bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Temporal Changes and Correlations between Quality Loss Parameters, Antioxidant Properties and Enzyme Activities in Apricot Fruit Treated with Methyl Jasmonate and Salicylic Acid during Cold Storage and Shelf-Life
Authors: Ezzat Ahmed , Hegedűs Attila , Szabó Szilárd , Ammar Amin , Szabó Zoltán , Nyéki József , Molnár Bianka , Holb Imre J.
Published: November 2020

The apricot storability is one of the largest challenges, which the apricot industry has to face all over the world; therefore, finding options for prolonging fruit quality during cold storage (CS) and shelf-life (SL) will help to decrease postharvest losses of apricot. The aim of this apricot fruit work was to study the temporal changes and correlations of 10 quality parameters (quality losses, antioxidant properties and enzyme activities) in the postharvest treatments of methyl jasmonate (MeJA) and salicylic acid (SA) under 1 °C CS (7, 14 and 21 days) and 25 °C SL (4 and 8 days after the 21-day CS) treatments. MeJA and SA significantly decreased the quality loss of chilling injury (CI) and fruit decay (FD) at all dates for both storage conditions. MeJA- and SA-treated fruits increased total antioxidant capacity (TAC), total soluble phenolic compounds (TSPC) and carotenoids contents (TCC) at all dates of both storage treatments. In contrast, the ascorbic acid content (AAC) increased only until days 14 and 4 in the CS and SL treatments, respectively. Among enzyme activity parameters, the activities of phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL), peroxidase and superoxide dismutase (SOD) were significantly increased in the MeJA and SA treatments in all dates of both storage treatments. Catalase (CAT) activity increased in the SA and control treatments, while it decreased in the MeJA treatment in both storage conditions. In both the MeJA and the SA treatments, six pair-variables (FD vs. CI, PAL vs. CAT, PAL vs. SOD, TAC vs. SOD, TAC vs. FD, and AAC vs. CI) were significant in Pearson correlation and regression analyses among the 45 parameters pairs. Principal component analyses explained 89.3% of the total variance and PC1 accounted for 55.6% of the variance and correlated with the CI, FD, TAC, TSPC, TCC, PAL and SOD, indicating strong connections among most parameters. In conclusion, MeJA and SA are practically useful and inexpensive techniques to maintain quality attributes of CI, FD, TAC, TSPC, TCC, PAL, POD and SOD in apricot fruit during both CS and SL conditions.
Switched Control of Motor Assistance and Functional Electrical Stimulation for Biceps Curls
Authors: Rouse Courtney , Allen Brendon , Dixon Warren
Published: November 2020

Rehabilitation robotics is an emerging tool for motor recovery from various neurological impairments. However, balancing the human and robot contribution is an open problem. While the motor input can reduce fatigue, which is often a limiting factor of functional electrical stimulation (FES) exercises, too much assistance can slow progress. For a person with a neurological impairment, FES can assist by strategically contracting their muscle(s) to achieve a desired limb movement; however, feasibility can be limited due to factors such as subject comfort, muscle mass, unnatural muscle fiber recruitment, and stimulation saturation. Thus, motor assistance in addition to FES can be useful for prolonging exercise while still ensuring physical effort from the person. In this paper, FES is applied to the biceps brachii to perform biceps curls, and motor assistance is applied intermittently whenever the FES input reaches a pre-set comfort threshold. Exponential stability of the human–robot system is proven with a Lyapunov-like switched systems stability analysis. Experimental results from participants with neurological conditions demonstrate the feasibility and performance of the controller.
A Machine Learning Model for Predicting Noise Limits of Motor Vehicles in UNECE R51 Regulations
Authors: Tan Gangping , Chen Qingshuang , Li Changyin , Yang Richard (Chunhui)
Published: November 2020

It is vital to greatly reduce traffic noises emitted by motor vehicles during accelerating through determining limit values of noises and further improve technical specifications and comforts of these automobiles for automotive manufacturers. The United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) R51 regulations define the noise limits for all vehicle categories, which are kept updating, and these noise limits are implemented by governments all over the world; however, the automobile manufactures need to estimate future values of noise limits for developing their next-generation vehicles. In this study, a machine learning model using the back-propagation neural network (BPNN) approach is developed to determine noise limits of a vehicle during accelerating by using historic data and predict its noise limits for future revisions of the UNECE R51 regulations. The proposed prediction model adopts the Levenberg-Marquardt algorithm which can automatically adapt its learning rate to train the model with input data, and at the same time randomly select the validation data and test data to verify the correlation and determine the accuracy of the prediction results. To showcase the proposed prediction model, acceleration noise limits from six historic data are used for training the model, and the noise limits at the seventh version can be predicted and validated. As the results achieve a required accuracy, vehicle noise limits in the next revision as the future eighth version can be predicted based on these data. It can be found that the obtained prediction results are much close to those noise limits defined in current regulations and negative error ratios are reduced significantly, compared to those values obtained using a quadratic regression model. As a result, the proposed BPNN model can predict future noise limits for the next revision of the UNECE R51automotive noise limit regulations.
Description of Thermochromic Offset Prints Morphologies Depending on Printing Substrate
Authors: Rožić Mirela , Šegota Nikola , Vukoje Marina , Kulčar Rahela , Šegota Suzana
Published: November 2020

