bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Fostering Broad Oral Language Skills in Preschoolers from Low SES Background
Authors: Dicataldo Raffaele , Florit Elena , Roch Maja
Published: June 2020

Socioeconomic disparities increase the probability that children will enter school behind their more advantaged peers. Early intervention on language skills may enhance language and literacy outcomes, reduce the gap and, eventually, promote school readiness of low-SES (Socioeconomic Status) children. This study aimed to analyze the feasibility and effectiveness of a brief narrative-based intervention (treatment vs. control group) aimed to foster broad oral language skills in preschoolers (N = 69; Mean age = 5.5, SD = 4 months) coming from low-SES families. Moreover, it was analyzed whether children’s initial vocabulary mediates the intervention’s responsiveness. Results have shown that children in treatment group obtained greater gains than children in control group in almost all intervention-based measures. There is also some evidence for the generalizability of the intervention to other skills not directly trained during the intervention. Moreover, it was found that children’s initial vocabulary mediates the intervention’s responsiveness showing that children with high vocabulary made greater gains in higher-level components of language comprehension, whereas children with low vocabulary made higher gains in vocabulary. Taken together, our findings suggest that a relatively brief, but quite intensive narrative-based intervention, may produce improvements on broad oral language skills in preschoolers from low-SES backgrounds.
Silver Nano/Microparticles: Modification and Applications 2.0
Authors: Pham Xuan-Hung , Kim Jaehi , Jun Bong-Hyun
Published: June 2020

Currently, nano/microparticles are widely used in various fields [...]
CG Demethylation Leads to Sequence Mutations in an Anther Culture of Barley Due to the Presence of Cu, Ag Ions in the Medium and Culture Time
Authors: Bednarek Piotr T. , Orłowska Renata
Published: June 2020

During plant tissue cultures the changes affecting regenerants have a broad range of genetic and epigenetic implications. These changes can be seen at the DNA methylation and sequence variation levels. In light of the latest studies, DNA methylation change plays an essential role in determining doubled haploid (DH) regenerants. The present study focuses on exploring the relationship between DNA methylation in CG and CHG contexts, and sequence variation, mediated by microelements (CuSO4 and AgNO3) supplemented during barley anther incubation on induction medium. To estimate such a relationship, a mediation analysis was used based on the results previously obtained through metAFLP method. Here, an interaction was observed between DNA demethylation in the context of CG and the time of culture. It was also noted that the reduction in DNA methylation was associated with a total decrease in the amount of Cu and Ag ions in the induction medium. Moreover, the total increase in Cu and Ag ions increased sequence variation. The importance of the time of tissue culture in the light of the observed changes resulted from the grouping of regenerants obtained after incubation on the induction medium for 28 days. The present study demonstrated that under a relatively short time of tissue culture (28 days), the multiplication of the Cu2+ and Ag+ ion concentrations (‘Cu*Ag’) acts as a mediator of demethylation in CG context. Change (increase) in the demethylation in CG sequence results in the decrease of ‘Cu*Ag’, and that change induces sequence variation equal to the value of the indirect effect. Thus, Cu and Ag ions mediate sequence variation. It seems that the observed changes at the level of methylation and DNA sequence may accompany the transition from direct to indirect embryogenesis
General and Target-Specific DExD/H RNA Helicases in Eukaryotic Translation Initiation
Authors: Shen Leo , Pelletier Jerry
Published: June 2020

DExD (DDX)- and DExH (DHX)-box RNA helicases, named after their Asp-Glu-x-Asp/His motifs, are integral to almost all RNA metabolic processes in eukaryotic cells. They play myriad roles in processes ranging from transcription and mRNA-protein complex remodeling, to RNA decay and translation. This last facet, translation, is an intricate process that involves DDX/DHX helicases and presents a regulatory node that is highly targetable. Studies aimed at better understanding this family of conserved proteins have revealed insights into their structures, catalytic mechanisms, and biological roles. They have also led to the development of chemical modulators that seek to exploit their essential roles in diseases. Herein, we review the most recent insights on several general and target-specific DDX/DHX helicases in eukaryotic translation initiation.
Investigating the Role of PPARβ/δ in Retinal Vascular Remodeling Using Pparβ/δ-Deficient Mice
Authors: Ho Sze Yuan , Kwan Yuet Ping , Qiu Beiying , Tan Alison , Murray Hannah Louise , Barathi Veluchamy Amutha , Tan Nguan Soon , Cheung Chui Ming Gemmy , Wong Tien Yin , Wahli Walter , Wang Xiaomeng
Published: June 2020

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR)β/δ is a member of the nuclear receptor superfamily of transcription factors, which plays fundamental roles in cell proliferation and differentiation, inflammation, adipogenesis, and energy homeostasis. Previous studies demonstrated a reduced choroidal neovascularization (CNV) in Pparβ/δ-deficient mice. However, PPARβ/δ’s role in physiological blood vessel formation and vessel remodeling in the retina has yet to be established. Our study showed that PPARβ/δ is specifically required for disordered blood vessel formation in the retina. We further demonstrated an increased arteriovenous crossover and wider venous caliber in Pparβ/δ-haplodeficient mice. In summary, these results indicated a critical role of PPARβ/δ in pathological angiogenesis and blood vessel remodeling in the retina.
Quantitative Near-Infrared Imaging of Platelets in Platelet-Rich Fibrin (PRF) Matrices: Comparative Analysis of Bio-PRF, Leukocyte-Rich PRF, Advanced-PRF and Concentrated Growth Factors
Authors: Aizawa Hachidai , Tsujino Tetsuhiro , Watanabe Taisuke , Isobe Kazushige , Kitamura Yutaka , Sato Atsushi , Yamaguchi Sadahiro , Okudera Hajime , Okuda Kazuhiro , Kawase Tomoyuki
Published: June 2020

