bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Prospective Clinical Trial of Prolonged Fasting in Healthy Young Males and Females—Effect on Fatigue, Sleepiness, Mood and Body Composition
Authors: Nugraha Boya , Riat Amin , Ghashang Samaneh Khoshandam , Eljurnazi Luqman , Gutenbrunner Christoph
Published: July 2020

Fasting during a long period (17–18 h/day) may affect daily performance. Fatigue is one of important parameters to observe for this effect. This study aimed to determine the effect of Ramadan fasting (RF)—particularly on fatigue in both young males and females. Sleepiness, mood-related symptoms (MRSs) and body composition (BC) were determined, too. Thirty-four young males and females were recruited and performed RF. They were assessed for fatigue, sleepiness, MRS and BC at T1 (one week before RF), T2 (mid of RF), T3 (last days of RF), T4 (one week after RF) and T5 (one month after RF). The assessments were done in the morning, except for fatigue and sleepiness, which were also assessed in the afternoon and evening of T1 to T5. This study observed numerous positive effects to RF. After they began fasting and compared to T1, participants experienced (1) significantly less fatigue; (2) small to large improvement of MRSs; and (3) positive changes relating to BC. RF did not appear to have a significant effect on participants’ sleepiness scores. Ultimately, this study illustrates how prolonged fasting, like RF, benefits the youth, particularly by decreasing fatigue, improving MRSs and positively impacting BC.
Oral Eplerenone Versus Observation in the Management of Acute Central Serous Chorioretinopathy: A Prospective, Randomized Comparative Study
Authors: Venkatesh Ramesh , Pereira Arpitha , Jayadev Chaitra , Prabhu Vishma , Aseem Aditya , Jain Kushagra , Bavaharan Bharathi , Yadav Naresh Kumar , Chhablani Jay
Published: July 2020

In this prospective, interventional case-control study, 58 patients with unilateral acute central serous chorioretinopathy (CSCR) were recruited. Patients ≥ 18 years age, presenting with first episodes of acute CSCR, were included. Acute CSCR was defined by the presence of subretinal fluid (SRF) and symptoms for <12 weeks duration with no clinical or imaging features of chronicity. Patients were alternately divided into treatment (Table Eplerenone 50 mg/day for minimum 1 month) and observation groups. Vision, SRF height and subfoveal choroidal thickness (SFCT) were checked at 1-, 2- and 3-months in both eyes of each group. Each group had 29 eyes. Mean age was 40.4 ± 7.1 and 43.3 ± 8.34 years in treatment and observation group, respectively. Mean symptom duration was 6.46 ± 1.45 and 5.87 ± 2.09 weeks, respectively. Vision improvement to 6/6 was seen in 92%, 100% and 100% cases in treatment group and 74%, 86% and 100% in control group at each visit, respectively. Complete SRF resolution in the treatment group was noted in 45%, 55% and 62% cases at each respective monthly visit. In the observation group, complete SRF resolution was noted in 10%, 21% and 31% at 1-, 2- and 3-month visits, respectively. SRF (p < 0.001) and SFCT (p < 0.001) reduction was noted in the affected eye of both groups. SFCT was reduced in the fellow eye after treatment (p = 0.005) compared to the observation group (p = 0.276). In conclusion, oral eplerenone achieves faster SRF resolution and vision improvement in acute CSCR. Additionally, it shows beneficial effects on the fellow eye.
Hydrolytic Degradability, Cell Tolerance and On-Demand Antibacterial Effect of Electrospun Photodynamically Active Fibres
Authors: Contreras Amy , Raxworthy Michael J. , Wood Simon , Tronci Giuseppe
Published: July 2020

Photodynamically active fibres (PAFs) are a novel class of stimulus-sensitive systems capable of triggering antibiotic-free antibacterial effect on-demand when exposed to light. Despite their relevance in infection control, however, the broad clinical applicability of PAFs has not yet been fully realised due to the limited control in fibrous microstructure, cell tolerance and antibacterial activity in the physiologic environment. We addressed this challenge by creating semicrystalline electrospun fibres with varying content of poly[(l-lactide)-co-(glycolide)] (PLGA), poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) and methylene blue (MB), whereby the effect of polymer morphology, fibre composition and photosensitiser (PS) uptake on wet state fibre behaviour and functions was studied. The presence of crystalline domains and PS–polymer secondary interactions proved key to accomplishing long-lasting fibrous microstructure, controlled mass loss and controlled MB release profiles (37 °C, pH 7.4, 8 weeks). PAFs with equivalent PLGA:PCL weight ratio successfully promoted attachment and proliferation of L929 cells over a 7-day culture with and without light activation, while triggering up to 2.5 and 4 log reduction in E. coli and S. mutans viability, respectively. These results support the therapeutic applicability of PAFs for frequently encountered bacterial infections, opening up new opportunities in photodynamic fibrous systems with integrated wound healing and infection control capabilities.
Prevalence of Potential Drug–Drug Interaction Risk among Chronic Kidney Disease Patients in a Spanish Hospital
Authors: Santos-Díaz Gracia , Pérez-Pico Ana María , Suárez-Santisteban Miguel Ángel , García-Bernalt Vanesa , Mayordomo Raquel , Dorado Pedro
Published: July 2020

