bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of Mugwort (Artemisia vulgaris L.) Aqueous Extract as a Potential Bioherbicide to Control Amaranthus retroflexus L. in Maize
Authors: Pannacci Euro , Masi Marco , Farneselli Michela , Tei Francesco
Published: December 2020

The allelopathic plant extracts can be applied as soil or foliar bioherbicides and are capable of suppressing germination and growth of several weeds, some of which are herbicide resistant. This study evaluated the allelopathic activity of the aqueous extract of aerial biomass of mugwort (Artemisia vulgaris L.) on seed germination and seedling growth of redroot pigweed (Amaranthus retroflexus L.) and maize (Zea mays L.), in order to be applied as a potential bioherbicide. The aqueous extract of mugwort was qualitatively examined for the presence of bioactive compounds and it was applied in a Petri dish and pot bioassays quantifying its effects on redroot pigweed and maize by non-linear regression analyses according the log-logistic model. The aqueous extract of mugwort showed the presence of several bioactive compounds with allelopathic activity, such as polysaccharides, organic acids, flavonoids and terpenoids. The aqueous extract of mugwort, at the concentrations from 7.5% to 10% w/v, were found to be the optimal concentration range since it is able to inhibit seed germination, seedling emergence and plant growth of redroot pigweed, without affecting seed germination and seedling emergence of maize, or rather, stimulating its radicle, mesocotyl and plant’s growth. EC90 values for the seed germination, radicle and hypocotyl length of redroot pigweed were in the order: 6.1% and 8.1%, 3.2% and 6.2%, 3.8% and 5.7% w/v of aqueous extract in the two repeated bioassays, respectively. Due to potential herbicidal activity against weeds and biostimulant action on the crops, this extract could be the ideal solution in an integrated weed management program, in order to suppress weeds, increasing competitive ability of crops.
Genetic Diversity and Population Structure of Algerian Endemic Plant Species Avena macrostachya Bal. ex Cross. et Durieu
Authors: Bolc Paulina , Łapiński Bogusław , Podyma Wiesław , Boczkowska Maja
Published: December 2020

Avena macrostachya is still a relatively unknown species. Using sequence-related amplified polymorphism (SRAP) markers, a simple and inexpensive technique, allowed us to conduct experiments on genetic differentiation and to study the population structure of this Algerian endemic oat. The results obtained showed lower than expected genetic diversity within the A. macrostachya species. The cause may be endemism of the species as well as genetic drift possible during collection, and maintenance of the accessions in gene bank and seed reproduction. No clear genetic structure was found in the examined collection, which indicates a close relationship between the populations collected in the Djurdjura National Park in Algeria. Considering the endemism of the species, its breeding potential and the small-scale ex situ collection, careful monitoring of natural sites and repeating of the collection mission are, therefore, absolutely crucial.
Short- and Long-Term Effects of Lime and Gypsum Applications on Acid Soils in a Water-Limited Environment: 2. Soil Chemical Properties
Authors: Anderson Geoffrey C. , Pathan Shahab , Easton James , Hall David J. M. , Sharma Rajesh
Published: December 2020

Soil acidity or aluminum (Al) toxicity is a major limitation to crop production. In this paper, we examine the effects of surface-applied lime and gypsum on soil profile chemical properties that affect Al toxicity in short-term (1 year), medium-term (2 years and 8 months) and long-term (10 years) experiments. Sulfate applied to the soil surface as gypsum was leached rapidly to a depth of 40 cm in the short-term despite relatively low amounts (279 mm) of rainfall. In the medium and long-term experiments, 28–54% of the sulfate applied as gypsum was retained in the 0–50 cm soil layer due to adsorption and precipitation reactions. The combined application of lime and gypsum increased soil calcium, to a depth of 30 cm in the short-term and to a depth of 50 cm in the medium and long-terms. Increases in soil sulfate and calcium were associated with greater electrical conductivity to a depth of 50 cm for all sampling times. Application of lime alone had no impact on soil Al, pH, and calcium in the soil layers below 10 cm in the short and medium terms. In the long-term, increasing the rate of lime application from 2 to 8 t L ha−1 increased soil pH in the 10–20 cm soil layer while soil Al decreased to a depth of 30 cm. The combined use of lime and gypsum decreased soil Al in the 30–50 cm soil layer in the medium-term and the 20–30 cm soil layer in the long-term which was more than when only lime was applied. Hence, we recommend the use of lime plus gypsum for treating soils with subsoil Al toxicity. Additionally, soil Al measurements are a more sensitive measurement of the impact of surface application lime and lime plus gypsum than soil pH.
Selection and Characterization of Single-Domain Antibodies for Detection of Lassa Nucleoprotein
Authors: Anderson George P. , Liu Jinny L. , Shriver-Lake Lisa C. , Goldman Ellen R.
Published: December 2020

Lassa virus is the etiologic agent of Lassa fever, an acute and often fatal illness endemic to West Africa. It is important to develop new reagents applicable either for the specific diagnosis or as improved therapeutics for the treatment of Lassa fever. Here, we describe the development and initial testing of llama-derived single-domain antibodies that are specific for the Lassa virus nucleoprotein. Four sequence families based on complementarity-determining region (CDR) homology were identified by phage-based enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays, however, the highest affinity clones all belonged to the same sequence family which possess a second disulfide bond between Framework 2 and CDR3. The affinity and thermal stability were evaluated for each clone. A MagPlex-based homogeneous sandwich immunoassay for Lassa virus-like particles was also demonstrated to show their potential for further development as diagnostic reagents.
The Writers, Readers, and Erasers in Redox Regulation of GAPDH
Authors: Tossounian Maria-Armineh , Zhang Bruce , Gout Ivan
Published: December 2020

