bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Integration of Molecular Information in Risk Assessment of Patients with Myeloproliferative Neoplasms
Authors: Loscocco Giuseppe G. , Coltro Giacomo , Guglielmelli Paola , Vannucchi Alessandro M.
Published: August 2021

Philadelphia chromosome-negative myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPN) are clonal disorders of a hematopoietic stem cell, characterized by an abnormal proliferation of largely mature cells driven by mutations in JAK2, CALR, and MPL. All these mutations lead to a constitutive activation of the JAK-STAT signaling, which represents a target for therapy. Beyond driver ones, most patients, especially with myelofibrosis, harbor mutations in an array of “myeloid neoplasm-associated” genes that encode for proteins involved in chromatin modification and DNA methylation, RNA splicing, transcription regulation, and oncogenes. These additional mutations often arise in the context of clonal hematopoiesis of indeterminate potential (CHIP). The extensive characterization of the pathologic genome associated with MPN highlighted selected driver and non-driver mutations for their clinical informativeness. First, driver mutations are enlisted in the WHO classification as major diagnostic criteria and may be used for monitoring of residual disease after transplantation and response to treatment. Second, mutation profile can be used, eventually in combination with cytogenetic, histopathologic, hematologic, and clinical variables, to risk stratify patients regarding thrombosis, overall survival, and rate of transformation to secondary leukemia. This review outlines the molecular landscape of MPN and critically interprets current information for their potential impact on patient management.
Sun Protection and Sunburn in Children Aged 1–10 Years in Germany: Prevalence and Determinants
Authors: Görig Tatiana , Södel Corinna , Pfahlberg Annette B. , Gefeller Olaf , Breitbart Eckhard W. , Diehl Katharina
Published: August 2021

Seeking shade, the use of textile sun protection and sunscreen, and protecting one’s eyes by wearing sunglasses are recommended sun protection measures in children. We aimed to quantify the use of these measures as well as the prevalence of sunburn in children aged 1 to 10 years in Germany and to identify their determinants. Data collected via telephone interviews in a nationwide sample of 554 parents or caregivers in family were analyzed. Use of sunscreen was the most common measure applied (77.8%), while sunglasses were least frequently used (12.5%). The prevalence of sunburn during the past year was 21.8%, and it was positively associated with children’s age. The use of sun protection measures was significantly associated with the age and skin color of the child, while characteristics and tanning behaviors of the caregivers only played a minor role. The use of sun protection measures was higher when caregivers perceived themselves as a role model (Odds Ratio (OR) = 4.33, p < 0.001). Our nationwide data show that there remains a need for the improved use of sun protection measures, especially in children aged 7 to 10 years. In educational material, parents should be encouraged to become positive role models for their children regarding sun protection.
Stress Management as an Effective Complementary Therapeutic Strategy for Weight Loss in Children and Adolescents with Obesity: A Systematic Review of Randomized Controlled Trials
Authors: Paltoglou George , Chrousos George P. , Bacopoulou Flora
Published: August 2021

Lifestyle intervention programs, including mindfulness and stress management/emotional control training techniques have been infrequently studied in children. The aim of this systematic review was to assess whether implementing stress management/emotional control training strategies in the context of a body weight loss program in children and adolescents is associated with improved body weight outcome in this age group. A systematic literature search was conducted to identify relevant studies published before 31 December 2020 in the following databases: Medline (PubMed), Scopus, and Cochrane Central Registry of Controlled Trials. Only randomized clinical trials (RCTs) on mindfulness or stress management in children and adolescents with obesity were included in this systematic review. Six RCTs fulfilled the study inclusion criteria and included intervention (112 subjects) and control (137 subjects) groups. The interventions used were Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction therapy for 8 weeks (three studies), a mindfulness-based group program for adolescents (one study), and Mindful Eating Intervention for 6 weeks (one study) and 10 weeks (one study). The intervention group demonstrated reduced adiposity markers as compared to controls in four of the six included studies. The presented studies support the hypothesis that a structured, mindfulness-based intervention program may lead to a decrease in the biomarkers of obesity.
Liver Histopathology in Late Protocol Biopsies after Pediatric Liver Transplantation
Authors: Markiewicz-Kijewska Małgorzata , Szymańska Sylwia , Pyzlak Michal , Kaliciński Piotr , Teisseyre Joanna , Kowalski Adam , Jankowska Irena , Czubkowski Piotr , Ismail Hor
Published: August 2021

