bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
An Efficient Method Based on Framelets for Solving Fractional Volterra Integral Equations
Authors: Mohammad Mutaz , Trounev Alexander , Cattani Carlo
Published: July 2020

This paper is devoted to shedding some light on the advantages of using tight frame systems for solving some types of fractional Volterra integral equations (FVIEs) involved by the Caputo fractional order derivative. A tight frame or simply framelet, is a generalization of an orthonormal basis. A lot of applications are modeled by non-negative functions; taking this into account in this paper, we consider framelet systems generated using some refinable non-negative functions, namely, B-splines. The FVIEs we considered were reduced to a set of linear system of equations and were solved numerically based on a collocation discretization technique. We present many important examples of FVIEs for which accurate and efficient numerical solutions have been accomplished and the numerical results converge very rapidly to the exact ones.
On the Transient Queue with the Dropping Function
Authors: Chydzinski Andrzej
Published: July 2020

We deal with a queueing system, in which arriving packets are being dropped with the probability depending on the queue size. Such a scheme is used in several active queue management schemes proposed for Internet routers. In this paper, we derive and analyze a selected transient characteristic of the model, i.e., the probability that in a given time interval the queue size is kept under a predefined level. As the main purpose of the discussed queueing scheme is to maintain the queue size low, this is a natural characteristic to study. In addition to that, the average time to reach a given level is derived. Theoretical results for both characteristics are accompanied by numerical examples. Among other things, they demonstrate that the transient behavior of the queue may vary significantly with the shape of the dropping function, even if the steady-state performance remains unaltered.
Pandemic Preparedness and Public Health Expenditure
Authors: Eissa Noura
Published: July 2020

The motive behind this article is investigating alternative indicator measures for the effectiveness of public health expenditure on pandemic preparedness, to explain the reasons behind country variations in containing crises such as Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). The purpose is to analyse the shortcomings in the relationship between global public health expenditure and pandemic preparedness. The research methodology includes a macro-analysis of global health spending patterns, empirical and theoretical literature on global health expenditure, global health security indexes, and country case studies pre- and post-crisis. The results show that gaps in pandemic preparedness were already existent pre-COVID-19, calling for a new mind-set in the way public health expenditure is structured. Healthcare sustainability indicators should transition from traditional measures such as economic growth rates, public health expenditure rates, revenue coming from the healthcare sector, and rankings in the global health security index, to new awareness indicators. Public health expenditure, a facilitator of pandemic preparedness, coupled with the resilience of healthcare systems, could be used in conjunction with the traditional factors, along with the time element of a quick response to pandemic through preparedness schemes, the progress towards achieving sustainable health through the implementation of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, and investment in national healthcare capital to ensure efficient resource allocation. The policy recommendations are the restructuring of public expenditure to expand the absorptive capacities of healthcare institutes, eventually leading to sustainability and universal health insurance.
A Multidisciplinary Study of Eye Tracking Technology for Visual Intelligence
Authors: Sindhwani Shyamli , Minissale Gregory , Weber Gerald , Lutteroth Christof , Lambert Anthony , Curtis Neal , Broadbent Elizabeth
Published: July 2020

The ability to analyse aspects of visual culture—works of art, maps or plans, graphs, tables and X-rays—quickly and efficiently is critical in decision-making in a broad range of disciplines. Eye tracking is a technology that can record how long someone dwells on a particular detail in an image, where the eye moves from one part of the image to the other, and the sequence the viewer uses to interpret visual information. These MP4 recordings can be played back and graphically enhanced with coloured dots and lines to point out this natural and fluent eye behaviour to learners. These recordings can form effective pedagogical tools for learning how to look at images through the eyes of experts by mimicking the patterns and rhythms of expert eye behaviour. This paper provides a meta-analysis of studies of this kind and also provides the results of a cross-disciplinary project which involved five different subject areas. The consensus arising from our meta-analysis reveals an emerging field with broad concerns in need of more integrated research. None of the studies cited in this article are interdisciplinary across the sciences and arts and, while some of them address higher education in medicine and computing, there are no interdisciplinary studies of how eye tracking is important for teaching in arts and science subjects at undergraduate and postgraduate levels. In addition, none of the studies address how learning practitioners find these eye recordings useful for their own understanding of learning processes. This establishes the unique contribution of this project.
Pruning Convolutional Neural Networks with an Attention Mechanism for Remote Sensing Image Classification
Authors: Zhang Shuo , Wu Gengshen , Gu Junhua , Han Jungong
Published: July 2020

Despite the great success of Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs) in various visual recognition tasks, the high computational and storage costs of such deep networks impede their deployments in real-time remote sensing tasks. To this end, considerable attention has been given to the filter pruning techniques, which enable slimming deep networks with acceptable performance drops and thus implementing them on the remote sensing devices. In this paper, we propose a new scheme, termed Pruning Filter with Attention Mechanism (PFAM), to compress and accelerate traditional CNNs. In particular, a novel correlation-based filter pruning criterion, which explores the long-range dependencies among filters via an attention module, is employed to select the to-be-pruned filters. Distinct from previous methods, the less correlated filters are first pruned after the pruning stage in the current training epoch, and they are reconstructed and updated during the next training epoch. Doing so allows manipulating input data with the maximum information preserved when executing the original training strategy such that the compressed network model can be obtained without the need for the pretrained model. The proposed method is evaluated on three public remote sensing image datasets, and the experimental results demonstrate its superiority, compared to state-of-the-art baselines. Specifically, PFAM achieves a 0.67% accuracy improvement with a 40% model-size reduction on the Aerial Image Dataset (AID) dataset, which is impressive.
Terahertz Displacement Sensing Based on Interface States of Hetero-Structures
Authors: Xu Lan-Lan , Fan Ya-Xian , Liu Huan , Zhang Tao , Tao Zhi-Yong
Published: July 2020

