bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Improving Utilization Efficiency and Drivers’ Degree of Satisfaction in Urban Complex Parking Lot through Modelling the Dynamic Allocation of Parking Spaces
Authors: Yang Guang , Chen Jun , Lu Kuan , Zhang Chu
Published: September 2021

There are significant differences in the utilization efficiency of parking spaces in different spatial locations within the complex parking lots, which reduces the utilization efficiency of parking resources. For the above problem, a parking spaces supply demand characteristics indexes system was constructed. The Metro City complex was taken as an example, and its parking demand utilization characteristics were analyzed to judge the problem of parking spaces utilization. On this basis, a model of the dynamic allocation of parking spaces for parking spaces was constructed to improve drivers’ degree of degree of satisfaction and balance the occupancy rates for parking spaces in different zones. The simulation results show that after the implementation of the dynamic allocation of parking spaces, the differences of the parking spaces’ demand characteristic indexes between two different parking zones are significantly reduced. It was specifically observed that the differences between parking zones A and B in terms of turnover number, total parking time and average parking time were reduced from 2.24 times to 0.03 times, 1.3 h to 0.6 h and 2.2 h to 0.1 h, respectively, and the average interval time of parking spaces became smaller and more evenly distributed. It can be seen that this model can improve the overall utilization efficiency of the complex parking lot and drivers’ degrees of satisfaction.
A Neural N-Gram-Based Classifier for Chinese Clinical Named Entity Recognition
Authors: Lin Ching-Sheng , Jwo Jung-Sing , Lee Cheng-Hsiung
Published: September 2021

Clinical Named Entity Recognition (CNER) focuses on locating named entities in electronic medical records (EMRs) and the obtained results play an important role in the development of intelligent biomedical systems. In addition to the research in alphabetic languages, the study of non-alphabetic languages has attracted considerable attention as well. In this paper, a neural model is proposed to address the extraction of entities from EMRs written in Chinese. To avoid erroneous noise being caused by the Chinese word segmentation, we employ the character embeddings as the only feature without extra resources. In our model, concatenated n-gram character embeddings are used to represent the context semantics. The self-attention mechanism is then applied to model long-range dependencies of embeddings. The concatenation of the new representations obtained by the attention module is taken as the input to bidirectional long short-term memory (BiLSTM), followed by a conditional random field (CRF) layer to extract entities. The empirical study is conducted on the CCKS-2017 Shared Task 2 dataset to evaluate our method and the experimental results show that our model outperforms other approaches.
Hybrid Wind Turbine Towers Optimization with a Parallel Updated Particle Swarm Algorithm
Authors: Li Zeyu , Chen Hongbing , Xu Bin , Ge Hanbin
Published: September 2021

The prestressed concrete–steel hybrid (PCSH) wind turbine tower, characterized by replacing the lower part of the traditional full-height steel tube wind turbine tower with a prestressed concrete (PC) segment, provides a potential alterative solution to transport difficulties and risks associated with traditional steel towers in mountainous areas. This paper proposes an optimization approach with a parallel updated particle swarm optimization (PUPSO) algorithm which aims at minimizing the objective function of the levelized cost of energy (LCOE) of the PCSH wind turbine towers in a life cycle perspective which represents the direct investments, labor costs, machinery costs, and the maintenance costs. Based on the constraints required by relevant specifications and industry standards, the geometry of a PCSH wind turbine tower for a 2 MW wind turbine is optimized using the proposed approach. The dimensions of the PCSH wind turbine tower are treated as optimization variables in the PUPSO algorithm. Results show that the optimized PCSH wind turbine tower can be an economic alternative for wind farms with lower LCOE requirements. In addition, compared with the traditional particle swarm optimization (PSO) algorithm and UPSO algorithm, the proposed PUPSO algorithm can enhance the optimization computation efficiency by about 60–110%.
On the Performance of LDPC-Coded Massive MIMO Schemes with Power-Ordered NOMA Techniques
Authors: Marques da Silva Mário , Dinis Rui , Martins Gelson
Published: September 2021

This article studies the power-ordered Non-Orthogonal Multiple Access (NOMA) techniques associated with Low-Density Parity-Check (LDPC) codes, adopted for use in the fifth generation of cellular communications (5G). Both conventional and cooperative NOMA are studied, associated with Single Carrier with Frequency Domain Equalization (SC-FDE) and massive Multiple-Input Multiple-Output (MIMO). Billions of Internet of Things (IoT) devices are aimed to be incorporated by the Fourth Industrial Revolution, requiring more efficient use of the spectrum. NOMA techniques have the potential to support that goal and represent strong candidates for incorporation into future releases of 5G. This article shows that combined schemes associated with both conventional and cooperative LDPC-coded NOMA achieve good performance while keeping the computational complexity at an acceptable level.
Investigation into the Antioxidant Activity of Standardized Plant Extracts with Pharmaceutical Potential
Authors: Moroșan Elena , Mititelu Magdalena , Drăgănescu Doina , Lupuliasa Dumitru , Ozon Emma Adriana , Karampelas Oana , Gîrd Cerasela Elena , Aramă Corina , Hovaneț Marilena Viorica , Musuc Adina Magdalena , Ioniță Ana Corina
Published: September 2021

