bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Strong Convergence of Modified Inertial Mann Algorithms for Nonexpansive Mappings
Authors: Tan Bing , Zhou Zheng , Li Songxiao
Published: March 2020

We investigated two new modified inertial Mann Halpern and inertial Mann viscosity algorithms for solving fixed point problems. Strong convergence theorems under some fewer restricted conditions are established in the framework of infinite dimensional Hilbert spaces. Finally, some numerical examples are provided to support our main results. The algorithms and results presented in this paper can generalize and extend corresponding results previously known in the literature.
Various Structures of the Roots and Explicit Properties of q-cosine Bernoulli Polynomials and q-sine Bernoulli Polynomials
Authors: Kang Jung Yoog , Ryoo Chen Seoung
Published: March 2020

In this paper, we define cosine Bernoulli polynomials and sine Bernoulli polynomials related to the q-number. Furthermore, we intend to find the properties of these polynomials and check the structure of the roots. Through numerical experimentation, we look for various assumptions about the polynomials above.
Mechanism of Calcium Sulphate on the Aggregation and Growth of Ferronickel Particles in the Self-Reduction of Saprolitic Nickel Laterite Ore
Authors: Hang Guihua , Xue Zhengliang , Wang Jinghui , Wu Yingjiang
Published: March 2020

Saprolitic nickel laterite is characterized by relatively low iron and nickel contents. Iron and nickel oxides are reduced to form fine ferronickel particles that disperse and embed in silicates in the reduction process, limiting the application of magnetic separation to extract ferronickel. Additives are applied to promote the aggregation and growth of ferronickel particles, then the large ferronickel particles will be separated by fine grinding and recovered via magnetic separation. Calcium sulphate is considered to be capable of increasing the size of ferronickel particles considerably. Due to the decomposition of calcium sulphate in the reduction process, the mechanism of calcium sulphate on the aggregation and growth of ferronickel particles should be conducted studied in-depth. The current work explores the effects of calcium sulphate, elemental sulphur, and calcium oxide on the formation of ferronickel particles in a saprolitic nickel laterite ore. The results showed that the formation of an Fe-FeS eutectic and the mineral structure transformation contributed by calcium oxide were all conducive to the mass transfer of ferronickel particles in gangue, ferronickel particles aggregated and grew up at the boundary between the hole and the gangue. The self-reduction, fine grinding, and magnetic separation of nickel laterite ore in the presence of three types of additive were examined. Nickel laterite ore with 7.88 wt% coal, 12 wt% calcium sulphate reduced at 1200 °C for 30 min, a ferronickel concentrate of Ni 8.08 wt%, and Fe 79.98 wt% was obtained at a nickel and iron recovery of 92.6% and 79.9%, respectively.
Induction Weld Seam Characterization of Continuously Roll Formed TRIP690 Tubes
Authors: Bardelcik Alexander , Ananthapillai Bharathwaj Thirumalai
Published: March 2020

The weld seam characteristics of continuously roll formed and induction seam welded TRIP690 tubes were examined in this work. These tube are subsequently used in automotive hydroforming applications, where the weld seam characteristics are critical. The induction seam welds are created through a solid-state welding process and it was shown that by increasing the induction frequency by 26%, the weld seam width within the heat affected zone (HAZ) reduced due to a plateau in the hardness distribution which was a result of a delay in the transformation of martensite. 2D hardness distribution contours were also created to show that some of the weld conditions examined in this work resulted in a strong asymmetric hardness distribution throughout the weld, which may be undesirable from a performance perspective. An increase in the pressure roll force was also examined and revealed that a wider total weld seam width was produced likely due to an increase in temperature which resulted in more austenitization of the sheet edge prior to welding. The ring hoop tension test (RHTT) was applied to the tube sections created in this work. A Tensile and Notch style ring specimen were tested and revealed excellent performance for these welds due to high peak loads (~17.2 kN) for the Notch specimens (force deformation within weld) and lower peak loads (~15.2 kN) for the Tensile specimens for which fracture occurred in the base metal.
Aging of γ′ Precipitates at 750 °C in the Nickel-Based Superalloy AD730TM: A Thermally or Thermo-Mechanically Controlled Process?
Authors: Mrozowski Nicolas , Hénaff Gilbert , Hamon Florence , Rouffié Anne-Laure , Franchet Jean-Michel , Cormier Jonathan , Villechaise Patrick
Published: March 2020

The microstructural stability during aging at 750 °C of the γ/γ′ nickel-based superalloy AD730TM is investigated in this work. Strain-free aging and aging during fatigue tests are conducted, with a focus on the influence of the strain ratio, the maximum applied strain, and the cycle waveform (with or without dwell). Two classical mechanisms of γ′ precipitates aging are identified at 750 °C: the coarsening of small spherical γ′ precipitates via the thermally-activated Ostwald ripening process and the coalescence of at least two precipitates into one. These mechanisms appeared to be concomitant during aging. It has been demonstrated that the coarsening kinetics of γ′ precipitates can be described by a classical Lifshitz-Slyozow-Wagner (LSW) equation. The introduction of a cyclic strain during aging at 750 °C increases the coarsening kinetics by means of changes in the volume diffusion of γ′-forming elements and of constraint misfit effects. More precisely, it is shown that the higher the maximum applied strain and/or the strain rate, the higher the coarsening rates. Finally, dwell-fatigue promotes the activation of the γ′ coalescence at 750 °C.
Comparative Study of Hot Deformation Behavior and Microstructure Evolution of As-Cast and Extruded WE43 Magnesium Alloy
Authors: Kang Yuehua , Huang Zhenghua , Zhao Hu , Gan Chunlei , Zhou Nan , Zheng Kaihong , Zhang Jing , Pan Fusheng , Huang J.C. , Wang Shuncheng
Published: March 2020

