bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Root Response to Drought Stress in Rice (Oryza sativa L.)
Authors: Kim Yoonha , Chung Yong Suk , Lee Eungyeong , Tripathi Pooja , Heo Seong , Kim Kyung-Hwan
Published: February 2020

The current unpredictable climate changes are causing frequent and severe droughts. Such circumstances emphasize the need to understand the response of plants to drought stress, especially in rice, one of the most important grain crops. Knowledge of the drought stress response components is especially important in plant roots, the major organ for the absorption of water and nutrients from the soil. Thus, this article reviews the root response to drought stress in rice. It is presented to provide readers with information of use for their own research and breeding program for tolerance to drought stress in rice.
Evaluation of the Surface Characteristics of Dental CAD/CAM Materials after Different Surface Treatments
Authors: Papadopoulos Konstantinos , Pahinis Kimon , Saltidou Kyriaki , Dionysopoulos Dimitrios , Tsitrou Effrosyni
Published: February 2020

Computer-aided design/computer-aided manufacturing (CAD/CAM) technology was developed to ensure the sufficient strength of tooth restorations, to improve esthetic restorations with a natural appearance and to make the techniques easier, faster and more accurate. In the view of the limited research on the surface treatments of the CAD/CAM materials and the need to evaluate the ideal surface characteristics of a material to achieve the best adhesion to tooth tissues, this study aimed to investigate the surface roughness and morphology of four different CAD/CAM materials using four different surface treatments. The CAD/CAM materials used in this study were three composites (Shofu Block HC, Lava Ultimate and Brilliant Crios) and a hybrid ceramic (Enamic). The surface of the specimens of each material received one of the following treatments: no surface treatment, sandblasting with 29 μm Al2O3 particles, 9% hydrofluoric acid etching and silane application, and the tribochemical method using CoJet System. Surface roughness was evaluated using optical profilometry, and surface morphology was observed by means of scanning electron microscopy. All surface treatments resulted in higher surface roughness values compared to the control group. Different treatments affected the surface properties of the materials, presumably due to discrepancies in their composition and structure.
Mg-Alloys for Forging Applications—A Review
Authors: Papenberg Nikolaus P. , Gneiger Stefan , Weißensteiner Irmgard , Uggowitzer Peter J. , Pogatscher Stefan
Published: February 2020

Interest in magnesium alloys and their applications has risen in recent years. This trend is mainly evident in casting applications, but wrought alloys are also increasingly coming into focus. Among the most common forming processes, forging is a promising candidate for the industrial production of magnesium wrought products. This review is intended to give a general introduction into the forging of magnesium alloys and to help in the practical realization of forged products. The basics of magnesium forging practice are described and possible problems as well as material properties are discussed. Several alloy systems containing aluminum, zinc or rare earth elements as well as biodegradable alloys are evaluated. Overall, the focus of the review is on the process control and processing parameters, from stock material to finished parts. A discussion of the mechanical properties is included. These data have been comprehensively reviewed and are listed for a variety of magnesium forging alloys.
N-Doped Animal Keratin Waste Porous Biochar derived from Trapa Natans Husks
Authors: Yin Wenjun , Zhang Zhonghua , Liu Tongcai , Xu Jiao , Xiao Shaoze , Xu Yao
Published: February 2020

Animal-keratin-wastes (AKWs), horns (HN), hair (HR), puffed waterfowl feathers (PF), hydrolyzed waterfowl feathers (HF), hydrolyzed fish meal (HM), crab meat (CM), feathers (FR), shrimp chaff (SC), fish scales (FS), and waste leather (WL) were used as modifiers to prepare animal-keratin-wastes biochars (AKWs-BC) derived from Trapa natans husks (TH). AKWs-BC have a well-developed microporous structure with a pore size mainly below 3 nm. Due to the doping of AKWs, the surface chemical properties of AKWs-BC (especially N functional groups) were improved. The utilization of APWs not only realizes the resource utilization of waste, but also can be used to prepare high-performance biochars.
Reuse of CD and DVD Wastes as Reinforcement in Gypsum Plaster Plates
Authors: Pedreño-Rojas Manuel Alejandro , Morales-Conde María Jesús , Pérez-Gálvez Filomena , Rubio-de-Hita Paloma
Published: February 2020

The continuous and rapid evolution in the field of computing, and in particular in the field of storage devices, has led to the obsolescence of optical discs in favour of mass storage devices. In that sense, a large number of CDs and DVDs become obsolete each day in the world. In trying to create a recovery solution for those pieces, research in which polycarbonate (PC) waste from recycled discs have been used to develop new gypsum coating materials and products has been conducted. In a previous study, the physical and mechanical properties of new gypsum plasters, with PC waste as aggregate, were studied. Following that study, this article aims at creating new gypsum plaster false ceiling plates, using CD and DVD residues in different scenarios: as crushed aggregate in the gypsum matrix, as full reinforcement pieces of the plates and as a combination of both. The mechanical behaviour and the thermal conductivity of the new pieces have been analysed in this paper. The results showed an important improvement in the mechanical and thermal properties of the plates when the PC waste was used in many scenarios.
Relative Permeability Characteristics During Carbon Capture and Sequestration Process in Low-Permeable Reservoirs
Authors: Bai Mingxing , Liu Lu , Li Chengli , Song Kaoping
Published: February 2020

