bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Screening of In Vitro Health Benefits of Tangerine Tomatoes
Authors: Tanambell Hartono , Quek Siew Young , Bishop Karen Suzanne
Published: July 2019

Tomatoes have been associated with various health benefits, including the prevention of chronic diseases. The cis-isomers of lycopene occurring in tangerine tomatoes were, through clinical trials, proven to be more bioavailable than the all-trans lycopene found in red tomatoes. Nonetheless, scientific evidence regarding the bioactivities of the tangerine tomatoes is lacking. In this article, the antioxidant, anticancer, and anti-inflammatory properties of extracts prepared from four different tomato varieties, namely Alfred, Olga’s Round Golden Chicken Egg, Golden Green, and Golden Eye, were investigated. While the antioxidant capacities of the extracts were measured through the ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) and 2,2’-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid) (ABTS) assays, their anti-proliferative properties in prostate cancer cell lines were examined through the Sulforhodamine-B (SRB) assay. The anti-inflammatory activities of the extracts were assessed through the toll-like receptor (TLR)2, TLR4, and nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain containing protein 2 (NOD2)-mediated inflammatory pathways. Our results show that the tangerine tomatoes had lower IC50 values in both the anticancer and anti-inflammatory assays compared to the red tomatoes. Specifically, the half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) values of the tangerine tomatoes in LNCaP cells were approximately two to three fold lower than the red tomato (IC50: 14.46, 5.62, and 8.08 mg dry tomato equivalent/mL from Alfred hexane-acetone, Olga’s Round Golden Chicken Egg hexane, and Golden Green hexane, respectively). These findings indicate that the tangerine varieties, Olga’s Round Golden Chicken Egg and Golden Green, possess greater potential to be used in conjunction with treatment and for the prevention of cancer and inflammatory-related diseases than the Alfred (red) and Golden Eye (high beta-carotene) varieties.
Characterization of an Antioxidant and Antimicrobial Extract from Cool Climate, White Grape Marc
Authors: Olejar Kenneth J. , Ricci Arianna , Swift Simon , Zujovic Zoran , Gordon Keith C. , Fedrizzi Bruno , Versari Andrea , Kilmartin Paul A.
Published: July 2019

Valorization of agricultural waste has become increasingly important. Wastes generated by wineries are high in phenolic compounds with antioxidant and antibacterial properties, which contribute to phytotoxicity, making their immediate use for agricultural means limited. Utilizing a water-based extraction method, the phenolic compounds from winery waste were extracted and purified. The resulting extract was characterized for phenolic composition using high-pressure liquid chromatography-ultraviolet/visible and electrochemical detectors (HPLC-UV/Vis, ECD) for monomers, and spectral assessment of the tannins present using attenuated total reflectance- Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR), FT-Raman, and solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (SSNMR) spectroscopies. The extract’s antioxidant activity was assessed by the scavenging of the 2,2-diphenyl-1–picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical and Folin-Ciocalteu total phenolic assay, and was found to be as effective as a commercially obtained grape extract. The extract’s antimicrobial efficacy was tested for minimum bactericidal concentration using Candida albicans, Escherichia coli 25922, and Staphylococcus aureus 6538, which resulted in greater efficacy against gram-positive bacteria as shown over gram-negative bacteria, which can be linked to both monomeric and tannin polyphenols, which have multiple modes of bactericidal action.
Antioxidant Defence Systems and Oxidative Stress in Poultry Biology: An Update
Authors: Surai Peter F. , Kochish Ivan I. , Fisinin Vladimir I. , Kidd Michael T.
Published: July 2019

Poultry in commercial settings are exposed to a range of stressors. A growing body of information clearly indicates that excess ROS/RNS production and oxidative stress are major detrimental consequences of the most common commercial stressors in poultry production. During evolution, antioxidant defence systems were developed in poultry to survive in an oxygenated atmosphere. They include a complex network of internally synthesised (e.g., antioxidant enzymes, (glutathione) GSH, (coenzyme Q) CoQ) and externally supplied (vitamin E, carotenoids, etc.) antioxidants. In fact, all antioxidants in the body work cooperatively as a team to maintain optimal redox balance in the cell/body. This balance is a key element in providing the necessary conditions for cell signalling, a vital process for regulation of the expression of various genes, stress adaptation and homeostasis maintenance in the body. Since ROS/RNS are considered to be important signalling molecules, their concentration is strictly regulated by the antioxidant defence network in conjunction with various transcription factors and vitagenes. In fact, activation of vitagenes via such transcription factors as Nrf2 leads to an additional synthesis of an array of protective molecules which can deal with increased ROS/RNS production. Therefore, it is a challenging task to develop a system of optimal antioxidant supplementation to help growing/productive birds maintain effective antioxidant defences and redox balance in the body. On the one hand, antioxidants, such as vitamin E, or minerals (e.g., Se, Mn, Cu and Zn) are a compulsory part of the commercial pre-mixes for poultry, and, in most cases, are adequate to meet the physiological requirements in these elements. On the other hand, due to the aforementioned commercially relevant stressors, there is a need for additional support for the antioxidant system in poultry. This new direction in improving antioxidant defences for poultry in stress conditions is related to an opportunity to activate a range of vitagenes (via Nrf2-related mechanisms: superoxide dismutase, SOD; heme oxygenase-1, HO-1; GSH and thioredoxin, or other mechanisms: Heat shock protein (HSP)/heat shock factor (HSP), sirtuins, etc.) to maximise internal AO protection and redox balance maintenance. Therefore, the development of vitagene-regulating nutritional supplements is on the agenda of many commercial companies worldwide.
Structure Preserving Convolutional Attention for Image Captioning
Authors: Lu Shichen , Hu Ruimin , Liu Jing , Guo Longteng , Zheng Fei
Published: July 2019

