bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Innovative Approach to Preventive Maintenance of Production Equipment Based on a Modified TPM Methodology for Industry 4.0
Authors: Hardt Filip , Kotyrba Martin , Volna Eva , Jarusek Robert
Published: July 2021

Preventive maintenance (PM) in the production industry is one of the most essential measures to eliminate accidental machinery failures by replacing/repairing worn out machines or parts. The decision of when and where to perform preventive maintenance is non-trivial due to the complex and stochastic nature of the industry where PM is implemented. This article deals with the theoretical and practical implementation of preventive maintenance based on a unique modification of the total productive maintenance (TPM) methodology. The innovative approach of preventive maintenance management was implemented in the real production hall of ITT (Czech Republic) and has been verified. Within preventive maintenance, the new concept brings in an innovative method of managing the maintenance process as a whole, from abstract methodical conception to practical usage. The whole new approach has been verified and implemented on industrial equipment. A challenging task while implementing Industry 4.0 technologies is the issue of how to fully gather and analyse operational data from various items of equipment and users under various conditions, which would result in innovative services of equipment maintenance for clients. The solution to this problem is based on an innovative approach to preventive maintenance of complex equipment and could help many industrial companies to increase production and maintenance efficiency.
Methods of Pre-Identification of TITO Systems
Authors: Saga Milan , Perutka Karel , Kuric Ivan , Zajačko Ivan , Bulej Vladimír , Tlach Vladimír , Bezák Martin
Published: July 2021

The content of this article is the presentation of methods used to identify systems before actual control, namely decentralized control of systems with Two Inputs, Two Outputs (TITO) and with two interactions. First, theoretical assumptions and reasons for using these methods are given. Subsequently, two methods for systems identification are described. At the end of this article, these specific methods are presented as the pre-identification of the chosen example. The Introduction part of the paper deals with the description of decentralized control, adaptive control, decentralized control in robotics and problem formulation (fixing the identification time at the existing decentralized self-tuning controller at the beginning of control and at the beginning of any set-point change) with the goal of a new method of identification. The Materials and methods section describes the used decentralized control method, recursive identification using approximation polynomials and least-squares with directional forgetting, recursive instrumental variable, self-tuning controller and suboptimal quadratic tracking controller, so all methods described in the section are those ones that already exist. Another section, named Assumptions, newly formulates the necessary background information, such as decentralized controllability and the system model, for the new identification method formulated in Pre-identification section. This section is followed by a section showing the results obtained by simulations and in real-time on a Coupled Drives model in the laboratory.
Prevalence of Musculoskeletal Disorders in Germany—A Comparison between Dentists and Dental Assistants
Authors: Holzgreve Fabian , Haas Yvonne , Naser Antonia , Haenel Jasmin , Fraeulin Laura , Erbe Christina , Betz Werner , Wanke Eileen M. , Brueggmann Doerthe , Nienhaus Albert , Groneberg David A. , Ohlendorf Daniela
Published: July 2021

Background: Dental professionals suffer frequently from musculoskeletal disorders (MSD). Dentists and dental assistants work closely with each other in a mutually dependent relationship. To date, MSD in dental assistants have only been marginally investigated and compared to their occurrence in dentists. Therefore, the aim of this study was to compare the prevalence of MSD between dentists and dental assistants by considering occupational factors, physical activity and gender. Methods: This was a cross-sectional observational study. A Germany-wide survey, using a modified version of the Nordic Questionnaire and work-related questions, was applied. In total, 2548 participants took part, of which 389 dentists (240 females and 149 males) and 322 dental assistants (320 females and 2 males) were included in the analysis. Data were collected between May 2018 and May 2019. Differences between the dentists and dental assistants were determined by using the Chi2 test for nominal and the Wilcoxon–Mann–Whitney U test for both ordinal and non-normally distributed metric data. Results: A greater number of dental assistants reported complaints than dentists in all queried body regions. Significant differences in the most affected body regions (neck, shoulders, wrist/hands, upper back, lower back and feet/ankles) were found for the lifetime prevalence, annual prevalence and weekly prevalence. Data from the occupational factors, physical activity and gender analyses revealed significant differences between dentists and dental assistants. Conclusions: Dental assistants appear to be particularly affected by MSD when compared to dentists. This circumstance can be explained only to a limited extent by differences in gender distribution and occupational habits between the occupations.
Physarum-Inspired Bicycle Lane Network Design in a Congested Megacity
Authors: Akhand M. A. H. , Habib Md. Ahsan , Kamal Md Abdus Samad , Siddique Nazmul
Published: July 2021

Improvement of mobility, especially environment-friendly green mobility, is challenging in existing megacities due to road network complexity and space constraints. Endorsing the bicycle lane network (BLN) in congested megacities is a promising option to foster green mobility. This research presents a novel bioinspired network design method that considers various constraints and preferences related to the megacity for designing an optimal BLN. The proposed method is inspired by natural Physarum polycephalum, a brainless, multi-headed single-celled organism, which is capable of developing a reticulated network of complex foraging behaviors in pursuit of food. The mathematical model of Physarum foraging behavior is adapted to maneuver various BLN constraints in megacity contexts in designing the optimal BLN. The Physarum-inspired BLN method is applied to two case studies on the megacity Dhaka for designing BLNs: the first one covers congested central city area, and the second one covers a broader area that includes major locations of the city. The obtained BLNs were evaluated comparing their available routes between different locations with the existing vehicle routes of the city in terms of distance and required travel times in different time periods, and the BLN routes were found to be suitable alternatives for avoiding congested main roads. The expected travel time using BLNs is shorter than other transport (e.g., car and public bus); additionally, at glance, the average travel speed on BLNs is almost double that of public buses in peak hours. Finally, the designed BLNs are promising for environment-friendly and healthy mobility.
Stamping Tool Conditions Diagnosis: A Deep Metric Learning Approach
Authors: Dzulfikri Zaky , Su Pin-Wei , Huang Chih-Yung
Published: July 2021

