bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Mitigation of NaCl Stress in Wheat by Rhizosphere Engineering Using Salt Habitat Adapted PGPR Halotolerant Bacteria
Authors: Kerbab Souhila , Silini Allaoua , Chenari Bouket Ali , Cherif-Silini Hafsa , Eshelli Manal , El Houda Rabhi Nour , Belbahri Lassaad
Published: January 2021

There is a great interest in mitigating soil salinity that limits plant growth and productivity. In this study, eighty-nine strains were isolated from the rhizosphere and endosphere of two halophyte species (Suaeda mollis and Salsola tetrandra) collected from three chotts in Algeria. They were screened for diverse plant growth-promoting traits, antifungal activity and tolerance to different physico-chemical conditions (pH, PEG, and NaCl) to evaluate their efficiency in mitigating salt stress and enhancing the growth of Arabidopsis thaliana and durum wheat under NaCl–stress conditions. Three bacterial strains BR5, OR15, and RB13 were finally selected and identified as Bacillus atropheus. The Bacterial strains (separately and combined) were then used for inoculating Arabidopsis thaliana and durum wheat during the seed germination stage under NaCl stress conditions. Results indicated that inoculation of both plant spp. with the bacterial strains separately or combined considerably improved the growth parameters. Three soils with different salinity levels (S1 = 0.48, S2 = 3.81, and S3 = 2.80 mS/cm) were used to investigate the effects of selected strains (BR5, OR15, and RB13; separately and combined) on several growth parameters of wheat plants. The inoculation (notably the multi-strain consortium) proved a better approach to increase the chlorophyll and carotenoid contents as compared to control plants. However, proline content, lipid peroxidation, and activities of antioxidant enzymes decreased after inoculation with the plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) that can attenuate the adverse effects of salt stress by reducing the reactive oxygen species (ROS) production. These results indicated that under saline soil conditions, halotolerant PGPR strains are promising candidates as biofertilizers under salt stress conditions.
Using GPS Trajectories to Adaptively Plan Bus Lanes
Authors: Sun Yanjie , Wu Mingguang , Li Huien
Published: January 2021

Since bus prioritization policies can help mitigate urban traffic jams, the planning of bus lanes has drawn considerable attention. Existing methods suffer from a common limitation, which is that the limited spatial adaptability resulting from certain road condition information cannot be directly specified. Many bus GPS trajectories have been accumulated and can be contiguously gathered if needed. This paper proposes a trajectory-based bus lane planning method. First, we formulize the bus lane planning problem as a multiobjective optimization problem in which the road conditions, traffic flow, connectivity of bus lanes, and construction cost are organized as four constraints, and road utilization and bus punctuality are modeled as two objectives. Then, an evolutionary algorithm-based method is presented to solve the problem. We tested the model in the Nanshan District, Shenzhen City, China. Through a comparison with existing survey-based methods, the parameters associated with road conditions in this method are directly extracted from GPS trajectories, and this method is more effectively deployed than other methods. Since GPS trajectories can cover a wide area if needed, and because the proposed method can be effectively executed, this method can be adapted to large urban scales.
Studies on a Piezoelectric Cylindrical Transducer for Borehole Dipole Acoustic Measurements
Authors: Zhou Yinqiu , Wang Xiuming , Dai Yuyu
Published: January 2021

In this article, a novel design of a piezoelectric dipole transducer is proposed for formation acoustic velocity measurement in the vicinity of a borehole with a frequency range of 0.4–6 kHz. The transducer which actuates a cylindrical shell to generate a pure dipole mode wave by using multiple piezoelectric bender bars is analyzed theoretically and simulated numerically by using the finite element method (FEM). Moreover, the transducer is fabricated and tested to compare with the numerical simulation results, which shows that the test and simulation results are in good agreement. Finally, compared with numerical simulation results of the traditional dipole transducer, it is shown that the proposed dipole transducer has higher transmitting sensitivities than commonly used ones, especially in low frequency responses. This work lays a foundation for the new development of the transducer in borehole dipole acoustic shear wave measurements. Especially, in a slow formation where the shear wave velocity is lower than that of compressional wave in the borehole fluid, the transducer could be used for highly efficient shear wave velocity measurements.
Data-Dependent Feature Extraction Method Based on Non-Negative Matrix Factorization for Weakly Supervised Domestic Sound Event Detection
Authors: Lee Seokjin , Kim Minhan , Shin Seunghyeon , Park Sooyoung , Jeong Youngho
Published: January 2021

