bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Cigarette Consumption and Poverty Case Study: Poor Smoker Households in Bangka Belitung Islands
Authors: Neli Agustina , Hardius Usman
Published: May 2020

Based on component of poverty line of Bangka Belitung Islands, percentage of cigarette consumption expenditures was the second largest for the poverty line, while rice as staple food only occupies the fourth position. Cigarettes do not contain calories, so they will not add calories by consuming them. It is possible for someone who has an expenditure above the poverty line to remain poor because many are spent for consuming cigarettes. The purpose of the study to analyze the impact of cigarette consumption on poverty status, with a simulation converting cigarette expenditure into spending on other foods containing calories. In particular, to study whether there is a change in poverty status after conversion of cigarette expenditure. And analyzing the influence of social, economic and demographic characteristics on changes in poverty status. The study focused on poor households that have cigarette expenditure. This study uses data of 7080 households from all regencies and cities in Bangka Belitung province, which collected from the field study by students of Polytechnic of Statistics STIS in 2017. The simulation results show that there is a significant change in poverty status when converting cigarette expenditure. And based on binary logistic regression analysis the results show that households with a higher level of education, status of head of household as employee or having a business, non-agricultural employment and an increase in per capita income have a greater tendency to change the poverty status of households. Thus, cigarette expenditure can change poverty status if it can be used for better needs.
Plurilingualism and Interculturalism – Hidden Resources of International Trade
Authors: Rosina A. Kakova
Published: May 2020

In the era of globalization, knowledge of foreign languages has become essential for companies looking to get into the international market. Knowledge of English only is not enough to communicate with countries where English is not the official language. Salespeople are disadvantaged if they do not speak the language or do not know the local client`s culture. Multilingualism and interculturalism are key and strategic instruments for establishing good business relationship, professional communication with foreign customers, business negotiations etc. Particularly in the EU, but also in Asia and Latin America, much attention is paid to the role of multilingualism and interculturalism in international trade. In this paper we present the first international trade activities in which multilingualism and interculturalism have an important role and the applicability of the approach of the languages for specific purposes in the companies planning to go to foreign markets.
MANAGEMENT OF PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION PERFORMANCE MODEL BASED ON SAFETY TRANSPORTATION, PERIODIC TRANSPORTATION TEST, BEHAVIOR, AND SATISFACTION IN CIREBON CITY.
Authors: Hermawan Herry
Published: May 2020

The development of cities in Indonesia is marked by the high number of commuters (commuters) who travel between the main city and the surrounding city or district (hinterland) or between regions within a city due to an increase in population, population activities, types of services, and the relative functioning of the economy national and regional level of a country..Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Transportation problems and challenges are multi-dimensional between transportation systems and urban systems, both operational, management and policy aspects. Urban transport policies that care about sustainable development in developing countries are very complex, but can be studied especially in the public transportation system because it is more possible when compared to private transport at this time.Â Â Â Â Â Â Â In Indonesia, the number of motorized vehicles is increasing every year. The addition of that number in 2012 reached 10,036 million units, resulting in the population recorded in the Indonesian National Police increased 12% to 94.292 million units compared to only 84.19 million in 2011 (Kurniawan, 2013). Based on data from the National Police also stated that in 2012 there were 109,038 accident cases with 27,441 people died. Different data from the Coordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs and People's Welfare of the Republic of Indonesia states that motorcycle rider accidents have reached 120,226 times or 72% of all traffic accidents in a year. Most accident cases occur in people with lower middle economic level as motorcycle and public transportation users (State Intelligence Agency, 2013).Â Â Â Â Â Â Â As released by WHO (World Health Organization), of all accidents that occur on the highway, the human error factor (human error) has the highest contribution, reaching between 80-90 percent compared to the factor of vehicle vehicle improperities ranging from 5-10 percent, as well as due to damage to road infrastructure by 10-20 percent (DG Hubdat, 2010). Vehicle facilities that often occur are less than 1 millimeter of tire grooves resulting in vehicle skid or tire breaks, brakes failing, metal fatigue resulting in broken vehicle parts, worn equipment not replaced, and various other causes. This is very much related to the technology used and the care done to the vehicle. One of the government's efforts to improve road safety is through safety vehicle action programs such as compliance with vehicle operations, organizing periodic and type test repair procedures, handling overloading, vehicle scrapping, and developing motor vehicle design that aims to improve vehicle safety technology (DG Hubdat, 2013).Keywords:Transportation Performance, User Satisfaction.
THE EFFICIENCY OF CRUDE CORROSION INHIBITOR AND GAS CORROSION INHIBITOR BY USING CARBON STEEL 1018 WITH POLARIZATION METHOD
Authors: Ibrahim Puji Astuti
Published: May 2020

