bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Experimental Models to Study COVID-19 Effect in Stem Cells
Authors: Chugh Rishi Man , Bhanja Payel , Norris Andrew , Saha Subhrajit
Published: January 2021

The new strain of coronavirus (severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus type 2 (SARS-CoV-2)) emerged in 2019 and hence is often referred to as coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). This disease causes hypoxic respiratory failure and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), and is considered as the cause of a global pandemic. Very limited reports in addition to ex vivo model systems are available to understand the mechanism of action of this virus, which can be used for testing of any drug efficacy against virus infectivity. COVID-19 induces tissue stem cell loss, resulting inhibition of epithelial repair followed by inflammatory fibrotic consequences. Development of clinically relevant models is important to examine the impact of the COVID-19 virus in tissue stem cells among different organs. In this review, we discuss ex vivo experimental models available to study the effect of COVID-19 on tissue stem cells.
IL-1α Processing, Signaling and Its Role in Cancer Progression
Authors: Chiu Jing Wen , Binte Hanafi Zuhairah , Chew Lionel Chin Yong , Mei Yu , Liu Haiyan
Published: January 2021

Interleukin-1α (IL-1α) is a major alarmin cytokine which triggers and boosts the inflammatory responses. Since its discovery in the 1940s, the structure and bioactivity of IL-1α has been extensively studied and emerged as a vital regulator in inflammation and hematopoiesis. IL-1α is translated as a pro-form with minor bioactivity. The pro-IL-1α can be cleaved by several proteases to generate the N terminal and C terminal form of IL-1α. The C terminal form of IL-1α (mature form) has several folds higher bioactivity compared with its pro-form. IL-1α is a unique cytokine which could localize in the cytosol, membrane, nucleus, as well as being secreted out of the cell. However, the processing mechanism and physiological significance of these differentially localized IL-1α are still largely unknown. Accumulating evidence suggests IL-1α is involved in cancer pathogenesis. The role of IL-1α in cancer development is controversial as it exerts both pro- and anti-tumor roles in different cancer types. Here, we review the recent development in the processing and signaling of IL-1α and summarize the functions of IL-1α in cancer development.
Fer and FerT Govern Mitochondrial Susceptibility to Metformin and Hypoxic Stress in Colon and Lung Carcinoma Cells
Authors: Marciano Odeya , Mehazri Linoy , Shpungin Sally , Varvak Alexander , Zacksenhaus Eldad , Nir Uri
Published: January 2021

Aerobic glycolysis is an important metabolic adaptation of cancer cells. However, there is growing evidence that reprogrammed mitochondria also play an important metabolic role in metastatic dissemination. Two constituents of the reprogrammed mitochondria of cancer cells are the intracellular tyrosine kinase Fer and its cancer- and sperm-specific variant, FerT. Here, we show that Fer and FerT control mitochondrial susceptibility to therapeutic and hypoxic stress in metastatic colon (SW620) and non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC-H1299) cells. Fer- and FerT-deficient SW620 and H1299 cells (SW∆Fer/FerT and H∆Fer/FerT cells, respectively) become highly sensitive to metformin treatment and to hypoxia under glucose-restrictive conditions. Metformin impaired mitochondrial functioning that was accompanied by ATP deficiency and robust death in SW∆Fer/FerT and H∆Fer/FerT cells compared to the parental SW620 and H1299 cells. Notably, selective knockout of the fer gene without affecting FerT expression reduced sensitivity to metformin and hypoxia seen in SW∆Fer/FerT cells. Thus, Fer and FerT modulate the mitochondrial susceptibility of metastatic cancer cells to hypoxia and metformin. Targeting Fer/FerT may therefore provide a novel anticancer treatment by efficient, selective, and more versatile disruption of mitochondrial function in malignant cells.
Antitumor Effects of PRIMA-1 and PRIMA-1Met (APR246) in Hematological Malignancies: Still a Mutant P53-Dependent Affair?
Authors: Menichini Paola , Monti Paola , Speciale Andrea , Cutrona Giovanna , Matis Serena , Fais Franco , Taiana Elisa , Neri Antonino , Bomben Riccardo , Gentile Massimo , Gattei Valter , Ferrarini Manlio , Morabito Fortunato , Fronza Gilberto
Published: January 2021

Because of its role in the regulation of the cell cycle, DNA damage response, apoptosis, DNA repair, cell migration, autophagy, and cell metabolism, the TP53 tumor suppressor gene is a key player for cellular homeostasis. TP53 gene is mutated in more than 50% of human cancers, although its overall dysfunction may be even more frequent. TP53 mutations are detected in a lower percentage of hematological malignancies compared to solid tumors, but their frequency generally increases with disease progression, generating adverse effects such as resistance to chemotherapy. Due to the crucial role of P53 in therapy response, several molecules have been developed to re-establish the wild-type P53 function to mutant P53. PRIMA-1 and its methylated form PRIMA-1Met (also named APR246) are capable of restoring the wild-type conformation to mutant P53 and inducing apoptosis in cancer cells; however, they also possess mutant P53-independent properties. This review presents the activities of PRIMA-1 and PRIMA-1Met/APR246 and describes their potential use in hematological malignancies.
Thymic Stromal Lymphopoietin Promotes MRGPRX2-Triggered Degranulation of Skin Mast Cells in a STAT5-Dependent Manner with Further Support from JNK
Authors: Babina Magda , Wang Zhao , Franke Kristin , Zuberbier Torsten
Published: January 2021

Thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP) is released by epithelial cells following disturbed homeostasis to act as “alarmin” and driver of Th2-immunity. Aberrant TSLP expression is a hallmark of atopic diseases, including atopic dermatitis (AD). Mast cells (MCs) are overabundant in AD lesions and show signs of degranulation, but it remains unknown whether TSLP contributes to granule discharge. Degranulation of skin MCs proceeds via two major routes, i.e., FcεRI-dependent (allergic) and MRGPRX2-mediated (pseudo-allergic/neurogenic). Evidence is accumulating that MRGPRX2 may be crucial in the context of skin diseases, including eczema. The current study reveals TSLP as a novel priming factor of human skin MCs. Interestingly, TSLP selectively cooperates with MRGPRX2 to support granule discharge, while it does not impact spontaneous or FcεRI-driven exocytosis. TSLP-assisted histamine liberation triggered by compound 48/80 or Substance P, two canonical MRGPRX2 agonists, was accompanied by an increase in CD107a+ cells (a MC activation marker). The latter process was less potent, however, and detectable only at the later of two time points, suggesting TSLP may prolong opening of the granules. Mechanistically, TSLP elicited phosphorylation of STAT5 and JNK in skin MCs and the reinforced degranulation critically depended on STAT5 activity, while JNK had a contributory role. Results from pharmacological inhibition were confirmed by RNA-interference, whereby silencing of STAT5 completely abolished the priming effect of TSLP on MRGPRX2-mediated degranulation. Collectively, TSLP is the first factor to favor MRGPRX2- over FcεRI-triggered MC activation. The relevance of TSLP, MCs and MRGPRX2 to pruritis and atopic skin pathology indicates broad repercussions of the identified connection.
Glycosylation of Cancer Extracellular Vesicles: Capture Strategies, Functional Roles and Potential Clinical Applications
Authors: Martins Álvaro M. , Ramos Cátia C. , Freitas Daniela , Reis Celso A.
Published: January 2021

Glycans are major constituents of extracellular vesicles (EVs). Alterations in the glycosylation pathway are a common feature of cancer cells, which gives rise to de novo or increased synthesis of particular glycans. Therefore, glycans and glycoproteins have been widely used in the clinic as both stratification and prognosis cancer biomarkers. Interestingly, several of the known tumor-associated glycans have already been identified in cancer EVs, highlighting EV glycosylation as a potential source of circulating cancer biomarkers. These particles are crucial vehicles of cell–cell communication, being able to transfer molecular information and to modulate the recipient cell behavior. The presence of particular glycoconjugates has been described to be important for EV protein sorting, uptake and organ-tropism. Furthermore, specific EV glycans or glycoproteins have been described to be able to distinguish tumor EVs from benign EVs. In this review, the application of EV glycosylation in the development of novel EV detection and capture methodologies is discussed. In addition, we highlight the potential of EV glycosylation in the clinical setting for both cancer biomarker discovery and EV therapeutic delivery strategies.
Preventing Child Drowning in the Philippines: The Need to Address the Determinants of Health
Authors: Guevarra Jonathan P. , Peden Amy E. , Orbillo Lita L. , Uy Maria Rosario Sylvia Z. , Madrilejos Joseph John R. , Go John Juliard L. , Martinez Rammell Eric C. , Cavinta Lolita L. , Franklin Richard C
Published: January 2021

Drowning is a public health issue in the Philippines, with children at significantly increased risk. Determinants of health (DoH) such as education, socio-economic status, ethnicity, and urbanization are factors that impact drowning risk. As drowning is a multisectoral issue, a national drowning prevention plan can drive collaboration with relevant stakeholders. This study reports trends in unintentional child (0–14 years) drowning in the Philippines (incidence, rates, and trends over time for fatal and non-fatal (years lived with a disability (YLDs) and disability adjusted life years (DALYs) from 2008–2017 and conducts an analysis of the Philippines’ Multisector Action Plan (MSAP) on Drowning Prevention. From 2008–2017, 27,928 (95%UI [Uncertainty Interval]: 22,794–33,828) children aged 0–14 years died from drowning (52.7% aged 5–14 years old). Rates of drowning have declined among both age groups, with greater reductions seen among 0–4 year olds (y = −0.3368x + 13.035; R2 = 0.9588). The MSAP has 12 child drowning-specific activities and 20 activities were identified where DoH will need to be considered during development and implementation. The MSAP activities, and work done to prevent drowning more generally, must consider DoH such as education, urbanization, water and sanitation health, and safe water transportation. A national drowning surveillance system and investment in research in the Philippines are recommended.
A Case of Eosinophilic Pustular Folliculitis since Birth
Authors: Yoshida Satoshi , Yatsuzuka Kazuki , Chigyo Kenji , Kuroo Yuta , Takemoto Koji , Sayama Koji
Published: January 2021