In this paper, feature extraction methods are developed based on the non-negative matrix factorization (NMF) algorithm to be applied in weakly supervised sound event detection. Recently, the development of various features and systems have been attempted to tackle the problems of acoustic scene classification and sound event detection. However, most of these systems use data-independent spectral features, e.g., Mel-spectrogram, log-Mel-spectrum, and gammatone filterbank. Some data-dependent feature extraction methods, including the NMF-based methods, recently demonstrated the potential to tackle the problems mentioned above for long-term acoustic signals. In this paper, we further develop the recently proposed NMF-based feature extraction method to enable its application in weakly supervised sound event detection. To achieve this goal, we develop a strategy for training the frequency basis matrix using a heterogeneous database consisting of strongly- and weakly-labeled data. Moreover, we develop a non-iterative version of the NMF-based feature extraction method so that the proposed feature extraction method can be applied as a part of the model structure similar to the modern “on-the-fly” transform method for the Mel-spectrogram. To detect the sound events, the temporal basis is calculated using the NMF method and then used as a feature for the mean-teacher-model-based classifier. The results are improved for the event-wise post-processing method. To evaluate the proposed system, simulations of the weakly supervised sound event detection were conducted using the Detection and Classification of Acoustic Scenes and Events 2020 Task 4 database. The results reveal that the proposed system has F1-score performance comparable with the Mel-spectrogram and gammatonegram and exhibits 3–5% better performance than the log-Mel-spectrum and constant-Q transform.
Kinetic Modeling of Advanced Oxidation Processes Using Microreactors: Challenges and Opportunities for Scale-Up
Authors: Russo Danilo
Published: January 2021

With the increasing number of recalcitrant pollutants in wastewater treatment plants, there will be a stringent need for rapid and convenient development of tertiary treatment processes such as advanced oxidation processes (AOPs). Microreactors offer a great opportunity for ultrafast and safe intrinsic kinetic parameters determination, by-products identification, and ecotoxicity assessment. Despite the considerable potential of these devices, they have been mostly used for catalyst screening or pseudo-first order kinetics determination, not allowing for knowledge transfer across scales. This work offers an overview of the adoption of micro- and photo-microreactors for intrinsic kinetics investigations in the field of AOPs to guide future research efforts.
Mesh-Type Three-Dimensional (3D) Printing of Human Organs and Tumors: Fast, Cost-Effective, and Personalized Anatomic Modeling of Patient-Oriented Visual Aids
Authors: Seok Jungirl , Yoon Sungmin , Ryu Chang Hwan , Ryu Junsun , Kim Seok-ki , Jung Yuh-Seog
Published: January 2021

Although three-dimensional (3D)-printed anatomic models are not new to medicine, the high costs and lengthy production times entailed have limited their application. Our goal was developing a new and less costly 3D modeling method to depict organ-tumor relations at faster printing speeds. We have devised a method of 3D modeling using tomographic images. Coordinates are extracted at a specified interval, connecting them to create mesh-work replicas. Adjacent constructs are depicted by density variations, showing anatomic targets (i.e., tumors) in contrasting colors. An array of organ solid-tumor models was printed via a Fused Deposition Modeling 3D printer at significantly less cost ($0.05/cm3) and time expenditure (1.73 min/cm3; both, p < 0.001). Printed models helped promote visual appreciation of organ-tumor anatomy and adjacent tissues. Our mesh-work 3D thyroidal prototype reproduced glandular size/contour and tumor location, readily approximating the surgical specimen. This newly devised mesh-type 3D printing method may facilitate anatomic modeling for personalized care and improve patient awareness during informed surgical consent.
Mechanical and Post-Cracking Characteristics of Fiber Reinforced Concrete Containing Copper-Coated Steel and PVA Fibers in 100% Cement and Fly Ash Concrete
Authors: Jalal Asif , Hakim Luqmanul , Shafiq Nasir
Published: January 2021

This experimental study investigated the effects of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and copper-coated steel (CCS) on the mechanical properties and the post cracking behavior of fiber reinforced concrete (FRC). In designing high-performance concrete mixes, cement replacement materials are the essential ingredients. Therefore, the research objective was to investigate PVA and CCS fiber’s post-cracking performance in 100% cement concrete and concrete with 80% cement and 20% fly ash. The fiber content was fixed as a 0.3% volumetric fraction. CSS fibers required 15% more superplasticizer to achieve the desired slump of fresh concrete than the PVA fibers. Simultaneously, CCS fibers showed a 10% higher compressive strength than the concrete made of PVA fibers. Both fibers exhibited a similar effect in developing tensile and flexural strength. PVA fibers showed a value of 47 Gpa of secant modulus, and CCS fibers resulted in 37 Gpa in 100% cement concrete. In post-cracking behavior, CCS fibers showed better performance than the PVA fibers. The reason for this is that CCS showed 2.3 times the tensile strength of the PVA fibers. In comparing the two concretes, fly ash concrete showed about 10% higher compressive strength at 56 days and about 6% higher tensile and flexural strength. Similarly, fly ash concrete showed more than 15% first crack strength and flexural toughness than the 100% cement concrete in post-cracking behavior. Fiber-reinforced concrete containing PVA or CCS fibers showed enhanced post-cracking characteristics and its use could be preferred in structural applications.
Morphometric Analysis and Three-Dimensional Computed Tomography Reconstruction of Thai Distal Femur
Authors: Phombut Chotchuang , Rooppakhun Supakit , Sindhupakorn Bura
Published: January 2021