The injection of carbon dioxide (CO2) in low-permeable reservoirs can not only mitigate the greenhouse effect on the environment, but also enhance oil and gas recovery (EOR). For numerical simulation work of this process, relative permeability can help predict the capacity for the flow of CO2 throughout the life of the reservoir, and reflect the changes induced by the injected CO2. In this paper, the experimental methods and empirical correlations to determine relative permeability are reviewed and discussed. Specifically, for a low-permeable reservoir in China, a core displacement experiment is performed for both natural and artificial low-permeable cores to study the relative permeability characteristics. The results show that for immiscible CO2 flooding, when considering the threshold pressure and gas slippage, the relative permeability decreases to some extent, and the relative permeability of oil/water does not reduce as much as that of CO2. In miscible flooding, the curves have different shapes for cores with a different permeability. By comparing the relative permeability curves under immiscible and miscible CO2 flooding, it is found that the two-phase span of miscible flooding is wider, and the relative permeability at the gas endpoint becomes larger.
A Structural Comparison of Ordered and Non-Ordered Ion Doped Silicate Bioactive Glasses
Authors: Schmitz Seray , Beltrán Ana M. , Cresswell Mark , Boccaccini Aldo R.
Published: February 2020

One of the key benefits of sol-gel-derived glasses is the presence of a mesoporous structure and the resulting increase in surface area. This enhancement in textural properties has a significant effect on the physicochemical properties of the materials. In this context the aim of this study was to investigate how sol-gel synthesis parameters can influence the textural and structural properties of mesoporous silicate glasses. We report the synthesis and characterization of metal ion doped sol-gel derived glasses with different dopants in the presence or absence of a surfactant (Pluronic P123) used as structure-directing templating agent. Characterization was done by several methods. Using a structure directing agent led to larger surface areas and highly ordered mesoporous structures. The chemical structure of the non-ordered glasses was modified to a larger extent than the one of the ordered glasses due to increased incorporation of dopant ions into the glass network. The results will help to further understand how the properties of sol-gel glasses can be controlled by incorporation of metal dopants, in conjunction with control over the textural properties, and will be important to optimize the properties of sol-gel glasses for specific applications, e.g., drug delivery, bone regeneration, wound healing, and antibacterial materials.
High Temperature Sensing and Detection for Cementitious Materials Using Manganese Violet Pigment
Authors: Rajadurai Rajagopalan Sam , Lee Jong-Han
Published: February 2020

In recent years, advanced materials have attracted considerable interest in the field of temperature detection and sensing. This study examined the thermochromic properties of inorganic manganese violet (MV) with increasing temperature. According to the thermochromic test, the material was found to have reversible and irreversible color change properties. The MV pigment was then applied to cementitious material at ratios of 1%, 3%, and 5%. The mixed cement samples with MV pigment were heated in a furnace, and digital images were captured at each temperature interval to evaluate the changes in the color information on the surface of the specimen. The mixed samples exhibited an irreversible thermochromic change from dark violet to grayish green above 400 °C. At the critical temperature of 440 °C, the RGB values increased by approximately 22%–55%, 28%–68%, and 7%–25%, depending on the content of MV pigment. In Lab space, the L value increased by approximately 23%–60% at 440 °C. The a value completely changed from positive to negative, and the b value changed from negative to positive. All the values differed according to the content of MV pigment at room temperature but approached similar ranges at the critical temperature, irrespective of the amount of MV pigment. To assess the changes in their microstructure and composition, scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy were performed on the samples exposed to temperatures ranging from room temperature to 450 °C.
Chitosan-Functionalized Graphene Nanocomposite Films: Interfacial Interplay and Biological Activity
Authors: Wrońska Natalia , Anouar Aicha , El Achaby Mounir , Zawadzka Katarzyna , Kędzierska Marta , Miłowska Katarzyna , Katir Nadia , Draoui Khalid , Różalska Sylwia , Piwoński Ireneusz , Bryszewska Maria , El Kadib Abdelkrim , Lisowska Katarzyna
Published: February 2020

Graphene oxide (GO) has recently captured tremendous attention, but only few functionalized graphene derivatives were used as fillers, and insightful studies dealing with the thermal, mechanical, and biological effects of graphene surface functionalization are currently missing in the literature. Herein, reduced graphene oxide (rGO), phosphorylated graphene oxide (PGO), and trimethylsilylated graphene oxide (SiMe3GO) were prepared by the post-modification of GO. The electrostatic interactions of these fillers with chitosan afforded colloidal solutions that provide, after water evaporation, transparent and flexible chitosan-modified graphene films. All reinforced chitosan–graphene films displayed improved mechanical, thermal, and antibacterial (S. aureus, E. coli) properties compared to native chitosan films. Hemolysis, intracellular catalase activity, and hemoglobin oxidation were also observed for these materials. This study shows that graphene functionalization provides a handle for tuning the properties of graphene-reinforced nanocomposite films and customizing their functionalities.
Surface Modifications of Poly(Ether Ether Ketone) via Polymerization Methods—Current Status and Future Prospects
Authors: Flejszar Monika , Chmielarz Paweł
Published: February 2020

