bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Advanced Glycation End Product Inhibitor Pyridoxamine Attenuates IVD Degeneration in Type 2 Diabetic Rats
Authors: Glaeser Juliane D. , Ju Derek , Tawackoli Wafa , Yang Jae H. , Salehi Khosrowdad , Stefanovic Tina , Kanim Linda E. A. , Avalos Pablo , Kaneda Giselle , Stephan Stephen , Metzger Melodie F. , Bae Hyun W. , Sheyn Dmitriy
Published: December 2020

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is associated with advanced glycation end product (AGE) enrichment and considered a risk factor for intervertebral disc (IVD) degeneration. We hypothesized that systemic AGE inhibition, achieved using pyridoxamine (PM), attenuates IVD degeneration in T2DM rats. To induce IVD degeneration, lumbar disc injury or sham surgery was performed on Zucker Diabetic Sprague Dawley (ZDSD) or control Sprague Dawley (SD) rats. Post-surgery, IVD-injured ZDSD rats received daily PM dissolved in drinking water or water only. The resulting groups were SD uninjured, SD injured, ZDSD uninjured, ZDSD injured, and ZDSD injured + PM. Levels of blood glycation and disc degeneration were investigated. At week 8 post-surgery, glycated serum protein (GSP) levels were increased in ZDSDs compared to SDs. PM treatment attenuated this increase. Micro-MRI analysis demonstrated IVD dehydration in injured versus uninjured SDs and ZDSDs. In the ZDSD injured + PM group, IVD dehydration was diminished compared to ZDSD injured. AGE levels were decreased and aggrecan levels increased in ZDSD injured + PM versus ZDSD injured rats. Histological and immunohistochemical analyses further supported the beneficial effect of PM. In summary, PM attenuated GSP levels and IVD degeneration processes in ZDSD rats, demonstrating its potential to attenuate IVD degeneration in addition to managing glycemia in T2DM.
Brain Site-Specific Inhibitory Effects of the GLP-1 Analogue Exendin-4 on Alcohol Intake and Operant Responding for Palatable Food
Authors: Colvin Kayla J. , Killen Henry S. , Kanter Maxwell J. , Halperin Maximilian C. , Engel Liv , Currie Paul J.
Published: December 2020

Approximately 14.4 million Americans are experiencing alcohol use disorder (AUD) and about two-thirds of people who experience drug addiction will relapse, highlighting the need to develop novel and effective treatments. Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) is a peptide hormone implicated in the mesocorticolimbic reward system and has become a peptide of interest with respect to its putative inhibitory effects on drug reward. In order to further develop treatments for those diagnosed with AUD, the interplay between GLP-1 receptor signaling and ethanol consumption must be elucidated. In the present study, we investigated the ability of the GLP-1 analogue, exendin-4 (Ex-4), to alter alcohol intake and operant responding for sucrose pellets in order to further understand the role of this compound in mediating reward. We selected multiple sites throughout the prosencephalic and mesencephalic regions of the brain, where we directly administered various doses of Ex-4 to male Sprague Dawley rats. In alcohol investigations, we utilized a two-bottle choice intermittent access protocol. In separate groups of rats, we adopted an operant paradigm in order to examine the effect of Ex-4 on motivated responding for palatable food. Results indicated that GLP-1 receptor signaling effectively suppressed voluntary alcohol intake when injected into the ventral tegmental area (VTA), the accumbens core (NAcC) and shell (NAcS), the dorsomedial hippocampus (DMHipp), and the lateral hypothalamus (LH), which are all structures linked to brain reward mechanisms. The arcuate nucleus (ARcN) and the paraventricular nucleus (PVN) of the hypothalamus were unresponsive, as was the basolateral amygdala (BLA). However, Ex-4 treatment into the ArcN and PVN suppressed operant responding for sucrose pellets. In fact, the VTA, NAcC, NAcS, LH, and the DMHipp all showed comparable suppression of sucrose responding. Overall, our findings suggest that these central structures are implicated in brain reward circuitry, including alcohol and appetitive motivation, which may be mediated by GLP-1 receptor mechanisms. GLP-1, therefore, may play a critical role in modifying addictive behaviors via activation of multiple GLP-1 systems throughout the brain.
PLGA-PEG Nanoparticles Show Minimal Risks of Interference with Platelet Function of Human Platelet-Rich Plasma
Authors: Bakhaidar Rana , O’Neill Sarah , Ramtoola Zebunnissa
Published: December 2020

