bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Spatial–Temporal Evolution and Analysis of the Driving Force of Oil Palm Patterns in Malaysia from 2000 to 2018
Authors: Li Wenhui , Fu Dongjie , Su Fenzhen , Xiao Yang
Published: April 2020

Oil palm is the main cash crop grown in Malaysia, and palm oil plays an important role in the world oil market. A number of studies have used multisource remote sensing data to conduct research on oil palms in Malaysia, but there are a lack of long-term oil palm mapping studies, especially when the percentage of oil palm tree cover was higher than other plantations in Malaysia during the period of 2000–2012. To overcome this limitation, we used the Google Earth Engine platform to perform oil palm classification based on Landsat reflectance data. The spatial distribution of oil palms in Malaysia in five periods from 2000 to 2018 was obtained. Then, the planting center of gravity transfer method was applied to analyze the expansion of oil palms in Malaysia from 2000 to 2018 using Landsat data, elevation data, oil palm planting area, crude palm oil price, and other statistical data. Meanwhile, the driving factors affecting the change in oil palm planting area were also analyzed. The results showed that: (1) During 2000–2018, the oil palm planted area in Malaysia increased by 5.06 Mha (million ha), with a growth rate of 83.50%. Specifically, the increased area and growth rate for West Malaysia were 2.05 Mha and 62.05% and for East Malaysia were 3.01 Mha and 109.45%, respectively. (2) Three expansion patterns of oil palms were observed: (i) from a fragmented pattern to a connected area, (ii) expansion along a river, and (iii) from a plain to a gently sloped area. (3) The maximum shift of the center of gravity of the oil palms in West Malaysia was 10 km, while in East Malaysia, it reached 100 km. The East Malaysia oil palm planting potential was greater than that of West Malaysia and showed a trend of shifting from coastal areas to inland areas. (4) Malaysia’s oil palms are mainly planted in areas below 100 m above sea level; although a trend of expansion into high altitudes is visible, oil palm plantings extend to areas below 300 m above sea level. (5) Topography, crude palm oil prices, and deforestation are closely related to changes in oil palm planted area.
Spatiotemporal Analysis of Taxi-Driver Shifts Using Big Trace Data
Authors: Cheng Luling , Yang Xue , Tang Luliang , Duan Qian , Kan Zihan , Zhang Xia , Ye Xinyue
Published: April 2020

In taxi management, taxi-driver shift behaviors play a key role in arranging the operation of taxis, which affect the balance between the demand and supply of taxis and the parking spaces. At the same time, these behaviors influence the daily travel of citizens. An analysis of the distribution of taxi-driver shifts, therefore, contributes to transportation management. Compared to the previous research using the real shift records, this study focuses on the spatiotemporal analysis of taxi-driver shifts using big trace data. A two-step strategy is proposed to automatically identify taxi-driver shifts from big trace data without the information of drivers’ identities. The first step is to pick out the frequent spatiotemporal sequential patterns from all parking events based on the spatiotemporal sequence analysis. The second step is to construct a Gaussian mixture model based on prior knowledge for further identifying taxi-driver shifts from all frequent spatiotemporal sequential patterns. The spatiotemporal distribution of taxi-driver shifts is analyzed based on two indicators, namely regional taxi coverage intensity and taxi density. Taking the city of Wuhan as an example, the experimental results show that the identification precision and recall rate of taxi-driver shift events based on the proposed method can achieve about 95% and 90%, respectively, by using big taxi trace data. The occurrence time of taxi-driver shifts in Wuhan mainly has two high peak periods: 1:00 a.m. to 4:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Although taxi-driver shift behaviors are prohibited during the evening peak hour based on the regulation issued by Wuhan traffic administration, experimental results show that there are still some drivers in violation of this regulation. By analyzing the spatial distribution of taxi-driver shifts, we find that most taxi-driver shifts distribute in central urban areas such as Wuchang and Jianghan district.
An Examination of Ability Emotional Intelligence and Its Relationships with Fluid and Crystallized Abilities in a Student Sample
Authors: Völker Juliane
Published: April 2020

This study investigated correlative, factorial, and structural relationships between scores for ability emotional intelligence in the workplace (measured with the Geneva Emotional Competence Test), as well as fluid and crystallized abilities (measured with the Intelligence Structure Battery), carried out by a 188-participant student sample. Confirming existing research, recognition, understanding, and management of emotions were related primarily to crystallized ability tests measuring general knowledge, verbal fluency, and knowledge of word meaning. Meanwhile, emotion regulation was the least correlated with any other cognitive or emotional ability. In line with research on the trainability of emotional intelligence, these results may support the notion that emotional abilities are subject to acquired knowledge, where situational (i.e., workplace-specific) emotional intelligence may depend on accumulating relevant experiences.
Autoencoder-Based Three-Factor Model for the Yield Curve of Japanese Government Bonds and a Trading Strategy
Authors: Suimon Yoshiyuki , Sakaji Hiroki , Izumi Kiyoshi , Matsushima Hiroyasu
Published: April 2020

