bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Interpretation of the Epigenetic Signature of Facioscapulohumeral Muscular Dystrophy in Light of Genotype-Phenotype Studies
Authors: Nikolic Ana , Jones Takako I , Govi Monica , Mele Fabiano , Maranda Louise , Sera Francesco , Ricci Giulia , Ruggiero Lucia , Vercelli Liliana , Portaro Simona , Villa Luisa , Fiorillo Chiara , Maggi Lorenzo , Santoro Lucio , Antonini Giovanni , Filosto Massimiliano , Moggio Maurizio , Angelini Corrado , Pegoraro Elena , Berardinelli Angela , Maioli Maria Antonetta , D’Angelo Grazia , Di Muzio Antonino , Siciliano Gabriele , Tomelleri Giuliano , D’Esposito Maurizio , Della Ragione Floriana , Brancaccio Arianna , Piras Rachele , Rodolico Carmelo , Mongini Tiziana , Magdinier Frederique , Salsi Valentina , Jones Peter L. , Tupler Rossella
Published: April 2020

Facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD) is characterized by incomplete penetrance and intra-familial clinical variability. The disease has been associated with the genetic and epigenetic features of the D4Z4 repetitive elements at 4q35. Recently, D4Z4 hypomethylation has been proposed as a reliable marker in the FSHD diagnosis. We exploited the Italian Registry for FSHD, in which FSHD families are classified using the Clinical Comprehensive Evaluation Form (CCEF). A total of 122 index cases showing a classical FSHD phenotype (CCEF, category A) and 110 relatives were selected to test with the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve, the diagnostic and predictive value of D4Z4 methylation. Moreover, we performed DNA methylation analysis in selected large families with reduced penetrance characterized by the co-presence of subjects carriers of one D4Z4 reduced allele with no signs of disease or presenting the classic FSHD clinical phenotype. We observed a wide variability in the D4Z4 methylation levels among index cases revealing no association with clinical manifestation or disease severity. By extending the analysis to family members, we revealed the low predictive value of D4Z4 methylation in detecting the affected condition. In view of the variability in D4Z4 methylation profiles observed in our large cohort, we conclude that D4Z4 methylation does not mirror the clinical expression of FSHD. We recommend that measurement of this epigenetic mark must be interpreted with caution in clinical practice.
A Novel Ruthenium Based Coordination Compound Against Pathogenic Bacteria
Authors: Sur Vishma Pratap , Mazumdar Aninda , Kopel Pavel , Mukherjee Soumajit , Vítek Petr , Michalkova Hana , Vaculovičová Markéta , Moulick Amitava
Published: April 2020

The current epidemic of antibiotic-resistant infections urges to develop alternatives to less-effective antibiotics. To assess anti-bacterial potential, a novel coordinate compound (RU-S4) was synthesized using ruthenium-Schiff base-benzimidazole ligand, where ruthenium chloride was used as the central atom. RU-S4 was characterized by scanning electron microscope (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), and Raman spectroscopy. Antibacterial effect of RU-S4 was studied against Staphylococcus aureus (NCTC 8511), vancomycin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (VRSA) (CCM 1767), methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) (ST239: SCCmecIIIA), and hospital isolate Staphylococcus epidermidis. The antibacterial activity of RU-S4 was checked by growth curve analysis and the outcome was supported by optical microscopy imaging and fluorescence LIVE/DEAD cell imaging. In vivo (balb/c mice) infection model prepared with VRSA (CCM 1767) and treated with RU-S4. In our experimental conditions, all infected mice were cured. The interaction of coordination compound with bacterial cells were further confirmed by cryo-scanning electron microscope (Cryo-SEM). RU-S4 was completely non-toxic against mammalian cells and in mice and subsequently treated with synthesized RU-S4.
The Emerging Role of Long Non-Coding RNAs in Plant Defense Against Fungal Stress
Authors: Zhang Hong , Guo Huan , Hu Weiguo , Ji Wanquan
Published: April 2020

Growing interest and recent evidence have identified long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) as the potential regulatory elements for eukaryotes. LncRNAs can activate various transcriptional and post-transcriptional events that impact cellular functions though multiple regulatory functions. Recently, a large number of lncRNAs have also been identified in higher plants, and an understanding of their functional role in plant resistance to infection is just emerging. Here, we focus on their identification in crop plant, and discuss their potential regulatory functions and lncRNA-miRNA-mRNA network in plant pathogen stress responses, referring to possible examples in a model plant. The knowledge gained from a deeper understanding of this colossal special group of plant lncRNAs will help in the biotechnological improvement of crops.
Expression of a Constitutively Active Form of Hck in Chondrocytes Activates Wnt and Hedgehog Signaling Pathways, and Induces Chondrocyte Proliferation in Mice
Authors: Matsuura Viviane K. S. Kawata , Yoshida Carolina Andrea , Komori Hisato , Sakane Chiharu , Yamana Kei , Jiang Qing , Komori Toshihisa
Published: April 2020

