bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Prenatal Diagnosis of Cystic Fibrosis and Hemophilia: Incidental Findings and Weak Points
Authors: Comegna Marika , Maruotti Giuseppe Maria , Sarno Laura , Cernera Gustavo , Gelzo Monica , Guida Maurizio , Zullo Fulvio , Zarrilli Federica , Castaldo Giuseppe
Published: December 2019

Because of the progression of genetics and genomics, the demand for prenatal diagnosis (PD) for inherited genetic diseases has increased. However, several incidental findings may emerge during PD, like misattributed paternity, the evidence of disease in a parent, and the possible misinterpretation of the results because of complex alleles or de novo mutations that have several implications. In a retrospective observational study on all the couples referred to our Medical School (1993–2018) for PD of genetic inherited diseases (n = 1502), we selected the cases of PD for cystic fibrosis (CF, n = 239) and hemophilia A and B (HA, HB, n = 47), revising all incidental findings previously mentioned. We found one case in which a technical error led to PD of carrier in two siblings that were born affected by CF, four cases of misattributed paternity, eight cases of asymptomatic parents revealed as affected by CF transmembrane regulator (CFTR)-related disorders, a case of a novel complex allele that could have caused the diagnosis of CF in a carrier fetus, and a case of a de novo mutation in a mother (already a carrier) that caused hemophilia in a child that PD had revealed as healthy. We present these conditions as clinical cases and discuss the technical, clinical, ethical, and legal aspects to be considered.
The Capacities of Primary Health Care in Hungary: A Problem Statement
Authors: Bálint Csaba
Published: December 2019

In the establishment, development, and provision of equal access to the health care system, the operation of adequate primary health care is essential and has undergone significant transformation in the most developed countries over the past decades. The central and eastern European countries, including Hungary, are struggling with the disadvantages of the traditional model of primary health care, based on independent general practitioner and family paediatrician practices: the ability of the system is extremely limited to meet emerging needs and is facing a chronic human resource crisis. In the current study, the functions, legislation, and challenges of the Hungarian primary health care system, as well as the basic interrelations of the development of vacant general practitioner and family paediatrician districts were examined, and the government measures for the sake of solving the occurrence of the vacancy and improving access in the lagging areas. (The situation of the other fields of primary health care—e.g., dental care, child care officer care, etc.—was not subject of the analysis.). The basic characteristics of the vacant districts (type by supplied age group, bounding region, population size, length of vacancy) were primarily examined by the analysis of categorical and metric variables, with the use of cross-tabulation and nonparametric correlation, while the discovery of soft interrelations was supported by an expert interview conducted with the professionals of the Primary Health Care Department of the National Health Care Services Centre. In Hungary, the fundamentals of primary health care are made up of the individual practices of general practitioners and paediatricians, and there is a growing concern about the permanent vacancy of the districts, and the fact that the system is less suitable for meeting the needs of the population. The ever-increasing number of vacant general practitioner and family paediatrician districts due to the growing shortage of professionals because of aging and emigration poses the burden of substitution on the physicians in existing practices, that concerns the access of more than a half million people to health care, almost 70 percent of which live in settlements with a population less than 5000 inhabitants.
Dynamic Rotated Angular Beamforming Using Frequency Diverse Phased-Array for Secure MmWave Wireless Communications
Authors: Hong Yuanquan , Jing Xiaojun , He Yuan , Mu Junsheng
Published: December 2019

In this paper, we propose a new secure millimeter-wave wireless communication architecture called dynamic rotated angular beamforming (DRAB), to address the physical layer security (PLS) challenge for aligned transmitter, eavesdropper and target receiver in the mainlobe path, where the conventional angular beamforming (CAB) fails to provide satisfactory PLS performance. The proposed DRAB consists of a conventional phased-array and a set of frequency offset modulator. A frequency offset increment (FOI) set is intentionally introduced to control the dynamic rotation of DRAB’s mainlobe around the target user in the angle-range space. Thus, the average sidelobe of DRAB outside the target region is suppressed dramatically while the mainlobe inside the target region is a constant. We consider two cases of interests, i.e., with/without the location information of eavesdropping. For the known eavesdropping case, DRAB steer the zero gain sidelobes towards eavesdropper. The secrecy rate maximization problem is simplified to a form only depending on the FOI. As for the unknown eavesdropping case, we mainly depends on the beam rotating dynamically and randomly to hide the mainlobe path. Moreover, we propose inverted antenna subset technique to further randomize the sidelobes against sensitive eavesdropping. Numerical simulations demonstrate that the proposed DRAB can provide superior PLS performance over the existing CAB.
Receiving and Assessing L1C Signal for In-Orbit GPS III and QZSS Transmissions Using a Software-Defined Receiver
Authors: Huo Xiang , Wang Xue , Wang Sen , Chen Xiaofei , Zhou Ganghua , Lu Xiaochun
Published: December 2019

