bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Cinética de secagem de tomate em secador convencional e bomba de calor
Authors: Jordan Rodrigo Aparecido , Quequeto Wellytton Darci , Martins Elton Aparecido Siqueira , Siqueira Valdiney Cambuy , Hoscher Renata Henrique , Silva Rodrigo Vital da , Melo Carlos De Oliveira Moreira de , Freitas Ricardo Lordelo , Battilani Maurício , Oliveira Fabrício Correia de
Published: September 2020

O tomate é considerado altamente perecível, exigindo do mercado a aplicação de técnicas pós-colheita que propiciem a sua conservação e aumento de vida na prateleira, entre elas, a secagem é fundamental, pois visa reduzir o teor de água até níveis seguros que possibilitam a estabilidade durante o armazenamento. Devido a sensibilidade deste produto, o uso de bomba de calor a baixa temperatura vem sendo estudado, afim de diminuir a degradação e garantir melhor qualidade. Objetivou-se com o trabalho ajustar modelos matemáticos para descrever a cinética de secagem de fatias de tomate com uso de estufa e secador com bomba de calor. Foram realizadas três secagens com fatias de tomate, com teor de água inicial de aproximadamente 94,70% (base úmida), até que atingissem 25,00 ± 1% (b.u.). A primeira e a segunda utilizaram-se uma estufa com circulação forçada e renovação de ar, nas temperaturas de 50 e 65 ºC, respectivamente, já a terceira foi conduzida em um secador com bomba de calor a temperatura de 45 ºC. Aos dados experimentais da secagem das fatias de tomate foram ajustados diferentes modelos matemáticos para a descrição da cinética de secagem. O modelo de Valcam ajustou-se de maneira satisfatória as condições propostas. No início da secagem, a taxa de remoção de água foi maior para a secagem na estufa a 60 ºC. As fatias de tomate secas com bomba de calor a 45 ºC apresentaram melhor aspecto em termos de coloração.
Análise de confiabilidade estrutural em sinais de excitação randômica aplicando métodos estatístico linear-experimental e da bioengenharia
Authors: Shiino Dayene Kaori , Outa Roberto , Chavarette Fabio Roberto , Gonçalves Aparecido Carlos , Santos Lucas Henrique dos
Published: September 2020

Este trabalho demonstra um estudo de métodos estatísticos lineares-experimental e do sistema imunológico artificial de seleção negativa, aplicados a excitação randômica de um sistema dinâmico estrutural. No desenvolvimento deste trabalho foi desenvolvido uma estrutura shear building de dois andares excitado randomicamente, e a falha foi causada por uma perturbação externa aleatória, cujo sinal ruidoso foi tratado pelo filtro de Wiener e posteriormente aplicado o método estatístico linear-experimental e sistema imunológico artificial de seleção negativa. O resultado de ambas as aplicações permitiu uma análise direcionada e objetiva, demonstrando que o espectro do sinal contém níveis qualitativos e quantitativos de grande significância em aplicações na engenharia.
Türkiye Yaş İncir Üretimi ve Kuru İncir İhracatı için Öngörü: ARIMA Modeli Yaklaşımı
Authors: ÇAKAN Veli Anıl
Published: September 2020

Türkiye sahip olduğu yaklaşık 10 milyona yakın incir ağacı ve 300.000 ton dolaylarındaki yıllık incir üretimiyle dünyanın en büyük incir üreticisi ve ihracatçısı konumundadır. Bu nedenle yalnızca iç piyasasını değil dünya piyasalarını da etkileyebilme kabiliyeti bulunan Türkiye’nin yaş incir üretimi ve kuru incir ihracat miktarının öngörüsünün yapılması önem taşımaktadır. Çalışmada, Türkiye yaş incir üretimi ve kuru incir ihracat miktarının 2019-2025 yılları için öngörüsünü yapmak amacıyla “Birleşmiş Milletler Gıda ve Tarım Örgütü” ve “Türkiye İstatistik Kurumu” istatistiklerinden temin edilen; yaş incir üretimi için 1961-2018, kuru incir ihracatı için 1980-2018 yıllarına ilişkin yıllık verilerden yararlanılarak zaman serisi analiz yöntemlerinden ARIMA modeli ile tahmin yapılmıştır. Analiz kapsamında; değişkenlerin durağanlıklarının değerlendirilmesi için ADF birim kök testinden, modelin öngörü gücünü test edilmesi için ortalama mutlak yüzdelik hata ve Theil Eşitsizlik Katsayısı’ndan yararlanılmıştır. Pek çok kriter göz önünde bulundurularak; hem yaş incir üretimi hem de kuru incir ihracat miktarı için en uygun model ARIMA(2,1,2) olarak belirlenmiştir. Öngörü sonuçlarına göre; yaş incir üretiminin 2020 ve 2022 yılları dışında artış eğilimi göstererek 2025 yılında 317.000 ton seviyelerine ulaşacağı, kuru incir ihracat miktarının ise her yıl artarak artış eğilimi göstererek 2025 yılında 2018 yılına göre %19 oranında artışla 97.000 ton düzeyine ulaşacağı tahmin edilmiştir. Kuru incir üretimi için 2.9 kg taze incir gerektiği varsayımı altında her iki seri için yapılan tahmin göz önünde bulundurulduğunda, üretilecek incirin; 2019 yılında %74.17’sinin, 2022 yılında %80.10’unun ve 2025 yılında %86.05’inin kuru incir olarak ihraç edileceği ifade edilebilir. Bu oranın 1980 yılında %46.08, 2000 yılında %52.03 ve 2010 yılında %66.28 olduğu düşünüldüğünde; tahmin edilen yıllarda üretilen incirlerin önceki yıllara göre çok daha yüksek oranda kuru incir olarak ihraç edileceği öngörülmektedir.
RANCANG BANGUN DAN UNJUK KERJA TUNGKU TEMPA PORTABEL BERBAHAN BAKAR LPG
Authors: Sutrisno Oki Doko , Amirudin Asep , Rokhman Taufiqur , - Ahsan
Published: September 2020