Platelet-rich fibrin (PRF) is a fibrin matrix enriched with platelets. The PRF matrix is thought to form a steep gradient of platelet density around the region corresponding to the buffy coat in anticoagulated blood samples. However, this phenomenon has not yet been proven. To visualize platelet distribution in PRF in a non-invasive manner, we utilized near-infrared (NIR) imaging technology. In this study, four types of PRF matrices, bio-PRF, advanced-PRF (A-PRF), leukocyte-rich PRF (L-PRF), and concentrated growth factors (CGF) were compared. Blood samples collected from healthy, non-smoking volunteers were immediately centrifuged using four different protocols in glass tubes. The fixed PRF matrices were sagittally divided into two equal parts, and subjected to modified immunohistochemical examination. After probing with NIR dye-conjugated secondary antibody, the CD41+ platelets were visualized using an NIR imager. In L-PRF and CGF, platelets were distributed mainly on and below the distal surface, while in bio-PRF and A-PRF, platelet distribution was widespread and homogenous. Among three regions of the PRF matrices (upper, middle, and lower), no significant differences were observed. These findings suggest that platelets aggregate on polymerizing fibrin fibers and float up as a PRF matrix into the plasma fraction, amending the current “gradient” theory of platelet distribution.
Modelling Spatial Scales of Dose Deposition and Radiolysis Products from Gold Nanoparticle Sensitisation of Proton Therapy in A Cell: From Intracellular Structures to Adjacent Cells
Authors: Peukert Dylan , Kempson Ivan , Douglass Michael , Bezak Eva
Published: June 2020

Gold nanoparticle (GNP) enhanced proton therapy is a promising treatment concept offering increased therapeutic effect. It has been demonstrated in experiments which provided indications that reactive species play a major role. Simulations of the radiolysis yield from GNPs within a cell model were performed using the Geant4 toolkit. The effect of GNP cluster size, distribution and number, cell and nuclear membrane absorption and intercellular yields were evaluated. It was found that clusters distributed near the nucleus increased the nucleus yield by 91% while reducing the cytoplasm yield by 7% relative to a disperse distribution. Smaller cluster sizes increased the yield, 200 nm clusters had nucleus and cytoplasm yields 117% and 35% greater than 500 nm clusters. Nuclear membrane absorption reduced the cytoplasm and nucleus yields by 8% and 35% respectively to a permeable membrane. Intercellular enhancement was negligible. Smaller GNP clusters delivered near sub-cellular targets maximise radiosensitisation. Nuclear membrane absorption reduces the nucleus yield, but can damage the membrane providing another potential pathway for biological effect. The minimal effect on adjacent cells demonstrates that GNPs provide a targeted enhancement for proton therapy, only effecting cells with GNPs internalised. The provided quantitative data will aid further experiments and clinical trials.
Role of Dendritic Cells in Inflammation
Authors: Chieppa Marcello
Published: June 2020

From the first manuscript describing “A Novel Cell Type in Peripheral Lymphoid Organs of Mice” [...]
Progressive Skeletal Muscle Atrophy in Muscular Dystrophies: A Role for Toll-Like Receptor-Signaling in Disease Pathogenesis
Authors: De Paepe Boel
Published: June 2020

Muscle atrophy is an active process controlled by specific transcriptional programs, in which muscle mass is lost by increased protein degradation and/or decreased protein synthesis. This review explores the involvement of Toll-like receptors (TLRs) in the muscle atrophy as it is observed in muscular dystrophies, disorders characterized by successive bouts of muscle fiber degeneration and regeneration in an attempt to repair contraction-induced damage. TLRs are defense receptors that detect infection and recognize self-molecules released from damaged cells. In muscular dystrophies, these receptors become over-active, and are firmly involved in the sustained chronic inflammation exhibited by the muscle tissue, via their induction of pro-inflammatory cytokine expression. Taming the exaggerated activation of TLR2/4 and TLR7/8/9, and their downstream effectors in particular, comes forward as a therapeutic strategy with potential to slow down disease progression.
Extracellular Vesicles in Cancer Metastasis: Potential as Therapeutic Targets and Materials
Authors: Kogure Akiko , Yoshioka Yusuke , Ochiya Takahiro
Published: June 2020

The vast majority of cancer-related deaths are due to metastasis of the primary tumor that develops years to decades after apparent cures. However, it is difficult to effectively prevent or treat cancer metastasis. Recent studies have shown that communication between cancer cells and surrounding cells enables cancer progression and metastasis. The comprehensive term “extracellular vesicles” (EVs) describes lipid bilayer vesicles that are secreted to outside cells; EVs are well-established mediators of cell-to-cell communication. EVs participate in cancer progression and metastasis by transferring bioactive molecules, such as proteins and RNAs, including microRNAs (miRNAs), between cancer and various cells in local and distant microenvironments. Clinically, EVs functioning as diagnostic biomarkers, therapeutic targets, or even as anticancer drug-delivery vehicles have been emphasized as a result of their unique biological and pathophysiological characteristics. The potential therapeutic effects of EVs in cancer treatment are rapidly emerging and represent a new and important area of research. This review focuses on the therapeutic potential of EVs and discusses their utility for the inhibition of cancer progression, including metastasis.
Get out of Church! The Case of #EmptyThePews: Twitter Hashtag between Resistance and Community
Authors: Tsuria Ruth
Published: June 2020

