bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Pore Blocking by Phenolates as Deactivation Path during the Cracking of 4-Propylphenol over ZSM-5
Authors: Stellato Michael J. , Innocenti Giada , Bommarius Andreas S. , Sievers Carsten
Published: June 2021

Cracking of propyl side chains from 4-propylphenol, a model compound for lignin monomers, is studied for a commercial ZSM-5 zeolite catalyst. The decline of 4-propylphenol conversion with time on stream can be delayed by co-feeding water. FTIR spectroscopy shows the formation of chemisorbed phenolates during reactions and significant amounts of phenolics are detected by GC-MS of the extract from the spent catalysts. Thus, chemisorbed phenolates are identified as the main reason for deactivation in the absence of water. Regardless of the amount of co-fed water, substituted monoaromatics and polyaromatic species are formed. Comprehensive characterization of the spent catalysts including Raman and solid-state 27Al NMR spectroscopy, and thermogravimetric analysis points to a combination of deactivation processes. First, phenolates bind to Lewis acid sites within the zeolite framework and hinder diffusion unless they are hydrolyzed by water. In addition, light olefins created during the cracking process react to form a polyaromatic coke that deactivates the catalyst more permanently.
Application of Chelating Agents to Enhance Fenton Process in Soil Remediation: A Review
Authors: Checa-Fernandez Alicia , Santos Aurora , Romero Arturo , Dominguez Carmen M.
Published: June 2021

Persistent organic contaminants affecting soil and groundwater pose a significant threat to ecosystems and human health. Fenton oxidation is an efficient treatment for removing these pollutants in the aqueous phase at acidic pH. However, the in-situ application of this technology for soil remediation (where pHs around neutrality are required) presents important limitations, such as catalyst (iron) availability and oxidant (H2O2) stability. The addition of chelating agents (CAs), forming complexes with Fe and enabling Fenton reactions under these conditions, so-called chelate-modified Fenton process (MF), tries to overcome the challenges identified in conventional Fenton. Despite the growing interest in this technology, there is not yet a critical review compiling the information needed for its real application. The advantages and drawbacks of MF must be clarified, and the recent achievements should be shared with the scientific community. This review provides a general overview of the application of CAs to enhance the Fenton process for the remediation of soils polluted with the most common organic contaminants, especially for a deep understanding of the activation mechanisms and influential factors. The existing shortcomings and research needs have been highlighted. Finally, future research perspectives on the use of CAs in MF and recommendations have been provided.
Solid-State Redox Kinetics of CeO2 in Two-Step Solar CH4 Partial Oxidation and Thermochemical CO2 Conversion
Authors: Nair Mahesh , Abanades Stéphane
Published: June 2021

The CeO2/CeO2−δ redox system occupies a unique position as an oxygen carrier in chemical looping processes for producing solar fuels, using concentrated solar energy. The two-step thermochemical ceria-based cycle for the production of synthesis gas from methane and solar energy, followed by CO2 splitting, was considered in this work. This topic concerns one of the emerging and most promising processes for the recycling and valorization of anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions. The development of redox-active catalysts with enhanced efficiency for solar thermochemical fuel production and CO2 conversion is a highly demanding and challenging topic. The determination of redox reaction kinetics is crucial for process design and optimization. In this study, the solid-state redox kinetics of CeO2 in the two-step process with CH4 as the reducing agent and CO2 as the oxidizing agent was investigated in an original prototype solar thermogravimetric reactor equipped with a parabolic dish solar concentrator. In particular, the ceria reduction and re-oxidation reactions were carried out under isothermal conditions. Several solid-state kinetic models based on reaction order, nucleation, shrinking core, and diffusion were utilized for deducing the reaction mechanisms. It was observed that both ceria reduction with CH4 and re-oxidation with CO2 were best represented by a 2D nucleation and nuclei growth model under the applied conditions. The kinetic models exhibiting the best agreement with the experimental reaction data were used to estimate the kinetic parameters. The values of apparent activation energies (~80 kJ·mol−1 for reduction and ~10 kJ·mol−1 for re-oxidation) and pre-exponential factors (~2–9 s−1 for reduction and ~123–253 s−1 for re-oxidation) were obtained from the Arrhenius plots.
Endocrine-Disrupting Chemicals and Early Puberty in Girls
Authors: Papadimitriou Anastasios , Papadimitriou Dimitrios
Published: June 2021

In recent decades, pubertal onset in girls has been considered to occur at an earlier age than previously. Exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) has been associated with alterations in pubertal timing, with several reports suggesting that EDCs may have a role in the secular trend in pubertal maturation, at least in girls. However, relevant studies give inconsistent results. On the other hand, the majority of girls with idiopathic precocious or early puberty present the growth pattern of constitutional advancement of growth (CAG), i.e., growth acceleration soon after birth. Herein, we show that the growth pattern of CAG is unrelated to exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals and is the major determinant of precocious or early puberty. Presented data suggest that EDCs, at most, have a minor effect on the timing of pubertal onset in girls.
Can Adding BMP2 Improve Outcomes in Patients Undergoing the SUPERhip Procedure?
Authors: Paley Dror , Shannon Claire E. , Nogueira Monica , Chiari Catharina , Harris Matthew
Published: June 2021

