bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Advanced Constitutive Modeling of the Thixotropic Elasto-Visco-Plastic Behavior of Blood: Steady-State Blood Flow in Microtubes
Authors: Giannokostas Konstantinos , Dimakopoulos Yannis , Anayiotos Andreas , Tsamopoulos John
Published: January 2021

The present work focuses on the in-silico investigation of the steady-state blood flow in straight microtubes, incorporating advanced constitutive modeling for human blood and blood plasma. The blood constitutive model accounts for the interplay between thixotropy and elasto-visco-plasticity via a scalar variable that describes the level of the local blood structure at any instance. The constitutive model is enhanced by the non-Newtonian modeling of the plasma phase, which features bulk viscoelasticity. Incorporating microcirculation phenomena such as the cell-free layer (CFL) formation or the Fåhraeus and the Fåhraeus-Lindqvist effects is an indispensable part of the blood flow investigation. The coupling between them and the momentum balance is achieved through correlations based on experimental observations. Notably, we propose a new simplified form for the dependence of the apparent viscosity on the hematocrit that predicts the CFL thickness correctly. Our investigation focuses on the impact of the microtube diameter and the pressure-gradient on velocity profiles, normal and shear viscoelastic stresses, and thixotropic properties. We demonstrate the microstructural configuration of blood in steady-state conditions, revealing that blood is highly aggregated in narrow tubes, promoting a flat velocity profile. Additionally, the proper accounting of the CFL thickness shows that for narrow microtubes, the reduction of discharged hematocrit is significant, which in some cases is up to 70%. At high pressure-gradients, the plasmatic proteins in both regions are extended in the flow direction, developing large axial normal stresses, which are more significant in the core region. We also provide normal stress predictions at both the blood/plasma interface (INS) and the tube wall (WNS), which are difficult to measure experimentally. Both decrease with the tube radius; however, they exhibit significant differences in magnitude and type of variation. INS varies linearly from 4.5 to 2 Pa, while WNS exhibits an exponential decrease taking values from 50 mPa to zero.
Evolution of the Study of Phase Diagram of Binary and Ternary Mixtures Involving Fatty Acid Esters
Authors: Rubio-Pérez Gabriel , Muñoz-Rujas Natalia , Aguilar Fernando , Ravotti Rebecca , Müller Lukas , Montero Eduardo
Published: January 2021

Interest in phase change materials keeps on rising as thermal energy storage grows in popularity in the scientific community as a promising complement for renewable energies in the future. Extending the possibilities beyond pure compounds, the use of mixtures (especially eutectics) widens the range of suitable phase change materials (PCM) available in the market. However, a precise knowledge of the mixtures’ phase behavior is required, making phase diagrams the most appropriate tools to follow. The aim of this work is to collect and analyze published literature concerning the phase diagrams of fatty acid esters mixtures, which constitute promising candidates as PCM due to their attractive properties, such as high latent heat, chemical stability and the possibility of extracting them from vegetable and animal oils. The topic appears as a still open scientific field, where further studies need to be performed to complete, complement and perfect the currently available information.
Bending Setups for Reliability Investigation of Flexible Electronics
Authors: Saleh Rafat , Barth Maximilian , Eberhardt Wolfgang , Zimmermann André
Published: January 2021

Flexible electronics is a rapidly growing technology for a multitude of applications. Wearables and flexible displays are some application examples. Various technologies and processes are used to produce flexible electronics. An important aspect to be considered when developing these systems is their reliability, especially with regard to repeated bending. In this paper, the frequently used methods for investigating the bending reliability of flexible electronics are presented. This is done to provide an overview of the types of tests that can be performed to investigate the bending reliability. Furthermore, it is shown which devices are developed and optimized to gain more knowledge about the behavior of flexible systems under bending. Both static and dynamic bending test methods are presented.
The Anomalous Seismic Behavior of Aqueous Fluids Released during Dehydration of Chlorite in Subduction Zones
Authors: Manthilake Geeth , Chantel Julien , Guignot Nicolas , King Andrew
Published: January 2021

Dehydration and fluid circulation are integral parts of subduction tectonics that govern the dynamics of the wedge mantle. The knowledge of the elastic behavior of aqueous fluid is crucial to understand the fluid–rock interactions in the mantle through velocity profiles. In this study, we investigated the elastic wave velocities of chlorite at high pressure beyond its dehydrating temperature, simulating the progressive dehydration of hydrous minerals in subduction zones. The dehydration resulted in an 8% increase in compressional (Vp) and a 5% decrease in shear wave (Vs) velocities at 950 K. The increase in Vp can be attributed to the stiffening of the sample due to the formation of secondary mineral phases followed by the dehydration of chlorite. The fluid-bearing samples exhibited Vp/Vs of 2.45 at 950 K. These seismic parameters are notably different from the major mantle minerals or hydrous silicate melts and provide unique seismic criteria for detecting mantle fluids through seismic tomography.
Emerging Nano-Formulations and Nanomedicines Applications for Ocular Drug Delivery
Authors: Khiev Dawin , Mohamed Zeinab A. , Vichare Riddhi , Paulson Ryan , Bhatia Sofia , Mohapatra Subhra , Lobo Glenn P. , Valapala Mallika , Kerur Nagaraj , Passaglia Christopher L. , Mohapatra Shyam S. , Biswal Manas R.
Published: January 2021