Under compressive testing at 400 °C and a strain rate range of 0.05–5 s−1, the hot deformation behavior and microstructure evolution of an as-cast (AC), as-extruded (with a bimodal grain structure (named as Ex-1) or a relatively uniform fine grain structure (Ex-2)) WE43 alloy have been investigated and compared. The results indicate that the AC sample exhibits the highest peak stress, while the Ex-2 sample has the lowest value. Within the AC material, fine grains were firstly formed along the pancake-like deformed grains (as a necklace structure). The necklace structure was also formed within the Ex-1 and Ex-2 materials at high strain rates of 0.5 and 5 s−1. However, a lamellar structure that the coarse elongated grains divided by parallel boundaries was formed within the Ex-1 material. A relatively more homogeneous fine grain structure is achieved after a true strain of 1.0 within the Ex-2 material at a low strain rate of 0.05 s−1. In addition, a discontinuous dynamic recrystallization mechanism by grain boundary bulging is found to occur. After a true strain of 1.2, a (0001) fiber texture, a typical rare earth (RE) texture, and a relatively random texture are formed within the AC, Ex-1, and Ex-2 WE43 alloy material, respectively.
Memristive Non-Volatile Memory Based on Graphene Materials
Authors: Shen Zongjie , Zhao Chun , Qi Yanfei , Mitrovic Ivona Z. , Yang Li , Wen Jiacheng , Huang Yanbo , Li Puzhuo , Zhao Cezhou
Published: March 2020

Resistive random access memory (RRAM), which is considered as one of the most promising next-generation non-volatile memory (NVM) devices and a representative of memristor technologies, demonstrated great potential in acting as an artificial synapse in the industry of neuromorphic systems and artificial intelligence (AI), due its advantages such as fast operation speed, low power consumption, and high device density. Graphene and related materials (GRMs), especially graphene oxide (GO), acting as active materials for RRAM devices, are considered as a promising alternative to other materials including metal oxides and perovskite materials. Herein, an overview of GRM-based RRAM devices is provided, with discussion about the properties of GRMs, main operation mechanisms for resistive switching (RS) behavior, figure of merit (FoM) summary, and prospect extension of GRM-based RRAM devices. With excellent physical and chemical advantages like intrinsic Young’s modulus (1.0 TPa), good tensile strength (130 GPa), excellent carrier mobility (2.0 × 105 cm2∙V−1∙s−1), and high thermal (5000 Wm−1∙K−1) and superior electrical conductivity (1.0 × 106 S∙m−1), GRMs can act as electrodes and resistive switching media in RRAM devices. In addition, the GRM-based interface between electrode and dielectric can have an effect on atomic diffusion limitation in dielectric and surface effect suppression. Immense amounts of concrete research indicate that GRMs might play a significant role in promoting the large-scale commercialization possibility of RRAM devices.
Preliminary In Vitro Studies on Corynebacterium urealyticum Pathogenetic Mechanisms, a Possible Candidate for Chronic Idiopathic Prostatitis?
Authors: Nicolosi Daria , Genovese Carlo , Cutuli Marco Alfio , D’Angeli Floriana , Pietrangelo Laura , Davinelli Sergio , Petronio Petronio Giulio , Di Marco Roberto
Published: March 2020

Corynebacterium urealyticum is a well-known opportunistic uropathogen that can occur with cystitis, pyelonephritis, and urinary sepsis. Although a wide variety of coryneform bacteria have been found from the male genital tract of prostatitis patients, only one clinical case of prostatitis caused by C. urealyticum has been reported. The aim of this study was to evaluate the in vitro tropism of C. urealyticum towards LNCaP (lymph node carcinoma of the prostate) human cells line and the influence of acetohydroxamic acid as an irreversible urease inhibitor on different aspects of its pathogenicity by means of several in vitro tests, such as the determination and analysis of growth curves, MTT (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) assay, the production of biofilms, and adhesion to LNCaP and HeLa cell lines. Results have brought new pieces of evidence on the in vitro tropism of C. urealyticum for the human prostate cell line LNCaP and the therapeutic use of the irreversible urease inhibitors such as acetohydroxamic acid (AHA), not only as enzyme blockers to facilitate the removal of encrustations but also as modulators of some pathogenic mechanisms. These interesting preliminary data allow us to assert that there is a real possibility that C. urealyticum is a new candidate for chronic idiopathic prostatitis.
Steroid Derivatives as Potential Antimicrobial Agents against Staphylococcus aureus Planktonic Cells
Authors: Vollaro Adriana , Esposito Anna , Antonaki Eleni , Iula Vita Dora , D’Alonzo Daniele , Guaragna Annalisa , De Gregorio Eliana
Published: March 2020