Congenital femoral deficiency (CFD) Paley type 1b is characterized by severe bony deformity of the upper femur, extra-articular contractures of the hip, and, delayed ossification of the femoral neck and/or subtrochanteric region. The Systematic Utilitarian Procedure for Extremity Reconstruction of the hip (SUPERhip) procedure for the correction of CFD deformities was developed in 1997. Initially, a non-fixed angle device (rush rod) was used for fixation. Late complications of persistent delayed ossification and recurrent varus deformity occurred. In order to reduce and treat such complications, fixation with a fixed angle device and the off-label use of BMP2 to induce ossification of the un-ossified femoral neck were employed. The purpose of this study is to determine if the use of a fixed angle device, and, BMP2 inserted into a drill hole in the cartilage of the femoral neck, decreases the incidence of these late complications. We retrospectively reviewed 72 SUPERhip procedures performed for Paley type 1b CFD between 1997 and 2012. Due to recurrent varus or persistent delayed ossification of the femoral neck, 34 revision SUPERhip procedures were performed. In total, 106 SUPERhip procedures were studied. Sixty-eight SUPERhips were performed using internal fixation without BMP2, while 38 SUPERhips were performed with both internal fixation and the addition of BMP2. Forty-one were performed using non-fixed angle internal fixation while 65 had fixed angle internal fixation. Fixed angle devices significantly reduced the incidence of recurrent varus compared with non-fixed angle devices. Inserting BMP2 in the femoral neck significantly reduced the incidence of persistent delayed ossification. Using only a fixed angle device but no BMP2 did not reduce the incidence of delayed ossification. The combination of both a fixed angle device and BMP2 reduced the incidence of recurrent coxa vara and persistent delayed ossification of the femoral neck. The SUPERhip procedure corrects the pathoanatomy of the proximal femur in CFD Paley type 1b but is associated with a very high risk of recurrence of coxa vara and persistence of femoral neck delayed ossification, unless, a fixed angle internal fixation device is used to prevent recurrent coxa vara and BMP2 is used to induce ossification of the femoral neck.
A Novel Tool to Assess Basic Activities of Daily Living in Spanish Preschoolers
Authors: Barrios-Fernandez Sabina , Gozalo Margarita , Garcia-Gomez Andres , Carlos-Vivas Jorge , Romero-Ayuso Dulce
Published: June 2021

Background: Basic activities of daily living (BADLs) are those related to self-care. Their performance depends on the development of sensorimotor and cognitive skills, as well as social and environmental aspects. A good performance in BADLs is required for independence and social participation, so they play an important role in early education and early care. We aim to create a tool for BADLs assessment for Spanish preschoolers. Methods: The tool was administered to 303 participants (48.5% boys and 51.5% girls) between three and six years of age. Analyses to find out the factorial structure and internal consistency was carried out. Results: The instrument was composed of 84 items in four scales (eating, personal hygiene, dressing, and daily functioning) with nine factors (oral sensitivity, good manners, manual dexterity, brushing teeth, toilet management, hygiene and grooming, dressing, higher-order and core executive function). Reliability values were from acceptable to preferred (0.74–0.94). Conclusions: The instrument could be useful and shows preliminary good indicators in construct validity and reliability.
Urban Heat Island: Causes, Consequences, and Mitigation Measures with Emphasis on Reflective and Permeable Pavements
Authors: Vujovic Svetlana , Haddad Bechara , Karaky Hamzé , Sebaibi Nassim , Boutouil Mohamed
Published: June 2021

Economic and social development of urban and rural areas continues in parallel with the increase of the human population, especially in developing countries, which leads to sustained expansion of impervious surface areas, particularly paved surfaces. The conversion of pervious surfaces to impervious surfaces significantly modifies local energy balance in urban areas and contributes to urban heat island (UHI) formation, mainly in densely developed cities. This paper represents a literature review on the causes and consequences of the UHI and potential measures that could be adopted to improve the urban microclimate. The primary focus is to discuss and summarise significant findings on the UHI phenomenon and its consequences, such as the impact on human thermal comfort and health, energy consumption, air pollution, and surface water quality deterioration. Regarding the measures to mitigate UHI, particular emphasis is given to the reflective and permeable pavements.
Climate Change Projections of Dry and Wet Events in Iberia Based on the WASP-Index
Authors: Andrade Cristina , Contente Joana , Santos João A.
Published: June 2021

The Weighted Anomaly of Standardized Precipitation Index (WASP-Index) was computed over Iberia for three monthly timescales (3-month, 6-month and 12-month) in 1961–2020, based on an observational gridded precipitation dataset (E-OBS), and between 2021 and 2070, based on bias-corrected precipitation generated by a six-member climate model ensemble from EURO-CORDEX, under two Representative Concentration Pathways (RCPs), RCP4.5 and RCP8.5. The area-mean values revealed an upward trend in the frequency of occurrence of intermediate-to-severe dry events over Iberia, which will be strengthened in the future, particularly for the 12-month WASP (12m-WASP) intermediate dry events under RCP8.5. Besides, the number of 3-month WASP (3m-WASP) intermediate-to-severe wet events is projected to increase (mostly the severest events under RCP4.5) but no evidence was found for an increase in the number of more persistent 12m-WASP wet events under both RCPs. Despite important spatial heterogeneities, an increase/decrease of the intensity, duration and frequency of occurrence of the 12m-WASP intermediate-to-severe dry/wet events was found under both scenarios, mainly in the southernmost regions of Iberia (mainly Comunidad Valenciana, Región de Murcia, Andalucía in Spain, Alentejo, and Algarve in Portugal), thus becoming more exposed to prolonged and severe droughts in the future. This finding corroborates the results of previous studies.
Microstructure Analysis and Fatigue Behavior of Laser Beam Welding 2060-T8/2099-T83 Aluminum–Lithium Alloys
Authors: Cheng Wenhao , Liu Hongbing , Tan Jie , Yu Zhishui , Shu Qingrong
Published: June 2021

