bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Editorial for the Special Issue “Requirements in Design Processes: Open Issues, Relevance and Implications”
Authors: Rotini Federico , Becattini Niccolò , Borgianni Yuri , Fiorineschi Lorenzo
Published: October 2022

Requirements play a key role in the design process by affecting analysis, synthesis and evaluation activities at different levels and in different ways [...]
A Multi-Source Consistency Domain Adaptation Neural Network MCDANN for Fault Diagnosis
Authors: Chen Heng , Shi Lei , Zhou Shikun , Yue Yingying , An Ninggang
Published: October 2022

As the complexity and cost of industrial systems continue to increase, so does the need for the safety and reliability of industrial systems. In recent years, in the field of mechanical fault diagnosis, methods based on deep learning are gradually gaining popularity. The traditional deep learning method assumes that the training set and the test set belong to the same working condition, which is contrary to the actual industrial process. In order to improve the general ability of the fault diagnosis model, researchers start to study the domain adaptation method. However, most domain adaptation methods do not impose constraints on the test set, which leads to the occurrence of the domain mismatch problem. This paper proposes a multi-source consistency domain adaptation neural network MCDANN, which uses sub-domain division alignment and multi-source prediction consistency to achieve fine-grained domain matching and improve the transfer accuracy of the model. This paper conducts domain adaptation experiments on the open-source bearing fault dataset CWRU and DIRG bearing dataset and compares them with other classical methods. Experiments show that in the case of a signal-to-noise ratio of −4, the MCDANN model achieves an average diagnostic accuracy of more than 96% on the CWRU dataset and the DIRG dataset on noisy fault signals from the target domain, and is superior in almost all fields than other adaptive models.
Shooting Prediction Based on Vision Sensors and Trajectory Learning
Authors: Zhao Yuliang , Zhang Xinyue , Yang Mingliang , Zhang Qingchao , Li Jian , Lian Chao , Bi Changbo , Wang Zhiping , Zhang Guanglie
Published: October 2022

Basketball has become one of the most popular sports and is generally popular in international sports events. However, how to effectively achieve shooting prediction and then guide shooting has become a major challenge. Different from the classical manual observation method, this paper proposes a real-time shooting prediction method based on vision sensors and trajectory learning. In the research, we first extracted the basketball trajectory information on template matching and centroid calculation and then obtained a smooth trajectory curve through interpolation. Taking the change of x, y coordinate position, height Y, and distance D from the shooting point during the instantaneous movement as basic features, four machine learning algorithms were used to analyze the impact of different feature combinations on the shooting prediction. Finally, we analyzed the minimum trajectory point requirements predicted when making a shot. The experimental results show that our method can effectively predict the effect of shooting when the feature combination is basketball height and time. When the interpolation density is high (the total number of trajectory points is 116), the overall accuracy can reach more than 90%, and only one-third of the effective trajectory length is required, which effectively helps athletes improve their shooting percentage and assist referees in daily training.
Research on De-Noising Method of Grounded Electrical Source Airborne Transient Electromagnetic Data Based on Singular Spectrum Analysis
Authors: Luan Hui , Yu Xiaoyang , Wang Yingying , Wu Qiong , Tian Baofeng
Published: October 2022

The grounded electrical source airborne transient electromagnetic (GREATEM) system is widely used in groundwater resources detection, geothermal resource detection, geological structure detection, and other fields due to its wide detection range, high detection efficiency, and high resolution. The field data received by the GREATEM system is easily affected by various noises, such as instrument system noise, power frequency noise, sferics noise, and other noise, which reduce the data signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and affects the data interpretation accuracy. This paper proposes a singular spectrum analysis (SSA) for the GREATEM data de-noising in response to this problem. First, we calculate the electromagnetic response of a uniform half-space using a GREATEM system with an electrical source to verify the effectiveness of the SSA algorithm for GREATEM data de-noising. To determine the appropriate parameters for SSA, we propose a particle swarm optimization algorithm to choose the window length. Later, SSA is used to decompose a synthetic quasi-two-dimensional earth model of GREATEM data. After SSA, the SNR of the reconstructed signal increased by 36 dB, and the RMSE does not exceed 4.9 × 10−6, which verifies the feasibility of the SSA for de-noising GREATEM data. Finally, through field measurement data processing, the effectiveness of the method is further confirmed.
Improving Landslide Recognition on UAV Data through Transfer Learning
Authors: Yang Kaixin , Li Wei , Yang Xinran , Zhang Lei
Published: October 2022

As a frequent geological disaster, landslides cause serious casualties and economic losses every year. When landslides occur, rapid access to disaster information is the premise of implementing disaster relief and reduction. Traditional satellite remote sensing may not be able to timely obtain the image data from the disaster areas due to orbital cycle and weather impacts. Visual interpretation of remote sensing data and machine learning methods need to be improved the detection efficiency. This paper studies landslide recognition based on the UAV remote sensing image. The affected area of the Zhangmu Port region in Tibet by the Nepal earthquake occurred on 25 April 2015 was selected to carry out the landslide investigation. Aiming at the problem of insufficient training sample data of landslides, we adopt the transfer learning method. The evaluation indexes show that the proposed method can automatically identify landslide disasters. Comparing with the SSD model, our new approach has better detection performance, providing thus accurate data support for scientific decision-making of disaster rescue.
Adults’ Understanding and 6-To-7-Month-Old Infants’ Perception of Size and Mass Relationships in Collision Events
Authors: Sanal-Hayes Nilihan E. M. , Hayes Lawrence D. , Walker Peter , Mair Jacqueline L. , Bremner J. Gavin
Published: October 2022

