bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Difference Between Day and Night Temperatures Affects Stem Elongation in Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) Seedlings via Regulation of Gibberellin and Auxin Synthesis
Authors: Ohtaka Kinuka , Yoshida Akiko , Kakei Yusuke , Fukui Kosuke , Kojima Mikiko , Takebayashi Yumiko , Yano Kanako , Imanishi Shunsuke , Sakakibara Hitoshi
Published: December 2020

Temperature is a critical environmental factor governing plant growth and development. The difference between day temperature (DT) and night temperature (NT), abbreviated as DIF, influences plant architecture. Subjecting plants to artificial DIF treatments is an effective strategy in ornamental horticulture. For example, negative DIF (when DT – NT < 0) generally inhibits stem elongation, resulting in dwarf plants. However, the mechanisms underlying stem growth regulation by DIF remains to be completely elucidated. In this study, we aimed to analyze the growth, transcriptome, and phytohormone profiles of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) seedlings grown under different DIF treatments. Under positive DIF (when DT – NT > 0), in contrast to the control temperature (25°C/20°C, DT/NT), high temperature (30°C/25°C) increased stem length and thickness, as well as the number of xylem vessels. Conversely, compared with the positive high temperature DIF treatment (30°C/25°C), under negative DIF treatment (25°C/30°C) stem elongation was inhibited, but stem thickness and the number of xylem vessels were not affected. The negative DIF treatment decreased the expression of gibberellin (GA)-, auxin-, and cell wall-related genes in the epicotyl, as well as the concentrations of GAs and indole-3-acetic acid (IAA). The expression of these genes and concentrations of these hormones increased under high temperature compared to those under the control temperature positive DIF. Our results suggest that stem length in tomato seedlings is controlled by changes in GA and IAA biosynthesis in response to varying day and night temperatures.
Coming Out to Parents in Lesbian and Bisexual Women: The Role of Internalized Sexual Stigma and Positive LB Identity
Authors: Baiocco Roberto , Pistella Jessica , Morelli Mara
Published: December 2020

The experience of “coming out” (CO) to parents is often a crucial event in the lives of lesbian and bisexual (LB) women, associated with lower internalized sexual stigma (ISS) and higher positive LB identity. Few studies have compared the experiences of LB women in the CO process. Rather, most prior research has either: (1) not addressed bisexuality or eliminated bisexual individuals from the analysis; (2) combined bisexual women and bisexual men in the same sexual orientation group; or (3) examined bisexual participants alongside lesbian women and gay men, using a single monolithic measure. Thus, the present research aimed at investigating the role of ISS and positive LB identity in inhibiting or encouraging CO to parents in a sample of 241 lesbian women (Mage= 27.61,SD= 7.19) and 186 bisexual women (Mage= 25.23,SD= 5.81), aged 18–40 years. Most participants reported that they had already revealed their sexual orientation to their mother (69%) and their father (52%). More lesbian women had CO to both their mother and their father than had bisexual women. These lesbian women reported lower levels of ISS and higher levels of LB positive identity relative to bisexual women. On average, CO to mothers occurred at age 20 (SD= 5.54), while CO to fathers occurred at age 22 (SD= 5.63). LB women did not differ in the average age of CO to mothers or fathers, or in parental reactions to CO. Finally, ISS was found to affect the process of CO to both parents via positive identity (bootstrapping estimate = −0.26, SE = 0.08, 95% CI = −0.43, 0.11), whereas sexual orientation was not found to moderate the path from ISS to CO to both parents. The present study contributes to our understanding of the differences between LB women when developing their sexual orientation, highlighting the relevance of a positive LB identity for CO to parents. Research and clinical implications and directions for future research are discussed.
Distributional Transformation Improves Decoding Accuracy When Predicting Chronological Age From Structural MRI
Authors: Soch Joram
Published: December 2020

When predicting a certain subject-level variable (e.g., age in years) from measured biological data (e.g., structural MRI scans), the decoding algorithm does not always preserve the distribution of the variable to predict. In such a situation, distributional transformation (DT), i.e., mapping the predicted values to the variable's distribution in the training data, might improve decoding accuracy. Here, we tested the potential of DT within the 2019 Predictive Analytics Competition (PAC) which aimed at predicting chronological age of adult human subjects from structural MRI data. In a low-dimensional setting, i.e., with less features than observations, we applied multiple linear regression, support vector regression and deep neural networks for out-of-sample prediction of subject age. We found that (i) when the number of features is low, no method outperforms linear regression; and (ii) except when using deep regression, distributional transformation increases decoding performance, reducing the mean absolute error (MAE) by about half a year. We conclude that DT can be advantageous when predicting variables that are non-controlled, but have an underlying distribution in healthy or diseased populations.
Review and Critical Analysis of Privacy-Preserving Infection Tracking and Contact Tracing
Authors: Buchanan William J. , Imran Muhammad Ali , Ur-Rehman Masood , Zhang Lei , Abbasi Qammer H. , Chrysoulas Christos , Haynes David , Pitropakis Nikolaos , Papadopoulos Pavlos
Published: December 2020