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a major health problem worldwide and, in Spain, it is present in 15.1% of individuals. CKD is frequently associated with some comorbidities and patients need to be prescribed multiple medications. Polypharmacy increases the risk of adverse drug reactions (ADRs). There are no published studies evaluating the prevalence of potential drug–drug interactions (pDDIs) among CKD patients in any European country. This study was aimed to determine the prevalence, pattern, and factors associated with pDDIs among CKD patients using a drug interactions program. An observational cross-sectional study was carried out at Plasencia Hospital, located in Spain. Data were collected among patients with CKD diagnoses and pDDIs were assessed by the Lexicomp® Drug Interactions platform. Data were obtained from 112 CKD patients. A total number of 957 prescribed medications were acknowledged, and 928 pDDIs were identified in 91% of patients. Age and concomitant drugs were significantly associated with the number of pDDIs (p < 0.05). According to the results, the use of programs for the determination of pDDIs (such as Lexicomp®) is recommended in the clinical practice of CKD patients in order to avoid serious adverse effects, as is paying attention to contraindicated drug combinations.
Diabetes-Related Healthcare Services in Nepal—A Qualitative Exploration of Healthcare Professionals’ Opinions
Authors: Sapkota Sujata , Brien Jo-anne E. , Aslani Parisa
Published: July 2020

Healthcare professionals’ level of engagement in diabetes care and their perceptions of challenges to effective diabetes care are key indicators impacting diabetes management. This study investigated diabetes-related healthcare services provided in Nepal, and explored healthcare professionals’ opinions of the barriers to, and strategies for, effective diabetes care. In-depth face-to-face interviews were conducted with thirty healthcare professionals providing healthcare or medication-related services to patients with type 2 diabetes within Kathmandu Valley. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim and thematically analysed. Participants were physicians, dieticians, nurses and pharmacy staff. Diabetes care services varied between healthcare institutions, between healthcare professionals and between patients, with the overall patient-care model reported as sub-optimal. Diabetes related services were mostly limited to physician-patient consultations. Only a few hospitals or clinics provided additional diabetes education classes, and individual dietician or nurse consultations. Limited collaboration, large patient-load and workforce shortages (particularly lack of diabetes educators) were reported as major issues affecting diabetes care. Regulatory measures to address healthcare system barriers were identified as potential facilitators for effective diabetes management. Whilst the findings are specific to Nepal, there are lessons to be learnt for other healthcare settings as the fundamental barriers to optimal diabetes care appear to be similar worldwide.
Bioactive Compounds and Bioactivities of Brassica oleracea L. var. Italica Sprouts and Microgreens: An Updated Overview from a Nutraceutical Perspective
Authors: Le Thanh Ninh , Chiu Chiu-Hsia , Hsieh Pao-Chuan
Published: July 2020

Sprouts and microgreens, the edible seedlings of vegetables and herbs, have received increasing attention in recent years and are considered as functional foods or superfoods owing to their valuable health-promoting properties. In particular, the seedlings of broccoli (Brassica oleracea L. var. Italica) have been highly prized for their substantial amount of bioactive constituents, including glucosinolates, phenolic compounds, vitamins, and essential minerals. These secondary metabolites are positively associated with potential health benefits. Numerous in vitro and in vivo studies demonstrated that broccoli seedlings possess various biological properties, including antioxidant, anticancer, anticancer, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, anti-obesity and antidiabetic activities. The present review summarizes the updated knowledge about bioactive compounds and bioactivities of these broccoli products and discusses the relevant mechanisms of action. This review will serve as a potential reference for food selections of consumers and applications in functional food and nutraceutical industries.
Brassica tardarae (Brassicaceae), a New Species from a Noteworthy Biotope of South-Western Sicily (Italy)
Authors: Ilardi Vincenzo , Troia Angelo , Geraci Anna
Published: July 2020

A new species of Brassica sect. Brassica is described here from Sicily (Italy), which is known to be one of the centers of the diversification of wild taxa of this group. The new species (named Brassica tardarae) is restricted to the carbonate cliffs in the Tardara Gorges between Menfi and Sambuca di Sicilia (Agrigento province), an area with a peculiar geological history and where another strictly endemic species was recently described. The morphological relationships between the new species and other similar taxa are discussed, and an analytical key to the Sicilian taxa belonging to the genus Brassica sect. Brassica is also provided.
Regeneration of Genetically Stable Plants from in Vitro Vitrified Leaves of Different Carnation Cultivars
Authors: Thu Ho Thi Minh , Naing Aung Htay , Jeong Hui Yeong , Kim Chang Kil
Published: July 2020

