bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Acute Administration of Bioavailable Curcumin Alongside Ferrous Sulphate Supplements Does Not Impair Iron Absorption in Healthy Adults in a Randomised Trial
Authors: Lorinczova Helena Tiekou , Begum Gulshanara , Renshaw Derek , Zariwala Mohammed Gulrez
Published: July 2021

Ferrous sulphate (FS) is a cost effective, readily available iron supplement for iron deficiency (ID). The pro-oxidant effect of oral ferrous iron is known to induce inflammation, causing gastric side-effects and resulting in poor compliance. Curcumin is a potent antioxidant and has also been shown to exhibit iron chelation in-vitro, although it is not established whether these effects are retained in-vivo. The aim of this study was therefore to assess the influence of a formulated bioavailable form of curcumin (HydroCurcTM; 500 mg) on acute iron absorption and status in a double blind, placebo-controlled randomized trial recruiting 155 healthy participants (79 males; 26.42 years ± 0.55 and 76 females; 25.82 years ± 0.54). Participants were randomly allocated to five different treatment groups: iron and curcumin placebo (FS0_Plac), low dose (18 mg) iron and curcumin placebo (FS18_Plac), low dose iron and curcumin (FS18_Curc), high dose (65 mg) iron and curcumin placebo (FS65_Plac), and high dose iron and curcumin (FS65_Curc). Participants were provided with the supplements according to their relevant treatment groups at baseline (0 min), and blood collection was carried out at 0 min and at 180 min following supplementation. In the treatment groups, significant difference was observed in mean serum iron between baseline (0 min) and at end-point (180 min) (F (1, 144) = 331.9, p < 0.0001) with statistically significant intra-group increases after 180 min (p < 0.0001) in the FS18_Plac (8.79 µmol/L), FS18_Curc (11.41 µmol/L), FS65_Plac (19.09 µmol/L), and FS65_Curc (16.39 µmol/L) groups. A significant difference was also observed between the two time points in serum TIBC levels and in whole blood haemoglobin (HGB) in the treatment groups, with a significant increase (1.55%/2.04 g/L) in HGB levels from baseline to end-point observed in the FS65_Curc group (p < 0.05). All groups receiving iron demonstrated an increase in transferrin saturation (TS%) in a dose-related manner, demonstrating that increases in serum iron are translated into increases in physiological iron transportation. This study demonstrates, for the first time, that regardless of ferrous dose, formulated curcumin in the form of HydroCurc™ does not negatively influence acute iron absorption in healthy humans.
Contextually Appropriate Tools and Solutions to Facilitate Healthy Eating Identified by People with Type 2 Diabetes
Authors: Archundia Herrera M. Carolina , Campbell-Scherer Denise L. , Bell Rhonda C. , Chan Catherine B.
Published: July 2021

Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is a complex, multifaceted disease and its treatment involves lifestyle intervention (LI) programs that participants may find difficult to adopt and maintain. The objective of this study is to understand the lived experiences of participants with T2D regarding healthy eating behavior change, in order to identify and incorporate relevant information, skills, and educational approaches into LI programs. An explorative qualitative study was undertaken. Purposeful sampling was used to recruit 15 participants. One-on-one, semi-structured, open-ended, and in-depth interviews were conducted. An essentialist paradigm was adopted to accurately report the experiences, meaning, and reality of participants. An inductive approach was used to analyze the data. Participants reported that being diagnosed and living with T2D could be overwhelming, and their ability to manage was influenced by health care providers (HCP), family, and individual context. Many experienced a loop of “good–bad” eating behaviors. Participants expressed desires for future diabetes management that would include program content (nutrition, physical activity, mental health, foot care, and consequences of T2D), program features (understand context, explicit information, individualized, hands-on learning, applicable, realistic, incremental, and practical), program components (access to multidisciplinary team, set goals, track progress and be held accountable, one-on-one sessions, group support, maintenance/follow-up), and policy change. In conclusion, the results of this study indicate that T2D management requires more extensive, comprehensive, and ongoing support, guided by the individual participant.
Reporter Virus Neutralization Test Evaluation for Dengue and Zika Virus Diagnosis in Flavivirus Endemic Area
Authors: Nunes Jannyce G. C. , Nunes Bruno T. D. , Shan Chao , Moraes Adriana F. , Silva Tais R. , de Mendonça Maria H. R. , das Chagas Liliane L. , Silva Franco A. e , Azevedo Raimunda S. S. , da Silva Eliana V. P. , Martins Livia C. , Chiang Jannifer O. , Casseb Livia M. N. , Henriques Daniele F. , Vasconcelos Pedro F. C. , Burbano Rommel M. R. , Shi Pei-Yong , Medeiros Daniele B. A.
Published: July 2021