The outbreak of viruses have necessitated contact tracing and infection tracking methods. Despite various efforts, there is currently no standard scheme for the tracing and tracking. Therefore, many nations of the world have developed their own ways where carriers of disease could be tracked and their contacts traced. These are generalized methods developed either in a distributed manner giving citizens control of their identity or in a centralized manner where a health authority gathers data on those who are carriers. This paper outlines some of the most significant approaches that have been established for contact tracing around the world. A comprehensive review on the key enabling methods used to realize the infrastructure around these infection tracking and contact tracing methods is also presented, and recommendations are made for the most effective way to develop such a practice.
Feasibility of Unilateral Approach for Bilateral Decompressive Endoscopic Spinal Surgery for Lumbar Stenosis to Improve Back and Leg Pain: A Consecutive Single-Center Series of 60 Patients
Authors: Salim Azizul Akram , Yusof Abdul Halim , Johari Joehaimey , Yusof Mohd Imran
Published: December 2020

Introduction:Endoscopic surgery is one of the methods that achieve the goal of decompression while minimizing collateral tissue damage. Its efficacy and safety have been supported by numerous studies. There is a plethora of studies on lumbar stenosis regarding the outcomes and related issues in endoscopic spine surgery. However, few studies evaluated the outcome of the decompressive lumbar spine surgery. The present study aims to analyze the outcome of a unilateral approach to endoscopic surgery for lumbar stenosis using the visual analog scale (VAS), the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), and MacNab's criteria.

Methods:This is a retrospective study (level IV) conducted between January 2009 and December 2013 on 60 patients who underwent endoscopic interlaminar decompressive spine surgery (Destandau method) for lumbar degenerative spinal stenosis in the Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia. The clinical outcome was measured pre-operatively and post-operatively for VAS: for back and leg pain, motor and sensory grading, the ODI, and MacNab's criteria. A pairedt-test was used for statistical analysis.

Results:The mean age of patients was 60.82 years comprising 23 males (38.3%) and 37 females (61.7%). The mean follow-up period was 30.1 months (range = 17.2–43 months). The mean operation time was 183.6 min (ranging from 124.8 to 242.4 min), and the mean blood loss was 150.18 mL (ranging from 30.82 to 269.54 mL). Post-operatively, mean hospital stay was 2.45 days (ranging from 1.34 to 3.56 days). The most frequently involved level was L4/L5 in 51 patients (52.6%), followed by L3/L4 in 19 patients (19.6%), L5/S1 in 24 patients (24.7%), and L2/L3 in three patients (3.1%). Improvement in the post-operative VAS for back and leg pain and the ODI for pre-operation and post-operation was statistically significant (p< 0.001). Conversely, the reduction in neurological status was statistically insignificant. Based on MacNab's criteria, 88.4% showed excellent to good outcomes.

Conclusion:To summarize, unilateral percutaneous endoscopic spine surgery to achieve the bilateral decompression in lumbar stenosis provides excellent yet safe and effective outcomes. It improves back and leg pain and patients' function significantly.
The Historical Soundscape Analysis of Fatahillah Square, Jakarta
Authors: Djimantoro Michael Isnaeni , Martokusumo Widjaja , Poerbo Heru W. , Sarwono R. Joko
Published: December 2020

Understanding conceptions of the protection of cultural heritage continues to develop until now. Presently, urban historic places are not only comprehended as tangible but also include intangible dimensions. However, the conservation of cultural heritage dominantly still emphasises the visual sense more than any other senses. Thus, this paper addressed several questions on the role of human senses, the historic sonic environments, and the soundmarks of the past in examining a historical area. This paper aims to reveal the relation between sound sources and its predicted sonic environment in historic places over the time. The case study was Fatahillah Square, Jakarta, which has been documented from the 19th century until now. Some methods were carried out such as soundwalk, recalled in memory, and visual analysis. The results show that comprehensive study of multisensorial stimulus can increase a holistic understanding of historic places. Therefore, the protection of historic sites cannot only focus on the object per se, but also it must be considered to be a holistic entity. This research highlights new perspectives in analysing historical areas using combination of pictorial sources and sonic information.
Design Space Exploration of a Jet Engine Component Using a Combined Object Model for Function and Geometry
Authors: Müller Jakob R. , Panarotto Massimo , Isaksson Ola
Published: December 2020