This study was conducted to investigate the efficacy of shoot regeneration from different leaf types (normal leaves and vitrified leaves) from three different carnation cultivars ‘Kumbuyl’, ‘Denev’, and ‘Jinju’ using different combinations of 3-indole butyric acid (IBA) and thidiazuron (TDZ) concentrations. The shoot tips cultured on Murashige and Skoog (MS) basal media (Type 1 media) produced normal leaves, while those cultured-on media supplemented with plant growth regulators and/or vitamin (Type 2 media and Type 3 media) produced vitrified leaves for all cultivars. Culture of normal leaf segments on MS medium containing different combinations of IBA and TDZ concentrations induced callus in all treatments; however, the callus was unable to induce shoots and finally became necrotic. In contrast, no callus induction was observed in the control (hormone-free treatment). When vitrified leaf segments underwent the same treatments, shoots were induced from the vitrified leaves (derived from Type 2 media) but were unhealthy and gradually died, whereas those induced from Type 3 media were vitrified and healthy. The optimal combination for the best shoot regeneration and number of shoots per explants varied depending on the genotypes used. The vitrified shoots induced from the leaves of Type 3 media transformed into normal shoots and survived well under greenhouse conditions. According to the results of random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) analysis, the banding patterns of twelve primers that were detected in vitrified leaf-induced normalized shoots were identical to those of normal in vitro grown plants, indicating that no genetic variation had occurred during the procedure. Taken together, this study indicates that vitrified leaves can be used for shoot regeneration of recalcitrant carnation cultivars, regardless of the genotypes and types of vitrified leaves. However, as the number of shoots per explants was still low, further investigation is warranted to obtain a more efficient shoot regeneration protocol for genetic transformation of the cultivars.
Utilization Pattern of Indigenous and Naturalized Plants among Some Selected Rural Households of North West Province, South Africa
Authors: Omotayo Abiodun Olusola , Ndhlovu Peter Tshepiso , Tshwene Seleke Christopher , Aremu Adeyemi Oladapo
Published: July 2020

Globally, a substantial proportion of existing indigenous and naturalized foods are often neglected thereby narrowing the food-base available to humans. The current study explored the use and contribution of indigenous and naturalized plants to the households’ food-pool among 12 communities in the North West Province of South Africa. An ethnobotanical survey was conducted among 133 rural households across the 12 selected communities from the four district municipalities in North West Province, South Africa. We analyzed the utilization patterns for 31 selected indigenous and naturalized plants (grains, fruits, and vegetables) among the 133 households using two ethnobotanical indices. In reference to the checklist of 31 plants, the sampled households utilize approximately 94% (29) as staple foods, beverages, fruits and fodder. Sorghum bicolor, Vigna unguiculata, Amaranthus sp., Sclerocarya birrea, Persea americana, and Mimusops zeyheri were among the top-six plants based on the Relative Frequency of Citation (RFC, 40–83%). In terms of the different crop-types, Sorghum bicolor (grain), Amaranthus sp. (vegetable), and Sclerocarya birrea (fruit) were the top-ranked plants based on the Species Popularity Index (SPI, 0.53–0.83) among the participants. Overall, there is a need for a renaissance of indigenous and naturalized plants, which has the potential to encourage rural farmers to further embrace the cultivation of these plants on a larger scale so as to enhance food security in the rural communities.
Predicting the Potential Current and Future Distribution of the Endangered Endemic Vascular Plant Primula boveana Decne. ex Duby in Egypt
Authors: Abdelaal Mohamed , Fois Mauro , Dakhil Mohammed A. , Bacchetta Gianluigi , El-Sherbeny Ghada A.
Published: July 2020

Knowledge about population attributes, current geographic distribution, and changes over predicted climate change for many threatened endemic vascular plants is particularly limited in arid mountain environments. Primula boveana is one of the rarest and threatened plants worldwide, surviving exclusively in Saint Catherine Protectorate in the Sinaic biogeographic subsector of Egypt. This study aimed to define the current state of P. boveana populations, predict its current potential distribution, and use the best-model outputs to guide in field sampling and to forecast its future distribution under two climate change scenarios. The MaxEnt algorithm was used by relating 10 occurrence-points with different environmental predictors (27 bioclimatic, 3 topographic, and 8 edaphic factors). At the current knowledge level, the population size of P. boveana consists of 796 individuals, including 137 matures, distributed in only 250 m2. The Canonical Correlation Analysis (CCorA) displayed that population attributes (density, cover, size index, and plant vigor) were positively correlated with elevation, precipitation, and pH. Based on the best-fitting model, most predicted suitable central sites (69 km2) of P. boveana were located in the cool shaded high-elevated middle northern part of St. Catherine. Elevation, precipitation, temperature, and soil pH were the key contributors to P. boveana distribution in Egypt. After field trips in suitable predicted sites, we confirmed five extinct localities where P. boveana has been previously recorded and no new population was found. The projected map showed an upward range shift through the contraction of sites between 1800 and 2000 m and expansion towards high elevation (above 2000 m) at the southern parts of the St. Catherine area. To conserve P. boveana, it is recommended to initiate in situ conservation through reinforcement and reintroduction actions.
So Uncommon and so Singular, but Underexplored: An Updated Overview on Ethnobotanical Uses, Biological Properties and Phytoconstituents of Sardinian Endemic Plants
Authors: Sanna Cinzia , Maxia Andrea , Fenu Giuseppe , Loi Maria Cecilia
Published: July 2020

