bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Ceramide-1-Phosphate as a Potential Regulator of the Second Sodium Pump from Kidney Proximal Tubules by Triggering Distinct Protein Kinase Pathways in a Hierarchic Way
Authors: Cabral Lindsey M. P. , Almeida Fernando G. , Grelle Gloria M. R. S. , Vieyra Adalberto , Caruso-Neves Celso , Einicker-Lamas Marcelo
Published: February 2022

Kidney proximal tubules are a key segment in the reabsorption of solutes and water from the glomerular ultrafiltrate, an essential process for maintaining homeostasis in body fluid compartments. The abundant content of Na+ in the extracellular fluid determines its importance in the regulation of extracellular fluid volume, which is particularly important for different physiological processes including blood pressure control. Basolateral membranes of proximal tubule cells have the classic Na+ + K+-ATPase and the ouabain-insensitive, K+-insensitive, and furosemide-sensitive Na+-ATPase, which participate in the active Na+ reabsorption. Here, we show that nanomolar concentrations of ceramide-1 phosphate (C1P), a bioactive sphingolipid derived in biological membranes from different metabolic pathways, promotes a strong inhibitory effect on the Na+-ATPase activity (C1P50 ≈ 10 nM), leading to a 72% inhibition of the second sodium pump in the basolateral membranes. Ceramide-1-phosphate directly modulates protein kinase A and protein kinase C, which are known to be involved in the modulation of ion transporters including the renal Na+-ATPase. Conversely, we did not observe any effect on the Na+ + K+-ATPase even at a broad C1P concentration range. The significant effect of ceramide-1-phosphate revealed a new potent physiological and pathophysiological modulator for the Na+-ATPase, participating in the regulatory network involving glycero- and sphingolipids present in the basolateral membranes of kidney tubule cells.
Obesity, Sex, Snoring and Severity of OSA in a First Nation Community in Saskatchewan, Canada
Authors: Dosman James A. , Karunanayake Chandima P. , Fenton Mark , Ramsden Vivian R. , Seeseequasis Jeremy , Skomro Robert , Kirychuk Shelley , Rennie Donna C. , McMullin Kathleen , Russell Brooke P. , Koehncke Niels , Abonyi Sylvia , King Malcolm , Pahwa Punam
Published: February 2022

Sleep disorders have been related to body weight, social conditions, and a number of comorbidities. These include high blood pressure and type 2 diabetes, both of which are prevalent in the First Nations communities. We explored relationships between obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and risk factors including social, environmental, and individual circumstances. An interviewer-administered survey was conducted with adult participants in 2018–2019 in a First Nations community in Saskatchewan, Canada. The survey collected information on demographic variables, individual and contextual determinants of sleep health, and objective clinical measurements. The presence of OSA was defined as an apnea–hypopnea index (AHI) ≥5. Multiple ordinal logistic regression analysis was conducted to examine relationships between the severity of OSA and potential risk factors. In addition to the survey, 233 men and women participated in a Level 3 one-night home sleep test. Of those, 105 (45.1%) participants were reported to have obstructive sleep apnea (AHI ≥ 5). Mild and moderately severe OSA (AHI ≥ 5 to <30) was present in 39.9% and severe OSA (AHI ≥ 30) was identified in 5.2% of participants. Being male, being obese, and snoring loudly were significantly associated with severity of OSA. The severity of OSA in one First Nation appears relatively common and may be related to mainly individual factors such as loud snoring, obesity, and sex.
Research on Interface Modification and Thermal Insulation/Anticorrosive Properties of Vacuum Ceramic Bead Coating
Authors: Gao Jin , Zhu Taiyang , Zhang Zhi , Kong Yuan , Zhang Xin
Published: February 2022

The thermal insulation effect of the coating was closely related to the content of the thermal insulation filler, but too much filler would cause interfacial compatibility problems of various substances in the coating, micro-defects in the coating, and affect the anti–corrosion performance of the coating. Therefore, solving the interface problem was the key to preparing a coating with heat insulation and anticorrosion functions. In this study, organic–inorganic hybrid polymer was used to modify the surface of vacuum ceramic microbeads, and epoxy–silicone resin was used as the film–forming material to prepare a heat-insulating and anticorrosive coating that can withstand 200 °C. The SEM morphology showed that the interface compatibility of the vacuum ceramic beads modified by the organic–inorganic hybrid agent and the film-forming material were improved, the dispersibility was significantly improved, and the beads were tightly arranged; the thermal conductivity of the coating reached 0.1587 W/(m·K), which decreased by 50% after adding 20% ceramic beads, ANSYS finite element simulation showed that the coating has good thermal insulation performance; after the coating underwent a thermal aging test at 200 °C for 600 h, the microstructure was dense, and the low-frequency impedance modulus was still around 109 Ω·cm2. There was no obvious defect in the microstructure after the alternating cold and heat test for 600 h; the low-frequency impedance modulus was still above 108 Ω·cm2, and the low-frequency impedance modulus of the coating was 1010 Ω·cm2 after the 130d immersion test, indicating that the coating had good heat resistance and anti-corrosion performance.
A Comparison of Computational and Experimental Fluid Dynamics Studies between Scaled and Original Wing Sections, in Single-Phase and Two-Phase Flows, and Evaluation of the Suggested Method
Authors: Karkoulias Dionysios G. , Panagiotopoulos Anastasios G. , Giannaros Andreas I. , Margaris Dionissios P.
Published: February 2022

