bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Investigation on the Influencing Factors of K0 of Granular Materials Using Discrete Element Modelling
Authors: Qian Jiangu , Zhou Chuang , Li Weiyi , Gu Xiaoqiang , Qin Yongjun , Xie Liangfu
Published: March 2022

Earth pressure coefficient at rest K0 is commonly estimated by empirical equations, which to date has had insufficient accuracy and universality. For better prediction, the investigation on the factors influencing K0 is required. A series of discrete element method (DEM) simulations of oedometer tests are conducted to verify the key factors influencing K0 of granular materials. The influences of initial fabric anisotropy, particle shape, initial void ratio, inter-particle friction angle is investigated. The evolution of microstructure is monitored during the tests to reveal the relationship between the microstructure evolution and K0 values. The results show that the effect of fabric anisotropy exists but is limited. Particle shape, initial void ratio, and inter-particle friction angle all significantly affect the K0 values alone. According to the DEM results, an attempt is made to propose a more reasonable empirical equation in which K0 is a function of relative density, critical state friction angle, and “shape factor”. This new empirical equation has higher accuracy and can consider the effect of particle shape, inspiring the determination of K0 values in practical engineering.
Model-Based Analysis of Different Equivalent Consumption Minimization Strategies for a Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicle
Authors: Geng Stefan , Schulte Thomas , Maas Jürgen
Published: March 2022

Plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) are developed to reduce fuel consumption and the emission of carbon dioxide. Common powertrain configurations of PHEVs (i.e., the configuration of the combustion engine, electric motor, and transmission) can be operated either in series, parallel, or power split hybrid mode, whereas powertrain configurations with multimode transmissions enable switching between those modes during vehicle operation. Hence, depending on the current operation state of the vehicle, the most appropriate mode in terms efficiency can be selected. This, however, requires an operating strategy, which controls the mode selection as well as the torque distribution between the combustion engine and electric motor with the aim of optimal battery depletion and minimal fuel consumption. A well-known approach is the equivalent consumption minimization strategy (ECMS). It can be applied by using optimizations based on a prediction of the future driving behavior. Since the outcome of the ECMS depends on the quality of this prediction, it is crucial to know how accurate the predictions must be in order to obtain acceptable results. In this contribution, various prediction methods and real-time capable ECMS implementations are analyzed and compared in terms of the achievable fuel economy. The basis for the analysis is a holistic model of a state-of-the-art PHEV powertrain configuration, comprising the multimode transmission, corresponding powertrain components, and representative real-world driving data.
Wind-Ramp Predictability
Authors: Pereyra-Castro Karla , Caetano Ernesto
Published: March 2022

The intermittent nature of wind resources is challenging for their integration into the electrical system. The identification of weather systems and the accurate forecast of wind ramps can improve wind-energy management. In this study, extreme wind ramps were characterized at four different geographical sites in terms of duration, persistence, and weather system. Mid-latitude systems are the main cause of wind ramps in Mexico during winter. The associated ramps last around 3 h, but intense winds are sustained for up to 40 h. Storms cause extreme wind ramps in summer due to the downdraft contribution to the wind gust. Those events last about 1 to 3 h. Dynamic downscaling is computationally costly, and statistical techniques can improve wind forecasting. Evaluation of the North American Mesoscale Forecast System (NAM) operational model to simulate wind ramps and two bias-correction methods (simple bias and quantile mapping) was done for two selected sites. The statistical adjustment reduces the excess of no-ramps (≤|0.5| m/s) predicted by NAM compared to observed wind ramps. According to the contingency table-derived indices, the wind-ramp distribution correction with simple bias method or quantile mapping method improves the prediction of positive and negative ramps.
Temporal and Spatial Patterns of Biomass Burning Fire Counts and Carbon Emissions in the Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei (BTH) Region during 2003–2020 Based on GFED4
Authors: Zhao Yifei , Xu Ruiguang , Xu Zhiguang , Wang Litao , Wang Pu
Published: March 2022

Biomass burning (BB) plays an important role in the formation of heavy pollution events during harvest seasons in the Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei (BTH) region by releasing trace gases and particulate matter into the atmosphere. A better understanding of spatial-temporal variations of BB in BTH is required to assess its impacts on air quality, especially on heavy haze pollution. The fourth version of the Global Fire Emissions Database (GFED4)’s fire counts and carbon emissions data were used in this research, which shows the varying number of fire counts in China from 2003 to 2020 demonstrated a fluctuating but generally rising trend, with a peak in 2013. Most fire counts were concentrated in three key periods: March (11%), June–July (33%), and October (9.68%). The increase in fire counts will inevitably lead to the growth of carbon emissions. The four major vegetation types of the fires were agriculture (58.1%), followed by grassland (35.5%), and forest (4.1%), with the fewest in peat. In addition, a separate study for the year 2020 found that the fire counts and carbon emissions were different for this year, with the overall average trend in the study time. For example, the monthly peak fire counts changed from June to March. The cumulative emissions of carbon, CO, CO2, CH4, dry matter, and particulate matter from BB in BTH reached 201 Gg, 39 Gg, 670 Gg, 2 Gg, 417 Gg, and 3 Gg in 2020, respectively.
Long Noncoding RNA GAS5 Contained in Exosomes Derived from Human Adipose Stem Cells Promotes Repair and Modulates Inflammation in a Chronic Dermal Wound Healing Model
Authors: Patel Rekha S. , Impreso Sabrina , Lui Ashley , Vidyarthi Gitanjali , Albear Paul , Patel Niketa A.
Published: March 2022