In this paper, the microstructure analysis and performance research of dual laser beam welded 2060-T8/2099-T83 aluminum–lithium alloys were carried out. First, the macroscopic morphology and microstructure characteristics of T-joint aluminum–lithium alloys under different welding conditions were observed. Then the effect of welding parameters and pore defects on tensile and fatigue properties of the weld were carried out and the experimental results were analyzed. It was found that the weld heat input has a significant influence on the penetration of the welded aluminum–lithium alloys joint. When the laser power is too high, the weld will absorb more laser energy and the increase in the evaporation of magnesium will further increase the weld penetration. When the penetration depth increases, the transverse tensile strength tends to decrease. There is no obvious rule for the effect of pore defects on the tensile strength of the weld. At the same time, the heat input of the weld is inversely proportional to the porosity. When the weld heat input increases from 19.41 to 23.33 kJ/m, the porosity decreases from 5.35% to 2.08%. During the fatigue test, it was confirmed that the existence of pore defects would reduce the fatigue life of the weld. In addition, from the analysis of the fatigue fracture morphology it can be found that when the porosity is low, the weld toe is the main source of fatigue cracks. The crack propagation zone shows a typical beach pattern and the final fracture of the base metal presents the characteristics of a brittle fracture. While, when the porosity is high, the crack source is mainly located at the pore defects. T-joint fractures from the inside of the weld and the fracture in the final fracture zone have obvious pore defects and dimples.
Biogeographic Distribution of Cedrela spp. Genus in Peru Using MaxEnt Modeling: A Conservation and Restoration Approach
Authors: Cotrina Sánchez Alexander , Rojas Briceño Nilton B. , Bandopadhyay Subhajit , Ghosh Subhasis , Torres Guzmán Cristóbal , Oliva Manuel , Guzman Betty K. , Salas López Rolando
Published: June 2021

The increasing demand for tropical timber from natural forests has reduced the population sizes of native species such as Cedrela spp. because of their high economic value. To prevent the decline of population sizes of the species, all Cedrela species have been incorporated into Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). The study presents information about the modeled distribution of the genus Cedrela in Peru that aims to identify potential habitat distribution of the genus, its availability in areas protected by national service of protected areas, and highlighted some areas because of their conservation relevance and the potential need for restoration. We modeled the distribution of the genus Cedrela in Peru using 947 occurrence records that included 10 species (C. odorata, C. montana, C. fissilis, C. longipetiolulata, C. angustifolia, C. nebulosa, C. kuelapensis, C. saltensis, C. weberbaueri, and C. molinensis). We aim to identify areas environmentally suitable for the occurrence of Cedrela that are legally protected by the National Service of Protected Areas (PAs) and those that are ideal for research and restoration projects. We used various environmental variables (19 bioclimatic variables, 3 topographic factors, 9 edaphic factors, solar radiation, and relative humidity) and the maximum entropy model (MaxEnt) to predict the probability of occurrence. We observed that 6.7% (86,916.2 km2) of Peru presents a high distribution probability of occurrence of Cedrela, distributed in 17 departments, with 4.4% (10,171.03 km2) of the area protected by PAs mainly under the category of protection forests. Another 11.65% (21,345.16 km2) of distribution covers areas highly prone to degradation, distributed mainly in the departments Ucayali, Loreto, and Madre de Dios, and needs immediate attention for its protection and restoration. We believe that the study will contribute significantly to conserve Cedrela and other endangered species, as well as to promote the sustainable use and management of timber species as a whole.
Molecular and Chemical Markers to Illustrate the Complex Diversity of the Genus Lupinus (Fabaceae)
Authors: Bermúdez-Torres Kalina , Ferval Maxime , Hernández-Sánchez Arianna Michelle , Tei Andreas , Gers Charles , Wink Michael , Legal Luc
Published: June 2021

The potential of secondary metabolites as systematic markers to get new insights in an intricate phylogeny of a recent evolutionary radiation is explored. A chemosystematic study of the genus Lupinus (Fabaceae) was performed, using quinolizidine (QA) and piperidine alkaloids (ammodendrine) as diagnostic characters. Seven major QA and the piperidine alkaloid ammodendrine were found to be the most frequent compounds. Two groups were supported according to their geographic origin: an Old World/Atlantic American group and a West New World group and this pattern is concordant with molecular data (here, based on an original barcode approach using the nuclear marker ITS). However, QA profiles are less informative at the species level. Despite a lack of resolution within the two groups, the alkaloid profiles agree with well supported clades based on DNA molecular characters. The combined use of chemical and barcode genetic markers represents a viable alternative for separating recent evolutionary lineages to a first approximation without having to resort to an expensive and sophisticated molecular arsenal such as next generation sequencing.
Management of Porcelain Gallbladder, Its Risk Factors, and Complications: A Review
Authors: Morimoto Masaya , Matsuo Takahiro , Mori Nobuyoshi
Published: June 2021

