bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Role of Reaction Intermediate Diffusion on the Performance of Platinum Electrodes in Solid Acid Fuel Cells
Authors: Lorenz Oliver , Kühne Alexander , Rudolph Martin , Diyatmika Wahyu , Prager Andrea , Gerlach Jürgen W. , Griebel Jan , Winkler Sara , Lotnyk Andriy , Anders André , Abel Bernd
Published: September 2021

Understanding the reaction pathways for the hydrogen oxidation reaction (HOR) and the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) is the key to design electrodes for solid acid fuel cells (SAFCs). In general, electrochemical reactions of a fuel cell are considered to occur at the triple-phase boundary where an electrocatalyst, electrolyte and gas phase are in contact. In this concept, diffusion processes of reaction intermediates from the catalyst to the electrolyte remain unconsidered. Here, we unravel the reaction pathways for open-structured Pt electrodes with various electrode thicknesses from 15 to 240 nm. These electrodes are characterized by a triple-phase boundary length and a thickness-depending double-phase boundary area. We reveal that the double-phase boundary is the active catalytic interface for the HOR. For Pt layers ≤ 60 nm, the HOR rate is rate-limited by the processes at the gas/catalyst and/or the catalyst/electrolyte interface while the hydrogen surface diffusion step is fast. For thicker layers (>60 nm), the diffusion of reaction intermediates on the surface of Pt becomes the limiting process. For the ORR, the predominant reaction pathway is via the triple-phase boundary. The double-phase boundary contributes additionally with a diffusion length of a few nanometers. Based on our results, we propose that the molecular reaction mechanism at the electrode interfaces based upon the triple-phase boundary concept may need to be extended to an effective area near the triple-phase boundary length to include all catalytically relevant diffusion processes of the reaction intermediates.
Continuous-Flow Catalysis
Authors: Ötvös Sándor B.
Published: September 2021

During the past twenty years, flow chemistry has emerged as an enabling tool to simplify, accelerate, integrate, scale-up and automatize chemical reactions [...]
Overexpression of the Ubiquitin Specific Proteases USP43, USP41, USP27x and USP6 in Osteosarcoma Cell Lines: Inhibition of Osteosarcoma Tumor Growth and Lung Metastasis Development by the USP Antagonist PR619
Authors: Lavaud Mélanie , Mullard Mathilde , Tesfaye Robel , Amiaud Jérôme , Legrand Mélanie , Danieau Geoffroy , Brion Régis , Morice Sarah , Regnier Laura , Dupuy Maryne , Brounais-Le Royer Bénédicte , Lamoureux François , Ory Benjamin , Rédini Françoise , Verrecchia Franck
Published: September 2021

Osteosarcoma (OS) is the most common malignant bone tumor in children and teenagers. In many cases, such as poor response to treatment or the presence of metastases at diagnosis, the survival rate of patients remains very low. Although in the literature, more and more studies are emerging on the role of Ubiquitin-Specific Proteases (USPs) in the development of many cancers, few data exist regarding OS. In this context, RNA-sequencing analysis of OS cells and mesenchymal stem cells differentiated or not differentiated into osteoblasts reveals increased expression of four USPs in OS tumor cells: USP6, USP27x, USP41 and USP43. Tissue microarray analysis of patient biopsies demonstrates the nucleic and/or cytoplasmic expression of these four USPs at the protein level. Interestingly, Kaplan–Meyer analysis shows that the expression of two USPs, USP6 and USP41, is correlated with patient survival. In vivo experiments using a preclinical OS model, finally demonstrate that PR619, a USP inhibitor able to enhance protein ubiquitination in OS cell lines, reduces primary OS tumor growth and the development of lung metastases. In this context, in vitro experiments show that PR619 decreases the viability of OS cells, mainly by inducing a caspase3/7-dependent cell apoptosis. Overall, these results demonstrate the relevance of targeting USPs in OS.
Inhibition of Cellular and Animal Inflammatory Disease Models by NF-κB Inhibitor DHMEQ
Authors: Ma Jun , Zhang Yuyang , Sugai Takeshi , Kubota Tetsuo , Keino Hiroshi , El-Salhy Magdy , Ozaki Michitaka , Umezawa Kazuo
Published: September 2021

General inflammatory diseases include skin inflammation, rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel diseases, sepsis, arteriosclerosis, and asthma. Although these diseases have been extensively studied, most of them are still difficult to treat. Meanwhile, NF-κB is a transcription factor promoting the expression of many inflammatory mediators. NF-κB is likely to be involved in the mechanism of most inflammatory diseases. We discovered a specific NF-κB inhibitor, dehydroxymethylepoxyquinomicin (DHMEQ), about 20 years ago by molecular design from a natural product. It directly binds to and inactivates NF-κB components. It has been widely used to suppress cellular and animal inflammatory disease models and was shown to be potent in vivo anti-inflammatory activity without any toxicity. We have prepared ointment of DHMEQ for the treatment of severe skin inflammation. It inhibited inflammatory cytokine expressions and lowered the clinical score in mouse models of atopic dermatitis. Intraperitoneal (IP) administration of DHMEQ ameliorated various disease models of inflammation, such as rheumatoid arthritis, sepsis, and also graft rejection. It has been suggested that inflammatory cells in the peritoneal cavity would be important for most peripheral inflammation. In the present review, we describe the synthesis, mechanism of action, and cellular and in vivo anti-inflammatory activities and discuss the clinical use of DHMEQ for inflammatory diseases.
Preliminary Assessment of Cooling Water Chemistry for Fusion Power Plants
Authors: Lo Piccolo Eugenio , Torella Raffaele , Terranova Nicholas , Di Pace Luigi , Gasparrini Claudia , Dalla Palma Mauro
Published: September 2021

