bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Gender Imbalance and Spatiotemporal Patterns of Contributions to Citizen Science Projects: The Case of Zooniverse
Authors: Ibrahim Khairunnisa , Khodursky Samuel , Yasseri Taha
Published: June 2021

Citizen Science is research undertaken by professional scientists and members of the public collaboratively. Despite numerous benefits of citizen science for both the advancement of science and the community of the citizen scientists, there is still no comprehensive knowledge of patterns of contributions, and the demography of contributors to citizen science projects. In this paper we provide a first overview of spatiotemporal and gender distribution of citizen science workforce by analyzing 54 million classifications contributed by more than 340 thousand citizen science volunteers from 198 countries to one of the largest online citizen science platforms, Zooniverse. First we report on the uneven geographical distribution of the citizen scientist and model the variations among countries based on the socio-economic conditions as well as the level of research investment in each country. Analyzing the temporal features of contributions, we report on high “burstiness” of participation instances as well as the leisurely nature of participation suggested by the time of the day that the citizen scientists were the most active. Finally, we discuss the gender imbalance among online citizen scientists (about 30% female) and compare it with other collaborative projects as well as the gender distribution in more formal scientific activities. Online citizen science projects need further attention from outside of the academic community, and our findings can help attract the attention of public and private stakeholders, as well as to inform the design of the platforms and science policy making processes.
The Research on Organizational Justice in Scopus Indexed Journals: A Bibliometric Analysis of Seven Decades
Authors: Sheeraz Muhammad Irfan , Ungku Ahmad Ungku Norulkamar , Ishaq Muhammad Ishtiaq , Sarfraz Muhammad , Md. Nor Khalil
Published: June 2021

The organizational justice terminology has had a long journey to become one of the significant contributors to organizational success. Recently, an intense global upsurge in the use of organizational justice terms in publications has forced us for this bibliometric analysis in order to look at the overall publications on organizational justice. The objective of the current research is to advance knowledge about organizational justice research trends using Scopus database and bibliometric analysis research. The analysis was performed to see the publication trends between the years 1941 and 2018; it used authors, journals, countries, academic discipline, research institutes/universities, and various keywords related to organizational justice as search words. After careful consideration and using multiple checkpoints for eliminating irrelevant studies, 5,650 research articles were analyzed. In the realm of organizational justice, procedural justice was the most frequently occurred among other dimensions. Moreover, variables such as organizational trust, job satisfaction, organizational commitment, citizenship behavior, ethics, and turnover are major concepts that occurred within organizational justice research. Some variables with infrequent occurrences, along with future recommendations and study limitations, are also discussed.
Lexical and Grammatical Aspect in On-line Processing of English Past Tense and Progressive Aspect by Mandarin Speakers
Authors: Zeng Xiaoyan , Chen Xiaoxiang , Shirai Yasuhiro
Published: June 2021

Previous studies have shown that the grammatical aspect of verb predicates has an effect on tense-aspect sentence processing. However, it remains unclear as to whether the interaction of lexical aspect and grammatical aspect can influence the form-meaning association in the second language (L2) tense-aspect sentence processing, especially for the learners whose native language is grammatically marked differently from their L2. This study conducts a psycholinguistic investigation to highlight how the prototypical and non-prototypical associations predicted in the Aspect Hypothesis and L2 proficiency level influence the processing of English past tense and progressive morphology by Mandarin Chinese learners at two proficiency levels and native English speakers. The results show that the prototypical associations of English tense-aspect categories predicted in the Aspect Hypothesis, such as achievement verbs with past tense and activity verbs with the progressive aspect, can engender shorter reading time than non-prototypical associations for both native speakers and second language learners. There is no significant difference between native speakers and Chinese learners of English in their processing of prototypical items, while significant differences exist in the processing of non-prototypical items. The L2 proficiency level does not have an effect on the processing of prototypes but on the processing of non-prototypes in the L2 tense-aspect marking. This study extends previous research, showing the interaction effect of lexical aspect and grammatical aspect in the form-meaning association in L2 tense-aspect sentence processing.
Mechanisms for Interpretative Cooperation: Fan Theories in Virtual Communities
Authors: Amo José Manuel de , García-Roca Anastasio
Published: June 2021

This work focuses on analyzing fan theories as interpretive processes shared by users of virtual reading communities. Within these spaces of participatory culture, a complex strategy of interactions among its members is encouraged to formulate conjectures about the text's intentions and negotiate its degree of relevance. We have based our research on a methodology linked to the ethnography of reading. From a representative sample of the narrative universes of A Song of Ice and Fire and Harry Potter, the different modes of agreed collaborative textual interpretation are explored. The data show that within these communities of practice, three reading models are developed: predictive theories in which future narrative contents are inferred; explanatory theories in which narrative arcs are endowed and charged with meaning through the analysis of canon and, finally, alternative theories with a highly creative component in which the interpretative limits of the text are explored. Within these virtual communities, hermeneutical proposals are characterized by the activation of complex, heavily referenced literary argumentation to maintain semiosis active and expand the horizon of expectations of its members.
A Quantitative Estimate of the Expected Shortening of the Median Isolation Period of Patients With COVID-19 After the Adoption of a Symptom-Based Strategy
Authors: Bai Francesca , Tavelli Alessandro , Mulè Giovanni , Falcinella Camilla , Mondatore Debora , Tesoro Daniele , Barbanotti Diletta , Tomasoni Daniele , Castoldi Roberto , Augello Matteo , Allegrini Marina , Tagliaferri Gianmarco , Cona Andrea , Cozzi-Lepri Alessandro , Marchetti Giulia , d'Arminio Monforte Antonella
Published: June 2021

