bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effect of Seaweed Extract on Productivity and Quality Attributes of Four Onion Cultivars
Authors: Abbas Mazhar , Anwar Jahanzeb , Zafar-ul-Hye Muhammad , Iqbal Khan Rashid , Saleem Muhammad , Rahi Ashfaq Ahmad , Danish Subhan , Datta Rahul
Published: May 2020

The excessive use of chemicals and inorganic fertilizers by farmers to increase crop yield is detrimental to the environment and human health. Application of biostimulants such as seaweed extract (SWE) in agriculture could be an effective and eco-friendly alternative to inorganic fertilizers. Biostimulants are natural organic degradable substances. Their application serves as a source of nutrition for crops, possibly improving growth and productivity when applied in combination with the fertilizers. The current study was conducted to evaluate the vegetative growth, reproductive behavior and quality attributes of four onion cultivars, ‘Lambada’, ‘Red Bone’, ‘Nasarpuri’, and ‘Phulkara’, in response to different concentrations of commercial SWE. Four levels of SWE extract were used, 0% (control), 0.5%, 1%, 2%, and 3%, which were applied as a foliar spray to each cultivar. The application of 0.5% SWE caused a significant increase in total soluble solids, mineral content (N, P, and K), bulb weight and yield. Application at 3% SWE increased ascorbic acid as compared to control. The cultivars responded in different ways regarding bulb dry weight and bulb and neck diameter. Among all cultivars, ‘Lambada’ showed the maximum bulb dry matter, ‘Phulkara’ showed enhanced neck diameter whereas ‘Red Bone’ showed maximum leaf length. It is concluded that 0.5% SWE increased the yield, nutrient contents, and total soluble solids (TSS) of the four onion cultivars whereas 3% SWE, the highest concentration, increased ascorbic acid in different onion cultivars.
Location Extraction and Prediction Method Based on Floating Car Spatial-Temporal Trajectory
Authors: Pan Shaoming , Li Ziying , Chong Yanwen
Published: May 2020

Predicting the next important location by mining the user’s historical spatial-temporal trajectory can be done for behavioral analysis and path planning. Since extracting the important location precisely is the premise of next location prediction, an enhanced location extraction algorithm is proposed to meet the requirements of dynamic trajectory via dynamic parameter estimation. To realize the estimation of parameters dynamically, the differences of floating car velocity in terms of spatial distribution and behavior in time distribution are considered in the location extraction algorithm. Then, an improved recurrent neural network (RNN) model is designed to mine the variation law of floating car trajectories to improve the accuracy of important location prediction under different conditions. Different from the traditional prediction model considering only the constraint of distance, the attention mechanism and semantic information are considered simultaneously by the proposed prediction model. Finally, the floating car trajectory of Beijing is selected for our experiments, and the results show that the proposed location extraction algorithm can meet the requirements of a dynamic environment and our model achieves high prediction accuracy.
Morphometric Prioritization, Fluvial Classification, and Hydrogeomorphological Quality in High Andean Livestock Micro-Watersheds in Northern Peru
Authors: Rojas Briceño Nilton , Barboza Castillo Elgar , Gamarra Torres Oscar , Oliva Manuel , Leiva Tafur Damaris , Barrena Gurbillón Miguel , Corroto Fernando , Salas López Rolando , Rascón Jesús
Published: May 2020

Anthropic activity affects the hydrogeomorphological quality of fluvial systems. River and valley classifications are fundamental preliminary steps in determining their ecological status, and their prioritization is essential for the proper planning and management of soil and water resources. Given the importance of the High Andean livestock micro-watershed (HAL-MWs) ecosystems in Peru, an integrated methodological framework is presented for morphometric prioritization that uses a Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and Weighted Sum Approach (WSA), geomorphological fluvial classifications (channel, slope, and valley), and hydrogeomorphological evaluations using the Hydrogeomorphological Index (IHG). Of six HAL-MWs studied in Leimebamba and Molinopampa (Amazonas region), the PCWSA hybrid model identified the San Antonio HAL-MW as a top priority, needing the rapid adoption of appropriate conservation practices. Thirty-nine types of river course were identified, by combining 13 types of valley and 11 types of riverbed. The total assessment of the IHG indicated that 7.6% (21.8 km), 14.5% (41.6 km), 27.9% (80.0 km), and 50.0% (143.2 km) of the basin lengths have “Poor”, “Moderate”, “Good”, and “Very good” quality rankings, respectively. The increase in the artificial use of river channels and flood plains is closely linked to the decrease in hydrogeomorphological quality.
Visualization of 3D Survey Data for Strata Titles
Authors: Aditya Trias , Laksono Dany , Susanta Febrian F. , Istarno I. , Diyono D. , Ariyanto Didik
Published: May 2020