Liver transplantation has become a routine treatment for children with end stage liver failure. Recently, the long term survival of pediatric patients after liver transplantation has improved, with a life expectancy much longer than that of adult recipients, but also with longer exposition of the graft to various injuries, including immunological, inflammatory and others. Biochemical tests, although important, do not always reflect graft injury. The aim of our study was to analyze the histopathology of the graft in late protocol biopsies and correlate it with the clinical and biochemical status of these patients. We analyzed 61 protocol liver biopsies taken from 61 patients. Biopsies were taken 9.03–17.09 years (mean 12.68, median 11.74 years) after transplantation. Liver specimens were examined particularly for the presence and stage of liver fibrosis, inflammation, steatosis, and acute or chronic cellular and humoral rejection. We did not find any abnormalities in 26 (42.6%) liver specimens. None of the patients had signs of cellular or antibody mediated rejection or chronic rejection. In 23 liver biopsies (37.7%), we found non-specific lymphoid infiltrates. Another problem was fibrosis (equal to or more than three on the Ishak scale)—we found it in 17 patients, including seven liver specimens (11.5%) with severe fibrosis (Ishak 5–6). Conclusions: Various pathomorphological abnormalities were found in more than half of patients with a median 11.74 years post-transplant follow-up. Most of them presented normal laboratory liver tests at the same time, suggesting a slow subclinical process leading to pathomorphological abnormalities. No single factor for the development of these abnormalities was found, but our study supports the need for protocol liver biopsies even in patients with normal/almost normal biochemical liver tests.
Associations between Parenting Style and Mental Health in Children and Adolescents Aged 11–17 Years: Results of the KiGGS Cohort Study (Second Follow-Up)
Authors: Azman Özge , Mauz Elvira , Reitzle Matthias , Geene Raimund , Hölling Heike , Rattay Petra
Published: August 2021

Few studies from Germany have investigated the associations between parenting style and children’s and adolescents’ health. Little attention has been directed to whether these associations vary with familial socioeconomic or migration status. The aim of this analysis was to investigate the association between parenting style and the mental health of children and adolescents aged 11–17 years using data from the KiGGS cohort study (second follow-up). We calculated mean Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) total difficulties scores stratified by parenting style (authoritative, permissive, demanding–controlling, emotional distancing). Linear regression analyses adjusted for age, gender, socioeconomic status, migration status, and family status were performed. We also analyzed moderating effects of socioeconomic and migrations status on associations between parenting style and SDQ scores. There were only small differences between the permissive and the authoritative parenting styles. Significantly higher mean scores were observed for the demanding–controlling and emotional distancing styles for both the mother and father. These associations persisted after full adjustment and did not vary by socioeconomic or migration status. Parenting behavior is an important predictor of children’s and adolescents’ mental health. The promotion of good relationships within families and improving parenting skills offer promising approaches for health promotion in young people.
Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS) in COVID-19: A Tool for SARS-CoV-2 Diagnosis, Monitoring New Strains and Phylodynamic Modeling in Molecular Epidemiology
Authors: John Goldin , Sahajpal Nikhil Shri , Mondal Ashis K. , Ananth Sudha , Williams Colin , Chaubey Alka , Rojiani Amyn M. , Kolhe Ravindra
Published: August 2021

This review discusses the current testing methodologies for COVID-19 diagnosis and explores next-generation sequencing (NGS) technology for the detection of SARS-CoV-2 and monitoring phylogenetic evolution in the current COVID-19 pandemic. The review addresses the development, fundamentals, assay quality control and bioinformatics processing of the NGS data. This article provides a comprehensive review of the obstacles and opportunities facing the application of NGS technologies for the diagnosis, surveillance, and study of SARS-CoV-2 and other infectious diseases. Further, we have contemplated the opportunities and challenges inherent in the adoption of NGS technology as a diagnostic test with real-world examples of its utility in the fight against COVID-19.
Analyzing, Modeling, and Utilizing Observation Series Correlation in Capital Markets
Authors: Musaev Alexander , Grigoriev Dmitry
Published: August 2021

In this paper, we consider the task of the analysis, modeling, and application of dependencies between asset quotes at various capital markets. As an example, we study the dependency between financial instrument observation series in the currency and stock markets. Our work intends to give a theoretical basis to asset management strategies that estimate an asset’s price via regression, taking into account its correlated assets in various markets. Furthermore, we provide a way to increase the estimate quality using an evolutionary algorithm.
Recent Advances in Photoalignment Liquid Crystal Polarization Gratings and Their Applications
Authors: Lin Tiegang , Xie Jin , Zhou Yingjie , Zhou Yaqin , Yuan Yide , Fan Fan , Wen Shuangchun
Published: August 2021

Liquid crystal (LC) circular polarization gratings (PGs), also known as Pancharatnam–Berry (PB) phase deflectors, are diffractive waveplates with linearly changed optical anisotropy axes. Due to the high diffraction efficiency, polarization selectivity character, and simple fabrication process, photoalignment LC PGs have been widely studied and developed especially in polarization management and beam split. In this review paper, we analyze the physical principles, show the exposure methods and fabrication process, and present relevant promising applications in photonics and imaging optics.
Numerical Alloy Development for Additive Manufacturing towards Reduced Cracking Susceptibility
Authors: Wahlmann Benjamin , Leidel Dominik , Markl Matthias , Körner Carolin
Published: August 2021