Reporter virus neutralization test (RVNT) has been used as an alternative to the more laborious and time-demanding conventional PRNT assay for both DENV and ZIKV. However, few studies have investigated how these techniques would perform in epidemic areas with the circulation of multiple flavivirus. Here, we evaluate the performance of ZIKV and DENV Rluc RVNT and ZIKV mCh RVNT assays in comparison to the conventional PRNT assay against patient sera collected before and during ZIKV outbreak in Brazil. These samples were categorized into groups based on (1) acute and convalescent samples according to the time of disease, and (2) laboratorial diagnostic results (DENV and ZIKV RT-PCR and IgM-capture ELISA). Our results showed that DENV Rluc assay presented 100% and 78.3% sensitivity and specificity, respectively, with 93.3% accuracy, a similar performance to the traditional PRNT. ZIKV RVNT90, on the other hand, showed much better ZIKV antibody detection performance (around nine-fold higher) when compared to PRNT, with 88% clinical sensitivity. Specificity values were on average 76.8%. Even with these results, however, ZIKV RVNT90 alone was not able to reach a final diagnostic conclusion for secondary infection in human samples due to flavivirus cross reaction. As such, in regions where the flavivirus differential diagnosis represents a challenge, we suggest the establishment of a RVNT panel including other flaviviruses circulating in the region, associated with the other serological techniques such as IgM ELISA and the investigation of seroconversion, in order to help define an accurate diagnostic conclusion using serology.
Peganum harmala Extract Has Antiamoebic Activity to Acanthamoeba triangularis Trophozoites and Changes Expression of Autophagy-Related Genes
Authors: Boonhok Rachasak , Sangkanu Suthinee , Chuprom Julalak , Srisuphanunt Mayuna , Norouzi Roghayeh , Siyadatpanah Abolghasem , Mirzaei Farzaneh , Mitsuwan Watcharapong , Wisessombat Sueptrakool , de Lourdes Pereira Maria , Rahmatullah Mohammed , Wilairatana Polrat , Wiart Christophe , Ling Lim Chooi , Dolma Karma G. , Nissapatorn Veeranoot
Published: July 2021

Peganum harmala, a well-known medicinal plant, has been used for several therapeutic purposes as it contains numerous pharmacological active compounds. Our study reported an anti-parasitic activity of P. harmala seed extract against Acanthamoeba triangularis. The stress induced by the extract on the surviving trophozoites for Acanthamoeba encystation and vacuolization was examined by microscopy, and transcriptional expression of Acanthamoeba autophagy-related genes was investigated by quantitative PCR. Our results showed that the surviving trophozoites were not transformed into cysts, and the number of trophozoites with enlarged vacuoles were not significantly different from that of untreated control. Molecular analysis data demonstrated that the mRNA expression of tested AcATG genes, i.e., ATG3, ATG8b, and ATG16, was at a basal level along the treatment. However, upregulation of AcATG16 at 24 h post treatment was observed, which may indicate an autophagic activity of this protein in response to the stress. Altogether, these data revealed the anti-Acanthamoeba activity of P. harmala extract and indicated the association of autophagy mRNA expression and cyst formation under the extract stress, representing a promising plant for future drug development. However, further identification of an active compound and a study of autophagy at the protein level are needed.
Innate Immunity in Children and the Role of ACE2 Expression in SARS-CoV-2 Infection
Authors: Dioguardi Mario , Cazzolla Angela Pia , Arena Claudia , Sovereto Diego , Caloro Giorgia Apollonia , Dioguardi Antonio , Crincoli Vito , Laino Luigi , Troiano Giuseppe , Lo Muzio Lorenzo
Published: July 2021

COVID-19 (Coronavirus Disease 2019) is an emerging viral disease caused by the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 (severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2), which leads to severe respiratory infections in humans. The first reports came in December 2019 from the city of Wuhan in the province of Hubei in China. It was immediately clear that children developed a milder disease than adults. The reasons for the milder course of the disease were attributed to several factors: innate immunity, difference in ACE2 (angiotensin-converting enzyme II) receptor expression, and previous infections with other common coronaviruses (CovH). This literature review aims to summarize aspects of innate immunity by focusing on the role of ACE2 expression and viral infections in children in modulating the antibody response to SARS-CoV-2 infection. This review was conducted using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Articles deemed potentially eligible were considered, including those dealing with COVID-19 in children and providing more up-to-date and significant data in terms of epidemiology, prognosis, course, and symptoms, focusing on the etiopathogenesis of SARS-CoV-2 disease in children. The bibliographic search was conducted using the search engines PubMed and Scopus. The following search terms were entered in PubMed and Scopus: COVID-19 AND ACE2 AND Children; COVID-19 AND Immunity innate AND children. The search identified 857 records, and 18 studies were applicable based on inclusion and exclusion criteria that addressed the issues of COVID-19 concerning the role of ACE2 expression in children. The scientific literature agrees that children develop milder COVID-19 disease than adults. Milder symptomatology could be attributed to innate immunity or previous CovH virus infections, while it is not yet fully understood how the differential expression of ACE2 in children could contribute to milder disease.
Characteristics of the New Insulin-Resistant Zebrafish Model
Authors: Nam Youn Hee , Rodriguez Isabel , Shin Sung Woo , Shim Ji Heon , Kim Na Woo , Kim Min Cheol , Jeong Seo Yule , Nuankaew Wanlapa , Hong Bin Na , Kim Hyunggun , Kang Tong Ho
Published: July 2021