The determination of the water chemistry for cooling systems of nuclear fusion plants is under debate. It should be tailored for different types of fusion reactors: either experimental, e.g., ITER, JT-60SA, and DTT, or aimed at power generation, e.g., DEMO, given the different operation requirements. This paper presents the dual approach involving experiments and computer simulations chosen for the definition of DEMO water chemistry. Experimental work was performed to assess the corrosion susceptibility of reduced activation ferritic martensitic EUROFER 97 and AISI 316L in different water chemistry regimes. At the same time, the low corrosivity requirement brings an additional safety aspect for the radiation protection since some neutron-activated corrosion products (ACPs) create a gamma radiation when deposited outside the plasma chamber in components accessible to operators and these must be minimized. To evaluate the ACP inventory for DEMO, assessments were carried out using a reference computer code. Preliminary experimental activities to define the water chemistry of DTT under construction at ENEA were also conducted. The comparison of code results with experiments is two-fold important: for the validation of the computer code models and to determine data that are necessary to perform calculations.
Fabrication of Multifunctional SERS Platform Based on Ag NPs Self-Assembly Ag-AAO Nanoarray for Direct Determination of Pesticide Residues and Baicalein in Real Samples
Authors: Shi Guochao , Li Kuihua , Gu Jungai , Yuan Wenzhi , Xu Shiqi , Han Wei , Gu Jianjun , Wang Liyong , Zhang Zhibin , Chen Congzhe , Ge Jialin , Wang Mingli
Published: September 2021

Aiming at the shortcomings of high cost and time-consumption in traditional liquid chromatography, an effective surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS)-based trace detection method has been proposed to quantitatively identify the active component of traditional Chinese medicine. In this paper, a high-performance and versatile SERS platform based on Ag nanoparticles (NPs) self-assembly Ag-anodized aluminium (Ag NPs-Ag-AAO) nanoarray was fabricated by controllable physico-chemical preparation technology. The results indicated that the electromagnetic field enhancement effect was sharply strengthened as Ag NPs assembled, and the experimental enhancement factor (EEF) value was calculated to be 1.0083 × 106. This novel Ag NPs-Ag-AAO nanoarray with substantial “hot spots” exhibited high SERS signal reproducibility, with the relative standard deviation (RSD) value at less than 2.23%. More importantly, this SERS platform was applied to detect active component Baicalein in Scutellaria baicalensis, and the limit of detection (LOD) was located at 10 fg/mL. Therefore, this Ag NPs-Ag-AAO nanoarray with high sensitivity, strong Raman signal reproducibility and reliable practicability has broad application prospects in the rapid detection of trace substances in the active components of traditional Chinese medicine and is expected to be popularized.
The Influence of Organically Modified Derivatives of Silica on the Structure and the Wetting Angle Values of Silica Coatings
Authors: Adamczyk Anna
Published: September 2021

The surrounding environment often acts in a destructive way on materials we apply in our everyday life. The best way to protect them against such activity is to cover the basic materials with coatings possessing different properties, tailored to their applications. Anticorrosive layers are one of the biggest groups of such protective coatings, especially those containing silica or its derivatives. Depending on a type of silica precursor and a method of deposition, one can obtain coatings of different structures and properties. In this work, three different silica precursors were applied: TEOS (tetraethylorthosilane), DDS (dimethyldiethoxysilane) and AerosilTM (the powder silica). Sols of different concentrations of the aforementioned precursors as well as commercially available preparations (Sarsil H1 4/2 and SILOXAN W290) were applied for thin films deposition by a dip coating or an infiltration method. The substrates could be divided in two groups: metallic (steel and titanium or titanium alloys) and porous (represented by old brick, sandstone and limestone). Following the deposition process, the layers on metallic substrates were additionally annealed at 500 °C to improve their adhesion and mechanical properties, while those on porous materials were dried in air. All prepared coatings were primarily studied by FTIR spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction. The morphology of their surfaces was imaged by SEM and AFM microscopies, which also allowed determination of the roughness of obtained materials. The measurements of wetting angle values enabled to find the relationship between the surface topography, the type of silica precursor and the hydrophobic/hydrophilic properties of the samples. The results confirmed the hydrophobic properties of coatings obtained by the infiltration technique on the porous materials and the high hydrophilicity of the annealed thin film deposited on the metallic substrates.
Effective Handling of COVID-19 Pandemic: Experiences and Lessons from the Perspective of South Korea
Authors: Majeed Abdul
Published: September 2021