Glyceraldehyde 3–phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) is a key glycolytic enzyme, which is crucial for the breakdown of glucose to provide cellular energy. Over the past decade, GAPDH has been reported to be one of the most prominent cellular targets of post-translational modifications (PTMs), which divert GAPDH toward different non-glycolytic functions. Hence, it is termed a moonlighting protein. During metabolic and oxidative stress, GAPDH is a target of different oxidative PTMs (oxPTM), e.g., sulfenylation, S-thiolation, nitrosylation, and sulfhydration. These modifications alter the enzyme’s conformation, subcellular localization, and regulatory interactions with downstream partners, which impact its glycolytic and non-glycolytic functions. In this review, we discuss the redox regulation of GAPDH by different redox writers, which introduce the oxPTM code on GAPDH to instruct a redox response; the GAPDH readers, which decipher the oxPTM code through regulatory interactions and coordinate cellular response via the formation of multi-enzyme signaling complexes; and the redox erasers, which are the reducing systems that regenerate the GAPDH catalytic activity. Human pathologies associated with the oxidation-induced dysregulation of GAPDH are also discussed, featuring the importance of the redox regulation of GAPDH in neurodegeneration and metabolic disorders.
Assessment of Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis L.) Extract as Antioxidant in Jelly Candies Made with Fructan Fibres and Stevia
Authors: Cedeño-Pinos Cristina , Martínez-Tomé Magdalena , Murcia María Antonia , Jordán María José , Bañón Sancho
Published: December 2020

Enrichment with rosemary antioxidants is proposed as a possible strategy to obtain healthier jelly candies. Two aqueous rosemary extracts (RE) containing 73.9 (RE74) and 145.6 (RE146) mg polyphenols per g fresh weight were assessed as antioxidants in jelly candies based on fructooligosaccharides, inulin and stevia. Up to 15 phenolic acids, flavonoids and diterpenes were determined in the extracts, with rosmarinic acid as the main active compound. Sensory tolerance, physical properties, rosmarinic acid recovery, polyphenol content, and antioxidant capacity were determined in jelly candies. The threshold of sensory detection was established at 0.26 g RE146/kg of raw candy, below which rosemary off-flavours were avoided without altering pH, brix, texture, CIELab colour, and consumer acceptance. Adding 0.26 g RE146 per kg increased (p < 0.001) polyphenol content from 197 to 411 µg GAE/g and the antioxidant capacity from 1.77 to 4.14 μmol Trolox/g. Rosemary polyphenols resulted in being resistant to cooking, acted as secondary antioxidants and showed good interaction with the other jelly ingredients. Aqueous extracts from rosemary distillation by-products can be incorporated at acceptable levels to jelly candy formulations leading to higher oxidative stability and an increased content of dietary polyphenols.
Radical Scavenging-Linked Anti-Adipogenic Activity of Aster scaber Ethanolic Extract and Its Bioactive Compound
Authors: Choi Ye-Eun , Choi Sun-Il , Han Xionggao , Men Xiao , Jang Gill-Woong , Kwon Hee-Yeon , Kang Seong-Ran , Han Jin-Soo , Lee OK-Hwan
Published: December 2020

Aster scaber is a wild vegetable cultivated in Korea and is known to contain phytochemicals with various biological activities. The potential antioxidant and anti-obesity effects of A. scaber and their mechanism are yet to be reported. We evaluated the total phenolic, flavonoid, and proanthocyanidin contents and oxygen radical absorbance capacity of A. scaber ethanolic extract (ASE), and analyzed the major phenolic compounds of ASE. Antioxidant activity was measured at the chemical level through 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), reducing power assay, 2,2′-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS), and fluorescence recovery after photobleaching (FRAP) assay. In addition, it was measured in vitro through inhibition of Reactive oxygen species (ROS) production in 3T3-L1 adipocyte, and inhibition of lipid accumulation was also evaluated. ASE reduced the expression of enzymes involved in the production of ROS and increased the expression of antioxidant enzymes that reduce increased ROS levels. They also reduced the expression of adipogenesis transcription factors that regulate adipocyte differentiation in relation to ROS production, inhibited the expression of lipogenesis-related genes related to fat accumulation through AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) activity, and increased expression of lipolysis-related genes. Thus, ASE containing CGA (chlorogenic acid) inhibits ROS production in 3T3-L1 adipocytes, owing to its strong antioxidant activity, and inhibits lipid accumulation caused by oxidative stress. The extract can be used as a potential functional food material for reducing oxidative stress and obesity.
Effect of Rosmarinic Acid and Ionizing Radiation on Glutathione in Melanoma B16F10 Cells: A Translational Opportunity
Authors: Olivares Amparo , Alcaraz-Saura Miguel , Achel Daniel Gyingiri , Alcaraz Miguel
Published: December 2020

