bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Study on the High Load Operation of a Natural Gas-Diesel Dual-Fuel Engine
Authors: Dev Shouvik , Guo Hongsheng , Liko Brian
Published: December 2020

Diesel fueled compression ignition engines are widely used in power generation and freight transport owing to their high fuel conversion efficiency and ability to operate reliably for long periods of time at high loads. However, such engines generate significant amounts of carbon dioxide (CO2), nitrogen oxides (NOx), and particulate matter (PM) emissions. One solution to reduce the CO2and particulate matter emissions of diesel engines while maintaining their efficiency and reliability is natural gas (NG)-diesel dual-fuel combustion. In addition to methane emissions, the temperatures of the diesel injector tip and exhaust gas can also be concerns for dual-fuel engines at medium and high load operating conditions. In this study, a single cylinder NG-diesel dual-fuel research engine is operated at two high load conditions (75% and 100% load). NG fraction and diesel direct injection (DI) timing are two of the simplest control parameters for optimization of diesel engines converted to dual-fuel engines. In addition to studying the combined impact of these parameters on combustion and emissions performance, another unique aspect of this research is the measurement of the diesel injector tip temperature which can predict potential coking issues in dual-fuel engines. Results show that increasing NG fraction and advancing diesel direct injection timing can increase the injector tip temperature. With increasing NG fraction, while the methane emissions increase, the equivalent CO2emissions (cumulative greenhouse gas effect of CO2and CH4) of the engine decrease. Increasing NG fraction also improves the brake thermal efficiency of the engine though NOx emissions increase. By optimizing the combustion phasing through control of the DI timing, brake thermal efficiencies of the order of ∼42% can be achieved. At high loads, advanced diesel DI timings typically correspond to the higher maximum cylinder pressure, maximum pressure rise rate, brake thermal efficiency and NOx emissions, and lower soot, CO, and CO2-equivalent emissions.
Maternal and Fetal Outcomes of Pregnancy in Nephrotic Syndrome Due to Primary Glomerulonephritis
Authors: Siligato Rossella , Gembillo Guido , Cernaro Valeria , Torre Francesco , Salvo Antonino , Granese Roberta , Santoro Domenico
Published: December 2020

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) affects 3% of pregnancies, impacting on maternal and fetal outcomes, and at the same time, a recurrent question in nephrology regards gestation impact on kidney function. Observational studies stated that CKD stage, pre-existent hypertension, and proteinuria are the main predictors of possible complications, such as maternal CKD progression, maternal or fetal death, prematurity, small for gestational age (SGA) newborn, or admission to the neonatal intensive care unit. In this regard, given the prominence of proteinuria among other risk factors, we focused on primary nephrotic syndrome in pregnancy, which accounts for 0.028% of cases, and its impact on materno-fetal outcomes and kidney survival. Data extracted from literature are scattered because of the small cohorts investigated in each trial. However, they showed different outcomes for each glomerular disease, with membranous nephropathy (MN) having a better maternal and fetal prognosis than focal and segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS), membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis (MPGN), or minimal change disease (MCD). Nephrotic syndrome does not have to discourage women to undertake a pregnancy, but the correct management may include a specific evaluation of risk factors and follow-up for adverse materno-fetal events and/or maternal kidney disease progression.
Systematic Analysis of Expression Profiles and Prognostic Significance for FAM83 Family in Non-small-Cell Lung Cancer
Authors: Gan Junqing , Meng Qingwei , Li Yanjing
Published: December 2020

Background

Lung cancer remains a common malignancy and the leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the world. Although dramatic progress made in multimodal therapies, it still has a poor prognosis. The Family with sequence similarity 83 (FAM83) of poorly characterized proteins are defined by the presence of the conserved DUF1669 domain of unknown function at their N-termini, most of which significantly elevated levels of expression in multiple cancers. However, the expression and prognostic values of different FAM83 family in lung cancer, especially in non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC), have not been clarified.

Methods

ONCOMINE, UALCAN, GEPIA, Kaplan–Meier Plotter, cBioPortal, and STRING databases were utilized in this study.

Results

The transcriptional levels of FAM83A/B/C/D/F/G/H were up-regulated in patients with NSCLC. A noticeable correlation was found between the over-expressions of FAM83A/B/D/F/H and clinical cancer stages in NSCLC patients. Besides, higher mRNA expressions of FAM83A/B/C/D/F/H were discovered to be expressively associated with overall survival (OS) in lung cancer patients, furthermore, FAM83A, FAM83C, and FAM83H in OS group achieved 0.9475/1, 0.971897/1, and 0.9454545/0.8974359 specificity/sensitivity in distinguishing short survivors from long survivors, respectively. Moreover, a high mutation rate of FAM83 family (51%) was also observed in lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) patients, and genetic alteration in the FAM83 family was associated with shorter OS and disease-free survival (DFS) in LUAD patients.

