bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Marijuana Use among African American Older Adults in Economically Challenged Areas of South Los Angeles
Authors: Cobb Sharon , Bazargan Mohsen , Smith James , del Pino Homero E. , Dorrah Kimberly , Assari Shervin
Published: July 2019

Purpose: This study explored demographic, social, behavioral, and health factors associated with current marijuana use (MU) among African American older adults who were residing in economically challenged areas of south Los Angeles. Methods: This community-based study recruited a consecutive sample of African American older adults (n = 340), age ≥ 55 years, residing in economically challenged areas of South Los Angeles. Interviews were conducted to collect data. Demographics (age and gender), socioeconomic status (educational attainment, income, and financial strain), marital status, living alone, health behaviors (alcohol drinking and cigarette smoking), health status (number of chronic medical conditions, body mass index, depression, and chronic pain), and current MU were collected. Logistic regression was used to analyze the data. Results: Thirty (9.1%) participants reported current MU. Age, educational attainment, chronic medical conditions, and obesity were negatively associated with current MU. Gender, income, financial strain, living alone, marital status, smoking cigarettes, drinking alcohol, depression, and pain did not correlate with MU. Conclusion: Current MU is more common in younger, healthier, less obese, less educated African American older adults. It does not seem that African American older adults use marijuana for the self-medication of chronic disease, pain, or depression. For African American older adults, MU also does not co-occur with cigarette smoking and alcohol drinking. These results may help clinicians who provide services for older African Americans in economically challenged urban areas.
An Overview of Experimental and Clinical Spinal Cord Findings in Alzheimer’s Disease
Authors: Xie Qing , Zhao Wei-Jiang , Ou Guan-Yong , Xue Wei-Kang
Published: July 2019

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder that occurs mainly in the elderly and presenile life stages. It is estimated that by the year 2050, 135 million people will be affected by AD worldwide, representing a huge burden to society. The pathological hallmarks of AD mainly include intracellular neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs) caused by hyperphosphorylation of tau protein, formation of extracellular amyloid plaques, and massive neural cell death in the affected nervous system. The pathogenesis of AD is very complicated, and recent scientific research on AD is mainly concentrated on the cortex and hippocampus. Although the spinal cord is a pivotal part of the central nervous system, there are a limited number of studies focusing on the spinal cord. As an extension of the brain, the spinal cord functions as the bridge between the brain and various parts of the body. However, pathological changes in the spinal cord in AD have not been comprehensively and systematically studied at present. We here review the existing progress on the pathological features of AD in the spinal cord.
A Rational Investigation of the Lewis Acid-Promoted Coupling of Carbon Dioxide with Cyclohexene Oxide: Towards CO2-Sourced Polycyclohexene Carbonate under Solvent- and Cocatalyst-Free Conditions
Authors: Grondin Joseph , Aupetit Christian , Tassaing Thierry
Published: July 2019

We report a rational investigation of the selective synthesis of poly(cyclohexene carbonate) from CO2 and cyclohexene oxide by using commercially available Lewis acids with nontoxic metal centers. After a preliminary screening, we focused on the use of zinc salts, and the effect of the pressure, the temperature, the catalyst loading, and the presence of cocatalyst or a solvent on the reaction yields, selectivity, and molar masses was evaluated for selected catalytic platforms. Thus, we found that ZnTosylate in catalytic amounts under solvent- and cocatalyst-free conditions enables the selective synthesis of poly(cyclohexene carbonate) with a molecular weight of about 62.1 kg/mol with about 70% yields at 343 K and 4 MPa. To the best of our knowledge, this is a rare example of high molar mass polycyclohexene carbonates that are moreover obtained under solvent- and cocatalyst-free conditions. The high selectivity of ZnTos towards the formation of poly(cyclohexene carbonate) was interpreted, thanks to in situ FTIR spectroscopy and DFT calculations, as resulting from its ability to coactivate CO2.
Surgery for Recurrent Pancreatic Cancer: Is It Effective?
Authors: Moletta Lucia , Serafini Simone , Valmasoni Michele , Pierobon Elisa Sefora , Ponzoni Alberto , Sperti Cosimo
Published: July 2019

Despite improvements to surgical procedures and novel combinations of drugs for adjuvant and neoadjuvant therapies for pancreatic adenocarcinoma, the recurrence rate after radical surgery is still high. Little is known about the role of surgery in the treatment of isolated recurrences of pancreatic cancer. The aim of this study was to review the current literature dealing with surgery for recurrent pancreatic cancer in order to examine its feasibility and effectiveness. An extensive literature review was conducted according to the 2009 Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines and 14 articles dealing with re-resections for recurrent pancreatic adenocarcinoma were analyzed, focusing on the characteristics of the primary neoplasm and its recurrence, the surgical procedures used, and patient outcomes. Data were retrieved on a total of 301 patients. The interval between surgery for primary pancreatic cancer and the detection of a recurrence ranged from 2 to 120 months. The recurrence was local or regional in 230 patients, and distant in 71. The median overall survival was 68.9 months (range 3–152) after resection of the primary tumor, and 26.0 months (range 0–112) after surgery for recurrent disease. The disease-free interval after the resection of recurrences was 14.2 months (range 4–29). Although data analysis was performed on a heterogeneous and limited number of patients, some of these may benefit from surgery for isolated recurrence of pancreatic adenocarcinoma. Further studies are needed to identify these cases.
Clinical Results of Proton Beam Therapy for Esophageal Cancer: Multicenter Retrospective Study in Japan
Authors: Ono Takashi , Wada Hitoshi , Ishikawa Hitoshi , Tamamura Hiroyasu , Tokumaru Sunao
Published: July 2019

