bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Editorial on: Genetic Determinants and Prediction of Antibiotic Resistance Phenotypes in Helicobacter pylori
Authors: Eletto Daniela , Tosco Alessandra , Porta Amalia
Published: August 2020

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Hypofractionated Radiotherapy in Locally Advanced Myxoid Liposarcomas of Extremities or Trunk Wall: Results of a Single-Arm Prospective Clinical Trial
Authors: Koseła-Paterczyk Hanna , Spałek Mateusz , Borkowska Aneta , Teterycz Paweł , Wągrodzki Michał , Szumera-Ciećkiewicz Anna , Morysiński Tadeusz , Castaneda-Wysocka Patrycja , Cieszanowski Andrzej , Zdzienicki Marcin , Goryń Tomasz , Rutkowski Piotr
Published: August 2020

Introduction: Myxoid liposarcoma (MLPS) has been reported to be more radiosensitive compared with other soft tissue sarcomas. The main objective of the study was to assess the efficacy of hypofractionated radiotherapy (RT) in the preoperative setting in patients with locally advanced primary MLPS. Methods: Single-arm prospective exploratory clinical trial enrolled MLPS patients for preoperative 5 × 5 Gy RT with delayed surgery. The endpoints of the study were the rate of early wound healing complications and 5-year local control rate. Results: 29 patients (pts) were included, all had tumors located on the lower limb. The median maximum size of the tumor was 13 cm (IQR 10–15 cm). Early RT tolerance was good. Postoperative wound complications occurred in 11 pts (37.9%), late complications concerned 13.8% of patients. A total of 27 patients were included for the efficacy analyses. The pathological features of response to RT were detected in all analyzed surgical specimens. In 25 patients R0 margins were achieved, two patients had an R1 resection. None of the patients had local recurrence. Conclusion: Preoperative hypofractionated RT with a prolonged gap between RT and surgery is a feasible method of the management of MLPS, providing a good local control and low rates of treatment toxicity.
Endometriosis Lowers the Cumulative Live Birth Rates in IVF by Decreasing the Number of Embryos but Not Their Quality
Authors: Boucret Lisa , Bouet Pierre-Emmanuel , Riou Jérémie , Legendre Guillaume , Delbos Léa , Hachem Hady El , Descamps Philippe , Reynier Pascal , May-Panloup Pascale
Published: August 2020

Endometriosis and infertility are closely linked, but the underlying mechanisms are still poorly understood. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of endometriosis on in vitro fertilization (IVF) parameters, especially on embryo quality and IVF outcomes. A total of 1124 cycles with intracytoplasmic sperm injection were retrospectively evaluated, including 155 cycles with endometriosis and 969 cycles without endometriosis. Women with endometriosis had significantly lower ovarian reserve markers (AMH and AFC), regardless of previous ovarian surgery. Despite receiving significantly higher doses of exogenous gonadotropins, they had significantly fewer oocytes, mature oocytes, embryos, and top-quality embryos than women in the control group. Multivariate analysis did not reveal any association between endometriosis and the proportion of top-quality embryo (OR = 0.87; 95% CI [0.66–1.12]; p = 0.3). The implantation rate and the live birth rate per cycle were comparable between the two groups (p = 0.05), but the cumulative live births rate was significantly lower in in the endometriosis group (32.1% versus 50.7%, p = 0.001), as a consequence of the lower number of frozen embryos. In conclusion, endometriosis lowers the cumulative live birth rates by decreasing the number of embryos available to transfer, but not their quality.
Venous Thromboembolism among Hospitalized Patients with COVID-19 Undergoing Thromboprophylaxis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Chi Gerald , Lee Jane J. , Jamil Adeel , Gunnam Vamsikrishna , Najafi Homa , Memar Montazerin Sahar , Shojaei Fahimehalsadat , Marszalek Jolanta
Published: August 2020

Background: Preliminary evidence indicates that prophylactic-dose thromboprophylaxis may be inadequate to control the increased risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE) in patients hospitalized for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection. Additionally, it remains unclear whether the D-dimer measurement is useful for VTE risk stratification among COVID-19 patients. This study aimed to offer benchmark data on the incidence of VTE and to examine the difference in D-dimer levels among anticoagulated COVID-19 patients with and without VTE incident. Methods: A comprehensive literature review of PubMed from inception to May 2020 was performed for original studies that reported the frequency of VTE and death among COVID-19 patients who received thromboprophylaxis on hospitalization. The endpoints included VTE (a composite of pulmonary embolism (PE) or deep vein thrombosis (DVT)), PE, DVT, and mortality. Results: A total of 11 cohort studies were included. Among hospitalized COVID-19 patients, 23.9% (95% confidence interval (CI), 16.2% to 33.7%; I2 = 93%) developed VTE despite anticoagulation. PE and DVT were detected in 11.6% (95% CI, 7.5% to 17.5%; I2 = 92%) and 11.9% (95% CI, 6.3% to 21.3%; I2 = 93%) of patients, respectively. Patients in the intensive care unit (ICU) had a higher risk for VTE (30.4% )95% CI, 19.6% to 43.9%)) than those in the ward (13.0% (95% CI, 5.9% to 26.3%)). The mortality was estimated at 21.3% (95% CI, 17.0% to 26.4%; I2 = 53%). COVID-19 patients who developed VTE had higher D-dimer levels than those who did not develop VTE (mean difference, 2.05 µg/mL; 95% CI, 0.30 to 3.80 µg/mL; P = 0.02). Conclusions: The heightened and heterogeneous risk of VTE in COVID-19 despite prophylactic anticoagulation calls into research on the pathogenesis of thromboembolic complications and strategy of thromboprophylaxis and risk stratification. Prominent elevation of D-dimer may be associated with VTE development and can be used to identify high-risk subsets.
Association between African Dust Transport and Acute Exacerbations of COPD in Miami
Authors: Gutierrez Miguel Pardinas , Zuidema Paquita , Mirsaeidi Mehdi , Campos Michael , Kumar Naresh
Published: August 2020

