Obtaining valuable insights and actionable knowledge from data requires cross-analysis of domain data typically coming from various sources. Doing so, inevitably imposes burdensome processes of ...unifying different data formats, discovering integration paths, and all this given specific analytical needs of a data analyst. Along with large volumes of data, the variety of formats, data models, and semantics drastically contribute to the complexity of such processes. Although there have been many attempts to automate various processes along the Big Data pipeline, no unified platforms accessible by users without technical skills (like statisticians or business analysts) have been proposed. In this paper, we present a Big Data integration platform (
Quarry
) that uses hypergraph-based metadata to facilitate (and largely automate) the integration of domain data coming from a variety of sources, and provides an intuitive interface to assist end users both in: (1) data exploration with the goal of discovering potentially relevant analysis facets, and (2) consolidation and deployment of data flows which integrate the data, and prepare them for further analysis (descriptive or predictive), visualization, and/or publishing. We validate
Quarry
’s functionalities with the use case of World Health Organization (WHO) epidemiologists and data analysts in their fight against Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs).
The ability to cross data from multiple sources represents a competitive advantage for organizations. Yet, the governance of the data lifecycle, from the data sources into valuable insights, is ...largely performed in an ad-hoc or manual manner. This is specifically concerning in scenarios where tens or hundreds of continuously evolving data sources produce semi-structured data. To overcome this challenge, we develop a framework for operationalizing and automating data governance. For the first, we propose a zoned data lake architecture and a set of data governance processes that allow the systematic ingestion, transformation and integration of data from heterogeneous sources, in order to make them readily available for business users. For the second, we propose a set of metadata artifacts that allow the automatic execution of data governance processes, addressing a wide range of data management challenges. We showcase the usefulness of the proposed approach using a real world use case, stemming from the collaborative project with the World Health Organization for the management and analysis of data about Neglected Tropical Diseases. Overall, this work contributes on facilitating organizations the adoption of data-driven strategies into a cohesive framework operationalizing and automating data governance.
Ulcerative colitis is chronic immune-mediated disorder that affects primarily colonic mucosa. The metabolic syndrome has increasing global prevalence with a significant impact on biology of chronic ...diseases, such as ulcerative colitis. Today it is known that the metabolic syndrome attenuates severity of ulcerative colitis. Still, there is no evidence that different stages of metabolic syndrome alter the course of the ulcerative colitis. The aim of this study was to dissect out how progression of the metabolic syndrome impacted the biology of ulcerative colitis and severity of clinical presentation. Seventy-two patients (41 men and 31 women, 22-81 years old) were enrolled in this observational cross-sectional study. Concentrations of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines in serum and feces samples were measured and phenotype of colon infiltrating cells was analyzed. Patients in the terminal phase of the metabolic syndrome have clinically and pathohistologically more severe form of ulcerative colitis, which is followed by decreased concentrations of systemic galectin-1, increased values of systemic pro-inflammatory mediators and increased influx of lymphocytes in affected colon tissue. Our data suggest that reduced concentrations of galectin-1 and predomination of the pro-inflammatory mediators in patients with terminal stage of the metabolic syndrome enhance local chronic inflammatory response and subsequent tissue damage, and together point on important role of galectin-1 in immune response in ulcerative colitis patients with the metabolic syndrome.
This paper analyses the applicability of well-known risk management methodologies in energy efficiency projects in the industry. The possibilities of application of the selected risk management ...methodology are demonstrated within the project of the plants for injecting pulverized coal into blast furnaces nos. 1 and 2, implemented by the company US STEEL SERBIA d.o.o. in Smederevo. The aim of the project was to increase energy efficiency through the reduction of the quantity of coke, whose production requires large amounts of energy, reduction of harmful exhaust emission and increase productivity of blast furnaces through the reduction of production costs. The project was complex and had high costs, so that it was necessary to predict risk events and plan responses to identified risks at an early stage of implementation, in the course of the project design, in order to minimize losses and implement the project in accordance with the defined time and cost limitations.
Purpose
Calcium (Ca
2+
) is a major structural plant nutrient whose low mobility in the phloem causes deleterious nutritional disorders in non-transpiring organs. Since strontium (Sr
2+
) and Ca
2+
...share many chemical properties, Sr
2+
is frequently used as a tracer to study Ca
2+
cycles in ecosystems. However, the level of agreement between Sr
2+
and Ca
2+
distribution pattern in plants is debatable, and several studies have reported toxic effects of Sr
2+
. Therefore, we investigated Sr
2+
and Ca
2+
uptake rates and distribution pattern to determine how reliably Sr
2+
can be used as a tracer of Ca
2+
in tomato plants (
Solanum lycopersicum
L.).
Methods
We conducted six independent experiments of various duration: from a few hours to several weeks, in hydroponic and perlite substrate. We treated plants with either Ca
2+
or Sr
2+
at equivalent concentrations and monitored their accumulation in shoot and fruits.
Results
Under short-term exposure (hours), Ca
2+
and Sr
2+
uptake and distribution within the plant were comparable, while the long-term exposure (days and weeks) to 4 mM Sr
2+
reduced transpiration and biomass accumulation. The toxic effect of Sr
2+
was more prominent when growth conditions were favourable. Nonetheless, Sr
2+
accumulated similarly to Ca
2+
in shoot and fruit. Surprisingly, Sr
2+
deposition in tomato fruit cell walls prevented blossom end rot (BER) to the same degree as Ca
2+
.
