bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Gene Expression of Putative Pathogenicity-Related Genes in Verticillium dahliae in Response to Elicitation with Potato Extracts and during Infection Using Quantitative Real-Time PCR
Authors: Zhu Xiaohan , Arfaoui Arbia , Sayari Mohammad , Adam Lorne R. , Daayf Fouad
Published: April 2021

Quantitative real-time PCR was used to monitor the expression of 15 Verticillium dahliae’s genes, putatively involved in pathogenicity, highly (HAV) and weakly aggressive (WAV) V. dahliae isolates after either (i) elicitation with potato leaf, stem, or root extracts, or (ii) inoculation of potato detached petioles. These genes, i.e., coding for Ras-GAP-like protein, serine/threonine protein kinase, Ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme variant-MMS2, NADH-ubiquinone oxidoreductase, Thioredoxin, Pyruvate dehydrogenase E1 VdPDHB, myo-inositol 2-dehydrogenase, and HAD-superfamily hydrolase, showed differential upregulation in the HAV versus WAV isolate in response to plant extracts or after inoculation of potato leaf petioles. This suggests their potential involvement in the observed differential aggressiveness between isolates. However, other genes like glucan endo-1,3-alpha-glucosidase and nuc-1 negative regulatory protein VdPREG showed higher activity in the WAV than in the HAV in response to potato extracts and/or during infection. This, in contrast, may suggest a role in their lower aggressiveness. These findings, along with future functional analysis of selected genes, will contribute to improving our understanding of V. dahliae’s pathogenesis. For example, expression of VdPREG negatively regulates phosphorus-acquisition enzymes, which may indicate a lower phosphorus acquisition activity in the WAV. Therefore, integrating the knowledge about the activity of both genes enhancing pathogenicity and those restraining it will provide a guild line for further functional characterization of the most critical genes, thus driving new ideas towards better Verticillium wilt management.
Educational Approach to Prevent the Burden of Vaccinia Virus Infections in a Bovine Vaccinia Endemic Area in Brazil
Authors: Barbosa Costa Galileu , Silva de Oliveira Jaqueline , Townsend Michael , Carson William , Borges Iara , McCollum Andrea , Kroon Erna , Satheshkumar Panayampalli , Reynolds Mary , Nakazawa Yoshinori , de Souza Trindade Giliane
Published: April 2021

Bovine vaccinia (BV), caused by Vaccinia virus (VACV), is a zoonotic disease characterized by exanthematous lesions on the teats of dairy cows and the hands of milkers, and is an important public health issue in Brazil and South America. BV also results in economic losses to the dairy industry, being a burden to the regions involved in milk production. In the past 20 years, much effort has been made to increase the knowledge regarding BV epidemiology, etiologic agents, and interactions with the hosts and the environment. In the present study, we evaluated milking practices that could be associated with VACV infections in an endemic area in Brazil and proposed an educational tool to help prevent VACV infections. In our survey, 124 individuals (51.7%) from a total of 240 had previously heard of BV, 94 of which knew about it through BV outbreaks. Although most individuals involved in dairy activities (n = 85/91) reported having good hygiene practices, only 29.7% used adequate disinfecting products to clean their hands and 39.5% disinfected cows’ teats before and after milking. Furthermore, 46.7% of individuals reported having contact with other farm and domestic animals besides dairy cattle. We also evaluated the presence of IgG and IgM antibodies in the surveyed population. Overall, 6.1% of likely unvaccinated individuals were positive for anti-Orthopoxvirus IgG antibodies, and 1.7% of all individuals were positive for IgM antibodies. Based on our findings, we proposed educational materials which target individuals with permanent residence in rural areas (mainly farmers and milkers), providing an overview and basic information about preventive measures against VACV infections that could enhance BV control and prevention efforts, especially for vulnerable populations located in endemic areas.
Gene Pool of Winter Wheat from the World Collection of N.I. Vavilov Institute of Plant Industry (VIR) for Biotic Stress Resistance
Authors: Temirbekova Sulukhan , Jafarov Ibrahim , Kulikov Ivan , Afanaseva Yuliya , Kalashnikova Elena
Published: April 2021

This paper presents the results of the 50 year-long research into the winter wheat gene pool from the VIR world collection in the Moscow region to assess biotic stress resistance following N.I. Vavilov’s concept of the ‘ideal variety’, proposed in 1935. The Federal Scientific Selection and Technology Center for Horticulture and Nursery was responsible for the field studies of winter wheat, and the All-Russian Research Institute of Phytopathology and Russian State Agrarian University—Moscow Timiryazev Agricultural Academy—for phytopathological studies. The wheat collection was studied in compliance with the VIR Methodological Guidelines using the International COMECON list of descriptors for the genus Triticum L. Resistance against the enzyme–mycotic depletion of seeds (EMDS) was tested using original techniques. It was found that annual brown rust and powdery mildew attacks in the collection’s winter wheat samples caused no significant economic damage. One case of Septoria head and leaf blotch, two cases of Fusarium head blight, one case of root rot, one case of barley yellow dwarf virus, 20 cases of EMDS, and three cases of 3rd-degree EMDS, i.e., seed germination in an ear, were recorded. The parent material resistant to the biotic stresses of the region was selected for breeding. Domestic breeders have created outstanding wheat varieties close to the ‘ideal’ as noted by N.I. Vavilov.
The Repurposing of Acetylsalicylic Acid as a Photosensitiser to Inactivate the Growth of Cryptococcal Cells
Authors: Ogundeji Adepemi O. , Mjokane Nozethu , Folorunso Olufemi S. , Pohl Carolina H. , Nyaga Martin M. , Sebolai Olihile M.
Published: April 2021