The expansion of nanotechnology for drug delivery applications has raised questions regarding the safety of nanoparticles (NPs) due to their potential for interacting at molecular and cellular levels. Although polymeric NPs for drug delivery are formulated using FDA-approved polymers such as lactide- and glycolide-based polymers, their interactions with blood constituents, remain to be identified. The aim of this study was to determine the impact of size-selected Poly-lactide-co-glycolide-polyethylene glycol (PLGA-PEG) NPs on platelet activity. The NPs of 113, 321, and 585 nm sizes, were formulated and their effects at concentrations of 0–2.2 mg/mL on the activation and aggregation of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) were investigated. The results showed that NPs of 113 nm did not affect adenosine diphosphate (ADP)-induced platelet aggregation at any NP concentration studied. The NPs of 321 and 585 nm, at concentrations ≥0.25 mg/mL, reduced ADP-activated platelet aggregation. The platelet activation profile remained unchanged in the presence of investigated NPs. Confocal microscopy revealed that NPs were attached to or internalised by platelets in both resting and activated states, with no influence on platelet reactivity. The results indicate minimal risks of interference with platelet function for PLGA-PEG NPs and that these NPs can be explored as nanocarriers for targeted drug delivery to platelets.
Cyclic Peptide Mimotopes for the Detection of Serum Anti–ATIC Autoantibody Biomarker in Hepato-Cellular Carcinoma
Authors: Heo Chang-Kyu , Hwang Hai-Min , Lim Won-Hee , Lee Hye-Jung , Yoo Jong-Shin , Lim Kook-Jin , Cho Eun-Wie
Published: December 2020

Tumor-associated (TA) autoantibodies have been identified at the early tumor stage before developing clinical symptoms, which holds hope for early cancer diagnosis. We identified a TA autoantibody from HBx-transgenic (HBx-tg) hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) model mouse, characterized its target antigen, and examined its relationship to human HCC. The mimotopes corresponding to the antigenic epitope of TA autoantibody were screened from a random cyclic peptide library and used for the detection of serum TA autoantibody. The target antigen of the TA autoantibody was identified as an oncogenic bi-functional purine biosynthesis protein, ATIC. It was upregulated in liver cancer tissues of HBx-tg mouse as well as human HCC tissues. Over-expressed ATIC was also secreted extracellularly via the cancer-derived exosomes, which might cause auto-immune responses. The cyclic peptide mimotope with a high affinity to anti-ATIC autoantibody, CLPSWFHRC, distinguishes between serum samples from HCC patients and healthy subjects with 70.83% sensitivity, 90.68% specificity (AUC = 0.87). However, the recombinant human ATIC protein showed a low affinity to anti-ATIC autoantibody, which may be incompatible as a capture antigen for serum TA autoantibody. This study indicates that anti-ATIC autoantibody can be a potential HCC-associated serum biomarker and suggests that autoantibody biomarker’s efficiency can be improved by using antigenic mimicry to native antigens present in vivo.
Clinical Implications of Acquired BRAF Inhibitors Resistance in Melanoma
Authors: Savoia Paola , Zavattaro Elisa , Cremona Ottavio
Published: December 2020

Understanding the role of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway-activating mutations in the development and progression of melanoma and their possible use as therapeutic targets has substantially changed the management of this neoplasm, which, until a few years ago, was burdened by severe mortality. However, the presence of numerous intrinsic and extrinsic mechanisms of resistance to BRAF inhibitors compromises the treatment responses’ effectiveness and durability. The strategy of overcoming these resistances by combination therapy has proved successful, with the additional benefit of reducing side effects derived from paradoxical activation of the MAPK pathway. Furthermore, the use of other highly specific inhibitors, intermittent dosing schedules and the association of combination therapy with immune checkpoint inhibitors are promising new therapeutic strategies. However, numerous issues related to dose, tolerability and administration sequence still need to be clarified, as is to be expected from currently ongoing trials. In this review, we describe the clinical results of using BRAF inhibitors in advanced melanoma, with a keen interest in strategies aimed at overcoming resistance.
Non-Coding RNA-Driven Regulation of rRNA Biogenesis
Authors: Kaliatsi Eleni G. , Giarimoglou Nikoleta , Stathopoulos Constantinos , Stamatopoulou Vassiliki
Published: December 2020

Ribosomal RNA (rRNA) biogenesis takes place in the nucleolus, the most prominent condensate of the eukaryotic nucleus. The proper assembly and integrity of the nucleolus reflects the accurate synthesis and processing of rRNAs which in turn, as major components of ribosomes, ensure the uninterrupted flow of the genetic information during translation. Therefore, the abundant production of rRNAs in a precisely functional nucleolus is of outmost importance for the cell viability and requires the concerted action of essential enzymes, associated factors and epigenetic marks. The coordination and regulation of such an elaborate process depends on not only protein factors, but also on numerous regulatory non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs). Herein, we focus on RNA-mediated mechanisms that control the synthesis, processing and modification of rRNAs in mammals. We highlight the significance of regulatory ncRNAs in rRNA biogenesis and the maintenance of the nucleolar morphology, as well as their role in human diseases and as novel druggable molecular targets.
Caffeic and Chlorogenic Acids Synergistically Activate Browning Program in Human Adipocytes: Implications of AMPK- and PPAR-Mediated Pathways
Authors: Vasileva Liliya V. , Savova Martina S. , Amirova Kristiana M. , Balcheva-Sivenova Zhivka , Ferrante Claudio , Orlando Giustino , Wabitsch Martin , Georgiev Milen I.
Published: December 2020

