bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Acquired Immunity Is Not Essential for Radiation-Induced Heart Dysfunction but Exerts a Complex Impact on Injury
Authors: Schlaak Rachel A. , Frei Anne , Fish Brian L. , Harmann Leanne , Gasperetti Tracy , Pipke Jamie L. , Sun Yunguang , Rui Hallgeir , Flister Michael J. , Gantner Benjamin N. , Bergom Carmen
Published: April 2020

While radiation therapy (RT) can improve cancer outcomes, it can lead to radiation-induced heart dysfunction (RIHD) in patients with thoracic tumors. This study examines the role of adaptive immune cells in RIHD. In Salt-Sensitive (SS) rats, image-guided whole-heart RT increased cardiac T-cell infiltration. We analyzed the functional requirement for these cells in RIHD using a genetic model of T- and B-cell deficiency (interleukin-2 receptor gamma chain knockout (IL2RG−/−)) and observed a complex role for these cells. Surprisingly, while IL2RG deficiency conferred protection from cardiac hypertrophy, it worsened heart function via echocardiogram three months after a large single RT dose, including increased end-systolic volume (ESV) and reduced ejection fraction (EF) and fractional shortening (FS) (p < 0.05). Fractionated RT, however, did not yield similarly increased injury. Our results indicate that T cells are not uniformly required for RIHD in this model, nor do they account for our previously reported differences in cardiac RT sensitivity between SS and SS.BN3 rats. The increasing use of immunotherapies in conjunction with traditional cancer treatments demands better models to study the interactions between immunity and RT for effective therapy. We present a model that reveals complex roles for adaptive immune cells in cardiac injury that vary depending on clinically relevant factors, including RT dose/fractionation, sex, and genetic background.
Near-Infrared Molecular Imaging of Glioblastoma by Miltuximab®-IRDye800CW as a Potential Tool for Fluorescence-Guided Surgery
Authors: Polikarpov Dmitry M. , Campbell Douglas H. , McRobb Lucinda S. , Wu Jiehua , Lund Maria E. , Lu Yanling , Deyev Sergey M. , Davidson Andrew S. , Walsh Bradley J. , Zvyagin Andrei V. , Gillatt David A.
Published: April 2020

Glioblastoma (GBM) is one of the most aggressive tumors and its 5-year survival is approximately 5%. Fluorescence-guided surgery (FGS) improves the extent of resection and leads to better prognosis. Molecular near-infrared (NIR) imaging appears to outperform conventional FGS, however, novel molecular targets need to be identified in GBM. Proteoglycan glypican-1 (GPC-1) is believed to be such a target as it is highly expressed in GBM and is associated with poor prognosis. We hypothesize that an anti-GPC-1 antibody, Miltuximab®, conjugated with the NIR dye, IRDye800CW (IR800), can specifically accumulate in a GBM xenograft and provide high-contrast in vivo fluorescent imaging in rodents following systemic administration. Miltuximab® was conjugated with IR800 and intravenously administered to BALB/c nude mice bearing a subcutaneous U-87 GBM hind leg xenograft. Specific accumulation of Miltuximab®-IR800 in subcutaneous xenograft tumor was detected 24 h later using an in vivo fluorescence imager. The conjugate did not cause any adverse events in mice and caused strong fluorescence of the tumor with tumor-to-background ratio (TBR) reaching 10.1 ± 2.8. The average TBR over the 10-day period was 5.8 ± 0.6 in mice injected with Miltuximab®-IR800 versus 2.4 ± 0.1 for the control group injected with IgG-IR800 (p = 0.001). Ex vivo assessment of Miltuximab®-IR800 biodistribution confirmed its highly specific accumulation in the tumor. The results of this study confirm that Miltuximab®-IR800 holds promise for intraoperative fluorescence molecular imaging of GBM and warrants further studies.
Anion–Cation Recognition Pattern, Thermal Stability and DFT-Calculations in the Crystal Structure of H2dap[Cd(HEDTA)(H2O)] Salt (H2dap = H2(N3,N7)-2,6-Diaminopurinium Cation)
Authors: Belmont-Sánchez Jeannette Carolina , Ruiz-González Noelia , Frontera Antonio , Matilla-Hernández Antonio , Castiñeiras Alfonso , Niclós-Gutiérrez Juan
Published: April 2020

The proton transfer between equimolar amounts of [Cd(H2EDTA)(H2O)] and 2,6-diaminopurine (Hdap) yielded crystals of the out-of-sphere metal complex H2(N3,N7)dap[Cd(HEDTA)(H2O)]·H2O (1) that was studied by single-crystal X-ray diffraction, thermogravimetry, FT-IR spectroscopy, density functional theory (DFT) and quantum theory of “atoms-in-molecules” (QTAIM) methods. The crystal was mainly dominated by H-bonds, favored by the observed tautomer of the 2,6-diaminopurinium(1+) cation. Each chelate anion was H-bonded to three neighboring cations; two of them were also connected by a symmetry-related anti-parallel π,π-staking interaction. Our results are in clear contrast with that previously reported for H2(N1,N9)ade [Cu(HEDTA)(H2O)]·2H2O (EGOWIG in Cambridge Structural Database (CSD), Hade = adenine), in which H-bonds and π,π-stacking played relevant roles in the anion–cation interaction and the recognition between two pairs of ions, respectively. Factors contributing in such remarkable differences are discussed on the basis of the additional presence of the exocyclic 2-amino group in 2,6-diaminopurinium(1+) ion.
Bioinformatics Analysis Identifying Key Biomarkers in Bladder Cancer
Authors: Zhang Chuan , Berndt-Paetz Mandy , Neuhaus Jochen
Published: April 2020

