bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Marine Pharmacology in 2016–2017: Marine Compounds with Antibacterial, Antidiabetic, Antifungal, Anti-Inflammatory, Antiprotozoal, Antituberculosis and Antiviral Activities; Affecting the Immune and Nervous Systems, and Other Miscellaneous Mechanisms of Action
Authors: Mayer Alejandro M. S. , Guerrero Aimee J. , Rodríguez Abimael D. , Taglialatela-Scafati Orazio , Nakamura Fumiaki , Fusetani Nobuhiro
Published: January 2021

The review of the 2016–2017 marine pharmacology literature was prepared in a manner similar as the 10 prior reviews of this series. Preclinical marine pharmacology research during 2016–2017 assessed 313 marine compounds with novel pharmacology reported by a growing number of investigators from 54 countries. The peer-reviewed literature reported antibacterial, antifungal, antiprotozoal, antituberculosis, and antiviral activities for 123 marine natural products, 111 marine compounds with antidiabetic and anti-inflammatory activities as well as affecting the immune and nervous system, while in contrast 79 marine compounds displayed miscellaneous mechanisms of action which upon further investigation may contribute to several pharmacological classes. Therefore, in 2016–2017, the preclinical marine natural product pharmacology pipeline generated both novel pharmacology as well as potentially new lead compounds for the growing clinical marine pharmaceutical pipeline, and thus sustained with its contributions the global research for novel and effective therapeutic strategies for multiple disease categories.
Parameters Optimization of Auxiliary Gas Process for Double-Wire SS316L Stainless Steel Arc Additive Manufacturing
Authors: Wu Wei , Xue Jiaxiang , Xu Wei , Lin Hongyan , Tang Heqing , Yao Ping
Published: January 2021

Serious heat accumulation limits the further efficiency and application in additive manufacturing (AM). This study accordingly proposed a double-wire SS316L stainless steel arc AM with a two-direction auxiliary gas process to research the effect of three parameters, such as auxiliary gas nozzle angle, auxiliary gas flow rate and nozzle-to-substrate distance on depositions, then based on the Box–Behnken Design response surface, a regression equation between three parameters and the total score were established to optimized parameters by an evaluation system. The results showed that samples with nozzle angle of 30° had poor morphology but good properties, and increasing gas flow or decreasing distance would enhance the airflow strength and stiffness, then strongly stir the molten pool and resist the interference. Then a diverse combination of auxiliary process parameters had different influences on the morphology and properties, and an interactive effect on the comprehensive score. Ultimately the optimal auxiliary gas process parameters were 17.4°, 25 L/min and 10.44 mm, which not only bettered the morphology, but refined the grains and improved the properties due to the stirring and cooling effect of the auxiliary gas, which provides a feasible way for quality and efficiency improvements in arc additive manufacturing.
Characterisation of High Temperature Oxidation Phenomena during AISI 430 Stainless Steel Manufacturing under a Controlled H2 Atmosphere for Bright Annealing
Authors: García Irene Collado , Galindo Andrés Núñez , Bello Juan F. Almagro , Leal Juan M. González , Pedemonte Javier F. Botana
Published: January 2021

Localised-in-the-edge oxidation of four AISI 430 alloys was investigated after an industrial bright annealing process. The oxidised surface of each specimen was characterised by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Raman-spectroscopy and SEM. The results showed that the selective oxidation of Cr and Mn took place at the coil edges of AISI 430. This led to the formation of an oxide scale based on Cr2O3 and MnCr2O4. On the other hand, the formation of Cr(OH)3 and MnOOH in the outer part of the oxide scale was related to the effect of the H2–N2 environment on the annealing furnace. The results concluded that the composition of Cr and Mn in the alloy determined the composition of the oxidation products. However, the effect of annealing time was minor in this oxidation mechanism, which slightly contributed to an increase in the cation diffusion from the steel to the oxide. Finally, the results obtained indicate that the colouration of the coil edges displayed in each studied material varies according to the alloy chemical composition and annealing time.
Finite Element Analysis of the Magnetic Field Distribution in a Magnetic Abrasive Finishing Station and its Impact on the Effects of Finishing Stainless Steel AISI 304L
Authors: Marczak Michał , Zawora Józef
Published: January 2021

In this article, we present a numerical model of a magnetic abrasive finishing station, which was analyzed using the finite element method (FEM). The obtained results were compared with the real values measured on an experimental station of our own design. The prepared station had the option of adjusting the magnetic flux density inside the machining gap, the width of which could be changed from 10 to 30 mm. The maximum value of the magnetic flux density inside the air gap was 0.8 T. The real distribution of magnetic flux density in the finishing area was also analyzed. A design of experiment was carried out with the following variables: abrasive grain concentration, width of the machining gap, and process duration. The results are presented in the form of regression equations and characteristics for selected roughness parameters.
Metabotypes of Pseudomonas aeruginosa Correlate with Antibiotic Resistance, Virulence and Clinical Outcome in Cystic Fibrosis Chronic Infections
Authors: Moyne Oriane , Castelli Florence , Bicout Dominique J. , Boccard Julien , Camara Boubou , Cournoyer Benoit , Faudry Eric , Terrier Samuel , Hannani Dalil , Huot-Marchand Sarah , Léger Claire , Maurin Max , Ngo Tuan-Dung , Plazy Caroline , Quinn Robert A. , Attree Ina , Fenaille François , Toussaint Bertrand , Le Gouëllec Audrey
Published: January 2021

Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P.a) is one of the most critical antibiotic resistant bacteria in the world and is the most prevalent pathogen in cystic fibrosis (CF), causing chronic lung infections that are considered one of the major causes of mortality in CF patients. Although several studies have contributed to understanding P.a within-host adaptive evolution at a genomic level, it is still difficult to establish direct relationships between the observed mutations, expression of clinically relevant phenotypes, and clinical outcomes. Here, we performed a comparative untargeted LC/HRMS-based metabolomics analysis of sequential isolates from chronically infected CF patients to obtain a functional view of P.a adaptation. Metabolic profiles were integrated with expression of bacterial phenotypes and clinical measurements following multiscale analysis methods. Our results highlighted significant associations between P.a “metabotypes”, expression of antibiotic resistance and virulence phenotypes, and frequency of clinical exacerbations, thus identifying promising biomarkers and therapeutic targets for difficult-to-treat P.a infections
Editorial for the Special Issue “Mineral Textural and Compositional Variations as a Tool for Understanding Magmatic Processes”
Authors: Mollo Silvio , Di Stefano Flavio , Forni Francesca
Published: January 2021

This Special Issue of Minerals collects seven different scientific contributions highlighting how magma chamber processes and eruption dynamics studied either in the laboratory or in nature may ultimately control the evolutionary histories and geochemical complexities of igneous rocks [...]
Identification and Quantification of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Polyhydroxyalkanoates Produced from Mixed Microbial Cultures and Municipal Organic Wastes at Pilot Scale
Authors: Cavaliere Chiara , Capriotti Anna Laura , Cerrato Andrea , Lorini Laura , Montone Carmela Maria , Valentino Francesco , Laganà Aldo , Majone Mauro
Published: January 2021

Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) are well-known biodegradable plastics produced by various bacterial strains, whose major drawback is constituted by the high cost of their synthesis. Producing PHAs from mixed microbial cultures and employing organic wastes as a carbon source allows us to both reduce cost and valorize available renewable resources, such as food waste and sewage sludge. However, different types of pollutants, originally contained in organic matrices, could persist into the final product, thus compromising their safety. In this work, the exploitation of municipal wastes for PHA production is evaluated from the environmental and health safety aspect by determining the presence of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in both commercial and waste-based PHA samples. Quantification of PAHs by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry on 24 PHA samples obtained in different conditions showed very low contamination levels, in the range of ppb to a few ppm. Moreover, the contaminant content seems to be dependent on the type of PHA stabilization and extraction, but independent from the type of feedstock. Commercial PHA derived from crops, selected for comparison, showed PAH content comparable to that detected in PHAs derived from organic fraction of municipal solid waste. Although there is no specific regulation on PAH maximum levels in PHAs, detected concentrations were consistently lower than threshold limit values set by regulation and guidelines for similar materials and/or applications. This suggests that the use of organic waste as substrate for PHA production is safe for both the human health and the environment.
pH-Responsive Redox Nanoparticles Protect SH-SY5Y Cells at Lowered pH in a Cellular Model of Parkinson’s Disease
Authors: Pichla Monika , Bartosz Grzegorz , Stefaniuk Ireneusz , Sadowska-Bartosz Izabela
Published: January 2021

The damage to SH-SY5Y cells by 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) is an established cellular model of Parkinson’s disease (PD). Redox nanoparticles are a promising tool for therapy, including neurodegenerative diseases. As pH of the brain tissue at sites affected by PD is lowered down to 6.5, we studied the effect of pH-responsive redox nanoparticles (poly(ethylene glycol)-b-poly[4-(2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine-1-oxyl)aminomethylstyrene]), which change their structure in a pH-dependent manner and become active below pH 7 (NRNPs pH), on the viability of SH-SY5Y cells treated with 6-OHDA at pH 6.5 and 7.4. Pretreatment of the cells with NRNPs pH (15–75 μM) prior to the 6-OHDA treatment increased their survival in a concentration-dependent manner at pH 6.5, but not at pH 7.4. Among several parameters studied (ATP and GSH content, the level of reactive oxygen species, mitochondrial potential, mitochondrial mass), only the mitochondrial mass was dose-dependently protected by NRNPs pH at pH 6.5, but not at pH 7.4. These results indicate that the action of NRNPs pH on mitochondria underlies their protective effect in this cellular model of PD. These results may have potential importance for future applications of NRNPs pH in preclinical and perhaps clinical studies.
Erucic Acid-Rich Yellow Mustard Oil Improves Insulin Resistance in KK-Ay Mice
Authors: Takahashi Asako , Ishizaki Mayu , Kimira Yoshifumi , Egashira Yukari , Hirai Shizuka
Published: January 2021

