bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Sorption of Organic Electrolytes and Surfactants from Natural Waters by Heterogeneous Membranes
Authors: Bejanidze Irina , Petrov Oleksandr , Pohrebennyk Volodymyr , Kharebava Tina , Nakashidze Nunu , Didmanidze Nato , Davitadze Nazi , Petrov Anton
Published: October 2020

The widespread use of surfactants increasingly requires the development and application of reliable methods for the demineralization of wastewaters, preventing environmental pollution. One of the most reliable and effective methods of demineralization of wastewaters is the electrodialysis method. Studying the behavior of large organic ions in the membrane is important for modeling cell membranes and purification of medicinal and biological preparations. The sorption characteristics of the MA-40 and MK-40 ion-exchange membranes in solutions of simple and organic electrolytes, and in a solution of the surfactant were investigated. It was found that the sorption of organic ions by membranes is mainly of an ion-exchange nature. The moisture content and elasticity of the membranes decreases in solutions of organic electrolytes, during the sorption of which the membrane becomes brittle. A study showed that in the solutions of organic electrolytes, the MA-40 membrane retains high electrochemical activity, while the MK-40 in a solution of the surfactant completely loses it. From the data obtained in this work, it is shown that organic ions do not present a hazard when water is desalted by electrodialysis, whereas sorption of surfactant ions leads to membrane poisoning.
Micro-LED as a Promising Candidate for High-Speed Visible Light Communication
Authors: James Singh Konthoujam , Huang Yu-Ming , Ahmed Tanveer , Liu An-Chen , Huang Chen Sung-Wen , Liou Fang-Jyun , Wu Tingzhu , Lin Chien-Chung , Chow Chi-Wai , Lin Gong-Ru , Kuo Hao-Chung
Published: October 2020

Visible Light Communication (VLC) technology is an emerging technology using visible light modulation that, in the modern world, will mainly facilitate high-speed internet connectivity. VLC provides tremendous advantages compared to conventional radio frequency, such as a higher transmission rate, high bandwidth, low-power consumption, no health hazards, less interference, etc., which make it more prominent in recent days. Due to their outstanding features, including low cost, low power consumption, etc., µ-light-emitting diodes (LEDs) have gained considerable attention for VLC implementation, but mostly for the ability to be used for lighting as well as communications. In this review paper, we will focus mainly on recent developments in VLC applications and various factors affecting the modulation bandwidth of VLC devices. Numerous factors, such as quantum confined stark effect (QCSE), carrier lifetime, carrier recombination time, crystal orientation, etc. affect the modulation bandwidth of LEDs, and more information will be discussed in the following sections. This paper will focus on VLC applications based on LEDs but mainly on semipolar μ-LEDs and μ-LED-based arrays with high bandwidths. Another important application of VLC is underwater optical wireless communication (UOWC), which has drawn a huge interest in marine exploration and underwater connectivity, but still faces some challenges because visible light is being used. In addition, this paper will focus on how the current VLC system modulation bandwidth can be enhanced. Many methods have been introduced, such as decreasing the active layer thickness or effective active area or using doping, but the bandwidth is restricted by the recombination time when the system configuration reaches its limit. Therefore, it is important to find alternative ways such as optimizing the system, using the blue filter or using the equalization technology, which will be addressed later. Overall, this review paper provides a brief overview of the VLC-based system performance and some of its potential prospects.
Accumulation Characteristics of Metals and Metalloids in Plants Collected from Ny-Ålesund, Arctic
Authors: Ma Hongmei , Shi Guitao , Cheng Yongqian
Published: October 2020

Toxic elements can be transported to polar regions by long-range atmospheric transport from mid and low latitudes, leading to enrichment of elements in the polar environment, especially in the Arctic. The plants can be ideal bioindicators of element contamination in environments, but information on the element enrichment and sources of plants remains limited in polar regions. Here, concentrations of 15 metals and metalloids (Pb, Ni, Cr, Cu, Co, As, Cd, Sb, Hg, Se, Fe, Zn, Mn, Al, and Ti) in six species of plants, Deschampsia caespitosa (Tufted Hair Grass), Puccinellia phryganodes (Creeping Alkaligrass), Saxifraga aizoides (Yellow Mountain Saxifrage), Dicranum angustum (Dicranum Moss), Salix Polaris (Polar Willow), and Cerastium arcticum (Arctic Mouse-Ear Chickweed), collected from Ny-Ålesund, the Arctic, were determined, and enrichment and sources of elements were assessed. Results show that element concentrations vary in different plant species, and element levels in D. angustum and C. arcticum are generally higher. In spatial terms, elevated element concentrations were found near residential areas, while low element levels were present at the sites far from settlement points. Enrichment assessment shows that Cd, Hg, and Zn are the most enriched elements, with enrichment factors above 30, suggesting sources other than soil dust control their concentrations. Principal component analysis (PCA) showed that the extracted three components can explain 82% of the total variance in element concentrations. The elements Ni, Cr, As, Sb, Fe, Al, Ti, and to a lesser extent Co are highly loaded in PC1, possibly associated with continental crust particles. PC2 is closely correlated with Cd, Se, Mn, Cu, and Zn, while Hg and Pb have high loadings on PC3. The elements highly loaded on PC2 and PC3 are likely associated with pollutants from atmospheric transportation. Together with enrichment assessment, the investigated plants have a great potential for monitoring atmospheric Cd, Hg, and Zn pollution in Ny-Ålesund, and D. angustum and D. caespitosa are the more sensitive species. The results would be of significance for monitoring element contamination in the pristine Arctic environments using the bioindicator plants.
Determining the Impact of Wildland Fires on Ground Level Ambient Ozone Levels in California
Authors: Cisneros Ricardo , K. Preisler Haiganoush , Schweizer Donald , Gharibi Hamed
Published: October 2020

