bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Controlling Waste and Carbon Emission for a Sustainable Closed-Loop Supply Chain Management under a Cap-and-Trade Strategy
Authors: Mishra Mowmita , Hota Soumya Kanti , Ghosh Santanu Kumar , Sarkar Biswajit
Published: April 2020

Considering the increasing number of end-of-life goods in the context of improving the ambience and health of a population and their destructive impacts, recycling strategies are important for industries and organizations. In this article, a closed-loop supply chain management containing a single manufacturer, a single retailer, and a third party is introduced in which the manufacturer first propagates newly finished goods and then dispatches some of the finished goods to the retailer considering a single-setup multi-delivery policy. Due to shipping, carbon emission is taken into account as well as a carbon emission trading mechanism to curb the amount of carbon emissions by the retailer. For recycling through collection, inspection, remanufacturing, and landfill, the third party collects the end-of-life goods from its customers and ships perfect products to the manufacturer after a two-stage inspection. In this model, major sources of emissions such as shipping, replenishment orders, and inventory have been taken care of. The minimizing of the total cost relating to the container capacity, shipment numbers, and replenishment cycle length is the main objective of the closed-loop supply chain management for making the system more profitable. Expository numerical explorations, analysis, and graphic representations are conferred to elucidate this model, and it is observed that this model saves some percentage of the cost compared to the existing literature.
Wiener Index of Edge Thorny Graphs of Catacondensed Benzenoids
Authors: Dobrynin Andrey A. , Iranmanesh Ali
Published: April 2020

The Wiener index is a topological index of a molecular graph, defined as the sum of distances between all pairs of its vertices. Benzenoid graphs include molecular graphs of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. An edge thorny graph G is constructed from a catacondensed benzenoid graph H by attaching new graphs to edges of a perfect matching of H. A formula for the Wiener index of G is derived. The index of the resulting graph does not contain distance characteristics of elements of H and depends on the Wiener index of H and distance properties of the attached graphs.
A Remarkable Property of Concircular Vector Fields on a Riemannian Manifold
Authors: Al-Dayel Ibrahim , Deshmukh Sharief , Belova Olga
Published: April 2020

In this paper, we show that, given a non-trivial concircular vector field u on a Riemannian manifold ( M , g ) with potential function f, there exists a unique smooth function ρ on M that connects u to the gradient of potential function ∇ f . We call the connecting function of the concircular vector field u. This connecting function is shown to be a main ingredient in obtaining characterizations of n-sphere S n ( c ) and the Euclidean space E n . We also show that the connecting function influences on a topology of the Riemannian manifold.
Stochastic Comparisons of Parallel and Series Systems with Type II Half Logistic-Resilience Scale Components
Authors: Wang Junrui , Yan Rongfang , Lu Bin
Published: April 2020

This paper deals with stochastic comparisons of two parallel (series) systems with Type II half logistic-resilience scale (TIIHL-RS) distribution components with different baseline distribution functions. Under the conditions of interdependency and independency, the research shows that the system performance is better (worse) with the stronger component heterogeneity in the parallel (series) system under the usual stochastic order and the (reversed) hazard rate order.
Rates of Convergence in Laplace’s Integrals and Sums and Conditional Central Limit Theorems
Authors: Kolokoltsov Vassili N.
Published: April 2020

We obtained the exact estimates for the error terms in Laplace’s integrals and sums implying the corresponding estimates for the related laws of large number and central limit theorems including the large deviations approximation.
Asymptotic Behavior of Solutions of the Third Order Nonlinear Mixed Type Neutral Differential Equations
Authors: Moaaz Osama , Chalishajar Dimplekumar , Bazighifan Omar
Published: April 2020

The objective of our paper is to study asymptotic properties of the class of third order neutral differential equations with advanced and delayed arguments. Our results supplement and improve some known results obtained in the literature. An illustrative example is provided.
Recovering of the Membrane Profile of an Electrostatic Circular MEMS by a Three-Stage Lobatto Procedure: A Convergence Analysis in the Absence of Ghost Solutions
Authors: Versaci Mario , Angiulli Giovanni , Jannelli Alessandra
Published: April 2020

In this paper, a stable numerical approach for recovering the membrane profile of a 2D Micro-Electric-Mechanical-Systems (MEMS) is presented. Starting from a well-known 2D nonlinear second-order differential model for electrostatic circular membrane MEMS, where the amplitude of the electrostatic field is considered proportional to the mean curvature of the membrane, a collocation procedure, based on the three-stage Lobatto formula, is derived. The convergence is studied, thus obtaining the parameters operative ranges determining the areas of applicability of the device under analysis.
On Some New Results in Graphical Rectangular b-Metric Spaces
Authors: Baradol Pravin , Vujaković Jelena , Gopal Dhananjay , Radenović Stojan
Published: April 2020

In this paper, we provide an approach to establish the Banach contraction principle (for the case λ ∈ [ 0 , 1 ) ) , Edelstein, Reich, and Meir–Keeler type contractions in the context of graphical rectangular b-metric space. The obtained results not only enrich and improve recent fixed point theorems of this new metric spaces but also provide positive answers to the questions raised by Mudasir Younis et al. (J. Fixed Point Theory Appl., doi:10.1007/s11784-019-0673-3, 2019).
Efficient Hyper-Parameter Selection in Total Variation-Penalised XCT Reconstruction Using Freund and Shapire’s Hedge Approach
Authors: Chrétien Stéphane , Lohvithee Manasavee , Sun Wenjuan , Soleimani Manuchehr
Published: April 2020

