bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Bio-Influenced Self-Healing Mechanism in Concrete and Its Testing: A Review
Authors: Griño Albert A. , M. Daly Ma. Klarissa , Ongpeng Jason Maximino C.
Published: July 2020

The micro-cracks in concrete structures are inevitable due to deterioration throughout their service life through various load combination factors. For that reason, there is a need to repair and maintain the concrete in order to prevent the cracks from propagating, which can decrease the service life of the structure. Using bacteria is one of the possible solutions to repair and heal the cracks. Recent research has shown that, in order to achieve the extended service life of a concrete material, a bio-influenced material, such as bacteria, can be used in order to induce the autonomous self-healing of cracks in concrete. Many researchers are still exploring the potential of bacteria for improving the durability and strength of concrete. However, an inclusive literature review revealed that a self-healing mechanism using bacteria can still be improved. There is an imperative need to conduct a comprehensive review about the recent development of and studies into the self-healing mechanism of concrete, in particular with the behavior of bacteria and its effect on the macro, micro and nanostructure of the concrete matrix. This review article can reveal the potential research gap, predict the emerging research topics and define all existing problems or challenges about the bio-influenced self-healing mechanism in concrete. The latest articles are summarized and analyzed using the Latent Dirichlet Allocation (LDA) in Matlab software in order to come up with a possible area of development and future research into bio-concrete. Microencapsulated technology and acoustic emission could be the emerging methods for evaluating the performance of the bacteria and detecting real time cracks inside the concrete matrix in the future. However, there are still existing problems and challenges regarding the adoption of bacteria in the field of construction industry.
The Idea of Byzantium in the Construction of the Musical Cultures of the Balkans
Authors: Moody Ivan
Published: July 2020

In this article, I discuss the persistence of Byzantium as a cultural model in the arts, and in music in particular, in the countries of the Balkans after the fall of Constantinople. By examining ways in which the idea of Byzantium persisted in Balkan artistic cultures (and especially in music) after the fall of Byzantium, and the way in which this relates to the advent of modernism during the later construction of the Balkan nation-states, I illustrate not only the pervasiveness but also the strength of Byzantinism as a pan-Balkan characteristic.
Overview of Observed Clausius-Clapeyron Scaling of Extreme Precipitation in Midlatitudes
Authors: Martinkova Marta , Kysely Jan
Published: July 2020

This paper presents an overview of recent observational studies on the Clausius-Clapeyron precipitation-temperature (P-T) scaling in midlatitudes. As the capacity of air to hold moisture increases in connection with increasing temperature, extreme precipitation events may become more abundant and intense. The capacity of air to hold moisture is governed by the Clausius-Clapeyron (CC) relation, approximately 7% per °C. Departures from this, so called super-CC scaling and sub-CC scaling, are consequences of different factors (moisture availability, type of precipitation, annual cycle, the percentile of precipitation intensity and regional weather patterns). Since the moisture availability and enhanced convection were considered as the most important drivers governing the P-T scaling, dew point temperature as a scaling variable is discussed in detail and methods of disaggregation of precipitation events into convective and non-convective are also reviewed.
Atmospheric Simulations of Total Column CO2 Mole Fractions from Global to Mesoscale within the Carbon Monitoring System Flux Inversion Framework
Authors: Butler Martha P. , Lauvaux Thomas , Feng Sha , Liu Junjie , Bowman Kevin W. , Davis Kenneth J.
Published: July 2020

Quantifying the uncertainty of inversion-derived CO2 surface fluxes and attributing the uncertainty to errors in either flux or atmospheric transport simulations continue to be challenges in the characterization of surface sources and sinks of carbon dioxide (CO2). Despite recent studies inferring fluxes while using higher-resolution modeling systems, the utility of regional-scale models remains unclear when compared to existing coarse-resolution global systems. Here, we present an off-line coupling of the mesoscale Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model to optimized biogenic CO2 fluxes and mole fractions from the global Carbon Monitoring System inversion system (CMS-Flux). The coupling framework consists of methods to constrain the mass of CO2 introduced into WRF, effectively nesting our regional domain covering most of North America (except the northern half of Canada) within the CMS global model. We test the coupling by simulating Greenhouse gases Observing SATellite (GOSAT) column-averaged dry-air mole fractions (XCO2) over North America for 2010. We find mean model-model differences in summer of ∼0.12 ppm, significantly lower than the original coupling scheme (from 0.5 to 1.5 ppm, depending on the boundary). While 85% of the XCO2 values are due to long-range transport from outside our North American domain, most of the model-model differences appear to be due to transport differences in the fraction of the troposphere below 850 hPa. Satellite data from GOSAT and tower and aircraft data are used to show that vertical transport above the Planetary Boundary Layer is responsible for significant model-model differences in the horizontal distribution of column XCO2 across North America.
Online Measurement of PM2.5 at an Air Monitoring Supersite in Yangtze River Delta: Temporal Variation and Source Identification
Authors: Duan Lian , Yan Lei , Xiu Guangli
Published: July 2020