Obesity is a major risk factor for some metabolic disorders including type 2 diabetes. Enhancement of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) γ, a master regulator of adipocyte differentiation, is known to increase insulin-sensitive small adipocytes. In contrast, decreased PPARγ activity is also reported to improve insulin resistance. We have previously identified erucic acid as a novel natural component suppressing PPARγ transcriptional activity. In this study, we investigated the effect of erucic acid-rich yellow mustard oil (YMO) on obese/diabetic KK-Ay mice. An in vitro luciferase reporter assay and mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) differentiation assay revealed that 25 µg/mL YMO significantly inhibited PPARγ transcriptional activity and differentiation of MSCs into adipocytes but promoted their differentiation into osteoblasts. In KK-Ay mice, dietary intake of 7.0% (w/w) YMO significantly decreased the surrogate indexes for insulin resistance and the infiltration of macrophages into adipose tissue. Furthermore, 7.0% YMO increased bone mineral density. These results suggest that YMO can ameliorate obesity-induced metabolic disorders.
Structure Activity Relationship of Key Heterocyclic Anti-Angiogenic Leads of Promising Potential in the Fight against Cancer
Authors: Nada Hossam , Elkamhawy Ahmed , Lee Kyeong
Published: January 2021

Pathological angiogenesis is a hallmark of cancer; accordingly, a number of anticancer FDA-approved drugs act by inhibiting angiogenesis via different mechanisms. However, the development process of the most potent anti-angiogenics has met various hurdles including redundancy, multiplicity, and development of compensatory mechanisms by which blood vessels are remodeled. Moreover, identification of broad-spectrum anti-angiogenesis targets is proved to be required to enhance the efficacy of the anti-angiogenesis drugs. In this perspective, a proper understanding of the structure activity relationship (SAR) of the recent anti-angiogenics is required. Various anti-angiogenic classes have been developed over the years; among them, the heterocyclic organic compounds come to the fore as the most promising, with several drugs approved by the FDA. In this review, we discuss the structure–activity relationship of some promising potent heterocyclic anti-angiogenic leads. For each lead, a molecular modelling was also carried out in order to correlate its SAR and specificity to the active site. Furthermore, an in silico pharmacokinetics study for some representative leads was presented. Summarizing, new insights for further improvement for each lead have been reviewed.
Recent Advances in miRNA Delivery Systems
Authors: Dasgupta Ishani , Chatterjee Anushila
Published: January 2021

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) represent a family of short non-coding regulatory RNA molecules that are produced in a tissue and time-specific manner to orchestrate gene expression post-transcription. MiRNAs hybridize to target mRNA(s) to induce translation repression or mRNA degradation. Functional studies have demonstrated that miRNAs are engaged in virtually every physiological process and, consequently, miRNA dysregulations have been linked to multiple human pathologies. Thus, miRNA mimics and anti-miRNAs that restore miRNA expression or downregulate aberrantly expressed miRNAs, respectively, are highly sought-after therapeutic strategies for effective manipulation of miRNA levels. In this regard, carrier vehicles that facilitate proficient and safe delivery of miRNA-based therapeutics are fundamental to the clinical success of these pharmaceuticals. Here, we highlight the strengths and weaknesses of current state-of-the-art viral and non-viral miRNA delivery systems and provide perspective on how these tools can be exploited to improve the outcomes of miRNA-based therapeutics.
A Vicious Cycle of Osteosarcopenia in Inflammatory Bowel Diseases—Aetiology, Clinical Implications and Therapeutic Perspectives
Authors: Skrzypczak Dorota , Ratajczak Alicja Ewa , Szymczak-Tomczak Aleksandra , Dobrowolska Agnieszka , Eder Piotr , Krela-Kaźmierczak Iwona
Published: January 2021

Sarcopenia is a disorder characterized by a loss of muscle mass which leads to the reduction of muscle strength and a decrease in the quality and quantity of muscle. It was previously thought that sarcopenia was specific to ageing. However, sarcopenia may affect patients suffering from chronic diseases throughout their entire lives. A decreased mass of muscle and bone is common among patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Since sarcopenia and osteoporosis are closely linked, they should be diagnosed as mutual consequences of IBD. Additionally, multidirectional treatment of sarcopenia and osteoporosis including nutrition, physical activity, and pharmacotherapy should include both disorders, referred to as osteosarcopenia.
Is There a FADS2-Modulated Link between Long-Chain Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids in Plasma Phospholipids and Polyphenol Intake in Adult Subjects Who Are Overweight?
Authors: Zec Manja M. , Krga Irena , Stojković Ljiljana , Živković Maja , Pokimica Biljana , Stanković Aleksandra , Glibetic Maria
Published: January 2021

