bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
New Biomedical Approaches in Information and Cognitive Technologies of Psychopathology Modeling
Authors: Karkischenko N. N. , Fokin Yu. V. , Taboyakova L. A. , Alimkina O. V. , Borisova M. M.
Published: September 2020

Analysis of intracentral brain relationships, cognitive and psychopathological processes in animals by means of pharmacological modulation is an optimal method of cognition, determining the possibilities of correlation with similar processes in humans. New methods and approaches to biomodulation of psychopathologies, based on the principles of pharmaco-EEG standardization using fast Fourier-transformed brain electrograms and elements of systemic behavior, allow to identify quantitative parameters of fundamental mechanisms of neuropsychoactive agents in the cat brain.
DETEKSI KEASLIAN UANG KERTAS BERDASARKAN WATERMARK DENGAN PENGOLAHAN CITRA DIGITAL
Authors: Pambudi Agung Rilo , Garno  , Purwantoro
Published: September 2020

Uang adalah alat bantu tukar atau standar dari pengukur nilai (kesatuan hitungan) yang sah, dikeluarkan oleh pemerintah suatu negara berupa kertas, emas, perak atau logam-logam lain yang dicetak dengan bentuk dan gambar tertentu. Deteksi adalah suatu proses untuk memeriksa atau melakukan pemeriksaan terhadap sesuatu dengan menggunakan cara dan teknik tertentu. Seiring dengan kemajuan teknologi informasi, kriminalitas yang memanfaatkan teknologi juga berkembang. Pengolahan citra digital saat ini telah berkembang kegunaannya untuk melakukan sistem pengenalan terhadap kemungkinan gangguan kriminalitas, terutama untuk pengenalan objek yang unik, watermark pada uang kertas rupiah. Dalam segmentasi citra juga terdapat beberapa metode, contohnya yaitu canny edge detection. Canny edge detection adalah metode yang menghasilkan sebuah tampilan gambar yang berbeda dengan menampilkan efek relief di dalamnya. Tujuan penelitian ini yaitu untuk mendeteksi keaslian uang kertas dengan watermark menggunakan metode canny edge detection. Proses dari penggunaan metode diatas dengan cara akuisisi citra, operasi grayscale, operasi morfologi, kemudian canny edge detection. Citra yang digunakan dalam penelitian ini berjumlah 21 citra yang terdiri dari nominal uang kertas 1.000, 2.000, 5.000, 10.000, 20.000, 50.000, dan 100.000. Hasil terakhir dari proses canny edge detection adalah kumpulan piksel yang digunakan untuk menentukan apakah di citra tersebut memiliki watermark atau tidak. Dari penelitian tersebut hasil dari akurasi program deteksi watermark pada uang kertas menggunakan metode canny edge detection untuk mendeteksi keaslian uang yaitu sebesar 85,71%.
Influence of Accelerated Solvent Extraction Conditions on the LC-ESI-MS/MS Polyphenolic Profile, Triterpenoid Content, and Antioxidant and Anti-lipoxygenase Activity of Rhododendron luteum Sweet Leaves
Authors: Olech Marta , Łyko Lena , Nowak Renata
Published: September 2020

Evaluation of native plant resources and their efficient use is one of the current trends in phytochemistry. The main aim of the present study was to investigate the biological activities of different Rhododendron luteum Sweet leaf extracts obtained with the use of accelerated solvent extraction using different solvents and extraction temperatures. All extracts were subjected to bioactivity assays, which revealed considerable anti-lipoxygenase (23.07–90.13% lipoxygenase inhibition) and antiradical potential. All samples exhibited high 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH•) (234.18–621.90 mg Trolox equivalents (TE)/g) and 2,2′-azino-bis-3(ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulphonic acid) (ABTS•+) (88.79–349.41 mg TE/g) scavenging activity, high antioxidant potential in the Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity (ORAC) assay (495.77–1011.59 mg TE/g), and moderate ion chelating (Fe2+) capacity. The chemical profile of each sample was determined using liquid chromatography/electrospray ionization triple quadrupole mass spectrometry (LC-ESI-MS/MS) and spectrophotometric procedures. Twenty-three compounds representing seven polyphenol subclasses were detected and quantified, including some phenolic acids and flavonoids that had not been previously reported for this plant material. It was shown that 5-O-caffeoylquinic acid, protocatechuic acid, catechin, quercetin and its glycosides (hyperoside, isoquercetin, quercitrin), and pentacyclic triterpenes were the dominant secondary metabolites in R. luteum leaves. The antioxidant activity was found to be strongly related to different polyphenol groups and total triterpene content, while the anti-lipoxygenase potential was highly dependent on catechin.
Anti-inflammatory and Anti-oxidant Activity of Hidrox® in Rotenone-Induced Parkinson’s Disease in Mice
Authors: Siracusa Rosalba , Scuto Maria , Fusco Roberta , Trovato Angela , Ontario Maria Laura , Crea Roberto , Di Paola Rosanna , Cuzzocrea Salvatore , Calabrese Vittorio
Published: September 2020