This paper studies the problem of efficiently tuning the hyper-parameters in penalised least-squares reconstruction for XCT. Discovered through the lens of the Compressed Sensing paradigm, penalisation functionals such as Total Variation types of norms, form an essential tool for enforcing structure in inverse problems, a key feature in the case where the number of projections is small as compared to the size of the object to recover. In this paper, we propose a novel hyper-parameter selection approach for total variation (TV)-based reconstruction algorithms, based on a boosting type machine learning procedure initially proposed by Freund and Shapire and called Hedge. The proposed approach is able to select a set of hyper-parameters producing better reconstruction than the traditional Cross-Validation approach, with reduced computational effort. Traditional reconstruction methods based on penalisation can be made more efficient using boosting type methods from machine learning.
Assessment of the Allelochemical Activity and Biochemical Profile of Different Phenotypes of Picocyanobacteria from the Genus Synechococcus
Authors: Konarzewska Zofia , Śliwińska-Wilczewska Sylwia , Felpeto Aldo Barreiro , Vasconcelos Vitor , Latała Adam
Published: April 2020

Organisms belonging to Synechococcus sp. genera are observed in all freshwater, brackish, and marine waters of the world. They play a relevant role in these ecosystems, since they are one of the main primary producers, especially in open ocean. Eventually, they form mass blooms in coastal areas, which are potentially dangerous for the functioning of marine ecosystems. Allelopathy could be an important factor promoting the proliferation of these organisms. According to the authors’ best knowledge, there is no information on the allelopathic activity and allelopathic compounds exhibited by different Synechococcus sp. phenotypes. Therefore, the research conducted here aimed to study the bioactivity of compounds produced by three phenotypes of Synechococcus sp. by studying their influence on the growth, chlorophyll fluorescence, and photosynthetic pigments of eighteen cyanobacteria and microalgae species. We demonstrated that three different Synechococcus sp. phenotypes, including a phycocyanin (PC)-rich strain (Type 1; green strain) and phycoerythrin (PE)-rich strains containing phycoerythrobilin (PEB) and phycocyanobilin (PCB) (Type 2; red strain and Type 3a; brown strain), had a significant allelopathic effect on the selected species of cyanobacteria, diatoms, and green algae. For all green algae, a decrease in cell abundance under the influence of phenotypes of donor cyanobacteria was shown, whereas, among some target cyanobacteria and diatom species, the cell-free filtrate was observed to have a stimulatory effect. Our estimates of the stress on photosystem II (Fv/Fm) showed a similar pattern, although for some diatoms, there was an effect of stress on photosynthesis, while a stimulatory effect on growth was also displayed. The pigment content was affected by allelopathy in most cases, particularly for chlorophyll a, whilst it was a bit less significant for carotenoids. Our results showed that Synechococcus sp. Type 3a had the strongest effect on target species, while Synechococcus sp. Type 1 had the weakest allelopathic effect. Furthermore, GC-MS analysis produced different biochemical profiles for the Synechococcus strains. For every phenotype, the most abundant compound was different, with oxime-, methoxy-phenyl- being the most abundant substance for Synechococcus Type 1, eicosane for Synechococcus Type 2, and silanediol for Synechococcus Type 3a.
Anti-Fouling Effects of Saponin-Containing Crude Extracts from Tropical Indo-Pacific Sea Cucumbers
Authors: Kamyab Elham , Goebeler Norman , Kellermann Matthias Y. , Rohde Sven , Reverter Miriam , Striebel Maren , Schupp Peter J.
Published: April 2020

Sea cucumbers are bottom dwelling invertebrates, which are mostly found on subtropical and tropical sea grass beds, sandy reef flats, or reef slopes. Although constantly exposed to fouling communities in these habitats, many species are surprisingly free of invertebrate epibionts and microfouling algae such as diatoms. In our study, we investigated the anti-fouling (AF) activities of different crude extracts of tropical Indo-Pacific sea cucumber species against the fouling diatom Cylindrotheca closterium. Nine sea cucumber species from three genera (i.e., Holothuria, Bohadschia, Actinopyga) were selected and extracted to assess their AF activities. To verify whether the sea cucumber characteristic triterpene glycosides were responsible for the observed potent AF activities, we tested purified fractions enriched in saponins isolated from Bohadschia argus, representing one of the most active anti-fouling extracts. Saponins were quantified by vanillin-sulfuric acid colorimetric assays and identified by LC-MS and LC-MS/MS analyses. We were able to demonstrate that AF activities in sea cucumber extracts were species-specific, and growth inhibition as well as attachment of the diatom to surfaces is dependent on the saponin concentration (i.e., Actinopyga contained the highest quantities), as well as on the molecular composition and structure of the present saponins (i.e., Bivittoside D derivative was the most bioactive compound). In conclusion, the here performed AF assay represents a promising and fast method for selecting the most promising bioactive organism as well as for identifying novel compounds with potent AF activities for the discovery of potentially novel pharmacologically active natural products.
Stem Cell Ophthalmology Treatment Study (SCOTS): Bone Marrow-Derived Stem Cells in the Treatment of Age-Related Macular Degeneration
Authors: Weiss Jeffrey N. , Levy Steven
Published: April 2020

