bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Retinoid Agonists in the Targeting of Heterotopic Ossification
Authors: Pignolo Robert J. , Pacifici Maurizio
Published: November 2021

Retinoids are metabolic derivatives of vitamin A and regulate the function of many tissues and organs both prenatally and postnatally. Active retinoids, such as all trans-retinoic acid, are produced in the cytoplasm and then interact with nuclear retinoic acid receptors (RARs) to up-regulate the transcription of target genes. The RARs can also interact with target gene response elements in the absence of retinoids and exert a transcriptional repression function. Studies from several labs, including ours, showed that chondrogenic cell differentiation and cartilage maturation require (i) the absence of retinoid signaling and (ii) the repression function by unliganded RARs. These and related insights led to the proposition that synthetic retinoid agonists could thus represent pharmacological agents to inhibit heterotopic ossification (HO), a process that recapitulates developmental skeletogenesis and involves chondrogenesis, cartilage maturation, and endochondral ossification. One form of HO is acquired and is caused by injury, and another severe and often fatal form of it is genetic and occurs in patients with fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva (FOP). Mouse models of FOP bearing mutant ACVR1R206H, characteristic of most FOP patients, were used to test the ability of the retinoid agonists selective for RARα and RARγ against spontaneous and injury-induced HO. The RARγ agonists were found to be most effective, and one such compound, palovarotene, was selected for testing in FOP patients. The safety and effectiveness data from recent and ongoing phase II and phase III clinical trials support the notion that palovarotene may represent a disease-modifying treatment for patients with FOP. The post hoc analyses showed substantial efficacy but also revealed side effects and complications, including premature growth plate closure in some patients. Skeletally immature patients will need to be carefully weighed in any future regulatory indications of palovarotene as an important therapeutic option in FOP.
The Impact of Acquired Genetic Abnormalities on the Clinical Translation of Human Pluripotent Stem Cells
Authors: Keller Alexander , Spits Claudia
Published: November 2021

Human pluripotent stem cells (hPSC) are known to acquire chromosomal abnormalities, which range from point mutations to large copy number changes, including full chromosome aneuploidy. These aberrations have a wide-ranging influence on the state of cells, in both the undifferentiated and differentiated state. Currently, very little is known on how these abnormalities will impact the clinical translation of hPSC, and particularly their potential to prime cells for oncogenic transformation. A further complication is that many of these abnormalities exist in a mosaic state in culture, which complicates their detection with conventional karyotyping methods. In this review we discuss current knowledge on how these aberrations influence the cell state and how this may impact the future of research and the cells’ clinical potential.
Accumulation of Genetic and Epigenetic Alterations in the Background Liver and Emergence of Hepatocellular Carcinoma in Patients with Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease
Authors: Hagiwara Satoru , Nishida Naoshi , Ueshima Kazuomi , Minami Yasunori , Komeda Yoriaki , Aoki Tomoko , Takita Masahiro , Morita Masahiro , Chishina Hirokazu , Yoshida Akihiro , Ida Hiroshi , Kudo Masatoshi
Published: November 2021

The incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) related to non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is increasing worldwide. We analyzed 16 surgically resected HCC cases in which the background liver was pathologically diagnosed as NAFLD. Specimens with Brunt classification grade 3 or higher were assigned as the fibrotic progression group (n = 8), and those with grade 1 or lower were classified as the non-fibrosis progression group (n = 8). Comprehensive mutational and methylome analysis was performed in cancerous and noncancerous tissues. The target gene mutation analysis with deep sequencing revealed that CTNNB1 and TP53 mutation was observed in 37.5% and TERT promoter mutation was detected in 50% of cancerous samples. Furthermore, somatic mutations in non-cancerous samples were less frequent, but were observed regardless of the progression of fibrosis. Similarly, on cluster analysis of methylome data, status for methylation events involving non-cancerous liver was similar regardless of the progression of fibrosis. It was found that, even in cases of non-progressive fibrosis, accumulation of gene mutations and abnormal methylation within non-cancerous areas were observed. Patients with NAFLD require a rigorous liver cancer surveillance due to the high risk of HCC emergence based on the accumulation of genetic and epigenetic abnormalities, even when fibrosis is not advanced.
Life Cycle Assessment of Solid Recovered Fuel Gasification in the State of Qatar
Authors: Al-Moftah Ahmad Mohamed S. H. , Marsh Richard , Steer Julian
Published: November 2021