Our goal was to find new diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers in bladder cancer (BCa), and to predict molecular mechanisms and processes involved in BCa development and progression. Notably, the data collection is an inevitable step and time-consuming work. Furthermore, identification of the complementary results and considerable literature retrieval were requested. Here, we provide detailed information of the used datasets, the study design, and on data mining. We analyzed differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in the different datasets and the most important hub genes were retrieved. We report on the meta-data information of the population, such as gender, race, tumor stage, and the expression levels of the hub genes. We include comprehensive information about the gene ontology (GO) enrichment analyses and the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analyses. We also retrieved information about the up- and down-regulation of genes. All in all, the presented datasets can be used to evaluate potential biomarkers and to predict the performance of different preclinical biomarkers in BCa.
Identification of the Potential Prognostic Markers from the miRNA-lncRNA-mRNA Interactions for Metastatic Renal Cancer via Next-Generation Sequencing and Bioinformatics
Authors: Yeh I-Jeng , Liu Kuan-Ting , Shen Jheng-Heng , Wu Yen-Hung , Liu Yao-Hua , Yen Meng-Chi , Kuo Po-Lin
Published: April 2020

The survival rate in patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is low. In addition, metastatic RCC resists traditional treatment. Therefore, identification of novel biomarkers, signaling pathways, and therapeutic targets is an important issue. The aim of the present study is to identify novel prognostic markers from the miRNA-mediated network for the regulation of metastasis of RCC. To address this issue, the RNA of human RCC cell lines, 786-O and ACHN, derived from primary and metastatic sites, respectively, were collected and subjected to RNA sequencing and small RNA sequencing. The bioinformatic analysis revealed that the pathways of the genes with different expressions were related to tumor progression, and identified miRNA and miRNA-long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) interactions, and mRNA. The results revealed that the expressions of seven miRNAs were associated with the overall survival rate of patients with RCC. Furthermore, the expressions of two lncRNA and three protein-coding genes (mRNA) were significantly associated with the increased or decreased disease-free survival rate. Although the detailed regulatory mechanism between miRNAs and targeted genes was not fully understood, our findings present novel prognostic markers and novel insight on miRNA-mediated pathways for metastatic RCC.
What Limits Our Capacity to Process Nested Long-Range Dependencies in Sentence Comprehension?
Authors: Lakretz Yair , Dehaene Stanislas , King Jean-Rémi
Published: April 2020

Sentence comprehension requires inferring, from a sequence of words, the structure of syntactic relationships that bind these words into a semantic representation. Our limited ability to build some specific syntactic structures, such as nested center-embedded clauses (e.g., “The dog that the cat that the mouse bit chased ran away”), suggests a striking capacity limitation of sentence processing, and thus offers a window to understand how the human brain processes sentences. Here, we review the main hypotheses proposed in psycholinguistics to explain such capacity limitation. We then introduce an alternative approach, derived from our recent work on artificial neural networks optimized for language modeling, and predict that capacity limitation derives from the emergence of sparse and feature-specific syntactic units. Unlike psycholinguistic theories, our neural network-based framework provides precise capacity-limit predictions without making any a priori assumptions about the form of the grammar or parser. Finally, we discuss how our framework may clarify the mechanistic underpinning of language processing and its limitations in the human brain.
The Impact of Flipped Learning on Cognitive Knowledge Learning and Intrinsic Motivation in Norwegian Secondary Physical Education
Authors: Østerlie Ove , Mehus Ingar
Published: April 2020

The purpose of the present study was to examine if and how the introduction of a flipped learning (FL) framework in Norwegian lower and upper secondary school physical education (PE) could affect student situational motivation and health-related fitness knowledge (HRFK). 206 Norwegian students (48% girls) from secondary and upper secondary schools were included in a three-week-long intervention. 85 students were assigned to an intervention group and 121 students to a control group, with the intervention aimed at integrating information communication technology (ICT) through the use of online videos. The results showed a negative motivational change for male students unless the activity changes were placed within an explanatory rationale through FL. The application of FL caused more cognitive knowledge learning, resulting in higher levels of HRFK among both girls and boys. The current research provided valuable insights into Norwegian students’ motivation for PE and that cognitive knowledge learning can be affected when integrating the use of ICT in PE.
Effect of Link Misalignment in the Optical-Internet of Underwater Things
Authors: Khalil Ruhul Amin , Babar Mohammad Inayatullah , Saeed Nasir , Jan Tariqullah , Cho Ho-Shin
Published: April 2020

