bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Association between Neighborhood Food Environment and Body Mass Index among Older Adults in Beijing, China: A Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Zhang Man , Guo Wen , Zhang Na , He Hairong , Zhang Yu , Zhou Mingzhu , Zhang Jianfen , Li Muxia , Ma Guansheng
Published: October 2020

Objective: To investigate the association between the neighborhood food environment and body mass index (BMI) among Chinese older adults. Methods: A multi-stage stratified random sampling method was used to recruit participants from 12 communities in Beijing, China, in 2019. Participants (n = 1764, 1034 women) in this study were older adults aged 65 to 80. We collected the participants’ basic information, measured their height and weight, and calculated their BMI. Neighborhood food environments were measured by the density of and proximity to different food outlets using the Baidu Map Application Programming Interface. Adjusted multiple linear regression was performed to estimate the association between the food environment and BMI. Results: Participants had a mean age of 69.7 ± 4.32 years old and an average BMI of 26.3 ± 3.50 kg/m2. Among the three types of stores, convenience stores had the easiest access, followed by greengrocers and supermarkets. Sit-down restaurants had the best access among different restaurants, followed by Chinese fast-food restaurants, and western fast-food restaurants had the worst access. Easier access to greengrocers (β = 0.281, p < 0.001) and sit-down restaurants (β = 0.304, p < 0.001) was associated with higher BMI in the 250 m buffer zone. More supermarkets were associated with higher BMI in the 500 m buffer zone (β = 0.593, p < 0.001). Access to convenience stores was positively associated with BMI in the 800 m buffer zone (β = 0.057, p < 0.001). Better access to Chinese fast-food restaurants was associated with higher BMI (β = 0.071, p = 0.001), and better access to western fast- food restaurants was associated with lower BMI (β = −0.400, p < 0.001) in the 1000 m buffer zone. There was a negative association between the nearest distance to greengrocers and BMI (β = −0.004, p < 0.001). Conclusion: Although we found some significant associations between the neighborhood food environment and obesity, the current results are not strong enough to draw specific conclusions. Policymakers will need to rely on more evidence to derive concrete policy recommendations.
Impact of Dim Light at Night on Urinary 6-Sulphatoxymelatonin Concentrations and Sleep in Healthy Humans
Authors: Stebelova Katarina , Roska Jan , Zeman Michal
Published: October 2020

Artificial light at night can have negative effects on human wellbeing and health. It can disrupt circadian rhythms, interfere with sleep, and participate in the progress of civilisation diseases. The aim of the present study was to explore if dim artificial light during the entire night (ALAN) can affect melatonin production and sleep quality in young volunteers. We performed two experiments in real-life home-based conditions. Young volunteers (n = 33) were exposed to four nights of one lux ALAN or two nights of five lux ALAN. Melatonin production, based on 6-sulphatoxymelatonin/creatinine concentrations in urine, and sleep quality, based on actimetry, were evaluated. Exposure to ALAN one lux during the entire night did not suppress aMT6s/creatinine concentrations but did aggravate sleep quality by increasing sleep fragmentation and one-minute immobility. ALAN up to five lux reduced melatonin biosynthesis significantly and interfered with sleep quality, as evidenced by an increased percentage of one-minute immobility and a tendency of increased fragmentation index. Our results show that people are more sensitive to low illuminance during the entire night, as previously expected. ALAN can interfere with melatonin production and sleep quality in young, healthy individuals, and both processes have different sensitivities to light.
The Glucose Metabolic Pathway as A Potential Target for Therapeutics: Crucial Role of Glycosylation in Alzheimer’s Disease
Authors: Bukke Vidyasagar Naik , Villani Rosanna , Archana Moola , Wawrzyniak Agata , Balawender Krzysztof , Orkisz Stanislaw , Ferraro Luca , Serviddio Gaetano , Cassano Tommaso
Published: October 2020

Glucose uptake in the brain decreases because of normal aging but this decline is accelerated in Alzheimer’s disease (AD) patients. In fact, positron emission tomography (PET) studies have shown that metabolic reductions in AD patients occur decades before the onset of symptoms, suggesting that metabolic deficits may be an upstream event in at least some late-onset cases. A decrease in availability of glucose content induces a considerable impairment/downregulation of glycosylation, which is an important post-translational modification. Glycosylation is an important and highly regulated mechanism of secondary protein processing within cells and it plays a crucial role in modulating stability of proteins, as carbohydrates are important in achieving the proper three-dimensional conformation of glycoproteins. Moreover, glycosylation acts as a metabolic sensor that links glucose metabolism to normal neuronal functioning. All the proteins involved in β-amyloid (Aβ) precursor protein metabolism have been identified as candidates of glycosylation highlighting the possibility that Aβ metabolism could be regulated by their glycosylation. Within this framework, the present review aims to summarize the current understanding on the role of glycosylation in the etiopathology of AD, emphasizing the idea that glucose metabolic pathway may represent an alternative therapeutic option for targeting AD. From this perspective, the pharmacological modulation of glycosylation levels may represent a ‘sweet approach’ to treat AD targeting new mechanisms independent of the amyloid cascade and with comparable impacts in familial and sporadic AD.
Interferon-Mediated Long Non-Coding RNA Response in Macrophages in the Context of HIV
Authors: Schynkel Tinus , Szaniawski Matthew A. , Spivak Adam M. , Bosque Alberto , Planelles Vicente , Vandekerckhove Linos , Trypsteen Wim
Published: October 2020