To avoid signal interference in L1 frequency and provide various services, GPS has updated a modern signal, called L1C, which has been tested with three QZSS satellites launched in 2017. In December 2018, the first GPS III satellite was launched, which implies improved joint positioning using GPS and QZSS L1C signal. The L1C signal offers a series of advanced designs in signal modulation, message structure and coding. We present complete methodologies for joint L1C signal receiving and processing. For the transmitted signals, we present a methodology and results from collecting and assessing Binary Offset Carrier (BOC) modulation and time-multiplexed BOC (TMBOC) modulation used in the L1C signal. Using the same omnidirectional antenna and test equipment, we collected the L1C signal in Xi’an and Sanya, China, respectively. The experiments in Xi’an verify the joint positioning method to complement the GPS III and QZSS satellite constellations. Our methodology evaluates the ranging difference and positioning error of BOC and TMBOC modulation under the same environment and satellite constellation configuration in Sanya. It is also verified that the joint positioning error is less than the QZSS-only positioning due to the optimization of the satellite constellation.
Solving Overlapping Pattern Issues in On-Chip Learning of Bio-Inspired Neuromorphic System with Synaptic Transistors
Authors: Kim Hyungjin , Park Byung-Gook
Published: December 2019

Recently, bio-inspired neuromorphic systems have been attracting widespread interest thanks to their energy-efficiency compared to conventional von Neumann architecture computing systems. Previously, we reported a silicon synaptic transistor with an asymmetric dual-gate structure for the direct connection between synaptic devices and neuron circuits. In this study, we study a hardware-based spiking neural network for pattern recognition using a binary modified National Institute of Standards and Technology (MNIST) dataset with a device model. A total of three systems were compared with regard to learning methods, and it was confirmed that the feature extraction of each pattern is the most crucial factor to avoiding overlapping pattern issues and obtaining a high pattern classification ability.
Tracking Control of Moving Sound Source Using Fuzzy-Gain Scheduling of PD Control
Authors: Han Jong-Ho
Published: December 2019

This paper proposes fuzzy gain scheduling of proportional differential control (FGS-PD) system for tracking mobile robot to moving sound sources. Given that the target positions of the real-time moving sound sources are dynamic, the mobile robots should be able to estimate the target points continuously. In such a case, the robots tend to slip owing to abnormal velocities and abrupt changes in the tracking path. The selection of an appropriate curvature along which the robot follows a sound source makes it possible to ensure that the robot reaches the target sound source precisely. For enabling the robot to recognize the sound sources in real time, three microphones are arranged in a straight formation. In addition, by applying the cross correlation algorithm to the time delay of arrival base, the received signals can be analyzed for estimating the relative positions and velocities of the mobile robot and the sound source. Even if the mobile robot is navigating along a curved path for tracking the sound source, there could be errors due to the inertial and centrifugal forces resulting from the motion of the mobile robot. Velocities of both robot wheels are controlled using FGS-PD control to compensate for slippage and to minimize tracking errors. For experimentally verifying the efficacy of the proposed the control system with sound source estimation, two mobile robots were fabricated. It was demonstrated that the proposed control method effectively reduces the tracking error of a mobile robot following a sound source.
Parallel Multi-Branch Convolution Block Net for Fast and Accurate Object Detection
Authors: Fu Lei , Gu Wenbin , He Lei , Rui Ting , Chen Liang , Ai Yongbao , Meng Fanjie
Published: December 2019

In order to maintain the high speed advantage of single-stage object detector and improve its detection accuracy, in this paper, we propose a parallel multi-branch convolution block, called PMCB, which can efficiently extract multi-scale object information at a specific layer to form a discriminative feature layer and boost the detection performance with little computational burden. Based on the PMCB module, we build PMCB Net on the basis of the single shot multibox detector (SSD) network by replacing the conventional convolution with PMCB at a specific layer. The performance of the proposed algorithm is compared with that of other state-of-the-art methods on PASCAL VOC2007, MS COCO test datasets. The experimental results show that the proposed algorithm greatly improved detection accuracy performance while only adding a negligible computational burden, which is very important for practical engineering applications.
Cost/Performance Analysis of Commercial-Grade Organic Phase-Change Materials for Low-Temperature Heat Storage
Authors: Hásl Tomáš , Jiříček Ivo , Jeremiáš Michal , Farták Josef , Pohořelý Michael
Published: December 2019

