bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Comparison of Tools for Copy-Number Variation Detection in Germline Whole Exome and Whole Genome Sequencing Data
Authors: Gabrielaite Migle , Torp Mathias Husted , Rasmussen Malthe Sebro , Andreu-Sánchez Sergio , Vieira Filipe Garrett , Pedersen Christina Bligaard , Kinalis Savvas , Madsen Majbritt Busk , Kodama Miyako , Demircan Gül Sude , Simonyan Arman , Yde Christina Westmose , Olsen Lars Rønn , Marvig Rasmus L. , Østrup Olga , Rossing Maria , Nielsen Finn Cilius , Winther Ole , Bagger Frederik Otzen
Published: December 2021

Copy-number variations (CNVs) have important clinical implications for several diseases and cancers. Relevant CNVs are hard to detect because common structural variations define large parts of the human genome. CNV calling from short-read sequencing would allow single protocol full genomic profiling. We reviewed 50 popular CNV calling tools and included 11 tools for benchmarking in a reference cohort encompassing 39 whole genome sequencing (WGS) samples paired current clinical standard—SNP-array based CNV calling. Additionally, for nine samples we also performed whole exome sequencing (WES), to address the effect of sequencing protocol on CNV calling. Furthermore, we included Gold Standard reference sample NA12878, and tested 12 samples with CNVs confirmed by multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification (MLPA). Tool performance varied greatly in the number of called CNVs and bias for CNV lengths. Some tools had near-perfect recall of CNVs from arrays for some samples, but poor precision. Several tools had better performance for NA12878, which could be a result of overfitting. We suggest combining the best tools also based on different methodologies: GATK gCNV, Lumpy, DELLY, and cn.MOPS. Reducing the total number of called variants could potentially be assisted by the use of background panels for filtering of frequently called variants.
Enhanced Catalytic Hydrogen Peroxide Production from Hydroxylamine Oxidation on Modified Activated Carbon Fibers: The Role of Surface Chemistry
Authors: Song Wei , Zhao Ran , Yu Lin , Xie Xiaowei , Sun Ming , Li Yongfeng
Published: December 2021

Herein, direct production of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) through hydroxylamine (NH2OH) oxidation by molecular oxygen was greatly enhanced over modified activated carbon fiber (ACF) catalysts. We revealed that the higher content of pyrrolic/pyridone nitrogen (N5) and carboxyl-anhydride oxygen could effectively promote the higher selectivity and yield of H2O2. By changing the volume ratio of the concentrated H2SO4 and HNO3, the content of N5 and surface oxygen containing groups on ACF were selectively tuned. The ACF catalyst with the highest N5 content and abundant carboxyl-anhydride oxygen containing groups was demonstrated to have the highest activity toward catalytic H2O2 production, enabling the selectivity of H2O2 over 99.3% and the concentration of H2O2 reaching 123 mmol/L. The crucial effects of nitrogen species were expounded by the correlation of the selectivity of H2O2 with the content of N5 from X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The possible reaction pathway over ACF catalysts promoted by N5 was also shown.
Recent Advances in MnOx/CeO2-Based Ternary Composites for Selective Catalytic Reduction of NOx by NH3: A Review
Authors: Sun Hao , Park Soo-Jin
Published: December 2021

Recently, manganese oxides (MnOx)/cerium(IV) oxide (CeO2) composites have attracted widespread attention for the selective catalytic reduction (SCR) of nitrogen oxides (NOx) with ammonia (NH3), which exhibit outstanding catalytic performance owing to unique features, such as a large oxygen storage capacity, excellent low-temperature activity, and strong mechanical strength. The intimate contact between the components can effectively accelerate the charge transfer to enhance the electron–hole separation efficiency. Nevertheless, MnOx/CeO2 still reveals some deficiencies in the practical application process because of poor thermal stability, and a low reduction efficiency. Constructing MnOx/CeO2 with other semiconductors is the most effective strategy to further improve catalytic performance. In this article, we discuss progress in the field of MnOx/CeO2-based ternary composites with an emphasis on the SCR of NOx by NH3. Recent progress in their fabrication and application, including suitable examples from the relevant literature, are analyzed and summarized. In addition, the interaction mechanisms between MnOx/CeO2 catalysts and NOx pollutants are comprehensively dissected. Finally, the review provides basic insights into prospects and challenges for the advancement of MnOx/CeO2-based ternary catalysts.
Synthesis of Human Bone Morphogenetic Protein-2 (hBMP-2) in E. coli Periplasmic Space: Its Characterization and Preclinical Testing
Authors: Oliveira João E. , Suzuki Miriam F. , Damiani Renata , Lima Eliana R. , Amaral Kleicy C. , Santos Anderson M. S. , Magalhães Geraldo S. , Faverani Leonardo P. , Pereira Luís A. V. D. , Bartolini Paolo
Published: December 2021

