bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Polyamines: Small Amines with Large Effects on Plant Abiotic Stress Tolerance
Authors: Alcázar Rubén , Bueno Milagros , Tiburcio Antonio F.
Published: October 2020

In recent years, climate change has altered many ecosystems due to a combination of frequent droughts, irregular precipitation, increasingly salinized areas and high temperatures. These environmental changes have also caused a decline in crop yield worldwide. Therefore, there is an urgent need to fully understand the plant responses to abiotic stress and to apply the acquired knowledge to improve stress tolerance in crop plants. The accumulation of polyamines (PAs) in response to many abiotic stresses is one of the most remarkable plant metabolic responses. In this review, we provide an update about the most significant achievements improving plant tolerance to drought, salinity, low and high temperature stresses by exogenous application of PAs or genetic manipulation of endogenous PA levels. We also provide some clues about possible mechanisms underlying PA functions, as well as known cross-talks with other stress signaling pathways. Finally, we discuss about the possible use of PAs for seed priming to induce abiotic stress tolerance in agricultural valuable crop plants.
Single-Cell Transcriptome Analysis Highlights a Role for Neutrophils and Inflammatory Macrophages in the Pathogenesis of Severe COVID-19
Authors: Shaath Hibah , Vishnubalaji Radhakrishnan , Elkord Eyad , Alajez Nehad M.
Published: October 2020

Cumulative data link cytokine storms with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) severity. The precise identification of immune cell subsets in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) and their correlation with COVID-19 disease severity are currently being unraveled. Herein, we employed iterative clustering and guide-gene selection 2 (ICGS2) as well as uniform manifold approximation and projection (UMAP) dimensionality reduction computational algorithms to decipher the complex immune and cellular composition of BAL, using publicly available datasets from a total of 68,873 single cells derived from two healthy subjects, three patients with mild COVID-19, and five patients with severe COVID-19. Our analysis revealed the presence of neutrophils and macrophage cluster-1 as a hallmark of severe COVID-19. Among the identified gene signatures, IFITM2, IFITM1, H3F3B, SAT1, and S100A8 gene signatures were highly associated with neutrophils, while CCL8, CCL3, CCL2, KLF6, and SPP1 were associated with macrophage cluster-1 in severe-COVID-19 patients. Interestingly, although macrophages were also present in healthy subjects and patients with mild COVID-19, they had different gene signatures, indicative of interstitial and cluster-0 macrophage (i.e., FABP4, APOC1, APOE, C1QB, and NURP1). Additionally, MALAT1, NEAT1, and SNGH25 were downregulated in patients with mild and severe COVID-19. Interferon signaling, FCγ receptor-mediated phagocytosis, IL17, and Tec kinase canonical pathways were enriched in patients with severe COVID-19, while PD-1 and PDL-1 pathways were suppressed. A number of upstream regulators (IFNG, PRL, TLR7, PRL, TGM2, TLR9, IL1B, TNF, NFkB, IL1A, STAT3, CCL5, and others) were also enriched in BAL cells from severe COVID-19-affected patients compared to those from patients with mild COVID-19. Further analyses revealed genes associated with the inflammatory response and chemotaxis of myeloid cells, phagocytes, and granulocytes, among the top activated functional categories in BAL from severe COVID-19-affected patients. Transcriptome data from another cohort of COVID-19-derived peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) revealed the presence of several genes common to those found in BAL from patients with severe and mild COVID-19 (IFI27, IFITM3, IFI6, IFIT3, MX1, IFIT1, OASL, IFI30, OAS1) or to those seen only in BAL from severe-COVID-19 patients (S100A8, IFI44, IFI44L, CXCL8, CCR1, PLSCR1, EPSTI1, FPR1, OAS2, OAS3, IL1RN, TYMP, BCL2A1). Taken together, our data reveal the presence of neutrophils and macrophage cluster-1 as the main immune cell subsets associated with severe COVID-19 and identify their inflammatory and chemotactic gene signatures, also partially reflected systemically in the circulation, for possible diagnostic and therapeutic interventions.
Correction: Felix, L.; Ziemens, D.; Seifert, G.; Rose, C.R. Spontaneous Ultraslow Na+ Fluctuations in the Neonatal Mouse Brain. Cells 2020, 9, 102
Authors: Felix Lisa , Ziemens Daniel , Seifert Gerald , Rose Christine R.
Published: October 2020

The authors wish to make the following changes to their paper [...]
A Novel FRET Approach Quantifies the Interaction Strength of Peroxisomal Targeting Signals and Their Receptor in Living Cells
Authors: Hochreiter Bernhard , Chong Cheng-Shoong , Hartig Andreas , Maurer-Stroh Sebastian , Berger Johannes , Schmid Johannes A. , Kunze Markus
Published: October 2020

