bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Chemical Composition of a Novel Distillate from Fermented Mixture of Nine Anti-Inflammatory Herbs and Its UVB-Protective Efficacy in Mouse Dorsal Skin via Attenuating Collagen Disruption and Inflammation
Authors: Her Young , Lee Tae-Kyeong , Ahn Ji Hyeon , Lim Soon Sung , Kang Beom-Goo , Park Jung-Seok , Kim Bora , Sim Hyejin , Lee Jae-Chul , Kim Hyun Sook , Sim Tae Heung , Lee Hyun Sam , Won Moo-Ho
Published: December 2020

Since ancient times, various herbs have been used in Asia, including Korea, China, and Japan, for wound healing and antiaging of the skin. In this study, we manufactured and chemically analyzed a novel distillate obtained from a fermented mixture of nine anti-inflammatory herbs (Angelica gigas, Lonicera japonica, Dictamnus dasycarpus Turcz., D. opposita Thunb., Ulmus davidiana var. japonica, Hordeum vulgare var. hexastichon Aschers., Xanthium strumarium L., Cnidium officinale, and Houttuynia cordata Thunb.). The fermentation of natural plants possesses beneficial effects in living systems. These activities are attributed to the chemical conversion of the parent plants to functional constituents which show more potent biological activities. In our current study, the distillate has been manufactured after fermenting the nine oriental medical plants with Lactobacillus fermentum, followed by distilling. We analyzed the chemical ingredients involved in the distillate and evaluated the effects of topical application of the distillate on ultraviolet B (UVB)-induced skin damage in Institute of Cancer Research (ICR) mice. Topical application of the distillate significantly ameliorated the macroscopic and microscopic morphology of the dorsal skin against photodamage induced by UVB radiation. Additionally, our current results showed that topical application of the distillate alleviated collagen disruption and reduced levels of proinflammatory cytokines (tumor necrosis factor alpha and interleukin 1 β expressions) in the dorsal skin against UVB radiation. Taken together, our current findings suggest that the distillate has a potential to be used as a material to develop a photoprotective adjuvant.
QSAR Models for Human Carcinogenicity: An Assessment Based on Oral and Inhalation Slope Factors
Authors: Toma Cosimo , Manganaro Alberto , Raitano Giuseppa , Marzo Marco , Gadaleta Domenico , Baderna Diego , Roncaglioni Alessandra , Kramer Nynke , Benfenati Emilio
Published: December 2020

Carcinogenicity is a crucial endpoint for the safety assessment of chemicals and products. During the last few decades, the development of quantitative structure–activity relationship ((Q)SAR) models has gained importance for regulatory use, in combination with in vitro testing or expert-based reasoning. Several classification models can now predict both human and rat carcinogenicity, but there are few models to quantitatively assess carcinogenicity in humans. To our knowledge, slope factor (SF), a parameter describing carcinogenicity potential used especially for human risk assessment of contaminated sites, has never been modeled for both inhalation and oral exposures. In this study, we developed classification and regression models for inhalation and oral SFs using data from the Risk Assessment Information System (RAIS) and different machine learning approaches. The models performed well in classification, with accuracies for the external set of 0.76 and 0.74 for oral and inhalation exposure, respectively, and r2 values of 0.57 and 0.65 in the regression models for oral and inhalation SFs in external validation. These models might therefore support regulators in (de)prioritizing substances for regulatory action and in weighing evidence in the context of chemical safety assessments. Moreover, these models are implemented on the VEGA platform and are now freely downloadable online.
HPLC Determination of Imidazoles with Variant Anti-Infective Activity in Their Dosage Forms and Human Plasma
Authors: Ali Oday T. , Hassan Wafaa S. , Khayyat Ahdab N. , Almalki Ahmad J. , Sebaiy Mahmoud M.
Published: December 2020

A suitable HPLC method has been selected and validated for rapid simultaneous separation and determination of four imidazole anti-infective drugs, secnidazole, omeprazole, albendazole, and fenbendazole, in their final dosage forms, in addition to human plasma within 5 min. The method suitability was derived from the superiority of using the environmentally benign solvent, methanol over acetonitrile as a mobile phase component in respect of safety issues and migration times. Separation of the four anti-infective drugs was performed on a Thermo Scientific® BDS Hypersil C8 column (5 µm, 2.50 × 4.60 mm) using a mobile phase consist of MeOH: 0.025 M KH2PO4 (70:30, v/v) adjusted to pH 3.20 with ortho-phosphoric acid at room temperature. The flow rate was 1.00 mL/min and maximum absorption was measured with UV detector set at 300 nm. Limits of detection were reported to be 0.41, 0.13, 0.18, and 0.15 µg/mL for secnidazole, omeprazole, albendazole, and fenbendazole, respectively, showing a high degree of the method sensitivity. The method of analysis was validated according to Food and Drug Administration (FDA)guidelines for the determination of the drugs, either in their dosage forms with highly precise recoveries, or clinically in human plasma, especially regarding pharmacokinetic and bioequivalence studies.
Antioxidant and Anti-Proliferative Activity of Essential Oil and Main Components from Leaves of Aloysia polystachya Harvested in Central Chile
Authors: Moller Alejandra Catalina , Parra Carol , Said Bastian , Werner Enrique , Flores Susana , Villena Joan , Russo Alessandra , Caro Nelson , Montenegro Iván , Madrid Alejandro
Published: December 2020