In this study, the influence of physio-chemical properties of four printing substrates, fibrous papers (filter, bulky, recycled), and polymer film (synthetic paper) on the size of the thermochromic (TC) prints microcapsules was investigated. Results indicate that interaction between thermochromic ink and printing substrate determine the print morphology, i.e., porosity and roughness of printing substrate affect dimensions of TC microcapsules of resulting prints, while ink adhesion affects dimensional changes during heating–cooling cycle. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) analysis showed that microcapsules of the prints, on the surface of the smoothest synthetic paper, possess the smallest diameter and height, while, on the most porous and the most roughened surface of F paper, the microcapsules of the prints possess the highest diameter and height. By increasing the temperature to 40 °C, the biggest changes in the shape of the microcapsules (increase in height and decrease in diameter) were obtained using the surface of the hydrophilic filter paper. While using the recycled paper surface, the situation is opposite; the height and diameter of the microcapsules are reduced, and the microcapsules penetrate deeper into the paper structure (due to optimum adhesion). On the bulky paper surfaces, which are more hydrophobic than recycled paper (higher interfacial tension), the increase of temperature does not cause any significant changes in the shape and position of the microcapsules. The same behavior is observed using hydrophobic non-porous synthetic paper.
Fungal Tolerance: An Alternative for the Selection of Fungi with Potential for the Biological Recovery of Precious Metals
Authors: Argumedo-Delira Rosalba , Gómez-Martínez Mario J. , Uribe-Kaffure Ramiro
Published: November 2020

The behavior of various filamentous fungi in the presence of metals such as Cu, Zn, Ni, Fe, Mn, and V has been widely reported. However, there is little information regarding metals such as Au, Ag and Pt that are not in the form of nanoparticles. The growth of eight filamentous fungi was evaluated at increasing doses of Au, Ag and Pt. The fungi were reactivated in Petri dishes with potato dextrose agar. Subsequently, individual mycelial disks from each strain were inoculated in PDA plates with the following doses of AuCl3, Ag2SO4 and PtCl4: 0, 50, 150 and 300 mg L−1, respectively. The plates were then incubated for 20 days—a period in which the diameter of the colony was measured every 24 h. Au showed the highest toxicity for the tested fungi. All silver doses decreased the growth of most of the fungi, while platinum did not cause any inhibitory effect on the growth of the eight tested fungi. With a simple test, it was possible to observe the effect of precious metals (PMs) on the growth of filamentous fungi and consider their possible biotechnological applications in the recovery of PMs from primary or secondary sources.
Transition from Microstrip Line to Ridge Empty Substrate Integrated Waveguide Based on the Equations of the Superellipse
Authors: Herraiz David , Esteban Héctor , Martínez Juan A. , Belenguer Angel , Cogollos Santiago , Nova Vicente , Boria Vicente E.
Published: November 2020

In recent years, multiple technologies have been proposed with the aim of combining the characteristics of traditional planar and non-planar transmission lines. The first and most popular of these technologies is the Substrate Integrated Waveguide (SIW), where rows of metallic vias are mechanized in a printed circuit board (PCB). These vias, together with the top and bottom metal layers of the PCB, form a channel for the propagation of the electromagnetic fields, similar to that of a rectangular waveguide, but through a dielectric body, which increases the losses. To reduce these losses, the empty substrate integrated waveguide (ESIW) was recently proposed. In the ESIW, the dielectric is removed from the substrate, and this results in better performance (low profile and easy manufacturing as in SIW, but lower losses and better quality factor for resonators). Recently, to increase the operational bandwidth (monomode propagation) of the ESIW, the ridge ESIW (RESIW) and a transition from RESIW to microstrip line was proposed. In this work, a new and improved wideband transition from microstrip line (MS) to RESIW, with a dielectric taper based on the equations of the superellipse, is proposed. The new wideband transition presents simulated return losses in a back-to-back transition greater than 20 dB in an 87% fractional bandwidth, while in the previous transition the fractional bandwidth was 82%. This is an increment of 5%. In addition, the transition presents simulated return losses greater than 26 dB in an 84% fractional bandwidth. For validation purposes, a back-to-back configuration of the new transition was successfully manufactured and measured. The measured return loss is better than 14 dB with an insertion loss lower than 1 dB over the whole band.
Antimicorbial Potency of Major Functional Foods’ Essential Oils in Liquid and Vapor Phases: A Short Review
Authors: Amiri Azam , Mottaghipisheh Javad , Jamshidi-Kia Fatemeh , Saeidi Karamatollah , Vitalini Sara , Iriti Marcello
Published: November 2020