Background: In developed countries, the extension of human life is increasingly accompanied by a progressive increase in neurodegenerative diseases, most of which do not yet have effective therapy but only symptomatic treatments. In recent years, plant polyphenols have aroused considerable interest in the scientific community. The mechanisms currently hypothesized for the pathogenesis of Parkinson’s disease (PD) are neuroinflammation, oxidative stress and apoptosis. Hydroxytyrosol (HT), the main component of Hidrox® (HD), has been shown to have some of the highest free radical evacuation and anti-inflammatory activities. Here we wanted to study the role of HD on the neurobiological and behavioral alterations induced by rotenone. Methods: A study was conducted in which mice received HD (10 mg/kg, i.p.) concomitantly with rotenone (5 mg/kg, o.s.) for 28 days. Results: Locomotor activity, catalepsy, histological damage and several characteristic markers of the PD, such as the dopamine transporter (DAT) content, tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) and accumulation of α-synuclein, have been evaluated. Moreover, we observed the effects of HD on oxidative stress, neuroinflammation, apoptosis and inflammasomes. Taken together, the results obtained highlight HD’s ability to reduce the loss of dopaminergic neurons and the damage associated with it by counteracting the three main mechanisms of PD pathogenesis. Conclusion: HD is subject to fewer regulations than traditional drugs to improve patients’ brain health and could represent a promising nutraceutical choice to prevent PD.
An Integrated Strategy for Nutraceuticals from Haematoccus pluvialis: From Cultivation to Extraction
Authors: Mehariya Sanjeet , Sharma Neeta , Iovine Angela , Casella Patrizia , Marino Tiziana , Larocca Vincenzo , Molino Antonio , Musmarra Dino
Published: September 2020

The aim of this study was to develop an effective integrated cultivation system for Haematococcus pluvialis as a source of bioactive compounds such as astaxanthin, lutein, proteins, and fatty acids (FAs). The Chlorophyta H. pluvialis was cultivated in a vertical bubble column photobioreactor (VBC-PBR) under batch mode, allowing switching from green to red phase for astaxanthin induction. The combined effect of light intensity and nutrients on bioactive compound formation was investigated. Results showed that growth under lower nutrients availability and light intensity led to a higher concentration of biomass. Growth under high light intensity with an appropriate concentration of nitrate, sulfate, phosphate and magnesium led to ~85% and ~58% higher production of total carotenoids and fatty acids, respectively. Under high stress conditions, ~90% nitrate and phosphate consumption were observed.
Chemical Profile, Antioxidant, Anti-Inflammatory, and Anti-Cancer Effects of Italian Salvia rosmarinus Spenn. Methanol Leaves Extracts
Authors: Brindisi Matteo , Bouzidi Chouaha , Frattaruolo Luca , Loizzo Monica R. , Tundis Rosa , Dugay Annabelle , Deguin Brigitte , Cappello Anna Rita , Cappello Maria Stella
Published: September 2020

In this study, we evaluated and compared the chemical composition, the antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-proliferative effects of four methanol extracts (R1–R4), of Salvia rosmarinus Spenn. in two different sites of Southern Italy obtained by maceration or ultrasound-assisted extraction. Extracts of S. rosmarinus collected on the Ionian coast are indicated with the abbreviations R1 (maceration) and R2 (ultrasound-assisted extraction). Extracts of S. rosmarinus collected on the Tyrrhenian coast are indicated with the abbreviations R3 (maceration) and R4 (ultrasound-assisted extraction). The chemical composition was analyzed using High Pressure liquid chromatography–Diod-Array detection–Electrospray ionization–Quadrupole–Mass Spectroscopy (HPLC-DAD-ESI-Q-MS). The antioxidant activity was analyzed by 2,2′-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid) (ABTS) 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), β-carotene bleaching, and Ferric Reducing Antioxidant Power (FRAP) assays. Antioxidant features were also assessed in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW-264.7 murine macrophages, evaluating Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) production; in the same experimental model, the anti-inflammatory activity of the extracts was investigated. Interestingly, all extracts displayed antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. They exhibited significative nitrite production inhibitory activity, whith IC50 values ranging from 3.46 to 5.53 µg/mL, without impairing cell viability. The anti-inflammatory activity was also investigated by Western Blotting and immunofluorescence assay, highlighting the R3 and R4 extracts ability to reduce NF-κB translocation, as well as to disrupt the MAPKs signaling pathway. Extracts exhibited both potential anti-proliferative activity on breast cancer cells, inducing apoptosis, without affecting non-tumorigenic cells, and the ability to inhibit MDA-MB-231 cells’ motility. Finally, the rosemary extracts treatment significantly reduced the power of conditioned media, from MCF-7 or MDA-MB-231 cells to induce nitrite production on RAW 264.7 cells, confirming their promising anti-inflammatory activity.
Characteristics of Plane Gate Vibration and Holding Force in Closing Process by Experiments
Authors: Wang Yanzhao , Xu Guobin , Li Wensheng , Liu Fang , Duan Yu
Published: September 2020

