bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Peripheral T-Cell Lymphoma, Not Otherwise Specified: Clinical Manifestations, Diagnosis, and Future Treatment
Authors: Pileri Stefano A. , Tabanelli Valentina , Fiori Stefano , Calleri Angelica , Melle Federica , Motta Giovanna , Lorenzini Daniele , Tarella Corrado , Derenzini Enrico
Published: September 2021

Peripheral T-cell lymphoma, not otherwise specified (PTCL_NOS) corresponds to about one fourth of mature T-cell tumors, which overall represent 10–12% of all lymphoid malignancies. This category comprises all T-cell neoplasms, which do not correspond to any of the distinct entities listed in the WHO (World Health Organization) Classification of Tumours of Haematopoietic and Lymphoid Tissues. In spite of the extreme variability of morphologic features and phenotypic profiles, gene expression profiling (GEP) studies have shown a signature that is distinct from that of all remaining PTCLs. GEP has also allowed the identification of subtypes provided with prognostic relevance. Conversely to GEP, next-generation sequencing (NGS) has so far been applied to a limited number of cases, providing some hints to better understand the pathobiology of PTCL_NOS. Although several pieces of information have emerged from pathological studies, PTCL_NOS still remains a tumor with a dismal prognosis. The usage of CHOEP (cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, prednisone, etoposide) followed by autologous stem cell transplantation may represent the best option, by curing about 50% of the patients whom such an approach can be applied to. Many new drugs have been proposed without achieving the expected results. Thus, the optimal treatment of PTCL_NOS remains unidentified.
Noble-Metal-Free NixSy-C3N5 Hybrid Nanosheet with Highly Efficient Photocatalytic Performance
Authors: Han Lixiao , Peng Cong , Huang Jinming , Sun Linhao , Wang Shengyao , Zhang Xiaohu , Yang Yi
Published: September 2021

The construction of highly efficient, low-cost and noble-metal-free photocatalysts depends on photocatalytic technology. Recently, N-rich C3N5 has been explored as a novel carbon nitride material with a much narrower band gap (~2.2 eV) than that of traditional C3N4 (~2.7 eV). Planting noble-metal-free active sites on C3N5 to improve its photocatalytic activity is of great significance. Herein, 2D NixSy nanosheet is facially loaded on 2D C3N5 using a hydrothermal procedure under a low temperature. Due to the quick separation of photogenerated carries between C3N5 and NixSy, this inexpensive noble-metal-free NixSy-C3N5 hybrid nanosheet is highly efficient and stable as a multifunctional catalyst in various applications, including photocatalytic H2 production from water and NO removal. Impressively, the apparent quantum yield (AQY) value for H2 production reaches 37.0% (at 420 nm) on optimal NixSy-C3N5 hybrids, which is much higher than that of Pt-C3N5 material. This work opens an avenue to the fabrication of low-cost and noble-metal-free catalysts for multifunctional photocatalytic applications.
Alkoxy-Functionalized Schiff-Base Ligation at Aluminum and Zinc: Synthesis, Structures and ROP Capability
Authors: Zhang Xin , Chen Kai , Chicoma Melissa , Goins Kimberly , Prior Timothy , Nile Terence , Redshaw Carl
Published: September 2021

The Schiff-base compounds 2,4-di-tert-butyl-6-(((3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl)imino)methyl)phenol (L1H), 2,4-di-tert-butyl-6-(((2,4,6-trimethoxyphenyl)imino)methyl)phenol (L2H), 2,4-di-tert-butyl-6-(((2,4-trimethoxyphenyl)imino)methyl)phenol) (L3H) derived from anilines bearing methoxy substituents have been employed in the preparation of alkylaluminum and zinc complexes. Molecular structure determinations reveal mono-chelate aluminum complexes of the type [Al(Ln)(Me)2] (L1, 1; L2, 2; L3, 3), and bis(chelate) complexes for zinc, namely [Zn(Ln)2] (L1, 5; L2, 6; L3, 7). All complexes have significant activity at 50 °C and higher activity at 100 °C for the ring-opening polymerization (ROP) of ε-caprolactone (ε-CL) with good control over the molar mass distribution (Mw/Mn < 2) and molecular weight. Complex 1 was found to be the most active catalyst, achieving 99% conversion within 18 h at 50 °C and giving polycaprolactone with high molecular weight; results are compared against aniline-derived (i.e., non-methoxy containing) complexes (4 and 8). Aluminum or zinc complexes derived from L1 exhibit higher activity as compared with complexes derived from L2 and L3. Complex 1 was also tested as an initiator for the copolymerization of ε-CL and glycolide (GL). The CL-GL copolymers have various microstructures depending on the feed ratio. The crosslinker 4,4′-bioxepane-7,7′-dione was used in the polymerization with ε-CL using 1, and well-defined cross-linked PCL was afforded of high molecular weight.
PD-L1 Expression Fluctuates Concurrently with Cyclin D in Glioblastoma Cells
Authors: Tufano Martina , D’Arrigo Paolo , D’Agostino Massimo , Giordano Carolina , Marrone Laura , Cesaro Elena , Romano Maria Fiammetta , Romano Simona
Published: September 2021