Humans first start to perceive the relationship between object size and mass in simple collision events at about 5.5–6.5 months of age. They perceive this link in simple collision events by attending to the size of the moving object and anticipating a greater displacement after collision with a large object and a lesser displacement with a small object. The results this aforementioned experiment is based on infants’ responses to a large and small object propelling a stationary object to the same distance (long distance). It is unknown how infants would perceive the same events if a large and small object propelled a stationary object to size appropriate (congruent) and size inappropriate (incongruent) distances. This paper aims to investigate this with adults (experiment 1) and 6-to-7-month-old infants (experiment 2). The first experiment served to validate our computer-generated collision events, by asking adults (N = 24) to rate the likeness of collision events happening in real-life, based on object size. In the second experiment, we tested this phenomenon in infants (N = 16) using the looking time paradigm. Results from the first experiment revealed that our computer-generated collision events are in line with adults’ assumptions of size-appropriate and size-inappropriate distances that the cube is propelled to by the small and large ball. Adults rated congruent test events as more likely than incongruent test events when asked how real-life-based they were. Results from the second experiment revealed infants distinguished between the sizes by preferring to look at the large ball longer than the small ball. However, the infants did not differ in their looking times for congruent and incongruent test events for small or/and large balls. For that reason, we conclude infants can distinguish between the sizes of the balls but are unable to perceive the size and mass associations in collision events.
The Virtual Patient in Daily Orthodontics: Matching Intraoral and Facial Scans without Cone Beam Computed Tomography
Authors: Campobasso Alessandra , Battista Giovanni , Lo Muzio Eleonora , Lo Muzio Lorenzo
Published: October 2022

Aim: The authors provided an accurate, simple, and noninvasive method for matching the intraoral scan with facial scan of a patient, without the need of a cone beam computed tomography (CBCT). Materials and methods: Three different facial scans were acquired: the first one with the mouth closed, the second one with a voluntary “social smile”, and the last one scanned the face with a lip-and-cheek retractor with dental arches in occlusion. The base of this method is to superimpose the area of the dental arches acquired by a face scanner with the same area derived by an intraoral scanner. Result: An accurate matching of intraoral and facial scans can be achieved without the risks of radiation exposure. Conclusions: The virtual patient helps the orthodontist to improve both diagnosis and treatment planning: a three-dimensional digital smile design can be performed, the patient’s smile can then be analyzed in the context of the lips, and the teeth can be moved to achieve a consonant and balanced smile. All this information can be integrated in a clear aligner therapy or an indirect bonding procedure, enhancing outcomes in the facial esthetics.
In Situ Interaction of Enterocin A/P with Staphylococcusaureus SA5 in Goat Milk Lump Cheese
Authors: Lauková Andrea , Burdová Oľga , Nagy Jozef
Published: October 2022

In Slovakia, goat milk is used for the production of traditional/local products, for example goat milk lump cheese. Healthy and safe dairy products are one of the major objectives for producers and consumers. Staphylococci are found in frequent contaminants of raw milk and dairy products. A promising approach of how to prevent/eliminate them is represented by bacteriocins. The aim of this study was testing in situ the anti-staphylococcal effect of Enterocin A/P, characterized in our laboratory and produced by the non-autochthonous strain Enterococcus faecium EK13 = CCM7419 against the contaminant strain Staphylococcus aureus SA5 experimentally inoculated in a goat milk vat during processing of goat milk lump cheese to show the application potential of Enterocin A/P. In addition, the parameters influencing the ripening of the cheese (lactic acid-LA), the acidity °SH and the pH were also checked. The 2.5 log cycle difference was found in the EV comparing to the CV at day 168 (1 week), which indicates a reduction of SA5 cells due to Ent A/P. The acidity value (pH and °SH) and LA were not negatively influenced. These preliminary results indicate that Enterocin A/P seems to be a promising additive for dairy products. Moreover, this is the first study showing in situ (in goat milk cheese) the anti-staphylococcal effect of Ent A/P.
Differential Evolution Applied to a Multilevel Inverter—A Case Study
Authors: Sánchez Vargas Oscar , De León Aldaco Susana Estefany , Aguayo Alquicira Jesús , Vela Valdés Luis Gerardo , Mina Antonio Jesús Darío
Published: October 2022

