bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Interspecific Variation in One-Carbon Metabolism within the Ovarian Follicle, Oocyte, and Preimplantation Embryo: Consequences for Epigenetic Programming of DNA Methylation
Authors: Clare Constance E. , Pestinger Valerie , Kwong Wing Yee , Tutt Desmond A. R. , Xu Juan , Byrne Helen M. , Barrett David A. , Emes Richard D. , Sinclair Kevin D.
Published: February 2021

One-carbon (1C) metabolism provides methyl groups for the synthesis and/or methylation of purines and pyrimidines, biogenic amines, proteins, and phospholipids. Our understanding of how 1C pathways operate, however, pertains mostly to the (rat) liver. Here we report that transcripts for all bar two genes (i.e., BHMT, MAT1A) encoding enzymes in the linked methionine-folate cycles are expressed in all cell types within the ovarian follicle, oocyte, and blastocyst in the cow, sheep, and pig; as well as in rat granulosa cells (GCs) and human KGN cells (a granulosa-like tumor cell line). Betaine-homocysteine methyltransferase (BHMT) protein was absent in bovine theca and GCs, as was activity of this enzyme in GCs. Mathematical modeling predicted that absence of this enzyme would lead to more volatile S-adenosylmethionine-mediated transmethylation in response to 1C substrate (e.g., methionine) or cofactor provision. We tested the sensitivity of bovine GCs to reduced methionine (from 50 to 10 µM) and observed a diminished flux of 1C units through the methionine cycle. We then used reduced-representation bisulfite sequencing to demonstrate that this reduction in methionine during bovine embryo culture leads to genome-wide alterations to DNA methylation in >1600 genes, including a cohort of imprinted genes linked to an abnormal fetal-overgrowth phenotype. Bovine ovarian and embryonic cells are acutely sensitive to methionine, but further experimentation is required to determine the significance of interspecific variation in BHMT expression.
The Interaction of Selective A1 and A2A Adenosine Receptor Antagonists with Magnesium and Zinc Ions in Mice: Behavioural, Biochemical and Molecular Studies
Authors: Szopa Aleksandra , Bogatko Karolina , Herbet Mariola , Serefko Anna , Ostrowska Marta , Wośko Sylwia , Świąder Katarzyna , Szewczyk Bernadeta , Wlaź Aleksandra , Skałecki Piotr , Wróbel Andrzej , Mandziuk Sławomir , Pochodyła Aleksandra , Kudela Anna , Dudka Jarosław , Radziwoń-Zaleska Maria , Wlaź Piotr , Poleszak Ewa
Published: February 2021

The purpose of the study was to investigate whether the co-administration of Mg2+ and Zn2+ with selective A1 and A2A receptor antagonists might be an interesting antidepressant strategy. Forced swim, tail suspension, and spontaneous locomotor motility tests in mice were performed. Further, biochemical and molecular studies were conducted. The obtained results indicate the interaction of DPCPX and istradefylline with Mg2+ and Zn2+ manifested in an antidepressant-like effect. The reduction of the BDNF serum level after co-administration of DPCPX and istradefylline with Mg2+ and Zn2+ was noted. Additionally, Mg2+ or Zn2+, both alone and in combination with DPCPX or istradefylline, causes changes in Adora1 expression, DPCPX or istradefylline co-administered with Zn2+ increases Slc6a15 expression as compared to a single-drug treatment, co-administration of tested agents does not have a more favourable effect on Comt expression. Moreover, the changes obtained in Ogg1, MsrA, Nrf2 expression show that DPCPX-Mg2+, DPCPX-Zn2+, istradefylline-Mg2+ and istradefylline-Zn2+ co-treatment may have greater antioxidant capacity benefits than administration of DPCPX and istradefylline alone. It seems plausible that a combination of selective A1 as well as an A2A receptor antagonist and magnesium or zinc may be a new antidepressant therapeutic strategy.
Adsorption of Lead Ion from Wastewater Using Non-Crystal Hydrated Calcium Silicate Gel
Authors: Liu Shijie , Cui Suping , Guo Hongxia , Wang Yali , Zheng Yan
Published: February 2021

In order to obtain low-cost and excellent adsorption materials, this paper used calcium acetate and water glass as raw materials to synthesis hydrated calcium silicate gel by precipitation method. The performance and structure of hydrated calcium silicate gel were systematically studied by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, specific surface area analyzer and scanning electron microscope. Studies have shown that, non-crystal hydrated calcium silicate gel (CSH) were successfully prepared, and the removal rate of lead ion using CSH reached more than 90%. The adsorption process is consistent with the pseudo-second-order kinetic model and Langmuir adsorption isotherm model, and the limit adsorption capacity reaches 263.17 mg·g−1. The acid treatment experiment proved that the adsorption capacity of lead ion using CSH was satisfactory, and the adsorption rate remained at >60% after 5 cycles. The research may provide a low-cost, high-efficiency and high stability adsorbent.
Sodium Solid Electrolytes: NaxAlOy Bilayer-System Based on Macroporous Bulk Material and Dense Thin-Film
Authors: Hoppe Antonia , Dirksen Cornelius , Skadell Karl , Stelter Michael , Schulz Matthias , Carstens Simon , Enke Dirk , Koppka Sharon
Published: February 2021