Herein, we propose a nano displacement sensor based on the interface state of a terahertz hetero-structure waveguide. The waveguide consists of two periodically corrugated metallic tubes with different duty ratios, which can result in similar forbidden bands in their frequency spectra. It was found that the topological properties of these forbidden bands are different, and the hetero-structure can be formed by connecting these two waveguides. In the hetero-structure waveguide, the interface state of an extraordinary transmission can always arise within the former forbidden bands, the peak frequency of which is highly dependent on the cavity length at the interface of the two periodic waveguides. So, by carefully designing the structure’s topological property, the hetero-structure waveguide can be efficiently used to produce a displacement sensor in the THz frequency range. The simulations show that the resolution of the displacement can be as small as 90 nm and the sensitivity can reach over 1.2 GHz/μm. Such a sensitive interface state of the proposed hetero-structure waveguide will greatly benefit THz applications of functional devices, including not only displacement sensors but also switches with high extinction ratios, tunable narrow-band filters, and frequency division multiplexers.
Development of an Integrated Simulation Model for Load and Mobility Profiles of Private Households
Authors: Müller Mathias , Biedenbach Florian , Reinhard Janis
Published: July 2020

The electrification of the mobility and heating sectors will significantly change the electrical behavior of households in the future. To investigate this behavior, it is important to include the heating and mobility sectors in load profile models. Existing models do not sufficiently consider these sectors. Therefore, this work aims to develop an integrated, consistent model for the electrical and thermal load of private households and their mobility behavior. The model needs to generate regionally distinct profiles depending on the building, household and resident type and should be valid for Germany. Based on a bottom-up approach, a model consisting of four components is developed. In an activity model based on a modified Markov chain process, persons are assigned to activities. The activities are then allocated to devices in the electrical and thermal models. A mobility model assigns distances to the journey activities. The results of the simulation to validate the model shows an average annual energy consumption per household of 2751 kWh and a shape of the average load profile, both in good agreement with the reference. Furthermore, the temporal distribution of the vehicles to the locations is in accordance with the reference but the annual mileage is slightly underestimated with 10,730 km.
Distributed Generators Optimization Based on Multi-Objective Functions Using Manta Rays Foraging Optimization Algorithm (MRFO)
Authors: Hemeida Mahmoud G. , Alkhalaf Salem , Mohamed Al-Attar A. , Ibrahim Abdalla Ahmed , Senjyu Tomonobu
Published: July 2020

Manta Ray Foraging Optimization Algorithm (MRFO) is a new bio-inspired, meta-heuristic algorithm. MRFO algorithm has been used for the first time to optimize a multi-objective problem. The best size and location of distributed generations (DG) units have been determined to optimize three different objective functions. Minimization of active power loss, minimization of voltage deviation, and maximization of voltage stability index has been achieved through optimizing DG units under different power factor values, unity, 0.95, 0.866, and optimum value. MRFO has been applied to optimize DGs integrated with two well-known radial distribution power systems: IEEE 33-bus and 69-bus systems. The simulation results have been compared to different optimization algorithms in different cases. The results provide clear evidence of the superiority of MRFO that defind before (Manta Ray Foraging Optimization Algorithm. Quasi-Oppositional Differential Evolution Lévy Flights Algorithm (QODELFA), Stochastic Fractal Search Algorithm (SFSA), Genetics Algorithm (GA), Comprehensive Teaching Learning-Based Optimization (CTLBO), Comprehensive Teaching Learning-Based Optimization (CTLBO (ε constraint)), Multi-Objective Harris Hawks Optimization (MOHHO), Multi-Objective Improved Harris Hawks Optimization (MOIHHO), Multi-Objective Particle Swarm Optimization (MOPSO), and Multi-Objective Particle Swarm Optimization (MOWOA) in terms of power loss, Voltage Stability Index (VSI), and voltage deviation for a wide range of operating conditions. It is clear that voltage buses are improved; and power losses are decreased in both IEEE 33-bus and IEEE 69-bus system for all studied cases. MRFO algorithm gives good results with a smaller number of iterations, which means saving the time required for solving the problem and saving energy. Using the new MRFO technique has a promising future in optimizing different power system problems.
Optimization of Cattle Manure and Food Waste Co-Digestion for Biohydrogen Production in a Mesophilic Semi-Continuous Process
Authors: Liu Shuang , Li Wenzhe , Zheng Guoxiang , Yang Haiyan , Li Longhai
Published: July 2020