The correlation between computational fluid dynamics (CFD) and experimental fluid dynamics (EFD) is crucial for the behavior prediction of aerodynamic bodies. This paper’s objective is twofold: (1) to develop a method that approaches commercial CFD codes and their link with EFD in a more efficient way, using a downscaled model, and (2) to investigate the effect of rain on the aerodynamic behavior of a wing. More specifically, we investigate the one-phase and two-phase flow over a typical wing section NACA 641-212 airfoil, in the commercial code Ansys Fluent. Two computational models were developed; the first model represents the original dimensions of the wing, while the second is downscaled to 23% of the original. The response of the models in air and air–water flow were primarily studied, as well as the impact on aerodynamic efficiency due to the existence of the second phase. For the computational fluid dynamics simulations, a pressure-based solver with a second-order upwind scheme for the spatial discretization and the Spalart–Allmaras (SA) turbulence model were utilized. Meanwhile, for the two-phase flow of air–water, the discrete phase model (DPM) with wall–film boundary conditions on the surface of the wing and two-way coupling between continuous and discrete phase was considered. The second phase was simulated as water droplets injected in the continuous phase, in a Euler–Lagrange approach. The experimental model was constructed in accordance with the downscaled model and tested in a subsonic wind tunnel, using 3D printing technology which reduced the experiment expenses. The presence of water in two-phase flow was proven to deteriorate the aerodynamic factors of the wing compared to one-phase flow, as expected. The three-stage comparison of CFD and EFD results showed a very good convergence, in both single and two-phase flow. This can lead to the conclusion that a rapid and low-cost study for the estimation of the aerodynamic performance of objects with high accuracy is feasible with the suggested method.
Plasma-Generated X-ray Pulses: Betatron Radiation Opportunities at EuPRAXIA@SPARC_LAB
Authors: Stellato Francesco , Anania Maria Pia , Balerna Antonella , Botticelli Simone , Coreno Marcello , Costa Gemma , Galletti Mario , Ferrario Massimo , Marcelli Augusto , Minicozzi Velia , Morante Silvia , Pompili Riccardo , Rossi Giancarlo , Shpakov Vladimir , Villa Fabio , Cianchi Alessandro
Published: February 2022

EuPRAXIA is a leading European project aimed at the development of a dedicated, ground-breaking, ultra-compact accelerator research infrastructure based on novel plasma acceleration concepts and laser technology and on the development of their users’ communities. Within this framework, the Laboratori Nazionali di Frascati (LNF, INFN) will be equipped with a unique combination of an X-band RF LINAC generating high-brightness GeV-range electron beams, a 0.5 PW class laser system and the first fifth-generation free electron laser (FEL) source driven by a plasma-based accelerator, the EuPRAXIA@SPARC_LAB facility. Wiggler-like radiation emitted by electrons accelerated in plasma wakefields gives rise to brilliant, ultra-short X-ray pulses, called betatron radiation. Extensive studies have been performed at the FLAME laser facility at LNF, INFN, where betatron radiation was measured and characterized. The purpose of this paper is to describe the betatron spectrum emitted by particle wakefield acceleration at EuPRAXIA@SPARC_LAB and provide an overview of the foreseen applications of this specific source, thus helping to establish a future user community interested in (possibly coupled) FEL and betatron radiation experiments. In order to provide a quantitative estimate of the expected betatron spectrum and therefore to present suitable applications, we performed simple simulations to determine the spectrum of the betatron radiation emitted at EuPRAXIA@SPARC_LAB. With reference to experiments performed exploiting similar betatron sources, we highlight the opportunities offered by its brilliant femtosecond pulses for ultra-fast X-ray spectroscopy and imaging measurements, but also as an ancillary tool for designing and testing FEL instrumentation and experiments.
Delineating Functional Corridors Linking Leopard Habitat in the Eastern and Western Cape, South Africa
Authors: McManus Jeannine , Schurch Matthew P. E. , Goets Stefan , Faraut Lauriane , Couldridge Vanessa , Smuts Bool
Published: February 2022

Natural landscapes are increasingly fragmented due to human activity. This contributes to isolation and inadequate gene flow among wildlife populations. These threats intensify where populations are already low, and gene flow is compromised. Ensuring habitat connectivity despite transformed landscapes can mitigate these risks. Leopards are associated with high levels of biodiversity and are the last widely occurring, free-roaming apex predator in South Africa. Although highly adaptable, leopard survival is reduced by human-caused mortality and habitat destruction. We aimed to assess the connectivity of leopard habitat in the Eastern Cape and Western Cape, South Africa. We predicted leopard habitat by correlating GPS data from 31 leopards to environmental features that included human-associated and natural landscapes. We used circuit theory to delineate corridors linking known leopard populations. Finally, using camera traps, we tested whether five predicted corridors were used by leopards. Leopard habitat was strongly correlated to moderate slopes and areas of natural land-cover and plantations, highlighting mountainous areas as important habitat with high connectivity probability. While most habitat patches showed some level of connectivity, leopards avoided highly transformed landscapes, potentially isolating some populations. Where corridors are not functional, active conservation measures for species connectivity becomes important.
High-Efficiency Plasmonic Lens Based on Archimedes-Spiral with Cross Section of an Asymmetric Slot
Authors: Zhong Yangwan , Wang Qi , Wen Jing , Zhang Dawei , Zhuang Songlin
Published: February 2022