Despite Glioblastoma (GBM) frequently expressing programmed cell death ligand-1 (PD-L1), treatment with anti-programmed cell death-1 (PD1) has not yielded brilliant results. Intratumor variability of PD-L1 can impact determination accuracy. A previous study on mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs) reported a role for cyclin-D in control of PD-L1 expression. Because tumor-cell growth within a cancer is highly heterogeneous, we looked at whether PD-L1 and its cochaperone FKBP51s were influenced by cell proliferation, using U251 and SF767 GBM-cell-lines. PD-L1 was measured by Western blot, flow cytometry, confocal-microscopy, quantitative PCR (qPCR), CCND1 by qPCR, FKBP51s by Western blot and confocal-microscopy. Chromatin-Immunoprecipitation assay (xChIp) served to assess the DNA-binding of FKBP51 isoforms. In the course of cell culture, PD-L1 appeared to increase concomitantly to cyclin-D on G1/S transition, to decrease during exponential cell growth progressively. We calculated a correlation between CCND1 and PD-L1 gene expression levels. In the temporal window of PD-L1 and CCND1 peak, FKBP51s localized in ER. When cyclin-D declined, FKBP51s went nuclear. XChIp showed that FKBP51s binds CCND1 gene in a closed-chromatin configuration. Our finding suggests that the dynamism of PD-L1 expression in GBM follows cyclin-D fluctuation and raises the hypothesis that FKBP51s might participate in the events that govern cyclin-D oscillation.
A New Approach for Prostate Cancer Diagnosis by miRNA Profiling of Prostate-Derived Plasma Small Extracellular Vesicles
Authors: Zabegina Lidia , Nazarova Inga , Nikiforova Nadezhda , Slyusarenko Maria , Sidina Elena , Knyazeva Margarita , Tsyrlina Evgenia , Novikov Sergey , Reva Sergey , Malek Anastasia
Published: September 2021

Vesicular miRNA has emerged as a promising marker for various types of cancer, including prostate cancer (PC). In the advanced stage of PC, the cancer-cell-derived small extracellular vesicles (SEVs) may constitute a significant portion of circulating vesicles and may mediate a detectable change in the plasma vesicular miRNA profile. However, SEVs secreted by small tumor in the prostate gland constitute a tiny fraction of circulating vesicles and cause undetectable miRNA pattern changes. Thus, the isolation and miRNA profiling of a specific prostate-derived fraction of SEVs can improve the diagnostic potency of the methods based on vesicular miRNA analysis. Prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) was selected as a marker of prostate-derived SEVs. Super-paramagnetic beads (SPMBs) were functionalized by PSMA-binding DNA aptamer (PSMA–Apt) via a click reaction. The efficacy of SPMB–PSMA–Apt complex formation and PSMA(+)SEVs capture were assayed by flow cytometry. miRNA was isolated from the total population of SEVs and PSMA(+)SEVs of PC patients (n = 55) and healthy donors (n = 30). Four PC-related miRNAs (miR-145, miR-451a, miR-143, and miR-221) were assayed by RT-PCR. The click chemistry allowed fixing DNA aptamers onto the surface of SPMB with an efficacy of up to 89.9%. The developed method more effectively isolates PSMA(+)SEVs than relevant antibody-based technology. The analysis of PC-related miRNA in the fraction of PSMA(+)SEVs was more sensitive and revealed distinct diagnostic potency (AUC: miR-145, 0.76; miR-221, 0.7; miR-451a, 0.65; and miR-141, 0.64) than analysis of the total SEV population. Thus, isolation of prostate-specific SEVs followed by analysis of vesicular miRNA might be a promising PC diagnosis method.
Transcriptome and Methylome Analysis Reveal Complex Cross-Talks between Thyroid Hormone and Glucocorticoid Signaling at Xenopus Metamorphosis
Authors: Buisine Nicolas , Grimaldi Alexis , Jonchere Vincent , Rigolet Muriel , Blugeon Corinne , Hamroune Juliette , Sachs Laurent
Published: September 2021

Background: Most work in endocrinology focus on the action of a single hormone, and very little on the cross-talks between two hormones. Here we characterize the nature of interactions between thyroid hormone and glucocorticoid signaling during Xenopus tropicalis metamorphosis. Methods: We used functional genomics to derive genome wide profiles of methylated DNA and measured changes of gene expression after hormonal treatments of a highly responsive tissue, tailfin. Clustering classified the data into four types of biological responses, and biological networks were modeled by system biology. Results: We found that gene expression is mostly regulated by either T3 or CORT, or their additive effect when they both regulate the same genes. A small but non-negligible fraction of genes (12%) displayed non-trivial regulations indicative of complex interactions between the signaling pathways. Strikingly, DNA methylation changes display the opposite and are dominated by cross-talks. Conclusion: Cross-talks between thyroid hormones and glucocorticoids are more complex than initially envisioned and are not limited to the simple addition of their individual effects, a statement that can be summarized with the pseudo-equation: TH ∙ GC > TH + GC. DNA methylation changes are highly dynamic and buffered from genome expression.
Human Neural Stem Cells for Cell-Based Medicinal Products
Authors: Fernandez-Muñoz Beatriz , Garcia-Delgado Ana Belen , Arribas-Arribas Blanca , Sanchez-Pernaute Rosario
Published: September 2021