Human BMP-2, a homodimeric protein that belongs to the TGF- β family, is a recognized osteoinductor due to its capacity of inducing bone regeneration and ectopic bone formation. The administration of its recombinant form is an alternative to autologous bone grafting. A variety of E. coli-derived hBMP-2 has been synthesized through refolding of cytoplasmic inclusion bodies. The present work reports the synthesis, purification, and characterization of periplasmic hBMP-2, obtained directly in its correctly folded and authentic form, i.e., without the initial methionine typical of the cytoplasmic product that can induce undesired immunoreactivity. A bacterial expression vector was constructed including the DsbA signal peptide and the cDNA of hBMP-2. The periplasmic fluid was extracted by osmotic shock and analyzed via SDS-PAGE, Western blotting, and reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC). The purification was carried out by heparin affinity chromatography, followed by high-performance size-exclusion chromatography (HPSEC). HPSEC was used for qualitative and quantitative analysis of the final product, which showed >95% purity. The classical in vitro bioassay based on the induction of alkaline phosphatase activity in myoblastic murine C2C12 cells and the in vivo bioassay consisting of treating calvarial critical-size defects in rats confirmed its bioactivity, which matched the analogous literature data for hBMP-2.
Role of Mitochondrial Protein Import in Age-Related Neurodegenerative and Cardiovascular Diseases
Authors: Bogorodskiy Andrey , Okhrimenko Ivan , Burkatovskii Dmitrii , Jakobs Philipp , Maslov Ivan , Gordeliy Valentin , Dencher Norbert A. , Gensch Thomas , Voos Wolfgang , Altschmied Joachim , Haendeler Judith , Borshchevskiy Valentin
Published: December 2021

Mitochondria play a critical role in providing energy, maintaining cellular metabolism, and regulating cell survival and death. To carry out these crucial functions, mitochondria employ more than 1500 proteins, distributed between two membranes and two aqueous compartments. An extensive network of dedicated proteins is engaged in importing and sorting these nuclear-encoded proteins into their designated mitochondrial compartments. Defects in this fundamental system are related to a variety of pathologies, particularly engaging the most energy-demanding tissues. In this review, we summarize the state-of-the-art knowledge about the mitochondrial protein import machinery and describe the known interrelation of its failure with age-related neurodegenerative and cardiovascular diseases.
Activating Transcription Factor 3 Protects against Restraint Stress-Induced Gastrointestinal Injury in Mice
Authors: Chuang Dun-Jie , Pethaperumal Subhashree , Siwakoti Bijaya , Chien Hung-Jen , Cheng Ching-Feng , Hung Shih-Che , Lien Te-Sheng , Sun Der-Shan , Chang Hsin-Hou
Published: December 2021

Psychological stress increases the risk of gastrointestinal (GI) tract diseases, which involve bidirectional communication of the GI and nerves systems. Acute stress leads to GI ulcers; however, the mechanism of the native cellular protection pathway, which safeguards tissue integrality and maintains GI homeostasis, remains to be investigated. In a mouse model of this study, restraint stress induced GI leakage, abnormal tight junction protein expression, and cell death of gut epithelial cells. The expression of activating transcription factor 3 (ATF3), a stress-responsive transcription factor, is upregulated in the GI tissues of stressed animals. ATF3-deficient mice displayed an exacerbated phenotype of GI injuries. These results suggested that, in response to stress, ATF3 is part of the native cellular protective pathway in the GI system, which could be a molecular target for managing psychological stress-induced GI tract diseases.
Stability of Intracellular Protein Concentration under Extreme Osmotic Challenge
Authors: Hollembeak Jordan E. , Model Michael A.
Published: December 2021

Cell volume (CV) regulation is typically studied in short-term experiments to avoid complications resulting from cell growth and division. By combining quantitative phase imaging (by transport-of-intensity equation) with CV measurements (by the exclusion of an external absorbing dye), we were able to monitor the intracellular protein concentration (PC) in HeLa and 3T3 cells for up to 48 h. Long-term PC remained stable in solutions with osmolarities ranging from one-third to almost twice the normal. When cells were subjected to extreme hypoosmolarity (one-quarter of normal), their PC did not decrease as one might expect, but increased; a similar dehydration response was observed at high concentrations of ionophore gramicidin. Highly dilute media, or even moderately dilute in the presence of cytochalasin, caused segregation of water into large protein-free vacuoles, while the surrounding cytoplasm remained at normal density. These results suggest that: (1) dehydration is a standard cellular response to severe stress; (2) the cytoplasm resists prolonged dilution. In an attempt to investigate the mechanism behind the homeostasis of PC, we tested the inhibitors of the protein kinase complex mTOR and the volume-regulated anion channels (VRAC). The initial results did not fully elucidate whether these elements are directly involved in PC maintenance.
Study of ALDH from Thermus thermophilus—Expression, Purification and Characterisation of the Non-Substrate Specific, Thermophilic Enzyme Displaying Both Dehydrogenase and Esterase Activity
Authors: Shortall Kim , Durack Edel , Magner Edmond , Soulimane Tewfik
Published: December 2021