A 1:25 scale physical model test was employed to study the plane gate vibration and holding force under the conditions of the fixed gate opening and closing process, respectively. We paid more attention to the characteristics of the gate vibration, holding force and the failure of gate-closing in closing process. The correlation between gate vibration and holding force was further examined. The results show that vertical vibration is weaker than the lateral and horizontal vibrations in fixed gate opening and is stronger than the lateral and vertical vibrations in closing process. Gate vertical vibration is self-excited vibration with a frequency of 7–14 Hz. Besides, crawl vibration in closing process is related to the upstream water depth. The higher the water level is, the earlier the crawl vibration appears. After the crawl stage, plane gate stops motion at a certain distance from the chamber floor and then the failure of gate-closing happens. Finally, gate vibration in three directions is significantly correlated with the holding force. In closing process, holding force has positive correlation with the vertical vibration and has negative correlation with the lateral and horizontal vibrations. In the crawl stage, the average of correlation coefficient in lateral, vertical and horizontal direction is −0.723, 0.733 and −0.664, respectively. Thus, the influence of gate vibration on holding force should be taken into consideration in determining the hoists capacity.
Rectangular Closed Double Magnetic Circuit Offering Ultra-Long Stroke for Ultra-Low-Frequency Vibration Exciter
Authors: Cui Junning , Li Wei , Bian Xingyuan , He Zhangqiang , Zou Limin
Published: September 2020

High-performance magnetic circuit offering uniform magnetic flux density (MFD) along ultra-long stroke is the key to develop a vibration exciter for ultra-low-frequency (ULF) vibration calibration. In this paper, a rectangular closed double magnetic circuit (RCDMC) offering ultra-long stroke up to 1.2 m is modeled and optimized. In order to overcome the modeling difficulty arising from the long stroke, a high-accuracy theoretical model is established taking advantage of the structural symmetry of the RCDMC through lumped parameter magnetic equivalent circuit method. Matrix equations are derived based on Kirchhoff’s law and solved by iteration calculation to deal with the strong nonlinear characteristics of the yoke material. The deviations between the model and finite element method (FEM) analysis results are less than 1% for non-saturated yokes and ~10% for saturated yokes. Theoretically, an MFD up to 122 mT and an acceleration waveform harmonic distortion (AWHD) as low as 0.45% are achieved through model-based optimization. Experiments are carried out using an RCDMC prototype assembled in a horizontal vibration exciter. The experimental results show that an MFD of 102 mT and an AWHD of 0.27% along 1.2 m stroke are achieved, making the proposed RCDMC a solution for ULF vibration exciter.
A Personalised Emotion-Based Model for Relaxation in Virtual Reality
Authors: Heyse Joris , Torres Vega Maria , De Jonge Thomas , De Backere Femke , De Turck Filip
Published: September 2020

One of the most frequent health problems is stress. It has been linked to negative effects on employee well-being in many occupations, and it is considered responsible for many physical and psychological problems. Traditional in-person relaxation therapy has proven to be effective in reducing stress. However, it has some drawbacks such as high cost, required infrastructure and the need for qualified trainers. Relaxation therapy in Virtual Reality (VR) tries to solve these problems. However, one aspect has received little attention, that is personalised therapy. Indeed, while many studies show the need for patient-tailored relaxation exercises, little existing work focuses on personalised VR content. One reason for this is the complexity of recognising emotions, which is required for emotion-based adaptive VR. In this work, a method for adapting VR content to the emotional state of the user is presented. This model has been applied in a VR relaxation therapy application, which adapts to the user’s emotional state utilising a heuristic optimiser. Simulations have proven the performance and usability of the emotion model. Additionally, this paper explores the impact of the order in which adaptations are performed on the effectiveness of the relaxation experience.
Easy, Fast, and Accurate Method of 3-Dimensional Mirror Plane Creation for Actual Clinical Users
Authors: Kwon Min-Soo , Lee Hyunwoo , Hwang Bo-Yeon , Lee Jung-Woo
Published: September 2020

The first thing to do before planning the surgical treatment of unilateral defects or the asymmetry of the facial area is probably establishing adequate mid-plane for comparison and analysis of the normal and affected side. In such cases, a mirror image can be useful to obtain customized and optimized mid-plane for specific individuals considering the degree of the defect and asymmetry. With the concept of the iterative closest point (ICP) algorithm, the surface-based registration of the initial structure and mirrored structure allow us to generate a mirror plane that bisects the mid planes of each structure. This mirror plane would improve the quality of pre-operative evaluation and provide an appropriate start point for the treatment plan with as few errors as possible. Hence, the aim of this article is to introduce a method to create a mirror plane that can be assisting in increasing the accuracy of evaluation and analysis so a precise treatment plan would follow consequently.
Soybean Plant Metabolism under Water Deficit and Xenobiotic and Antioxidant Agent Application
Authors: Schneider Julia Renata , Müller Mariele , Klein Vilson Antonio , Rossato-Grando Luciana Grazziotin , Barcelos Rômulo Pillon , Dalmago Genei Antonio , Chavarria Geraldo
Published: September 2020

