bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Artificial Intelligence: A Clarification of Misconceptions, Myths and Desired Status
Authors: Emmert-Streib Frank , Yli-Harja Olli , Dehmer Matthias
Published: December 2020

The field artificial intelligence (AI) was founded over 65 years ago. Starting with great hopes and ambitious goals the field progressed through various stages of popularity and has recently undergone a revival through the introduction of deep neural networks. Some problems of AI are that, so far, neither the “intelligence” nor the goals of AI are formally defined causing confusion when comparing AI to other fields. In this paper, we present a perspective on the desired and current status of AI in relation to machine learning and statistics and clarify common misconceptions and myths. Our discussion is intended to lift the veil of vagueness surrounding AI to reveal its true countenance.
Crossmodal Pattern Discrimination in Humans and Robots: A Visuo-Tactile Case Study
Authors: Higgen Focko L. , Ruppel Philipp , Görner Michael , Kerzel Matthias , Hendrich Norman , Feldheim Jan , Wermter Stefan , Zhang Jianwei , Gerloff Christian
Published: December 2020

The quality of crossmodal perception hinges on two factors: The accuracy of the independent unimodal perception and the ability to integrate information from different sensory systems. In humans, the ability for cognitively demanding crossmodal perception diminishes from young to old age. Here, we propose a new approach to research to which degree the different factors contribute to crossmodal processing and the age-related decline by replicating a medical study on visuo-tactile crossmodal pattern discrimination utilizing state-of-the-art tactile sensing technology and artificial neural networks (ANN). We implemented two ANN models to specifically focus on the relevance of early integration of sensory information during the crossmodal processing stream as a mechanism proposed for efficient processing in the human brain. Applying an adaptive staircase procedure, we approached comparable unimodal classification performance for both modalities in the human participants as well as the ANN. This allowed us to compare crossmodal performance between and within the systems, independent of the underlying unimodal processes. Our data show that unimodal classification accuracies of the tactile sensing technology are comparable to humans. For crossmodal discrimination of the ANN the integration of high-level unimodal features on earlier stages of the crossmodal processing stream shows higher accuracies compared to the late integration of independent unimodal classifications. In comparison to humans, the ANN show higher accuracies than older participants in the unimodal as well as the crossmodal condition, but lower accuracies than younger participants in the crossmodal task. Taken together, we can show that state-of-the-art tactile sensing technology is able to perform a complex tactile recognition task at levels comparable to humans. For crossmodal processing, human inspired early sensory integration seems to improve the performance of artificial neural networks. Still, younger participants seem to employ more efficient crossmodal integration mechanisms than modeled in the proposed ANN. Our work demonstrates how collaborative research in neuroscience and embodied artificial neurocognitive models can help to derive models to inform the design of future neurocomputational architectures.
Agricultural Hydroinformatics: A Blueprint for an Emerging Framework to Foster Water Management-Centric Sustainability Transitions in Farming Systems
Authors: Celicourt Paul , Rousseau Alain N. , Gumiere Silvio J. , Camporese Matteo
Published: December 2020

It is increasingly recognized that water scarcity, rather than a lack of arable land, will be the major constraint to increase agricultural production over the next few decades. Therefore, water represents a unique agricultural asset to drive agricultural sustainability. However, its planning, management and usage are often influenced by a mix of interdependent economic, engineering, social, hydrologic, environmental, and even political factors. Such a complex interdependency suggests that a sociotechnical approach to water resources management, a subject of the field of Hydroinformatics, represents a viable path forward to achieve sustainable agriculture. Thus, this paper presents an overview of the intersection between hydroinformatics and agriculture to introduce a new research field called agricultural hydroinformatics. In addition, it proposes a general conceptual framework taking into account the distinctive features associated with the sociotechnical dimension of hydroinformatics when applied in agriculture. The framework is designed to serve as a stepping-stone to achieve, not only integrated water resources management, but also agricultural sustainability transitions in general. Using examples from agricultural water development to horticultural and livestock farming, the paper highlights facets of the framework applicability as a new paradigm on data flows/sources consideration, and information and simulation models engineering as well as integration for a holistic approach to water resources management in agriculture. Finally, it discusses opportunities and challenges associated with the implementation of agricultural hydroinformatics and the development of new research areas needed to achieve the full potential of this emerging framework. These areas include, for example, sensor deployment and development, signal processing, information modeling and storage, artificial intelligence, and new kind of simulation model development approaches.
Epigenetics: Switching Genes On and Off
Authors: Costa Maria-Cecilia D. , Johannes Frank
Published: December 2020

The DNA of a human cell has all the information necessary to produce more than 20,400 different proteins. This information is written in an amount of DNA that, if stretched end-to-end, would measure about one meter. You can imagine how challenging it is to keep all this information in an organized way. Other animals, bacteria, and plants face the very same challenge. The solutions to the problem of DNA organization found by cells include tightly packing the DNA and switching genes “on” and “off” as needed. The study of these switches is called epigenetics. Epigenetics is a fast-growing field of research that is changing our understanding of genetic information.
Shield Maidens, Fashy Femmes, and TradWives: Feminism, Patriarchy, and Right-Wing Populism
Authors: Love Nancy S.
Published: December 2020

