bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Host Mesothelin Expression Increases Ovarian Cancer Metastasis in the Peritoneal Microenvironment
Authors: Hilliard Tyvette S. , Kowalski Brooke , Iwamoto Kyle , Agadi Elizabeth A. , Liu Yueying , Yang Jing , Asem Marwa , Klymenko Yuliya , Johnson Jeff , Shi Zonggao , Marfowaa Gifty , Yemc Madeleine G. , Petrasko Phillip , Stack M. Sharon
Published: November 2021

Mesothelin (MSLN), a glycoprotein normally expressed by mesothelial cells, is overexpressed in ovarian cancer (OvCa) suggesting a role in tumor progression, although the biological function is not fully understood. OvCa has a high mortality rate due to diagnosis at advanced stage disease with intraperitoneal metastasis. Tumor cells detach from the primary tumor as single cells or multicellular aggregates (MCAs) and attach to the mesothelium of organs within the peritoneal cavity producing widely disseminated secondary lesions. To investigate the role of host MSLN in the peritoneal cavity we used a mouse model with a null mutation in the MSLN gene (MSLNKO). The deletion of host MSLN expression modified the peritoneal ultrastructure resulting in abnormal mesothelial cell surface architecture and altered omental collagen fibril organization. Co-culture of murine OvCa cells with primary mesothelial cells regardless of MSLN expression formed compact MCAs. However, co-culture with MSLNKO mesothelial cells resulted in smaller MCAs. An allograft tumor study, using wild-type mice (MSLNWT) or MSLNKO mice injected intraperitoneally with murine OvCa cells demonstrated a significant decrease in peritoneal metastatic tumor burden in MSLNKO mice compared to MSLNWT mice. Together, these data support a role for host MSLN in the progression of OvCa metastasis.
Proteomic Analysis of Marinesco–Sjogren Syndrome Fibroblasts Indicates Pro-Survival Metabolic Adaptation to SIL1 Loss
Authors: Potenza Francesca , Cufaro Maria , Di Biase Linda , Panella Valeria , Di Campli Antonella , Ruggieri Anna , Dufrusine Beatrice , Restelli Elena , Pietrangelo Laura , Protasi Feliciano , Pieragostino Damiana , De Laurenzi Vincenzo , Federici Luca , Chiesa Roberto , Sallese Michele
Published: November 2021

Marinesco–Sjogren syndrome (MSS) is a rare multisystem pediatric disorder, caused by loss-of-function mutations in the gene encoding the endoplasmic reticulum cochaperone SIL1. SIL1 acts as a nucleotide exchange factor for BiP, which plays a central role in secretory protein folding. SIL1 mutant cells have reduced BiP-assisted protein folding, cannot fulfil their protein needs, and experience chronic activation of the unfolded protein response (UPR). Maladaptive UPR may explain the cerebellar and skeletal muscle degeneration responsible for the ataxia and muscle weakness typical of MSS. However, the cause of other more variable, clinical manifestations, such as mild to severe mental retardation, hypogonadism, short stature, and skeletal deformities, is less clear. To gain insights into the pathogenic mechanisms and/or adaptive responses to SIL1 loss, we carried out cell biological and proteomic investigations in skin fibroblasts derived from a young patient carrying the SIL1 R111X mutation. Despite fibroblasts not being overtly affected in MSS, we found morphological and biochemical changes indicative of UPR activation and altered cell metabolism. All the cell machineries involved in RNA splicing and translation were strongly downregulated, while protein degradation via lysosome-based structures was boosted, consistent with an attempt of the cell to reduce the workload of the endoplasmic reticulum and dispose of misfolded proteins. Cell metabolism was extensively affected as we observed a reduction in lipid synthesis, an increase in beta oxidation, and an enhancement of the tricarboxylic acid cycle, with upregulation of eight of its enzymes. Finally, the catabolic pathways of various amino acids, including valine, leucine, isoleucine, tryptophan, lysine, aspartate, and phenylalanine, were enhanced, while the biosynthetic pathways of arginine, serine, glycine, and cysteine were reduced. These results indicate that, in addition to UPR activation and increased protein degradation, MSS fibroblasts have profound metabolic alterations, which may help them cope with the absence of SIL1.
Review of OCT Angiography Findings in Diabetic Retinopathy: Insights and Perspectives
Authors: Moir John , Khanna Saira , Skondra Dimitra
Published: November 2021

Diabetes mellitus (DM), a disorder rapidly growing in prevalence, is linked to the retinal microvasculature complication diabetic retinopathy (DR). As one of the leading global causes of vision impairment and loss, imaging techniques to detect and monitor DR must continue to improve in order to address this growing burden. Optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) is a nascent imaging modality that generates three-dimensional visualizations of the retinal and choroidal microvasculature. Compared to fluorescein angiography, the gold-standard imaging modality for retinal vessels, OCTA offers the advantages of being non-invasive, quick, and able to resolve the multiple plexuses within the retina. Quantitative OCTA studies have explored parameters such as vessel density (VD), foveal avascular zone (FAZ), acircularity index, vessel tortuosity (VT), and fractal dimension (FD) amongst DR patients. This review synthesizes the main trends emerging from quantitative OCTA-based studies of DR and interrogates them within the context of DR pathophysiology. We offer a glimpse into how analysis techniques have shifted in the years since OCTA came into existence, while speculating on its future role in clinical practice.
Different Stratification of Physiological Factors Affecting Cerebral Perfusion Pressure in Hypoxic-Ischemic Brain Injury after Cardiac Arrest According to Visible or Non-Visible Primary Brain Injury: A Retrospective Observational Study
Authors: Kang Changshin , Jeong Wonjoon , Park Jung Soo , You Yeonho , Min Jin Hong , Cho Yong Chul , Ahn Hong Joon , In Yong Nam , Lee In Ho
Published: November 2021