Gas products from gasified solid recovered fuel (SRF) have been proposed as a replacement for natural gas to produce electricity in future power generation systems. In this work, the life cycle assessment (LCA) of SRF air gasification to energy was conducted using the Recipe2016 model considering five environmental impact categories and four scenarios in Qatar. The current situation of municipal solid waste (MSW) handling in Qatar is landfill with composting. The results show that using SRF gasification can reduce the environmental impact of MSW landfills and reliance on natural gas in electricity generation. Using SRF gasification on the selected five environmental impact categories—climate change, terrestrial acidification, marine ecotoxicity, water depletion and fossil resource depletion—returned significant reductions in environmental degradation. The LCA of the SRF gasification for the main four categories in the four scenarios gave varying results. The introduction of the SRF gasification reduced climate change-causing emissions by 41.3% because of production of renewable electricity. A reduction in water depletion and fossil resource depletion of 100 times were achieved. However, the use of solar technology and SRF gasification to generate electricity reduced the impact of climate change to almost zero emissions. Terrestrial acidification showed little to no change in all three scenarios investigated. This study was compared with the previous work from the literature and showed that on a nominal 10 kg MSW processing basis, 5 kg CO2 equivalent emissions were produced for the landfilling scenarios. While the previous studies reported that 8 kg CO2 produced per 10 kg MSW is processed for the same scenario. The findings indicate that introducing SRF gasification in solid waste management and electricity generation in Qatar has the potential to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emission load and related social, economic, political and environmental costs. In addition, the adoption of the SRF gasification in the country will contribute to Qatar’s national vision 2030 by reducing landfills and produce sustainable energy.
Electroplating of Pure Aluminum from [HMIm][TFSI]–AlCl3 Room-Temperature Ionic Liquid
Authors: Melamed Yarden , Maity Nabasmita , Meshi Louisa , Eliaz Noam
Published: November 2021

Electrodeposition of aluminum and its alloys is of great interest in the aerospace, automobile, microelectronics, energy, recycle, and other industrial sectors, as well as for defense and, potentially, electrochemical printing applications. Here, for the first time, we report room-temperature electroplating of pure aluminum on copper and nickel substrates from an ionic liquid (IL) consisting of 1-Hexyl-3-methylimidazolium (HMIm) cation and bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide (TFSI) anion, with a high concentration of 8 mol/L AlCl3 aluminum precursor. The aluminum deposits are shown to have a homogeneous and dense nanocrystalline structure. A quasi-reversible reaction is monitored, where the current is affected by both charge transfer and mass transport. The electrocrystallization of Al on Ni is characterized by instantaneous nucleation. The deposited Al layers are dense, homogeneous, and of good surface coverage. They have a nanocrystalline, single-phase Al (FCC) structure, with a dislocation density typical of Al metal. An increase in the applied cathodic potential from −1.3 to −1.5 V vs. Pt resulted in more than one order of magnitude increase in the deposition rate (to ca. 44 μm per hour), as well as in ca. one order of magnitude finer grain size. The deposition rate is in accordance with typical industrial coating systems.
Corrosion Behavior of Chromium Coated Zy-4 Cladding under CANDU Primary Circuit Conditions
Authors: Diniasi Diana , Golgovici Florentina , Anghel Alexandru , Fulger Manuela , Surdu-Bob Carmen Cristina , Demetrescu Ioana
Published: November 2021

The manuscript is focused on corrosion behavior of a Cr coating under CANada Deuterium Uranium(CANDU) primary circuit conditions. The Cr coating is obtained via the thermionic vacuum arc procedure on Zircaloy -4 cladding. The surface coating characterization was performed using metallographic analysis and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) with an energy dispersive spectra detector (EDS), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) investigations. The thickness of the Cr coating determined from SEM images is around 500 nm layers After the autoclaving period, the thickness of the samples increased in time slowly. The kinetic of oxidation established a logarithmic oxidation law. The corrosion tests for various autoclaving periods of time include electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and potentiodynamic tests, permitting computing porosity and efficiency of protection. All surface investigations sustain electrochemical results and promote the Cr coating on Zircaloy-4 alloy autoclaved for 3024 h as the best corrosion resistance based on decrease in corrosion current density values simultaneously with the increase of the time spent in autoclave. A slow increase of Vickers micro hardness was observed as a function of the autoclaved period as well. The value reached for 3024 h being 219 Kgf/mm2 compared with 210 Kgf/mm2 value before autoclaving.
Obliquely Bideposited TiN Thin Film with Morphology-Dependent Optical Properties
Authors: Jen Yi-Jun , Ma Wei-Chieh , Lin Ting-Yen
Published: November 2021

TiN thin films were obliquely bideposited with different subdeposit thicknesses. The morphology of the bideposited film was varied from a nano-zigzag array to a vertically grown columnar structure by reducing the subdeposit thickness. The principal index of refraction and extinction coefficient were obtained to explain the measured reflectance and transmittance spectra. The loss of the bideposited thin film decreased as the thickness of the subdeposit decreased. The principal indices for normal incidence were near or under unity, indicating the low reflection by the bideposited thin films. A TiN film with a subdeposit thickness of 3 nm demonstrated an average index of refraction of 0.83 and extinction coefficient of below 0.2 for visible wavelengths. The retrieved principal refractive indexes explained the anisotropic transmission and reflection. For most normal incident cases, the analysis offers the tunable anisotropic property of a TiN nanostructured film for multilayer design in the future.
Evaluation of ZIF-8 and ZIF-90 as Heat Storage Materials by Using Water, Methanol and Ethanol as Working Fluids
Authors: Byrne Ciara , Ristić Alenka , Mal Suzana , Opresnik Mojca , Zabukovec Logar Nataša
Published: November 2021