Although media images typically present the alt right as a “manosphere,” white women continue to participate actively in white supremacist movements. Alt right women's presence as “shield maidens,” “fashy femmes,” and “trad wives” serves to soften and normalize white supremacy, often in ironic and insidious ways. In this essay, I examine the continued investment of white women in these traditional sex/gender roles espoused by the alt right. While feminism has done much to liberate women, I conclude that the images of women as Moms circulating in mainstream politics today suggest that white supremacy and white women's complicity in it has yet to be overcome.
Moving Biofortified Cassava Products Closer to Market in Nigeria
Authors: Oteh Ogbonnaya Ukeh , Hefferon Kathleen , Agwu Nnanna Mba
Published: December 2020

Food must be acceptable, affordable, and available to consumers and consumers must have the resources, knowledge, and correct mindset to purchase and consume these foods. The narrative of this study centered on moving biofortified food closer to market by looking at awareness, adoption, and consumer mindsets as pillars to achieve market access. Our findings show that in Abia state, Nigeria, consumers are aware of biofortified cassava. This signifies a high market potential and economic opportunity for stakeholders in the supply chain. Unfortunately, consumers lack understanding of biofortified cassava's nutrition value. The high adoption level of biofortified cassava has implications on investment and stimulation of the local economy. The study identified accessibility, purposefulness and innovation as vital mindset drivers to scale market demand, and factors that affect both consumption, production, and marketing of the product. This study provides insight regarding potential priority areas of action for government policy interventions to stimulate demand and supply opportunities. This study also provides evidence that scaling up demand will depend on awareness creation. There is a need to improve communication networks to provide overwhelming product acceptance, adoption, and consumption of biofortified cassava. This will help change remaining myths about agro-biotechnology and the bioeconomy.
Inoculation With Growth-Promoting Bacteria Azospirillum brasilense and Its Effects on Productivity and Nutritional Accumulation of Wheat Cultivars
Authors: Boleta Eduardo Henrique Marcandalli , Shintate Galindo Fernando , Jalal Arshad , Santini José Mateus Kondo , Rodrigues William Lima , Lima Bruno Horschut de , Arf Orivaldo , Silva Marcelo Rinaldi da , Buzetti Salatiér , Teixeira Filho Marcelo Carvalho Minhoto
Published: December 2020

Agricultural practices that allow a productive increase in a sustainable manner are becoming increasingly necessary to feed an ever-growing global population. The inoculation with Azospirillum brasilense has the potential to reduce the use of synthetic mineral fertilizers with efficient capacity to promote plant growth and increase nutrition. Therefore, this research was developed to investigate the potential use of A. brasilense to increase the accumulation of macro- and micronutrients and its influence on grain yield, plant height, and spike population in two wheat cultivars (CD1104 and CD150), under irrigated conditions in the Brazilian Cerrado. The study was carried out in a Rhodic Hapludox under a no-tillage system. The experiment was designed in randomized blocks with six replications, arranged in a 2 × 2 factorial scheme: two cultivars (CD150 and CD1104) and two levels of inoculation (control and with A. brasilense). The inoculation with A. brasilense provided greater accumulation of micronutrients in the aerial part of the wheat. In the cultivar CD1104, B and Cu had an accumulation 27.7 and 57.4% higher compared with those of the control without bacteria. In the cultivar CD150, Azospirillum increased the accumulation of B, Fe, and Mn by 43.8, 49.9, and 22%, respectively, and reduced Cu by 21.9%, compared with those of the control. The cultivar CD150 has greater efficiency to accumulate N (+35.5 kg N ha−1) as compared with the cultivar CD1104. Interactions between inoculation and cultivars resulted in greater accumulation of S and K in the shoot of the wheat cultivar CD150, as well greater accumulation of Cu in CD1104. In growth assessments, inoculation or cultivars did not statistically influence wheat grain yield and spike population. Howevere, for plant height, the CD1104 genotype has 13.1% bigger plant height on average than that of the CD150 genotype. Inoculation can contribute more sustainably to wheat nutrition.
Validation of Three Different Sterilization Methods of Tilapia Skin Dressing: Impact on Microbiological Enumeration and Collagen Content
Authors: Ibrahim Ahmed , Hassan Dalia , Kelany Noura , Kotb Saber , Soliman Mahmoud
Published: December 2020

Tilapia fish skin has demonstrated promise as a stable and practical biological dressing to be used in wound and burn management. However, the appropriate sterilization technique of the Tilapia fish skin is crucial before its clinical application. The standard sterilization technique must eliminate harmful pathogens but maintain the structural and biochemical properties that could compromise the dressing function. This study investigated and compared the efficiency of three sterilizing agents; chlorhexidine gluconate 4% (CHG), povidone iodine 10% (PVP-I), and silver nanoparticles (25 μg/mL) (AgNPs), at three different times (5, 10, and 15 min) on Tilapia fish skin based on the microbial count, histological and collagen properties. Among the sterilization procedures, AgNPs showed rapid and complete antimicrobial activity, with a 100% reduction in microbial growth of the fish skin throughout the treated times. Furthermore, AgNPs did not impair the cellular structure or collagen fibers content of the fish skin. However, CHG and PVP-I caused alterations in the collagen content. This study demonstrated that the AgNPs treatment of Tilapia fish skin provided sterile skin while preserving the histological properties and structural integrity. These findings provide an efficient and quick sterilization method suitable for Tilapia fish skin that could be adopted as a biological dressing.
Feasibility and Reliability of Two-Dimensional Shear-Wave Elastography of the Liver of Clinically Healthy Cats
Authors: Kim Kyeonga , Lee Jieun , So Jaebeom , Jang Yong-seok , Jung Mingyu , Kang Kyuyong , Choi Mincheol , Yoon Junghee
Published: December 2020