Measuring Förster–resonance–energy–transfer (FRET) efficiency allows the investigation of protein–protein interactions (PPI), but extracting quantitative measures of affinity necessitates highly advanced technical equipment or isolated proteins. We demonstrate the validity of a recently suggested novel approach to quantitatively analyze FRET-based experiments in living mammalian cells using standard equipment using the interaction between different type-1 peroxisomal targeting signals (PTS1) and their soluble receptor peroxin 5 (PEX5) as a model system. Large data sets were obtained by flow cytometry coupled FRET measurements of cells expressing PTS1-tagged EGFP together with mCherry fused to the PTS1-binding domain of PEX5, and were subjected to a fitting algorithm extracting a quantitative measure of the interaction strength. This measure correlates with results obtained by in vitro techniques and a two-hybrid assay, but is unaffected by the distance between the fluorophores. Moreover, we introduce a live cell competition assay based on this approach, capable of depicting dose- and affinity-dependent modulation of the PPI. Using this system, we demonstrate the relevance of a sequence element next to the core tripeptide in PTS1 motifs for the interaction strength between PTS1 and PEX5, which is supported by a structure-based computational prediction of the binding energy indicating a direct involvement of this sequence in the interaction.
Second-Generation Phosgene and Diphosgene Detection Tube
Authors: Pitschmann Vladimír , Matějovský Lukáš , Zeman Jiří , Vetchý David , Dymák Michal , Lobotka Martin , Pavloková Sylvie , Moravec Zdeněk
Published: October 2020

We have developed a second-generation detection tube for colorimetric and fluorescence detection of phosgene and diphosgene in air. The tube is packed with pellets made of a mixture of microcrystalline cellulose and magnesium aluminum metasilicate treated with a suitable monoterpene (camphor, menthol) to increase porosity and specific surface area. We impregnated the pellets with a specific o-phenylenediamine-pyronin (PY-OPD) based reagent. The detector with this novel indication charge enables phosgene or diphosgene to be selectively and sensitively detected at concentrations lower than as would those posing acute health risk. Owing to the analytical colorimetric and, at the same time, fluorescence signal, the detector is very robust while featuring good sensitivity and variability. The colorimetric limits of detection were 0.3 mg/m3 (tristimulus colorimeter), resp. 5 mg/m3 (with the naked eye), fluorescence detection limits of 0.3 mg/m3 (with the naked eye), all at an air sample volume of 1 dm3. The response was practically immediate, acid vapors and gases, or diethyl chlorophosphate as a simulant of nerve warfare chemical agents, were disruptive.
Photochemical Preparation of Silver Colloids in Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose for Antibacterial Materials with Controlled Release of Silver
Authors: Kvitek Ondrej , Mutylo Elizaveta , Vokata Barbora , Ulbrich Pavel , Fajstavr Dominik , Reznickova Alena , Svorcik Vaclav
Published: October 2020

Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) possess strong antibacterial effect. The current trend is to incorporate AgNPs into functional materials that benefit from their bactericidal capabilities. Hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) is routinely used for the controlled release of medicine thanks to its slow dissolution in water and could be used as a matrix for the controlled release of AgNPs, if a method to produce such a material without the need of other reactants was developed. We proposed such a method in a photochemical reduction of AgNO3 in hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) solutions by the illumination of the mixture with the light emitting diode bulb for about 2 h. These AgNPs were characterized by transmission electron microscopy and their diameter was found to be mostly under 100 nm. The colloids were then easily transformed into solid samples by drying, lyophilization and spin-coating. The slowly soluble HPMC was found to be able to release the AgNPs gradually over the duration of several hours. Antibacterial activity of the prepared colloids and the solid samples was tested against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus epidermidis and was found to be very high, reaching the total elimination of the bacteria in the studied systems.
Probing the Molecular Interactions of Chitosan Films in Acidic Solutions with Different Salt Ions
Authors: Tan Qiyan , Kan Yajing , Huang Huixiang , Wu Weiping , Lu Xinjian
Published: October 2020

Understanding the interaction mechanisms of chitosan films plays a central role in a wide range of its applications, such as bioadhesive, drug delivery, wound healing, tissue engineering, and wastewater treatment for heavy metal ions. Here, we investigated the molecular interactions between chitosan films in acidic solutions with different salt ions using a surface forces apparatus (SFA). The results showed that chitosan can be adsorbed to mica surfaces by electrostatic interaction under acidic conditions. The force measurements demonstrated that the interactions depend on the salt types, concentrations, and contact time. With the addition of 1 mM LaCl3 and NaCl into the acetic acid (HAc) buffer solution, the cohesion between chitosan films enhanced by about 45% and 20%, respectively, after a contact time of 60 min. The enhanced cohesion induced by the combination of partly intermolecular complexation formation in a bridge model and conformation adjustment of chitosan under contact time in 1 mM LaCl3 solution. However, the cohesion reduced rapidly and even disappeared when the salt concentration increased to 10 mM and 100 mM. We proposed that the cross-linked structures of chitosan mainly contribute to the significant reduction of chitosan cohesion in LaCl3 solution. In comparison, the decrease in cohesion capacity in NaCl solution mainly results from the enhanced hydration effect. Our findings may provide insights into the interaction mechanisms of chitosan films under nanoconfinement in acidic conditions and suggestions for the development of chitosan-based materials.
Simulation of Magnetic-Field-Induced Ion Motion in Vacuum Arc Deposition for Inner Surfaces of Tubular Workpiece
Authors: Wang Tiancheng , Yang Yulei , Shao Tianmin , Cheng Bingxue , Zhao Qian , Shang Hongfei
Published: October 2020