Underwater wireless optical communication (UWOC) enables high-speed links in water for the optical Internet of Underwater Things (O-IoUT) networks. O-IoUT provides various marine applications, including ocean exploration, environmental monitoring, and underwater navigation. O-IoUT typically utilizes light-emitting diodes (LEDs) and different laser diodes (LDs) such as green/blue lasers to achieve efficient data communication in the underwater environment. The high-speed optical communication is limited up to a few tens of meters due to underwater channel impairments and misalignment between the transmitter (Tx) and the receiver (Rx). UWOC provides high-speed communications only in the line of sight conditions, and a small misalignment between the Tx and the Rx can degrade the system performance. In an attempt to understand and minimize this misalignment issue, we investigate how received power in a UWOC system depends on the transmitted beam’s divergence angle. Simulation results are provided to show the effectiveness of the study by comparing the plane, Gaussian, and spherical beams. Monte Carlo simulations are utilized to determine the maximum allowable lateral offset between Tx and Rx for a given Tx divergence angle. The results provide an overview and design-based trade-off between different parameters such as lateral offset, the power received, and bandwidth of the channel. The proposed method improves not only the maximum allowed link-span but also the bandwidth of the channel for a given transmission distance.
A 3D Shape Recognition Method Using Hybrid Deep Learning Network CNN–SVM
Authors: Hoang Long , Lee Suk-Hwan , Kwon Ki-Ryong
Published: April 2020

3D shape recognition becomes necessary due to the popularity of 3D data resources. This paper aims to introduce the new method, hybrid deep learning network convolution neural network–support vector machine (CNN–SVM), for 3D recognition. The vertices of the 3D mesh are interpolated to be converted into Point Clouds; those Point Clouds are rotated for 3D data augmentation. We obtain and store the 2D projection of this 3D augmentation data in a 32 × 32 × 12 matrix, the input data of CNN–SVM. An eight-layer CNN is used as the algorithm for feature extraction, then SVM is applied for classifying feature extraction. Two big datasets, ModelNet40 and ModelNet10, of the 3D model are used for model validation. Based on our numerical experimental results, CNN–SVM is more accurate and efficient than other methods. The proposed method is 13.48% more accurate than the PointNet method in ModelNet10 and 8.5% more precise than 3D ShapeNets for ModelNet40. The proposed method works with both the 3D model in the augmented/virtual reality system and in the 3D Point Clouds, an output of the LIDAR sensor in autonomously driving cars.
Consistency of Control Performance in 3D Overhead Cranes under Payload Mass Uncertainty
Authors: Hoang Uyen Tu Thi , Le Hai Xuan , Thai Nguyen Huu , Pham Hung Van , Nguyen Linh
Published: April 2020

The paper addresses the problem of effectively and robustly controlling a 3D overhead crane under the payload mass uncertainty, where the control performance is shown to be consistent. It is proposed to employ the sliding mode control technique to design the closed-loop controller due to its robustness, regardless of the uncertainties and nonlinearities of the under-actuated crane system. The radial basis function neural network has been exploited to construct an adaptive mechanism for estimating the unknown dynamics. More importantly, the adaptation methods have been derived from the Lyapunov theory to not only guarantee stability of the closed-loop control system, but also approximate the unknown and uncertain payload mass and weight matrix, which maintains the consistency of the control performance, although the cargo mass can be varied. Furthermore, the results obtained by implementing the proposed algorithm in the simulations show the effectiveness of the proposed approach and the consistency of the control performance, although the payload mass is uncertain.
Orthogonal Reference Surrogate Fuels for Operability Testing
Authors: Yang Zhibin , Stachler Robert , Heyne Joshua S.
Published: April 2020

The approval and evaluation process for sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) via ASTM D4054 is both cost- and volume-intensive, namely due to engine operability testing under severe conditions. Engine operability tests of combustor under figures of merit (FOM) limit phenomena are the fuel effects on lean blowout, high-altitude relight, and cold-start ignition. One method to increase confidence and reduce volume in tiered testing is to use surrogate fuels for manipulation of properties. Key fuel performance properties (surface tension, viscosity, density) for cold-start ignition was determined prior to this study. Prior work regarding this FOM has not considered the combination of these properties. A surface tension blending rule was validated and incorporated into the jet fuel blend optimizer (JudO). A generalized surrogate calculator for N-dimensional surrogate components and features was developed. Jet fuel surrogates developed in this study were a mixture of conventional and sustainable aviation fuels instead of pure components. These surrogates suggested to be tested in this study could illuminate near worst-case effects for sustainable aviation fuel in a given configuration/rig. With those scenarios tested, we can further understand the influence on the key properties relative to cold-start ignition. This work and supporting experimental evidence could potentially lower the barrier for SAF approval processes.
Evaluating the Potential for Combustion of Biofuels in Grate Furnaces
Authors: Wzorek Małgorzata
Published: April 2020

The paper assesses the impact of combustion of biofuels produced based on municipal sewage sludge in stoker-fired boilers on the amount of pollutant emissions and examines the tendency of ash deposition of biofuels formed during the combustion process. The combustion tests were performed in a laboratory system enabling simulation of a combustion process present in stoker-fired boilers. The study was conducted for three types of biofuels; i.e., fuel from sewage sludge and coal slime (PBS fuel), sewage sludge and meat and bone meal (PBM fuel) and fuel based on sewage sludge and sawdust (PBT) with particle size of 35 mm and 15 mm. This paper describes and compares the combustion process of biofuels with different granulation and composition and presents the results of changes in emission values of NOx, SO2, CO, and CO2. The emission results were compared with the corresponding results obtained during combustion of hard coal. The results showed that biofuels with lower particle sizes were ignited faster and the shortest ignition time is achieved for fuel based on sewage sludge and coal slime-PBS fuel. Also, the highest NO and SO2 emissions were obtained for PBS fuel. During the combustion of fuel based on sewage sludge and meat and bone meal (PBM), on the other hand, the highest CO2 emissions were observed for both granulations. Biofuels from sludge show a combustion process that is different compared to the one for hard coal. The problems of ash fouling, slagging, and deposition during biofuels combustion were also identified. The tendency for ash slagging and fouling is observed, especially for fuel from sewage sludge and meat and bone meal (PBM) and fuel based on sewage sludge and sawdust (PBT) ashes which consist of meat and bone meal and sawdust which is typical for biomass combustion.
Asymmetric Information in Military Microgrid Confrontations—Evaluation Metric and Influence Analysis
Authors: Jiang Peng , Huang Shengjun , Zhang Tao
Published: April 2020