The porcelain gallbladder condition describes gallbladder calcification. While gallbladder calcification is believed to increase the risk of developing gallbladder cancer, recent reports have shown that the malignancy risk is much lower than previously reported. Symptomatic patients with porcelain gallbladder should be recommended for cholecystectomy, but the management of asymptomatic patients is debatable. Based on recent evidence, prophylactic cholecystectomy is not routinely recommended in all patients with porcelain gallbladder. From the assessment of the current literature, there are three essential factors in the management of patients with porcelain gallbladder: (1) symptoms or complications of gallbladder disease, (2) calcification pattern and (3) patient age and comorbidities. Patients who do not undergo cholecystectomy should be educated about the symptoms of gallbladder diseases, and a thorough discussion is essential between patients and clinicians.
FASSD-Net Model for Person Semantic Segmentation
Authors: Garcia-Ortiz Luis Brandon , Portillo-Portillo Jose , Hernandez-Suarez Aldo , Olivares-Mercado Jesus , Sanchez-Perez Gabriel , Toscano-Medina Karina , Perez-Meana Hector , Benitez-Garcia Gibran
Published: June 2021

This paper proposes the use of the FASSD-Net model for semantic segmentation of human silhouettes, these silhouettes can later be used in various applications that require specific characteristics of human interaction observed in video sequences for the understanding of human activities or for human identification. These applications are classified as high-level task semantic understanding. Since semantic segmentation is presented as one solution for human silhouette extraction, it is concluded that convolutional neural networks (CNN) have a clear advantage over traditional methods for computer vision, based on their ability to learn the representations of appropriate characteristics for the task of segmentation. In this work, the FASSD-Net model is used as a novel proposal that promises real-time segmentation in high-resolution images exceeding 20 FPS. To evaluate the proposed scheme, we use the Cityscapes database, which consists of sundry scenarios that represent human interaction with its environment (these scenarios show the semantic segmentation of people, difficult to solve, that favors the evaluation of our proposal), To adapt the FASSD-Net model to human silhouette semantic segmentation, the indexes of the 19 classes traditionally proposed for Cityscapes were modified, leaving only two labels: One for the class of interest labeled as person and one for the background. The Cityscapes database includes the category “human” composed for “rider” and “person” classes, in which the rider class contains incomplete human silhouettes due to self-occlusions for the activity or transport used. For this reason, we only train the model using the person class rather than human category. The implementation of the FASSD-Net model with only two classes shows promising results in both a qualitative and quantitative manner for the segmentation of human silhouettes.
Assessing the Role of Program Suspend Operation in 3D NAND Flash Based Solid State Drives
Authors: Zambelli Cristian , Zuolo Lorenzo , Aldarese Antonio , Scommegna Salvatrice , Micheloni Rino , Olivo Piero
Published: June 2021

3D NAND Flash is the preferred storage medium for dense mass storage applications, including Solid State Drives and multimedia cards. Improving the latency of these systems is a mandatory task to narrow the gap between computing elements, such as CPUs and GPUs, and the storage environment. To this extent, relatively time-consuming operations in the storage media, such as data programming and data erasing, need to be prioritized and be potentially suspendable by shorter operations, like data reading, in order to improve the overall system quality of service. However, such benefits are strongly dependent on the storage characteristics and on the timing of the single operations. In this work, we investigate, through an extensive characterization, the impacts of suspending the data programming operation in a 3D NAND Flash device. System-level simulations proved that such operations must be carefully characterized before exercising them on Solid State Drives to eventually understand the performance benefits introduced and to disclose all the potential shortcomings.
Sub-THz and THz SiGe HBT Electrical Compact Modeling
Authors: Saha Bishwadeep , Fregonese Sebastien , Chakravorty Anjan , Panda Soumya Ranjan , Zimmer Thomas
Published: June 2021

From the perspectives of characterized data, calibrated TCAD simulations and compact modeling, we present a deeper investigation of the very high frequency behavior of state-of-the-art sub-THz silicon germanium heterojunction bipolar transistors (SiGe HBTs) fabricated with 55-nm BiCMOS process technology from STMicroelectronics. The TCAD simulation platform is appropriately calibrated with the measurements in order to aid the extraction of a few selected high-frequency (HF) parameters of the state-of-the-art compact model HICUM, which are otherwise difficult to extract from traditionally prepared test-structures. Physics-based strategies of extracting the HF parameters are elaborately presented followed by a sensitivity study to see the effects of the variations of HF parameters on certain frequency-dependent characteristics until 500 GHz. Finally, the deployed HICUM model is evaluated against the measured s-parameters of the investigated SiGe HBT until 500 GHz.
Social Robots in Special Education: A Systematic Review
Authors: Papakostas George A. , Sidiropoulos George K. , Papadopoulou Cristina I. , Vrochidou Eleni , Kaburlasos Vassilis G. , Papadopoulou Maria T. , Holeva Vasiliki , Nikopoulou Vasiliki-Aliki , Dalivigkas Nikolaos
Published: June 2021

