bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Pilots’ Visual Scanning Behaviors During an Instrument Landing System Approach
Authors: Lu Yanyu , Zheng Yiyuan , Wang Zhen , Fu Shan
Published: May 2020

BACKGROUND: Since eye movement can provide a reliable index of the attention allocation, which can assist in understanding pilots’ cognitive state, this study investigated the effect of pilots’ experience and the autopilot mode on their attention allocation on the
Primary Flight Display (PFD) and Multi-Function Display (MFD) during an approach task.METHODS: There were 16 pilots who were classified into two levels of aviation expertise depending on the flight hours, and required to fly an Instrument Landing System approach. Their visual scanning
behaviors were recorded through an eye tracker and analyzed based on fixation number and dwell time.RESULTS: The results revealed that the pilot experience level, instrument panel and autopilot mode all had significant impact on the fixation time ratio and dwell time. The pilots
fixated most often on the PFD and had shorter dwell time. Furthermore, they had a lower fixation number and shorter dwell time on the PFD and MFD when the autopilot was off that they should allocate visual resources to the others (e.g., out-of-the-window) and obtain more information to maintain
overall situation awareness under higher time pressure. Compared to pilots with more expertise, pilots with less expertise had an increased fixation number and decreased dwell time on the airspeed after turning off the autopilot.DISCUSSION: The present study indicated that the pilots
had different visual scanning modes according to the flight mode and their experience. We expect that pilots’ visual scanning behaviors during tasks will help the training and the design of the human-machine interaction.Lu Y, Zheng Y, Wang Z, Fu S. Pilots’ visual scanning
behaviors during an instrument landing system approach. Aerosp Med Hum Perform. 2020; 91(6):511–517.
In-Flight UV-A Exposure of Commercial Airline Pilots
Authors: Baczynska Katarzyna A. , Brown Simon , Chorley Adrian C. , O’Hagan John B. , Khazova Marina , Lyachev Andrey , Wittlich Marc
Published: May 2020

INTRODUCTION: Understanding UV exposure is essential for the assessment of its contribution to the occupational risk of pilots developing ocular and skin pathologies. The objective of this observational study was to measure the UV exposure of pilots flying between the United
Kingdom and a range of destinations at three different seasons.METHODS: The in-flight UV exposure of pilots was measured on 322 Monarch Airlines short-haul flights on the Airbus A321-231 and Airbus A320-214 to 31 destinations, mostly in Europe, from 4 UK airports in September 2016–August
2017. The erythema effective and UV-A doses were compared with the ICNIRP guidance and typical recreational weekend exposure of UK office workers.RESULTS: The erythema effective radiant doses did not exceed 0.1 SED. For most of the flights, the UV-A exposure was also low. On 27
single sector flights, UV-A exposure could have exceeded the ICNIRP guidance if eye protection was not used.DISCUSSION: The UV exposure in a cockpit is mostly governed by the presence of direct sunlight and the duration of a flight. The average monthly exposures were low and significantly
below weekend recreational exposures of UK office workers over a similar period. To assess the contribution of occupational UV exposure to the risk of developing sun-related ocular and cutaneous pathologies, it is important to consider the accumulative flight time, destinations, and UV attenuation
of aircraft windshields. Additionally, leisure and recreational outdoor time needs to be considered before meaningful overall risk analysis can be undertaken.Baczynska KA, Brown S, Chorley AC, O’Hagan JB, Khazova M, Lyachev A, Wittlich M. In-flight UV-A exposure of commercial
airline pilots. Aerosp Med Hum Perform. 2020; 91(6):501–510.
Development of student activities sheet based on apos theory to understand the concept of Riemann sum
Authors: Saftari Maya , Darmawijoyo Darmawijoyo , Hartono Yusuf
Published: May 2020

Metode penelitian yang digunakan adalah design research tipe development study. Penelitian ini mengembangkan bahan ajar berupa lembar aktivitas mahasiswa pokok bahasan jumlah Riemann berdasarkan teori APOS yang valid, praktis, dan memiliki efek potensial dalam pembelajaran matematika. Penelitian memanfaatkan software Microsoft Excel. Pengembangan bahan ajar melalui tahapan yaitu preliminary study dan formative study. Tahap preliminary meliputi persiapan dan desain, sedangkan tahap formative study meliputi Self Evaluation, Expert Reviews, One to One, Small Group dan Field Test. Kevalidan bahan ajar dinyatakan oleh dua orang pakar (expert review), dua teman sejawat dan tiga mahasiswa (one-to-one). Kepraktisan bahan ajar terlihat dari hasil kegiatan small group. Berdasarkan hasil uji lapangan (field test), diperoleh bahwa penggunaan bahan ajar LAM berdasarkan teori APOS yang dikembangkan memiliki efek potensial terhadap kemampuan pemahaman konsep matematika khususnya konsep jumlah Riemann. Dari hasil uji coba, persentase pemahaman konsep di atas 61,00 %. Ini menggambarkan semua indikator pemahaman konsep matematika mahasiswa dikatakan baik.
Seeds of n-GM Soybean Varieties Cultivated in Poland and Their Processing Products as High-Protein Feeds in Cattle Nutrition
Authors: Niwińska Barbara , Witaszek Kamil , Niedbała Gniewko , Pilarski Krzysztof
Published: May 2020

Soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr) is a source of high-quality edible protein and oil for humans, but also a high-quality feed in livestock feeding. In Poland, imported genetically modified soybean meal covers 65%, and leguminous seeds that are cultivated locally cover 11% of the protein requirement in livestock nutrition. The implementation of the Polish national program and the European strategy supporting the growth of the leguminous area resulted in adaptation to local agro-climatic conditions of 36 varieties of non-genetically modified soybean (n-GM), which achieved an average seed yield of about 3.7 t·ha−1 with a content of about 38% protein and 23% fat in dry matter. The 27-fold increase in n-GM soybean cultivation area observed over the past eight years resulted in the opportunities in the use of this high-protein feed in feeding cattle, the section providing 26% of gross agricultural production. In cattle feeding, soybean seeds are utilized as whole, cracked, roasted, and extruded full-fat seed; after oil pressing as cold press cakes and extruded oil cakes; and moreover, late-ripening soybean plants with late maturity are used as fodder plants. The presented review is based on literature and analysis of data on the use of each of these forms in cattle nutrition, including the limitation of their use as components of feed rations, which is caused by the high rate of nitrogen release in the rumen and the effects of fat and saponin on microbial fermentation in the rumen due to the role of endogenous seminal enzymes.
A Phenotypic Search on Graft Compatibility in Grapevine
Authors: Tedesco Sara , Pina Ana , Fevereiro Pedro , Kragler Friedrich
Published: May 2020

Grafting is the most used propagation method in viticulture and is the unique control strategy against Phylloxera. Nevertheless, its practice remains limited mainly due to inconsistent graft success and difficulties in predicting graft compatibility responses of proposed scion–rootstock combinations, slowing down the selection of elite rootstocks. Aiming to identify optimal phenotypic parameters related to graft (in)compatibility, we used four clones of two grapevine cultivars that show different compatibility behavior when grafted onto the same rootstock. Several physiological parameters, internal anatomy of the graft union, chlorophyll fluorescence, and pigment contents of homo- and heterografts were monitored in a nursery-grafting context. The measurements highlighted enhanced performance of the heterografts due to rooting difficulties of Vitis vinifera homografts. This suggests that in viticulture, homografts should only be used as compatibility controls regarding qualitative attributes. By observing the internal anatomy of the union, we found that grapevines might require longer times for graft healing than anticipated. While Affinity Coefficients were not informative to assess incompatibility, leaf chlorophyll concentration analysis proved to be a more sensitive indicator of stress than the analysis of chlorophyll fluorescence. Overall, we conclude that graft take correlated best with callus formation at the graft junction three weeks after grafting.
Grafting cv. Grechetto Gentile Vines to New M4 Rootstock Improves Leaf Gas Exchange and Water Status as Compared to Commercial 1103P Rootstock
Authors: Frioni Tommaso , Biagioni Arianna , Squeri Cecilia , Tombesi Sergio , Gatti Matteo , Poni Stefano
Published: May 2020

M4 is a relatively new rootstock that was selected for increased resilience of vineyards across hot regions where meteorological drought is often coupled to water scarcity. However, M4 has thus far been tested only against water-stress sensitive rootstocks. Against this backdrop, the aim of the present work is to examine the water status and gas exchange performances of vines grafted to M4 in comparison to those of vines grafted to a commercial stock that is drought-tolerant, 1103 Paulsen (1103P), under a progressive water deficit followed by re-watering. This study was undertaken on Grechetto Gentile, a cultivar that is renowned for its rather conservative water use (near-isohydric behavior). While fifty percent of both grafts were fully irrigated (WW), the remaining underwent progressive water stress by means of suspending irrigation (WS). Soil and leaf water status, as well as leaf gas exchanges, along with chlorophyll fluorescence, were followed daily from 1 day pre-stress (DOY 176) until re-watering (DOY 184). Final leaf area per vine, divided in main and lateral contribution, was also assessed. While 1103P grafted vines manifested higher water use under WW conditions, progressive stress evidenced a faster water depletion by 1103P, which also maintained slightly more negative midday leaf water potential (Ψleaf) as compared to M4 grafted plants. Daily gas exchange readings, as well as diurnal assessment performed at the peak of stress (DOY 183), also showed increased leaf assimilation rates (A) and water use efficiency (WUE) in vines grafted on M4, which were also less susceptible to photosynthetic downregulation. Dynamic of stomatal closure targeted at 90% reduction of leaf stomatal conductance showed a similar behavior among rootstocks since the above threshold was reached by both at Ψleaf of about −1.11 MPa. The same fractional reduction in leaf A was reached by vines grafted on M4 at a Ψleaf of −1.28 MPa vs. −1.10 MPa measured in 1103P, meaning that using M4 as a rootstock will postpone full stomatal closure. While mechanisms involved in improved CO2 uptake in M4-grafted vines under moderate-to-severe stress are still unclear, our data support the hypothesis that M4 might outscore the performance of a commercial drought-tolerant genotype (1103P) and can be profitably used as a tool to improve the resilience of vines to summer drought.
Subalpine Fir (Abies laciocarpa) and Norway Spruce (Picea abies) Seedlings Show Different Growth Responses to Blue Light
Authors: Navidad Hazel , Fløistad Inger Sundheim , Olsen Jorunn E. , Torre Sissel
Published: May 2020