Carbon Steel 1018 is a low carbon steel having a carbon content (C) of 0.14-0.20% (<0.30% C). Low carbon steel is commercially known as mild steel. Corrosion is one way to prevent corrosion caused by the environment. Corrosion inhibitor are taken between the Crude Corrosion Inhibitor and Gas Corrosion inhibitor on Carbon Steel 1018 using the polarization method. Corrosion inhibitors work by making passive layers in the form of thin films or films on the surface of the material used as a barrier between metals and corrosive media. The analysis method used is polarization. Inhibition Efficiency Results obtained for Gas Corrosion Inhibitors (1A) at 10 ppm 96.86%, 20 ppm 59.74%, 30 ppm 74.48%. The Crude Corrosion Inhibitor (2A) results obtained inhibition efficiency for 10 ppm 99.57%, 20 ppm 77.69%, and 30 ppm 12.63%. The optimum value for the Gas Corrosion Inhibitor and Crude Corrosion Inhibitor is at 10 ppm at 96.86% and 99.57%.Â Keywords: carbon steel,crude corrosion inhibitor, corrosion , gas corrosion inhibitor, inhibitor
Investigating the Vocabulary Load of Psychology Textbooks: A Corpus-Based Study
Authors: Xodabande Ismail
Published: May 2020

The current corpus-based study investigated the lexical profile of psychology textbooks using BNC/COCA list. To this end, 30 introductory and general psychology textbooks with around 14.8 million running words were analyzed. The findings indicated that 2048 word families provided 82.66% coverage of the corpus. The study identified 1294 high frequent and 754 mid-frequent word families with high value for psychology students, which makes it possible to have a better and well-tuned vocabulary learning goals.
Forecasting Electricity Prices: A Machine Learning Approach
Authors: Castelli Mauro , Groznik Aleš , Popovič Aleš
Published: May 2020

The electricity market is a complex, evolutionary, and dynamic environment. Forecasting electricity prices is an important issue for all electricity market participants. In this study, we shed light on how to improve electricity price forecasting accuracy through the use of a machine learning technique—namely, a novel genetic programming approach. Drawing on empirical data from the largest EU energy markets, we propose a forecasting model that considers variables related to weather conditions, oil prices, and CO2 coupons and predicts energy prices 24 h ahead. We show that the proposed model provides more accurate predictions of future electricity prices than existing prediction methods. Our important findings will assist the electricity market participants in forecasting future price movements.
The Combined Effect of Different Sowing Methods and Seed Rates on the Quality Features and Yield of Winter Wheat
Authors: Twizerimana Angelique , Niyigaba Etienne , Mugenzi Innocent , Ngnadong Wansim Aboubakar , Li Chuan , Hao Tian Qi , Shio Bosco J. , Hai Jiang Bo
Published: May 2020

Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is one of the main staple foods worldwide. Wide precise sowing (Wps) is a sowing method believed to produce the highest winter wheat grain yields; however, the reasons for its high yields and its effect on quality traits have not been effectively studied. Hence, a two-year field experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of three sowing methods, dibbling (Db), drilling (Dr), and Wps and seed rates (112.5 kg ha−1, 150 kg ha−1, 187.5 kg ha−1, and 225 kg ha−1) on grain yield and the quality of winter wheat. Wps, Dr, and Db produced statistically similar results in terms of the grain yield and most of the quality traits measured. The grain yield increased significantly with the increasing rate, the highest being 7488.89 kg ha−1 at a seed rate of 225 kg ha−1. The total protein, albumin, and globulin were not affected by the sowing methods, but prolamin and glutelin were affected by the Dr and Wps, respectively. The total starch in both years, and the amylose and amylopectin in the first year, were affected only by the seed rates, with 60.11%, 23.2%, 38.63%, or higher values. The results indicated that for the wheat yield and quality traits, Wps, Dr and Db can mostly be used interchangeably. For the protein, starch, and grain yield, the suitable seed rates were 112.5 kg ha−1, 150 kg ha−1, and 225 kg ha−1, respectively.
Ethyl Methyl Sulfonate-Induced Mutagenesis and Its Effects on Peanut Agronomic, Yield and Quality Traits
Authors: Chen Tingting , Huang Luping , Wang Miaomiao , Huang Yang , Zeng Ruier , Wang Xinyue , Wang Leidi , Wan Shubo , Zhang Lei
Published: May 2020

Peanut is an important oilseed and food crop worldwide; however, the development of new cultivars is limited by its remarkably low genetic variability. Therefore, in order to enhance peanut genetic variability, here, we treated two widely cultivated peanut genotypes, Huayu 22 and Yueyou 45, with different concentrations of the mutagen ethyl methyl sulfonate (EMS) for different durations. Based on median lethal dose (LD50) value, optimal EMS treatment concentrations for each duration were identified for each genotype. Mutants induced by EMS differed in various phenotypic traits, including plant height, number of branches, leaf characteristics, and yield and quality in plants of the M2 generation. Moreover, we identified potentially useful mutants associated with dwarfism, leaf color and shape, high oil and/or protein content, seed size and testa color, among individuals of the M2 generation. Mutations were stably inherited in M3-generation individuals. In addition to their contribution to the study and elucidation of the mechanisms underlying the regulation of the expression of some important agronomic traits, the mutants obtained in this study provide valuable germplasm resources for use in peanut improvement programs.
Fermented Alfalfa Brown Juice Significantly Stimulates the Growth and Development of Sweet Basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) Plants
Authors: Kisvarga Szilvia , Barna Döme , Kovács Szilvia , Csatári Gábor , O. Tóth Ibolya , Fári Miklós Gábor , Makleit Péter , Veres Szilvia , Alshaal Tarek , Bákonyi Nóra
Published: May 2020