Due to the wide integration of information technology in equipment and weapons, a stable and reliable power supply has become one of the pivotal factors in modern warfare to achieve victory. As a critical infrastructure to provide continuous energy supply during long-duration electrical outage, military microgrid always suffers fierce attacks from the enemy. In order to improve the defense effect, a lot of investigation has been made into resource allocation, Distributed Generator (DG) distribution, network reconfiguration, and so forth. Nevertheless, the information gap between defender and attacker has not been considered in the literature. Therefore, this paper is intended to highlight this information mismatch to appeal for community attention and evaluate its capability to improve defensive performance. Firstly, a novel assessment metric is proposed to identify the level of asymmetric information. Then, an Attacker-Defender (AD) model is developed to describe the zero-sum game between two opposite agents, which is subsequently tackled with dual theory and big-M method. Finally, three cases ranging from 6-bus to 57-bus are utilized for numerical experiments to analyze the influence of asymmetric information on military microgrid confrontation. Results on various levels of attack strength validated the effectiveness and significance of asymmetric information in eliminating the attack damage and improving the defensive performance.
Experimental Validation of a Low-Energy-Consumption Heating Model for Recirculating Aquaponic Systems
Authors: Le Anh Tuan , Wang Liang , Wang Yang , Vu Ngoc Tuan , Li Daoliang
Published: April 2020

Electrical energy is the highest energetic cost in recirculation aquaponic systems (RASs), especially for fish-tank water. Therefore, reducing energy consumption is one of the challenges in developing RAS models. In this study, eleven experimental setups, based on numerical models from an earlier investigator, were built to investigate. Among them, three additional cases (cases 9–11) investigated the transient discharging energy efficiency of thermal energy storage (TES). Cases 9–11 considered three temperature levels, namely, 65–75 °C, 71–81 °C, and 81–87 °C, with a mass flow rate of 0.166 kg/s. The results show that when heating 3.4 m3 of fish tank water from 24.5 °C to 28 °C, the average temperature error of the tank water was between 1.2% and 3.4%. The difference in the heat transfer rate was within ±4.2%. The error in the thermal efficiency was below 8.0%. The error range of the total required thermal energy was from 6.4% to 11.5%. Cases 9–11 used 5.6%, 6.4%, and 7.2% of the thermal energy of the TES tank, respectively. The electrical energy consumption was low compared to the thermal energy of the fish tank water received from the TES unit. Therefore, the proposed low-energy-consumption heating method can replace electric heaters.
Numerical Study of Heat Transfer in Gravity-Driven Particle Flow around Tubes with Different Shapes
Authors: Tian Xing , Yang Jian , Guo Zhigang , Wang Qiuwang , Sunden Bengt
Published: April 2020

In the present paper, the heat transfer of gravity-driven dense particle flow around five different shapes of tubes is numerically studied using discrete element method (DEM). The velocity vector, particle contact number, particle contact time and heat transfer coefficient of particle flow at different particle zones around the tube are carefully analyzed. The results show that the effect of tube shape on the particle flow at both upstream and downstream regions of different tubes are remarkable. A particle stagnation zone and particle cavity zone are formed at the upstream and downstream regions of all the tubes. Both the stagnation and cavity zones for the circular tube are the largest, and they are the smallest for the elliptical tube. As the particle outlet velocity (vout) changes from 0.5 mm/s to 8 mm/s at dp = 1.72 mm/s, when compared with the circular tube, the heat transfer coefficient of particle flow for the elliptical tube and flat elliptical tube can increase by 20.3% and 15.0% on average, respectively. The proper design of the downstream shape of the tube can improve the overall heat transfer performance more efficiently. The heat transfer coefficient will increase as particle diameter decreases.
Optimal Location of Fast Charging Stations for Mixed Traffic of Electric Vehicles and Gasoline Vehicles Subject to Elastic Demands
Authors: Gao Hong , Liu Kai , Peng Xinchao , Li Cheng
Published: April 2020

With the rapid development of electric vehicles (EVs), one of the urgent issues is how to deploy limited charging facilities to provide services for as many EVs as possible. This paper proposes a bilevel model to depict the interaction between traffic flow distribution and the location of charging stations (CSs) in the EVs and gasoline vehicles (GVs) hybrid network. The upper level model is a maximum flow-covering model where the CSs are deployed on links with higher demands. The lower level model is a stochastic user equilibrium model under elastic demands (SUE-ED) that considers both demands uncertainty and perceived path constraints, which have a significant influence on the distribution of link flow. Besides the path travel cost, the utility of charging facilities, charging speed, and waiting time at CSs due to space capacity restraint are also considered for the EVs when making a path assignment in the lower level model. A mixed-integer nonlinear program is constructed, and the equivalence of SUE-ED is proven, where a heuristic algorithm is used to solve the model. Finally, the network trial and sensitivity analysis are carried out to illustrate the feasibility and effectiveness of the proposed model.
Thermo-Chemical Instability and Energy Analysis of Absorption Heat Pumps
Authors: L. Szabó Gábor
Published: April 2020

