bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Using Machine Learning to Grade the Mango’s Quality Based on External Features Captured by Vision System
Authors: Truong Minh Long Nguyen , Truong Thinh Nguyen
Published: August 2020

Nowadays, mangoes and other fruits are classified according to human perception of low productivity, which is a poor quality of classification. Therefore, in this study, we suggest a novel evaluation of internal quality focused on external features of mango as well as its weight. The results show that evaluation is more effective than using only one of the external features or weight combining an expensive nondestructive (NDT) measurement. Grading of fruits is implemented by four models of machine learning as Random Forest (RF), Linear Discriminant Analysis (LDA), Support Vector Machine (SVM), and K-Nearest Neighbors (KNN). Models have inputs such as length, width, defect, weight, and outputs being mango classifications such as grade G1, G2, and G3. The unstructured data of 4983 of captured images combining with load-cell signals are transferred to structured data to generate a completed dataset including density. The data normalization and elimination of outliers (DNEO) are used to create a better dataset which prepared for machine learning algorithms. Moreover, an unbiased performance estimate for the training process carried out by the nested cross-validation (NCV) method. In the experiment, the methods of machine learning have high accurate over 87.9%, especially the model of RF gets 98.1% accuracy.
Electric Field Excitation Suppression in Cold Atoms
Authors: Han Jianing , Mitchell Juliet , Umstead Morgan
Published: August 2020

In this article, the atom excitation suppression is studied in two mechanisms. The first mechanism for excitation suppression is caused by an external DC electric field. The second mechanism is due to the energy shift caused by an electric field generated by free charges, which are created by ionizing atoms. The latter mechanism is known as the Coulomb blockade. Here, the Coulomb forces originate from ions created by ionizing atoms with a UV laser. The interaction, which causes the suppression, is treated theoretically as dipole–charge interactions. In the model, the charge is an ion, and the dipole is an atom. From measurements, we use 85Rb atoms. The valence electron and the ion core are the two poles of an electric dipole. The interaction potential energy between the ion and the atom is proportional to 1R2, and the frequency shift caused by this interaction is proportional to 1R4, where R is the distance between the ion and the dipole considered. This research is motivated by potential applications for quantum information storage, remote control, creating hot plasmas using cold atoms, as well as electronic devices.
Traditional and Artisanal Beverages in Nigeria: Microbial Diversity and Safety Issues
Authors: Nwaiwu Ogueri , Aduba Chiugo Claret , Igbokwe Victor Chukwunenye , Sam Chizoba Evelyn , Ukwuru Michael Ukwuru
Published: August 2020

A review of up to 90 articles on the microorganisms associated with important artisanal or traditional beverages in Nigeria was carried out. This resulted in an overview of the prevalent microorganisms associated with soymilk, nono (fermented cow milk), tiger nut milk, yoghurt, kunu, zobo, palm wine and the local beers pito and brukutu. The bacteria genera, namely Bacillus, Escherichia, Lactobacillus, Staphylococcus, and Streptococcus, were detected in all nine beverages. On the contrary, this survey resulted in finding that the genera Saccharomyces, Aspergillus, Candida, and Penicillium were the eukaryotic microorganisms isolated in all beverages. The occurrence of fungal isolates, which can be responsible for producing mycotoxins, is a concern and shows the need for post-production tests. Overall, there is a low prevalence of bacteria associated with hygiene, especially the Escherichia genus in alcoholic beverages such as palm wine, pito and burukutu, which may be due both to a low acidity and high ethanol content. However, the prevalence of hygiene indicator genera was higher in nonalcoholic drinks, probably because of incorrect practices during processing. The magnitude of the production and sales of unregulated local beverages in Nigeria has reached the stage where significant regulation and food safety standards are required to safeguard public health. An opportunity exists to monitor and characterize the microbial flora of the artisanal beverages using molecular methods at all stages of production and storage.
Improved Production and Biophysical Analysis of Recombinant Silicatein-α
Authors: Sparkes Emily I. , Kettles Rachel A. , Egedeuzu Chisom S. , Stephenson Natalie L. , Caslin Stephanie A. , Tabatabaei Dakhili S. Yasin , Wong Lu Shin
Published: August 2020

Silicatein-α is a hydrolase found in siliceous sea sponges with a unique ability to condense and hydrolyse silicon–oxygen bonds. The enzyme is thus of interest from the perspective of its unusual enzymology, and for potential applications in the sustainable synthesis of siloxane-containing compounds. However, research into this enzyme has previously been hindered by the tendency of silicatein-α towards aggregation and insolubility. Herein, we report the development of an improved method for the production of a trigger factor-silicatein fusion protein by switching the previous hexahistidine tag for a Strep-II tag, resulting in 244-fold improvement in protein yield compared to previous methods. Light scattering and thermal denaturation analyses show that under the best storage conditions, although oligomerisation is never entirely abolished, these nanoscale aggregates of the Strep-tagged protein exhibit improved colloidal stability and solubility. Enzymatic assays show that the Strep-tagged protein retains catalytic competency, but exhibits lower activity compared to the His6-tagged protein. These results suggest that the hexahistidine tag is capable of non-specific catalysis through their imidazole side chains, highlighting the importance of careful consideration when selecting a purification tag. Overall, the Strep-tagged fusion protein reported here can be produced to a higher yield, exhibits greater stability, and allows the native catalytic properties of this protein to be assessed.
Melatonin’s Impact on Antioxidative and Anti-Inflammatory Reprogramming in Homeostasis and Disease
Authors: Chitimus Diana Maria , Popescu Mihaela Roxana , Voiculescu Suzana Elena , Panaitescu Anca Maria , Pavel Bogdan , Zagrean Leon , Zagrean Ana-Maria
Published: August 2020