Given the broad overlap of normal and abnormal liver tissue in the subjective evaluation of the liver in conventional B-mode ultrasonography, there is a need for a non-invasive and quantitative method for the diagnosis of liver disease. Novel two-dimensional shear-wave elastography (2-D SWE) can measure tissue stiffness by propagation of the shear wave induced using acoustic radiation force impulse in real time. To the best of our knowledge, two-dimensional shear-wave measurement of the liver in cats has not been reported to date. This study assessed the feasibility, reliability, normal values, and related influencing factors of 2-D SWE for assessment of the feline liver without anesthesia and breath-holding. Two-dimensional shear-wave ultrasonography was performed by two evaluators at the right and left sides of the liver. Twenty-nine client-owned clinically healthy adult cats were included. The means and standard deviations for the shear-wave speed and stiffness in the right liver were 1.52 ± 0.13 m/s and 6.94 ± 1.26 kPa, respectively, and those for the left liver were 1.61 ± 0.15 m/s and 7.90 ± 1.47 kPa, respectively. Shear-wave speed (P= 0.005) and stiffness (P= 0.002) were significantly lower in the right liver when compared to the left. The intraclass correlation value for liver stiffness was 0.835 and 0.901 for the right and left liver, respectively, indicating high interobserver agreement. Age, weight, body condition score (BCS), gabapentin administration, and measurement depths were not significantly correlated with liver stiffness or elastography measurements (P> 0.05). Our findings suggest that 2-D SWE measurements of the liver are not influenced significantly by age, weight, or BCS and can be reliably performed without anesthesia and breath-holding in cats. The values determined here can help form the basis for reference elastography values for evaluation of the feline liver.
Evaluation of Equisetum arvense (Horsetail Macerate) as a Copper Substitute for Pathogen Management in Field-Grown Organic Tomato and Durum Wheat Cultivations
Authors: Trebbi Grazia , Negri Lorenzo , Bosi Sara , Dinelli Giovanni , Cozzo Riccardo , Marotti Ilaria
Published: December 2020

Effective pathogen management, as an aspect of agroecological crop protection (ACP) necessitates the replacement of copper (Cu) fungicides, but there is little knowledge relating to the performance of potentially suitable alternatives in large-scale, open-field agricultural settings. The present study was aimed at investigating the potential of Equisetum arvense (horsetail macerate) compared to Cu-based treatments for the control of Solanum lycopersicum. and Triticum turgidum ssp. durum fungal pathogens in established organic commercial farms located in Emilia Romagna (Italy) over a three-year period (2017–2019). Both the Cu-based and horsetail foliar sprays were routinely applied as preventative treatments and in the event of pathogen establishment as curative treatments. The Cu-based and horsetail macerate treatments were both equally effective at significantly reducing Phytophthora infestans (late blight) and increasing yield in tomato compared to the untreated control. For durum wheat, the horsetail macerate and Cu-based treatments were successful at significantly reducing Puccinia triticina (brown rust) infection and increasing yield under moderate infection, but unsuccessful under unfavorable meteorological conditions resulting in the combined and severe spread of Puccinia triticina, Fusarium graminearum, and Zymoseptoria tritici. From the present results, horsetail macerate is a promising and suitable Cu-free ACP alternative for late blight management of tomato.
Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) in Agriculture: A Pursuit of Sustainability
Authors: Ahmad Ali , Ordoñez Javier , Cartujo Pedro , Martos Vanesa
Published: December 2020

The current COVID-19 global pandemic has amplified the pressure on the agriculture sector, inciting the need for sustainable agriculture more than ever. Thus, in this review, a sustainable perspective of the use of remotely piloted aircraft (RPA) or drone technology in the agriculture sector is discussed. Similarly, the types of cameras (multispectral, thermal, and visible), sensors, software, and platforms frequently deployed for ensuring precision agriculture for crop monitoring, disease detection, or even yield estimation are briefly discoursed. In this regard, vegetation indices (VIs) embrace an imperative prominence as they provide vital information for crop monitoring and decision-making, thus a summary of most commonly used VIs is also furnished and serves as a guide while planning to collect specific crop data. Furthermore, the establishment of significant applications of RPAs in livestock, forestry, crop monitoring, disease surveillance, irrigation, soil analysis, fertilization, crop harvest, weed management, mechanical pollination, crop insurance and tree plantation are cited in the light of currently available literature in this domain. RPA technology efficiency, cost and limitations are also considered based on the previous studies that may help to devise policies, technology adoption, investment, and research activities in this sphere.
The State of Soil Organic Carbon in Vineyards as Affected by Soil Types and Fertilization Strategies (Tri Morave Region, Serbia)
Authors: Jakšić Snežana , Ninkov Jordana , Milić Stanko , Vasin Jovica , Banjac Dušana , Jakšić Darko , Živanov Milorad
Published: December 2020