Selama ini tungku tempa masih banyak yang menggunakan tungku tradisional dengan arang sebagai bahan bakarnya dan tenaga manusia yang menghasilkan hembusan tenaganya, khususnya di daerah pedesaan. Tungku tempa cara tradisional tersebut dirasakan kurang efisien dan susah untuk dipindah-pindahkan. Maka dari itu diperlukan alat tungku tempa portabel berbahan bakar LPG untuk membantu pengrajin pande besi dalam proses pembuatan atau pembentukan produknya sehingga memudahkan dalam melakukan pekerjaan tersebut. Rancang bangun ini menggunakan  dua buah burner dengan ukuran kepala burner 1,5 inchi sebagai sumber pijar apinya dan menggunakan keramic fiber, semen tahan panas sebagai pengawet dan penghasil bara api. Dari rancang bangun ini dihasilkan tungku tempa yang mampu melakukan pemanasan material sampai dengan temperatur 850°C.
ANALISIS PENGARUH PANJANG PIPA HYDROCARBON CRACKING SYSTEM (HCS) TERHADAP PERFORMA MESIN SEPEDA MOTOR
Authors: Suryasa Majanasastra Raden Bagus , Febriantoro Denis , Mahfud M Irham
Published: September 2020

Pada era sekarang ini cadangan minyak bumi semakin menipis, terutama bahan bakar yang berasal dari fosil yang penggunaannya semakin meningkat tajam dengan adanya perkembangan di dunia otomotif dan industri. Oleh karena itu untuk mengurangi pemakaian bahan bakar dengan cara menggunakan alternatif energi baru atau dengan cara melakukan penghematan bahan bakar dengan menggunakan Hydrocarbon Cracking System (HCS).Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk memperoleh data perbandingan unjuk kerja motor bakar 4 langkah dengan variasi panjang pipa katalis yaitu 300 mm, 450 mm dan 500 mm dengan diameter dalam 2 mm dengan bahan bakar premium. Dari hasil penelitian yang dilakukan pada torsi, penggunaan katalis dengan panjang 550 mm menghasilkan torsi tertinggi dibandingkan dengan tanpa menggunakan katalis (standart) yang hanya mencapai torsi maksimum sebesar 4.60 NM sedangkan pada daya penggunaan katalis dengan panjang 550 mm menghasilkan daya tertinggi dibandingkan dengan tanpa menggunakan katalis (standart) yang hanya mencapai daya maksimum sebesar 5.90 hp. Sedangkan pada penggunaan bahan bakar, dengan penambahan katalis terjadi penghematan bahan bakar. Penghematan tertinggi terjadi pada penggunaan pipa katalis dengan panjang 450 mm baik dengan putaran 4000 rpm, 5000 rpm maupun 6000 rpm di bandingkan dengan tanpa pipa katalis. hanya terjadi pada putaran 7000 rpm sedangkan pada putaran 8000 Rpm dan 9000 Rpm penghematan tertinggi pada penggunaan pipa katalis  dengan panjang  550 mm.
Analysis of Prognostic Significance of Risk Factors for Development of Chronic Kidney Disease
Authors: Babayev F.
Published: September 2020

Currently, more than two million people receive renal replacement therapy worldwide, but it is estimated that this is only 10% of patients in need. From this point of view, it is extremely important to increase caution about identifying risk factors and causes of chronic kidney disease in order to prevent it in a timely manner at the primary level. In Azerbaijan, an increase in patients on hemodialysis in dynamics was revealed. At the same time, both the number of hemodialysis centers and devices for hemodialysis increases. The number of dialysis machines from 2014 to 2019 tended to increase by +15.8% in 2015, +16.9% in 2016, +13.0% in 2017, +1.7% in 2018, +3.3% in 2019. The provision of patients with hemodialysis devices increased from 0.4 in 2014 to 0.7 per 10 thousand of the population in 2019. The positive trend in dialysis sessions received by patients in the republic was +16.7% in 2017, +12.1% in 2016, +5.4% in 2015, +1.3% in 2018, +0.3% in 2019. In the Javad-zade Republican Clinical Urological Hospital, an increase in dialysis sessions was noted in 2016 (+9.4%), 2016 (+9.4%) and 2017 (+5.2%). Identification of possible effects of risk factors for chronic kidney disease showed that in men, polycystic kidney disease had a statistically significant effect (RR=1.470, 95% CI 1.007–2.146), and in women, obesity (RR=3.366, 95% CI 2.286–4.954), iron deficiency anemia (RR=2.859, 95% CI 2,516–3,249). It is necessary to guarantee state financial support for renal replacement therapy for patients with chronic kidney disease, as well as state support for the development of dialysis centers.
Electroencephalogram indices in patients undergoing cardiac arrest
Authors: Berezina I. Yu. , Sumsky L. I. , Mikhailov A. Yu. , Arzumanov Yu. L.
Published: September 2020

Objective: to assess the safety of indicators of electrical activity of the brain for the approach to the analysis of the basic neurophysiological mechanisms of the brain in patients after cardiac arrest.

