bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Regulatory Functions of Nilaparvata lugens GSK-3 in Energy and Chitin Metabolism
Authors: Ding Yan-Juan , Li Guo-Yong , Xu Cai-Di , Wu Yan , Zhou Zhong-Shi , Wang Shi-Gui , Li Can
Published: November 2020

Glucose metabolism is a biologically important metabolic process. Glycogen synthase kinase (GSK-3) is a key enzyme located in the middle of the sugar metabolism pathway that can regulate the energy metabolism process in the body through insulin signaling. This paper mainly explores the regulatory effect of glycogen synthase kinase on the metabolism of glycogen and trehalose in the brown planthopper (Nilaparvata lugens) by RNA interference. In this paper, microinjection of the target double-stranded GSK-3 (dsGSK-3) effectively inhibited the expression of target genes in N. lugens. GSK-3 gene silencing can effectively inhibit the expression of target genes (glycogen phosphorylase gene, glycogen synthase gene, trehalose-6-phosphate synthase 1 gene, and trehalose-6-phosphate synthase 2 gene) in N. lugens and trehalase activity, thereby reducing glycogen and glucose content, increasing trehalose content, and regulating insect trehalose balance. GSK-3 can regulate the genes chitin synthase gene and glucose-6-phosphate isomerase gene involved in the chitin biosynthetic pathway of N. lugens. GSK-3 gene silencing can inhibit the synthesis of chitin N. lugens, resulting in abnormal phenotypes and increased mortality. These results indicated that a low expression of GSK-3 in N. lugens can regulate the metabolism of glycogen and trehalose through the insulin signal pathway and energy metabolism pathway, and can regulate the biosynthesis of chitin, which affects molting and wing formation. The relevant research results will help us to more comprehensively explore the molecular mechanism of the regulation of energy and chitin metabolism of insect glycogen synthase kinases in species such as N. lugens.
Sequential Genome Editing and Induced Excision of the Transgene in N. tabacum BY2 Cells
Authors: Sheva Maor , Hanania Uri , Ariel Tami , Turbovski Albina , Rathod Vishal Kumar Rameshchandra , Oz Dina , Tekoah Yoram , Shaaltiel Yoseph
Published: November 2020

While plant cells in suspension are becoming a popular platform for expressing biotherapeutic proteins, the need to pre-engineer these cells to better comply with their role as host cell lines is emerging. Heterologous DNA and selectable markers are used for transformation and genome editing designated to produce improved host cell lines for overexpression of recombinant proteins. The removal of these heterologous DNA and selectable markers, no longer needed, can be beneficial since they limit additional gene stacking in subsequent transformations and may pose excessive metabolic burden on the cell machinery. In this study we developed an innovative stepwise methodology in which the CRISPR-Cas9 is used sequentially to target genome editing, followed by its own excision. The first step included a stable insertion of a CRISPR-Cas9 cassette, targeted to knockout the β(1,2)-xylosyltranferase (XylT) and the α(1,3)-fucosyltransferase (FucT) genes in Nicotiana tabacum L. cv Bright Yellow 2 (BY2) cell suspension. The second step included the excision of the inserted cassette of 14.3 kbp by induction of specific sgRNA designed to target the T-DNA boundaries. The genome editing step and the transgene removal step are achieved in one transformation run. This mechanism enables CRISPR genome editing and subsequently eliminating the introduced transgenes thus freeing the cells from foreign DNA no longer needed.
The Marketing Firm and the Consumer Organization: A Comparative Analysis With Special Reference to Charitable Organizations
Authors: Foxall Gordon Robert , Sigurdsson Valdimar , Gallogly Joseph K.
Published: November 2020

The accurate delineation of various forms of business organization requires a comparative analysis of their objectives, functions, and organizational structures. In particular, this paper highlights differences in managerial work between business firms and non-profits exemplified by the charitable organization. It adopts as its template the theory of the marketing firm, a depiction of the modern corporation as it responds to the imperatives of customer-oriented management, namely consumer discretion and consumer sophistication. It describes in §2 the essentials of the theory and its basis in consumer behavior analysis, and outlines its unique position as the organization responsible for marketing transactions, based on objective exchange, competitive markets and prices, and the deployment of the entire marketing mix. §3 deals in greater depth with the objective, strategic functions, and organization of the marketing firm in terms of the concepts of metacontingency and bilateral contingency. §4 discusses how the marketing firm differs from charities in terms of goal separation, market-based pricing and competition, the entrepreneurial (strategic) process, the pursuit of customer-oriented management, and organizational structure. Particular attention is accorded the organizational differences between marketing firms and charities, which arise as a direct consequence of the distinct patterns of contingency they entail. §5 discusses the implications of the foregoing analysis and draws appropriate conclusions.
Adolescent-to-Parent Violence: Psychological and Family Adjustment
Authors: Seijo Dolores , Vázquez María J. , Gallego Raquel , Gancedo Yurena , Novo Mercedes
Published: November 2020