Photodynamic treatment (PDT) is often successful when used against aerobic microbes, given their natural susceptibility to oxidative damage. To this end, the current study aimed to explore the photodynamic action of acetylsalicylic acid (ASA; aspirin, which is commonly used to treat non-infectious ailments), when administered to respiring cryptococcal cells. The treatment of cryptococcal cells, i.e., exposure to 0.5 or 1 mM of ASA in the presence of ultraviolet light (UVL) for 10 min, resulted in a significant (p < 0.05) reduction in the growth of tested cells when compared to non-treated (non-Rx) cells, i.e., no ASA and no UVL. The treated cells were also characterised by diseased mitochondria, which is crucial for the survival of respiring cells, as observed by a significant (p < 0.05) loss of mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨM) and significant (p < 0.05) accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) when compared to non-Rx cells. Moreover, the photolytic products of acetylsalicylic acid altered the ultrastructural appearance of treated cells as well as limited the expression levels of the capsular-associated gene, CAP64, when compared to non-Rx cells. The results of the study highlight the potential use of ASA as a photosensitiser that is effective for controlling the growth of cryptococcal cells. Potentially, this treatment can also be used as an adjuvant, to complement and support the usage of current anti-microbial agents.
Non-Invasive Drug Delivery Systems
Authors: Vllasaliu Driton
Published: April 2021

Non-invasive drug delivery generally refers to painless drug administration methods involving drug delivery across the biological barriers of the mucosal surfaces or the skin [...]
Enhanced Dissolution of Naproxen by Combining Cocrystallization and Eutectic Formation
Authors: Kim Hakyeong , Jang Soeun , Kim Il Won
Published: April 2021

Improving dissolution properties of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) is a critical step in drug development with the increasing occurrence of sparingly soluble APIs. Cocrystal formation is one of the methods to alter the physicochemical properties of APIs, but its dissolution behavior in biorelevant media has been scrutinized only in recent years. We investigated the combined strategy of cocrystallization and eutectic formation in this regard and utilized the cocrystal model system of naproxen and three pyridinecarboxamide isomers. Binary melting diagrams were constructed to discover the eutectic compositions of the three cocrystals with excess amounts of pyridinecarboxamides. The melt–crystallized eutectics and cocrystals were compared in their dissolution behaviors with respect to neat naproxen. The eutectics enhanced the early dissolution rates of the cocrystals in both the absence and presence of biologically relevant bile salt and phospholipid components, whereas the cocrystal dissolution was expedited and delayed, respectively. The combined strategy in the present study will be advantageous in maximizing the utility of the pharmaceutical cocrystals.
Feedback for Learning in Pharmacy Education: A Scoping Review
Authors: Nelson Nicholas R. , Carlson Rebecca B. , Corbett Amanda H. , Williams Dennis M. , Rhoney Denise H.
Published: April 2021

Feedback is an effective pedagogy aimed to create cognitive dissonance and reinforce learning as a key component of clinical training programs. Pharmacy learners receive constant feedback. However, there is limited understanding of how feedback is utilized in pharmacy education. This scoping review sought to summarize the breadth and depth of the use of feedback within pharmacy education and identify areas for future research. PubMed, Embase, Scopus, and Web of Science were searched for English articles since January 2000 to identify studies related to feedback in pharmacy education. Sixty-four articles were included for analysis, stratified by moderate and major theory talk, where moderate theory talk explicitly included feedback into study design and major theory talk included feedback into both study design and analysis. Feedback was provided in Bachelor (14%), Master (15.6%), Doctor of Pharmacy (67.2%) and post-graduate programs (4.7%) on a variety of curricular objectives including communication and patient work up in didactic, objective structured clinical examination (OSCE), and experiential settings, and career/interview preparation in the co-curriculum. Feedback comments were mostly written in didactic courses, and both written and verbal in OSCE, experiential, and co-curricular settings. The pharmacy education feedback literature lacks depth beyond student perceptions, especially with respect to assessing the effectiveness and quality of feedback for learning. While feedback has been utilized throughout pharmacy education across myriad outcomes, several areas for inquiry exist which can inform the design of faculty and preceptor development programs, ensuring provision of effective, quality feedback to pharmacy learners.
5G-Enabled Tactile Internet Resource Provision via Software-Defined Optical Access Networks (SDOANs)
Authors: Ganesan Elaiyasuriyan , Hwang I-Shyan , Liem Andrew Tanny , Ab-Rahman Mohammad Syuhaimi
Published: April 2021