To comprehensively explore the transport of air pollutants, one-year continuous online observation of PM2.5 was conducted from 1 April 2015 to 31 March 2016 at Dianshan Lake, a suburban junction at the central of Yangtze River Delta. The chemical species of PM2.5 samples mainly focused on Organic carbon (OC), Elemental carbon (EC) and Water-Soluble Inorganic Ions (WSIIs). The annual average of PM2.5 concentration was 59.8 ± 31.7 µg·m−3, 1.7 times higher than the Chinese National Ambient Air Quality Standards (CNAAQS) (35 µg·m−3). SNA (SO42−, NO3− and NH4+) was the most dominated species of PM2.5 total WSIIs, accounting for 51% of PM2.5. PM2.5 and all of its chemical species shared the same seasonal variations with higher concentration in winter and spring, lower in autumn and summer. The higher NO3−/EC and NOR occurred in winter suggested that intensive secondary formation of nitrate contributed to the higher levels of PM2.5. Cluster analysis based on 72-h backward air trajectory showed that the air mass cluster from nearby inland cities, including Zhejiang, Anhui and Jiangxi Provinces contributed mostly to the total trajectories. Furtherly, potential source contribution function (PSCF) analysis revealed that local sources, namely the emissions in the Yangtze River, were the primary sources. During haze pollution, NO3− was the most important fraction of PM2.5 and the heterogeneous formation of nitrate became conspicuous. All the results suggested that the anthropogenic emissions (such as traffic exhaust) was responsible for the relatively high level of PM2.5 at this monitoring station.
Biological Activity of Humulus lupulus (L.) Essential Oil and Its Main Components against Sitophilus granarius (L.)
Authors: Paventi Gianluca , de Acutis Laura , De Cristofaro Antonio , Pistillo Marco , Germinara Giacinto S. , Rotundo Giuseppe
Published: July 2020

Besides its use in the brewing industry, hop cones appear as a powerful source of biologically active compounds, already checked for their putative anticancer, antimicrobial, and other bioactivities. Conversely, hop use in pest control remains to date under-investigated. Therefore, the biological activity of hop essential oil (EO) and its main constituents was investigated here against Sitophilus granarius. Adult contact toxicity was found 24 h after treatment with hop EO (LD50/LD90 13.30/40.23 µg/adult), and its three most abundant components, α-humulene, β-myrcene, and β-caryophyllene (LD50/LD90 41.87/73.51, 75.91/126.05, and 138.51/241.27 µg/adult, respectively); negligible variations at 48 h, except for α-humulene (LD50/LD90 26.83/49.49 µg/adult), were found. The fumigant toxicity of the EO and terpenes was also checked: in the absence of wheat grains, β-myrcene showed the highest inhalation toxicity (LC50/LC90 72.78/116.92 mg/L air), whereas α-humulene, β-caryophyllene, and the EO induced similar values (LC50/LC90 about 130/200 mg/L air); with the exception for EO, the wheat presence increased (30–50%) LC50/LC90 values. Moreover, EO and terpenes were perceived by insect antennae and elicited repellent activity. Only β-caryophyllene showed an anticholinesterase effect, this suggesting that different mechanisms of action should be responsible for hop EO toxicity. Therefore, hop EO appears suitable for developing control means against this pest.
Precision Medicine for Lysosomal Disorders
Authors: Pinto e Vairo Filippo , Rojas Málaga Diana , Kubaski Francyne , Fischinger Moura de Souza Carolina , de Oliveira Poswar Fabiano , Baldo Guilherme , Giugliani Roberto
Published: July 2020

Precision medicine (PM) is an emerging approach for disease treatment and prevention that accounts for the individual variability in the genes, environment, and lifestyle of each person. Lysosomal diseases (LDs) are a group of genetic metabolic disorders that include approximately 70 monogenic conditions caused by a defect in lysosomal function. LDs may result from primary lysosomal enzyme deficiencies or impairments in membrane-associated proteins, lysosomal enzyme activators, or modifiers that affect lysosomal function. LDs are heterogeneous disorders, and the phenotype of the affected individual depends on the type of substrate and where it accumulates, which may be impacted by the type of genetic change and residual enzymatic activity. LDs are individually rare, with a combined incidence of approximately 1:4000 individuals. Specific therapies are already available for several LDs, and many more are in development. Early identification may enable disease course prediction and a specific intervention, which is very important for clinical outcome. Driven by advances in omics technology, PM aims to provide the most appropriate management for each patient based on the disease susceptibility or treatment response predictions for specific subgroups. In this review, we focused on the emerging diagnostic technologies that may help to optimize the management of each LD patient and the therapeutic options available, as well as in clinical developments that enable customized approaches to be selected for each subject, according to the principles of PM.
Electronic Nose as a Novel Method for Diagnosing Cancer: A Systematic Review
Authors: Baldini Chiara , Billeci Lucia , Sansone Francesco , Conte Raffaele , Domenici Claudio , Tonacci Alessandro
Published: July 2020