This work aims to obtain the switching angles to reduce the total harmonic distortion (THD) and compare the different sets of angles obtained by modifying the modular index (Mi) in a seven-level multilevel inverter using the differential evolution (DE) algorithm. A seven-level cascaded multilevel inverter with RL load was simulated in MATLAB Simulink. The Mi was varied (0.6 to 1.27) to check which set of switching angles is optimal to reduce the THD. These sets of angles are then experimentally validated on a test bench. A brief discussion of the results is presented, comparing the minimum THD found without considering Mi, versus the minimum THD obtained if Mi is less than 1.
On the Hardware–Software Integration in Cryptographic Accelerators for Industrial IoT
Authors: Leonardi Luigi , Lettieri Giuseppe , Perazzo Pericle , Saponara Sergio
Published: October 2022

Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) applies IoT technologies on industrial automation systems with the aims of providing remote sensing, remote control, self-organization and self-maintenance. Since IIoT systems often constitute a critical infrastructure, cybersecurity risks have rapidly increased over the last years. To address cybersecurity requirements, we need to deploy cryptographic processing components which are particularly efficient, considering also that many IIoT systems have real-time constraints. Hardware acceleration can greatly improve the efficiency of cryptographic functions, but the speed-up could be jeopardized by a bad hardware–software integration, which is an aspect often underrated by the literature. Considering that modern IIoT devices often mount an operating system to fulfill their complex tasks, software influence on efficiency cannot be neglected. In this paper, we develop a software–hardware integration of various cryptographic accelerators with a Linux operating system, and we test its performance with two typical IIoT reference applications. We also discuss our design choices and the lessons learned during the development process.
The Effect of Lactic Acid Fermentation on Extraction of Phenolics and Flavonoids from Sage Leaves
Authors: Agatonovic-Kustrin Snezana , Gegechkori Vladimir , Kustrin Ella , Morton David W.
Published: October 2022

This work analysed the effect of spontaneous fermentation of sage leaves on the release and extraction of flavonoid and phenolic compounds. Chemical profiling based on thin-layer chromatography was used to compare different extracts from two sage species, common sage (Salvia officinalis) and white sage (Salvia apiana). Non-fermented Salvia apiana extracts are richer in antioxidants, phenolics, and terpenoids. Fermentation significantly enhances extraction of total phenolics, flavonoids, and antioxidants only from Salvia officinalis leaves, while it does not affect extraction from Salvia apiana leaves. In each 20 µL of extract, extraction of polyphenolics increases from 6.55 to 21.01 µg gallic acid equivalents (GAE), anti-oxidants from 0.68 to 2.12 µg GAE, and flavonoid content from 48.01 to 65.33 µg RE (rutin equivalents). Higher antioxidant activity in fermented Salvia apiana ethyl acetate extracts is associated with an increased concentration of phenolics and phenolic terpenoids. However, in Salvia officinalis, the higher antioxidant activity of fermented extract is a result of the release and improved extraction of flavonoids, as there is no increase in the extraction of phenolics. Lactic acid produced via fermentation and proline from Salvia officinalis leaves forms a natural deep eutectic solvent (NADES), which significantly increases the solubility of flavonoids.
GNSS-Based Dam Monitoring: The Application of a Statistical Approach for Time Series Analysis to a Case Study
Authors: Reguzzoni Mirko , Rossi Lorenzo , De Gaetani Carlo Iapige , Caldera Stefano , Barzaghi Riccardo
Published: October 2022

Dams are one of the most important engineering works of the current human society, and it is crucial to monitor and obtain analytical data to log their conditions, predict their behavior and, eventually, receive early warnings for planning interventions and maintenance activities. In this context, GNSS-based point displacement monitoring is nowadays a consolidated technique that is able to provide daily millimeter level accuracy, even with less sophisticated and less expensive single-frequency equipment. If properly designed, daily records of such monitoring systems produce time series that, when long enough, allow for an accurate reconstruction of the geometrical deformation of the structure, thus guiding semi-automatic early warning systems. This paper focuses on the procedure for the GNSS time series processing with a statistical approach. In particular, real-world times series collected from a dam monitoring test case are processed as an example of data filtering. A remove–restore technique based on a collocation approach is applied here. Basically, it consists of an initial deterministic modeling by polynomials and periodical components through least squares adjustment and Fourier transform, respectively, followed by a stochastic modeling based on empirical covariance estimation and a collocation approach. Filtered time series are interpreted by autoregressive models based on environmental factors such as air or water temperature and reservoir water level. Spatial analysis is finally performed by computing correlations between displacements of the monitored points, as well as by visualizing the overall structure deformation in time. Results positively validate the proposed data processing workflow, providing useful hints for the implementation of automatic early warning systems in the framework of structural monitoring based on continuous displacement measurements.
Effects of Vertical Rib Arrangements on the Wind Pressure and Aerodynamic Force of a High-Rise Building
Authors: Shen Guohui , Jiang Yonghan , Yu Shice , Xu Haiwei
Published: October 2022