The last decades have recorded an increase of plant-based drug discovery processes. Indeed, natural products possess a superior chemical diversity as compared to synthetic ones, leading to a renewal in searching for new therapeutic agents from the plant kingdom. In particular, since the structural variety of natural compounds reflects the biodiversity of their source organisms, regions of the world with high biodiversity and endemism deserve particular interest. In this context, Sardinia Island (Italy), with 290 endemic taxa (12% of the total flora), is expected to provide unique and structurally diverse phytochemicals for drug development. Several research groups built up a large program dedicated to the analysis of Sardinian endemic species, highlighting their peculiar features, both in respect of phytochemical and biological profiles. On this basis, the aim of this review is to provide an up-to-date and comprehensive overview on ethnobotanical uses, biological properties and phytoconstituents of Sardinian endemic plants in order to support their beneficial potential and to provide input for future investigations. We documented 152 articles published from 1965 to June 2020 in which a broad range of biological activities and the identification of previously undescribed compounds have been reported, supporting their great value as sources of therapeutic agents.
Micellization Behaviour of Linear and Nonlinear Block Copolymers Based on Poly(n-hexyl isocyanate) in Selective Solvents
Authors: Vazaios Aggelos , Touris Athanasios , Echeverria Mikel , Zorba Georgia , Pitsikalis Marinos
Published: July 2020

Block copolymers have attracted significant scientific and economic interest over the last decades due to their ability to self-assemble into ordered structures both in bulk and in selective solvents. In this work, the self-assembly behaviour of both linear (diblocks, triblocks and pentablocks) and nonlinear (miktoarm stars and a block-graft) copolymers based on poly(n-hexyl isocyanate), PHIC, were studied in selective solvents such as n-heptane and n-dodecane. A variety of experimental techniques, namely static and dynamic light scattering, dilute solution viscometry and atomic force microscopy, were employed to study the micellar structural parameters (e.g., aggregation number, overall micellar size and shape, and core and shell dimensions). The effect of the macromolecular architecture, the molecular weight and the copolymer composition on the self-assembly behaviour was studied. Spherical micelles in equilibrium with clusters were obtained from the block copolymers. Thermally stable, uniform and spherical aggregates were found from the triblock copolymers. The poly(n-hexyl isocyanate)-b-polyisoprene-b-poly(n-hexyl isocyanate),-HIH copolymers tend to adopt closed loop conformation, leading to more elongated cylindrical-type structures upon increasing the concentration. Clustering effects were also reported in the case of the pentablock terpolymers. The topology of the blocks plays an important role, since the poly(n-hexyl isocyanate)-b-polystyrene-b-polyisoprene-b-polystyrene-b-poly(n-hexyl isocyanate), HSISH terpolymer shows intermicellar fusion of spherical micelles, leading to the formation of extended networks. The formation of spherical micelles in equilibrium with clusters was obvious in the case of the miktoarm stars, whereas the block-graft copolymer shows the existence of mainly unimolecular micelles.
Mechanical Joining of Fibre Reinforced Polymer Composites to Metals—A Review. Part II: Riveting, Clinching, Non-Adhesive Form-Locked Joints, Pin and Loop Joining
Authors: Galińska Anna , Galiński Cezary
Published: July 2020

As fiber reinforced plastic composites gain an increasingly larger share in aerospace structures, the problem of joining them with metal elements becomes significant. The current paper is the second part of the literature review, which gathers and evaluates knowledge about methods suitable for the mechanical joining of composite and metal elements. This paper reviews the joining methods other than bolted joining, which are discussed in the first part of the review, namely self-piercing riveting, friction riveting, clinching, non-adhesive form-locked joints, pin joints, and loop joints. Some of those methods are full-fledged and employed in commercial applications, whereas others are merely ideas tested at the level of specimens. The current review describes the ideas and the qualities of the joining methods as well as the experimental work carried out so far. The summary section of this paper contains a comparison of those methods with the reference to their qualities, which is important from the point of view of a composite structure designer: possibility of the joint disassembly, damages induced in composite, complication level, weight penalty, range of possible materials to be joined, and the joint strength.
Self-Consistent Field Modeling of Pulling a Test-Chain away from or Pushing It into a Polymer Adsorption Layer
Authors: Leermakers Fransicus A.M.
Published: July 2020

We consider single chain force measurements to unravel characteristics of polymers at interfaces and to determine parameters that control adsorption or probe layer characteristics that are difficult to access otherwise. The idea is to have at the tip of an atomic force microscope (AFM), a probe chain and measure its behaviour near interfaces by pushing it to, or pulling it away from it. The self-consistent field modeling of this reveals that in the pulling mode—i.e., when the chain has an affinity for the surface—a typically inhomogeneous flower-like conformation forms with an adsorbed ’pancake’ and a stretched stem (tether) from the surface to the tip of the AFM. When about half the segments is in the tether it snaps loose in a first-order like fashion. The critical distance of the end-point from the surface and the critical force are experimentally accessible. Details of this transition depend on the surrounding of the test chain. Inversely, and this opens up many possibilities, the test chain reports about its surroundings. Our focus is on the classical case of homopolymers at interfaces. Pulling experiments may reveal the adsorption strength, the (average) chain length and/or the polymer concentration of the freely dispersed/adsorbed polymers. When the test-chain is non-adsorbing we envision that pushing this test-chain into the adsorption layer reports about various layer characteristics such as the layer thickness and (local) density. Moreover, when the test-chain has a length longer than the entanglement length, we can imagine that non-trivial dynamical properties of loops and tails may be scrutinised.
Removal and Oxidation of As(III) from Water Using Iron Oxide Coated CTAB as Adsorbent
Authors: Predoi Daniela , Iconaru Simona Liliana , Predoi Mihai Valentin , Motelica-Heino Mikael
Published: July 2020

