bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Unveiling a Recycling-Sourced Mineral-Biocellulose Fibre Composite for Use in Combustion-Generated NOx Mitigation Forming Plant Nutrient: Meeting Sustainability Development Goals in the Circular Economy
Authors: Gane Patrick , Dimić-Mišić Katarina , Barać Nemanja , Imani Monireh , Janaćković Djordje , Uskoković Petar , Barceló Ernest
Published: June 2020

NOx is unavoidably emitted during combustion in air at high temperature and/or pressure, which, if exceeding recommended levels, has a negative impact on the population. The authors found that when moist, limestone (CaCO3) readily sorbs NO2 to form calcium nitrate, which provides the basis for developing a surface flow filter. The substrate was made from “over-recycled” cellulose fibres such as newsprint, magazines, or packaging fibre, which are too weak to be used in further recycling. The substrate was specially-coated with fine-ground calcium carbonate and micro-nano-fibrillated cellulose, which was used as a binder and essential humectant to avoid formation of a stagnant air layer. Pre-oxidation countered the action of denitrification bacteria colonising the cellulose substrate. The by-product CO2 produced in situ during carbonate to nitrate conversion was adsorbed by perlite, which is an inert high surface-area additive. After use, the nitrate-rich CaCO3-cellulose-based filter was proposed to be mulched into a run-off resistant soil fertiliser and micronutrient suitable, e.g., for renewable forestry within the circular economy. Belgrade, Serbia, which is a highly polluted city, was used as a laboratory test bed, and NO2 was successfully removed from an inlet of city air. A construct of street-side self-draughting or municipal/commercial transport vehicle-exterior motion-draught filter boxes is discussed.
Comparison of Artificial Intelligence Methods for Fault Classification of the 115-kV Hybrid Transmission System
Authors: Klomjit Jittiphong , Ngaopitakkul Atthapol
Published: June 2020

This research proposes a comparison study on different artificial intelligence (AI) methods for classifying faults in hybrid transmission line systems. The 115-kV hybrid transmission line in the Provincial Electricity Authority (PEA-Thailand) system, which is a single circuit single conductor transmission line, is studied. Fault signals in the transmission line were generated by the EMTP/ATPDraw software. Various factors such as fault location, type, and angle were considered. Then, fault signals were analyzed by coefficient details on the first scale of the discrete wavelet transform. Daubechies mother wavelet from MATLAB software was used to decompose the fault signal. The coefficient value of the mother wavelet behaved depending on the position, inception of fault angle, and fault type. AI methods including probabilistic neural networks (PNNs), back-propagation neural networks (BPNNs), and support vector machine (SVM) were used to identify faults. AI input used the maximum first peak coefficients of phase ABC and zero sequence. The results obtained from the study were found to be satisfactory with all AI methodologies having an average accuracy of more than 98% in the case study. However, the SVM technique can provide more accurate results than the PNN and BPNN techniques with less computation burden. Thus, it is suitable for being applied to actual protection systems.
A Classification System for Insulation Defect Identification of Gas-Insulated Switchgear (GIS), Based on Voiceprint Recognition Technology
Authors: Yao Weijia , Xu Yongpeng , Qian Yong , Sheng Gehao , Jiang Xiuchen
Published: June 2020

Insulation defects that occur in gas-insulated switchgear (GIS), which is one of the most important types of equipment in the power grid, can lead to serious accidents. The ultrasonic detection method is commonly used to detect partial discharge (PD) signals in power equipment to discover defects. However, the traditional method to diagnose defects in GIS with ultrasonic PD signals is still based on the experience of testers. In this study, a classification system was proposed to identify insulation defects of GIS, based on voiceprint recognition technology. Twelve coefficients from mel frequency cepstral coefficient (MFCC) and 24 delta MFCC features were extracted as the acoustic features of the system. A support vector machine (SVM) multi-classifier was constructed to perform the classification and the sequential minimal optimization (SMO) algorithm was used to optimize the computational efficiency of the SVM. The experiments were conducted on a 110 kV GIS with different kinds of insulation defects. The results verified that the classification system with SMO-SVM achieved better identification accuracy and efficiency than the system with SVM. Therefore, it reveals the feasibility of the system to realize identification of insulation defects in GIS automatically and accurately.
Exposure and Respiratory Tract Deposition Dose of Equivalent Black Carbon in High Altitudes
Authors: Madueño Leizel , Kecorius Simonas , Andrade Marcos , Wiedensohler Alfred
Published: June 2020

The traffic microenvironment accounts for a significant fraction of the total daily dose of inhaled air pollutants. The adverse effects of air pollution may be intensified in high altitudes (HA) due to increased minute ventilation (MV), which may result in higher deposition doses compared to that at sea level. Despite this, air quality studies in regions with combined high pollution levels and enhanced inhalation are limited. The main goals of this study are to investigate how the choice of travel mode (walking, microbus, and cable car ride) determines (i) the personal exposure to equivalent black carbon (eBC) and (ii) the corresponding potential respiratory deposited dose (RDD) in HA. For this investigation, we chose La Paz and El Alto in Bolivia as HA representative cities. The highest eBC exposure occurred in microbus commutes (13 μg m−3), while the highest RDD per trip was recorded while walking (6.3 μg) due to increased MV. On the other hand, the lowest eBC exposure and RDD were observed in cable car commute. Compared with similar studies done at sea level, our results revealed that a HA city should reduce exposure by 1.4 to 1.8-fold to achieve similar RDD at sea level, implying that HA cities require doubly aggressive and stringent road emission policies compared to those at sea level.
Assimilation of Himawari-8 Rapid-Scan Atmospheric Motion Vectors on Tropical Cyclone in HWRF System
Authors: Sawada Masahiro , Ma Zaizhong , Mehra Avichal , Tallapragada Vijay , Oyama Ryo , Shimoji Kazuki
Published: June 2020