To explain a paradoxical radiosensitizing effect of rosmarinic acid (RA) on the melanoma B16F10 cells, we analyzed the glutathione (GSH) intracellular production on this cell (traditionally considered radioresistant) in comparison with human prostate epithelial cells (PNT2) (considered to be radiosensitive). In PNT2 cells, the administration of RA increased the total GSH content during the first 3 h (p < 0.01) as well as increased the GSH/oxidized glutathione (GSSG) ratio in all irradiated cultures during all periods studied (1h and 3h) (p < 0.001), portraying an increase in the radioprotective capacity. However, in B16F10 cells, administration of RA had no effect on the total intracellular GSH levels, decreasing the GSH/GSSG ratio (p < 0.01); in addition, it caused a significant reduction in the GSH/GSSG ratio in irradiated cells (p < 0.001), an expression of radioinduced cell damage. In B16F10 cells, the administration of RA possibly activates the metabolic pathway of eumelanin synthesis that would consume intracellular GSH, thereby reducing its possible use as a protector against oxidative stress. The administration of this type of substance during radiotherapy could potentially protect healthy cells for which RA is a powerful radioprotector, and at the same time, cause significant damage to melanoma cells for which it could act as a radiosensitive agent.
Oxidative Stress and Antioxidant Treatments in Cardiovascular Diseases
Authors: Wang Wenjun , Kang Peter M.
Published: December 2020

Oxidative stress plays a key role in many physiological and pathological conditions. The intracellular oxidative homeostasis is tightly regulated by the reactive oxygen species production and the intracellular defense mechanisms. Increased oxidative stress could alter lipid, DNA, and protein, resulting in cellular inflammation and programmed cell death. Evidences show that oxidative stress plays an important role in the progression of various cardiovascular diseases, such as atherosclerosis, heart failure, cardiac arrhythmia, and ischemia-reperfusion injury. There are a number of therapeutic options to treat oxidative stress-associated cardiovascular diseases. Well known antioxidants, such as nutritional supplements, as well as more novel antioxidants have been studied. In addition, novel therapeutic strategies using miRNA and nanomedicine are also being developed to treat various cardiovascular diseases. In this article, we provide a detailed description of oxidative stress. Then, we will introduce the relationship between oxidative stress and several cardiovascular diseases. Finally, we will focus on the clinical implications of oxidative stress in cardiovascular diseases.
Seasonality Modulates the Cellular Antioxidant Activity and Antiproliferative Effect of Sonoran Desert Propolis
Authors: Mendez-Pfeiffer Pablo , Alday Efrain , Carreño Ana Laura , Hernández-Tánori Jorge , Montaño-Leyva Beatriz , Ortega-García Jesús , Valdez Judith , Garibay-Escobar Adriana , Hernandez Javier , Valencia Dora , Velazquez Carlos
Published: December 2020

The main chemical composition and pharmacological potential of propolis from arid and semi-arid regions of the Sonoran Desert have been previously reported. Caborca propolis (CP), from an arid zone of the Sonoran Desert, has shown a polyphenolic profile that suggests a mixed plant origin, presenting poplar-type markers, as well as a 6-methoxylated flavonoid, xanthomicrol, characteristic of Asteraceae plants. In addition, CP has shown significant antioxidant properties and antiproliferative activity on cancer cells. In this study, we analyzed the influence of collection time on the chemical constitution, antiproliferative activity and protective capacity of CP against reactive oxygen species (ROS), by using HPLC–UV–diode array detection (DAD) analysis, 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-Dimethyltetrazoliumbromide (MTT) and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl-hydrazyl (DPPH) assays, as well as cellular antioxidant activity (CAA) assay on murine B-cell lymphoma M12.C3.F6 cells. HPLC–UV–DAD analyses of seasonally collected CP (one-year period) revealed quantitative differences among the most abundant CP constituents: pinocembrin, galangin, chrysin and pinobanksin-3-O-acetate. Though all seasonal samples of CP induced an antiproliferative effect in M12.C3.F6 cells, CP from autumn showed the highest inhibitory activity (IC50: 5.9 ± 0.6 µg/mL). The DPPH assay pointed out that CP collected in autumn presented the highest antioxidant potential (IC50: 58.8 ± 6.7 µg/mL), followed by winter (65.7 ± 12.2 µg/mL) and spring (67.0 ± 7.5 µg/mL); meanwhile, the summer sample showed a lesser antioxidant capacity (IC50: 98.7 ± 2.5 µg/mL). The CAA assay demonstrated that CP induced a significant protective effect against ROS production elicited by H2O2 in M12.C3.F6 cells. Pretreatment of M12.C3.F6 cells with CP from spring and autumn (25 and 50 µg/mL for 1 h) showed the highest reduction in intracellular ROS induced by H2O2 (1 and 5 mM). These results indicate that the antiproliferative effect and cellular antioxidant activity of CP are modulated by quantitative fluctuations in its polyphenolic profile due to its collection time.
Experimental Study on the Dynamic Characteristics of Hydro-Pneumatic Semi-Active Suspensions for Agricultural Tractor Cabins
Authors: Choi Kyujeong , Oh Jooseon , Kim Heung-Sub , Han Hyun-Woo , Park Jung-Ho , Lee Geun-Ho , Seo Jaho , Park Young-Jun
Published: December 2020