The increasing demand for heating/cooling is of grave concern due to the ever-increasing population. One method that addresses this issue and uses renewable energy is Thermochemical Energy Storage (TCES), which is based on the reversible chemical reactions and/or sorption processes of gases in solids or liquids. Zeolitic imidazolate frameworks (ZIFs), composed of transition metal ions (Zn, Co, etc.) and imidazolate linkers, have gained significant interest recently as porous adsorbents in low temperature sorption-based TES (sun/waste heat). In this study, we examined two different sodalite-type ZIF structures (ZIF-8 and ZIF-90) for their potential heat storage applications, based on the adsorption of water, methanol and ethanol as adsorbates. Both ZIF structures were analysed using PXRD, TGA, SEM and N2 physisorption while the % adsorbate uptake and desorption enthalpy was evaluated using TGA and DSC analysis, respectively. Among the studied adsorbent–adsorbate pairs, ZIF-90-water showed the highest desorption enthalpy, the fastest sorption kinetics and, therefore, the best potential for use in heat storage/reallocation applications. This was due to its significantly smaller particle size and higher specific surface area, and the presence of mesoporosity as well as polar groups in ZIF-90 when compared to ZIF-8.
The Influence of Fly Ash Content on the Compressive Strength of Cemented Sand and Gravel Material
Authors: Chai Qihui , Wan Fang , Xiao Lingfeng , Wu Feng
Published: November 2021

Cemented sand and gravel (CSG) material is a new type of dam material developed on the basis of roller compacted concrete, hardfill, and ultra-poor cementing materials. Its main feature is a wide range of sources of aggregate (aggregate is not screened but by simply removing the large particles it can be fully graded on the dam filling) and low amounts of cementitious materials per unit volume. This dam construction material is not only economical and practical, but also green and environmentally friendly. There are many factors affecting the mechanical properties of CSG materials, such as aggregate gradation, sand ratio, water content, water–binder ratio, fly ash content, admixture content, etc. Based on the existing research results of the team, this paper focuses on the influence of fly ash content on the compressive strength of CSG materials. Through a large number of laboratory measured data, we found: (1) The compressive strength law of materials at different ages; the compressive strength of CSG material at age 90 d is generally 10%~30% higher than that at 28 d, and it is proposed that 90 d or 180 d strength should be used as the design strength in the design of CSG material dam; (2) There is an optimal value of fly ash content in CSG materials: when the fly ash content is 50% of the total amount of cementitious materials (cement + fly ash), the fly ash content is defined as the optimal content, and the test data are verified by regression analysis. The discovery of an ‘optimal dosage’ of fly ash provides an important reference for the design and construction of CSG dams.
Influence of Cold Rolled Deformation Degree and Heating Rates on Crystallite Dimension and Recrystallization Fraction of Aluminum Plates
Authors: Wang Yunlei , Ren Liping , Dong Jingren , Cao Chuanchuan
Published: November 2021

In order to study the microstructure evolution rule of pure aluminum plates during different cold-rolled (CR) deformation degrees and annealing processes, samples with aCR deformation of 50~85%, heating rates of 60~100 °C/min and annealing at the target temperature of 350~500 °C were investigated. The microstructure, crystallite dimension and grain boundary characteristics were characterized by the methods of polarizing microscope (PM) and electron backscattered diffraction (EBSD). The results showed that the crystallite dimension of the initial state was 102 μm and ends up completely broken with an increase in the CR deformation degree. When the CR deformation increases to 85%, the deformed micro-bands were very small, with a band spacing of 5~10 μm. At this time, the grain distortion is more serious, there are more high-density grain defects, such as dislocations, and there is a high deformation of the storage energy, which is the energy preparation for the subsequent finished products to withstand the annealing process. The recrystallization fraction was higher with an increase in annealing temperature. After completed recrystallization, the grains showed an equiaxed shape. Orientation imaging and misorientation angle analysis showed that the red-oriented grains of the (001) plane, which had preferred nucleation, recrystallization and rapid grain growth. Final grains of the completed recrystallization are relatively coarse. Under the same deformation, the average crystallite dimension of the recrystallized grains decreases with an increase in annealing heating rate.
Effect of Synthesis Method on Properties of Layered Double Hydroxides Containing Ni(III)
Authors: Nestroinaia Olga V. , Ryltsova Irina G. , Lebedeva Olga E.
Published: November 2021

Unstable oxidation state +3 of nickel can be stabilized in the structure of layered double hydroxides, the resulting crystallinity and properties being dependent on the synthesis method. Three different wet chemical methods (co-precipitation at variable pH, co-precipitation followed by hydrothermal treatment, co-precipitation with microwave treatment) were used to synthesize Mg/Ni–Al layered double hydroxides containing triply charged nickel cations. Lattice parameters of the samples synthesized by various methods were found to differ from each other by about 1.5%. The most crystallized sample was obtained by hydrothermal synthesis. The oxidation state of nickel in the LDH samples was confirmed by XPS. TEM mapping gave evidence of the uniform distribution of nickel in all the samples. The LDHs’ reduction with hydrogen and thermal transformations of the phase composition and morphology of LDHs were studied in detail. The properties of the samples synthesized by the different methods were shown to be quite similar.
Diagnosis and Management of Inborn Errors of Metabolism in Adult Patients in the Emergency Department
Authors: Solares Isabel , Heredia-Mena Carlos , Castelbón Francisco Javier , Jericó Daniel , Córdoba Karol Marcela , Fontanellas Antonio , Enríquez de Salamanca Rafael , Morales-Conejo Montserrat
Published: November 2021

