bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Use of Spent Mushroom Substrate in New Mushroom Crops to Promote the Transition towards A Circular Economy
Authors: Cunha Zied Diego , Sánchez Jose Ernesto , Noble Ralph , Pardo-Giménez Arturo
Published: August 2020

The use of spent mushroom substrate (SMS) in new cultivation cycles has already been reported due to its economic and environmental viability. When considering the application of the circular economy concept in the production of edible mushrooms, the re-use of the SMS within the same process is highly attractive, because it allows a better use of the biomass and the energy involved in the process and, therefore, tends to improve energy efficiency and resource conservation. However, this alternative generates important challenges, which derive from maintaining the quality standards of the mushrooms produced and, at the same time, not incurring excessive costs that are detrimental to the process itself. In our opinion, the main difficulty of the process in achieving success is regarding the biological and agronomic parameters that involve the production of the mushroom. It is useless to apply SMS in new cycles if the mushroom harvest is impaired and farms become non-viable. However, numerous examples are reported here where SMS was recycled into new substrates for either the same or different mushroom species without negatively affecting yield compared with using substrates prepared from 100% fresh raw materials. Thus, we suggest that each farm has its own specific technological study, since a small variation in the raw material of the compost, and mushroom cultivation practices and casing layer used, can influence the entire viability of the mushroom circular economy.
Microalgae: New Source of Plant Biostimulants
Authors: Colla Giuseppe , Rouphael Youssef
Published: August 2020

Biostimulant manufacturers have developed innovative products targeting specific agronomic needs, hence attracting the attention of the scientific community, extension specialists, and industry stakeholders including policymakers and crop producers. Microalgae acquire a broad economic value in the production of nutrient dense food and supplementary diet produce, in addition to their high importance in biofuel production and wastewater bioremediation. Recently, microalgae, which comprise blue-green algae (eukaryotic and prokaryotic cyanobacteria), have gained prominence as biostimulant products due to their potential to increase germination, seedling growth, plant growth, productivity, nutrient use efficiency, as well as tolerance to a wide range of abiotic stresses (salinity, drought, sub- and supra-optimal temperatures, and heavy metals contamination). Although it is well established that green and blue-green algae produce several bioactive and signaling molecules active on horticultural and agronomic crops, their targeted applications in plant science are still in their infancy stage. The aim of this editorial paper is to provide an updated overview of this far-reaching new category of plant biostimulants and the possible physiological and molecular mechanisms behind the biostimulatory action based on the recent scientific literature. Finally, this editorial paper identifies the main bottlenecks that hamper market introduction and farmers from reaping the full benefit of microalgae-based biostimulants; it also pinpoints the future relevant areas of microalgae research to enhance the biostimulant action of microalgal extracts in agriculture.
Effect of Waterlogging Stress on Dry Matter Accumulation, Photosynthesis Characteristics, Yield, and Yield Components in Three Different Ecotypes of Peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.)
Authors: Zeng Ruier , Chen Lei , Wang Xinyue , Cao Jing , Li Xi , Xu Xueyu , Xia Qing , Chen Tingting , Zhang Lei
Published: August 2020

Waterlogging has a negative effect on peanut production, but few studies have focused on the relationship between the geographical origin and waterlogging tolerance of peanut varieties. To explore this problem, three different peanut ecotypes (Zhanhong 2, Zhongkaihua 1, and Huayu 39) were waterlogged for 5, 10, and 15 days at seedling stage (S), flowering and pegging stage (F), and pod-filling stage (P), respectively. The relationship between the ecotype and waterlogging tolerance was determined by analyzing the effects of waterlogging on dry matter accumulation, photosynthetic characteristics, yield, and the yield components of peanut. The soil and plant analysis development (SPAD), net photosynthetic rate (Pn), stomatal conductance (Gs), transpiration rate (Tr), and intercellular CO2 concentration (Ci) values in leaves decreased under waterlogging stress, which led to a significant decrease in yield and yield components. The most noticeable effect of waterlogging stress appeared at the P stage and deleterious effects increased with an extension of the duration of waterlogging, where the yield loss was mainly attributed to the decrease in the number of total pods (TP) and the number of full pods (FP). Significant relationships were found between total dry weight (TDW), leaf dry weight (LDW), pod dry weight (PDW), TP, and FP, and the waterlogging stress tolerance index (WTI). Additionally, the waterlogging tolerance of peanut ecotypes is closely related to their geographic origin, where the most waterlogging-resistant ecotype was Zhanhong 2, followed by Zhongkaihua 1 and Huayu 39. Finally, breeding backgrounds and screening indices (SPAD, Pn, dry matter accumulation, and pod characteristics) beneficial to waterlogging tolerance breeding are suggested.
Dependence of Weed Composition on Cultivated Plant Species and Varieties in Energy-Tree and -Grass Plantations
Authors: Fehér Alexander , Pintér Eduard , Prus Piotr , Končeková Lýdia
Published: August 2020