In this work, we investigated the viability of established hot cracking models for numerically based development of crack-resistant nickel-base superalloys with a high γ′ volume fraction for additive manufacturing. Four cracking models were implemented, and one alloy designed for reduced cracking susceptibility was deduced based on each cracking criterion. The criteria were modeled using CALPHAD-based Scheil calculations. The alloys were designed using a previously developed multi-criteria optimization tool. The commercial superalloy Mar-M247 was chosen as the reference material. The alloys were fabricated by arc melting, then remelted with laser and electron beam, and the cracking was assessed. After electron beam melting, solidification cracks were more prevalent than cold cracks, and vice versa. The alloys exhibited vastly different crack densities ranging from 0 to nearly 12 mm−1. DSC measurements showed good qualitative agreement with the calculated transition temperatures. It was found that the cracking mechanisms differed strongly depending on the process temperature. A correlation analysis of the measured crack densities and the modeled cracking susceptibilities showed no clear positive correlation for any crack model, indicating that none of these models alone is sufficient to describe the cracking behavior of the alloys. One experimental alloy showed an improved cracking resistance during electron beam melting, suggesting that further development of the optimization-based alloy design approach could lead to the discovery of new crack-resistant superalloys.
Nuclear Resonance Vibrational Spectroscopy: A Modern Tool to Pinpoint Site-Specific Cooperative Processes
Authors: Wang Hongxin , Braun Artur , Cramer Stephen P. , Gee Leland B. , Yoda Yoshitaka
Published: August 2021

Nuclear resonant vibrational spectroscopy (NRVS) is a synchrotron radiation (SR)-based nuclear inelastic scattering spectroscopy that measures the phonons (i.e., vibrational modes) associated with the nuclear transition. It has distinct advantages over traditional vibration spectroscopy and has wide applications in physics, chemistry, bioinorganic chemistry, materials sciences, and geology, as well as many other research areas. In this article, we present a scientific and figurative description of this yet modern tool for the potential users in various research fields in the future. In addition to short discussions on its development history, principles, and other theoretical issues, the focus of this article is on the experimental aspects, such as the instruments, the practical measurement issues, the data process, and a few examples of its applications. The article concludes with introduction to non-57Fe NRVS and an outlook on the impact from the future upgrade of SR rings.
Cultivar-Groups in Cucurbita maxima Duchesne: Diversity and Possible Domestication Pathways
Authors: López-Anido Fernando Sebastián
Published: August 2021

Domesticated Cucurbita has been remarked as one of the plant genera with the highest diversity in color, shape and fruit dimensions. Their economic and cultural values are related to the consumption of the mature or immature fruits, seeds, flowers, and to the use as decoration. The wild ancestor of C. maxima, the ssp. andreana has an actual scattered and disjointed distribution, associated with megafauna seed disperser syndrome. It was domesticated in South America around 9000–7000 years BP. The cultivar-group is a subspecific category for assembling cultivars on the basis of defined similarity. The work describes and pictures nine cultivar-groups for the species, Banana, Turban, Hubbard, Show, Buttercup, Zapallito, Plomo, Zipinka and Nugget. The molecular and a morphological join data analysis scatter biplot showed Turban and Buttercup in a central position, suggesting a first step in the domestication pathway associated with seed and immature fruit consumption; afterward, bigger bearing fruits groups were selected for their mature fruit flesh quality on one hand, and bush type, short day induction and temperate climate adaptation on the other hand. The striking domesticated Brazilian accession MAX24 intermediate between cultigens and ssp. andreana strengthens, in concordance with archeological remains, the possible domestication place of the species more easternward than previously believed.
Some Parameterized Quantum Midpoint and Quantum Trapezoid Type Inequalities for Convex Functions with Applications
Authors: Asawasamrit Suphawat , Ali Muhammad Aamir , Ntouyas Sotiris K. , Tariboon Jessada
Published: August 2021

Quantum information theory, an interdisciplinary field that includes computer science, information theory, philosophy, cryptography, and entropy, has various applications for quantum calculus. Inequalities and entropy functions have a strong association with convex functions. In this study, we prove quantum midpoint type inequalities, quantum trapezoidal type inequalities, and the quantum Simpson’s type inequality for differentiable convex functions using a new parameterized q-integral equality. The newly formed inequalities are also proven to be generalizations of previously existing inequities. Finally, using the newly established inequalities, we present some applications for quadrature formulas.
Synchronizing Two Superconducting Qubits through a Dissipating Resonator
Authors: Militello Benedetto , Napoli Anna
Published: August 2021

A system consisting of two qubits and a resonator is considered in the presence of different sources of noise, bringing to light the possibility of making the two qubits evolve in a synchronized way. A direct qubit–qubit interaction turns out to be a crucial ingredient, as well as the dissipation processes involving the resonator. The detrimental role of the local dephasing of the qubits is also taken into account.
An Overview of Geometrical Optics Restricted Quantum Key Distribution
Authors: Pan Ziwen , Djordjevic Ivan B.
Published: August 2021

Quantum key distribution (QKD) assures the theoretical information security from the physical layer by safely distributing true random numbers to the communication parties as secret keys while assuming an omnipotent eavesdropper (Eve). In recent years, with the growing applications of QKD in realistic channels such as satellite-based free-space communications, certain conditions such as the unlimited power collection ability of Eve become too strict for security analysis. Thus, in this invited paper, we give a brief overview of the quantum key distribution with a geometrical optics restricted power collection ability of Eve with its potential applications.
Noise-Robust Image Reconstruction Based on Minimizing Extended Class of Power-Divergence Measures
Authors: Kasai Ryosuke , Yamaguchi Yusaku , Kojima Takeshi , Abou Al-Ola Omar M. , Yoshinaga Tetsuya
Published: August 2021