Iron oxides such as magnetite and maghemite coated with cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) are very promising materials for wastewater treatment because iron oxide can be easily separated from solutions using the magnetic separation procedure Iron oxide (IO) coated CTAB was synthesized by an adapted co-precipitation method. In the present study, the IO-CTAB was used for removing arsenic from water for the first time. In the present study, the performance of iron oxide coated CTAB biocomposites as an adsorbent for arsenic removal from aqueous solutions was examined. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis and the results revealed a cubic phase Fd-3 m of Fe3O4 with lattice a = 8.40 Å and average crystal size equal to 17.26 ± 3 nm. The mean particle size calculated from transmission electron microscopy (TEM) was 19.86 ±1.7 nm. The results of the adsorption batch experiments and the data determined using the Langmuir and Freundlich models emphasized that IO-CTAB nanoparticles were favorable for the adsorption of As(III) ions from aqueous solutions. Ultrasound measurements have shown that IO-CTAB is a cost-effective biocomposite for removing arsenic from contaminated solutions. Moreover, x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) has shown that during the process of arsenic absorption, there is oxidation from As(III) to As(V), which leads to a decrease in toxicity during this process. The results of the cytotoxic assays confirmed that the IO-CTAB nanoparticles did not induce any morphological changes in the HeLa cells and did not affect their proliferation after 24 h of incubation.
A Study of Some Mechanical Properties of Composite Materials with a Dammar-Based Hybrid Matrix and Reinforced by Waste Paper
Authors: Stănescu Marius Marinel , Bolcu Dumitru
Published: July 2020

When obtaining environment-friendly hybrid resins made of a blend of Dammar natural resin, in a prevailing volume ratio, with epoxy resin, it is challenging to find alternatives for synthetic resins. Composite materials reinforced with waste paper and matrix made of epoxy resin or hybrid resin with a volume ratio of 60%, 70% and 80% Dammar were studied. All samples obtained have been submitted to tensile tests and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) analysis. The tensile response, tensile strength, modulus of elasticity, elongation at break and the analysis of the fracture surface were determined. The damping properties of vibrations of bars in hybrid resins and in the composite materials under study were also examined. The mechanical properties of the four types of resins and of the composite materials were compared. The chemical composition for a hybrid resin specimen were obtained using the Fourier Transformed Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) and Energy, Dispersive X-ray Spectrometry (EDS) analyzes.
Development of a Chitosan/PVA/TiO2 Nanocomposite for Application as a Solid Polymeric Electrolyte in Fuel Cells
Authors: Ruiz Gómez Elio Enrique , Mina Hernández José Herminsul , Diosa Astaiza Jesús Evelio
Published: July 2020

The influence of the incorporation of nanoparticles of titanium oxide (TiO2) at a concentration between 1000 and 50,000 ppm on the physicochemical and mechanical properties of a polymer matrix formed from a binary mixture of chitosan (CS) and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) at a ratio of 80:20 and the possibility of its use as a solid polymeric electrolyte were evaluated. With the mixture of the precursors, a membrane was formed with the solvent evaporation technique (casting). It was found that the incorporation of the nanoparticles affected the moisture absorption of the material; the samples with the highest concentrations displayed predominantly hydrophobic behavior, while the samples with the lowest content displayed absorption values of 90%. Additionally, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) showed relatively low dehydration in the materials that contained low concentrations of filler; moreover, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) showed that the nanoparticles did not significantly affect the thermal transitions (Tg and Tm) of the compound. The ionic conductivity of the compound with a relatively low concentration of 1000 ppm TiO2 nanoparticles was determined by complex impedance spectroscopy. The membranes doped with a 4 M KOH solution demonstrated an increase in conductivity of two orders of magnitude, reaching values of 10−6 S·cm−1 at room temperature in previously dried samples, compared to that of the undoped samples, while their activation energy was reduced by 50% with respect to that of the undoped samples. The voltage–current test in a proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) indicated an energy efficiency of 17% and an open circuit voltage of 1.0 V for the undoped compound, and these results were comparable to those obtained for the commercial membrane product Nafion® 117 in evaluations performed under conditions of 90% moisture saturation. However, the tests indicated a low current density in the undoped compound.
Novel Histone-Based DNA Carrier Targeting Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts
Authors: Kuzmich Alexey , Rakitina Olga , Didych Dmitry , Potapov Victor , Zinovyeva Marina , Alekseenko Irina , Sverdlov Eugene
Published: July 2020