Caffeic acid (CA) and chlorogenic acid (CGA) are phenolic compounds claimed to be responsible for the metabolic effects of coffee and tea consumption. Along with their structural similarities, they share common mechanisms such as activation of the AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) signaling. The present study aimed to investigate the anti-obesity potential of CA and CGA as co-treatment in human adipocytes. The molecular interactions of CA and CGA with key adipogenic transcription factors were simulated through an in silico molecular docking approach. The expression levels of white and brown adipocyte markers, as well as genes related to lipid metabolism, were analyzed by real-time quantitative PCR and Western blot analyses. Mechanistically, the CA/CGA combination induced lipolysis, upregulated AMPK and browning gene expression and downregulated peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ) at both transcriptional and protein levels. The gene expression profiles of the CA/CGA-co-treated adipocytes strongly resembled brown-like signatures. Major pathways identified included the AMPK- and PPAR-related signaling pathways. Collectively, these findings indicated that CA/CGA co-stimulation exerted a browning-inducing potential superior to that of either compound used alone which merits implementation in obesity management. Further, the obtained data provide additional insights on how CA and CGA modify adipocyte function, differentiation and lipid metabolism.
Clock Genes, Inflammation and the Immune System—Implications for Diabetes, Obesity and Neurodegenerative Diseases
Authors: Vieira Elaine , Mirizio Gerardo Gabriel , Barin Geovana Reichert , de Andrade Rosângela Vieira , Nimer Nidah Fawzi Said , La Sala Lucia
Published: December 2020

Inflammation is a common feature of several diseases, including obesity, diabetes and neurodegenerative disorders. Circadian clock genes are expressed and oscillate in many cell types such as macrophages, neurons and pancreatic β cells. During inflammation, these endogenous clocks control the temporal gating of cytokine production, the antioxidant response, chemokine attraction and insulin secretion, among other processes. Deletion of clock genes in macrophages or brain-resident cells induces a higher production of inflammatory cytokines and chemokines, and this is often accompanied by an increased oxidative stress. In the context of obesity and diabetes, a high-fat diet disrupts the function of clock genes in macrophages and in pancreatic β cells, contributing to inflammation and systemic insulin resistance. Recently, it has been shown that the administration of natural and synthetic ligands or pharmacological enhancers of the circadian clock function can selectively regulate the production and release of pro-inflammatory cytokines and improve the metabolic function in vitro and in vivo. Thus, a better understanding of the circadian regulation of the immune system could have important implications for the management of metabolic and neurodegenerative diseases.
Identification and Analysis of MicroRNAs Associated with Wing Polyphenism in the Brown Planthopper, Nilaparvata lugens
Authors: Xu Le , Zhang Jiao , Zhan Anran , Wang Yaqin , Ma Xingzhou , Jie Wencai , Cao Zhenghong , Omar Mohamed A. A. , He Kang , Li Fei
Published: December 2020

Many insects are capable of developing two types of wings (i.e., wing polyphenism) to adapt to various environments. Though the roles of microRNAs (miRNAs) in regulating animal growth and development have been well studied, their potential roles in modulating wing polyphenism remain largely elusive. To identify wing polyphenism-related miRNAs, we isolated small RNAs from 1st to 5th instar nymphs of long-wing (LW) and short-wing (SW) strains of the brown planthopper (BPH), Nilaparvata lugens. Small RNA libraries were then constructed and sequenced, yielding 158 conserved and 96 novel miRNAs. Among these, 122 miRNAs were differentially expressed between the two BPH strains. Specifically, 47, 2, 27 and 41 miRNAs were more highly expressed in the 1st, 3rd, 4th and 5th instars, respectively, of the LW strain compared with the SW strain. In contrast, 47, 3, 29 and 25 miRNAs were more highly expressed in the 1st, 3rd, 4th and 5th instars, respectively, of the SW strain compared with the LW strain. Next, we predicted the targets of these miRNAs and carried out Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway analysis. We found that a number of pathways might be involved in wing form determination, such as the insulin, MAPK, mTOR, FoxO and thyroid hormone signaling pathways and the thyroid hormone synthesis pathway. Thirty and 45 differentially expressed miRNAs targeted genes in the insulin signaling and insect hormone biosynthesis pathways, respectively, which are related to wing dimorphism. Among these miRNAs, Nlu-miR-14-3p, Nlu-miR-9a-5p and Nlu-miR-315-5p, were confirmed to interact with insulin receptors (NlInRs) in dual luciferase reporter assays. These discoveries are helpful for understanding the miRNA-mediated regulatory mechanism of wing polyphenism in BPHs and shed new light on how insects respond to environmental cues through developmental plasticity.
How to Measure Financial Literacy?
Authors: Rieger Marc Oliver
Published: December 2020

Financial (il-)literacy and its effects have been studied extensively in recent years. The measurement of this concept is, however, tricky and numerous measurement instruments exist. In this paper, we study the connection between these measures empirically. We find that these measures are often only slightly related and that this is a so-far overlooked empirical problem in this field. As a result of our analysis, we suggest the combination of two measures as the best potential alternative to the existing measures. Finally, we analyze the predictive power of this suggested measure for stock investment decisions.
Performance Comparison of Advanced Ceramic Cladding Approaches via Solid-State and Traditional Welding Processes: A Review
Authors: Selvaraj Senthil Kumaran , Srinivasan Kathiravan , Deshmukh Jainendra , Agrawal Darshit , Mungilwar Sailam , Jagtap Rucha , Hu Yuh-Chung
Published: December 2020