Biohydrogen production from organic solid waste has shown particular advantages over other methods owing to the combination of waste reduction and bioenergy production. In this study, biohydrogen production from the co-digestion of cattle manure and food waste was optimized in a mesophilic semi-continuous process. To maximize hydrogen production, the effects of the mixing ratio (the proportion of food waste in the substrate), substrate concentration, and hydraulic retention time (HRT) on the co-digestion were systematically analyzed using a Box–Behnken design. The results showed that strong interactive effects existed between the three factors, and they had a direct effect on the responses. Hydrogen was primarily produced via the butyrate pathway, which was accompanied by the competing heterolactic fermentation pathway. Propionate and valerate produced from lipids and proteins, respectively, were obtained along with butyrate. The optimal process parameters included a mixing ratio of 47% to 51%, a substrate concentration of 76 to 86 g L−1, and an HRT of 2 d. Under these optimal conditions, the hydrogen production rate and hydrogen yield were higher than 1.00 L L−1 d−1 and 30.00 mL g−1 VS, respectively, and the predicted results were consistent with the experimental data. The results indicate that the co-digestion of cattle manure and food waste is a practical and economically promising approach for biohydrogen production.
Life Cycle Assessment of Italian Electricity Scenarios to 2030
Authors: Gargiulo Alessia , Carvalho Maria Leonor , Girardi Pierpaolo
Published: July 2020

The study presents a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) of Italian electricity scenarios, devised in the Integrated National Energy and Climate Plan (INECP). A fully representative LCA of the national electricity system was carried out, taking into consideration a great number of different power plant typologies for current (2016 and 2017) and future (2030) electricity mixes. The study confirms that LCA can be a powerful tool for supporting energy planning and strategies assessment. Indeed the results put in evidence not only the improvement of the environmental profile from the current to the future mix (the impacts decrease from 2016 to 2030 due to the transition towards renewables, mainly wind and photovoltaic), but also underline the difference between two scenarios at 2030 (being the scenario that includes the strategic objectives of the INECP to 2030 the one showing best environmental profile), providing an evaluation of the effect of different energy policies. For example, in the INECP scenario CO2 eq/kWh is 46% lower than current scenario and 37% lower than business as usual scenario for 2030. Moreover, considering different impact categories allowed to identify potential environmental trade-offs. The results suggest also the need of future insight on data related to photovoltaic technologies and materials and their future development.
Pull-Out Capacity and Failure Mechanisms of Strip Anchors in Clay
Authors: Cañizal Fernando , Castro Jorge , Cañizal Jorge , Sagaseta César
Published: July 2020

Plate anchors are a well-established solution for supporting the efforts of floating platforms for wind and marine renewable energies. The behavior of ultrathin rigid plate anchors buried in purely cohesive soils under undrained and plane-strain conditions is analyzed. As already known, a dimensional analysis shows that the pull-out capacity of the anchor may be expressed using a weightless break-out factor (Nc0) that only depends on the ratio between the depth and the anchor width (H/B). Using finite element analyses, tabulated values of the weightless break-out factor are provided in this paper and three different failure mechanisms are identified, namely very shallow (quasi-vertical), shallow or intermediate (semi-vertical), and deep (rotational). For very shallow failure mechanisms, the studied problem is completely equivalent to the trapdoor problem because immediate breakaway at the bottom part of the anchor is considered (vented conditions). The existing analytical solutions for the very shallow (Nc0 = 1.956 H/B) and deep cases (Nc = 3π + 2) using the slip-line method are reviewed and an analytical limit is proposed for the first time for the very shallow mechanism (H/B = 1.314). For shallow (intermediate) cases, the failure mechanism is identified and the angle of the main slip lines is numerically evaluated.
Rural Public Acceptance of Wind and Solar Energy: A Case Study from Mersing, Malaysia
Authors: Safari Muhammad Aslam Mohd , Masseran Nurulkamal , Jedi Alias , Mat Sohif , Sopian Kamaruzzaman , Bin Abdul Rahim Azman , Zaharim Azami
Published: July 2020

The sustainable development of the energy sector through the implementation of renewable energy (RE) technology has been a primary concern for the government of Malaysia since the 1990s. Developing RE technology in rural areas is also one of the most important energy strategies. One of the most important requirements for the successful adoption of renewable energy technology is the public acceptance of this technology. This article examines the public acceptance of RE (wind and solar) technologies among rural residents in Mersing, Malaysia. This study is conducted in conjunction with the development of the hybrid wind–solar RE generation system for the Marine Ecosystem Research Centre (EKOMAR), which located in Mersing. To investigate the public acceptance of RE technologies, two surveys were conducted, before and after the installation of the hybrid wind–solar RE generation system. The findings revealed that RE innovations, such as wind and solar energy, were well known among 54.7% and 96.2% of the respondents, respectively, before and after the introduction of EKOMAR. The survey results showed that rural residents generally support RE technologies and EKOMAR RE projects. They were also in line that the use of RE should also be extended to other parts of Mersing, including wind and solar. These findings illustrate that EKOMAR has played a crucial role in educating local residents about RE, wind and solar energy in particular. Residents believe the government plays an important role, particularly in rural areas, in encouraging and enhancing RE technologies.
Power System Hardware in the Loop (PSHIL): A Holistic Testing Approach for Smart Grid Technologies
Authors: Barragán-Villarejo Manuel , García-López Francisco de Paula , Marano-Marcolini Alejandro , Maza-Ortega José María
Published: July 2020