Cancer is fast becoming the most important cause of death worldwide, its mortality being mostly caused by late or wrong diagnosis. Novel strategies have been developed to identify early signs of cancer in a minimally obtrusive way, including the Electronic Nose (E-Nose) technology, user-friendly, cost- and time-saving alternative to classical approaches. This systematic review, conducted under the PRISMA guidelines, identified 60 articles directly dealing with the E-Nose application in cancer research published up to 31 January 2020. Among these works, the vast majority reported successful E-Nose use for diagnosing Lung Cancer, showing promising results especially when employing the Aeonose tool, discriminating subjects with Lung Cancer from controls in more than 80% of individuals, in most studies. In order to tailor the main limitations of the proposed approach, including the application of the protocol to advanced stage of cancer, sample heterogeneity and massive confounders, future studies should be conducted on early stage patients, and on larger cohorts, as to better characterize the specific breathprint associated with the various subtypes of cancer. This would ultimately lead to a better and faster diagnosis and to earlier treatment, possibly reducing the burden associated to such conditions.
EMG-Centered Multisensory Based Technologies for Pattern Recognition in Rehabilitation: State of the Art and Challenges
Authors: Fang Chaoming , He Bowei , Wang Yixuan , Cao Jin , Gao Shuo
Published: July 2020

In the field of rehabilitation, the electromyography (EMG) signal plays an important role in interpreting patients’ intentions and physical conditions. Nevertheless, utilizing merely the EMG signal suffers from difficulty in recognizing slight body movements, and the detection accuracy is strongly influenced by environmental factors. To address the above issues, multisensory integration-based EMG pattern recognition (PR) techniques have been developed in recent years, and fruitful results have been demonstrated in diverse rehabilitation scenarios, such as achieving high locomotion detection and prosthesis control accuracy. Owing to the importance and rapid development of the EMG centered multisensory fusion technologies in rehabilitation, this paper reviews both theories and applications in this emerging field. The principle of EMG signal generation and the current pattern recognition process are explained in detail, including signal preprocessing, feature extraction, classification algorithms, etc. Mechanisms of collaborations between two important multisensory fusion strategies (kinetic and kinematics) and EMG information are thoroughly explained; corresponding applications are studied, and the pros and cons are discussed. Finally, the main challenges in EMG centered multisensory pattern recognition are discussed, and a future research direction of this area is prospected.
Targeting the Tumor Microenvironment in Neuroblastoma: Recent Advances and Future Directions
Authors: Joshi Shweta
Published: July 2020

Neuroblastoma (NB) is the most common pediatric tumor malignancy that originates from the neural crest and accounts for more than 15% of all the childhood deaths from cancer. The neuroblastoma cancer research has long been focused on the role of MYCN oncogene amplification and the contribution of other genetic alterations in the progression of this malignancy. However, it is now widely accepted that, not only tumor cells, but the components of tumor microenvironment (TME), including extracellular matrix, stromal cells and immune cells, also contribute to tumor progression in neuroblastoma. The complexity of different components of tumor stroma and their resemblance with surrounding normal tissues pose huge challenges for therapies targeting tumor microenvironment in NB. Hence, the detailed understanding of the composition of the TME of NB is crucial to improve existing and future potential immunotherapeutic approaches against this childhood cancer. In this review article, I will discuss different components of the TME of NB and the recent advances in the strategies, which are used to target the tumor microenvironment in neuroblastoma.
Prognostic Significance of CD105- and CD31-Assessed Microvessel Density in Paired Biopsies and Surgical Samples of Laryngeal Carcinoma
Authors: Marioni Gino , Franz Leonardo , Ottaviano Giancarlo , Contro Giacomo , Tealdo Giulia , Carli Alessandro , Frigo Anna Chiara , Nicolai Piero , Alessandrini Lara
Published: July 2020

Small pretreatment laryngeal biopsies may not fully represent a tumor’s biological profile. This study on laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC) aimed to investigate the prognostic role of CD105- and CD31-assessed microvessel density (MVD) in paired biopsies and surgical specimens and the association and discrepancy between CD105- and CD31-assessed MVD in biopsies and surgical specimens. CD105- and CD31-assessed MVD was analyzed in paired biopsies and surgical specimens of 45 consecutive cases of LSCC. In the LSCC biopsies and surgical specimens, median CD105-assessed MVD was significantly higher in N+ than in N0 cases (p = 0.0008, and p = 0.0002, respectively). Disease-free survival (DFS) was associated with CD105- and CD31-assessed MVD in both biopsies and surgical specimens (p < 0.0001 for all specimens). Multivariable Cox’s regression showed that pathological grade (p < 0.0001) and CD105-assessed MVD in LSCC biopsies (p = 0.0209) predicted DFS. Lin’s concordance coefficient showed that CD31 overestimated MVD compared with CD105 in LSCC biopsies and surgical specimens. CD105-assessed MVD should be further investigated in larger LSCC series as a potential prognostic marker for identifying: patients at higher risk of recurrence who might warrant more aggressive therapy; and cN0 patients requiring elective neck dissection for a significant risk of regional metastasis.
Biology of Oestrogen-Receptor Positive Primary Breast Cancer in Older Women with Utilisation of Core Needle Biopsy Samples and Correlation with Clinical Outcome
Authors: Parks Ruth M. , Albanghali Mohammad , Syed Binafsha M. , Green Andrew R. , Ellis Ian O. , Cheung Kwok-Leung
Published: July 2020