Surface modification of poly(ether ether ketone) (PEEK) aimed at applying it as a bone implant material aroused the unflagging interest of the research community. In view of the development of implantology and the growing demand for new biomaterials, increasing biocompatibility and improving osseointegration are becoming the primary goals of PEEK surface modifications. The main aim of this review is to summarize the use of polymerization methods and various monomers applied for surface modification of PEEK to increase its bioactivity, which is a critical factor for successful applications of biomedical materials. In addition, the future directions of PEEK surface modifications are suggested, pointing to low-ppm surface-initiated atom transfer radical polymerization (SI-ATRP) as a method with unexplored capacity for flat surface modifications.
Thermoplastic Starch (TPS) Films Added with Mucilage from Opuntia Ficus Indica: Mechanical, Microstructural and Thermal Characterization
Authors: Scognamiglio Fabrizio , Gattia Daniele Mirabile , Roselli Graziella , Persia Franca , De Angelis Ugo , Santulli Carlo
Published: February 2020

Opuntia cladodes are a typical vegetable waste, from which mucilage in gel form can be extracted. This work proposes blending it with a self-produced thermoplastic starch (TPS), originating from potato starch with a high content in glycerol (ca. 30%). Three methods were compared for extraction, bare maceration (MA), mechanical blending (ME) and mechanical blending following maceration (MPM) to produce films with an approximate thickness of 150 μm. For the comparison, tensile testing, differential scanning calorimetry and scanning electron microscopy were used. The MPM process proved the most effective, not only for extraction yielding, but also to obtain a larger deformation of the samples with respect to the one allowed by the pure TPS films. A considerable plasticization effect was observed. Despite this, the mechanical performance is still not completely satisfactory, and the expected effect of the calcium and magnesium salts contained in the mucilage to improve the rigidity of the TPS film was not really revealed. Prospected improvements would concern the fabrication process and the investigation of other possible loading modes and sample geometries.
Low Cycle Fatigue Life Evaluation of Notched Specimens Considering Strain Gradient
Authors: Qin Shenghuan , Xiong Zaiyin , Ma Yingsong , Zhang Keshi
Published: February 2020

An improved model based on the Chaboche constitutive model is proposed for cyclic plastic behavior of metal and low cycle fatigue of notched specimens under cyclic loading, considering the effect of strain gradient on nonlinear kinematic hardening and hysteresis behavior. The new model is imported into the user material subroutine (UMAT) of the finite element computing software ABAQUS, and the strain gradient parameters required for model calculation are obtained by calling the user element subroutine (UEL). The effectiveness of the new model is tested by the torsion test of thin copper wire. Furthermore, the calibration method of strain gradient influence parameters of constitutive model is discussed by taking the notch specimen of Q235 steel as an example. The hysteresis behavior, strain distribution and fatigue failure of notched specimens under cyclic loading were simulated and analyzed with the new model. The results prove the rationality of the new model.
Nanoscale Plasticity Behavior of Additive-Manufactured Zirconia-Toughened Alumina Ceramics during Nanoindentation
Authors: Li Wenli , Liu Weiwei , Li Maoshan , Nie Jianbin , Chen Yao , Xing Zhanwen
Published: February 2020

The nanoscale plasticity phenomena in zirconia-toughened alumina (ZTA) ceramics with yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ) addition of 10% and 30% fabricated by additive manufacturing based on a stereolithography technique were explored in detail by nanoindentation and scanning electron microscopy. It was demonstrated that the initiation of nanoscale plasticity was attributed to the combined contributions from the generation of nanoscale shear deformation bands and localized microcracking at the indentations. Such localized plastic behavior underneath the nanoindenter was interpreted by maximum shear stress analysis. The response of the phase boundary during indentation was emphasized through crack propagation paths, and optimization of alumina–YSZ adaptation through component design and SL processing was expected.
Three-Dimensional Evaluation of Maxillary Sinus Changes in Growing Subjects: A Retrospective Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Maspero Cinzia , Farronato Marco , Bellincioni Francesca , Annibale Alessandro , Machetti Jacopo , Abate Andrea , Cavagnetto Davide
Published: February 2020

This study aims to evaluate changes of maxillary sinuses in growing subjects. Cone Beam Computed Tomography (CBCT) scans of 146 patients were divided according to gender and age (6–8, 9–11, 12–14 years old). Left, right and total maxillary sinus volume (MSV-R, MSV-L, MSV-Tot) and surface (MSS-R, MSS-L, MSS-Tot), left and right linear maximum width (LMW-L, LMW-R), depth (LMD-R, LMD-L) and height (LMH-R, LMH-R) were calculated using Mimics Research 22. Kruskal–Wallis Test and showed a statistically significant increase in both genders for all variables. Pairwise comparisons in females are always statistically significant in: LMH-R, LMH-R, MSS-Tot, MSV-Tot. All other variables showed a statistical significant increase between 9–11 and 12–14, and between 6–8 and 12–14 age groups, apart from LMSW-R, LMSW-L, LMSD-R, LMSD-L between 6–8 and 12–14 age groups. Pairwise comparisons in males are always and only statistically significant between 9–11 and 12–14, and between 6–8 and 12–14 groups. Symmetrical measurements (right and left) evaluated using Wilcoxon test retrieved no statistical significant difference. Comparisons between measurements on male and female subjects using Mann–Whitney test showed a statistical significant difference in 6–8 years group in MSV-R, MSV-L and MSV-Tot, and in 12–14 age group in MSV-R, MSV-L, MSV-Tot, MSS-r, MSS-l, MSS-Tot, MSW-R, MSW-L, MSD-R, MSD-L. Intraclass Correlation Coefficient (ICC) assessing inter-operator and intra-operator concordance retrieved excellent results for all variables. It appears that maxillary sinus growth resembles the differential peak of growth in male and female subjects. Sinuses starts to develop early in female subjects. However, in the first and last age group female sinuses are statistically significantly smaller compared to male ones. In male subjects, sinus growth occurs mainly between the second and third age group whilst in female subjects it starts between the first and second age group and continues between the second and the last. Sinus has a vertical development during the peak of growth, which is the main reason for its increase in volume.
Mining the Metabolome and the Agricultural and Pharmaceutical Potential of Sea Foam-Derived Fungi
Authors: Oppong-Danquah Ernest , Passaretti Cristina , Chianese Orazio , Blümel Martina , Tasdemir Deniz
Published: February 2020