Wildland fire smoke is visible and detectable with remote sensing technology. Using this technology to assess ground level pollutants and the impacts to human health and exposure is more difficult. We found the presence of satellite derived smoke plumes for more than a couple of hours in the previous three days has significant impact on the chances of ground level ozone values exceeding the norm. While the magnitude of the impact will depend on characteristics of fires such as size, location, time in transport, or ozone precursors produced by the fire, we demonstrate that information on satellite derived smoke plumes together with site specific regression models provide useful information for supporting causal relationship between smoke from fire and ozone exceedances of the norm. Our results indicated that fire seasons increasing the median ozone level by 15 ppb. However, they seem to have little impact on the metric used for regulatory compliance, in particular at urban sites, except possibly during the 2008 forest fires in California.
Impacts on Brake Particle Emission Testing
Authors: Gramstat Sebastian , Mertens Thilo , Waninger Robert , Lugovyy Dmytro
Published: October 2020

The presented article picks out brake particle emission testing as a central theme. Those emissions are part of the so-called non-exhaust emissions, which play an increasing role for particle emissions from transportation. The authors propose a laboratory test setup by using a brake dynamometer and a constant volume sampling approach to determine the emissions in regard to the particle number concentration. Several impacts were investigated while the same test cycle (novel worldwide harmonized light vehicles test procedure (novel-WLTP)) was applied. In a first item, the importance of the bedding process was investigated and it is shown that friction couples without bedding emit much more particles. Furthermore, the efforts for reaching a bedded friction state are discussed. Additionally, the impact of brake lining compositions is investigated and shows that NAO concepts own crucial advantages in terms of brake particle emissions. Another impact, the vehicle weight and inertia, respectively, shows how important lightweight measures and brake cooling improvements are. Finally, the role of the load profile is discussed, which shows the importance of driving parameters like vehicle speed and reservoir dynamics. The authors show that, under urban driving conditions, extreme low particle emissions are detected. Furthermore, it is explained that off-brake emissions can play a relevant role in regard to brake particle emissions.
Standardized Fraction of Turbinaria ornata Alleviates Dextran Sulfate Sodium-Induced Chronic Colitis in C57BL/6 Mice via Upregulation of FOXP3+ Regulatory T Cells
Authors: Kim Na-Hyun , Lee Seon Min , Kim Yun Na , Jeon You-Jin , Heo Jeong-Doo , Jeong Eun Ju , Rho Jung-Rae
Published: October 2020

Turbinaria ornata is a tropical brown algae (seaweed) known to have anti-inflammatory properties. In this study, we analyzed T. ornata extract (TOE) using liquid chromatography quadrupole time of flight mass spectrometry (LC-QTOF-MS) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and evaluated the in vivo efficacy of TOE against dextran sulfate sodium-induced chronic colitis in C57BL/6 mice. The bioactive fraction of TOE was administered orally daily for 6 weeks to mice under different treatments normal, colitis, and colitis + conventional drug (5-aminosalicylic acid, 5-ASA). Regarding clinical manifestation, the disease activity index and colon length of the colitis + TOE group were significantly reduced compared to those of the colitis group. The results of myeloperoxidase activity and histopathological examination showed similar results. Western blot analysis of colon tissues revealed that cyclooxygenase-2, tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), and phosphorylated signal transducer and activator of transcription-3 (p-STAT3) were significantly decreased in the colitis + 5-ASA group, whereas forkhead box P3 (FOXP3) was increased. qPCR results showed changes in T cell subsets; the administration of TOE upregulated regulatory T cell (Treg) expression, although T helper 17 cell (Th17) expression did not change significantly. Interestingly, the colitis + TOE group showed high levels of both Th1 and Th2 transcription factors, but the secreted cytokine interferon (IFN)-γ and interleukin (IL)-4 remained unchanged and somewhat reduced. Additionally, TNF-α gene expression was significantly reduced in the colitis + TOE group. IL-6 mRNA levels were also decreased, although not significantly. Four compounds were structurally elucidated using 1D- and 2D-NMR spectroscopy, and five compounds were fully identified or tentatively characterized using LC-QTOF-MS. In conclusion, TOE could alleviate chronic colitis via upregulation of Foxp3+ Treg cells and production of the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10, which directly inhibits macrophages and pro-inflammatory cytokine synthesis, leading to reduced colitis.
Discovery of New Antibacterial Accramycins from a Genetic Variant of the Soil Bacterium, Streptomyces sp. MA37
Authors: Maglangit Fleurdeliz , Zhang Yuting , Kyeremeh Kwaku , Deng Hai
Published: October 2020