Due to the increasing risk of chemical contaminations in the application of synthetic fungicides, the use of plant essential oils and extracts has recently been increased. In the present review, the antimicrobial potential of the most active plant-food essential oils in liquid and vapor phases has been reviewed. The volatile isothiocyanates, aldehydes, and phenols, including allyl isothiocyanate, carvacrol, thymol, and eugenol, are considered to be the predominant components of essential oils, possessing significant antimicrobial activities. These components alone or in mixture can be effective. Overall, the antimicrobial activity of aroma compounds depends on the plant species, concentration, and method of application. This review provides useful information about the inhibitory application of the most common plant-foods’ essential oils in liquid and vapor phases against the growth of pathogenic microorganisms. Essential oils (EOs) are promising natural antimicrobial alternatives in food processing facilities. Although the food industry primarily uses spices and herbs to impart flavor, aroma, and pungency to foods, potent EOs represent interesting sources of natural products for food preservation.
Artificial Neural Network-Based Automated Crack Detection and Analysis for the Inspection of Concrete Structures
Authors: Kim Jung Jin , Kim Ah-Ram , Lee Seong-Won
Published: November 2020

The damage investigation and inspection methods for infrastructures performed in small-scale (type III) facilities usually involve a visual examination by an inspector using surveying tools (e.g., cracking, crack microscope, etc.) in the field. These methods can interfere with the subjectivity of the inspector, which may reduce the objectivity and reliability of the record. Therefore, a new image analysis technique is needed to automatically detect cracks and analyze the characteristics of the cracks objectively. In this study, an image analysis technique using deep learning is developed to detect cracks and analyze characteristics (e.g., length, and width) in images for small-scale facilities. Three stages of image processing pipeline are proposed to obtain crack detection and its characteristics. In the first and second stages, two-dimensional convolutional neural networks are used for crack image detection (e.g., classification and segmentation). Based on convolution neural network for the detection, hierarchical feature learning architecture is applied into our deep learning network. After deep learning-based detection, in the third stage, thinning and tracking algorithms are applied to analyze length and width of crack in the image. The performance of the proposed method was tested using various crack images with label and the results showed good performance of crack detection and its measurement.
Langmuir Probe Diagnostics with Optical Emission Spectrometry (OES) for Coaxial Line Microwave Plasma
Authors: Chen Chi , Fu Wenjie , Zhang Chaoyang , Lu Dun , Han Meng , Yan Yang
Published: November 2020

The Langmuir probe is a feasible method to measure plasma parameters. However, as the reaction progresses in the discharged plasma, the contamination would be attached to the probe surface and lead to a higher incorrect electron temperature. Then, the electron density cannot be obtained. This paper reports a simple approach to combining the Langmuir probe and the optical emission spectrometry (OES), which can be used to obtain the electron temperature to solve this problem. Even the Langmuir probe is contaminative, the probe current–voltage (I–V) curve with the OES spectra also gives the approximate electron temperature and density. A homemade coaxial line microwave plasma source driven by a 2.45 GHz magnetron was adopted to verify this mothed, and the electron temperature and density in different pressure (40–80 Pa) and microwave power (400–800 W) were measured to verify that it is feasible.
Development of Railway Infrastructure BIM Prototype Libraries
Authors: Seo Myoung Bae , Lee Dongyoun
Published: November 2020

Building Information Modeling (BIM) can act as a solution to improve various difficulties faced in the construction industry. BIM is expanding into infrastructure facilities for integrated information management, productivity improvement, and risk management. There are many cases where BIM is applied to buildings with horizontal and linear characteristics, but the infrastructure is different from the method of applying BIM to buildings with vertical characteristics. Using premanufactured libraries in BIM-based design can shorten the design time and simplify the design method, thus increasing the 3D design productivity. This paper develops BIM prototype libraries based on the standards from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, and Transport (MOLIT) of South Korea for railway infrastructure. BIM tools such as Civil 3D, Revit, and AECOsim were used by reflecting the characteristics of each facility, and the libraries, with a total of 762 types in 363 files, were constructed. The specifications were created by linking the common and facility-specific attribute items to the libraries. The result of the test modeling using the developed library showed significant productivity improvement, such as an average difference of 38.2% was observed for roadbed modeling and a mean difference of 50.2% for bridge modeling.
Environmentally Friendly Approach for the Production of Glucose and High-Purity Xylooligosaccharides from Edible Biomass Byproducts
Authors: Jang Soo-Kyeong , Jung Chan-Duck , Yu Ju-Hyun , Kim Hoyong
Published: November 2020

Xylooligosaccharides (XOS) production from sweet sorghum bagasse (SSB) has been barely studied using other edible biomasses. Therefore, we evaluated the XOS content as well as its purity by comparing the content of total sugars from SSB. An environmentally friendly approach involving autohydrolysis was employed, and the reaction temperature and time had variations in order to search for the conditions that would yield high-purity XOS. After autohydrolysis, the remaining solid residues, the glucan-rich fraction, were used as substrates to be enzymatically hydrolyzed for glucose conversion. The highest XOS was observed for total sugars (68.7%) at 190 °C for 5 min among the autohydrolysis conditions. However, we also suggested two alternative conditions, 180 °C for 20 min and 190 °C for 15 min, because the former condition might have the XOS at a low degree of polymerization with a high XOS ratio (67.6%), while the latter condition presented a high glucose to total sugar ratio (91.4%) with a moderate level XOS ratio (64.4%). Although it was challenging to conclude on the autohydrolysis conditions required to obtain the best result of XOS content and purity and glucose yield, this study presented approaches that could maximize the desired product from SSB, and additional processes to reduce these differences in conditions may warrant further research.
Seismic Analysis of a Large LNG Tank Considering Different Site Conditions
Authors: Zhao Yi , Li Hong-Nan , Zhang Shuocheng , Mercan Oya , Zhang Caiyan
Published: November 2020