This study explores the relationship between politics and religion, resistance and community, on social media through the case study of #EmptyThePews. #EmptyThePews was created in August 2017 after the events in Charlottesville, calling users who attend Trump-supporting churches to leave those churches as a form of protest. What starts out as a call of action, becomes a polysemic online signifier for sharing stories of religious abuse, and thus a format for identity and community construction. An analysis of 250 tweets with #EmptyThePews revels five different uses of the hashtag, including highlighting racial, gender, and sexual identity-based discrimination; sharing stories of religious or sexual abuse; constructing a community and identity; and actively calling for people to empty churches. This Twitter hashtag did not facilitate an active movement of people leaving churches, but instead created a Twitter community. Giving voice and space to this community, however, can be seen as a form of resistance.
Parameter Identification of Fiber Orientation Models Based on Direct Fiber Simulation with Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics
Authors: Meyer Nils , Saburow Oleg , Hohberg Martin , Hrymak Andrew N. , Henning Frank , Kärger Luise
Published: June 2020

The behavior of fiber suspensions during flow is of fundamental importance to the process simulation of discontinuous fiber reinforced plastics. However, the direct simulation of flexible fibers and fluid poses a challenging two-way coupled fluid-structure interaction problem. Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics (SPH) offers a natural way to treat such interactions. Hence, this work utilizes SPH and a bead chain model to compute a shear flow of fiber suspensions. The introduction of a novel viscous surface traction term is key to achieve full agreement with Jeffery’s equation. Careful modelling of contact interactions between fibers is introduced to model suspensions in the non-dilute regime. Finally, parameters of the Reduced-Strain Closure (RSC) orientation model are identified using ensemble averages of multiple SPH simulations implemented in PySPH and show good agreement with literature data.
Silicon Nitride-Based Composites with the Addition of CNTs—A Review of Recent Progress, Challenges, and Future Prospects
Authors: Qadir Awais , Pinke Péter , Dusza Ján
Published: June 2020

In this overview, the results published to date concerning the development, processing, microstructure characteristics, and properties of silicon nitride/carbon nanotube (Si3N4 + CNTs) composites are summarized. The influence of the different processing routes on the microstructure development of the Si3N4 + CNTs is discussed. The effects of the CNTs addition on the mechanical properties—hardness, bending strength and fracture toughness—and tribological characteristics—wear rate and coefficient of friction—are summarized. The characteristic defects, fracture origins, toughening and damage mechanisms occurring during the testing are described. The influence of the CNTs’ addition on the thermal and functional properties of the composites is discussed as well. New trends in the development of these composites with significant potential for future applications are outlined.
Changes in the Bristle Stiffness of Polybutylene Terephthalate Manual Toothbrushes over 3 Months: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Kaneyasu Yoshino , Shigeishi Hideo , Ohta Kouji , Sugiyama Masaru
Published: June 2020

We previously reported that polybutylene terephthalate (PBT) toothbrushes become less effective for plaque removal after two months of use. However, it remains unknown how the bristle stiffness of PBT toothbrushes changes after several months of use. We performed a single-center randomized controlled trial to evaluate the bristle stiffness and bristle splaying of soft and medium manual toothbrushes among dental and medical students of Hiroshima University. Subjects were 80 participants who met the criteria. Participants were randomly assigned to the soft toothbrush group (n = 40) or the medium toothbrush group (n = 40). We collected toothbrushes immediately after first use (T0), after one month of use (T1), after two months of use (T2), and after three months of use (T3). Bristle stiffness was measured according to the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 22254. The mean bristle stiffness (N/cm2) of soft and medium toothbrushes was significantly lower at T2 and T3 than at T0 (T2 vs. T0, soft; 3.63 vs. 3.89, P < 0.01 and medium; 4.33 vs. 4.52, P < 0.05, respectively, and T3 vs. T0, 3.62 vs. 3.89, p < 0.01 and 4.18 vs. 4.52, p < 0.001, respectively). Bristle stiffness was significantly reduced in soft and medium PBT toothbrushes after two months of use.
Development of Na0.5CoO2 Thick Film Prepared by Screen-Printing Process
Authors: Tsuruta Akihiro , Tanaka Miki , Mikami Masashi , Kinemuchi Yoshiaki , Masuda Yoshitake , Shin Woosuck , Terasaki Ichiro
Published: June 2020

The Na0.5Co0.9Cu0.1O2 thick film with the same thermoelectric performance as a Na0.5CoO2 bulk was formed on an alumina substrate by the screen-printing process. The power factor exceeded 0.3 mW/K2m, with the resistivity of 3.8 mΩcm and the thermopower of 108 μV/K. The thick film without any cracks strongly adhered to the substrate. The high-quality thick film had been realized through the carefully designed and improved process, mixing NaCl to promote the anisotropic sintering of Na0.5Co0.9Cu0.1O2, inserting a CuO interlayer to adhere the film and substrate, and Co–Cu substituting Cu for Co to control the sintering temperature.
Compressible, Flame-Resistant and Thermally Insulating Fiber-Reinforced Polybenzoxazine Aerogel Composites
Authors: Xiao Yunyun , Li Liangjun , Liu Fengqi , Zhang Sizhao , Feng Junzong , Jiang Yonggang , Feng Jian
Published: June 2020