We aimed to explore the stratification of physiological factors affecting cerebral perfusion pressure, including arterial oxygen tension, arterial carbon dioxide tension, mean arterial pressure, intracranial pressure (ICP), and blood-brain barrier (BBB) status, with respect to primary or secondary brain injury (PBI or SBI) after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA). Among the retrospectively enrolled 97 comatose OHCA survivors undergoing post-cardiac arrest (PCA) care, 46 (47.4%) with already established PBI (high signal intensity (HSI) on diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) had higher ICP (p = 0.02) and poorer BBB status (p < 0.01) than the non-HSI group. On subgroup analysis within the non-HSI group to exclude the confounding effect of already established PBI, 40 (78.4%) patients with good neurological outcomes had lower ICP at 24 h (11.0 vs. 16.0 mmHg, p < 0.01) and more stable BBB status (p = 0.17 in pairwise comparison) compared to those with poor neurological outcomes, despite the non-significant differences in other physiological factors. OHCA survivors with HSI on DWI showed significantly higher ICP and poorer BBB status at baseline before PCA care than those without HSI. Despite the negative DWI findings before PCA care, OHCA survivors have a cerebral penumbra at risk for potentially leading the poor neurological outcome from unsuppressed SBI, which may be associated with increased ICP and BBB permeability.
Multi-Objective Variable Neighborhood Strategy Adaptive Search for Tuning Optimal Parameters of SSM-ADC12 Aluminum Friction Stir Welding
Authors: Chainarong Suppachai , Pitakaso Rapeepan , Sirirak Worapot , Srichok Thanatkij , Khonjun Surajet , Sethanan Kanchana , Sangthean Thai
Published: November 2021

This research presents a novel algorithm for finding the most promising parameters of friction stir welding to maximize the ultimate tensile strength (UTS) and maximum bending strength (MBS) of a butt joint made of the semi-solid material (SSM) ADC12 aluminum. The relevant welding parameters are rotational speed, welding speed, tool tilt, tool pin profile, and rotation. We used the multi-objective variable neighborhood strategy adaptive search (MOVaNSAS) to find the optimal parameters. We employed the D-optimal to find the regression model to predict for both objectives subjected to the given range of parameters. Afterward, we used MOVaNSAS to find the Pareto front of the objective functions, and TOPSIS to find the most promising set of parameters. The computational results show that the UTS and MBS of MOVaNSAS generate a 2.13% to 10.27% better solution than those of the genetic algorithm (GA), differential evolution algorithm (DE), and D-optimal solution. The optimal parameters obtained from MOVaNSAS were a rotation speed of 1469.44 rpm, a welding speed of 80.35 mm/min, a tool tilt of 1.01°, a cylindrical tool pin profile, and a clockwise rotational direction.
Evolution of the Seismic Response of Monopile-Supported Offshore Wind Turbines of Increasing Size from 5 to 15 MW including Dynamic Soil-Structure Interaction
Authors: Medina Cristina , Álamo Guillermo M. , Quevedo-Reina Román
Published: November 2021

As a result of wind power’s expansion over the globe, offshore wind turbines (OWTs) are being projected in seismic prone areas. In parallel, the industry develops increasingly larger and more powerful generators. Many of the seismic response analyses of wind turbines conducted so far only consider smaller units. In this paper, a finite element substructuring model in frequency domain is used to compute the seismic response of four reference OWTs from 5 to 15 MW founded on monopiles embedded in several homogeneous soil profiles with shear wave velocities from 100 to 300 m/s and subjected to different accelerograms. The foundation behaviour is obtained through a continuum model including kinematic and inertial interaction. The relevance of soil-structure interaction and main trends of the seismic response of OWTs are inferred from the presented results. Although the seismic maximum bending moments increase with the size of the OWT system, their relevance with respect to the ones produced by design loads decreases as the turbine gets bigger. The same effect is observed for the shear forces if the soil is soft enough. The inclusion of SSI effects almost duplicates the seismic response when compared to the rigid base scenario.
Development and Research Status of Tidal Current Power Generation Systems in China
Authors: Chen Hao , Li Qi , Benbouzid Mohamed , Han Jingang , Aït-Ahmed Nadia
Published: November 2021