Inborn errors of metabolism (IEM) constitute an important group of conditions characterized by an altered metabolic pathway. There are numerous guidelines for the diagnosis and management of IEMs in the pediatric population but not for adults. Given the increasing frequency of this group of conditions in adulthood, other clinicians in addition to pediatricians should be aware of them and learn to identify their characteristic manifestations. Early recognition and implementation of an appropriate therapeutic approach would improve the clinical outcome of many of these patients. This review presents when and how to investigate a metabolic disorder with the aim of encouraging physicians not to overlook a treatable disorder.
Advances of Exosomal miRNAs in Breast Cancer Progression and Diagnosis
Authors: Chen Wenwen , Li Zhongyu , Deng Pengwei , Li Zhengnan , Xu Yuhai , Li Hongjing , Su Wentao , Qin Jianhua
Published: November 2021

Breast cancer is one of the most commonly diagnosed malignancies and the leading cause of cancer death in women worldwide. Although many factors associated with breast cancer have been identified, the definite etiology of breast cancer is still unclear. In addition, early diagnosis of breast cancer remains challenging. Exosomes are membrane-bound nanovesicles secreted by most types of cells and contain a series of biologically important molecules, such as lipids, proteins, and miRNAs, etc. Emerging evidence shows that exosomes can affect the status of cells by transmitting substances and messages among cells and are involved in various physiological and pathological processes. In breast cancer, exosomes play a significant role in breast tumorigenesis and progression through transfer miRNAs which can be potential biomarkers for early diagnosis of breast cancer. This review discusses the potential utility of exosomal miRNAs in breast cancer progression such as tumorigenesis, metastasis, immune regulation and drug resistance, and further in breast cancer diagnosis.
Multimer Analysis of Von Willebrand Factor in Von Willebrand Disease with a Hydrasys Semi-Automatic Analyzer—Single-Center Experience
Authors: Skornova Ingrid , Simurda Tomas , Stasko Jan , Zolkova Jana , Sokol Juraj , Holly Pavol , Dobrotova Miroslava , Plamenova Ivana , Hudecek Jan , Brunclikova Monika , Stryckova Alena , Kubisz Peter
Published: November 2021

von Willebrand disease (VWD) is reportedly the most common inherited bleeding disorder. This disorder develops as a result of defects and/or deficiency of the plasma protein von Willebrand factor (VWF). Laboratory testing for VWF-related disorders requires the assessment of both VWF level and VWF activity, the latter requiring multiple assays. As an additional step, an evaluation of VWF structural features by multimer analysis is useful in selective investigations. Multimer analysis is also important for the selection of a suitable VWF therapy preparation (desmopressin, VWF/FVIII concentrate, recombinant VWF) and the determination of the correct dose for the patient. Based on clinical and laboratory findings, including the analysis of VWF multimers, we classified our patients into individual types of VWD. Our study group included 58 patients. The study group consisted of 66% (38 patients) with VWD type 1, 5% (3 patients) with VWD type 2, 7% (4 patients) with VWD type 3, 5% (3 patients) with mixed type 1/2A VWD, and 17% (10 patients) comprising an unclassified group. In this article, we provide an overview of our practical experience using a new complementary method—the analysis of von Willebrand factor multimers with a semi-automatic analyzer Hydrasys 2 scan. We explain the principle, procedure, advantages, and pitfalls associated with the introduction of the VWF multimer analysis methodology into standard VWD diagnostics.
Controlling Droplet Marangoni Flows to Improve Microscopy-Based TB Diagnosis
Authors: Pearlman Stephanie I. , Tang Eric M. , Tao Yuankai K. , Haselton Frederick R.
Published: November 2021

In developing countries, the most common diagnostic method for tuberculosis (TB) is microscopic examination sputum smears. Current assessment requires time-intensive inspection across the microscope slide area, and this contributes to its poor diagnostic sensitivity of ≈50%. Spatially concentrating TB bacteria in a smaller area is one potential approach to improve visual detection and potentially increase sensitivity. We hypothesized that a combination of magnetic concentration and induced droplet Marangoni flow would spatially concentrate Mycobacterium tuberculosis on the slide surface by preferential deposition of beads and TB–bead complexes in the center of an evaporating droplet. To this end, slide substrate and droplet solvent thermal conductivities and solvent surface tension, variables known to impact microfluidic flow patterns in evaporating droplets, were varied to select the most appropriate slide surface coating. Optimization in a model system used goniometry, optical coherence tomography, and microscope images of the final deposition pattern to observe the droplet flows and maximize central deposition of 1 μm fluorescent polystyrene particles and 200 nm nanoparticles (NPs) in 2 μL droplets. Rain-X® polysiloxane glass coating was identified as the best substrate material, with a PBS-Tween droplet solvent. The use of smaller, 200 nm magnetic NPs instead of larger 1 μm beads allowed for bright field imaging of bacteria. Using these optimized components, we compared standard smear methods to the Marangoni-based spatial concentration system, which was paired with magnetic enrichment using iron oxide NPs, isolating M. bovis BCG (BCG) from samples containing 0 and 103 to 106 bacilli/mL. Compared to standard smear preparation, paired analysis demonstrated a combined volumetric and spatial sample enrichment of 100-fold. With further refinement, this magnetic/Marangoni flow concentration approach is expected to improve whole-pathogen microscopy-based diagnosis of TB and other infectious diseases.
Applicability of Anatomic and Physiologic Scoring Systems for the Prediction of Outcome in Polytraumatized Patients with Blunt Aortic Injuries
Authors: Omar Alexander , Winkelmann Marcel , Liodakis Emmanouil , Clausen Jan-Dierk , Graulich Tilman , Omar Mohamed , Krettek Christian , Macke Christian
Published: November 2021

