bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The P3 Micro Power Generation System
Authors: Richards C. , Bahr D. , Xu C.-G. , Richards R.
Published: November 2021

Work toward the development of a new MEMS power generation system, the P3 micro heat engine, is presented. The P3 micro heat engine is an external combustion engine, in which thermal power is converted to mechanical power through the use of a novel thermodynamic cycle that approaches the ideal vapor Carnot cycle. Mechanical power is converted into electrical power through the use of a thin-film piezoelectric membrane generator. A numerical model of the engine, SIMP3, is introduced. The model is used, first to illustrate the micro heat engine’s operation, and then to explore the optimization of the engine. The major parameters controlling the performance of the P3 micro engine are discussed.
Simulation of a Range of Thermal Systems by Artificial Neural Networks
Authors: Ward J. , Wilcox S. J. , Tan O. H. , Tan C. K. , Payne R. J. , Garwood D. R.
Published: November 2021

The Mechanical & Manufacturing Engineering Research Unit at the University of Glamorgan has been involved for the last 5 years in the application of neural networks to simulate the behaviour of a range of high temperature systems. Consequently this paper presents results from a number of studies concerned with boilers, furnaces and heat treatment processes. The first of these studies involves the prediction of heat transfer rates from air-assisted atomised water sprays for cooling aerospace forgings from high temperatures using the nozzle air and water pressures as inputs to the network. The second case is concerned with prediction of pollutant emissions from a coal-fired boiler using previous measured emission concentrations and an indication of the current boiler load and combustion air flow rate. In both these cases experimental results were used to train the networks. The final example deals with the prediction of load temperatures in an intermittently operated, gas-fired, metal reheating furnace. In contrast, in this example, data generated from a previously validated mathematical model of the furnace were employed for training purposes. Artificial neural networks were found to provide adequate representation of all three systems.
Mechanically Aspirated Solar Radiation Shields: A CFD and Neural Network Design Analysis
Authors: Fichera B. M. , Mahajan R. L. , Horst T. W.
Published: November 2021

Accurate air temperature measurements made by surface meteorological stations are demanded by climate research programs for various uses. Heating of the temperature sensor due to inadequate coupling with the environment can lead to significant errors. Therefore, accurate in-situ temperature measurements require shielding the sensor from exposure to direct and reflected solar radiation, while also allowing the sensor to be brought into contact with atmospheric air at the ambient temperature. The difficulty in designing a radiation shield for such a temperature sensor lies in satisfying these two conditions simultaneously. In this paper, we perform a computational fluid dynamics analysis of mechanically aspirated radiation shields (MARS) to study the effect of geometry, wind speed, and interplay of multiple heat transfer processes. Finally, an artificial neural network model is developed to learn the relationship between the temperature error and specified input variables. The model is then used to perform a sensitivity analysis and design optimization.
On the Optimization of Circular Radiating Fins
Authors: Krikkis Rizos N. , Razelos Panagiotis
Published: November 2021

In the present study the optimum dimensions of circular rectangular and triangular profile fins with fin to fin and fin to base radiant interaction are determined. The basic assumptions are one-dimensional heat conduction, and black surface radiation. The governing equations are formulated by means of dimensionless variables and solved numerically. The optimum fin dimensions, bore thickness and height, are presented in generalized dimensionless form. In order to assist the spacecraft thermal systems designers explicit correlations are provided for the dimensionless, bore thickness. The results are analyzed and reported in diagrams that give insight to the operational characteristics of the heat rejection mechanism. Moreover, special attention is given in the error analysis of the numerical methods used, since the accuracy and the reliability of the algorithms employed for the solution of the integro-differential equation is importand for the calculation of the heat dissipation at the fin base and its subsequent optimization.
Three-Dimensional Simulation of Co-Injection Molding
Authors: Ilinca Florin , Hétu Jean-François
Published: November 2021

This paper presents simulations of co-injection molding problems computed by a three-dimensional finite element method. The polymer melts behave as generalized Newtonian fluids and non-isothermal effects are taken into account. In addition to the momentum, mass and energy equations, we solve two transport equations tracking the polymer/air and skin/core polymers interfaces. Solutions are shown for a center gated rectangular plate. The effect of varying the melt/mold temperature and the ratio between the skin and core materials is investigated. The solution obtained for the same skin and core materials is compared with those in which viscosities of core and skin materials are different. Finally, the solution for the co-injection of a C-shaped plate is presented.
Bulk Flow of Solution in a Hydrothermal Autoclave
Authors: Evans Edward A. , Li Hongmin , Wang G.-X.
Published: November 2021