Emerging research trends in smart healthcare, smart manufacturing, and Industrial Internet-of-Things (IIoT) applications are based on 5G services, which can achieve ultra-reliable and low-latency communication networks. In such fields of application, haptic applications have gained importance. The invention of 5G wireless communication networks and advances in Tactile Internet (TI) technology, which provides controlled communications through the transmission of touch and actuation in real-time, have been envisioned as promising enablers of TI services. This study introduces TI-based smart hospital healthcare applications to enhance the alignment of services provided to patients. The existing telesurgery system has high communication delay and overhead, which limit its applicability. To alleviate these problems, we analyze and provide insights into the communication architecture for 5G-enabled low-latency telesurgery in a smart hospital. We then propose a new TI-software-defined optical access networking (TI-SDOANs) framework in Next-Generation Passive Optical Network 2, which includes cloud-based human-to-machine steering servers and supports multiple cloud-based applications. We further propose the implementation of an effective TI-dynamic wavelength and bandwidth allocation (TI-DWBA) resource provisioning scheme that meets the quality of service requirements of TI services. Simulation results show that the proposed scheduling schemes can significantly improve the Quality of Service (QoS) performance in terms of the packet delay, jitter, throughput and packet drop.
Cold Plasma Affects Germination and Fungal Community Structure of Buckwheat Seeds
Authors: Mravlje Jure , Regvar Marjana , Starič Pia , Mozetič Miran , Vogel-Mikuš Katarina
Published: April 2021

Crop seeds are frequently colonised by fungi from the field or storage places. Some fungi can cause plant diseases or produce mycotoxins, compromising the use of seeds as seeding material, food or feed. We have investigated the effects of cold plasma (CP) on seed germination and diversity of seed-borne fungi in common and Tartary buckwheat. The seeds were treated with CP for 15, 30, 45, 60, 90, and 120 s in a low-pressure radiofrequency system using oxygen as the feed gas. The fungi from the seed surface and fungal endophytes were isolated using potato dextrose agar plates. After identification by molecular methods, the frequency and diversity of fungal strains were compared between CP treated and chemically surface-sterilised (30% of H2O2) seeds. CP treatments above 60 s negatively affected the germination of both buckwheat species. A significant reduction in fungal frequency and diversity was observed after 90 s and 120 s in common and Tartary buckwheat, respectively. The filamentous fungi of genera Alternaria and Epicoccum proved to be the most resistant to CP. The results of our study indicate that CP treatment used in our study may be applicable in postharvest and food production, but not for further seed sowing.
In Vitro Antifungal Activity of Plant Extracts on Pathogenic Fungi of Blueberry (Vaccinium sp.)
Authors: Hernández-Ceja Abraham , Loeza-Lara Pedro Damián , Espinosa-García Francisco Javier , García-Rodríguez Yolanda M. , Medina-Medrano José Roberto , Gutiérrez-Hernández Germán Fernando , Ceja-Torres Luis Fernando
Published: April 2021

Three pathogenic fungi of blueberry (Vaccinium spp.) responsible for dieback disease, identified as Pestalotiopsis clavispora, Colletotrichum gloeosporioides and Lasiodiplodia pseudotheobromae, were isolated in the northwestern region of the state of Michoacán, Mexico. The mycelial growth in vitro of these fungi was inhibited by extracts from Lantana hirta, Argemone ochroleuca and Adenophyllum porophyllum, medicinal plants collected in Sahuayo, Michoacán, Mexico. The extracts showed different degrees of inhibition; the most effective were: M5L extract from L. hirta and M6LFr extract from A. ochroleuca, both of which inhibited 100% of the mycelial growth of P. clavispora and C. gloeosporioides; and M4LS extract from A. porophyllum, which inhibited 100% of the mycelial growth of the three pathogens. The extracts were fractionated by thin layer and column chromatography, and the most active fractions were analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The major compounds identified in L. hirta extract were Phytol and α-Sitosterol. The compounds identified in A. ochroleuca were Toluene and Benzene, 1,3-bis(3-phenoxyphenoxy)-. In A. porophyllum, the compound identified was Hexanedioic acid, bis(2-ethylhexyl) ester. These results show the potential of L. hirta, A. ochroleuca and A. porophyllum as a source of antifungal compounds.
Is “Esterhazy II”, an Old Walnut Variety in the Hungarian Gene Bank, the Original Genotype?
Authors: Bujdoso Geza , Illes Benjamin , Varjas Virag , Cseke Klara
Published: April 2021

The old walnut (Juglans regia L.) genotype called “Esterhazy II” was well-known in the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy before World War II, and it can still be found in the Austrian, German and Swiss backyard gardens today. Unfortunately, nowadays, vegetatively propagated progenies of the original “Esterhazy II” are not available anymore around the world because walnut grafting started later than this genotype had become well-known. Although various accessions with “Esterhazy II”-“blood“ are available, it is difficult to determine which one can be considered true or the most similar to the original one. In this paper, phenological and nut morphological characteristics of an “Esterhazy II” specimen planted in a Hungarian gene bank were compared to the varieties “Milotai 10” and “Chandler”. Examined characteristics were: budbreak, blossom time, type of dichogamy, ripening time, nut and kernel features. An additional SSR fingerprinting was used to identify identical genotypes and to demonstrate the relatedness of the analyzed “Esterhazy II” genotype to the other Hungarian walnut cultivars. It can be concluded that under the name “Esterhazy II”, several different genotypes can be observed. All the checked characteristics except budbreak fitted well with the previous descriptions. Our results confirmed that the examined “Esterhazy II” genotype shows high similarity to the “original“ “Esterhazy II” described in the literature.
Factors Affecting the Number of Pollen Grains per Male Strobilus in Japanese Cedar (Cryptomeria japonica)
Authors: Kakui Hiroyuki , Tsurisaki Eriko , Shibata Rei , Moriguchi Yoshinari
Published: April 2021

