bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Sensorless Pedalling Torque Estimation Based on Motor Load Torque Observation for Electrically Assisted Bicycles
Authors: Mandriota Riccardo , Fabbri Stefano , Nienhaus Matthias , Grasso Emanuele
Published: April 2021

The need for reducing the cost of and space in Electrically Assisted Bicycles (EABs) has led the research to the development of solutions able to sense the applied pedalling torque and to provide a suitable electrical assistance avoiding the installation of torque sensors. Among these approaches, this paper proposes a novel method for the estimation of the pedalling torque starting from an estimation of the motor load torque given by a Load Torque Observer (LTO) and evaluating the environmental disturbances that act on the vehicle longitudinal dynamics. Moreover, this work shows the robustness of this approach to rotor position estimation errors introduced when sensorless techniques are used to control the motor. Therefore, this method allows removing also position sensors leading to an additional cost and space reduction. After a mathematical description of the vehicle longitudinal dynamics, this work proposes a state observer capable of estimating the applied pedalling torque. The theory is validated by means of experimental results performed on a bicycle under different conditions and exploiting the Direct Flux Control (DFC) sensorless technique to obtain the rotor position information. Afterwards, the identification of the system parameters together with the tuning of the control system and of the LTO required for the validation of the proposed theory are thoroughly described. Finally, the capabilities of the state observer of estimating an applied pedalling torque and of recognizing the application of external disturbance torques to the motor is verified.
Life Cycle Assessment and Soil Nitrogen Balance of Different N Fertilizers for Top Dressing Rye as Energy Crop for Electricity Generation
Authors: Martín Sastre Carlos , Barro Ruth , González-Arechavala Yolanda , Santos-Montes Ana , Ciria Pilar
Published: April 2021

Nitrogen fertilizers have been identified in energy crops LCAs as the main contributors to global warming, as well as to many other environmental impacts. The distinct production process and application emissions of nitrogen fertilizer types for top dressing produce different GHG savings when energy crops value chains are compared to fossil energy alternatives. In this study, three types of fertilizers (calcium ammonium nitrate, urea and ammonium sulphate) at N top dressing rates of 80 kg N/ha are used to grow rye for electricity generation under the conditions of the Continental Mediterranean climate of central-northern Spain. Complete LCAs for the whole value chain based on real data were performed in conjunction with soil nitrogen balances (SNBs) to assess the accomplishment of European Union (EU) GHG savings sustainability criteria, as well as the sustainability of fertilization practices for soil nitrogen stocks. The results obtained can provide interesting insights for policy making, since calcium ammonium nitrate, the most common fertilizer for rye crops, led to 66% GHG savings, as opposed to the 69% achieved when applying urea and 77% when ammonium sulphate was used. Nevertheless, the three fertilizers produced annual soil deficits greater than 50 kg N/ha. In order to ensure savings above 80%, as required by the EU sustainability criteria, and sustainable SNBs, additional optimization measures should be taken at key points of the value chain.
The Effect of Cu (II) on Swelling and Shrinkage Characteristics of Sodium Bentonite in Landfills
Authors: Xiao Guiyuan , Xu Guangli , Wei Tongzhong , Zeng Jian , Liu Wenjun , Zhang Lu
Published: April 2021

Wastes in municipal landfills will release heavy metal cations over a long period of time. Therefore, the objective of this paper was to investigate the effect of copper (Cu) in the leachate from landfill on the swell-shrinking potential of bentonite liner. Copper sulfate solution with 4 different groups of concentrations (0 g/L, 2.5 g/L, 5 g/L, 10 g/L) were added to bentonite for conducting a series of swelling and shrinkage experiments. Then the Does Response model was used to describe the swelling and shrinkage process of bentonite in different copper sulfate solutions and the applicability of the model was evaluated. At the same time, clay mineral analysis experiments (XRD and XRF) were carried out to analyze the variation of interlayer space and element content of montmorillonite. The results show that the swell volume of bentonite decreases with the increase of the concentration of Cu (II). The rate of swelling was high and inversely proportional to the concentration of Cu (II). The shrinkage curve of bentonite could be divided into uniform velocity stage, variable velocity stage, and stable stage. The shrinkage rate at the uniform velocity stage and shrinkage at the stable stage decreased with the increase of the concentration of Cu (II). The model was suitable for describing swelling (or shrinkage) curves with smaller expansibility (or shrinkage). Results of XRD and XRF show that the erosion of Cu (II) led to the decrease of Na+ content in sodium bentonite, and then narrowed interlayer space of montmorillonite. When the solution concentration increases, both values of interlayer space of montmorillonite and Na+ content in sodium bentonite become lower, and that led to swelling and shrinkage of bentonite liner was getting smaller and smaller.
Network Calculus-Based Latency for Time-Triggered Traffic under Flexible Window-Overlapping Scheduling (FWOS) in a Time-Sensitive Network (TSN)
Authors: Shalghum Khaled M. , Noordin Nor Kamariah , Sali Aduwati , Hashim Fazirulhisyam
Published: April 2021