Blue light (BL) affects different growth parameters, but information about the physiological effects of BL on conifer seedlings is limited. In northern areas, conifer seedlings are commonly produced in heated nursery greenhouses. Compared with Norway spruce, subalpine fir seedlings commonly show poor growth in nurseries due to early growth cessation. This study aimed to examine the effect of the BL proportion on the growth and development of such conifer seedlings in growth chambers, using similar photosynthetic active radiation, with 5% or 30% BL (400–500 nm) from high pressure sodium (HPS) lamps (300 μmol m−2 s−1) or a combination of HPS (225 μmol m−2 s−1) and BL-emitting diodes (75 μmol m−2 s−1), respectively. Additional BL increased transpiration and improved the growth of the Norway spruce seedlings, which developed thicker stems, more branches, and a higher dry matter (DM) of roots and needles, with an increased DM percentage in the roots compared with the shoots. In contrast, under additional BL, subalpine fir showed reduced transpiration and an increased terminal bud formation and lower DM in the stems and needles but no change in the DM distribution. Since these conifers respond differently to BL, the proportion of BL during the day should be considered when designing light spectra for tree seedling production.
Competition Strategies of Metritic and Healthy Transition Cows
Authors: Foris Borbala , von Keyserlingk Marina A. G. , Weary Daniel M.
Published: May 2020

Our study aimed to characterize social competition strategies in transition cows, and determine how these varied with health status. We retrospectively followed 52 cows during 3 periods (PRE: d −6 to −1 prepartum, POST1: d 1 to 3 postpartum, POST2: d 4 to 6 postpartum). Cows diagnosed with metritis on d 6 postpartum (n = 26) were match paired with healthy cows (n = 26). Measures of agonistic behavior (i.e., replacements at the feeder) and feeding synchrony were determined by an algorithm based on electronic feed bin data, and used to calculate competition strategies via principal component analysis. We found consistent strategies, defined by two components (asynchrony and competitiveness; explaining 82% of the total variance). We observed no differences in strategies when comparing healthy and metritic cows, but metritic cows tended to change their strategies more between PRE and POST1, and between POST1 and POST2, indicating that strategies change in association with parturition and metritis. We conclude that cows show individual variation in competition strategies, and that automated measures of strategy change may help in detecting metritis.
Phytochemical Profile of Capsicum annuum L. cv Senise, Incorporation into Liposomes, and Evaluation of Cellular Antioxidant Activity
Authors: Sinisgalli Chiara , Faraone Immacolata , Vassallo Antonio , Caddeo Carla , Bisaccia Faustino , Armentano Maria Francesca , Milella Luigi , Ostuni Angela
Published: May 2020

Overproduction of oxidants in the human body is responsible for oxidative stress, which is associated with several diseases. High intake of vegetables and fruits can reduce the risk of chronic diseases, as they are sources of bioactive compounds capable of contrasting the free radical effects involved in cancer, obesity, diabetes, and neurodegenerative and cardiovascular diseases. Capsicum annuum L. cv Senise is a sweet pepper that is grown in the Basilicata region (Italy). It is an important source of polyphenols, carotenoids, and capsinoids and can play a key role in human health. In this study, an ethanol extract was obtained from C. annuum dried peppers and the analysis of the phytochemical composition was performed by LC-ESI/LTQ Orbitrap/MS. The extract was incorporated into liposomes, which showed small size (~80 nm), good homogeneity, negative surface charge, and good stability in storage. The biological activity of the extract was evaluated in the human hepatoma (HepG2) cell line, used as model cells. The extract showed no cytotoxic activity and reduced the intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) level in stressed cells. The antioxidant activity was further improved when the extract was loaded into liposomes. Moreover, the extract promoted the expression of endogenous antioxidants, such as catalase, superoxide dismutase, and glutathione peroxidase through the Nrf-2 pathway evaluated by RT-PCR.
Rapid Restoration Techniques for Software-Defined Networks
Authors: Malik Ali , de Fréin Ruairí , Aziz Benjamin
Published: May 2020

There is increasing demand in modern day business applications for communication networks to be robust and reliable due to the complexity and critical nature of such applications. As such, data delivery is expected to be reliable and secure even in the harshest of environments. Software-Defined Networking (SDN) is gaining traction as a promising approach for designing network architectures which are robust and flexible. One reason for this is that separating the data plane from the control plane, increases the controller’s ability to configure the network rapidly. When network failure events occur, the network manager may trade-off the optimality of the achieved network reconfiguration with the responsivenss of the reconfiguration process. Responsiveness may be favoured when the network resources are under stress and the failure rate is high. We contribute SDN recovery methods that leverage information about the structure of the network to expedite network restoration when a link failure occurs. They operate by detecting community-like structures in the network topology and then they find alternative paths which have low operation and installation costs using this information. Extensive simulations are conducted to evaluate the proposed SDN recovery methods using open-source simulation tools. They provide evidence that the proposed approaches lead to performance gains when an alternative path is required among a set of candidate paths.
An Adaptive Target Tracking Algorithm Based on EKF for AUV with Unknown Non-Gaussian Process Noise
Authors: Dong Lingyan , Xu Hongli , Feng Xisheng , Han Xiaojun , Yu Chuang
Published: May 2020

