bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
First molecular record of the alien species Pacific oyster (Crassostrea gigas, Thunberg 1793) in the Marmara Sea, Turkey
Authors: ÖZCAN GÖKÇEK Emel , ACARLI Sefa , KARAHAN Bilge , VURAL Pervin , KOBAN BAŞTANLAR Evren
Published: February 2020

The Pacific oyster (Crassostrea
gigas) has a very important economic potential for aquaculture, but on the
other hand, is among the highly invasive species in the world and within the
Mediterranean ecosystem. In the 1960s, C. gigas was brought to Europe
for aquaculture in the Mediterranean and Black Sea regions from Japan and
Canada. The Turkish waters are the part of the Mediterranean Sea, which is the
world’s most invaded sea. The invasion of alien species results from marine
transportation and aquaculture activities of non-native species. A heavy
maritime traffic is also present in the Marmara Sea, which connects the Black
Sea and Mediterranean Sea. The identification of the invasive species and their
distributions is very prominent in terms of protecting natural habitat and
monitoring the effects of invasive species. In this study, 30 individuals,
morphologically identified as C. gigas, were collected from Bandırma
bay. The genomic DNAs were extracted from each sample’s muscle tissue using
universal salt extraction method. Partial sequences of COI and 16S
Mitochondrial DNA loci of the sample DNAs were obtained for species
identification. The sequences were searched against the database and results
were retrieved from BLAST. All the sequences obtained in this study showed
significant similarity with the C. gigas sequences present in the
database (E=0). The sample sequences resulted in 9 different haplotypes for the
COI locus (hd: 0.5296 and variance: 0.01256±0.112) and 5 different haplotypes
for the 16S rDNA locus (hd: 0.2529, Variance: 0.01076±0.104). The results of
this study provided the first molecular evidence for the presence of non-native
Pacific oyster individuals in the Marmara Sea.
Automated Solar Powered Street Lighting System with Super Capacitors
Authors: Dela Pena Alvin T , Quezon Clarissa F , Feliciano Christian Q
Published: February 2020

The researchers came up to conduct a study in creating a street lighting system powered up by solar panels that sustains its own power as a stand-alone system off the grid line. By analyzing the collected data regarding the power consumption of the institution where in every 15% increase in the student s population, there is 20% increase in the electric bill consumption rate, that is why the researchers continue to expand their previous study, the charging station that gives an alternative source of electrical energy for mobile devices in the institution, to consider a free energy that can be a source of light during night time, this may lessen the power consumption in the near future not only by supplying mobile devices but by also illuminating the environment of the campus. Two hardware designs were constructed and tested as an initial hardware design to control the lighting system namely; a microcontroller unit that will act as the charge controller for the storage unit and a relay module using discrete components that will also act with the same function. The study concluded that the installation of a relay module alone as the charge controller to automatically cut-off the full charge voltage and turn on the charging when voltage in the storage unit is drain enhances the power management capability and storage of the lighting system in comparison to the other design which consumes a greater amount of power in operating the sensor control unit 24/7. The charging unit that uses the super capacitors maximizes the charging time into an average of 136.567 minutes compared to the existing design that has twice of its charging time condition which is equivalent to more than six(6) hours. The researchers recommended that the Colegio de San Juan de Letran, Bataan should implement the installation of this project study, or another study for improving the hardware design components of the system which can be extended to the employees, teachers and students of the institution.
Phytostabilization of Polluted Military Soil Supported by Bioaugmentation with PGP-Trace Element Tolerant Bacteria Isolated from Helianthus petiolaris
Authors: Saran Anabel , Imperato Valeria , Fernandez Lucia , Gkorezis Panos , d’Haen Jan , Merini Luciano Jose , Vangronsveld Jaco , Thijs Sofie
Published: February 2020

Lead (Pb) and cadmium (Cd) are major environmental pollutants, and the accumulation of these elements in soils and plants is of great concern in agricultural production due to their toxic effects on crop growth. Also, these elements can enter into the food chain and severely affect human and animal health. Bioaugmentation with plant growth-promoting bacteria (PGPB) can contribute to an environmentally friendly and effective remediation approach by improving plant survival and promoting element phytostabilization or extraction under such harsh conditions. We isolated and characterised Pb and Cd-tolerant root-associated bacteria from Helianthus petiolaris growing on a Pb/Cd polluted soil in order to compose inoculants that can promote plant growth and also ameliorate the phytostabilization or phytoextraction efficiency. One hundred and five trace element-tolerant rhizospheric and endophytic bacterial strains belonging to eight different genera were isolated from the aromatic plant species Helianthus petiolaris. Most of the strains showed multiple PGP-capabilities, ability to immobilise trace elements on their cell wall, and promotion of seed germination. Bacillus paramycoides ST9, Bacillus wiedmannii ST29, Bacillus proteolyticus ST89, Brevibacterium frigoritolerans ST30, Cellulosimicrobium cellulans ST54 and Methylobacterium sp. ST85 were selected to perform bioaugmentation assays in greenhouse microcosms. After 2 months, seedlings of sunflower (H. annuus) grown on polluted soil and inoculated with B. proteolyticus ST89 produced 40% more biomass compared to the non-inoculated control plants and accumulated 20 % less Pb and 40% less Cd in the aboveground plant parts. In contrast, B. paramycoides ST9 increased the bioaccumulation factor (BAF) of Pb three times and of Cd six times without inhibiting plant growth. Our results indicate that, depending on the strain, bioaugmentation with specific beneficial bacteria can improve plant growth and either reduce trace element mobility or enhance plant trace element uptake.
Glycinebetaine Enhances Osmotic Adjustment of Ryegrass under Cold Temperatures
Authors: Mickelbart Michael V. , Boine Barbara
Published: February 2020

