective, while being least technically demanding. We confirmed that hairy and more complex leaves captured most particulates, particularly in the >10 μm range. However, species choice only had a significant impact on the extent of capture on major roads, where the pollutant concentrations were highest. Furthermore, only hedge depths in excess of 2 m were found to noticeably reduce the concentration of fine particles in species with less capacity for particulates’ capture. Findings complement the growing body of knowledge to guide urban and landscape planners in choosing the most appropriate species to mitigate air quality in various urban contexts.
Fire Activity in Mediterranean Forests (The Algerian Case)
Authors: Curt Thomas , Aini Aissa , Dupire Sylvain
Published: October 2020

Algeria has high wildfire activity, albeit restricted to the northern coastal fringe. However, no study has investigated why fire is restricted to that area, and what combination of factors explains the occurrence of wildfires. Here, we describe the current fire regime of Northern Algeria from 2000 to 2019 and we correlate fire activity to a range of environmental and anthropic drivers. We found a strong north–south gradient in fire occurrence: it is maximal in the high-fueled (productive) oak forests of Northern Algeria with high annual rainfall amount, whereas it is fuel-limited in the South due to semi-arid conditions. We determined that fire is nearly absent where the bioclimate is subarid or arid, due to the steppic vegetation with summer Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) values below 0.35. Therefore, fire occupies a narrow niche in space (the humid and subhumid areas with high productivity) and in time as most fires occur in summer after the high rainfalls from fall to spring that promote fuel growth. Humans also play a role as fire hotspots are concentrated in croplands and in built-up areas with high human density and infrastructures mixed with shrublands and forests. We discuss how the ongoing climate changes and the desertification progressing towards the North of Algeria may finally restrict forests to a narrow fringe providing less and less ecological services to the Algerian people.
The Time Is Ripe: Thinking about the Future Reduces Unhealthy Eating in Those with a Higher BMI
Authors: Chang Betty P. I. , Claassen Maria Almudena , Klein Olivier
Published: October 2020

Research suggests that being oriented more towards the future (than the present) is correlated with healthier eating. However, this research tends to be correlational, and thus it is unclear whether inducing people to think about their future could increase healthy eating. Therefore, we investigated whether inducing people to think about their lives in the future versus the present would influence their intake of healthy (muesli) and unhealthy (Maltesers) food. Across two experiments, the effect of thinking about the future versus the present interacted with participants’ body mass index (BMI) to influence their consumption of unhealthy food, but no reliable effects were found for the consumption of healthy food. Among individuals with a higher BMI, thinking about their lives in the future resulted in lower consumption of the unhealthy food compared to thinking about their lives in the present. However, this effect was reversed for those with a lower BMI. In Experiment 2, we found no evidence that this effect was due to reduced impulsivity (as measured by a delay discounting task and a stop-signal task). This suggests that thinking about the future can reduce unhealthy eating among heavier people.
Flesh ID: Nanopore Sequencing Combined with Offline BLAST Search for the Identification of Meat Source
Authors: Kissenkötter Jonas , Böhlken-Fascher Susanne , Abd El Wahed Ahmed
Published: October 2020

Detection of animal species in meat product is crucial to prevent adulterated and unnecessary contamination during processing, in addition to avoid allergy and religious consequences. Gold standard is the real-time PCR assays, which has a limited target capability. In this study, we have established a rapid sequencing protocol to identify animal species within hours. Sequencing was achieved by nanopore sequencing and data analysis via offline BLAST search. The whole procedure was conducted in a mobile suitcase lab. As per national and international regulations, the developed assay detected adulteration of pork meat with 0.1% of horse, chicken, turkey, cattle, sheep, duck, rabbit, goat, and donkey. The developed test could be used on-site as a rapid and mobile detection system to determine contamination of meat products.
Optimization of Osmotic Dehydration of Tomatoes in Solutions of Non-Conventional Sweeteners by Response Surface Methodology and Desirability Approach
Authors: Giannakourou Maria C. , Lazou Andriana E. , Dermesonlouoglou Efimia K.
Published: October 2020

The osmotic dehydration (OD) of tomatoes in solutions of alternative sweeteners was investigated using Response Surface Methodology (RSM), while selected desirability functions were implemented in order to define the optimum process parameters (temperature/duration of osmotic treatment, osmotic solution composition and concentration). Mass exchange, color and texture were measured during the process. Changes in color occurred rapidly at the beginning of the process, while firmness was significantly increased, indicating that OD processing led to tomato texture improvement. Color and firmness changes were adequately modeled using a polynomial model. RSM coupled with desirability functions was applied to optimize OD procedure in terms of color retention and maximum solid gain, a requirement for candied products. A maximum desirability was obtained by incorporating oligofructose into the osmotic solution, at relatively short treatment times. Results were validated and sensory analysis was conducted at the optimized conditions to assess samples’ organoleptic acceptance.
Matrix Remodeling and Hyaluronan Production by Myofibroblasts and Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts in 3D Collagen Matrices
Authors: Sapudom Jiranuwat , Müller Claudia Damaris , Nguyen Khiet-Tam , Martin Steve , Anderegg Ulf , Pompe Tilo
Published: October 2020