Neural stem cells represent an attractive tool for the development of regenerative therapies and are being tested in clinical trials for several neurological disorders. Human neural stem cells can be isolated from the central nervous system or can be derived in vitro from pluripotent stem cells. Embryonic sources are ethically controversial and other sources are less well characterized and/or inefficient. Recently, isolation of NSC from the cerebrospinal fluid of patients with spina bifida and with intracerebroventricular hemorrhage has been reported. Direct reprogramming may become another alternative if genetic and phenotypic stability of the reprogrammed cells is ensured. Here, we discuss the advantages and disadvantages of available sources of neural stem cells for the production of cell-based therapies for clinical applications. We review available safety and efficacy clinical data and discuss scalability and quality control considerations for manufacturing clinical grade cell products for successful clinical application.
Fluid-Structure Interaction in Coronary Stents: A Discrete Multiphysics Approach
Authors: Mohammed Adamu Musa , Ariane Mostapha , Alexiadis Alessio
Published: September 2021

Stenting is a common method for treating atherosclerosis. A metal or polymer stent is deployed to open the stenosed artery or vein. After the stent is deployed, the blood flow dynamics influence the mechanics by compressing and expanding the structure. If the stent does not respond properly to the resulting stress, vascular wall injury or re-stenosis can occur. In this work, a Discrete Multiphysics modelling approach is used to study the mechanical deformation of the coronary stent and its relationship with the blood flow dynamics. The major parameters responsible for deforming the stent are sorted in terms of dimensionless numbers and a relationship between the elastic forces in the stent and pressure forces in the fluid is established. The blood flow and the stiffness of the stent material contribute significantly to the stent deformation and affect its rate of deformation. The stress distribution in the stent is not uniform with the higher stresses occurring at the nodes of the structure. From the relationship (correlation) between the elastic force and the pressure force, depending on the type of material used for the stent, the model can be used to predict whether the stent is at risk of fracture or not after deployment.
Associations between Sclerostin and Anthropometric and Metabolic Parameters in Children and Adolescents
Authors: Kim Shin-Hee , Choi Yun Jung , Ahn Moon Bae , Cho Won Kyoung , Cho Kyoung Soon , Jung Min Ho , Suh Byung-Kyu
Published: September 2021

(1) Background: Bone plays an important role in the regulation of the systemic glucose and energy metabolism. Sclerostin, secreted by osteocytes, is an inhibitor of the Wnt/β–catenin bone metabolic pathway, and is involved in osteoporosis and metabolic disease. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between sclerostin and anthropometric and metabolic parameters in children and adolescents with obesity or who are overweight. (2) Methods: This study included 63 children and adolescents (20 obese, 11 overweight and 32 healthy control subjects). We evaluated the correlation between serum sclerostin and anthropometric parameters, metabolic parameters related to glucose (homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance [HOMA–IR]), lipid, and bone metabolism (osteocalcin and 25-hydroxy vitamin D). (3) Results: Sclerostin and osteocalcin levels did not differ between obese and control groups. Sclerostin level was higher in boys than in girls (median 20.7 vs. 18.9 pmol/L, respectively; p = 0.04). In all subjects, sclerostin levels were negatively correlated with fasting insulin (r = −0.26; p = 0.04) and HOMA–IR (r = −0.28; p = 0.03), and positively correlated with serum concentrations of triglycerides (r = 0.29; p = 0.04), alkaline phosphatase (r = 0.41; p = 0.002), and osteocalcin (r = 0.33; p = 0.008). In obese patients, sclerostin levels were correlated negatively with fasting glucose (r = −0.49; p = 0.03) and HOMA–IR (r = −0.48; p = 0.03) and positively correlated with triglyceride levels (r = 0.53; p = 0.02). In the healthy control, sclerostin levels were correlated negatively with fasting insulin levels (r = −0.61; p < 0.001) and HOMA–IR (r = −0.36; p = 0.04). After adjusting for age, sex, and height SDS, a negative correlation between sclerostin and HOMA–IR was found (r = −0.39; p = 0.003) in all of the subjects. This association was more evident in obese patients (r = −0.60; p = 0.01) than in healthy controls (r = −0.39; p = 0.047). (4) Conclusions: Among children and adolescents with obesity, serum sclerostin was negatively correlated with HOMA–IR. Further studies are needed to clarify the mechanisms involved to understand how sclerostin affects the glucose metabolism.
Composition and Factorial Invariance for the Assessment of Body Image Dissatisfaction Questionnaire in Mexican Adolescents
Authors: Nájera-Longoria Raúl Josué , Blanco José René , Jiménez-Lira Carolina , Aguirre Susana Ivonne , Blanco Humberto , Conchas-Ramírez Miguel , Rangel-Ledezma Yunuen Socorro , Jurado-García Perla Jannet
Published: September 2021

Body image is a mental representation that a person has, which could become a body dissatisfaction due to the pressure exerted by the culture, affecting several life stages specially in adolescents. The aim of this study was to analyze the psychometric properties and factorial invariance of the questionnaire to assess body image dissatisfaction. The sample consisted of 552 Mexican teenagers, 259 female, and 293 male, with a mean age of 12.91 ± 0.96 years. Confirmatory Factor Analyses show that a five-factor structure is viable and adequate. The five-factor structure (perceptual, emotional distress, behavioral, proposal to change, and fear of gaining weight) show adequate fit indices and validity, even though the obtained model does not completely correspond to that proposed by the authors of the scale, it continues to endorse the multifactorial component of body dissatisfaction. On the other hand, the factorial structure, the factor loadings, and the intercepts are considered invariant in both populations; however, there are differences between the populations for the means of the perceptual, emotional distress, and fear of gaining weight factors. This study serves as a premise for future research on the study of instruments for measuring body image in populations with different personal and cultural factors.
Exploring Potential COPD Immunosuppression Pathways Causing Increased Susceptibility for MAC Infections among COPD Patients
Authors: Munjal Shafaa , Munjal Shalok , Gao Jingya , Venketaraman Vishwanath
Published: September 2021