This study investigates the assimilation impact of rapid-scan (RS) atmospheric motion vectors (AMVs) derived from the geostationary satellite Himawari-8 on tropical cyclone (TC) forecasts. Forecast experiments for three TCs in 2016 in the western North Pacific basin are performed using the National Centers for Environmental Prediction (NCEP) operational Hurricane Weather Research and Forecasting Model (HWRF). An ensemble-variational hybrid data assimilation system is used as an initialization. The results show that the assimilation of RS-AMVs can improve the track forecast skill, while the weak bias or slow intensification bias increases at the shorter forecast lead time. A vortex initialization in HWRF has a substantial impact on TC structure, but it has neutral impacts on the track and intensity forecasts. A thinning of AMVs mitigates the weak bias caused by RS-AMV assimilation, resulting in the reduction of intensity error. However, it degrades the track forecast skill for a longer lead time. A decomposition of the TC steering flows demonstrated that the change in TC-induced flow was a primary factor for reducing the track forecast error, and the change in environmental flow has less impact on the track forecast. The investigation of the structural change from the assimilation of RS-AMV revealed that the following two factors are likely related to the intensity forecast degradation: (1) an increase of inertial stability outside the radius of maximum wind (RMW), which weakens the boundary layer inflow; and (2) a drying around and outside the RMW.
Development of a Spirit Drink Produced with Strawberry Tree (Arbutus unedo L.) Fruit and Honey
Authors: Anjos Ofélia , Canas Sara , Gonçalves José Carlos , Caldeira Ilda
Published: June 2020

Food safety and diversification of agri-food products are increasingly important. A new spirit drink produced from the arbutus fruit (strawberry tree fruit) and honey was designed, taking advantage of the best features of these two ingredients and limiting the methanol content. This work reports the first approach to its development, considering in particular its chemical composition, especially the volatile components, and sensory properties. Methanol, acetaldehyde, ethyl acetate, and fusel alcohols were quantified and identified by GC–FID/GC–MS. Sensory analyses were performed by a trained panel. Promising results were obtained, showing that the new spirit has features close to those of honey spirit. Significantly lower contents of methanol, acetaldehyde, and ethyl acetate were observed in the new spirit compared to arbutus spirit (359.0 vs. 994.4 g/hL of pure alcohol (P.A.), 20.5 vs. 25.6 g/hL P.A., and 35.5 vs. 53.9 g/hL P.A., respectively), which is advantageous from the food safety and quality perspectives. The total content of fusel alcohols in the new spirit was significantly lower than in honey spirit (261.4 vs. 388.85 g/hL P.A.). Distinct aroma and flavor profiles were examined, but only four attributes were significantly different between the these spirit drinks: dried fruits, unctuous, varnish (although at very low perception), and sweet.
A Digital Approach to Evaluate the Effect of Berry Cell Death on Pinot Noir Wines’ Quality Traits and Sensory Profiles Using Non-Destructive Near-Infrared Spectroscopy
Authors: Fuentes Sigfredo , Tongson Eden , Chen Juesheng , Gonzalez Viejo Claudia
Published: June 2020

Berry cell death (BCD) is linked to the development of flavors and aromas in berries and wine. The BCD pattern and rate within a growing season start at around 90–100 days after anthesis (DAA), and the rate until harvest depends on environmental factors. This study assessed the BCD effects on berry and wine composition from a boutique commercial vineyard in Victoria, Australia, using fluorescent imaging. Results showed differences in wine sensory profiles from the two blocks studied, mainly related to variations in BCD, due to differences in altitude between blocks. Furthermore, two machine learning (ML) models were constructed using near-infrared spectroscopy (NIR) measurements from full berries as inputs and living tissue (LT) and dead tissue (DT) from berries as targets (Model 1). Model 2 was developed using Brix, LT, DT from the east and west sides of canopies as inputs and using 19 sensory descriptors from wines as targets. High correlation and performances were achieved for both models without signs of overfitting (R = 0.94 and R = 0.80, respectively). These models could be used for decision-making purposes as an objective and comprehensive berry maturity assessment obtained in a non-destructive, accurate, and in a real-time fashion close to harvest, to secure specific wine styles.
Comprehensive Analysis of the Immune and Stromal Compartments of the CNS in EAE Mice Reveal Pathways by Which Chloroquine Suppresses Neuroinflammation
Authors: Thome Rodolfo , Boehm Alexandra , Ishikawa Larissa Lumi Watanabe , Casella Giacomo , Munhoz Jaqueline , Ciric Bogoljub , Zhang Guang-Xian , Rostami Abdolmohamad
Published: June 2020

