bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Coltan Mining and Internet Privacy
Authors: Atif Fahad , Khan Shawn , Gobin Adriel
Published: May 2020

This research-informed action project focuses on coltan mining and online privacy. In particular, the atrocities being carried out in foreign countries in pursuit of coltan and the risks of privacy invasion one faces when browsing the internet. Although at first it may appear that coltan mining and internet privacy are entirely separate issues, we recognize that these issues are part of larger network, and thus, they are related to each other via many intermediate actants. Through surveys taken at Erindale Secondary School, we learned that most people are significantly uninformed in regards to both topics. In response to these appalling results, the research team created three YouTubeTM videos about coltan mining and internet privacy which included numerous facts about the issues and the actions that one can take. Additionally, a FacebookTM page was created to draw attention to the issues. The FacebookTM page has over 100 likes and the YouTubeTM channel has over 1400 views.
Shame, Attachment, and Psychotherapy: Phenomenology, Neurophysiology, Relational Trauma, and Harbingers of Healing
Authors: Benau Ken
Published: May 2020

Shame is part of our shared humanity. Shame is fundamental to our work as psychotherapists, reflecting upon experiences of self, other, and relationship. Shame also lies at the heart of psychopathology and human suffering, making understanding shame essential to our work as psychotherapists. This essay describes the phenomenology of shame, with an emphasis on its neurophysiology and Stephen Porges' polyvagal theory. Differentiating shame as emotion from shame as traumatic state of mind/body is detailed as well. Applying these perspectives to our work with shame and attachment, particularly disorganised/unresolved attachment styles, with an eye toward healing relational neglect and trauma, closes this first of a two part series on shame, attachment, and psychotherapy.
It Was Not Safe to Feel Angry: Disrupted Early Attachment and the Development of Chronic Pain in Later Life
Authors: Anderson Frances Sommer
Published: May 2020

Using detailed clinical material from her treatment of three patients referred by physiatrist John E. Sarno, for psychological treatment of chronic pain, Dr Anderson illustrates a relationship between dissociated/repressed affect and the development of chronic musculoskeletal back pain. Sarno, conversant with the fundamentals of psychoanalysis, theorised that the somatic pain, which he termed tension myoneural syndrome (TMS), served as a distraction from emotions that were unbearable. That is, the pain served as a psychological defense or survival tactic. In treatment, the adverse impact of overwhelming physical and emotional experiences on attachment and emotion regulation are identified and discussed. Detailed clinical process, which includes the use of trauma treatment techniques, illuminate how psychological treatment can be used to help patients identify and tolerate feelings associated with early life stress, leading to relief from the somatic pain.

Anderson, informed by the psychosomatic theories of Krystal and McDougall and by contemporary attachment theorists, advances the position that the physician as diagnostician functions symbolically as the "parent" who links mind and body, thereby reducing the patient's fear of pain and creating a secure attachment bond. In this secure attachment relationship, the physician "authorises" the patient to experience emotions that were previously disavowed. In the relationship with an empathic relational psychoanalyst, the patient's pain resolves as s/he builds a capacity to identify and tolerate emotions and learns how to use emotions, particularly anger, to enhance relationships and improve their quality of life.
The intersection of unresolved loss, trauma, and psychotic symptoms: a dyadic case illustration
Authors: Knafo Hannah
Published: May 2020

Traumatic experiences affect the brain in a variety of ways, causing issues with memory and cognition, attention, affect regulation, self-esteem, and dissociation. Symptoms of PTSD are often experienced as breaks from reality (e.g., intrusive thoughts about the traumatic event; re-experiencing of the frightening moment). In the most general terms, a psychotic experience can be described as a “loss of contact with reality” (Kleiger & Khadivi, 2015). This paper presents a dyadic therapy case with a mother and her three-year-old son that illustrates the intersection of psychotic symptoms, unresolved loss, trauma, and disrupted attachment. The challenges of diagnosis and treatment for the parent and child are explored, and the flexible approach to intervention is described in detail.
Relationally based psychodynamic psychotherapy in prison: processes of control, shame, and dissociation
Authors: Hohfeler Richard A.
Published: May 2020

The scant literature relative to the application of relationally based and psycho-dynamic therapies within correctional settings clearly illustrates the contextually driven challenges to employing such approaches (Haley, 2010; Huffman, 2006; Kita, 2011; Stein, 2007, 2009). Stein (2001, 2004, 2007, 2009) in particular has written extensively about the psychotherapeutic needs of the high concentration of severely developmentally traumatised and dissociative individuals in our prisons, who are unlikely to receive psychodynamic therapies due to resource constraints. Such acute treatment needs can be exacerbated by the operational design of correctional settings—which are predicated on the maintenance of safety and security through the exercise of behaviour management and controlled access to personnel and resources.
The over-representation of relationally traumatised individuals within prison populations is confounded by the structural parallels of the controlled environment that inadvertently trigger these inmates. The counterproductive results are not necessarily unexpected given how trauma is routinely re-enacted (Chefetz, 2015; Kupers, 1996; Van der Kolk, 1989, 2014; Van der Kolk & McFarlane, 1996). Nonetheless, this reactive cycle represents an unfortunate re-enactment of relational control both intrapsychically and environmentally. Discussion of the dynamics of control inherent within correctional settings, followed by a case study of an inmate suffering from traumatic exposure to an austerely narcissistic and abusive father, is illustrative of this cycle. The isomorphism of coercive internal object relations and institutional control is striking and will be illustrated.
Formulation of Moringa oleifera Lam. based Bio-fortified Food Supplement for Pregnant Women in Madagascar, Indian Ocean
Authors: Lazaniriana Randrantoarimbola , Jules Rafalimanantsoa , Narindra Ratiarimananjatovo , Andrin’iranto Randriamanantena A. , Bongo Ngiala , Ngbolua Koto-te-Nyiwa , Baholy Robijaona
Published: May 2020