Materials and methods: 52 patients were examined (age — 54,68 ± 19,33) after cardiac arrest. At the time of recording the electroencephalogram (EEG), the level of wakefulness of the examined patients on the Glasgow coma scale was in the range of 3 to 13 points. In 35 patients, EEG recording was performed starting from the first three days from the moment of cardiac arrest, in 17 patients — from the fourth to the 18th day. EEG was registered on electroencephalographs ‘Encephalan–EEGR–19/26’ by ‘Medikom MTD’, ‘Neuron-Spectrum–5/EP’ and ‘Neuron-Spectrum–65’ by ‘Neurosoft’ in accordance with the recommendations of the International Federation of Clinical Neurophysiologists (IFCN). The duration of a single EEG recordings lasted at least 30 min. To localize equivalent dipole sources of pathological activity we used the program ‘BrainLoc 6.0’, (Russia). In 19 patients EEG was recorded in dynamics from 2 to 8 times.

Results: all patients showed EEG changes of varying severity, which can be divided into three groups (according to the severity of changes in the EEG: moderate, severe and rough). In the group of patients with gross changes in EEG can be identified 4 variants: the first variant — absence of the alpha rhythm and the dominance of slow-wave fluctuations of the frequency spectrum; variant II — continuous generalized paroxysmal activity; variant III — phenomenon of ‘burst-suppression’; variant IV — a marked decrease in the amplitude of electrical activity of the brain to the level of 2–4 microvolt.

Conclusions: based on the dynamics of the EEG pattern in patients after cardiac arrest, it is possible to assume with a certain degree of probability the level of violations in the basic mechanisms of the brain.
The Contribution of Measuring the Optic Nerve Sheath Diameter by using Ultrasonography to the Diagnosis and Monitoring of Intracranial Hypertension
Authors: Kendir Özlem Tolu , Yılmaz Hayri Levent , Özkaya Ahmet Kağan , Gökay Sinem Sarı , Bilen Sevcan
Published: September 2020

Background: Intracranial hypertension, which may have a number of
different causes, is a medical emergency. Although difficult to identify due to
non-specific symptoms, it must be treated appropriately. An early sign of intracranial
hypertension is an increase is observed in the optic nerve sheath diameter. .
Ultrasonography is a rapid and easy-to-apply method to detect an increase
in optic nerve sheath diameter, and may be useful for the emergency diagnosis
and treatment, as well as contributing to clinical follow-up. 

Case Presentation: In the present study,
seven patients with clinical suspicion for rapid intracranial pressure were admitted.
Clinical scenarios included traffic accident, metabolic imbalance, infection, and
intracranial mass.  The pediatric emergency specialist performed
optic nerve sheath measurement by using ultrasonography and a dilatation was
detected. All measurements were taken by the certified and experienced pediatric
emergency specialist blinded to
the patient's clinical state and also the specialist was under observation of a
lecturer during the measurements. Except for one patient,
the control optic sheath diameter measurements were performed in the period,
when they had no complaint, and the values were determined to be normal. To our
knowledge, this case series is the first one examined in Turkey. The data from cases
was collected between 2015 and 2016.

Conclusion: Optic nerve sheath diameter
measurement is a non-invasive method that offers ease of diagnosis and
follow-up of suspected intracranial hypertension.
Social process tracing - bringing back the social into the process
Authors: Cecchini Mathilde , Gejl Kaas Jonas , Beach Derek
Published: September 2020

Process tracing methods are increasingly popular in the social sciences. At the same time, most existing guidelines miss ‘the social’ when studying political and social processes. In effect, existing guidelines for PT suggest there is little difference between studying the natural world and the social world. In this article, we attempt to reconstruct process tracing methodology to create what we term ‘social process tracing’ methods, making it better suited to studying social processes, enabling the theorization of more socially-contextualized processes, and empirical analysis that supplements existing forms of process tracing evidence with ‘experience-near’ evidence based on participant understandings of specific settings and actors in question. In other words, to incorporate the beliefs, values and meanings of individuals to the causal explanation.
Illiberal Means for Liberal Ends: Low-Road Challenge to Liberal Public Discourse and International Relations
Authors: Yi Joseph
Published: September 2020

An influential strain of liberal thought demonizes certain groups and viewpoints as enemies of liberty, and supports restrictions on individual rights to further liberal ends. The use of illiberal and authoritarian means for ostensibly liberal ends, what Michael Doyle terms ‘low road’ liberalism, is embraced by self-described rights proponents in both the political right and left, and among key democratic states in Europe, North America and East Asia. Low-road ideology justifies, and habituates the public to, an ever-expanding set of illiberal practices that undermine open, rational public discourse. Our essay shall analyze low-road politics and practices in various contexts (especially in US and South Korea) and how they can be countered. We focus on two, transnational human rights campaigns: the mostly right-liberal (rightist), US-led campaign against North Korea, and the left-liberal, South Korean-led campaign against Japan.
The Influence of the Stimulus Design on the Harmonic Components of the Steady-State Visual Evoked Potential
Authors: Solf Benjamin , Schramm Stefan , Blum Maren-Christina , Klee Sascha
Published: September 2020