In the task of image captioning, learning the attentive image regions is necessary to adaptively and precisely focus on the object semantics relevant to each decoded word. In this paper, we propose a convolutional attention module that can preserve the spatial structure of the image by performing the convolution operation directly on the 2D feature maps. The proposed attention mechanism contains two components: convolutional spatial attention and cross-channel attention, aiming to determine the intended regions to describe the image along the spatial and channel dimensions, respectively. Both of the two attentions are calculated at each decoding step. In order to preserve the spatial structure, instead of operating on the vector representation of each image grid, the two attention components are both computed directly on the entire feature maps with convolution operations. Experiments on two large-scale datasets (MSCOCO and Flickr30K) demonstrate the outstanding performance of our proposed method.
A Temporally Hierarchical Deployment Architecture for an Enhanced Name Resolution System
Authors: Liao Yi , Sheng Yiqiang , Wang Jinlin
Published: July 2019

The challenging requirements of the fifth generation (5G) cellular networks motivate the need to explore the feasibility of delivering services over new network architectures. Information-Centric Networking (ICN) is an emerging and promising network to satisfy 5G requirements. The name resolution is at the heart of ICN. We focus on satisfying the delay-sensitive requirement of the Name Resolution Service (NRS) in a 5G-ICN integrated network. We aim to design a local NRS that provides a deterministic low latency name resolution service. In this paper, we propose a temporally hierarchical deployment architecture for an Enhanced Name Resolution System (ENRS) to realize deterministic latency. The ENRS quantifiably organizes the nodes into hierarchical and nested domains by latency constraints. We design demand-aware name registration and resolution schemes to achieve constant forwarding hops in order to realize local resolution and forwarding locality. We introduce a tolerable latency-based peer resolver forwarding algorithm to improve the query hit ratio. We present a proactive name binding replicas distribution approach based on temporal–spatial features to reduce the resolution latency and query traffic. The video streaming monitoring service in Smart Home is used as a typical use case to show the continuity of service guaranteed by ENRS. Analysis demonstrates that ENRS can achieve deterministic latency. Evaluation results show that the average query hit ratio of ENRS outperforms the K-NearestNeighbor-Distributed Name Resolution System (KNN-DNRS) and Random Name Resolution System (Random-NRS) with 23.2% and 18.1%, respectively. The query traffic overhead of ENRS is up to 33.3 times smaller than KNN-DNRS. ENRS can process up to 21 GB/s name resolution traffic when the user nodes are in the magnitude order of 106.
Wrist Rehabilitation System Using Augmented Reality for Hemiplegic Stroke Patient Rehabilitation: A Feasibility Study
Authors: Phan Huu Lam , Kim Jong Pal , Kim Kwangsoo , Hwang Chang Ho , Koo Kyo-in
Published: July 2019

Objective: Our objective was to investigate the effect of the rehabilitation system using augmented reality (AR) on upper extremity motor performance of patients with stroke. Methods: The system using AR applying mirror therapy mechanism provides the intervention protocol for the patient with hemiplegia after stroke. The system consists of a patient positioning tool (a chair), a white surface table, an image acquisition unit, an image processing unit, an image displaying unit, an arm holder, a Velcro-strap, and two blue circle stickers. To assess the feasibility of our system in motor function recovery, a stroke patient was recruited to receive the AR intervention. The treatment was performed two times a day for ten minutes over two weeks (ten days of treating weeks), except for the time of installation, calibration, and three minute breaks. Jebsen Taylor hand function test and Arm Motor Fugl-Meyer assessment were used as primary and secondary outcome measures, respectively, to evaluate the effect of motor function recovery. Additionally, stroke impact scale, Korean version-Modified Barthel Index (K-MBI), active range of motion of wrist joint (ROM), and the grasp force in Newtons were measured. Participants’ feedback and adverse effects were recorded as well. Results: Motor function improvements were exhibited in wrist and hand subtest of Arm Motor Fugl-Meyer (baseline: 19; post-intervention: 23), proximal arm subtest of Fugl-Meyer (baseline: 31; post-intervention: 34), ROM (extending ROM: 10° and 3° for flexion and extension, repeatedly), stroke impact scale (baseline: 46; post-intervention: 54), K-MBI (baseline: 92; post-intervention: 95), nine-hole pegboard (baseline: 30 s; post-intervention: 25 s), and grasp force in Newtons (baseline: 12.7; post-intervention: 17.7). However, the adverse effects were reported after the intervention. Conclusion: The system using AR applying mirror therapy mechanism demonstrated the feasibility in motor function recovery for the stroke patient.
Machine Learning-Based Dimension Optimization for Two-Stage Precoder in Massive MIMO Systems with Limited Feedback
Authors: Kang Jinho , Lee Jung Hoon , Choi Wan
Published: July 2019