Background: Air pollution is increasingly recognized as a risk factor for acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Changing climate and weather patterns can modify the levels and types of air pollutants. For example, dust outbreaks increase particulate air pollution. Objective: This paper examines the effect of Saharan dust storms on the concentration of coarse particulate matter in Miami, and its association with the risk of acute exacerbation of COPD (AECOPD). Methods: In this prospective cohort study, 296 COPD patients (with 313 events) were followed between 2013 and 2016. We used Light Detection and Ranging (LIDAR) and satellite-based Aerosol Optical Depth (AOD) to identify dust events and quantify particulate matter (PM) exposure, respectively. Exacerbation events were modeled with respect to location- and time-lagged dust and PM exposures, using multivariate logistic regressions. Measurements and main results: Dust duration and intensity increased yearly during the study period. During dust events, AOD increased by 51% and particulate matter ≤2.5 µm in aerodynamic diameter (PM2.5) increased by 25%. Adjusting for confounders, ambient temperature and local PM2.5 exposure, one-day lagged dust exposure was associated with 4.9 times higher odds of two or more (2+ hereto after) AECOPD events (odds ratio = 4.9; 95% CI = 1.8–13.4; p < 0.001). Ambient temperature exposure also showed a significant association with 2+ and 3+ AECOPD events. The risk of AECOPD lasted up to 15 days after dust exposure, declining from 10× higher on day 0 to 20% higher on day 15. Conclusions: Saharan dust outbreaks observed in Miami elevate the concentration of PM and increase the risk of AECOPD in COPD patients with recurring exacerbations.
Use of Protein Repellents to Enhance the Antimicrobial Functionality of Quaternary Ammonium Containing Dental Materials
Authors: Torres Jr Leopoldo , Bienek Diane R.
Published: August 2020

An advancement in preventing secondary caries has been the incorporation of quaternary ammonium containing (QAC) compounds into a composite resin mixture. The permanent positive charge on the monomers allows for electrostatic-based killing of bacteria. Spontaneous adsorption of salivary proteins onto restorations dampens the antimicrobial capabilities of QAC compounds. Protein-repellent monomers can work with QAC restorations to achieve the technology’s full potential. We discuss the theory behind macromolecular adsorption, direct and indirect characterization methods, and advances of protein repellent dental materials. The translation of protein adsorption to microbial colonization is covered, and the concerns and fallbacks of the state-of-the-art protein-resistant monomers are addressed. Last, we present new and exciting avenues for protein repellent monomer design that have yet to be explored in dental materials.
Reliability of an Integrated Inertial Sensor for the Continuous Measurement of Active Cervical Range of Motion in a Group of Younger and Elderly Individuals
Authors: Gobbo Stefano , Vendramin Barbara , Roma Enrico , Duregon Federica , Bocalini Danilo Sales , Rica Roberta Luksevicius , Di Blasio Andrea , Cugusi Lucia , Bergamo Manuele , Cruz-Díaz David , Lima Alberton Cristine , Bullo Valentina , Ermolao Andrea , Bergamin Marco
Published: August 2020

The aim of this study was to evaluate the test–retest reliability of an integrated inertial sensor (IIS) for cervical range of motion assessment. An integrated inertial sensor was placed on the forehead center of thirty older adults (OA) and thirty younger adults (YA). Participants had to perform three continuous rotations, lateral bandings and flexion–extensions with their head. Test–retest reliability was assessed after 7 days. YA showed moderate to good agreement for rotation (0.54–0.82), lateral bending (0.74–0.8), and flexion–extension (0.74–0.81) movements and poor agreement for zero point (ZP). OA showed moderate to good agreement for rotation (0.65–0.86), good to excellent agreement in lateral bending (0.79–0.92), and poor to moderate agreement for flexion–extension (0.37–0.72). Zero point showed poor to moderate agreement. In conclusion, we can affirm that this IIS is a reliable device for cervical range of motion assessment in young and older adults; on the contrary, the ZP seems to be unreliable and the addition of an external reference point could help the subject to solve this shortcoming and reduce possible biases.
Development of Deterministic Artificial Intelligence for Unmanned Underwater Vehicles (UUV)
Authors: Sands Timothy
Published: August 2020

The major premise of deterministic artificial intelligence (D.A.I.) is to assert deterministic self-awareness statements based in either the physics of the underlying problem or system identification to establish governing differential equations. The key distinction between D.A.I. and ubiquitous stochastic methods for artificial intelligence is the adoption of first principles whenever able (in every instance available). One benefit of applying artificial intelligence principles over ubiquitous methods is the ease of the approach once the re-parameterization is derived, as done here. While the method is deterministic, researchers need only understand linear regression to understand the optimality of both self-awareness and learning. The approach necessitates full (autonomous) expression of a desired trajectory. Inspired by the exponential solution of ordinary differential equations and Euler’s expression of exponential solutions in terms of sinusoidal functions, desired trajectories will be formulated using such functions. Deterministic self-awareness statements, using the autonomous expression of desired trajectories with buoyancy control neglected, are asserted to control underwater vehicles in ideal cases only, while application to real-world deleterious effects is reserved for future study due to the length of this manuscript. In totality, the proposed methodology automates control and learning merely necessitating very simple user inputs, namely desired initial and final states and desired initial and final time, while tuning is eliminated completely.
Experimental Determination of Non-Linear Roll Damping of an FPSO Pure Roll Coupled with Liquid Sloshing in Two-Row Tanks
Authors: Igbadumhe Jane-Frances , Sallam Omar , Fürth Mirjam , Feng Rihui
Published: August 2020