The majority of biological profiling studies use surgical excision (SE) samples, excluding patients receiving nonsurgical and neoadjuvant therapy. We propose using core needle biopsy (CNB) for biological profiling in older women. Over 37 years (1973–2010), 1 758 older (≥70 years) women with operable primary breast cancer attended a dedicated clinic. Of these, 693 had sufficient quality CNB to construct tissue microarray (TMA). The pattern of biomarkers was analysed in oestrogen receptor (ER)-positive cases, using immunohistochemistry and partitional clustering analysis. The biomarkers measured were: progesterone receptor (PgR), Ki67, Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR), Human Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (HER)-2, HER3, HER4, p53, cytokeratins CK5/6 and CK7/8, Mucin (MUC)1, liver kinase B1 (LKB1), Breast Cancer Associated gene (BRCA) 1, B-Cell Lymphoma (BCL)-2, phosphate and tensin homolog (PTEN), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and Amplified in breast cancer 1 (AIB1). CNB TMA construction was possible in 536 ER-positive cases. Multivariate analysis showed progesterone receptor (PgR) (p = 0.015), Ki67 (p = 0.001), and mucin (MUC)1 (p = 0.033) as independent predictors for breast-cancer-specific survival (BCSS). Cluster analysis revealed three biological clusters, which were consistent with luminal A, luminal B, and low-ER luminal. The low-ER luminal cluster had lower BCSS compared to luminal A and B. The presence of the low-ER luminal cluster unique to older women, identified in a previous study in SE TMAs in the same cohort, is confirmed. This present study is novel in its use of core needle biopsy tissue microarrays to profile the biology of breast cancer in older women.
Elucidation of Water Promoter Effect of Proton Conductor in WGS Reaction over Pt-Based Catalyst: An Operando DRIFTS Study
Authors: Jurado Lole , García-Moncada Nuria , Bobadilla Luis F. , Romero-Sarria Francisca , Odriozola José A.
Published: July 2020

A conventional Pt/CeO2/Al2O3 catalyst physically mixed with an ionic conductor (Mo- or Eu-doped ZrO2) was tested at high space velocity (20,000 h−1 and 80 L h−1 gcat−1) under model conditions (only with CO and H2O) and industrial conditions, with a realistic feed. The promoted system with the ionic conductor physically mixed showed better catalytic activity associated with better water dissociation and mobility, considered as a rate-determining step. The water activation was assessed by operando diffuse reflectance infrared fourier transformed spectroscopy (DRIFTS) studies under reaction conditions and the Mo-containing ionic conductor exhibited the presence of both dissociated (3724 cm−1) and physisorbed (5239 cm−1) water on the Eu-doped ZrO2 solid solution, which supports the appearance of proton conductivity by Grotthuss mechanism. Moreover, the band at 3633 cm−1 ascribed to hydrated Mo oxide, which increases with the temperature, explains the increase of catalytic activity when the physical mixture was used in a water gas shift (WGS) reaction.
The Effects of PK11195 and Protoporphyrin IX Can Modulate Chronic Alcohol Intoxication in Rat Liver Mitochondria under the Opening of the Mitochondrial Permeability Transition Pore
Authors: Baburina Yulia , Odinokova Irina , Krestinina Olga
Published: July 2020

Decades of active research have shown that mitochondrial dysfunction, the associated oxidative stress, impaired anti-stress defense mechanisms, and the activation of the proapoptotic signaling pathways underlie pathological changes in organs and tissues. Pathologies caused by alcohol primarily affect the liver. Alcohol abuse is the cause of many liver diseases, such as steatosis, alcoholic steatohepatitis, fibrosis, cirrhosis, and, potentially, hepatocellular cancer. In this study, the effect of chronic alcohol exposure on rat liver mitochondria was investigated. We observed an ethanol-induced increase in sensitivity to calcium, changes in the level of protein kinase Akt and GSK-3β phosphorylation, an induction of the mitochondrial permeability transition pore (mPTP), and strong alterations in the expression of mPTP regulators. Moreover, we also showed an enhanced effect of PK11195 and PPIX, on the parameters of the mPTP opening in rat liver mitochondria (RLM) isolated from ethanol-treated rats compared to the RLM from control rats. We suggest that the results of this study could help elucidate the mechanisms of chronic ethanol action on the mitochondria and contribute to the development of new therapeutic strategies for treating the effects of ethanol-related diseases.
A Transposon Story: From TE Content to TE Dynamic Invasion of Drosophila Genomes Using the Single-Molecule Sequencing Technology from Oxford Nanopore
Authors: Mohamed Mourdas , Dang Nguyet Thi-Minh , Ogyama Yuki , Burlet Nelly , Mugat Bruno , Boulesteix Matthieu , Mérel Vincent , Veber Philippe , Salces-Ortiz Judit , Severac Dany , Pélisson Alain , Vieira Cristina , Sabot François , Fablet Marie , Chambeyron Séverine
Published: July 2020

Transposable elements (TEs) are the main components of genomes. However, due to their repetitive nature, they are very difficult to study using data obtained with short-read sequencing technologies. Here, we describe an efficient pipeline to accurately recover TE insertion (TEI) sites and sequences from long reads obtained by Oxford Nanopore Technology (ONT) sequencing. With this pipeline, we could precisely describe the landscapes of the most recent TEIs in wild-type strains of Drosophila melanogaster and Drosophila simulans. Their comparison suggests that this subset of TE sequences is more similar than previously thought in these two species. The chromosome assemblies obtained using this pipeline also allowed recovering piRNA cluster sequences, which was impossible using short-read sequencing. Finally, we used our pipeline to analyze ONT sequencing data from a D. melanogaster unstable line in which LTR transposition was derepressed for 73 successive generations. We could rely on single reads to identify new insertions with intact target site duplications. Moreover, the detailed analysis of TEIs in the wild-type strains and the unstable line did not support the trap model claiming that piRNA clusters are hotspots of TE insertions.
In Vitro Cultures of Adipose-Derived Stem Cells: An Overview of Methods, Molecular Analyses, and Clinical Applications
Authors: Jankowski Maurycy , Dompe Claudia , Sibiak Rafał , Wąsiatycz Grzegorz , Mozdziak Paul , Jaśkowski Jędrzej M. , Antosik Paweł , Kempisty Bartosz , Dyszkiewicz-Konwińska Marta
Published: July 2020