Insulin resistance, which occurs when insulin levels are sufficiently high over a prolonged period, causing the cells to fail to respond normally to the hormone. As a system for insulin resistance and diabetes drug development, insulin-resistant rodent models have been clearly established, but there is a limitation to high-throughput drug screening. Recently, zebrafish have been identified as an excellent system for drug discovery and identification of therapeutic targets, but studies on insulin resistance models have not been extensively performed. Therefore, we aimed to make a rapid insulin-resistant zebrafish model that complements the existing rodent models. To establish this model, zebrafish were treated with 10 μM insulin for 48 h. This model showed characteristics of insulin-resistant disease such as damaged pancreatic islets. Then we confirmed the recovery of the pancreatic islets after pioglitazone treatment. In addition, it was found that insulin-resistant drugs have as significant an effect in zebrafish as in humans, and these results proved the value of the zebrafish insulin resistance model for drug selection. In addition, RNA sequencing was performed to elucidate the mechanism involved. KEGG pathway enrichment analysis of differentially expressed genes showed that insulin resistance altered gene expression due to the MAPK signaling and calcium signaling pathways. This model demonstrates the utility of the zebrafish model for drug testing and drug discovery in insulin resistance and diabetes.
Evolution of the Computational Pharmaceutics Approaches in the Modeling and Prediction of Drug Payload in Lipid and Polymeric Nanocarriers
Authors: Abd-algaleel Shaymaa A. , Abdel-Bar Hend M. , Metwally Abdelkader A. , Hathout Rania M.
Published: July 2021

This review describes different trials to model and predict drug payload in lipid and polymeric nanocarriers. It traces the evolution of the field from the earliest attempts when numerous solubility and Flory-Huggins models were applied, to the emergence of molecular dynamic simulations and docking studies, until the exciting practically successful era of artificial intelligence and machine learning. Going through matching and poorly matching studies with the wet lab-dry lab results, many key aspects were reviewed and addressed in the form of sequential examples that highlighted both cases.
Rapid and Sensitive Quantification of Intracellular Glycyl-Sarcosine for Semi-High-Throughput Screening for Inhibitors of PEPT-1
Authors: von Linde Teresa , Bajraktari-Sylejmani Gzona , Haefeli Walter E. , Burhenne Jürgen , Weiss Johanna , Sauter Max
Published: July 2021

The peptide transporter PEPT-1 (SLC15A1) plays a major role in nutritional supply with amino acids by mediating the intestinal influx of dipeptides and tripeptides generated during food digestion. Its role in the uptake of small bioactive peptides and various therapeutics makes it an important target for the investigation of the systemic absorption of small peptide-like active compounds and prodrug strategies of poorly absorbed therapeutics. The dipeptide glycyl-sarcosine (Gly-Sar), which comprises an N-methylated peptide bond that increases stability against enzymatic degradation, is widely utilized for studying PEPT-1-mediated transport. To support experiments on PEPT-1 inhibitor screening to identify potential substrates, we developed a highly sensitive Gly-Sar quantification assay for Caco-2 cell lysates with a dynamic range of 0.1 to 1000 ng/mL (lower limit of quantification 0.68 nM) in 50 µL of cell lysate. The assay was validated following the applicable recommendations for bioanalytic method validation of the FDA and EMA. Sample preparation and quantification were established in 96-well cell culture plates that were also used for the cellular uptake studies, resulting in a rapid and robust screening assay for PEPT-1 inhibitors. This sample preparation principle, combined with the high sensitivity of the UPLC-MS/MS quantification, is suitable for screening assays for PEPT-1 inhibitors and substrates in high-throughput formats and holds the potential for automation. Applicability was demonstrated by IC50 determinations of the known PEPT-1 inhibitor losartan, the known substrates glycyl-proline (Gly-Pro), and valaciclovir, the prodrug of aciclovir, which itself is no substrate of PEPT-1 and consequently showed no inhibition in our assay.
Improved Hygroscopicity and Bioavailability of Solid Dispersion of Red Ginseng Extract with Silicon Dioxide
Authors: Jin Sojeong , Lee Chul Haeng , Lim Dong Yu , Lee Jaehyeok , Park Soo-Jin , Song Im-Sook , Choi Min-Koo
Published: July 2021

This study aims to develop a powder formulation for the Korean red ginseng extract (RGE) and to evaluate its in vitro and in vivo formulation characteristics. The solid dispersion of RGE was prepared with hydrophilic carriers using a freeze-drying method. After conducting the water sorption–desorption isothermogram (relative humidity between 30 and 70% RH), differential scanning calorimetry thermal behavior, dissolution test, and intestinal permeation study, a solid dispersion formulation of RGE and silicon dioxide (RGE-SiO2) was selected. RGE-SiO2 formulation increased intestinal permeability of ginsenoside Rb1 (GRb1), GRb2, GRc, and GRd by 1.6-fold in rat jejunal segments as measured by the Ussing chamber system. A 1.6- to 1.8-fold increase in plasma exposure of GRb1, GRb2, GRc, and GRd in rats was observed following oral administration of RGE-SiO2 (375 mg/kg as RGE). No significant difference was observed in the time to reach maximum concentration (Tmax) and half-life in comparison to those in RGE administered rats (375 mg/kg). In conclusion, formulating solid dispersion of RGE with amorphous SiO2, the powder formulation of RGE was successfully formulated with improved hygroscopicity, increased intestinal permeability, and enhanced oral bioavailability and is therefore suitable for processing solid formulations of RGE product.
Phosphite Reduces the Predation Impact of Poterioochromonas malhamensis on Cyanobacterial Culture
Authors: Toda Narumi , Murakami Hiroki , Kanbara Akihiro , Kuroda Akio , Hirota Ryuichi
Published: July 2021