Steady-state visual evoked potentials (ssVEPs) are commonly used for functional objective diagnostics. In general, the main response at the stimulation frequency is used. However, some studies reported the main response at the second harmonic of the stimulation frequency. The aim of our study was to analyze the influence of the stimulus design on the harmonic components of ssVEPs. We studied 22 subjects (8 males, mean age ± SD = 27 ± 4.8 years) using a circular layout (r1 = 0–1.6°, r2 = 1.6–3.5°, r3 = 3.5–6.4°, r4 = 6.4–10.9°, and r5 = 10.9–18°). At a given eccentricity, the stimulus was presented according to a 7.5 Hz square wave with 50% duty cycle. To analyze the influence of the stimulus eccentricity, a background luminance of 30 cd/m2 was added to suppress foveal stray light effects; to analyze the influence of simultaneous foveal and peripheral stimulations, stimulations are performed without stray light suppression. For statistical analysis, medians M of the amplitude ratios for amplitudes at the second harmonic to the first harmonic and the probability of the occurrence of the main response at the second harmonic P(MCSH) are calculated. For stimulations with foveal stray light suppression, the medians were M0–1.6° = 0.45, M1.6–3.5° = 0.45, M3.5–6.4° = 0.76, M6.4–10.9° = 0.72, and M10.9–18° = 0.48, and the probabilities were P0–1.6°(MCSH) = 0.05, P1.6–3.5°(MCSH) = 0.05, P3.5–6.4°(MCSH) = 0.32, P6.4–10.9°(MCSH) = 0.29, and P10.9–18°(MCSH) = 0.30. For stimulations without foveal stray light suppression, the medians M were M0–1.6° = 0.29, M1.6–3.5° = 0.37, M3.5–6.4° = 0.98, M6.4–10.9° = 1.08, and M10.9–18° = 1.24, and the probabilities were P0–1.6°(MCSH) = 0.09, P1.6–3.5°(MCSH) = 0.05, P3.5–6.4°(MCSH) = 0.50, P6.4–10.9°(MCSH) = 0.55, and P10.9–18°(MCSH) = 0.55. In conclusion, the stimulus design has an influence on the harmonic components of ssVEPs. An increase in stimulation eccentricity during extrafoveal stimulation leads to a transition of the main response to the second harmonic. The effect is enhanced by a simultaneous foveal stimulation.
RETRACTED: The Oncolytic Virus in Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment
Authors: Cao Guo-dong , He Xiao-bo , Sun Qiang , Chen Sihan , Wan Ke , Xu Xin , Feng Xudong , Li Peng-ping , Chen Bo , Xiong Mao-ming
Published: September 2020

Cancer has always been an enormous threat to human health and survival. Surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy could improve the survival of cancer patients, but most patients with advanced cancer usually have a poor survival or could not afford the high cost of chemotherapy. The emergence of oncolytic viruses provided a new strategy for us to alleviate or even cure malignant tumors. An oncolytic virus can be described as a genetically engineered or naturally existing virus that can selectively replicate in cancer cells and then kill them without damaging the healthy cells. There have been many kinds of oncolytic viruses, such as herpes simplex virus, adenovirus, and Coxsackievirus. Moreover, they have different clinical applications in cancer treatment. This review focused on the clinical application of oncolytic virus and predicted the prospect by analyzing the advantages and disadvantages of oncolytic virotherapy.
Maternal Origins and Haplotype Diversity of Seven Russian Goat Populations Based on the D-loop Sequence Variability
Authors: Deniskova Tatiana , Bakoev Nekruz , Dotsev Arsen , Selionova Marina , Zinovieva Natalia
Published: September 2020

The territory of modern Russia lies on the crossroads of East and West and covers various geographical environments where diverse groups of local goats originated. In this work, we present the first study on the maternal origin of Russian local goats, including Altai Mountain (n = 9), Dagestan Downy (n = 18), Dagestan Local (n = 12), Dagestan Milk (n = 15), Karachaev (n = 21), Orenburg (n = 10), and Soviet Mohair (n = 7) breeds, based on 715 bp D-loop mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) sequences. Saanen goats (n = 5) were used for comparison. Our findings reveal a high haplotype (HD = 0.843–1.000) and nucleotide diversity (π = 0.0112–0.0261). A total of 59 haplotypes were determined in the Russian goat breeds, in which all differed from the haplotypes of the Saanen goats. The haplotypes identified in Altai Mountain, Orenburg, Soviet Mohair, and Saanen goats were breed specific. Most haplotypes (56 of 59) were clustered together with samples belonging to haplogroup A, which was in accordance with the global genetic pattern of maternal origin seen in most goats worldwide. The haplotypes that were grouped together with rare haplogroups D and G were found in the Altai Mountain breed and haplogroup C was detected in the Soviet Mohair breed. Thus, our findings revealed that local goats might have been brought to Russia via various migration routes. In addition, haplotype sharing was found in aboriginal goat populations from overlapping regions, which might be useful information for their official recognition status.
Effects of Bacillus amyloliquefaciens and Bacillus pumilus on Rumen and Intestine Morphology and Microbiota in Weanling Jintang Black Goat
Authors: Zhang Nanchi , Wang Li , Wei Yong
Published: September 2020

The importance of Bacillus as feed additives in animals’ production is well recognized. Bacillus amyloliquefaciens and Bacillus pumilus are involved in promoting animal growth performance and immunological indicators. However, their precise roles in the modulation of microbiota and immune response in goat rumen and intestines have not been investigated. The aim of the current work was to evaluate the impacts of Bacillus amyloliquefaciens fsznc-06 and Bacillus pumilus fsznc-09 in the development of rumen and small intestinal and microbial communities in rumen and caecum of weanling Jintang black goats. Morphological alterations of rumen and small intestine (duodenum, jejunum, and ileum) were evaluated by histochemical staining, and ruminal contents and cecal feces were analyzed by 16S rRNA sequencing in an Illumina NovaSeq platform. Morphological analysis showed that feeding weanling goats with Bacillus amyloliquefaciens fsznc-06 or Bacillus pumilus fsznc-09 enhanced ruminal papilla and small intestinal villus growth. In addition, 16S rRNA sequencing analysis indicated that microbial richness and diversity (Shannon, Simpson, Chao1, and ACE) and the relative richness of multiple or potential beneficial bacteria were higher in weaned black goats fed on Bacillus amyloliquefaciens fsznc-06 or Bacillus pumilus fsznc-09, but that of multiple or potentially pathogenic bacteria were lower, as compared with the control group. Tax4Fun analysis predicting the functional profiling of microbial communities showed that microbial communities in rumen or caecum were highly influential on metabolism and organism systems after feeding weanling goats with Bacillus amyloliquefaciens fsznc-06 or Bacillus pumilus fsznc-09. It was suggested that Bacillus amyloliquefaciens fsznc-06 and Bacillus pumilus fsznc-09 might be an auspicious antibiotic alternative to improve black goat growth and health by changing rumen and gut microbiota positively.
Yuzu and Hesperidin Ameliorate Blood-Brain Barrier Disruption during Hypoxia via Antioxidant Activity
Authors: Lee Bo Kyung , Hyun Soo-Wang , Jung Yi-Sook
Published: September 2020