Due to specific soil properties and management practices, soils in vineyards are sensitive to degradation. The aims of this study were to examine (i) the state of soil organic carbon (SOC) in vineyards compared to other agricultural land, (ii) the influence of different fertilization strategies and soil type on SOC content and (iii) the rate of SOC change over time and potential of deep tillage for SOC preservation in subsoil. The study was carried out at 16 representative vineyard locations of the Tri Morave region, which represents the largest vine growing region in Serbia. The analyzed area included 56 vineyard plots. Results showed that SOC stocks in the topsoil and subsoil were lower than the average for agricultural land in Serbia. The soil type was an important predictor of carbon storage in the topsoil. An adequate application of inorganic fertilizers or green manure combined with farmyard manure initially resulted in the highest SOC contents. Continuous application of inorganic fertilizer without organic amendments has led to a decrease of SOC in topsoil. High rates of SOC stock change in topsoil accompanied a rapid reduction of SOC in the earlier stage of cultivation. In all investigated subsoils, SOC increased, except for unfertilized vineyards. Deep tillage has the potential to preserve SOC in the deeper soil layer and prevent carbon loss from the topsoil. More attention should be paid to the soil conservation practices to meet environmental sustainability of viticulture.
Robotic Fertilisation Using Localisation Systems Based on Point Clouds in Strip-Cropping Fields
Authors: Cruz Ulloa Christyan , Krus Anne , Barrientos Antonio , Del Cerro Jaime , Valero Constantino
Published: December 2020

The use of robotic systems in organic farming has taken on a leading role in recent years; the Sureveg CORE Organic Cofund ERA-Net project seeks to evaluate the benefits of strip-cropping to produce organic vegetables. This includes, among other objectives, the development of a robotic tool that facilitates the automation of the fertilisation process, allowing the individual treatment (at the plant level). In organic production, the slower nutrient release of the used fertilisers poses additional difficulties, as a tardy detection of deficiencies can no longer be corrected. To improve the detection, as well as counter the additional labour stemming from the strip-cropping configuration, an integrated robotic tool is proposed to detect individual crop deficiencies and react on a single-crop basis. For the development of this proof-of-concept, one of the main objectives of this work is implementing a robust localisation method within the vegetative environment based on point clouds, through the generation of general point cloud maps (G-PC) and local point cloud maps (L-PC) of a crop row. The plants’ geometric characteristics were extracted from the G-PC as a framework in which the robot’s positioning is defined. Through the processing of real-time lidar data, the L-PC is then defined and compared to the predefined reference system previously deduced. Both subsystems are integrated with ROS (Robot Operating System), alongside motion planning, and an inverse kinematics CCD (Cyclic Coordinate Descent) solver, among others. Tests were performed using a simulated environment of the crop row developed in Gazebo, followed by actual measurements in a strip-cropping field. During real-time data-acquisition, the localisation error is reduced from 13 mm to 11 mm within the first 120 cm of measurement. The encountered real-time geometric characteristics were found to coincide with those in the G-PC to an extend of 98.6%.
Unconventionally Secreted Manganese Superoxide Dismutase VdSOD3 Is Required for the Virulence of Verticillium dahliae
Authors: Tian Li , Sun Weixia , Li Junjiao , Chen Jieyin , Dai Xiaofeng , Qiu Nianwei , Zhang Dandan
Published: December 2020

Plant pathogens generally employ superoxide dismutase (SOD) to detoxify host defense reactive oxygen species (ROS), and to scavenge ROS derived from their own metabolism. However, the roles of SODs in an important vascular pathogen, Verticillium dahliae, are unclear. Our previous study has shown that a putative signal-peptide-lacking manganese superoxide dismutase (VdSOD3) is present in the exoproteome of V. dahliae cultured in tissues of host cotton, suggesting that VdSOD3 may be exported out of the fungal cells and contribute to the SOD activity extracellularly. Here, we confirm that the N-terminal of VdSOD3 is not a functional signal peptide by yeast signal trap assay. Despite lacking the signal peptide, the extracellular distribution of VdSOD3 was observed in planta by confocal microscopy during infection. Loss-of-function of VdSOD3 decreased extracellular and intracellular SOD activities of V. dahliae by 58.2% and 17.4%, respectively. Deletion mutant of VdSOD3 had normal growth and conidiation but showed significantly reduced virulence to susceptible hosts of cotton and Nicotiana benthamiana. Our data show that signal-peptide-lacking VdSOD3 is a dual function superoxide dismutase, localizing and functioning intracellularly and extracellularly. Whereas nonessential for viability, VdSOD3 plays a vital role in the virulence of V. dahliae.
Biostimulant-Treated Seedlings under Sustainable Agriculture: A Global Perspective Facing Climate Change
Authors: Malik Anurag , Mor Virender S. , Tokas Jayanti , Punia Himani , Malik Shweta , Malik Kamla , Sangwan Sonali , Tomar Saurabh , Singh Pradeep , Singh Nirmal , Himangini  , Vikram  , Nidhi  , Singh Gagandeep , Vikram  , Kumar Vinit , Sandhya  , Karwasra Aman
Published: December 2020