A long period of isolation was observed in patients hospitalized for COVID-19 in Milan over March-September 2020 (45; IQR: 37–54 days). A significantly shorter period would have been observed by the application of May-WHO (22, IQR: 17–30 days, P < 0.001) and October-Italian (26, IQR: 21–34 days, P < 0.001) Guidelines. The adoption of the new symptom-based criteria is likely to lead to a significant reduction in the length of the isolation period with potential social, economic and psychological benefits, particularly in the younger population with mild/moderate disease and no comorbidities. In our opinion, the release from isolation after 21 days from symptoms onset, even without a PCR diagnostic test, in most cases seems the most adequate strategy that could balance precautions to prevent SARS CoV-2 transmission and unnecessary prolonged isolation or overuse of diagnostic testing.
Data Processing Thresholds for Abundance and Sparsity and Missed Biological Insights in an Untargeted Chemical Analysis of Blood Specimens for Exposomics
Authors: Barupal Dinesh Kumar , Baygi Sadjad Fakouri , Wright Robert O. , Arora Manish
Published: June 2021

Background: An untargeted chemical analysis of bio-fluids provides semi-quantitative data for thousands of chemicals for expanding our understanding about relationships among metabolic pathways, diseases, phenotypes and exposures. During the processing of mass spectral and chromatography data, various signal thresholds are used to control the number of peaks in the final data matrix that is used for statistical analyses. However, commonly used stringent thresholds generate constrained data matrices which may under-represent the detected chemical space, leading to missed biological insights in the exposome research.

Methods: We have re-analyzed a liquid chromatography high resolution mass spectrometry data set for a publicly available epidemiology study (n = 499) of human cord blood samples using the MS-DIAL software with minimally possible thresholds during the data processing steps. Peak list for individual files and the data matrix after alignment and gap-filling steps were summarized for different peak height and detection frequency thresholds. Correlations between birth weight and LC/MS peaks in the newly generated data matrix were computed using the spearman correlation coefficient.

Results: MS-DIAL software detected on average 23,156 peaks for individual LC/MS file and 63,393 peaks in the aligned peak table. A combination of peak height and detection frequency thresholds that was used in the original publication at the individual file and the peak alignment levels can reject 90% peaks from the untargeted chemical analysis dataset that was generated by MS-DIAL. Correlation analysis for birth weight data suggested that up to 80% of the significantly associated peaks were rejected by the data processing thresholds that were used in the original publication. The re-analysis with minimum possible thresholds recovered metabolic insights about C19 steroids and hydroxy-acyl-carnitines and their relationships with birth weight.

Conclusions: Data processing thresholds for peak height and detection frequencies at individual data file and at the alignment level should be used at minimal possible level or completely avoided for mining untargeted chemical analysis data in the exposome research for discovering new biomarkers and mechanisms.
Can Health Human Capital Help the Sub-Saharan Africa Out of the Poverty Trap? An ARDL Model Approach
Authors: Wang Qiu-Su , Hua Yu-Fei , Tao Ran , Moldovan Nicoleta-Claudia
Published: June 2021

This article explores the impact of health human capital on the poverty trap in Sub-Saharan Africa by autoregressive distribution lag model. In the long run, there is no evidence that health human capital can help the Sahara out of the poverty trap. While health human capital has a significant effect on poverty reduction in the short term. There is a threshold effect in the poverty reduction model of healthy human capital. When the economic development level reaches the threshold, the effect of poverty reduction is more obvious and deeper. The extended Solow economic growth model also proved that if the external human capital breaks through the threshold, it can make developing countries get rid of the poverty trap. Therefore, the economic development brought about by health care expenditure must benefit the poor in Sub-Saharan Africa and allow them to enjoy the welfare of social security.
Using Computers to Discover Materials That Generate Non-polluting Fuels
Authors: Biswas Santu , Caspary Toroker Maytal
Published: June 2021

Non-polluting fuels, such as hydrogen, are widely considered to be a promising way to decrease the environmental problems caused by the burning of fossil fuels. Finding materials that can help us to generate these “clean” fuels is a difficult and time-consuming process. Computer simulation technology is the most important tool in this area, because it helps scientists to understand existing materials and can also help them to design new types of materials. In this article, we explain how certain materials can help us to produce hydrogen, a clean fuel, from water, and we also describe how computer simulation technology can offer a route for the discovery of new efficient materials.
Power Output and Efficiency During Supine, Recumbent, and Upright Cycle Ergometry
Authors: Wehrle Anja , Waibel Sarah , Gollhofer Albert , Roecker Kai
Published: June 2021