Runx2 is required for chondrocyte proliferation and maturation. In the search of Runx2 target genes in chondrocytes, we found that Runx2 up-regulated the expression of hematopoietic cell kinase (Hck), which is a member of the Src tyrosine kinase family, in chondrocytes, that Hck expression was high in cartilaginous limb skeletons of wild-type mice but low in those of Runx2–/– mice, and that Runx2 bound the promoter region of Hck. To investigate the functions of Hck in chondrocytes, transgenic mice expressing a constitutively active form of Hck (HckCA) were generated using the Col2a1 promoter/enhancer. The hind limb skeletons were fused, the tibia became a large, round mass, and the growth plate was markedly disorganized. Chondrocyte maturation was delayed until E16.5 but accelerated thereafter. BrdU-labeled, but not terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL)-positive, chondrocytes were increased. Furthermore, Hck knock-down reduced the proliferation of primary chondrocytes. In microarray and real-time RT-PCR analyses using hind limb RNA from HckCA transgenic mice, the expression of Wnt (Wnt10b, Tcf7, Lef1, Dkk1) and hedgehog (Ihh, Ptch1, and Gli1) signaling pathway genes was upregulated. These findings indicated that Hck, whose expression is regulated by Runx2, is highly expressed in chondrocytes, and that HckCA activates Wnt and hedgehog signaling pathways, and promotes chondrocyte proliferation without increasing apoptosis.
Comment on: Molecular Functions of Thyroid Hormone Signaling in Regulation of Cancer Progression and Anti-Apoptosis
Authors: Szaryńska Magdalena
Published: April 2020

Dear Editor, I have found the article by Liu YC et al. very interesting, with great cognitive value [...]
Molecular Routes to Specific Identification of the Lactobacillus Casei Group at the Species, Subspecies and Strain Level
Authors: Jarocki Piotr , Komoń-Janczara Elwira , Glibowska Agnieszka , Dworniczak Michał , Pytka Monika , Korzeniowska-Kowal Agnieszka , Wzorek Anna , Kordowska-Wiater Monika
Published: April 2020

The genus Lactobacillus includes, among others, Lactobacillus casei, Lactobacillus paracasei and Lactobacillus rhamnosus, species that are collectively referred to as the Lactobacillus casei group. Many studies have shown that strains belonging to this group may decrease lactose intolerance, the effects of inflammatory bowel disease, diarrhea, constipation, food allergies and even colon cancer. Moreover, evidences exists of positive effects of these bacteria on mucosal immunity and blood cholesterol level. Because of their beneficial influence on human health, many of them are used as food additives and probiotic pharmaceuticals. It should be stressed that health-promoting properties are not attributed at the species level, but to specific strains. Therefore, procedures are necessary to allow specific identification at each phylogenetic level—genus, species and strain. In this paper we present a practical overview of molecular methods for the identification and differentiation of L. casei bacteria. The research included 30 bacterial strains belonging to three species: L.casei, L. paracasei and L. rhamnosus. Among the tested procedures were genus- and species-specific PCR, multiplex-PCR, Real-Time HRM analysis, RFLP-PCR, rep-PCR, RAPD-PCR, AFLP-PCR, and proteomic methods such as MALDI-TOF MS typing and SDS-PAGE fingerprinting. The obtained results showed that multiplex-PCR and MALDI-TOF MS turned out to be the most useful methods to identify the tested bacteria at the species level. At the strain level, the AFLP-PCR method showed the highest discriminatory power. We hope that the presented results will allow for the easy selection of an appropriate procedure, depending on the experiment conducted and the equipment capabilities of any given laboratory.
Mechanical and Thermal Properties of Self-Assembled Kaolin-Doped Starch-Based Environment-Friendly Nanocomposite Films
Authors: Ashaduzzaman Md. , Saha Dipti , Mamunur Rashid Mohammad
Published: April 2020

Environment-friendly advanced materials are promising candidates for the engineering of nanoscience and nanotechnology. Here, starch–kaolin self-assembled nanocomposite films were prepared using potato starch and an indigenous layered material, kaolin. The films consist of kaolin and the matrix, which were prepared by the disruption and plasticization of starch granules with water and glycerol. Self-assembled nanocomposite films with 0%, 5%, 10%, 15%, and 20% w/w of kaolin were fabricated by casting and evaporating the mixture from homogeneous aqueous suspension at 95 °C. The thickness of the film—about 200 μm—was controlled by a predesigned glass frame. The resulting films were conditioned before testing, and the effect of accelerated aging in a moist atmosphere was investigated. The films were characterized using attenuated total reflection infrared (ATR-IR) spectroscopy for the interaction of moieties via function groups, X-ray diffraction (XRD) for crystallinity change, universal testing machine (UTM) for tensile strength Young’s modulus and elongation at break investigation. The thermal stability of the films using thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and the effect of temperature on contraction behaviors using thermal mechanical analysis (TMA) were carried out. The distribution of kaolin into the matrix and morphology of the self-assembled nanocomposite films were observed from scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images. Developed nanocomposite materials from an indigenous source would play a vital role in the field of food packaging industries in Bangladesh.
Development of a New Ship Adaptive Weather Routing Model Based on Seakeeping Analysis and Optimization
Authors: Pennino Silvia , Gaglione Salvatore , Innac Anna , Piscopo Vincenzo , Scamardella Antonio
Published: April 2020