In this work, the antibacterial activity of deflazacort and several of its synthetic precursors was tested against a panel of bacterial pathogens responsible for most drug-resistant infections including Staphylococcus aureus, Enterococcus spp., Acinetobacter baumannii, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Escherichia coli, and Enterobacter spp. The derivative of deflazacort, PYED-1 (pregnadiene-11-hydroxy-16α,17α-epoxy-3,20-dione-1) showed the best antibacterial activity in a dose-dependent way. We focused on the action of PYED-1 against S. aureus cells. PYED-1 exhibited an additive antimicrobial effect with gentamicin and oxacillin against the methicillin-resistant S. aureus isolate 00717. In addition to its antimicrobial effect, PYED-1 was found to repress the expression of several virulence factors of S. aureus, including toxins encoded by the hla (alpha-haemolysin), hlb (beta-haemolysin), lukE-D (leucotoxins E-D), and sea (staphylococcal enterotoxin A) genes, and cell surface factors (fnbB (fibronectin-binding protein B) and capC (capsule biosynthesis protein C)). The expression levels of autolysin isaA (immunodominant staphylococcal antigen) were also increased.
Improving Thermal Conductivity Coefficient in Oriented Strand Lumber (OSL) Using Sepiolite
Authors: Taghiyari Hamid R. , Soltani Abolfazl , Esmailpour Ayoub , Hassani Vahid , Gholipour Hamed , Papadopoulos Antonios N.
Published: March 2020

An issue in engineered wood products, like oriented strand lumber (OSL), is the low thermal conductivity coefficient of raw material, preventing the fast transfer of heat into the core of composite mats. The aim of this paper is to investigate the effect of sepiolite at nanoscale with aspect ratio of 1:15, in mixture with urea-formaldehyde resin (UF), and its effect on thermal conductivity coefficient of the final panel. Sepiolite was mixed with UF resin for 20 min prior to being sprayed onto wood strips in a rotary drum. Ten percent of sepiolite was mixed with the resin, based on the dry weight of UF resin. OSL panels with two resin contents, namely 8% and 10%, were manufactured. Temperature was measured at the core section of the mat at 5-second intervals, using a digital thermometer. The thermal conductivity coefficient of OSL specimens was calculated based on Fourier’s Law for heat conduction. With regard to the fact that an improved thermal conductivity would ultimately be translated into a more effective polymerization of the resin, hardness of the panel was measured, at different depths of penetration of the Janka ball, to find out how the improved conductivity affected the hardness of the produced composite panels. The measurement of core temperature in OSL panels revealed that sepiolite-treated panels with 10% resin content had a higher core temperature in comparison to the ones containing 8% resin. Furthermore, it was revealed that the addition of sepiolite increased thermal conductivity in OSL panels made with 8% and 10% resin contents, by 36% and 40%, respectively. The addition of sepiolite significantly increased hardness values in all penetration depths. Hardness increased as sepiolite content increased. Considering the fact that the amount of sepiolite content was very low, and therefore it could not physically impact hardness increase, the significant increase in hardness values was attributed to the improvement in the thermal conductivity of panels and subsequent, more complete, curing of resin.
Crescent-Like Lesions as an Early Signature of Nephropathy in a Rat Model of Prediabetes Induced by a Hypercaloric Diet
Authors: Nunes Sara , Alves André , Preguiça Inês , Barbosa Adelaide , Vieira Pedro , Mendes Fernando , Martins Diana , Viana Sofia D. , Reis Flávio
Published: March 2020

Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is a major microvascular complication of diabetes. Obesity and hyperlipidemia, fueled by unhealthy food habits, are risk factors to glomerular filtration rate (GFR) decline and DN progression. Several studies recommend that diabetic patients should be screened early (in prediabetes) for kidney disease, in order to prevent advanced stages, for whom the current interventions are clearly inefficient. This ambition greatly depends on the existence of accurate early biomarkers and novel molecular targets, which only may arise with a more thorough knowledge of disease pathophysiology. We used a rat model of prediabetes induced by 23 weeks of high-sugar/high-fat (HSuHF) diet to characterize the phenotype of early renal dysfunction and injury. When compared with the control animals, HSuHF-treated rats displayed a metabolic phenotype compatible with obese prediabetes, displaying impaired glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity, along with hypertriglyceridemia, and lipid peroxidation. Despite unchanged creatinine levels, the prediabetic animals presented glomerular crescent-like lesions, accompanied by increased kidney Oil-Red-O staining, triglycerides content and mRNA expression of IL-6 and iNOS. This model of HSuHF-induced prediabetes can be a useful tool to study early features of DN, namely crescent-like lesions, an early signature that deserves in-depth elucidation.
Food Liking-Based Diet Quality Indexes (DQI) Generated by Conceptual and Machine Learning Explained Variability in Cardiometabolic Risk Factors in Young Adults
Authors: Xu Ran , Blanchard Bruce E. , McCaffrey Jeanne M. , Woolley Stephen , Corso Lauren M. L. , Duffy Valerie B.
Published: March 2020