Adolescent-to-Parent Violence (APV) or Child-to-Parent Violence (CPV) is a specific form of violence that has remained inconspicuous until recently, but is becoming a mounting social issue and is increasingly the focus of scientific research. Of the variables related to APV, the study assessed the characteristics of the family system and its relationship to the psychosocial adjustment of adolescents, an aspect scarcely examined in the literature. Thus, a field study was performed on a community sample of 210 adolescents aged 12–17 years (51.4% girls) who were assessed on measurements of APV, parenting (parental socialization), victimization, and psychological adjustment (personal, family, and school). The results revealed higher rates of psychological APV, and no gender effects in violence exercised against either parent. The adolescents involved in APV exhibited a greater psychological maladjustment in the different areas under analysis. Moreover, adolescents engaging in psychological APV reported a parental socialization style characterized by severe strictness and supervision in comparison to non-aggressors not implicated in psychological APV. Finally, adolescents exercising APV who were victimized by their parents showed more psychological, personal, and school maladjustment. These results have implications for needs analysis and the planning of community prevention strategies.
Mental Health of Pregnant and Postpartum Women During the Coronavirus Disease 2019 Pandemic: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Yan Haohao , Ding Yudan , Guo Wenbin
Published: November 2020

Background: Prenatal and postnatal mental disorders can exert severe adverse influences on mothers, fetuses, and children. However, the effect of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on the mental health of pregnant and postpartum women remains unclear.

Methods: Relevant studies that were published from January 1, 2019 to September 19, 2020 were identified through the systematic search of the PubMed, EMBASE, and Web of Science databases. Quality assessment of included studies, random-effects meta-analysis, sensitivity analysis, and planned subgroup analysis were performed.

Results: A total of 23 studies conducted with 20,569 participants during the COVID-19 pandemic and with 3,677 pregnant women before the COVID-19 pandemic were included. The prevalence rates of anxiety, depression, psychological distress, and insomnia among pregnant women during the COVID-19 pandemic were 37% (95% confidence interval [CI] 25–49%), 31% (95% CI 20–42%), 70% (95% CI 60–79%), and 49% (95% CI 46–52%), respectively. The prevalence of postpartum depression was 22% (95% CI 15–29%). Multigravida women and women in the first and third trimesters of pregnancy were more vulnerable than other pregnant women. The assessment of the associations between the COVID-19 pandemic and mental health problems revealed that the pooled relative risks of anxiety and depression in pregnant women were 1.65 (95% CI: 1.25–2.19) and 1.08 (95% CI: 0.80–1.46), respectively.

Conclusions: The prevalence rates of mental disorders among pregnant and postpartum women during the COVID-19 pandemic were high. Timely and tailored interventions should be applied to mitigate mental problems among this population of women, especially multigravida women and women in the first and third trimesters of pregnancy.
Association of Cerebral Artery Stenosis With Post-stroke Depression at Discharge and 3 Months After Ischemic Stroke Onset
Authors: Qiu Xiuli , Miao Jinfeng , Lan Yan , Sun Wenzhe , Chen Yuxi , Cao Ziqin , Li Guo , Zhao Xin , Zhu Zhou , Zhu Suiqiang
Published: November 2020

Background: Post-stroke depression (PSD) is one of the most common complications after stroke, which seriously affects patients' recovery outcome. Although vascular depression has been extensively studied, the relationship between cerebral artery stenosis and PSD has not been clarified so far.

Methods: Two hundred ninety-eight patients with ischemic stroke (72 women, 226 men) with computed tomography angiography (CTA) or magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) were included in this study. Cerebral artery stenosis ≥50% was used as the cut-off value. The DSM-V diagnostic criteria of PSD was met and the 17-item Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HAMD-17) score over 7 at discharge and 3 months after stroke onset was regarded as the primary outcome. The χ2-test, Mann-Whitney U-test, and t-test were used to check for statistical significance.

Results: At discharge, Barthel index (p < 0.001), left middle cerebral artery stenosis (p = 0.019), drinking history (p = 0.048), basilar artery stenosis (p = 0.037) were significantly associated with PSD. At 3 months after ischemic stroke onset, Barthel index (p = 0.011), left middle cerebral artery stenosis (p = 0.012), female gender (p = 0.001) were significantly associated with PSD.

Conclusions: The findings demonstrated that left middle cerebral artery and basilar artery stenosis are associated with PSD. It was suggested that cerebral artery stenosis was a risk factor of PSD and should be recognized and intervened early.

Registration Number: ChiCTR-ROC-17013993.
Physicians' Perspective on Prescribing Patterns and Knowledge on Antimicrobial Use and Resistance in Penang, Malaysia: A Qualitative Study
Authors: Akhtar Ali , Khan Amer Hayat , Zainal Hadzliana , Ahmad Hassali Mohamed Azmi , Ali Irfhan , Ming Long Chiau
Published: November 2020

Background: Unnecessary antimicrobial use is an emerging problem throughout the world. To design future interventions to ensure rational antimicrobial use and decrease the risk of antimicrobial resistance, physician's knowledge and prescribing practices of antimicrobials should be assessed. Therefore, the main objective of this study is to investigate the physician's knowledge along with their prescribing patterns of antimicrobials in their health care system.