Ocular diseases can deteriorate vision to the point of blindness and thus can have a major impact on the daily life of an individual. Conventional therapies are unable to provide absolute therapy for all ocular diseases due to the several limitations during drug delivery across the blood-retinal barrier, making it a major clinical challenge. With recent developments, the vast number of publications undergird the need for nanotechnology-based drug delivery systems in treating ocular diseases. The tool of nanotechnology provides several essential advantages, including sustained drug release and specific tissue targeting. Additionally, comprehensive in vitro and in vivo studies have suggested a better uptake of nanoparticles across ocular barriers. Nanoparticles can overcome the blood-retinal barrier and consequently increase ocular penetration and improve the bioavailability of the drug. In this review, we aim to summarize the development of organic and inorganic nanoparticles for ophthalmic applications. We highlight the potential nanoformulations in clinical trials as well as the products that have become a commercial reality.
Generation of Supra-Wavelength Grooves in Femtosecond Laser Surface Structuring of Silicon
Authors: Nivas Jijil JJ , Amoruso Salvatore
Published: January 2021

Extensive research work has been carried out on the generation and application of laser-induced periodic surface structures (LIPSS). LIPSS with a sub-wavelength period generated by femtosecond laser irradiation, generally indicated as ripples, have been extensively investigated. Instead, the other ordered surface structures characterized by a supra-wavelength period, indicated as grooves, have been much less studied. Grooves typically form at larger irradiance levels or for higher number of laser pulses. Here, we report a comprehensive overview of recent investigations on the supra-wavelength grooves formed on crystalline silicon irradiated by femtosecond laser pulses. The authors’ recent experimental work is mainly addressed giving an explicit picture of the grooves generation process, namely illustrating the influence of the various experimental parameters, including, e.g., polarization, wavelength, fluence and repetition rate of the laser beam as well as number of laser pulses hitting the surface of the material. The effect of irradiation of a static or moving target and of the environmental conditions (e.g., vacuum or air ambient) will also be discussed. Finally, possible mechanisms envisaged to explain grooves formation and still open issues are briefly discussed.
Bioactive Compounds for Skin Health: A Review
Authors: Michalak Monika , Pierzak Monika , Kręcisz Beata , Suliga Edyta
Published: January 2021

Human skin is continually changing. The condition of the skin largely depends on the individual’s overall state of health. A balanced diet plays an important role in the proper functioning of the human body, including the skin. The present study draws attention to bioactive substances, i.e., vitamins, minerals, fatty acids, polyphenols, and carotenoids, with a particular focus on their effects on the condition of the skin. The aim of the study was to review the literature on the effects of bioactive substances on skin parameters such as elasticity, firmness, wrinkles, senile dryness, hydration and color, and to define their role in the process of skin ageing.
Impacts of Coping Mechanisms on Nursing Students’ Mental Health during COVID-19 Lockdown: A Cross-Sectional Survey
Authors: Kim Son Chae , Sloan Christine , Montejano Anna , Quiban Carlota
Published: January 2021

The COVID-19 pandemic and consequent lockdown have precipitated significant disruption in the educational system. Nursing students are known to have higher levels of stress and anxiety than other non-nursing students, but there is a dearth of evidence regarding the impacts of the COVID-19 lockdown on their mental health and coping mechanisms. Purpose: The aim of this study was to explore the influence of coping mechanisms as predictors of stress, anxiety, and depression among nursing students during the COVID-19 lockdown. Methods: A cross-sectional online survey was conducted from 20 April to 10 May 2020 among 173 nursing students at a private university in Southern California, USA. Results: Self-reported stress, anxiety, and depression were significantly higher during the lockdown compared to the pre-lockdown period (p < 0.001). Almost a quarter of participants reported high stress, while more than half reported moderate-to-severe symptoms of anxiety and depression. High resilience was negatively associated with high stress (Odds Ratio (OR) = 0.46; 95% Confidence Interval (CI) = 0.22–0.98; p = 0.045), moderate-to-severe anxiety (OR = 0.47; 95%CI = 0.25–0.90; p = 0.022), and moderate-to-severe depression (OR = 0.50; 95%CI = 0.26–0.95; p = 0.036). Similarly, high family functioning was negatively associated with high stress (OR = 0.41; 95%CI = 0.20–0.86; p = 0.018), moderate-to-severe anxiety (OR = 0.41; 95%CI = 0.21–0.80; p = 0.009), and moderate-to-severe depression (OR = 0.41; 95%CI = 0.20–0.81; p = 0.011). High spiritual support was negatively associated with moderate-to-severe depression (OR = 0.48; 95%CI = 0.24–0.95; p = 0.035). Conclusions: During the COVID-19 lockdown, nursing students experienced remarkable levels of poor mental health. High levels of resilience and family functioning were associated with 2- to 2.4-fold lower risk of stress, anxiety, and depression, whereas high spiritual support was associated with 2-fold lower risk of depression. As the pandemic evolves, fostering these coping mechanisms may help students to maintain their psychological wellbeing.
Contact System Activation in Plasma from Dengue Patients Might Harness Endothelial Virus Replication through the Signaling of Bradykinin Receptors
Authors: Coelho Sharton V. A. , Rust Naiara M. , Vellasco Lucas , Papa Michelle P. , Pereira Aline S. G. , da Silva Palazzo Matheus Ferreira , Juliano Maria Aparecida , Costa Simone M. , Alves Ada M. B. , Cordeiro Marli T. , Marques Ernesto T. A. , Scharfstein Júlio , de Arruda Luciana B.
Published: January 2021