Major cities and urban areas are beginning to develop and use 3D properties and public facilities. Consequently, 3D cadastral surveys are increasingly being employed for strata unit ownership registration as a part of land administration services. At present, most national land information systems do not support 2D and 3D cadastral visualizations. A field survey or validation survey is required to determine the geometry of 3D spatial units for property registration. However, the results of 3D surveys and mapping are not stored in the land information system. This work aims to integrate 2D and 3D geospatial data of property units collected from cadastral surveys with their corresponding legal data. It reviews the workflow for the use of 3D survey data for first-titling of 3D properties in Indonesia. A scenario of use and a prototype were developed based on existing practices and the possibility of extending Indonesia’s Land Administration Domain Model (LADM) to represent 3D units. Data submitted to the prototype as 3D geometries was survey data from 3D cadastral surveys or validation surveys utilizing terrestrial survey methods. The prototype used PostGIS and Cesium Ion to store 3D geometries of data from six 3D surveys. Registrars in local land offices could use the prototype to undertake strata unit registration that establishes a relationship among geospatial features and their survey documents and legal documents. Cesium JS was used as a 3D browser, customized as a web application, to manage and visualize 3D survey data to support strata title registration. The results demonstrate that the first titling of 3D cadaster objects could be conducted and properly visualized in Indonesia by extending the existing LADM with more support for 3D spatial representations and survey documents.
Combining AHP and ROC with GIS for Airport Site Selection: A Case Study in Libya
Authors: Erkan Turan Erman , Elsharida Wael Mohamed
Published: May 2020

Choosing airport locations requires thorough and comprehensive decisions to be made. To do so in a professional and logical manner is crucial for the social, economic, and logistic settings intended for any region. The present research takes place in Libya, where airports are just as vital for the economy in terms of tourism and investment by allowing for improved transportation throughout the developing market and supplier locations as well as trading between the industrial and financial sectors. For this reason, using the geographic information system (GIS) to determine the appropriate airport site, twenty-three criteria were considered. In addition, two different methods—analytic hierarchy process (AHP) and rank order centroid (ROC)—were utilized to derive the related weights. The comparison of the output maps from these two distinctive approaches shows that both approaches provide identical results. Finally, a sensitivity analysis was carried out to evaluate the reliability of the method used and select the best site among the proposed ones based on the result of the highest suitability index for each candidate site. This research provides a siting approach and substantial support for decision-makers in the issue of airport locations selection in Libya and other developing countries.
Disdyakis Triacontahedron DGGS
Authors: Hall John , Wecker Lakin , Ulmer Benjamin , Samavati Faramarz
Published: May 2020

The amount of information collected about the Earth has become extremely large. With this information comes the demand for integration, processing, visualization and distribution of this data so that it can be leveraged to solve real-world problems. To address this issue, a carefully designed information structure is needed that stores all of the information about the Earth in a convenient format such that it can be easily used to solve a wide variety of problems. The idea which we explore is to create a Discrete Global Grid System (DGGS) using a Disdyakis Triacontahedron (DT) as the initial polyhedron. We have adapted a simple, closed-form, equal-area projection to reduce distortion and speed up queries. We have derived an efficient, closed-form inverse for this projection that can be used in important DGGS queries. The resulting construction is indexed using an atlas of connectivity maps. Using some simple modular arithmetic, we can then address point to cell, neighbourhood and hierarchical queries on the grid, allowing for these queries to be performed in constant time. We have evaluated the angular distortion created by our DGGS by comparing it to a traditional icosahedron DGGS using a similar projection. We demonstrate that our grid reduces angular distortion while allowing for real-time rendering of data across the globe.
The DNA Damage Response and HIV-Associated Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension
Authors: Simenauer Ari , Nozik-Grayck Eva , Cota-Gomez Adela
Published: May 2020

The HIV-infected population is at a dramatically increased risk of developing pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), a devastating and fatal cardiopulmonary disease that is rare amongst the general population. It is increasingly apparent that PAH is a disease with complex and heterogeneous cellular and molecular pathologies, and options for therapeutic intervention are limited, resulting in poor clinical outcomes for affected patients. A number of soluble HIV factors have been implicated in driving the cellular pathologies associated with PAH through perturbations of various signaling and regulatory networks of uninfected bystander cells in the pulmonary vasculature. While these mechanisms are likely numerous and multifaceted, the overlapping features of PAH cellular pathologies and the effects of viral factors on related cell types provide clues as to the potential mechanisms driving HIV-PAH etiology and progression. In this review, we discuss the link between the DNA damage response (DDR) signaling network, chronic HIV infection, and potential contributions to the development of pulmonary arterial hypertension in chronically HIV-infected individuals.
Feasibility of Imaging EpCAM Expression in Ovarian Cancer Using Radiolabeled DARPin Ec1
Authors: Vorobyeva Anzhelika , Konovalova Elena , Xu Tianqi , Schulga Alexey , Altai Mohamed , Garousi Javad , Rinne Sara S. , Orlova Anna , Tolmachev Vladimir , Deyev Sergey
Published: May 2020

