bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Tip II Diabetes Mellituslu Hastalarda Retinopati ile HbA1c Arasındaki İlişki
Authors: ÖZDİN Mehmet
Published: June 2020

Amaç: Bu çalışmada amacımız; Sakarya Üniversitesi Eğitim ve Araştırma Hastanesi (SÜEAH) göz hastalıkları polikliniğine müracaat eden Tip II Diabetes Mellitus (Tip II DM) hastalarında Retinopati görülme sıklığı ile HbA1c düzeyleri arasında muhtemel ilişkinin incelenmesidir.Gereç ve Yöntemler: Çalışmanın hasta popülasyonu SÜEAH göz hastalıkları polikliniğine müracaat eden ve DR tanısı konulan kişilerden oluşturuldu. Retrospektif olarak yapılan çalışmanın hasta verileri hastane bilgi yönetimi sistemi (HBYS) üzerinden elde edildi. Dahil edilme kriterlerimize uyan eden 38 DR’li hastanın dosya verileri incelendi ve HbA1c düzeyleri tespit edildi. Hipertansiyon başta olmak üzere kardiyovasküler hastalığı olanlar ile primer veya sekonder kronik göz hastalığı olanlar çalışmaya dahil edilmemiştir. Elde edilen bulgular kontrol grubumuzla karşılaştırıldı. Çalışmaya 22 bayan, 16 erkek olmak üzere toplam 38 hasta dahil edildi. Çalışmaya alınan hastaların ortalama yaşları 61.32±9.87 olarak tespit edildi. Kontrol grubumuz 25 bayan, 13 erkek olmak üzere 38 kişiden oluşturuldu. Kontrol grubumuz ve ortalama yaşları 58.32±11.97 olarak tespit edildi.Bulgular: Toplamda 38 DR hastası değerlendirildi. Hastanemizin göz hastalıkları polikliniğine müracaat eden DR hastaların HbA1C düzeyleri %9.05±1.72, kontrol grubunun HbA1C düzeyleri ise %4,97±0.29 olarak tespit edildi. DR hastaların HbA1C düzeyleri ile kontrol grubunun HbA1C düzeyleri arasında istatiksel olarak anlamlı bir fark olduğu görüldü (p<0.05). DR hastaların HbA1C düzeyleri ile kontrol grubunun HbA1C düzeyleri arasında da negatif bir korelasyon varlığı (r=-0,21) saptandı.Sonuç: Çalışmamızda DR’li hastalarda HbA1c değerlerinin kontrol grubuna göre yüksek olduğu tespit edildi. Bu sonuç, tip II DM hastalarında glukoz düzeylerinin regüle edilmesinin ve HbA1c takiplerinin iyi yapılmasının önemini bir kez daha ortaya çıkardı.
What Really is the American Dream?
Authors: Bruno Alexander
Published: June 2020

This paper takes a closer look at the Constitution of the United States of America (USA) and its role in shaping the American aspiration which is generally referred to as the ‘American Dream.’ Essentially, this paper reviews key contributions by noted scholars with reference to the American Dream. For the purposes of this research, two definitions of the American Dream are proposed; both of which are traced back to the pre-colonial American spirit. The working definitions are: 1. The American Dream is ‘an indigenous belief in the unbridled freedom and unique heritage of a people’ and 2. The American is ‘the belief in self-actualization of the good fortunes, guaranteed by American liberties, opportunities and freedom.’ Those definitions are examined in line with the scholarly works which were reviewed for this research. Above all, this paper can be seen as a continuation of the discussion on the American Dream.
Activation of M1 Macrophages in Response to Recombinant TB Vaccines With Enhanced Antimycobacterial Activity
Authors: Yang Shiu-Ju , Chen Yih-Yuan , Hsu Chih-Hao , Hsu Chia-Wei , Chang Chun-Yu , Chang Jia-Ru , Dou Horng-Yunn
Published: June 2020

Pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) is a difficult-to-eliminate disease. Although the Bacille Calmette–Guérin (BCG) vaccine against Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) has been available for decades, its efficacy is variable and has lessened over time. Furthermore, the BCG vaccine no longer protects against newly emerged Beijing strains which are responsible for many current infections in adults. Development of a novel vaccine is urgently needed. In this study, we first tested the efficacy of our recombinant BCG vaccines rBCG1 and rBCG2, compared to parental BCG, against MTB strain H37Ra in mice. Both the bacterial load and the level of lymphocyte infiltration decreased dramatically in the three groups treated with vaccine, especially rBCG1 and rBCG2. Furthermore, the Th1 and Th17 responses increased and macrophage numbers rose in the vaccination groups. Th1-mediated production of cytokines TNF-α, IFN-γ, and MCP-1 as well as M1-polarized cells all increased in lung tissue of the rBCG1 and rBCG2 groups. Clodronate-induced depletion of macrophages reduced the level of protection. Based on these results, we conclude that rBCG vaccines induce a significant increase in the number of M1 macrophages, which augments their potential as TB vaccine candidates.
A Distributed Approach to the Evasion Problem
Authors: Khryashchev Denis , Chu Jie , Vejdemo-Johansson Mikael , Ji Ping
Published: June 2020