There is a growing consensus that the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of melatonin are of great importance in preserving the body functions and homeostasis, with great impact in the peripartum period and adult life. Melatonin promotes adaptation through allostasis and stands out as an endogenous, dietary, and therapeutic molecule with important health benefits. The anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects of melatonin are intertwined and are exerted throughout pregnancy and later during development and aging. Melatonin supplementation during pregnancy can reduce ischemia-induced oxidative damage in the fetal brain, increase offspring survival in inflammatory states, and reduce blood pressure in the adult offspring. In adulthood, disturbances in melatonin production negatively impact the progression of cardiovascular risk factors and promote cardiovascular and neurodegenerative diseases. The most studied cardiovascular effects of melatonin are linked to hypertension and myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury, while the most promising ones are linked to regaining control of metabolic syndrome components. In addition, there might be an emerging role for melatonin as an adjuvant in treating coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID 19). The present review summarizes and comments on important data regarding the roles exerted by melatonin in homeostasis and oxidative stress and inflammation related pathologies.
Caveolin-1-Mediated Tumor Suppression Is Linked to Reduced HIF1α S-Nitrosylation and Transcriptional Activity in Hypoxia
Authors: Sanhueza Carlos , Bennett Jimena Castillo , Valenzuela-Valderrama Manuel , Contreras Pamela , Lobos-González Lorena , Campos América , Wehinger Sergio , Lladser Álvaro , Kiessling Rolf , Leyton Lisette , Quest Andrew F.G.
Published: August 2020

Caveolin-1 (CAV1) is a well-established nitric oxide synthase inhibitor, whose function as a tumor suppressor is favored by, but not entirely dependent on, the presence of E-cadherin. Tumors are frequently hypoxic and the activation of the hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF1α) promotes tumor growth. HIF1α is regulated by several post-translational modifications, including S-nitrosylation. Here, we evaluate the mechanisms underlying tumor suppression by CAV1 in cancer cells lacking E-cadherin in hypoxia. Our main findings are that CAV1 reduced HIF activity and Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor expression in vitro and in vivo. This effect was neither due to reduced HIF1α protein stability or reduced nuclear translocation. Instead, HIF1α S-nitrosylation observed in hypoxia was diminished by the presence of CAV1, and nitric oxide synthase (NOS) inhibition by Nω-Nitro-L-arginine methyl ester hydrochloride (L-NAME) reduced HIF1α transcriptional activity in cells to the same extent as observed upon CAV1 expression. Additionally, arginase inhibition by (S)-(2-Boronoethyl)-L-cysteine (BEC) partially rescued cells from the CAV1-mediated suppression of HIF1α transcriptional activity. In vivo, CAV1-mediated tumor suppression was dependent on NOS activity. In summary, CAV1-dependent tumor suppression in the absence of E-cadherin is linked to reduced HIF1α transcriptional activity via diminished NOS-mediated HIF1α S-nitrosylation.
Noble Metal Modification of CdS-Covered CuInS2 Electrodes for Improved Photoelectrochemical Activity and Stability
Authors: Takashima Toshihiro , Fujishiro Yukitaka , Irie Hiroshi
Published: August 2020

In this paper, efficient and stable photoelectrochemical (PEC) hydrogen (H2) evolution using copper indium sulfide (CuInS2) thin film electrodes was studied. Modification with a cadmium sulfide (CdS) layer led to improved charge separation at the interface between CuInS2 and CdS; however, the photocorrosive nature of CdS induced poor stability of the photocathode. Further surface coating with an electrodeposited Pt layer over the CdS-covered CuInS2 photocathode prevented the CdS layer from making contact with the electrolyte solution, and enabled efficient PEC H2 evolution without appreciable degradation. This indicates that the Pt layer functioned not only as a reaction site for H2 evolution, but also as a protection layer. In addition, it was found that surface protection using a noble metal layer was also effective for stable PEC carbon dioxide (CO2) reduction when appropriate noble metal cocatalysts were selected. When Au or Ag was used, carbon monoxide was obtained as a product of PEC CO2 reduction.
Influence of Carrier Structure and Physicochemical Factors on Immobilisation of Fungal Laccase in Terms of Bisphenol A Removal
Authors: Wlizło Kamila , Polak Jolanta , Kapral-Piotrowska Justyna , Grąz Marcin , Paduch Roman , Jarosz-Wilkołazka Anna
Published: August 2020