The smart-grid era is characterized by a progressive penetration of distributed energy resources into the power systems. To ensure the safe operation of the system, it is necessary to evaluate the interactions that those devices and their associated control algorithms have between themselves and the pre-existing network. In this regard, Hardware-in-the-Loop (HIL) testing approaches are a necessary step before integrating new devices into the actual network. However, HIL is a device-oriented testing approach with some limitations, particularly considering the possible impact that the device under test may have in the power system. This paper proposes the Power System Hardware-in-the-Loop (PSHIL) concept, which widens the focus from a device- to a system-oriented testing approach. Under this perspective, it is possible to evaluate holistically the impact of a given technology over the power system, considering all of its power and control components. This paper describes in detail the PSHIL architecture and its main hardware and software components. Three application examples, using the infrastructure available in the electrical engineering laboratory of the University of Sevilla, are included, remarking the new possibilities and benefits of using PSHIL with respect to previous approaches.
A Comprehensive Review of the Cyber-Attacks and Cyber-Security on Load Frequency Control of Power Systems
Authors: Mohan Athira M. , Meskin Nader , Mehrjerdi Hasan
Published: July 2020

Power systems are complex systems that have great importance to socio-economic development due to the fact that the entire world relies on the electric network power supply for day-to-day life. Therefore, for the stable operation of power systems, several protection and control techniques are necessary. The power system controllers should have the ability to maintain power system stability. Three important quantities that should be effectively controlled to maintain the stability of power systems are frequency, rotor angle, and voltage. The voltage control in power systems maintains the voltage and reactive power within the required limits and the power factor control enhances the efficiency of power distribution systems by improving load power factors. Among various controls, the frequency control is the most time-consuming control mechanism of power systems due to the involvement of mechanical parts. As the control algorithms of frequency stabilization deliver control signals in the timescale of seconds, load frequency control (LFC) systems cannot handle complicated data validation algorithms, making them more vulnerable to disturbances and cyber-attacks. In addition, the LFC system has extended digital layers with open communication networks and is designed to operate with less human intervention. Moreover, the frequency fluctuation due to load change or cyber-attack in one area affects all other interconnected areas, and thus threatens the stability of the entire network. Due to these circumstances, research activities are still carried out in the field of frequency control and cyber-security. In this paper, a comprehensive review of the cyber-security of the LFC mechanism in the power system is presented. The highlights of the paper include the identification of attack points of different configurations of the LFC system, discussion of the attack strategies, formulation of various attack models, and a brief review of the existing detection and defense mechanisms against cyber-attacks on LFC.
Vadasz Number Effects on Convection in a Horizontal Porous Layer Subjected to Internal Heat Generation and G-Jitter
Authors: Govender Saneshan
Published: July 2020

Flow and heat transfer in a horizontal porous layer subjected to internal heat generation and g-jitter is considered for the Dirichlet thermal boundary condition. A linear stability analysis is used to determine the convection threshold in terms of the critical Rayleigh number. For the low amplitude, high frequency approximation, the results show that vibration has a stabilizing effect on the onset of convection when the porous layer is heated from below. When the porous layer is cooled from below and heated from above, the vibration has a destabilizing effect in the presence of internal heat generation. It is also demonstrated that when the top and bottoms walls are cooled and rigid/impermeable, the critical Rayleigh number is infinitely large and conduction is the only possible mode of heat transfer. The impact of increasing the Vadasz number is to stabilize the convection, in addition to reducing the transition point from synchronous to subharmonic solutions.
Brightly Colored to Stay in the Dark. Revealing of the Polychromy of the Lot Sarcophagus in the Catacomb of San Sebastiano in Rome
Authors: Bracci Susanna , Magrini Donata , Manganelli del Fà Rachele , Cuzman Oana Adriana , Mazzei Barbara
Published: July 2020

The Lot Sarcophagus is one of the most relevant funerary sculptures of late antiquity (mid-4th century AC). Some of the remarkable aspects are the following (i) it is still preserved in situ; (ii) most of the carved scenes are rarities or unicum; (iii) not all the sculpture work has been completed, which allows us to analyse the executive process; (iv) many traces of polychromy have remained. This paper is focused on the characterization of the residual polychromy by using in-situ non-invasive techniques. Furthermore, few micro samples were taken, to be analysed in laboratory to study the composition of some deposits and to define if a preparatory layer was present under the coloured layer. The data showed that the very rich polychromy of the Lot Sarcophagus was made of Egyptian blue, yellow ochre, and three different types of red: two inorganics (red ochre and cinnabar), and one organic-based (madder lake). Furthermore, some decorations, completely vanished and no longer visible to the naked eye, have been rediscovered, also providing details on the construction phases. During the project, the 3D model of the sarcophagus was acquired, which afterwards was used to map the results of the diagnostic campaign.
Spatio-Temporal Visualization Method for Urban Waterlogging Warning Based on Dynamic Grading
Authors: Zhou Jingyi , Shen Jie , Zang Kaiyue , Shi Xiao , Du Yixian , Šilhák Petr
Published: July 2020