A new preparation concept of a partially porous solid-state bilayer electrolyte (BE) for high-temperature sodium-ion batteries has been developed. The porous layer provides mechanical strength and is infiltrated with liquid and highly conductive NaAlCl4 salt, while the dense layer prevents short circuits. Both layers consist, at least partially, of Na-β-alumina. The BEs are synthesized by a three-step procedure, including a sol-gel synthesis, the preparation of porous, calcined bulk material, and spin coating to deposit a dense layer. A detailed study is carried out to investigate the effect of polyethylene oxide (PEO) concentration on pore size and crystallization of the bulk material. The microstructure and crystallographic composition are verified for all steps via mercury intrusion, X-ray diffraction, and scanning electron microscopy. The porous bulk material exhibits an unprecedented open porosity for a NaxAlOy bilayer-system of ≤57% with a pore size of ≈200–300 nm and pore volume of ≤0.3 cm3∙g−1. It contains high shares of crystalline α-Al2O3 and Na-β-alumina. The BEs are characterized by impedance spectroscopy, which proved an increase of ionic conductivity with increasing porosity and increasing Na-β-alumina phase content in the bulk material. Ion conductivity of up to 0.10 S∙cm−1 at 300 °C is achieved.
Review about the Application of Fractal Theory in the Research of Packaging Materials
Authors: Duan Qingshan , An Jiejie , Mao Hanling , Liang Dongwu , Li Hao , Wang Shuangfei , Huang Chongxing
Published: February 2021

The work is intended to summarize the recent progress in the work of fractal theory in packaging material to provide important insights into applied research on fractal in packaging materials. The fractal analysis methods employed for inorganic materials such as metal alloys and ceramics, polymers, and their composites are reviewed from the aspects of fractal feature extraction and fractal dimension calculation methods. Through the fractal dimension of packaging materials and the fractal in their preparation process, the relationship between the fractal characteristic parameters and the properties of packaging materials is discussed. The fractal analysis method can qualitatively and quantitatively characterize the fractal characteristics, microstructure, and properties of a large number of various types of packaging materials. The method of using fractal theory to probe the preparation and properties of packaging materials is universal; the relationship between the properties of packaging materials and fractal dimension will be a critical trend of fractal theory in the research on properties of packaging materials.
Fragmented α-Amylase into Microporous Metal-Organic Frameworks as Bioreactors
Authors: Liu Li-Hao , Chiu Ru-Yin , So Pamela Berilyn , Lirio Stephen , Huang Hsi-Ya , Liu Wan-Ling , Lin Chia-Her
Published: February 2021

This work presents an efficient and facile strategy to prepare an α-amylase bioreactor. As enzymes are quite large to be immobilized inside metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), the tertiary and quaternary structures of α-amylase were first disrupted using a combination of urea, dithiothreitol (DTT), and iodoacetamide (IAA). After losing its tertiary structure, the unfolded proteins can now penetrate into the microporous MOFs, affording fragmented α-amylase@MOF bioreactors. Among the different MOFs evaluated, UiO-66 gave the most promising potential due to the size-matching effect of the α-helix of the fragmented α-amylase with the pore size of UiO-66. The prepared bioreactor exhibited high yields of small carbohydrate (maltose) even when reused up to 15 times (>80% conversion).
Bonding widths of Deposited Polymer Strands in Additive Manufacturing
Authors: Luo Cheng , Mrinal Manjarik , Wang Xiang , Hong Ye
Published: February 2021

In this study, we explore the deformation of a polymer extrudate upon the deposition on a build platform, to determine the bonding widths between stacked strands in fused-filament fabrication. The considered polymer melt has an extremely high viscosity, which dominates in its deformation. Mainly considering the viscous effect, we derive analytical expressions of the flat width, compressed depth, bonding width and cross-sectional profile of the filament in four special cases, which have different combinations of extrusion speed, print speed and nozzle height. We further validate the derived relations, using our experimental results on acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), as well as existing experimental and numerical results on ABS and polylactic acid (PLA). Compared with existing theoretical and numerical results, our derived analytic relations are simple, which need less calculations. They can be used to quickly predict the geometries of the deposited strands, including the bonding widths.
Sensitivity Analysis of Determining the Material Parameters of an Asphalt Pavement to Measurement Errors in Backcalculations
Authors: Tutka Paweł , Nagórski Roman , Złotowska Magdalena , Rudnicki Marek
Published: February 2021

Nondestructive tests of road pavements are among the most widely used methods of pavement condition diagnostics. Deflections of road pavement under a known load are most commonly measured in such tests, e.g., with the use of falling weight deflectometer (FWD). Measured values allow to determine the material parameters of the road structure, corresponding to the obtained results, by means of backcalculations. Among the factors that impact on the quality of results is the accuracy of deflection measurement. Deflection basins with small differences of displacement values may correspond to significantly different combinations of material parameters. Taking advantage of them for mechanistic calculations of road pavement may eventually lead to incorrect estimation of the remaining fatigue life and then inadequate selection of pavement reinforcement. This study investigated the impact of measurement errors on the change of the obtained values of stiffness moduli of flexible road pavement layers. Additionally, the influence of obtained material parameters on the values of key pavement strain, and consequently on its design fatigue life was presented.
Reduction and Immobilization of Movable Cu2+ Ions in Soils by Fe78Si9B13 Amorphous Alloy
Authors: Pei Liefei , Zhang Xiangyun , Yuan Zizhou
Published: February 2021