Laccase from Pleurotus ostreatus was immobilised on porous Purolite® carriers and amino-functionalised ultrafiltration membranes. The results indicated a correlation between the carrier structure and the activity of laccase immobilised thereon. The highest activity was obtained for carriers characterised by a small particle size and a larger pore diameter (the porous carriers with an additional spacer (C2 and C6) and octadecyl methacrylate beads with immobilised laccase activity of 5.34 U/g, 2.12 U/g and 7.43 U/g, respectively. The conditions of immobilisation and storage of immobilised laccase were modified to improve laccase activity in terms of bisphenol A transformation. The highest laccase immobilisation activity was obtained on small bead carriers with a large diameter of pores incubated in 0.1 M phosphate buffer pH 7 and for immobilisation time of 3 h at 22 °C. The immobilised LAC was stable for four weeks maintaining 80–90% of its initial activity in the case of the best C2, C6, and C18 carriers. The immobilised laccase transformed 10 mg/L of BPA in 45% efficiency and decreased its toxicity 3-fold in the Microtox tests. The effectiveness of BPA transformation, and the legitimacy of conducting this process due to the reduction of the toxicity of the resulting reaction products have been demonstrated. Reusability of immobilised LAC has been proven during BPA removal in 10 subsequent batches.
The Diversity of Muscles and Their Regenerative Potential across Animals
Authors: Zullo Letizia , Bozzo Matteo , Daya Alon , Di Clemente Alessio , Mancini Francesco Paolo , Megighian Aram , Nesher Nir , Röttinger Eric , Shomrat Tal , Tiozzo Stefano , Zullo Alberto , Candiani Simona
Published: August 2020

Cells with contractile functions are present in almost all metazoans, and so are the related processes of muscle homeostasis and regeneration. Regeneration itself is a complex process unevenly spread across metazoans that ranges from full-body regeneration to partial reconstruction of damaged organs or body tissues, including muscles. The cellular and molecular mechanisms involved in regenerative processes can be homologous, co-opted, and/or evolved independently. By comparing the mechanisms of muscle homeostasis and regeneration throughout the diversity of animal body-plans and life cycles, it is possible to identify conserved and divergent cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying muscle plasticity. In this review we aim at providing an overview of muscle regeneration studies in metazoans, highlighting the major regenerative strategies and molecular pathways involved. By gathering these findings, we wish to advocate a comparative and evolutionary approach to prompt a wider use of “non-canonical” animal models for molecular and even pharmacological studies in the field of muscle regeneration.
Conventional and Non-Conventional Roles of Non-Muscle Myosin II-Actin in Neuronal Development and Degeneration
Authors: Javier-Torrent Míriam , Saura Carlos A.
Published: August 2020

Myosins are motor proteins that use chemical energy to produce mechanical forces driving actin cytoskeletal dynamics. In the brain, the conventional non-muscle myosin II (NMII) regulates actin filament cytoskeletal assembly and contractile forces during structural remodeling of axons and dendrites, contributing to morphology, polarization, and migration of neurons during brain development. NMII isoforms also participate in neurotransmission and synaptic plasticity by driving actin cytoskeletal dynamics during synaptic vesicle release and retrieval, and formation, maturation, and remodeling of dendritic spines. NMIIs are expressed differentially in cerebral non-neuronal cells, such as microglia, astrocytes, and endothelial cells, wherein they play key functions in inflammation, myelination, and repair. Besides major efforts to understand the physiological functions and regulatory mechanisms of NMIIs in the nervous system, their contributions to brain pathologies are still largely unclear. Nonetheless, genetic mutations or deregulation of NMII and its regulatory effectors are linked to autism, schizophrenia, intellectual disability, and neurodegeneration, indicating non-conventional roles of NMIIs in cellular mechanisms underlying neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative disorders. Here, we summarize the emerging biological roles of NMIIs in the brain, and discuss how actomyosin signaling contributes to dysfunction of neurons and glial cells in the context of neurological disorders. This knowledge is relevant for a deep understanding of NMIIs on the pathogenesis and therapeutics of neuropsychiatric and neurodegenerative diseases.
Making NSCLC Crystal Clear: How Kinase Structures Revolutionized Lung Cancer Treatment
Authors: Vilachã Juliana F. , Mitchel Sarah C. , Akele Muluembet Z. , Evans Stephen , Groves Matthew R.
Published: August 2020

The parallel advances of different scientific fields provide a contemporary scenario where collaboration is not a differential, but actually a requirement. In this context, crystallography has had a major contribution on the medical sciences, providing a “face” for targets of diseases that previously were known solely by name or sequence. Worldwide, cancer still leads the number of annual deaths, with 9.6 million associated deaths, with a major contribution from lung cancer and its 1.7 million deaths. Since the relationship between cancer and kinases was unraveled, these proteins have been extensively explored and became associated with drugs that later attained blockbuster status. Crystallographic structures of kinases related to lung cancer and their developed and marketed drugs provided insight on their conformation in the absence or presence of small molecules. Notwithstanding, these structures were also of service once the initially highly successful drugs started to lose their effectiveness in the emergence of mutations. This review focuses on a subclassification of lung cancer, non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), and major oncogenic driver mutations in kinases, and how crystallographic structures can be used, not only to provide awareness of the function and inhibition of these mutations, but also how these structures can be used in further computational studies aiming at addressing these novel mutations in the field of personalized medicine.
All-Inkjet Printed Organic Thin-Film Transistors with and without Photo-Sensitivity to Visible Lights
Authors: Jiang Chen
Published: August 2020