The Evasion Problem is the question of whether—given a collection of sensors and a particular movement pattern over time—it is possible to stay undetected within the domain over the same stretch of time. It has been studied using topological techniques since 2006—with sufficient conditions for non-existence of an Evasion Path provided by de Silva and Ghrist; sufficient and necessary conditions with extended sensor capabilities provided by Adams and Carlsson; and sufficient and necessary conditions using sheaf theory by Krishnan and Ghrist. In this paper, we propose three algorithms for the Evasion Problem: one distributed algorithm extension of Adams’ approach for evasion path detection, and two different approaches to evasion path enumeration.
South Africa: An Important Soybean Producer in Sub-Saharan Africa and the Quest for Managing Nematode Pests of the Crop
Authors: Engelbrecht Gerhard , Claassens Sarina , Mienie Charlotte M. S. , Fourie Hendrika
Published: June 2020

With an increase in the global population, a protein-rich crop like soybean can help manage food insecurity in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). The expansion of soybean production in recent years lead to increased land requirements for growing the crop and the increased risk of exposing this valuable crop to various pests and diseases. Of these pests, plant-parasitic nematodes (PPN), especially Meloidogyne and Pratylenchus spp., are of great concern. The increase in the population densities of these nematodes can cause significant damage to soybean. Furthermore, the use of crop rotation and cultivars (cvs.) with genetic resistance traits might not be effective for Meloidogyne and Pratylenchus control. This review builds on a previous study and focuses on the current nematode threat facing local soybean production, while probing into possible biological control options that still need to be studied in more detail. As soybean is produced on a global scale, the information generated by local and international researchers is needed. This will address the problem of the current global food demand, which is a matter of pressing importance for developing countries, such as those in sub-Saharan Africa.
Evaluation of Glycine max and Glycine soja for Resistance to Calonectria ilicicola
Authors: Jiang Chang-Jie , Sugano Shoji , Ochi Sunao , Kaga Akito , Ishimoto Masao
Published: June 2020

Breeding for resistance to soybean red crown rot (Calonectria ilicicola) has long been hampered by the lack of genetic sources of adequate levels of resistance to use as parents. Mini core collections of soybean (Glycine max) originating from Japan (79 accessions), from around the world (80 accessions), and a collection of wild soybeans (Glycine soja) consisting 54 accessions were evaluated for resistance to C. ilicicola (isolate UH2-1). In the first two sets, average disease severity scores of 4.2 ± 0.28 and 4.6 ± 0.31 on a rating scale from zero for no symptom to 5.0 for seedling death were recorded from the set from Japan and the world. No high levels of resistance were observed in these two sets. On the other hand, disease severity score of 3.8 ± 0.35 for the wild soybean accessions was somewhat lower and exhibited higher levels of resistance compared to the soybean cultivars. Three accessions in the wild soybean collection (Gs-7, Gs-9, and Gs-27) had disease severity score ≤2.5 and showed >70% reduction in fungal growth in the roots compared to soybean control cv. “Enrei”. Further analysis using 10 C. ilicicola isolates revealed that accession Gs-9 overall had a wide range of resistance to all isolates tested, with 37% to 93% reduction in fungal growth relative to the cv. Enrei. These highly resistant wild soybean lines may serve as valuable genetic resources for developing C. ilicicola-resistant soybean cultivars.
Computational Fluid Dynamics Modeling of Ventilation and Hen Environment in Cage-Free Egg Facility
Authors: Chen Long , Fabian-Wheeler Eileen E. , Cimbala John M. , Hofstetter Daniel , Patterson Paul
Published: June 2020

Poultry facilities are going through an evolution in design due to growing demands for cage-free eggs and egg products without unified guidelines to accommodate these transitions. The goal of this study was to help builders and egg producers assess current ventilation design within cage-free production facilities for conditions that impact hen comfort and welfare. The method of evaluation was simulation of the indoor environment of a hen house via computational fluid dynamics (CFD) modeling with individual hens modeled at a typical stocking density. This paper describes the development of a three-dimensional model of a commercial floor-raised cage-free hen house that is cross-ventilated to document current environmental conditions. A one-eighth section of the barn was modeled at full-scale using existing ventilation schemes with each bird represented by a hen-shaped, heated, solid body. A conventional top-wall inlet, side-wall exhaust (TISE) ventilation configuration was modeled for this study. The simulated ventilation rate for the hen house was approximately 3 m3/h (1.77 ft3/min) per hen resulting in 7092 m3/h (4174 ft3/min) for the 2365 birds, which falls at the higher end of the desired cold weather (0 °C) ventilation range. Contours of airflow, temperature, and pressure were generated to visualize results. Three two-dimensional planes were created at representative cross-sections to evaluate the contours inside and outside the barn. Five animal-occupied zones within each of the model planes were evaluated for practical hen comfort attributes. The simulation output suggested the TISE standard ventilation system could limit air speed to a comfortable average of 0.26 m/s (51 ft/min) and the temperature could be maintained between 18 and 24 °C on average at the bird level. Additionally, the indoor static pressure difference was very uniform averaging −25 Pascal (0.1 inches of water), which falls in the normal range for a floor-raised hen house with negative-pressure ventilation during cold weather conditions. Findings confirmed that CFD modeling can be a powerful tool for studying ventilation system performance at the bird level, particularly when individual animals are modeled, to assure a comfortable indoor environment for animal welfare in poultry facilities.
Milk Potential of Pantaneira Cows, a Local Breed, at Organic System
Authors: Biazolli Willian , Vinicius Morais de Oliveira Marcus , Ferreira Luz Dirce , de Oliveira Seno Leonardo , Martins Wanderley Alysson , Loesia Lima Pedro Gustavo , Fernandes Tatiane , de Vargas Junior Fernando Miranda
Published: June 2020