The overall pattern of a diet (diet quality) is recognized as more important to health and chronic disease risk than single foods or food groups. Indexes of diet quality can be derived theoretically from evidence-based recommendations, empirically from existing datasets, or a combination of the two. We used these methods to derive diet quality indexes (DQI), generated from a novel dietary assessment, and to evaluate relationships with cardiometabolic risk factors in young adults with (n = 106) or without (n = 106) diagnosed depression (62% female, mean age = 21). Participants completed a liking survey (proxy for usual dietary consumption). Principle component analysis of plasma (insulin, glucose, lipids) and adiposity (BMI, Waist-to-Hip ratio) measures formed a continuous cardiometabolic risk factor score (CRFS). DQIs were created: theoretically (food/beverages grouped, weighted conceptually), empirically (grouping by factor analysis, weights empirically-derived by ridge regression analysis of CRFS), and hybrid (food/beverages conceptually-grouped, weights empirically-derived). The out-of-sample CRFS predictability for the DQI was assessed by two-fold and five-fold cross validations. While moderate consistencies between theoretically- and empirically-generated weights existed, the hybrid outperformed theoretical and empirical DQIs in cross validations (five-fold showed DQI explained 2.6% theoretical, 2.7% empirical, and 6.5% hybrid of CRFS variance). These pilot data support a liking survey that can generate reliable/valid DQIs that are significantly associated with cardiometabolic risk factors, especially theoretically- plus empirically-derived DQI.
Effects of Rambutan Peel (Nepheliumlappaceum) PhenolicExtract on RANKL-Induced Differentiation of RAW264.7 Cells into Osteoclasts and Retinoic Acid-Induced Osteoporosis in Rats
Authors: Zhuang Yongliang , Sun Xiaodong , Liu Bingtong , Hou Hu , Sun Yun
Published: March 2020

Previous studies have shown that rambutan peel phenolic (RPP) extract has excellent biological activities due to its abundant phenolic content and profile. In this study, the potential anti-osteoporosis (OP) effects of RPP were evaluated by suppressing receptor activator nuclear factor-kappa B ligand (RANKL)-induced differentiation of RAW264.7 cells into osteoclasts and amelioratingretinoic acid-induced OP in rats. Our results showed that RPP efficiently decreased the formation of tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP)-positive cells and reduced total TRAP activity in RAW264.7 cells under RANKL stimulation. RPP treatment significantlyameliorated retinoid acid-induced calcium loss in rats (p < 0.05). The serum phosphorus level of osteoporotic rats was increased by RPP treatment, and the serum levels of total alkaline phosphatase and osteocalcin in osteoporotic rats were further reduced. RPP treatment improved the qualities of the femur and tibia, such asbone mineral density, bone length, bone maximum load, cortical bone area ratio, and trabecularelative bone density in osteoporotic rats to some extent. Furthermore, histological analysis showed that RPP effectively improved the bone microstructure of osteoporotic rats by regulating the cortical bone thickness and trabecular bone separation. These results indicate that RPP could have potential applications as a newnutraceutical and functional food in the prevention of OP.
Nutritional Content, Labelling and Marketing of Breakfast Cereals on the Belgian Market and Their Reformulation in Anticipation of the Implementation of the Nutri-Score Front-Of-Pack Labelling System
Authors: Vermote Marie , Bonnewyn Stephanie , Matthys Christophe , Vandevijvere Stefanie
Published: March 2020

Objective: Breakfast cereals are frequently consumed in Belgium, especially among children. We investigated the nutritional content, labelling and marketing of breakfast cereals and the changes in nutrient content and reformulation in anticipation of the implementation of the Nutri-Score front-of-pack label. Design: Pictures were taken of cereal packages. The WHO-Europe nutrient profiling tool was used to classify cereals into ‘permitted’/‘not-permitted’ to be marketed to children, while the nutritional quality was assessed using Nutri-Score. The proportion of cereals with nutrition and health claims and/or promotional characters on the front-of-pack was compared between permitted and not-permitted cereals and between different Nutriscore categories using Chi-squared tests. The average nutrient contents per 100g were compared between 2017 and 2018 using paired t-tests. Setting: Belgium. Participants: All breakfast cereals in the major supermarkets (n = 7) in 2017 and 2018. Results: Overall, 330 cereals were included. About 77.2% of cereals were not permitted to be marketed to children but, of those, 22.0% displayed promotional characters. More claims (68.9% of all claims) were found on ‘not-permitted’ compared with ‘permitted’ cereals, particularly nutrition claims. Most claims were displayed on cereals with the allocated Nutri-Score A (42.0%) and C (37.0%). A significant reformulation of cereals was found between 2017 and 2018, with reductions in total sugar (−5%) (p < 0.001) and sodium (−20%) (p = 0.002) and increases in fibre (+3%) (p = 0.012) and proteins (+2%) (p = 0.002). Conclusion: Breakfast cereals on the Belgian market are predominantly unhealthy and frequently carry claims and promotional characters. Minimal reformulation occurred over one year. Policy recommendations include restrictions on claims and marketing for not-permitted cereals.
Evening Meal Types and Family Meal Characteristics: Associations with Demographic Characteristics and Food Intake among Adolescents
Authors: Overcash Francine , Davey Cynthia , Zhang Youjie , Reicks Marla
Published: March 2020