In recent years, social robots have become part of a variety of human activities, especially in applications involving children, e.g., entertainment, education, companionship. The interest of this work lies in the interaction of social robots with children in the field of special education. This paper seeks to present a systematic review of the use of robots in special education, with the ultimate goal of highlighting the degree of integration of robots in this field worldwide. This work aims to explore the technologies of robots that are applied according to the impairment type of children. The study showed a large number of attempts to apply social robots to the special education of children with various impairments, especially in recent years, as well as a wide variety of social robots from the market involved in such activities. The main conclusion of this work is the finding that the specific field of application of social robots is at the first development step; however, it is expected to be of great concern to the research community in the coming years.
Hybrid Nonlinear State-Space Modeling Approach for a Dual Armature Generator
Authors: Fernando Thilina , Zhou Qin , Gutierrez Hector M.
Published: June 2021

A novel hybrid state space modeling approach for a dual armature generator is presented. The model uses finite element analysis to obtain the rotor angle-dependent parameters, namely the flux linkage, stator inductances and cogging torque, which are then incorporated into the dynamic equations of the hybrid model using Fourier representations of the physical parameters as function of the rotor angle. The proposed hybrid model addresses many of the limitations of the classical modeling approach, which uses analytical expressions to obtain flux linkage and stator inductances based on significant simplifications. The proposed model is verified experimentally by simulating the dynamics of a three-phase permanent magnet generator. Predictions based on the new hybrid model are compared to both experimental measurements and predictions based on the classic modeling approach. It is shown that the proposed hybrid model simulates the dynamics of the demonstration machine to within 7% peak error in the stator current and provides a 13% improvement to the prediction of the rotor velocity compared with the classic model.
Multiple Instance Learning with Differential Evolutionary Pooling
Authors: Bhattacharjee Kamanasish , Tiwari Arti , Pant Millie , Ahn Chang Wook , Oh Sanghoun
Published: June 2021

While implementing Multiple Instance Learning (MIL) through Deep Neural Networks, the most important task is to design the bag-level pooling function that defines the instance-to-bag relationship and eventually determines the class label of a bag. In this article, Differential Evolutionary (DE) pooling—an MIL pooling function based on Differential Evolution (DE) and a bio-inspired metaheuristic—is proposed for the optimization of the instance weights in parallel with training the Deep Neural Network. This article also presents the effects of different parameter adaptation techniques with different variants of DE on MIL.
A Low-Complexity Pilot-Based Frequency-Domain Channel Estimation for ICI Mitigation in OFDM Systems
Authors: Martín-Vega Francisco J. , Gómez Gerardo
Published: June 2021

A low-complexity pilot pattern and a frequency-domain channel estimation method for Inter-Carrier Interference (ICI) mitigation is proposed for Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access (OFDM) systems. The proposed method exploits the band structure of the coupling matrix to perform an ICI-free channel estimation in the frequency domain. This ICI-free estimation relies on some conditions imposed over the pilot pattern that simplify the complexity of channel estimation significantly, since its complexity is the same as classical least squares (LS) channel estimation used in low mobility scenarios. Then, the ICI is removed by using a modified version of Minimum Mean Square Error (MMSE) equalization, which reduces the computational complexity considerably. This modified MMSE equalization relies on the sparse and banded structure of the coupling matrix and on a low complexity variant of the Cholesky decomposition, which is named LDLH factorization. It is shown that the proposed method greatly improves the Bit Error Rate (BER) in the high Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR) regime.
Exploring the Distribution of Traffic Flow for Shared Human and Autonomous Vehicle Roads
Authors: Li Huanping , Wang Jian , Bai Guopeng , Hu Xiaowei
Published: June 2021

In order to explore the changes that autonomous vehicles would bring to the current traffic system, we analyze the car-following behavior of different traffic scenarios based on an anti-collision theory and establish a traffic flow model with an arbitrary proportion (p) of autonomous vehicles. Using calculus and difference methods, a speed transformation model is established which could make the autonomous/human-driven vehicles maintain synchronized speed changes. Based on multi-hydrodynamic theory, a mixed traffic flow model capable of numerical calculation is established to predict the changes in traffic flow under different proportions of autonomous vehicles, then obtain the redistribution characteristics of traffic flow. Results show that the reaction time of autonomous vehicles has a decisive influence on traffic capacity; the q-k curve for mixed human/autonomous traffic remains in the region between the q-k curves for 100% human and 100% autonomous traffic; the participation of autonomous vehicles won’t bring essential changes to road traffic parameters; the speed-following transformation model minimizes the safety distance and provides a reference for the bottom program design of autonomous vehicles. In general, the research could not only optimize the stability of transportation system operation but also save road resources.
Hydrogel Encapsulation of Lactobacillus casei by Block Charge Modified Pectin and Improved Gastric and Storage Stability
Authors: Sun Qingshen , Wicker Louise
Published: June 2021

