bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Comparison of the Surface Thermal Patterns of Horses and Donkeys in Infrared Thermography Images
Authors: Domino Małgorzata , Romaszewski Michał , Jasiński Tomasz , Maśko Małgorzata
Published: November 2020

Infrared thermography (IRT) is a valuable diagnostic tool in equine veterinary medicine; however, little is known about its application to donkeys. This study aims to find patterns in thermal images of donkeys and horses and determine if these patterns share similarities. The study is carried out on 18 donkeys and 16 horses. All equids undergo thermal imaging with an infrared camera and measurement of the skin thickness and hair coat length. On the class maps of each thermal image, fifteen regions of interest (ROIs) are annotated and then combined into 10 groups of ROIs (GORs). The existence of statistically significant differences between surface temperatures in GORs is tested both “globally” for all animals of a given species and “locally” for each animal. Two special cases of animals that differed from the rest are also discussed. The results indicate that the majority of thermal patterns are similar for both species; however, average surface temperatures in horses (22.72±2.46 °C) are higher than in donkeys (18.88±2.30 °C). This could be related to differences in the skin thickness and hair coat. The patterns of both species are associated with GORs, rather than with an individual ROI, and there is a higher uniformity in the donkeys’ patterns.
A Study on the Effects of Vertical Mass Irregularity on Seismic Behavior of BRBFs and CBFs
Authors: Karami Armin , Shahbazi Shahrokh , Kioumarsi Mahdi
Published: November 2020

Today, architectural application and economic constraints require that vertical-irregular structures be constructed in urban areas. Proposing methods to minimize damage to these structures during earthquakes is therefore crucial. Strict regulations have been enforced for the design and analysis of irregular structures given their higher vulnerability to damage compared to that of regular structures. The present study aimed to evaluate eight regular and irregular 10-story and 15-story steel structures with buckling-restrained braces frames (BRBFs) and concentric braced frames (CBFs) in terms of their responses to twelve far-field earthquakes. According to the obtained results, the mean value of maximum drift, top floor displacement and floor acceleration were higher in both regular and irregular structures with BRBFs than in those with CBFs.
An Automatic Optimized Method for a Digital Optical Phase Conjugation System in Focusing through Scattering Media
Authors: Zhang Pan , Li Zhan , Han Lu , Liu Dean , Zhu Jianqiang
Published: November 2020

In this paper, a reliable automatic optimized method for a digital optical phase conjugation (DOPC) system based on a multipopulation genetic algorithm (MPGA) is proposed for improving the compensation quality of DOPC. The practical implementation and compensation quality of DOPC in focusing through scattering media are greatly limited by imperfect pixel alignment, optical aberration, and mechanical error in the DOPC system. For comprehensively solving the above problems, the concept of global optimization is introduced by Zernike polynomials (Zernike modes) to characterize overall imperfections, and MPGA is used to search for the most optimal Zernike coefficient and compensate for the overall imperfections of the DOPC system. The significant optimization ability of the proposed method is verified in DOPC-related experiments for focusing through scattering media. The peak-to-background ratio (PBR) of the OPC focus increases 174 times that of the initial OPC focus. Furthermore, we evaluated the optimization results of the proposed method with a fitness function of intensity fitness and correlation coefficient fitness in MPGA. The results show that the optimized capability is excellent and more efficiently used than the correlation coefficient fitness function in the Zernike modes.
LIMCR: Less-Informative Majorities Cleaning Rule Based on Naïve Bayes for Imbalance Learning in Software Defect Prediction
Authors: Wu Yumei , Yao Jingxiu , Chang Shuo , Liu Bin
Published: November 2020

Software defect prediction (SDP) is an effective technique to lower software module testing costs. However, the imbalanced distribution almost exists in all SDP datasets and restricts the accuracy of defect prediction. In order to balance the data distribution reasonably, we propose a novel resampling method LIMCR on the basis of Naïve Bayes to optimize and improve the SDP performance. The main idea of LIMCR is to remove less-informative majorities for rebalancing the data distribution after evaluating the degree of being informative for every sample from the majority class. We employ 29 SDP datasets from the PROMISE and NASA dataset and divide them into two parts, the small sample size (the amount of data is smaller than 1100) and the large sample size (larger than 1100). Then we conduct experiments by comparing the matching of classifiers and imbalance learning methods on small datasets and large datasets, respectively. The results show the effectiveness of LIMCR, and LIMCR+GNB performs better than other methods on small datasets while not brilliant on large datasets.
Evaluation of Different Simulation Methods for Analyzing Flood Scenarios in the Danube Delta
Authors: Banescu Alexandru , Arseni Maxim , Georgescu Lucian Puiu , Rusu Eugen , Iticescu Catalina
Published: November 2020