The ongoing pandemic (i.e., novel corona virus disease 2019 (COVID-19)) is a major crisis that humanity is facing across the globe. In response to COVID-19, every country has designed and enforced various mechanisms to control its spread, and save their citizens from this deadly disease. Besides the general containment strategies, the use of technology and person-specific data collection and processing also vary from country to country. In this brief case report, we describe the measures that South Korea (SK) has adopted in order to curb the spread of COVID-19, and the success of SK in keeping the cases at a manageable level since the start of this pandemic until present via extensive use of technology. Specifically, we describe the data collected to control this pandemic, technical framework in place to ensure co-ordination with different authorities, containment strategies, and major breakthrough SK achieved when sporadic clusters emerged throughout the nation. With this brief overview, we aim to update the research community about the unprecedented efforts SK made, utilizing previous pandemic experiences, and the successful results they have obtained so far amid this pandemic, leveraging technology.
Optically Rewritable Liquid Crystal Displays: Characteristics and Performance
Authors: Chigrinov Vladimir G. , Kudreyko Aleksey A. , Podgornov Fedor V.
Published: September 2021

Recent achievements in the photoalignment technique for fabrication of optically rewritable electronic paper with high performance characteristics are surveyed with emphasis on temporal constraints on the exposure process. The possibility of creating electrode-free electronic paper has very important practical aspects. However, many existing studies do not include sufficient analysis on how to achieve acceptable reflective characteristics within short exposure time. In order to achieve this goal, we have applied the rotational diffusion model. We find that the parameters of the diffusion model can be adjusted to get acceptable light-reflecting characteristics within 10 s of exposure. In comparison with the long-time exposure, the reflectance coefficient reduces by 24%. The route to material improvements for optimized e-paper device is discussed.
Anti-DFS70 Antibodies for Differentiating Systemic Autoimmune Rheumatic Disease in Patients with Positive ANA Tests: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Cheng Chiao-Feng , Shih Ming-Chieh , Lan Ting-Yuan , Li Ko-Jen
Published: September 2021

Anti-DFS70 antibodies have been proposed as a marker to exclude systemic autoimmune rheumatic disease (SARD). We conducted this systematic diagnostic test accuracy review and meta-analysis to determine the performance of anti-DFS70 antibodies in patients with a positive anti-nuclear antibody (ANA) test result to exclude SARD. We searched PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Scopus and the Cochrane Library up to 22 February 2021, and included studies examining the diagnostic accuracy of anti-DFS70 antibodies in patients with a positive ANA test result. The results were pooled using a hierarchical bivariate model and plotted in summary receiver operating characteristic curves. R software and Stata Statistical Software were used for the statistical analysis. Eight studies with 4168 patients were included. The summary sensitivity was 0.19 (95% confidence interval: 0.12–0.28) and the specificity was 0.93 (95% confidence interval: 0.88–0.96). The area under the curve was 0.69 (95% confidence interval: 0.64–0.72). The meta-regression analysis showed that targeting only ANA-associated rheumatic disease was associated with higher specificity. In addition, the studies with a non-SARD prevalence of <80% and using a chemiluminescence assay were associated with higher specificity. Anti-DFS70 antibodies have high specificity for the exclusion of SARD among patients presenting with a positive ANA test, but the sensitivity is low.
The Ontology of Becoming: To Research and Become with the World
Authors: Bergstedt Bosse
Published: September 2021

This article aims is to explore a perspective of the ontology of becoming, that makes it possible to study the emergence of phenomena and thereby broaden the understanding of how knowledge is created. It is written in close connection with research in posthumanism and new materialism. What hat has been lacking in these perspectives has been a clearer connection to ontological points of departure. It is therefore the purpose of this article to describe, based on ontological positions, both philosophical points of departure and methodology and research practice. The article is structured in three parts, where the introductory part describes basic ontological starting points. The second part describes how a research apparatus can be constructed and used to carry out analyses based on the ontology of becoming. A research apparatus where the body’s senses and mobility are given a prominent role through a haptic sensorium. The third part describes examples of phenomena that can be explored with an onto-analysis of becoming. Among these, special focus is placed on the border phenomenon of sound. The result of the article is a perspective that can contribute to renewed insights into how phenomena are created with the world.
VxG Pattern-Based Analysis and Battery Deterioration Diagnosis
Authors: Lim Jungho , Lee Sung-Eun , Park Kwang-Yong , Kim Hee-Soo , Choi Jin-Hyeok
Published: September 2021