Stamping processes remain crucial in manufacturing processes; therefore, diagnosing the condition of stamping tools is critical. One of the challenges in diagnosing stamping tool conditions is that traditionally, the tools need to be visually checked, and the production processes thus need to be halted. With the development of Industry 4.0, intelligent monitoring systems have been developed by using accelerometers and algorithms to diagnose the wear classification of stamping tools. Although several deep learning models such as the convolutional neural network (CNN), auto encoder (AE), and recurrent neural network (RNN) models have demonstrated promising results for classifying complex signals including accelerometer signals, the practicality of those methods are restricted due to the flexibility of adding new classes and low accuracy when faced to low numbers of samples per class. In this study, we applied deep metric learning (DML) methods to overcome these problems. DML involves extracting meaningful features using feature extraction modules to map inputs into embedding features. We compared the probability method, the contrastive method, and a triplet network to determine which method was most suitable for our case. The experimental results revealed that, compared with other models, a triplet network can be more effectively trained with limited training data. The triplet network demonstrated the best test results of the compared methods in the noised test data. Finally, when tested using unseen class, the triplet network and the probability method demonstrated similar results.
Efficient High-Dimensional Kernel k-Means++ with Random Projection
Authors: Chan Jan Y. K. , Leung Alex Po , Xie Yunbo
Published: July 2021

Using random projection, a method to speed up both kernel k-means and centroid initialization with k-means++ is proposed. We approximate the kernel matrix and distances in a lower-dimensional space Rd before the kernel k-means clustering motivated by upper error bounds. With random projections, previous work on bounds for dot products and an improved bound for kernel methods are considered for kernel k-means. The complexities for both kernel k-means with Lloyd’s algorithm and centroid initialization with k-means++ are known to be O(nkD) and Θ(nkD), respectively, with n being the number of data points, the dimensionality of input feature vectors D and the number of clusters k. The proposed method reduces the computational complexity for the kernel computation of kernel k-means from O(n2D) to O(n2d) and the subsequent computation for k-means with Lloyd’s algorithm and centroid initialization from O(nkD) to O(nkd). Our experiments demonstrate that the speed-up of the clustering method with reduced dimensionality d=200 is 2 to 26 times with very little performance degradation (less than one percent) in general.
Effect of Hot-Air Convective Drying on Activity Retention of Amylase and Invertase in Dried Mango of Varieties Sindri, SB Chaunsa, and Tommy Atkins
Authors: Mukhtar Adnan , Latif Sajid , Müller Joachim
Published: July 2021

Recently, fruit-drying industries are showing great interest in producing dry fruits that preserve a high enzyme content. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the effect of hot-air convective drying on activity retention of amylase and invertase in dried mango of varieties Sindri, Samar Bahisht (SB) Chaunsa, and Tommy Atkins. Convection drying was conducted under over-flow mode at five temperatures (40, 50, 60, 70, and 80 °C), two air velocities (1.0 and 1.4 m s−1), and constant specific humidity of 10 g kg−1 dry air. The enzymatic degradation data were fitted to the first-order reaction kinetics model, in which the temperature dependence of the rate constant is modelled by the Arrhenius-type relationship. Results showed that the maximum amylase and invertase activity for dried mango of all three varieties was best preserved in samples dried at a temperature of 80 °C and an air velocity of 1.4 m s−1. In contrast, a lower drying temperature and an air velocity of 1.0 m s−1 contributed to a significant decrease (p < 0.05). Exploration of different temperatures and air velocities to save amylase and invertase in dried mango is useful from an industrial point of view, as mango can be a natural dietary source of digestive enzymes to improve digestion.
Spatiotemporal Variations of Radon Concentration in the Atmosphere of Zhijindong Cave (China)
Authors: Weng Xu , Luo Weijun , Wang Yanwei , Zeng Guangneng , Wang Shijie
Published: July 2021

Ensuring high air quality in the atmosphere of Zhijindong Cave is essential, for it is one of the most scenic in Asia and has received millions of tourists each year. Radon, as the most important radioactive carcinogen, is a priority and has been measured since just after its opening. However, an artificial exit was opened in 2002, and it is still unclear what the influence of that has been on the radon concentration in the cave atmosphere. In this study, we use RAD7 to monitor the spatiotemporal variations of radon concentration in the atmosphere of Zhijindong Cave for a whole year. The results show that radon concentration is generally higher in the hot season and lower in the cold season, and both with a distinct spatial differences. The highest measured radon concentration is 1691 Bq/m3, which is lower compared with the previous study. The reduced radon concentration could be caused by the strengthened cave ventilation due to the artificial exit. The temporal variation of radon concentration is related to the outside temperature change, while the spatial variation is mostly related to the different cave layers. The effective dose is negligible for tourists, but can be as high as 9.7 mSv for tour guides and 22.6 mSv for photographers.
Comparison of the Carbon and Water Fluxes of Some Aggressive Invasive Species in Baltic Grassland and Shrub Habitats
Authors: Baležentienė Ligita , Marozas Vitas , Mikša Ovidijus
Published: July 2021