Contamination by the predatory zooplankton Poterioochromonas malhamensis is one of the major threats that causes catastrophic damage to commercial-scale microalgal cultivation. However, knowledge of how to manage predator contamination is limited. Previously, we established a phosphite (Pt)-based culture system by engineering Synechococcus elongatus, which exerted a competitive growth advantage against microbial contaminants that compete with phosphate source. Here, we examined whether Pt is effective in suppressing predator-type contamination. Co-culture experiment of Synechococcus with isolated P. malhamensis revealed that, although an addition of Pt at low concentrations up to 2.0 mM was not effective, increased dosage of Pt (~20 mM) resulted in the reduced grazing impact of P. malhamensis. By using unsterilized raw environmental water collected from rivers or ponds, we found that the suppression effect of Pt was dependent on the type of environmental water used. Eukaryotic microbial community analysis of the cultures using environmental water samples revealed that Paraphysomonas, a colorless Chrysophyceae, emerged and dominated under high-Pt conditions, suggesting that Paraphysomonas is insensitive to Pt compared to P. malhamensis. These findings may provide a clue for developing a strategy to reduce the impact of grazer contamination in commercial-scale microalgal cultivation.
Selective Inhibition of Wild Sunflower Reproduction with Mugwort Aqueous Extract, Tested on Cytosolic Ca2+ and Germination of the Pollen Grains
Authors: Del Pino Alberto Marco , Pannacci Euro , Di Michele Alessandro , Bravi Elisabetta , Marconi Ombretta , Tei Francesco , Palmerini Carlo Alberto
Published: July 2021

Wild sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) is an invasive species widely distributed in several regions of the world, where it shares a large area with domesticated sunflower. The imidazolinone-tolerant sunflower enables the control of problematic weeds (such as Xanthium spp., Brassica spp., wild sunflower) with imidazolinone herbicides (Clearfield® production system) in cultivated sunflower crops, but could facilitate the gene transfer of herbicide resistance, from cultivated sunflower to wild sunflower, generating hard-to-control weed biotypes or herbicide-resistant populations. The development of new practices that involve the selective inhibition of reproduction structures, such as pollen granules, could be an innovative strategy to minimize outcrossing and the origin of weed–crop hybrids in Clearfield® production systems. In this study, the effects of mugwort (Artemisia vulgaris L.) aqueous extract on cytosolic Ca2+ and the germination of pollen grains collected from conventional, wild and IMI-tolerant sunflower were tested. The results showed that mugwort deregulated Ca2+ homeostasis and markedly reduced the germination of conventional and wild sunflower pollen, but not IMI-tolerant pollen. The HPLC analysis revealed the presence of phenolic acids belonging to the hydroxycinnamic and benzoic classes in the mugwort extract. Hydroxycinnamic acids (caffeic and ferulic) deregulated the cytosolic Ca2+ of conventional and wild sunflower pollen, but not those which were IMI-tolerant, similar to mugwort extract. Selective inhibition of wild sunflower pollen in the Clearfield® sunflower crop contributes to a possible new weed management strategy, reducing the wild sunflower reproduction by seed, minimizing the potential risks of outcrossing with the formation of weed–crop hybrids. The Ca2+ selective chelating activity of caffeic or ferulic acids provides elements to be investigated for their possible use as an alternative to mugwort extract.
Chemical Composition and Nematicidal Properties of Sixteen Essential Oils—A Review
Authors: D’Addabbo Trifone , Avato Pinarosa
Published: July 2021

Essential oils (EOs) can be a large source of new food-safe and healthy nematicidal products, due to their strong activity on crop pathogens and pests, including phytoparasitic nematodes, as well as to their low environmental persistence. This review summarizes the results from our 10-year studies on chemical features and nematicidal properties of 16 EOs with different botanical origins and compositions, i.e., the EOs from Artemisia herba-alba Asso (Asteraceae), Cinnamomum camphora (L.) J. Presl. and Cinnamomum verum J. Presl. (Lauraceae), Citrus aurantium L., Cinnamomum. sinensis L. Osbeck and Ruta graveolens L. (Rutaceae), Eucalyptus citriodora Hook, Eucalyptus globulus Labill. and Syzygium aromaticum (L.) Marry et Perry (Myrtaceae), Mentha piperita L., Monarda didyma L., Monarda. fistulosa L., Rosmarinus officinalis L. and Thymus satureioides Cosson (Lamiaceae), Pelargonium asperum Ehrh ex Willd (Geraniaceae) and Schinus molle L. (Anacardiaceae). All these EOs were chemically characterized and tested in vitro and/or in vivo for their activity against the phytoparasitic species Meloidogyne incognita Kofoid et White (Chitw.), Pratylenchus vulnus Allen et Jensen and Xiphinema index Thorne et Allen. Toxicity bioassays were conducted by exposing 2nd stage juveniles (J2) of M. incognita, mixed-age specimens of P. vulnus and adult females of X. index to 2–100 μg mL−1 concentrations of EOs or EO’s major constituents for 4–96 h and checking mortality effect after a further 24–72 h permanence in water. Egg hatchability bioassays consisted in exposing (24–48 h) M. incognita egg masses to 500–1000 mg mL−1 EO solutions followed by a 5-week hatching test in water. The in vivo experiments were undertaken in sandy soil strongly infested by M. incognita and treated with different doses of EOs, applied either in water solution or by fumigation. The effects of the treatments on nematode infestation on tomato and in soil were checked at the end of each experiment. Structure-activity relationships, as suggested by the different chemical compositions of tested EOs, were also highlighted. In agreement with literature data, our studies indicated that most of the tested EOs are highly suitable for the formulation of new safe nematicides, though still retarded by the lack of efficient stabilization processes and standardized EOs’ components and extraction techniques.
Laboratory Study of Deformation Behaviour of Two New Reinforcing Polymeric TSLs and Their Potential Application in Deep Underground Coal Mine
Authors: Liang Han , Han Jun , Cao Chen , Ma Shuangwen
Published: July 2021