Multiple sclerosis (MS) and experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) are neuroinflammatory diseases of the central nervous system (CNS), where leukocytes and CNS resident cells play important roles in disease development and pathogenesis. The antimalarial drug chloroquine (CQ) has been shown to suppress EAE by modulating dendritic cells (DCs) and Th17 cells. However, the mechanism of action by which CQ modulates EAE is far from being elucidated. Here, we comprehensively analyzed the CNS of CQ and PBS-treated EAE mice to identify and characterize the cells that are affected by CQ. Our results show that leukocytes are largely modulated by CQ and have a reduction in the expression of inflammatory markers. Intriguingly, CQ vastly modulated the CNS resident cells astrocytes, oligodendrocytes (OLs) and microglia (MG), with the latter producing IL-10 and IL-12p70. Overall, our results show a panoramic view of the cellular components that are affect by CQ and provide further evidence that drug repurposing of CQ will be beneficial to MS patients.
Can Trauma Condition Vulnerable Individuals to Develop Catatonic Symptoms?
Authors: Hortenstine Jackson , Youssef Nagy
Published: June 2020

Limited research has been done on the risk and predisposing factors of catatonic symptoms induced by traumatic events. There seem to be two types or constructs of conditioning that predispose an individual to catatonic symptoms in response to traumatic events: external conditioning and internal conditioning. Here, we review a study that found a significant correlation between the Bush–Francis Catatonia Scale and the Adverse Childhood Experience questionnaire; we also review studies of rats that were conditioned to expect an electric shock who developed catatonia-like immobility without the shock being applied. We also review the clinical case report of a previously traumatized individual.
The Iatrogenic Development of an Anterior Cerebral Artery Pseudoaneurysm during Lamina Terminalis Fenestration–Genesis, Diagnosis and Therapy: Lessons Learned
Authors: Bartoš Robert , Lodin Jan , Hejčl Aleš , Sameš Martin , Cihlář Filip
Published: June 2020

Intracranial pseudoaneurysms (PSA) are scarcely presented in the literature. We describe the case of an intracranial PSA on the right anterior cerebral artery, which developed during the complicated surgical treatment of a ruptured right middle cerebral aneurysm. The pseudoaneurysm grew over time and was co-incidentally diagnosed 3 months after the original surgery. The PSA was successfully treated by coiling. In cases of vascular injuries during complicated brain surgery, the timely and careful radiological diagnosis of such a lesion is necessary to allow its fast and proper treatment and thus prevent the patient from potential risks.
Neuroanatomical Changes in Leber’s Hereditary Optic Neuropathy: Clinical Application of 7T MRI Submillimeter Morphometry
Authors: Jonak Kamil , Krukow Paweł , Symms Mark , Maciejewski Ryszard , Grochowski Cezary
Published: June 2020

Leber’s hereditary optic neuropathy (LHON) is one of the mitochondrial diseases that causes loss of central vision, progressive impairment and subsequent degeneration of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs). In recent years, diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) studies have revealed structural abnormalities in visual white matter tracts, such as the optic tract, and optic radiation. However, it is still unclear if the disease alters only some parts of the white matter architecture or whether the changes also affect other subcortical areas of the brain. This study aimed to improve our understanding of morphometric changes in subcortical brain areas and their associations with the clinical picture in LHON by the application of a submillimeter surface-based analysis approach to the ultra-high-field 7T magnetic resonance imaging data. To meet these goals, fifteen LHON patients and fifteen age-matched healthy subjects were examined. For all individuals, quantitative analysis of the morphometric results was performed. Furthermore, morphometric characteristics which differentiated the groups were correlated with variables covering selected aspects of the LHON clinical picture. Compared to healthy controls (HC), LHON carriers showed significantly lower volume of both palladiums (left p = 0.023; right p = 0.018), the right accumbens area (p = 0.007) and the optic chiasm (p = 0.014). Additionally, LHON patients have significantly higher volume of both lateral ventricles (left p = 0.034; right p = 0.02), both temporal horns of the lateral ventricles (left p = 0.016; right p = 0.034), 3rd ventricle (p = 0.012) and 4th ventricle (p = 0.002). Correlation between volumetric results and clinical data showed that volume of both right and left lateral ventricles significantly and positively correlated with the duration of the illness (left R = 0.841, p = 0.002; right R = 0.755, p = 0.001) and the age of the LHON participants (left R = 0.656, p = 0.007; right R = 0.691, p = 0.004). The abnormalities in volume of the LHON patients’ subcortical structures indicate that the disease can cause changes not only in the white matter areas constituting visual tracts, but also in the other subcortical brain structures. Furthermore, the correlation between those results and the illness duration suggests that the disease might have a neurodegenerative nature; however, to fully confirm this observation, longitudinal studies should be conducted.
In Situ Formation of Metal Hydrides Inside Carbon Aerogel Frameworks for Hydrogen Storage Applications
Authors: Ghaani Mohammad Reza , Alam Mahdi , Catti Michele , English Niall J.
Published: June 2020

