bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Functional Annotation of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum 13-3 as a Potential Starter Probiotic Involved in the Food Safety of Fermented Products
Authors: Aziz Tariq , Naveed Muhammad , Sarwar Abid , Makhdoom Syeda Izma , Mughal Muhammad Saad , Ali Urooj , Yang Zhennai , Shahzad Muhammad , Sameeh Manal Y. , Alruways Mashael W. , Dablool Anas S. , Almalki Abdulraheem Ali , Alamri Abdulhakeem S. , Alhomrani Majid
Published: August 2022

The important role of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum strains in improving the human mucosal and systemic immunity, preventing non-steroidal anti-provocative drug-induced reduction in T-regulatory cells, and as probiotic starter cultures in food processing has motivated in-depth molecular and genomic research of these strains. The current study, building on this research concept, reveals the importance of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum 13-3 as a potential probiotic and bacteriocin-producing strain that helps in improving the condition of the human digestive system and thus enhances the immunity of the living beings via various extracellular proteins and exopolysaccharides. We have assessed the stability and quality of the L. plantarum 13-3 genome through de novo assembly and annotation through FAST-QC and RAST, respectively. The probiotic-producing components, secondary metabolites, phage prediction sites, pathogenicity and carbohydrate-producing enzymes in the genome of L. plantarum 13-3 have also been analyzed computationally. This study reveals that L. plantarum 13-3 is nonpathogenic with 218 subsystems and 32,918 qualities and five classes of sugars with several important functions. Two phage hit sites have been identified in the strain. Cyclic lactone autoinducer, terpenes, T3PKS, and RiPP-like gene clusters have also been identified in the strain evidencing its role in food processing. Combined, the non-pathogenicity and the food-processing ability of this strain have rendered this strain industrially important. The subsystem and qualities characterization provides a starting point to investigate the strain’s healthcare-related applications as well.
In Vitro Evaluation of In Silico Screening Approaches in Search for Selective ACE2 Binding Chemical Probes
Authors: Rayevsky Alexey V. , Poturai Andrii S. , Kravets Iryna O. , Pashenko Alexander E. , Borisova Tatiana A. , Tolstanova Ganna M. , Volochnyuk Dmitriy M. , Borysko Petro O. , Vadzyuk Olga B. , Alieksieieva Diana O. , Zabolotna Yuliana , Klimchuk Olga , Horvath Dragos , Marcou Gilles , Ryabukhin Sergey V. , Varnek Alexandre
Published: August 2022

New models for ACE2 receptor binding, based on QSAR and docking algorithms were developed, using XRD structural data and ChEMBL 26 database hits as training sets. The selectivity of the potential ACE2-binding ligands towards Neprilysin (NEP) and ACE was evaluated. The Enamine screening collection (3.2 million compounds) was virtually screened according to the above models, in order to find possible ACE2-chemical probes, useful for the study of SARS-CoV2-induced neurological disorders. An enzymology inhibition assay for ACE2 was optimized, and the combined diversified set of predicted selective ACE2-binding molecules from QSAR modeling, docking, and ultrafast docking was screened in vitro. The in vitro hits included two novel chemotypes suitable for further optimization.
Ultrasound Treatment Enhanced Semidry-Milled Rice Flour Properties and Gluten-Free Rice Bread Quality
Authors: Qin Wanyu , Xi Huihan , Wang Aixia , Gong Xue , Chen Zhiying , He Yue , Wang Lili , Liu Liya , Wang Fengzhong , Tong Litao
Published: August 2022

The structural and functional properties of physical modified rice flour, including ultrasound treated rice flour (US), microwave treated rice flour (MW) and hydrothermal treated rice flour (HT) were investigated with wet-milled rice flour (WF) used as a positive control. The results showed the presence of small dents and pores on the rice flour granules of US and MW while more fragments and cracks were showed in HT. XRD and FTIR revealed that moderate ultrasonic treatment promoted the orderly arrangement of starch while hydrothermal treatment destroyed the crystalline structure of rice flour. In addition, the significant decrease of gelatinization enthalpy and the narrowing gelatinization temperature were observed in US. Compared to that of SF, adding physical modified rice flour led to a batter with higher viscoelasticity and lower tan δ. However, the batter added HT exhibited highest G′ and G″ values and lowest tan δ, which led to a harder texture of bread. Texture analysis demonstrated that physical modified rice flour (except HT) reduced the hardness, cohesion, and gumminess of rice bread. Especially, the specific volume of bread with US increased by 15.6% and the hardness decreased by 17.6%. This study suggested that ultrasound treatment of rice flour could improve texture properties and appearance of rice bread.
Screen Printable Sol-Gel Materials for High-Throughput Borosilicate Glass Film Production
Authors: Huyeng Jonas D. , Efinger Raphael , Bruge David , Doll Oliver , Keding Roman J. , Clement Florian
Published: August 2022