Thin spray-on liner (TSL) is a surface protection technology used by spraying a polymer film, which is widely used for mine airtightness and waterproofing. A reinforcing TSL can replace steel mesh, which is a new method for roadway support. This paper reviews the development of a reinforcing TSL. Considering the deterioration of geological conditions in deep underground mining and the demand for reinforcing automation, two kinds of polymeric reinforcing TSL (RPTSL) materials are developed. The mechanical characteristics of the new TSL materials are studied experimentally. Results show that the average compressive strength, tensile strength, cohesion, and internal friction angle of the two TSL materials are 52 and 32 MPa, 12 and 8 MPa, 6.2 and 17.2 MPa, and 33.6° and 25.9°, respectively. The bonding strength between the two materials and coal is greater than the tensile strength of coal itself, and the mechanical properties of the material for comparison are lower than those of both materials. Based on the TSL support mechanism, we examine the application of the two TSL materials to the mining environment and compare the mechanical properties of polymer materials and cement-based materials. The advantages of polymer materials include versatile mechanical properties, good adhesion, and high early strength. This study provides a new support material to replace steel mesh for roadway surface support, which satisfies the needs of different surface support designs under complex geological conditions, and promotes the automation of roadway support.
Mannose-Modified Chitosan Poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) Microspheres Act as a Mannose Receptor-Mediated Delivery System Enhancing the Immune Response
Authors: Feng Haibo , Yang Xiaonong , Zhang Linzi , Liu Qianqian , Feng Yangyang , Wu Daiyan , Liu Yunjie , Yang Jie
Published: July 2021

The mannose receptor (MAN-R)-targeted delivery system is commonly used to deliver antigens to macrophages or immature dendritic cells (DCs) to promote the efficiency of antigen presentation. To maximize the enhancement effects of chitosan (CS) and induce an efficient humoral and cellular immune response against an antigen, we encapsulated ovalbumin (OVA) in poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) microspheres (MPs) and conjugated it with MAN-modified CS to obtain MAN-R-targeting nano-MPs (MAN-CS-OVA-PLGA-MPs). The physicochemical properties, drug loading rate, and immunomodulation activity of MAN-CS-OVA-PLGA-MPs were evaluated. In vitro, MAN-CS-OVA-PLGA-MPs (80 μg mL−1) could enhance the proliferation of DCs and increase their phagocytic efficiency. In vivo, MAN-CS-OVA-PLGA-MPs significantly increased the ratio of CD3+CD4+/CD3+CD8+ T cells, increased CD80+, CD86+, and MHC II expression in DCs, and improved OVA-specific IgG, IgG1, IgG2a, and IgG2b antibodies. Moreover, MAN-CS-OVA-PLGA-MPs promoted cytokine (IFN-γ, IL-4, and IL-6) production in mice. Taken together, our results show that MAN-CS-OVA-PLGA-MPs may act by activating the T cells to initiate an immune response by promoting the maturation of dendritic cells and improving their antigen presentation efficiency. The current study provides a basis for the use of MAN-CS-OVA-PLGA-MPs as an antigen and adjuvant delivery system targeting the MAN-R on the surface of macrophages and dendritic cells.
Recycling of Wastes Plastics and Tires from Automotive Industry
Authors: Čabalová Iveta , Ház Aleš , Krilek Jozef , Bubeníková Tatiana , Melicherčík Ján , Kuvik Tomáš
Published: July 2021

Waste tires (granulate) and selected plastics from the automotive industry were evaluated by using the tertiary (pyrolysis) and quaternary (calorimetry) recovering. Pyrolysis is proving to be an environmentally friendly alternative to incineration and inefficient landfilling. Currently, the main challenges for pyrolysis of plastic waste are unavailability and inconsistent quality of feedstock, inefficient and hence costly sorting, and last but not least insufficient regulations around plastic waste management. Waste plastics and tire materials were characterized by TG/DTG analysis, Py-GC/MS analysis and calorimetry. TG analysis of the investigated materials gives the typical decomposition curves of synthetic polymers. The tested samples had the highest rate of weight loss process in the temperature range from 375 °C to 480 °C. Analytical pyrolysis of the tested polymers provided information on a wide variety of organic compounds that were released upon thermal loading of these materials without access to oxygen. Analytical pyrolysis offers valuable information on the spectrum of degradation products and their potential uses. Based on the results of calorimetry, it can be stated that the determined calorific value of selected plastic and rubber materials was ranging from 26.261 to 45.245 MJ/kg depending on the ash content and its composition.
Hollow Fiber Polyimide Membranes Prepared in a Triple Orifice Spinneret: Effect of a Reduced Water Activity in the Bore Fluid on the Gas Separation Performance
Authors: Bernardo Paola , Tasselli Franco , Clarizia Gabriele
Published: July 2021