Japanese cedar (Cryptomeria japonica) is the most important timber species in Japan; however, its pollen is the primary cause of pollinosis in Japan. The total number of pollen grains produced by a single tree is determined by the number of male strobili (male flowers) and the number of pollen grains per male strobilus. While the number of male strobili is a visible and well-investigated trait, little is known about the number of pollen grains per male strobilus. We hypothesized that genetic and environmental factors affect the pollen number per male strobilus and explored the factors that affect pollen production and genetic variation among clones. We counted pollen numbers of 523 male strobili from 26 clones using a cell counter method that we recently developed. Piecewise Structural Equation Modeling (pSEM) revealed that the pollen number is mostly affected by genetic variation, male strobilus weight, and pollen size. Although we collected samples from locations with different environmental conditions, statistical modeling succeeded in predicting pollen numbers for different clones sampled from branches facing different directions. Comparison of predicted pollen numbers revealed that they varied >3-fold among the 26 clones. The determination of the factors affecting pollen number and a precise evaluation of genetic variation will contribute to breeding strategies to counter pollinosis. Furthermore, the combination of our efficient counting method and statistical modeling will provide a powerful tool not only for Japanese cedar but also for other plant species.
A Versatile Peroxidase from the Fungus Bjerkandera adusta Confers Abiotic Stress Tolerance in Transgenic Tobacco Plants
Authors: Hernández-Bueno Nancy Sofia , Suárez-Rodríguez Ramón , Balcázar-López Edgar , Folch-Mallol Jorge Luis , Ramírez-Trujillo José Augusto , Iturriaga Gabriel
Published: April 2021

White-rot fungi are efficient lignin degraders due to the secretion of lignin peroxidase, manganese peroxidase, laccase, and versatile peroxidase (VP) on decayed wood. The VP is a high-redox-potential enzyme and could be used to detoxify reactive oxygen species (ROS), which accumulate in plants during biotic and abiotic stresses. We cloned the VP gene and expressed it via the Agrobacterium transformation procedure in transgenic tobacco plants to assay their tolerance to different abiotic stress conditions. Thirty independent T2 transgenic VP lines overexpressing the fungal Bjerkandera adustaVP gene were selected on kanamycin. The VP22, VP24, and VP27 lines showed significant manganese peroxidase (MnP) activity. The highest was VP22, which showed 10.87-fold more manganese peroxidase activity than the wild-type plants and led to a 34% increase in plant height and 28% more biomass. The VP22, VP24, and VP27 lines showed enhanced tolerance to drought, 200 mM NaCl, and 400 mM sorbitol. Also, these transgenics displayed significant tolerance to methyl viologen, an active oxygen-generating compound. The present data indicate that overproducing the VP gene in plants increases significantly their biomass and the abiotic stress tolerance. The VP enzyme is an effective biotechnological tool to protect organisms against ROS. In transgenic tobacco plants, it improves drought, salt, and oxidative stress tolerance. Thus, the VP gene represents a great potential for obtaining stress-tolerant crops.
Phenotypic Diversity and Productivity of Medicago sativa Subspecies from Drought-Prone Environments in Mediterranean Type Climates
Authors: Inostroza Luis , Espinoza Soledad , Barahona Viviana , Gerding Macarena , Humphries Alan , del Pozo Alejandro , Ovalle Carlos
Published: April 2021

The phenotypic diversity and productivity of a diverse alfalfa (M. sativa subspp.) panel of cultivars, landraces and wild relatives with putative drought tolerance were evaluated in two Mediterranean environments (central Chile and Southern Australia). In Chile, 70 accessions were evaluated in rainfed conditions and in Australia 30 accessions under rainfed and irrigated conditions, during three growing seasons. Large phenotypic variation was observed among and within subspecies for NDVI, stem length, intercepted PAR and forage yield. Principal component analysis indicated that the first two principal components (PC) accounted for 84.2% of total variance; fall dormancy, taxa, and breeding status were closely related to the agronomical performance of alfalfa accessions. Forage yield varied largely among accessions across years and locations. A linear relationship was found between annual forage yield and annual water added to the experiments (R2 = 0.60, p < 0.001). The GxE analysis for forage yield allowed the detection of the highest yielding accessions for each of the two mega-environments identified. The accessions CTA002 and CTA003 showed greater forage yield in both Chile and Australia environments. It is concluded that new breeding lines derived from crosses between cultivated alfalfa (M. sativa subsp. sativa) and wild relatives belonging to the primary (M. sativa subsp. falcata) and tertiary (M. arborea) gene pool, achieve outstanding agronomical performance in drought-prone environments.
Comprehensive Leaf Cell Wall Analysis Using Carbohydrate Microarrays Reveals Polysaccharide-Level Variation between Vitis Species with Differing Resistance to Downy Mildew
Authors: Gao Yu , Yin Xiangjing , Jiang Haoyu , Hansen Jeanett , Jørgensen Bodil , Moore John P. , Fu Peining , Wu Wei , Yang Bohan , Ye Wenxiu , Song Shiren , Lu Jiang
Published: April 2021