The use of sol-gel materials can simplify the industrial fabrication of high-efficiency silicon solar cells if a suitable deposition method is established. In this work, we investigate the possibilities to adapt a borosilicate glass sol-gel to provide a stable screen printing process. This material has previously been used as a boron dopant source for silicon solar cells. We now use an adjusted synthesis process, with an increased gelling time and different additives. This changes the rheological properties (i.e., the elastic and viscous moduli G′ and G″) in a way that avoids the dripping of paste through the screen and that stabilizes the material transfer in subsequent printing steps. Using this synthesis process, we were able to show a printing process with long-term stability of more than 500 prints. When comparing the adjusted to the initial paste, we show that, after thermal treatment, the obtained thin films are very similar in terms of their constitution, with a refractive index between n = 1.47 (initial) and n = 1.55 (adjusted). We also show that they provide the same amount of doping under the tested conditions (950 °C, 30 min), resulting in sheet resistances of R□ = (42.5 ± 2.6) Ω/□ (initial) and R□ = (46.4 ± 3.6) Ω/□ (adjusted).
An Overview of Recent Progress in Nanofiber Membranes for Oily Wastewater Treatment
Authors: Sarbatly Rosalam , Chiam Chel-Ken
Published: August 2022

Oil separation from water becomes a challenging issue in industries, especially when large volumes of stable oil/water emulsion are discharged. The present short review offers an overview of the recent developments in the nanofiber membranes used in oily wastewater treatment. This review notes that nanofiber membranes can efficiently separate the free-floating oil, dispersed oil and emulsified oil droplets. The highly interconnected pore structure nanofiber membrane and its modified wettability can enhance the permeation flux and reduce the fouling. The nanofiber membrane is an efficient separator for liquid–liquid with different densities, which can act as a rejector of either oil or water and a coalescer of oil droplets. The present paper focuses on nanofiber membranes’ production techniques, nanofiber membranes’ modification for flux and separation efficiency improvement, and the future direction of research, especially for practical developments.
Binder-Free MnO2/MWCNT/Al Electrodes for Supercapacitors
Authors: Redkin Arkady N. , Mitina Alena A. , Yakimov Eugene E.
Published: August 2022

Recently, significant progress has been made in the performance of supercapacitors through the development of composite electrodes that combine various charge storage mechanisms. A new method for preparing composite binder-free MnO2/MWCNT/Al electrodes for supercapacitors is proposed. The method is based on the original technique of direct growth of layers of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) on aluminum foil by the catalytic pyrolysis of ethanol vapor. Binder-free MnO2/MWCNT/Al electrodes for electrochemical supercapacitors were obtained by simply treating MWCNT/Al samples with an aqueous solution of KMnO4 under mild conditions. The optimal conditions for the preparation of MnO2/MWCNT/Al electrodes were found. The treatment of MWCNT/Al samples in a 1% KMnO4 aqueous solution for 40 min increased the specific capacitance of the active material of the samples by a factor of 3, up to 100–120 F/g. At the same time, excellent adhesion and electrical contact of the working material to the aluminum substrate were maintained. The properties of the MnO2/MWCNT/Al samples were studied by electron probe microanalysis (EPMA), Raman spectroscopy, cyclic voltammetry (CV), and impedance spectroscopy. Excellent charge/discharge characteristics of composite electrodes were demonstrated. The obtained MnO2/MWCNT/Al electrodes maintained excellent stability to multiple charge-discharge cycles. After 60,000 CVs, the capacitance loss was less than 20%. Thus, this work opens up new possibilities for using the MWCNT/Al material obtained by direct deposition of carbon nanotubes on aluminum foil for the fabrication of composite binder-free electrodes of supercapacitors.
Analysis of Sanitizer Rotation on the Susceptibility, Biofilm Forming Ability and Caco-2 Cell Adhesion and Invasion of Listeria
Authors: Rahman Md Asfakur , Sahoo Nirakar , Yemmireddy Veerachandra
Published: August 2022

The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of sanitizer use conditions on the susceptibility, biofilm forming ability and pathogenicity of Listeria monocytogenes. Two different strains of L. monocytogenes and a non-pathogenic L. innocua were exposed to sodium hypochlorite, benzalkonium chloride and peroxyacetic acid at different concentrations (4 to 512 ppm) and treatment times (30 s to 5 min), respectively. Under the tested conditions, no significant difference (p > 0.05) in reduction was observed among the three tested sanitizers. A reduction of 1 to 8 log CFU/mL was observed depending upon the sanitizer concentration and treatment times. The survived cells at the highest sublethal concentration and treatment time of a particular sanitizer upon re-exposure to the same or different sanitizer showed either no change or increased susceptibility when compared to parent strains. Upon repeated exposure to sanitizers at progressively increasing concentrations from 1 to 128 ppm, L. innocua was able to survive concentrations of up to 32 ppm benzalkonium chloride and 64 ppm peroxyacetic acid treatments, respectively. At the tested sub-lethal concentrations, no significant difference (p > 0.05) in biofilm formation was observed among the tested strains. Caco-2 interaction with L. innocua showed a reduction in invasion ability with sublethal concentrations of sanitizers.
Targeted Next-Generation Sequencing for Comprehensive Testing for Selected Vector-Borne Pathogens in Canines
Authors: Kattoor Jobin J. , Nikolai Emma , Qurollo Barbara , Wilkes Rebecca P.
Published: August 2022