Printable organic thin-film transistors have enabled flexible low-cost electronics, which has the potential for a lot of emerging electronic applications. Despite the excellent dark performance of advanced all-inkjet printed organic thin-film transistors, their photoresponse is less explored and needs to be investigated, especially photoresponse to visible lights that human beings can see and are most familiar with. Importantly, for electronics integration, both devices with and without photo-sensitivity to visible light are important, for photo-detecting and signal processing, respectively. In this study, two organic semiconductor materials are used in all-inkjet printed organic thin-film transistors, namely 2,7-dioctyl[1]benzothieno[3,2-b][1]benzothiophene (C8-BTBT), 6,13-bis (triisopropylsilylethynyl) pentacene (TIPS-pentacene). By characterizing devices under optical exposure with wavelengths from 400 to 800 nm, photocurrents and threshold voltage shifts of the devices are extracted. The fabricated C8-BTBT organic thin-film transistors do not exhibit noticeable photo-sensitivity to visible light, whereas the TIPS-pentacene devices demonstrate significant photoresponse to visible lights, with photocurrents in nano- to micro-ampere levels and threshold voltage shifts of hundreds of millivolts to several volts depending on the photon energy of lights under the same intensity. The TIPS-pentacene devices demonstrated reproducible characteristics before and after light exposure. In addition, the responsivity and sensitivity of the devices were characterized with a decent responsivity of 55.9 mA/W. The photoresponse mechanisms are explained with ultraviolet–visible (UV–vis) adsorption spectroscopy measurements and extracted optical bandgaps of the two semiconductors. This study shows both printed organic transistors with and without photo-sensitivity can be fabricated with the same device structure and fabrication process at low cost, which opens the new possibility of using printed organic thin-film transistors for integrated optoelectronic applications.
An Efficient FPGA-Based Implementation for Quantized Remote Sensing Image Scene Classification Network
Authors: Zhang Xiaoli , Wei Xin , Sang Qianbo , Chen He , Xie Yizhuang
Published: August 2020

Deep Convolutional Neural Network (DCNN)-based image scene classification models play an important role in a wide variety of remote sensing applications and achieve great success. However, the large-scale remote sensing images and the intensive computations make the deployment of these DCNN-based models on low-power processing systems (e.g., spaceborne or airborne) a challenging problem. To solve this problem, this paper proposes a high-performance Field-Programmable Gate Array (FPGA)-based DCNN accelerator by combining an efficient network compression scheme and reasonable hardware architecture. Firstly, this paper applies the network quantization to a high-accuracy remote sensing scene classification network, an improved oriented response network (IORN). The volume of the parameters and feature maps in the network is greatly reduced. Secondly, an efficient hardware architecture for network implementation is proposed. The architecture employs dual-channel Double Data Rate Synchronous Dynamic Random-Access Memory (DDR) access mode, rational on-chip data processing scheme and efficient processing engine design. Finally, we implement the quantized IORN (Q-IORN) with the proposed architecture on a Xilinx VC709 development board. The experimental results show that the proposed accelerator has 88.31% top-1 classification accuracy and achieves a throughput of 209.60 Giga-Operations Per Second (GOP/s) with a 6.32 W on-chip power consumption at 200 MHz. The comparison results with off-the-shelf devices and recent state-of-the-art implementations illustrate that the proposed accelerator has obvious advantages in terms of energy efficiency.
Three-Dimensional Reconstruction of Fleece Fabric Surface for Thickness Evaluation
Authors: Jin Shoufeng , Chen Yang , Yin Jiajie , Li Yi , Gupta Munish Kumar , Fracz Pawel , Li Zhixiong
Published: August 2020

Aiming at solving the problem of manually measuring the fabric surface thickness, this paper proposes a three-dimensional (3D) reconstruction method based on the tangential two-dimensional (2D) sequence images. Firstly, the characteristic region of the fabric surface is extracted. Secondly, the image is splitting based on the maximum between-class variance method. Thirdly, the splitting image is processed by the morphological method. Fourthly, the canny operator is used to obtain the edge detection for calculating the edge contour coordinate. Finally, the surf function is used to reconstruct the 3D model of the fabric surface. To evaluate the performance of the proposed 3D model, the thickness and relief degree of the fabric surface are used, and the comparison between the proposed method and the manual measurement is carried out. The results demonstrate that, under a reasonable relief degree condition, the proposed method is more effective to evaluate the thickness of the fabric surface and the estimated thickness is more accurate than the manually measured one.
Intelligent Indexing—Boosting Performance in Database Applications by Recognizing Index Patterns
Authors: Arteta Albert Alberto , Gómez Blas Nuria , Mingo López Luis Fernando de
Published: August 2020