Deterministic latency is an urgent demand to pursue the continuous increase in intelligence in several real-time applications, such as connected vehicles and automation industries. A time-sensitive network (TSN) is a new framework introduced to serve these applications. Several functions are defined in the TSN standard to support time-triggered (TT) requirements, such as IEEE 802.1Qbv and IEEE 802.1Qbu for traffic scheduling and preemption mechanisms, respectively. However, implementing strict timing constraints to support scheduled traffic can miss the needs of unscheduled real-time flows. Accordingly, more relaxed scheduling algorithms are required. In this paper, we introduce the flexible window-overlapping scheduling (FWOS) algorithm that optimizes the overlapping among TT windows by three different metrics: the priority of overlapping, the position of overlapping, and the overlapping ratio (OR). An analytical model for the worst-case end-to-end delay (WCD) is derived using the network calculus (NC) approach considering the relative relationships between window offsets for consecutive nodes and evaluated under a realistic vehicle use case. While guaranteeing latency deadline for TT traffic, the FWOS algorithm defines the maximum allowable OR that maximizes the bandwidth available for unscheduled transmission. Even under a non-overlapping scenario, less pessimistic latency bounds have been obtained using FWOS than the latest related works.
Visibility Prediction over South Korea Based on Random Forest
Authors: Kim Bu-Yo , Cha Joo Wan , Chang Ki-Ho , Lee Chulkyu
Published: April 2021

In this study, the visibility of South Korea was predicted (VISRF) using a random forest (RF) model based on ground observation data from the Automated Synoptic Observing System (ASOS) and air pollutant data from the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service (CAMS) model. Visibility was predicted and evaluated using a training set for the period 2017–2018 and a test set for 2019. VISRF results were compared and analyzed using visibility data from the ASOS (VISASOS) and the Unified Model (UM) Local Data Assimilation and Prediction System (LDAPS) (VISLDAPS) operated by the Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA). Bias, root mean square error (RMSE), and correlation coefficients (R) for the VISASOS and VISLDAPS datasets were 3.67 km, 6.12 km, and 0.36, respectively, compared to 0.14 km, 2.84 km, and 0.81, respectively, for the VISASOS and VISRF datasets. Based on these comparisons, the applied RF model offers significantly better predictive performance and more accurate visibility data (VISRF) than the currently available VISLDAPS outputs. This modeling approach can be implemented by authorities to accurately estimate visibility and thereby reduce accidents, risks to public health, and economic losses, as well as inform on urban development policies and environmental regulations.
TLR4-Mediated Recognition of Mouse Polyomavirus Promotes Cancer-Associated Fibroblast-Like Phenotype and Cell Invasiveness
Authors: Janovec Vaclav , Ryabchenko Boris , Škarková Aneta , Pokorná Karolína , Rösel Daniel , Brábek Jan , Weber Jan , Forstová Jitka , Hirsch Ivan , Huérfano Sandra
Published: April 2021

The tumorigenic potential of mouse polyomavirus (MPyV) has been studied for decades in cell culture models and has been mainly attributed to nonstructural middle T antigen (MT), which acts as a scaffold signal adaptor, activates Src tyrosine kinases, and possesses transforming ability. We hypothesized that MPyV could also transform mouse cells independent of MT via a Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4)-mediated inflammatory mechanism. To this end, we investigated the interaction of MPyV with TLR4 in mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs) and 3T6 cells, resulting in secretion of interleukin 6 (IL-6), independent of active viral replication. TLR4 colocalized with MPyV capsid protein VP1 in MEFs. Neither TLR4 activation nor recombinant IL-6 inhibited MPyV replication in MEFs and 3T6 cells. MPyV induced STAT3 phosphorylation through both direct and MT-dependent and indirect and TLR4/IL-6-dependent mechanisms. We demonstrate that uninfected mouse fibroblasts exposed to the cytokine environment from MPyV-infected fibroblasts upregulated the expressions of MCP-1, CCL-5, and α-SMA. Moreover, the cytokine microenvironment increased the invasiveness of MEFs and CT26 carcinoma cells. Collectively, TLR4 recognition of MPyV induces a cytokine environment that promotes the cancer-associated fibroblast (CAF)-like phenotype in noninfected fibroblasts and increases cell invasiveness.
PRKCA Overexpression Is Frequent in Young Oral Tongue Squamous Cell Carcinoma Patients and Is Associated with Poor Prognosis
Authors: Parzefall Thomas , Schnoell Julia , Monschein Laura , Foki Elisabeth , Liu David Tianxiang , Frohne Alexandra , Grasl Stefan , Pammer Johannes , Lucas Trevor , Kadletz Lorenz , Brunner Markus
Published: April 2021