Aldehyde dehydrogenases (ALDH), found in all kingdoms of life, form a superfamily of enzymes that primarily catalyse the oxidation of aldehydes to form carboxylic acid products, while utilising the cofactor NAD(P)+. Some superfamily members can also act as esterases using p-nitrophenyl esters as substrates. The ALDHTt from Thermus thermophilus was recombinantly expressed in E. coli and purified to obtain high yields (approximately 15–20 mg/L) and purity utilising an efficient heat treatment step coupled with IMAC and gel filtration chromatography. The use of the heat treatment step proved critical, in its absence decreased yield of 40% was observed. Characterisation of the thermophilic ALDHTt led to optimum enzymatic working conditions of 50 °C, and a pH of 8. ALDHTt possesses dual enzymatic activity, with the ability to act as a dehydrogenase and an esterase. ALDHTt possesses broad substrate specificity, displaying activity for a range of aldehydes, most notably hexanal and the synthetic dialdehyde, terephthalaldehyde. Interestingly, para-substituted benzaldehydes could be processed efficiently, but ortho-substitution resulted in no catalytic activity. Similarly, ALDHTt displayed activity for two different esterase substrates, p-nitrophenyl acetate and p-nitrophenyl butyrate, but with activities of 22.9% and 8.9%, respectively, compared to the activity towards hexanal.
Two-Dimensional Nanomaterials for Boosting the Performance of Organic Solar Cells
Authors: Wei Zhenbang , Chen Langkun , Liu Kunzhu , Liu Shenghua , Li Xiangguo , Zhang Qian , Shuai Jing
Published: December 2021

The thin-film organic solar cells (OSCs) are currently one of the most promising photovoltaic technologies to effectively harvest the solar energy due to their attractive features of mechanical flexibility, light weight, low-cost manufacturing, and solution-processed large-scale fabrication, etc. However, the relative insufficient light absorption, short exciton diffusion distance, and low carrier mobility of the OSCs determine the power conversion efficiency (PCE) of the devices are relatively lower than their inorganic photovoltaic counterparts. To conquer the challenges, the two-dimensional (2D) nanomaterials, which have excellent photoelectric properties, tunable energy band structure, and solvent compatibility etc., exhibit the great potential to enhance the performance of the OSCs. In this review, we summarize the most recent successful applications of the 2D materials, including graphene, black phosphorus, transition metal dichalcogenides, and g-C3N4, etc., adapted in the charge transporting layer, the active layer, and the electrode of the OSCs, respectively, for boosting the PCE and stability of the devices. The strengths and weaknesses of the 2D materials in the application of OSCs are also reviewed in details. Additionally, the challenges, commercialization potentials, and prospects for the further development of 2D materials-based OSCs are outlined in the end.
Oxidation Behavior and Microstructural Evolution of ZrB2–35MoSi2–10Al Composite Coating
Authors: Kovaleva Marina , Sirota Viacheslav , Goncharov Igor , Novikov Vseslav , Yapryntsev Maxim , Vagina Olga , Pavlenko Ivan , Tyurin Yuri
Published: December 2021

The problem of creating and implementing high-temperature coatings for the protection of carbon–carbon (C/C) composites remains relevant due to the extremely low or insufficient heat resistance of C/C composites in an oxygen-containing environment. In the present work, detonation spraying was used for preparing new ZrB2–35MoSi2–10Al coatings on the surface of C/C composites without a sublayer. As a stabilizer of high-temperature modification of zirconia, and to increase the wettability of the surface of C/C composites, 5 wt.% Y2O3 and 10 wt.% Al were added to the initial powder mixture, respectively. The structure of the as-sprayed coating presents many lamellae piled up one upon another, and is composed of hexagonal ZrB2 (h- ZrB2), tetragonal MoSi2 (t-MoSi2), monoclinic ZrO2 (m-ZrO2), tetragonal ZrO2 (t-ZrO2), monoclinic SiO2 (m-SiO2), and cubic Al phases. The oxidation behavior and microstructural evolution of the ZrB2–35MoSi2–10Al composite coating were characterized from RT to 1400 °C in open air. During oxidation at 1400 °C, a continuous layer of silicate glass was formed on the coating surface. This layer contained cubic ZrO2 (c-ZrO2), m-ZrO2, and small amounts of mullite and zircon. The results indicated that a new ZrB2–35MoSi2–10Al composite coating could be used on the surface of C/C composites as a protective layer from oxidation at elevated temperatures.
LENNA (Learning Emotions Neural Network Assisted): An Empathic Chatbot Designed to Study the Simulation of Emotions in a Bot and Their Analysis in a Conversation
Authors: Lahoz-Beltra Rafael , López Claudia Corona
Published: December 2021

Currently, most chatbots are unable to detect the emotional state of the interlocutor and respond according to the interlocutor’s emotional state. Over the last few years, there has been growing interest in empathic chatbots. In other disciplines aside from artificial intelligence, e.g., in medicine, there is growing interest in the study and simulation of human emotions. However, there is a fundamental issue that is not commonly addressed, and it is the design of protocols for quantitatively evaluating an empathic chatbot by utilizing the analysis of the conversation between the bot and an interlocutor. This study is motivated by the aforementioned scenarios and by the lack of methods for assessing the performance of an empathic bot; thus, a chatbot with the ability to recognize the emotions of its interlocutor is needed. The main novelty of this study is the protocol with which it is possible to analyze the conversations between a chatbot and an interlocutor, regardless of whether the latter is a person or another chatbot. For this purpose, we have designed a minimally viable prototype of an empathic chatbot, named LENNA, for evaluating the usefulness of the proposed protocol. The proposed approach uses Shannon entropy to measure the changes in the emotional state experienced by the chatbot during a conversation, applying sentiment analysis techniques to the analysis of the conversation. Once the simulation experiments were performed, the conversations were analyzed by applying multivariate statistical methods and Fourier analysis. We show the usefulness of the proposed methodology for evaluating the emotional state of LENNA during conversations, which could be useful in the evaluation of other empathic chatbots.
Shifts in Backbone Conformation of Acetylcholinesterases upon Binding of Covalent Inhibitors, Reversible Ligands and Substrates
Authors: Radić Zoran
Published: December 2021