A simulation of magnetic-field-induced ion motion in vacuum arc deposition for the inner surfaces of a tubular workpiece was performed. An auxiliary magnetic field was set to guide the motion of ions inside a pipe, with different magnetic flux densities and ion emission parameters. The results showed the trajectories, deposition ratio and depth of the ions can be controlled via a magnetic field. Within a certain range, the deposition ratio of the ions increases with magnetic flux density. When the magnetic flux density reached a certain value, both the trajectories and deposition ratio of the ions exhibited an obvious periodicity. The depth at which the ions were deposited decreased as an exponential function of the magnetic flux density and ion emission radius, respectively. With an increase in the emission angle, the deposition depth decreased linearly. A numerical model was proposed to express the distribution of the deposition depth. In addition, the deposition ratio and depth are improved with a magnetic field in an environment with a certain density of neutral gas.
Enhancement of Spontaneous Polarization and Acid Vapor-Induced Polymerization in the Thin-Film States of Phenylterthiophene Derivative Bearing a Cyclotetrasiloxane Ring
Authors: Nakagawa Jumpei , Seki Atsushi , Funahashi Masahiro
Published: October 2020

We have achieved the measurement of spontaneous polarization of spin-coated thin films of a ferroelectric liquid crystal based on a phenylterthiophene skeleton. Uniaxially aligned spin-coated films with a thickness of 100 nm were prepared by the friction transfer method. The spontaneous polarization of the spin-coated films was measured by the Sawyer–Tower method and polarization inversion current technique under the application of triangular-wave bias. These measurements revealed the spontaneous polarization of 50 nC cm−2 in the thin-film state which is 1.5 times larger than the value of 35 nC cm−2 in the bulk state. This result should be attributed to the strong anchoring of the liquid-crystalline molecules on the substrate surface and the inhibition of polarization relaxation caused by the formation of the helical structure. Moreover, insolubilization of the thin films was carried out by an in situ ring-opening polymerization induced by acid vapors. The molecular alignment in the thin films of the ferroelectric liquid crystal was retained during the polymerization process.
Synthesis of Mg–Zn–Nd Master Alloy in Metallothermic Reduction of Neodymium from Fluoride–Chloride Melt
Authors: Beloglazov Ilia , Savchenkov Sergey , Bazhin Vladimir , Kawalla Rudolf
Published: October 2020

In the presented article, a differential thermal analysis was carried out and the temperatures of thermal effects were established that arise during the reduction of neodymium from a technological salt mixture KCl–NaCl–CaCl2–NdF3 with a magnesium–zinc alloy. The results of experimental studies on the reduction of neodymium from a fluoride–chloride melt in a shaft electric furnace at temperatures of 550, 600, 650, 700 °C are presented. In order to increase the degree of extraction of neodymium into the Mg–Zn–Nd master alloy, the study of the influence of technological parameters on the degree of extraction of neodymium was carried out. It was experimentally proven that when zinc is added to a reducing agent (magnesium), the degree of extraction of neodymium into the master alloy is 99.5–99.7%. The structure of the obtained master alloy samples, characterized by a uniform distribution of ternary intermetallic compounds (Mg3,4NdZn7) in the volume of a double magnesium–zinc eutectic, was studied by optical and electron microscopy.
Comparison between Different Diagnostic Strategies in Low-Risk Reproductive Age and Pre-Menopausal Women Presenting Abnormal Uterine Bleeding
Authors: Belcaro Chiara , Scrimin Federica , Mangogna Alessandro , Galati Emanuele Filippo , Biffi Stefania , Monasta Lorenzo , Romano Federico , Ricci Giuseppe
Published: October 2020

Abnormal uterine bleeding (AUB) is a common symptom in the female population, with an estimated prevalence of 10 to 30% in fertile age and up to 90% in perimenopausal women. In most cases, AUB is due to a benign cause. However, it can also be a symptom of atypical endometrial hyperplasia or endometrial cancer, a more common disease during menopause which can also affect women in their reproductive age. Considering the high prevalence of this symptom an appropriate diagnostic algorithm is needed. Concerns about the risks, pain, and stress associated with an endometrial biopsy and its impact on the healthcare system make the choice of AUB diagnostic strategy extremely relevant. Even if the scientific community agrees on the definition of AUB, International Guidelines show some differences in the management of women of reproductive age with AUB, especially regarding the age cut-off as an independent indication for endometrial biopsy. This study compared different diagnostic strategies to identify a diagnostic pathway with high sensitivity and specificity but low impact on the health system’s resources. The analysis was based on three diagnostic algorithms defined as part of the guidelines of leading scientific societies. Women of reproductive age with AUB (n = 625) and without risk of endometrial cancer were included in the study. Results showed that the best criterion to investigate AUB in women at low risk of endometrial cancer is not age cut-off but the presence or absence of focal endometrial pathology at the ultrasound and the response to the progestin therapy. This approach makes it possible to perform fewer outpatient hysteroscopic biopsies without excluding positive cases from the examination.
Distribution of Peripheral Nerve Injuries in Patients with a History of Shoulder Trauma Referred to a Tertiary Care Electrodiagnostic Laboratory
Authors: Cho Chul-Hyun , Kim Don-Kyu , Kim Du Hwan
Published: October 2020