Lactobacillus casei (L. casei W8) was encapsulated in pectin methylesterase (PME) charge modified pectin hydrogels; stability and in vitro release were evaluated under simulated gastrointestinal (GI) conditions. PME, 355 U/mL, de-esterified citrus pectin to 35% from 72% degree of esterification (DE). Pectin ζ-potential decreased to about −37 mV and molecular weight decreased from 177 kDa to 143 kDa during charge modification. More than 99% L. casei W8 were encapsulated in block charged, low methoxy pectin (35 mLMP) hydrogels by calcium ionotropic gelation. The integrity of the hydrogels was maintained under simulated GI conditions, and no release of L. casei W8 was observed. Microbial counts of encapsulated L. casei ranged from 6.94 log CFU/g to 10.89 log CFU/g and were 1.23 log CFU/g higher than for unencapsulated L. casei W8. The viability of encapsulated L. casei W8 in wet hydrogels remained the same for 2 weeks, but nearly all flora died after 4 weeks storage at 4 °C. However, freeze dried hydrogels of L. casei W8 were viable for 42 days at 4 °C and 14 days at room temperature. Charge modified pectin hydrogels are potentially good vehicles for colon-targeted delivery carrier for probiotics and longer stability of L. casei W8.
Effect of Liquid Absorbent Pads and Packaging Parameters on Drip Loss and Quality of Chicken Breast Fillets
Authors: Pettersen Marit Kvalvåg , Nilsen-Nygaard Julie , Hansen Anlaug Ådland , Carlehög Mats , Liland Kristian Hovde
Published: June 2021

Visible liquid inside food packages is perceived as unattractive to consumers, and may result in food waste—a significant factor that can compromise sustainability in food value chains. However, an absorber with overdimensioned capacity may cause alterations in texture and a dryer product, which in turn may affect consumers’ satisfaction and repurchase. In this study we compared the effect of a number of liquid absorbent pads in combination with headspace gas composition (60% CO2/40% N2 and 75% O2/25% CO2) and gas-to-product volume ratio (g/p) on drip loss and quality of fresh chicken breast fillets. A significant increase in drip loss with an increasing number of liquid absorbent pads was documented. The increase was more pronounced in 60% CO2/40% N2 compared to 75% O2/25% CO2. By comparing packaging variants with a different number of liquid absorbent pads, a higher drip loss for all tested was found at g/p 1.8 compared to g/p 2.9. Total viable counts (TVC) were independent of whether there was free liquid in contact with the product, and TVC was independent of gas composition. Differentiation between the gas compositions was seen for specific bacterial analyses. While significant changes were observed using texture analysis, sensory evaluation of the chicken breast fillets did not show any negative effect in texture related attributes. This study demonstrates the importance of optimized control of meat drip loss, as product-adjusted liquid absorption may affect economy, food quality, and consumer satisfaction, as well as food waste.
Biotransformation of Polyphenols in Apple Pomace Fermented by β-Glucosidase-Producing Lactobacillus rhamnosus L08
Authors: Liu Lihua , Zhang Chenyi , Zhang Huimin , Qu Guoqiang , Li Chun , Liu Libo
Published: June 2021

Apple pomace, the main by-product in apple processing, is a cheap source of bioactive compounds that could be used in the food industry. However, the value of this by-product is still far from being fully realized. In this study, 11 strains of Lactobacillus strains were assayed for β-glucosidase activity, and only Lactobacillus rhamnosus L08 (L. rhamnosus L08) showed high cell-membrane associated β-glucosidase activity. We then evaluated the effects of fermentation of apple pomace using the selected strain, focusing on the biotransformation of polyphenols and antioxidant capacity. We found that L. rhamnosus L08 fermentation significantly reduced the contents of quercitrin and phlorizin in apple pomace, while increasing the contents of quercetin and phloretin. The contents of gallic acid, epicatechin acid, caffeic acid, and ferulic acid were also increased in apple pomace after fermentation. In addition, the antioxidant activities of apple pomace were enhanced during fermentation, based on the bioconversion of phenolic profiles. Our results demonstrate that lactic acid bacteria fermentation is a promising approach to enhance the bioactivity of phenolic compounds in apple pomace. Moreover, this study demonstrates that, as a valuable processing by-product with bioactive components, apple pomace can be used in the food industry to provide economic benefits.
Nutritional and Phytochemical Traits of Apricots (Prunus Armeniaca L.) for Application in Nutraceutical and Health Industry
Authors: Alajil Omar , Sagar Vidya R. , Kaur Charanjit , Rudra Shalini Gaur , Sharma R. R. , Kaushik Rajeev , Verma Mahendra K. , Tomar Maharishi , Kumar Manoj , Mekhemar Mohamed
Published: June 2021