The preparation of novel polymer aerogel materials with enhanced flame-retardancy, superior thermal insulation and mechanical strength is of great practical significance in energy-savings and fire-prevention for buildings. Herein, we reported the fiber-reinforced polybenzoxazine (PBO) aerogel composites with flame retardance and thermal insulation, which were prepared under room temperature and atmospheric pressure, and using 4,4′-diaminodiphenlymethane (MDA) benzoxazine monomer as the raw material and oxalic acid (OA) as the catalyst. Several outstanding attributes were achieved in the aerogel composites, such as relatively low thermal conductivity (0.069 W/m·K at 105 Pa, 0.031 W/m·K at 5 Pa), high limiting oxygen index (LOI) up to 32.5, and enhanced mechanical properties. It can be compressed to more than 80% of the deformation without obvious cracks, and shows high compressive modulus and specific modulus (20.69 MPa and 5.05 × 104 N·m/Kg, respectively). All the excellent comprehensive properties mean that fiber-reinforced PBO aerogel composites have broad application prospects in the fields of flame retardancy and thermal insulation.
Tuning the Integration Rate of Ce(Ln)O2 Nanoclusters into Nanoparticulated ZrO2 Supports: When the Cation Size Matters
Authors: Barroso-Bogeat Adrián , Daza Raposo Iván , Blanco Ginesa , Pintado José María
Published: June 2020

Three nanostructured catalysts with low total rare earth elements (REEs) content (i.e., 15 mol.%) were prepared by depositing CeO2 or Ln3+-doped CeO2 (Ln3+ = Y3+ or La3+; Ln/Ce = 0.15) on the surface of ZrO2 nanoparticles, as nanometre-thick, fluorite-type clusters. These samples were subjected to successive reduction treatments at increasing temperatures, from 500 to 900 °C. A characterisation study by XPS was performed to clarify the diffusion process of cerium into the bulk of ZrO2 crystallites upon reduction to yield CexZr1−xO2−δ surface phases, and the influence of the incorporation of non-reducible trivalent REE cations, with sizes smaller (Y3+) and larger (La3+) than Ce4+ and Ce3+. For all nanocatalysts, a reduction treatment at a minimum temperature of 900 °C was required to accomplish a significant cerium diffusion. Notwithstanding, the size of the dopant noticeably affected the extent of this diffusion process. As compared to the undoped ZrO2-CeO2 sample, Y3+ incorporation slightly hindered the cerium diffusion, while the opposite effect was found for the La3+-doped nanocatalyst. Furthermore, such differences in cerium diffusion led to changes in the surface and nanostructural features of the oxides, which were tentatively correlated with the redox response of the thermally aged samples.
Burial Depth Effect of Crack on the Lcr Wave Acoustoelastic Coefficient for Stress Measurement of Laser Cladding Coating
Authors: Liu Bin , Zeng Zhihao , Gu Jiayang , Chen Shujin , He Peng , Fang Jinxiang
Published: June 2020

In this paper, the influence of burial depth of crack on stress measurement of laser cladding coating with the critical refracted longitudinal wave (Lcr wave) was discussed based on the Lcr wave acoustoelastic effect. The regular rectangular slots with different depths that were used to simulate the burial crack in coating was based on the equivalent theory. The experimental system including an ultrasonic wave generator, digital oscilloscope (2.5 GHz sampling rate), and two Lcr wave transducers (2.5 MHz center frequency) was used to collect the Lcr wave under different tensile loads, and the Lcr wave was denoised by using wavelet analysis technology, then the fracture morphology was observed using SEM. The results show that after the denoising by wavelet analysis technology, the signal-to-noise ratio of Lcr wave becomes bigger and the mean square deviation of Lcr wave becomes smaller. When the tensile load is within the turning point load, the difference in time of flight between Lcr wave increases linearly as the tensile load increases, and the deviation of the experimental results becomes obvious as the tensile load increases. When the tensile load is the same, as the burial depth of the slot increases, the nominal Lcr wave acoustoelastic coefficient decreases and tends to be stable gradually. At last, the experimental results are discussed based on the Lcr wave acoustoelastic effect and deformation theory, and it is analyzed that the uneven deformation caused by the interface in coating, anisotropic microstructure, and the burial crack is considered as the main reason.
In Vitro and In Vivo Assessment of the Efficacy of Bromoageliferin, an Alkaloid Isolated from the Sponge Agelas dilatata, against Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Authors: Pech-Puch Dawrin , Pérez-Povedano Mar , Martinez-Guitian Marta , Lasarte-Monterrubio Cristina , Vázquez-Ucha Juan Carlos , Bou Germán , Rodríguez Jaime , Beceiro Alejandro , Jimenez Carlos
Published: June 2020