This paper presents the results of an analysis using the direct current internal resistance (DCIR) method on a nickel-cobalt-manganese oxide (NCM)-based battery with a nominal capacity of 55.6 Ah. The accelerated degradation test was performed on V0G, V1G, and V2G patterns, representing existing simple power supply, smart charging control, and bi-directional charge/discharge control, respectively. We assumed V0G, V1G, and V2G patterns and conducted charging and discharging experiments according to the set conditions. According to the pattern repetition, changes in the internal resistance of DCIR and AC-impedance were analyzed and battery deterioration was diagnosed. By comparing DCIR and AC-impedance, we confirmed that the changes in internal resistance has a similar trend. In particular, we propose a new DCIR analysis method in the “stop-operation” part rather than the traditional DCIR method. In the case of traditional DCIR method, time is required for the battery to stabilize. However, the newly proposed DCIR analysis method has the advantage of diagnosing the deterioration of the battery during system operation by analyzing the internal resistance without the stabilization time of the battery.
Indonesia’s Vast Solar Energy Potential
Authors: Silalahi David Firnando , Blakers Andrew , Stocks Matthew , Lu Bin , Cheng Cheng , Hayes Liam
Published: September 2021

In this paper, we conclude that Indonesia has vast potential for generating and balancing solar photovoltaic (PV) energy to meet future energy needs at a competitive cost. We systematically analyse renewable energy potential in Indonesia. Solar PV is identified to be an energy source whose technical, environmental and economic potential far exceeds Indonesia’s present and future energy requirements and is far larger than all other renewable energy resources combined. We estimate that electricity consumption in Indonesia could reach 9000 terawatt-hours per year by 2050, which is 30 times larger than at present. Indonesia has abundant space to deploy enough solar to meet this requirement, including on rooftops, inland reservoirs, mining wasteland, and in combination with agriculture. Importantly, Indonesia has a vast maritime area that almost never experiences strong winds or large waves that could host floating solar capable of generating >200,000 terawatt-hours per year. Indonesia also has far more off-river pumped hydro energy storage potential than required for balancing solar generation.
Opportunities and Challenges of High-Pressure Fast Pyrolysis of Biomass: A Review
Authors: Rasaq Waheed A. , Golonka Mateusz , Scholz Miklas , Białowiec Andrzej
Published: September 2021

Most pyrolysis reactors require small sizes of biomass particles to achieve high-quality products. Moreover, understanding the usefulness of high-pressure systems in pyrolysis is important, given the operational challenges they exhibit specific to various biomass materials. To actualize these aspects, the authors first checked previous reviews involving pyrolysis on different biomass and different conditions/situations with their respective objectives and subsections. From these already existing reviews, the team found that there has not been much emphasis on high-pressure fast pyrolysis and its potential in biomass conversion, showing that it is a novel direction in the pyrolysis technology development. Therefore, this review aims to shed more light on high-pressure fast pyrolysis, drawing from (a) classification of pyrolysis; (b) reactors used in fast pyrolysis; (c) heat transfer in pyrolysis feedstock; (d) fast pyrolysis parameters; (e) properties/yields of fast pyrolysis products; (f) high pressure on pyrolysis process; (g) catalyst types and their application; and (h) problems to overcome in the pyrolysis process. This review increases the understanding regarding high-pressure fast pyrolysis. An attempt has been made to demonstrate how high-pressure fast pyrolysis can bring about high-quality biomass conversion into new products. It has been shown that fluidized bed (bubbling and circulating) reactors are most suitable and profitable in terms of product yield. The high-pressure, especially combined with the fast-heating rate, may be more efficient and beneficial than working under ambient pressure. However, the challenges of pyrolysis on a technical scale appear to be associated with obtaining high product quality and yield. The direction of future work should focus on the design of high-pressure process reactors and material types that might have greater biomass promise, as well understanding the impact of pyrolysis technology on the various output products, especially those with lower energy demands. We propose that the increase of process pressure and biomass particle size decrease should be considered as variables for optimization.
Data-Driven Virtual Replication of Thermostatically Controlled Domestic Heating Systems
Authors: Mor Gerard , Cipriano Jordi , Gabaldon Eloi , Grillone Benedetto , Tur Mariano , Chemisana Daniel
Published: September 2021

Thermostatic load control systems are widespread in many countries. Since they provide heat for domestic hot water and space heating on a massive scale in the residential sector, the assessment of their energy performance and the effect of different control strategies requires simplified modeling techniques demanding a small number of inputs and low computational resources. Data-driven techniques are envisaged as one of the best options to meet these constraints. This paper presents a novel methodology consisting of the combination of an optimization algorithm, two auto-regressive models and a control loop algorithm able to virtually replicate the control of thermostatically driven systems. This combined strategy includes all the thermostatically controlled modes governed by the set point temperature and enables automatic assessment of the energy consumption impact of multiple scenarios. The required inputs are limited to available historical readings from smart thermostats and external climate data sources. The methodology has been trained and validated with data sets coming from a selection of 11 smart thermostats, connected to gas boilers, placed in several households located in north-eastern Spain. Important conclusions of the research are that these techniques can estimate the temperature decay of households when the space heating is off as well as the energy consumption needed to reach the comfort conditions. The results of the research also show that estimated median energy savings of 18.1% and 36.5% can be achieved if the usual set point temperature schedule is lowered by 1 °C and 2 °C, respectively.
Assessing Local Power Generation Potentials of Photovoltaics, Engine Cogeneration, and Heat Pumps: The Case of a Major Swiss City
Authors: Crimmann Martina , Madlener Reinhard
Published: September 2021