Methods: The present qualitative study was conducted in a tertiary care public hospital located at Penang island, situated in Northwest of Malaysia. A total of 12 semi-structured, face to face interviews were conducted with purposive sampling technique. Physicians recruited had different specialties. All interviews were audio recorded, then transcribed into English language and analyze by thematic content analysis.

Results: Four major themes were identified: (1) prescribing patterns of physicians regarding antimicrobials; (2) physician's knowledge about antimicrobials; (3) antimicrobial resistance; (4) satisfaction with management of infections. Physicians believed in regular educational activities and updates about the latest antimicrobial guidelines may change the prescribing behavior of physicians to optimize the use of antimicrobials. This may lead to decrease in burden of antimicrobial resistance in their health care system. Physicians emphasized that stricter rules and regular monitoring of antimicrobial use should be implemented to overcome the main challenges of antimicrobial resistance.

Conclusion: Different factors were identified to assist optimized use of antimicrobials and decrease the risk of antimicrobial resistance. The present study helps to design targeted future interventions to ensure rational antimicrobial use and decrease the impact of antimicrobial resistance in Malaysia.
Academic Knowledge Production: Framework of Practical Activity in the Context of Transformative Food Studies
Authors: Kallio Galina , Houtbeckers Eeva
Published: November 2020

We have seen an emergence of transformative food studies as part of sustainability transitions. While some scholars have successfully opened up their experiences of pursuing transformation through scholar-activism, assumptions underlying researchers' choices and how scholars orient to and go about their work often remain implicit. In this article, we bring forth a practice theoretical understanding of knowledge production and advocate that researchers turn to examining their own research practice. We ask how to make our own academic knowledge production/research practice more explicit, and why it is important to do so in the context of transformative food studies. To help scholars to reflect on their own research practice, we mobilize the framework of practical activity (FPA). We draw on our own experiences in academia and use our ethnographic studies on self-reliant food production and procurement to illustrate academic knowledge production. Thus, this article provides conceptual and methodological tools for reflection on academic research practice and knowledge production. We argue that it is important for researchers to turn to and improve their own academic practice because it advances academic knowledge production in the domain of transformative food studies and beyond. While we position ourselves within the qualitative research tradition, we believe that the insights of this article can be applied more broadly in different research fields and across various methodological approaches.
Resilience of an Integrated Crop–Livestock System to Climate Change: A Simulation Analysis of Cover Crop Grazing in Southern Brazil
Authors: Peterson Caitlin A. , Bell Lindsay W. , Carvalho Paulo C. de F. , Gaudin Amélie C. M.
Published: November 2020

Integrated crop–livestock systems are a form of sustainable intensification of agriculture that rely on synergistic relationships between plant and animal system elements to bolster critical agroecosystem processes, with potential impacts on resilience to weather anomalies. We simulated productivity dynamics in an integrated cover crop grazing agroecosystem typical of southern Brazil to gain a better understanding of the impacts of livestock integration on system performance, including future productivity and resilience under climate change. Long-term historical simulations in APSIM showed that the integrated system resulted in greater system-wide productivity than a specialized control system in 77% of simulated years. Although soybean yields were typically lower in the integrated system, the additional forage and livestock production increased total system outputs. Under simulated future climate conditions [representative concentration pathway 8.5 (RCP8.5) scenario from 2020 to 2060], integrated system productivity exceeded specialized system productivity in 95% of years despite declines in average soybean yield and aboveground cover crop biomass production. While the integrated system provided a productivity buffer against chronic climate stress, its resilience to annual weather anomalies depended on disturbance type and timing. This study demonstrates the utility of process-based models for exploring biophysical proxies for resilience, as well as the potential advantages of livestock integration into cropland as a sustainable intensification strategy.
An Adaptive Fast Terminal Sliding Mode Controller of Exercise-Assisted Robotic Arm for Elbow Joint Rehabilitation Featuring Pneumatic Artificial Muscle Actuator
Authors: Nguyen Huu Tho , Trinh Van Chon , Le Thanh Danh
Published: November 2020

Due to the time-varying nonlinear dynamic, uncertain model and hysteresis characteristics of the pneumatic artificial muscle (PAM) actuator, it is not easy to apply model-based control algorithms for monitoring, as well as controlling, the operation of systems driven by PAM actuators. Hence, the main aim of this work is to propose an intelligent controller named adaptive sliding controller adding compensator (ASC + C) to operate a robotic arm, featuring a pneumatic artificial muscle actuator, which assists rehabilitation exercise of the elbow joint function. The structure of the proposed controller is a combination between the fuzzy logic technique and Proportional Integral Derivative (PID) algorithm. In which, the input of fuzzy logic controller is the sliding surface, meanwhile, its output is the estimated value of the unknown nonlinear function, meaning that the model-based requirement is released. A PID controller works as a compensator with online learning ability and is designed to compensate because of the approximate error and hysteresis characteristic. Additionally, to improve convergence and to obtain stability, a fast terminal sliding manifold is introduced and online learning laws for parameters of the controller are attainted through the stable criterion of Lyapunov. Finally, an experimental apparatus is also fabricated to evaluate control response of the system. The experimental result confirmed strongly the ability of the proposed controller, which indicates that the ASC + C can obtain a steady state tracking error less than 5 degrees and a position response without overshoot.
Direct Measurement of Mass and Economic Harvest and Post-Harvest Losses in Spanish Persimmon Primary Production
Authors: Fernandez-Zamudio Maria-Angeles , Barco Héctor , Schneider Felicitas
Published: November 2020