An issue that most databases face is the static and manual character of indexing operations. This old-fashioned way of indexing database objects is proven to affect the database performance to some degree, creating downtime and a possible impact in the performance that is usually solved by manually running index rebuild or defrag operations. Many data mining algorithms can speed up by using appropriate index structures. Choosing the proper index largely depends on the type of query that the algorithm performs against the database. The statistical analyzers embedded in the Database Management System are neither always accurate enough to automatically determine when to use an index nor to change its inner structure. This paper provides an algorithm that targets those indexes that are causing performance issues on the databases and then performs an automatic operation (defrag, recreation, or modification) that can boost the overall performance of the Database System. The effectiveness of proposed algorithm has been evaluated with several experiments developed and show that this approach consistently leads to a better resulting index configuration. The downtime of having a damaged, fragmented, or inefficient index is reduced by increasing the chances for the optimizer to be using the proper index structure.
Reduced Graphene Oxide Decorated with Dispersed Gold Nanoparticles: Preparation, Characterization and Electrochemical Evaluation for Oxygen Reduction Reaction
Authors: Lazar Oana-Andreea , Marinoiu Adriana , Raceanu Mircea , Pantazi Aida , Mihai Geanina , Varlam Mihai , Enachescu Marius
Published: August 2020

The commonly used electrode Pt supported on a carbon (Pt/C) catalyst has demonstrated underperforming electrochemical durability in proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) harsh operation conditions, especially in terms of Pt electrochemical instability and carbon corrosion. Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) are considered one of the best alternative catalysts of PtNPs due to their remarkable selectivity for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) and electrochemical stability in strong acid conditions, attributes which are ideal for practical PEMFC applications. In this work, we propose a new, facile and low-cost approach to prepare AuNPs supported on reduced graphene oxide nanocompounds (AuNPs/rGO). The morphological and structural properties of the as-prepared AuNPs/rGO were studied using various microscopic and spectroscopic techniques, namely, Raman Spectroscopy, Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Scanning Transmission Electron Microscopy (STEM), X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), specific surface area (Brunauer–Emmett–Teller, BET). A mesoporous structure with narrow pore size distribution centered at 2 nm approximately, where the pores are regular and interconnected was successfully fabricated. The prepared catalyst was exposed to an accelerated stress test (potential cycles between −0.8 and +0.2 in KOH 1 M solution). The voltammetric stability test indicated a slight degradation after 1500 cycles. The electrochemical stability was assigned to the combined effect of AuNPs formed during chemical synthesis and to graphene oxide support.
Wind Tunnel Study on Wake Instability of Twin H-Rotor Vertical-Axis Turbines
Authors: Wang Kun , Zou Li , Wang Aimin , Zhao Peidong , Jiang Yichen
Published: August 2020

In recent years, the H-rotor vertical-axis turbine has attracted considerable attention in the field of wind and tidal power generation. After a series of complex spatiotemporal evolutions, the vortex shed from turbine blades forms a turbulent wake with a multi-scale coherent structure. An analysis of the wake characteristics of twin turbines forms the basis of array optimisation. This study aimed to examine the instability characteristics of a twin-turbine wake with two rotational configurations. The dynamic evolution characteristics of coherent structures with different scales in the wake were analysed via wavelet analysis. The results show that an inverse energy cascade process occurs after the high-frequency small-scale coherent structures induced by rotation lose their coherence. This self-organising characteristic is more apparent in the quasi two-dimensional wake of a forward-moving counter-rotating turbine (Array 1) than in that of a backward-moving counter-rotating turbine (Array 2). With greater organisation and coherence, the wake of Array 1 exhibits low-frequency instability characteristics dominated by a large-scale coherent structure. In addition, the signals reconstructed using wavelet transform show that asymmetric modes exist between low-frequency large-scale coherent structures. The experimental results provide a new perspective on the instability mechanism of twin-turbine wakes, as well as important data for numerical modelling.
Performance Assessment of an NH3/LiNO3 Bubble Plate Absorber Applying a Semi-Empirical Model and Artificial Neural Networks
Authors: Amaris Carlos , Alvarez Maria E. , Vallès Manel , Bourouis Mahmoud
Published: August 2020

In this study, ammonia vapor absorption with NH3/LiNO3 was assessed using correlations derived from a semi-empirical model, and artificial neural networks (ANNs). The absorption process was studied in an H-type corrugated plate absorber working in bubble mode under the conditions of an absorption chiller machine driven by low-temperature heat sources. The semi-empirical model is based on discretized heat and mass balances, and heat and mass transfer correlations, proposed and developed from experimental data. The ANN model consists of five trained artificial neurons, six inputs (inlet flows and temperatures, solution pressure, and concentration), and three outputs (absorption mass flux, and solution heat and mass transfer coefficients). The semi-empirical model allows estimation of temperatures and concentration along the absorber, in addition to overall heat and mass transfer. Furthermore, the ANN design estimates overall heat and mass transfer without the need for internal details of the absorption phenomenon and thermophysical properties. Results show that the semi-empirical model predicts the absorption mass flux and heat flow with maximum errors of 15.8% and 12.5%, respectively. Maximum errors of the ANN model are 10.8% and 11.3% for the mass flux and thermal load, respectively.
Design and Implementation of High Order Sliding Mode Control for PEMFC Power System
Authors: Silaa Mohammed Yousri , Derbeli Mohamed , Barambones Oscar , Cheknane Ali
Published: August 2020

