bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Experience in use of biological coatings in complex treatment of extensive burn wounds
Authors: Borisov V. S. , Sachkov A. V. , Kaplunova M. Yu. , Titova G. P. , Borovkova N. I. , Ponomaryov I. N. , Mironov A. S.
Published: August 2020

The article presents the experience of successful surgical treatment of a patient with a severe burn injury using biological wound coatings with cadaveric skin grafts and dermal matrix afer wound debridement. Each of the presented biological coatings was evaluated on the basis of their clinical effectiveness (general condition of the patient, stage of the wound-healing process) and the results of microscopic examination of histological material during preparation of wounds for autotransplantation.
Hyperuricemia as risk factor for cardiovascular disease – what’s new?
Authors: Zhernakova Yu. V.
Published: August 2020

A significant number of epidemiological studies have shown that hyperuricemia is highly associated with the risk of developing cardiovascular disease, chronic kidney disease, and diabetes. In this connection, increased attention is required to monitor serum uric acid levels in patients, not only from a rheumatological point of view, but also with regard to reducing cardiovascular and renal risks. This article is a review of studies on the association of hyperuricemia with cardiovascular risk and a new consensus for the management of patients with hyperuricemia and high cardiovascular risk, published in december 2019 by a group of experts of the Russian Medical Society for Arterial Hypertension, which, among other things, includes a management algorithm of this category of patients.
Experience of clinical testing of personal telemedicine system ‘Obereg’ for remote monitoring of patients in intensive care units
Authors: Eryomenko A. A. , Rostunova N. V. , Budagyan S. A. , Stets V. V.
Published: August 2020

The experience of clinical testing of the personal telemedicine system ‘Obereg’ for remote monitoring of patients at the intensive care units of leading Russian clinics is described. The high quality of communication with the remote receiving devices of doctors, the accuracy of measurements, resistance to interference from various hospital equipment and the absence of its own impact on such equipment were confirmed. There are significant advantages compared to stationary patient monitors, in particular, for intra and out-of-hospital transportation of patients.
Infrared Spectrometry as a High-Throughput Phenotyping Technology to Predict Complex Traits in Livestock Systems
Authors: Bresolin Tiago , Dórea João R. R.
Published: August 2020

High-throughput phenotyping technologies are growing in importance in livestock systems due to their ability to generate real-time, non-invasive, and accurate animal-level information. Collecting such individual-level information can generate novel traits and potentially improve animal selection and management decisions in livestock operations. One of the most relevant tools used in the dairy and beef industry to predict complex traits is infrared spectrometry, which is based on the analysis of the interaction between electromagnetic radiation and matter. The infrared electromagnetic radiation spans an enormous range of wavelengths and frequencies known as the electromagnetic spectrum. The spectrum is divided into different regions, with near- and mid-infrared regions being the main spectral regions used in livestock applications. The advantage of using infrared spectrometry includes speed, non-destructive measurement, and great potential for on-line analysis. This paper aims to review the use of mid- and near-infrared spectrometry techniques as tools to predict complex dairy and beef phenotypes, such as milk composition, feed efficiency, methane emission, fertility, energy balance, health status, and meat quality traits. Although several research studies have used these technologies to predict a wide range of phenotypes, most of them are based on Partial Least Squares (PLS) and did not considered other machine learning (ML) techniques to improve prediction quality. Therefore, we will discuss the role of analytical methods employed on spectral data to improve the predictive ability for complex traits in livestock operations. Furthermore, we will discuss different approaches to reduce data dimensionality and the impact of validation strategies on predictive quality.
The Catalytic Cycle of the Antioxidant and Cancer-Associated Human NQO1 Enzyme: Hydride Transfer, Conformational Dynamics and Functional Cooperativity
Authors: Anoz-Carbonell Ernesto , Timson David J. , Pey Angel L. , Medina Milagros
Published: August 2020

Human NQO1 [NAD(H):quinone oxidoreductase 1] is a multi-functional and stress-inducible dimeric protein involved in the antioxidant defense, the activation of cancer prodrugs and the stabilization of oncosuppressors. Despite its roles in human diseases, such as cancer and neurological disorders, a detailed characterization of its enzymatic cycle is still lacking. In this work, we provide a comprehensive analysis of the NQO1 catalytic cycle using rapid mixing techniques, including multiwavelength and spectral deconvolution studies, kinetic modeling and temperature-dependent kinetic isotope effects (KIEs). Our results systematically support the existence of two pathways for hydride transfer throughout the NQO1 catalytic cycle, likely reflecting that the two active sites in the dimer catalyze two-electron reduction with different rates, consistent with the cooperative binding of inhibitors such as dicoumarol. This negative cooperativity in NQO1 redox activity represents a sort of half-of-sites activity. Analysis of KIEs and their temperature dependence also show significantly different contributions from quantum tunneling, structural dynamics and reorganizations to catalysis at the two active sites. Our work will improve our understanding of the effects of cancer-associated single amino acid variants and post-translational modifications in this protein of high relevance in cancer progression and treatment.
Traffic Noise Mitigation Using Single and Double Barrier Caps of Different Shapes for an Extended Frequency Range
Authors: Pardo-Quiles Domingo , Rodríguez José-Víctor , Molina-García-Pardo Jose-Maria , Juan-Llácer Leandro
Published: August 2020