In this paper, we investigate the potentials of distributed generation (DG) in a medium-sized Swiss city. We show the role of private households in the sustainable energy transition process induced by Swiss energy policy. For the analysis, we define six scenarios that enable us to study the potentials and impacts of different combinations of DG technologies in terms of costs, CO2 emissions, and amounts and shares of DG provided by non-industrial end-users (essentially private households and the services sector). Three variants are investigated, one with real electricity costs and CO2 emissions, one with increased electricity costs (e.g., construction of new power plants), and one with increased CO2 emissions (e.g., due to the planned nuclear phase-out in Switzerland). We find that non-industrial entities can play an important role as prosumers. They mitigate the need for centralized generation. Within a scenario where the non-industrial energy end-users install water-water heat pumps and photovoltaics, a total reduction of the gas procurement from the grid is possible whereas the electricity demand from the grid increases by 24%. This scenario reveals higher DG electricity costs in comparison to conventional electricity supply, but the total costs of energy supply decrease due to the elimination of gas supply, and the CO2 emissions can be reduced by 68%.
Renewable Energy Plants and Business Models: A New Rural Development Perspective
Authors: Prados María-José , Pallarès-Blanch Marta , García-Marín Ramón , Valle Carolina del
Published: September 2021

The paper evaluates the rural development (RD) contribution of local economic activities (LEAs), whether generated or affected by the proximity of renewable energy plants (REPs). The study also informs about LEAs’ role as co-players in the fight against climate change. Semi-structured research interviews have been applied to identify LEAs’ BM (business model) in Andalusia, Murcia, and Catalonia, autonomous communities of Spain. Most LEAs present a BM based on the RE plant, and others do not, but they still contribute to RD, rural communities’ well-being and global sustainability. Results show, first, that certain LEAs, due to their inter-connection with large REPs, can innovate and create a significant number of stable jobs. Second, land leasing to REPs allows for temporary farms’ diversification, which is conditioned to its bargaining power. Third, advice on integration RE projects in RD strategies should be provided. Conclusions suggest the need for new governance to favor energy transition coherent with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Regression Models Utilization to the Underground Temperature Determination at Coal Energy Conversion
Authors: Durdán Milan , Benková Marta , Laciak Marek , Kačur Ján , Flegner Patrik
Published: September 2021

The underground coal gasification represents a technology capable of obtaining synthetic coal gas from hard-reached coal deposits and coal beds with tectonic faults. This technology is also less expensive than conventional coal mining. The cavity is formed in the coal seam by converting coal to synthetic gas during the underground coal gasification process. The cavity growth rate and the gasification queue’s moving velocity are affected by controllable variables, i.e., the operation pressure, the gasification agent, and the laboratory coal seam geometry. These variables can be continuously measured by standard measuring devices and techniques as opposed to the underground temperature. This paper researches the possibility of the regression models utilization for temperature data prediction for this reason. Several regression models were proposed that were differed in their structures, i.e., the number and type of selected controllable variables as independent variables. The goal was to find such a regression model structure, where the underground temperature is predicted with the greatest possible accuracy. The regression model structures’ proposal was realized on data obtained from two laboratory measurements realized in the ex situ reactor. The obtained temperature data can be used for visualization of the cavity growth in the gasified coal seam.
Analysis and Experimental Verification of the Demagnetization Vulnerability in Various PM Synchronous Machine Configurations for an EV Application
Authors: Choi Gilsu
Published: September 2021

Safety is a critical feature for all passenger vehicles, making fail–safe operation of the traction drive system highly important. Increasing demands for traction drives that can operate in challenging environments over wide constant power speed ranges expose permanent magnet (PM) machines to conditions that can cause irreversible demagnetization of rotor magnets. In this paper, a comprehensive analysis of the demagnetization vulnerability in PM machines for an electric vehicle (EV) application is presented. The first half of the paper presents rotor demagnetization characteristics of several different PM machines to investigate the impact of different design configurations on demagnetization and to identify promising machine geometries that have higher demagnetization resistance. Experimental verification results of rotor demagnetization in an interior PM (IPM) machine are presented in the latter half of the paper. The experimental tests were carried out on a specially designed locked-rotor test setup combined with closed-loop magnet temperature control. Experimental results confirm that both local and global demagnetization damage can be accurately predicted by time-stepped finite element (FE) analysis.
Contribution of Grape Skins and Yeast Choice on the Aroma Profiles of Wines Produced from Pinot Noir and Synthetic Grape Musts
Authors: Qiao Yifeng , Hawkins Diana , Parish-Virtue Katie , Fedrizzi Bruno , Knight Sarah J. , Deed Rebecca C.
Published: September 2021

