bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Agromorphological Characterization Revealed Three Phenotypic Groups in a Region-Wide Germplasm of Fonio (Digitaria exilis (Kippist) Stapf) from West Africa
Authors: Ibrahim Bio Yerima Abdou R. , Achigan-Dako Enoch G. , Aissata Mamadou , Sekloka Emmanuel , Billot Claire , Adje Charlotte O. A. , Barnaud Adeline , Bakasso Yacoubou
Published: October 2020

Fonio is an ancient orphan cereal, cultivated by resource-poor farmers in arid and semi-arid regions of West Africa, who conserved and used the cereal for nutrition and income generation. However, the extent and patterns of phenotypic variation within the fonio germplasm remain scarcely evaluated to inform breeding decisions. In this study, we used alpha lattice design to assess the phenotypic variability of 180 fonio accessions using 20 agro morphological descriptors, including both qualitative and quantitative traits at Bengou research station in 2018 and 2019. Descriptive statistics, combined analysis and multivariate analyses, including principal components analysis (PCA), hierarchical clustering, and multiple factor analysis (MFA) were performed. As results, we found significant differences among fonio accessions and among agro ecological zones of provenance for most of the quantitative traits. Furthermore, highly significant positive correlations were found between grain yield and other yield-related attributes such as harvest index and thousand seeds weight, whereas significant negative correlations were found between grain yield and flowering and maturity times. Clusters analysis revealed three phenotypic groups. Group 1 was characterized by early maturing fonio accessions with higher grain yield. Groups 2 and 3 were characterized by late maturing accessions with intermediate to moderate grain yield. The accessions from Group 1 are candidate for yield improvement and development of fonio lines with enhanced lodging resistance. Accessions from Group 2 and 3 can be improved for yield through marker-assisted selection of best thousand seed weight. This study highlights how traits are correlated within the major phenotypic groups of fonio in West Africa, and we discussed how these groups could be further exploited for improving traits of economic importance. Furthermore, this study exhibited agro morphological descriptors that discriminate fonio accessions and provide useful information for parental selection with economically important agronomic traits.
Stimulation of Light-Emitting Diode Treatment on Defence System and Changes in Mesocarp Metabolites of Avocados Cultivars (Hass and Fuerte) during Simulated Market Shelf Conditions
Authors: Mpai Semakaleng , Sivakumar Dharini
Published: October 2020

The ability of light-emitting diode (LED) light treatment to reduce the anthracnose decay via its eliciting effects and thus induce resistance in the avocado (Persea americana), was investigated in this study to replace the current postharvest fungicide treatment. In experiment 1, the effect of blue or red LED lights (6 h per day) on the incidence of anthracnose in artificially inoculated (Colletotrichum gloesposorioides) and naturally infected avocados (cv. Fuerte and Hass) at 12–14 °C (simulated market shelf) for 4, 8, 14, and 16 days was investigated. In experiment 2, the effect of blue or red LED lights on the induced defence mechanism, fruit metabolites, antioxidant activity, and percentage of fruit reaching ready-to-eat stage was determined. Exposure to red LED light significantly reduced the anthracnose decay incidence in naturally infected cv. Fuerte on day 12 and in cv. Hass on day 16 compared to the prochloraz fungicide treatment by upregulating the PAL genes and maintaining the epicatechin content. Blue LED light accelerated the ripening in both cultivars, probably due to reduced D-mannoheptulose content. Red LED light exposure for 6 h per day and 12 days storage showed potential to replace the prochloraz treatment with improved ascorbic acid content and antioxidant activity.
Methods of Silicon Application on Organic Spring Wheat (Triticum aestivum L. spp. vulgare) Cultivars Grown across Two Contrasting Precipitation Years
Authors: Kowalska Jolanta , Tyburski Józef , Bocianowski Jan , Krzymińska Joanna , Matysiak Kinga
Published: October 2020

The potential of silicon used in two forms, two methods and three cultivars of spring wheat cultivated under organic farming conditions is high, as it helps plants to alleviate abiotic stresses. The research hypotheses of paper were the assumptions that the effectiveness of silicon may differ not only by the form of silicon and the method of its application, but also by the variety of common wheat and different water conditions in the soil during the growing season. These hypotheses were confirmed. The aim of this study was to determine the effectiveness of liquid and powder silicon forms and different methods of application in three cultivars (Harenda, Serenada and Rusałka) of spring wheat organically grown under a specific field experiment in water stress vs. no stress conditions. The water stress of plants was assessed on the basis of the sum of precipitation in the winter–spring and vegetation season in each year. The differences in water availability for the plants in the experimental years were confirmed. Silicon (Si) was used for seed dressing and/or for leaf spraying. In the first case, the powdered form of Si was used at a dose of 0.5 kg/100 kg of seeds; it was used together with the liquid form at a dose of 0.5 L/100 kg of seeds, and in the second, the liquid form of Si was used at a dose of 0.5 L per 200 L of water per hectare; spraying was carried out at the following plant development stages: three tillers detectable, the first node and the flag leaf. The application of Si positively influenced the wheat yield depending on the method of Si application, wheat variety and severity of water stress. The cultivar Harenda was more susceptible to lower water content in the soil than the cultivars Rusałka and Serenada. Under conditions of water stress, the use of Si slowed the development of young Harenda plants, but ultimately, the variety increased its grain yield to a greater extent than the other two varieties. The lowest weight of a thousand grains (TGW) was found in the Harenda variety; however, Si treatment improved this parameter. Si increased the yields of the three wheat varieties, and the highest were harvested in plots with combined Si treatments. The yields of the Rusałka and Serenada cultivars on these plots were 14 to 28% higher compared to the control. Harenda was the least fertile variety, but it increased its yield more than the other two varieties. This variety increased its yield in 2018 (year of average rainfall) by 26% from 2.92 to 3.94 tons per hectare, and in 2019 (a year of drought) by 42% from 1.66 to 2.87 tons per hectare. It can be concluded that Si improves the wheat yield, and its efficiency depends on the scale of water stress, the method of application and the variety. The simplest and most adaptable method of Si application is seed dressing and has prospects for wider application, especially in organic farming.
Development and Application of a Pragmatic Algorithm to Guide Definitive Carbapenemase Testing to Identify Carbapenemase-Producing Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Authors: Gill Christian M. , Asempa Tomefa E. , Nicolau David P.
Published: October 2020

A minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) derived algorithm, predictive of carbapenemase production, was developed using a challenge set (n = 92) of Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PA), including carbapenemase-producing (CP), cephalosporinase and/or efflux/porin mutation, and wild-type isolates. Broth microdilution MICs to clinically relevant anti-pseudomonal agents were utilized. The algorithm was applied to 1209 clinical PA isolates from a US surveillance program. Confirmatory genotypic (Xpert® Carba-R assay) and phenotypic (mCIM/eCIM) testing for carbapenemases was conducted on algorithm-derived isolates. With the algorithm, carbapenem resistance alone resulted in poor specificity to identify CP-PA (54%) within the challenge set of isolates. Inclusion of cefepime, ceftazidime, and piperacillin/tazobactam non-susceptibility resulted in a specificity of 66%. Ceftolozane/tazobactam resistance further improved specificity (89%). Of the 1209 isolates, 116 met criteria (carbapenem-resistant and non-susceptibility to cefepime, ceftazidime, and piperacillin/tazobactam) for confirmatory testing. Carba-R and mCIM/eCIM identified five (all blaVIM-positive) and seven carbapenemase-producing isolates, respectively. This MIC algorithm combined with genotypic/phenotypic carbapenemase testing is a pragmatic and streamlined approach to identify CP-PA.
Multivariable Analysis of 169 Cases of Advanced Cutaneous Melanoma to Evaluate Antibiotic Exposure as Predictor of Survival to Anti-PD-1 Based Immunotherapies
Authors: Swami Umang , Chennamadhavuni Adithya , Borcherding Nicholas , Bossler Aaron D. , Mott Sarah L. , Garje Rohan , Zakharia Yousef , Milhem Mohammed
Published: October 2020

Recently antibiotic exposure has been associated with worse outcomes in patients undergoing treatment with antibodies directed against programmed cell death protein-1 (PD-1). We reviewed data of 1264 patients enrolled at Melanoma Skin and Ocular Tissue Repositories at University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinic. Reviewed data included patient demographics, prior medical history, baseline hematologic and disease parameters and outcomes including progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS). Cox regression models were used to determine predictive markers. Overall, 169 patients with advanced cutaneous melanoma received anti-PD-1 based therapies. Median follow up was 18.46 (range 0.89 to 62.52) months. On multivariable analysis brain metastasis, higher absolute neutrophil count (ANC) and lower absolute lymphocyte count were associated with poorer PFS while brain and liver metastasis and lower albumin were associated with poorer OS. Prior antibiotics, radiation as well as age, gender, basal metabolic index (BMI), smoking status, BRAF mutation, line of therapy (first or latter), prior treatments (ipilimumab or BRAF inhibitors), hemoglobin, neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio, white blood cell, platelet and eosinophil counts were not associated with PFS or OS in multivariable analysis. Contrary to some prior studies BMI, radiation, and antibiotics were not associated with PFS or OS.
Pitfalls Associated with Discriminating Mixed-Species Biofilms by Flow Cytometry
Authors: Grainha Tânia , Magalhães Andreia P. , Melo Luís D. R. , Pereira Maria O.
Published: October 2020

Since biofilms are ubiquitous in different settings and act as sources of disease for humans, reliable methods to characterize and quantify these microbial communities are required. Numerous techniques have been employed, but most of them are unidirectional, labor intensive and time consuming. Although flow cytometry (FCM) can be a reliable choice to quickly provide a multiparametric analysis, there are still few applications on biofilms, and even less on the study of inter-kingdom communities. This work aimed to give insights into the application of FCM in order to more comprehensively analyze mixed-species biofilms, formed by different Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Candida albicans strains, before and after exposure to antimicrobials. For comparison purposes, biofilm culturability was also assessed determining colony-forming units. The results showed that some aspects, namely the microbial strain used, the morphological state of the cells and the biofilm matrix, make the accurate analysis of FCM data difficult. These aspects were even more challenging when double-species biofilms were being inspected, as they could engender data misinterpretations. The outcomes draw our attention towards the need to always take into consideration the characteristics of the biofilm samples to be analyzed through FCM, and undoubtedly link to the need for optimization of the processes tailored for each particular case study.
Antioxidants in Plants: A Valorization Potential Emphasizing the Need for the Conservation of Plant Biodiversity in Cuba
Authors: Llauradó Maury Gabriel , Méndez Rodríguez Daniel , Hendrix Sophie , Escalona Arranz Julio César , Fung Boix Yilan , Pacheco Ania Ochoa , García Díaz Jesús , Morris-Quevedo Humberto J. , Ferrer Dubois Albys , Aleman Elizabeth Isaac , Beenaerts Natalie , Méndez-Santos Isidro E. , Orberá Ratón Teresa , Cos Paul , Cuypers Ann
Published: October 2020