Nano-confined chemical reactions bear great promise for a wide range of important applications in the near-to-medium term, e.g., within the emerging area of chemical storage of renewable energy. To explore this important trend, in the present work, resorcinol-/formaldehyde-based carbon aerogels were prepared by sol-gel polymerisation of resorcinol, with furfural catalysed by a sodium-carbonate solution using ambient-pressure drying. These aerogels were further carbonised in nitrogen to obtain their corresponding carbon aerogels. Through this study, the synthesis parameters were selected in a way to obtain minimum shrinkage during the drying step. The microstructure of the product was observed using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FESEM) imaging techniques. The optimised carbon aerogels were found to have pore sizes of ~21 nm with a specific accessible surface area equal to 854.0 m2/g. Physical activation of the carbon aerogel with CO2 generates activated carbon aerogels with a surface area of 1756 m2/g and a total porosity volume up to 3.23 cm3/g. The product was then used as a scaffold for magnesium/cobalt-hydride formation. At first, cobalt nanoparticles were formed inside the scaffold, by reducing the confined cobalt oxide, then MgH2 was synthesised as the second required component in the scaffold, by infiltrating the solution of dibutyl magnesium (MgBu2) precursor, followed by a hydrogenation reaction. Further hydrogenation at higher temperature leads to the formation of Mg2CoH5. In situ synchrotron X-ray diffraction was employed to study the mechanism of hydride formation during the heating process.
Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer Signaling Pathways, Metabolism, and PD-1/PD-L1 Antibodies
Authors: Santarpia Mariacarmela , Aguilar Andrés , Chaib Imane , Cardona Andrés Felipe , Fancelli Sara , Laguia Fernando , Bracht Jillian Wilhelmina Paulina , Cao Peng , Molina-Vila Miguel Angel , Karachaliou Niki , Rosell Rafael
Published: June 2020

Treatment of advanced (metastatic) non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is currently mainly based on immunotherapy with antibodies against PD-1 or PD-L1, alone, or in combination with chemotherapy. In locally advanced NSCLC and in early resected stages, immunotherapy is also employed. Tumor PD-L1 expression by immunohistochemistry is considered the standard practice. Response rate is low, with median progression free survival very short in the vast majority of studies reported. Herein, numerous biological facets of NSCLC are described involving driver genetic lesions, mutations ad fusions, PD-L1 glycosylation, ferroptosis and metabolic rewiring in NSCLC and lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD). Novel concepts, such as immune-transmitters and the effect of neurotransmitters in immune evasion and tumor growth, the nascent relevance of necroptosis and pyroptosis, possible new biomarkers, such as gasdermin D and gasdermin E, the conundrum of K-Ras mutations in LUADs, with the growing recognition of liver kinase B1 (LKB1) and metabolic pathways, including others, are also commented. The review serves to charter diverse treatment solutions, depending on the main altered signaling pathways, in order to have effectual immunotherapy. Tumor PDCD1 gene (encoding PD-1) has been recently described, in equilibrium with tumor PD-L1 (encoded by PDCD1LG1). Such description explains tumor hyper-progression, which has been reported in several studies, and poises the fundamental criterion that IHC PD-L1 expression as a biomarker should be revisited.
Detection of Colorectal Cancer and Advanced Adenoma by Liquid Biopsy (Decalib Study): The ddPCR Challenge
Authors: Junca Audelaure , Tachon Gaëlle , Evrard Camille , Villalva Claire , Frouin Eric , Karayan-Tapon Lucie , Tougeron David
Published: June 2020

Background: In most countries, participation in colorectal cancer (CRC) screening programs with the immunological fecal occult blood test (iFOBT) is low. Mutations of RAS and BRAF occur early in colorectal carcinogenesis and “liquid biopsy” allows detection of mutated circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA). This prospective study aims to evaluate the performance of RAS and BRAF-mutated ctDNA in detecting CRC and advanced adenomas (AA). Methods: One hundred and thirty patients who underwent colonoscopy for suspicion of colorectal lesion were included and divided into four groups: 20 CRC, 39 AA, 31 non-advanced adenoma and/or hyperplastic polyp(s) (NAA) and 40 with no lesion. Mutated ctDNA was analyzed by droplet digital PCR. Results: ctDNA was detected in 45.0% of CRC, in 2.6% of AA and none of the NAA and “no-lesion” groups. All patients with stage II to IV mutated CRC had detectable ctDNA (n = 8/8). Among the mutated AA, only one patient had detectable ctDNA (4.3%), maybe due to limited technical sensitivity or to a low rate of ctDNA or even the absence ctDNA in plasma. Specificity and sensitivity of KRAS- and BRAF-mutated ctDNA for the detection of all CRC and AA were 100% and 16.9%, respectively. Conclusions: ctDNA had high sensitivity in detection of advanced mutated CRC but was unable to sensitively detect AA. ctDNA analysis was easy to perform and readily accepted by the population but requires combination with other circulating biomarkers before replacing iFOBT.
Only Hematopoietic Stem and Progenitor Cells from Cord Blood Are Susceptible to Malignant Transformation by MLL-AF4 Translocations
Authors: Secker Kathy-Ann , Bruns Lukas , Keppeler Hildegard , Jeong Johan , Hentrich Thomas , Schulze-Hentrich Julia M. , Mankel Barbara , Fend Falko , Schneidawind Dominik , Schneidawind Corina
Published: June 2020