Given the important role of antioxidants in the cellular degeneration process, as well as the increased interest in recent years related to the use of natural antioxidants in therapy, the present study aims to investigate the antioxidant activity of a new pharmaceutical product containing natural antioxidants extracted from plant raw materials. In a first step, the product conventionally named “CILTAG”, containing a mixture in equal proportions of 10% hydroalcoholic extractive solutions of dried plant raw materials from Medicaginis herba, Trifolii pratense flores, Ginkgo bilobae folium, Myrtilli fructus, and Cynosbati fructus, was obtained. In the second stage, the antioxidant activity of the hydroalcoholic extractive solutions included in the pharmaceutical product was tested by chemiluminescence and electrochemical methods and by the superoxide dismutase (SOD) method. The electrochemical determination of the antioxidant capacity of hydroalcoholic extractive solutions was based on a method that provides an indirect evaluation of the presumed antioxidant properties of some compounds using Trolox (6-hydroxy-2,5,7,8-tetramethylchroman-2-carboxylic acid), as a standard measurement. The experimental results indicate a significant antioxidant potential for both the analyzed plant extractive solutions that are part of CILTAG and the final product.
Blockchain-Based Network Concept Model for Reliable and Accessible Fine Dust Management System at Construction Sites
Authors: Cho Seungwon , Khan Muhammad , Pyeon Jaeho , Park Chansik
Published: September 2021

In total, 44.3% of particle matter 10 (PM10) is fugitive dust, and one of the main sources of fugitive dust generation in Korea is construction work (22%). Construction sites account for 84% of the total business places that have reported fugitive dust generation. Currently, the concentration of fine dust at construction sites is being remotely monitored by government inspection agencies through IoT sensors, but it is difficult to trust that appropriate fine dust reduction measures are being taken, because contractors can avoid taking these measures by submitting false reports or photos. In addition, since the fine dust monitoring system under government management is not an open platform and centralized system, residents near construction sites encounter difficulties in accessing information about fine dust. Therefore, in this study, we designed and constructed a blockchain network model to transparently and reliably provide network participants with the information associated with IoT data and fine dust reduction measures. To operate the blockchain network, we designed the chaincode, DApp, and network architecture. In addition, information on fine dust concentration and reduction measure photos were shared with the participants via the blockchain search tool (Hyperledger Explorer). The proposed blockchain network is expected to form a trust protocol among contractors, government inspection agencies, and citizens.
Triac Based Novel Single Phase Step-Down Cycloconverter with Reduced THDs for Variable Speed Applications
Authors: Islam Tariqul , Fayek Hady H. , Rusu Eugen , Rahman Fayzur
Published: September 2021

In variable speed applications, the cycloconverter-based AC to AC power conversion technique has gained more attention among researchers and academics than the traditional rectifier-inverter-based AC to AC power conversion process. The conventional rectifier-inverter-based AC to AC power conversion process has several disadvantages. It uses multi-power stages that increase the converter power conversion losses and increase the cost, volume, and weight of power losses. Besides high conduction and switching losses, the electromagnetic interference problems also accompany the above issues. In this regard, this paper proposes a novel step-down Triac based cycloconverter for variable speed control applications. The proposed topology uses only five Triac devices for one-third and one-fourth frequency conversion of 50 Hz with reduced total harmonics distortion without using any pulse width modulation techniques. The proposed model is designed in the MATLAB/SIMULINK environment. The simulation results show that around 18.85% and 23.67% of total harmonics distortions are reduced in the proposed converter for one-third and one-fourth frequency conversion of 50 Hz, respectively. Two physical experiments are carried out to prove the validity of the simulation results.
Facile Fabrication of Polyaniline/Graphene Composite Fibers as Electrodes for Fiber-Shaped Supercapacitors
Authors: Yang Xuefei , Qiu Yihan , Zhang Mei , Zhang Liangjing , Li Hongwei
Published: September 2021

Graphene fiber-based supercapacitors are known as the potential energy resources for wearable/flexible electronics. However, increasing their specific capacitance and energy density remains a significant challenge. This paper indicates a double layer capacitance of the graphene nanosheets accompanied by pseudocapacitive behavior of the polyaniline to prepare composite fibers with high capacitive response. The polyaniline/graphene composite fibers (PANI/GFs) were synthesized by the self-assembled strategy and chemical reduction by HI. The wrinkle architecture of graphene nanosheets and uniform dispersion of the polyaniline are beneficial to increase the internal electroactive sites and provide a stable structure for the composite fibers. The constructed fiber-shaped supercapacitors with solid-state electrolyte deliver an excellent areal specific capacitance of 370.2 mF cm−2 and an outstanding areal energy density of 12.9 μW h cm−2. The current work reveals the attractive potential of the as-synthesized composite fibers for constructing fiber-shaped supercapacitors with distinguished electrochemical performance, which can be applied in future flexible electronics.
Efficient Shot Detector: Lightweight Network Based on Deep Learning Using Feature Pyramid
Authors: Park Chansoo , Lee Sanghun , Han Hyunho
Published: September 2021