Polyimide-based hollow fibers were spun using a triple orifice spinneret in order to apply them in gas separation. The membrane structure was tailored producing a porous external layer and a thin internal skin layer, that controlled the gas transport. The measurement of gas permeation rates and the morphological analysis were combined to obtain information on the performance of the membranes. The aim was to tune the inner top layer and investigate the role of the bore fluid on the gas permeation properties of the membranes. The bore fluid composition was explored by using water mixtures containing the solvent used for preparing the dope solution or a salt in order to reduce the water activity in the inner coagulant, but also a low amount of a crosslinker for improving the gas selectivity. The change of the dope flow-rate was also analyzed. At moderate dope flow-rates, the use of a saline water solution as bore fluid is more effective in enhancing the membrane gas selectivity with respect to a bore fluid containing certain amounts of solvent. This option represents a green approach for the preparation of the membrane. The behavior of the prepared hollow fibers over time (physical aging) in gas permeation was discussed.
Development of Rubber Seed Shell–Activated Carbon Using Impregnated Pyridinium-Based Ionic Liquid for Enhanced CO2 Adsorption
Authors: Mokti Nawwarah , Borhan Azry , Zaine Siti Nur Azella , Mohd Zaid Hayyiratul Fatimah
Published: July 2021

In this study, rubber seed shell was used for the production of activated carbon by chemical activation using an ionic liquid, [C4Py][Tf2N] as an activating agent. Sample RSS-IL 800 shows the highest specific surface area of 393.99 m2/g, a total pore volume of 0.206 cm3/g, and a micropore volume of 0.172 cm3/g. The performance of AC samples as an adsorbent for CO2 was also studied using a static volumetric technique evaluated at a temperature of 25 °C and 1 bar pressure. The CO2 adsorption capacity for sample RSS-IL 800 was 2.436 mmol/g, comparable with reported data from the previous study. Results also show that the CO2 adsorption capacity decreased at a higher temperature between 50 and 100 °C and increased at elevated pressure due to its exothermic behavior. The Langmuir model fits the adsorption data well, and the isosteric heat of adsorption proved that the physisorption process and exothermic behavior occur.
Optimal Design and Simulation Analysis of Spike Tooth Threshing Component Based on DEM
Authors: Yu Yajun , Li Liangshan , Zhao Jiale , Wang Xiangeng , Fu Jun
Published: July 2021

This paper takes a local drum-type corn thresher as an example. In order to make the threshing principle transform to the plate-tooth type, the width of the spike-tooth threshing component is increased gradually, and three threshing components of different shape and size are selected as the research objects. Based on the preliminary experimental research, the corn threshing process is simulation analyzed using the self-developed corn threshing process analysis software. The effects of the width of the threshing component on the corn ears threshing rate and kernel damage rate under different rates of drum rotation were studied from a macroscopic perspective. The results show that with the increase of drum rotation rate, both the corn ear threshing rate and kernel damage rate increase; with the increase of threshing component width, the threshing rate increases and the damage rate decreases; and when the component width is too large, the stacking between adjacent components has an impact on the threshing performance. The effects of threshing component width on the amount of kernel threshing and the total compressive force during the simulation time were investigated from microscopic perspective at different rates of drum rotation, and the results show that the microscopic analysis is consistent with the macroscopic analysis. Therefore, the optimization of the structural parameters and operating parameters of the threshing component was achieved. When the width of the threshing component was 25 mm and the roller speed was 187.50 rpm, the threshing performance was optimal, with a 98.04% corn ears threshing rate and a 2.56% kernel damage rate. This paper verifies the practical applicability of the corn threshing process analysis software and provides a reference for the optimal design of threshing devices.
Biocrude Production via Non-Catalytic Supercritical Hydrothermal Liquefaction of Fucus vesiculosus Seaweed Processing Residues
Authors: Jasiūnas Lukas , Pedersen Thomas Helmer , Rosendahl Lasse Aistrup
Published: July 2021

The potential of using cold water brown macroalgae Fucus vesiculosus for biocrude production via non-catalytic supercritical hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL) was studied. Demineralization, residue neutralization, and high value-added product (alginate and fucoidan) extraction processes were carried out before using the biomass for HTL biocrude production. Acid leaching was carried out using three demineralization agents: distilled water, dilute citric acid solution, and the diluted acidic aqueous by-product from a continuous HTL pilot facility. Alginate was extracted via H2SO4 and NaCO3 bathing, and fucoidan was extracted using CaCl2. Experimental data show that none of the leaching agents was greatly efficient in removing inorganics, with citric acid leaching with extensive neutralization reaching the highest ash removal efficiency of 47%. The produced 6 sets of biocrudes were characterized by elemental and thermogravimetric analyses. Short (10-min retention) HTL and the extent of leaching residue neutralization were also investigated. Highest biocrude yields were recorded when liquefying non-neutralized citric acid leaching, alginate, and fucoidan extraction residues. On the other hand, thermochemical conversions of short retention time HTL, full neutralization extent, and baseline (dried raw macroalgae) biomass performed worse. Specifically, the highest biocrude yield of 28.2 ± 2.5 wt.% on dry ash-free feedstock basis was recorded when liquefying alginate extraction residues. Moreover, the highest energy recovery of 52.8% was recorded when converting fucoidan extraction residues.
Improving Explainability of Major Risk Factors in Artificial Neural Networks for Auto Insurance Rate Regulation
Authors: Xie Shengkun
Published: July 2021