Background: Most patients with blunt aortic injuries, who arrive alive in a clinic, suffer from traumatic pseudoaneurysms. Due to modern treatments, the perioperative mortality has significantly decreased. Therefore, it is unclear how exact the prediction of commonly used scoring systems of the outcome is. Methods: We analyzed data on 65 polytraumatized patients with blunt aortic injuries. The following scores were calculated: injury severity score (ISS), new injury severity score (NISS), trauma and injury severity score (TRISS), revised trauma score coded (RTSc) and acute physiology and chronic health evaluation II (APACHE II). Subsequently, their predictive value was evaluated using Spearman´s and Kendall´s correlation analysis, logistic regression and receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curves. Results: A proportion of 83% of the patients suffered from a thoracic aortic rupture or rupture with concomitant aortic wall dissection (54/65). The overall mortality was 24.6% (16/65). The sensitivity and specificity were calculated as the area under the receiver operating curves (AUC): NISS 0.812, ISS 0.791, APACHE II 0.884, RTSc 0.679 and TRISS 0.761. Logistic regression showed a slightly higher specificity to anatomical scoring systems (ISS 0.959, NISS 0.980, TRISS 0.957, APACHE II 0.938). The sensitivity was highest in the APACHE II with 0.545. Sensitivity and specificity for the RTSc were not significant. Conclusion: The predictive abilities of all scoring systems were very limited. All scoring systems, except the RTSc, had a high specificity but a low sensitivity. In our study population, the RTSc was not applicable. The APACHE II was the most sensitive score for mortality. Anatomical scoring systems showed a positive correlation with the amount of transfused blood products.
Immunoreactivity of Polish Lyme Disease Patient Sera to Specific Borrelia Antigens—Part 1
Authors: Wojciechowska-Koszko Iwona , Mnichowska-Polanowska Magdalena , Kwiatkowski Paweł , Roszkowska Paulina , Sienkiewicz Monika , Dołęgowska Barbara
Published: November 2021

The diverse clinical picture and the non-specificity of symptoms in Lyme disease (LD) require the implementation of effective diagnostics, which should take into account the heterogeneity of Borrelia antigens. According to available guidelines, laboratories should use a two-tier serological diagnosis based on the enzyme-linked immunosorbent (ELISA) screening test and confirmation of the immunoblot (IB). The aim of the study was to investigate the immunoreactivity of LD patient sera to Borrelia antigens and to attempt to identify the genospecies responsible for LD using an ELISA–IB assay combination. Eighty patients with suspected LD and 22 healthy people participated in the study. All samples were tested with ELISA and IB assays in both IgM and IgG antibodies. In the case of the ELISA assay, more positive results were obtained in the IgM class than in the IgG class. In the case of the IB assay, positive results dominated in the IgG class. Positive results obtained in the IB assay most often showed IgM antibodies against the OspC and flagellin antigens, whereas the IgG antibodies were against VlsE, BmpA, OspC, p41, and p83 antigens. The IB assay is an important part of LD serodiagnosis and should be mandatory in diagnostic laboratories.
Analysis of Complex Solid-Gas Flow under the Influence of Gravity through Inclined Channel and Comparison with Real-Time Dual-Sensor System
Authors: Abrar Usama , Yousaf Adnan , Jaffri Nasif Raza , Rehman Ateeq Ur , Ahmad Aftab , Gardezi Akber Abid , Naseer Salman , Shafiq Muhammad , Choi Jin-Ghoo
Published: November 2021

Gas-solid flow is used in the chemical industry, food industry, pharmaceuticals, vehicles, and power generation. The calculation of flow has aroused great interest in contemporary industry. In recent decades, researchers have been seeking to build an effective system to monitor and calculate gas-solid flow. Attempts have been extended from computational modeling to the creation of flow pattern visualization methods and mass flow (MFR) quantification. MFR is usually studied by volume flow concentration (VFC) and velocity distribution of solid particles. A non-invasive device is used for testing MFR, in which electronic and mechanical sensors are used to balance the shortcomings related to each other. This study investigates the simulation of flow patterns to demonstrate the behavior of solid particles as they pass through the channel. The particles are allowed to slide longitudinally in the insulated tending channel. This slippage is due to the influence of natural gravity. Electronic sensor components are used to measure the velocity distribution and concentration of volumetric flow. The load cell is used as an auxiliary sensor for measuring MFR. In addition, ANSYS fluent is used to analyze streaming queries. The experimental results are related to evaluating the accuracy and relative error of the data collected from various sensors under different conditions. However, the simulation results can help explain the movement of the gas-solid mixture and can understand the cause of pipeline blockage during the slow movement of solid particles.
Accurate Reconstruction of the Radiation of Sparse Sources from a Small Set of Near-Field Measurements by Means of a Smooth-Weighted Norm for Cluster-Sparsity Problems
Authors: Pinchera Daniele , Migliore Marco Donald
Published: November 2021