Mixed lineage leukemia (MLL) (KMT2A) rearrangements (KMT2Ar) play a crucial role in leukemogenesis. Dependent on age, major differences exist regarding disease frequency, main fusion partners and prognosis. In infants, up to 80% of acute lymphoid leukemia (ALL) bear a MLL translocation and half of them are t(4;11), resulting in a poor prognosis. In contrast, in adults only 10% of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) bear t(9;11) with an intermediate prognosis. The reasons for these differences are poorly understood. Recently, we established an efficient CRISPR/Cas9-based KMT2Ar model in hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs) derived from human cord blood (huCB) and faithfully mimicked the underlying biology of the disease. Here, we applied this model to HSPCs from adult bone marrow (huBM) to investigate the impact of the cell of origin and fusion partner on disease development. Both genome-edited infant and adult KMT2Ar cells showed monoclonal outgrowth with an immature morphology, myelomonocytic phenotype and elevated KMT2Ar target gene expression comparable to patient cells. Strikingly, all KMT2Ar cells presented with indefinite growth potential except for MLL-AF4 huBM cells ceasing proliferation after 80 days. We uncovered FFAR2, an epigenetic tumor suppressor, as potentially responsible for the inability of MLL-AF4 to immortalize adult cells under myeloid conditions.
Breast Cancer Chemotherapeutic Options: A General Overview on the Preclinical Validation of a Multi-Target Ruthenium(III) Complex Lodged in Nucleolipid Nanosystems
Authors: Ferraro Maria Grazia , Piccolo Marialuisa , Misso Gabriella , Maione Francesco , Montesarchio Daniela , Caraglia Michele , Paduano Luigi , Santamaria Rita , Irace Carlo
Published: June 2020

In this review we have showcased the preclinical development of original amphiphilic nanomaterials designed for ruthenium-based anticancer treatments, to be placed within the current metallodrugs approach leading over the past decade to advanced multitarget agents endowed with limited toxicity and resistance. This strategy could allow for new options for breast cancer (BC) interventions, including the triple-negative subtype (TNBC) with poor therapeutic alternatives. BC is currently the second most widespread cancer and the primary cause of cancer death in women. Hence, the availability of novel chemotherapeutic weapons is a basic requirement to fight BC subtypes. Anticancer drugs based on ruthenium are among the most explored and advanced next-generation metallotherapeutics, with NAMI-A and KP1019 as two iconic ruthenium complexes having undergone clinical trials. In addition, many nanomaterial Ru complexes have been recently conceived and developed into anticancer drugs demonstrating attractive properties. In this field, we focused on the evaluation of a Ru(III) complex—named AziRu—incorporated into a suite of both zwitterionic and cationic nucleolipid nanosystems, which proved to be very effective for the in vivo targeting of breast cancer cells (BBC). Mechanisms of action have been widely explored in the context of preclinical evaluations in vitro, highlighting a multitarget action on cell death pathways which are typically deregulated in neoplasms onset and progression. Moreover, being AziRu inspired by the well-known NAMI-A complex, information on non-nanostructured Ru-based anticancer agents have been included in a precise manner.
With Age Comes Maturity: Biochemical and Structural Transformation of a Human Centriole in the Making
Authors: Sullenberger Catherine , Vasquez-Limeta Alejandra , Kong Dong , Loncarek Jadranka
Published: June 2020

Centrioles are microtubule-based cellular structures present in most human cells that build centrosomes and cilia. Proliferating cells have only two centrosomes and this number is stringently maintained through the temporally and spatially controlled processes of centriole assembly and segregation. The assembly of new centrioles begins in early S phase and ends in the third G1 phase from their initiation. This lengthy process of centriole assembly from their initiation to their maturation is characterized by numerous structural and still poorly understood biochemical changes, which occur in synchrony with the progression of cells through three consecutive cell cycles. As a result, proliferating cells contain three structurally, biochemically, and functionally distinct types of centrioles: procentrioles, daughter centrioles, and mother centrioles. This age difference is critical for proper centrosome and cilia function. Here we discuss the centriole assembly process as it occurs in somatic cycling human cells with a focus on the structural, biochemical, and functional characteristics of centrioles of different ages.
Intelligent Collaborative Authoring of Place-Based, Cross-Cultural and Media-Rich Experiences
Authors: Kotis Konstantinos , Spiliotopoulos Dimitris , Papasalouros Andreas
Published: June 2020

In this paper, we present a framework that aims to support the active participation and collaboration of knowledge workers and engineers in the co-authoring of place-based, cross-cultural and media-rich memories, experiences, stories and narration. To achieve this, the framework proposes a novel approach for facilitating such a participation and collaboration through the semantic integration of data/information and integrated tools that will be both accessible via an open, user-friendly, mobile and knowledge-based platform, emphasizing a low-effort participative and guided co-authoring approach. The presented collaborative and participative approach is expected to foster social cohesion in heterogeneous communities of interest and practice. For the realization of the framework, we propose the implementation of a proof-of-concept system and its evaluation in the socio-cultural group of immigrants and refugees within the context of creating and sharing knowledge related to the physical and digital artifacts of a modern art museum. Our vision for the proposed framework is to introduce new technology for the collaborative authoring of cultural experiences with low effort using an intelligent assistant. Additionally, we envision a Shared Experiences Ecosystem (SEE) that aims to provide media-rich content and tools that will eventually foster the inclusive access of heterogeneous socio-cultural groups to shared experiences, increasing social cohesion in resilient local environments.
Effects of Polyurethane Substrate Pre-Treatment on Pulsed Cathodic Arc Deposited DLC Films
Authors: Zhang Lijie , Zong Xuemei , Yuan Xiaoming , Xing Xiaolei
Published: June 2020