Convolutional-neural-network (CNN)-based methods are continuously used in various industries with the rapid development of deep learning technologies. However, an inference efficiency problem was reported in applications that require real-time performance, such as a mobile device. It is important to design a lightweight network that can be used in general-purpose environments such as mobile environments and GPU environments. In this study, we propose a lightweight network efficient shot detector (ESDet) based on deep training with small parameters. The feature extraction process was performed using depthwise and pointwise convolution to minimize the computational complexity of the proposed network. The subsequent layer was formed in a feature pyramid structure to ensure that the extracted features were robust to multiscale objects. The network was trained by defining a prior box optimized for the data set of each feature scale. We defined an ESDet-baseline with optimal parameters through experiments and expanded it by gradually increasing the input resolution for detection accuracy. ESDet training and evaluation was performed using the PASCAL VOC and MS COCO2017 Dataset. Moreover, the average precision (AP) evaluation index was used for quantitative evaluation of detection performance. Finally, superior detection efficiency was demonstrated through the experiment compared to the conventional detection method.
ITOC: An Improved Trie-Based Algorithm for Online Packet Classification
Authors: Li Yifei , Wang Jinlin , Chen Xiao , Wu Jinghong
Published: September 2021

With the development of SDN, packet classifiers nowadays need to be provided with low update latency besides fast lookup performance because switches need to respond to update control messages from controllers in time to guarantee real-time service in SDN implementations. Classification in this scenario is called online packet classification. In this paper, we put forward an improved trie-based algorithm for online packet classification (ITOC), in which we provide a trie selection strategy to avoid occasional high update latency in the update process of online trie-based algorithms. Experiments are conducted to validate the effectiveness of our optimization and compare the performance of ITOC with the offline methods, DPDK ACL. Experimental results demonstrate that ITOC has the same level of lookup speed with DPDK ACL and greatly decreased the update latency as well. The update latency of ITOC is only 6.85% of DPDK ACL library in the best case.
Fast Fabrication of Conductive Copper Structure on Glass Material Using Laser-Induced Chemical Liquid Phase Deposition
Authors: Kim Han-Guel , Park Min-Soo
Published: September 2021

Glass is a very stable material at room temperature and has good resistance to gas, bacteria, and organisms. Due to the development of the electronic industry, the industrial demand for creating a conductive pattern on glass is increasing rapidly. To create conductive circuit patterns on the glass surface, non-contact methods based on high energy sources or chemical methods are generally used. However, these methods have disadvantages such as low conductivity, high cost, and size limitations. Processes such as LCLD (laser-induced chemical liquid phase deposition) have been widely studied to solve this problem. However, it has a fatal disadvantage of being slow. Therefore, in this study, various process changes were attempted to improve productivity and conductivity. In particular, sufficient thermal energy was supplied with high laser power for a stable chemical reduction, and the scanning path was changed in various shapes to minimize the ablation that occurs at this time. Through this, it was possible to disperse the overlapped laser energy of high power to widen the activation area of the reduction reaction. With this proposed LCLD process, it is possible to achieve good productivity and fabricate conductive circuit patterns faster than in previous studies.
Drought Variability and Characteristics in the Muda River Basin of Malaysia from 1985 to 2019
Authors: Luhaim Zibeon bin , Tan Mou Leong , Tangang Fredolin , Zulkafli Zed , Chun Kwok Pan , Yusop Zulkifli , Yaseen Zaher Mundher
Published: September 2021

This study aimed to analyze the spatiotemporal changes of historical droughts over the Muda River basin (MRB), Malaysia, from 1985 to 2019 using the Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI) and the Standardized Streamflow Index (SSI). The Mann–Kendall test and Sens’ slope were used to evaluate the trends and magnitude changes in the droughts, respectively, while Spearman’s rho was applied to understand the relationships of the droughts with large-scale atmospheric circulations, such as the El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO), the Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD), and the Madden–Julian Oscillation (MJO). The results show that the intense droughts in the MRB mostly occurred in 1991–1992, 1995, 1998, 2002–2003, 2005–2006, 2008, 2012–2013, and 2016. In addition, a declining SPI trend was found from May to December at most of the stations. About 80% of the stations experienced about 10 severely dry droughts, while almost all stations experienced at least 5 extremely dry events. Moreover, a higher response rate of the SSI than the SPI was found during low-rainfall months from January to May. Lastly, ENSO had a larger impact on the drought formations over the MRB compared to the IOD and MJO, especially during the dry period.
Human Health Risk Assessment of Heavy Metals in the Urban Road Dust of Zhengzhou Metropolis, China
Authors: Faisal Muhammad , Wu Zening , Wang Huiliang , Hussain Zafar , Azam Muhammad Imran
Published: September 2021

