bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Phytoremediation and Bioremediation of Pesticide-Contaminated Soil
Authors: Tarla Divine N. , Erickson Larry E. , Hettiarachchi Ganga M. , Amadi Sixtus I. , Galkaduwa Madhubhashini , Davis Lawrence C. , Nurzhanova Asil , Pidlisnyuk Valentina
Published: February 2020

Management and destruction of obsolete pesticides and the remediation of pesticide-contaminated soil are significant global issues with importance in agriculture, environmental health and quality of life. Pesticide use and management have a history of problems because of insufficient knowledge of proper planning, storage, and use. This manuscript reviews recent literature with an emphasis on the management of obsolete pesticides and remediation of pesticide-contaminated soil. The rhizosphere of plants is a zone of active remediation. Plants also take up contaminated water and remove pesticides from soil. The beneficial effects of growing plants in pesticide-contaminated soil include pesticide transformation by both plant and microbial enzymes. This review addresses recent advances in the remediation of pesticide-contaminated soil with an emphasis on processes that are simple and can be applied widely in any country.
Third-Octave and Bark Graphic-Equalizer Design with Symmetric Band Filters
Authors: Rämö Jussi , Liski Juho , Välimäki Vesa
Published: February 2020

This work proposes graphic equalizer designs with third-octave and Bark frequency divisions using symmetric band filters with a prescribed Nyquist gain to reduce approximation errors. Both designs utilize an iterative weighted least-squares method to optimize the filter gains, accounting for the interaction between the different band filters, to ensure excellent accuracy. A third-octave graphic equalizer with a maximum magnitude-response error of 0.81 dB is obtained, which outperforms the previous state-of-the-art design. The corresponding error for the Bark equalizer, which is the first of its kind, is 1.26 dB. This paper also applies a recently proposed neural gain control in which the filter gains are predicted with a multilayer perceptron having two hidden layers. After the training, the resulting network quickly and accurately calculates the filter gains for third-order and Bark graphic equalizers with maximum errors of 0.86 dB and 1.32 dB, respectively, which are not much more than those of the corresponding weighted least-squares designs. Computing the filter gains is about 100 times faster with the neural network than with the original optimization method. The proposed designs are easy to apply and may thus lead to widespread use of accurate auditory graphic equalizers.
Combining Stable Inversion and H∞ Synthesis for Trajectory Tracking and Disturbance Rejection Control of Civil Aircraft Autolanding
Authors: Wang Xudong , Sang Yuanjun , Zhou Guangrui
Published: February 2020

The landing phase during a flight probably is the most dangerous part, as most of the accidents occur in this phase. A robust trajectory tracking controller is presented to autoland a civil aircraft subjected to severe wind disturbances to improve the aircraft’s safety. Firstly, the dynamic models of the aircraft and windshear are built. Secondly, a stable inversion (SI) based robust autolanding controller (SIRAC) is proposed. In this architecture, the SI algorithm is used to improve the output tracking precision, while the H ∞ synthesis is applied for enhancing robust stability against uncertainties caused by wind disturbances. Finally, two scenario simulations are carried out for the automatic landing control of a large civil aircraft. Significant performances on the system have been achieved without any disturbance. In addition to that, the proposed SIRAC can also track the desired autolanding trajectory with high precision, even under large wind condition.
Reviewing the Limitations of Adult Mammalian Cardiac Regeneration: Noncoding RNAs as Regulators of Cardiomyogenesis
Authors: Verjans Robin , van Bilsen Marc , Schroen Blanche
Published: February 2020

The adult mammalian heart is incapable of regeneration following cardiac injury, leading to a decline in function and eventually heart failure. One of the most evident barriers limiting cardiac regeneration is the inability of cardiomyocytes to divide. It has recently become clear that the mammalian heart undergoes limited cardiomyocyte self-renewal throughout life and is even capable of modest regeneration early after birth. These exciting findings have awakened the goal to promote cardiomyogenesis of the human heart to repair cardiac injury or treat heart failure. We are still far from understanding why adult mammalian cardiomyocytes possess only a limited capacity to proliferate. Identifying the key regulators may help to progress towards such revolutionary therapy. Specific noncoding RNAs control cardiomyocyte division, including well explored microRNAs and more recently emerged long noncoding RNAs. Elucidating their function and molecular mechanisms during cardiomyogenesis is a prerequisite to advance towards therapeutic options for cardiac regeneration. In this review, we present an overview of the molecular basis of cardiac regeneration and describe current evidence implicating microRNAs and long noncoding RNAs in this process. Current limitations and future opportunities regarding how these regulatory mechanisms can be harnessed to study myocardial regeneration will be addressed.
Structure-Based Virtual Screening of Pseudomonas aeruginosa LpxA Inhibitors using Pharmacophore-Based Approach
Authors: Bhaskar Baki Vijaya , Babu Tirumalasetty Muni Chandra , Rammohan Aluru , Zheng Gui Yu , Zyryanov Grigory V. , Gu Wei
Published: February 2020