Fuel cells are considered as one of the most promising methods to produce electrical energy due to its high-efficiency level that reaches up to 50%, as well as high reliability with no polluting effects. However, scientists and researchers are interested more in proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs). Thus, it has been considered as an ideal solution to many engineering applications. The main aim of this work is to keep the PEMFC operating at an adequate power point. To this end, conventional first-order sliding mode control (SMC) is used. However, the chattering phenomenon, which is caused by the SMC leads to a low control accuracy and heat loss in the energy circuits. In order to overcome these drawbacks, quasi-continuous high order sliding mode control (QC-HOSM) is proposed so as to improve the power quality and performance. The control stability is proven via the Lyapunov theory. The closed-loop system consists of a PEM fuel cell, a step-up converter, a DSPACE DS1104, SMC and QC-HOSM algorithms and a variable load resistance. In order to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed control scheme, experimental results are compared with the conventional SMC. The obtained results show that a chattering reduction of 84% could be achieved using the proposed method.
Performance of Concrete with Low CO2 Emission
Authors: Giergiczny Zbigniew , Król Anna , Tałaj Michał , Wandoch Karol
Published: August 2020

The broader use of cements with a higher content of the main non-clinker components in construction industry is one of the directions leading to the decarbonization in cement production. This contribution analyzes the properties of low-emission cements containing from 44% to 56% of Portland clinker in their composition and indicates the possibilities of wider use in the construction. The obtained results confirmed that following the appropriate technological regimes, low-emission cements can be implemented into the production of concrete exposed to carbonation-induced corrosion (exposure class XC4 according to EN 206), frost-resistant concrete (exposure class XF4 according to EN 206), self-compacting concrete (SCC) and high-performance concrete (HPC). An analysis of the level of CO2 emissions in the production of specific types of concrete using low-emission cements was also made.
Disentangling the Effects of Genotype and Environment on Growth and Wood Features of Balfourodendron riedelianum Trees by Common Garden Experiments in Brazil
Authors: Silva Jane , Rossi Sergio , Khare Siddhartha , Longui Eduardo , Marcati Carmen
Published: August 2020

Intraspecific studies with populations replicated in different sites allow the effects of genotype and environment on wood features and plant growth to be distinguished. Based on climate change predictions, this distinction is important for establishing future patterns in the distribution of tree species. We quantified the effects of genotype and environment on wood features and growth of 30-year-old Balfourodendron riedelianum trees. We used three provenances planted in two common garden experiments with difference in precipitation and temperature. We applied linear models to estimate the variability in wood and growth features and transfer functions to evaluate the responses of these features to temperature, precipitation, and the standardized precipitation evapotranspiration index (SPEI). Our results showed that genotype had an effect on vessels and rays, where narrower vessels with thinner walls and larger intervessel pits, and shorter, narrower and more numerous rays were observed in provenances from drier sites. We also observed the effect of the environment on wood features and growth. Trees growing in the wetter site were taller and larger, and they had wider vessels with thicker walls and lower ray density. Transfer functions indicated that an increase in temperature results in larger vessels with thicker walls, taller and denser rays, shorter and narrower fibers with thinner walls, and lower wood density. From a functional perspective, these features make trees growing in warmer environments more prone to drought-induced embolisms and more vulnerable to mechanical damage and pathogen attacks. Tree growth varied with precipitation and SPEI, being negatively affected in the drier site. Overall, we demonstrated that both genotype and environment affect wood features, while tree growth is mainly influenced by the environment. Plastic responses in hydraulic characteristics could represent important functional traits to mitigate the consequences of ongoing climate change on the growth and survival of the species within its natural range.
Antimicrobial and Antioxidant Activities of Natural Compounds: Enhance the Safety and Quality of Food
Authors: Faleiro Maria Leonor , Miguel Graça
Published: August 2020

Nature has offered us a tremendous diversity of natural compounds, for which antimicrobial and antioxidant properties have been intensively explored and nowadays are plenty recognized [...]
Expression Levels of the Immune-Related p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Transcript in Response to Environmental Pollutants on Macrophthalmus japonicus Crab
Authors: Park Kiyun , Kim Won-Seok , Choi Bohyung , Kwak Ihn-Sil
Published: August 2020