Façade appurtenances such as vertical ribs are increasingly used on high-rise buildings to enhance the architectural appearance. These attached ribs may modify the wind pressure acting on a building by changing the local flow pattern around the building. This study investigated the effect of the extensional depth of the vertical rib on the wind pressures of a high-rise building with a square cross-section. The wind pressure distribution on different surfaces, layer force coefficient, base shear coefficient, and base bending moment coefficient were analyzed under various rib extensional depths. Moreover, the measured layer force coefficients along the heights were compared with those provided by the current codes. This study’s results show that when the building is under normal approaching flow, the negative pressure area on the front surface increases with the rib extensional depth (b). This may be induced by the local recirculation at the outermost vertical ribs, which enhances the flow separation around the building. The negative wind pressures on the leeward surface show a slight increase with the increase in the rib extensional depth. Compared to the test results, the resultant layer force coefficients provided by EN 1991-1-4:2015 and GB 50009-2012 are conservative while those from the wind effect code of Hong Kong 2019 result in an underestimated evaluation. Increasing the extensional depth of the attached vertical rib may significantly reduce the positive layer wind pressure on the windward surface by 28% but increase the negative layer wind pressure on the leeward surface by 17%. The installation of vertical ribs with a small external depth (e.g., b is less than 2% of the building width) may exert limited effects on the overall base shear and bending moment, but the maximum base shear and bending moment will be reduced by 8.8% and 7.4%, respectively, when b increases to 4% of the building width.
Degradation of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons by Co-Culture of Pleurotus ostreatus Florida and Azospirillum brasilense
Authors: Pozdnyakova Natalia , Muratova Anna , Turkovskaya Olga
Published: October 2022

Bacterial-fungal interactions are important in the functioning of natural ecosystems. We examined possible synergistic or antagonistic effects during the degradation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) by a fungal–bacterial co-culture. Bacteria and fungi were grown in a liquid nutrient medium supplemented with PAH substrates. The degradation of PAHs and the identification of metabolites were checked by HPLC. Enzyme activities were spectrophotometrically measured with test substrates. Compared to monocultures, the co-culture yielded higher mycelium dry weights and higher numbers of bacterial colony-forming units (CFUs). Both organisms and their co-culture transformed three- and four-ring PAHs into the corresponding quinones. The degradation of PAHs was accompanied by the production of fungal extracellular laccase and versatile peroxidase, whose activities were higher in the co-culture than they were in the monocultures. The presence of exogenous indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) boosted PAH degradation and enzyme production. The xylotrophic basidiomycete Pleurotus ostreatus Florida and the plant-growth-promoting rhizobacterium Azospirillum brasilense exerted a positive mutual effect, including increases in mycelium dry weight, number of CFUs, degradation of PAHs, and production of fungal extracellular enzymes. IAA may be a factor in the interactions of P. ostreatus Florida with A. brasilense.
Whole Black Soldier Fly Larvae (Hermetia illucens) as Dietary Replacement of Extruded Feed for Tambaqui (Colossoma macropomum) Juveniles
Authors: Ordoñez Betselene M. , Santana Thiago M. , Carneiro Davison P. , dos Santos Driely K. M. , Parra Gustavo A. P. , Moreno Luis C. C. , Teixeira Filho Nelson P. , Aguilar Fredy A. A. , Yamamoto Fernando Y. , Gonçalves Ligia U.
Published: October 2022

The black soldier fly (BSF, Hermetia illucens) is a prominent insect species and a novel alternative ingredient for aquafeeds. This study aimed to evaluate the replacement of commercial feed with fresh whole black soldier fly larvae (BSFL) for Colossoma macropomum. Juvenile tambaqui (115.2 ± 0.9 g/fish) were stocked in 800 L tanks (11 fish/tank) operating as a recirculating system. The dietary treatments consisted of whole larvae only (BSFL), 50:50 BSFL: commercial feed (BSFL: CF), or only commercial feed (CF), and the fish were fed to apparent satiation for 120 days. At the end of the feeding trial, fish were group weighed, and blood and muscle were collected for hematological and sensorial evaluations. Fish fed BSFL:CF presented with similar growth performance and carcass yield to tambaqui that were fed only CF. The high fat content of the larvae contributed to the highest values for the viscerosomatic index (7.01%; 6.56%), plasmatic triglycerides (312.1 mg/dL; 295.1 mg/dL), and cholesterol (120.6 mg/dL; 119.1 mg/dL) in the fish provided with BSFL or BSFL:CF, respectively. However, a better acceptance in the fillet sensory analysis was observed for these fillets than for the fillets from the CF group. Feeding tambaqui with BSFL:CF did not compromise the production performance and may have improved the acceptance of their fillets.
Analysis of the Air Quality of a District Heating System with a Biomass Plant
Authors: Lotrecchiano Nicoletta , Sofia Daniele
Published: October 2022

Heating is one of the major causes of pollution in urban areas, producing high concentrations of aero-dispersed particulate matter (PM) that can cause serious damage to the respiratory system. A possible solution is the implementation of a district heating system, which would decrease the presence of conventional heating systems, reducing PM emissions. The case study considered involves the municipality of Serra San Bruno (Italy), located near a biomass plant, which could play the role of a thermal conversion plant for a possible district heating network. To determine the heating incidence on pollution, the large users in the area were identified. The large users’ consumption estimation was carried out, obtaining the thermal energy requirement linked to the residential, which is about 3.5 times that of all the large users. Through air quality measuring devices, PM concentrations were measured for the winter and the summer period. PM emissions were then estimated using emission factors and the decreases in PM concentrations were calculated if part of the domestic users were converted to district heating, compatibly with the possibility of supplying energy to the biomass power plant. The replacement of conventional plants in favor of a district heating network has a positive impact on PM pollution.
Equatorial Plasma Bubbles: A Review
Authors: Bhattacharyya Archana
Published: October 2022