There are few reports about the clinical results of proton beam therapy for esophageal cancer in a large population. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinical results of proton beam therapy for esophageal cancer in a large population using a multicentered database. Between January 2009 and December 2013, patients newly diagnosed with esophageal cancer and who had received proton beam therapy were retrospectively recruited from a database of four proton beam therapy centers in Japan. Two hundred and two patients (including 90 inoperable patients) fulfilled the inclusion criteria, and 100 patients (49.5%) had stage III/IV cancer (Union for International Cancer Control 8th). The 3-year and 5-year overall survival rate was 66.7% and 56.3%, respectively. The five-year local control rate was 64.4%. There were two patients with grade three pericardial effusion (1%) and a patient with grade three pneumonia (0.5%). No grade 4 or higher cardiopulmonary toxicities were observed (Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events version 4.0). This study suggests that proton beam therapy for esophageal cancer was not inferior in efficacy and had lower rates of toxicities in comparison to photon radiotherapy. Therefore, proton beam therapy can serve as an alternate treatment for patients with esophageal cancer.
Time on Therapy for at Least Three Months Correlates with Overall Survival in Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma
Authors: Chen Viola J. , Hernandez-Meza Gabriela , Agrawal Prashasti , Zhang Chiyuan A. , Xie Lijia , Gong Cynthia L. , Hoerner Christian R. , Srinivas Sandy , Oermann Eric K. , Fan Alice C.
Published: July 2019

With 15 drugs currently approved for the treatment of metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC) and even more combination regimens with immunotherapy on the horizon, there remains a distinct lack of molecular biomarkers for therapeutic efficacy. Our study reports on real-world clinical outcomes of mRCC patients from a tertiary academic medical center treated with empirically selected standard-of-care therapy. We utilized the Stanford Renal Cell Carcinoma Database (RCCD) to report on various outcome measures, including overall survival (OS) and the median number of lines of targeted therapies received from the time of metastatic diagnosis. We found that most metastatic patients did not survive long enough to attempt even half of the available targeted therapies. We also noted that patients who failed to receive a clinical benefit within the first two lines of therapy could still go on to experience clinical benefit in later lines of therapy. The term, “clinical benefit” was assigned to a line of therapy if a patient remained on drug treatment for three months or longer. Moreover, patients with clinical benefit in at least one line of therapy experienced significantly longer OS compared to those who did not have clinical benefit in at least one line of therapy. Developing biomarkers that identify patients who will receive clinical benefit in individual lines of therapy is one potential strategy for achieving rational drug sequencing in mRCC.
HIF-1α is Overexpressed in Odontogenic Keratocyst Suggesting Activation of HIF-1α and NOTCH1 Signaling Pathways
Authors: Miranda da Costa Natacha Malu , Saab Abe Caio Tadashi , Mitre Geovanni Pereira , Mesquita Ricardo Alves , Silva Kataoka Maria Sueli da , Ribeiro Ribeiro André Luis , Jaeger Ruy Gastaldoni , Alves-Júnior Sérgio de Melo , Smith Andrew Mark , Pinheiro João de Jesus Viana
Published: July 2019

Background: The odontogenic keratocyst (OKC) is an odontogenic cyst that shows aggressive and intriguing biological behavior. It is suggested that a hypoxic environment occurs in OKC, which led us to investigate the immunoexpression and location of hypoxia-inducible factor 1-alpha (HIF-1α) and other hypoxia-related proteins. Methods: Twenty cases of OKC were evaluated for the expression of Notch homolog 1 (NOTCH1), HIF-1α, disintegrin and metalloproteinase domain-containing protein 12 (ADAM-12), and heparin-binding epidermal growth factor-like growth factor (HBEGF) by immunohistochemistry and compared to eight control cases of calcifying odontogenic cystic (COC), orthokeratinized odontogenic cyst (OOC), and normal oral mucosa (OM) in basal and parabasal layers. Results: In OKC, all the proteins tested were expressed significantly higher in both basal (except for NOTCH1 and HBEGF in OOC) and suprabasal epithelial layers compared to controls. Looking at the epithelial layers within OKC, we observed an increased NOTCH1 and HIF-1α expression in parabasal layers. Conclusions: These results suggest that hypoxia occurs more intensively in OKC compared to COC, OM, and OOC. Hypoxia appeared to be stronger in parabasal layers as observed by higher HIF-1α expression in upper cells. Overexpression of NOTCH1, ADAM-12, and HBEGF in OKC was observed, which suggests that microenvironmental hypoxia could potentially regulate the expression of hypoxia-related proteins, and consequently, its clinical and biological behavior.
Detection of Abundant Non-Haematopoietic Circulating Cancer-Related Cells in Patients with Advanced Epithelial Ovarian Cancer
Authors: Kumar Juhi , Chudasama Dimple , Roberts Charlotte , Kubista Mikael , Sjöback Robert , Chatterjee Jayanta , Anikin Vladimir , Karteris Emmanouil , Hall Marcia
Published: July 2019

