bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effects of Class IIa Bacteriocin-Producing Lactobacillus Species on Fermentation Quality and Aerobic Stability of Alfalfa Silage
Authors: Li Fuhou , Ding Zitong , Adesogan Adegbola T. , Ke Wencan , Jiang Yun , Bai Jie , Mudassar Shah , Zhang Yixin , Huang Wenkang , Guo Xusheng
Published: September 2020

The effects of two strains of class IIa bacteriocin-producing lactic acid bacteria, Lactobacillus delbrueckii F17 and Lactobacillus plantarum (BNCC 336943), or a non-bacteriocin Lactobacillus plantarum MTD/1 (NCIMB 40027), on fermentation quality, microbial counts, and aerobic stability of alfalfa silage were investigated. Alfalfa was harvested at the initial flowering stage, wilted to a dry matter concentration of approximately 32%, and chopped to 1 to 2 cm length. Chopped samples were treated with nothing (control, CON), Lactobacillus delbrueckii F17 (F17), Lactobacillus plantarum (BNCC 336943) (LPB), or Lactobacillus plantarum MTD/1 (NCIMB 40027) (LPN), each at an application rate of 1 × 106 colony-forming units/g of fresh weight. Each treatment was ensiled in quadruplicate in vacuum-sealed polyethylene bags packed with 500 g of fresh alfalfa per bag and ensiled at ambient temperature (25 ± 2 °C) for 3, 7, 14, 30, and 60 days. The samples were then subjected to an aerobic stability test after 60 days of ensiling. Compared with the CON silage, the inoculants reduced the pH after 14 days of ensiling. After 60 days, pH was lowest in the LPB-treated silage, followed by the F17 and LPN-treated silages. Inoculation of F17 increased concentrations of lactic acid in silages fermented for 7, 14, 30, and 60 days relative to other treatments, except for the LPN-treated silages ensiled for 30 and 60 days, in which the lactic acid concentrations were similar to that of F17 silage. Application of F17 and LPB decreased the number of yeast and mold relative to CON and LPN-treated silages. Compared with the CON silage, inoculant-treated silages had greater aerobic stability, water-soluble carbohydrate, and crude protein concentrations, and lower neutral detergent fiber, amino acid nitrogen, and ammonia nitrogen concentrations. The LPB-treated silage had the greatest aerobic stability followed by the F17-treated silage. Both class IIa bacteriocin producing inoculants improved alfalfa silage fermentation quality, reduced the growth of yeasts and molds, and improved the aerobic stability of the ensiled forage to a greater extent than the proven LPN inoculant. However, higher crude protein concentration and lower ammonia nitrogen concentration were observed in LPN-treated silage relative to other treatments.
Pilot Study of the Relationship between Deck Level and Journey Duration on Plasma Cortisol, Epinephrine and Norepinephrine Levels in Italian Heavy Pigs
Authors: Bozzo Giancarlo , Padalino Barbara , Bonerba Elisabetta , Barrasso Roberta , Tufarelli Vincenzo , Zappaterra Martina , Ceci Edmondo
Published: September 2020

The aim of this pilot study was to evaluate the relationship between journey duration, deck level and activation patterns of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocortical axis (HPA) and sympathetic adrenal medullary system (SAM) in pigs. A total of 90 pigs were examined. The animals came from three different Italian farms associated with the same slaughterhouse located in Bari (Apulia region-Italy). A group of thirty animals was transported from Pordenone (11 h journey); a second group was transported from Terni (6.5 h journey); a third group was transported from Benevento (3 h journey). The animals were transported in the same vehicle, which complied with the structural characteristics indicated in the Council Regulation (EC) No. 1/2005. The truck was composed of a lorry and a trailer, each one divided into three decks. Only the animals transported in the trailer were tested for the study. Before transportation, blood samples were collected on each farm, at 6:00 a.m., from 30 pigs randomly selected out of 135 pigs ready to be transported. Blood samples were also collected during slaughter to evaluate plasma cortisol, epinephrine and norepinephrine, around 6:00 a.m. A journey duration of 11 h was associated with significantly higher plasma concentrations of stress hormones compared with shorter journeys. This increase was proportional to the journey duration, with the pigs travelling for 6.5 h displaying intermediate concentrations between those noticed after 3 h and 11 h journeys. The interaction between deck and journey distance was not significant on epinephrine, norepinephrine or cortisol levels collected at arrival. There was a significant effect of deck level on norepinephrine levels (p < 0.0001), a tendency to influence epinephrine levels (p = 0.073) but no effect on cortisol levels (p = 0.945). Overall, we observed that an 11 h-long journey seemed to impact negatively on pigs’ HPA-SAM activity, likely requiring the animals to spend more time in the lairage facilities to recover.
A Higher Proportion of Eicosapentaenoic Acid (EPA) When Combined with Docosahexaenoic Acid (DHA) in Omega-3 Dietary Supplements Provides Higher Antioxidant Effects in Human Retinal Cells
Authors: Saenz de Viteri Manuel , Hernandez María , Bilbao-Malavé Valentina , Fernandez-Robredo Patricia , González-Zamora Jorge , Garcia-Garcia Laura , Ispizua Nahia , Recalde Sergio , Garcia-Layana Alfredo
Published: September 2020

Retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) is a key regulator of retinal function and is directly related to the transport, delivery, and metabolism of long-chain n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n3-PUFA), in the retina. Due to their functions and location, RPE cells are constantly exposed to oxidative stress. Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) have shown to have antioxidant effects by different mechanisms. For this reason, we designed an in vitro study to compare 10 formulations of DHA and EPA supplements from different origins and combined in different proportions, evaluating their effect on cell viability, cell proliferation, reactive oxygen species production, and cell migration using ARPE-19 cells. Furthermore, we assessed their ability to rescue RPE cells from the oxidative conditions seen in diabetic retinopathy. Our results showed that the different formulations of n3-PUFAs have a beneficial effect on cell viability and proliferation and are able to restore oxidative induced RPE damage. We observed that the n3-PUFA provided different results alone or combined in the same supplement. When combined, the best results were obtained in formulations that included a higher proportion of EPA than DHA. Moreover, n3-PUFA in the form of ethyl-esters had a worse performance when compared with triglycerides or phospholipid based formulations.
Flight Level Assignment Using Graph Coloring
Authors: Gimenez-Guzman Jose Manuel , Martínez-Moraian Alejandra , Reyes-Bardales Rene D. , Orden David , Marsa-Maestre Ivan
Published: September 2020

This paper models an air traffic optimization problem where, on the one hand, flight operators seek to minimize fuel consumption flying at optimal cruise levels and, on the other hand, air traffic managers aim to keep intersecting airways at as distant as possible flight levels. We study such a problem as a factorized optimization, which is addressed through a spectrum graph coloring model, evaluating the effect that safety constraints have on fuel consumption, and comparing different heuristic approaches for allocation.
A Prostate MRI Segmentation Tool Based on Active Contour Models Using a Gradient Vector Flow
Authors: Rodríguez Joaquín , Ochoa-Ruiz Gilberto , Mata Christian
Published: September 2020

Medical support systems used to assist in the diagnosis of prostate lesions generally related to prostate segmentation is one of the majors focus of interest in recent literature. The main problem encountered in the diagnosis of a prostate study is the localization of a Regions of Interest (ROI) containing a tumor tissue. In this paper, a new GUI tool based on a semi-automatic prostate segmentation is presented. The main rationale behind this tool and the focus of this article is facilitate the time consuming segmentation process used for annotating images in the clinical practice, enabling the radiologists to use novel and easy to use semi-automatic segmentation techniques instead of manual segmentation. In this work, a detailed specification of the proposed segmentation algorithm using an Active Contour Models (ACM) aided with a Gradient Vector Flow (GVF) component is defined. The purpose is to help the manual segmentation process of the main ROIs of prostate gland zones. Finally, an experimental case of use and a discussion part of the results are presented.
Condition Monitoring System and Faults Detection for Impedance Bonds from Railway Infrastructure
Authors: Andrusca Mihai , Adam Maricel , Dragomir Alin , Lunca Eduard , Seeram Ramakrishna , Postolache Octavian
Published: September 2020

Nowadays, sensors and condition monitoring systems are expanding rapidly and becoming cheaper. This contributes to increasing developments in condition monitoring in railway transport infrastructure. A condition monitoring system that uses an online device and sensors to acquire electrical parameters from railway infrastructure has been developed and applied for fault detection and diagnosis of impedance bonds. The impedance bond condition is monitored in real-time using current and temperature sensors, providing early warning if predefined thresholds are exceeded in terms of currents, imbalance currents, and temperatures. The proposed method and the developed monitoring device have been validated in the railway laboratory to confirm its capability to detect defects. The acquired parameters from impedance bonds are used to extract thermal stresses and technical conditions of this equipment. Experimental results and appropriate data analysis are included in the article.
Homomorphic Model Selection for Data Analysis in an Encrypted Domain
Authors: Hong Mi Yeon , Yoo Joon Soo , Yoon Ji Won
Published: September 2020

Secure computation, a methodology of computing on encrypted data, has become a key factor in machine learning. Homomorphic encryption (HE) enables computation on encrypted data without leaking any information to untrusted servers. In machine learning, the model selection method is a crucial algorithm that determines the performance and reduces the fitting problem. Despite the importance of finding the optimal model, none of the previous studies have considered model selection when performing data analysis through the HE scheme. The HE-based model selection we proposed finds the optimal complexity that best describes given data that is encrypted and whose distribution is unknown. Since this process requires a matrix calculation, we constructed the matrix multiplication and inverse of the matrix based on the bitwise operation. Based on these, we designed the model selection of the HE cross-validation approach and the HE Bayesian approach for homomorphic machine learning. Our focus was on evidence approximation for linear models to find goodness-of-fit that maximizes the evidence. We conducted an experiment on a dataset of age and Body Mass Index (BMI) from Kaggle to compare the capabilities and our model showed that encrypted data can regress homomorphically without decrypting it.
Evaluation of the Bond Strength and Cytotoxicity of Alkasite Restorative Material
Authors: Awad Mohamed M. , Alshehri Turki , Alqarni Ahmed M. , Magdy Nashaat M. , Alhalabi Feras , Alotaibi Dalal , Alrahlah Ali
Published: September 2020