Peripheral nerve injury after shoulder trauma is an underestimated complication. The distribution of the affected nerves has been reported to be heterogeneous in previous studies. This study aimed to describe the distribution of peripheral nerve injuries in patients with a history of shoulder trauma who were referred to a tertiary care electrodiagnostic laboratory. A retrospective chart review was performed for all cases referred to a tertiary care electrodiagnostic laboratory between March 2012 and February 2020. The inclusion criteria were a history of shoulder trauma and electrodiagnostic evidence of nerve injury. Data on patient demographics, mechanism of injury, degree of weakness, clinical outcomes at the final follow-up, and electrodiagnostic results were retrieved from medical records. Fifty-six patients had peripheral nerve injuries after shoulder trauma. Overall, isolated axillary nerve injury was the most common. A brachial plexus lesion affecting the supraclavicular branches (pan-brachial plexus and upper trunk brachial plexus lesions) was the second most common injury. In cases of shoulder dislocation and proximal humerus fracture, isolated axillary nerve injury was the most common. Among acromioclavicular joint injuries and clavicular fractures, lower trunk brachial plexus injuries and ulnar neuropathy were more common than axillary nerve or upper trunk brachial plexus injuries. Patients with isolated axillary nerve lesions showed a relatively good recovery; those with pan-brachial plexus injuries showed a poor recovery. Our study demonstrated the distribution of peripheral nerve injuries remote from displaced bony structures. Mechanisms other than direct compression by displaced bony structures might be involved in nerve injuries associated with shoulder trauma. Electrodiagnostic tests are useful for determining the extent of nerve damage after shoulder trauma.
Asexual Regeneration Response of Ilex canariensis Poir. to Management of the Canopy of Pinus radiata D.Don
Authors: Arévalo José Ramón
Published: October 2020

Exotic afforestation can provide suitable conditions for native shade-tolerant species restoration without threatening native forests. This study analyzes the impact of different thinning intensities of the canopy of an exotic Pinus radiata stand on the asexual regeneration response of Ilex canariensis, a native laurel forest species in the Canary Islands, Spain. The results provide useful indications for how to manage P. radiata stands to promote recovery of native plant communities. For different stand treatments were selected: stand clear cut, low intensity thinning (10–15%), high intensity thinning (25%), and a control. The stand clear cut management revealed Ilex canariensis individuals with a higher number of sprouts and more leaf cover; however, the height of these sprouts two years after the cut did not reach the values of individuals prior to this management. Consequently, the vitality index following clear cut management is significantly lower with respect to the other treatments. Thinning management is shown not to be so useful to promote the growth and vitality of Ilex canariensis individuals. The results suggest that thinning over 50% could be more appropriate in the case of Pinus radiata, allowing resprouting of Ilex canariensis in the understory and improvement in the vitality index.
An Input–Output Analysis of Sectoral Specialization and Trade Integration of the Western Balkans Economies
Authors: Mandras Giovanni , Salotti Simone
Published: October 2020

The contribution of this paper is twofold. First, it uses the available official Input–Output data for the Western Balkans economies to estimate the output and value added multipliers of the sectors identified as being either current or emerging strengths within the context of Smart Specialisation. These multipliers indicate the potential impact of changes in final demand for certain products and sectors. This permits the identification of the industries associated with high indirect and induced effects, and to form ideas about the sectoral interdependencies of the economies. For instance, it appears that many sectors related to construction are promising in terms of economic potential related to demand-side monetary injections in Albania. Second, a Multi-Regional dataset is used to investigate the international integration of the Western Balkans economies in terms of participation in the Global Value Chains. The latter has increased over time in the region, but it appears that some economies are benefitting relatively more than others from it.
Seven Challenges in Conceptualizing and Assessing Entrepreneurial Skills or Mindsets in Engineering Entrepreneurship Education
Authors: Miranda Constanza , Goñi Julian , Berhane Bruk , Carberry Adam
Published: October 2020

The growth of undergraduate entrepreneurship education programs and research, both within and outside of business programs, has led to a diverse array of academic literature on this topic. The diversity of perspectives has led to many conceptual and educational challenges that remain unresolved within the literature. The following conceptual paper offers a critical perspective on challenges that have been identified. A narrative-style literature review was conducted to explore challenges emerging from both (a) the practice of teaching entrepreneurship and (b) the definitions and assessment of entrepreneurial mindsets and skills that result from those education processes in entrepreneurship education, particularly within an undergraduate engineering education context. We achieve this objective by discussing previously dispersed sources of literature from disciplines that have critically discussed and explored entrepreneurial themes, such as business education, sociology, psychology, and philosophy. Contemporary debates within multiple disciplines are integrated and organized as challenges to inspire new theoretical discussions among scholars, educators, and other practitioners that can inform a more comprehensive way to conceive and assess entrepreneurship in engineering education. Seven challenges were identified ranging from the definition of entrepreneurship in education to the role of ethics in the teaching and assessment of entrepreneurship. We use these seven challenges and research questions as a starting point for the disambiguation of the working definition of entrepreneurship in the context of engineering education.
Where Are We Going? International Views on Purposes, Practices and Barriers in School-Based Outdoor Learning
Authors: Waite Sue
Published: October 2020