This study aims to establish a test method to obtain the dynamic characteristics of hydraulic-pneumatic semi-active suspensions used in tractor cabins. Because dynamic characteristics are utilized in simulation models for developing suspension control logic and must be secured to improve control performance, an accurate test method must be established. The dynamic characteristics of the suspension, i.e., the spring constant and damping coefficient, were obtained by changing the current and velocity conditions. An exciter was used as a test device to control the displacement and velocity of the hydraulic cylinder. In order to derive the spring constant of the suspension, a low-speed reciprocating motion test was performed to obtain the force-displacement diagram and to derive the damping coefficient; 48 tests were performed under 6 velocity conditions and 8 current conditions to obtain a force-velocity diagram for each result. The spring constant of the suspension was confirmed using the slope of the trend line in the force-displacement diagram obtained through the low-speed reciprocating motion test of the suspension. In addition, the damping coefficient was calculated using the force-velocity diagram obtained through the reciprocating motion test of the suspension under various current and velocity conditions.
Influence of Carbon Fiber Incorporation on Electrical Conductivity of Cement Composites
Authors: You Ilhwan , Lee Seung-Jung , Zi Goangseup , Lim Daehyun
Published: December 2020

This study investigated the effects of carbon fiber (CF) length, electrode spacing, and probe configuration on the electrical conductivity of cement composites. Accordingly, 57 different types of samples were prepared, considering three different CF lengths, five different CF contents, three different electrode spacings, and two different probe configurations. This research found that the influence of CF length on the electrical resistivity of cement composite depends electrode spacing. For the cement composite with wide electrode spacing of 40 mm, its resistivity decreased as increasing CF length as in the previous study. However, when the electrode spacing is 10 mm, which is narrow (10 mm), the resistivity of the cement composite rather increased with increasing CF length. The results implied that when an electrode is designed for the cement composite incorporating CF, the CF length should be short compared to the electrode spacing. The percolation threshold of CF measured by the two-probe configuration was 2% or more. This is higher than that measured by the four-probe configuration (1%). At a lower CF content than 2%, the two-probe configuration gave higher resistivity of the cement composite than the four-probe configuration. However, the difference coming from the different probe configurations was marginal as increasing the CF content.
Dog Identification Method Based on Muzzle Pattern Image
Authors: Jang Dong-Hwa , Kwon Kyeong-Seok , Kim Jung-Kon , Yang Ka-Young , Kim Jong-Bok
Published: December 2020

Currently, invasive and external radio frequency identification (RFID) devices and pet tags are widely used for dog identification. However, social problems such as abandoning and losing dogs are constantly increasing. A more effective alternative to the existing identification method is required and the biometrics can be the alternative. This paper proposes an effective dog muzzle recognition method to identify individual dogs. The proposed method consists of preprocessing, feature extraction, matching, and postprocessing. For preprocessing, proposed resize and histogram equalization are used. For feature extraction algorithm, Scale Invariant Feature Transform (SIFT), Speeded Up Robust Features (SURF), Binary Robust Invariant Scaling Keypoints (BRISK) and Oriented FAST, and Rotated BRIEF (ORB) are applied and compared. For matching, Fast Library for Approximate Nearest Neighbors (FLANN) is used for SIFT and SURF, and hamming distance are used for BRISK and ORB. For postprocessing, two techniques to reduce incorrect matches are proposed. The proposed method was evaluated with 55 dog muzzle pattern images acquired from 11 dogs and 990 images augmented by the image deformation (i.e., angle, illumination, noise, affine transform). The best Equal Error Rate (EER) of the proposed method was 0.35%, and ORB was the most appropriate for the dog muzzle pattern recognition.
An Intelligent Ubiquitous Learning Environment and Analytics on Images for Contextual Factors Analysis
Authors: Hasnine Mohammad Nehal , Akçapınar Gökhan , Mouri Kousuke , Ueda Hiroshi
Published: December 2020

Contextual factors in which learning occurs are crucial aspects that learning analytics and related disciplines aim to understand for optimizing learning and the environments in which learning occurs. In foreign vocabulary development, taking the notes or memos of learning contexts along with other factors, play an essential role in quick memorization and reflection. However, conventional tools fail to automate the learning contexts generation process as learners still need to take memos or e-notes to describe their vocabulary learning contexts. This paper presents the Image Understanding Project (hereafter IUEcosystem) that could produce smartly-generated learning contexts primarily in a learner’s target languages. The IUEcosystem uses visual content analysis of lifelogging images as the sensor data to produce smartly-generated learning contexts that could be used as an alternative to handwritten memos or electronic notes. The IUEcosystem uses applied artificial intelligence to produce smartly-generated learning contexts. This intelligent learning environment collects a learner’s learning satisfaction and interaction data and, later on, analyzes them to produce time-based notifications for enhancing retention. Furthermore, a new learning design is presented that aims to map a learner’s prior vocabulary knowledge with new learning vocabularies to be learned. This learning design would help learners to review and recall prior knowledge while learning new vocabulary.
Multilayered Artificial Dura-Mater Models for a Minimally Invasive Brain Surgery Simulator
Authors: Takeuchi Masaru , Hayakawa Shusaku , Ichikawa Akihiko , Hasegawa Akiyuki , Hasegawa Yasuhisa , Fukuda Toshio
Published: December 2020