Seismic resilience of critical infrastructure, such as liquefied natural gas (LNG) storage tanks, is essential to the safety and economic well-being of the general public. This paper studies the effect of different ground motions on large LNG storage tanks under four different site conditions. Key parameters of structural design and dynamic analysis, including von Mises stress of outer and inner tanks, tip displacement, and base shear, are analyzed to directly evaluate the safety performance of the large LNG tanks. Because the size of an LNG tank is too large to perform any experiments on a physical prototype, Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics-Finite Element Method (SPH-FEM) simulation is used as a feasible and efficient method to predict its seismic response. First, the accuracy of the SPH-FEM method is verified by comparing sloshing frequencies obtained from theoretical formulation to experimental results and SPH-FEM models. Then, the seismic response of a real-life 160,000 m3 LNG prestressed storage tank is evaluated with different liquid depths under four site classes. Simulation results show that the tip displacements of the LNG tank at liquid levels of 25% and 50% under site class IV are nearly identical to that of 75% and 100% under site class II. In addition, the maximum von Mises stress of the inner tanks exceeds 500 MPa in all four site classes and jeopardizes the structural integrity of large LNG tanks. As a result, optimization of structural design and the establishment of an early warning system are imperative to the safety of LNG tanks at high liquid levels.
Effects of Antibiotics upon the Gut Microbiome: A Review of the Literature
Authors: Konstantinidis Theocharis , Tsigalou Christina , Karvelas Alexandros , Stavropoulou Elisavet , Voidarou Chrissoula , Bezirtzoglou Eugenia
Published: November 2020

The human gastrointestinal tract carries a large number of microorganisms associated with complex metabolic processes and interactions. Although antibiotic treatment is crucial for combating infections, its negative effects on the intestinal microbiota and host immunity have been shown to be of the utmost importance. Multiple studies have recognized the adverse consequences of antibiotic use upon the gut microbiome in adults and neonates, causing dysbiosis of the microbiota. Repeated antibiotic treatments in clinical care or low-dosage intake from food could be contributing factors in this issue. Researchers in both human and animal studies have strived to explain this multifaceted relationship. The present review intends to elucidate the axis of the gastrointestinal microbiota and antibiotics resistance and to highlight the main aspects of the issue.
Quercetin-Based Nanocomposites as a Tool to Improve Dental Disease Management
Authors: Angellotti Giuseppe , Murgia Denise , Campisi Giuseppina , De Caro Viviana
Published: November 2020

The restoration and prosthetic rehabilitation of missing teeth are commonly performed using dental implants, which are extremely effective and long-lasting techniques due to their osteointegration ability with the preimplant tissues. Quercetin is a phytoestrogen-like flavonoid well known for its several positive effects on human health, mostly linked to the anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antibacterial activities against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. Moreover, many studies in dentistry and the maxillofacial fields have highlighted the positive effects of quercetin on osteogenesis, acting on osteoblast activity and angiogenetic process, and promoting soft and hard tissue regeneration. This review focuses on the role of quercetin on the healing and restoration of bony defects, considering the experimental findings of its application both in vitro and in vivo as a mere compound or in association with scaffolds and dental implants having functionalized surfaces.
8-Hydroxydaidzein, an Isoflavone from Fermented Soybean, Induces Autophagy, Apoptosis, Differentiation, and Degradation of Oncoprotein BCR-ABL in K562 Cells
Authors: Wu Pei-Shan , Yen Jui-Hung , Wang Chih-Yang , Chen Pei-Yi , Hung Jui-Hsiang , Wu Ming-Jiuan
Published: November 2020

8-Hydroxydaidzein (8-OHD, 7,8,4′-trihydoxyisoflavone) is a hydroxylated derivative of daidzein isolated from fermented soybean products. The aim of this study is to investigate the anti-proliferative effects and the underlying mechanisms of 8-OHD in K562 human chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) cells. We found that 8-OHD induced reactive oxygen species (ROS) overproduction and cell cycle arrest at the S phase by upregulating p21Cip1 and downregulating cyclin D2 (CCND2) and cyclin-dependent kinase 6 (CDK6) expression. 8-OHD also induced autophagy, caspase-7-dependent apoptosis, and the degradation of BCR-ABL oncoprotein. 8-OHD promoted Early Growth Response 1 (EGR1)-mediated megakaryocytic differentiation as an increased expression of marker genes, CD61 and CD42b, and the formation of multi-lobulated nuclei in enlarged K562 cells. A microarray-based transcriptome analysis revealed a total of 3174 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) after 8-OHD (100 μM) treatment for 48 h. Bioinformatics analysis of DEGs showed that hemopoiesis, cell cycle regulation, nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB), and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and Janus kinase/signal transducers and activators of transcription (JAK-STAT)-mediated apoptosis/anti-apoptosis networks were significantly regulated by 8-OHD. Western blot analysis confirmed that 8-OHD significantly induced the activation of MAPK and NF-κB signaling pathways, both of which may be responsible, at least in part, for the stimulation of apoptosis, autophagy, and differentiation in K562 cells. This is the first report on the anti-CML effects of 8-OHD and the combination of experimental and in silico analyses could provide a better understanding for the development of 8-OHD on CML therapy.
Microfluidic Packaging Integration with Electronic-Photonic Biosensors Using 3D Printed Transfer Molding
Authors: Adamopoulos Christos , Gharia Asmaysinh , Niknejad Ali , Stojanović Vladimir , Anwar Mekhail
Published: November 2020