Background: Current diagnosis and staging of advanced epithelial ovarian cancer (aEOC) has important limitations and better biomarkers are needed. We investigate the performance of non-haematopoietic circulating cells (CCs) at the time of disease presentation and relapse. Methods: Venous blood was collected prospectively from 37 aEOC patients and 39 volunteers. CCs were evaluated using ImageStream Technology™ and specific antibodies to differentiate epithelial cells from haematopoetic cells. qRT-PCR from whole blood of relapsed aEOC patients was carried out for biomarker discovery. Results: Significant numbers of CCs (CK+/WT1+/CD45−) were identified, quantified and characterised from aEOC patients compared to volunteers. CCs are abundant in women with newly diagnosed aEOC, prior to any treatment. Evaluation of RNA from the CCs in relapsed aEOC patients (n = 5) against a 79-gene panel revealed several differentially expressed genes compared to volunteers (n = 14). Size differentiation of CCs versus CD45+ haematopoietic cells was not reliable. Conclusion: CCs of non-haematopoetic origin are prevalent, particularly in patients with newly diagnosed aEOC. Exploiting a CC-rich population in aEOC patients offers insights into a part of the circulating microenvironment.
Bio-Based Composites with Enhanced Matrix-Reinforcement Interactions from the Polymerization of α-Eleostearic Acid
Authors: Murawski Amanda , Quirino Rafael L.
Published: July 2019

Vegetable oil-based composites have been proposed as interesting bio-based materials in the recent past. The carbon–carbon double bonds in unsaturated vegetable oils are ideal reactive sites for free radical polymerization. Without the presence of a reinforcement, typical vegetable oil-based polymers cannot achieve competitive thermo-mechanical properties. Compatibilizers have been utilized to enhance the adhesion between resin and reinforcement. This work discusses the antagonist implications of polarity and crosslink density of an unprecedented polar α-eleostearic acid-based resin reinforced with α-cellulose, eliminating the need of a compatibilizer. It is shown that the polar regions of α-eleostearic acid can interact directly with the polar reinforcement. The successful isolation of α-eleostearic acid from tung oil was verified via GC-MS, 1H NMR, Raman, and FT-IR spectroscopies. The optimal cure schedule for the resin was determined by DSC and DEA. The composites’ thermo-mechanical properties were assessed by TGA, DSC, and DMA.
Deterministic Insertion of KTP Nanoparticles into Polymeric Structures for Efficient Second-Harmonic Generation
Authors: Nguyen Dam Thuy Trang , Lai Ngoc Diep
Published: July 2019

We investigate theoretically and experimentally the creation of virtually any polymer-based photonic structure containing individual nonlinear KTiOPO 4 nanoparticles (KTP NPs) using low one-photon absorption (LOPA) direct laser writing (DLW) technique. The size and shape of polymeric microstructures and the position of the nonlinear KTP crystal inside the structures, were perfectly controlled at nanoscale and on demand. Furthermore, we demonstrated an enhancement of the second-harmonic generation (SHG) by a factor of 90 when a KTP NP was inserted in a polymeric pillar. The SHG enhancement is attributed to the resonance of the fundamental light in the cavity. This enhancement varied for different KTP NPs, because of the random orientation of the KTP NPs, which affects the light/matter interaction between the fundamental light and the NP as well as the collection efficiency of the SHG signal. The experimental result are further supported by a simulation model using Finite-Difference Time-Domain (FDTD) method.
Semantic Earth Observation Data Cubes
Authors: Augustin Hannah , Sudmanns Martin , Tiede Dirk , Lang Stefan , Baraldi Andrea
Published: July 2019

There is an increasing amount of free and open Earth observation (EO) data, yet more information is not necessarily being generated from them at the same rate despite high information potential. The main challenge in the big EO analysis domain is producing information from EO data, because numerical, sensory data have no semantic meaning; they lack semantics. We are introducing the concept of a semantic EO data cube as an advancement of state-of-the-art EO data cubes. We define a semantic EO data cube as a spatio-temporal data cube containing EO data, where for each observation at least one nominal (i.e., categorical) interpretation is available and can be queried in the same instance. Here we clarify and share our definition of semantic EO data cubes, demonstrating how they enable different possibilities for data retrieval, semantic queries based on EO data content and semantically enabled analysis. Semantic EO data cubes are the foundation for EO data expert systems, where new information can be inferred automatically in a machine-based way using semantic queries that humans understand. We argue that semantic EO data cubes are better positioned to handle current and upcoming big EO data challenges than non-semantic EO data cubes, while facilitating an ever-diversifying user-base to produce their own information and harness the immense potential of big EO data.
Writing and Deafness: State of the Evidence and Implications for Research and Practice
Authors: Mayer Connie , Trezek Beverly
Published: July 2019