Ceramic coating has applications in enhancing the material’s properties and can significantly improve the material’s usability in varied temperatures and adverse operating conditions and widen its applicability scope. It can add to the various properties such as wear resistance, high-temperature degradation, thermal conductivity, material toughness, tensile strength, corrosion resistance, friction reduction, electric insulation, and the lifespan of the material. Various techniques have been suggested and implemented to achieve ceramic coating on a metal surface, each having their respective advantages and disadvantages. Hence, they can be distinguished for their applicability in different places. The bonding mechanism of metal particle systems has been researched to date, but there are still certain uncertainties regarding the ceramic particle system because of the dissimilarities in properties. The paper aims to profoundly investigate the various coating technologies available through welding processes and do a comparative study through numerical analysis and experimental results on the properties of coatings obtained from two broad categories of welding—solid-state and traditional/fusion processes. It was found that the solid-state processes in which the temperature remained well below the fusion temperatures overcame the mismatch in property and produced reliable coatings with enhanced mechanical properties.
Effect of Hot Deformation on Phase Transformation Kinetics in Isothermally Annealed 3Mn-1.6Al Steel
Authors: Skowronek Adam , Morawiec Mateusz , Kozłowska Aleksandra , Pakieła Wojciech
Published: December 2020

The kinetics of ferritic transformation and the corresponding microstructural evolution in 0.17C-3.1Mn-1.6Al-0.04Nb-0.22Mo-0.22Si medium-Mn steel during isothermal annealing was investigated in dilatometric studies. The material was subjected to thermal and thermo-mechanical treatments aimed at obtaining, by the austenite → ferrite transformation, a sufficient fraction of ferrite to stabilize the retained austenite by C and eventual Mn partitioning. The samples were isothermally held for 5 h in a temperature range from 600 to 750 °C to simulate simplified temperature conditions of an industrial coiling process following hot rolling. Some of the samples were plastically deformed at a temperature of 900 °C before isothermal holding in order to study the effect of hot deformation on the kinetics of phase transformations. After the dilatometric investigations the material was subjected to light and scanning electron microscopy to reveal relationships between the holding temperature, deformation and microstructure evolution. Hardness tests were performed to assess the mechanical behavior. A significant effect of manganese in slowing down diffusional transformations during the cooling of steel was found. The influence of austenite deformation on the kinetics of austenite to ferrite transformation was noted. The plastically deformed samples showed an accelerated start of ferritic transformation and the extension of its range. During dilatometric tests, low-range dynamic ferritic transformation was recorded, which was also confirmed by the microscopic tests.
Experimental Study on Influence of Curing Time on Strength Behavior of SLA-Printed Samples Loaded with Different Strain Rates
Authors: Miedzińska Danuta , Gieleta Roman , Popławski Arkadiusz
Published: December 2020

Stereolithography (SLA) is an additive manufacturing process based on the photocuring of resins with the use of UV light. The printed samples can be used not only for the visualization of structures, but also to develop elements of real constructions. In the study, SLA-printed samples made of Formlabs’ Durable Resin were tested in static, dynamic, and Hopkinson’s bar tests. The recommended UV and heat curing time for this resin is 60 min for each process. For the tests, 5-minute and 30-min curing times were also considered. The obtained stress-strain curves were compared. The resin showed a difference in response to the strain rate effect and a curing time influence was noticed. For the static tests, the post-curing time had the greatest effect with a very small standard deviation. For the dynamic tests, similar dependencies were observed but with a greater standard deviation. The tests at very high strain rates were associated with a much greater level of difficulty in execution, recording, and signal analyzing, and the influence of the exposure time on the mechanical properties was not straightforward. The tested resin showed strengthening with increases in the strain rate as well as in the curing time.
Compressive Behavior of (Cu0.47Zr0.45Al0.08)98Dy2 Bulk Metallic Glass at Different Strain Rates
Authors: Wang Yu-Ting , Zu Xu-Dong , Liu Xiang-Kui , Huang Zheng-Xiang , Jin Peng-Gang , Kong Jian
Published: December 2020

The mechanical properties of (Cu0.47Zr0.45Al0.08)98Dy2 bulk metallic glass (BMG) were characterized under various strain rates by quasi-static and dynamic compressive tests. In the quasi-static compressive tests, the yield stress of (Cu0.47Zr0.45Al0.08)98Dy2 BMG increased from 1234 MPa to 1844 MPa when the strain rate was increased from 0.001 s−1 to 0.01 s−1, and the yield stress decreased to 1430 MPa at the strain rate of 0.1 s−1. In the dynamic compressive tests, when the strain rate increased from 1550 s−1 to 2990 s−1, the yield stress of (Cu0.47Zr0.45Al0.08)98Dy2 BMG first decreased from 1508 MPa to 1404 MPa, and then increased to 1593 MPa. The fracture behaviors of (Cu0.47Zr0.45Al0.08)98Dy2 BMG were studied by using scanning electron microscopy to examine the fracture surface. Fracture occurred in the pure shear mode with strain rates below 2100 s−1, whereas shear fracture and normal fracture occurred simultaneously under strain rates of 2650 s−1 and 2990 s−1.
Low-Cost Sensors for Determining the Variation in Interior Moisture Content in Gypsum Composite Materials
Authors: Ferrández Daniel , Morón Carlos , Saiz Pablo , Atanes-Sánchez Evangelina , Yedra Engerst
Published: December 2020