Multiplexed sensing in integrated silicon electronic-photonic platforms requires microfluidics with both high density micro-scale channels and meso-scale features to accommodate for optical, electrical, and fluidic coupling in small, millimeter-scale areas. Three-dimensional (3D) printed transfer molding offers a facile and rapid method to create both micro and meso-scale features in complex multilayer microfluidics in order to integrate with monolithic electronic-photonic system-on-chips with multiplexed rows of 5 μm radius micro-ring resonators (MRRs), allowing for simultaneous optical, electrical, and microfluidic coupling on chip. Here, we demonstrate this microfluidic packaging strategy on an integrated silicon photonic biosensor, setting the basis for highly multiplexed molecular sensing on-chip.
Development of FTIR Spectroscopy Methodology for Characterization of Boron Species in FCC Catalysts
Authors: Zhang Claire Chunjuan , Gao Xingtao , Yilmaz Bilge
Published: November 2020

Fluid Catalytic Cracking (FCC) has maintained its crucial role in refining decades after its initial introduction owing to the flexibility it has as a process as well as the developments in its key enabler, the FCC catalyst. Boron-based technology (BBT) for passivation of contaminant metals in FCC catalysts represents one such development. In this contribution we describe Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) characterization of boron-containing catalysts to identify the phase and structural information of boron. We demonstrate that FTIR can serve as a sensitive method to differentiate boron trioxide and borate structures with a detection limit at the 1000 ppm level. The FTIR analysis validates that the boron in the FCC catalysts studied are in the form of small borate units and confirms that the final FCC catalyst product contains no detectable isolated boron trioxide phase. Since boron trioxide is regulated in some parts of the world, this novel FTIR methodology can be highly beneficial for further FCC catalyst development and its industrial application at refineries around the world. This new method can also be applied on systems beyond catalysts, since the characterization of boron-containing materials is needed for a wide range of other applications in the fields of glass, ceramics, semiconductors, agriculture, and pharmaceuticals.
High Resistance of SO2 and H2O over Monolithic Mn-Fe-Ce-Al-O Catalyst for Low Temperature NH3-SCR
Authors: Hao Shijie , Cai Yandi , Sun Chuanzhi , Sun Jingfang , Tang Changjin , Dong Lin
Published: November 2020

Monolithic Mn-Fe-Ce-Al-O catalyst with honeycomb cordierite ceramic as a carrier was reported for the first time for low temperature deNOx application. In the reaction of selective catalytic reduction (SCR) of NO with NH3, a NO conversion of above 80% at 100 °C was obtained. Notably, the catalyst also showed excellent resistance against SO2 and H2O. About 60% NO conversion was maintained after successive operation in the mixed stream of SO2 and H2O for 168 h. The Brunner−Emmet−Teller (BET) measurement, SEM, EDS, thermogravimetric analysis (TG), FT-IR, and XPS results of the used catalysts indicated that certain amounts of ammonium sulfate was formed on the surface of the catalyst. XPS results revealed that partial of Fe2+ was oxidized to Fe3+ during the reaction process, and Fe2+ species have strong redox ability, which can explain the decrease in activity after reaction. In addition, SO2 and H2O induced a transformation of Ce from Ce4+ to Ce3+ on the surface of the catalyst, which increased the amount of chemisorbed oxygen. Owing to these factors, the addition of Ce and Fe species contributes to excellent resistance of the catalyst to SO2 and H2O.
Resolving the Acid Site Distribution in Zn-Exchanged ZSM-5 with Stimulated Raman Scattering Microscopy
Authors: Fleury Guillaume , Roeffaers Maarten B. J.
Published: November 2020

Zeolites are widely used acid catalysts in research and in industrial processes. The catalytic performance of these materials is affected by the nature and concentration of Brønsted and Lewis acid sites. The balance between these types of active sites—and thus the activity and selectivity of the zeolite—can be altered by the introduction of metal species, e.g., by ion exchange. Although the acidic properties of zeolites are routinely characterized by bulk-scale techniques, this ensemble-averaged approach neglects the local variations in the material. Insights into the distribution of active sites at the single-particle level are thus critical to better understand the impact of post-synthetic modifications on the zeolite acidity. In this contribution, we spatially resolve Brønsted and Lewis acid sites in protonated and Zn-exchanged ZSM-5 crystals. To this end, the vibrational modes of pyridine chemisorbed on active sites are mapped with stimulated Raman scattering (SRS) microscopy. The SRS images reveal sharp inter- and intra-particle heterogeneities in the distribution of Lewis acid sites introduced upon ion exchange, ascribed to local variations in the Al content. Besides assessing the impact of Zn exchange on the active site distribution in ZSM-5 crystals, this approach enables uniquely to map the distribution of Lewis acid sites in catalysts at the single-particle level.
Trending Anti-Aging Peptides
Authors: Ferreira Marta Salvador , Magalhães Maria Catarina , Sousa-Lobo José Manuel , Almeida Isabel Filipa
Published: November 2020