The equatorial plasma bubble (EPB) phenomenon is an important component of space weather as the ionospheric irregularities that develop within EPBs can have major detrimental effects on the operation of satellite-based communication and navigation systems. Although the name suggests that EPBs occur in the equatorial ionosphere, the nature of the plasma instability that gives rise to EPBs is such that the bubbles may extend over a large part of the global ionosphere between geomagnetic latitudes of approximately ±15°. The scientific challenge continues to be to understand the day-to-day variability in the occurrence and characteristics of EPBs, such as their latitudinal extent and the development of irregularities within EPBs. In this paper, basic theoretical aspects of the plasma processes involved in the generation of EPBs, associated ionospheric irregularities, and observations of their characteristics using different techniques will be reviewed. Special focus will be given to observations of scintillations produced by the scattering of VHF and higher frequency radio waves while they propagate through ionospheric irregularities associated with EPBs, as these observations have revealed new information about the non-linear development of Rayleigh–Taylor instability in equatorial ionospheric plasma, which is the genesis of EPBs.
Backward Stochastic Differential Equations (BSDEs) Using Infinite-Dimensional Martingales with Subdifferential Operator
Authors: Zhang Pei , Ibrahim Adriana Irawati Nur , Mohamed Nur Anisah
Published: October 2022

In this paper, we focus on a family of backward stochastic differential equations (BSDEs) with subdifferential operators that are driven by infinite-dimensional martingales. We shall show that the solution to such infinite-dimensional BSDEs exists and is unique. The existence and uniqueness of the solution are established using Yosida approximations. Furthermore, as an application of the main result, we shall show that the backward stochastic partial differential equation driven by infinite-dimensional martingales with a continuous linear operator has a unique solution under the special condition that the Ft-progressively measurable generator F of the model we proposed in this paper equals zero.
A Demand Side Management Control Strategy Using RUNge Kutta Optimizer (RUN)
Authors: Sharma Ankit Kumar , Alshamrani Ahmad M. , Alnowibet Khalid A. , Alrasheedi Adel F. , Saxena Akash , Mohamed Ali Wagdy
Published: October 2022

Demand side management initiatives have gained attention recently because of the development of the smart grid and consumer-focused regulations. The demand side management programme has numerous goals. One of the main goals is to control energy demand by altering customer demand. This can be done in several ways, including financial discounts and behaviour changes brought about by providing knowledge to support the grid’s stressed conditions. In this study, demand side management techniques for future smart grids are presented, including load shifting and strategic conservation. There are many controlled devices on the grid. The load shifting and day before strategic conservation approaches mentioned in this study are derived analytically for the minimization problem. For resolving this minimization issue, the RUNge Kutta optimizer (RUN) was developed. On a test smart grid with two service zones, one with residential consumers and the other with commercial consumers, simulations are performed. By contrasting the outcomes with the slime mould algorithm (SMA), Sine Cosine Algorithm (SCA), moth–flame optimization (MFO), and whale optimization algorithm (WOA), RUN demonstrates its effectiveness. The simulation findings demonstrate that the suggested demand side management solutions produce significant cost savings while lowering the smart grid’s peak load demand.
Comparative Genomic Analysis of Phytopathogenic Xanthomonas Species Suggests High Level of Genome Plasticity Related to Virulence and Host Adaptation
Authors: Ariute Juan Carlos , Rodrigues Diego Lucas Neres , de Castro Soares Siomar de Castro , Azevedo Vasco , Benko-Iseppon Ana Maria , Aburjaile Flávia Figueira
Published: October 2022

Xanthomonas bacteria are known phytopathogens difficult to control in the field, which cause great losses in many economically important crops. Genomic islands are fragments acquired by horizontal transference that are important for evolution and adaptation to diverse ecological niches. Virulence and pathogenicity islands (PAIs) enhance molecular mechanisms related to host adaptation. In this work, we have analyzed 81 genomes belonging to X. campestris, and a complex group of X. citri, X. axonopodis, and X. fuscans belonging to nine different pathovars and three subspecies, to analyze and compare their genomic contents. Xanthomonas pan-genome is open and has a massive accessory genome. Each genome showed between three and 15 exclusive PAIs, well conserved through strains of the same pathovar or subspecies. X. axonopodis pv. anacardii had higher general similarity to X. citri subsp. citri and X. fuscans subsp. aurantifolii, with which a few PAIs were shared. Genomic synteny was even for almost all strains, with few rearrangements found in X. axonopodis pv. anacardii. The prophage regions identified in the genomes were mostly questionable or incomplete, and PAI13 in X. campestris pv. campestris ATCC33913 matched a prophage region of 19 transposable elements. Finally, PAIs in Xanthomonas are pathovar-specific, requiring individual strategies of combat.
Impact of On-Board Hybrid Energy Storage Devices on Energy-Saving Operation for Electric Trains in DC Railway Systems
Authors: Zhang Bolun , Lu Shaofeng , Peng Yang , Wu Chaoxian , Meng Guangzhao , Feng Minling , Liu Bingjian
Published: October 2022