Considering the depletion of oil, coal, gas and other fossil energy, and the increasingly serious environmental pollution, all countries in the world are developing clean and renewable energy, such as wind energy, water energy, solar energy, etc., to alleviate the current energy crisis. Tidal current energy belongs to the marine renewable energy. It is clean, pollution-free, and abundant, with a good prospect of development due to its similarity with wind energy. This paper firstly analyses the reserves and distribution of tidal current energy in China. Then the early exploration of Tidal Current Power Generation System (TCPGS) in China is briefly introduced. Subsequently, it gives the details of the devices and experimental platforms of TCPGS that were researched and developed by various universities, research institutes and enterprises in China. The information mainly includes: the size and the capacity of the system, the support structure, turbine type, the selection of generator, and some river and offshore test information, etc. Finally, it discusses the similarities and differences between China and other countries in tidal current power generation technology, and summaries the current development status and gives the prospect of the TCPGS technology in China.
Antifungal Resistance in Dermatophytes: Genetic Considerations, Clinical Presentations and Alternative Therapies
Authors: Sacheli Rosalie , Hayette Marie-Pierre
Published: November 2021

Numerous reports describe the emergence of resistance in dermatophytes, especially in T. rubrum and T. mentagrophytes/indotineae strains. We here present a review of the current status of resistance in dermatophytes worldwide. Resistance to terbinafine is mainly discussed, with different mutations found in the squalene epoxidase gene also considered. Resistance to azoles is also approached. Clinical presentations caused by resistant dermatophytes are presented, together with alternative therapies that help to better manage these kind of infections.
Sustainable Supply Chain Management in the Route for a Circular Economy: An Integrative Literature Review
Authors: Cerqueira-Streit Jorge , Endo Gustavo , Guarnieri Patricia , Batista Luciano
Published: November 2021

Background: Sustainable supply chain management (SSCM) considers social, environmental, and economic dimensions of sustainability. In the context of the pandemic, organizations must face consequences striking the wider dimensions of sustainability. Thus, after the COVID-19 pandemic, how will the value chains collaborate for the transition from a traditional (linear) to a Circular Economy? Methods: From this question, in this paper, we analyze the international papers that connect sustainable supply chain management (SSCM) with circular economy (CE). We conducted an Integrative Literature Review based on the Web of Science and Scopus databases from 2010 to 2020, using the Methodi Ordinatio protocol to classify the papers. Results: The 37 best-ranked papers were analyzed thoroughly. The results show the prominent authors, institutions, the network relationship between authors, the evolution of publications, and the leading journals. The content of these articles was categorized and discussed about the changes in the way products are manufactured, distributed, consumed, and recovered. The integration of CE principles in SSCM has been evaluated as having potential utility for industries, cities, and businesses in general. Conclusions: Finally, an agenda was identified with suggestions for further research, which can aid researchers and practitioners acting in this field. Managers can obtain insights to improve supply chain sustainability and consequently respond to the challenges imposed by the current pandemic.
Regioselective Synthesis of 4-Bromo-3-formyl-N-phenyl-5-propylthiophene-2-carboxamide
Authors: Bar Sukanta , Martin Maxwell Israel
Published: November 2021

We synthesized 4-bromo-3-formyl-N-phenyl-5-propylthiophene-2-carboxamide by using three successive direct lithiations and a bromination reaction starting from thiophene. All these lithiation reactions were carried out at −78 °C to RT over a period of 1 to 24 h based on the reactivity of electrophile. This is a four-step protocol starting from thiophene with an overall yield of 47%.
Experimental Research and Numerical Analysis of Pressure Fluctuation Characteristics of Rim Driven Propulsion Pump Outlet
Authors: Zhu Zhipeng , Liu Houlin
Published: November 2021

The pressure fluctuation characteristics of a rim driven propulsion pump are studied by an experimental method firstly, and then its unsteady inner flow is studied by numerical simulation to reveal the generating mechanism of the pressure fluctuation. In the experiment, a monitoring point was set in a downstream region with a distance of 1D (D, Diameter of impeller) to the impeller. The monitoring point’s dominant frequencies within a low frequency band are 1APF (APF, Axial Passing Frequency) and 2APF. In the numerical simulation, the main fluctuation near the impeller region appears at 1BPF (BPF, Blade Passing Frequency) and as the monitoring point moves downstream, the amplitude becomes smaller. The 1BPF fluctuation nearly disappears when the distance exceeds 1D, and the main frequency moves to 1APF and 2APF, which is in good agreement with the experimental results in the low frequency band. The transient velocity, pressure and vorticity distribution were studied to reveal the causes of 1BPF, 1APF and 2APF fluctuation. The main cause of 1BPF is the jet from the tail of the blade and the main cause of 2APF is the movement of a large-scale double vortex structure on both sides of the low-pressure zone. The movement of the vortex group near the wall may be the main cause that induces the 1APF fluctuation.
Numerical Approach for Detecting the Resonance Effects of Drilling during Assembly of Aircraft Structures
Authors: Vasiliev Alexey , Lupuleac Sergey , Shinder Julia
Published: November 2021