Cention N (CN; Ivoclar Vivadent, Schaan, Liechtenstein), advertised as an alkasite, is a bioactive bulk-fill resin-based composite (BF-RBC) with alkaline fillers. This study evaluated the resin-dentin micro-tensile bond strength (μTBS) and cytotoxicity of CN. Methods: Flat dentin surfaces were obtained, bonded with a universal adhesive, and randomly distributed into two groups. CN (group I) and a flowable BF-RBC, namely, Tetric N-Flow Bulk Fill, Ivoclar Vivadent, Schaan, Liechtenstein (group II), were used. After thermocycling, bonded samples were sectioned into micro-beams for μTBS evaluation. Resin-based composite (RBC) discs with a thickness of 2 and 4 mm were tested on human gingival fibroblast cells (HGFCs). Cytotoxicity was assessed by cell viability and growth using AlamarBlue® (Biosource, Camarillo, CA, USA) over a seven-day period. Independent t-test was utilized to statistically analyze μTBS data, while one- and two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Tukey’s post-hoc tests were utilized to analyze the cell viability data. Results: There was no statistically significant difference (p > 0.05) in the μTBS between the flowable BF-RBC and CN. For both materials, the HGFCs were viable, with constant growing over the seven-day period. Conclusion: CN provided a resin-dentin μTBS that was comparable to that provided by the flowable BF-RBC. Both materials showed acceptable cytotoxicity over the seven-day period at a thickness of both 2 and 4 mm.
Effect of Freeze-Thaw on the Stability of a Cutting Slope in a High-Latitude and Low-Altitude Permafrost Region
Authors: Zhao Yuxia , Wang Liqun , Li Han
Published: September 2020

In order to study the influence of freeze-thaw cycles on the stability of cutting slopes in high-latitude and low-altitude permafrost regions, we selected a cutting slope (the K105+700–800 section of National Highway 332) in the Elunchun Autonomous Banner in Inner Mongolia as the research object. Located in the Greater Xing’an Mountains, the permafrost in the Elunchun Autonomous Banner is a high-latitude and low-altitude permafrost. The area is also dominated by island-shaped permafrost, which increases the difficulty of dealing with cutting slopes, due to its morphological complexity. Surface collapse, caused by freeze-thaw erosion in this area, is the main reason for the instability of the cutting slope. Indoor freeze-thaw tests, field monitoring, and an ABAQUS numerical simulation model were conducted so as to quantify the decrease in rock strength and slope stability under freeze-thaw conditions. The following conclusions were drawn. (1) As the number of freeze-thaw cycles increased, the compressive strength of the rock specimens obtained from this slope gradually decreased. After 50 freeze-thaw cycles, the uniaxial compressive strength measured by the test decreased from 40 MPa to 12 MPa, a decrease of 37%. The elastic modulus value was reduced by 47%. (2) The safety factor of the slope—calculated by the strength reduction method under the dynamic analysis of coupled heat, moisture, and stress—gradually decreased. After 50 freeze-thaw cycles, the safety factor of the slope was only 0.74. (3) Reasonably reducing the number of freeze-thaw cycles, reducing the water content of the slope, slowing down the slope, and increasing the number of grading steps can effectively improve the stability of the slope. The results of this study can provide a reference for the design and stability analysis of slopes in permafrost regions of the Greater Xing’an Mountains.
The Role of HDL and HDL Mimetic Peptides as Potential Therapeutics for Alzheimer’s Disease
Authors: Chernick Dustin , Zhong Rui , Li Ling
Published: September 2020

The role of high-density lipoproteins (HDL) in the cardiovascular system has been extensively studied and the cardioprotective effects of HDL are well established. As HDL particles are formed both in the systemic circulation and in the central nervous system, the role of HDL and its associated apolipoproteins in the brain has attracted much research interest in recent years. Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most prevalent neurodegenerative disorder and the leading cause of dementia worldwide, for which there currently exists no approved disease modifying treatment. Multiple lines of evidence, including a number of large-scale human clinical studies, have shown a robust connection between HDL levels and AD. Low levels of HDL are associated with increased risk and severity of AD, whereas high levels of HDL are correlated with superior cognitive function. Although the mechanisms underlying the protective effects of HDL in the brain are not fully understood, many of the functions of HDL, including reverse lipid/cholesterol transport, anti-inflammation/immune modulation, anti-oxidation, microvessel endothelial protection, and proteopathy modification, are thought to be critical for its beneficial effects. This review describes the current evidence for the role of HDL in AD and the potential of using small peptides mimicking HDL or its associated apolipoproteins (HDL-mimetic peptides) as therapeutics to treat AD.
SARS-CoV-2 Infection Induces a Dual Response in Liver Function Tests: Association with Mortality during Hospitalization
Authors: Bernal-Monterde Vanesa , Casas-Deza Diego , Letona-Giménez Laura , de la Llama-Celis Natalia , Calmarza Pilar , Sierra-Gabarda Olivia , Betoré-Glaria Elena , Martínez-de Lagos María , Martínez-Barredo Lucía , Espinosa-Pérez María , M. Arbones-Mainar Jose
Published: September 2020