The problem of tomographic image reconstruction can be reduced to an optimization problem of finding unknown pixel values subject to minimizing the difference between the measured and forward projections. Iterative image reconstruction algorithms provide significant improvements over transform methods in computed tomography. In this paper, we present an extended class of power-divergence measures (PDMs), which includes a large set of distance and relative entropy measures, and propose an iterative reconstruction algorithm based on the extended PDM (EPDM) as an objective function for the optimization strategy. For this purpose, we introduce a system of nonlinear differential equations whose Lyapunov function is equivalent to the EPDM. Then, we derive an iterative formula by multiplicative discretization of the continuous-time system. Since the parameterized EPDM family includes the Kullback–Leibler divergence, the resulting iterative algorithm is a natural extension of the maximum-likelihood expectation-maximization (MLEM) method. We conducted image reconstruction experiments using noisy projection data and found that the proposed algorithm outperformed MLEM and could reconstruct high-quality images that were robust to measured noise by properly selecting parameters.
Refining Estimates of Fuel-Cycle Greenhouse-Gas Emission Reductions Associated with California’s Clean Vehicle Rebate Project with Program Data and Other Case-Specific Inputs
Authors: Pallonetti Nicholas , Williams Brett D. H.
Published: August 2021

This work refines and updates estimates of the fuel-cycle greenhouse-gas (GHG) emission impacts of electric vehicles (EVs) rebated in California. Emissions are estimated using disaggregated data from the start of the rebate program through August 2018 (N = 269,902 participants) and factors that characterize fuel use and fuel life-cycle carbon intensity. GHG reductions are calculated for the first year of vehicle operation and subsequently scaled to reflect various operational timeframes. GHG reduction estimates over the first year of vehicle ownership total approximately 855 thousand metric tons of CO2-equivalent emissions, or 3.2 tons per vehicle. For nonfleet individuals, 54% of reductions are associated with “Rebate-Essential” participants who were most highly influenced by the rebate to purchase/lease. Comparing the estimated warranty-life benefit of 7.9 million tons of GHG reductions to USD 603 million in corresponding rebates results in USD 76 of state incentives per metric ton reduced over the first 100,000/150,000 miles of rebated vehicle use. Uncertainty in estimates presents opportunities for further refinement using additional participant-specific, time-variant, or otherwise detailed inputs. Nevertheless, the contributions of this work increased average first-year GHG reductions per vehicle by 35–45% compared to previous work, demonstrating that use of program-derived data can enhance the understanding of EV impacts.
Analysis of Current Transport Mechanism in AP-MOVPE Grown GaAsN p-i-n Solar Cell
Authors: Dawidowski Wojciech , Ściana Beata , Bielak Katarzyna , Mikolášek Miroslav , Drobný Jakub , Serafińczuk Jarosław , Lombardero Iván , Radziewicz Damian , Kijaszek Wojciech , Kósa Arpád , Florovič Martin , Kováč Jaroslav , Algora Carlos , Stuchlíková L’ubica
Published: August 2021

Basic knowledge about the factors and mechanisms affecting the performance of solar cells and their identification is essential when thinking of future improvements to the device. Within this paper, we investigated the current transport mechanism in GaAsN p-i-n solar cells grown with atmospheric pressure metal organic vapour phase epitaxy (AP-MOVPE). We examined the electro-optical and structural properties of a GaAsN solar cell epitaxial structure and correlated the results with temperature-dependent current-voltage measurements and deep level transient spectroscopy findings. The analysis of J-V-T measurements carried out in a wide temperature range allows for the determination of the dominant current transport mechanism in a GaAsN-based solar cell device and assign it a nitrogen interstitial defect, the presence of which was confirmed by DLTFS investigation.
New Infeed Correction Methods for Distance Protection in Distribution Systems
Authors: Hariri Fahd , Crow Mariesa
Published: August 2021

The reliability and security of power systems may be jeopardized by the increase in the amounts of renewable generation and the uncertainties produced by these devices. In particular, the protection schemes of traditional power systems have been challenged by the integration of distributed generation (DG) resources. Distance relays (DRs), which have been mainly employed to protect transmission systems, are increasingly proposed as one of the solutions to protect distribution systems with a heavy penetration of DGs. However, conventional distance protection faces several drawbacks that might lead to maloperation. One of those challenges is the “infeed effect”, which causes the impedance seen by the distance relay to be larger than the actual positive-sequence line impedance between the fault and relay location. This paper proposes three new methods to estimate the distance to the fault in the presence of infeeds, whether in a radial distribution feeder or the transmission line. Unlike other solution methodologies in the literature that require communication links to estimate the distance to the fault, the proposed methods only need the local measurement (i.e., the voltage and current measurements at the location of the distance relay) to do the same. The performance of the method is demonstrated with a radial distribution system model in PSCAD™/EMTDC™.
Fast and Accurate 2D Analytical Subdomain Method for Coaxial Magnetic Coupling Analysis
Authors: Akcay Yusuf , Giangrande Paolo , Tweedy Oliver , Galea Michael
Published: August 2021