Oral tongue squamous cell carcinomas (OTSCCs) have an increasing incidence in young patients, and many have an aggressive course of disease. The objective of this study was to identify candidate prognostic protein markers associated with early-onset OTSCC. We performed an exploratory screening for differential protein expression in younger (≤45 years) versus older (>45 years) OTSCC patients in The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) cohort (n = 97). Expression of candidate markers was then validated in an independent Austrian OTSCC patient group (n = 34) by immunohistochemistry. Kaplan–Meier survival estimates were computed, and genomic and mRNA enrichment in silico analyses were performed. Overexpression of protein kinase C alpha (PRKCA) was significantly more frequent among young patients of both the TCGA (p = 0.0001) and the Austrian cohort (p = 0.02), associated with a negative anamnesis for alcohol consumption (p = 0.009) and tobacco smoking (p = 0.02) and poorer overall survival (univariate p = 0.02, multivariate p< 0.01). Within the young subgroup, both overall and disease-free survival were significantly decreased in patients with PRKCA overexpression (both p < 0.001). TCGA mRNA enrichment analysis revealed 332 mRNAs with significant differential expression in PRKCA-upregulated versus PRKCA-downregulated OTSCC (all FDR ≤ 0.01). Our findings suggest that PRKCA overexpression may be a hallmark of a novel molecular subtype of early-onset alcohol- and tobacco-negative high-risk OTSCC. Further analysis of the molecular PRKCA interactome may decipher the underlying mechanisms of carcinogenesis and clinicopathological behavior of PRKCA-overexpressing OTSCC.
General Patterns and Species-Specific Differences in the Organization of the Tubulin Cytoskeleton in Indeterminate Nodules of Three Legumes
Authors: Kitaeva Anna B. , Gorshkov Artemii P. , Kirichek Evgenii A. , Kusakin Pyotr G. , Tsyganova Anna V. , Tsyganov Viktor E.
Published: April 2021

The tubulin cytoskeleton plays an important role in establishing legume–rhizobial symbiosis at all stages of its development. Previously, tubulin cytoskeleton organization was studied in detail in the indeterminate nodules of two legume species, Pisum sativum and Medicago truncatula. General as well as species-specific patterns were revealed. To further the understanding of the formation of general and species-specific microtubule patterns in indeterminate nodules, the tubulin cytoskeleton organization was studied in three legume species (Vicia sativa, Galega orientalis, and Cicer arietinum). It is shown that these species differ in the shape and size of rhizobial cells (bacteroids). Immunolocalization of microtubules revealed the universality of cortical and endoplasmic microtubule organization in the meristematic cells, infected cells of the infection zone, and uninfected cells in nodules of the three species. However, there are differences in the endoplasmic microtubule organization in nitrogen-fixing cells among the species, as confirmed by quantitative analysis. It appears that the differences are linked to bacteroid morphology (both shape and size).
Metallo-Liposomes Derived from the [Ru(bpy)3]2+ Complex as Nanocarriers of Therapeutic Agents
Authors: Moyá Maria Luisa , Ostos Francisco José , Moreno Izamar , García Diandra , Moreno-Gordillo Paula , V. Rosado Ivan , López-Cornejo Pilar , Lebrón José Antonio , López-López Manuel
Published: April 2021

The obtaining of nanocarriers of gene material and small drugs is still an interesting research line. Side-effects produced by the toxicity of several pharmaceutics, the high concentrations needed to get therapeutic effects, or their excessive use by patients have motivated the search for new nanostructures. For these reasons, cationic metallo-liposomes composed by phosphatidylcholine (PC), cholesterol (CHO) and RuC1C19 (a surfactant derived from the metallic complex [Ru(bpy)3]2+) were prepared and characterized by using diverse techniques (zeta potential, dynamic light scattering and electronic transmission microscopy –TEM-). Unimodal or bimodal populations of spherical aggregates with small sizes were obtained depending on the composition of the liposomes. The presence of cholesterol favored the formation of small aggregates. ct-DNA was condensed in the presence of the liposomes investigated. In-vitro assays demonstrated the ability of these nanoaggregates to internalize into different cell lines. A positive gene transfection into human bone osteosarcoma epithelial cells (U2OS) was also observed. The RuC1C19 surfactant was used as sensor to quantify the binding of DNA to the liposomes. Doxorubicin was encapsulated into the metallo-liposomes, demonstrating their ability to be also used as nanocarriers of drugs. A relationship between then encapsulation percentage of the antibiotic and the composition of the aggregates has been established.
Analytical Capabilities of Coulometric Sensor Systems in the Antioxidants Analysis
Authors: Ziyatdinova Guzel , Budnikov Herman
Published: April 2021

The definition of antioxidants (AOs), their classification and properties as well as electrochemical sensor systems for AOs analysis are briefly discussed. The analytical capabilities of coulometric titration with electrogenerated titrants as sensor systems for AOs determination have been considered in detail. The attention focused on the individual AO quantification that was mainly used in the pharmaceutical analysis and estimation of total antioxidant parameters (total antioxidant capacity (TAC), ferric reducing power (FRP) and ceric reducing/antioxidant capacity (CRAC)) allowing the fast screening of the target samples including their quality control. The main advantages of coulometric sensor systems are pointed out. The selective quantification of individual AO in a complex matrix using a combination of chromatography with coulometric or coulometric array detection under potentiostatic mode is discussed. The future development of coulometric sensor systems for AOs analysis is focused on the application of novel coulometric titrants and the application of coulometric detection in flow injection analysis.
Typologies and Psychological Profiles of Child Sexual Abusers: An Extensive Review
Authors: Lim Yeong Yeong , Wahab Suzaily , Kumar Jaya , Ibrahim Fauziah , Kamaluddin Mohammad Rahim
Published: April 2021

