bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Mediterranean Diet Adherence and Dietary Attitudes in Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Authors: Vrdoljak Josip , Vilović Marino , Živković Piero Marin , Tadin Hadjina Ivana , Rušić Doris , Bukić Josipa , Borovac Josip Anđelo , Božić Joško
Published: November 2020

A specific diet regimen is a promising way of managing inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), with the Mediterranean diet (MD) being a likely candidate due to its potential to modulate gut inflammation. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate nutritional habits and dietary attitudes of IBD patients, and to assess their adherence to the Mediterranean diet. The study enrolled 50 Crohn’s disease and 44 ulcerative colitis patients, with clinical and laboratory parameters taken. Dietary attitudes were examined, and adherence to MD was assessed using the Mediterranean Diet Service Score (MDSS). Average MDSS score was 6.0 (5.0–7.0), while only nine participants fulfilled criteria for Mediterranean diet adherence. Moreover, all of them were men (p = 0.021). Low percentage of adherence to recommended guidelines was observed for eating olive oil (25.5%), fresh fruit (14.9%), and vegetables (10.6%). Significant positive correlation was observed between total MDSS points and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol levels (p = 0.002). The majority of the patients (86.2%) considered that a more controlled diet could reduce their IBD symptoms, while 17% visited a nutritionist for diet advice. The majority of patients (84%) would visit educational programs regarding nutrition. In conclusion, adherence to MD was very low, while IBD patients were willing to extend their nutritional knowledge if proper educational programs were organized.
Later-Line Treatment with Lorlatinib in ALK- and ROS1-Rearrangement-Positive NSCLC: A Retrospective, Multicenter Analysis
Authors: Hochmair Maximilian J. , Fabikan Hannah , Illini Oliver , Weinlinger Christoph , Setinek Ulrike , Krenbek Dagmar , Prosch Helmut , Rauter Markus , Schumacher Michael , Wöll Ewald , Wass Romana , Brehm Elmar , Absenger Gudrun , Bundalo Tatjana , Errhalt Peter , Urban Matthias , Valipour Arschang
Published: November 2020

In clinical practice, patients with anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK)-rearrangement–positive non–small-cell lung cancer commonly receive sequential treatment with ALK tyrosine kinase inhibitors. The third-generation agent lorlatinib has been shown to inhibit a wide range of ALK resistance mutations and thus offers potential benefit in later lines, although real-world data are lacking. This multicenter study retrospectively investigated later-line, real-world use of lorlatinib in patients with advanced ALK- or ROS1-positive lung cancer. Fifty-one patients registered in a compassionate use program in Austria, who received second- or later-line lorlatinib between January 2016 and May 2020, were included in this retrospective real-world data analysis. Median follow-up was 25.3 months. Median time of lorlatinib treatment was 4.4 months for ALK-positive and 12.2 months for ROS-positive patients. ALK-positive patients showed a response rate of 43.2%, while 85.7% percent of the ROS1-positive patients were considered responders. Median overall survival from lorlatinib initiation was 10.2 and 20.0 months for the ALK- and ROS1-positive groups, respectively. In the ALK-positive group, lorlatinib proved efficacy after both brigatinib and alectinib. Lorlatinib treatment was well tolerated. Later-line lorlatinib treatment can induce sustained responses in patients with advanced ALK- and ROS1-positive lung cancer.
Punicalagin Regulates Key Processes Associated with Atherosclerosis in THP-1 Cellular Model
Authors: Almowallad Sanaa , Huwait Etimad , Al-Massabi Rehab , Saddeek Salma , Gauthaman Kalamegam , Prola Alexandre
Published: November 2020

Atherosclerosis may lead to cardiovascular diseases (CVD), which are the primary cause of death globally. In addition to conventional therapeutics for CVD, use of nutraceuticals that prevents cholesterol deposition, reduce existing plaques and hence anti-atherosclerotic effects of nutraceuticals appeared to be promising. As such, in the present study we evaluated the beneficial effects of punicalagin, a phytochemical against an atherosclerotic cell model in vitro. Cytotoxicity assays were examined for 10 µM concentration of punicalagin on THP-1 macrophages. Real-time-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was used to analyze monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) and Intercellular adhesion molecule (ICAM-1) expressions. Monocyte migration and cholesterol efflux assays were performed to investigate punicalagin’s further impact on the key steps of atherosclerosis. Cytotoxicity assays demonstrated no significant toxicity for punicalagin (10 µM) on THP-1 macrophages. Punicalagin inhibited the IFN-γ-induced overexpression of MCP-1 and ICAM-1 in macrophages by 10 fold and 3.49 fold, respectively, compared to the control. Punicalagin also reduced the MCP-1- mediated migration of monocytes by 28% compared to the control. Percentages of cellular cholesterol efflux were enhanced in presence or absence of IFN-γ by 88% and 84% compared to control with 58% and 62%, respectively. Punicalagin possesses anti-inflammatory and anti-atherosclerotic effects. Punicalagin also did not exhibit any cytotoxicity and therefore can be considered a safe and potential candidate for the treatment and prevention of atherosclerosis.
Comparison of the In Vitro and Ex Vivo Permeation of Existing Topical Formulations Used in the Treatment of Facial Angiofibroma and Characterization of the Variations Observed
Authors: Le Guyader Guillaume , Do Bernard , Vieillard Victoire , Andrieux Karine , Paul Muriel
Published: November 2020