The pregnant woman feeding is very important for the optimal embryonic development of the zygote. The present study suggests a formulation of food supplement in soup form. We were able to make a soup which is composed of vegetables and animal products. This product like food supplement can cover the pregnancy nutrients needs. In fact, the nutrients deficiencies during the first 1000 days lead to chronic malnutrition. Hence, preventive actions concerning this nutritional plague are necessary. Among that, the food supplement for pregnant manufacture can compensate the micronutrients and protein-energy deficiencies. This animal and plant-based food supplement contains various minerals such as Mg (368 mg/100g DM); Ca (2003 mg/100g DM); K (1324 mg/100g DM); P (204 mg/100g DM); Cu (0, 57 mg/100g DM); Fe (28, 2 mg/100g DM). Besides, the product is composed by carbohydrates (38, 2 g/100g DM), fats (2, 3 g/100g DM), and proteins (27, 1 g/100g DM) fibers (19, 3 g/100 g DM). It energetic value is 205 kCal per 100g.
Epidemiological profile of Ascariasis in Provincial General Reference Hospital of Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo
Authors: Christian Motuta Amisi , Ruphin Djolu Djoza , Colette Masengo Ashande , Benjamin Gbolo Zoawe , Gédéon Bongo Ngiala , Emmanuel Lengbiye Moke , Blaise Mbembo-Wa-Mbembo , Ngbolua Koto-te-Nyiwa
Published: May 2020

A cross sectional study was carried out on intestinal ascariasis, which is a helminth of fecal peril that colonizes the digestive tract with the possibility of complications in organs such as the intestines, liver, lungs and even the brain. The study was carried out at the General Reference Hospital of Kinshasa where medical records were used to collect data and the study period was from January 2016 and December 2017. The findings show females (61.19%) are predominant than males (38.80%), and the gender sex ratio (M/F) was 0.63. The incidence was high in June 2016 and November 2017 are the most affected months by Ascariasis in our study with 7 cases or 18.98% and 6 cases or 20% for each year. The age group between 31 - 40 years of age predominated by the attack of this parasitic affection with the extreme ages of 8 months and 75 years. The incidence varied with a peak in June with 7 cases or 18.98%. A variable incidence with a peak in November with 6 cases or 20%.
Floristic Study and Species Diverisy of Msallata-Garaboulli Province in Libya
Authors: Sherif Abdurrazag S. , Mahklouf Mohammed H. , Betelmal Abdalla G.
Published: May 2020

A survey of plant species of Msallata and Garaboulli was taken in between 2017-2018. A total number of 468 different plant taxa have been collected from the study area representing 68 families of which 57 families and 389 species are belonging to dicotyledons, 8 families and 76 species belonging to monocotyledons, and 3 families with one species each belonging to Gymnosperms. The results of this study shows that the dominance of the family Asteraceae with 78 species followed by the family Fabaceae with 59 species, the family Poaceae with 47 species, Brassicaceae with 27 species and Apiaceaew with 19 species. Other families such as Liliaceae, Caryophylaceae, Lamiaceae, Cistaceae, Boraginaceae, Plantaginaceae, and Rubiaceae were represented by 16, 15, 14, 13, 12, 10, 10 species respectively. The result have also shown that the gerera Plantago, and Silene are the most sizable genera with 10, 8 species respectively. Lifeform spectrum analysis have shown the predominance of therophytes with 231 species, followed by Hemicryptophytes with 62 species, while chorotype spectrum analysis have shown the dominance of Mediterranian species, followed by Mediterrean/Iranu-Turanean species.
Ciliate diversity in cold water spring sources in Iceland
Authors: Guðmundsdóttir R , Kreiling AK , Kristjánsson BK , Marteinsson VÞ , Pálsson S
Published: May 2020

Cold groundwater springs at the edges of lava fields along the volcanic active zone in Iceland are an interesting habitat, presenting an ecotone between groundwater, surface water and the terrestrial ecosystems. They are categorized as fennoscandian mineral-rich springs according to the European Nature Information System (EUNIS) classification (C2.111 European Environmental Agency) and have a high conservation value. They are also an island-like phenomena in the landscape and, together with the stable chemical and physical properties of the groundwater, make excellent study sites for testing questions regarding community assembly theory. To explore the biota of these systems, we applied environmental metabarcoding to assess ciliate diversity in this habitat. DNA was extracted and metabarcoding based on the 18S rRNA gene was conducted for (1) water samples and (2) glass beads as support for biomass development. Alpha diversity for ciliate communities in the spring sources increased with temperature, and limnocrene springs had fewer, more abundant taxa than rheocrene springs. Differences were observed between the water samples and the glass bead samples, mainly in terms of abundance. When considering only the water samples, no variation was found among spring source communities, indicating that stochastic processes such as dispersal and ecological drift might be important in shaping the community composition.
Augmented Reality to Interior Design Company Performance
Authors: Septiyanti Septiyanti
Published: May 2020