Biological systems are shaped by environmental pressures. These processes are implemented through the organisms exploiting their adaptation abilities and, thus, improving their spreading. Photosynthesis, transpiration, and water use efficiency are major physiological parameters that vary among organisms and respond to abiotic conditions. Invasive species exhibited special physiological performance in the invaded habitat. Photosynthesis and transpiration intensity of Fallopia japonica, Heracleum sosnowskyi, and Rumex confertus of northern and trans-Asian origin were performed in temperate extensive seminatural grassland or natural forest ecotones. The observed photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) ranged from 36.0 to 1083.7 μmol m−2 s−1 throughout the growing season depending on the meteorological conditions and habitat type. F. japonica and H. sosnowskyi settled in naturally formed shadowy shrub habitats characterized by the lowest mean PAR rates of 58.3 and 124.7 μmol m−2 s−1, respectively. R. confertus located in open seminatural grassland habitats where the mean PAR was 529.35 μmol m−2 s−1. Correlating with the available sunlight radiation (r = 0.9), the highest average photo assimilation rate was observed for R. confertus (p = 0.000). The lowest average intensity of photosynthesis rates was exhibited of F. japonica and H. sosnowskyi in shadowy shrub habitats. Transpiration and water use effectivity at the leaf level depended on many environmental factors. Positive quantitative responses of photosynthesis and transpiration to soil and meteorological conditions confirmed positive tolerance strategies of the invasive species succeeded by environmental adaptation to new habitats during their growing period sustained across a range of environments.
A Comparison Analysis of Causative Impact of PM2.5 on Acute Exacerbation of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) in Two Typical Cities in China
Authors: Xia Xiaolin , Yao Ling , Lu Jiaying , Liu Yangxiaoyue , Jing Wenlong , Li Yong
Published: July 2021

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a major and increasingly prevalent respiratory health problem worldwide and the fine particulate matter (PM2.5) is now becoming a rising health threat to it. This study aims to conduct a comparison analysis of health effect on acute exacerbation of COPD (AECOPD) associated with PM2.5 exposure in two typical cities (Beijing and Shenzhen) with different levels of PM2.5 pollution. Both correlational relationship and causal connection between PM2.5 exposure and AECOPD are investigated by adopting a time series analysis based on the generalized additive model (GAM) and convergent cross mapping (CCM). The results from GAM indicate that a 10 μg/m3 increase in PM2.5 concentration is associated with 2.43% (95% CI, 0.50–4.39%) increase in AECOPD on Lag0-2 in Beijing, compared with 6.65% (95% CI, 2.60–10.87%) on Lag0-14 in Shenzhen. The causality detection with CCM reveals similar significant causative impact of PM2.5 exposure on AECOPD in both two study areas. Findings from two methods agree that PM2.5 has non-negligible health effect on AECOPD in both two study areas, implying that air pollution can cause adverse consequences at much lower levels than common cognition. Our study highlights the adverse health effect of PM2.5 on people with COPD after exposure to different levels of PM2.5 and emphasizes that adverse effect in area with relative low pollution level cannot be overlooked. Governments in both high-pollution and low-pollution cities should attach importance to the adverse effects of PM2.5 on humans and take corresponding measures to control and reduce the related losses.
Observed Trends and Variability of Temperature and Precipitation and Their Global Teleconnections in the Upper Indus Basin, Hindukush-Karakoram-Himalaya
Authors: Hussain Azfar , Cao Jianhua , Hussain Ishtiaq , Begum Saira , Akhtar Mobeen , Wu Xiuqin , Guan Yinghui , Zhou Jinxing
Published: July 2021

Having an extreme topography and heterogeneous climate, the Upper Indus Basin (UIB) is more likely to be affected by climate change and it is a crucial area for climatological studies. Based on the monthly minimum temperature (Tmin), maximum temperature (Tmax) and precipitation from nine meteorological stations, the spatiotemporal variability of temperature and precipitation were analyzed on monthly, seasonal, and annual scales. Results show a widespread significant increasing trend of 0.14 °C/decade for Tmax, but a significant decreasing trend of −0.08 °C/decade for Tmin annually, during 1955–2016 for the UIB. Seasonally, warming in Tmax is stronger in winter and spring, while the cooling in Tmin is greater in summer and autumn. Results of seasonal Tmax indicate increasing trends in winter, spring and autumn at rates of 0.38, 0.35 and 0.05 °C/decade, respectively, while decreasing in summer with −0.14 °C/decade. Moreover, seasonal Tmin results indicate increasing trends in winter and spring at rates of 0.09 and 0.08 °C/decade, respectively, while decreasing significantly in summer and autumn at rates of −0.21 and −0.22 °C/decade respectively for the whole the UIB. Precipitation exhibits an increasing trend of 2.74 mm/decade annually, while, increasing in winter, summer and autumn at rates of 1.18, 2.06 and 0.62 mm/decade respectively. The warming in Tmax and an increase in precipitation have been more distinct since the mid-1990s, while the cooling in Tmin is observed in the UIB since the mid-1980s. Warming in the middle and higher altitude (1500–2800 m and >2800 m) are much stronger, and the increase is more obvious in regions with elevation >2800 m. The wavelet analysis illustrated sporadic inter-annual covariance of seasonal Tmax, Tmin and precipitation with ENSO, NAO, IOD and PDO in the UIB. The periodicities were usually constant over short timescales and discontinuous over longer timescales. This study offers a better understanding of the local climate characteristics and provides a scientific basis for government policymakers.
A Novel Numerical Method for Solving Fractional Diffusion-Wave and Nonlinear Fredholm and Volterra Integral Equations with Zero Absolute Error
Authors: Mohammad Mutaz , Trounev Alexandre , Alshbool Mohammed
Published: July 2021