The design of aircraft and engine components hinges on the use of computer aided design (CAD) models and the subsequent geometry-based analyses for evaluation of the quality of a concept. However, the generation (and variation) of CAD models to include radical or novel design solutions is a resource intense modelling effort. While approaches to automate the generation and variation of CAD models exist, they neglect the capture and representation of the product’s design rationale—what the product is supposed to do. The design space exploration approach Function and Geometry Exploration (FGE) aims to support the exploration of more functionally and geometrically different product concepts under consideration of not only geometrical, but also teleological aspects. The FGE approach has been presented and verified in a previous presentation. However, in order to contribute to engineering design practice, a design method needs to be validated through application in industrial practice. Hence, this publication reports from a study where the FGE approach has been applied by a design team of a Swedish aerospace manufacturers in a conceptual product development project. Conceptually different alternatives were identified in order to meet the expected functionality of a guide vane (GV). The FGE was introduced and applied in a series of workshops. Data was collected through participatory observation in the design teams by the researchers, as well as interviews and questionnaires. The results reveal the potential of the FGE approach as a design support to: (1) Represent and capture the design rationale and the design space; (2) capture, integrate and model novel solutions; and (3) provide support for the embodiment of novel concepts that would otherwise remain unexplored. In conclusion, the FGE method supports designers to articulate and link the design rationale, including functional requirements and alternative solutions, to geometrical features of the product concepts. The method supports the exploration of alternative solutions as well as functions. However, scalability and robustness of the generated CAD models remain subject to further research.
Animal Welfare Programs in Germany—An Empirical Study on the Attitudes of Pig Farmers
Authors: Schukat Sirkka , von Plettenberg Louisa , Heise Heinke
Published: December 2020

In Europe, there is ongoing social criticism of conventional pig farming and demands for higher farm animal welfare standards. This applies primarily to products from pig production, as consumers criticize, among other things, the animals’ housing conditions, tail docking, neutering, or keeping them on slatted floors. Various animal welfare programs have tried to meet the consumers’ demands. Pig farmers are directly involved in the production process and are therefore key stakeholders for the successful implementation of animal welfare programs such as the German Initiative Animal Welfare. The Initiative Animal Welfare was founded in 2015 and serves as an example in this study, as it has been established for two rounds and involves high numbers of participants. However, little is known about the attitudes of pig farmers towards this specific animal welfare program. Thus, the aim of this study is to investigate these attitudes towards animal welfare programs using the example of German pig producers and identify group differences. Based on an online survey of German conventional pig farmers, four clusters were formed which differ in their attitude to the Initiative Animal Welfare. Overall, all farmers, regardless of the cluster, feel publicly pressured by politics and the media. In addition, all farmers are skeptical about the effort involved in participating in the Initiative Animal Welfare (IAW), especially with regard to the additional documentation requirements and unannounced controls. The findings can provide guidance for the design of animal welfare programs taking into account the needs of farmers.
Development of Selenium Nanoparticle Based Agriculture Sensor for Heavy Metal Toxicity Detection
Authors: Ahmed Faheem , Dwivedi Sourabh , Shaalan Nagih M. , Kumar Shalendra , Arshi Nishat , Alshoaibi Adil , Husain Fohad Mabood
Published: December 2020

The presence of heavy metals in increased concentrations in the environment has become a global environmental concern. This rapid increase in heavy metals in the environment is attributed to enhanced industrial and mining activities. Metal ions possess a lengthy half-life and property to bioaccumulate, are non-biodegradable and, thus, are a threat to the human health. A number of conventional spectroscopic and chromatographic techniques are being used for the detection of heavy metals, but these suffer from various limitations. Nano-based sensors have emerged as potential candidates for the sensitive and selective detection of heavy metals. Thus, the present study was focused on the synthesis of selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs) by using selenite-reducing bacteria in the development of a heavy metal toxicity biosensor. During the biosynthesis of selenium nanoparticles, supernatants of the overnight-grown culture were treated with Na2SeO32− and incubated for 24 h at 37 °C. The as-synthesized nanoparticles were characterized by UV–Vis spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) analyses. XRD and TEM results confirmed the formation of SeNPs in sizes ranging from 35 to 40 nm, with face-centered cubic (FCC) structures. The bioreduction process and validation of the formation of SeNPs was further confirmed by FTIR studies. The reduction in the biosynthesis of SeNPs using bacterial metabolite due to heavy metal cytotoxicity was analyzed by the colorimetric bioassay (SE Assay). The inhibition of selenite reduction and loss of red color in the presence of heavy metals may serve as a biosensor for heavy metal toxicity analysis. Thus, this biosensor development is aimed at improving the sensitivity and specificity of analytic detection.
Alternatives to Synthetic Insecticides in the Control of the Colorado Potato Beetle (Leptinotarsa decemlineata Say) and Their Environmental Benefits
Authors: Göldel Bastian , Lemic Darija , Bažok Renata
Published: December 2020

In this study, we review the wide range of alternative control methods used to this day to control the Colorado potato beetle (Leptinotarsa decemlineata Say), the biggest potato pest globally. We further categorize and highlight the advantages and disadvantages of each method by comparing them to conventional insecticides. In a second step, we point out the current knowledge about positive and negative impacts of using alternative control methods. By this, we illustrate how alternative control methods, farmers’ activities, and environmental factors (e.g., biodiversity and ecosystem health) are heavily linked in a cycle with self-reinforcing effects. In detail, the higher the acceptance of farmers to use alternative control methods, the healthier the ecosystem including the pest’s enemy biodiversity. The following decrease in pest abundance possibly increases the yield, profit, and acceptance of farmers to use less conventional and more alternative methods. Overall, we try to balance the positive and negative sides of alternative control methods and combine them with current knowledge about environmental effects. In our view, this is a fundamental task for the future, especially in times of high species loss and increasing demand for environmentally friendly agriculture and environmentally friendly products.
Improving Pathogen Resistance by Exploiting Plant Susceptibility Genes in Coffee (Coffea spp.)
Authors: Cui Lei , Hanika Katharina , Visser Richard G. F. , Bai Yuling
Published: December 2020