The present work is focused on the analysis of flood scenarios for the settlements near the Danube discharge area into the Black Sea. From this perspective, the aim of the research is the development of flood extension maps for localities in the Danube Delta. The emphasis is on collecting the data and information needed for the entire analysis process, such as hydrological data on Danube flows and water levels (which were analyzed for 51 years), topo-bathymetric data (where 1685 cross sections were processed, measured on an 87-km section of the Danube), a digital terrain model (DTM), and others. Two methods of flood scenario analysis for the localities targeted were used in this paper. The first method was an analysis of the flood scenarios by modeling a real scenario, where it was supposed that a 20 m breach appeared in the dam which protects the localities and remained present for 24 h. The second method consisted of a Geographic Information System (GIS) analysis (static from a hydraulic point of view), where the maximum water level was superimposed over the DTM. This corresponded to a scenario in which the breach in the flood-control levee remains present for a longer period. The validated results show that the dynamic method is more efficient than the static method, both in terms of estimated flooded surfaces and in terms of simulation accuracy (taking into account more input parameters than the static method). Thus, from the obtained simulations it was observed that applying the dynamic method resulted in smaller flooded surfaces in the settlements analyzed than when considering the static method. In some cases, the differences between the flooded surfaces reached up to about 22%. This information is important and of general interest since it can be used in various fields of work, such as flood defense strategies, and investment promotion activities in the Danube discharge area or similar locations.
Analysis of the Applicability of Non-Destructive Techniques to Determine In Situ Thermal Transmittance in Passive House Façades
Authors: Tejedor Blanca , Gaspar Kàtia , Casals Miquel , Gangolells Marta
Published: November 2020

Within the European framework, the passive house has become an essential constructive solution in terms of building efficiency and CO2 reduction. However, the main approaches have been focused on post-occupancy surveys, measurements of actual energy consumption, life-cycle analyses in dynamic conditions, using simulation, and the estimation of the thermal comfort. Few studies have assessed the in situ performance of the building fabric of passive houses. Hence, this paper explores the applicability of non-destructive techniques—heat flux meter (HFM) and quantitative infrared thermography (QIRT)—for assessing the gap between the predicted and actual thermal transmittance of passive house façades under steady-state conditions in the Mediterranean climate. Firstly, the suitability of in situ non-destructive techniques was checked in an experimental mock-up, and, subsequently, a detached house was tested in the real built environment. The findings revealed that both Non-Destructive Testing (NDT) techniques allow for the quantification of the gap between the design and the actual façades U-value of a new passive house before its operational stage. QIRT was faster than the HFM technique, although the latter was more accurate. The results will help practitioners to choose the most appropriate method based on environmental conditions, execution of the method, and data analysis.
Red Beetroot. A Potential Source of Natural Additives for the Meat Industry
Authors: Domínguez Rubén , Munekata Paulo E. S. , Pateiro Mirian , Maggiolino Aristide , Bohrer Benjamin , Lorenzo José M.
Published: November 2020

Currently, the food industry is looking for alternatives to synthetic additives in processed food products, so research investigating new sources of compounds with high biological activity is worthwhile and becoming more common. There are many different types of vegetables that contain bioactive compounds, and additional features of some vegetables include uses as natural colorants and antioxidants. In this sense, and due to the special composition of beetroot, the use of this vegetable allows for the extraction of a large number of compounds with special interest to the meat industry. This includes colorants (betalains), antioxidants (betalains and phenolic compounds), and preservatives (nitrates), which can be applied for the reformulation of meat products, thus limiting the number and quantity of synthetic additives added to these foods and, at the same time, increase their shelf-life. Despite all these benefits, the application of beetroot or its products (extracts, juice, powder, etc.) in the meat industry is very limited, and the body of available research on beetroot as an ingredient is scarce. Therefore, in this review, the main biologically active compounds present in beetroot, the implications and benefits that their consumption has for human health, as well as studies investigating the use beetroot in the reformulation of meat and meat products are presented in a comprehensible manner.
Measuring the Lighting Quality in Academic Institutions: The UPM Faculty of Aerospace Engineering (Spain)
Authors: Zamarreño-Suárez María , Alcala-Gonzalez Daniel , Alfonso-Corcuera Daniel , Pindado Santiago
Published: November 2020

This article analyzes the current status of the lighting quality at the Escuela Técnica Superior de Ingeniería Aeronáutica y del Espacio (ETSIAE), the aerospace engineering faculty at the Universidad Politécnica de Madrid (UPM), and evaluates possible improvement actions based on the use of DIALux® lighting simulation software together with measured data. The results show rather low levels of measured illuminance on classroom desks and blackboards in one of the buildings comprising the faculty. The improvements proposed (a new coat of paint on the walls and replacement of luminaires) were simulated in four individual classrooms representing all rooms in two of the ETSIAE buildings (where the lower illuminance levels were measured). In order to study these improvements, the current situation of the four selected classrooms was simulated using DIALux® and fine-tuning attenuation of the luminaires to take into account their wear and tear. The correlation between the DIALux® simulation and the test results was analyzed with quite good results. The results clearly reveal a need to fully replace the classroom lighting systems in ETSIAE building A (the oldest building, dating back to 1955). According to the results from the selected classrooms, the average lighting over the desks can be greatly improved by using LED technology in order to meet UNE 12464-1 standard (that is, 500 lx, from an initial situation with much lower illuminance values: 129 lx to 295 lx). This article represents an innovative way to perform lighting improvement projects as real measured lighting data is used as initial input for the lighting simulations.
A Cell Counting Framework Based on Random Forest and Density Map
Authors: Jiang Ni , Yu Feihong
Published: November 2020