Continued mining of natural products from the strain Streptomyces sp. MA37 in our laboratory led to the discovery of a minor specialized metabolite (SM) called accramycin A. Owing to its low yield (0.2 mg/L) in the wild type strain, we investigated the roles of regulatory genes in the corresponding biosynthetic gene cluster (acc BGC) through gene inactivation with the aim of improving the titer of this compound. One of the resulting mutants (∆accJ) dramatically upregulated the production of accramycin A 1 by 330-fold (66 mg/L). Furthermore, ten new metabolites, accramycins B–K 2–11, were discovered, together with two known compounds, naphthacemycin B112 and fasamycin C 13 from the mutant extract. This suggested that accJ, annotated as multiple antibiotic resistance regulator (MarR), is a negative regulator gene in the accramycin biosynthesis. Compounds 1–13 inhibited the Gram-positive pathogens (Staphylococcus aureus, Enterococcus faecalis) and clinical isolates Enterococcus faecium (K59-68 and K60-39) and Staphylococcus haemolyticus with minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) values in the range of 1.5–12.5 µg/mL. Remarkably, compounds 1–13 displayed superior activity against K60-39 (MIC = 3.1–6.3 µg/mL) compared to ampicillin (MIC = 25 µg/mL), and offered promising potential for the development of accramycin-based antibiotics that target multidrug-resistant Enterococcus clinical isolates. Our results highlight the importance of identifying the roles of regulatory genes in natural product discovery.
Neuromodulatory Control and Language Recovery in Bilingual Aphasia: An Active Inference Approach
Authors: Sajid Noor , Friston Karl , Ekert Justyna , Price Cathy , Green David
Published: October 2020

Understanding the aetiology of the diverse recovery patterns in bilingual aphasia is a theoretical challenge with implications for treatment. Loss of control over intact language networks provides a parsimonious starting point that can be tested using in-silico lesions. We simulated a complex recovery pattern (alternate antagonism and paradoxical translation) to test the hypothesis—from an established hierarchical control model—that loss of control was mediated by constraints on neuromodulatory resources. We used active (Bayesian) inference to simulate a selective loss of sensory precision; i.e., confidence in the causes of sensations. This in-silico lesion altered the precision of beliefs about task relevant states, including appropriate actions, and reproduced exactly the recovery pattern of interest. As sensory precision has been linked to acetylcholine release, these simulations endorse the conjecture that loss of neuromodulatory control can explain this atypical recovery pattern. We discuss the relevance of this finding for other recovery patterns.
Three-Dimensional Thermal Mapping from IRT Images for Rapid Architectural Heritage NDT
Authors: Adamopoulos Efstathios , Volinia Monica , Girotto Mario , Rinaudo Fulvio
Published: October 2020

Thermal infrared imaging is fundamental to architectural heritage non-destructive diagnostics. However, thermal sensors’ low spatial resolution allows capturing only very localized phenomena. At the same time, thermal images are commonly collected with independence of geometry, meaning that no measurements can be performed on them. Occasionally, these issues have been solved with various approaches integrating multi-sensor instrumentation, resulting in high costs and computational times. The presented work aims at tackling these problems by proposing a workflow for cost-effective three-dimensional thermographic modeling using a thermal camera and a consumer-grade RGB camera. The discussed approach exploits the RGB spectrum images captured with the optical sensor of the thermal camera and image-based multi-view stereo techniques to reconstruct architectural features’ geometry. The thermal and optical sensors are calibrated employing custom-made low-cost targets. Subsequently, the necessary geometric transformations between undistorted thermal infrared and optical images are calculated to replace them in the photogrammetric scene and map the models with thermal texture. The method’s metric accuracy is evaluated by conducting comparisons with different sensors and the efficiency by assessing how the results can assist the better interpretation of the present thermal phenomena. The conducted application demonstrates the metric and radiometric performance of the proposed approach and the straightforward implementability for thermographic surveys, as well as its usefulness for cost-effective historical building assessments.
Perspectives on Quality Risk in the Building Process of Blue-Green Roofs in Norway
Authors: Andenæs Erlend , Engebø Atle , Time Berit , Lohne Jardar , Torp Olav , Kvande Tore
Published: October 2020

As climate change brings an increase in torrential rain events in Nordic climates, new technologies are developed to manage stormwater. Blue-green roofs are constructed as a means to reduce the runoff of stormwater from roofs and reduce the risk of urban flooding. However, compared to conventional roofs, blue-green roofs represent different construction and operation conditions, which may affect the long-term integrity of the roof. The purpose of this research is to understand the variety of perspectives on how different actors perceive and manage quality risks related to blue-green roofs—that is, the probabilities and consequences of defects. The quality risks of blue-green roofs have been investigated through document studies and interviews with actors in the Norwegian building sector. Data have been collected from actors across the building sector to map differences in how risk is managed from several perspectives. The findings show that actors view quality risk in very different ways. While building owners are primarily concerned with the quality of the finished product, the primary concern of other involved actors may be to ensure that eventual defects cannot be attributed to their own activities. The efforts of the various actors to reduce the risks in their own activities may not necessarily reduce the risk of defects in roofs. To ensure a more comprehensive management of quality risk in blue-green roofs, it is necessary to consider the perspectives and incentives of all involved actors. This way, a framework could be developed as a feasible tool in blue-green roof projects.
Novel Therapies for Hepatocellular Carcinoma
Authors: Rimassa Lorenza
Published: October 2020