Although reading and writing play equally important roles in the literacy development of deaf individuals, far more attention has been paid to reading than to writing in both research and practice. This is concerning as outcomes in writing have remained poor despite changes in communication philosophies (e.g., spoken and/or signed) and pedagogical approaches. Although there are indications of a positive shift as the context for deaf education has been transformed with advances in hearing technologies, challenges are ongoing. In order to better understand why deaf learners struggle to achieve age-appropriate outcomes in written language, the goal of this paper will be to take stock of the available research evidence in writing and deafness, and interpret it in light of both the Simple View of Writing (SVW), in which ideation or text generation is linked to oral language, and current models of the composing process. Based on this overview and analysis, implications and directions for future research and practice will be discussed.
A Multi-Inductor H Bridge Fault Current Limiter
Authors: Heidary Amir , Radmanesh Hamid , Moghim Ali , Ghorbanyan Kamran , Rouzbehi Kumars , M. G. Rodrigues Eduardo , Pouresmaeil Edris
Published: July 2019

Current power systems will suffer from increasing pressure as a result of an upsurge in demand and will experience an ever-growing penetration of distributed power generation, which are factors that will contribute to a higher of incidence fault current levels. Fault current limiters (FCLs) are key power electronic devices. They are able to limit the prospective fault current without completely disconnecting in cases in which a fault occurs, for instance, in a power transmission grid. This paper proposes a new type of FCL capable of fault current limiting in two steps. In this way, the FCLs’ power electronic switches experience significantly less stress and their overall performance will significantly increase. The proposed device is essentially a controllable H bridge type fault current limiter (HBFCL) that is comprised of two variable inductances, which operate to reduce current of main switch in the first stage of current limiting. In the next step, the main switch can limit the fault current while it becomes open. Simulation studies are carried out using MATLAB and its prototype setup is built and tested. The comparison of experimental and simulation results indicates that the proposed HBFCL is a promising solution to address protection issues.
Near-Field Immunity Test Method for Fast Radiated Immunity Test Debugging of Automotive Electronics
Authors: Yousaf Jawad , Lee Doojin , Han JunHee , Lee Hosang , Faisal Muhammad , Kim Jeongeun , Nah Wansoo
Published: July 2019

This study presents a near-field immunity test (NFIT) method for the fast debugging of radiated susceptibility of industrial devices. The proposed approach is based on the development of an NFIT setup which comprises of developed near-field electric and magnetic field probes and device under test (DUT). The developed small-size and handy near-field testing probes inject the high electric (up to 1000 V/m) and magnetic (up to 2.4 A/m) fields on the DUT in the radar pulse ranges (1.2 to 1.4 GHz and 2.7 to 3.1 GHz) with the lower fed input power (up to 15 W) from the power amplifier in the developed NFIT setup. The proof of concept is validated with the successful near-field immunity debugging of an electric power steering (EPS) device used in the automotive industry with the developed NFIT setup. The radiated susceptibility debugging test results of developed NFIT method and conventional method of ISO 11452-2 test setup turned out to be close to each other for the tested DUT in immunity performance. The proposed procedure has advantages of industry usefulness with fast, handy, and cost-effective radiated immunity debugging of the DUT without the requirement of large antenna, high-power amplifiers, optical DUT connecting harness, and an anechoic chamber as needed in ISO 11452-2 standard setup for the debugging analysis.
Model-Based Optimization of an LLC-Resonant DC-DC Converter
Authors: Hinov Nikolay , Gilev Bogdan , Hranov Tsveti
Published: July 2019

The study presented in the paper is to guarantee the performance of the LLC DC-DC converter using model-based optimization. The primary scope of the study is to maintain the output parameters regardless of the variation of the values of the circuit elements. In engineering practice, it is known that any schematic element cannot be reproduced with an absolute accuracy of features. In addition, its main parameters change during operation due to changes in operating temperature, aging, operating modes and so on. Optimization procedures are a tool for finding the most appropriate values for circuit elements, with selected constraints, target functions and operating modes. In electronic converters, these are most often: minimal loss, maximum efficiency, the critical-aperiodic transition process, realization of certain dynamics, appropriate modes of operation and so on. The results obtained show that using the proposed approach produces more robustness to disturbances and tolerances, with improved dynamics and faster transient processes. On the other hand, the value of the circuit elements is smaller, and reliable operation of the protection and automatic regulation systems is achieved.
ERIGrid Holistic Test Description for Validating Cyber-Physical Energy Systems
Authors: Heussen Kai , Steinbrink Cornelius , Abdulhadi Ibrahim F. , Nguyen Van Hoa , Degefa Merkebu Z. , Merino Julia , Jensen Tue V. , Guo Hao , Gehrke Oliver , Bondy Daniel Esteban Morales , Babazadeh Davood , Pröstl Andrén Filip , Strasser Thomas I.
Published: July 2019