Background: Dry age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is one of the leading causes of vision loss in older patients. The macula accumulates drusen with loss of retinal pigment epithelial cells and photoreceptors. Abnormal subretinal neovascularization is absent. There is no effective drug therapy for dry AMD and a large proportion of patients progress to legal blindness from macular atrophy. The Stem Cell Ophthalmology Treatment Study (SCOTS) was conducted to assess the effect of bone marrow-derived stem cells (BMSCs) on dry AMD and other retinal and optic nerve diseases. Methods: Thirty-two eyes were treated with BMSC per the protocols in SCOTS. Provision of BMSCs in Arm 1 was via retrobulbar (RB), sub-tenons (ST) and intravenous (IV); Arm 2 via intravitreal, RB, ST and IV; Arm 3 via subretinal and IV. Patient age averaged 78 years old and ranged from 69 to 90. Visual acuity preoperatively ranged from counting fingers to 20/50-2 with an average preoperative LogMAR of 1.125. Results: Following treatment, 20 of 32 (63%) of eyes experienced improvement in visual acuity averaging 27.6% on LogMAR and ranging from 2.5% to 44.6%. The mean improvement in LogMAR was 0.963 with a standard deviation (SD) of 0.42. The visual acuity remained stable in 34% of treated eyes. One eye continued to worsen as a consequence of disease progression. The results showed high statistical significance with p ≤ 0.001. The procedures were conducted safely, and no complications were observed. Conclusions: Treatment of dry AMD with BMSC using the protocols developed in the SCOTS clinical trial has shown statistically significant clinical benefit improving visual acuity and potentially delaying visual loss in the disease.
Selective Separation of 1-Butanol from Aqueous Solution through Pervaporation Using PTSMP-Silica Nano Hybrid Membrane
Authors: Talluri VSSL Prasad , Tleuova Aiym , Hosseini Seyedmehdi , Vopicka Ondrej
Published: April 2020

In this work, a poly(1-trimethylsilyl-1-propyne) (PTMSP) mixed-matrix membrane was fabricated for the selective removal of 1-butanol from aqueous solutions through pervaporation. Silica nanoparticles (SNPs), which were surface-modified with surfactant hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB), were incorporated into the structure of the membrane. The modified membrane was characterized by thermogravimetry-differential scanning calorimetry (TG-DSC), contact angle measurements, and scanning electron microscope (SEM) analysis. It was found that the surface hydrophobicity of the membrane was improved when compared to neat PTMSP by contact angle measurement. It was confirmed by SEM analysis that a uniform distribution of surface-modified SNPs throughout the PTMSP membrane was achieved. The thermogravimetric analysis detected the thermal degradation of the modified PTMSP at 370 °C, which is comparable to neat PTMSP. The pervaporation measurements showed a maximum separation factor of 126 at 63 °C for 1.5 w/w% 1-butanol in the feed. The maximum total flux of approximately 1.74 mg·cm−2·min−1 was observed with the highest inspected temperature of 63 °C and at the 1-butanol concentration in the feed 4.5 w/w%. The pervaporation transients showed that the addition of the surface-modified SNPs significantly enhanced the diffusivity of 1-butanol in the composite compared to the neat PTMSP membrane. This improvement was attributed to the influence of the well-dispersed SNPs in the PTMSP matrix, which introduced an additional path for diffusivity.
The Influence of Graphene Addition on the Properties of Composite rGO/PAN Membranes and Their Potential Application for Water Disinfection
Authors: Fryczkowska Beata , Machnicka Alicja , Biniaś Dorota , Ślusarczyk Czesław , Fabia Janusz
Published: April 2020

The paper presents a method of obtaining composite polyacrylonitrile-based (PAN) membranes with the addition of reduced graphene oxide (rGO). The membranes were obtained using phase inversion method from a homogeneous rGO dispersion in a solution of PAN dissolved in N, N-dimethylformamide (DMF). The impact of the amount of rGO addition to the PAN matrix on the physicochemical, structural, transport, and separation properties and on fouling resistance was studied. Composite membranes, due to the method of preparation used and the addition of rGO, are characterized by very good transport properties (~390 L/m2 h) and by a high degree of protein retention (85%). Reduced graphene oxide has biocidal properties, which, as we have shown, depend on the size of nanoparticles and the type of microorganism. rGO/PAN membranes, on the other hand, show biostatic properties against Gram-negative bacteria (Escherichia coli), Gram-positive bacteria (Staphylococcuc aureus) and fungi (Candida albicans). Thus, the obtained composite membranes can be potentially used in water disinfection.
Structural Characterisation of Deposit Layer during Milk Protein Microfiltration by Means of In-Situ MRI and Compositional Analysis
Authors: Schopf Roland , Schork Nicolas , Amling Estelle , Nirschl Hermann , Guthausen Gisela , Kulozik Ulrich
Published: April 2020