The aim of this study was to determine, first, the chemical composition of Aloysia polystachya (Griseb) Moldenke essential oil, from leaves harvested in central Chile; and second, its antioxidant and cytotoxic activity. Eight compounds were identified via gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) analyses, with the most representative being R-carvone (91.03%), R-limonene (4.10%), and dihydrocarvone (1.07%). For Aloysia polystachya essential oil, antioxidant assays (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), H2O2, ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), and total reactive antioxidant potential (TRAP)) showed good antioxidant activity compared to commercial antioxidant controls; and anti-proliferative assays against three human cancer cell lines (colon, HT-29; prostate, PC-3; and breast, MCF-7) determined an IC50 of 5.85, 6.74, and 9.53 µg/mL, and selectivity indices of 4.75, 4.12, and 2.92 for HT-29, PC-3, and MCF-7, respectively. We also report on assays with CCD 841 CoN (colon epithelial). Overall, results from this study may represent, in the near future, developments for natural-based cancer treatments.
Combined Experimental and Theoretical Insights into the Corrosion Inhibition Activity on Carbon Steel Iron of Phosphonic Acids
Authors: Visa Aurelia , Plesu Nicoleta , Maranescu Bianca , Ilia Gheorghe , Borota Ana , Crisan Luminita
Published: December 2020

The inhibition effect of N,N′-phosphonomethylglycine (PMG) and vinyl phosphonic acid (VPA) on the 3% NaCl acidic solution corrosion of carbon steel iron was studied at different immersion times by potentiodynamic polarization, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopy, and computational methods. It is found from the polarization studies that PMG and VPA behave as mixed-type inhibitors in NaCl. Values of charge transfer resistance (Rct) and double layer capacitance (Cdl) in the absence and presence of inhibitors are determined. The PMG and VPA inhibitors were capable of inhibiting the corrosion process up to ≈91% and ≈85%, respectively. In the presence of PMG, the synergic effect of chlorine ions was observed. Density functional theory (DFT) was engaged to establish the adsorption site of PMG, VPA, and their deprotonated states. For studied compounds, the resulted values of ELUMO, EHOMO, energy gap (∆E), dipole moment (μ), electronic hardness (η), global softness (σ), electrophilic index (ω), and the electronic potential map are in concordance with the experimental data results regarding their corrosion inhibition behavior and adsorption on the metal surface.
Biological Insights of Fluoroaryl-2,2′-Bichalcophene Compounds on Multi-Drug Resistant Staphylococcus aureus
Authors: Elmogy Sally , Ismail Mohamed A. , Hassan Rabeay Y. A. , Noureldeen Ahmed , Darwish Hadeer , Fayad Eman , Elsaid Fahmy , Elsayed Ashraf
Published: December 2020

Resistance of bacteria to multiple antibiotics is a significant health problem; hence, to continually respond to this challenge, different antibacterial agents must be constantly discovered. In this work, fluoroaryl-2,2′-bichalcophene derivatives were chemically synthesized and their biological activities were evaluated against Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus). The impact of the investigated bichalcophene derivatives was studied on the ultrastructural level via scanning electron microscopy (SEM), molecular level via sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) method and on the biofilm inhibition via the electrochemical biosensors. Arylbichalcophenes’ antibacterial activity against S. aureus was affected by the presence and location of fluorine atoms. The fluorobithiophene derivative MA-1156 displayed the best minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) value of 16 µM among the tested fluoroarylbichalcophenes. Over a period of seven days, S. aureus did not develop any resistance against the tested fluoroarylbichalcophenes at higher concentrations. The impact of fluoroarylbichalcophenes was strong on S. aureus protein pattern showing high degrees of polymorphism. SEM micrographs of S. aureus cells treated with fluoroarylbichalcophenes displayed smaller cell-sizes, fewer numbers, arranged in a linear form and some of them were damaged when compared to the untreated cells. The bioelectrochemical measurements demonstrated the strong sensitivity of S. aureus cells to the tested fluoroarylbichalcophenes and an antibiofilm agent. Eventually, these fluoroarylbichalcophene compounds especially the MA-1156 could be recommended as effective antibacterial agents.
Risks in Management of Enteral Nutrition in Intensive Care Units: A Literature Review and Narrative Synthesis
Authors: Hoffmann Magdalena , Schwarz Christine Maria , Fürst Stefan , Starchl Christina , Lobmeyr Elisabeth , Sendlhofer Gerald , Jeitziner Marie-Madlen
Published: December 2020