The tumor microenvironment is a key modulator in cancer progression and has become a novel target in cancer therapy. An increase in hyaluronan (HA) accumulation and metabolism can be found in advancing tumor progression and are often associated with aggressive malignancy, drug resistance and poor prognosis. Wound-healing related myofibroblasts or activated cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAF) are assumed to be the major sources of HA. Both cell types are capable to synthesize new matrix components as well as reorganize the extracellular matrix. However, to which extent myofibroblasts and CAF perform these actions are still unclear. In this work, we investigated the matrix remodeling and HA production potential in normal human dermal fibroblasts (NHFB) and CAF in the absence and presence of transforming growth factor beta -1 (TGF-β1), with TGF-β1 being a major factor of regulating fibroblast differentiation. Three-dimensional (3D) collagen matrix was utilized to mimic the extracellular matrix of the tumor microenvironment. We found that CAF appeared to response insensitively towards TGF-β1 in terms of cell proliferation and matrix remodeling when compared to NHFB. In regards of HA production, we found that both cell types were capable to produce matrix bound HA, rather than a soluble counterpart, in response to TGF-β1. However, activated CAF demonstrated higher HA production when compared to myofibroblasts. The average molecular weight of produced HA was found in the range of 480 kDa for both cells. By analyzing gene expression of HA metabolizing enzymes, namely hyaluronan synthase (HAS1-3) and hyaluronidase (HYAL1-3) isoforms, we found expression of specific isoforms in dependence of TGF-β1 present in both cells. In addition, HAS2 and HYAL1 are highly expressed in CAF, which might contribute to a higher production and degradation of HA in CAF matrix. Overall, our results suggested a distinct behavior of NHFB and CAF in 3D collagen matrices in the presence of TGF-β1 in terms of matrix remodeling and HA production pointing to a specific impact on tumor modulation.
A Comparison of the Transient Effect of Complex and Core Stability Exercises on Static Balance Ability and Muscle Activation during Static Standing in Healthy Male Adults
Authors: Shin Ho-Jin , Jung Jin-Hwa , Kim Sung-Hyeon , Hahm Suk-Chan , Cho Hwi-young
Published: October 2020

Balance ability is a necessary exercise factor required for the activities of daily living. This study investigated the effects of short-term complex exercise (CE) and core stability exercise (CSE) on balance ability and trunk and lower-extremity muscle activation on healthy male adults. Twenty-nine healthy male adults were included. All performed CE and CSE for 1 min each; the exercise order was randomized. The primary and secondary outcomes were balance ability and muscle activation, respectively. In balance ability, CE showed a significant difference in all variables in both eye-opened and eye-closed conditions compared with the baseline (p < 0.05). In comparisons among exercises, the path length and average velocity variables showed a significant decrease in the eye-opened condition, and the path length variable showed a significant decrease in the eye-closed condition (p < 0.05). In muscle activation, CE showed a significant increase in the gluteus medius (Gmed) and decrease in the rectus femoris (RF), tibialis anterior (TA), and RF/biceps femoris (BF) ratio in the eye-opened condition compared to the baseline and a significant decrease in RF and RF/BF ratio in the eye-closed condition (p < 0.05). Both CE and CSE improved the static balance ability. Furthermore, muscle activation significantly increases in Gmed and decreases in the RF, TA, and RF/BF ratio. Therefore, we recommend including CE in an exercise program that has the purpose of improving static balance ability.
The Pathways between Cortisol-Related Regulation Genes and PTSD Psychotherapy
Authors: Castro-Vale Ivone , Carvalho Davide
Published: October 2020

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) only develops after exposure to a traumatic event in some individuals. PTSD can be chronic and debilitating, and is associated with co-morbidities such as depression, substance use, and cardiometabolic disorders. One of the most important pathophysiological mechanisms underlying the development of PTSD and its subsequent maintenance is a dysfunctional hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis. The corticotrophin-releasing hormone, cortisol, glucocorticoid receptor (GR), and their respective genes are some of the mediators of PTSD’s pathophysiology. Several treatments are available, including medication and psychotherapies, although their success rate is limited. Some pharmacological therapies based on the HPA axis are currently being tested in clinical trials and changes in HPA axis biomarkers have been found to occur in response not only to pharmacological treatments, but also to psychotherapy—including the epigenetic modification of the GR gene. Psychotherapies are considered to be the first line treatments for PTSD in some guidelines, even though they are effective for some, but not for all patients with PTSD. This review aims to address how knowledge of the HPA axis-related genetic makeup can inform and predict the outcomes of psychotherapeutic treatments.