The aim was to evaluate the interactive effects on biochemistry and physiology of soybean plants exposed to simultaneous xenobiotic and water deficit stresses, and the possible attenuation of plant damage by an antioxidant agent. Soybean plants were submitted to eight different soil water potentials, in two experiments (first experiment: −0.96, −0.38, −0.07, −0.02 MPa, and second experiment: −3.09, −1.38, −0.69, −0.14 MPa), xenobiotic, and antioxidant agent applications. Was observed a reduction in water status, gas exchange, photosynthetic pigments, photosystem II quantum yield, and increased leaf temperature in plants under low water availability. Water deficit also induced oxidative stress by the increased production of reactive oxygen species, cellular and molecular damage, and induction of the antioxidant defense metabolism, reduction of gas exchange, water status, and photosynthetic efficiency. The xenobiotic application also caused changes, with deleterious effects more pronounced in low soil water availability, mainly the reactive oxygen species production, consequently the antioxidant activity, and the oxidative damages. This indicates different responses to the combination of stresses. Antioxidant enzyme activity was reduced by the application of the antioxidant agent. Principal Component Analysis showed a relation with the antioxidant agent and reactive oxygen species, which is probably due to signaling function, and with defense antioxidant system, mainly glutathione, represented by thiols.
Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia
Authors: Vaisitti Tiziana , Arruga Francesca , Ferrajoli Alessandra
Published: September 2020

This Special Issue of Cancers, made up of nine articles (four original papers, four reviews, and a brief report), is dedicated to chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) [...]
Morphometric Analyses Distinguish Wabash Pigtoe (Fusconaia flava) and Round Pigtoe (Pleurobema sintoxia) Mussels
Authors: Willsie Julia A. , Morris Todd J. , Zanatta David T.
Published: September 2020

Wabash Pigtoe, Fusconaia flava, and the related Round Pigtoe, Pleurobema sintoxia, are freshwater mussels (Bivalvia: Unionidae: Pleurobemini) native to the Great Lakes region of North America. Fusconaia flava is considered widespread and relatively common while P. sintoxia is considered an imperiled species. These species are similar in shell shape and coloration and have confounded many freshwater malacologists, resulting in frequent misidentifications. We sought to determine if morphometric analyses could be used to reliably distinguish between these species. Two hundred and forty-six specimens were collected from rivers in Michigan and Ontario. For each specimen, a preliminary identification was made, shell measurements and foot color (orange or white) were documented, and photos of the left shell valve were taken. A genetic sample was taken from 133 specimens for cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (COI) barcoding. COI sequences were used for species identification by comparing to sequences on GenBank. Twenty-one digitized landmarks along the outline of the left valve were analyzed and compared to the results of the DNA barcoding. Landmark data correctly assigned 99.2% of specimens to their DNA-confirmed species identity, compared to 82.0% accuracy of field identifications and 77.0% accuracy for foot color. The creation of a DNA-confirmed morphometric database will aid freshwater malacologists across the Great Lakes region in differentiating between these species.
Contextuality Analysis of Impossible Figures
Authors: Cervantes Víctor H. , Dzhafarov Ehtibar N.
Published: September 2020

This paper has two purposes. One is to demonstrate contextuality analysis of systems of epistemic random variables. The other is to evaluate the performance of a new, hierarchical version of the measure of (non)contextuality introduced in earlier publications. As objects of analysis we use impossible figures of the kind created by the Penroses and Escher. We make no assumptions as to how an impossible figure is perceived, taking it instead as a fixed physical object allowing one of several deterministic descriptions. Systems of epistemic random variables are obtained by probabilistically mixing these deterministic systems. This probabilistic mixture reflects our uncertainty or lack of knowledge rather than random variability in the frequentist sense.
Evaluation of Rate Adaptation Algorithms in IEEE 802.11 Networks
Authors: Sammour Ibrahim , Chalhoub Gerard
Published: September 2020

Wireless technologies are being used in various applications for their ease of deployment and inherent capabilities to support mobility. Most wireless standards supports multiple data rates that may vary between few Mbps to few Gbps. Reaching the maximum supported data rate is what most application seek for. Nevertheless, the choice of data rates is very closely related to the quality of communication links and their stability. IEEE 802.11 standard introduced multi-rate support, since then, a lot of research has been done on rate adaptation, dealing with the different parameters that lead to an estimation of the channel conditions and the metrics that affect the network performance. In this paper, we present some of the popular rate adaptation schemes and summarize their characteristics. We categorize them as well into different categories according to their design and functionalities in terms of the strategies that are used to estimate channel conditions and decision making. We implemented some algorithms from the different categories in the network simulator NS-3 in order to evaluate their performance under different scenarios in Ad hoc and infrastructure modes. We present the lessons learned as well as our insights for future research work that can enhance the current approaches in the literature.
Development of a Variable Valve Actuation Control to Improve Diesel Oxidation Catalyst Efficiency and Emissions in a Light Duty Diesel Engine
Authors: Serrano José R. , Arnau Francisco J. , Martín Jaime , Auñón Ángel
Published: September 2020

Growing interest has arisen to adopt Variable Valve Timing (VVT) technology for automotive engines due to the need to fulfill the pollutant emission regulations. Several VVT strategies, such as the exhaust re-opening and the late exhaust closing, can be used to achieve an increment in the after-treatment upstream temperature by increasing the residual gas amount. In this study, a one-dimensional gas dynamics engine model has been used to simulate several VVT strategies and develop a control system to actuate over the valves timing in order to increase diesel oxidation catalyst efficiency and reduce the exhaust pollutant emissions. A transient operating conditions comparison, taking the Worldwide Harmonized Light-Duty Vehicles Test Cycle (WLTC) as a reference, has been done by analyzing fuel economy, HC and CO pollutant emissions levels. The results conclude that the combination of an early exhaust and a late intake valve events leads to a 20% reduction in CO emissions with a fuel penalty of 6% over the low speed stage of the WLTC, during the warm-up of the oxidation catalyst. The same set-up is able to reduce HC emissions down to 16% and NOx emission by 13%.
Multi-Rate Real-Time Simulation Method Based on the Norton Equivalent
Authors: Zhu Junjie , Zhang Bingda
Published: September 2020