A two-stage precoder is widely considered in frequency division duplex massive multiple-input and multiple-output (MIMO) systems to resolve the channel feedback overhead problem. In massive MIMO systems, users on a network can be divided into several user groups of similar spatial antenna correlations. Using the two-stage precoder, the outer precoder reduces the channel dimensions mitigating inter-group interferences at the first stage, while the inner precoder eliminates the smaller dimensions of intra-group interferences at the second stage. In this case, the dimension of effective channel reduced by outer precoder is important as it leverages the inter-group interference, the intra-group interference, and the performance loss from the quantized channel feedback. In this paper, we propose the machine learning framework to find the optimal dimensions reduced by the outer precoder that maximizes the average sum rate, where the original problem is an NP-hard problem. Our machine learning framework considers the deep neural network, where the inputs are channel statistics, and the outputs are the effective channel dimensions after outer precoding. The numerical result shows that our proposed machine learning-based dimension optimization achieves the average sum rate comparable to the optimal performance using brute-forcing searching, which is not feasible in practice.
Effects of Channel Outlet Configuration and Dimple/Protrusion Arrangement on the Blade Trailing Edge Cooling Performance
Authors: Jing Qi , Xie Yonghui , Zhang Di
Published: July 2019

The trailing edge regions of high-temperature gas turbine blades are subjected to extremely high thermal loads and are affected by the external wake flow during operation, thus creating great challenges in internal cooling design. With the development of cooling technology, the dimple and protrusion have attracted wide attention for its excellent performance in heat transfer enhancement and flow resistance reduction. Based on the typical internal cooling structure of the turbine blade trailing edge, trapezoidal cooling channels with lateral extraction slots are modeled in this paper. Five channel outlet configurations, i.e., no second passage (OC1), radially inward flow second passage (OC2), radially outward flow second passage (OC3), top region outflow (OC4), both sides extractions (OC5), and three dimple/protrusion arrangements (all dimple, all protrusion, dimple–protrusion staggered arrangement) are considered. Numerical investigations are carried out, within the Re range of 10,000–100,000, to analyze the flow structures, heat transfer distributions, average heat transfer and friction characteristics and overall thermal performances in detail. The results show that the OC4 and OC5 cases have high heat transfer levels in general, while the heat transfer deterioration occurs in the OC1, OC2, and OC3 cases. For different dimple/protrusion arrangements, the protrusion case produces the best overall thermal performance. In conclusion, for the design of trailing edge cooling structures with lateral slots, the outlet configurations of top region outflow and both sides extractions, and the all protrusion arrangement, are recommended.
Frequency Hopping Signals Tracking and Sorting Based on Dynamic Programming Modulated Wideband Converters
Authors: Lei Ziwei , Yang Peng , Zheng Linhua , Xiong Hui , Ding Hong
Published: July 2019

Most of the earlier tracking and network sorting approaches with a high sampling rate for frequency hopping (FH) signals did not adapt to the wideband system during their implementation, whereas the sub-Nyquist based algorithms cannot satisfy the real-time requirement for dealing with the rapid change of sparsity. It is important to improve the compressed sensing (CS) methods for tracking and sorting wideband FH signals. In this paper, a dynamic programming modulated wideband converters (MWC) scheme is proposed. First, considering the wide gap of FH signals, an improved power estimation method is proposed to track the support set in the time domain. Second, to sort multiple signals more effectively, a feedback control algorithm based on dynamic programming is proposed. In the proposed method, the total sampling rate is decreased significantly, and multiple FH signals are separated rapidly without recovery based on the results of tracking and comparative power. Simulations show that the proposed method can track and sort FH signals efficiently and more practically than previous methods.
Design and Experiment of a Moving Magnet Actuator Based Jetting Dispenser
Authors: Tran Minh-Sang , Hwang Sheng-Jye
Published: July 2019

Developing actuators to drive high-frequency jetting dispensers in the dispensing technology for electronic assembly applications has become a concern in recent years. This study proposed a new jetting dispenser without a displacement amplification mechanism directly actuated by a moving magnet actuator (MMA) to jet small fluid droplets. In this article, the main geometric dimensions of the dispensing cluster including the needle, chamber, and seat-nozzle follow those of previous studies and existing dispensers to reduce design time. The necessary root-mean-square force applied to the dispenser needle, which is the key value for the MMA design, is calculated in detail. An ANSYS Maxwell finite element analysis (FEA) is used to simulate the MMA thrust force and modify geometric dimensions. The droplet size produced by the proposed dispenser is empirically investigated under various backpressure, operating frequency, needle displacement, and fluid temperature conditions. The experimental results indicated that the jet dispenser driven by the moving magnet actuator stably operated at the maximal operating frequency of 80 Hz. Some errors, such as losing droplets and generating small satellite dots around the main dots, did not occur during the operating process. In addition, the size of the proposal dispenser without the displacement-magnifying mechanism was also significantly reduced. To conclude, the jetting dispenser driven by the proposal moving magnet actuator can operate well at a medium frequency and shows great potential for dispensing technologies.
Empirical Formula to Predict the NOx Emissions from Coal Power Plant using Lab-Scale and Real-Scale Operating Data
Authors: Kim Gyeong-Min , Jeong Jong-Won , Jeong Jae-Seong , Kim Dong-Yeop , Kim Seung-Mo , Jeon Chung-Hwan
Published: July 2019