Rapamycin has been used topically to treat facial angiofibromas associated with tuberous sclerosis for more than a decade. In the absence of a commercial form, a large number of formulations have been clinically tested. However, given the great heterogeneity of these studies, particularly with regard to the response criteria, it was difficult to know the impact and thus to compare the relevance of the formulations used. The objective of this work was therefore to evaluate the link between the diffusion of rapamycin and the physico-chemical characteristics of these different formulations on Strat-M® membranes as well as on human skin using Franz cells. Our results underline the importance of the type of vehicle used (hydrogel > cream > lipophilic ointment), the soluble state of rapamycin and its concentration close to saturation to ensure maximum thermodynamic activity. Thus, this is the first time that a comparative study of the different rapamycin formulations identified in the literature for the management of facial angiofibromas has been carried out using a pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical approach. It highlights the important parameters to be considered in the development and optimization of topical rapamycin formulations with regard to cutaneous absorption for clinical efficacy.
Coconut Oil Nanoemulsion Loaded with a Statin Hypolipidemic Drug for Management of Burns: Formulation and In Vivo Evaluation
Authors: Hosny Khaled M. , Alhakamy Nabil A. , Sindi Amal M. , Khallaf Rasha A.
Published: November 2020

Burn wound healing is a complex process that involves the repair of injured tissues and the control of infection to diminish the scar formation, pain, and discomfort associated with such injuries. The aim of this research was to formulate and optimize a self-nanoemulsion drug delivery system based on the use of coconut oil and loaded with simvastatin. Coconut oil possesses antiinflammatory and antibacterial activity, and simvastatin has interesting properties for promoting the wound-healing process because it increases the production of the vascular endothelial growth factor at the site of injury. The Box–Behnken design was employed for the optimization of the coconut oil–simvastatin self-nanoemulsion drug delivery system. The prepared formulations were characterized according to globular size and their activity in the healing of burn wounds by assessing the mean wound diameter and level of interlukin-6 in experimental animals. Additionally, the antimicrobial activity of the prepared formulations was assessed. The nanoemulsion was considered adequately formed when it had droplets of between 65 and 195 nm. The statistical design proved the important synergistic effect of coconut oil and simvastatin for burn wound management in their synergistic potentiation of wound closure and their anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial effects. The optimum formulation achieved up to a 5.3-fold decrease in the mean burn wound diameter, a 4.25-fold decrease in interleukin-6 levels, and a 6-fold increase in the inhibition zone against Staphylococcus aureus when compared with different control formulations. Therefore, the designed nanoemulsions containing a combination of coconut oil and simvastatin could be considered promising platforms for the treatment of chronic and burn wounds.
Janus Dendrimers to Assess the Anti-HCV Activity of Molecules in Cell-Assays
Authors: San Anselmo María , Lancelot Alexandre , Egido Julia E. , Clavería-Gimeno Rafael , Casanova Álvaro , Serrano José Luis , Hernández-Ainsa Silvia , Abian Olga , Sierra Teresa
Published: November 2020

The use of nanocarriers has been revealed as a valid strategy to facilitate drug bioavailability, and this allows for expanding the drug libraries for the treatment of certain diseases such as viral diseases. In the case of Hepatitis C, the compounds iopanoic acid and 3,3′,5-triiodothyroacetic acid (or tiratricol) were identified in a primary screening as bioactive allosteric inhibitors of viral NS3 protease, but they did not exhibit accurate activity inhibiting viral replication in cell-based assays. In this work, dendritic nanocarriers are proposed due to their unique properties as drug delivery systems to rescue the bioactivity of these two drugs. Specifically, four different amphiphilic Janus dendrimers synthesized by combining 2,2′-bis(hydroxymethyl)propionic acid (bis-MPA) and 2,2′-bis(glyciloxy)propionic acid (bis-GMPA) functionalized with either hydrophilic or lipophilic moieties at their periphery were used to entrap iopanoic acid and tiratricol. Interestingly, differences were found in the loading efficiencies depending on the dendrimer design, which also led to morphological changes of the resulting dendrimer aggregates. The most remarkable results consist of the increased water solubility of the bioactive compounds within the dendrimers and the improved antiviral activity of some of the dendrimer/drug aggregates, considerably improving antiviral activity in comparison to the free drugs. Moreover, imaging studies have been developed in order to elucidate the mechanism of cellular internalization.
Equine Drug Transporters: A Mini-Review and Veterinary Perspective
Authors: Rosa Brielle
Published: November 2020

Xenobiotic transport proteins play an important role in determining drug disposition and pharmacokinetics. Our understanding of the role of these important proteins in humans and pre-clinical animal species has increased substantially over the past few decades, and has had an important impact on human medicine; however, veterinary medicine has not benefitted from the same quantity of research into drug transporters in species of veterinary interest. Differences in transporter expression cause difficulties in extrapolation of drug pharmacokinetic parameters between species, and lack of knowledge of species-specific transporter distribution and function can lead to drug–drug interactions and adverse effects. Horses are one species in which little is known about drug transport and transporter protein expression. The purpose of this mini-review is to stimulate interest in equine drug transport proteins and comparative transporter physiology.
On the Combined Effect of Both the Reinforcement and a Waste Based Interfacial Modifier on the Matrix Glass Transition in iPP/a-PP-pPBMA/Mica Composites
Authors: García-Martínez Jesús-María , P. Collar Emilia
Published: November 2020