Multidrug resistance in Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a noticeable and ongoing major obstacle for inhibitor design. In P. aeruginosa, uridine diphosphate N-acetylglucosamine (UDP-GlcNAc) acetyltransferase (PaLpxA) is an essential enzyme of lipid A biosynthesis and an attractive drug target. PaLpxA is a homotrimer, and the binding pocket for its substrate, UDP-GlcNAc, is positioned between the monomer A–monomer B interface. The uracil moiety binds at one monomer A, the GlcNAc moiety binds at another monomer B, and a diphosphate form bonds with both monomers. The catalytic residues are conserved and display a similar catalytic mechanism across orthologs, but some distinctions exist between pocket sizes, residue differences, substrate positioning and specificity. The analysis of diversified pockets, volumes, and ligand positions was determined between orthologues that could aid in selective inhibitor development. Thenceforth, a complex-based pharmacophore model was generated and subjected to virtual screening to identify compounds with similar pharmacophoric properties. Docking and general Born-volume integral (GBVI) studies demonstrated 10 best lead compounds with selective inhibition properties with essential residues in the pocket. For biological access, these scaffolds complied with the Lipinski rule, no toxicity and drug likeness properties, and were considered as lead compounds. Hence, these scaffolds could be helpful for the development of potential selective PaLpxA inhibitors.
Induction of Cryptic Antifungal Pulicatin Derivatives from Pantoea Agglomerans by Microbial Co-Culture
Authors: Thissera Bathini , Alhadrami Hani A. , Hassan Marwa H. A. , Hassan Hossam M. , Behery Fathy A. , Bawazeer Majed , Yaseen Mohammed , Belbahri Lassaad , Rateb Mostafa E.
Published: February 2020

Microbial co-culture or mixed fermentation proved to be an efficient strategy to expand chemical diversity by the induction of cryptic biosynthetic pathways, and in many cases led to the production of new antimicrobial agents. In the current study, we report a rare example of the induction of silent/cryptic bacterial biosynthetic pathway by the co-culture of Durum wheat plant roots-associated bacterium Pantoea aggolomerans and date palm leaves-derived fungus Penicillium citrinum. The initial co-culture indicated a clear fungal growth inhibition which was confirmed by the promising antifungal activity of the co-culture total extract against Pc. LC-HRMS chemical profiling demonstrated a huge suppression in the production of secondary metabolites (SMs) of axenic cultures of both species with the emergence of new metabolites which were dereplicated as a series of siderophores. Large-scale co-culture fermentation led to the isolation of two new pulicatin derivatives together with six known metabolites which were characterised using HRESIMS and NMR analyses. During the in vitro antimicrobial evaluation of the isolated compounds, pulicatin H (2) exhibited the strongest antifungal activity against Pc, followed by aeruginaldehyde (1) and pulicatin F (4), hence explaining the initial growth suppression of Pc in the co-culture environment.
The Ser290Asn and Thr715Pro Polymorphisms of the SELP Gene Are Associated with A Lower Risk of Developing Acute Coronary Syndrome and Low Soluble P-Selectin Levels in A Mexican Population
Authors: Herrera-Maya Gabriel , Vargas-Alarcón Gilberto , Pérez-Méndez Oscar , Posadas-Sánchez Rosalinda , Masso Felipe , Juárez-Cedillo Teresa , Escobedo Galileo , Vázquez-Montero Andros , Fragoso José Manuel
Published: February 2020

Recent studies have shown that P-selectin promotes the early formation of atherosclerotic plaque. The aim of the present study was to evaluate whether the SELP gene single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) are associated with presence of acute coronary syndrome (ACS) and with plasma P-selectin levels in a case-control association study. The sample size was estimated for a statistical power of 80%. We genotyped three SELP (SELP Ser290Asn, SELP Leu599Val, and SELP Thr715Pro) SNPs using 5’ exonuclease TaqMan assays in 625 patients with ACS and 700 healthy controls. The associations were evaluated with logistic regressions under the co-dominant, dominant, recessive, over-dominant and additive inheritance models. The genotype contribution to the plasma P-selectin levels was evaluated by a Student’s t-test. Under different models, the SELP Ser290Asn (OR = 0.59, pCCo-Dominant = 0.047; OR = 0.59, pCDominant = 0.014; OR = 0.58, pCOver-Dominant = 0.061, and OR = 0.62, pCAdditive = 0.015) and SELP Thr715Pro (OR = 0.61, pCDominant = 0.028; OR = 0.63, pCOver-Dominant = 0.044, and OR = 0.62, pCAdditive = 0.023) SNPs were associated with a lower risk of ACS. In addition, these SNPs were associated with low plasma P-selectin levels. In summary, this study established that the SELP Ser290Asn and SELP Thr715Pro SNPs are associated with a lower risk of developing ACS and with decreased P-selectin levels in plasma in a Mexican population.
Pharmacokinetics of Sativex® in Dogs: Towards a Potential Cannabinoid-Based Therapy for Canine Disorders
Authors: Fernández-Trapero María , Pérez-Díaz Carmen , Espejo-Porras Francisco , de Lago Eva , Fernández-Ruiz Javier
Published: February 2020