Milk protein fractionation by microfiltration membranes is an established but still growing field in dairy technology. Even under cross-flow conditions, this filtration process is impaired by the formation of a deposit by the retained protein fraction, mainly casein micelles. Due to deposition formation and consequently increased overall filtration resistance, the mass flow of the smaller whey protein fraction declines within the first few minutes of filtration. Currently, there are only a handful of analytical techniques available for the direct observation of deposit formation with opaque feed media and membranes. Here, we report on the ongoing development of a non-invasive and non-destructive method based on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and its application to characterise deposit layer formation during milk protein fractionation in ceramic hollow fibre membranes as a function of filtration pressure and temperature, temporally and spatially resolved. In addition, the chemical composition of the deposit was analysed by reversed phase high pressure liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC). We correlate the structural information gained by in-situ MRI with the protein amount and composition of the deposit layer obtained by RP-HPLC. We show that the combination of in-situ MRI and chemical analysis by RP-HPLC has the potential to allow for a better scientific understanding of the pressure and temperature dependence of deposit layer formation.
Self-Aligned Hierarchical ZnO Nanorod/NiO Nanosheet Arrays for High Photon Extraction Efficiency of GaN-Based Photonic Emitter
Authors: Lee Won-Seok , Kwon Soon-Hwan , Choi Hee-Jung , Im Kwang-Gyun , Lee Hannah , Oh Semi , Kim Kyoung-Kook
Published: April 2020

Advancements in nanotechnology have facilitated the increased use of ZnO nanostructures. In particular, hierarchical and core–shell nanostructures, providing a graded refractive index change, have recently been applied to enhance the photon extraction efficiency of photonic emitters. In this study, we demonstrate self-aligned hierarchical ZnO nanorod (ZNR)/NiO nanosheet arrays on a conventional photonic emitter (C-emitter) with a wavelength of 430 nm. These hierarchical nanostructures were synthesized through a two-step hydrothermal process at low temperature, and their optical output power was approximately 17% higher than that of ZNR arrays on a C-emitter and two times higher than that of a C-emitter. These results are due to the graded index change in refractive index from the GaN layer inside the device toward the outside as well as decreases in the total internal reflection and Fresnel reflection of the photonic emitter.
Piezoelectric Actuated Glass Plate for Liquid Density and Viscosity Measurement
Authors: Neff Baptiste , Casset Fabrice , Millet Arnaud , Agache Vincent , Colin Mikael
Published: April 2020

This paper reports on a new system for liquid density and viscosity measurement based on a freely suspended rectangular vibrating plate actuated by piezoelectric ceramic (PZT) actuators. The Lamb mode used for these measurements allows us to infer both the density and viscosity in a larger range as compared to the existing gold-standard techniques of MEMS resonators. The combination of the measured resonance frequency and quality factor enables extraction of density and viscosity of the surrounding liquid. The system is calibrated while performing measurements in water glycerol solutions with a density range from 997 to 1264 kg/m3 and viscosity from 1.22 to 985 mPa·s, which is a larger dynamic range compared to existing mechanical resonators showing an upper limit of 700 mPa·s. The out-of-plane vibrating mode exhibits quality factor of 169, obtained in deionized water (1.22 mPa·s viscosity), and 93 for pure glycerol with a viscosity of 985 mPa·s. This Lamb wave resonating sensor can achieve measurement in fairly large viscosity media while keeping a quality factor superior to 90. Measurements performed on oil validate the use of the Lamb system. Oil density is evaluated at 939 kg/m3 and dynamic viscosity at 43 mPa·s which corresponds to our expected values. This shows the possibility of using the sensor outside of the calibration range.
3D Hydrodynamic Focusing in Microscale Optofluidic Channels Formed with a Single Sacrificial Layer
Authors: Hamilton Erik S. , Ganjalizadeh Vahid , Wright Joel G. , Schmidt Holger , Hawkins Aaron R.
Published: April 2020

Optofluidic devices are capable of detecting single molecules, but greater sensitivity and specificity is desired through hydrodynamic focusing (HDF). Three-dimensional (3D) hydrodynamic focusing was implemented in 10-μm scale microchannel cross-sections made with a single sacrificial layer. HDF is achieved using buffer fluid to sheath the sample fluid, requiring four fluid ports to operate by pressure driven flow. A low-pressure chamber, or pit, formed by etching into a substrate, enables volumetric flow ratio-induced focusing at a low flow velocity. The single layer design simplifies surface micromachining and improves device yield by 1.56 times over previous work. The focusing design was integrated with optical waveguides and used in order to analyze fluorescent signals from beads in fluid flow. The implementation of the focusing scheme was found to narrow the distribution of bead velocity and fluorescent signal, giving rise to 33% more consistent signal. Reservoir effects were observed at low operational vacuum pressures and a balance between optofluidic signal variance and intensity was achieved. The implementation of the design in optofluidic sensors will enable higher detection sensitivity and sample specificity.
Nanoparticles Enhanced Self-Driven Microfludic Biosensor
Authors: Liu Chunxiu , Xue Ning , Cai Haoyuan , Sun Jianhai , Qi Zhimei , Zhao Peiyue , Xiong Fei , Geng Zhaoxin , Jiang Liying , Li Li
Published: April 2020

C-reactive protein (CRP) plays an important role in inflammation detection and disease monitoring. The optical biosensor is a highly sensitive and easy detection tool. The microfluidic self-driving optical sensors were fabricated with transparent glass material and used for the enhanced surface plasmon resonance (SPR) optical detection of the model protein CRP using Au nanoparticles (AuNPs) and a sandwich immune reaction. The 3D design of the chip was devised to improve the optical coupling efficiency and enable integration with a microfluidic control and rapid detection. The array of pre-fixed antibody modified by Au nanoparticles was used to achieve rapid antigen capture and improve the optical sensitivity. The Au nanoparticle amplification approach was introduced for the SPR detection of a target protein. CRP was used as a model target protein as part of a sandwich assay. The use of Au NP measurements to detect the target signal is a threefold improvement compared to single SPR detection methods.
High-Efficiency Plasma Separator Based on Immunocapture and Filtration
Authors: Su Xiaosong , Zhang Jianzhong , Zhang Dongxu , Wang Yingbin , Chen Mengyuan , Weng Zhenyu , Wang Jin , Zeng Juntian , Zhang Ya , Zhang Shiyin , Ge Shengxiang , Zhang Jun , Xia Ningshao
Published: April 2020