Critically ill patients in the intensive care unit (ICU) have a high risk of developing malnutrition, and this is associated with poorer clinical outcomes. In clinical practice, nutrition, including enteral nutrition (EN), is often not prioritized. Resulting from this, risks and safety issues for patients and healthcare professionals can emerge. The aim of this literature review, inspired by the Rapid Review Guidebook by Dobbins, 2017, was to identify risks and safety issues for patient safety in the management of EN in critically ill patients in the ICU. Three databases were used to identify studies between 2009 and 2020. We assessed 3495 studies for eligibility and included 62 in our narrative synthesis. Several risks and problems were identified: No use of clinical assessment or screening nutrition assessment, inadequate tube management, missing energy target, missing a nutritionist, bad hygiene and handling, wrong time management and speed, nutritional interruptions, wrong body position, gastrointestinal complication and infections, missing or not using guidelines, understaffing, and lack of education. Raising awareness of these risks is a central aspect in patient safety in ICU. Clinical experts can use a checklist with 12 identified top risks and the recommendations drawn up to carry out their own risk analysis in clinical practice.
Effects of a Synbiotic Formula on Functional Bowel Disorders and Gut Microbiota Profile during Long-Term Home Enteral Nutrition (LTHEN): A Pilot Study
Authors: D’Onofrio Valentina , Del Chierico Federica , Belci Paola , Vernocchi Pamela , Quagliariello Andrea , Reddel Sofia , Conta Giorgia , Mancino Maria Vittoria , Fadda Maurizio , Scigliano Maria Carmine , Morelli Roberta , De Francesco Antonella , Guagnini Fabio , Fassio Filippo , Galletti Rosalba , Putignani Lorenza
Published: December 2020

Long-term enteral nutrition (LTEN) can induce gut microbiota (GM) dysbiosis and gastrointestinal related symptoms, such as constipation or diarrhoea. To date, the treatment of constipation is based on the use of laxatives and prebiotics. Only recently have probiotics and synbiotics been considered, the latter modulating the GM and regulating intestinal functions. This randomized open-label intervention study evaluated the effects of synbiotic treatment on the GM profile, its functional activity and on intestinal functions in long-term home EN (LTHEN) patients. Twenty LTHEN patients were recruited to take enteral formula plus one sachet/day of synbiotic (intervention group, IG) or enteral formula (control group, CG) for four months and evaluated for constipation, stool consistency, and GM and metabolite profiles. In IG patients, statistically significant reduction of constipation and increase of stool consistency were observed after four months (T1), compared to CG subjects. GM ecology analyses revealed a decrease in the microbial diversity of both IC and CG groups. Biodiversity increased at T1 for 5/11 IG patients and Methanobrevibacter was identified as the biomarker correlated to the richness increase. Moreover, the increase of short chain fatty acids and the reduction of harmful molecules have been correlated to synbiotic administration. Synbiotics improve constipation symptoms and influences Methanobrevibacter growth in LTHEN patients.
Effects of Coffee and Its Components on the Gastrointestinal Tract and the Brain–Gut Axis
Authors: Iriondo-DeHond Amaia , Uranga José Antonio , del Castillo Maria Dolores , Abalo Raquel
Published: December 2020

Coffee is one of the most popular beverages consumed worldwide. Roasted coffee is a complex mixture of thousands of bioactive compounds, and some of them have numerous potential health-promoting properties that have been extensively studied in the cardiovascular and central nervous systems, with relatively much less attention given to other body systems, such as the gastrointestinal tract and its particular connection with the brain, known as the brain–gut axis. This narrative review provides an overview of the effect of coffee brew; its by-products; and its components on the gastrointestinal mucosa (mainly involved in permeability, secretion, and proliferation), the neural and non-neural components of the gut wall responsible for its motor function, and the brain–gut axis. Despite in vitro, in vivo, and epidemiological studies having shown that coffee may exert multiple effects on the digestive tract, including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antiproliferative effects on the mucosa, and pro-motility effects on the external muscle layers, much is still surprisingly unknown. Further studies are needed to understand the mechanisms of action of certain health-promoting properties of coffee on the gastrointestinal tract and to transfer this knowledge to the industry to develop functional foods to improve the gastrointestinal and brain–gut axis health.
Serum Vitamin D Affected Type 2 Diabetes though Altering Lipid Profile and Modified the Effects of Testosterone on Diabetes Status
Authors: Wang Lulu , Liu Xue , Hou Jian , Wei Dandan , Liu Pengling , Fan Keliang , Zhang Li , Nie Luting , Li Xing , Huo Wenqian , Jing Tao , Li Wenjie , Wang Chongjian , Mao Zhenxing
Published: December 2020

Numerous studies have investigated the associations between serum vitamin D or testosterone and diabetes; however, inconsistencies are observed. Whether there is an interaction between vitamin D and testosterone and whether the lipid profile (total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C)) mediates the association between vitamin D and diabetes is unclear. To investigate the effect of vitamin D and testosterone on impaired fasting glucose (IFG) or type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), 2659 participants from the Henan Rural Cohort were included in the case-control study. Generalized linear models were utilized to estimate associations of vitamin D with IFG or T2DM and interactive effects of vitamin D and testosterone on IFG or T2DM. Principal component analysis (PCA) and mediation analysis were used to estimate whether the lipid profile mediated the association of vitamin D with IFG or T2DM. Serum 25(OH)D3, 25(OH)D2, and total 25(OH)D levels were negatively correlated with IFG (odds ratios (ORs) (95% confidence intervals (CIs)): 0.99 (0.97, 1.00), 0.85 (0.82, 0.88), and 0.97 (0.96, 0.98), respectively). Similarity results for associations between serum 25(OH)D2 and total 25(OH)D with T2DM (ORs (95%CIs): 0.84 (0.81, 0.88) and 0.97 (0.96, 0.99)) were observed, whereas serum 25(OH)D3 was negatively correlated to T2DM only in the quartile 2 (Q2) and Q3 groups (both p < 0.05). The lipid profile, mainly TC and TG, partly mediated the relationship between 25(OH)D2 or total 25(OH)D and IFG or T2DM and the proportion explained was from 2.74 to 17.46%. Furthermore, interactive effects of serum 25(OH)D2, total 25(OH)D, and testosterone on T2DM were observed in females (both p for interactive <0.05), implying that the positive association between serum testosterone and T2DM was vanished when 25(OH)D2 was higher than 10.04 ng/mL or total 25(OH)D was higher than 40.04 ng/mL. Therefore, ensuring adequate vitamin D levels could reduce the prevalence of IFG and T2DM, especially in females with high levels of testosterone.
Evaluation of an Ileorectostomised Rat Model for Resistant Starch Determination
Authors: Belobrajdic Damien P. , Bird Anthony R.
Published: December 2020