Globally, one in every three produced kilograms is wasted at some point along the entire agri-food chain. Unfortunately, knowledge about losses and waste is not equally distributed along the food chain. In fact, in some stages the primary data required to properly estimate the magnitude of the problem are lacking. This is especially true for agricultural production, for which studies that have used on-site measurements are scarce. The present study analyses the mass losses and unpaid share that occur during the harvest process and persimmon storage in warehouses in the Valencia region, Spain. The study was carried out using on-site measurements and primary data from the harvest and storage phases. Losses were also classified according to their causes. The total mass and economic losses were estimated as either 29.5% for the total produced volume or 38.5% for the number of finally commercialised kilograms. This work aims to highlight the complex problem in primary production with the mass and economic losses that farmers bear and to show the potential of loss reduction measures.
Assessment of the Sensitivity of Some Plant Pathogenic Fungi to 6-Demethylmevinolin, a Putative Natural Sensitizer Able to Help Overcoming the Fungicide Resistance of Plant Pathogens
Authors: Shcherbakova Larisa , Kartashov Maksim , Statsyuk Natalia , Pasechnik Tatyana , Dzhavakhiya Vitaly
Published: November 2020

Agricultural fungicides contaminate the environment and promote the spread of fungicide-resistant strains of pathogenic fungi. The enhancement of pathogen sensitivity to these pesticides using chemosensitizers allows the reducing of fungicide dosages without a decrease in their efficiency. Using Petri plate and microplate bioassays, 6-demethylmevinolin (6-DMM), a putative sensitizer of a microbial origin, was shown to affect both colony growth and conidial germination of Alternaria solani, A. alternata, Parastagonospora nodorum, Rhizoctonia solani, and four Fusarium species (F. avenaceum, F. culmorum, F. oxysporum, F. graminearum) forming a wheat root rot complex together with B. sorokiniana. Non- or marginally toxic 6-DMM concentrations suitable for sensitizing effect were determined by the probit analysis. The range of determined concentrations confirmed a possibility of using 6-DMM as a putative sensitizer for the whole complex of root rot agents, other cereal pathogens (A. alternata, P.nodorum), and some potato (R. solani, A. solani) and tomato (A. solani) pathogens. Despite the different sensitivities of the eight tested pathogens, 6-DMM lacked specificity to fungi and possessed a mild antimycotic activity that is typical of other known pathogen-sensitizing agents. The pilot evaluation of the 6-DMM sensitizing first confirmed a principal possibility of using it for the sensitization of B. sorokiniana and R. solani to triazole- and strobilurin-based fungicides, respectively.
Protective Effects of Fucoxanthin on High Glucose- and 4-Hydroxynonenal (4-HNE)-Induced Injury in Human Retinal Pigment Epithelial Cells
Authors: Chiang Yi-Fen , Chen Hsin-Yuan , Chang Yen-Jui , Shih Yin-Hwa , Shieh Tzong-Ming , Wang Kai-Lee , Hsia Shih-Min
Published: November 2020

The incidence of diabetes mellitus is increasing due to the eating and living habits of modern people. As the disease progresses, the long-term effects of diabetes can cause microvascular disease, causing dysfunction in different parts of the body, which, in turn, leads to different complications, such as diabetic neuropathy, diabetic nephropathy, and diabetic retinopathy (DR). DR is the main cause of vision loss and blindness in diabetic patients. Persistent hyperglycemia may cause damage to the retina, induce the accumulation of inflammatory factors, and destroy the blood–retinal barrier function. Fucoxanthin (Fx) is a marine carotenoid extracted from seaweed. It accounts for more than 10% of the total carotenoids in nature. Fx is mainly found in brown algae and has strong antioxidant properties, due to its unique biologically active structure. This carotenoid also has the effects of reducing lipid peroxidation, reducing DNA damage, and preventing cardiovascular diseases as well as anti-inflammatory and anti-tumor effects. However, there is no relevant research on the protective effect of Fx in DR. Therefore, in this study, we explore the protective effect of Fx on the retina. Human retinal epithelial cells (ARPE-19) are used to investigate the protective effect of Fx on high glucose stress- (glucose 75 mM) and high lipid peroxidation stress (4-hydroxynonenal, 4-HNE (30 μM))-induced DR. The cell viability test shows that Fx recovered the cell damage, and Western blotting shows that Fx reduced the inflammation response and maintained the integrity of the blood–retinal barrier by reducing its apoptosis and cell adhesion factor protein expression. Using an antioxidant enzyme assay kit, we find that the protective effect of Fx may be related to the strong antioxidant properties of Fx, which increases catalase and reduces oxidative stress to produce a protective effect on the retina.
Oral Antioxidant Vitamins and Magnesium Limit Noise-Induced Hearing Loss by Promoting Sensory Hair Cell Survival: Role of Antioxidant Enzymes and Apoptosis Genes
Authors: Alvarado Juan C. , Fuentes-Santamaría Verónica , Melgar-Rojas Pedro , Gabaldón-Ull María C. , Cabanes-Sanchis José J. , Juiz José M.
Published: November 2020