Dietary polyphenols promote cardiometabolic health and are linked with long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids in plasma phospholipids (LC-PUFA). The FADS2 polymorphisms are associated with LC-PUFA metabolism and overweight/obesity. This 4-week study examined the link between polyphenol intake, FADS2 variants (rs174593, rs174616, rs174576) and obesity in 62 overweight adults (BMI ≥ 25), allocated to consume 100 mL daily of either: Aronia juice, a rich source of polyphenols, with 1177.11 mg polyphenols (expressed as gallic acid equivalents)/100 mL (AJ, n = 22), Aronia juice with 294.28 mg polyphenols/100 mL (MJ, n = 20), or nutritionally matched polyphenol-lacking placebo as a control (PLB, n = 20). We analyzed LC-PUFA (% of total pool) by gas chromatography and FADS2 variants by real-time PCR. Four-week changes in LC-PUFA, BMI, and body weight were included in statistical models, controlling for gender and PUFA intake. Only upon AJ and MJ, the presence of FADS2 variant alleles affected changes in linoleic, arachidonic, and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA). Upon MJ treatment, changes in EPA were inversely linked with changes in BMI (β= −0.73, p = 0.029) and weight gain (β= −2.17, p = 0.024). Only in subjects drinking AJ, the link between changes in EPA and anthropometric indices was modified by the rs174576 variant allele. Our results indicate the interaction between FADS2, fatty acid metabolism, and polyphenol intake in overweight subjects.
Patterns of Change in Dietary Habits and Physical Activity during Lockdown in Spain Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Pérez-Rodrigo Carmen , Gianzo Citores Marta , Hervás Bárbara Gotzone , Ruiz-Litago Fátima , Casis Sáenz Luis , Arija Victoria , López-Sobaler Ana M. , Martínez de Victoria Emilio , Ortega Rosa M. , Partearroyo Teresa , Quiles-Izquierdo Joan , Ribas-Barba Lourdes , Rodríguez-Martín Amelia , Salvador Castell Gemma , Tur Josep A. , Varela-Moreiras Gregorio , Serra-Majem Lluis , Aranceta-Bartrina Javier
Published: January 2021

Background: Lockdown due to COVID-19 influenced food habits and lifestyles with potential negative health impact. This study aims to identify patterns of change in eating habits and physical activity during COVID-19 lockdown in Spain and to identify associations with sociodemographic factors and usual habits. Methods: This cross-sectional study included 1155 adults recruited online to answer a 10-section questionnaire. The protocol assessed usual diet by means of a semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire, usual physical activity (PA) and supplement use, dietary changes, sedentary time, PA, exposure to sunlight, sleep quality, and smoking during confinement. Patterns of dietary change were identified by factor analysis. Factor scores were included in cluster analysis together with change in PA. Results: Six patterns of dietary change were identified that together with PA changes during lockdown defined three clusters of lifestyle change: a cluster less active, a more active cluster, and a third cluster as active as usual. People who were usually less active were more likely to be classified in the cluster that increased physical activity in confinement. Scores of the Healthy Mediterranean-Style dietary pattern were higher in this group. Conclusions: Different patterns of change in lifestyles in confinement suggest the need to tailor support and advice to different population groups.
Illuminating the Role of Vitamin A in Skin Innate Immunity and the Skin Microbiome: A Narrative Review
Authors: Roche Fritzlaine C. , Harris-Tryon Tamia A.
Published: January 2021

Vitamin A is a fat-soluble vitamin that plays an important role in skin immunity. Deficiencies in Vitamin A have been linked to impaired immune response and increased susceptibility to skin infections and inflammatory skin disease. This narrative review summarizes recent primary evidence that elucidates the role of vitamin A and its derivatives on innate immune regulators through mechanisms that promote skin immunity and sustain the skin microbiome.
Gut Microbiota Functional Dysbiosis Relates to Individual Diet in Subclinical Carotid Atherosclerosis
Authors: Baragetti Andrea , Severgnini Marco , Olmastroni Elena , Dioguardi Carola Conca , Mattavelli Elisa , Angius Andrea , Rotta Luca , Cibella Javier , Caredda Giada , Consolandi Clarissa , Grigore Liliana , Pellegatta Fabio , Giavarini Flavio , Caruso Donatella , Norata Giuseppe Danilo , Catapano Alberico Luigi , Peano Clelia
Published: January 2021

Gut Microbiota (GM) dysbiosis associates with Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Diseases (ACVD), but whether this also holds true in subjects without clinically manifest ACVD represents a challenge of personalized prevention. We connected exposure to diet (self-reported by food diaries) and markers of Subclinical Carotid Atherosclerosis (SCA) with individual taxonomic and functional GM profiles (from fecal metagenomic DNA) of 345 subjects without previous clinically manifest ACVD. Subjects without SCA reported consuming higher amounts of cereals, starchy vegetables, milky products, yoghurts and bakery products versus those with SCA (who reported to consume more mechanically separated meats). The variety of dietary sources significantly overlapped with the separations in GM composition between subjects without SCA and those with SCA (RV coefficient between nutrients quantities and microbial relative abundances at genus level = 0.65, p-value = 0.047). Additionally, specific bacterial species (Faecalibacterium prausnitzii in the absence of SCA and Escherichia coli in the presence of SCA) are directly related to over-representation of metagenomic pathways linked to different dietary sources (sulfur oxidation and starch degradation in absence of SCA, and metabolism of amino acids, syntheses of palmitate, choline, carnitines and Trimethylamine n-oxide in presence of SCA). These findings might contribute to hypothesize future strategies of personalized dietary intervention for primary CVD prevention setting.
Impact of Ambient and Elevated [CO2] in Low Light Levels on Growth, Physiology and Nutrient Uptake of Tropical Perennial Legume Cover Crops
Authors: Baligar Virupax C. , Elson Marshall K. , He Zhenli , Li Yuncong , Paiva Arlicelio de Q. , Almeida Alex-Alan F. , Ahnert Dario
Published: January 2021