Plants are phytochemical hubs containing antioxidants, essential for normal plant functioning and adaptation to environmental cues and delivering beneficial properties for human health. Therefore, knowledge on the antioxidant potential of different plant species and their nutraceutical and pharmaceutical properties is of utmost importance. Exploring this scientific research field provides fundamental clues on (1) plant stress responses and their adaptive evolution to harsh environmental conditions and (2) (new) natural antioxidants with a functional versatility to prevent and treat human pathologies. These natural antioxidants can be valorized via plant-derived foods and products. Cuba contains an enormously rich plant biodiversity harboring a great antioxidant potential. Besides opening new avenues for the implementation of sustainable agroecological practices in crop production, it will also contribute to new strategies to preserve plant biodiversity and simultaneously improve nature management policies in Cuba. This review provides an overview on the beneficial properties of antioxidants for plant protection and human health and is directed to the valorization of these plant antioxidants, emphasizing the need for biodiversity conservation.
Recent Advances in Applications of Remote Image Capture Systems in Agriculture
Authors: Molina-Martínez José Miguel , García-Mateos Ginés
Published: October 2020

Efficient and sustainable agriculture requires the application of new technologies in all aspects of the production system [...]
Research on Renewable Energy Planning Considering the Flexible Region of the Microgrid
Authors: Su Dan , Li Kaicheng , Shi Nian
Published: October 2020

A microgrid can effectively improve the system reliability of a distribution network. When a fault occurs, the microgrid only has a determined division scheme under a fixed boundary method, and it is difficult to adapt to the random load and distributed power. In this paper, a novel renewable energy planning method considering the flexible region of the microgrid is proposed. Based on the randomness of the load and the output of distributed generations (DG) in the microgrid, the dynamic division method of the microgrid is proposed and the optimal allocation model of the distributed energy in the microgrid is established. Further, the model and method proposed are verified by the IEEE-33 bus test system. The simulation results show that the allocation of renewable energy in the microgrid considering the flexible region of the microgrid can effectively increase the utilization of renewable energy and improve the reliability of microgrid operation.
Multi-Agent Simulation Environment for Logistics Warehouse Design Based on Self-Contained Agents
Authors: Kato Takumi , Kamoshida Ryota
Published: October 2020

We propose a multi-agent simulation environment for logistics warehouses. Simulation is a crucial part of designing industrial systems, such as logistics warehouses. A warehouse is a multi-agent system (MAS) that consists of various autonomous subsystems with robots, material-handling equipment, and human workers. It is generally difficult to analyze the performance of a MAS thus, it is important to model a warehouse and conduct simulations to design and evaluate the possible system configurations. However, the cost of modeling warehouses and modifying the models is high because there are various components and interactions compared to conventional multi-agent simulations. We proposed a self-contained agent architecture and message architecture of a multi-agent simulation environment for logistics warehouses to reduce the simulation-model development and modification costs. We quantitatively evaluated our environment in terms of development costs by comparing such costs of our environment and a widely used multi-agent simulation environment.
Mercury in Marine Mussels from the St. Lawrence Estuary and Gulf (Canada): A Mussel Watch Survey Revisited after 40 Years
Authors: Cossa Daniel , Tabard Anne-Marie
Published: October 2020

Various species of marine mussels have been used, in the last 50 years, as sentinel organisms for monitoring metal contamination along marine coasts. There are two main reasons for this: these mollusks concentrate metals in their soft tissue and they are geographically widespread. In practice, trace metal concentrations in mussel soft tissue reveal (after some correction for biotic effects) the contamination level of their surrounding environment. We present the results of a mercury (Hg) survey in Mytilus spp. collected in the summers of 2016, 2018, and 2019 at 51 stations distributed along the coasts of the Estuary and Gulf of St. Lawrence. Mercury concentrations ranged from 0.063 to 0.507 µg g−1 (dry weight, dw), with a grand mean of 0.173 ± 0.076 µg g−1 dw (±1 standard deviation), and a median of 0.156 µg g−1 dw for the 504 individuals analyzed. Mercury contents per individual mussel were significantly (p < 0.01) related to shell length and dry tissue weight, with the smaller individuals having the highest Hg concentrations. To take into account these biotic effects, we normalized Hg concentrations of the mussel soft tissue for constant shell length (L) and soft tissue weight (TW) based on the log-log relationships between Hg content and L or TW. The normalized Hg contents of mussels varied from 10.9 to 66.6 ng per virtual individual of 35 mm length and 0.17 g dry weight. A similar normalization procedure applied to 1977–1979 data, yielded a very similar range: 12 to 64 ng. This observation suggests that the Hg bioavailable to marine mussels in the study area did not change over a span of 40 years. Regional Hg distribution patterns indicate a gradual decrease of Hg content in mussels downstream from freshwater discharges to the St. Lawrence Estuary and the Baie des Chaleurs, suggesting that rivers constitute a significant Hg source in these estuarine systems. Atmospheric Hg deposition and concentration in marine waters of the Atlantic Ocean are known to have decreased in the last decades. However, in coastal environments, the response to these changes does not seem to be rapid, probably because of the long residence time of Hg in soils before being exported to coastal areas.
Improving the Energy Conversion Efficiency for Hydrokinetic Turbines Using MPPT Controller
Authors: Chihaia Rareș-Andrei , Vasile Ionuț , Cîrciumaru Gabriela , Nicolaie Sergiu , Tudor Emil , Dumitru Constantin
Published: October 2020