Yuzu and its main component, hesperidin (HSP), have several health benefits owing to their anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. We examined the effects of yuzu and HSP on blood–brain barrier (BBB) dysfunction during ischemia/hypoxia in an in vivo animal model and an in vitro BBB endothelial cell model, and also investigated the underlying mechanisms. In an in vitro BBB endothelial cell model, BBB permeability was determined by measurement of Evans blue extravasation in vivo and in vitro. The expression of tight junction proteins, such as claudin-5 and zonula occludens-1 (ZO-1), was detected by immunochemistry and western blotting, and the reactive oxygen species (ROS) level was measured by 2′7′-dichlorofluorescein diacetate intensity. Yuzu and HSP significantly ameliorated the increase in BBB permeability and the disruption of claudin-5 and ZO-1 in both in vivo and in vitro models. In bEnd.3 cells, yuzu and HSP were shown to inhibit the disruption of claudin-5 and ZO-1 during hypoxia, and the protective effects of yuzu and HSP on claudin-5 degradation seemed to be mediated by Forkhead box O 3a (FoxO3a) and matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-3/9. In addition, well-known antioxidants, trolox and N-acetyl cysteine, significantly attenuated the BBB permeability increase, disruption of claudin-5 and ZO-1, and FoxO3a activation during hypoxia, suggesting that ROS are important mediators of BBB dysfunction during hypoxia. Collectively, these results indicate that yuzu and HSP protect the BBB against dysfunction via maintaining integrity of claudin-5 and ZO-1, and these effects of yuzu and HSP appear to be a facet of their antioxidant properties. Our findings may contribute to therapeutic strategies for BBB-associated neurodegenerative diseases.
An Anthocyanin-Enriched Extract from Vaccinium uliginosum Improves Signs of Skin Aging in UVB-Induced Photodamage
Authors: Jo Kyungae , Bae Gi Yeon , Cho Kyoungwon , Park Sung Sun , Suh Hyung Joo , Hong Ki-Bae
Published: September 2020

Accumulating evidence indicates that botanical extracts affect skin biophysical parameters, such as hydration, transepidermal water loss (TEWL), melanin index, erythema index, and wrinkle development. Vaccinium uliginosum extract contains a high level of anthocyanins as antioxidant and is ideal for use in dietary skin care products. Here, we assessed the photoprotective effects of dietary V. uliginosum extract in ultraviolet B (UVB)-irradiated hairless mice. Quantitative analysis of anthocyanin composition in the ethanol-extracted V. uliginosum sample was performed using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Skin parameter analysis and hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining were conducted on skin samples from UVB-irradiated hairless mice to evaluate the effects of V. uliginosum extract on skin conditions. In addition, skin mRNA and protein expression were assessed to characterize the molecular mechanisms underlying the effects of the anthocyanin-enriched extract on skin appearance and condition. Administration of the ethanol-extracted V. uliginosum sample caused significant changes in skin water-holding capacity, TEWL, wrinkle-related parameters, and epidermal thickness in UVB-irradiated hairless mice. In addition, oral administration of V. uliginosum attenuated the gene expression of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) and increased levels of tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase (TIMP) and antioxidant-related genes. Further, V. uliginosum administration downregulated inflammatory cytokine levels and UVB-induced phosphorylation of extracellular signaling regulated kinase (ERK), as well as Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) and p38 protein levels. Oral administration of anthocyanin-enriched V. uliginosum extract can improve the appearance and condition of the skin following UV irradiation.
Coregistration and Spatial Compounding of Optoacoustic Cardiac Images via Fourier Analysis of Four-Dimensional Data
Authors: Li Hongtong , Ivankovic Ivana , Li Jiao , Razansky Daniel , Deán-Ben Xosé Luís
Published: September 2020

Volumetric optoacoustic tomography has been shown to provide unprecedented capabilities for ultrafast imaging of cardiovascular dynamics in mice. Three-dimensional imaging rates in the order of 100 Hz have been achieved, which enabled the visualization of transient cardiac events such as arrhythmias or contrast agent perfusion without the need for retrospective gating. The fast murine heart rates (400–600 beats per minute) yet impose limitations when it comes to compounding of multiple frames or accurate registration of multi-spectral data. Herein, we investigate on the capabilities of Fourier analysis of four-dimensional data for coregistration of independent volumetric optoacoustic image sequences of the heart. The fundamental frequencies and higher harmonics of respiratory and cardiac cycles could clearly be distinguished, which facilitated efficient retrospective gating without additional readings. The performance of the suggested methodology was successfully demonstrated by compounding cardiac images acquired by raster-scanning of a spherical transducer array as well as by unmixing of oxygenated and deoxygenated hemoglobin from multi-spectral optoacoustic data.
A Diagnostics of Conveyor Belt Splices
Authors: Kozłowski Tomasz , Wodecki Jacek , Zimroz Radosław , Błażej Ryszard , Hardygóra Monika
Published: September 2020