Chronic recalcitrant wounds result from delayed or slowed healing processes. Underlying inflammation is a substantial risk factor for impaired dermal wound healing and often leads to chronic wound-related sequelae. Human adipose stem cells (hASCs) have shown tremendous potential in regenerative medicine. The goal of this project was to improve the outcome of chronic wounds by harvesting the exosomes from hASCs for therapeutic intervention. The results demonstrate that long noncoding RNA GAS5 is highly enriched in hASC exosomes and, further, that GAS5 is central to promoting wound repair in vitro. To evaluate the outcome of wound healing in a chronic low-grade inflammatory environment, lipopolysaccharide-treated HDF cells were evaluated for their response to hASC exosome treatment. Ingenuity pathway analysis identified inflammation pathways and genes affected by exosomes in a GAS5-dependent manner. Using siRNA to deplete GAS5 in HDF, the results demonstrated that Toll-like receptor 7 (TLR7) expression levels were regulated by GAS5. Importantly, the results demonstrate that GAS5 regulates inflammatory pathway genes in a chronic inflammation environment. The results presented here demonstrate that hASC exosomes are a viable therapeutic that accelerate the healing of chronic recalcitrant wounds.
Biology of Cardiac Troponins: Emphasis on Metabolism
Authors: Chaulin Aleksey
Published: March 2022

Understanding of the biology of endo- and exogenous molecules, in particular their metabolism, is not only of great theoretical importance, but also of high practical significance, since many molecules serve as drug targets or markers for the laboratory diagnostics of many human diseases. Thus, cardiac troponin (cTns) molecules have long been used as key markers for the confirmation of diagnosis of myocardial infarction (MI), and with the introduction of contemporary (high sensitivity) test methods, many of our concepts related to the biology of these cardiac markers have changed significantly. In current clinical practice, there are opening new promising diagnostic capabilities of cTns, the understanding and justification of which is closely connected with the theoretical principles of the metabolism of these molecules. However, today, the biology and metabolism of cTns have not been properly investigated; in particular, we do not know the precise mechanisms of release of these molecules from the myocardial cells (MCs) of healthy people and the mechanisms of circulation, and the elimination of cTns from the bloodstream. The main purpose of this manuscript is to systematize information about the biology of cTns, with an emphasis on the metabolism of cTns. The format of this paper, starting with the release of cTns in the blood and concluding with the metabolism/filtration of troponins, provides a comprehensive yet logically easy way for the readers to approach our current knowledge in the framework of understanding the basic mechanisms by which cTns are produced and processed. Conclusions. Based on the analysis of the current literature, the important role of biology and all stages of metabolism (release, circulation, removal) of cTns in laboratory diagnostics should be noted. It is necessary to continue studying the biology and metabolism of cTns, because this will improve the differential diagnosis of MI and i a new application of cTns immunoassays in current clinical practice.
Control of Cholesterol Metabolism Using a Systems Approach
Authors: Formanowicz Dorota , Radom Marcin , Rybarczyk Agnieszka , Tanaś Krzysztof , Formanowicz Piotr
Published: March 2022

Cholesterol is an essential component of mammalian cells and is involved in many fundamental physiological processes; hence, its homeostasis in the body is tightly controlled, and any disturbance has serious consequences. Disruption of the cellular metabolism of cholesterol, accompanied by inflammation and oxidative stress, promotes the formation of atherosclerotic plaques and, consequently, is one of the leading causes of death in the Western world. Therefore, new drugs to regulate disturbed cholesterol metabolism are used and developed, which help to control cholesterol homeostasis but still do not entirely cure atherosclerosis. In this study, a Petri net-based model of human cholesterol metabolism affected by a local inflammation and oxidative stress, has been created and analyzed. The use of knockout of selected pathways allowed us to observe and study the effect of various combinations of commonly used drugs on atherosclerosis. The analysis results led to the conclusion that combination therapy, targeting multiple pathways, may be a fundamental concept in the development of more effective strategies for the treatment and prevention of atherosclerosis.
Effects of Temperature and Salinity on Growth, Metabolism and Digestive Enzymes Synthesis of Goniopora columna
Authors: Ding De-Sing , Patel Anil Kumar , Singhania Reeta Rani , Chen Chiu-Wen , Dong Cheng-Di
Published: March 2022