Epithelial cell adhesion molecule (EpCAM) is overexpressed in 55%–75% of ovarian carcinomas (OC). EpCAM might be used as a target for a treatment of disseminated OC. Designed ankyrin repeats protein (DARPin) Ec1 is a small (18 kDa) protein, which binds to EpCAM with subnanomolar affinity. We tested a hypothesis that Ec1 labeled with a non-residualizing label might serve as a companion imaging diagnostic for stratification of patients for EpCAM-targeting therapy. Ec1 was labeled with 125I using N-succinimidyl-para-iodobenzoate. Binding affinity, specificity, and cellular processing of [125I]I-PIB-Ec1 were evaluated using SKOV-3 and OVCAR-3 ovarian carcinoma cell lines. Biodistribution and tumor-targeting properties of [125I]I-PIB-Ec1 were studied in Balb/c nu/nu mice bearing SKOV-3 and OVCAR-3 xenografts. EpCAM-negative Ramos lymphoma xenografts served as specificity control. Binding of [125I]I-PIB-Ec1 to ovarian carcinoma cell lines was highly specific and had affinity in picomolar range. Slow internalization of [125I]I-PIB-Ec1 by OC cells confirmed utility of non-residualizing label for in vivo imaging. [125I]I-PIB-Ec1 provided 6 h after injection tumor-to-blood ratios of 30 ± 11 and 48 ± 12 for OVCAR-3 and SKOV-3 xenografts, respectively, and high contrast to other organs. Tumor targeting was highly specific. Saturation of tumor uptake at a high dose of Ec1 in SKOV-3 model provided a rationale for dose selection in further studies using therapeutic conjugates of Ec1 for targeted therapy. In conclusion, [125I]I-PIB-Ec1 is a promising agent for visualizing EpCAM expression in OC.
Cytokine Release Syndrome in COVID-19 Patients, A New Scenario for an Old Concern: The Fragile Balance between Infections and Autoimmunity
Authors: Picchianti Diamanti Andrea , Rosado Maria Manuela , Pioli Claudio , Sesti Giorgio , Laganà Bruno
Published: May 2020

On 7 January 2020, researchers isolated and sequenced in China from patients with severe pneumonitis a novel coronavirus, then called SARS-CoV-2, which rapidly spread worldwide, becoming a global health emergency. Typical manifestations consist of flu-like symptoms such as fever, cough, fatigue, and dyspnea. However, in about 20% of patients, the infection progresses to severe interstitial pneumonia and can induce an uncontrolled host-immune response, leading to a life-threatening condition called cytokine release syndrome (CRS). CRS represents an emergency scenario of a frequent challenge, which is the complex and interwoven link between infections and autoimmunity. Indeed, treatment of CRS involves the use of both antivirals to control the underlying infection and immunosuppressive agents to dampen the aberrant pro-inflammatory response of the host. Several trials, evaluating the safety and effectiveness of immunosuppressants commonly used in rheumatic diseases, are ongoing in patients with COVID-19 and CRS, some of which are achieving promising results. However, such a use should follow a multidisciplinary approach, be accompanied by close monitoring, be tailored to patient’s clinical and serological features, and be initiated at the right time to reach the best results. Autoimmune patients receiving immunosuppressants could be prone to SARS-CoV-2 infections; however, suspension of the ongoing therapy is contraindicated to avoid disease flares and a consequent increase in the infection risk.
Digital Twins-Assisted Design of Next-Generation Advanced Controllers for Power Systems and Electronics: Wind Turbine as a Case Study
Authors: Jahanshahi Zeitouni Meisam , Parvaresh Ahmad , Abrazeh Saber , Mohseni Saeid-Reza , Gheisarnejad Meysam , Khooban Mohammad-Hassan
Published: May 2020

This paper proposes a novel adaptive controller based on digital twin (DT) by integrating software-in-loop (SIL) and hardware-in-loop (HIL). This work aims to reduce the difference between the SIL controller and its physical controller counterpart using the DT concept. To highlight the applicability of the suggested methodology, the regulation control of a horizontal variable speed wind turbine (WT) is considered for the design and assessment purposes. In the presented digital twin framework, the active disturbance rejection controller (ADRC) is implemented for the pitch angle control of the WT plant in both SIL and HIL environments. The design of the ADRC controllers in the DT framework is accomplished by adopting deep deterministic policy gradient (DDPG) in two stages: ( i ) by employing a fitness evaluation of wind speed error, the internal coefficients of HIL controller are adjusted based on DDPG for the regulation of WT plant, and ( ii ) the difference between the rotor speed waveforms in HIL and SIL are reduced by DDPG to obtain a similar output behavior of the system in these environments. Some examinations based on DT are conducted to validate the effectiveness, high dynamic performance, robustness and adaptability of the suggested method in comparison to the prevalent state-of-the-art techniques. The suggested controller is seen to be significantly more efficient especially in the compensation of high aerodynamic variations, unknown uncertainties and also mechanical stresses on the plant drive train.
Mortality After Delay of Adequate Empiric Antimicrobial Treatment of Bloodstream Infection
Authors: Lambregts Merel M. C. , Wijnakker Roos , Bernards Alexandra T. , Visser Leo G. , le Cessie Saskia , de Boer Mark G. J.
Published: May 2020

Background: Timely empiric antimicrobial therapy is one of the cornerstones of the management of suspected bloodstream infection (BSI). However, studies about the effects of empiric therapy on mortality have reported inconsistent results. The objective of this study was to estimate the effect of delay of appropriate empiric therapy on early mortality in patients with BSI. Methods: Data for the propensity score matching (PSM) study were obtained from a cohort of patients with BSI. Inadequate empiric treatment was defined as in vitro resistance to the antimicrobial regimen administered <6 h after blood cultures were taken. The primary outcome measure was 14-day mortality. Thirty-day mortality and median length of stay (LOS) were secondary outcomes. PSM was applied to control for confounding. Results: Of a total of 893 included patients with BSI, 35.7% received inadequate initial empiric treatment. In the PSM cohort (n = 334), 14-day mortality was 9.6% for inadequate antibiotic treatment, compared to. 10.2% in adequate empiric treatment (p = 0.85). No prolonged median LOS was observed in patients who initially received inadequate therapy (10.5 vs. 10.7 days, p = 0.89). Conclusions: In this study, we found no clear effect of inadequate empirical treatment on mortality in a low-risk BSI population. The importance of early empiric therapy compared to other determinants, may be limited. This may not apply for specific subpopulations, e.g., patients with sepsis.
Acute Effects of Aerobic Exercise on Cognitive Attention and Memory Performance: An Investigation on Duration-Based Dose-Response Relations and the Impact of Increased Arousal Levels
Authors: Hacker Sebastian , Banzer Winfried , Vogt Lutz , Engeroff Tobias
Published: May 2020