The aim of this contribution is to present an approach that allows to improve the quality of the reconstruction of the far-field from a small number of measured samples by means of sparse recovery using a relatively coarse grid for source positions (with sample spacing of the order of λ/8) compared to the grid usually required. In particular, the iterative method proposed employs a smooth-weighted constrained minimization, that guarantees a better probability of correct estimate of the sparse sources and an improved quality in the reconstruction, with a similar computational effort respect to the standard ℓ1 re-weighted minimization approach.
A 28 nm CMOS 10 bit 100 MS/s Asynchronous SAR ADC with Low-Power Switching Procedure and Timing-Protection Scheme
Authors: Tang Fang , Ma Qiyun , Shu Zhou , Zheng Yuanjin , Bermak Amine
Published: November 2021

This paper presents a 10 bit 100 MS/s asynchronous successive approximation register (SAR) analog-to-digital converter (ADC) without calibration for industrial control system (ICS) applications. Several techniques are adopted in the proposed switching procedure to achieve better linearity, power and area efficiency. A single-side-fixed technique is utilized to reduce the number of capacitors; a parallel split capacitor array in combination with a partially thermometer coded technique can minimize the switching energy, improve speed, and decrease differential non-linearity (DNL). In addition, a compact timing-protection scheme is proposed to ensure the stability of the asynchronous SAR ADC. The proposed ADC is fabricated in a 28 nm CMOS process with an active area of 0.026 mm2. At 100 MS/s, the ADC achieves a signal-to-noise-and-distortion ratio (SNDR) of 51.54 dB and a spurious free dynamic range (SFDR) of 55.12 dB with the Nyquist input. The measured DNL and integral non-linearity (INL) without calibration are +0.37/−0.44 and +0.48/−0.63 LSB, respectively. The power consumption is 1.1 mW with a supply voltage of 0.9 V, leading to a figure of merit (FoM) of 35.6 fJ/conversion-step.
IoT Dataset Validation Using Machine Learning Techniques for Traffic Anomaly Detection
Authors: Vigoya Laura , Fernandez Diego , Carneiro Victor , Nóvoa Francisco J.
Published: November 2021

With advancements in engineering and science, the application of smart systems is increasing, generating a faster growth of the IoT network traffic. The limitations due to IoT restricted power and computing devices also raise concerns about security vulnerabilities. Machine learning-based techniques have recently gained credibility in a successful application for the detection of network anomalies, including IoT networks. However, machine learning techniques cannot work without representative data. Given the scarcity of IoT datasets, the DAD emerged as an instrument for knowing the behavior of dedicated IoT-MQTT networks. This paper aims to validate the DAD dataset by applying Logistic Regression, Naive Bayes, Random Forest, AdaBoost, and Support Vector Machine to detect traffic anomalies in IoT. To obtain the best results, techniques for handling unbalanced data, feature selection, and grid search for hyperparameter optimization have been used. The experimental results show that the proposed dataset can achieve a high detection rate in all the experiments, providing the best mean accuracy of 0.99 for the tree-based models, with a low false-positive rate, ensuring effective anomaly detection.
FPGA-Based Convolutional Neural Network Accelerator with Resource-Optimized Approximate Multiply-Accumulate Unit
Authors: Cho Mannhee , Kim Youngmin
Published: November 2021

Convolutional neural networks (CNNs) are widely used in modern applications for their versatility and high classification accuracy. Field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs) are considered to be suitable platforms for CNNs based on their high performance, rapid development, and reconfigurability. Although many studies have proposed methods for implementing high-performance CNN accelerators on FPGAs using optimized data types and algorithm transformations, accelerators can be optimized further by investigating more efficient uses of FPGA resources. In this paper, we propose an FPGA-based CNN accelerator using multiple approximate accumulation units based on a fixed-point data type. We implemented the LeNet-5 CNN architecture, which performs classification of handwritten digits using the MNIST handwritten digit dataset. The proposed accelerator was implemented, using a high-level synthesis tool on a Xilinx FPGA. The proposed accelerator applies an optimized fixed-point data type and loop parallelization to improve performance. Approximate operation units are implemented using FPGA logic resources instead of high-precision digital signal processing (DSP) blocks, which are inefficient for low-precision data. Our accelerator model achieves 66% less memory usage and approximately 50% reduced network latency, compared to a floating point design and its resource utilization is optimized to use 78% fewer DSP blocks, compared to general fixed-point designs.
Interference Signal Identification of Sensor Array Based on Convolutional Neural Network and FPGA Implementation
Authors: Huang Lin , Geng Xingguang , Xu Hao , Zhang Yitao , Li Zhiqiang , Zhang Jun , Zhang Haiying
Published: November 2021