The human ileostomy model, widely considered the benchmark for determining in vivo starch digestibility, has disadvantages. The ileorectostomised rat model (IRM) is a possible surrogate but evidence as to its validity is scant. In this preliminary study, the resistant starch (RS) content of test breads made from refined low (LAW-R) and high amylose wheat (HAW-R) flours was established in a randomised cross-over trial involving six human ileostomy participants. Starch digestibility of refined breads and diets made from these flours was then evaluated in ileorectostomised rats using a similar experimental format. Physical performance measures and other data were also collected for the rat model. The amount of RS in the low- and high-amylose breads as measured using the human model was 0.8 ± 0.1 and 6.5 ± 0.3 g/100 g, respectively. The RS level of HAW-R bread determined using ileorectostomised rats was 5.5 ± 0.8 g/100 g, about 15% less than that recorded in the human study, whereas for conventional wheat breads the models produced similar RS values. While offering promise, further validation using a wide variety of starchy food products is needed before the IRM can be considered an acceptable alternative for RS determination.
Poor Sensitivity of Fecal Gluten Immunogenic Peptides and Serum Antibodies to Detect Duodenal Mucosal Damage in Celiac Disease Monitoring
Authors: Laserna-Mendieta Emilio J. , Casanova María José , Arias Ángel , Arias-González Laura , Majano Pedro , Mate Luis Alberto , Gordillo-Vélez Carlos Humberto , Jiménez Mirella , Angueira Teresa , Tébar-Romero Emilia , Carrillo-Ramos María Jesús , Tejero-Bustos María Ángeles , Gisbert Javier P. , Santander Cecilio , Lucendo Alfredo J.
Published: December 2020

A lifelong gluten-free diet (GFD) is the only current treatment for celiac disease (CD), but strict compliance is complicated. Duodenal biopsies are the “gold standard” method for diagnosing CD, but they are not generally recommended for disease monitoring. We evaluated the sensitivity and specificity of fecal gluten immunogenic peptides (GIPs) to detect duodenal lesions in CD patients on a GFD and compared them with serum anti-tissue transglutaminase (tTG) IgA antibodies. A prospective study was conducted at two tertiary centers in Spain on a consecutive series of adolescents and adults with CD who maintained a long-lasting GFD. Adherence to a GFD and health-related quality of life were scored with validated questionnaires. Mucosal damage graded according to the Marsh–Oberhüber classification (Marsh 1/2/3) was used as the reference standard. Of the 97 patients included, 27 presented duodenal mucosal damage and 70 had normal biopsies (Marsh 0). The sensitivity (33%) and specificity (81%) of GIPs were similar to those provided by the two assays used to measure anti-tTG antibodies. Scores in questionnaires showed no association with GIP, but an association between GIPs and patients’ self-reported gluten consumption was found (p = 0.003). GIP displayed low sensitivity but acceptable specificity for the detection of mucosal damage in CD.
Epigenome-Wide Association of Infant Feeding and Changes in DNA Methylation from Birth to 10 Years
Authors: Mallisetty Yamini , Mukherjee Nandini , Jiang Yu , Chen Su , Ewart Susan , Arshad S. Hasan , Holloway John W. , Zhang Hongmei , Karmaus Wilfried
Published: December 2020

Epigenetic factors have been suggested as mediators of early-life nutrition to future health. Prior studies focused on breastfeeding effects on DNA methylation (DNAm), ignoring other feeding modes. In this analysis of the Isle of Wight birth cohort, feeding modes were categorized as exclusive breastfeeding (EBF), exclusive formula feeding (EFF), and mixed feeding based on whether the respective feeding mode lasted for at least 3 months. In addition, in the past, infant feeding modes were assessed using DNAm at one time point in childhood, not changes of DNAm. In this paper, methylation differences (delta DNAm) were calculated by subtracting residual methylation values at birth from age 10 years (adjusting for cell types and season of blood collection at both ages). These deltas were estimated for all methylation sites where cytosine was followed by guanine (cytosine guanine dinucleotide (CpG) sites). Then, we performed an epigenome-wide association study contrasting EBF, EFF, and mixed feeding with delta DNAm that represents changes in methylation from birth to 10 years. A total of 87 CpGs (EBF: 27 CpGs, EFF: 48 CpGs, mixed: 12 CpGs) were identified using separate linear regression models adjusting for confounders and multiple testing. The sum of all changes in methylation from birth to age 10 years was significantly lower in the EFF group. Correspondingly, the number of CpGs with a methylation decline was 4.7% higher reflecting 13,683 CpGs. Lower methylation related to exclusive formula feeding and its adverse potential for the child’s development needs future research to reduce adverse health effects.
Unexpectedly High Prevalence of Breakfast Skipping in Low Body-Weight Middle-Aged Men: Results of the Kanagawa Investigation of Total Checkup Data from the National Data Base-7 (KITCHEN-7)
Authors: Nakajima Kei , Higuchi Ryoko , Mizusawa Kaori
Published: December 2020