A high-efficiency plasmonic lens composed of a single Archimedes-spiral slot with a cross section of an asymmetric slot is proposed. By adding an auxiliary nanocavity under the primary spiral slot, unidirectional plasmonic waves can be efficiently transmitted in the inward direction and focused on a hot spot in the center. Due to the asymmetric slot, the finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) method is used to numerically optimize the geometric parameters of the single spiral slot, which can achieve high-intensity unidirectional inward focusing. The proposed structure can decrease background noises and prevent cross-talk of nearby components in optical networks, which significantly improves the integration level of nanophotonic circuits and devices.
Spinel LiMn2O4 Cathode Materials in Wide Voltage Window: Single-Crystalline versus Polycrystalline
Authors: Yu Feng , Wang Yi , Guo Cong , Liu He , Bao Weizhai , Li Jingfa , Zhang Panpan , Wang Faxing
Published: February 2022

Single-crystal (SC) layered oxides as cathodes for Li-ion batteries have demonstrated better cycle stability than their polycrystalline (PC) counterparts due to the restrained intergranular cracking formation. However, there are rare reports on comparisons between single-crystal LiMn2O4 (SC-LMO) and polycrystalline LiMn2O4 (PC-LMO) spinel cathodes for Li-ion storage. In this work, the Li-ion storage properties of spinel LiMn2O4 single-crystalline and polycrystalline with similar particle sizes were investigated in a wide voltage window of 2–4.8 V vs. Li/Li+. The SC-LMO cathode exhibited a specific discharge capacity of 178 mA·h·g−1, which was a bit larger than that of the PC-LMO cathode. This is mainly because the SC-LMO cathode showed much higher specific capacity in the 3 V region (Li-ion storage at octahedral sites with cubic to tetragonal phase transition) than the PC-LMO cathode. However, unlike layered-oxide cathodes, the PC-LMO cathode displayed better cycle stability than the SC-LMO cathode. Our studies for the first time demonstrate that the phase transition-induced Mn(II) ion dissolution in the 3 V region rather than cracking formation is the limiting factor for the cycle performance of spinel LiMn2O4 in the wide voltage window.
Simultaneous Noninvasive Detection and Therapy of Atherosclerosis Using HDL Coated Gold Nanorods
Authors: Ankri Rinat , Leshem-Lev Dorit , Duadi Hamootal , Harari Emanuel , Motiei Menachem , Hochhauser Edith , Lev Eli I. , Fixler Dror
Published: February 2022

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a major cause of death and disability worldwide. A real need exists in the development of new, improved therapeutic methods for treating CVD, while major advances in nanotechnology have opened new avenues in this field. In this paper, we report the use of gold nanoparticles (GNPs) coated with high-density lipoprotein (HDL) (GNP-HDL) for the simultaneous detection and therapy of unstable plaques. Based on the well-known HDL cardiovascular protection, by promoting the reverse cholesterol transport (RCT), injured rat carotids, as a model for unstable plaques, were injected with the GNP-HDL. Noninvasive detection of the plaques 24 h post the GNP injection was enabled using the diffusion reflection (DR) method, indicating that the GNP-HDL particles had accumulated in the injured site. Pathology and noninvasive CT measurements proved the recovery of the injured artery treated with the GNP-HDL. The DR of the GNP-HDL presented a simple and highly sensitive method at a low cost, resulting in simultaneous specific unstable plaque diagnosis and recovery.
Beyond the Prognostic Value of 2-[18F]FDG PET/CT in Prostate Cancer: A Case Series and Literature Review Focusing on the Diagnostic Value and Impact on Patient Management
Authors: Borea Roberto , Favero Diletta , Miceli Alberto , Donegani Maria , Raffa Stefano , Gandini Annalice , Cremante Malvina , Marini Cecilia , Sambuceti Gianmario , Zanardi Elisa , Morbelli Silvia , Fornarini Giuseppe , Rebuzzi Sara , Bauckneht Matteo
Published: February 2022

The role of 2-deoxy-2-[18F]fluoro-D-glucose Positron Emission Tomography/Computed Tomography (FDG PET/CT) in the management of prostate cancer (PCa) patients is increasingly recognised. However, its clinical role is still controversial. Many published studies showed that FDG PET/CT might have a prognostic value in the metastatic castration-resistant phase of the disease, but its role in other settings of PCa and, more importantly, its impact on final clinical management remains to be further investigated. We describe a series of six representative clinical cases of PCa in different clinical settings, but all characterised by a measurable clinical impact of FDG PET/CT on the patients’ management. Starting from their clinical history, we report a concise narrative literature review on the advantages and limitations of FDG PET/CT beyond its prognostic value in PCa. What emerges is that in selected cases, this imaging technique may represent a useful tool in managing PCa patients. However, in the absence of dedicated studies to define the optimal clinical setting of its application, no standard recommendations on its use in PCa patients can be made.
Inverted Docking Station: A Conceptual Design for a Battery-Swapping Platform for Quadrotor UAVs
Authors: De Silva Sudam Chamikara , Phlernjai Maroay , Rianmora Suchada , Ratsamee Photchara
Published: February 2022