Diamond-like carbon (DLC) films were deposited by means of pulsed cathodic arc deposition on pretreated polyurethane (PU) rubber substrates. Tetrachloroethylene was chosen as a dissolution method to remove the plasticizer added in the PU substrates. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Raman spectroscopy were applied to observe and characterize the surface morphologies and compositions of the deposited films, respectively. The tribological behaviours of uncoated and coated rubbers were investigated with ring-on-disc tribo experiments under dry sliding conditions. The coefficients of friction (COFs) of the coated rubbers were 40% lower than those of uncoated rubber and the COFs of different samples decreased first and then increased slightly with the increase in temperature and the time of ultrasonic treatment under dry friction. Based on the above experiments, ultrasonic treatment with tetrachloroethylene contributes to the increase in the wear resistance of DLC films deposited on PU rubbers. The most suitable temperature and time of ultrasonic treatment with tetrachloroethylene is 50 °C for 15 min.
Fatigue Endurance Assessment of DLC Coatings on High-Speed Steels at Ambient and Elevated Temperatures by Repetitive Impact Tests
Authors: Bouzakis Emmanouil
Published: June 2020

Diamond-like carbon (DLC) coatings are used, among other contexts, on machine parts subjected to repetitive impact loads at ambient and elevated temperatures. Hereupon, the film load capacity may not be consistent when the operational temperature increases. The paper introduces experimental and analytical results, at room and elevated temperatures, for assessing the fatigue endurance to repetitive impacts of a DLC coating deposited on high-speed steel (HSS) specimens, corresponding to cases such as of coated valves and similar parts. The mechanical properties of the coating and its substrate were determined up to 400 °C via nanoindentations and a finite element (FE)-supported evaluation method. The coating’s fatigue endurance was assessed via the repetitive impact test which simulates sufficiently the operational conditions of valves and other machine elements subjected to rebound impact loads. According to these results, the mechanical properties of the DLC coating remain almost stable up to a temperature of 350 °C. However, the coating fatigue endurance to repetitive impact loads progressively worsens up to around 150 °C due to its increasing deformation imposed by the substrate strength deterioration. Over this temperature, prevailing failure mechanisms are the developed gradual coating decomposition, which increases the brittleness practically without hardness losses up to 350 °C. The paper elucidates the mechanisms leading to the attained experimental results and it presents temperature-dependent coating fatigue endurance stresses determined via finite element method (FEM)-supported calculations.
Applicability of Agro-Industrial By-Products in Intelligent Food Packaging
Authors: Nemes Silvia Amalia , Szabo Katalin , Vodnar Dan Cristian
Published: June 2020

Nowadays, technological advancement is in continuous development in all areas, including food packaging, which tries to find a balance between consumer preferences, environmental safety, and issues related to food quality and control. The present paper concretely details the concepts of smart, active, and intelligent packaging and identifies commercially available examples used in the food packaging market place. Along with this purpose, several bioactive compounds are identified and described, which are compounds that can be recovered from the by-products of the food industry and can be integrated into smart food packaging supporting the “zero waste” activities. The biopolymers obtained from crustacean processing or compounds with good antioxidant or antimicrobial properties such as carotenoids extracted from agro-industrial processing are underexploited and inexpensive resources for this purpose. Along with the main agro-industrial by-products, more concrete examples of resources are presented, such as grape marc, banana peels, or mango seeds. The commercial and technological potential of smart packaging in the food industry is undeniable and most importantly, this paper highlights the possibility of integrating the by-products derived compounds to intelligent packaging elements (sensors, indicators, radio frequency identification).
Investigation Utilizing the HLB Concept for the Development of Moisturizing Cream and Lotion: In-Vitro Characterization and Stability Evaluation
Authors: Alam Shoaib , Algahtani Mohammed S. , Ahmad Mohammad Zaki , Ahmad Javed
Published: June 2020

The current study aims to utilize the concept of the hydrophilic–lipophilic balance (HLB) value of ingredients for the development of a stable emulsion-based moisturizing cream and lotion for cosmetic application. The combination of a hydrophilic and lipophilic emulsifier such as glyceryl stearate (HLB value 3.8) and PEG-100 stearate (HLB value 18.8) were found to be effective to emulsify the chosen oil phase system at a specific concentration to achieve the required HLB for the development of the stable emulsion-based system. The developed formulation was characterized for pH, viscosity, spreadability, rheology, and droplet morphology. The influence of carbopol® ETD 2020 and the concentration of the oil phase on the rheology of the product was investigated and found to be significant to achieve the required thickening to convert the lotion into a cream. The formulation system developed through utilizing the concept of HLB was compared to a product developed through the conventional approach. It was observed that the utilization of the HLB method for the development of an emulsion-based product is a promising strategy compared to the conventional method. The physical stability and thermodynamic stability tests were carried out under different storage conditions. It was observed that the developed formulation was able to retain its integrity without showing any signs of instability during storage.
Low Temperature Growth of the Nanotextured Island and Solid 3C-SiC Layers on Si from Hydric Si, Ge and C Compounds
Authors: Orlov Lev K. , Vdovin Vladimir I. , Ivina Natalia L. , Steinman Eduard A. , Drozdov Yurii N. , Orlov Michail L.
Published: June 2020