Many piezo-electrical crystals such as quartz are grown hydrothermally in highly pressurized cylindrical autoclaves. In hydrothermal crystal growth of quartz, quartz pellets are put in the bottom of an autoclave where the temperature is higher and the quartz dissolves into an aqueous solution. The nutrient is then brought to the upper part of the autoclave by natural convection of the solution due to a temperature difference and deposited onto the seed crystals at a lower temperature. A good understanding of such a bulk flow is therefore essential for the control of the rate of crystal growth and the quality of the grown crystals. Due to a large dimension of the system and a large length to diameter ratio (10 to 30), complex flow patterns with strong turbulence are expected. This paper presents the first numerical analysis of turbulent natural convection in industry-size autoclaves with various aspect ratios. A simplified, two-dimensional axisymmetric model that does not consider the seed and the porous raw material bed has been developed. The Wilcox κ-ω turbulent model is employed to describe turbulent transport. Using a CFD package, CFX, numerical results have been obtained for cases with aspect ratios ranging from 2 to 30. Results show typical two counter-flow cells in both the bottom and upper parts of the autoclave. Strong turbulent interaction is observed in the region near the baffle opening where the bottom and upper two flow cells meet, although there is no cross flow in the average flow field. Detailed analyses and discussions are presented to characterize the bulk flow in the upper chamber under various aspect ratios, and their effect on crystal growth.
Investigation of Air Plasma in Ultra-Short Laser Processing of Crystalline Silicon
Authors: Choi Taeyoul , Hwang David Jen , Grigoropoulos Costas P.
Published: November 2021

Ultra-short pulsed laser radiation has been shown to be effective for precision material processing and surface micro-modification. One of the advantages is the substantial reduction of the heat penetration depth, which can lead to minimal lateral damage. On the other hand, the peak laser power applied in this experiment is sufficiently high to induce air breakdown forming air plasma. The femtosecond-resolved imaging pump-and-probe experiments provide a distinct evidence for the occurrence of air plasma. This highly nonlinear phenomenon is triggered before the commencement of the ablation process, which is traced at elapsed time of the order of 10 ps with respect to the ablating pulse.
Resin Infusion of Triaxially Braided Preforms With Through-the-Thickness Reinforcement
Authors: Sayre Jay R. , Loos Alfred C.
Published: November 2021

Vacuum assisted resin transfer molding (VARTM) has shown potential to significantly reduce the manufacturing cost of high-performance aerospace composite structures. In this investigation, high fiber volume fraction, triaxially braided preforms with through-the-thickness stitching were successfully resin infiltrated by the VARTM process. The preforms, resin infiltrated with three different resin systems, produced cured composites that were fully wet-out and void free. A three-dimensional finite element model was used to simulation resin infusion into the preforms. The predicted flow patterns agreed well with the flow pattern observed during the infiltration process. The total infiltration times calculated using the model compared well with the measured times.
Lateral Compaction Effects in Braided Structures
Authors: DaSilva Robert A. , Chen Julie
Published: November 2021

This paper addresses the phenomenology of strand interaction in biaxial non-embedded braided textile structures under uniaxial tension. The specific interest in the development of new braided textile structures is a result of the shortcomings of current rope, belt, and cable performance under large strain controlled conditions. However, this work also holds particular significance in the area of textile composite preforms. In composites forming, the lateral strand compaction mechanism, which drives braid behavior under tension, may be applied to woven fabrics for predicting wrinkling during forming processes. Additionally, manufacturing models produced in this study may be used to predict shape and size limitations of braided composite preforms.

In this paper, a generalized model is developed for these structures with the intent of characterizing and predicting mechanical behavior. The methodology consists of a modular framework, which includes the prediction of manufacturing parameters. Lateral strand compaction tests were performed to generate constitutive material curves for use in analytical geometric models. Model predictions correlate well with data generated from braid uniaxial tension tests. Results suggest that lateral strand strain drives braid tensile behavior.
A Model to Evaluate Heat Transfer to a Particle From Thermal Plasma
Authors: Samudra Sameer D. , Jog Milind A.
Published: November 2021

In many plasma-aided manufacturing systems, metallic or ceramic particles are introduced in a thermal plasma. The heat transfer from the plasma to the particle, in part, governs the quality of the products. To design thermal plasma-aided manufacturing systems and to predict their performance, accurate determination of particle heat transfer is necessary. In this paper, a spherical particle introduced in an ionized gas made up of electrons, ions, and neutrals is considered. A model to accurately determine heat transfer to the particle is developed.
Spreadsheet Tool for Quick-Turn 3D Numerical Modeling of Package Thermal Performance With Non-Uniform Die Heating
Authors: Watwe Abhay A. , Prasher Ravi S.
Published: November 2021

Traditional methods of estimating package thermal performance employ numerical modeling using commercially available finite-volume or finite-element tools. Use of these tools requires training and experience in thermal modeling. This methodology restricts the ability of die designers to quickly evaluate the thermal impact of their die architecture due to the added throughput time required to enlist the services of a thermal analyst. This paper describes the development of an easy to use spreadsheet tool, which performs quick-turn numerical evaluations of the impact of non-uniform die heating. The tool employs well-established finite-volume numerical techniques to solve the steady-state, three-dimensional Fourier equation of conduction in the package geometry. Minimal input data is required and the inputs are customized using visual basic pull-down menus to assist die designers who may not be thermal experts. Data showing comparison of the estimates from the spreadsheet tool with that obtained from a conventional analysis using the commercially available finite element code ANSYS™ is also presented.
Understanding the Effects of Processing on the Mechanical Behavior of a SI3N4 Ceramic Through Microstructural Investigations
Authors: Wei Q. , Sankar J.
Published: November 2021

The mechanical properties of silicon nitride (Si3N4) ceramics are determined by their microstructure, which in turn depends on processing routes adopted to fabricate the material. To obtain dense Si3N4, sintering aids are almost always added during the densification process. The sintering aids remain in the ceramics as amorphous residues which adversely affect the high temperature mechanical behavior of the material.