“Flight Time” and the “Scope of the mission” play major roles in using UAVs as they affect most industrial activities. Once the battery has depleted, the UAV has to land on the ground and human interaction is needed to change the battery with a fully charged one. Nowadays, several automatic battery swapping systems are catching interest in research. This research presents the novel concept of an Inverted Docking Station that allows a quadrotor UAV to attach to the ceiling during the automatic battery-swapping process. The proposed design consist of a docking station, a positioning system and gripper mechanisms. The proposed design allows the quadrotor to carry the load under the quadrotor and remain attached throughout the servicing period. A mathematical model and design guideline have been proposed, and a Finite Element Analysis (FEA) was performed to check that the developed platform is strong enough to withstand the above task. A ‘DJI TELLO’ small-scale quadrotor was chosen as a case study to demonstrate the proposed research. Finally the advantages and the limitations of the system are discussed.
Monitoring Subaquatic Vegetation Using Sentinel-2 Imagery in Gallocanta Lake (Aragón, Spain)
Authors: Soria Juan , Ruiz Miriam , Morales Samuel
Published: February 2022

Remote sensing allows the study of aquatic vegetation cover in shallow lakes from the different spectral responses of the water as the vegetation grows from the bottom toward the surface. In the case of Gallocanta Lake, its seasonality and shallow depth (less than 2 m) allow us to appreciate the variations in the aquatic vegetation with the apparent color. Six common vegetation indices were tested, and the one with the best response was the so-called NDI45, which uses the normalized ratio between the far red (705 nm) and red (665 nm) bands. Our aims are to show the variations in the surface area covered by vegetation at the bottom of the lagoon, its growth and disappearance when drying occurs, and recolonization in a flooding period. The degree of cover reaches 90% at the most favorable times of the year, generally in summer and coinciding with flooding of the lake. The studied period shows how this method can be used for lacustrine habitat detection and highlights the need for field vegetation inventories in future works, which will allow the spectral measurements to be related to the species present.
Developing 21st Century Competencies among Youth through an Online Learning Program: BE a Global Citizen
Authors: Celume Macarena-Paz , Maoulida Haïfat
Published: February 2022

Background: Within the current labor market, continuously changing and accelerating since the COVID-19 crisis (World Economic Forum, 2021), the educational system must offer a pedagogical alternative to face and anticipate these 21st century changes and demands (OECD, 2018). Based on the four-dimensional education framework, from the Center for Curriculum Redesign (CCR), the online learning literature, and students’ perspectives, the Beyond Education (BE) organization has proposed a series of interactive online pedagogical programs aiming to develop 21st-century competencies in school-age students. Methods: The aim of this paper is to propose both quantitative and qualitative data analyses of the first pilot program: “BE a Global Citizen” through a semi-experimental study, using a mixed-method approach, analyzing the pre- and post-tests results of 26 students aged 16 to 18 years old. Results: Analyses presented evidence of the program’s efficacy at developing 21st century competencies in students, particularly those competencies targeted by the program, which were significantly increased. Conclusions: Although these are promising results, a replicability study needs to be done on a larger sample in order to generalize the results.
A Study on Conformal Metasurface Influences on Passive Beam Steering
Authors: Ge Ruisi , Striker Ryan , Braaten Benjamin
Published: February 2022

Beam-steering has drawn significant interest due to the expansion of network capacity. However, a traditional beam steering system involves active phase shifters and controlling networks which can be complex. This work studied the influence of passive conformal metasurface on conventional patch antenna. The phase shifting was achieved by changing the curvature of a conformal metasurface. In addition, three low-cost conformal prototypes were fabricated and tested using different techniques such as 3D printing. The simulations and measurement results indicate up to 20° of beam shifting and reasonable gain increase. Compared with other research in the similar topic, the antenna system is completely passive, and the conformal metasurface is independent of the conventional patch antenna. Therefore, such study will be easy to implement with other antenna research especially for low power consumption beam steering systems.
Deep Learning for Depression Detection from Textual Data
Authors: Amanat Amna , Rizwan Muhammad , Javed Abdul Rehman , Abdelhaq Maha , Alsaqour Raed , Pandya Sharnil , Uddin Mueen
Published: February 2022

Depression is a prevalent sickness, spreading worldwide with potentially serious implications. Timely recognition of emotional responses plays a pivotal function at present, with the profound expansion of social media and users of the internet. Mental illnesses are highly hazardous, stirring more than three hundred million people. Moreover, that is why research is focused on this subject. With the advancements of machine learning and the availability of sample data relevant to depression, there is the possibility of developing an early depression diagnostic system, which is key to lessening the number of afflicted individuals. This paper proposes a productive model by implementing the Long-Short Term Memory (LSTM) model, consisting of two hidden layers and large bias with Recurrent Neural Network (RNN) with two dense layers, to predict depression from text, which can be beneficial in protecting individuals from mental disorders and suicidal affairs. We train RNN on textual data to identify depression from text, semantics, and written content. The proposed framework achieves 99.0% accuracy, higher than its counterpart, frequency-based deep learning models, whereas the false positive rate is reduced. We also compare the proposed model with other models regarding its mean accuracy. The proposed approach indicates the feasibility of RNN and LSTM by achieving exceptional results for early recognition of depression in the emotions of numerous social media subscribers.
The Effect of Rainfall on the UAV Placement for 5G Spectrum in Malaysia
Authors: Shalaby Abdulrahman M. , Othman Noor Shamsiah
Published: February 2022

