bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Interfering with mRNA Methylation by the 2′O-Methyltransferase (NSP16) from SARS-CoV-2 to Tackle the COVID-19 Disease
Authors: Morales Paula , Curtis Natalie , Zárate Sandra , Bastida Agatha , Bolanos-Garcia Victor
Published: September 2020

The pandemic associated to Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus type 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has resulted in a huge number of deaths and infected people. Although several vaccine programmes are currently underway and have reached phase 3, and a few small size drugs repurposed to aid treatment of severe cases of COVID-19 infections, effective therapeutic options for this disease do not currently exist. NSP16 is a S-adenosyl-L-Methionine (SAM) dependent 2′O-Methyltransferase that converts mRNA cap-0 into cap-1 structure to prevent virus detection by cell innate immunity mechanisms. NSP16 methylates the ribose 2′O-position of the first nucleotide of the mRNA only in the presence of an interacting partner, the protein NSP10. This feature suggests that inhibition of the NSP16 may represent a therapeutic window to treat COVID-19. To test this idea, we performed comparative structural analyses of the NSP16 present in human coronaviruses and developed a sinefungin (SFG) similarity-based virtual screening campaign to assess the druggability of the SARS-CoV-2 NSP16 enzyme. Through these studies, we identified the SFG analogue 44601604 as a promising more potent inhibitor of NSP16 to limit viral replication in infected cells, favouring viral clearance.
Solution Combustion Synthesis of Fe2O3-Based Catalyst for Ammonia Synthesis
Authors: Cai Binxiang , Liu Huazhang , Han Wenfeng
Published: September 2020

Fe2O3-based catalysts were prepared by solution combustion synthesis (SCS) with metal nitrates (Fe, K, Al, Ca) as the precursors and glycine as the fuel. The activities of catalysts were evaluated in terms of ammonia synthesis reaction rate in a fixed bed reactor similar to the industrial reactors. The results indicate that the precursor of catalyst prepared by SCS is Fe2O3 which facilitates the high dispersion of promoters to provide high activity. The catalysts exhibit higher activity for ammonia synthesis than that of traditional catalysts, and the reaction rate reaches 138.5 mmol g−1 h−1. Fe2O3 prepared by SCS could be favorable precursor for ammonia synthesis catalyst. The present study provides a pathway to prepare catalyst for ammonia synthesis.
Hybrid Biopolymer and Lipid Nanoparticles with Improved Transfection Efficacy for mRNA
Authors: Siewert Christian D. , Haas Heinrich , Cornet Vera , Nogueira Sara S. , Nawroth Thomas , Uebbing Lukas , Ziller Antje , Al-Gousous Jozef , Radulescu Aurel , Schroer Martin A. , Blanchet Clement E. , Svergun Dmitri I. , Radsak Markus P. , Sahin Ugur , Langguth Peter
Published: September 2020

Hybrid nanoparticles from lipidic and polymeric components were assembled to serve as vehicles for the transfection of messenger RNA (mRNA) using different portions of the cationic lipid DOTAP (1,2-Dioleoyl-3-trimethylammonium-propane) and the cationic biopolymer protamine as model systems. Two different sequential assembly approaches in comparison with a direct single-step protocol were applied, and molecular organization in correlation with biological activity of the resulting nanoparticle systems was investigated. Differences in the structure of the nanoparticles were revealed by thorough physicochemical characterization including small angle neutron scattering (SANS), small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS), and cryogenic transmission electron microscopy (cryo-TEM). All hybrid systems, combining lipid and polymer, displayed significantly increased transfection in comparison to lipid/mRNA and polymer/mRNA particles alone. For the hybrid nanoparticles, characteristic differences regarding the internal organization, release characteristics, and activity were determined depending on the assembly route. The systems with the highest transfection efficacy were characterized by a heterogenous internal organization, accompanied by facilitated release. Such a system could be best obtained by the single step protocol, starting with a lipid and polymer mixture for nanoparticle formation.
Metabolic Potential of Cancer Cells in Context of the Metastatic Cascade
Authors: Benzarti Mohaned , Delbrouck Catherine , Neises Laura , Kiweler Nicole , Meiser Johannes
Published: September 2020

The metastatic cascade is a highly plastic and dynamic process dominated by cellular heterogeneity and varying metabolic requirements. During this cascade, the three major metabolic pillars, namely biosynthesis, RedOx balance, and bioenergetics, have variable importance. Biosynthesis has superior significance during the proliferation-dominated steps of primary tumour growth and secondary macrometastasis formation and only minor relevance during the growth-independent processes of invasion and dissemination. Consequently, RedOx homeostasis and bioenergetics emerge as conceivable metabolic key determinants in cancer cells that disseminate from the primary tumour. Within this review, we summarise our current understanding on how cancer cells adjust their metabolism in the context of different microenvironments along the metastatic cascade. With the example of one-carbon metabolism, we establish a conceptual view on how the same metabolic pathway can be exploited in different ways depending on the current cellular needs during metastatic progression.
CDC-42 Interactions with Par Proteins Are Critical for Proper Patterning in Polarization
Authors: Seirin-Lee Sungrim , Gaffney Eamonn A. , Dawes Adriana T.
Published: September 2020