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is associated with abnormal liver function tests. We hypothesized that early altered liver biochemistries at admission might have different clinical relevance than subsequent changes during hospitalization. A single-center retrospective study was conducted on 540 consecutive hospitalized patients, PCR-diagnosed with SARS-CoV-2. Liver test abnormalities were defined as the elevation of either gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), or aspartate aminotransferase (AST), above the upper limit of normality set by our laboratory. Linear mixed models (LMM) evaluated longitudinal associations, incorporating all available follow-up laboratory chemistries. By the end of the follow-up period, 502 patients (94.5%) were discharged (109 (20.5%) died). A total of 319 (64.3%) had at least one abnormal liver test result at admission. More prevalent were elevated AST (40.9%) and GGT (47.3%). Abnormalities were not associated with survival but with respiratory complications at admission. Conversely, LMM models adjusted for age and sex showed that longitudinal increases during hospitalization in ferritin, GGT, and alkaline phosphatase (ALP), as well as a decreased albumin levels, were associated with reduced survival. This dual pattern of liver damage might reconcile previous conflicting reports. GGT and ALP trajectories could be useful to determine who might need more surveillance and intensive care.
Blood Monocyte Subsets with Activation Markers in Relation with Macrophages in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer
Authors: Kwiecień Iwona , Rutkowska Elżbieta , Polubiec-Kownacka Małgorzata , Raniszewska Agata , Rzepecki Piotr , Domagała-Kulawik Joanna
Published: September 2020

(1) The cells from the monocyte line play an important role as regulators of cancer development and progression. Monocytes present pro- and anti-tumor immunity and differentiation into macrophages. Macrophages are predominant in the lung cancer environment and could be evaluated by bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF). (2) The aim of the study was analysis of monocytes: classical, intermediate and non-classical with expression of: CD62L, CD11c, CD18, HLA-DR in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and their correlation with BALF macrophages from lungs with cancer (clBALF) and healthy lungs (hlBALF). (3) A total of 24 patients with NSCLC and 20 healthy donors were investigated. Monocyte subtyping and macrophage counts were performed by flow cytometry. (4) There are three types in peripheral blood (PB): classical monocytes (CD14++CD16-), intermediate (CD14+CD16+) and non-classical (CD14-/+CD16++). We noticed a higher proportion of classical and intermediate monocytes in lung cancer than in healthy donors (76.2 vs. 67.3, and 7.9 vs. 5.2 p < 0.05). We observed a higher proportion of macrophages in clBALF then in hlBALF. A higher CD62L expression on all monocyte subtypes in healthy donors than in study group was found. There were positive correlations between: classical CD11c+, intermediate CD11c+, intermediate HLA-DR+ monocytes in PB with macrophages in clBALF. We did not observe these correlations with macrophages from hlBALF. (5) A predominance of classical and intermediate monocytes in lung cancer and the correlation between intermediate monocytes with CD11c+ and HLA-DR+ and macrophages from the NSCLC milieu support a role of monocyte-line cells in cancer immunity. A high proportion of monocytes with low expression of CD62L indicates the participation of monocytes in attenuation of anticancer response.
Current Status and Perspectives of Patient-Derived Models for Ewing’s Sarcoma
Authors: Kondo Tadashi
Published: September 2020

Patient-derived cancer models, including cell lines, organoids, and xenografts, are indispensable tools in cancer research. These models, which recapitulate molecular features of original tumors, allow studies on the biological significance of cancer-associated genes, antitumor effects of novel agents, and molecular mechanisms underlying clinical behaviors of tumors. Moreover, the predictive utility of patient-derived cancer models is expected to facilitate drug development and precision medicine. Ewing’s sarcoma is a highly aggressive mesenchymal tumor with a high metastasis rate. Previous studies demonstrated the utility of cell lines and xenografts in Ewing’s sarcoma research and clinical studies. However, the number of Ewing’s sarcoma models available from public biobanks is limited; this creates an obstacle for research on Ewing’s sarcoma. Novel Ewing’s sarcoma models are needed to establish their utility, further our understanding of the molecular mechanisms, and help develop effective therapeutic strategies. In this review, the current status of patient-derived cancer models is overviewed, and future prospects of model development are discussed from the perspective of Ewing’s sarcoma research. It should be of interest to researchers and clinicians who work on patient-derived cancer models.
Alkaline-Based Catalysts for Glycerol Polymerization Reaction: A Review
Authors: Ebadipour Negisa , Paul Sébastien , Katryniok Benjamin , Dumeignil Franck
Published: September 2020