Magnetic couplings (MCs) enable contactless speed/torque transmission via interactions between the magnetic fields of permanent magnets (PMs) rather than a physical mechanical connection. The contactless transmission of mechanical power leads to improvements in terms of efficiency and reliability due to the absence of wear between moving parts. One of the most common MC topologies is the coaxial type, also known as the radial configuration. This paper presents an analytical tool for the accurate and fast analysis of coaxial magnetic couplings (CMCs) using a two-dimensional subdomain approach. In particular, the proposed analytical tool resolves Laplace’s and Poisson’s equations for both air-gap and PM regions. The tool can be used to evaluate the impact of several design parameters on the performance of the CMC, enabling quick and accurate sensitivity analyses, which in turn guide the choice of design parameters. After discussing the building procedure of the analytical tool, its applicability and suitability for sensitivity analyses are assessed and proven with the analysis of a fully parameterized CMC geometry. The accuracy and the computational burden of the proposed analytical tool are compared against those of the finite element method (FEM), revealing faster solving times and acceptable levels of precision.
Biogas Production from Coffee Pulp and Chicken Feathers Using Liquid- and Solid-State Anaerobic Digestions
Authors: Sumardiono Siswo , Jos Bakti , Dewanti Agata Advensia Eksa , Mahendra Isa , Cahyono Heri
Published: August 2021

Agricultural waste, particularly lignocellulose, has been used in the second generation of biogas. Coffee pulp and chicken feathers can be developed as biogas raw materials because of their suitability as a biogas substrate. This study investigates the effect of the percentage of total solids (TS), carbon to nitrogen ratio (C/N, g/g), and delignification pretreatment on biogas production from coffee pulp and chicken feathers, and aims to compose kinetics using the modified Gompertz model. The results show that adjusting the percentage of TS at low-level speeds up the degradation process, which increases chemical oxygen demand (COD) reduction and biogas production. COD reduction and biogas production increase optimally at the 25 (g/g) C/N ratio. Pretreatment delignification aids microorganisms in substrate decomposition, resulting in faster COD reduction and biogas conversion. The 25% TS and 25 (g/g) C/N ratio with the delignification process achieved the best biogas production, with biogas production of 10,438.04 mL. The Gompertz method shows that the difference in TS percentage can influence biogas production. Moreover, the method shows that biogas production is higher with the delignification process than without it.
Torque Analysis for Rotational Devices with Nonmagnetic Rotor Driven by Magnetic Fluid Filled in Air Gap
Authors: Kim Gui-Hwan , Choi Hong-Soon
Published: August 2021

In magnetomechanical applications, it is necessary to calculate the magnetic force or torque of specific objects. If the magnetic fluid is involved, the force and torque also include the effect of pressure caused by the fluid. The standard method is to solve the Navier–Stokes equation. However, obtaining magnetic body force density is still under controversy. To resolve this problem, this paper shows that the calculation of the torque of these applications should not only use the magnetic force calculation method, but also consider the mechanical pressure using an indirect approach, such as the virtual work principle. To illustrate this, we use an experimental motor made of a nonmagnetic rotor immersed in a magnetic fluid. Then, we show that the virtual work principle in appropriate approach can calculate the output torque of the nonmagnetic rotor due to pressure of the magnetic fluid. Numerical analysis and experimental results show the validity of this approach. In addition, we also explain how the magnetic fluid transmits its magnetic force to the stator and rotor, respectively.
The Effect of Energy Usage, Economic Growth, and Financial Development on CO2 Emission Management: An Analysis of OECD Countries with a High Environmental Performance Index
Authors: Szymczyk Katarzyna , Şahin Dilek , Bağcı Haşim , Kaygın Ceyda Yerdelen
Published: August 2021

The environmental performance index was developed to protect public health, and to sustain and manage the ecological vitality that is a crucial factor in countries’ social and economic development. The increase in CO2 emissions has been threatening environmental and human health. The main objective of this study is to evaluate the impact of economic growth, energy consumption, energy management, the urban population, trade openness, and financial development on CO2 emissions in the OECD countries that have a high ranking in the environmental performance index by utilizing the panel data analysis method for the years spanning 1990–2014. This assessment finds positive relationships between economic growth, energy consumption, and the urban population, and CO2 emissions. Moreover, it is put forward that a negative and significant relationship between financial development and CO2 emissions exists. Despite displaying a similar negative correlation, the relationship between trade openness and CO2 emissions is insignificant. In the Dumitrescu-Hurlin panel causality test conducted, it was seen that a two-way causality is prevalent between energy consumption and CO2 emissions. In addition, interrelations where CO2 emissions cause trade openness, and the urban population is an explanatory variable of the former relationship, were discovered.
Evaluation Model of Operation State Based on Deep Learning for Smart Meter
Authors: Zhao Qingsheng , Mu Juwen , Han Xiaoqing , Liang Dingkang , Wang Xuping
Published: August 2021

