bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Macrophages and Autoantibodies in Demyelinating Diseases
Authors: Koike Haruki , Katsuno Masahisa
Published: April 2021

Myelin phagocytosis by macrophages has been an essential feature of demyelinating diseases in the central and peripheral nervous systems, including Guillain–Barré syndrome (GBS), chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP), and multiple sclerosis (MS). The discovery of autoantibodies, including anti-ganglioside GM1 antibodies in the axonal form of GBS, anti-neurofascin 155 and anti-contactin 1 antibodies in typical and distal forms of CIDP, and anti-aquaporin 4 antibodies in neuromyelitis optica, contributed to the understanding of the disease process in a subpopulation of patients conventionally diagnosed with demyelinating diseases. However, patients with these antibodies are now considered to have independent disease entities, including acute motor axonal neuropathy, nodopathy or paranodopathy, and neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder, because primary lesions in these diseases are distinct from those in conventional demyelinating diseases. Therefore, the mechanisms underlying demyelination caused by macrophages remain unclear. Electron microscopy studies revealed that macrophages destroy myelin as if they are the principal players in the demyelination process. Recent studies suggest that macrophages seem to select specific sites of myelinated fibers, including the nodes of Ranvier, paranodes, and internodes, for the initiation of demyelination in individual cases, indicating that specific components localized to these sites play an important role in the behavior of macrophages that initiate myelin phagocytosis. Along with the search for autoantibodies, the ultrastructural characterization of myelin phagocytosis by macrophages is a crucial step in understanding the pathophysiology of demyelinating diseases and for the future development of targeted therapies.
PicPreview and PicSummary: Two Timesaving Plugins for the Fluorescence Microscopist
Authors: Vieyres Gabrielle
Published: April 2021

This article targets cell biologists who use fluorescence microscopy but lack automatic tools to summarize and manage their image datasets. When using microscopy to document a phenotype, multiple and random pictures are required to reflect the biological diversity of each imaged sample. Managing, integrating and summarizing the acquired data can be a daunting task that becomes extremely time-consuming unless one automatizes it. Unfortunately, if many biologists use microscopy, only a few have automatized procedures to cope with the data generated. For the majority of microscope users, the two developed complementary ImageJ plugins, PicPreview and PicSummary, will allow, in a few clicks and in an instant, to obtain an overview of all pictures taken for each sample of an experiment and a summary with one user-defined representative picture per sample. The plugins and a video tutorial, as well as demonstration pictures, are available as supplementary data at the journal website. PicPreview and PicSummary should save precious time in managing microscopy datasets and in preparing figures for publications.
Increased Alveolar Heparan Sulphate and Reduced Pulmonary Surfactant Amount and Function in the Mucopolysaccharidosis IIIA Mouse
Authors: Paget Tamara L. , Parkinson-Lawrence Emma J. , Trim Paul J. , Autilio Chiara , Panchal Madhuriben H. , Koster Grielof , Echaide Mercedes , Snel Marten F. , Postle Anthony D. , Morrison Janna L. , Pérez-Gil Jésus , Orgeig Sandra
Published: April 2021

Mucopolysaccharidosis IIIA (MPS IIIA) is a lysosomal storage disease with significant neurological and skeletal pathologies. Respiratory dysfunction is a secondary pathology contributing to mortality in MPS IIIA patients. Pulmonary surfactant is crucial to optimal lung function and has not been investigated in MPS IIIA. We measured heparan sulphate (HS), lipids and surfactant proteins (SP) in pulmonary tissue and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF), and surfactant activity in healthy and diseased mice (20 weeks of age). Heparan sulphate, ganglioside GM3 and bis(monoacylglycero)phosphate (BMP) were increased in MPS IIIA lung tissue. There was an increase in HS and a decrease in BMP and cholesteryl esters (CE) in MPS IIIA BALF. Phospholipid composition remained unchanged, but BALF total phospholipids were reduced (49.70%) in MPS IIIA. There was a reduction in SP-A, -C and -D mRNA, SP-D protein in tissue and SP-A, -C and -D protein in BALF of MPS IIIA mice. Captive bubble surfactometry showed an increase in minimum and maximum surface tension and percent surface area compression, as well as a higher compressibility and hysteresis in MPS IIIA surfactant upon dynamic cycling. Collectively these biochemical and biophysical changes in alveolar surfactant are likely to be detrimental to lung function in MPS IIIA.
Projections of Local Knowledge-Based Adaptation Strategies of Mexican Coffee Farmers
Authors: Ruiz-García Patricia , Conde-Álvarez Cecilia , Gómez-Díaz Jesús David , Monterroso-Rivas Alejandro Ismael
Published: April 2021