Current evidence indicates that acute aerobic exercise might increase domain-specific cognitive performance. However, only a small number of studies deduced the impact on lower and higher cognitive functions systematically or analyzed dose–response relationships and the underlying mechanisms. This study aimed to expose the dose–response relationships by investigating the influence of exercise duration on subjective and objective arousal, cognitive attention and visual recognition memory tasks. Nineteen participants (eight female; 25.69 ± 3.11 years) were included in a randomized, three-armed intervention study in a cross-over design. The participants completed three different interventions consisting of either 15, 30 or 45 min of cycling at 60–70% VO2max. Arousal and cognitive measurements were taken before and immediately after (<2 min) exercise. All three interventions led to significant but comparable effects on self-perceived arousal, heart rate (HR) and rating of perceived exertion (RPE) (p < 0.05). Analysis of variance (ANOVA) indicated significant effects of exercise duration on visual recognition memory accuracy. Reaction times for higher and lower cognitive tasks did not change after exercise. Fifteen minutes of aerobic exercise was feasible to induce beneficial changes in self-perceived arousal. Processing speed of visual recognition memory and attention remained unaltered. Exercise exceeding fifteen minutes seemed to negatively impact visual recognition memory accuracy.
Transesophageal Echocardiography as a Monitoring Tool during Transvenous Lead Extraction—Does It Improve Procedure Effectiveness?
Authors: Nowosielecka Dorota , Jacheć Wojciech , Polewczyk Anna , Tułecki Łukasz , Tomków Konrad , Stefańczyk Paweł , Tomaszewski Andrzej , Brzozowski Wojciech , Szcześniak-Stańczyk Dorota , Kleinrok Andrzej , Kutarski Andrzej
Published: May 2020

Background: Transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) is a valuable tool for monitoring the patient during transvenous lead extraction (TLE), but the direct impact of TEE on the effectiveness and safety of TLE has not yet been documented. Methods: The effectiveness of TLE and short-term survival were compared between two groups of patients: 2106 patients in whom TEE was performed before and after TLE and 1079 individuals in whom continuous TEE monitoring was used. The procedure-related risk of major complications was assessed using a predictive SAFeTY TLE score. Results: The patients monitored by TEE were characterized by older age, more comorbidities and higher SAFeTY TLE scores (6.143 ± 4.395 vs. 5.593 ± 4.127; p = 0.004). Complete procedural success was significantly higher in the TEE-guided group (97.683% vs. 95.442%, p < 0.01). The rate of serious complications in the TEE-guided group was lower than the predictive SAFeTY TLE score—a reduction of 28.75% (p < 0.05). Periprocedural mortality in the TEE-guided and non-TEE-guided groups was zero vs. six deaths (p = 0.186). Short-term survival was comparable between the groups. Conclusions: Transesophageal echocardiography as a monitoring tool during transvenous lead extraction provides valuable results—higher rates of complete procedural success and a reduced risk of the most severe complications, thus preventing periprocedural deaths.
Coronavirus Outbreak in Italy: Physiological Benefits of Home-Based Exercise During Pandemic
Authors: Ravalli Silvia , Musumeci Giuseppe
Published: May 2020

The Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has forced the hardest-hit populations, like Italians, to radically change their daily habits, starting with social distancing, strict preventive measures, and self-isolation. These precautions also apply to sport-related facilities and activities. The difficulty to practice physical activity during this dramatic moment in time adds to the risks associated with sedentary habits, due to staying all the time at home. Here, the importance and the benefits of maintaining exercise routine, even at home, are emphasized in order to avoid the consequences of inactivity.
Using Artificial-Reef Knowledge to Enhance the Ecological Function of Offshore Wind Turbine Foundations: Implications for Fish Abundance and Diversity
Authors: Glarou Maria , Zrust Martina , Svendsen Jon C.
Published: May 2020

As the development of large-scale offshore wind farms (OWFs) amplifies due to technological progress and a growing demand for renewable energy, associated footprints on the seabed are becoming increasingly common within soft-bottom environments. A large part of the footprint is the scour protection, often consisting of rocks that are positioned on the seabed to prevent erosion. As such, scour protection may resemble a marine rocky reef and could have important ecosystem functions. While acknowledging that OWFs disrupt the marine environment, the aim of this systematic review was to examine the effects of scour protection on fish assemblages, relate them to the effects of designated artificial reefs (ARs) and, ultimately, reveal how future scour protection may be tailored to support abundance and diversity of marine species. The results revealed frequent increases in abundances of species associated with hard substrata after the establishment of artificial structures (i.e., both OWFs and ARs) in the marine environment. Literature indicated that scour protection meets the requirements to function as an AR, often providing shelter, nursery, reproduction, and/or feeding opportunities. Using knowledge from AR models, this review suggests methodology for ecological improvements of future scour protections, aiming towards a more successful integration into the marine environment.
Mass Appraisal Modeling of Real Estate in Urban Centers by Geographically and Temporally Weighted Regression: A Case Study of Beijing’s Core Area
Authors: Wang Daikun , Li Victor Jing , Yu Huayi
Published: May 2020