Sea foam harbors a diverse range of fungal spores with biological and ecological relevance in marine environments. Fungi are known as the producers of secondary metabolites that are used in health and agricultural sectors, however the potentials of sea foam-derived fungi have remained unexplored. In this study, organic extracts of six foam-derived fungal isolates belonging to the genera Penicillium, Cladosporium, Emericellopsis and Plectosphaerella were investigated for their antimicrobial activity against plant and human pathogens and anticancer activity. In parallel, an untargeted metabolomics study using UPLC-QToF–MS/MS-based molecular networking (MN) was performed to unlock their chemical inventory. Penicillium strains were identified as the most prolific producers of compounds with an average of 165 parent ions per strain. In total, 49 known mycotoxins and functional metabolites were annotated to specific and ubiquitous parent ions, revealing considerable chemical diversity. This allowed the identification of putative new derivatives, such as a new analog of the antimicrobial tetrapeptide, fungisporin. Regarding bioactivity, the Penicillium sp. isolate 31.68F1B showed a strong and broad-spectrum activity against seven plant and human pathogens, with the phytopathogen Magnaporthe oryzae and the human pathogen Candida albicans being the most susceptible (IC50 values 2.2 and 6.3 µg/mL, respectively). This is the first study mining the metabolome of the sea foam-derived fungi by MS/MS-based molecular networking, and assessing their biological activities against phytopathogens.
Manipulation and Localized Deposition of Particle Groups with Modulated Electric Fields
Authors: Pritchet David , Ehmann Kornel , Cao Jian , Huang Jiaxing
Published: February 2020

This paper presents a new micro additive manufacturing process and initial characterization of its capabilities. The process uses modulated electric fields to manipulate and deposit particles from colloidal solution in a contactless way and is named electrophoretically-guided micro additive manufacturing (EPμAM). The inherent flexibility and reconfigurability of the EPμAM process stems from electrode array as an actuator use, which avoids common issues of controlling particle deposition with templates or masks (e.g., fixed template geometry, post-process removal of masks, and unstable particle trapping). The EPμAM hardware testbed is presented alongside with implemented control methodology and developed process characterization workflow. Additionally, a streamlined two-dimensional (2D) finite element model (FEM) of the EPμAM process is used to compute electric field distribution generated by the electrode array and to predict the final deposition location of particles. Simple particle manipulation experiments indicate proof-of-principle capabilities of the process. Experiments where particle concentration and electric current strength were varied demonstrate the stability of the process. Advanced manipulation experiments demonstrate interelectrode deposition and particle group shaping capabilities where high, length-to-width, aspect ratio deposits were obtained. The experimental and FEM results were compared and analyzed; observed process limitations are discussed and followed by a comprehensive list of possible future steps.
Analysis of the Sensing Margin of Silicon and Poly-Si 1T-DRAM
Authors: Kim Hyeonjeong , Yoo Songyi , Kang In-Man , Cho Seongjae , Sun Wookyung , Shin Hyungsoon
Published: February 2020

Recently, one-transistor dynamic random-access memory (1T-DRAM) cells having a polysilicon body (poly-Si 1T-DRAM) have attracted attention as candidates to replace conventional one-transistor one-capacitor dynamic random-access memory (1T-1C DRAM). Poly-Si 1T-DRAM enables the cost-effective implementation of a silicon-on-insulator (SOI) structure and a three-dimensional (3D) stacked architecture for increasing integration density. However, studies on the transient characteristics of poly-Si 1T-DRAM are still lacking. In this paper, with TCAD simulation, we examine the differences between the memory mechanisms in poly-Si and silicon body 1T-DRAM. A silicon 1T-DRAM cell’s data state is determined by the number of holes stored in a floating body (FB), while a poly-Si 1T-DRAM cell’s state depends on the number of electrons trapped in its grain boundary (GB). This means that a poly-Si 1T-DRAM can perform memory operations by using GB as a storage region in thin body devices with a small FB area.
Pathogenicity and Virulence Factors of Fusarium graminearum Including Factors Discovered Using Next Generation Sequencing Technologies and Proteomics
Authors: Rauwane Molemi E. , Ogugua Udoka V. , Kalu Chimdi M. , Ledwaba Lesiba K. , Woldesemayat Adugna A. , Ntushelo Khayalethu
Published: February 2020