Although there has been a drastic decline in the cases of Tuberculosis in the United States, the prevalence of infections caused by Mycobacterium avium Complex (MAC) has steadily increased in the past decades. Mycobacterium avium (M. avium) is one of the most abundant microorganisms in the MAC species. The mycobacterium genus is divided into two major groups: tuberculosis causing mycobacteria and non-tuberculous mycobacteria. MAC is most prominent among the non-tuberculous mycobacteria. MAC is an opportunistic pathogen that is present in soil, water, and droplets in the air. MAC infections can result in respiratory disease and can disseminate in affected patients. MAC infections are especially prevalent in patients with preexisting respiratory conditions such as Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). COPD is one of the most common lung conditions in the world with the primary cause being smoking in developed countries. COPD involves chronic inflammation of lung tissue resulting in increased susceptibility to infection. There is a lack of research regarding the pathophysiology that leads COPD patients to be susceptible to MAC infection. Our review paper therefore aims to investigate how the pathogenicity of MAC bacteria and immune decline seen in COPD patients leads to a greater susceptibility to MAC infection among COPD patients.
Growing Tomato under Protected Cultivation Conditions: Overall Effects on Productivity, Nutritional Yield, and Pest Incidences
Authors: Sotelo-Cardona Paola , Lin Mei-Ying , Srinivasan Ramasamy
Published: September 2021

Tomato continues to be one of the most important crops worldwide, and protected cultivation is practiced to overcome the biotic and abiotic stresses to which the plant are exposed during growth. In this study we evaluated the effect of colored net houses on the growth, yield and nutritional values, as well as the incidence of common pests under three different light conditions: (1) colored (magenta), (2) conventional (white), and open field conditions. A colored net house led the plants to grow taller with higher lycopene content, but recorded a higher number of whiteflies, compared to the conventional net house and open field conditions. Furthermore, plants under protected structures recorded lower SPAD values, but larger terminal leaflets, lower damage by leaf miners, but more damage caused by spider mites compared to those plants grown under open field conditions. Overall, we found that the use of colored net houses provided a positive effect on tomato production in terms of improvement in morphometric parameters, however, to obtain higher yields under this production system, it is important to reduce the elevated temperature and increase the relative humidity inside the protective structures to be adapted for local growing conditions in Taiwan.
Retrospective Cohort Study of Caveolin-1 Expression as Prognostic Factor in Unresectable Locally Advanced or Metastatic Pancreatic Cancer Patients
Authors: Bittoni Alessandro , Giampieri Riccardo , Pecci Federica , Pinterpe Giada , Mandolesi Alessandra , Del Prete Michela , Zizzi Antonio , Crocetti Sonia , Liguori Carolina , Mentrasti Giulia , Cantini Luca , Pellei Chiara , Bisonni Renato , Scarpelli Marina , Berardi Rossana
Published: September 2021

Caveolin-1 (Cav-1) plays a key role in various neoplastic diseases and is upregulated in different cancers, including pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). Furthermore, Cav-1 is critical for the uptake of albumin as well as nab-paclitaxel in PDAC cells. Here, we investigated the prognostic impact of Cav-1 expression in a cohort of 39 metastatic PDAC patients treated with different first-line chemotherapy regimens. We also assessed the predictive value of Cav-1 in patients treated with gemcitabine and nab-paclitaxel. Cav-1 expression was evaluated by immunohistochemistry staining in neoplastic and stromal cells, using metastatic sites or primary tumor tissue specimens. Higher levels of Cav-1 expression were associated with significantly worse overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS). No differences in OS were found between patients treated with gemcitabine + nab-paclitaxel vs. other chemotherapy options. Multivariate analysis for OS and PFS confirmed the independent prognostic role of Cav-1 expression. Our study evidenced a negative prognostic role of Cav-1 in patients affected by metastatic/locally advanced unresectable PDAC. Moreover, Cav-1 expression seems not to predict different response rates to different types of first-line treatment. Future prospective trials will be necessary to confirm the prognostic role of Cav-1 and explore Cav-1 specific inhibitors as a therapeutic option for advanced PDAC patients.
The Prognostic Value of ADAMTS-13 and von Willebrand Factor in COVID-19 Patients: Prospective Evaluation by Care Setting
Authors: Tiscia Giovanni , Favuzzi Giovanni , De Laurenzo Antonio , Cappucci Filomena , Fischetti Lucia , Colaizzo Donatella , Chinni Elena , Florio Lucia , Miscio Giuseppe , Piscitelli Angela Pamela , Mastroianno Mario , Grandone Elvira
Published: September 2021