Damage detection in complex mechanical structures is important for cost-effective and safe operation. Conveyor belts with steel cords are used for bulk material transport in mining companies. Due to harsh environmental conditions, both covers and cords are subjected to damage. As lengths of conveyors may vary from dozens of meters to kilometers, a belt loop consists of many connected belt pieces. Thus, the condition of splices between belt pieces is also critical. For both steel cord damage/wear detection and splice condition evaluations the NDT techniques based on magnetic field measurement and variability analysis are used. To obtain appropriate resolution, multi-channel data are collected. Here we propose a pre-processing technique developed for signal synchronization for biased splices data. The biased splices mean a phase shift between signals from a multi-channel sensor due to the design technology of the splice. As the quality of the splice is related to the appropriate precision of splice production, splice evaluation is defined as a similarity analysis of each signal with respect to the estimated pattern. Due to the mentioned phase shift, signals should be "synchronized" first, before final analysis. In industrial conditions, many factors may influence the signal shape. Thus, the problem of automated synchronization by shifting the signals may be defined as a multidimensional optimization problem. Here, we proposed to use a genetic algorithm with an algorithmically simple cost function for that purpose. In this paper, the authors propose an automated procedure applied to real measurement data and final results. A multidimensional optimization has been compared to simple signal shifting according to several criteria, and GA-based results were the best.
Discriminative Parameter Training of the Extended Particle-Aided Unscented Kalman Filter for Vehicle Localization
Authors: Lin Ming , Kim Byeongwoo
Published: September 2020

Location is one of the most important parameters of a self-driving car. To filter the sensor noise, we proposed the extended particle-aided unscented Kalman filter (PAUKF). Although the performance of the PAUKF improved, it still needed parameter tuning as other Kalman filter applications do. The characteristic of noise is important to the filter’s performance; the most important parameters therefore are the variances of the measurement. In most Kalman filter research, the variance of the filter is tuned manually, costing researchers plenty of time and yielding non-optimized results in most applications. In this paper, we propose a method that improves the performance of the extended PAUKF based on the coordinate descent algorithm by learning the most appropriate measurement variances. The results show that the performance of the extended PAUKF improved compared to the manually tuned extended PAUKF. By using the proposed training algorithm, practicability, training time efficiency and the estimation precision of the PAUKF improved compared to previous research.
Evaluation of Ultimate Bearing Capacity of Pre-Stressed High-Strength Concrete Pipe Pile Embedded in Saturated Sandy Soil Based on In-Situ Test
Authors: Wei Yingjie , Wang Duli , Li Jiawang , Jie Yuxin , Ke Zundong , Li Jianguang , Wong Tsunming
Published: September 2020

Estimation of ultimate bearing capacity (UBC) of pre-stressed high-strength concrete (PHC) pipe pile is critical for optimizing pile design and construction. In this study, a standard penetration test (SPT), static cone penetration test (CPT) and static load test (SLT) were carried out to assess, determine and compare the UBC of the PHC pipe pile embedded in saturated sandy layers at different depths. The UBC was calculated with three methods including the JGJ94-2008 method, Meyerhof method and Schmertmann method based on in-situ blow count (N) of SPT (SPT-N) which was higher than the values recommended in survey report regardless of pile length. The average UBC values calculated with cone-tip resistance and sleeve friction from CPTs was also higher than the value recommended in the survey report. Moreover, the actual UBC values directly obtained by load-displacement curves from SLTs were in line with the calculated values based on in-situ SPTs and CPTs, but approximately twice as high as the values recommended in the survey report regardless of pile length. For the SPT method, the application of bentonite mud in saturated sand layers is critical for the assessment of pile capacity in the survey phase, CPTs can provide reliable results regardless of soil characteristics and groundwater if the soil layer can be penetrated, and SLTs are necessary to accurately determine the UBC in complex stratum.
Climate Perspectives in the Intra–Americas Seas
Authors: Durán-Quesada Ana María , Sorí Rogert , Ordoñez Paulina , Gimeno Luis
Published: September 2020

The Intra–Americas Seas region is known for its relevance to air–sea interaction processes, the contrast between large water masses and a relatively small continental area, and the occurrence of extreme events. The differing weather systems and the influence of variability at different spatio–temporal scales is a characteristic feature of the region. The impact of hydro–meteorological extreme events has played a huge importance for regional livelihood, having a mostly negative impact on socioeconomics. The frequency and intensity of heavy rainfall events and droughts are often discussed in terms of their impact on economic activities and access to water. Furthermore, future climate projections suggest that warming scenarios are likely to increase the frequency and intensity of extreme events, which poses a major threat to vulnerable communities. In a region where the economy is largely dependent on agriculture and the population is exposed to the impact of extremes, understanding the climate system is key to informed policymaking and management plans. A wealth of knowledge has been published on regional weather and climate, with a majority of studies focusing on specific components of the system. This study aims to provide an integral overview of regional weather and climate suitable for a wider community. Following the presentation of the general features of the region, a large scale is introduced outlining the main structures that affect regional climate. The most relevant climate features are briefly described, focusing on sea surface temperature, low–level circulation, and rainfall patterns. The impact of climate variability at the intra–seasonal, inter–annual, decadal, and multi–decadal scales is discussed. Climate change is considered in the regional context, based on current knowledge for natural and anthropogenic climate change. The present challenges in regional weather and climate studies have also been included in the concluding sections of this review. The overarching aim of this work is to leverage information that may be transferred efficiently to support decision–making processes and provide a solid foundation on regional weather and climate for professionals from different backgrounds.
Bottle Conditioning: Technology and Mechanisms Applied in Refermented Beers
Authors: Štulíková Kateřina , Novák Jan , Vlček Jakub , Šavel Jan , Košin Petr , Dostálek Pavel
Published: September 2020