Energy plantations create new habitats in agricultural landscapes with species compositions different from those in forests or farmlands. The purpose of our nine-year research project (2010–2018) was to evaluate the dependence of weed-species richness and their selected ecological aspects on stands of energy-plant species, and varieties in energy-tree and -grass plantations in conditions of Central Europe, on the basis of a case study. The permanent research plots were established in plantations containing two varieties of willow (Tordis and Inger), one poplar variety (Pegaso), and one clone of Miscanthus × giganteus. This evaluation included the species composition of understory flora, habitat preferences of different species, life cycle, life forms, ecological demands, and the harmfulness of these weed-species. The ground flora of energy plantations is predominantly composed of synanthropic plants of a weedy character with differences in species composition among different energy-tree and -grass species and varieties. The total number of vascular plant species was 98. The highest number of species (58) was recorded in the Tordis and Inger willow varieties, and the lowest was observed in the Pegaso poplar variety (45). Perennial species prevailed by their share, 10 of which were found in all four research plots. Therophytes and hemicryptophytes prevailed. Most species have high light requirements and are typical for mild-to-warm suboceanic areas, demanding freshly moist alkalic soils that are medium-to-rich in mineral nitrogen. Fifty percent of all observed species are considered weeds in Slovakia. The “very dangerous” category represented 46.94% of weeds, the “less dangerous” category 51.02%, and the “nondangerous” category represented 2.04% out of 49 species. The biggest share of “very dangerous weeds” was found in the poplar stand (38.78%), less in willow (32.65% and 28.57%), and the least in miscanthus stands (26.53%). The weeds of the Tordis variety were relatively poorly influenced by specific environmental conditions, and the weeds of the Inger variety were mainly defined by the soil reaction. Weeds in the undergrowth of both Miscanthus × giganteus and poplar trees (Pegaso) had the greatest affinity to mineral nitrogen content and temperature requirements.
Mucosal Hallmarks in the Alimentary Canal of Northern Pike Esox lucius (Linnaeus)
Authors: Bosi Giampaolo , Lorenzoni Massimo , Carosi Antonella , Sayyaf Dezfuli Bahram
Published: August 2020

On the basis of trophic behavior, fish are classified as herbivores, carnivores, omnivores, or detritivores. Epithelial mucous cells secrete mucin types specific to diet and digestive function. Mucus secretion is regulated mainly by molecular modulators produced by epithelial endocrine cells in response to luminal or tissue stimuli. These modulators are involved in control of food intake and digestive functions. Immunohistochemical and immunofluorescence studies were conducted on 10 adult northern pike (Esox lucius Linnaeus, 1758) from Lake Piediluco (Central Italy) to quantify distribution of sub-types of mucous and endocrine cells in alimentary mucosal epithelium. Neutral mucins predominated in the esophagus, and mixed and acidic mucins predominated in stomach and intestine. The gastric epithelium contained endocrine cells secreting somatostatin, tyrosine hydroxylase, and substance P. Mucous cells secreting neutral mucins increased in number from proximal to distal intestine, with endocrine cells containing substance P in the proximal intestine and those containing Leu-enkephalin throughout the intestine. Lectin histochemistry of gut sections revealed an abundance of N-acetyl-glucosamine and N-acetyl-galactosamine as carbohydrate residues on the mucin chain. The quantity and content of endocrine and mucous cells in the alimentary canal of E. lucius showed a direct relationship with its diet.
Egg Production and Bone Stability of Local Chicken Breeds and Their Crosses Fed with Faba Beans
Authors: Nolte Tanja , Jansen Simon , Halle Ingrid , Scholz Armin Manfred , Simianer Henner , Sharifi Ahmad Reza , Weigend Steffen
Published: August 2020

Poultry production is raising concerns within the public regarding the practice of culling day-old chicks and the importation of soy from overseas for feedstuff. Therefore, an alternative approach to poultry production was tested. In two consecutive experiments, two traditional chicken breeds, Vorwerkhuhn and Bresse Gauloise, and White Rock as a commercial layer genotype as well as crossbreds thereof were fed diets containing either 20% vicin-rich or vicin-poor faba beans, though addressing both subjects of debate. Hen performance traits and bone stability were recorded. All parameters were considerably influenced by the genotype with White Rock showing the significantly highest (p < 0.05) laying performance (99.4% peak production) and mean egg weights (56.6 g) of the purebreds, but the lowest bone breaking strength (tibiotarsus 197.2 N, humerus 230.2 N). Regarding crossbreds, the Bresse Gauloise × White Rock cross performed best (peak production 98.1%, mean egg weight 58.0 g). However, only limited dietary effects were found as only the feeding of 20% vicin-rich faba beans led to a significant reduction of egg weights of at most 1.1 g (p < 0.05) and to a significant reduction of the shell stability in the crossbred genotypes. In terms of dual-purpose usage, crossing of Bresse Gauloise with White Rock seems to be the most promising variant studied here.
Cardiac Transcriptomics Reveals That MAPK Pathway Plays an Important Role in Hypoxia Tolerance in Bighead Carp (Hypophthalmichthys nobilis)
Authors: Zhou Ying , Luo Weiwei , Yu Xiaomu , Wang Junru , Feng Yizhao , Tong Jingou
Published: August 2020