Local knowledge can be a strategy for coping with extreme events and adapting to climate change. In Mexico, extreme events and climate change projections suggest the urgency of promoting local adaptation policies and strategies. This paper provides an assessment of adaptation actions based on the local knowledge of coffee farmers in southern Mexico. The strategies include collective and individual adaptation actions that farmers have established. To determine their viability and impacts, carbon stocks and fluxes in the system’s aboveground biomass were projected, along with water balance variables. Stored carbon contents are projected to increase by more than 90%, while maintaining agroforestry systems will also help serve to protect against extreme hydrological events. Finally, the integration of local knowledge into national climate change adaptation plans is discussed and suggested with a local focus. We conclude that local knowledge can be successful in conserving agroecological coffee production systems.
Application of Nanotechnology in Immunity against Infection
Authors: Zhang Jingxin , Shi Weiyue , Ma Qiang , Cui Haixin , Zhang Liang
Published: April 2021

The immune system has a physiological defense function, protecting the body from infectious diseases. Antibiotics have long been one of the most important means to treat infectious diseases, but in recent years, with the emergence of more and more multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria, it has become urgent to find new ways or drugs to treat infectious diseases. Nanoparticles (NPs) have attracted extensive attention owing to the special properties within the particle size range of 1–100 nanometers. In addition, NPs also have special shape symmetry and relative structural stability. The emergence of nanotechnology has brought new light to the widespread existence of MDR by its different antibacterial mechanisms. In addition to antibiotic nanocarriers being able to improve the antibacterial effect of antibiotics, some NPs also have certain antibacterial effect. What is more interesting is that linking functional groups on the surface of NPS as coatings can improve the stability of the whole system and improve the biocompatibility. The present review overviews the development of antimicrobial agents, so as to better understand the causes and mechanisms of antibiotic resistance in most microbial species, and to better think and explore new strategies to solve the problem. At the same time, this review introduces how nanotechnology can be applied to anti-infection immunity and its practical application and advantages in the treatment of infection.
Study on Mechanism of Glass Molding Process for Fingerprint Lock Glass Plates
Authors: Ming Wuyi , Jia Haojie , Huang Heyuan , Zhang Guojun , Liu Kun , Lu Ya , Cao Chen
Published: April 2021

Curved glass is widely used in 3C industry, and the market demand is increasing gradually. Glass molding process (GMP) is a high-precision, high-efficiency 3D glass touch panel processing technology. In this study, the processing parameters of fingerprint lock glass panels were deeply analyzed. This paper first introduces the molding process of the glass panel, discusses the glass forming device, and explains the heat conduction principle of the glass. Firstly, it introduces the forming process of the glass panel, discusses the glass forming device, and explains the heat conduction principle of the glass. Secondly, the simulation model of a fingerprint lock glass plate was simulated by MSC. Marc software. The stress relaxation model and structure relaxation model are used in the model, and the heat transfer characteristics of glass mold are combined to accurately predict the forming process of glass components. The effects of molding temperature, heating rate, holding time, molding pressure, cooling rate and other process parameters on product quality characteristics (residual stress and shape deviation) were analyzed through simulation experiments. The results show that, in a certain range, the residual stress is inversely proportional to the bending temperature and heating rate, and is directly proportional to the cooling rate, while the shape deviation decreases with the increase of temperature and heating rate. When the cooling rate decreases, the shape deviation first decreases and then increases. Furthermore, a verification experiment is designed to verify the reliability of the simulation results by measuring and calculating the surface roughness of the formed products.
Hand-Washing Video Dataset Annotated According to the World Health Organization’s Hand-Washing Guidelines
Authors: Lulla Martins , Rutkovskis Aleksejs , Slavinska Andreta , Vilde Aija , Gromova Anastasija , Ivanovs Maksims , Skadins Ansis , Kadikis Roberts , Elsts Atis
Published: April 2021

Washing hands is one of the most important ways to prevent infectious diseases, including COVID-19. The World Health Organization (WHO) has published hand-washing guidelines. This paper presents a large real-world dataset with videos recording medical staff washing their hands as part of their normal job duties in the Pauls Stradins Clinical University Hospital. There are 3185 hand-washing episodes in total, each of which is annotated by up to seven different persons. The annotations classify the washing movements according to the WHO guidelines by marking each frame in each video with a certain movement code. The intention of this “in-the-wild” dataset is two-fold: to serve as a basis for training machine-learning classifiers for automated hand-washing movement recognition and quality control, and to allow to investigation of the real-world quality of washing performed by working medical staff. We demonstrate how the data can be used to train a machine-learning classifier that achieves classification accuracy of 0.7511 on a test dataset.
Correlation of CD47 Expression with Adverse Clinicopathologic Features and an Unfavorable Prognosis in Colorectal Adenocarcinoma
Authors: Kim Hyunsung , Jee Seungyun , Kim Yeseul , Sim Jongmin , Bang Seongsik , Son Hwang Kyu , Park Hosub , Myung Jaekyung , Ko Young Hyeh , Paik Seung Sam
Published: April 2021