An adaptive target tracking method based on extended Kalman filter (TT-EKF) is proposed to simultaneously estimate the state of an Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV) and an mobile recovery system (MRS) with unknown non-Gaussian process noise in homing process. In the application scenario of this article, the process noise includes the measurement noise of AUV heading and forward speed and the estimation error of MRS heading and forward speed. The accuracy of process noise covariance matrix (PNCM) can affect the state estimation performance of the TT-EKF. The variational Bayesian based algorithm is applied to estimate the process noise statistics. We use a Gaussian mixture distribution to model the non-Gaussian noisy forward speed of AUV and MRS. We use a von-Mises distribution to model the noisy heading of AUV and MRS. The variational Bayesian algorithm is applied to estimate the parameters of these distributions, and then the PNCM can be calculated. The prediction error of TT-EKF is online compensated by using a multilayer neural network, and the neural network is online trained during the target tracking process. Matlab simulation and experimental data analysis results verify the effectiveness of the proposed method.
Soot Emission Reduction in a Biogas-DME Hybrid Dual-Fuel Engine
Authors: Ga Bui Van , Thai Pham Quoc
Published: May 2020

Combustion characteristics and harmful emissions with emphasized soot emission in the new concept of a biogas-dimethyl ether (DME) hybrid dual-fuel engine were analyzed. The effects of DME content, biogas compositions and diesel injection were examined. At any biogas composition, a rise in DME content in the fuel mixture leads to an increase in indicative engine cycle work (Wi) and NOx but a decrease in CO and soot volume fraction (fv). The effects of DME on Wi and soot volume fraction are more significant for poor biogas than for rich biogas, contrary to its effect tendency on CO and NOx concentrations. With a given operating condition and DME content, the biogas compositions slightly affect the performance and emission of a biogas-DME hybrid dual-fuel engine. At a fixed global equivalence ratio, the reduction of diesel injection leads to an increase in Wi and NOx concentration but a decrease in CO and soot volume fraction. The lower the diesel injection is, the more significant the effects of DME content on the combustion properties and pollutant emissions are. At a given operating condition and the same global equivalence ratio, the biogas-DME PCCI combustion mode is more advantageous than biogas-DME dual-fuel combustion mode. The substitution of diesel pilot ignition by DME pilot ignition in a biogas-DME hybrid dual engine is the optimal solution for both performance improvement and pollution emissions reduction.
Torque Range, a New Parameter to Evaluate New and Used Instrument Safety
Authors: Di Nardo Dario , Seracchiani Marco , Mazzoni Alessandro , Del Giudice Andrea , Gambarini Gianluca , Testarelli Luca
Published: May 2020

The aim of the present study is to evaluate operative torque, torque at failure and the difference between these two values—the “torque range”—of two different NiTi files. We also sought to evaluate and compare these parameters for new and used files. Forty S-One 20.06 and forty M-Two 20.06 were tested, divided in four equal groups (n = 10) for each brand. Ten instruments from each brand performed three root canal treatments each on standardized extracted single-rooted teeth. Afterwards, each group was subjected to the following two tests: operative torque and torsional resistance. Mean values for all the tested groups were calculated. The results for new instruments showed that S-One developed significantly higher operative torque, but higher torsional resistance. The results for used instruments showed that the S-One 20.06 developed less operative torque and higher mean torsional resistance value compared to the M-Two. Moreover, the percentage reduction of both values was significantly higher for M-Two. The results of the present study showed a safer torsional behavior of the S-One. These results could be related to the heat treatment and the manufacturing process.
Extended SSH Model in Non-Hermitian Waveguides with Alternating Real and Imaginary Couplings
Authors: Fu Ziwei , Fu Nianzu , Zhang Huaiyuan , Wang Zhe , Zhao Dong , Ke Shaolin
Published: May 2020

We studied the topological properties of an extended Su–Schrieffer–Heeger (SSH) model composed of a binary waveguide array with alternating real and imaginary couplings. The topological invariant of the periodic structures remained quantized with chiral symmetry even though the system was non-Hermitian. The numerical results indicated that phase transition arose when the absolute values of the two couplings were equal. The system supported a topological zero mode at the boundary of nontrivial structures when chiral symmetry was preserved. By adding onsite gain and loss to break chiral symmetry, the topological modes dominated in all supermodes with maximum absolute value of imaginary energy. This study enriches research on the SSH model in non-Hermitian systems and may find applications in optical routers and switches.
Free or Protein-Bound Microcystin Accumulation by Freshwater Bivalves as a Tool to Evaluate Water Contamination by Microcystin-Producing Cyanobacteria?
Authors: Lepoutre Alexandra , Grilot Théo , Jean Sarah , Geffard Alain , Lance Emilie
Published: May 2020