In this paper, we have investigated the effects of processing on the mechanical behavior of a sintered Si3N4 ceramic through detailed microstructural observations. A commercial Si3N4 was annealed using conventional furnace annealing and microwave annealing at different temperatures. Creep tests were performed to compare the high temperature mechanical behavior of the as-sintered and annealed ceramics. It was found that microwave and furnace annealing heat-treatments improve the creep resistance of the ceramic through devitrification of the triple junctions phases.
Effect of Molten Metal Stream Shrouding in Minimizing Surface Turbulence
Authors: Tomovic Mileta M. , Drambarean Stefan
Published: November 2021

The metalcasting process is one of the most complex manufacturing processes. It is characterized by numerous physical phenomena that need to be completely understood and controlled. The focus of this paper is on the fluid mechanics of the molten metal stream entering the mold cavity. The flow pattern of the molten metal has a profound effect on the quality of the end casting. This has prompted numerous research efforts in developing methods of delivering molten metal to the mold cavity in a way that will result in relatively fast flow and minimally disturbed stream of molten metal with a minimum of surface turbulence. This paper compares the conventional method of molten metal delivery to the mold cavity with the recently implemented shroud pouring technique. The experimental and numerical results are correlated for one casting manufactured by Harrison Steel Castings Co., Attica, Indiana. The results show the complexity of the filling process during the transient flow stage and the need to rely on the numerical simulation for a full understanding of the process. In addition, the results show certain benefits of the shroud pouring technique compared to conventional pouring, and that pouring parameters and alloy chemistry have significant impact on the quality of the casting.
Ultrasonic Assessment of Impact Damages in Fiber-Metal Laminated Panels
Authors: Pierides Alexis M. , Liu Yangxiong , Liaw Benjamin
Published: November 2021

Damages generated by instrumented drop-weight impacting onto various types of Glare fiber-metal laminated panels were assessed by the immersion ultrasonic NDE technique. Factors affecting impact damage tolerance of fiber-metal laminates, such as the choice of aluminum alloy, lay-up sequence, panel thickness, etc., were considered. One major goal of this study is to identify proper immersion ultrasound parameters for better detecting failure mechanisms, especially those hidden inside these opaque materials. They include B- or C-scanning, focused or flat transducers, transducer frequency, pulse-echo or through-transmission mode, etc.
Semi-Analytical Modeling of Progressive Damage in Twill Woven Textile Composites
Authors: Chaphalkar Pramod , Kelkar Ajit O.
Published: November 2021

Various alternative composite materials like, textile composites, especially woven, are being developed and tried in place of conventional multidirectional laminates, because they have better properties in mutually orthogonal directions and out of plane properties than the multidirectional laminates. In structural applications, predictions of the elastic modulii, Poisson’s ratios from the weave architecture and the properties of the constituents are required. There are various parameters that characterize the weave architecture of woven laminate composites. In repeated loading, the matrix cracking occurs, degrading matrix properties. This in turn degrades the effective properties of the woven composites. Analytical models are necessary to study the effects of these parameters on the behavior of woven fabric composites and to design efficient woven structure for particular application. The objective of the current paper is to study the effect of matrix cracking on the effective properties of the twill woven composites by degrading the matrix properties. First the effective properties of the composite material, without any matrix cracks, are determined by using an analytical model, which predicts the stiffness of the twill woven composites. This model takes into account effects of the actual fabric structure with various tow cross sections by considering tow undulations and continuity along both the fill and warp directions.

In twill woven composites, there is a weaker matrix along with the stronger medium i.e. the glass fibers. The matrix first fails and then the load is transferred to the fibers. The matrix properties are degraded in the resin pockets and also in the transverse tows only. This is because normally matrix cracking first occurs in the transverse tows (cracks originate in the tows that run in the transverse direction to the loading). The degradation of the properties includes the Young’s Modulus and the Poisson’s ratio of the resin. With these modified properties of the resin, the homogeneous properties of the transverse tows are calculated. At each degradation step the effective properties of the composite material are evaluated. This progressive failure is continued till the matrix loses most of its strength.
Phase transition specified by a binary code patterns the vertebrate eye cup
Authors: Balasubramanian Revathi , Min Xuanyu , Quinn Peter M. J. , Giudice Quentin Lo , Tao Chenqi , Polanco Karina , Makrides Neoklis , Peregrin John , Bouaziz Michael , Mao Yingyu , Wang Qian , da Costa Bruna L. , Buenaventura Diego , Wang Fen , Ma Liang , Tsang Stephen H. , Fabre Pierre J. , Zhang Xin
Published: November 2021