Pantaneiro cattle (Bos taurus taurus) is a breed locally adapted to the Brazilian Pantanal. Local breeds are essential for the quality production of organic systems based on planned grazing practices, because of their results in resilient and productive ecosystems, enhancing biodiversity. This study aimed to evaluate the performance of Pantaneira primiparous cows, and systems with reduced use of concentrate, simulating organic production conditions. Five animals, with an average body weight of 396.2 ± 43.5 kg, were kept in individual continuous grazing regimes and supplemented with different concentrate levels (1.2%, 0.9%, 0.6%, 0.3%, and 0.0% of body weight). The animals were allocated at random in a 5 × 5 Latin square design repeated twice during the study time. The cows had a low dry matter and nutrient intake with a reduction in concentrate level, with improvement in neutral detergent fiber digestibility and a reduction in total nutrient digestibility. No changes were observed in plasma glucose levels or urea excretion, but the plasma urea nitrogen decreased with reductions in concentrate levels. There was a reduction in milk yield, but the energy-corrected milk was not affected by the reduction in concentrate levels; furthermore, the milk yield efficiency was not affected. The milk fat content improved with the reduction in concentrate levels. The Pantaneira breed has the genetic potential for the maintenance of competitive production and quality in organic systems.
Genetic Parameters of Birth Weight and Weaning Weight and Their Relationship with Gestation Length and Age at First Calving in Hanwoo (Bos taurus coreanae)
Authors: Lopez Bryan Irvine , Santiago Kier Gumangan , Seo Kangseok , Jeong Taejoon , Park Jong-Eun , Chai Han-Ha , Park Woncheoul , Lim Dajeong
Published: June 2020

Hanwoo is one of the most economically important animal species in Korea due to its significant contribution to nutrition. However, the current selection index only focuses to improve carcass traits of Hanwoo. Thus, this study aimed to estimate the genetic parameters of birth weight (BW) and weaning weight (WW) and their genetic and phenotypic relationship to the age at first calving (AFC) and gestation length (GL) of Hanwoo. The genetic parameters for birth weight (BW) and weaning weight (WW) were estimated using the data obtained from 52,173 and 35,800 Hanwoo calves born from February 1998 to March 2017, respectively. Further, these data were used to determine their genetic and phenotypic correlation to age at first calving (AFC) and gestation length (GL). The heritability estimates of BW and WW and correlation coefficients were obtained using the average information restricted maximum likelihood (AIREML) procedure, fit in single and two-trait linear animal models. The estimated direct heritability for BW and WW was moderate (0.22 ± 0.02) and high (0.51 ± 0.03), respectively, while the maternal heritability for both traits was 0.12 ± 0.01 and 0.17 ± 0.01, respectively. The genetic correlation of BW and reproductive traits (AFC and GL) showed a moderate and high positive correlation coefficient of 0.33 ± 0.06 and 0.53 ± 0.02, respectively, while close to zero and low positive phenotypic correlations of 0.06 ± 0.01 and 0.21 ± 0.06 were also observed between the correlated traits, respectively. For the correlation analysis between WW and AFC, both the genetic and phenotypic correlation showed close to zero values of 0.04 ± 0.06 and −0.01 ± 0.01, respectively. Meanwhile, the genetic and phenotypic correlation between WW and GL showed low and negative correlations of −0.09 ± 0.06 and −0.09 ± 0.01, respectively. These obtained estimated variances for BW and WW and their corresponding genetic and phenotypic correlation to AFC and GL can be used as information for genetic improvement and subsequent economic improvement of Hanwoo farming.
Comparison of Rabbit, Kitten and Mammal Milk Replacer Efficiencies in Early Weaning Rabbits
Authors: Chankuang Panthiphaporn , Linlawan Achira , Junda Kawisara , Kuditthalerd Chittikan , Suwanprateep Tuksaorn , Kovitvadhi Attawit , Chundang Pipatpong , Sanyathitiseree Pornchai , Yinharnmingmongkol Chaowaphan
Published: June 2020