This work deals with the changes of the glass transition temperature (Tg) of the polymer in polypropylene/mica composites due to the combined and synergistic effect of the reinforcement and the interfacial modifier. In our case, we studied the effect on Tg of platy mica and an interfacial modifier with p-phenylen-bis-maleamic acid (pPBMA) grafted groups onto atactic polypropylene (aPP-pPBMA). This one contains 5.0 × 10−4 g·mol−1 (15% w/w) grafted pPBMA and was previously obtained by the author’s labs by using industrial polymerization wastes (aPP). The objective of the article must be perceived as two-fold. On one hand, the determination of the changes in the glass transition temperature of the isotactic polypropylene phase (iPP) due to both the reinforcement and the agent as determined form the damp factor in DMA analysis. On the other hand, forecasting the variation of this parameter (Tg) as a function of both the interfacial agent and reinforcement content. For such purposes, and by assuming the complex character of the iPP/aPP-pPBMA/Mica system, wherein interaction between the components will define the final behaviour, a Box–Wilson experimental design considering the amount of mica particles and of interface agent as the independent variables, and the Tg as the dependent one, has been used. By taking in mind that the glass transition is a design threshold for the ultimate properties of parts based in this type of organic–inorganic hybrid materials, the final purpose of the work is the prediction and interpretation of the effect of both variables on this key parameter.
Formulation and Evaluation of Microwave-Modified Chitosan-Curcumin Nanoparticles—A Promising Nanomaterials Platform for Skin Tissue Regeneration Applications Following Burn Wounds
Authors: Basit Hafiz Muhammad , Mohd Amin Mohd Cairul Iqbal , Ng Shiow-Fern , Katas Haliza , Shah Shefaat Ullah , Khan Nauman Rahim
Published: November 2020

Improved physicochemical properties of chitosan-curcumin nanoparticulate carriers using microwave technology for skin burn wound application are reported. The microwave modified low molecular weight chitosan variant was used for nanoparticle formulation by ionic gelation method nanoparticles analyzed for their physicochemical properties. The antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa cultures, cytotoxicity and cell migration using human dermal fibroblasts—an adult cell line—were studied. The microwave modified chitosan variant had significantly reduced molecular weight, increased degree of deacetylation and decreased specific viscosity. The nanoparticles were nano-sized with high positive charge and good dispersibility with entrapment efficiency and drug content in between 99% and 100%, demonstrating almost no drug loss. Drug release was found to be sustained following Fickian the diffusion mechanism for drug release with higher cumulative drug release observed for formulation (F)2. The microwave treatment does not render a destructive effect on the chitosan molecule with the drug embedded in the core of nanoparticles. The optimized formulation precluded selected bacterial strain colonization, exerted no cytotoxic effect, and promoted cell migration within 24 h post application in comparison to blank and/or control application. Microwave modified low molecular weight chitosan-curcumin nanoparticles hold potential in delivery of curcumin into the skin to effectively treat skin manifestations.
Cation Effect in the Corrosion Inhibition Properties of Coumarate Ionic Liquids and Acrylic UV-Coatings
Authors: Udabe Esther , Sommers Anthony , Forsyth Maria , Mecerreyes David
Published: November 2020

Chromate free corrosion inhibitors are searched for to mitigate the economic loss caused by mid-steel corrosion. Here, we show metal-free organic inhibitors having free coumarate anions that can be used either as direct corrosion inhibitors or incorporated into a polymer coating obtained by UV-curing. Four different ionic liquid monomers and polymer coatings with hexoxycoumarate anion and different polymerizable counter cations were investigated. Potentiodynamic polarization, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, and surface analyses have verified their corrosion inhibition performance on a mild steel AS1020 surface. In the case of the coumarate ionic liquid monomers, the most promising inhibitor is the one coupled with the ammonium cation, showing an inhibition efficiency of 99.1% in solution followed by the imidazolium, pyridinium, and anilinium. Next, the ionic liquid monomers were covalently integrated into an acrylic polymer coating by UV-photopolymerization. In this case, the barrier effect of the polymer coating is combined with the corrosion inhibitor effect of the pendant coumarate anion. Here, the best polymer coatings are those containing 20% imidazolium and pyridinium cations, presenting a greater impedance in the EIS (Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy) measurements and less evidence of corrosion in the scribe tests. This article shows that the cationic moiety of coumarate based ionic liquids and poly(ionic liquid)s has a significant effect on their excellent corrosion inhibition properties for a mild steel surface exposed to aqueous chloride solutions.
Optimal Recovery of Valuable Biomaterials, Chondroitin Sulfate and Bioapatites, from Central Skeleton Wastes of Blue Shark
Authors: Vázquez José , Fraguas Javier , González Pío , Serra Julia , Valcarcel Jesus
Published: November 2020