Wave excited roll motion poses danger for moored offshore vessels such as Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) because they cannot divert to avoid bad weather. Furthermore, slack cargo tanks are almost always present in FPSOs by design. These pose an increased risk of roll instability due to the presence of free surfaces. The most common method of determining roll damping is roll decay tests, yet very few test have been performed with liquid cargo, and most liquid cargo experiments use tanks that span the entire width of the vessel; which is seldom the case for full scale FPSO vessels during normal operations. This paper presents a series of roll decay test carried out on a FPSO model with two two-row-prismatic tanks with different filling levels. To directly investigate the coupling between the liquid sloshing and the vessel motion, without modifying the damping, tests were performed at a constant draft. The equivalent linear roll damping coefficients consisting of linear, quadratic and cubic damping terms are analyzed for each loading condition using four established methods, the Quasi-linear method, Froude Energy method, Averaging method and the Perturbation method. The results show that the cubic damping term is paramount for FPSOs and at low filling levels, were the FPSO is more damped. Recommendations regarding the applicability of the methods, their accuracy and computational effort is given and the effect of the liquid motion on the vessel motion is discussed.
The Autonomic Nervous System Differentiates between Levels of Motor Intent and End Effector
Authors: Ryu Jihye , Torres Elizabeth
Published: August 2020

While attempting to bridge motor control and cognitive science, the nascent field of embodied cognition has primarily addressed intended, goal-oriented actions. Less explored, however, have been unintended motions. Such movements tend to occur largely beneath awareness, while contributing to the spontaneous control of redundant degrees of freedom across the body in motion. We posit that the consequences of such unintended actions implicitly contribute to our autonomous sense of action ownership and agency. We question whether biorhythmic activities from these motions are separable from those which intentionally occur. Here we find that fluctuations in the biorhythmic activities of the nervous systems can unambiguously differentiate across levels of intent. More important yet, this differentiation is remarkable when we examine the fluctuations in biorhythmic activity from the autonomic nervous systems. We find that when the action is intended, the heart signal leads the body kinematics signals; but when the action segment spontaneously occurs without instructions, the heart signal lags the bodily kinematics signals. We conclude that the autonomic nervous system can differentiate levels of intent. Our results are discussed while considering their potential translational value.
Performance Dynamics of International Exchange-Traded Funds
Authors: Bahadar Stephen , Gan Christopher , Nguyen Cuong
Published: August 2020

Asynchronous trading hours between the markets of Exchange-Traded Funds (ETFs) and their benchmarks not only make it difficult to apply a full replication strategy but also make the creation/redemption process ineffective and consequently distress the performance of international ETFs. Despite the exponential growth of the ETF industry in general and international ETFs in particular, the performance of international ETFs is under-researched. Therefore, this study evaluates the performance of US-listed international ETFs by analyzing the returns, volatilities, tracking ability and pricing efficiency. The study findings are useful for investors interested in understanding the performance dynamics of international ETFs.
Bentonite-Based Organic Amendment Enriches Microbial Activity in Agricultural Soils
Authors: Datta Rahul , Holatko Jiri , Latal Oldrich , Hammerschmiedt Tereza , Elbl Jakub , Pecina Vaclav , Kintl Antonin , Balakova Ludmila , Radziemska Maja , Baltazar Tivadar , Skarpa Petr , Danish Subhan , Zafar-ul-Hye Muhammad , Vyhnanek Tomas , Brtnicky Martin
Published: August 2020

Bentonite-based organic amendments may have the potential to enhance soil microbial properties. The experiment was carried out from 2014 to 2017 comprising four treatments: NPK fertilizer (nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium mineral fertilizer as a control), NPK + cattle manure, NPK + bentonite, and NPK + combination of manure with bentonite (MB) to verify this hypothesis. The effect of treatments on seven different soil microbial properties was measured: dehydrogenase activity (DHA), bacterial phospholipid fatty acid content, fungal phospholipid fatty acid content, microbial biomass carbon (Cmic), 16S rDNA, 18S rDNA, and ammonia-oxidizing bacteria in soil. The results showed that solely bentonite treatment increases the bacterial and fungal biomass, which was further confirmed by the increased 16S rDNA and 18s rDNA gene copy numbers. The only significantly decreased values upon treatment with solely bentonite were recorded for DHA and Cmic. The ammonia-oxidizing bacteria population increased with the sole application of bentonite and reached its maximum value when bentonite was applied with manure. The MB treatment showed the highest value for all seven measured properties. In summary, the application of bentonite solely might increase or decrease the soil activity, but its addition, along with manure, always promotes an abundance of soil microorganisms and their activity. The co-application of bentonite with manure altered the soil microbial properties in a 3-year field experiment in favor of increased microbial biomass, which is beneficial for agriculture and environment and reveals the potential for the restoration of polluted lands.
The Eco-Friendly Biochar and Valuable Bio-Oil from Caragana korshinskii: Pyrolysis Preparation, Characterization, and Adsorption Applications
Authors: Wang Tongtong , Liu Hongtao , Duan Cuihua , Xu Rui , Zhang Zhiqin , She Diao , Zheng Jiyong
Published: August 2020