A newborn male infant presented with multiple pustules and erosions with erythema involving his scalp and forehead at birth. One week after birth, new pustules continued to appear, forming crusted, ring-shaped plaques with pigmentation. Tests for possible pathogens were negative. Tzanck smear and skin biopsy revealed pustules beneath the stratum corneum at sites corresponding to hair follicles, which contained eosinophils and neutrophils. Taken together, a diagnosis of eosinophilic pustular folliculitis (EPF) was made. The pustules on the head disappeared rapidly with topical corticosteroid treatment, although new eruptions were still observed on the trunk about one month after birth. To our knowledge, only two cases of EPF since birth have been reported to date. Here, we also discuss the differential diagnosis of noninfectious pustular diseases at birth, including erythema toxicum neonatorum and transient neonatal pustular melanosis. These diseases, and EPF, may present with very similar clinical symptoms at birth, and the Tzanck test or biopsy may be required for differential diagnosis.
Climate Change and Thermal Comfort in Greece
Authors: Kambezidis Harry , Psiloglou Basil , Varotsos Konstantinos , Giannakopoulos Christos
Published: January 2021

Global warming is an environmental issue keeping all nations alert. Under this consideration, the present work investigates the future thermal sensation of the Greek population. Three periods are selected (2021–2050, 2046–2075, 2071–2100) and two Intergovernmental Panel for Climate Change (IPCC) representative concentration pathway (RCP) 4.5 and 8.5 scenarios. Use of Thom’s discomfort index (TDI) is made, which is calculated from air temperature and relative humidity included in typical meteorological years (TMYs) derived for 1985–2014 and future periods (both IPCC scenarios) for 33 locations in Greece. TDI is discriminated into 6 classes. The analysis shows that there is no significant shift from past to future annual mean TDIs in terms of its classification. The same is found for the summer TDI values. Nevertheless, a distribution of the various TDI classes is provided within the TMYs. Maps of annual TDI values are prepared for Greece by using the kriging method; higher values are found in the southern part of Greece and lower values in the northern. Best-fit regression equations derived show the intra-annual TDI variation in all periods. Also, scatter plots of annual TDIs in the future epochs in comparison with the historical period show a linear relationship.
Study of the Effect of Physicochemical Degradation and Contamination of Motor Oils on Their Lubricity
Authors: Sejkorová Marie , Hurtová Ivana , Jilek Petr , Novák Martin , Voltr Ondřej
Published: January 2021

Internal combustion engine lubrication is essential for unwanted energy and material losses. As part of the experimental work, the lubricity of both new and worn motor oils of Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) 15W-40 and SAE 10W-40 with different American Petroleum Institute (API) performance classifications, which were taken from various motor trains during maintenance or oil change, was assessed. A total of sixteen lubricant samples were evaluated. Lubricity, i.e., the load capacity of the lubricating film, was evaluated on the basis of the Reichert test. Viscosity, as one of the most important parameters of lubricants, was evaluated by the Stabinger Viscometer. Chemical degradation of motor oils (oxidation, nitration, sulfation), contamination of oils with fuel, soot, water, and loss of antioxidant zinc dialkyldithiophosphate (ZDDP) were monitored by Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. Of the fresh motor oils, OMV 10W-40 API SL/CF motor oil had the best lubricity. URANIA LD 15W-40 API CI-4 and M7ADS V 15W-40 API CI-4 CH-4/SL oils showed similar lubricity. M7ADS III 15W-40 API CF-4/SG motor oil showed the highest wear of wear surface, i.e., the lowest lubricity, of the tested new motor oils. Correlation analysis of the experimental data confirmed that the fuel content penetrated the motor oils significantly negatively correlates with the viscosity (R = −0.87). The low water contamination in motor oil does not cause a significant negative effect on lubricity. A significant correlation between the oxidation, nitration, and sulfation products of chemical degradation of the tested oils was confirmed (R ≥ 0.90). These degradation products improve lubricity due to their polarity, i.e., they have caused better lubricity of worn oils compared to new motor oils. Even the depletion of the antioxidant ZDDP did not affect the reduction in lubricity and anti-abrasion properties of chemically degraded motor oils. The experimental results of testing of worn motor oils taken from motor trains showed that current motor oils have excellent lubricity, which they maintain throughout their life.
Incidence Angle Effects on the Fabrication of Microstructures Using Six-Beam Laser Interference Lithography
Authors: Jia Tianxu , Wang Xiangxian , Ren Yaqian , Su Yingwen , Zhang Liping , Yang Hua , Qi Yunping , Liu Weiming
Published: January 2021

This paper presents a theoretical demonstration of diverse microstructure fabrication by changing the angle of incidence of a six-beam laser interference lithography system. Different combinations are formed with transverse electric (TE) and transverse magnetic (TM) polarizations and various microstructures are simulated by controlling the high-reflectivity mirror group to adjust the incidence angle. This study indicates that the incidence angle has a considerable influence on the shape and period of the lattice, thereby contributing to the fabrication of microstructures with different arrangements. These structures include donut, circle, D-type, rectangular, triangular, U-type, and honeycomb lattices. The six-beam laser interference lithography technique is expected to benefit microstructure fabrication because of its simple operation, large writing area, and low cost, thereby promoting the development of micro-optics.
Research on the Performance of Diamond-Like Carbon Coatings on Cutting Aluminum Alloy: Cutting Experiments and First-Principles Calculations
Authors: Huang Biao , Zhang Er-geng , Zhou Qiong , Lin Rong-chuan , Du Hao-ming
Published: January 2021