In this work, a new numerical method for the fractional diffusion-wave equation and nonlinear Fredholm and Volterra integro-differential equations is proposed. The method is based on Euler wavelet approximation and matrix inversion of an M×M collocation points. The proposed equations are presented based on Caputo fractional derivative where we reduce the resulting system to a system of algebraic equations by implementing the Gaussian quadrature discretization. The reduced system is generated via the truncated Euler wavelet expansion. Several examples with known exact solutions have been solved with zero absolute error. This method is also applied to the Fredholm and Volterra nonlinear integral equations and achieves the desired absolute error of 0×10−31 for all tested examples. The new numerical scheme is exceptional in terms of its novelty, efficiency and accuracy in the field of numerical approximation.
Global Stability of a Lotka-Volterra Competition-Diffusion-Advection System with Different Positive Diffusion Distributions
Authors: Chen Lili , Lin Shilei , Zhao Yanfeng
Published: July 2021

In this paper, the problem of a Lotka–Volterra competition–diffusion–advection system between two competing biological organisms in a spatially heterogeneous environments is investigated. When two biological organisms are competing for different fundamental resources, and their advection and diffusion strategies follow different positive diffusion distributions, the functions of specific competition ability are variable. By virtue of the Lyapunov functional method, we discuss the global stability of a non-homogeneous steady-state. Furthermore, the global stability result is also obtained when one of the two organisms has no diffusion ability and is not affected by advection.
Social Network Group Decision-Making Method Based on Q-Rung Orthopair Fuzzy Set and Its Application in the Evaluation of Online Teaching Quality
Authors: Hu Yingjie , Zeng Shouzhen , Carlos Llopis-Albert , Ullah Kifayat , Yang Yuqi
Published: July 2021

As q-rung orthopair fuzzy set (q-ROFS) theory can effectively express complex fuzzy information, this study explores its application to social network environments and proposes a social network group decision-making (SNGDM) method based on the q-ROFS. Firstly, the q-rung orthopair fuzzy value is used to represent the trust relationships between experts in the social network, and a trust q-rung orthopair fuzzy value is defined. Secondly, considering the decreasing and multipath of trust in the process of trust propagation, this study designs a trust propagation mechanism by using its multiplication operation in the q-ROFS environment and proposes a trust q-ROFS aggregation approach. Moreover, based on the trust scores and confidence levels of experts, a new integration operator called q-rung orthopair fuzzy-induced ordered weighted average operator is proposed to fuse experts’ evaluation information. Additionally, considering the impact of consensus interaction on decision-making results, a consensus interaction model based on the q-ROF distance measure and trust relationship is proposed, including consistency measurement, identification of inconsistent expert decision-making opinions and a personalized adjustment mechanism. Finally, the SNGDM method is applied to solve the problem of evaluating online teaching quality.
Erratum: Velada et al. Laser Microdissection of Specific Stem-Base Tissue Types from Olive Microcuttings for Isolation of High-Quality RNA. Biology 2021, 10, 209
Authors: Velada Isabel , Menéndez Esther , Teixeira Rita Teresa , Cardoso Hélia , Peixe Augusto
Published: July 2021

The author wishes to make an erratum to the published version of the paper [...]
Colorectal Cancer Study of Austria (CORSA): A Population-Based Multicenter Study
Authors: Gsur Andrea , Baierl Andreas , Brezina Stefanie
Published: July 2021

The Colorectal cancer Study of Austria (CORSA) is comprised more than 13,500 newly diagnosed colorectal cancer (CRC) patients, patients with high- and low-risk adenomas as well as population-based controls. The recruitment for the CORSA biobank is performed in close cooperation with the invited two-stage CRC screening project “Burgenland PREvention trial of colorectal Disease with ImmunologiCal Testing” (B-PREDICT). Annually, more than 150,000 inhabitants of the Austrian federal state Burgenland aged between 40 and 80 are invited to participate using FIT-tests as an initial screening. FIT-positive tested participants are offered a diagnostic colonoscopy and are asked to take part in CORSA, sign a written informed consent, complete questionnaires concerning dietary and lifestyle habits and provide an ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) blood sample as well as a stool sample. Additional CRC cases have been recruited at four hospitals in Vienna and a hospital in lower Austria. A major strength of CORSA is the population-based controls who are FIT-positive and colonoscopy-confirmed to be free of polyps and/or CRC.
Analysis of the Correlation of Galectin-3 Concentration with the Measurements of Echocardiographic Parameters Assessing Left Atrial Remodeling and Function in Patients with Persistent Atrial Fibrillation
Authors: Wałek Paweł , Grabowska Urszula , Cieśla Elżbieta , Sielski Janusz , Roskal-Wałek Joanna , Wożakowska-Kapłon Beata
Published: July 2021