Many cells rearrange proteins and other components into spatially distinct domains in a process called polarization. This asymmetric patterning is required for a number of biological processes including asymmetric division, cell migration, and embryonic development. Proteins involved in polarization are highly conserved and include members of the Par and Rho protein families. Despite the importance of these proteins in polarization, it is not yet known how they interact and regulate each other to produce the protein localization patterns associated with polarization. In this study, we develop and analyse a biologically based mathematical model of polarization that incorporates interactions between Par and Rho proteins that are consistent with experimental observations of CDC-42. Using minimal network and eFAST sensitivity analyses, we demonstrate that CDC-42 is predicted to reinforce maintenance of anterior PAR protein polarity which in turn feedbacks to maintain CDC-42 polarization, as well as supporting posterior PAR protein polarization maintenance. The mechanisms for polarity maintenance identified by these methods are not sufficient for the generation of polarization in the absence of cortical flow. Additional inhibitory interactions mediated by the posterior Par proteins are predicted to play a role in the generation of Par protein polarity. More generally, these results provide new insights into the role of CDC-42 in polarization and the mutual regulation of key polarity determinants, in addition to providing a foundation for further investigations.
Gateways for Glutamate Neuroprotection in Parkinson’s Disease (PD): Essential Role of EAAT3 and NCX1 Revealed in an In Vitro Model of PD
Authors: Piccirillo Silvia , Magi Simona , Preziuso Alessandra , Castaldo Pasqualina , Amoroso Salvatore , Lariccia Vincenzo
Published: September 2020

Increasing evidence suggests that metabolic alterations may be etiologically linked to neurodegenerative disorders such as Parkinson’s disease (PD) and in particular empathizes the possibility of targeting mitochondrial dysfunctions to improve PD progression. Under different pathological conditions (i.e., cardiac and neuronal ischemia/reperfusion injury), we showed that supplementation of energetic substrates like glutamate exerts a protective role by preserving mitochondrial functions and enhancing ATP synthesis through a mechanism involving the Na+-dependent excitatory amino acid transporters (EAATs) and the Na+/Ca2+ exchanger (NCX). In this study, we investigated whether a similar approach aimed at promoting glutamate metabolism would be also beneficial against cell damage in an in vitro PD-like model. In retinoic acid (RA)-differentiated SH-SY5Y cells challenged with α-synuclein (α-syn) plus rotenone (Rot), glutamate significantly improved cell viability by increasing ATP levels, reducing oxidative damage and cytosolic and mitochondrial Ca2+ overload. Glutamate benefits were strikingly lost when either EAAT3 or NCX1 expression was knocked down by RNA silencing. Overall, our results open the possibility of targeting EAAT3/NCX1 functions to limit PD pathology by simultaneously favoring glutamate uptake and metabolic use in dopaminergic neurons.
Eosinophils and Neutrophils—Molecular Differences Revealed by Spontaneous Raman, CARS and Fluorescence Microscopy
Authors: Dorosz Aleksandra , Grosicki Marek , Dybas Jakub , Matuszyk Ewelina , Rodewald Marko , Meyer Tobias , Popp Jürgen , Malek Kamilla , Baranska Malgorzata
Published: September 2020

Leukocytes are a part of the immune system that plays an important role in the host’s defense against viral, bacterial, and fungal infections. Among the human leukocytes, two granulocytes, neutrophils (Ne) and eosinophils (EOS) play an important role in the innate immune system. For that purpose, eosinophils and neutrophils contain specific granules containing protoporphyrin-type proteins such as eosinophil peroxidase (EPO) and myeloperoxidase (MPO), respectively, which contribute directly to their anti-infection activity. Since both proteins are structurally and functionally different, they could potentially be a marker of both cells’ types. To prove this hypothesis, UV−Vis absorption spectroscopy and Raman imaging were applied to analyze EPO and MPO and their content in leukocytes isolated from the whole blood. Moreover, leukocytes can contain lipidic structures, called lipid bodies (LBs), which are linked to the regulation of immune responses and are considered to be a marker of cell inflammation. In this work, we showed how to determine the number of LBs in two types of granulocytes, EOS and Ne, using fluorescence and coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering (CARS) microscopy. Spectroscopic differences of EPO and MPO can be used to identify these cells in blood samples, while the detection of LBs can indicate the cell inflammation process.
Cellular Uptake of siRNA-Loaded Nanocarriers to Knockdown PD-L1: Strategies to Improve T-cell Functions
Authors: Thiramanas Raweewan , Li Mengyi , Jiang Shuai , Landfester Katharina , Mailänder Volker
Published: September 2020