Alkanes are widely used as phase change materials (PCMs), especially for thermal energy storage (TES), due to their high thermal capacity, stability, availability, and non-corrosiveness. However, the drawbacks of alkanes are low heat conductivity and high cost. Our aim was to explore alternative organic PCMs for TES and to compare such compounds based on the relationship between their performance and cost. For this purpose, we analysed several commercially available products, including long chain alkanes, alcohols, monocarboxylic acid, amines, ethers and esters in high purities. Differential scanning calorimetry and thermogravimetry (DSC and TGA) were used to measure the melting point, melting enthalpy and thermal stability of these compounds. The materials were classified according to their melting temperature. In order to compare the compounds, we calculated from the measured enthalpies and the price list provided by producers a coefficient that represents factors in both the performance and cost of the material. This method was used to identify the most suitable organic compound for thermal energy storage in each temperature range. As the main result of this work, it has been revealed that various organic compounds can be considered as a vital alternative to the alkanes in temperatures from −10 to 50 °C. On top of that, alcohols and carboxylic acids can cover the temperature range from 50 to 75 °C, which cannot be covered by alkanes.
Modelling of Passive Heat Removal Systems: A Review with Reference to the Framatome KERENA BWR Reactor: Part I
Authors: Moonesi Shabestary Amirhosein , Viereckl Frances , Zhang Yu , Manthey Rene , Lucas Dirk , Schuster Christoph , Leyer Stephan , Hurtado Antonio , Hampel Uwe
Published: December 2019

Passive safety systems are an important feature of currently designed and constructed nuclear power plants. They operate independent of external power supply and manual interventions and are solely driven by thermal gradients and gravitational force. This brings up new needs for performance and reliably assessment. This paper provides a review on fundamental approaches to model and analyze the performance of passive heat removal systems exemplified for the passive heat removal chain of the KERENA boiling water reactor concept developed by Framatome. We discuss modelling concepts for one-dimensional system codes such as ATHLET, RELAP and TRACE and furthermore for computational fluid dynamics codes. Part I deals with numerical and experimental methods for modelling of condensation inside the emergency condensers and on the containment cooling condenser while part II deals with boiling and two-phase flow instabilities.
Parametric Modelling and Multi-Objective Optimization of Electro Discharge Machining Process Parameters for Sustainable Production
Authors: Niamat Misbah , Sarfraz Shoaib , Ahmad Wasim , Shehab Essam , Salonitis Konstantinos
Published: December 2019

Electro Discharge Machining (EDM) can be an element of a sustainable manufacturing system. In the present study, the sustainability implications of EDM of special-purpose steels are investigated. The machining quality (minimum surface roughness), productivity (material removal rate) improvement and cost (electrode wear rate) minimization are considered. The influence and correlation of the three most important machining parameters including pulse on time, current and pulse off time have been investigated on sustainable production. Empirical models have been established based on response surface methodology for material removal rate, electrode wear rate and surface roughness. The investigation, validation and deeper insights of developed models have been performed using ANOVA, validation experiments and microstructure analysis respectively. Pulse on time and current both appeared as the prominent process parameters having a significant influence on all three measured performance metrics. Multi-objective optimization has been performed in order to achieve sustainability by establishing a compromise between minimum quality, minimum cost and maximum productivity. Sustainability contour plots have been developed to select suitable desirability. The sustainability results indicated that a high level of 75.5% sustainable desirability can be achieved for AISI L3 tool steel. The developed models can be practiced on the shop floor practically to attain a certain desirability appropriate for particular machine limits.
The Use of Black-Box Optimization Method for Determination of the Bus Connection Capacity in Electric Power Grid
Authors: Wędzik Andrzej , Siewierski Tomasz , Szypowski Michał
Published: December 2019

One of the main tasks of the Power System Operators is to ensure a proper, safe, and trouble-free operation and development of power grids. Growth of power system is inseparably linked to a connection of both renewable and classical new energy sources. For network operators and potential investors, it is essential to know the place and volume of generation capacity that can be connected to the grid. A publication of such data is currently a legal obligation for many operators. This paper proposes a method of determining the bus connection capacity in power grid of any type with the use of black-box optimization. Calculations and analyses were performed with a full, nonlinear model of the analyzed network. Obtained results show the effectiveness of this method for both single and multiple nodes in any configuration. All the constraints relevant for the proper and safe system operation, such as bus voltages, line loads, and short-circuit currents, both in a steady-state and (n-1) contingency states, are taken into consideration. Calculations confirmed the good convergence and repeatability of the method for all three tested computational algorithms. This has also confirmed the possibility of use of open source software to extend the functionality of Siemens PSS®E commercial power system calculation software.
Development of Occupant Pose Classification Model Using Deep Neural Network for Personalized Thermal Conditioning
Authors: Choi Eun Ji , Yoo Yongseok , Park Bo Rang , Choi Young Jae , Moon Jin Woo
Published: December 2019

This study aims to propose a pose classification model using indoor occupant images. For developing the intelligent and automated model, a deep learning neural network was employed. Indoor posture images and joint coordinate data were collected and used to conduct the training and optimization of the model. The output of the trained model is the occupant pose of the sedentary activities in the indoor space. The performance of the developed model was evaluated for two different indoor environments: home and office. Using the metabolic rates corresponding to the classified poses, the model accuracy was compared with that of the conventional method, which considered the fixed activity. The result showed that the accuracy was improved by as much as 73.96% and 55.26% in home and office, respectively. Thus, the potential of the pose classification model was verified for providing a more comfortable and personalized thermal environment to the occupant.
Applicable and Comparative Research of Compressor Mass Flow Rate and Isentropic Efficiency Empirical Models to Marine Large-Scale Compressor
Authors: Shen Haosheng , Zhang Chuan , Zhang Jundong , Yang Baicheng , Jia Baozhu
Published: December 2019