The industrial filleting of blue shark (Prionace glauca) led to the generation of a large number of central skeletons of low interest to fishmeal plants handling such wastes. In this context, the present study describes the optimization of the hydrolysis process (pH 8.35, T 58 °C, 1% (v/w) of alcalase and t = 4 h) to produce chondroitin sulfate (CS) together with the recovery of bioapatites. Then, that hydrolysate was chemically treated with an optimal alkaline-hydroalcoholic-saline solution (0.48 M of NaOH, 1.07 volumes of EtOH and 2.5 g/L of NaCl) and finally purified by ultrafiltration-diafiltration (30 kDa) to obtain glycosaminoglycan with a purity of 97% and a productive yield of 2.8% (w/w of skeleton). The size of the biopolymer (CS) was of 58 kDa with prevalence of 6S-GalNAc sulfation (4S/6S ratio of 0.25), 12% of GlcA 2S-GalNAc 6S and 6% of non-sulfated disaccharides. Crude bioapatites were purified by pyrolysis and FT-Raman and XRD techniques confirm the presence of hydroxyapatite [Ca5(PO4)3(OH)], with a molar mass of 502.3 g/mol, embedded in the organic matrix of the skeleton. The mineralized tissues of blue shark are promising marine sources for the extraction of high value biomaterials with clinical application in bone and tissue regeneration and are still completely unexplored.
Preparation and Optimization of Water-Soluble Cationic Sago Starch with a High Degree of Substitution Using Response Surface Methodology
Authors: Md Nasir Nur’Izzah , Abdulmalek Emilia , Zainuddin Norhazlin
Published: November 2020

Modification and characterizations of cationic sago starch with 3-chloro-2-hydroxypropyl trimethylammonium chloride (CHPTAC) prepared via etherification reaction was reported in this study. The optimization of cationic sago starch modification was performed by utilizing the combination of response surface methodology and central composite design (RSM/CCD). The effect of each variable and the interaction between the three variables, the concentration of CHPTAC, concentration of the catalyst NaOH, and the reaction times on the degree of substitution (DS) of the product were investigated and modeled. Moderate conditions were employed and a water-soluble cationic sago starch with high DS value was obtained. Based on RSM, the highest DS = 1.195 was obtained at optimum conditions: 0.615 mol of CHPTAC concentration (CHPTAC/SS = 5), 30% w/v NaOH, and 5 h reaction time, at 60 °C reaction temperature. Furthermore, the cationic sago starch was characterized using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, FTIR, X-ray diffraction, XRD, and field emission scanning electron microscopy, FESEM.
On the Use of Biobased Waxes to Tune Thermal and Mechanical Properties of Polyhydroxyalkanoates–Bran Biocomposites
Authors: Gigante Vito , Cinelli Patrizia , Righetti Maria Cristina , Sandroni Marco , Polacco Giovanni , Seggiani Maurizia , Lazzeri Andrea
Published: November 2020

In this work, processability and mechanical performances of bio-composites based on poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) (PHBV) containing 5, 10, and 15 wt % of bran fibers, untreated and treated with natural carnauba and bee waxes were evaluated. Wheat bran, the main byproduct of flour milling, was used as filler to reduce the final cost of the PHBV-based composites and, in the same time, to find a potential valorization to this agro-food by-product, widely available at low cost. The results showed that the wheat bran powder did not act as reinforcement, but as filler for PHBV, due to an unfavorable aspect ratio of the particles and poor adhesion with the polymeric matrix, with consequent moderate loss in mechanical properties (tensile strength and elongation at break). The surface treatment of the wheat bran particles with waxes, and in particular with beeswax, was found to improve the mechanical performance in terms of tensile properties and impact resistance of the composites, enhancing the adhesion between the PHBV-based polymeric matrix and the bran fibers, as confirmed by predictive analytic models and dynamic mechanical analysis results.
Influence of an Alkoxylation Grade of Acrylates on Shrinkage of UV-Curable Compositions
Authors: Czech Zbigniew , Kabatc Janina , Bartkowiak Marcin , Mozelewska Karolina , Kwiatkowska Dominika
Published: November 2020

Commercially available UV curable restorative materials are composed of inorganic filler hydroxyapatite, multifunctional methacrylate, photoinitiator and alkoxylated acrylate. Especially, the application of alkoxylated monomers with different alkoxylation grade allows the reduction of polymerization shrinkage which plays the major role by application of low shrinkage composites as high quality restorative dental materials or other adhesive materials in the form of UV-polymerized self-adhesive acrylics layers (films). There are several ways to reduce polymerization shrinkage of restorative compositions, for example, by adjusting different alkoxylated acrylic monomers, which are integral part of investigated UV curable restorative composites. This article is focused on the studies of contraction-stress measured as shrinkage during UV-initiated curing of restorative composites containing various commercially available alkoxylated acrylates. Moreover, studies with experimental restorative materials and recent developments typical for UV curing technology using special photoreactive monomers are described.
Polymeric Drug Delivery Systems Bearing Cholesterol Moieties: A Review
Authors: Misiak Paweł , Markiewicz Karolina H. , Szymczuk Dawid , Wilczewska Agnieszka Z.
Published: November 2020