Perennial (Lolium perenne L.) and annual (L. multiflorum) ryegrass are important species for landscape (e.g., turf) and agricultural (e.g., pasture systems) uses. Abiotic stresses limit the survival, growth, and/or appearance of these species. The synthesis and accumulation of quaternary ammonium compounds (QACs) such as glycinebetaine (GB) are an adaptive response to abiotic environmental stresses in some species. Both L. perenne and L. multiflorum are GB-accumulating species, and exogenous application of GB may enhance growth under less-than-optimal environmental conditions. We tested the effects of exogenous application of GB on growth and water relations of annual and perennial ryegrass growing under temperatures at the lower limits of their optimal growth. Osmotic stress resulted in increased GB accumulation in L. perenne, but exposure to cold temperatures did not result in increased GB accumulation in either species. Both species accumulated higher concentrations of GB in leaf and stem tissues when exogenous GB was supplied, regardless of growing temperature. Exogenous GB did contribute to lower osmotic potential in both species, but did not affect relative water content, although succulence was higher in some cases. Overall, exogenous GB did not affect growth under optimal growing temperatures, but did enhance growth of L. perenne growing under low temperatures.
Extension of Avocado Fruit Postharvest Quality Using Non-Chemical Treatments
Authors: Munhuweyi Karen , Mpai Semakaleng , Sivakumar Dharini
Published: February 2020

Developing postharvest management techniques using environmentally friendly and non-chemical approaches is key to extending the shelf life of avocados in a safer and health conscious manner. Avocados are prone to postharvest deterioration caused by mechanical damage, chilling injury, soft landing, uneven ripening and decay. Among the different cultivars of avocados commercially grown worldwide, the ‘Hass’ variety continues to be the most predominant due to its nutty flavour and functional properties. Most of the literature on postharvest decay and disorders affecting avocado fruit quality during storage and marketing is dedicated to the Hass avocado. Some of these postharvest problems are unique to the ‘Hass’ avocado can possibly be controlled by simply investing more research into other cultivars. These postharvest losses can be significantly controlled using eco-friendly technologies, such as modified atmosphere, physical heat treatments and most importantly investing in natural biodegradable products with naturally inherent antimicrobial properties. Thus, this review includes the recent research-based information on the use of non-chemical treatments on the improvement of fruit health and quality.
Impact of Nitrogen Fertigation on Watermelon Yield Grown on the Very Light Soil in Poland
Authors: Rolbiecki Roman , Rolbiecki Stanisław , Piszczek Piotr , Figas Anna , Jagosz Barbara , Ptach Wiesław , Prus Piotr , Kazula Maciej J.
Published: February 2020

The effect of nitrogen fertigation of two watermelon cultivars grown on the very light soil in the central part of Poland, during 2012–2014, was evaluated. The field experimental design was a split-plot with four replications. The main plot was the drip fertigation with nitrogen applied in two combinations: drip irrigation + broadcasted nitrogen fertilization (DI) used as a control, and drip irrigation + fertigation with nitrogen (DF); where, two cultivars: Bingo and Sugar Baby were used as a split-plot. The phosphorus and potassium fertilizers were applied pre plant in the spring, whereas, three rates of 40 kg ha−1 of nitrogen fertilizer were applied during the growing season. The fertigation was performed using a proportional mixing dispenser. The ripened fruits were harvested progressively as they mature. The marketable fruit yield, the single fruit weight and the number of fruits per plant, were evaluated. Tested factors presented a significant effect in the yield characteristics, further the interaction among the factors was important. DF, comparing to DI, notably improved fruit traits. Bingo cultivar had higher yield than Sugar Baby, but Sugar Baby cultivar produced more fruits than the Bingo under the DF treatment. This study provides the evidence that on a very light soil with low water and nutrients retention capacity the performance of watermelon can be optimized when nitrogen is applied directly through drip irrigation.
Efficient Control of Apple Scab with Targeted Spray Applications
Authors: Chatzidimopoulos Michael , Lioliopoulou Fenia , Sotiropoulos Thomas , Vellios Evangelos
Published: February 2020