CD47, a transmembrane protein, is widely overexpressed on the tumor cell surface. However, the prognostic significance of CD47 expression in colorectal adenocarcinoma (CRA) has not yet been clarified. Here, we investigated the clinicopathologic significance of CD47 expression in CRA. CD47 expression was evaluated via immunohistochemical analysis of microarray sections of 328 CRA tissues. CD47 expression was observed in 53 (16.2%) of the 328 CRA tissues, and positive expression was associated with lymphatic invasion (p = 0.018), perineural invasion (p = 0.024), tumor budding (p = 0.009), the pathologic N stage (p = 0.022), and the American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) stage (p = 0.027). In survival analyses of 329 patients, a positive CD47 expression was associated with a poor recurrence-free survival (RFS) (p = 0.032). In multivariate analysis, however, it was not an independent prognostic factor. In patients who underwent surgical resection without adjuvant treatment, a positive CD47 expression was associated with a shorter RFS (p = 0.001) but not with cancer-specific survival (CSS). In patients who received postoperative adjuvant treatment, no significant differences were found in both RFS and CSS. In conclusion, we investigated CD47 expression in 328 CRA tissues. A positive CD47 expression was observed in a minority (16.2%) of the tissues and was significantly associated with adverse clinicopathologic features and a poor patient outcome.
Adding Value of MRI over CT in Predicting Peritoneal Cancer Index and Completeness of Cytoreduction
Authors: Lin Chia-Ni , Huang Weh-Shih , Huang Tzu-Hao , Chen Chao-Yu , Huang Cheng-Yi , Wang Ting-Yao , Liao Yu-San , Lee Li-Wen
Published: April 2021

Background: This study aimed to investigate the adding value of MRI over CT for preoperative cytoreductive surgery with hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapies (CRS/HIPEC). Methods: Imaging and intraoperative peritoneal cancer index (PCI) were calculated in 62 patients with peritoneal metastasis. Predictive models for the completeness of cytoreductive score using PCI data were established using decision tree algorithms. Results: In gastric cancer patients, a large discrepancy and poor agreement was appreciated between CT and surgical PCI, and a nonsignificant difference was noted between MRI and surgical PCI. In colon cancer patients, a better agreement and higher correlation with a smaller error was observed in PCI score using MRI than in that using CT. However, the addition of MRI to CT was limited for appendiceal and ovarian cancer patients. For predicting incomplete cytoreduction, CT models yielded inadequate accuracy while MRI models were more accurate with fair discrimination ability. Conclusions: CT was suitable for estimating PCI and surgery outcome in appendiceal and ovarian cancer patients, while further MRI in addition to CT was recommended for colon and gastric cancer patients. However, for classifying patients with peritoneal carcinomatosis into complete and incomplete cytoreduction, MRI was more effective than CT.
A National Survey of the Social and Emotional Differences Reported by Adults with Disability in Ireland Compared to the General Population
Authors: McConkey Roy
Published: April 2021

The disadvantages experienced by adult persons with disabilities are well documented. However, limited evidence is available on the extent of differences in comparison with the non-disabled population. In this study, selected indicators of social status and mental wellbeing derived from past research, were used with national samples of adult persons in Ireland with a disability (n = 440) and without a disability (n = 880) recruited through household quota sampling. In addition, comparisons were drawn with equivalent data derived from a contemporaneous national census. Although many of the differences were statistically significant, the effect sizes were mostly medium to low. Moreover, when the inter-relationships among the various indicators was taken into account using Discriminant Analysis, persons with disabilities were less likely to be employed; they reported lower levels of social engagement and had poorer emotional wellbeing. They were also older, more likely to be single and have no children. The study illustrates the potential of using comparative data to monitor the impact of national actions taken to reduce the inequalities experienced by persons with disability as well as highlighting the arenas into which professional supports need to be focused.
Schools, Universities and Large-Scale Assessment Responses to COVID-19: The Swedish Example
Authors: Wiberg Marie , Lyrén Per-Erik , Lind Pantzare Anna
Published: April 2021

The aim of this paper is to describe, analyze, and discuss how Swedish schools and the national tests in schools, university teaching and examination, and the college admissions test, Swedish Scholastic Aptitude Test (SweSAT), have been affected by the COVID-19 situation. A further aim is to discuss the challenges in schools, universities and in the admissions test process in Sweden which are due to the COVID-19 situation. Contrary to many other countries, Swedish schools remained open, except for upper secondary school and universities where teaching went online. However, the spring administrations of the national tests and the high-stake college admission test, SweSAT, were cancelled, which had impact on admissions to universities in the fall. By using documentation from the news, school, and university authorities, as well as governmental reports of the events and a student survey, challenges are discussed. The novelty of this study includes a discussion of the events and their upcoming challenges. A discussion of what could be learned and what to expect in the close future is included, as well as conclusions which can be drawn from this situation.
Teaching Mathematics during the COVID-19 Lockdown in a Context of Historical Disadvantage
Authors: Chirinda Brantina , Ndlovu Mdutshekelwa , Spangenberg Erica
Published: April 2021