Recumbent and supine cycling are common exercise modes in rehabilitation and clinical settings but the influence of postures on work efficiency is unclear. Therefore, the aim of this study was to compare metabolic and ventilatory efficiency during upright, recumbent, and supine postures. Potential differences should be assessed for suitable diagnostics and for prescriptions of training that probably is performed in alternative postures. Eighteen healthy subjects (age: 47.2 ± 18.4 years; 10 female, 8 male) participated in the study and each completed three incremental cycle ergometer tests until exhaustion in upright, recumbent (40°), and supine positions. Gas exchange, heart rate (HR), and lactate concentrations were analyzed and efficiency was calculated subsequently. Testing sessions were performed in random order within a 2-week period. Upright cycling resulted in significantly higher peak values [power output, oxygen uptake (Vo2), HR] as well as performance at lactate and ventilatory thresholds in comparison to recumbent or supine positions. Vco2/Vo2 slope and ventilatory efficiency (VE/Vco2 slope) were not affected by posture. Aerobic work efficiency (Vo2/P slope) and gross efficiency (GE) differed significantly between postures. Hereby, GE was lowest in supine cycling, particularly obvious in a mainly aerobic condition at 70 Watt [Median 11.6 (IQR 10.9–13.3) vs. recumbent: 15.9 (IQR 15.6–18.3) and upright: 17.4 (IQR 15.1–18.3)]. Peak power as well as GE and work efficiency values are influenced by cycling position, reinforcing the importance of adjusting test results for training prescriptions. Surprisingly, ventilatory efficiency was not affected in this study and therefore does not seem to falsify test results for pulmonary diagnostics.
Valorization of Seafood Processing Discards: Bioconversion and Bio-Refinery Approaches
Authors: Venugopal V.
Published: June 2021

The seafood industry generates large volumes of waste. These include processing discards consisting of shell, head, bones intestine, fin, skin, voluminous amounts of wastewater discharged as effluents, and low-value under-utilized fish, which are caught as by-catch of commercial fishing operations. The discards, effluents, and by-catch are rich in nutrients including proteins, amino acids, lipids containing good proportions of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), carotenoids, and minerals. The seafood waste is, therefore, responsible for loss of nutrients and serious environmental hazards. It is important that the waste is subjected to secondary processing and valorization to address the problems. Although chemical processes are available for waste treatment, most of these processes have inherent weaknesses. Biological treatments, however, are environmentally friendly, safe, and cost-effective. Biological treatments are based on bioconversion processes, which help with the recovery of valuable ingredients from by-catch, processing discards, and effluents, without losing their inherent bioactivities. Major bioconversion processes make use of microbial fermentations or actions of exogenously added enzymes on the waste components. Recent developments in algal biotechnology offer novel processes for biotransformation of nutrients as single cell proteins, which can be used as feedstock for the recovery of valuable ingredients and also biofuel. Bioconversion options in conjunction with a bio-refinery approach have potential for eco-friendly and economical management of seafood waste that can support sustainable seafood production.
Influence of Pyrexia on Pharmacokinetics of Azithromycin and Its Interaction With Tolfenamic Acid in Goats
Authors: Mechery Sini , Narayanan Nair Suresh , Divya Thirumangalath Meethal , Promod Kanjirakuzhiyil , Paramba Sakkariya Ibrahim Nalukudy , Ravindran Reghu , Juliet Sanis
Published: June 2021

Azithromycin is a macrolide antimicrobial agent of the azalide group with a broad spectrum of activity against gram-negative and gram-positive bacterial organisms. Tolfenamic acid is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug of the fenamate group, which is used extensively in humans and animals due to its anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and antipyretic properties. There is dearth of literature on any type of drug interaction between azithromycin and tolfenamic acid in any species, including human beings and alteration of its pharmacokinetics by fever. Therefore, the objective of this study was to investigate the alteration of disposition kinetics of azithromycin alone and in the presence of tolfenamic acid in Malabari goats by fever, following an intravenous administration at a dose rate of 20 mg/kg body weight. Blood samples collected from both afebrile and febrile goats at predetermined time intervals after the administration of azithromycin alone and then in combination with tolfenamic acid (2 mg/kg, intravenously), respectively, were analyzed using high-performance liquid chromatography. Non-compartmental analysis was used to determine the peak blood concentration (Cmax), time-to-peak plasma concentration (Tmax), half-life (t1/2λz), area under the curve (AUC0−t, AUC0−inf), area under the first moment curve (AUMC0−inf), mean residence time (MRT0−inf), apparent volume of distribution at steady state (Vss), and the total body clearance of drug from the blood (Cl). In febrile animals, significant differences were noted in the values ofCmax, Cl, andVss. Thus, azithromycin disappears into an additional compartment in febrile goats, which may be due to its extended cellular penetration into the inflammatory cells, resulting in anti-inflammatory activity. Tolfenamic acid significantly altered the pharmacokinetics of azithromycin in both normal and febrile animals. Tolfenamic acid, being a better anti-inflammatory agent, suppresses the inflammatory mediators, reducing the possibility of increased utilization of azithromycin in febrile condition.
Sustainable Crop Production Protects the Quality of Soil and Plant Raw Materials
Authors: Szczepanek Małgorzata , Piotrowska-Długosz Anna , Konopka Iwona
Published: June 2021