The influence of ligand binding to human, mouse and Torpedo californica acetylcholinesterase (EC 3.1.1.7; AChE) backbone structures is analyzed in a pairwise fashion by comparison with X-ray structures of unliganded AChEs. Both complexes with reversible ligands (substrates and inhibitors) as well as covalently interacting ligands leading to the formation of covalent AChE conjugates of tetrahedral and of trigonal-planar geometries are considered. The acyl pocket loop (AP loop) in the AChE backbone is recognized as the conformationally most adaptive, but not necessarily sterically exclusive, structural element. Conformational changes of the centrally located AP loop coincide with shifts in C-terminal α-helical positions, revealing interacting components for a potential allosteric interaction within the AChE backbone. The stabilizing power of the aromatic choline binding site, with the potential to attract and pull fitting entities covalently tethered to the active Ser, is recognized. Consequently, the pull can promote catalytic reactions or relieve steric pressure within the impacted space of the AChE active center gorge. These dynamic properties of the AChE backbone inferred from the analysis of static X-ray structures contribute towards a better understanding of the molecular template important in the structure-based design of therapeutically active molecules, including AChE inhibitors as well as reactivators of conjugated, inactive AChE.
Chromosomal-Level Assembly of Antarctic Scaly Rockcod, Trematomus loennbergii Genome Using Long-Read Sequencing and Chromosome Conformation Capture (Hi-C) Technologies
Authors: Jo Euna , Lee Seung Jae , Kim Jeong-Hoon , Parker Steven J. , Choi Eunkyung , Kim Jinmu , Han So-Ra , Oh Tae-Jin , Park Hyun
Published: December 2021

Trematomus species (suborder Notothenioidei; family Nototheniidae) are widely distributed in the southern oceans near Antarctica. There are 11 recognized species in the genus Trematomus, and notothenioids are known to have high chromosomal diversity (2n = 24–58) because of relatively recent and rapid adaptive radiation. Herein, we report the chromosomal-level genome assembly of T. loennbergii, the first characterized genome representative of the genus Trematomus. The final genome assembly of T. loennbergii was obtained using a Pacific Biosciences long-read sequencing platform and high-throughput chromosome conformation capture technology. Twenty-three chromosomal-level scaffolds were assembled to 940 Mb in total size, with a longest contig size of 48.5 Mb and contig N50 length of 24.7 Mb. The genome contained 42.03% repeat sequences, and a total of 24,525 protein-coding genes were annotated. We produced a high-quality genome assembly of T. loennbergii. Our results provide a first reference genome for the genus Trematomus and will serve as a basis for studying the molecular taxonomy and evolution of Antarctic fish.
Classification of Brain MRI Tumor Images Based on Deep Learning PGGAN Augmentation
Authors: Gab Allah Ahmed M. , Sarhan Amany M. , Elshennawy Nada M.
Published: December 2021

The wide prevalence of brain tumors in all age groups necessitates having the ability to make an early and accurate identification of the tumor type and thus select the most appropriate treatment plans. The application of convolutional neural networks (CNNs) has helped radiologists to more accurately classify the type of brain tumor from magnetic resonance images (MRIs). The learning of CNN suffers from overfitting if a suboptimal number of MRIs are introduced to the system. Recognized as the current best solution to this problem, the augmentation method allows for the optimization of the learning stage and thus maximizes the overall efficiency. The main objective of this study is to examine the efficacy of a new approach to the classification of brain tumor MRIs through the use of a VGG19 features extractor coupled with one of three types of classifiers. A progressive growing generative adversarial network (PGGAN) augmentation model is used to produce ‘realistic’ MRIs of brain tumors and help overcome the shortage of images needed for deep learning. Results indicated the ability of our framework to classify gliomas, meningiomas, and pituitary tumors more accurately than in previous studies with an accuracy of 98.54%. Other performance metrics were also examined.
Combination of Symptom Profile, Endoscopic Findings, and Esophageal Mucosal Histopathology Helps to Differentiate Achalasia from Refractory Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease
Authors: Yeh Chia-Chu , Shun Chia-Tung , Tseng Liang-Wei , Chiang Tsung-Hsien , Wu Jia-Feng , Lee Hui-Chuan , Chen Chien-Chuan , Wang Hsiu-Po , Wu Ming-Shiang , Tseng Ping-Huei
Published: December 2021