The traditional linear regression model of mass appraisal is increasingly unable to satisfy the standard of mass appraisal with large data volumes, complex housing characteristics and high accuracy requirements. Therefore, it is essential to utilize the inherent spatial-temporal characteristics of properties to build a more effective and accurate model. In this research, we take Beijing’s core area, a typical urban center, as the study area of modeling for the first time. Thousands of real transaction data sets with a time span of 2014, 2016 and 2018 are conducted at the community level (community annual average price). Three different models, including multiple regression analysis (MRA) with ordinary least squares (OLS), geographically weighted regression (GWR) and geographically and temporally weighted regression (GTWR), are adopted for comparative analysis. The result indicates that the GTWR model, with an adjusted R2 of 0.8192, performs better in the mass appraisal modeling of real estate. The comparison of different models provides a useful benchmark for policy makers regarding the mass appraisal process of urban centers. The finding also highlights the spatial characteristics of price-related parameters in high-density residential areas, providing an efficient evaluation approach for planning, land management, taxation, insurance, finance and other related fields.
Research Progress on Skid Resistance of Basic Oxygen Furnace (BOF) Slag Asphalt Mixtures
Authors: Li Song , Xiong Rui , Zhai Jiahui , Zhang Kaiyin , Jiang Wenyu , Yang Fa , Yang Xiaoquan , Zhao Hua
Published: May 2020

In order to ensure the safety of traffic, asphalt pavement is commonly required to utilize aggregates with excellent anti-abrasion property. This results in the lack of high-quality aggregates. The incorporation of solid waste in the aggregates is regarded as a high potential alternative for solving this problem. Since its material properties, such as rough surface, high Polished Stone Value (PSV) and the excellent adhesion property of asphalt, Basic Oxygen Furnace (BOF) slag can effectively improve the skid resistance of asphalt mixtures. First, the material properties of BOF slag are reviewed in this study. Then, the skid resistance of asphalt mixtures and aggregates are commendably evaluated by the Polished Stone Value test, Wehner/Schulze Tester, Aachen Polishing Machine, British Pendulum Test and Sand Patch test. The physical and mechanical properties of BOF slag play a key role in asphalt mixtures. This review found that the skid resistance mechanism of the BOF slag asphalt mixture is governed by factors such as BOF slag properties, incorporation methods and gradation types. Finally, the economic and environmental benefits of BOF slag asphalt mixtures were discussed. In addition, the function of gas catalysis and the melting of ice and snow can be added to the BOF slag asphalt mixture for a cleaner development in engineering. Furthermore, the existing problems, research directions and corresponding measures in this field are directed towards more durable and functional asphalt pavement construction.
Predicting the Dynamic Response of Dual-Rotor System Subject to Interval Parametric Uncertainties Based on the Non-Intrusive Metamodel
Authors: Fu Chao , Feng Guojin , Ma Jiaojiao , Lu Kuan , Yang Yongfeng , Gu Fengshou
Published: May 2020

In this paper, the non-probabilistic steady-state dynamics of a dual-rotor system with parametric uncertainties under two-frequency excitations are investigated using the non-intrusive simplex form mathematical metamodel. The Lagrangian formulation is employed to derive the equations of motion (EOM) of the system. The simplex form metamodel without the distribution functions of the interval uncertainties is formulated in a non-intrusive way. In the multi-uncertain cases, strategies aimed at reducing the computational cost are incorporated. In numerical simulations for different interval parametric uncertainties, the special propagation mechanism is observed, which cannot be found in single rotor systems. Validations of the metamodel in terms of efficiency and accuracy are also carried out by comparisons with the scanning method. The results will be helpful to understand the dynamic behaviors of dual-rotor systems subject to uncertainties and provide guidance for robust design and analysis.
Algorithmic Analysis of Vesselness and Blobness for Detecting Retinopathies Based on Fractional Gaussian Filters
Authors: Estudillo-Ayala Maria de Jesus , Aguirre-Ramos Hugo , Avina-Cervantes Juan Gabriel , Cruz-Duarte Jorge Mario , Cruz-Aceves Ivan , Ruiz-Pinales Jose
Published: May 2020

All around the world, partial or total blindness has become a direct consequence of diabetes and hypertension. Visual disorders related to these diseases require automatic and specialized methods to detect early malformations, artifacts, or irregular structures for helping specialists in the diagnosis. This study presents an innovative methodology for detecting and evaluating retinopathies, particularly microaneurysm and hemorrhages. The method is based on a multidirectional Fractional-Order Gaussian Filters tuned by the Differential Evolution algorithm. The contrast of the microaneurysms and hemorrhages, regarding the background, is improved substantially. After that, these structures are extracted using the Kittler thresholding method under additional considerations. Then, candidate lesions are detected by removing the blood vessels and fovea pixels in the resulting image. Finally, candidate lesions are classified according to its size, shape, and intensity properties via Support Vector Machines with a radial basis function kernel. The proposed method is evaluated by using the publicly available database MESSIDOR for detecting microaneurysms. The numerical results are summarized by the averaged binary metrics of accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity giving the performance values of 0.9995, 0.7820 and 0.9998, respectively.
Correlations and Scalability of Mechanical Properties on the Micro, Meso and Macro Scale of Precipitation-Hardenable Aluminium Alloy EN AW-6082
Authors: Toenjes Anastasiya , Sonnenberg Heike , von Hehl Axel
Published: May 2020