The phytocannabinoid-based medicine Sativex® is currently marketed for the treatment of spasticity and pain in multiple sclerosis patients and is being investigated for other central and peripheral pathological conditions. It may also serve in Veterinary Medicine for the treatment of domestic animals, in particular for dogs affected by different pathologies, including human-like pathological conditions. With the purpose of assessing different dosing paradigms for using Sativex in Veterinary Medicine, we investigated its pharmacokinetics when administered to naïve dogs via sublingual delivery. In the single dose arm of the study, adult Beagle dogs were treated with 3 consecutive sprays of Sativex, and blood samples were collected at 12 intervals up to 24 h later. In the multiple dose arm of the study, Beagle dogs received 3 sprays daily for 14 days, and blood samples were collected for 24 h post final dose. Blood was used to obtain plasma samples and to determine the levels of cannabidiol (CBD), Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ9-THC) and its metabolite 11-hydroxy-Δ9-THC. Maximal plasma concentrations of both Δ9-THC (Cmax = 18.5 ng/mL) and CBD (Cmax = 10.5 ng/mL) were achieved 2 h after administration in the single dose condition and at 1 h in the multiple dose treatment (Δ9-THC: Cmax = 24.5 ng/mL; CBD: Cmax = 15.2 ng/mL). 11-hydroxy-Δ9-THC, which is mainly formed in the liver from Δ9-THC, was almost undetected, which is consistent with the use of sublingual delivery. A potential progressive accumulation of both CBD and Δ9-THC was detected following repeated exposure, with maximum plasma concentrations for both cannabinoids being achieved following multiple dose. Neurological status, body temperature, respiratory rate and some hemodynamic parameters were also recorded in both conditions, but in general, no changes were observed. In conclusion, this study demonstrates that single or multiple dose sublingual administration of Sativex to naïve dogs results in the expected pharmacokinetic profile, with maximal levels of phytocannabinoids detected at 1–2 h and suggested progressive accumulation after the multiple dose treatment.
Assessing Cement Stabilized Rammed Earth Durability in A Humid Continental Climate
Authors: Narloch Piotr , Woyciechowski Piotr
Published: February 2020

The article compared the test results of a number of features determining the durability of rammed earth durability in a humid continental climate. The results of wet to dry compressive strength ratio, frost resistance, linear shrinkage, resistance to erosion under the influence of a stream of pressurized water, and resistance to erosion under the influence of cyclic wetting and drying were presented. All of the tests were done on the same soil-cement mixture. On this basis, it was determined which of the methods of durability assessment is more and which is less restrictive. A new method for assessing the durability of CSRE in a humid continental climate has been proposed, which is the frost resistance test. This test is determined by the method that is described in the national annex of the European concrete standard of one of the temperate climate countries. The article also shows that a minimum of 9% of the cement additive and a soil mixture containing a gravel fraction are required, in order to ensure adequate rammed earth durability in a humid continental climate (i.e., frost resistance).
Alternative Mechanisms of p53 Action During the Unfolded Protein Response
Authors: Fusée Leïla T. S. , Marín Mónica , Fåhraeus Robin , López Ignacio
Published: February 2020

The tumor suppressor protein p53 orchestrates cellular responses to a vast number of stresses, with DNA damage and oncogenic activation being some of the best described. The capacity of p53 to control cellular events such as cell cycle progression, DNA repair, and apoptosis, to mention some, has been mostly linked to its role as a transcription factor. However, how p53 integrates different signaling cascades to promote a particular pathway remains an open question. One way to broaden its capacity to respond to different stimuli is by the expression of isoforms that can modulate the activities of the full-length protein. One of these isoforms is p47 (p53/47, Δ40p53, p53ΔN40), an alternative translation initiation variant whose expression is specifically induced by the PERK kinase during the Unfolded Protein Response (UPR) following Endoplasmic Reticulum stress. Despite the increasing knowledge on the p53 pathway, its activity when the translation machinery is globally suppressed during the UPR remains poorly understood. Here, we focus on the expression of p47 and we propose that the alternative initiation of p53 mRNA translation offers a unique condition-dependent mechanism to differentiate p53 activity to control cell homeostasis during the UPR. We also discuss how the manipulation of these processes may influence cancer cell physiology in light of therapeutic approaches.
Multiple Myeloma: Available Therapies and Causes of Drug Resistance
Authors: Pinto Vanessa , Bergantim Rui , Caires Hugo R. , Seca Hugo , Guimarães José E. , Vasconcelos M. Helena
Published: February 2020

Multiple myeloma (MM) is the second most common blood cancer. Treatments for MM include corticosteroids, alkylating agents, anthracyclines, proteasome inhibitors, immunomodulatory drugs, histone deacetylase inhibitors and monoclonal antibodies. Survival outcomes have improved substantially due to the introduction of many of these drugs allied with their rational use. Nonetheless, MM patients successively relapse after one or more treatment regimens or become refractory, mostly due to drug resistance. This review focuses on the main drugs used in MM treatment and on causes of drug resistance, including cytogenetic, genetic and epigenetic alterations, abnormal drug transport and metabolism, dysregulation of apoptosis, autophagy activation and other intracellular signaling pathways, the presence of cancer stem cells, and the tumor microenvironment. Furthermore, we highlight the areas that need to be further clarified in an attempt to identify novel therapeutic targets to counteract drug resistance in MM patients.
A Bispecific Inhibitor of the EGFR/ADAM17 Axis Decreases Cell Proliferation and Migration of EGFR-Dependent Cancer Cells
Authors: Soto-Gamez Abel , Chen Deng , Nabuurs Anke G.E. , Quax Wim J , Demaria Marco , Boersma Ykelien L.
Published: February 2020