The standard for detecting vector-borne pathogens is real-time PCR (rtPCR). However, this requires many individual tests to obtain an accurate diagnosis. The purpose of this study was to develop and validate a targeted next-generation sequencing (NGS) assay for vector-borne pathogens. Pathogen target regions were amplified via PCR using two primer pools that were developed in conjunction with ThermoFisher Scientific, and barcoded DNA libraries were prepared and sequenced with the Ion Torrent S5 system. Data were assembled using SPAdes and mapped to a reference file containing sequences from the pathogens. The raw reads were analyzed to confirm the results. Test feasibility and analytical specificity were evaluated with type strains or validated positive clinical samples from dogs. The analytical sensitivity of the method was compared to Ct values obtained by rtPCR testing. Diagnostic sensitivity and specificity were assessed with a set of known positive and negative clinical samples based on rtPCR testing. Positive and negative percent agreements and Cohen’s kappa were calculated. The primer sets were specific for the intended targets, based on sequence analysis of the amplified products, and the method detected 17 different pathogens. Analytical sensitivity was equivalent to an rtPCR Ct value of approximately 35–36. The positive percent agreement was 92%, and the negative percent agreement was 88%. Cohen’s kappa was 0.804, which indicates almost perfect agreement between the rtPCR assays and the targeted NGS assay. Using a targeted method reduces the costs associated with NGS sequencing and allows for a 2–3 day turn-around time, making this a viable method for detection of vector-borne pathogens in canine whole blood samples.
Systemic Infection by Angiostrongylus vasorum in a Fennec (Vulpes zerda) in an Italian Zoological Garden
Authors: Galietta Valentina , Eleni Claudia , Raso Caterina , Cocumelli Cristiano , Friedrich Klaus G. , Di Cerbo Pilar , Iurescia Manuela , Diaconu Elena L. , Alba Patricia , De Liberato Claudio
Published: August 2022

This paper reported a case of a metastrongyloid nematode Angiostrongylus vasorum infection in a fennec (Vulpes zerda) kept in a zoo in central Italy. The fennec had shown paralysis of the hind limbs, anorexia, weakness and respiratory signs before death. Cardiomegaly and granulomatous pneumonia were the major anatomopathological findings. Inflammatory lesions associated with parasitic larvae were observed in the lungs, brain, liver, heart, spinal cord and kidney of the fennec at histology. A. vasorum diagnosis was confirmed by both morphological and molecular identification of adult worms recovered at necropsy. Fennecs are active predators and maintain their hunting behaviour in captivity. Hence, it is likely that the animal was exposed to infection by preying on parasitised gastropods, intermediate hosts of A. vasorum, entering zoo enclosures from the surrounding environment. This is the first report of A. vasorum systemic infection in a captive fennec (V. zerda) in a zoo in Italy.
Network Pharmacology-Based Investigation on Therapeutic Mechanisms of the Angelica dahurica Radix and Ligusticum chuanxiong Rhizoma Herb Pair for Anti-Migraine Effect
Authors: Thanh Chu Duc , Men Chu Van , Kim Hyung Min , Kang Jong Seong
Published: August 2022

Migraines are a common neurological disorder characterized by desperate throbbing unilateral headaches and are related to phonophobia, photophobia, nausea, and vomiting. The Angelica dahurica Radix and Ligusticum chuanxiong Rhizoma herb pair (ALHP) has been used to treat migraines for centuries in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). However, the physiological mechanisms of migraine treatment have not yet been elucidated. In this study, a total of 50 hub targets related to the effect of 28 bioactive compounds in ALHP on anti-migraine were obtained through network pharmacology analysis. GO and KEGG analyses of the hub targets demonstrated that ALHP treatment of migraines significantly involved the G-protein-coupled receptor signaling pathway, chemical synaptic transmission, inflammatory response, and other biological processes. According to the degree of gene targets in the network, ACE, SLC3A6, NR3CI, MAPK1, PTGS2, PIK3CA, RELA, GRIN1, GRM5, IL1B, and DRD2 were found to be the core gene targets. The docking results showed a high affinity for docked conformations between compounds and predicted targets. The results of this study suggest that ALHP could treat migraines by regulating immunological functions, diminishing inflammation, and improving immunity through different physiological pathways, which contributes to the scientific base for more in-depth research as well as for a more widespread clinical application of ALHP.
LiDAR Platform for Acquisition of 3D Plant Phenotyping Database
Authors: Forero Manuel G. , Murcia Harold F. , Méndez Dehyro , Betancourt-Lozano Juan
Published: August 2022

Currently, there are no free databases of 3D point clouds and images for seedling phenotyping. Therefore, this paper describes a platform for seedling scanning using 3D Lidar with which a database was acquired for use in plant phenotyping research. In total, 362 maize seedlings were recorded using an RGB camera and a SICK LMS4121R-13000 laser scanner with angular resolutions of 45° and 0.5° respectively. The scanned plants are diverse, with seedling captures ranging from less than 10 cm to 40 cm, and ranging from 7 to 24 days after planting in different light conditions in an indoor setting. The point clouds were processed to remove noise and imperfections with a mean absolute precision error of 0.03 cm, synchronized with the images, and time-stamped. The database includes the raw and processed data and manually assigned stem and leaf labels. As an example of a database application, a Random Forest classifier was employed to identify seedling parts based on morphological descriptors, with an accuracy of 89.41%.
Displaced Harmonic Oscillator V ∼ min [(x + d)2, (x − d)2] as a Benchmark Double-Well Quantum Model
Authors: Znojil Miloslav
Published: August 2022