Child sexual abuse is a public health issue that has been associated with a variety of negative health outcomes. Child sexual abusers constitute a heterogeneous population of individuals. This review lays out an overview of the current understanding of typologies and psychological profiles of child sexual abusers. Typologies of child sexual abusers in general and online child sexual abusers are reviewed to summarise the existing knowledge. Psychological traits including personality traits, cognitive distortion, empathy, and impulsivity are examined to provide a wider perspective of the psycho-criminogenic factors of child sexual abuse. Although past research on child sexual abusers has provided insights into the organisation and classification of different types of child sexual abusers, the classification of these typologies has drawn widespread criticisms. In this review, we discuss the challenges and limitations pertaining to the existing typologies and studies related to the psychological profile of child sexual abusers.
Superconducting Order Parameter Nucleation and Critical Currents in the Presence of Weak Stray Fields in Superconductor/Insulator/Ferromagnet Hybrids
Authors: Kushnir Vasiliy N. , Prischepa Serghej L. , Trezza Michela , Cirillo Carla , Attanasio Carmine
Published: April 2021

The stray fields produced by ferromagnetic layers in Superconductor/Insulator/Ferromagnet (S/I/F) heterostructures may strongly influence their superconducting properties. Suitable magnetic configurations can be exploited to manipulate the main parameters of the hybrids. Here, the nucleation of the superconducting phase in an external magnetic field that periodically oscillates along the film width is studied on the base of the numerical solution of the linearized system of Usadel equations. In addition, the effect of the magnetic configuration of the F-layer on the temperature dependence of the critical current density, Jc(T), is investigated in the framework of the Ginzburg–Landau phenomenological theory on the base of the oscillating model of a stray field. By following this approach, the Jc(T) dependence of a Nb/SiO2/PdNi trilayer is reproduced for different magnetic configurations of the PdNi layer.
Modelling the Effect of Cu Content on the Microstructure and Vickers Microhardness of Sn-9Zn Binary Eutectic Alloy Using an Artificial Neural Network
Authors: Zahran Heba Y. , Soliman Hany Nazmy , Abd El-Rehim Alaa F. , Habashy Doaa M.
Published: April 2021

The present study aims to clarify the impact of Cu addition and aging conditions on the microstructure development and mechanical properties of Sn-9Zn binary eutectic alloy. The Sn-9Zn alloys with varying Cu content (0, 1, 2, 3, and 4 wt.%) were fabricated by permanent mold casting. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) techniques were utilized to investigate the influence of Cu concentration on the microstructure of pre-aged Sn-9Zn-Cu alloys. The main phases are the primary β-Sn phase, eutectic α-Zn/β-Sn phases, and γ-Cu5Zn8/η-Cu6Sn5/ε-Cu3Sn intermetallic compounds. Vickers microhardness values of Sn-9Zn alloys increased with additions of 1 and 2 wt.% Cu. When the concentration of Cu exceeds 2 wt.%, the values of microhardness declined. Besides, the increase in the aging temperature caused a decrease in the microhardness values for all the investigated alloys. The variations in the microhardness values with Cu content and/or aging temperature were interpreted on the basis of development, growth, and dissolution of formed phases. The alterations of the lattice strain, dislocation density, average crystallite size, and stacking fault probability were evaluated from the XRD profiles of the investigated alloys. Their changes with Cu content and/or aging temperature agree well with the Vickers hardness results. An artificial neural network (ANN) model was employed to simulate and predict the Vickers microhardness of the present alloys. To check the adequacy of the ANN model, the calculated results were compared with experimental data. The results confirm the high ability of the ANN model for simulating and predicting the Vickers microhardness profile for the investigated alloys. Moreover, an equation describing the experimental results was obtained mathematically depending on the ANN model.
Association between Endoscopic Milk-White Mucosa, Epithelial Intracellular Lipid Droplets, and Histological Grade of Superficial Non-Ampullary Duodenal Epithelial Tumors
Authors: Hara Yuko , Goda Kenichi , Hirooka Shinichi , Mitsuishi Takehiro , Ikegami Masahiro , Sumiyama Kazuki
Published: April 2021

We previously reported that superficial non-ampullary duodenal tumors (SNADETs) commonly had a whitish mucosal surface, named milk-white mucosa (MWM). The aim of this study was to evaluate the association of MWM with epithelial intracellular lipid droplets (immunohistochemically stained by adipose differentiation-related protein (ADRP)) and histological tumor grades. We reviewed endoscopic images and the histopathology of SNADETs resected en bloc endoscopically. We analyzed the correlation between the positive rates of endoscopic MWM in preoperative endoscopy and resected specimens, and ADRP-positive rates in the resected specimens. Associations between the MWM-positive rates and tumor grades, high-grade intraepithelial neoplasia (HGIN)/intramucosal carcinoma (IC), and low-grade intraepithelial neoplasia (LGIN) were analyzed. All the 92 SNADETs analyzed were <20 mm and histologically classified into 39 HGIN/IC and 53 LGIN. Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient showed a significant correlation between MWM-positive and ADRP-positive rates (p < 0.001). MWM-positive rates were significantly lower in the HGIN/IC than in the LGIN in preoperative endoscopy (p < 0.001) and resected specimens (p = 0.02). Our results suggest that endoscopic MWM is closely associated with epithelial intracellular lipid droplets and that the MWM-positive rate may be a predictor of histological grade in small SNADETs.
Optimal Generation Scheduling in Hydro-Power Plants with the Coral Reefs Optimization Algorithm
Authors: Marcelino Carolina Gil , Camacho-Gómez Carlos , Jiménez-Fernández Silvia , Salcedo-Sanz Sancho
Published: April 2021