Noise induces oxidative stress in the cochlea followed by sensory cell death and hearing loss. The proof of principle that injections of antioxidant vitamins and Mg2+ prevent noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) has been established. However, effectiveness of oral administration remains controversial and otoprotection mechanisms are unclear. Using auditory evoked potentials, quantitative PCR, and immunocytochemistry, we explored effects of oral administration of vitamins A, C, E, and Mg2+ (ACEMg) on auditory function and sensory cell survival following NIHL in rats. Oral ACEMg reduced auditory thresholds shifts after NIHL. Improved auditory function correlated with increased survival of sensory outer hair cells. In parallel, oral ACEMg modulated the expression timeline of antioxidant enzymes in the cochlea after NIHL. There was increased expression of glutathione peroxidase-1 and catalase at 1 and 10 days, respectively. Also, pro-apoptotic caspase-3 and Bax levels were diminished in ACEMg-treated rats, at 10 and 30 days, respectively, following noise overstimulation, whereas, at day 10 after noise exposure, the levels of anti-apoptotic Bcl-2, were significantly increased. Therefore, oral ACEMg improves auditory function by limiting sensory hair cell death in the auditory receptor following NIHL. Regulation of the expression of antioxidant enzymes and apoptosis-related proteins in cochlear structures is involved in such an otoprotective mechanism.
Fault Diagnosis for a Class of Robotic Systems with Application to 2-DOF Helicopter
Authors: Ramírez Luis Alejandro , Zuñiga Manuel Alejandro , Romero Gerardo , Alcorta-García Efraín , Muñoz-Vázquez Aldo Jonathan
Published: November 2020

This paper considers a general approach to fault diagnosis using a generalized Hamiltonian system representation. It can be considered that, in general, nonlinear systems still represent a problem in fault diagnosis because there are results only for a specific class of them. Therefore, fault diagnosis remains a challenging research area despite the maturity of some of the available results. In this work, a type of nonlinear system that admits a generalized Hamiltonian representation is considered; in practice, there are many systems that have this kind of representation. Thereupon, an approach for fault detection and isolation based on the Hamiltonian representation is proposed. First, following the classic approach, the original system is decoupled in different subsystems so that each subsystem is sensitive to one particular fault. Then, taking advantage of the structure, a simple way to design the residuals is presented. Finally, the proposed scheme is validated at the two-degree of freedom (DOF) helicopter of Quanser®, where the presence of faults in sensors and actuators were considered. The results show the efficacy of the proposed scheme.
Bio-Energy Generation from Synthetic Winery Wastewaters
Authors: Marks Stanislaw , Dach Jacek , Garcia-Morales Jose Luis , Fernandez-Morales Francisco Jesus
Published: November 2020

In Spain, the winery industry exerts a great influence on the national economy. Proportional to the scale of production, a significant volume of waste is generated, estimated at 2 million tons per year. In this work, a laboratory-scale reactor was used to study the feasibility of the energetic valorization of winery effluents into hydrogen by means of dark fermentation and its subsequent conversion into electrical energy using fuel cells. First, winery wastewater was characterized, identifying and determining the concentration of the main organic substrates contained within it. To achieve this, a synthetic winery effluent was prepared according to the composition of the winery wastewater studied. This effluent was fermented anaerobically at 26 °C and pH = 5.0 to produce hydrogen. The acidogenic fermentation generated a gas effluent composed of CO2 and H2, with the percentage of hydrogen being about 55% and the hydrogen yield being about 1.5 L of hydrogen at standard conditions per liter of wastewater fermented. A gas effluent with the same composition was fed into a fuel cell and the electrical current generated was monitored, obtaining a power generation of 1 W·h L−1 of winery wastewater. These results indicate that it is feasible to transform winery wastewater into electricity by means of acidogenic fermentation and the subsequent oxidation of the bio-hydrogen generated in a fuel cell.
Thermal Accelerometer Simulation by the R‑Functions Method
Authors: Basarab Mikhail , Giani Alain , Combette Philippe
Published: November 2020

As well as many modern devices, thermal accelerometers (TAs) need a sophisticated mathematical simulation to find the ways for their performance optimization. In the paper, a novel approach for solving computational fluid dynamics (CFD) problems in the TA’s cavity is proposed (MQ-RFM), which is based on the combined use of Rvachev’s R-functions method (RFM) and the Galerkin technique with multiquadric (MQ) radial basis functions (RBFs). The semi-analytical RFM takes an intermediate position between traditional analytical approaches and numerical methods, such as the finite-element method (FEM), belonging to the family of the so-called meshless techniques which became popular in the last decades in solving various CFD problems in complex-shaped cavities. Mathematical simulation of TA by using the MQ-RFM was carried out with the purpose to simulate the temperature response of the device and to study and improve its performance. The results of numerical experiments were compared with well-known analytical and numerical benchmark solutions for the circular annulus geometry and it demonstrated the effectiveness of the MQ-RFM for solving the convective heat-transfer problem in the TA’s cavity. The use of solution structures allows one to take a relatively small number of expansion terms to achieve an appropriate accuracy of the approximate solution satisfying at the same time the given boundary conditions exactly. The application of the MQ-RFM gives the possibility to obtain semi-analytical solutions to the diffusion-convection problems and to identify the main thermal characteristics of the TA, that allows one to improve the device performance.
Dynamic Analysis of Planetary Gear with Root Crack in Sun Gear Based on Improved Time-Varying Mesh Stiffness
Authors: Shen Jian , Hu Niaoqing , Zhang Lun , Luo Peng
Published: November 2020