Cell counting is a fundamental part of biomedical and pathological research. Predicting a density map is the mainstream method to count cells. As an easy-trained and well-generalized model, the random forest is often used to learn the cell images and predict the density maps. However, it cannot predict the data that are beyond the training data, which may result in underestimation. To overcome this problem, we propose a cell counting framework to predict the density map by detecting cells. The cell counting framework contains two parts: the training data preparation and the detection framework. The former makes sure that the cells can be detected even when overlapping, and the latter makes sure the count result accurate and robust. The proposed method uses multiple random forests to predict various probability maps where the cells can be detected by Hessian matrix. Take all the detection results into consideration to get the density map and achieve better performance. We conducted experiments on three public cell datasets. Experimental results showed that the proposed model performs better than the traditional random forest (RF) in terms of accuracy and robustness, and even superior to some state-of-the-art deep learning models. Especially when the training data are small, which is the usual case in cell counting, the count errors on VGG cells, and MBM cells were decreased from 3.4 to 2.9, from 11.3 to 9.3, respectively. The proposed model can obtain the lowest count error and achieves state-of-the-art.
Edible Oils Differentiation Based on the Determination of Fatty Acids Profile and Raman Spectroscopy—A Case Study
Authors: Covaciu Florina-Dorina , Berghian-Grosan Camelia , Feher Ioana , Magdas Dana Alina
Published: November 2020

This study proposes a comparison between two analytical techniques for edible oil classification, namely gas-chromatography equipped with a flame ionization detector (GC-FID), which is an acknowledged technique for fatty acid analysis, and Raman spectroscopy, as a real time noninvasive technique. Due to the complexity of the investigated matrix, we used both methods in connection with chemometrics processing for a quick and valuable evaluation of oils. In addition to this, the possible adulteration of investigated oil varieties (sesame, hemp, walnut, linseed, sea buckthorn) with sunflower oil was also tested. In order to extract the meaningful information from the experimental data set, a supervised chemometric technique, namely linear discriminant analysis (LDA), was applied. Moreover, for possible adulteration detection, an artificial neural network (ANN) was also employed. Based on the results provided by ANN, it was possible to detect the mixture between sea buckthorn and sunflower oil.
Aridity in the Central and Southern Pannonian Basin
Authors: Gavrilov Milivoj B. , Radaković Milica G. , Sipos György , Mezősi Gábor , Gavrilov Gavrilo , Lukić Tin , Basarin Biljana , Benyhe Balázs , Fiala Károly , Kozák Péter , Perić Zoran M. , Govedarica Dragan , Song Yang , Marković Slobodan B.
Published: November 2020

For the investigation of geographical, monthly, seasonal, and annual distributions of aridity and its annual trend in the region of the Central and Southern Pannonian Basin (CSPB), which includes the territories of Hungary and Vojvodina (Northern Serbia), the De Martonne Aridity Index (DMAI) was used. The DMAI was originally calculated from a total of 78 meteorological stations with the maximum available time series of climatological data in three cases: 1931–2017 for Hungary; 1949–2017 for Vojvodina; and 1949–2017 for Hungary and Vojvodina jointly. The Palmer Drought Severity Index (PDSI) was used to control the DMAI results. Temperature and precipitation trends were also investigated to understand their effects on the aridity trend. Three aridity types are distinguished on the annual level, five on the seasonal level, and four on the monthly level. The annual aridity had no trends in all three periods. It seems that aridity can be considered a more stable climate indicator of climate change than the temperature, at least in the CSPB.
Thalamic Functional Connectivity during Spatial Long-Term Memory and the Role of Sex
Authors: Spets Dylan S. , Slotnick Scott D.
Published: November 2020

The thalamus has been implicated in many cognitive processes, including long-term memory. More specifically, the anterior (AT) and mediodorsal (MD) thalamic nuclei have been associated with long-term memory. Despite extensive mapping of the anatomical connections between these nuclei and other brain regions, little is known regarding their functional connectivity during long-term memory. The current study sought to determine which brain regions are functionally connected to AT and MD during spatial long-term memory and whether sex differences exist in the patterns of connectivity. During encoding, abstract shapes were presented to the left and right of fixation. During retrieval, shapes were presented at fixation, and participants made an “old-left” or “old-right” judgment. Activations functionally connected to AT and MD existed in regions with known anatomical connections to each nucleus as well as in a broader network of long-term memory regions. Sex differences were identified in a subset of these regions. A targeted region-of-interest analysis identified anti-correlated activity between MD and the hippocampus that was specific to females, which is consistent with findings in rodents. The current results suggest that AT and MD play key roles during spatial long-term memory and suggest that these functions may be sex specific.
Improving Dignity of Care in Community-Dwelling Elderly Patients with Cognitive Decline and Their Caregivers. The Role of Dignity Therapy
Authors: Ounalli Heifa , Mamo David , Testoni Ines , Belvederi Murri Martino , Caruso Rosangela , Grassi Luigi
Published: November 2020