To improve the energy-efficiency of transport systems, it is necessary to investigate electric trains with on-board hybrid energy storage devices (HESDs), which are applied to assist the traction and recover the regenerative energy. In this paper, a time-based mixed-integer linear programming (MILP) model is proposed to obtain the energy-saving operation for electric trains with different constraints of on-board HESDs, such as their capacity, initial state of charge (SOC), and level of degradation. The proposed integrated power flow model based on the train longitudinal dynamics, power split of on-board HESDs, and line impedance is discretized and linearized, aiming to minimize the net energy consumption (NEC). The results reveal that on-board HESDs with a higher capacity does not necessarily lead to a higher energy-saving rate; a lower or excessive initial SOC could undermine the energy-saving potential; considering the long-term train operation, the degradation of the Li-ion battery will influence the energy-saving operation for electric trains, as well as result in an energy-saving rate that ranges from 41.57% to 31.90%. The practical data from Guangzhou Metro Line 7 were applied in the simulations, which enhanced the practicality and effectiveness of the proposed method.
Correlation between Lithium Titanium Oxide Powder Morphology and High Rate Performance in Lithium-Ion Batteries
Authors: Llaín-Jiménez Hermes A. , Buchberger Dominika A. , Winkowska-Struzik Magdalena , Ratyński Maciej , Krajewski Michał , Boczar Maciej , Hamankiewicz Bartosz , Czerwiński Andrzej
Published: October 2022

This study determined the measurable factor responsible for the high rate performance of lithium titanium oxide (Li4Ti5O12, LTO) powders in lithium-ion batteries. The structural and morphological properties of various Li4Ti5O12 materials and their correlation with electrochemical performance were analysed. The results showed that there was a strong correlation between high capacity retention at 10 C and the specific surface area. Other electrochemical and structural factors, such as the crystal size and pore structure, were not correlated with 10 C performance. We found that an increase in the specific surface area of Li4Ti5O12 above c.a. 15 m2 g−1 neither improved the high rate capacity retention nor its specific discharge capacity at high current rates. We also showed that the sol–gel synthesized lithium titanium oxide powders could retain similar or higher discharge specific capacities than materials synthesized via more complex routes.
Intensification of Biodiesel Processing from Waste Cooking Oil, Exploiting Cooperative Microbubble and Bifunctional Metallic Heterogeneous Catalysis
Authors: Javed Fahed , Rizwan Muhammad , Asif Maryam , Ali Shahzad , Aslam Rabya , Akram Muhammad Sarfraz , Zimmerman William B , Rehman Fahad
Published: October 2022

Waste resources are an attractive option for economical the production of biodiesel; however, oil derived from waste resource contains free fatty acids (FFA). The concentration of FFAs must be reduced to below 1 wt.% before it can be converted to biodiesel using transesterification. FFAs are converted to fatty acid methyl esters (FAMEs) using acid catalysis, which is the rate-limiting reaction (~4000 times slower than transesterification), with a low conversion as well, in the over biodiesel production process. The study is focused on synthesizing and using a bifunctional catalyst (7% Sr/ZrO2) to carry out esterification and transesterification simultaneously to convert waste cooking oil (WCO) into biodiesel using microbubble-mediated mass transfer technology. The results reveal that a higher conversion of 85% is achieved in 20 min using 7% Sr/ZrO2 for biodiesel production. A comprehensive kinetic model is developed for the conversion of WCO in the presence of a 7% Sr/ZrO2 catalyst. The model indicates that the current reaction is pseudo-first-order, controlled by the vapor–liquid interface, which also indicates the complex role of microbubble interfaces due to the presence of the bifunctional catalyst. The catalyst could be recycled seven times, indicating its high stability during biodiesel production. The heterogeneous bifunctional catalyst is integrated with microbubble-mediated mass transfer technology for the first time. The results are unprecedented; furthermore, this study might be the first to use microbubble interfaces to “host” bifunctional metallic catalysts. The resulting one-step process of esterification and transesterification makes the process less energy-intensive and more cost-efficient, while also reducing process complexity.
Interactions of Ingested Polystyrene Microplastics with Heavy Metals (Cadmium or Silver) as Environmental Pollutants: A Comprehensive In Vivo Study Using Drosophila melanogaster
Authors: Turna Demir Fatma , Akkoyunlu Gökhan , Demir Eşref
Published: October 2022