Fusarium graminearum is a devasting mycotoxin-producing pathogen of grain crops. F. graminearum has been extensively studied to understand its pathogenicity and virulence factors. These studies gained momentum with the advent of next-generation sequencing (NGS) technologies and proteomics. NGS and proteomics have enabled the discovery of a multitude of pathogenicity and virulence factors of F. graminearum. This current review aimed to trace progress made in discovering F. graminearum pathogenicity and virulence factors in general, as well as pathogenicity and virulence factors discovered using NGS, and to some extent, using proteomics. We present more than 100 discovered pathogenicity or virulence factors and conclude that although a multitude of pathogenicity and virulence factors have already been discovered, more work needs to be done to take advantage of NGS and its companion applications of proteomics.
Investigation of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles-Based Photogrammetry for Large Mine Subsidence Monitoring
Authors: Ignjatović Stupar Danijela , Rošer Janez , Vulić Milivoj
Published: February 2020

With the exploitation of underground sources, nature receives a huge negative impact on the local environment introducing surface subsidence. A mining region needs to be observed in sequences before, during, and after coal extraction from the coal mine. Different measuring methods exist to monitor subsidence, and all of them apply various instrumentation. A choice of methodology depends on access to a field of observation and requested accuracy. Obviously, the most accurate results provide geometric leveling, but, many times, the terrain does not allow surveyors to walk over the dangerous outfields. Looking for the most adequate and feasible method, this research did a comparison between observation of the same points, applying statistical analysis of differences between the reference points heights, and tested methods. Monitoring procedure comprised utilization of total stations (TS), global navigation satellite system (GNSS), and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV). In this paper, the Velenje coal mine was taken as a case study, and observation data were collected during 2017.
Adherence to Mediterranean Diet Related with Physical Fitness and Physical Activity in Schoolchildren Aged 6–13
Authors: López-Gil José Francisco , Brazo-Sayavera Javier , García-Hermoso Antonio , Yuste Lucas Juan Luis
Published: February 2020

The relationship between adherence to the Mediterranean Diet (MD) and both physical fitness (PF) and physical activity (PA) level has been analysed in several studies. The aim of this research was to describe, compare and analyse the level of PF and PA in schoolchildren aged 6–13 in the Region of Murcia, according to adherence to the MD. A descriptive and cross-sectional study was performed. A total of 370 schoolchildren (44.9% girls) aged 6–13 (8.7 ± 1.8) from six primary schools in the Region of Murcia (Spain). Mediterranean Diet Quality Index for children and teenagers (KIDMED) was used to determinate the adherence to the MD. The ALPHA-FIT Test Battery was applied for assess body composition and PF. PA level was determined using Physical Activity Questionnaire for Older Children (PAQ-C). Only 25.9% of the schoolchildren had optimal adherence to the MD. Regarding the scores of the different PF tests in MD groups, only statistically significant differences were found for cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) (p = 0.048) in boys. PA level showed statistically significant differences in both boys (p = 0.040) and girls (p = 0.016). A positive relationship was found between the KIDMED and PA level (p = 0.235). A higher probability of having a greater CRF (OR = 1.17; CI = 1.02–1.34) and PA level (OR = 7.84; CI = 2.84–21.60) was found in high MD group. These results suggest that an optimal adherence to the MD is associated with higher CRF and PA level in the selected schoolchildren.
Dietary Habits of Saharawi Type II Diabetic Women Living in Algerian Refugee Camps: Relationship with Nutritional Status and Glycemic Profile
Authors: Leone Alessandro , Battezzati Alberto , Di Lello Sara , Ravasenghi Stefano , Mohamed-Iahdih Babahmed , Mohamed Lamin Saleh Saleh , Bertoli Simona
Published: February 2020

Diabetes is one of the main health problems among Saharawi refugees living in Algerian camps, especially for women. As is known, diet plays an important role in the management of diabetes. However, the dietary habits of Saharawi diabetic women are unknown. Therefore, we investigated the dietary habits and established their relationship with the nutritional status and glycemic profile of such women. We recruited 65 Saharawi type II diabetic women taking orally glucose-lowering drugs only. Dietary habits were investigated using qualitative 24 h recall carried out over three non-consecutive days. Anthropometric measurements were taken and blood parameters were measured. About 80% of the women were overweight and about three out of four women had uncompensated diabetes and were insulin resistant. The Saharawi diet was found to mainly include cereals, oils, sugars, vegetables (especially onions, tomatoes, and carrots), tea, and meat. Principal component analysis identified two major dietary patterns, the first one “healthy” and the second one “unhealthy”. Women in the higher tertile of adherence to the unhealthy dietary pattern had a higher homeostatic model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA) index (b = 2.49; 95% CI: 0.41–4.57; p = 0.02) and circulating insulin (b = 4.52; 95% CI: 0.44–8.60; p = 0.03) than the women in the lowest tertile. Food policies should be oriented to improve the quality of diet of Saharawi diabetic women.
Vitamin D and Endothelial Function
Authors: Kim Do-Houn , Meza Cesar A. , Clarke Holly , Kim Jeong-Su , Hickner Robert C.
Published: February 2020