Nuclear proteins, like histone H2A, are promising non-viral carriers for gene delivery since they are biocompatible, biodegradable, bear intrinsic nuclear localization signal, and are easy to modify. The addition of surface-protein-binding ligand to histone H2A may increase its DNA delivery efficiency. Tumor microenvironment (TME) is a promising target for gene therapy since its surface protein repertoire is more stable than that of cancer cells. Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) are important components of TME, and one of their surface markers is beta-type platelet-derived growth factor receptor (PDGFRβ). In this study, we fused histone H2A with PDGFRβ-binding peptide, YG2, to create a novel non-viral fibroblast-targeting DNA carrier, H2A-YG2. The transfection efficiency of histone complexes with pDNA encoding a bicistronic reporter (enhanced green fluorescent protein, EGFP, and firefly luciferase) in PDGFRβ-positive and PDGFRβ-negative cells was estimated by luciferase assay and flow cytometry. The luciferase activity, percentage of transfected cells, and overall EGFP fluorescence were increased due to histone modification with YG2 only in PDGFRβ-positive cells. We also estimated the internalization efficiency of DNA-carrier complexes using tetramethyl-rhodamine-labeled pDNA. The ligand fusion increased DNA internalization only in the PDGFRβ-positive cells. In conclusion, we demonstrated that the H2A-YG2 carrier targeted gene delivery to PDGFRβ-positive tumor stromal cells.
Atomistic Investigation on the Wetting Behavior and Interfacial Joining of Polymer-Metal Interface
Authors: Zhou Mingyong , Fu Liang , Jiang Fengze , Jiang Bingyan , Drummer Dietmar
Published: July 2020

Polymer-metal hybrid structures can reduce the weight of components while ensuring the structural strength, which in turn save cost and subsequently fuel consumption. The interface strength of polymer-metal hybrid structure is mainly determined by the synergistic effects of interfacial interaction and mechanical interlocking. In this study, the wetting behavior of polypropylene (PP) melt on metal surface was studied by molecular dynamics simulation. Atomistic models with smooth surface and nano-column arrays on Al substrate were constructed. Influences of melt temperature, surface roughness and metal material on the wetting behavior and interfacial joining were analyzed. Afterwards the separation process of injection-molded PP-metal hybrid structure was simulated to analyze joining strength. Results show that the initially sphere-like PP model gradually collapses in the wetting simulation. With a higher temperature, it is easier for molecule chains to spread along the surface. For substrate with rough surface, high density is observed at the bottom or on the upper surface of the column. The contact state is transitioning from Wenzel state to Cassie–Baxter state with the decrease of void fraction. The inner force of injection-molded PP-Fe hybrid structure during the separation process is obviously higher, demonstrating a greater joining strength.
Flame Retardant Polypropylenes: A Review
Authors: Seidi Farzad , Movahedifar Elnaz , Naderi Ghasem , Akbari Vahideh , Ducos Franck , Shamsi Ramin , Vahabi Henri , Saeb Mohammad Reza
Published: July 2020

Polypropylene (PP) is a commodity plastic known for high rigidity and crystallinity, which is suitable for a wide range of applications. However, high flammability of PP has always been noticed by users as a constraint; therefore, a variety of additives has been examined to make PP flame-retardant. In this work, research papers on the flame retardancy of PP have been comprehensively reviewed, classified in terms of flame retardancy, and evaluated based on the universal dimensionless criterion of Flame Retardancy Index (FRI). The classification of additives of well-known families, i.e., phosphorus-based, nitrogen-based, mineral, carbon-based, bio-based, and hybrid flame retardants composed of two or more additives, was reflected in FRI mirror calculated from cone calorimetry data, whatever heat flux and sample thickness in a given series of samples. PP composites were categorized in terms of flame retardancy performance as Poor, Good, or Excellent cases. It also attempted to correlate other criteria like UL-94 and limiting oxygen index (LOI) with FRI values, giving a broad view of flame retardancy performance of PP composites. The collected data and the conclusions presented in this survey should help researchers working in the field to select the best additives among possibilities for making the PP sufficiently flame-retardant for advanced applications.
Seawater Desalination: A Review of Forward Osmosis Technique, Its Challenges, and Future Prospects
Authors: Aende Aondohemba , Gardy Jabbar , Hassanpour Ali
Published: July 2020

Currently over 845 million people are believed to be living under severe water scarcity, and an estimated 2.8 billion people across the globe are projected to come under serious water scarcity by the year 2025, according to a United Nations (UN) report. Seawater desalination has gained more traction as the solution with the most potential for increasing global freshwater supplies amongst other solutions. However, the economic and energy costs associated with the major desalination technologies are considered intrinsically prohibitive largely due to their humongous energy requirements alongside the requirements of complex equipment and their maintenance in most cases. Whilst forward osmosis (FO) is being touted as a potentially more energy efficient and cost-effective alternative desalination technique, its efficiency is challenged by draw solutes and the draw solutes recovery step in FO applications alongside other challenges. This paper looks at the present situation of global water scarcity, and a brief leap into the major desalination technologies employed. A closer look at the key drivers of FO as a seawater desalination technique in their individual domain and its outlook as an technology are further highlighted.
Betaxolol Ophthalmic Solution as Alternative Treatment for Patients with Timolol Allergy: A Case Report
Authors: Müllertz Olivia , Jacobsen Jette , Thyssen Jacob P. , Horwitz Anna , Kolko Miriam
Published: July 2020