Living organisms are now constantly exposed to microplastics and nanoplastics (MNPLs), and besides their toxic potential, they can also act as carriers of various hazardous elements such as heavy metals. Therefore, this study explored possible interactions between polystyrene microplastics (PSMPLs) and two metal pollutants: cadmium chloride (CdCl2) and silver nitrate (AgNO3). To better understand the extent of biological effects caused by different sizes of PSMPLs, we conducted in vivo experiments with five doses (from 0.01 to 10 mM) that contained polystyrene particles measuring 4, 10, and 20 µm in size on Drosophila larvae. Additional experiments were performed by exposing larvae to two individual metals, CdCl2 (0.5 mM) and AgNO3 (0.5 mM), as well as combined exposure to PSMPLs (0.01 and 10 mM) and these metals, in an attempt to gain new insight into health risks of such co-exposure. Using transmission electron microscopy imaging, we managed to visualize the biodistribution of ingested PSMPLs throughout the fly’s body, observing the interactions of such plastics with Drosophila intestinal lumen, cellular uptake by gut enterocytes, the passage of plastic particles through the intestinal barrier to leak into the hemolymph, and cellular uptake by hemocytes. Observations detected size and shape changes in the ingested PSMPLs. Egg-to-adult viability screening revealed no significant toxicity upon exposure to individual doses of tested materials; however, the combined exposure to plastic and metal particles induced aggravated genotoxic effects, including intestinal damage, genetic damage, and intracellular oxidative stress (ROS generation), with smaller sized plastic particles + metals (cadmium and silver) causing greater damage.
OpenBloodFlow: A User-Friendly OpenCV-Based Software Package for Blood Flow Velocity and Blood Cell Count Measurement for Fish Embryos
Authors: Farhan Ali , Saputra Ferry , Suryanto Michael Edbert , Humayun Fahad , Pajimna Roi Martin B. , Vasquez Ross D. , Roldan Marri Jmelou M. , Audira Gilbert , Lai Hong-Thih , Lai Yu-Heng , Hsiao Chung-Der
Published: October 2022

The transparent appearance of fish embryos provides an excellent assessment feature for observing cardiovascular function in vivo. Previously, methods to conduct vascular function assessment were based on measuring blood-flow velocity using third-party software. In this study, we reported a simple software, free of costs and skills, called OpenBloodFlow, which can measure blood flow velocity and count blood cells in fish embryos for the first time. First, videos captured by high-speed CCD were processed for better image stabilization and contrast. Next, the optical flow of moving objects was extracted from the non-moving background in a frame-by-frame manner. Finally, blood flow velocity was calculated by the Gunner Farneback algorithm in Python. Data validation with zebrafish and medaka embryos in OpenBloodFlow was consistent with our previously published ImageJ-based method. We demonstrated consistent blood flow alterations by either OpenBloodFlow or ImageJ in the dorsal aorta of zebrafish embryos when exposed to either phenylhydrazine or ractopamine. In addition, we validated that OpenBloodFlow was able to conduct precise blood cell counting. In this study, we provide an easy and fully automatic programming for blood flow velocity calculation and blood cell counting that is useful for toxicology and pharmacology studies in fish.
Follistatin-like 1 and Biomarkers of Neutrophil Activation Are Associated with Poor Short-Term Outcome after Lung Transplantation on VA-ECMO
Authors: Veraar Cecilia , Kirschner Enzo , Schwarz Stefan , Jaksch Peter , Hoetzenecker Konrad , Tschernko Edda , Dworschak Martin , Ankersmit Hendrik J. , Moser Bernhard
Published: October 2022

The investigation of biomarkers associated with undesired outcome following lung transplantation (LuTX) is essential for a better understanding of the underlying pathophysiology, an earlier identification of susceptible recipients and the development of targeted therapeutic options. We therefore determined the longitudinal perioperative course of putative cytokines related to neutrophil activation (chemokine CC motif ligand 4 (CCL-4), interleukin (IL)-23 and Lipocalin 2 (LCN2)) and a cytokine that has been implicated in graft-versus-host disease (Follistatin-like 1 (FSTL1)) in 42 consecutive patients undergoing LuTX. We plotted receiver-operating curves (ROC) to assess the predictive power of the measured cytokines for short-term outcomes namely primary graft dysfunction (PGD), early complications requiring extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO), and a high postoperative sequential organ failure assessment (SOFA). All cytokines increased immediately after surgery. ROC analyses determined significant associations between CCL4 and a high SOFA score (area under the curve (AUC) 0.74 (95%CI:0.5–0.9; p < 0.05), between LCN2 and postoperative ECMO support (AUC 0.73 (95%CI:0.5–0.9; p < 0.05), and between FSTL1 and PGD (AUC 0.70 (95%CI:0.5–0.9; p < 0.05). The serum concentrations of the neutrophil-derived cytokines LCN2 and CCL4 as well as FSTL1 were all related to poor outcome after LuTX. The specific predictive power, however, still has to be assessed in larger trials. The potential role of FSTL1 as a biomarker in the development of PGD could be of great interest particularly since this protein appears to play a crucial role in allograft tolerance.
Reorganization of Cell Compartmentalization Induced by Stress
Authors: Fefilova Anna S. , Antifeeva Iuliia A. , Gavrilova Anastasia A. , Turoverov Konstantin K. , Kuznetsova Irina M. , Fonin Alexander V.
Published: October 2022