Interest rates are representative indicators that reflect the degree of economic activity. The yield curve, which combines government bond interest rates by maturity, fluctuates to reflect various macroeconomic factors. Central bank monetary policy is one of the significant factors influencing interest rate markets. Generally, when the economy slows down, the central bank tries to stimulate the economy by lowering the policy rate to establish an environment in which companies and individuals can easily raise funds. In Japan, the shape of the yield curve has changed significantly in recent years following major changes in monetary policy. Therefore, an increasing need exists for a model that can flexibly respond to the various shapes of yield curves. In this research, we construct a three-factor model to represent the Japanese yield curve using the machine learning approach of an autoencoder. In addition, we focus on the model parameters of the intermediate layer of the neural network that constitute the autoencoder and confirm that the three automatically generated factors represent the “Level,” “Curvature,” and “Slope” of the yield curve. Furthermore, we develop a long–short strategy for Japanese government bonds by setting their valuation with the autoencoder, and we confirm good performance compared with the trend-follow investment strategy.
Maternal Obesity Modulates Expression of Satb2 in Hypothalamic VMN of Female Offspring
Authors: Glendining Kelly A. , Fisher Lorryn C. , Jasoni Christine L.
Published: April 2020

Maternal obesity during pregnancy is associated with a greater risk of poor health outcomes in offspring, including obesity, metabolic disorders, and anxiety, however the incidence of these diseases differs for males and females. Similarly, animal models of maternal obesity have reported sex differences in offspring, for both metabolic outcomes and anxiety-like behaviors. The ventromedial nucleus of the hypothalamus (VMN) is a brain region known to be involved in the regulation of both metabolism and anxiety, and is well documented to be sexually dimorphic. As the VMN is largely composed of glutamatergic neurons, which are important for its functions in modulating metabolism and anxiety, we hypothesized that maternal obesity may alter the number of glutamatergic neurons in the offspring VMN. We used a mouse model of a maternal high-fat diet (mHFD), to examine mRNA expression of the glutamatergic neuronal marker Satb2 in the mediobasal hypothalamus of control and mHFD offspring at GD17.5. We found sex differences in Satb2 expression, with mHFD-induced upregulation of Satb2 mRNA in the mediobasal hypothalamus of female offspring, compared to controls, but not males. Using immunohistochemistry, we found an increase in the number of SATB2-positive cells in female mHFD offspring VMN, compared to controls, which was localized to the rostral region of the nucleus. These data provide evidence that maternal nutrition during gestation alters the developing VMN, possibly increasing its glutamatergic drive of offspring in a sex-specific manner, which may contribute to sexual dimorphism in offspring health outcomes later in life.
3,5-Dithiatricyclo[5.2.1.02,6]decan-4-one
Authors: Aitken R. , Keddie Neil , Slawin Alexandra
Published: April 2020

The X-ray structure of the title compound has been determined and the structure shows an exo-configured planar dithiolanone ring. This is in contrast to the few previous dithiolanones to be characterised crystallographically, which are all twisted.
Existence of Generalized Augmented Lagrange Multipliers for Constrained Optimization Problems
Authors: Wang Yue , Zhou Jinchuan , Tang Jingyong
Published: April 2020

The augmented Lagrange multiplier as an important concept in duality theory for optimization problems is extended in this paper to generalized augmented Lagrange multipliers by allowing a nonlinear support for the augmented perturbation function. The existence of generalized augmented Lagrange multipliers is established by perturbation analysis. Meanwhile, the relations among generalized augmented Lagrange multipliers, saddle points, and zero duality gap property are developed.
Porous Functionally Graded Plates: An Assessment of the Influence of Shear Correction Factor on Static Behavior
Authors: Mota Ana F. , Loja Maria Amélia R. , Barbosa Joaquim I. , Rodrigues José A.
Published: April 2020

The known multifunctional characteristic of porous graded materials makes them very attractive in a number of diversified application fields, which simultaneously poses the need to deepen research efforts in this broad field. The study of functionally graded porous materials is a research topic of interest, particularly concerning the modeling of porosity distributions and the corresponding estimations of their material properties—in both real situations and from a material modeling perspective. This work aims to assess the influence of different porosity distribution approaches on the shear correction factor, used in the context of the first-order shear deformation theory, which in turn may introduce significant effects in a structure’s behavior. To this purpose, we evaluated porous functionally graded plates with varying composition through their thickness. The bending behavior of these plates was studied using the finite element method with two quadrilateral plate element models. Verification studies were performed to assess the representativeness of the developed and implemented models, namely, considering an alternative higher-order model also employed for this specific purpose. Comparative analyses were developed to assess how porosity distributions influence the shear correction factor, and ultimately the static behavior, of the plates.
Effect of Nb on the Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of Ti2Cu Intermetallic through the First-Principle Calculations and Experimental Investigation
Authors: Cheng Jialin , Yun Yeling , Wang Jingjing , Rui Jiaxin , Wang Shun , Du Yulei
Published: April 2020

Through the first-principle calculations based on density functional theory and experimental investigation, the structural stability elastic properties and mechanical properties of Ti2Cu and Ti18Cu5Nb1 intermetallics were studied. The first-principle calculations showed that the ratio of bulk modulus to shear modulus (B/G) and Poisson’s ratio (ν) of Ti2Cu and Ti18Cu5Nb1 intermetallics were 2.03, 0.288, and 2.22, 0.304, respectively, indicating that the two intermetallics were ductile. This was confirmed by the compression tests, which showed that the plastic strain of both intermetallics was beyond 25%. In addition, the yield strength increased from the 416 to 710 MPa with the addition of Nb. The increase in strength is the result of three factors, namely covalent bond tendency, fine grain strengthening, and solid solution strengthening. This finding gives clues to design novel intermetallics with excellent mechanical properties by first-principle calculations and alloying.
Effect of Roasting Temperature on Phase Transformation in Co-Reduction Roasting of Nickel Slag
Authors: Cao Yunye , Xu Chengyan , Tian Yuechao , Hou Yanqing
Published: April 2020