The mechanical properties of heat-treatable aluminium alloys are improved and adjusted by three different heat treatment steps, which include solution annealing, quenching, and aging. Due to metal-physical correlations, variations in heat treatment temperatures and times lead to different microstructural conditions with differences in the size and number of phases and their volume fraction in the microstructure. In this work, the investigations of the correlation between microhardness measurements on micro samples and the conventional mechanical properties (hardness, yield strength and tensile strength) of macro samples and the comparability of the different heat treatment states of micro and macro samples made of a hardenable aluminium alloy EN AW-6082 will be discussed. Using the correlations between the mechanical properties of micro samples and macro samples, the size of the samples and, thus, the testing cost and effort can be reduced.
Benzylsuccinate Synthase is Post-Transcriptionally Regulated in the Toluene-Degrading Denitrifier Magnetospirillum sp. Strain 15-1
Authors: Meyer-Cifuentes Ingrid , Gruhl Sylvie , Haange Sven-Bastiaan , Lünsmann Vanessa , Jehmlich Nico , von Bergen Martin , Heipieper Hermann J. , Müller Jochen A.
Published: May 2020

The facultative denitrifying alphaproteobacterium Magnetospirillum sp. strain 15-1 had been isolated from the hypoxic rhizosphere of a constructed wetland model fed with toluene. This bacterium can catabolize toluene anaerobically but not aerobically. Here, we used strain 15-1 to investigate regulation of expression of the highly oxygen-sensitive glycyl radical enzyme benzylsuccinate synthase, which catalyzes the first step in anaerobic toluene degradation. In cells growing aerobically with benzoate, the addition of toluene resulted in a ~20-fold increased transcription of bssA, encoding for the catalytically active subunit of the enzyme. Under anoxic conditions, bssA mRNA copy numbers were up to 129-fold higher in cells growing with toluene as compared to cells growing with benzoate. Proteomics showed that abundance of benzylsuccinate synthase increased in cells growing anaerobically with toluene. In contrast, peptides of this enzyme were never detected in oxic conditions. These findings show that synthesis of benzylsuccinate synthase was under stringent post-transcriptional control in the presence of oxygen, which is a novel level of regulation for glycyl radical enzymes.
Indoor Dust as a Source of Virulent Strains of the Agents of Cryptococcosis in the Rio Negro Micro-Region of the Brazilian Amazon
Authors: Brito-Santos Fábio , Trilles Luciana , Firacative Carolina , Wanke Bodo , Carvalho-Costa Filipe Anibal , Nishikawa Marília Martins , Pereira Campos Jonas , Junqueira Angela Cristina Veríssimo , Souza Amanda Coutinho de , dos Santos Lazéra Márcia , Meyer Wieland
Published: May 2020

Cryptococcosis, a potentially fatal mycosis in humans, is acquired via exposure to exogenous environmental sources. This study aimed to investigate the frequency, genetic diversity, and virulence of cryptococcal strains isolated from indoor dust in the Rio Negro micro-region of the Brazilian Amazon. A total of 8.9% of the studied houses were positive, recovering nine Cryptococcus neoformans VNI and 16 C. gattii VGII isolates, revealing an endemic pattern in domestic microenvironments. The International Society for Human and Animal Mycology (ISHAM) consensus multilocus sequence typing (MLST) scheme for the C. neoformans/C. gattii species complexes identified two sequence types (STs), ST93 and ST5, amongst C. neoformans isolates and six STs amongst C. gattii isolates, including the Vancouver Island Outbreak ST7 (VGIIa) and ST20 (VGIIb), the Australian ST5, and ST264, ST268 and ST445, being unique to the studied region. Virulence studies in the Galleria mellonella model showed that five C. gattii strains and one C. neoformans strain showed a similar pathogenic potential to the highly virulent Vancouver Island outbreak strain CDR265 (VGIIa). The findings of this study indicate that humans can be exposed to the agents of cryptococcosis via house dust, forming the basis for future studies to analyze the impact of early and continuous exposure to indoor dust on the development of subclinical or clinical infections.
High-Throughput Sequencing Reveals a Potentially Novel Sulfurovum Species Dominating the Microbial Communities of the Seawater–Sediment Interface of a Deep-Sea Cold Seep in South China Sea
Authors: Sun Qing-Lei , Zhang Jian , Wang Min-Xiao , Cao Lei , Du Zeng-Feng , Sun Yuan-Yuan , Liu Shi-Qi , Li Chao-Lun , Sun Li
Published: May 2020