The primary function of noise barriers is to shield inhabitants of affected areas from excessive noise generated by road traffic. To enhance the performance of noise barriers while simultaneously adhering to height restrictions, the attachment of structures (caps) of different shapes to the tops of conventional screens can be considered. These caps can significantly impact the diffracted sound energy, thereby increasing the desired global acoustic losses. This work presents a comprehensive study of the acoustic performance of noise barriers with single and double attached caps of different shapes through a calculation of their insertion losses (IL). This study comprehensively addresses and compares different types, sizes, combinations, and numbers of noise barrier caps for different scenarios (including sloping and absorbent grounds) and sources (“car” and “ambulance”) for an extended frequency band up to 10 kHz. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is a range that has not previously been analyzed. A variety of different cap shapes were considered including cylinders, rectangles, trapezoids, and Y/T-shaped forms. To calculate the IL, an innovative and fast uniform theory of diffraction (UTD)-based method developed by the authors was applied in all simulations. The results showed that the Y-shaped single and double barrier caps were, in general, the most effective at increasing IL without raising the height of the barrier, thereby successfully managing the aesthetic impact. The results also showed how the consideration of sloping and absorbent floors could also contribute to improved noise abatement.
Concept and Preliminary Simulations of a Driver-Aid System for Transport Tasks of Articulated Vehicles with a Hydrostatic Steering System
Authors: Łopatka Marian J. , Rubiec Arkadiusz
Published: August 2020

Heavy-wheeled vehicles with articulated hydraulic steering systems are widely used in construction, road building, forestry, and agriculture, as transport units and tool-carriers because they have many unique advantages that are not available in car steering systems, based on the Ackermann principle, such as—high cross-country mobility, excellent maneuverability, and high payload and lift capacity, due to heavy axles components. One problem that limits their speed of operation and use efficiency is that they have poor directional stability. During straight movement, articulated tractors’ deviate from a straight line and permanent driver correction is required. This limits the vehicles’ speed and productivity. In this study, we describe a driver-aid system concept that would improve the directional stability of articulated vehicles. Designing such a system demands a comprehensive knowledge of the reasons for the snaking phenomenon and driver behaviors. The results of our articulated vehicle directional stability investigation are presented. On this basis, we developed models of articulated vehicles with hydraulic steering systems and driver interaction. We next added the stabilizing system to the model. A simulation demonstrated the possibility of directional stability improvement.
Renewable Energy and Sustainability from the Supply Side: A Critical Review and Analysis
Authors: Garrido Susana , Sequeira Tiago , Santos Marcelo
Published: August 2020

This article provides a critical review of the literature on the relationship between renewable energies and sustainability considering the three dimensions of sustainability: economic, social, and environmental. First, a bibliometric tool is used and then a more in-depth analysis of selected literature is performed, focusing on the type of renewable energy analyzed and the level of development of countries, the dimension of sustainability focused on and the country’s development level, and the type of renewable energies focused on and the dimension of sustainability analyzed. It represents a milestone in the topic giving insights on the state of the art of the research on this research area, enhancing empirical evidence on the kind of relationships and developing a discussion on how closely aligned the political and institutional discourses are with the research concerns. We conclude that, while studies on lower-income countries focus on lower-rung energies, studies on higher-income countries focus on the study of more diversified sources. Moreover, wind–solar energy is the most reported in the articles concerned with environmental sustainability. Our main recommendation is to further investigate the implementation of modern renewable energies in developing countries, to help those countries to climb the energy ladder toward cleaner energy supply.
Human–Robot Interaction for Improving Fuselage Assembly Tasks: A Case Study
Authors: Laudante Elena , Greco Alessandro , Caterino Mario , Fera Marcello
Published: August 2020

In current industrial systems, automation is a very important aspect for assessing manufacturing production performance related to working times, accuracy of operations and quality. In particular, the introduction of a robotic system in the working area should guarantee some improvements, such as risks reduction for human operators, better quality results and a speed increase for production processes. In this context, human action remains still necessary to carry out part of the subtasks, as in the case of composites assembly processes. This study aims at presenting a case study regarding the reorganization of the working activity carried out in workstation in which a composite fuselage panel is assembled in order to demonstrate, by means of simulation tool, that some of the advantages previously listed can be achieved also in aerospace industry. In particular, an entire working process for composite fuselage panel assembling will be simulated and analyzed in order to demonstrate and verify the applicability and effectiveness of human–robot interaction (HRI), focusing on working times and ergonomics and respecting the constraints imposed by standards ISO 10218 and ISO TS 15066. Results show the effectiveness of HRI both in terms of assembly performance, by reducing working times and ergonomics—for which the simulation provides a very low risk index.
Genetic Optimized Location Aided Routing Protocol for VANET Based on Rectangular Estimation of Position
Authors: Muniyandi Ravie Chandren , Qamar Faizan , Jasim Ahmed Naeem
Published: August 2020