Since 2007, for patients with advanced- or intermediate-stage hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) unsuitable for locoregional treatments and with preserved liver function, the multikinase inhibitor (MKI) sorafenib has been the worldwide standard of care [...]
New Developments in Imaging for Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy in Early-Stage Oral Cavity Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Authors: Mahieu Rutger , de Maar Josanne S. , Nieuwenhuis Eliane R. , Deckers Roel , Moonen Chrit , Alic Lejla , ten Haken Bennie , de Keizer Bart , Bree Remco de
Published: October 2020

Sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) is a diagnostic staging procedure that aims to identify the first draining lymph node(s) from the primary tumor, the sentinel lymph nodes (SLN), as their histopathological status reflects the histopathological status of the rest of the nodal basin. The routine SLNB procedure consists of peritumoral injections with a technetium-99m [99mTc]-labelled radiotracer followed by lymphoscintigraphy and SPECT-CT imaging. Based on these imaging results, the identified SLNs are marked for surgical extirpation and are subjected to histopathological assessment. The routine SLNB procedure has proven to reliably stage the clinically negative neck in early-stage oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). However, an infamous limitation arises in situations where SLNs are located in close vicinity of the tracer injection site. In these cases, the hotspot of the injection site can hide adjacent SLNs and hamper the discrimination between tracer injection site and SLNs (shine-through phenomenon). Therefore, technical developments are needed to bring the diagnostic accuracy of SLNB for early-stage OSCC to a higher level. This review evaluates novel SLNB imaging techniques for early-stage OSCC: MR lymphography, CT lymphography, PET lymphoscintigraphy and contrast-enhanced lymphosonography. Furthermore, their reported diagnostic accuracy is described and their relative merits, disadvantages and potential applications are outlined.
EQD2 Analyses of Vaginal Complications in Exclusive Brachytherapy for Postoperative Endometrial Carcinoma
Authors: Zhang Yaowen , Fornes Balbino , Gómez Gabriela , Bentoldrà Irene , Carmona Clara , Herreros Antonio , Sabater Sebastià , Nicolás Inmaculada , Li Yan , Sánchez Joan , Biete Albert , Torné Aureli , Ascaso Carlos , Rovirosa Ángeles
Published: October 2020

Background: To evaluate whether EQD2(α/β = 3Gy) at 2 cm3 of the most exposed area of the vagina is related to late vaginal toxicity in postoperative endometrial cancer (PEC) patients (p) treated with exclusive brachytherapy (BT). Methods: From 2014 to 2017, 43p were included in this study. BT was administered: 3-fractions of 6Gy in 37p and 2-fractions of 7.5Gy in 6p. The dose was prescribed at a depth of 5 mm from the applicator surface with dose-point optimization based on distance. The active treatment length was 2.5 cm. CTV-D90 and the dose to the most exposed 2 cm3 of the vagina was calculated for each patient. Late toxicity of the bladder and rectum was assessed using Radiation Therapy Oncology Group (RTOG) criteria, and vaginal toxicity by objective Late Effects Normal Tissue Task Force (LENT)-Subjective, Objective, Management, Analytic (SOMA) (LENT-SOMA) criteria. Statistics: frequency tables, mean, median, range, standard deviation, and box plot. Results: The median follow-up was 51 months (12–68). 20 p (46.5%) and 2 p (4.7%) developed G1 and G2 vaginal complications, respectively. Only 1/2 p-G2 receiving EQD2(α/β = 3Gy) at 2 cm3 >68Gy presented vaginal shortening and 18/20 p-G1 received doses < 68Gy. Conclusions: PECp receiving exclusive brachytherapy with doses < 68Gy EQD2(α/β = 3Gy) at 2 cm2 of the vagina presented only G0–G1 vaginal toxicity, except for one with bleeding telangiectasias. Larger prospective studies are necessary to confirm the present results.
Direct Alcoholysis of Carbohydrate Precursors and Real Cellulosic Biomasses to Alkyl Levulinates: A Critical Review
Authors: Raspolli Galletti Anna Maria , Antonetti Claudia , Fulignati Sara , Licursi Domenico
Published: October 2020