In this paper, the influence of rainfall on the deployment of UAV as an aerial base station in the Malaysia 5G network is studied. The outdoor-to-outdoor and outdoor-to-indoor path loss models are derived by considering the user’s antenna height, rain attenuation, and the wall penetration loss at high frequencies. The problem of finding the UAV 3D placement is formulated with the objective to minimize the total path loss between the UAV and all users. The problem is solved by invoking two algorithms, namely Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) and Gradient Descent (GD) algorithms. The performance of the proposed algorithms is evaluated by considering two scenarios to determine the optimum location of the UAV, namely outdoor-to-outdoor and outdoor-to-indoor scenarios. The simulation results show that, for the outdoor-to-outdoor scenario, both algorithms resulted in similar UAV 3D placement unlike for the outdoor-to-indoor scenario. Additionally, in both scenarios, the proposed algorithm that invokes PSO requires less iterations to converge to the minimum transmit power compared to that of the algorithm that invokes GD. Moreover, it is also observed that the rain attenuation increases the total path loss for high operating frequencies, namely at 24.9 GHz and 28.1 GHz. Hence, this resulted in an increase of UAV required transmit power. At 28.1 GHz, the presence of rain at the rate of 250 mm/h resulted in an increase of UAV required transmit power by a factor of 4 and 15 for outdoor-to-outdoor and outdoor-to-indoor scenarios, respectively.
Evolution Trends and Paradigms of Low Noise Frequency Synthesis and Signal Conversion Using Silicon Technologies
Authors: Tartarin Jean-Guy , Tournier Éric , Viallon Christophe
Published: February 2022

Silicon technologies for HF applications have been proven for more than two decades, and technologies have greatly evolved. Whether CMOS or BiCMOS technologies, the unique combination of radio frequency, baseband, and digital functions allow a very high level of integration. While it is possible to achieve fully integrated transceivers, the major advantages of these silicon technologies lie mainly in their unparalleled performance in the field of frequency synthesis and frequency conversion. We propose in this paper a review of the major results obtained on these RF components since the beginning of the 2000s, also considering the impact of the technology node. The back-end of line (BEOL) process on which depends the quality of microwave monolithic integrated circuits (MMICs) is briefly presented in the introductory part. If circuit performances are tightly bound to the active devices (i.e., the heterojunction bipolar transistor SiGe HBT or CMOS transistor), passive elements (i.e., quality factor of inductors and varactors, losses of transmission, or interconnection lines) as well as the definition of the substrate also play a major role. The core of the article is oriented toward the noise of synthesized signals and frequency conversion. Frequency synthesis is presented through the analog design of a voltage-controlled oscillator (VCO) or through the direct digital frequency synthesis (DDFS), for which respective figures of merit are presented and discussed in a second section. The spectral purity of the oscillators being decisive in the definition of the throughput of a link is approached through the comparison of different figures of merit (FoM) for a set of circuits achievements over the selected period. If the realization of free oscillators is closely bound to the phase-locked loop (PLL)-type control loop for VCOs, the DDFS solution provides more direct and more flexible alternative at first sight. Therefore, these two solutions are analyzed collectively. Finally, the oscillator integrated in the transmitter or receiver supplies the needed LO (local oscillator) power to the frequency mixer in the frequency conversion module: henceforth, the third part of this study focuses on high-frequency mixer realizations. We thus consider this LO power in some advanced figure of merit mentioned in the second section. The design trade-off of the mixer is presented in an approach combining LO (conversion gain, channel isolation, and phase noise) and RF (HF noise figure and channel isolation) constraints. The final section provides a summary of the results and trends mentioned in the paper.
Formation of an Ammonium Nitrate Fuel Oil Similar Type of Explosive under Fire Conditions: Materials Based on Selected Polymers (PUR)
Authors: Wolny Paweł , Tuśnio Norbert , Lewandowski Artur , Mikołajczyk Filip , Kuberski Sławomir
Published: February 2022

Polyurethanes (PURs) are a group of polymers with the most versatile properties and the broadest spectrum of application. Their name comes from the urethane group. PURs were introduced to the market on a large-scale basis by Bayer in 1942, in the form of Perlon U and Igamid U fibers produced by gradual polyaddition of diisocyanates and polyols. The development of PURs-production technology and the multitude of applications resulted in their widespread use. This group is so extensive that polyurethanes alone accounted for about 6% of the global production of polymers (2019)—most of them in the form of foam. Therefore, polyurethane can be found in a huge number of products—some of them stored in the vicinity of ammonium nitrate (AN). In the previous two articles, we showed that polymers and AN—stored within the same building—in fire conditions may, under certain circumstances, spontaneously transform into a material of explosive properties. The aim of this article is to check whether PUR, when in contact with AN, creates additional hazards, similarly to the previously tested polymers.
Performance of an Innovative Bio-Based Wood Chip Storage Pile Cover—Can It Replace Plastic Tarps?
Authors: Prinz Robert , Routa Johanna , Anerud Erik , Bergström Dan , Sikanen Lauri
Published: February 2022