FGF and Wnt signaling controls the phase transition of the ocular fate.
Brightening of dark excitons in 2D perovskites
Authors: Dyksik Mateusz , Duim Herman , Maude Duncan K. , Baranowski Michal , Loi Maria Antonietta , Plochocka Paulina
Published: November 2021

Extreme magnetic field reveals the secret of dark states and bright emission of 2D layered perovskites.
Resolving the Microalgal Gene Landscape at the Strain Level: a Novel Hybrid Transcriptome of
Emiliania huxleyi
CCMP3266
Authors: Sperfeld Martin , Yahalomi Dayana , Segev Einat
Published: November 2021

Microalgae are key players in the ecology and biogeochemistry of our oceans. Efforts to implement genomic and transcriptomic tools in laboratory studies involving microalgae suffer from the lack of published genomes.
External Quality Assessment of SARS-CoV-2 Sequencing: an ESGMD-SSM Pilot Trial across 15 European Laboratories
Authors: Wegner Fanny , Roloff Tim , Huber Michael , Cordey Samuel , Ramette Alban , Gerth Yannick , Bertelli Claire , Stange Madlen , Seth-Smith Helena M. B. , Mari Alfredo , Leuzinger Karoline , Cerutti Lorenzo , Harshman Keith , Xenarios Ioannis , Le Mercier Philippe , Bittel Pascal , Neuenschwander Stefan , Opota Onya , Fuchs Jonas , Panning Marcus , Michel Charlotte , Hallin Marie , Demuyser Thomas , De Mendonca Ricardo , Savelkoul Paul , Dingemans Jozef , van der Veer Brian , Boers Stefan A. , Claas Eric C. J. , Coolen Jordy P. M. , Melchers Willem J. G. , Gunell Marianne , Kallonen Teemu , Vuorinen Tytti , Hakanen Antti J. , Bernhoff Eva , Hetland Marit Andrea Klokkhammer , Golan Berman Hadar , Adar Sheera , Moran-Gilad Jacob , Wolf Dana G. , Leib Stephen L. , Nolte Oliver , Kaiser Laurent , Schmutz Stefan , Kufner Verena , Zaheri Maryam , Trkola Alexandra , Aamot Hege Vangstein , Hirsch Hans H. , Greub Gilbert , Egli Adrian
Published: November 2021

This first pilot trial on external quality assessment (EQA) of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) whole-genome sequencing, initiated by the European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (ESCMID) Study Group for Genomic and Molecular Diagnostics (ESGMD) and the Swiss Society for Microbiology (SSM), aims to build a framework between laboratories in order to improve pathogen surveillance sequencing. Ten samples with various viral loads were sent out to 15 clinical laboratories that had free choice of sequencing methods and bioinformatic analyses.
Antigenic Distance between North American Swine and Human Seasonal H3N2 Influenza A Viruses as an Indication of Zoonotic Risk to Humans
Authors: Souza Carine K. , Anderson Tavis K. , Chang Jennifer , Venkatesh Divya , Lewis Nicola S. , Pekosz Andrew , Shaw-Saliba Kathryn , Rothman Richard E. , Chen Kuan-Fu , Vincent Amy L.
Published: November 2021

Human H3N2 influenza A viruses spread to pigs in North America in the 1990s and more recently in the 2010s. These cross-species events led to sustained circulation and increased H3N2 diversity in pig populations.
Gene Amplification Uncovers Large Previously Unrecognized Cryptic Antibiotic Resistance Potential in E. coli
Authors: Suarez Stacy A. , Martiny Adam C.
Published: November 2021

Predicting where new antibiotic resistance genes will rise is a challenge and is especially important when new antibiotics are developed. Adaptive resistance allows sensitive bacterial cells to become transiently resistant to antibiotics.
Culture-Independent Detection of Poliovirus in Stool Samples by Direct RNA Extraction
Authors: Harrington Chelsea , Sun Hong , Jeffries-Miles Stacey , Gerloff Nancy , Mandelbaum Mark , Pang Hong , Collins Nikail , Burns Cara C. , Vega Everardo
Published: November 2021

The GPLN is a global surveillance system composed of 146 laboratories in 92 countries, in each of the six World Health Organization regions. Laboratory surveillance for PV relies on virus isolation by cell culture to identify PV in stool samples from AFP cases.
Diagnosis and Treatment of Bacterial Pneumonia in Critically Ill Patients with COVID-19 Using a Multiplex PCR Assay: A Large Italian Hospital’s Five-Month Experience
Authors: Posteraro Brunella , Cortazzo Venere , Liotti Flora Marzia , Menchinelli Giulia , Ippoliti Chiara , De Angelis Giulia , La Sorda Marilena , Capalbo Gennaro , Vargas Joel , Antonelli Massimo , Sanguinetti Maurizio , De Pascale Gennaro , Spanu Teresa
Published: November 2021