The shortcomings of standard plasma-separation methods limit the point-of-care application of microfluidics in clinical facilities and at the patient’s bedside. To overcome the limitations of this inconvenient, laborious, and costly technique, a new plasma-separation technique and device were developed. This new separation method relies on immunological capture and filtration to exclude cells from plasma, and is convenient, easy to use, and cost-effective. Most of the RBCs can be captured and immobilized by antibody which coated in separation matrix, and residue cells can be totally removed from the sample by a commercially plasma purification membranes. A 400 µL anti-coagulated whole blood sample with 65% hematocrit (Hct) can be separated by the device in 5 min with only one pipette. Up to 97% of the plasma can be recovered from the raw blood sample with a separation efficiency at 100%. The recovery rate of small molecule compounds, proteins, and nucleic acid biomarkers is evaluated; there are no obvious differences from the centrifuge method. The results demonstrate that this method is an excellent replacement for traditional plasma preparation protocols.
Molecule Sensitive Optical Imaging and Monitoring Techniques—A Review of Applications in Micro-Process Engineering
Authors: Nachtmann Marcel , Deuerling Julian , Rädle Matthias
Published: April 2020

This paper provides an overview of how molecule-sensitive, spatially-resolved technologies can be applied for monitoring and measuring in microchannels. The principles of elastic light scattering, fluorescence, near-infrared, mid-infrared, and Raman imaging, as well as combination techniques, are briefly presented, and their advantages and disadvantages are explained. With optical methods, images can be acquired both scanning and simultaneously as a complete image. Scanning technologies require more acquisition time, and fast moving processes are not easily observable. On the other hand, molecular selectivity is very high, especially in Raman and mid-infrared (MIR) scanning. For near-infrared (NIR) images, the entire measuring range can be simultaneously recorded with indium gallium arsenide (InGaAs) cameras. However, in this wavelength range, water is the dominant molecule, so it is sometimes necessary to use complex learning algorithms that increase the preparation effort before the actual measurement. These technologies excite molecular vibrations in a variety of ways, making these methods suitable for specific products. Besides measurements of the fluid composition, technologies for particle detection are of additional importance. With scattered light techniques and evaluation according to the Mie theory, particles in the range of 0.2–1 µm can be detected, and fast growth processes can be observed. Local multispectral measurements can also be carried out with fiber optic-coupled systems through small probe heads of approximately 1 mm diameter.
Parallel Droplet Deposition via a Superhydrophobic Plate with Integrated Heater and Temperature Sensors
Authors: Hintermüller Marcus A. , Offenzeller Christina , Knoll Marcel , Tröls Andreas , Jakoby Bernhard
Published: April 2020

A simple setup, which is suitable for parallel deposition of homogenous liquids with a precise volume (dosage), is presented. First, liquid is dispensed as an array of droplets onto a superhydrophobic dosage plate, featuring a 3 × 3 array of holes. The droplets rest on these holes and evaporate with time until they are small enough to pass through them to be used on the final target, where a precise amount of liquid is required. The system can be fabricated easily and operates in a highly parallel manner. The design of the superhydrophobic dosage plate can be adjusted, in terms of the hole positions and sizes, in order to meet different specifications. This makes the proposed system extremely flexible. The initial dispensed droplet mass is not significant, as the dosing takes place during the evaporation process, where the dosage is determined by the hole diameter. In order to speed up the evaporation process, microheaters are screen printed on the back side of the dosage plate. To characterize the temperature distribution caused by the microheaters, temperature sensors are screen printed on the top side of the dosage plate as well. Experimental data regarding the temperature sensors, the microheaters, and the performance of the setup are presented, and the improvement due to the heating of the dosage plate is assessed. A significant reduction of the total evaporation time due to the microheaters was observed. The improvement caused by the temperature increase was found to follow a power law. At a substrate temperature of 80 °C, the total evaporation time was reduced by about 79%.
Performance Enhancement of an Ultrasonic Power Transfer System Through a Tightly Coupled Solid Media Using a KLM Model
Authors: Kar Bibhu , Wallrabe Ulrike
Published: April 2020

Contactless ultrasonic power transmission (UPT) through a metal barrier has become an exciting field of research, as metal barriers prevent the use of electromagnetic wireless power transfer due to Faraday shielding effects. In this paper, we demonstrate power transfer through a metal wall with the use of ultrasonic waves generated from a piezoelectric transducer. Accurate characterization and modeling of the transducer and investigation of the influence of the acoustic properties of the transmitting medium are instrumental for the performance prediction and optimal design of an ultrasonic power link. In this work, we applied the KLM model for the emitting and receiving transducers, with respect to the transmitting medium and model for both the emission and reception function. A practical UPT system was built by mechanically coupling and co-axially aligning two composite transducers on opposite sides of a transmitting medium wall. The optimal transmission performance of the ultrasonic power link through thickness-stretch vibrations of the wall together with two piezoelectric transducers working in TE mode was determined. Eventually, the operating frequency and ohmic loading condition for maximum power transmission were obtained for two different media, aluminium and polyoxymethylene (POM), with contrasting specific acoustic impedances. The results showed that the measured optimal electric loads and operating frequency for maximum power transfer agreed well with the theoretical predictions.
Infinite Selectivity of Wet SiO2 Etching in Respect to Al
Authors: Gablech Imrich , Brodský Jan , Pekárek Jan , Neužil Pavel
Published: April 2020