Coffee (Coffea spp.) is an economically important crop widely cultivated in (sub) tropical countries worldwide. Commercial coffee production relies mainly on two related species, namely C. arabica and C. canephora. Due to their perennial growth habit, cultivation practices, and narrow genetic diversity, coffees are constantly exposed to many diseases and pests. Coffee leaf rust (Hemileia vastatrix Berk. et Br.), coffee berry disease (Colletotrichum kahawae Bridge and Waller), and coffee wilt disease (Gibberella xylarioides Heim and Saccas/Fusarium xylarioides) are the top fungal diseases affecting C. arabica and C. canephora production areas worldwide. In many regions, chemical-based control measures are widely used and are the only way to control the diseases. Developing resistant cultivars is one of the prerequisites for increasing sustainable market demand and agriculture. However, desired and required resistance traits are not always available in the gene pool. Furthermore, from other crops it is clear that dominant resistance genes introduced into varieties are not durable because of pathogen variability and the emergence of new races of the different pathogens. Utilization of altered susceptibility genes (S genes) offers a novel and alternative strategy for the breeding of durable and broad-spectrum resistance. The S gene encodes a host factor that facilitates a compatible interaction with the pathogen, and impairment of S genes leads to loss-of-susceptibility. In this review, guidelines for effective identification, characterization, and utilization of dysfunctional S genes are proposed to aid breeding activities in order to introduce durable resistance in Coffea spp. Several candidate S genes likely contributing to the susceptibility of Colletotrichum spp., Fusarium spp., and Meloidogyne spp. are discussed. With the rapid development of genetic engineering techniques, including CRISPR-associated systems, we now have the potential to accelerate the application of S genes to achieve durable resistance in coffee.
The Role of Genetic Selection on Agonistic Behavior and Welfare of Gestating Sows Housed in Large Semi-Static Groups
Authors: Brajon Sophie , Ahloy-Dallaire Jamie , Devillers Nicolas , Guay Frédéric
Published: December 2020

Confinement of gestating sows is becoming banished in favor of group-housing in countries worldwide, forcing breeding companies to develop genetic lines adapted for social living. This study aimed at assessing the influence of two genetic lines selected for high performance (HP1, HP2, derived from Landrace × Yorkshire) on welfare and reproductive performance of sows housed in large semi-static groups (20 groups of 46–91 animals) across several parities. To address this, agonistic behaviors were recorded on d0, d2, d27, and d29 post-mixing while body lesions were scored on d1, d26, and d84. Sows’ individual and reproductive performances were also recorded. HP2 sows were more aggressive than HP1 sows since they fought (p = 0.028) and bullied (p = 0.0009) pen-mates more frequently on d0–d2. HP2 sows had more total body lesions throughout gestation than HP1 sows at higher parities (p < 0.0001). Regarding reproductive performance, HP2 sows lost less piglets (p < 0.0001) and tended to wean more piglets (p = 0.067) than HP1 sows. In conclusion, while HP2 sows were the most aggressive, HP1 sows had piglets with lower survivability, which raises ethical issues in both cases and points to the need of considering social aspects when developing genetic lines for group-housing.
Effects of Tissue Preservation on Carbon and Nitrogen Stable Isotope Signatures in Syngnathid Fishes and Prey
Authors: Planas Miquel , Paltrinieri Alex , Carneiro Mario Davi Dias , Hernández-Urcera Jorge
Published: December 2020

Isotopic stable analysis (SIA) is a powerful tool in the assessment of different types of ecological and physiological studies. For that, different preservation methods for sampled materials are commonly used prior to isotopic analysis. The effects of various preservation methods (freezing, ethanol and formaldehyde) were analyzed for C:N, and δ13C and δ15N signals on a variety of tissues including dorsal fins (three seahorse and two pipefish species), seahorse newborns (three seahorses species), and prey (copepods and different stages of Artemia) commonly used to feed the fishes under rearing conditions. The aims of the study were: (i) to evaluate isotopic effects of chemical preservation methods across different types of organisms and tissues, using frozen samples as controls, and (ii) to construct the first conversion models available in syngnathid fishes. The chemical preservation in ethanol and, to a lesser extent, in formaldehyde significantly affected δ13C values, whereas the effects on δ15N signatures were negligible. Due to their low lipid content, the isotopic signals in fish fins was almost unaffected, supporting the suitability of dorsal fins as the most convenient material in isotopic studies on vulnerable species such as syngnathids. The regression equations provided resulted convenient for the successful conversion of δ13C between preservation treatments. Our results indicate that the normalization of δ15N signatures in preserved samples is unnecessary. The conversion models should be applicable in isotopic field studies, laboratory experiments, and specimens of historical collections.
Do Domestic Dogs (Canis lupus familiaris) Perceive Numerosity Illusions?
Authors: Lõoke Miina , Marinelli Lieta , Eatherington Carla Jade , Agrillo Christian , Mongillo Paolo
Published: December 2020