Polyglycerols (PGs) are biocompatible and highly functional polyols with a wide range of applications, such as emulsifiers, stabilizers and antimicrobial agents, in many industries including cosmetics, food, plastic and biomedical. The demand increase for biobased PGs encourages researchers to develop new catalytic systems for glycerol polymerization. This review focuses on alkaline homogeneous and heterogeneous catalysts. The performances of the alkaline catalysts are compared in terms of conversion and selectivity, and their respective advantages and disadvantages are commented. While homogeneous catalysts exhibit a high catalytic activity, they cannot be recycled and reused, whereas solid catalysts can be partially recycled. The key issue for heterogenous catalytic systems, which is unsolved thus far, is linked to their instability due to partial dissolution in the reaction medium. Further, this paper also reviews the proposed mechanisms of glycerol polymerization over alkaline-based catalysts and discusses the various operating conditions with an impact on performance. More particularly, temperature and amount of catalyst are proven to have a significant influence on glycerol conversion and on its polymerization extent.
Extracellular Matrix-Mediated Breast Cancer Cells Morphological Alterations, Invasiveness, and Microvesicles/Exosomes Release
Authors: Franchi Marco , Piperigkou Zoi , Karamanos Konstantinos-Athanasios , Franchi Leonardo , Masola Valentina
Published: September 2020

Breast cancer is a leading disease in women. Several studies are focused to evaluate the critical role of extracellular matrix (ECM) in various biochemical and molecular aspects but also in terms of its effect on cancer cell morphology and therefore on cancer cell invasion and metastatic potential. ECM fibrillar components, such as collagen and fibronectin, affect cell behavior and properties of mammary cancer cells. The aim of this study was to investigate using the scanning electron microscopy (SEM) how the highly invasive MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells, interplaying with ECM substrates during cell migration/invasion, modify their morphological characteristics and cytoplasmic processes in relation to their invasive potential. In particular we reproduced and analyzed how natural structural barriers to cancer cell invasion, such as the basement membrane (Matrigel) and fibrillar components of dermis (fibronectin as well as the different concentrations/array of type I collagen), could induce morphological changes in 3D cultures. Interestingly, we demonstrate that, even with different effects, all collagen concentrations/arrays lead to morphological alterations of breast cancer cells. Intriguingly, the elongated mesenchymal shaped cells were more prominent in 3D cultures with a dense and thick substrate (thick Matrigel, high concentrated collagen network, and densely packed collagen fibers), even though cells with different shape produced and released microvesicles and exosomes as well. It is therefore evident that the peri-tumoral collagen network may act not only as a barrier but also as a dynamic scaffold which stimulates the morphological changes of cancer cells, and modulates tumor development and metastatic potential in breast cancer.
Prevalence and Associated Factors of Emotional and Behavioural Difficulties during COVID-19 Pandemic in Children with Neurodevelopmental Disorders
Authors: Nonweiler Jacqueline , Rattray Fiona , Baulcomb Jennifer , Happé Francesca , Absoud Michael
Published: September 2020

Children and young people (CYP) with neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs) may be particularly vulnerable to adverse mental health effects due to the COVID-19 pandemic. We conducted a cross-sectional U.K. parent-reported study from 2nd April–2nd June 2020, using the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire. CYP with NDDs (n = 371), compared to neurotypical controls, had a higher prevalence of emotional symptoms (42% vs. 15%) and conduct problems (28% vs. 9%), and fewer prosocial behaviours (54% vs. 22%). All groups had worse emotional symptoms than pre-COVID groups, and those with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder showed inflated conduct problems, while those with autism spectrum disorder exhibited decreased prosocial behaviours. Females with ASD had higher emotional symptoms compared to males. CYP with NDDs, and those without, showed higher levels of parent-reported mental health problems than comparable cohorts pre-COVID-19.
Nondestructive Evaluation of Thermal Barrier Coatings Interface Delamination Using Terahertz Technique Combined with SWT-PCA-GA-BP Algorithm
Authors: Ye Dongdong , Wang Weize , Yin Changdong , Xu Zhou , Fang Huanjie , Huang Jibo , Li Yuanjun
Published: September 2020

Thermal barrier coatings (TBCs) are usually subjected to the combined action of compressive stress, tensile stress, and bending shear stress, resulting in the interfacial delamination of TBCs, and finally causing the ceramic top coat to peel off. Hence, it is vital to detect the early-stage subcritical delamination cracks. In this study, a novel hybrid artificial neural network combined with the terahertz nondestructive technology was presented to predict the thickness of interface delamination in the early stage. The finite difference time domain (FDTD) algorithm was used to obtain the raw terahertz time-domain signals of 32 TBCs samples with various thicknesses of interface delamination, not only that, the influence of roughness and the thickness of the ceramic top layer were considered comprehensively when modeling. The stationary wavelet transform (SWT) and principal component analysis (PCA) methods were employed to extract the signal features and reduce the data dimensions before modeling, to make the cumulative contribution rate reach 100%, the first 31 components of the SWT detail data was used as the input data during modeling. Finally, a back propagation (BP) neural network method optimized by the genetic algorithm (GA-BP) was proposed to set up the interface delamination thickness prediction model. As a result, the root correlation coefficient R2 reached over 0.95, the various errors—including the mean square error, mean squared percentage error, and mean absolute percentage error—were less than or equal to 0.53. All these indicators proved that the trained hybrid SWT-PCA-GA-BP model had excellent prediction performance and high accuracy. Finally, this work proposed a novel and convenient interface delamination evaluation method that could also be potentially utilized to evaluate the structural integrity of TBCs.
Chemical Solution Deposition of YBCO Films with Gd Excess
Authors: Pinto Valentina , Vannozzi Angelo , Angrisani Armenio Achille , Rizzo Francesco , Masi Andrea , Santoni Antonino , Meledin Alexander , Ferrarese Fabrizio Mario , Orlanducci Silvia , Celentano Giuseppe
Published: September 2020