For two consecutive growing seasons (2017 and 2018), three different fungicide spray programs, each with five sprays from unrelated chemical groups, were evaluated for their effectiveness against apple scab (causal agent: Venturia inaequalis) in an experimental trial in Greece. The targeted application programs consisted of five sprays with protective and systemic fungicides from unrelated chemical groups, in alternation. The applications were started at the pink bud stage (a copper-based fungicide had previously been applied at the green bud stage) and completed at the second fruit fall to arrest the primary infections by ascospores. These five-spray programs were compared to the standard farmer practice (12 sprays per season), whereas untreated plots were used as controls. The timing of the applications was based: a) on the critical growth stage of the crop, and b) on the risk analysis for infection calculated by the software Field Climate, which incorporated meteorological data from the trial site. All the five-spray programs were of very high efficacy against apple scab, showing disease severity ratings on leaves and fruits below 1.88%. In both years, in the untreated control, the disease incidence and severity on leaves ranged from 96.5% to 99.3% and from 65.2% to 75.93%, respectively. The five-spray programs showed similar efficacy to the standard 12-application program in all cases. From the results, it becomes apparent that apple scab can be controlled effectively by five targeted applications with selected fungicides at critical growth stages of the crop.
Climate Changes Challenges to the Management of Mediterranean Montado Ecosystem: Perspectives for Use of Precision Agriculture Technologies
Authors: Serrano João , Shahidian Shakib , Marques da Silva José , Paixão Luís , Carreira Emanuel , Pereira Alfredo , Carvalho Mário
Published: February 2020

Montado is an agro-silvo-pastoral system characterized by a high complexity as a result of the interactions between climate, soil, pasture, trees, and animals. It is in this context that management decisions must be made, for example with respect to soil fertilization, grazing, or animal supplementation. In this work, the effect of the tree canopy on the spatial and temporal variability of the soil and productivity, quality, and floristic composition of the pasture was evaluated. Precision agriculture (PA) technologies for monitoring soil and pasture were also evaluated. The study was carried out between October 2015 and June 2018 in an experimental field of 2.3 ha. The results showed: (i) The positive impact of trees and animal grazing on soil fertility; (ii) the influence of inter-annual variability of precipitation on the pattern of pasture vegetative cycle; (iii) the positive effect of trees in pasture quality; (iv) the negative effect of trees in pasture productivity; (v) the role of pasture floristic composition as an indicator of soil limitations or climatic changes; (vi) the potential of technologies associated with the concept of PA as express tools to decision making support and for the optimization of the herbaceous stratum and the dynamic management of grazing in this ecosystem in a holistic and sustainable form.
A Composite Bioinoculant Based on the Combined Application of Beneficial Bacteria and Fungi
Authors: Allaga Henrietta , Bóka Bettina , Poór Péter , Nagy Viktor Dávid , Szűcs Attila , Stankovics Istvánné , Takó Miklós , Manczinger László , Vágvölgyi Csaba , Kredics László , Körmöczi Péter
Published: February 2020

A composite soil bioinoculant containing beneficial bacteria and fungi was developed for biocontrol of plant pathogens, phosphorous mobilization, stem degradation, humification, and nitrogen fixation. A Trichoderma asperellum isolate with outstanding in vitro antagonistic abilities toward a series of plant pathogenic fungi was included as a potential biocontrol component. The selected strain was also shown to promote growth and increase photosynthetic activity of tomato plants. For phosphorous mobilization and stem degradation, a Trichoderma atrobrunneum strain was selected, which produced cellulose-degrading enzymes even in the absence of stem residues, while this ability increased 10–15-fold in the presence of ground maize stem. The strain was also shown to produce large amounts of enzymes liberating organically bound phosphorous, as well as cellulase and xylanase activities in solid-state fermentation on various plant residues. A Streptomyces albus strain with excellent peroxidase-producing abilities was selected as a potential humus-producing component, while an Azotobacter vinelandii strain with the potential to provide excess nitrogen for crops was included for nitrogen fixation. The assembled soil bioinoculant had positive effect on the uptake of certain important macro- and microelements (potassium, sodium, and manganese) from the soil by field-grown tomato plants. The applied screening strategy proved to be applicable for the assembly of a composite soil bioinoculant with notable application potentials.
Dicarbonyl Stress and S-Glutathionylation in Cerebrovascular Diseases: A Focus on Cerebral Cavernous Malformations
Authors: Antognelli Cinzia , Perrelli Andrea , Armeni Tatiana , Nicola Talesa Vincenzo , Retta Saverio Francesco
Published: February 2020

Dicarbonyl stress is a dysfunctional state consisting in the abnormal accumulation of reactive α-oxaldehydes leading to increased protein modification. In cells, post-translational changes can also occur through S-glutathionylation, a highly conserved oxidative post-translational modification consisting of the formation of a mixed disulfide between glutathione and a protein cysteine residue. This review recapitulates the main findings supporting a role for dicarbonyl stress and S-glutathionylation in the pathogenesis of cerebrovascular diseases, with specific emphasis on cerebral cavernous malformations (CCM), a vascular disease of proven genetic origin that may give rise to various clinical signs and symptoms at any age, including recurrent headaches, seizures, focal neurological deficits, and intracerebral hemorrhage. A possible interplay between dicarbonyl stress and S-glutathionylation in CCM is also discussed.
Blueberry Juice Antioxidants Protect Osteogenic Activity against Oxidative Stress and Improve Long-Term Activation of the Mineralization Process in Human Osteoblast-Like SaOS-2 Cells: Involvement of SIRT1
Authors: Domazetovic Vladana , Marcucci Gemma , Falsetti Irene , Bilia Anna Rita , Vincenzini Maria Teresa , Brandi Maria Luisa , Iantomasi Teresa
Published: February 2020