Interferons play a critical role in the innate immune response against a variety of pathogens, such as HIV-1. Recent studies have shown that long non-coding genes are part of a reciprocal feedforward/feedback relationship with interferon expression. They presumably contribute to the cell type specificity of the interferon response, such as the phenotypic and functional transition of macrophages throughout the immune response. However, no comprehensive understanding exists today about the IFN–lncRNA interplay in macrophages, also a sanctuary for latent HIV-1. Therefore, we completed a poly-A+ RNAseq analysis on monocyte-derived macrophages (MDMs) treated with members of all three types of IFNs (IFN-α, IFN-ε, IFN-γ or IFN-λ) and on macrophages infected with HIV-1, revealing an extensive non-coding IFN and/or HIV-1 response. Moreover, co-expression correlation with mRNAs was used to identify important (long) non-coding hub genes within IFN- or HIV-1-associated gene clusters. This study identified and prioritized IFN related hub lncRNAs for further functional validation.
MYC in Brain Development and Cancer
Authors: Zaytseva Olga , Kim Nan-hee , Quinn Leonie M.
Published: October 2020

The MYC family of transcriptional regulators play significant roles in animal development, including the renewal and maintenance of stem cells. Not surprisingly, given MYC’s capacity to promote programs of proliferative cell growth, MYC is frequently upregulated in cancer. Although members of the MYC family are upregulated in nervous system tumours, the mechanisms of how elevated MYC promotes stem cell-driven brain cancers is unknown. If we are to determine how increased MYC might contribute to brain cancer progression, we will require a more complete understanding of MYC’s roles during normal brain development. Here, we evaluate evidence for MYC family functions in neural stem cell fate and brain development, with a view to better understand mechanisms of MYC-driven neural malignancies.
Exogenous Application of Proteoglycan to the Cell Surface Microenvironment Facilitates to Chondrogenic Differentiation and Maintenance
Authors: Masutani Teruaki , Yamada Shuhei , Hara Akira , Takahashi Tatsuji , Green Paul G , Niwa Masayuki
Published: October 2020

Osteoarthritis (OA), a disease that greatly impacts quality of life, has increasing worldwide prevalence as the population ages. However, its pathogenic mechanisms have not been fully elucidated and current therapeutic treatment strategies are inadequate. In recent years, abnormal endochondral ossification in articular cartilage has received attention as a pathophysiological mechanism in OA. Cartilage is composed of abundant extracellular matrix components, which are involved in tissue maintenance and regeneration, but how these factors affect endochondral ossification is not clear. Here, we show that the application of aggrecan-type proteoglycan from salmon nasal cartilage (sPG) exhibited marked proliferative capacity through receptor tyrosine kinases in chondroprogenitor cells, and also exhibited differentiation and three-dimensional structure formation via phosphorylation of Insulin-like Growth Factor-1 Receptor and Growth Differentiation Factor 5 expression. Furthermore, sPG inhibited calcification via expression of Runx2 and Col10 (factors related to induction of calcification), while increasing Mgp, a mineralization inhibitory factor. As a result of analyzing the localization of sPG applied to the cells, it was localized on the surface of the cell membrane. In this study, we found that sPG, as a biomaterial, could regulate cell proliferation, differentiation and calcification inhibition by acting on the cell surface microenvironment. Therefore, sPG may be the foundation for a novel therapeutic approach for cartilage maintenance and for improved symptoms in OA.
Revisiting Ionic Liquid Structure-Property Relationship: A Critical Analysis
Authors: Silva Wagner , Zanatta Marcileia , Ferreira Ana Sofia , Corvo Marta C. , Cabrita Eurico J.
Published: October 2020

In the last few years, ionic liquids (ILs) have been the focus of extensive studies concerning the relationship between structure and properties and how this impacts their application. Despite a large number of studies, several topics remain controversial or not fully answered, such as: the existence of ion pairs, the concept of free volume and the effect of water and its implications in the modulation of ILs physicochemical properties. In this paper, we present a critical review of state-of-the-art literature regarding structure–property relationship of ILs, we re-examine analytical theories on the structure–property correlations and present new perspectives based on the existing data. The interrelation between transport properties (viscosity, diffusion, conductivity) of IL structure and free volume are analysed and discussed at a molecular level. In addition, we demonstrate how the analysis of microscopic features (particularly using NMR-derived data) can be used to explain and predict macroscopic properties, reaching new perspectives on the properties and application of ILs.
Sodium Hydrogen Exchanger Regulatory Factor-1 (NHERF1) Regulates Fetal Membrane Inflammation
Authors: Kammala Ananth Kumar , Sheller-Miller Samantha , Radnaa Enkhtuya , Kechichian Talar , Subramanian Hariharan , Menon Ramkumar
Published: October 2020