Nickel slag and blast furnace dust comprise a large part of solid waste produced by the metallurgical industry. In this study, a novel method of co-reduction roasting followed by grinding/magnetic separation was proposed to collaboratively reutilize nickel slag and blast furnace dust. The nickel slag was combined with blast furnace dust to produce a Ni-Fe alloy containing Cu component by using the proposed method. In addition, the blast furnace dust acted not only as a reductant but also as an Fe resource. Results in this work showed that 81.62% Fe and 89% Ni could be recovered from nickel slag and blast furnace dust, and a Ni-Fe alloy product with 93.03 wt% Fe, 0.86 wt% Ni, and 0.49 wt% Cu could be obtained under optimal conditions in this study. The effect of roasting temperature on phase transformation was characterized and analyzed by XRD and SEM-EDS. The results illustrated that roasting temperature was considered as the main influence to regulate the mineral phase transformation and microstructural change in roasted product. The minerals in the nickel slag finally transformed iron and augite from fayalite containing magnesium and magnetite after the disappearance/transformation of the mineral phase. The Fe-bearing minerals were first reduced in situ position of structure into metallic Fe particles and then grown into a Ni-Fe alloy with Cu of chain structure. The new structure, instead of the original structure, formed the homogeneous slag phase and Ni-Fe alloy with Cu component.
Caliche and Seawater, Sources of Nitrate and Chloride Ions to Chalcopyrite Leaching in Acid Media
Authors: Hernández Pía , Gahona Giovanni , Martínez Monserrat , Toro Norman , Castillo Jonathan
Published: April 2020

Hydrometallurgical processing of chalcopyrite is of great interest today due to the depletion of oxidized copper minerals. This will also enable existing plants to continue operation. The objective of this work is to study the behavior of chalcopyrite leaching by stirring in an acid-nitrate-chloride media where seawater and brines provide chloride ions and nitrate ions can be provided from the caliche industry. The variables studied were sulfuric acid, nitrate and chloride concentration, source of water (dissolvent), temperature, solid/liquid ratio, particle size, mineral sample, and pretreatment before the leaching process. Despite being a refractory mineral, chalcopyrite can be leached in this system obtaining favorable recoveries at the conditions studied. It was possible to obtain 50% Cu in 0.7 M of H2SO4 and NaNO3, using brine at 45 °C. The nitrate-chloride-acid system was highly temperature dependent, with an activation energy of 82.6 kJ/mol, indicative of chemical reaction control of leaching kinetics. SEM/EDS indicated the presence of sulfur on the surface of the mineral after leaching. This study demonstrates that sources such as seawater or discard brines (such as from the reverse osmosis process) and waste (solid or solutions) from the caliche industry can provide a highly oxidative system for the dissolution of chalcopyrite.
Sperm Cell Driven Microrobots—Emerging Opportunities and Challenges for Biologically Inspired Robotic Design
Authors: Singh Ajay , Ansari Mohammad , Mahajan Mihir , Srivastava Shubhangi , Kashyap Shubham , Dwivedi Prajjwal , Pandit Vaibhav , Katha Uma
Published: April 2020

With the advent of small-scale robotics, several exciting new applications like Targeted Drug Delivery, single cell manipulation and so forth, are being discussed. However, some challenges remain to be overcome before any such technology becomes medically usable; among which propulsion and biocompatibility are the main challenges. Propulsion at micro-scale where the Reynolds number is very low is difficult. To overcome this, nature has developed flagella which have evolved over millions of years to work as a micromotor. Among the microscopic cells that exhibit this mode of propulsion, sperm cells are considered to be fast paced. Here, we give a brief review of the state-of-the-art of Spermbots—a new class of microrobots created by coupling sperm cells to mechanical loads. Spermbots utilize the flagellar movement of the sperm cells for propulsion and as such do not require any toxic fuel in their environment. They are also naturally biocompatible and show considerable speed of motion thereby giving us an option to overcome the two challenges of propulsion and biocompatibility. The coupling mechanisms of physical load to the sperm cells are discussed along with the advantages and challenges associated with the spermbot. A few most promising applications of spermbots are also discussed in detail. A brief discussion of the future outlook of this extremely promising category of microrobots is given at the end.
Nonlinear Optics in Dielectric Guided-Mode Resonant Structures and Resonant Metasurfaces
Authors: Raghunathan Varun , Deka Jayanta , Menon Sruti , Biswas Rabindra , A.S Lal Krishna
Published: April 2020