Adipose-derived stem cells (ASCs) exhibiting mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) characteristics, have been extensively studied in recent years. Because they have been shown to differentiate into lineages such as osteogenic, chondrogenic, neurogenic or myogenic, the focus of most of the current research concerns either their potential to replace bone marrow as a readily available and abundant source of MSCs, or to employ them in regenerative and reconstructive medicine. There is close to consensus regarding the methodology used for ASC isolation and culture, whereas a number of molecular analyses implicates them in potential therapies of a number of pathologies. When it comes to clinical application, there is a range of examples of animal trials and clinical studies employing ASCs, further emphasizing the advancement of studies leading to their more widespread use. Nevertheless, in vitro studies will most likely continue to play a significant role in ASC studies, both providing the molecular knowledge of their ex vivo properties and possibly serving as an important step in purification and application of those cells in a clinical setting. Therefore, it is important to consider current methods of ASC isolation, culture, and processing. Furthermore, molecular analyses and cell surface properties of ASCs are essential for animal studies, clinical studies, and therapeutic applications of the MSC properties.
Recent Progress in Precision Machining and Surface Finishing of Tungsten Carbide Hard Composite Coatings
Authors: Micallef Christian , Zhuk Yuri , Aria Adrianus Indrat
Published: July 2020

Owing to their high hardness, fracture toughness and oxidation resistance, tungsten carbide (WC) coatings are extensively deposited on parts that operate in demanding applications, necessitating wear, erosion, and corrosion resistance. The application of thick and hard WC coatings has an inevitable effect on the original dimensions of the parts, affecting the geometrical tolerances and surface roughness. The capability of achieving a sub-micron surface finish and adhere to tight geometrical tolerances accurately and repeatably is an important requirement, particularly with components that operate in high-precision sliding motion. Meeting such requirements through conventional surface finishing methods, however, can be challenging due to the superior mechanical and tribological properties of WC coatings. A brief review into the synthesis techniques of cemented and binderless WC coatings is presented together with a comprehensive review into the available techniques which are used to surface finish WC-based coatings with reference to their fundamental mechanisms and capabilities to process parts with intricate and internal features. The binderless WC/W coating considered in this work is deposited through chemical vapour deposition (CVD) and unlike traditional cemented carbide coatings, it has a homogenous coating structure. This distinctive characteristic has the potential of eliminating key issues commonly encountered with machining and finishing of WC-based coatings. Here, six contact and non-contact surface finishing techniques, include diamond turning, precision grinding, superfinishing, vibratory polishing, electrical discharge machining, and electropolishing are discussed along with their current use in industry and limitations. Key challenges in the field are highlighted and potential directions for future investigation, particularly on binderless WC coatings, are proposed herein.
Experimental Investigation of Thermal Annealing and Ferroelectric Capacitor Area Effects for Hafnium-Zirconium Oxide Devices
Authors: Hsu Hsiao-Hsuan , Liu Hsiu-Ming , Lee Sheng
Published: July 2020

In this study, we reveal that the thermal budget of post-metal annealing not only determines the formation of the ferroelectric phase and dipole domain but also the film quality of the gate stack in a metal-ferroelectric-metal capacitor. The higher leakage current caused by defect traps or grain boundaries within a gate stack would influence the stability of the ferroelectric domain switching. Furthermore, the ferroelectric domain switching and polarization current also depend on the ferroelectric capacitor area. We observe that a HfAlO ferroelectric capacitor can dominate the transfer characteristics of a p-type SnO thin-film transistor through the modulation of series capacitance in the gate stack based on a one-transistor one-capacitor series configuration. According to experimental results, the memory hysteresis window can be improved significantly with the area scaling due to the improvement of capacitance matching accuracy.
Drop Size Dependence of the Apparent Surface Tension of Aqueous Solutions in Hexane Vapor as Studied by Drop Profile Analysis Tensiometry
Authors: Fainerman Valentin B. , Kovalchuk Volodymyr I. , Aksenenko Eugene V. , Sharipova Altynay A. , Liggieri Libero , Javadi Aliyar , Makievski Alexander V. , Nikolenko Mykola V. , Aidarova Saule B. , Miller Reinhard
Published: July 2020