Dysregulated epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is an oncogenic driver of many human cancers, promoting aberrant cell proliferation, migration, and survival. Pharmacological targeting of EGFR is often challenged by acquired mechanisms of resistance. Ligand-dependent mechanisms in EGFR wild-type cells rely on ligand or receptor overexpression, allowing cells to outcompete inhibitors and perpetuate signaling in an autocrine manner. Importantly, EGFR ligands are synthesized as membrane-bound precursors that must be solubilized to enable receptor-ligand interactions. The A disintegrin and metalloproteinase 17 (ADAM17) is considered the main sheddase of several EGFR ligands, and a potential pharmacological target. However, its broad substrate range and ubiquitous expression complicate its therapeutic targeting. Here, we present a novel bispecific fusion protein construct consisting of the inhibitory prodomain of ADAM17 (TPD), fused to an EGFR-targeting designed ankyrin repeat protein (DARPin). TPD is a natural inhibitor of ADAM17, maintaining the protease in a zymogen-like form. Meanwhile, the high affinity anti-EGFR DARPin E01 binds to EGFR and inhibits ligand binding. The resulting fusion protein E01-GS-TPD retained binding ability to both molecular targets EGFR and ADAM17. The large difference in affinity for each target resulted in enrichment of the fusion protein in EGFR-positive cells compared to EGFR-negative cells, suggesting a possible application in autocrine signaling inhibition. Accordingly, E01-GS-TPD decreased migration and proliferation of EGFR-dependent cell lines with no significant increase in apoptotic cell death. Finally, inhibition of proliferation was observed through EGFR ligand-dependent mechanisms as growth inhibition was not observed in EGFR mutant or KRAS mutant cell lines. The use of bispecific proteins targeting the EGFR/ADAM17 axis could be an innovative strategy for the treatment of EGFR-dependent cancers.
Matrix Metalloproteinases Retain Soluble FasL-mediated Resistance to Cell Death in Fibrotic-Lung Myofibroblasts
Authors: Nareznoi David , Konikov-Rozenman Jenya , Petukhov Dmytro , Breuer Raphael , Wallach-Dayan Shulamit B.
Published: February 2020

A prominent feature of obstructed tissue regeneration following injury in general, and fibrotic lung tissue in particular, is fibroblast proliferation and accumulation. The Fas/FasL apoptotic pathway has been shown to be involved in human idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) and bleomycin-induced lung fibrosis in rodents. We previously showed that in normal injury repair, myofibroblasts’ accumulation is followed by their decline by FasL+ T cell-induced cell death. In pathological lung fibrosis, myofibroblasts resist cell death and accumulate. Like other members of the tumor necrosis factor (TNF) family, membrane-bound FasL can be cleaved from the cell surface to generate a soluble form (sFasL). Metalloproteinases (MMPs) are known to convert the membrane-bound form of FasL to sFasL. MMP-7 knockout (KO) mice were shown to be protected from bleomycin (BLM)-induced lung fibrosis. In this study, we detected increased levels of sFasL in their blood serum, as in the lungs of patients with IPF, and IPF-lung myofibroblast culture medium. In this study, using an MMP-inhibitor, we showed that sFasL is decreased in cultures of IPF-lung myofibroblasts and BLM-treated lung myofibroblasts, and in the blood serum of MMP-7KO mice. Moreover, resistant fibrotic-lung myofibroblasts, from the lungs of humans with IPF and of BLM-treated mice, became susceptible to T-cell induced cell death in a co-culture following MMP-inhibition- vs. control-treatment or BLM-treated MMP-7KO vs. wild-type mice, respectively. sFasL may be an unrecognized mechanism for MMP-7-mediated decreased tissue regeneration following injury and the evolution of lung fibrosis.
Lomefloxacin—Occurrence in the German River Erft, Its Photo-Induced Elimination, and Assessment of Ecotoxicity
Authors: Voigt Melanie , Hentschel Benjamin , Theiss Nina , Savelsberg Christina , Bartels Indra , Nickisch-Hartfiel Anna , Jaeger Martin
Published: February 2020

Pharmaceuticals in waters represent a worldwide problem of today. Advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) are being researched for elimination of the ecological hazard. Among the substances, the fluoroquinolone antibiotic lomefloxacin was selected for investigation in this study. Lomefloxacin (LOM) was found in the German river Erft. Near and far ultraviolet (UVA, UVC) radiation were used as AOPs and compared for efficiency depending on pH, water matrix, and catalysts. Chemical kinetics description revealed that UVC at pH 8–9 led to the fastest degradation of LOM. The catalysts hydrogen peroxide and titanium dioxide had only limited influence on the degradation rate. Seven novel transformation products were structurally identified by high-resolution higher-order mass spectrometry. Ecotoxicity of the novel and known compounds was assessed by quantitative structure-activity relationship (QSAR) analysis. In addition, irradiation time dependent minimal, and half-maximal inhibitory concentrations (MIC, IC50) of LOM solutions were determined and suggested as ecotoxicological hazard indicators. From MIC and kinetic rate constants, the irradiation time required for compound and activity removal could be predicted.
Complex Modeling and Design of Catalytic Reactors Using Multiscale Approach—Part 1: Diffusion in Porous Catalyst
Authors: Menshutina Natalia , Lebedev Evgeniy , Kolnoochenko Andrey , Tsygankov Pavel , Lebedev Igor
Published: February 2020