Early weaned rabbits should be fed using a milk replacer in order to survive. Therefore, a rabbit milk replacer (RMR) was developed and compared with a kitten milk replacer (KMR®: KMR) and a mammal milk replacer (Zoologic® Milk matrix 30/52: MMR). Thirty-six native crossbred rabbits aged 18 days were divided into three experimental groups (six replicates/group, two rabbits/replicate), fed RMR, KMR or MMR daily until they were 36 days old and euthanized at 38 days, while a complete pelleted diet and water were provided ad libitum. No statistically significant differences were observed in growth performance parameters, water intake, faecal weight, nutrient digestibility, internal organ weight, caecal pH, caecal cellulose activity, number of faecal pellets and amount of crude protein intake (p > 0.05). Caecal amylase activity in the KMR group and caecal protease activity in the RMR group were higher than in the MMR group (p < 0.05). The villus height and crypt depth of the MMR group were greater than in the RMR and KMR group (p < 0.05). In conclusion, it is possible to feed RMR to early weaning rabbits without serious adverse effects. However, probiotics and/or prebiotics should be supplemented in milk replacers and their benefits studied.
Bioactive Compounds, Pharmacological Actions, and Pharmacokinetics of Wormwood (Artemisia absinthium)
Authors: Batiha Gaber El-Saber , Olatunde Ahmed , El-Mleeh Amany , Hetta Helal F. , Al-Rejaie Salim , Alghamdi Saad , Zahoor Muhammad , Magdy Beshbishy Amany , Murata Toshihiro , Zaragoza-Bastida Adrian , Rivero-Perez Nallely
Published: June 2020

Plants have been used since ancient times to cure certain infectious diseases, and some of them are now standard treatments for several diseases. Due to the side effects and resistance of pathogenic microorganisms to antibiotics and most drugs on the market, a great deal of attention has been paid to extracts and biologically active compounds isolated from plant species used in herbal medicine. Artemisia absinthium is an important perennial shrubby plant that has been widely used for the treatment of several ailments. Traditionally, A. absinthium has always been of pharmaceutical and botanical importance and used to manage several disorders including hepatocyte enlargement, hepatitis, gastritis, jaundice, wound healing, splenomegaly, dyspepsia, indigestion, flatulence, gastric pain, anemia, and anorexia. It has also been documented to possess antioxidant, antifungal, antimicrobial, anthelmintic, anti-ulcer, anticarcinogenic, hepatoprotective, neuroprotective, antidepressant, analgesic, immunomodulatory, and cytotoxic activity. Long-term use of A. absinthium essential oil may cause toxic and mental disorders in humans with clinical manifestations including convulsions, sleeplessness, and hallucinations. Combination chemotherapies of artemisia extract or its isolated active constituents with the currently available antibabesial or anti-malarial drugs are now documented to relieve malaria and piroplasmosis infections. The current review examines the phytoconstituents, toxic and biological activities of A. absinthium.
Novel Online Optimized Control for Underwater Pipe-Cleaning Robots
Authors: Chen Yanhu , Liu Siyue , Fan Jinchang , Yang Canjun
Published: June 2020

Due to the particularity of the jacket structure of offshore platforms and the complexity of the marine environment, there have been few effective localization and autonomous control methods for underwater robots that are designed for cleaning tasks. To improve this situation, a fusion bat algorithm (BA) online optimized fuzzy control method using vision localization was developed based on the constraints of the underwater operational environment. Vision localization was achieved based on images from a catadioptric panoramic imaging system. The features of the pipe edge and the boundary of the area covered by biofouling were obtained by image processing and feature extraction. The feature point chosen as the “highest” point of the boundary was calculated by projection transformation to generate the reference path. The specialized fuzzy controller was designed to drive the robot to track the reference path, and an improved bat algorithm with dynamic inertia weight and differential evolution method was developed to optimize the scale factors of the fuzzy controller online. The control method was simulated and further implemented on an underwater pipe-cleaning robot (UPCR), and the results indicate its rationality and validity.
Special Issue on BIM in the Construction Industry
Authors: Cha Hee Sung , Jiang Shaohua
Published: June 2020

In recent decades, the term Building Information Modeling (BIM) has been mentioned in a wide range of construction research endeavors [...]
Evaluation of Metal–Organic Frameworks as Potential Adsorbents for Solar Cooling Applications
Authors: Rafique Muhammad Mujahid
Published: June 2020

The reduction of carbon dioxide emissions has become a need of the day to overcome different environmental issues and challenges. The use of alternative and renewable-based technologies is one of the options to achieve the target of sustainable development through the reduction of these harmful emissions. Among different technologies thermally activated cooling systems are one which can reduce the harmful emissions caused by conventional heating, ventilation, and air conditioning technology. Thermal cooling systems utilize different porous materials and work on a reversible adsorption/desorption cycle. Different advancements have been made for this technology but still a lot of work should be done to replace conventional systems with this newly developed technology. High adsorption capacity and lower input heat are two major requirements for efficient thermally driven cooling technologies. In this regard, it is a need of the day to develop novel adsorbents with high sorption capacity and low regeneration temperature. Due to tunable topologies and a highly porous nature, the hybrid porous crystalline materials known as metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) are a great inspiration for thermally driven adsorption-based cooling applications. Keeping all the above-mentioned aspects in mind, this paper presents a comprehensive overview of the potential use of MOFs as adsorbent material for adsorption and desiccant cooling technologies. A detailed overview of MOFs, their structure, and their stability are presented. This review will be helpful for the research community to have updated research progress in MOFs and their potential use for adsorption-based cooling systems.
Leveraging the Organisational Legacy: Understanding How Businesses Integrate Legacy Data into Their Big Data Plans
Authors: Jha Sanjay , Jha Meena , O’Brien Liam , Cowling Michael , Wells Marilyn
Published: June 2020