This paper is devoted to the development of a numerical approach that allows quick detection of the conditions favorable for the beginning of noticeable vibrations during drilling. The main novelty of the proposed approach lies in taking into account the deviations of the assembled compliant parts during non-stationary contact analysis by means of variation simulation. The approaches to stationary analysis of assembly quality are expanded and generalized for modeling such non-stationary effects as vibration and resonance. The numerical procedure is based on modeling the stress–strain state of the assembled structures by solving the corresponding transient contact problem. The use of Guyan reduction, the node-to-node contact model and the application of the generalized α method allow the reformulation of the contact problem in terms of a series of quadratic programming problems. The algorithm is thoroughly tested and validated with commercial software. The efficiency of the developed numerical procedure is illustrated by analysis of the test joints of two aircraft panels. The unsteady process of drilling the panels with periodic drilling force was simulated. The influence of deviations in the shape of the parts on the non-stationary interlayer gap was modeled by setting different initial gaps between parts. It is shown that the oscillation amplitudes of the interlayer gap depend on the initial gaps and do not correlate with the mean value of the stationary residual gap. Thus, non-stationary analysis provides new information about the quality of the assembly process, and it should be applied if the assembly process includes periodic impact on the assembled parts.
Research on Extreme Dispute Decisions of Large-Scale Engineering Projects from the Perspective of Multidimensional Preferences
Authors: Tan Ren , Hong Kairong
Published: November 2021

The main purpose of this paper is to study the influence of game players’ behavior preferences on the strategy choice and equilibrium results in the game process of large-scale engineering projects’ extreme disputes. In contrast to the self-interested preference and completely rational assumptions of traditional economics, this paper focuses on the discussion of loss aversion preference and fairness preference against the background of incomplete information about the game subject. Considering the influence of the decision-makers’ multidimensional preferences, this paper establishes a three-party game model for the government, the project construction units, and the public. Furthermore, the equilibrium results of four different types of extreme disputes are deduced using the game method. We deduce the evolutionary paths and equilibrium characteristics and discuss them in combination with actual cases in China in an attempt to provide theoretical support and scientific analysis tools to avoid serious disputes and conflict decision results. Through research, this paper finds that the transformation of prior beliefs, the role of multidimensional preference sets, and a lack of information between the game players in the game process are key to the evolution of project disputes into extreme dispute decisions.
Safety Evaluation of Arch Dam Subjected to Underwater Contact Explosion
Authors: Zhao Xiaohua , Fang Hongyuan , Wang Gaohui , Fan Yong
Published: November 2021

The stability of an arch dam can be significantly damaged by an extreme underwater explosion. This study proposed a damage index for assessing the degree of local damage of an arch dam after the dam was subjected to an underwater explosion. The damage index was applied to assess local damage at the middle part of the dam, surcharge holes, and abutment. A model was developed to evaluate the stability of the entire dam based on the spatial distribution of damage and the damage on the base interface. Results showed that local explosion damage at flood discharge holes or abutments might cause instability of the arch dam. When the contact explosion action location is on the abutment, it only needs 310 kg to cause the overall damage of the arch dam, while when the action location is on the middle part of the dam, the quantity of explosive required is 2800 kg.
An Enhanced Naked Mole Rat Algorithm for Optimal Cross-Layer Solution for Wireless Underground Sensor Networks
Authors: Singh Pratap , Singh Rishi Pal , Singh Yudhvir , Shafi Jana , Ijaz Muhammad Fazal
Published: November 2021

Nature-inspired algorithms serve as the backbone of modern computing technology, and over the past three decades, the field has grown enormously. Many applications were solved by such algorithms and are replacing the traditional classical optimization processes. A recent naked mole-rat algorithm (NMRA) was proposed based on the mating patterns of naked mole-rats. This algorithm proved its worth in terms of competitiveness and application to various domains of research. The aim was to propose an algorithm based on NMRA, named enhanced NMRA (ENMRA), by mitigating the problems that this algorithm suffers from: slow convergence, poor exploration, and local optima stagnation. To enhance the exploration capabilities of basic NMRA, grey wolf optimization (GWO)-based search equations were employed. Exploitation was improved using population division methods based on local neighborhood search (LNS) and differential evolution (DE) equations. To avoid the local stagnation problem, a neighborhood search strategy around the best individual was utilized. Such improvements help the new variant to solve highly challenging optimization problems in contrast to existing algorithms. The efficacy of ENMRA was evaluated using CEC 2019 benchmark test suite. The results were statistically analyzed by the Wilcoxon rank-sum test and Friedman rank (f-rank) test. The resulting analysis proved that ENMRA is superior to the competitive algorithms for test functions CEC 2019 with overall effectiveness of 60.33%. Moreover, the real-world optimization problem from underground wireless sensor networks for an efficient cross-layer solution was also used to test the efficiency of ENMRA. The results of comparative study and statistical tests affirmed the efficient performance of the proposed algorithm.
Do It by Yourself: An Instructional Derivation of the Laplacian Operator in Spherical Polar Coordinates
Authors: Pérez-Martínez Ana Laura , Aguilar-Del-Valle Maria del Pilar , Rodríguez-Gomez Arturo
Published: November 2021