Conclusion

Our results indicated that FAM83A/H might play important roles in NSCLC tumorigenesis and might be risk factor for the survival of NSCLC patients.
Heterogeneity of Sensory-Induced Astrocytic Ca2+ Dynamics During Functional Hyperemia
Authors: Sharma Kushal , Gordon Grant R. J. , Tran Cam Ha T.
Published: December 2020

Astrocytic Ca2+ fluctuations associated with functional hyperemia have typically been measured from large cellular compartments such as the soma, the whole arbor and the endfoot. The most prominent Ca2+ event is a large magnitude, delayed signal that follows vasodilation. However, previous work has provided little information about the spatio-temporal properties of such Ca2+ transients or their heterogeneity. Here, using an awake, in vivo two-photon fluorescence-imaging model, we performed detailed profiling of delayed astrocytic Ca2+ signals across astrocytes or within individual astrocyte compartments using small regions of interest next to penetrating arterioles and capillaries along with vasomotor responses to vibrissae stimulation. We demonstrated that while a 5-s air puff that stimulates all whiskers predominantly generated reproducible functional hyperemia in the presence or absence of astrocytic Ca2+ changes, whisker stimulation inconsistently produced astrocytic Ca2+ responses. More importantly, these Ca2+ responses were heterogeneous among subcellular structures of the astrocyte and across different astrocytes that resided within the same field of view. Furthermore, we found that whisker stimulation induced discrete Ca2+ “hot spots” that spread regionally within the endfoot. These data reveal that astrocytic Ca2+ dynamics associated with the microvasculature are more complex than previously thought, and highlight the importance of considering the heterogeneity of astrocytic Ca2+ activity to fully understanding neurovascular coupling.
RETRACTED: “Recovering With Nature”: A Review of Ecotherapy and Implications for the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Chaudhury Pourabi , Banerjee Debanjan
Published: December 2020

Connection with nature has been considered beneficial for psychological well-being since times of evolution. Differences in Indian and Western thoughts have viewed natural elements in different lights, varying between eco-centrism to anthropocentrism. The intrusion of technology and digitalized lives as a result of globalization has decreased connectedness with nature. Ecotherapy is a novel form of psychotherapeutic technique based on explicit environmental or ecological interventions. Social and therapeutic horticulture, animal-assisted interventions, care farming, green exercise, environmental conservation and wilderness therapy are some of the ecosystem-based approaches used in mental health. Based on the principles of positive and client-centered psychology, ecotherapy-related techniques have been shown to be effective in medical disorders like hypertension, obesity, post-surgical recovery and psychosocial conditions like depression, stress reduction, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), attention deficit hyperkinetic disorder (ADHD) and adjustment disorders. The principles of ecotherapy have been integrated into other psychotherapeutic techniques for better efficacy. This review attempts provides an overview of techniques, applications and challenges related to ecotherapy in psychology. The implications of its use during the ongoing Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) crisis, social isolation and consequent psychosocial aftermath are also discussed.
Active Motion Control of a Knee Exoskeleton Driven by Antagonistic Pneumatic Muscle Actuators
Authors: Zhao Wei , Song Aiguo
Published: December 2020

The pneumatic muscle actuator (PMA) has been widely applied in the researches of rehabilitation robotic devices for its high power to weight ratio and intrinsic compliance in the past decade. However, the high nonlinearity and hysteresis behavior of PMA limit its practical application. Hence, the control strategy plays an important role in improving the performance of PMA for the effectiveness of rehabilitation devices. In this paper, a PMA-based knee exoskeleton based on ergonomics is proposed. Based on the designed knee exoskeleton, a novel proxy-based sliding mode control (PSMC) is introduced to obtain the accurate trajectory tracking. Compared with conventional control approaches, this new PSMC can obtain better performance for the designed PMA-based exoskeleton. Experimental results indicate good tracking performance of this controller, which provides a good foundation for the further development of assist-as-needed training strategies in gait rehabilitation.
Evaluation of a Legume-Derived Protein Hydrolysate to Mitigate Iron Deficiency in Plants
Authors: Celletti Silvia , Astolfi Stefania , Guglielmo Nicoletta , Colla Giuseppe , Cesco Stefano , Mimmo Tanja
Published: December 2020

Biostimulants play an important role in the development of management practices able to reach adequate productivity to meet the food demand of a growing world population, while following a sustainable agriculture model. This work aims to evaluate the effect of a protein hydrolysate derived from legume seeds by enzymatic hydrolysis on plant growth and also to verify its ability to mitigate Fe deficiency, a widespread problem significantly limiting plant growth and crop productivity. Experiments were performed with tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.—cv. AKRAI F1) and cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.—cv. EKRON F1). The plants were grown hydroponically under adequate or limited Fe supply. Changes in shoot and root fresh weight, leaf relative chlorophyll content and the accumulation of macro- and microelements in shoots and roots were measured. Plant ability to cope with Fe deficiency was measured by evaluating the activity of root Fe3+-chelate reductase. Our results indicate that the foliar treatments with the protein hydrolysate did not significantly affect growth parameters when plants were grown in full nutrient solution. However, the biostimulant was able to improve the growth performance of Fe-deficient plants. Therefore, the protein hydrolysate can be a powerful tool to stimulate crop growth under Fe-deficient environments, leading to reduced fertilizer inputs with related environmental and economic benefits.
Staphylococcus spp. Isolated from Bovine Subclinical Mastitis in Different Regions of Brazil: Molecular Typing and Biofilm Gene Expression Analysis by RT-qPCR
Authors: Mello Priscila Luiza , Riboli Danilo Flávio Moraes , Martins Lisiane de Almeida , Brito Maria Aparecida Vasconcelos Paiva , Victória Cassiano , Calixto Romero Letícia , Ribeiro de Souza da Cunha Maria de Lourdes
Published: December 2020