The COVID-19 global pandemic widely affected education across the world and engendered unprecedented scenarios that required expeditious responses. In South Africa, the pandemic came on top of pre-existing inequalities in the education system. Using a qualitative research method of exploratory and descriptive nature, this study engaged a social justice framework to explore the teaching and learning of mathematics during the COVID-19 lockdown in a context of historical disadvantage. A sample of twenty-three Grade 12 mathematics teachers at various public secondary schools in Gauteng, South Africa was used in the study. The teachers were selected through purposive sampling. A Google-generated open-ended questionnaire and follow-up telephonic interviews were used to collect data. Data were analysed thematically in five steps. The findings revealed that the WhatsApp platform is a valuable tool that can support the teaching and learning of mathematics beyond the classroom in the contexts of historical disadvantage. The findings also provided insights into how mathematics teachers became learners themselves during emergency remote teaching (ERT) as they had to adapt to digital teaching, find solutions to unfamiliar problems and acquire knowledge from a larger mathematics education community around the globe. The article discusses these findings and teachers’ challenges of transitioning from traditional face-to-face classrooms to ERT and how they were addressed. At the time of publishing the article, most learners in South Africa had started going to school on a rotational basis. Nonetheless, the study reported in this article is of importance as ERT in the context of historical disadvantage has foregrounded issues of inequality in the South African education system that must be dealt with urgently.
Characteristic Study of Visible Light Communication and Influence of Coal Dust Particles in Underground Coal Mines
Authors: Javaid Fawad , Wang Anyi , Sana Muhammad Usman , Husain Asif , Ashraf Imran
Published: April 2021

The critical environment of the underground mines is a risky zone for mining applications and it is very hazardous to engage the miners without a sophisticated communication system. The existing wired networks are susceptible to damage and the wireless radio systems experience severe fading that restricts the complete access to the entire assembly of a mine. Wireless optical communication is a better approach that can be incorporated in the erratic atmosphere of underground mines to overcome such issues, as lights are already used to illuminate the mine galleries. This study is focused on investigating the characteristics of visible light communication (VLC) in an underground coal mine. The entire scope of VLC is elaborated along with the influence of coal dust particles and the scattering model. The impact of coal dust clouds on visibility and attenuation is analyzed for visible light transmission. The shadowing effect generated by the pillars and mining machinery is estimated by employing the bimodal Gaussian distribution (BGD) approach in coal mines. The characteristic model of VLC for underground coal mines is presented by classifying the area of the mine into mine gallery and sub-galleries. The transmission links of VLC are categorized as the line of sight (LOS) link for direct propagation and the non-LOS (NLOS) link for reflected propagation. The scenarios of LOS and NLOS propagation are considered for each evaluating parameter. Furthermore, the performance of the proposed framework is examined by computing the received signal power, path loss, delay spread (DS), and signal to noise ratio (SNR).
Embedded GPU Implementation for High-Performance Ultrasound Imaging
Authors: Rossi Stefano , Boni Enrico
Published: April 2021

Methods of increasing complexity are currently being proposed for ultrasound (US) echographic signal processing. Graphics Processing Unit (GPU) resources allowing massive exploitation of parallel computing are ideal candidates for these tasks. Many high-performance US instruments, including open scanners like ULA-OP 256, have an architecture based only on Field-Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs) and/or Digital Signal Processors (DSPs). This paper proposes the implementation of the embedded NVIDIA Jetson Xavier AGX module on board ULA-OP 256. The system architecture was revised to allow the introduction of a new Peripheral Component Interconnect Express (PCIe) communication channel, while maintaining backward compatibility with all other embedded computing resources already on board. Moreover, the Input/Output (I/O) peripherals of the module make the ultrasound system independent, freeing the user from the need to use an external controlling PC.
Improving Model Capacity of Quantized Networks with Conditional Computation
Authors: Pham Phuoc , Chung Jaeyong
Published: April 2021

Network quantization becomes a crucial step when deploying deep models to the edge devices as it is hardware-friendly, offers memory and computational advantages, but it also suffers performance degradation as the result of limited representation capability. We address this issue by introducing conditional computing to low-bit quantized networks. Instead of using a fixed, single kernel for each layer, which usually does not generalize well across all input data, our proposed method tries to use multiple parallel kernels dynamically in conjunction with the winner-takes-all gating mechanism to select the best one to propagate information. Overall, our proposed method improves upon the prior work, without adding much computational overhead, results in better classification performance on the CIFAR-10 and CIFAR-100 datasets.
Modeling and Simulation-Based Layout Optimization for Tolerance to TID Effect on n-MOSFET
Authors: Lee Minwoong , Lee Namho , Kim Jongyeol , Hwang Younggwan , Cho Seongik
Published: April 2021