The aroma profile is a key component of Pinot noir wine quality, and this is influenced by the diversity, quantity, and typicity of volatile compounds present. Volatile concentrations are largely determined by the grape itself and by microbial communities that produce volatiles during fermentation, either from grape-derived precursors or as byproducts of secondary metabolism. The relative degree of aroma production from grape skins compared to the juice itself, and the impact on different yeasts on this production, has not been investigated for Pinot noir. The influence of fermentation media (Pinot noir juice or synthetic grape must (SGM), with and without inclusion of grape skins) and yeast choice (commercial Saccharomyces cerevisiae EC1118, a single vineyard mixed community (MSPC), or uninoculated) on aroma chemistry was determined by measuring 39 volatiles in finished wines using headspace solid-phase microextraction (HS-SPME) coupled with gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Fermentation medium clearly differentiated the volatile profile of wines with and without yeast, while differences between EC1118 and MSPC wines were only distinct for Pinot noir juice without skins. SGM with skins produced a similar aroma profile to Pinot noir with skins, suggesting that grape skins, and not the pulp, largely determine the aroma of Pinot noir wines.
Commercially Available Non-Saccharomyces Yeasts for Winemaking: Current Market, Advantages over Saccharomyces, Biocompatibility, and Safety
Authors: Vejarano Ricardo , Gil-Calderón Angie
Published: September 2021

About 42 commercial products based on non-Saccharomyces yeasts are estimated as available on the market, being mostly pure cultures (79%), with a predominance of Torulaspora delbrueckii, Lachancea thermotolerans, and Metschnikowia pulcherrima. The others are multi-starter consortia that include non-Saccharomyces/Saccharomyces mixtures or only non-Saccharomyces species. Several commercial yeasts have shown adequate biocompatibility with S. cerevisiae in mixed fermentations, allowing an increased contribution of metabolites of oenological interest, such as glycerol, esters, higher alcohols, acids, thiols, and terpenes, among others, in addition to a lower production of acetic acid, volatile phenols, biogenic amines, or urea. Multi-starter inoculations are also reviewed here, which show adequate biocompatibility and synergy between species. In certain cases, the aromatic profile of wines based on grape varieties considered neutral is improved. In addition, several yeasts show the capacity as biocontrollers against contaminating microorganisms. The studies conducted to date demonstrate the potential of these yeasts to improve the properties of wine as an alternative and complement to the traditional S. cerevisiae.
The Use of Life Cycle Assessment in the Support of the Development of Fungal Food Products from Surplus Bread
Authors: Brancoli Pedro , Gmoser Rebecca , Taherzadeh Mohammad J. , Bolton Kim
Published: September 2021

The use of food waste as feedstock in the manufacture of high-value products is a promising avenue to contribute to circular economy. Considering that the majority of environmental impacts of products are determined in the early phases of product development, it is crucial to integrate life cycle assessment during these phases. This study integrates environmental considerations in the development of solid-state fermentation based on the cultivation of N. intermedia for the production of a fungal food product using surplus bread as a substrate. The product can be sold as a ready-to-eat meal to reduce waste while generating additional income. Four inoculation scenarios were proposed, based on the use of bread, molasses, and glucose as substrate, and one scenario based on backslopping. The environmental performance was assessed, and the quality of the fungal product was evaluated in terms of morphology and protein content. The protein content of the fungal food product was similar in all scenarios, varying from 25% to 29%. The scenario based on backslopping showed the lowest environmental impacts while maintaining high protein content. The results show that the inoculum production and the solid-state fermentation are the two environmental hotspots and should be in focus when optimizing the process.
Globally Scheduling Volunteer Computing
Authors: Anderson David P.
Published: September 2021

Volunteer computing uses millions of consumer computing devices (desktop and laptop computers, tablets, phones, appliances, and cars) to do high-throughput scientific computing. It can provide Exa-scale capacity, and it is a scalable and sustainable alternative to data-center computing. Currently, about 30 science projects use volunteer computing in areas ranging from biomedicine to cosmology. Each project has application programs with particular hardware and software requirements (memory, GPUs, VM support, and so on). Each volunteered device has specific hardware and software capabilities, and each device owner has preferences for which science areas they want to support. This leads to a scheduling problem: how to dynamically assign devices to projects in a way that satisfies various constraints and that balances various goals. We describe the scheduling policy used in Science United, a global manager for volunteer computing.
Comparison of Automated Extraction Techniques for Volatile Analysis of Whole Milk Powder
Authors: Cheng Zeng , Mannion David T. , O’Sullivan Maurice G. , Miao Song , Kerry Joseph P. , Kilcawley Kieran N.
Published: September 2021