Carbonization of biomass can prepare carbon materials with excellent properties. In order to explore the comprehensive utilization and recycling of Caragana korshinskii biomass, 15 kinds of Caragana korshinskii biochar (CB) were prepared by controlling the oxygen-limited pyrolysis process. Moreover, we pay attention to the dynamic changes of microstructure of CB and the by-products. The physicochemical properties of CB were characterized by Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM), BET-specific surface area (BET-SSA), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR), and Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The optimal preparation technology was evaluated by batch adsorption application experiment of NO3−, and the pyrolysis mechanism was explored. The results showed that the pyrolysis temperature is the most important factor in the properties of CB. With the increase of temperature, the content of C, pH, mesoporous structure, BET-SSA of CB increased, the cation exchange capacity (CEC) decreased and then increased, but the yield and the content of O and N decreased. The CEC, pH, and BET-SSA of CB under each pyrolysis process were 16.64–81.4 cmol·kg−1, 6.65–8.99, and 13.52–133.49 m2·g−1, respectively. CB contains abundant functional groups and mesoporous structure. As the pyrolysis temperature and time increases, the bond valence structure of C 1s, Ca 2p, and O 1s is more stable, and the phase structure of CaCO3 is more obvious, where the aromaticity increases, and the polarity decreases. The CB prepared at 650 °C for 3 h presented the best adsorption performance, and the maximum theoretical adsorption capacity for NO3− reached 120.65 mg·g−1. The Langmuir model and pseudo-second-order model can well describe the isothermal and kinetics adsorption process of NO3−, respectively. Compared with other cellulose and lignin-based biomass materials, CB showed efficient adsorption performance of NO3− without complicated modification condition. The by-products contain bio-soil and tail gas, which are potential source of liquid fuel and chemical raw materials. Especially, the bio-oil of CB contains α-d-glucopyranose, which can be used in medical tests and medicines.
Effect of In Situ Grown SiC Nanowires on the Pressureless Sintering of Heterophase Ceramics TaSi2-TaC-SiC
Authors: Vorotilo Stepan , Patsera Evgeniy , Shvindina Natalya , Rupasov Sergei , Levashov Evgeniy
Published: August 2020

To ascertain the influence of SiC nanowires on sintering kinetics of heterophase ceramics, two composite powders (TaSi2-TaC-SiC and TaSi2-TaC-SiC-SiCnanowire) are fabricated by mechanically activated combustion synthesis of Ta-Si-C and Ta-Si-C-(C2F4) reactive mixtures. Remarkable compressibility is achieved for the TaSi2-TaC-SiC-SiCnanowire composition (green density up to 84% as compared with 45.2% achieved for TaSi2-SiC-TaC) which is attributed to the lubricating effect of residual adsorbed fluorinated carbon (most likely C4F8). The outcomes of pressureless sintering of TaSi2-TaC-SiC and TaSi2-TaC-SiC-SiCnanowire compositions are vastly different; the former experiences no significant densification or grain growth and does not attain structural integrity, whereas the latter achieves relative density up to 93% and hardness up to 11 GPa. The SiC nanowires are not retained in consolidated ceramics, but instead, act as a sintering aid and promote densification and grain growth. Sintering mechanisms of TaSi2-TaC-SiC and TaSi2-TaC-SiC-SiCnanowire powders are analyzed using thermodynamic and ab initio grand potential calculations, as well as the analysis of grain size versus relative density relations. In the case of solid-state sintering, the densification and grain growth in heterophase non-oxide ceramics are governed by the same mechanisms as previously investigated single-phase oxides. The presence of SiC nanowires enhances grain-boundary related diffusion processes due to the high specific surface and aspect ratio of the nanowires. At 1500 °C, where the formation of the transient Si-based liquid phase is thermodynamically viable, only the SiC nanowire-containing composition demonstrated the intense grain coarsening and densification associated with liquid-assisted sintering. This effect can be attributed both to the presence of SiC nanowires and purification of residual oxide impurities due to C2F4-activated combustion synthesis employed for the in situ formation of SiC nanowires.
Effect of Polishing on Electrochemical Behavior and Passive Layer Composition of Different Stainless Steels
Authors: Rokosz Krzysztof , Solecki Grzegorz , Mori Gregor , Fluch Rainer , Kapp Marianne , Lahtinen Jouko
Published: August 2020

In the present paper, the effect of different polishing methods (mechanical and electrochemical) on passive layer chemistry and the corrosion behavior of stainless steels is investigated. It was found that CrNiMo austenites have a substantially better corrosion behavior than CrMnN ones. The nickel is enriched underneath the passive layer, while manganese tends to be enriched in the passive layer. It was also noted that immersion of manganese into an electrolyte preferentially causes its dissolution. It was found that high amounts of chromium (27.4%), molybdenum (3.3%), nickel (29.4%), with the addition of manganese (2.8%) after mechanical grinding, generates a better corrosion resistance than after electrochemical polishing. This is most likely because of the introduction of phosphates and sulfates into its structure, which is known for steels with a high amount of manganese. For highly alloyed CrNiMo steels, which do not contain a high amount of manganese, the addition of phosphates and/or sulphates via the electropolishing process results in a decrease in pitting corrosion resistance, which is also observed for high manganese steels. Electropolished samples show detrimental corrosion properties when compared to mechanically polished samples. This is attributed to substantial amounts of sulfate and phosphate from the electropolishing electrolyte present in the surface of the passive layer.
The Effect of Copper Content on the Mechanical and Tribological Properties of Hypo-, Hyper- and Eutectoid Ti-Cu Alloys
Authors: Xu Yiku , Jiang Jianli , Yang Zehui , Zhao Qinyang , Chen Yongnan , Zhao Yongqing
Published: August 2020