The goal of this research is to assess hazardous heavy metal levels in PM2.5 fractioned road dust in order to quantify the risk of inhalation and potential health effects. To accomplish this, Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectroscopy (ICP-MS) was used to determine concentrations of eight heavy metals (Cr, Cu, Ni, Zn, Cd, As, Pb, and Hg) in the PM2.5 portion of road dust samples from five different land use areas (commercial, residential, industrial, parks, and educational) in Zhengzhou, China. The following were the average heavy metal concentrations in the city: Cr 46.26 mg/kg, Cu 25.13 mg/kg, Ni 12.51 mg/kg, Zn 152.35 mg/kg, Cd 0.56 mg/kg, As 11.53 mg/kg, Pb 52.15 mg/kg, and Hg 0.32 mg/kg. Two pollution indicators, the Pollution Index (PI) and the Geoaccumulation Index (Igeo), were used to determine the degree of contamination. Both PI and Igeo indicated the extreme pollution of Hg and Cd, while PI also ranked Zn in the extreme polluted range. The US Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) model for adults and children was used to estimate health risks by inhalation. The results identified non-carcinogenic exposure of children to lead (HI > 0.1) in commercial and industrial areas. Both children and adults in Zhengzhou’s commercial, residential, and park areas are exposed to higher levels of copper (Cu), lead (Pb), and zinc (Zn).
A Performance Evaluation of Potential Intensity over the Tropical Cyclone Passage to South Korea Simulated by CMIP5 and CMIP6 Models
Authors: Park Doo-Sun R. , Kim Hyeong-Seog , Kwon Minho , Byun Young-Hwa , Kim Maeng-Ki , Chung Il-Ung , Park Jeong-Soo , Min Seung-Ki
Published: September 2021

Potential intensity (PI) is a metric for climate model evaluation of TC-related thermodynamic conditions. However, PI is utilized usually for assessing basin-wide TC-related thermodynamic conditions, and not for evaluating TC passage to a certain region. Here we evaluate model-simulated PI over the passage of TCs affecting South Korea (KOR PI) as well as the PI over the entire western North Pacific basin (WNP PI) using 25 CMIP5 and 27 CMIP6 models. In terms of pattern correlations and bias-removed root mean square errors, CMIP6 model performances for KOR PI are found to be noticeably improved over CMIP5 models in contrast to negligible improvement for WNP PI, although it is not in terms of normalized standard deviations. This implies that thermodynamic condition on the route of TCs affecting South Korea is likely better captured by CMIP6 models than CMIP5 models.
Improving Ensemble Volcanic Ash Forecasts by Direct Insertion of Satellite Data and Ensemble Filtering
Authors: Zidikheri Meelis J. , Lucas Chris
Published: September 2021

Improved quantitative forecasts of volcanic ash are in great demand by the aviation industry to enable better risk management during disruptive volcanic eruption events. However, poor knowledge of volcanic source parameters and other dispersion and transport modelling uncertainties, such as those due to errors in numerical weather prediction fields, make this problem very challenging. Nonetheless, satellite-based algorithms that retrieve ash properties, such as mass load, effective radius, and cloud top height, combined with inverse modelling techniques, such as ensemble filtering, can significantly ameliorate these problems. The satellite-retrieved data can be used to better constrain the volcanic source parameters, but they can also be used to avoid the description of the volcanic source altogether by direct insertion into the forecasting model. In this study we investigate the utility of the direct insertion approach when employed within an ensemble filtering framework. Ensemble members are formed by initializing dispersion models with data from different timesteps, different values of cloud top height, thickness, and NWP ensemble members. This large ensemble is then filtered with respect to observations to produce a refined forecast. We apply this approach to 14 different eruption case studies in the tropical atmosphere. We demonstrate that the direct insertion of data improves model forecast skill, particularly when it is used in a hybrid ensemble in which some ensemble members are initialized from the volcanic source. Moreover, good forecast skill can be obtained even when detailed satellite retrievals are not available, which is frequently the case for volcanic eruptions in the tropics.
Spatiotemporal Dynamics of Maximum Wind Speed Using the Wind Multiplier Downscaling Method in the Yangtze River Inland Waterway from 1980 to 2017
Authors: Liu Lijun , Zhang Fan
Published: September 2021

Wind speed affects the navigational safety of the Yangtze River, and assessing its spatiotemporal dynamics provides support for navigation management and disaster prevention. We developed a wind multiplier downscaling method integrating the effects of land use and topography, and used meteorological station observations and European Center for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) Reanalysis Interim (ERA-Interim) reanalysis data for statistical downscaling in the Yangtze River inland waterway region from 1980 to 2017. Compared with reanalysis data, the downscaling products showed improved accuracy (especially at 5–10 m/s), and are consistent with site-based interannual variability observations. Increasing maximum wind speeds in the middle–downstream area was observed from 1980 to 1990, while a decreasing trend was observed from 2010 to 2017; the opposite was observed for the upstream. Land use has significant influence on wind speed, with a decreasing trend observed year by year for wind speed above grade 9. Although the proportion of grade 4–8 wind speed over water is small and the trend is not obvious, grade 9–10 wind speeds displayed an increasing trend from 2010 to 2017, indicating that changes in surface roughness have a significant influence on wind speed in the Yangtze River inland waterway.
Microservice-Based Approach to Simulating Environmentally Friendly Equipment of Infrastructure Objects Taking into Account Meteorological Data
Authors: Kostromin Roman , Basharina Olga , Feoktistov Alexander , Sidorov Ivan
Published: September 2021