Galectin-3 (gal-3) is a fibrosis marker and may play a role in fibrosis of the left atrium (LA). Left atrial wall fibrosis may influence the transition from paroxysmal to non-paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (AF). In this study, we assessed the correlation of gal-3 concentration with the main echocardio-graphic parameters evaluating dimensions, volume, compliance, and left atrial contractility during AF and after successful electrical cardioversion (DCCV). The study included 63 patients with left atrial enlargement who qualified for DCCV due to persistent AF. The procedure recovered sinus rhythm in 43 (68.3%) patients. The concentration of gal-3 was negatively correlated with the echocardiographic parameters of LA including dimensions (LA length pre, rho = −0.38; p = 0.003), volume (LAV pre, rho = −0.39; p = 0.003), compliance (LASr mean post, rho = −0.33) and contractility (pLASRct mean post, rho = −0.33; p = 0.038). Negative correlations of gal-3 concentration were also observed in relation to the volume and contractility of the left ventricle. The concentration of gal-3 significantly negatively correlates with the size, systolic function, and compliance of the LA wall in patients with persistent AF. Determining gal-3 concentration in patients with persistent AF may help in the assessment of remodeling of the LA wall.
Analyzing Modern Biomolecules: The Revolution of Nucleic-Acid Sequencing – Review
Authors: Dorado Gabriel , Gálvez Sergio , Rosales Teresa E. , Vásquez Víctor F. , Hernández Pilar
Published: July 2021

Recent developments have revolutionized the study of biomolecules. Among them are molecular markers, amplification and sequencing of nucleic acids. The latter is classified into three generations. The first allows to sequence small DNA fragments. The second one increases throughput, reducing turnaround and pricing, and is therefore more convenient to sequence full genomes and transcriptomes. The third generation is currently pushing technology to its limits, being able to sequence single molecules, without previous amplification, which was previously impossible. Besides, this represents a new revolution, allowing researchers to directly sequence RNA without previous retrotranscription. These technologies are having a significant impact on different areas, such as medicine, agronomy, ecology and biotechnology. Additionally, the study of biomolecules is revealing interesting evolutionary information. That includes deciphering what makes us human, including phenomena like non-coding RNA expansion. All this is redefining the concept of gene and transcript. Basic analyses and applications are now facilitated with new genome editing tools, such as CRISPR. All these developments, in general, and nucleic-acid sequencing, in particular, are opening a new exciting era of biomolecule analyses and applications, including personalized medicine, and diagnosis and prevention of diseases for humans and other animals.
Changes in the Antioxidative Activity and the Content of Phenolics and Iridoids during Fermentation and Aging of Natural Fruit Meads
Authors: Adamenko Kinga , Kawa-Rygielska Joanna , Kucharska Alicja Z. , Głowacki Adam , Piórecki Narcyz
Published: July 2021

The aim of the study was to investigate changes in the content of biologically active compounds during the fermentation and aging of natural meads with the addition of three Cornelian cherry juices from three cultivars: ‘Koralovyi’, ‘Podolski’ and ‘Yantarnyi’, in the amount of 10% v/v. After the fermentation process the content of gallic and ellagic acids significantly increased, in relation to wort. Whereas the greatest losses were observed among unstable anthocyanins. The three-month aging process also reduced the content of the analyzed compounds except for ellagic acid, the content of which increased by up to 90%. The content of biologically active compounds, including iridoids and antioxidant phenolics, are constantly changing in the process of fermentation and aging of fruit meads. The studies proved that the addition of Cornelian cherry juice allows significantly enriched classic meads with new biologically active compounds, such as: exceptional iridoids (loganic acid, cornuside, loganine, sweroside), flavonols, phenolic acids and anthocyanins.
Chlorophyllides: Preparation, Purification, and Application
Authors: Wang Yi-Ting , Yang Chih-Hui , Huang Keng-Shiang , Shaw Jei-Fu
Published: July 2021

Chlorophyllides can be found in photosynthetic organisms. Generally, chlorophyllides have a-, b-, c-, d-, and f-type derivatives, and all chlorophyllides have a tetrapyrrole structure with a Mg ion at the center and a fifth isocyclic pentanone. Chlorophyllide a can be synthesized from protochlorophyllide a, divinyl chlorophyllide a, or chlorophyll. In addition, chlorophyllide a can be transformed into chlorophyllide b, chlorophyllide d, or chlorophyllide f. Chlorophyllide c can be synthesized from protochlorophyllide a or divinyl protochlorophyllide a. Chlorophyllides have been extensively used in food, medicine, and pharmaceutical applications. Furthermore, chlorophyllides exhibit many biological activities, such as anti-growth, antimicrobial, antiviral, antipathogenic, and antiproliferative activity. The photosensitivity of chlorophyllides that is applied in mercury electrodes and sensors were discussed. This article is the first detailed review dedicated specifically to chlorophyllides. Thus, this review aims to describe the definition of chlorophyllides, biosynthetic routes of chlorophyllides, purification of chlorophyllides, and applications of chlorophyllides.
Anhedonia in Semantic Dementia—Exploring Right Hemispheric Contributions to the Loss of Pleasure
Authors: Shaw Siobhán R. , El-Omar Hashim , Ramanan Siddharth , Piguet Olivier , Ahmed Rebekah M. , Whitton Alexis E. , Irish Muireann
Published: July 2021