The Fe-based amorphous alloy (Fe78Si9B13AP) is applied to the remediation of copper contaminated soil for the first time. The dynamic process of conversion of movable Cu to immobilized forms in the soil system is analyzed. In addition, the dynamic process of form transformation of Cu2+ ions in the soil system is analyzed. The morphology and phase composition of the reaction products are characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD). Finally, the feasibility of recovering residual stabilizer particles and attached immobilized copper by the magnetic separation process is discussed. The results show that the apparent reaction rate constant of Fe79Si9B13AP with Cu2+ ions is higher than that of zero valent iron (ZVI) at all the experimental temperatures. According to the Arrhenius formula, the apparent activation energy of the reaction of Fe78Si9B13AP and ZVI with Cu2+ ions is 13.24 and 19.02 kJ/mol, respectively, which is controlled by the diffusion process. The lower apparent activation energy is one of the important reasons for the high reaction activity of Fe78Si9B13AP. After 7 days of reaction, a continuous extraction of the experimental soil shows that the main form of copper in the immobilized soil is Cu and copper combined with iron (hydroxide) oxide, and there is almost no soluble copper with a strong mobility, which effectively reduced the bioavailability of copper in the soil. The magnetic separation results of the treated soil show that the recovery rates of immobilized copper in Fe78Si9B13AP and soil are 47.23% and 21.56%, respectively, which reduced the content of iron and copper in the soil to a certain extent. The above experimental results show that Fe78Si9B13AP is a promising new material for the remediation of heavy metal contaminated soils, and provides more new references for the application of amorphous alloys in the field of remediation of water and soil contaminated by heavy metals and organic matter.
Recent Progress on Stability and Thermo-Physical Properties of Mono and Hybrid towards Green Nanofluids
Authors: Zainon S.N.M. , Azmi W.H.
Published: February 2021

Many studies have shown the remarkable enhancement of thermo-physical properties with the addition of a small quantity of nanoparticles into conventional fluids. However, the long-term stability of the nanofluids, which plays a significant role in enhancing these properties, is hard to achieve, thus limiting the performance of the heat transfer fluids in practical applications. The present paper attempts to highlight various approaches used by researchers in improving and evaluating the stability of thermal fluids and thoroughly explores various factors that contribute to the enhancement of the thermo-physical properties of mono, hybrid, and green nanofluids. There are various methods to maintain the stability of nanofluids, but this paper particularly focuses on the sonication process, pH modification, and the use of surfactant. In addition, the common techniques to evaluate the stability of nanofluids are undertaken by using visual observation, TEM, FESEM, XRD, zeta potential analysis, and UV-Vis spectroscopy. Prior investigations revealed that the type of nanoparticle, particle volume concentration, size and shape of particles, temperature, and base fluids highly influence the thermo-physical properties of nanofluids. In conclusion, this paper summarized the findings and strategies to enhance the stability and factors affecting the thermal conductivity and dynamic viscosity of mono and hybrid of nanofluids towards green nanofluids.
A Survey of Software-Defined Networks-on-Chip: Motivations, Challenges and Opportunities
Authors: Gomez-Rodriguez Jose Ricardo , Sandoval-Arechiga Remberto , Ibarra-Delgado Salvador , Rodriguez-Abdala Viktor Ivan , Vazquez-Avila Jose Luis , Parra-Michel Ramon
Published: February 2021

Current computing platforms encourage the integration of thousands of processing cores, and their interconnections, into a single chip. Mobile smartphones, IoT, embedded devices, desktops, and data centers use Many-Core Systems-on-Chip (SoCs) to exploit their compute power and parallelism to meet the dynamic workload requirements. Networks-on-Chip (NoCs) lead to scalable connectivity for diverse applications with distinct traffic patterns and data dependencies. However, when the system executes various applications in traditional NoCs—optimized and fixed at synthesis time—the interconnection nonconformity with the different applications’ requirements generates limitations in the performance. In the literature, NoC designs embraced the Software-Defined Networking (SDN) strategy to evolve into an adaptable interconnection solution for future chips. However, the works surveyed implement a partial Software-Defined Network-on-Chip (SDNoC) approach, leaving aside the SDN layered architecture that brings interoperability in conventional networking. This paper explores the SDNoC literature and classifies it regarding the desired SDN features that each work presents. Then, we described the challenges and opportunities detected from the literature survey. Moreover, we explain the motivation for an SDNoC approach, and we expose both SDN and SDNoC concepts and architectures. We observe that works in the literature employed an uncomplete layered SDNoC approach. This fact creates various fertile areas in the SDNoC architecture where researchers may contribute to Many-Core SoCs designs.
Maternal Diet Influences Fetal Growth but Not Fetal Kidney Volume in an Australian Indigenous Pregnancy Cohort
Authors: Lee Yu Qi , Lumbers Eugenie R , Schumacher Tracy L , Collins Clare E , Rae Kym M , Pringle Kirsty G ,   Gomeroi gaaynggal Advisory Committee
Published: February 2021