Bottle conditioning refers to a method of adding fermenting wort or yeast suspension in sugar solution into beer in its final package. Additionally denoted as bottle refermentation, this technique has been originally developed to assure beer carbonation, and has further significance related to formation of distinctive sensory attributes and enhancement of sensory stability, which are the phenomena associated with ongoing yeast metabolic activities in the final package. This review covers historical development of the method, describes metabolic pathways applied during refermentation, and explains practical aspects of the refermentation process management. Furthermore, an overview of the traditional and novel approaches of bottle conditioning with mixed yeast bacterial cultures and its impact on the properties of final beer is provided.
Sonodelivery in Skeletal Muscle: Current Approaches and Future Potential
Authors: Decker Richard E. , Lamantia Zachary E. , Emrick Todd S. , Figueiredo Marxa L.
Published: September 2020

There are currently multiple approaches to facilitate gene therapy via intramuscular gene delivery, such as electroporation, viral delivery, or direct DNA injection with or without polymeric carriers. Each of these methods has benefits, but each method also has shortcomings preventing it from being established as the ideal technique. A promising method, ultrasound-mediated gene delivery (or sonodelivery) is inexpensive, widely available, reusable, minimally invasive, and safe. Hurdles to utilizing sonodelivery include choosing from a large variety of conditions, which are often dependent on the equipment and/or research group, and moderate transfection efficiencies when compared to some other gene delivery methods. In this review, we provide a comprehensive look at the breadth of sonodelivery techniques for intramuscular gene delivery and suggest future directions for this continuously evolving field.
Identification of Modulated MicroRNAs Associated with Breast Cancer, Diet, and Physical Activity
Authors: Falzone Luca , Grimaldi Maria , Celentano Egidio , Augustin Livia S. A. , Libra Massimo
Published: September 2020

Background: Several studies have shown that healthy lifestyles prevent the risk of breast cancer (BC) and are associated with better prognosis. It was hypothesized that lifestyle strategies induce microRNA (miRNA) modulation that, in turn, may lead to important epigenetic modifications. The identification of miRNAs associated with BC, diet, and physical activity may give further insights into the role played by lifestyle interventions and their efficacy for BC patients. To predict which miRNAs may be modulated by diet and physical activity in BC patients, the analyses of different miRNA expression datasets were performed. Methods: The GEO DataSets database was used to select miRNA expression datasets related to BC patients, dietary interventions, and physical exercise. Further bioinformatic approaches were used to establish the value of selected miRNAs in BC development and prognosis. Results: The analysis of datasets allowed the selection of modulated miRNAs associated with BC development, diet, and physical exercise. Seven miRNAs were also associated with the overall survival of BC patients. Conclusions: The identified miRNAs may play a role in the development of BC and may have a prognostic value in patients treated with integrative interventions including diet and physical activity. Validation of such modulated miRNAs on BC patients undergoing lifestyle strategies will be mandatory.
Patterns of Urinary Neutrophil Gelatinase-Associated Lipocalin and Acute Kidney Injury in Neonates Receiving Cardiopulmonary Bypass
Authors: Brennan Kathleen G. , Parravicini Elvira , Lorenz John M. , Bateman David A.
Published: September 2020

Elevated urinary neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (uNGAL) predicts acute kidney injury (AKI) in children following cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) during cardiac surgery, but little is known about uNGAL’s predictive ability in neonates in this setting. We sought to determine the relationship between AKI and post-CPB uNGAL in neonates in the first 72 post-operative hours. Methods: Urine samples for uNGAL analysis were collected at preoperative baseline and serially post-operatively from 76 neonates undergoing CPB. Mixed-effects regression models and logistic models assessed associations between uNGAL and AKI (controlling for sex, gestational age, CPB time, surgical complexity, and age at surgery). Receiver-operator curves were applied to define optimal uNGAL cut-off values for AKI diagnosis. Results: Between 0 and 4 h post-operatively, uNGAL values did not differ between neonates with and without AKI. After 4 h until 16 h post-operatively, significant time-wise separation occurred between uNGAL values of neonates with AKI and those without AKI. Odds ratios at each time point significantly exceeded unity, peaking at 10 h post-operatively (3.48 (1.58, 8.71)). Between 4 and 16 h post-operatively, uNGAL discriminated AKI from no-AKI, with a sensitivity of 0.63 (0.49, 0.75) and a specificity of 0.68 (0.62, 0.74) at a cut-off value of 100 ng/mL. Conclusion: After 4 h until 16 h post-operatively, elevated uNGAL is associated with AKI in neonates receiving CPB during cardiac surgery; however, this relationship is more complex than in older children.
SARS-CoV-2 Persistence: Data Summary up to Q2 2020
Authors: Cervino Gabriele , Fiorillo Luca , Surace Giovanni , Paduano Valeria , Fiorillo Maria Teresa , De Stefano Rosa , Laudicella Riccardo , Baldari Sergio , Gaeta Michele , Cicciù Marco
Published: September 2020