This paper provides a new adaptive weather routing model, based on the Dijkstra shortest path algorithm, aiming to select the optimal route that maximizes the ship performances in a seaway. The model is based on a set of ship motion-limiting criteria and on the weather forecast maps, providing the sea state conditions the ship is expected to encounter along the scheduled route. The new adaptive weather routing model is applied to optimize the scheduled route in the Northern Atlantic Ocean of the S175 containership, assumed as a reference vessel, based on the weather forecast data provided by the Global WAve Model (GWAM). In the analysis, both wave and combined wind/swell wave conditions are embodied to investigate the incidence on the optimum route assessment. Furthermore, the effect of the vessel speed on the optimum route detection is also investigated. Current results clearly show that it is possible to achieve appreciable improvements, up to 50% of the ship seakeeping performances, without excessively increasing the route length and the voyage duration.
The Impact of Storm-Induced Breaches on Barrier Coast Systems Subject to Climate Change—A Stochastic Modelling Study
Authors: Reef Koen R. G. , Roos Pieter C. , Andringa Tessa E. , Dastgheib Ali , Hulscher Suzanne J. M. H.
Published: April 2020

Storms can have devastating impacts on barrier coasts causing coastal erosion, partial inundation, and possibly the breaching of barrier islands. The breaching of barrier islands provides a mechanism for the creation of new tidal inlets that connect the backbarrier basin (or lagoon) and the outer sea. As a new tidal inlet affects both the basin and the hydrodynamics of existing inlets, it is important to understand why an initial breach either closes or may evolve into a new tidal inlet. To this end, we performed a Monte Carlo analysis using an idealized model capable of simulating the long-term morphological evolution of multiple tidal inlets connected to a single backbarrier basin. To do so required the creation of a stochastic shell, as a new element around this existing barrier coast model. Our results demonstrate that barrier coast systems tend towards an equilibrium value for the number of inlets per kilometer of barrier coast and total inlet cross section. This even holds with the continuous stochastic forcing of storm-induced breaches. This finding implies that if a new breach opens in a coast that is already in equilibrium, existing inlets will shrink and may close if the new breach remains open. Furthermore, we find that climate-driven changes in storm frequency will modify the timescales in which barrier coasts reach their equilibrium state. Finally, we find that the distance between a new breach and its nearest neighbor is more important for its survival than the size of the breach or the degree of saturation of the barrier coast.
A New Method for Extracting Laver Culture Carriers Based on Inaccurate Supervised Classification with FCN-CRF
Authors: Pan Xinliang , Jiang Tao , Zhang Zhen , Sui Baikai , Liu Chenxi , Zhang Linjing
Published: April 2020

Timely monitoring of marine aquaculture has considerable significance for marine ecological protection and maritime safety and security. Considering that supervised learning needs to rely on a large number of training samples and the characteristics of intensive and regular distribution of the laver aquaculture zone, in this paper, an inaccurate supervised classification model based on fully convolutional neural network and conditional random filed (FCN-CRF) is designed for the study of a laver aquaculture zone in Lianyungang, Jiangsu Province. The proposed model can extract the aquaculture zone and calculate the area and quantity of laver aquaculture net simultaneously. The FCN is used to extract the laver aquaculture zone by roughly making the training label. Then, the CRF is used to extract the isolated laver aquaculture net with high precision. The results show that the k a p p a coefficient of the proposed model is 0.984, the F 1 is 0.99, and the recognition effect is outstanding. For label production, the fault tolerance rate is high and does not affect the final classification accuracy, thereby saving more label production time. The findings provide a data basis for future aquaculture yield estimation and offshore resource planning as well as technical support for marine ecological supervision and marine traffic management.
Numerical Study of Wave Forces on Crown Walls of Mound Breakwaters with Parapets
Authors: Molines Jorge , Bayón Arnau , Gómez-Martín M. Esther , Medina Josep R.
Published: April 2020

The influence of parapets on crown walls of mound breakwaters on wave forces has not been extensively analyzed in the literature. In this study, numerical experiments were carried out using the open-source platform OpenFOAM® to evaluate the influence of nine crown wall geometries with and without parapets. The OpenFOAM® model was validated with laboratory experiments. Dimensionless horizontal forces and overturning moments due to horizontal forces increase when there is a parapet. Dimensionless up-lift forces provide similar results, regardless of the existence of a parapet. Crown walls with parapets increase the horizontal wave forces and overturning moments due to horizontal wave forces by a factor of two.
Environmental Management System for the Analysis of Oil Spill Risk Using Probabilistic Simulations. Application at Tarragona Monobuoy
Authors: Morell Villalonga Mariano , Espino Infantes Manuel , Grifoll Colls Manel , Mestres Ridge Marc
Published: April 2020