Since exacerbated inflammation and microvascular leakage are hallmarks of dengue virus (DENV) infection, here we interrogated whether systemic activation of the contact/kallikrein-kinin system (KKS) might hamper endothelial function. In vitro assays showed that dextran sulfate, a potent contact activator, failed to generate appreciable levels of activated plasma kallikrein (PKa) in the large majority of samples from a dengue cohort (n = 70), irrespective of severity of clinical symptoms. Impaired formation of PKa in dengue-plasmas correlated with the presence of cleaved Factor XII and high molecular weight kininogen (HK), suggesting that the prothrombogenic contact system is frequently triggered during the course of infection. Using two pathogenic arboviruses, DENV or Zika virus (ZIKV), we then asked whether exogenous BK could influence the outcome of infection of human brain microvascular endothelial cells (HBMECs). Unlike the unresponsive phenotype of Zika-infected HBMECs, we found that BK, acting via B2R, vigorously stimulated DENV-2 replication by reverting nitric oxide-driven apoptosis of endothelial cells. Using the mouse model of cerebral dengue infection, we next demonstrated that B2R targeting by icatibant decreased viral load in brain tissues. In summary, our study suggests that contact/KKS activation followed by BK-induced enhancement of DENV replication in the endothelium may underlie microvascular pathology in dengue.
In-Site and Ex-Site Date Palm Exposure to Heavy Metals Involved Infra-Individual Biomarkers Upregulation
Authors: Chaâbene Zayneb , Rorat Agnieszka , Kriaa Walid , Rekik Imen , Mejdoub Hafedh , Vandenbulcke Franck , Elleuch Amine
Published: January 2021

As a tree of considerable importance in arid regions—date palm, Phoenix dactylifera L. survival in contaminated areas of Sfax city has drawn our attention. Leaf samples of the plants grown in the study area showed high levels of cadmium (Cd), copper (Cu), and chromium (Cr). On the basis of this finding, the cellular mechanisms that explain these metal accumulations were investigated in controlled conditions. After four months of exposure to Cd, Cr, or Cu, high bioconcentration and translocation factor (TF > 1) have been shown for date palm plantlets exposed to Cd and low TF values were obtained for plantlets treated with Cr and Cu. Moreover, accumulation of oxidants and antioxidant enzyme activities occurred in exposed roots to Cu and Cd. Secondary metabolites, such as polyphenols and flavonoids, were enhanced in plants exposed at low metal concentrations and declined thereafter. Accumulation of flavonoids in cells may be correlated with the expression of the gene encoding Pdmate5, responsible for the transport of secondary metabolites, especially flavonoids. Other transporter genes responded positively to metal incorporation, especially Pdhma2, but also Pdabcc and Pdnramp6. The latter would be a new candidate gene sensitive to metallic stress in plants. Expressions of gene coding metal chelators were also investigated. Pdpcs1 and Pdmt3 exhibited a strong induction in plants exposed to Cr. These modifications of the expression of some biochemical and molecular based-markers in date palm helped to better understand the ability of the plant to tolerate metals. They could be useful in assessing heavy metal contaminations in polluted soils and may improve accumulation capacity of other plants.
Large-Scale Seedling Grow-Out Experiments Do Not Support Seed Transmission of Sweet Potato Leaf Curl Virus in Sweet Potato
Authors: Andreason Sharon A. , Olaniyi Omotola G. , Gilliard Andrea C. , Wadl Phillip A. , Williams Livy H. , Jackson D. Michael , Simmons Alvin M. , Ling Kai-Shu
Published: January 2021

Sweet potato leaf curl virus (SPLCV) threatens global sweet potato production. SPLCV is transmitted by Bemisia tabaci or via infected vegetative planting materials; however, SPLCV was suggested to be seed transmissible, which is a characteristic that is disputed for geminiviruses. The objective of this study was to revisit the validity of seed transmission of SPLCV in sweet potato. Using large-scale grow-out of sweet potato seedlings from SPLCV-contaminated seeds over 4 consecutive years, approximately 23,034 sweet potato seedlings of 118 genotype entries were evaluated. All seedlings germinating in a greenhouse under insect-proof conditions or in a growth chamber were free of SPLCV; however, a few seedlings grown in an open bench greenhouse lacking insect exclusion tested positive for SPLCV. Inspection of these seedlings revealed that B. tabaci had infiltrated the greenhouse. Therefore, transmission experiments were conducted using B. tabaci MEAM1, demonstrating successful vector transmission of SPLCV to sweet potato. Additionally, tests on contaminated seed coats and germinating cotyledons demonstrated that SPLCV contaminated a high percentage of seed coats collected from infected maternal plants, but SPLCV was never detected in emerging cotyledons. Based on the results of grow-out experiments, seed coat and cotyledon tests, and vector transmission experiments, we conclude that SPLCV is not seed transmitted in sweet potato.
Gentiana asclepiadea L. from Two High Mountainous Habitats: Inter- and Intrapopulation Variability Based on Species’ Phytochemistry
Authors: Popović Zorica , Krstić-Milošević Dijana , Marković Milena , Vidaković Vera , Bojović Srđan
Published: January 2021