Big Data can help users attain a competitive advantage, and evidence suggests that by utilising Big Data, organisations can generate insight that can help strengthen their decision-making capabilities. However, a key issue remains that much data is trapped in legacy systems, and is hence not being appropriately retrieved and utilised. This paper builds on the existing literature base to investigate the challenges and issues organisations face in utilising Big Data. Through results of a survey with 97 respondents, this work shows that these issues can be categorised into six areas, including issues of format and structure of the data, as well as identification of the key need for a framework and architecture for organising Big Data.
Biologically Active Compounds from Goji (Lycium Barbarum L.) Leaves Aqueous Extracts: Purification and Concentration by Membrane Processes
Authors: Conidi Carmela , Drioli Enrico , Cassano Alfredo
Published: June 2020

Goji (Lycium barbarum L.) leaves and fruits have been described as a valuable source of bioactive compounds with a great potential for the development of health-promoting formulations. The present study aimed to evaluate the potential of a sustainable process for the recovery of phenolic compounds from Goji leaves through a combination of aqueous extraction and membrane-based operations. Water was used as a safe, cheap, and non-hazardous extraction solvent, and parameters of extraction of dried Goji leaves were optimized in order to maximize the yield of polyphenols, total soluble solids (TSS), and total antioxidants simultaneously. The aqueous extract was clarified by ultrafiltration and then processed with three flat-sheet polyethersulphone (PES) membranes with molecular weight cut-off (MWCO) values in the range of 0.3–4.0 kDa, in order to remove sugar compounds from polyphenols and improve the antioxidant activity of the produced fractions. Among the selected membranes, a 1 kDa membrane exhibited the best performance in terms of purification of polyphenols from the clarified aqueous extract. The rejection by this membrane of TSS and total carbohydrates was in the range of 15.8–25.3%, and was decreased by increasing the volume reduction factor (VRF). On the other hand, the retention values for total polyphenols and total antioxidant activity (TAA) were in the range of 73–80%, and were increased by increasing the VRF.
Phytochemical Omics in Medicinal Plants
Authors: Chen Jen-Tsung
Published: June 2020

Medicinal plants are used to treat diseases and provide health benefits, and their applications are increasing around the world [...]
The Effect of Chronic Methamphetamine Treatment on Schizophrenia Endophenotypes in Heterozygous Reelin Mice: Implications for Schizophrenia
Authors: Hume Camilla , Massey Shelley , van den Buuse Maarten
Published: June 2020

Reelin has been implicated in the development of schizophrenia but the mechanisms involved in this interaction remain unclear. Chronic methamphetamine (Meth) use may cause dopaminergic sensitisation and psychosis and has been proposed to affect brain dopamine systems similarly to changes seen in schizophrenia. We compared the long-term effect of chronic Meth treatment between heterozygous reelin mice (HRM) and wildtype controls (WT) with the aim of better understanding the role of reelin in schizophrenia. Meth pretreatment induced sensitisation to the effect of an acute Meth challenge on locomotor activity, but it had no effect on baseline PPI or sociability and social preference. In all behavioural models, HRM did not significantly differ from WT at baseline, except spontaneous exploratory locomotor activity which was higher in HRM than WT, and sociability which was enhanced in HRM. Locomotor hyperactivity sensitisation was not significantly different between HRM and WT. Chronic Meth treatment reduced spontaneous locomotor activity to the level of WT. No deficits in PPI or social behaviour were induced by chronic Meth pretreatment in either strain. In conclusion, these data do not support a role of reelin in schizophrenia, at least not in HRM and in the methamphetamine sensitisation model.
Anti-Bacterial and Anti-Candidal Activity of Silver Nanoparticles Biosynthesized Using Citrobacter spp. MS5 Culture Supernatant
Authors: Mondal Aftab Hossain , Yadav Dhananjay , Ali Asghar , Khan Neelofar , Jin Jun O , Haq Qazi Mohd Rizwanul
Published: June 2020

The present study described the extracellular synthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) using environmental bacterial isolate Citrobacter spp. MS5 culture supernatant. To our best knowledge, no previous study reported the biosynthesis of AgNPs using this bacterial isolate. The biosynthesized AgNPs were characterized using different techniques like UV-Vis spectroscopy, fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) equipped with energy dispersive X-ray (EDX). The analysis of UV-Vis spectra revealed absorption maxima at 415 nm due to surface plasmon resonance (SPR) indicated the formation of AgNPs and FTIR spectrum confirmed the participation of proteins molecule in AgNPs synthesis. XRD and EDX spectrum confirmed the metallic and crystalline nature of AgNPs. TEM and SEM showed spherical nanoparticles with a size range of 5–15 nm. The biosynthesized AgNPs showed effective independent as well as enhanced combined antibacterial activity against extended spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL) producing multidrug resistant Gram-negative bacteria. Further, effective antifungal activity of AgNPs was observed towards pathogenic Candida spp. The present study provides evidence for eco-friendly biosynthesis of well-characterized AgNPs and their potential antibacterial as well as antifungal activity.
Laccase-Based Biosensor Encapsulated in a Galactomannan-Chitosan Composite for the Evaluation of Phenolic Compounds
Authors: Boubezari Imane , Bessueille François , Bonhomme Anne , Raimondi Gaëtan , Zazoua Ali , Errachid Abdelhamid , Jaffrezic-Renault Nicole
Published: June 2020