As aquatic animals, fishes often encounter various situations of low oxygen, and they have evolved the ability to respond to hypoxia stress. Studies of physiological and molecular responses to hypoxia stress are essential to clarify genetic mechanisms underlying hypoxia tolerance in fish. In this study, we performed acute hypoxia treatment in juvenile bighead carp (Hypophthalmicthys nobilis) by decreasing water O2 from 6.5 mg/L to 0.5 mg/L in three hours. This hypoxia stress resulted in a significant increase in blood lactate and serum glucose. Comparisons of heart transcriptome among hypoxia tolerant (HT), hypoxia sensitive (HS), and normoxia control (NC) groups showed that 820, 273, and 301 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified in HS vs. HT, NC vs. HS, and NC vs. HT (false discovery rate (FDR) < 0.01, Fold Change> 2), respectively. KEGG pathway enrichment showed that DEGs between HS and HT groups were mainly involved in mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling, insulin signaling, apoptosis, tight junction and adrenergic signaling in cardiomyocytes pathways, and DEGs in MAPK signaling pathway played a key role in cardiac tolerance to hypoxia. Combined with the results of our previous cDNA-amplified fragment length polymorphism (cDNA-AFLP) analysis of hypoxia stress in this species, such genes as stbp2, ttn, mapk, kcnh, and tnfrsf were identified in both studies, representing the significance of these DEGs in hypoxia tolerance in bighead carp. These results provide insights into the understanding of genetic modulations for fish heart coping with hypoxia stress and generate basic resources for future breeding studies of hypoxia resistance in bighead carp.
Microsatellite Diversity and Phylogenetic Relationships among East Eurasian Bos taurus Breeds with an Emphasis on Rare and Ancient Local Cattle
Authors: Svishcheva Gulnara , Babayan Olga , Lkhasaranov Bulat , Tsendsuren Ariuntuul , Abdurasulov Abdugani , Stolpovsky Yurii
Published: August 2020

We report the genetic analysis of 18 population samples of animals, which were taken from cattle (Bos taurus) breeds of European and Asian origins. The main strength of our study is the use of rare and ancient native cattle breeds: the Altai, Ukrainian Grey, Tagil, and Buryat ones. The cattle samples studied have different production purposes, belong to various eco-geographic regions, and consequently have distinct farming conditions. In order to clarify the genetic diversity, phylogenetic relationships and historical origin of the studied breeds, we carried out an analysis of the genetic variation of 14 high-variability microsatellite loci at 1168 genotyped animals. High levels of heterozygosity and allelic richness were identified in four of the ancient local breeds, namely the Kalmyk, Tagil, Kyrgyz native, and Buryat breeds. The greatest phylogenetic distances from a common ancestor were observed for the Yakut and Ukrainian Grey breeds, while the Tagil breed showed the smallest difference. By using clustering approaches, we found that the Altai cattle is genetically close to the Kyrgyz one. Moreover, both the Altai and Kyrgyz breeds exposed genetic divergences from other representatives of the Turano-Mongolian type and genetic relationships with the Brown Swiss and Kostroma breeds. This phenomenon can be explained by the extensive use of the Brown Swiss and Kostroma breeds in the breeding and improvement processes for the Kyrgyz breeds, which have been involved in the process of keeping the Altai cattle. Our results can be valuable for conservation and management purposes.
Hybrid-Attention Network for RGB-D Salient Object Detection
Authors: Chen Yuzhen , Zhou Wujie
Published: August 2020

Depth information has been widely used to improve RGB-D salient object detection by extracting attention maps to determine the position information of objects in an image. However, non-salient objects may be close to the depth sensor and present high pixel intensities in the depth maps. This situation in depth maps inevitably leads to erroneously emphasize non-salient areas and may have a negative impact on the saliency results. To mitigate this problem, we propose a hybrid attention neural network that fuses middle- and high-level RGB features with depth features to generate a hybrid attention map to remove background information. The proposed network extracts multilevel features from RGB images using the Res2Net architecture and then integrates high-level features from depth maps using the Inception-v4-ResNet2 architecture. The mixed high-level RGB features and depth features generate the hybrid attention map, which is then multiplied to the low-level RGB features. After decoding by several convolutions and upsampling, we obtain the final saliency prediction, achieving state-of-the-art performance on the NJUD and NLPR datasets. Moreover, the proposed network has good generalization ability compared with other methods. An ablation study demonstrates that the proposed network effectively performs saliency prediction even when non-salient objects interfere detection. In fact, after removing the branch with high-level RGB features, the RGB attention map that guides the network for saliency prediction is lost, and all the performance measures decline. The resulting prediction map from the ablation study shows the effect of non-salient objects close to the depth sensor. This effect is not present when using the complete hybrid attention network. Therefore, RGB information can correct and supplement depth information, and the corresponding hybrid attention map is more robust than using a conventional attention map constructed only with depth information.
Memory-Based Deep Neural Attention (mDNA) for Cognitive Multi-Turn Response Retrieval in Task-Oriented Chatbots
Authors: Chen Jenhui , Agbodike Obinna , Wang Lei
Published: August 2020