Natural populations of Gentiana asclepiadea L., located at two mountainous sites, were HPLC-analyzed regarding the contents of six representative secondary metabolites. The contents of swertiamarin (SWM), gentiopicrin (GP), sweroside (SWZ), mangiferin (MGF), isoorientin (ISOOR), and isovitexin (ISOV) were determined in six populations (three per study site), and separately for aboveground and belowground plant parts. PCA showed a clear separation of four groups according to the contents of the analyzed secondary metabolites. Out of six analyzed compounds, five were present in all samples and only one (SWZ) was found in Golija populations (belowground parts) but not in Vlasina populations, and its presence can be indicative of the geolocation of populations. Clear separation of groups was mostly affected by the different contents of chemical compounds in plant parts (aboveground versus belowground) and by the differences related to population origin (higher content of SWM and GP in belowground parts of individuals from Vlasina populations and higher content of MGF and ISOOR of individuals from Golija populations). The results of this study contribute to the spatiochemical profiling of G. asclepiadea populations and a better understanding of inter- and intrapopulation variability of pharmacologically important compounds.
Responses of Plant Bud Bank Characteristics to the Enclosure in Different Desertified Grasslands on the Tibetan Plateau
Authors: Ding Xinjing , Su Peixi , Zhou Zijuan , Shi Rui , Yang Jianping
Published: January 2021

Asexual reproduction is the main mode of alpine plant reproduction, and buds play an important role in plant community succession. The purpose of this study is to explore whether the desertified grassland can recover itself through the existing bud bank. The bud bank composition, distribution and size of different desertified grasslands were studied using unit volume excavation on the Tibetan Plateau. The bud bank consisted of tiller, long and short rhizome buds, and more than 40% of buds were distributed in the 0–10 cm soil layer. Enclosure changed the bud density, distribution and composition. The bud densities were 4327 and 2681 No./m2 in light and middle desertified grasslands before enclosure, while that decreased to 3833 and 2567 No./m2 after enclosure. Tiller bud density and proportion of middle desertified grassland were the highest, increased from 2765 (31.26%, before enclosure) to 5556 No./m3 (62.67%, after enclosure). There were new grasses growing out in the extreme desertified grassland after enclosure. The meristem limitation index of moderate desertified grassland was the lowest (0.37), indicating that plant renewal was limited by bud bank. Plants constantly adjust the bud bank composition, distribution, and asexual reproduction strategy, and desertified grasslands can recover naturally, relying on their bud banks through an enclosure.
Antagonistic Interaction between Phosphinothricin and Nepeta rtanjensis Essential Oil Affected Ammonium Metabolism and Antioxidant Defense of Arabidopsis Grown In Vitro
Authors: Dmitrović Slavica , Dragićević Milan , Savić Jelena , Milutinović Milica , Živković Suzana , Maksimović Vuk , Matekalo Dragana , Perišić Mirjana , Mišić Danijela
Published: January 2021

Phosphinothricin (PPT) is one of the most widely used herbicides. PTT targets glutamine synthetase (GS) activity in plants, and its phytotoxicity is ascribed to ammonium accumulation and reactive oxygen species bursts, which drives rapid lipid peroxidation of cell membranes. In agricultural fields, PPT is extensively sprayed on plant foliage; however, a portion of the herbicide reaches the soil. According to the present study, PPT absorbed via roots can be phytotoxic to Arabidopsis, inducing more adverse effects in roots than in shoots. Alterations in plant physiology caused by 10 days exposure to herbicide via roots are reflected through growth suppression, reduced chlorophyll content, perturbations in the sugar and organic acid metabolism, modifications in the activities and abundances of GS, catalase, peroxidase, and superoxide dismutase. Antagonistic interaction of Nepeta rtanjensis essential oil (NrEO) and PPT, emphasizes the existence of complex control mechanisms at the transcriptional and posttranslational level, which result in the mitigation of PPT-induced ammonium toxicity and in providing more efficient antioxidant defense of plants. Simultaneous application of the two agents in the field cannot be recommended; however, NrEO might be considered as the PPT post-treatment for reducing harmful effects of herbicide residues in the soil on non-target plants.
Fungicidal Efficacy of Drying Plant Oils in Green Beans against Bean Rust (Uromyces appendiculatus)
Authors: Breiing Vera , Hillmer Jennifer , Schmidt Christina , Petry Michael , Behrends Brigitte , Steiner Ulrike , Kraska Thorsten , Pude Ralf
Published: January 2021