Alkyl levulinates (ALs) represent outstanding bio-fuels and strategic bio-products within the context of the marketing of levulinic acid derivatives. However, their synthesis by acid-catalyzed esterification of pure levulinic acid, or by acid-catalyzed alcoholysis of furfuryl alcohol, although relatively simple, is still economically disadvantageous, due to the high costs of the pure precursors. The direct one-pot alcoholysis of model C6 carbohydrates and raw biomass represents an alternative approach for the one-step synthesis of ALs. In order to promote the market for these bio-products and, concurrently, the immediate development of new applications, it is necessary to speed up the intensification of their production processes, and this important achievement is onlypossible by using low-cost or, even better, waste biomasses, as starting feedstocks. This review provides an overview of the most recent and promising advances on the one-pot production of ALs from model C6 carbohydrates and real biomasses, in the presence of homogeneous or heterogeneous acid catalysts. The use of model C6 carbohydrates allows for the identification of the best obtainable ALs yields, resulting in being strategic for the development of new smart catalysts, whose chemical properties must be properly tuned, taking into account the involved reaction mechanism. On the other hand, the transition to the real biomass now represents a necessary choice for allowing the next ALs production on a larger scale. The improvement of the available synthetic strategies, the use of raw materials and the development of new applications for ALs will contribute to develop more intensified, greener, and sustainable processes.
Complexity of Brassica oleracea–Alternaria brassicicola Susceptible Interaction Reveals Downregulation of Photosynthesis at Ultrastructural, Transcriptional, and Physiological Levels
Authors: Macioszek Violetta Katarzyna , Gapińska Magdalena , Zmienko Agnieszka , Sobczak Mirosław , Skoczowski Andrzej , Oliwa Jakub , Kononowicz Andrzej Kiejstut
Published: October 2020

Black spot disease, caused by Alternaria brassicicola in Brassica species, is one of the most devastating diseases all over the world, especially since there is no known fully resistant Brassica cultivar. In this study, the visualization of black spot disease development on Brassica oleracea var. capitata f. alba (white cabbage) leaves and subsequent ultrastructural, molecular and physiological investigations were conducted. Inter- and intracellular hyphae growth within leaf tissues led to the loss of host cell integrity and various levels of organelle disintegration. Severe symptoms of chloroplast damage included the degeneration of chloroplast envelope and grana, and the loss of electron denseness by stroma at the advanced stage of infection. Transcriptional profiling of infected leaves revealed that photosynthesis was the most negatively regulated biological process. However, in infected leaves, chlorophyll and carotenoid content did not decrease until 48 hpi, and several chlorophyll a fluorescence parameters, such as photosystem II quantum yield (Fv/Fm), non-photochemical quenching (NPQ), or plant vitality parameter (Rdf) decreased significantly at 24 and 48 hpi compared to control leaves. Our results indicate that the initial stages of interaction between B. oleracea and A. brassicicola are not uniform within an inoculation site and show a complexity of host responses and fungal attempts to overcome host cell defense mechanisms. The downregulation of photosynthesis at the early stage of this susceptible interaction suggests that it may be a part of a host defense strategy, or, alternatively, that chloroplasts are targets for the unknown virulence factor(s) of A. brassicicola. However, the observed decrease of photosynthetic efficiency at the later stages of infection is a result of the fungus-induced necrotic lesion expansion.
Comparative Analysis on the Structure and Properties of Iron-Based Amorphous Coating Sprayed with the Thermal Spraying Techniques
Authors: Iqbal Amjad , Siddique Sumera , Maqsood Moazam , Atiq Ur Rehman Muhammad , Yasir Muhammad
Published: October 2020

Iron-based amorphous coatings are getting attention owing to their attractive mechanical, chemical, and thermal properties. In this study, the comparative analysis between high-velocity oxy-fuel (HVOF) and atmospheric plasma (APS) spraying processes has been done. The detailed structural analysis of deposited coatings were studied by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). Mechanical and electrochemical properties were investigated by using micro-Vickers hardness testing, pin-on-disc tribometry and potentiodynamic analysis. The microstructure comparison revealed that HVOF-coated samples had better density than that of APS. The porosity in APS-coated samples was 2 times higher than that of HVOF-coated samples. The comparison of tribological properties showed that HVOF-coated samples had 3.9% better hardness than that of coatings obtained via APS. The wear test showed that HVOF-coated samples had better wear resistance in comparison to APS coatings. Furthermore, the potentiodynamic polarization and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy showed that the HVOF-coated samples had better corrosion resistance in comparison to APS-coated samples.
Fabrication of an Organo-Fluoride–Free Hydrophobic Film Using the Sol-Gel Method by Factors Screening and Poly-Acrylic Acid Addition
Authors: Shen Meng-Wei , Chen Shyi-Tien
Published: October 2020

Improving silica film’s contact angle (CA) using tetraethoxysilane (TEOS) and iso-butyltrimethoxysilane (iso-BTMS) by the sol-gel method without adding organo-fluoride substances is of interest. Five factors, namely type of solvent, molar ratio and amounts of TEOS and iso-BTMS, mixing intensity, sol aging time, and presence and absence of poly-acrylic acid (PAA), were assessed to improve the static water CA of the film and its surface quality. Results revealed that when ethanol was used as the dissolving solvent and after adding initial iso-BTMS and TEOS concentrations of 0.0270 and 0.0194 mol/L (molar ratio = 1.39), respectively, without sonication and adding PAA/TEOS weight ratio of 0.029, then the maximum static CA of the film reached 147°, a nearly super-hydrophobic surface. Under given conditions, long-term film durability was observed, and the added PAA prevented the formation of nonhomogeneous film surfaces caused by the highly clustering aggregation of silanols under high pH conditions.
Diversity of Feeding in Anthozoa (Cnidaria): A Systematic Review
Authors: Santos Thaís Barbosa , Reimer James D. , Acuña Fabián H. , Stampar Sérgio N.
Published: October 2020