This study evaluates the distal femur morphology of the Thai population using a three-dimensional (3D) measurement method, measuring the distance between the triangular point of the femoral 3D model. The 3D model of 360 Thai femoral obtained from 180 volunteers (90 males, 90 females; range 20–50 years, average 32.8 years) was created using reverse engineering techniques from computed tomography imaging data. Using the 3D identified landmark method, the morphometric parameters evaluated included transepicondylar axis length (TEA), mediolateral length (ML), anteroposterior width (AP), medial anteroposterior width (MAP), lateral anteroposterior width (LAP), medial condyle width (MCW), lateral condyle width (LCW), intercondylar notch width (WIN), intercondylar notch depth (DIN), medial posterior condyle height (MPC), lateral posterior condyle height (LPC), femoral aspect ratio (ML/AP), lateral femoral aspect ratio (ML/LAP), and medial femoral aspect ratio (ML/MAP). The measured data were summarized for the analysis of an average value and standard deviation. Statistical analysis was performed using the independent samples t-test, unequal variances t-test, and linear regression. A p-value less than 0.05 (<0.05) was regarded as statistically significant and indicates strong evidence of the hypothesis. Additionally, the K-means clustering analysis of Thai distal femoral to the optimum size of the prosthesis with the correlation between ML length and AP width was performed. The results found that the morphometric parameters of the Thai male distal femur were significantly different and higher than those of Thai females, except for the ratio of ML/AP and ML/MAP. Comparatively, there was a significant difference between the specific size of Thai distal femur and that of the Korean population, which was also smaller than that for Caucasians. In addition, there was a mismatch between the distal femoral component sizing of knee prosthesis and what is available and commonly used in Thailand. At least six sizes of ML and/or AP should be recommended for the reasonable design of distal femoral prosthesis for covering the anatomy of Thais. These data are useful for predicting the morphometric parameters in forensic anthropology and provide basic data for the design of knee prostheses suitable for the Thai population.
The Energy-Aware Multi-UAV Dispatch and Handoff Algorithm for Maximizing the Event Communication Time in Disasters
Authors: Chang Ing-Chau , Liao Chi-Sheng , Yen Chin-En
Published: January 2021

For handling the broken-down communication infrastructure when a disaster event happens, this paper proposes to dispatch the unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) to the disaster area as the relay node, which further forms a Flying Ad hoc Network (FANET). Since the UAV only owns limited energy and a disaster event may need multiple UAVs to cover its area, an efficient multi-UAV dispatch algorithm is critical to recover the communication link of the disaster area. In this paper, we adopt the mobile ground control station (GCS) to transport UAVs to the boundary of the disaster area first. According to the UAV energy consumption rate during flight and two communication modes, the UAV charging progress, and the number of required UAVs of the event, the mobile GCS then executes the proposed energy-aware multi-UAV dispatch algorithm (EAMUD) to dispatch multiple UAVs to this disaster area for building the FANET. Hence, the broken-down link in the disaster area is recovered after the FANET connects to nearby network infrastructure. Further, we propose the multi-UAV handoff scheme and exception handling processes to replace energy-exhausted UAVs for maximizing the event communication time of the disaster event. Finally, we execute simulations for related work and four EAMUD variants under different parameter values in the real scenario. These results exhibit that EAMUD with the Postpone method (EAMUD-P) achieves the highest event communication time among all these schemes.
Digestate as Sustainable Nutrient Source for Microalgae—Challenges and Prospects
Authors: Bauer Lisa , Ranglová Karolína , Masojídek Jiří , Drosg Bernhard , Meixner Katharina
Published: January 2021

The interest in microalgae products has been increasing, and therefore the cultivation industry is growing steadily. To reduce the environmental impact and production costs arising from nutrients, research needs to find alternatives to the currently used artificial nutrients. Microalgae cultivation in anaerobic effluents (more specifically, digestate) represents a promising strategy for increasing sustainability and obtaining valuable products. However, digestate must be processed prior to its use as nutrient source. Depending on its composition, different methods are suitable for removing solids (e.g., centrifugation) and adjusting nutrient concentrations and ratios (e.g., dilution, ammonia stripping). Moreover, the resulting cultivation medium must be light-permeable. Various studies show that growth rates comparable to those in artificial media can be achieved when proper digestate treatment is used. The necessary steps for obtaining a suitable cultivation medium also depend on the microalgae species to be cultivated. Concerning the application of the biomass, legal aspects and impurities originating from digestate must be considered. Furthermore, microalgae species and their application fields are essential criteria when selecting downstream processing methods (harvest, disintegration, dehydration, product purification). Microalgae grown on digestate can be used to produce various products (e.g., bioenergy, animal feed, bioplastics, and biofertilizers). This review gives insight into the origin and composition of digestate, processing options to meet requirements for microalgae cultivation and challenges regarding downstream processing and products.
Beacon in Information System as Way of Supporting Identification of Cattle Behavior
Authors: Koszela Krzysztof , Mueller Wojciech , Otrząsek Jakub , Łukomski Mateusz , Kujawa Sebastian
Published: January 2021