Titanium alloys are widely used in aerospace, chemical, biomedical and other important fields due to outstanding properties. The mechanical behavior of Ti alloys depends on microstructural characteristics and type of alloying elements. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of different Cu contents (2.5 wt.%, 7 wt.% and 14 wt.%) on mechanical and frictional properties of titanium alloys. The properties of titanium alloy were characterized by tensile test, electron microscope, X-ray diffraction, differential scanning calorimetry, reciprocating friction and wear test. The results show that the intermediate phase that forms the eutectoid structure with α-Ti was identified as FCC Ti2Cu, and no primary β phase was formed. With the increase of Cu content, the Ti2Cu phase precipitation in the alloy increases. Ti2Cu particles with needle structure increase the dislocation pinning effect on grain boundary and improve the strength and hardness of titanium alloy. Thus, Ti-14Cu shows the lowest elongation, the best friction and wear resistance, which is caused by the existence of Ti2Cu phases. It has been proved that the mechanical and frictional properties of Ti-Cu alloys can be adjusted by changing the Cu content, so as to better meet its application in the medical field.
A Systematic Study on Polymer-Modified Alkali-Activated Slag–Part II: From Hydration to Mechanical Properties
Authors: Lu Zichen , Merkl Jan-Philip , Pulkin Maxim , Firdous Rafia , Wache Steffen , Stephan Dietmar
Published: August 2020

The effect of styrene-acrylate (SA) polymer latex on alkali-activated slag (AAS) was systematically studied in the aspects of hydration, hydration products, pore structure and mechanical properties through the combined analytical techniques including calorimetry, X-ray diffraction, thermogravimetric analysis, mercury intrusion porosimetry, and mechanical measurement. It was found that the addition of SA does not retard the AAS hydration, but slightly accelerates it, possibly due to the increasing ion diffusion through the loosely structured hydration products. Pore structure analysis indicates that the addition of polymer increases the cumulative pore volume and the portion of pores with size >100 nm in the hardened AAS paste. The addition of SA latex results in a continuous decrease of the compressive strength, but the flexural strength firstly increases and then decreases with the increase of polymer dosage. The polymer dosage of 2.5 wt % is optimal when applying polymer latex in the AAS system in this study.
Using Extended Logical Primitives for Efficient BDD Building
Authors: Fernandez-Amoros David , Bra Sergio , Aranda-Escolástico Ernesto , Heradio Ruben
Published: August 2020

Binary Decision Diagrams (BDDs) have been used to represent logic models in a variety of research contexts, such as software product lines, circuit testing, and plasma confinement, among others. Although BDDs have proven to be very useful, the main problem with this technique is that synthesizing BDDs can be a frustratingly slow or even unsuccessful process, due to its heuristic nature. We present an extension of propositional logic to tackle one recurring phenomenon in logic modeling, namely groups of variables related by an exclusive-or relationship, and also consider two other extensions: one in which at least n variables in a group are true and another one for in which at most n variables are true. We add XOR, atLeast-n and atMost-n primitives to logic formulas in order to reduce the size of the input and also present algorithms to efficiently incorporate these constructions into the building of BDDs. We prove, among other results, that the number of nodes created during the process for XOR groups is reduced from quadratic to linear for the affected clauses. the XOR primitive is tested against eight logical models, two from industry and six from Kconfig-based open-source projects. Results range from no negative effects in models without XOR relations to performance gains well into two orders of magnitude on models with an abundance of this kind of relationship.
Robust Three-Step Regression Based on Comedian and Its Performance in Cell-Wise and Case-Wise Outliers
Authors: Velasco Henry , Laniado Henry , Toro Mauricio , Leiva Víctor , Lio Yuhlong
Published: August 2020

Both cell-wise and case-wise outliers may appear in a real data set at the same time. Few methods have been developed in order to deal with both types of outliers when formulating a regression model. In this work, a robust estimator is proposed based on a three-step method named 3S-regression, which uses the comedian as a highly robust scatter estimate. An intensive simulation study is conducted in order to evaluate the performance of the proposed comedian 3S-regression estimator in the presence of cell-wise and case-wise outliers. In addition, a comparison of this estimator with recently developed robust methods is carried out. The proposed method is also extended to the model with continuous and dummy covariates. Finally, a real data set is analyzed for illustration in order to show potential applications.
The Reduced-Order Extrapolating Method about the Crank-Nicolson Finite Element Solution Coefficient Vectors for Parabolic Type Equation
Authors: Luo Zhendong
Published: August 2020

This study is mainly concerned with the reduced-order extrapolating technique about the unknown solution coefficient vectors in the Crank-Nicolson finite element (CNFE) method for the parabolic type partial differential equation (PDE). For this purpose, the CNFE method and the existence, stability, and error estimates about the CNFE solutions for the parabolic type PDE are first derived. Next, a reduced-order extrapolating CNFE (ROECNFE) model in matrix-form is established with a proper orthogonal decomposition (POD) method, and the existence, stability, and error estimates of the ROECNFE solutions are proved by matrix theory, resulting in an graceful theoretical development. Specially, our study exposes that the ROECNFE method has the same basis functions and the same accuracy as the CNFE method. Lastly, some numeric tests are shown to computationally verify the validity and correctness about the ROECNFE method.
Generalized Gradient Equivariant Multivalued Maps, Approximation and Degree
Authors: Dzedzej Zdzisław , Gzella Tomasz
Published: August 2020