In this study, we performed a bibliographical review examining the scientific literature on “feeding in Anthozoa” for the period from 1890 to 2019, using the scientific database Google Scholar, supplemented with additional literature. This study categorized published scientific papers on this topic by decade of publication, target taxa, variability of species studied in each order and main themes studied. As a result, 153 studies were found, and based on their content, it was observed that within Anthozoa, there has been a concentration of feeding studies on species in the orders Actiniaria (Hexacorallia), Scleractinia (Hexacorallia), and Alcyonacea (Octocorallia). This indicates that the other remaining orders of the group have been comparatively neglected with regards to their feeding aspects. Therefore, as data on feeding in some groups of Anthozoa are scarce, studies need to be carried out to fill the gaps that permeate this important benthic group, in order to better understand their ecology.
Grassland Management Affects Vegetation Structure, Bats and Their Beetle Prey
Authors: Anderson Max , Norton Lisa , Mathews Fiona
Published: October 2020

Agricultural grasslands provide vital habitats for many species. Yet despite representing a significant proportion of European land use, they are disproportionately understudied compared to arable systems. Increases in productivity and intensification have led to changes in management practices, which are likely to affect grassland habitats and the ecological communities that they support. This study simultaneously monitored three trophic levels to assess the impacts of permanent versus temporary pasture (leys) on vegetation composition, carabid and dung beetle abundance, and the activity of beetle-feeding bats. Leys had lower abundances of soil-inhabiting dung beetles, which may be explained by the more recent exposure to tilling compared with permanent pasture. Beetle-feeding bat activity was also greater in leys, with positive relationships between E. serotinus activity and Onthophagus abundance across both pasture types. However, the lack of any positive relationships between beetle-feeding bat activity and Aphodius, a well-known prey genus, suggests that other key prey orders (Lepidoptera) may be of more influence on bat activity. As well as the management of pasture, differences in cattle management between pasture types can have a significant impact on vegetation and soil structure, which influence invertebrate communities and potentially dictate habitat suitability for bats.
Effect of Mutated ids Overexpression on IDS Enzyme Activity and Developmental Phenotypes in Zebrafish Embryos: A Valuable Index for Assessing Critical Point-Mutations Associated with Mucopolysaccharidosis Type II Occurrence in Humans
Authors: Lin Cheng-Yung , Lin Hsiang-Yu , Chuang Chih-Kuang , Zhang Po-Hsiang , Tu Ru-Yi , Lin Shuan-Pei , Tsai Huai-Jen
Published: October 2020

Mucopolysaccharidosis type II (MPS II) is an X-linked disorder resulting from a deficiency in iduronate 2-sulfatase (IDS), which is reported to be caused by gene mutations in the iduronate 2-sulfatase (IDS) gene. Many IDS mutation sites have not yet had their causal relationship with MPS II characterized. We employed a gain-of-function strategy whereby we microinjected different mutated zebrafish ids (z-ids) mRNAs corresponded to human IDS gene into zebrafish embryos, and then measured their total IDS enzymatic activity and observed the occurrence of defective phenotypes during embryonic development. We examined three known mutation sites for human IDS genes (h-IDS) associated with MPS II symptoms, including h-IDS-P86L, -S333L and -R468W, which corresponded to z-ids-P80L, -S327L and -R454W. When these three mutated z-ids mRNAs were overexpressed in zebrafish embryos, the IDS enzymatic activity of the total proteins extracted from the injected embryos was not increased compared with the endogenous IDS of the untreated embryos, which suggests that the IDS enzymatic activity of these three mutated z-ids was totally lost, as expected. Additionally, we observed defective phenotypes in these injected embryos, resulting from the failed IDS enzyme breakdown, which, in turn, has a dominant negative effect on the endogenous wild-type IDS function. These phenotypes were similar to the clinical symptoms observed in MPS II pathogenesis. We further studied six uncharacterized IDS mutation sites as identified by the Taiwanese MPS newborn screening programs. We propose a novel IDS enzyme activity assay combined with phenotypic observation in zebrafish embryos, as an alternative platform for quickly providing a valuable index for preliminarily assessment of any identified IDS point mutation gene that has not yet been characterized, in the context of its role in MPS II development.
Entropy Rules: Molecular Dynamics Simulations of Model Oligomers for Thermoresponsive Polymers
Authors: Kantardjiev Alexander , Ivanov Petko M.
Published: October 2020