The cell wall acts as one of the first barriers of the plant against various biotic stressors. Previous studies have shown that alterations in wall polysaccharides may influence crop disease resistance. In the grapevine family, several native species (e.g., Chinese wild grapevine) show a naturally higher resistance to microbial pathogens than cultivated species (e.g., Vitis vinifera), and this trait could be inherited through breeding. Despite the importance of the cell wall in plant immunity, there are currently no comprehensive cell wall profiles of grapevine leaves displaying differing resistance phenotypes, due to the complex nature of the cell wall and the limitations of analytical techniques available. In this study, the cutting-edge comprehensive carbohydrate microarray technology was applied to profile uninfected leaves of the susceptible cultivar (Vitis vinifera cv. “Cabernet Sauvignon”), a resistant cultivar (Vitis amurensis cv. “Shuanghong”) and a hybrid offspring cross displaying moderate resistance. The microarray approach uses monoclonal antibodies, which recognize polysaccharides epitopes, and found that epitope abundances of highly esterified homogalacturonan (HG), xyloglucan (with XXXG motif), (galacto)(gluco)mannan and arabinogalactan protein (AGP) appeared to be positively correlated with the high resistance of Vitis amurensis cv. “Shuanghong” to mildew. The quantification work by gas chromatography did not reveal any significant differences for the monosaccharide constituents, suggesting that polysaccharide structural alterations may contribute more crucially to the resistance observed; this is again supported by the contact infrared spectroscopy of cell wall residues, revealing chemical functional group changes (e.g., esterification of pectin). The identification of certain wall polysaccharides that showed alterations could be further correlated with resistance to mildew. Data from the use of the hybrid material in this study have preliminarily suggested that these traits could be inherited and may be applied as potential structural biomarkers in future breeding work.
Visible Light-Curable Chitosan Ink for Extrusion-Based and Vat Polymerization-Based 3D Bioprintings
Authors: Hidaka Mitsuyuki , Kojima Masaru , Nakahata Masaki , Sakai Shinji
Published: April 2021

Three-dimensional bioprinting has attracted much attention for biomedical applications, including wound dressing and tissue regeneration. The development of functional and easy-to-handle inks is expected to expand the applications of this technology. In this study, aqueous solutions of chitosan derivatives containing sodium persulfate (SPS) and Tris(2,2′-bipyridyl) ruthenium(II) chloride (Ru(bpy)3) were applied as inks for both extrusion-based and vat polymerization-based bioprinting. In both the printing systems, the curation of ink was caused by visible light irradiation. The gelation time of the solution and the mechanical properties of the resultant hydrogels could be altered by changing the concentrations of SPS and Ru(bpy)3. The 3D hydrogel constructs with a good shape fidelity were obtained from the chitosan inks with a composition that formed gel within 10 s. In addition, we confirmed that the chitosan hydrogels have biodegradability and antimicrobial activity. These results demonstrate the significant potential of using the visible light-curable inks containing a chitosan derivative for extrusion and vat polymerization-based bioprinting toward biomedical applications.
Flow Field Effect on the Performance of Direct Formic Acid Membraneless Fuel Cells: A Numerical Study
Authors: Shyu Jin-Cherng , Hung Sheng-Huei
Published: April 2021

The performance of both air-breathing and air-feeding direct formic acid membraneless fuel cells (DFAMFCs) possessing different flow fields were numerically investigated in this study at given concentration and flow rate for both fuel and electrolyte. Single serpentine, stepwise broadening serpentine, multi-serpentine and parallel channel were tested as liquid flow field, while single serpentine, stepwise broadening serpentine, multi-serpentine and pin channel were tested as air flow field. The channel width was either 0.8 mm or 1.3 mm. The simulation results showed that the air-breathing DFAMFC having identical flow field for both fuel and electrolyte yielded highest cell output. The air-breathing DFAMFC having SBS liquid flow field yielded a maximum power density of 10.5 mW/cm2, while the air-breathing DFAMFC having S(1.3) liquid flow field produced an open circuit voltage of 1.0 V owing to few formic acid penetration into the cathode. Concerning the air-feeding DFAMFCs, the DFAMFC having SBS liquid flow field and MS(0.8) air flow field yielded highest peak power density, 12 mW/cm2, at an airflow rate of 500 sccm. Considering the power generated by the DFAMFCs together with the power consumed by the air pump, DFAMFC having SBS liquid flow field and Pin(0.8) air flow field could be the preferred design.
Digital Twin of mRNA-Based SARS-COVID-19 Vaccine Manufacturing towards Autonomous Operation for Improvements in Speed, Scale, Robustness, Flexibility and Real-Time Release Testing
Authors: Schmidt Axel , Helgers Heribert , Vetter Florian Lukas , Juckers Alex , Strube Jochen
Published: April 2021