Cyanobacterial proliferations display rapid spatiotemporal variations that can interfere in the assessment of water contamination levels by microcystins (MC), and make necessary the use of integrative tools. This study evaluates the pertinence of bivalves Anodonta anatina and Dreissena polymorpha as bioindicators of the presence of MC-producing cyanobacteria in water. Ingested MC accumulates into two fractions in bivalve tissues—the cellular free and the protein-bound fractions—both forming the total MC fraction. Mussels were exposed to the cyanobacteria Planktothrix agardhii at densities producing an equivalent of 1, 10 and 100 µg/L of intracellular MC, with the evaluation of: (i) cyanobacterial cells and MC daily intake by mussels, (ii) free and total MC kinetics in whole individuals (using all the tissues) or only in the digestive gland, during and after the exposure, (iii) bioaccumulation factors. For each species, the kinetics of the two accumulation fractions were compared to evaluate which one best reflect levels and dynamics of MC-producing cyanobacteria in water. Results showed that the dynamic of free MC in bivalve tissues better highlight the dynamic of intracellular MC in water. Using whole D. polymorpha may be appropriate to reveal and discriminate the water contamination levels above densities of cyanobacteria producing 1 µg MC/L. Digestive glands of A. anatina appeared more sensitive to reveal low environmental concentration, but without direct correlation with levels of water contamination. Further experimentations in situ are necessary to confirm those results in order to propose the use of freshwater bivalves for a biomonitoring of MC-producing cyanobacteria in fresh waters.
Decellularized Scaffolds for Skin Repair and Regeneration
Authors: Dussoyer Mélissa , Michopoulou Anna , Rousselle Patricia
Published: May 2020

The skin is the largest organ in the body, fulfilling a variety of functions and acting as a barrier for internal organs against external insults. As for extensive or irreversible damage, skin autografts are often considered the gold standard, however inherent limitations highlight the need for alternative strategies. Engineering of human-compatible tissues is an interdisciplinary and active field of research, leading to the production of scaffolds and skin substitutes to guide repair and regeneration. However, faithful reproduction of extracellular matrix (ECM) architecture and bioactive content capable of cell-instructive and cell-responsive properties remains challenging. ECM is a heterogeneous, connective network composed of collagens, glycoproteins, proteoglycans, and small molecules. It is highly coordinated to provide the physical scaffolding, mechanical stability, and biochemical cues necessary for tissue morphogenesis and homeostasis. Decellularization processes have made it possible to isolate the ECM in its native and three-dimensional form from a cell-populated tissue for use in skin regeneration. In this review, we present recent knowledge about these decellularized biomaterials with the potential to be used as dermal or skin substitutes in clinical applications. We detail tissue sources and clinical indications with success rates and report the most effective decellularization methods compatible with clinical use.
Source Characteristics of Atmospheric CO2 and CH4 in a Northeastern Highland Area of South Korea
Authors: Kim Hyeon-Kook , Song Chang-Keun , Hong Sung-Chul , Shin Myung-Hwan , Seo Jeonghyeon , Kim Sang-Kyun , Lyu Youngsook
Published: May 2020

This study aims to present the atmospheric CO2 and CH4 levels and analyze their source characteristics at an observation station in a northeastern highland area of Korea for the 2012–2014 period. We summarized the measured CO2 and CH4 concentrations for the 2012–2014 period. In addition, we characterized the major source of the rise of CO2 and CH4 in Ganseong (GS) by employing bivariate polar plots (BPP) and the concentration weighted trajectory (CWT) method together with currently available information on emission sources. For the three years, CO2 was generally high in the order of winter, spring, autumn and summer and CH4 high in the order of winter, autumn, spring and summer. The observed positive correlations between the hourly CO2 and CH4 in every season suggested the possibility of shared common emission sources, but there is a necessity for elucidation on this in the future. The BPP analysis indicated the local sources that are likely to be associated with the rise of greenhouse gases (GHGs) observed at GS (combustion in the village, plant respirations nearby GS, and mobile emissions on the nearby road for CO2 and leakages from the gas stations along the road and agricultural activities for CH4). Synthesizing the CWT results together with emission source information from national and global emission inventories, we identified likely major source areas and characterized major emission sources. For example, the identified major sources for the winter CO2 are coal combustion, coal washing and industrial activities in Inner Mongolia, northern and the northeastern China, fuel burning for the energy for the infrastructure of a northwestern city in South Korea, and the manufacturing industry and fuel combustion in the northern parts of North Korea. Hopefully, these kinds of results will aid environmental researchers and decision-makers in performing more in-depth studies for GHG sources in order to derive effective mitigation strategies.
Model Performance Differences in Fine-Mode Nitrate Aerosol during Wintertime over Japan in the J-STREAM Model Inter-Comparison Study
Authors: Itahashi Syuichi , Yamaji Kazuyo , Chatani Satoru , Kitayama Kyo , Morino Yu , Nagashima Tatsuya , Saito Masahiko , Takigawa Masayuki , Morikawa Tazuko , Kanda Isao , Miya Yukako , Komatsu Hiroaki , Sakurai Tatsuya , Shimadera Hikari , Uranishi Katsushige , Fujiwara Yuzuru , Hashimoto Tomoaki , Hayami Hiroshi
Published: May 2020