Chemical solution deposition of Gd-doped YBCO, Y1GdyBa2Cu3O7−δ, (YBCO-Gd), film was carried out following the metal-organic decomposition approach and in situ route. Two dopant concentrations, 5 and 10 mol %, were evaluated. The morphology and crystalline structure of the superconductor films were deeply investigated. In general, a homogeneous and well c-axis oriented film was observed by using scanning and transmission electron microscopy (SEM and TEM) and X-ray diffraction. However, compared to pure YBCO, YBCO-Gd samples showed an increased stacking faults concentration, as recognized by TEM. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy allowed studying the Gd distribution in the films and gathered information about the Gd electronic environment. Superconducting properties were evaluated at different temperatures, magnetic field directions, and intensities. Higher zero-field critical current densities were measured with respect to undoped samples in the temperature range from 10 to 77 K with both Gd concentrations (i.e., 28, 27, and 13 MA·cm−2, respectively, for YBCO-Gd 5%, YBCO-Gd 10%, and undoped YBCO at 10 K in self field condition). At low temperatures, this improvement was maintained up to 12 T, confirming the efficacy of Gd addition for the enhancement of transport properties of YBCO film.
Veiled Extra Virgin Olive Oils: Role of Emulsion, Water and Antioxidants
Authors: Cinelli Giuseppe , Cofelice Martina , Venditti Francesco
Published: September 2020

This review traces the current knowledge on the effects of various factors and phenomena that occur at interface, and the role of dispersed phase on the physicochemical, sensorial and nutritional characteristics of veiled extra virgin olive oil (VVOO). Since 1994 there have been numerous articles in the literature regarding the peculiar characteristic of unfiltered olive oil, so-called veiled or cloud virgin olive oil. It is a colloidal system (emulsion–sol), where the continuous lipidic phase dispreads mini droplets of milling water, fragments of cells and biotic fraction obtained from oil processing. During storage, the dispersed phase collapses and determines the quality of the virgin olive oil (VOO). The observed phenomena lead to worsening the quality of the product by causing defects such as oxidation of phenols, triacylglycerols hydrolysis and off-flavor formation. The addition of bioactive compounds, such as vitamins, on product based on VVOO, must take into account the eventual synergistic effect of individual substances. The role of the interphase is crucial to the synergic activity of bioactive molecules in improving oxidative stability, sensorial and health characteristics of VVOO.
Raccoon Vigilance and Activity Patterns When Sympatric with Coyotes
Authors: Chitwood M. Colter , Lashley Marcus A. , Higdon Summer D. , DePerno Christopher S. , Moorman Christopher E.
Published: September 2020

Nonconsumptive effects of predators potentially have negative fitness consequences on prey species through changes in prey behavior. Coyotes (Canis latrans) recently expanded into the eastern United States, and raccoons (Procyon lotor) are a common mesocarnivore that potentially serve as competitors and food for coyotes. We used camera traps at baited sites to quantify vigilance behavior of feeding raccoons and used binomial logistic regression to analyze the effects of social and environmental factors. Additionally, we created raccoon and coyote activity patterns from the camera trap data by fitting density functions based on circular statistics and calculating the coefficient of overlap (Δ). Overall, raccoons were vigilant 46% of the time while foraging at baited sites. Raccoons were more vigilant during full moon and diurnal hours but less vigilant as group size increased and when other species were present. Raccoons and coyotes demonstrated nocturnal activity patterns, with coyotes more likely to be active during daylight hours. Overall, raccoons did not appear to exhibit high levels of vigilance. Activity pattern results provided further evidence that raccoons do not appear to fear coyotes, as both species were active at the same time and showed a high degree of overlap (Δ = 0.75) with little evidence of temporal segregation in activity. Thus, our study indicates that nonconsumptive effects of coyotes on raccoons are unlikely, which calls into question the ability of coyotes to initiate strong trophic cascades through some mesocarnivores.
Are Future Professionals Willing to Implement Service Robots? Attitudes of Hospitality and Tourism Students towards Service Robotization
Authors: Ivkov Milan , Blešić Ivana , Dudić Branislav , Pajtinková Bartáková Gabriela , Dudić Zdenka
Published: September 2020

This paper aims to examine attitudes of hospitality and tourism students, as future professionals, towards willingness to implement service robots. The study proposes a new theoretical conceptual model that includes new constructs and items, differentiating it from the others. The model was formed based on the extensive literature review and the interview with an eight-member focus group (hotel managers and academic researchers). Data collection was performed in two stages, pilot research based on 82 respondents and the main study, with the final number of respondents being 236. The initial results of the exploratory factor analysis were further tested using the confirmatory factor analysis. After the exclusion of several items due to low factor loadings and in order to improve model validity, analyses further suggested a nine-dimensional solution with 45 items. The study findings reveal a positive relationship between seven constructs and students’ willingness to implement service robots, with the expected business outcome being the most influencing one. On the other hand, positive relation was not found for empathy and social influence constructs. Theoretical contributions and practical implications are discussed in the paper. In conclusion, study limitations and future research suggestions are provided.
Optimally Tuned Interleaved Luo Converter for PV Array Fed BLDC Motor Driven Centrifugal Pumps Using Whale Optimization Algorithm—A Resilient Solution for Powering Agricultural Loads
Authors: Jegha A. Darcy Gnana , Subathra M.S.P. , Kumar Nallapaneni Manoj , Ghosh Aritra
Published: September 2020