Nowadays, simulation modeling is a relevant and practically significant means in the field for research of infrastructure object functioning. It forms the basis for studying the most important components of such objects represented by their digital twins. Applying meteorological data, in this context, becomes an important issue. In the paper, we propose a new microservice-based approach for organizing simulation modeling in heterogeneous distributed computing environments. Within the proposed approach, all operations related to data preparing, executing models, and analyzing the obtained results are implemented as microservices. The main advantages of the proposed approach are the parameter sweep computing within simulation modeling and possibility of integrating resources of public access supercomputer centers with cloud and fog platforms. Moreover, we provide automated microservice web forms using special model specifications. We develop and apply the service-oriented tools for studying environmentally friendly equipment of the objects at the Baikal natural territory. Among such objects are recreation tourist centers, children’s camps, museums, exhibition centers, etc. As a result, we have evaluated the costs for the possible use of heat pumps in different operational and meteorological conditions for the typical object. The provided comparative analysis has confirmed the aforementioned advantages of the proposed approach.
Rapid Evaluation of the Effects of Policies Corresponding to Air Quality, Carbon Emissions and Energy Consumption: An Example from Shenzhen, China
Authors: Yang Shi-Qi , Xing Jia , Chen Wen-Ying , Li Fen , Zhu Yun
Published: September 2021

Efficient environmental policies are necessary in the improvement of air quality and reduction in carbon emissions, and the interactions between policy, activity, emissions, and environment comprise a cycle allowing the evaluation of the effects of implemented policies. Based on the establishment of the connection between environmental parameters and policy context using a quantifiable methodology, in this study, we formulated a rapid and simplified pattern for the evaluation of the effects of policies concerning the atmospheric environment, and applied it to the evaluation and improvement of policies for Carbon dioxide (CO2) reduction and air quality enhancement in the sample city of Shenzhen. The Response Surface Model-Visualization and Analysis Tool (RSM-VAT) in the Air Benefit and Cost and Attainment Assessment System (ABaCAS) was applied as the core tool. The required reductions in Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and Sulfur dioxide (SO2) emissions for 2014–2019 are expected to be achieved; however, the expected reductions in Nitrogen oxides (NOx) emissions (mainly from road mobile sources) and Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emissions (mainly from secondary industry and road mobile sources) are less certain. According to the simulated concentration of PM2.5 in 2019, it is necessary to reduce the concentrations of air pollutants, both within and outside Shenzhen. The background weather conditions may be the main reason for the increased concentrations of Ozone (O3) in October compared to those in July. Reductions in NOx and VOCs tend to be the main factors driving changes in O3 concentrations. Policies have been formulated and implemented in a wide array of areas. According to the quantitative comparative analysis of the policies, and the relevant activities, the greatest challenge in reducing NOx and VOCs emissions is presented by the oil-powered vehicles in the road mobile sector and organic solvent production in the secondary industry sector. Therefore, in an effort to achieve better air quality and ensure that CO2 emissions reach a peak in Shenzhen by 2025, we propose key improvements in policies based on interdisciplinary cooperation, involving not only atmospheric and environmental science, but also governance and urban planning.
Simultaneous Excitation of Helium by Means of an Electron and a Photon: A Joined Experimental and Theoretical Study
Authors: Ajana Imane , Nehari Driss , Khalil Driss , Taoutioui Abdelmalek , Agueny Hicham , Makhoute Abdelkader
Published: September 2021

We report on a joined experimental and theoretical study of differential cross-sections resulting from inelastic scattering of a monoenergetic electron by helium atoms in the presence of an intense carbon dioxide laser. In particular, we measured the signals of the scattered electrons during the simultaneous electron–photon excitation of He 21P state for the first three microseconds of the laser pulse. The signals were measured for an incident electron energy of 45 eV and showed a structure that emerged at small scattering angles. The latter was found to be sensitive to the nature of the transferred photons, as well as the intensity of the laser field. The experimental findings were supported by quantum calculations based on the second-order Born approximation in which the correlated electron–electron interactions were taken into account.
Three-Photon Ionization with One-Photon Resonance between Excited Levels
Authors: Gomonai Aleksandr , Remeta Eugene , Gomonai Anna
Published: September 2021

Within the framework of a three-level model, the process of three-photon ionization with one-photon resonance between two excited levels (with the lower one being initially unpopulated) is considered using the density matrix method. It is shown that such resonance can result in the appearance of a maximum in the three-photon ionization spectrum when detuning between the resonance wavenumber and the wavenumber of the transition responsible for the lower excited level being populated exceeds the laser radiation linewidth by more than three orders of magnitude.
Simultaneous Observation of Tungsten Spectra of W0 to W46+ Ions in Visible, VUV and EUV Wavelength Ranges in the Large Helical Device
Authors: Oishi Tetsutarou , Morita Shigeru , Kato Daiji , Murakami Izumi , Sakaue Hiroyuki A. , Kawamoto Yasuko , Kawate Tomoko , Goto Motoshi
Published: September 2021