Suboptimal nutrition during pregnancy is recognised as a significant modifiable determinant in the development of chronic disease in offspring in later life. The current study aimed: (i) to assess the dietary intakes of pregnant Indigenous Australian women against national recommendations and (ii) to investigate the associations between maternal nutrition during pregnancy and the growth of the offspring, including kidney development in late gestation in the Gomeroi gaaynggal cohort (n = 103). Maternal dietary intake in the third trimester was assessed using the Australian Eating Survey Food Frequency Questionnaire. Estimated fetal weight (EFW) and kidney size were obtained by ultrasound. Birth weight was retrieved from hospital birth records. Of the five key nutrients for optimal reproductive health (folate, iron, calcium, zinc and fibre), the nutrients with the highest percentage of pregnant women achieving the nutrient reference values (NRVs) were zinc (75.7%) and folate (57.3%), whereas iron was the lowest. Only four people achieved all NRVs (folate, iron, calcium, zinc and fibre) important in pregnancy. Sodium and saturated fat intake exceeded recommended levels and diet quality was low, with a median score of 28 out of 73 points. After adjusting for smoking and pre-pregnancy body mass index, only maternal intake of retinol equivalents and the proportion of energy from nutrient-dense or energy-dense, nutrient-poor (EDNP) foods were associated with fetal growth. EFW decreased by 0.13 g and birth weight decreased by 0.24 g for every µg increase in maternal dietary retinol intake. Interestingly, EFW, but not actual birth weight, was positively associated with percentage energy from nutrient dense foods and negatively associated with percentage energy from EDNP foods. Dietary supplement usage was associated with increased birthweight, most significantly iron and folate supplementation. Current dietary intakes of pregnant Australian women from this cohort do not align with national guidelines. Furthermore, current findings show that maternal retinol intake and diet composition during pregnancy can influence fetal growth, but not fetal kidney growth in late gestation. Strategies that aim to support and optimise nutrient intakes of Indigenous pregnant women are urgently needed. Future studies with long-term follow-up of the children in the current cohort to assess renal damage and blood pressure are imperative.
Association between Depression, Lifestyles, Sleep Quality, and Sense of Coherence in a Population with Cardiovascular Risk
Authors: Riera-Sampol Aina , Bennasar-Veny Miquel , Tauler Pedro , Nafría Mar , Colom Miquel , Aguilo Antoni
Published: February 2021

People with cardiovascular risk have more depression than the general population. Depression and cardiovascular risk have been commonly linked to lower sense of coherence (SOC) values, unhealthy lifestyles, and poor sleep quality. The aim of this study was to analyze the association between depression, health-related lifestyles, sleep quality, and SOC in a population with cardiovascular risk. A cross-sectional study was conducted in 310 participants (aged 35–75 years) with cardiovascular risk. Sociodemographic and anthropometric characteristics, cardiovascular risk, SOC score, depression levels, sleep quality, and lifestyles (physical activity, diet quality (measured as the adherence to the Mediterranean diet), and tobacco and alcohol consumption) were determined. The regression analysis showed significant associations between depression levels and sex (odds ratio (OR): 2.29; 95% CI: 1.29, 4.07), diet (OR: 0.85; 95% CI: 0.73, 0.99), body mass index (BMI) (OR: 1.06; 95% CI: 1.01, 1.12), cardiovascular disease (CVD) (OR: 2.55; 95% CI: 1.18, 5.48), sleep quality (OR: 0.26; 95% CI: 0.15, 0.46), and SOC (OR: 0.96; 95% CI: 0.94, 0.98). Protective effects of male sex, a lower BMI, no CVD, a higher adherence to the Mediterranean diet, a high sleep quality, and a higher SOC were found. In conclusion, among lifestyles determined, only diet was associated with depression levels. SOC and sleep quality were also found as significant predictors for depression levels.
A Food, a Bite, a Sip: How Much Allergen Is in That?
Authors: Kok Melanie , Compagner Astrid , Panneman Ina , Sprikkelman Aline , Vlieg-Boerstra Berber
Published: February 2021

Detailed information about the amount of allergenic protein ingested by the patient prior to an allergic reaction yields valuable information for the diagnosis, guidance and management of food allergy. However, the exact amount of ingredients is often not declared on the label. In this study the feasibility was studied for estimating the amount of allergenic protein from milk, eggs, peanuts and hazelnuts in frequently consumed composite and non-composite foods and per bite or sip size in different age groups in the Netherlands. Foods containing milk, egg, peanut or hazelnut most frequently consumed were selected for the age groups 2–3, 4–6 and 19–30 years. If the label did not yield clear information, the amount of allergenic protein was estimated based on food labels. Bite or sip sizes were determined in these age groups in 30 different foods. The amount of allergenic protein could be estimated in 47/70 (67%) of composite foods, which was complex. Estimated protein content of milk, egg, peanut and hazelnut was 2–3 g for most foods but varied greatly from 3 to 8610 mg and may be below threshold levels of the patient. In contrast, a single bite or sip can contain a sufficient amount of allergenic protein to elicit an allergic reaction. Bite and sip sizes increased with age. In every day practice it is hard to obtain detailed and reliable information about the amount of allergenic protein incorporated in composite foods. We encourage companies to disclose the amount of common allergenic foods on their labels.
Relationship between Persistent Gastrointestinal Symptoms and Duodenal Histological Findings after Adequate Gluten-Free Diet: A Gray Area of Celiac Disease Management in Adult Patients
Authors: Galli Gloria , Carabotti Marilia , Pilozzi Emanuela , Lahner Edith , Annibale Bruno , Conti Laura
Published: February 2021