The paper concentrates on researching the possibilities of using modern information technologies in animal production in order to monitor and identify behavior and well-being of cows. Having in mind the challenges related to managing dairy herds, and economic pressure put on breeders (as well as the broadly defined well-being of animals), an endeavor was made to create a new method, which would be competitive in comparison with the existing solutions. The proposed method of collecting data and data processing with beacon devices as well as data warehouse, allows—according to the authors—a more complete identification of behaviors and physiological condition of a dairy herd. It is also worth pointing out that this method is competitive in terms of price. By virtue of the multitude of data that were collected, a decision was made to resign from processing data on a local computer and use a cloud compute engine instead. The presented information system creates a sequence of components, which were subject to verification both on the level of creating and conducting research. Research results that were received were then compared with knowledge presented in the literature. A vital element of validation of the aforementioned methodology was comparing results that were achieved in the course of research work with the system making use of pedometer. The aim of the authors was to develop a new information technology solution, as well as a method based on beacons, which are rather universal devices, with the use of data warehouses, allowing the identification of behavior and physiological state of milk cattle, the method which would be competitive in comparison with the existing solutions, especially in terms of price. In the proposed solution, both information coming from microcomputers and weather forecast data coming from weather forecast stations, which make the above identification easy, were used as data sources.
Diauxie Studies in Biogas Production from Gelatin and Adaptation of the Modified Gompertz Model: Two-Phase Gompertz Model
Authors: Gomes Carolina Scaraffuni , Strangfeld Martin , Meyer Michael
Published: January 2021

The anaerobic degradation of gelatin results in a two-phase cumulative biogas production curve, i.e., diauxie behaviour. The modified Gompertz model is normally used to fit these curves but due to the diauxie it would result in a less accurate representation. Furthermore, this inhibition slows down the production of biogas in batch reactors. This study adapted the modified Gompertz model to fit cumulative biogas production curves with diauxie behaviour and to investigate the inhibition that leads to this diauxie. Results show that the two-phase Gompertz model can fit diauxie curves with high accuracy and that diauxie curves are not a direct consequence of the accumulation of volatile fatty acids produced in the process of anaerobic digestion.
BlocklyXR: An Interactive Extended Reality Toolkit for Digital Storytelling
Authors: Jung Kwanghee , Nguyen Vinh T. , Lee Jaehoon
Published: January 2021

Traditional in-app virtual reality (VR)/augmented reality (AR) applications pose a challenge of reaching users due to their dependency on operating systems (Android, iOS). Besides, it is difficult for general users to create their own VR/AR applications and foster their creative ideas without advanced programming skills. This paper addresses these issues by proposing an interactive extended reality toolkit, named BlocklyXR. The objective of this research is to provide general users with a visual programming environment to build an extended reality application for digital storytelling. The contextual design was generated from real-world map data retrieved from Mapbox GL. ThreeJS was used for setting up, rendering 3D environments, and controlling animations. A block-based programming approach was adapted to let users design their own story. The capability of BlocklyXR was illustrated with a use case where users were able to replicate the existing PalmitoAR utilizing the block-based authoring toolkit with fewer efforts in programming. The technology acceptance model was used to evaluate the adoption and use of the interactive extended reality toolkit. The findings showed that visual design and task technology fit had significantly positive effects on user motivation factors (perceived ease of use and perceived usefulness). In turn, perceived usefulness had statistically significant and positive effects on intention to use, while there was no significant impact of perceived ease of use on intention to use. Study implications and future research directions are discussed.
Spatiotemporal Monitoring and Evaluation Method for Sand-Filling of Immersed Tube Tunnel Foundation
Authors: Wu Peng , Che Ailan
Published: January 2021

The sand-filling method has been widely used in immersed tube tunnel engineering. However, for the problem of monitoring during the sand-filling process, the traditional methods can be inadequate for evaluating the state of sand deposits in real-time. Based on the high efficiency of elastic wave monitoring, and the superiority of the backpropagation (BP) neural network on solving nonlinear problems, a spatiotemporal monitoring and evaluation method is proposed for the filling performance of foundation cushion. Elastic wave data were collected during the sand-filling process, and the waveform, frequency spectrum, and time–frequency features were analysed. The feature parameters of the elastic wave were characterized by the time domain, frequency domain, and time-frequency domain. By analysing the changes of feature parameters with the sand-filling process, the feature parameters exhibited dynamic and strong nonlinearity. The data of elastic wave feature parameters and the corresponding sand-filling state were trained to establish the evaluation model using the BP neural network. The accuracy of the trained network model reached 93%. The side holes and middle holes were classified and analysed, revealing the characteristics of the dynamic expansion of the sand deposit along the diffusion radius. The evaluation results are consistent with the pressure gauge monitoring data, indicating the effectiveness of the evaluation and monitoring model for the spatiotemporal performance of sand deposits. For the sand-filling and grouting engineering, the machine-learning method could offer a better solution for spatiotemporal monitoring and evaluation in a complex environment.
Effect of Lap Length and Stiffness of Peel-Stop Fasteners in Single Lap Joints
Authors: Takano Atsushi , Li Chao , Kitamura Ryuta
Published: January 2021

Strength tests on single lap joints with one adhesive (AV138/HV998) and one adhesive layer thickness (0.5 mm), three peel stoppers (brass bolt, nylon bolt and steel pin), and four lap lengths (12.5 mm, 25 mm, 40 mm and 100 mm) were conducted to investigate the effects of varying the lap length and stiffness of the peel-stop fasteners. Joint failure stress decreased, but failure force increased with lap length. Furthermore, joint failure stress was higher with the peel stopper. The effect of the brass-bolt peel stoppers was significant, whereas the effects of the nylon bolts and steel pins were smaller than that of the brass bolts. This indicates that the axial clamp strength and stiffness of the peel stopper are important factors in the shear strength of the lap. In addition, the effect of the stopper was negligible for the 12.5 mm lap. The reason is that the shear strength in the case of the 12.5 mm lap was large and thus the effect of the peel stopper was comparatively small. Moreover, the strength of the 100 mm lap reached the adherent material’s strength.
Single Image Super-Resolution Method Using CNN-Based Lightweight Neural Networks
Authors: Kim Seonjae , Jun Dongsan , Kim Byung-Gyu , Lee Hunjoo , Rhee Eunjun
Published: January 2021