T-cells are a type of lymphocyte (a subtype of white blood cells) that play a central role in cell-mediated immunity. Currently, adoptive T-cell immunotherapy is being developed to destroy cancer cells. In this therapy, T-cells are harvested from a patient’s blood. After several weeks of growth in culture, tumor-specific T-cells can be reinfused into the same cancer patient. This technique has proved highly efficient in cancer treatment. However, there are several biological processes that can suppress the anti-cancer responses of T-cells, leading to a loss of their functionality and a reduction of their viability. Therefore, strategies are needed to improve T-cell survival and their functions. Here, a small interfering RNA (siRNA)-loaded nanocarrier was used to knockdown PD-L1, one of the most important proteins causing a loss in the functionality of T-cells. The biocompatibility and the cellular uptake of siRNA-loaded silica nanocapsules (SiNCs) were investigated in CD8+ T-cells. Then, the PD-L1 expression at protein and at mRNA levels of the treated cells were evaluated. Furthermore, the effect of the PD-L1 knockdown was observed in terms of cell proliferation and the expression of specific biomarkers CD25, CD69 and CD71, which are indicators of T-cell functions. The results suggest that this siRNA-loaded nanocarrier showed a significant potential in the delivery of siRNA into T-cells. This in turn resulted in enhanced T-cell survival by decreasing the expression of the inhibitory protein PD-L1. Such nanocarriers could, therefore, be applied in adoptive T-cell immunotherapy for the treatment of cancer.
Report on Digital Literacy in Academic Meetings during the 2020 COVID-19 Lockdown
Authors: Nash Carol
Published: September 2020

COVID-19, a novel coronavirus, was deemed a pandemic during mid-March 2020. In response, lockdowns were imposed for an indefinite period world-wide. Academic institutions were no exception. Continuing meetings of academic groups consequently necessitated online communication. Various platforms were available from which to choose to encourage digital literacy. Despite alternatives, the almost overnight closure of all non-essential services at one post-secondary institution resulted in the selection of Zoom as the preferred platform for meetings until social distancing ended. In contrast, the facilitator of a unique, health-related, narrative research group at the institution—a group tailored to critical thought, communication, cooperation and creativity—considered a hybrid format private Facebook group likely to provide a more appropriate and satisfying group experience than possible with synchronous Zoom meetings. Pros and cons of both online platforms are presented along with the conditions under which each one is preferable. Positive results were evident in promoting digital literacy for this particular academic group using the hybrid format of a private Facebook group. As such, private Facebook groups hold promise in supporting digital literacy for collaborative online health-related group meetings. Unique in examining and evaluating private Facebook groups, this report holds significance for digital literacy regarding academic meetings.
Relationship between High Blood Pressure and Microalbuminuria in Children Aged 6–9 Years in a South African Population
Authors: Matjuda Edna Ngoakoana , Sewani-Rusike Constance R. , Anye Samuel Nkeh Chungag , Engwa Godwill Azeh , Nkeh-Chungag Benedicta Ngwechi
Published: September 2020

Though the association between high blood pressure and microalbuminuria is well established in adults, there is a paucity of information on microalbuminuria in children. This study investigated the relationship between high blood pressure and microalbuminuria in 6–9-year-old children. A cross-sectional study, which included 306 primary school children of age 6–9 years old from urban areas (n = 154) and rural areas (n = 152) of the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa, was conducted. Participants’ anthropometric data were determined and systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP) and heart rate (HR) were measured and converted to BP percentiles for age, sex and height. Creatinine and albumin concentrations were assayed in early morning midstream urine and the albumin to creatinine ratio (ACR) was calculated. There was a 42.8% prevalence of elevated blood pressure/high blood pressure (E-BP/H-BP) and a 10.1% prevalence of microalbuminuria. Among the 131 children with E-BP/H-BP, 17 had elevated ACR with a prevalence of 13.95%. SBP and HR increased with increasing range of ACR and, furthermore, SBP was significantly (p < 0.05) higher in children with moderately and severely increased ACR. SBP was associated with ACR and increased SBP predicted microalbuminuria (R2 = 0.42, adj R2 = 0.039, B: 0.120, p = < 0.05). In conclusion, microalbuminuria was present in 6–9-year-old South African children of African Ancestry and a weak association was observed with SBP in children.
The Combined Influences of Film Cooling and Thermal Barrier Coatings on the Cooling Performances of a Film and Internal Cooled Vane
Authors: Shi Li , Sun Zhiying , Lu Yuanfeng
Published: September 2020

This paper presents a numerical investigation on the combined influences of film cooling and thermal barrier coatings (TBCs) on the cooling performances of a NASA C3X guide vane. The results show that: (1) film cooling on the pressure side is more effective than suction side, especially on the trailing edge where multiple cooling and thermal protection techniques include internal cooling and TBCs are necessary. (2) TBCs show positive and negative roles in improving cooling performance at the same time for the coated vane with or without film cooling. Without film cooling, TBCs show negative roles on the regions with lower temperature external hot gas, which is caused by flow acceleration from the stagnation line of the suction side. (3) Internal cooling improvement caused by coolant introduction leads to a larger cooling effectiveness inclement due to TBCs near coolant plenums and film cooling holes. However, the influence of TBCs on cooling effectiveness increment goes down and even shows negative roles on the regions away from coolant plenums and under the effective coverage of the film cooling. (4) Improving the convective heat transfer of coolant with the wall of coolant plenums and film cooling holes is the guarantee of improving the cooling performance of a coated vane.
Experimental Study on Coal Fly Ash-Based Gas-Sealing Coating Used for Coal Mine Roadway Walls
Authors: Song Huiping , Liu Chunhui , Xue Fangbin , Wen Xuhui , Cheng Fangqin
Published: September 2020