Oil spill accidents during port operations are one of the main hydrocarbon pollution threats for coastal waters. Appropriate environmental risk assessment and pollution events management tools are needed to achieve sustainability and environmental protection in port activity. Recent developments in monitoring techniques and accurate meteo-oceanographic prediction systems have been implemented in many ports, providing tools for environmental management. A novel method based on meteo-oceanographic operational services, in conjunction with Monte Carlo experiments using an oil spill model, is implemented to perform probabilistic maps of potential pollution events. Tarragona port area was chosen as the study case for three reasons: it accommodates a hub of petrochemical industry, the availability of high-resolution wind and water current data, and previous studies at the area offer the possibility to check the results’ accuracy. The interpretation of the impact probability maps reveals a specific pattern explained by the mean hydrodynamic conditions and the energetic north-westerly wind conditions. The impact probability maps may enhance efficiency in the environmental management of port waters and nearby coastal areas, reducing the negative impact of pollutant discharges.
Seeding and Overseeding Native Hayseed Support Plant and Soil Arthropod Communities in Agriculture Areas
Authors: Cardarelli Elisa , Gentili Rodolfo , Della Rocca Francesca , Zanella Marta , Caronni Sarah , Bogliani Giuseppe , Citterio Sandra
Published: April 2020

Using native seed mixtures to create or recover grassland habitats in rotation to crops or in strips surrounding fields is considered a cost-effective practice to enhance ecosystem resilience and agro-biodiversity. The aim of this research was to assess the effects of native hayseed mixtures on plant and microarthropod communities in an agricultural area of Northern Italy. Three different experimental treatments were set up. The first was a control (C) (i.e., non-seeded plots left to spontaneous vegetation succession after ploughing no deeper than 15 cm). The second, hayseed seeded (Hs) after ploughing no deeper than 15 cm. The third experimental treatment was hayseed overseeded (Ov) on the resident plant community after only a superficial harrowing. Ov plots exhibited the preeminent positive effects on the total productivity and quality of the grassland in terms of total vegetation cover, cover and richness of typical grassland species (i.e., Molinio-Arrhenatheretea species), and cover of legumes, grasses and perennial species. Moreover, Ov sites exhibited the highest abundance of microarthropod taxa and soil biological quality (QBS-ar) but only in spring, when the disturbance of ploughing negatively affected Hs and C plots. On the other hand, Hs sites showed a great reduction of invasive alien (i.e., Ambrosia artemisiifolia and Artemisia verlotiorum) and segetal weed species (i.e., Capsella bursa-pastoris and Spergula arvensis) in terms of cover. This study provides valuable indication on using hayseed mixtures to create grassland habitats as reservoir of native flora and soil biodiversity in agriculture areas.
Investigation on the Micro Deformation Mechanism of Asphalt Mixtures under High Temperatures Based on a Self-Developed Laboratory Test
Authors: Li Jilu , Guo Wei , Meng Anxin , Han Meizhao , Tan Yiqiu
Published: April 2020

Rutting has always been considered the main disease in asphalt pavement. Dealing with rutting disease would be benefitted by understanding the formation of rutting and testing the rutting performance of mixtures more reasonably. The objective of this paper is to systematically investigate the rutting mechanism by employing a self-designed rutting tester along with the corresponding numerical simulations. The deformation of different positions of the existing tracking tester was found to be inconsistent, and the loading was not in line with reality. Accordingly, a more practical tester was proposed: the reduced scale circular tracking (RSCT) tester integrates the functions of asphalt mixture fabrication and rutting monitoring. The results demonstrated that the loading of the new tester is closer to the actual situation. In addition, determining the stress and displacement characteristics of particles in the asphalt mixture was found to be difficult due to the limitations of the testing methods. Therefore, a two-dimensional virtual rutting test based on the RSCT was built using PFC2D (Particle Flow Code 2 Dimension) to investigate the mechanism of formation in rutting and to obtain the corresponding guidance. The numerical simulation showed that all particles of the specimen tended to move away from the load location. The main cause of rutting formation was the eddy current flow of asphalt mastic driven by coarse aggregates. The aggregates with diameters ranging from 9.5 to 4.75 mm were observed to have the greatest contribution to rutting deformation. Therefore, the aggregate amount of these spans should be focused on in the design of mixture grading.
An RVE-Based Study of the Effect of Martensite Banding on Damage Evolution in Dual Phase Steels
Authors: Aşık Emin Erkan , Perdahcıoğlu Emin Semih , van den Boogaard Ton
Published: April 2020

The intent of this work is to numerically investigate the effect of second phase morphology on damage evolution characteristics of dual-phase (DP) steels. A strain gradient enhanced crystal plasticity framework is used in order to capture the deformation heterogeneity caused by lattice orientations and microstructural size effects. The investigation is focused on two different martensite distributions (banded and random) that are relevant for industrial applications. The effects of martensite morphology are compared by artificially generated 2D plane strain microstructures with initial void content. The Representative volume elements (RVEs) are subjected to tensile deformation imposed by periodic boundary conditions. Evolution of voids are analyzed individually as well as a whole and characterized with respect to average axial strain. It is found that during stretching voids exhibit varying evolution characteristics due to generation of inhomogeneous strain fields within the structure. The behavior of individual voids shows that the stress-state surrounding the void is different from the imposed far field macroscopic stress-state. The voids at the ferrite martensite interface and in ferrite grains of the randomly distributed martensite grow more than in the banded structure. On the other hand, voids formed by martensite cracking growth shows an opposite trend.
Characterization of Platinum-Based Thin Films Deposited by Thermionic Vacuum Arc (TVA) Method
Authors: Cozma Sebastian , Vlǎdoiu Rodica , Mandes Aurelia , Dinca Virginia , Prodan Gabriel , Buršíková Vilma
Published: April 2020