The use of fossil fuels has drastically increased throughout the world as the demand for energy increases. Accordingly, it has become critical that we reduce the oxides of nitrogen (NOx) and oxides of sulfur pollutants. Therefore, studies related to these activities have increased. This study was aimed at helping take pre-emptive action on NOx emissions by developing a formula that would predict NOx generation using factors related to the combustion characteristics and basic material properties of coal. In this study, the experiments were conducted using a drop tube furnace, and the correlation between coal’s major characteristics and NOx generation was analyzed and measured. Our results showed that the major factors affecting NOx generation are moisture, fixed carbon, and fuel ratio. Moisture tended to decrease NOx generation by delaying the ignition of coal and fixed carbon exhibited a tendency to be directly proportional to NOx generation. The R2 value for NOx of moisture and fixed carbon were derived as 0.7659 and 0.7063, respectively. Our results also showed that the fuel ratio had an exponential relation with the conversion of fuel-N to NOx. Based on the results of our analyses, we used moisture, fixed carbon, and fuel ratio as the major factors for creating an experimental formula. Through these results, we confirmed that the prediction formula reflects the actual amount of NOx emitted from the powerplants.
Theoretical Study of SOF2 Adsorption on Pd/Pt-Ni(111) Bimetallic Surfaces
Authors: Gan Shiming , Gui Yingang , Bao Xiaoyan , Chen Dong
Published: July 2019

Partial discharge has become a serious threat to the stable operation of gas-insulated switchgears. SOF2 is a characteristic decomposition component of SF6 decomposition components under partial discharge, which further deteriorate the severity of partial discharge. In order to find an excellent adsorbent for SOF2, Pd/Pt-Ni(111) composite surface is raised as an adsorbent to investigate its adsorption ability of the SOF2 molecule. The results of the study show that Pd or Pt composite layer on Ni(111) atoms can significantly enhance the adsorption capacity, the adsorption ability to SOF2 is in the sequence of Pt-Ni(111) > Pd-Ni(111) > Ni(111) > Ni-Pd-Ni(111) > Ni-Pt-Ni(111). However, the adsorption of SOF2 on Pt-Ni(111) and Pd-Ni(111) surfaces is strong chemisorption, which is an irreversible adsorption process. On the contrary, Ni-Pd-Ni(111) and Ni-Pt-Ni(111) show moderate physisorption of SOF2. In addition, the density of electronic states, and electron density difference are further calculated to analyze the adsorption mechanism of SOF2. This research provides important theoretical support for developing an ideal SOF2 adsorbent.
Extracting Crop Spatial Distribution from Gaofen 2 Imagery Using a Convolutional Neural Network
Authors: Chen Yan , Zhang Chengming , Wang Shouyi , Li Jianping , Li Feng , Yang Xiaoxia , Wang Yuanyuan , Yin Leikun
Published: July 2019

Using satellite remote sensing has become a mainstream approach for extracting crop spatial distribution. Making edges finer is a challenge, while simultaneously extracting crop spatial distribution information from high-resolution remote sensing images using a convolutional neural network (CNN). Based on the characteristics of the crop area in the Gaofen 2 (GF-2) images, this paper proposes an improved CNN to extract fine crop areas. The CNN comprises a feature extractor and a classifier. The feature extractor employs a spectral feature extraction unit to generate spectral features, and five coding-decoding-pair units to generate five level features. A linear model is used to fuse features of different levels, and the fusion results are up-sampled to obtain a feature map consistent with the structure of the input image. This feature map is used by the classifier to perform pixel-by-pixel classification. In this study, the SegNet and RefineNet models and 21 GF-2 images of Feicheng County, Shandong Province, China, were chosen for comparison experiment. Our approach had an accuracy of 93.26%, which is higher than those of the existing SegNet (78.12%) and RefineNet (86.54%) models. This demonstrates the superiority of the proposed method in extracting crop spatial distribution information from GF-2 remote sensing images.
Congestion-Free Ant Traffic: Jam Absorption Mechanism in Multiple Platoons
Authors: Kasture Prafull , Nishimura Hidekazu
Published: July 2019

In this paper, an agent-based model of ant traffic on a unidirectional single-lane ant trail is presented to provide better understanding of the jam-free traffic of an ant colony. On a trail, the average velocity of ants remains approximately constant irrespective of density, thereby avoiding jamming. Assuming chemotaxis, we analyze platoon-related scenarios to assess the marching-platoon hypothesis, which claims that ants on a trail form a single platoon in which they march synchronously, thereby reducing hindrances due to increasing density. Contrary to that hypothesis, our findings show that ants on a trail do not march synchronously and do experience stop-and-go motion. However, more interestingly, our study also indicates that the ants’ chemotaxis behavior leads to a peculiar jam absorption mechanism, which helps to maintain free flow on a trail and avoids jamming. Again, contrary to the marching-platoon hypothesis, our findings also indicate that, rather than assisting traffic flow, forming a single cluster actually triggers jamming.
Shape Memory Effect in Micro-Sized Shape Memory Polymer Composite Chains
Authors: Lan Xin , Huang Weimin , Leng Jinsong
Published: July 2019