Spectroscopic studies for emissions released from tungsten ions have been conducted in the Large Helical Device (LHD) for contribution to the tungsten transport study in tungsten divertor fusion devices and for expansion of the experimental database of tungsten line emissions. Tungsten ions are distributed in the LHD plasma by injecting a pellet consisting of a small piece of tungsten metal wire enclosed by a carbon tube. Line emissions from W0, W5+, W6+, W24+–W28+, W37+, W38+, and W41+–W46+ are observed simultaneously in the visible (3200–3550 Å), vacuum ultraviolet (250–1050 Å), and extreme ultraviolet (5–300 Å) wavelength ranges and the wavelengths are summarized. Temporal evolutions of line emissions from these charge states are compared for comprehensive understanding of tungsten impurity behavior in a single discharge. The charge distribution of tungsten ions strongly depends on the electron temperature. Measurements of emissions from W10+ to W20+ are still insufficient, which is addressed as a future task.
Auditory Processing Disorder Test Battery in European Portuguese—Development and Normative Data for Pediatric Population
Authors: Martins Jorge Humberto , Alves Marisa , Andrade Susana , Falé Isabel , Teixeira António
Published: September 2021

There is an increasing need for state-of-the-art Central Auditory Processing assessment for Portuguese native speakers, applicable as early as possible. As a contribution to answering this need, this paper presents a new battery for Central Auditory Processing assessment for European Portuguese applicable to children aged 5 and above, named BAPA-PE, providing information regarding test selection and development. The battery consists of six behavioral tests: Staggered Spondaic Words (SSW) for European Portuguese, Filtered Speech, Speech in Noise, Detection Interval in Noise, Duration, and Frequency Pattern. The normative data for children aged 5 to 12 are also reported. A sample was obtained of 217 subjects without ear pathology and with typical development. Each age group was composed of at least 30 children. All children were evaluated using pure tone audiometry, speech audiometry, impedance, and otoacoustic emissions. Normative scores are reported for each of the six auditory processing tests. The assessment is applicable to young children (aged 5 and 6). The statistical analyses showed significant effects in scores of Age for all tests and of Ear for several tests. The main result from the work presented, the Auditory Processing Assessment Battery—European Portuguese (BAPA-PE), is available for clinical use with normative data. This battery is a new tool for behaviorism assessment of European Portuguese speakers with suspected central auditory pathology and for monitoring the results of auditory training.
The Approximate and Analytic Solutions of the Time-Fractional Intermediate Diffusion Wave Equation Associated with the Fokker–Planck Operator and Applications
Authors: Abdel-Rehim Entsar A.
Published: September 2021

In this paper, the time-fractional wave equation associated with the space-fractional Fokker–Planck operator and with the time-fractional-damped term is studied. The concept of the Green function is implemented to drive the analytic solution of the three-term time-fractional equation. The explicit expressions for the Green function G3(t) of the three-term time-fractional wave equation with constant coefficients is also studied for two physical and biological models. The explicit analytic solutions, for the two studied models, are expressed in terms of the Weber, hypergeometric, exponential, and Mittag–Leffler functions. The relation to the diffusion equation is given. The asymptotic behaviors of the Mittag–Leffler function, the hypergeometric function 1F1, and the exponential functions are compared numerically. The Grünwald–Letnikov scheme is used to derive the approximate difference schemes of the Caputo time-fractional operator and the Feller–Riesz space-fractional operator. The explicit difference scheme is numerically studied, and the simulations of the approximate solutions are plotted for different values of the fractional orders.
Antimicrobial Activity of Nanoencapsulated Essential Oils of Tasmannia lanceolata, Backhousia citriodora and Syzygium anisatum against Weak-Acid Resistant Zygosaccharomyces bailii in Clear Apple Juice
Authors: Alderees Fahad , Akter Saleha , Mereddy Ram , Sultanbawa Yasmina
Published: September 2021

The anti-yeast activity of oil-in-water encapsulated nanoemulsion containing individual or a combination of the three essential oils of Tasmanian pepper leaf (Tasmannia lanceolata), lemon myrtle (Backhousia citriodora), and anise myrtle (Syzygium anisatum) against weak-acid resistant Zygosaccharomyces bailii in clear apple juice was investigated. The effectiveness of the shelf-life extension of Z. bailii-spiked (1 × 103 CFU/mL) clear apple juice was evaluated and compared between natural (essential oils) and synthetic (sodium benzoate) antimicrobial agents. Essential oils showed an immediate reduction in the Z. bailii cell population at day-0 and exerted a fungicidal activity at day-4 of storage, with no further noticeable growth at the end of the experiment (day-28). At lower concentrations, Tasmanian pepper leaf oil of 0.0025% had >6 log CFU/mL at day-12 of storage. For lemon myrtle essential oils, the yeast population reached >6 log CFU/mL at day-24 and day-20 for concentrations of 0.02% and 0.01%, respectively. The fungicidal activity of Tasmanian pepper leaf oil reduced from 0.005% to 0.0025% v/v when mixed at a ratio of 1:1 with anise myrtle oil. The results of the present study suggest that these three native Australian herbs have the potential to be used in the beverage industry by controlling Zygosaccharomyces bailii in clear apple juice products.
Brewing Efficacy of Non-Conventional Saccharomyces Non-cerevisiae Yeasts
Authors: Bruner James , Marcus Andrew , Fox Glen
Published: September 2021