Breakfast skipping (BS) has been considered to be associated with obesity, particularly among younger generations. However, few studies have addressed this issue in a middle-aged population considering sex and the conditions prior to breakfast. Therefore, we investigated clinical parameters, self-reported BS, late-night dinner (LND) eating, and late-night snacking (LNS) in ten body mass index (BMI) categories in a cross-sectional study of 892,578 non-diabetic people aged 40–74 years old who underwent a checkup. BS and LND were more prevalent in men (20.7% and 40.5%, respectively) than women (10.9% and 17.4%), whereas LNS was more prevalent in women (15.0%) than men (12.2%; all p < 0.0001). The overall prevalence of BS increased linearly with increasing BMI. However, when subjects were divided into men and women, the prevalence of BS showed a U-shaped relationship with BMI in men (n = 479,203). When male subjects were restricted to those in their 40s or those reporting LND, the prevalence of BS further increased, maintaining a U-shaped form. Logistic regression analysis also showed a U-shaped relationship in the adjusted odds ratios of BMI categories for BS in men and a J-shaped curve in women. In conclusion, our study revealed an unexpectedly high prevalence of BS in middle-aged low-body-weight men.
Shallot Species and Subtypes Discrimination Based on Morphology Descriptors
Authors: Perković Josipa , Major Nikola , Ban Dean , Cvitan Danko , Ban Smiljana Goreta
Published: December 2020

Shallots are an edible Alliaceous crop representing a group of genetically and morphologically different species. Shallot species determination is rather complex due to the high variability in phenotypes within a single species. Flower morphology has been successfully employed in shallot species determination; however, shallot florogenesis depends upon many genetic and environmental factors. There is a need for more accessible morphological descriptors used in shallot species determination, since flowering in shallot may not be consistent. In this study, we investigated the discriminating power of shallot vegetative and bulb morphology descriptors. European Cooperative Programme for Plant Genetic Resources morphology descriptors were used for describing 35 Croatian shallot accessions. The proposed methodology based on vegetative and bulb morphological descriptors could be used for shallot species discrimination. Additionally, two subtypes of A. cepa Aggregatum group were identified in this study: the first being the shallot type (1) and a potato onion type (2), which differed based on bulb morphology descriptors (bulb shape, bulb skin color, and a number of bulblets).
Using Dihydrazides as Thermal Latent Curing Agents in Epoxy-Based Sealing Materials for Liquid Crystal Displays
Authors: Lee Jun Hyup
Published: December 2020

In this study, highly adhesive epoxy-based sealing materials for liquid crystal (LC) displays were fabricated using different types of dihydrazides as thermal latent curing agents. Their curing characteristics, mechanical properties, LC contamination levels, and electro-optical characteristics were investigated depending on the chemical structure of dihydrazides. The epoxy-based sealing material containing a dihydrazide derivative with a bulky heterocyclic ring afforded a high heat curing conversion of 90.4%, high adhesion strength of 54.3 kgf cm−2, and a high elongation of 57.3% due to the relatively low melting characteristic under heat treatment compared to those involving dihydrazides with short aliphatic or aromatic spacers. In addition, the proposed sealing material exhibited an extremely low LC contamination level of 9 µm, which is essential to the successful operation of LC displays. With respect to electro-optical properties of the LC device, it was found that a dihydrazide derivative with a bulky heterocyclic ring afforded a normal voltage-dependent transmittance curve and fast response time due to the prevention of abnormal homogeneous LC alignment. This study developed highly adhesive and robust epoxy-based sealing materials based on the use of dihydrazides as thermal latent curing agents for advanced LC displays.
Correction: Shah, M.I., et al. Properties of Electrospun Nanofibers of Multi-Block Copolymers of [Poly-ε-Caprolactone-b-Poly(tetrahydrofuran-co-ε-caprolactone)]m Synthesized by Janus Polymerization. Polymers 2017, 9, 559
Authors: Shah Muhammad , Yang Zhening , Li Yao , Jiang Liming , Ling Jun
Published: December 2020

The authors wish to make the following changes to the published paper as listed below [...]
Solar Brightening/Dimming over China’s Mainland: Effects of Atmospheric Aerosols, Anthropogenic Emissions, and Meteorological Conditions
Authors: Fang Hejin , Qin Wenmin , Wang Lunche , Zhang Ming , Yang Xuefang
Published: December 2020