There is currently great general interest in reducing the use of fossil-based materials. Fossil-based tarps are still widely used as cover for wood chip storage piles, causing additional waste or requiring further waste treatment in the supply chain. This study aimed to investigate the performance of an innovative bio-based wood chip pile cover compared to conventional treatments (plastic-covered and uncovered) in eastern Finnish conditions. The experiment evaluated the drying process during the storage of stemwood chips during 5.9 months of storage. It included the developments of temperature, moisture content, heating value, energy content, basic density, particle size distribution, and the dry matter losses of a total of six piles. As a result, the forest stemwood chips dried by 11%, with dry-matter losses of 4.3%, when covered with the bio-pile cover. Using the plastic covering, the forest stemwood chips dried by 22%, with dry matter losses of 2.9%. At the end of the experiment, the energy content in plastic-covered piles was 6.1% higher than uncovered piles and 3.1% higher than bio-pile-covered piles. While differences in the key drying performance parameters can be observed, the differences between uncovered piles and those covered with plastic tarps, as well as between the bio-based and the uncovered piles, were not statistically significant. We conclude that the bio-based cover, under the studied conditions, do not render better storage conditions than in current practices. However, our study indicates possible fossil-substitutional benefits by using a bio-based cover, which calls for further R&D work in this matter.
CO2 Capture by Virgin Ivy Plants Growing Up on the External Covers of Houses as a Rapid Complementary Route to Achieve Global GHG Reduction Targets
Authors: Krzywanski Jaroslaw , Ashraf Waqar Muhammad , Czakiert Tomasz , Sosnowski Marcin , Grabowska Karolina , Zylka Anna , Kulakowska Anna , Skrobek Dorian , Mistal Sandra , Gao Yunfei
Published: February 2022

Global CO2 concentration level in the air is unprecedently high and should be rapidly and significantly reduced to avoid a global climate catastrophe. The work indicates the possibility of quickly lowering the impact of changes that have already happened and those we know will happen, especially in terms of the CO2 emitted and stored in the atmosphere, by implanting a virgin ivy plant on the available area of walls and roofs of the houses. The proposed concept of reducing CO2 from the atmosphere is one of the technologies with significant potential for implementation entirely and successfully. For the first time, we showed that the proposed concept allows over 3.5 billion tons of CO2 to be captured annually directly from the atmosphere, which makes even up 6.9% of global greenhouse gas emissions. The value constitutes enough high CO2 reduction to consider the concept as one of the applicable technologies allowing to decelerate global warming. Additional advantages of the presented concept are its global nature, it allows for the reduction of CO2 from all emission sources, regardless of its type and location on earth, and the fact that it will simultaneously lower the air temperature, contribute to oxygen production, and reduce dust in the environment.
Plant Diversity and Soil Nutrients in a Tropical Coastal Secondary Forest: Association Ordination and Sampling Year Differences
Authors: Yaseen Muhammad , Fan Gaopan , Zhou Xingcui , Long Wenxing , Feng Guang
Published: February 2022

Studying the patterns of changes in species diversity and soil properties can improve our knowledge of community succession. However, there is still a gap in understanding how soil conditions are related to plant diversity in tropical coastal secondary forests. We sampled plant diversity and soil nutrients spanning two different years (2012 and 2019) to assess the patterns of species diversity and relationships of soil nutrients and species diversity on Hainan Island, southern China. Results showed that the soil pH and total nitrogen (TN) significantly decreased while the soil organic matter (OM) and total phosphorus (TP) significantly increased from 2012 to 2019. Plant species diversity was significantly higher in 2012 than in 2019, and the dominant species significantly changed in two different years. Using multiple regression analysis, we determined that soil TP and TN were significantly related to plant diversity in 2012 and 2019, respectively. Using CCA analysis, TN and OM were the strongest predictors for dominant species in 2012, whereas the soil TP and TN were the strongest predictors for dominant species in 2019. Our findings show a significant change in plant diversity and dominant species after 7 years of development in the tropical coastal secondary forest. The patterns of plant diversity and soil nutrients increase our knowledge of forest restoration in coastal areas.
A Survey on the Use of Graph Convolutional Networks for Combating Fake News
Authors: Varlamis Iraklis , Michail Dimitrios , Glykou Foteini , Tsantilas Panagiotis
Published: February 2022

The combat against fake news and disinformation is an ongoing, multi-faceted task for researchers in social media and social networks domains, which comprises not only the detection of false facts in published content but also the detection of accountability mechanisms that keep a record of the trustfulness of sources that generate news and, lately, of the networks that deliberately distribute fake information. In the direction of detecting and handling organized disinformation networks, major social media and social networking sites are currently developing strategies and mechanisms to block such attempts. The role of machine learning techniques, especially neural networks, is crucial in this task. The current work focuses on the popular and promising graph representation techniques and performs a survey of the works that employ Graph Convolutional Networks (GCNs) to the task of detecting fake news, fake accounts and rumors that spread in social networks. It also highlights the available benchmark datasets employed in current research for validating the performance of the proposed methods. This work is a comprehensive survey of the use of GCNs in the combat against fake news and aims to be an ideal starting point for future researchers in the field.
Design of Relay Switching to Combat an Eavesdropper in IoT-NOMA Wireless Networks
Authors: Tran Thanh-Nam , Ho Van-Cuu , Vo Thoai Phu , Tran Khanh Ngo Nhu , Voznak Miroslav
Published: February 2022