Since bacterial pneumonia is relatively frequent, suspicion of it in COVID-19 patients may prompt ICU clinicians to overuse (broad-spectrum) antibiotics, particularly when empirical antibiotics do not cover the suspected pathogen. We showed that a PCR-based, culture-independent laboratory assay allows not only accurate diagnosis but also streamlining of antimicrobial therapy for bacterial pneumonia episodes.
Forty Years of Evidence on the Efficacy and Safety of Oral and Injectable Antibiotics for Treating Lyme Disease of Adults and Children: A Network Meta-Analysis
Authors: Yang Jiaru , Wen Shiyuan , Kong Jing , Yue Peng , Cao Wenjing , Xu Xin , Zhang Yu , Chen Jingjing , Liu Meixiao , Fan Yuxin , Luo Lisha , Chen Taigui , Li Lianbao , Li Bingxue , Dong Yan , Luo Suyi , Zhou Guozhong , Liu Aihua , Bao Fukai
Published: November 2021

Some previous studies investigated the efficacy and safety of antibiotics for treating Lyme disease (LD). However, due to technical limitations, several questions regarding the routes of drug administration and the dosages of drug are still unclear, which might be causing problems for clinicians.
Identification of Recent Tuberculosis Exposure Using QuantiFERON-TB Gold Plus, a Multicenter Study
Authors: Pérez-Recio Sandra , Pallarès Natàlia , Grijota-Camino Maria D. , Sánchez-Montalvá Adrián , Barcia Laura , Campos-Gutiérrez Silvia , Pomar Virginia , Rabuñal-Rey Ramón , Balcells María Elvira , Gazel Deniz , Montiel Natalia , Vicente Diego , Goić-Barišić Ivana , Schön Thomas , Paues Jakob , Mareković Ivana , Cacho-Calvo Juana , Barac Aleksandra , Goletti Delia , García-Gasalla Mercedes , Barcala José María , Tórtola María Teresa , Anibarro Luis , Suárez-Toste Isabel , Moga Esther , Gude-Gonzalez María J. , Naves Rodrigo , Karslıgil Tekin , Martin-Peñaranda Tania , Stevanovic Goran , Trigo Matilde , Rubio Verónica , Karaoğlan İlkay , Bayram Nazan , Alcaide Fernando , Tebé Cristian , Santin Miguel
Published: November 2021

Contact tuberculosis tracing is essential to identify recently infected people, who therefore merit preventive treatment. However, there are no diagnostic tests that can determine whether the infection is a result of a recent exposure or not.
The Vaginal Microbiome of Nonhuman Primates Can Be Only Transiently Altered to Become
Lactobacillus
Dominant without Reducing Inflammation
Authors: Langner Charlotte A. , Ortiz Alexandra M. , Flynn Jacob K. , Kendall Heather , Lagenaur Laurel A. , Brenchley Jason M.
Published: November 2021

NHPs have proven to be invaluable animal models for the study of many human infectious diseases. The use of NHPs to study the effect of the microbiome on disease transmission and susceptibility is limited due to differences between the native microbiomes of humans and NHPs.
Isolation and Characterization of Human Monoclonal Antibodies to Pneumococcal Capsular Polysaccharide 3
Authors: Babb Rachelle , Doyle Christopher R. , Pirofski Liise-anne
Published: November 2021

Despite the global success of vaccination with pneumococcal conjugate vaccines, serotype 3 (ST3) pneumococcus remains a leading cause of morbidity and mortality. In comparison to other vaccine-included serotypes, the ST3 pneumococcal capsular polysaccharide (PPS3) induces a weaker opsonophagocytic response, which is considered a correlate of vaccine efficacy.
Genomic Analysis Reveals Potential Mechanisms Underlying Promotion of Tomato Plant Growth and Antagonism of Soilborne Pathogens by Bacillus amyloliquefaciens Ba13
Authors: Ji Chenglong , Zhang Meilin , Kong Zirong , Chen Xue , Wang Xing , Ding Wei , Lai Hangxian , Guo Qiao
Published: November 2021

Microbial agents are considered the optimal alternative for chemical agents. Exploring the mechanisms underlying the beneficial effects of microbial agents is essential for rational applications in the field.
DETERMINANTS OF INFLATION IN INDIA IN A DYNAMIC SETUP
Authors: ADIL MASUDUL HASAN , KHAN MOHAMMAD AZEEM , RASOOL HAROON
Published: November 2021

The present study empirically examines the factors accounting for inflation in India in an open economy framework by utilizing the bounds testing approach to cointegration for the 2006: Q3-2019: Q4 period. The findings reveal the existence of a long-run relationship with the household survey-based inflation expectation, real output, narrow money aggregate and interest rate as important determinants of inflation. The study concludes that inflation is well explained by a combination of structural and monetary factors. Notably, the significance of inflation expectation as an important explanatory variable corroborates the utilization of inflation forecast by the RBI as an intermediate target in the flexible inflation targeting framework. In this backdrop, it is imperative for RBI to conduct a high frequency inflation expectations survey of households to account for frequent information updation on the part of certain groups of households.
Nonlinear Forced Vibration Analysis of Smart Curved CNTs Conveying Fluid
Authors: Mohamadhashemi Vahid , Jalali Amir , Ahmadi Habib
Published: November 2021