Background: Endothelial dysfunction, coupled with inflammation, induces thrombo-inflammation. In COVID-19, this process is believed to be associated with clinical severity. Von Willebrand factor (VWF), and a disintegrin and metalloproteinase with thrombospondin motifs 13 (ADAMTS-13), are strong markers of endothelial dysfunction. We evaluated the impact of the VWF/ADAMTS-13 fraction on COVID-19 severity and prognosis. Materials and methods: A cohort study including 74 COVID-19 patients, with 22 admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) and 52 to the medical ward (MW), was carried out. We also evaluated, in a group of 54 patients who were prospectively observed, whether variations in VWF/ADAMTS-13 correlated with the degree of severity and routine blood parameters. Results: A VWF:RCo/ADAMTS-13 fraction above 6.5 predicted in-hospital mortality in the entire cohort. At admission, a VWF:RCo/ADAMTS-13 fraction above 5.7 predicted admission to the ICU. Furthermore, the VWF:RCo/ADAMTS-13 fraction directly correlated with C-reactive protein (CRP) (Spearman r: 0.51, p < 0.0001) and D-dimer (Spearman r: 0.26, p = 0.03). In the prospective cohort, dynamic changes in VWF:RCo/ADAMTS-13 and the CRP concentration were directly correlated (Spearman r, p = 0.0014). This relationship was significant in both groups (ICU: p = 0.006; MW: p = 0.02).Conclusions: The present findings show that in COVID-19, the VWF/ADAMTS-13 fraction predicts in-hospital mortality. The VWF/ADAMTS-13 fraction may be a helpful tool to monitor COVID-19 patients throughout hospitalization.
Neoteric Algorithm Using Cell Population Data (VCS Parameters) as a Rapid Screening Tool for Haematological Disorders
Authors: Ambayya Angeli , Sathar Jameela , Hassan Rosline
Published: September 2021

Hitherto, there has been no comprehensive study on the usefulness of cell population data (CPD) parameters as a screening tool in the discrimination of non-neoplastic and neoplastic haematological disorders. Hence, we aimed to develop an algorithm derived from CPD parameters to enable robust screening of neoplastic from non-neoplastic samples and subsequently to aid in differentiating various neoplastic haematological disorders. In this study, the CPD parameters from 245 subtypes of leukaemia and lymphoma were compared against 1103 non-neoplastic cases, and those CPD parameters that were vigorous discriminants were selected for algorithm development. We devised a novel algorithm: [(SD-V-NE*MN-UMALS-LY*SD-AL2-MO)/MN-C-NE] to distinguish neoplastic from non-neoplastic cases. Following that, the single parameter MN-AL2-NE was used as a discriminant to rule out reactive cases from neoplastic cases. We then assessed CPD parameters that were useful in delineating leukaemia subtypes as follows: AML (SD-MALS-NE and SD-UMALS-NE), APL (MN-V-NE and SD-V-MO), ALL (MN-MALS-NE and MN-LMALS-NE) and CLL (SD-C-MO). Prospective studies were carried out to validate the algorithm and single parameter, MN-AL2-NE. We propose these CPD parameter-based discriminant strategies to be adopted as an initial screening and flagging system in the preliminary evaluation of leukocyte morphology.
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles for Magnetic Surveys: A Review on Platform Selection and Interference Suppression
Authors: Zheng Yaoxin , Li Shiyan , Xing Kang , Zhang Xiaojuan
Published: September 2021

In the past two decades, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) have been used in many scientific research fields for various applications. In particular, the use of UAVs for magnetic surveys has become a hot spot and is expected to be actively applied in the future. A considerable amount of literature has been published on the use of UAVs for magnetic surveys, however, how to choose the platform and reduce the interference of UAV to the collected data have not been discussed systematically. There are two primary aims of this study: (1) To ascertain the basis of UAV platform selection and (2) to investigate the characteristics and suppression methods of UAV magnetic interference. Systematic reviews were performed to summarize the results of 70 academic studies (from 2005 to 2021) and outline the research tendencies for applying UAVs in magnetic surveys. This study found that multi-rotor UAVs have become the most widely used type of UAVs in recent years because of their advantages such as easiness to operate, low cost, and the ability of flying at a very low altitude, despite their late appearance. With the improvement of the payload capacity of UAVs, to use multiple magnetometers becomes popular since it can provide more abundant information. In addition, this study also found that the most commonly used method to reduce the effects of the UAV’s magnetic interference is to increase the distance between the sensors and the UAV, although this method will bring about other problems, e.g., the directional and positional errors of sensors caused by erratic movements, the increased risk of impact to the magnetometers. The pros and cons of different types of UAV, magnetic interference characteristics and suppression methods based on traditional aeromagnetic compensation and other methods are discussed in detail. This study contributes to the classification of current UAV applications as well as the data processing methods in magnetic surveys.
Inferring Excitatory and Inhibitory Connections in Neuronal Networks
Authors: Ghirga Silvia , Chiodo Letizia , Marrocchio Riccardo , Orlandi Javier G. , Loppini Alessandro
Published: September 2021