A compressor is an indispensable component of marine large two-stroke diesel engines. For this type of engine, the compressor mass flow rate and isentropic efficiency empirical models are preferred for both the working cycle dynamic simulation research and the design and testing of control and diagnostics algorithms due to their compact and simple structures, and satisfactory prediction accuracy. Due to absence of comprehensive applicable and comparative research on compressor mass flow rate and isentropic efficiency empirical models for large-scale marine compressors in the literature, two marine compressors with different size, flow rate range, and speed range were selected as research objects in this paper, and a relevant study was conducted to compare and analyze the prediction ability of several classical models, and some recently proposed compressor mass flow rate and isentropic efficiency empirical models. The range of this comparative study includes the prediction accuracy in the design operating area and the extrapolation ability in off-design operating areas. Based on the obtained research results, several guidelines are summarized, which can be followed when developing compressor mathematical models, especially for marine applications. In addition, several research interests are discussed and presented, which can be further studied in the future.
Using the Thermal Inertia of Transmission Lines for Coping with Post-Contingency Overflows
Authors: Lou Xiansi , Chen Wei , Guo Chuangxin
Published: December 2019

For the corrective security-constrained optimal power flow (OPF) model, there exists a post-contingency stage due to the time delay of corrective measures. Line overflows in this stage may cause cascading failures. This paper proposes that the thermal inertia of transmission lines can be used to cope with post-contingency overflows. An enhanced security-constrained OPF model is established and line dynamic thermal behaviors are quantified. The post-contingency stage is divided into a response substage and a ramping substage and the highest temperatures are limited by thermal rating constraints. A solving strategy based on Benders decomposition is proposed to solve the established model. The original problem is decomposed into a master problem for preventive control and two subproblems for corrective control feasibility check and line thermal rating check. In each iteration, Benders cuts are generated for infeasible contingencies and returned into the master problem for adjusting the generation plan. Because the highest temperature function is implicit, an equivalent time method is presented to calculate its partial derivative in Benders cuts. The proposed model and approaches are validated on three test systems. Results show that the operation security is improved with a slight increase in total generation cost.
Online Ash Fouling Prediction for Boiler Heating Surfaces based on Wavelet Analysis and Support Vector Regression
Authors: Tong Shuiguang , Zhang Xiang , Tong Zheming , Wu Yanling , Tang Ning , Zhong Wei
Published: December 2019

Depending on its operating conditions, traditional soot blowing is activated for a fixed time. However, low-frequency soot blowing can cause heat transfer efficiency to decrease. High-frequency soot blowing not only wastes high-pressure steam, but also abrades surface pipes, reducing the working life of a heat exchange device. Therefore, it is necessary to design an online ash fouling monitoring system to perform soot blowing that is dependent on the status of ash accumulation. This study presents an online monitoring model of ash-layer thermal resistance that reflects the degree of ash fouling. A wavelet threshold denoising algorithm was applied to smooth the thermal resistance of the ash layer calculated by the heat balance mechanism model. Thus, the variation in thermal resistance becomes more visible, which is more conducive to optimizing the operation of soot blowing. The designed Support Vector Regression (SVR) model could achieve the online prediction of thermal resistance denoising for low-temperature superheaters. Experimental analysis indicates that the prediction accuracy was 98.5% during the testing phase. By using the method proposed in this study, online monitoring of heating surfaces during the ash fouling process can be realized without adding complicated and expensive equipment.
Multi-Season Assessment of Occupant Responses to Manual Shading and Dynamic Glass in a Workplace Environment
Authors: Choi Joon-Ho , Loftness Vivian , Nou Danny , Tinianov Brandon , Yeom Dongwoo
Published: December 2019

The quality and controllability of the building façade can significantly contribute to building indoor environmental quality (IEQ) as well as the building’s energy efficiency. Advanced technologies that support a façade’s dynamic response to climatic changes, such as electrochromic (dynamic) glazing, have emerged as smart systems for IEQ and environmental sustainability. This research summarizes a four-season study of office workers moving from a floor with conventional blinds to work environments equipped with smart dynamic glazing which changes tint in response to weather condition to control daylighting levels. Multiple occupant environmental satisfaction surveys were conducted over one year to investigate differences in environmental and psychological responses to office settings with manual, and often static, facades as compared to offices with dynamic glazing. This research confirms that dynamic glazing significantly affected occupants’ environmental satisfaction—enhancing individuals’ environmental perceptions and psychological health—as compared to manual blinds. It reveals that the occupants in work environments with dynamic glazing reported 21.7% higher productivity gains, 24.8% increased ability to relax, 12.7% improved concentration, 25.3% better moods and 29.4% greater alertness than when they were in offices in the same building with manual shading devices. Also, the dynamic feature of the smart glazing showed a significant contribution to perceived work productivity while enhancing positive emotional responses by an average of 26%.
Improving Reliability Indices of the Autonomous Power System of Crete Island Utilizing Extended Photovoltaic Installations
Authors: Fiorentzis Konstantinos , Tsikalakis Antonios , Karapidakis Emmanuel , Katsigiannis Yiannis , Stavrakakis George
Published: December 2019