The presented work is dedicated to the modeling of catalytic reactors using a multiscale approach, based on the combination of cellular automata and Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD). This work describes the first step in the development of a complex model of catalytic reactors and considers the diffusion of components inside a porous structure of an aluminosilicate catalyst. Various cellular automata were used to generate virtual porous structures of catalysts with specific surface areas equal to 250, 500, and 700 m2/g and to calculate the effective diffusion coefficient for the substance transfer inside the catalysts. The obtained effective diffusion coefficient was included in the CFD model of a laboratory scale reactor simulating extraction of aniline from the catalyst with methanol. Results of numerical experiments carried out using the CFD model were compared with the corresponding experimental data. It is shown that the proposed approach is suitable for describing macroscopic and microscopic mass transfer phenomena on consideration of the catalyst’s structure.
Machine Learning Photovoltaic String Analyzer
Authors: Rodrigues Sandy , Mütter Gerhard , Ramos Helena Geirinhas , Morgado-Dias F.
Published: February 2020

Photovoltaic (PV) system energy production is non-linear because it is influenced by the random nature of weather conditions. The use of machine learning techniques to model the PV system energy production is recommended since there is no known way to deal well with non-linear data. In order to detect PV system faults, the machine learning models should provide accurate outputs. The aim of this work is to accurately predict the DC energy of six PV strings of a utility-scale PV system and to accurately detect PV string faults by benchmarking the results of four machine learning methodologies known to improve the accuracy of the machine learning models, such as the data mining methodology, machine learning technique benchmarking methodology, hybrid methodology, and the ensemble methodology. A new hybrid methodology is proposed in this work which combines the use of a fuzzy system and the use of a machine learning system containing five different trained machine learning models, such as the regression tree, artificial neural networks, multi-gene genetic programming, Gaussian process, and support vector machines for regression. The results showed that the hybrid methodology provided the most accurate machine learning predictions of the PV string DC energy, and consequently the PV string fault detection is successful.
Testing for Stochastic Dominance up to a Common Relative Poverty Line
Authors: Mehdi Tahsin
Published: February 2020

Although a wide array of stochastic dominance tests exist for poverty measurement and identification, they assume the income distributions have independent poverty lines or a common absolute (fixed) poverty line. We propose a stochastic dominance test for comparing income distributions up to a common relative poverty line (i.e., some fraction of the pooled median). A Monte Carlo study demonstrates its superior performance over existing methods in terms of power. The test is then applied to some Canadian household survey data for illustration.
Virtual Antenna Array for Minimization of DOA Estimation Systematic Error Caused by Scattering of Incident Waves on Antenna Carrier Body
Authors: Pasternak Yuri G. , Ashikhmin Aleksander V. , Rembovsky Yuri A. , Fedorov Sergey M. , Zhuravlev Dmitry V.
Published: February 2020

The Direction of Arrival (DOA) estimations of systematic errors are caused by diffraction distortions of the measured spatial structure of a electromagnetic field. These distortions result from scattering of incident waves on the antenna system and nearby scatterers (mobile carrier body, antenna mast, underlying surface, etc.) in wide frequency band, including the resonant frequencies of nearby objects. This article proposes a method for minimizing the DOA estimation systematic error by forming an additional virtual receiving channel—a Virtual Antenna Array (VAA). The VAAs were formed by use of classical apparatus of electrodynamics—the Huygens-Kirchhoff principle, the method of equivalent fields and sources, and the quasistatic approximation of the field based on the theory of analytical functions of the complex variable (Cauchy integral, Laurent series). The proposed method does not require calibration of the antenna system or a priori information about the geometry and material properties of the scatterers (dry or wet soil, opened or closed vehicle doors, etc.). Therefore, it gives good results in cases of mobile and stationary arrays, or changing carrier body geometry.
A Low-Cost Cognitive Assistant
Authors: Costa Angelo , Rincon Jaime A. , Julian Vicente , Novais Paulo , Carrascosa Carlos
Published: February 2020

In this paper, we present in depth the hardware components of a low-cost cognitive assistant. The aim is to detect the performance and the emotional state that elderly people present when performing exercises. Physical and cognitive exercises are a proven way of keeping elderly people active, healthy, and happy. Our goal is to bring to people that are at their homes (or in unsupervised places) an assistant that motivates them to perform exercises and, concurrently, monitor them, observing their physical and emotional responses. We focus on the hardware parts and the deep learning models so that they can be reproduced by others. The platform is being tested at an elderly people care facility, and validation is in process.
Sea Fog Identification from GOCI Images Using CNN Transfer Learning Models
Authors: Jeon Ho-Kun , Kim Seungryong , Edwin Jonathan , Yang Chan-Su
Published: February 2020