In the present study, the layout structure of an n-MOSFET, which is vulnerable to radiation, was designed in a different way to enhance its tolerance to radiation. Radiation damage assessment was conducted using modeling and simulation (M&S) techniques before actual semiconductor process fabrication and radiation tests to verify its tolerance properties. Based on the M&S techniques, the role of each layer was determined to improve the radiation tolerance of semiconductors, and the layout design of an n-MOSFET with enhanced radiation tolerance was optimized. The optimized radiation-tolerant n-MOSFET design was implemented in the 0.18-um CMOS bulk process, and radiation exposure tests were conducted on the device. A cumulative radiation dose up to 2 Mrad(Si) was applied to verify its radiation-tolerant performance. Developing new devices using M&S techniques for radiation damage assessment allows reliable estimates of their electrical and radiation-tolerant properties to be obtained in advance of the actual manufacturing process, thereby minimizing development costs and time.
Modeling and Analysis of N-Branch Hybrid Switched Inductor and Capacitor Converter
Authors: Yang Lei , Ma Li , Li Xiaojie , Xiong Liansong , Liu Xinghua , Cao Hui , Ni Junkang
Published: April 2021

This paper proposes a family of N-Branch hybrid switched inductor and capacitor (SLC) converters. With the single circuit, the multi-level output voltage or current could be generated. The proposed converter is suitable both for the voltage source and the current source. The same LC network is reused for different LC branches. The proposed converter is controlled by the phase shift control method with a time domain multiplexing concept. The N level circuit is operated with the same frequency. One cycle period is divided into N small time cycles for each branch. The phase shift for each branch is 360°/N. The load voltage could be changed by modifying the duty cycle of the transistor. When the SLCs work in the resonant condition, the soft switching will be acquired. The power loss of transistors could be sharply reduced. In this paper, a 300 W SLC converter is constructed to verify the theoretical analysis and operation mechanism in the resonant condition and hard switching condition. With the experimental and simulated verification, the soft switching and the stable multi-level output voltage or current are achieved. The proposed SLC converter could be used for the multi-level voltage power supply system, such as the electric vehicle, the electric aircraft, autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) and a new energy generation system.
Security Issues with In-Vehicle Networks, and Enhanced Countermeasures Based on Blockchain
Authors: Khatri Narayan , Shrestha Rakesh , Nam Seung Yeob
Published: April 2021

Modern vehicles are no longer simply mechanical devices. Connectivity between the vehicular network and the outside world has widened the security holes that hackers can use to exploit a vehicular network. Controller Area Network (CAN), FlexRay, and automotive Ethernet are popular protocols for in-vehicle networks (IVNs) and will stay in the industry for many more years. However, these protocols were not designed with security in mind. They have several vulnerabilities, such as lack of message authentication, lack of message encryption, and an ID-based arbitration mechanism for contention resolution. Adversaries can use these vulnerabilities to launch sophisticated attacks that may lead to loss of life and damage to property. Thus, the security of the vehicles should be handled carefully. In this paper, we investigate the security vulnerabilities with in-vehicle network protocols such as CAN, automotive Ethernet, and FlexRay. A comprehensive survey on security attacks launched against in-vehicle networks is presented along with countermeasures adopted by various researchers. Various algorithms have been proposed in the past for intrusion detection in IVNs. However, those approaches have several limitations that need special attention from the research community. Blockchain is a good approach to solving the existing security issues in IVNs, and we suggest a way to improve IVN security based on a hybrid blockchain.
Lane-Merging Strategy for a Self-Driving Car in Dense Traffic Using the Stackelberg Game Approach
Authors: Ji Kyoungtae , Orsag Matko , Han Kyoungseok
Published: April 2021

This paper presents the lane-merging strategy for self-driving cars in dense traffic using the Stackelberg game approach. From the perspective of the self-driving car, in order to make sufficient space to merge into the next lane, a self-driving car should interact with the vehicles in the next lane. In heavy traffic, where the possible actions of the vehicle are pretty limited, it is possible to conjecture the driving intentions of the vehicles from their behaviors. For example, by observing the speed changes of the human-driver in the next lane, the self-driving car can estimate its driving intention in real time, much in the same way of a human driver. We use the principle of Stackelberg competition to make the optimal decision for the self-driving car based on the predicted reaction of the interacting vehicles in the next lane. In this way, according to the traffic circumstances, a self-driving car can decide whether to merge or not. In addition, by limiting the number of interacting vehicles, the computational burden is manageable enough to be implemented in production vehicles. We verify the efficiency of the proposed method through the case studies for different test scenarios, and the test results show that our approach is closer to the human-like decision-making strategy, as compared to the conventional rule-based method.
Embedded Intelligence on FPGA: Survey, Applications and Challenges
Authors: Seng Kah Phooi , Lee Paik Jen , Ang Li Minn
Published: April 2021