Renewable energy sources (RES) have significantly helped in meeting the electricity demand of Crete, with their share in the energy balance to account for about 25% of the annual electricity production for the past five years. The contribution of photovoltaics (PVs) has been especially significant for the past three years, offering 10% in the peak demand, during summertime. This paper investigates what the capacity credit would be, i.e., up to what extent increasing existing PV capacity by about 20% can be considered as certain, to avoid installing thermal power units. In order to do so, probabilistic techniques have been applied to quantify the load that the installed thermal units in the Cretan power system should be able to meet at any time. In addition, the effect of the additional PV capacity to power system’s reliability is evaluated, introducing a new reliability index and taking into account actual data, regarding the planned and unplanned thermal units’ maintenance. Two scenarios have been examined using actual hourly data for load demand, PV, and wind production from the island power system of Crete. In the first scenario, the calculations were carried out considering the operation of the Cretan power system in its current state, while in the second scenario it was assumed that the PV production has been increased by 20%. Furthermore, we examine how the maximum value of capacity credit can be achieved as the PV installations are extended. In this regard, there is an upper limit of the additional PV capacity that leads to the maximum value of capacity credit.
Pinus sylvestris Breeding for Resistance against Natural Infection of the Fungus Heterobasidion annosum
Authors: Rieksts-Riekstiņš Raitis , Zeltiņš Pauls , Baliuckas Virgilijus , Brūna Lauma , Zaļuma Astra , Kāpostiņš Rolands
Published: December 2019

Increasing resistance against biotic and abiotic factors is an important goal of forest tree breeding. The aim of the present study was to develop a root rot resistance index for Scots pine breeding and evaluate its effectiveness. The productivity, branch diameter, branchiness, stem straightness, spike knots, and damage from natural infection of root rot in 154 Scots pine open-pollinated families from Latvia were evaluated through a progeny field trial at the age of 38 years. Trees with decline symptoms were sampled for fungal isolations. Based on this information and kriging estimates of root rot, 35 affected areas (average size: 108 m2; total 28% from the 1.5 ha trial) were delineated. Resistance index of a single tree was formed based on family adjusted proportion of live to infected trees and distance to the center of affected area. Heritability for resistance to root rot based on the value of this index, was high (0.37) and comparable to indices of growth traits. Correlations of family breeding estimates between resistance to root rot and the other traits were not significant, except for a weak, yet significant, positive correlation with diameter at breast height and branch diameter. Selection index including only growth traits (height and stem volume) had a negligible effect on damage by root rot. We detected a maximum genetic gain in resistance index of 33.7% when incorporating it into the selection index with positive gains for growth traits (6.5–11.0%). Two-stage selection with prior selection of the most resistant families was not superior to the use of selection index with only rot resistance included. Overall; rot resistance index appeared to be an effective tool in tree breeding for the selection of more resistant families, using the existing trials with natural (uncontrolled) infection
Assessment and Mapping Green Areas Ecosystem Services and Socio-Demographic Characteristics in Turin Neighborhoods (Italy)
Authors: Battisti Luca , Pomatto Enrico , Larcher Federica
Published: December 2019

The ecosystem services (ES) and human well-being are keywords that guide the Italian strategy on urban greening. The development of ES priorities linked to specific land uses help to guide the drafting of management plans. The aim of the research was to assess and map green areas ecosystem services and socio-demographic characteristics in Turin neighborhoods in order to identify where to improve the provision of ecosystem services and the socio-demographic conditions. The Preliminary Assessment Method (PAM) was used for the assessment of provision and regulating services based on land use. The Species-specific Air Quality index (S-AQI) was used to assess the regulating services provided by trees. Three socio-demographic characteristics were analyzed at the neighborhood level—age index, housing density, and % of economically assisted citizens. PAM results show that Turin provides more ecosystem services in peripheral areas of the city. Trees with high S-AQI values represent 21% of the censed trees. Not recommended trees are 18%. The neighborhoods with higher S-AQI values are not always characterized by a higher number of trees/km2 or species richness. Results show that the northern part of the city is characterized by higher values of ES and socio-demographic conditions than the central-southern part. This aspect is related to the conspicuous presence of agricultural land uses and water bodies, together with the presence of tree species with a high S-AQI values and high or medium socio-demographic conditions. 57% of the neighborhoods present low results for both aspects. Actions to improve the quality of green spaces in those neighborhoods could have great effects on liveability. Future management and planning strategies for increasing citizens’ well-being through urban greening should consider the proposed approach.
Decoupling-Based Channel Access Mechanism for Improving Throughput and Fairness in Dense Multi-Rate WLANs
Authors: Lei Jianjun , Wang Ying , Yun Hong
Published: December 2019