The purpose of this study is to investigate the cutting performance of amorphous carbon (a-C) coatings and hydrogenated amorphous carbon (a-C:H) coatings on machining 2A50 aluminum alloy. First-principles molecular dynamics simulation was applied to investigate the effect of hydrogen on the interaction between coatings and workpiece. The cross-section topography and internal structure of a-C and a-C:H films were characterized by field emission scanning electron microscopy and Raman spectroscopy. The surface roughness of the deposited films and processed workpiece were measured using a white light interferometer. The results show that the a-C-coated tool had the highest service life of 121 m and the best workpiece surface quality (Sq parameter of 0.23 μm) while the workpiece surface roughness Sq parameter was 0.35 and 0.52 μm when machined by the a-C:H-coated and the uncoated tool, respectively. Meanwhile, the build-up edge was observed on the a-C:H-coated tool and a layer of aluminum alloy was observed to have adhered to the surface of the uncoated tool at its stable stage. An interface model that examined the interactions between H-terminated diamond (111)/Al(111) surfaces revealed that H atoms would move laterally with the action of cutting heat (549 K) and increase the interaction between a-C:H and Al surfaces; therefore, Al was prone to adhere to the a-C:H-coated tool surface. The a-C coating shows better performance on cutting aluminum alloy than the a-C:H coating.
Deep Learning-Based Hardness Prediction of Novel Refractory High-Entropy Alloys with Experimental Validation
Authors: Bhandari Uttam , Zhang Congyan , Zeng Congyuan , Guo Shengmin , Adhikari Aashish , Yang Shizhong
Published: January 2021

Hardness is an essential property in the design of refractory high entropy alloys (RHEAs). This study shows how a neural network (NN) model can be used to predict the hardness of a RHEA, for the first time. We predicted the hardness of several alloys, including the novel C0.1Cr3Mo11.9Nb20Re15Ta30W20 using the NN model. The hardness predicted from the NN model was consistent with the available experimental results. The NN model prediction of C0.1Cr3Mo11.9Nb20Re15Ta30W20 was verified by experimentally synthesizing and investigating its microstructure properties and hardness. This model provides an alternative route to determine the Vickers hardness of RHEAs.
H-Bonds, π-Stacking and (Water)O-H/π Interactions in (µ4-EDTA)Bis(Imidazole) Dicopper(II) Dihydrate
Authors: Belmont-Sánchez Jeannette , García-Rubiño María , Frontera Antonio , González-Pérez Josefa , Castiñeiras Alfonso , Niclós-Gutiérrez Juan
Published: January 2021

We synthesized and studied the polymeric compound {[Cu2(µ4-EDTA)(Him)2] 2H2O}n (1). The single-crystal structure is reported along with an in depth characterization of its thermal stability (TGA), spectral properties (FT-IR, Vis-UV and RSE), and magnetic behavior. The crystal consists of infinite 2D-networks built by centrosymmetric dinuclear motifs, constructed by means of a bridging anti,syn-carboxylate group from each asymmetric unit. Each layer guides Him ligands toward their external faces. They are connected by intermolecular (Him)N-H···O(carboxylate) bonds and antiparallel π–π stacking between symmetry related pairs of Him ligands, and then pillared in a 3D-network with parallel channels, where disordered water molecules are guested. About half of the labile water is lost from these channels over a wide temperature range (r.t. to 210 °C) before the other one, most strongly retained by the cooperating action of (water)O1-H(1A)···O(carboxylate) and (water) O1-H(1B)···π(Him) interactions. The latter is lost when organic ligands start to burn. ESR spectra and magnetic measurements indicated that symmetry related Cu(II) centers connected by the bridging carboxylate groups behave magnetically not equivalently, enabling an exchange interaction larger than their individual Zeeman energies.
Intraoperative Perfusion Assessment in Enhanced Reality Using Quantitative Optical Imaging: An Experimental Study in a Pancreatic Partial Ischemia Model
Authors: Wakabayashi Taiga , Barberio Manuel , Urade Takeshi , Pop Raoul , Seyller Emilie , Pizzicannella Margherita , Mascagni Pietro , Charles Anne-Laure , Abe Yuta , Geny Bernard , Baiocchini Andrea , Kitagawa Yuko , Marescaux Jacques , Felli Eric , Diana Michele
Published: January 2021

To reduce the risk of pancreatic fistula after pancreatectomy, a satisfactory blood flow at the pancreatic stump is considered crucial. Our group has developed and validated a real-time computational imaging analysis of tissue perfusion, using fluorescence imaging, the fluorescence-based enhanced reality (FLER). Hyperspectral imaging (HSI) is another emerging technology, which provides tissue-specific spectral signatures, allowing for perfusion quantification. Both imaging modalities were employed to estimate perfusion in a porcine model of partial pancreatic ischemia. Perfusion quantification was assessed using the metrics of both imaging modalities (slope of the time to reach maximum fluorescence intensity and tissue oxygen saturation (StO2), for FLER and HSI, respectively). We found that the HSI-StO2 and the FLER slope were statistically correlated using the Spearman analysis (R = 0.697; p = 0.013). Local capillary lactate values were statistically correlated to the HSI-StO2 and to the FLER slope (R = −0.88; p < 0.001 and R = −0.608; p = 0.0074). HSI-based and FLER-based lactate prediction models had statistically similar predictive abilities (p = 0.112). Both modalities are promising to assess real-time pancreatic perfusion. Clinical translation in human pancreatic surgery is currently underway.
Discovering Higher-Order Interactions Through Neural Information Decomposition
Authors: Reing Kyle , Ver Steeg Greg , Galstyan Aram
Published: January 2021