Semantic dementia (SD) is a younger-onset neurodegenerative disease characterised by progressive deterioration of the semantic knowledge base in the context of predominantly left-lateralised anterior temporal lobe (ATL) atrophy. Mounting evidence indicates the emergence of florid socioemotional changes in SD as atrophy encroaches into right temporal regions. How lateralisation of temporal lobe pathology impacts the hedonic experience in SD remains largely unknown yet has important implications for understanding socioemotional and functional impairments in this syndrome. Here, we explored how lateralisation of temporal lobe atrophy impacts anhedonia severity on the Snaith–Hamilton Pleasure Scale in 28 SD patients presenting with variable right- (SD-R) and left-predominant (SD-L) profiles of temporal lobe atrophy compared to that of 30 participants with Alzheimer’s disease and 30 healthy older Control participants. Relative to Controls, SD-R but not SD-L or Alzheimer’s patients showed clinically significant anhedonia, representing a clear departure from premorbid levels. Overall, anhedonia was more strongly associated with functional impairment on the Frontotemporal Dementia Functional Rating Scale and motivational changes on the Cambridge Behavioural Inventory in SD than in Alzheimer’s disease patients. Voxel-based morphometry analyses revealed that anhedonia severity correlated with reduced grey matter intensity in a restricted set of regions centred on right orbitofrontal and temporopolar cortices, bilateral posterior temporal cortices, as well as the anterior cingulate gyrus and parahippocampal gyrus, bilaterally. Finally, regression and mediation analysis indicated a unique role for right temporal lobe structures in modulating anhedonia in SD. Our findings suggest that degeneration of predominantly right-hemisphere structures deleteriously impacts the capacity to experience pleasure in SD. These findings offer important insights into hemispheric lateralisation of motivational disturbances in dementia and suggest that anhedonia may emerge at different timescales in the SD disease trajectory depending on the integrity of the right hemisphere.
Obesity and Gray Matter Volume Assessed by Neuroimaging: A Systematic Review
Authors: Fernández-Andújar Marina , Morales-García Ester , García-Casares Natalia
Published: July 2021

Obesity has become a major public and individual health problem due to its high worldwide prevalence and its relation with comorbid conditions. According to previous studies, obesity is related to an increased risk of cognitive impairment and dementia. This systematic review aims to further examine the present state of the art about the association between obesity and gray matter volume (GMV) as assessed by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). A search was conducted in Pubmed, SCOPUS and Cochrane of those studies released before 1 February 2021 including MRIs to assess the GMVs in obese participants. From this search, 1420 results were obtained, and 34 publications were finally included. Obesity was mainly measured by the body mass index, although other common types of evaluations were used (e.g., waist circumference, waist-to-hip ratio and plasma leptin levels). The selected neuroimaging analysis methods were voxel-based morphometry (VBM) and cortical thickness (CT), finding 21 and 13 publications, respectively. There were 30 cross-sectional and 2 prospective longitudinal studies, and 2 articles had both cross-sectional and longitudinal designs. Most studies showed a negative association between obesity and GMV. This would have important public health implications, as obesity prevention could avoid a potential risk of GMV reductions, cognitive impairment and dementia.
Thermal Comfort and Sleep Quality of Indonesian Students Living in Japan during Summer and Winter
Authors: Budiawan Wiwik , Tsuzuki Kazuyo
Published: July 2021

Thermal comfort is crucial in satisfaction and maintaining quality sleep for occupants. In this study, we investigated the comfort temperature in the bedroom at night and sleep quality for Indonesian students during summer and winter. Eighteen male Indonesian students aged 29 ± 4 years participated in this study. The participants had stayed in Japan for about six months. We evaluated the sleep parameters using actigraphy performed during summer and winter. All participants completed the survey regarding thermal sensation, physical conditions, and subjective sleepiness before sleep. The temperature and relative humidity of participants’ bedrooms were also measured. We found that the duration on the bed during winter was significantly longer than that during summer. However, sleeping efficiency during winter was significantly worse than that during summer. The bedroom temperature of the participants was in the range of comfort temperature in Indonesia. With the average bedroom air temperature of 22.2 °C, most of the participants still preferred “warm” and felt “slightly comfortable” during winter. The average comfort temperature each season calculated using the Griffiths method was 28.1 °C during summer and 23.5 °C during winter. In conclusion, differences in adaptive action affect bedroom thermal conditions. Furthermore, habits encourage the sleep performance of Indonesian students.
Performance of Steel Fiber-Reinforced Alkali-Activated Slag-Fly Ash Blended Concrete Incorporating Recycled Concrete Aggregates and Dune Sand
Authors: El-Hassan Hilal , Hussein Abdalla , Medljy Jamal , El-Maaddawy Tamer
Published: July 2021