The fetal inflammatory response, a key contributor of infection-associated preterm birth (PTB), is mediated by nuclear factor kappa B (NF-kB) activation. Na+/H+ exchanger regulatory factor-1 (NHERF1) is an adapter protein that can regulate intracellular signal transduction and thus influence NF-kB activation. Accordingly, NHERF1 has been reported to enhance proinflammatory cytokine release and amplify inflammation in a NF-kB-dependent fashion in different cell types. The objective of this study was to examine the role of NHERF1 in regulating fetal membrane inflammation during PTB. We evaluated the levels of NHERF1 in human fetal membranes from term labor (TL), term not in labor (TNIL), and PTB and in a CD1 mouse model of PTB induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Additionally, primary cultures of fetal membrane cells were treated with LPS, and NHERF1 expression and cytokine production were evaluated. Gene silencing methods using small interfering RNA targeting NHERF1 were used to determine the functional relevance of NHERF1 in primary cultures. NHERF1 expression was significantly (p < 0.001) higher in TL and PTB membranes compared to TNIL membranes, and this coincided with enhanced (p < 0.01) interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-8 expression levels. LPS-treated animals delivering PTB had increased levels of NHERF1, IL-6, and IL-8 compared to phosphate-buffered saline (PBS; control) animals. Silencing of NHERF1 expression resulted in a significant reduction in NF-kB activation and IL-6 and IL-8 production as well as increased IL-10 production. In conclusion, downregulation of NHERF1 increased anti-inflammatory IL-10, and reducing NHERF1 expression could be a potential therapeutic strategy to reduce the risk of infection/inflammation associated with PTB.
Antiphotoaging Effect of 3,5-Dicaffeoyl-epi-quinic Acid against UVA-Induced Skin Damage by Protecting Human Dermal Fibroblasts In Vitro
Authors: Oh Jung Hwan , Karadeniz Fatih , Kong Chang-Suk , Seo Youngwan
Published: October 2020

Cutaneous aging is divided into intrinsic and exogenous aging correspondingly contributing to the complex biological phenomenon in skin. Intrinsic aging is also termed chronological aging, which is the accumulation of inevitable changes over time and is largely genetically determined. Superimposed on this intrinsic process, exogenous aging is associated with environmental exposure, mainly to ultraviolet (UV) radiation and more commonly termed as photoaging. UV-induced skin aging induces increased expression of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) which in turn causes the collagen degradation. Therefore, MMP inhibitors of natural origin are regarded as a primary approach to prevent or treat photoaging. This study investigated the effects of 3,5-dicaffeoyl-epi-quinic acid (DEQA) on photoaging and elucidated its molecular mechanisms in UVA-irradiated human dermal fibroblasts (HDFs). The results show that treatment with DEQA decreases MMP-1 production and increases type I collagen production in UVA-damaged HDFs. In addition, treatment of UVA-irradiated HDFs with DEQA downregulates MMP-1, MMP-3 and MMP-9 expression via blocking MAPK-cascade-regulated AP-1 transcriptional activity in UVA-irradiated HDFs. Furthermore, DEQA relieves the UVA-mediated suppression of type I procollagen and collagen expression through stimulating TGF-β/Smad signaling, leading to activation of the Smad 2/3 and Smad 4 nuclear translocation. These results suggest that DEQA could be a potential cosmetic agent for prevention and treatment of skin photoaging.
3D Cell Printing of Tissue/Organ-Mimicking Constructs for Therapeutic and Drug Testing Applications
Authors: Kim Jongmin , Kong Jeong Sik , Han Wonil , Kim Byoung Soo , Cho Dong-Woo
Published: October 2020

The development of artificial tissue/organs with the functional maturity of their native equivalents is one of the long-awaited panaceas for the medical and pharmaceutical industries. Advanced 3D cell-printing technology and various functional bioinks are promising technologies in the field of tissue engineering that have enabled the fabrication of complex 3D living tissue/organs. Various requirements for these tissues, including a complex and large-volume structure, tissue-specific microenvironments, and functional vasculatures, have been addressed to develop engineered tissue/organs with native relevance. Functional tissue/organ constructs have been developed that satisfy such criteria and may facilitate both in vivo replenishment of damaged tissue and the development of reliable in vitro testing platforms for drug development. This review describes key developments in technologies and materials for engineering 3D cell-printed constructs for therapeutic and drug testing applications.
Epigenetic and Metabolic Changes in Root-Knot Nematode-Plant Interactions
Authors: Leonetti Paola , Molinari Sergio
Published: October 2020