The pyrrole-imidazoles, a group of alkaloids commonly found in marine sponges belonging to the genus Agelas, display a wide range of biological activities. Herein, we report the first chemical study of the secondary metabolites of the sponge A. dilatata from the coastal area of the Yucatan Peninsula (Mexico). In this study, we isolated eight known alkaloids from an organic extract of the sponge. We used NMR and MS analysis and comparison with existing databases to characterize the alkaloids: ageliferin (1), bromoageliferin (2), dibromoageliferin (3), sceptrin (4), nakamuric acid (5), 4-bromo-1H-pyrrole-2-carboxylic acid (6), 4,5-dibromopyrrole-2-carboxylic acid (7) and 3,7-dimethylisoguanine (8). We also evaluated, for the first time, the activity of these alkaloids against the most problematic multidrug-resistant (MDR) pathogens, i.e., the Gram-negative bacteria Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella pneumoniae and Acinetobacter baumannii. Bromoageliferin (2) displayed significant activity against P. aeruginosa. Comparison of the antibacterial activity of ageliferins 1–3 (of similar structure) against P. aeruginosa revealed some relationship between structure and activity. Furthermore, in in vitro assays, 2 inhibited growth and biofilm production in clinical strains of P. aeruginosa. Moreover, 2 increased the survival time in an in vivo Galleria mellonella model of infection. The findings confirm bromoageliferin (2) as a potential lead for designing new antibacterial drugs.
Association between Osteoporosis and Cognitive Impairment during the Acute and Recovery Phases of Ischemic Stroke
Authors: Lee Sang-Hwa , Park So Young , Jang Min Uk , Kim Yerim , Lee Jungyoup , Kim Chulho , Kim Yeo Jin , Sohn Jong-Hee
Published: June 2020

Background and objectives: Little is known about the effect of osteoporosis on cognitive function in the acute and recovery phases of stroke. Early bone mineral density assessments during acute stroke may be a useful marker of cognitive function. We evaluated the effect of osteoporosis on cognitive function at the early and recovery phase of ischemic stroke in patients aged >50 years. Materials and Methods: We retrospectively examined consecutive patients with acute stroke hospitalized between 2016 and 2018. Osteoporosis was defined as a T-score <–2.5 for the femoral neck or lumbar spine bone mineral density. The primary outcome was cognitive impairment measured by the Korean Mini-Mental State Examination in the acute phase and recovery phase of ischemic stroke. Results: Of the 260 included subjects (107 men and 153 women), 70 (26.9%) had osteoporosis. Cognitive impairment was more severe in the osteoporosis group than in the non-osteoporosis group (30.5% versus 47.1%, p = 0.001). After the recovery phase of stroke, the proportion of patients with cognitive impairment remained higher in the osteoporosis group. The multivariate analysis revealed a correlation between a low femoral neck bone mineral density and severe cognitive impairment in the acute and recovery phases of stroke (adjusted odds ratio (OR) 4.09, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.11–15.14 in the acute phase, and adjusted OR 11.17, 95% CI 1.12–110.98 in the recovery phase). Conclusions: Low bone mineral density is associated with poor cognitive function in the acute and recovery phases of stroke.
Optimization of a Digestion Method to Determine Total Mercury in Fish Tissue by Cold Vapor Atomic Fluorescence Spectrophotometry
Authors: Yánez-Jácome Gabriela S. , Romero-Estévez David , Navarrete Hugo , Simbaña-Farinango Karina , Vélez-Terreros Pamela Y
Published: June 2020

Several microwave-assisted digestion methods were tested at the Centro de Estudios Aplicados en Química laboratory in Quito, Ecuador, to determine the accuracy and performance efficiency of the mineralization process for the determination of total mercury in fish tissue by cold vapor atomic fluorescence spectrophotometry. The use of MARSEasyPrep high-pressure vessels, low amounts of reagents (1 cm3 HNO3, 1 cm3 H2O2, and 1 cm3 HClO4), an irradiation temperature of 210 °C, and 35 min of mineralization time resulted in accurate performance, with recoveries of certified reference material DORM-4 between 90.1% and 105.8%. This is better than the Association of Official Analytical Chemists 2015.01 method, which has a reported accuracy of 81%. The repeatability precision and intermediate precision were established at three concentration levels (0.167, 0.500, and 0.833 mg·kg−1) and expressed as the percentage of the relative standard deviation ranging from 1.5% to 3.0% and 1.7% to 4.2%, respectively. Further, the method was satisfactorily applied to analyze fortified samples of tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus), with recoveries ranging from 98.3% to 104.3%. The instrumental limits of detection and quantification were 0.118 µg·dm−3 and 0.394 µg·dm−3, respectively.
Functionalization of Polymers and Nanomaterials for Biomedical Applications: Antimicrobial Platforms and Drug Carriers
Authors: Delfi Masoud , Ghomi Matineh , Zarrabi Ali , Mohammadinejad Reza , Taraghdari Zahra Baghban , Ashrafizadeh Milad , Zare Ehsan Nazarzadeh , Agarwal Tarun , Padil Vinod V. T. , Mokhtari Babak , Rossi Filippo , Perale Giuseppe , Sillanpaa Mika , Borzacchiello Assunta , Kumar Maiti Tapas , Makvandi Pooyan
Published: June 2020

The use of polymers and nanomaterials has vastly grown for industrial and biomedical sectors during last years. Before any designation or selection of polymers and their nanocomposites, it is vital to recognize the targeted applications which require these platforms to be modified. Surface functionalization to introduce the desired type and quantity of reactive functional groups to target a cell or tissue in human body is a pivotal approach to improve the physicochemical and biological properties of these materials. Herein, advances in the functionalized polymer and nanomaterials surfaces are highlighted along with their applications in biomedical fields, e.g., antimicrobial therapy and drug delivery.
An FMCW Radar for Localization and Vital Signs Measurement for Different Chest Orientations
Authors: Sacco Giulia , Piuzzi Emanuele , Pittella Erika , Pisa Stefano
Published: June 2020