Volatile profiling of whole milk powder is valuable for obtaining information on product quality, adulteration, legislation, shelf life, and aroma. For routine analysis, automated solventless volatile extraction techniques are favored due their simplicity and versatility, however no single extraction technique can provide a complete volatile profile due to inherent chemical bias. This study was undertaken to compare and contrast the performance of headspace solid phase microextraction, thermal desorption, and HiSorb (a sorptive extraction technique in both headspace and direct immersion modes) for the volatile analysis of whole milk powder by gas chromatography mass spectrometry. Overall, 85 unique volatiles were recovered and identified, with 80 extracted and identified using a non-polar gas chromatography column, compared to 54 extracted, and identified using a polar gas chromatography column. The impact of salting out was minimal in comparison to gas chromatography column polarity and the differences between the extraction techniques. HiSorb extracted the most and greatest abundance of volatiles, but was heavily influenced by the number and volume of lactones extracted in comparison to the other techniques. HiSorb extracted significantly more volatiles by direct immersion than by headspace. The differences in volatile selectivity was evident between the techniques and highlights the importance of using multiple extraction techniques in order to obtain a more complete volatile profile. This study provides valuable information on the volatile composition of whole milk powder and on differences between extraction techniques under different conditions, which can be extrapolated to other food and beverages.
Advances of UAVs toward Future Transportation: The State-of-the-Art, Challenges, and Opportunities
Authors: Gupta Anunay , Afrin Tanzina , Scully Evan , Yodo Nita
Published: September 2021

The adoption of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) in numerous sectors is projected to grow exponentially in the future as technology advances and regulation evolves. One of the promising applications of UAVs is in transportation systems. As the current transportation system is moving towards Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS), UAVs will play a significant role in the functioning of ITS. This paper presents a survey on the recent advances of UAVs and their roles in current and future transportation systems. Moreover, the emerging technologies of UAVs in the transportation section and the current research areas are summarized. From the discussion, the challenges and opportunities of integrating UAVs towards future ITS are highlighted. In addition, some of the potential research areas involving UAVs in future ITS are also identified. This study aims to lay a foundation for the development of future intelligent and resilient transportation systems.
On the Dilatancy of Fine-Grained Soils
Authors: Tafili Merita , Grandas Tavera Carlos , Triantafyllidis Theodoros , Wichtmann Torsten
Published: September 2021

A new evaluation method for the dilatancy of fine-grained soils based on monotonic and cyclic undrained triaxial tests has been established using two elasticity approaches: isotropic and transverse isotropic hypoelasticity. The evaluation of two clays, Kaolin and Lower Rhine Clay, with the new method also shows that the dilatancy of fine-grained soils is dependent on the stress ratio, the void ratio, and the straining direction along with the intrinsic material parameters. Similar to sand, we can observe a Phase Transformation Line beyond which further shearing induces a volume increase. A generalization of the Taylor dilatancy rule from direct shear to multiaxial space is established, and an extension accounting for the behaviour of soft soils is proposed. We formulate a simple hypoplastic constitutive relation with a modified flow rule that reproduces the observed dilatant as well as contractant behaviour. Some simulations of monotonic as well as cyclic tests prove the accurate performance of the proposed dilatancy relation.
Outpatient and Home-Based Treatment: Effective Settings for Hip Fracture Rehabilitation in Elderly Patients
Authors: Freitas Margarida Mota , Antunes Sara , Ascenso Diana , Silveira Alda
Published: September 2021

Femoral neck fractures are a major source of disability in the elderly. Rehabilitation is fundamental to recover pre-fracture functionality. We conducted an observational cohort study with the aim of comparing the efficacy of rehabilitation programs in different therapeutic settings. We included elderly patients who had undergone surgical stabilization of a hip fracture. The participants were divided into 3 groups: group 1, outpatient rehabilitation; group 2, inpatient rehabilitation; group 3, home-based rehabilitation. Patients were evaluated at baseline, at three months, and at six months after fracture. Our outcome measures were the Barthel Index (BI), Functional Ambulation Categories, passive and active range of motion of hip flexion and abduction, and muscle strength in hip flexion, abduction, and knee extension. At six months, all three groups showed an average statistically significant improvement (p < 0.05) in all outcome measures compared to the baseline. Considering the between-group analysis, final BI was significantly higher in outpatient than inpatient-treated patients (p = 0.018), but no statistical difference was found between outpatient and home-based patients. Our findings suggest that rehabilitation leads to significant functional recovery after hip fracture in elderly patients. Both outpatient and home-based rehabilitation seem to be reasonable options for hip fracture rehabilitation.
Transcriptional Regulation by the NFAT Family in Acute Myeloid Leukaemia
Authors: Patterson Shaun D. , Huang Xu , Jørgensen Heather G. , Michie Alison M.
Published: September 2021

Acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) is a haematological cancer with poor outcomes due to a lack of efficacious targeted therapies. The Nuclear Factor of Activated T Cells (NFAT) family of transcription factors is well characterised as a regulator of the cell cycle and differentiation in the myeloid lineage. Recent evidence has demonstrated that NFAT family members may have roles in regulating AML leukemogenesis and resistance to targeted therapy in myeloid leukaemia. Furthermore, gene expression data from patient samples show that some NFATs are more highly expressed in poorly differentiated AML and after disease relapse, implying that the NFAT family may have roles in specific types of AML. This review outlines the evidence for the role of NFAT in healthy myeloid tissue and explores how NFAT might regulate AML pathogenesis, highlighting the potential to target specific NFAT proteins therapeutically in AML.
Exogenous Antioxidants Enhance Seedling Growth and Yield of Artificially Aged Cabbage and Lettuce Seeds
Authors: Adetunji Ademola , Sershen  , Varghese Boby , Pammenter Norman
Published: September 2021