This review aims to provide an overview of polymers comprising cholesterol moiety/ies designed to be used in drug delivery. Over the last two decades, there have been many papers published in this field, which are summarized in this review. The primary focus of this article is on the methods of synthesis of polymers bearing cholesterol in the main chain or as side chains. The data related to the composition, molecular weight, and molecular weight distribution of polymers are presented. Moreover, other aspects, such as forms of carriers, types of encapsulated drugs, encapsulation efficiency and capacity, are also included.
Effects of Accelerated Weathering on Degradation Behavior of Basalt Fiber Reinforced Polymer Nanocomposites
Authors: Hashim Ummu Raihanah , Jumahat Aidah , Jawaid Mohammad , Dungani Rudi , Alamery Salman
Published: November 2020

This work aims to give insight on the effect of accelerated weathering, i.e., the combination of ultraviolet (UV) exposure and water spraying, on the visual and mechanical properties of basalt fiber reinforced polymer (BFRP) composites. The solvent exchange method, sonication and high shear milling technique were used to prepare the nanocomposite laminates. Three types of laminates were fabricated, i.e., unmodified BFRP, nanosilica modified BFRP and graphene nanoplatelet (GNP) modified BFRP composites with the total fiber loading of 45 wt.%. Glass fiber reinforced polymer (GFRP) laminate was also prepared for performance comparison purposes between the natural and synthetic fibers. The laminates were exposed to UV with a total weathering condition of 504 h using a Quantum-UV accelerated weathering tester. The weathering condition cycle was set at 8 h 60 °C UV exposure and 4 h 50 °C condensation. The discoloration visual inspection on the tested specimen was observed under the optical microscope. The obtained results showed that the UV exposure and water absorption caused severe discoloration of the laminates due to photo-oxidation reaction. The effect of weathering conditions on tensile and flexural properties of unmodified BFRP composites indicated that the UV exposure and water absorption caused reduction by 12% in tensile strength and by 7% in flexural strength. It is also found that the reduction in tensile and flexural properties of nanomodified BFRP composites was smaller than the unmodified system. It concluded from this work, that the mineral based composites (i.e., BFRP) has high potential for structural applications owing to its better properties than synthetic based composites (i.e., GFRP).
The Effect of Jackfruit Skin Powder and Fiber Bleaching Treatment in PLA Composites with Incorporation of Thymol
Authors: Marzuki Muhammad Najib Ahmad , Tawakkal Intan Syafinaz Mohamed Amin , Basri Mohd Salahuddin Mohd , Othman Siti Hajar , Kamarudin Siti Hasnah , Lee Ching Hao , Khalina Abdan
Published: November 2020

Food packaging has seen a growth in the use of materials derived from renewable resources such as poly(lactic acid) (PLA). However, the initial costs to produce bioplastics are typically high. Tropical fruit waste as naturally sourced fibres, such as jackfruit skin, can be used as a cost-reducing filler for PLA. The main objective in this study is to fabricate a low-cost natural fibre-reinforced polymer that potentially applies in packaging with the aid of bleaching treatment. The treatment shows a rougher surface fibre in Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) micrographs and it is expected to have better mechanical locking with the matrix, and this is found similar with a Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis. Unfortunately, fibre insertion does find low tensile performances, yet bleached-fibre composites improved its performance significantly. A similar situation was found in the thermal characterization where a low-thermal stability natural fibre composite has lower thermal behaviour and this increased with bleaching treatment. Besides, bleached-fibre composites have a longer service period. Besides, a 15 wt% thymol insertion inhibits the growth of Gram-positive bacteria in the composites and the non-treated fibre composite has better thymol effects. The 30 wt% of the bleached-fibre insertion composite has a high potential to reduce the cost of bioplastic products with minimum alterations of overall performances.
Biodegradable Polymer Coated Granular Urea Slows Down N Release Kinetics and Improves Spinach Productivity
Authors: Beig Bilal , Niazi Muhammad Bilal Khan , Jahan Zaib , Kakar Salik Javed , Shah Ghulam Abbas , Shahid Muhammad , Zia Munir , Haq Midrar Ul , Rashid Muhammad Imtiaz
Published: November 2020

Low nitrogen (N) utilization efficiency due to environmental N losses from fertilizers results in high-cost on-farm production. Urea coating with biodegradable polymers can prevent these losses by controlling the N release of fertilizers. We calculated N release kinetics of coated granular with various biodegradable polymeric materials and its impact on spinach yield and N uptake. Different formulations were used, (i) G-1: 10% starch + 5% polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) + 5% molasses; (ii) G-2: 10% starch + 5% PVA + 5% paraffin wax (PW); (iii) G-3: 5% gelatin + 10% gum arabic + 5% PW; (iv) G-4: 5% molasses + 5% gelatin + 10% gum arabic, to coat urea using a fluidized bed coater. The morphological and X-ray diffraction (XRD) analyses indicated that a uniform coating layer with no new phase formation occurred. In the G-2 treatment, maximum crushing strength (72.9 N) was achieved with a slowed-down N release rate and increased efficiency of 31%. This resulted in increased spinach dry foliage yield (47%), N uptake (60%) and apparent N recovery (ANR: 130%) from G-2 compared to uncoated urea (G-0). Therefore, coating granular urea with biodegradable polymers is a good choice to slower down the N release rate and enhances the crop yield and N utilization efficiency from urea.
Poly(ethylene Terephthalate) Carbon-Based Nanocomposites: A Crystallization and Molecular Orientation Study
Authors: Alexiou Vasiliki F. , Mathioudakis George N. , Andrikopoulos Konstantinos S. , Soto Beobide Amaia , Voyiatzis George A.
Published: November 2020