Consumer demands for new sensory experiences have driven the research of unconventional yeasts in beer. While much research exists on the use of various common Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains as well as non-Saccharomyces yeasts, there exists a gap in knowledge regarding other non-cerevisiae Saccharomyces species in the fermentation of beer, in addition to S. pastorianus. Here, five distinct species of Saccharomyces from the UC Davis Phaff Yeast Culture Collection, as well as one interspecies hybrid from Fermentis, were chosen to ferment 40 L pilot-scale beers. S. kudriavzevii, S. mikatae, S. paradoxus, S. bayanus, and S. uvarum yeasts were used to ferment wort in duplicate pairs, with one fermenter in each pair receiving 10 g/L dry-hop during fermentation. Analytical measurements were made each day of fermentation and compared to controls of SafAle™ US-05 and SafLager™ W 34/70 for commercial brewing parameters of interest. Finished beers were also analyzed for aroma, taste, and mouthfeel to determine the flavor of each yeast as it pertains to brewing potential. All beers exhibited spicy characteristics, likely from the presence of phenols; dry-hopping increased fruit notes while also increasing perceived bitterness and astringency. All of the species in this study displayed great brewing potential, and might be an ideal addition to beer depending on a brewery’s desire to experiment with flavor and willingness to bring a new yeast into their production environment.
Mitochondrial Heterogeneity in Metabolic Diseases
Authors: Ngo Jennifer , Osto Corey , Villalobos Frankie , Shirihai Orian S.
Published: September 2021

Mitochondria have distinct architectural features and biochemical functions consistent with cell-specific bioenergetic needs. However, as imaging and isolation techniques advance, heterogeneity amongst mitochondria has been observed to occur within the same cell. Moreover, mitochondrial heterogeneity is associated with functional differences in metabolic signaling, fuel utilization, and triglyceride synthesis. These phenotypic associations suggest that mitochondrial subpopulations and heterogeneity influence the risk of metabolic diseases. This review examines the current literature regarding mitochondrial heterogeneity in the pancreatic beta-cell and renal proximal tubules as they exist in the pathological and physiological states; specifically, pathological states of glucolipotoxicity, progression of type 2 diabetes, and kidney diseases. Emphasis will be placed on the benefits of balancing mitochondrial heterogeneity and how the disruption of balancing heterogeneity leads to impaired tissue function and disease onset.
Peripheral Immune Dysfunction: A Problem of Central Importance after Spinal Cord Injury
Authors: Jeffries Marisa , Tom Veronica
Published: September 2021

Individuals with spinal cord injuries (SCI) exhibit increased susceptibility to infection, with pneumonia consistently ranking as a leading cause of death. Despite this statistic, chronic inflammation and concurrent immune suppression have only recently begun to be explored mechanistically. Investigators have now identified numerous changes that occur in the peripheral immune system post-SCI, including splenic atrophy, reduced circulating lymphocytes, and impaired lymphocyte function. These effects stem from maladaptive changes in the spinal cord after injury, including plasticity within the spinal sympathetic reflex circuit that results in exaggerated sympathetic output in response to peripheral stimulation below injury level. Such pathological activity is particularly evident after a severe high-level injury above thoracic spinal cord segment 6, greatly increasing the risk of the development of sympathetic hyperreflexia and subsequent disrupted regulation of lymphoid organs. Encouragingly, studies have presented evidence for promising therapies, such as modulation of neuroimmune activity, to improve regulation of peripheral immune function. In this review, we summarize recent publications examining (1) how various immune functions and populations are affected, (2) mechanisms behind SCI-induced immune dysfunction, and (3) potential interventions to improve SCI individuals’ immunological function to strengthen resistance to potentially deadly infections.
Dual Blockade of Lactate/GPR81 and PD-1/PD-L1 Pathways Enhances the Anti-Tumor Effects of Metformin
Authors: Chen Shaomeng , Zhou Xiuman , Yang Xin , Li Wanqiong , Li Shuzhen , Hu Zheng , Ling Chen , Shi Ranran , Liu Juan , Chen Guanyu , Song Nazi , Jiang Xianxing , Sui Xinghua , Gao Yanfeng
Published: September 2021

Metformin is a widely used antidiabetic drug for cancer prevention and treatment. However, the overproduction of lactic acid and its inefficiency in cancer therapy limit its application. Here, we demonstrate the synergistic effects of the lactate/GPR81 blockade (3-hydroxy-butyrate, 3-OBA) and metformin on inhibiting cancer cells growth in vitro. Simultaneously, this combination could inhibit glycolysis and OXPHOS metabolism, as well as inhibiting tumor growth and reducing serum lactate levels in tumor-bearing mice. Interestingly, we observed that this combination could enhance the functions of Jurkat cells in vitro and CD8+ T cells in vivo. In addition, considering that 3-OBA could recover the inhibitory effects of metformin on PD-1 expression, we further determined the dual blockade effects of PD-1/PD-L1 and lactate/GPR81 on the antitumor activity of metformin. Our results suggested that this dual blockade strategy could remarkably enhance the anti-tumor effects of metformin, or even lead to tumor regression. In conclusion, our study has proposed a novel and robust strategy for a future application of metformin in cancer treatment.
Opposing Actions of Octopamine and Tyramine on Honeybee Vision
Authors: Schilcher Felix , Thamm Markus , Strube-Bloss Martin , Scheiner Ricarda
Published: September 2021