The primary objectives of modern agriculture includes the environmental sustainability, low production costs, improved plants’ resilience to various biotic and abiotic stresses, and high sowing seed value. Delayed and inconsistent field emergence poses a significant threat in the production of agri-crop, especially during drought and adverse weather conditions. To open new routes of nutrients’ acquisition and revolutionizing the adapted solutions, stewardship plans will be needed to address these questions. One approach is the identification of plant based bioactive molecules capable of altering plant metabolism pathways which may enhance plant performance in a brief period of time and in a cost-effective manner. A biostimulant is a plant material, microorganism, or any other organic compound that not only improves the nutritional aspects, vitality, general health but also enhances the seed quality performance. They may be effectively utilized in both horticultural and cereal crops. The biologically active substances in biostimulant biopreparations are protein hydrolysates (PHs), seaweed extracts, fulvic acids, humic acids, nitrogenous compounds, beneficial bacterial, and fungal agents. In this review, the state of the art and future prospects for biostimulant seedlings are reported and discussed. Biostimulants have been gaining interest as they stimulate crop physiology and biochemistry such as the ratio of leaf photosynthetic pigments (carotenoids and chlorophyll), enhanced antioxidant potential, tremendous root growth, improved nutrient use efficiency (NUE), and reduced fertilizers consumption. Thus, all these properties make the biostimulants fit for internal market operations. Furthermore, a special consideration has been given to the application of biostimulants in intensive agricultural systems that minimize the fertilizers’ usage without affecting quality and yield along with the limits imposed by European Union (EU) regulations.
Assessing Upstream Determinants of Antibiotic Use in Small-Scale Food Animal Production through a Simulated Client Method
Authors: Butzin-Dozier Zachary , Waters William F. , Baca Martin , Vinueza Rommel Lenin , Saraiva-Garcia Carlos , Graham Jay
Published: December 2020

Small-scale food animal production has been celebrated as a means of economic mobility and improved food security but the use of veterinary antibiotics among these producers may be contributing to the spread of antibiotic resistance in animals and humans. In order to improve antibiotic stewardship in this sector, it is critical to identify the drivers of producers’ antibiotic use. This study assessed the determinants of antibiotic use in small-scale food animal production through simulated client visits to veterinary supply stores and surveys with households that owned food animals (n = 117) in Ecuador. Eighty percent of households with food animals owned chickens and 78% of those with chickens owned fewer than 10 birds. Among the households with small-scale food animals, 21% reported giving antibiotics to their food animals within the last six months. Simulated client visits indicated that veterinary sales agents frequently recommended inappropriate antibiotic use, as 66% of sales agents recommended growth promoting antibiotics, and 48% of sales agents recommended an antibiotic that was an inappropriate class for disease treatment. In contrast, few sales agents (3%) were willing to sell colistin, an antibiotic banned for veterinary use in Ecuador as of January 2020, which supports the effectiveness of government regulation in antibiotic stewardship. The cumulative evidence provided by this study indicates that veterinary sales agents play an active role in promoting indiscriminate and inappropriate use of antibiotics in small-scale food animal production.
Natural and Anthropogenic Variations in the Large Shifting Dune in the Corrubedo Natural Park, NW Iberian Peninsula (1956–2017)
Authors: Pérez-Alberti Augusto , Gómez-Pazo Alejandro , Otero X. L.
Published: December 2020

This work analyzes the evolution of the large shifting dune included in the Corrubedo Natural Park from 1956 until the present day. The analysis was carried out using aerial images, orthophotographs, topographic surveys and LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) data. Variations were analyzed in terms of four different aspects: evolution of pathways in each period, changes in the position of the mobile dune front and the degree of vegetation cover, all between 1956 and 2017; and variations in elevation and volume of the dune system between 2001 and 2015. To analyze these aspects, geospatial and geostatistical techniques were employed, which revealed that the dune front had undergone two different phases: one until the 1980s, with a mean seaward advance of 32 m and another one between the 1980 s and 2017, when the front prograded to the continent, with an approximate mean advance of 82 m. Loss of volume, related to the expansion of the mobile dune towards the north, was confirmed in this sector. It is evident that these changes are closely linked to anthropic influence, due to sand extraction until the early 1990s and, more recently, due to an increase in the number of visitors to the Natural Park. The results obtained highlight the need to carry out detailed studies to understand the evolution of this system and to prevent further damage in the future. Moreover, based on these analyses, a strategy to improve coastal and environmental management in the Corrubedo Natural Park could be designed.
Arsenic (V) Removal by an Adsorbent Material Derived from Acid Mine Drainage Sludge
Authors: Byambaa Erdenechimeg , Seon Jaeyoung , Kim Tae-Hyun , Kim Shin Dong , Ji Won Hyun , Hwang Yuhoon
Published: December 2020