If regularity in data takes the form of higher-order functions among groups of variables, models which are biased towards lower-order functions may easily mistake the data for noise. To distinguish whether this is the case, one must be able to quantify the contribution of different orders of dependence to the total information. Recent work in information theory attempts to do this through measures of multivariate mutual information (MMI) and information decomposition (ID). Despite substantial theoretical progress, practical issues related to tractability and learnability of higher-order functions are still largely unaddressed. In this work, we introduce a new approach to information decomposition—termed Neural Information Decomposition (NID)—which is both theoretically grounded, and can be efficiently estimated in practice using neural networks. We show on synthetic data that NID can learn to distinguish higher-order functions from noise, while many unsupervised probability models cannot. Additionally, we demonstrate the usefulness of this framework as a tool for exploring biological and artificial neural networks.
Voltage Stability of Power Systems with Renewable-Energy Inverter-Based Generators: A Review
Authors: Hosseinzadeh Nasser , Aziz Asma , Mahmud Apel , Gargoom Ameen , Rabbani Mahbub
Published: January 2021

The main purpose of developing microgrids (MGs) is to facilitate the integration of renewable energy sources (RESs) into the power grid. RESs are normally connected to the grid via power electronic inverters. As various types of RESs are increasingly being connected to the electrical power grid, power systems of the near future will have more inverter-based generators (IBGs) instead of synchronous machines. Since IBGs have significant differences in their characteristics compared to synchronous generators (SGs), particularly concerning their inertia and capability to provide reactive power, their impacts on the system dynamics are different compared to SGs. In particular, system stability analysis will require new approaches. As such, research is currently being conducted on the stability of power systems with the inclusion of IBGs. This review article is intended to be a preface to the Special Issue on Voltage Stability of Microgrids in Power Systems. It presents a comprehensive review of the literature on voltage stability of power systems with a relatively high percentage of IBGs in the generation mix of the system. As the research is developing rapidly in this field, it is understood that by the time that this article is published, and further in the future, there will be many more new developments in this area. Certainly, other articles in this special issue will highlight some other important aspects of the voltage stability of microgrids.
Insights into CO2 Foaming Behavior of Ethoxylated Amines
Authors: Le Linh , Ramanathan Raja , Almubarak Tariq , Nasr-El-Din Hisham A.
Published: January 2021

Switchable ethoxylated amine surfactants are readily soluble in CO2 and high-saline brines. The objective of the current work is to maximize the foamability and stability of CO2 foam at 150 °F (65 °C) through adjustments in the surfactant concentration, pH, and brine salinity. From the results, the authors recommend potential applications of Ethomeen C12 (EC12) for CO2 foam in the oil/gas industry. Foam stability tests helped determine the optimum parameters for CO2 foam stability at 77 °F (25 °C) and 150 °F (65 °C). The surface tension of EC12 as a function of concentration was evaluated using a drop-shape analyzer. Maximum foam stability was observed for a solution comprising of 1.5 wt% EC12, 25 wt% NaCl, and pH 6.5 at 150 °F (65 °C). The interactions with the salts allowed closer packing of the surfactant molecules at the lamellae and strengthening the foam. At a pH of 2.5, the absence of salt led to poor foam stability. However, at the same pH and in the presence of sodium chloride, the foam was stable for longer periods of time due to the salt influence. The surface tension gradients had a direct relationship to foam stability. There was a strong resistance to foam degradation when multivalent ions were present with the surfactant.
Method of Real-Time Wellbore Surface Reconstruction Based on Spiral Contour
Authors: Li Hongqiang , Wang Ruihe
Published: January 2021

A wellbore surface is an irregular surface structure. The distribution of points on the wellbore surface measured based on the drilling diameter is not uniform. Thus, the conventional modeling method based on a point cloud cannot satisfy the needs of real-time measurement updating and wellbore display. This study proposes a spiral profile method for drilling shaft surface reconstruction. Scattered data along the drilling diameter are measured, and an inverse distance weighting cylindrical space surface algorithm with iterative interpolation is used to obtain the spiral angle and pitch of a relatively homogeneous helical contour line along the surface of the shaft. Using sets of four adjacent points in the spiral, quadrilaterals are formed, and then all obtained quadrilaterals are used to form the wellbore inner surface structure. This method can further construct the outer surface spiral contour line to advance the quadrilateral surface to the spatial hexahedron structure. The caliper and gamma measurement data obtained from the calibrated wellbore were used to verify the real-time surface reconstruction and fusion while drilling. The homogenized reconstructed surface profile is more than 99.5% similar to the actual measurement. Proved by experiment and application, this method has very high real-time performance, and the three-dimensional stereo imaging wellbore with additional gamma attributes has good visual effects.
Generation of Hydro Energy by Using Data Mining Algorithm for Cascaded Hydropower Plant
Authors: Parvez Iram , Shen Jianjian , Hassan Ishitaq , Zhang Nannan
Published: January 2021