The current work aimed to characterize the morphology, chemical, and mechanical properties of Pt and PtTi thin films deposited via thermionic vacuum arc (TVA) method on glass and silicon substrates. The deposited thin films were characterized by means of a scanning electron microscope technique (SEM). The quantitative elemental microanalysis was done using energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS). The tribological properties were studied by a ball-on-disc tribometer, and the mechanical properties were measured using nanoindentation tests. The roughness, as well as the micro and nanoscale features, were characterized using atomic force microscopy (AFM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The wettability of the deposited Pt and PtTi thin films was investigated by the surface free energy evaluation (SFE) method. The purpose of our study was to prove the potential applications of Pt-based thin films in fields, such as nanoelectronics, fuel cells, medicine, and materials science.
Stress Concentration Factors for Butt-Welded Plates Subjected to Tensile, Bending and Shearing Loads
Authors: Molski Krzysztof L. , Tarasiuk Piotr
Published: April 2020

This paper deals with the analysis of stress concentration at the weld toe of a Double-V and a Single-V butt-welded joints subjected to tensile, bending and shearing loads. For each geometrical and loading case accurate close form stress concentration factor formula based on more than 3.3 thousand finite element method solutions were obtained. The percentage error of the formulas is lower than 2.5% for a wide range of values of geometrical parameters including weld toe radius, weld width, plate thickness and weld toe angle. The limiting case, in which the weld toe radius tends to zero is also considered. In the cases of shearing loads, a plane model based on thermal analogy was developed. The whole analysis was performed assuming that a circular arc represents the shape of the excess weld metal. Presented solutions may be used in computer aided fatigue assessment of structural elements.
Ferromagnetic Half-Metal Cyanamides Cr(NCN)2 Predicted from First Principles Investigation
Authors: Wang Zhilue , Qu Shoujiang , Xiang Hongping , He Zhangzhen , Shen Jun
Published: April 2020

The stability, physical properties, and electronic structures of Cr(NCN)2 were studied using density functional theory with explicit electronic correlation (GGA+U). The calculated results indicate that Cr(NCN)2 is a ferromagnetic and half-metal, both thermodynamically and elastically stable. A comparative study on the electronic structures of Cr(NCN)2 and CrO2 shows that the Cr atoms in both compounds are in one crystallographically equivalent site, with an ideal 4+ valence state. In CrO2, the Cr atoms at the corner and center sites have different magnetic moments and orbital occupancies, moreover, there is a large difference between the intra- (12.1 meV) and inter-chain (31.2 meV) magnetic couplings, which is significantly weakened by C atoms in Cr(NCN)2.
Preparation and Structural Characterization of Complex Oxide Eutectic Precursors from Polymer–Salt Xerogels Obtained by Microwave-Assisted Drying
Authors: Vartanyan Maria , Voytovich Ilya , Gorbunova Irina , Makarov Nikolay
Published: April 2020

Sol–gel synthesis is an acknowledged method for obtaining fine inorganic powders of a different nature. Implementation of water-soluble polymers as gel-forming media makes this technique even more readily available, especially in cases where conventional gel formation is suppressed. In polymer–salt solutions, polymers serve as scaffolds for salt constituents’ bulk crystallization. When dried, solid salt particles are deposited on the polymer surface or in polymer matrix pores, which leads to higher grain size uniformity. The present work discusses the effect of drying conditions on phase composition and structure characteristics of complex oxide eutectics in ternary systems, CaO–Al2O3–Y2O3 (CAY) and MgO–Al2O3–Y2O3 (MAY), obtained from polymer–salt compositions based on polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), Na-salt of carboxymethylcellulose (Na-CMC) or polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP). Microwave-assisted drying proved to be more efficient compared to convective process; however such technique requires careful selection of gel-forming polymer.
On the in Vitro Biocompatibility Testing of Bioactive Glasses
Authors: Bellucci Devis , Veronesi Elena , Dominici Massimo , Cannillo Valeria
Published: April 2020

In this work, a new 3D cellular model—based on human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BM–MSCs)—was used for the first time to test the 45S5 Bioglass® (45S5). Such a model, previously used to evaluate the biologic performance of two novel bioactive glasses, suggested out the regenerative potential of such materials. In fact, BM–MSCs were able both to adhere and colonize the biomaterials, as well as differentiate toward osteoblasts—even in absence of specific growth factors. Surprisingly, BM–MSCs were not able to colonize 45S5 granules (almost no adhesion and/or colonization was observed), and thus, were not capable of providing any osteogenic differentiation. Therefore, the model seems to suggest that the two novel bioactive glasses have a better biologic performance than 45S5. If this hypothesis is confirmed also by in vivo tests, the 3D model may become a predictive tool for discriminating between different potential bioactive materials by comparatively evaluating them, and preliminarily selecting the best ones in relation to their biocompatibility potential—before proceeding with further experiments in vivo. This approach could favor the reduction of costs and time of pre-clinical and clinical trials.
A Review on Bubble Stability in Fresh Concrete: Mechanisms and Main Factors
Authors: Zeng Xiaohui , Lan Xuli , Zhu Huasheng , Liu Haichuan , Umar Hussaini Abdullahi , Xie Youjun , Long Guangcheng , Ma Cong
Published: April 2020