At early stages of establishment of tropical plantation crops, inclusion of legume cover crops could reduce soil degradation due to erosion and nutrient leaching. As understory plants these cover crops receive limited irradiance and can be subjected to elevated CO2 at ground level. A glasshouse experiment was undertaken to assess the effects of ambient (450 µmol mol−1) and elevated (700 µmol mol−1) levels of [CO2] on growth, physiological changes and nutrient uptake of six perennial legume cover crops (Perennial Peanut, Ea-Ea, Mucuna, Pigeon pea, Lab lab, Cowpea) under low levels of photosynthetic photon flux density (PPFD; 100, 200, and 400 µmol m−2 s−1). Overall, total and root dry biomass, total root length, specific leaf area, and relative growth rates were significantly influenced by levels of [CO2] and PPFD and cover crop species. With few exceptions, all the cover crops showed significant effects of [CO2], PPFD, and species on net photosynthesis (PN) and its components, such as stomatal conductance (gs) internal CO2 conc. (Ci), and transpiration (E). Increasing [CO2], from 450 to 700 μmol mol−1 and increasing PPFD from 100 to 400 μmol ּm−2 ּs−1 increased PN. Overall, the levels of [CO2], PPFD and species significantly affected total water use efficiency (WUETOTAL), instantaneous water use efficiency (WUEINST) and intrinsic water use efficiency (WUEINTR). With some exceptions, increasing levels of [CO2] and PPFD increased all the WUE parameters. Interspecific differences were observed with respect to macro-micro nutrient uptake and use efficiency. With a few exceptions, increasing levels of [CO2] from 450 to 700 μmol mol−1 and PPFD from 100 to 400 μmol m−2 s−1 increased nutrient use efficiency (NUE) of all nutrients by cover crop species.
Fe-S Protein Synthesis in Green Algae Mitochondria
Authors: Gomez-Casati Diego F. , Busi Maria V. , Barchiesi Julieta , Pagani Maria A. , Marchetti-Acosta Noelia S. , Terenzi Agustina
Published: January 2021

Iron and sulfur are two essential elements for all organisms. These elements form the Fe-S clusters that are present as cofactors in numerous proteins and protein complexes related to key processes in cells, such as respiration and photosynthesis, and participate in numerous enzymatic reactions. In photosynthetic organisms, the ISC and SUF Fe-S cluster synthesis pathways are located in organelles, mitochondria, and chloroplasts, respectively. There is also a third biosynthetic machinery in the cytosol (CIA) that is dependent on the mitochondria for its function. The genes and proteins that participate in these assembly pathways have been described mainly in bacteria, yeasts, humans, and recently in higher plants. However, little is known about the proteins that participate in these processes in algae. This review work is mainly focused on releasing the information on the existence of genes and proteins of green algae (chlorophytes) that could participate in the assembly process of Fe-S groups, especially in the mitochondrial ISC and CIA pathways.
Biomass Functions and Carbon Content Variabilities of Natural and Planted Pinus koraiensis in Northeast China
Authors: Widagdo Faris Rafi Almay , Dong Lihu , Li Fengri
Published: January 2021

The population of natural Korean pine (Pinus koraiensis) in northeast China has sharply declined due to massive utilization for its high-quality timber, while this is vice versa for Korean pine plantations after various intensive afforestation schemes applied by China’s central authority. Hence, more comprehensive models are needed to appropriately understand the allometric relationship variations between the two origins. In this study, we destructively sampled Pinus koraiensis from several natural and plantation sites in northeast China to investigate the origin’s effect on biomass equations. Nonlinear seemingly unrelated regression with weighted functions was used to present the additivity property and homogenize the model residuals in our two newly developed origin-free (population average) and origin-based (dummy variable) biomass functions. Variations in biomass allocations, carbon content, and root-to-shoot ratio between the samples obtained from plantations and natural stands were also investigated. The results showed that (1) involving the origin’s effect in dummy variable models brought significant improvement in model performances compared to the population average models; (2) incorporating tree total height (H) as an additional predictor to diameter at breast height (D) consistently increase the models’ accuracy compared to using D only as of the sole predictors for both model systems; (3) stems accounted for the highest partitioning proportions and foliage had the highest carbon content among all biomass components; (4) the root-to-shoot ratio ranged from 0.18–0.35, with plantations (0.28 ± 0.04) had slightly higher average value (±SD) compared to natural forests (0.25 ± 0.03). Our origin-based models can deliver more accurate individual tree biomass estimations for Pinus koraiensis, particularly for the National Forest Inventory of China.
Identification of Lasiodiplodia pseudotheobromae Causing Fruit Rot of Citrus in China
Authors: Chen Jianghua , Zhu Zihang , Fu Yanping , Cheng Jiasen , Xie Jiatao , Lin Yang
Published: January 2021

Considering the huge economic loss caused by postharvest diseases, the identification and prevention of citrus postharvest diseases is vital to the citrus industry. In 2018, 16 decayed citrus fruit from four citrus varieties—Satsuma mandarin (Citrus unshiu), Ponkan (Citrus reticulata Blanco cv. Ponkan), Nanfeng mandarin (Citrus reticulata cv. nanfengmiju), and Sugar orange (Citrus reticulata Blanco)—showing soft rot and sogginess on their surfaces and covered with white mycelia were collected from storage rooms in seven provinces. The pathogens were isolated and the pathogenicity of the isolates was tested. The fungal strains were identified as Lasiodiplodia pseudotheobromae based on their morphological characteristics and phylogenetic analyses using the internal transcribed spacer regions (ITS), translation elongation factor 1-α gene (TEF), and beta-tubulin (TUB) gene sequences. The strains could infect wounded citrus fruit and cause decay within two days post inoculation, but could not infect unwounded fruit. To our knowledge, this is the first report of citrus fruit decay caused by L. pseudotheobromae in China.
Stabilization of Anaerobic Co-Digestion Process via Constant the Digestate Solids Content
Authors: Na Risu , Uchitani Keisuke , Yoshida Kazuto , Shimizu Naoto
Published: January 2021