A gluten-free diet (GFD) leads to a rapid improvement in gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms, biochemical alterations and duodenal histological damage in the majority of celiac disease (CD) patients. This study aimed to assess the frequency and factors associated with the persistence of GI symptoms/malabsorption signs and their relationship with duodenal histological findings among CD patients on an adequate GFD (mean duration 16 months, range 12–28 months). This longitudinal cohort study included 102 adult CD patients (median age 38.5 years, range 18–76 years, F = 71.6%) diagnosed between 2012 and 2018. A total of 36.3% of the included patients had persistent GI symptoms and/or malabsorption signs (Group 1), while the remaining patients had complete GI well-being without malabsorption signs (Group 2) at the time of histological re-evaluation. The persistence of GI symptoms/signs was associated with a long duration of symptoms/signs before CD diagnosis (≥5 years) (OR 5.3; 95% CI 1.3–21.8) and the presence of constipation at the time of CD diagnosis (OR 7.5; 95% CI 1.3–42) while for other variables, including age at CD diagnosis, sex, duration of GFD, comorbidities, CD serology positivity and severity of duodenal damage at histological re-evaluation, no association was found. According to our results, the persistence of symptoms/signs is not associated with histological findings, and their relationship could be a gray area in CD management.
Examination of Novel Immunomodulatory Effects of L-Sulforaphane
Authors: Mazarakis Nadia , Anderson Jeremy , Toh Zheng Quan , Higgins Rachel A. , Do Lien Anh Ha , Luwor Rodney B. , Snibson Kenneth J. , Karagiannis Tom C. , Licciardi Paul V.
Published: February 2021

The dietary isothiocyanate L-sulforaphane (LSF), derived from cruciferous vegetables, is reported to have several beneficial biological properties, including anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory effects. However, there is limited data on how LSF modulates these effects in human immune cells. The present study was designed to investigate the immunomodulatory effects of LSF (10 µM and 50 µM) on peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) populations and cytokine secretion in healthy adult volunteers (n = 14), in the presence or absence of bacterial (lipopolysaccharide) and viral (imiquimod) toll-like receptor (TLRs) stimulations. Here, we found that LSF reduced pro-inflammatory cytokines interleukin (IL)-6, IL-1β, and chemokines monocyte chemoattractant protein (MCP)-1 irrespective of TLR stimulations. This result was associated with LSF significantly reducing the proportion of natural killer (NK) cells and monocytes while increasing the proportions of dendritic cells (DCs), T cells and B cells. We found a novel effect of LSF in relation to reducing cluster of differentiation (CD) 14+ monocytes while simultaneously increasing monocyte-derived DCs (moDCs: lineage-Human Leukocyte Antigen-DR isotype (HLA-DR)+CD11blow-high CD11chigh). LSF was also shown to induce a 3.9-fold increase in the antioxidant response element (ARE) activity in a human monocyte cell line (THP-1). Our results provide important insights into the immunomodulatory effects of LSF, showing in human PBMCs an ability to drive differentiation of monocytes towards an immature monocyte-derived dendritic cell phenotype with potentially important biological functions. These findings provide insights into the potential role of LSF as a novel immunomodulatory drug candidate and supports the need for further preclinical and phase I clinical studies.
Case Study: Free Lunch Meals Provision during the Remote Learning Conditions
Authors: Beitane Ilze , Kruma Zanda , Kince Tatjana , Sabovics Martins , Iriste Sandra , Muizniece-Brasava Sandra , Bujaka Jekaterina , Strode Sintija , Ciprovica Inga
Published: February 2021

School meals for grade 1 to 4 pupils in Latvia are financed by the government, but with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020, and following the remote learning process, there were problems related to the delivery of these meals for pupils. The current situation in Latvia has been exacerbated again due to the spread of the pandemic; there is a great necessity to find well-thought-out solutions to ensure school lunches outside the school. The aim of this study was to develop recommendation-based one-week food packs for grade 1 to 4 pupils, providing the necessary amount of nutrients and energy. Four food packs were designed to provide five-day lunch meals for pupils, preparing a warm lunch at home. Protein, fat, saturated fatty acids, carbohydrates, sugar, dietary fiber, sodium, salt and calcium content of meals were analyzed according to standard methods. During the project, the most appropriate solution for food packs was explored. The four designed food packs will provide support to municipalities, because the composition of food packs complies with the nutrition and energy value regulation and does not exceed the planned budget. Parents will receive the developed recipe book in addition to a one-week food pack.
Special Issue “Adenosine Receptors as Attractive Targets in Human Diseases”
Authors: Catarzi Daniela , Varano Flavia , Colotta Vittoria
Published: February 2021

The idea of promoting this Special Issue arises from the desire to witness the multidisciplinary efforts that are currently in progress to provide new insights into the pathophysiological role of adenosine [...]
3D Printing of Mini Tablets for Pediatric Use
Authors: Krause Julius , Müller Laura , Sarwinska Dorota , Seidlitz Anne , Sznitowska Malgorzata , Weitschies Werner
Published: February 2021