For scientists and engineers, the Laplacian operator is a fundamental tool that has made it possible to carry out important frontier studies involving wave propagation, potential theory, heat conduction, the distribution of stresses in a deformable solid and quantum mechanics. Knowing, understanding, and manipulating the Laplacian operator allows us to tackle complex and exciting physics, chemistry, and engineering problems. In this paper, contained in the Special Issue “Mathematics as the M in STEM Education”, we present an instructional derivation of the Laplacian operator in spherical coordinates. Our derivation is self-contained and employs well-known mathematical concepts used in all science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) disciplines. Our lengthy but straightforward procedure shows that this fundamental tool in mathematics is not intractable but accessible to anyone who studies any of the STEM disciplines. We consider that this work may be helpful for students and teachers who wish to discuss the derivation of this vital tool from an elementary approach in their courses.
Some Results of Extended Beta Function and Hypergeometric Functions by Using Wiman’s Function
Authors: Jain Shilpi , Goyal Rahul , Agarwal Praveen , Lupica Antonella , Cesarano Clemente
Published: November 2021

The main aim of this research paper is to introduce a new extension of the Gauss hypergeometric function and confluent hypergeometric function by using an extended beta function. Some functional relations, summation relations, integral representations, linear transformation formulas, and derivative formulas for these extended functions are derived. We also introduce the logarithmic convexity and some important inequalities for extended beta function.
Deep Cross-Project Software Reliability Growth Model Using Project Similarity-Based Clustering
Authors: San Kyawt Kyawt , Washizaki Hironori , Fukazawa Yoshiaki , Honda Kiyoshi , Taga Masahiro , Matsuzaki Akira
Published: November 2021

Software reliability is an essential characteristic for ensuring the qualities of software products. Predicting the potential number of bugs from the beginning of a development project allows practitioners to make the appropriate decisions regarding testing activities. In the initial development phases, applying traditional software reliability growth models (SRGMs) with limited past data does not always provide reliable prediction result for decision making. To overcome this, herein, we propose a new software reliability modeling method called a deep cross-project software reliability growth model (DC-SRGM). DC-SRGM is a cross-project prediction method that uses features of previous projects’ data through project similarity. Specifically, the proposed method applies cluster-based project selection for the training data source and modeling by a deep learning method. Experiments involving 15 real datasets from a company and 11 open source software datasets show that DC-SRGM can more precisely describe the reliability of ongoing development projects than existing traditional SRGMs and the LSTM model.
An Approach to Building Decision Support Systems Based on an Ontology Service
Authors: Romanov Anton , Stroeva Julia , Filippov Aleksey , Yarushkina Nadezhda
Published: November 2021

Modern decision support systems (DSSs) need components for storing knowledge. Moreover, DSSs must support fuzzy inference to work with uncertainty. Ontologies are designed to represent knowledge of complex structures and to perform inference tasks. Developers must use the OWLAPI and SWRL API libraries to use ontology features. They are impossible to use in DSSs written in programming languages not for Java Virtual Machines. The FuzzyOWL library and the FuzzyDL inference engine are required to work with fuzzy ontologies. The FuzzyOWL library is currently unmaintained and does not have a public Git repository. Thus, it is necessary to develop the ontology service. The ontology service must allow working with ontologies and making fuzzy inferences. The article presents ontology models for decision support, fuzzy inference, and the fuzzy inference algorithm. The article considers examples of DSSs for balancing production capacities and image analysis. The article also describes the architecture of the ontology service. The proposed novel ontology models for decision support make it possible to reduce the time of a knowledge base formation. The ontology service can integrate with external systems with HTTP protocol.
Modeling the Spread of COVID-19 in Enclosed Spaces
Authors: Gaddis Matthew David , Manoranjan Valipuram S.
Published: November 2021

SEIR models are typically conjured for populations in open environments; however, there seems to be a lack of these types of models that deal with infection rates amongst enclosed spaces. We have also seen certain age groups struggle to deal with COVID-19 more than others, and to this end, we have constructed an age-structured SEIR model that incorporates the Gammaitoni–Nucci model, which is used for infective material in an enclosed space with ventilation. We apply some sensitivity analysis to better understand which parameters have the biggest impact on overall infection rates, as well as create a realistic scenario in which we apply our model to see the comparison in sickness rates amongst four different age groups with different ventilation filtration systems (UVGI, HEPA) and differing quanta production rates.
RuO2 Nanorods as an Electrocatalyst for Proton Exchange Membrane Water Electrolysis
Authors: Cross Michael W. , Smith Richard P. , Varhue Walter J.
Published: November 2021

A custom-built PEM electrolyzer cell was assembled using 6” stainless-steel ConFlat flanges which were fitted with a RuO2 nanorod-decorated, mixed metal oxide (MMO) ribbon mesh anode catalyst. The current density–voltage characteristics were measured for the RuO2 nanorod electrocatalyst while under constant water feed operation. The electrocatalytic behavior was investigated by making a series of physical modifications to the anode catalyst material. These experiments showed an improved activity due to the RuO2 nanorod electrocatalyst, resulting in a corresponding decrease in the electrochemical overpotential. These overpotentials were identified by collecting experimental data from various electrolyzer cell configurations, resulting in an improved understanding of the enhanced catalytic behavior. The micro-to-nano surface structure of the anode electrocatalyst layer is a critical factor determining the overall operation of the PEM electrolyzer. The improvement was determined to be due to the lowering of the potential barrier to electron escape in an electric field generated in the vicinity of a nanorod.
Volatiles Emission by Crotalaria nitens after Insect Attack
Authors: Prada Fausto , Stashenko Elena E. , Martínez Jairo René
Published: November 2021