Gas-sealing coatings on coal mine roadway walls can effectively repress gas emission and are of importance to the safe operation of coal mining. In this study, the performance of coal fly ash (CFA)-based gas-sealing coatings was investigated, including the aspects of drying time, air tightness, impermeability, flame retardancy and antistatic properties. The results show that coating No. 25 with 60 g ultrafine CFA and 50 g emulsion (curing at 22 °C) had the best air tightness, with a permeability coefficient of 2.95 × 10−13 cm2/(s·Pa). The data obtained through the self-developed air tightness test device agreed well with the detection results of the gas permeameter, thus verifying the accuracy and reliability of the device. The impermeability, flame retardancy and antistatic properties of coating No. 25 conformed the requirements of voluntary national standards GB/T 23445-2009 and coal industry standard MT113-1995, respectively. The CFA-based gas-sealing coating in the pilot test reduced the gas emission intensity by 40%–50%. It could have wide applications in coal mine roadway walls.
Syntheses of Silver Nanowires Ink and Printable Flexible Transparent Conductive Film: A Review
Authors: Wu Xiaoli , Zhou Zhimin , Wang Yuehui , Li Jingze
Published: September 2020

Nowadays, flexible transparent conductive film (FTCF) is one of the important components of many flexible electronic devices. Due to comprehensive performances on optoelectronics, FTCF based on silver nanowires (AgNWs) networks have received great attention and are expected to be a new generation of transparent conductive film materials. Due to its simple process, printed electronic technology is now an important technology for the rapid production of low-cost and high-quality flexible electronic devices. AgNWs-based FTCF fabricated by using printed electronic technology is considered to be the most promising process. Here, the preparation and performance of AgNW ink are introduced. The current printing technologies are described, including gravure printing, screen printing and inkjet printing. In addition, the latest methods to improve the conductivity, adhesion, and stability of AgNWs-based FTCF are introduced. Finally, the applications of AgNWs-based FTCF in solar cells, transparent film heaters, optoelectronic devices, touch panel, and sensors are introduced in detail. Therefore, combining various printing technologies with AgNWs ink may provide more opportunities for the development of flexible electronic devices in the future.
How Does the Color of Restorative Material Change during Exposure to Dietary Liquids Due to the Acquisition of a Discolored Layer?
Authors: Gawriołek Maria , Gawriołek Krzysztof , Eliasz Wojciech , Czarnecka Beata , Paszynska Elżbieta , Sikorski Marek
Published: September 2020

(1) Background: The aim of the paper is to determine how selected staining liquids affect color stability and reflectance of six composite and compomer dental materials. (2) Methods: Six dental materials were chosen for this study: G-aenial (GC), Filtek Z550 (3M), Herculite XRV Ultra (Kerr), Compoglass (Ivoclar Vivadent), Dyract Extra (Dentsply), and Dyract Flow (Dentsply). Ten staining liquids were used (distilled water, tea, tea with sugar, coffee, coffee with sugar, Coca-Cola®, orange and currant juices, soy sauce, and wine). Staining was carried out at 37 °C. The measurements of the color difference (ΔE) and the color parameters were carried out on a Konica Minolta CM5 spetrocolorimeter at different staining times (1, 2, 4, 8, 24, 48, 72, and 168 h). The resulting color change of the dental materials upon staining is presented as plots of ΔE, diffuse-reflection spectra, and Maxwell’s triangle. (3) Results: Significant changes in lightness (ΔL) along with changes in the total color were observed for most materials. Color change was more pronounced in compomers than in composites. (4) Conclusions: Most materials change their color from light cream to light-brown and reddish after exposure to selected staining liquids.
Development and Application of Skid Resistance Fog Seal for Pavements
Authors: Jiang Yingjun , Yi Yong , Tian Tian , Fan Jiangtao , Yuan Kejia , Deng Changqing , Xue Jinshun
Published: September 2020

The performance of a skid resistance fog seal is studied to develop a high bond performance road skid resistance fog seal. Accordingly, a fog seal is developed based on the bond strength, permeability, and aging resistance. To develop the skid resistance fog seal herein, the skid resistance particle types and dosages are optimized according to the skid and wear resistance properties. The fog seal performance is then verified. Furthermore, the road performance of the skid resistance fog seal is studied, and the optimal amount of the skid resistance fog seal is proposed. Finally, the influence of the construction process on the skid and wear resistance is investigated. The results show that the self-made skid resistance fog seal has better bond strength, permeability, and aging resistance. The 0.6 kg/m2 skid resistance fog seal exhibits the best skid and wear resistance and water penetration performance, while the skid resistance fog seal constructed by the premix process has the best skid and wear resistance properties.
The Impact Resistance and Deformation Performance of Novel Pre-Packed Aggregate Concrete Reinforced with Waste Polypropylene Fibres
Authors: Alrshoudi Fahed , Mohammadhosseini Hossein , Alyousef Rayed , Md. Tahir Mahmood , Alabduljabbar Hisham , Mustafa Mohamed Abdeliazim
Published: September 2020