The research presented in this paper involves the design of a power control system for a hydrokinetic turbine previously tested in real operating conditions. A maximum power point tracking (MPPT) algorithm was designed and simulated using the required parameters for a specific electric generator. The proposed system consists of a generator connected to the hydrokinetic turbine, a three-phase uncontrolled rectifier, a direct current (DC) boost converter with MPPT control to extract maximum available power, and a buck converter to control the amount of power delivered to the load. In order to test the MPPT algorithm, we built the individual blocks on the basis of the corresponding equations of each component. The algorithm considered the specific parameters of the previously tested turbine as input data and simulated the same water velocities for which the turbine had been tested. Thus, the simulation predicted a power output of 105 W for a water velocity of 1.33 m/s, 60 W for 1 m/s, and 30 W for 0.83 m/s. The efficiency of the control system was demonstrated when the instantaneous power value was maintained at a maximum point, regardless of the rotational speed according to the experimental power curves of the driving rotor obtained for certain water velocities.
Improved Short Memory Principle Method for Solving Fractional Damped Vibration Equations
Authors: Ma Ruiqun , Han Jinglong , Yan Xiaoxuan
Published: October 2020

In this paper, an improved short memory principle based on the Grünwald–Letnikov definition is proposed and applied in solving fractional vibration differential equations. The improved idea is to adjust the truncation of memory time in short memory principle (SMP) to the truncation of binomial coefficient terms, and the finite coefficients are repeatedly applied to the step size gradually enlarged. In this method, a very small initial step size is used to meet the accuracy requirements, and then the step size is gradually enlarged to prolong the memory time and reduce the amount of calculation. Examples of free vibration, forced vibration with a single-degree-of-freedom and a vehicle suspension two-degree-of-freedom vibration reduction model verify the method’s accuracy and effectiveness.
A Novel Contribution for Resilient Buildings. Theoretical Fragility Curves: Interaction between Energy and Structural Behavior for Reinforced Concrete Buildings
Authors: De Angelis Alessandra , Ascione Fabrizio , De Masi Rosa , Pecce Maria , Vanoli Giuseppe
Published: October 2020

The paper introduces a new semi-probabilistic methodology for the definition of energy fragility curves suitable for a macro-classification of building stock inspired to and coupled with the widely adopted method of seismic fragility curves. The approach is applied to the reinforced concrete residential buildings of the Italian stock. Starting from a classification according to the climatic zone and the construction period, some reference buildings in terms of building envelope typologies have been defined and simulated by means of dynamic modeling tools. Then, cumulative distributions of the probability that the primary energy consumption for heating was comparable with certain threshold values are defined according to the climatic conditions expressed with the heating degree days, which constitute the intensity measure for the fragility curves. Finally, by focusing on the interaction points between structural and energetic aspects, it is shown how these curves can be useful for decision-makers with regards to definition of importance and or the level of intervention to be made to the building envelope for improving its seismic safety and the energy quality. Indeed, non-integrated interventions are more expensive and less efficient.
Fe3O4-Zeolite Hybrid Material as Hetero-Fenton Catalyst for Enhanced Degradation of Aqueous Ofloxacin Solution
Authors: Dhahawi Ahmad Alamri Rahmah , Imam Saifullahi Shehu , Oh Wen Da , Adnan Rohana
Published: October 2020

A hetero-Fenton catalyst comprising of Fe3O4 nanoparticles loaded on zeolite (FeZ) has been synthesized using a facile co-precipitation method. The catalyst was characterized using various characterization methods and then, subsequently, was used to degrade ofloxacin (OFL, 20 mg·L−1), an antibiotic, via a heterogeneous Fenton process in the presence of an oxidizing agent. The effects of different parameters such as Fe3O4 loading on zeolite, catalyst loading, initial solution pH, initial OFL concentration, different oxidants, H2O2 dosage, reaction temperature, and inorganic salts were studied to determine the performance of the FeZ catalyst towards Fenton degradation of OFL under different conditions. Experimental results revealed that as much as 88% OFL and 51.2% total organic carbon (TOC) could be removed in 120 min using the FeZ catalyst. Moreover, the FeZ composite catalyst showed good stability for Fenton degradation of OFL even after five cycles, indicating that the FeZ catalyst could be a good candidate for wastewater remediation.
Retinol Has a Skin Dehydrating Effect That Can Be Improved by a Mixture of Water-Soluble Polysaccharides
Authors: Gruber James V. , Stojkoska Venera , Riemer Jed
Published: October 2020