Hybrid polymeric materials incorporating carbon nanostructures or inorganic constituents stand as a promising class of materials exhibiting distinct but also complementary features. Carbon nanotubes have been proposed as unique candidates for polymer reinforcement; however, sustained efforts are further needed in order to make full use of their potential. The final properties of the reinforced polymer are controlled in part by the morphology and the eventual molecular orientation of the polymer matrix. In the present study, multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) were utilized in order to reinforce polyethylene terephthalate (PET) composites. The effect of CNTs on the crystallization and the orientation of the structurally hybridized polymeric material has been investigated from the perspective of assessing their impact on the final properties of a relevant nanocomposite product. Functionalized MWCNTs were used to achieve their optimal dispersion in the polymer matrix. The physical properties of the composites (i.e., crystallinity and orientation) were characterized via differential scanning calorimetry, X-ray diffraction, and polarized Raman microscopy. The addition of well-dispersed CNTs acted as a nucleation agent, increasing the crystallization of the polyethylene terephthalate matrix and differentiating the orientation of both CNTs and macromolecular chains.
Reexamining the “Separation of Church and Space”: Evangelical Protestant Support for Space Exploration in the Trump–Pence Age
Authors: Ambrosius Joshua D.
Published: November 2020

President Donald Trump began his presidency in January 2017 by exclaiming, “We stand at the birth of a new millennium, ready to unlock the mysteries of space…” His “Make America Great Again” agenda has included a reinvigorated space policy—spearheaded by the creation of the Space Force military branch and NASA’s Launch America in partnership with the private sector. Prior to this administration, a 2015 study by Ambrosius found that Evangelical Protestants are the least supportive of space exploration when compared with other religious traditions and the public. These findings emerged from the analysis of several national surveys conducted between 2009 and 2011. This present study uses similar methods to revisit these findings in light of Evangelicals’ robust political support for the president and Vice President Mike Pence, the chair of the National Space Council who frequently evokes religious imagery in space-related speeches. Analysis of the General Social Survey conducted between 2004 and 2018 reveals that Trump’s presidency may have modestly altered this wall of separation. Evangelicals in 2018 remain significantly lower than non-Evangelicals in space knowledge, interest, and policy support, but they exhibit greater increases than the non-Evangelical population in space interest and support over levels during the Obama and Bush presidencies.
Uncertainty and Overfitting in Fluvial Landform Classification Using Laser Scanned Data and Machine Learning: A Comparison of Pixel and Object-Based Approaches
Authors: Csatáriné Szabó Zsuzsanna , Mikita Tomáš , Négyesi Gábor , Varga Orsolya Gyöngyi , Burai Péter , Takács-Szilágyi László , Szabó Szilárd
Published: November 2020

Floodplains are valuable scenes of water management and nature conservation. A better understanding of their geomorphological characteristic helps to understand the main processes involved. We performed a classification of floodplain forms in a naturally developed area in Hungary using a Digital Terrain Model (DTM) of aerial laser scanning. We derived 60 geomorphometric variables from the DTM and prepared a geomorphological map of 265 forms (crevasse channels, point bars, swales, levees). Random Forest classification was conducted with Recursive Feature Elimination (RFE) on the objects (mean pixel values by forms) and on the pixels of the variables. We also evaluated the classification probabilities (CP), the spatial uncertainties (SU), and the overfitting in the function of the number of the variables. We found that the object-based method had a better performance (95%) than the pixel-based method (78%). RFE helped to identify the most important 13–20 variables, maintaining the high model performance and reducing the overfitting. However, CP and SU were not efficient measures of classification accuracy as they were not in accordance with the class level accuracy metric. Our results help to understand classification results and the specific limits of laser scanned DTMs. This methodology can be useful in geomorphologic mapping.
Sea Surface Temperature and High Water Temperature Occurrence Prediction Using a Long Short-Term Memory Model
Authors: Kim Minkyu , Yang Hyun , Kim Jonghwa
Published: November 2020

Recent global warming has been accompanied by high water temperatures (HWTs) in coastal areas of Korea, resulting in huge economic losses in the marine fishery industry due to disease outbreaks in aquaculture. To mitigate these losses, it is necessary to predict such outbreaks to prevent or respond to them as early as possible. In the present study, we propose an HWT prediction method that applies sea surface temperatures (SSTs) and deep-learning technology in a long short-term memory (LSTM) model based on a recurrent neural network (RNN). The LSTM model is used to predict time series data for the target areas, including the coastal area from Goheung to Yeosu, Jeollanam-do, Korea, which has experienced frequent HWT occurrences in recent years. To evaluate the performance of the SST prediction model, we compared and analyzed the results of an existing SST prediction model for the SST data, and additional external meteorological data. The proposed model outperformed the existing model in predicting SSTs and HWTs. Although the performance of the proposed model decreased as the prediction interval increased, it consistently showed better performance than the European Center for Medium-Range Weather Forecast (ECMWF) prediction model. Therefore, the method proposed in this study may be applied to prevent future damage to the aquaculture industry.
Coastal Dam Inundation Assessment for the Yellow River Delta: Measurements, Analysis and Scenario
Authors: Wang Guoyang , Li Peng , Li Zhenhong , Ding Dong , Qiao Lulu , Xu Jishang , Li Guangxue , Wang Houjie
Published: November 2020