Environmental pollution in the aquatic environment poses a threat to the immune system of benthic organisms. The Macrophthalmus japonicus crab, which inhabits tidal flat sediments, is a marine invertebrate that provides nutrient and organic matter cycling as a means of purification. Here, we characterized the M. japonicus p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) gene, which plays key roles in the regulation of cellular immune and apoptosis responses. M. japonicusp38 MAPK displayed the characteristics of the conserved MAPK family with Thr-Gly-Tyr (TGY) motif and substrate-binding site Ala-Thr-Arg-Trp (ATRW). The amino acid sequence of the M. japonicus p38 MAPK showed a close phylogenetic relationship to Eriocheir sinensis MAPK14 and Scylla paramamosainp38 MAPK. The phylogenetic tree displayed two origins of p38 MAPK: crustacean and insect. The tissue distribution patterns showed the highest expression in the gills and hepatopancreas of M. japonicus crab. In addition, p38 MAPK expression in M. japonicus gills and hepatopancreas was evaluated after exposure to environmental pollutants such as perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), irgarol, di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), and bisphenol A (BPA). In the gills, p38 MAPK expression significantly increased after exposure to all concentrations of the chemicals on day 7. However, on day 1, there were increased p38 MAPK responses observed after PFOS and irgarol exposure, whereas decreased p38 MAPK responses were observed after DEHP and BPA exposure. The upregulation of p38 MAPK gene also significantly led to M. japonicus hepatopancreas being undertested in all environmental pollutants. The findings in this study supported that anti-stress responses against exposure to environmental pollutants were reflected in changes in expression levels in M. japonicusp38 MAPK signaling regulation as a cellular defense mechanism.
Patients Taking Direct Oral Anticoagulants (DOAC) Undergoing Oral Surgery: A Review of the Literature and a Proposal of a Peri-Operative Management Protocol
Authors: Lupi Saturnino Marco , Rodriguez y Baena Arianna
Published: August 2020

Patients on anticoagulant therapy for the prevention of cardiovascular accidents present an increased risk of bleeding following dental and oral surgery. Four recently introduced non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants, namely dabigatran etexilate (direct thrombin inhibitor), rivaroxaban, apixaban, and edoxaban (Xa factor direct inhibitor), are widely spreading for convenience of use compared to the older drug class. Dental management of patients taking these drugs has substantial differences compared to patients on vitamin K antagonist therapy. Anticoagulation is not assessed directly through a hematological test, but indirectly by renal function. The interventions must be scheduled at the time of minimum blood concentration of the drug. Bleeding can occur even after several days following the surgery. The interaction with drugs administered for dental care must be carefully evaluated. The peri-operative diet can influence the risk of bleeding. Local measures favoring coagulation must be adopted. The interventions with higher risk must be divided into multiple less invasive interventions. Although antidotes exist for these drugs, their use does not seem necessary for dental interventions that have been planned optimally. Furthermore, in this review of the literature a decision protocol is proposed for the evaluation of the suspension of the anticoagulant drug before oral surgery. Cessation of any anticoagulant should only be made in consultation with the patient’s general practitioner/cardiologist, who will weigh up the risk of bleeding from the proposed procedure with the risk of thrombosis/stroke in each individual patient.
Power, Muscle, and Take-Off Asymmetry in Young Soccer Players
Authors: Bahenský Petr , Marko David , Bunc Václav , Tlustý Pavel
Published: August 2020

(1) Background: The objective of the study was to check the relationship between laterality, amount of muscle mass (MM), and selected strength parameters on lower extremities and assessment of asymmetry like a result of training. (2) Methods: The screened sample consisted of soccer players (n = 65, age = 16.0 ± 1.2 years). The legs were assessed for MM, height of reflection on a force plate, and power over 30 s Wingate anaerobic test (WAnT). The relationships between the individual parameters and age dependence were assessed using a correlation analysis. The differences between the dominant and non-dominant leg were assessed using the t-test. (3) Results: A relationship between the jump height and the mean 30 s power in WAnT (r = 0.375, p ˂ 0.01) and between the amount of MM and the absolute power of the individual legs in WAnT (r = 0.695–0.832, p ˂ 0.01) was proved. A relationship between the take-off force and the MM, or between the MM and the relative power during a velocity force load was not found. (4) Conclusions: The amount of MM in young soccer players does not affect take-off force or strength power in WAnT. The more specific the movement is, the lower the effect on the achieved power output of the concerned MM. Differences in the performance between the dominant and non-dominant leg decrease with duration of the training.
Development and Validation of a Wearable Inertial Sensors-Based Automated System for Assessing Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders in the Workspace
Authors: Huang Chunxi , Kim Woojoo , Zhang Yanxin , Xiong Shuping
Published: August 2020

The industrial societies face difficulty applying traditional work-related musculoskeletal disorder (WMSD) risk assessment methods in practical applications due to in-situ task dynamics, complex data processing, and the need of ergonomics professionals. This study aims to develop and validate a wearable inertial sensors-based automated system for assessing WMSD risks in the workspace conveniently, in order to enhance workspace safety and improve workers’ health. Both postural ergonomic analysis (RULA/REBA) and two-dimensional static biomechanical analysis were automatized as two toolboxes in the proposed system to provide comprehensive WMSD risk assessment based on the kinematic data acquired from wearable inertial sensors. The effectiveness of the developed system was validated through a follow-up experiment among 20 young subjects when performing representative tasks in the heavy industry. The RULA/REBA scores derived from our system achieved high consistency with experts’ ratings (intraclass correlation coefficient ≥0.83, classification accuracy >88%), and good agreement was also found between low-back compression force from the developed system and the reference system (mean intersystem coefficient of multiple correlation >0.89 and relative error <9.5%). These findings suggested that the wearable inertial sensors-based automated system could be effectively used for WMSD risk assessment of workers when performing tasks in the workspace.
Associations between Trace Elements and Cognitive Decline: An Exploratory 5-Year Follow-Up Study of an Elderly Cohort
Authors: Gerardo Bianca , Cabral Pinto Marina , Nogueira Joana , Pinto Paula , Almeida Agostinho , Pinto Edgar , Marinho-Reis Paula , Diniz Luísa , Moreira Paula I. , Simões Mário R. , Freitas Sandra
Published: August 2020