Non-destructive testing can be used to determine some of the most relevant physical properties of building materials. In this work, two low-cost measuring devices were developed capable of determining the variation in real-time of the percentage of humidity that is produced in the construction of gypsum and plaster during the hardening process. For this, an Arduino resistive sensor and a capacitive sensor of our design were used. The results show how it is possible to determine the variations in mixing water content during the seven days of curing established by the UNE-EN 13279-2 standard as well relate to the mechanical resistance of the test specimens with the same percentage of humidity. Additionally, the study was completed with the determination of the formation of the dihydrate compound linked to this setting process in the test specimens by conducting X-ray diffraction and thermogravimetric analysis tests at different ages of the samples.
Polycrystal Simulation of Texture-Induced Grain Coarsening during Severe Plastic Deformation
Authors: Zhang Chi , Toth Laszlo S.
Published: December 2020

During severe plastic deformation (SPD), there is usually extended grain fragmentation, associated with the formation of a crystallographic texture. The effect of texture evolution is, however, coarsening in grain size, as neighbor grains might coalesce into one grain by approaching the same ideal orientation. This work investigates the texture-induced grain coarsening effect in face-centered cubic polycrystals during simple shear, in 3D topology. The 3D polycrystal aggregate was constructed using a cellular automaton model with periodic boundary conditions. The grains constituting the polycrystal were assigned to orientations, which were updated using the Taylor polycrystal plasticity approach. At the end of plastic straining, a grain detection procedure (similar to the one in electron backscatter diffraction, but in 3D) was applied to detect if the orientation difference between neighboring grains decreased below a small critical value (5°). Three types of initial textures were considered in the simulations: shear texture, random texture, and cube-type texture. The most affected case was the further shearing of an initially already shear texture: nearly 40% of the initial volume was concerned by the coalescence effect at a shear strain of 4. The coarsening was less in the initial random texture (~30%) and the smallest in the cube-type texture (~20%). The number of neighboring grains coalescing into one grain went up to 12. It is concluded that the texture-induced coarsening effect in SPD processing cannot be ignored and should be taken into account in the grain fragmentation process.
Methane-Oxidizing Communities in Lichen-Dominated Forested Tundra Are Composed Exclusively of High-Affinity USCα Methanotrophs
Authors: Belova Svetlana E. , Danilova Olga V. , Ivanova Anastasia A. , Merkel Alexander Y. , Dedysh Svetlana N.
Published: December 2020

Upland soils of tundra function as a constant sink for atmospheric CH4 but the identity of methane oxidizers in these soils remains poorly understood. Methane uptake rates of −0.4 to −0.6 mg CH4-C m−2 day−1 were determined by the static chamber method in a mildly acidic upland soil of the lichen-dominated forested tundra, North Siberia, Russia. The maximal CH4 oxidation activity was localized in an organic surface soil layer underlying the lichen cover. Molecular identification of methanotrophic bacteria based on retrieval of the pmoA gene revealed Upland Soil Cluster Alpha (USCα) as the only detectable methanotroph group. Quantification of these pmoA gene fragments by means of specific qPCR assay detected ~107pmoA gene copies g−1 dry soil. The pmoA diversity was represented by seven closely related phylotypes; the most abundant phylotype displayed 97.5% identity to pmoA of Candidatus Methyloaffinis lahnbergensis. Further analysis of prokaryote diversity in this soil did not reveal 16S rRNA gene fragments from well-studied methanotrophs of the order Methylococcales and the family Methylocystaceae. The largest group of reads (~4% of all bacterial 16S rRNA gene fragments) that could potentially belong to methanotrophs was classified as uncultivated Beijerinckiaceae bacteria. These reads displayed 96–100 and 95–98% sequence similarity to 16S rRNA gene of Candidatus Methyloaffinis lahnbergensis and “Methylocapsa gorgona” MG08, respectively, and were represented by eight species-level operational taxonomic units (OTUs), two of which were highly abundant. These identification results characterize subarctic upland soils, which are exposed to atmospheric methane concentrations only, as a unique habitat colonized mostly by USCα methanotrophs.
John B. Goodenough’s Role in Solid State Chemistry Community: A Thrilling Scientific Tale Told by a French Chemist
Authors: Pouchard Michel
Published: December 2020

In this tribute to John B. Goodenough I will describe how John’s talk on the metal-to-nonmetal transition of vanadium oxide VO2, presented at the Bordeaux Conference (September 1964) attended by inorganic chemists, metallurgists, crystallographers, thermodynamicists and physicists, provided a pioneering vision of interdisciplinary research to come. John gave a complete description of the paradigm on how the physical properties of a solid depend on its structure and bonding, by employing the chemical notions as local distortions and interatomic distances as well as the physics notions such as band width and the Hubbard on-site repulsion U. I will illustrate how inspiring John’s ideas were, by discussing the research examples of my own research group in the sixties-seventies. The fundamental approach of John B. Goodenough to Solid State Chemistry, leading particularly to lithium battery applications, is at the heart of the 2019 Nobel Prize awarded to John.
New Functionalized Polymeric Sensor Based NiO/MgO Nanocomposite for Potentiometric Determination of Doxorubicin Hydrochloride in Commercial Injections and Human Plasma
Authors: Alarfaj Nawal A. , El-Tohamy Maha F.
Published: December 2020