Arsenic is a toxic element that is often found in drinking water in developing countries in Asia, while arsenic poisoning is a serious worldwide human health concern. The objective of this work is to remove arsenic (V) (As(V)) from water by using an adsorbent material prepared from mine waste, called MIRESORBTM, which contains Fe, Al. The performance of the MIRESORBTM adsorbent was compared with granular ferric hydroxide (GFH), which is a commercial adsorbent. Adsorbents were characterized by using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy (XRF), X-ray diffractometry (XRD), and N2 sorption with Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) analysis. The kinetics, isotherms, and pH-dependency of arsenic adsorption were interrogated to gain insights into arsenic adsorption processes. The maximum adsorption capacity of MIRESORBTM was 50.38 mg/g, which was higher than that of GFH (29.07 mg/g). Moreover, a continuous column test that used environmental samples of acid mine drainage was conducted to evaluate the MIRESORBTM material for practical applications. The column could be operated for more than 5840 bed volumes without a breakthrough. Successful operation of a pilot plant using MIRESORBTM adsorbent was also reported. Thus, these studies demonstrate MIRESORBTM as a highly efficient and economical adsorbent derived from recycled mine sludge waste.
A Novel Method for Precise Guided Hole Fabrication of Dental Implant Surgical Guide Fabricated with 3D Printing Technology
Authors: Son Keunbada , Lee Kyu-Bok
Published: December 2020

A dental implant surgical guide fabricated by 3-dimensional (3D) printing technology is widely used in clinical practice due to its convenience and fast fabrication. However, the 3D printing technology produces an incorrect guide hole due to the shrinkage of the resin materials, and in order to solve this, the guide hole is adjusted using a trimmer or a metal sleeve is attached to the guide hole. These methods can lead to another inaccuracy. The present method reports a technique to compensate for a decreased guide hole caused by shrinkage that can occur when a computer-guided implant surgical guide is fabricated with a 3D printer. The present report describes a technique to adjust the size of the guide hole using a free software program to identify the optimized guide hole size that is fabricated with the 3D printer.
Contact Melting of Metals Explained via the Theory of Quasi-Liquid Layer
Authors: Melkikh Alexey V.
Published: December 2020

It has been shown that the contact melting rate for metals is determined by the fact that at least one of them has a quasi-liquid layer on the surface. As a result, the diffusion of metal atoms occurs in the liquid phase, and not in the solid phase, which determines the characteristic contact melting time (seconds and minutes).
Intra-Cage Structure, Vibrations and Tetrahedral-Site Hopping of H2 and D2 in Doubly-Occupied 51264 Cages in sII Clathrate Hydrates from Path-Integral and Classical Molecular Dynamics
Authors: English Niall J. , Burnham Christian J.
Published: December 2020

The intra-cage behaviour of guest H2 and D2 molecules in doubly occupied 51264 cages in structure-II (sII) clathrate hydrates were investigated using classical and path-integral molecular dynamics at 100 K. We probed the structure of tetrahedral sites, proton vibrations, localised molecular rattling timescales at sites, and the jump-diffusion travel of H2 and D2 molecules between sites. The site-diffusion model was correlated with experimental neutron scattering data, and the cage occupancies were then discussed in light of recent state-of-the-art experimental and theoretical findings in the literature.
Possibility of Bridge Inspection through Drive-By Vehicles
Authors: Yang Mijia , Liu Chang
Published: December 2020

Based on virtual simulations of vehicle–bridge interactions, the possibility of detecting stiffness reduction damages in bridges through vehicle responses was tested in two dimensional (2D) and three dimensional (3D) settings. Short-Time Fourier Transformation (STFT) was used to process vehicles’ acceleration data obtained through the 2D and 3D virtual simulations. The energy band variation of the vehicle acceleration time history was found strongly related to damage parameters. More importantly, the vehicle’s initial entering conditions are critical in obtaining correct vehicle responses through the vehicle bridge interaction models. The offset distance needed before executing the vehicle–bridge interaction (VBI) modeling was obtained through different road profile roughness levels. Through the above breakthroughs in VBI modeling, the presented study provides a new and integrated method for drive-by bridge inspection.
Forecasting Irregular Seasonal Power Consumption. An Application to a Hot-Dip Galvanizing Process
Authors: Trull Oscar , García-Díaz Juan Carlos , Peiró-Signes Angel
Published: December 2020

Distribution companies use time series to predict electricity consumption. Forecasting techniques based on statistical models or artificial intelligence are used. Reliable forecasts are required for efficient grid management in terms of both supply and capacity. One common underlying feature of most demand–related time series is a strong seasonality component. However, in some cases, the electricity demanded by a process presents an irregular seasonal component, which prevents any type of forecast. In this article, we evaluated forecasting methods based on the use of multiple seasonal models: ARIMA, Holt-Winters models with discrete interval moving seasonality, and neural networks. The models are explained and applied to a real situation, for a node that feeds a galvanizing factory. The zinc hot-dip galvanizing process is widely used in the automotive sector for the protection of steel against corrosion. It requires enormous energy consumption, and this has a direct impact on companies’ income statements. In addition, it significantly affects energy distribution companies, as these companies must provide for instant consumption in their supply lines to ensure sufficient energy is distributed both for the process and for all the other consumers. The results show a substantial increase in the accuracy of predictions, which contributes to a better management of the electrical distribution.
The “Polonium In Vivo” Study: Polonium-210 in Bronchial Lavages of Patients with Suspected Lung Cancer
Authors: Zagà Vincenzo , Cattaruzza Maria Sofia , Martucci Paola , Pacifici Roberta , Trisolini Rocco , Bartolomei Paolo , Giacobbe Raffaela , Patelli Marco , Paioli Daniela , Esposito Massimo , Fabbri Valeria , Gallus Silvano , Gorini Giuseppe
Published: December 2020