Surface solar radiation (SSR) is the main factor affecting the earth’s climate and environment and its variations and the reason for these variations are an important part of climate change research. In this research, we investigated the long-term variations of SSR during 1984–2016 and the quantitative influences of atmospheric aerosols, anthropogenic emissions, and meteorological conditions on SSR over China’s mainland. The results show the following: (1) The annual average SSR values had a decline trend at a rate of −0.371 Wm−2 yr−1 from 1984 to 2016 over China. (2) The aerosol optical depth (AOD) plays the main role in inducing variations in SSR over China, with r values of −0.75. Moreover, there are marked regional differences in the influence of anthropogenic emissions and meteorological conditions on SSR trends. (3) From a regional perspective, AOD is the main influencing factor on SSR in northeast China (NEC), Yunnan Plateau and surrounding regions (YPS), North China (NC), and Loess Plateau (LP), with r values of −0.65, −0.60, −0.89, and −0.50, respectively. However, the main driving factors for SSR in northwest China (NWC) are “in cloud optical thickness of all clouds” (TAUTOT) (−0.26) and black carbon (BC) anthropogenic emissions (−0.21). TAUTOT (−0.39) and total precipitable water vapor (TQV) (−0.29) are the main influencing factors of SSR in the middle-lower Yangtze Plain (MYP). The main factors that influence SSR in southern China (SC) are surface pressure (PS) (−0.66) and AOD (−0.43). This research provides insights in understanding the variations of SSR and its relationships with anthropogenic conditions and meteorological factors.
On the Performance of One-Stage and Two-Stage Object Detectors in Autonomous Vehicles Using Camera Data
Authors: Carranza-García Manuel , Torres-Mateo Jesús , Lara-Benítez Pedro , García-Gutiérrez Jorge
Published: December 2020

Object detection using remote sensing data is a key task of the perception systems of self-driving vehicles. While many generic deep learning architectures have been proposed for this problem, there is little guidance on their suitability when using them in a particular scenario such as autonomous driving. In this work, we aim to assess the performance of existing 2D detection systems on a multi-class problem (vehicles, pedestrians, and cyclists) with images obtained from the on-board camera sensors of a car. We evaluate several one-stage (RetinaNet, FCOS, and YOLOv3) and two-stage (Faster R-CNN) deep learning meta-architectures under different image resolutions and feature extractors (ResNet, ResNeXt, Res2Net, DarkNet, and MobileNet). These models are trained using transfer learning and compared in terms of both precision and efficiency, with special attention to the real-time requirements of this context. For the experimental study, we use the Waymo Open Dataset, which is the largest existing benchmark. Despite the rising popularity of one-stage detectors, our findings show that two-stage detectors still provide the most robust performance. Faster R-CNN models outperform one-stage detectors in accuracy, being also more reliable in the detection of minority classes. Faster R-CNN Res2Net-101 achieves the best speed/accuracy tradeoff but needs lower resolution images to reach real-time speed. Furthermore, the anchor-free FCOS detector is a slightly faster alternative to RetinaNet, with similar precision and lower memory usage.
Modeling and Optimization of Directly Modulated Piezoelectric Micromachined Ultrasonic Transducers
Authors: Pop Flavius , Herrera Bernard , Cassella Cristian , Rinaldi Matteo
Published: December 2020

The present work details a novel approach to increase the transmitting sensitivity of piezoelectric micromachined ultrasonic transducer arrays and performing the direct modulation of digital information on the same device. The direct modulation system can reach 3× higher signal-to-noise ratio level and 3× higher communication range (from 6.2 cm boosted to 18.6 cm) when compared to more traditional continuous wave drive at the same energy consumption levels. When compared for the same transmission performance, the direct modulation consumes 80% less energy compared to the continues wave. The increased performance is achieved with a switching circuit that allows to generate a short high-AC voltage on the ultrasonic array, by using an LC tank and a bipolar junction transistor, starting with a low-DC voltage, making it CMOS-compatible. Since the modulation signal can directly be formed by the transmitted bits (on/off keying encoding) this also serve as the modulation for the data itself, hence direct modulation. The working principle of the circuit is described, optimization is performed relative to several circuital parameters and a high-performance experimental application is demonstrated.
The Cardiovascular Response to Interval Exercise Is Modified by the Contraction Type and Training in Proportion to Metabolic Stress of Recruited Muscle Groups
Authors: Gasser Benedikt , Fitze Daniel , Franchi Martino , Frei Annika , Niederseer David , Schmied Christian M. , Catuogno Silvio , Frey Walter , Flück Martin
Published: December 2020

Background: Conventional forms of endurance training based on shortening contractions improve aerobic capacity but elicit a detriment of muscle strength. We hypothesized that eccentric interval training, loading muscle during the lengthening phase of contraction, overcome this interference and potentially adverse cardiovascular reactions, enhancing both muscle metabolism and strength, in association with the stress experienced during exercise. Methods: Twelve healthy participants completed an eight-week program of work-matched progressive interval-type pedaling exercise on a soft robot under predominately concentric or eccentric load. Results: Eccentric interval training specifically enhanced the peak power of positive anaerobic contractions (+28%), mitigated the strain on muscle’s aerobic metabolism, and lowered hemodynamic stress during interval exercise, concomitant with a lowered contribution of positive work to the target output. Concentric training alone lowered blood glucose concentration during interval exercise and mitigated heart rate and blood lactate concentration during ramp exercise. Training-induced adjustments for lactate and positive peak power were independently correlated (p < 0.05, |r| > 0.7) with indices of metabolic and mechanical muscle stress during exercise. Discussion: Task-specific improvements in strength and muscle’s metabolic capacity were induced with eccentric interval exercise lowering cardiovascular risk factors, except for blood glucose concentration, possibly through altered neuromuscular coordination.
Proactive Congestion Avoidance for Distributed Deep Learning
Authors: Kang Minkoo , Yang Gyeongsik , Yoo Yeonho , Yoo Chuck
Published: December 2020