Sustainable agriculture is defined in a broad context and includes environmental, economic, and social issues [...]
Identifying Controlling Factors of Bioaccumulation of Selected Metal(loid)s in Various Soil–Cereal Crop Systems within Cultivated Fluvisols
Authors: Skála Jan , Vácha Radim , Čechmánková Jarmila
Published: June 2021

The paired Fluvisol and cereal samples in both the field screening and controlled experiments are reported to elucidate the soil–crop relationship for As, Cd, and Pb in relation to changing contamination levels. Significant varietal differences in plant uptake were observed for crop type (barley, triticale) and the harvested part of the crop (oat shoots and grain). When parametrizing the stepwise regression models, the inclusion of soil properties often improved the performance of soil–crop models but diverse critical soil parameters were retained in the model for individual metal(loid)s. The pH value was often a statistically significant variable for Cd uptake. For As and Pb, the more successful model fit was achieved using the indicators of quantity or quality of soil organic matter, but always with lower inherent model reliability compared to Cd. Further, a single correlation analysis was used to investigate the relationship between extractable metal concentrations in soil solution and their crop accumulation. For Cd, there were strong intercorrelations among single extractions, the NH4NO3 extraction stood out with perfect correlation with plant uptake in both experiments. For As and Pb, the CaCl2 and Na2EDTA solutions outperformed other single extractions and were the better choice for the assessment of depositional fluvial substrates.
Effect of the Carbon Source and Plant Growth Regulators (PGRs) in the Induction and Maintenance of an In Vitro Callus Culture of Taraxacum officinale (L) Weber Ex F.H. Wigg
Authors: Martinez María Eugenia , Jorquera Lorena , Poirrier Paola , Díaz Katy , Chamy Rolando
Published: June 2021

Taraxacum officinale (L.) Weber ex F.H. Wigg, commonly known as dandelion, is a cosmopolitan and perennial weed, which has medicinal properties. In vitro propagation methods are widely used on plants that have difficulties in cultivation and, consequently, low extraction yields of active metabolites. Thus, callus culture has been considered to be useful for the accumulation of several metabolites. In this study, we aimed to establish an efficient protocol for callus induction and maintenance of T. officinale, for which explant type, carbon source, light conditions, and nine different combinations of plant growth regulators (PGRs), such as 1-naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA) (from 0.05 to 0.5 mg/L) and 6-benzylaminopurine acid (BAP) (from 0.5 to 3.0 mg/L), were evaluated. The results showed that hypocotyls and roots from sterile seedlings are the best sources for callus induction, with 100% of callogenesis at every condition tested, and more than 95% of viability and friability. Complete darkness and a medium supplemented with sucrose at 2.3% (w/v) and 0.5 mg/L of NAA and 0.5 mg/L of BAP were the best conditions for callus induction, showing callus with low organogenesis and high friability. This study provides a basis for future studies on improving large-scale callus propagation and further establishment of suspension culture systems for commercial purposes.
The Effect of Compost and Fly Ash Treatment of Contaminated Soil on the Immobilisation and Bioavailability of Lead
Authors: Jakubus Monika , Graczyk Małgorzata
Published: June 2021

The study discusses changes in lead contents in soil and crops after application of compost and fly ash. A three-year experiment was conducted on narrow-leaved lupine (Lupinus angustifolius L.), camelina (Camelina sativa L.) and oat (Avena sativa L.), which were grown on medium soil fertilised with compost or fly ash (FA). The lead amounts in various combinations were evaluated using sequential (BCR analysis) and single (DTPA solution) methods. The total contents of lead and amounts of selected macronutrients were assessed in the biomass of plants. The Pb contents in the soil and plants were used to calculate the risk assessment code (RAC), individual contamination factor (ICF), bioconcentration factor (BCF) and contamination coefficient level (CCL). Lower amounts of bioavailable Pb in the soil were observed as a result of compost and FA application. Fly ash immobilised Pb more effectively, as evidenced by the BCF and CCL values. The increase in the Pb contents in the sequentially separated fractions and in plant biomass were caused by applied compost or FA. The Pb contents in exchangeable forms decreased, whereas its contents in residual forms increased.
Structures of HIV-1 Neutralizing Antibody 10E8 Delineate the Mechanistic Basis of Its Multi-Peak Behavior on Size-Exclusion Chromatography
Authors: Do Kwon Young , Wang Xiangchun E. , Bender Michael F. , Yang Rong , Li Yile , McKee Krisha , Rawi Reda , O’Dell Sijy , Schneck Nicole A. , Shaddeau Andrew , Zhang Baoshan , Arnold Frank J. , Connors Mark , Doria-Rose Nicole A. , Kwong Peter D. , Lei Q. Paula
Published: June 2021