The development of synthetic peptides for skin care dates to the 1980s. The cosmetic industry periodically launches new peptides, as they are promising and appealing active ingredients in the growing and innovative cosmetics market. In this study, trends in the use of peptides in anti-aging products were analyzed by comparing the composition of the products marketed in 2011 with products launched or reformulated in 2018. The scientific and marketing evidence for their application as active ingredients in anti-aging cosmetics was also compiled from products’ labels, suppliers’ technical data forms and online scientific databases. The use of peptides in anti-aging cosmetics increased by 7.2%, while the variety and the number of peptide combinations in products have increased by 88.5%. The most used peptides in antiaging cosmetic formulations are, in descending order, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Palmitoyl Oligopeptide and Acetyl Hexapeptide-8. In 2011, the majority of peptides were obtained from synthesis, while in 2018, biotechnology processing was the dominant source. This study provides an overview of the market trends regarding the use of peptides in anti-aging products, providing meaningful data for scientists involved in the development of new peptides to identify opportunities for innovation in this area.
Impact of F-18 Fluorodeoxyglucose PET/CT and PET/MRI on Initial Staging and Changes in Management of Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma: A Systemic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Lee Jeong Won , O Joo Hyun , Choi Miyoung , Choi Joon Young
Published: November 2020

A systemic review and meta-analysis were conducted to investigate the diagnostic ability for staging and impact on management of F-18 fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) and PET/magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. A comprehensive search was performed in four databases to retrieve studies of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma patients that have reported the diagnostic ability of FDG PET/CT and PET/MRI for detecting metastasis and the proportion of patients whose management was changed by its results. The sensitivity and specificity for detecting metastasis and the proportion of patients with management changes were pooled using a random-effects model. A total of 10 studies were included. The pooled sensitivity and specificity for detecting lymph node metastasis were 0.55 and 0.94, respectively, while the pooled sensitivity and specificity for detecting distant metastasis were 0.80 and 1.00, respectively. The areas under the summarized receiver operating characteristic curves for detecting lymph node and distant metastasis were 0.88 and 0.92, respectively. The pooled proportion of patients with management changes was 19%. FDG PET/CT and PET/MRI showed high diagnostic accuracy for detecting lymph node and distant metastasis in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma patients, and the use of these imaging tools led to management changes in a significant portion of these patients.
Tracking the Deep Biosphere through Time
Authors: Drake Henrik , Ivarsson Magnus , Heim Christine
Published: November 2020

The oceanic and continental lithosphere constitutes Earth’s largest microbial habitat, yet it is scarcely investigated and not well understood. The physical and chemical properties here are distinctly different from the overlaying soils and the hydrosphere, which greatly impact the microbial communities and associated geobiological and geochemical processes. Fluid–rock interactions are key processes for microbial colonization and persistence in a nutrient-poor and extreme environment. Investigations during recent years have spotted microbial processes, stable isotope variations, and species that are unique to the subsurface crust. Recent advances in geochronology have enabled the direct dating of minerals formed in response to microbial activity, which in turn have led to an increased understanding of the evolution of the deep biosphere in (deep) time. Similarly, the preservation of isotopic signatures, as well as organic compounds within fossilized micro-colonies or related mineral assemblages in voids, cements, and fractures/veins in the upper crust, provides an archive that can be tapped for knowledge about ancient microbial activity, including both prokaryotic and eukaryotic life. This knowledge sheds light on how lifeforms have evolved in the energy-poor subsurface, but also contributes to the understanding of the boundaries of life on Earth, of early life when the surface was not habitable, and of the preservation of signatures of ancient life, which may have astrobiological implications. The Special Issue “Tracking the Deep Biosphere through Time” presents a collection of scientific contributions that provide a sample of forefront research in this field. The contributions involve a range of case studies of deep ancient life in continental and oceanic settings, of microbial diversity in sub-seafloor environments, of isolation of calcifying bacteria as well as reviews of clay mineralization of fungal biofilms and of the carbon isotope records of the deep biosphere.
Frailty Assessment in Clinical Practice: Opportunity in the Midst of a Pandemic
Authors: Keevil Victoria L. , Osuafor Christopher N. , Mackett Alistair J. , Biram Richard
Published: November 2020

Emerging evidence from studies of older adults hospitalised with COVID-19 suggests that there is a high prevalence of frailty in this patient group. We reflect on the measurement of frailty in older patients hospitalized as an emergency and the translation of frailty from a research to a clinical concept. We consider whether, despite the contemporary challenges in the care of older adults as a result of COVID-19, there are opportunities for care quality improvement during a pandemic.
A Study on the Pass-Through Rate of the Exchange Rate on the Liquid Natural Gas (LNG) Import Price in China
Authors: Tang Chaofeng , Aruga Kentaka
Published: November 2020