This paper presents the results of energy analysis of absorption heat pumps. The thermo-chemical instability term was introduced for absorption heat pumps used for heating or cooling or heating and cooling. A higher thermo-chemical instability results in the equipment being more sensitive with regard to the variation of the heat source flux. This sensitivity can be taken into account when heat sources are chosen for a certain absorption machine. Absorption heat pumps having thermo-chemical compressors were compared from energy demand and energy efficiency points of view with heat pumps having mechanical compressors. As it is shown, for certain evaporation and condensation temperature values, an absorption heat pump with similar efficiency to that of the heat pump with a mechanical compressor can always be found.
Study on the Effect of Extraneous Moisture on the Spontaneous Combustion of Coal and Its Mechanism of Action
Authors: Wu Yuguo , Zhang Yulong , Wang Jie , Zhang Xiaoyu , Wang Junfeng , Zhou Chunshan
Published: April 2020

It is imperative to have an in-depth understanding of the effect of extraneous moisture on the spontaneous combustion of coal not only for the control and prevention of coal spontaneous combustion in the coal mining industry, but also for the optimization design and application of the technological process. In this study, the type of moisture in a coal body has been redefined for the first time from the perspective of disaster prevention and control, i.e., original occurrence of moisture in the coal matrix and the extraneous moisture from the technological process. A suit of coal bodies with different extraneous moisture was prepared by soaking long-flame coal with a low water content. Using a temperature-programmed oxidation test, the effects of extraneous moisture on the temperature increase rate of coal bodies and the emission characteristics of gaseous products during coal spontaneous combustion were studied. Moreover, combined with the characterization of thermal analysis and of pore structure test, the action the mechanism of extraneous moisture on the coal spontaneous combustion process was also explored. The experimental results indicated that the effect of the extraneous moisture content varied with the development of coal spontaneous combustion. In the slow oxidation stage, extraneous moisture played a physical inhibition role in the coal oxidation. In the accelerated oxidation stage, extraneous moisture exhibited a catalytic effect on the coal–oxygen reaction or directly participated in the reaction. After entering the rapid oxidation stage, a delayed effect appeared. When the coal temperature exceeded 180 °C, the spontaneous combustion characteristics of coals with different initial moisture contents gradually tended to achieved balance.
Role of Extrinsic Contribution to Temperature Stability of Piezoelectricity for (K,Na)NbO3-(Bi,M)ZrO3 Ceramics with Morphotropic Phase Boundary
Authors: Lee Gyoung-Ja , Lee Min-Ku
Published: April 2020

Temperature stability of dielectric, ferroelectric, and piezoelectric properties were investigated in situ by choosing (K,Na)NbO3-(Bi,K)ZrO3 (KNN-BKZ), (K,Na)NbO3-(Bi,Na,K,Li)ZrO3 (KNN-BNKLZ), and (K,Na)NbO3-(Bi,Li)ZrO3-(KNN-BLZ) as representative ceramics with rhombohedral-orthorhombic-tetragonal (R-O-T), R-T, and enriched T phase boundaries, respectively. The KNN-BNKLZ ceramics, which have an R-T phase boundary, showed the highest piezoelectricity but the worst temperature stability. On the other hand, the KNN-BLZ ceramics, which have an enriched T-phase, were slightly worse in terms of piezoelectricity compared to the R-O-T or R-T phase boundary, but their thermal stability was the best. From analyses of an extrinsic contribution by a difference between the small signal d33 and εrPr and an intensity variation of the (002) and (200) X-ray diffraction peaks for the KNN-based ceramics, it was suggested that increasing the extrinsic contribution in the morphotropic phase boundary region improves the piezoelectricity but decreases the thermal stability.
Safety Analysis Technique for System with Limited Data: Case Study of the Multipurpose Research Reactor in Indonesia
Authors: Hermansyah Heri , Kumaraningrum Anggraini Ratih , Purba Julwan Hendry , Edison  , Yohda Masafumi
Published: April 2020

Fault tree analysis (FTA) is frequently applied to deductively evaluate the safety systems of complex engineering systems such as chemical industries or nuclear facilities. To perform this analysis, generic data are commonly used due to the limitation of historical failure data of the system being evaluated. However, generic data have a degree of uncertainty and hence cannot represent the system’s actual performance. In addition, generic data are not applicable to older components due to the aging process, which obviously degrades the reliability of those components. To deal with this limitation, another safety analysis method, called fuzzy fault tree analysis (FFTA), has been proposed. The purpose of this study is to apply FFTA to evaluate the performance of the primary cooling systems of G.A. Siwabessy Multipurpose Reactor (RSG-GAS). RSG-GAS is a research reactor, which belongs to the National Nuclear Energy Agency of Indonesia (BATAN). Expert justifications were used to evaluate the failure occurrences of basic events in the primary cooling system of the RSG–GAS through questionnaires. The assessment by experts is in the form of qualitative data, which are then converted into quantitative data by applying FFTA. Then, the top event probability generated from FFTA was applied to calculate the event probability using event tree analysis (ETA). It was obtained that the highest event probability was 4.304 × 10−8/year. Since it complies with The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) specified core damage frequency (CDF) limit, i.e., not greater than 10−5/year of reactor operation, the reactor is safe to operate.
Experimental Assessment of Flow, Performance, and Loads for Tidal Turbines in a Closely-Spaced Array
Authors: Noble Donald R. , Draycott Samuel , Nambiar Anup , Sellar Brian G. , Steynor Jeffrey , Kiprakis Aristides
Published: April 2020