Two wild-type field populations of root-knot nematodes (Mi-Vfield, Mj-TunC2field), and two isolates selected for virulence in laboratory on resistant tomato cultivars (SM2V, SM11C2), were used to induce a resistance reaction in tomato to the soil-borne parasites. Epigenetic and metabolic mechanisms of resistance were detected and compared with those occurring in partially or fully successful infections. The activated epigenetic mechanisms in plant resistance, as opposed to those activated in infected plants, were detected by analyzing the methylated status of total DNA, by ELISA methods, and the expression level of key genes involved in the methylation pathway, by qRT-PCR. DNA hypo-methylation and down-regulation of two methyl-transferase genes (CMT2, DRM5), characterized the only true resistant reaction obtained by inoculating the Mi-1.2-carrying resistant tomato cv Rossol with the avirulent field population Mi-Vfield. On the contrary, in the roots into which nematodes were allowed to develop and reproduce, total DNA was generally found to be hyper-methylated and methyl-transferase genes up-loaded. DNA hypo-methylation was considered to be the upstream mechanism that triggers the general gene over-expression observed in plant resistance. Gene silencing induced by nematodes may be obtained through DNA hyper-methylation and methyl-transferase gene activation. Plant resistance is also characterized by an inhibition of the anti-oxidant enzyme system and activation of the defense enzyme chitinase, as opposed to the activation of such a system and inhibition of the defense enzyme glucanase in roots infested by nematodes.
Mucosa-Associated Lymphoid Tissue Lymphoma Translocation 1 Inhibitor as a Novel Therapeutic Tool for Lung Injury
Authors: Fusco Roberta , Siracusa Rosalba , D’Amico Ramona , Cordaro Marika , Genovese Tiziana , Gugliandolo Enrico , Peritore Alessio Filippo , Crupi Rosalia , Di Paola Rosanna , Cuzzocrea Salvatore , Impellizzeri Daniela
Published: October 2020

Pulmonary fibrosis is a progressive disease characterized by lung remodeling due to excessive deposition of extracellular matrix. In this study, the bleomycin experimental model of pulmonary fibrosis was employed to investigate the anti-fibrotic and immunomodulatory activity of the inhibition of MALT1 protease activity. Mice received a single intra-tracheal administration of bleomycin (1 mg/kg) in the presence or absence of MI-2, a selective MALT1 inhibitor, (a dose of 30 mg/kg administered intra-peritoneally 1 h after bleomycin and daily until the end of the experiment). Seven days after bleomycin instillation mice were sacrificed and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid analysis, measurement of collagen content in the lung, histology, molecular analysis and immunohistochemistry were performed. To evaluate mortality and body weight gain a subset of mice was administered daily with MI-2 for 21 days. Mice that received MI-2 showed decreased weight loss and mortality, inflammatory cells infiltration, cytokines overexpression and tissue injury. Moreover, biochemical and immunohistochemical analysis displayed that MI-2 was able to modulate the excessive production of reactive oxygen species and the inflammatory mediator upregulation induced by bleomycin instillation. Additionally, MI-2 demonstrated anti-fibrotic activity by reducing transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β), α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) and receptor associated factor 6 (TRAF6) expression. The underlying mechanisms for the protective effect of MI-2 bleomycin induced pulmonary fibrosis may be attributed to its inhibition on NF-κB pathway. This is the first report showing the therapeutic role of MALT1 inhibition in a bleomycin model of pulmonary fibrosis, thus supporting further preclinical and clinical studies.
Microglia in Prion Diseases: Angels or Demons?
Authors: Peggion Caterina , Stella Roberto , Lorenzon Paolo , Spisni Enzo , Bertoli Alessandro , Massimino Maria Lina
Published: October 2020

Prion diseases are rare transmissible neurodegenerative disorders caused by the accumulation of a misfolded isoform (PrPSc) of the cellular prion protein (PrPC) in the central nervous system (CNS). Neuropathological hallmarks of prion diseases are neuronal loss, astrogliosis, and enhanced microglial proliferation and activation. As immune cells of the CNS, microglia participate both in the maintenance of the normal brain physiology and in driving the neuroinflammatory response to acute or chronic (e.g., neurodegenerative disorders) insults. Microglia involvement in prion diseases, however, is far from being clearly understood. During this review, we summarize and discuss controversial findings, both in patient and animal models, suggesting a neuroprotective role of microglia in prion disease pathogenesis and progression, or—conversely—a microglia-mediated exacerbation of neurotoxicity in later stages of disease. We also will consider the active participation of PrPC in microglial functions, by discussing previous reports, but also by presenting unpublished results that support a role for PrPC in cytokine secretion by activated primary microglia.
Models for Internet of Things Environments—A Survey
Authors: Franco da Silva Ana Cristina , Hirmer Pascal
Published: October 2020

Today, the Internet of Things (IoT) is an emerging topic in research and industry. Famous examples of IoT applications are smart homes, smart cities, and smart factories. Through highly interconnected devices, equipped with sensors and actuators, context-aware approaches can be developed to enable, e.g., monitoring and self-organization. To achieve context-awareness, a large amount of environment models have been developed for the IoT that contain information about the devices of an environment, their attached sensors and actuators, as well as their interconnection. However, these models highly differ in their content, the format being used, for example ontologies or relational models, and the domain to which they are applied. In this article, we present a comparative survey of models for IoT environments. By doing so, we describe and compare the selected models based on a deep literature research. The result is a comparative overview of existing state-of-the-art IoT environment models.
A GARCH Model with Artificial Neural Networks
Authors: Liu Wing Ki , So Mike K. P.
Published: October 2020