Interior design is an industrial company that works of flow from visual drawing into implementation construction of interior design drawing on site as a framework to fulfilled demand of client needed. Each day interior design company market becomes more high competitiveness as a national or even as a global market, and demand to fulfill with adequately performance to reach global market. In this report depart from previous comprehension; augmented reality can be a purpose effort interior design application for environment experience from computing interaction.
Measuring Client Satisfaction Level From Migration Manual Reconciliations system to Automatic Reconciliations system In Bank Danamon Indonesia Using Kano Model
Authors: Rizaldi Rizaldi
Published: May 2020

In banking industry, reconciliation software can help you rise to a range of regulatory, business and operational challenges. In this new, challenging operational environment, an automated reconciliation strategy has proved to be a mandatory system to help reduce costs and risk, to achieve compliance and improve transparency, efficiency and scalability. But migrating system is a big project, And like other big projects, sometimes the result are not satisfactory, to measure client satisfaction on this project, we use Kano Model to measure it, a theory of customer satisfaction and product development developed by Professor Noriako Kano in 1980.
Design of Ultrawide Bandwidth Electromagnetic Wave Absorbers with Square Patch Frequency Selective Surfaces with Different Geometries
Authors: Liu Tian , Kim Sung-Soo
Published: May 2020

A reliable and efficient numerical method is presented for the design of broadband absorbers, fabricated by layering two square patch-frequency selective surfaces (SP-FSS) with different geometries on a grounded dielectric substrate. The circuit parameters of the inductance and capacitance of the SP-FSS were retrieved using the strip wire conductor model. Due to the high capacitance and low inductance of the SPFSS, a nearly constant resonance frequency (f0 = 37 GHz) is observed, irrespective of patch size at a given unit cell periodicity of 7.5 mm. For the SP-FSS, the circuit is capacitive below f0 and inductive above f0. For a grounded substrate with a quarter wavelength thickness, however, the input impedance is inductive below f0, resulting in impedance matching over a wide frequency range, with the controlled FSS resistance matched to the free-space impedance. The double-layer absorber was designed by optimizing the surface resistance and layer thickness of two SP-FSSs with different geometries, and demonstrated a 10 dB absorption bandwidth of 6.1−41.4 GHz with a total thickness of 5 mm, which is equal to the theoretical limit. A test sample was prepared by screen printing method, and the free space measurement demonstrated a wide-bandwidth absorption result (4.7−40.0 GHz for −10 dB reflection loss) with a small total thickness (5.4 mm). The simulation and experimental results strongly validated the SP-FSS for the design of wide bandwidth electromagnetic wave absorbers.
Histopathological Changes and Enzymatic Activities Induced by Meloidogyne incognita on Resistant and Susceptible Potato
Authors: Abd-Elgawad Mahfouz M. M. , Kerlan Marie-Claire , Molinari Sergio , Abd-El-Kareem Farid , Kabeil Sanaa S. A. , Mohamad Moawad M. , El-Nagdi Wafaa A.
Published: May 2020

All potato cultivars are susceptible to root-knot nematodes (Meloidogyne spp.) which infest the roots and induce galls on the surface and necrotic spots in the flesh tuber of potato, Solanum tuberosum. Infested tubers are unacceptable for processing and fresh market. Tubers are also putative source of dissemination of the nematode. A French nematode- resistant tetraploid potato genotype gained from ex-S. sparsipilum material hybridized with S. tuberosum in F1 and in their back cross progenies and designated as 02T.155.6 was tested and compared in the present study in Egypt as a suitable different environment. Histopathological changes and chitinase activity induced by M. incognita population, of common occurrence in Egypt, in four French tetraploid materials and two common cultivars known as nematode- resistant and susceptible potato genotypes were investigated. Hypertrophied cells were initiated in both cortical and steler regions of the roots which were then developed to abnormal xylem elements expanding into the cortex in French susceptible genotypes designated as 02T.149.6, 02T.150.54, and 02T.157.16. Nematode within the vascular tissue (stele) could induce giant cell development close to nematode heads. The largest number of such induced cells was shown by the cultivars Spunta and Diamant. The clone 02T.155.6 with putative nematode resistance demonstrated none or very little nematode development. Recently dead second stage juveniles could also indicate incompatible plant reaction to the invading nematodes in 02T.155.6. M. incognita, Giza population, resistance was generally more coherent to 02T.155.6 as demonstrated by our histological investigations but less coherent as shown by another Egyptian M. incognita population. Chitinase activity was enhanced in M. incognita (Giza)-inoculated with respect to uninoculated roots in all plants. After inoculation, such an activity generally increased more in roots of a potato genotype previously known to have resistance or relatively low numbers of both nematode galls and eggmasses than in the other tested cultivars. Peroxidase and catalase activities of nematode- inoculated with respect to uninoculated potato roots were presented and discussed.
The Potential of Five Eco-Biorational Products on the Reproduction of Root-Knot Nematode and Plant Growth
Authors: Khalil Mohamed S.
Published: May 2020

This work aimed to select potentially useful eco-biorational product that could be used to reduce the reproduction of root-knot nematode. The experiment was carried out in pots under net house. The results revealed that the bio-product Dipel® (Bacillus thuringiensis ) proved to be the most effective treatment that reduced the root galls and egg masses by 71.60 and 77.78%, respectively. Also, Dipel® (B. thuringiensis) & Bio-nematon® (Paecilomyces lilacinus) showed their superiority between all treatments on the shoot, root length and root weight.
La evolución de la simbiosis ectomicorrízica desde la perspectiva genómica
Authors: Ángeles-Argáiz Rodolfo , Garibay-Orijel Roberto
Published: May 2020

Antecedentes: En los genomas de hongos ectomicorrízicos, están las huellas de las interacciones biológicas que los han transformado y les confirieren sus características fisiológicas y ecológicas.