The use of brushless direct current (BLDC) motors are gaining much prominence in water pumping systems (WPS), especially for agricultural purposes. In most cases, the BLDC based WPS is powered using electricity from the grid, which is vulnerable to disruptive events causing a resilience problem. However, to avoid the resilience issue, grid-interactive solar photovoltaics (PV) are being used, and this is due to the increased penetration of distributed generation sources into the grid. In these systems, based on the inherent nature of solar PV, power converters are preferred, and as a result, problems like switching losses and maintaining steady-state voltages are commonly seen. In this paper, a framework of PV powered WPS with scope for optimizing controller parameters is proposed to avoid the above-raised issues. Based on the proposed framework, the overall structure of the PV powered WPS is modeled, designed, and analyzed. In the proposed system, the power output from solar PV is fed to the BLDC motor and the grid. If any problem arises in obtaining the power from solar PV, grid-interaction helps to run the motor at required speeds making the WPS resilient to unexpected disruptions and vice versa. For retrieving the generated power from PV array, a positive interleaved Luo converter (I-Luo) is used, which boosts the output with minimum switching losses. To maintain the steady-state voltage at the output of the I-Luo converter, a proportional-integral (PI) controller whose parameters are tuned by whale optimization algorithm (WOA) is used. This voltage is fetched to the BLDC motor via a 3-phase (3-Ф) inverter and then to the grid via a single-phase (1-Ф) inverter. The overall system is simulated and experimentally validated, with a detailed analysis of the observed results. The results include the various performance characteristics of the solar PV, converter, and BLDC motor. Besides, by using the field-programmable gate array (FPGA) based SPARTAN6E controller, the performance of the I-Luo is examined experimentally.
Multibit-Generating Pulsewidth-Based Memristive-PUF Structure and Circuit Implementation
Authors: Choi Seoyeon , Kim Dayoung , Choi Yunyeong , Sun Wookyung , Shin Hyungsoon
Published: September 2020

As Internet of Things (IoT) devices have evolved, physical unclonable functions (PUFs) have become a popular solution for hardware security. In particular, memristor devices are receiving attention as suitable candidates for reliable PUFs because they can be integrated into nano-cross point array circuits with ultra-high efficiency. However, it has been found that typical 1-bit generating PUFs consume too many challenge–response pairs (CRPs) to generate a single response. This issue has to be overcome to construct a strong and reliable PUF with a large number of valid CRPs. We suggest a bank design and quantizing entropy source method for constructing a multibit-generating PUF. In this paper, we propose a new pulsewidth-based memristive PUF (pm-PUF) architecture that incorporates analog memristor devices and a nano-cross point array. We describe the architecture’s circuit implementation and its operating process in detail. We also evaluate the inter and intra performances of the pm-PUF in terms of randomness, diffuseness, uniqueness, and steadiness to show that the proposed pm-PUF will be a promising solution for a high-density hardware security system.
Quantifying Genomic Imprinting at Tissue and Cell Resolution in the Brain
Authors: Varrault Annie , Dubois Emeric , Le Digarcher Anne , Bouschet Tristan
Published: September 2020

Imprinted genes are a group of ~150 genes that are preferentially expressed from one parental allele owing to epigenetic marks asymmetrically distributed on inherited maternal and paternal chromosomes. Altered imprinted gene expression causes human brain disorders such as Prader-Willi and Angelman syndromes and additional rare brain diseases. Research data principally obtained from the mouse model revealed how imprinted genes act in the normal and pathological brain. However, a better understanding of imprinted gene functions calls for building detailed maps of their parent-of-origin-dependent expression and of associated epigenetic signatures. Here we review current methods for quantifying genomic imprinting at tissue and cell resolutions, with a special emphasis on methods to detect parent-of-origin dependent expression and their applications to the brain. We first focus on bulk RNA-sequencing, the main method to detect parent-of-origin-dependent expression transcriptome-wide. We discuss the benefits and caveats of bulk RNA-sequencing and provide a guideline to use it on F1 hybrid mice. We then review methods for detecting parent-of-origin-dependent expression at cell resolution, including single-cell RNA-seq, genetic reporters, and molecular probes. Finally, we provide an overview of single-cell epigenomics technologies that profile additional features of genomic imprinting, including DNA methylation, histone modifications and chromatin conformation and their combination into sc-multimodal omics approaches, which are expected to yield important insights into genomic imprinting in individual brain cells.
The Transcriptomic Landscape of Cupriavidus metallidurans CH34 Acutely Exposed to Copper
Authors: Maertens Laurens , Leys Natalie , Matroule Jean-Yves , Van Houdt Rob
Published: September 2020