In the Formosa cold seep of the South China Sea (SCS), large amounts of methane and sulfide hydrogen are released from the subseafloor. In this study, we systematically investigated the microbial communities in the seawater–sediment interface of Formosa cold seep using high-throughput sequencing techniques including amplicon sequencing based on next-generation sequencing and Pacbio amplicon sequencing platforms, and metagenomics. We found that Sulfurovum dominated the microbial communities in the sediment–seawater interface, including the seawater close to the seepage, the surface sediments, and the gills of the dominant animal inhabitant (Shinkaia crosnieri). A nearly complete 16S rRNA gene sequence of the dominant operational taxonomic units (OTUs) was obtained from the Pacbio sequencing platforms and classified as OTU-L1, which belonged to Sulfurovum. This OTU was potentially novel as it shared relatively low similarity percentages (<97%) of the gene sequence with its close phylogenetic species. Further, a draft genome of Sulfurovum was assembled using the binning technique based on metagenomic data. Genome analysis suggested that Sulfurovum sp. in this region may fix carbon by the reductive tricarboxylic acid (rTCA) pathway, obtain energy by oxidizing reduced sulfur through sulfur oxidizing (Sox) pathway, and utilize nitrate as electron acceptors. These results demonstrated that Sulfurovum probably plays an important role in the carbon, sulfur, and nitrogen cycles of the Formosa cold seep of the SCS. This study improves our understanding of the diversity, distribution, and function of sulfur-oxidizing bacteria in deep-sea cold seep.
Erratum: Recovery, Assessment, and Molecular Characterization of Minor Olive Genotypes in Tunisia. Plants 2020, 9, 382
Authors:   Plants Editorial Office
Published: May 2020

The Editorial Office of Plants wants to make the following correction to the paper by Saddoud Debbabi, O [...]
Comparative Analysis of Fungal Diversity in Rhizospheric Soil from Wild and Reintroduced Magnolia sinica Estimated via High-Throughput Sequencing
Authors: Shen Qingqing , Yang Junyu , Su Daifa , Li Zhiying , Xiao Wei , Wang Yongxia , Cui Xiaolong
Published: May 2020

Magnolia sinica is a critically endangered species and considered a “plant species with extremely small populations” (PSESP). It is an endemic species in southeastern Yunnan Province, China, with reproductive barriers. Rhizosphere fungi play a crucial role in plant growth and health. However, the composition, diversity, and function of fungal communities in wild and reintroduced M. sinica rhizospheres remain unknown. In this study, Illumina sequencing of the internal transcribed spacer 2 (ITS2) region was used to analyze rhizospheric soil samples from wild and reintroduced M. sinica. Thirteen phyla, 45 classes, 105 orders, 232 families, and 433 genera of fungi were detected. Basidiomycota and Ascomycota were dominant across all samples. The fungal community composition was similar between the wild and reintroduced rhizospheres, but the fungal taxa relative abundances differed. The fungal community richness was higher in the reintroduced rhizosphere than in the wild rhizosphere, but the diversity showed the opposite pattern. Soil nutrients and leaf litter significantly affected the fungal community composition and functional diversity. Here, the composition, structure, diversity, and ecological functions of the fungal communities in the rhizospheres of wild and reintroduced M. sinica were elucidated for the first time, laying a foundation for future research and endangered species protection.
Deacidification of Palm Oil Using Betaine Monohydrate-Carboxylic Acid Deep Eutectic Solvents: Combined Extraction and Simple Solvent Recovery
Authors: Mulia Kamarza , Nasikin Mohammad , Krisanti Elsa Anisa , Zahrina Ida
Published: May 2020

Steam stripping is commonly used to remove free fatty acids from crude palm oil. An alternative deacidification method, solvent extraction performed at a much lower temperature, would preserve the natural antioxidants in the refined palm oil. In this work, palmitic acid was extracted using betaine monohydrate-propionic acid and betaine monohydrate-acetic acid deep eutectic solvents (DESs). The effect of temperature (40 °C to 80 °C), mass ratio of palm oil to solvent (2:1 to 1:2), and palmitic acid content in the palm oil feed (2% to 8% mass) on the distribution coefficient values of palmitic acid (0.44–0.93) was investigated. For the first time, a facile recovery of DESs could be accomplished by a cooling process where up to 98% of the palmitic acid separates as solid. A solvent extraction process for palm oil deacidification, employing a DES with a distribution coefficient value much higher than unity, will provide advantages over the steam stripping process.
Denitrification Kinetics of Nitrate by a Heterotrophic Culture in Batch and Fixed-Biofilm Reactors
Authors: Lin Yen-Hui , Gu Yi-Jie
Published: May 2020

Herein, the progress of nitrate removal by a heterotrophic culture in a batch reactor and continuous-flow fixed-biofilm reactor was examined. Two batch experiments for nitrate reduction with acetate degradation using 250 mL batch reactors with acclimated denitrifying biomass were conducted. The experimental results indicated that the nitrate was completely reduced; however, the acetate remained at a concentration of 280 mg/L from initial nitrate concentration of 100 mg/L. However, the acetate was fully biodegraded by the denitrifying biomass at an initial nitrate concentration of 300 mg/L. To evaluate the biokinetic parameters, the concentration data of nitrate, nitrite, acetate, and denitrifying biomass from the batch kinetic experiments were compared with those of the batch kinetic model system. A continuous-flow fixed-biofilm reactor was used to verify the kinetic biofilm model. The removal efficiency of nitrate in the fixed-biofilm reactor at the steady state was 98.4% accompanied with 90.5% acetate consumption. The experimental results agreed satisfactorily with the model predictions. The modeling and experimental approaches used in this study could be applied in the design of a pilot-scale, or full-scale, fixed-biofilm reactor for nitrate removal in water and wastewater treatment plants.
Optimizing Yield and Quality of Bio-Oil: A Comparative Study of Acacia tortilis and Pine Dust
Authors: Charis Gratitude , Danha Gwiranai , Muzenda Edison
Published: May 2020