Background: To establish if an allergy towards all β-blockers, as a group, should be assumed, if an allergic reaction is observed while using one specific β-blocking agent. Case presentation: The non-selective β-blocker timolol caused a severe allergic ocular reaction in a non-atopic patient with advanced primary open-angle glaucoma. Results: A patch test confirmed timolol allergy. No allergic reaction to other anti-glaucomatous topical drugs was observed, and treatment with the selective β-blocker betaxolol was successfully initiated. Conclusion: Allergy to the non-selective β-blocker timolol does not necessarily predict allergy to the selective β-blocker betaxolol, and betaxolol should therefore not be excluded as an alternative treatment.
Adaptive Interval Type-2 Fuzzy Logic Control of a Three Degree-of-Freedom Helicopter
Authors: Chaoui Hicham , Yadav Sumit , Ahmadi Rosita Sharif , Bouzid Allal El Moubarek
Published: July 2020

This paper combines interval type-2 fuzzy logic with adaptive control theory for the control of a three degree-of-freedom (DOF) helicopter. This strategy yields robustness to various kinds of uncertainties and guaranteed stability of the closed-loop control system. Thus, precise trajectory tracking is maintained under various operational conditions with the presence of various types of uncertainties. Unlike other controllers, the proposed controller approximates the helicopter’s inverse dynamic model and assumes no a priori knowledge of the helicopter’s dynamics or parameters. The proposed controller is applied to a 3-DOF helicopter model and compared against three other controllers, i.e., PID control, adaptive control, and adaptive sliding-mode control. Numerical results show its high performance and robustness under the presence of uncertainties. To better assess the performance of the control system, two quantitative tracking performance metrics are introduced, i.e., the integral of the tracking errors and the integral of the control signals. Comparative numerical results reveal the superiority of the proposed method by achieving the highest tracking accuracy with the lowest control effort.
Accuracy Assessments of Local and Global Forest Change Data to Estimate Annual Disturbances in Temperate Forests
Authors: Shimizu Katsuto , Ota Tetsuji , Mizoue Nobuya
Published: July 2020

Forest disturbances are generally estimated using globally available forest change maps or locally calibrated disturbance maps. The choice of disturbance map depends on the trade-offs among the detection accuracy, processing time, and expert knowledge. However, the accuracy differences between global and local maps have still not been fully investigated; therefore, their optimal use for estimating forest disturbances has not been clarified. This study assesses the annual forest disturbance detection of an available Global Forest Change map and a local disturbance map based on a Landsat temporal segmentation algorithm in areas dominated by harvest disturbances. We assess the forest disturbance detection accuracies based on two reference datasets in each year. We also use a polygon-based assessment to investigate the thematic accuracy based on each disturbance patch. As a result, we found that the producer’s and user’s accuracies of disturbances in the Global Forest Change map were 30.1–76.8% and 50.5–90.2%, respectively, for 2001–2017, which corresponded to 78.3–92.5% and 88.8–97.1%, respectively in the local disturbance map. These values indicate that the local disturbance map achieved more stable and higher accuracies. The polygon-based assessment showed that larger disturbances were likely to be accurately detected in both maps; however, more small-scale disturbances were at least partially detected by the Global Forest Change map with a higher commission error. Overall, the local disturbance map had higher forest disturbance detection accuracies. However, for forest disturbances larger than 3 ha, the Global Forest Change map achieved comparable accuracies. In conclusion, the Global Forest Change map can be used to detect larger forest disturbances, but it should be used cautiously because of the substantial commission error for small-scale disturbances and yearly variations in estimated areas and accuracies.
Multi-Segmentation Parallel CNN Model for Estimating Assembly Torque Using Surface Electromyography Signals
Authors: Chen Chengjun , Huang Kai , Li Dongnian , Zhao Zhengxu , Hong Jun
Published: July 2020

The precise application of tightening torque is one of the important measures to ensure accurate bolt connection and improvement in product assembly quality. Currently, due to the limited assembly space and efficiency, a wrench without the function of torque measurement is still an extensively used assembly tool. Therefore, wrench torque monitoring is one of the urgent problems that needs to be solved. This study proposes a multi-segmentation parallel convolution neural network (MSP-CNN) model for estimating assembly torque using surface electromyography (sEMG) signals, which is a method of torque monitoring through classification methods. The MSP-CNN model contains two independent CNN models with different or offset torque granularities, and their outputs are fused to obtain a finer classification granularity, thus improving the accuracy of torque estimation. First, a bolt tightening test bench is established to collect sEMG signals and tightening torque signals generated when the operator tightens various bolts using a wrench. Second, the sEMG and torque signals are preprocessed to generate the sEMG signal graphs. The range of the torque transducer is divided into several equal subdivision ranges according to different or offset granularities, and each subdivision range is used as a torque label for each torque signal. Then, the training set, verification set, and test set are established for torque monitoring to train the MSP-CNN model. The effects of different signal preprocessing methods, torque subdivision granularities, and pooling methods on the recognition accuracy and torque monitoring accuracy of a single CNN network are compared experimentally. The results show that compared to maximum pooling, average pooling can improve the accuracy of CNN torque classification and recognition. Moreover, the MSP-CNN model can improve the accuracy of torque monitoring as well as solve the problems of non-convergence and slow convergence of independent CNN network models.
Towards Outlier Sensor Detection in Ambient Intelligent Platforms—A Low-Complexity Statistical Approach
Authors: Martín Diego , Fuentes-Lorenzo Damaris , Bordel Borja , Alcarria Ramón
Published: July 2020