Popular demand for school-based outdoor learning is growing throughout the world, but there is relatively little use of international comparisons to inform the development and support of this growth. Motivations for providing outdoor learning may vary within and across countries/areas. Through understanding how different purposes are being approached internationally, we can learn how outdoor learning might best be supported to achieve particular outcomes. Eighty expert commentators on outdoor learning from 19 countries/areas responded to a short online survey about motivations for and practices in school-based outdoor learning, based on their experience working in this field. The survey was designed using a conceptual framework of student outcomes from outdoor learning, derived from policy analysis and five major reviews of the field. The three most frequently reported forms of outdoor learning practiced in schools were field studies, early years outdoor activities, and outdoor and adventure education. Among identified purposes for outdoor learning provision within schooling, supporting environmental awareness and action and pupil health and well-being were the most common. Some alignment of forms of outdoor learning and specific outcomes are discussed and implications for future policy, practice, and research considered.
On-Site Traversal Fractional Open Circuit Voltage with Uninterrupted Output Power for Maximal Power Point Tracking of Photovoltaic Systems
Authors: Bu Ling , Quan Shengjiang , Han Jiarong , Li Feng , Li Qingzhao , Wang Xiaohong
Published: October 2020

The fractional open-circuit voltage (FOCV) method is commonly adopted to track maximal power point of photovoltaic systems due to easy implementation and cost-effectiveness. However, the FOCV method is confronted with unstable output power and limited tracking accuracy. This paper proposes a novel on-site traversal FOCV method with uninterrupted output power and increased tracking accuracy through simulation and experimental verifications. Each solar cell is connected with a bypass diode and switching circuitry, so that specific solar cell can be traced and measured consecutively for determining its maximal power point (MPP). MATLAB/Simulink simulation results show that, in the time-varying irradiance case, the proposed method achieves a low ripple factor of 0.13% in 11–13 h and 0.88% in 9–15 h, under the typical 24 h irradiance curve. In the spatial-varying irradiance case, the accuracy of the proposed method reaches 99.85%. Compared with other FOCV methods, like pilot cell and semi pilot cell methods, the proposed method is of higher accuracy with a limited ripple effect. Experimental results show that this method can effectively trace different output performance of specific solar cell while generating stable output voltage with a low ripple factor of 1.55%, proving its compatibility with distributed sensing and applicability in smart photovoltaic systems.
DALI Bridge FPGA-Based Implementation in a Wireless Sensor Node for IoT Street Lighting Applications
Authors: Ordaz-García Oscar Osvaldo , Ortiz-López Manuel , Quiles-Latorre Francisco Javier , Arceo-Olague José Guadalupe , Solís-Robles Roberto , Bellido-Outeiriño Francisco José
Published: October 2020

Smart lighting systems based on the Digital Addressable Lighting Interface (DALI) protocol are the most suitable for street lighting systems, allowing digital lighting control operations. Unfortunately, the microcontrollers, which are commonly used in the Wireless Sensor Network nodes to control the lamps, do not implement this protocol. The DALI protocol implemented by software in the microcontroller consumes hardware resources (timers), processing time and requires a precise temporal analysis of the application, due to the strict bit times and the Manchester coding that it uses. In this work, the design of a bridge is proposed to free the microcontroller from the implementation of the DALI protocol. The novelty of this work is the implementation of the DALI Bridge in a low-cost Field-Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) with low power consumption. The bridge has been described in the hardware description language following the 1076-93 and 1076.3-97 standards, to guarantee its portability. The results of the synthesis show that a minimum amount of logical and routing resources is used, that the power consumption is in the order of tens of mW, that it has a very small latency time and that it supports a high operating frequency, which allows adding new functions. Its operation is verified by implementing a wireless sensor node using an FPGA of the Lattice Semiconductor iCE40 family.
Analysis of Retrofit Solutions of a Ground Source Heat Pump System: An Italian Case Study
Authors: Zarrella Angelo , Zecchin Roberto , Pasquier Philippe , Guzzon Diego , Prataviera Enrico , Vivian Jacopo , De Carli Michele , Emmi Giuseppe
Published: October 2020