Consider the Euclidean space Rn with the orthogonal action of a compact Lie group G. We prove that a locally Lipschitz G-invariant mapping f from Rn to R can be uniformly approximated by G-invariant smooth mappings g in such a way that the gradient of g is a graph approximation of Clarkés generalized gradient of f. This result enables a proper development of equivariant gradient degree theory for a class of set-valued gradient mappings.
Organic-Inorganic Artificial Ion Channel Polyvinylidene Fluoride Membranes for Controllable Selectivity Transport of Alkali Metal Cations
Authors: Tian Ye , Jin Shaohua , Zhang Xinxin , Wang Lihua , Lin Yakai , Jin Yutao , Li Lijie
Published: August 2020

In this article, organic–inorganic hybrid materials with different functional groups were used to form organic–inorganic hybrid dense membranes for selective separation of mono/divalent ions by blending these materials and polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) in dimethylacetamide with HCl as the catalyst. The membranes prepared by 3-(ureido benzene) propyltriethoxysilane (H1), 3-(ureido-4-methoxyphenyl) propyltriethoxysilane (H2), 3-(ureido-3-chloro-4-methoxyphenyl) propyltriethoxysilane (H3), 3-(ureidoindazolyl) propyltrieth-oxysilane (H4), or 3-(ureidopentanol) propyltriethoxysilane (H5) were labeled as HM1–HM5, respectively. The transport properties of different chlorides were tested. The effects of different anions on sodium cation transport were also tested. The results showed that HM1–HM4 could transport monovalent Li+, Na+, and K+ except Ca2+ and Mg2+, and the permeability of Li+, Na+, and K+ through the hybrid membranes followed the order of PNa+ > PK+ > PLi+. Moreover, membranes with different H2 content were also prepared due to HM2 having the best ion transport performance. The ion transport performance increased accordingly with the mass ratio of H2 to PVDF, and the permeability of Na+ was twice that of Li+ and K+ when the mass ratio was 15/10. Under this condition, it was also proved that NH4+ could not transport through the hybrid membrane with various selectivity for different anions as Cl− > NO3− > HCO3− > SO42−.
Low-Temperature Direct Contact Membrane Distillation for the Treatment of Aqueous Solutions Containing Urea
Authors: Criscuoli Alessandra , Capuano Alfredo , Andreucci Michele , Drioli Enrico
Published: August 2020

Research activities on the application of direct contact membrane distillation (DCMD) for processing at low temperature (up to 50 °C) solutions containing urea were presented and discussed. Feeds were urine (also in mixture) and human plasma ultrafiltrate. Moreover, as a case study, the performance of membrane modules of different sizes and features was investigated for reaching the productivities needed in the treatment of the human plasma ultrafiltrate. In particular, two modules were equipped with the same type of capillaries, but differed in terms of membrane area, while the third module contained a different type of membranes and presented a membrane area in between those of the two previous modules. The three modules were compared, at a parity of operating temperatures and streams velocity, in terms of transmembrane flux, permeate production and size, underlining the directions to follow for a real implementation of the technique.
Nanofiltration Membrane Characterization and Application: Extracting Lithium in Lepidolite Leaching Solution
Authors: Gao Lin , Wang Huaiyou , Zhang Yue , Wang Min
Published: August 2020

This study concerns the feasibility of extracting lithium and separating aluminum from lepidolite leaching solution by nanofiltration. Four commercial nanofiltration (NF) membranes (DK, DL, NF270, and Duracid NF) were chosen to investigate ion separation performance in simulated lepidolite leaching solution. Membranes were characterized according to FT-IR, hydrophobicity, zeta potential, morphology, thickness, pore size, and hydraulic permeability to reveal the effect of membrane properties on separation. NF membranes were investigated including the retention ratio of SO42− and Li+, the separation efficiency of Li+/Al3+, and the effect of other cations (K+, Na+, Ca2+) on the separation of Li+/Al3+. The results show that DK membrane displayed the appropriate permeate flux and extremely high Li+/Al3+ separation efficiency with a separation factor of 471.3 compared with other NF membranes owing to its pore size, smooth membrane surface, and appropriate zeta potential. Overall, it is found that nanofiltration has a superior separation efficiency of lithium and aluminum, which may bring deep insights and open an avenue to offer a feasible strategy to extract lithium from lepidolite leaching solution in the future.
Prediction of Weld Reinforcement Based on Vision Sensing in GMA Additive Manufacturing Process
Authors: Yu Rongwei , Zhao Zhuang , Bai Lianfa , Han Jing
Published: August 2020