This work tests the ability of a frequency-modulated continuous wave (FMCW) radar to measure the respiratory rate and the heartbeat of a subject in challenging indoor scenarios. To simulate a realistic configuration for ambient assisted living (AAL) applications, in which the thorax orientation towards the antenna is typically unknown, four different scenarios were considered. Measurements were performed on five volunteers positioned with the chest, left, back, and right side facing the antenna, respectively. The 5.8 GHz radar and the antennas used for the measurements were suitably designed for the considered application. To obtain a low cost and compact system, series-fed arrays were preferred over other antenna topologies. The geometry of the patches was opportunely shaped to reduce the side lobe level (SLL) and increase the bandwidth, thus ensuring good system performances. In all scenarios, the vital signs extracted from the radar signal were compared with the ones collected by a photoplethysmograph and a respiratory belt, used as references. A statistical analysis of the measured data on the different subjects and orientations was performed, showing that the radar was able to measure with high accuracy both the respiratory rate and the heartbeat in all considered configurations.
Estimation of Blockage Position, Geometry, and Solidity in Molten Salt Pipelines
Authors: Pernía Alberto M. , Mayor Héctor Andrés , Prieto Miguel J. , Villegas Pedro J. , Martínez Juan Á. , Martín-Ramos Juan A.
Published: June 2020

In solar thermal plants, the use of molten salt as a heat transfer fluid is an advantageous alternative, although it has some disadvantages such as the formation of salt plugs in the pipes due to possible stratification of the salt or its solidification. The aim of this study was to implement an electromagnetic acoustic transducer (EMAT) not only capable of identifying the position of the plug, but also of determining whether the plug blocks the entire conductive surface or, on the contrary, is partial, allowing the fluid to pass through a smaller section. The proposed transducer is intended to be minimally invasive, allowing it to be used in the same way as a temperature probe. To do so, it creates torsional waves in the pipe, which are then used for a combination of measurements: pulse-echo and attenuation of the acoustic waves. Two materials with different densities (silicone and cement) were used in the tests carried out, which made it possible to check that for a given size of blockage, it is possible to identify the type of material from which it is formed.
Metrology for Agriculture and Forestry 2019
Authors: Chirico Giovanni Battista , Bonavolontà Francesco
Published: June 2020

This Special Issue is focused on recent advances in integrated monitoring and modelling technologies for agriculture and forestry. The selected contributions cover a wide range of topics, including wireless field sensing systems, satellite and UAV remote sensing, ICT and IoT applications for smart farming.
Real-Time Prediction of Rate of Penetration in S-Shape Well Profile Using Artificial Intelligence Models
Authors: Elkatatny Salaheldin
Published: June 2020

Rate of penetration (ROP) is defined as the amount of removed rock per unit area per unit time. It is affected by several factors which are inseparable. Current established models for determining the ROP include the basic mathematical and physics equations, as well as the use of empirical correlations. Given the complexity of the drilling process, the use of artificial intelligence (AI) has been a game changer because most of the unknown parameters can now be accounted for entirely at the modeling process. The objective of this paper is to evaluate the ability of the optimized adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system (ANFIS), functional neural networks (FN), random forests (RF), and support vector machine (SVM) models to predict the ROP in real time from the drilling parameters in the S-shape well profile, for the first time, based on the drilling parameters of weight on bit (WOB), drillstring rotation (DSR), torque (T), pumping rate (GPM), and standpipe pressure (SPP). Data from two wells were used for training and testing (Well A and Well B with 4012 and 1717 data points, respectively), and one well for validation (Well C) with 2500 data points. Well A and Well B data were combined in the training-testing phase and were randomly divided into a 70:30 ratio for training/testing. The results showed that the ANFIS, FN, and RF models could effectively predict the ROP from the drilling parameters in the S-shape well profile, while the accuracy of the SVM model was very low. The ANFIS, FN, and RF models predicted the ROP for the training data with average absolute percentage errors (AAPEs) of 9.50%, 13.44%, and 3.25%, respectively. For the testing data, the ANFIS, FN, and RF models predicted the ROP with AAPEs of 9.57%, 11.20%, and 8.37%, respectively. The ANFIS, FN, and RF models overperformed the available empirical correlations for ROP prediction. The ANFIS model estimated the ROP for the validation data with an AAPE of 9.06%, whereas the FN model predicted the ROP with an AAPE of 10.48%, and the RF model predicted the ROP with an AAPE of 10.43%. The SVM model predicted the ROP for the validation data with a very high AAPE of 30.05% and all empirical correlations predicted the ROP with AAPEs greater than 25%.
Optimal Use of Titanium Dioxide Colourant to Enable Water Surfaces to Be Measured by Kinect Sensors
Authors: Nichols Andrew , Rubinato Matteo , Cho Yun-Hang , Wu Jiayi
Published: June 2020