Ground coupled heat pumps are a notoriously efficient system for heating and cooling buildings. Sometimes the characteristics of the building and the user’s needs are such that the amount of heat extracted from the ground during the winter season can be considerably different from the amount injected in summer. This situation can cause a progressive cooling or heating of the ground with a negative effect on the energy efficiency and correct operation of the system. In these cases, an accurate sizing has to be done. In systems already built, it could be necessary to intervene a posteriori to remedy an excessive ground thermal drift due to the energy unbalance. In this work, such a situation relating to a real office building in Italy is investigated and several solutions are examined, one of which has been then implemented. In particular, a hybrid heat pump using as heat sink both the ground and external air is compared with common solutions through computer simulations using a dedicated numerical model, which has also been compared with monitoring data. As a result, the hybrid heat pump shows better performance and limits the thermal drift of the ground temperature.
Ground-Dwelling Invertebrate Abundance Positively Related to Volume of Logging Residues in the Southern Appalachians, USA
Authors: Boggs April D. , Moorman Christopher E. , Hazel Dennis W. , Greenberg Cathryn H. , Sorger D. Magdalena , Sorenson Clyde E.
Published: October 2020

Invertebrates, especially those dependent on woody debris for a portion of their life cycle, may be greatly impacted by the amount of downed wood retained following timber harvests. To document relationships between invertebrates and logging residues, we sampled invertebrates with pitfall traps placed near or far from woody debris in 10 recently (2013–2015) harvested sites in western North Carolina with varying levels of woody debris retention. We measured the groundcover and microclimate at each trap and estimated site-level woody debris volume. We modeled predictors (e.g., site-level woody debris volume, percent woody debris cover at the trap site, site type) of captures of spiders (Araneae), harvestmen (Opiliones), centipedes/millipedes (Chilopoda/Diplopoda), ground beetles (Carabidae), rove beetles (Staphylinidae), other beetles, ants (Formicidae), grasshoppers (Acrididae/Tetrigidae), crickets (Gryllidae), and cave crickets (Rhaphidophoridae). In addition, we modeled ant occurrence at a finer taxonomic resolution, including red imported fire ants (Solenopsis invicta Buren) and 13 other genera/species. Forest type, whether hardwood or white pine (Pinus strobus L.) overstory preharvest, was a predictor of invertebrate response for 21 of 24 taxonomic analyses. Invertebrate captures or the occurrence probability of ants increased with increasing site-level woody debris volume for 13 of the 24 taxa examined and increased with increasing coarse woody debris (CWD; diameter ≥ 10 cm) cover at the trap level for seven of 24 taxa examined. Our results indicate that woody debris in harvested sites is important for the conservation of a majority of the taxa we studied, which is likely because of the unique microclimate offered near/under woody debris. Stand-scale factors typically were more important predictors of invertebrate response than trap-level cover of woody debris. We recommend implementing sustainability strategies (e.g., Biomass Harvesting Guidelines) to retain woody debris scattered across harvested sites to aid in the conservation of invertebrates.
Family Forest Owners’ Perception of Management and Thinning Operations in Young Dense Forests: A Survey from Sweden
Authors: Kronholm Thomas , Bengtsson David , Bergström Dan
Published: October 2020

Family forest owners (FFOs) own 48% of Sweden’s productive forest land and are responsible for 59% of the annual gross felling. They are thus important suppliers of raw materials to the forest industry and the energy sector. Environmental goals on the national and international level promote an increased use of renewable resources in order to replace fossil-based fuels, but since the current supply of forest products is already fully utilized by the industry, there is a need to find new types of biomass assortment. One way to increase the biomass supply is to replace traditional pre-commercial thinning operations, where fallen stems are left in the forest to rot, with whole-tree harvesting of small-diameter trees using novel technologies and methods. This will however require willingness of the FFOs to shift their management practices. The objectives of this study were, therefore, to elucidate FFOs’ perceptions of management and thinning operations in young dense forests, identify if there are differences depending on their demographic backgrounds, and clarify which factors could potentially affect their willingness to implement whole-tree harvesting in young dense forests. Data were collected through a survey administered to a random sample of 842 FFOs, with a response rate of 53.4% (n = 450). The results show that FFOs in general are positive towards implementing whole-tree harvesting in young dense stands, and are often also willing to promote the development of suitable stands. Factors such as forest size, geographical location, distance from home to their forest, degree of self-employment and current need for cleaning were found to significantly affect their attitudes. The study highlights that the development of cost efficient harvesting techniques and working methods is important if the industry wants to increase the FFOs’ willingness to engage in whole-tree harvesting in young dense forest stands and thereby increase the supply of biomass.
Comparative Proteomic Analysis of Leaves at Different Ages in Allotriploid Populus
Authors: Li Jiang , Wang Yi , Wei Hairong , Kang Xiangyang
Published: October 2020