The comprehension of neuronal network functioning, from most basic mechanisms of signal transmission to complex patterns of memory and decision making, is at the basis of the modern research in experimental and computational neurophysiology. While mechanistic knowledge of neurons and synapses structure increased, the study of functional and effective networks is more complex, involving emergent phenomena, nonlinear responses, collective waves, correlation and causal interactions. Refined data analysis may help in inferring functional/effective interactions and connectivity from neuronal activity. The Transfer Entropy (TE) technique is, among other things, well suited to predict structural interactions between neurons, and to infer both effective and structural connectivity in small- and large-scale networks. To efficiently disentangle the excitatory and inhibitory neural activities, in the article we present a revised version of TE, split in two contributions and characterized by a suited delay time. The method is tested on in silico small neuronal networks, built to simulate the calcium activity as measured via calcium imaging in two-dimensional neuronal cultures. The inhibitory connections are well characterized, still preserving a high accuracy for excitatory connections prediction. The method could be applied to study effective and structural interactions in systems of excitable cells, both in physiological and in pathological conditions.
On Max-Semistable Laws and Extremes for Dynamical Systems
Authors: Holland Mark P. , Sterk Alef E.
Published: September 2021

Suppose (f,X,μ) is a measure preserving dynamical system and ϕ:X→R a measurable observable. Let Xi=ϕ∘fi−1 denote the time series of observations on the system, and consider the maxima process Mn:=max{X1,…,Xn}. Under linear scaling of Mn, its asymptotic statistics are usually captured by a three-parameter generalised extreme value distribution. This assumes certain regularity conditions on the measure density and the observable. We explore an alternative parametric distribution that can be used to model the extreme behaviour when the observables (or measure density) lack certain regular variation assumptions. The relevant distribution we study arises naturally as the limit for max-semistable processes. For piecewise uniformly expanding dynamical systems, we show that a max-semistable limit holds for the (linear) scaled maxima process.
Static Equivalence Checking for OpenFlow Networks
Authors: Lee Hyuk , Choi Jin-Young
Published: September 2021

Software-defined networking (SDN) provides many advantages over traditional networking by separating the control and data planes. One of the advantages is to provide programmability, which allows administrators to control the behavior of the network. The network configuration may need to be changed for some reason. Whenever such changes are made, it can be required to verify that the forwarding behavior is preserved from the existing configuration, that is, whether the ruleset is properly reflected. In this paper, we propose the forwarding behavior based equivalence checking of OpenFlow networks. We present the formal definition of the network model and the forwarding behavior of the packet flow. Based on the definition, We present a method for checking the equivalence of OpenFlow network forwarding behaviors. Next, we present the implementation of the proposed method, using the constraint satisfaction method, which will be the basis for further extension.
Forecasting Daily Electricity Price by Hybrid Model of Fractional Wavelet Transform, Feature Selection, Support Vector Machine and Optimization Algorithm
Authors: Syah Rahmad , Davarpanah Afshin , Elveny Marischa , Karmaker Ashish Kumar , Nasution Mahyuddin K. M. , Hossain Md. Alamgir
Published: September 2021

This paper proposes a novel hybrid forecasting model with three main parts to accurately forecast daily electricity prices. In the first part, where data are divided into high- and low-frequency data using the fractional wavelet transform, the best data with the highest relevancy are selected, using a feature selection algorithm. The second part is based on a nonlinear support vector network and auto-regressive integrated moving average (ARIMA) method for better training the previous values of electricity prices. The third part optimally adjusts the proposed support vector machine parameters with an error-base objective function, using the improved grey wolf and particle swarm optimization. The proposed method is applied to forecast electricity markets, and the results obtained are analyzed with the help of the criteria based on the forecast errors. The results demonstrate the high accuracy in the MAPE index of forecasting the electricity price, which is about 91% as compared to other forecasting methods.
Analysis and Design of a Silicide-Tetrahedrite Thermoelectric Generator Concept Suitable for Large-Scale Industrial Waste Heat Recovery
Authors: Brito F. P. , Peixoto João Silva , Martins Jorge , Gonçalves António P. , Louca Loucas , Vlachos Nikolaos , Kyratsi Theodora
Published: September 2021

Industrial Waste Heat Recovery (IWHR) is one of the areas with strong potential for energy efficiency and emissions reductions in industry. Thermoelectric (TE) generators (TEGs) are among the few technologies that are intrinsically modular and can convert heat directly into electricity without moving parts, so they are nearly maintenance-free and can work unattended for long periods of time. However, most existing TEGs are only suitable for small-scale niche applications because they typically display a cost per unit power and a conversion efficiency that is not competitive with competing technologies, and they also tend to rely on rare and/or toxic materials. Moreover, their geometric configuration, manufacturing methods and heat exchangers are often not suitable for large-scale applications. The present analysis aims to tackle several of these challenges. A module incorporating constructive solutions suitable for upscaling, namely, using larger than usual TE elements (up to 24 mm in diameter) made from affordable p-tetrahedrite and n-magnesium silicide materials, was assessed with a multiphysics tool for conditions typical of IWHR. Geometric configurations optimized for efficiency, power per pair and power density, as well as an efficiency/power balanced solution, were extracted from these simulations. A balanced solution provided 0.62 kWe/m2 with a 3.9% efficiency. Good prospects for large-scale IWHR with TEGs are anticipated if these figures could be replicated in a real-world application and implemented with constructive solutions suitable for large-scale systems.
Life Cycle Assessment of a Barge-Type Floating Wind Turbine and Comparison with Other Types of Wind Turbines
Authors: Yildiz Nurullah , Hemida Hassan , Baniotopoulos Charalampos
Published: September 2021