Evening meal types and family meal characteristics among adolescents may vary by demographic characteristics and weight status and can negatively impact dietary intake. We used cross-sectional Family, Life, Activity, Sun, Health, and Eating Study data from parent and adolescent dyads (12–17 years) to examine associations of adolescent evening meal types and family meal characteristics with adolescent and family demographic characteristics, weight status, and dietary intake. Multiple logistic regression models were used to evaluate associations of evening meal types and family meal characteristics with daily intake frequency of foods of interest, adolescent demographic characteristics, SES indicators, and weight status. All evening meal types that were not cooked from scratch showed associations with higher daily intake frequencies of less healthy food groups (fast food, convenience foods, sugar-sweetened beverages). Fast food eaten at home and heat-and-serve/box evening meals were associated with lower daily intake frequency of fruits and vegetables. Weight status, race/ethnicity, and age accounted for differences in associations with agreement regarding family meal characteristics. Agreement with often watching TV while eating, often eating alone and the importance of eating together were associated with daily intake frequency of some food groups. Evening meal types focused on convenience and negative family meal characteristics may adversely influence dietary intake among adolescents.
Correlation between Macular Pigment Optical Density and Neural Thickness and Volume of the Retina
Authors: Nagai Norihiro , Asato Teru , Minami Sakiko , Suzuki Misa , Shinoda Hajime , Kurihara Toshihide , Sonobe Hideki , Watanabe Kazuhiro , Uchida Atsuro , Ban Norimitsu , Tsubota Kazuo , Ozawa Yoko
Published: March 2020

Macular pigment (MP), which is composed of lutein/zeaxanthin/mezo-zeaxanthin, is concentrated in the central part of the retina, the macula. It protects the macula by absorbing short-wavelength light and suppressing oxidative stress. To evaluate whether MP levels are related to retinal neural protection and resulting health, we analyzed the association between the MP optical density (MPOD), and the macular thickness and volumes. Forty-three eyes of 43 healthy adult volunteers (21 men and 22 women; age: 22–48 (average 31.4 ± 1.1) years) were analyzed. Highly myopic eyes (<-6 diopters) were excluded. MPOD was measured using MPS2®, and the neural retinal thickness and volume were measured using optical coherence tomography. The mean MPOD was 0.589 ± 0.024, and it positively correlated with the central retinal thickness (P = 0.017, R = 0.360) and retinal volume of the fovea (1-mm diameter around the fovea; P = 0.029, R = 0.332), parafovea (1–3-mm diameter; P = 0.002, R = 0.458), and macula (6-mm diameter; P = 0.003, R = 0.447). In the macular area (diameter: 6 mm), MPOD was correlated with the retinal neural volume of the ganglion cell layer (P = 0.037, R = 0.320), inner plexiform layer (P = 0.029, R = 0.333), and outer nuclear layer (P = 0.020, R = 0.353). Thus, MPOD may help in estimating neural health. Further studies should determine the impact of MP levels on neuroprotection.
Effects of Raw and Roasted Cocoa Bean Extracts Supplementation on Intestinal Enzyme Activity, Biochemical Parameters, and Antioxidant Status in Rats Fed a High-Fat Diet
Authors: Żyżelewicz Dorota , Oracz Joanna , Bojczuk Małgorzata , Budryn Grażyna , Jurgoński Adam , Juśkiewicz Jerzy , Zduńczyk Zenon
Published: March 2020

The aim of the study was to analyze the influence of diet containing the polyphenol-rich material on intestinal enzyme activity, oxidative stress markers, lipid metabolism and antioxidant status of laboratory rats. The animals were fed high-fat diet supplemented with freeze-dried water extracts of raw and roasted cocoa beans of Forastero variety. The observed changes indicated the biological activity of polyphenols and other components of the prepared cocoa beans extracts (CBEs). The presence of raw and roasted CBEs in the diets diversified the activity of the enzymes of the cecal microflora of rats. Both CBEs beneficially affect the antioxidant status of the serum, even in relation to the control standard group. The experimental cocoa bean preparations showed no significant effect on the mass of rats’ liver, heart, and kidneys, but varied some parameters of the antioxidant status of their organisms. The raw CBE in rats fed with the high-fat diet shows a high ability to inhibit lipid peroxidation in heart and more effectively increases hepatic reduced glutathione (GSH) concentrations compared to the roasted CBE, which did not show any significant effect. Moreover, supplementation with both CBEs significantly affects the volatile fatty acids concentration in the rats’ cecum. Results of this study contribute to the evidence that dietary supplementation with raw and roasted CBEs can exert health-promoting effects, however further studies are necessary.
Negative Energy Balance Induced by Exercise or Diet: Effects on Visceral Adipose Tissue and Liver Fat
Authors: Ross Robert , Soni Simrat , Houle Sarah
Published: March 2020

The indisputable association between visceral adipose tissue (VAT) and cardiometabolic risk makes it a primary target for lifestyle-based strategies designed to prevent or manage health risk. Substantive evidence also confirms that liver fat (LF) is positively associated with increased health risk and that reduction is associated with an improved metabolic profile. The independent associations between reductions in VAT, LF, and cardiometabolic risk is less clear. In this narrative review, we summarize the evidence indicating whether a negative energy balance induced by either an increase in energy expenditure (aerobic exercise) or a decrease in energy intake (hypocaloric diet) are effective strategies for reducing both VAT and LF. Consideration will be given to whether a dose-response relationship exists between the negative energy balance induced by exercise or diet and reduction in either VAT or LF. We conclude with recommendations that will help fill gaps in knowledge with respect to lifestyle-based strategies designed to reduce VAT and LF.
Energy Intake, Macronutrient Profile and Food Sources of Spanish Children Aged One to <10 Years—Results from the EsNuPI Study †
Authors: Madrigal Casandra , Soto-Méndez María José , Hernández-Ruiz Ángela , Valero Teresa , Ávila José Manuel , Ruiz Emma , Lara Villoslada Federico , Leis Rosaura , Martínez de Victoria Emilio , Moreno José Manuel , M. Ortega Rosa , Ruiz-López María Dolores , Varela-Moreiras Gregorio , Gil Ángel
Published: March 2020