The thirst of the Earth for energy is lurching towards catastrophe in an era of increasing water shortage where most of the power plants are hydroelectric. The hydro-based power systems are facing challenges in determining day-ahead generation schedules of cascaded hydropower plants. The objective of the current study is to find a speedy and practical method for predicting and classifying the future schedules of hydropower plants in order to increase the overall efficiency of energy by utilizing the water of cascaded hydropower plants. This study is significant for water resource planners in the planning and management of reservoirs for generating energy. The proposed method consists of data mining techniques and approaches. The energy production relationship is first determined for upstream and downstream hydropower plants by using multiple linear regression. Then, a cluster analysis is used to find typical generation curves with the help of historical data. The decision tree algorithm C4.5, Iterative Dichotomiser 3-IV, improved C4.5 and Chi-Squared Automatic Interaction Detection are adopted to quickly predict generation schedules, and detailed comparison among different algorithms are made. The decision tree algorithms are solved using SIPINA software. Results show that the C4.5 algorithm is more feasible for rapidly generating the schedules of cascaded hydropower plants. This decision tree algorithm is helpful for the researchers to make fast decisions in order to enhance the energy production of cascaded hydropower plants. The major elements of this paper are challenges and solution of head sensitive hydropower plants, using the decision-making algorithms for producing the generation schedules, and comparing the generation from the proposed method with actual energy production.
Characterization of Severely Biodegraded Crude Oils Using Negative-Ion ESI Orbitrap MS, GC-NCD and GC-SCD: Insights into Heteroatomic Compounds Biodegradation
Authors: Cheng Xiong , Hou Dujie
Published: January 2021

A slightly and two severely biodegraded crude oils with the same origin were analysed using negative-ion electrospray ionization Orbitrap mass spectrometry (ESI Orbitrap MS), gas chromatography-nitrogen chemiluminescence detector (GC-NCD), and GC-sulfur chemiluminescence detector (GC-SCD) to investigate the composition of heteroatomic compounds and their fate during severe biodegradation and to provide insights into biodegradation pathway of hopanes, nitrogen- and sulfur-containing compounds. Twelve heteroatomic compound classes, including O1–O5, N1, N2, N1O1–N1O3, N1S1 and O3S1, were detected and assigned unambiguous molecular formulae. The O1 species are likely phenols with additional naphthenic and/or aromatic rings. Carboxylic acids (O2 species) are originated from oxidation of hydrocarbons, and the tricyclic naphthenic acids are the most resistant, followed by bicyclics. Hopanes could be biodegraded by demethylation or by unstable hopanoic acids as intermediates to yield 25-norhopanes. The N1 species are pyrrolic compounds with naphthenic and/or aromatic rings and are dominated by carbazole analogues. Carbazoles with more aromatic rings are more resistant to biodegradation. The N1 species could be converted to N1O1 and N1O2 compounds via ring-opening and hydroxylation pathways. The N1S1 species contain a pyrrolic and cyclic sulfide structure, which are highly recalcitrant to biodegradation. Benzothiophenes and dibenzothiophenes might be biodegraded via the complete pathway or the sulfur-specific pathway rather than by other pathways to yield acidic oxygenated sulfur compounds.
Fault Propagation Inference Based on a Graph Neural Network for Steam Turbine Systems
Authors: Zhang Yi-Jing , Hu Li-Sheng
Published: January 2021

A fault propagates along physical paths until it reaches the boundary of the equipment or system, which shows as a functional failure. Hence, inferring the fault propagation helps to ensure the normal operation of the industrial system. To infer the fault propagation in the steam turbine system, a graph model is developed. Firstly, a process graph topology is constructed according to the system mechanism, whose nodes and edges represent the equipment and mutual relationships. Meanwhile, a fault graph topology is built, in which nodes indicate potential faults and edges are inferred propagation paths. Then, the representations of fault nodes are realized through a graph neural network. Lastly, link prediction methods based on nodes’ representations are conducted, along with the paths inference results. Consequently, the accuracy of fault propagation inference for the steam turbine system is over 86%.
Devolatilization of Residual Biomasses for Chemical Looping Gasification in Fluidized Beds Made Up of Oxygen-Carriers
Authors: Di Giuliano Andrea , Lucantonio Stefania , Gallucci Katia
Published: January 2021

The chemical looping gasification of residual biomasses—operated in fluidized beds composed of oxygen-carriers—may allow the production of biofuels from syngas. This biomass-to-fuel chain can contribute to mitigate climate change, avoiding the accumulation of greenhouse gases in our atmosphere. The ongoing European research project Horizon2020 CLARA (G.A. 817841) investigates wheat-straw-pellets (WSP) and raw-pine-forest-residue (RPR) pellets as feedstocks for chemical looping gasification. This work presents experimental results from devolatilizations of WSP and RPR, in bubbling beds made of three different oxygen-carriers or sand (inert reference), at 700, 800, 900 °C. Devolatilization is a key step of gasification, influencing syngas quality and quantity. Tests were performed at laboratory-scale, by a quartz reactor (fluidizing agent: N2). For each pellet, collected data allowed the quantification of released gases (H2, CO, CO2, CH4, hydrocarbons) and mass balances, to obtain gas yield (ηav), carbon conversion (χavC), H2/CO ratio (λav) and syngas composition. A simplified single-first order-reaction model was adopted to kinetically analyze experimental data. WSP performed as RPR; this is a good indication, considering that RPR is similar to commercial pellets. Temperature is the dominating parameter: at 900 °C, the highest quality and quantity of syngas was obtained (WSP: ηav = 0.035–0.042 molgas gbiomass−1, χavC = 73–83%, λav = 0.8–1.0); RPR: ηav = 0.036–0.041 molgas gbiomass−1, χavC = 67–71%, λav = 0.9–1.0), and oxygen-carries generally performed better than sand. The kinetic analysis suggested that the oxygen-carrier ilmenite ensured the fastest conversion of C and H atoms into gases, at tested conditions.
Smart Asset Management for District Heating Systems in the Baltic Sea Region
Authors: Grzegórska Anna , Rybarczyk Piotr , Lukoševičius Valdas , Sobczak Joanna , Rogala Andrzej
Published: January 2021