The operation state detection of numerous smart meters is a significant problem caused by manual on-site testing. This paper addresses the problem of improving the malfunction detection efficiency of smart meters using deep learning and proposes a novel evaluation model of operation state for smart meter. This evaluation model adopts recurrent neural networks (RNN) to predict power consumption. According to the prediction residual between predicted power consumption and the observed power consumption, the malfunctioning smart meter is detected. The training efficiency for the prediction model is improved by using transfer learning (TL). This evaluation uses an accumulator algorithm and threshold setting with flexibility for abnormal detection. In the simulation experiment, the detection principle is demonstrated to improve efficient replacement and extend the average using time of smart meters. The effectiveness of the evaluation model was verified on the actual station dataset. It has accurately detected the operation state of smart meters.
Secure Elliptic Curve Crypto-Processor for Real-Time IoT Applications
Authors: Di Matteo Stefano , Baldanzi Luca , Crocetti Luca , Nannipieri Pietro , Fanucci Luca , Saponara Sergio
Published: August 2021

Cybersecurity is a critical issue for Real-Time IoT applications since high performance and low latencies are required, along with security requirements to protect the large number of attack surfaces to which IoT devices are exposed. Elliptic Curve Cryptography (ECC) is largely adopted in an IoT context to provide security services such as key-exchange and digital signature. For Real-Time IoT applications, hardware acceleration for ECC-based algorithms can be mandatory to meet low-latency and low-power/energy requirements. In this paper, we propose a fast and configurable hardware accelerator for NIST P-256/-521 elliptic curves, developed in the context of the European Processor Initiative. The proposed architecture supports the most used cryptography schemes based on ECC such as Elliptic Curve Digital Signature Algorithm (ECDSA), Elliptic Curve Integrated Encryption Scheme (ECIES), Elliptic Curve Diffie-Hellman (ECDH) and Elliptic Curve Menezes-Qu-Vanstone (ECMQV). A modified version of Double-And-Add-Always algorithm for Point Multiplication has been proposed, which allows the execution of Point Addition and Doubling operations concurrently and implements countermeasures against power and timing attacks. A simulated approach to extract power traces has been used to assess the effectiveness of the proposed algorithm compared to classical algorithms for Point Multiplication. A constant-time version of the Shamir’s Trick has been adopted to speed-up the Double-Point Multiplication and modular inversion is executed using Fermat’s Little Theorem, reusing the internal modular multipliers. The accelerator has been verified on a Xilinx ZCU106 development board and synthesized on both 45 nm and 7 nm Standard-Cell technologies.
Exploiting Microbes in the Petroleum Field: Analyzing the Credibility of Microbial Enhanced Oil Recovery (MEOR)
Authors: Quraishi Marzuqa , Bhatia Shashi Kant , Pandit Soumya , Gupta Piyush Kumar , Rangarajan Vivek , Lahiri Dibyajit , Varjani Sunita , Mehariya Sanjeet , Yang Yung-Hun
Published: August 2021

Crude oil is a major energy source that is exploited globally to achieve economic growth. To meet the growing demands for oil, in an environment of stringent environmental regulations and economic and technical pressure, industries have been required to develop novel oil salvaging techniques. The remaining ~70% of the world’s conventional oil (one-third of the available total petroleum) is trapped in depleted and marginal reservoirs, and could thus be potentially recovered and used. The only means of extracting this oil is via microbial enhanced oil recovery (MEOR). This tertiary oil recovery method employs indigenous microorganisms and their metabolic products to enhance oil mobilization. Although a significant amount of research has been undertaken on MEOR, the absence of convincing evidence has contributed to the petroleum industry’s low interest, as evidenced by the issuance of 400+ patents on MEOR that have not been accepted by this sector. The majority of the world’s MEOR field trials are briefly described in this review. However, the presented research fails to provide valid verification that the microbial system has the potential to address the identified constraints. Rather than promising certainty, MEOR will persist as an unverified concept unless further research and investigations are carried out.
Production of Indole Auxins by Enterobacter sp. Strain P-36 under Submerged Conditions
Authors: Luziatelli Francesca , Melini Francesca , Bonini Paolo , Melini Valentina , Cirino Veronica , Ruzzi Maurizio
Published: August 2021

Bioactive compounds produced by plant growth-promoting bacteria through a fermentation process can be valuable for developing innovative second-generation plant biostimulants. The purpose of this study is to investigate the biotechnological potential of Enterobacter on the production of auxin—a hormone with multiple roles in plant growth and development. The experiments were carried in Erlenmeyer flasks and a 2-L fermenter under batch operating mode. The auxin production by Enterobacter sp. strain P-36 can be doubled by replacing casein with vegetable peptone in the culture medium. Cultivation of strain P36 in the benchtop fermenter indicates that by increasing the inoculum size 2-fold, it is possible to reduce the fermentation time from 72 (shake flask cultivation) to 24 h (bioreactor cultivation) and increase the auxin volumetric productivity from 6.4 to 17.2 mg [IAAequ]/L/h. Finally, an efficient storage procedure to preserve the bacterial auxin was developed. It is noteworthy that by sterilizing the clarified fermentation broth by filtration and storing the filtrated samples at +4 °C, the level of auxin remains unchanged for at least three months.
Bioethanol Production via Herbaceous and Agricultural Biomass Gasification Integrated with Syngas Fermentation
Authors: Safarian Sahar , Unnthorsson Runar , Richter Christiaan
Published: August 2021