Legacy IEEE 802.11 Medium Access Control (MAC) adopts the Distributed Coordination Function (DCF) mechanism, which provides the same access opportunity for all contenders. However, in dense multi-rate Wireless Local Area Networks (WLANs), the pure distributed control mechanism will cause high collision rate and performance anomaly, which results in low network utilization and wasting valuable channel resources. In this paper, we present a decoupling MAC mechanism (DMAC) based on the idea of contention/reservation to reduce collision and realize collision free data transmission. In proposed mechanism, the channel access time is partitioned into channel contention process and data transmission process. The proposed algorithm makes full use of the distributed random channel access mechanism and performs a centralized collision-free data transmission. Wherein, we also design an adaptive algorithm to adjust the length of the contention period to improve the channel utilization. Furthermore, we further propose two airtime fairness algorithms Improve-DMAC1 (I-DMAC1) and Improve-DMAC2 (I-DMAC2) for delay sensitive network and high throughput network scenarios, respectively, to solve the performance anomaly in multi-rate WLANs, based on DMAC. We verify the effectiveness of these decoupling algorithms through extensive simulations. Moreover, the simulation results show that the proposed algorithms achieve better performance than the 802.11 standard and other protocols.
Applying Machine Learning to Nanoindentation Data of (Nano-) Enhanced Composites
Authors: Koumoulos Elias , Konstantopoulos George , Charitidis Costas
Published: December 2019

Carbon fiber reinforced polymers (CFRPs) are continuously gaining attention in aerospace and space applications, and especially their multi-scale reinforcement with nanoadditives. Carbon nanotubes (CNTs), graphene, carbon nanofibers (CNFs), and their functionalized forms are often incorporated into interactive systems to engage specific changes in the environment of application to a smart response. Structural integrity of these nanoscale reinforced composites is assessed with advanced characterization techniques, with the most prominent being nanoindentation testing. Nanoindentation is a well-established technique, which enables quantitative mapping of nanomechanical properties with the μm surficial and nm indentation resolution scale and high precision characterization. This feature enables the characterization of the interface in a statistical and quantitative manner and the correlation of (nano-) reinforcement to interface properties of CFRPs. Identification of reinforcement is performed with k-Nearest Neighbors and Support Vector Machine classification algorithms. Expertise is necessary to describe the physical problem and create representative training/testing datasets. Development of open source Machine Learning algorithms can have an influential impact on uniformity of nanometry data creation and management. The statistical character of nanoindentation is a key factor to supply information on heterogeneity of multiscale reinforced composites. Both the identification of (nano-) reinforcement and quality assessment of composites are provided by involving artificial intelligence.
Experimental Determination of the Threshold Dose for Bifidogenic Activity of Dietary 1-Kestose in Rats
Authors: Watanabe Ayako , Kadota Yoshihiro , Yokoyama Hijiri , Tsuruda Shunya , Kamio Rina , Tochio Takumi , Shimomura Yoshiharu , Kitaura Yasuyuki
Published: December 2019

1-Kestose is a non-digestible oligosaccharide consisting of glucose linked to two fructose units. While 1-kestose is not digested in the small intestine of mammals, it is fermented in the ceca and colon, where the growth of bifidobacteria is promoted. In the present study, we assessed the threshold dose of dietary 1-kestose that increased cecal bifidobacterial levels in rats. Rats were fed experimental diets containing 0% to 0.3% 1-kestose for four weeks. The levels of the genus Bifidobacterium and total gut bacteria were significantly increased in cecal samples of rats fed the 0.3% 1-kestose diet. Further, a significant correlation between the dose of 1-kestose and the levels of cecal Bifidobacterium and total gut bacteria was observed. The minimum dose of dietary 1-kestose to induce significant bifidogenic activity in rats was 0.3% by weight in the diet.
Wild Italian Prunus spinosa L. Fruit Exerts In Vitro Antimicrobial Activity and Protects Against In Vitro and In Vivo Oxidative Stress
Authors: Pozzo Luisa , Russo Rossella , Frassinetti Stefania , Vizzarri Francesco , Árvay Július , Vornoli Andrea , Casamassima Donato , Palazzo Marisa , Della Croce Clara Maria , Longo Vincenzo
Published: December 2019