Hydro-power plants are able to produce electrical energy in a sustainable way. A known format for producing energy is through generation scheduling, which is a task usually established as a Unit Commitment problem. The challenge in this process is to define the amount of energy that each turbine-generator needs to deliver to the plant, to fulfill the requested electrical dispatch commitment, while coping with the operational restrictions. An optimal generation scheduling for turbine-generators in hydro-power plants can offer a larger amount of energy to be generated with respect to non-optimized schedules, with significantly less water consumption. This work presents an efficient mathematical modelling for generation scheduling in a real hydro-power plant in Brazil. An optimization method based on different versions of the Coral Reefs Optimization algorithm with Substrate Layers (CRO) is proposed as an effective method to tackle this problem. This approach uses different search operators in a single population to refine the search for an optimal scheduling for this problem. We have shown that the solution obtained with the CRO using Gaussian search in exploration is able to produce competitive solutions in terms of energy production. The results obtained show a huge savings of 13.98 billion (liters of water) monthly projected versus the non-optimized scheduling.
An Economic, Environmental and Safety Analysis of Using Hydrogen Enriched Natural Gas (HENG) in Industrial Facilities
Authors: Preston Nicholas , Maroufmashat Azadeh , Riaz Hassan , Barbouti Sami , Mukherjee Ushnik , Tang Peter , Wang Javan , Elkamel Ali , Fowler Michael
Published: April 2021

The enrichment of natural gas with hydrogen has been identified as a promising pathway for power-to-gas technology with the potential to reduce emissions while achieving feasible return on investment. The evolving regulatory market in the province of Ontario motivates the analysis of business cases for hydrogen on the industrial microgrid scale. This paper aims to investigate the financial and environmental returns associated with producing and storing electrolytic hydrogen for injection into the natural gas feed of a manufacturer’s combined heat and power plants (CHPs). A mathematical methodology was developed for investigating the optimal operation of the integrated system (power-to-gas along with the current system) by considering hydrogen-enriched natural gas. The result of this simulation is an operation plan that delivers optimal economics and an estimate of greenhouse gas emissions. The simulation was implemented across an entire year for each combination of generation price limit and storage coefficient. Because the provincial grid imposes a lesser carbon footprint than that of a pure natural gas turbine, any offset of natural gas by hydrogen reduces the carbon intensity of the system. From an environmental perspective, the amount of carbon abated by the model fell within a range of 3000 ton CO2/year. From a policy perspective, this suggests that a minimum feasible carbon price of $60/ton CO2e must be set by applicable regulatory bodies. Lastly, a Failure Modes and Effects Analysis was performed for the proposed system to validate the safety of the design.
Distribution Model of Fluid Components and Quantitative Calculation of Movable Oil in Inter-Salt Shale Using 2D NMR
Authors: Yan Weichao , Sun Fujing , Sun Jianmeng , Golsanami Naser
Published: April 2021

Some inter-salt shale reservoirs have high oil saturations but the soluble salts in their complex lithology pose considerable challenges to their production. Low-field nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) has been widely used in evaluating physical properties, fluid characteristics, and fluid saturation of conventional oil and gas reservoirs as well as common shale reservoirs. However, the fluid distribution analysis and fluid saturation calculations in inter-salt shale based on NMR results have not been investigated because of existing technical difficulties. Herein, to explore the fluid distribution patterns and movable oil saturation of the inter-salt shale, a specific experimental scheme was designed which is based on the joint adaptation of multi-state saturation, multi-temperature heating, and NMR measurements. This novel approach was applied to the inter-salt shale core samples from the Qianjiang Sag of the Jianghan Basin in China. The experiments were conducted using two sets of inter-salt shale samples, namely cylindrical and powder samples. Additionally, by comparing the one-dimensional (1D) and two-dimensional (2D) NMR results of these samples in oil-saturated and octamethylcyclotetrasiloxane-saturated states, the distributions of free movable oil and water were obtained. Meanwhile, the distributions of the free residual oil, adsorbed oil, and kerogen in the samples were obtained by comparing the 2D NMR T1-T2 maps of the original samples with the sample heated to five different temperatures of 80, 200, 350, 450, and 600 °C. This research puts forward a 2D NMR identification graph for fluid components in the inter-salt shale reservoirs. Our experimental scheme effectively solves the problems of fluid composition distribution and movable oil saturation calculation in the study area, which is of notable importance for subsequent exploration and production practices.
Experimental Study on Thermal Performance of a Loop Heat Pipe with Different Working Wick Materials
Authors: Htoo Kyaw Zin , Huynh Phuoc Hien , Kariya Keishi , Miyara Akio
Published: April 2021

In loop heat pipes (LHPs), wick materials and their structures are important in achieving continuous heat transfer with a favorable distribution of the working fluid. This article introduces the characteristics of loop heat pipes with different wicks: (i) sintered stainless steel and (ii) ceramic. The evaporator has a flat-rectangular assembly under gravity-assisted conditions. Water was used as a working fluid, and the performance of the LHP was analyzed in terms of temperatures at different locations of the LHP and thermal resistance. As to the results, a stable operation can be maintained in the range of 50 to 520 W for the LHP with the stainless-steel wick, matching the desired limited temperature for electronics of 85 °C at the heater surface at 350 W (129.6 kW·m−2). Results using the ceramic wick showed that a heater surface temperature of below 85 °C could be obtained when operating at 54 W (20 kW·m−2).
Expiration Date of Ready-to-Eat Salads: Effects on Microbial Load and Biochemical Attributes
Authors: Xylia Panayiota , Botsaris George , Skandamis Panagiotis , Tzortzakis Nikolaos
Published: April 2021