In order to improve the stability of air bubbles in fresh concrete, it is of great significance to have a better understanding of the mechanisms and main influencing factors of bubble stability. In the present review, the formation and collapse process of air bubbles in fresh concrete are essentially detailed; and the advances of major influencing factors of bubble stability are summarized. The results show that the surface tension of air–liquid interface exerts a huge impact on bubble stability by reducing surface free energy and Plateau drainage, as well as increasing the Gibbs surface elasticity. However, surface tension may not be the only determinant of bubble stability. Both the strength of bubble film and the diffusion rate of air through the membrane may also dominate bubble stability. The application of nano-silica is a current trend and plays a key role in ameliorating bubble stability. The foam stability could be increased by 6 times when the mass fraction of nano-particle reached 1.5%.
Feasibility Study on the Use of Recycled Polymers for Malathion Adsorption: Isotherms and Kinetic Modeling
Authors: Hermosillo-Nevárez Jhonatan J. , Bustos-Terrones Victoria , Bustos-Terrones Yaneth A. , Uriarte-Aceves Perla Marysol , Rangel-Peraza Jesus Gabriel
Published: April 2020

In this study, the use of Polyvinylchloride (PVC) and High Density Polystyrene (HDPS) was demonstrated as an alternative for the adsorption of Malathion. Adsorption kinetics and isotherms were used to compare three different adsorbent materials: PVC, HDPS, and activated carbon. The adsorption capacity of PVC was three times higher than activated carbon, and a theoretical value of 96.15 mg of Malathion could be adsorbed when using only 1 g of PVC. A pseudo first-order rate constant of 1.98 (1/h) was achieved according to Lagergren kinetic model. The adsorption rate and capacity values obtained in the present study are very promising since with very little adsorbent material it is possible to obtain high removal efficiencies. Phosphorous and sulfur elements were identified through Energy Dispersive X-ray (EDX) analysis and evidenced the malathion adsorption on PVC. The characteristic spectrum of malathion was identified by the Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) Spectroscopy analysis. The Thermogravimetric and Differential Thermal Analysis (TG/DTA) suggested that the adsorption of malathion on the surface of the polymers was mainly determined by hydrogen bonds.
Efficient Hydrothermal Synthesis of SSZ-13 with Variable Grain Size
Authors: Wang Yibao , Wang Chen , Wang Jun , Wang Jianqiang , Wang Lei , Xu Cheng , Shen Meiqing
Published: April 2020

To meet the industrial needs for SSZ-13, variable sizes of SSZ-13 with different Si/Al ratios were firstly obtained by conventional hydrothermal synthesis using the seed method. Using a set of characterizations, like X-ray fluorescence (XRF), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), the physicochemical structure and size distribution could be traced. After the specific Si/Al ratio of SSZ-13 zeolites was optimized, synthesized by changing the amounts of structure-directing agents (SDAs) and NaOH, the obtained SSZ-13 showed a high degree of crystallinity. With the limitation of the pH values, the variation of the alkalinity and water content was not helpful to generate different grain sizes of SSZ-13 materials. With the help of ground seed, the various grain sizes of SSZ-13s from 0.4 to 4 μm had a similar degree of crystallinity and size distribution. Moreover, due to the identical intensity of the Al peak in the NMR results, the different grain sizes of SSZ-13s had the same acidity. Our study revealed that using the seed method was an easy and efficient way to synthesize SSZ-13s with different sizes.
Correction: Bassini, E.; et al. Study of the Effects of Aging Treatment on Astroloy Processed via Hot Isostatic Pressing. Materials 2019, 12, 1517
Authors: Bassini Emilio , Cattano Giulio , Marchese Giulio , Biamino Sara , Ugues Daniele , Lombardi Mariangela , Vallillo Gianfranco , Picqué Benjamin
Published: April 2020

The authors wish to make the following correction to the paper [...]
Effects of Combined Usage of Supplementary Cementitious Materials on the Thermal Properties and Microstructure of High-Performance Concrete at High Temperatures
Authors: Lu Dong , Tang Zhuo , Zhang Liang , Zhou Jianwei , Gong Yue , Tian Yaogang , Zhong Jing
Published: April 2020

Concrete has low porosity and compact microstructure, and thus can be vulnerable to high temperature, and the increasing application of various types of supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs) in concrete makes its high-temperature resistant behavior more complex. In this study, we investigate the effects of four formulations with typical SCMs combinations of fly ash (FA), ultra-fine fly ash (UFFA) and metakaolin (MK), and study the effects of SCMs combinations on the thermal performance, microstructure, and the crystalline and amorphous phases evolution of concrete subjected to high temperatures. The experimental results showed that at 400 °C, with the addition of 20% FA (wt %), the thermal conductivity of the sample slightly increased to 1.5 W/(m·K). Replacing FA with UFFA can further increase the thermal conductivity to 1.7 W/(m·K). Thermal conductivity of concrete slightly increased at 400 °C and significantly reduced at 800 °C. Further, combined usage of SCMs delayed and reduced micro-cracks of concrete subjected to high temperatures. This study demonstrates the potential of combining the usage of SCMs to promote the high-temperature performance of concrete and explains the micro-mechanism of concrete containing SCMs at high temperatures.
An Evolving Partial Consensus Fuzzy Collaborative Forecasting Approach
Authors: Chen Tin-Chih Toly , Wang Yu-Cheng , Huang Chin-Hau
Published: April 2020