We propose and demonstrate an unconventional method suitable for releasing microelectromechanical systems devices containing an Al layer by wet etching using SiO2 as a sacrificial layer. We used 48% HF solution in combination with 20% oleum to keep the HF solution water-free and thus to prevent attack of the Al layer, achieving an outstanding etch rate of thermally grown SiO2 of ≈1 µm·min−1. We also verified that this etching solution only minimally affected the Al layer, as the chip immersion for ≈9 min increased the Al layer sheet resistance by only ≈7.6%. The proposed etching method was performed in an ordinary fume hood in a polytetrafluorethylene beaker at elevated temperature of ≈70 °C using water bath on a hotplate. It allowed removal of the SiO2 sacrificial layer in the presence of Al without the necessity of handling highly toxic HF gas.
Recent Advances in Printed Capacitive Sensors
Authors: Rivadeneyra Almudena , López-Villanueva Juan Antonio
Published: April 2020

In this review paper, we summarize the latest advances in the field of capacitive sensors fabricated by printing techniques. We first explain the main technologies used in printed electronics, pointing out their features and uses, and discuss their advantages and drawbacks. Then, we review the main types of capacitive sensors manufactured with different materials and techniques from physical to chemical detection, detailing the main substrates and additives utilized, as well as the measured ranges. The paper concludes with a short notice on status and perspectives in the field.
A Carbon Nanotube–Metal Oxide Hybrid Material for Visible-Blind Flexible UV-Sensor
Authors: Pathak Pawan , Park Sanghoon , Cho Hyoung Jin
Published: April 2020

Flexible sensors with low fabrication cost, high sensitivity, and good stability are essential for the development of smart devices for wearable electronics, soft robotics, and electronic skins. Herein, we report a nanocomposite material based on carbon nanotube and metal oxide semiconductor for ultraviolet (UV) sensing applications, and its sensing behavior. The sensors were prepared by a screen-printing process under a low-temperature curing condition. The formation of a conducting string node and a sensing node could enhance a UV sensing response, which could be attributed to the uniform mixing of functionalized multi-walled carbon nanotubes and zinc oxide nanoparticles. A fabricated device has shown a fast response time of 1.2 s and a high recovery time of 0.8 s with good mechanical stability.
Editorial for the Special Issue on Organs-on-Chips
Authors: Torisawa Yu-suke , Tung Yi-Chung
Published: April 2020

Recent advances in microsystems technology and cell culture techniques have led to the development of organ-on-chip microdevices to model functional units of organs [...]
Role of Sinorhizobium meliloti and Escherichia coli Long-Chain Acyl-CoA Synthetase FadD in Long-Term Survival
Authors: Pech-Canul Ángel de la Cruz , Rivera-Hernández Geovanny , Nogales Joaquina , Geiger Otto , Soto María J. , López-Lara Isabel M.
Published: April 2020

FadD is an acyl-coenzyme A (CoA) synthetase specific for long-chain fatty acids (LCFA). Strains mutated in fadD cannot produce acyl-CoA and thus cannot grow on exogenous LCFA as the sole carbon source. Mutants in the fadD (smc02162) of Sinorhizobium meliloti are unable to grow on oleate as the sole carbon source and present an increased surface motility and accumulation of free fatty acids at the entry of the stationary phase of growth. In this study, we found that constitutive expression of the closest FadD homologues of S. meliloti, encoded by sma0150 and smb20650, could not revert any of the mutant phenotypes. In contrast, the expression of Escherichia coli fadD could restore the same functions as S. meliloti fadD. Previously, we demonstrated that FadD is required for the degradation of endogenous fatty acids released from membrane lipids. Here, we show that absence of a functional fadD provokes a significant loss of viability in cultures of E. coli and of S. meliloti in the stationary phase, demonstrating a crucial role of fatty acid degradation in survival capacity.
Spinal Infections: An Update
Authors: Tsantes Andreas G. , Papadopoulos Dimitrios V. , Vrioni Georgia , Sioutis Spyridon , Sapkas George , Benzakour Ahmed , Benzakour Thami , Angelini Andrea , Ruggieri Pietro , Mavrogenis Andreas F.
Published: April 2020

Spinal infection poses a demanding diagnostic and treatment problem for which a multidisciplinary approach with spine surgeons, radiologists, and infectious disease specialists is required. Infections are usually caused by bacterial microorganisms, although fungal infections can also occur. The most common route for spinal infection is through hematogenous spread of the microorganism from a distant infected area. Most patients with spinal infections diagnosed in early stages can be successfully managed conservatively with antibiotics, bed rest, and spinal braces. In cases of gross or pending instability, progressive neurological deficits, failure of conservative treatment, spinal abscess formation, severe symptoms indicating sepsis, and failure of previous conservative treatment, surgical treatment is required. In either case, close monitoring of the patients with spinal infection with serial neurological examinations and imaging studies is necessary.
Heliocephala variabilis and Pseudopenidiella vietnamensis: Two New Hyphomycetous Species in the Microthyriaceae (Dothideomycetes) from Vietnam
Authors: Iturrieta-González Isabel , García Dania , Guarro Josep , Gené Josepa
Published: April 2020