One of the important criteria used in judging the performance of a chatbot is the ability to provide meaningful and informative responses that correspond with the context of a user’s utterance. Nowadays, the number of enterprises adopting and relying on task-oriented chatbots for profit is increasing. Dialog errors and inappropriate response to user queries by chatbots can result in huge cost implications. To achieve high performance, recent AI chatbot models are increasingly adopting the Transformer positional encoding and the attention-based architecture. While the transformer performs optimally in sequential generative chatbot models, recent studies has pointed out the occurrence of logical inconsistency and fuzzy error problems when the Transformer technique is adopted in retrieval-based chatbot models. Our investigation discovers that the encountered errors are caused by information losses. Therefore, in this paper, we address this problem by augmenting the Transformer-based retrieval chatbot architecture with a memory-based deep neural attention (mDNA) model by using an approach similar to late data fusion. The mDNA is a simple encoder-decoder neural architecture that comprises of bidirectional long short-term memory (Bi-LSTM), attention mechanism, and a memory for information retention in the encoder. In our experiments, we trained the model extensively on a large Ubuntu dialog corpus, and the results from recall evaluation scores show that the mDNA augmentation approach slightly outperforms selected state-of-the-art retrieval chatbot models. The results from the mDNA augmentation approach are quite impressive.
Investigation of the Structural Dynamic Behavior of the Frontinus Gate
Authors: Saygılı Özden , Lemos José V.
Published: August 2020

The Western Anatolia Region of Turkey is an important region of high seismic activity. The active dynamics of the region are shaped by a compression and expansion mechanism. This active mechanism is still ongoing and causes strong seismic activity in the region. The Frontinus Gate is a monument in the Roman city of Hierapolis of Phrygia located in southwestern Anatolia. The aim of this study is to investigate the seismic behavior of this stone masonry structure using discrete element modeling. For this purpose, nonlinear dynamic analyses were performed to simulate the structural response of the gate under seismic excitation. Deformation, damage, and failure patterns induced in the masonry gate for different levels of seismic action are evaluated and discussed. An earthquake with a return period of 475 years is expected to cause some damage, but no collapse, while for a return period of 2475 years, the models indicate collapse of the monument.
Cooperative Multi-Agent Interaction and Evaluation Framework Considering Competitive Networks with Dynamic Topology Changes
Authors: Kim Jinbae , Lee Hyunsoo
Published: August 2020

In recent years, the problem of reinforcement learning has become increasingly complex, and the computational demands with respect to such processes have increased. Accordingly, various methods for effective learning have been proposed. With the help of humans, the learning object can learn more accurately and quickly to maximize the reward. However, the rewards calculated by the system and via human intervention (that make up the learning environment) differ and must be used accordingly. In this paper, we propose a framework for learning the problems of competitive network topologies, wherein the environment dynamically changes agent, by computing the rewards via the system and via human evaluation. The proposed method is adaptively updated with the rewards calculated via human evaluation, making it more stable and reducing the penalty incurred while learning. It also ensures learning accuracy, including rewards generated from complex network topology consisting of multiple agents. The proposed framework contributes to fast training process using multi-agent cooperation. By implementing these methods as software programs, this study performs numerical analysis to demonstrate the effectiveness of the adaptive evaluation framework applied to the competitive network problem depicting the dynamic environmental topology changes proposed herein. As per the numerical experiments, the greater is the human intervention, the better is the learning performance with the proposed framework.
Catalytic Performance of SBA-15-Supported Poly (Styrenesulfonic Acid) in the Esterification of Acetic Acid with n-Heptanol
Authors: Alghamdi Abdulaziz Ali , Mrair Yahya Musawi , Alharthi Fahad A. , Al-Odayni Abdel-Basit
Published: August 2020

A polystyrene sulfonic acid-functionalized mesoporous silica (SBA-15-PSSA) catalyst was synthesized via an established multistep route, employing 2-bromo-2-methylpropionyl bromide as initiator of atom transfer radical polymerization. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, thermogravimetric/differential thermal, Brunauer–Emmett–Teller, and transmission electron microscopy analyses revealed outstanding structural characteristics of the catalyst, including highly ordered mesopores, high surface area (726 m2/g), and adequate estimated concentrations of active sites (0.70 mmol H+/g). SBA-15-PSSA’s catalytic performance was evaluated in the esterification of acetic acid and n-heptanol as a model system at various temperatures (50–110 °C), catalyst loads (0.1–0.3 g), and reaction times (0–160 min). The conversion percentage of acetic acid was found to increase with the temperature, catalyst load, and reaction time. Furthermore, results indicated a fast conversion in the first 20 min of the reaction, with remarkable conversion values at 110 °C, reaching 86%, 94%, and 97% when the catalyst load was 0.1, 0.2, and 0.3 g, respectively; notably, at this temperature, 100% conversation was achieved after 60 min. At 110 °C, the reaction conducted in the presence of 0.3 g of catalyst displayed more than 6.4 times the efficiency of the uncatalyzed reaction. Such activity is explained by the concomitant presence in the polymer of strong sulfonic acid moieties and a relatively high hydrophobic surface, with adequate numbers of active sites for ester production.
Effect of Welding Parameter on the Corrosion Rate of Underwater Wet Welded SS400 Low Carbon Steel
Authors: Surojo E. , Wicaksana N. I. , Saputro Y. C. N. , Budiana E. P. , Muhayat N. , Triyono  , Prabowo A. R.
Published: August 2020