The intensive increase of global warming every year affects our world negatively and severely. The use of renewable energy sources has gained importance in reducing and eliminating the effect of global warming. To this end, new technologies are being developed to facilitate the use of these resources. One of these technological developments is the floating wind turbine. In order to evaluate the respective environmental footprint of these systems, a life cycle assessment (LCA) is herein applied. In this study, the environmental impact of floating wind turbines is investigated using a life cycle assessment approach and the results are compared with the respective ones of onshore and jacket offshore wind turbines of the same power capacity. The studied floating wind turbine has a square foundation that is open at its centre and is connected to the seabed with a synthetic fibre-nylon anchorage system. The environmental impact of all life cycles of such a structure, i.e., the manufacture, the operation, the disposal, and the recycling stages of the wind turbines, has been evaluated. For these floating wind turbines, it has been found that the greatest environmental impact corresponds to the manufacturing stage, whilst the global warming potential and the energy payback time of a 2 MW floating wind turbine of a barge-type platform is higher than that of the onshore, the jacket offshore (2 MW) and the floating (5 MW) wind turbines on a sway floating platform.
Solar Irradiance Prediction with Machine Learning Algorithms: A Brazilian Case Study on Photovoltaic Electricity Generation
Authors: de Freitas Viscondi Gabriel , Alves-Souza Solange N.
Published: September 2021

Forecasting photovoltaic electricity generation is one of the key components to reducing the impacts of solar power natural variability, nurturing the penetration of renewable energy sources. Machine learning is a well-known method that relies on the principle that systems can learn from previously measured data, detecting patterns which are then used to predict future values of a target variable. These algorithms have been used successfully to predict incident solar irradiation, but the results depend on the specificities of the studied location due to the natural variability of the meteorological parameters. This paper presents an extensive comparison of the three ML algorithms most used worldwide for forecasting solar radiation, Support Vector Machine (SVM), Artificial Neural Network (ANN), and Extreme Learning Machine (ELM), aiming at the best prediction of daily solar irradiance in a São Paulo context. The largest dataset in Brazil for meteorological parameters, containing measurements from 1933 to 2014, was used to train and compare the results of the algorithms. The results showed good approximation between measured and predicted global solar radiation for the three algorithms; however, for São Paulo, the SVM produced a lower Root-Mean-Square Error (RMSE), and ELM, a faster training rate. Using all 10 meteorological parameters available for the site was the best approach for the three algorithms at this location.
Design and Characteristic Analysis of a Homopolar Synchronous Machine Using a NI HTS Field Coil
Authors: Hwang Young Jin
Published: September 2021

This paper deals with a homopolar synchronous machine (HSM) applying high-temperature superconducting (HTS) field coils. Superconductors, especially high-temperature superconductors, have high potential as advanced materials for next-generation electrical machines due to their high critical current density and excellent mechanical strength. However, coils made with high-temperature superconductors have a high risk of being damaged in the event of a quench due to the intrinsic low normal zone propagation velocity (NZPV). Therefore, the coil protection issue has been regarded as one of the most important research fields in HTS coil applications. Currently, the most actively studied method for quench protection of the HTS coils is the no-insulation (NI) winding technique. The NI winding technique is a method of winding an HTS coil without inserting an insulating material between turns. This method can automatically bypass the current to the adjacent turn when a local quench occurs inside the HTS coil, greatly improving the operating stability of the HTS coils. Accordingly, many institutions are conducting research to develop advanced electrical machines using NI HTS coils. However, the NI HTS coil has its intrinsic charge/discharge delay problem, which makes it difficult to successfully develop electrical machines using the NI HTS coil. In this study, we investigated how this charging/discharging problem appeared when the NI HTS coil was used in an HTS homopolar synchronous machine (HSM) which is one of the electrical machines with a high possibility of applying the HTS coil in the future because it has a stationary field coil structure. For this, the characteristic resistances of HTS coils were experimentally obtained and applied to the simulation model.
Anaerobic Digestion of Blood from Slaughtered Livestock: A Review
Authors: Nazifa Tasnia Hassan , Saady Noori M. Cata , Bazan Carlos , Zendehboudi Sohrab , Aftab Adnan , Albayati Talib M.
Published: September 2021

Blood from livestock slaughtering imposes a high organic pollution load and risks. If it is discharged untreated to sewer systems, it increases the organic pollution load on wastewater treatment plants by 35–50%. This paper reviews blood anaerobic digestion. It analyzes the quantities, composition, methane potential reported, microbiology, biochemical pathways of blood protein degradation, environmental and health issues, and strategies suggested to manage them during livestock blood anaerobic digestion. Although challenging, anaerobic digestion of blood as a mono-substrate is possible if the culture-reactor system is controlled based on a complete characterization and understanding of the microbial community and its metabolic activities. Co-digestion of blood and other feedstock proceeds well if the mixtures are well designed. Generally, the specific methane yield from digesting blood alone ranges between zero and 0.45 m3 kg−1 protein, whereas for co-digesting blood and other substrates, the yield varies between 0.1 and 0.7 m3 kg−1 volatile solids. More research is required for microbiology and kinetics, the role of adsorbents, reactor configuration, and culture adaptation during anaerobic digestion of blood to better control the process.
Non-Contact Methods for High-Voltage Insulation Equipment Diagnosis during Operation
Authors: Ivanov Dmitry A. , Sadykov Marat F. , Yaroslavsky Danil A. , Golenishchev-Kutuzov Aleksandr V. , Galieva Tatyana G.
Published: September 2021