The process instability of anaerobic digestion (AD) is a common issue and may result in underperformance or short-term process failure. Extensive research has shown that total solids (TS) content in AD has a significant impact on system stability and performance. However, no study has examined the feasibility of stabilizing the AD process by maintaining constant TS content in the digestate. In this study, an innovative control approach based on constant TS content in the digestate during AD was developed using a mass balance equation. Two levels of TS content (desired values of 4% wet basis (w.b.) and 6% w.b.) were compared with conventional control. The process stability was examined by monitoring digestate components and pH. Substrate-specific methane yield (m3 CH4/kg VS) was used to assess the effectiveness of the controlled conditions. The results showed that the digestate TS content during AD can be controlled and that the digestion process can be stabilized by controlled conditions. In addition, constant TS in the digestate (within 1% w.b. of the desired level) gave increased levels of biogas production (10.2%), methane (13.5%), and substrate-specific methane yield (43.3%) at 4% TS, and respective increases of 16.6%, 21.2%, and 20.8% at 6% TS when compared with standard operation.
European Wide Forest Classification Based on Sentinel-1 Data
Authors: Dostálová Alena , Lang Mait , Ivanovs Janis , Waser Lars T. , Wagner Wolfgang
Published: January 2021

The constellation of two Sentinel-1 satellites provides an unprecedented coverage of Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) data at high spatial (20 m) and temporal (2 to 6 days over Europe) resolution. The availability of dense time series enables the analysis of the SAR temporal signatures and exploitation of these signatures for classification purposes. Frequent backscatter observations allow derivation of temporally filtered time series that reinforce the effect of changes in vegetation phenology by limiting the influence of short-term changes related to environmental conditions. Recent studies have already shown the potential of multitemporal Sentinel-1 data for forest mapping, forest type classification (coniferous or broadleaved forest) as well as for derivation of phenological variables at local to national scales. In the present study, we tested the viability of a recently published multi-temporal SAR classification method for continental scale forest mapping by applying it over Europe and evaluating the derived forest type and tree cover density maps against the European-wide Copernicus High Resolution Layers (HRL) forest datasets and national-scale forest maps from twelve countries. The comparison with the Copernicus HRL datasets revealed high correspondence over the majority of the European continent with overall accuracies of 86.1% and 73.2% for the forest/non-forest and forest type maps, respectively, and a Pearson correlation coefficient of 0.83 for tree cover density map. Moreover, the evaluation of both datasets against the national forest maps showed that the obtained accuracies of Sentinel-1 forest maps are almost within range of the HRL datasets. The Sentinel-1 forest/non-forest and forest type maps obtained average overall accuracies of 88.2% and 82.7%, respectively, as compared to 90.0% and 87.2% obtained by the Copernicus HRL datasets. This result is especially promising due to the facts that these maps can be produced with a high degree of automation and that only a single year of Sentinel-1 data is required as opposed to the Copernicus HRL forest datasets that are updated every three years.
Point Cloud Inversion: A Novel Approach for the Localization of Trees in Forests from TLS Data
Authors: Xia Shaobo , Chen Dong , Peethambaran Jiju , Wang Pu , Xu Sheng
Published: January 2021

Tree localization in point clouds of forest scenes is critical in the forest inventory. Most of the existing methods proposed for TLS forest data are based on model fitting or point-wise features which are time-consuming, sensitive to data incompleteness and complex tree structures. Furthermore, these methods often require lots of preprocessing such as ground filtering and noise removal. The fast and easy-to-use top-based methods that are widely applied in processing ALS point clouds are not applicable in localizing trees in TLS point clouds due to the data incompleteness and complex canopy structures. The objective of this study is to make the top-based methods applicable to TLS forest point clouds. To this end, a novel point cloud transformation is presented, which enhances the visual salience of tree instances and makes the top-based methods adapting to TLS forest scenes. The input for the proposed method is the raw point clouds and no other pre-processing steps are needed. The new method is tested on an international benchmark and the experimental results demonstrate its necessity and effectiveness. Finally, the proposed method has the potential to benefit other object localization tasks in different scenes based on detailed analysis and tests.
A Novel Unsupervised Classification Method for Sandy Land Using Fully Polarimetric SAR Data
Authors: Tan Weixian , Sun Borong , Xiao Chenyu , Huang Pingping , Xu Wei , Yang Wen
Published: January 2021