Climate change is causing dramatic changes in global ocean temperature and salinity, threatening coral survival. Coral growth and metabolism are greatly affected by the temperature, salinity and feeding time of the environment. In order to explore the threats to coral survival caused by climate change, this study will investigate the changes in body composition, digestive enzymes and metabolism of G. columna at different temperatures and salinities. A maximum G. columna growth rate was observed at 25 °C and 30–35 psu salinity. The G. columna could survive in a wide salinity range of 25–40 psu. However, the maximum number and weight of G. columna polyps was determined at 30–35 psu. Furthermore, 30–35 psu salinity at 25 °C led to the best G. columna growth and survival, mainly because of their enhanced nutrient absorption rate, polyp expansion rate, metabolic rate and adaptability. Comparing various salinity-temperature treatment groups, all obtained values for growth, behavior and metabolism were significantly higher (p < 0.05) for 30 psu at 25 °C than other treatment groups resulting in maximum G. columna yield. In addition, the optimal timing of G. columna feeding was assessed by studying changes in body composition and digestive enzymes within 24 h of feeding. The results showed that G. columna has higher protein and protease activity between 6:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon. Therefore, at 25 °C, 30–35 psu and feeding will enhance G. columna growth and survival.
Discovery of APL-1030, a Novel, High-Affinity Nanofitin Inhibitor of C3-Mediated Complement Activation
Authors: Garlich Joshua , Cinier Mathieu , Chevrel Anne , Perrocheau Anaëlle , Eyerman David J. , Orme Mark , Kitten Olivier , Scheibler Lukas
Published: March 2022

Uncontrolled complement activation contributes to multiple immune pathologies. Although synthetic compstatin derivatives targeting C3 and C3b are robust inhibitors of complement activation, their physicochemical and molecular properties may limit access to specific organs, development of bifunctional moieties, and therapeutic applications requiring transgenic expression. Complement-targeting therapeutics containing only natural amino acids could enable multifunctional pharmacology, gene therapies, and targeted delivery for underserved diseases. A Nanofitin library of hyperthermophilic protein scaffolds was screened using ribosome display for C3/C3b-targeting clones mimicking compstatin pharmacology. APL-1030, a recombinant 64-residue Nanofitin, emerged as the lead candidate. APL-1030 is thermostable, binds C3 (KD, 1.59 nM) and C3b (KD, 1.11 nM), and inhibits complement activation via classical (IC50 = 110.8 nM) and alternative (IC50 = 291.3 nM) pathways in Wieslab assays. Pharmacologic activity (determined by alternative pathway inhibition) was limited to primate species of tested sera. C3b-binding sites of APL-1030 and compstatin were shown to overlap by X-ray crystallography of C3b-bound APL-1030. APL-1030 is a novel, high-affinity inhibitor of primate C3-mediated complement activation developed from natural amino acids on the hyperthermophilic Nanofitin platform. Its properties may support novel drug candidates, enabling bifunctional moieties, gene therapy, and tissue-targeted C3 pharmacologics for diseases with high unmet need.
Multiple Sclerosis and Microbiome
Authors: Preiningerova Jana Lizrova , Jiraskova Zakostelska Zuzana , Srinivasan Adhish , Ticha Veronika , Kovarova Ivana , Kleinova Pavlina , Tlaskalova-Hogenova Helena , Kubala Havrdova Eva
Published: March 2022

The composition of microbiota and the gut-brain axis is increasingly considered a factor in the development of various pathological conditions. The etiology of multiple sclerosis (MS), a chronic autoimmune disease affecting the CNS, is complex and interactions within the gut-brain axis may be relevant in the development and the course of MS. In this article, we focus on the relationship between gut microbiota and the pathophysiology of MS. We review the contribution of germ-free mouse studies to our understanding of MS pathology and its implications for treatment strategies to modulate the microbiome in MS. This summary highlights the need for a better understanding of the role of the microbiota in patients’ responses to disease-modifying drugs in MS and disease activity overall.
Y It Matters—Sex Differences in Fetal Lung Development
Authors: Laube Mandy , Thome Ulrich H.
Published: March 2022

Within this review, sex-specific differences in alveolar epithelial functions are discussed with special focus on preterm infants and the respiratory disorders associated with premature birth. First, a short overview about fetal lung development, the challenges the lung faces during perinatal lung transition to air breathing and respiratory distress in preterm infants is given. Next, clinical observations concerning sex-specific differences in pulmonary morbidity of human preterm infants are noted. The second part discusses potential sex-specific causes of pulmonary complications, including pulmonary steroid receptors and local lung steroid metabolism. With regard to pulmonary steroid metabolism, it is important to highlight which steroidogenic enzymes are expressed at which stage during fetal lung development. Thereafter, we review the knowledge concerning sex-specific aspects of lung growth and maturation. Special focus is given to alveolar epithelial Na+ transport as a driver of perinatal lung transition and the sex differences that were noted in this process.
Renal Cell Carcinoma in End-Stage Renal Disease: A Review and Update
Authors: El-Zaatari Ziad M. , Truong Luan D.
Published: March 2022

Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) occurring in the setting of end-stage renal disease (ESRD) shows unique clinicopathological characteristics. The two most frequent types of ESRD-associated RCC are acquired cystic kidney disease-associated renal cell carcinoma (ACKD-RCC) and clear-cell papillary renal cell carcinoma (ccpRCC). Other types of RCC also occur in ESRD, albeit with different frequencies from the non-ESRD general population. The histological features of RCC do not vary in the setting of ESRD vs. non-ESRD, yet other findings, such as multifocality and multiple tumor types, are more frequent in ESRD. Studies have generated novel and important knowledge of the etiology, epidemiology, diagnosis, treatment, immunophenotype, and molecular characteristics of ESRD-associated RCC. Knowledge of these data is important for both pathologists and other physicians who may encounter ESRD patients with RCC. This review presents a comprehensive summary and update of the literature on RCC in ESRD, with a focus on the two most frequent types, ACKD-RCC and ccpRCC.
Visualization of Acoustic Comfort in an Open-Plan, High-Performance Glass Building
Authors: Glean Aldo A. , Gatland Stanley D. , Elzeyadi Ihab
Published: March 2022

The aesthetic and functional appeal of high-performance, open-plan office buildings presents special challenges. Extensive use of glass at the building’s perimeter to improve visual comfort and office communication can negatively impact acoustic comfort without proper design considerations. This study investigates the utility of a novel visualization approach to documenting the interactional impact of acoustical comfort on the health and well-being of occupants in an open-office environment. Room acoustic measurements of background noise and speech transmission index were conducted and distraction distances were calculated and visualized using a mapping technique. In addition, a comprehensive pre- and post-occupancy evaluation protocol was employed. The paper illustrates the reliability of the visualization approach to aid in the interpretation and comparison of various open-office acoustic solutions from a human-centric acoustic environment perspective.
Evaluation of Comfort Models Considering the Peculiarities of Hospitalization: Bedding, Clothing and Reduced Activity of Patients
Authors: Ruggiero Silvia , Tariello Francesco , Vanoli Giuseppe Peter
Published: March 2022

The study of thermo-hygrometric comfort in hospitals involves several factors: the presence of different subjects: patients, operators, visitors; different conditions of hospitalization: patients bedridden or out of bed; psychological aspects and therapeutic treatments. In this paper, the analysis focuses on patients in ordinary hospitalization rooms of a hospital located in southern Italy. Different room orientations, several characteristics, and specific factors concerning hospitalized patients’ conditions that significantly influence the comfort indices have been considered. In total, 41 scenarios have been defined and analyzed by means of two comfort models: static and adaptive. The study aims to investigate the application of these models to the complex environment of hospitals, finding strengths and weaknesses, which also results in a re-definition of the HVAC system operation. Results show that patient position (in bed or out), clothing type, and level of coverage in the bed can make the same microclimatic condition more suitable for one scenario over another. Furthermore, room exposure has an effect on the comfort of the indoor temperature. The seasonal analyses highlight that during summer, for all scenarios considering bedridden patients, more than 50% of the PMV calculated values are out of the comfort zone. In winter, the indoor conditions are good for bedridden patients with a cover level of 67% during the nighttime (almost 100% PMV values in comfort zone), while during the daytime, they are more suitable for a 48% coverage level if the patient is in bed or if they are walking (lower than 10% dissatisfied).
Molecular Mechanisms Linking Risk Factors to Cholangiocarcinoma Development
Authors: Ceci Ludovica , Zhou Tianhao , Lenci Ilaria , Meadows Vik , Kennedy Lindsey , Li Ping , Ekser Burcin , Milana Martina , Zhang Wenjun , Wu Chaodong , Sato Keisaku , Chakraborty Sanjukta , Glaser Shannon S. , Francis Heather , Alpini Gianfranco , Baiocchi Leonardo
Published: March 2022

The poor prognosis of cholangiocarcinoma in humans is related to several factors, such as (i) the heterogeneity of the disease, (ii) the late onset of symptoms and (iii) the limited comprehension of the carcinogenic pathways determining neoplastic changes, which all limit the pursuit of appropriate treatment. Several risk factors have been recognized, including different infective, immune-mediated, and dysmorphogenic disorders of the biliary tree. In this review, we report the details of possible mechanisms that lead a specific premalignant pathological condition to become cholangiocarcinoma. For instance, during liver fluke infection, factors secreted from the worms may play a major role in pathogenesis. In primary sclerosing cholangitis, deregulation of histamine and bile-acid signaling may determine important changes in cellular pathways. The study of these molecular events may also shed some light on the pathogenesis of sporadic (unrelated to risk factors) forms of cholangiocarcinoma, which represent the majority (nearly 75%) of cases.
Impact of Cancer Stem Cells on Therapy Resistance in Gastric Cancer
Authors: Otaegi-Ugartemendia Maddalen , Matheu Ander , Carrasco-Garcia Estefania
Published: March 2022