Vehicle Ad-Hoc Network (VANET) is a dynamic decentralized network that consists of various wireless mobile vehicles with no individual user management. Several routing protocols can be used for VANETs, for example, the Location-Aided Routing (LAR) protocol that utilizes location information provided by the Global Positioning System (GPS) sensors. It can help to reduce the search space for the desired route—limiting the search space results in fewer route discovery messages. However, two essential aspects are ignored while applying the LAR protocol in the VANET-based environment. Firstly, the LAR does not exploit the fact that nodes in VANET do not have pure random movement. In other words, nodes in LAR predict the position of destination node by ignoring the fact that the pre-defined constraint on the destination node navigation is met. Secondly, the nodes in the conventional LAR (or simply stated as LAR) protocol use the location information of the destination node before selecting the route location, which is most likely to expire because of the fast movement of the nodes in the VANET environment. This study presents an estimation based on a heuristic approach that was developed to reject weak GPS location data and accept accurate ones. The proposed routing protocol stated as Rectangle-Aided LAR (RALAR) is based on a moving rectangular zone according to the node′s mobility model. Additionally, the proposed RALAR protocol was optimized by using the Genetic Algorithm (GA) by selecting the most suitable time-out variable. The results were compared with LAR and Kalman-Filter Aided-LAR (KALAR), the most commonly utilized protocols in VANET for performance metrics using Packet Delivery Ratio (PDR), average End-to-End Delay (E2E Delay), routing overhead and average energy consumption. The results showed that the proposed RALAR protocol achieved an improvement over the KALAR in terms of PDR of 4.7%, average E2E delay of 60%, routing overhead of 15.5%, and 10.7% of energy consumption. The results proved that the performance of the RALAR protocol had outperformed the KALAR and LAR protocol in terms of regular network performance measures in the VANET environment.
Low-Order Spherical Harmonic HRTF Restoration Using a Neural Network Approach
Authors: Tsui Benjamin , Smith William A. P. , Kearney Gavin
Published: August 2020

Spherical harmonic (SH) interpolation is a commonly used method to spatially up-sample sparse head related transfer function (HRTF) datasets to denser HRTF datasets. However, depending on the number of sparse HRTF measurements and SH order, this process can introduce distortions into high frequency representations of the HRTFs. This paper investigates whether it is possible to restore some of the distorted high frequency HRTF components using machine learning algorithms. A combination of convolutional auto-encoder (CAE) and denoising auto-encoder (DAE) models is proposed to restore the high frequency distortion in SH-interpolated HRTFs. Results were evaluated using both perceptual spectral difference (PSD) and localisation prediction models, both of which demonstrated significant improvement after the restoration process.
One-Dimensional Computation Method of Supercritical CO2 Labyrinth Seal
Authors: Zhu Yuming , Jiang Yuyan , Liang Shiqiang , Guo Chaohong , Guo Yongxian , Cai Haofei
Published: August 2020

An actual one-dimensional(1-D) computation method for a labyrinth seal is proposed. Relevant computation hypotheses for the 1-D method are analyzed and the specificity of internal flow in an SCO2 (supercritical CO2) labyrinth seal is explored in advance. Then, the experimental correlation discharge coefficient and the residual kinetic energy coefficient used in SCO2 labyrinth seals are proposed. In addition, the speed of sound in two-phase flow is corrected in the 1-D method. All recent experimental results of the SCO2 labyrinth seal are sorted out and the latest experimental results of a stepped-staggered labyrinth seal are proposed to verify the accuracy and applicability of the 1-D method. Finally, the sealing efficiency of the SCO2 labyrinth seals are analyzed using the 1-D method.
Atomic Data for Plasma Spectroscopy: The CHIANTI Database, Improvements and Challenges
Authors: Del Zanna Giulio , Young Peter R.
Published: August 2020

CHIANTI is an atomic database and software package for modeling emission lines and continua from hot astrophysical plasmas. It is freely available to all researchers and has been widely used in the Heliophysics and Astrophysics communities for almost 25 years. In this review, we summarize the properties of the current version of the database and give an overview of the relevant atomic processes. We also discuss progress towards a complete implementation of collisional-radiative modeling, simultaneously solving for atomic level and ion populations for individual elements.
The Protective Role of Prenatal Alpha Lipoic Acid Supplementation against Pancreatic Oxidative Damage in Offspring of Valproic Acid-Treated Rats: Histological and Molecular Study
Authors: Ghoneim Fatma M. , Alrefai Hani , Elsamanoudy Ayman Z. , Abo El-khair Salwa M. , Khalaf Hanaa A.
Published: August 2020