With the acceleration of the urbanization process, the problems caused by extreme weather such as heavy rainstorm events have become more and more serious. During such events, the road and its auxiliary facilities may be damaged in the process of the rainstorm and waterlogging, resulting in the decline of its traffic capacity. Rainfall is a continuous process in a space–time dimension, and as rainfall data are obtained through discrete monitoring stations, the acquired rainfall data have discrete characteristics of time interval and space. In order to facilitate users in understanding the impact of urban waterlogging on traffic, the visualization of waterlogging information needs to be displayed under different spatial and temporal granularity. Therefore, the appropriateness of the visualization granularity directly affects the user’s cognition of the road waterlogging map. To solve this problem, this paper established a spatial granularity and temporal granularity computing quantitative model for spatio-temporal visualization of road waterlogging and the evaluation method of the model was based on the cognition experiment. The minimum visualization unit of the road section is 50 m and we proposed a 5-level depth grading method and two color schemes for road waterlogging visualization based on the user’s cognition. To verify the feasibility of the method, we developed a prototype system and implemented a dynamic spatio-temporal visualization of the waterlogging process in the main urban area of Nanjing, China. The user cognition experiment showed that most participants thought that the segmentation of road was helpful to the local visual expression of waterlogging, and the color schemes of waterlogging depth were also helpful to display the road waterlogging information more effectively.
Cellular Fragments as Biomaterial for Rapid In Vitro Bone-Like Tissue Synthesis
Authors: Akhter Mst Nahid , Hara Emilio Satoshi , Kadoya Koichi , Okada Masahiro , Matsumoto Takuya
Published: July 2020

Current stem cell-based techniques for bone-like tissue synthesis require at least two to three weeks. Therefore, novel techniques to promote rapid 3D bone-like tissue synthesis in vitro are still required. In this study, we explored the concept of using cell nanofragments as a substrate material to promote rapid bone formation in vitro. The methods for cell nanofragment fabrication were ultrasonication (30 s and 3 min), non-ionic detergent (triton 0.1% and 1%), or freeze-dried powder. The results showed that ultrasonication for 3 min allowed the fabrication of homogeneous nanofragments of less than 150 nm in length, which mineralized surprisingly in just one day, faster than the fragments obtained from all other methods. Further optimization of culture conditions indicated that a concentration of 10 mM or 100 mM of β-glycerophosphate enhanced, whereas fetal bovine serum (FBS) inhibited in a concentration-dependent manner, the mineralization of the cell nanofragments. Finally, a 3D collagen-cell nanofragment-mineral complex mimicking a bone-like structure was generated in just two days by combining the cell nanofragments in collagen gel. In conclusion, sonication for three min could be applied as a novel method to fabricate cell nanofragments of less than 150 nm in length, which can be used as a material for in vitro bone tissue engineering.
Multifunctional Periphytic Biofilms: Polyethylene Degradation and Cd2+ and Pb2+ Bioremediation under High Methane Scenario
Authors: Faheem Muhammad , Shabbir Sadaf , Zhao Jun , G. Kerr Philip , Ali Shafaqat , Sultana Nasrin , Jia Zhongjun
Published: July 2020

Priority pollutants such as polyethylene (PE) microplastic, lead (Pb2+), and cadmium (Cd2+) have attracted the interest of environmentalists due to their ubiquitous nature and toxicity to all forms of life. In this study, periphytic biofilms (epiphyton and epixylon) were used to bioremediate heavy metals (HMs) and to biodegrade PE under high (120,000 ppm) methane (CH4) doses. Both periphytic biofilms were actively involved in methane oxidation, HMs accumulation and PE degradation. Epiphyton and epixylon both completely removed Pb2+ and Cd2+ at concentrations of 2 mg L−1 and 50 mg L−1, respectively, but only partially removed these HMs at a relatively higher concentration (100 mg L−1). Treatment containing 12% 13CH4 proved to be most effective for biodegradation of PE. A synergistic effect of HMs and PE drastically changed microbial biota and methanotrophic communities. High-throughput 16S rRNA gene sequencing revealed that Cyanobacteria was the most abundant class, followed by Gammaproteobacteria and Alphaproteobacteria in all high-methane-dose treatments. DNA stable-isotope probing was used to label 13C in a methanotrophic community. A biomarker for methane-oxidizing bacteria, pmoA gene sequence of a 13C-labeled fraction, revealed that Methylobacter was most abundant in all high-methane-dose treatments compared to near atmospheric methane (NAM) treatment, followed by Methylococcus. Methylomonas, Methylocystis, Methylosinus, and Methylocella were also found to be increased by high doses of methane compared to NAM treatment. Overall, Cd+2 had a more determinantal effect on methanotrophic activity than Pb2+. Epiphyton proved to be more effective than epixylon in HMs removal and PE biodegradation. The findings proved that both epiphyton and epixylon can be used to bioremediate HMs and biodegrade PE as an efficient ecofriendly technique under high methane concentrations.
The Expression of Cold-Inducible RNA-Binding Protein mRNA in Sow Genital Tract Is Modulated by Natural Mating, But Not by Seminal Plasma
Authors: Gardela Jaume , Ruiz-Conca Mateo , Martinez Cristina A. , Wright Dominic , López-Béjar Manel , Rodriguez-Martinez Heriberto , Alvarez-Rodriguez Manuel
Published: July 2020