Embedded intelligence (EI) is an emerging research field and has the objective to incorporate machine learning algorithms and intelligent decision-making capabilities into mobile and embedded devices or systems. There are several challenges to be addressed to realize efficient EI implementations in hardware such as the need for: (1) high computational processing; (2) low power consumption (or high energy efficiency); and (3) scalability to accommodate different network sizes and topologies. In recent years, an emerging hardware technology which has demonstrated strong potential and capabilities for EI implementations is the FPGA (field programmable gate array) technology. This paper presents an overview and review of embedded intelligence on FPGA with a focus on applications, platforms and challenges. There are four main classification and thematic descriptors which are reviewed and discussed in this paper for EI: (1) EI techniques including machine learning and neural networks, deep learning, expert systems, fuzzy intelligence, swarm intelligence, self-organizing map (SOM) and extreme learning; (2) applications for EI including object detection and recognition, indoor localization and surveillance monitoring, and other EI applications; (3) hardware and platforms for EI; and (4) challenges for EI. The paper aims to introduce interested researchers to this area and motivate the development of practical FPGA solutions for EI deployment.
Influence of Hydrogeological Investigation’s Accuracy on Technology of Shaft Sinking and Design of Shaft Lining—Case Study from Southern Poland
Authors: d’Obyrn Kajetan , Kamiński Paweł , Motyka Jacek
Published: April 2021

Accuracy of hydrogeological and geotechnical investigation in place of shaft sinking is a key factor for selection of sinking method and design of the shaft lining. The following work presents the influence of the rising level of accuracy of geological data gathered in the area of shaft sinking in the Silesian Coal Basin and technical projects of shaft lining and technology of its sinking, which have been changing over the years. The initial project of the shaft was repeatedly modified. Each modification eventuated in rising requirements for the shaft lining, such as increasing its thickness or changing concrete class. It has become necessary to use additional methods of reinforcing rock mass around the shaft.
Farmer Interest in and Willingness to Grow Pennycress as an Energy Feedstock
Authors: Zhou Xia Vivian , Jensen Kimberly L. , Larson James A. , English Burton C.
Published: April 2021

Pennycress can be used as a renewable biomass because its harvested seeds can be converted into biofuel, supplying, for example the aviation industry. Pennycress can be adopted as a winter cover crop to make extra profit in addition to summer cash crops. This study ascertains influences on row crop farmers’ interest in growing pennycress to supply a biofuels industry. The study uses data from a survey of row-crop farmers in seven US states. Effects of farm and farmer attributes on acceptance of a farmgate pennycress price are measured. Nearly 58% were interested in growing pennycress if profitable. Among those interested, 54.4% would accept the farmgate pennycress price offered. Positive influences on interest included farm size, education, and familiarity with pennycress, while concern about knowledge on growing pennycress, and use of no-till practices had negative influences. Farmers aged 40 to 65 were more likely to accept the price, while share of rented hectares and no debt had positive influences. More risk-averse farmers and those using no-till were less likely to accept. Results suggest that the majority of row crop farmers would be interested in growing pennycress if profitable, while the overall willingness to accept the farmgate price was when it was at $0.28/kg.
Frequency Containment Control of Hydropower Plants Using Different Adaptive Methods
Authors: Gezer Doğan , Taşcıoğlu Yiğit , Çelebioğlu Kutay
Published: April 2021

With the growth in the share of variable renewable energy sources, fluctuations in the power generation caused by these types of power plants can diminish the stability and flexibility of the grid. These two can be enhanced by applying frequency containment using hydropower plants as an operational reserve. The frequency containment in hydropower plants is automatically controlled by speed governors within seconds. Disturbances such as fluctuations in the net head and aging may diminish the performance of the controllers of the speed governors. In this study, model reference adaptive control approaches based on the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) rule and Lyapunov method were exploited in order to improve the performance of the speed governor for frequency containment control. The active power control with frequency control was enhanced by the aforementioned adaptive control methods. A mathematical model of a hydropower plant with a surge tank and medium penstock was constructed and validated through site measurements of a plant. It was shown that, as they are applicable in real life, both methods perform significantly better compared to conventional proportional-integrator control. Even in first five deviations, the performance of the conventional controller improved by 58.8% using the MIT rule and by 65.9% using the Lyapunov method. When the two adaptive control approaches were compared with each other, the MIT rule outputted better results than the Lyapunov method when the disturbance frequency was higher; however, the latter was more functional for rare disturbances.
Biofunctional Peptide FNIII14: Therapeutic Potential
Authors: Fujita Motomichi , Sasada Manabu , Iyoda Takuya , Osada Satoshi , Kodama Hiroaki , Fukai Fumio
Published: April 2021

Biofunctional peptide FNIII14, which is derived from the 14th fibronectin (FN) type III-like (FN-III) repeat of FN molecule, is capable of inhibiting cell adhesion to the extracellular matrix (ECM). This functional site is usually buried within the molecular structure of FN, but can be exposed by conformational changes and proteolytic cleavage. Peptide FNIII14 can induce a conformational change in β1-integrin from the active to the inactive form, causing functional inactivation. Based on this anti-adhesive activity, peptide FNIII14 exhibits therapeutic potential for several diseases such as metabolic diseases, organ fibrosis, and malignant tumors. Peptide FNIII14 blocks integrin-mediated signaling by a mechanism entirely distinct from that of conventional antagonisitic peptides, including Arg-Gly-Asp peptides that competitively inhibit the ECM binding of integrin.
An Overview of the Lagrangian Dispersion Modeling of Heavy Particles in Homogeneous Isotropic Turbulence and Considerations on Related LES Simulations
Authors: Huilier Daniel G. F.
Published: April 2021