This study proposes an approaching method of identifying sea fog by using Geostationary Ocean Color Imager (GOCI) data through applying a Convolution Neural Network Transfer Learning (CNN-TL) model. In this study, VGG19 and ResNet50, pre-trained CNN models, are used for their high identification performance. The training and testing datasets were extracted from GOCI images for the area of coastal regions of the Korean Peninsula for six days in March 2015. With varying band combinations and changing whether Transfer Learning (TL) is applied, identification experiments were executed. TL enhanced the performance of the two models. Training data of CNN-TL showed up to 96.3% accuracy in matching, both with VGG19 and ResNet50, identically. Thus, it is revealed that CNN-TL is effective for the detection of sea fog from GOCI imagery.
Intrinsic Motivation Based Hierarchical Exploration for Model and Skill Learning
Authors: Lu Lina , Zhang Wanpeng , Gu Xueqiang , Chen Jing
Published: February 2020

Hierarchical skill learning is an important research direction in human intelligence. However, many real-world problems have sparse rewards and a long time horizon, which typically pose challenges in hierarchical skill learning and lead to the poor performance of naive exploration. In this work, we propose an algorithmic framework called surprise-based hierarchical exploration for model and skill learning (Surprise-HEL). The framework leverages the surprise-based intrinsic motivation for improving the efficiency of sampling and driving exploration. It also combines the surprise-based intrinsic motivation and the hierarchical exploration to speed up the model learning and skill learning. Moreover, the framework incorporates the reward independent incremental learning rules and the technique of alternating model learning and policy update to handle the changing intrinsic rewards and the changing models. These works enable the framework to implement the incremental and developmental learning of models and hierarchical skills. We tested Surprise-HEL on a common benchmark domain: Household Robot Pickup and Place. The evaluation results show that the Surprise-HEL framework can significantly improve the agent’s efficiency in model and skill learning in a typical complex domain.
Multi-Disciplinary Optimization Design of Axial-Flow Pump Impellers Based on the Approximation Model
Authors: Shi Lijian , Zhu Jun , Tang Fangping , Wang Chuan
Published: February 2020

This study adopts a multi-disciplinary optimization design method based on an approximation model to improve the comprehensive performance of axial-flow pump impellers and fully consider the interaction and mutual influences of the hydraulic and structural designs. The lightweight research on axial-flow pump impellers takes the blade mass and efficiency of the design condition as the objective functions and the head, efficiency, maximum stress value, and maximum deformation value under small flow condition as constraints. In the optimization process, the head of the design condition remains unchanged or varies in a small range. Results show that the mass of a single blade was reduced from 0.947 to 0.848 kg, reaching a decrease of 10.47%, and the efficiency of the design condition increased from 93.91% to 94.49%, with an increase rate of 0.61%. Accordingly, the optimization effect was evident. In addition, the error between the approximate model results and calculation results of each response was within 0.5%, except for the maximum stress value. This outcome shows that the accuracy of the approximate model was high, and the analysis result is reliable. The results provide guidance for the optimal design of axial-flow pump impellers.
Linear-Gompertz Model-Based Regression of Photovoltaic Power Generation by Satellite Imagery-Based Solar Irradiance
Authors: Vilanova Alba , Kim Bo-Young , Kim Chang Ki , Kim Hyun-Goo
Published: February 2020

A simple yet accurate photovoltaic (PV) performance curve as a function of satellite-based solar irradiation is necessary to develop a PV power forecasting model that can cover all of South Korea, where more than 35,000 PV power plants are currently in operation. In order to express the nonlinear power output of the PV module with respect to the hourly global horizontal irradiance derived from satellite images, this study employed the Gompertz model, which is composed of three parameters and the sigmoid equation. The nonphysical behavior of the Gompertz model within the low solar irradiation range was corrected by combining a linear equation with the same gradient at the conjoint point. The overall fitness of Linear-Gompertz regression to the 242 PV power plants representing the country was R2 = 0.85 and nRMSE = 0.09. The Gompertz model coefficients showed normal distributions and equivariance of standard deviations of less than 15% by year and by season. Therefore, it can be conjectured that the Linear-Gompertz model represents the whole country’s PV system performance curve. In addition, the Gompertz coefficient C, which controls the growth rate of the curve, showed a strong correlation with the capacity factor, such that the regression equation for the capacity factor could be derived as a function of the three Gompertz model coefficients with a fitness of R2 = 0.88.
Limitations and Characterization of Energy Storage Devices for Harvesting Applications
Authors: de Fazio Roberto , Cafagna Donato , Marcuccio Giorgio , Visconti Paolo
Published: February 2020

This paper aims to study the limitations and performances of the main energy storage devices commonly used in energy harvesting applications, namely super-capacitors (SC) and lithium polymer (LiPo) batteries. The self-discharge phenomenon is the main limitation to the employment of SCs to store energy for a long time, thus reducing efficiency and autonomy of the energy harvesting system. Therefore, the analysis of self-discharge trends was carried out for three different models of commercial SCs, describing the phenomenon in terms of self-discharge rate and internal resistance. In addition, physical interpretations concerning the self-discharge mechanism based on the experimental data are provided, thus explaining the two super-imposed phenomena featured by distinct time constants. Afterwards, the dependence of self-discharge phenomenon from the charging time duration (namely, SCs charged at 5 V and then kept under charge for one or five hours) was analyzed; by comparing the voltage drop during the self-discharge process, a self-discharge reduction for longer charging durations was obtained and the physical interpretation provided (at best −6.8% after 24 h and −13.4% after 120 h). Finally, self-discharge trends of two commercial 380 mAh LiPo batteries (model LW 752035) were acquired and analyzed; the obtained results show an open circuit voltage reduction of only 0.59% in the first 24 h and just 1.43% after 124 h.
New Criteria to Characterize the Waste Heat Recovery
Authors: Feidt Michel , Costea Monica , Feidt Renaud , Danel Quentin , Périlhon Christelle
Published: February 2020