Gastric cancer (GC) is the fourth leading cause of cancer death worldwide, with an average 5-year survival rate of 32%, being of 6% for patients presenting distant metastasis. Despite the advances made in the treatment of GC, chemoresistance phenomena arise and promote recurrence, dissemination and dismal prognosis. In this context, gastric cancer stem cells (gCSCs), a small subset of cancer cells that exhibit unique characteristics, are decisive in therapy failure. gCSCs develop different protective mechanisms, such as the maintenance in a quiescent state as well as enhanced detoxification procedures and drug efflux activity, that make them insusceptible to current treatments. This, together with their self-renewal capacity and differentiation ability, represents major obstacles for the eradication of this disease. Different gCSC regulators have been described and used to isolate and characterize these cell populations. However, at the moment, no therapeutic strategy has achieved the effective targeting of gCSCs. This review will focus on the properties of cancer stem cells in the context of therapy resistance and will summarize current knowledge regarding the impact of the gCSC regulators that have been associated with GC chemoradioresistance.
Formic Acid Dehydrogenation Using Noble-Metal Nanoheterogeneous Catalysts: Towards Sustainable Hydrogen-Based Energy
Authors: Al-Nayili Abbas , Majdi Hasan Sh. , Albayati Talib M. , Saady Noori M. Cata
Published: March 2022

The need for sustainable energy sources is now more urgent than ever, and hydrogen is significant in the future of energy. However, several obstacles remain in the way of widespread hydrogen use, most of which are related to transport and storage. Dilute formic acid (FA) is recognized asa a safe fuel for low-temperature fuel cells. This review examines FA as a potential hydrogen storage molecule that can be dehydrogenated to yield highly pure hydrogen (H2) and carbon dioxide (CO2) with very little carbon monoxide (CO) gas produced via nanoheterogeneous catalysts. It also present the use of Au and Pd as nanoheterogeneous catalysts for formic acid liquid phase decomposition, focusing on the influence of noble metals in monometallic, bimetallic, and trimetallic compositions on the catalytic dehydrogenation of FA under mild temperatures (20–50 °C). The review shows that FA production from CO2 without a base by direct catalytic carbon dioxide hydrogenation is far more sustainable than existing techniques. Finally, using FA as an energy carrier to selectively release hydrogen for fuel cell power generation appears to be a potential technique.
Nanoparticle Engineered Photocatalytic Paints: A Roadmap to Self-Sterilizing against the Spread of Communicable Diseases
Authors: Mohite Vijay S. , Darade Milind M. , Sharma Rakesh K. , Pawar Shivaji H.
Published: March 2022

Applications of visible-light photocatalytic engineered nanomaterials in the preparation of smart paints are of recent origin. The authors have revealed a great potential of these new paints for self-sterilizing of the surfaces in hospitals and public places simply with visible light exposure and this is reported for the first time in this review. A recent example of a communicable disease such as COVID-19 is considered. With all precautions and preventions taken as suggested by the World Health Organization (WHO), COVID-19 has remained present for a longer time compared to other diseases. It has affected millions of people worldwide and the significant challenge remains of preventing infections due to SARS-CoV-2. The present review is focused on revealing the cause of this widespread disease and suggests a roadmap to control the spread of disease. It is understood that the transmission of SARS-CoV-2 virus takes place through contact surfaces such as doorknobs, packaging and handrails, which may be responsible for many preventable and nosocomial infections. In addition, due to the potent transmissibility of SARS-CoV-2, its ability to survive for longer periods on common touch surfaces is also an important reason for the spread of COVID-19. The existing antimicrobial cleaning technologies used in hospitals are not suitable, viable or economical to keep public places free from such infections. Hence, in this review, an innovative approach of coating surfaces in public places with visible-light photocatalytic nanocomposite paints has been suggested as a roadmap to self-sterilizing against the spread of communicable diseases. The formulations of different nanoparticle engineered photocatalytic paints with their ability to destroy pathogens using visible light, alongwith the field trials are also summarized and reported in this review. The potential suggestions for controlling the spread of communicable diseases are also listed at the end of the review.
Fingolimod (FTY720), a Sphinogosine-1-Phosphate Receptor Agonist, Mitigates Choroidal Endothelial Proangiogenic Properties and Choroidal Neovascularization
Authors: Sorenson Christine M. , Farnoodian Mitra , Wang Shoujian , Song Yong-Seok , Darjatmoko Soesiawati R. , Polans Arthur S. , Sheibani Nader
Published: March 2022