In this paper, a simulation model based on the non-stoichiometric equilibrium method via ASPEN Plus was established to analyze the gasification performance of 20 herbaceous and agricultural biomasses (H&ABs) linked with syngas fermentation and product purification units for ethanol production. The established simulation model does not consider the gasification system as a black box; it focuses the important processes in gasification such as drying, pyrolysis, gasification, and connection with bioethanol production plants. The results for the 20 H&AB options suggest that the specific mass flow rate of bioethanol from 1 kg of biomass input to the unit is in the range of 99–250 g/kg, and between them, the system fed by hazelnut shell biomass remarkably outranked other alternatives by 241 g/kg production due to the high beneficial results gained from the performance analysis. Additionally, a sensitivity analysis was performed by changing operating conditions such as gasification temperature and air-to-fuel ratio. The modeling results are given and discussed. The established model could be a useful approach to evaluate the impacts of a huge numbers of biomasses and operating parameters on bioethanol output.
A Survey on Botnets: Incentives, Evolution, Detection and Current Trends
Authors: Thanh Vu Simon Nam , Stege Mads , El-Habr Peter Issam , Bang Jesper , Dragoni Nicola
Published: August 2021

Botnets, groups of malware-infected hosts controlled by malicious actors, have gained prominence in an era of pervasive computing and the Internet of Things. Botnets have shown a capacity to perform substantial damage through distributed denial-of-service attacks, information theft, spam and malware propagation. In this paper, a systematic literature review on botnets is presented to the reader in order to obtain an understanding of the incentives, evolution, detection, mitigation and current trends within the field of botnet research in pervasive computing. The literature review focuses particularly on the topic of botnet detection and the proposed solutions to mitigate the threat of botnets in system security. Botnet detection and mitigation mechanisms are categorised and briefly described to allow for an easy overview of the many proposed solutions. The paper also summarises the findings to identify current challenges and trends within research to help identify improvements for further botnet mitigation research.
Effect of Alkali Treatment on the Properties of Acacia Caesia Bark Fibres
Authors: Sivasubramanian Palanisamy , Kalimuthu Mayandi , Palaniappan Murugesan , Alavudeen Azeez , Rajini Nagarajan , Santulli Carlo
Published: August 2021

As possible substitutes for non-biodegradable synthetic fibre, ligno-cellulosic fibres have attracted much interest for their eco-friendliness; a large number of them are already used for the production of green polymer composites. The search for further green candidates brings into focus other fibres not previously considered, yet part of other production systems, therefore available as by-products or refuse. The purpose of this study is to explore the potential of alkali treatment with 5% sodium hydroxide (NaOH) to enhance the properties of bark-extracted Acacia Caesia Bark (ACB) fibres. The microscopic structure of the treated fibres was elucidated using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Moreover, the fibres were characterised in terms of chemical composition and density and subjected to single-fibre tensile tests (SFTT). Following their physico-chemical characterisation, fibre samples underwent thermal characterisation by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and their crystallinity was assessed using X-ray diffraction (XRD). This level of alkali treatment only marginally modified the structure of the fibres and offered some improvement in their tensile strength. This suggested that they compare well with other bark fibres and that their thermal profile showed some increase of degradation onset temperature with respect to untreated ACB fibres. Their crystallinity would allow their application in the form of fibres with an average length of approximately 150 mm, even in thermoplastic biocomposites.
Anti-Viral and Immunomodulatory Properties of Propolis: Chemical Diversity, Pharmacological Properties, Preclinical and Clinical Applications, and In Silico Potential against SARS-CoV-2
Authors: Yosri Nermeen , Abd El-Wahed Aida A. , Ghonaim Reem , Khattab Omar M. , Sabry Aya , Ibrahim Mahmoud A. A. , Moustafa Mahmoud F. , Guo Zhiming , Zou Xiaobo , Algethami Ahmed F. M. , Masry Saad H. D. , AlAjmi Mohamed F. , Afifi Hanan S. , Khalifa Shaden A. M. , El-Seedi Hesham R.
Published: August 2021