In a survey of microfungi from plant debris collected in Vietnam, two new hyphomycetous species were found, which belong to the genera Heliocephala and Pseudopenidiella and the family Microthyriaceae (Microthyriales, Dothideomycetes). Maximum Likelihood and Bayesian Inference sequence analyses of the internal transcribed spacers (ITS) and large subunit (LSU) of the ribosomal DNA barcodes allowed assessing the phylogenetic relationships of the new species with other species of the respective genera. Heliocephala variabilis sp. nov. was closely related to Heliocephala elegans, Heliocephala gracilis, and Heliocephala zimbabweensis, from which it was morphologically distinguished by its smaller conidiophores and non-rostrate conidia of up to four septa on the natural substratum. Pseudopenidiella vietnamensis sp. nov. was related to Pseudopenidiella piceae and Pseudopenidiella podocarpi and differed from the former principally by its lack of microcondiophores and from P. podocarpi by having larger macroconidiophores and smooth conidia. Key morphological features to distinguish the accepted species in Heliocephala and Pseudopenidiella are also provided. In addition, Pseudopenidiella pini was excluded from the genus on the basis of its morphological features.
Bacteriophages Promote Metabolic Changes in Bacteria Biofilm
Authors: Papaianni Marina , Cuomo Paola , Fulgione Andrea , Albanese Donatella , Gallo Monica , Paris Debora , Motta Andrea , Iannelli Domenico , Capparelli Rosanna
Published: April 2020

Bacterial biofilm provides bacteria with resistance and protection against conventional antimicrobial agents and the host immune system. Bacteriophages are known to move across the biofilm to make it permeable to antimicrobials. Mineral hydroxyapatite (HA) can improve the lytic activity of bacteriophages, and, together with eicosanoic acid (C20:0), can destroy the biofilm structure. Here, we demonstrate the efficacy of the combined use of phage, HA and C20:0 against Xanthomonas campestris pv campestris (Xcc) biofilm. We used nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR)-based metabolomics to investigate the molecular determinants related to the lytic action, aiming at identifying the metabolic pathways dysregulated by phage treatment. Furthermore, we identified specific markers (amino acids, lactate and galactomannan) which are involved in the control of biofilm stability. Our data show that Xccφ1, alone or in combination with HA and C20:0, interferes with the metabolic pathways involved in biofilm formation. The approach described here might be extended to other biofilm-producing bacteria.
Enzymatic Adaptation of Bifidobacterium bifidum to Host Glycans, Viewed from Glycoside Hydrolyases and Carbohydrate-Binding Modules
Authors: Katoh Toshihiko , Ojima Miriam N. , Sakanaka Mikiyasu , Ashida Hisashi , Gotoh Aina , Katayama Takane
Published: April 2020

Certain species of the genus Bifidobacterium represent human symbionts. Many studies have shown that the establishment of symbiosis with such bifidobacterial species confers various beneficial effects on human health. Among the more than ten (sub)species of human gut-associated Bifidobacterium that have significantly varied genetic characteristics at the species level, Bifidobacterium bifidum is unique in that it is found in the intestines of a wide age group, ranging from infants to adults. This species is likely to have adapted to efficiently degrade host-derived carbohydrate chains, such as human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs) and mucin O-glycans, which enabled the longitudinal colonization of intestines. The ability of this species to assimilate various host glycans can be attributed to the possession of an adequate set of extracellular glycoside hydrolases (GHs). Importantly, the polypeptides of those glycosidases frequently contain carbohydrate-binding modules (CBMs) with deduced affinities to the target glycans, which is also a distinct characteristic of this species among members of human gut-associated bifidobacteria. This review firstly describes the prevalence and distribution of B. bifidum in the human gut and then explains the enzymatic machinery that B. bifidum has developed for host glycan degradation by referring to the functions of GHs and CBMs. Finally, we show the data of co-culture experiments using host-derived glycans as carbon sources, which underpin the interesting altruistic behavior of this species as a cross-feeder.
Closely Located but Totally Distinct: Highly Contrasting Prokaryotic Diversity Patterns in Raised Bogs and Eutrophic Fens
Authors: Ivanova Anastasia A. , Beletsky Alexey V. , Rakitin Andrey L. , Kadnikov Vitaly V. , Philippov Dmitriy A. , Mardanov Andrey V. , Ravin Nikolai V. , Dedysh Svetlana N.
Published: April 2020

Large areas in Northern Russia are covered by extensive mires, which represent a complex mosaic of ombrotrophic raised bogs, minerotrophic and eutrophic fens, all in a close proximity to each other. In this paper, we compared microbial diversity patterns in the surface peat layers of the neighbouring raised bogs and eutrophic fens that are located within two geographically remote mire sites in Vologda region using 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Regardless of location, the microbial communities in raised bogs were highly similar to each other but were clearly distinct from those in eutrophic fens. Bogs were dominated by the Acidobacteria (30%–40% of total 16S rRNA gene reads), which belong to the orders Acidobacteriales and Bryobacterales. Other bog-specific bacteria included the Phycisphaera-like group WD2101 and the families Isosphaeraceae and Gemmataceae of the Planctomycetes, orders Opitutales and Pedosphaerales of the Verrucomicrobia and a particular group of alphaproteobacteria within the Rhizobiales. In contrast, fens hosted Anaerolineae-affiliated Chloroflexi, Vicinamibacteria- and Blastocatellia-affiliated Acidobacteria, Rokubacteria, uncultivated group OM190 of the Planctomycetes and several groups of betaproteobacteria. The Patescibacteria were detected in both types of wetlands but their relative abundance was higher in fens. A number of key parameters that define the distribution of particular bacterial groups in mires were identified.
Pectin Degradation is an Important Determinant for Alfalfa Silage Fermentation through the Rescheduling of the Bacterial Community
Authors: Wang Bing , Sun Zhiqiang , Yu Zhu
Published: April 2020