The Chinese liquid natural gas (LNG) import price has been unstable because the stability of LNG import prices is related to changes in the exchange rates. This paper analyzes the pass-through rate of the Chinese Yuan (CNY) and Japanese Yen (JPY) on the Chinese LNG import price. The Time-Varying Parameter vector autoregressive (TVP-VAR) model is adopted to verify the pass-through rate of the exchange rates on the LNG import price using the Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) method. Since September 2005, the JPY pass-through rate on the Chinese LNG import price has been decreasing while that of the CNY has been increasing. Notably, the pass-through rate of CNY began to exceed that of JPY after 2008. Moreover, since 2005, the lag effect of the CNY on the Chinese LNG import price became longer compared to JPY. If any new currency reform of the CNY is implemented in the future, then the impact of JPY on the Chinese LNG import price could be reduced and the lag effect of the CNY on the Chinese LNG import price could become longer. Therefore, the fluctuation of the CNY is becoming an important factor in understanding the movements of the Chinese LNG import price. This implies the significance of considering the effect of the exchange rate on an energy market when the market is influenced by a monetary reform of the importing country.
Semantic Enhanced Distantly Supervised Relation Extraction via Graph Attention Network
Authors: Ouyang Xiaoye , Chen Shudong , Wang Rong
Published: November 2020

Distantly Supervised relation extraction methods can automatically extract the relation between entity pairs, which are essential for the construction of a knowledge graph. However, the automatically constructed datasets comprise amounts of low-quality sentences and noisy words, and the current Distantly Supervised methods ignore these noisy data, resulting in unacceptable accuracy. To mitigate this problem, we present a novel Distantly Supervised approach SEGRE (Semantic Enhanced Graph attention networks Relation Extraction) for improved relation extraction. Our model first uses word position and entity type information to provide abundant local features and background knowledge. Then it builds the dependency trees to remove noisy words that are irrelevant to relations and employs Graph Attention Networks (GATs) to encode syntactic information, which also captures the important semantic features of relational words in each instance. Furthermore, to make our model more robust against noisy words, the intra-bag attention module is used to weight the bag representation and mitigate noise in the bag. Through extensive experiments on Riedel New York Times (NYT) and Google IISc Distantly Supervised (GIDS) datasets, we demonstrate SEGRE’s effectiveness.
Connecting Semantic Situation Descriptions with Data Quality Evaluations—Towards a Framework of Automatic Thematic Map Evaluation
Authors: Homburg Timo
Published: November 2020

A continuing question in the geospatial community is the evaluation of fitness for use of map data for a variety of use cases. While data quality metrics and dimensions have been discussed broadly in the geospatial community and have been modelled in semantic web vocabularies, an ontological connection between use cases and data quality expressions allowing reasoning approaches to determine the fitness for use of semantic web map data has not yet been approached. This publication introduces such an ontological model to represent and link situations with geospatial data quality metrics to evaluate thematic map contents. The ontology model constitutes the data storage element of a framework for use case based data quality assurance, which creates suggestions for data quality evaluations which are verified and improved upon by end-users. So-created requirement profiles are associated and shared to semantic web concepts and therefore contribute to a pool of linked data describing situation-based data quality assessments, which may be used by a variety of applications. The framework is tested using two test scenarios which are evaluated and discussed in a wider context.
Ocular Vascular Changes in Mild Alzheimer’s Disease Patients: Foveal Avascular Zone, Choroidal Thickness, and ONH Hemoglobin Analysis
Authors: Salobrar-Garcia Elena , Méndez-Hernández Carmen , Hoz Rosa de , Ramírez Ana I. , López-Cuenca Inés , Fernández-Albarral José A. , Rojas Pilar , Wang Surina , García-Feijoo Julián , Gil Pedro , Salazar Juan J. , Ramírez José M.
Published: November 2020

In Alzheimer’s disease (AD), vascular changes could be caused by amyloid beta (Aβ) aggregates replacing the contractile smooth musculature of the arteriole walls. These changes happen in the brain vascular network, but also in the eye, and are related to decreased vascular density and low blood flow. In patients with Alzheimer’s disease, thinning of the choroid and the retina has been shown. The aim of this prospective study was to assess the retinal and choroidal vascular systems, analyzing the choroidal thickness with optical coherence tomography (OCT), the foveal avascular zone (FAZ) with OCT-angiography (OCTA), and the optic nerve head (ONH) hemoglobin with the Laguna ONhE program, to evaluate which of the two ocular vascular systems shows earlier changes in mild AD patients. These patients, compared to controls, showed a significantly thinner choroid at all the analyzed points, with the exception of the temporal macula (at 1000 and 1500 µm from the fovea). On the other hand, the FAZ and ONH hemoglobin did not show significant differences. In conclusion, a thinner choroid was the main ocular vascular change observed in mild AD patients, while the retinal vessels were not yet affected. Therefore, choroidal thickness could be used an early biomarker in AD.
Enterprise Risk Management: A Literature Review and Agenda for Future Research
Authors: Anton Sorin Gabriel , Nucu Anca Elena Afloarei
Published: November 2020