Bovine mastitis is mainly caused by bacteria of the genus Staphylococcus spp., which possess different virulence factors, including the capacity for biofilm formation that provides enhanced protection against the action of immune system components and serves as a barrier against the penetration of antimicrobial agents. This study aimed to characterize 181 Staphylococcus spp. Strains—including Staphylococcusaureus and coagulase-negative staphylococci (CoNS) isolated from bovine subclinical mastitis in six Brazilian states—by molecular methods. RT-qPCR was used to verify the expression of genes of the ica operon—mainly responsible for biofilm formation—as well as bap and bhp. Chromosome similarity among the isolates was investigated by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) and multilocus sequence typing (MLST). The icaA gene was detected in 79 (43.6%) isolates, icaB in 24 (13.2%), icaC in 57 (31.4%), and icaD in 127 (70.1%). The bap gene was identified in 66 (36.4%) isolates, while the bhp gene was found in nine (4.9%). RT-qPCR confirmed the expression of the icaA gene in 60 (75.9%) isolates, of icaB in six (25%), of icaC in 26 (45.6%), and of icaD in 80 (63%). Clonal typing of the isolates by PFGE permitted the identification of eight Staphylococcusaureus clusters that simultaneously included ≥3 strains, with a similarity of ≥80%. Regarding the other species studied, three clusters were observed for Staphylococcuschromogenes and four clusters for Staphylococcusepidermidis. Only one cluster each was identified for Staphylococcussaprophyticus and Staphylococcussimulans, while the other species did not form any cluster. With respect to MLST, ST126 and ST1 were the prevalent sequence types in S. aureus, while in S.epidermidis all sequence types were different. These results reveal strains with the same evolutionary origin as other isolates, which might cause infections in humans and animals, suggesting their ability to spread between these species.
Dual-Window Superpixel Data Augmentation for Hyperspectral Image Classification
Authors: Acción Álvaro , Argüello Francisco , Heras Dora B.
Published: December 2020

Deep learning (DL) has been shown to obtain superior results for classification tasks in the field of remote sensing hyperspectral imaging. Superpixel-based techniques can be applied to DL, significantly decreasing training and prediction times, but the results are usually far from satisfactory due to overfitting. Data augmentation techniques alleviate the problem by synthetically generating new samples from an existing dataset in order to improve the generalization capabilities of the classification model. In this paper we propose a novel data augmentation framework in the context of superpixel-based DL called dual-window superpixel (DWS). With DWS, data augmentation is performed over patches centered on the superpixels obtained by the application of simple linear iterative clustering (SLIC) superpixel segmentation. DWS is based on dividing the input patches extracted from the superpixels into two regions and independently applying transformations over them. As a result, four different data augmentation techniques are proposed that can be applied to a superpixel-based CNN classification scheme. An extensive comparison in terms of classification accuracy with other data augmentation techniques from the literature using two datasets is also shown. One of the datasets consists of small hyperspectral small scenes commonly found in the literature. The other consists of large multispectral vegetation scenes of river basins. The experimental results show that the proposed approach increases the overall classification accuracy for the selected datasets. In particular, two of the data augmentation techniques introduced, namely, dual-flip and dual-rotate, obtained the best results.
Gender Differences in Patellar Positions among the Korean Population
Authors: Hong Hyoung-Taek , Koh Yong-Gon , Nam Ji-Hoon , Kim Paul Shinil , Kwak Yoon Hae , Kang Kyoung-Tak
Published: December 2020

The various factors related to the morphometric characteristics of patella make it difficult to produce a standard interpretation of their respective values. A total of 1423 patients participated in this work. The distribution of Insall–Salvati ratios was investigated, and the upper and lower limits of two standard deviations were used to define the patellar alta and baja. An additional method was used, where 2.5% at each end of the distribution was defined as patellar alta and baja. Ratios in the females and males were 0.92 ± 0.14 and 0.87 ± 0.14, respectively. The ratios were considerably higher in females than in males (p < 0.05). Ratios defined for patellar alta and baja were 1.19 and 0.68 for females and 1.13 and 0.58 for males, respectively, when two standard deviations were used. Ratios defined for patellar alta and baja were 1.22 and 0.66 for females and 1.15 and 0.59 for males, respectively, when the extreme 2.5% method was used. No considerable differences in the patellar alta and baja were observed between the two methods. Patellar alta and baja were determined in ratios of more than 1.20 and less than 0.64, respectively. No significant differences in the patellar alta and baja were observed between the genders in the Korean population. Additionally, two standard deviations of the Insall–Salvati index are recommended for defining patellar alta and baja for the Korean population. However, we recommended analyzing the histogram distribution for the population, followed by an analysis of the patellar alta and baja.
Communication Optimization Schemes for Accelerating Distributed Deep Learning Systems
Authors: Lee Jaehwan , Choi Hyeonseong , Jeong Hyeonwoo , Noh Baekhyeon , Shin Ji Sun
Published: December 2020