We collected pine dust and Acacia tortilis samples from Zimbabwe and Botswana, respectively. We then pyrolyzed them in a bench-scale plant under varying conditions. This investigation aimed to determine an optimum temperature that will give result to maximum yield and quality of the bio-oil fraction. Our experimental results show that we obtain the maximum yield of the oil fraction at a pyrolysis temperature of 550 °C for the acacia and at 500 °C for the pine dust. Our results also show that we obtain an oil fraction with a heating value (HHV) of 36.807 MJ/kg using acacia as the feed material subject to a primary condenser temperature of 140 °C. Under the same pyrolysis temperature, we obtain an HHV value of 15.78 MJ/kg using pine dust as the raw material at a primary condenser temperature of 110 °C. The bio-oil fraction we obtain from Acacia tortilis at these condensation temperatures has an average pH value of 3.42 compared to that of 2.50 from pine dust. The specific gravity of the oil from Acacia tortilis is 1.09 compared to that of 1.00 from pine dust. We elucidated that pine dust has a higher bio-oil yield of 46.1% compared to 41.9% obtained for acacia. Although the heavy oils at condenser temperatures above 100 °C had good HHVs, the yields were low, ranging from 2.8% to 4.9% for acacia and 0.2% to 12.7% for pine dust. Our future work will entail efforts to improve the yield of the heavy oil fraction and scale up our results for trials on plant scale capacity.
Special Issue “Green Technologies: Bridging Conventional Practices and Industry 4.0”
Authors: Show Pau Loke , Thangalazhy-Gopakumar Suchithra , Foo Dominic C. Y.
Published: May 2020

Green technologies have been globally accepted as efficient and sustainable techniques for the utilization of natural resources [...]
Facility Location Problems: Models, Techniques, and Applications in Waste Management
Authors: Adeleke Olawale J. , Olukanni David O.
Published: May 2020

This paper presents a brief description of some existing models of facility location problems (FLPs) in solid waste management. The study provides salient information on commonly used distance functions in location models along with their corresponding mathematical formulation. Some of the optimization techniques that have been applied to location problems are also presented along with an appropriate pseudocode algorithm for their implementation. Concerning the models and solution techniques, the survey concludes by summarizing some recent studies on the applications of FLPs to waste collection and disposal. It is expected that this paper will contribute in no small measure to an integrated solid waste management system with specific emphasis on issues associated with waste collection, thereby boosting the drive for effective and efficient waste collection systems. The content will also provide early career researchers with some necessary starting information required to formulate and solve problems relating to FLP.
A Survey on Mechanical Solutions for Hybrid Mobile Robots
Authors: Russo Matteo , Ceccarelli Marco
Published: May 2020

This paper presents a survey on mobile robots as systems that can move in different environments with walking, flying and swimming up to solutions that combine those capabilities. The peculiarities of these mobile robots are analyzed with significant examples as references and a specific case study is presented as from the direct experiences of the authors for the robotic platform HeritageBot, in applications within the frame of Cultural Heritage. The hybrid design of mobile robots is explained as integration of different technologies to achieve robotic systems with full mobility.
Combining Genetic Analysis and Multivariate Modeling to Evaluate Spectral Reflectance Indices as Indirect Selection Tools in Wheat Breeding under Water Deficit Stress Conditions
Authors: El-Hendawy Salah , Al-Suhaibani Nasser , Al-Ashkar Ibrahim , Alotaibi Majed , Tahir Muhammad Usman , Solieman Talaat , Hassan Wael M.
Published: May 2020

Progress in high-throughput tools has enabled plant breeders to increase the rate of genetic gain through multidimensional assessment of previously intractable traits in a fast and nondestructive manner. This study investigates the potential use of spectral reflectance indices (SRIs; 15 vegetation-SRIs; 15 water-SRIs) as alternative selection tools for destructively measured traits in wheat breeding programs. The genetic variability, heritability (h2), genetic gain (GG), and expected genetic advances (GA) of these indices were compared with those of destructively measured traits in 43 F7-8 recombinant inbred lines (RILs) grown under limited water conditions. The performance of SRIs to estimate the destructively measured traits directly was also evaluated using the partial least squares regression (PLSR) and stepwise multiple linear regression (SMLR) models. Most vegetation-SRIs exhibited high genotypic variation, similar to the measured traits, and phenotypic correlations with these traits, compared with the water-SRIs. Most vegetation-SRIs presented comparable values for h2 (>60%) and GG (>20%) as intermediate traits, while about half of water-SRIs exhibited a high h2 (>60%), but low GG (<20%). Principle component analysis revealed that most vegetation-SRIs and seven of 15 water-SRIs were grouped together in a positive direction, had a moderate to strong relationship with measured traits, and could identify the drought-tolerant parent Sakha 93 and several RILs. The PLSR model based on all SRIs as a single index showed moderate to high R2 in calibration (0.53–0.75) and validation (0.46–0.72) datasets, with strong relationships between observed and predicted values of measured traits. The SMLR models identified four and three SRIs from vegetation-SRIs and water-SRIs, respectively, to explain 63–86% of the total variability in measured traits among genotypes. These results demonstrated that vegetation-SRIs can be used individually or combined with water-SRIs as alternative breeding tools to increase genetic gains and selection accuracy in spring wheat breeding.