Vitamin D is known to elicit a vasoprotective effect, while vitamin D deficiency is a risk factor for endothelial dysfunction (ED). ED is characterized by reduced bioavailability of a potent endothelium-dependent vasodilator, nitric oxide (NO), and is an early event in the development of atherosclerosis. In endothelial cells, vitamin D regulates NO synthesis by mediating the activity of the endothelial NO synthase (eNOS). Under pathogenic conditions, the oxidative stress caused by excessive production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) facilitates NO degradation and suppresses NO synthesis, consequently reducing NO bioavailability. Vitamin D, however, counteracts the activity of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) oxidase which produces ROS, and improves antioxidant capacity by enhancing the activity of antioxidative enzymes such as superoxide dismutase. In addition to ROS, proinflammatory mediators such as TNF-α and IL-6 are risk factors for ED, restraining NO and eNOS bioactivity and upregulating the expression of various atherosclerotic factors through the NF-κB pathway. These proinflammatory activities are inhibited by vitamin D by suppressing NF-κB signaling and production of proinflammatory cytokines. In this review, we discuss the diverse activities of vitamin D in regulating NO bioavailability and endothelial function.
Evidence for Dietary Agmatine Sulfate Effectiveness in Neuropathies Associated with Painful Small Fiber Neuropathy. A Pilot Open-Label Consecutive Case Series Study
Authors: Rosenberg Michael L. , Tohidi Vahid , Sherwood Karna , Gayen Sujoy , Medel Rosina , Gilad Gad M.
Published: February 2020

Peripheral neuropathies associated with painful small fiber neuropathy (SFN) are complex conditions, resistant to treatment with conventional medications. Previous clinical studies strongly support the use of dietary agmatine as a safe and effective treatment for neuropathic pain. Based on this evidence, we conducted an open-label consecutive case series study to evaluate the effectiveness of agmatine in neuropathies associated with painful SFN (Study Registry: ClinicalTrials.gov, System Identifier: NCT01524666). Participants diagnosed with painful SFN and autonomic dysfunctions were treated with 2.67 g/day agmatine sulfate (AgmaSet® capsules containing G-Agmatine® brand of agmatine sulfate) for a period of 2 months. Before the beginning (baseline) and at the end of the treatment period, participants answered the established 12-item neuropathic pain questionnaire specifically developed to distinguish symptoms associated with neuropathy and to quantify their severity. Secondary outcomes included other treatment options and a safety assessment. Twelve patients were recruited, and 11 patients—8 diagnosed with diabetic neuropathy, two with idiopathic neuropathy and one with inflammatory neuropathy—completed the study. All patients showed improvement in neuropathic pain to a varied extent. The average decrease in pain intensity was 26.0 rating points, corresponding to a 46.4% reduction in overall pain (p < 0.00001). The results suggest that dietary agmatine sulfate has a significant effect in reducing neuropathic pain intensity associated with painful SFN resistant to treatment with conventional neuropathic pain medications. Larger randomized placebo-controlled studies are expected to establish agmatine sulfate as a preferred treatment.
Role of Vitamin D in Athletes and Their Performance: Current Concepts and New Trends
Authors: de la Puente Yagüe Mirian , Collado Yurrita Luis , Ciudad Cabañas Maria , Cuadrado Cenzual Marioa
Published: February 2020

We are currently experiencing a vitamin D (VITD) deficiency pandemic across the world. Athletes have the same predisposition to low levels of vitamin D, the majority of its concentrations being below 20 ng/mL in a wide range of sports, especially in the winter months. Vitamin D is important in bone health, but recent research also points out its essential role in extraskeletal functions, including skeletal muscle growth, immune and cardiopulmonary functions and inflammatory modulation, which influence athletic performance. Vitamin D can also interact with extraskeletal tissues to modulate injury recovery and also influence the risk of infection. The data presented in this paper has triggered investigations in relation to the importance of maintaining adequate levels of vitamin D and to the possible positive influence supplementation has on immune and musculoskeletal functions in athletes, benefiting their performance and preventing future injuries. The objective of this review is to describe the latest research conducted on the epidemiology of vitamin D deficiency and its effects on sports performance and musculoskeletal health.
Effects of Beetroot Juice Ingestion on Physical Performance in Highly Competitive Tennis Players
Authors: López-Samanes Álvaro , Pérez-López Alberto , Moreno-Pérez Victor , Nakamura Fabio Yuzo , Acebes-Sánchez Jorge , Quintana-Milla Iñaki , Sánchez-Oliver Antonio J. , Moreno-Pérez Diego , Fernández-Elías Valentín Emilio , Domínguez Raúl
Published: February 2020