Tidal stream turbines are subject to complex flow conditions, particularly when installed in staggered array configurations where the downstream turbines are affected by the wake and/or bypass flow of upstream turbines. This work presents, for the first time, methods for and results from the physical testing of three 1/15 scale instrumented turbines configured in a closely-spaced staggered array, and demonstrates experimentally that increased power extraction can be achieved through reduced array separation. A comprehensive set of flow measurements was taken during several weeks testing in the FloWave Ocean Energy Research Facility, with different configurations of turbines installed in the tank in a current of 0.8 m/s, to understand the effect that the front turbines have on flow through the array and on the inflow to the centrally placed rearmost turbine. Loads on the turbine structure, rotor, and blade roots were measured along with the rotational speed of the rotor to assess concurrently in real-time the effects of flow and array geometry on structural loading and performance. Operating in this closely-spaced array was found to improve the power delivered by the rear turbine by 5.7–10.4% with a corresponding increase in the thrust loading on the rotor of 4.8–7.3% around the peak power operating point. The experimental methods developed and results arising from this work will also be useful for further scale-testing elsewhere, validating numerical models, and for understanding the performance and loading of full-scale tidal stream turbines in arrays.
Spring Moisture Availability is the Major Limitation for Pine Forest Productivity in Southwest China
Authors: Bi Yingfeng , Whitney Cory , Li Jianwen , Yang Jingchao , Yang Xuefei
Published: April 2020

Forests in low-latitude (0° N–30° N) regions are important for greenhouse gas sequestration. They harbor around 25% of vegetation carbon stocks. The productivity of these forests is expected to change as the global climate changes. They may absorb less greenhouse gasses, with negative effects on the global climate. However, little is known about how exactly these forests will respond to climate change. Here, we focus on the largest pine forests in low-latitude forests areas in southwest China. These forests have experienced rapid climate warming over the past 60 years. We collected tree-ring cores from two naturally occurring key afforestation pine tree species: Pinus yunnanensis Franch. and Pinus armandii Franch. in Baoshan and Lijiang of Yunnan. We used basal area increment (BAI) to examine the productivity trends of these two species over long-time scales, and Partial Least Squares regression analysis together with Pearson correlation analysis to identify the critical climate periods for the growth of these two species. We found that: (1) regional pine tree productivity began to decline at the beginning of this century. (2) The radial growth of both species had the strongest positive correlation with the spring Palmer Drought Severity Index (PDSI) and precipitation and the strongest negative correlation with spring temperatures. (3) Climate responses differ by species with higher positive correlations between tree-ring width, PDSI, and precipitation in P. armandii than in P. yunnanensis at similar locations. (4) Climate responses differ by location with higher positive correlations between tree-ring width and PDSI in Lijiang than in Baoshan for P. yunnanensis. Our results suggest that spring moisture availability is the main limiting factor for pine tree growth, especially for P. yunnanensis in Lijiang and P. armandii in Baoshan. Future regional warming and warm-induced drought conditions may have negative effects on the growth of pine trees. These results provide reference data for the sustainable management of pine forests in low-latitude regions of southwest China and may be useful in assessing the sustainable carbon sink ability of pine forests in this region under climate change.
Comparison of Economic Efficiency of Management Systems with Prevailing Representation of Sessile Oak (Quercus petraea (Matt.) Liebl.) in the Territory of Křivoklátsko Forest Park (Czech Republic)
Authors: Březina David , Kadavý Jan , Kneifl Michal , Michal Jakub
Published: April 2020

The objective of the article was to model the economic efficiency of coppice and compare it with that of an oak high forest (primarily for the territory of Křivoklátsko Forest Park). The model calculations were based on actual expenses and revenues from the area of interest to the maximum possible extent. The calculations included methods both with time factor (dynamic methods, namely the method of net present value) and without time factor (static methods). For the area of Křivoklátsko Forest Park, the examined data showed that the economic efficiency of coppice could be greater than that of high forest or over-mature coppice.
Sex-Related Differences in Growth, Herbivory, and Defense of Two Salix Species
Authors: Yang Guo , Xu Qiang , Li Wei , Ling Jiahao , Li Xiaoping , Yin Tongming
Published: April 2020