Diets rich in fruits and vegetables with many antioxidants can be very important in the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis. Studies show that oxidative stress, often due to lack of antioxidants, is involved in alteration of bone remodeling and reduction in bone density. This study demonstrates in human osteoblast-like SaOS-2 cells that blueberry juice (BJ), containing 7.5 or 15 μg∙mL−1 total soluble polyphenols (TSP), is able to prevent the inhibition of osteogenic differentiation and the mineralization process due to oxidative stress induced by glutathione depletion. This situation mimics a metabolic condition of oxidative stress that may occur during estrogen deficiency. The effect of BJ phytochemicals occurs through redox- and non-redox-regulated mechanisms. BJ protects from oxidative damage factors related to bone remodeling and bone formation, such as alkaline phosphatase and Runt-related transcription factor 2. It upregulates these factors by activation of sirtuin type 1 deacetylase expression, a possible molecular target for anti-osteoporotic drugs. Quantitative analysis of TSP in BJ shows high levels of anthocyanins with high antioxidant capacity and bioavailability. These novel data may be important to elucidate the molecular and cellular beneficial effects of blueberry polyphenols on bone regeneration, and they suggest their use as a dietary supplement for osteoporosis prevention and therapies.
The Astaxanthin Aggregation Pattern Greatly Influences Its Antioxidant Activity: A Comparative Study in Caco-2 Cells
Authors: Dai Mingqin , Li Chunjun , Yang Zhao , Sui Zhe , Li Jing , Dong Ping , Liang Xingguo
Published: February 2020

Astaxanthin is an excellent antioxidant that can form unstable aggregates in biological or artificial systems. The changes of astaxanthin properties caused by molecular aggregation have gained much attention recently. Here, water-dispersible astaxanthin H- and J-aggregates were fabricated and stabilized by a natural DNA/chitosan nanocomplex (respectively noted as H-ADC and J-ADC), as evidenced by ultraviolet and visible spectrophotometry, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and Raman spectroscopy. Compared with J-ADC, H-ADC with equivalent astaxanthin loading capacity and encapsulation efficiency showed smaller particle size and similar zeta potential. To explore the antioxidant differences between astaxanthin H- and J-aggregates, H-ADC and J-ADC were subjected to H2O2-pretreated Caco-2 cells. Compared with astaxanthin monomers and J-aggregates, H-aggregates showed a better cytoprotective effect by promoting scavenging of intracellular reactive oxygen species. Furthermore, in vitro 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl and hydroxyl free radical scavenging studies confirmed a higher efficiency of H-aggregates than J-aggregates or astaxanthin monomers. These findings give inspiration to the precise design of carotenoid aggregates for efficient utilization.
Phenolic Fractions from Dandelion Leaves and Petals as Modulators of the Antioxidant Status and Lipid Profile in an In Vivo Study
Authors: Majewski Michał , Lis Bernadetta , Juśkiewicz Jerzy , Ognik Katarzyna , Borkowska-Sztachańska Małgorzata , Jedrejek Dariusz , Stochmal Anna , Olas Beata
Published: February 2020

Alcoholic leaf and petal fractions of Taraxacum officinale (dandelion) were previously demonstrated to exert in vitro antioxidant and antithrombotic activities in blood plasma and platelets. Eight-week-old male Wistar rats (n = 6) were supplemented for four weeks with dandelion fractions (694 mg/kg of diet = 11.9 ± 0.6 mg daily). Dandelion leaf and petal fractions, which delivered daily 4.10 ± 0.05 and 1.41 ± 0.07 mg l-chicoric acid, respectively, were shown to exert antioxidative actions, measured as decreased levels of thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS) in the spleen (≈0.8-fold, leaves and petals), brain (0.53-fold, leaves) and thoracic arteries (0.59-fold, petals). Moreover, petal fraction increased thiols in the blood plasma (1.58-fold), while leaf fraction decreased protein carbonylation levels (0.59-fold). Additionally, dandelion leaf fractions modified the lipid profile: decreased triglyceride (0.44-fold), total cholesterol (0.73-fold), lipoprotein combine index (0.32-fold) and the atherogenic index of plasma (0.62-fold). Dandelion fractions showed a beneficial decrease effect in the participation of cyclooxygenase products in the noradrenaline-induced vascular contractions of thoracic arteries. Meanwhile, only the dandelion leaf fraction augmented acetylcholine-induced vasodilation and upregulated KATP channels. The heart rate and blood pressure were not modified. Dandelion leaf and petal phenolic fractions, enriched with l-chicoric acid, are promising plant materials that may exert in vivo beneficial antioxidant effects.
Antioxidant Effect of Cocoa By-Product and Cherry Polyphenol Extracts: A Comparative Study
Authors: Felice Francesca , Fabiano Angela , De Leo Marinella , Piras Anna Maria , Beconcini Denise , Cesare Maria Michela , Braca Alessandra , Zambito Ylenia , Di Stefano Rossella
Published: February 2020