Different growth stages and surface morphology of the epitaxial 3C-SiC/Si(100) structures were studied. Heterocompositions were grown in vacuum from hydric compounds at a lower temperature. The composition, surface morphology and crystal structure of the 3C-SiC films were tested using X-ray diffraction, second ion mass spectrometry, scanning ion and electron microscopy, photo- and cathode luminescence. It was demonstrated that the fine crystal structure of the 3C-SiC islands was formed by the close-packed nanometer-size grains and precipitated on the underlying solid carbonized Si layer. Luminescence spectral lines of the solid carbonized Si layer, separated island and solid textured 3C-SiC layer were shifted toward the high ultraviolet range. The spectra measured by different methods were compared and the nature of the revealed lines was considered. This article discusses a quantum confinement effect observation in the 3C-SiC nanostructures and a perspective for the use of nanotextured island 3C-SiC layers as a two-dimensional surface quantum superlattice for high-frequency applications. The conductivity anisotropy and current-voltage characteristics of the two-dimensional superlattices with a non-additive electron dispersion law in the presence of a strong electric field were studied theoretically. Main efforts were focused on a search of the mechanisms allowing realization of the high-frequency negative dynamical conductivity for the structures having a positive static differential conductivity.
Basidiomycetes Associated with Alnus glutinosa Habitats in Andros Island (Cyclades, Greece)
Authors: Polemis Elias , Fryssouli Vassiliki , Daskalopoulos Vassileios , Zervakis Georgios I.
Published: June 2020

Alluvial forests dominated by black alder (Alnus glutinosa) are widespread in Europe along river banks and watercourses forming a habitat of renowned ecological/conservation importance. Despite the considerable interest this habitat has attracted in terms of the associated fungal diversity, very few pertinent data are available from the eastern Mediterranean. Andros island (Aegean Sea, Greece) hosts the southernmost population of A. glutinosa in the Balkan Peninsula; such stands have been systematically inventoried for several years in respect to macrofungi. In total, 187 specimens were collected and studied by examining morphoanatomic features and by evaluating (when necessary) the outcome of sequencing the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region of nuclear ribosomal DNA (nrDNA) to elucidate their identity and obtain an insight into phylogenetic relationships. As a result, 106 species were recorded, 92 are saprotrophic and 14 form ectomycorrhizae (ECM) with alders. Twenty-one species are first national records, while 68 other species are reported for the first time from this habitat in Greece. Several findings of particular interest due to their rarity, ecological preferences and/or taxonomic status are presented in detail and discussed, e.g., six Alnicola taxa, Cortinarius americanus, Lactarius obscuratus, Paxillus olivellus and Russula pumila (among the ECMs), and the saprotrophs Entoloma uranochroum, Gymnopilus arenophilus, Hyphoderma nemorale, Lepiota ochraceofulva, Phanerochaete livescens and Psathyrella hellebosensis.
Data Wrangling in Database Systems: Purging of Dirty Data
Authors: Azeroual Otmane
Published: June 2020

Researchers need to be able to integrate ever-increasing amounts of data into their institutional databases, regardless of the source, format, or size of the data. It is then necessary to use the increasing diversity of data to derive greater value from data for their organization. The processing of electronic data plays a central role in modern society. Data constitute a fundamental part of operational processes in companies and scientific organizations. In addition, they form the basis for decisions. Bad data quality can negatively affect decisions and have a negative impact on results. The quality of the data is crucial. This includes the new theme of data wrangling, sometimes referred to as data munging or data crunching, to find the dirty data and to transform and clean them. The aim of data wrangling is to prepare a lot of raw data in their original state so that they can be used for further analysis steps. Only then can knowledge be obtained that may bring added value. This paper shows how the data wrangling process works and how it can be used in database systems to clean up data from heterogeneous data sources during their acquisition and integration.
Health Assessment and Genetic Structure of Monumental Norway Spruce Trees during A Bark Beetle (Ips typographus L.) Outbreak in the Białowieża Forest District, Poland
Authors: Nowakowska Justyna Anna , Hsiang Tom , Patynek Paulina , Stereńczak Krzysztof , Olejarski Ireneusz , Oszako Tomasz
Published: June 2020