Smart energy solutions aim to modify and optimise the operation of existing energy infrastructure. Such cyber-physical technology must be mature before deployment to the actual infrastructure, and competitive solutions will have to be compliant to standards still under development. Achieving this technology readiness and harmonisation requires reproducible experiments and appropriately realistic testing environments. Such testbeds for multi-domain cyber-physical experiments are complex in and of themselves. This work addresses a method for the scoping and design of experiments where both testbed and solution each require detailed expertise. This empirical work first revisited present test description approaches, developed a newdescription method for cyber-physical energy systems testing, and matured it by means of user involvement. The new Holistic Test Description (HTD) method facilitates the conception, deconstruction and reproduction of complex experimental designs in the domains of cyber-physical energy systems. This work develops the background and motivation, offers a guideline and examples to the proposed approach, and summarises experience from three years of its application.
Hybrid Nonlinear MPC of a Solar Cooling Plant
Authors: Camacho Eduardo F. , Gallego Antonio J. , Escaño Juan M. , Sánchez Adolfo J.
Published: July 2019

Solar energy for cooling systems has been widely used to fulfill the growing air conditioning demand. The advantage of this approach is based on the fact that the need of air conditioning is usually well correlated to solar radiation. These kinds of plants can work in different operation modes resulting on a hybrid system. The control approaches designed for this kind of plant have usually a twofold goal: (a) regulating the outlet temperature of the solar collector field and (b) choosing the operation mode. Since the operation mode is defined by a set of valve positions (discrete variables), the overall control problem is a nonlinear optimization problem which involves discrete and continuous variables. This problems are difficult to solve within the normal sampling times for control purposes (around 20–30 s). In this paper, a two layer control strategy is proposed. The first layer is a nonlinear model predictive controller for regulating the outlet temperature of the solar field. The second layer is a fuzzy algorithm which selects the adequate operation mode for the plant taken into account the operation conditions. The control strategy is tested on a model of the plant showing a proper performance.
Accuracy Enhancement for Zone Mapping of a Solar Radiation Forecasting Based Multi-Objective Model for Better Management of the Generation of Renewable Energy
Authors: Ehteram Mohammad , Ahmed Ali Najah , Fai Chow Ming , Afan Haitham Abdulmohsin , El-Shafie Ahmed
Published: July 2019

The estimation of solar radiation for planning current and future periods in different fields, such as renewable energy generation, is very important for decision makers. The current study presents a hybrid model structure based on a multi-objective shark algorithm and fuzzy method for forecasting and generating a zone map for solar radiation as an alternative solution for future renewable energy production. The multi-objective shark algorithm attempts to select the best input combination for solar radiation (SR) estimation and the optimal value of the adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system (ANFIS) parameter, and the power parameter of the inverse distance weight (IDW) is computed. Three provinces in Iran with different climates and air quality index conditions have been considered as case studies for this research. In addition, comparative analysis has been carried out with other models, including multi-objective genetic algorithm-ANFIS and multi-objective particle swarm optimization-ANFIS. The Taguchi model is used to obtain the best value of random parameters for multi-objective algorithms. The comparison of the results shows that the relative deviation index (RDI) of the distributed solutions in the Pareto front based multi-objective shark algorithm has the lowest value in the spread index, spacing metric index, favorable distribution, and good diversity. The generated Pareto solutions based on the multi-objective shark algorithm are compared to those based on the genetic algorithm and particle swarm algorithm and found to be the optimal and near ideal solutions. In addition, the determination of the best solution based on a multi-criteria decision model enables the best input to the model to be selected based on different effective parameters. Three different performance indices have been used in this study, including the root mean square error, Nash–Sutcliffe efficiency, and mean absolute error. The generated zone map based on the multi-objective shark algorithm-ANFIS highly matches with the observed data in all zones in all case studies. Additionally, the analysis shows that the air quality index (AQI) should be considered as effective input for SR estimation. Finally, the measurement and analysis of the uncertainty based on the multi-objective shark algorithm-ANFIS were carried out. As a result, the proposed new hybrid model is highly suitable for the generation of accurate zone mapping for different renewable energy generation fields. In addition, the proposed hybrid model showed outstanding performance for the development of a forecasting model for the solar radiation value, which is essential for the decision-makers to draw a future plan for generating renewable energy based solar radiation.
Experimental and Numerical Study of the Flow and Heat Transfer in a Bubbly Turbulent Flow in a Pipe with Sudden Expansion
Authors: Lobanov Pavel , Pakhomov Maksim , Terekhov Viktor
Published: July 2019

The flow patterns and heat transfer of a downstream bubbly flow in a sudden pipe expansion are experimentally and numerically studied. Measurements of the bubble size were performed using shadow photography. Fluid phase velocities were measured using a PIV system. The numerical model was employed the Eulerian approach. The set of RANS equations was used for modelling two-phase bubbly flows. The turbulence of the carrier liquid phase was predicted using the Reynolds stress model. The peak of axial and radial fluctuations of the carrier fluid (liquid) velocity in the bubbly flow is observed in the shear layer. The addition of air bubbles resulted in a significant increase in the heat transfer rate (up to 300%). The main enhancement in heat transfer is observed after the point of flow reattachment.
Factors Influencing Electric Vehicle Penetration in the EU by 2030: A Model-Based Policy Assessment
Authors: Statharas Stergios , Moysoglou Yannis , Siskos Pelopidas , Zazias Georgios , Capros Pantelis
Published: July 2019