The requirements of low latency, low cost, less energy consumption, high flexibility, high network capacity, and high data safety are crucial challenges for future Internet of Things (IoT) wireless networks. Motivated by these challenges, this study deals with a novel design of green-cooperative IoT network, which employed coupled relays consisting of one IoT relay selected for forwarding signals to multiple IoT devices while another IoT relay transmitted jamming signals to an eavesdropper. For flexibility, all IoT nodes were powered by solar energy enough to sustain themselves, in order to consume less energy. To reach low latency, the study adopted the emerging non-orthogonal multiple access technique to serve multiple IoT devices simultaneously. Furthermore, the study adopted the simultaneous wireless information and power transfer technique which transmits wireless data for information processing and energy for energy harvesting. The study sketched a novel transmission block time period framework which plotted how a signal could travel via an individual IoT model. Maximizing the achievable bit-rate of IoT devices was considered to improve network capacity and data safety as well. Aiming at enhancing secrecy performance, a rest IoT relay played a role as a friendly jammer to transmit a jamming signal to an eavesdropper using energy harvested from the power splitting protocol. The results achieved in this study showed that the proposed model satisfied the requirements of future green IoT wireless networks. Derivatives leading to closed-form expressions are presented and verified by simulation results. The investigated results demonstrated that a friendly jammer based on radio frequency and energy harvesting strongly forces the intercept probability performance of the eavesdropper towards one, while outage probability performance of IoT devices towards zero showed that the signal to noise ratio tends to infinity.
Comparative Analysis of Purine Alkaloids and Main Quality Components of the Three Camellia Species in China
Authors: Zeng Wen , Zeng Zhen , Teng Jie , Rothenberg Dylan O’Neill , Zhou Mengzhen , Lai Ronghui , Lai Xingfei , Zhao Wenfang , Li Dan , Yan Changyu , Huang Yahui
Published: February 2022

Tea (Camelliasinensis var. sinensis) is a widely consumed caffeine-containing beverage, however the Camellia genus also includes other species, which are consumed as tea in their local growing regions. Presently, HPLC analysis assessed 126 unique Camellia germplasms belonging to three Camellia species, C. sinensis var. pubilimba Chang (Csp), C. gymnogyna Chang (CgC) and C. crassicolumna Chang (CcC). Theobromine was the predominant purine alkaloid in all species, representing over 90% of purine alkaloids in Csp and CgC, and 50% in CcC. Significant variability existed in purine alkaloid patterns both between and within species, and some germplasms possessed highly unique alkaloid profiles. Sensory evaluation and quality composition analysis of green tea products produced from the three Camellia species suggested their unsuitability for use in tea production due to their unpalatable flavor. The results of this study revealed the differences in purine alkaloids and main quality components between Camellia species and tea, which contributed to understand why tea, rather than other Camellia species, has become a popular beverage in the world after long-term artificial selection. In addition, unique alkaloid profiles suggest usefulness of these germplasm resources in future breeding of decaffeinated tea plant varieties and alkaloid metabolism research.
Comparison of the Effects of High Pressure Processing, Pasteurization and High Temperature Short Time on the Physicochemical Attributes, Nutritional Quality, Aroma Profile and Sensory Characteristics of Passion Fruit Purée
Authors: Niu Huihui , Yuan Lei , Zhou Hengle , Yun Yurou , Li Jian , Tian Jun , Zhong Kui , Zhou Linyan
Published: February 2022

The study investigated the effects of high-pressure processing (HPP) (600 MPa/5 min), pasteurization (PT) (85 °C/30 s), and high-temperature short time (HTST) (110 °C/8.6 s) on physicochemical parameters (sugar, acid, pH, TSS), sensory-related attributes (color, aroma compounds), antioxidants (phenolics, vitamin C, carotenoids, antioxidant capacity), and sensory attributes of yellow passion fruit purée (PFP). Compared to the PT and HTST, HPP obtained the PFP with better color, sugar, and organic acid profiles. Although PT was equally effective preservation of antioxidants and antioxidant capacity of PFP compared to HPP, high temperature inevitable resulted in the greater degradation of the aroma profile. The amounts of esters, alcohols, and hydrocarbon in PFP were significantly increased by 11.3%, 21.3%, and 30.0% after HPP, respectively. All samples were evaluated by a panel comprising 30 panelists according to standard QDA (quantitative descriptive analysis) procedure, and the result showed that HPP-treated PFP was rated the highest overall intensity score with 7.06 for its sensory attributes, followed by control (6.96), HTST (6.17), and PT (6.16). Thus, HPP is a suitable alternative technology for achieving the good sensory quality of PFP without compromising their nutritional properties.
Polyphenol from Rosaroxburghii Tratt Fruit Ameliorates the Symptoms of Diabetes by Activating the P13K/AKT Insulin Pathway in db/db Mice
Authors: Chen Chao , Tan Shuming , Ren Tingyuan , Wang Hua , Dai Xiaotong , Wang Hui
Published: February 2022