In the treatment of pediatric diseases, suitable dosages and dosage forms are often not available for an adequate therapy. The use of innovative additive manufacturing techniques offers the possibility of producing pediatric dosage forms. In this study, the production of mini tablets using fused deposition modeling (FDM)-based 3D printing was investigated. Two pediatric drugs, caffeine and propranolol hydrochloride, were successfully processed into filaments using hyprolose and hypromellose as polymers. Subsequently, mini tablets with diameters between 1.5 and 4.0 mm were printed and characterized using optical and thermal analysis methods. By varying the number of mini tablets applied and by varying the diameter, we were able to achieve different release behaviors. This work highlights the potential value of FDM 3D printing for the on-demand production of patient individualized, small-scale batches of pediatric dosage forms.
A Robust Composite Proton Exchange Membrane of Sulfonated Poly (Fluorenyl Ether Ketone) with an Electrospun Polyimide Mat for Direct Methanol Fuel Cells Application
Authors: Cheng Geng , Li Zhen , Ren Shan , Han Dongmei , Xiao Min , Wang Shuanjin , Meng Yuezhong
Published: February 2021

As a key component of direct methanol fuel cells, proton exchange membranes with suitable thickness and robust mechanical properties have attracted increasing attention. On the one hand, a thinner membrane gives a lower internal resistance, which contributes highly to the overall electrochemical performance of the cell, on the other hand, strong mechanical strength is required for the application of proton exchange membranes. In this work, a sulfonated poly (fluorenyl ether ketone) (SPFEK)-impregnated polyimide nanofiber mat composite membrane (PI@SPFEK) was fabricated. The new composite membrane with a thickness of about 55 μm exhibited a tensile strength of 35.1 MPa in a hydrated state, which is about 65.8% higher than that of the pristine SPFEK membrane. The antioxidant stability test in Fenton’s reagent shows that the reinforced membrane affords better oxidation stability than does the pristine SPFEK membrane. Furthermore, the morphology, proton conductivity, methanol permeability, and fuel cell performance were carefully evaluated and discussed.
Hybrid Sol–Gel Superhydrophobic Coatings Based on Alkyl Silane-Modified Nanosilica
Authors: Heiman-Burstein Dafna , Dotan Anna , Dodiuk Hanna , Kenig Samuel
Published: February 2021

Hybrid sol–gel superhydrophobic coatings based on alkyl silane-modified nanosilica were synthesized and studied. The hybrid coatings were synthesized using the classic Stöber process for producing hydrophilic silica nanoparticles (NPs) modified by the in-situ addition of long-chain alkyl silanes co-precursors in addition to the common tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS). It was demonstrated that the long-chain alkyl substituent silane induced a steric hindrance effect, slowing the alkylsilane self-condensation and allowing for the condensation of the TEOS to produce the silica NPs. Hence, following the formation of the silica NPs the alkylsilane reacted with the silica’s hydroxyls to yield hybrid alkyl-modified silica NPs having superhydrophobic (SH) attributes. The resulting SH coatings were characterized by contact angle goniometry, demonstrating a more than 150° water contact angle, a water sliding angle of less than 5°, and a transmittance of more than 90%. Confocal microscopy was used to analyze the micro random surface morphology of the SH surface and to indicate the parameters related to superhydrophobicity. It was found that a SH coating could be obtained when the alkyl length exceeded ten carbons, exhibiting a raspberry-like hierarchical morphology.
First Assessment of HY-1C COCTS Thermal Infrared Calibration Using MetOp-B IASI
Authors: Liu Mingkun , Guan Lei , Liu Jianqiang , Song Qingjun , Ma Chaofei , Li Ninghui
Published: February 2021

The Chinese Ocean Color and Temperature Scanner (COCTS) onboard the Haiyang-1C (HY-1C) satellite was launched in September 2018. Accurate and stable calibration is one of the important factors when deriving geophysical parameters with high quality. The first assessment of HY-1C COCTS thermal infrared calibration is conducted in this research. We choose the Infrared Atmospheric Sounding Interferometer (IASI) onboard the MetOp-B satellite as the reference instrument, mainly due to its hyper-spectral characteristic and accurate calibration superiority. The brightness temperatures (BTs) from the two HY-1C COCTS thermal infrared bands centered near 11 and 12 µm are collocated with the IASI in the spatial window of 0.12° × 0.12° and temporal window of half an hour. The homogeneity filtering of matchups is also carried out by setting the relative standard deviation (RSD) thresholds on each collocated grid and its neighboring grids. Based on the filtered matchups, the HY-1C COCTS BTs from the 11 and 12 µm channels are compared with IASI. The mean differences of COCTS minus IASI are 2.68 and 3.18 K for the 11 and 12 μm channels, respectively. The corresponding standard deviations (SDs) are also 0.29 and 0.28 K, respectively. In addition, the BT differences show latitude-dependence and BT-dependence. In order to correct the HY-1C COCTS thermal infrared BTs, the latitude-dependent coefficients are obtained to express the relationship between the BT differences and IASI BTs using the linear robust regression. After the BT correction, the biases and BT-dependence of the COCTS original BT minus IASI differences are removed. Further, the SDs decrease to 0.21 K for the 11 and 12 μm channels. Overall, the calibration of the HY-1C COCTS thermal infrared channels remains stable and the accuracy is around 0.2 K after inter-calibration.
Mapping Complete Three-Dimensional Ice Velocities by Integrating Multi-Baseline and Multi-Aperture InSAR Measurements: A Case Study of the Grove Mountains Area, East Antarctic
Authors: Zheng Wanji , Hu Jun , Liu Jihong , Sun Qian , Li Zhiwei , Zhu Jianjun , Wu Lixin
Published: February 2021