For the displaced harmonic double-well oscillator, the existence of exact polynomial bound states at certain displacements d is revealed. The N-plets of these quasi-exactly solvable (QES) states are constructed in closed form. For non-QES states, the Schrödinger equation can still be considered “non-polynomially exactly solvable” (NES) because the exact left and right parts of the wave function (proportional to confluent hypergeometric function) just have to be matched in the origin.
Optimal Design of Multiple Floating Rings for 3D Large-Area Trench Electrode Silicon Detector
Authors: Cheng Wenzheng , Liu Manwen , Li Zheng , Zhao Zhenyang , Li Zhihua
Published: August 2022

The 3D electrode silicon detector eliminates the limit of chip thickness, so it can reduce the electrode spacing (small area) and effectively improve the radiation hardness. In order to expand the application range of the 3D electrode detector, we first propose a 3D large-area silicon detector with a large sensitive volume, and realize multiple floating rings on the upper and lower surfaces of the detector. Due to the influence of different charge states and energy levels in the Si-SiO2 interface system, the top and bottom of the 3D P+ electrode are more prone to avalanche breakdown in the 3D large-area detector before the detector is completely depleted or the carrier saturation drift velocity is reached. Moreover, the electric field distribution becomes very uneven under the influence of the oxide charge, resulting in non-equilibrium carriers that cannot drift in the optimal path parallel to the detector surface. In this paper, the effect of floating rings on the performance of a 3D large-area silicon detector is studied by TCAD simulation. It can increase avalanche breakdown voltage by 14 times in a non-irradiated environment, and can work safely in a moderate irradiated environment. The charge collection efficiency can be effectively improved by optimizing the drift path.
Coplanar Meta-Surface-Based Substrate-Integrated Waveguide Antennas with Broadband and Low Reflections for K-Band Beam Scanning
Authors: Wang Chunli , Gao Dongxing , Liang Likai , Wang Yanling
Published: August 2022

Four novel substrate-integrated waveguide (SIW) antennas are proposed, in order to obtain K-band beam scanning through the coplanar meta-surfaces of properly devised complementary split-ring resonators. More specifically, coplanar rhombus- and hexagon-shaped meta-surfaces replace the metallized via holes in the traditional SIW structure, achieving low reflection and wide bandwidth, respectively. Another trapezoid-shaped meta-surface is introduced, in order to realize good leaky-wave radiation performance with high-gain beam scanning in both rhombus- and hexagon-shaped SIW components. These designs are further extended to two different mixed types of two-row meta-surfaces, with the rhombus and hexagon structures combined in different orders to enhance the complex SIW transmission lines and antennas, which can simultaneously obtain good reflection and bandwidth with different priority, depending on the arrangement. We explain the performance differences with rhombus and hexagon meta-surfaces through the analysis of relevant equivalent circuit models and extracting the effective medium parameters, and we verify the bandwidths and radiations of four SIW antennas both numerically and experimentally. The maximum gains of the four antennas are 18.1 dBi, 17.0 dBi, 18.8 dBi and 17.1 dBi, where the corresponding relative bandwidths are 10.74%, 19.42%, 14.13% and 18.38%. The maximum simulated radiation efficiency and aperture efficiency of the proposed antennas are 91.20% and 61.12%, respectively. Our approach for generating flexible and selectable tuned electromagnetic fields from SIWs is applicable for the development of mm-Wave antennas or sensors on PCB-integrated platforms for highly directive scanning radiation.
Biometrics: Going 3D
Authors: Samatas Gerasimos G. , Papakostas George A.
Published: August 2022

Biometrics have been used to identify humans since the 19th century. Over time, these biometrics became 3D. The main reason for this was the growing need for more features in the images to create more reliable identification models. This work is a comprehensive review of 3D biometrics since 2011 and presents the related work, the hardware used and the datasets available. The first taxonomy of 3D biometrics is also presented. The research was conducted using the Scopus database. Three main categories of 3D biometrics were identified. These were face, hand and gait. The corresponding percentages for these categories were 74.07%, 20.37% and 5.56%, respectively. The face is further categorized into facial, ear, iris and skull, while the hand is divided into fingerprint, finger vein and palm. In each category, facial and fingerprint were predominant, and their respective percentages were 80% and 54.55%. The use of the 3D reconstruction algorithms was also determined. These were stereo vision, structure-from-silhouette (SfS), structure-from-motion (SfM), structured light, time-of-flight (ToF), photometric stereo and tomography. Stereo vision and SfS were the most commonly used algorithms with a combined percentage of 51%. The state of the art for each category and the available datasets are also presented. Finally, multimodal biometrics, generalization of 3D reconstruction algorithms and anti-spoofing metrics are the three areas that should attract scientific interest for further research. In addition, the development of devices with 2D/3D capabilities and more publicly available datasets are suggested for further research.
Introducing the Monitoring Equipment Mask Environment
Authors: Pazienza Andrea , Monte Daniele
Published: August 2022