It is common that retinoids used in skincare can cause skin dryness, irritation and redness which is a complaint for the use of these molecules in skincare formulations. Objective: to investigate the influence of a mixture of polysaccharides to improve retinol-based formulations in a 12-day inner volar forearm study. Methods: in total, 22 inner volar forearms were treated over a 12-day topical application of a Placebo formulation containing 0.5% retinol verses a formulation containing 0.5% retinol and 3.0% of a complex of polysaccharides. Application occurred 2X/day in the morning and evening. Skin testing included barrier disruption, erythema, and skin hydration. After a 3-day regression of treatment, skin hydration was measured again. Results: the 0.5% retinol Placebo formulation showed a significant impact on skin dehydration compared to untreated control or polysaccharide-treated areas. The formulation containing retinol and 3.0% of the polysaccharides, maintained skin hydration levels comparable to the untreated control. Neither formulation had a statistically significant impact on skin erythema or barrier disruption. After the 3-day regression, the polysaccharide mixture continued to demonstrate significant moisturization benefits superior to the untreated and active-treated sites. Conclusions: a mixture of polysaccharides was able to mitigate the short-term skin drying effects of retinol and continued to moisturize the skin after a 3-Day regression.
Bioglea as a Source of Bioactive Ingredients: Chemical and Biological Evaluation
Authors: Centini Marisanna , Roberto Tredici Mario , Biondi Natascia , Buonocore Anna , Facino Roberto Maffei , Anselmi Cecilia
Published: October 2020

This study focused on bioglea in thermal material sampled at Saturnia spa (Tuscany, Italy). Bioglea is the term used to define the thermal plankton consisting of biogenic substances that have been investigated little from the chemical and biological points of view. Bioglea is mainly formed of cyanobacteria, particularly from the Oscillatoriales subsection, and it seems to have an important role in the maturation of thermal mud for the development of organic matter. This cyanobacteria-dominated community develops in a large outdoor pool at the spa, where the spring water is collected, over the sediments, with matter floating at the surface. Throughout the year, the cyanobacterial species of bioglea were the same, but their relative abundance changed significantly. For chemical characterization an extractive method and several analytical techniques (HPLC, GC-MS, SPME) were used. We also studied the radical scavenging activity using in vitro tests (DPPH, ORAC, ABTS). We found various groups of compounds: saturated and unsaturated fatty acids, hydroxyl acids, alcohols, phenols, amino acids. Many of the compounds have already been identified in the mud, particularly the lipid component. SPME indicated several hydrocarbons (C11–C17) and long-chain alcohols (C12–C16). The qualitative composition of volatile substances identified in bioglea was very similar to that of the mud previously analysed. These results contribute to our knowledge on thermal photosynthetic community and its possible exploitation.
Educational Inclusion through the Universal Design for Learning: Alternatives to Teacher Training
Authors: Diaz-Vega Miriam , Moreno-Rodriguez Ricardo , Lopez-Bastias Jose Luis
Published: October 2020

Universal design for instruction (UDI) is a teaching strategy that has proved its value in the process of educational inclusion, resulting in a fundamental tool for the achievement of objective 4 of the 2030 agenda for sustainable development. The lack of time of university professors and the scarce training offered in this subject make it difficult to know and implement UDI in university classrooms, increasing the risk of exclusion of students with some kind of disability. This study analyses the level of knowledge and implementation of the principles and strategies of UDI by university professors. Those professors did not have prior training, but they had access to the Curricular Adaptations of University Students with Special Educational Needs (CAUSSEN) tool as guide to implement different guidelines. The CAUSSEN tool is a document, developed by the Unit of Attention to People with Disability, in which there is information about UDI guidelines and accommodations referring to students with special educational needs. Results show a wide implementation of the UDI principles, despite the low level of previous knowledge its principles. This study concludes that there are practical alternatives to the lack of training, and that teachers’ self-perception of their own effectiveness and ability to cope with the inclusion of all students should be strengthened.
MALGRA: Machine Learning and N-Gram Malware Feature Extraction and Detection System
Authors: Ali Muhammad , Shiaeles Stavros , Bendiab Gueltoum , Ghita Bogdan
Published: October 2020

Detection and mitigation of modern malware are critical for the normal operation of an organisation. Traditional defence mechanisms are becoming increasingly ineffective due to the techniques used by attackers such as code obfuscation, metamorphism, and polymorphism, which strengthen the resilience of malware. In this context, the development of adaptive, more effective malware detection methods has been identified as an urgent requirement for protecting the IT infrastructure against such threats, and for ensuring security. In this paper, we investigate an alternative method for malware detection that is based on N-grams and machine learning. We use a dynamic analysis technique to extract an Indicator of Compromise (IOC) for malicious files, which are represented using N-grams. The paper also proposes TF-IDF as a novel alternative used to identify the most significant N-grams features for training a machine learning algorithm. Finally, the paper evaluates the proposed technique using various supervised machine-learning algorithms. The results show that Logistic Regression, with a score of 98.4%, provides the best classification accuracy when compared to the other classifiers used.
Enhanced Thermal Management of GaN Power Amplifier Electronics with Micro-Pin Fin Heat Sinks
Authors: Kang Ting , Ye Yuxin , Jia Yuncong , Kong Yanmei , Jiao Binbin
Published: October 2020