Conclusion
Sr
2+
can credibly be used as a tracer of Ca
2+
uptake and allocation in the short-term, making Sr
2+
a powerful tool to study the factors governing Ca
2+
allocation to plant organs, primarily fruit Ca
2+
delivery.
The viability of lithium-sulfur batteries as an energy storage technology depends on unlocking long-term cycle stability. Most instability stems from the release and transport of polysulfides from ...the cathode, which causes mossy growth on the lithium anode, leading to continuous consumption of electrolyte. Therefore, development of a durable cathode with minimal polysulfide escape is critical. Here, we present a saccharide-based binder system that has a capacity for the regulation of polysulfides due to its reducing properties. Furthermore, the binder promotes the formation of viscoelastic filaments during casting which endows the sulfur cathode with a desirable web-like microstructure. Taken together this leads to 97% sulfur utilisation with a cycle life of 1000 cycles (9 months) and capacity retention (around 700 mAh g
after 1000 cycles). A pouch cell prototype with a specific energy of up to 206 Wh kg
is produced, demonstrating the promising potential for practical applications.
The plant-derived α-linolenic acid (ALA) is an essential n-3 acid highly susceptible to oxidation, present in oils of flaxseeds, walnuts, canola, perilla, soy, and chia. After ingestion, it can be ...incorporated in to body lipid pools (particularly triglycerides and phospholipid membranes), and then endogenously metabolized through desaturation, elongation, and peroxisome oxidation to eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), with a very limited efficiency (particularly for DHA), beta-oxidized as an energy source, or directly metabolized to C18-oxilipins. At this moment, data in the literature about the effects of ALA supplementation on metabolic syndrome (MetS) in humans are inconsistent, indicating no effects or some positive effects on all MetS components (abdominal obesity, dyslipidemia, impaired insulin sensitivity and glucoregulation, blood pressure, and liver steatosis). The major effects of ALA on MetS seem to be through its conversion to more potent EPA and DHA, the impact on the n-3/n-6 ratio, and the consecutive effects on the formation of oxylipins and endocannabinoids, inflammation, insulin sensitivity, and insulin secretion, as well as adipocyte and hepatocytes function. It is important to distinguish the direct effects of ALA from the effects of EPA and DHA metabolites. This review summarizes the most recent findings on this topic and discusses the possible mechanisms.
This paper treats investment decision-making under uncertainty and risk. Some of the methods used for investment decision-making under uncertainty and risk are presented: Break-even Analysis, ...Sensitivity Analysis, Theory of Games and Decision Making Theory. Sensitivity Analysis is given special consideration, and one of the procedures of its application in investment decision making under uncertainty and risk is shown.
The lithium–sulfur (Li–S) battery is at the forefront of technologies that can outperform lithium‐ion in at least one index of performance, provided that solutions to poor cycle‐life can be devised. ...One key component of the Li–S battery is the separator, because it holds tremendous promise for improving cycle‐life by mitigating the well‐known polysulfide shuttle, enabling lean electrolyte configurations, and restricting solid electrolyte interphase growth at the Li‐metal anode. However, in response to the advent of the “functional separator” for Li–S batteries, severe misinterpretations of progress have been made due to the often incomplete presentation of the performance and characterization criteria for these new components. Accordingly, there is an urgent need to look critically at what has been achieved in Li–S separator research, with the aim of reconciling actual progress against claimed improvements. This review advocates the best practices for reporting the performance of Li–S separators and proposes guidelines on measurements with respect to key properties. It is believed that the adoption of these measurement practices, testing, and reporting styles will enable more accurate determination of separator performance and properties, which in turn can allow for more meaningful comparisons between various approaches, as well as facilitating the transition of laboratory concepts to practical designs.
Advanced Li–S battery separators have shown promise in improving performance, however, an ongoing challenge is meeting practical performance parameters. In this regard, it is stressed that separators are pivotal. This work advocates best practices for reporting performance and offers a rationalization for novel separator design, taking into account the multitude, complexity, and interconnectedness of variables for a practical cell.
Intensive physical activity (PA) can lead to proteinuria and, consequently, serum protein profiles in athletes. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the effects of acute aronia juice ...consumption before a simulated half-marathon race on serum protein profiles in recreational runners. The pilot study was designed as a single-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover study, with 10 male participants who consumed aronia juice (containing 1.3 g polyphenols) or placebo before the race. The blood levels of total proteins, albumin, the non-albumin fractions gamma, beta, alpha2 and alpha1, as well as renal function parameters, were determined before and 15 min, 1 h and 24 h after the race. The significant changes in urea, creatinine and uric acid levels were noticed at selected time points in both groups. In the placebo group, a significant decrease in total proteins (p < 0.05) was observed 24 h after the race, along with an increase in gamma fraction abundance (p < 0.05). In addition, urea and uric acid levels returned to baseline only in the aronia group 24 h after the race. Thus, according to the results obtained, acute aronia juice supplementation before intensive PA could influence the transient change in renal function and PA-induced protein loss in recreational runners.
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