For the problem of poor accuracy of the existing multi-rate simulation methods, this paper proposes a multi-rate real-time simulation method based on the Norton equivalent, compared with multi-rate simulation method based on the ideal source equivalent. After the Norton equivalence of the fast subsystem and the slow subsystem are established, they are solved simultaneously at the junction nodes. In order to reduce the amount of the simulation calculation, the Norton equivalent circuit is obtained by incremental calculation. The data interaction between the fast subsystem and the slow subsystem is realized by extrapolation method. For ensuring the real-time performance of the simulation, the method of the slow subsystem calculates ahead of the fast subsystem is given for the slow subsystem with a large amount of calculation. Finally, the AC/DC hybrid power system was simulated on the real-time simulation platform (FPGA-based Real-Time Digital Solver, FRTDS), and the simulation results were compared with the single-rate simulation, which verified the correctness and accuracy of the proposed method.
Circuit-Based Electrothermal Simulation of Multicellular SiC Power MOSFETs Using FANTASTIC
Authors: d’Alessandro Vincenzo , Codecasa Lorenzo , Catalano Antonio Pio , Scognamillo Ciro
Published: September 2020

This paper discusses the benefits of an advanced highly-efficient approach to static and dynamic electrothermal simulations of multicellular silicon carbide (SiC) power MOSFETs. The strategy is based on a fully circuital representation of the device, which is discretized into an assigned number of individual cells, high enough to analyze temperature and current nonuniformities over the active area. The cells are described with subcircuits implementing a simple transistor model that accounts for the utmost influence of the traps at the SiC/SiO2 interface. The power-temperature feedback is emulated with an equivalent network corresponding to a compact thermal model automatically generated by the FANTASTIC tool from an accurate 3D mesh of the component under test. The resulting macrocircuit can be solved by any SPICE-like simulation program with low computational burden and rare occurrence of convergence issues.
Design Space Exploration of Turbulent Multiphase Flows Using Machine Learning-Based Surrogate Model
Authors: Ganti Himakar , Kamin Manu , Khare Prashant
Published: September 2020

This study focuses on establishing a surrogate model based on machine learning techniques to predict the time-averaged spatially distributed behaviors of vaporizing liquid jets in turbulent air crossflow for momentum flux ratios between 5 and 120. This surrogate model extends a previously developed Gaussian-process-based framework applicable to laminar flows to accommodate turbulent flows and demonstrates that in addition to detailed fields of primitive variables, second-order turbulence statistics can also be predicted using machine learning techniques. The framework proceeds in 3 steps—(1) design of experiment studies to identify training points and conducting high-fidelity calculations to build the training dataset; (2) Gaussian process regression (supervised training) for the range of operating conditions under consideration for gaseous and dispersed phase quantities; and (3) error quantification of the surrogate model by comparing the machine learning predictions with the truth model for test conditions (i.e., conditions not used for training). The framework was trained using data generated by high-fidelity large eddy simulation (LES)-based calculations (also referred to as the truth model), which solves the complete set of conservation equations for mass, momentum, energy, and species in an Eulerian reference frame, coupled with a Lagrangian solver that tracks the dispersed phase. Simulations were conducted for the range of momentum flux ratios between 5 and 120 for liquid water injected into crossflowing air at a pressure of 1 atm and temperature of 600 K. Results from the machine-learned surrogate model, also called emulations, were compared with the truth model under testing conditions identified by momentum flux ratios of 7 and 40. L1 errors for time-averaged field quantities, including velocity magnitudes, pressure, temperature, vapor fraction of the evaporated liquid, and turbulent kinetic energy in the gas phase, and spray penetration and Sauter mean diameters in the dispersed phase are reported. Speedup of 65 was achieved with this emulator when compared against LES simulation of the same test conditions with errors for all quantities below 14%, thus demonstrating the potential benefits of using machine learning techniques for design space exploration of devices that are based on turbulent multiphase fluid flows. This is the first effort of its kind in the literature that demonstrates the application of machine learning techniques on turbulent multiphase flows.
Schedule Optimization in a Smart Microgrid Considering Demand Response Constraints
Authors: Garcia-Guarin Julian , Alvarez David , Bretas Arturo , Rivera Sergio
Published: September 2020

Smart microgrids (SMGs) may face energy rationing due to unavailability of energy resources. Demand response (DR) in SMGs is useful not only in emergencies, since load cuts might be planned with a reduction in consumption but also in normal operation. SMG energy resources include storage systems, dispatchable units, and resources with uncertainty, such as residential demand, renewable generation, electric vehicle traffic, and electricity markets. An aggregator can optimize the scheduling of these resources, however, load demand can completely curtail until being neglected to increase the profits. The DR function (DRF) is developed as a constraint of minimum size to supply the demand and contributes solving of the 0-1 knapsack problem (KP), which involves a combinatorial optimization. The 0-1 KP stores limited energy capacity and is successful in disconnecting loads. Both constraints, the 0-1 KP and DRF, are compared in the ranking index, load reduction percentage, and execution time. Both functions turn out to be very similar according to the performance of these indicators, unlike the ranking index, in which the DRF has better performance. The DRF reduces to 25% the minimum demand to avoid non-optimal situations, such as non-supplying the demand and has potential benefits, such as the elimination of finite combinations and easy implementation.
Optimal Selection of Integrated Electricity Generation Systems for the Power Sector with Low Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions
Authors: Arif Adeel , Rizwan Muhammad , Elkamel Ali , Hakeem Luqman , Zaman Muhammad
Published: September 2020