Coastal dams along the Yellow River Delta are built to prevent seawater intrusion. However, land subsidence caused by significant oil, gas and brine extraction, as well as sediment compaction, could exacerbate the flooding effects of sea-level rise and storm surge. In order to evaluate the coastal dam vulnerability, we combined unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) with small baseline subsets (SBAS) interferometric synthetic aperture radar (InSAR) results to generate an accurate coastal dam digital elevation model (DEM) over the next 10, 30 and 80 years. Sea-level simulation was derived from the relative sea-level rise scenarios published by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and local long-term tide gauge records. Assuming that the current rate of dam vertical deformation and sea-level rise are linear, we then generated different inundation scenarios by the superposition of DEMs and sea-levels at different periods by way of a bathtub model. We found that the overtopping event would likely occur around Year 2050, and the northern part of the dam would lose its protective capability almost entirely by the end of this century. This article provides an alternative cost-effective method for the detection, extraction and monitoring of coastal artificial infrastructure.
Cloud-Based Monitoring of Thermal Anomalies in Industrial Environments Using AI and the Internet of Robotic Things
Authors: Ghazal Mohammed , Basmaji Tasnim , Yaghi Maha , Alkhedher Mohammad , Mahmoud Mohamed , El-Baz Ayman S.
Published: November 2020

Recent advancements in cloud computing, artificial intelligence, and the internet of things (IoT) create new opportunities for autonomous industrial environments monitoring. Nevertheless, detecting anomalies in harsh industrial settings remains challenging. This paper proposes an edge-fog-cloud architecture with mobile IoT edge nodes carried on autonomous robots for thermal anomalies detection in aluminum factories. We use companion drones as fog nodes to deliver first response services and a cloud back-end for thermal anomalies analysis. We also propose a self-driving deep learning architecture and a thermal anomalies detection and visualization algorithm. Our results show our robot surveyors are low-cost, deliver reduced response time, and more accurately detect anomalies compared to human surveyors or fixed IoT nodes monitoring the same industrial area. Our self-driving architecture has a root mean square error of 0.19 comparable to VGG-19 with a significantly reduced complexity and three times the frame rate at 60 frames per second. Our thermal to visual registration algorithm maximizes mutual information in the image-gradient domain while adapting to different resolutions and camera frame rates.
Radar Emitter Signal Recognition Based on One-Dimensional Convolutional Neural Network with Attention Mechanism
Authors: Wu Bin , Yuan Shibo , Li Peng , Jing Zehuan , Huang Shao , Zhao Yaodong
Published: November 2020

As the real electromagnetic environment grows complex and the quantity of radar signals turns massive, traditional methods, which require a large amount of prior knowledge, are time-consuming and ineffective for radar emitter signal recognition. In recent years, convolutional neural network (CNN) has shown its superiority in recognition so that experts have applied it in radar signal recognition. However, in the field of radar emitter signal recognition, the data are usually one-dimensional (1-D), which takes more time and storage space than by using the original two-dimensional CNN model directly. Moreover, the features extracted from convolutional layers are redundant so that the recognition accuracy is low. In order to solve these problems, this paper proposes a novel one-dimensional convolutional neural network with an attention mechanism (CNN-1D-AM) to extract more discriminative features and recognize the radar emitter signals. In this method, features of the given 1-D signal sequences are extracted directly by the 1-D convolutional layers and are weighted in accordance with their importance to recognition by the attention unit. The experiments based on seven different radar emitter signals indicate that the proposed CNN-1D-AM has the advantages of high accuracy and superior performance in radar emitter signal recognition.
Efficient Communication Scheme for Bluetooth Low Energy in Large Scale Applications
Authors: Nikodem Maciej , Slabicki Mariusz , Bawiec Marek
Published: November 2020

The use of Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) in the Internet-of-Things (IoT) applications has become widespread and popular. This has resulted in the increased number of deployed BLE devices. To ensure energy efficiency, applications use connectionless communication where nodes broadcast information using advertisement messages. As the BLE devices compete for access to spectrum, collisions are inevitable and methods that improve device coexistence are required. This paper proposes a connectionless communication scheme for BLE that improves communication efficiency in IoT applications where a large number of BLE nodes operate in the same area and communicate simultaneously to a central server. The proposed scheme is based on an active scanning mode and is compared with a typical application where passive scanning mode is used. The evaluation is based on numerical simulations and real-life evaluation of a network containing 150 devices. The presented scheme significantly reduces the number of messages transmitted by each node and decreases packet loss ratio. It also improves the energy efficiency and preserves the battery of BLE nodes as they transmit fewer radio messages and effectively spent less time actively communicating. The proposed connectionless BLE communication scheme can be applied to a large variety of IoT applications improving their performance and coexistence with other devices operating in the 2.4 GHz band. Additionally, the implementation complexity and costs of the proposed communication scheme are negligible.
A Framework for Identifying the Critical Region in Water Distribution Network for Reinforcement Strategy from Preparation Resilience
Authors: Zhang Mingyuan , Zhang Juan , Li Gang , Zhao Yuan
Published: November 2020