This study introduces an enhanced thermal management strategy for efficient heat dissipation from GaN power amplifiers with high power densities. The advantages of applying an advanced liquid-looped silicon-based micro-pin fin heat sink (MPFHS) as the mounting plate for GaN devices are illustrated using both experimental and 3D finite element model thermal simulation methods, then compared against traditional mounting materials. An IR thermography system was equipped to obtain the temperature distribution of GaN mounted on three different plates. The influence of mass flow rate on a MPFHS was also investigated in the experiments. Simulation results showed that GaN device performance could be improved by increasing the thermal conductivity of mounting plates’ materials. The dissipated power density of the GaN power amplifier increased 17.5 times when the mounting plate was changed from LTCC (Low Temperature Co-fired Ceramics) (k = 2 Wm−1 K−1) to HTCC (High-Temperature Co-fired Ceramics) (k = 180 Wm−1 K−1). Experiment results indicate that the GaN device performance was significantly improved by applying liquid-looped MPFHS, with the maximum dissipated power density reaching 7250 W/cm2. A thermal resistance model for the whole system, replacing traditional plates (PCB (Printed Circuit Board), silicon wafer and LTCC/HTCC) with an MPFHS plate, could significantly reduce θjs (thermal resistance of junction to sink) to its theoretical limitation value.
C3-Sex: A Conversational Agent to Detect Online Sex Offenders
Authors: Rodríguez John Ibañez , Durán Santiago Rocha , Díaz-López Daniel , Pastor-Galindo Javier , Mármol Félix Gómez
Published: October 2020

Prevention of cybercrime is one of the missions of Law Enforcement Agencies (LEA) aiming to protect and guarantee sovereignty in the cyberspace. In this regard, online sex crimes are among the principal ones to prevent, especially those where a child is abused. The paper at hand proposes C3-Sex, a smart chatbot that uses Natural Language Processing (NLP) to interact with suspects in order to profile their interest regarding online child sexual abuse. This solution is based on our Artificial Conversational Entity (ACE) that connects to different online chat services to start a conversation. The ACE is designed using generative and rule-based models in charge of generating the posts and replies that constitute the conversation from the chatbot side. The proposed solution also includes a module to analyze the conversations performed by the chatbot and calculate a set of 25 features that describes the suspect’s behavior. After 50 days of experiments, the chatbot generated a dataset with 7199 profiling vectors with the features associated to each suspect. Afterward, we applied an unsupervised method to describe the results that differentiate three groups, which we categorize as indifferent, interested, and pervert. Exhaustive analysis is conducted to validate the applicability and advantages of our solution.
Event-Driven Coulomb Counting for Effective Online Approximation of Li-Ion Battery State of Charge
Authors: Mian Qaisar Saeed
Published: October 2020

Lithium-ion batteries are deployed in a range of modern applications. Their utilization is evolving with the aim of achieving a greener environment. Batteries are costly, and battery management systems (BMSs) ensure long life and proper battery utilization. Modern BMSs are complex and cause a notable overhead consumption on batteries. In this paper, the time-varying aspect of battery parameters is used to reduce the power consumption overhead of BMSs. The aim is to use event-driven processing to realize effective BMSs. Unlike the conventional approach, parameters of battery cells, such as voltages and currents, are no longer regularly measured at a predefined time step and are instead recorded on the basis of events. This renders a considerable real-time compression. An inventive event-driven coulomb counting method is then presented, which employs the irregularly sampled data information for an effective online state of charge (SOC) determination. A high energy battery model for electric vehicle (EV) applications is studied in this work. It is implemented by using the equivalent circuit modeling (ECM) approach. A comparison of the developed framework is made with conventional fixed-rate counterparts. The results show that, in terms of compression and computational complexities, the devised solution surpasses the second order of magnitude gain. The SOC estimation error is also quantified, and the system attains a ≤4% SOC estimation error bound.
Structural, Optical and Photocatalytic Characterization of ZnxCd1−xS Solid Solutions Synthetized Using a Simple Ultrasonic Radiation Method
Authors: Morelos Medina Luis Fernando , Nava Rufino , Cuán Hernández María de los Ángeles , Yáñez Soria Omar Said , Pawelec Bárbara , Navarro Rufino M. , Ornelas Gutiérrez Carlos Elías
Published: October 2020