Achalasia, a rare primary esophageal motility disorder, is often misdiagnosed as refractory gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). This study is aimed to identify the clinical and histopathologic features that may help to differentiate these two entities. Patients with untreated achalasia and those with refractory reflux symptoms despite ≥8 weeks of proton-pump inhibitor treatment were enrolled prospectively. All patients underwent validated symptom questionnaires, esophagogastroduodenoscopy with biopsy, and high-resolution impedance manometry (HRIM). Histopathology of esophageal mucosa was compared based on four pre-determined histological criteria: basal cell hyperplasia or papillae elongation, eosinophilic infiltration, petechiae formation, and hypertrophy of the muscularis mucosae (MM). Compared with the GERD patients, patients with achalasia had similar reflux symptoms, but higher Eckardt scores, fewer erosive esophagitis and hiatal hernia, more esophageal food retention on endoscopy, and higher prevalence of hypertrophy of the MM and petechiae formation on histopathology. Multivariate logistic regression based on Eckardt score ≥4, normal esophagogastric junction morphology or esophageal food retention, and coexistence of petechiae formation and hypertrophy of the MM, established the best prediction model for achalasia. Therefore, combination of routinely accessible variables, including Eckardt score, endoscopic features, and histopathology obtained via esophageal mucosal biopsy, may provide an earlier identification of achalasia.
The Influence of the Symmetry of Identical Particles on Flight Times
Authors: Miret-Artés Salvador , Dumont Randall S. , Rivlin Tom , Pollak Eli
Published: December 2021

In this work, our purpose is to show how the symmetry of identical particles can influence the time evolution of free particles in the nonrelativistic and relativistic domains as well as in the scattering by a potential δ-barrier. For this goal, we consider a system of either two distinguishable or indistinguishable (bosons and fermions) particles. Two sets of initial conditions have been studied: different initial locations with the same momenta, and the same locations with different momenta. The flight time distribution of particles arriving at a ‘screen’ is calculated in each case from the density and flux. Fermions display broader distributions as compared with either distinguishable particles or bosons, leading to earlier and later arrivals for all the cases analyzed here. The symmetry of the wave function seems to speed up or slow down the propagation of particles. Due to the cross terms, certain initial conditions lead to bimodality in the fermionic case. Within the nonrelativistic domain, and when the short-time survival probability is analyzed, if the cross term becomes important, one finds that the decay of the overlap of fermions is faster than for distinguishable particles which in turn is faster than for bosons. These results are of interest in the short time limit since they imply that the well-known quantum Zeno effect would be stronger for bosons than for fermions. Fermions also arrive earlier and later than bosons when they are scattered by a δ-barrier. Although the particle symmetry does affect the mean tunneling flight time, in the limit of narrow in momentum initial Gaussian wave functions, the mean times are not affected by symmetry but tend to the phase time for distinguishable particles.
The Downside of Heterogeneity: How Established Relations Counteract Systemic Adaptivity in Tasks Assignments
Authors: Casiraghi Giona , Zingg Christian , Schweitzer Frank
Published: December 2021

We study the lock-in effect in a network of task assignments. Agents have a heterogeneous fitness for solving tasks and can redistribute unfinished tasks to other agents. They learn over time to whom to reassign tasks and preferably choose agents with higher fitness. A lock-in occurs if reassignments can no longer adapt. Agents overwhelmed with tasks then fail, leading to failure cascades. We find that the probability for lock-ins and systemic failures increase with the heterogeneity in fitness values. To study this dependence, we use the Shannon entropy of the network of task assignments. A detailed discussion links our findings to the problem of resilience and observations in social systems.
An Adaptive Backstepping Sliding Mode Cascade-Control Method for a DC Microgrid Based on Nonlinear Virtual Inertia
Authors: Mao Jingfeng , Zhang Xiaotong , Dai Tengfei , Wu Aihua , Yin Chunyun
Published: December 2021

In order to improve the bus voltage robustness of distributed multi-source DC microgrid, a new cascade control method based on nonlinear virtual inertia and adaptive backstepping sliding mode is proposed. Firstly, the mathematical model of distributed multi-source DC microgrid with a buck–boost interface converter is analyzed and established. A nonlinear virtual inertia control method based on a variable droop coefficient is given by introducing the converter output voltage variation rate feedback term and a saturation function equation. Secondly, the voltage and current double closed-loop cascade controller is designed by using backstepping sliding mode control and adaptive algorithms. Finally, the system and cascade control models are built in MATLAB/Simulink for multi-case simulation. The feasibility and effectiveness of the proposed method is verified by comparing the results with traditional control methods.
A Survey to Reduce STDs Infection in Mongolia and Big Data Virtualization Propagation
Authors: Choi Woo-Hyuk , Huh Jun-Ho
Published: December 2021

Sexually transmitted diseases refer to clinical syndromes and infections that are acquired and transmitted through sexual activity. Worldwide, more than 340 million cases of sexually transmitted disease occur each year, placing a great burden on individuals as well as communities and countries. The proportion of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) in Mongolia is relatively high due to their inadequate treatment technologies, religious or local customs, and regional differences. It is rather difficult to grasp the exact number of patients as these diseases are considered ones that should not be disclosed to others. Therefore, this study aims to accurately identify sexually transmitted diseases in Mongolia and reduce infection through an analytic approach of big data virtualization propagation.
Fundamentals of a Novel Debugging Mechanism for Orchestrated Cloud Infrastructures with Macrosteps and Active Control
Authors: Ligetfalvi Bence , Emődi Márk , Kovács József , Lovas Róbert
Published: December 2021