Neovascular or wet age-related macular degeneration (nAMD) causes vision loss due to inflammatory and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-driven neovascularization processes in the choroid. Due to the excess in VEGF levels associated with nAMD, anti-VEGF therapies are utilized for treatment. Unfortunately, not all patients have a sufficient response to such therapies, leaving few if any other treatment options for these patients. Sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) is a bioactive lipid mediator found in endothelial cells that participates in modulating barrier function, angiogenesis, and inflammation. S1P, through its receptor (S1PR1) in endothelial cells, prevents illegitimate sprouting angiogenesis during vascular development. In the present paper, we show that, in choroidal endothelial cells, S1PR1 is the most abundantly expressed S1P receptor and agonism of S1PR1-prevented choroidal endothelial cell capillary morphogenesis in culture. Given that nAMD pathogenesis draws from enhanced inflammation and angiogenesis as well as a loss of barrier function, we assessed the impact of S1PR agonism on choroidal neovascularization in vivo. Using laser photocoagulation rupture of Bruch’s membrane to induce choroidal neovascularization, we show that S1PR non-selective (FTY720) and S1PR1 selective (CYM5442) agonists significantly inhibit choroidal neovascularization in this model. Thus, utilizing S1PR agonists to temper choroidal neovascularization presents an additional novel use for these agonists presently in clinical use for multiple sclerosis as well as other inflammatory diseases.
The Challenges and Realities of E-Learning during COVID-19: The Case of University Sport and Physical Education
Authors: Moustakas Louis , Robrade Denise
Published: March 2022

E-learning quickly became a crucial tool for universities and other higher education institutions during the global COVID-19 pandemic. The field of sport and physical education (PE) was no exception. However, though there is considerable growth in digital technologies in sport or physical education, we have very little evidence about the use and outcomes of these technologies. Thus, this study aims to document how e-learning technologies and pedagogical approaches were employed in the field of sport, the challenges and successes associated with these approaches, and potential avenues for improvement. To do so, a total of 27 responses were collected with two online qualitative surveys, one respectively for students (n = 15) and one for teachers (n = 12). Structured follow-up interviews with four students and one additional teacher were conducted to verify and deepen the responses. The findings show that interaction and variety were critical components of successful online learning. However, teachers reported difficulties motivating students, especially if no visual connection was present. Ultimately, even with innovation, variety, and interaction, sport and physical education’s practical and social nature does not fully translate to the online setting. Thus, we conclude by proposing potential avenues for practice and research to respond to the challenges documented here.
Properties of Micro-Arc Oxidation Coatings on 5052 Al Alloy Sealed by SiO2 Nanoparticles
Authors: Liu Siqi , Chen Jiahuan , Zhang Dongdong , Wang Yuxin , He Zhen , Guo Pingyi
Published: March 2022

Micro-arc oxidation (MAO) treatment can effectively improve the wear resistance, corrosion resistance, and mechanical strength of aluminum alloy substrates. Improving the porous structure of MAO film and effectively sealing the pores is a significant research issue. In this study, the MAO treatment of 5052 aluminum alloy was carried out in silicate electrolytes. The MAO films were sealed with different concentrations of SiO2 nanoparticles. The effects of SiO2 nanoparticle content on the MAO films’ microstructure, mechanical properties, and corrosion performance were systematically investigated. When adding SiO2 nanoparticles to electrolytes, the particles were deposited at the micropores of the film, which could effectively seal the porous MAO film and significantly improve its corrosion and wear resistance. The corrosion resistance and wear resistance properties were optimal with 5.0 g/L SiO2 addition. Compared to the unsealed film, the corrosion current density and corrosion rate decreased from 1.24 × 10−9 A/cm2 and 1.47 × 10−5 mm/a to 7.78 × 10−10 A/cm2 and 9.15 × 10−6 mm/a, respectively. Moreover, the average friction coefficient of the sealed film was 0.606, which was ~19.3% lower than that of the substrate and 3.3% lower than for the unsealed film.
Football Match Line-Up Prediction Based on Physiological Variables: A Machine Learning Approach
Authors: Cortez Alberto , Trigo António , Loureiro Nuno
Published: March 2022

One of the great challenges for football coaches is to choose the football line-up that gives more guarantees of success. Even though there are several dimensions to analyse the problem, such as the opposing team characteristics. The objective of this study is to identify, based on the players’ physiological variables collected using Global Positioning Systems (GPS), which players are the most suitable to be part of the starting team/line-up. The work was developed in two stages, first with the choice of the most important variables using the Recursive Feature Elimination algorithm, and then using logistic regression on these chosen variables. The logistic regression resulted in an index, called the line-up preparedness index, for the following player positions: Fullbacks, Central Midfielders and Wingers. For the other players’ positions, the model results were not satisfactory.
Is It Time to Commit to a Process to Re-Evaluate Oncology Drugs? A Descriptive Analysis of Systemic Therapies for Solid Tumour Indications Reviewed in Canada from 2017 to 2021
Authors: Sehdev Sandeep , Chambers Alexandra
Published: March 2022

We undertook an analysis of the Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technologies in Health (CADTH)’s health technology assessments (HTAs) of systemic therapies for solid tumour indications to determine if a mechanism to re-evaluate HTA decisions is needed based on the level of certainty supporting the original recommendation. To measure the certainty in the evidence, we analysed if: (1) overall survival (OS) was the primary endpoint in the pivotal trial, (2) median OS was available at the time of the recommendation, and (3) the expert review committee explicitly identified gaps in the evidence. There were 96 drugs approved by Health Canada that met our eligibility criteria between 1 January 2017 and 31 October 2021. Median OS was not estimable at the time of the recommendation in 57% of the positive recommendations, and the uncertainty in the magnitude of clinical benefit was identified by the expert review committee in 21% of the positive recommendations. There is uncertainty at the time of the HTA recommendation for many drugs, and thus a need to implement a process to re-evaluate drugs in Canada to allow patients timely access to promising therapies while ensuring long-term value of therapies to patients and the healthcare system.
Machine Learning for Opportunistic Screening for Osteoporosis from CT Scans of the Wrist and Forearm
Authors: Sebro Ronnie , De la Garza-Ramos Cynthia
Published: March 2022