The present study aimed to assess energy intake, nutrient profile and food sources in Spanish children participating in the EsNuPI (“Estudio Nutricional en Población Infantil Española”) study. Plausibility of energy intake and adequacy of nutrient intakes to international recommendations were analyzed in a final sample of 1448 subjects (728 boys and 720 girls) and one group representative of the 1 to <10 years old urban Spanish children (reference sample (n = 707)) who consumed milk and one of the same age who consumed adapted milk over the last year (adapted milk consumers sample (n = 741)) were compared. Both groups completed data of a face-to-face and a telephone 24-h dietary recalls. Both the reference and the adapted milk consumers samples reported an adequate daily energy intake (1503 kcal/day and 1404 kcal/day); and a high contribution to total energy from protein (16.5% and 15.6%) and fat (36.5% and 35.9%). Also, a high percentage of children from both samples were below the lower limit of the recommendations for carbohydrates (47.8% and 39.3%). As the percentage of plausible energy reporters was high for both groups (84.7% and 83.5%, respectively), data for the whole sample were analyzed. Milk and dairy, cereals, meat and derived products, fats and oils, bakery and pastry, fruits and vegetables contributed to about 80% of the total energy intake in both groups. However, the reference sample reported significantly more contribution to energy from cereals, meat and meat products, bakery and pastry and ready to cook/eat foods; meanwhile, the adapted milk consumers sample reported significantly more energy from milk and dairy products, fruits and eggs. Those results suggest that adapted milk consumers have better adherence to the food-based dietary guidelines. Further analyses are warranted to characterize food patterns and the quality of the diet in the EsNuPI study population.
Schisandra Extract and Ascorbic Acid Synergistically Enhance Cognition in Mice through Modulation of Mitochondrial Respiration
Authors: Jang Yunseon , Lee Jae Hyeon , Lee Min Joung , Kim Soo Jeong , Ju Xianshu , Cui Jianchen , Zhu Jiebo , Lee Yu Lim , Namgung Eunji , Sung Han Wool John , Lee Hong Won , Ryu Min Jeong , Oh Eungseok , Chung Woosuk , Kweon Gi Ryang , Choi Chun Whan , Heo Jun Young
Published: March 2020

Cognitive decline is observed in aging and neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and dementia. Intracellular energy produced via mitochondrial respiration is used in the regulation of synaptic plasticity and structure, including dendritic spine length and density, as well as for the release of neurotrophic factors involved in learning and memory. To date, a few synthetic agents for improving mitochondrial function have been developed for overcoming cognitive impairment. However, no natural compounds that modulate synaptic plasticity by directly targeting mitochondria have been developed. Here, we demonstrate that a mixture of Schisandra chinensis extract (SCE) and ascorbic acid (AA) improved cognitive function and induced synaptic plasticity-regulating proteins by enhancing mitochondrial respiration. Treatment of embryonic mouse hippocampal mHippoE-14 cells with a 4:1 mixture of SCE and AA increased basal oxygen consumption rate. We found that mice injected with the SCE-AA mixture showed enhanced learning and memory and recognition ability. We further observed that injection of the SCE-AA mixture in mice significantly increased expression of postsynaptic density protein 95 (PSD95), an increase that was correlated with enhanced brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) expression. These results demonstrate that a mixture of SCE and AA improves mitochondrial function and memory, suggesting that this natural compound mixture could be used to alleviate AD and aging-associated memory decline.
Detection of Antibodies against Mycobacterium bovis in Oral Fluid from Eurasian Wild Boar
Authors: Barasona Jose A. , Barroso-Arévalo Sandra , Rivera Belén , Gortázar Christian , Sánchez-Vizcaíno Jose M.
Published: March 2020

The presence of Mycobacterium bovis and other members of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTC) is a main concern in wildlife populations such as the Eurasian wild boar (Sus scrofa). Tests detecting antibodies against the MTC are valuable for tuberculosis (TB) monitoring and control and particularly useful in suids. The development of accurate, efficient, and non-invasive new tools to detect exposure to MTC would be highly beneficial for improving disease surveillance. This study aimed to determine if antibodies against MTC could be detected in oral fluid (OF) samples by a new ELISA test (IgG detection) from naturally TB-infected wild boar. For this, individual, paired serum and OF samples were collected from 148 live wild boar in two TB-status areas from Spain and quantitatively used to validate the new ELISA test. Antibodies against MTC were widely detected in OF samples, for which a significant positive correlation (r = 0.83) was found with the validated serology test. OF ELISA sensitivity and specificity were 67.3% and 100%, respectively. The results of this work suggest that OF samples have the potential to be used for MTC diagnosis as a further step in TB surveillance and control in suid populations. Based on our results, further research is warranted and could be performed using non-invasive new tools directly in field conditions to detect exposure to MTC.
Predominance of Human Bocavirus Genotype 1 and 3 in Outpatient Children with Diarrhea from Rural Communities in South Africa, 2017–2018
Authors: Rikhotso Mpumelelo Casper , Khumela Ronewa , Kabue Jean Pierre , Traoré-Hoffman Afsatou Ndama , Potgieter Natasha
Published: March 2020