Background: Recent studies have highlighted the importance of cherry and cocoa extracts consumption to protect cells from oxidative stress, paying particular attention to cocoa by-products. This study aims to investigate the protective effect of cocoa husk extract (CHE) and cherry extracts (CE) against ROS-induced oxidative stress in Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells (HUVECs). Methods: CE and CHE had antioxidant activity characterized by total polyphenols content (TPC). HUVECs were treated for 2 h and 24 h with increasing TPC concentrations of CE and CHE (5-10-25-50-100 µg Gallic Acid Equivalent (GAE)/mL) and then with H2O2 for 1 h. Cell viability and ROS production were evaluated. CE and CHE polyphenols permeability on excised rat intestine were also studied. Results: CE and CHE showed a similar antioxidant activity (2.5 ± 0.01 mmol Fe2+/100 g FW (fresh weight) and 2.19 ± 0.09 mmol Fe2+/100 g FW, respectively, p > 0.05) whereas CHE had a higher TPC (7105.0 ± 96.9 mg GAE/100 g FW) than CE (402.5 ± 8.4 mg GAE/100 g), p < 0.05. The in vitro viability assay showed that both extracts were non-cytotoxic. CHE resulted in protection against ROS at lower concentrations than CE. CHE showed a 2-fold higher apparent permeability compared to CE. Conclusions: CHE represents a high-value antioxidant source, which is interesting for the food and pharmaceutical industries.
A Comprehensive Framework for Coupled Nonlinear Aeroelasticity and Flight Dynamics of Highly Flexible Aircrafts
Authors: Zhang Chi , Zhou Zhou , Zhu Xiaoping , Qiao Lina
Published: February 2020

A framework to model and analyze the coupled nonlinear aeroelasticity and flight dynamics of highly flexible aircrafts is presented. The methodology is based on the dynamics of 3D co-rotational beams. The coupling of axial, bending and torsional effects is added to the stiffness and mass matrices of Euler–Bernoulli beam to capture the most relevant characteristics of a real wing structure. The finite-state aerodynamic model is coupled with the structural model to simulate the unsteady aerodynamics. A scheme of mixed end-point and mid-point time-marching algorithms is proposed and applied into the implicit predictor–corrector integration, where the end-point algorithm is used in the predictor step for efficiency and mid-point algorithm in corrector step for accuracy. The ground, body and airflow axes for flight dynamics are re-defined by the global and elemental ones for structural dynamics, followed by the redefinitions of local Euler angles and airflow angles of each element. The framework can be used for quick analyses of flexible aircrafts in conceptual and preliminary design phases, including linear and nonlinear trim, aerodynamic load estimation, stability assessment, time-domain simulations and flight performance evaluations. The results show the payload mass and its distributions will significantly affect the trim state and longitudinal stability of highly flexible aircrafts.
Performance Tuning for Power Electronic Interfaces Under VSG Control
Authors: Zhang Weichao , Yan Xiangwu , Huang Hanyan
Published: February 2020

Renewable generation, such as solar PV and wind power, is commonly integrated into the power grid through inertialess power electronic interfaces (PEIs). Due to the increasing penetration of renewable generation, the frequency stability of the current power system deteriorates. In order to sustain the desired level of the overall inertia, the virtual synchronous generator (VSG) algorithm has been proposed. The concept of VSG is to enable the PEIs to emulate the external properties of traditional synchronous generators (SGs), such as inertia and primary frequency responses. By exploitation of the well-established knowledge system of conventional SG-based power grids, the VSG can also be implemented with the capabilities of primary, secondary, and tertiary frequency control in multiple temporal stages. This paper focuses on parameter tuning for VSG-PEIs by performance indices. The emulation strategies are completed with the capability of secondary and tertiary frequency regulation. The transfer functions of the dynamic systems of PEIs are simplified and referred to the control theory. The composite influences of different parameters on performance indices are analyzed. The methods of the parameter tuning are proposed according to the temporal sequences of the control stages. By typical performance standards, the proposed method is verified through simulation.
Cross-National Comparison of Soundscape in Urban Public Open Spaces between China and Croatia
Authors: Deng Lingtong , Kang Jian , Zhao Wei , Jambrošić Kristian
Published: February 2020

There are similarities and differences between open public space soundscape evaluation in different countries, mainly due to the influence of cultural background. This paper systematically compares the effect of social-cultural context on soundscape of urban public open spaces in China and Croatia. Eleven well-known and typical squares were selected. A series of questionnaire surveys within the soundscape framework were carried out during the summer season, and gathered data were analyzed. Principal component analysis (PCA) resulted in two principal components, eventfulness and pleasantness, as notable soundscape factors. However, eventfulness is the major factor in China, and pleasantness is the major factor in Croatia. In terms of environmental satisfaction, natural condition is the major factor based on PCA. Urban condition is the second factor in China, however, it is the third factor in Croatia. It is interesting to note that the physical environment is the most important factor in Croatian inland and coastal places, which is different compared to Chinese places. Visit purpose is the dominant factor associated with sound and environmental satisfaction. Natural sound and children have mainly positive correlations to sound and environmental satisfaction in China, whereas sounds of human activities have mainly negative correlations to sound and environmental satisfaction in Croatia.
A Dual-Beam Leaky-Wave Antenna Based on Squarely Modulated Reactance Surface
Authors: Yu Hao , Zhang Kuang , Ding Xumin , Wu Qun
Published: February 2020