Since the shape memory effect (SME) has been confirmed in micron and submicron sized polyurethane (PU) shape memory polymer (SMP), it might be used in novel micro/nano devices even for surgery/operation inside a single cell. In this study, micron sized protrusive PU SMP composite chains are fabricated via mixing ferromagnetic nickel micro powders with PU SMP/dimethylformamide solution and then cured under a low magnetic field. Depending on the amount of nickel content, vertical protrusive chains with a diameter from 10 to 250 µm and height from 200 to 1500 µm are obtained. The SME in these chains is investigated to confirm the SME in SMP composites at microscale. An array of such protrusive chains may be utilized to obtain re-configurable surface patterns in a simple manner for applications, such as remarkable change in wetting and friction ability. Finally, its potential applications for micro electro mechanical systems (MEMS) and biomedical device are proposed.
Graphene Composites for Lead Ions Removal from Aqueous Solutions
Authors: Kumar Mukesh , Chung Jin Suk , Hur Seung Hyun
Published: July 2019

The indiscriminate disposal of non-biodegradable, heavy metal ionic pollutants from various sources, such as refineries, pulp industries, lead batteries, dyes, and other industrial effluents, into the aquatic environment is highly dangerous to the human health as well as to the environment. Among other heavy metals, lead (Pb(II)) ions are some of the most toxic pollutants generated from both anthropogenic and natural sources in very large amounts. Adsorption is the simplest, efficient and economic water decontamination technology. Hence, nanoadsorbents are a major focus of current research for the effective and selective removal of Pb(II) metal ions from aqueous solution. Nanoadsorbents based on graphene and its derivatives play a major role in the effective removal of toxic Pb(II) metal ions. This paper summarizes the applicability of graphene and functionalized graphene-based composite materials as Pb(II) ions adsorbent from aqueous solutions. In addition, the synthetic routes, adsorption process, conditions, as well as kinetic studies have been reviewed.
Synthesis and Diagnostics of Nanostructured Micaless Microcomposite as a Prospective Insulation Material for Rotating Machines
Authors: Hornak Jaroslav , Mentlík Václav , Trnka Pavel , Šutta Pavol
Published: July 2019

This paper deals with the topic of composite insulation materials for rotating machines and it is primarily pointed to the synthesis of new three-component insulation system. In connection with this research, the basic components of the insulation system are selected and described by different diagnostic methods. The proposed insulation material is composed of epoxy resin based on bisphenol-A diglycidyl ether, magnesium oxide nanofiller (1 wt %) with its own surface treatment technology using epoxysilane coupling agent ( γ -glycidoxypropyltrimethoxysilane) and polyethylene naphthalate as a reinforcing component. Following the defined topic of the paper, the proposed three-component insulation system is confronted with commonly used insulating systems (PET reinforced and Glass reinforced mica composites) in order to verify the basic dielectric properties (dielectric strength, volume resistivity, dissipation factor) and other parameters determined from phenomenological voltage and current signals, respectively.
Magnetic Nanomaterials for Magnetically-Aided Drug Delivery and Hyperthermia
Authors: Kalubowilage Madumali , Janik Katharine , Bossmann Stefan H.
Published: July 2019

Magnetic nanoparticles have continuously gained importance for the purpose of magnetically-aided drug-delivery, magnetofection, and hyperthermia. We have summarized significant experimental approaches, as well as their advantages and disadvantages with respect to future clinical translation. This field is alive and well and promises meaningful contributions to the development of novel cancer therapies.
Real-Time Implementation of an Expert Model Predictive Controller in a Pilot-Scale Reverse Osmosis Plant for Brackish and Seawater Desalination
Authors: Rivas-Perez Raul , Sotomayor-Moriano Javier , Pérez-Zuñiga Gustavo , Soto-Angles Mario E.
Published: July 2019

This article addresses the design and real-time implementation of an expert model predictive controller (Expert MPC) for the control of the brackish and seawater desalination process in a pilot-scale reverse osmosis (RO) plant. This pilot-scale plant is used in order to obtain the optimal operation conditions of the RO desalination process through the implementation of different control strategies, as well as in the training of operators in the new control and management technologies. A dynamical mathematical model of this plant has been developed based on the available field data and system identification procedures. Predictions of the obtained model were in good agreement with the available field data. The designed Expert MPC is distinguished by having a plant identification block and an expert system. The expert system, using a rule-based approach and the evolution of the plant variables, can modify the plant identification block, the plant prediction model, and/or the optimizer in order to improve the performance, robustness and operational safety of the overall control system. The real-time comparison results of the designed Expert MPC and a well-designed model predictive controller (MPC) show that the proposed Expert MPC has a significantly better performance and, therefore, higher accuracy and robustness.
Thirty Years of Atmospheric CO2 Observations at the Plateau Rosa Station, Italy
Authors: Apadula Francesco , Cassardo Claudio , Ferrarese Silvia , Heltai Daniela , Lanza Andrea
Published: July 2019