Trace elements (TE) homeostasis is crucial in normal brain functioning. Although imbalances have the potential to exacerbate events leading neurodegenerative diseases, few studies have directly addressed the eventual relationships between TE levels in the human body and future cognitive status. The present study aimed to assess how different TE body-levels relate to cognitive decline. This exploratory research included a study-group (RES) of 20 elderly individuals living in two Portuguese geographical areas of interest (Estarreja; Mértola), as well as a 20 subjects neuropsychological control-group (CTR). Participants were neuropsychologically assessed through the Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) and the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) and the RES group was biomonitored for TE through fingernail analysis. After 5 years, the cognitive assessments were repeated. Analyses of the RES neuropsychological data showed an average decrease of 6.5 and 5.27 points in MMSE and MoCA, respectively, but TE contents in fingernails were generally within the referenced values for non-exposed individuals. Higher levels of Nickel and Selenium significantly predicted lesser cognitive decline within 5 years. Such preliminary results evidence an association between higher contents of these TE and higher cognitive scores at follow-up, suggesting their contribution to the maintenance of cognitive abilities. Future expansion of the present study is needed in order to comprehensively assess the potential benefits of these TE.
Circular RNAs in Hematopoiesis with a Focus on Acute Myeloid Leukemia and Myelodysplastic Syndrome
Authors: Dostalova Merkerova Michaela , Krejcik Zdenek , Szikszai Katarina , Kundrat David
Published: August 2020

Circular RNAs (circRNAs) constitute a recently recognized group of noncoding transcripts that function as posttranscriptional regulators of gene expression at a new level. Recent developments in experimental methods together with rapidly evolving bioinformatics approaches have accelerated the exploration of circRNAs. The differentiation of hematopoietic stem cells into a broad spectrum of specialized blood lineages is a tightly regulated process that depends on a multitude of factors, including circRNAs. However, despite the growing number of circRNAs described to date, the roles of the majority of them in hematopoiesis remain unknown. Given their stability and disease-specific expression, circRNAs have been acknowledged as novel promising biomarkers and therapeutic targets. In this paper, the biogenesis, characteristics, and roles of circRNAs are reviewed with an emphasis on their currently recognized or presumed involvement in hematopoiesis, especially in acute myeloid leukemia and myelodysplastic syndrome.
Cachexia: Pathophysiology and Ghrelin Liposomes for Nose-to-Brain Delivery
Authors: T. de Barros Cecilia , Rios Alessandra C. , Alves Thaís F. R. , Batain Fernando , Crescencio Kessi M. M. , Lopes Laura J. , Zielińska Aleksandra , Severino Patricia , G. Mazzola Priscila , Souto Eliana B. , Chaud Marco V.
Published: August 2020

Cachexia, a severe multifactorial condition that is underestimated and unrecognized in patients, is characterized by continuous muscle mass loss that leads to progressive functional impairment, while nutritional support cannot completely reverse this clinical condition. There is a strong need for more effective and targeted therapies for cachexia patients. There is a need for drugs that act on cachexia as a distinct and treatable condition to prevent or reverse excess catabolism and inflammation. Due to ghrelin properties, it has been studied in the cachexia and other treatments in a growing number of works. However, in the body, exogenous ghrelin is subject to very rapid degradation. In this context, the intranasal release of ghrelin-loaded liposomes to cross the blood-brain barrier and the release of the drug into the central nervous system may be a promising alternative to improve its bioavailability. The administration of nose-to-brain liposomes for the management of cachexia was addressed only in a limited number of published works. This review focuses on the discussion of the pathophysiology of cachexia, synthesis and physiological effects of ghrelin and the potential treatment of the diseased using ghrelin-loaded liposomes through the nose-to-brain route.
Lard Injection Matrix for Serial Crystallography
Authors: Nam Ki Hyun
Published: August 2020

Serial crystallography (SX) using X-ray free electron laser or synchrotron X-ray allows for the determination of structures, at room temperature, with reduced radiation damage. Moreover, it allows for the study of structural dynamics of macromolecules using a time-resolved pump-probe, as well as mix-and-inject experiments. Delivering a crystal sample using a viscous medium decreases sample consumption by lowering the flow rate while being extruded from the injector or syringe as compared to a liquid jet injector. Since the environment of crystal samples varies, continuous development of the delivery medium is important for extended SX applications. Herein, I report the preparation and characterization of a lard-based sample delivery medium for SX. This material was obtained using heat treatment, and then the soluble impurities were removed through phase separation. The lard injection medium was highly stable and could be injected via a syringe needle extruded at room temperature with a flow rate < 200 nL/min. Serial millisecond crystallography experiments were performed using lard, and the room temperature structures of lysozyme and glucose isomerase embedded in lard at 1.75 and 1.80 Å, respectively, were determined. The lard medium showed X-ray background scattering similar or relatively lower than shortenings and lipidic cubic phase; therefore, it can be used as sample delivery medium in SX experiments.