We attempted to attain atomic-scale insights into the mechanism of the heat-induced phase transition of two thermoresponsive polymers containing amide groups, poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM) and poly(2-isopropyl-2-oxazoline) (PIPOZ), and we succeeded in reproducing the existence of lower critical solution temperature (LCST). The simulation data are in accord with experimental findings. We found out that the entropy has an important contribution to the thermodynamics of the phase separation transition. Moreover, after decomposing further the entropy change to contributions from the solutes and from the solvent, it appeared out that the entropy of the solvent has the decisive share for the lowering of the free energy of the system when increasing the temperature above the LCST. Our conclusion is that the thermoresponsive behavior is driven by the entropy of the solvent. The water molecules structured around the functional groups of the polymer that are exposed to contact with the solvent in the extended conformation lower the enthalpy of the system, but at certain temperature the extended conformation of the polymer collapses as a result of dominating entropy gain from “released” water molecules. We stress also on the importance of using more than one reference molecule in the simulation box at the setup of the simulation.
Revised Stability Scales of the Postural Stability Index for Human Daily Activities
Authors: Chang Yu Ping , Jiang Bernard C. , Nurwulan Nurul Retno
Published: October 2020

Evaluation of human postural stability is important to prevent falls. Recent studies have been carried out to develop postural stability evaluation in an attempt to fall prevention. The postural stability index (PSI) was proposed as a measure to evaluate the stability of human postures in performing daily activities. The objective of this study was to use the PSI in developing the stability scales for human daily activities. The current study used two open datasets collected from mobile devices. In addition, we also conducted three experiments to evaluate the effect of age, velocity, step counts, and devices on PSI values. The collected datasets were preprocessed using the ensemble empirical mode decomposition (EEMD), then the complexity index from each intrinsic mode function (IMF) was calculated using the multiscale entropy (MSE). From the evaluation, it can be concluded that the PSI can be applied to do daily monitoring of postural stability for both young and older adults, and the PSI is not affected by age. The revised stability scales developed in this current study can give better suggestions to users than the original one.
An Approach for Optimal Coordination of Over-Current Relays in Microgrids with Distributed Generation
Authors: Saldarriaga-Zuluaga Sergio D. , López-Lezama Jesús M. , Muñoz-Galeano Nicolás
Published: October 2020

The ever increasing presence of renewable distributed generation (DG) in microgrids is imposing new challenges in protection coordination. The high penetration of renewable DG enables microgrids to operate under different topologies, giving rise to bidirectional power flows and in consequence, rendering traditional coordination approaches inappropriate to guarantee network security. This paper proposes an approach for the optimal coordination of directional over-current relays (OCRs) in microgrids that integrate renewable DG and feature several operational modes. As a main contribution, the characteristic curves of directional OCRs are considered to be decision variables, instead of fixing a single type of curve for all relays as considered in previous works. The proposed approach allows for the selection of several IEC and IEEE curves which combination results in the best protection coordination. Several tests were carried out on an IEC benchmark microgrid in order to show the applicability of the proposed approach. Furthermore, a comparison with other coordination approaches evidenced that the proposed approach is able to find lower operation times and, at the same time, guarantee the suitable operation of protections under different condition faults and operational modes.
Study on Battery Charging Converter for MPPT Control of Laser Wireless Power Transmission System
Authors: Lee Seongjun , Lim Namgyu , Choi Wonseon , Lee Yongtak , Baek Jongbok , Park Jungsoo
Published: October 2020

Herein, the voltage and current output characteristics of a laser photovoltaic (PV) module applied to a wireless power transmission system using a laser beam are analyzed. First, an experiment is conducted to obtain the characteristic data of the voltage and current based on the laser output power of the laser PV module, which generates the maximum power from the laser beam at a wavelength of 1080 nm; subsequently, the small-signal voltage and current characteristics of the laser PV module are analyzed. From the analysis results, it is confirmed that the laser PV module has a characteristic in which the maximum power generation point varies according to the power level of the laser beam. In addition, similar to the solar cell module, it is confirmed that the laser PV module has a current source and a voltage source region, and it shows a small signal resistance characteristic having a negative value as the operating point goes to the current source region. In addition, in this paper, by reflecting these electrical characteristics, a method for designing the controller of a power converter capable of charging a battery while generating maximum power from a PV module is proposed. Since the laser PV module corresponds to the input source of the boost converter used as the power conversion unit, the small-signal transfer function of the boost converter, including the PV module, is derived for the controller design. Therefore, by designing a controller that can stably control the voltage of the PV module in the current source, the maximum power point, and voltage source regions defined according to the output characteristics of the laser PV module, the maximum power is generated from the PV module. Herein, a systematic controller design method for a boost converter for laser wireless power transmission is presented, and the proposed method is validated based on the simulation and experimental results of a 25-W-class boost converter based on a microcontroller unit control.
Blockchain Use in IoT for Privacy-Preserving Anti-Pandemic Home Quarantine
Authors: Zhang Jinxin , Wu Meng
Published: October 2020