The purpose of this review is to provide insight and a comparison of the current status of district heating (DH) systems for selected Baltic Sea countries (Denmark, Germany, Finland, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, and Sweden), especially from viewpoints of application and solutions of novel smart asset management (SAM) approaches. Furthermore, this paper considers European projects ongoing from 2016, involving participants from the Baltic Sea Region, concerning various aspects of DH systems. The review presents the energy sources with particular attention to renewable energy sources (RES), district heating generations, and the exploitation problems of DH systems. The essential point is a comparison of traditional maintenance systems versus SAM solutions for optimal design, operating conditions, and controlling of the DH networks. The main conclusions regarding DH systems in Baltic Sea countries are commitment towards a transition to 4th generation DH, raising the quality and efficiency of heat supply systems, and simultaneously minimizing the costs. The overall trends show that applied technologies aim to increase the share of renewable energy sources and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Furthermore, examples presented in this review underline the importance of the implementation of a smart asset management concept to modern DH systems.
Technical, Energetic and Economic Optimization Analysis of Selection of Heat Source for Municipal Sewage Sludge Dryer
Authors: Tańczuk Mariusz , Kostowski Wojciech
Published: January 2021

The treatment of growing production of municipal sewage sludge has become a significant global problem. Drying of digested sewage sludge is a promising alternative to sludge disposal at dumping sites. The research objective of this study was to find the optimal heat source for a sludge drying plant in a large municipal sewage treatment plant (people equivalent: 250,000). Two boundary heat supply cases were analyzed in the paper: cogeneration of heat and power (CHP) units, internal combustion (IC) engines fired with natural gas, and plant supplied with a gas boiler. The aim of the research was to find the optimal size of the cogeneration unit cooperating with the gas boiler as heat sources for a given drying plant case with the maximum net present (NPV) value as the objective function. The results of the conducted optimization show higher profitability of cases with larger cogeneration unit. For the basic assumptions, the maximum NPV is obtained for the largest analyzed CHP unit: 1300 kW of thermal power output. Sensitivity analyses show that the varying gas and electricity prices can relocate the NPV maximum towards smaller CHP sizes. A supplementary energy analysis shows that implementing larger CHP units yields a higher energy efficiency of the system, up to 0.52.
Assessing the Ecotoxicity of Soil Affected by Wildfire
Authors: Barroso Petra Martínez , Vaverková Magdalena Daria , Elbl Jakub
Published: January 2021

This study was carried out to assess the ecotoxicity of soil affected by wildfire using two laboratory toxicity tests, and to investigate the possibility of application of selected soil amendment into the burnt soil in order to improve its properties for faster post-fire reclamation. A phytotoxicity test is a fast-indicative test for revealing acute toxicity and was performed on quickly growing plant species Sinapis alba L. and Lepidium sativum L., while a pot experiment is a standardized toxicity test with a longer experiment duration and was carried out with Lolium perenne L., Festuca rubra L., Brassica juncea L. Diatomite, bentonite, compost, and biochar were supplemented to the soil. Regarding the phytotoxicity test only 3% w/w of biochar stimulated the growth of Lepidium sativum L. Pot experiment confirmed that effect of soil application amendments on biomass yield is more significant than the plant species. The average highest biomass yields were achieved in treatments with bentonite and diatomite. Subsequent research should focus on investigating possible combinations of soil amendments for burnt soil reclamation and complementing the experiments with chemical analysis.
Drug Repurposing for Parkinson’s Disease by Integrating Knowledge Graph Completion Model and Knowledge Fusion of Medical Literature
Authors: Zhang Xiaolin , Che Chao
Published: January 2021

The prevalence of Parkinson’s disease increases a tremendous medical and economic burden to society. Therefore, the effective drugs are urgently required. However, the traditional development of effective drugs is costly and risky. Drug repurposing, which identifies new applications for existing drugs, is a feasible strategy for discovering new drugs for Parkinson’s disease. Drug repurposing is based on sufficient medical knowledge. The local medical knowledge base with manually labeled data contains a large number of accurate, but not novel, medical knowledge, while the medical literature containing the latest knowledge is difficult to utilize, because of unstructured data. This paper proposes a framework, named Drug Repurposing for Parkinson’s disease by integrating Knowledge Graph Completion method and Knowledge Fusion of medical literature data (DRKF) in order to make full use of a local medical knowledge base containing accurate knowledge and medical literature with novel knowledge. DRKF first extracts the relations that are related to Parkinson’s disease from medical literature and builds a medical literature knowledge graph. After that, the literature knowledge graph is fused with a local medical knowledge base that integrates several specific medical knowledge sources in order to construct a fused medical knowledge graph. Subsequently, knowledge graph completion methods are leveraged to predict the drug candidates for Parkinson’s disease by using the fused knowledge graph. Finally, we employ classic machine learning methods to repurpose the drug for Parkinson’s disease and compare the results with the method only using the literature-based knowledge graph in order to confirm the effectiveness of knowledge fusion. The experiment results demonstrate that our framework can achieve competitive performance, which confirms the effectiveness of our proposed DRKF for drug repurposing against Parkinson’s disease. It could be a supplement to traditional drug discovery methods.
On the Use of a Domain Decomposition Strategy in Obtaining Response Statistics in Non-Gaussian Seas
Authors: Decorte Griet , Toffoli Alessandro , Lombaert Geert , Monbaliu Jaak
Published: January 2021