In this paper, we incorporate a GARCH model into an artificial neural network (ANN) for financial volatility modeling and estimate the parameters in Tensorflow. Our goal was to better predict stock volatility. We evaluate the performance of the models using the mean absolute errors of powers of the out-of-sample returns between 2 March 2018 and 28 February 2020. Our results show that our modeling procedure with an ANN can outperform the standard GARCH(1,1) model with standardized Student’s t distribution. Our variable importance analysis shows that Net Debt/EBITA is among the six most important predictor variables in all of the neural network models we have examined. The main contribution of this paper is that we propose a Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) model with a GARCH framework because LSTM can systematically take into consideration potential nonlinearity in volatility structure at different time points. One of the advantages of our research is that the proposed models are easy to implement because our proposed models can be run in Tensorflow, a Python package that enables fast and automatic optimization. Another advantage is that the proposed models enable variable importance analysis.
Metabolic Cost of a Nutritional Symbiont Manifests in Delayed Reproduction in a Grain Pest Beetle
Authors: Engl Tobias , Schmidt Thorsten H. P. , Kanyile Sthandiwe Nomthandazo , Klebsch Dagmar
Published: October 2020

Animals engage in a plethora of mutualistic interactions with microorganisms that can confer various benefits to their host but can also incur context-dependent costs. The sawtoothed grain beetle Oryzaephilus surinamensis harbors nutritional, intracellular Bacteroidetes bacteria that supplement precursors for the cuticle synthesis and thereby enhance desiccation resistance of its host. Experimental elimination of the symbiont impairs cuticle formation and reduces fitness under desiccation stress but does not disrupt the host’s life cycle. For this study, we first demonstrated that symbiont populations showed the strongest growth at the end of metamorphosis and then declined continuously in males, but not in females. The symbiont loss neither impacted the development time until adulthood nor adult mortality or lifespan. Furthermore, lifetime reproduction was not influenced by the symbiont presence. However, symbiotic females started to reproduce almost two weeks later than aposymbiotic ones. Thus, symbiont presence incurs a metabolic and context-dependent fitness cost to females, probably due to a nutrient allocation trade-off between symbiont growth and sexual maturation. The O. surinamensis symbiosis thereby represents an experimentally amenable system to study eco-evolutionary dynamics under variable selection pressures.
Relative Skeletal Muscle Mass Is an Important Factor in Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease in Non-Obese Children and Adolescents
Authors: Kwon Yoowon , Jeong Su Jin
Published: October 2020

Recently, sarcopenia was identified as a risk factor for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in adults. We here investigated the association between skeletal muscle mass (SMM) and NAFLD in non-obese children and adolescents. A retrospective medical chart review was performed for individuals aged 9–15 years diagnosed with NAFLD. Healthy volunteers aged 9–15 years were recruited as controls. Participants were subject to laboratory tests, abdominal sonography, and multi-frequency bioelectrical impedance analysis. SMM data were calculated as the skeletal muscle-to-body fat ratio (MFR), and the diagnosis of fatty liver was established by abdominal sonography. The control and NAFLD groups included 73 and 53 individuals, respectively. No significant difference was observed in gender and body mass index (BMI) distribution between the groups. Mean MFR was significantly lower in individuals with NAFLD than in those without (0.83 vs. 1.04, p = 0.005). After adjusting for age, sex, BMI, and serum glucose, the risk of having NAFLD was significantly associated with a decreased MFR (p = 0.016). NAFLD is significantly associated with relatively low SMM in non-obese children and adolescents. Increasing SMM, such as weight training, can be suggested as one of the treatment strategies in pediatric NAFLD without obesity.
Static Behaviors of a Long-span Cable-Stayed Bridge with a Floating Tower under Dead Loads
Authors: Jang Minseo , Lee Yunwoo , Won Deokhee , Kang Young-Jong , Kim Seungjun
Published: October 2020

Owing to the structural characteristics of floating-type structures, they can be effectively applied to overcome the limitation of conventional long-span bridges in deep water. Unlike cable-supported bridges with fixed towers, floating cable-supported bridges show relatively large displacements and rotations under the same load because of floating towers; moreover, the difference in the support stiffness causes differences in the behavior of the superstructures. In addition, the risk of overturning is greater than in conventional floating offshore structures because the center of gravity of the tower is located above the buoyancy center of the floater. A floating cable-supported bridge in which the tether supports the floating main tower is directly influenced by the tether arrangement, which is very important for the stability of the entire structure. In this study, according to the inclined tether arrangement, the outer diameter of the floater, and the buoyancy vertical load ratio (BVR), the static behavioral characteristics of the long-span cable-stayed bridges with floating tower are evaluated through nonlinear finite-element analysis. When the intersection of the tension line of the tether and a pivot point of the tower coincide, the tethers can no longer resist the tower’s rotation. For this reason, a large displacement occurs to equilibrate the structure, and further increases as it approaches the specific slope, even if it is not exactly the specific tether slope. The analytical model of this study indicates that, in terms of increasing the rotational stiffness of the main tower, it is advantageous to increase the floater diameter until a BVR of 1.8 is reached and to increase the axial stiffness of the tether from a BVR of 2.0 or higher.
Analysis of the Impact of Split Injection on Fuel Consumption and NOx Emissions of Marine Medium-Speed Diesel Engine
Authors: Pelić Vladimir , Mrakovčić Tomislav , Radonja Radoslav , Valčić Marko
Published: October 2020