Particle tracking is a competitive technique widely used in two-phase flows and best suited to simulate the dispersion of heavy particles in the atmosphere. Most Lagrangian models in the statistical approach to turbulence are based either on the eddy interaction model (EIM) and the Monte-Carlo method or on random walk models (RWMs) making use of Markov chains and a Langevin equation. In the present work, both discontinuous and continuous random walk techniques are used to model the dispersion of heavy spherical particles in homogeneous isotropic stationary turbulence (HIST). Their efficiency to predict particle long time dispersion, mean-square velocity and Lagrangian integral time scales are discussed. Computation results with zero and no-zero mean drift velocity are reported; they are intended to quantify the inertia, gravity, crossing-trajectory and continuity effects controlling the dispersion. The calculations concern dense monodisperse spheres in air, the particle Stokes number ranging from 0.007 to 4. Due to the weaknesses of such models, a more sophisticated matrix method will also be explored, able to simulate the true fluid turbulence experienced by the particle for long time dispersion studies. Computer evolution and performance since allowed to develop, instead of Reynold-Averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS)-based studies, large eddy simulation (LES) and direct numerical simulation (DNS) of turbulence coupled to Generalized Langevin Models. A short review on the progress of the Lagrangian simulations based on large eddy simulation (LES) will therefore be provided too, highlighting preferential concentration. The theoretical framework for the fluid time correlation functions along the heavy particle path is that suggested by Wang and Stock.
Optimal Pressure Boundary Control of Steady Multiscale Fluid-Structure Interaction Shell Model Derived from Koiter Equations
Authors: Chierici Andrea , Chirco Leonardo , Manservisi Sandro
Published: April 2021

Fluid-structure interaction (FSI) problems are of great interest, due to their applicability in science and engineering. However, the coupling between large fluid domains and small moving solid walls presents numerous numerical difficulties and, in some configurations, where the thickness of the solid wall can be neglected, one can consider membrane models, which are derived from the Koiter shell equations with a reduction of the computational cost of the algorithm. With this assumption, the FSI simulation is reduced to the fluid equations on a moving mesh together with a Robin boundary condition that is imposed on the moving solid surface. In this manuscript, we are interested in the study of inverse FSI problems that aim to achieve an objective by changing some design parameters, such as forces, boundary conditions, or geometrical domain shapes. We study the inverse FSI membrane model by using an optimal control approach that is based on Lagrange multipliers and adjoint variables. In particular, we propose a pressure boundary optimal control with the purpose to control the solid deformation by changing the pressure on a fluid boundary. We report the results of some numerical tests for two-dimensional domains to demonstrate the feasibility and robustness of our method.
Investigating the Use of Ultraviolet Light Emitting Diodes (UV-LEDs) for the Inactivation of Bacteria in Powdered Food Ingredients
Authors: Nyhan Laura , Przyjalgowski Milosz , Lewis Liam , Begley Máire , Callanan Michael
Published: April 2021

The addition of contaminated powdered spices and seasonings to finished products which do not undergo further processing represents a significant concern for food manufacturers. To reduce the incidence of bacterial contamination, seasoning ingredients should be subjected to a decontamination process. Ultraviolet light emitting diodes (UV-LEDs) have been suggested as an alternative to UV lamps for reducing the microbial load of foods, due to their increasing efficiency, robustness and decreasing cost. In this study, we investigated the efficacy of UV-LED devices for the inactivation of four bacteria (Listeria monocytogenes, Escherichia coli, Bacillus subtilis and Salmonella Typhimurium) on a plastic surface and in four powdered seasoning ingredients (onion powder, garlic powder, cheese and onion powder and chilli powder). Surface inactivation experiments with UV mercury lamps, UVC-LEDs and UVA-LEDs emitting at wavelengths of 254 nm, 270 nm and 365 nm, respectively, revealed that treatment with UVC-LEDs were comparable to, or better than those observed using the mercury lamp. Bacterial reductions in the seasoning powders with UVC-LEDs were less than in the surface inactivation experiments, but significant reductions of 0.75–3 log10 colony forming units (CFU) were obtained following longer (40 s) UVC-LED exposure times. Inactivation kinetics were generally nonlinear, and a comparison of the predictive models highlighted that microbial inactivation was dependent on the combination of powder and microorganism. This study is the first to report on the efficacy of UV-LEDs for the inactivation of several different bacterial species in a variety of powdered ingredients, highlighting the potential of the technology as an alternative to the traditional UV lamps used in the food industry.
Opuntia ficus-indica as an Ingredient in New Functional Pasta: Consumer Preferences in Italy
Authors: Palmieri Nadia , Suardi Alessandro , Stefanoni Walter , Pari Luigi
Published: April 2021