In Infrastructure-as-a-Service (IaaS) clouds, the development process of a ready-to-use and reliable infrastructure might be a complex task due to the interconnected and dependent services that are deployed (and operated later on) in a concurrent way on virtual machines. Different timing conditions may change the overall initialisation method, which can lead to abnormal behaviour or failure in the non-deterministic environment. The overall motivation of our research is to improve the reliability of cloud-based infrastructures with minimal user interactions and significantly accelerate the time-consuming debugging process. This paper focuses on the behaviour of cloud-based infrastructures during their deployment phase and introduces the adaption of a replay, and active control enriched debugging technique, called macrostep, in the field of cloud orchestration in order to provide support for developers troubleshooting deployment-related errors. The fundamental macrostep mechanisms, including the generation of collective breakpoint sets as well as the traversal method for such consistent global states, have been combined with the Occopus cloud orchestrator and the Neo4J graph database. The paper describes the novel approach, the design choices as well as the implementation of the experimental debugger tool with a use case for validation purposes by providing some preliminary numerical results.
A Complexity Reduction Method for VVC Intra Prediction Based on Statistical Analysis and SAE-CNN
Authors: Zhao Jinchao , Dai Pu , Zhang Qiuwen
Published: December 2021

Compared with High Efficiency Video Coding (HEVC), the latest video coding standard Versatile Video Coding Standard (VVC), due to the introduction of many novel technologies and the introduction of the Quad-tree with nested Multi-type Tree (QTMT) division scheme in the block division method, the coding quality has been greatly improved. Due to the introduction of the QTMT scheme, the encoder needs to perform rate–distortion optimization for each division mode during Coding Unit (CU) division, so as to select the best division mode, which also leads to an increase in coding time and coding complexity. Therefore, we propose a VVC intra prediction complexity reduction algorithm based on statistical theory and the Size-adaptive Convolutional Neural Network (SAE-CNN). The algorithm combines the establishment of a pre-decision dictionary based on statistical theory and a Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) model based on adaptively adjusting the size of the pooling layer to form an adaptive CU size division decision process. The algorithm can make a decision on whether to divide CUs of different sizes, thereby avoiding unnecessary Rate–distortion Optimization (RDO) and reducing coding time. Experimental results show that compared with the original algorithm, our suggested algorithm can save 35.60% of the coding time and only increases the Bjøntegaard Delta Bit Rate (BD-BR) by 0.91%.
Biotechnologies to Bridge the Schism in the Bioeconomy
Authors: Philp Jim
Published: December 2021

Schism is the new normal for the bioeconomy concept. Since its proliferation in governments, the concept has been adapted to fit national or regional exigencies. Earlier this century the knowledge-based bioeconomy (KBBE) in Europe was seen as a technical and knowledge fix in the evolving sustainability landscape. At the OECD, the concept was further honed by imagining a future where biotechnologies contribute significantly to economic growth and development. Countries started to make national bioeconomy strategies. Some countries have diverged and made the bioeconomy both much larger and more general, involving a wide variety of sectors, such as industry, energy, healthcare, agriculture, aquaculture, forestry and fishing. Whatever the approach, what seems to be consistent is the need to reconcile environmental, social and economic sustainability. This paper attempts to establish one schism that could have ramifications for the future development of the bioeconomy. Some countries, including some of the largest economies but not exclusively so, are clearly following a biotechnology model, whereas others are clearly not. In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, biotechnologies offer outstanding potential in healthcare, although this sector is by no means included in all bioeconomy strategies. The paper also attempts to clarify how biotechnologies can address the grand challenges and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. The communities of scientists seem to have no difficulty with this, but citizens and governments find it more difficult. In fact, some biotechnologies are already well established, whereas others are emerging and more controversial.
Investigating the Sequential Deposition Route for Mixed Cation Mixed Halide Wide Bandgap Perovskite Absorber Layer
Authors: Ahmad Muneeza , Shahzad Nadia , Tariq Muhammad Ali , Sattar Abdul , Pugliese Diego
Published: December 2021

Wide bandgap (Eg) perovskite solar cells (PSCs) are emerging as the preferred choice for top cells in a tandem architecture with crystalline silicon solar cells. Among the wide bandgap perovskites, a mixed cation mixed halide composition containing CsyFA1-yPbI3−xBrx is a popular choice because the presence of bromine widens the bandgap and addition of cesium stabilizes the crystal structure. These perovskite layers are commonly fabricated using one-step spin coating technique; however, sequential spin coating followed by dip coating has been successful in offering better control over the crystallization process for low bandgap absorber layers. In this paper, the fabrication of a Cs0.2FA0.8PbI3−xBrx perovskite absorber layer using the sequential deposition route is reported. The concentration of bromine was varied in the range 0 ≤ x ≤ 1 and optical, structural, and morphological properties of the films were studied. As the concentration was increased, the perovskite showed better crystallinity and the presence of large grains with high surface roughness, indicating the formation of the CsPbBr3 phase. Optically, the perovskite films exhibited higher absorbance in the ultraviolet (UV) range between 300 and 500 nm, hence up to x = 0.3 they can be profitably employed as a wide bandgap photon absorber layer in solar cell applications.
Impact of Artificial Infiltration on the Removal of Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs during Treatment of Surface Water
Authors: Makała Aleksandra , Dymaczewski Zbysław , Jeż-Walkowiak Joanna , Strykowska Agnieszka , Zembrzuska Joanna
Published: December 2021