Cheap and clean energy demand is continuously increasing due to economic growth and industrialization. The energy sectors of several countries still employ fossil fuels for power production and there is a concern of associated emissions of greenhouse gases (GHG). On the other hand, environmental regulations are becoming more stringent, and resultant emissions need to be mitigated. Therefore, optimal energy policies considering economic resources and environmentally friendly pathways for electricity generation are essential. The objective of this paper is to develop a comprehensive model to optimize the power sector. For this purpose, a multi-period mixed integer programming (MPMIP) model was developed in a General Algebraic Modeling System (GAMS) to minimize the cost of electricity and reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. Various CO2 mitigation strategies such as fuel balancing and carbon capture and sequestration (CCS) were employed. The model was tested on a case study from Pakistan for a period of 13 years from 2018 to 2030. All types of power plants were considered that are available and to be installed from 2018 to 2030. Moreover, capacity expansion was also considered where needed. Fuel balancing was found to be the most suitable and promising option for CO2 mitigation as up to 40% CO2 mitigation can be achieved by the year 2030 starting from 4% in 2018 for all scenarios without increase in the cost of electricity (COE). CO2 mitigation higher than 40% by the year 2030 can also be realized but the number of new proposed power plants was much higher beyond this target, which resulted in increased COE. Implementation of carbon capture and sequestration (CCS) on new power plants also reduced the CO2 emissions considerably with an increase in COE of up to 15%.
Effects of Additional Xylanase on Saccharification and Ethanol Fermentation of Ammonia-Pretreated Corn Stover and Rice Straw
Authors: Park Seung Hyeon , Pham Thi Thu Huong , Kim Tae Hyun
Published: September 2020

Synergistic effect of cellulase and hemicellulase (xylanase) was evaluated because lignocellulosic material is a heterogeneous complex of cellulose and hemicellulose. Various effects of HTec2 addition on enzymatic saccharification and fermentation were evaluated using two different substrates such as corn stover and rice straw. Corn stover and rice straw were pretreated by the LMAA (low-moisture anhydrous ammonia) method at the preselected same conditions (90 °C, 120 h, moisture content = 50%, NH3 loading = 0.1 g NH3/g). It was observed that the enzymatic saccharification yield of pretreated corn stover (76.4% for glucan digestibility) was higher than that of pretreated rice straw (70.9% for glucan) using CTec2 cellulase without HTec2 addition. Glucan digestibility of pretreated corn stover was significantly increased from 76.4% to 91.1% when the HTec2/CTec2 (v/v) increased from 0 to 10. However, it was interesting that the ethanol production was decreased from 89.9% to 76.3% for SSF and 118.0% to 87.9% for SSCF at higher HTec2/CTec2. As the glucan loading increased from 2.0% to 7.0%, the ethanol yields of both SSF and SSCF were decreased from 96.3% to 88.9% and from 116.6% to 92.4%, respectively. In addition, the smallest inoculum size (optical density of 0.25) resulted in the highest ethanol production (20.5 g/L).
An Ex-Post Assessment of RES-E Support in Greece by Investigating the Monetary Flows and the Causal Relationships in the Electricity Market
Authors: Stavrakas Vassilis , Kleanthis Nikos , Flamos Alexandros
Published: September 2020

One way to perceive the electricity market is as a network of actors connected through transactions and monetary flows. By exploring the monetary flows in the electricity market, one adopts a holistic view which can provide insights on the interactions between different components of the benefits and costs, as well as on the possible conflicts or alliances between the involved actors of the system. The importance of such an analysis becomes even more evident when considering if the system’s state would change due to either the effectuation of a policy measure or a shift in the external drivers of the system. Additionally, by identifying conditions of conflicting interests between the involved actors, one can devise a roadmap of least-resistance for a policy measure to attain its goals. Our work is based on the premise that understanding and quantifying the monetary flows in the electricity market can contribute to the efficiency assessment of policy interventions in the market. We present a structured analytical framework and the results of a quantitative analysis, based on available public domain data, for the identification of the main drivers and interactions that governed the major monetary flows in the Greek wholesale electricity market, from 2009 to 2013 and the ex-post assessment of the market impact of the feed-in-tariffs scheme that was in place during this period.
Life Cycle Assessment of Synthetic Natural Gas Production from Different CO2 Sources: A Cradle-to-Gate Study
Authors: Bargiacchi Eleonora , Thonemann Nils , Geldermann Jutta , Antonelli Marco , Desideri Umberto
Published: September 2020