There are many studies that seek to enhance a low resolution image to a high resolution image in the area of super-resolution. As deep learning technologies have recently shown impressive results on the image interpolation and restoration field, recent studies are focusing on convolutional neural network (CNN)-based super-resolution schemes to surpass the conventional pixel-wise interpolation methods. In this paper, we propose two lightweight neural networks with a hybrid residual and dense connection structure to improve the super-resolution performance. In order to design the proposed networks, we extracted training images from the DIVerse 2K (DIV2K) image dataset and investigated the trade-off between the quality enhancement performance and network complexity under the proposed methods. The experimental results show that the proposed methods can significantly reduce both the inference speed and the memory required to store parameters and intermediate feature maps, while maintaining similar image quality compared to the previous methods.
Detecting Underground Geospatial Features for Protection of Rights in 3D Space: Korean Cases
Authors: Bae Sang Keun , Kim Jung Ok
Published: January 2021

Interest in underground space development is increasing owing to overcrowding in urban areas, and this trend is expected to continue in the future. Therefore, there exists a need to systematically establish and manage information on underground spaces. This information includes both the physical status, that indicates the location or shape of the space, and the status of property rights related to the ownership and use of the space. In this study, a technique to register an entire underground shopping center space including individual store spaces along with the relationship with the above-ground parcels is proposed. The study considers the current management and operation system of the underground shopping center. 3D data were acquired from the Gwangbok Underground Shopping Center in Busan Metropolitan City, Korea using terrestrial LiDAR equipment. The VWorld data of the Korean Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, and Transport were also used as pre-built data. Furthermore, a spatial information-based management system was implemented. The data used comprise registration information for establishing property rights. These have the physical status and rights status information of the ground parcels as attribute information.
The Influence of the Production Process on the Anthocyanin Content and Composition in Dried Potato Cubes, Chips, and French Fries Made from Red-Fleshed Potatoes
Authors: Rytel Elżbieta , Tajner-Czopek Agnieszka , Kita Agnieszka , Tkaczyńska Agnieszka , Kucharska Alicja Z. , Sokół-Łętowska Anna
Published: January 2021

The stability of acylated anthocyanins is still a new and unexplored subject of study. The changes in the contents of individual anthocyanins in colored-flesh potato tubers during processing have rarely been addressed in the literature. The aim of the present study was to determine how anthocyanin degradation and profiles are influenced in potatoes of the red-fleshed Herbie 26 variety by different methods of processing. Potato samples were divided into four categories to be analyzed, namely, raw material, potato cubes, French fries, and chips. The dried cubes, French fries, chips, semi-finished products, and finished products, obtained through laboratory processing, were examined for anthocyanin content and composition. The production process of cubes, chips, and French fries led to losses of the examined anthocyanins; however, these losses differed depending on the technological stage. The greatest losses of these compounds were determined after the final production processes, i.e., pre-frying, frying, and drying. Chip production led to the lowest losses of anthocyanins. Omitting the blanching stage in chip production allowed the retention of more anthocyanins. Pelargonidin-3-feruloylrutinoside-5-glucoside, having the highest percentage in the raw material (approximately 50%), followed by pelargonidin-3-caffeoylrutinoside-5-glucoside, proved to be the most thermally stable.
Seasonal Variations of Fine Particulate Matter and Mortality Rate in Seoul, Korea with a Focus on the Short-Term Impact of Meteorological Extremes on Human Health
Authors: Park Sun Kyoung
Published: January 2021

Rapid industrialization of Korea’s economy has brought with it environmental pollution that threatens human health. Among various other pollutants, ambient fine particulate matter known to endanger human health often exceeds air quality standards in Seoul, South Korea’s capital. The goal of this research is to find the impact of meteorological extremes and particle levels on human health. The analysis was conducted using hourly air pollutant concentrations, meteorological variables, and the daily mortality from cerebrovascular disease. Results show that the effect of fine particulate matter on mortality from cerebrovascular disease was more noticeable during meteorological extremes. The linkage between extreme weather conditions and mortality was more apparent in winter than in summer. Comprehensive studies of various causes of diseases should be continued to more accurately analyze the effects of fine particulate matter on human health and meteorological extremes, and to further minimize the public health impact of air pollution and meteorological conditions.
Review of the Effects of Grapevine Smoke Exposure and Technologies to Assess Smoke Contamination and Taint in Grapes and Wine
Authors: Summerson Vasiliki , Gonzalez Viejo Claudia , Pang Alexis , Torrico Damir D. , Fuentes Sigfredo
Published: January 2021