The medium-speed diesel engine in diesel-electric propulsion systems is increasingly used as the propulsion engine for liquefied natural gas (LNG) ships and passenger ships. The main advantage of such systems is high reliability, better maneuverability, greater ability to optimize and significant decreasing of the engine room volume. Marine propulsion systems are required to be as energy efficient as possible and to meet environmental protection standards. This paper analyzes the impact of split injection on fuel consumption and NOx emissions of marine medium-speed diesel engines. For the needs of the research, a zero-dimensional, two-zone numerical model of a diesel engine was developed. Model based on the extended Zeldovich mechanism was applied to predict NOx emissions. The validation of the numerical model was performed by comparing operating parameters of the basic engine with data from engine manufacturers and data from sea trials of a ship with diesel-electric propulsion. The applicability of the numerical model was confirmed by comparing the obtained values for pressure, temperature and fuel consumption. The operation of the engine that drives synchronous generator was simulated under stationary conditions for three operating points and nine injection schemes. The values obtained for fuel consumption and NOx emissions for different fuel injection schemes indicate the possibility of a significant reduction in NOx emissions but with a reduction in efficiency. The results showed that split injection with a smaller amount of pilot fuel injected and a smaller angle between the two injection allow a moderate reduction in NOx emissions without a significant reduction in efficiency. The application of split injection schemes that allow significant reductions in NOx emissions lead to a reduction in engine efficiency.
A One Health Perspective to Recognize Fusarium as Important in Clinical Practice
Authors: Sáenz Valeri , Alvarez-Moreno Carlos , Pape Patrice Le , Restrepo Silvia , Guarro Josep , Ramírez Adriana Marcela Celis
Published: October 2020

Any strategy that proposes solutions to health-related problems recognizes that people, animals, and the environment are interconnected. Fusarium is an example of this interaction because it is capable of infecting plants, animals, and humans. This review provides information on various aspects of these relations and proposes how to approach fusariosis with a One Health methodology (a multidisciplinary, and multisectoral approach that can address urgent, ongoing, or potential health threats to humans, animals, and the environment). Here, we give a framework to understand infection pathogenesis, through the epidemiological triad, and explain how the broad utilization of fungicides in agriculture may play a role in the treatment of human fusariosis. We assess how plumbing systems and hospital environments might play a role as a reservoir for animal and human infections. We explain the role of antifungal resistance mechanisms in both humans and agriculture. Our review emphasizes the importance of developing interdisciplinary research studies where aquatic animals, plants, and human disease interactions can be explored through coordination and collaborative actions.
The Influence of Innovation Resources in Higher Education Institutions on the Development of Sci-Tech Parks’ Enterprises in the Urban Innovative Districts at the Stage of Urbanization Transformation
Authors: Wu Yue , Yang Yue , Xu Weishun , Chen Qiuxiao
Published: October 2020

Innovation is an inevitable way to enhance regional competitiveness, promote urbanization and achieve sustainable development. The sci-tech park is one of the main land use types in the construction of a new town and the critical space carriers of urbanization. This study focuses on the correlation between higher education institutions (HEIs) innovation and sci-tech enterprises (STEs) development, and the Hangzhou West Hi-tech Corridor as a case study. Innovation indicators of HEIs related to teaching staff, talent cultivation, scientific research quality, academic influence, and university-enterprise cooperation, as well as development indicators of STEs related to aggregation degree, development level, and innovation level are selected. The results show that HEI innovation is significantly positively correlated with STE development. The number of senior titled teachers, average number of citations per paper, and number of invested enterprises exhibit a strong positive correlation with STE development indicators. Regarding the correlation between HEI innovation and STE development, academic research HEIs and professional application HEIs are stronger than vocational skill HEIs. This study is conducive to improving land use efficiency and a sustainable development level of urban innovative districts. Suggestions are provided to support the researches and practices of urban innovative spatial planning and advancement of the urbanization process.
Experimental Investigation on Machinability of Aluminum Alloy during Dry Micro Cutting Process Using Helical Micro End Mills with Micro Textures
Authors: Sun Yao , Jin Liya , Gong Yadong , Qi Yang , Zhang Huan , Su Zhipeng , Sun Kai
Published: October 2020

Aluminum alloy material is widely used in the electronics, weapons, aviation and aerospace industries, due to its medium strength, good corrosion resistance, good toughness and excellent oxidation properties. With the trend of product miniaturization, micro cutting has become the mainstream technique for fabricating micro parts and components, so it is very meaningful and vital to work on removing the cutting fluid from the micro cutting process and make it totally sustainable and eco-friendly. In this work, an attempt has been made to fabricate micro textures onto the rear surface of helical micro end mills with diameters of less than 1 mm. Micro textures in the form of grooves were fabricated using a noncontact low speed wire electrical discharge turning technique. Dry micro cutting experiments were carried out on an aluminum alloy material using helical micro end mills with micro textures and the dry micro cutting surface quality and tool wear have been investigated. The influence of dry micro cutting parameters on the surface roughness parameters were also investigated. Experimental results showed that the Sa and Sq can be reduced to be about 1.56 μm and 2.08 μm, respectively. Contrasting results indicate that the implantation of micro textures does not deteriorate the dry micro cutting surface but improves the machined surface consistency of an aluminum alloy workpiece. The tool wear on helical micro end mills with micro textures involved in the dry micro cutting process of Al 6061 mainly include rear frictional wear, oxidation wear and diffusion wear.
Effect of Rotation of the Principal Stress Axes Relative to the Material on the Evolution of Material Properties in Severe Plastic Deformation Processes
Authors: Vilotic Marko , Sidjanin Leposava , Alexandrov Sergei , Lang Lihui
Published: October 2020