Background: We investigated whether opportunistic screening for osteoporosis can be done from computed tomography (CT) scans of the wrist/forearm using machine learning. Methods: A retrospective study of 196 patients aged 50 years or greater who underwent CT scans of the wrist/forearm and dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) scans within 12 months of each other was performed. Volumetric segmentation of the forearm, carpal, and metacarpal bones was performed to obtain the mean CT attenuation of each bone. The correlations of the CT attenuations of each of the wrist/forearm bones and their correlations to the DEXA measurements were calculated. The study was divided into training/validation (n = 96) and test (n = 100) datasets. The performance of multivariable support vector machines (SVMs) was evaluated in the test dataset and compared to the CT attenuation of the distal third of the radial shaft (radius 33%). Results: There were positive correlations between each of the CT attenuations of the wrist/forearm bones, and with DEXA measurements. A threshold hamate CT attenuation of 170.2 Hounsfield units had a sensitivity of 69.2% and a specificity of 77.1% for identifying patients with osteoporosis. The radial-basis-function (RBF) kernel SVM (AUC = 0.818) was the best for predicting osteoporosis with a higher AUC than other models and better than the radius 33% (AUC = 0.576) (p = 0.020). Conclusions: Opportunistic screening for osteoporosis could be performed using CT scans of the wrist/forearm. Multivariable machine learning techniques, such as SVM with RBF kernels, that use data from multiple bones were more accurate than using the CT attenuation of a single bone.
Temporal and Permanent Changes Induced by Maxillary Sinus Lifting with Bone Grafts and Maxillary Functional Endoscopic Sinus Surgery in the Voice Characteristics—Systematic Review
Authors: Delgado-Ruiz Rafael , Botticelli Daniele , Romanos Georgios
Published: March 2022

Sinus surgery procedures such as sinus lifting with bone grafting or maxillary functional endoscopy surgery (FESS) can present different complications. The aims of this systematic review are to compile the post-operatory complications of sinus elevation with bone grafting and FESS including voice changes, and to elucidate if those changes are either permanent or temporary. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) were used, and the literature was exhaustively searched without time restrictions for randomized and non-randomized clinical studies, cohort studies (prospective and retrospective), and clinical case reports with ≥4 cases focused on sinus lift procedures with bone grafts and functional endoscopic maxillary sinus surgery. A total of 435 manuscripts were identified. After reading the abstracts, 101 articles were selected to be read in full. Twenty articles that fulfilled the inclusion criteria were included for analysis. Within the limitations of this systematic review, complications are frequent after sinus lifting with bone grafts and after FEES. Voice parameters are scarcely evaluated after sinus lifting with bone grafts and no voice changes are reported. The voice changes that occur after FESS include a decreased fundamental frequency, increased nasality, and nasalance, all of which are transitory.
Categorical Smoothness of 4-Manifolds from Quantum Symmetries and the Information Loss Paradox
Authors: Król Jerzy , Asselmeyer-Maluga Torsten
Published: March 2022

In this paper, we focus on some aspects of the relation of spacetime and quantum mechanics and the study counterparts (in Set) of the categorical local symmetries of smooth 4-manifolds. In the set-theoretic limit, there emerge some exotic smoothness structures on R4 (hence the Riemannian nonvanishing curvature), which fit well with the quantum mechanical lattice of projections on infinite-dimensional Hilbert spaces. The method we follow is formalization localized on the open covers of the spacetime manifold. We discuss our findings in the context of the information paradox assigned to evaporating black holes. A black hole can evaporate entirely, but the smoothness structure of spacetime will be altered and, in this way, the missing information about the initial states of matter forming the black hole will be encoded. Thus, the possible global geometric remnant of black holes in spacetime is recognized as exotic 4-smoothness. The full-fledged verification of this proposal will presumably be possible within the scope of future quantum gravity theory research.
CT and MRI Medical Image Fusion Using Noise-Removal and Contrast Enhancement Scheme with Convolutional Neural Network
Authors: Bhutto Jameel Ahmed , Tian Lianfang , Du Qiliang , Sun Zhengzheng , Yu Lubin , Tahir Muhammad Faizan
Published: March 2022