Background: Sodium valproate (VPA) is an antiepileptic drug (AED) licensed for epilepsy and used during pregnancy in various indications. Alpha-lipoic acid (ALA) is a natural compound inducing endogenous antioxidant production. Our study aimed to investigate the effect of prenatal administration of VPA on the pancreas of rat offspring and assess the potential protective role of ALA co-administration during pregnancy. Methods: Twenty-eight pregnant female albino rats were divided into four groups: group I (negative control), group II (positive control, ALA treated), group III (VPA-treated), and group IV (VPA-ALA-treated). The pancreases of the rat offspring were removed at the fourth week postpartum and prepared for histological, immune-histochemical, morphometric, molecular, and oxidative stress marker studies. Results: In group III, there were pyknotic nuclei, vacuolated cytoplasm with ballooning of acinar, α, and β cells of the pancreas. Ultrastructural degeneration of cytoplasmic organelles was detected. Additionally, there was a significant increase in oxidative stress, a decrease in insulin-positive cell percentage, and an increase in glucagon positive cells in comparison to control groups. Moreover, VPA increased the gene expression of an apoptotic marker, caspase-3, with a decrease in anti-apoptotic Bcl2 and nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) transcriptional factor. Conversely, ALA improved oxidative stress and apoptosis in group VI, and a consequent improvement of the histological and ultrastructure picture was detected. Conclusion: ALA co-administration with VPA significantly improved the oxidative stress condition, histological and morphometric picture of the pancreas, and restored normal expression of related genes, including Nrf2, caspase-3, and Bcl-2. Administration of α-lipoic acid has a protective effect against VPA-induced pancreatic oxidative damage via its cytoprotective antioxidant effect.
Ilimaquinone Induces Apoptosis and Autophagy in Human Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma Cells
Authors: Lin Cheng-Wen , Bai Li-Yuan , Su Jui-Hsin , Chiu Chang-Fang , Lin Wei-Yu , Huang Wei-Ting , Shih Ming-Cheng , Huang Yu-Ting , Hu Jing-Lan , Weng Jing-Ru
Published: August 2020

In this study, the anti-tumor activity of ilimaquinone (IQ), a sesquiterpene quinone isolated from marine sponge Halichondria sp., in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) cells, was investigated. IQ suppressed the viability of the OSCC cell lines SCC4 and SCC2095 with IC50 values of 7.5 and 8.5 μM, respectively. Flow cytometric analysis demonstrated that IQ induced caspase-dependent apoptosis in SCC4 cells and modulated the expression of several cell growth-related gene products, including Akt, p38, Mcl-1, and p53. Notably, p53 knockdown caused higher resistance to IQ’s anti-tumor activity. In addition, IQ increased reactive oxygen species generation, which was partially reversed by the addition of antioxidants. Furthermore, it triggered autophagy, as evidenced by acidic organelle formation and LC3B-II and Atg5 expression in SCC4 cells. Pretreatment with the autophagy inhibitor 3-methyladenine or chloroquine partially decreased IQ-induced apoptosis, suggesting that IQ induced protective autophagy. In summary, IQ has potential to be used in OSCC therapy.
The Effect of Strontium Doping on LaFeO3 Thin Films Deposited by the PLD Method
Authors: Cyza Anna , Cieniek Łukasz , Moskalewicz Tomasz , Maziarz Wojciech , Kusiński Jan , Kowalski Kazimierz , Kopia Agnieszka
Published: August 2020

The aim of the presented investigations was to deposit the thin films La1−xSrxFeO3 (x = 0, 0.1, 0.2) on (100) Si substrate by using the Pulsed Laser Deposition (PLD) method. Structure was exanimated by using XRD, SEM, AFM, TEM and XPS methods. The catalytic properties were analyzed in 4 ppm acetone atmosphere. The doping of Sr thin films La1−xSrxFeO3 (x = 0, 0.1, 0.2) resulted in a decrease in the size of the crystallites, the volume of the elemental cell and change in the grain morphology. In the LaFeO3 and La0.9Sr0.1FeO3, clusters around which small grains grow are visible in the structure, while in the layer La0.8Sr0.2FeO3, the visible grains are elongated. The TEM analysis has shown that the obtained thin films had a thickness in the range 150–170 nm with triangular or flat column ends. The experiment performed in the presence of gases allowed us to conclude that the surfaces (101/020) in the triangle-shaped columns and the plane (121/200) faces in flat columns were exposed to gases. The best properties in the presence of CH3COCH3 gas were noted for LaFeO3 thin film with triangle columns ending with orientation (101/020).
Comparison of Pteridine Normalization Methods in Urine for Detection of Bladder Cancer
Authors: Kośliński Piotr , Pluskota Robert , Mądra-Gackowska Katarzyna , Gackowski Marcin , Markuszewski Michał J. , Kędziora-Kornatowska Kornelia , Koba Marcin
Published: August 2020

Pterin compounds belong to the group of biomarkers for which an increase in interest has been observed in recent years. Available literature data point to this group of compounds as potential biomarkers for cancer detection, although the biochemical justification for this claim is not yet fully understood. The aim of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of pterin compounds in the diagnosis of bladder cancer, with particular emphasis on the role of creatinine and the specific gravity of urine as factors for normalizing the concentration of pterin compounds in urine. The standardization of the concentration of pterin compounds to urine specific gravity allows the building of better classification models for screening patients with potential cancer of the bladder. Of the compounds that make up the pterin profile, isoxanthopterin appears to be a compound that can potentially be described as a biomarker of bladder cancer.
Power Capability Boundaries for an Inverter Providing Multiple Grid Support Services
Authors: Zubiaga Markel , Sanchez-Ruiz Alain , Olea Eneko , Unamuno Eneko , Bilbao Aitor , Arza Joseba
Published: August 2020