Galactomannan, a neutral polysaccharide, was extracted from carob seeds and characterized. It was used for the first time for the fabrication of a laccase-based biosensor by the encapsulation of laccase in a chitosan+galactomannan composite. The fabricated biosensor was characterized by FTIR, scanning electron microscopy and cyclic voltammetry. The pyrocatechol detection was obtained by cyclic voltammetry measurements, through the detection of o-quinone at −0.447 V. The laccase activity was well preserved in the chitosan+galactomannan composite and the sensitivity of detection of pyrocatechol in the 10−16 M–10−4 M range was very high. The voltammetric response of the biosensor was stable for more than two weeks. To estimate the antioxidant capacity of olive oil samples, it was shown that the obtained laccase-based biosensor is a valuable alternative to the colorimetric Folin–Ciocalteu method.
Immobilization of Cellulolytic Enzymes in Mesostructured Silica Materials
Authors: Califano Valeria , Costantini Aniello
Published: June 2020

Mesostructured silica nanoparticles offer a unique opportunity in the field of biocatalysis thanks to their outstanding properties. The tunable pore size in the range of mesopores allows for immobilizing bulky enzyme molecules. The large surface area improves the catalytic efficiency by increasing enzyme loading and finely dispersing the biocatalyst molecules. The easily tunable pore morphology allows for creating a proper environment to host an enzyme. The confining effect of mesopores can improve the enzyme stability and its resistance to extreme pH and temperatures. Benefits also arise from other peculiarities of nanoparticles such as Brownian motion and easy dispersion. Fossil fuel depletion and environmental pollution have led to the need for alternative sustainable and renewable energy sources such as biofuels. In this context, lignocellulosic biomass has been considered as a strategic fuel source. Cellulases are a class of hydrolytic enzymes that convert cellulose into fermentable sugars. This review is intended to survey the immobilization of cellulolytic enzymes (cellulases and β-glucosidase) onto mesoporous silica nanoparticles and their catalytic performance, with the aim to give a contribution to the urgent action required against climate change and its impacts, by biorefineries’ development.
Heat Transfer Enhancement by Shot Peening of Stainless Steel
Authors: Koowattanasuchat Pramote , Mahayotsanun Numpon , Sucharitpwatskul Sedthawatt , Mahabunphachai Sasawat , Dohda Kuniaki
Published: June 2020

In heat exchange applications, the heat transfer efficiency could be improved by surface modifications. Shot peening was one of the cost-effective methods to provide different surface roughness. The objectives of this study were (1) to investigate the influences of the surface roughness on the heat transfer performance and (2) to understand how the shot peening process parameters affect the surface roughness. The considered specimens were 316L stainless steel hollow tubes having smooth and rough surfaces. The computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulation was used to observe the surface roughness effects. The CFD results showed that the convective heat transfer coefficients had linear relationships with the peak surface roughness (Rz). Finite element (FE) simulation was used to determine the effects of the shot peening process parameters. The FE results showed that the surface roughness was increased at higher sandblasting speeds and sand diameters.
Effect of Nb Content on the Microstructure and Wear Resistance of Fe-12Cr-xNb-4C Coatings Prepared by Plasma-Transferred Arc Welding
Authors: Zong Lin , Zhao Yinglong , Long Shiteng , Guo Ning
Published: June 2020

The Fe-Cr-C coatings with different levels of Nb addition were prepared on carbon steel by a plasma transferred arc (PTA) weld-surfacing process and their microstructure and properties were investigated. As the Nb content increases from 8.96% to 12.55%, the coating gradually changes from a hypereutectic structure (martensite, austenite matrix, primary NbC and eutectic γ+M7C3) to a near eutectic structure (γ+M7C3 and NbC) and finally a hypoeutectic structure (primary γ, γ+M7C3 and NbC). As the Nb content increases, the hardness and wear resistance of the coating first increase and then decrease, which is closely related to the NbC volume fraction first increasing and then the NbC size coarsening. The Fe-Cr-C coating with 11.65% Nb balances the NbC content and size, and has the highest hardness and best wear resistance. As the Nb content increases further, the formation and aggregation of coarse NbC carbides in the coating results in high brittleness of the coating, which may cause the carbide particles to peel off the coating during the wear process, thereby reducing wear resistance.
Particulate Matter and COVID-19 Disease Diffusion in Emilia-Romagna (Italy). Already a Cold Case?
Authors: Delnevo Giovanni , Mirri Silvia , Roccetti Marco
Published: June 2020