Surface tension experiments were performed using the drop profile analysis tensiometry method. The hexane was injected into the measuring cell at certain times before the formation of the solution drop. The influence of the capillary diameter and solution drop size on the measured apparent dynamic surface tension was studied. The amount of hexane transferred from the vapor phase to the drop was estimated. For large pure water drops, it was shown that the ageing of the drop in the hexane vapor during a long time resulted in the formation of a liquid hexane phase covering the drop, but the volume of this phase did not exceed 0.5 mm3. On the contrary, for surfactant solution drops the volume of the hexane phase covering the drop was essentially larger. Experiments with solution drops were performed to measure the surface tension within a wide range of surfactant concentration. It was found that the dependencies of dynamic surface tension on the C13DMPO and C14EO8 solutions concentration exhibit maxima at concentrations of about 1–2 μmol/L for C14EO8 and 2–5 μmol/L for C13DMPO at ageing times of 100 to 1000 s; these maxima were shown to exist also at equilibrium. This phenomenon is presumably ascribed to the competitive character of simultaneous adsorption of hexane and surfactant.
Analysis of a Consensus Protocol for Extending Consistent Subchains on the Bitcoin Blockchain
Authors: Longo Riccardo , Podda Alessandro Sebastian , Saia Roberto
Published: July 2020

Currently, an increasing number of third-party applications exploit the Bitcoin blockchain to store tamper-proof records of their executions, immutably. For this purpose, they leverage the few extra bytes available for encoding custom metadata in Bitcoin transactions. A sequence of records of the same application can thus be abstracted as a stand-alone subchain inside the Bitcoin blockchain. However, several existing approaches do not make any assumptions about the consistency of their subchains, either (i) neglecting the possibility that this sequence of messages can be altered, mainly due to unhandled concurrency, network malfunctions, application bugs, or malicious users, or (ii) giving weak guarantees about their security. To tackle this issue, in this paper, we propose an improved version of a consensus protocol formalized in our previous work, built on top of the Bitcoin protocol, to incentivize third-party nodes to consistently extend their subchains. Besides, we perform an extensive analysis of this protocol, both defining its properties and presenting some real-world attack scenarios, to show how its specific design choices and parameter configurations can be crucial to prevent malicious practices.
Synthesis of N-(Anthracen-9-ylmethyl)-N-methyl-2-(phenylsulfonyl)ethanamine via Microwave Green Synthesis Method: X-ray Characterization, DFT and Hirshfeld Analysis
Authors: Al-Qubati Mohyeddine , Ghabbour Hazem A. , Soliman Saied M. , Al-Majid Abdullah Mohammed , Barakat Assem , Sultan Mujeeb A.
Published: July 2020

N-(Anthracen-9-ylmethyl)-N-methyl-2-(phenylsulfonyl)ethanamine 3 has been synthesized via the aza-Michael addition approach by reaction of the corresponding amine with the vinyl sulfone derivative under microwave conditions. The structure of the aza-Michael product 3 is elucidated by X-ray crystallography. The study of molecular packing by employing the Hirshfeld analysis indicates that the percentages of O…H, C…H and H…H contacts are 16.8%, 34.1% and 48.6%, respectively, where the O...H hydrogen bonds have the characteristics of short and strong contacts while the C...H contacts are considered weak. Density functional theory (DFT) investigations show that the aza-Michael product 3 is polar with a net dipole moment of 5.2315 debye.
Change in Interface Characteristics of ITO Modified with n-decyltrimethoxysilane
Authors: Baek Myung-Gyun , Shin Johng-Eon , Hwang Dong-Hyun , Kim Sung-Hoon , Park Hong-Gyu , Park Sang-Geon
Published: July 2020

Herein, we examined changes in the interfacial properties of organic light-emitting diodes when n-decyltrimethoxysilane (CH3SAM) was deposited on the surface of an indium tin oxide (ITO) electrode for various deposition times. It was revealed that the interfacial properties varied with deposition time. As the latter increased, so did the measured value of the contact angle, and ITO substrate exhibited a lower wettability. The contact angle measurements for bare ITO at 1, 10, 30, and 90 min were 57.41°, 63.43°, 73.76°, 81.47°, respectively, and the highest value obtained was 93.34°. In addition, the average roughness and work function of the ITO were measured using atomic force microscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. As the deposition time of CH3SAM on the ITO substrates increased, it was evident that the former was well aligned with the latter, improving surface modification. The work function of CH3SAM, modified on the ITO substrates, improved by approximately 0.11 eV from 5.05–5.16 eV. The introduction of CH3SAM to the ITO revealed the ease of adjustment of the characteristics of ITO substrates.
The Differential Importance of Deep and Shallow Seagrass to Nekton Assemblages of the Great Barrier Reef
Authors: Hayes Matthew A. , McClure Eva C. , York Paul H. , Jinks Kristin I. , Rasheed Michael A. , Sheaves Marcus , Connolly Rod M.
Published: July 2020