This study aims to determine the effect of welding parameters on the corrosion rate of underwater wet welded SS400 low carbon steel. The underwater wet welding process was conducted using shielded metal arc welding (SMAW). Three welding electrodes, i.e., E7016, RB26 and RD26, were used in underwater wet welding performed with water depth variations 2.5 m, 5 m and 10 m. Welding current in the experiment was set to be 100 A and 110 A. After the welding stage, corrosion test was carried out on each joint in a 3.5%-NaCl solution using three-electrode polarization resistance methods. Corrosion testing results indicated that the lowest corrosion rate was found in underwater welding with current parameters of 100 A, 2.5-m depth and RB26 electrodes. The highest corrosion rate is obtained with the setting of underwater welding of 110-A current, 10-m depth and E7016 electrodes.
Experimental Investigations on Temperature Generation and Release of Ultra-High Performance Concrete during Fatigue Tests
Authors: Deutscher Melchior , Tran Ngoc Linh , Scheerer Silke
Published: August 2020

Smarter, more filigree, and resource-saving buildings are the aim of developments in the construction industry. In reinforced concrete construction, ultra-high strength concretes have been developed to achieve these goals. Due to their use and requirements, these highly pressure-resistant materials are increasingly exposed to cyclically occurring and high-frequency loads. Examples of this are applications in long-span bridges or wind turbines. Research into the fatigue behaviour of the new construction material is therefore very important for the standardization and practical introduction of the high performance material. In this article, we want to investigate the heating process of ultra-high performance concrete (UHPC) under fatigue stress in more detail. In previous investigations in this project, an influence of the heating on the fatigue strength could be determined. A systematic parameter study has defined decisive load configurations for a maximum heating process. The aim is now to better understand the heating process. For this purpose, the temperature generation rate and the temperature release, which probably influences the overall temperature development, are investigated. A test program with eight experiments gives information about the temperature release during the experiment and the heating rate with and without pre-damage in the sample. In addition, the causes of failure caused by temperature are investigated with additional insulated tests. The results are presented, discussed, and conclusions are drawn in the article. For instance, fatigue damage affects the rate of temperature increase, but not the thermal conductivity of the material. In the different configurations, the test specimens essentially overlap at the maximum temperature reached in the inner test specimen. In addition to the assumed influence of the temperature gradients in the cross section as a cause of premature failure due to additional constraint stresses, the maximum temperature in particular turns out to be decisive, independent of the gradient.
Identifying the Degradation Mechanism in Commercial Lithium Rechargeable Batteries via High-Energy X-ray Compton Scattering Imaging
Authors: Suzuki Kosuke , Otsuka Yuji , Tsuji Naruki , Hoshi Kazushi , Sakurai Yoshiharu , Sakurai Hiroshi
Published: August 2020

Synchrotron-based high-energy X-ray Compton scattering imaging is a promising technique for non-destructively and quantitatively investigating commercialized lithium rechargeable batteries. We apply the Compton scattering imaging technique to commercial coin-type lithium rechargeable cells (VL2020) to non-destructively identify the degradation mechanism of the cell. The correlations between the Compton scattering intensity and line-shape of the Compton scattering X-ray energy spectrum (S-parameter) obtained from this technique produce unique distributions that characterize the aged cell. These distributions in the aged cell indicate that the stable phase of the anode formed through the overvoltage charge–discharge cycle. This stable phase prevents lithium reactions, producing microbubbles with the decomposition of the electrolyte.
A Novel Iterative Linear Matrix Inequality Design Procedure for Passive Inter-Substructure Vibration Control
Authors: Rubió-Massegú Josep , Palacios-Quiñonero Francisco , Rossell Josep M. , Karimi Hamid Reza
Published: August 2020

In vibration control of compound structures, inter-substructure damper (ISSD) systems exploit the out-of-phase response of different substructures to dissipate the kinetic vibrational energy by means of inter-substructure damping links. For seismic protection of multistory buildings, distributed sets of interstory fluid viscous dampers (FVDs) are ISSD systems of particular interest. The connections between distributed FVD systems and decentralized static output-feedback control allow using advanced controller-design methodologies to obtain passive ISSD systems with high-performance characteristics. A major issue of that approach is the computational difficulties associated to the numerical solution of optimization problems with structured bilinear matrix inequality constraints. In this work, we present a novel iterative linear matrix inequality procedure that can be applied to obtain enhanced suboptimal solutions for that kind of optimization problems. To demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed methodology, we design a system of supplementary interstory FVDs for the seismic protection of a five-story building by synthesizing a decentralized static velocity-feedback H∞ controller. In the performance assessment, we compare the frequency-domain and time-domain responses of the designed FVD system with the behavior of the optimal static state-feedback H∞ controller. The obtained results indicate that the proposed approach allows designing passive ISSD systems that are capable to match the level of performance attained by optimal state-feedback active controllers.
Modeling of Flexible Bodies for the Study of Control in the Simulink Environment
Authors: Salamina Laura , Botto Daniele , Mauro Stefano , Pastorelli Stefano
Published: August 2020