Nonlinear optics is an important area of photonics research for realizing active optical functionalities such as light emission, frequency conversion, and ultrafast optical switching for applications in optical communication, material processing, precision measurements, spectroscopic sensing and label-free biological imaging. An emerging topic in nonlinear optics research is to realize high efficiency optical functionalities in ultra-small, sub-wavelength length scale structures by leveraging interesting optical resonances in surface relief metasurfaces. Such artificial surfaces can be engineered to support high quality factor resonances for enhanced nonlinear optical interaction by leveraging interesting physical mechanisms. The aim of this review article is to give an overview of the emerging field of nonlinear optics in dielectric based sub-wavelength periodic structures to realize efficient harmonic generators, wavelength mixers, optical switches etc. Dielectric metasurfaces support the realization of high quality-factor resonances with electric field concentrated either inside or in the vicinity of the dielectric media, while at the same time operate at high optical intensities without damage. The periodic dielectric structures considered here are broadly classified into guided-mode resonant structures and resonant metasurfaces. The basic physical mechanisms behind guided-mode resonances, electromagnetically-induced transparency like resonances and bound-states in continuum resonances in periodic photonic structures are discussed. Various nonlinear optical processes studied in such structures with example implementations are also reviewed. Finally, some future directions of interest in terms of realizing large-area metasurfaces, techniques for enhancing the efficiency of the nonlinear processes, heterogenous integration, and extension to non-conventional wavelength ranges in the ultra-violet and infrared region are discussed.
Polymer-Based Functional Cantilevers Integrated with Interdigitated Electrode Arrays—A Novel Platform for Cardiac Sensing
Authors: Kanade Pooja P. , Oyunbaatar Nomin-Erdene , Lee Dong-Weon
Published: April 2020

Heart related ailments are some of the most common causes for death in the world, and some of the causes are cardiac toxicity due to drugs. Several platforms have been developed in this regard over the years that can measure electrical or mechanical behavior of cardiomyocytes. In this study, we have demonstrated a biomedical device that can simultaneously measure electrophysiology and contraction force of cardiomyocytes. This dual-function device is composed of a photosensitive polymer-based cantilever, with a pair of metal-based interdigitated electrodes on its surface, such that the cantilever can measure the contraction force of cardiomyocytes and the electrodes can measure the impedance between cells and substrate. The cantilever is patterned with microgrooves so that the cardiomyocytes can align to the cantilever in order to make a higher cantilever deflection in response to contraction force. Preliminary experimental results have identified the potential for use in the drug-induced cardiac toxicity tests, and further optimization is desirable to extend the technique to various bio-sensor areas.
Microbial Resource Management for Ex Situ Biomethanation of Hydrogen at Alkaline pH
Authors: Logroño Washington , Popp Denny , Kleinsteuber Sabine , Sträuber Heike , Harms Hauke , Nikolausz Marcell
Published: April 2020

Biomethanation is a promising solution to convert H2 (produced from surplus electricity) and CO2 to CH4 by using hydrogenotrophic methanogens. In ex situ biomethanation with mixed cultures, homoacetogens and methanogens compete for H2/CO2. We enriched a hydrogenotrophic microbiota on CO2 and H2 as sole carbon and energy sources, respectively, to investigate these competing reactions. The microbial community structure and dynamics of bacteria and methanogenic archaea were evaluated through 16S rRNA and mcrA gene amplicon sequencing, respectively. Hydrogenotrophic methanogens and homoacetogens were enriched, as acetate was concomitantly produced alongside CH4. By controlling the media composition, especially changing the reducing agent, the formation of acetate was lowered and grid quality CH4 (≥97%) was obtained. Formate was identified as an intermediate that was produced and consumed during the bioprocess. Stirring intensities ≥ 1000 rpm were detrimental, probably due to shear force stress. The predominating methanogens belonged to the genera Methanobacterium and Methanoculleus. The bacterial community was dominated by Lutispora. The methanogenic community was stable, whereas the bacterial community was more dynamic. Our results suggest that hydrogenotrophic communities can be steered towards the selective production of CH4 from H2/CO2 by adapting the media composition, the reducing agent and the stirring intensity.
Agglomeration-Flotation of Finely Ground Chalcopyrite and Quartz: Effects of Agitation Strength during Agglomeration Using Emulsified Oil on Chalcopyrite
Authors: Hornn Vothy , Ito Mayumi , Shimada Hiromasa , Tabelin Carlito Baltazar , Jeon Sanghee , Park Ilhwan , Hiroyoshi Naoki
Published: April 2020

In flotation, the size of mineral particles is one of the most important parameters: when the size becomes fine, collision efficiency of the particles and air bubbles becomes low, causing low flotation recovery. To improve the collision efficiency and flotation kinetics, agglomeration using the emulsified oil of finely ground chalcopyrite (D50 = 3.5 μm) was carried out before flotation. In this study, the effects of agitation strength during agglomeration, kerosene dosage and potassium amyl xanthate (KAX) dosage on the flotation were investigated. Agglomeration using emulsified oil improved Cu recovery because the median diameter of agglomerate increased. With increasing agitation strength, KAX and kerosene dosages, Cu recovery was further increased. Agglomeration-flotation of a mixture containing chalcopyrite and quartz with 1:1 ratio (w/w, weight by weight) showed that Si recovery in froth was low and did not change with varying conditions (agitation strength, KAX and kerosene dosages); however, Cu recovery was significantly improved with increasing agitation strength, KAX and kerosene dosages, and thus the separation efficiency was improved.
A New Database of the Quantitative Cathodoluminescence of the Main Quarry Marbles Used in Antiquity
Authors: Blanc Philippe , Lapuente Mercadal M. Pilar , Gutiérrez Garcia-Moreno Anna
Published: April 2020