Beetroot juice (BJ) contains high levels of inorganic nitrate (NO3−) and its intake has good evidence in increasing blood nitrate/nitrite concentrations. The ingestion of BJ has been associated with improvements in physical performance of endurance sports, however the literature in intermittent sports is scarce. The aim of this study was to investigate whether BJ could improve physical performance in tennis players. Thirteen well-trained tennis players (25.4 ± 5.1 years) participated in the study during their preparatory period for the tennis season. Subjects were randomly divided into two groups and performed a neuromuscular test battery after either BJ or placebo (PLA) consumption. Both trials were executed on two separate days, in randomized order, with one week of wash out period. The test battery consisted of serve velocity test (SVT), countermovement jump (CMJ), isometric handgrip strength (IHS), 5-0-5 agility test (5-0-5), and 10 m sprint (10-m). No significant differences were found in SVT (1.19%; p = 0.536), CMJ (0.96%; p = 0.327), IHS (4.06%; p = 0.069), 5-0-5 dominant and nondominant side (1.11–2.02%; p = 0.071–0.191) and 10-m (1.05%; p = 0.277) when comparing BJ and PLA ingestion. Thus, our data suggest that low doses of BJ (70 mL) consumption do not enhance tennis physical performance.
Recognition of Lipoproteins by Toll-like Receptor 2 and DNA by the AIM2 Inflammasome Is Responsible for Production of Interleukin-1β by Virulent Suilysin-Negative Streptococcus suis Serotype 2
Authors: Lavagna Agustina , Auger Jean-Philippe , Giradin Stephen E. , Gisch Nicolas , Segura Mariela , Gottschalk Marcelo
Published: February 2020

Streptococcus suis serotype 2 is an important porcine bacterial pathogen and zoonotic agent causing sudden death, septic shock and meningitis. These pathologies are the consequence of an exacerbated inflammatory response composed of various mediators including interleukin (IL)-1β. Elevated levels of the toxin suilysin (SLY) were demonstrated to play a key role in S. suis-induced IL-1β production. However, 95% of serotype 2 strains isolated from diseased pigs in North America, many of which are virulent, do not produce SLY. In this study, we demonstrated that SLY-negative S. suis induces elevated levels of IL-1β in systemic organs, with dendritic cells contributing to this production. SLY-negative S. suis-induced IL-1β production requires MyD88 and TLR2 following recognition of lipoproteins. However, the higher internalization rate of the SLY-negative strain results in intracellularly located DNA being recognized by the AIM2 inflammasome, which promotes IL-1β production. Finally, the role of IL-1 in host survival during the S. suis systemic infection is beneficial and conserved, regardless of SLY production, via modulation of the inflammation required to control bacterial burden. In conclusion, this study demonstrates that SLY is not required for S. suis-induced IL-1β production.
Methylobacterium spp. as Emerging Opportunistic Premise Plumbing Pathogens
Authors: Szwetkowski Kyle J. , Falkinham Joseph O.
Published: February 2020

Methylobacterium spp. are emerging opportunistic premise plumbing pathogens. Human infections linked to premise plumbing provide evidence of their routes of infection. Cells of a collection of representative strains of different Methylobacterium species were tested for hydrophobicity by contact angle, adherence and biofilm formation on different plumbing materials, and temperature tolerance (50–60 °C); characteristics shared by OPPPs. Methylobacterium spp. strains were shown to grow in drinking water, have high cell-surface hydrophobicity, adhere to pipe surface materials, form biofilms, and survive exposure to high (60° C) temperatures. It can be concluded that Methylobacterium spp. strains share traits in common with other opportunistic premise plumbing pathogens (OPPPs).
“Fantastic Tricks before High Heaven,” Measure for Measure and Performing Triads
Authors: Bryan Emily
Published: February 2020

Reading Measure for Measure through the logic of substitution has been a long-standing critical tradition; the play seems to invite topical, political, and religious parallels at every turn. What if the logic of substitution in the play goes beyond exchange and seeks out a triadic logic instead? This insistent searching for the triad appears most notably in the performance of Measure for Measure by Cheek by Jowl (2013–2019). Cheek By Jowl’s strategies of touring, simplicity, movement, and liberation create a dynamic and ever-evolving performance. This article puts Cheek by Jowl’s performance of Measure for Measure in conversation with C.S. Peirce’s (and subsequent theorists) explorations of triadic logic with Puttenham’s rhetoric of traductio (repetition with variation, and "tranlacing"), in addition to critical work on substitutions in the play. Tracing the superfluity of substitutions in rhetoric and performance of the play allows us to see how the play refuses binaries, and energizes triadic logic as a means to liveness in performance. Both Shakespeare’s play and the Cheek By Jowl production use a triadic structure which suggests the Trinity, foregrounding the body as a site of mediation and liveness.
Evaluation of SPL100 Single Photon Lidar Data
Authors: Brown Rebecca , Hartzell Preston , Glennie Craig
Published: February 2020

Geiger-mode and single photon lidar sensors have recently emerged on the commercial market, advertising greater collection efficiency than the traditional linear mode lidar (LML) systems. Non-linear photon detection is a new technology for the geospatial community, and its performance characteristics for surveying and mapping are not yet well understood. Therefore, the geospatial quality of the data produced by one of these new sensors, the Leica SPL100, is examined by comparing the achieved lidar point cloud accuracy, precision, digital elevation model (DEM) generation, canopy penetration, and multiple return generation to a LML point cloud. We find the SPL100 has a lower ranging precision than linear mode lidar and that the precision is more negatively affected by surface properties such as low intensity and high incidence angle. The accuracy of the SPL100 point cloud, however, was found to be comparable to LML for smooth horizontal surfaces. A 1 m resolution SPL100 DEM was also comparable to a corresponding LML DEM, but the SPL100 was observed to have a reduced ability to resolve multiple returns through vegetation when compared to a LML sensor. In its current state, the SPL100 is likely best suited for applications in which the need for collection efficiency outweighs the need for maximum precision and canopy penetration and modeling.
Facing Erosion Identification in Railway Lines Using Pixel-Wise Deep-Based Approaches
Authors: Nogueira Keiller , L. S. Machado Gabriel , H. T. Gama Pedro , C. V. da Silva Caio , Balaniuk Remis , A. dos Santos Jefersson
Published: February 2020