Opuntia ficus-indica is a source of minerals and vitamins and has recently been used as ingredient to make a new functional variety of pasta. Italy was the first country in the world to produce pasta and is also the second largest producer of Opuntia in the world. According to an Italian sample, this study considers the main factors that could influence consumers when choosing functional pasta (featuring Opuntia) and characterizes distinct hypothetical consumer segments in terms of their food habits, pasta choices, and perceptions toward functional pasta featuring Opuntia. Data were collected using a web-based survey and with 328 respondents. Factor analysis (FA) with orthogonal rotation (varimax) was used to simplify the observed variables and hierarchical cluster analysis was performed with the FA results. Seven clusters were identified and the main results show that the level of education plays an important role in the perception of functional pasta. In fact, the perceptions of well-educated people differed from poorly-educated people. Moreover, the results showed significant respondent interest regarding health benefits and the nutritional and environmental aspects of functional pasta, which should encourage people’s acceptance and consumption of this new functional food. In addition, the respondent preferences reflect a value of experience towards the pasta, i.e., the belief of cooking typical Italian pasta. This means that Opuntia used for the production of functional pasta should maintain the organoleptic and physical properties of durum wheat-based pasta. In addition, respondent preferences for pasta featuring Opuntia could also be driven by its price.
The Monitoring of CO2 Soil Degassing as Indicator of Increasing Volcanic Activity: The Paroxysmal Activity at Stromboli Volcano in 2019–2021
Authors: Inguaggiato Salvatore , Vita Fabio , Cangemi Marianna , Inguaggiato Claudio , Calderone Lorenzo
Published: April 2021

Since 2016, Stromboli volcano has shown an increase of both frequency and energy of the volcanic activity; two strong paroxysms occurred on 3 July and 28 August 2019. The paroxysms were followed by a series of major explosions, which culminated on January 2021 with magma overflows and lava flows along the Sciara del Fuoco. This activity was monitored by the soil CO2 flux network of Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia (INGV), which highlighted significant changes before the paroxysmal activity. The CO2 flux started to increase in 2006, following a long-lasting positive trend, interrupted by short-lived high amplitude transients in 2016–2018 and 2018–2019. This increasing trend was recorded both in the summit and peripheral degassing areas of Stromboli, indicating that the magmatic gas release affected the whole volcanic edifice. These results suggest that Stromboli volcano is in a new critical phase, characterized by a great amount of volatiles exsolved by the shallow plumbing system, which could generate other energetic paroxysms in the future.
Relationship between Oral Health Status and Bone Mineral Density in Community-Dwelling Elderly Individuals: A Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Takeda Mayu , Matsuda Yuhei , Ikebuchi Kumi , Takeda Miwako , Abe Takafumi , Tominaga Kazumichi , Isomura Minoru , Nabika Toru , Kanno Takahiro
Published: April 2021

The relationship between oral health status and bone mineral density has been poorly elucidated. We conducted a cross-sectional study to examine the relationship between oral health status and bone mineral density with data from healthy community-dwelling elderly individuals in Ohnan-cho, Shimane Japan who were recruited in 2019 for the Shimane Center for Community-Based Health Research and Education (CoHRE) study. The study included 702 participants (306 men and 396 women). The median age, bone mineral density, and number of remaining teeth were 69.0 years, 86.2%, and 26.0, respectively. The two groups (Low teeth group and High teeth group) showed significant differences in age, hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) level, and masticatory function in men (p < 0.05). In women, age, number of untreated teeth, and masticatory function were significantly different (p < 0.05). The odds ratio of propensity score analysis for the association between the number of remaining teeth and bone mineral density was 27.7 (95% confidence interval: 1.86–414.9, p < 0.05). The number of remaining teeth could be associated with bone mineral density in the healthy elderly women, and no significant association was observed in men. Number of remaining teeth and bone mineral density may be interrelated, and oral care by dentists/dental hygienists may play an important role in maintaining bone mineral density in elderly women.
Assessing Knowledge, Preventive Practices, and Depression among Chinese University Students in Korea and China during the COVID-19 Pandemic: An Online Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Zhao Bo , Kong Fanlei , Nam Eun Woo
Published: April 2021

To investigate the knowledge, preventive practices, and depression of Chinese university students living in South Korea and Mainland China during the COVID-19 outbreak and explore the determinants of depression among these students, an online cross-sectional questionnaire survey was conducted from 23 March to 12 April 2020. The online questionnaire included questions on knowledge and preventive practices related to COVID-19, and the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 was used to diagnose depressive symptoms. A total of 420 Chinese university students were finally included in the study (171 students from South Korea and 249 students from Mainland China). The majority of these students had a good level of knowledge of COVID-19. Students living in South Korea displayed better preventive practices than those living in Mainland China; however, the proportion of students (28.7%) with moderate-to-severe depression in this group was relatively higher than that (18.9%) of the Mainland Group (χ2 = 5.50, p < 0.05). More severe depression was related to high levels of concern about family members and contracting COVID-19 as well as suspecting themselves of having come into contact with patients. Displaying more preventive behaviors decreased the depressive symptoms in both groups. These data could be used as a reference for further studies in different regions to take measures (e.g., psychological counseling and encouragement for physical activities) to reduce depressive symptoms in university students.