It is getting more common every day to install inverters that offer several grid support services in parallel. As these services are provided, a simultaneous need arises to know the combined limit of the inverter for those services. In the present paper, operational limits are addressed based on a utility scale for a real inverter scenario with an energy storage system (ESS) (1.5 MW). The paper begins by explaining how active and reactive power limits are calculated, illustrating the PQ maps depending on the converter rated current and voltage. Then, the effect of the negative sequence injection, the phase shift of compensated harmonics and the transformer de-rating are introduced step-by-step. Finally, inverter limits for active filter applications are summarized, to finally estimate active and reactive power limits along with the harmonic current injection for some example cases. The results show that while the phase shift of the injected negative sequence has a significant effect in the available inverter current, this is not the case for the phase shift of injected harmonics. However, the amplitude of the injected negative sequence and harmonics will directly impact the power capabilities of the inverter and therefore, depending on the grid-side voltage, it might be interesting to design an output transformer with a different de-rating factor to increase the power capabilities.
3D-Printed Pseudo Ductile Fiber-Reinforced Polymer (FRP) Composite Using Discrete Fiber Orientations
Authors: Vemuganti Shreya , Soliman Eslam , Reda Taha Mahmoud
Published: August 2020

The use of fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) composite materials are continuously growing in civil infrastructure due to their high strength, low weight, and manufacturing flexibility. However, FRP is characterized by sudden failure and lacks ductility. When used in construction, gradual failure of FRP components is desired to avoid catastrophic structural collapse. Due to its mechanical orthotropy, the behavior of FRP relies significantly on fiber orientation and stacking sequence. In this paper, a novel multi-angled glass fiber reinforced polymer (GFRP) composite laminate showing pseudo ductile behavior is produced using 3D-printing. This is accomplished by varying fiber orientation angles, stacking sequence, and thickness of lamina. Single-angled GFRP composite specimens were 3D-printed with different fiber orientation angles of 0°, 12°, 24°, 30°, 45°, and 90° using continuous and fused filament techniques. The tension test results of the single-angled specimens were then used to aid the design of multi-angled laminate for potential progressive failure behavior. A 3D finite element (FE) model was developed to predict the response of the experimental results and to provide insight into the failure mechanism of the multi-angled laminate. The experimental observations and the FE simulations show the possibility of producing pseudo ductile FRP-by-design composite using 3D-printing technology, which leads the way to fabricate next-generation composites for civil infrastructure.
Influence of Electron Beam Irradiation on the Moisture and Properties of Freshly Harvested and Sun-Dried Rice
Authors: Pan Lihong , Xing Jiali , Luo Xiaohu , Li Yanan , Sun Dongling , Zhai Yuheng , Yang Kai , Chen Zhengxing
Published: August 2020

Moisture content is an important factor that affects rice storage. Rice with high moisture (HM) content has superior taste but is difficult to store. In this study, low-dose electron beam irradiation (EBI) was used to study water distribution in newly harvested HM (15.03%) rice and dried rice (11.97%) via low-field nuclear magnetic resonance (LF-NMR). The gelatinization, texture and rheological properties of rice and the thermal and digestion properties of rice starch were determined. Results showed that low-dose EBI could change water distribution in rice mainly by affecting free water under low-moisture (LM) conditions and free water and bound water under HM conditions. HM rice showed smooth changes in gelatinization and rheological properties and softened textural properties. The swelling power and solubility index indicated that irradiation promoted the depolymerization of starch chains. Overall, low-dose EBI had little effect on the properties of rice. HM rice showed superior quality and taste, whereas LM rice exhibited superior nutritional quality. This work attempted to optimize the outcome of the EBI treatment of rice for storage purposes by analyzing its effects. It demonstrated that low-dose EBI was more effective and environmentally friendly than other techniques.
Towards a Sampling Rationale for African Swine Fever Virus Detection in Pork Products
Authors: Flannery John , Moore Rebecca , Marsella Laura , Harris Katie , Ashby Martin , Rajko-Nenow Paulina , Roberts Helen , Gubbins Simon , Batten Carrie
Published: August 2020

African swine fever (ASF) is a highly lethal disease of pigs caused by the ASF virus (ASFV), which presents a serious threat to global food security. The movement of contaminated pork products has previously been postulated as contributing to the introduction of ASF into new areas. To evaluate the performance of ASFV detection systems in multi-component pork products, we spiked sausage meat with four different ASFV-containing materials (ASFV cell culture, pork loin, meat juice and bone marrow). DNA was extracted using two manual systems (MagMAX CORE, Qiagen) and one automated (MagMAX CORE) one, and three qPCR assays (VetMAX, King, UPL) were used. The performance of the DNA extraction systems was as follows; automated MagMAX > manual MagMAX > manual Qiagen. The commercial VetMAX qPCR assay yielded significantly lower CT values (p < 0.001), showing greater sensitivity than the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE)-prescribed assays (King, UPL). Detection probability was the highest for matrices contaminated with bone marrow compared with pork loin or meat juice. An estimated minimum sample size of one 1-g sample is sufficient to detect ASFV in a homogenous pork product if bone marrow from infected pigs comprises 1 part in 10,000. We demonstrated that existing ASFV detection systems are appropriate for use in a food-testing capacity, which can provide an additional control measure for ASF.
Ethnic/Racial Terminology as a Form of Representation: A Critical Review of the Lexicon of Collective and Specific Terms in Use in Britain
Authors: Aspinall Peter J.
Published: August 2020