Soil erosion is considered one of the most expensive natural hazards with a high impact on several infrastructure assets. Among them, railway lines are one of the most likely constructions for the appearance of erosion and, consequently, one of the most troublesome due to the maintenance costs, risks of derailments, and so on. Therefore, it is fundamental to identify and monitor erosion in railway lines to prevent major consequences. Currently, erosion identification is manually performed by humans using huge image sets, a time-consuming and slow task. Hence, automatic machine learning methods appear as an appealing alternative. A crucial step for automatic erosion identification is to create a good feature representation. Towards such objective, deep learning can learn data-driven features and classifiers. In this paper, we propose a novel deep learning-based framework capable of performing erosion identification in railway lines. Six techniques were evaluated and the best one, Dynamic Dilated ConvNet, was integrated into this framework that was then encapsulated into a new ArcGIS plugin to facilitate its use by non-programmer users. To analyze such techniques, we also propose a new dataset, composed of almost 2000 high-resolution images.
Miniaturized 0.13-μm CMOS Front-End Analog for AlN PMUT Arrays
Authors: Zamora Iván , Ledesma Eyglis , Uranga Arantxa , Barniol Núria
Published: February 2020

This paper presents an analog front-end transceiver for an ultrasound imaging system based on a high-voltage (HV) transmitter, a low-noise front-end amplifier (RX), and a complementary-metal-oxide-semiconductor, aluminum nitride, piezoelectric micromachined ultrasonic transducer (CMOS-AlN-PMUT). The system was designed using the 0.13-μm Silterra CMOS process and the MEMS-on-CMOS platform, which allowed for the implementation of an AlN PMUT on top of the CMOS-integrated circuit. The HV transmitter drives a column of six 80-μm-square PMUTs excited with 32 V in order to generate enough acoustic pressure at a 2.1-mm axial distance. On the reception side, another six 80-μm-square PMUT columns convert the received echo into an electric charge that is amplified by the receiver front-end amplifier. A comparative analysis between a voltage front-end amplifier (VA) based on capacitive integration and a charge-sensitive front-end amplifier (CSA) is presented. Electrical and acoustic experiments successfully demonstrated the functionality of the designed low-power analog front-end circuitry, which outperformed a state-of-the art front-end application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) in terms of power consumption, noise performance, and area.
Using Domain Knowledge for Interpretable and Competitive Multi-Class Human Activity Recognition
Authors: Scheurer Sebastian , Tedesco Salvatore , Brown Kenneth N. , O’Flynn Brendan
Published: February 2020

Human activity recognition (HAR) has become an increasingly popular application of machine learning across a range of domains. Typically the HAR task that a machine learning algorithm is trained for requires separating multiple activities such as walking, running, sitting, and falling from each other. Despite a large body of work on multi-class HAR, and the well-known fact that the performance on a multi-class problem can be significantly affected by how it is decomposed into a set of binary problems, there has been little research into how the choice of multi-class decomposition method affects the performance of HAR systems. This paper presents the first empirical comparison of multi-class decomposition methods in a HAR context by estimating the performance of five machine learning algorithms when used in their multi-class formulation, with four popular multi-class decomposition methods, five expert hierarchies—nested dichotomies constructed from domain knowledge—or an ensemble of expert hierarchies on a 17-class HAR data-set which consists of features extracted from tri-axial accelerometer and gyroscope signals. We further compare performance on two binary classification problems, each based on the topmost dichotomy of an expert hierarchy. The results show that expert hierarchies can indeed compete with one-vs-all, both on the original multi-class problem and on a more general binary classification problem, such as that induced by an expert hierarchy’s topmost dichotomy. Finally, we show that an ensemble of expert hierarchies performs better than one-vs-all and comparably to one-vs-one, despite being of lower time and space complexity, on the multi-class problem, and outperforms all other multi-class decomposition methods on the two dichotomous problems.
Development of a Low-Cost Narrow Band Multispectral Imaging System Coupled with Chemometric Analysis for Rapid Detection of Rice False Smut in Rice Seed
Authors: Weng Haiyong , Tian Ya , Wu Na , Li Xiaoling , Yang Biyun , Huang Yiping , Ye Dapeng , Wu Renye
Published: February 2020

Spectral imaging is a promising technique for detecting the quality of rice seeds. However, the high cost of the system has limited it to more practical applications. The study was aimed to develop a low-cost narrow band multispectral imaging system for detecting rice false smut (RFS) in rice seeds. Two different cultivars of rice seeds were artificially inoculated with RFS. Results have demonstrated that spectral features at 460, 520, 660, 740, 850, and 940 nm were well linked to the RFS. It achieved an overall accuracy of 98.7% with a false negative rate of 3.2% for Zheliang, and 91.4% with 6.7% for Xiushui, respectively, using the least squares-support vector machine. Moreover, the robustness of the model was validated through transferring the model of Zheliang to Xiushui with the overall accuracy of 90.3% and false negative rate of 7.8%. These results demonstrate the feasibility of the developed system for RFS identification with a low detecting cost.