Demographic changes have placed age-related mental health disorders at the forefront of public health challenges over the next three decades worldwide. Within the context of cognitive impairment and neurocognitive disorders among elderly people, the fragmentation of the self is associated with existential suffering, loss of meaning and dignity for the patient, as well as with a significant burden for the caregiver. Psychosocial interventions are part of a person-centered approach to cognitive impairment (including early stage dementia and dementia). Dignity therapy (DT) is a therapeutic intervention that has been shown to be effective in reducing existential distress, mood, and anxiety symptoms and improving dignity in persons with cancer and other terminal conditions in palliative care settings. The aims of this paper were: (i) To briefly summarize key issues and challenges related to care in gerontology considering specifically frail elderly/elderly with cognitive decline and their caregivers; and (ii) to provide a narrative review of the recent knowledge and evidence on DT in the elderly population with cognitive impairment. We searched the electronic data base (CINAHL, SCOPUS, PSycInfo, and PubMed studies) for studies regarding the application of DT in the elderly. Additionally, given the caregiver’s role as a custodian of diachronic unity of the cared-for and the need to help caregivers to cope with their own existential distress and anticipatory grief, we also propose a DT-dyadic approach addressing the needs of the family as a whole.
Shaping the Treatment Paradigm Based on the Current Understanding of the Pathobiology of Multiple Myeloma: An Overview
Authors: Ninkovic Slavisa , Quach Hang
Published: November 2020

Multiple myeloma is an incurable malignancy which despite progressive improvements in overall survival over the last decade remains characterised by recurrent relapse with progressively shorter duration of response and treatment-free intervals with each subsequent treatment. Efforts to unravel the complex and heterogeneous genomic alterations, the marked dysregulation of the immune system and the multifarious interplay between malignant plasma cells and those of the tumour microenvironment have not only led to improved understanding of myelomagenesis and disease progression but have facilitated the rapid development of novel therapeutics including immunotherapies and small molecules bringing us a step closer to therapies that no doubt will extend survival. Novel therapeutic combinations both in the upfront and relapsed setting as well as novel methods to assess response and guide management are rapidly transforming the management of myeloma.
Outcomes of COVID-19 Patients under Cytotoxic Cancer Chemotherapy in Brazil
Authors: Duarte Mateus Bringel Oliveira , Leal Frederico , Argenton Juliana Luz Passos , Carvalheira José Barreto Campello
Published: November 2020

Background: Cancer patients present a distinct vulnerability to COVID-19. It is unclear if chemotherapy could accentuate the overall risk in these patients. Methods: We performed a retrospective analysis linking COVID-19 data and oncological information systems to compare lethality in patients undergoing cytotoxic chemotherapy before COVID-19. We considered patients who received chemotherapy in the last 30 days as in “active treatment”, and patients who did not receive drugs in this period as “non-active treatment” for propensity-score pair matching. We also tested the influence of baseline variables in our results in a multivariate model. Results: 66.1% (162/246) of patients in matched active chemotherapy died vs. 70.2% (172/246) in the matched non-active chemotherapy group. The risk of death was positively associated with palliative intent of treatment and hematologic neoplasms. Being in active chemotherapy was not associated with increased mortality compared to non-active treatment. We also noted in exploratory propensity-score matchings that the use of alkylating agents (odds ratio [OR] 0.38, 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.21–0.70) and topoisomerase II inhibitors (OR 0.28, 95% CI 0.14–0.56) were protective factors. Conclusions: This study does not demonstrate an increase in mortality for cancer patients under active cytotoxic chemotherapy with COVID-19.
In Silico and In Vitro Analysis of lncRNA XIST Reveals a Panel of Possible Lung Cancer Regulators and a Five-Gene Diagnostic Signature
Authors: Katopodis Periklis , Dong Qiduo , Halai Heerni , Fratila Cristian I. , Polychronis Andreas , Anikin Vladimir , Sisu Cristina , Karteris Emmanouil
Published: November 2020

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) perform a wide functional repertoire of roles in cell biology, ranging from RNA editing to gene regulation, as well as tumour genesis and tumour progression. The lncRNA X-inactive specific transcript (XIST) is involved in the aetiopathogenesis of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, its role at the molecular level is not fully elucidated. The expression of XIST and co-regulated genes TSIX, hnRNPu, Bcl-2, and BRCA1 analyses in lung cancer (LC) and controls were performed in silico. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were determined using RNA-seq in H1975 and A549 NSCLC cell lines following siRNA for XIST. XIST exhibited sexual dimorphism, being up-regulated in females compared to males in both control and LC patient cohorts. RNA-seq revealed 944 and 751 DEGs for A549 and H1975 cell lines, respectively. These DEGs are involved in signal transduction, cell communication, energy pathways, and nucleic acid metabolism. XIST expression associated with TSIX, hnRNPu, Bcl-2, and BRCA1 provided a strong collective feature to discriminate between controls and LC, implying a diagnostic potential. There is a much more complex role for XIST in lung cancer. Further studies should concentrate on sex-specific changes and investigate the signalling pathways of the DEGs following silencing of this lncRNA.
Experimental and Computational Analysis of NOx Photocatalytic Abatement Using Carbon-Modified TiO2 Materials
Authors: Zhiltsova. Tatiana , Martins Nelson , Silva Mariana R. F. , Silva Carla F. Da , Lourenço Mirtha A. O. , Tobaldi David M. , Covita Daniel , Seabra Maria Paula , Ferreira Paula
Published: November 2020