When studying complex mechatronic systems, it is useful to build models able to simulate both the dynamics of the phenomenon and the control system applied. Typically, the bodies involved are modeled as rigid bodies. In this work, a technique for modeling flexible bodies in Simulink environment is presented. Simulink is a powerful instrument where it is quite easy to integrate control algorithms with complex systems. The solution developed is presented and applied to a machining center. Modern machining centers ensure a level of accuracy that traditional manual machines cannot reach. Simulations of the working process considering vibrations are needed to obtain high precision machining. These simulations aim to determine the error in the position of the tool and to help designers in finding the optimal solution in terms of machining velocity and precision. This work is focused on the carriage of a machine tool moving along horizontal guides, typically named Z-axis. The axis is actuated and borne by a linear motor; therefore, movable constraints must be modeled. A finite-element (FE) model of the carriage was reduced with a Craig-Bampton reduction to provide the mass and stiffness matrices for an in-house Matlab simulation code. The rigid constraints of the carriage were implemented in the model as moving stiffnesses, and their value was set to obtain continuity of the constraints in the discrete model. In the end, a map of different vibrational configurations is proposed to visualize the possible errors that a machining process can generate.
Energy Commitment for a Power System Supplied by Multiple Energy Carriers System using Following Optimization Algorithm
Authors: Dehghani Mohammad , Mardaneh Mohammad , Malik Om Parkash , Guerrero Josep M. , Morales-Menendez Ruben , Ramirez-Mendoza Ricardo A. , Matas José , Abusorrah Abdullah
Published: August 2020

In today’s world, the development and continuation of life require energy. Supplying this energy demand requires careful and scientific planning of the energy provided by a variety of products, such as oil, gas, coal, electricity, etc. A new study on the operation of energy carriers called Energy Commitment (EC) is proposed. The purpose of the EC is to set a pattern for the use of energy carriers to supply energy demand, considering technical and economic constraints. EC is a constrained optimization problem that can be solved by using optimization methods. This study suggests the Following Optimization Algorithm (FOA) to solve the EC problem to achieve technical and economic benefits. Minimizing energy supply costs for the total study period is considered as an objective function. The FOA simulates social relationships among the community members who try to improve their community by following each other. Simulation is carried out on a 10-unit energy system supplied by various types of energy carriers that includes transportation, agriculture, industrial, residential, commercial, and public sectors. The results show that the optimal energy supply for a grid with 0.15447 Millions of Barrels of Oil Equivalent (MBOE) of energy demand costs 9.0922 millions dollar for a 24-h study period. However, if the energy supply is not optimal, the costs of operating energy carriers will increase and move away from the optimal economic situation. The economic distribution of electrical demand between 10 power plants and the amount of production units per hour of the study period is determined. The EC outputs are presented, which include an appropriate pattern of energy carrier utilization, energy demand supply costs, appropriate combination of units, and power plant production. The behavior and process of achieving the answer in the convergence curve for the implementation of FOA on EC indicates the exploration and exploitation capacity of FOA. Based on the simulated results, EC provides more information than Unit Commitment (UC) and analyzes the network more efficiently and deeply.
Changes in the Seasonality of Ethiopian Highlands Climate and Implications for Crop Growth
Authors: Tarkegn Gashaw Bimrew , Jury Mark R.
Published: August 2020

Rain-fed agriculture in North-West (NW) Ethiopia is seasonally modulated, and our objective is to isolate past and future trends that influence crop growth. Statistical methods are applied to gauge-interpolated, reanalysis, and satellite data to evaluate changes in the annual cycle and long-term trends. The June to September wet season has lengthened due to the earlier arrival and later departure of rains. Meteorological composites relate this spreading to local southerly winds and a dry-south/wet-north humidity dipole. At the regional scale, an axis of convection over the Rift Valley (35E) is formed by westerly waves on 15S and an anticyclone over Asia 30N. Coupled Model Intercomparsion Project (CMIP5) Hadley2 data assimilated by the Inter-Sectoral Impact Model Intercomparision Project (ISIMIP) hydrological models are used to evaluate projected soil moisture and potential evaporation over the 21st century. May and October soil moisture is predicted to increase in the future, but trends are weak. In contrast, the potential evaporation is rising and may put stress on the land and water resources. A lengthening of the growing season could benefit crop yields across the NW Ethiopian highlands.
Increased Plasma Levels of Adenylate Cyclase 8 and cAMP Are Associated with Obesity and Type 2 Diabetes: Results from a Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Abdel-Halim Samy M. , Al Madhoun Ashraf , Nizam Rasheeba , Melhem Motasem , Cherian Preethi , Al-Khairi Irina , Haddad Dania , Abu-Farha Mohamed , Abubaker Jehad , Bitar Milad S. , Al-Mulla Fahd
Published: August 2020

Adenylate cyclases (ADCYs) catalyze the conversion of ATP to cAMP, an important co-factor in energy homeostasis. Giving ADCYs role in obesity, diabetes and inflammation, we questioned whether calcium-stimulated ADCY isoforms may be variably detectable in human plasma. We report the results of a cross-sectional study assessing circulating levels of functional ADCY1, −3 and −8 in patients with T2D vs. non-diabetic (ND) controls in association with obesity. ADCY1 levels exhibited no significant change between ND and T2D groups. ADCY3 levels were lower in obese individuals, albeit not statistically significantly. In contrast, ADCY8 plasma levels were significantly higher in obese and T2D patients compared to controls (p = 0.001) and patients with T2D only (p = 0.039). ADCY8 levels correlated positively with body mass index and Hb1Ac levels. Parallel to the increased ADCY8 levels, significantly higher cAMP levels were observed in patients with T2D compared with ND controls, and further elevated in obese individuals, irrespective of T2D status. Additionally, cAMP levels positively correlated with fasting plasma glucose levels. In conclusion, the current cross-sectional study demonstrated elevated levels of circulating plasma ADCY8 and cAMP in obesity and T2D.
An In Vitro Barrier Model of the Human Submandibular Salivary Gland Epithelium Based on a Single Cell Clone of Cell Line HTB-41: Establishment and Application for Biomarker Transport Studies
Authors: Lin Grace C. , Smajlhodzic Merima , Bandian Anna-Maria , Friedl Heinz-Peter , Leitgeb Tamara , Oerter Sabrina , Stadler Kerstin , Giese Ulrich , Peham Johannes R. , Bingle Lynne , Neuhaus Winfried
Published: August 2020