Fertilization management is a key issue in plant nutrition to produce plants with good quality and quantity. Deproteinized leaf juice or brown juice (BJ) is a by-product during the isolation of leaf protein from biomass crops such as alfalfa. The idea of using BJ as a biostimulant fits well in the aspect of circular economy since BJ is currently a problematic issue of the leaf protein production approach. Fractionation of one-kilogram fresh biomass results in approximately 500 cm3 BJ. Due to fast spoil of fresh BJ, if left on room temperature, it is found that fermentation of fresh BJ using lactic acid bacteria and reducing its pH increases its stability and storage on room temperature. In the present study, we examined the effect of fermented alfalfa BJ on vegetative, physiological, and anatomical properties of the versatile sweet basil (Ocimum basilicum L. ‘Bíborfelhő’) plants. Sweet basil seedlings were sprayed at different doses of fermented alfalfa BJ (i.e., 0.5%, 1.0%, and 2.5%) and tap water served as a control (0.0% BJ). The results revealed that foliar application of fermented alfalfa BJ significantly improved the biometrical features of sweet basil plants. Plants treated with fermented BJ showed significantly higher values of all the measured parameters compared to the control (0.0%), except for the number of leaves per plants where control plants (0.0%) had more leaves. However, the leaves of control plants (0.0%) were smaller than treated plants as data of leaf area showed. Fermented alfalfa BJ significantly increased the content of photosynthetic pigments (chl a and chl b), relative chlorophyll (SPAD value), lengths of stem and root, fresh masses of stem, root, and leaves, volumes of stem and root, and leaf area. Despite all rates of fermented BJ displayed higher values over control plants (0.0%), the rate of 0.5% was the best one supported by results. Application of fermented alfalfa BJ influenced the anatomical parameters as well. These findings demonstrate the possible use of fermented alfalfa BJ as a promising novel plant biostimulant.
Effect of Soil Salinity and Foliar Application of Jasmonic Acid on Mineral Balance of Carrot Plants Tolerant and Sensitive to Salt Stress
Authors: Smoleń Sylwester , Lukasiewicz Aneta , Klimek-Chodacka Magdalena , Baranski Rafal
Published: May 2020

The aim of the study is to determine the effects of soil salinity stress and foliar application of jasmonic acid (JA) on the mineral balance in plants of salt-sensitive doubled haploid carrot line (DH1) and salt-tolerant local DLBA variety (DLBA). Concentrations of 28 elements were determined in roots and leaves and in the soil. The DcNHX4 gene (cation:proton exchange antiporter) expression was assessed. The salinity stress reduced the mass of roots and leaves more in DH1 than in DLBA. DLBA plants accumulated larger amounts of Na and Cl in the roots and had an increased transport of these elements to the leaves. The salt-tolerant and salt-sensitive carrot varieties differed in their ability to uptake and accumulate some elements, such as K, Mg, Zn, S, Cd, P and B, and this response was organ-specific. A selective uptake of K in the presence of high Na concentration was evident in the tolerant variety, and a high Na content in its leaves correlated with the expression of DcNHX4 gene, which was expressed in DLBA leaves only. JA application did not affect the growth of DLBA or DH1 plants. In the sensitive DH1 variety grown under salinity stress, JA induced changes in the mineral balance by limiting the uptake of the sum of all elements, especially Na and Cl, and by limiting Zn and Cd accumulation.
Effects of Dietary Protein Levels on Growth Performance, Carcass Traits, Serum Metabolites, and Meat Composition of Tibetan Sheep during the Cold Season on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau
Authors: Wang Xungang , Xu Tianwei , Zhang Xiaoling , Geng Yuanyue , Kang Shengping , Xu Shixiao
Published: May 2020

Dietary protein is a critical nutrient that directly influences the health and production of livestock. Recent studies showed that protein supplements could enhance the growth performance of Tibetan sheep. However, there is a lack of information regarding the influence of dietary protein levels on carcass traits and meat composition. This study investigated the effects of dietary protein levels on growth performance, carcass traits, serum metabolites, and meat composition in Tibetan sheep during the cold season on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau. A total of eighteen 1-year-old, healthy, castrated Tibetan sheep with similar initial body weights (31.7 ± 0.72 kg) were randomly divided into three treatment groups with different dietary protein level (low protein (LP, 10.1%); medium protein (MP, 12.1%); high protein (HP, 14.1%)) diets. The results indicated that the Tibetan sheep fed with the MP and HP diets had greater final body weights (BWs), average daily gains (ADGs), and average daily feed intakes (ADFIs) (p < 0.05). The MP and HP diets also improved the hot carcass weight, net meat (including the fat) weight, and bone weight of the sheep significantly (p < 0.05). Besides, the dietary protein levels could significantly affect the serum concentrations of growth hormone (p < 0.05). The diameter of muscle fibers in the MP group was significantly greater than that in the LP group (p < 0.05), while the density of muscle fibers showed the opposite trend. The dietary protein levels only significantly (p < 0.05) influenced the ether extract content and profile content of the longissimus dorsi muscle but had no effect on other parameters of meat composition. In summary, our results indicate that dietary protein levels affect growth performance, carcass traits, and meat composition and that diets containing 12.1% and 14.1% protein are recommended to obtain better production performance and meat products in Tibetan sheep, rather than a diet containing 10.1% protein, during the cold season on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau.
An Analysis of Veterinary Practitioners’ Intention to Intervene in Animal Abuse Cases in South Korea
Authors: Joo Seola , Jung Yechan , Chun Myung-Sun
Published: May 2020