Plants are known to increase the emission of volatile organic compounds upon the damage of phytophagous insects. However, very little is known about the composition and temporal dynamics of volatiles released by wild plants of the genus Crotalaria (Fabaceae) attacked with the specialist lepidopteran caterpillar Utetheisa ornatrix (Linnaeus) (Erebidae). In this work, the herbivore-induced plant volatiles (HIPV) emitted by Crotalaria nitens Kunth plants were isolated with solid phase micro-extraction and the conventional purge and trap technique, and their identification was carried out by GC/MS. The poly-dimethylsiloxane/divinylbenzene fiber showed higher affinity for the extraction of apolar compounds (e.g., trans-β-caryophyllene) compared to the Porapak™-Q adsorbent from the purge & trap method that extracted more polar compounds (e.g., trans-nerolidol and indole). The compounds emitted by C. nitens were mainly green leaf volatile substances, terpenoids, aromatics, and aldoximes (isobutyraldoxime and 2-methylbutyraldoxime), whose maximum emission was six hours after the attack. The attack by caterpillars significantly increased the volatile compounds emission in the C. nitens leaves compared to those subjected to mechanical damage. This result indicated that the U. ornatrix caterpillar is responsible for generating a specific response in C. nitens plants. It was demonstrated that HIPVs repelled conspecific moths from attacked plants and favored oviposition in those without damage. The results showed the importance of volatiles in plant–insect interactions, as well as the choice of appropriate extraction and analytical methods for their study.
Preparation of Carbon Nanowall and Carbon Nanotube for Anode Material of Lithium-Ion Battery
Authors: Lee Seokwon , Kwon Seokhun , Kim Kangmin , Kang Hyunil , Ko Jang Myoun , Choi Wonseok
Published: November 2021

Carbon nanowall (CNW) and carbon nanotube (CNT) were prepared as anode materials of lithium-ion batteries. To fabricate a lithium-ion battery, copper (Cu) foil was cleaned using an ultrasonic cleaner in a solvent such as trichloroethylene (TCE) and used as a substrate. CNW and CNT were synthesized on Cu foil using plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) and water dispersion, respectively. CNW and CNT were used as anode materials for the lithium-ion battery, while lithium hexafluorophosphate (LiPF6) was used as an electrolyte to fabricate another lithium-ion battery. For the structural analysis of CNW and CNT, field emission scanning electron microscope (FE-SEM) and Raman spectroscopy analysis were performed. The Raman analysis showed that the carbon nanotube in composite material can compensate for the defects of the carbon nanowall. Cyclic voltammetry (CV) was employed for the electrochemical properties of lithium-ion batteries, fabricated by CNW and CNT, respectively. The specific capacity of CNW and CNT were calculated as 62.4 mAh/g and 49.54 mAh/g. The composite material with CNW and CNT having a specific capacity measured at 64.94 mAh/g, delivered the optimal performance.
Optimization of Pressurized Liquid Extraction and In Vitro Neuroprotective Evaluation of Ammodaucus leucotrichus. Untargeted Metabolomics Analysis by UHPLC-MS/MS
Authors: Abderrezag Norelhouda , Sánchez-Martínez Jose David , Louaer Ouahida , Meniai Abdeslam-Hassen , Mendiola Jose A.
Published: November 2021

Ammodaucus leucotrichus is a spontaneous plant endemic of the North African region. An efficient selective pressurized liquid extraction (PLE) method was optimized to concentrate neuroprotective extracts from A. leucotrichus fruits. Green solvents were tested, namely ethanol and water, within a range of temperatures between 40 to 180 °C. Total carbohydrates and total phenolics were measured in extracts, as well as in vitro antioxidant capacity (DPPH radical scavenging), anticholinesterase (AChE) and anti-inflammatory (LOX) activities. Metabolite profiling was carried out by ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography coupled to quadrupole time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-ESI-q-TOF-MS/MS), identifying 94 compounds. Multivariate analysis was performed to correlate composition with bioactivity. A remarkable effect of the temperature using water was observed: the higher temperature, the higher extraction yield, the higher total phenolic content, as well as the higher total carbohydrates content. The water extract obtained at 180 °C, 10.34 MPa and 10 min showed meaningful anti-inflammatory (IC50LOX = 39.4 µg/mL) and neuroprotective activities (IC50AChE = 55.6 µg/mL). The Principal Components Analysis (PCA) and the cluster analysis correlated these activities with the presence of carbohydrates and phenolic compounds.
Origins of Giant Dielectric Properties with Low Loss Tangent in Rutile (Mg1/3Ta2/3)0.01Ti0.99O2 Ceramic
Authors: Thongyong Nateeporn , Chanlek Narong , Srepusharawoot Pornjuk , Thongbai Prasit
Published: November 2021