About 4% of the world’s population has type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), and the available hypoglycemic drugs for treating diabetes have some side effects. Therefore, research on the extraction of hypoglycemic components from plants has gradually become popular. This study aimed to investigate the hypoglycemic effects of polyphenol-rich Rosa roxburghii Tratt extract (RP) isolated from Rosa roxburghii Tratt fruit and of four constituents (IRP 1–4 ) isolated from RP on db/db mice. The results indicated that the oral administration of RP and IRP 1–4 could markedly decrease the food intake, water intake, fasting blood glucose (FBG), and serum insulin levels in the db/db mice. Glucose intolerance, insulin resistance, and oxidative stress were ameliorated in the RP and IRP 1–4 groups. Histopathological observation revealed that RP and IRP 1–4 could effectively protect the liver fat against damage and dysfunction. RP and IRP 1–4 also increased the hepatic and muscle glycogen contents by increasing the phosphorylation and reducing the expression of glycogen synthase kinase 3β (GSK3β). The activities of glucokinase (GCK), phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase (PEPCK), and glucose-6-phosphatase (G6PC) and their respective mRNA expression levels in the liver of db/db mice were simultaneously increased and decreased in the intervention groups. RP and IRP 1–4 significantly increased the expression of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (P13K) and the phosphorylation of protein kinase B (AKT). These results indicate that RP and IRP 1–4 exhibit good hypoglycemic effects by activating the P13K/AKT signaling pathway and regulating the expression of FOXO1 and p-GSK3β proteins, controlling hepatic gluconeogenesis and improving hepatic glycogen storage insulin resistance. Therefore, RP and IRP 1–4 could be utilized as the hypoglycemic functional component to alleviate the symptoms of T2DM.
Dissecting of the AI-2/LuxS Mediated Growth Characteristics and Bacteriostatic Ability of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum SS-128 by Integration of Transcriptomics and Metabolomics
Authors: Qian Yilin , Li Yuan , Xu Tengteng , Zhao Huijuan , Zeng Mingyong , Liu Zunying
Published: February 2022

Lactiplantibacillus plantarum could regulate certain physiological functions through the AI-2/LuxS-mediated quorum sensing (QS) system. To explore the regulation mechanism on the growth characteristics and bacteriostatic ability of L. plantarum SS-128, a luxS mutant was constructed by a two-step homologous recombination. Compared with ΔluxS/SS-128, the metabolites of SS-128 had stronger bacteriostatic ability. The combined analysis of transcriptomics and metabolomics data showed that SS-128 exhibited higher pyruvate metabolic efficiency and energy input, followed by higher LDH level and metabolite overflow compared to ΔluxS/SS-128, resulting in stronger bacteriostatic ability. The absence of luxS induces a regulatory pathway that burdens the cysteine cycle by quantitatively drawing off central metabolic intermediaries. To accommodate this mutations, ΔluxS/SS-128 exhibited lower metabolite overflow and abnormal proliferation. These results demonstrate that the growth characteristic and metabolism of L. plantarum SS-128 are mediated by the AI-2/LuxS QS system, which is a positive regulator involved in food safety. It would be helpful to investigate more bio-preservation control potential of L. plantarum, especially when applied in food industrial biotechnology.
Single and Combined Effect of Mild-Heat Treatment and Alginate Coatings on Quality Preservation of Minimally Processed Bunching Green Onions
Authors: Medina-Jaramillo Carolina , Usgame-Fagua Karen , Franco-González Nelson , López-Córdoba Alex
Published: February 2022

Bunching green onion is an Allium species that has been widely used in food flavorings and seasonings. This vegetable experiences a rapid loss of quality during storage due to physiological changes and microbial spoilage. In the current work, the single and combined effect of mild-heat treatment (55 °C for 60 s) and alginate edible coatings on the quality preservation of minimally processed bunching green onions was studied. Control and treated samples were stored at 4 °C for 15 days and examined periodically in terms of their respiration rate, weight loss, pH, soluble solids content, firmness, total polyphenol content, antioxidant activity, microbial count, decay ratio, and overall visual quality. The results showed that the combination of mild heat and alginate edible coatings was the most effective approach to slow down the respiration rate and the incidence of decay in the minimally processed bunching green onions. In addition, the treatments with alginate coating alone or combined with mild-heat treatment showed the best performance for maintaining the overall visual quality of the products during the storage.
Red Fruits Composition and Their Health Benefits—A Review
Authors: Cosme Fernanda , Pinto Teresa , Aires Alfredo , Morais Maria Cristina , Bacelar Eunice , Anjos Rosário , Ferreira-Cardoso Jorge , Oliveira Ivo , Vilela Alice , Gonçalves Berta
Published: February 2022

The probability that fruit ingestion may protect human health is an intriguing vision and has been studied around the world. Therefore, fruits are universally promoted as healthy. Over the past few decades, the number of studies proposing a relationship between fruit intake and reduced risk of major chronic diseases has continued to grow. Fruits supply dietary fiber, and fiber intake is linked to a lower incidence of cardiovascular disease and obesity. Fruits also supply vitamins and minerals to the diet and are sources of phytochemicals that function as phytoestrogens, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agents, and other protective mechanisms. So, this review aims to summarize recent knowledge and describe the most recent research regarding the health benefits of some selected red fruits.