Few studies have reported on polonium-210, a decay breakdown product of radon-222 and lead-210, in human lungs and there has been no study in patients with suspected lung cancer. The main aim of this “Polonium in vivo” study was to evaluate polonium-210 radioactivity in bronchopulmonary systems of smoker, ex-smoker and never smoker patients with suspected lung cancer. Alpha-spectrometric analyses were performed on bronchial lavage (BL) fluids from two Italian hospitals in 2013–2016. Socio-demographic, smoking, occupational and spirometric characteristics, lung cancer confirmation and histologic type and radon-222 concentration in patients’ homes were collected. Seventy BL samples from never (n = 13), former (n = 35) and current smokers (n = 22) were analyzed; polonium-210 was detected in all samples from current and former smokers and in 54% of samples from never smokers (p < 0.001; median values: 1.20, 1.43 and 0.40 mBq, respectively). Polonium-210 levels were significantly higher in COPD versus no COPD patients (median value: 3.60 vs. 0.97 mBq; p = 0.007); former and current smokers, without and with COPD, had significantly increased polonium-210 levels (p = 0.012); 96% of confirmed versus 69% of non-confirmed lung cancer patients recorded detectable polonium-210 levels (p = 0.018). A polonium-210 detectable activity was measured in BL samples from all current and former smokers. Polonium-210 in the lungs could be the result of lead-210 entrapment, which, with its half-life of 22 years, could provide a continuous emission of alpha radioactivity, even many years after quitting, thus proposing a possible explanation for the onset of lung cancer, particularly in former smokers.
Effect of Molybdenum Content on Mechanical and Tribological Properties of Diamond-Like Carbon Coatings over Titanium β-21S Alloy
Authors: Padmanaban Dilli Babu , Mohan Loganathan , Giri Preetam , Bera Parthasarathi , Anandan Chinnasamy , Barshilia Harish C.
Published: December 2020

Molybdenum-doped diamond-like carbon (Mo-DLC) coatings have been deposited on titanium β-21S alloy (Ti–15Mo–3Nb–3Al–0.2Si) using plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) equipped with pulsed-DC magnetron sputtering. Mo contents in the deposited coatings have been controlled with an applied sputtering pulse duty cycle. Chemical composition, structure, morphology, and topography have been studied using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), and atomic force microscopy (AFM), respectively. XRD pattern of the coating with highest Mo content shows the presence of carbide phase. Smooth features with low roughness values are observed in low Mo content coating, whereas high Mo content coating shows granular characteristics with a high roughness value. Raman spectra reveal the increased graphitic content for the highest metal concentration in the coatings, wherein the nanohardness is also determined to be highest, at about ~18–19 GPa. Furthermore, the ball-on-disk tribometry test on Mo-DLC coating with highest nanohardness shows a low coefficient of friction (COF) of 0.2 with low wear loss compared to that of the substrate (0.62).
Reaction Analyses Based on Quaternary Metal/Metal Oxide Catalyst Testing in Micro-Structured Reactors Using Combinatorial High-Throughput Methods for Power-to-Gas Applications
Authors: Pfeifer Mirko , Schwarz Thomas , Cao Pengfei , Stöwe Klaus
Published: December 2020

To optimize the Sabatier process, quaternary supported catalyst materials are synthesized and tested. The syntheses are performed by the industrially established, reproducible and automated methods of impregnation and sol–gel synthesis. The screening of the 588 quaternary catalysts is carried out in a specially designed 10-fold parallel gas flow micro-structured reactor as wall catalysts in sequential operation mode at a temperature of T = 573 K and a pressure of p = 15 bar. For the description of the activity, the reaction parameters CO2 conversion, CH4 yield, and CH4/CO2 selectivity are used. These are determined by analyses of the gas phase composition using µGC-FID. The catalysts with the highest activities are validated in a micro-structured reactor with similar characteristics as the screening reactor in the temperature range between T = 573–673 K and a pressure of p = 15 bar. Characterization by powder X-ray diffraction, Raman spectra, and scanning transmission electron microscopic images data on the phase and element distribution after calcination and reduction was conducted.
HDAC6 in Diseases of Cognition and of Neurons
Authors: LoPresti Patrizia
Published: December 2020

Central nervous system (CNS) neurodegenerative diseases are characterized by faulty intracellular transport, cognition, and aggregate regulation. Traditionally, neuroprotection exerted by histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitors (HDACi) has been attributed to the ability of this drug class to promote histone acetylation. However, HDAC6 in the healthy CNS functions via distinct mechanisms, due largely to its cytoplasmic localization. Indeed, in healthy neurons, cytoplasmic HDAC6 regulates the acetylation of a variety of non-histone proteins that are linked to separate functions, i.e., intracellular transport, neurotransmitter release, and aggregate formation. These three HDAC6 activities could work independently or in synergy. Of particular interest, HDAC6 targets the synaptic protein Bruchpilot and neurotransmitter release. In pathological conditions, HDAC6 becomes abundant in the nucleus, with deleterious consequences for transcription regulation and synapses. Thus, HDAC6 plays a leading role in neuronal health or dysfunction. Here, we review recent findings and novel conclusions on the role of HDAC6 in neurodegeneration. Selective studies with pan-HDACi are also included. We propose that an early alteration of HDAC6 undermines synaptic transmission, while altering transport and aggregation, eventually leading to neurodegeneration.
Detection of Mackerel Fish Spoilage with a Gas Sensor Based on One Single SnO2 Nanowire
Authors: Tonezzer Matteo
Published: December 2020