In a distributed deep learning system, a parameter server and workers must communicate to exchange gradients and parameters, and the communication cost increases as the number of workers increases. This paper presents a communication data optimization scheme to mitigate the decrease in throughput due to communication performance bottlenecks in distributed deep learning. To optimize communication, we propose two methods. The first is a layer dropping scheme to reduce communication data. The layer dropping scheme we propose compares the representative values of each hidden layer with a threshold value. Furthermore, to guarantee the training accuracy, we store the gradients that are not transmitted to the parameter server in the worker’s local cache. When the value of gradients stored in the worker’s local cache is greater than the threshold, the gradients stored in the worker’s local cache are transmitted to the parameter server. The second is an efficient threshold selection method. Our threshold selection method computes the threshold by replacing the gradients with the L1 norm of each hidden layer. Our data optimization scheme reduces the communication time by about 81% and the total training time by about 70% in a 56 Gbit network environment.
Three-Dimensional Reconstruction of Indoor and Outdoor Environments Using a Stereo Catadioptric System
Authors: Córdova-Esparza Diana-Margarita , Terven Juan , Romero-González Julio-Alejandro , Ramírez-Pedraza Alfonso
Published: December 2020

In this work, we present a panoramic 3D stereo reconstruction system composed of two catadioptric cameras. Each one consists of a CCD camera and a parabolic convex mirror that allows the acquisition of catadioptric images. We describe the calibration approach and propose the improvement of existing deep feature matching methods with epipolar constraints. We show that the improved matching algorithm covers more of the scene than classic feature detectors, yielding broader and denser reconstructions for outdoor environments. Our system can also generate accurate measurements in the wild without large amounts of data used in deep learning-based systems. We demonstrate the system’s feasibility and effectiveness as a practical stereo sensor with real experiments in indoor and outdoor environments.
Power Quality Issues and Mitigation for Electric Grids with Wind Power Penetration
Authors: Almohaimeed Sulaiman A. , Abdel-Akher Mamdouh
Published: December 2020

Large penetration of wind energy systems into electric-grids results in many power quality problems. This paper presents a classification of power quality issues, namely harmonics and short-duration voltage variation observed due to the integration of wind power. Additionally, different techniques and technologies to mitigate the effect of such issues are discussed. The paper highlights the current trends and future scopes in the improvement of the interconnection of wind energy conversion systems (WECSs) into the grid. As the voltage variation is the most severe power quality issue, case studies have been presented to investigate this problem using steady-state time-series simulations. The standard IEEE test system namely IEEE 123-node test feeder and IEEE 30-node grid are solved under different operating conditions with wind power penetration. Typical daily load profiles of a substation in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and an intermittent wind power generation profile are used in all case studies. Mitigation of voltage variations due to wind intermittency is achieved using reactive power compensation of the interface inverter. The results show the effectiveness of these approaches to avoid voltage variation and excessive tap setting movements of regulators and keep the voltage within the desired operating conditions.
An Analytical Model for Small Signal Stability Analysis in Unbalanced Electrical Power Systems
Authors: Verdejo Humberto , Moreira Pablo , Kliemann Wolfgang , Becker Cristhian , Delpiano José
Published: December 2020

This paper presents a general model to carry out a small signal stability analysis in electrical power systems (EPSs) that operate in unbalanced conditions. The classic traditional approach is based on a phase representation where it is supposed that the triphasic electric grid does not suffer any variations during its operation. With the presence of unbalances in transmission lines and loads, it is necessary to develop a general model that allows answering the needs and challenges with which modern electric systems must deal. The present work firstly intends to address the three-phase representation of an EPS, including the controllers. The proposed model is applied to a classical test system, a three machine-nine bus system, considering all the dynamic and algebraic variations associated with angular stability analysis. The proposed approach to small signal stability analysis shows results that differ from the classical analysis. The results are backed up with time domain simulations, and therefore, these results could be used in the calculation of the controllers that operate in unbalanced multimachine systems.
Fluorescent Calix[4]arene-Carbazole-Containing Polymers as Sensors for Nitroaromatic Explosives
Authors: Barata Patrícia D. , Prata José V.
Published: December 2020

Two highly fluorescent calix[4]arene-containing phenylene-alt-ethynylene-carbazolylene polymers (Calix-PPE-CBZs) were used in the detection of explosives from the nitroaromatic compounds (NACs) family, in solution and in vapour phases. Both fluorophores exhibit high sensitivity and selectivity towards NACs detection. The quenching efficiencies in solution, assessed through static Stern-Volmer constants (KSV), follow the order picric acid (PA) >> 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT) > 2,4-dinitrotoluene > (2,4-DNT) > nitrobenzene (NB). These correlate very well with the NACs electron affinities, as evaluated from their lowest unoccupied molecular orbitals (LUMOs) energies, indicating a photo-induced electron transfer as the dominant mechanism in fluorescence quenching. Moreover, and most interesting, detection of TNT, 2,4-DNT and NB vapours via thin-films of Calix-PPE-CBZs revealed a remarkably sensitive response to these analytes, comparable to state-of-the-art chemosensors. The study also analyses and compares the current results to previous disclosed data on the detection of NACs by several calix[4]arene-based conjugated polymers and non-polymeric calix[4]arenes-carbazole conjugates, overall highlighting the superior role of calixarene and carbazole structural motifs in NACs’ detection performance. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations performed on polymer models were used to support some of the experimental findings.
Multi-Camera-Based Person Recognition System for Autonomous Tractors
Authors: Jung Taek-Hoon , Cates Benjamin , Choi In-Kyo , Lee Sang-Heon , Choi Jong-Min
Published: December 2020