When minimally processed vegetables reach their expiration date, expose an increased microbial load. This includes mainly spoilage microorganisms but also foodborne pathogens, thus affecting the quality and safety of highly consumed ready-to-eat salads. A total of 144 ready-to-eat salads from the Cypriot market were analyzed in an attempt to determine the effects of the expiration date on the microbial load and plant metabolic variables of the salads. Possible correlations between them were also investigated for the first time. Furthermore, the impacts of the season (winter, summer), salad producing companies and type of salad and/or their interactions with the tested parameters were investigated. Results revealed that the microbial load (mainly spoilage microorganisms, such as Pseudomonas spp., yeasts and molds) increased towards the end of the shelf life. The microbial load was differentiated among the five salad producers and/or the salad types, highlighting the importance of a common and safe sanitation-processing chain in the preparation of ready-to-eat salads. Summer was the season in which Escherichia coli counts were found to be higher for plain lettuce, while Staphylococcus spp. was increased numbers for the lettuce+endive/radicchio, lettuce+rocket and lettuce+chives type of salads. Additionally, an increased Staphylococcus spp. was observed for plain rocket salads in winter. All samples examined were found negative for Salmonella enterica and Listeria monocytogenes. Moreover, carbon dioxide production and damage indexes (hydrogen peroxide and lipid peroxidation) increased on expiration date on both winter and summer seasons, indicating plant tissue stress at the end of shelf life. These findings indicate that the expiration date and relevant shelf life of processed vegetables are important parameters to be considered when postharvest management is applied to these products, ensuring safety and quality.
Transcriptomic Analysis of Rice Plants Overexpressing PsGAPDH in Response to Salinity Stress
Authors: Lim Hyemin , Hwang Hyunju , Kim Taelim , Kim Soyoung , Chung Hoyong , Lee Daewoo , Kim Soorin , Park Soochul , Cho Woosuk , Ji Hyeonso , Lee Gangseob
Published: April 2021

In plants, glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) is a main enzyme in the glycolytic pathway. It plays an essential role in glycerolipid metabolism and response to various stresses. To examine the function of PsGAPDH (Pleurotus sajor-caju GAPDH) in response to abiotic stress, we generated transgenic rice plants with single-copy/intergenic/homozygous overexpression PsGAPDH (PsGAPDH-OX) and investigated their responses to salinity stress. Seedling growth and germination rates of PsGAPDH-OX were significantly increased under salt stress conditions compared to those of the wild type. To elucidate the role of PsGAPDH-OX in salt stress tolerance of rice, an Illumina HiSeq 2000 platform was used to analyze transcriptome profiles of leaves under salt stress. Analysis results of sequencing data showed that 1124 transcripts were differentially expressed. Using the list of differentially expressed genes (DEGs), functional enrichment analyses of DEGs such as Gene Ontology (GO) terms and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathways were performed. KEGG pathway enrichment analysis revealed that unigenes exhibiting differential expression were involved in starch and sucrose metabolism. Interestingly, trehalose-6-phosphate synthase (TPS) genes, of which expression was enhanced by abiotic stress, showed a significant difference in PsGAPDH-OX. Findings of this study suggest that PsGAPDH plays a role in the adaptation of rice plants to salt stress.
Near-Source Simulation of Strong Ground Motion in Amatrice Downtown Including Site Effects
Authors: Todrani Alessandro , Cultrera Giovanna
Published: April 2021

On 24 August 2016, a Mw 6.0 earthquake started a damaging seismic sequence in central Italy. The historical center of Amatrice village reached the XI degree (MCS scale) but the high vulnerability alone could not explain the heavy damage. Unfortunately, at the time of the earthquake only AMT station, 200 m away from the downtown, recorded the mainshock, whereas tens of temporary stations were installed afterwards. We propose a method to simulate the ground motion affecting Amatrice, using the FFT amplitude recorded at AMT, which has been modified by the standard spectral ratio (SSR) computed at 14 seismic stations in downtown. We tested the procedure by comparing simulations and recordings of two later mainshocks (Mw 5.9 and Mw 6.5), underlining advantages and limits of the technique. The strong motion variability of simulations was related to the proximity of the seismic source, accounted for by the ground motion at AMT, and to the peculiar site effects, described by the transfer function at the sites. The largest amplification characterized the stations close to the NE hill edge and produced simulated values of intensity measures clearly above one standard deviation of the GMM expected for Italy, up to 1.6 g for PGA.
Is Team Emotional Composition Essential for Virtual Team Members’ Well-Being? The Role of a Team Emotional Management Intervention
Authors: Gamero Nuria , González-Anta Baltasar , Orengo Virginia , Zornoza Ana , Peñarroja Vicente
Published: April 2021