In the present study, two photocatalytic graphene oxide (GO) and carbon nanotubes (CNT) modified TiO2 materials thermally treated at 300 °C (T300_GO and T300_CNT, respectively) were tested and revealed their conversion efficiency of nitrogen oxides (NOx) under simulated solar light, showing slightly better results when compared with the commercial Degussa P25 material at the initial concentration of NOx of 200 ppb. A chemical kinetic model based on the Langmuir–Hinshelwood (L-H) mechanism was employed to simulate micropollutant abatement. Modeling of the fluid dynamics and photocatalytic oxidation (PCO) kinetics was accomplished with computational fluid dynamics (CFD) approach for modeling single-phase liquid fluid flow (air/NOx mixture) with an isothermal heterogeneous surface reaction. A tuning methodology based on an extensive CFD simulation procedure was applied to adjust the kinetic model parameters toward a better correspondence between simulated and experimentally obtained data. The kinetic simulations of heterogeneous photo-oxidation of NOx carried out with the optimized parameters demonstrated a high degree of matching with the experimentally obtained NOx conversion. T300_CNT is the most active photolytic material with a degradation rate of 62.1%, followed by P25-61.4% and T300_GO-60.4%, when irradiated, for 30 min, with emission spectra similar to solar light.
Diazepam Promotes Translocation of Human Constitutive Androstane Receptor (CAR) via Direct Interaction with the Ligand-Binding Domain
Authors: Skoda Josef , Dusek Jan , Drastik Martin , Stefela Alzbeta , Dohnalova Klara , Chalupsky Karel , Smutny Tomas , Micuda Stanislav , Gerbal-Chaloin Sabine , Pavek Petr
Published: November 2020

The constitutive androstane receptor (CAR) is the essential regulator of genes involved both in xenobiotic and endobiotic metabolism. Diazepam has been shown as a potent stimulator of CAR nuclear translocation and is assumed as an indirect CAR activator not interacting with the CAR cavity. In this study, we sought to determine if diazepam is a ligand directly interacting with the CAR ligand binding domain (LBD) and if it regulates its target genes in a therapeutically relevant concentration. We used different CAR constructs in translocation and luciferase reporter assays, recombinant CAR-LBD in a TR-FRET assay, and target genes induction studied in primary human hepatocytes (PHHs), HepaRG cells, and in CAR humanized mice. We also used in silico docking and CAR-LBD mutants to characterize the interaction of diazepam and its metabolites with the CAR cavity. Diazepam and its metabolites such as nordazepam, temazepam, and oxazepam are activators of CAR+Ala in translocation and two-hybrid assays and fit the CAR cavity in docking experiments. In gene reporter assays with CAR3 and in the TR-FRET assay, only diazepam significantly interacts with CAR-LBD. Diazepam also promotes up-regulation of CYP2B6 in PHHs and in HepaRG cells. However, in humanized CAR mice, diazepam significantly induces neither CYP2B6 nor Cyp2b10 genes nor does it regulate critical genes involved in glucose and lipids metabolism and liver proliferation. Thus, we demonstrate that diazepam interacts with human CAR-LBD as a weak ligand, but it does not significantly affect expression of tested CAR target genes in CAR humanized mice.
Metabolic Reprogramming and Predominance of Solute Carrier Genes during Acquired Enzalutamide Resistance in Prostate Cancer
Authors: Verma Shiv , Shankar Eswar , Chan E. Ricky , Gupta Sanjay
Published: November 2020

Androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) is standard-of-care for advanced-stage prostate cancer, and enzalutamide (Xtandi®, Astellas, Northbrook, IL, USA), a second generation antiandrogen, is prescribed in this clinical setting. The response to this medication is usually temporary with the rapid emergence of drug resistance. A better understanding of gene expression changes associated with enzalutamide resistance will facilitate circumventing this problem. We compared the transcriptomic profile of paired enzalutamide-sensitive and resistant LNCaP and C4-2B prostate cancer cells for identification of genes involved in drug resistance by performing an unbiased bioinformatics analysis and further validation. Next-Gen sequencing detected 9409 and 7757 genes differentially expressed in LNCaP and C4-2B cells, compared to their parental counterparts. A subset of differentially expressed genes were validated by qRT-PCR. Analysis by the i-pathway revealed membrane transporters including solute carrier proteins, ATP-binding cassette transporters, and drug metabolizing enzymes as the most prominent genes dysregulated in resistant cell lines. RNA-Seq data demonstrated predominance of solute carrier genes SLC12A5, SLC25A17, and SLC27A6 during metabolic reprogramming and development of drug resistance. Upregulation of these genes were associated with higher uptake of lactic/citric acid and lower glucose intake in resistant cells. Our data suggest the predominance of solute carrier genes during metabolic reprogramming of prostate cancer cells in an androgen-deprived environment, thus signifying them as potentially attractive therapeutic targets.
Mo–Bi Bimetallic Chalcogenide Nanoparticles Supported on CNTs for the Efficient Electrochemical Reduction of CO2 to Methanol
Authors: Chi Chen , Duan Donghong , Zhang Zhonglin , Wei Guoqiang , Li Yu , Liu Shibin
Published: November 2020