Recent studies have showed that domestic dogs are only scantly susceptible to visual illusions, suggesting that the perceptual mechanisms might be different in humans and dogs. However, to date, none of these studies have utilized illusions that are linked to quantity discrimination. In the current study, we tested whether dogs are susceptible to a linear version of the Solitaire illusion, a robust numerosity illusion experienced by most humans. In the first experiment, we tested dogs’ ability to discriminate items in a 0.67 and 0.75 numerical ratio. The results showed that dogs’ quantity discrimination abilities fall in between these two ratios. In Experiment 2, we presented the dogs with the Solitaire illusion pattern using a spontaneous procedure. No evidence supporting any numerosity misperception was found. This conclusion was replicated in Experiment 3, where we manipulated dogs’ initial experience with the stimuli and their contrast with the background. The lack of dogs’ susceptibility to the Solitaire illusion suggests that numerical estimation of dogs is not influenced by the spatial arrangement of the items to be enumerated. In view of the existing evidence, the effect may be extended to dogs’ quantitative abilities at large.
Accelerometric Changes before and after Capacitive Resistive Electric Transfer Therapy in Horses with Thoracolumbar Pain Compared to a SHAM Procedure
Authors: Argüelles David , Becero Mireya , Muñoz Ana , Saitua Aritz , Ramón Toni , Gascón Eduard , Sánchez de Medina Antonia , Prades Marta
Published: December 2020

Capacitive resistive electric transfer (CRET), a radiofrequency at 448 kHz, increases flexibility in quadricep muscles of human athletes. To assess whether CRET would result in clinical and biomechanical improvements in horses with thoracolumbar pain, 18 sport horses were divided into two groups: CRET (n = 9), subjected to four CRET sessions, during two consecutive weeks, and SHAM (n = 9), subjected to the same procedure with the device off. Clinical examination and accelerometry were performed before and after the four sessions. During the study, horses were in training and in active competition, and did not receive any other treatment. Mann-Whitney and a Wilcoxon matched pair tests were used to compare between the SHAM and CRET groups and before and after the intervention, respectively. CRET horses showed increased dorsoventral (p < 0.002), mediolateral and total power (p < 0.01) after the intervention, suggesting increased back flexibility. SHAM horses did not show any of these modifications after the intervention. No changes were found in the dorsoventral displacement of the gravity center in either group. Thoracolumbar pain decreased one degree after CRET (p = 0.002), and it did not change after SHAM. Epaxial muscle pain decreased two degrees after CRET (p = 0.03) and one degree after SHAM (p = 0.01). These results reflected that CRET therapy would increase back flexibility and decrease thoracolumbar and epaxial pain.
Unexpected Gene-Flow in Urban Environments: The Example of the European Hedgehog
Authors: Barthel Leon M. F. , Wehner Dana , Schmidt Anke , Berger Anne , Hofer Heribert , Fickel Jörns
Published: December 2020

We use the European hedgehog (Erinaceus europaeus), a mammal with limited mobility, as a model species to study whether the structural matrix of the urban environment has an influence on population genetic structure of such species in the city of Berlin (Germany). Using ten established microsatellite loci we genotyped 143 hedgehogs from numerous sites throughout Berlin. Inclusion of all individuals in the cluster analysis yielded three genetic clusters, likely reflecting spatial associations of kin (larger family groups, known as gamodemes). To examine the potential bias in the cluster analysis caused by closely related individuals, we determined all pairwise relationships and excluded close relatives before repeating the cluster analysis. For this data subset (N = 65) both clustering algorithms applied (Structure, Baps) indicated the presence of a single genetic cluster. These results suggest that the high proportion of green patches in the city of Berlin provides numerous steppingstone habitats potentially linking local subpopulations. Alternatively, translocation of individuals across the city by hedgehog rescue facilities may also explain the existence of only a single cluster. We therefore propose that information about management activities such as releases by animal rescue centres should include location data (as exactly as possible) regarding both the collection and the release site, which can then be used in population genetic studies.
Bifunctional Aptamer Drug Carrier Enabling Selective and Efficient Incorporation of an Approved Anticancer Drug Irinotecan to Fibrin Gels
Authors: Fujita Hiroto , Kataoka Yuka , Kuwahara Masayasu
Published: December 2020

We have previously developed a bifunctional aptamer (bApt) binding to both human thrombin and camptothecin derivative (CPT1), and showed that bApt acts as a drug carrier under the phenomenon named selective oligonucleotide entrapment in fibrin polymers (SOEF), which enables efficient enrichment of CPT1 into fibrin gels, resulting in significant inhibition of tumor cell growth. However, although the derivative CPT1 exhibits anticancer activity, it is not an approved drug. In this study, we evaluated the binding properties of bApt to irinotecan, a camptothecin analog commonly used for anticancer drug therapy, in addition to unmodified camptothecin (CPT). Furthermore, we have revealed that irinotecan binds to bApt like CPT1 and is selectively concentrated on fibrin gels formed around the tumor cells under the SOEF phenomenon to suppress cell proliferation.
Trajectory/Path-Following Controller Based on Nonlinear Jerk-Level Error Dynamics
Authors: Piprek Patrick , Marb Michael M. , Bhardwaj Pranav , Holzapfel Florian
Published: December 2020