In this study, new artificial dura-mater models were developed using a multilayered structure of a rubber material (represent an elastic component of a dura-mater) and a fiber sheet (represent fiber component of a dura-mater). The artificial dura-mater models were prepared for use in a brain surgery simulator, especially for transnasal pituitary surgery. The mechanical characteristics of the artificial dura-mater models were tested to check the similarities with porcine dura-mater. Tensile stress, viscoelasticity, and the cutting force generated by microscissors were tested to evaluate the fabricated models. Neurosurgeons also assessed the dura-mater models to evaluate their characteristics. The results indicate that these models made of two different non-woven fiber sheets emulated accurately the actual dura-mater.
CRISPR-Cas Systems: Prospects for Use in Medicine
Authors: Zaychikova Marina V. , Danilenko Valery N. , Maslov Dmitry A.
Published: December 2020

CRISPR-Cas systems, widespread in bacteria and archaea, are mainly responsible for adaptive cellular immunity against exogenous DNA (plasmid and phage). However, the latest research shows their involvement in other functions, such as gene expression regulation, DNA repair and virulence. In recent years, they have undergone intensive research as convenient tools for genomic editing, with Cas9 being the most commonly used nuclease. Gene editing may be of interest in biotechnology, medicine (treatment of inherited disorders, cancer, etc.), and in the development of model systems for various genetic diseases. The dCas9 system, based on a modified Cas9 devoid of nuclease activity, called CRISPRi, is widely used to control gene expression in bacteria for new drug biotargets validation and is also promising for therapy of genetic diseases. In addition to direct use for genomic editing in medicine, CRISPR-Cas can also be used in diagnostics, for microorganisms’ genotyping, controlling the spread of drug resistance, or even directly as “smart” antibiotics. This review focuses on the main applications of CRISPR-Cas in medicine, and challenges and perspectives of these approaches.
Photo-Transformation of Effluent Organic Matter by ZnO-Based Sunlight Irradiation
Authors: Nguyen Thao Thi , Nam Seong Nam , Oh Jeill
Published: December 2020

This study investigated the impact of effluent organic matter (EfOM) from wastewater effluent on the properties of organic matter in receiving water and the efficiency of its removal using photocatalysis. The organic matter is characterized using fluorescence excitation-emission matrices coupled with parallel factor analysis (EEM-PARAFAC), UV-Vis spectroscopy, and dissolved organic carbon (DOC) measurements. The experiments are conducted with water samples that were collected from upstream waters (used as a source of dissolved organic matter (DOM)), wastewater effluent (a source of EfOM), and waters downstream of a wastewater treatment plant, and with upstream water and wastewater effluent being mixed at different ratios in the lab (DOM/EfOM). EEM-PARAFAC analysis identifies three components: a humic-like component (C1), a tyrosine-like component (C2), and a terrestrial-like humic component (C3). When compared to DOM, EfOM has a higher specific ultraviolet absorbance at 254 nm (SUVA254), a higher fluorescence index (FI), and more abundant humic-like components. As the EfOM contribution increased, an increase in both humic-like components and a simultaneous decrease in the protein-like components are observed. The photocatalytic degradation of the organic matter using simulated solar irradiation with ZnO as a catalyst is examined. The removal efficiency of photocatalysis is calculated using the DOC, UV absorbance at 254 nm (UV254), and the maximum fluorescence intensity (Fmax) of the PARAFAC components. After 120 min of irradiation, the removal efficiency of photocatalysis differs between the DOM, EfOM, and EfOM-impacted samples due to the change in the properties of the organic matter in the source water. The photocatalytic degradation of organic matter follows pseudo-first-order kinetics, with the DOC and UV254 exhibiting a lower removal efficiency with the increasing contribution of EfOM, which indicated that EfOM has a potentially negative impact on the performance of drinking water treatment. The removal of PARAFAC components follows the order C3 > C1 > C2, indicating that humic-like components are preferentially removed when compared to protein-like components under sunlight irradiation.
On Correlated Equilibria in Marinatto–Weber Type Quantum Games
Authors: Frąckiewicz Piotr
Published: December 2020

Players’ choices in quantum game schemes are often correlated by a quantum state. This enables players to obtain payoffs that may not be achievable when classical pure or mixed strategies are used. On the other hand, players’ choices can be correlated due to a classical probability distribution, and if no player benefits by a unilateral deviation from the vector of recommended strategies, the probability distribution is a correlated equilibrium. The aim of this paper is to investigate relation between correlated equilibria and Nash equilibria in the MW-type schemes for quantum games.
Weighted Cluster-Range Loss and Criticality-Enhancement Loss for Speaker Recognition
Authors: Mo Jianye , Xu Li
Published: December 2020

While traditional i-vector based methods are popular in the field of speaker recognition, deep learning has recently found more and more applications to the end-to-end models due to its attractive performance. One effective practice is the integration of attention mechanism into the Convolution Neural Networks (CNNs). In this work, a light-weight dual-path attention block is proposed by combining the self-attention and Convolutional Block Attention Module (CBAM), which helps to capture more multi-source features with neglectable extra time expense. Additionally, a Weighted Cluster-Range Loss (WCRL) is proposed to enhance the identification performance of Cluster-Range Loss (CRL) on indecisive samples. Besides, to address the low efficiency in the initial training stage of CRL, a novel Criticality-Enhancement Loss (CEL) is also presented. Both of the proposed loss functions could significantly promote the training efficiency and globally improve the recognition performance. Experimental results are presented to show the effectiveness of the proposed scheme, which achieves a competitive top-1 accuracy of 92.0%, top-5 accuracy of 97.6%, and Equal Error Rate (EER) of 3.5% on the VoxCeleb1 dataset.
Application of a Multiscale Approach in the Substitution and Reduction of NaCl in Costeño-Type Artisan Cheese
Authors: Diaz-Bustamante Martha L. , Reyes Luis H. , Solano Oscar Alberto Alvarez
Published: December 2020