Pre-packed aggregate fibre-reinforced concrete (PAFRC) is an innovative type of concrete composite using a mixture of coarse aggregates and fibres which are pre-mixed and pre-placed in the formwork. A flowable grout is then injected into the cavities between the aggregate mass. This study develops the concept of a new PAFRC, which is reinforced with polypropylene (PP) waste carpet fibres, investigating its mechanical properties and impact resistance under drop weight impact load. Palm oil fuel ash (POFA) is used as a partial cement replacement, with a replacement level of 20%. The compressive strength, impact resistance, energy absorption, long-term drying shrinkage, and microstructural analysis of PAFRC are explored. Two methods of grout injection are used—namely, gravity and pumping methods. For each method, six PAFRC batches containing 0–1.25% fibres (with a length of 30 mm) were cast. The findings of the study reveal that, by adding waste PP fibre, the compressive strength of PAFRC specimens decreased. However, with longer curing periods, the compressive strength enhanced due to the pozzolanic activity of POFA. The combination of fibres and POFA in PAFRC mixtures leads to the higher impact strength energy absorption and improved ductility of the concrete. Furthermore, drying shrinkage was reduced by about 28.6% for the pumping method PAFRC mix containing 0.75% fibres. Due to the unique production method of PAFRC and high impact resistance and energy absorption, it can be used in many pioneering applications.
Optimal Control of SiC Crystal Growth in the RF-TSSG System Using Reinforcement Learning
Authors: Wang Lei , Sekimoto Atsushi , Takehara Yuto , Okano Yasunori , Ujihara Toru , Dost Sadik
Published: September 2020

We have developed a reinforcement learning (RL) model to control the melt flow in the radio frequency (RF) top-seeded solution growth (TSSG) process for growing more uniform SiC crystals with a higher growth rate. In the study, the electromagnetic field (EM) strength is controlled by the RL model to weaken the influence of Marangoni convection. The RL model is trained through a two-dimensional (2D) numerical simulation of the TSSG process. As a result, the growth rate under the control of the RL model is improved significantly. The optimized RF-coil parameters based on the control strategy for the 2D melt flow are used in a three-dimensional (3D) numerical simulation for model validation, which predicts a higher and more uniform growth rate. It is shown that the present RL model can significantly reduce the development cost and offers a useful means of finding the optimal RF-coil parameters.
Stand out from the Crowd: Small-Scale Genetic Structuring in the Endemic Sicilian Pond Turtle
Authors: Vecchioni Luca , Marrone Federico , Arculeo Marco , Fritz Uwe , Vamberger Melita
Published: September 2020

The geographical pattern of genetic diversity was investigated in the endemic Sicilian pond turtle Emys trinacris across its entire distribution range, using 16 microsatellite loci. Overall, 245 specimens of E. trinacris were studied, showing high polymorphic microsatellite loci, with allele numbers ranging from 7 to 30. STRUCTURE and GENELAND analyses showed a noteworthy, geographically based structuring of the studied populations in five well-characterized clusters, supported by a moderate degree of genetic diversity (FST values between 0.075 and 0.160). Possible explanations for the genetic fragmentation observed are provided, where both natural and human-mediated habitat fragmentation of the Sicilian wetlands played a major role in this process. Finally, some conservation and management suggestions aimed at preventing the loss of genetic variability of the species are briefly reported, stressing the importance of considering the five detected clusters as independent Management Units.
Insect Communities Associated with Siam Weed: Evaluation after Three Decades of Cecidochares connexa Release as Biocontrol Agent
Authors: Buchori Damayanti , Rizali Akhmad , Lukvitasari Luna , Triwidodo Hermanu
Published: September 2020

Chromolaena odorata is well known as an invasive weed, and its existence in agricultural habitats causes an undesirable effect on crop plants. The invasion of C. odorata alters local biodiversity and shapes the new trophic interaction with local herbivores and other insects. This research was conducted to study the insect communities associated with C. odorata and evaluate the success of the release of Cecidochares connexa, the natural enemy of C. odorata. Field research was conducted in two different geographical regions in Bogor Regency (Java) and South Lampung Regency (Sumatera), Indonesia. In each region, we selected five villages that have two land-use types (oil palm plantations and open area) and contain a high population of C. odorata. Observation of insects and natural enemies of C. odorata was conducted in each land-use type using two methods: suction sampling and gall collection, which were performed in 30 plants as sampling units. In total, we found 255 species of insects associated with C. odorata. The difference of region affected the abundance of insects but not their species richness. The species composition of insects showed difference between regions as well as between land-use types. There was a positive correlation between elevation and species richness of insects. In addition, the population of C. connexa (gall numbers) was significantly affected by regions and was found to be higher in Bogor and Lampung. The same pattern also was shown for its parasitoids (based on parasitized galls). We found a negative relationship between the number as well as parasitize galls and elevation. In conclusion, the presence of C. odorata, as well as its natural enemies, shape the new trophic interaction with local insects, and as consequence, its introduced natural enemies may not be effective to control the population of C. odorata.
A Cluster Project Approach to Develop New Functional Dairy Products from Sheep and Goat Milk
Authors: Lai Giacomo , Pes Massimo , Addis Margherita , Pirisi Antonio
Published: September 2020