The biogenic amines octopamine and tyramine are important neurotransmitters in insects and other protostomes. They play a pivotal role in the sensory responses, learning and memory and social organisation of honeybees. Generally, octopamine and tyramine are believed to fulfil similar roles as their deuterostome counterparts epinephrine and norepinephrine. In some cases opposing functions of both amines have been observed. In this study, we examined the functions of tyramine and octopamine in honeybee responses to light. As a first step, electroretinography was used to analyse the effect of both amines on sensory sensitivity at the photoreceptor level. Here, the maximum receptor response was increased by octopamine and decreased by tyramine. As a second step, phototaxis experiments were performed to quantify the behavioural responses to light following treatment with either amine. Octopamine increased the walking speed towards different light sources while tyramine decreased it. This was independent of locomotor activity. Our results indicate that tyramine and octopamine act as functional opposites in processing responses to light.
Interaction of Linear Polyelectrolytes with Proteins: Role of Specific Charge–Charge Interaction and Ionic Strength
Authors: Bukala Julia , Yavvari Prabhusrinivas , Walkowiak Jacek , Ballauff Matthias , Weinhart Marie
Published: September 2021

We present a thermodynamic study of the interaction of synthetic, linear polyelectrolytes with bovine serum albumin (BSA). All polyelectrolytes are based on poly(allyl glycidyl ether) which has been modified by polymer-analogous reaction with anionic (-SO3Na), cationic (-NH3Cl or -NHMe2Cl) or zwitterionic groups (-NMe2(CH2)3SO3). While the anionic polymer shows a very weak interaction, the zwitterionic polymer exhibits no interaction with BSA (pI = 4.7) under the applied pH = 7.4, ionic strength (I = 23–80 mM) and temperature conditions (T = 20–37 °C). A strong binding, however, was observed for the polycations bearing primary amino or tertiary dimethyl amino groups, which could be analysed in detail by isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC). The analysis was done using an expression which describes the free energy of binding, ΔGb, as the function of the two decisive variables, temperature, T, and salt concentration, cs. The underlying model splits ΔGb into a term related to counterion release and a term related to water release. While the number of released counter ions is similar for both systems, the release of bound water is more important for the primary amine compared to the tertiary N,N-dimethyl amine presenting polymer. This finding is further traced back to a closer contact of the polymers’ protonated primary amino groups in the complex with oppositely charged moieties of BSA as compared to the bulkier protonated tertiary amine groups. We thus present an investigation that quantifies both driving forces for electrostatic binding, namely counterion release and change of hydration, which contribute to a deeper understanding with direct impact on future advancements in the biomedical field.
Prognostic Impact of Genetic Variants of MECP2 and TIRAP on Clinical Outcomes of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus with and without Nephritis
Authors: Tayel Safaa I. , Muharram Nashwa M. , Fotoh Dina S. , Elbarbary Hany S. , Abd-Elhafiz Huda I. , El-Masry Eman A. , Taha Ahmed E. , Soliman Shimaa E.
Published: September 2021

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic autoimmune illness with a growing prevalence in many populations. Few studies have examined genetic predisposition to SLE, so we aimed to examine the clinical impact of the genetic polymorphisms MECP2 rs2734647and TIRAP rs8177374 on the outcomes and therapeutic precision of SLE with and without nephritis. This study included 110 SLE patients—divided into 63 with lupus nephritis (LN), and 47 without nephritis—and 100 controls. Laboratory measurements including CRP, ESR, ACR, CBC, anti-ds-DNA, vitamin A, C3, and C4 were carried out, along with genotyping of MECP2 rs2734647and TIRAP rs8177374 by real-time PCR and sequencing. Treg %, vitamin A, C3, and C4 were lower, whereas Th17 % was higher, in patients vs. controls (p < 0.001). The T allele of MECP2 rs2734647 was higher in LN than in non-nephritis and control subjects. Moreover, the T allele of TIRAP rs8177374 was higher in LN than in non-nephritis and control subjects. The MECP2 and TIRAP genes could play a role in predisposition to SLE, and can also predict disease progress to nephritis, helping to personalize medicine.
Stem Cells and Cancer Stem Cells: The Jekyll and Hyde Scenario and Their Implications in Stem Cell Therapy
Authors: Wan Kamarul Zaman Wan Safwani , Nurul Asma Abdullah , Nordin Fazlina
Published: September 2021

“Jekyll and Hyde” refers to persons with an unpredictably dual personality, who are battling between good and evil within themselves In this regard, even cells consist of good and evil counterparts. Normal stem cells (NSCs) and cancer stem cells (CSCs) are two types of cells that share some similar characteristics but have distinct functions that play a major role in physiological and pathophysiological development. In reality, NSCs such as the adult and embryonic stem cells, are the good cells and the ultimate treatment used in cell therapy. CSCs are the corrupted cells that are a subpopulation of cancer cells within the cancer microenvironment that grow into a massive tumour or malignancy that needs to be treated. Hence, understanding the connection between NSCs and CSCs is important not just in cancer development but also in their therapeutic implication, which is the focus of this review.