The aim of this study was twofold. First, we examined the relationship between virtual teams’ emotional intelligence composition and three indicators of their members’ well-being, members’ satisfaction with the team, and positive and negative affective states. Second, we analyzed the moderator role of an online team emotional management intervention in the effects of the team emotional intelligence composition. One hundred and two virtual teams participated in an experimental study with repeated measures. Teams were randomly assigned to either an intervention designed to help them detect and manage emotions during virtual teamwork or a control condition (with no intervention). We followed a hierarchical data strategy and examined a number of nested models using Hierarchical Linear Modeling. Our findings showed that virtual teams’ emotional intelligence composition is a key driver of the team members’ well-being, and that a team emotional management intervention moderated the impact of the team composition of emotional intelligence, buffering its influence.
Effect of COVID-19 on Health-Related Quality of Life in Adolescents and Children: A Systematic Review
Authors: Nobari Hadi , Fashi Mohamad , Eskandari Arezoo , Villafaina Santos , Murillo-Garcia Álvaro , Pérez-Gómez Jorge
Published: April 2021

The aim of the present systematic review was to assess and provide an up-to-date analysis of the impact of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of children and adolescents. Thus, an electronic search of the literature, in two well-known databases (PubMed and Web of Science), was performed until February 2021 (without date restriction). PRISMA guideline methodology was employed and data regarding the HRQoL were extracted from eligible studies. Articles were included if they met the following inclusion criteria: (a) children and/or adolescent population (4 to 19 years old); (b) HRQoL as a main assessment; (c) German, Spanish, Portuguese, French, and English language; and (d) pre-pandemic and during pandemic HRQoL data. Following the initial search, 241 possible related articles were identified. A total of 79 articles were identified as duplicates. Moreover, 129 articles were removed after reading the title and abstract. Of the remaining 33 articles, 27 were removed since they were not focused on children or adolescents (n = 19), articles did not report pre- and post- pandemic HRQoL values (n = 6), articles were not focused on HRQoL (n = 6), and one article was an editorial. Finally, six studies fulfilled the inclusion criteria and, therefore, were included in the systematic review. A total of 3177 children and/or adolescents during COVID-19 were included in this systematic review. Three articles showed that COVID-19 pandemic significantly impacted the HRQoL of children and adolescents, and another did not report comparison between pre- and during COVID-19 pandemic, although a reduction in the HRQoL can be observed. Nevertheless, two articles did not find significant changes and another one did not report p-values. Regarding sex differences, only two studies analyzed this topic, observing no differences between girls and boys in the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on HRQoL. Taking into account these results, this systematic review might confirm that COVID-19 has a negative impact on the HRQoL of children and/or adolescents.
The Interplay between Oxidative Stress, Inflammation and Angiogenesis in Bladder Cancer Development
Authors: Wigner Paulina , Grębowski Radosław , Bijak Michał , Saluk-Bijak Joanna , Szemraj Janusz
Published: April 2021

In 2018, 550,000 people were diagnosed with bladder cancer (BC), of which nearly 200,000 people died. Moreover, men are 4 times more likely than women to be diagnosed with BC. The risk factors include exposure to environmental and occupational chemicals, especially tobacco smoke, benzidine and genetic factors. Despite numerous studies, the molecular basis of BC development remains unclear. A growing body of evidence suggests that inflammation, oxidant-antioxidant imbalance and angiogenesis disorders may play a significant role in the development and progression of bladder cancer. The patients with bladder cancer were characterised by an increased level of reactive oxygen species (ROS), the products of lipid peroxidation, proinflammatory cytokines and proangiogenic factors as compared to controls. Furthermore, it was shown that polymorphisms localised in genes associated with these pathways may modulate the risk of BC. Interestingly, ROS overproduction may induce the production of proinflammatory cytokines, which finally activated angiogenesis. Moreover, the available literature shows that both inflammation and oxidative stress may lead to activation of angiogenesis and tumour progression in BC patients.
Legitimacy and Reciprocal Altruism in Donation-Based Crowdfunding: Evidence from India
Authors: Khurana Indu
Published: April 2021

The donation-based crowdfunding platforms witness a mix of different entities seeking funding for numerous campaigns, adding complexities in understanding the donor behavior and factors that motivate donation. This study builds upon the economic theory of charitable giving and examines the ethical dilemma that donors face during the selection process. Using the data from Ketto.org, the biggest crowdfunding platform in India, this paper investigates the rank-order preference of donors while making a selection across heterogeneous entities and campaigns. The results show that campaigns run by non-profit organizations registered with causes that qualify for a tax-deduction receive a higher level of funding. Donors then fund unregistered non-profit organizations, followed by campaigns run by individuals. Demonstrating legitimacy by using subtle cues, like tagging “with tax-benefit,” motivates the donors to provide a higher amount of funding.
The Causal Role of Lipoxidative Damage in Mitochondrial Bioenergetic Dysfunction Linked to Alzheimer’s Disease Pathology
Authors: Jové Mariona , Mota-Martorell Natàlia , Torres Pascual , Ayala Victoria , Portero-Otin Manuel , Ferrer Isidro , Pamplona Reinald
Published: April 2021