The Mg2+/Ta5+ codoped rutile TiO2 ceramic with a nominal composition (Mg1/3Ta2/3)0.01Ti0.99O2 was synthesized using a conventional solid-state reaction method and sintered at 1400 °C for 2 h. The pure phase of the rutile TiO2 structure with a highly dense microstructure was obtained. A high dielectric permittivity (2.9 × 104 at 103 Hz) with a low loss tangent (<0.025) was achieved in the as-sintered ceramic. After removing the outer surface, the dielectric permittivity of the polished ceramic increased from 2.9 × 104 to 6.0 × 104, while the loss tangent also increased (~0.11). The dielectric permittivity and loss tangent could be recovered to the initial value of the as-sintered ceramic by annealing the polished ceramic in air. Notably, in the temperature range of −60–200 °C, the dielectric permittivity (103 Hz) of the annealed ceramic was slightly dependent (<±4.4%), while the loss tangent was very low (0.015–0.036). The giant dielectric properties were likely contributed by the insulating grain boundaries and insulative surface layer effects.
Leaf Mesophyll Mitochondrial Polarization Assessment in Arabidopsis thaliana
Authors: Flores-Herrera Cesar , Gutiérrez-Mireles Emilia R. , Gutiérrez-Aguilar Manuel
Published: November 2021

Plant leaves present an intricate array of layers providing a robust barrier against pathogens and abiotic stressors. However, these layers may also constitute an obstacle for the assessment of intracellular processes, especially when using fluorescence microscopy approaches. Current methods for leaf mitochondrial membrane potential determinations have been traditionally performed in thin mesophyll sections, in isolated protoplasts or in fluorescent protein-expressing transgenic plants. This may limit the amount of information obtained about overall mitochondrial morphology in intact leaves. Here, we detail a fast and straightforward protocol to assess changes in leaf mitochondrial membrane potential associated with mitochondrial dysfunction in the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana. This protocol also permits mitochondrial shape, dynamics and polarity assessment in leaves subjected to diverse stress conditions.
Rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) as a Model System for Longitudinal Experimental Opioid Treatments: Implications for Orthopedic and Biomedical Research
Authors: Andronowski Janna M. , Schuller Adam J. , Cole Mary E. , LaMarca Abigail R. , Davis Reed A. , Tubo Gina R.
Published: November 2021

Due to the high prevalence of opioid prescription following orthopedic procedures, there is a growing need to establish an animal model system to evaluate the effects of opioids on bone remodeling. Rabbits have been employed as model organisms in orthopedic research as they exhibit well-defined cortical bone remodeling similar to humans. Existing research in rabbits has been limited to modes of opioid administration that are short-acting and require repeated application. Here, we present data from a proof-of-principle longitudinal study employing two opioid analgesic administration routes (subcutaneous injection and transdermal patch) to evaluate the efficacy of studying chronic opioid exposure in a rabbit model. Skeletally mature male New Zealand White rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) were divided into three groups of seven animals: morphine, fentanyl, and control. Experimental treatments were conducted for eight weeks. Preparation of the skin at the fentanyl patch site and subsequent patch removal presented experimental difficulties including consistent skin erythema. Though noninvasive, the patches further caused acute stress in fentanyl animals. We conclude that though transdermal fentanyl patches may be preferred in an acute clinical setting, this method is not feasible as a means of long-term pain relief or opioid delivery in a laboratory context.
Cylindrical and Spherical Nucleus-Acoustic Solitary and Shock Waves in Degenerate Electron-Nucleus Plasmas
Authors: Mamun A A
Published: November 2021

The basic characteristics of cylindrical as well as spherical solitary and shock waves in degenerate electron-nucleus plasmas are theoretically investigated. The electron species is assumed to be cold, ultra-relativistically degenerate, negatively charged gas, whereas the nucleus species is considered a cold, non-degenerate, positively charged, viscous fluid. The reductive perturbation technique is utilized in order to reduce the basic equations (governing the degenerate electron-nucleus plasmas under consideration) to the modified Korteweg-de Vries and Burgers equations. The latter are numerically solved and analyzed to detect the basic characteristics of solitary and shock waves in such electron-nucleus plasmas. The nonlinear nucleus-acoustic waves are found to be propagated in the form of solitary as well as shock waves in such degenerate electron-nucleus plasmas. Their basic properties as well as their time evolution are significantly modified by the effects of cylindrical as well as spherical geometries. The results of this study is expected to be applicable not only to astrophysical compact objects, but also to ultra-cold dense plasmas produced in laboratory.
A Novel Fingerprinting Technique for Data Storing and Sharing through Clouds
Authors: Fatima Mehvish , Nisar Muhammad Wasif , Rashid Junaid , Kim Jungeun , Kamran Muhammad , Hussain Amir
Published: November 2021

With the emerging growth of digital data in information systems, technology faces the challenge of knowledge prevention, ownership rights protection, security, and privacy measurement of valuable and sensitive data. On-demand availability of various data as services in a shared and automated environment has become a reality with the advent of cloud computing. The digital fingerprinting technique has been adopted as an effective solution to protect the copyright and privacy of digital properties from illegal distribution and identification of malicious traitors over the cloud. Furthermore, it is used to trace the unauthorized distribution and the user of multimedia content distributed through the cloud. In this paper, we propose a novel fingerprinting technique for the cloud environment to protect numeric attributes in relational databases for digital privacy management. The proposed solution with the novel fingerprinting scheme is robust and efficient. It can address challenges such as embedding secure data over the cloud, essential to secure relational databases. The proposed technique provides a decoding accuracy of 100%, 90%, and 40% for 10% to 30%, 40%, and 50% of deleted records.
Plant-Derived Saponins: A Review of Their Surfactant Properties and Applications
Authors: Rai Summi , Acharya-Siwakoti Eliza , Kafle Ananda , Devkota Hari Prasad , Bhattarai Ajaya
Published: November 2021