Apricot (Prunus armeniaca L.) is a nutritious fruit, rich in bioactive compounds, known for their health benefits. The present study attempts to evaluate nutritional (sugars, organic acids, minerals) and nutraceutical traits (total phenolics, flavonoids, carotenoids, antioxidant activity) of six commercial apricot genotypes grown in India. Antioxidant activity was determined using three in-vitro assays, namely CUPRAC (cupric reducing antioxidant capacity), FRAP (ferric reducing antioxidant power) and DPPH (1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl-hydrazyl). Significant (p < 0.05) differences were observed in the genotypes concerning nutritional and nutraceutical traits. Sucrose accounted for more than 60% of total sugars in most genotypes, followed by glucose and fructose. Citric acid accounted for more than 50% of the total organic acids present, followed by malic and succinic acids. Apricot is a good source of potassium (1430.07 to 2202.69 mg/100 g dwb) and iron (2.69 to 6.97 mg/100 g dwb) owing to its mineral composition. Total carotenoids content ranged from 0.44 to 3.55 mg/100 g, with β-carotene accounting for 33–84% of the total content. The results strongly suggest that genotypes ‘CITH-A-1’ and ‘CITH-A-2’, which have high dry matter and carotenoids content, are well suited for drying. ‘Roxana’ and ‘CITH-A-3’ are great for fresh consumption, while ‘Shakarpara’ and ‘Gold Cot’ are excellent for juice processing.
Preparation and In Vitro Evaluation of Aspartic/Alginic Acid Based Semi-Interpenetrating Network Hydrogels for Controlled Release of Ibuprofen
Authors: Suhail Muhammad , Hsieh Yi-Han , Khan Arshad , Minhas Muhammad Usman , Wu Pao-Chu
Published: June 2021

Different combinations of polymers, aspartic acid (ASP), alginic acid (AL), and monomer acrylic acid (AA) were crosslinked in the presence of an initiator ammonium peroxodisulfate (APS) and cross-linker ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (EGDMA) to develop aspartic acid/alginic acid-co-poly(acrylic acid) (ASP/ALPAA) (semi-interpenetrating polymer network (SIPN)) hydrogels by the free radical polymerization technique for the controlled delivery of ibuprofen (IBP). Various studies such as dynamic swelling studies, drug loading, in vitro drug release and sol−gel analysis were carried out for the hydrogels. Higher swelling was observed at higher pH 7.4 as compared to lower pH 1.2, due to the presence of carboxylic groups of polymers and the monomer. Hence, pH-dependent swelling was exhibited by the developed hydrogels which led to a pH-dependent drug release and vice versa. The structural properties of the hydrogels were assessed by FTIR, PXRD, TGA, DSC, and SEM which confirmed the fabrication and stability of the developed structure. FTIR analysis revealed the reaction of both polymers with the monomer during the polymerization process and confirmed the overlapping of the monomer on the backbone of the both polymers. The disappearance of high intense crystalline peaks and the encapsulation of the drug by the hydrogel network was confirmed by PXRD. TGA and DSC showed that the developed hydrogels were thermally more stable than their basic ingredients. Similarly, the surface morphology of the hydrogels was analyzed by SEM and showed a smooth surface with few pores. Conclusively, ASP/ALPAA hydrogels have the potential to deliver IBP for a long period of time in a controlled way.
Predictors of Pregnancy Termination among Young Women in Ghana: Empirical Evidence from the 2014 Demographic and Health Survey Data
Authors: Ahinkorah Bright Opoku , Seidu Abdul-Aziz , Hagan John Elvis , Archer Anita Gracious , Budu Eugene , Adoboi Faustina , Schack Thomas
Published: June 2021

Pregnancy termination remains a delicate and contentious reproductive health issue because of a variety of political, economic, religious, and social reasons. The present study examined the associations between demographic and socio-economic factors and pregnancy termination among young Ghanaian women. This study used data from the 2014 Demographic and Health Survey of Ghana. A sample size of 2114 young women (15–24 years) was considered for the study. Both descriptive (frequency, percentages, and chi-square tests) and inferential (binary logistic regression) analyses were carried out in this study. Statistical significance was pegged at p < 0.05. Young women aged 20–24 were more likely to have a pregnancy terminated compared to those aged 15–19 (AOR = 3.81, CI = 2.62–5.54). The likelihood of having a pregnancy terminated was high among young women who were working compared to those who were not working (AOR = 1.60, CI = 1.19–2.14). Young women who had their first sex at the age of 20–24 (AOR = 0.19, CI = 0.10–0.39) and those whose first sex occurred at first union (AOR = 0.57, CI = 0.34–0.96) had lower odds of having a pregnancy terminated compared to those whose first sex happened when they were less than 15 years. Young women with parity of three or more had the lowest odds of having a pregnancy terminated compared to those with no births (AOR = 0.39, CI = 0.21–0.75). The likelihood of pregnancy termination was lower among young women who lived in rural areas (AOR = 0.65, CI = 0.46–0.92) and those in the Upper East region (AOR = 0.18, CI = 0.08–0.39). The findings indicate the importance of socio-demographic factors in pregnancy termination among young women in Ghana. Government and non-governmental organizations in Ghana should help develop programs (e.g., sexuality education) and strategies (e.g., regular sensitization programs) that reduce unintended pregnancies which often result in pregnancy termination. These programs and strategies should include easy access to contraceptives and comprehensive sexual and reproductive health education. These interventions should be designed considering the socio-demographic characteristics of young women. Such interventions will help to achieve Sustainable Development Goal 3.1 that seeks to reduce the global maternal mortality ratio to fewer than 70 per 100,000 live births by 2030.
Tensiomyographic Neuromuscular Response of the Peroneus Longus and Tibialis Anterior with Chronic Ankle Instability
Authors: Tashiro Tsubasa , Maeda Noriaki , Sasadai Junpei , Kotoshiba Somu , Sakai Shogo , Suzuki Yuta , Fujishita Hironori , Urabe Yukio
Published: June 2021