All ethnic/racial terminology may be seen as a form of representation, whereby meanings are generated by a range of social categorizers in settings of popular culture, political discourse, and statistical governmentality. This paper investigates these representations through a critical review of the lexicon of collective and specific ethnic/racial terms in use in Britain. Relevant studies and documents were identified through structured searches on databases of peer-reviewed literature and the websites of government census agencies. The full-text corpus of the UK Parliament was used to delineate the genealogies or etymologies of this terminology. The derivation of specific ethnic/racial terms through census processes tends to conform with the theoretical model of mutual entailment of social categories and group identities. This relationship breaks down in the case of the broad and somewhat abstract categories of race/ethnicity originating in the modern bureaucratic processes of government and advocacy by anti-racist organizations, opening up a space for representations that are characterized by their exteriority. Commonly used acronyms are little understood in the wider society, are confusing, and of limited acceptability to those they describe, while other collective terms are offensive and ethnocentric. Accurate description is recommended to delineate ethnic minority populations in terms of their constituent groups.
Ice-Cliff Morphometry in Identifying the Surge Phenomenon of Tidewater Glaciers (Spitsbergen, Svalbard)
Authors: Szafraniec Joanna Ewa
Published: August 2020

In this study, 110 tidewater glaciers from Spitsbergen were studied to characterize the frontal zone using morphometric indicators. In addition, their time variability was also determined based on features of the active phase of glacier surges. Landsat satellite imagery and topographic maps were used for digitalization of the ice-cliffs line. In recent years (2014–2017) all the glaciers studied can be thus classified as: stagnant (33%), retreating and deeply recessing (33%), starting to move forward/fulfilling the frontal zone (23%), and surging (11%). Indicators of the glacier frontal zone (CfD and CfE) allow to identify the beginning and the end of the active phase through changes in their values by ca. 0.05–0.06 by the year and get even bigger for large glaciers as opposed to typical interannual differences within the limits of ±0.01 to 0.02. The active phase lasted an average of 6–10 years. The presence of a “glacier buttress system” and the “pointed arch” structure of the ice-cliff seem to be an important factor regulating the tidewater glacier stability.
Thematic Maps for the Variation of Bearing Capacity of Soil Using SPTs and MATLAB
Authors: Karkush Mahdi O. , Ahmed Mahmood D. , Sheikha Ammar Abdul-Hassan , Al-Rumaithi Ayad
Published: August 2020

The current study involves placing 135 boreholes drilled to a depth of 10 m below the existing ground level. Three standard penetration tests (SPT) are performed at depths of 1.5, 6, and 9.5 m for each borehole. To produce thematic maps with coordinates and depths for the bearing capacity variation of the soil, a numerical analysis was conducted using MATLAB software. Despite several-order interpolation polynomials being used to estimate the bearing capacity of soil, the first-order polynomial was the best among the other trials due to its simplicity and fast calculations. Additionally, the root mean squared error (RMSE) was almost the same for the all of the tried models. The results of the study can be summarized by the production of thematic maps showing the variation of the bearing capacity of the soil over the whole area of Al-Basrah city correlated with several depths. The bearing capacity of soil obtained from the suggested first-order polynomial matches well with those calculated from the results of SPTs with a deviation of ±30% at a 95% confidence interval.
Soil-Biodegradable Plastic Mulches Undergo Minimal in-Soil Degradation in a Perennial Raspberry System after 18 Months
Authors: Zhang Huan , Flury Markus , Miles Carol , Liu Hang , DeVetter Lisa
Published: August 2020

Soil-biodegradable plastic mulches (BDMs) are made from biodegradable materials that can be bio-based, synthetic, or a blend of these two types of polymers, which are designed to degrade in soil through microbial activities. The purpose of BDMs is to reduce agricultural plastic waste by replacing polyethylene (PE) mulch, which is not biodegradable. Most studies have evaluated the breakdown of BDMs within annual production systems, but knowledge of BDM breakdown in perennial systems is limited. The objective of this study was to evaluate the deterioration and degradation of BDMs in a commercial red raspberry (Rubus ideaus L.) production system. Deterioration was low (≤11% percent soil exposure; PSE) for all mulches until October 2017 (five months after transplanting, MAT). By March 2018 (10 MAT), deterioration reached 91% for BDMs but remained low for PE mulch (4%). Mechanical strength also was lower for BDMs than PE mulch. In a soil burial test in the raspberry field, 91% of the BDM area remained after 18 months. In-soil BDM degradation was minimal, although the PSE was high. Since mulch is only applied once in a perennial crop production system, and the lifespan of the planting may be three or more years, it is worth exploring the long-term degradation of BDMs in perennial cropping systems across diverse environments.
Chemical and Physical Analysis of a Petroleum Hydrocarbon Contamination on a Soil Sample to Determine Its Natural Degradation Feasibility
Authors: Arjoon Karuna , Speight James G.
Published: August 2020