A chemosensor consisting of one single tin oxide nanowire is used to determine the freshness status of mackerel fish (Scomber scombrus) in a quick and non-invasive way. The tiny chemoresistive sensor is first tested with pure ammonia and then used to measure the total volatile basic nitrogen from different samples of fish at different degrees of freshness. The sensor has proved capable of determining the freshness of a sample in few seconds compared to traditional methods such as microbial count and chromatography, which take hours. The sensor response is well correlated with the total viable count (TVC), proving that the total volatile basic nitrogen is a good way to quickly test the bacterial population in the sample. After calibrating the sensor (following the degradation of the fish during almost two days), it has been tested with random double blind samples, proving that it can well discriminate the degree of freshness of the fish preserved at different temperatures.
Molecular Rotors with Aggregation-Induced Emission (AIE) as Fluorescent Probes for the Control of Polyurethane Synthesis
Authors: Minei Pierpaolo , Iasilli Giuseppe , Ruggeri Giacomo , Mattoli Virgilio , Pucci Andrea
Published: December 2020

In this work, the use of fluorescent molecular rotors such as 9-(2,2-dicyanovinyl)julolidine (DCVJ) and 2,3-bis(4-(phenyl(4-(1,2,2-triphenylvinyl) phenyl)amino)phenyl)fumaronitrile (TPETPAFN) was proposed for the real-time monitoring of polyurethane (PU) formation in a solution of dimethylacetamide starting with 4,4′-methylenediphenyl diisocyanate (MDI) and different polyethylene glycols (PEG400 and PEG600) as diols. Notably, relative viscosity variations were compared with fluorescence changes, recorded as a function of the polymerization progress. The agreement between these two parameters suggested the innovative use of a low-cost fluorescence detection system based on a LED/photodiode assembly directly mountable on the reaction apparatus. The general validity of the proposed experiments enabled the monitoring of polyurethane polymerization and suggested its effective applications to a variety of industrial polymers, showing viscosity enhancement during polymerization.
The Correlation between Oral Self-Harm and Ethnicity in Institutionalized Children
Authors: Stoica Alexandra Mihaela , Stoica Oana Elena , Vlad Ramona Elena , Pop Anca Maria , Monea Monica
Published: December 2020

Oral self-harm was described in institutionalized children who share a lack of emotional attention; frequently these children experience feelings such as neglect, loneliness, isolation or lack of connection with the world. The aim of our paper was to conduct a cross-sectional study in order to assess the prevalence of this behavior and its correlation with ethnicity among children from three institutions located in the central part of Romania. We examined 116 children from three ethnic groups, Romanians, Hungarians and local Roma population aged between 10–14 years old. The oral soft tissues were evaluated by one dentist who recorded the lesions of lips, buccal mucosa, commissures and tongue; data were statistically analyzed at a level of significance of p < 0.05. We found oral self-harm lesions in 18.1% participants, with statistically significant higher odds in girls (p = 0.03). The results showed an association between ethnicity and the development of these lesions (Chi-square p = 0.04). The most frequent lesions were located at oral commissures (35.48%), buccal mucosa (29.03%) and upper lip (19.36%). Oral self-harm lesions have a high incidence among institutionalized children in Romania. Identification of these cases in early stages is important, as these conditions are known to be aggravated during adolescence and adulthood.
Histopathological Ratios to Predict Gleason Score Agreement between Biopsy and Radical Prostatectomy
Authors: Fiorentino Vincenzo , Martini Maurizio , Dell’Aquila Marco , Musarra Teresa , Orticelli Ersilia , Larocca Luigi Maria , Rossi Ernesto , Totaro Angelo , Pinto Francesco , Lenci Niccolò , Di Paola Valerio , Manfredi Riccardo , Bassi Pier Francesco , Pierconti Francesco
Published: December 2020

Biopsy proven Gleason score is essential to decide treatment modalities for prostate cancer, either surgical (radical prostatectomy) or non-surgical (active surveillance, watchful waiting, radiation therapy and hormone therapy). Several studies indicated that biopsy proven Gleason score may underestimate Gleason score at radical prostatectomy, hence we aimed to calculate the minimum length of biopsy cores needed to have Gleason score agreement. We evaluated 115 prostate cancer patients who underwent multiparametric magnetic resonance/transperineal ultrasonography fusion biopsy and subsequently, radical prostatectomy. Biopsy proven Gleason score was consistent with Gleason score at subsequent radical prostatectomy in 82.6% of patients, while in 17.4% of patients, Gleason score was higher at radical prostatectomy. Gleason score agreement showed a strong direct association with a ratio > 0.05 between the total volume of biopsies performed in tumor area and the volume of the corresponding tumor at radical prostatectomy. A significant association was also found with a ratio ≥ 0.0034 between the tumor volume in the biopsy and the volume of the corresponding tumor at radical prostatectomy and with a ratio ≥ 0.086 between the tumor volume in the biopsy and the total volume of biopsies performed in the tumor area. These results could be exploited to calculate the minimum length of biopsy cores needed to have a correct Gleason score estimation and therefore be used in fusion targeted biopsies with volume adjustments.