The article describes a complex of non-contact methods for remote diagnosis of high-voltage insulators as well as the two-channel method for remote diagnostics of the operating state of high-voltage insulators, based on the registration of partial discharges by electromagnetic and acoustic sensors. The presented device allows visual inspection and searches for faulty high-voltage equipment and a remote non-contact method of recording high-intensity electric fields of industrial frequency and their spatial distribution based on the electro-optical effect. The scheme of using the system for monitoring and diagnosing the technical condition of high-voltage support insulators of open switchgear is described. The results of experimental studies confirm the possibility of industrial applicability of the proposed method for non-contact remote diagnostics of the state of high-voltage insulators under operating voltage.
A New Dynamic Modeling Approach to Predict Microbial Methane Generation and Consumption in Marine Sediments
Authors: Rahmati-Abkenar Mahboubeh , Alizadeh Milad , Ketzer Marcelo
Published: September 2021

Methane, as a clean energy source and a potent greenhouse gas, is produced in marine sediments by microbes via complex biogeochemical processes associated with the mineralization of organic matter. Quantitative modeling of biogeochemical processes is a crucial way to advance the understanding of the global carbon cycle and the past, present, and future of climate change. Here, we present a new approach of dynamic transport-reaction model combined with sediment deposition. Compared to other studies, since the model does not need the methane concentration in the bottom of sediments and predicts that value, it provides us with a robust carbon budget estimation tool in the sediment. We applied the model to the Blake Ridge region (Ocean Drilling Program, Leg 164, site 997). Based on seafloor data as input, our model remarkably reproduces measured values of total organic carbon, dissolved inorganic carbon, sulfate, calcium, and magnesium concentration in pore waters and the in situ methane presented in three phases: dissolved in pore water, trapped in gas hydrate, and as free gas. Kinetically, we examined the coexistence of free gas and hydrate, and demonstrated how it might affect methane gas migration in marine sediment within the gas hydrate stability zone.
Loss Investigation for Multiphase Induction Machine under Open-Circuit Fault Using Field–Circuit Coupling Finite Element Method
Authors: Jia Huili , Yang Jiaqiang , Deng Rongfeng , Wang Yan
Published: September 2021

This paper focuses on the loss estimation for the multiphase induction machine (IM) operating under fault-tolerant conditions through the field–circuit coupling finite element method (FEM). Both one-phase and two-phase open-circuit faults of a seven-phase IM are researched, and different spatial positions of the fault phases are taken into consideration. The magnitudes and phase angles of the residual phase’s current are deduced based on the principle of equal magnitude of the residual phase currents and unchanged fundamental magnetic motive force (MMF). The magnetic fields’ coupling between the fundamental and harmonic planes is analyzed. Then, the time-stepping electromagnetic fields calculation of the seven-phase IM are carried out under the commercial software Simplorer–Maxwell environment. The transient and steady performance for both the health and fault conditions are obtained based on the rotor field-oriented control (RFOC) strategy. The Joule loss and iron loss are calculated for the torque step and slope responses. The seven-phase motor driving platform is established to verify the numerical calculation results. The proposed method is effective for predicting the loss and designing a reasonable operating range for multiphase IM operating under fault-tolerant conditions considering the thermal balance.
Deep Eutectic Solvents and Pharmaceuticals
Authors: Pedro Sónia N. , Freire Carmen S. R. , Silvestre Armando J. D. , Freire Mara G.
Published: September 2021

Deep eutectic solvents (DES) are eutectic mixtures that present a deviation from the ideal thermodynamic solid–liquid phase behavior, where a significant depression in the melting temperature occurs. If properly designed and chosen, DES may be liquid at room and the human body’s temperatures and display a biocompatible character, thus representing relevant options in the pharmaceutical field. Accordingly, DES have been studied as alternative solvents or in formulations of pharmaceuticals to improve their solubility and stability. Depending on the DES components, these mixtures might exhibit interesting biological activities compatible with several applications. The use of DES as functional agents or as novel liquid forms of active pharmaceutical ingredients (API-DES) with the goal of improving bioavailability, permeability and therapeutic efficacy of a given API stands as alternative strategies in the pharmaceutical field for drug delivery purposes.
Progress on Nutrient Composition, Meat Standardization, Grading, Processing, and Safety for Different Types of Meat Sources
Authors: Huerta-Leidenz Nelson
Published: September 2021

Beef contains a plethora of healthy nutrients and it is the highest valued livestock-based food product [...]
Estimating Conditional Power for Sequential Monitoring of Covariate Adaptive Randomized Designs: The Fractional Brownian Motion Approach
Authors: Yang Yiping , Zhu Hongjian , Lai Dejian
Published: September 2021

Conditional power based on classical Brownian motion (BM) has been widely used in sequential monitoring of clinical trials, including those with the covariate adaptive randomization design (CAR). Due to some uncontrollable factors, the sequential test statistics under CAR procedures may not satisfy the independent increment property of BM. We confirm the invalidation of BM when the error terms in the linear model with CAR design are not independent and identically distributed. To incorporate the possible correlation structure of the increment of the test statistic, we utilize the fractional Brownian motion (FBM). We conducted a comparative study of the conditional power under BM and FBM. It was found that the conditional power under FBM assumption was mostly higher than that under BM assumption when the Hurst exponent was greater than 0.5.