Antibody 10E8 is capable of effectively neutralizing HIV through its recognition of the membrane-proximal external region (MPER), and a suitably optimized version of 10E8 might have utility in HIV therapy and prophylaxis. However, 10E8 displays a three-peak profile on size-exclusion chromatography (SEC), complicating its manufacture. Here we show cis-trans conformational isomerization of the Tyr-Pro-Pro (YPP) motif in the heavy chain 3rd complementarity-determining region (CDR H3) of antibody 10E8 to be the mechanistic basis of its multipeak behavior. We observed 10E8 to undergo slow conformational isomerization and delineate a mechanistic explanation for effective comodifiers that were able to resolve its SEC heterogeneity and to allow an evaluation of the critical quality attribute of aggregation. We determined crystal structures of single and double alanine mutants of a key di-proline motif and of a light chain variant, revealing alternative conformations of the CDR H3. We also replicated both multi-peak and delayed SEC behavior with MPER-antibodies 4E10 and VRC42, by introducing a Tyr-Pro (YP) motif into their CDR H3s. Our results show how a conformationally dynamic CDR H3 can provide the requisite structural plasticity needed for a highly hydrophobic paratope to recognize its membrane-proximal epitope.
Antiprotozoal Nor-Triterpene Alkaloids from Buxus sempervirens L.
Authors: Szabó Lara U. , Kaiser Marcel , Mäser Pascal , Schmidt Thomas J.
Published: June 2021

Malaria and human African trypanosomiasis (HAT; sleeping sickness) are life-threatening tropical diseases caused by protozoan parasites. Due to limited therapeutic options, there is a compelling need for new antiprotozoal agents. In a previous study, O-tigloylcyclovirobuxeine-B was recovered from a B. sempervirens L. (common box; Buxaceae) leaf extract by bioactivity-guided isolation. This nor-cycloartane alkaloid was identified as possessing strong and selective in vitro activity against the causative agent of malaria tropica, Plasmodium falciparum (Pf). The purpose of this study is the isolation of additional alkaloids from B. sempervirens L. to search for further related compounds with strong antiprotozoal activity. In conclusion, 25 alkaloids were obtained from B. sempervirens L., including eight new natural products and one compound first described for this plant. The structure elucidation was accomplished by UHPLC/+ESI-QqTOF-MS/MS and NMR spectroscopy. The isolated alkaloids were tested against Pf and Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense (Tbr), the causative agent of East African sleeping sickness. To assess their selectivity, cytotoxicity against mammalian cells (L6 cell line) was tested as well. Several of the compounds displayed promising in vitro activity against the pathogens in a sub-micromolar range with concurrent high selectivity indices (SI). Consequently, various alkaloids from B. sempervirens L. have the potential to serve as a novel antiprotozoal lead structure.
Extraction of Phenolic Compounds and Terpenes from Cannabis sativa L. By-Products: From Conventional to Intensified Processes
Authors: Isidore Emilie , Karim Hamza , Ioannou Irina
Published: June 2021

Cannabis sativa L. is a controversial crop due to its high tetrahydrocannabinol content varieties; however, the hemp varieties get an increased interest. This paper describes (i) the main categories of phenolic compounds (flavonoids, stilbenoids and lignans) and terpenes (monoterpenes and sesquiterpenes) from C. sativa by-products and their biological activities and (ii) the main extraction techniques for their recovery. It includes not only common techniques such as conventional solvent extraction, and hydrodistillation, but also intensification and emerging techniques such as ultrasound-assisted extraction or supercritical CO2 extraction. The effect of the operating conditions on the yield and composition of these categories of phenolic compounds and terpenes was discussed. A thorough investigation of innovative extraction techniques is indeed crucial for the extraction of phenolic compounds and terpenes from cannabis toward a sustainable industrial valorization of the whole plant.
Optimal Reactive Power Generation for Transmission Power Systems Considering Discrete Values of Capacitors and Tap Changers
Authors: Kien Le Chi , Hien Chiem Trong , Nguyen Thang Trung
Published: June 2021

In this paper, an improved coyote optimization algorithm (ICOA) is developed for determining control parameters of transmission power networks to deal with an optimal reactive power dispatch (ORPD) problem. The performance of ICOA method is superior to its conventional coyote optimization algorithm (COA) thanks to modifications of two new solution generations of COA. COA uses a center solution to generate an update step size in the first solution generation and produced one new solution by using random factors to diversify the search space in the second solution generation. By tackling the drawbacks of COA, ICOA can reduce control parameters and computation steps, shorten execution time, and provide better results. ICOA is compared to its conventional COA for three standard IEEE systems of 30-, 57-, and 118-buses with continuous and discrete control variables. Moreover, three other algorithms such as water cycle algorithm (WCA), salp swarm algorithm (SSA), and sunflower optimization algorithm (SFOA) have been also implemented for further investigation of the real performance of the proposed method. All the applied methods are metaheuristic algorithms based on population and randomization. The result comparison from the test systems has indicated that ICOA can provide higher solution quality than other methods with reasonable execution time. Therefore, ICOA is a reliable tool for finding optimal solutions of the ORPD problem.
PDANet: Self-Supervised Monocular Depth Estimation Using Perceptual and Data Augmentation Consistency
Authors: Gao Huachen , Liu Xiaoyu , Qu Meixia , Huang Shijie
Published: June 2021