The Antarctic is one of the most sensitive areas to climate change, and ice velocity is a fundamental parameter for quantitatively assessing the glacier mass balance. Interferometric synthetic aperture radar (InSAR), a powerful tool for monitoring surface deformation with the advantages of having high precision and wide coverage, has been widely used in determining ice velocity in the Antarctic. However, the mapping of complete three-dimensional (3D) ice velocities is greatly limited by the imaging geometries and digital elevation model (DEM)-induced errors. In this study, we propose the integration of multibaseline and multiaperture InSAR measurements from the ENVISAT ASAR datasets to derive complete 3D ice velocities in the Grove Mountains area of the Antarctic. The results show that the estimated complete 3D ice velocities are in good agreement with MEaSUREs and GPS observations. Compared with the conventional 2D and quasi-3D ice velocities, the complete 3D ice velocities can effectively eliminate the effects of DEM errors and elevation changes and are also capable of retrieving the thickness change of the ice, which provides important information on the origin of mass transition.
The Unique Role of the Jason Geodetic Missions for high Resolution Gravity Field and Mean Sea Surface Modelling
Authors: Andersen Ole Baltazar , Zhang Shengjun , Sandwell David T. , Dibarboure Gérald , Smith Walter H. F. , Abulaitijiang Adili
Published: February 2021

The resolutions of current global altimetric gravity models and mean sea surface models are around 12 km wavelength resolving 6 km features, and for many years it has been difficult to improve the resolution further in a systematic way. For both Jason 1 and 2, a Geodetic Mission (GM) has been carried out as a part of the Extension-of-Life phase. The GM for Jason-1 lasted 406 days. The GM for Jason-2 was planned to provide ground-tracks with a systematic spacing of 4 km after 2 years and potentially 2 km after 4 years. Unfortunately, the satellite ceased operation in October 2019 after 2 years of Geodetic Mission but still provided a fantastic dataset for high resolution gravity recovery. We highlight the improvement to the gravity field which has been derived from the 2 years GM. When an Extension-of-Life phase is conducted, the satellite instruments will be old. Particularly Jason-2 suffered from several safe-holds and instrument outages during the GM. This leads to systematic gaps in the data-coverage and degrades the quality of the derived gravity field. For the first time, the Jason-2 GM was “rewound” to mitigate the effect of the outages, and we evaluate the effect of “mission rewind” on gravity. With the recent successful launch of Sentinel-6 Michael Freilich (S6-MF, formerly Jason CS), we investigate the possibility creating an altimetric dataset with 2 km track spacing as this would lead to fundamental increase in the spatial resolution of global altimetric gravity fields. We investigate the effect of bisecting the ground-tracks of existing GM to create a mesh with twice the resolution rather than starting all over with a new GM. The idea explores the unique opportunity to inject Jason-3 GM into the same orbital plane as used for Jason-2 GM but bisecting the existing Jason-2 tracks. This way, the already 2-years Jason-2 GM could be used to create a 2 km grid after only 2 years of Jason-3 GM, rather than starting all over with a new GM for Jason-3.
A High-Speed, Light-Weight Scalar Magnetometer Bird for km Scale UAV Magnetic Surveying: On Sensor Choice, Bird Design, and Quality of Output Data
Authors: Døssing Arne , Lima Simoes da Silva Eduardo , Martelet Guillaume , Maack Rasmussen Thorkild , Gloaguen Eric , Thejll Petersen Jacob , Linde Johannes
Published: February 2021

Magnetic surveying is a widely used and cost-efficient remote sensing method for the detection of subsurface structures at all scales. Traditionally, magnetic surveying has been conducted as ground or airborne surveys, which are cheap and provide large-scale consistent data coverage, respectively. However, ground surveys are often incomplete and slow, whereas airborne surveys suffer from being inflexible, expensive and characterized by a reduced signal-to-noise ratio, due to increased sensor-to-source distance. With the rise of reliable and affordable survey-grade Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), and the developments of light-weight magnetometers, the shortcomings of traditional magnetic surveying systems may be bypassed by a carefully designed UAV-borne magnetometer system. Here, we present a study on the development and testing of a light-weight scalar field UAV-integrated magnetometer bird system (the CMAGTRES-S100). The idea behind the CMAGTRES-S100 is the need for a high-speed and flexible system that is easily transported in the field without a car, deployable in most terrain and weather conditions, and provides high-quality scalar data in an operationally efficient manner and at ranges comparable to sub-regional scale helicopter-borne magnetic surveys. We discuss various steps in the development, including (i) choice of sensor based on sensor specifications and sensor stability tests, (ii) design considerations of the bird, (iii) operational efficiency and flexibility and (iv) output data quality. The current CMAGTRES-S100 system weighs ∼5.9 kg (including the UAV) and has an optimal surveying speed of 50 km/h. The system was tested along a complex coastal setting in Brittany, France, targeting mafic dykes and fault contacts with magnetite infill and magnetite nuggets (skarns). A 2.0 × 0.3 km area was mapped with a 10 m line-spacing by four sub-surveys (due to regulatory restrictions). The sub-surveys were completed in 3.5 h, including >2 h for remobilisation and the safety clearance of the area. A noise-level of ±0.02 nT was obtained and several of the key geological structures were mapped by the system.
Estimating 6D Aircraft Pose from Keypoints and Structures
Authors: Fan Runze , Xu Ting-Bing , Wei Zhenzhong
Published: February 2021