The content of pharmaceuticals in natural waters is steadily increasing. Especially nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are often detected in natural waters due to their widespread use. This group of compounds includes commonly used representatives, such as paracetamol and ketoprofen. The quality of natural waters determines the processes applied for the treatment of drinking water. The methods used in order to remove pharmaceuticals from treated water include adsorption and biologically active filtration. Both processes also occur during artificial infiltration (forced flow of intake surface water through the ground to the collecting wells) at surface water intakes. The processes, which occur in the soil, change the water quality characteristics to a great extent. The goal of the study was to evaluate the removal efficiency of paracetamol and ketoprofen in the process of artificial infiltration used as a pre-treatment of surface water. The studies were conducted at a field experimental installation located at the technical artificial infiltration intake. The experimental installation consisted of three metering wells (piezometers) which were located on the way between the bank of the infiltration pond and the collecting well. The collected water samples allowed to evaluate the change of selected NSAIDs concentrations during the passage of water through the ground. The analysis procedure included solid phase extraction (SPE) and high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). Removal of the studied NSAIDs in the infiltration process occurred with variable effectiveness throughout the year. Paracetamol was removed with annual efficiency equal to 42%, although no significant removal of ketoprofen was observed.
A Distributed Hierarchical Control Framework for Economic Dispatch and Frequency Regulation of Autonomous AC Microgrids
Authors: Ullah Shafaat , Khan Laiq , Sami Irfan , Hafeez Ghulam , Albogamy Fahad
Published: December 2021

Motivated by the single point of failure and other drawbacks of the conventional centralized hierarchical control strategy, in this paper, a fully distributed hierarchical control framework is formulated for autonomous AC microgrids. The proposed control strategy operates with a distinct three-layer structure, where: a conventional droop control is adopted at the primary layer; a distributed leaderless consensus-based control is adopted at the secondary layer for active power and, hence, frequency regulation of distributed generating units (DGUs); and the tertiary layer is also based on the distributed leaderless consensus-based control for the optimal power dispatch. Under the proposed strategy, the three constituent control layers work in a coordinated manner. Not only is the load dispatched economically with a negligible power mismatch, but also the frequencies of all the DGUs are regulated to the reference value. However, the frequency regulation is achieved without requiring any central leader agent that has been reported in the contemporary distributed control articles. As compared to the conventional centralized hierarchical control, the proposed strategy only needs local inter-agent interaction with a sparse communication network; thus, it is fully distributed. The formulated strategy is tested under load perturbations, on an autonomous AC microgrid testbed comprising both low-inertia-type (inverter-interfaced) and high-inertia (rotating)-type DGUs with heterogeneous dynamics, and found to successfully meet its targets. Furthermore, it can offer the plug-and-play operation for the DGUs. Theoretical analysis and substantial simulation results, performed in the MATLAB/Simulink environment, are provided to validate the feasibility of the proposed control framework.
Advanced Exergy, Exergoeconomic, and Exergoenvironmental Analyses of Integrated Solar-Assisted Gasification Cycle for Producing Power and Steam from Heavy Refinery Fuels
Authors: Jadidi Esmaeil , Khoshgoftar Manesh Mohammad Hasan , Delpisheh Mostafa , Onishi Viviani Caroline
Published: December 2021

Integrated solar-assisted gasification cycles (ISGC) have emerged as a more flexible and environmentally friendly solution for producing power, steam, and other high-valued by-products from low-cost opportunity fuels. In this light, this paper investigates a new ISGC system for converting heavy refineries fuels into power and steam utilities while enhancing energy efficiency and economic and environmental performance indicators. In this approach, a solar energy field and a two-pressure heat recovery steam generator were integrated into the ISGC system to improve overall economic and environmental plant viability. The ISGC system was modelled in MATLAB software, and the results were validated using Thermoflex software. Conventional and advanced energy, exergy, exergoeconomic, and exergoenvironmental (4E) analyses were implemented to assess the main performance parameters and identify potential system improvements. The ISGC system produced 319.92 MW of power by feeding on 15.5 kg/s of heavy refinery fuel, with a thermal efficiency of 50% and exergy efficiency of 54%. The results also revealed an investment cost of $466 million, evaluated at a system cost rate of 446 $/min and an environmental impact rate of 72,796 pts/min. The conventional and advanced 4E analyses unveiled the process economic and environmental feasibilities, particularly for oil-rich countries with high availability of solar resources.
Solar Energy in the Nordic Built Environment: Challenges, Opportunities and Barriers
Authors: Formolli Matteo , Lobaccaro Gabriele , Kanters Jouri
Published: December 2021