Sensor networks in real-world environments, such as smart cities or ambient intelligent platforms, provide applications with large and heterogeneous sets of data streams. Outliers—observations that do not conform to an expected behavior—has then turned into a crucial task to establish and maintain secure and reliable databases in this kind of platforms. However, the procedures to obtain accurate models for erratic observations have to operate with low complexity in terms of storage and computational time, in order to attend the limited processing and storage capabilities of the sensor nodes in these environments. In this work, we analyze three binary classifiers based on three statistical prediction models—ARIMA (Auto-Regressive Integrated Moving Average), GAM (Generalized Additive Model), and LOESS (LOcal RegrESSion)—for outlier detection with low memory consumption and computational time rates. As a result, we provide (1) the best classifier and settings to detect outliers, based on the ARIMA model, and (2) two real-world classified datasets as ground truths for future research.
A New Architecture Based on IoT and Machine Learning Paradigms in Photovoltaic Systems to Nowcast Output Energy
Authors: Almonacid-Olleros Guillermo , Almonacid Gabino , Fernandez-Carrasco Juan Ignacio , Espinilla-Estevez Macarena , Medina-Quero Javier
Published: July 2020

The classic models used to predict the behavior of photovoltaic systems, which are based on the physical process of the solar cell, are limited to defining the analytical equation to obtain its electrical parameter. In this paper, we evaluate several machine learning models to nowcast the behavior and energy production of a photovoltaic (PV) system in conjunction with ambient data provided by IoT environmental devices. We have evaluated the estimation of output power generation by human-crafted features with multiple temporal windows and deep learning approaches to obtain comparative results regarding the analytical models of PV systems in terms of error metrics and learning time. The ambient data and ground truth of energy production have been collected in a photovoltaic system with IoT capabilities developed within the Opera Digital Platform under the UniVer Project, which has been deployed for 20 years in the Campus of the University of Jaén (Spain). Machine learning models offer improved results compared with the state-of-the-art analytical model, with significant differences in learning time and performance. The use of multiple temporal windows is shown as a suitable tool for modeling temporal features to improve performance.
Classification of Alpine Skiing Styles Using GNSS and Inertial Measurement Units
Authors: Neuwirth Christina , Snyder Cory , Kremser Wolfgang , Brunauer Richard , Holzer Helmut , Stöggl Thomas
Published: July 2020

In alpine skiing, four commonly used turning styles are snowplow, snowplow-steering, drifting and carving. They differ significantly in speed, directional control and difficulty to execute. While they are visually distinguishable, data-driven classification is underexplored. The aim of this work is to classify alpine skiing styles based on a global navigation satellite system (GNSS) and inertial measurement units (IMU). Data of 2000 turns of 20 advanced or expert skiers were collected with two IMU sensors on the upper cuff of each ski boot and a mobile phone with GNSS. After feature extraction and feature selection, turn style classification was applied separately for parallel (drifted or carved) and non-parallel (snowplow or snowplow-steering) turns. The most important features for style classification were identified via recursive feature elimination. Three different classification methods were then tested and compared: Decision trees, random forests and gradient boosted decision trees. Classification accuracies were lowest for the decision tree and similar for the random forests and gradient boosted classification trees, which both achieved accuracies of more than 93% in the parallel classification task and 88% in the non-parallel case. While the accuracy might be improved by considering slope and weather conditions, these first results suggest that IMU data can classify alpine skiing styles reasonably well.
Development of a Low-Cost Portable Electronic Nose for Cigarette Brands Identification
Authors: Wu Zhiyuan , Zhang Hanying , Sun Wentao , Lu Ning , Yan Meng , Wu Yi , Hua Zhongqiu , Fan Shurui
Published: July 2020

In China, the government and the cigarette industry yearly lose millions in sales and tax revenue because of imitation cigarettes. Usually, visual observation is not enough to identify counterfeiting. An auxiliary analytical method is needed for cigarette brands identification. To this end, we developed a portable, low-cost electronic nose (e-nose) system for brand recognition of cigarettes. A gas sampling device was designed to reduce the influence caused by humidity fluctuation and the volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in the environment. To ensure the uniformity of airflow distribution, the structure of the sensing chamber was optimized by computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations. The e-nose system is compact, portable, and lightweight with only 15 cm in side length and the cost of the whole device is less than $100. Results from the machine learning algorithm showed that there were significant differences between 5 kinds of cigarettes we tested. Random Forest (RF) has the best performance with accuracy of 91.67% and K Nearest Neighbor (KNN) has the accuracy of 86.98%, which indicated that the e-nose was able to discriminate samples. We believe this portable, cheap, reliable e-nose system could be used as an auxiliary screen technique for counterfeit cigarettes.