In insurance rate-making, the use of statistical machine learning techniques such as artificial neural networks (ANN) is an emerging approach, and many insurance companies have been using them for pricing. However, due to the complexity of model specification and its implementation, model explainability may be essential to meet insurance pricing transparency for rate regulation purposes. This requirement may imply the need for estimating or evaluating the variable importance when complicated models are used. Furthermore, from both rate-making and rate-regulation perspectives, it is critical to investigate the impact of major risk factors on the response variables, such as claim frequency or claim severity. In this work, we consider the modelling problems of how claim counts, claim amounts and average loss per claim are related to major risk factors. ANN models are applied to meet this goal, and variable importance is measured to improve the model’s explainability due to the models’ complex nature. The results obtained from different variable importance measurements are compared, and dominant risk factors are identified. The contribution of this work is in making advanced mathematical models possible for applications in auto insurance rate regulation. This study focuses on analyzing major risks only, but the proposed method can be applied to more general insurance pricing problems when additional risk factors are being considered. In addition, the proposed methodology is useful for other business applications where statistical machine learning techniques are used.
A Bibliometric Analysis of Objective and Subjective Risk
Authors: Nobanee Haitham , Alhajjar Maryam , Alkaabi Mohammed Ahmed , Almemari Majed Musabah , Alhassani Mohamed Abdulla , Alkaabi Naema Khamis , Alshamsi Saeed Abdulla , AlBlooshi Hanan Hamed
Published: July 2021

In relation to “objective risk” or “subjective risk”, a bibliometric analysis was performed using documents found in the Scopus database. A search for related documents was narrowed down to 192 documents and these were considered in this study. The results of this study suggest that the use of the ranking method and descriptive statistics is not sufficient in presenting a concise bibliometric analysis. To create a more in-depth bibliometric analysis, the results of this study have to be analyzed together with a visualization map using VOSviewer software. This way, researchers can easily locate a specific gap in the literature, understand the relation between the papers on the same subject, and cite the literature studies based on their effectiveness.
Spectral Complexity of Hyperspectral Images: A New Approach for Mangrove Classification
Authors: Osei Darko Patrick , Kalacska Margaret , Arroyo-Mora J. Pablo , Fagan Matthew E.
Published: July 2021

Hyperspectral remote sensing across multiple spatio-temporal scales allows for mapping and monitoring mangrove habitats to support urgent conservation efforts. The use of hyperspectral imagery for assessing mangroves is less common than for terrestrial forest ecosystems. In this study, two well-known measures in statistical physics, Mean Information Gain (MIG) and Marginal Entropy (ME), have been adapted to high spatial resolution (2.5 m) full range (Visible-Shortwave-Infrared) airborne hyperspectral imagery. These two spectral complexity metrics describe the spatial heterogeneity and the aspatial heterogeneity of the reflectance. In this study, we compare MIG and ME with surface reflectance for mapping mangrove extent and species composition in the Sierpe mangroves in Costa Rica. The highest accuracy for separating mangroves from forest was achieved with visible-near infrared (VNIR) reflectance (98.8% overall accuracy), following by shortwave infrared (SWIR) MIG and ME (98%). Our results also show that MIG and ME can discriminate dominant mangrove species with higher accuracy than surface reflectance alone (e.g., MIG–VNIR = 93.6% vs. VNIR Reflectance = 89.7%).
Mapping Water Infiltration Rate Using Ground and UAV Hyperspectral Data: A Case Study of Alento, Italy
Authors: Francos Nicolas , Romano Nunzio , Nasta Paolo , Zeng Yijian , Szabó Brigitta , Manfreda Salvatore , Ciraolo Giuseppe , Mészáros János , Zhuang Ruodan , Su Bob , Ben-Dor Eyal
Published: July 2021

Water infiltration rate (WIR) into the soil profile was investigated through a comprehensive study harnessing spectral information of the soil surface. As soil spectroscopy provides invaluable information on soil attributes, and as WIR is a soil surface-dependent property, field spectroscopy may model WIR better than traditional laboratory spectral measurements. This is because sampling for the latter disrupts the soil-surface status. A field soil spectral library (FSSL), consisting of 114 samples with different textures from six different sites over the Mediterranean basin, combined with traditional laboratory spectral measurements, was created. Next, partial least squares regression analysis was conducted on the spectral and WIR data in different soil texture groups, showing better performance of the field spectral observations compared to traditional laboratory spectroscopy. Moreover, several quantitative spectral properties were lost due to the sampling procedure, and separating the samples according to texture gave higher accuracies. Although the visible near-infrared–shortwave infrared (VNIR–SWIR) spectral region provided better accuracy, we resampled the spectral data to the resolution of a Cubert hyperspectral sensor (VNIR). This hyperspectral sensor was then assembled on an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) to apply one selected spectral-based model to the UAV data and map the WIR in a semi-vegetated area within the Alento catchment, Italy. Comprehensive spectral and WIR ground-truth measurements were carried out simultaneously with the UAV–Cubert sensor flight. The results were satisfactorily validated on the ground using field samples, followed by a spatial uncertainty analysis, concluding that the UAV with hyperspectral remote sensing can be used to map soil surface-related soil properties.
Towards Streamlined Single-Image Super-Resolution: Demonstration with 10 m Sentinel-2 Colour and 10–60 m Multi-Spectral VNIR and SWIR Bands
Authors: Tao Yu , Xiong Siting , Song Rui , Muller Jan-Peter
Published: July 2021