Objetivos: Analizar los principales patrones relativos a la evolución y genómica funcional de los hongos ectomicorrízicos.

Métodos: Se revisó la bibliografía sobre historia evolutiva, diversificación, genómica funcional y genómica comparativa de hongos ectomicorrízicos.

Resultados y conclusiones: Los hongos ectomicorrízicos evolucionaron independientemente a partir de diversos ancestros saprobios con dos picos de diversificación, uno en la transición del Jurásico-Cretácico y el segundo a partir del Paleoceno. La condición ectomicorrízica generó diversificación de especies en muchos géneros que lo adoptaron. La pérdida múltiple e independiente de enzimas degradadoras de pared celular vegetal es una característica común entre estos linajes; mientras que la reinvención de la comunicación con la planta a través de nuevos genes huérfanos es característica de algunos linajes. El tamaño de ciertas familias génicas ha aumentado guiado por la actividad de transposones. Diversos estudios evidencian un mosaico evolutivo y funcional desarrollado independientemente en estos hongos. La masificación de la genómica y transcriptómica es necesaria para entender las relaciones entre las presiones ambientales o biológicas y la evolución y función de los hongos.
A Novel Data-Driven Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy Signal Analysis Framework to Quantify Metabolite Concentration
Authors: Bazgir Omid , Walden Eric , Nutter Brian , Mitra Sunanda
Published: May 2020

Developing tools for precise quantification of brain metabolites using magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) is an active area of research with broad application in non-invasive neurodegenerative disease studies. The tools are mainly developed based on black box (data-driven), or basis sets approaches. In this study, we offer a multi-stage framework that integrates data-driven and basis sets methods. We first use truncated Hankel singular value decomposition (HSVD) to decompose free induction decay (FID) signals into single tone FIDs, as the data-driven stage. Subsequently, single tone FIDs are clustered into basis sets while using initialized K-means with prior knowledge of the metabolites, as the basis set stage. The generated basis sets are fitted with the magnetic resonance (MR) spectra while using a linear constrained least square, and then the metabolite concentration is calculated. Prior to using our proposed multi-stage approach, a sequence of preprocessing blocks: water peak removal, phase correction, and baseline correction (developed in house) are used.
Isolation and Identification of Bovine Preadipocytes and Screening of MicroRNAs Associated with Adipogenesis
Authors: Yu Xiang , Fang Xibi , Gao Ming , Mi Jiaqi , Zhang Xiuqi , Xia Lixin , Zhao Zhihui , Albrecht Elke , Maak Steffen , Yang Runjun
Published: May 2020

The elucidation of the mechanisms of preadipocyte differentiation and fat accumulation in adipocytes is a major work in beef cattle breeding. As important post-transcriptional regulators, microRNAs (miRNAs) take part in cell proliferation, differentiation, apoptosis, and fat metabolism through binding seed sites of targeting mRNAs. The aim of this study was to isolate and identify bovine preadipocytes and screen miRNAs associated with adipogenesis. Bovine preadipocytes were isolated from subcutaneous fatty tissue and induced to differentiate into adipocytes. Verification of preadipocytes and adipocytes was performed by qRT-PCR (real-time quantitative reverse transcription PCR), Oil Red O staining, and immunofluorescence staining. Total RNA was extracted for small RNA sequencing. The sequencing data showed that 131 miRNAs were highly expressed in adipocytes, and 119 miRNAs were highly expressed in preadipocytes. Stem–loop qPCR (stem–loop quantitative real-time PCR) results showed that the expression patterns of 11 miRNAs were consistent with the sequencing results (miR-149-5p, miR-24-3p, miR-199a-5p, miR-33a, etc.). According to KEGG pathway and Gene Ontology (GO) analyses, multiple predicted target genes were associated with lipid metabolism. In summary, this study provides a protocol of isolating bovine preadipocytes and screening various differently expressed miRNAs during preadipocyte differentiation.
Early Renal Involvement in Cats with Natural Feline Morbillivirus Infection
Authors: Crisi Paolo Emidio , Dondi Francesco , De Luca Eliana , Di Tommaso Morena , Vasylyeva Kateryna , Ferlizza Enea , Savini Giovanni , Luciani Alessia , Malatesta Daniela , Lorusso Alessio , Boari Andrea
Published: May 2020