Waste heat recovery is an actual goal. The best way to valorize waste heat is to use it directly with the appropriate level of temperature. If the temperature level is insufficient, many reverse machine configurations are available in order to obtain the appropriate conditions (the most known are heat pumps and heat transformers). Finally, the remaining unused heat could be converted to any noble form of energy (mechanical, electrical essentially). We propose here to examine, with a new point of view, the thermomechanical conversion limit of waste heat. This limit corresponds to adiabatic conversion for an endo-reversible Carnot engine, with a perfect thermal contact at the atmospheric sink (supposed infinite). The Carnot–Chambadal model version is applied to latent and sensible heat recovery cases. The results associated with these two cases differ fundamentally. Comments are provided on the two studied cases, and new criteria to characterize the corresponding waste heat recovery are proposed.
Measurements of 22Na in the Atmosphere: Ground Level Activity Concentration Values from Wet and Dry Deposition Samples
Authors: Magnoni Mauro , Bellina Luca , Bertino Stefano , Bellotto Brunella , Ghione Maura , Losana Maria Clivia
Published: February 2020

Sodium-22 (22Na, half-life 2.603 years) is a cosmogenic radionuclide mainly produced in the stratosphere by nuclear spallation reactions of cosmic rays on 40Ar. Due to the very low concentration levels normally reached in the environment, 22Na poses no significant radioprotection threats: actually, the effective doses delivered to humans can hardly exceed a few nSv per year, a very negligible value. However, the measurements of this radionuclides can be very interesting for atmospheric circulation and climatic studies. Unfortunately, the difficulty of 22Na detection, due to its very low concentration levels, has prevented the gathering of large and widespread time series of this radionuclide. In this paper, a method for the retrospective measurements of 22Na in the atmosphere, starting from the gamma spectra (hyperpure germanium detectors (HPGe) detectors) of wet and dry deposition samples stored in our databases is proposed and validated. The method was applied to spectra samples gathered in the context of the Italian National Radioactivity Monitoring Network (RESORAD) and allowed the detection of the very low atmospheric activity concentration values of 22Na present at ground level. The results obtained with the new method are discussed and compared for validation with the available experimental values. Finally, some possible applications to environmental studies are also highlighted and suggested.
Pests in the City: Managing Public Health Risks and Social Values in Response to Oak Processionary Moth (Thaumetopoea processionea) in the United Kingdom
Authors: Marzano Mariella , Ambrose-Oji Bianca , Hall Clare , Moseley Darren
Published: February 2020

Oak processionary moth (Thaumetopoea processionea) or OPM was accidentally introduced into London on imported oak trees and now poses a threat to the future of oak in the urban landscape. Early attempts at eradication of the moth failed and significant resources have since been spent by government on monitoring and controlling OPM (through the use of insecticides or bio-pesticides) as it spreads into new areas. OPM is regulated in the UK to minimize risk of new introductions and reduce spread. Surveying for OPM and issuing of statutory notices for control is based on a geographical system of core, control and protected zones. While OPM will defoliate the trees leaving them vulnerable to other pests and diseases and stress factors, the caterpillars can also harm people and animals via tiny urticating hairs with the potential for dermatological or respiratory impacts. However, the biggest threat to the iconic British oak may be that the perceived risks associated with OPM, and costs of management may lead land managers to fell their oak trees, and not plant oak in the future. There is a need to better understand awareness, risk perceptions and decision-making around OPM management. We use a conceptual framework to explore decision-making and the trade-offs between the social, economic and ecological values associated with oak trees, and assessment of risk related to both the moth and control options. Twenty nine interviews were conducted in two London boroughs and across Greater London and in some surrounding counties covering a range of land types (e.g., parks, school grounds, amenity areas and private gardens) with infested or non-infested oak. We found a lack of evidence of human health impacts from OPM although land managers were concerned about public duty of care and potential reputational damage if they do not manage OPM. To address the challenges of dealing with OPM, land managers were taking a risk-based approach and managing OPM where it posed the highest potential risk to people. Respondents expressed strong emotional attachments to oak but it also has high biodiversity value which can lead to difficult decisions about management options. A risk-based approach moves beyond a ‘one-size-fits-all’ control method and focuses available resources where they are most needed and socially acceptable. An approach that allows for multiple values and perspectives on risk may provide a more sustainable long-term option for OPM management to ensure the future of oak in the city.
Spatiotemporal Differentiation of Alpine Butterfly Parnassius glacialis (Papilionidae: Parnassiinae) in China: Evidence from Mitochondrial DNA and Nuclear Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms
Authors: Tao Ruisong , Xu Chang , Wang Yunliang , Sun Xiaoyan , Li Chunxiang , Ma Junye , Hao Jiasheng , Yang Qun
Published: February 2020