Propolis, a resin produced by honeybees, has long been used as a dietary supplement and folk remedy, and more recent preclinical investigations have demonstrated a large spectrum of potential therapeutic bioactivities, including antioxidant, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, neuroprotective, immunomodulatory, anticancer, and antiviral properties. As an antiviral agent, propolis and various constituents have shown promising preclinical efficacy against adenoviruses, influenza viruses, respiratory tract viruses, herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) and type 2 (HSV-2), human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), and severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Over 300 chemical components have been identified in propolis, including terpenes, flavonoids, and phenolic acids, with the specific constituent profile varying widely according to geographic origin and regional flora. Propolis and its constituents have demonstrated potential efficacy against SARS-CoV-2 by modulating multiple pathogenic and antiviral pathways. Molecular docking studies have demonstrated high binding affinities of propolis derivatives to multiple SARS-CoV-2 proteins, including 3C-like protease (3CLpro), papain-like protease (PLpro), RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp), the receptor-binding domain (RBD) of the spike protein (S-protein), and helicase (NSP13), as well as to the viral target angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2). Among these compounds, retusapurpurin A has shown high affinity to 3CLpro (ΔG = −9.4 kcal/mol), RdRp (−7.5), RBD (−7.2), NSP13 (−9.4), and ACE2 (−10.4) and potent inhibition of viral entry by forming hydrogen bonds with amino acid residues within viral and human target proteins. In addition, propolis-derived baccharin demonstrated even higher binding affinity towards PLpro (−8.2 kcal/mol). Measures of drug-likeness parameters, including metabolism, distribution, absorption, excretion, and toxicity (ADMET) characteristics, also support the potential of propolis as an effective agent to combat COVID-19.
Iron Overload Protects from Obesity by Ferroptosis
Authors: Ma Wan , Jia Li , Xiong Qingqing , Du Huahua
Published: August 2021

Dysregulation in iron metabolism is associated with obesity, type 2 diabetes, and other metabolic diseases, whereas the underlying mechanisms of imbalanced glycolipid metabolism are still obscure. Here, we demonstrated that iron overload protected mice from obesity both with normal diets (ND) or high-fat diets (HFD). In iron-overload mice, the body fat was significantly decreased, especially when fed with HFD, excessive iron mice gained 15% less weight than those without iron supplements. Moreover, glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity were all significantly reduced, and hepatic steatosis was prevented. Furthermore, these mice show a considerable decrease in lipogenesis and lipidoses of the liver. Compared with control groups, iron treated groups showed a 79% decrease in the protein level of Perilipin-2 (PLIN2), a protein marker for lipid droplets. These results were consistent with their substantial decrease in adiposity. RNA-seq and signaling pathway analyses showed that iron overload caused ferroptosis in the liver of mice with a decrease in GPX4 expression and an increase in Ptgs2 expression, resulting in a high level of lipid peroxidation. Overall, this study reveals the protective function of iron overload in obesity by triggering the imbalance of glucolipid metabolism in the liver and highlights the crucial role of ferroptosis in regulating lipid accumulation.
Characterization and Classification of Cocoa Bean Shells from Different Regions of Venezuela Using HPLC-PDA-MS/MS and Spectrophotometric Techniques Coupled to Chemometric Analysis
Authors: Barbosa-Pereira Letricia , Belviso Simona , Ferrocino Ilario , Rojo-Poveda Olga , Zeppa Giuseppe
Published: August 2021

The cocoa bean shell (CBS) is one of the main cocoa byproducts with a prospective to be used as a functional food ingredient due to its nutritional and sensory properties. This study aims to define the chemical fingerprint of CBSs obtained from cocoa beans of diverse cultivars and collected in different geographical areas of Venezuela assessed using high-performance liquid chromatography coupled to photodiodes array and mass spectrometry (HPLC-PDA-MS/MS) and spectrophotometric assays combined with multivariate analysis for classification purposes. The study provides a comprehensive fingerprint and quantitative data for 39 compounds, including methylxanthines and several polyphenols, such as flavan-3-ols, procyanidins, and N-phenylpropenoyl amino acids. Several key cocoa markers, such as theobromine, epicatechin, quercetin-3-O-glucoside, procyanidin_A pentoside_3, and N-coumaroyl-l-aspartate_2, were found suitable for the classification of CBS according to their cultivar and origin. Despite the screening methods required a previous purification of the sample, both methodologies appear to be suitable for the classification of CBS with a high correlation between datasets. Finally, preliminary findings on the identification of potential contributors for the radical scavenging activity of CBS were also accomplished to support the valorization of this byproduct as a bioactive ingredient in the production of functional foods.
Ginkgo biloba Seeds—An Environmental Pollutant or a Functional Food
Authors: Tomova Teodora , Slavova Iva , Tomov Desislav , Kirova Gergana , Argirova Mariana D.
Published: August 2021

Ginkgo biloba has been cultivated in Bulgaria since the end of the 19th century. Ividual specimens can be seen in almost every park. Females of the tree are considered contaminants of the landscape because their ripe seeds have a strong odor and are not utilized. We undertook this study to clarify whether ginkgo seeds of local origin can be converted from an unwanted and unused environmental pollutant into a source of beneficial compounds. Various analytical and chromatographic methods were used to quantify the major constituents and ten biologically active compounds in methanol seed extract. The results showed that the seeds are low in proteins (5%) and fats (1%); the seeds were also rich in unsaturated fatty acids and tocopherols. About 44% of nut starch was resistant to in vitro enzymatic hydrolysis. The amount of terpene trilactones in an aqueous-methanol seed extract was significantly higher than the number of flavonoids. Ginkgotoxin and ginkgolic acid were also found. The extract demonstrated weak antimicrobial activity against thirteen microorganisms. This study revealed that seeds of locally grown Ginkgo trees can be used as a source of biologically active substances. The chemical composition show similarity to those of seeds from other geographical areas.