Quantitative cathodoluminescence (CL) has rarely been applied for the archaeometric studies concerning marble provenance, despite its potential. This paper develops the method and provides a new database of the parameters obtained from the main marble quarries used in antiquity. With a total number of 473 marble samples from ten districts of the central and eastern Mediterranean, it is the first database on quantitative CL, with the additional advantage of being the same samples that have already characterized by other conventional techniques and that are available in the literature. Focused on the measurements of the intensity peaks at the UV and visible spectra, registered by a spectrometer coupled to a scanning electron microscope (CL-SEM), the representative values are plotted on different useful diagrams to be applied in the identification of marble provenance studies, as a complementary tool of other analyses.
Metasomatic Evolution of Coesite-Bearing Diamondiferous Eclogite from the Udachnaya Kimberlite
Authors: Mikhailenko Denis , Golovin Alexander , Korsakov Andrey , Aulbach Sonja , Gerdes Axel , Ragozin Alexey
Published: April 2020

A coesite-bearing diamondiferous eclogite from the Udachnaya kimberlite (Daldyn field, Siberian craton) has been studied to trace its complex evolution recorded in rock-forming and minor mineral constituents. The eclogite sample is composed of rock-forming omphacite (60 vol%), garnet (35 vol%) and quartz/coesite (5 vol%) and contains intergranular euhedral zoned olivine crystals, up to 200 µm long, coexisting with phlogopite, orthopyroxene, clinopyroxene (secondary), K-feldspar, plagioclase, spinel, sodalite and djerfisherite. Garnet grains are zoned, with a relatively homogeneous core and a more magnesian overgrowth rim. The rim zones further differ from the core in having higher Zr/Y (6 times that in the cores), ascribed to interaction with, or precipitation from, a kimberlite-related melt. Judging by pressure-temperature estimates (~1200 °C; 6.2 GPa), the xenolith originated at depths of ~180–200 km at the base of the continental lithosphere. The spatial coexistence of olivine, orthopyroxene and coesite/quartz with K-Na-Cl minerals in the xenolith indicates that eclogite reacted with a deep-seated kimberlite melt. However, Fe-rich olivine, orthopyroxene and low-pressure minerals (sodalite and djerfisherite) likely result from metasomatic reaction at shallower depths during transport of the eclogite by the erupting kimberlite melt. Our results demonstrate that a mixed eclogitic-peridotitic paragenesis, reported previously from inclusions in diamond, can form by interaction of eclogite and a kimberlite-related melt.
Dehydration of δ-AlOOH in Earth’s Deep Lower Mantle
Authors: Piet Hélène , Leinenweber Kurt D. , Tappan Jacqueline , Greenberg Eran , Prakapenka Vitali B. , Buseck Peter R. , Shim Sang-Heon
Published: April 2020

δ -AlOOH has been shown to be stable at the pressure–temperature conditions of the lower mantle. However, its stability remains uncertain at the conditions expected for the lowermost mantle where temperature is expected to rise quickly with increasing depth. Our laser-heated diamond-anvil cell experiments show that δ -AlOOH undergoes dehydration at ∼2000 K above 90 GPa. This dehydration temperature is lower than geotherm temperatures expected at the bottom ∼700 km of the mantle and suggests that δ -AlOOH in warm slabs would dehydrate in this region. Our experiments also show that the released H 2 O from dehydration of δ -AlOOH can react with metallic iron, forming iron oxide, iron hydroxide, and possibly iron hydride. Our observations suggest that H 2 O from the dehydration of subducting slabs, if it occurs, could alter the chemical composition of the surrounding mantle and core regions.
Kesebolite-(Ce), CeCa2Mn(AsO4)[SiO3]3, a New REE-Bearing Arsenosilicate Mineral from the Kesebol Mine, Åmål, Västra Götaland, Sweden
Authors: Holtstam Dan , Bindi Luca , Karlsson Andreas , Langhof Jörgen , Zack Thomas , Bonazzi Paola , Persson Anders
Published: April 2020

Kesebolite-(Ce), ideal formula CeCa2Mn(AsO4)[SiO3]3, is a new mineral (IMA No. 2019-097) recovered from mine dumps at the Kesebol Mn-(Fe-Cu) deposit in Västra Götaland, Sweden. It occurs with rhodonite, baryte, quartz, calcite, talc, andradite, rhodochrosite, K-feldspar, hematite, gasparite-(Ce), chernovite-(Y) and ferriakasakaite-(Ce). It forms mostly euhedral crystals, with lengthwise striation. The mineral is dark grayish-brown to brown, translucent, with light brown streak. It is optically biaxial (+), with weak pleochroism, and ncalc = 1.74. H = 5–6 and VHN100 = 825. Fair cleavage is observed on {100}. The calculated density is 3.998(5) g·cm−3. Kesebolite-(Ce) is monoclinic, P21/c, with unit-cell parameters from X-ray single-crystal diffraction data: a = 6.7382(3), b = 13.0368(6), c = 12.0958(6) Å, β = 98.578(2)°, and V = 1050.66(9) Å3, with Z = 4. Strongest Bragg peaks in the X-ray powder pattern are: [I(%), d(Å) (hkl)] 100, 3.114 (20-2); 92, 2.924 (140); 84, 3.138 (041); 72, 2.908 (014); 57, 3.228 (210); 48, 2.856 (042); 48, 3.002 (132). The unique crystal structure was solved and refined to R1 = 4.6%. It consists of 6-periodic single silicate chains along (001); these are interconnected to infinite (010) strings of alternating, corner-sharing MnO6 and AsO4 polyhedra, altogether forming a trellis-like framework parallel to (100).
Enhancing the Cellular Uptake and Antibacterial Activity of Rifampicin through Encapsulation in Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticles
Authors: Joyce Paul , Ulmefors Hanna , Maghrebi Sajedeh , Subramaniam Santhni , Wignall Anthony , Jõemetsa Silver , Höök Fredrik , Prestidge Clive A.
Published: April 2020