This study proposes a novel, nonlinear trajectory/path-following controller based on jerk-level error dynamics. Therefore, at first the nonlinear acceleration-based kinematic equations of motion of a dynamic system are differentiated with respect to time to obtain a representation connecting the translation jerk with the (specific) force derivative. Furthermore, the path deviation, i.e., the difference between the planned and the actual path, is formulated as nonlinear error dynamics based on the jerk error. Combining the derived equations of motion with the nonlinear error dynamics as well as employing nonlinear dynamic inversion, a control law can be derived that provides force derivative commands, which may be commanded to an inner loop for trajectory control. This command ensures an increased smoothness and faster reaction time compared to traditional approaches based on a force directly. Furthermore, the nonlinear parts in the error dynamic are feedforward components that improve the general performance due to their physical connection with the real dynamics. The validity and performance of the proposed trajectory/path-following controller are shown in an aircraft-related application example.
Ultrasonic Fatigue Device and Behavior of High-Temperature Superalloy Inconel 718 with Self-Heating Phenomenon
Authors: Zhao Mengxiong , Wu Tieying , Zhao Zhenhua , Liu Lulu , Luo Gang , Chen Wei
Published: December 2020

Ultrasonic resonance fatigue test method at 20 kHz related to the very high cycle fatigue (VHCF) aims to accelerate a time-consuming experiment. In this paper, an ultrasonic fatigue device with a data acquisition system was improved for monitoring and recording the data from fatigue tests in which self-heating phenomenon exists. Symmetric tension-compression sinusoidal vibrating mode (R = −1) was observed in this study. VHCF behavior and mechanism of Inconel 718 were carried out using this device. It was concluded that more than 99% of fatigue life is consumed in initiation duration. Specimen temperature increase was not a decisive factor in VHCF strength for Inconel 718, as long as it was far less than the design temperature limitation. A single initiation site existed at the subsurface facet or grain cluster, observed from scanning electron microscope (SEM) micrographs. Quasi-cleavage fracture in transgranular ductile mode emerged and then tended to trace grain boundaries in an intergranular manner by cleavage-dominated mixed mode.
Assessing the Performance of Different Grains in Gluten-Free Bread Applications
Authors: Banu Iuliana , Aprodu Iuliana
Published: December 2020

A comparative analysis of quinoa, sorghum, millet and rice flours and breads in terms of proximate composition, resistant starch, antioxidant activity and total phenolic content was realized in this study. Quinoa whole flour had the highest content of proteins, fat, ash and total dietary fiber, followed by millet and sorghum flours. Quinoa and rice breads had higher specific volume (192.22 and 181.04 cm3/100 g, respectively) and lower crumb firmness (10.81 and 13.74 N, respectively) compared to sorghum and millet breads. The highest total phenol content was obtained in the case of bread prepared with quinoa flour (398.42 mg ferulic acid equiv/100 g d.w.), while the lowest content was obtained for the rice flour bread (70.34 mg ferulic acid equiv/100 g d.w). The antioxidant activity of gluten-free breads decreased in the following order: sorghum > quinoa > millet > rice. Quinoa bread had the highest resistant starch content of 3.28% d.w., while the rice bread had the highest digestible starch content of 81.48% d.w. The slowly digestible starch varied from 15.5% d.w. for quinoa bread, to 6.51% d.w. for millet bread. These results revealed the huge potential of quinoa, sorghum and millet to be used for developing functional gluten-free bread.
In Situ Monitoring of Sugar Content in Breakfast Cereals Using a Novel FT-NIR Spectrometer
Authors: Aykas Didem Peren , Ball Christopher , Menevseoglu Ahmed , Rodriguez-Saona Luis E.
Published: December 2020

This research demonstrates simultaneous predictions of individual and total sugars in breakfast cereals using a novel, handheld near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopic sensor. This miniaturized, battery-operated unit based on Fourier Transform (FT)-NIR was used to collect spectra from both ground and intact breakfast cereal samples, followed by real-time wireless data transfer to a commercial tablet for chemometric processing. A total of 164 breakfast cereal samples (60 store-bought and 104 provided by a snack food company) were tested. Reference analysis for the individual (sucrose, glucose, and fructose) and total sugar contents used high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Chemometric prediction models were generated using partial least square regression (PLSR) by combining the HPLC reference analysis data and FT-NIR spectra, and associated calibration models were externally validated through an independent data set. These multivariate models showed excellent correlation (Rpre ≥ 0.93) and low standard error of prediction (SEP ≤ 2.4 g/100 g) between the predicted and the measured sugar values. Analysis results from the FT-NIR data, confirmed by the reference techniques, showed that eight store-bought cereal samples out of 60 (13%) were not compliant with the total sugar content declaration. The results suggest that the FT-NIR prototype can provide reliable analysis for the snack food manufacturers for on-site analysis.
Component Combination Rules of Wind Load Effects of Building Structures
Authors: Guan Haiwei , Tian Yuji
Published: December 2020