Filter face masks are Respiratory Protective Equipment designed to protect the wearer from various hazards, suit various health situations, and match the specific requirements of the wearer. Current traditional face masks have several limitations. In this paper, we present (ME)2, the Monitoring Equipment Mask Environment: an innovative reusable 3D-printed eco-sustainable mask with an interchangeable filter. (ME)2 is equipped with multiple vital sensors on board, connected to a system-on-a-chip micro-controller with computational capabilities, Bluetooth communication, and a rechargeable battery that allows continuous monitoring of the wearer’s vital signs. It monitors body temperature, heart rate, and oxygen saturation in a non-invasive, strategically positioned way. (ME)2 is accompanied by a mobile application that provides users’ health information. Furthermore, through Edge Computing Artificial Intelligence (Edge AI) modules, it is possible to detect an abnormal and early symptoms linked to possible pathologies, possibly linked to the respiratory or cardiovascular tract, and therefore perform predictive analysis, launch alerts, and recommendations. To validate the feasibility of embedded in-app Edge AI modules, we tested a machine learning model able to distinguish COVID-19 versus seasonal influenza using only vital signs. By generating new synthetic data, we confirm the highly reliable performances of such a model, with an accuracy of 94.80%.
Design and On-Field Validation of an Embedded System for Monitoring Second-Life Electric Vehicle Lithium-Ion Batteries
Authors: Castillo-Martínez Diego Hilario , Rodríguez-Rodríguez Adolfo Josué , Soto Adrian , Berrueta Alberto , Vargas-Requena David Tomás , Matias Ignacio R. , Sanchis Pablo , Ursúa Alfredo , Rodríguez-Rodríguez Wenceslao Eduardo
Published: August 2022

In the last few years, the growing demand for electric vehicles (EVs) in the transportation sector has contributed to the increased use of electric rechargeable batteries. At present, lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries are the most commonly used in electric vehicles. Although once their storage capacity has dropped to below 80–70% it is no longer possible to use these batteries in EVs, it is feasible to use them in second-life applications as stationary energy storage systems. The purpose of this study is to present an embedded system that allows a Nissan® LEAF Li-ion battery to communicate with an Ingecon® Sun Storage 1Play inverter, for control and monitoring purposes. The prototype was developed using an Arduino® microcontroller and a graphical user interface (GUI) on LabVIEW®. The experimental tests have allowed us to determine the feasibility of using Li-ion battery packs (BPs) coming from the automotive sector with an inverter with no need for a prior disassembly and rebuilding process. Furthermore, this research presents a programming and hardware methodology for the development of the embedded systems focused on second-life electric vehicle Li-ion batteries. One second-life battery pack coming from a Nissan® Leaf and aged under real driving conditions was integrated into a residential microgrid serving as an energy storage system (ESS).
Automotive IoT Ethernet-Based Communication Technologies Applied in a V2X Context via a Multi-Protocol Gateway
Authors: Ioana Alexandru , Korodi Adrian , Silea Ioan
Published: August 2022

The architectural approach for complex communication systems must adapt quickly and take into consideration the increasing set of requirements for every industrial field. The automotive domain is evolving toward the electrification era, with massive technological transformations being realized on all architectural, hardware, and software levels. The legacy usage of exclusively microcontrollers is altered by adopting microprocessors with extended functionalities, reshaping the development structure. Although new hardware capabilities are available and Ethernet communication protocols can contribute to a new range of use-cases for intra-car or for vehicle-to-X (V2X) communication, the implications of using multiple protocols that cover different types of requirements, in the same architecture, are not fully determined. The importance of establishing clear expectations for intelligent communication systems considering various technological and architectural factors is significant for future improvements. In the current paper, we examine the compatibility and real-time responsiveness capabilities, in a diverse, service-oriented architecture, for the major automotive IoT Ethernet-based communication technologies. The feasibility analysis is materialized in a multi-protocol gateway solution that facilitates data exchange between entities with different technological origins. Scalable Service-Oriented Middleware over IP (SOME/IP) is considered the relevant protocol in the automotive domain, alongside the Data Distribution Service (DDS), which combines automotive and IoT applicability. The enhanced Communication Abstraction Layer (eCAL) middleware is added to the mix as an alternative solution for future communication scenarios. The obtained results confirm the compatibility between the targeted technologies, offering a clear understanding regarding the limits of a complex multi-protocol communication system. The defined service-oriented architecture offers efficient data exchanges in a gateway context, also allowing the exploration of the real-time capabilities.
Link Quality Estimation for Wireless ANDON Towers Based on Deep Learning Models
Authors: Cortes-Aguilar Teth Azrael , Cantoral-Ceballos Jose Antonio , Tovar-Arriaga Adriana
Published: August 2022

Data reliability is of paramount importance for decision-making processes in the industry, and for this, having quality links for wireless sensor networks plays a vital role. Process and machine monitoring can be carried out through ANDON towers with wireless transmission and machine learning algorithms that predict link quality (LQE) to save time, hence reducing expenses by early failure detection and problem prevention. Indeed, alarm signals used in conjunction with LQE classification models represent a novel paradigm for ANDON towers, allowing low-cost remote sensing within industrial environments. In this research, we propose a deep learning model, suitable for implementation in small workshops with limited computational resources. As part of our work, we collected a novel dataset from a realistic experimental scenario with actual industrial machinery, similar to that commonly found in industrial applications. Then, we carried out extensive data analyses using a variety of machine learning models, each with a methodical search process to adjust hyper-parameters, achieving results from common features such as payload, distance, power, and bit error rate not previously reported in the state of the art. We achieved an accuracy of 99.3% on the test dataset with very little use of computational resources.
Bandwidth Extension in a Mid-Link Optical Phase Conjugation
Authors: Rosa Paweł , Martella Giuseppe Rizzelli , Tan Mingming
Published: August 2022