A current ongoing unprecedented outbreak of Ips typographus (L.) (Coleoptera, Curculionidae, Scolytinae) in the Białowieża Primeval Forest (BPF) has nearly eliminated Norway spruce (Picea abies L. Karst) as a major forest tree species there, since over 1 million trees have died. In this part of Europe, Norway spruce has grown for hundreds of years, previously accounting for 30% of forest species composition. The aim of this study was to evaluate 47 “Monuments of Nature” of Norway spruce as follows: (i) their current health status in the managed forests of Białowieża Forest District; (ii) possible causes and changes in their health during the last bark beetle outbreak; and (iii) potential losses from the gene pool. Our findings from ground and remote sensing inventories showed that only 12 out of 47 (25%) monumental trees protected by law survived until 2017 in the study area. The rest (75%) of the investigated trees had died. An analysis of meteorological data from Białowieża suggested that the beginning of the I. typographus outbreak in 2012 was associated with diminishing precipitation during growing seasons prior to this time and subsequent increases in annual temperature, coupled with heavy storms in 2017 toppling weakened trees. A comparison of old-growth “Monuments of Nature” spruce in the region (n = 47, average age 225 years) to seven reference spruce stands (n = 281, average age 132 years) revealed a loss of unique genetic features based on frequencies of eleven nuclear microsatellite loci. Although all studied populations had similar genetic background (FST(without NA) = 0.003 and no STRUCTURE clustering), all monumental spruce trees shared the highest parameters such as the mean observed and expected number of alleles per locus (Na = 15.909 and Ne = 7.656, respectively), mean allelic richness (AR(11) = 8.895), mean private alleles (Apriv = 0.909), and mean Shannon diversity index (I = 1.979) in comparison to the younger stands. Our results demonstrate that the loss of the old spruce trees will entail the loss of genetic variability of the Norway spruce population within the exceptionally valuable Białowieża Primeval Forest.
Rapid Evaluation of CRISPR Guides and Donors for Engineering Mice
Authors: McBeath Elena , Parker-Thornburg Jan , Fujii Yuka , Aryal Neeraj , Smith Chad , Hofmann Marie-Claude , Abe Jun-ichi , Fujiwara Keigi
Published: June 2020

Although the Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats (CRISPR)/ CRISPR associated protein 9 (Cas9) technique has dramatically lowered the cost and increased the speed of generating genetically engineered mice, success depends on using guide RNAs and donor DNAs which direct efficient knock-out (KO) or knock-in (KI). By Sanger sequencing DNA from blastocysts previously injected with the same CRISPR components intended to produce the engineered mice, one can test the effectiveness of different guide RNAs and donor DNAs. We describe in detail here a simple, rapid (three days), inexpensive protocol, for amplifying DNA from blastocysts to determine the results of CRISPR point mutation KIs. Using it, we show that (1) the rate of KI seen in blastocysts is similar to that seen in mice for a given guide RNA/donor DNA pair, (2) a donor complementary to the variable portion of a guide integrated in a more all-or-none fashion, (3) donor DNAs can be used simultaneously to integrate two different mutations into the same locus, and (4) by placing silent mutations about every 6 to 10 bp between the Cas9 cut site and the desired mutation(s), the desired mutation(s) can be incorporated into genomic DNA over 30 bp away from the cut at the same high efficiency as close to the cut.
Knockdown of a Novel Gene OsTBP2.2 Increases Sensitivity to Drought Stress in Rice
Authors: Zhang Yong , Zhao Limei , Xiao Hong , Chew Jinkiat , Xiang Jinxia , Qian Kaiyun , Fan Xiaorong
Published: June 2020

Drought stress is a major environmental stress, which adversely affects the biological and molecular processes of plants, thereby impairing their growth and development. In the present study, we found that the expression level of OsTBP2.2 which encodes for a nucleus-localized protein member belonging to transcription factor IID (TFIID) family, was significantly induced by polyethylene glycol (PEG) treatment. Therefore, knockdown mutants of OsTBP2.2 gene were generated to investigate the role of OsTBP2.2 in rice response to drought stress. Under the condition of drought stress, the photosynthetic rate, transpiration rate, water use efficiency, and stomatal conductance were significantly reduced in ostbp2.2 lines compared with wild type, Dongjin (WT-DJ). Furthermore, the RNA-seq results showed that several main pathways involved in “MAPK (mitogen-activated protein kinase) signaling pathway”, “phenylpropanoid biosynthesis”, “defense response” and “ADP (adenosine diphosphate) binding” were altered significantly in ostbp2.2. We also found that OsPIP2;6, OsPAO and OsRCCR1 genes were down-regulated in ostbp2.2 compared with WT-DJ, which may be one of the reasons that inhibit photosynthesis. Our findings suggest that OsTBP2.2 may play a key role in rice growth and the regulation of photosynthesis under drought stress and it may possess high potential usefulness in molecular breeding of drought-tolerant rice.
Location, Location, Location: The Role of Nuclear Positioning in the Repair of Collapsed Forks and Protection of Genome Stability
Authors: Whalen Jenna M. , Freudenreich Catherine H.
Published: June 2020

Components of the nuclear pore complex (NPC) have been shown to play a crucial role in protecting against replication stress, and recovery from some types of stalled or collapsed replication forks requires movement of the DNA to the NPC in order to maintain genome stability. The role that nuclear positioning has on DNA repair has been investigated in several systems that inhibit normal replication. These include structure forming sequences (expanded CAG repeats), protein mediated stalls (replication fork barriers (RFBs)), stalls within the telomere sequence, and the use of drugs known to stall or collapse replication forks (HU + MMS or aphidicolin). Recently, the mechanism of relocation for collapsed replication forks to the NPC has been elucidated. Here, we will review the types of replication stress that relocate to the NPC, the current models for the mechanism of relocation, and the currently known protective effects of this movement.