Due to their professional abilities, veterinarians have a duty to reduce animal abuse. Therefore, it is crucial to understand their attitude and behavior on encountering animal abuse cases. We analyzed the responses from completed questionnaires (n = 593) filled by small and large animal practitioners in South Korea. The majority (n = 513, 86.5%) of the respondents witnessed suspected animal abuse cases in their practice. The female participants, small animal practitioners, and younger veterinarians tended to report animal abuse cases more frequently. Based on a hierarchical regression model, moral obligation was the statistically significant predictor of intention toward counseling owners (F = 22.089, R2 = 0.232, p < 0.001) while “pro-animal” attitudes, belief in the “link” between animal and human crimes, and moral and legal obligation were significant predictors of intention to report (F = 22.877, R2 = 0.239, p < 0.001). The most frequent barrier in reporting abuse cases was the difficulty in assuring animal safety afterwards. Our findings revealed that individual characteristics (sex, age, practice type, pro-animal attitude) affect veterinarian sensitivity in recognizing animal abuse. Participants lacked self-efficiency in managing animal abuse cases. Therefore, strengthening professionalism and training veterinarians in identifying nonaccidental injuries caused by abuse are recommended to motivate them to intervene in abuse cases.
Determination of Selenium Species in Muscle, Heart, and Liver Tissues of Lambs Using Mass Spectrometry Methods
Authors: Gawor Andrzej , Ruszczynska Anna , Czauderna Marian , Bulska Ewa
Published: May 2020

Identification and quantification of the selenium species in biological tissues is imperative, considering the need to properly understand its metabolism and its importance in various field of sciences, especially nutrition science. Although a number of studies deals with the speciation of selenium, speciation analysis is still far from being a routine task, and so far strongly depends on the type of the samples. We present a study aimed to examine speciation analysis of Se in tissues of livers, muscles, and hearts obtained from lambs, namely in liver, muscle, and heart. The studied lambs were fed with the diet enriched with an inorganic (as sodium selenate) and organic chemical form of Se (as Se-enriched yeast) compounds with simultaneous addition of fish oil (FO) and carnosic acid (CA). The first part of the work was focused on the optimization of the extraction procedure of selenium compounds from tissues. Next, hyphenated high performance liquid chromatography and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (HPLC–ICP–MS) was used for the identification of five seleno-compounds—Se-methionine (SeMet), Se-cystine (SeCys2), Se-methyl-Se-cysteine (SeMetSeCys), and Se(IV) and Se(VI). Verification of the identified seleno-compounds was achieved using triple-quadrupole mass spectrometer coupled to high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC–ESI–MS/MS). The applied procedure allowed for quantitative analysis of SeMet, SeCys2, and SeMetSeCys, in biological tissues. The developed analytical protocol is feasible for speciation analysis of small molecular seleno-compounds in animals samples.
Cytotoxicity and Antimycobacterial Properties of Pyrrolo[1,2-a]quinoline Derivatives: Molecular Target Identification and Molecular Docking Studies
Authors: Venugopala Katharigatta N. , Uppar Vijayakumar , Chandrashekharappa Sandeep , Abdallah Hassan H. , Pillay Melendhran , Deb Pran Kishore , Morsy Mohamed A. , Aldhubiab Bandar E. , Attimarad Mahesh , Nair Anroop B. , Sreeharsha Nagaraja , Tratrat Christophe , Yousef Jaber Abdulmuttaleb , Venugopala Rashmi , Mailavaram Raghu Prasad , Al-Jaidi Bilal A. , Kandeel Mahmoud , Haroun Michelyne , Padmashali Basavaraj
Published: May 2020

A series of ethyl 1-(substituted benzoyl)-5-methylpyrrolo[1,2-a]quinoline-3-carboxylates 4a–f and dimethyl 1-(substituted benzoyl)-5-methylpyrrolo[1,2-a]quinoline-2,3-dicarboxylates 4g–k have been synthesized and evaluated for their anti-tubercular (TB) activities against H37Rv (American Type Culture Collection (ATCC) strain 25177) and multidrug-resistant (MDR) strains of Mycobacterium tuberculosis by resazurin microplate assay (REMA). Molecular target identification for these compounds was also carried out by a computational approach. All test compounds exhibited anti-tuberculosis (TB) activity in the range of 8–128 µg/mL against H37Rv. The test compound dimethyl-1-(4-fluorobenzoyl)-5-methylpyrrolo[1,2-a]quinoline-2,3-dicarboxylate 4j emerged as the most promising anti-TB agent against H37Rv and multidrug-resistant strains of Mycobacterium tuberculosis at 8 and 16 µg/mL, respectively. In silico evaluation of pharmacokinetic properties indicated overall drug-likeness for most of the compounds. Docking studies were also carried out to investigate the binding affinities as well as interactions of these compounds with the target proteins.
Toxic Effect of Vancomycin on Viability and Functionality of Different Cells Involved in Tissue Regeneration
Authors: Braun Joy , Eckes Stefanie , Rommens Pol Maria , Schmitz Katja , Nickel Daniela , Ritz Ulrike
Published: May 2020