An urgent demand exists for the development of novel delivery systems that efficiently transport antibacterial agents across cellular membranes for the eradication of intracellular pathogens. In this study, the clinically relevant poorly water-soluble antibiotic, rifampicin, was confined within mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSN) to investigate their ability to serve as an efficacious nanocarrier system against small colony variants of Staphylococcus aureus (SCV S. aureus) hosted within Caco-2 cells. The surface chemistry and particle size of MSN were varied through modifications during synthesis, where 40 nm particles with high silanol group densities promoted enhanced cellular uptake. Extensive biophysical analysis was performed, using quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation (QCM-D) and total internal reflection fluorescence (TIRF) microscopy, to elucidate the mechanism of MSN adsorption onto semi-native supported lipid bilayers (snSLB) and, thus, uncover potential cellular uptake mechanisms of MSN into Caco-2 cells. Such studies revealed that MSN with reduced silanol group densities were prone to greater particle aggregation on snSLB, which was expected to restrict endocytosis. MSN adsorption and uptake into Caco-2 cells correlated well with antibacterial efficacy against SCV S. aureus, with 40 nm hydrophilic particles triggering a ~2.5-log greater reduction in colony forming units, compared to the pure rifampicin. Thus, this study provides evidence for the potential to design silica nanocarrier systems with controlled surface chemistries that can be used to re-sensitise intracellular bacteria to antibiotics by delivering them to the site of infection.
Effect of Increased Daily Water Intake and Hydration on Health in Japanese Adults
Authors: Nakamura Yumi , Watanabe Hiroshi , Tanaka Aiko , Yasui Masato , Nishihira Jun , Murayama Norihito
Published: April 2020

Increased hydration is recommended as healthy habit with several merits. However, supportive data are sparse. To assess the efficacy of increased daily water intake, we tested the effect of water supplementation on biomarkers in blood, urine, and saliva. Twenty-four healthy Japanese men and 31 healthy Japanese women with fasting blood glucose levels ranging from 90–125 mg/dL were included. An open-label, two-arm, randomized controlled trial was conducted for 12 weeks. Two additional 550 mL bottles of water on top of habitual fluid intake were consumed in the intervention group. The subjects drank one bottle of water (550 mL) within 2 h of waking, and one bottle (550 mL) 2 h before bedtime. Subjects increased mean fluid intake from 1.3 L/day to 2.0 L/day, without changes in total energy intake. Total body water rate increased with associated water supplementation. There were no significant changes in fasting blood glucose and arginine vasopressin levels, but systolic blood pressure was significantly decreased in the intervention group. Furthermore, water supplementation increased body temperature, reduced blood urea nitrogen concentration, and suppressed estimated glomerular filtration rate reduction. Additionally, existence of an intestinal microbiome correlated with decreased systolic blood pressure and increased body temperature. Habitual water supplementation after waking up and before bedtime in healthy subjects with slightly elevated fasting blood glucose levels is not effective in lowering these levels. However, it represents a safe and promising intervention with the potential for lowering blood pressure, increasing body temperature, diluting blood waste materials, and protecting kidney function. Thus, increasing daily water intake could provide several health benefits.
Does ENaC Work as Sodium Taste Receptor in Humans?
Authors: Bigiani Albertino
Published: April 2020

Taste reception is fundamental for the proper selection of food and beverages. Among the several chemicals recognized by the human taste system, sodium ions (Na+) are of particular relevance. Na+ represents the main extracellular cation and is a key factor in many physiological processes. Na+ elicits a specific sensation, called salty taste, and low-medium concentrations of table salt (NaCl, the common sodium-containing chemical we use to season foods) are perceived as pleasant and appetitive. How we detect this cation in foodstuffs is scarcely understood. In animal models, such as the mouse and the rat, the epithelial sodium channel (ENaC) has been proposed as a key protein for recognizing Na+ and for mediating preference responses to low-medium salt concentrations. Here, I will review our current understanding regarding the possible involvement of ENaC in the detection of food Na+ by the human taste system.
Social-Psychological Factors in Food Consumption of Rural Residents: The Role of Perceived Need and Habit within the Theory of Planned Behavior
Authors: Huang Jiaqi , Antonides Gerrit , Nie Fengying
Published: April 2020