Polyphenol-rich foods could have a pivotal function in the prevention of oxidative stress-based pathologies and antibacterial action. The purpose of this study was to investigate the in vitro antimicrobial activity, as well as the in vitro and In Vivo antioxidant capacities of wild Prunus spinosa L. fruit (PSF) from the southeast regions of Italy. The total phenolic content (TPC) was quantified, and the single polyphenols were analyzed by HPLC-DAD, showing high rutin and 4-hydroxybenzoic acid levels, followed by gallic and trans-sinapic acids. PSF extract demonstrated antimicrobial activity against some potentially pathogenic Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria. Besides, we investigated the cellular antioxidant activity (CAA) and the hemolysis inhibition of PSF extract on human erythrocytes, evidencing both a good antioxidant power and a marked hemolysis inhibition. Furthermore, an In Vivo experiment with oxidative stress-induced rats treated with a high-fat diet (HFD) and a low dose of streptozotocin (STZ) demonstrated that PSF has a dose-dependent antioxidant capacity both in liver and in brain. In conclusion, the wild Italian Prunus spinosa L. fruit could be considered a potentially useful material for both nutraceutical and food industries because of its antioxidant and antimicrobial effects.
Grape Seeds: Chromatographic Profile of Fatty Acids and Phenolic Compounds and Qualitative Analysis by FTIR-ATR Spectroscopy
Authors: Lucarini Massimo , Durazzo Alessandra , Kiefer Johannes , Santini Antonello , Lombardi-Boccia Ginevra , Souto Eliana , Romani Annalisa , Lampe Anja , Ferrari Nicoli Stefano , Gabrielli Paolo , Bevilacqua Noemi , Campo Margherita , Morassut Massimo , Cecchini Francesca
Published: December 2019

The primary product of the oenological sector is wine. Nonetheless, the grape processing produces large amounts of by-products and wastes, e.g., the grape seeds. In the context of a sustainable production, there is a strong push towards reutilizing these by-products and waste for making useful derivatives since they are rich of bioactive substances with high additional value. As it is true for the wine itself, bringing these by-products derivatives to the market calls for quality measures and analytical tools to assess quality itself. One of the main objectives is to collect analytical data regarding bioactive compounds using potentially green techniques. In the present work, the profile of fatty acids and the main phenolic compounds were investigated by conventional methods. The qualitative analysis of the main functional groups was carried out by Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. Moreover, the successful use of FTIR technique in combination with chemometric data analysis is shown to be a suitable analytical tool for discriminating the grape seeds. Grape seeds of different origin have different content of bioactive substances, making this technique useful when planning to recover a certain substance with specific potential application in health area as food supplement or nutraceutical. For example, Cesanese d’Affile seeds were found to have a rather high fat content with a significant fraction of unsaturated fatty acids. On the other hand, the seeds of Nero d’Avola exhibit the highest amount of phenolic compounds.
Food Safety Challenges and Barriers in Southern United States Farmers Markets
Authors: Mohammad Zahra H. , Yu Heyao , Neal Jack A. , Gibson Kristen E. , Sirsat Sujata A.
Published: December 2019

Purchasing fresh and local produce at farmers markets has seen an increasing trend over the past decade. However, with this rise in popularity food safety challenges need to be recognized and addressed. Farmers market managers play a significant role in ensuring that vendors implement food safety practices at the market. Thus, this study investigated the food safety perceptions of farmers markets managers and vendors in Texas and Arkansas. A total of 123 participants were surveyed, including 38 managers and 85 vendors. The survey included a series of questions to determine gaps in vendor and manager food safety knowledge as well as the barriers and factors that prevent the implementation of relevant food safety practices. The results indicate that a lack of facilities, equipment, and resources containing food safety guidelines specific to farmers markets were the major barriers to the implementation of food safety practices. In addition, only 36.7% of participants had formal food safety training (e.g., ServSafe) and approximately 50% of the market managers provided food safety materials to their vendors. Overall, these data suggest that the development of farmers market-specific training programs to enhance food safety behaviors and practices in farmers markets would be beneficial to stakeholders.
Mung Bean Protein Hydrolysates Protect Mouse Liver Cell Line Nctc-1469 Cell from Hydrogen Peroxide-Induced Cell Injury
Authors: Xie Jianhua , Ye Hedan , Du Mengxia , Yu Qiang , Chen Yi , Shen Mingyue
Published: December 2019

Mung bean is nutritious and rich in protein (19.5%–33.1%). However, there are few studies on mung bean protein active peptides so the mung bean protein hydrolysates (MBPHs) were investigated for evaluating their ability to clear intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) and regulating the ability of antioxidant enzymes on NCTC-1469 cells. Results showed that MBPHs, MBPHs-I (molecular weight < 3 kDa), MBPHs-II (molecular weight between 3 and 10 kDa), and MBPHs-III (molecular weight > 10 kDa) could all improve the survival rate of cells compared with the model group. MBPHs, MBPHs-I, and MBPHs-II could significantly decrease the content of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and reduce the generation of malonaldehyde (MDA) at a concentration of 0.4 mg/mL. Regarding the intracellular ROS, the result showed that MBPHs-I significantly reduced the production of ROS (from 58.3% to 26.6%) and had a dose-dependent relationship. In addition, the amino acid analysis showed that MBPHs-I had a balanced amino acid composition. MBPHs-I is rich in lysine but was deficient in cereals. Therefore, the hydrophobic and aromatic amino acids in MBPHs-I were high, which could improve its antioxidant activity. According to the results, MBPHs-I was the best and most potent natural antioxidant and it can contribute to drug development and medical application.
The Biopolitics of Immigration: A Genealogy of the “Hispanic Paradox”
Authors: Liz Jordan
Published: December 2019