In this paper, a novel dual-beam leaky-wave antenna (LWA) based on squarely modulated reactance surface (SquMRS) is proposed. The equivalent transmission lines model is utilized to characterize the field distributions of surface wave guided by the SquMRS. The calculated dispersion characteristics of SquMRS are verified by the simulated results, and it is demonstrated that SquMRS exhibits a more flexible control of phase constant and attenuation constant compared with traditional sinusoidally modulated reactance surface (SinMRS), which means SquMRS has a great potential for near-field focusing and far-field beam shaping. On this basis, a versatile method, based on a superposition of individual modulation patterns, was used to generated two beams with almost identical gain at 8.5 GHz. The measured results show that the gains are 10 dBi and 8.2 dBi at θ1 = −30° and θ2 = 18°, respectively, and the radiation efficiency is 83%, which shows good agreement with the simulated results.
Accurate BAPL Score Classification of Brain PET Images Based on Convolutional Neural Networks with a Joint Discriminative Loss Function †
Authors: Sato Ryosuke , Iwamoto Yutaro , Cho Kook , Kang Do-Young , Chen Yen-Wei
Published: February 2020

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is an irreversible progressive cerebral disease with most of its symptoms appearing after 60 years of age. Alzheimer’s disease has been largely attributed to accumulation of amyloid beta (Aβ), but a complete cure has remained elusive. 18F-Florbetaben amyloid positron emission tomography (PET) has been shown as a more powerful tool for understanding AD-related brain changes than magnetic resonance imaging and computed tomography. In this paper, we propose an accurate classification method for scoring brain amyloid plaque load (BAPL) based on deep convolutional neural networks. A joint discriminative loss function was formulated by adding a discriminative intra-loss function to the conventional (cross-entropy) loss function. The performance of the proposed joint loss function was compared with that of the conventional loss function in three state-of-the-art deep neural network architectures. The intra-loss function significantly improved the BAPL classification performance. In addition, we showed that the mix-up data augmentation method, originally proposed for natural image classification, was also useful for medical image classification.
Fine Root Length of Maize Decreases in Response to Elevated CO2 Levels in Soil
Authors: Han Yaojie , Zhang Xueyan , Ma Xin
Published: February 2020

To assess the environmental risks of carbon capture and storage (CCS) due to underground CO2 leakage, many studies have examined the impact on plant growth; however, the effect of leaked CO2 on root morphology remains poorly understood. This study simulated the effects of CO2 leakage from CCS on maize (Zea mays L.) root systems through pot experiments—one control treatment (no added CO2) and two elevated soil CO2 treatments (1000 g m−2 d−1 and 2000 g m−2 d−1). Compared with the control, root length, root surface area, and root volume were reduced by 44.73%, 34.14%, and 19.16%, respectively, in response to CO2 treatments with a flux of 2000 g m−2 d−1. Meanwhile, the fine root length in CO2 treatments with a flux of 1000 g m−2 d−1 and 2000 g m−2 d−1 were reduced by 29.44% and 45.88%, respectively, whereas no obvious difference in regard to coarse roots was found. Understanding changes in plant root morphology in this experiment, especially the decrease in the fine root length, are essential for explaining plant responses to CO2 leakage from CCS.
Femtosecond Laser Additive Manufacturing of Multi-Material Layered Structures
Authors: Bai Shuang , Liu Jian
Published: February 2020

Laser additive manufacturing (LAM) of a multi-material multi-layer structure was investigated using femtosecond fiber lasers. A thin layer of yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ) and a Ni–YSZ layer were additively manufactured to form the electrolyte and anode support of a solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC). A lanthanum strontium manganite (LSM) layer was then added to form a basic three layer cell. This single step process eliminates the need for binders and post treatment. Parameters including laser power, scan speed, scan pattern, and hatching space were systematically evaluated to obtain optimal density and porosity. This is the first report to build a complete and functional fuel cell by using the LAM approach.
Evaluation of new Seawater-based Mouth Rinse Versus Chlorhexidine 0.2% Reducing Plaque and Gingivitis Indexes. A Randomized Controlled Pilot Study
Authors: Calvo-Guirado José Luis , Fernández Domínguez Manuel , Aragoneses Juan Manuel , Martínez González José María , Fernández-Boderau Enrique , Garcés-Villalá Miguel Angel , Romanos Georgios E. , Delgado-Ruiz Rafael Arcesio
Published: February 2020