Recently, the development of autonomous tractors is being carried out as an alternative to solving the labor shortage problem of agricultural workers due to an aging population and low birth rate. As the level of autonomous driving technology advances, tractor manufacturers should develop technology with the safety of their customers as a top priority. In this paper, we suggest a person recognition system for the entire environment of the tractor using a four-channel camera mounted on the tractor and the NVIDIA Jetson Xavier platform. The four-channel frame synchronization and preprocessing were performed, and the methods of recognizing people in the agricultural environment were combined using the YOLO-v3 algorithm. Among the many objects provided by COCO dataset for learning the YOLO-v3 algorithm, only person objects were extracted and the network was learned. A total of 8602 image frames were collected at the LSMtron driving test field to measure the recognition performance of actual autonomous tractors. In the collected images, various postures of agricultural workers (ex. Parts of the body are obscured by crops, squatting, etc.) that may appear in the agricultural environment were required to be expressed. The person object labeling was performed manually for the collected test datasets. For this test dataset, a comparison of the person recognition performance of the standard YOLO-v3 (80 classes detect) and Our YOLO-v3 (only person detect) was performed. As a result, our system showed 88.43% precision and 86.19% recall. This was 0.71% higher precision and 2.3 fps faster than the standard YOLO-v3. This recognition performance was judged to be sufficient considering the working conditions of autonomous tractors.
Impact of Thermal Throttling on Long-Term Visual Inference in a CPU-Based Edge Device
Authors: Benoit-Cattin Théo , Velasco-Montero Delia , Fernández-Berni Jorge
Published: December 2020

Many application scenarios of edge visual inference, e.g., robotics or environmental monitoring, eventually require long periods of continuous operation. In such periods, the processor temperature plays a critical role to keep a prescribed frame rate. Particularly, the heavy computational load of convolutional neural networks (CNNs) may lead to thermal throttling and hence performance degradation in few seconds. In this paper, we report and analyze the long-term performance of 80 different cases resulting from running five CNN models on four software frameworks and two operating systems without and with active cooling. This comprehensive study was conducted on a low-cost edge platform, namely Raspberry Pi 4B (RPi4B), under stable indoor conditions. The results show that hysteresis-based active cooling prevented thermal throttling in all cases, thereby improving the throughput up to approximately 90% versus no cooling. Interestingly, the range of fan usage during active cooling varied from 33% to 65%. Given the impact of the fan on the power consumption of the system as a whole, these results stress the importance of a suitable selection of CNN model and software components. To assess the performance in outdoor applications, we integrated an external temperature sensor with the RPi4B and conducted a set of experiments with no active cooling in a wide interval of ambient temperature, ranging from 22 °C to 36 °C. Variations up to 27.7% were measured with respect to the maximum throughput achieved in that interval. This demonstrates that ambient temperature is a critical parameter in case active cooling cannot be applied.
Correlation between Geochemical and Multispectral Patterns in an Area Severely Contaminated by Former Hg-As Mining
Authors: Boente Carlos , Salgado Lorena , Romero-Macías Emilio , Colina Arturo , López-Sánchez Carlos A. , Gallego José Luis R.
Published: December 2020

In the context of soil pollution, plants suffer stress when exposed to extreme concentrations of potentially toxic elements (PTEs). The alterations to the plants caused by such stressors can be monitored by multispectral imagery in the form of vegetation indices, which can inform pollution management strategies. Here we combined geochemistry and remote sensing techniques to offer a preliminary soil pollution assessment of a vast abandoned spoil heap in the surroundings of La Soterraña mining site (Asturias, Spain). To study the soil distribution of the PTEs over time, twenty-seven soil samples were randomly collected downstream of and around the main spoil heap. Furthermore, the area was covered by an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) carrying a high-resolution multispectral camera with four bands (red, green, red-edge and near infrared). Multielement analysis revealed mercury and arsenic as principal pollutants. Two indices (from a database containing up to 55 indices) offered a proper correlation with the concentration of PTEs. These were: CARI2, presenting a Pearson Coefficient (PC) of 0.89 for concentrations >200 mg/kg of As; and NDVIg, PC of −0.67 for >40 mg/kg of Hg. The combined approach helps prediction of those areas susceptible to greatest pollution, thus reducing the costs of geochemical campaigns.
Passive Chatter Suppression of Thin-Walled Parts by Means of High-Damping Lattice Structures Obtained from Selective Laser Melting
Authors: Scalzo Federico , Totis Giovanni , Vaglio Emanuele , Sortino Marco
Published: December 2020