This study aimed to investigate the muscle contractile response of the peroneus longus (PL) and tibialis anterior (TA) in groups with and without chronic ankle instability (CAI) using tensiomyography. Twenty-three adults, 12 with CAI and 11 healthy participants, participated in this study. All subjects underwent a tensiomyographic assessment of the PL and TA to measure delay time, contraction time and maximal displacement. The ankle evertor and invertor normalized peak torques, maximum work done and muscle thickness of the PL and TA were calculated. The delay time and contraction time of the PL in the CAI side were significantly higher than those in the healthy group (p < 0.05); however, no significant difference could be detected in the TA between groups. Furthermore, there was no significant difference in the normalized peak torques, maximum work done and muscle thickness of the PL and TA between groups. The CAI side demonstrated a delayed muscle contractile response of the PL when compared with the healthy group although there was no difference in muscle strength and muscle size. Clinicians should consider the muscle contractile response of the PL for rehabilitation of the ankle evertor with CAI.
Cost-Effectiveness of an Exercise Programme That Provided Group or Individual Training to Reduce the Fall Risk in Healthy Community-Dwelling People Aged 65–80: A Secondary Data Analysis
Authors: Aranda-Reneo Isaac , Albornos-Muñoz Laura , Rich-Ruiz Manuel , Cidoncha-Moreno María , Pastor-López Ángeles , Moreno-Casbas Teresa ,   Otago Project Working Group
Published: June 2021

Research has demonstrated that some exercise programs are effective for reducing fall rates in community-dwelling older people; however, the literature is limited in providing clear recommendations of individual or group training as a result of economic evaluation. The objective of this study was to assess the cost-effectiveness of the Otago Exercise Program (OEP) for reducing the fall risk in healthy, non-institutionalized older people. An economic evaluation of a multicenter, blinded, randomized, non-inferiority clinical trial was performed on 498 patients aged over 65 in primary care. Participants were randomly allocated to the treatment or control arms, and group or individual training. The program was delivered in primary healthcare settings and comprised five initial sessions, ongoing encouragement and support to exercise at home, and a reinforcement session after six months. Our hypothesis was that the patients who received the intervention would achieve better health outcomes and therefore need lower healthcare resources during the follow-up, thus, lower healthcare costs. The primary outcome was the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio, which used the timed up and go test results as an effective measure for preventing falls. The secondary outcomes included differently validated tools that assessed the fall risk. The cost per patient was USD 51.28 lower for the group than the individual sessions in the control group, and the fall risk was 10% lower when exercises had a group delivery. The OEP program delivered in a group manner was superior to the individual method. We observed slight differences in the incremental cost estimations when using different tools to assess the risk of fall, but all of them indicated the dominance of the intervention group. The OEP group sessions were more cost-effective than the individual sessions, and the fall risk was 10% lower.
Aulacaspis yasumatsui Delivers a Blow to International Cycad Horticulture
Authors: Marler Thomas , Lindström Anders , Watson Gillian
Published: June 2021

The literature covering the biology, invasion chronology, host plant responses, and control efforts of the armored scale Aulacaspis yasumatsui Takagi (Hempitera: Diaspididae) is reviewed. The small size of this cycad pest and complex surface morphology of the host cycad organs combine to make visual detection of every cryptic infestation difficult or impossible to achieve. The international movement of Cycas revoluta Thunb. nursery plants and the presence of C. revoluta nursery industries in so many countries have enabled this pest to wreak havoc on the international cycad horticulture trade over the last 25 years. The short pre-oviposition period and considerable female fecundity lead to rapid population expansion on the plants initially infested in newly invaded regions. A depletion of non-structural carbohydrates accompanies long-term infestations and precedes plant death. Enemy escape within the invasive range allows the scale population growth to remain unchecked until anthropogenic efforts establish non-native biological control.
Myositis/Myasthenia after Pembrolizumab in a Bladder Cancer Patient with an Autoimmunity-Associated HLA: Immune–Biological Evaluation and Case Report
Authors: Botta Cirino , Agostino Rita Maria , Dattola Vincenzo , Cianci Vittoria , Calandruccio Natale Daniele , Bianco Giovanna , Mafodda Antonino , Maisano Roberto , Iuliano Eleonora , Orizzonte Giovanna , Mazzacuva Domenico , Falzea Antonia Consuelo , Saladino Rita Emilena , Giannicola Rocco , Restifo Giorgio , Aguglia Umberto , Caraglia Michele , Correale Pierpaolo
Published: June 2021

Pembrolizumab (mAb to PD-1) has been recently approved for the therapy of pretreated urothelial cancer. Despite the efficacy, it is often accompanied by unpredictable and sometime severe immune-related (ir) adverse events (AEs). Here, we report the clinical and immune–biological characterization of a patient with a metastatic bladder cancer who developed myositis signs (M) and a myasthenia-like syndrome (MLS) during treatment with pembrolizumab. The patient presented an autoimmunity-associated HLA haplotype (HLA-A*02/HLA-B*08/HLA-C*07/HLA-DRB1*03) and experienced an increase in activated CD8 T-cells along the treatment. The symptomatology regressed after pembrolizumab discontinuation and a pyridostigmine and steroids-based therapy. This is the first report of concurrent M and MLS appearance in cancer patients receiving pembrolizumab. More efforts are needed to define early the risk and the clinical meaning of irAEs in this setting.