Medical image fusion (MIF) has received painstaking attention due to its diverse medical applications in response to accurately diagnosing clinical images. Numerous MIF methods have been proposed to date, but the fused image suffers from poor contrast, non-uniform illumination, noise presence, and improper fusion strategies, resulting in an inadequate sparse representation of significant features. This paper proposes the morphological preprocessing method to address the non-uniform illumination and noise by the bottom-hat–top-hat strategy. Then, grey-principal component analysis (grey-PCA) is used to transform RGB images into gray images that can preserve detailed features. After that, the local shift-invariant shearlet transform (LSIST) method decomposes the images into the low-pass (LP) and high-pass (HP) sub-bands, efficiently restoring all significant characteristics in various scales and directions. The HP sub-bands are fed to two branches of the Siamese convolutional neural network (CNN) by process of feature detection, initial segmentation, and consistency verification to effectively capture smooth edges, and textures. While the LP sub-bands are fused by employing local energy fusion using the averaging and selection mode to restore the energy information. The proposed method is validated by subjective and objective quality assessments. The subjective evaluation is conducted by a user case study in which twelve field specialists verified the superiority of the proposed method based on precise details, image contrast, noise in the fused image, and no loss of information. The supremacy of the proposed method is further justified by obtaining 0.6836 to 0.8794, 0.5234 to 0.6710, and 3.8501 to 8.7937 gain for QFAB, CRR, and AG and noise reduction from 0.3397 to 0.1209 over other methods for objective parameters.
Current Trends and Issues in Applications of Remote Sensing in Coastal and Marine Conservation
Authors: Jurkus Egidijus , Povilanskas Ramūnas , Razinkovas-Baziukas Artūras , Taminskas Julius
Published: March 2022

The background of this feature article is a necessity to systematize a vast array of issues pertinent to the latest applications of remote sensing in coastal and marine conservation. Hence the purpose of this study: stocktaking of cutting-edge research articles in this field and eliciting the essential trends and issues shaping the knowledge and future research and technical development perspectives in coastal and marine nature conservation, which is pivotal for meeting the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals till 2030. A hierarchical cluster analysis was undertaken with the KH Coder 3.0 tool to elicit topical co-occurrence networks for thematic words in academic papers from 2015 to 2021 on the topic quarried from Scholar Google. The article’s main findings are the elicited four main trending themes in applications of remote sensing in coastal and marine conservation: (1) Remote Sensing-Based Classification and Modelling; (2) Conservation of Tropical Coastal and Marine Habitats; (3) Mapping of Habitats and Species Distribution; (4) Ecosystem and Biodiversity Conservation and Resource Management. The main conclusion of the article is that habitat vulnerability is a key factor to take into consideration for the future hybrid applications of remote sensing and “citizen science” inputs.
Simplified A-Diakoptics for Accelerating QSTS Simulations
Authors: Montenegro Davis , Dugan Roger
Published: March 2022

The spread of distributed energy resources (DERs) across the distribution power system demands complex planning studies based on quasi-static-time-series (QSTS) simulations, requiring a significant amount of computing time to complete, leading planners to look for alternatives to QSTS. Diakoptics based on actors (A-Diakoptics) is a technique for accelerating simulations combining two computing techniques from different engineering fields: diakoptics and the actor model. Diakoptics is a mathematical method for tearing networks, reducing their complexity by using smaller subcircuits that can be solved independently. The actor model is used to coordinate the interaction between these subcircuits and their control actions, given the pervasive inconsistency that can be found when dealing with large-scale models. A-Diakoptics is a technique that simplifies the power flow problem for improving the simulation time performance, leading to faster QSTS simulations. This paper presents a simplified algorithm version of A-Diakoptics for modernizing sequential power simulation tools to use parallel processing. This simplification eliminates critical points found in previous versions of A-Diakoptics, improving the performance of the algorithm and facilitating its implementation to perform QSTS simulations. The performance of the new version of A-Diakoptics is evaluated by its integration into EPRI’s open-source simulator OpenDSS, which uses standard computing architectures and is publicly available.
Resorption Thermal Transformer Generator Design
Authors: Hinmers Samuel , Atkinson George H. , Critoph Robert E. , van der Pal Michel
Published: March 2022

This work takes an empirical and evidence-based approach in the development of a resorption thermal transformer. It presents the initial modelling conducted to understand key performance parameters (coefficient of performance and specific mean power) before discussing a preliminary design. Experimental results from large temperature jump and isosteric heating tests have identified the importance of heat transfer in ammonia-salt systems. Both the heat transfer resistance between the salt composite adsorbent and the tube side wall, and the heat transfer from the heat transfer fluid to the tube side wall are key to realising resorption systems. The successful performance of a laboratory-scale prototype will depend on the reduction in these heat transfer resistances, and improvements may be key in future prototype machines. A sorption reactor is sized and presented, which can be scaled for length depending on the desired power output. The reactor design presented was derived using data on reaction kinetics constants and heat of reaction for calcium chloride reacting with ammonia that were obtained experimentally. The data enabled accurate modelling to realise an optimised design of a reactor, focusing on key performance indicators such as the coefficient of performance (COP) and the system power density. This design presents a basis for a demonstrator that can be used to collect and publish dynamic data and to calculate a real COP for resorption system.