The blood–saliva barrier (BSB) consists of the sum of the epithelial cell layers of the oral mucosa and salivary glands. In vitro models of the BSB are inevitable to investigate and understand the transport of salivary biomarkers from blood to saliva. Up to now, standardized, cell line-based models of the epithelium of the submandibular salivary gland are still missing for this purpose. Therefore, we established epithelial barrier models of the submandibular gland derived from human cell line HTB-41 (A-253). Single clone isolation resulted in five different clones (B2, B4, B9, D3, and F11). Clones were compared to the parental cell line HTB-41 using measurements of the transepithelial electrical resistance (TEER), paracellular marker permeability assays and analysis of marker expression for acinar, ductal, and myoepithelial cells. Two clones (B9, D3) were characterized to be of acinar origin, one clone (F11) to be of myoepithelial origin and one isolation (B4) derived from two cells, to be presumably a mixture of acinar and ductal origin. Clone B2, presumably of ductal origin, showed a significantly higher paracellular barrier compared to other clones and parental HTB-41. The distinct molecular identity of clone B2 was confirmed by immunofluorescent staining, qPCR, and flow cytometry. Experiments with ferritin, a biomarker for iron storage, demonstrated the applicability of the selected model based on clone B2 for transport studies. In conclusion, five different clones originating from the submandibular gland cell line HTB-41 were successfully characterized and established as epithelial barrier models. Studies with the model based on the tightest clone B2 confirmed its suitability for transport studies in biomarker research.
Murine Models of Myelofibrosis
Authors: Jacquelin Sebastien , Kramer Frederike , Mullally Ann , Lane Steven W.
Published: August 2020

Myelofibrosis (MF) is subtype of myeloproliferative neoplasm (MPN) characterized by a relatively poor prognosis in patients. Understanding the factors that drive MF pathogenesis is crucial to identifying novel therapeutic approaches with the potential to improve patient care. Driver mutations in three main genes (janus kinase 2 (JAK2), calreticulin (CALR), and myeloproliferative leukemia virus oncogene (MPL)) are recurrently mutated in MPN and are sufficient to engender MPN using animal models. Interestingly, animal studies have shown that the underlying molecular mutation and the acquisition of additional genetic lesions is associated with MF outcome and transition from early stage MPN such as essential thrombocythemia (ET) and polycythemia vera (PV) to secondary MF. In this issue, we review murine models that have contributed to a better characterization of MF pathobiology and identification of new therapeutic opportunities in MPN.
Chemotherapy and Survival in Patients with Primary High-Grade Extremity and Trunk Soft Tissue Sarcoma
Authors: Graham Danielle S. , van Dams Ritchell , Jackson Nicholas J. , Onyshchenko Mykola , Eckardt Mark A. , DiPardo Benjamin J. , Nelson Scott D. , Chmielowski Bartosz , Shabason Jacob E. , Singh Arun S. , Eilber Fritz C. , Kalbasi Anusha
Published: August 2020

The use of upfront chemotherapy for primary localized soft tissue sarcoma (STS) of the extremity and trunk is debated. It remains unclear if chemotherapy adds clinical benefit, which patients are likely to benefit, and whether the timing of therapy affects outcomes. We used the National Cancer Database (NCDB) to examine the association between overall survival (OS) and chemotherapy in 5436 patients with the five most common subtypes of STS with primary disease localized to the extremity or trunk, mirroring the patient population of a modern phase 3 clinical trial of neoadjuvant chemotherapy. We then examined associations between timing of multi-agent chemotherapy (neoadjuvant or adjuvant) and OS. We used a Cox proportional hazards model and propensity score matching (PSM) to account for covariates including demographic, patient, clinical, treatment, and facility factors. In the overall cohort, we observed no association between multi-agent chemotherapy or its timing and improved OS. Multi-agent chemotherapy was associated with improved OS in several subgroups, including patients with larger tumors (>5 cm), those treated at high-volume centers, or those who received radiation. We also identified an OS benefit to multi-agent chemotherapy among the elderly (>70 years) and African American patients. Multi-agent chemotherapy was associated with improved survival for patients with tumors >5 cm, who receive radiation, or who receive care at high-volume centers. Neither younger age nor chemotherapy timing was associated with better outcomes. These ‘real-world’ findings align with recent randomized trial data supporting the use of multi-agent chemotherapy in high-risk patients with localized STS.
Prognostic and Clinicopathological Significance of FADD Upregulation in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: González-Moles Miguel Ángel , Ayén Ángela , González-Ruiz Isábel , de Porras-Carrique Teresa , González-Ruiz Lucía , Ruiz-Ávila Isábel , Ramos-García Pablo
Published: August 2020