The atmospheric background CO2 concentration is a key quantity for the analysis and evaluation of the ongoing climate change. Long-term CO2 observations have been carried out at the high Plateau Rosa mountain station, in the north-western Alps since 1989. The complete time series covers thirty years, and it is suitable for climatological analysis. The continuous CO2 measurements, collected since 1993, were selected, by means of a BaDS (Background Data Selection) filter, to obtain the hourly background data. The monthly background data series was analysed in order to individuate the parameters that characterise the seasonal cycle and the long-term trend. The growth rate was found to be 2.05 ± 0.03 ppm/year, which is in agreement with the global trend. The increased background CO2 concentration at the Plateau Rosa site is the consequence of global anthropic emissions, whereas the natural variability of the climatic system taken from the SOI (South Oscillation Index) and MEI (Multivariate ENSO Index) signals was detected in the inter-annual changes of the Plateau Rosa growth rate.
Atomic and Molecular Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy of Selected Pharmaceuticals
Authors: Tiwari Pravin Kumar , Rai Nilesh Kumar , Kumar Rohit , Parigger Christian G. , Rai Awadhesh Kumar
Published: July 2019

Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) of pharmaceutical drugs that contain paracetamol was investigated in air and argon atmospheres. The characteristic neutral and ionic spectral lines of various elements and molecular signatures of CN violet and C2 Swan band systems were observed. The relative hardness of all drug samples was measured as well. Principal component analysis, a multivariate method, was applied in the data analysis for demarcation purposes of the drug samples. The CN violet and C2 Swan spectral radiances were investigated for evaluation of a possible correlation of the chemical and molecular structures of the pharmaceuticals. Complementary Raman and Fourier-transform-infrared spectroscopies were used to record the molecular spectra of the drug samples. The application of the above techniques for drug screening are important for the identification and mitigation of drugs that contain additives that may cause adverse side-effects.
Plasma Spectroscopy of Various Types of Gypsum: An Ideal Terrestrial Analogue
Authors: Rai Abhishek K. , Pati Jayanta K. , Parigger Christian G. , Rai Awadhesh K.
Published: July 2019

The first detection of gypsum (CaSO4·2H2O) by the Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) rover Curiosity in the Gale Crater, Mars created a profound impact on planetary science and exploration. The unique capability of plasma spectroscopy, which involves in situ elemental analysis in extraterrestrial environments, suggests the presence of water in the red planet based on phase characterization and provides a clue to Martian paleoclimate. The key to gypsum as an ideal paleoclimate proxy lies in its textural variants and terrestrial gypsum samples from varied locations and textural types have been analyzed with laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) in this study. Petrographic, sub-microscopic, and powder X-ray diffraction characterizations confirm the presence of gypsum (hydrated calcium sulphate; CaSO4·2H2O), bassanite (semi-hydrated calcium sulphate; CaSO4·½H2O), and anhydrite (anhydrous calcium sulphate; CaSO4), along with accessory phases (quartz and jarosite). The principal component analysis of LIBS spectra from texturally varied gypsums can be differentiated from one another due to the chemical variability in their elemental concentrations. The concentration of gypsum is determined from the partial least-square regressions model. The rapid characterization of gypsum samples with LIBS is expected to work well in extraterrestrial environments.
Alginate Gel Reinforcement with Chitin Nanowhiskers Modulates Rheological Properties and Drug Release Profile
Authors: Petrova Valentina A. , Elokhovskiy Vladimir Y. , Raik Sergei V. , Poshina Daria N. , Romanov Dmitry P. , Skorik Yury A.
Published: July 2019

Hydrogels are promising materials for various applications, including drug delivery, tissue engineering, and wastewater treatment. In this work, we designed an alginate (ALG) hydrogel containing partially deacetylated chitin nanowhiskers (CNW) as a filler. Gelation in the system occurred by both the protonation of alginic acid and the formation of a polyelectrolyte complex with deacetylated CNW surface chains. Morphological changes in the gel manifested as a honeycomb structure in the freeze-dried gel, unlike the layered structure of an ALG gel. Disturbance of the structural orientation of the gels by the introduction of CNW was also expressed as a decrease in the intensity of X-ray diffraction reflexes. All studied systems were non-Newtonian liquids that violated the Cox-Merz rule. An increase in the content of CNW in the ALG-CNW hydrogel resulted in increases in the yield stress, maximum Newtonian viscosity, and relaxation time. Inclusion of CNW prolonged the release of tetracycline due to changes in diffusion. The first phases (0–5 h) of the release profiles were well described by the Higuchi model. ALG-CNW hydrogels may be of interest as soft gels for controlled topical or intestinal drug delivery.
A Simple and Efficient Molecularly Imprinted Electrochemical Sensor for the Selective Determination of Tryptophan
Authors: Tian Yaling , Deng Peihong , Wu Yiyong , Ding Ziyu , Li Guangli , Liu Jun , He Quanguo
Published: July 2019