The discovery of intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs) that do not have an ordered structure and nevertheless perform essential functions has opened a new era in the understanding of cellular compartmentalization. It threw the bridge from the mostly mechanistic model of the organization of the living matter to the idea of highly dynamic and functional “soft matter”. This paradigm is based on the notion of the major role of liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS) of biopolymers in the spatial-temporal organization of intracellular space. The LLPS leads to the formation of self-assembled membrane-less organelles (MLOs). MLOs are multicomponent and multifunctional biological condensates, highly dynamic in structure and composition, that allow them to fine-tune the regulation of various intracellular processes. IDPs play a central role in the assembly and functioning of MLOs. The LLPS importance for the regulation of chemical reactions inside the cell is clearly illustrated by the reorganization of the intracellular space during stress response. As a reaction to various types of stresses, stress-induced MLOs appear in the cell, enabling the preservation of the genetic and protein material during unfavourable conditions. In addition, stress causes structural, functional, and compositional changes in the MLOs permanently present inside the cells. In this review, we describe the assembly of stress-induced MLOs and the stress-induced modification of existing MLOs in eukaryotes, yeasts, and prokaryotes in response to various stress factors.
Effect of Synthesis Process, Synthesis Temperature, and Reaction Time on Chemical, Morphological, and Quantum Properties of Carbon Dots Derived from Loblolly Pine
Authors: Quaid Thomas , Ghalandari Vahab , Reza Toufiq
Published: October 2022

In this study, carbon dots are synthesized hydrothermally from loblolly pine using top-down and bottom-up processes. The bottom-up process dialyzed carbon dots from hydrothermally treated process liquid. Meanwhile, hydrochar was oxidized into carbon dots in the top-down method. Carbon dots from top-down and bottom-up processes were compared for their yield, size, functionality, and quantum properties. Furthermore, hydrothermal treatment temperature and residence time were evaluated on the aforementioned properties of carbon dots. The results indicate that the top-down method yields higher carbon dots than bottom-up in any given hydrothermal treatment temperature and residence time. The size of the carbon dots decreases with the increase in reaction time; however, the size remains similar with the increase in hydrothermal treatment temperature. Regarding quantum yield, the carbon dots from the top-down method exhibit higher quantum yields than bottom-up carbon dots where the quantum yield reaches as high as 48%. The only exception of the bottom-up method is the carbon dots prepared at a high hydrothermal treatment temperature (i.e., 260 °C), where relatively higher quantum yield (up to 18.1%) was observed for the shorter reaction time. Overall, this study reveals that the properties of lignocellulosic biomass-derived carbon dots differ with the synthesis process as well as the processing parameters.
Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors and Other Immune Therapies in Breast Cancer: A New Paradigm for Prolonged Adjuvant Immunotherapy
Authors: Nicolini Andrea , Ferrari Paola , Carpi Angelo
Published: October 2022

Background: Breast cancer is the most common form of cancer in women worldwide. Advances in the early diagnosis and treatment of cancer in the last decade have progressively decreased the cancer mortality rate, and in recent years, immunotherapy has emerged as a relevant tool against cancer. HER2+ and triple-negative breast cancers (TNBCs) are considered more immunogenic and suitable for this kind of treatment due to the higher rate of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) and programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1) expression. In TNBC, genetic aberrations further favor immunogenicity due to more neo-antigens in cancer cells. Methods: This review summarizes the principal ongoing conventional and investigational immunotherapies in breast cancer. Particularly, immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) and their use alone or combined with DNA damage repair inhibitors (DDRis) are described. Then, the issue on immunotherapy with monoclonal antibodies against HER-2 family receptors is updated. Other investigational immunotherapies include a new schedule based on the interferon beta-interleukin-2 sequence that was given in ER+ metastatic breast cancer patients concomitant with anti-estrogen therapy, which surprisingly showed promising results. Results: Based on the scientific literature and our own findings, the current evaluation of tumor immunogenicity and the conventional model of adjuvant chemotherapy (CT) are questioned. Conclusions: A novel strategy based on additional prolonged adjuvant immunotherapy combined with hormone therapy or alternated with CT is proposed.
Targeting the Hippo Pathway in Gastric Cancer and Other Malignancies in the Digestive System: From Bench to Bedside
Authors: Liu Xiaoli , Wang Yifei , Chen Bonan , Chan Wai Nok , Mui Chun Wai , Cheung Alvin H.K. , Zhang Jinglin , Wong Kit Yee , Yu Jun , Kang Wei , To Ka Fai
Published: October 2022

The Hippo pathway is an evolutionally conserved signaling cascade that controls organ size and tissue regeneration under physiological conditions, and its aberrations have been well studied to promote tumor initiation and progression. Dysregulation of the Hippo tumor suppressor signaling frequently occurs in gastric cancer (GC) and other solid tumors and contributes to cancer development through modulating multiple aspects, including cell proliferation, survival, metastasis, and oncotherapy resistance. In the clinic, Hippo components also possess diagnostic and prognostic values for cancer patients. Considering its crucial role in driving tumorigenesis, targeting the Hippo pathway may greatly benefit developing novel cancer therapies. This review summarizes the current research progress regarding the core components and regulation of the Hippo pathway, as well as the mechanism and functional roles of their dysregulation in gastrointestinal malignancies, especially in GC, and discusses the therapeutic potential of targeting the Hippo pathway against cancers.