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of the four kinds of additives on the silage quality and the relevant bacterial community diversity by Illumina HiSeq 16S rRNA sequencing. The four kinds of additives were Lactobacillus plantarum (LP), organic acids including gallic acid (GA) and phenyllactic acid (PA), pectin (PEC), and enzymes including pectinase (PEE) and cellulase (CE). After 30 d of fermentation, the pH value was shown to have the lowest value in the PEE and PEC groups, followed by the PA group, and then in CE and GA groups; the highest value of pH was found in both LP and control groups. The ammonia nitrogen concentration was lower in the PEE group compared to the other groups except for the PA group. In the comparisons among the seven groups, Lactobacillus was higher in the LP group, Paracoccus was higher in the GA group, Weissella was higher in the PA group, Leuconostoc was higher in the PEC group, Bacillus, Aeromonas, and Curvibacter were higher in the PEE group, and Coriobacteriaceae_UCG_002 was higher in the CE group compared to the other groups. This study proposed that the addition of PEC and PEE improved the fermentation quality of alfalfa silage compared to other additives by improving the bacterial community of Leuconostoc, and Bacillus and Aeromonas, respectively. Moreover, the enhanced fermentation quality of alfalfa silage by the supplementation of PEC and PEE might be attributed to other unclassified genera. This study provides an implication that pectin degradation is an important determinant for alfalfa silage fermentation through the rescheduling of bacterial community diversity.
Diversity, Phylogeny and Plant Growth Promotion Traits of Nodule Associated Bacteria Isolated from Lotus parviflorus
Authors: Soares Ricardo , Trejo Jesús , Lorite Maria J. , Figueira Etelvina , Sanjuán Juan , Videira e Castro Isabel
Published: April 2020

Lotus spp. are widely used as a forage to improve pastures, and inoculation with elite rhizobial strains is a common practice in many countries. However, only a few Lotus species have been studied in the context of plant-rhizobia interactions. In this study, forty highly diverse bacterial strains were isolated from root nodules of wild Lotus parviflorus plants growing in two field locations in Portugal. However, only 10% of these isolates could nodulate one or more legume hosts tested, whereas 90% were thought to be opportunistic nodule associated bacteria. Phylogenetic studies place the nodulating isolates within the Bradyrhizobium genus, which is closely related to B. canariense and other Bradyrhizobium sp. strains isolated from genistoid legumes and Ornithopus spp. Symbiotic nodC and nifH gene phylogenies were fully consistent with the taxonomic assignment and host range. The non-nodulating bacteria isolated were alpha- (Rhizobium/Agrobacterium), beta- (Massilia) and gamma-proteobacteria (Pseudomonas, Lysobacter, Luteibacter, Stenotrophomonas and Rahnella), as well as some bacteroidetes from genera Sphingobacterium and Mucilaginibacter. Some of these nodule-associated bacteria expressed plant growth promotion (PGP) traits, such as production of lytic enzymes, antagonistic activity against phytopathogens, phosphate solubilization, or siderophore production. This argues for a potential beneficial role of these L. parviflorus nodule-associated bacteria.
IL-2 and Mycobacterial Lipoarabinomannan as Targets of Immune Responses in Multiple Sclerosis Patients
Authors: Bo Marco , Niegowska Magdalena , Frau Jessica , Sechi GianPietro , Arru Giannina , Cocco Eleonora , Sechi Leonardo A.
Published: April 2020

Interleukin 2 (IL-2) is considered a key player in exacerbating multiple sclerosis (MS). Therapies targeting its receptor have been developed; however, a resolution of the disease and side effects are still an issue of concern. The involvement of other factors, such as Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis (MAP) and envelope protein derived from human endogenous retrovirus type W (HERV-Wenv), in MS pathogenesis has been recently suggested. Here, we investigated the levels of antibodies (Abs) directed against IL-2 and HERV-Wenv in 108 MS patients, 34 patients affected by neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD), and 137 healthy controls (HCs). Our results show increased levels of Abs specific to IL-2 and HERV-Wenv-su antigens in MS vs. HCs (p < 0.0001 for IL-2, p = 0.0004 for HERV-Wenv) and significantly decreased levels in NMOSD vs. MS. The assessment of different 12-month-long therapies on Abs against IL-2, HERV-Wenv, and MAP lipoarabinomannan (LAM) demonstrated the strongest effect on anti-LAM Abs (p = 0.018), a slight reduction of anti-IL-2 Abs, and small variations for anti-HERV-Wenv Abs. These results highlight the conclusion that the impact of therapy is more correlated with selected epitopes than with the therapeutic agent. Screening for anti-IL-2 and anti-HERV-Wenv Abs has a potential as additional future practice to distinguish between symptomatically similar MS and NMOSD.