The effects on the texture, rheology, and microstructure of costeño-type artisan cheese caused by the substitution and reduction of NaCl and the increase in cooking temperature during cheese production were studied using a multiscale approach that correlates responses at the macroscopic and microscopic levels. The decrease in the NaCl content, the partial substitution by KCl, and the increase in the cooking temperature before the serum drainage showed physicochemical, textural, and rheological differences between the cheeses. The microstructure was not affected by the reduction in salt or by modifications in the cheese making. The cheeses with an increase in the cooking temperature before the whey drainage stage and reduced NaCl by 5% and 7.5% (Q2 and Q3, respectively) showed similarity with the physicochemical composition and textural attributes of the control cheese (QC). Overall, this study contributes to the design of cheeses with specific functionalities through multiscale modeling.
Analysis of Proteoglycan Content and Biomechanical Properties in Arthritic and Arthritis-Free Menisci
Authors: Pordzik Johannes , Bernstein Anke , Mayr Hermann O. , Latorre Sergio H. , Maks Anastasija , Schmal Hagen , Seidenstuecker Michael
Published: December 2020

Studies on osteoarthritis of the knee have examined isolated aspects of the meniscus biomechanically and histologically, but not the difference between instantaneous modulus (IM) in healthy and diseased samples. The aim of this study is to investigate the difference in the biomechanical behavior and proteoglycan content between arthritic and arthritis-free menisci. In addition, the relationship between the biomechanical behavior and proteoglycan content should be investigated. A novel indentation-based method was used, which allows the mapping of the entire meniscus, without damaging it for histological examinations. A total of 26 arthritic and 14 arthritis-free samples were examined in the present study. A Mach-1 Model V500css test machine was used for biomechanical testing. A position grid was placed over each sample allowing all measurements (indentation test and thickness measurements) to be taken at the same position. All sections were then graded for Safranin O staining intensity for proteoglycan content. The maximum applied load of our arthritic samples above the posterior horn was statistically significantly higher (p = 0.01) at 0.02 ± 0.02 N than the maximum applied load of the arthritis-free samples at 0.01 ± 0.01 N. The proteoglycan content of the meniscus, evaluated by the Safranin O score, correlated statistically significantly with the maximum applied load over the entire meniscus (p = 0.04, 95% CI: 0.06–0.71). The present study showed that in the final stage of gonarthritis, the attenuation behavior of the meniscus was significantly lower compared to the arthritis-free knee. The mapping of IM and histological examination of the meniscus showed a direct correlation between changes in proteoglycan content and altered mechanical properties of the meniscus in gonarthritis.
Modelling and Validation of a Grid-Connected DFIG by Exploiting the Frequency-Domain Harmonic Analysis
Authors: Hernández-Mayoral Emmanuel , Iracheta-Cortez Reynaldo , Lecheppe Vincent , Salgado Oscar Alfredo Jaramillo
Published: December 2020

Wind Energy Conversion Systems (WECS) based on a Doubly-Fed Induction Generator (DFIG) represent the most common configuration employed in wind turbines. These systems involve injecting harmonic currents toward an electrical grid from a back-to-back power converter, potentially creating voltage distortions. To assess this phenomenon, a case study of a 3 kW DFIG-based wind turbine connected to the electrical grid is presented for analysis in the harmonic domain. Initially, a DFIG-based load flow analysis for determining the operating conditions is tackled at the fundamental frequency. Then, the modelling of a DFIG under steady-state operating conditions at harmonic frequencies is analyzed discussing its characteristics in the harmonic domain. The high-frequency harmonics in the output voltage of a pulse width modulation-driven inverter feeding the rotor windings of a DFIG and its connection to a three-winding transformer are also analyzed. This investigation produced a complete model of the DFIG connected to the electrical grid. The results demonstrated that although a considerable harmonic contribution up to the 25th order exists, it remains harmless since it is below 5%, according to the Std. IEEE 519.
Potential Applications in Relation to the Various Physicochemical Characteristics of Al-Hasa Oasis Clays in Saudi Arabia
Authors: Al-Hawas Ibrahim A. , Hassan Salah A. , AbdelDayem Hany M.
Published: December 2020