A simple ultrasonic radiation method was employed for the preparation of zinc and cadmium sulfide solid solution (ZnxCd1−xS; x = 0–0.25 wt.%) with the aim to investigate its efficiency for H2 production via a visible light-driven water-splitting reaction. The catalyst characterization by X-ray diffraction confirmed the formation of solid solution (ZnxCd1−xS) between CdS and ZnS phases. All catalysts exhibited hierarchical morphology (from SEM and TEM) formed by aggregated nanoparticles of ZnxCd1−xS solid solution with crystals showing mainly (111) planes of cubic CdS phase. The crystal size linearly decreased with an increase in Zn incorporation in the crystal lattice (from 4.37 nm to 3.72 nm). The ZnxCd1−xS photocatalysts showed a gradual increase in the H2 evolution, with an increase in the Zn concentration up to 0.2 wt.% making the most effective Zn0.2Cd0.8S catalyst toward H2 production. From the catalyst activity–structure correlation, it has been concluded that the twin-like CdS structure, the (111) plane and specific morphology are the main factors influencing the catalyst effectivity toward H2 production. All those factors compensated for the negative effect of an increase in band gap energy (Ebg) after ZnS incorporation into solid solution (from 2.21 eV to 2.34 eV). The effect of the catalyst morphology is discussed by comparing H2 evolution over unsupported and supported Zn0.2Cd0.8S solid solutions.
Setting up Energy Efficiency Management in Companies: Preliminary Lessons Learned from the Petroleum Industry
Authors: Gawin Bartlomiej , Marcinkowski Bartosz
Published: October 2020

In the era of expensive energy carriers and care for the climate, companies are keen to take action towards bolstering energy efficiency. Businesses often lack data on actual energy consumption to date, are rarely equipped with adequate analytical tools, and do not have the know-how regarding the transition itself. Developing energy efficiency management (EEM) for a given enterprise requires many steps, which ultimately unleash analytical potential and seamlessly integrate the EEM framework with the business model of a given company. This study scrutinizes and formalizes a reference process of pilot EEM implementation that involves external business partners in a multi-facility organization. The process is tailored to the specificity of the company’s operations as well as its technical and management capabilities regarding energy efficiency. The proposed approach, phased in time and involving multiple stakeholders, should be especially useful for practitioners running EEM-related projects characterized by uncertain and changing requirements.
Design and Implementation of Solar OLED Lighting Driver Circuit with Frequency Modulation Control
Authors: Lin Zhong-Rong , Chiu Huang-Jen
Published: October 2020

This paper proposes a single-stage single-ended primary inductor converter (SEPIC) converter circuit, which is applied to the organic light-emitting diodes (OLED) driver circuit. The circuit proposed in this paper replaces the output Schottky diode from the original SEPIC with a power switch. Deadtime is added to prevent the on-state overlapping of two switches with zero voltage switching (ZVS), and the circuit operates in triangular current mode. The digital control methods are maximum power point tracking and frequency modulation using a battery to supply the converter and illuminate the OLED at night. Finally, a prototype is implemented to show the feasibility under the DC input voltage range of 10–40 V. The DC output is 12 V/1 A/12 W, and the conversion efficiency is up to 96.3%.
Drivers for and Barriers to the Take up of Floating Offshore Wind Technology: A Comparison of Scotland and South Africa
Authors: Umoh Kubiat , Lemon Mark
Published: October 2020

Offshore wind could both play a significant role in decarbonising the global energy system and supporting the energy needs of cities. Recent trends in offshore wind have seen the installation of turbines in deeper and more remote waters due to the presence of stronger and more consistent wind resources. This has led to the development of floating foundations for turbine mounting in water depths above 40 m, where conventional bottom-fixed foundations are not considered economically feasible. However, due to its emerging nature, floating wind must attain market maturity to be considered cost competitive. It is a widely accepted belief that market expansion yields technological maturity. Therefore, this paper adopts a systems approach to investigate the viability of floating offshore wind power generation in Scotland and South Africa. It does this through a content analysis of relevant secondary documentation, including policy documents, industry reports, press releases, online publications, and databases to determine the drivers and barriers of floating wind in the case contexts. The key findings are that substantial technical potential is required to attract floating wind investments, political support is necessary in order to scale up, a strong offshore wind supply chain could cushion the high-cost effects of floating wind projects, and more innovative business models such as corporate Power Purchasing Agreements could serve as social drivers for such projects. The main contextual conclusions drawn from this paper are that Scotland’s inaugural floating wind projects benefitted from the Scottish government’s Renewable Obligation scheme, however its discontinuation threatens the prospects of future projects. Alternatively, South Africa’s technical potential, coupled with its government’s healthy appetite for renewable energy development, could see the take up of this technology in the near future, with corresponding benefits for more sustainable energy in densely populated areas, compliant with SDG 7.
Visualization of Rare Metal-Enriched Zones in Waste Landfills Using Induced Polarization Method
Authors: Hidari Kazuhiro , Miyata Masato , Yamazaki Sojiro , Kamura Kazuo
Published: October 2020