Grapevine smoke exposure and the subsequent development of smoke taint in wine has resulted in significant financial losses for grape growers and winemakers throughout the world. Smoke taint is characterized by objectional smoky aromas such as “ashy”, “burning rubber”, and “smoked meats”, resulting in wine that is unpalatable and hence unprofitable. Unfortunately, current climate change models predict a broadening of the window in which bushfires may occur and a rise in bushfire occurrences and severity in major wine growing regions such as Australia, Mediterranean Europe, North and South America, and South Africa. As such, grapevine smoke exposure and smoke taint in wine are increasing problems for growers and winemakers worldwide. Current recommendations for growers concerned that their grapevines have been exposed to smoke are to conduct pre-harvest mini-ferments for sensory assessment and send samples to a commercial laboratory to quantify levels of smoke-derived volatiles in the wine. Significant novel research is being conducted using spectroscopic techniques coupled with machine learning modeling to assess grapevine smoke contamination and taint in grapes and wine, offering growers and winemakers additional tools to monitor grapevine smoke exposure and taint rapidly and non-destructively in grapes and wine.
Oxidative Pentose Phosphate Pathway Enzyme 6-Phosphogluconate Dehydrogenase Plays a Key Role in Breast Cancer Metabolism
Authors: Polat Ibrahim H. , Tarrado-Castellarnau Míriam , Bharat Rohit , Perarnau Jordi , Benito Adrian , Cortés Roldán , Sabatier Philippe , Cascante Marta
Published: January 2021

The pentose phosphate pathway (PPP) plays an essential role in the metabolism of breast cancer cells for the management of oxidative stress and the synthesis of nucleotides. 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase (6PGD) is one of the key enzymes of the oxidative branch of PPP and is involved in nucleotide biosynthesis and redox maintenance status. Here, we aimed to analyze the functional importance of 6PGD in a breast cancer cell model. Inhibition of 6PGD in MCF7 reduced cell proliferation and showed a significant decrease in glucose consumption and an increase in glutamine consumption, resulting in an important alteration in the metabolism of these cells. No difference in reactive oxygen species (ROS) production levels was observed after 6PGD inhibition, indicating that 6PGD, in contrast to glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase, is not involved in redox balance. We found that 6PGD inhibition also altered the stem cell characteristics and mammosphere formation capabilities of MCF7 cells, opening new avenues to prevent cancer recurrance after surgery or chemotherapy. Moreover, inhibition of 6PGD via chemical inhibitor S3 resulted in an induction of senescence, which, together with the cell cycle arrest and apoptosis induction, might be orchestrated by p53 activation. Therefore, we postulate 6PGD as a novel therapeutic target to treat breast cancer.
MicroRNA-193a-5p Regulates the Synthesis of Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids by Targeting Fatty Acid Desaturase 1 (FADS1) in Bovine Mammary Epithelial Cells
Authors: Fan Yongliang , Arbab Abdelaziz Adam Idriss , Zhang Huimin , Yang Yi , Lu Xubin , Han Ziyin , Yang Zhangping
Published: January 2021

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are seriously threatening to human life and health. Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) are known for their role in preventing CVDs. It is beneficial to population health to promote the content of PUFAs in bovine milk. In recent years, limited research based on molecular mechanisms has focused on this field. The biological roles of numerous microRNAs (miRNAs) remain unknown. In this study, a promising and negatively correlated pair of the miRNA (miRNA-193a-5p) and a fatty acid desaturase 1 (FADS1) gene are identified and screened to explore whether they are potential factors of PUFAs’ synthesis in bovine milk. The targeted relationship between miRNA-193a-5p and FADS1 in bovine mammary epithelial cells (BMECs) is demonstrated by dual luciferase reporter assays. qRT-PCR and western blot assays indicate that both the expression of mRNA and the protein FADS1 show a negative correlation with miRNA-193a-5p expression in BMECs. Also, miR-193a-5p expression is positively correlated with the expression of genes associated with milk fatty acid metabolism, including ELOVL fatty acid elongase 6 (ELOVL6) and diacylglycerol O-acyltransferase 2 (DGAT2). The expression of fatty acid desaturase 2 (FADS2) is negatively correlated with miR-193a-5p expression in BMECs. The contents of triglycerides (TAG), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), docosapentaenoic acid (DPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) have a significant positive correlation with the expression of FADS1 and a significant negative correlation with the expression of miR-193a-5p in BMECs. For the first time, this study confirms that miRNA-193a-5p regulates PUFAs metabolism in BMECs by targeting FADS1, indicating that miRNA-193a-5p and FADS1 are underlying factors that improve PUFAs content in bovine milk.
4,6,4′-Trimethylangelicin Photoactivated by Blue Light Might Represent an Interesting Option for Photochemotherapy of Non-Invasive Bladder Carcinoma: An In Vitro Study on T24 Cells
Authors: Sturaro Giulio , Tasso Alessia , Menilli Luca , Di Liddo Rosa , Miolo Giorgia , Conconi Maria Teresa
Published: January 2021