This paper presents “Proactive Congestion Notification” (PCN), a congestion-avoidance technique for distributed deep learning (DDL). DDL is widely used to scale out and accelerate deep neural network training. In DDL, each worker trains a copy of the deep learning model with different training inputs and synchronizes the model gradients at the end of each iteration. However, it is well known that the network communication for synchronizing model parameters is the main bottleneck in DDL. Our key observation is that the DDL architecture makes each worker generate burst traffic every iteration, which causes network congestion and in turn degrades the throughput of DDL traffic. Based on this observation, the key idea behind PCN is to prevent potential congestion by proactively regulating the switch queue length before DDL burst traffic arrives at the switch, which prepares the switches for handling incoming DDL bursts. In our evaluation, PCN improves the throughput of DDL traffic by 72% on average.
Data-Driven Method for Predicting Remaining Useful Life of Bearing Based on Bayesian Theory
Authors: Gao Tianhong , Li Yuxiong , Huang Xianzhen , Wang Changli
Published: December 2020

Bearings are some of the most critical industrial parts and are widely used in various types of mechanical equipment. Bearing health status can have a significant impact on the overall equipment performance, and bearing failures often cause serious economic losses and even casualties. Thus, estimating the remaining useful life (RUL) of bearings in real time is of utmost importance. This paper proposes a data-driven RUL prediction method for bearings based on Bayesian theory. First, time-domain features are extracted from the bearing vibration signal and data are fused to build a health indicator (HI) and a state model of bearing degradation. Then, according to Bayesian theory, a Bayesian model of state parameters and bearing life is established. The parameters of the Bayesian model are updated and bearing RUL is predicted by the Metropolis–Hastings algorithm. The method was validated by the XJTU-SY bearing open datasets and the prediction results are compared with the existing methods. Accuracy of the proposed method was demonstrated.
Applied Machine Learning in Social Sciences: Neural Networks and Crime Prediction
Authors: Reier Forradellas Ricardo Francisco , Náñez Alonso Sergio Luis , Jorge-Vazquez Javier , Rodriguez Marcela Laura
Published: December 2020

This study proposes a crime prediction model according to communes (areas or districts in which the city of Buenos Aires is divided). For this, the Python programming language is used, due to its versatility and wide availability of libraries oriented to Machine Learning. The crimes reported (period 2016–2019) that occurred in the city of Buenos Aires selected to test the model are: homicides, theft, injuries, and robberies. With this, it is possible to generate a crime prediction model according to the city area based on the SEMMA (Sample, Explore, Modify, Model, and Assess) model and after data manipulation, standardization and cleaning; clustering is performed using K-means and subsequently the neural network is generated. For prediction, it is necessary to provide the model with the information corresponding to the predictive characteristics (predict); these characteristics being according to the developed neural network model: year, month, day, time zone, commune, and type of crime.
Gender Differences in Zinc and Copper Excretion in Response to Co-Exposure to Low Environmental Concentrations of Cadmium and Lead
Authors: Satarug Soisungwan , Gobe Glenda C. , Ujjin Pailin , Vesey David A.
Published: December 2020

Disruption of the homeostasis of zinc (Zn) and copper (Cu) has been associated with nephrotoxicity of cadmium (Cd). Herein, we report the results of a cross sectional analysis of urinary excretion of Zn, Cu, Cd and lead (Pb) in 392 Thais (mean age 33.6) living in an area of low-level environmental exposure to Cd and Pb, reflected by the respective median Cd and Pb excretion rates of 0.44 and 1.75 μg/g creatinine. Evidence for dysregulation of Zn and Cu homeostasis has emerged together with gender differentiated responses. In men, excretion rates for Zn and Cu were increased concomitantly, and their urinary Zn-to-Cu ratios were maintained. In women, only Cu excretion rose, causing a reduction in urinary Zn-to-Cu ratios. Only in women, urinary Zn-to-Cu ratios were associated with worse kidney function, assessed by estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) (β = −7.76, p = 0.015). Only in men, a positive association was seen between eGFR and body iron stores, reflected by serum ferritin (β = 5.32, p = 0.030). Thus, co-exposure to Cd and Pb may disrupt the homeostasis of Zn and Cu more severely in women than men, while urinary Zn-to-Cu ratios and body iron stores can serve as predictors of an adverse effect of co-exposure to Cd and Pb.
Campus Shuttle Bus Route Optimization Using Machine Learning Predictive Analysis: A Case Study
Authors: Noor Rafidah Md , Rasyidi Nadia Bella Gustiani , Nandy Tarak , Kolandaisamy Raenu
Published: December 2020