Feline morbillivirus (FeMV) is a newly discovered paramyxovirus infecting domestic cats and its role in the pathogenesis of feline chronic kidney disease (CKD) has been suggested, however not confirmed. The primary aim of the study was to evaluate the renal damage associated with FeMV infection in cats. In this retrospective study, clinical and clinicopathological data were compared among 14 FeMV naturally infected, 21 CKD and 22 healthy cats. FeMV positive cats had serum chemistry analytes and main urine chemistry results similar to the healthy subjects. FeMV positive cats had significantly decreased urine specific gravity (median 1054, range 1022–1065) and urine creatinine (median 227.23 mg/dL, range 83.02–489.75) when compared with healthy cats (median 1067, range 1040–1080, p < 0.001; median 406.50 mg/dL, range 195.32–575.58; p < 0.001, respectively). Urine protein:creatinine ratio (UPC) results of FeMV and CKD were not different (median 0.20, range 0.08–1.03; median 0.23, range 0.10–0.80, respectively), however UPC results were significantly increased in both groups, if compared with healthy cats (median 0.1, range 0.04–0.250, p < 0.01). Based on clinical data, serum creatinine concentration, urine specific gravity and UPC results, CKD was suspected by clinicians in 3/14 FeMV cats. Urine protein sodium-dodecyl-sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) in 10/13 (77%) FeMV cats indicated a tubular pattern, with a decrease of uromodulin and an increase in the number and intensity of low molecular weight proteins. FeMV infection can be associated with different grades of renal dysfunction ranging from mild tubular proteinuria with less concentrated urine to azotemia in cats younger than those typically affected by CKD.
Behavioral Therapy and Fluoxetine Treatment in Aggressive Dogs: A Case Study
Authors: Odore Rosangela , Rendini Diego , Badino Paola , Gardini Giulia , Cagnotti Giulia , Meucci Valentina , Intorre Luigi , Bellino Claudio , D’Angelo Antonio
Published: May 2020

Canine aggression is a major concern, affecting millions of people worldwide, and treatment can be challenging even for skilled veterinarians. Empiric use of fluoxetine is sometimes attempted, although few data regarding long-term effects in aggressive dogs are available. The aim of the study was to investigate clinical effectiveness of fluoxetine (1.5 mg/kg/die PO) combined with a behavior modification program for treatment of canine dominance-related aggression. Circulating levels of fluoxetine, norfluoxetine, and serotonin (5-HT) were also measured. Eight dogs with a diagnosis of dominance aggression (owner-directed) were enrolled. Before treatment (T0), and after one (T1), two (T2), four (T3), and six (T4) months of fluoxetine administration, clinical outcomes were graded using a five-point frequency scale (0–4), and blood samples were collected to measure fluoxetine/norfluoxetine (high-performance liquid chromatography) and 5-HT (ELISA) levels. Following treatment, a decrease in behavioral test scores was observed at T1–T4. Increasing concentrations of circulating fluoxetine and norfluoxetine were measured throughout the follow-up. Correlation between norfluoxetine levels and clinical scores was observed at T4. Starting from T1, a significant decrease in 5-HT levels was observed. Our data suggest that fluoxetine (1.5 mg/kg/day) when associated with behavior treatment is effective in controlling canine aggression over a six-month period, and that, in dogs norfluoxetine levels seem reliable in predicting clinical efficacy.
Identification of a New Variety of Avocados (Persea americana Mill. CV. Bacon) with High Vitamin E and Impact of Cold Storage on Tocochromanols Composition
Authors: Vincent Celia , Mesa Tania , Munne-Bosch Sergi
Published: May 2020

(1) Background: Tocochromanols are a group of fat-soluble compounds including vitamin E (tocopherols and tocotrienols) and plastochromanol-8, and just one avocado can contain up to 20% of the required vitamin E daily intake. (2) Methods: HPLC and LC-MS/MS analyses were performed in avocados of various varieties and origin for the identification and quantification of tocopherols, tocotrienols and plastochromanol-8. After selection of the variety with the highest vitamin E content, we evaluated to what extent short- (4 h) and long-term (10 d) cold storage influences the accumulation of tocochromanols. (3) Results: Analyses revealed that “Bacon” avocados (Persea americana Mill. cv. Bacon) were the richest in vitamin E compared to other avocado varieties (including the highly commercialized Hass variety), and they not only accumulated tocopherols (with 110 µg of α-tocopherol per g dry matter), but also tocotrienols (mostly in the form of γ-tocotrienol, with 3 µg per g dry matter) and plastochromanol-8 (4.5 µg per g dry matter). While short-term cold shock did not negatively influence α-tocopherol contents, it increased those of γ-tocopherol, γ-tocotrienol, and plastochromanol-8 and decreased those of δ-tocotrienol. Furthermore, storage of Bacon avocados for 10 d led to a 20% decrease in the contents of α-tocopherol, whereas the contents of other tocopherols, tocotrienols and plastochromanol-8 were not affected. (4) Conclusions: It is concluded that Bacon avocados (i) are very rich in α-tocopherol, (ii) not only contain tocopherols, but also tocotrienols and plastochromanol-8, and (iii) their nutritional vitamin E value is negatively influenced by long-term cold storage.
Oxidative Stress and BPA Toxicity: An Antioxidant Approach for Male and Female Reproductive Dysfunction
Authors: Meli Rosaria , Monnolo Anna , Annunziata Chiara , Pirozzi Claudio , Ferrante Maria Carmela
Published: May 2020