The European Commission (EC) has set ambitious CO2 emission reduction objectives for the transport sector by 2050. In this context, most decarbonisation scenarios for transport foresee large market penetration of electric vehicles in 2030 and 2050. The emergence of electrified car mobility is, however, uncertain due to various barriers such as battery costs, range anxiety and dependence on battery recharging networks. Those barriers need to be addressed in the 2020–2030 decade, as this is key to achieving electrification at a large scale in the longer term. The paper explores the uncertainties prevailing in the first decade and the mix of policies to overcome the barriers by quantifying a series of sensitivity analysis scenarios of the evolution of the car markets in the EU Member States and the impacts of each barrier individually. The model used is PRIMES-TREMOVE, which has been developed by E3MLab and constitutes a detailed energy-economic model for the transport sector. Based on model results, the paper assesses the market, energy, emission and cost impacts of various CO2 car standards, infrastructure development plans with different geographic coverage and a range of battery cost reductions driven by learning and mass industrial production. The assessment draws on the comparison of 29 sensitivity scenarios for the EU, which show that removing the barriers in the decade 2020–2030 is important for electrification emergence. The results show that difficult policy dilemmas exist between adopting stringent standards and infrastructure of wide coverage to push technology and market development and adverse effects on costs, in case the high cost of batteries persists. However, if the pace of battery cost reductions is fast, a weak policy for standards and infrastructure is not cost-effective and sub-optimal. These policies are shown to have impacts on the competition between pure electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles. Drivers that facilitate electrification also favour the uptake of the former technology, the latter being a reasonable choice only in case the barriers persist and obstruct electrification.
Changes in Carbon Balance of Harvested Wood Products Resulting from Different Wood Utilization Scenarios
Authors: Parobek Ján , Paluš Hubert , Moravčík Martin , Kovalčík Miroslav , Dzian Michal , Murgaš Vlastimil , Šimo-Svrček Samuel
Published: July 2019

The bioeconomy focuses on the production of renewable biological resources and the utilisation of these resources and waste streams into value added products. One of the most important aims of the forest industry is the sustainable production of wood. Improved utilization of available industrial wood assortments generates profit for all in the supply chain. At the same time, it may ensure the production of long-life harvested wood products (HWP), and consequently, increase the volume of carbon stored. The objective of this study is to compare different scenarios of industrial wood utilization in Slovakia and the resulting impacts on the national carbon balance. In the proposed scenarios, we aimed to evaluate changes in the current utilization of domestic wood resources through optimizing harvested wood assortments. Two inventory stock methods were applied to determine the potential quality of domestic wood and its utilization through appropriate distribution of outputs. The model scenario assumes that the higher share of industrial roundwood utilised to produce long-life HWP (sawnwood, wood-based panels) will increase carbon sequestration in HWP. Other scenarios quantify the differences between the carbon volumes stored in HWP using the modelled wood assortment supplemented with alternatives with and without export. The results confirmed that increasing the level of carbon stored in HWP can be achieved by changing the wood assortment structure, while maintaining the same level of volume felled. The highest level of carbon stock was observed in the scenario assuming the optimal structure of wood assortments and no wood export. The scenario that optimized wood assortments and excluded wood exports resulted in the highest level of predicted carbon stock, estimated at 4.87 million tons (mil. tons).
Cross-Correlation of POD Spatial Modes for the Separation of Stochastic Turbulence and Coherent Structures
Authors: Butcher Daniel , Spencer Adrian
Published: July 2019

This article describes a proper-orthogonal-decomposition (POD) based methodology proposed for the identification and separation of coherent and turbulent velocity fluctuations. Typically, POD filtering requires assumptions to be made on the cumulative energy content of coherent modes and can therefore exclude smaller, but important contributions from lower energy modes. This work introduces a suggested new metric to consider in the selection of POD modes to be included in a reconstruction of coherent and turbulent features. Cross-correlation of POD spatial modes derived from independent samples is used to identify modes descriptive of either coherent (high-correlation) or incoherent (low-correlation) features. The technique is demonstrated through application to a cylinder in cross-flow allowing appropriate analysis to be carried out on the coherent and turbulent velocity fields separately. This approach allows identification of coherent motions associated with cross-flow transport and vortex shedding, such as integral length scales. Turbulent flow characteristics may be analysed independently from the coherent motions, allowing for the extraction of properties such as turbulent length scale.
A New Model for Thermodynamic Characterization of Hemoglobin
Authors: Farsaci Francesco , Tellone Ester , Galtieri Antonio , Ficarra Silvana
Published: July 2019