Fuel production from hydrogen and carbon dioxide is considered an attractive solution as long-term storage of electric energy and as temporary storage of carbon dioxide. A large variety of CO2 sources are suitable for Carbon Capture Utilization (CCU), and the process energy intensity depends on the separation technology and, ultimately, on the CO2 concentration in the flue gas. Since the carbon capture process emits more CO2 than the expected demand for CO2 utilization, the most sustainable CO2 sources must be selected. This work aimed at modeling a Power-to-Gas (PtG) plant and assessing the most suitable carbon sources from a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) perspective. The PtG plant was supplied by electricity from a 2030 scenario for Italian electricity generation. The plant impacts were assessed using data from the ecoinvent database version 3.5, for different CO2 sources (e.g., air, cement, iron, and steel plants). A detailed discussion on how to handle multi-functionality was also carried out. The results showed that capturing CO2 from hydrogen production plants and integrated pulp and paper mills led to the lowest impacts concerning all investigated indicators. The choice of how to handle multi-functional activities had a crucial impact on the assessment.
Water-Induced Corrosion Damage of Carbon Steel in Sulfolane
Authors: Kubisztal Julian , Łosiewicz Bożena , Dybał Paulina , Kozik Violetta , Bąk Andrzej
Published: September 2020

Sulfolane in contact with water and oxygen forms acidic (by-) products that are major factors in accelerating the corrosion of carbon/stainless steel. In consequence, water-induced corrosion damage can be a serious problem in industrial systems. Hence, the determination of the corrosion resistance of AISI 1010 steel immersed in sulfolane containing 0 to 6 vol.% water was the principal objective of the study. Evaluation of the corrosion resistance of steel electrodes was performed using a potentiodynamic technique and scanning Kelvin probe microscopy. It was observed that the corrosion products layer that formed on the surface of AISI 1010 steel partially protects it against corrosion in sulfolane with a water concentration in the range from 1 vol.% to 4 vol.%. Interestingly, amounts of water above 4 vol.% cause a break-down of the corrosion products layer and deteriorate the corrosion resistance of AISI 1010 steel as well. Moreover, the relationship between the fractal dimension, corrosion degree of the steel surface and water concentration in sulfolane was investigated. The fractal dimension was determined using 2D grayscale images of AISI 1010 steel registered through a scanning electron microscope. It was noticed that both the fractal dimension and the corrosion degree rose with the increased water concentration in sulfolane.
On-Line Diagnosis and Fault State Classification Method of Photovoltaic Plant
Authors: Shin Jun-Hyun , Kim Jin-O
Published: September 2020

This paper presents an on-line diagnosis method for large photovoltaic (PV) power plants by using a machine learning algorithm. Most renewable energy output power is decreased due to the lack of management tools and the skills of maintenance engineers. Additionally, many photovoltaic power plants have a long down-time due to the absence of a monitoring system and their distance from the city. The IEC 61724-1 standard is a Performance Ratio (PR) index that evaluates the PV power plant performance and reliability. However, the PR index has a low recognition rate of the fault state in conditions of low irradiation and bad weather. This paper presents a weather-corrected index, linear regression method, temperature correction equation, estimation error matrix, clearness index and proposed variable index, as well as a one-class Support Vector Machine (SVM) method and a kernel technique to classify the fault state and anomaly output power of PV plants.
Cement Integrity Loss due to Interfacial Debonding and Radial Cracking during CO2 Injection
Authors: Dou Haoyu , Dong Xuelin , Duan Zhiyin , Ma Yinji , Gao Deli
Published: September 2020

Cement provides zonal isolation and mechanical support, and its integrity is critical to the safety and efficiency of the CO2 injection process for geologic carbon storage. This work focuses on interfacial debonding at wellbore interfaces and radial cracking in cement during CO2 injection. It adopts the definition of the energy release rate (ERR) to characterize the propagation of cracks. Based on the finite element method, the proposed model estimates the ERRs of both types of cracks with practical wellbore configurations and injection parameters. Further parametric studies reveal the effects of cement’s mechanical and thermal properties and the crack geometry on crack propagation. Simulation results show that the ERRs of interfacial and radial cracks would surpass 100 J/m2 with typical cement properties. The cement’s thermal expansion coefficient is the most influential factor on the ERR, followed by its Young’s modulus, Poisson’s ratio, and thermal conductivity. The initial sizes and positions of the cracks are also important parameters for controlling crack propagation. Moreover, non-uniform in situ stresses would accelerate crack propagation at the interfaces. These findings are valuable and could help to optimize cement sheath design in order to ensure the long-term integrity of wells for geological carbon storage.
Monitoring Arsenic Species Content in Seaweeds Produced off the Southern Coast of Korea and Its Risk Assessment
Authors: Kim Min-hyuk , Kim Junseob , Noh Chang-Hyun , Choi Seogyeong , Joo Yong-Sung , Lee Kwang-Won
Published: September 2020