In this work, various physicochemical characteristics, e.g., surface properties and mineralogical compositions, of five clays collected from different sites in the Al-Hasa oasis in Saudi Arabia have been investigated. Analysis of the mineralogical compositions of the clays in the study by X-ray diffraction indicated the coexistence of palygorskite, montmorillonite, illite, kaolinite, chlorite, calcite and quartz in different percentages. Thermogravimetric analysis indicated that all studied clays exhibited dehydroxylation temperatures higher than 470 °C. On the other hand, pore size distribution analysis of clays from N2 adsorption indicated the presence of micro- and narrow mesopores (of 1.3–2.8 nm). Furthermore, the capability of the different clays for removal of Pb (II) from aqueous solution has been studied. The adsorption process was described through the Langmuir, Freundlich, Temkin and Dubinin–Radushkevich models. The Langmuir model was the most suitable compared to the other models in the case of palygorskite- and montmorillonite-rich clays. However, the Temkin model better represented the adsorption process of Pb (II) on calcite-rich clay. The clay sample with 61.0 wt% of palygorskite was found to be the most effective at removing Pb (II), with a maximum removal capacity of 74.07 mg/g at pH 6, with a contact time of 6 h and at 25 °C. Generally, the adsorption mechanism of lead over all the studied clays followed the pseudo-second-order kinetics. On the other hand, the catalytic activity of clays in the study has been tested in methanol conversion. The acidic clays, those containing high amounts of montmorillonite, showed higher selectivity to ethylene, viz., 78.9%, with a methanol conversion of 39.1% at 350 ° C and 0.1 MPa.
Calibration of Reanalysis Data against Wind Measurements for Energy Production Estimation of Building Integrated Savonius-Type Wind Turbine
Authors: Gonzalez-Arceo Andoni , Zirion-Martinez de Musitu Maitane , Ulazia Alain , del Rio Mario , Garcia Oscar
Published: December 2020

In this work, a cost-effective wind resource method specifically developed for the ROSEO-BIWT (Building Integrated Wind Turbine) and other Building Integrated Wind Turbines is presented. It predicts the wind speed and direction at the roof of an previously selected building for the past 10 years using reanalysis data and wind measurements taken over a year. To do so, the reanalysis wind speed data is calibrated against the measurements using different kinds of quantile mapping, and the wind direction is predicted using random forest. A mock-up of a building and a BIWT were used in a wind tunnel to perform a small-scale experiment presented here. It showed that energy production is possible and even enhanced over a wide range of attack angles. The energy production estimations made with the best performing kind of calibration achieved an overall relative error of 6.77% across different scenarios.
Identifying Polarity in Tweets from an Imbalanced Dataset about Diseases and Vaccines Using a Meta-Model Based on Machine Learning Techniques
Authors: Rodríguez-González Alejandro , Tuñas Juan Manuel , Prieto Santamaría Lucia , Fernández Peces-Barba Diego , Menasalvas Ruiz Ernestina , Jaramillo Almudena , Cotarelo Manuel , Conejo Fernández Antonio J. , Arce Amalia , Gil Angel
Published: December 2020

Sentiment analysis is one of the hottest topics in the area of natural language. It has attracted a huge interest from both the scientific and industrial perspective. Identifying the sentiment expressed in a piece of textual information is a challenging task that several commercial tools have tried to address. In our aim of capturing the sentiment expressed in a set of tweets retrieved for a study about vaccines and diseases during the period 2015–2018, we found that some of the main commercial tools did not allow an accurate identification of the sentiment expressed in a tweet. For this reason, we aimed to create a meta-model which used the results of the commercial tools to improve the results of the tools individually. As part of this research, we had to deal with the problem of unbalanced data. This paper presents the main results in creating a metal-model from three commercial tools to the correct identification of sentiment in tweets by using different machine-learning techniques and methods and dealing with the unbalanced data problem.
Monitoring Spatiotemporal Evolution of Urban Heat Island Effect and Its Dynamic Response to Land Use/Land Cover Transition in 1987–2016 in Wuhan, China
Authors: Xie Qijiao , Sun Qi , Ouyang Zhonglu
Published: December 2020

Monitoring the relationship between the urban heat island (UHI) effect and land use/land cover (LULC) is of great significance in land use planning to adapt to climate change. However, the dynamic response of the UHI effect to LULC change over space and time has not been deeply studied. In this study, a transfer matrix method was carried out to monitor the class-to-class transitions between different LULC types, as well as those between different NLST (normalized land surface temperature) levels over space and time. The spatiotemporal correlation and dynamic coupling between UHI variation and LULC change from 1987 to 2016 were simulated based on multi-temporal remote sensing data in Wuhan, China. The results showed that high temperature (level V) and sub-high temperature (level IV) were mainly concentrated in construction land, while the majority of low temperature (level I) was distributed in water bodies. During the study period, the most notable changes were the rapid increase in construction land, as well as the continuous shrinkage of farmland and water bodies. The inward transfer of construction land was mainly from farmland and water bodies, with the transferred area of 218.3 km2 (69.2%) and 78.9 km2 (25.0%). These transitions were mainly responsible for the thermal deterioration in the study area. The transition of farmland to construction land contributed the most (66.3% and 81.6%) to thermal deterioration in the original medium temperature area (level III). The transition of water bodies to construction land was the main driving force in rapidly upgrading NLST level I into level IV (55.8%) and level V (58.6%). These findings provided detailed information for decision support in optimizing land use structure to fight against the thermal deterioration caused by urbanization.
Active Safety System for Urban Environments with Detecting Harmful Pedestrian Movement Patterns Using Computational Intelligence
Authors: Chavat Juan , Nesmachnow Sergio , Tchernykh Andrei , Shepelev Vladimir
Published: December 2020