Classification based on polarimetric synthetic aperture radar (PolSAR) images is an emerging technology, and recent years have seen the introduction of various classification methods that have been proven to be effective to identify typical features of many terrain types. Among the many regions of the study, the Hunshandake Sandy Land in Inner Mongolia, China stands out for its vast area of sandy land, variety of ground objects, and intricate structure, with more irregular characteristics than conventional land cover. Accounting for the particular surface features of the Hunshandake Sandy Land, an unsupervised classification method based on new decomposition and large-scale spectral clustering with superpixels (ND-LSC) is proposed in this study. Firstly, the polarization scattering parameters are extracted through a new decomposition, rather than other decomposition approaches, which gives rise to more accurate feature vector estimate. Secondly, a large-scale spectral clustering is applied as appropriate to meet the massive land and complex terrain. More specifically, this involves a beginning sub-step of superpixels generation via the Adaptive Simple Linear Iterative Clustering (ASLIC) algorithm when the feature vector combined with the spatial coordinate information are employed as input, and subsequently a sub-step of representative points selection as well as bipartite graph formation, followed by the spectral clustering algorithm to complete the classification task. Finally, testing and analysis are conducted on the RADARSAT-2 fully PolSAR dataset acquired over the Hunshandake Sandy Land in 2016. Both qualitative and quantitative experiments compared with several classification methods are conducted to show that proposed method can significantly improve performance on classification.
Sensitive Fluorescence Assay for the Detection of Alkaline Phosphatase Based on a Cu2+-Thiamine System
Authors: Zhao Han , Liu Xinfa , Ma Changbei
Published: January 2021

The authors describe a novel, facile, and sensitive fluorometric strategy based on a Cu2+-thiamine (Cu2+-TH) system for the detection of alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity and inhibition. The principle of the method is as follows. Under a basic conditions, TH, which does not exhibit a fluorescence signal, is oxidized into fluorescent thiochrome (TC) by Cu2+. Ascorbic acid 2-phosphate (AAP), which is the enzyme substrate, is hydrolyzed to produce ascorbic acid (AA) by ALP. The newly formed AA then reduces Cu2+ to Cu+, which prevents the oxidation of TH by Cu2+; as a result, the fluorescent signal becomes weaker. On the contrary, in the absence of ALP, AAP cannot reduce Cu2+; additions of Cu2+ and TH result in a dramatic increase of the fluorescent signal. The sensing strategy displays brilliant sensitivity with a detection limit of 0.08 U/L, and the detection is linear in the concentration range of 0.1 to 100 U/L. This approach was successfully applied to ALP activity in human serum samples, indicating that it is reliable and may be applied to the clinical diagnosis of ALP-related diseases.
Curve-Based Classification Approach for Hyperspectral Dermatologic Data Processing
Authors: Uteng Stig , Quevedo Eduardo , M. Callico Gustavo , Castaño Irene , Carretero Gregorio , Almeida Pablo , Garcia Aday , A. Hernandez Javier , Godtliebsen Fred
Published: January 2021

This paper shows new contributions in the detection of skin cancer, where we present the use of a customized hyperspectral system that captures images in the spectral range from 450 to 950 nm. By choosing a 7 × 7 sub-image of each channel in the hyperspectral image (HSI) and then taking the mean and standard deviation of these sub-images, we were able to make fits of the resulting curves. These fitted curves had certain characteristics, which then served as a basis of classification. The most distinct fit was for the melanoma pigmented skin lesions (PSLs), which is also the most aggressive malignant cancer. Furthermore, we were able to classify the other PSLs in malignant and benign classes. This gives us a rather complete classification method for PSLs with a novel perspective of the classification procedure by exploiting the variability of each channel in the HSI.
Wearable Sensing Devices: Towards the Development of a Personalized System for Construction Safety and Health Risk Mitigation
Authors: Nnaji Chukwuma , Awolusi Ibukun , Park JeeWoong , Albert Alex
Published: January 2021

Wearable sensing devices (WSDs) are increasingly helping workers stay safe and healthy in several industries. However, workers, especially in the construction industry, have shown some aversion towards the use of WSDs due to their ability to capture specific information that may be considered personal and private. However, this revered information may provide some critical insight needed by management to plan and optimize worksite safety and support technology adoption in decision making. Therefore, there is a need to develop personalized WSD systems that are mutually beneficial to workers and management to ensure successful WSD integration. The present study aims to contribute to knowledge and practice by filling this critical gap using insight from 330 construction workers with experience using WSDs. The results from this study indicate that all 11 WSD functions identified through this study play a vital role in improving worker safety and health and that approximately two out of three workers are open to sharing the physiological and environmental information captured using these WSDs with their management. However, functions for detecting workers’ proximity to workplace hazards, specifically energized electrical materials, toxic gas, and fire/smoke, were the most critical functions that had mutual value to workers and management. Finally, the present study proposed and evaluated a phased personalized WSD system that should encourage successful WSD integration.
LoRaWANSim: A Flexible Simulator for LoRaWAN Networks
Authors: Marini Riccardo , Mikhaylov Konstantin , Pasolini Gianni , Buratti Chiara
Published: January 2021