We consider the studied landfill site an urban mine and developed a series of projects on metal endowment forms, nondestructive investigation methods for metal-enriched zones, metal extraction methods from enriched zones, and useful metal selection methods. This paper examines the exploration method. Induced polarization (IP) exploration was carried out at a T disposal site filled in the studied valley. In addition, three drillings were conducted in the studied exploration area. Using the core samples, IP parameters and metal contents were measured. Then, by comparing these data, we examined the effectiveness of the IP method for the visualization of metal-enriched zones in unsaturated landfills. The results of this experiment revealed that the iron-sulfide-enriched zone in the valley filling landfill can be identified by IP exploration. In addition, we clarified the types and contents of rare metals that coexist in iron sulfide. This process allows for further evaluation of landfills as a deposit.
Reasons for the Place of Care of the Elders: A Systematic Review
Authors: Serrano-Gemes Gema , Rich-Ruiz Manuel , Serrano-del-Rosal Rafael
Published: October 2020

Background: Relocation is a very important event in people’s lives in general, but really significant in old age. However, some predictors of relocation still need to be improved. The objective of this review was to synthesize qualitative evidence to understand the reasons of the participants to decide on the place of care of the older people. Methods: Systematic review of qualitative studies was conducted in six databases: Scopus, SciELO, PubMed, PsycINFO, Web of Science and CINAHL, from its beginning until 29 November 2017. Qualitative or mixed studies, written in English or Spanish and addressing the decision-making process (already experienced by participants) on the place of care of older persons (65 years or older), were included in the review. PROSPERO (registration number: CRD42018084826). Results: A total of 46 articles were finally included in the analysis. Our main result is the distinction of multiple reasons for each population group involved in the decision-making process, ranking these reasons into three factors: Retention, pull and push. Conclusion: This differentiation allows for a more detailed and in-depth analysis of the motivations of the different groups involved in this process.
A Deep-Learning Approach to ECG Classification Based on Adversarial Domain Adaptation
Authors: Niu Lisha , Chen Chao , Liu Hui , Zhou Shuwang , Shu Minglei
Published: October 2020

Cardiovascular disease has become one of the main diseases threatening human life and health. This disease is very common and troublesome, and the existing medical resources are scarce, so it is necessary to use a computer-aided automatic diagnosis to overcome these limitations. A computer-aided diagnostic system can automatically diagnose through an electrocardiogram (ECG) signal. This paper proposes a novel deep-learning method for ECG classification based on adversarial domain adaptation, which solves the problem of insufficient-labeled training samples, improves the phenomenon of different data distribution caused by individual differences, and enhances the classification accuracy of cross-domain ECG signals with different data distributions. The proposed method includes three modules: multi-scale feature extraction F, domain discrimination D, and classification C. The module F, constitutive of three different parallel convolution blocks, is constructed to increase the breadth of features extracted from this module. The module D is composed of three convolutional blocks and a fully connected layer, which is to solve the problem of low model layers and low-feature abstraction. In the module C, the time features and the deep-learning extraction features are concatenated on the fully connected layer to enhance feature diversity. The effectiveness of the proposed method is verified by experiments, and the classification accuracy of the experimental electrical signals reaches 92.3%.
Environment Changes, Aflatoxins, and Health Issues, a Review
Authors: Valencia-Quintana Rafael , Milić Mirta , Jakšić Daniela , Šegvić Klarić Maja , Tenorio-Arvide María Guadalupe , Pérez-Flores Guillermo Alejandro , Bonassi Stefano , Sánchez-Alarcón Juana
Published: October 2020

Crops contaminated by aflatoxins (AFs), the toxic and carcinogenic mycotoxins produced namely by Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus parasiticus, have severe impacts on human health. Changes in temperature and water availability related to actual climate changes (increased temperature, heavy rainfalls, and droughts) are modulating factors of mould growth and production of mycotoxins. To protect human and animal health from the harmful effects caused by AFs, the development of a safe and effective multifaceted approach in combating food and feed contamination with AFs is necessary. This review aims to collect and analyze the available information regarding AF presence in food and feed to reinforce AF management and to prevent health issues related to the AF exposure in the light of actual climate changes.
Postpartum Weight Retention and Its Determinants in Lebanon and Qatar: Results of the Mother and Infant Nutrition Assessment (MINA) Cohort
Authors: Nasreddine Lara , Ayoub Jennifer , Abbas Nada , Abdul Malik Mariam , Naja Farah
Published: October 2020

Excessive Postpartum Weight Retention (PWR) is postulated to increase the risk of adverse health outcomes for mothers and offspring. Using data from the Mother and Infant Nutritional Assessment (MINA) cohort in Lebanon and Qatar, this study aimed to examine PWR and its determinants at 6 months after delivery. Pregnant women (n = 183) were recruited during their first trimester and were followed up through pregnancy and after delivery. During this period, face-to-face interviews as well as extraction from medical charts were conducted to collect data regarding the socioeconomic, anthropometric and dietary intake of participants. The mean PWR (kg) among participants was 3.1 ± 5.6 at delivery, and 3.3 ± 5.3 and 2.7 ± 4.7 at 4 and 6 months after delivery, respectively. Results of the multiple logistic regression analyses showed that a Qatari nationality and excessive GWG were associated with higher odds of a high PWR (above median) while an insufficient GWG had lower odds. After adjustment for energy, participants with a high PWR reported a greater intake of proteins, Trans fat, cholesterol, sodium and lower intakes of mono and polyunsaturated fat as compared to those with a low PWR (below median). These findings suggested priority areas for interventions to prevent excessive PWR amongst women of childbearing age in Lebanon and Qatar.