The RNA-binding proteins (RBPs), some of them induced by transient receptor potential (TRP) ion channels, are crucial regulators of RNA function that can contribute to reproductive pathogenesis, including inflammation and immune dysfunction. This study aimed to reveal the influence of spermatozoa, seminal plasma, or natural mating on mRNA expression of RBPs and TRP ion channels in different segments of the internal genital tract of oestrous, preovulatory sows. Particularly, we focused on mRNA expression changes of the cold-inducible proteins (CIPs) and related TRP channels. Pre-ovulatory sows were naturally mated (NM) or cervically infused with semen (Semen-AI) or sperm-free seminal plasma either from the entire ejaculate (SP-TOTAL) or the sperm-rich fraction (SP-AI). Samples (cervix to infundibulum) were collected by laparotomy under general anaesthesia for transcriptomic analysis (GeneChip® Porcine Gene 1.0 ST Array) 24 h after treatments. The NM treatment induced most of the mRNA expression changes, compared to Semen-AI, SP-AI, and SP-TOTAL treatments including unique significative changes in CIRBP, RBM11, RBM15B, RBMS1, TRPC1, TRPC4, TRPC7, and TRPM8. The findings on the differential mRNA expression on RBPs and TRP ion channels, especially to CIPs and related TRP ion channels, suggest that spermatozoa and seminal plasma differentially modulated both protein families during the preovulatory phase, probably related to a still unknown early signalling mechanism in the sow reproductive tract.
An In Vitro Lung System to Assess the Proinflammatory Hazard of Carbon Nanotube Aerosols
Authors: Barosova Hana , Karakocak Bedia Begum , Septiadi Dedy , Petri-Fink Alke , Stone Vicki , Rothen-Rutishauser Barbara
Published: July 2020

In vitro three-dimensional (3D) lung cell models have been thoroughly investigated in recent years and provide a reliable tool to assess the hazard associated with nanomaterials (NMs) released into the air. In this study, a 3D lung co-culture model was optimized to assess the hazard potential of multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs), which is known to provoke inflammation and fibrosis, critical adverse outcomes linked to acute and prolonged NM exposure. The lung co-cultures were exposed to MWCNTs at the air-liquid interface (ALI) using the VITROCELL® Cloud system while considering realistic occupational exposure doses. The co-culture model was composed of three human cell lines: alveolar epithelial cells (A549), fibroblasts (MRC-5), and macrophages (differentiated THP-1). The model was exposed to two types of MWCNTs (Mitsui-7 and Nanocyl) at different concentrations (2–10 μg/cm2) to assess the proinflammatory as well as the profibrotic responses after acute (24 h, one exposure) and prolonged (96 h, repeated exposures) exposure cycles. The results showed that acute or prolonged exposure to different concentrations of the tested MWCNTs did not induce cytotoxicity or apparent profibrotic response; however, suggested the onset of proinflammatory response.
Drug Repositioning of the α1-Adrenergic Receptor Antagonist Naftopidil: A Potential New Anti-Cancer Drug?
Authors: Florent Romane , Poulain Laurent , N'Diaye Monique
Published: July 2020

Failure of conventional treatments is often observed in cancer management and this requires the development of alternative therapeutic strategies. However, new drug development is known to be a high-failure process because of the possibility of a lower efficacy than expected for the drug or appearance of non-manageable side effects. Another way to find alternative therapeutic drugs consists in identifying new applications for drugs already approved for a particular disease: a concept named “drug repurposing”. In this context, several studies demonstrated the potential anti-tumour activity exerted by α1-adrenergic receptor antagonists and notably renewed interest for naftopidil as an anti-cancer drug. Naftopidil is used for benign prostatic hyperplasia management in Japan and a retrospective study brought out a reduced incidence of prostate cancer in patients that had been prescribed this drug. Further studies showed that naftopidil exerted anti-proliferative and cytotoxic effects on prostate cancer as well as several other cancer types in vitro, as well as ex vivo and in vivo. Moreover, naftopidil was demonstrated to modulate the expression of Bcl-2 family pro-apoptotic members which could be used to sensitise cancer cells to targeting therapies and to overcome resistance of cancer cells to apoptosis. For most of these anti-cancer effects, the molecular pathway is either not fully deciphered or shown to involve α1-adrenergic receptor-independent pathway, suggesting off target transduction signals. In order to improve its efficacy, naftopidil analogues were designed and shown to be effective in several studies. Thereby, naftopidil appears to display anti-cancer properties on different cancer types and could be considered as a candidate for drug repurposing although its anti-cancerous activities need to be studied more deeply in prospective randomized clinical trials.
Identification and Expression Analysis of Hormone Biosynthetic and Metabolism Genes in the 2OGD Family for Identifying Genes That May Be Involved in Tomato Fruit Ripening
Authors: Ding Qiangqiang , Wang Feng , Xue Juan , Yang Xinxin , Fan Junmiao , Chen Hong , Li Yi , Wu Han
Published: July 2020