Within the framework Solar Heating and Cooling Programme of the International Energy Agency Task 51 “Solar Energy in Urban Planning”, case studies from Norway, Sweden, and Denmark were collected and analyzed through a comparative approach. The cases were first classified based on their urban characterization (existing and new urban areas) and then compared within the same country or in a cross-country perspective according to three areas of interest (i.e., Scale and planning process, Legislation and planning process, Targets and goals). The comparisons follow a common template of five sections describing the role of the involved stakeholders and highlighting challenges, barriers, and opportunities for the deployment of active solar systems and passive solar strategies. Both technical and non-technical aspects are considered. Among the technical aspects, the focus is on the adoption of solar energy strategies (e.g., solar accessibility, daylighting), the estimation of solar potential and energy generation. Regarding the non-technical aspects, the focus is on identifying barriers and challenges for the adoption of solar systems in relation to national and local legislation. The findings show that municipalities can have a crucial role in facilitating the adoption of solar energy solutions in cities by embracing ambitious visions and storytelling, as well as being directly financially involved as owners or subsidizing bodies. The findings also demonstrate the value of the use of indicators to evaluate the performance of masterplans, the combination of analogue and digital tools in the design process, and the performance of solar simulations from early stages to foster awareness among the involved stakeholders. Despite these positives, the Scandinavian legislation on solar energy utilization in the urban context still displays fragilities, making the creation of guidelines a pressing need.
A Novel Control Strategy on Stable Operation of Fuel Gas Supply System and Re-Liquefaction System for LNG Carriers
Authors: Hwang Soon-Kyu , Jung Byung-Gun
Published: December 2021

Liquefied natural gas has attracted attention through an explosive increase in demands and environmental requirements. During this period, the Energy Efficiency Design Index (EEDI), which was adopted by the International Maritime Organization, expecting to significantly reduce CO2 from ships, has become an important key. It has triggered a change in use from steam turbine systems and dual fuel diesel electrics to high-efficiency main engines such as ME-GI engines to meet the EEDI requirements. However, since the ME-GI engines use 300 bar of fuel gas pressure, it is necessary to resolve problems of the pressure controllability and to prevent the reductions of the re-liquefaction amount caused by clogging of the lubricant mixed with the fuel gas during the compression. The purpose of this study is to propose a novel control strategy with a newly developed configuration for controlling the pressure so as not to trip the BOG compressors when the ME-GI engines are tripped, and for preventing a reduction on re-liquefaction amount. Unlike the typical configuration used in the current vessels, this proposal separately provides the fuel gas at 150 bar without lubricants to the re-liquefaction. In addition, three control strategies are proposed, depending upon the application of multi-controllers and the location of the pressure transmitters. A simulation was conducted to verify the efficacy of the proposed method, focusing on the controllability of the pressure and the re-liquefaction amount, in comparison with the typical configuration. As results of the simulation, the proposal showed excellent controllability without trips of the BOG compressors even in abnormal conditions and confirmed the great re-liquefaction performance.
Potential of Floating Photovoltaic Technology and Their Effects on Energy Output, Water Quality and Supply in Jordan
Authors: Al-Widyan Mohamad , Khasawneh Mohammad , Abu-Dalo Muna
Published: December 2021

In this work, floating photovoltaic systems were experimentally studied under Jordan’s weather conditions to determine their effects on energy output, water quality and supply. A limited number of studies have addressed the effect of floating photovoltaic systems on water quality and evaporation reduction especially in a semi-arid region like Jordan. Energy measurements were taken from August 2020 to January 2021 using an Arduino board with data logging sensors. Water quality parameters were tested for collected samples on a monthly basis from August 2020 to February 2021 using a spectrophotometer. Results revealed that the floating panel temperature was lower than the ground-mounted counterpart. An average increase of 1.68% in voltage and 4.40% in current were observed for the floating panel compared to the ground-mounted panel which translates to an average increase of 5.33% in power generation over the ground-mounted panel. Furthermore, efficiency and fill factor increased by 4.89% and 5.51%, respectively. Evaporation results showed that covering water bodies with panels can save a considerable amount of water. Over a period of 30 days, the 30% coverage pan saved 31.2% (36 mm) of water while the 50% coverage pan saved 54.5% (63 mm) of water in the same period compared to the uncovered pan. Moreover, this study involved examining the effect of shading caused by the floating structure on water quality. Results showed a reduction in pH, improvement in transparency, and an increase in total organic carbon indicating water quality enhancement and algal biomass reduction. However, due to the respiration of algae, the dissolved oxygen declined significantly, accompanied by the release of phosphate due to algae decomposition. Overall, findings of this research provided better understanding of floating photovoltaic systems and their applicability in Jordan to provide a safe and reliable supply of water and energy. Additionally, such systems can help to diversify the energy mix and help Jordan to alleviate some of the problems associated with limited energy and water resources.
Innovative Energy-Saving Propulsion System for Low-Speed Biomimetic Underwater Vehicles
Authors: Piskur Paweł , Szymak Piotr , Przybylski Michał , Naus Krzysztof , Jaskólski Krzysztof , Żokowski Mariusz
Published: December 2021

This article covers research on an innovative propulsion system design for a Biomimetic Unmanned Underwater Vehicle (BUUV) operating at low speeds. The experiment was conducted on a laboratory test water tunnel equipped with specialised sensor equipment to assess the Fluid-Structure Interaction (FSI) and energy consumption of two different types of propulsion systems. The experimental data contrast the undulating with the drag-based propulsion system. The additional joint in the drag-based propulsion system is intended to increase thrust and decrease energy input. The tests were conducted at a variety of fins oscillation frequencies and fluid velocities. The experiments demonstrate that, in the region of low-speed forward movement, the efficiency of the propulsion system with the additional joint is greater.