The time-varying mesh stiffness (TVMS) is the crucial parameter of the dynamic model of the gear system. Accurate calculation of TVMS is essential for effective fault diagnosis of the gear system. A mesh stiffness improved method considering both the gear tooth transition curve and deformation of the gear body is presented in this paper, and the stiffness calculation expressions under healthy and crack states are given, respectively. Based on the lumped parameter method, the dynamic model of planetary gear with crack in sun gear is constructed, and the vibration response is solved. The simulation results show when the tooth root cracks appear, the vibration response of the tooth has obvious shock response characteristics. The characteristic frequency and frequency multiplication of sun gear fault can be found obviously by envelope analysis. The simulation signal and the test signal obtained by the drivetrain dynamics simulator gearbox test rig are compared and verified. The comparison and verification results show that the proposed TVMS calculation method and the dynamic model are accurate, which can provide a certain theoretical basis for the fault diagnosis of planetary gear with crack fault. The test results are consistent with the numerical analysis results, which provides a theoretical basis for the fault diagnosis of tooth crack.
A Deep Reinforcement Learning Approach for Active SLAM
Authors: Placed Julio A. , Castellanos José A.
Published: November 2020

In this paper, we formulate the active SLAM paradigm in terms of model-free Deep Reinforcement Learning, embedding the traditional utility functions based on the Theory of Optimal Experimental Design in rewards, and therefore relaxing the intensive computations of classical approaches. We validate such formulation in a complex simulation environment, using a state-of-the-art deep Q-learning architecture with laser measurements as network inputs. Trained agents become capable not only to learn a policy to navigate and explore in the absence of an environment model but also to transfer their knowledge to previously unseen maps, which is a key requirement in robotic exploration.
Prognostic Role of Inflammasome Components in Human Colorectal Cancer
Authors: Domblides Charlotte , Soubeyran Isabelle , Lartigue Lydia , Mahouche Isabelle , Lefort Félix , Velasco Valérie , Barnetche Thomas , Blanco Patrick , Déchanet-Merville Julie , Faustin Benjamin
Published: November 2020

(1) We wanted to assess the prognostic impact of inflammasomes involved in gut epithelial homeostasis and the development of human colorectal cancer (CRC). (2) We investigated the expression of inflammasome components in colonic epithelial cells at the protein level in patient tissues, through an immunofluorescence assay. (3) In a cohort of 104 patients, we found that all inflammasome components were downregulated in CRC. Loss of epithelial (but not stromal) expression of NLRP6, caspase-1 and IL-18 was associated with an increased mortality of 72%, 58% and 68% respectively and to disease progression into metastasis. The loss of epithelial and stromal IL-18 but not NLRP6, was associated to lower tumor immune infiltrates in the lymphoid compartment and higher Programmed cell Death receptor 1 (PD-1) expression. Finally, we found that combined downregulation of IL-18 and NLRP6 was associated with a worse outcome. Indeed, 5-year survival rates were 26% for the NLRP6low/IL-18low tumors, compared to 64.4% for the entire cohort. This downregulation was associated with a more advanced disease (p < 0.0001) and a trend to lower lymphoid cell infiltration. (4) We identified critical inflammasome markers that may help in better stratifying patients for prognosis in CRC and could help clinicians to determine which patients may benefit from immunotherapies.
N-Hydroxyphthalimide on a Polystyrene Support Coated with Co(II)-Containing Ionic Liquid as a New Catalytic System for Solvent-Free Ethylbenzene Oxidation
Authors: Talik Gabriela , Osial Anna , Grymel Mirosława , Orlińska Beata
Published: November 2020

The oxidation of ethylbenzene using dioxygen was carried out applying a new catalytic system—heterogeneous N-hydroxyphthalimide (PS-NHPI) coated with an ionic liquid containing CoCl2. The catalytic system represents a combination of solid catalyst with ionic liquid layer (SCILL) and supported ionic liquid phase (SILP) techniques, wherein the resulting system utilizes CoCl2 dissolved in the 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium octyl sulphate ([emim)][OcOSO3]) ionic liquid phase that is layered onto the solid catalyst support. PS-NHPI was obtained by immobilizing N-hydroxyphthalimide on chloromethyl polystyrene resins by ester bonds. It was observed that novel SCILL/SILP systems significantly improved the selectivity toward acetophenone. We also demonstrate that these systems can be separated from the reaction mixture and recycled without appreciably reducing its activity and selectivity.
Hydrothermal Synthesis of FeOOH and Fe2O3 Modified Self-Organizing Immobilized TiO2 Nanotubes for Photocatalytic Degradation of 1H-Benzotriazole
Authors: Čižmar Tihana , Kojić Vedran , Rukavina Marko , Brkljačić Lidija , Salamon Krešimir , Grčić Ivana , Radetić Lucija , Gajović Andreja
Published: November 2020