This study evaluates the performance of alkali-activated slag-fly ash blended concrete made with recycled concrete aggregates (RCA) and reinforced with steel fibers. Two blends of concrete with ground granulated blast furnace slag-to-fly ash ratios of 3:1 and 1:1 were used. Natural aggregates were substituted with RCA, while macro steel fibers with 35 mm of length and aspect ratio of 65 were incorporated in RCA-based mixtures at various volume fractions. Fine aggregates were in the form of desert dune sand. Mechanical and durability characteristics were investigated. Experimental results revealed that RCA replacement decreased the compressive strength of plain concrete mixtures with more pronounced reductions being perceived at higher replacement percentages. Mixtures made with 30%, 70%, and 100% RCA could be produced with limited loss in the design compressive strength upon incorporating 1%, 2%, and 2% steel fibers, by volume, respectively. In turn, splitting tensile strength was comparable to the NA-based control while adding at least 1% steel fiber, by volume. Moreover, higher water absorption and capillary sorptivity and lower ultrasonic pulse velocity, bulk resistivity, and abrasion resistance were reported during RCA replacement. Meanwhile, incorporation of steel fibers densified the concrete and enhanced its resistance to abrasive forces, water permeation, and water transport. Analytical regression models were developed to correlate hardened concrete properties to the 28-day cylinder compressive strength.
Improvement of CO2 Photoreduction Efficiency by Process Intensification
Authors: Zhang Zekai , Wang Ying , Cui Guokai , Liu Huayan , Abanades Stéphane , Lu Hanfeng
Published: July 2021

This paper addresses an innovative approach to improve CO2 photoreduction via process intensification. The principle of CO2 photoreduction using process intensification is presented and reviewed. Process intensification via concentrating solar light technology is developed and demonstrated. The concept consists in rising the incident light intensity as well as the reaction temperature and pressure during CO2 photoreduction using concentrating solar light. A solar reactor system using concentrated sunlight was accordingly designed and set up. The distribution of light intensity and temperature in the reactor was modeled and simulated. CO2 photoreduction performance in the reactor system was assessed, and the reaction temperature and pressure evolution were recorded. The results showed that the light intensity, temperature, and pressure could be effectively increased and irradiation on the catalyst surface followed a Gaussian distribution. The CO2 photoreduction reaction rates were enhanced to hundreds of times.
Cumulative Damage: Cell Death in Posthemorrhagic Hydrocephalus of Prematurity
Authors: Sevensky Riley , Newville Jessie C. , Tang Ho Lam , Robinson Shenandoah , Jantzie Lauren L.
Published: July 2021

Globally, approximately 11% of all infants are born preterm, prior to 37 weeks’ gestation. In these high-risk neonates, encephalopathy of prematurity (EoP) is a major cause of both morbidity and mortality, especially for neonates who are born very preterm (<32 weeks gestation). EoP encompasses numerous types of preterm birth-related brain abnormalities and injuries, and can culminate in a diverse array of neurodevelopmental impairments. Of note, posthemorrhagic hydrocephalus of prematurity (PHHP) can be conceptualized as a severe manifestation of EoP. PHHP impacts the immature neonatal brain at a crucial timepoint during neurodevelopment, and can result in permanent, detrimental consequences to not only cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) dynamics, but also to white and gray matter development. In this review, the relevant literature related to the diverse mechanisms of cell death in the setting of PHHP will be thoroughly discussed. Loss of the epithelial cells of the choroid plexus, ependymal cells and their motile cilia, and cellular structures within the glymphatic system are of particular interest. Greater insights into the injuries, initiating targets, and downstream signaling pathways involved in excess cell death shed light on promising areas for therapeutic intervention. This will bolster current efforts to prevent, mitigate, and reverse the consequential brain remodeling that occurs as a result of hydrocephalus and other components of EoP.
Exercise Training Enhances Angiogenesis-Related Gene Responses in Skeletal Muscle of Patients with Chronic Heart Failure
Authors: Tryfonos Andrea , Tzanis Giorgos , Pitsolis Theodore , Karatzanos Eleftherios , Koutsilieris Michael , Nanas Serafim , Philippou Anastassios
Published: July 2021

Peripheral myopathy consists of a hallmark of heart failure (HF). Exercise enhanced skeletal muscle angiogenesis, and thus, it can be further beneficial towards the HF-induced myopathy. However, there is limited evidence regarding the exercise type that elicits optimum angiogenic responses of skeletal muscle in HF patients. This study aimed to (a) compare the effects of a high-intensity-interval-training (HIIT) or combined HIIT with strength training (COM) exercise protocol on the expression of angiogenesis-related factors in skeletal muscle of HF patients, and (b) examine the potential associations between the expression of those genes and capillarization in the trained muscles. Thirteen male patients with chronic HF (age: 51 ± 13 y; BMI: 27 ± 4 kg/m2) were randomly assigned to a 3-month exercise program that consisted of either HIIT (N = 6) or COM training (N = 7). Vastus lateralis muscle biopsies were performed pre- and post-training. RT-PCR was used to quantify the fold changes in mRNA expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 (VEGFR-2), hypoxia-inducible factor 1 alpha (HIF-1α), angiopoietin 1 (Ang-1), angiopoietin 2 (Ang-2), angiopoietin receptor (Tie2), and matrix metallopeptidase 9 (MMP-9), and immunohistochemistry to assess capillarization in skeletal muscle post-training. There was an overall increase in the expression levels of VEGF, VEGFR-2, HIF-1α, Ang2, and MMP9 post-training, while these changes were not different among groups. Changes in capillary-to-fibre ratio were found to be strongly associated with Tie2 and HIF-1α expression. This was the first study demonstrating that both HIIT and combined HIIT with strength training enhanced similarly the expression profile of angiogenic factors in skeletal muscle of HF patients, possibly driving the angiogenic program in the trained muscles, although those gene expression increases were found to be only partially related with muscle capillarization.
Multiferroic and Nanomechanical Properties of Bi1−xGdxFeO3 Polycrystalline Films (x = 0.00–0.15)
Authors: Lin Ting-Kai , Chang Huang-Wei , Chou Wan-Chi , Wang Chang-Ren , Wei Da-Hua , Tu Chi-Shun , Chen Pin-Yi
Published: July 2021