In this paper, we investigate various designs of distributed Raman amplifier (DRA) to extend amplification bandwidth in mid-link optical phase conjugation (OPC) systems and compare bands 191–197 THz and 192–198 THz giving a total bandwidth of 6 THz using a single wavelength pump. We demonstrate the use of highly reflective fiber Bragg grating (FBG) to minimize gain variation across a WDM grid by optimizing forward and backward pump powers as well as the wavelength of FBGs for original and conjugated channels. Finally, we also simulate OSNR and Kerr nonlinear reduction as a product of signals asymmetry and nonlinear phase shift (NPS) for all channels.
Infrared and Visible Image Fusion Based on Visual Saliency Map and Image Contrast Enhancement
Authors: Liu Yuanyuan , Wu Zhiyong , Han Xizhen , Sun Qiang , Zhao Jian , Liu Jianzhuo
Published: August 2022

The purpose of infrared and visible image fusion is to generate images with prominent targets and rich information which provides the basis for target detection and recognition. Among the existing image fusion methods, the traditional method is easy to produce artifacts, and the information of the visible target and texture details are not fully preserved, especially for the image fusion under dark scenes and smoke conditions. Therefore, an infrared and visible image fusion method is proposed based on visual saliency image and image contrast enhancement processing. Aiming at the problem that low image contrast brings difficulty to fusion, an improved gamma correction and local mean method is used to enhance the input image contrast. To suppress artifacts that are prone to occur in the process of image fusion, a differential rolling guidance filter (DRGF) method is adopted to decompose the input image into the basic layer and the detail layer. Compared with the traditional multi-scale decomposition method, this method can retain specific edge information and reduce the occurrence of artifacts. In order to solve the problem that the salient object of the fused image is not prominent and the texture detail information is not fully preserved, the salient map extraction method is used to extract the infrared image salient map to guide the fusion image target weight, and on the other hand, it is used to control the fusion weight of the basic layer to improve the shortcomings of the traditional ‘average’ fusion method to weaken the contrast information. In addition, a method based on pixel intensity and gradient is proposed to fuse the detail layer and retain the edge and detail information to the greatest extent. Experimental results show that the proposed method is superior to other fusion algorithms in both subjective and objective aspects.
An Improved Entropy-Weighted Topsis Method for Decision-Level Fusion Evaluation System of Multi-Source Data
Authors: Liu Lilan , Wan Xiang , Li Jiaying , Wang Wenxi , Gao Zenggui
Published: August 2022

Due to the rapid development of industrial internet technology, the traditional manufacturing industry is in urgent need of digital transformation, and one of the key technologies to achieve this is multi-source data fusion. For this problem, this paper proposes an improved entropy-weighted topsis method for a multi-source data fusion evaluation system. It adds a fusion evaluation system based on the decision-level fusion algorithm and proposes a dynamic fusion strategy. The fusion evaluation system effectively solves the problem of data scale inconsistency among multi-source data, which leads to difficulties in fusing models and low fusion accuracy, and obtains optimal fusion results. The paper then verifies the effectiveness of the fusion evaluation system through experiments on the multilayer feature fusion of single-source data and the decision-level fusion of multi-source data, respectively. The results of this paper can be used in intelligent production and assembly plants in the discrete industry and provide the corresponding management and decision support with a certain practical value.
Melt Fusion Techniques for Solubility Enhancement: A Comparison of Hot Melt Extrusion and KinetiSol® Technologies
Authors: Ajjarapu Srinivas , Banda Srikanth , Basim Pratap , Dudhipala Narendar
Published: August 2022

A successful candidate for oral drug delivery needs to possess adequate solubility and dissolution rate to elicit its therapeutic action. Extensive research is being carried out to enhance the solubility of poorly soluble drugs through a number of techniques involving polymeric and non-polymeric approaches. Non-polymeric approaches such as micronization and nanocrystals are successful in improving the apparent solubility of drugs, but the sustenance of solubility is not always possible. Amorphous solid dispersions (ASDs) lead to solubility enhancement as well as the maintenance of solubility with the assistance of polymers, thereby improving bioavailability. Spray drying, hot melt extrusion (HME), and KinetiSol® technologies are some of the techniques capable of manufacturing ASDs. Each of these techniques has its own advantages and disadvantages in terms of processing challenges and applicability in preparing ASDs. The latter two technologies are similar in being fusion and non-solvent techniques to improve solubility. This review compares both HME and KinetiSol® techniques regarding mechanism, equipment design, formulation, and process parameters involved and scalability.
Crowding-In and Crowding-Out. Studying the Relationship between Sustainable Citizenship and Political Activism in Flanders
Authors: Geerts Robbe , Vandermoere Frédéric , Dallenes Hanne , Vanderstraeten Raf
Published: August 2022