The growing scientific interest in the role of food in promoting human health and wellbeing has profoundly influenced consumers’ perceptions and attitudes towards nutrition, leading to the advent of a new class of foods, called functional foods, which are currently one of the fastest growing food-producing sectors, particularly in the dairy industry. The cluster project “Diversification in sheep & goat Sardinian dairy production” was built and carried out, based on requests from ten Sardinian dairy companies, to plan and implement experimental protocols directed to develop new production processes, according to the latest health and nutritional guidelines. Consequently, the following different interconnected research lines were developed: lactose-free dairy products; low-fat dairy products; dairy products enriched with added functional ingredients. The studied processes were based on the modification of cheese milk or whey, through the elimination of or reduction in one or more components with negative health effects or by adding functional ingredients. Therefore, a total of six different dairy products were developed: two from sheep milk and whey and four from goat milk. The technological processes adopted were typically those of Ricotta, fresh and soft cheeses. Contextually, their adaptability to the industrial equipment available in the cluster dairy companies was verified, and most of them were successfully transferred. These novel dairy products meet the current market demand, which shows a greater interest in fresh and short-ripened dairy products, with a low energy intake and high nutritional value. Moreover, can represent an example of the diversification in the sheep and goat dairy sector.
13C NMR Dataset Qualitative Analysis of Grecian Wines
Authors: Mannu Alberto , Karabagias Ioannis K. , Baldino Salvatore , Prandi Cristina , Karabagias Vassilios K. , Badeka Anastasia V.
Published: September 2020

The development of analytical techniques for characterizing food samples, especially for the wine industry, is a main topic of research. Regarding the classification of wines based on their geographical origin, nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy represents a fast and effective tool for determining chemical fingerprints. Herein, a 13C NMR dataset, which was acquired for classification of Grecian wines through multivariate statistics, is reported and described. Thus, the main qualitative differences between grapes of the same geographical origin, observable by the visual analysis of the 13C NMR data, are discussed.
Pre-Radiotherapy Progression after Surgery of Newly Diagnosed Glioblastoma: Corroboration of New Prognostic Variable
Authors: Lakomy Radek , Kazda Tomas , Selingerova Iveta , Poprach Alexandr , Pospisil Petr , Belanova Renata , Fadrus Pavel , Smrcka Martin , Vybihal Vaclav , Jancalek Radim , Kiss Igor , Muckova Katarina , Hendrych Michal , Knight Andrea , Sana Jiri , Slampa Pavel , Slaby Ondrej
Published: September 2020

Background: The aim of this retrospective study is to assess the incidence, localization, and potential predictors of rapid early progression (REP) prior to initiation of radiotherapy in newly diagnosed glioblastoma patients and to compare survival outcomes in cohorts with or without REP in relation to the treatment. Methods: We assessed a consecutive cohort of 155 patients with histologically confirmed irradiated glioblastoma from 1/2014 to 12/2017. A total of 90 patients with preoperative, postoperative, and planning MRI were analyzed. Results: Median age 59 years, 59% men, and 39 patients (43%) underwent gross total tumor resection. The Stupp regimen was indicated to 64 patients (71%); 26 patients (29%) underwent radiotherapy alone. REP on planning MRI performed shortly prior to radiotherapy was found in 46 (51%) patients, most often within the surgical cavity wall, and the main predictor for REP was non-radical surgery (p < 0.001). The presence of REP was confirmed as a strong negative prognostic factor; median overall survival (OS) in patients with REP was 10.7 vs. 18.7 months and 2-year survival was 15.6% vs. 37.7% (hazard ratio HR 0.53 for those without REP; p = 0.007). Interestingly, the REP occurrence effect on survival outcome was significantly different in younger patients (≤ 50 years) and older patients (> 50 years) for OS (p = 0.047) and non-significantly for PFS (p = 0.341). In younger patients, REP was a stronger negative prognostic factor, probably due to more aggressive behavior. Patients with REP who were indicated for the Stupp regimen had longer OS compared to radiotherapy alone (median OS 16.0 vs 7.5; HR = 0.5, p = 0.022; 2-year survival 22.3% vs. 5.6%). The interval between surgery and the initiation of radiotherapy were not prognostic in either the entire cohort or in patients with REP. Conclusion: Especially in the subgroup of patients without radical resection, one may recommend as early initiation of radiotherapy as possible. The phenomenon of REP should be recognized as an integral part of stratification factors in future prospective clinical trials enrolling patients before initiation of radiotherapy.
Distributed Learning for Dynamic Channel Access in Underwater Sensor Networks
Authors: Shin Huicheol , Kim Yongjae , Baek Seungjae , Song Yujae
Published: September 2020

In this study, the problem of dynamic channel access in distributed underwater acoustic sensor networks (UASNs) is considered. First, we formulate the dynamic channel access problem in UASNs as a multi-agent Markov decision process, wherein each underwater sensor is considered an agent whose objective is to maximize the total network throughput without coordinating with or exchanging messages among different underwater sensors. We then propose a distributed deep Q-learning-based algorithm that enables each underwater sensor to learn not only the behaviors (i.e., actions) of other sensors, but also the physical features (e.g., channel error probability) of its available acoustic channels, in order to maximize the network throughput. We conduct extensive numerical evaluations and verify that the performance of the proposed algorithm is similar to or even better than the performance of baseline algorithms, even when implemented in a distributed manner.
Improved Resource State for Verifiable Blind Quantum Computation
Authors: Xu Qingshan , Tan Xiaoqing , Huang Rui
Published: September 2020