To prevent infections local delivery of antibiotics is a useful tool. Especially in bone fractures, vancomycin impregnated bone cements are often used allowing high concentrations of antibiotics at the infection side without high serum concentrations. However, besides potential pathogens, cells involved in tissue regeneration may also be affected by the drug. We investigated the effect of vancomycin on the viability and functionality on osteoblasts, endothelial cells, fibroblasts and skeletal muscle cells. Our results show that the viability of all cells analyzed was reduced by vancomycin and that the observed effects were time and concentration dependent. The most pronounced toxic effect was detected on day three when even the lowest concentration of 0.01 mg/ml led to a significant decrease in proliferation compared to control. Functionality assays of osteoblasts and skeletal muscle cells revealed a sensitive reaction of the cells to the drug, indicating that vancomycin is toxic to these cells during the process of differentiation. These data suggest that the vancomycin administration is critical for cell survival and function. Therefore, the concentration of administered antibiotics needs to be carefully evaluated to find a balance between defense against pathogens and functionality of host cells and tissues.
Dual SMO/BRAF Inhibition by Flavonolignans from Silybum marianum
Authors: Diukendjieva Antonia , Zaharieva Maya M. , Mori Mattia , Alov Petko , Tsakovska Ivanka , Pencheva Tania , Najdenski Hristo , Křen Vladimír , Felici Chiara , Bufalieri Francesca , Di Marcotullio Lucia , Botta Bruno , Botta Maurizio , Pajeva Ilza
Published: May 2020

Silymarin is the standardized extract from the fruits of Silybum marianum (L.) Gaertn., a well-known hepatoprotectant and antioxidant. Recently, bioactive compounds of silymarin, i.e., silybins and their 2,3-dehydro derivatives, have been shown to exert anticancer activities, yet with unclear mechanisms. This study combines in silico and in vitro methods to reveal the potential interactions of optically pure silybins and dehydrosilybins with novel protein targets. The shape and chemical similarity with approved drugs were evaluated in silico, and the potential for interaction with the Hedgehog pathway receptor Smoothened (SMO) and BRAF kinase was confirmed by molecular docking. In vitro studies on SMO and BRAF V600E kinase activity and in BRAF V600E A-375 human melanoma cell lines were further performed to examine their effects on these proteins and cancer cell lines and to corroborate computational predictions. Our in silico results direct to new potential targets of silymarin constituents as dual inhibitors of BRAF and SMO, two major targets in anticancer therapy. The experimental studies confirm that BRAF kinase and SMO may be involved in mechanisms of anticancer activities, demonstrating dose-dependent profiles, with dehydrosilybins showing stronger effects than silybins. The results of this work outline the dual SMO/BRAF effect of flavonolignans from Silybum marianum with potential clinical significance. Our approach can be applied to other natural products to reveal their potential targets and mechanism of action.
Controlled Release of Thymol from Poly(Lactic Acid)-Based Silver Nanocomposite Films with Antibacterial and Antioxidant Activity
Authors: Ramos Marina , Beltran Ana , Fortunati Elena , Peltzer Mercedes , Cristofaro Francesco , Visai Livia , Valente Artur J.M. , Jiménez Alfonso , Kenny José María , Garrigós María Carmen
Published: May 2020

Thymol and silver nanoparticles (Ag-NPs) were used to develop poly(lactic acid) (PLA)-based films with antioxidant and antibacterial performance. Different amounts of thymol (6 and 8 wt%) and 1 wt% Ag-NPs were added to PLA to produce the active films. Ag-NPs and thymol were successfully identified in the nanocomposite structures using spectroscopic techniques. A kinetic study was performed to evaluate the release of thymol and Ag-NPs from the nanocomposites to an aqueous food simulant (ethanol 10%, v/v) at 40 °C. The diffusion of thymol from the polymer matrix was affected by the presence of non-migrating Ag-NPs, which showed non-Fickian release behavior. The ternary system including 1 wt% Ag-NPs and 8 wt% thymol showed clear antibacterial performance by reducing the cell viability of Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus by around 40% after 3 and 24 h of storage at 4, 25, and 37 °C compared to neat PLA. Significant antioxidant behavior of all active films was also confirmed using the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) method. The obtained nanocomposite films based on PLA and the addition of Ag-NPs and thymol were proven to have combined antioxidant and antibacterial performance, with controlled release of thymol. These formulations have potential applications in the development of innovative and customized active packaging systems to increase the shelf-life of food products.
Discovery of Eicosapentaenoic Acid Esters of Hydroxy Fatty Acids as Potent Nrf2 Activators
Authors: B. Gowda Siddabasave Gowda , Fuda Hirotoshi , Tsukui Takayuki , Chiba Hitoshi , Hui Shu-Ping
Published: May 2020