In recent studies, self-supervised learning methods have been explored for monocular depth estimation. They minimize the reconstruction loss of images instead of depth information as a supervised signal. However, existing methods usually assume that the corresponding points in different views should have the same color, which leads to unreliable unsupervised signals and ultimately damages the reconstruction loss during the training. Meanwhile, in the low texture region, it is unable to predict the disparity value of pixels correctly because of the small number of extracted features. To solve the above issues, we propose a network—PDANet—that integrates perceptual consistency and data augmentation consistency, which are more reliable unsupervised signals, into a regular unsupervised depth estimation model. Specifically, we apply a reliable data augmentation mechanism to minimize the loss of the disparity map generated by the original image and the augmented image, respectively, which will enhance the robustness of the image in the prediction of color fluctuation. At the same time, we aggregate the features of different layers extracted by a pre-trained VGG16 network to explore the higher-level perceptual differences between the input image and the generated one. Ablation studies demonstrate the effectiveness of each components, and PDANet shows high-quality depth estimation results on the KITTI benchmark, which optimizes the state-of-the-art method from 0.114 to 0.084, measured by absolute relative error for depth estimation.
Statistical Reliability Assessment for Small Sample of Failure Data of Dumper Diesel Engines Based on Power Law Process and Maximum Likelihood Estimation
Authors: Dinkar Brajeshkumar Kishorilal , Mukhopadhyay Alok Kumar , Chattopadhyaya Somnath , Sharma Shubham , Alam Firoz , Machado José
Published: June 2021

Dumpers or dump trucks are used all over the world to move overburden from many opencast mines. Diesel engines are the main driving force behind the trucks. The frequency of damage due to the failure of diesel engines is enormous. Therefore, efforts are necessary to analyze failure to reduce the downtime periods. A detailed analysis of engine failure at the subsystem level needs to be done. Reliability analysis and maintenance planning remain the norm in this regard. The obstacle faced while analysing the reliability of dumpers was the availability of a large number of data failures. In this paper, this issue is addressed by using Common Beta Hypothesis test and Meta-analysis test. The engine is divided into five subsystems. The result shows that all five subsystems pass the CBH test and Meta-analysis test. Accordingly, the failure data is grouped. The trend test of grouped failure data shows that the Failure data of two subsystems follows the independent and identically distributed characteristics while the remaining three do not follow it. The reliability is estimated for all five subsystems. Finally, fuel supply subsystems show the highest reliability while the lowest value is seen for self-starting subsystems.
Source Type Classification and Localization of Inter-Floor Noise with a Single Sensor and Knowledge Transfer between Reinforced Concrete Buildings
Authors: Choi Hwiyong , Seong Woojae , Yang Haesang
Published: June 2021

A convolutional neural network (CNN)-based inter-floor noise source type classifier and locator with input from a single microphone was proposed in [Appl. Sci. 9, 3735 (2019)] and validated in a campus building experiment. In this study, the following extensions are presented: (1) data collections of nearly 4700 inter-floor noise events that contain the same noise types as those in the previous work at source positions on the floors above/below in two actual apartment buildings with spatial diversity, (2) the CNN-based method for source type classification and localization of inter-floor noise samples in apartment buildings, (3) the limitations of the method as verified through several tasks considering actual application scenarios, and (4) source type and localization knowledge transfer between the two apartment buildings. These results reveal the generalizability of the CNN-based method to inter-floor noise classification and the feasibility of classification knowledge transfer between residential buildings. The use of a short and early part of event signal is shown as an important factor for localization knowledge transfer.
The Impact of Solid Fuel Residential Boilers Exchange on Particulate Matter Air Pollution
Authors: Koval Silvie , Vytisk Jiri , Ruzickova Jana , Raclavska Helena , Skrobankova Hana , Hellebrandova Lucie
Published: June 2021

Combustion processes, including the use of solid fuels for residential heating, are a widespread custom for many households. Residential heating is a significant source of ambient air pollution, yet it varies greatly by geography, meteorologic conditions, the prevalence of the type of solid fuel and the technologies used. This study evaluates whether residential heating affects the air quality through modelling three given scenarios of solid fuel boiler exchange at selected locations and comparing the results with measured data. The findings of this study suggest that according to the modelled data, the main air pollution contributor is residential heating since Dolni Lhota (daily average of PM10 = 44.13 μg·m−3) and Kravare (daily average of PM10 = 43.98 μg·m−3) are locations with no industry in contrast to heavily industrial Vratimov (daily average of PM10 = 34.38 μg·m−3), which were modelled for the heating season situation. Nevertheless, actual measurements of PM10 during the same period suggest that the average levels of air pollution were significantly higher than the modelled values for Dolni Lhota by 64% and for Kravare by 51%. Thus, it was assumed that PM long-range or/and transboundary transports were involved.
Land Suitability Mapping Using Geochemical and Spatial Analysis Methods
Authors: Alexakis Dimitrios E. , Bathrellos George D. , Skilodimou Hariklia D. , Gamvroula Dimitra E.
Published: June 2021