This article addresses the challenge of 6D aircraft pose estimation from a single RGB image during the flight. Many recent works have shown that keypoints-based approaches, which first detect keypoints and then estimate the 6D pose, achieve remarkable performance. However, it is hard to locate the keypoints precisely in complex weather scenes. In this article, we propose a novel approach, called Pose Estimation with Keypoints and Structures (PEKS), which leverages multiple intermediate representations to estimate the 6D pose. Unlike previous works, our approach simultaneously locates keypoints and structures to recover the pose parameter of aircraft through a Perspective-n-Point Structure (PnPS) algorithm. These representations integrate the local geometric information of the object and the topological relationship between components of the target, which effectively improve the accuracy and robustness of 6D pose estimation. In addition, we contribute a dataset for aircraft pose estimation which consists of 3681 real images and 216,000 rendered images. Extensive experiments on our own aircraft pose dataset and multiple open-access pose datasets (e.g., ObjectNet3D, LineMOD) demonstrate that our proposed method can accurately estimate 6D aircraft pose in various complex weather scenes while achieving the comparative performance with the state-of-the-art pose estimation methods.
Deep Learning Techniques for Speech Emotion Recognition, from Databases to Models
Authors: Abbaschian Babak Joze , Sierra-Sosa Daniel , Elmaghraby Adel
Published: February 2021

The advancements in neural networks and the on-demand need for accurate and near real-time Speech Emotion Recognition (SER) in human–computer interactions make it mandatory to compare available methods and databases in SER to achieve feasible solutions and a firmer understanding of this open-ended problem. The current study reviews deep learning approaches for SER with available datasets, followed by conventional machine learning techniques for speech emotion recognition. Ultimately, we present a multi-aspect comparison between practical neural network approaches in speech emotion recognition. The goal of this study is to provide a survey of the field of discrete speech emotion recognition.
Extracting the Resistive Current Component from a Surge Arrester’s Leakage Current without Voltage Reference
Authors: Vončina Vid , Pihler Jože , Milanovič Miro
Published: February 2021

This article presents the development of the theoretical background and the design of an electronic device for monitoring the condition of a gapless Metal Oxide Surge Arrester (MOSA). The device is intended to be used online. Because of the inaccessibility and possible remote location of most surge arresters, it is equipped with a communication system, allowing for the device to convey the measurement of the surge arrester characteristics under any conditions. It is possible to determine the condition of the MOSA by gathering measurements of the surge arrester’s resistive component of leakage current. The leakage current information is sent via data transfer unit to a server and, after interpretation, will be forwarded to the authorised personnel through the surge arrester control centre.
Super Resolution Infrared Thermal Imaging Using Pansharpening Algorithms: Quantitative Assessment and Application to UAV Thermal Imaging
Authors: Raimundo Javier , Lopez-Cuervo Medina Serafin , Prieto Juan F. , Aguirre de Mata Julian
Published: February 2021

The lack of high-resolution thermal images is a limiting factor in the fusion with other sensors with a higher resolution. Different families of algorithms have been designed in the field of remote sensors to fuse panchromatic images with multispectral images from satellite platforms, in a process known as pansharpening. Attempts have been made to transfer these pansharpening algorithms to thermal images in the case of satellite sensors. Our work analyses the potential of these algorithms when applied to thermal images from unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). We present a comparison, by means of a quantitative procedure, of these pansharpening methods in satellite images when they are applied to fuse high-resolution images with thermal images obtained from UAVs, in order to be able to choose the method that offers the best quantitative results. This analysis, which allows the objective selection of which method to use with this type of images, has not been done until now. This algorithm selection is used here to fuse images from thermal sensors on UAVs with other images from different sensors for the documentation of heritage, but it has applications in many other fields.
A Blockchain-Based Authentication Protocol for Cooperative Vehicular Ad Hoc Network
Authors: Akhter A. F. M. Suaib , Ahmed Mohiuddin , Shah A. F. M. Shahen , Anwar Adnan , Kayes A. S. M. , Zengin Ahmet
Published: February 2021

The efficiency of cooperative communication protocols to increase the reliability and range of transmission for Vehicular Ad hoc Network (VANET) is proven, but identity verification and communication security are required to be ensured. Though it is difficult to maintain strong network connections between vehicles because of there high mobility, with the help of cooperative communication, it is possible to increase the communication efficiency, minimise delay, packet loss, and Packet Dropping Rate (PDR). However, cooperating with unknown or unauthorized vehicles could result in information theft, privacy leakage, vulnerable to different security attacks, etc. In this paper, a blockchain based secure and privacy preserving authentication protocol is proposed for the Internet of Vehicles (IoV). Blockchain is utilized to store and manage the authentication information in a distributed and decentralized environment and developed on the Ethereum platform that uses a digital signature algorithm to ensure confidentiality, non-repudiation, integrity, and preserving the privacy of the IoVs. For optimized communication, transmitted services are categorized into emergency and optional services. Similarly, to optimize the performance of the authentication process, IoVs are categorized as emergency and general IoVs. The proposed cooperative protocol is validated by numerical analyses which show that the protocol successfully increases the system throughput and decreases PDR and delay. On the other hand, the authentication protocol requires minimum storage as well as generates low computational overhead that is suitable for the IoVs with limited computer resources.