Sex-related differences in sex ratio, growth, and herbivory are widely documented in many dioecious plants. The common pattern is for males to grow faster than females and to be less well-defended against herbivores, but Salix is an exception. To study sex-related differences in the patterns of resource allocation for growth and defense in willows, we conducted a large-scale field experiment to investigate the flowering sex ratio, mortality, growth traits, insect herbivory and content of defensive substances in three Salix populations comprising two species. Results demonstrate that the two Salix suchowensis Cheng populations have a female bias in the sex ratio, whereas no bias is found in the S. triandra L. population. Male individuals in the S. suchowensis populations have significantly higher mortality rates than females. However, the mortality rate of S. triandra population has no gender difference. This finding may be one of the explanations for the difference in sex ratio between the two species. The females are larger in height, ground diameter, and biomass, and have a higher nutritional quality (N concentration) than males in both species. Nevertheless, slow-growing males have a higher concentration of the defense chemical (total phenol) and lower degrees of insect herbivory than females. Additionally, biomass is positively correlated with herbivory and negatively correlated with defense in the two willow species. It is concluded that the degrees of herbivory would have a great influence on resource allocation for growth and defense. Meanwhile, it also provides important implications for understanding the evolution of dioecy.
Evaluation and Tradeoff Analysis of Ecosystem Service for Typical Land-Use Patterns in the Karst Region of Southwest China
Authors: Zou Zhigang , Zeng Fuping , Wang Kelin , Zeng Zhaoxia , Tang Hui , Zhang Hao
Published: April 2020

Although many land-use patterns have been established to restore vegetation and eliminate poverty in the karst area in southwest China, the ecosystem services (ESs) of these patterns are still not fully understood. To compare the differences in seven typical monoculture patterns and three agroforestry patterns, their ESs and tradeoffs were analyzed within the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment Framework. Compared with the local traditional corn pattern, the marigold pattern improved provisioning, regulating, and cultural services by >100%. The pomegranate pattern provided far more provisioning services than the other patterns. The apple + soybean intercropping pattern reduced regulating services, and eventually, its Total ESs (TES) and ecosystem multifunctionality index (EMF) also decreased. Cultural services will be enhanced by the introduction of fruit trees, as well as intercropping. Orange + peach had the greatest negative tradeoffs between provisioning and regulating services (P-R), provisioning and supporting services (P-S), and provisioning and cultural services (P-C), which indicates that the provisioning services urgently require improvement. Peach + pumpkin intercropping decreased the negative tradeoffs of P-R, P-S, and P-C (all > 10%), while pomegranate + grass intercropping increased the negative tradeoffs of R-S and R-C (all > 100%). Our results suggest that all six of these patterns are worthy of promotion but the pomegranate pattern should be given priority. Among the three intercropping patterns studied herein, the apple + soybean pattern should be redesigned to improve performance.
Long-Term Wood Micro-Density Variation in Alpine Forests at Central México and Their Spatial Links with Remotely Sensed Information
Authors: Correa-Díaz A. , Gómez-Guerrero A. , Vargas-Hernández J. J. , Rozenberg P. , Horwath W. R.
Published: April 2020

Ongoing climate variability strongly affects high-elevation forests, influencing the wood formation process (e.g., xylogenesis). Furthermore, spatio-temporal studies to establish links of wood properties and tree performance are needed. Using linear mixed-effects models, empirical cumulative distribution functions, and spatial analysis, we explore time trends and space connections of wood density of Pinus hartwegii Lindl. to remotely sensed variables (Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectro-radiometer MODIS-derived) in two high-elevation forests in México, Tláloc (TLA) and Jocotitlán (JOC) Mountains. Results indicated that elevation and cambial age effects are important factors explaining wood density variation. Minimum earlywood—MID, average—AVE, and maximum latewood density—MXD were statistically similar between mountains (p > 0.05), but TLA showed a significant increase in MID over time with higher values after 1950. Wood density values and spatial correlations were site-dependent with TLA exhibiting the highest correlations between MXD and the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) of the spring season (r = 0.59, p < 0.05). Overall, correlations to remotely sensed information were positive with MXD, negative for MID and divergent for AVE. Historical temperature defines MID along the elevation gradient, while MXD was related to soil moisture only at low-elevation sites where soils are deeper. We found that two high-elevation forests, 115 km away from each other, with similar climate, soil, and vegetation, behaved differently regarding their xylogenesis, indicating the potential of using the link between wood micro-density and remotely sensed information to understand forest response to climate change effects.
Integration of Partial Least Squares Regression and Hyperspectral Data Processing for the Nondestructive Detection of the Scaling Rate of Carp (Cyprinus carpio)
Authors: Wang Huihui , Wang Kunlun , Zhu Xinyu , Zhang Peng , Yang Jixin , Tan Mingqian
Published: April 2020