Higher spatial resolution imaging data are considered desirable in many Earth observation applications. In this work, we propose and demonstrate the TARSGAN (learning Terrestrial image deblurring using Adaptive weighted dense Residual Super-resolution Generative Adversarial Network) system for Super-resolution Restoration (SRR) of 10 m/pixel Sentinel-2 “true” colour images as well as all the other multispectral bands. In parallel, the ELF (automated image Edge detection and measurements of edge spread function, Line spread function, and Full width at half maximum) system is proposed to achieve automated and precise assessments of the effective resolutions of the input and SRR images. Subsequent ELF measurements of the TARSGAN SRR results suggest an averaged effective resolution enhancement factor of about 2.91 times (equivalent to ~3.44 m/pixel for the 10 m/pixel bands) given a nominal SRR upscaling factor of 4 times. Several examples are provided for different types of scenes from urban landscapes to agricultural scenes and sea-ice floes.
IGS-CMAES: A Two-Stage Optimization for Ground Deformation and DEM Error Estimation in Time Series InSAR Data
Authors: Sun Xinyao , Zimmer Aaron , Mukherjee Subhayan , Ghuman Parwant , Cheng Irene
Published: July 2021

Interferometric synthetic aperture radar (InSAR) has become an increasingly recognized remote sensing technology for earth surface monitoring. Slow and subtle terrain displacements can be estimated using time-series InSAR (TSInSAR) data. However, a substantial increase in the availability of exclusive time series data necessitates the development of more efficient and effective algorithms. Research in these areas is usually carried out by solving complicated optimization problems, which is very computationally expensive and time-consuming. This work proposes a two-stage black-box optimization framework to jointly estimate the average ground deformation rate and terrain digital elevation model (DEM) error. The method performs an iterative grid search (IGS) to acquire coarse candidate solutions, and then a covariance matrix adaptive evolution strategy (CMAES) is adopted to obtain the final local results. The performance of our method is evaluated using both simulated and real datasets. Both quantitative and qualitative comparisons using different optimizers support the reliability and effectiveness of our work. The proposed IGS-CMAES achieves higher accuracy with a significantly fewer number of objective function evaluations than other established algorithms. It offers the possibility for wide-area monitoring, where high precision and real-time processing is essential.
Identification of Construction Areas from VHR-Satellite Images for Macroeconomic Forecasts
Authors: Juergens Carsten , Meyer-Heß M. Fabian
Published: July 2021

This contribution focuses on the utilization of very-high-resolution (VHR) images to identify construction areas and their temporal changes aiming to estimate the investment in construction as a basis for economic forecasts. Triggered by the need to improve macroeconomic forecasts and reduce their time intervals, the idea arose to use frequently available information derived from satellite imagery. For the improvement of macroeconomic forecasts, the period to detect changes between two points in time needs to be rather short because early identification of such investments is beneficial. Therefore, in this study, it is of interest to identify and quantify new construction areas, which will turn into build-up areas later. A multiresolution segmentation followed by a kNN classification is applied to WorldView images from an area around the southern part of Berlin, Germany. Specific material compositions of construction areas result in typical classification patterns different from other land cover classes. A GIS-based analysis follows to extract specific temporal “patterns of life” in construction areas. With the early identification of such patterns of life, it is possible to predict construction areas that will turn into real estate later. This information serves as an input for macroeconomic forecasts to support quicker forecasts in future.
From Point to Region: Accurate and Efficient Hierarchical Small Object Detection in Low-Resolution Remote Sensing Images
Authors: Wu Jingqian , Xu Shibiao
Published: July 2021

Accurate object detection is important in computer vision. However, detecting small objects in low-resolution images remains a challenging and elusive problem, primarily because these objects are constructed of less visual information and cannot be easily distinguished from similar background regions. To resolve this problem, we propose a Hierarchical Small Object Detection Network in low-resolution remote sensing images, named HSOD-Net. We develop a point-to-region detection paradigm by first performing a key-point prediction to obtain position hypotheses, then only later super-resolving the image and detecting the objects around those candidate positions. By postponing the object prediction to after increasing its resolution, the obtained key-points are more stable than their traditional counterparts based on early object detection with less visual information. This hierarchical approach, HSOD-Net, saves significant run-time, which makes it more suitable for practical applications such as search and rescue, and drone navigation. In comparison with the state-of-art models, HSOD-Net achieves remarkable precision in detecting small objects in low-resolution remote sensing images.
EasyIDP: A Python Package for Intermediate Data Processing in UAV-Based Plant Phenotyping
Authors: Wang Haozhou , Duan Yulin , Shi Yun , Kato Yoichiro , Ninomiya Seishi , Guo Wei
Published: July 2021

Unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) and structure from motion (SfM) photogrammetry techniques are widely used for field-based, high-throughput plant phenotyping nowadays, but some of the intermediate processes throughout the workflow remain manual. For example, geographic information system (GIS) software is used to manually assess the 2D/3D field reconstruction quality and cropping region of interests (ROIs) from the whole field. In addition, extracting phenotypic traits from raw UAV images is more competitive than directly from the digital orthomosaic (DOM). Currently, no easy-to-use tools are available to implement previous tasks for commonly used commercial SfM software, such as Pix4D and Agisoft Metashape. Hence, an open source software package called easy intermediate data processor (EasyIDP; MIT license) was developed to decrease the workload in intermediate data processing mentioned above. The functions of the proposed package include (1) an ROI cropping module, assisting in reconstruction quality assessment and cropping ROIs from the whole field, and (2) an ROI reversing module, projecting ROIs to relative raw images. The result showed that both cropping and reversing modules work as expected. Moreover, the effects of ROI height selection and reversed ROI position on raw images to reverse calculation were discussed. This tool shows great potential for decreasing workload in data annotation for machine learning applications.