Severe plastic deformation (SPD) processes are widely used for improving material properties. A distinguishing feature of many SPD processes is that the principal axes of the stress tensor intensively rotate relative to the material. Nevertheless, no measure of this rotation is involved in the constitutive equations that predict the evolution of material properties. In particular, a typical way of describing the effect of SPD processes on material properties is to show the dependence of various parameters that characterize these properties on the equivalent strain. However, the same level of the equivalent strain can be achieved in a process in which the principal axes of the stress tensor do not rotate relative to the material. It is, therefore, vital to understand which properties are dependent and which properties are independent of the rotation of the principal axes of the stress tensor relative to the material. In the present paper, a new multistage SPD process is designed such that the principal stress axes do not rotate relative to the material during each stage of the process but the directions of the major and minor principal stresses interchange between two subsequent stages. The process is practically plane strain, and it may be named the process of upsetting by V-shape dies. In addition, axisymmetric compression by Rastegaev’s method is conducted. In this case, the principal stress axes are fixed in the material throughout the entire process of deformation. Material properties and microstructure generated in the two processes above are compared to reveal the effect of the rotation of the principal stress axes relative to the material on the evolution of these properties.
Stribeck Curve of Magnetorheological Fluid within Pin-on-Disc Configuration: An Experimental Investigation
Authors: Roupec Jakub , Jeniš Filip , Strecker Zbyněk , Kubík Michal , Macháček Ondřej
Published: October 2020

The paper focuses on the coefficient of friction (COF) of a magnetorheological fluid (MRF) in the wide range of working conditions across all the lubrication regimes—boundary, mixed, elastohydrodynamic (EHD), and hydrodynamic (HD) lubrication, specifically focused on the common working area of MR damper. The coefficient of friction was measured for MR fluids from Lord company with concentrations of 22, 32, and 40 vol. % of iron particles at temperatures 40 and 80 °C. The results were compared with a reference fluid, a synthetic liquid hydrocarbon PAO4 used as a carrier fluid of MRF. The results show that at boundary regime and temperature 40 °C all the fluids exhibit similar COF of 0.11–0.13. Differences can be found in the EHD regime, where the MR fluid COF is significantly higher (0.08) in comparison with PAO4 (0.04). The COF of MR fluid in the HD regime rose very steeply in comparison with PAO4. The effect of particle concentration is significant in the HD regime.
Local Sharp Vector Variational Type Inequality and Optimization Problems
Authors: Kim Jong Kyu , Salahuddin
Published: October 2020

In this paper, our goal was to establish the relationship between solutions of local sharp vector variational type inequality and sharp efficient solutions of vector optimization problems, also Minty local sharp vector variational type inequality and sharp efficient solutions of vector optimization problems, under generalized approximate η-convexity conditions for locally Lipschitzian functions.
The Local Representation Formula of Solution for the Perturbed Controlled Differential Equation with Delay and Discontinuous Initial Condition
Authors: Nachaoui A. , Shavadze T. , Tadumadze T.
Published: October 2020

For the perturbed controlled nonlinear delay differential equation with the discontinuous initial condition, a formula of the analytic representation of solution is proved in the left neighborhood of the endpoint of the main interval. In the formula, the effects of perturbations of the delay parameter, the initial vector, the initial and control functions are detected.
Simultaneous Feature Selection and Classification for Data-Adaptive Kernel-Penalized SVM
Authors: Liu Xin , Zhao Bangxin , He Wenqing
Published: October 2020

Simultaneous feature selection and classification have been explored in the literature to extend the support vector machine (SVM) techniques by adding penalty terms to the loss function directly. However, it is the kernel function that controls the performance of the SVM, and an imbalance in the data will deteriorate the performance of an SVM. In this paper, we examine a new method of simultaneous feature selection and binary classification. Instead of incorporating the standard loss function of the SVM, a penalty is added to the data-adaptive kernel function directly to control the performance of the SVM, by firstly conformally transforming the kernel functions of the SVM, and then re-conducting an SVM classifier based on the sparse features selected. Both convex and non-convex penalties, such as least absolute shrinkage and selection (LASSO), moothly clipped absolute deviation (SCAD) and minimax concave penalty (MCP) are explored, and the oracle property of the estimator is established accordingly. An iterative optimization procedure is applied as there is no analytic form of the estimated coefficients available. Numerical comparisons show that the proposed method outperforms the competitors considered when data are imbalanced, and it performs similarly to the competitors when data are balanced. The method can be easily applied in medical images from different platforms.
On Global Well-Posedness and Temporal Decay for 3D Magnetic Induction Equations with Hall Effect
Authors: Zhao Xiaopeng
Published: October 2020