Phytohormones play important roles in modulating tomato fruit development and ripening. The 2-oxoglutarate-dependent dioxygenase (2OGD) superfamily containing several subfamilies involved in hormone biosynthesis and metabolism. In this study, we aimed to identify hormone biosynthesis and metabolism-related to 2OGD proteins in tomato and explored their roles in fruit development and ripening. We identified nine 2OGD protein subfamilies involved in hormone biosynthesis and metabolism, including the gibberellin (GA) biosynthetic protein families GA20ox and GA3ox, GA degradation protein families C19-GA2ox and C20-GA2ox, ethylene biosynthetic protein family ACO, auxin degradation protein family DAO, jasmonate hydroxylation protein family JOX, salicylic acid degradation protein family DMR6, and strigolactone biosynthetic protein family LBO. These genes were differentially expressed in different tomato organs. The GA degradation gene SlGA2ox2, and the auxin degradation gene SlDAO1, showed significantly increased expression from the mature-green to the breaker stage during tomato fruit ripening, accompanied by decreased endogenous GA and auxin, indicating that SlGA2ox2 and SlDAO1 were responsible for the reduced GA and auxin concentrations. Additionally, exogenous gibberellin 3 (GA3) and indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) treatment of mature-green fruits delayed fruit ripening and increased the expression of SlGA2ox2 and SlDAO1, respectively. Therefore, SlGA2ox2 and SlDAO1 are implicated in the degradation of GAs and auxin during tomato fruit ripening.
Selective Transport of Ag(I) through a Polymer Inclusion Membrane Containing a Calix[4]pyrrole Derivative from Nitrate Aqueous Solutions
Authors: Nowik-Zajac Anna , Zawierucha Iwona , Kozlowski Cezary
Published: July 2020

Cellulose-triacetate-based polymer inclusion membranes (PIMs) with different concentrations of a calixpyrrole ester derivative as the membrane carrier were studied to determine their ability to transport Ag(I) from aqueous nitrate solutions. The effects of the concentrations of ion carriers and metal ions, the pH of the source aqueous phase, and stripping agents on the effective transport of Ag(I) were assessed. All studied parameters were found to be important factors for the transport of Ag(I) metal ions. The initial fluxes were determined at different temperatures. The prepared membranes were found to be highly permeable. The selectivity of silver transport from an aqueous solution containing Ag(I), Cu(II), Pb(II), Cd(II), Ni(II), Zn(II), and Co(II) ions was also investigated.
Expanding the Toolkit of Fluorescent Biosensors for Studying Mitogen Activated Protein Kinases in Plants
Authors: Seitz Kati , Krysan Patrick J.
Published: July 2020

Mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) are key regulators of numerous biological processes in plants. To better understand the mechanisms by which these kinases function, high resolution measurement of MAPK activation kinetics in different biological contexts would be beneficial. One method to measure MAPK activation in plants is via fluorescence-based genetically-encoded biosensors, which can provide real-time readouts of the temporal and spatial dynamics of kinase activation in living tissue. Although fluorescent biosensors have been widely used to study MAPK dynamics in animal cells, there is currently only one MAPK biosensor that has been described for use in plants. To facilitate creation of additional plant-specific MAPK fluorescent biosensors, we report the development of two new tools: an in vitro assay for efficiently characterizing MAPK docking domains and a translocation-based kinase biosensor for use in plants. The implementation of these two methods has allowed us to expand the available pool of plant MAPK biosensors, while also providing a means to generate more specific and selective MAPK biosensors in the future. Biosensors developed using these methods have the potential to enhance our understanding of the roles MAPKs play in diverse plant signaling networks affecting growth, development, and stress response.
NMR Characterization of Conformational Interconversions of Lys48-Linked Ubiquitin Chains
Authors: Hiranyakorn Methanee , Yanaka Saeko , Satoh Tadashi , Wilasri Thunchanok , Jityuti Benchawan , Yagi-Utsumi Maho , Kato Koichi
Published: July 2020

Ubiquitin (Ub) molecules can be enzymatically connected through a specific isopeptide linkage, thereby mediating various cellular processes by binding to Ub-interacting proteins through their hydrophobic surfaces. The Lys48-linked Ub chains, which serve as tags for proteasomal degradation, undergo conformational interconversions between open and closed states, in which the hydrophobic surfaces are exposed and shielded, respectively. Here, we provide a quantitative view of such dynamic processes of Lys48-linked triUb and tetraUb in solution. The native and cyclic forms of Ub chains are prepared with isotope labeling by in vitro enzymatic reactions. Our comparative NMR analyses using monomeric Ub and cyclic diUb as reference molecules enabled the quantification of populations of the open and closed states for each Ub unit of the native Ub chains. The data indicate that the most distal Ub unit in the Ub chains is the most apt to expose its hydrophobic surface, suggesting its preferential involvement in interactions with the Ub-recognizing proteins. We also demonstrate that a mutational modification of the distal end of the Ub chain can remotely affect the solvent exposure of the hydrophobic surfaces of the other Ub units, suggesting that Ub chains could be unique design frameworks for the creation of allosterically controllable multidomain proteins.
MicroRNAs and Apoptosis in Colorectal Cancer
Authors: Wang Hsiuying
Published: July 2020