The coronavirus pandemic is causing confusion in the world. This confusion also affects the different guidelines adopted by each country. The persistence of Coronavirus, responsible for coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) has been evaluated by different articles, but it is still not well-defined, and the method of diffusion is unclear. The aim of this manuscript is to underline new Coronavirus persistence features on different environments and surfaces. The scientific literature is still poor on this topic and research is mainly focused on therapy and diagnosis, rather than the characteristics of the virus. These data could be an aid to summarize virus features and formulate new guidelines and anti-spread strategies.
Family Influences on Caries in Grenada
Authors: Mitnick Danielle , Dills Ashley , Smith Slep Amy M. , Heyman Richard E. , Giresi Jill
Published: September 2020

If high-conflict family environments are cariogenic across cultures, and can be studied in cultures where both these environments and cariogenic dental practices are particularly prevalent, this would afford the opportunity to examine how these two pathways of risk might interact, laying the stage for culturally competent, integrated prevention efforts. The first investigation involved qualitative data about perceptions of oral health and family stressors in Grenadian families with school-aged children. The second study used a questionnaire and observational data to assess relations among oral health behaviors, relationship satisfaction, parenting, and child behavior; it also included a pilot study of Motivational Interviewing. Most of the themes discussed in focus groups suggested overlap between U.S. and Grenadian parents; possible culture-specific issues were high prevalence of single-parent homes, normativity of physical discipline, less preventive dental care, and more fatalistic view of oral health outcomes. Significant associations were found between parent and child oral health behaviors, between child externalizing and internalizing behaviors, and between family variables (e.g., relationship satisfaction, child behavior) and oral health behaviors (e.g., parent flossing, child brush time). The results strongly support the need for research on the relations between family functioning and oral health to be embedded within culture.
Assessing Complexity in Physiological Systems through Biomedical Signals Analysis
Authors: Castiglioni Paolo , Faes Luca , Valenza Gaetano
Published: September 2020

The idea that most physiological systems are complex has become increasingly popular in recent decades [...]
Clinical Value of Information Entropy Compared with Deep Learning for Ultrasound Grading of Hepatic Steatosis
Authors: Chen Jheng-Ru , Chao Yi-Ping , Tsai Yu-Wei , Chan Hsien-Jung , Wan Yung-Liang , Tai Dar-In , Tsui Po-Hsiang
Published: September 2020

Entropy is a quantitative measure of signal uncertainty and has been widely applied to ultrasound tissue characterization. Ultrasound assessment of hepatic steatosis typically involves a backscattered statistical analysis of signals based on information entropy. Deep learning extracts features for classification without any physical assumptions or considerations in acoustics. In this study, we assessed clinical values of information entropy and deep learning in the grading of hepatic steatosis. A total of 205 participants underwent ultrasound examinations. The image raw data were used for Shannon entropy imaging and for training and testing by the pretrained VGG-16 model, which has been employed for medical data analysis. The entropy imaging and VGG-16 model predictions were compared with histological examinations. The diagnostic performances in grading hepatic steatosis were evaluated using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis and the DeLong test. The areas under the ROC curves when using the VGG-16 model to grade mild, moderate, and severe hepatic steatosis were 0.71, 0.75, and 0.88, respectively; those for entropy imaging were 0.68, 0.85, and 0.9, respectively. Ultrasound entropy, which varies with fatty infiltration in the liver, outperformed VGG-16 in identifying participants with moderate or severe hepatic steatosis (p < 0.05). The results indicated that physics-based information entropy for backscattering statistics analysis can be recommended for ultrasound diagnosis of hepatic steatosis, providing not only improved performance in grading but also clinical interpretations of hepatic steatosis.
Method to Grasp a Feeling of Being There by Turning a Head Forcibly while Watching a Tourism Video using a VR Headset
Authors: Isoyama Naoya , Terada Tsutomu , Tsukamoto Masahiko
Published: September 2020

In virtual reality (VR) tourism, when watching a video of a tourist location, the feeling of presence improves the experience. Furthermore, it is desirable to be able to give a feeling of having been there before to the users visiting the site afterward. In this study, we aimed to reveal the factors that provide these feelings. We hypothesized that one of the factors is the perception of self-motion. Therefore, we proposed a method wherein the users were induced to turn their heads to the left and right when watching the video of a tourist site via a VR head-mounted display. We conducted two experiments and found that the proposed method conveyed the greatest sense of presence. On the other hand, there was no significant difference in giving the feeling of having been there between the proposed method and watching the video of the site on a PC.
Reduced-Reflection Multilayer PCB Microstrip with Discontinuity Characterization
Authors: Vasjanov Aleksandr , Barzdenas Vaidotas
Published: September 2020

In the era of technology and communication, printed circuit boards (PCBs) can be found in a myriad of devices—from ordinary household items, to state of the art custom metrology equipment. Different types of component for wireless communications are available and come in various packages, supplied by multiple manufacturers. The signal landpads for some high-frequency connectors and components, encapsulated in larger packages, are usually wider than the controlled impedance trace, thereby introducing unwanted impedance mismatch and resulting in signal reflections. The component land pad and microstrip width a discrepancy issue can be found in both complex high-density industrial devices and system-level academic research papers. This paper addresses the topic of compensating discontinuities, introduced by signal pads, which are wider than the target impedance microstrip, characterizes the difference between the compensated and uncompensated microstrip with discontinuity, and proposes a generalized guideline on compensating for the introduced impedance change in multilayer PCBs. The compensation method is based upon carefully designing the stackup of the PCB allowing for a reference plane cutout under the discontinuity to even out the impedance mismatch. A 6-layer PCB with IT180A dielectric material containing three structures has been manufactured and characterized using an Agilent E8363B vector network analyzer (VNA). A 4–12 dB improvement in S11 response in the whole frequency range up to 10 GHz, compared to that when no compensation has been applied, was observed.