Bacteria are increasingly used for biotechnological applications such as bioremediation, biorecovery, bioproduction, and biosensing. The development of strains suited for such applications requires a thorough understanding of their behavior, with a key role for their transcriptomic landscape. We present a thorough analysis of the transcriptome of Cupriavidus metallidurans CH34 cells acutely exposed to copper by tagRNA-sequencing. C. metallidurans CH34 is a model organism for metal resistance, and its potential as a biosensor and candidate for metal bioremediation has been demonstrated in multiple studies. Several metabolic pathways were impacted by Cu exposure, and a broad spectrum of metal resistance mechanisms, not limited to copper-specific clusters, was overexpressed. In addition, several gene clusters involved in the oxidative stress response and the cysteine-sulfur metabolism were induced. In total, 7500 transcription start sites (TSSs) were annotated and classified with respect to their location relative to coding sequences (CDSs). Predicted TSSs were used to re-annotate 182 CDSs. The TSSs of 2422 CDSs were detected, and consensus promotor logos were derived. Interestingly, many leaderless messenger RNAs (mRNAs) were found. In addition, many mRNAs were transcribed from multiple alternative TSSs. We observed pervasive intragenic TSSs both in sense and antisense to CDSs. Antisense transcripts were enriched near the 5′ end of mRNAs, indicating a functional role in post-transcriptional regulation. In total, 578 TSSs were detected in intergenic regions, of which 35 were identified as putative small regulatory RNAs. Finally, we provide a detailed analysis of the main copper resistance clusters in CH34, which include many intragenic and antisense transcripts. These results clearly highlight the ubiquity of noncoding transcripts in the CH34 transcriptome, many of which are putatively involved in the regulation of metal resistance.
Suicide Safety Planning: Clinician Training, Comfort, and Safety Plan Utilization
Authors: Moscardini Emma H. , Hill Ryan M. , Dodd Cody G. , Do Calvin , Kaplow Julie B. , Tucker Raymond P.
Published: September 2020

Extant literature has demonstrated that suicide safety planning is an efficacious intervention for reducing patient risk for suicide-related behaviors. However, little is known about factors that may impact the effectiveness of the intervention, such as provider training and comfort, use of specific safety plan elements, circumstances under which providers choose to use safety planning, and personal factors which influence a provider’s decision to use safety planning. Participants were (N = 119) safety plan providers who responded to an anonymous web-based survey. Results indicated that most providers had received training in safety planning and were comfortable with the intervention. Providers reported that skills such as identifying warning signs and means safety strategies were routinely used. Providers who reported exposure to suicide were more likely to complete safety plans with patients regardless of risk factors. In addition, almost 70% of providers indicated a need for further training. These data provide important considerations for safety plan implementation and training.
Extracellular Enzymes and Bioactive Compounds from Antarctic Terrestrial Fungi for Bioprospecting
Authors: Zucconi Laura , Canini Fabiana , Temporiti Marta Elisabetta , Tosi Solveig
Published: September 2020

Antarctica, one of the harshest environments in the world, has been successfully colonized by extremophilic, psychrophilic, and psychrotolerant microorganisms, facing a range of extreme conditions. Fungi are the most diverse taxon in the Antarctic ecosystems, including soils. Genetic adaptation to this environment results in the synthesis of a range of metabolites, with different functional roles in relation to the biotic and abiotic environmental factors, some of which with new biological properties of potential biotechnological interest. An overview on the production of cold-adapted enzymes and other bioactive secondary metabolites from filamentous fungi and yeasts isolated from Antarctic soils is here provided and considerations on their ecological significance are reported. A great number of researches have been carried out to date, based on cultural approaches. More recently, metagenomics approaches are expected to increase our knowledge on metabolic potential of these organisms, leading to the characterization of unculturable taxa. The search on fungi in Antarctica deserves to be improved, since it may represent a useful strategy for finding new metabolic pathways and, consequently, new bioactive compounds.
“I Get That Spirit in Me”—Mentally Empowering Workplace Health Promotion for Female Workers in Low-Paid Jobs during Menopause and Midlife
Authors: Verburgh Marjolein , Verdonk Petra , Appelman Yolande , Brood-van Zanten Monique , Nieuwenhuijsen Karen
Published: September 2020

During menopause and midlife, female workers, particularly those in low-paid jobs, experience more occupational health problems than other groups of workers. Workplace interventions are often lacking, however. In the Netherlands, a workplace health promotion intervention—the work–life program (WLP)—has been developed to support female workers. Here, we tailored the WLP to the needs of female workers in low-paid jobs working at Amsterdam University Medical Center. In an exploratory mixed-methods study with a convergent design, among 56 participants, we used questionnaires before and after the intervention and semi-structured, in-depth interviews to address the following research question: What is the impact of the WLP on the women’s health and work functioning? Our quantitative data showed that menopausal symptoms improved significantly after the WLP. Our qualitative data, derived from 12 participants, showed that the WLP initiated a process of mental empowerment that initiated positive changes in four domains: behavior, physical health, mental wellbeing, and in the workplace. Taken with caution, our findings suggest that the WLP mentally empowers female workers to make choices that enhance their health and wellbeing, both at work and in their private lives, as summarized in the quote of one participant: “I get that spirit in me!”.