The ultra-functional potential of nickel oxide (NiO) and magnesium oxide (MgO) nanoparticles (NPs), provides for extensive attention in the use of these metal oxides as a remarkable and electroactive nanocomposite in potentiometric and sensing investigations. This work proposed a new strategy for quantifying doxorubicin hydrochloride (DOX) in pharmaceuticals and human plasma by preparing a NiO/MgO core-shell nanocomposite modified coated wire membrane sensor. Doxorubicin hydrochloride was incorporated with phosphomolybdic acid (PMA) to produce doxorubicin hydrochloride phosphomolybdate (DOX-PM) as an electroactive material in the presence of polymeric high molecular weight poly vinyl chloride (PVC) and solvent mediator o-nitrophenyloctyl ether (o-NPOE). The modified sensor exhibited ultra sensitivity and high selectivity for the detection and quantification of doxorubicin hydrochloride with a linear relationship in the range of 1.0 × 10−11–1.0 × 10−2 mol L−1. The equation of regression was estimated to be EmV = (57.86 ± 0.8) log [DOX] + 723.19. However, the conventional type DOX-PM showed a potential response over a concentration range of 1.0 × 10−6–1.0 × 10−2 mol L−1 and a regression equation of EmV = (52.92 ± 0.5) log [DOX] + 453.42. The suggested sensors were successfully used in the determination of doxorubicin hydrochloride in commercial injections and human plasma.
Autoethnography: A Potential Method for Sikh Theory to Praxis Research
Authors: Kaur-Bring Narinder
Published: December 2020

The application of autoethnographic research as an investigative methodology in Sikh studies may appear relatively novel. Yet the systematic analysis in autoethnography of a person’s experience through reflexivity and connecting the personal story to the social, cultural, and political life has synergy with the Sikh sense-making process. Deliberation (vichhar) of an individual’s experience through the embodied wisdom of the Gurū (gurmat) connecting the lived experience to a greater knowing and awareness of the self is an established practice in Sikhi. This article explores autoethnography as a potential research method to give an academic voice to and capture the depth of the lived experiences of Sikhs: first, by articulating the main spaces of synergy of autoethnography with gurmat vichhar; second, discussing common themes such as inclusivity of disregarded voices, accessibility to knowledge creation, relational responsibility, and integrity in storytelling common to both autoethnography and gurmat vichhar. In conclusion, the autoethnographic approach has the means to illuminate nuances in understanding Sikhi that is transformative and familiar to the ancestral process of how Sikhs have made sense of themselves and the world around them.
Religious Values in Liberal Democracy
Authors: Gill Emily R.
Published: December 2020

Religious values neither wholly threaten nor wholly reinforce the stability of liberal democracy. This depends upon how they may be interpreted and applied. The recent influence of Christian nationalists, who would promote a specific interpretation of Christianity as the only legitimate basis for public policy, and of those who would elevate religious liberty above all other rights, does not promote pluralism. Although people should be able to live out their religious commitments, it is the state, not individuals or private organizations, that must draw the line between the free exercise of religion and the civil rights of those who may be adversely affected by the religious exercise of others. First, religious rights may threaten other rights, particularly when reinforced with public funds. Second, religion makes valuable contributions to pluralism when it protects the conscientious beliefs and practices of individuals and of minority religious groups. Finally, concerning LGBT civil rights, individual religious believers should be accommodated as much as possible, but their organizations should be required to arrange for others without objections to provide services that are sought. Religion’s greatest contribution occurs when it is allied with movements that enhance individual rights, including but not limited to the free exercise of religion.
The Potential of ICESat-2 to Identify Carbon-Rich Peatlands in Indonesia
Authors: Berninger Anna , Siegert Florian
Published: December 2020

Peatlands in Indonesia are one of the primary global storages for terrestrial organic carbon. Poor land management, drainage, and recurrent fires lead to the release of huge amounts of carbon dioxide. Accurate information about the extent of the peatlands and its 3D surface topography is crucial for assessing and quantifying this globally relevant carbon store. To identify the most carbon-rich peatlands—dome-shaped ombrogenous peat—by collecting GPS-based terrain data is almost impossible, as these peatlands are often located in remote areas, frequently flooded, and usually covered by dense tropical forest vegetation. The detection by airborne LiDAR or spaceborne remote sensing in Indonesia is costly and laborious. This study investigated the potential of the ICESat-2/ATLAS LiDAR satellite data to identify and map carbon-rich peatlands. The spaceborne ICESat-2 LiDAR data were compared and correlated with highly accurate field validated digital terrain models (DTM) generated from airborne LiDAR as well as the commercial global WorldDEM DTM dataset. Compared to the airborne DTM, the ICESat-2 LiDAR data produced an R2 of 0.89 and an RMSE of 0.83 m. For the comparison with the WorldDEM DTM, the resulting R2 lay at 0.94 and the RMSE at 0.86 m. We model the peat dome surface from individual peat hydrological units by performing ordinary kriging on ICESat-2 DTM-footprint data. These ICESat-2 based peatland models, compared to a WorldDEM DTM and airborne DTM, produced an R2 of 0.78, 0.84, and 0.94 in Kalimantan and an R2 of 0.69, 0.72, and 0.85 in Sumatra. The RMSE ranged from 0.68 m to 2.68 m. These results demonstrate the potential of ICESat-2 in assessing peat surface topography. Since ICESat-2 will collect more data worldwide in the years to come, it can be used to survey and map carbon-rich tropical peatlands globally and free of charge.
Simulation of SAW Sensors with Various Distributed Mass Loadings Using Two-Dimensional Coupling-of-Modes Theory
Authors: You Ran , Liu Jiuling , Liu Minghua , Chen Zhiyuan , He Shitang
Published: December 2020