As biorationals, plant oils offer numerous advantages such as being natural products, with low ecotoxicological side effects, and high biodegradability. In particular, drying glyceride plant oils, which are rich in unsaturated fatty acids, might be promising candidates for a more sustainable approach in the discussion about plant protection and the environment. Based on this, we tested the protective and curative efficacy of an oil-in-water-emulsion preparation using drying plant oils (linseed oil, tung oil) and a semi-drying plant oil (rapeseed oil) separately and in different mixtures. Plant oils were tested in greenhouse experiments (in vivo) on green beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) against bean rust (Uromyces appendiculatus). We observed that a 2% oil concentration showed no or very low phytotoxic effects on green beans. Both tested drying oils showed a protective control ranging from 53–100% for linseed oil and 32–100% for tung oil. Longer time intervals of 6 days before inoculation (6dbi) were less effective than shorter intervals of 2dbi. Curative efficacies were lower with a maximum of 51% for both oils when applied 4 days past inoculation (4dpi) with the fungus. Furthermore, the results showed no systemic effects. These results underline the potential of drying plant oils as biorationals in sustainable plant protection strategies.
Genotype-by-Sequencing Analysis of Mutations and Recombination in Pepper Progeny of Gamma-Irradiated Gametophytes
Authors: Jo Yeong Deuk , Kang Han Sol , Choi Hong-Il , Kim Jin-Baek
Published: January 2021

The irradiation of dry seeds is the most widely-used irradiation method for improving seed-propagated crops; however, the irradiation of other tissues also has useful effects. The irradiation of plant reproductive organs, rather than seeds, for mutation breeding has advantages, such as producing non-chimeric progeny. However, the mutation frequency and spectrum produced using this method have not been analyzed on a genome-wide level. We performed a genotype-by-sequencing analysis to determine the frequencies of single-base substitutions and small (1–2 bp) insertions and deletions in hot pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) plants derived from crosses using gamma-irradiated female or male gametophytes. The progeny of irradiated gametophytes showed similar or higher DNA mutation frequencies, which were dependent on the irradiation dose and irradiated tissue, and less biased single base substitutions than progeny of irradiated seeds. These characteristics were expected to be beneficial for development of mutation population with a high frequency of small DNA mutations and performing reverse-genetics-based mutation screening. We also examined the possible use of this irradiation method in manipulating the meiotic recombination frequency; however, no statistically significant increase was detected. Our results provide useful information for further research and breeding using irradiated gametophytes.
Short-Time Impact of Soil Amendments with Medicago Plant Materials on Soil Nematofauna
Authors: Renčo Marek , Ntalli Nikoletta , D’Addabbo Trifone
Published: January 2021

Soil amendments with plant materials from Medicago species are widely acknowledged for a suppressive effect on plant-parasitic nematodes but their impact on beneficial components of soil nematofauna is still unknown. A study on potted tomato was carried out to investigate the short-time effects on the overall nematofauna of dry biomasses from six different Medicago species, i.e., M. sativa, M. heyniana, M. hybrida, M. lupulina, M. murex and M. truncatula, incorporated to natural soil at 10, 20, or 40 g kg−1 soil rates. All amendments resulted in a significant decrease of the total nematofauna biomass, whereas total abundance was significantly reduced only by M. heyniana, M. hybrida, and M. lupulina biomasses. Almost all the Medicago amendments significantly reduced the relative abundance of plant-parasites and root fungal feeders. All amendments significantly increased the abundance of bacterivores, whereas fungivores significantly increased only in soil amended with M. heyniana, M. lupulina and M. sativa plant materials. Mesorhabditis and Rhabditis were the most abundant genera of bacterivores, whereas Aphelenchoides and Aphelenchus prevailed among the fungivores. Predators were poorly influenced by all the tested Medicago biomasses, whereas the abundance of omnivores was negatively affected by M. heyniana and M. lupulina. Values of the Maturity Index and Sum Maturity Index were reduced by treatments with M. heyniana, M. hybrida, M. lupulina and M. sativa plant materials, whereas most of the tested amendments decreased values of the Channel Index while increasing those of the Enrichment Index. Enrichment and bacterivore footprints raised following soil addition with Medicago biomasses, whereas composite and fungivore footprints were significantly reduced. According to their overall positive effects on soil nematofauna, amendments with Medicago plant materials or their formulated derivatives could represent an additional tool for a sustainable management of plant-parasitic nematodes.
Evaluation of Dittrichia viscosa (L.) Greuter Dried Biomass for Weed Management
Authors: Boari Angela , Vurro Maurizio , Calabrese Generosa Jenny , Mahmoud Mohamed Nesma Zakaria , Cazzato Eugenio , Fracchiolla Mariano
Published: January 2021

Dittrichia viscosa (L.) Greuter, a plant species common in the Mediterranean basin, produces several bioactive compounds, some of which have herbicidal effects. A number of greenhouse and field experiments were carried out in order to evaluate if these effects could be obtained also by using the whole plant biomass, to identify the efficacious doses, determine their effects on seed germination and weed emergence, and to evaluate influence of soil characteristics on biomass efficacy. The experiments carried out evidenced that: (i) the dried biomass completely hampers plant emergence when high doses (30–40 kg biomass m−3 of soil) are mixed into the soil, or delays it at a lower dose (10 kg m−3); (ii) the detrimental effects are not affected by soil type. The exploitation of the D. viscosa dried biomass appears to be a feasible option in weed management practices and its potential is discussed.
The Quantitative Nanomechanical Mapping of Starch/Kaolin Film Surfaces by Peak Force AFM
Authors: Kwaśniewska Anita , Świetlicki Michał , Prószyński Adam , Gładyszewski Grzegorz
Published: January 2021