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third leading cause of cancer death in the world, and its incidence is rising in developing countries. Treatment with 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU) is known to improve survival in CRC patients. Most anti-cancer therapies trigger apoptosis induction to eliminate malignant cells. However, de-regulated apoptotic signaling allows cancer cells to escape this signaling, leading to therapeutic resistance. Treatment resistance is a major challenge in the development of effective therapies. The microRNAs (miRNAs) play important roles in CRC treatment resistance and CRC progression and apoptosis. This review discusses the role of miRNAs in contributing to the promotion or inhibition of apoptosis in CRC and the role of miRNAs in modulating treatment resistance in CRC cells.
Development of Novel High-Resolution Size-Guided Turbidimetry-Enabled Particle Purification Liquid Chromatography (PPLC): Extracellular Vesicles and Membraneless Condensates in Focus
Authors: Kaddour Hussein , Lyu Yuan , Shouman Nadia , Mohan Mahesh , Okeoma Chioma M.
Published: July 2020

Acellular particles (extracellular vesicles and membraneless condensates) have important research, drug discovery, and therapeutic implications. However, their isolation and retrieval have faced enormous challenges, impeding their use. Here, a novel size-guided particle purification liquid chromatography (PPLC) is integrated into a turbidimetry-enabled system for dye-free isolation, online characterization, and retrieval of intact acellular particles from biofluids. The chromatographic separation of particles from different biofluids—semen, blood, urine, milk, and cell culture supernatants—is achieved using a first-in-class gradient size exclusion column (gSEC). Purified particles are collected using a fraction collector. Online UV–Vis monitoring reveals biofluid-dependent particle spectral differences, with semen being the most complex. Turbidimetry provides the accurate physical characterization of seminal particle (Sp) lipid contents, sizes, and concentrations, validated by a nanoparticle tracking analysis, transmission electron microscopy, and naphthopyrene assay. Furthermore, different fractions of purified Sps contain distinct DNA, RNA species, and protein compositions. The integration of Sp physical and compositional properties identifies two archetypal membrane-encased seminal extracellular vesicles (SEV)—notably SEV large (SEVL), SEV small (SEVS), and a novel non-archetypal-membraneless Sps, herein named membraneless condensates (MCs). This study demonstrates a comprehensive yet affordable platform for isolating, collecting, and analyzing acellular particles to facilitate extracellular particle research and applications in drug delivery and therapeutics. Ongoing efforts focus on increased resolution by tailoring bead/column chemistry for each biofluid type.
Flavopereirine Inhibits Autophagy via the AKT/p38 MAPK Signaling Pathway in MDA-MB-231 Cells
Authors: Chen Ming-Shan , Yeh Hsuan-Te , Li Yi-Zhen , Lin Wen-Chun , Lee Ying-Ray , Tseng Ya-Shih , Sheu Shew-Meei
Published: July 2020

Autophagy is a potential target for the treatment of triple negative breast cancer (TNBC). Because of a lack of targeted therapies for TNBC, it is vital to find optimal agents that avoid chemoresistance and metastasis. Flavopereirine has anti-proliferation ability in cancer cells, but whether it regulates autophagy in breast cancer cells remains unclear. A Premo™ Tandem Autophagy Sensor Kit was used to image the stage at which flavopereirine affects autophagy by confocal microscopy. A plasmid that constitutively expresses p-AKT and siRNA targeting p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) was used to confirm the related signaling pathways by Western blot. We found that flavopereirine induced microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3 (LC3)-II accumulation in a dose- and time-dependent manner in MDA-MB-231 cells. Confocal florescent images showed that flavopereirine blocked autophagosome fusion with lysosomes. Western blotting showed that flavopereirine directly suppressed p-AKT levels and mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) translation. Recovery of AKT phosphorylation decreased the level of p-p38 MAPK and LC3-II, but not mTOR. Moreover, flavopereirine-induced LC3-II accumulation was partially reduced in MDA-MB-231 cells that were transfected with p38 MAPK siRNA. Overall, flavopereirine blocked autophagy via LC3-II accumulation in autophagosomes, which was mediated by the AKT/p38 MAPK signaling pathway.
Neonatal Screening on Tandem Mass Spectrometry as a Powerful Tool for the Reassessment of the Prevalence of Underestimated Diseases in Newborns and Their Family Members: A Focus on Short Chain Acyl-CoA Dehydrogenase Deficiency
Authors: Messina MariaAnna , Arena Alessia , Fiumara Agata , Iacobacci Riccardo , Meli Concetta , Raudino Federica
Published: July 2020

Early detection of disabling diseases, prior to clinical manifestations, is the primary goal of newborn screening (NS). Indeed, the required number of core and secondary conditions selected for screening panels is increasing in many countries. Furthermore, newborn screening can lead to diagnosis of maternal diseases such as vitamin B12 deficiency or 3-MethylcrotonylCoA-carboxylase deficiency (3MCC). NS became mandatory in Sicily in December 2017. Here we report NS data collected between December 2017 and April 2020. Our results show that tandem mass spectrometry is a powerful tool for discovery of underestimated disease in newborns and their family members. Our panel included short chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase deficiency (SCADD). Here, we report that results of our investigation led to reassessment of SCADD prevalence in our population. The infant and adult patients diagnosed in our study had previously not shown overt symptoms.