In this study, the results for nitrate (NO3−) aerosol during winter from the first-phase model inter-comparison study of Japan’s Study for Reference Air Quality Modeling (J-STREAM) were analyzed. To investigate the models’ external and internal settings, the results were limited to Community Multiscale Air Quality (CMAQ) models. All submitted models generally underestimated NO3− over the urban areas in Japan (e.g., Osaka, Nagoya, and Tokyo); however, some model settings showed distinct behavior. The differences due to the model external settings were larger than the model internal settings. Emissions were an important factor, and emissions configured with lower NOx emissions and higher NH3 emissions led to a higher NO3− concentration as the NH3 was consumed under NH3-rich conditions. The model internal settings of the chemical mechanisms caused differences over China, and this could affect western Japan; however, the difference over Tokyo was lower. To obtain a higher NO3− concentration over the urban areas in Japan, the selection of the HONO option for the heterogenous reaction and the inline calculation of photolysis was desired. For future studies, the external settings of the boundary condition and the meteorological field require further investigation.
Effect of the Particle Size Distribution on the Cahn-Hilliard Dynamics in a Cathode of Lithium-Ion Batteries
Authors: L’vov Pavel , Sibatov Renat
Published: May 2020

The phase-field model based on the Cahn-Hilliard equation is employed to simulate lithium intercalation dynamics in a cathode with particles of distributed size. We start with a simplified phase-field model for a single submicron particle under galvanostatic condition. We observe two stages associated with single-phase and double-phase patterns typical for both charging and discharging processes. The single-phase stage takes approximately 10–15% of the process and plays an important role in the intercalation dynamics. We establish the laws for speed of front propagation and evolution of single-phase concentration valid for different sizes of electrode particles and a wide range of temperatures and C-rates. The universality of these laws allows us to formulate the boundary condition with time-dependent flux density for the Cahn-Hilliard equation and analyze the phase-field intercalation in a heterogeneous cathode characterized by the particle size distribution.
Synthesis and Modeling Studies of Furoxan Coupled Spiro-Isoquinolino Piperidine Derivatives as NO Releasing PDE 5 Inhibitors
Authors: Prabhuling Swami , Tamboli Yasinalli , Choudhari Prafulla B. , Bhatia Manish S. , Mohanta Tapan Kumar , Al-Harrasi Ahmed , Pudukulathan Zubaidha K.
Published: May 2020

Nitric oxide (NO) is considered to be one of the most important intracellular messengers that play an active role as neurotransmitter in regulation of various cardiovascular physiological and pathological processes. Nitric oxide (NO) is a major factor in penile erectile function. NO exerts a relaxing action on corpus cavernosum and penile arteries by activating smooth muscle soluble guanylate cyclase and increasing the intracellular concentration of cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP). Phophodiesterase (PDE) inhibitors have potential therapeutic applications. NO hybridization has been found to improve and extend the pharmacological properties of the parental compound. The present study describes the synthesis of novel furoxan coupled spiro-isoquinolino-piperidine derivatives and their smooth muscle relaxant activity. The study reveals that, particularly 10d (1.50 ± 0.6) and 10g (1.65 ± 0.7) are moderate PDE 5 inhibitors as compared to Sidenafil (1.43 ± 0.5). The observed effect was explained by molecular modelling studies on phosphodiesterase.
Immersive Virtual Reality in Stroke Patients as a New Approach for Reducing Postural Disabilities and Falls Risk: A Case Series
Authors: Cortés-Pérez Irene , Nieto-Escamez Francisco Antonio , Obrero-Gaitán Esteban
Published: May 2020

Stroke is a neurologic disorder considered the first cause of disability worldwide due to motor, cognitive, and sensorial sequels. Balance dysfunctions in stroke survivors increase the risk of falls and physiotherapeutic rehabilitation is essential to reduce it. Virtual reality (VR) seems to be an alternative to conventional physiotherapy (CT), providing virtual environments and multisensorial inputs to train balance in stroke patients. The aim of this study was to assess if immersive VR treatment is more effective than CT to improve balance after stroke. This study got the approval from the Ethics Committee of the University of Almeria. Three chronic ischemic stroke patients were selected. One patient who received 25 sessions of immersive VR intervention for two months was compared with another patient who received equivalent CT and a third patient with no intervention. Balance, gait, risk of falling, and vestibular and visual implications in the equilibrium were assessed. After the interventions, the two patients receiving any of the treatments showed an improvement in balance compared to the untreated patient. In comparison to CT, our results suggest a higher effect of immersive VR in the improvement of balance and a reduction of falls risk due to the active upright work during the VR intervention.
Preparation and Properties of Co-Doped Magnesium Lanthanum Hexaluminat Blue Ceramics
Authors: Guo Rui , Wang Qingchun , Bao Jinxiao , Song Xiwen
Published: May 2020

The types of blue ceramics are monotonous, mainly alumina and zirconia ceramics, and their colors are not pure, with some green tones (−a* value is not close to 0). In this paper, aluminate blue ceramics (LaMgAl11−xCoxO19) doped with Co were prepared by the high temperature solid-phase reaction method, which enriched the blue ceramics system. The effect of Co content on the color of ceramics was studied, and the optimal doping amount of Co was found. X = 1.0 is the bluest color of the material (−b* = 35.36), and there is almost no noise effect (−a* = −2.71). By studying the effect of temperature on the system, it is found that the color effect is best when the temperature reaches 1450 °C. When the temperature exceeds 1450 °C, it can only promote the synthesis of LaMgAl11O19 phase, and has no effect on the color of ceramics samples. Based on the material’s pure and bright colors, and good color stability at room temperature, it has great potential in the decoration industry, such as the preparation of jewelry or building decoration materials.
Flame Resistant Silicone-Containing Coating Materials
Authors: Zielecka Maria , Rabajczyk Anna , Pastuszka Łukasz , Jurecki Leszek
Published: May 2020