This study examines whether pro-environmental behavior crowds-in (associates positively with) or crowds-out (displaces) political activism. This research is part of a broader debate on the nature of individual pro-environmental behavior and whether it can be considered a political act. Studies generally show a positive association between pro-environmental behavior and political activism. However, few have differentiated between types of pro-environmental behavior. In contrast, our study uses Flemish survey data to examine the relationship between political activism and different modes of pro-environmental behavior: sustainable transport, shopping decisions, energy curtailment, and waste sorting. The results are generally consistent with previous studies. Political activism was positively related to sustainable transport, shopping decisions, and waste sorting. However, it was negatively associated with energy curtailment. Results thus suggest that energy curtailment may displace political action. In conclusion, by differentiating between various modes of pro-environmental behavior, our study confirms but also nuances the usefulness of concepts such as sustainable citizenship. These notions often frame individual pro-environmental behavior as part of broader political and collective strategies to address environmental issues. Our study shows that this may exclude some forms of ecologically significant behavior such as energy curtailment.
Can Biomarkers of Oxidative Stress in Serum Predict Disease Severity in West Nile Virus Infection? A Pilot Study
Authors: Van Herreweghe Maxim , Breynaert Annelies , De Bruyne Tess , Popescu Corneliu Petru , Florescu Simin-Aysel , Lustig Yaniv , Schwartz Eli , Gobbi Federico Giovanni , Hermans Nina , Huits Ralph
Published: August 2022

West Nile virus (WNV) can cause asymptomatic infection in humans, result in self-limiting febrile illness, or lead to severe West Nile Neuroinvasive disease (WNND). We conducted a pilot study to compare selected biomarkers of oxidative stress in sera of viremic West Nile virus patients and asymptomatic infected blood donors to investigate their potential as predictors of disease severity. We found that total oxidant status was elevated in WNND and in uncomplicated WNV infections (median 9.05 (IQR 8.37 to 9.74) and 7.14 (7.03 to 7.25) µmol H2O2 equiv./L, respectively) compared to asymptomatic infections (0.11 (0.07 to 0.19) µmol H2O2 equiv./L) (p = 0.048). MDA levels showed a similar trend to TOS, but differences were not significant at α = 0.05. Total antioxidant status did not differ significantly between different disease severity groups. Oxidative stress appears to be associated with more severe disease in WNV-infected patients. Our preliminary findings warrant prospective studies to investigate the correlation of oxidative stress with clinical outcomes and severity of WNV infection.
La educación musical en Santiago de Cuba antes de 1902
Authors: Borlot Faure Aysmara , Bonne Galí María Nitza
Published: August 2022

El trabajo que se presenta tiene como objetivo analizar los rasgos distintivos de la educación musical en Santiago de Cuba, para potenciar el conocimiento histórico en los profesionales de la educación artística. En el mismo se aborda el proceso histórico-pedagógico de la educación musical, aspecto esencial a trabajar con miras al rescate y preservación de nuestras tradiciones más genuinas en la formación de las actuales y futuras generaciones. Para los profesionales de la educación constituye una concepción desarrolladora del aprendizaje, en aras de potenciar un contenido novedoso para incentivar nuevos conocimientos en el proceso docente-educativo.
Programa de fortalecimiento familiar en unidades educativas. Un ejercicio de vinculación con la sociedad
Authors: Moreira Chica Tatiana Katiuska , Romero Chávez Sandra Auxiliadora , Montesdeoca Espinoza Mercedes Alexandra
Published: August 2022

El  objetivo  de  esta  investigación  fue  fortalecer  el  vínculo familiar de los padres de familia, de los estudiantes y su incidencia en el rendimiento académico, a través del programa impartido por el área de vinculación denominado Fortalecimiento Familiar, que abarca una serie de proyectos ejecutados, por estudiantes de la escuela de Trabajo Social de la Universidad Técnica de Manabí (UTM). Esta iniciativa responde a las demandas sociales y a lo que establece el Plan Nacional del Buen Vivir. La Escuela de Trabajo Social en el año 2015 intervino con un programa de Fortalecimiento Familiar y cinco proyectos. En el proceso de implementación de los proyectos se realizaron 10 sesiones de trabajos con padres de familias y estudiantes de las Unidades Educativas: Portoviejo, Pedro Zambrano Izaguirre, Luis Dueñas Vera, Otto Arosemena Gómez y   Aquiles Valencia, de los cantones de Portoviejo y Rocafuerte. La metodología cualitativa se apoyó en talleres que incluían técnicas expositivas, dialogadas, lluvias de ideas y videos. En cada actividad realizada se ejecutaron talleres de concientización e integración, para padres de familia, estudiantes y docentes, incluyendo temas como valores, hábitos de estudio, resilencia, autoestima, crecimiento personal, entre otros.
Competencia y competitividad en la gestión de organizaciones agrícolas en Ecuador: el caso de los productores de Manabí y Esmeraldas
Authors: Villafuerte Holguín Jhonny S. , A. Franco Oswaldo , C. Luzardo Lorena
Published: August 2022

En el modelo económico actual de Ecuador persiste la dependencia sobre las exportaciones de petróleo, asunto que pone en riesgo su desarrollo sostenible. La nueva matriz productiva plantea retos que demandan cambios en la base de la estructura agroproductiva. Este trabajo tiene como objetivo evaluar las competencias para la gestión socio organizativa de las asociaciones de productores agrícolas. Con este fin se aplica el modelo de competencias para la gestión de agronegocios rurales presentado por la Organización Mundial de la Agricultura y Alimentos (FAO) en el 2006. Para la toma de datos se utilizó la entrevista semi estructurada y la observación de la gestión de 14 líderes de organizaciones productivas agrícolas en Manabí y Esmeraldas. Como resultado se presenta una matriz sobre el estado de desarrollo de las competencias para la gestión de los emprendimientos productivos rurales. Este procedimiento metodológico facilitó la aproximación a los procesos de desarrollo en los que se desempeñan los participantes.
Webinar como recurso de capacitación formal y no formal, caso: Titulados en Secretariado Ejecutivo
Authors: Morales Intriago Juan Carlos , García Castro Mayra Elizabeth , Arteaga Pita Iván Gasendy
Published: August 2022