The electrochemical reduction of CO2 to methanol is a promising strategy, which currently suffers from the poor catalytic activity, selectivity, and stability of the electrode. Here, we report a simple one-pot hydrothermal strategy to fabricate Mo–Bi BMC@CNT nanocomposites, in which Mo–Bi bimetallic chalcogenide nanoparticles were in-situ decorated on carbon nanotubes. The Mo–Bi BMC nanoparticles with an average particle size of 12 nm were uniformly supported on the surface of CNTs without aggregation into larger clusters. The Mo–Bi BMC@CNT nanocomposites exhibited a relatively good catalytic performance for the electrochemical reduction of CO2 to methanol in a 60 wt.% 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate aqueous electrolyte. Among them, the Mo–Bi BMC@CNT-15% nanocomposite showed the highest Faradaic efficiency of 81% for methanol at −0.3 V vs. a saturated calomel reference electrode (SCE) and a stable current density is 5.6 mA cm−2 after a run time of 12 h. The excellent catalytic properties are likely attributed to its nanostructure and fast electron transfer. These derive from the synergistic effect of Mo–Bi and the high conductivity of CNTs. This work opens a way to provide an efficient catalytic system for the electroreduction of CO2 to methanol in industrial applications.
Research on the Chloride Ion Penetration Resistance of Magnesium Phosphate Cement (MPC) Material as Coating for Reinforced Concrete Structures
Authors: Du Yubing , Gao Peiwei , Yang Jianming , Shi Feiting
Published: November 2020

This study focuses on the chloride ion penetration resistance of a magnesium phosphate cement (MPC)-based composite material coating on the surface of silicate material. By means of electrical flux method and electric acceleration corrosion tests, the anti-chlorine ion permeation and reinforcement properties of MPC-based materials and Portland cement (OPC) mortar were compared and analyzed. The experimental results show that the electrical flux of the hardened body of the MPC-based material is much lower than that of the Portland cement mortar, and the electrical flux of the hardened body of the MPC mortar can be obviously reduced by adding silica-fume (SF) and fly ash (FA), which, when combined in a suitable proportion, will make the MPC’s hardened body more dense and impermeable. The addition of short cut fibers increases the number of pores, the pore size, and the electrical flux of the cement mortar’s hardened body. The adverse effects of the three fibers on the permeability of the MPC mortar against chlorine ions were as follows: polyvinyl alcohol fiber > glass fiber > basalt fiber. The electrical flux of MPC mortar or MPC paste coated on the surface of the OPC mortar was greatly reduced. Compared with silicate mortar, the MPC-based material has excellent protective performance under the condition of accelerated corrosion.
Determination of Long-Range Internal Stresses in Cyclically Deformed Copper Single Crystals Using Convergent Beam Electron Diffraction
Authors: Ermagan Roya , Sauzay Maxime , Mecklenburg Matthew H. , Kassner Michael E.
Published: November 2020

Understanding long range internal stresses (LRIS) may be crucial for elucidating the basis of the Bauschinger effect, plastic deformation in fatigued metals, and plastic deformation in general. Few studies have evaluated LRIS using convergent beam electron diffraction (CBED) in cyclically deformed single crystals oriented in single slip and there are no such studies carried out on cyclically deformed single crystals in multiple slip. In our earlier and recent study, we assessed the LRIS in a cyclically deformed copper single crystal in multiple slip via measuring the maximum dislocation dipole heights. Nearly equal maximum dipole heights in the high dislocation density walls and low dislocation density channels suggested a uniform stress state across the labyrinth microstructure. Here, we evaluate the LRIS by determining the lattice parameter in the channels and walls of the labyrinth dislocation structure using CBED. Findings of this work show that lattice parameters obtained were almost equal near the walls and within the channels. Thus, a homogenous stress state within the heterogeneous dislocation microstructure is again suggested. Although the changes in the lattice parameter in the channels are minimal (less than 10−4 nm), CBED chi-squared analysis suggests that the difference between the lattice parameter values of the cyclically deformed and unstrained copper are slightly higher in the proximity of the walls in comparison with the channel interior. These values are less than 6.5% of the applied stress. It can be concluded that the dominant characteristics of the Bauschinger effect may need to include the Orowan-Sleeswyk mechanism type of explanation since both the maximum dipole height measurements and the lattice parameter assessment through CBED analysis suggest a homogenous stress state. This work complements our earlier work that determined LRIS based on dipole heights by assessing LRIS through a different methodology, carried out on a cyclically deformed copper single crystal oriented for multiple slip.
Municipalities in the Czech Republic—Compilation of “a Universal” Dataset
Authors: Pászto Vít , Nétek Rostislav , Vondráková Alena , Voženílek Vít
Published: November 2020