Water distribution networks (WDNs), an interconnected collection of hydraulic control elements, are susceptible to a small disturbance that may induce unbalancing flows within a WDN and trigger large-scale losses and secondary failures. Identifying critical regions in a water distribution network (WDN) to formulate a scientific reinforcement strategy is significant for improving the resilience when network disruption occurs. This paper proposes a framework that identifies critical regions within WDNs, based on the three metrics that integrate the characteristics of WDNs with an external service function; the criticality of urban function zones, nodal supply water level and water shortage. Then, the identified critical regions are reinforced to minimize service loss due to disruptions. The framework was applied for a WDN in Dalian, China, as a case study. The results showed the framework efficiently identified critical regions required for effective WDN reinforcements. In addition, this study shows that the attributes of urban function zones play an important role in the distribution of water shortage and service loss of each region.
Effect of Walkability on Urban Sustainability in the Osaka Metropolitan Fringe Area
Authors: Kato Haruka
Published: November 2020

This study aimed to clarify the effect of walkability on urban sustainability, according to the types of residential clusters in the Osaka Metropolitan fringe area. For this purpose, this study analyzed the statistical causal relationship between the Walkability Index and the Ecological Footprint to Biocapacity (EF/BC) ratio of each residential cluster. The EF/BC ratio is the ratio of the ecological footprint of the biocapacity of the residential clusters. As a result, the effect of walkability on urban sustainability was clarified depending upon the types of residential clusters in the Osaka Metropolitan fringe area. Specifically, it was found that the Walkability Index negatively affects the EF/BC ratio in the sprawl cluster. This suggests that, in the sprawl cluster, active efforts to improve the Walkability Index can contribute to the realization of SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals of the 2030 Agenda). However, Walkability Index has a strong positive effect on the EF/BC ratio in the old new-town cluster, etc. For the residential clusters, the results of this study suggested that there is a necessity to improve urban sustainability through approaches other than improving Walkability.
Predicting Tree Species Diversity Using Geodiversity and Sentinel-2 Multi-Seasonal Spectral Information
Authors: Chrysafis Irene , Korakis Georgios , Kyriazopoulos Apostolos P. , Mallinis Giorgos
Published: November 2020

Measuring and monitoring tree diversity is a prerequisite for altering biodiversity loss and the sustainable management of forest ecosystems. High temporal satellite remote sensing, recording difference in species phenology, can facilitate the extraction of timely, standardized and reliable information on tree diversity, complementing or replacing traditional field measurements. In this study, we used multispectral and multi-seasonal remotely sensed data from the Sentinel-2 satellite sensor along with geodiversity data for estimating local tree diversity in a Mediterranean forest area. One hundred plots were selected for in situ inventory of tree species and measurement of tree diversity using the Simpson’s (D1) and Shannon (H′) diversity indices. Four Sentinel-2 scenes and geodiversity variables, including elevation, aspect, moisture, and basement rock type, were exploited through a random forest regression algorithm for predicting the two diversity indices. The multi-seasonal models presented the highest accuracy for both indices with an R2 up to 0.37. In regard to the single season, spectral-only models, mid-summer and mid-autumn model also demonstrated satisfactory accuracy (max R2 = 0.28). On the other hand, the accuracy of the spectral-only early-spring and early-autumn models was significant lower (max R2 = 0.16), although it was improved with the use of geodiversity information (max R2 = 0.25).
Is Financial Information Influencing the Reporting on SDGs? Empirical Evidence from Central and Eastern European Chemical Companies
Authors: Nechita Elena , Manea Cristina Lidia , Nichita Elena-Mirela , Irimescu Alina-Mihaela , Manea Diana
Published: November 2020

Since the adoption of the sustainable development goals (SDGs) endorsed by United Nations in 2015, which envision an ambitious representation of what the world could look like in the upcoming years, companies have been employing different approaches to identify and report on their contributions to the SDGs, albeit facing various difficulties due to the goals’ novelty, legislative deficiencies, and the complexity of connections between SDGs and business performance. In this context, the relationship between sustainability practices and firms’ financial performance has attracted much attention among researchers. Consequently, this research is focusing on determining to what extent the financial indicators disclosed in the annual reports are impacting the quality of non-financial reporting based on SDGs in the case of chemical companies operating in Central and Eastern European countries (Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Romania and Slovakia), within the time frame of 2015–2019. To reach our objective, a score-based content analysis was applied to assess the measure of SDGs achievement, and subsequently, the SDG score was used in multiple linear regression models with several financial data-based independent variables. The main findings highlight the companies’ contribution to the SDGs, particularly to those addressing the environment and decent work conditions for employees, and suggest that the research and development costs and other intangibles represent the most influential variable in explaining the variation in the firms’ SDG score. Academics, businesses and legislative bodies may find these results valuable in their corresponding activities: theoretical, pragmatic or statutory.