In this study, the nonlinear vibration of a curved carbon nanotube conveying fluid is analyzed. The nanotube is assumed to be covered by a piezoelectric layer and the Euler–Bernoulli beam theory is employed to establish the governing equations of motion. The influence of carbon nanotube curvature on structural modeling and fluid velocity vector is considered and the slip boundary conditions of CNT conveying fluid are included. The mathematical modeling of the structure is developed using Hamilton’s principle and then, the Galerkin procedure is employed to discretize the equation of motion. Furthermore, the frequency response of the system is extracted by applying the multiple scales method of perturbation. Finally, a comprehensive study is carried out on the primary resonance and piezoelectric-based parametric resonance of the system. It is shown that consideration of nanotube curvature may lead to an increase in nonlinearity. Implementing the fluid velocity vector in which nanotube curvature is included highly affects the maximum amplitude of the response and should not be ignored. Furthermore, different system parameters have evident impacts on the behavior of the system and therefore, selecting the reasonable geometrical and physical parameters of the system can be very useful to achieve a favorable response.
3D-Network porous polymer bonded metalloporphyrin: An efficient and reusable catalyst for the Baeyer-Villiger oxidation
Authors: Hamid Sheida , Mouradzadegun Arash
Published: November 2021

A new, green catalyst was prepared through immobilization of metalloporphyrin on the surface of 3D-network polymer based on calix[4]resorcinarene (PC4RA), which efficiently catalyze B-V oxidation reaction using O2/benzaldehyde. The catalyst demonstrated excellent activity, which is highly potential for cyclic aliphatic ketones oxidation under mild conditions. IR spectroscopy, UV-Vis spectroscopy, thermal gravimetric analysis, energy dispersive spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy are some of the spectroscopic methods used to characterize the new synthesized solid support.
Pipes, Taps, and Vendors: An Integrated Water Management Approach
Authors: Meran Georg , Siehlow Markus , von Hirschhausen Christian
Published: November 2021

This paper applies a microeconomics-based stylized model to identify the optimal modal split of water supply infrastructure in regions of the Global South against the background of the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) No. 6. Based on an assumed linear city, we calculate the optimal modal split of water supply. Not all water users need to be connected to a centralized, pipeline-based water supply network from an economic perspective. We calculate the optimal tap density and the optimal spatial range of households served by non-mobile or mobile water vendors for the area with unconnected households. The analysis is made for the case of water requirement (totally inelastic water demand), and afterward, the research will be extended to the case of an elastic water demand based on a Stone–Geary utility function to incorporate price and income effects. The result, an “optimal modal split” between network-based water supply and other supply options, has main implications on water tariffication. While the volumetric elements of the tariff are based on the marginal costs, the level of the access fee mainly depends on the subsistence level of water.
Deep-Confidentiality
: An IoT-Enabled Privacy-Preserving Framework for Unstructured Big Biomedical Data
Authors: Moqurrab Syed Atif , Anjum Adeel , Khan Abid , Ahmed Mansoor , Ahmad Awais , Jeon Gwanggil
Published: November 2021

Due to the Internet of Things evolution, the clinical data is exponentially growing and using smart technologies. The generated big biomedical data is confidential, as it contains a patient’s personal information and findings. Usually, big biomedical data is stored over the cloud, making it convenient to be accessed and shared. In this view, the data shared for research purposes helps to reveal useful and unexposed aspects. Unfortunately, sharing of such sensitive data also leads to certain privacy threats. Generally, the clinical data is available in textual format (e.g., perception reports). Under the domain of natural language processing, many research studies have been published to mitigate the privacy breaches in textual clinical data. However, there are still limitations and shortcomings in the current studies that are inevitable to be addressed. In this article, a novel framework for textual medical data privacy has been proposed as
Deep-Confidentiality
. The proposed framework improves Medical Entity Recognition (MER) using deep neural networks and sanitization compared to the current state-of-the-art techniques. Moreover, the new and generic utility metric is also proposed, which overcomes the shortcomings of the existing utility metric. It provides the true representation of sanitized documents as compared to the original documents. To check our proposed framework’s effectiveness, it is evaluated on the i2b2-2010 NLP challenge dataset, which is considered one of the complex medical data for MER. The proposed framework improves the MER with 7.8% recall, 7% precision, and 3.8% F1-score compared to the existing deep learning models. It also improved the data utility of sanitized documents up to 13.79%, where the value of the 
k
is 3.
Preparation and Electrochemical Properties of Bicontinuous Solid Electrolytes Derived from Porous Li6.4La3Zr1.4Ta0.6O12 Incorporated with Succinonitrile
Authors: Chen Fei , Rannalter Leana Ziwen , Xiang Xing , Zhang Yanhua , Song Shangbin , Cao Shiyu , Shen Qiang
Published: November 2021