There have been many changes in the spatial composition and formal delimitation of administrative boundaries of Czech municipalities over the past 30 years. Many municipalities have changed their official status; they separated into ones that were more independent or were merged with existing ones, or formally redrew their boundaries due to advances in mapping technology. Such changes have made it almost impossible to analyze and visualize the temporal development of selected socioeconomic indicators, in order to deliver spatially coherent and time-comparable results. In this data description, we present an evolution of a unique (geo) dataset comprising of the administrative borders of the Czech municipalities. The uniqueness lies in time and topologically justified spatial data resulting in a common division of the administrative units at the LAU2 level, valid from 1995 to 2019. Besides the topologically correct spatial representations of municipalities in Czechia, we also provide correspondence tables for each year in the mentioned period, which allows joining tabular statistics to spatial data. The dataset is available as a base layer for further temporal and spatial analyses and visualization of various socioeconomic statistical data.
Noninvasive Measurement of [11C]PiB Distribution Volume Using Integrated PET/MRI
Authors: Okazawa Hidehiko , Ikawa Masamichi , Tsujikawa Tetsuya , Makino Akira , Mori Tetsuya , Kiyono Yasushi , Kosaka Hirotaka
Published: November 2020

A noninvasive image-derived input function (IDIF) method using PET/MRI was applied to quantitative measurements of [11C] Pittsburgh compound-B (PiB) distribution volume (DV) and compared with other metrics. Fifty-three patients suspected of early dementia (71 ± 11 y) underwent 70 min [11C]PiB PET/MRI. Nineteen of them (68 ± 11 y) without head motion during the scan were enrolled in this study and compared with 16 age-matched healthy controls (CTL: 68 ± 11 y). The dynamic frames reconstructed from listmode PET data were used for DV calculation. IDIF with metabolite correction was applied to the Logan plot method, and DV was normalized into DV ratio (DVR) images using the cerebellar reference (DVRL). DVR and standardized uptake value ratio (SUVR) images were also calculated using the reference tissue graphical method (DVRr) and the 50–70 min static data with cerebellar reference, respectively. Cortical values were compared using the 3D-T1WI MRI segmentation. All patients were assigned to the early Alzheimer’s disease (eAD) group because of positive [11C]PiB accumulation. The correlations of regional values were better for DVRL vs. DVRr (r2 = 0.97) than for SUVR vs. DVRr (r2 = 0.88). However, all metrics clearly differentiated eAD from CTL with appropriate thresholds. Noninvasive quantitative [11C]PiB PET/MRI measurement provided equivalent DVRs with the two methods. SUVR images showed acceptable results despite inferior variability and image quality to DVR images.
Diagnostic Accuracy of Cross-Polarization OCT and OCT-Elastography for Differentiation of Breast Cancer Subtypes: Comparative Study
Authors: Gubarkova Ekaterina V. , Kiseleva Elena B. , Sirotkina Marina A. , Vorontsov Dmitry A. , Achkasova Ksenia A. , Kuznetsov Sergey S. , Yashin Konstantin S. , Matveyev Aleksander L. , Sovetsky Aleksander A. , Matveev Lev A. , Plekhanov Anton A. , Vorontsov Alexey Y. , Zaitsev Vladimir Y. , Gladkova Natalia D.
Published: November 2020

The possibility to assess molecular-biological and morphological features of particular breast cancer types can improve the precision of resection margin detection and enable accurate determining of the tumor aggressiveness, which is important for treatment selection. To enable reliable differentiation of breast-cancer subtypes and evaluation of resection margin, without performing conventional histological procedures, here we apply cross-polarization optical coherence tomography (CP-OCT) and compare it with a novel variant of compressional optical coherence elastography (C-OCE) in terms of the diagnostic accuracy (Ac) with histological verification. The study used 70 excised breast cancer specimens with different morphological structure and molecular status (Luminal A, Luminal B, Her2/Neo+, non-luminal and triple-negative cancer). Our first aim was to formulate convenient criteria of visual assessment of CP-OCT and C-OCE images intended (i) to differentiate tumorous and non-tumorous tissues and (ii) to enable more precise differentiation among different malignant states. We identified such criteria based on the presence of heterogeneities and characteristics of signal attenuation in CP-OCT images, as well as the presence of inclusions/mosaic structures combined with visually feasible assessment of several stiffness grades in C-OCE images. Secondly, we performed a blinded reader study of the Ac of C-OCE versus CP-OCT, for delineation of tumorous versus non-tumorous tissues followed by identification of breast cancer subtypes. For tumor detection, C-OCE showed higher specificity than CP-OCT (97.5% versus 93.3%) and higher Ac (96.0 versus 92.4%). For the first time, the Ac of C-OCE and CP-OCT were evaluated for differentiation between non-invasive and invasive breast cancer (90.4% and 82.5%, respectively). Furthermore, for invasive cancers, the difference between invasive but low-aggressive and highly-aggressive subtypes can be detected. For differentiation between non-tumorous tissue and low-aggressive breast-cancer subtypes, Ac was 95.7% for C-OCE and 88.1% for CP-OCT. For differentiation between non-tumorous tissue and highly-aggressive breast cancers, Ac was found to be 98.3% for C-OCE and 97.2% for CP-OCT. In all cases C-OCE showed better diagnostic parameters independently of the tumor type. These findings confirm the high potential of OCT-based examinations for rapid and accurate diagnostics during breast conservation surgery.
The Enhancement of Creative Collaboration through Human Mediation
Authors: Varela Teresa , Palaré Odete , Menezes Sofia
Published: November 2020