This article presents a system for detecting pedestrian movement patterns in urban environments, by applying computational intelligence methods for image processing and pattern detection. The proposed system is capable of processing multiple images and video sources in real-time. Furthermore, it has a flexible design, as it is based on a pipes and filters architecture that makes it easy to evaluate different computational intelligence techniques to address the subproblems involved in each stage of the process. Two main stages are implemented in the proposed system: the first stage is in charge of extracting relevant features of the processed images, by applying image processing and object tracking, and the second stage is responsible for the patterns detection. The experimental analysis of the proposed system was performed over more than 1450 problem instances, using PETS09-S2L1 videos, and the results were compared with part of the Multiple Object Tracking Challenge benchmark results. Experiments covered the two main stages of the system. Results indicate that the proposed system is competitive yet simpler than other similar software methods. Overall, this article provides the theoretical frame and a proof of concept needed for the implementation of a real-time system that takes as input a group of image sequences, extracts relevant features, and detects a set of predefined patterns. The proposed implementation is a reliable proof of the viability of building pedestrian movement pattern detection systems.
Association between Rapid Maxillary Expansion and Nocturnal Enuresis in Children: A Pilot Study for a Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial
Authors: Niu Xiaowen , Cornelis Marie A. , Kamperis Konstantinos , Cattaneo Paolo M.
Published: December 2020

Objectives: This pilot study was conducted to test the protocol of a randomized controlled trial evaluating whether rapid maxillary expansion (RME) can relieve nocturnal enuresis (NE) and improve breathing in children, after ruling out a placebo effect, and investigating whether the effects of RME and NE are related to the morphology of the upper airway. Methods: Seventy 6–15-year-old patients with NE were assessed for eligibility (e.g., constricted maxilla). Enrolled subjects were randomized to immediate treatment with RME (Group 1) or to have the same treatment (RME) delayed for at least six weeks (Group 2). Outcomes comprised the number of wet nights per week, the nocturnal urine production, and the scores of a pediatric sleep questionnaire at baseline, after active treatment (Group 1) or delayed treatment (Group 2), and after 3 months’ retention. Cone beam computed tomographies were taken at baseline and after retention. Results: Six patients were randomized: three in each group. In four of six patients, the number of wet nights per week decreased. Moreover, in responders, nocturnal urine production was reduced following RME. Conclusions: This pilot study suggested that RME might reduce the severity of NE and showed that the protocol of this randomized controlled clinical trial was appropriate.
New Bioadsorbent Derived from Winemaking Waste Cluster Stalks: Application to the Removal of Toxic Cr(VI) from Liquid Effluents
Authors: Alcaraz Lorena , Alguacil Francisco J. , López Félix A.
Published: December 2020

A winemaking waste was used as a precursor of activated carbon used for the removal of hazardous Cr(VI) from solutions. The preparation process consisted of a hydrothermal process and a chemical activation of the resulting product, with KOH. The adsorption results show that the adsorption of Cr(VI) on the obtained activated carbon is strongly dependent on the stirring speed applied to the carbon/solution mixture, pH of the solution, and temperature. The equilibrium isotherm was well fitted to the Langmuir Type-II equation, whereas the kinetic can be described by the pseudo-second-order kinetic model. Thermodynamic studies revealed that Cr(VI) adsorption was an exothermic and spontaneous process. Finally, desorption experiments showed that Cr(VI) was effectively desorbed using hydrazine sulfate solutions, and, at the same time, the element was reduced to the less hazardous Cr(III) oxidation state.
A Direct Optimization Algorithm for Problems with Differential-Algebraic Constraints: Application to Heat and Mass Transfer
Authors: Drąg Paweł
Published: December 2020

In this article, an optimization task with nonlinear differential-algebraic equations (DAEs) is considered. As a main result, a new solution procedure is designed. The computational procedure represents the sequential optimization approach. The proposed algorithm is based on a multiple shooting parametrization method. Two main aspects of a generalized parametrization approach are analyzed in detail: a control function and DAE model parametrization. A comparison between the original and modified DAEs is made. The new algorithm is applied to solve an optimization task in heat and mass transfer engineering.
The Study of Economic and Environmental Viability of the Treatment of Organic Fraction of Municipal Solid Waste Using Monte Carlo Simulation
Authors: Martín-Pascual Jaime , Fernández-González José María , Ceccomarini Nicolò , Ordoñez Javier , Zamorano Montserrat
Published: December 2020

Valorization of municipal solid waste (MSW) plays a crucial role in a sustainable society and provides an opportunity to reduce carbon emissions. The economic and social viability of the treatment of the organic fraction of MSW (OFMSW) with a multi-scenario analysis (composting and anaerobic digestion for renewable electricity or for biomethane injection into natural gas networks) was studied using a Monte Carlo simulation. The cost of treating organic fraction of MSW to neutralize financial net present value (NPV) and social NPV through greenhouse gas emissions avoided was determined for each scenario. The costs considered were the investment and the operating and maintenance costs. The financial benefits from the revenue of subproducts depended on the scenario. The lowest average fee to neutralize the financial NPV was 6.38 €/tonne treated in anaerobic digestion for biomethane injection into natural gas networks, therefore, it was the most financially viable. The average social NPV calculated for biomethane injection into natural gas networks (16.60 €/tonne) was higher than that obtained for renewable electricity (13.59 €/tonne). According to the results, anaerobic digestion for biomethane injection into natural gas networks is the most socially and economically viable alternative for the treatment of OFMSW.