As we prepare to emerge from an extensive and unprecedented lockdown period, due to the COVID-19 virus infection that hit the Northern regions of Italy with the Europe’s highest death toll, it becomes clear that what has gone wrong rests upon a combination of demographic, healthcare, political, business, organizational, and climatic factors that are out of our scientific scope. Nonetheless, looking at this problem from a patient’s perspective, it is indisputable that risk factors, considered as associated with the development of the virus disease, include older age, history of smoking, hypertension and heart disease. While several studies have already shown that many of these diseases can also be favored by a protracted exposure to air pollution, there has been recently an insurgence of negative commentary against authors who have correlated the fatal consequences of COVID-19 (also) to the exposition of specific air pollutants. Well aware that understanding the real connection between the spread of this fatal virus and air pollutants would require many other investigations at a level appropriate to the scale of this phenomenon (e.g., biological, chemical, and physical), we propose the results of a study, where a series of the measures of the daily values of PM2.5, PM10, and NO2 were considered over time, while the Granger causality statistical hypothesis test was used for determining the presence of a possible correlation with the series of the new daily COVID19 infections, in the period February–April 2020, in Emilia-Romagna. Results taken both before and after the governmental lockdown decisions show a clear correlation, although strictly seen from a Granger causality perspective. Moving beyond the relevance of our results towards the real extent of such a correlation, our scientific efforts aim at reinvigorating the debate on a relevant case, that should not remain unsolved or no longer investigated.
Cloud Computing for Climate Modelling: Evaluation, Challenges and Benefits
Authors: Montes  Diego , Añel  Juan A. , Wallom  David C. H. , Uhe  Peter , Caderno Pablo V. , Pena Tomás F.
Published: June 2020

Cloud computing is a mature technology that has already shown benefits for a wide range of academic research domains that, in turn, utilize a wide range of application design models. In this paper, we discuss the use of cloud computing as a tool to improve the range of resources available for climate science, presenting the evaluation of two different climate models. Each was customized in a different way to run in public cloud computing environments (hereafter cloud computing) provided by three different public vendors: Amazon, Google and Microsoft. The adaptations and procedures necessary to run the models in these environments are described. The computational performance and cost of each model within this new type of environment are discussed, and an assessment is given in qualitative terms. Finally, we discuss how cloud computing can be used for geoscientific modelling, including issues related to the allocation of resources by funding bodies. We also discuss problems related to computing security, reliability and scientific reproducibility.
A Complex Assemblage of Crystal Habits of Pyrite in the Volcanic Hot Springs from Kamchatka, Russia: Implications for the Mineral Signature of Life on Mars
Authors: Tang Min , Li Yi-Liang
Published: June 2020

In this study, the crystal habits of pyrite in the volcanic hot springs from Kamchatka, Russia were surveyed using scanning electron microscopy. Pyrite crystals occur either as single euhedral crystals or aggregates with a wide range of crystal sizes and morphological features. Single euhedral crystals, with their sizes ranging from ~200 nm to ~40 µm, exhibit combinations of cubic {100}, octahedral {111}, and pyritohedral {210} and {310} forms. Heterogeneous geochemical microenvironments and the bacterial activities in the long-lived hot springs have mediated the development and good preservation of the complex pyrite crystal habits: irregular, spherulitic, cubic, or octahedral crystals congregating with clay minerals, and nanocrystals attaching to the surface of larger pyrite crystals and other minerals. Spherulitic pyrite crystals are commonly covered by organic matter-rich thin films. The coexistence of various sizes and morphological features of those pyrite crystals indicates the results of secular interactions between the continuous supply of energy and nutritional elements by the hot springs and the microbial communities. We suggest that, instead of a single mineral with unique crystal habits, the continuous deposition of the same mineral with a complex set of crystal habits results from the ever-changing physicochemical conditions with contributions from microbial mediation.
A Novel Deep Learning Backstepping Controller-Based Digital Twins Technology for Pitch Angle Control of Variable Speed Wind Turbine
Authors: Parvaresh Ahmad , Abrazeh Saber , Mohseni Saeid-Reza , Zeitouni Meisam Jahanshahi , Gheisarnejad Meysam , Khooban Mohammad-Hassan
Published: June 2020

This paper proposes a deep deterministic policy gradient (DDPG) based nonlinear integral backstepping (NIB) in combination with model free control (MFC) for pitch angle control of variable speed wind turbine. In particular, the controller has been presented as a digital twin (DT) concept, which is an increasingly growing method in a variety of applications. In DDPG-NIB-MFC, the pitch angle is considered as the control input that depends on the optimal rotor speed, which is usually derived from effective wind speed. The system stability according to the Lyapunov theory can be achieved by the recursive nature of the backstepping theory and the integral action has been used to compensate for the steady-state error. Moreover, due to the nonlinear characteristics of wind turbines, the MFC aims to handle the un-modeled system dynamics and disturbances. The DDPG algorithm with actor-critic structure has been added in the proposed control structure to efficiently and adaptively tune the controller parameters embedded in the NIB controller. Under this effort, a digital twin of a presented controller is defined as a real-time and probabilistic model which is implemented on the digital signal processor (DSP) computing device. To ensure the performance of the proposed approach and output behavior of the system, software-in-loop (SIL) and hardware-in-loop (HIL) testing procedures have been considered. From the simulation and implementation outcomes, it can be concluded that the proposed backstepping controller based DDPG is more effective, robust, and adaptive than the backstepping and proportional-integral (PI) controllers optimized by particle swarm optimization (PSO) in the presence of uncertainties and disturbances.
Chaperones and Proteostasis: Role in Parkinson’s Disease
Authors: Joshi Neha , Raveendran Atchaya , Nagotu Shirisha
Published: June 2020