Branched fatty acid esters of hydroxy fatty acids (FAHFAs) are a recently discovered class of biologically active lipids with anti-inflammatory and anti-diabetic properties. Despite the possible link between endogenous FAHFA levels and nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), their possible function as antioxidants and the mechanisms involved in this are unknown. Here, we investigate FAHFAs’ plausible antioxidant potential with reference to their effect on the Nrf2 levels, oxidative stress, and lipid droplet oxidation in human hepatocytes (C3A). Six authentic FAHFAs were chemically synthesized and performed activity-based screening by reporter gene assay. Among them, eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) esterified 12-hydroxy stearic acid (12-HSA) and 12-hydroxy oleic acid (12-HOA) FAHFAs showed less cytotoxicity compared to their free fatty acids and potent activators of Nrf2. To define their mode of action, relative levels of nuclear Nrf2 were determined, which found a higher amount of Nrf2 in nucleus of cells treated with 12-EPAHSA compared to the control. Furthermore, 12-EPAHSA increased the expression of Nrf2-dependent antioxidant enzyme genes (NQO1, GCLM, GCLC, SOD-1, and HO-1). Fluorescence imaging analysis of linoleic-acid-induced lipid droplets (LDs) in C3A cells treated with 12-EPAHSA revealed the strong inhibition of small-size LD oxidation. These results suggest that EPA-derived FAHFAs as a new class of lipids with less cytotoxicity, and strong Nrf2 activators with plausible antioxidant effects via the induction of cytoprotective proteins against oxidative stress, induced cellular damage.
Exploring the Nutraceutical Potential of Dried Pepper Capsicum annuum L. on Market from Altino in Abruzzo Region
Authors: Della Valle Alice , Dimmito Marilisa Pia , Zengin Gokhan , Pieretti Stefano , Mollica Adriano , Locatelli Marcello , Cichelli Angelo , Novellino Ettore , Ak Gunes , Yerlikaya Serife , Baloglu Mehmet Cengiz , Celik Altunoglu Yasemin , Stefanucci Azzurra
Published: May 2020

Sweet pepper is a typical type of Capsicum annuum from Abruzzo region, recognized as a traditional and local product, traditionally cultivated in the town of Altino (Abruzzo region, Italy). The aim of this study is to compare the sweet type of peppers from Altino with the hot pepper cultivated in the same area, in order to delineate their different phytochemical and biological profiles in vitro and in vivo. In this study, we elucidated their phytochemical composition, fatty acids composition and phenolic/flavonoid contents in extracts. Then antioxidant and enzyme inhibition assays were performed to evaluate their biological properties, together with in vitro cell assay and in vivo anti-inflammatory activity. Microwave (1000 mg/mL) extract of hot pepper showed the best inhibition value on in vitro cell growth assay; in fact, the number of survived cells was about 20% and 40% for microwave and Soxhlet extracts, respectively. In vivo anti-inflammatory assay revealed good activity for both species, which, when associated with in vitro cell inhibition results, could explain the protective effect on human prostatic hyperplasia.
Characterization and Modulation of Systemic Inflammatory Response to Exhaustive Exercise in Relation to Oxidative Stress
Authors: Suzuki Katsuhiko , Tominaga Takaki , Ruhee Ruheea Taskin , Ma Sihui
Published: May 2020

Exhaustive exercise induces systemic inflammatory responses, which are associated with exercise-induced tissue/organ damage, but the sources and triggers are not fully understood. Herein, the basics of inflammatory mediator cytokines and research findings on the effects of exercise on systemic inflammation are introduced. Subsequently, the association between inflammatory responses and tissue damage is examined in exercised and overloaded skeletal muscle and other internal organs. Furthermore, an overview of the interactions between oxidative stress and inflammatory mediator cytokines is provided. Particularly, the transcriptional regulation of redox signaling and pro-inflammatory cytokines is described, as the activation of the master regulatory factor nuclear factor (erythroid-derived 2)-like 2 (Nrf2) is involved directly or indirectly in controlling pro-inflammatory genes and antioxidant enzymes expression, whilst nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) regulates the pro-inflammatory gene expression. Additionally, preventive countermeasures against the pathogenesis along with the possibility of interventions such as direct and indirect antioxidants and anti-inflammatory agents are described. The aim of this review is to give an overview of studies on the systematic inflammatory responses to exercise, including our own group as well as others. Moreover, the challenges and future directions in understanding the role of exercise and functional foods in relation to inflammation and oxidative stress are discussed.
An Agent-Based Simulation to Minimize Losses during a Terrorist Attack
Authors: Dolezal Ondrej , Tomaskova Hana
Published: May 2020

The goal of this paper is to create a model simulating a part of the terrorist attack in the Tokyo subway in 1995 using sarin gas and its implementation using AnyLogic software. Another goal is to find possibilities of minimizing the losses using what-if scenarios. The model should serve as a tool for further investigation of the attack and proposes the appropriate security options in the future. The final part of the work summarizes the results of the research and suggestions for improving the model.
Fungi and Arsenic: Tolerance and Bioaccumulation by Soil Saprotrophic Species
Authors: Ceci Andrea , Spinelli Veronica , Massimi Lorenzo , Canepari Silvia , Persiani Anna Maria
Published: May 2020