In this paper, a tryptophan (Trp) molecularly imprinted chitosan film was prepared on the surface of an acetylene black paste electrode using chitosan as the functional polymer, Trp as the template molecule and sulfuric acid as the crosslinking agent. The surface morphologies of non-imprinted and imprinted electrodes were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The formation of hydrogen bonds between the functional polymer and the template molecule was confirmed by infrared spectroscopy. Some factors affecting the performance of the imprinted electrode such as the concentration of chitosan, the mass ratio of chitosan to Trp, the dropping amount of the chitosan-Trp mixture, the solution pH, and the accumulation potential and time were discussed. The experimental results show that the imprinted electrode exhibit good affinity and selectivity for Trp. The dynamic linear ranges of 0.01–4 μM, 4–20 μM and 20–100 μM were obtained by second derivative linear sweep voltammetry, and the detection limit was calculated to be 8.0 nM. The use of the imprinted electrode provides an effective method for eliminating the interference of potentially interfering substances. In addition, the sensor has high sensitivity, reproducibility and stability, and can be used for the determination of Trp in pharmaceutical preparations and human serum samples.
Comparing Models of Lateral Station-Keeping for Pitching Hydrofoils
Authors: Gunnarson Peter , Zhong Qiang , Quinn Daniel B.
Published: July 2019

Fish must maneuver laterally to maintain their position in schools or near solid boundaries. Unsteady hydrodynamic models, such as the Theodorsen and Garrick models, predict forces on tethered oscillating hydrofoils aligned with the incoming flow. How well these models predict forces when bio-inspired hydrofoils are free to move laterally or when angled relative to the incoming flow is unclear. We tested the ability of five linear models to predict a small lateral adjustment made by a hydrofoil undergoing biased pitch oscillations. We compared the models to water channel tests in which air bushings gave a rigid pitching hydrofoil lateral freedom. What we found is that even with no fitted coefficients, linear models predict some features of the lateral response, particularly high frequency features like the amplitude and phase of passive heave oscillations. To predict low frequency features of the response, such as overshoot and settling time, we needed a semiempirical model based on tethered force measurements. Our results suggest that fish and fish-inspired vehicles could use linear models for some aspects of lateral station-keeping, but would need nonlinear or semiempirical wake models for more advanced maneuvers.
Upregulation of IL-1 Receptor Antagonist in a Mouse Model of Migraine
Authors: Lombardo Salvo , Mazzon Emanuela , Basile Maria , Cavalli Eugenio , Bramanti Placido , Nania Riccardo , Fagone Paolo , Nicoletti Ferdinando , Petralia Maria
Published: July 2019

Migraine is a disorder characterized by attacks of monolateral headaches, often accompanied by nausea, vomiting, and photophobia. Around 30% of patients also report aura symptoms. The cause of the aura is believed to be related to the cortical spreading depression (CSD), a wave of neuronal and glial depolarization originating in the occipital cortex, followed by temporary neuronal silencing. During a migraine attack, increased expression of inflammatory mediators, along with a decrease in the expression of anti-inflammatory genes, have been observed. The aim of this study was to evaluate the expression of inflammatory genes, in particular that of IL-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1RN), following CSD in a mouse model of familial hemiplegic migraine type 1 (FHM-1). We show here that the expression of IL-1RN was upregulated after the CSD, suggesting a possible attempt to modulate the inflammatory response. This study allows researchers to better understand the development of the disease and aids in the search for new therapeutic strategies in migraine.
Hospitalized Patients with Medically Unexplained Physical Symptoms: Clinical Context and Economic Costs of Healthcare Management
Authors: Poloni Nicola , Caselli Ivano , Ielmini Marta , Mattia Michele , De Leo Alessandra , Di Sarno Marco , Isella Celeste , Bellini Alessandro , Callegari Camilla
Published: July 2019

Medically Unexplained Physical Symptoms (MUPS) are physical symptoms without a medical explanation. This study collected data from hospitalized patients presenting MUPS, aiming to draw a clinical and socio-demographic profile of patients with MUPS, to explore psychopathological correlations of Somatic Symptoms Disorder (SSD) diagnosis, and to estimate economic costs related to hospital management for MUPS. The cross-sectional study consisted in the evaluation of data referring to hospitalized patients admitted between 2008 and 2018 in a teaching hospital in Northern Italy. A total of 273 patients presenting MUPS have been hospitalized. The sample showed a prevalence of female, married and employed patients. The most frequent wards involved are Neurology, Internal Medicine and Short Unit Stay. The most common symptoms found are headache, pain, syncope and vertigo. There is no evidence that a history of medical disease is associated with a diagnosis of SSD. A personality disorder diagnosis in patients with MUPS was associated with increased probability of having a diagnosis of SSD. A marginally significant positive association emerged with anxiety disorders, but not with depressive disorder. The overall estimated cost of hospitalization for patients with MUPS is 475′409.73 €. The study provides the investigation of a large number of patients with MUPS and a financial estimate of related hospitalization costs.
Recent Advances in Carbon Dots
Authors: Chatzimitakos Theodoros , Stalikas Constantine
Published: July 2019

It is unequivocally true that in recent years, carbon-based nanomaterials such as graphene, carbon nanotubes, and fullerenes, have attracted tremendous interest and an increasing number of applications have reaped their numerous benefits [...]
Somatic Alteration Burden Involving Non-Cancer Genes Predicts Prognosis in Early-Stage Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer
Authors: Wang Dennis , Pham Nhu-An , Freeman Timothy M. , Raghavan Vibha , Navab Roya , Chang Jonathan , Zhu Chang-Qi , Ly Dalam , Tong Jiefei , Wouters Bradly G. , Pintilie Melania , Moran Michael F. , Liu Geoffrey , Shepherd Frances A. , Tsao Ming-Sound
Published: July 2019