The pulse carries important physiological and pathological information about the human body. The piezoresistive sensor used to capture vascular pulsation information has transitioned from a single-point to a sensor array. However, the interference signal between channels has become a key bottleneck restricting the development of the sensor array pulse diagnosis equipment. The sensor in contact with vascular pulsation obtains the pulse signal. When some sensors are displaced due to vascular pulsation, other sensors will be driven to move, which will produce interference signals. Signal interference is a common problem for sensor arrays, but few people have analyzed this problem from the perspective of the algorithm. In this paper, an interference signal recognition algorithm of the sensor array based on a convolutional neural network (CNN) is proposed. Firstly, a simple mechanical structure model was established to analyze the generation mechanism of interference signals in one MEMS sensor array acquisition system. Then, a CNN model with fewer parameters was designed for identifying interference signals. Finally, the CNN model was implemented on a field-programmable gate array (FPGA). The results show that the CNN algorithm could identify interference signals well, and the accuracy of the algorithm was 99.3%. The power consumption of the CNN accelerator was 0.673 W at a working frequency of 100 MHz. The interference signal identification algorithm is proposed to ensure the accurate analysis of array signals. FPGA implementation lays the foundation for the miniaturization and portability of the equipment.
Epigenetic Modifications in Plant Development and Reproduction
Authors: Brukhin Vladimir , Albertini Emidio
Published: November 2021

Plants are exposed to highly fluctuating effects of light, temperature, weather conditions, and many other environmental factors throughout their life. As sessile organisms, unlike animals, they are unable to escape, hide, or even change their position. Therefore, the growth and development of plants are largely determined by interaction with the external environment. The success of this interaction depends on the ability of the phenotype plasticity, which is largely determined by epigenetic regulation. In addition to how environmental factors can change the patterns of genes expression, epigenetic regulation determines how genetic expression changes during the differentiation of one cell type into another and how patterns of gene expression are passed from one cell to its descendants. Thus, one genome can generate many ‘epigenomes’. Epigenetic modifications acquire special significance during the formation of gametes and plant reproduction when epigenetic marks are eliminated during meiosis and early embryogenesis and later reappear. However, during asexual plant reproduction, when meiosis is absent or suspended, epigenetic modifications that have arisen in the parental sporophyte can be transmitted to the next clonal generation practically unchanged. In plants that reproduce sexually and asexually, epigenetic variability has different adaptive significance. In asexuals, epigenetic regulation is of particular importance for imparting plasticity to the phenotype when, apart from mutations, the genotype remains unchanged for many generations of individuals. Of particular interest is the question of the possibility of transferring acquired epigenetic memory to future generations and its potential role for natural selection and evolution. All these issues will be discussed to some extent in this review.
Morpho-Histology, Endogenous Hormone Dynamics, and Transcriptome Profiling in Dacrydium Pectinatum during Male Cone Development
Authors: Lu Wenju , Wang Enbo , Zhou Weijuan , Li Yifan , Li Zhaoji , Song Xiqiang , Wang Jian , Ren Mingxun , Yang Donghua , Huo Shaojie , Zhao Ying , Liang Haiying
Published: November 2021

Dacrydium pectinatum de Laubenfels is a perennial gymnosperm species dominant in tropical montane rain forests. Due to severe damages by excessive deforestation, typhoons, and other external forces, the population of the species has been significantly reduced. Furthermore, its natural regeneration is poor. To better understand the male cone development in D. pectinatum, we examined the morphological and anatomical changes, analyzed the endogenous hormone dynamics, and profiled gene expression. The morpho-histological observations suggest that the development of D. pectinatum male cone can be largely divided into four stages: microspore primordium formation (April to May), microspore sac and pollen mother cell formation (July to November), pollen mother cell division (January), and pollen grain formation (February). The levels of gibberellins (GA), auxin (IAA), abscisic Acid (ABA), cytokinin (CTK), and jasmonic acid (JA) fluctuated during the process of male cone development. The first transcriptome database for a Dacrydium species was generated, revealing >70,000 unigene sequences. Differential expression analyses revealed several floral and hormone biosynthesis and signal transduction genes that could be critical for male cone development. Our study provides new insights on the cone development in D. pectinatum and the foundation for male cone induction with hormones and studies of factors contributing to the species’ low rate of seed germination.
Tree Regeneration Patterns on Contrasting Slopes at Treeline Ecotones in Eastern Tibet
Authors: Zheng Lili , Shi Peili , Zhou Tiancai , Hou Ge , Song Minghua , Yu Feihai
Published: November 2021

Alpine treelines are projected to shift upslope in response to climate warming, but empirical studies have yielded inconsistent results, with both upshifted and stable alpine treelines. Additionally, treelines on different slope aspects of the same mountain can differ. Thus, for a better understanding of the mechanisms of treeline formation and treeline responses to climate change, we need to elucidate the population dynamics at treelines on different slope aspects. Here, we quantified the population dynamics of Balfour spruce (Picea likiangensis var. rubescens) at treeline ecotones on contrasting north- and east-facing slopes on the eastern Tibetan Plateau based on field surveys. The alpine treeline positions of Balfour spruce have not advanced toward higher altitudes on the contrasting slopes in recent decades. Compared with the east-facing slope, more recruits occurred on the north-facing slope above the present treeline, indicating a more favorable regeneration condition. However, on the north-facing slope, the individual growth rate of Balfour spruce was lower, and the number of adult trees above the present treeline was higher than that on the east-facing slope. Thus, slope aspects mediate a trade-off between the growth and survival of treeline species, explaining the absence of an impact of slope aspects on treeline responses to climate change. Our results highlight the importance of considering the effect of topography on population dynamics in predicting alpine treeline dynamics under the scenario of climate change.
Aquafeed Production from Fermented Fish Waste and Lemon Peel
Authors: Tropea Alessia , Potortì Angela Giorgia , Lo Turco Vincenzo , Russo Elisabetta , Vadalà Rossella , Rando Rossana , Di Bella Giuseppa
Published: November 2021