Current fuzzy collaborative forecasting methods have rarely considered how to determine the appropriate number of experts to optimize forecasting performance. Therefore, this study proposes an evolving partial-consensus fuzzy collaborative forecasting approach to address this issue. In the proposed approach, experts apply various fuzzy forecasting methods to forecast the same target, and the partial consensus fuzzy intersection operator, rather than the prevalent fuzzy intersection operator, is applied to aggregate the fuzzy forecasts by experts. Meaningful information can be determined by observing partial consensus fuzzy intersection changes as the number of experts varies, including the appropriate number of experts. We applied the evolving partial-consensus fuzzy collaborative forecasting approach to forecasting dynamic random access memory product yield with real data. The proposed approach forecasting performance surpassed current fuzzy collaborative forecasting that considered overall consensus, and it increased forecasting accuracy 13% in terms of mean absolute percentage error.
Numerical Inverse Transformation Methods for Z-Transform
Authors: Horváth Illés , Mészáros András , Telek Miklós
Published: April 2020

Numerical inverse Z-transformation (NIZT) methods have been efficiently used in engineering practice for a long time. In this paper, we compare the abilities of the most widely used NIZT methods, and propose a new variant of a classic NIZT method based on contour integral approximation, which is efficient when the point of interest (at which the value of the function is needed) is smaller than the order of the NIZT method. We also introduce a vastly different NIZT method based on concentrated matrix geometric (CMG) distributions that tackles the limitations of many of the classic methods when the point of interest is larger than the order of the NIZT method.
An Efficient Micro Grid Optimization Theory
Authors: Jung Sooyoung , Yoon Yong Tae , Huh Jun-Ho
Published: April 2020

A Micro Grid is an aggregate of many small-scale distributed energy resources (DERs); loads and can be operated independently or together with the existing power grid as a local power grid. The operator of such a grid takes charge of the energy supply and consumption of these resources and loads available in the grid. Meanwhile, the system operator of the grid considers the entire Micro Grid system to be a single load or a generator and assigns the responsibility of its internal management to the operator. The power production from a passive production resource is largely influenced by external environmental factors such as weather conditions, rather than operating conditions. Thus, this study conducted simulations for the cases where four kinds of conditional expressions had not been applied at all or one of them had been applied to compare and evaluate the effectiveness of each expression. As a result, the conditional equations were found to be effective when attempting to optimize the Micro Grids efficiently.
Sub-Mesoscale Frontal Instabilities in the Omani Coastal Current
Authors: Morvan Mathieu , Carton Xavier
Published: April 2020

The Omani Coastal Current (OCC) flowing northward along the southern coast of Oman during the summer monsoon is associated with an upwelling system. The mesoscale circulation of the western Arabian Sea is dominated by energetic mesoscale eddies down to about 1000 m depth. They drive the pathways of the upwelling water masses and the Persian Gulf Outflow water. This paper focuses on the sub-mesoscale frontal dynamics in the OCC by analyzing the results from a regional realistic numerical simulation performed with a primitive equation model. Off the Omani coast, the interaction between the upwelling fronts and the mesoscale eddies triggers the frontogenesis at play in the surface mixed layer during the summer monsoon. In spring, sub-mesoscale eddies are generated at the Cape of Ra’s al Hadd due to the horizontal shear instabilities undergone by the OCC. The OCC also drives and elongates Peddies formed during the Summer monsoon and located below the thermocline. Finally, the interaction between mesoscale eddies and the upwelling system leads to the formation of sub-mesoscale eddies at depth through baroclinic instabilities.
Gated Recurrent Unit with Genetic Algorithm for Product Demand Forecasting in Supply Chain Management
Authors: Noh Jiseong , Park Hyun-Ji , Kim Jong Soo , Hwang Seung-June
Published: April 2020

Product demand forecasting plays a vital role in supply chain management since it is directly related to the profit of the company. According to companies’ concerns regarding product demand forecasting, many researchers have developed various forecasting models in order to improve accuracy. We propose a hybrid forecasting model called GA-GRU, which combines Genetic Algorithm (GA) with Gated Recurrent Unit (GRU). Because many hyperparameters of GRU affect its performance, we utilize GA that finds five kinds of hyperparameters of GRU including window size, number of neurons in the hidden state, batch size, epoch size, and initial learning rate. To validate the effectiveness of GA-GRU, this paper includes three experiments: comparing GA-GRU with other forecasting models, k-fold cross-validation, and sensitive analysis of the GA parameters. During each experiment, we use root mean square error and mean absolute error for calculating the accuracy of the forecasting models. The result shows that GA-GRU obtains better percent deviations than other forecasting models, suggesting setting the mutation factor of 0.015 and the crossover probability of 0.70. In short, we observe that GA-GRU can optimally set five types of hyperparameters and obtain the highest forecasting accuracy.
About Aczél Inequality and Some Bounds for Several Statistical Indicators
Authors: Raţiu Augusta , Minculete Nicuşor
Published: April 2020