Under the action of the same wind azimuth, the extreme values of the wind load effect components of building structures are generated in the along-wind, cross-wind, vertical, and torsional directions. In designing the wind-resistant structure, the extreme values of effect components need to be combined to determine the internal force envelope values of members. Complete quadratic combination (CQC) and Turkstra combination rules are often used to determine the combination value of extreme values of wind effect components. The extreme probability distribution expressions of the CQC, and the Turkstra and approximate rules, are derived. The simplified combination Equations and combination coefficients of the CQC and Turkstra approximate rules are proposed in this paper. We use the combination Equations and Monte Carlo simulation method to analyze the accuracy of Turkstra and its approximate rules. The results show that the combination extreme is associated with the correlation coefficients, mean values, ratios of standard deviations, and fluctuating extremes of effect components. The errors between Turkstra and its approximate rules are small when load effect components show a positive correlation. The errors are largest when the standard deviations of components are equal. Our research results provide a theoretical basis for the combination method of wind load effect components of building structures.
New Ternary Compounds of the Composition Cu2SnTi3 and Their Crystal Structures
Authors: Huang Sheng-Fang , Chang Yen-Cheng , Liu Po-Liang
Published: December 2020

A new ternary compound Cu2SnTi3 has been synthesized by vacuum sintering at 900 °C. The atomic structures of CaCu5- and InNi2-like Cu2SnTi3 are calculated using density functional theory methods. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis and selected area diffraction (SAD) patterns of the new ternary compound Cu2SnTi3 are considered to verify the atomic structures of CaCu5- and InNi2-like Cu2SnTi3. The results reveal that the InNi2-like Cu2SnTi3 model has the lowest total energy of −35.239 eV, representing the trigonal crystal structure. The orthorhombic crystal structure of the CaCu5-like Cu2SnTi3 model has the second lowest total energy of −33.926 eV. Our theoretical X-ray diffraction peak profiles of InNi2-like (CaCu5-like) Cu2SnTi3 are nearly identical to experimental one, leading to an error below 2.0% (3.0%). In addition, the hexagonal crystal structure of the CaCu5-like Cu2SnTi3 model has the highest total energy of −33.094 eV. The stability of the Cu2SnTi3 in terms of energy follows the order: the trigonal, orthorhombic, and hexagonal crystal structure.
A Joint Comparative Analysis of Routing Heuristics and Paperless Picking Technologies Using Simulation and Data Envelopment Analysis
Authors: Fontin Jean-Raymond , Lin Shi-Woei
Published: December 2020

Recent literature demonstrates that warehouse order picking performance is reflected in the logistics performance of downstream retailers. Warehouse solutions and policies significantly contribute to the improvement of distribution and delivery to retailers. This paper therefore reports an analysis of the joint performance of routing policies and picking technologies, and provides insights into the best ways to combine routing strategies and paperless solutions in order to optimize cost efficiency. We follow a multistage approach that combines mixed integer linear programming algorithms, data envelopment analysis (DEA), and ranking and selection. The results show that traversal-voice picking and midpoint-voice picking combinations are equally distributed over the most efficient subsets and that superior technology can enhance picking efficiency only to a certain level. The study provides guidelines for logistics managers on ways to combine warehouse solutions and policies in order to better streamline the operations. It offers an original framework to analyze the joint performance of picking routing and picking solutions by considering the effect of picking errors.
The Balance Strategy between Structural Safety and Sensing Accuracy Inspired by Slit-Based Mechanical Sensilla
Authors: Wang Qian , Fan Cheng , Gui Yuecheng , Lu Yao , Wang Kejun
Published: December 2020

In engineering, cracks are typically regarded as defects due to enormous stress amplification at tip of the crack. Conversely, scorpion ingeniously utilizes the “risky” near-tip stress field of a crack-shaped slit to accurately detect weak vibration signal without causing catastrophic crack propagation from the slit tip. The present paper focuses on the balance strategy between structural safety and sensing accuracy of slit-based mechanical sensilla. We performed a detailed structural and mechanical property study of tissue around the slit wake utilizing a complementary combination of various experimental methods. The results indicate that there is a special thin surface membrane covering the slit wake and the elastic moduli of the membrane and exoskeleton are 0.562 GPa and 5.829 GPa, respectively. In addition, the ratio of bending stiffness between exoskeleton and membrane tissue is about 8 × 104. The theoretical and simulation analysis show that the surface membrane—with appropriate elastic modulus and bending stiffness—can achieve different forms of deformation with the change of slit width for protecting the mechanosensory structure without sacrificing the sensing accuracy. This finding offers a crucial theoretical basis for the further design of bionic mechanical sensors based on the near-tip stress field of artificial cracks.
Position-Dependent Stability Prediction for Multi-Axis Milling of the Thin-Walled Component with a Curved Surface
Authors: Wang Xiaojuan , Song Qinghua , Liu Zhanqiang
Published: December 2020