In this paper, we formulate a thermodynamic model of hemoglobin that describes, by a physical point of view, phenomena favoring the binding of oxygen to the protein. Our study is based on theoretical methods extrapolated by experimental data. After some remarks on the non-equilibrium thermodynamic theory with internal variables, some thermodynamic functions are determined by the value of the complex dielectric constant. In previous papers, we determined the explicit expression of a dielectric constant as a function of a complex dielectric modulus and frequency. The knowledge of these functions allows a new characterization of the material and leads to the study of new phenomena that has yet to be studied. In detail, we introduce the concept of “hemoglobe”, a model that considers the hemoglobin molecule as a plane capacitor, the dielectric of which is almost entirely constituted by the quaternary structure of the protein. This model is suggested by considering a phenomenological coefficient of the non-equilibrium thermodynamic theory related to the displacement polarization current. The comparison of the capacity determined by the mean of this coefficient, and determined by geometrical considerations, gives similar results; although more thermodynamic information is derived by the capacity determined considering the aforementioned coefficient. This was applied to the normal human hemoglobin, homozygous sickle hemoglobin, and sickle cell hemoglobin C disease. Moreover, the energy of the capacitor of the three hemoglobin was determined. Through the identification of displacement currents, the introduction of this model presents new perspectives and helps to explain hemoglobin functionality through a physical point of view.
Effect of Sweet Corn Residue on Micronutrient Fortification in Baked Cakes
Authors: Lao Yu-Xia , Yu Yu-Ying , Li Gao-Ke , Chen Shao-Yun , Li Wu , Xing Xu-Pu , Wang Xue-Min , Hu Jian-Guang , Guo Xin-Bo
Published: July 2019

Owing to the concept of modern life and health, traditional baked foods are seeking transition. In this study, sweet corn residue (SCR) was used to replace wheat flour in cakes. We conducted sensory evaluation and texture analysis to assess sample quality. Also, we simulated digestion in vitro, and determined the content of total sugar and dietary fiber. The content of vitamin E and carotenoids were determined by High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC), and the content of folate was determined by a microbiological method. With the increase of SCR, the content of dietary fiber, folate, vitamin E, and carotenoids significantly increased, and the digestive characteristics improved simultaneously. Based on the above evaluations, SCRC2 (sweet corn residue cake with 60% substitution) had similar sensory quality to the control (pure wheat flour cake) and had the characteristics of slow digestibility and high micronutrients.
Bridging the Knowledge Gap for the Impact of Non-Thermal Processing on Proteins and Amino Acids
Authors: Esteghlal Sara , Gahruie Hadi Hashemi , Niakousari Mehrdad , Barba Francisco J. , Bekhit Alaa El-Din , Mallikarjunan Kumar , Roohinejad Shahin
Published: July 2019

Proteins represent one of the major food components that contribute to a wide range of biophysical functions and dictate the nutritional, sensorial, and shelf-life of food products. Different non-thermal processing technologies (e.g., irradiation, ultrasound, cold plasma, pulsed electric field, and high-pressure treatments) can affect the structure of proteins, and thus their solubility as well as their functional properties. The exposure of hydrophobic groups, unfolding followed by aggregation at high non-thermal treatment intensities, and the formation of new bonds have been reported to promote the modification of structural and functional properties of proteins. Several studies reported the reduction of allergenicity of some proteins after the application of non-thermal treatments. The composition and concentration of free amino acids could be changed after non-thermal processing, depending on the processing time and intensity. The present review discusses the effects of different non-thermal treatments on protein properties in detail, and highlights the opportunities and disadvantages of these technologies in relation to protein functionality.
Identification of Safety and Quality Parameters for Preparation of Jellyfish Based Novel Food Products
Authors: Bleve Gianluca , Ramires Francesca Anna , Gallo Antonia , Leone Antonella
Published: July 2019

Edible jellyfish are mainly consumed and marketed in Southeastern Countries, generally produced by a multi-phase drying process, using mixtures of salt and alum. Recently, jellyfish have become very attractive also for Western food markets. They are novel food in Europe and no recognized handling/processing steps have been set up yet. Moreover, no specific food safety and quality parameters are available. In this study, we identified a set of safety and quality parameters for jellyfish, based on standards and process hygiene criteria used in Europe for other products. These assays were tested on three different jellyfish preparations that can be used as raw materials for subsequent food processing. All jellyfish samples revealed the absence of pathogens (Salmonella spp. and Listeria monocytogenes), Enterobacteriaceae and Pseudomonas spp., even if a limited presence of Staphylococci was observed. No biogenic amine histamine was detected and negligible levels of total volatile basic nitrogen (TVB-N) were revealed. Total bacterium, yeast and mold counts were negligible or undetectable by conventional accredited methods, and conversely the results were higher when optimized saline conditions were used. This study, for the first time, established a set of quality and safety parameters necessary for first-operations and subsequent processing of jellyfish as novel food. Highlights: Jellyfish can represent a novel food in Europe. Identification of safety and quality parameters for jellyfish food products. Saline conditions are essential for improving safety and quality assessment of jellyfish as food.
Genome-Wide Identification and Characterization of Xyloglucan Endotransglycosylase/Hydrolase in Ananas comosus during Development
Authors: Li Qingyun , Li Huayang , Yin Chongyang , Wang Xiaotong , Jiang Qing , Zhang Rui , Ge Fangfang , Chen Yudong , Yang Long
Published: July 2019