The burden of somatic mutations and neoantigens has been associated with improved survival in cancer treated with immunotherapies, especially non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, there is uncertainty about their effect on outcome in early-stage untreated cases. We posited that the burden of mutations in a specific set of genes may also contribute to the prognosis of early NSCLC patients. From a small cohort of 36 NSCLC cases, we were able to identify somatic mutations and copy number alterations in 865 genes that contributed to patient overall survival. Simply, the number of altered genes (NAG) among these 865 genes was associated with longer disease-free survival (hazard ratio (HR) = 0.153, p = 1.48 × 10−4). The gene expression signature distinguishing patients with high/low NAG was also prognostic in three independent datasets. Patients with a high NAG could be further stratified based on the presence of immunogenic mutations, revealing a further subgroup of stage I NSCLC with even better prognosis (85% with >5 years survival), and associated with cytotoxic T-cell expression. Importantly, 95% of the highly-altered genes lacked direct relation to cancer, but were implicated in pathways regulating cell proliferation, motility and immune response.
Helping the Released Guardian: Drug Combinations for Supporting the Anticancer Activity of HDM2 (MDM2) Antagonists
Authors: Kocik Justyna , Machula Monika , Wisniewska Aneta , Surmiak Ewa , Holak Tad A. , Skalniak Lukasz
Published: July 2019

The protein p53, known as the “Guardian of the Genome”, plays an important role in maintaining DNA integrity, providing protection against cancer-promoting mutations. Dysfunction of p53 is observed in almost every cancer, with 50% of cases bearing loss-of-function mutations/deletions in the TP53 gene. In the remaining 50% of cases the overexpression of HDM2 (mouse double minute 2, human homolog) protein, which is a natural inhibitor of p53, is the most common way of keeping p53 inactive. Disruption of HDM2-p53 interaction with the use of HDM2 antagonists leads to the release of p53 and expression of its target genes, engaged in the induction of cell cycle arrest, DNA repair, senescence, and apoptosis. The induction of apoptosis, however, is restricted to only a handful of p53wt cells, and, generally, cancer cells treated with HDM2 antagonists are not efficiently eliminated. For this reason, HDM2 antagonists were tested in combinations with multiple other therapeutics in a search for synergy that would enhance the cancer eradication. This manuscript aims at reviewing the recent progress in developing strategies of combined cancer treatment with the use of HDM2 antagonists.
LdrB Toxin with In Vitro and In Vivo Antitumor Activity as a Potential Tool for Cancer Gene Therapy
Authors: Jiménez-Martínez Yaiza , Griñán-Lisón Carmen , Khaldy Hoda , Martín Ana , Cambrils Alba , Ibáñez Grau Andrea , Jiménez Gema , Marchal Juan A. , Boulaiz Houria
Published: July 2019

Due to the high prevalence of cancer in recent years, it is necessary to develop new and more effective therapies that produce fewer side effects. Development of gene therapy for cancer based on the use of suicide genes that can damage the tumor cell, without requiring a prodrug for its lethal effect, is one of the recent foci of gene therapy strategies. We evaluated the cytotoxic impact of the LdrB toxin from Escherichia coli k12 as a possible tool for cancer gene therapy. For that, colorectal and breast cancer cells were transfected under the control of a TRE3G promoter inducible by doxycycline. Our results showed that ldrB gene expression induced a drastic inhibition of proliferation in vitro, in both 2D and 3D experimental models. Moreover, unlike conventional chemotherapy, the ldrB gene induced a severe loss of proliferation in vivo without any side effects in our animal model. This antitumor outcome was modulated by cell cycle arrest in the G0/G1 phase and apoptotic death. Scanning electronic microscopy demonstrates that the LdrB toxin conserves its pore-forming ability in HCT-116 cells as in E. coli k12. Taken together, our results provide, for the first time, a proof of concept of the antitumor capacity of the ldrB gene in colorectal and breast cancer.
Emerging Therapeutic Opportunities Based on Current Knowledge of Uveal Melanoma Biology
Authors: Vivet-Noguer Raquel , Tarin Malcy , Roman-Roman Sergio , Alsafadi Samar
Published: July 2019

Uveal Melanoma (UM) is a rare and malignant intraocular tumor with dismal prognosis. Despite the efficient control of the primary tumor by radiation or surgery, up to 50% of patients subsequently develop metastasis, mainly in the liver. Once the tumor has spread from the eye, the treatment is challenging and the median survival is only nine months. UM represents an intriguing model of oncogenesis that is characterized by a relatively homogeneous histopathological architecture and a low burden of genetic alterations, in contrast to other melanomas. UM is driven by recurrent activating mutations in Gαq pathway, which are associated with a second mutation in BRCA1 associated protein 1 (BAP1), splicing factor 3b subunit 1 (SF3B1), or eukaryotic translation initiation factor 1A X-linked (EIF1AX), occurring in an almost mutually exclusive manner. The monosomy of chromosome 3 is also a recurrent feature that is associated with high metastatic risk. These events driving UM oncogenesis have been thoroughly investigated over the last decade. However, no efficient related therapeutic strategies are yet available and the metastatic disease remains mostly incurable. Here, we review current knowledge regarding the molecular biology and the genetics of uveal melanoma and highlight the related therapeutic applications and perspectives.