Bisphenol A (BPA) is a non-persistent anthropic and environmentally ubiquitous compound widely employed and detected in many consumer products and food items; thus, human exposure is prolonged. Over the last ten years, many studies have examined the underlying molecular mechanisms of BPA toxicity and revealed links among BPA-induced oxidative stress, male and female reproductive defects, and human disease. Because of its hormone-like feature, BPA shows tissue effects on specific hormone receptors in target cells, triggering noxious cellular responses associated with oxidative stress and inflammation. As a metabolic and endocrine disruptor, BPA impairs redox homeostasis via the increase of oxidative mediators and the reduction of antioxidant enzymes, causing mitochondrial dysfunction, alteration in cell signaling pathways, and induction of apoptosis. This review aims to examine the scenery of the current BPA literature on understanding how the induction of oxidative stress can be considered the “fil rouge” of BPA’s toxic mechanisms of action with pleiotropic outcomes on reproduction. Here, we focus on the protective effects of five classes of antioxidants—vitamins and co-factors, natural products (herbals and phytochemicals), melatonin, selenium, and methyl donors (used alone or in combination)—that have been found useful to counteract BPA toxicity in male and female reproductive functions.
Prevention of Oxidative Stress-Induced Pancreatic Beta Cell Damage by Broussonetia kazinoki Siebold Fruit Extract via the ERK-Nox4 Pathway
Authors: Kim Hyo-Jin , Kim Donghee , Yoon Haelim , Choi Cheol Soo , Oh Yoon Sin , Jun Hee-Sook
Published: May 2020

Pancreatic beta cells are vulnerable to oxidative stress, which causes beta cell death and dysfunction in diabetes mellitus. Broussonetia kazinoki Siebold (BK) is a widely used herbal medicine, but its potential effects against beta cell death-induced diabetes have not been studied. Therefore, we investigated the protective effect of an ethanolic extract of BK fruit (BKFE) against streptozotocin (STZ)-induced toxicity in pancreatic beta cells. Intraperitoneal injection of STZ in mice induced hyperglycemia; however, oral administration of BKFE significantly decreased the blood glucose level as well as HbA1c levels. BKFE treatment improved glucose tolerance and increased body weight in diabetic mice. Moreover, BKFE treatment resulted in increased serum insulin levels and insulin expression in the pancreas as well as decreased 4-hydroxynonenal levels induced by oxidative stress. Treatment with STZ decreased cell viability of mouse insulinoma cells (MIN6), which was blocked by BKFE pretreatment. BKFE significantly inhibited apoptotic cells and decreased the expression levels of cleaved-caspase-3 and cleaved-poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) induced by STZ treatment. Production of reactive oxygen species in STZ-treated MIN6 cells was also significantly decreased by treatment with BKFE. Erk phosphorylation and Nox4 levels increased in STZ-treated MIN6 cells and the pancreas of mice injected with STZ and this increase was inhibited by treatment with BKFE. Inhibition of Erk phosphorylation by treatment with the PD98059 inhibitor or siRNA Erk also blocked the expression of Nox4 induced by STZ treatment. In conclusion, BKFE inhibits Erk phosphorylation, which in turn prevents STZ-induced oxidative stress and beta cell apoptosis. These results suggested that BKFE can be used to prevent or treat beta cell damage in diabetes.
Comparison of the Antioxidant Activities and Volatile Compounds of Coffee Beans Obtained Using Digestive Bio-Processing (Elephant Dung Coffee) and Commonly Known Processing Methods
Authors: Haile Mesfin , Bae Hyung Min , Kang Won Hee
Published: May 2020

There are different types of coffee processing methods. The wet (WP) and dry processing (DP) methods are widely practiced in different parts of coffee-growing countries. There is also a digestive bioprocessing method in which the most expensive coffee is produced. The elephant dung coffee is produced using the digestive bioprocessing method. In the present experiment, the antioxidant activity and volatile compounds of coffee that have been processed using different methods were compared. The antioxidant activity, total phenolic content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC), and total tannin content (TTC) of green coffee beans from all treatments were higher as compared to roasted coffee beans. Regarding the green coffee beans, the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity of elephant dung coffee beans was higher as compared to that of the DP and WP coffee beans. The green coffee beans had higher DPPH activity and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) value compared to the roasted coffee beans. The green beans of elephant dung coffee had a high TPC than the beans obtained by WP and DP methods. TFC in elephant dung coffee in both green and roasted condition was improved in contrast to the beans processed using dry and wet methods. The elephant dung coffee had an increased TTC in comparison to the DP and WP coffee (green beans). About 37 volatile compounds of acids, alcohols, aldehydes, amide, esters, ethers, furans, furanones, ketones, phenols, pyrazines, pyridines, Heterocyclic N, and pyrroles functional classes have been found. Some of the most abundant volatile compounds detected in all treatments of coffee were 2-furanmethanol, acetic acid, 2-methylpyrazine, 2,6-dimethylpyrazine, pyridine, and 5-methylfurfural. Few volatile compounds have been detected only in elephant dung coffee. The principal component analysis (PCAs) was performed using the percentage of relative peak areas of the volatile compound classes and individual volatile compounds. This study will provide a better understanding of the impacts of processing methods on the antioxidants and volatile compounds of coffee.
The Role of Sirtuin 3 in Radiation-Induced Long-Term Persistent Liver Injury
Authors: LoBianco Francesca V. , Krager Kimberly J. , Carter Gwendolyn S. , Alam Sinthia , Yuan Youzhong , Lavoie Elise G. , Dranoff Jonathan A. , Aykin-Burns Nukhet
Published: May 2020