In the gas-metal-arc (GMA) additive manufacturing process, the shape of the molten pool, the temperature field of the workpiece and the heat dissipation conditions change with the increase of cladding layers, which can affect the dimensional accuracy of the workpiece; hence, it is necessary to monitor the additive manufacturing process online. At present, there is little research about formation-dimension monitoring in the GMA additive manufacturing process; in this paper, weld reinforcement prediction in the GMA additive manufacturing process was conducted, the visual-sensing system for molten pool was established, and a laser locating system was designed to match every frame of the molten pool image with the actual weld location. Extracting the shape and location features of the molten pool as visual features, on the basis of a back-propagation (BP) neural network, we developed the prediction model for weld reinforcement in the GMA additive manufacturing process. Experiment results showed that the model could accurately predict weld reinforcement. By changing the cooling time between adjacent cladding layers, the generalization ability of the prediction model was further verified.
Metabolite Profiles of the Relationship between Body Mass Index (BMI) Milestones and Metabolic Risk during Early Adolescence
Authors: Perng Wei , Rahman Mohammad L. , Aris Izzuddin M. , Michelotti Gregory , Sordillo Joanne E. , Chavarro Jorge E. , Oken Emily , Hivert Marie-France
Published: August 2020

Early growth is associated with future metabolic risk; however, little is known of the underlying biological pathways. In this prospective study of 249 boys and 227 girls, we sought to identify sex-specific metabolite profiles that mark the relationship between age and magnitude of the infancy body mass index (BMI) peak, and the childhood BMI rebound with a metabolic syndrome z-score (MetS z-score) during early adolescence (median age 12.8 years). Thirteen consensus metabolite networks were generated between male and female adolescents using weighted correlation network analysis. In girls, none of the networks were related to BMI milestones after false discovery rate (FDR) correction at 5%. In boys, age and/or magnitude of BMI at rebound were associated with three metabolite eigenvector (ME) networks comprising androgen hormones (ME7), lysophospholipids (ME8), and diacylglycerols (ME11) after FDR correction. These networks were also associated with MetS z-score in boys after accounting for age and race/ethnicity: ME7 (1.43 [95% CI: 0.52, 2.34] units higher MetS z-score per 1 unit of ME7), ME8 (−1.01 [95% CI: −1.96, −0.07]), and ME11 (2.88 [95% CI: 2.06, 3.70]). These findings suggest that alterations in sex steroid hormone and lipid metabolism are involved in the relationship of early growth with future metabolic risk in males.
Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Vascular Inflammation Model on Microfluidic Chip
Authors: Nam Ungsig , Kim Seunggyu , Park Joonha , Jeon Jessie S.
Published: August 2020

Inflammation is the initiation of defense of our body against harmful stimuli. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS), originating from outer membrane of Gram-negative bacteria, causes inflammation in the animal’s body and can develop several diseases. In order to study the inflammatory response to LPS of blood vessels in vitro, 2D models have been mainly used previously. In this study, a microfluidic device was used to investigate independent inflammatory response of endothelial cells by LPS and interaction of inflamed blood vessel with monocytic THP-1 cells. Firstly, the diffusion of LPS across the collagen gel into blood vessel was simulated using COMSOL. Then, inflammatory response to LPS in engineered blood vessel was confirmed by the expression of Intercellular Adhesion Molecule 1 (ICAM-1) and VE-cadherin of blood vessel, and THP-1 cell adhesion and migration assay. Upregulation of ICAM-1 and downregulation of VE-cadherin in an LPS-treated condition was observed compared to normal condition. In the THP-1 cell adhesion and migration assay, the number of adhered and trans-endothelial migrated THP-1 cells were not different between conditions. However, migration distance of THP-1 was longer in the LPS treatment condition. In conclusion, we recapitulated the inflammatory response of blood vessels and the interaction of THP-1 cells with blood vessels due to the diffusion of LPS.
Device Architecture for Visible and Near-Infrared Photodetectors Based on Two-Dimensional SnSe2 and MoS2: A Review
Authors: Mukhokosi Emma P. , Manohar Gollakota V.S. , Nagao Tadaaki , Krupanidhi Saluru B. , Nanda Karuna K.
Published: August 2020

While band gap and absorption coefficients are intrinsic properties of a material and determine its spectral range, response time is mainly controlled by the architecture of the device and electron/hole mobility. Further, 2D-layered materials such as transition metal dichalogenides (TMDCs) possess inherent and intriguing properties such as a layer-dependent band gap and are envisaged as alternative materials to replace conventional silicon (Si) and indium gallium arsenide (InGaAs) infrared photodetectors. The most researched 2D material is graphene with a response time between 50 and 100 ps and a responsivity of <10 mA/W across all wavelengths. Conventional Si photodiodes have a response time of about 50 ps with maximum responsivity of about 500 mA/W at 880 nm. Although the responsivity of TMDCs can reach beyond 104 A/W, response times fall short by 3–6 orders of magnitude compared to graphene, commercial Si, and InGaAs photodiodes. Slow response times limit their application in devices requiring high frequency. Here, we highlight some of the recent developments made with visible and near-infrared photodetectors based on two dimensional SnSe2 and MoS2 materials and their performance with the main emphasis on the role played by the mobility of the constituency semiconductors to response/recovery times associated with the hetero-structures.
A Novel System for Real-Time, In Situ Monitoring of CO2 Sequestration in Photoautotrophic Biofilms
Authors: Ronan Patrick , Kroukamp Otini , Liss Steven N. , Wolfaardt Gideon
Published: August 2020