In order to accurately investigate the disturbance of complex distributed mass loading on surface acoustic wave (SAW) propagation characteristics, two-dimensional coupling-of-modes (2-D COM) theory and finite element method (FEM) were used to simulate the responses of SAW sensors. By using the PDE mode of FEM software, four SAW resonators with the loads in different distribution patterns were modeled. Also, we fabricated and measured a series of SAW resonators accordingly. The results showed that the 2-D COM theory combined with the finite element method was able to simulate the transverse modes of the device and the disturbance of the mass loading on the transverse mode effectively, making the simulation more accurate.
An SVM Based Weight Scheme for Improving Kinematic GNSS Positioning Accuracy with Low-Cost GNSS Receiver in Urban Environments
Authors: Lyu Zhitao , Gao Yang
Published: December 2020

High-precision positioning with low-cost global navigation satellite systems (GNSS) in urban environments remains a significant challenge due to the significant multipath effects, non-line-of-sight (NLOS) errors, as well as poor satellite visibility and geometry. A GNSS system is typically implemented with a least-square (LS) or a Kalman-filter (KF) estimator, and a proper weight scheme is vital for achieving reliable navigation solutions. The traditional weight schemes are based on the signal-in-space ranging errors (SISRE), elevation and C/N0 values, which would be less effective in urban environments since the observation quality cannot be fully manifested by those values. In this paper, we propose a new multi-feature support vector machine (SVM) signal classifier-based weight scheme for GNSS measurements to improve the kinematic GNSS positioning accuracy in urban environments. The proposed new weight scheme is based on the identification of important features in GNSS data in urban environments and intelligent classification of line-of-sight (LOS) and NLOS signals. To validate the performance of the newly proposed weight scheme, we have implemented it into a real-time single-frequency precise point positioning (SFPPP) system. The dynamic vehicle-based tests with a low-cost single-frequency u-blox M8T GNSS receiver demonstrate that the positioning accuracy using the new weight scheme outperforms the traditional C/N0 based weight model by 65.4% and 85.0% in the horizontal and up direction, and most position error spikes at overcrossing and short tunnels can be eliminated by the new weight scheme compared to the traditional method. It also surpasses the built-in satellite-based augmentation systems (SBAS) solutions of the u-blox M8T and is even better than the built-in real-time-kinematic (RTK) solutions of multi-frequency receivers like the u-blox F9P and Trimble BD982.
Deeply Recursive Low- and High-Frequency Fusing Networks for Single Image Super-Resolution
Authors: Yang Cheng , Lu Guanming
Published: December 2020

With the development of researches on single image super-resolution (SISR) based on convolutional neural networks (CNN), the quality of recovered images has been remarkably promoted. Since then, many deep learning-based models have been proposed, which have outperformed the traditional SISR algorithms. According to the results of extensive experiments, the feature representations of the model can be enhanced by increasing the depth and width of the network, which can ultimately improve the image reconstruction quality. However, a larger network generally consumes more computational and memory resources, making it difficult to train the network and increasing the prediction time. In view of the above problems, a novel deeply-recursive low- and high-frequency fusing network (DRFFN) for SISR tasks is proposed in this paper, which adopts the structure of parallel branches to extract the low- and high-frequency information of the image, respectively. The different complexities of the branches can reflect the frequency characteristic of the diverse image information. Moreover, an effective channel-wise attention mechanism based on variance (VCA) is designed to make the information distribution of each feature map more reasonably with different variances. Owing to model structure (i.e., cascading recursive learning of recursive units), DRFFN and DRFFN-L are very compact, where the weights are shared by all convolutional recursions. Comprehensive benchmark evaluations in standard benchmark datasets well demonstrate that DRFFN outperforms the most existing models and has achieved competitive, quantitative, and visual results.
High-Accuracy 3-D Sensor for Rivet Inspection Using Fringe Projection Profilometry with Texture Constraint
Authors: Wang Yunfan , Zhao Huijie , Li Xudong , Jiang Hongzhi
Published: December 2020