Recent advances in theoretical and experimental quantum computing raise the problem of verifying the outcome of these quantum computations. The recent verification protocols using blind quantum computing are fruitful for addressing this problem. Unfortunately, all known schemes have relatively high overhead. Here we present a novel construction for the resource state of verifiable blind quantum computation. This approach achieves a better verifiability of 0.866 in the case of classical output. In addition, the number of required qubits is 2N+4cN, where N and c are the number of vertices and the maximal degree in the original computation graph, respectively. In other words, our overhead is less linear in the size of the computational scale. Finally, we utilize the method of repetition and fault-tolerant code to optimise the verifiability.
A Student Primer on How to Thrive in Engineering Education during and beyond COVID-19
Authors: Qadir Junaid , Al-Fuqaha Ala
Published: September 2020

In this paper, we strive to provide a primer for students on how to thrive and learn effectively in engineering education in the volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous (VUCA) times following the onset of the COVID-19 global pandemic, which has disrupted the educational enterprise massively with universities physically closing in many parts of the world and students and faculty transitioning to remote learning. Although the immediate audience assumed in this paper comprises engineering students (such as those enrolled in electrical, electronics, or computer engineering programs) studying in an outcome-based education (OBE) environment—the global educational paradigm mandated by the Washington Accord that aims to standardize engineering competencies in terms of the attained student learning outcomes—the presented ideas are more general and broadly useful for learners of all types. We will describe seven evidence-based steps that the students can adopt to thrive in OBE settings in these challenging times. The main contribution of this paper is practical: we present a synthesis of the vast research literature on effective student learning in normal, online, and disrupted settings to present practical insights that students can leverage to substantially improve their learning. At the end of the paper, we also present a discussion of important issues related to remote teaching and online education such as ensuring equity and the handling of lab work for engineers in such settings (e.g., through simulators and virtual labs).
Applying Touchscreen Based Navigation Techniques to Mobile Virtual Reality with Open Clip-On Lenses
Authors: Kim Youngwon Ryan , Choi Hyeonah , Chang Minwook , Kim Gerard J.
Published: September 2020

Recently, a new breed of mobile virtual reality (dubbed as “EasyVR” in this work), has appeared in the form of conveniently clipping on a non-isolating magnifying lenses on the smartphone, still offering a reasonable level of immersion to using the isolated headset. Furthermore, such a form factor allows the fingers to touch the screen and select objects quite accurately, despite the finger(s) being seen unfocused over the lenses. Many navigation techniques have existed for both casual smartphone 3D applications using the touchscreen and immersive VR environments using the various controllers/sensors. However, no research has focused on the proper navigation interaction technique for a platform like EasyVR which necessitates the use of the touchscreen while holding the display device to the head and looking through the magnifying lenses. To design and propose the most fitting navigation method(s) with EasyVR, we mixed and matched the conventional touchscreen based and headset oriented navigation methods to come up with six viable navigation techniques—more specifically for selecting the travel direction and invoking the movement itself—including the use of head-rotation, on-screen keypads/buttons, one-touch teleport, drag-to-target, and finger gestures. These methods were experimentally compared for their basic usability and the level of immersion in navigating in 3D space with six degrees of freedom. The results provide a valuable guideline for designing/choosing the proper navigation method under different navigational needs of the given VR application.
A Novel Asymmetric Patch Reflectarray Antenna with Ground Ring Slots for 5G Communication Systems
Authors: Dahri M. Hashim , Jamaluddin M. Haizal , Seman Fauziahanim C. , Abbasi Muhammad Inam , Ashyap Adel Y. I. , Kamarudin M. Ramlee , Hayat Omar
Published: September 2020

The narrow bandwidth and low gain performances of a reflectarray are generally improved at the cost of high design complexity, which is not a good sign for high-frequency operation. A dual resonance asymmetric patch reflectarray antenna with a single layer is proposed in this work for 5G communication at 26 GHz. The asymmetric patch is developed from a square patch by tilting its one vertical side by a carefully optimized inclination angle. A progressive phase range of 650° is acquired by embedding a circular ring slot in the ground plane of the proposed element for gain improvement. A 332-element, center feed reflectarray is designed and tested, where its high cross polarization is suppressed by mirroring the orientation of asymmetric patches on its surface. The asymmetric patch reflectarray offers a 3 dB gain bandwidth of 3 GHz, which is 4.6% wider than the square patch reflectarray. A maximum measured gain of 24.4 dB has been achieved with an additional feature of dual linear polarization. Simple design with wide bandwidth and high-gain of asymmetric patch reflectarray make it suitable to be used in 5G communications at high frequencies.
A Fast-Converging Scheme for the Electromagnetic Scattering from a Thin Dielectric Disk
Authors: Lucido Mario , Balaban Mykhaylo V. , Dukhopelnykov Sergii , Nosich Alexander I.
Published: September 2020