Increasing arsenic environmental concentrations are raising worldwide concern for its impacts on human health and ecosystem functionality. In order to cope with arsenic contamination, bioremediation using fungi can represent an efficient, sustainable, and cost-effective technological solution. Fungi can mitigate arsenic contamination through different mechanisms including bioaccumulation. In this work, four soil saprotrophic fungi Absidia spinosa, Purpureocillium lilacinum, Metarhizium marquandii, and Cephalotrichum nanum, isolated from soils with naturally high arsenic concentrations, were tested for their ability to tolerate different sodium arsenite concentrations and accumulate As in different cultural conditions. pH medium after fungal growth was measured to study pH variation and metabolic responses. Arsenic bioaccumulation and its influence on the uptake of other elements were investigated through multi-elemental analysis using hydride generation atomic fluorescence spectrometry (HG-AFS), inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) and inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES). Considering the increasing interest in siderophore application for metal bioremediation, the production of siderophores and their affinity for both Fe and As were also evaluated. All species were able to tolerate and accumulate As in their biomass in all of the tested conditions and produced siderophores with different affinities for Fe and As. The results suggest that the tested fungi are attractive potential candidates for the bioremediation of As contaminated soil and worthy of further investigation.
Autonomous Navigation Framework for Intelligent Robots Based on a Semantic Environment Modeling
Authors: Joo Sung-Hyeon , Manzoor Sumaira , Rocha Yuri Goncalves , Bae Sang-Hyeon , Lee Kwang-Hee , Kuc Tae-Yong , Kim Minsung
Published: May 2020

Humans have an innate ability of environment modeling, perception, and planning while simultaneously performing tasks. However, it is still a challenging problem in the study of robotic cognition. We address this issue by proposing a neuro-inspired cognitive navigation framework, which is composed of three major components: semantic modeling framework (SMF), semantic information processing (SIP) module, and semantic autonomous navigation (SAN) module to enable the robot to perform cognitive tasks. The SMF creates an environment database using Triplet Ontological Semantic Model (TOSM) and builds semantic models of the environment. The environment maps from these semantic models are generated in an on-demand database and downloaded in SIP and SAN modules when required to by the robot. The SIP module contains active environment perception components for recognition and localization. It also feeds relevant perception information to behavior planner for safely performing the task. The SAN module uses a behavior planner that is connected with a knowledge base and behavior database for querying during action planning and execution. The main contributions of our work are the development of the TOSM, integration of SMF, SIP, and SAN modules in one single framework, and interaction between these components based on the findings of cognitive science. We deploy our cognitive navigation framework on a mobile robot platform, considering implicit and explicit constraints for autonomous robot navigation in a real-world environment. The robotic experiments demonstrate the validity of our proposed framework.
Solution Behavior in the Vicinity of Characteristic Envelopes for the Double Slip and Rotation Model
Authors: Wang Yao , Alexandrov Sergei , Lyamina Elena
Published: May 2020

The boundary conditions significantly affect solution behavior near rough interfaces. This paper presents general asymptotic analysis of solutions for the rigid plastic double slip and rotation model in the vicinity of an envelope of characteristics under plane strain and axially symmetric conditions. This model is used in the mechanics of granular materials. The analysis has important implications for solving boundary value problems because the envelope of characteristics is a natural boundary of the analytic solution. Moreover, an envelope of characteristics often coincides with frictional interfaces. In this case, the regime of sticking is not possible independently of the friction law chosen. It is shown that the solution is singular in the vicinity of envelopes. In particular, the profile of the velocity component tangential to the envelope is described by the sum of the constant and square root functions of the normal distance to the envelope in its vicinity. As a result, some components of the strain rate tensor approach infinity. This finding might help to develop an efficient numerical method for solving boundary value problems and provide the basis for the interpretation of some experimental results.
Optimization Procedure for Computing Sampling Time for Induction Machine Parameter Estimation
Authors: Benšić Tin , Varga Toni , Barukčić Marinko , Jerković Štil Vedrana
Published: May 2020

This paper presents a method for selecting the sampling time for induction machine parameter estimation from the machine line start measurements. the metaheuristic optimization method is used to find the optimal Prony exponential series approxiamtion of the line start transient current. From the optimal approximation, poles of the linearized induction machine model are computed and used to determine the optimal sampling time. the results show that sampling frequencies needed for parameter estimation are much lower than 1–15 kHz commonly used today. This reduces the necessary amount of collected data and the computing power needed for the estimation. the optimal sampling time is computed for the simulated and for the measured data. Referenced parameter estimation technique is tested for the measured transient showing benefits of using the optimal sampling time.
A Comparative Study of Weighting Methods for Local Reference Frame
Authors: Tao Wuyong , Hua Xianghong , Yu Kegen , Wang Ruisheng , He Xiaoxing
Published: May 2020

In the field of photogrammetric engineering, computer vision, and graphics, local shape description is an active research area. A wide variety of local shape descriptors (LSDs) have been designed for different applications, such as shape retrieval, object recognition, and 3D registration. The local reference frame (LRF) is an important component of the LSD. Its repeatability and robustness directly influence the descriptiveness and robustness of the LSD. Several weighting methods have been proposed to improve the repeatability and robustness of the LRF. However, no comprehensive comparison has been implemented to evaluate their performance under different data modalities and nuisances. In this paper, we focus on the comparison of weighting methods by using six datasets with different data modalities and application contexts. We evaluate the repeatability of the LRF under different nuisances, including occlusion, clutter, partial overlap, varying support radii, Gaussian noise, shot noise, point density variation, and keypoint localization error. Through the experiments, the traits, advantages, and disadvantages of weighting methods are summarized.
Application of Improved LightGBM Model in Blood Glucose Prediction
Authors: Wang Yan , Wang Tao
Published: May 2020