In order to obtain a high-protein-content supplement for aquaculture feeds, rich in healthy microorganisms, in this study, Saccharomyces cerevisiae American Type Culture Collection (ATCC) 4126 and Lactobacillus reuteri ATCC 53608 strains were used as starters for fermenting fish waste supplemented with lemon peel as a prebiotic source and filler. Fermentation tests were carried out for 120 h until no further growth of the selected microorganisms was observed and the pH value became stable. All the samples were tested for proteins, crude lipids, and ash determination, and submitted for fatty acid analysis. Moreover, microbiological analyses for coliform bacteria identification were carried out. At the end of the fermentation period, the substrate reached a concentration in protein and in crude lipids of 48.55 ± 1.15% and 15.25 ± 0.80%, respectively, representing adequate levels for the resulting aquafeed, whereas the ash percentage was 0.66 ± 0.03. The main fatty acids detected were palmitic, oleic, and linoleic acids. Saturated fatty acids concentration was not affected by the fermentation process, whereas monounsaturated and polyunsaturated ones showed an opposite trend, increasing and decreasing, respectively, during the process. Coliform bacteria were not detected in the media at the end of the fermentation, whereas the amount of S. cerevisiae and L. reuteri were around 1011 and 1012 cells per g, respectively.
Numerical Analysis of Smoke Behavior and Detection of Solid Combustible Fire Developed in Manned Exploration Module Based on Exploration Gravity
Authors: Hong Ter-Ki , Park Seul-Hyun
Published: November 2021

A fire during manned space exploration can cause serious casualties and disrupt the mission if the initial response is delayed. Therefore, measurement technology that can detect fire in the early stage of ignition is important. There have been a number of works that investigate the smoke behaviors in microgravity as the foundation for a reliable method for sensing a fire during spaceflight. For space missions to the outer planets, however, a strategy of detecting smoke as an indicator of fire should be adjusted to cover the fire scenario that can be greatly affected by changes in gravity (microgravity, lunar, Mars, and Earth gravity). Therefore, as a preliminary study on fire detectors of the manned pressurized module, the present study examined the smoke particle behavior and detection characteristics with respect to changes in gravity using numerical analysis. In particular, the effects of the combination of buoyancy and ventilation flow on the smoke particle movement pattern was investigated to further improve the understanding of the fire detection characteristics of the smoke detector, assuming that a fire occurred in different gravity environments inside the pressurized module. To this end, we modeled the internal shape of Destiny and performed a series of numerical analysis using the Fire Dynamics Simulator (FDS). The findings of this study can provide basic data for the design of a fire detection system for manned space exploration modules.
Potential Biological Activities of Peptides Generated during Casein Proteolysis by Curly Kale (Brassica oleracea L. var. sabellica L.) Leaf Extract: An In Silico Preliminary Study
Authors: Polak-Berecka Magdalena , Michalak-Tomczyk Magdalena , Skrzypczak Katarzyna , Michalak Katarzyna , Rachwał Kamila , Waśko Adam
Published: November 2021

This study is a brief report on the proteolytic activity of curly kale leaf extract against casein. Casein degradation products and an in silico analysis of the biological activity of the peptides obtained was performed. The efficiency of casein hydrolysis by curly kale extract was determined using SDS–PAGE and by peptide concentration determination. The pattern of the enzymatic activity was determined by MALDI–TOF MS analysis. The results showed that α- and β-casein were more resistant to curly kale extract hydrolysis, whereas κ-casein was absent in the protein profile after 8 h of proteolysis, and all casein fractions were completely hydrolyzed after 24 h of incubation. Based on sequence analysis, seven peptides were identified, with molecular mass in the range of 1151–3024 Da. All the peptides were products of β-casein hydrolysis. The identified amino acid sequences were analyzed in BIOPEP, MBPDB, and FeptideDB databases in order to detect the potential activities of the peptides. In silico analysis suggests that the β-casein-derived peptides possess sequences of peptides with ACE inhibitory, antioxidant, dipeptidyl peptidase IV inhibitory, antithrombotic, immunomodulatory, and antiamnesic bioactivity. Our study was first to evaluate the possibility of applying curly kale leaf extract to generate biopeptides through β-casein hydrolysis.
An Atypical Case of Congenital Erythropoietic Porphyria
Authors: Sudrié-Arnaud Bénédicte , Legendre Marine , Snanoudj Sarah , Pelluard Fanny , Bekri Soumeya , Tebani Abdellah
Published: November 2021

Congenital erythropoietic porphyria (CEP, OMIM #606938) is a severe autosomal recessive inborn error of heme biosynthesis. This rare panethnic disease is due to a deficiency of uroporphyrinogen III synthase (or cosynthase). Subsequently, its substrate, the hydroxymethylbilane is subsequently converted into uroporphyrinogen I in a non-enzymatic manner. Of note, uroporphyrinogen I cannot be metabolized into heme and its accumulation in red blood cells results in intramedullary and intravascular hemolysis. The related clinical symptoms occur most frequently during antenatal or neonatal periods but may also appear in late adulthood. The main antenatal clinical presentation is a non-immune hydrops fetalis. We report here two cases of antenatal CEP deficiency and a review of the reported cases in the literature.