In this paper, we will study a refinement of the Cauchy–Buniakowski–Schwarz inequality and a refinement of the Aczél inequality by the technique of the monotony of a sequence. In the final part, we present some properties of bounds of several statistical indicators of variation.
Vibration Signal Processing-Based Detection of Short-Circuited Turns in Transformers: A Nonlinear Mode Decomposition Approach
Authors: Huerta-Rosales Jose R. , Granados-Lieberman David , Amezquita-Sanchez Juan P. , Camarena-Martinez David , Valtierra-Rodriguez Martin
Published: April 2020

Transformers are vital and indispensable elements in electrical systems, and therefore, their correct operation is fundamental; despite being robust electrical machines, they are susceptible to present different types of faults during their service life. Although there are different faults, the fault of short-circuited turns (SCTs) has attracted the interest of many researchers around the world since the windings in a transformer are one of the most vulnerable parts. In this regard, several works in literature have analyzed the vibration signals that generate a transformer as a source of information to carry out fault diagnosis; however this analysis is not an easy task since the information associated with the fault is embedded in high level noise. This problem becomes more difficult when low levels of fault severity are considered. In this work, as the main contribution, the nonlinear mode decomposition (NMD) method is investigated as a potential signal processing technique to extract features from vibration signals, and thus, detect SCTs in transformers, even in early stages, i.e., low levels of fault severity. Also, the instantaneous root mean square (RMS) value computed using the Hilbert transform is proposed as a fault indicator, demonstrating to be sensitive to fault severity. Finally, a fuzzy logic system is developed for automatic fault diagnosis. To test the proposal, a modified transformer representing diverse levels of SCTs is used. These levels consist of 0 (healthy condition), 5, 10, 15, 20, and 25 SCTs. Results demonstrate the capability of the proposal to extract features from vibration signals and perform automatic fault diagnosis.
One Dimensional Discrete Scan Statistics for Dependent Models and Some Related Problems
Authors: Amarioarei Alexandru , Preda Cristian
Published: April 2020

The one dimensional discrete scan statistic is considered over sequences of random variables generated by block factor dependence models. Viewed as a maximum of an 1-dependent stationary sequence, the scan statistics distribution is approximated with accuracy and sharp bounds are provided. The longest increasing run statistics is related to the scan statistics and its distribution is studied. The moving average process is a particular case of block factor and the distribution of the associated scan statistics is approximated. Numerical results are presented.
Enzymatic Hydrolysis of Marine Collagen and Fibrinogen Proteins in the Presence of Thrombin
Authors: Semenycheva Ludmila L. , Egorikhina Marfa N. , Chasova Victoria O. , Valetova Natalya B. , Kuznetsova Yulia L. , Mitin Alexander V.
Published: April 2020

Enzymatic hydrolysis of native collagen and fibrinogen was carried out under comparable conditions at room temperature. The molecular weight parameters of proteins before and after hydrolysis by thrombin were monitored by gel-penetrating chromatography (GPC). An analysis of the experiment results shows that the molecular weight parameters of the initial fibrinogen (Fn) and cod collagen (CC) are very similar. High molecular CC decays within the first minute, forming two low molecular fractions. The main part (~80%) falls on the fraction with a value of Mw less than 10 kDa. The initial high molecular fraction of Fn with Mw ~320–340 kDa is not completely hydrolyzed even after three days of control. The presence of low molecular fractions with Mw ~17 and Mw ~10 kDa in the solution slightly increases within an hour and noticeably increases for three days. The destruction of macromolecules of high molecular collagen to hydrolysis products appears almost completely within the first minute mainly to the polymer with Mw ~10 kDa, and enzymatic hydrolysis of fibrinogen proceeds slower than that of collagen, but also mainly to the polymer with Mw ~10 kDa. Comparative photos of the surfaces of native collagen, fibrinogen and the scaffold based on them were obtained.
Particle Track and Trace during Membrane Filtration by Direct Observation with a High Speed Camera
Authors: Jørgensen Mads Koustrup , Eriksen Kristian Boe , Christensen Morten Lykkegaard
Published: April 2020

A methodology was developed for direct observation and analysis of particle movements near a microfiltration membrane. A high speed camera (1196 frames per second) was mounted on a microscope to record a hollow fiber membrane in a filtration cell with a transparent wall. Filtrations were conducted at varying pressure and crossflow velocities using synthetic core–shell particles (diameter 1.6 μm) of no and high negative surface charge. MATLAB scripts were developed to track the particle positions and calculate velocities of particle movements across and towards the membrane surface. Data showed that the velocity of particles along the membrane increases with distance from the membrane surface which correlates well with a fluid velocity profile obtained from CFD modelling. Particle track and trace was used to calculate the particle count profiles towards the membrane and document a higher concentration of particles near the membrane surface than in the bulk. Calculation of particle velocity towards and away from the membrane showed a region within 3–80 μm from the membrane surface with particle velocities higher than expected from the velocity of water through the membrane, thus the permeation drag underpredicts the actual velocity of particles towards the membrane. Near the membrane, particle velocities shift direction and move away. This is not described in classical filtration theory, but it has been speculated that this is an effect of particle rotation or due to membrane vibration or change in flow pattern close to the membrane.