Con el vertiginoso avance tecnológico en las diversas áreas del conocimiento, las formas de comunicación han ido evolucionando en cuanto a medios, canales y soportes, lo que ha permitido la creación de herramientas que optimizan los procesos de formación profesional, sea ésta formal e informal. Los denominados Webinars o Seminarios web evolucionan la forma tradicional de organizar eventos como: talleres, seminarios o conferencias. El trabajo demuestra los beneficios de los procesos de formación ambientados en Webinar, como generador de competencias informacionales y de trabajo cooperativo para el apoyo y transferencia de ciencia y tecnología entre investigadores. La metodología tiene un enfoque cuali-cuantitativo apoyado en el método descriptivo para determinar factores como disponibilidad de recursos, conectividad, accesibilidad, aplicaciones, acompañamiento, entre otros indicadores, de manera que se logró una mirada integral al proceso de formación ambientado en Webinar, tomando como caso de estudio a los profesionales en Secretariado Ejecutivo. Los resultados de la investigación demuestran como los usuarios de ReHuSo. Publicación cuatrimestral. Vol. 1, Año 2016, No. 3 (Septiembre– Diciembre) estos entornos virtuales mejoran significativamente su desempeño individual y colectivo en sus actividades profesionales.
Incidencia de la usabilidad de la intranet en la Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador, sede Manabí
Authors: Ormaza Pincay María De Los Ángeles
Published: August 2022

La usabilidad estudia la forma de presentar los recursos educativos y de entretenimiento de manera que puedan ser accedidos por todos sus usuarios independientemente del conocimiento que tengan de las tecnologías de la información y comunicación y de la tecnología que estos usuarios dispongan.  En la presente investigación se examinaron los antecedentes teóricos y conceptuales de la usabilidad. Se aborda la importancia de la intranet como un espacio para la comunicación en las organizaciones, se exponen sus características y se presenta la problemática relacionada con la calidad.  Se describen algunos de los principales métodos de evaluación de la usabilidad y se diseña el instrumento para evaluar la intranet de la Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador, sede Manabí; donde se analizan los niveles de usabilidad de la misma, aplicando el instrumento elaborado. Se evidenció buena aceptación de la intranet, los usuarios se mostraron satisfechos en cuanto al diseño gráfico, los contenidos ofrecidos y la variedad de los servicios.
El desarrollo profesional de las secretarias del cantón Portoviejo
Authors: Rodríguez Álava Alexandra
Published: August 2022

Mantener un buen desempeño laboral ha sido uno de los grandes retos que las secretarias que trabajan desde hace varios años en las diferentes empresas han tenido que enfrentar. El artículo tiene como objetivo determinar la situación actual del desarrollo profesional de las secretarias que laboran en las empresas públicas y privadas del cantón Portoviejo. La investigación es cuantitativa, se aplicó una encuesta a 60 funcionarias con diferente título profesional, que se desempeñan como secretarias en estas instituciones de Portoviejo; como resultado se demuestra que estas servidoras han superado las debilidades de su formación en áreas diferentes a las funciones que desempeñan apoyando así el fortalecimiento de las metas organizacionales. Este trabajo evidencia que la capacitación del personal de una empresa de cualquier tipo se constituye en un elemento clave en el desarrollo profesional y organizacional.
Biblioteca escolar como recurso lúdico para el fortalecimiento del aprendizaje: aplicado a la Unidad Educativa Monserrate Álava de Gonzales de calceta (Manabí).
Authors: Zambrano Cedeño Edison Rubén , Reyes Palma Andrea Stephanie
Published: August 2022

El objetivo de este trabajo es demostrar que una Biblioteca Escolar, como recurso lúdico, fortalece el aprendizaje en la Unidad Educativa Monserrate Álava de Gonzales y garantiza la satisfacción de las necesidades lúdicas de los estudiantes. La metodología utilizada es de tipo descriptivo y análisis documental para la revisión bibliográfica, así como también, el método histórico–lógico para la organización de las ideas de los diferentes autores. Se delimitó como campo de acción la biblioteca escolar y los recursos lúdicos, además de establecer sí el tipo de información realizada por el docente conduce al desarrollo lógico de habilidades y destrezas para la lectura. Se describen conclusiones destacando la factibilidad de contar con una biblioteca escolar que motive a la lectura y a través de ésta el desarrollo del pensamiento, dado que en la actualidad, los estudiantes carecen de adecuados hábitos de lectura como medios o herramienta para fortalecer su aprendizaje. Se procede a presentar una propuesta metodológica para que la biblioteca escolar se convierta en un centro de recursos para la enseñanza y el aprendizaje, a través de la incorporación de instrumentos suficientes que ayuden en el ejercicio de alfabetización en información, analizando como estudio de caso modelos de bibliotecas digitales y plataformas digitales educativas.