Fas-associated death domain (FADD) upregulation, i.e., gene amplification, protein phosphorylation and/or overexpression, has shown promising prognostic implications in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). This systematic review and meta-analysis aims to evaluate the clinicopathological and prognostic significance of FADD upregulation in HNSCC. We searched studies published before February 2020 through PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Scopus and Google Scholar. We evaluated the quality of the studies included using the QUIPS tool. The impact of FADD upregulation on survival and clinicopathological variables was meta-analysed. We explored heterogeneity and their sources, conducted sensitivity analyses and investigated small-study effects. Thirteen studies (1,923 patients) met inclusion criteria. FADD immunohistochemical overexpression was statistically associated with worse overall survival (hazard ratio [HR] = 1.52, 95% confidence intervals [CI] = 1.28–1.81, p < 0.001), disease-specific survival (HR = 2.52, 95% CI = 1.61–3.96, p < 0.001), disease-free survival (HR = 1.67, 95% CI=1.29–2.15, p < 0.001), higher clinical stage (odds ratio [OR] = 1.72, 95% CI = 1.17–2.51, p = 0.005) and a large magnitude of effect with N+ status (OR = 2.36, 95% CI = 1.85–3.00, p < 0.001). FADD phosphorylation in ser-194 demonstrated no prognostic value, while no conclusive results can be drawn for FADD gene amplification. In conclusion, our findings indicate that immunohistochemical assessment of FADD overexpression could be incorporated into the prognostic evaluation of HNSCC.
Y-Box Binding Protein 1 Expression in Trophoblast Cells Promotes Fetal and Placental Development
Authors: Meyer Nicole , Schumacher Anne , Coenen Urs , Woidacki Katja , Schmidt Hannah , Lindquist Jonathan A. , Mertens Peter R. , Zenclussen Ana C.
Published: August 2020

Y-box binding protein 1 (YB-1) is pivotal for the regulation of cancerogenesis and inflammation. However, its involvement in pregnancy processes such as fetal and placental development remains to be elucidated. We studied Ybx1 (YB-1)+/− heterozygous intercrossings and compared them to YB-1+/+ wild-type (WT) combinations. Additionally, we generated trophoblast-specific YB-1-deficient mice by pairing FVB Cyp19-Cre females to YB-1fl/fl males. YB-1fl/fl-paired FVB WT females served as controls. Serial in vivo ultrasound measurements were performed to assess fetal and placental parameters. After sacrificing the females, implantation and abortion rates were recorded, spiral artery (SA) remodeling was analyzed and fetal and placental weights were determined. Compared to YB-1+/+ counterparts, YB-1+/− females showed reduced implantation areas at gestation day (GD)10, insufficiently remodeled SAs at GD12, increased placental diameter/thickness ratios at GD14 and reduced placental and fetal weights at GD14. Compared to WT, Cyp19-Cre females with YB-1-deficient placentas showed reduced implantation areas at GD8, 10 and 12; decreased placental areas and diameters at GD10 and 12; diminished placental thicknesses at GD12; as well as reduced placental weights at GD12 and 14. In conclusion, our data suggest haploinsufficiency of YB-1 resulting in disturbed fetal and placental development. Moreover, we provide the first evidence for the relevance of trophoblast-specific YB-1 for placentation.
Molecular and Mechanobiological Pathways Related to the Physiopathology of FPLD2
Authors: Varlet Alice-Anaïs , Helfer Emmanuèle , Badens Catherine
Published: August 2020

Laminopathies are rare and heterogeneous diseases affecting one to almost all tissues, as in Progeria, and sharing certain features such as metabolic disorders and a predisposition to atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases. These two features are the main characteristics of the adipose tissue-specific laminopathy called familial partial lipodystrophy type 2 (FPLD2). The only gene that is involved in FPLD2 physiopathology is the LMNA gene, with at least 20 mutations that are considered pathogenic. LMNA encodes the type V intermediate filament lamin A/C, which is incorporated into the lamina meshwork lining the inner membrane of the nuclear envelope. Lamin A/C is involved in the regulation of cellular mechanical properties through the control of nuclear rigidity and deformability, gene modulation and chromatin organization. While recent studies have described new potential signaling pathways dependent on lamin A/C and associated with FPLD2 physiopathology, the whole picture of how the syndrome develops remains unknown. In this review, we summarize the signaling pathways involving lamin A/C that are associated with the progression of FPLD2. We also explore the links between alterations of the cellular mechanical properties and FPLD2 physiopathology. Finally, we introduce potential tools based on the exploration of cellular mechanical properties that could be redirected for FPLD2 diagnosis.
Investigation of the Properties of Color-Changing Powder Water-Based Coating
Authors: Yan Xiaoxing , Chang Yijuan
Published: August 2020

The suitable coating process and discoloration effect of the waterborne paint added with color-changing powder on the surface of Chinese fir were investigated using an orthogonal method from three factors of the number of primers, topcoats, and the way of adding color-changing powder. It was found that the number of primers showed the greatest significance on the color difference of paint film, and the method of adding the color-changing powder had the most influence on the gloss of the paint film. Meanwhile, the impact resistance, paint film adhesion, liquid film resistance level, the gloss of coatings, and the composition of waterborne coatings were not affected by the three factors. The results indicated that two primers, two topcoats with color-changing powder, were the most suitable coating technologies for the reversible color waterborne coating to obtain a stable and sustainable discoloration effect. These results will provide a reference for the construction and application of a color-changing coating.