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is frequently used to treat non-muscle invasive bladder cancer due its low toxicity and high selectivity. Since recurrence often occurs, alternative approaches and/or designs of combined therapies to improve PDT effectiveness are needed. This work aimed to evaluate the cytotoxicity of 4,6,4′-trimethylangelicin (TMA) photoactivated by blue light (BL) on human bladder cancer T24 cells and investigate the mechanisms underlying its biological effects. TMA/BL exerted antiproliferative activity through the induction of apoptosis without genotoxicity, as demonstrated by the expression levels of phospho-H2AX, an indicator of DNA double-stranded breaks. It also modulated the Wnt canonical signal pathway by increasing the phospho-β-catenin and decreasing the nuclear levels of β-catenin. The inhibition of this pathway was due to the modulation of the GSK3β phosphorylation state (Tyr 216) that induces a proteasomal degradation of β-catenin. Indeed, a partial recovery of nuclear β-catenin expression and reduction of its phosphorylated form after treatment with LiCl were detected. As demonstrated by RT-PCR and cytofluorimetric analysis, TMA/BL also decreased the expression of CD44v6, a marker of cancer stem cells. Taken together, our data suggest that TMA photoactivated by BL may represent an interesting option for the photochemotherapy of noninvasive bladder carcinomas, since this treatment is able to inhibit key pathways for tumour growth and progression in the absence of genotoxic effects.
Kisspeptin-8 Induces Anxiety-Like Behavior and Hypolocomotion by Activating the HPA Axis and Increasing GABA Release in the Nucleus Accumbens in Rats
Authors: Ibos Katalin Eszter , Bodnár Éva , Bagosi Zsolt , Bozsó Zsolt , Tóth Gábor , Szabó Gyula , Csabafi Krisztina
Published: January 2021

Kisspeptins (Kp) are RF-amide neuropeptide regulators of the reproductive axis that also influence anxiety, locomotion, and metabolism. We aimed to investigate the effects of intracerebroventricular Kp-8 (an N-terminally truncated octapeptide) treatment in Wistar rats. Elevated plus maze (EPM), computerized open field (OF), and marble burying (MB) tests were performed for the assessment of behavior. Serum LH and corticosterone levels were determined to assess kisspeptin1 receptor (Kiss1r) activation and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis (HPA) stimulation, respectively. GABA release from the nucleus accumbens (NAc) and dopamine release from the ventral tegmental area (VTA) and NAc were measured via ex vivo superfusion. Kp-8 decreased open arm time and entries in EPM, and also raised corticosterone concentration, pointing to an anxiogenic effect. Moreover, the decrease in arm entries in EPM, the delayed increase in immobility accompanied by reduced ambulatory activity in OF, and the reduction in interactions with marbles show that Kp-8 suppressed exploratory and spontaneous locomotion. The increase in GABA release from the NAc might be in the background of hypolocomotion by inhibiting the VTA-NAc dopaminergic circuitry. As Kp-8 raised LH concentration, it could activate Kiss1r and stimulate the reproductive axis. As Kiss1r is associated with hyperlocomotion, it is more likely that neuropeptide FF receptor activation is involved in the suppression of locomotor activity.
Floor Acceleration Demands in a Twelve-Storey RC Shear Wall Building
Authors: Vukobratović Vladimir , Ruggieri Sergio
Published: January 2021

The seismic response of acceleration-sensitive non-structural components in buildings has attracted the attention of a significant number of researchers over the past decade. This paper provides the results which improve the state-of-knowledge of the influences that higher vibration modes of structures and nonlinearity of non-structural components have on floor acceleration demands. In order to study these influences, a response-history analysis of a code-designed twelve-storey reinforced concrete building consisting of uncoupled ductile cantilever shear walls was conducted. The obtained absolute floor accelerations were used as a seismic input for linear elastic and nonlinear non-structural components represented by simple single-degree-of-freedom systems, and the main observations and findings related to the studied influences along the building height are presented and discussed. Additionally, the accuracy of the method for the direct determination of peak floor accelerations and floor response (acceleration) spectra recently co-developed by the first author was once again investigated and validated. A brief summary of the method is provided in the paper, along with the main steps in its application. Being relatively simple and sufficiently accurate, the method (in its simplified form) has been recently incorporated into the draft of the new generation of Eurocode 8.
Fabrication of Zinc Protoporphyrin-Modified Gold Electrode for Sensitive and Fast Detection of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor
Authors: Lin Hung-Yu , Liao Chin-Cheng , Hua Mu-Yi
Published: January 2021

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is directly related to cancer growth and its distant spread, and thus, it is considered a promising biomarker for diagnosis and post-treatment monitoring of patients with malignancies. Zinc protoporphyrin (ZnPP) is a zinc-centered raw purple compound (protoporphyrin) that has unique optical and electrochemical characteristics. In this study, we used a ZnPP-modified gold electrode to generate a chemical bond with Avastin by self-assembly and fabricate a Au/ZnPP/Avastin electrode. Bovine serum protein (BSA) was added to the electrode to prevent non-specific linkage with biomolecules. The prepared Au/ZnPP/Avastin/BSA electrodes were used for the detection of VEGF by cyclic voltammetry and amperometry. The optical properties of ZnPP were analyzed with an ultraviolet/visible/near-infrared spectrometer and a photoluminescence spectrometer. The structural and hydrophilic/hydrophobic properties of the ZnPP-modified gold electrodes were investigated by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy and contact angle gauge, respectively. VEGF was detected with the Au/ZnPP/Avastin/BSA electrodes prepared either with (w/LT) or without light treatment (w/o LT). The w/LT electrode showed a linear range and a sensitivity of 0.1 pg/mL–10 ng/mL and 6.52 μA/log(pg/mL)-cm2, respectively; the corresponding values for the w/o LT electrode were 10 pg/mL–10 ng/mL and 3.15 μA/log(pg/mL)-cm2, respectively. The w/LT electrode had good specificity for VEGF and was minimally influenced by other molecules. The excellent detection range, high sensitivity, and high selectivity for VEGF detection indicate that Au/ZnPP/Avastin electrodes have great potential for diagnostic and prognostic applications in patients with malignancies.
New Parents Experienced Lower Parenting Self-Efficacy during the COVID-19 Pandemic Lockdown
Authors: Xue Anja , Oros Vivian , La Marca-Ghaemmaghami Pearl , Scholkmann Felix , Righini-Grunder Franziska , Natalucci Giancarlo , Karen Tanja , Bassler Dirk , Restin Tanja
Published: January 2021