Assessing the suitability of urban and agricultural land is essential for planning sustainable urban and agricultural systems. The main objective of this study is to evaluate the suitability of land in Ioannina plain (western Greece) concerning the soil contents of two potentially toxic elements, cadmium (Cd) and cobalt (Co). Geochemical and spatial analysis methods were applied to assess the distribution of Cd and Co in the soil of the Ioannina plain and identify their origin. The primary anthropogenic sources of Cd and Co in the topsoil of the study area can be attributed to traffic emissions, aircraft operations, vehicle crushing and dismantling activities. Element content is compared to international guidelines and screening values. Cadmium and Co concentration in the soil of the study area is well above the European topsoil mean. Thus, the urban and agricultural lands cover the vast majority (92%) of the total area. Cadmium concentration in soil of the study area with a mean (mg kg−1) 1.7 and 2.0 was observed in agricultural and urban land use, respectively. Cobalt content in soil of the area studied with a mean (mg kg−1) 30.8 and 37.1 was recorded in agricultural and urban land use, respectively. Land evaluation suitability by adopting criteria provided from the international literature is discussed.
Vector Fields and Differential Forms on the Orbit Space of a Proper Action
Authors: Bates Larry , Cushman Richard , Śniatycki Jędrzej
Published: June 2021

In this paper, we study differential forms and vector fields on the orbit space of a proper action of a Lie group on a smooth manifold, defining them as multilinear maps on the generators of infinitesimal diffeomorphisms, respectively. This yields an intrinsic view of vector fields and differential forms on the orbit space.
Post-Event Application of Neurotropin Protects against Ischemic Insult toward Better Outcomes in a Murine Model of Subarachnoid Hemorrhage
Authors: Mutoh Tatsushi , Yamamoto Shuzo , Moriya Takahiro
Published: June 2021

Early brain injury (EBI) is closely linked to the development of delayed cerebral ischemia and poor outcomes after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). This study aimed to evaluate the neuroprotective effect of neurotropin on EBI in a murine model of SAH. Twenty-four C57BL/6N mice were treated with intraperitoneal injections of either saline or 2.4 units of neurotropin at 1 h after SAH induction and for 3 days consecutively. SAH was created by an endovascular perforation method. In addition to the assessment of cerebral infarction and survival rate, motor and neurocognitive functions were also measured after SAH. Compared to the saline control group, the neurotropin group showed better recovery from locomotive and neurological declines after SAH. The neurotropin group also showed lower rates of post-SAH acute cerebral infarction and better memory and route-learning scores (p < 0.05). Meanwhile, there was no significant between-group differences in the overall mortality, hemodynamic parameters, or body weights. In conclusion, post-event treatment with neurotropin could be protective against EBI, lowering the incidence of ischemia and improving some motor and neurocognitive functions after SAH.
Quantum Chemical Studies and Electrochemical Investigations of Polymerized Brilliant Blue-Modified Carbon Paste Electrode for In Vitro Sensing of Pharmaceutical Samples
Authors: Ganesh Pattan-Siddappa , Kim Sang-Youn , Kaya Savas , Salim Rajae , Shimoga Ganesh , Lee Seok-Han
Published: June 2021

To develop an electrochemical sensor for electroactive molecules, the choice and prediction of redox reactive sites of the modifier play a critical role in establishing the sensing mediating mechanism. Therefore, to understand the mediating mechanism of the modifier, we used advanced density functional theory (DFT)-based quantum chemical modeling. A carbon paste electrode (CPE) was modified with electropolymerization of brilliant blue, later employed for the detection of paracetamol (PA) and folic acid (FA). PA is an analgesic, anti-inflammatory and antipyretic prescription commonly used in medical fields, and overdose or prolonged use may harm the liver and kidney. The deficiency of FA associated with neural tube defects (NTDs) and therefore the quantification of FA are very essential to prevent the problems associated with congenital deformities of the spinal column, skull and brain of the fetus in pregnant women. Hence, an electrochemical sensor based on a polymerized brilliant blue-modified carbon paste working electrode (BRB/CPE) was fabricated for the quantification of PA and FA in physiological pH. The real analytical applicability of the proposed sensor was judged by employing it in analysis of a pharmaceutical sample, and good recovery results were obtained. The potential excipients do not have a significant contribution to the electro-oxidation of PA at BRB/CPE, which makes it a promising electrochemical sensing platform. The real analytical applicability of the proposed method is valid for pharmaceutical analysis in the presence of possible excipients. The prediction of redox reactive sites of the modifier by advanced quantum chemical modeling-based DFT may lay a new foundation for researchers to establish the modifier–analyte interaction mechanisms.
Aerosolized Surfactant for Preterm Infants with Respiratory Distress Syndrome
Authors: Brasher Mandy , Raffay Thomas M. , Cunningham M. Douglas , Abu Jawdeh Elie G.
Published: June 2021

Currently, the administration of surfactant to preterm infants with respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) mainly relies on intratracheal instillation; however, there is increasing evidence of aerosolized surfactant being an effective non-invasive strategy. We present a historical narrative spanning sixty years of development of aerosolization systems. We also offer an overview of the pertinent mechanisms needed to create and manage the ideal aerosolization system, with a focus on delivery, distribution, deposition, and dispersion in the context of the human lung. More studies are needed to optimize treatment with aerosolized surfactants, including determination of ideal dosages, nebulizer types, non-invasive interfaces, and breath synchronization. However, the field is rapidly evolving, and widespread clinical use may be achieved in the near future.
RFID Applications and Security Review
Authors: Munoz-Ausecha Cesar , Ruiz-Rosero Juan , Ramirez-Gonzalez Gustavo
Published: June 2021