The outbreak of the respiratory disease caused by the new coronavirus (COVID-19) has caused the world to face an existential health crisis. To contain the infectious disease, many countries have quarantined their citizens for several weeks to months and even suspended most economic activities. To track the movements of residents, the governments of many states have adopted various novel technologies. Connecting billions of sensors and devices over the Internet, the so-called Internet of Things (IoT), has been used for outbreak control. However, these technologies also pose serious privacy risks and security concerns with regards to data transmission and storage. In this paper, we propose a blockchain-based system to provide the secure management of home quarantine. The privacy and security attributes for various events are based on advanced cryptographic primitives. To demonstrate the application of the system, we provide a case study in an IoT system with a desktop computer, laptop, Raspberry Pi single-board computer, and the Ethereum smart contract platform. The obtained results prove its ability to satisfy security, efficiency, and low-cost requirements.
Disturbance Observer and L2-Gain-Based State Error Feedback Linearization Control for the Quadruple-Tank Liquid-Level System
Authors: Meng Xiangxiang , Yu Haisheng , Xu Tao , Wu Herong
Published: October 2020

This paper proposes a fresh state error feedback linearization control method with disturbance observer (DOB) and L2 gain for a quadruple-tank liquid-level system. Firstly, in terms of the highly nonlinear and strong coupling characteristics of the quadruple-tank system, a state error feedback linearization technique is employed to design the controller to achieve liquid-level position control and tracking control. Secondly, DOB is purposed to estimate uncertain exogenous disturbances and applied to compensation control. Moreover, an L2-gain disturbance attenuation technology is designed to resolve one class of disturbance problem by uncertain parameter perturbation existing in the quadruple-tank liquid-level system. Finally, compared with the classical proportion integration differentiation (PID) and sliding mode control (SMC) methods, the extensive experimental results validate that the proposed strategy has good position control, tracking control, and disturbance rejection performances.
Islanding Detection in Rural Distribution Systems
Authors: Fan Wen , Kang Ning , Hebner Robert , Feng Xianyong
Published: October 2020

This paper summarizes the literature on detection of islanding resulting from distributed generating capabilities in a power distribution system, with emphasis on the rural distribution systems. It is important to understand the legacy technology and equipment in the rural distribution electrical environment due to the growth of power electronics and the potential for adding the new generations of intelligent sensors. The survey identified four areas needing further research: 1. Robustness in the presence of distribution grid disturbances; 2. the future role of artificial intelligence in the islanding application; 3. more realistic standard tests for the emerging electrical environment; 4. smarter sensors. In addition, this paper presents a synchro-phasor-based islanding detection approach based on a wireless sensor network developed by the University of Texas at Austin. Initial test results in a control hardware-in-the-loop (CHIL) simulation environment suggest the effectiveness of the developed method.
Reduced Model and Comparative Analysis of the Thermal Performance of Indirect Solar Dryer with and without PCM
Authors: Ramirez Camilo , Palacio Mario , Carmona Mauricio
Published: October 2020

A thermal model is proposed to analyze the performance of an indirect solar dryer (ISD) with latent heat storage using phase change material (PCM). The estimations are compared with experimental data presented in the scientific literature taken in real conditions. The validated thermal model is used in order to address a comprehensive analysis of the performance of the ISDs under the same operation conditions, the model is able to estimate the temperatures of glass cover, absorber plate, PCM, useful heat, thermal and storage efficiencies, and variables that are difficult to measure experimentally such as liquid fraction, heat losses, and accumulated energy of the ISDs. Three study cases are considered: Case 1 consists of two collectors with and without alternating nocturnal and diurnal operation (benchmarking case). Case 2 and 3 consist in a unique collector operating continuously for 24 h with PCM and without PCM, respectively. It was determined that the use of PCM in ISD increased the night thermal performance and extended the operational time of the system. On the other hand, results indicate that the use of two alternating collectors presents similar discharge behavior to using one collector with PCM operating continuously. Concerning the overall thermal performance, cases 1, 2, and 3 obtained thermal efficiencies of 20%, 28%, and 24%, respectively.
Evaluating the Potential of Gaussian Process Regression for Solar Radiation Forecasting: A Case Study
Authors: Lubbe Foster , Maritz Jacques , Harms Thomas
Published: October 2020

The proliferation of solar power systems could cause instability within existing power grids due to the variable nature of solar power. A well-defined statistical model is important for managing the supply-and-demand dynamics of a power system that contains a significant variable renewable energy component. It is furthermore important to consider the inherent uncertainty in the data when modeling such a complex power system. Gaussian process regression has the potential to address both of these concerns: the probabilistic modeling of solar radiation data could assist in managing the variability of solar power, as well as provide a mechanism to deal with uncertainty. In this paper, solar radiation data was obtained from the Southern African Universities Radiometric Network and used to train a Gaussian process regression model which was developed especially for this purpose. Attention was given to constructing an appropriate Gaussian process kernel. It was found that a carefully constructed kernel allowed for the successful interpolation of global horizontal irradiance data, with a root-mean-squared error of 82.2W/m2. Gaps in the data, due to possible meter failure, were also bridged by the Gaussian process with a root-mean-squared error of 94.1 W/m2 and accompanying confidence intervals. A root-mean-squared error of 151.1 W/m2 was found when forecasting the global horizontal irradiance with a forecasting horizon of five days. These results, achieved in modeling solar radiation data using Gaussian process regression, could open new avenues in the development of probabilistic renewable energy management systems. Such systems could aid smart grid operators and support energy trading platforms, by allowing for better-informed decisions that incorporate the inherent uncertainty of stochastic power systems.