Seagrass meadows are an important habitat for a variety of animals, including ecologically and socioeconomically important species. Seagrass meadows are recognised as providing species with nursery grounds, and as a migratory pathway to adjacent habitats. Despite their recognised importance, little is known about the species assemblages that occupy seagrass meadows of different depths in the coastal zone. Understanding differences in the distribution of species in seagrass at different depths, and differences in species diversity, abundance, biomass, and size spectra, is important to fully appreciate both the ecological significance and economic importance of these seagrass meadows. Here, we assess differences in the assemblage characteristics of fish, crustacea, and cephalopods (collectively, nekton) between deep (>9 m; Halophila spinulosa dominant) and shallow water (<2 m; Halodule uninervis and/or Zostera muelleri dominant) seagrass meadows of the central Great Barrier Reef coast of Queensland, Australia. Nekton assemblage structure differed between deep and shallow seagrass. Deeper meadows were typified by juvenile emperors (e.g., Lethrinus genivittatus), hairfinned leatherjacket (Paramonacanthus japonicus) and rabbitfish (e.g., Siganus fuscescens) in both biomass per unit effort (BPUE) and catch per unit effort (CPUE), whereas shallow meadows were typified by the green tiger prawn (Penaeus semisulcatus) and pugnose ponyfish (Secutor insidiator) in both BPUE and CPUE. Both meadow depths were distinct in their nekton assemblage, particularly for socioeconomically important species, with 11 species unique to both shallow and deep meadows. However, both meadow depths also included juveniles of socioeconomically important species found in adjacent habitats as adults. The total nekton CPUE was not different between deep and shallow seagrass, but the BPUE and body mass of individual animals were greater in deep than shallow seagrass. Size spectra analysis indicated that in both deep and shallow meadows, smaller animals predominated, even more so than theoretically expected for size spectra. Our findings highlight the unique attributes of both shallow and deeper water seagrass meadows, and identify the distinct and critically important role of deep seagrass meadows within the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area (GBRWHA) as a habitat for small and juvenile species, including those of local fisheries value.
Screen-Printed Electrodes (SPE) for In Vitro Diagnostic Purpose
Authors: Mincu Nicolae-Bogdan , Lazar Veronica , Stan Dana , Mihailescu Carmen Marinela , Iosub Rodica , Mateescu Andreea Lorena
Published: July 2020

Due to rapidly spreading infectious diseases and the high incidence of other diseases such as cancer or metabolic syndrome, there is a continuous need for the development of rapid and accurate diagnosis methods. Screen-printed electrodes-based biosensors have been reported to offer reliable results, with high sensitivity and selectivity and, in some cases, low detection limits. There are a series of materials (carbon, gold, platinum, etc.) used for the manufacturing of working electrodes. Each version comes with advantages, as well as challenges for their functionalization. Thus, the aim is to review the most promising biosensors developed using screen-printed electrodes for the detection/quantification of proteins, biomarkers, or pathogenic microorganisms.
Next Generation Sequencing for Gene Fusion Analysis in Lung Cancer: A Literature Review
Authors: Bruno Rossella , Fontanini Gabriella
Published: July 2020

Gene fusions have a pivotal role in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) precision medicine. Several techniques can be used, from fluorescence in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry to next generation sequencing (NGS). Although several NGS panels are available, gene fusion testing presents more technical challenges than other variants. This is a PubMed-based narrative review aiming to summarize NGS approaches for gene fusion analysis and their performance on NSCLC clinical samples. The analysis can be performed at DNA or RNA levels, using different target enrichment (hybrid-capture or amplicon-based) and sequencing chemistries, with both custom and commercially available panels. DNA sequencing evaluates different alteration types simultaneously, but large introns and repetitive sequences can impact on the performance and it does not discriminate between expressed and unexpressed gene fusions. RNA-based targeted approach analyses and quantifies directly fusion transcripts and is more accurate than DNA panels on tumor tissue, but it can be limited by RNA quality and quantity. On liquid biopsy, satisfying data have been published on circulating tumor DNA hybrid-capture panels. There is not a perfect method for gene fusion analysis, but NGS approaches, though still needing a complete standardization and optimization, present several advantages for the clinical practice.
Towards Bio-Inspiration, Development, and Manufacturing of a Flapping-Wing Micro Air Vehicle
Authors: Lane P. , Throneberry G. , Fernandez I. , Hassanalian M. , Vasconcellos R. , Abdelkefi A.
Published: July 2020

Throughout the last decade, there has been an increased demand for intricate flapping-wing drones with different capabilities than larger drones. The design of flapping-wing drones is focused on endurance and stability, as these are two of the main challenges of these systems. Researchers have recently been turning towards bioinspiration as a way to enhance aerodynamic performance. In this work, the propulsion system of a flapping-wing micro air vehicle is investigated to identify the limitations and drawbacks of specific designs. Each system has a tandem wing configuration inspired by a dragonfly, with wing shapes inspired by a bumblebee. For the design of this flapping-wing, a sizing process is carried out. A number of actuation mechanisms are considered, and two different mechanisms are designed and integrated into a flapping-wing system and compared to one another. The second system is tested using a thrust stand to investigate the impact of wing configurations on aerodynamic force production and the trend of force production from varying flapping frequency. Results present the optimal wing configuration of those tested and that an angle of attack of two degrees yields the greatest force production. A tethered flight test is conducted to examine the stability and aerodynamic capabilities of the drone, and challenges of flapping-wing systems and solutions that can lead to successful flight are presented. Key challenges to the successful design of these systems are weight management, force production, and stability and control.
Answering Schrödinger’s “What Is Life?”
Authors: Kauffman Stuart
Published: July 2020