Crude oil is the world’s leading fuel source and is the lifeblood of the industrialized nations as it is vital to produce many everyday essentials. This dependency on fossil fuels has resulted in serious environmental issues in recent times. Petroleum contaminated soils must be treated to ensure that human health and the environment remain protected. The restoration of petroleum-polluted soil is a complex project because once petroleum hydrocarbon enters the environment, the individual constituents will partition to various environmental compartments in accordance with their own physical–chemical properties; therefore, the composition and inherent biodegradability of the petroleum hydrocarbon pollutant determines the suitability of a remediation approach. The objective of this study was to assess the prospective of bioremediation as a feasible technique for practical application to the treatment of petroleum hydrocarbon-contaminated soils, by trending the changes in the properties of the petroleum due to biodegradation. Each polluted soil has particularities, thus, the bioremediation approach for each contaminated site is unique. Therefore, hydrocarbon-contaminated sites that have remained polluted for decades due to lack of proper decontamination treatments present in this part of the world would benefit from cost effective treatments. Most bioremediation case studies are usually based on hypothetical assumptions rather than technical or experimental data; providing data that show the capabilities of biodegradation of indigenous microbes on specific oil composition can lead to the creation of strategies to accelerate the biological breakdown of hydrocarbons in soil.
Antifungal Drug Development: Targeting the Fungal Sphingolipid Pathway
Authors: McEvoy Kyle , Normile Tyler , Del Poeta Maurizio
Published: August 2020

Fungal infections are becoming more prevalent and problematic due to the continual rise of immune deficient patients as well as the progressive development of drug resistance towards currently available antifungal drugs. There has been a significant increase in the development of antifungal compounds with a similar mechanism of action of current drugs. In contrast, there has been very little progress in developing compounds inhibiting totally new fungal targets or/and fungal pathways. This review focuses on novel compounds recently discovered to target the fungal sphingolipids and their metabolizing enzymes.
A Practical Approach to Gear Design and Lubrication: A Review
Authors: Croccolo Dario , De Agostinis Massimiliano , Olmi Giorgio , Vincenzi Nicolò
Published: August 2020

The modern design of mechanical parts, such as gears, goes through the continuous demand for a high level of efficiency and reliability, as well as an increased load carrying capacity and endurance life. The aim of the present paper was to perform a review and to collect practical examples in order to provide interesting tips and guidelines for gear design, including both its dimensioning and its lubrication. From this point of view, this paper is particularly novel, as it is a full-comprehensive collection of all the tools supporting gear design. Several practical aspects have been taken into account, including the definition of the right profile shifting, the selection of a proper lubricant, and the definition of the quality grade and of the tolerances needed to obtain the correct backlash. Finally, a numerical example is provided, addressing the research of the best solution to fit a given space, while maximizing the transmittable torque over weight ratio for two mating spur gears.
Influencing Martensitic Transition in Epitaxial Ni-Mn-Ga-Co Films with Large Angle Grain Boundaries
Authors: Lünser Klara , Diestel Anett , Nielsch Kornelius , Fähler Sebastian
Published: August 2020

Magnetocaloric materials based on field-induced first order transformations such as Ni-Mn-Ga-Co are promising for more environmentally friendly cooling. Due to the underlying martensitic transformation, a large hysteresis can occur, which in turn reduces the efficiency of a cooling cycle. Here, we analyse the influence of the film microstructure on the thermal hysteresis and focus especially on large angle grain boundaries. We control the microstructure and grain boundary density by depositing films with local epitaxy on different substrates: Single crystalline MgO(0 0 1), MgO(1 1 0) and Al2O3(0 0 0 1). By combining local electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) and global texture measurements with thermomagnetic measurements, we correlate a smaller hysteresis with the presence of grain boundaries. In films with grain boundaries, the hysteresis is decreased by about 30% compared to single crystalline films. Nevertheless, a large grain boundary density leads to a broadened transition. To explain this behaviour, we discuss the influence of grain boundaries on the martensitic transformation. While grain boundaries act as nucleation sites, they also lead to different strains in the material, which gives rise to various transition temperatures inside one film. We can show that a thoughtful design of the grain boundary microstructure is an important step to optimize the hysteresis.
A Comprehensive Review on Optical Properties of Polymer Electrolytes and Composites
Authors: Aziz Shujahadeen B. , Brza M. A. , Nofal Muaffaq M. , Abdulwahid Rebar T. , Hussen Sarkawt A. , Hussein Ahang M. , Karim Wrya O.
Published: August 2020