Human bocavirus (HBoV) is an emerging virus globally associated with diarrhea in young children. This study aims to investigate the prevalence of HBoV genotypes in children (≤5 years) from rural communities in South Africa (SA) suffering from acute gastroenteritis (AGE). A total of 141 fecal samples of children ≤5 years with acute gastroenteritis (AGE) were collected from rural primary health care facilities in the Vhembe district of SA between June 2017 and July 2018. Clinical symptoms and demographic data were also recorded. A total of 102 (72%) were outpatients, and 39 (28%) were hospitalized patients. Human bocavirus (HBoV) genotypes were determined using real-time multiplex PCR. DNA extracts of positive samples were confirmed by conventional PCR targeting the NS1 gene. Co-infection with other enteric viruses were determined in HBoV-positive samples using real-time PCR. HBoV was detected in eight (5.7%) children with AGE, of which three (37.5%) were HBoV1, three (37.5%) were HBoV3, and two (25%) were HBoV2. The majority of positive cases were identified in outpatients (62%) between the ages of 1 and 24 months. Co-infection in HBoV-positive samples with other enteric viruses included rotavirus (37.5%), adenovirus (37.5%), norovirus (25%), and astrovirus (12.5%). HBoV infections could be seen as a potential emerging diarrheal pathogen in South Africa. However, more studies are needed to understand the role of HBoV infections in children with AGE.
A Two-stage Deep Domain Adaptation Method for Hyperspectral Image Classification
Authors: Li Zhaokui , Tang Xiangyi , Li Wei , Wang Chuanyun , Liu Cuiwei , He Jinrong
Published: March 2020

Deep learning has attracted extensive attention in the field of hyperspectral images (HSIs) classification. However, supervised deep learning methods heavily rely on a large amount of label information. To address this problem, in this paper, we propose a two-stage deep domain adaptation method for hyperspectral image classification, which can minimize the data shift between two domains and learn a more discriminative deep embedding space with very few labeled target samples. A deep embedding space is first learned by minimizing the distance between the source domain and the target domain based on Maximum Mean Discrepancy (MMD) criterion. The Spatial–Spectral Siamese Network is then exploited to reduce the data shift and learn a more discriminative deep embedding space by minimizing the distance between samples from different domains but the same class label and maximizes the distance between samples from different domains and class labels based on pairwise loss. For the classification task, the softmax layer is replaced with a linear support vector machine, in which learning minimizes a margin-based loss instead of the cross-entropy loss. The experimental results on two sets of hyperspectral remote sensing images show that the proposed method can outperform several state-of-the-art methods.
Regional Mapping of Essential Urban Land Use Categories in China: A Segmentation-Based Approach
Authors: Tu Ying , Chen Bin , Zhang Tao , Xu Bing
Published: March 2020

Understanding distributions of urban land use is of great importance for urban planning, decision support, and resource allocation. The first mapping results of essential urban land use categories (EULUC) in China for 2018 have been recently released. However, such kind of national maps may not sufficiently meet the growing demand for regional analysis. To address this shortcoming, here we proposed a segmentation-based framework named EULUC-seg to improve the mapping results of EULUC at the city scale. An object-based segmentation approach was first applied to generate the basic mapping units within urban parcels. Multiple features derived from high-resolution remotely sensed and social sensing data were updated and then recalculated within each unit. Random forest was adopted as the machine learning algorithm for classifying urban land use into five Level I classes and twelve Level II classes. Finally, an accuracy assessment was carried out based on a collection of manually interpreted samples. Results showed that our derived map achieved an overall accuracy of 87.58% for Level I, and 73.53% for Level II. The accurate and refined map of EULUC-seg is expected to better support various applications in the future.
Optical Thickness Monitoring as a Strategic Element for the Development of SPR Sensing Applications
Authors: Luna-Moreno Donato , Sánchez-Álvarez Araceli , Rodríguez-Delgado Melissa
Published: March 2020

The importance of the monitoring of thickness and rate deposition is indispensable for the fabrication of thin film sensors, such as SPR sensors. The sensitivity of SPR responses varies with the thickness of the film, as well as the linear range. Thus, in the present work, we presented an experimental study of the plasmonic response of Cr/Au thin films deposited onto glass slides by evaporation, based on both a rotation and no-rotation system. The results show that the thickness of the gold film varies from 240 to 620 Å, depending on the glass slide position. The SPR response curves obtained experimentally were compared with simulated plasmonic responses and different parameters such as resonance angle, and the depth, slope and half-width of the SPR curve were analysed.
End-to-End Automatic Pronunciation Error Detection Based on Improved Hybrid CTC/Attention Architecture
Authors: Zhang Long , Zhao Ziping , Ma Chunmei , Shan Linlin , Sun Huazhi , Jiang Lifen , Deng Shiwen , Gao Chang
Published: March 2020