Among the low power wide area network communication protocols for large scale Internet of Things, LoRaWAN is considered one of the most promising, owing to its flexibility and energy-saving capabilities. For these reasons, during recent years, the scientific community has invested efforts into assessing the fundamental performance limits and understanding the trade-offs between the parameters and performance of LoRaWAN communication for different application scenarios. However, this task cannot be effectively accomplished utilizing only analytical methods, and precise network simulators are needed. To that end, this paper presents LoRaWANSim, a LoRaWAN simulator implemented in MATLAB, developed to characterize the behavior of LoRaWAN networks, accounting for physical, medium access control and network aspects. In particular, since many simulators described in the literature are deployed for specific research purposes, they are usually oversimplified and hold a number of assumptions affecting the accuracy of their results. In contrast, our simulator has been developed for the sake of completeness and it is oriented towards an accurate representation of the LoRaWAN at the different layers. After a detailed description of the simulator, we report a validation of the simulator itself and we then conclude by presenting some results of its use revealing notable and non-intuitive trade-offs present in LoRaWAN. Such simulator will be made available via open access to the research community.
D2D Mobile Relaying Meets NOMA—Part I: A Biform Game Analysis
Authors: Driouech Safaa , Sabir Essaid , Ghogho Mounir , Amhoud El-Mehdi
Published: January 2021

Structureless communications such as Device-to-Device (D2D) relaying are undeniably of paramount importance to improving the performance of today’s mobile networks. Such a communication paradigm requires implementing a certain level of intelligence at device level, allowing to interact with the environment and select proper decisions. However, decentralizing decision making sometimes may induce some paradoxical outcomes resulting, therefore, in a performance drop, which sustains the design of self-organizing, yet efficient systems. Here, each device decides either to directly connect to the eNodeB or get access via another device through a D2D link. Given the set of active devices and the channel model, we derive the outage probability for both cellular link and D2D link, and compute the system throughput. We capture the device behavior using a biform game perspective. In the first part of this article, we analyze the pure and mixed Nash equilibria of the induced game where each device seeks to maximize its own throughput. Our framework allows us to analyse and predict the system’s performance. The second part of this article is devoted to implement two Reinforcement Learning (RL) algorithms enabling devices to self-organize themselves and learn their equilibrium pure/mixed strategies, in a fully distributed fashion. Simulation results show that offloading the network by means of D2D-relaying improves per device throughput. Moreover, detailed analysis on how the network parameters affect the global performance is provided.
Night-Time Monitoring System (eNightLog) for Elderly Wandering Behavior
Authors: Cheung James Chung-Wai , Tam Eric Wing-Cheong , Mak Alex Hing-Yin , Chan Tim Tin-Chun , Lai Will Po-Yan , Zheng Yong-Ping
Published: January 2021

Wandering is a common behavioral disorder in the community-dwelling elderly. More than two-thirds of caregivers believe that wandering would cause falls. While physical restraint is a common measure to address wandering, it could trigger challenging behavior in approximately 80% of the elderly with dementia. This study aims to develop a virtual restraint using a night monitoring system (eNightLog) to provide a safe environment for the elderly and mitigate the caregiver burden. The eNightLog system consisted of remote sensors, including a near infra-red 3D time-of-flight sensor and ultrawideband sensors. An alarm system was controlled by customized software and algorithm based on the respiration rate and body posture of the elderly. The performance of the eNightLog system was evaluated in both single and double bed settings by comparing to that of a pressure mat and an infrared fence system, under simulated bed-exiting scenarios. The accuracy and precision for the three systems were 99.0%, 98.8%, 85.9% and 99.2%, 97.8%, 78.6%, respectively. With higher accuracy, precision, and a lower false alarm rate, eNightLog demonstrated its potential as an alternative to physical restraint to remedy the workload of the caregivers and the psychological impact of the elderly.
An Enhanced Indoor Positioning Technique Based on a Novel Received Signal Strength Indicator Distance Prediction and Correction Model
Authors: Nagah Amr Mohammed , ELAttar Hussein M. , Abd El Azeem Mohamed H. , El Badawy Hesham
Published: January 2021

Indoor positioning has become a very promising research topic due to the growing demand for accurate node location information for indoor environments. Nonetheless, current positioning algorithms typically present the issue of inaccurate positioning due to communication noise and interferences. In addition, most of the indoor positioning techniques require additional hardware equipment and complex algorithms to achieve high positioning accuracy. This leads to higher energy consumption and communication cost. Therefore, this paper proposes an enhanced indoor positioning technique based on a novel received signal strength indication (RSSI) distance prediction and correction model to improve the positioning accuracy of target nodes in indoor environments, with contributions including a new distance correction formula based on RSSI log-distance model, a correction factor (Beta) with a correction exponent (Sigma) for each distance between unknown node and beacon (anchor nodes) which are driven from the correction formula, and by utilizing the previous factors in the unknown node, enhanced centroid positioning algorithm is applied to calculate the final node positioning coordinates. Moreover, in this study, we used Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) beacons to meet the principle of low energy consumption. The experimental results of the proposed enhanced centroid positioning algorithm have a significantly lower average localization error (ALE) than the currently existing algorithms. Also, the proposed technique achieves higher positioning stability than conventional methods. The proposed technique was experimentally tested for different received RSSI samples’ number to verify its feasibility in real-time. The proposed technique’s positioning accuracy is promoted by 80.97% and 67.51% at the office room and the corridor, respectively, compared with the conventional RSSI trilateration positioning technique. The proposed technique also improves localization stability by 1.64 and 2.3-fold at the office room and the corridor, respectively, compared to the traditional RSSI localization method. Finally, the proposed correction model is totally possible in real-time when the RSSI sample number is 50 or more.