In this work, we adopted pulsed laser deposition (PLD) with a Nd:YAG laser to develop Bi1−xGdxFeO3 (BGFO) films on glass substrates. The phase composition, microstructure, ferroelectric, magnetic, and nanomechanical properties of BGFO films are studied. BGFO films with x = 0.00–0.15 were confirmed to mainly consist of the perovskite phase. The structure is transformed from rhombohedral for x = 0.00 to pseudo-cubic for x = 0.05–0.10, and an additional phase, orthorhombic, is coexisted for x = 0.15. With increasing Gd content, the microstructure and surface morphology analysis shows a gradual decrease in crystallite size and surface roughness. The hardness of 5.9–8.3 GPa, measured by nanoindentor, is mainly dominated by crystallized structure and grain size. Good ferroelectric properties are found for BGFO films with x = 0.00–0.15, where the largest remanent polarization (2Pr) of 133.5 µC/cm2 is achieved for x = 0.10, related to low leakage and high BGFO(110) texture. The improved magnetic properties with the significant enhancement of saturation magnetization from 4.9 emu/cm3 for x = 0 to 23.9 emu/cm3 for x = 0.15 by Gd substitution is found and related to large magnetic moment of Gd3+ and suppressed spiral spin structure of G-type antiferromagnetism. Furthermore, we also discuss the mechanisms of leakage behavior as well as nanomechanical characterizations as a function of the Gd content.
Ecofriendly Water-Based Solution Processing: Preliminary Studies of Zn-ZrO2 Thin Films for Microelectronics Applications
Authors: Bashir Aneeqa , Siddiqui Hina , Naseem Shahzad , Bhatti Arshad Saleem
Published: July 2021

This paper demonstrates the high yield and cost effectiveness of a simple and ecofriendly water-based solution processing, to produce Zinc-doped Zirconia (Zn-ZrO2) composite thin films, onto glass substrates, with excellent optical properties that make them of great interest for optical and microelectronics technologies. The effect of Zn variation (given as 10, 15, 20 at.%) on the crystallization, microstructure, and optical properties of ZrO2 film was examined. The addition of Zn did not restructure the ZrO2 lattice, as the results indicated by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Raman spectroscopy revealed neither any mixed or individual phases; rather, all the films retained the amorphousness. Nonetheless, Zn did control the grain formation at the film surfaces, thereby changing the surface morphology. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) evidenced homogeneous, compact, crack-free, and dense films with surface roughness below 2 nm indicating smooth surfaces. The films were highly transparent (>80%) with tunable optical band gap Eg (5.21 to 4.66 eV) influenced by Zn dopant. Optical constants such as refractive index (n), extinction coefficient (k), and dielectric constant (ε) were obtained from spectroscopic ellipsometry (SE), and a correlation was established with respect to the doping level. A high value of n > 2 value indicated high packing density in these films, and it decreased slightly from 2.98 to 2.60 (at 632 nm); whereas, optical losses were brought down with increasing Zn indicated by decreasing k values. The photoluminescence (PL) spectra showed UV emissions more pronounced than the blue emissions indicating good structural quality of all the films. Nonetheless, added defects from Zn had suppressed the PL emission. The technique presented in this work, thus, manifests as high performance and robust and has the potential comparable to the sophisticated counter techniques. Furthermore, the Zn-ZrO2 films are promising for a low-cost solution to processed microelectronics and optical technologies after reaching high performance targets with regards to the electrical properties.
Effects of Mechanical Activation on Physical and Chemical Characteristics of Coal-Gasification Slag
Authors: Wu Feng , Li Hui , Yang Kang
Published: July 2021

Coal-gasification slag (CGS) was subjected to mechanical grinding by three different methods. We studied the effects of mechanical activation on various physical and chemical characteristics of the CGS, including particle-size distribution, specific surface area, mineral composition, degree of crystallinity, particle morphology, chemical bonding, surface activity and binding energy, anionic-polymerization degree and hydration properties. The results show that there are different effects on CGS characteristics depending on the type of activation applied. Mechanical activation also can increase the specific surface area and the dissolution rates of activated SiO2 and Al2O3, and the major elements (O, Si, Al, Ca) in CGS, whereas the degree of crystallinity and of polymerization of [SiO4] and [AlO6] are reduced by mechanical activation. We also found that the effects of different mechanical-activation methods on the compressive strength and activity were similar and could accelerate the hydration process.