Aged seeds exhibit compromised vigour in terms of germination, seedling emergence and growth, but this can to some extent be alleviated by invigoration treatments before sowing. This study aimed to investigate ageing rates and patterns in cabbage (Brassica oleraceae) and lettuce (Lactuca sativa) seeds and whether the beneficial effects of invigorating aged seeds with exogenous antioxidants translate to enhanced seedling performance. Seeds were artificially aged to 25% viability before soaking in 0.4 mM glycerol, 0.6 mM GSH and 0.2 mM trolox for cabbage, and 0.6 mM glycerol, GSH and trolox for lettuce; deionised water served as a control. After 14 days of sowing, seedling emergence percentage, mean emergence time, mean daily emergence, and time taken to 25% emergence were computed. Seedling vigour index, root and shoot dry weight, root:shoot ratio, leaf area, leaf area ratio, and leaf chlorophyll content were assessed 6 weeks after sowing. Furthermore, the photosynthetic rate (Pn), stomatal conductance (Gs), transpiration rate (E), and chlorophyll fluorescence were measured 6 weeks after sowing. Notably, ageing resulted in the loss of seed vigour and viability at higher rates in lettuce than cabbage. Seed pretreatment with glycerol promoted seedling growth in both species and shoot dry weight in lettuce, while glycerol and GSH enhanced Pn, Gs and E in lettuce. Trolox also enhanced Pn and E in lettuce. The beneficial effects of the antioxidant treatments are thought to be associated with the protection of photosystems from oxidative stress and/or stimulation of enzymes involved in photosynthesis, possibly through an enhanced antioxidant defence system during the early development stages when seedlings are particularly vulnerable to stress.
Integrating Drone Technology into an Innovative Agrometeorological Methodology for the Precise and Real-Time Estimation of Crop Water Requirements
Authors: Alexandris Stavros , Psomiadis Emmanouil , Proutsos Nikolaos , Philippopoulos Panos , Charalampopoulos Ioannis , Kakaletris George , Papoutsi Eleni-Magda , Vassilakis Stylianos , Paraskevopoulos Antoniοs
Published: September 2021

Precision agriculture has been at the cutting edge of research during the recent decade, aiming to reduce water consumption and ensure sustainability in agriculture. The proposed methodology was based on the crop water stress index (CWSI) and was applied in Greece within the ongoing research project GreenWaterDrone. The innovative approach combines real spatial data, such as infrared canopy temperature, air temperature, air relative humidity, and thermal infrared image data, taken above the crop field using an aerial micrometeorological station (AMMS) and a thermal (IR) camera installed on an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). Following an initial calibration phase, where the ground micrometeorological station (GMMS) was installed in the crop, no equipment needed to be maintained in the field. Aerial and ground measurements were transferred in real time to sophisticated databases and applications over existing mobile networks for further processing and estimation of the actual water requirements of a specific crop at the field level, dynamically alerting/informing local farmers/agronomists of the irrigation necessity and additionally for potential risks concerning their fields. The supported services address farmers’, agricultural scientists’, and local stakeholders’ needs to conform to regional water management and sustainable agriculture policies. As preliminary results of this study, we present indicative original illustrations and data from applying the methodology to assess UAV functionality while aiming to evaluate and standardize all system processes.
Determinants of Influenza Vaccination Coverage among Greek Health Care Workers amid COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Rachiotis Georgios , Papagiannis Dimitrios , Malli Foteini , Papathanasiou Ioanna V. , Kotsiou Ourania , Fradelos Evangelos C. , Daniil Zoe , Gourgoulianis Konstantinos I.
Published: September 2021

In the context of the evolving current COVID-19 pandemic, influenza vaccination among the public and health care workers is of particular importance. There are sparse data on the influenza vaccination coverage among health care workers amid COVID-19 pandemic. We aimed to study possible factors associated with influenza vaccination coverage among Greek physicians, dentists, and pharmacists during the flu season 2020–2021. We formulated the hypothesis that COVID-19 pandemic exerted a positive impact on the influenza vaccination coverage of health care workers. An online survey was conducted among the members of the Larissa, (Thessaly, Central Greece) Medical, Dentists, and Pharmacists Associations. The influenza vaccination coverage was 74% (251/340). Acceptance of COVID-19 vaccination coverage was the only factor independently associated with the likelihood of influenza vaccination coverage. In conclusion, we report here a considerable improvement of the influenza vaccination coverage among HCWs and especially among physicians. Acceptance of COVID-19 vaccination was the only predictor of influenza vaccination coverage. This finding provides public health workers and policymakers with useful policy-relevant evidence in order to maintain and even further improve the gains of increased vaccination coverage achieved during the flu season 2020–2021.