To address the problem of malnutrition in poor rural areas of China, this study aims to examine the effects of social-psychological factors in food consumption of rural residents in poor counties of Southwest China. In addition, it investigates the role of perceived need and habit within the theory of planned behavior (TPB) in predicting food consumption. A survey with random sampling was conducted on rural residents (n = 424), and the theoretical frameworks of both the standard and extended TPB were applied for comparison purposes. Structural equation modeling was applied to test the relationships among constructs. Consumption of five food items was studied, respectively: meat, eggs, dairy, fish, and fruits. Results showed that incorporation of perceived need and habit substantially increased the explanatory power of the TPB, but these factors only had significant direct effects on intention rather than behavior. Perceived need and habit are stronger predictors of intention than any other TPB construct for consumption of all food items except for meat. We found indirect effects of the constructs in the extended TPB model on consumption to be different across food items. Practical implications to improve consumption of different food items were proposed accordingly.
Catalase and Ascorbate Peroxidase in Euglenozoan Protists
Authors: Škodová-Sveráková Ingrid , Záhonová Kristína , Bučková Barbora , Füssy Zoltán , Yurchenko Vyacheslav , Lukeš Julius
Published: April 2020

In this work, we studied the biochemical properties and evolutionary histories of catalase (CAT) and ascorbate peroxidase (APX), two central enzymes of reactive oxygen species detoxification, across the highly diverse clade Eugenozoa. This clade encompasses free-living phototrophic and heterotrophic flagellates, as well as obligate parasites of insects, vertebrates, and plants. We present evidence of several independent acquisitions of CAT by horizontal gene transfers and evolutionary novelties associated with the APX presence. We posit that Euglenozoa recruit these detoxifying enzymes for specific molecular tasks, such as photosynthesis in euglenids and membrane-bound peroxidase activity in kinetoplastids and some diplonemids.
Fusion of Remote Sensing and Applied Geophysics for Sinkholes Identification in Tabular Middle Atlas of Morocco (the Causse of El Hajeb): Impact on the Protection of Water Resource
Authors: Muzirafuti Anselme , Boualoul Mustapha , Barreca Giovanni , Allaoui Abdelhamid , Bouikbane Hmad , Lanza Stefania , Crupi Antonio , Randazzo Giovanni
Published: April 2020

The Causse of El Hajeb belongs to the Tabular Middle Atlas (TMA), in which thousands of karst landforms have been identified. Among them, collapse dolines and dissolution sinkholes have been highlighted as a source of environmental risks and geo-hazards. In particular, such sinkholes have been linked to the degradation of water quality in water springs located in the junction of the TMA and Saïss basin. Furthermore, the developments of collapse dolines in agricultural and inhabited areas enhance the risk of life loss, injury, and property damage. Here, the lack of research on newly formed cavities has exacerbated the situation. The limited studies using remote sensing or geophysical methods to determine the degree of karstification and vulnerability of this environment fail to provide the spatial extent and depth location of individual karst cavities. In order to contribute to the effort of sinkhole risk reduction in TMA, we employed remote sensing and geophysical surveys to integrate electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) and self-potential (SP) for subsurface characterization of four sinkholes identified in the Causse of El Hajeb. The results revealed the existence of sinkholes, both visible and non-accessible at the surface, in carbonate rocks. The sinkholes exhibited distinct morphologies, with depths reaching 35 m. Topography, geographic coordinates and land cover information extracted on remote sensing data demonstrated that these cavities were developed in depressions in which agricultural activities are regularly performed. The fusion of these methods benefits from remote sensing in geophysical surveys, particularly in acquisition, georeferencing, processing and interpretation of geophysical data. Furthermore, our proposed method allows identification of the protection perimeter required to minimize the risks posed by sinkholes.
Chlorophyll a Concentration Distribution on the Mainland Coast of the Gulf of California, Mexico
Authors: Robles-Tamayo Carlos Manuel , García-Morales Ricardo , Valdez-Holguín José Eduardo , Figueroa-Preciado Gudelia , Herrera-Cervantes Hugo , López-Martínez Juana , Enríquez-Ocaña Luis Fernando
Published: April 2020

Coastal zones are important areas for the development of diverse ecosystems. The analysis of chlorophyll a (Chl a), as an indicator of primary production in these regions, is crucial for the quantification of phytoplankton biomass, which is considered the main food chain base in the oceans and an indicator of the trophic state index. This variable is greatly important for the analysis of the oceanographic variability, and it is crucial for determining the tendencies of change in these areas with the objective of determining the effects on the ecosystem and the population dynamics of marine resources. In this study, we analysed the Chl a concentration distribution on the mainland coast of the Gulf of California based on the monthly data from July 2002 to July 2019, obtained from remote sensing (Moderate-Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer Aqua (MODIS-Aqua) with a 9 km resolution). The results showed a clear distribution pattern of Chl a observed along this area with the maximum levels in March and minimum levels in August. A four-region characterisation on this area was used to make a comparison of the Chl a concentrations during warm and cold periods. The majority of the results were statistically significant. The spectral analysis in each of the four regions analysed in this study determined the following variation frequencies: annual, semi-annual, seasonal, and inter-annual; the last was related to the macroscale climatological phenomena El Niño-La Niña affecting the variability of the Chl a concentration in the study region.
Seismogenic Source Model of the 2019, Mw 5.9, East-Azerbaijan Earthquake (NW Iran) through the Inversion of Sentinel-1 DInSAR Measurements
Authors: Valerio Emanuela , Manzo Mariarosaria , Casu Francesco , Convertito Vincenzo , De Luca Claudio , Manunta Michele , Monterroso Fernando , Lanari Riccardo , De Novellis Vincenzo
Published: April 2020