Polymer electrolytes and composites have prevailed in the high performance and mobile marketplace during recent years. Polymer-based solid electrolytes possess the benefits of low flammability, excellent flexibility, good thermal stability, as well as higher safety. Several researchers have paid attention to the optical properties of polymer electrolytes and their composites. In the present review paper, first, the characteristics, fundamentals, advantages and principles of various types of polymer electrolytes were discussed. Afterward, the characteristics and performance of various polymer hosts on the basis of specific essential and newly published works were described. New developments in various approaches to investigate the optical properties of polymer electrolytes were emphasized. The last part of the review devoted to the optical band gap study using two methods: Tauc’s model and optical dielectric loss parameter. Based on recently published literature sufficient quantum mechanical backgrounds were provided to support the applicability of the optical dielectric loss parameter for the band gap study. In this review paper, it was demonstrated that both Tauc’s model and optical dielectric loss should be studied to specify the type of electron transition and estimate the optical band gap accurately. Other parameters such as absorption coefficient, refractive index and optical dielectric constant were also explored.
A New Type of Composite Membrane PVA-NaY/PA-6 for Separation of Industrially Valuable Mixture Ethanol/Ethyl Tert-Butyl Ether by Pervaporation
Authors: Knozowska Katarzyna , Kujawa Joanna , Lagzdins Renars , Figoli Alberto , Kujawski Wojciech
Published: August 2020

Pervaporation is a membrane technique used to separate azeotropic and close boiling solvents. Heterogenous PVA composite membranes with NaY zeolite supported on polyamide-6 were fabricated and utilized in organic–organic pervaporation. The efficiency of prepared membranes was evaluated in the separation of ethanol/ethyl tert-butyl ether (EtOH/ETBE) using separation factor (β) and the thickness normalized pervaporation separation index (PSIN). Implementation of the fringe projection phase-shifting method allowed to the determined contact angle corrected by roughness. The influence of the presence of water traces in the feed on the overall separation efficiency was also discussed using the enrichment factor for water (EFwater). The incorporation of NaY into PVA matrix increases surface roughness and hydrophilicity of the composite membrane. It was found that membranes selectively transport ethanol from the binary EtOH/ETBE mixture. The values of β (2.3) and PSIN (288 μm g m−2 h−1) for PVA-NaY/PA6 membrane were improved by 143% and 160% in comparison to the values for the pristine PVA/PA6 membrane. It was found that membranes showed EFwater > 1, thus revealing the preferential transport of water molecules across membranes. These results are also significant for the design of membranes for the removal of water excess from the mixtures of organic solvents.
A Nanosensor for Naked-Eye Identification and Adsorption of Cadmium Ion Based on Core–Shell Magnetic Nanospheres
Authors: Xu Yaohui , Deng Chi , Xiao Zhigang , Chen Chang , Luo Xufeng , Zhou Yang , Jiang Qiang
Published: August 2020

Fe3O4@SiO2 nanospheres with a core–shell structure were synthesized and functionalized with bis(2-pyridylmethyl)amine (BPMA). The photoresponses of the as-obtained Fe3O4@SiO2-BPMA for Cr3+, Cd2+, Hg2+ and Pb2+ ions were evaluated through irradiation with a 352 nm ultraviolet lamp, and Fe3O4@SiO2-BPMA exhibited remarkable fluorescence enhancement toward the Cd2+ ion. The adsorption experiments revealed that Fe3O4@SiO2-BPMA had rapid and effective adsorption toward the Cd2+ ion. The adsorption reaction was mostly complete within 30 min, the adsorption efficiency reached 99.3%, and the saturated adsorption amount was 342.5 mg/g based on Langmuir linear fitting. Moreover, Fe3O4@SiO2-BPMA displayed superparamagnetic properties with the saturated magnetization of 20.1 emu/g, and its strong magnetic sensitivity made separation simple and feasible. Our efforts in this work provide a potential magnetic functionalized nanosensor for naked-eye identification and adsorption toward the Cd2+ ion.
Suitability of Fiber Lengths for Hot Mix Asphalt with Different Nominal Maximum Aggregate Size: A Pilot Experimental Investigation
Authors: Lou Keke , Xiao Peng , Kang Aihong , Wu Zhengguang , Lu Pengcheng
Published: August 2020

Fiber length is a key parameter for the mixture design of basalt fiber-reinforced hot mix asphalt (HMA), which significantly affects the mix performance. To evaluate the suitability of fiber lengths for HMA with different nominal maximum aggregate size (NMAS), basalt fiber with the lengths of 3, 6, 9, 12, and 15 mm were selected for dense graded gradations with different NMASs (namely, SUP-13, SUP-20, and SUP-25), so as to prepare the fiber-reinforced HMA mixtures. Then, the mix performance was evaluated by an indirect tensile asphalt cracking test (IDEAL-CT), a four-point bending beam fatigue test, a wheel tracking test, a uniaxial penetration test, a low temperature bending beam test, and a freeze-thaw splitting test. Based on the performance results, the optimum fiber length for each mix gradation was proposed by the normalization method. The results showed that adding basalt fiber can enhance the comprehensive performance of all three types of HMA to a great extent. Furthermore, fiber length presented remarkable impact on the crack resistance, the fatigue resistance of the HMA, and the low temperature crack resistance, but it had limited influence on the high temperature deformation resistance, and water stability. The optimum fiber length for SUP-13, SUP-20, and SUP-25 was 6, 9, and 12 mm, respectively.