Current shreds of evidence point to the entorhinal cortex (EC) as the origin of the Alzheimer’s disease (AD) pathology in the cerebrum. Compared with other cortical areas, the neurons from this brain region possess an inherent selective vulnerability derived from particular oxidative stress conditions that favor increased mitochondrial molecular damage with early bioenergetic involvement. This alteration of energy metabolism is the starting point for subsequent changes in a multitude of cell mechanisms, leading to neuronal dysfunction and, ultimately, cell death. These events are induced by changes that come with age, creating the substrate for the alteration of several neuronal pathways that will evolve toward neurodegeneration and, consequently, the development of AD pathology. In this context, the present review will focus on description of the biological mechanisms that confer vulnerability specifically to neurons of the entorhinal cortex, the changes induced by the aging process in this brain region, and the alterations at the mitochondrial level as the earliest mechanism for the development of AD pathology. Current findings allow us to propose the existence of an altered allostatic mechanism at the entorhinal cortex whose core is made up of mitochondrial oxidative stress, lipid metabolism, and energy production, and which, in a positive loop, evolves to neurodegeneration, laying the basis for the onset and progression of AD pathology.
Utilization of Red Mud as a Source for Metal Ions—A Review
Authors: Samal Sneha
Published: April 2021

An overview is presented on the prospective use of red mud as a resource in this review. Various scopes are suggested for the utilization of red mud to maintain a sustainable environment. The potential use of red mud covers the valuable metal recovery that could emphasize the use of red mud as a resource. Red mud could act as reduced slag in the metallurgical field for the extraction of minerals and metals for upscale application. Although many studies have revealed the potential utilization of red mud, most of them are only limited to a lab-scale basis. Therefore, a large-scale investigation on recycling of red mud for the extraction in the area of the metal recovery section will draw attention to the extensive use of red mud. Metal ions of major elements Fe (44 wt.%), Al (18.2 wt.%), Si (14.3 wt.%), Ti (9.3 wt.%), Na (6.2 wt.%), Ca (4.4 wt.%) as major elements and of Mg, V, Mn, Cr, K as minor elements and rare earth elements such as Ce (102 mg/kg), La (56 mg/kg), Sc (47 mg/kg), Nd (45 mg/kg), Sm (9 mg/kg). Moreover, an appropriate in-house metal recovery facility with the alumina industry will come out as a cost–benefit analysis.
Reconfigurable Continuous Meta-Grating for Broadband Polarization Conversion and Perfect Absorption
Authors: Huang Yijia , Xiao Tianxiao , Xie Zhengwei , Zheng Jie , Su Yarong , Chen Weidong , Liu Ke , Tang Mingjun , Li Ling
Published: April 2021

As promising building blocks for functional materials and devices, metasurfaces have gained widespread attention in recent years due to their unique electromagnetic (EM) properties, as well as subwavelength footprints. However, current designs based on discrete unit cells often suffer from low working efficiencies, narrow operation bandwidths, and fixed EM functionalities. Here, by employing the superior performance of a continuous metasurface, combined with the reconfigurable properties of a phase change material (PCM), a dual-functional meta-grating is proposed in the infrared region, which can achieve a broadband polarization conversion of over 90% when the PCM is in an amorphous state, and a perfect EM absorption larger than 91% when the PCM changes to a crystalline state. Moreover, by arranging the meta-grating to form a quasi-continuous metasurface, subsequent simulations indicated that the designed device exhibited an ultralow specular reflectivity below 10% and a tunable thermal emissivity from 14.5% to 91%. It is believed that the proposed devices with reconfigurable EM responses have great potential in the field of emissivity control and infrared camouflage.
High-Efficient Calculation Method for Sensitive PDGEs of Five-Axis Reconfigurable Machine Tool
Authors: Song Zhanqun , Ding Shuang , Chen Zhiwei , Lu Zhongwang , Wang Zhouzhou
Published: April 2021

Sensitive geometric errors of a machine tool have significant influence on machining accuracy, and it is important to identify them. Complex modeling and analysis must be carried out to identify the sensitive geometric errors of a five-axis machine tool by using the traditional method. Once the configuration structure of the machine tools is reconstructed, repetitive error modeling and analysis are required, and the identification cycle of sensitive geometric errors is long. Therefore, this paper proposes a high-efficient calculation method for sensitive position-dependent geometric error (PDGEs) identification of a five-axis reconfigurable machine tool. According to the results of sensitive geometric errors of the RTTTR-type and TTTRR-type five-axis machine tools, the mapping expressions between sensitive PDGEs and the configuration structure of machine tools was established. In this method, sensitive PDGEs can be calculated directly according to the mapping expression, which eliminates the process of error modeling and analysis. Taking a RTTTR-type five-axis machine tool as an example, the sensitive PDGEs were calculated according to the presented mapping expressions without error modeling and analysis. A series of analysis points in the machining area were selected to compare the machining errors before and after sensitive PDGE compensation. The results show that this calculation method is accurate.
Statistical Significance Revisited
Authors: Tormählen Maike , Klinkova Galiya , Grabinski Michael
Published: April 2021

Statistical significance measures the reliability of a result obtained from a random experiment. We investigate the number of repetitions needed for a statistical result to have a certain significance. In the first step, we consider binomially distributed variables in the example of medication testing with fixed placebo efficacy, asking how many experiments are needed in order to achieve a significance of 95%. In the next step, we take the probability distribution of the placebo efficacy into account, which to the best of our knowledge has not been done so far. Depending on the specifics, we show that in order to obtain identical significance, it may be necessary to perform twice as many experiments than in a setting where the placebo distribution is neglected. We proceed by considering more general probability distributions and close with comments on some erroneous assumptions on probability distributions which lead, for instance, to a trivial explanation of the fat tail.