In response to increasing natural surfactant demand and environmental concerns, natural plant-based surfactants have been replacing synthetic ones. Saponins belong to a class of plant metabolites with surfactant properties that are widely distributed in nature. They are eco-friendly because of their natural origin and biodegradable. To date, many plant-based saponins have been investigated for their surface activity. An overview of saponins with a particular focus on their surface-active properties is presented in this article. For this purpose, works published in the past few decades, which report better surfactant relevant properties of saponins than synthetic ones, were extensively studied. The investigations on the potential surfactant application of saponins are also documented. Moreover, some biological activities of saponins such as antimicrobial activity, antidiabetic activity, adjuvant potentials, anticancer activity, and others are reported. Plants rich in saponins are widely distributed in nature, offering great potential for the replacement of toxic synthetic surfactants in a variety of modern commercial products and these saponins exhibit excellent surface and biological activities. New opportunities and challenges associated with the development of saponin-based commercial formulations in the future are also discussed in detail.
HILIC-MS/MS Analysis of Adenosine in Patient Blood
Authors: Virgiliou Christina , Fragakis Nikolaos , Sotiriadou Melani , Vassilikos Vassilios , Gerou Spiros , Theodoridis Georgios , Gika Helen
Published: November 2021

Adenosine is a purine ribonucleoside with important roles in various physiological processes. A number of studies have indicated the importance of adenosine in cardiovascular diseases including syncope; however, the accurate determination of adenosine in human blood is challenging due to the molecule’s instability. In the present study, we report a simple method for the pre-treatment of blood samples and the development of a fast and efficient hydrophilic interaction chromatographic tandem mass spectrometry method for the analysis of adenosine in patient blood. During collection, samples were mixed directly with a solvent mixture containing 95% acetonitrile and 10 mM ammonium formate in a Vacutainer tube, resulting in successful prevention of adenosine metabolic processes and direct blood sample deproteinization. The method was validated according to bioanalytical industry guidelines and found to be accurate, repeatable, specific and sensitive with LLOQ 0.005 μg/mL, thus allowing its application in the analysis of real clinical samples.
A Review of Energy Modeling Tools for Energy Efficiency in Smart Cities
Authors: Martins Fernando , Patrão Carlos , Moura Pedro , de Almeida Aníbal T.
Published: November 2021

Nowadays, modeling tools are a crucial part of best practice in the elaboration and implementation of a decarbonization plan in any organization, city, or country. The present review analyzes the different modeling tools available to assess energy systems in smart cities. It creates an updated overview of the modeling tools currently available, showing their capabilities and main potential outputs when considering the energy efficiency objective in the context of smart cities in Europe. A restricted set of 14 tools are identified which optimally fulfill the modeling mission of the energy sector, in a smart city context, for different time horizons. The selection considers the capability to include decarbonization assessments, namely, by considering the flexibility to use different external factors, energy policies, technologies, and mainly the implementation of Article 7 from the Energy Efficiency Directive and the “energy efficiency first” principle defined by the European Commission. The ELECTRE TRI method was used to implement a multi-criteria decision approach for sorting modeling tools, aiming at distributing the various alternatives by previously defined categories, and considering the performance criteria of each alternative modeling tool, the analysis suggests that the best options are the LEAP, MESSAGEix, and oemof tools.
Estimating the RMSE of Small Area Estimates without the Tears
Authors: Hindmarsh Diane , Steel David
Published: November 2021

Small area estimation (SAE) methods can provide information that conventional direct survey estimation methods cannot. The use of small area estimates based on linear and generalized linear mixed models is still very limited, possibly because of the perceived complexity of estimating the root mean square errors (RMSEs) of the estimates. This paper outlines a study used to determine the conditions under which the estimated RMSEs, produced as part of statistical output (‘plug-in’ estimates of RMSEs) could be considered appropriate for a practical application of SAE methods where one of the main requirements was to use SAS software. We first show that the estimated RMSEs created using an EBLUP model in SAS and those obtained using a parametric bootstrap are similar to the published estimated RMSEs for the corn data in the seminal paper by Battese, Harter and Fuller. We then compare plug-in estimates of RMSEs from SAS procedures used to create EBLUP and EBP estimators against estimates of RMSEs obtained from a parametric bootstrap. For this comparison we created estimates of current smoking in males for 153 local government areas (LGAs) using data from the NSW Population Health Survey in Australia. Demographic variables from the survey data were included as covariates, with LGA-level population proportions, obtained mainly from the Australian Census used for prediction. For the EBLUP, the estimated plug-in estimates of RMSEs can be used, provided the sample size for the small area is more than seven. For the EBP, the plug-in estimates of RMSEs are suitable for all in-sample areas; out-of-sample areas need to use estimated RMSEs that use the parametric bootstrap.