In his “What Is Life?” Schrödinger poses three questions: (1) What is the source of order in organisms? (2) How do organisms remain ordered in the face of the Second Law of Thermodynamics? (3) Are new laws of physics required? He answers his first question with his famous “aperiodic solid”. He leaves his second and third questions unanswered. I try to show that his first answer is also the answer to his second question. Aperiodic solids such as protein enzymes are “boundary conditions” that constrain the release of energy into a few degrees of freedom in non-equilibrium processes such that thermodynamic work is done. This work propagates and builds structures and controls processes. These constitute his causally efficacious “code script” controlling development. The constrained release of energy also delays the production of entropy that can be exported from cells as it forms. Therefore, cells remain ordered. This answers his second question. However, “What is life?” must also ask about the diachronic evolution of life. Here, the surprising answer to this extended version of Schrödinger’s third question is that there are no new entailing laws of physics. No laws at all entail the evolution of ours or any biosphere.
An Emotion-Aware Learning Analytics System Based on Semantic Task Automation
Authors: Muñoz Sergio , Sánchez Enrique , Iglesias Carlos A.
Published: July 2020

E-learning has become a critical factor in the academic environment due to the endless number of possibilities that it opens for the learning context. However, these platforms often suppose to increase the difficulties for the communication between teachers and students. Without having real contact between teachers and students, the former finds it harder to adapt their methods and content to their students, while the students also find complications for maintaining their focus. This paper aims to address this challenge with the use of emotion and engagement recognition techniques. We propose an emotion-aware e-learning platform architecture that recognizes students’ emotions and attention in order to improve their academic performance. The system integrates a semantic task automation system that allows users to easily create and configure their own automation rules to adapt the study environment. The main contributions of this paper are: (1) the design of an emotion-aware learning analytics architecture; (2) the integration of this architecture in a semantic task automation platform; and (3) the validation of the use of emotion recognition in the e-learning platform using partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) methodology.
Triple-Mode Switched-Inductor-Capacitor DC-DC Buck Converter with Reusable Flying Capacitor and Bang-Bang Zero-Current Detector for Wide Load Current Range
Authors: Baek Jongbeom , Lee Hyung-Min , Shin Se-Un
Published: July 2020

Although the capacity of a battery with a small form factor is extremely low, demand for long usage time of Internet of Things (IoT) products is increasing. Owing to this limitation of the battery, power management integrated circuits (PMICs) are used for extending the battery usage time with high efficiency. In particular, since IoT devices are mostly in the sleep mode in the idle state, PMICs should achieve high efficiency for ultralight loads in the sleep mode as well as for heavy loads in the active mode. In this paper, an accurate bang-bang zero-current detector (to prevent a reverse inductor current) and a triple-mode switched inductor-capacitor dc-dc buck converter with a reusable flying capacitor are presented; these techniques can maintain high efficiency over a wide load current range. The proposed buck converter was fabricated in a 0.18-μm 1P4M CMOS process. A power conversion efficiency exceeding 85% was achieved in the load range of 100 µA to 300 mA.
The Effect of Hydrogen Addition on Low-Temperature Combustion of Light Hydrocarbons and Alcohols
Authors: Mosisa Wako Fekadu , Pio Gianmaria , Salzano Ernesto
Published: July 2020

Hydrogen is largely considered as an attractive additive fuel for hydrocarbons and alcohol-fueled engines. Nevertheless, a complete understanding of the interactions between blended fuel mechanisms under oxidative conditions at low initial temperature is still lacking. This study is devoted to the numerical investigation of the laminar burning velocity of hydrogen–hydrocarbon and hydrogen–alcohol fuels under several compositions. Estimations were compared with experimental data reported in the current literature. Additionally, the effects of hydrogen addition on engine performance, NOX, and other pollutant emissions of the mentioned fuels have been thermodynamically analyzed. From the study, it has been observed that the laminar burning velocity of the fuel mixtures increased with increasing hydrogen fractions and the peak value shifted to richer conditions. Besides, hydrogen fraction was found to increase the adiabatic flame temperatures eventually favoring the NOX formation for all fuel blends except the acetylene–hydrogen–air mixture where hydrogen showed a reverse effect. Besides, hydrogen is also found to improve the engine performances and helps to surge thermal efficiency, improve the combustion rate, and lessen other pollutant emissions such as CO, CO2, and unburned hydrocarbons. The model predicted well and in good agreement with the experimental data reported in the recent literature.
Assessing Exergy-Based Economic and Sustainability Analyses of a Military Gas Turbine Engine Fueled with Various Fuels
Authors: Yuksel Burak , Gunerhan Huseyin , Hepbasli Arif
Published: July 2020

This research put forth exergy-based economic and sustainability analyses of a (J85-GE-5H) military turbojet engine (TJE). Firstly, sustainability, conventional exergoeconomic and advanced exergoeconomic cost analyses were executed utilizing kerosene fuel according to real engine working circumstances. The engine was likewise investigated parametrically, considering H2 fuel utilization. The sustainable economic analysis assessment of the TJE was finally actualized by comparing the acquired outcomes for both fuels. The entire engine’s unit exergy cost of product (cPr) with kerosene was determined 76.45 $/GJ for the military (MIL) process mode (PM), whereas it was computed 94.97 $/GJ for the afterburner (AB) PM. Given the use of H2, the cPr increased to 179 and 288 $/GJ for the aforementioned two modes, seriatim. While the sustainability cost index (SCI) values were obtained 52.86 and 78.84 $/GJ for the MIL and AB PM, seriatim, they became 128 and 244 $/GJ when considering H2. Consequently, the higher exergy demolitions occurring in the afterburner exhaust duct (ABED) and combustion chamber (CC) sections led to higher exergy destruction costs in the TJE. However, the engine worked less cost efficient with H2 fuel rather than JP-8 fuel because of the higher cost value of fuel.