In recent years, with increasing social pressure and irregular schedules, many people have developed unhealthy eating habits, which has resulted in an increasing number of patients with diabetes, a disease that cannot be cured under the current medical conditions, and can only be mitigated by early detection and prevention. A lot of human and material resources are required for the detection of the blood glucose of a large number of people in medical examination, while the integrated learning model based on machine learning can quickly predict the blood glucose level and assist doctors in treatment. Therefore, an improved LightGBM model based on the Bayesian hyper-parameter optimization algorithm is proposed for the prediction of blood glucose, namely HY_LightGBM, which optimizes parameters using a Bayesian hyper-parameter optimization algorithm based on LightGBM. The Bayesian hyper-parameter optimization algorithm is a model-based method for finding the minimum value of the function so as to obtain the optimal parameters of the LightGBM model. Experiments have demonstrated that the parameters obtained by the Bayesian hyper-parameter optimization algorithm are superior to those obtained by a genetic algorithm and random search. The improved LightGBM model based on the Bayesian hyper-parameter optimization algorithm achieves a mean square error of 0.5961 in blood glucose prediction, with a higher accuracy than the XGBoost model and CatBoost model.
COTS-Based Architectural Framework for Reliable Real-Time Control Applications in Manufacturing
Authors: Adam George K. , Petrellis Nikos , Garani Georgia , Stylianos Tilemachos
Published: May 2020

The challenge of keeping the development and implementation of real-time control systems reliable and efficient and at the same time, low-cost and low-energy, is getting harder. This is because system designers and developers are faced with the dependability, inflexibility and often high-cost of specialized or custom-built hardware and software components. This research attempts to tackle issues such as the reliability and efficiency of real-time control systems and advance further the current state-of-the-art. For this purpose, a strong emphasis is placed on finding novel efficient solutions based on standardized and commercially available off-the-shelf hardware/software components. In this direction, this research applies credible and feasible methodologies (e.g., model-based design, component-based design, formal verification, real-time scheduling, prototyping, and validation) in an innovative enhanced way. As an important outcome, a versatile integrative design approach and architectural framework (VIDAF) is proposed, which supports the development and implementation of reliable real-time control systems and applications using commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) components. The feasibility and applicability of the proposed system’s architecture are evaluated and validated through a system application in embedded real-time control in manufacturing. The research outcomes are expected to have a positive impact on emerging areas such as the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT).
Frost Resistance of Coal Gangue Aggregate Concrete Modified by Steel Fiber and Slag Powder
Authors: Luo Daming , Wang Yan , Zhang Shaohui , Niu Ditao , Song Zhanping
Published: May 2020

Coal gangue, a by-product produced during the process of coal mining and washing, has a serious impact on the environment. Using coal gangue as a concrete aggregate has been proven helpful in potentially improving its value and reducing its environmental impact to a certain extent. However, the high water absorption and low strength of coal gangue aggregate cause a poor frost resistance of coal gangue aggregate concrete (CGAC), and thus limits its application in cold areas. This study attempted to modify the CGAC with steel fibers (including hooked-end, undulated, and copper-plated steel fiber) and slag powder, and investigated its frost resistance. Moreover, the impact that steel fiber and slag powder had on air-void characteristics of CGAC was also analyzed. The results show that when steel fibers were incorporated into CGAC, the compressive strength and splitting tensile strength of CGAC reduced significantly after freezing/thawing and that they experienced the smallest reduction when the content of the steel fiber was 1 vol.% and the undulated steel fibers worked best. However, the effect of slag powder on frost resistance of CGAC at an early age was not obvious, which may be related to the slower pozzolanic reaction of slag powder. Incorporating steel fiber or slag powder into CGAC can optimize its mesostructure and make the air-voids of concrete smaller, which is beneficial to its frost resistance. The results provide a good way to improve the performance of CGAC, expand its application in cold regions, and reduce the pollution caused by coal gangue.
Transfer Learning with Deep Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) for Pneumonia Detection Using Chest X-ray
Authors: Rahman Tawsifur , Chowdhury Muhammad E. H. , Khandakar Amith , Islam Khandaker R. , Islam Khandaker F. , Mahbub Zaid B. , Kadir Muhammad A. , Kashem Saad
Published: May 2020

Pneumonia is a life-threatening disease, which occurs in the lungs caused by either bacterial or viral infection. It can be life-endangering if not acted upon at the right time and thus the early diagnosis of pneumonia is vital. The paper aims to automatically detect bacterial and viral pneumonia using digital x-ray images. It provides a detailed report on advances in accurate detection of pneumonia and then presents the methodology adopted by the authors. Four different pre-trained deep Convolutional Neural Network (CNN): AlexNet, ResNet18, DenseNet201, and SqueezeNet were used for transfer learning. A total of 5247 chest X-ray images consisting of bacterial, viral, and normal chest x-rays images were preprocessed and trained for the transfer learning-based classification task. In this study, the authors have reported three schemes of classifications: normal vs. pneumonia, bacterial vs. viral pneumonia, and normal, bacterial, and viral pneumonia. The classification accuracy of normal and pneumonia images, bacterial and viral pneumonia images, and normal, bacterial, and viral pneumonia were 98%, 95%, and 93.3%, respectively. This is the highest accuracy, in any scheme, of the accuracies reported in the literature. Therefore, the proposed study can be useful in more quickly diagnosing pneumonia by the radiologist and can help in the fast airport screening of pneumonia patients.