Starch films modified with additives are materials increasingly being used in the production of packaging. These types of biopolymers can, to a considerable degree, replace plastic, contributing to the reduction in both production and waste management costs. However, they should be characterised by specific mechanical and surface parameters which determine their application. In the presented work, the PeakForce Quantitative Nanomechanics Mapping (PFQNM) method was applied to analyse a starch-based biopolymer modified with two different kaolin clay contents (5% and 10%). The technique used facilitates the assessment of the correlation of Atomic Force Microscope AFM height parameters with nanomechanical ones which provide the definitions of mutual interactions and allow the possibility to analyse materials in respect of various details. The investigated material was mapped in the Derjaguin–Muller–Toporov (DMT) modulus, adhesion and height domains. The results obtained indicated the impact of additives on the determined parameters. Increases in the DMT modulus and the adhesion force, along with the kaolin content, were observed. The enhancement of starch films with kaolin clay also induced growth in the surface roughness parameters.
Model Parameterization with Quantitative Proteomics: Case Study with Trehalose Metabolism in Saccharomyces cerevisiae
Authors: Yap Chuan Fu , Garcia-Albornoz Manuel , Jarnuczak Andrew F. , Hubbard Simon J. , Schwartz Jean-Marc
Published: January 2021

When Saccharomyces cerevisiae undergoes heat stress it stimulates several changes that are necessary for its survival, notably in carbon metabolism. Notable changes include increase in trehalose production and glycolytic flux. The increase in glycolytic flux has been postulated to be due to the regulatory effects in upper glycolysis, but this has not been confirmed. Additionally, trehalose is a useful industrial compound for its protective properties. A model of trehalose metabolism in S. cerevisiae was constructed using Convenient Modeller, a software that uses a combination of convenience kinetics and a genetic algorithm. The model was parameterized with quantitative omics under standard conditions and validated using data collected under heat stress conditions. The completed model was used to show that feedforward activation of pyruvate kinase by fructose 1,6-bisphosphate during heat stress contributes to the increase in metabolic flux. We were also able to demonstrate in silico that overexpression of enzymes involved in production and degradation of trehalose can lead to higher trehalose yield in the cell. By integrating quantitative proteomics with metabolic modelling, we were able to confirm that the flux increase in trehalose metabolic pathways during heat stress is due to regulatory effects and not purely changes in enzyme expression. The overexpression of enzymes involved in trehalose metabolism is a potential approach to be exploited for trehalose production without need for increasing temperature.
MRENet: Simultaneous Extraction of Road Surface and Road Centerline in Complex Urban Scenes from Very High-Resolution Images
Authors: Shao Zhenfeng , Zhou Zifan , Huang Xiao , Zhang Ya
Published: January 2021

Automatic extraction of the road surface and road centerline from very high-resolution (VHR) remote sensing images has always been a challenging task in the field of feature extraction. Most existing road datasets are based on data with simple and clear backgrounds under ideal conditions, such as images derived from Google Earth. Therefore, the studies on road surface extraction and road centerline extraction under complex scenes are insufficient. Meanwhile, most existing efforts addressed these two tasks separately, without considering the possible joint extraction of road surface and centerline. With the introduction of multitask convolutional neural network models, it is possible to carry out these two tasks simultaneously by facilitating information sharing within a multitask deep learning model. In this study, we first design a challenging dataset using remote sensing images from the GF-2 satellite. The dataset contains complex road scenes with manually annotated images. We then propose a two-task and end-to-end convolution neural network, termed Multitask Road-related Extraction Network (MRENet), for road surface extraction and road centerline extraction. We take features extracted from the road as the condition of centerline extraction, and the information transmission and parameter sharing between the two tasks compensate for the potential problem of insufficient road centerline samples. In the network design, we use atrous convolutions and a pyramid scene parsing pooling module (PSP pooling), aiming to expand the network receptive field, integrate multilevel features, and obtain more abundant information. In addition, we use a weighted binary cross-entropy function to alleviate the background imbalance problem. Experimental results show that the proposed algorithm outperforms several comparative methods in the aspects of classification precision and visual interpretation.
Fusion and Correction of Multi-Source Land Cover Products Based on Spatial Detection and Uncertainty Reasoning Methods in Central Asia
Authors: Liu Keling , Xu Erqi
Published: January 2021

Land cover products are an indispensable data source in land surface process research, and their accuracy directly affects the reliability of related research. Due to the differences in factors such as satellite sensors, the temporal–spatial resolution of remote sensing images, and landcover interpretation technologies, various recently released land cover products are inconsistent, and their accuracy is usually insufficient to meet application requirements. This study, therefore, established a fusion and correction method for multi-source landcover products by combining them with landcover statistics from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), introducing a spatial consistency discrimination technique, and applying an improved Dempster-Shafer evidence fusion method. The five countries in Central Asia were used for a method application and verification assessment. The nine products selected (CCI-LC, CGLS, FROM-GLC, GLCNMO, MCD12Q, GFSAD30, PALSAR, GSWD, and GHS-BUILT) were consistent in time and covered the study area. Based on the interpretation of 1437 high-definition image verification areas, the overall accuracy of the fusion landcover result was 85.32%, and the kappa coefficient was 0.80, which was better than that of the existing comprehensive products. The spatial consistency fusion method had the advantage of an improved statistical fitting, with an overall similarity statistic of 0.999. The improved Dempster-Shafer evidence theory fusion method had an accuracy that was 4.86% higher than the spatial consistency method, and the kappa coefficient increased by 0.07. Combining these two methods improved the consistency of the multi-source data fusion and correction method established in this paper and will also provide more reliable basic data for future research in Central Asia.
Trustworthiness in Higher Education: The Role of Professor Benevolence and Competence
Authors: Di Battista Silvia , Smith Heather J. , Berti Chiara , Pivetti Monica
Published: January 2021