Time-varying dynamic behaviors are essential to investigate the stability in the thin-walled workpiece milling process, which is usually affected by material removal and position-dependent characteristics of the workpiece along with the tool feed direction. To predict the milling stability with position-dependent, thin-walled component multi-axis milling, an improved structural dynamic modification method with variable mass is proposed in the paper. Firstly, the extraction of multi-axis milling material and the removal process of thin-walled parts with a complex curved surface and variable thickness is completed with CAM software. Then, the material removal of one cutting path as a modification of the structure is divided into multi-cutting steps with equal length to obtain the corrected FRFs in the machining process on the basis of the extended Sherman-Morrison-Woodbury formula. Furthermore, the dynamic characteristics of the initial un-machined workpiece and final machined workpiece are calculated by both experimental modal analysis and FEM. Finally, the multi-axis milling stability is predicted using the extended numerical integrated method, and an aero-engine blade is used to validate the accuracy and effectiveness of the proposed method for multi-axis milling molding parts.
Electroplated Functional Materials with 3D Nanostructures Defined by Advanced Optical Lithography and Their Emerging Applications
Authors: Ahn Jinseong , Hong Seokkyoon , Shim Young-Seok , Park Junyong
Published: December 2020

Electroplating has been favored to date as a surface treatment technology in various industries in the development of semiconductors, automobiles, ships, and steel due to its advantages of being a simple, solution-based process, with low cost and high throughput. Recently, classical electroplating has been reborn as an advanced manufacturing process for functional materials by combining it with unconventional optical three-dimensional (3D) nanofabrication techniques capable of generating polymer templates with high-resolution 3D periodic nanostructures. The bottom-up filling behavior of electroplating rising from a seed layer makes it possible to densely fill the nanoporous network of the template with heterogeneous inorganic materials. At this time, understanding and optimizing the process parameters (e.g., additive, current density, type of current waveform, etc.) of electroplating is critical for defect control. In addition, since electroplating is generally performed near room temperature, unlike other thin film deposition techniques, structural damage to the polymer template by heat during electroplating is almost negligible. Based on the excellent compatibility of electroplating and optical 3D nanofabrication, innovative functional materials with 3D periodic nanostructures targeting electrochemical or energy-related applications have been created. In this mini review, a strategy for producing functional materials with 3D periodic nanostructures through a templating process will be covered, and the recent cases of successful applications to electrodes for energy storage devices, electrocatalysts, and thermoelectric materials will be summarized. We will also discuss technical issues that need to be considered in the process to improve the quality of the resulting functional materials with 3D nanoarchitectures.
Deep Learning Models for Road Passability Detection during Flood Events Using Social Media Data
Authors: Lopez-Fuentes Laura , Farasin Alessandro , Zaffaroni Mirko , Skinnemoen Harald , Garza Paolo
Published: December 2020

During natural disasters, situational awareness is needed to understand the situation and respond accordingly. A key need is assessing open roads for transporting emergency support to victims. This can be done via analysis of photos from affected areas with known location. This paper studies the problem of detecting blocked/open roads from photos during floods by applying a two-step approach based on classifiers: does the image have evidence of road? If it does, is the road passable or not? We propose a single double-ended neural network (NN) architecture which addresses both tasks simultaneously. Both problems are treated as a single class classification problem with the use of a compactness loss. The study was performed on a set of tweets, posted during flooding events, that contain (i) metadata and (ii) visual information. We studied the usefulness of each data source and the combination of both. Finally, we conducted a study of the performance gain from ensembling different networks. Through the experimental results, we prove that the proposed double-ended NN makes the model almost two times faster and the load on memory lighter while improving the results with respect to training two separate networks to solve each problem independently.
MIMO LS-SVR-Based Multi-Point Vibration Response Prediction in the Frequency Domain
Authors: Wang Cheng , Chen Delei , Huang Haiyang , Zhan Wei , Lai Xiongming , Chen Jianwei
Published: December 2020

To predict the multi-point vibration response in the frequency domain when the uncorrelated multi-source loads are unknown, a data-driven and multi-input multi-output least squares support vector regression (MIMO LS-SVR)-based method in the frequency domain is proposed. Firstly, the relationship between the measured multi-point vibration response and unmeasured multi-point vibration response is formulated using the transfer function in the frequency domain. Secondly, the data-driven multiple regression analysis problem of multi-point vibration response prediction in the frequency domain is described formally, and its mathematical model is established. With the measured multi-point vibration response as the input and the unmeasured multi-point vibration response as the output, the vibration response history data are assembled as a MIMO training dataset at each frequency. Thirdly, using the MIMO LS-SVR algorithm and MIMO history training dataset, the multi-point vibration response prediction model is built at each frequency point. By comparing the transmissibility matrix method, multiple linear regression model-based method, and MIMO neural network method, the application scope of the proposed method and its advantages are analyzed. The experimental results for acoustic and vibration experiment on a cylindrical shell verified that the MIMO LS-SVR-based method predicts the multi-point vibration response effectively when the loads are unknown, and has higher precision than the transfer function method, multiple linear regression method, MIMO neural network method, and transmissibility matrix method.