The flame resistance of applied coating materials affects the safety of innovative technological solutions. Silicone-containing polymeric materials are one of the most economical solutions in the field of coatings due to the effect of the unique combination of very good thermal, resistance, and surface properties. The rich chemistry of silicon compounds, which results in their very good thermal stability, allows their use as flame-resistant coating materials or as flame retardants in polymer composites. In this review, the flame resistance of PDMS systems based on their thermal degradation data, as well as possible paths of thermal degradation depending on external conditions including the effect of additives, flame resistance of hybrid silicone-containing coating materials and most important innovative applications of these materials, are reviewed. Very good results from the use of organic silicon compounds as fire retardants in polymers obtained by many research teams are one of the promising ways of overcoming the health, safety, and availability concerns of traditional halogenated fire retardants.
The Effect of Printing Parameters on Electrical Conductivity and Mechanical Properties of PLA and ABS Based Carbon Composites in Additive Manufacturing of Upper Limb Prosthetics
Authors: Pentek Attila , Nyitrai Miklos , Schiffer Adam , Abraham Hajnalka , Bene Matyas , Molnar Emese , Told Roland , Maroti Peter
Published: May 2020

Additive manufacturing technologies are dynamically developing, strongly affecting almost all fields of industry and medicine. The appearance of electrically conductive polymers has had a great impact on the prototyping process of different electrical components in the case of upper limb prosthetic development. The widely used FFF 3D printing technology mainly uses PLA (polylactic acid) and ABS (acrylonitrile butadiene styrene) based composites, and despite their presence in the field, a detailed, critical characterization and comparison of them has not been performed yet. Our aim was to characterize two PLA and ABS based carbon composites in terms of electrical and mechanical behavior, and extend the observations with a structural and signal transfer analysis. The measurements were carried out by changing the different printing parameters, including layer resolution, printing orientation and infill density. To determine the mechanical properties, static and dynamic tests were conducted. The electrical characterization was done by measuring the resistance and signal transfer characteristics. Scanning electron microscopy was used for the structural analysis. The results proved that the printing parameters had a significant effect on the mechanical and electrical characteristics of both materials. As a major novelty, it was concluded that the ABS carbon composite has more favorable behavior in the case of additive manufacturing of electrical components of upper limb prosthetics, and they can be used as moving, rotating parts as well.
Can Computed Tomography Perfusion Predict Treatment Response After Prostate Artery Embolization: A Feasibility Study
Authors: Malling Brian , Røder Martin Andreas , Lauridsen Carsten , Lönn Lars
Published: May 2020

Prostate artery embolization (PAE) is an emerging therapy for benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). Optimal patient selection is an important step when introducing new treatments and several characteristics associated with a good clinical outcome has previously been proposed. However, no prognostic tool is yet available for PAE. Computed tomography perfusion is an imaging technique that provides hemodynamic parameters making it possible to estimate the prostatic blood flow (PBF). This study investigated the relationship between PBF and the response to PAE. A post hoc analysis including prostate-specific antigen (PSA) measurements before and 24-h after embolization from two prospective studies on sixteen patients undergoing PAE with BPH or prostate cancer were performed. The primary outcome was the correlation between baseline PBF and the change in PSA as a surrogate measure of treatment response. Prostate volume strongly correlated with treatment response and the response was greater with incremental amounts of injected embolic material. PBF was not associated with elevation in PSA and added no information that could guide patient selection.
Statistical Characteristics of Stationary Flow of Substance in a Network Channel Containing Arbitrary Number of Arms
Authors: Borisov Roumen , Dimitrova Zlatinka I. , Vitanov Nikolay K.
Published: May 2020

We study flow of substance in a channel of network which consists of nodes of network and edges which connect these nodes and form ways for motion of substance. The channel can have arbitrary number of arms and each arm can contain arbitrary number of nodes. The flow of substance is modeled by a system of ordinary differential equations. We discuss first a model for a channel which arms contain infinite number of nodes each. For stationary regime of motion of substance in such a channel we obtain probability distributions connected to distribution of substance in any of channel’s arms and in entire channel. Obtained distributions are not discussed by other authors and can be connected to Waring distribution. Next, we discuss a model for flow of substance in a channel which arms contain finite number of nodes each. We obtain probability distributions connected to distribution of substance in the nodes of the channel for stationary regime of flow of substance. These distributions are also new and we calculate corresponding information measure and Shannon information measure for studied kind of flow of substance.
SR-SYBA: A Scale and Rotation Invariant Synthetic Basis Feature Descriptor with Low Memory Usage
Authors: Yu Meng , Zhang Dong , Lee Dah-Jye , Desai Alok
Published: May 2020