Supplying SARS-COVID-19 vaccines in quantities to meet global demand has a bottleneck in manufacturing capacity. Assessment of existing mRNA (messenger ribonucleic acid) vaccine processing shows the need for digital twins enabled by process analytical technology approaches to improve process transfers for manufacturing capacity multiplication, reduction of out-of-specification batch failures, qualified personnel training for faster validation and efficient operation, optimal utilization of scarce buffers and chemicals, and faster product release. A digital twin of the total pDNA (plasmid deoxyribonucleic acid) to mRNA process is proposed. In addition, a first feasibility of multisensory process analytical technology (PAT) is shown. Process performance characteristics are derived as results and evaluated regarding manufacturing technology bottlenecks. Potential improvements could be pointed out such as dilution reduction in lysis, and potential reduction of necessary chromatography steps. 1 g pDNA may lead to about 30 g mRNA. This shifts the bottleneck towards the mRNA processing step, which points out co-transcriptional capping as a preferred option to reduce the number of purification steps. Purity demands are fulfilled by a combination of mixed-mode and reversed-phase chromatography as established unit operations on a higher industrial readiness level than e.g., precipitation and ethanol-chloroform extraction. As a final step, lyophilization was chosen for stability, storage and transportation logistics. Alternative process units like UF/DF (ultra-/diafiltration) integration would allow the adjustment of final concentration and buffer composition before lipid-nano particle (LNP) formulation. The complete digital twin is proposed for further validation in manufacturing scale and utilization in process optimization and manufacturing operations. The first PAT results should be followed by detailed investigation of different batches and processing steps in order to implement this strategy for process control and reliable, efficient operation.
Production of Biodiesel from Waste Cooking Oil via Deoxygenation Using Ni-Mo/Ac Catalyst
Authors: Azman Nor Shafinaz , Marliza Tengku Sharifah , Mijan Nurul Asikin , Yun Hin Taufiq Yap , Khairuddin Nozieana
Published: April 2021

Waste cooking oil (WCO) from palm oil is one of the most prospective biodiesel feedstock when compared to other oil seeds. Thus, WCO has great potential as a green source of diesel fuel for engines in motor vehicles and machinery. This project aimed to study the potential of three randomly selected types of WCO, namely; sample A (used 1× once to fry an egg), sample B (used 3–5× to fry salted fish), and sample C (used repeatedly to fry banana fritter) for the production of green diesel fuel over Ni-Mo/AC (nickel and molybdenum oxides incorporated with activated carbon) catalyst through the deoxygenation (DO) process. The prepared catalyst was characterized through X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM). The DO process was performed at 350 °C to remove oxygen from the WCO samples. The liquid products were analysed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometer (GC-MS) and gas chromatography-flame ionization detector (GC-FID), to measure the yields of straight-chain hydrocarbons and fractions in the range C8‒C20. Results showed that the highest n-(C8‒C20) hydrocarbon fractions were produced in the order of sample B (89.93%) > C (88.84%) > A (82.81%).
Analysis the Drivers of Environmental Responsibility of Chinese Auto Manufacturing Industry Based on Triple Bottom Line
Authors: Zhang Hua , Zhang Meihang , Yan Wei , Liu Ying , Jiang Zhigang , Li Shengqiang
Published: April 2021

The rapid increasing number of automobile products has brought great convenience to people’s living, but it has also caused serious environmental issues, waste of resources and energy shortage during its whole lifecycle. Corporate Environmental Responsibility (CER) refers to the company’s responsibility to avoid damage to the natural environment derived from its corporate social responsibility (CSR), and it plays an important role in solving resource and environmental problems. However, due to various internal and external reasons, it is difficult for the automobile manufacturing industry to find the key drivers for the implementation of CER. This research proposes a model framework that uses the fuzzy decision-making test and evaluation laboratory (fuzzy DEMATEL) method to analyze the drivers of CER from the perspective of the triple bottom line (TBL) of economy, environment and society. Firstly, the common drivers of CER are collected using literature review and questionnaire survey methods. Secondly, the key drivers are analyzed by using the fuzzy DEMATEL. Finally, the proposed approach was verified through a case study. The research results show that some effective measures to implement CER can be provided for the government, the automobile manufacturing industry and the public to promote sustainable development of Chinese Auto Manufacturing Industry (CAMI).
Pressure-Driven Membrane Process: A Review of Advanced Technique for Heavy Metals Remediation
Authors: Verma Bharti , Balomajumder Chandrajit , Sabapathy Manigandan , Gumfekar Sarang P.
Published: April 2021

Pressure-driven processes have come a long way since they were introduced. These processes, namely Ultra-Filtration (UF), Nano-Filtration (NF), and Reverse-Osmosis (RO), aim to enhance the efficiency of wastewater treatment, thereby aiming at a cleaner production. Membranes may be polymeric, ceramic, metallic, or organo-mineral, and the filtration techniques differ in pore size from dense to porous membrane. The applied pressure varies according to the method used. These are being utilized in many exciting applications in, for example, the food industry, the pharmaceutical industry, and wastewater treatment. This paper attempts to comprehensively review the principle behind the different pressure-driven membrane technologies and their use in the removal of heavy metals from wastewater. The transport mechanism has been elaborated, which helps in the predictive modeling of the membrane system. Fouling of the membrane is perhaps the only barrier to the emergence of membrane technology and its full acceptance. However, with the use of innovative techniques of fabrication, this can be overcome. This review is concluded with perspective recommendations that can be incorporated by researchers worldwide as a new problem statement for their work.
Numerical Analysis of Heat Transfer and Pressure Drop in Helically Micro-Finned Tubes
Authors: Ammar Ali Muhammad , Sajid Muhammad , Uddin Emad , Bahadur Niaz , Ali Zaib
Published: April 2021