The main purpose of this paper is to study the global existence and uniqueness of solutions for three-dimensional incompressible magnetic induction equations with Hall effect provided that ∥u0∥H32+ε+∥b0∥H2(0<ε<1) is sufficiently small. Moreover, using the Fourier splitting method and the properties of decay character r*, one also shows the algebraic decay rate of a higher order derivative of solutions to magnetic induction equations with the Hall effect.
Boolean Valued Representation of Random Sets and Markov Kernels with Application to Large Deviations
Authors: Avilés López Antonio , Zapata García José Miguel
Published: October 2020

We establish a connection between random set theory and Boolean valued analysis by showing that random Borel sets, random Borel functions, and Markov kernels are respectively represented by Borel sets, Borel functions, and Borel probability measures in a Boolean valued model. This enables a Boolean valued transfer principle to obtain random set analogues of available theorems. As an application, we establish a Boolean valued transfer principle for large deviations theory, which allows for the systematic interpretation of results in large deviations theory as versions for Markov kernels. By means of this method, we prove versions of Varadhan and Bryc theorems, and a conditional version of Cramér theorem.
Generalized Concentration-Compactness Principles for Variable Exponent Lebesgue Spaces with Asymptotic Analysis of Low Energy Extremals
Authors: Bashir Zia , Guirao Juan Luis García , Siddique Adil , Saeed Tareq
Published: October 2020

In this paper, we prove two generalized concentration-compactness principles for variable exponent Lebesgue spaces and as an application study the asymptotic behaviour of low energy extremals.
Total Roman Domination Number of Rooted Product Graphs
Authors: Cabrera Martínez Abel , Cabrera García Suitberto , Carrión García Andrés , Hernández Mira Frank A.
Published: October 2020

Let G be a graph with no isolated vertex and f:V(G)→{0,1,2} a function. If f satisfies that every vertex in the set {v∈V(G):f(v)=0} is adjacent to at least one vertex in the set {v∈V(G):f(v)=2}, and if the subgraph induced by the set {v∈V(G):f(v)≥1} has no isolated vertex, then we say that f is a total Roman dominating function on G. The minimum weight ω(f)=∑v∈V(G)f(v) among all total Roman dominating functions f on G is the total Roman domination number of G. In this article we study this parameter for the rooted product graphs. Specifically, we obtain closed formulas and tight bounds for the total Roman domination number of rooted product graphs in terms of domination invariants of the factor graphs involved in this product.
A Study on the Stability Fields of Arc Plasma in the HPSR Process
Authors: Zarl Michael Andreas , Farkas Manuel Andreas , Schenk Johannes
Published: October 2020

One of the major challenges for Europe’s future steel production will be minimizing the inherent process emissions in the production of crude steel based on iron ores. In this case, mainly the reduction of CO2 emissions is a focus. One promising process to overcome these problems is the hydrogen plasma smelting reduction (HPSR) process. This process has been studied for several years already at the Chair of Ferrous Metallurgy at Montanuniversitaet Leoben. The work presented focused on the stability of plasma arcs in the DC transferred arc system of the HPSR process. The stable operating plasma arc is of utmost importance for the future development of the process. The major objective is the definition of the most favorable conditions for this kind of arc. Therefore, tests were conducted to define fields of a stable operating plasma arc for multiple gas compositions and process variables. For several gas compositions of argon, nitrogen, argon/nitrogen, argon/hydrogen and nitrogen/hydrogen, fields of stability were measured and defined. Besides, the major influencing parameters and trends for the fields of stability were evaluated and are shown in this work.
The Microbiota Profile in Inflamed and Non-Inflamed Ileal Pouch–Anal Anastomosis
Authors: Kousgaard Sabrina Just , Michaelsen Thomas Yssing , Nielsen Hans Linde , Kirk Karina Frahm , Albertsen Mads , Thorlacius-Ussing Ole
Published: October 2020

The objective was to determine the bacterial composition in inflamed and non-inflamed pouches for comparison to the microbiota of healthy individuals. Pouch patients and healthy individuals were included between November 2017 and June 2019 at the Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Aalborg University Hospital, Denmark. A faecal sample was collected from all participants for microbiota analysis using 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing. Overall, 38 participants were included in the study. Eleven patients with a normally functioning pouch, 9 patients with chronic pouchitis, 6 patients with familial adenomatous polyposis, and 12 healthy individuals. Patients with chronic pouchitis had overall lower microbial diversity and richness compared to patients with a normal pouch function (p < 0.001 and p = 0.009) and healthy individuals (p < 0.001 and p < 0.001). No significant difference was found between patients with familial adenomatous polyposis and chronic pouchitis (microbial diversity p = 0.39 and richness p = 0.78). Several taxa from the family Enterobacteriaceae, especially genus Escherichia, were associated primarily with patients with chronic pouchitis, while taxa from the genus Bacteroides primarily were associated with healthy individuals and patients with a normally functioning pouch. Finally, a microbial composition gradient could be established from healthy individuals through patients with normal pouch function and familial adenomatous polyposis to patients with chronic pouchitis.