For a long time, Chlorhexidine digluconate (CHX) has been considered the most used mouth-rinse for reducing plaque and gingivitis. Sea4® Encias is a new seawater-based mouth rinse with a similar action to CHX. Its prolonged use produces fewer side effects. This study compared the effects of two oral rinses: Chlorhexidine 0.20% and Sea 4® Encias (seawater) for reducing plaque and gingivitis indices. This double-blind crossover study recruited and monitored 93 volunteer dental students, hygienists and doctors from the Universidad Católica de Murcia (UCAM), for 1 month, and compared the efficacy of Chlorhexidine 0.20% (Group A); Sea4® Encías (Group B); and a placebo saline solution (Group C) mouth-rinses for reducing plaque and gingivitis indices. Plaque and gingival inflammation (Löe and Silness test) were evaluated at baseline and after each study stage. Group A reduced plaque growth and gingivitis significantly compared with Groups B and C; Group B was more effective than Group C. The mean P.I. decreased similarly in groups A and B. However, Group A showed the statistically significant value compared with other groups. Group A and group B, showed greater reduction in Gingival Indexes compared with group C. The Sea4 mouthwash showed better inhibitory activity on plaque (1.32 ± 0.22) compared with CHX (1.97 ± 0.34) and saline (2.78 ± 0.11). Sea4 Encias and Chlorhexidine 0.20% mouth-rinses significantly reduce plaque growth and G.I. compared with saline mouth-rinse; Sea4 Encías mouth-rinse is more effective against plaque regrowth than Chlorhexidine in this pilot study.
Study on Properties of Waste Concrete Powder by Thermal Treatment and Application in Mortar
Authors: Sui Yuwu , Ou Chuping , Liu Shu , Zhang Jinshuai , Tian Qingbo
Published: February 2020

Waste concrete must be crushed, screened, and ground in order to produce high-quality recycled aggregate. In this treatment process, 15–30% waste concrete powder (<0.125 mm) can be generated. Hydration activity and the reuse of waste concrete powders (WCPs) were studied in this work, and the results illustrated that the particle size changed after a series of thermal treatments at temperatures from 400 ℃ to 800 ℃. The particle size of waste concrete powder decreased by 700 ℃ thermal treatment, and by 600 ℃ thermal treatment, it increased. More active elements appeared in WCP heated by 800 ℃. Nevertheless, the activity index (AI) of WCP, measured by the ratio of mechanical strengths between mortar with a 30% replacement of the cement with WCP and normal mortar without WCP, indicated that the WCP by 700 ℃ thermal treatment had an optimal AI value, which meant WCP treated at 700 ℃ could be used in mortar or concrete as an admixture.
Implications of NVM Based Storage on Memory Subsystem Management
Authors: Bahn Hyokyung , Cho Kyungwoon
Published: February 2020

Recently, non-volatile memory (NVM) has advanced as a fast storage medium, and legacy memory subsystems optimized for DRAM (dynamic random access memory) and HDD (hard disk drive) hierarchies need to be revisited. In this article, we explore the memory subsystems that use NVM as an underlying storage device and discuss the challenges and implications of such systems. As storage performance becomes close to DRAM performance, existing memory configurations and I/O (input/output) mechanisms should be reassessed. This article explores the performance of systems with NVM based storage emulated by the RAMDisk under various configurations. Through our measurement study, we make the following findings. (1) We can decrease the main memory size without performance penalties when NVM storage is adopted instead of HDD. (2) For buffer caching to be effective, judicious management techniques like admission control are necessary. (3) Prefetching is not effective in NVM storage. (4) The effect of synchronous I/O and direct I/O in NVM storage is less significant than that in HDD storage. (5) Performance degradation due to the contention of multi-threads is less severe in NVM based storage than in HDD. Based on these observations, we discuss a new PC configuration consisting of small memory and fast storage in comparison with a traditional PC consisting of large memory and slow storage. We show that this new memory-storage configuration can be an alternative solution for ever-growing memory demands and the limited density of DRAM memory. We anticipate that our results will provide directions in system software development in the presence of ever-faster storage devices.
Laboratory Validation of Surface-Initiated Transverse Cracking of Asphalt Pavement
Authors: Zhang Weiguang , Khan Ali Raza , Shen Shihui , Gao Yingda
Published: February 2020

Field pavement transverse cracking typically can be grouped into two categories, namely thermal cracking that initiates at the surface of the pavement and propagates downward, and reflective cracking that initiates at the pavement layer above the existing pavement cracks or joints and propagates upward. Recently, another transverse cracking phenomenon was noticed in some field investigations but was less studied. Cracks were observed from both the surface and the bottom of field cores, but they cannot be visually observed from the middle layer. In addition, the surface and the bottom cracks lined up well, showing the tendency of meeting each other. This study aimed to evaluate the causes of such transverse cracking phenomena by laboratory tests. Hamburg equipment was used as the evaluation equipment. Some samples were prepared with a saw cut notch 0.33 inches in depth and 0.25 inches in width, and some samples were prepared without the notch at the bottom. The results showed that such a crack type could have happened when samples are aged, the base below the sample is soft, and a notch exists in the bottom layer. A potential mechanism is when the wheel load moves on one side of the existing transverse cracking (the near side), as the specimen on this side tends to bend downward under the wheel load, especially when the support is relatively soft. If without constraint, the other side of the specimen (the far side) should consequently be tilted upward. However, the bonding with the base layer and the self-weight of the specimen restrict the upward movement of the far-side specimen. Therefore, the tensile stress at the surface of the specimen directly on top of the bottom crack is created. At the same time, the bottom crack has the potential of being squeezed and pushed together.
Effects of Soccer Training on Body Balance in Young Female Athletes Assessed Using Computerized Dynamic Posturography
Authors: Olchowik Grażyna , Czwalik Agata
Published: February 2020