In this study, the pressure drop and heat transfer characteristics of smooth tube and internal helically micro-finned tubes with two different fin-to-fin height ratios i.e., equal fin height and alternating fin height, are computationally analysed. The tube with alternating fin height is analysed for proof of concept of pressure drop reduction. A single phase steady turbulent flow model is used with a Reynolds number ranging from 12,000 to 54,000. Water is used as working fluid with inlet temperature of 55 °C and constant wall temperature of 20 °C is applied. Friction factor, heat transfer coefficient, Nusselt number, and Thermal Performance Index are evaluated and analysed. The numerical results are validated by comparison with the experimental and numerical data from literature. The results showed that the thermal performance is enhanced due to helically finned tube for a range of Reynolds numbers, but at the expense of increased pressure drop as compared to a smooth tube. The helically finned tube with alternating fin heights showed a 5% decrease in friction factor and <1% decrease in heat transfer coefficient when compared with the equal fin heights tube, making it a suitable choice for heat transfer applications.
Advances in CdZnTeSe for Radiation Detector Applications
Authors: Roy Utpal N. , Camarda Giuseppe S. , Cui Yonggang , James Ralph B.
Published: April 2021

Detection of X- and gamma-rays is essential to a wide range of applications from medical imaging to high energy physics, astronomy, and homeland security. Cadmium zinc telluride (CZT) is the most widely used material for room-temperature detector applications and has been fulfilling the requirements for growing detection demands over the last three decades. However, CZT still suffers from the presence of a high density of performance-limiting defects, such as sub-grain boundary networks and Te inclusions. Cadmium zinc telluride selenide (CZTS) is an emerging material with compelling properties that mitigate some of the long-standing issues seen in CZT. This new quaternary is free from sub-grain boundary networks and possesses very few Te inclusions. In addition, the material offers a high degree of compositional homogeneity. The advancement of CZTS has accelerated through investigations of the material properties and virtual Frisch-grid (VFG) detector performance. The excellent material quality with highly reduced performance-limiting defects elevates the importance of CZTS as a potential replacement to CZT at a substantially lower cost.
Milk, Yogurt and Butter in Medieval East Asia: Dairy Products from China to Japan in Medicine and Buddhism
Authors: Kotyk Jeffrey
Published: April 2021

Dairy products have existed in China from at least the Han Dynasty onward. Later, under the influence of Buddhism, dairy items such as yogurt, butter and ghee were required for ritual purposes. The domestic dairy industry in medieval China is an understudied topic, but even more so is the use of dairy in contemporary Japan, where Chinese traditions of Buddhism were transplanted in full. The kanji describing various dairy products were also known in Japan, but we must ask whether these substances were available in Japan, and to what extent. Unlike luxury consumables such as aromatics and medicines, perishable foodstuffs were unlikely to have been transported from the mainland. This study will document and discuss the transmission of a dairy industry from China to Japan, with a focus on the role of these products in religious and medical contexts.
Is Economic Uncertainty a Risk Factor in Bank Loan Pricing Decisions? International Evidence
Authors: Ashraf Badar Nadeem
Published: April 2021

Uncertainty in economic environment leads economic agents to act cautiously. In this paper, we postulate that such uncertainty leads banks to charge higher interest rate on loans. Measuring aggregate country-level economic uncertainty with the World Uncertainty Index (WUI) and using a bank-level dataset from 88 countries over the period 1998–2017, we find that heightened economic uncertainty increases bank loan interest rates. Specifically, bank loan interest rates rise by 20.67 basis points with a one standard deviation increase in WUI. Our results are robust when we use alternative proxy of uncertainty, include additional controls in the model, and extend the sample size. We also observe that WUI index is better at measuring local economic uncertainty as compared to the Economic Policy Uncertainty (EPU) index. Overall, this study provides evidence that bank price in economic uncertainty is an important risk while setting interest rates on bank loans.
Investigating the Effects of a Combined Spatial and Spectral Dimensionality Reduction Approach for Aerial Hyperspectral Target Detection Applications
Authors: Macfarlane Fraser , Murray Paul , Marshall Stephen , White Henry
Published: April 2021

Target detection and classification is an important application of hyperspectral imaging in remote sensing. A wide range of algorithms for target detection in hyperspectral images have been developed in the last few decades. Given the nature of hyperspectral images, they exhibit large quantities of redundant information and are therefore compressible. Dimensionality reduction is an effective means of both compressing and denoising data. Although spectral dimensionality reduction is prevalent in hyperspectral target detection applications, the spatial redundancy of a scene is rarely exploited. By applying simple spatial masking techniques as a preprocessing step to disregard pixels of definite disinterest, the subsequent spectral dimensionality reduction process is simpler, less costly and more informative. This paper proposes a processing pipeline to compress hyperspectral images both spatially and spectrally before applying target detection algorithms to the resultant scene. The combination of several different spectral dimensionality reduction methods and target detection algorithms, within the proposed pipeline, are evaluated. We find that the Adaptive Cosine Estimator produces an improved F1 score and Matthews Correlation Coefficient when compared to unprocessed data. We also show that by using the proposed pipeline the data can be compressed by over 90% and target detection performance is maintained.
Spatio-Temporal Assessment of Surface Moisture and Evapotranspiration Variability Using Remote Sensing Techniques
Authors: Le Mai Son , Liou Yuei-An
Published: April 2021