In this work, we investigate the Mw 5.9 earthquake occurred on 7 November 2019 in the East-Azerbaijan region, in northwestern Iran, which is inserted in the tectonic framework of the East-Azerbaijan Plateau, a complex mountain belt that contains internal major fold-and-thrust belts. We first analyze the Differential Synthetic Aperture Radar Interferometry (DInSAR) measurements obtained by processing the data collected by the Sentinel-1 constellation along ascending and descending orbits; then, we invert the achieved results through analytical modelling, in order to better constrain the geometry and characteristics of the seismogenic source. The retrieved fault model shows a rather shallow seismic structure, with a center depth at about 3 km, approximately NE–SW-striking and southeast-dipping, characterized by a left-lateral strike-slip fault mechanism (strike = 29.17°, dip = 79.29°, rake = −4.94°) and by a maximum slip of 0.80 m. By comparing the inferred fault with the already published geological structures, the retrieved solution reveals a minor fault not reported in the geological maps available in the open literature, whose kinematics is compatible with that of the surrounding structures, with the local and regional stress states and with the performed field observations. Moreover, by taking into account the surrounding geological structures reported in literature, we also use the retrieved fault model to calculate the Coulomb Failure Function at the nearby receiver faults. We show that this event may have encouraged, with a positive loading, the activation of the considered receiver faults. This is also confirmed by the distribution of the aftershocks that occurred near the considered surrounding structures. The analysis of the seismic events nucleated along the left-lateral strike-slip minor faults of the East-Azerbaijan Plateau, such as the one analyzed in this work, is essential to improve our knowledge on the seismic hazard estimation in northwestern Iran.
Automated Inundation Mapping Over Large Areas Using Landsat Data and Google Earth Engine
Authors: Inman Victoria L. , Lyons Mitchell B.
Published: April 2020

Accurate inundation maps for flooded wetlands and rivers are a critical resource for their management and conservation. In this paper, we automate a method (thresholding of the short-wave infrared band) for classifying peak inundation in the Okavango Delta, northern Botswana, using Landsat imagery and Google Earth Engine. Inundation classification in the Okavango Delta is complex owing to the spectral overlap between inundated areas covered with aquatic vegetation and dryland vegetation classes on satellite imagery, and classifications have predominately been implemented on broad spatial resolution imagery. We present the longest time series to date (1990–2019) of inundation maps for the peak flood season at a high spatial resolution (30 m) for the Okavango Delta. We validated the maps using image-based and in situ data accuracy assessments, with overall accuracy ranging from 91.5% to 98.1%. Use of Landsat imagery resulted in consistently lower (on average, 692 km2) estimates of inundation extent than previous studies that used Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Advanced Very-High-Resolution Radiometer (NOAA AVHRR) imagery, likely owing to the increased number of mixed pixels that occur when using broad spatial resolution imagery, which can lead to overestimations of the size of inundated areas. We provide the inundation maps and Google Earth Engine code for public use. This classification method can likely be adapted for inundation mapping in other regions.
A Pathway to the Automated Global Assessment of Water Level in Reservoirs with Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR)
Authors: Park Edward , Merino Eder , W. Lewis Quinn , O. Lindsey Eric , Yang Xiankun
Published: April 2020

Global measurements of reservoir water levels are crucial for understanding Earth’s hydrological dynamics, especially in the context of global industrialization and climate change. Although radar altimetry has been used to measure the water level of some reservoirs with high accuracy, it is not yet feasible unless the water body is sufficiently large or directly located at the satellite’s nadir. This study proposes a gauging method applicable to a wide range of reservoirs using Sentinel–1 Synthetic Aperture Radar data and a digital elevation model (DEM). The method is straightforward to implement and involves estimating the mean slope–corrected elevation of points along the reservoir shoreline. We test the model on six case studies and show that the estimated water levels are accurate to around 10% error on average of independently verified values. This study represents a substantial step toward the global gauging of lakes and reservoirs of all sizes and in any location where a DEM is available.
Predictive Maintenance for Pump Systems and Thermal Power Plants: State-of-the-Art Review, Trends and Challenges
Authors: Fausing Olesen Jonas , Shaker Hamid Reza
Published: April 2020

Thermal power plants are an important asset in the current energy infrastructure, delivering ancillary services, power, and heat to their respective consumers. Faults on critical components, such as large pumping systems, can lead to material damage and opportunity losses. Pumps plays an essential role in various industries and as such clever maintenance can ensure cost reductions and high availability. Prognostics and Health Management, PHM, is the study utilizing data to estimate the current and future conditions of a system. Within the field of PHM, Predictive Maintenance, PdM, has been gaining increased attention. Data-driven models can be built to estimate the remaining-useful-lifetime of complex systems that would be difficult to identify by man. With the increased attention that the Predictive Maintenance field is receiving, review papers become increasingly important to understand what research has been conducted and what challenges need to be addressed. This paper does so by initially conceptualising the PdM field. A structured overview of literature in regard to application within PdM is presented, before delving into the domain of thermal power plants and pump systems. Finally, related challenges and trends will be outlined. This paper finds that a large number of experimental data-driven models have been successfully deployed, but the PdM field would benefit from more industrial case studies. Furthermore, investigations into the scale-ability of models would benefit industries that are looking into large-scale implementations. Here, examining a method for automatic maintenance of the developed model will be of interest. This paper can be used to understand the PdM field as a broad concept but does also provide a niche understanding of the domain in focus.