Trust is a fundamental element of educational success. However, compared to what we know about teachers’ perceptions of trust, relatively less is known about students’ perceptions of trust. This paper describes two experimental investigations that tested the effects of authority competence and benevolence on students’ perceptions of trust and their engagement. The investigations also explored whether university identification moderated the influence of authority competence and benevolence on assessments of authority trustworthiness and university engagement. As part of an online experiment administered in the Fall 2010 and the Spring 2011 academic terms, Italian (n = 211; Study 1) and U.S. (n = 226; Study 2) undergraduates were primed to identity or not identify with their university before they read one of four scenarios describing a professor’s behavior (i.e., competent and benevolent; competent but uncaring; incompetent but benevolent; incompetent and uncaring). Results showed that students from both Italy and the United States viewed a competent and caring professor as most trustworthy and an incompetent and uncaring professor as least trustworthy. Furthermore, in both countries, students trusted an incompetent and caring professor more compared to a competent and uncaring professor. University identification did not influence trustworthiness.
Does the Household Save Water? Evidence from Behavioral Analysis
Authors: Hasan Hasrul Hazman , Razali Siti Fatin Mohd , Razali Nor Hidayah Mohd
Published: January 2021

Management of water supply in urban areas is a challenge that must be faced by water supply companies to ensure the continuity of domestic water supply to the residents in the area. Hence, this study aims to identify local people’s behavior and daily activities that led to domestic water wastage. Furthermore, the relationship between the demographic factors of the population trends in reducing water use through water savings in their daily activities or installing a home-saving water system is also undertaken. The data were analyzed and interpreted using IBM SPSS software such as descriptive analysis, covering frequencies, mean and standard deviation, correlation with bivariate correlation, cross-tabulation, and multivariate analysis (MANOVA). Availability and demand in water management will only be managed if water resources and water supply engineers address all the balance sides. It will ensure a more comprehensive and interconnected water sector, ensuring the security and sustainability of water.
Data-Driven Epidemic Intelligence Strategies Based on Digital Proximity Tracing Technologies in the Fight against COVID-19 in Cities
Authors: Esposito Dario , Dipierro Giovanni , Sonnessa Alberico , Santoro Stefania , Pascazio Simona , Pluchinotta Irene
Published: January 2021

In a modern pandemic outbreak, where collective threats require global strategies and local operational defence applications, data-driven solutions for infection tracing and forecasting epidemic trends are crucial to achieve sustainable and socially resilient cities. Indeed, the need for monitoring, containing, and mitigating the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has generated a great deal of interest in Digital Proximity Tracing Technology (DPTT) on smartphones, as well as their function and effectiveness and insights of population acceptance. This paper introduces and compares different Data-Driven Epidemic Intelligence Strategies (DDEIS) developed on DPTTs. It aims to clarify to what extent DDEIS could be effective and both technologically and socially suitable in reaching the objective of a swift return to normality for cities, guaranteeing public health safety and minimizing the risk of epidemic resurgence. It assesses key advantages and limits in supporting both individual decision-making and policy-making, considering the role of human behaviour. Specifically, an online survey carried out in Italy revealed user preferences for DPTTs and provided preliminary data for an SEIR (Susceptible–Exposed–Infectious–Recovered) epidemiological model. This was developed to evaluate the impact of DDEIS on COVID-19 spread dynamics, and results are presented together with an evaluation of potential drawbacks.
Retrofitting a Process Plant in an Industry 4.0 Perspective for Improving Safety and Maintenance Performance
Authors: Di Carlo Fabio , Mazzuto Giovanni , Bevilacqua Maurizio , Ciarapica Filippo Emanuele
Published: January 2021

The transformation from traditional industry to Industry 4.0 can bring many benefits in various spheres, from efficiency to safety. However, this transition involves adopting technologically advanced machinery with a high level of digitization and communication. The costs and time to replace obsolete machines could be unsustainable for many companies while retrofitting the old machinery. To make them ready to the Industry 4.0 context, they may represent an alternative to the replacement. Even if there are many studies related to retrofitting applied to machinery, there are very few studies related to the literature process industry sector. In this work, we propose a case study of a two-phase mixing plant that needed to be enhanced in the safety and maintainability conditions with reasonable times and costs. In this regard, the Digital Twin techniques and Deep Learning algorithms will be tested to predict and detect future faults, not only already visible and existing malfunctions. This approach strength is that, with limited investments and reasonable times, it allows the transformation of an old plant into a smart plant capable of communicating quickly with operators to increase its safety and maintainability.
Team Dynamics Perceptions, Motivation, and Anxiety in University Athletes
Authors: Reyes-Hernández Orlando , Tristán José , López-Walle Jeanette M. , García-Mas Alexandre
Published: January 2021