In this paper, the analysis of the electromagnetic scattering from a thin dielectric disk is formulated as two sets of one-dimensional integral equations in the vector Hankel transform domain by taking advantage of the revolution symmetry of the problem and by imposing the generalized boundary conditions on the disk surface. The problem is further simplified by means of Helmholtz decomposition, which allows to introduce new scalar unknows in the spectral domain. Galerkin method with complete sets of orthogonal eigenfunctions of the static parts of the integral operators, reconstructing the physical behavior of the fields, as expansion bases, is applied to discretize the integral equations. The obtained matrix equations are Fredholm second-kind equations whose coefficients are efficiently numerically evaluated by means of a suitable analytical technique. Numerical results and comparisons with the commercial software CST Microwave Studio are provided showing the accuracy and efficiency of the proposed technique.
The Use of Time-Frequency Moments as Inputs of LSTM Network for ECG Signal Classification
Authors: Kłosowski Grzegorz , Rymarczyk Tomasz , Wójcik Dariusz , Skowron Stanisław , Cieplak Tomasz , Adamkiewicz Przemysław
Published: September 2020

This paper refers to the method of using the deep neural long-short-term memory (LSTM) network for the problem of electrocardiogram (ECG) signal classification. ECG signals contain a lot of subtle information analyzed by doctors to determine the type of heart dysfunction. Due to the large number of signal features that are difficult to identify, raw ECG data is usually not suitable for use in machine learning. The article presents how to transform individual ECG time series into spectral images for which two characteristics are determined, which are instantaneous frequency and spectral entropy. Feature extraction consists of converting the ECG signal into a series of spectral images using short-term Fourier transformation. Then the images were converted using Fourier transform again to two signals, which includes instantaneous frequency and spectral entropy. The data set transformed in this way was used to train the LSTM network. During the experiments, the LSTM networks were trained for both raw and spectrally transformed data. Then, the LSTM networks trained in this way were compared with each other. The obtained results prove that the transformation of input signals into images can be an effective method of improving the quality of classifiers based on deep learning.
Legacy Network Integration with SDN-IP Implementation towards a Multi-Domain SoDIP6 Network Environment
Authors: Dawadi Babu R. , Rawat Danda B. , Joshi Shashidhar R. , Manzoni Pietro
Published: September 2020

The logical separation of the data plane and the control plane of the network device conceptually defined by software-defined networking (SDN) creates many opportunities to create smart networking with better efficiency for network management and operation. SDN implementation over telecommunications (Telcos) and Internet service provider (ISP) networks is a challenging issue due to the lack of a high maturity level of SDN-based standards and several other critical factors that are considered during the real-time migration of existing legacy IPv4 networks. Different migration approaches have been studied; however, none of them seem to be close to realizing implementation. This paper implements the SDN-IP and Open Network Operating System (ONOS) SDN controller to migrate legacy IPv4 networks to multi-domain software-defined IPv6 (SoDIP6) networks and experimentally evaluate the viability of joint network migration in the ISP networks. We present results using extensive simulations for the suitable placement of the master ONOS controller during network migration by considering minimum control path latency using optimal path routing and the breadth first router replacement (BFR) technique. Our empirical analysis and evaluations show that the identification of the median router to attach the master controller and router migration planning using BFR give better results for carrier-grade legacy networks’ migration to SoDIP6 networks.
Fractional-Order Fuzzy Control Approach for Photovoltaic/Battery Systems under Unknown Dynamics, Variable Irradiation and Temperature
Authors: Mosavi Amirhosein , Qasem Sultan Noman , Shokri Manouchehr , Band Shahab S. , Mohammadzadeh Ardashir
Published: September 2020

For this paper, the problem of energy/voltage management in photovoltaic (PV)/battery systems was studied, and a new fractional-order control system on basis of type-3 (T3) fuzzy logic systems (FLSs) was developed. New fractional-order learning rules are derived for tuning of T3-FLSs such that the stability is ensured. In addition, using fractional-order calculus, the robustness was studied versus dynamic uncertainties, perturbation of irradiation, and temperature and abruptly faults in output loads, and, subsequently, new compensators were proposed. In several examinations under difficult operation conditions, such as random temperature, variable irradiation, and abrupt changes in output load, the capability of the schemed controller was verified. In addition, in comparison with other methods, such as proportional-derivative-integral (PID), sliding mode controller (SMC), passivity-based control systems (PBC), and linear quadratic regulator (LQR), the superiority of the suggested method was demonstrated.
Research on Singing Voice Detection Based on a Long-Term Recurrent Convolutional Network with Vocal Separation and Temporal Smoothing
Authors: Zhang Xulong , Yu Yi , Gao Yongwei , Chen Xi , Li Wei
Published: September 2020

Singing voice detection or vocal detection is a classification task that determines whether a given audio segment contains singing voices. This task plays a very important role in vocal-related music information retrieval tasks, such as singer identification. Although humans can easily distinguish between singing and nonsinging parts, it is still very difficult for machines to do so. Most existing methods focus on audio feature engineering with classifiers, which rely on the experience of the algorithm designer. In recent years, deep learning has been widely used in computer hearing. To extract essential features that reflect the audio content and characterize the vocal context in the time domain, this study adopted a long-term recurrent convolutional network (LRCN) to realize vocal detection. The convolutional layer in LRCN functions in feature extraction, and the long short-term memory (LSTM) layer can learn the time sequence relationship. The preprocessing of singing voices and accompaniment separation and the postprocessing of time-domain smoothing were combined to form a complete system. Experiments on five public datasets investigated the impacts of the different features for the fusion, frame size, and block size on LRCN temporal relationship learning, and the effects of preprocessing and postprocessing on performance, and the results confirm that the proposed singing voice detection algorithm reached the state-of-the-art level on public datasets.