The aim of this study was to determine the effect of regular soccer training on the balance system for young women. Computerized dynamic posturography of female footballers (n = 25) and control group (n = 50) was assessed during three tests: Sensory Organization Test, Motor Control Test, and Adaptation Test. Statistically significant differences between the groups was found in Composite Equilibrium Score with higher values, indicating better postural stability, for footballers. Regular trainees also showed better usefulness of vestibular system while maintaining balance. Weight symmetry of the lower limbs during Motor Control Test also showed statistically significant differences between the groups. This study shows that female footballers have better postural stability than their inactive peers and that regular workouts may improve the balance system.
Contribution of Volcanic and Fumarolic Emission to the Aerosol in Marine Atmosphere in the Central Mediterranean Sea: Results from Med-Oceanor 2017 Cruise Campaign
Authors: Moretti Sacha , Salmatonidis Apostolos , Querol Xavier , Tassone Antonella , Andreoli Virginia , Bencardino Mariantonia , Pirrone Nicola , Sprovieri Francesca , Naccarato Attilio
Published: February 2020

This work studied the contribution of the geogenic sources volcanoes and fumaroles to the aerosol in marine atmosphere in the central Mediterranean basin. For this purpose, in the framework of the Med-Oceanor measurement program, we carried out a cruise campaign in the summer of 2017 to investigate the impact to the aerosol of the most important Mediterranean volcanoes (Mount Etna, Stromboli Island, and Marsili Seamount) and solfatara areas (Phlegraean Fields complex, Volcano Islands, Ischia Island, and Panarea submarine fumarole). We collected PM10 and PM2.5 samples in 12 sites and performed chemical characterization to gather information about the concentration of major and trace elements, elemental carbon (EC), organic carbon (OC), and ionic species. The use of triangular plots and the calculation of enrichment factors confirmed the interception of volcanic plume. We integrated the outcomes from chemical characterization with the use of factor analysis and SEM/EDX analysis for the source apportionment. Anthropogenic and natural sources including shipping emissions, volcanic and fumarolic load, as well as sea spray were identified as the main factors affecting aerosol levels in the study area. Furthermore, we performed pattern recognition analysis by stepwise linear discriminant analysis to seek differences in the composition of PM10 and PM2.5 samples according to their volcanic or solfatara origin.
Willingness to Pay for Green Infrastructure in Residential Development—A Consumer Perspective
Authors: Zalejska-Jonsson Agnieszka , Wilkinson Sara J. , Wahlund Richard
Published: February 2020

This paper investigates the literature and theoretical underpinning of the concept of “willingness to pay” (WTP) for green infrastructure (GI) with consequences for residential development. The benefits of GI in urban settlements include improved air quality, attenuation of the urban heat island, thermal insulation and lower energy bills for green roofs and walls, the creation of social amenity space, a habitat for biodiversity, and stormwater water attenuation. Collectively, these benefits are termed eco-system services and enhance sustainability. The role of GI, the “lungs of the planet”, is heavily correlated to atmospheric conditions; high levels of GI improve air quality, which is acknowledged widely with many cities increasing GI to make them more resilient to future predicted challenges with respect to heat and poor air quality. In addition, there is evidence that the biophilia effect enhances human well-being. There are some studies claiming that purchasers pay a premium for property with good GI. However, there is little research about the process in consumers’ minds leading to such a premium—if, how, when (under what circumstances), and then to what extent are consumers willing to pay for GI. This process, if better understood, may enable sellers or policy makers to influence the amounts of GI in developments, thus making it possible to enhance the value of GI to buyers. There is some research pointing to factors to be considered when modeling such processes. For developers, knowing the optimum amount of GI would enable them to design and construct developments with maximum purchaser appeal. To do this, stakeholders need to predict the level of WTP amongst potential purchasers for which they need to understand the decision processes behind WTP. In this way, sustainability in residential property development could be optimized. The paper analyzes the literature and theories concerning WTP, focusing on dwellings and GI. Our findings are that some quantitative evidence exists that purchasers pay more for residential property with high levels of GI in some cities, but they do so without any understanding of the possible decision processes leading to those premiums (if, how, when, and then to what extent). The paper proposes a comprehensive conceptual model that may explain buyers’ WTP for a dwelling based on a presumed cost–benefit analysis performed by buyers, which has been extended here to include GI and psychological factors. Thus, the paper has a consumer perspective. The model may be used to select variables and test them in empirical studies, and by integrating with other factors in the model, it can attain a more comprehensive understanding of WTP for GI in residential development.