In patients with abdominal region cancers, ionizing radiation (IR)-induced long-term liver injury is a major limiting factor in the use of radiotherapy. Previously, the major mitochondrial deacetylase, sirtuin 3 (SIRT3), has been implicated to play an important role in the development of acute liver injury after total body irradiation but no studies to date have examined the role of SIRT3 in liver’s chronic response to radiation. In the current study, ten-month-old Sirt3−/− and Sirt3+/+ male mice received 24 Gy radiation targeted to liver. Six months after exposure, irradiated Sirt3−/− mice livers demonstrated histopathological elevations in inflammatory infiltration, the loss of mature bile ducts and higher DNA damage (TUNEL) as well as protein oxidation (3-nitrotyrosine). In addition, increased expression of inflammatory chemokines (IL-6, IL-1β, TGF-β) and fibrotic factors (Procollagen 1, α-SMA) were also measured in Sirt3−/− mice following 24 Gy IR. The alterations measured in enzymatic activities of catalase, glutathione peroxidase, and glutathione reductase in the livers of irradiated Sirt3−/− mice also implied that hydrogen peroxide and hydroperoxide sensitive signaling cascades in the absence of SIRT3 might contribute to the IR-induced long-term liver injury.
Operating Problems of Arc Plasma Reactors Powered by AC/DC/AC Converters
Authors: Komarzyniec Grzegorz , Aftyka Michał
Published: May 2020

The scientific objective was to investigate the cooperation of three-electrode plasma reactors with gliding arc discharge powered from multi-phase AC/DC/AC converters. In order to achieve the scientific and practical goal of the project, a test stand was designed and built, which included: a multi-electrode GlidArc type plasma reactor; a power-electronic AC/DC/AC converter, working as a source of voltage or current with regulated parameters of energy transferred to the discharge space; reactor operation diagnostics systems; and a process gas feeding and flow control system. The GlidArc Plasma Reactor has shown high sensitivity to changes in many electrical as well as gas chemical, gas-dynamic and mechanical parameters. The AC/DC/AC converter turned out to be a system sensitive to interference generated by the plasma reactor. It can be noticed that the operation of the reactor in certain conditions causes bigger interferences of the converter. However, it is difficult to systematise the influence of particular parameters of the reactor’s operation on the operation of the AC/DC/AC converter and vice versa due to mutual correlations of many parameters. The correct operation of a plasma reactor depends on the characteristics of the power supply system; on the other hand, the power supply system reacts to such an untypical receiver as a plasma reactor.
A Learning-Based Image Fusion for High-Resolution SAR and Panchromatic Imagery
Authors: Seo Dae Kyo , Eo Yang Dam
Published: May 2020

Image fusion is an effective complementary method to obtain information from multi-source data. In particular, the fusion of synthetic aperture radar (SAR) and panchromatic images contributes to the better visual perception of objects and compensates for spatial information. However, conventional fusion methods fail to address the differences in imaging mechanism and, therefore, they cannot fully consider all information. Thus, this paper proposes a novel fusion method that both considers the differences in imaging mechanisms and sufficiently provides spatial information. The proposed method is learning-based; it first selects data to be used for learning. Then, to reduce the complexity, classification is performed on the stacked image, and the learning is performed independently for each class. Subsequently, to consider sufficient information, various features are extracted from the SAR image. Learning is performed based on the model’s ability to establish non-linear relationships, minimizing the differences in imaging mechanisms. It uses a representative non-linear regression model, random forest regression. Finally, the performance of the proposed method is evaluated by comparison with conventional methods. The experimental results show that the proposed method is superior in terms of visual and quantitative aspects, thus verifying its applicability.
A Novel 2D Model for Freezing Phase Change Simulation during Cryogenic Fracturing Considering Nucleation Characteristics
Authors: Huang Chengyu , Wang Wenhua , Li Weizhong
Published: May 2020

A 2D computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model in consideration of nucleation characteristics (homogeneous/heterogeneous nucleation) using the volume of fluid (VOF) method and Lee model was proposed. The model was used to predict the process of a multiphase flow accompanied by freezing phase change during cryogenic fracturing. In this model, nucleation characteristic (homogeneous and heterogeneous nucleation) during the freezing process and the influence of the formed ice phase on the flowing behavior was considered. Validation of the model was done by comparing its simulation results to Neumann solutions for classical Stefan problem. The comparison results show that the numerical results are well consistent with the theoretical solution. The maximum relative differences are less than 7%. The process of multiphase flow accompanied by the freezing of water was then simulated with the proposed model. Furthermore, the transient formation and growth of ice as well as the evolution of temperature distribution in the computational domain was studied. Results show that the proposed method can better consider the difference between homogeneous nucleation in the fluid domain and heterogeneous nucleation on the wall boundary. Finally, the main influence factors such as the flow velocity and initial distribution of ice phase on the fracturing process were discussed. It indicates that the method enable to simulate the growth of ice on the wall and its effect on the flow of multiphase fluid.
Methods to Apply a 3-Parameter Logistic Model to Wind Turbine Data
Authors: Villanueva Daniel , Sixto Adrián , Feijóo Andrés , Fernández Antonio , Miguez Edelmiro
Published: May 2020