Public transportation is a vital service provided to enable a community to carry out daily activities. One of the mass transportations used in an area is a bus. Moreover, the smart transportation concept is an integrated application of technology and strategy in the transportation system. Using smart idea is the key to the application of the Internet of Things. The ways to improve the management transportation system become a bottleneck for the traditional data analytics solution, one of the answers used in machine learning. This paper uses the Artificial Neural Network (ANN) and Support Vector Machine (SVM) algorithm for the best prediction of travel time with a lower error rate on a case study of a university shuttle bus. Apart from predicting the travel time, this study also considers the fuel cost and gas emission from transportation. The analysis of the experiment shows that the ANN outperformed the SVM. Furthermore, a recommender system is used to recommend suitable routes for the chosen scenario. The experiments extend the discussion with a range of future directions on the stipulated field of study.
Sustainability of Youth Careers in Romania—Study on the Correlation of Students’ Personal Interests with the Selected University Field of Study
Authors: Cioca Lucian-Ionel , Bratu Mihaela Laura
Published: December 2020

Sustainable use of resources is an act of social responsibility, in which all the factors that benefit or exploit that resource are involved. Education, with its most important goal—finding a place in the labor market in the form of a career—is a process that involves multiple financial, human and institutional resources. The present study analyzes to what extent the careers that young people in Romania build correlate with their personal interests. Using the Holland Test, the interests of a group of engineering students were identified. It was observed that there are three typologies of people: those who have chosen their field of study according to their interests, those who are interested in interdisciplinary fields of which engineering is a part and the third category, who have no interest in the field of engineering. The percentages of the three categories are approximately equal, which should determine the change of educational policies in Romania, in the sense of promoting and practicing career guidance for the early discovery of young people’s interests and the sustainable convergence of all resources towards them.
Permaculture and Downshifting-Sources of Sustainable Tourism Development in Rural Areas
Authors: Epuran Gheorghe , Tescașiu Bianca , Tecău Alina-Simona , Ivasciuc Ioana-Simona , Candrea Adina-Nicoleta
Published: December 2020

The purpose of this research is to find if the stakeholders involved in rural tourism (primary producers of ecological goods, tourism service providers, and tourists, as carriers of demand for tangible products and ecological services) are concerned with integrating principles and values of sustainable tourism through permaculture and downshifting, and how these two phenomena might become sources for sustainable development in rural areas. To achieve this purpose, qualitative research was conducted among tourism producers, intermediaries, and tourists from the Brașov region–one of the most important touristic areas of Romania and, also, an important region with rural tourism destinations. The results revealed that there is a particular preoccupation regarding permaculture and downshifting, and they might contribute to the local development of rural tourism areas. The novelty elements brought by this research are synthesized in a matrix where permaculture and downshifting were presented as important sources for the sustainable development of tourism in rural areas.
Comparison of RUSLE and MMF Soil Loss Models and Evaluation of Catchment Scale Best Management Practices for a Mountainous Watershed in India
Authors: Das Susanta , Deb Proloy , Bora Pradip Kumar , Katre Prafull
Published: December 2020

Soil erosion from arable lands removes the top fertile soil layer (comprised of humus/organic matter) and therefore requires fertilizer application which affects the overall sustainability. Hence, determination of soil erosion from arable lands is crucial to planning conservation measures. A modeling approach is a suitable alternative to estimate soil loss in ungauged catchments. Soil erosion primarily depends on soil texture, structure, infiltration, topography, land uses, and other erosive forces like water and wind. By analyzing these parameters, coupled with geospatial tools, models can estimate storm wise and annual average soil losses. In this study, a hilly watershed called Nongpoh was considered with the objective of prioritizing critical erosion hazard areas within the micro-catchment based on average annual soil loss and land use and land cover and making appropriate management plans for the prioritized areas. Two soil erosion models namely Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) and Modified Morgan–Morgan–Finney (MMF) models were used to estimate soil loss with the input parameters extracted from satellite information and automatic weather stations. The RUSLE and MMF models showed similar results in estimating soil loss, except the MMF model estimated 7.74% less soil loss than the RUSLE model from the watershed. The results also indicated that the study area is under severe erosion class, whereas agricultural land, open forest area, and scrubland were prioritized most erosion prone areas within the watershed. Based on prioritization, best management plans were developed at catchment scale for reducing soil loss. These findings and the methodology employed can be widely used in mountainous to hilly watersheds around the world for identifying best management practices (BMP).
Valorization of Tropical Biomass Waste by Supercritical Fluid Extraction Technology
Authors: Chai Yee Ho , Yusup Suzana , Kadir Wan Nadiah Amalina , Wong Chung Yiin , Rosli Siti Suhailah , Ruslan Muhammad Syafiq Hazwan , Chin Bridgid Lai Fui , Yiin Chung Loong
Published: December 2020

The inception of sustainable and cleaner extraction technology has paved the way for the innovative development of nonconventional extractions, such as supercritical fluid extraction, apart from conventional extraction counterparts. The concept of biomass waste-to-wealth for the conversion of biomass waste or by-products into value-added products for diversified applications had piqued the prominent interest of researchers and industry players, especially with the abundance of biomass resources readily available in tropical regions that have yet to be tapped into to reach their full potential. In this paper, a critical review of the developments of supercritical fluid technology from its initial inception up to commercialized scalability, including its limitations, extraction of potential tropical biomass wastes for various types of applications, such as biopesticides, bio-repellents, phenolics, and lipids for biofuel, and its role in circular bioeconomy and sustainable development approaches, are discussed in detail.