Seaweed, a popular seafood in South Korea, has abundant dietary fiber and minerals. The toxicity of arsenic compounds is known to be related to their chemical speciation, and inorganic arsenic (iAs) is more detrimental than other species. Due to the different toxicities of the various chemical forms, speciation analysis is important for evaluating arsenic exposure. In this study, total arsenic (tAs) and six arsenic species (arsenite, arsenate, monomethylarsonic acid, dimethylarsinic acid, arsenobetaine, and arsenocholine) were analyzed in 180 seaweed samples. Although there were differences between seaweed species, the concentration of tAs was detected at levels ranging from 1 to 100 µg/g, and the distribution of six arsenic species differed depending on the seaweed species. No correlation between the concentration of iAs and tAs was found in most seaweed species. Through statistical clustering, hijiki and gulfweed were seen to be the seaweeds with the highest ratios of iAs to tAs. Using the iAs concentration data from the arsenic speciation analysis, a risk assessment of seaweed intake in South Korea was conducted. The margin of exposure values showed no meaningful risk for the general population, but low levels of risk were identified for seaweed consumers, with high intakes of gulfweed and hijiki.
The Evolution of Imprinted microRNAs and Their RNA Targets
Authors: Haig David , Mainieri Avantika
Published: September 2020

Mammalian genomes contain many imprinted microRNAs. When an imprinted miRNA targets an unimprinted mRNA their interaction may have different fitness consequences for the loci encoding the miRNA and mRNA. In one possible outcome, the mRNA sequence evolves to evade regulation by the miRNA by a simple change of target sequence. Such a response is unavailable if the targeted sequence is strongly constrained by other functions. In these cases, the mRNA evolves to accommodate regulation by the imprinted miRNA. These evolutionary dynamics are illustrated using the examples of the imprinted C19MC cluster of miRNAs in primates and C2MC cluster in mice that are paternally expressed in placentas. The 3′ UTR of PTEN, a gene with growth-related and metabolic functions, appears to be an important target of miRNAs from both clusters.
Co-Occurrence of Hepatitis A Infection and Chronic Liver Disease
Authors: Kanda Tatsuo , Sasaki Reina , Masuzaki Ryota , Takahashi Hiroshi , Mizutani Taku , Matsumoto Naoki , Nirei Kazushige , Moriyama Mitsuhiko
Published: September 2020

Hepatitis A virus (HAV) infection occasionally leads to a critical condition in patients with or without chronic liver diseases. Acute-on-chronic liver disease includes acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF) and non-ACLF. In this review, we searched the literature concerning the association between HAV infection and chronic liver diseases in PubMed. Chronic liver diseases, such as metabolic associated fatty liver disease and alcoholic liver disease, coinfection with other viruses, and host genetic factors may be associated with severe hepatitis A. It is important to understand these conditions and mechanisms. There may be no etiological correlation between liver failure and HAV infection, but there is an association between the level of chronic liver damage and the severity of acute-on-chronic liver disease. While the application of an HAV vaccination is important for preventing HAV infection, the development of antivirals against HAV may be important for preventing the development of ACLF with HAV infection as an acute insult. The latter is all the more urgent given that the lives of patients with HAV infection and a chronic liver disease of another etiology may be at immediate risk.
Drug Repurposing in Dentistry: Towards Application of Small Molecules in Dentin Repair
Authors: Birjandi Anahid A. , Suzano Fernanda R. , Sharpe Paul T.
Published: September 2020

One of the main goals of dentistry is the natural preservation of the tooth structure following damage. This is particularly implicated in deep dental cavities affecting dentin and pulp, where odontoblast survival is jeopardized. This activates pulp stem cells and differentiation of new odontoblast-like cells, accompanied by increased Wnt signaling. Our group has shown that delivery of small molecule inhibitors of GSK3 stimulates Wnt/β-catenin signaling in the tooth cavity with pulp exposure and results in effective promotion of dentin repair. Small molecules are a good therapeutic option due to their ability to pass across cell membranes and reach target. Here, we investigate a range of non-GSK3 target small molecules that are currently used for treatment of various medical conditions based on other kinase inhibitory properties. We analyzed the ability of these drugs to stimulate Wnt signaling activity by off-target inhibition of GSK3. Our results show that a c-Met inhibitor, has the ability to stimulate Wnt/β-catenin pathway in dental pulp cells in vitro at low concentrations. This work is an example of drug repurposing for dentistry and suggests a candidate drug to be tested in vivo for natural dentin repair. This approach bypasses the high level of economical and time investment that are usually required in novel drug discoveries.
Phylogenetic Utility of rRNA ITS2 Sequence-Structure under Functional Constraint
Authors: Zhang Wei , Tian Wen , Gao Zhipeng , Wang Guoli , Zhao Hong
Published: September 2020

The crucial function of the internal transcribed spacer 2 (ITS2) region in ribosome biogenesis depends on its secondary and tertiary structures. Despite rapidly evolving, ITS2 is under evolutionary constraints to maintain the specific secondary structures that provide functionality. A link between function, structure and evolution could contribute an understanding to each other and recently has created a growing point of sequence-structure phylogeny of ITS2. Here we briefly review the current knowledge of ITS2 processing in ribosome biogenesis, focusing on the conservative characteristics of ITS2 secondary structure, including structure form, structural motifs, cleavage sites, and base-pair interactions. We then review the phylogenetic implications and applications of this structure information, including structure-guiding sequence alignment, base-pair mutation model, and species distinguishing. We give the rationale for why incorporating structure information into tree construction could improve reliability and accuracy, and some perspectives of bioinformatics coding that allow for a meaningful evolutionary character to be extracted. In sum, this review of the integration of function, structure and evolution of ITS2 will expand the traditional sequence-based ITS2 phylogeny and thus contributes to the tree of life. The generality of ITS2 characteristics may also inspire phylogenetic use of other similar structural regions.