Power curves provided by wind turbine manufacturers are obtained under certain conditions that are different from those of real life operation and, therefore, they actually do not describe the behavior of these machines in wind farms. In those cases where one year of data is available, a logistic function may be fitted and used as an accurate model for such curves, with the advantage that it describes the power curve by means of a very simple mathematical expression. Building such a curve from data can be achieved by different methods, such as using mean values or, alternatively, all the possible values for given intervals. However, when using the mean values, some information is missing and when using all the values the model obtained can be wrong. In this paper, some methods are proposed and applied to real data for comparison purposes. Among them, the one that combines data clustering and simulation is recommended in order to avoid some errors made by the other methods. Besides, a data filtering recommendation and two different assessment procedures for the error provided by the model are proposed.
Bonding Strength Characteristics of FA-Based Geopolymer Paste as a Repair Material When Applied on OPC Substrate
Authors: Ahmad Zailani Warid Wazien , Bouaissi Aissa , Abdullah Mohd Mustafa Al Bakri , Abd Razak Rafiza , Yoriya Sorachon , Mohd Salleh Mohd Arif Anuar , Rozainy M. A. Z. Mohd Remy , Fansuri Hamzah
Published: May 2020

This investigative study aims to study the mechanical and morphological properties of fly ash (FA)-based geopolymer paste as a repair material when applied on ordinary Portland cement (OPC) overlay concrete. The first part of this study investigates the optimal mix design of FA-based geopolymer paste with various NaOH concentrations of 8, 10, 12, and 14 M, which were used later as a repair material. The second part studies the bonding strength using a slant shear test between the geopolymer repair material and OPC substrate concrete. The results showed that a shorter setting time corresponds to the higher NaOH molarity, within the range of 53 and 30 min at 8 and 14 M, respectively. The compressive strength of FA-based geopolymer paste was found to reach 92.5 MPa at 60 days. Also, from the slant shear test results, prism specimens with 125 mm length and 50 mm wide have a large bond strength of 11 MPa at 12 M. The scanning electron microscopy/energy-dispersive X-ray (SEM/EDX) analysis showed that the OPC substrate has a significant effect on slant shear bond strength, where the presence of free cations of Ca2+ on the OPC substrate surface contributed to the formation of calcium alumina-silicate hydrate gel (C-A-S-H) by building various cross-links of Ca-O-Si.
Potential and Feasibility Study of Hybrid Wind–Hydroelectric Power System with Water-Pumping Storage: Jordan as a Case Study
Authors: Al-Addous Mohammad , Al Hmidan Sahil , Jaradat Mustafa , Alasis Emil , Barbana Nesrine
Published: May 2020

Periodic daily fluctuating demand for energy and power is a perceptible phenomenon, resulting in some moments of low demand for power and energy related to the huge energy comes from renewable energy systems, and some moments of peak load demand. This phenomenon, when combined with the non-stationary operation of huge capacity of renewable energy systems, results in no stability of voltage and frequency. To assure continuous network stability and to avoid energy losses from renewable energy systems that are subject to such control system, a hybrid system with energy–power storage in the form of pumped-hydro storage is considered the most suitable technically. This paper presents the design, modeling, analysis, and feasibility study of a hybrid wind and water-pumping storage system. The system was designed and analyzed for King Talal Dam (KTD), which is in Northern Jordan. The importance of this study is that it is directed mainly to Jordan and the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region in general. The Jordanian renewable energy market is a promising arena that encourages developers, investors, engineers, and companies to develop and install pure renewable energy systems and renewable energy hybrid projects for the generation of electricity. The analysis of wind data is carried out using the “windfarm” software with 5.16 m/s as average wind speed. It is followed by the design of the hybrid system, which is simulated for a daily operation of 2–3 h as peak load hours. Based on the technical outcomes, cost study and feasibility analyses are carried out with Jordanian market prices. The total estimated annual energy production is 26,663,933 kWh from 10 MW wind farm and 5.2 MW pumping storage system. The aforementioned studies showed that a similar hybrid system is not always fully commercially feasible. However, a pure pumped-storage system proved to be technically feasible and assisting the grid. The whole project analysis determines that such a system boosts the operational stability of the grid, increases the penetration of renewable energy systems and reduces the energy import. In addition, 15,100,000 tons of CO2-equivalent is estimated as annual emissions reduction in this study.
Knowledge-Grounded Chatbot Based on Dual Wasserstein Generative Adversarial Networks with Effective Attention Mechanisms
Authors: Kim Sihyung , Kwon Oh-Woog , Kim Harksoo
Published: May 2020

A conversation is based on internal knowledge that the participants already know or external knowledge that they have gained during the conversation. A chatbot that communicates with humans by using its internal and external knowledge is called a knowledge-grounded chatbot. Although previous studies on knowledge-grounded chatbots have achieved reasonable performance, they may still generate unsuitable responses that are not associated with the given knowledge. To address this problem, we propose a knowledge-grounded chatbot model that effectively reflects the dialogue context and given knowledge by using well-designed attention mechanisms. The proposed model uses three kinds of attention: Query-context attention, query-knowledge attention, and context-knowledge attention. In our experiments with the Wizard-of-Wikipedia dataset, the proposed model showed better performances than the state-of-the-art model in a variety of measures.