Radio frequency identification (RFID) is widely used in several contexts, such as logistics, supply chains, asset tracking, and health, among others, therefore drawing the attention of many researchers. This paper presents a review of the most cited topics regarding RFID focused on applications, security, and privacy. A total of 62,685 records were downloaded from the Web of Science (WoS) and Scopus core databases and processed, reconciling the datasets to remove duplicates, resulting in 40,677 unique elements. Fundamental indicators were extracted and are presented, such as the citation number, average growth rate, and average number of documents per year. We extracted the top topics and reviewed the relevant indicators using a free Python tool, ScientoPy. The results are discussed in the following sections: the first is the Applications Section, whose subsections are the Internet of Things (IoT), Supply Chain Management, Localization, Traceability, Logistics, Ubiquitous Computing, Healthcare, and Access Control; the second is the Security and Privacy section, whose subsections are Authentication, Privacy, and Ownership Transfer; finally, we present the Discussion section. This paper intends to provide the reader with a global view of the current status of trending RFID topics and present different analyses from different perspectives depending on motivations or background.
LMI-Based Results on Robust Exponential Passivity of Uncertain Neutral-Type Neural Networks with Mixed Interval Time-Varying Delays via the Reciprocally Convex Combination Technique
Authors: Samorn Nayika , Yotha Narongsak , Srisilp Pantiwa , Mukdasai Kanit
Published: June 2021

The issue of the robust exponential passivity analysis for uncertain neutral-type neural networks with mixed interval time-varying delays is discussed in this work. For our purpose, the lower bounds of the delays are allowed to be either positive or zero adopting the combination of the model transformation, various inequalities, the reciprocally convex combination, and suitable Lyapunov–Krasovskii functional. A new robust exponential passivity criterion is received and formulated in the form of linear matrix inequalities (LMIs). Moreover, a new exponential passivity criterion is also examined for systems without uncertainty. Four numerical examples indicate our potential results exceed the previous results.
Sustainable Sources from Aquatic Organisms for Cosmeceuticals Ingredients
Authors: Sotelo Carmen G. , Blanco María , Ramos Patricia , Vázquez José A. , Perez-Martin Ricardo I.
Published: June 2021

Long life expectancy of populations in the developing world together with some cultural and social issues has driven the need to pay special attention to health and physical appearance. Cosmeceuticals are gaining interest in the cosmetic industry as their uses fulfills a double purpose: the requirements of a cosmetic (clean, perfume, protect, change the appearance of the external parts of the body or keeping them in good condition) with a particular bioactivity function. The cosmetics industry, producing both cosmetics and cosmeceuticals, is currently facing numerous challenges to satisfy different attitudes of consumers (vegetarianism, veganism, cultural or religious concerns, health or safety reasons, eco-friendly process, etc.). A currently growing trend in the market is the interest in products of low environmental impact. Marine origin ingredients are increasingly being incorporated into cosmeceutical preparations because they are able to address several consumer requirements and also due to the wide range of bioactivities they present (antioxidant, whitening, anti-aging, etc.). Many companies claim “Marine” as a distinctive marketing signal; however, only a few indicate whether they use sustainable ingredient sources. Sustainable marine ingredients might be obtained using wild marine biomass through a sustainable extractive fishing activity; by adopting valorization strategies including the use of fish discards and fish by-products; and by sustainably farming and culturing marine organisms.
Antibacterial Ability of Sodium Hypochlorite Activated with PUI vs. XPF File against Bacteria Growth on Enterococcus faecalis Mature Biofilm
Authors: Herce-Ros Nerea , Álvarez-Sagües Alejandro , Álvarez-Losa Laura , Nistal-Villan Estanislao , Amador Ulises , Presa Jesús , Azabal Magdalena
Published: June 2021

The objectives of the present study were to assess the antibacterial effectiveness of two sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) concentrations (2.5% and 5.25%) activated by means of two techniques, passive ultrasonic irrigation (PUI) and XP-endo® Finisher (FKG Dentaire SA, La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland) (XPF) against bacteria growth in intracanal mature biofilm. Our aim was to determine if the effect of heating up NaOCl at body temperature (BT) contributed to an improvement of the efficacy of XPF. Sixty-two single-canal human roots previously instrumented were infected with E. faecalis inoculum at 0.5 McFarland and incubated at 37 °C for two weeks. Twelve specimens were randomly selected as positive control, and the remaining fifty were divided into five experimental groups (n = 10). The first two were irrigated with 2.5 vs. 5.25% NaOCl at room temperature (RT), activated with PUI, and the other three were irrigated with XPF. Of these three, two were irrigated using 2.5 vs. 5.25% NaOCl at RT and one was irrigated with 5.25% NaOCl at BT. Our results showed that NaOCl was effective in biofilm removal for all experimental groups (p > 0.05), especially in the groups irrigated with 5.25% NaOCl at room temperature (RT) activated with PUI and the group treated with 5.25% NaOCl at BT with XPF. These groups were the most successful ones (p < 0.001). NaOCl, activated with XPF, was as effective as PUI in biofilm removal from the apical third of the canal when it was used at higher concentration and heated up. This study indicates that XPF only reached the efficacy of PUI when NaOCl was heated up.