This text presents a reflection on the elements that coinfluence creative processes in learning. This study highlights a specific period in secondary education at the António Arroio Art School in Lisbon, Portugal, developed during the curricular activity Training in Working Context with students of the 12th grade. It aims to identify interpersonal and intercultural relations utilizing active participation and involvement in communities of artistic practice. This research follows an action-research methodology with data collection via observation and interviews with students. The results show that human mediation promotes significant creative collaboration, the construction of one’s own identity, and artistic production with others, and it also allows us to perceive creativity as cultural empowerment. Empathy, emotional understanding, and an atmosphere of trust are the factors that students acknowledge as important in the creative process. Freedom and flexibility in creative collaboration practices, promoting autonomous and critical thinking, are also highlighted. Thus, we conclude that values such as mutual respect, solidarity, freedom of expression, and self-help applied in creative practices are crucial in interpersonal communication between teachers and students.
Student Response Systems: A Multidisciplinary Analysis Using Visual Analytics
Authors: Herrada Rosario I. , Baños Raúl , Alcayde Alfredo
Published: November 2020

In recent years, several innovations have emerged in the field of education, including Blended-Learning, Massive Open Online Courses, Flipped Classroom and Gamification. In particular, several investigations have highlighted the effectiveness of student response systems, or clickers, in different subjects and disciplines. Although some literature reviews have been published on this subject, none of them offer a review of a large volume of publications from a multidisciplinary approach. Similarly, in the literature there are no studies that have analyzed scientific collaborations on this subject. To respond to these concerns, we proposed the use of a bot to retrieve information from a large number of papers (1696 documents co-authored by a total of 4091 researchers) included in the Scopus database. The disciplines covered include natural sciences, engineering and technology, medical and health sciences, agricultural and veterinary sciences, social sciences and humanities, and the arts. The review of the literature reveals that student response systems are generally well-perceived by teachers and students in all the disciplines. Another interesting result achieved from visual data obtained using network visualization software and word clouds is that student response systems are mainly used in some disciplines, such as physics, chemistry, medicine, and nursing. It is clearly observed that the relationship between researchers from the same country is stronger than between researchers from different countries. Finally, some reflections are included on the role of student response systems in online teaching, especially regarding the changes experienced after the COVID-19 pandemic.
X-Type Step-Up Multi-Level Inverter with Reduced Component Count Based on Switched-Capacitor Concept
Authors: Azimi Erfan , Khodaparast Aryorad , Rostami Mohammad Javad , Adabi Jafar , Adabi M. Ebrahim , Rezanejad Mohammad , M. G. Rodrigues Eduardo , Pouresmaeil Edris
Published: November 2020

This paper aims to present a novel switched-capacitor multi-level inverter. The presented structure generates a staircase near sinusoidal AC voltage by using a single DC source and a few capacitors to step-up the input voltage. The nearest level control (NLC) strategy is used to control the operation of the converter. These switching states are designed in a way that they always ensure the self-voltage balancing of the capacitors. Low switching frequency, simple control, and inherent bipolar output are some of the advantages of the presented inverter. Compared to other existing topologies, the structure requires fewer circuit elements. Bi-directional power flow ability of the proposed topology, facilitates the operation of the circuit under wide range of load behaviors which makes it applicable in most industries. Besides, a 13-level laboratory prototype is implemented to realize and affirm the efficacy of the MATLAB Simulink model under different load conditions. The simulation and experimental results accredit the appropriate performance of the converter. Finally, a theoretical efficiency of 92.73% is reached.
The Effect of Air Parameters on the Evaporation Loss in a Natural Draft Counter-Flow Wet Cooling Tower
Authors: Yuan Wei , Sun Fengzhong , Liu Ruqing , Chen Xuehong , Li Ying
Published: November 2020

The measures to reduce the impact of evaporation loss in a natural draft counter-flow wet cooling tower (NDWCT) have important implications for water conservation and emissions reduction. A mathematical model of evaporation loss in the NDWCT was established by using a modified Merkel method. The NDWCTs in the 300 MW and 600 MW power plant were taken as the research objects. Comparing experimental values with calculated values, the relative error was less than 3%. Then, the effect of air parameters on evaporation loss of NDWCT was analyzed. The results showed that, with the increase of dry bulb temperature, the evaporation heat dissipation and the evaporation loss decreased, while the rate of evaporation loss caused by unit temperature difference increased. The ambient temperature increased by 1 °C and the evaporation loss was reduced by nearly 26.65 t/h. When the relative air humidity increased, the evaporation heat dissipation and evaporation loss decreased, and the rate of evaporation loss caused by unit temperature difference decreased. When relative air humidity increased by 1%, the outlet water temperature rose by about 0.08 °C, and the evaporation loss decreased by about 5.63 t/h.