Chatter vibrations arising during machining operations are detrimental for cutting process performance, since they may cause poor surface quality of the machined part and severe damages to machine tool elements. Passive approaches for chatter suppression are based on the integration of special mechanical components with high-damping properties within the machining system. They represent a good solution to this problem thanks to their intrinsic simplicity. Recently, the application of metallic lattice structures inside 3D printed parts obtained from the Selective Laser Melting technology have proven superior damping properties with respect to the same full density material. Here, this idea is further explored by considering the novel configuration where the unmelted powder grains are retained inside the lattice structure by an external shell, acting as a multiplicity of microscopic mechanical dampers. This concept is applied for passive chatter suppression of thin-walled parts that are of particular relevance for industry. Preliminary experimental investigation was first carried out on simple beam-like specimens, and then on thin-walled benchmarks that were identified through modal analysis and tested under real cutting conditions. The main conclusion is that the novel proposed configuration (lattice plus unmelted powder) has higher damping properties with respect to the full density and lattice alternatives. Accordingly, it may be successfully applied for passive chatter suppression in real machining operations.
Equivocal PI-RADS Three Lesions on Prostate Magnetic Resonance Imaging: Risk Stratification Strategies to Avoid MRI-Targeted Biopsies
Authors: Osses Daniël F. , Arsov Christian , Schimmöller Lars , Schoots Ivo G. , van Leenders Geert J.L.H. , Esposito Irene , Remmers Sebastiaan , Albers Peter , Roobol Monique J.
Published: December 2020

We aimed to investigate the relation between largest lesion diameter, prostate-specific antigen density (PSA-D), age, and the detection of clinically significant prostate cancer (csPCa) using first-time targeted biopsy (TBx) in men with Prostate Imaging—Reporting and Data System (PI-RADS) 3 index lesions. A total of 292 men (2013–2019) from two referral centers were included. A multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed. The discrimination and clinical utility of the built model was assessed by the area under the receiver operation curve (AUC) and decision curve analysis, respectively. A higher PSA-D and higher age were significantly related to a higher risk of detecting csPCa, while the largest index lesion diameter was not. The discrimination of the model was 0.80 (95% CI 0.73–0.87). When compared to a biopsy-all strategy, decision curve analysis showed a higher net benefit at threshold probabilities of ≥2%. Accepting a missing ≤5% of csPCa diagnoses, a risk-based approach would result in 34% of TBx sessions and 23% of low-risk PCa diagnoses being avoided. In men with PI-RADS 3 index lesions scheduled for first-time TBx, the balance between the number of TBx sessions, the detection of low-risk PCa, and the detection of csPCa does not warrant a biopsy-all strategy. To minimize the risk of missing the diagnosis of csPCa but acknowledging the need of avoiding unnecessary TBx sessions and overdiagnosis, a risk-based approach is advisable.
Molecular Identification and Phylogenetic Placement of Rosa arabica Crép. (Rosaceae), a Critically Endangered Plant Species
Authors: EL-Banhawy Ahmed , Acedo Carmen , Qari Sameer , Elkordy Ahmed
Published: December 2020

The Egyptian narrowly endemic and critically endangered plant species Rosa arabica Crép. was studied employing a taxonomic and molecular approach. Morphological investigations, distance analysis, and phylogenetic reconstruction revealed that R. arabica is a distinct species with great affinity to R. canina and differentiated from R. rubiginosa. Molecular identification based on the sequences of multiple markers single or in combination ITS, matK, rbcL, and trnL-F succeeded in identifying R. arabica at genus and species levels. We evaluated the potential of each marker and a combination of the nuclear ITS -Internal Transcribed Spacer- with one of the plastid markers, matK, rbcL, or trnL-F, to accurately identify Rosa species. All of them were successful in identifying R. arabica. Classification based on DNA sequences shows that R. arabica is placed within section Caninae in a clade comprising R. canina and R. rubiginosa. Moreover, R. arabica is closely related to other European Rosa species. In conclusion, our results indicate that the four DNA markers can provide species resolution in the context of the genus Rosa and relatives, aiming to characterize morphology and genetic diversity in the ecological and economically important genus Rosa.
Quantifying Mineral-Ligand Structural Similarities: Bridging the Geological World of Minerals with the Biological World of Enzymes
Authors: Zhao Daniel , Bartlett Stuart , Yung Yuk L.
Published: December 2020

Metal compounds abundant on Early Earth are thought to play an important role in the origins of life. Certain iron-sulfur minerals for example, are proposed to have served as primitive metalloenzyme cofactors due to their ability to catalyze organic synthesis processes and facilitate electron transfer reactions. An inherent difficulty with studying the catalytic potential of many metal compounds is the wide range of data and parameters to consider when searching for individual minerals and ligands of interest. Detecting mineral-ligand pairs that are structurally analogous enables more relevant selections of data to study, since structural affinity is a key indicator of comparable catalytic function. However, current structure-oriented approaches tend to be subjective and localized, and do not quantify observations or compare them with other potential targets. Here, we present a mathematical approach that compares structural similarities between various minerals and ligands using molecular similarity metrics. We use an iterative substructure search in the crystal lattice, paired with benchmark structural similarity methods. This structural comparison may be considered as a first stage in a more advanced analysis tool that will include a range of chemical and physical factors when computing mineral-ligand similarity. This approach will seek relationships between the mineral and enzyme worlds, with applications to the origins of life, ecology, catalysis, and astrobiology.
Approximate Efficient Solutions of the Vector Optimization Problem on Hadamard Manifolds via Vector Variational Inequalities
Authors: Ruiz-Garzón Gabriel , Osuna-Gómez Rafaela , Rufián-Lizana Antonio , Hernández-Jiménez Beatriz
Published: December 2020