The scaling rate of carp is one of the most important factors restricting the automation and intelligence level of carp processing. In order to solve the shortcomings of the commonly-used manual detection, this paper aimed to study the potential of hyperspectral technology (400–1024.7 nm) in detecting the scaling rate of carp. The whole fish body was divided into three regions (belly, back, and tail) for analysis because spectral responses are different for different regions. Different preprocessing methods, including Savitzky–Golay (SG), first derivative (FD), multivariate scattering correction (MSC), and standard normal variate (SNV) were applied for spectrum pretreatment. Then, the successive projections algorithm (SPA), regression coefficient (RC), and two-dimensional correlation spectroscopy (2D-COS) were applied for selecting characteristic wavelengths (CWs), respectively. The partial least square regression (PLSR) models for scaling rate detection using full wavelengths (FWs) and CWs were established. According to the modeling results, FD-RC-PLSR, SNV-SPA-PLSR, and SNV-RC-PLSR were determined to be the optimal models for predicting the scaling rate in the back (the coefficient of determination in calibration set (RC2) = 96.23%, the coefficient of determination in prediction set (RP2) = 95.55%, root mean square error by calibration (RMSEC) = 6.20%, the root mean square error by prediction (RMSEP)= 7.54%, and the relative percent deviation (RPD) = 3.98), belly (RC2 = 93.44%, RP2 = 90.81%, RMSEC = 8.05%, RMSEP = 9.13%, and RPD = 3.07) and tail (RC2 = 95.34%, RP2 = 93.71%, RMSEC = 6.66%, RMSEP = 8.37%, and RPD = 3.42) regions, respectively. It can be seen that PLSR integrated with specific pretreatment and dimension reduction methods had great potential for scaling rate detection in different carp regions. These results confirmed the possibility of using hyperspectral technology in nondestructive and convenient detection of the scaling rate of carp.
Genome-Wide Characterization of Snf1-Related Protein Kinases (SnRKs) and Expression Analysis of SnRK1.1 in Strawberry
Authors: Zhang Yunting , Ye Yuyun , Jiang Leiyu , Lin Yuanxiu , Gu Xianjie , Chen Qing , Sun Bo , Zhang Yong , Luo Ya , Wang Yan , Wang Xiaorong , Tang Haoru
Published: April 2020

The plant sucrose nonfermenting 1 (SNF1)-related protein kinases (SnRKs) are key regulators in the interconnection of various signaling pathways. However, little is known about the SnRK family in strawberries. In this study, a total of 26 FvSnRKs including one FvSnRK1, nine FvSnRK2s and 16 FvSnRK3s were identified from the strawberry genome database. They were respectively designated as FvSnRK1.1, FvSnRK2.1 to FvSnRK2.9 and FvSnRK3.1 to FvSnRK3.16, according to the conserved domain of each subfamily and multiple sequence alignment with Arabidopsis. FvSnRK family members were unevenly distributed in seven chromosomes. The number of exons or introns varied among FvSnRK1s, FvSnRK2s and FvSnRK3s, but highly conserved in the same subfamily. The FvSnRK1.1 had 10 exons. Most of FvSnRK2s had nine exons or eight introns, except FvSnRK2.4, FvSnRK2.8 and FvSnRK2.9. FvSnRK3 genes were divided into intron-free and intron-harboring members, and the number of introns in intron-harboring group ranged from 11 to 15. Moreover, the phylogenetic analysis showed SnRK1, SnRK2 and SnRK3 subfamilies respectively clustered together in spite of the different species of strawberry and Arabidopsis, indicating the genes were established prior to the divergence of the corresponding taxonomic lineages. Meanwhile, conserved motif analysis showed that FvSnRK sequences that belonged to the same subgroup contained their own specific motifs. Cis-element in promoter and expression pattern analyses of FvSnRK1.1 suggested that FvSnRK1.1 was involved in cold responsiveness, light responsiveness and fruit ripening. Taken together, this comprehensive analysis will facilitate further studies of the FvSnRK family and provide a basis for the understanding of their function in strawberry.
Cannabinoid Control of Olfactory Processes: The Where Matters
Authors: Terral Geoffrey , Marsicano Giovanni , Grandes Pedro , Soria-Gómez Edgar
Published: April 2020

Olfaction has a direct influence on behavior and cognitive processes. There are different neuromodulatory systems in olfactory circuits that control the sensory information flowing through the rest of the brain. The presence of the cannabinoid type-1 (CB1) receptor, (the main cannabinoid receptor in the brain), has been shown for more than 20 years in different brain olfactory areas. However, only over the last decade have we started to know the specific cellular mechanisms that link cannabinoid signaling to olfactory processing and the control of behavior. In this review, we aim to summarize and discuss our current knowledge about the presence of CB1 receptors, and the function of the endocannabinoid system in the regulation of different olfactory brain circuits and related behaviors.
The Peptidoglycan Biosynthesis Gene murC in Frankia: Actinorhizal vs. Plant Type
Authors: Berckx Fede , Wibberg Daniel , Kalinowski Jörn , Pawlowski Katharina
Published: April 2020

Nitrogen-fixing Actinobacteria of the genus Frankia can be subdivided into four phylogenetically distinct clades; members of clusters one to three engage in nitrogen-fixing root nodule symbioses with actinorhizal plants. Mur enzymes are responsible for the biosynthesis of the peptidoglycan layer of bacteria. The four Mur ligases, MurC, MurD, MurE, and MurF, catalyse the addition of a short polypeptide to UDP-N-acetylmuramic acid. Frankia strains of cluster-2 and cluster-3 contain two copies of murC, while the strains of cluster-1 and cluster-4 contain only one. Phylogenetically, the protein encoded by the murC gene shared only by cluster-2 and cluster-3, termed MurC1, groups with MurC proteins of other Actinobacteria. The protein encoded by the murC gene found in all Frankia strains, MurC2, shows a higher similarity to the MurC proteins of plants than of Actinobacteria. MurC2 could have been either acquired via horizontal gene transfer or via gene duplication and convergent evolution, while murC1 was subsequently lost in the cluster-1 and cluster-4 strains. In the nodules induced by the cluster-2 strains, the expression levels of murC2 were significantly higher than those of murC1. Thus, there is clear sequence divergence between both types of Frankia MurC, and Frankia murC1 is in the process of being replaced by murC2, indicating selection in favour of murC2. Nevertheless, protein modelling showed no major structural differences between the MurCs from any phylogenetic group examined.