Triploid poplar trees have been shown to have a number of growth advantages, especially much bigger leaves that contribute greatly to the increased biomass. In this study, we focused on the relationships between leaf age and leaf metabolism in triploids. We performed comparative proteomic analysis of the 5th (FDR5), 10th (FDR10), and 25th (FDR25) leaves from the apical meristems in allotriploids originated from first-division restitution (FDR). A total of 1970, 1916, and 1850 proteins were identified in the FDR5, FDR10, and FDR25, respectively. Principle component analysis (PCA) and differentially accumulated protein (DAP) analysis showed that FDR10 and FDR25 displayed higher similarities of protein accumulation patterns as compared to FDR5. MapMan enrichment analysis showed that several primary metabolic pathways or processes were significantly enriched in the DAPs. For example, photosynthesis, major CHO metabolism, glycolysis, N metabolism, redox, C1-metabolism, DNA, and protein turnover were significantly altered in both FDR10 and FDR25 compared with FDR5. In addition, amino acid metabolism and gluconeogenesis/glyoxylate cycle also underwent significant changes in FDR25 compared with FDR5. However, only amino acid metabolism was significantly enriched in the DAPs between FDR25 and FDR10. Further, DAP accumulation pattern analysis implied that FDR5, FDR10, and FDR25 were placed in the young, mature, and primary senescence stages of leaves. The most DAPs involved in the light reaction, photorespiration, Calvin cycle, starch and sucrose metabolism, pentose phosphate pathway (OPP), tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle, N metabolism, and C1-metabolism displayed higher accumulation in both FDR10 and FDR25 compared to FDR5. However, the most DAPs that are involved in cell wall and lipid metabolism, tetrapyrrole synthesis, nucleotide metabolism exhibited lower accumulation in both FDR10 and FDR25. Almost all DAPs between FDR-10 and FDR-25 showed a dramatic decrease in FDR25. KEGG enrichment analysis showed that carbon metabolism was altered significantly at different leaf ages. DAPs that are involved in carbon metabolism were predicted as different points in protein–protein interaction (PPI) networks from the STRING database. Finally, inconsistent transcript and protein abundance was found for DAPs, indicating the presence of posttranscriptional regulation during leaf-age progression process.
Password Managers—It’s All about Trust and Transparency
Authors: Alodhyani Fahad , Theodorakopoulos George , Reinecke Philipp
Published: October 2020

A password is considered to be the first line of defence in protecting online accounts, but there are problems when people handle their own passwords, for example, password reuse and difficult to memorize. Password managers appear to be a promising solution to help people handle their passwords. However, there is low adoption of password managers, even though they are widely available, and there are fewer studies on users of password managers. Therefore, the issues that cause people not to use password managers must be investigated and, more generally, what users think about them and the user interfaces of password managers. In this paper, we report three studies that we conducted: on user interfaces and the functions of three password managers; a usability test and an interview study; and an online questionnaire study about users and non-users of password managers, which also compares experts and non-experts regarding their use (or non-use) of password managers. Our findings show that usability is not a major problem, rather lack of trust and transparency are the main reasons for the low adoption of password managers. Users of password managers have trust and security concerns, while there are a few issues with the user interfaces and functions of password managers.
Structures of Ethanol Spray Flames under CO2 Dilution of the Oxidizer in the Counterflow Configuration under MILD Combustion Conditions
Authors: Noreña Oscar , Gutheil Eva
Published: October 2020

Structures of both gaseous and liquid ethanol flames in different oxidizing gas environments in the axisymmetric counterflow configuration at atmospheric pressure are studied. Initially, ethanol/air gas flames are considered where pure ethanol is directed against air at initial temperatures of 400 K, and N2 is successively removed to obtain structures of ethanol/O2 gas flames. Furthermore, the addition of CO2 to the oxidizer side is carried out. Then, an ethanol spray is carried by air and directed against an air stream, and the same procedure is performed as described for the gas flames. The gas strain rate at the fuel side of the configuration is increased from low values of 55/s up to extinction, and the initial droplet diameter is varied. For the combustion of gaseous ethanol in air and in pure oxygen, the nitrogen removal results in an increase in the maximum flame temperature from 2010 K to 2920 K at a gas strain rate of 55/s on the fuel side of the configuration, and the extinction strain rates are 630/s and 26,000/s, respectively. It is confirmed that ethanol spray flames in air show two reaction zones at low strain whereas the lean ethanol spray flames in pure oxygen exhibit a single reaction zone in all situations studied. For increased liquid fuel mass flow rate to a global equivalence ratio of unity, two reaction zones are retrieved. An analysis regarding the addition of CO2 in both the ethanol/oxygen gas and spray flames is also discussed and is found that CO2 dilution of the carrier gas the spray is much more efficient than diluting the opposed gas stream in the counterflow configuration for the generation of MILD combustion conditions in oxy-fuel flames.
Rapid Authentication of 100% Italian Durum Wheat Pasta by FT-NIR Spectroscopy Combined with Chemometric Tools
Authors: De Girolamo Annalisa , Cervellieri Salvatore , Mancini Erminia , Pascale Michelangelo , Logrieco Antonio Francesco , Lippolis Vincenzo
Published: October 2020