In this study, titanium dioxide nanotubes were prepared by electrochemical anodization technique and modified with an aqueous solution of FeCl3 using hydrothermal synthesis method to control the amount and distribution of iron compounds on the anatase TiO2 nanotubes. The objective was to synthesize immobilized FeOOH@TiO2 or Fe2O3@TiO2 photocatalysts designed for the flow-through reactor systems; to investigate thermal treatment effect on the photocatalytic efficiency; to determine appropriate Fe-compounds concentration for the maximum photocatalytic activity improvement, and to explain the mechanism responsible for the enhancement. The photocatalysts were tested for the degradation of 1H-benzotriazole in water under UV/solar light irradiation. Up to two times increase in the photocatalytic activity was obtained when TiO2 nanotubes were modified with 0.8 mM Fe. At higher Fe concentrations (8 mM and 80 mM), the photocatalytic activity of the given photocatalysts decreased. To confirm the formation of FeOOH or Fe2O3 species, and to clarify the mechanism of photoactivity, X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman spectroscopy (RS), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Energy Dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) and UV-Vis spectroscopy were used.
Manual Muscle Testing—Force Profiles and Their Reproducibility
Authors: Bittmann Frank , Dech Silas , Aehle Markus , Schaefer Laura
Published: November 2020

The manual muscle test (MMT) is a flexible diagnostic tool, which is used in many disciplines, applied in several ways. The main problem is the subjectivity of the test. The MMT in the version of a “break test” depends on the tester’s force rise and the patient’s ability to resist the applied force. As a first step, the investigation of the reproducibility of the testers’ force profile is required for valid application. The study examined the force profiles of n = 29 testers (n = 9 experiences (Exp), n = 8 little experienced (LitExp), n = 12 beginners (Beg)). The testers performed 10 MMTs according to the test of hip flexors, but against a fixed leg to exclude the patient’s reaction. A handheld device recorded the temporal course of the applied force. The results show significant differences between Exp and Beg concerning the starting force (padj = 0.029), the ratio of starting to maximum force (padj = 0.005) and the normalized mean Euclidean distances between the 10 trials (padj = 0.015). The slope is significantly higher in Exp vs. LitExp (p = 0.006) and Beg (p = 0.005). The results also indicate that experienced testers show inter-tester differences and partly even a low intra-tester reproducibility. This highlights the necessity of an objective MMT-assessment. Furthermore, an agreement on a standardized force profile is required. A suggestion for this is given.
Improving Document-Level Sentiment Classification Using Importance of Sentences
Authors: Choi Gihyeon , Oh Shinhyeok , Kim Harksoo
Published: November 2020

Previous researchers have considered sentiment analysis as a document classification task, in which input documents are classified into predefined sentiment classes. Although there are sentences in a document that support important evidences for sentiment analysis and sentences that do not, they have treated the document as a bag of sentences. In other words, they have not considered the importance of each sentence in the document. To effectively determine polarity of a document, each sentence in the document should be dealt with different degrees of importance. To address this problem, we propose a document-level sentence classification model based on deep neural networks, in which the importance degrees of sentences in documents are automatically determined through gate mechanisms. To verify our new sentiment analysis model, we conducted experiments using the sentiment datasets in the four different domains such as movie reviews, hotel reviews, restaurant reviews, and music reviews. In the experiments, the proposed model outperformed previous state-of-the-art models that do not consider importance differences of sentences in a document. The experimental results show that the importance of sentences should be considered in a document-level sentiment classification task.
Real Space Triplets in Quantum Condensed Matter: Numerical Experiments Using Path Integrals, Closures, and Hard Spheres
Authors: Sesé Luis M.
Published: November 2020

Path integral Monte Carlo and closure computations are utilized to study real space triplet correlations in the quantum hard-sphere system. The conditions cover from the normal fluid phase to the solid phases face-centered cubic (FCC) and cI16 (de Broglie wavelengths 0.2≤λB*<2, densities 0.1≤ρN*≤0.925). The focus is on the equilateral and isosceles features of the path-integral centroid and instantaneous structures. Complementary calculations of the associated pair structures are also carried out to strengthen structural identifications and facilitate closure evaluations. The three closures employed are Kirkwood superposition, Jackson–Feenberg convolution, and their average (AV3). A large quantity of new data are reported, and conclusions are drawn regarding (i) the remarkable performance of AV3 for the centroid and instantaneous correlations, (ii) the correspondences between the fluid and FCC salient features on the coexistence line, and (iii) the most conspicuous differences between FCC and cI16 at the pair and the triplet levels at moderately high densities (ρN*=0.9, 0.925). This research is expected to provide low-temperature insights useful for the future related studies of properties of real systems (e.g., helium, alkali metals, and general colloidal systems).
Two-Party Privacy-Preserving Set Intersection with FHE
Authors: Cai Yunlu , Tang Chunming , Xu Qiuxia
Published: November 2020