Recent studies have sought to use Microsoft Kinect sensors to measure water surface shape in steady flows or transient flow processes. They have typically employed a white colourant, usually titanium dioxide (TiO2), in order to make the surface opaque and visible to the infrared-based sensors. However, the ability of Kinect Version 1 (KV1) and Kinect Version 2 (KV2) sensors to measure the deformation of ostensibly smooth reflective surfaces has never been compared, with most previous studies using a V1 sensor with no justification. Furthermore, the TiO2 has so far been used liberally and indeterminately, with no consideration as to the type of TiO2 to use, the optimal proportion to use or the effect it may have on the very fluid properties being measured. This paper examines the use of anatase TiO2 with two generations of the Microsoft Kinect sensor. Assessing their performance for an ideal flat surface, it is shown that surface data obtained using the V2 sensor is substantially more reliable. Further, the minimum quantity of colourant to enable reliable surface recognition is discovered (0.01% by mass). A stability test shows that the colourant has a strong tendency to settle over time, meaning the fluid must remain well mixed, having serious implications for studies with low Reynolds number or transient processes such as dam breaks. Furthermore, the effect of TiO2 concentration on fluid properties is examined. It is shown that previous studies using concentrations in excess of 1% may have significantly affected the viscosity and surface tension, and thus the surface behaviour being measured. It is therefore recommended that future studies employ the V2 sensor with an anatase TiO2 concentration of 0.01%, and that the effects of TiO2 on the fluid properties are properly quantified before any TiO2-Kinect-derived dataset can be of practical use, for example, in validation of numerical models or in physical models of hydrodynamic processes.
Mechanical Properties and Fracture Behavior of Crumb Rubber Basalt Fiber Concrete Based on Acoustic Emission Technology
Authors: Liu Hanbing , Li Wenjun , Luo Guobao , Liu Shiqi , Lyu Xiang
Published: June 2020

Basalt fiber and crumb rubber, as excellent road material modifiers, have great advantages in improving the mechanical properties and fracture behavior of concrete. Acoustic emission (AE) is a nondestructive testing and real-time monitoring technique used to characterize the fracture behavior of concrete specimens. The object of this paper is to investigate the effects of crumb rubber replacement rate, basalt fiber content and water–binder ratio on the mechanical properties and fracture behavior of crumb rubber basalt fiber concrete (CRBFC) based on orthogonal test. The fracture behavior of a CRBFC specimen under three-point flexural conditions was monitored by AE technology and the relative cumulative hit (RCH) was defined to characterize the internal damage degree of CRBFC. The experimental results showed that, considering the mechanical strength and fracture damage behavior of CRBFC, the optimal crumb rubber replacement rate, basalt fiber content and water–binder ratio are 10%, 2 kg/m3 and 0.46, respectively. In addition, it was found that AE parameters can effectively characterize the fracture behavior of CRBFC. The fracture stages of CRBFC can be divided according to the cumulative AE hits and counts. AE amplitude value can be used as an early warning of CRBFC specimen fracture. Moreover, the fracture mode can be identified by RA and average frequency (AF) values variation during the loading process.
A Multitasking-Oriented Robot Arm Motion Planning Scheme Based on Deep Reinforcement Learning and Twin Synchro-Control
Authors: Liu Chuzhao , Gao Junyao , Bi Yuanzhen , Shi Xuanyang , Tian Dingkui
Published: June 2020

Humanoid robots are equipped with humanoid arms to make them more acceptable to the general public. Humanoid robots are a great challenge in robotics. The concept of digital twin technology complies with the guiding ideology of not only Industry 4.0, but also Made in China 2025. This paper proposes a scheme that combines deep reinforcement learning (DRL) with digital twin technology for controlling humanoid robot arms. For rapid and stable motion planning for humanoid robots, multitasking-oriented training using the twin synchro-control (TSC) scheme with DRL is proposed. For switching between tasks, the robot arm training must be quick and diverse. In this work, an approach for obtaining a priori knowledge as input to DRL is developed and verified using simulations. Two simple examples are developed in a simulation environment. We developed a data acquisition system to generate angle data efficiently and automatically. These data are used to improve the reward function of the deep deterministic policy gradient (DDPG) and quickly train the robot for a task. The approach is applied to a model of the humanoid robot BHR-6, a humanoid robot with multiple-motion mode and a sophisticated mechanical structure. Using the policies trained in the simulations, the humanoid robot can perform tasks that are not possible to train with existing methods. The training is fast and allows the robot to perform multiple tasks. Our approach utilizes human joint angle data collected by the data acquisition system to solve the problem of a sparse reward in DRL for two simple tasks. A comparison with simulation results for controllers trained using the vanilla DDPG show that the designed controller developed using the DDPG with the TSC scheme have great advantages in terms of learning stability and convergence speed.
Image-Processing-Based Low-Cost Fault Detection Solution for End-of-Line ECUs in Automotive Manufacturing
Authors: Korodi Adrian , Anitei Denis , Boitor Alexandru , Silea Ioan
Published: June 2020

The manufacturing industry is continuously researching and developing strategies and solutions to increase product quality and to decrease production time and costs. The approach is always targeting more automated, traceable, and supervised production, minimizing the impact of the human factor. In the automotive industry, the Electronic Control Unit (ECU) manufacturing ends with complex testing, the End-of-Line (EoL) products being afterwards sent to client companies. This paper proposes an image-processing-based low-cost fault detection (IP-LC-FD) solution for the EoL ECUs, aiming for high-quality and fast detection. The IP-LC-FD solution approaches the problem of determining, on the manufacturing line, the correct mounting of the pins in the locations of each connector of the ECU module, respectively, other defects as missing or extra pins, damaged clips, or surface cracks. The IP-LC-FD system is a hardware–software structure, based on Raspberry Pi microcomputers, Pi cameras, respectively, Python and OpenCV environments. This paper presents the two main stages of the research, the experimental model, and the prototype. The rapid integration into the production line represented an important goal, meaning the accomplishment of the specific hard acceptance requirements regarding both performance and functionality. The solution was implemented and tested as an experimental model and prototype in a real industrial environment, proving excellent results.
Application-Aware SDN-Based Iterative Reconfigurable Routing Protocol for Internet of Things (IoT)
Authors: Shafique Ayesha , Cao Guo , Aslam Muhammad , Asad Muhammad , Ye Dengpan
Published: June 2020