The “Hispanic Paradox” refers to the epidemiological finding that, despite a lower socioeconomic status, Hispanics tend to have health outcomes (especially regarding mortality rates and life expectancy) that are similar to, if not better than, US non-Hispanic Whites. Within the public health literature, a number of explanations have been proposed focusing on reproductive and fertility rates, biological differences, cultural and lifestyle advantages, the impact of selective migration to the US, among others. Despite the abundant literature on this topic since the late 1980s, little work has been done on the paradox from a philosophical perspective. In this paper, I seek to address this gap by offering a genealogy of the “Hispanic Paradox.” The bulk of this paper, then, focuses on exposing how the development of the Hispanic Paradox is epistemically tied to the prevailing anti-immigration discourse of the 1980s and 1990s. By highlighting the relationship between these two phenomena, this paper proposes a new direction for research into the biopolitics of immigration. More specifically, this paper suggests that the discourses of the “browning of America” and the Hispanic Paradox reveal a specifically biopolitical concern over the longevity of the United States as a White-majority country.
Genome-Wide Identification and Expression Analysis of the Protease Inhibitor Gene Families in Tomato
Authors: Fan Yuxuan , Yang Wei , Yan Qingxia , Chen Chunrui , Li Jinhua
Published: December 2019

The protease inhibitors (PIs) in plants are involved primarily in defense against pathogens and pests and in response to abiotic stresses. However, information about the PI gene families in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum), one of the most important model plant for crop species, is limited. In this study, in silico analysis identified 55 PI genes and their conserved domains, phylogenetic relationships, and chromosome locations were characterized. According to genetic structure and evolutionary relationships, the PI gene families were divided into seven families. Genome-wide microarray transcription analysis indicated that the expression of SlPI genes can be induced by abiotic (heat, drought, and salt) and biotic (Botrytis cinerea and tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV)) stresses. In addition, expression analysis using RNA-seq in various tissues and developmental stages revealed that some SlPI genes were highly or preferentially expressed, showing tissue- and developmental stage-specific expression profiles. The expressions of four representative SlPI genes in response to abscisic acid (ABA), salicylic acid (SA), ethylene (Eth), gibberellic acid (GA). and methyl viologen (MV) were determined. Our findings indicated that PI genes may mediate the response of tomato plants to environmental stresses to balance hormone signals. The data obtained here will improve the understanding of the potential function of PI gene and lay a foundation for tomato breeding and transgenic resistance to stresses.
Trans-Atlantic Spillover: Deconstructing the Ecological Adaptation of Leishmania infantum in the Americas
Authors: Boité Mariana C. , Späth Gerald F. , Bussotti Giovanni , Porrozzi Renato , Morgado Fernanda N. , Llewellyn Martin , Schwabl Philipp , Cupolillo Elisa
Published: December 2019

Pathogen fitness landscapes change when transmission cycles establish in non-native environments or spill over into new vectors and hosts. The introduction of Leishmania infantum in the Americas into the Neotropics during European colonization represents a unique case study to investigate the mechanisms of ecological adaptation of this important parasite. Defining the evolutionary trajectories that drive L. infantum fitness in this new environment are of great public health importance as they will allow unique insight into pathways of host/pathogen co-evolution and their consequences for region-specific changes in disease manifestation. This review summarizes current knowledge on L. infantum genetic and phenotypic diversity in the Americas and its possible role in the unique epidemiology of visceral leishmaniasis (VL) in the New World. We highlight the importance of appreciating adaptive molecular mechanisms in L. infantum to understand the parasite’s successful establishment on the continent.
Comparison of Different Methods to Determine the DNA Sequence Preference of Ionising Radiation-Induced DNA Damage
Authors: Murray Vincent , Hardie Megan E. , Gautam Shweta D.
Published: December 2019

Ionising radiation (IR) is known to induce a wide variety of lesions in DNA. In this review, we compared three different techniques that examined the DNA sequence preference of IR-induced DNA damage at nucleotide resolution. These three techniques were: the linear amplification/polymerase stop assay, the end-labelling procedure, and Illumina next-generation genome-wide sequencing. The DNA sequence preference of IR-induced DNA damage was compared in purified DNA sequences including human genomic DNA. It was found that the DNA sequence preference of IR-induced DNA damage identified by the end-labelling procedure (that mainly detected single-strand breaks) and Illumina next-generation genome-wide sequencing (that mainly detected double-strand breaks) was at C nucleotides, while the linear amplification/polymerase stop assay (that mainly detected base damage) was at G nucleotides. A consensus sequence at the IR-induced DNA damage was found to be 5′-AGGC*C for the end-labelling technique, 5′-GGC*MH (where * is the cleavage site, M is A or C, H is any nucleotide except G) for the genome-wide technique, and 5′-GG* for the linear amplification/polymerase stop procedure. These three different approaches are important because they provide a deeper insight into the mechanism of action of IR-induced DNA damage.