This study aimed to evaluate the interrelation between team dynamics with motivation types and anxiety factors in university athletes, highlighting the role played by team members’ point of view and coach’s point of view. Participants were 674 university athletes, men (46.4%) and women (53.6%), from different sports, with an age range between 18 and 28 years (M = 21.06; SD = 2.07). Instruments used were Cooperation Workteam Questionnaire (CWQ), the Sports Motivation Scale (SMS-II), and the Sports Anxiety Scale (SAS-2). The model from the team member’s point of view presented adequate fit indices (χ2 (924) = 2690.17, χ2/df = 2.91, CFI = 0.90, RMSEA = 0.05), same as the model from the coach’s point of view (χ2 (924) = 2692.82, χ2/df = 2.99, CFI = 0.90, RMSEA = 0.05). The results obtained in both models show five indirect effects, two of them between team dynamics from both points of view with somatic anxiety and deconcentration, with autonomous motivation as a mediator, and the other three between the team dynamics from both perspectives with somatic anxiety, worry, and deconcentration, having controlled motivation as a mediator.
A Group-Decision-Making Framework for Evaluating Urban Flood Resilience: A Case Study in Yangtze River
Authors: Zhu Huagui , Liu Fan
Published: January 2021

Floods are among the most common and destructive natural disasters confronted by cities and are further aggravated by rapid climate change and increasing urbanization, posing a great challenge to flood risk management. To cope with uncertainty, there is a need to move towards approaches to managing flood risk by taking resilience into consideration. While the evaluation of urban flood resilience has gained much attention in recent decades, studies on quantitative measurement using multiple criteria decision making (MCDM) approaches are rare. In addition, the results determined by different MCDM methods may exhibit considerable variability. It is an intractable task to gather a group consensus from these methods. In this regard, in this paper, we propose a group-decision-making framework for measuring urban resilience to flooding, combining three stages, which are (i) normalizing the data, (ii) weighting the criteria and (iii) aggregating the results. Four objective MCDM methods—i.e., the variation coefficient method, Shannon weighting method, CRITIC and ideal point method—are proposed and treated as reliable methods. A stochastic multi criteria acceptability analysis is adopted to integrate those results into a composite resilience index. The proposed methodology is applied to the resilience evaluation problem of 41 cities in the Yangtze River basin, and the results are compared with those obtained with the four MCDM methods. It is demonstrated that our method considers all possible preferences among the results provided by various MCDM methods and is thus more robust and acceptable.
Post-Occupancy Evaluation of Indoor Air Quality and Thermal Performance in a Zero Carbon Building
Authors: Trofimova Polina , Cheshmehzangi Ali , Deng Wu , Hancock Craig
Published: January 2021

Maintaining a comfortable indoor environment throughout the year makes up the main part of energy consumption caused by people’s use of buildings. In recent years, China has started to integrate sustainable technologies into green building design and construction. However, some post-occupancy reports on certified buildings revealed that such integration has been perceived to prioritize energy savings over comfort. This paper aims to investigate the ability of the first Chinese zero carbon building to maintain comfortable and healthy indoor conditions in the summer season. The research implements a combination of occupant survey and on-site measurements to evaluate the occupants’ perception of the indoor environment quality (IEQ) and benchmark the measurements against relevant standards. The results from this study show that the mean summer indoor temperature was 0.9 °C above the standard limit, while on average, occupants gave a positive score to the indoor thermal environment. High contentment with the building acoustics was reported by users and supported by sensors measurements meeting the standard values. The illuminance levels were mainly maintained high with the exception of the light in one of the studied zones. Analyzing the data on occupants experiencing sick building syndromes revealed that 45.8% of respondents experienced at least one of the symptoms.
Sneaker, Dweller and Commuter: Evaluating Fish Behavior in Net-Based Monitoring at Hydropower Plants—A Case Study on Brown Trout (Salmo trutta)
Authors: Smialek Nicole , Pander Joachim , Heinrich Arne , Geist Juergen
Published: January 2021

Monitoring of fish passage at hydropower plants largely relies on stow-fyke-net captures installed downstream of turbine outlets, yet little is known about which fish behavior contributes to reduced catch efficiency. We studied fish-net interactions as well as biological and physical factors potentially influencing behavior in three experiments: (i) fall-through experiment, to measure the general physical ability of a fish to fit through a certain mesh size; (ii) net-perception experiment, where fish were filmed while being exposed to different mesh sizes, flow and lure conditions in a controlled arena setup; and (iii) stow-fyke-net experiment, where fish behavior was recorded using 20 cameras simultaneously inside a stow net during regular hydropower fish monitoring. In total, we analyzed 382 h of video recordings. The material revealed that fish interacted with the net on a high rate, independent of flow conditions, and tried to swim through the mesh regardless of whether their body fits through. Under field conditions, the fish showed three specific behavioral patterns, “sneaking,” “dwelling” and “commuting,” which led to a reduced recapture rate in the catch unit of the stow-fyke net. This study highlights the importance of considering fish behavior in future fish monitoring programs to improve the accuracy of turbine-effect assessments on fish.