During recent years, thorough experimental and numerical investigations have led to an improved understanding of dynamic phenomena affecting the fatigue life and survivability of offshore structures, e.g., ringing and springing and extreme wave impacts. However, most of these efforts have focused on modeling either selected extreme events or sequences of highly nonlinear waves impacting offshore structures, possibly overestimating the actual load to be experienced by the structure. Overall, not much has been done regarding short-term statistics. Although clear non-Gaussian statistics and therefore higher probabilities of extreme waves have been observed in random seas due to wave–wave interaction phenomena, which can impact short-term statistics for the structural load, they have not been studied extensively regarding the assessment of the dynamic behavior of offshore structures. Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) models have shown their viability for studying wave–structure interaction phenomena. Despite the continuously increasing computational resources, these models remain too computationally demanding for applications to the large spatial domains and long periods of time necessary for studying short-term statistics of non-Gaussian seas. Higher-order spectral (HOS) models, on the other hand, have been proven to be efficient and adequate in studying non-Gaussian seas. We therefore propose a one-way domain decomposition strategy, which takes full advantage of the recent advances in CFD and of the computational benefits of HOS. When applying this domain decomposition strategy, it appeared to be possible to deduce response statistics regarding the impact of nonlinear wave–wave interactions.
NIR Analysis of Intact Grape Berries: Chemical and Physical Properties Prediction Using Multivariate Analysis
Authors: Basile Teodora , Marsico Antonio Domenico , Perniola Rocco
Published: January 2021

Texture characteristics are valuable parameters in the perceived quality and overall acceptability of fresh fruit. The characterization of grape texture attributes, such as firmness and crunchiness, is usually performed by sensory analysis or instrumental texture analysis. Both methodologies are destructive. Hence, it is not possible to test multiple times or perform any other analysis on the same sample. In this article, near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy was applied to intact berries of table grape cv. Regal Seedless. NIR spectra were employed to predict both the physical parameter “hardness”, which is correlated with the crunchiness of berry flesh and the sweetness, which is correlated with the total soluble solids content (TSS, as °Brix). The chemometric analysis was carried out exclusively based on an open-source software environment, producing results readily usable for any operator, besides the specific level of experience with NIR spectroscopy.
Potassium Lactate as a Strategy for Sodium Content Reduction without Compromising Salt-Associated Antimicrobial Activity in Salami
Authors: Muchaamba Francis , Stoffers Helena , Blase Ralf , Ah Ueli von , Tasara Taurai
Published: January 2021

Reformulating recipes of ready-to-eat meat products such as salami to reduce salt content can mitigate the negative health impacts of a high salt diet. We evaluated the potential of potassium lactate (KL) as a sodium chloride (NaCl) replacer during salami production. NaCl and KL stress tolerance comparisons showed that four food-derived Listeria innocua isolates were suitable as biologically safe Listeria monocytogenes surrogates. Effects of the high salt (4% NaCl) concentration applied in standard salami recipes and a low salt (2.8% NaCl) plus KL (1.6%) combination on product characteristics and growth of contaminating Listeria and starter culture were compared. Simulated salami-ripening conditions applied in meat simulation broth and beef showed that the low salt plus KL combination retained similar to superior anti-Listeria activity compared to the high salt concentration treatment. Salami challenge tests showed that the low NaCl plus KL combination had comparable anti-Listeria activity as the high NaCl concentration during ripening and storage. No significant differences were detected in starter culture growth profiles and product characteristics between the high NaCl and low NaCl plus KL combination treated salami. In conclusion, KL replacement enabled a 30% NaCl reduction without compromising the product quality and antimicrobial benefits of high NaCl concentration inclusion.
Methods for the Modification and Evaluation of Cereal Proteins for the Substitution of Wheat Gluten in Dough Systems
Authors: Espinoza-Herrera Javier , Martínez Luz María , Serna-Saldívar Sergio O. , Chuck-Hernández Cristina
Published: January 2021

The substitution of wheat gluten in the food industry is a relevant research area because the only known treatment for celiac disease is abstinence from this protein complex. The use of gluten-free cereals in dough systems has demonstrated that the viscoelastic properties of gluten cannot be achieved without the modification of the protein fraction. The quality of the final product is determined by the ability of the modification to form a matrix similar to that of gluten and to reach this, different methods have been proposed and tested. These procedures can be classified into four main types: chemical, enzymatic, physical, and genetic. This article provides a comprehensive review of the most recent research done in protein modification of cereal and pseudocereals for gluten substitution. The reported effects and methodologies for studying the changes made with each type of modification are described; also, some opportunity areas for future works regarding the study of the effect of protein modifications on gluten-free products are presented.
Advanced Research in Food Digestion
Authors: Andrés Ana , Heredia Ana
Published: January 2021

Food digestion is the key process for delivering nutrients and bioactive compounds to the body [...]