Proper folding to attain a defined three-dimensional structure is a prerequisite for the functionality of a protein. Improper folding that eventually leads to formation of protein aggregates is a hallmark of several neurodegenerative disorders. Loss of protein homeostasis triggered by cellular stress conditions is a major contributing factor for the formation of these toxic aggregates. A conserved class of proteins called chaperones and co-chaperones is implicated in maintaining the cellular protein homeostasis. Expanding the body of evidence highlights the role of chaperones as central mediators in the formation, de-aggregation and degradation of the aggregates. Altered expression and function of chaperones is associated with many neurodegenerative diseases including Parkinson’s disease. Several studies indicate that chaperones are at the center of the cause and effect cycle of this disease. An overview of the various chaperones that are associated with homeostasis of Parkinson’s disease-related proteins and their role in pathogenicity will be discussed in this review.
Dependencies for Determining the Thermal Conductivity of Moist Capillary-Porous Materials
Authors: Alsabry Abdrahman , Backiel-Brzozowska Beata , Nikitsin Vadzim I.
Published: June 2020

A method of determining the effective thermal conductivity of moist capillary-porous materials has been proposed, in which calculations are carried out while taking into account all components of the system (solid, liquid and gas) at once. The method makes it easy to take into account the way water is distributed in the pore space of the material, either as isolated inclusions (drops) or as a continuous component, depending on the moisture content of the material. In the analysis of heat transport in moist capillary-porous materials, the theory of generalized conductivity is used and the structure of moist material is modeled using an ordered geometric structure consisting of identical unit cells in the form of a cube. An equation is obtained for calculating the effective conductivity of capillary-porous materials with isolated and continuous liquid inclusions, with adiabatic and isothermal division of the unit cell. The proposed method is compared to the previously proposed method of determining the effective thermal conductivity of moist materials, in which the three-component system is gradually reduced to a binary system, showing disadvantages of this method compared to the currently proposed. It has been shown that the proposed formulas grant the possibility of a sufficiently accurate prediction of experimental results using the experimental results of the thermal conductivity of moist aerated concrete.
Internal Heat Gains in a Lunar Base—A Contemporary Case Study
Authors: Kaczmarzyk Marcin , Starakiewicz Aleksander , Waśniowski Aleksander
Published: June 2020

The Moon’s environmental conditions present limited opportunities for waste heat dissipation, so internal heat gains (IHG) are a key component of thermal balance in a lunar building. Despite the significant development in energy saving and energy storage technologies of the last thirty years, the issue of IHG in lunar buildings has not been readdressed since the early 1990s. This study is based on an inspection of internal heat sources conducted aboard LUNARES, the first European extraterrestrial analogue habitat. The equipment absent on LUNARES, but indispensable for an actual lunar base, was identified and accounted for, along with additional laboratory and maintenance equipment. Three main groups of internal heat sources were identified and studied in detail. Waste heat generated by electric devices was accounted for, along with occupational heat loads adjusted for lunar partial gravity conditions. Assuming a photovoltaic power source for the studied building, two alternative energy storage systems (ESS) were analysed as another source of waste heat. Depending on the time of lunar day and applied ESS, the nominal IHG were between 73 and 133 W/m2. The most significant internal heat sources in a lunar base are life support systems and potentially, regenerative fuel cells; thus, lithium–ion batteries were recommended for ESS. Within assumed parameter range, parametric study exhibited differences in IHG between 41.5 and 163 W/m2.
An Efficient Boosted C5.0 Decision-Tree-Based Classification Approach for Detecting Non-Technical Losses in Power Utilities
Authors: Salman Saeed Muhammad , Mustafa Mohd Wazir , Sheikh Usman Ullah , Jumani Touqeer Ahmed , Khan Ilyas , Atawneh Samer , Hamadneh Nawaf N.
Published: June 2020

Electricity fraud in billing are the primary concerns for Distribution System Operators (DSO). It is estimated that billions of dollars are wasted annually due to these illegal activities. DSOs around the world, especially in underdeveloped countries, still utilize conventional time consuming and inefficient methods for Non-Technical Loss (NTL) detection. This research work attempts to solve the mentioned problem by developing an efficient energy theft detection model in order to identify the fraudster customers in a power distribution system. The key motivation for the present study is to assist the DSOs in their fight against energy theft. The proposed computational model initially utilizes a set of distinct features extracted from the monthly consumers’ consumption data, obtained from Multan Electric Power Company (MEPCO) Pakistan, to segregate the honest and the fraudulent customers. The Pearson’s chi-square feature selection algorithm is adopted to select the most relevant features among the extracted ones. Finally, the Boosted C5.0 Decision Tree (DT) algorithm is used to classify the honest and the fraudster consumers based on the outcomes of the selected features. To validate the superiority of the proposed NTL detection approach, its performance is matched with that of few state-of-the-art machine learning algorithms (one of most exciting recent technologies in Artificial Intelligence), like Random Forest (RF), Support Vector Machine (SVM), Artificial Neural Network (ANN) and Extreme Gradient Bossting (XGBoost). The proposed NTL detection method provides an accuracy of 94.6%, Sensitivity of 78.1%, Specificity of 98.2%, F1 score 84.9% and Precision of 93.2% which are significantly higher than that of the same for the above-mentioned algorithms.