This article has two objectives. Firstly, we use the vector variational-like inequalities problems to achieve local approximate (weakly) efficient solutions of the vector optimization problem within the novel field of the Hadamard manifolds. Previously, we introduced the concepts of generalized approximate geodesic convex functions and illustrated them with examples. We see the minimum requirements under which critical points, solutions of Stampacchia, and Minty weak variational-like inequalities and local approximate weakly efficient solutions can be identified, extending previous results from the literature for linear Euclidean spaces. Secondly, we show an economical application, again using solutions of the variational problems to identify Stackelberg equilibrium points on Hadamard manifolds and under geodesic convexity assumptions.
Selection of Dedicated As-Cast Microstructures in Zn-Al-Cu Alloys for Bearing Applications Supported by Phase-Field Simulations
Authors: Gimmler Steffen , Apel Markus , Bührig-Polaczek Andreas
Published: December 2020

Solidification and phase formation of Zn-rich Zn-Al-Cu alloys with different Al and Cu contents were investigated. The investigations comprise alloy compositions with either hcp η, fcc α or hcp ε as the primary phase, as well as a composition close to the ternary eutectic point. Test samples were produced in a mold casting process and their microstructures were investigated by scanning electron microscopy. Experimental microstructures are compared with the results from spatially resolved microstructure simulations using a phase-field model. In particular, the dependency between the aluminum and copper contents and the phase fractions of the η, α and ε phases were analyzed. In addition, hardness tests for the samples prove a direct correlation between the α- and ε-phase fractions with the macroscopic hardness of the alloys. A simple model, based on the phase fractions and the properties of the single phases, is suggested for the computation of hardness from the simulation results in order to select appropriate alloy compositions for bearing applications.
Imidocarb Dipropionate Lacks Efficacy against Theileria haneyi and Fails to Consistently Clear Theileria equi in Horses Co-Infected with T. haneyi
Authors: Sears Kelly , Knowles Donald , Dinkel Kelcey , Mshelia Philip W. , Onzere Cynthia , Silva Marta , Fry Lindsay
Published: December 2020

Control of Theileria equi, the primary cause of equine theileriosis, is largely reliant on acaracide use and chemosterilization with imidocarb dipropionate (ID). However, it is currently unknown if ID is effective against Theileria haneyi, the recently identified second causative agent of equine theileriosis, or if the drug maintains effectiveness against T. equi in the presence of T. haneyi co-infection. The purpose of this study was to address these questions using ID treatment of the following three groups of horses: (1) five T. haneyi infected horses; (2) three T. haneyi-T. equi infected horses; and (3) three T. equi-T. haneyi infected horses. Clearance was first evaluated using nPCR for each Theileria sp. on peripheral blood samples. ID failed to clear T. haneyi in all three groups of horses, and failed to clear T. equi in two of three horses in group two. For definitive confirmation of infection status, horses in groups two and three underwent splenectomy post-treatment. The T. equi-nPCR-positive horses in group two developed severe clinical signs and were euthanized. Remaining horses exhibited moderate signs consistent with T. haneyi. Our results demonstrate that ID therapy lacks efficacy against T. haneyi, and T. haneyi-T. equi co-infection may interfere with ID clearance of T. equi.
A Baseline Study of the Event-Shape and Multiplicity Dependence of Chemical Freeze-Out Parameters in Proton-Proton Collisions at \( {\sqrt{s}} \) = 13 TeV Using PYTHIA8
Authors: Rath Rutuparna , Khuntia Arvind , Tripathy Sushanta , Sahoo Raghunath
Published: December 2020

The event-shape and multiplicity dependence of the chemical freeze-out temperature (Tch), freeze-out radius (R), and strangeness saturation factor (γs) are obtained by studying the particle yields from the PYTHIA8 Monte Carlo event generator in proton-proton (pp) collisions at the centre-of-mass s = 13 TeV. Spherocity is one of the transverse event-shape techniques to distinguish jetty and isotropic events in high-energy collisions and helps in looking into various observables in a more differential manner. In this study, spherocity classes are divided into three categories, namely (i) spherocity integrated, (ii) isotropic, and (iii) jetty. The chemical freeze-out parameters are extracted using a statistical thermal model as a function of the spherocity class and charged particle multiplicity in the canonical, strangeness canonical, and grand canonical ensembles. A clear observation of the multiplicity and spherocity class dependence of Tch, R, and γs is observed. A final state multiplicity, Nch≥ 30 in the forward multiplicity acceptance of the ALICE detector appears to be a thermodynamic limit, where the freeze-out parameters become almost independent of the ensembles. This study plays an important role in understanding the particle production mechanism in high-multiplicity pp collisions at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) energies in view of a finite hadronic phase lifetime in small systems.
Mathematical Model of the Role of Asymptomatic Infection in Outbreaks of Some Emerging Pathogens
Authors: Siewe Nourridine , Greening Bradford , Fefferman Nina H.
Published: December 2020