Advanced automatic pronunciation error detection (APED) algorithms are usually based on state-of-the-art automatic speech recognition (ASR) techniques. With the development of deep learning technology, end-to-end ASR technology has gradually matured and achieved positive practical results, which provides us with a new opportunity to update the APED algorithm. We first constructed an end-to-end ASR system based on the hybrid connectionist temporal classification and attention (CTC/attention) architecture. An adaptive parameter was used to enhance the complementarity of the connectionist temporal classification (CTC) model and the attention-based seq2seq model, further improving the performance of the ASR system. After this, the improved ASR system was used in the APED task of Mandarin, and good results were obtained. This new APED method makes force alignment and segmentation unnecessary, and it does not require multiple complex models, such as an acoustic model or a language model. It is convenient and straightforward, and will be a suitable general solution for L1-independent computer-assisted pronunciation training (CAPT). Furthermore, we find that in regards to accuracy metrics, our proposed system based on the improved hybrid CTC/attention architecture is close to the state-of-the-art ASR system based on the deep neural network–deep neural network (DNN–DNN) architecture, and has a stronger effect on the F-measure metrics, which are especially suitable for the requirements of the APED task.
Label-Free Bioelectrochemical Methods for Evaluation of Anticancer Drug Effects at a Molecular Level
Authors: Tadini-Buoninsegni Francesco , Palchetti Ilaria
Published: March 2020

Cancer is a multifactorial family of diseases that is still a leading cause of death worldwide. More than 100 different types of cancer affecting over 60 human organs are known. Chemotherapy plays a central role for treating cancer. The development of new anticancer drugs or new uses for existing drugs is an exciting and increasing research area. This is particularly important since drug resistance and side effects can limit the efficacy of the chemotherapy. Thus, there is a need for multiplexed, cost-effective, rapid, and novel screening methods that can help to elucidate the mechanism of the action of anticancer drugs and the identification of novel drug candidates. This review focuses on different label-free bioelectrochemical approaches, in particular, impedance-based methods, the solid supported membranes technique, and the DNA-based electrochemical sensor, that can be used to evaluate the effects of anticancer drugs on nucleic acids, membrane transporters, and living cells. Some relevant examples of anticancer drug interactions are presented which demonstrate the usefulness of such methods for the characterization of the mechanism of action of anticancer drugs that are targeted against various biomolecules.
A Fault-tolerant Steering Prototype for X-rudder Underwater Vehicles
Authors: Wang Wenjin , Chen Ying , Xia Yingkai , Xu Guohua , Zhang Wei , Wu Hongming
Published: March 2020

The X-rudder concept has been applied to more and more autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) in recent years, since it shows better maneuverability and robustness against rudder failure compared to the traditional cruciform rudder. Aiming at the fault-tolerant control of the X-rudder AUV (hereinafter abbreviated as xAUV), a fault-tolerant steering prototype system which can realize dynamics control, autonomous rudder fault detection and fault-tolerant control is presented in this paper. The steering prototype system is deployed on a verification platform, an xAUV, in which the monitor software is developed based on the factory method and the onboard software is developed based on the finite state machine (FSM). Dual-loop increment feedback control (DIFC) is first introduced to obtain smooth virtual rudder commands considering actuator’s limitations. Then the virtual rudder commands are transformed into X-rudder commands based on the mapping theory. In rudder fault diagnosis, an optimized particle filter is proposed for estimating rudder effect deduction, with proposal distribution derived from unscented Kalman filter (UKF). Then the fault type can be determined by analyzing indicators related to the deduction. Fault-tolerant control is addressed by dealing with nonlinear programming (NLP) problem, where minimization of allocation errors and control efforts are set as the optimization objectives, and rudder failure, saturation and actuators limitations are considered as constraints. The fixed-point iteration method is utilized to solve this optimization problem. Many field tests have been conducted in towing tank. The experimental results demonstrate that the proposed steering prototype system is able to detect rudder faults and is robust against rudder failure.
Modeling Time Requirements of CPS in Wireless Networks
Authors: Huegel Richa César , M. de Lucena Mateus , Passig Horstmann Leonardo , Conradi Hoffmann José Luis , Fröhlich Antônio Augusto
Published: March 2020

In this paper, we present an approach to assess the schedulability and scalability of Cyber-Physical Systems (CPS) Networks through an algorithm that is capable of estimating the load of the network as its utility grows. Our approach evaluates both the network load and the laxity of messages, considering its current topology and real-time constraints while abstracting environmental specificities. The proposed algorithm also accounts for the network unreliability by applying a margin-of-safety parameter. This approach enables higher utilities as it evaluates the load of the network considering a margin-of-safety that encapsulates phenomena such as collisions and interference, instead of performing a worst-case analysis. Furthermore, we present an evaluation of the proposed algorithm over three representative scenarios showing that the algorithm was able to successfully assess the network capacity as it reaches a higher use.
A Smart Microcontroller Architecture for the Internet of Things
Authors: Wu Zhenyu , Qiu Kai , Zhang Jianguo
Published: March 2020

The interoperations of endpoint devices are generally achieved by gateways in Internet of Things (IoT) systems. However, the gateways mainly focus on networking communication, which is lack of data logic control capabilities. The microcontrollers with embedded intelligence could work as an intermediate device to help the interconnections of the endpoint devices. Moreover, they could help control the endpoint devices. In this paper, a microcontroller architecture with intelligent and scalable characteristics is proposed. The intelligence means that the microcontroller could control the target endpoint devices by its logical circuits, and the scalability means that the microcontroller architecture could be easily extended to deal with more complex problems. Two real world industrial implementations of the proposed architecture are introduced. The implementations show that the microcontroller is important to provide the intelligent services to users in IoT systems. Furthermore, a simulation experiment based on the cloud model is designed to evaluate the proposed method. The experimental results demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed architecture.