Feature description has an important role in image matching and is widely used for a variety of computer vision applications. As an efficient synthetic basis feature descriptor, SYnthetic BAsis (SYBA) requires low computational complexity and provides accurate matching results. However, the number of matched feature points generated by SYBA suffers from large image scaling and rotation variations. In this paper, we improve SYBA’s scale and rotation invariance by adding an efficient pre-processing operation. The proposed algorithm, SR-SYBA, represents the scale of the feature region with the location of maximum gradient response along the radial direction in Log-polar coordinate system. Based on this scale representation, it normalizes all feature regions to the same reference scale to provide scale invariance. The orientation of the feature region is represented as the orientation of the vector from the center of the feature region to its intensity centroid. Based on this orientation representation, all feature regions are rotated to the same reference orientation to provide rotation invariance. The original SYBA descriptor is then applied to the scale and orientation normalized feature regions for description and matching. Experiment results show that SR-SYBA greatly improves SYBA for image matching applications with scaling and rotation variations. SR-SYBA obtains comparable or better performance in terms of matching rate compared to the mainstream algorithms while still maintains its advantages of using much less storage and simpler computations. SR-SYBA is applied to a vision-based measurement application to demonstrate its performance for image matching.
A Cost-Effective and Transferable Methodology for Rooftop PV Potential Assessment in Developing Countries
Authors: Minh Khuong Phuong , McKenna Russell , Fichtner Wolf
Published: May 2020

The efficient uptake of decentralized solar rooftop photovoltaics (PV) is in some cases hindered by ineffective energy and political framework conditions. These may be based on inaccurate and uncertain potential assessments in the early development stage of the solar market. This paper develops a more accurate, cost-effective, and robust potential assessment for emerging and developing economies. Adjusting the module efficiency corresponding to regional and household conditions improves the output accuracy. The rooftop PV market changes are simulated regarding different input changes and policy designs, including changing the Feed-In Tariff (FIT), grid tariff, and technology development. In the case study, the market potential in Vietnam is estimated at 260–280 TWh/a and is clustered into six groups in priority order, in which Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh need the most policy focus. Changing the FIT from 8.83 to 9 Euro cent/kWh and using different regional FITs can activate an additional 16% of the market and lead to a possible 28 million Euro benefit. Increasing the grid tariff to 8.7 cents/kWh could activate the self-consumption model, and the self-sufficient market can be guaranteed in the case of CAPEX and OPEX being lower than 650 Euro/kWp. Future developments of the method should focus on combining this top-down method with detailed bottom-up approaches.
Root Responses of Five Japanese Afforestation Species to Waterlogging
Authors: Fujita Saki , Noguchi Kyotaro , Tange Takeshi
Published: May 2020

The increase of waterlogged environments is of recent concern due to changes in precipitation regimes and the frequent occurrence of extreme rainfall events. Therefore, it is necessary to comprehend the effects and responses of waterlogging for a better understanding of forests and urban afforestation under changing environments. We investigated root responses of five Japanese afforestation species (Pinus thunbergii, Acer mono, Quercus serrata, Alnus hirsuta and Fraxinus mandshurica) to waterlogging. Potted seedlings grown under natural conditions were waterlogged at soil-surface level for 2.5 months during the growing season. The in-growth core method was used to distinctively measure root growth. As a result, fine root growth during the waterlogging period was significantly decreased for P. thunbergii, A. mono and Q. serrata. Furthermore, root tissue density (RTD) of pre-existing roots was decreased, which suggests root damage such as partial root death and root decay. On the other hand, for A. hirsuta and F. mandshurica, fine root growth was not decreased under waterlogging. For A. hirsuta, although fine root growth continued at the top half, it was decreased at the bottom half. Root damage such as a decrease in RTD was observed for pre-existing roots. For F. mandshurica, root growth continued at the top and bottom half, and root damage of pre-existing roots was not observed at either the top or the bottom. From our results, it was suggested that P. thunbergii was most sensitive, followed by A. mono and Q. serrata. A. hirsuta and F. mandshurica were relatively tolerant; however, the most tolerant was F. mandshurica, as pre-existing roots were not damaged by waterlogging. Overall, root responses could be grouped into three groups: (1) P. thunbergii, A. mono, Q. serrata; (2) A. hirsuta; (3) F. mandshurica. The observed responses may reflect the species’ natural distributions.
Nutraceutical and Technological Properties of Buffalo and Sheep Cheese Produced by the Addition of Kiwi Juice as a Coagulant
Authors: Serra Andrea , Conte Giuseppe , Corrales-Retana Leonor , Casarosa Laura , Ciucci Francesca , Mele Marcello
Published: May 2020

Kiwifruit is an interesting alternative to chymosin for milk coagulation. Although the clotting properties of actinidin (the proteolytic agent present in kiwi) have been widely investigated, little is known about the nutraceutical and organoleptic effects of kiwifruit on the characteristics of cheese. We investigated kiwifruit pulp, compared to calf rennet, in cheesemaking using sheep and buffalo milk. Although the kiwifruit extract showed a longer coagulation and syneresis time than calf rennet, it could nevertheless be exploited as a plant coagulant due to its positive effect on the nutraceutical properties. In fact, the sheep and buffalo cheese were higher in polyphenols and phytosterols than the cheese obtained using calf rennet. In addition, the nutraceutical properties were enhanced, with just a slight effect on the aroma of the cheese.