Xyloglucan endotransglycosylase/hydrolase (XTH) is a cell-wall-modifying enzyme participating in diverse cell morphogenetic processes and adaptation to stress. In this study, 48 XTH genes were identified from two pineapple (Ananas comosus) cultivars (‘F153’ and ‘MD2’) and designated Ac(F153)XTH1 to -24 and Ac(MD2)XTH1 to -24 based on their orthology with Arabidopsis thaliana genes. Endoglucanase family 16 members were identified in addition to XTHs of glycoside hydrolase family 16. Phylogenetic analysis clustered the XTHs into three major groups (Group I/II, III and Ancestral Group) and Group III was subdivided into Group IIIA and Group IIIB. Similar gene structure and motif number were observed within a group. Two highly conserved domains, glycosyl hydrolase family 16 (GH16-XET) and xyloglucan endotransglycosylase C-terminus (C-XET), were detected by multiple sequences alignment of all XTHs. Segmental replication were detected in the two cultivars, with only the paralogous pair Ac(F153)XTH7-Ac(F153)XTH18 presented in ‘F153’ prior to genomic expansion. Transcriptomic analysis indicated that XTHs were involved in the regulation of fruit ripening and crassulacean acid metabolism with tissue specificity and quantitative real-time PCR analysis suggested that Ac(MD2)XTH18 was involved in root growth. The results enhance our understanding of XTHs in the plant kingdom and provide a basis for further studies of functional diversity in A. comosus.
Using PS-InSAR with Sentinel-1 Images for Deformation Monitoring in Northeast Algeria
Authors: Beladam Omar , Balz Timo , Mohamadi Bahaa , Abdalhak Mahdjoub
Published: July 2019

Constantine city, Algeria, and its surroundings have always been affected by natural and human-induced slope instability and subsidence. Neogene clay-conglomeratic formations, which form the largest part of Constantine city, are extremely sensitive to the presence of water, which makes them susceptible to landslides. Fast and accurate identification and monitoring of the main areas facing existing or potential hazardous risks at a regional scale, as well as measuring the amount of displacement is essential for the conservation and sustainable development of Constantine. In the last three decades, the application of radar interferometry techniques for the measurement of millimeter-level terrain motions has become one of the most powerful tools for ground deformation monitoring due to its large coverage and low costs. Persistent scatterer interferometry (PS-InSAR) has a demonstrated potential for monitoring a range of hazard event scenarios and tracking their spatiotemporal evolution. We demonstrate the efficiency of Sentinel-1 data for deformation monitoring in Constantine located in the northeast of Algeria, and how an array of information such as geological maps and ground-measurements are integrated for deformation mapping. We conclude this article with a discussion of the potential of advanced differential radar interferometry approaches and their applicability for structural and ground deformation monitoring, including the advantages and challenges of these approaches in the north of Algeria.
GC/MS Characterization of Beeswax, Protein, Gum, Resin, and Oil in Romano-Egyptian Paintings
Authors: Mazurek Joy , Svoboda Marie , Schilling Michael
Published: July 2019

This article presents results from a binding media survey of 61 Romano-Egyptian paintings. Most of the paintings (51) are the better-known funerary mummy portraits created using either encaustic or tempera paint medium. Samples from all the paintings (on wooden panels or linen shrouds) were analyzed with gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) to identify waxes, fatty acids, resins, oils, and proteins in one sample. Analytical protocols that utilized three separate derivatization techniques were developed. The first analysis identified free fatty acids, waxes, and fatty acid soaps, the second characterized oils and plant resins, and the third identified proteins. The identification of plant gums required a separate sample. Results showed that fatty acids in beeswax were present as lead soaps and dicarboxylic fatty acids in some samples was consistent with an oxidized oil. The tempera portraits were found to contain predominantly animal glue, revising the belief that egg was the primary binder used for ancient paintings. Degraded egg coatings were found on several portraits, as well as consolidation treatments using paraffin wax and animal glue. The unknown restoration history of the portraits caused uncertainty during interpretation of the findings and made the identification of ancient paint binders problematic. Also, deterioration of the wooden support, residues from mummification, biodegradation, beeswax alteration, metal soap formation, and environmental conditions before and after burial further complicated the analysis. The inherent problems encountered while characterizing ancient organic media in funerary portraits were addressed. The fourteen museums that participated in this study are members of APPEAR (Ancient Panel Paintings: Examination, Analysis, and Research), an international collaborative initiative at the J. Paul Getty Museum whose aim is to expand our understanding of ancient panel paintings through the examination of the materials and techniques used for their manufacture.
Teachers’ Conflict-Inducing Attitudes and Their Repercussions on Students’ Psychological Health and Learning Outcomes
Authors: Ali Muhammad Rashid , Ashraf Badar Nadeem , Shuai Chuanmin
Published: July 2019

This paper studied the causes and effects of negative teacher–student relationships on students’ psychological health and educational outcomes, primarily due to negative teacher–teacher interactions. Survey data were collected from 130 faculty members and 746 students of 10 higher educational institutions located in different cities of the Punjab province of Pakistan. Path analysis was used to estimate results. The findings revealed that incivility among faculty members and higher discontent with university resources generates a conflict-inducing attitude in faculty members, which subsequently creates negative behavior in teachers towards students. It was further observed that hostile attitudes of faculty members towards students adversely affects the psychological health and educational outcomes of students at universities. These findings suggest that students’ learning processes can be improved by controlling negative teacher–teacher interactions, which has important implications for institutions of higher learning.