A two-party private set intersection allows two parties, the client and the server, to compute an intersection over their private sets, without revealing any information beyond the intersecting elements. We present a novel private set intersection protocol based on Shuhong Gao’s fully homomorphic encryption scheme and prove the security of the protocol in the semi-honest model. We also present a variant of the protocol which is a completely novel construction for computing the intersection based on Bloom filter and fully homomorphic encryption, and the protocol’s complexity is independent of the set size of the client. The security of the protocols relies on the learning with errors and ring learning with error problems. Furthermore, in the cloud with malicious adversaries, the computation of the private set intersection can be outsourced to the cloud service provider without revealing any private information.
Reduction of Electromagnetic Interference for Permanent Magnet Synchronous Motor Using Random PWM Switching Method Based on Four-Switch Three-Phase Inverters
Authors: Wu Shunbin , Guo Xinhua , Wang Rongkun , Liu Yulong , Lin Liaoyuan , Lei Youjian
Published: November 2020

The four-switch three-phase inverters have become an effective approach for fault-tolerant reconstruction and operation of the six-switch three-phase topology. However, the conventional control strategy for four-switch three-phase inverters can result in a large number of current harmonic components, high electromagnetic acoustic noise, and electromagnetic interference (EMI). Therefore, this paper proposes a random switching frequency pulse width modulation method under the centrosymmetry period with a two-state Markov chain based on four-switch three-phase inverters (RSFPWM-CPTMC). In this method, random numbers are optimized and evenly distributed on both sides of the center frequency within a specific frequency bandwidth range, which significantly reduces the current harmonics and EMI at the switching frequency and frequency multiplication. The spectral characteristics generated by the random switching frequency under the centrosymmetry period with the two-state Markov chain are evaluated and compared to that provided by the traditional fixed switching frequency pulse width modulation (FSFPWM). Simulations and experiments are carried out to illustrate the superiority of the proposal.
Influence of Variable Damping Coefficient on Efficiency of TMD with Inerter
Authors: Brzeski Piotr , Lazarek Mateusz , Perlikowski Przemyslaw
Published: November 2020

In this paper, we study the dynamics of a two-degree freedom system consisting of the main body and tuned mass damper with inerter (TMDI). We add the dash-pot with variable damping coefficient to TMDI to study the overall efficiency of the device. We investigate different types of the non-linear characteristic of the dash-pot. We investigate devices in which damping coefficient change according to the relative displacement or the relative velocity between the damped mass and tuned mass damper. We also include in the investigation of different types of control functions. We show the two-parameter diagrams presenting the main body’s maximum amplitude versus the frequency of excitation of the damped body and different control parameter. We show how the application of a non-linear damper lets us control the main system’s oscillation amplitude.
Evaluation of DFIGs’ Primary Frequency Regulation Capability for Power Systems with High Penetration of Wind Power
Authors: Li Changgang , Hang Zhi , Zhang Hengxu , Guo Qi , Zhu Yihua , Terzija Vladimir
Published: November 2020

Accompanying the continuous increase in wind power penetration, the power system inertia is reduced, and the system frequency regulation performance deteriorates. Wind turbine generators are required to participate in primary frequency regulation (PFR) to support system frequency. Here, the PFR capability of the widely-used doubly-fed induction generator (DFIG) is evaluated to estimate the participation of the DFIG in system frequency control. The frequency regulation model of the DFIG is established and briefly discussed. The equivalent PFR droop coefficient is then deduced from the model using a small signal increment method to evaluate the DFIG’s PFR capability. Key factors affecting the equivalent droop coefficient are studied, and the droop control is optimized to keep the equivalent droop coefficient in the desired range. The proposed method is verified utilizing a provincial power grid model of China.
Reactive Power Optimization and Price Management in Microgrid Enabled with Blockchain
Authors: D. Danalakshmi , R. Gopi , Hariharasudan A. , Otola Iwona , Bilan Yuriy
Published: November 2020

The energy market is gradually changing from centralized trading to peer-to-peer trading due to the tremendous increase in a microgrid with green energy resources. When more generating units are included in the microgrid, the possibilities of more reactive power flows exist in the system that leads to high transmission loss which has to be optimized. The reactive power is one of the essential ancillary services in the microgrid towards preserving the voltage in the transmission and distribution line. The major contribution of the paper is towards managing the ancillary service in the distributed energy network economically and technically. This study aims to estimate and optimize the power loss, reactive power, and price management as well. Towards optimization, the self-balanced differential evolution algorithm (SBDE) is used in this study. A distribution system operator is involved in coordinating the sellers and buyers. The proposed layered microgrid architecture uses the blockchain technology for reactive power price management by providing transparency and security among peers. The process of converging various transactions into a block and adding in the distributed blockchain is illustrated. Multiple transactions are performed by using the proposed methodology, giving efficient energy transaction. The results show that the power loss is minimized using SBDE algorithm for different cases. Additionally, the study has demonstrated the price allocation of the optimal reactive power obtained from providers. The blockchain technology embedded in reactive power pricing will play a significant role in the evolution of traditional power distribution systems to active distribution networks.