The Apollo butterfly, Parnassius glacialis, is one of the most charming members of its genus and includes two subspecies locally distributed in montane areas of south-central China and Japan. In this study, we investigated the genetic structure and demographic history of P. glacialis by analyzing partial sequences of four mitochondrial genes and nuclear single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) via genotyping-by-sequencing (GBS) of samples from nearly the entire known distributional range in China. The mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) data demonstrated that a total of 39 haplotypes were present, and the species was estimated to have diverged about 0.95 million years ago during the middle Pleistocene transition into two main clades that likely formed during the Kunlun-Huanghe tectonic movement. The two clades then dispersed independently in distinct geographic areas alongside the mountainous routes in central and southern China, most likely driven by the Pleistocene glacial-interglacial cycles. Nuclear SNP analysis was generally congruent with mtDNA results at the individual level. A minor incongruence of genetic structures that was detected between mtDNA and nuclear SNP data from the Laojunshan and Tiantangzhai populations was likely due to secondary contact and male-biased dispersal. Our work demonstrates that complicated dispersal-vicariance evolutionary processes likely led to the current geographic distribution of P. glacialis in China, particularly the uplift of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and related climatic oscillations during the Quaternary period.
Optimization on Personal Fall Arrest Systems. Experimental Dynamic Studies on Lanyard Prototypes
Authors: Pomares Juan Carlos , Carrión Elena Ángela , González Antonio , Saez Pedro Ignacio
Published: February 2020

Tens of thousands of fall-from-height accidents take place at construction sites every year. These types of accidents range from minor to fatal, causing a significant financial burden to enterprises, personal and family traumatic experiences, high medical costs, as well as hard compensation claim settlements. It makes sense then, that some sort of effective personal protective equipment (PPE) be devised to stop these types of accidents from happening. This article aims to explain how PPE can be used to minimize personal injury and the costs implied. The main contribution of this study is that the prototypes made with dynamic ropes and terminals knotted—without an energy absorber—could safely retain falls. Results show that standards EN 354 and EN 364 need to incorporate dynamic test requirements, for the reason that a high loading rate significantly reduces the resistance in static tests that manufacturing companies claim they have. Surprisingly, more than 90 percent of work at heights use PPE without any absorber. Finally, this study calls for the need to accurately determine the dynamic response of PPE in order to further advance in improvements of these fall arrest systems with no energy absorber.
Lead Isotopes Combined with Geochemical Baseline in Sediments: A Novel Tool to Trace Anthropogenic Pb Sources
Authors: Xu Dongyu , Gao Bo
Published: February 2020

Traditional Pb isotopic identification only based on total Pb concentration and Pb isotopic ratios, resulted in difficulty for tracing Pb sources in the complex environmental medium, especially for sediment. Herein, a novel approach combining with regional geochemical baseline (RGB) and Pb isotopic ratios are used to directly trace anthropogenic Pb sources and calculate Pb source appointments in sediment. In this study, total Pb concentrations and isotopic ratios were analyzed for a 7-m long sediment core (92 sediment samples) collected from a reservoir. RGB of Pb was used to calculate anthropogenic Pb concentrations (Rd), their contributions (CRd) and screen the sediments influenced by anthropogenic activities. Among those sediments influenced by anthropogenic activities, a positive correlation was found between 206Pb/207Pb ratios and Rd, indicating there were two anthropogenic Pb sources in sediment. Further source identification using 206Pb/207Pb and 208Pb/207Pb indicated that these two anthropogenic Pb sources originated from coal consumption and aerosol input. Finally, CRd and Pb isotopic ratios were used to calculate these two Pb source appointments (1.13% for coal consumption and 7.53% for aerosol input). This study demonstrated that source identification using RGB and Pb isotopes could be a novel attempt for identifying anthropogenic Pb sources in sediment.
Educational Interventions to Improve Safety and Health Literacy Among Agricultural Workers: A Systematic Review
Authors: Coman Madalina Adina , Marcu Andreea , Chereches Razvan Mircea , Leppälä Jarkko , Van Den Broucke Stephan
Published: February 2020

Health and safety education for farmers has the potential to increase the level of health, safety literacy, and thereby improve farmers’ health and quality of life. The aim of this paper is to provide a systematic review of the published literature documenting different educational interventions for agricultural workers that have the improvement of health and/or safety literacy as an outcome. A systematic search was conducted in PubMed, Embase, Scopus and PsycINFO databases for articles focusing on educational interventions for farmers’ health and safety. From the 3357 initial hits, 36 unduplicated records met the inclusion criteria. The articles included in the review used educational interventions for farmers with the purpose of preventing farm-induced diseases and injuries, increasing the health and well-being of farmers, and promoting good manufacturing practices. The educational approaches considered varied from lectures, videos, newsletters, games, and community fairs, to involving the community in designing the intervention and training farmers to deliver the intervention to the community. Interventions that used evidence-based theories, which took into account cultural aspects and individual factors, used biomarkers as a behavior change measurement, and involved the community in the development of the intervention had the best results in terms of behavior change. The strategies of educational interventions identified in this review that produced good results have the potential to inform future researchers and policy makers in the design and implementation of public health interventions, programs and policies to improve the health of farmers and their families.