The central intelligence offered by Software Defined Networking (SDN) promise the smart and reliable reconfiguration which enables the scalability of dynamic enterprise networks. The decoupled forwarding plane and control plane of SDN infrastructure is a key feature that supports the SDN controller to extract the physical network topology information at runtime to formulate network reconfigurations. This SDN-based network reconfiguration enables application-aware routing capability for Internet of Thing (IoT). However, these IoT enabled SDN-based routing protocols face some performance limitations in iterative reconfiguration process due to complete centralized path selection mechanism To this end, in this paper, we propose SDN-Based Application-aware Distributed adaptive Flow Iterative Reconfiguring (SADFIR) routing protocol. The proposed routing protocol enables the distributed SDN iterative solver controller to maintain the load-balancing between flow reconfiguration and flow allocation cost. In particular, the proposed routing protocol of SADFIR implements multiple SDN controllers that collaborate with network devices at forwarding plane to develop appropriate clustering strategy for routing the sensed information. This distributed SDN controllers are assisted to clustering topology that successfully map the residual network resources and also enable unique multi-hop application-aware data transmission. In addition, the proposed SADFIR monitor the iterative reconfiguration settings according to the network traffic of heterogeneity-aware network devices. The simulation experiments are conducted in comparison with the state-of-the-art routing protocols which demonstrates that SADFIR is heterogeneity-aware which is able to adopt the different scales of network with maximum network lifetime.
Use of Sensors and Analyzers Data for Load Forecasting: A Two Stage Approach
Authors: Ramos Daniel , Teixeira Brigida , Faria Pedro , Gomes Luis , Abrishambaf Omid , Vale Zita
Published: June 2020

The increase in sensors in buildings and home automation bring potential information to improve buildings’ energy management. One promissory field is load forecasting, where the inclusion of other sensors’ data in addition to load consumption may improve the forecasting results. However, an adequate selection of sensor parameters to use as input to the load forecasting should be done. In this paper, a methodology is proposed that includes a two-stage approach to improve the use of sensor data for a specific building. As an innovation, in the first stage, the relevant sensor data is selected for each specific building, while in the second stage, the load forecast is updated according to the actual forecast error. When a certain error is reached, the forecasting algorithm (Artificial Neural Network or K-Nearest Neighbors) is trained with the most recent data instead of training the algorithm every time. Data collection is provided by a prototype of agent-based sensors developed by the authors in order to support the proposed methodology. In this case study, data over a period of six months with five-minute time intervals regarding eight types of sensors are used. These data have been adapted from an office building to illustrate the advantages of the proposed methodology.
Gait Analysis in Parkinson’s Disease: An Overview of the Most Accurate Markers for Diagnosis and Symptoms Monitoring
Authors: di Biase Lazzaro , Di Santo Alessandro , Caminiti Maria Letizia , De Liso Alfredo , Shah Syed Ahmar , Ricci Lorenzo , Di Lazzaro Vincenzo
Published: June 2020

The aim of this review is to summarize that most relevant technologies used to evaluate gait features and the associated algorithms that have shown promise to aid diagnosis and symptom monitoring in Parkinson’s disease (PD) patients. We searched PubMed for studies published between 1 January 2005, and 30 August 2019 on gait analysis in PD. We selected studies that have either used technologies to distinguish PD patients from healthy subjects or stratified PD patients according to motor status or disease stages. Only those studies that reported at least 80% sensitivity and specificity were included. Gait analysis algorithms used for diagnosis showed a balanced accuracy range of 83.5–100%, sensitivity of 83.3–100% and specificity of 82–100%. For motor status discrimination the gait analysis algorithms showed a balanced accuracy range of 90.8–100%, sensitivity of 92.5–100% and specificity of 88–100%. Despite a large number of studies on the topic of objective gait analysis in PD, only a limited number of studies reported algorithms that were accurate enough deemed to be useful for diagnosis and symptoms monitoring. In addition, none of the reported algorithms and technologies has been validated in large scale, independent studies.
First-Step PPG Signal Analysis for Evaluation of Stress Induced during Scanning in the Open-Air MRI Device
Authors: Přibil Jiří , Přibilová Anna , Frollo Ivan
Published: June 2020

The paper describes first-step experiments with parallel measurement of cardiovascular parameters using a photoplethysmographic optical sensor and standard portable blood pressure monitors in different situations of body relaxation and stimulation. Changes in the human cardiovascular system are mainly manifested by differences in the Oliva–Roztocil index, the instantaneous heart rate, and variations in blood pressure. In the auxiliary experiments, different physiological and psychological stimuli were applied to test whether relaxation and activation phases produce different measured parameters suitable for further statistical analysis and processing. The principal investigation is aimed at analysis of vibration and acoustic noise impact on a physiological and psychological state of a person lying inside the low-field open-air magnetic resonance imager (MRI). The obtained results will be used to analyze, quantify, and suppress a possible stress factor that has an impact on the speech signal recorded during scanning in the MRI device in the research aimed at 3D modeling of the human vocal tract.