Preparation for outbreaks of emerging infectious diseases is often predicated on beliefs that we will be able to understand the epidemiological nature of an outbreak early into its inception. However, since many rare emerging diseases exhibit different epidemiological behaviors from outbreak to outbreak, early and accurate estimation of the epidemiological situation may not be straightforward in all cases. Previous studies have proposed considering the role of active asymptomatic infections co-emerging and co-circulating as part of the process of emergence of a novel pathogen. Thus far, consideration of the role of asymptomatic infections in emerging disease dynamics have usually avoided considering some important sets of influences. In this paper, we present and analyze a mathematical model to explore the hypothetical scenario that some (re)emerging diseases may actually be able to maintain stable, endemic circulation successfully in an entirely asymptomatic state. We argue that an understanding of this potential mechanism for diversity in observed epidemiological dynamics may be of considerable importance in understanding and preparing for outbreaks of novel and/or emerging diseases.
Considerações sobre a moradia em um conjunto habitacional popular em Campos dos Goytacazes/RJ
Authors: Da Cruz Ferreira Diogo
Published: December 2020

A partir de uma pesquisa bibliográfica e da observação realizada no conjunto habitacional Novo Jockey, que foi edificado no quadro do Programa Morar Feliz (PMF), executado pelo município de Campos dos Goytacazes, situado na região Norte Fluminense do estado do Rio de Janeiro, analisaremos brevemente a trajetória da habitação popular da cidade e as consequências da implementação de uma política habitacional no cotidiano dos moradores removidos. Para isso, o artigo foi organizado em duas seções, de um lado, reconstituímos a trajetória do problema moradia popular desta cidade, focalizando em como este assunto foi inserido na agenda pública nos anos 2000; de outro, descrevemos desde a ocupação do empreendimento habitacional às formas pelas quais os moradores apropriaram-se do espaço residencial e as reconfigurações dos modos de vidas. Observa-se que a experiência de moradia em um novo espaço residencial produzido pelo Estado resultou em uma ação coletiva que apontam para a reconstrução das habitabilidades das camadas populares na área estudada.
EXPRESSÃO DA MEMÓRIA E DELÍRIO EM “HOTEL PARÍS”, DE MARÍA ISABEL ABAD LONDOÑO
Authors: Gonçalves Ana Beatriz Rodrigues , Moura Adriano Carlos , Freitas Anelise de
Published: December 2020

Este artigo tem como objetivo analisar o primeiro romance da colombiana María Isabel Abad Londoño à luz da expressão da memória e delírio explícitos na obra, além de avaliar os aspectos gendrados e políticos presentes em seu texto. A abordagem é interdisciplinar, amparando-se teoricamente na Crítica e Teoria Literária, na Sociologia e na Filosofia.
“MULHER”: O MAPA DE SEMELHANÇAS E DIFERENÇAS EM INSUBMISSAS LÁGRIMAS DE MULHERES
Authors: Dias Rafaela Kelsen , LaGuardia Adelaine
Published: December 2020

Este estudo debruça-se sobre a conceituação de “mulher” estabelecida nos contos da antologia Insubmissas lágrimas de mulheres (2011), de Conceição Evaristo. Pautando-se em postulados do debate feminista contemporâneo, entende-se as narrativas em questão como amálgama estratégico dos conceitos de diferença e identidade. Ao vislumbrar a incorporação de inúmeros eixos de subalternidade na antologia, investiga-se a forma com que a escrita evaristiana delineia a ideia de femininos coadunados, apesar de plurais.
REPRESENTAR OU RE(A)PRESENTAR : AS REPRESENTAÇÕES IDENTITÁRIAS SOB AS PERSPECTIVAS FEMINISTA E PÓS-COLONIAL
Authors: Pinto Gabriela de Souza , Nogueira Nícea Helena de Almeida
Published: December 2020

Este artigo tem como objetivo discutir questões pertinentes à representação identitária literária de grupos minoritários, especialmente mulheres e sujeitos colonizados ou provenientes de contextos pós-coloniais. Além disso, objetiva-se também constatar e elucidar a significativa relação entre a forma como essa representação acontece e as agendas de empoderamento e de criação de novas vozes e subjetividades, em voga nas críticas feminista e pós-colonial.
CONSTRUÇÕES IDENTITÁRIAS E SUAS CONFLUÊNCIAS NO INGLÊS AFRO-AMERICANO E NO PORTUGUÊS AFRO-BRASILEIRO: ALICE WALKER E CAROLINA MARIA DE JESUS
Authors: Alice Maria de Lemos Gramosa  , Ana Lígia Leite e Aguiar
Published: December 2020

O artigo  tem como objetivo fazer um levantamento das representações linguísticas presentes nos livros A cor púrpura (1982), de Alice Walker, e Quarto de despejo (1960), de Carolina de Jesus, que denotam a relação entre língua e identidade, rasurando a lógica canônica, de matriz eurocêntrica, ao inscrever uma escrita expressiva do inglês afro-americano e do português afro-brasileiro na cena dos estudos literários.
VOZES DE OUTRORA: A POESIA DE AUTORIA FEMININA NO BRASIL DO ENTRESSÉCULO (XIX/XX)
Authors: Silva Marcelo Medeiros da , Vilela Josivânia da Cruz
Published: December 2020

A partir da análise de alguns poemas produzidos por mulheres do século XIX, o artigo propõe-se a refletir acerca da poesia brasileira de autoria feminina no Brasil, evidenciando não só os temas de que trataram algumas poetisas, em especial, Gilka Machado, Pórcia C. Melo, Francisca Júlia, Narcisa Amália, Júlia Cortines, Maria Amélia Queiroz, mas, sobretudo, como elas dialogaram ou colidiram com os preceitos das estéticas literárias oitocentistas.