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic is a global issue which affects the entire population’s mental health. This study evaluates how restrictions to curtail this pandemic change parenting self-efficacy, depressive symptoms, couple satisfaction and health-related quality of life in parents after delivery of a newborn. Methods: In this prospective single center evaluation of parental self-efficacy and quality of life, four validated questionnaires were used to repeatedly assess parenting self-efficacy (Tool to measure Parental Self-Efficacy, TOPSE), depressive symptoms (Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale, EPDS), couple satisfaction (Couple Satisfaction Index, CSI) and health-related quality of life (short form 12, SF12). Fifty-three parents of 50 infants answered a total number of 63 questionnaires during the lockdown period to limit the spread of COVID-19. These questionnaires were matched with 63 questionnaires of 58 other parents that had answered them before or after strong pandemic related measures. Results: Parents experienced lower parenting self-efficacy during the strict pandemic measures as compared to before and after (p = 0.04). In terms of age, socioeconomic, marital status and duration of hospitalization we detected no significant difference between both groups. On univariate linear regression, TOPSE scores were associated with gestational age (p = 0.044, parameter estimate: 1.67, 95% CI: 0.048 to 3.301), birth weight (p = 0.035, parameter estimate: 0.008, 95% CI: 0.001 to 0.015), number of newborns’ siblings (p = 0.0554, parameter estimate: 7.49, 95% CI: −0.174 to 15.145) and distance of home from hospital (p = 0.043, parameter estimate: −0.38, 95% CI: −0.745 to −0.011). Interestingly, there was a positive correlation between quality of life and TOPSE scores, suggesting that those who experience a higher self-efficacy also have a higher quality of life. Conclusions: When implementing a lock-down period psychological effects such as lower experience of parental self-efficacy have to be considered.
Improvement of Gait Dysfunction after Applying a Hinged Ankle–Foot Orthosis in a Hemiplegic Cerebral Palsy Patient with Disrupted Medial Lemniscus: A Case Report
Authors: Son Su Min , Chang Min Cheol
Published: January 2021

We describe the successful application of hinged ankle−foot orthoses (AFOs) in a cerebral palsied (CP) patient with gait instability due to a disrupted medial lemniscus (ML). The patient was a 27-month-old male CP child with gait instability who presented with reduced knee flexion and ankle dorsiflexion, with severe genu recurvatum on his right lower extremity during gait. The patient had no motor weakness or spasticity. Conventional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed no definite abnormal lesion. However, diffusion tensor tractography (DTT) showed disruption of the left ML, consistent with right hemiplegic symptoms. The integrity of the major motor-related neural tracts, including the corticospinal and corticoreticulospinal tracts, was preserved. We considered that the patient’s abnormal gait pattern was related to the disrupted ML state. We applied hinged AFOs, which immediately resulted in a significantly stabilized gait. The angles of knee flexion and ankle dorsiflexion increased. Our findings indicate that the application of hinged AFOs could be a useful therapeutic option for CP patients with gait instability related to ML disruption. In addition, we showed that DTT is a useful tool for identifying the causative brain pathology in CP patients, especially when conventional brain MRIs show no specific lesion.
Iron Gall Ink Revisited: A Surfactant-Free Emulsion Technology for Black Hair-Dyeing Formulation
Authors: Han Sang Yeong , Kang Eunhye K. , Choi Insung S.
Published: January 2021

Inspired by the redox reactions in the preparation of the iron gall ink that has been used in Europe since the Middle Ages, we developed a technology for forming the oil-in-water emulsions, without any surfactants and emulsifiers, by homogenizing a mixture of tannic acid, gallic acid, Fe(D-gluconate)2, and natural oil, which are all approved as cosmetic ingredients. Various plant-derived oils, such as argan oil, olive oil, sunflower oil, grape seed oil, hemp seed oil, peppermint oil, rosemary oil, and ylang-ylang oil, were used as an oil phase for the emulsion formation, and all the fabricated emulsions exhibited the capability of black hair-dyeing. This surfactant-free emulsion technology for combining the hair-dyeing capability of Fe3+–tannin complex with the hair-fortifying property of natural oil would have great impact on the hair-cosmetic industry.
Acknowledgment to Reviewers of Dairy in 2020
Authors:   Dairy Editorial Office
Published: January 2021

Peer review is the driving force of journal development, and reviewers are gatekeepers who ensure that Dairy maintains its standards for the high quality of its published papers [...]