Italy is the country with the largest durum wheat pasta production and consumption. The mandatory labelling for pasta indicating the country of origin of wheat has made consumers more aware about the consumed pasta products and is influencing their choice towards 100% Italian wheat pasta. This aspect highlights the need to promote the use of domestic wheat as well as to develop rapid methodologies for the authentication of pasta. A rapid, inexpensive, and easy-to-use method based on infrared spectroscopy was developed and validated for authenticating pasta made with 100% Italian durum wheat. The study was conducted on pasta marketed in Italy and made with durum wheat cultivated in Italy (n = 176 samples) and on pasta made with mixtures of wheat cultivated in Italy and/or abroad (n = 185 samples). Pasta samples were analyzed by Fourier transform-near infrared (FT-NIR) spectroscopy coupled with supervised classification models. The good performance results of the validation set (sensitivity of 95%, specificity and accuracy of 94%) obtained using principal component-linear discriminant analysis (PC-LDA) clearly demonstrated the high prediction capability of this method and its suitability for authenticating 100% Italian durum wheat pasta. This output is of great interest for both producers of Italian pasta pointing toward authentication purposes of their products and consumer associations aimed to preserve and promote the typicity of Italian products.
Comparison of Pesticide Residue Levels in Red Wines from Canary Islands, Iberian Peninsula, and Cape Verde
Authors: Santana-Mayor Álvaro , Rodríguez-Ramos Ruth , Socas-Rodríguez Bárbara , Díaz-Romero Carlos , Rodríguez-Delgado Miguel Ángel
Published: October 2020

In this work, the QuEChERS method coupled to liquid chromatography-time-of flight-mass spectrometry and gas chromatography-triple quadrupole-mass spectrometry were applied for the evaluation of pesticide residues and risk assessment in red wines. The methodologies were successfully validated for 173 pesticides. Recovery values were in the range 75–100% for almost all pesticides and limits of quantification were between 2.60 and 21.39 µg/kg, which are in good agreement with the maximum residue limits (MRLs) established by the European Commission for pesticides in wine grapes. Finally, the analysis of 84 red wine samples from the Canary Islands, the Iberian Peninsula, and Cape Verde was carried out, which found the presence of 31 pesticide residues. However, the risk assessment disclosed that despite the large number of pesticides and the concentrations found, which in some cases exceeded the MRLs, the consumption of these wines, without considering a possible cumulative effect, does not entail a risk to the consumers.
Evaluation of Polyphenolic Profile and Antioxidant Activity of Pistacia lentiscus L. Leaves and Fruit Extract Obtained by Optimized Microwave-Assisted Extraction
Authors: Elez Garofulić Ivona , Kruk Valentina , Martić Ana , Martić Ivan , Zorić Zoran , Pedisić Sandra , Dragović Sanja , Dragović-Uzelac Verica
Published: October 2020

Pistacia lentiscus L. is a Mediterranean shrub known for its health promoting effects attributed to a large extent to polyphenols accumulated in all parts of the plant. Microwave-assisted extraction is a green extraction technique enabling fast and effective isolation of plant polyphenols. Therefore, the aim of this research was to optimize the microwave-assisted extraction of polyphenols from Pistacia lentiscus L. leaves and fruit in terms of temperature, extraction time and microwave power and to evaluate their polyphenolic profile by UPLC/ESI-MS2 and antioxidant capacity by ORAC assay. Optimal extraction conditions for leaf polyphenols were 69 °C, 512 W and 12 min, while for fruit were slightly more intensive—75 °C, 602 W and 15 min. Obtained total phenolic content in leaves and fruit was similar to that obtained after 30 min of the heat-reflux method. The polyphenolic profile of extracts included 34 compounds, with myricetin glycosides being the most abundant compounds among flavonoids in Pistacia lentiscus L. leaves and fruit and gallic acid and its derivates among the phenolic acids. ORAC assay showed higher antioxidant capacity for Pistacia lentiscus L. leaves extract than for fruit, which is in correlation with their respective phenolic content.
Platelet Anti-Aggregant Activity and Bioactive Compounds of Ultrasound-Assisted Extracts from Whole and Seedless Tomato Pomace
Authors: Concha-Meyer Anibal , Palomo Iván , Plaza Andrea , Gadioli Tarone Adriana , Junior Mário Roberto Maróstica , Sáyago-Ayerdi Sonia G. , Fuentes Eduardo
Published: October 2020

Tomato paste production generates a residue known as tomato pomace, which corresponds to peels and seeds separated during tomato processing. Currently, there is an opportunity to use tomato pomace to obtain a functional extract with antithrombotic properties, such as platelet anti-aggregant activity. The aim of this study was to evaluate the yield and inhibitory activity of different extracts of tomato pomace on in vitro platelet aggregation, comparing this activity with commercial cardioprotective products, and quantify bioactive compounds. Aqueous or ethanolic/water (1:1) extracts of whole tomato pomace, seedless tomato pomace, tomato pomace supplemented with seeds (50% and 20%), and only seeds were obtained with different ultrasound-assisted extraction times. The inhibition of platelet aggregation was evaluated using a lumi-aggregometer. The quantification of bioactive compounds was determined by HPLC-MS. From 5 g of each type of tomato pomace sample, 0.023–0.22 g of a dry extract was obtained for the platelet aggregation assay. The time of sonication and extraction solvent had a significant role in platelet anti-aggregant activity of some extracts respect the control. Thus, the most active extracts decreased adenosine diphosphate (ADP)-induced platelet aggregation from 87 ± 6% (control) to values between 26 ± 6% and 34 ± 2% (p < 0.05). Furthermore, different ultrasound-assisted extraction conditions of tomato pomace fractions had varied concentration of flavonoids and nucleosides, and had an effect on extract yield.