Climate change brought about by anthropogenic CO2 emissions has created a critical need for effective CO2 management solutions. Microalgae are well suited to contribute to efforts aimed at addressing this challenge, given their ability to rapidly sequester CO2 coupled with the commercial value of their biomass. Recently, microalgal biofilms have garnered significant attention over the more conventional suspended algal growth systems, since they allow for easier and cheaper biomass harvesting, among other key benefits. However, the path to cost-effectiveness and scaling up is hindered by a need for new tools and methodologies which can help evaluate, and in turn optimize, algal biofilm growth. Presented here is a novel system which facilitates the real-time in situ monitoring of algal biofilm CO2 sequestration. Utilizing a CO2-permeable membrane and a tube-within-a-tube design, the CO2 sequestration monitoring system (CSMS) was able to reliably detect slight changes in algal biofilm CO2 uptake brought about by light–dark cycling, light intensity shifts, and varying amounts of phototrophic biomass. This work presents an approach to advance our understanding of carbon flux in algal biofilms, and a base for potentially useful innovations to optimize, and eventually realize, algae biofilm-based CO2 sequestration.
Microbiome Diversity and Community-Level Change Points within Manure-based small Biogas Plants
Authors: Theuerl Susanne , Klang Johanna , Hülsemann Benedikt , Mächtig Torsten , Hassa Julia
Published: August 2020

Efforts to integrate biogas plants into bioeconomy concepts will lead to an expansion of manure-based (small) biogas plants, while their operation is challenging due to critical characteristics of some types of livestock manure. For a better process understanding, in this study, three manure-based small biogas plants were investigated with emphasis on microbiome diversity. Due to varying digester types, feedstocks, and process conditions, 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing showed differences in the taxonomic composition. Dynamic variations of each investigated biogas plant microbiome over time were analyzed by terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism (TRFLP), whereby nonmetric multidimensional scaling (NMDS) revealed two well-running systems, one of them with a high share of chicken manure, and one unstable system. By using Threshold Indicator Taxa Analysis (TITAN), community-level change points at ammonium and ammonia concentrations of 2.25 g L−1 and 193 mg L−1 or volatile fatty acid concentrations of 0.75 g L−1were reliably identified which are lower than the commonly reported thresholds for critical process stages based on chemical parameters. Although a change in the microbiome structure does not necessarily indicate an upcoming critical process stage, the recorded community-level change points might be a first indication to carefully observe the process.
Immunomodulatory Activity of Lactococcus lactis GCWB1176 in Cyclophosphamide-Induced Immunosuppression Model
Authors: Jin Sun Woo , Lee Gi Ho , Jang Min Jung , Hong Gyeong Eun , Kim Jae Young , Park Gi Deok , Jin Hui , Kim Hyun Su , Choi Jae Ho , Choi Chul Yung , Lee Su Gwon , Jeong Hye Gwang , Hwang Yong Pil
Published: August 2020

Recently, Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis has been reported to have immunostimulating properties in an immunosuppressed-animal model. However, the immunological activities of Lactococcus lactis and the molecular mechanisms remain unclear. In this report, we evaluated the immunostimulating activity and associated mechanisms of Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis GCWB1176 (GCWB1176) in macrophages and cyclophosphamide (CTX)-induced immunosuppressed mice. In a series of safety tests, GCWB1176 was found to have a negative response to hemolysis, as well as susceptibility to antibiotics. Administration of GCWB1176 elevated natural killer (NK) cell activities; concanavalin A-induced T cell proliferation; and serum levels of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interferon (IFN)-γ, interleukin (IL)-2, IL-4, IL-10 and IL-12 in CTX-induced immunosuppressed mice. In RAW264.7 macrophages, treatment with GCWB1176 induced phagocytic activity and increased the production of nitric oxide (NO) and expression of inducible NO synthase. Simultaneously, GCWB1176 increased the production of TNF-α, IFN-γ, IL-1β, IL-10 and IL-12 from mouse splenocytes and RAW264.7 cells. In addition, GCWB1176 significantly increased the transcriptional activities of NF-κB and iNOS. Taken together, GCWB1176 improved immune function through the activation of macrophages and NK cells. These findings suggest that dietary supplementation of GCWB1176 may be used to enhance immunity.
Mouse Abdominal Fat Depots Reduced by Butyric Acid-Producing Leuconostoc mesenteroides
Authors: Yang John Jackson , Pham Minh Tan , Rahim Adelia Riezka , Chuang Tsung-Hsien , Hsieh Ming-Fa , Huang Chun-Ming
Published: August 2020

The activation of peroxisome proliferator-activated rece ptor gamma (PPAR-γ) is known to induce the differentiation of adipocytes. This study aimed to investigate the probiotic effect of Leuconostoc mesenteroides (L. mesenteroides) on high-fat diet (HFD)-induced PPAR-γ activation and abdominal fat depots. Incubation of differentiated 3T3-L1 adipocytes with media of L. mesenteroides EH-1, a butyric acid-producing strain, significantly reduced the amounts of lipid droplets. The oral administration of L. mesenteroides EH-1 produced large amounts (>1 mM) of butyric acid in cecum and attenuated the HFD-induced upregulation of PPAR-γ and accumulation of abdominal fats in mice. The combination of 2% glucose with L. mesenteroides EH-1 increased the production of butyric acid and potentiated the probiotic activity of L. mesenteroides EH-1 against the formation of lipid droplets in 3T3-L1 adipocytes as well as abdominal fats in HFD-fed mice. The inhibition of free fatty acid receptor 2 (Ffar2) by its antagonist, GLPG-0974, markedly diminished the probiotic effects of L. mesenteroides EH-1 plus glucose on the suppression of HFD-induced PPAR-γ and abdominal fats. Besides demonstrating the probiotic value of L. mesenteroides EH-1, our results highlight the possible therapy targeting the butyric acid-activated Ffar2 pathway to reduce abdominal fats.