Riveted workpieces are widely used in manufacturing; however, current inspection sensors are mainly limited in nondestructive testing and obtaining the high-accuracy dimension automatically is difficult. We developed a 3-D sensor for rivet inspection using fringe projection profilometry (FPP) with texture constraint. We used multi-intensity high dynamic range (HDR) FPP method to address the varying reflectance of the metal surface then utilized an additional constraint calculated from the fused HDR texture to compensate for the artifacts caused by phase mixture around the stepwise edge. By combining the 2-D contours and 3-D FPP data, rivets can be easily segmented, and the edge points can be further refined for diameter measurement. We tested the performance on a sample of riveted aluminum frame and evaluated the accuracy using standard objects. Experiments show that denser 3-D data of a riveted metal workpiece can be acquired with high accuracy. Compared with the traditional FPP method, the diameter measurement accuracy can be improved by 50%.
A Case Driven Study of the Use of Time Series Classification for Flexibility in Industry 4.0
Authors: Polge Julien , Robert Jérémy , Le Traon Yves
Published: December 2020

With the Industry 4.0 paradigm comes the convergence of the Internet Technologies and Operational Technologies, and concepts, such as Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT), cloud manufacturing, Cyber-Physical Systems (CPS), and so on. These concepts bring industries into the big data era and allow for them to have access to potentially useful information in order to optimise the Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE); however, most European industries still rely on the Computer-Integrated Manufacturing (CIM) model, where the production systems run as independent systems (i.e., without any communication with the upper levels). Those production systems are controlled by a Programmable Logic Controller, in which a static and rigid program is implemented. This program is static and rigid in a sense that the programmed routines cannot evolve over the time unless a human modifies it. However, to go further in terms of flexibility, we are convinced that it requires moving away from the aforementioned old-fashioned and rigid automation to a ML-based automation, i.e., where the control itself is based on the decisions that were taken by ML algorithms. In order to verify this, we applied a time series classification method on a scale model of a factory using real industrial controllers, and widened the variety of parts the production line has to treat. This study shows that satisfactory results can be obtained only at the expense of the human expertise (i.e., in the industrial process and in the ML process).
An Energy Efficient Sink Location Service for Continuous Objects in Wireless Sensor Networks
Authors: Kim Cheonyong , Kim Sangdae , Cho Hyunchong , Kim Sangha , Oh Seungmin
Published: December 2020

In wireless sensor networks (WSNs), detection and report of continuous object, such as forest fire and toxic gas leakage, is one of the major applications. In large-scale continuous object tracking in WSNs, there might be many source nodes simultaneously, detecting the continuous object. Each nodes reports its data to both a base station and mobile workers in the industry field. For communication between the source nodes and a mobile worker, sink location service is needed to continuously notify the location of the mobile worker. But, as the application has a large number of sources, it causes a waste of energy consumption. To address this issue, in this paper, we propose a two-phase sink location service scheme. In the first phase, the proposed scheme constructs a virtual grid structure for merging the source nodes. Then, the proposed scheme aggregates the merging points from an originated merging point as the second phase. Simulation results show that the proposed scheme is superior to other schemes in terms of energy consumption.
MMW Radar-Based Technologies in Autonomous Driving: A Review
Authors: Zhou Taohua , Yang Mengmeng , Jiang Kun , Wong Henry , Yang Diange
Published: December 2020

With the rapid development of automated vehicles (AVs), more and more demands are proposed towards environmental perception. Among the commonly used sensors, MMW radar plays an important role due to its low cost, adaptability In different weather, and motion detection capability. Radar can provide different data types to satisfy requirements for various levels of autonomous driving. The objective of this study is to present an overview of the state-of-the-art radar-based technologies applied In AVs. Although several published research papers focus on MMW Radars for intelligent vehicles, no general survey on deep learning applied In radar data for autonomous vehicles exists. Therefore, we try to provide related survey In this paper. First, we introduce models and representations from millimeter-wave (MMW) radar data. Secondly, we present radar-based applications used on AVs. For low-level automated driving, radar data have been widely used In advanced driving-assistance systems (ADAS). For high-level automated driving, radar data is used In object detection, object tracking, motion prediction, and self-localization. Finally, we discuss the remaining challenges and future development direction of related studies.
An Ensemble-Based Approach to Anomaly Detection in Marine Engine Sensor Streams for Efficient Condition Monitoring and Analysis
Authors: Kim Donghyun , Lee Sangbong , Lee Jihwan
Published: December 2020

This study proposes an unsupervised anomaly detection method using sensor streams from the marine engine to detect the anomalous system behavior, which may be a possible sign of system failure. Previous works on marine engine anomaly detection proposed a clustering-based or statistical control chart-based approach that is unstable according to the choice of hyperparameters, or cannot fit well to the high-dimensional dataset. As a remedy to this limitation, this study adopts an ensemble-based approach to anomaly detection. The idea is to train several anomaly detectors with varying hyperparameters in parallel and then combine its result in the anomaly detection phase. Because the anomaly is detected by the combination of different detectors, it is robust to the choice of hyperparameters without loss of accuracy. To demonstrate our methodology, an actual dataset obtained from a 200,000-ton cargo vessel from a Korean shipping company that uses two-stroke diesel engine is analyzed. As a result, anomalies were successfully detected from the high-dimensional and large-scale dataset. After detecting the anomaly, clustering analysis was conducted to the anomalous observation to examine anomaly patterns. By investigating each cluster’s feature distribution, several common patterns of abnormal behavior were successfully visualized. Although we analyzed the data from two-stroke diesel engine, our method can be applied to various types of marine engine.