The Enterprise Risk Management (ERM) process has heterogeneously developed across the world, although it represents a leading paradigm, supporting organizations to identify, evaluate, and manage risks at the enterprise level. Academics have studied the process, but there is no complete picture of the determinants and implications of such an integrated risk management process. Therefore, we present a systematic empirical literature review on ERM, based on a research protocol. The review highlights that the ERM literature can be divided into four general lines of research: the ERM adoption, the determinants of the ERM implementation, the effects of ERM adoption, and other aspects. In contrast to the richness of studies devoted to ERM engagement in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), studies exploring ERM adoption in banks or insurance are relatively few. The literature review has revealed that the most frequently investigated effect of ERM is on firm performance. Little effort has been dedicated to the analysis of the effectiveness of ERM by its components and to institutional, individual, and organizational factors that affect ERM adoption. The study can serve as a starting point for scholars to explore research gaps related to ERM, while the practitioners can rely on the presented findings to identify the effects of the ERM implementation.
Fabrication and Magneto-Optical Properties of Yb2O3 Based Ceramics
Authors: Permin Dmitry A. , Novikova Anastasia V. , Koshkin Vitaly A. , Balabanov Stanislav S. , Snetkov Ilya L. , Palashov Oleg V. , Smetanina Ksenia E.
Published: November 2020

Transparent ceramics based on ytterbium oxide have been successfully produced by vacuum sintering of self-propagating high-temperature synthesized powders with use of a La2O3 sintering aid. Phase composition and microstructure of the initial powders were studied by X-ray diffraction analysis and scanning electron microscopy. It was found that addition of 5 mol.% of La2O3 does not cause formation of secondary phases in the Yb2O3 powders. The 4% La:Yb2O3 ceramics showed the best in-line transmittance of 73% at a wavelength of 2 μm among the studied samples. Dependence of the Verdet constant on wavelength was investigated in the range of 0.4–2 μm. The most promising finding is use of the obtained material as Faraday isolators in the wavelength region of ~1.5 μm, where there are no absorption bands, and the Verdet constant is 8.6 rad/(T*m).
On the Entropy of Fractionally Integrated Gauss–Markov Processes
Authors: Abundo Mario , Pirozzi Enrica
Published: November 2020

This paper is devoted to the estimation of the entropy of the dynamical system {Xα(t),t≥0}, where the stochastic process Xα(t) consists of the fractional Riemann–Liouville integral of order α∈(0,1) of a Gauss–Markov process. The study is based on a specific algorithm suitably devised in order to perform the simulation of sample paths of such processes and to evaluate the numerical approximation of the entropy. We focus on fractionally integrated Brownian motion and Ornstein–Uhlenbeck process due their main rule in the theory and application fields. Their entropy is specifically estimated by computing its approximation (ApEn). We investigate the relation between the value of α and the complexity degree; we show that the entropy of Xα(t) is a decreasing function of α∈(0,1).
On the Stability of la Cierva’s Autogiro
Authors: Fernández-Martínez M. , Guirao Juan L.G.
Published: November 2020

In this paper, we rediscover in detail a series of unknown attempts that some Spanish mathematicians carried out in the 1930s to address a challenge posed by Mr. la Cierva in 1934, which consisted of mathematically justifying the stability of la Cierva’s autogiro, the first practical use of the direct-lift rotary wing and one of the first helicopter type aircraft.
New High Accuracy Analysis of a Double Set Parameter Nonconforming Element for the Clamped Kirchhoff Plate Unilaterally Constrained by an Elastic Obstacle
Authors: Shi Dongyang , Pei Lifang
Published: November 2020

In this paper, a non-C0 double set parameter finite element method is presented for the clamped Kirchhoff plate with an elastic unilateral obstacle. A new high accuracy error estimate with order O(h2) in the broken energy norm is derived by use of a series of novel approaches, including some special features of the element and an incomplete biquadratic interpolation operator. At the same time, some experimental results are provided to verify the theoretical analysis.
Co-Conversion Mechanisms of Boron and Iron Components of Ludwigite Ore during Reductive Soda-Ash Roasting
Authors: Zhang Xin , Li Guanghui , Rao Mingjun , Peng Zhiwei , Zhong Qiang , Luo Jun , You Jinxiang , Jiang Tao
Published: November 2020

Ludwigite ore is a typical intergrown mineral resource found in China. Reductive soda-ash roasting followed by water leaching is an innovative process for the high-efficiency separation and recovery of boron and iron. In this study, the co-conversion mechanism of boron activation and iron reduction during soda-ash reductive roasting for boron-bearing iron concentrate was clarified. When the boron-bearing iron concentrate was reduced in the presence of Na2CO3, szaibelyite (Mg2(OH)(B2O4) (OH)) was activated to sodium metaborate (NaBO2) and, meanwhile, magnetite (Fe3O4) was reduced to metallic iron (MFe). Boron activation promoted iron-oxide reduction effectively, while the latter could only slightly influence the former. The promotion occurred through (1) a facilitated generation of sodium magnesium silicate (Na2MgSiO4) and a hindering of the formation of olivine (MgxFe2-x(SiO4)). (2) The newly generated NaBO2 promoted iron-oxide reduction. (3) The low melting point of the NaBO2 (966 °C) favored particle migration, which accelerated metallic iron particle aggregation.