The relationship between the physic features of the Earth’s surface and its temperature has been significantly investigated for further soil moisture assessment. In this study, the spatiotemporal impacts of surface properties on land surface temperature (LST) were examined by using Landsat-8 Operational Land Imager (OLI) and Thermal Infrared Sensor (TIRS) and meteorological data. The significant distinctions were observed during a crop growing season through the contrast in the correlation between different multi-spectral satellite indices and LST, in which the highest correlation of −0.65 was found when the Normalized Difference Latent heat Index (NDLI) was used. A new index, named as Temperature-soil Moisture Dryness Index (TMDI), is accordingly proposed to assess surface moisture and evapotranspiration (ET) variability. It is based on a triangle space where NDLI is set as a reference basis for examining surface water availability and the variation of LST is an indicator as a consequence of the cooling effect by ET. TMDI was evaluated against ET derived from the commonly-used model, namely Surface Energy Balance Algorithm for Land (SEBAL), as well as compared to the performance of Temperature Vegetation Dryness Index (TVDI). This study was conducted over five-time points for the 2014 winter crop growing season in southern Taiwan. Results indicated that TMDI exhibits significant sensitivity to surface moisture fluctuation by showing a strong correlation with SEBAL-derived ET with the highest correlation of −0.89 was found on 19 October. Moreover, TMDI revealed its superiority over TVDI in the response to a rapidly changing surface moisture due to water supply before the investigated time. It is suggested that TMDI is a proper and sensitive indicator to characterize the surface moisture and ET rate. Further exploitation of the usefulness of the TMDI in a variety of applications would be interesting.
A High Sensitivity Self-Powered Wind Speed Sensor Based on Triboelectric Nanogenerators (TENGs)
Authors: Liu Yangming , Liu Jialin , Che Lufeng
Published: April 2021

Triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) have excellent properties in harvesting tiny environmental energy and self-powered sensor systems with extensive application prospects. Here, we report a high sensitivity self-powered wind speed sensor based on triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs). The sensor consists of the upper and lower two identical TENGs. The output electrical signal of each TENG can be used to detect wind speed so that we can make sure that the measurement is correct by two TENGs. We study the influence of different geometrical parameters on its sensitivity and then select a set of parameters with a relatively good output electrical signal. The sensitivity of the wind speed sensor with this set of parameters is 1.79 μA/(m/s) under a wind speed range from 15 m/s to 25 m/s. The sensor can light 50 LEDs at the wind speed of 15 m/s. This work not only advances the development of self-powered wind sensor systems but also promotes the application of wind speed sensing.
Study of Low Terahertz Radar Signal Backscattering for Surface Identification
Authors: Sabery Shahrzad Minooee , Bystrov Aleksandr , Navarro-Cía Miguel , Gardner Peter , Gashinova Marina
Published: April 2021

This study explores the scattering of signals within the mm and low Terahertz frequency range, represented by frequencies 79 GHz, 150 GHz, 300 GHz, and 670 GHz, from surfaces with different roughness, to demonstrate advantages of low THz radar for surface discrimination for automotive sensing. The responses of four test surfaces of different roughness were measured and their normalized radar cross sections were estimated as a function of grazing angle and polarization. The Fraunhofer criterion was used as a guideline for determining the type of backscattering (specular and diffuse). The proposed experimental technique provides high accuracy of backscattering coefficient measurement depending on the frequency of the signal, polarization, and grazing angle. An empirical scattering model was used to provide a reference. To compare theoretical and experimental results of the signal scattering on test surfaces, the permittivity of sandpaper has been measured using time-domain spectroscopy. It was shown that the empirical methods for diffuse radar signal scattering developed for lower radar frequencies can be extended for the low THz range with sufficient accuracy. The results obtained will provide reference information for creating remote surface identification systems for automotive use, which will be of particular advantage in surface classification, object classification, and path determination in autonomous automotive vehicle operation.
A Novel Reduced Graphene Oxide Modified Carbon Paste Electrode for Potentiometric Determination of Trihexyphenidyl Hydrochloride in Pharmaceutical and Biological Matrices
Authors: Radić Josip , Buljac Maša , Genorio Boštjan , Gričar Ema , Kolar Mitja
Published: April 2021

A novel promising carbon paste electrode with excellent potentiometric properties was prepared for the analysis of trihexyphenidyl hydrochloride (THP), the acetylcholine receptor and an anticholinergic drug in real samples. It contains 10.2% trihexyphenidy-tetraphenylborate ionic pair as the electroactive material, with the addition of 3.9% reduced graphene oxide and 0.3% of anionic additive into the paste, which consists of 45.0% dibutylphthalate as the solvent mediator and 40.6% graphite. Under the optimized experimental conditions, the electrode showed a Nernstian slope of 58.9 ± 0.2 mV/decade with a regression coefficient of 0.9992. It exhibited high selectivity and reproducibility as well as a fast and linear dynamic response range from 4.0 × 10−7 to 1.0 × 10−2 M. The electrode remained usable for up to 19 days. Analytical applications showed excellent recoveries ranging from 96.8 to 101.7%, LOD was 2.5 × 10−7 M. The electrode was successfully used for THP analysis of pharmaceutical and biological samples.
Robotic Sensing and Systems for Smart Cities
Authors: Myung Hyun , Wang Yang
Published: April 2021

For several decades, various sensors and sensing systems have been developed for smart cities and civil infrastructure systems [...]