The development of solid electrolytes is a key step to break through the technical bottleneck of lithium batteries and obtain lithium batteries with high safety and high energy density. Combining the advantages of both inorganic and organic solid electrolytes, the form of inorganic fillers for composite solid electrolytes is extended from nanoparticles, nanofibers to a 3D matrix. In this study, a porous Li6.4La3Zr1.4Ta0.6O12 (LLZTO) ceramic framework was fabricated by adding a pore-forming agent, which was then infiltrated by succinonitrile (SN)-LiTFSI to take full advantage of the inorganic and organic parts of the composite electrolyte. The interconnected porous structure allows continuous ion transport pathways in both parts. The effect of the porosity, namely the amount proportion of inorganic and organic materials, on the electrochemical performance of composite electrolytes was investigated by regulating the amount of pore-forming agent. The presented composite solid electrolyte achieves a very high ionic conductivity of 1.08 × 10−3 S cm−1 at 30 °C, while it is stable up to 5.1 V at room temperature. The repeated lithium stripping/plating is stable over 250 h without short circuit.
Effects of POE and Carbon Black on the PTC Performance and Flexibility of High-Density Polyethylene Composites
Authors: Xue Feng , Li Kangcai , Cai Lei , Ding Enyong
Published: November 2021

High-density polyethylene (HDPE)/carbon black (CB) is widely used in positive temperature coefficient (PTC) composites. In order to expand its applications to fields that need good flexibility, polyolefin elastomer (POE) was incorporated into HDPE/CB composites as a secondary thermoplastic elastomer phase to provide flexibility. The effects of POE and CB content on the PTC performance and flexibility were investigated. Micro morphology and crystallization behavior are closely related to PTC properties. SEM was conducted to reveal phase morphology and filler dispersion, and DSC was conducted to research crystallization behavior. The results show that the incorporation of 18 wt.% POE can decrease the percolation threshold of conductive carbon black from 22.5 wt.% to 16 wt.%. When the CB content is 30 wt.%, the room temperature resistivity gradually increases with the increasing content of POE because of the barrier effect of POE phase, and the PTC intensity is gradually enhanced. Meanwhile, the PTC switching temperature shifts down to a lower temperature. The incorporation of 18 wt.% POE significantly increases the elongation at break, reaching an ultrahigh value of 980 wt.%, which means great flexibility has been achieved in HDPE/POE/CB composites. This work provides a new method of fabricating PTC composites with balanced electrical and mechanical properties.
Computer Management Design and Optimization of City Smart Medical Laboratory Service
Authors: Jin Xiangdong , Zhang Xia , Fan Tianli , Song Yinsen
Published: November 2021

In order to optimize the computer management of smart medical laboratory services and find the optimal solution, we conducted experiments on the laboratory computers of hospitals in this city based on the RBF neural network, which provided references for other researchers. Through the collection of relevant data, this article summarizes and analyzes the existing medical laboratory research, summarizes the existing problems and development directions of the current laboratory, uses the RBF neural network to modify these models, and innovatively achieves a hospital laboratory computer management optimization system with the characteristics of high efficiency, low energy consumption, and fast response. The experimental results prove that the computer management and optimization of laboratory services are optimized through the RBF neural network, and the efficiency of computer management design and optimization is greatly improved. It is about 20% higher than traditional medical laboratory. This shows that the computer management design and optimization of smart medical laboratory services designed by RBF neural network can play an important role in the construction of hospital laboratories.
Reservoir Inflow Prediction by Employing Response Surface-Based Models Conjunction with Wavelet and Bootstrap Techniques
Authors: Shehzad Muhammad Ahmed , Bashir Adnan , Noor Ul Amin Muhammad , Khosa Saima Khan , Aslam Muhammad , Ahmad Zubair
Published: November 2021

Reservoir inflow prediction is a vital subject in the field of hydrology because it determines the flood event. The negative impact of the floods could be minimized greatly if the flood frequency is predicted accurately in advance. In the present study, a novel hybrid model, bootstrap quadratic response surface is developed to test daily streamflow prediction. The developed bootstrap quadratic response surface model is compared with multiple linear regression model, first-order response surface model, quadratic response surface model, wavelet first-order response surface model, wavelet quadratic response surface model, and bootstrap first-order response surface model. Time series data of monsoon season (1 July to 30 September) for the year 2010 of the Chenab river basin are analyzed. The studied models are tested by using performance indices: Nash–Sutcliffe coefficient of efficiency, mean absolute error, persistence index, and root mean square error. Results reveal that the proposed model, i.e., bootstrap quadratic response surface shows good performance and produces optimum results for daily reservoir inflow prediction than other models used in the study.
Mission Planning for Unmanned Aerial Vehicles Based on Voronoi Diagram‐Tabu Genetic Algorithm
Authors: Tan Wei , Hu Yong-jiang , Zhao Yue-fei , Li Wen-guang , Zhang Xiao-meng , Li Yong-ke
Published: November 2021

Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) are increasingly used in different military missions. In this paper, we focus on the autonomous mission allocation and planning abilities for the UAV systems. Such abilities enable adaptation to more complex and dynamic mission environments. We first examine the mission planning of a single unmanned aerial vehicle. Based on that, we then investigate the multi‐UAV cooperative system under the mission background of cooperative target destruction and show that it is a many‐to‐one rendezvous problem. A heterogeneous UAV cooperative mission planning model is then proposed where the mission background is generated based on the Voronoi diagram. We then adopt the tabu genetic algorithm (TGA) to obtain multi‐UAV mission planning. The simulation results show that the single‐UAV and multi‐UAV mission planning can be effectively realized by the Voronoi diagram‐TGA (V‐TGA). It is also shown that the proposed algorithm improves the performance by 3% in comparison with the Voronoi diagram‐particle swarm optimization (V‐PSO) algorithm.
Experimental Study of Gangue Layer Weakening with Deep‐Hole Presplitting Blasting
Authors: Hao Jianchi , Ren Lifeng , Wen Hu , Zhang Duo
Published: November 2021

Advances in coal mining technology and an increase in coal output are resulting in increasingly challenging conditions being encountered at coal seams. This is particularly so at thin coal seams, where a large number of hard rock layers known as gangue are often present, which seriously affect the normal operation of the shearer and reduce coal output. Therefore, the effective weakening of hard gangue layers in a coal seam is crucial to ensure that the shearer operates effectively and that coal output is maximized. In this paper, the weakening effect of deep‐hole presplitting blasting technology on the hard gangue layer in a coal seam is studied via a similar simulation. Four test schemes are designed: (1) A blasting hole spacing of 200 mm with the holes offset vertically. (2) A blast hole spacing of 300 mm with the holes offset vertically. (3) A blast hole spacing of 200 mm with the holes parallel to the gangue layer. (4) A blasting hole spacing of 200 mm with the holes offset vertically and initiation of interval blasting. The effect of the different blasting hole spacings and arrangements and different detonation methods on the weakening of coal seam clamping by gangue is studied, and the best configuration is identified. This improves the effect of weakening the coal gangue layer by deep‐hole presplitting blasting.
Hypoxia and the Kynurenine Pathway: Implications and Therapeutic Prospects in Alzheimer’s Disease
Authors: Adeyemi Oluyomi Stephen , Awakan Oluwakemi Josephine , Afolabi Lawrence Boluwatife , Rotimi Damilare Emmanuel , Oluwayemi Elizabeth , Otuechere Chiagoziem A. , Ibraheem Omodele , Elebiyo Tobiloba Chritiana , Alejolowo Omokolade , Arowolo Afolake T.
Published: November 2021

Neurodegenerative diseases (NDs) like Alzheimer’s disease, multiple sclerosis, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, and Huntington’s disease predominantly pose a significant socioeconomic burden. Characterized by progressive neural dysfunction coupled with motor or intellectual impairment, the pathogenesis of ND may result from contributions of certain environmental and molecular factors. One such condition is hypoxia, characterized by reduced organ/tissue exposure to oxygen. Reduced oxygen supply often occurs during the pathogenesis of ND and the aging process. Despite the well‐established relationship between these two conditions (i.e., hypoxia and ND), the underlying molecular events or mechanisms connecting hypoxia to ND remain ill‐defined. However, the relatedness may stem from the protective or deleterious effects of the transcription factor, hypoxia‐inducible factor 1‐alpha (HIF‐1α). The upregulation of HIF‐1α occurs in the pathogenesis of most NDs. The dual function of HIF‐1α in acting as a “killer factor” or a “protective factor” depends on the prevailing local cellular condition. The kynurenine pathway is a metabolic pathway involved in the oxidative breakdown of tryptophan. It is essential in neurotransmission and immune function and, like hypoxia, associated with ND. Thus, a good understanding of factors, including hypoxia (i.e., the biochemical implication of HIF‐1α) and kynurenine pathway activation in NDs, focusing on Alzheimer’s disease could prove beneficial to new therapeutic approaches for this disease, thus the aim of this review.
Improve PBFT Based on Hash Ring
Authors: Zhong Wang , Zheng Xiandong , Feng Wenlong , Huang Mengxing , Feng Siling
Published: November 2021

Aiming at the problems of practical Byzantine fault tolerance (PBFT) algorithm, such as high communication complexity, frequent switching views because of Byzantine node become primary nodes and random selection of primary node, HR‐PBFT algorithm is proposed. First, the HR‐PBFT algorithm uses a hash ring to group nodes, which ensures the randomness and fairness of the grouping. Then, a dual‐view mechanism is used in the consensus process, where the first layer node maintains the primary view and the second layer node maintains the secondary view to ensure the proper operation of the algorithm. Finally, the Byzantine node determination mechanism is introduced to evaluate the node status according to the node behavior in the consensus process, improve the reliability of primary node selection, and reduce the frequency of view changes. The experimental results show that the optimized HR‐PBFT algorithm can effectively improve the problem of the sharp increase in the number of communications caused by the increase in the number of nodes in the network and prevent frequent view changes.
Clinical Features and Outcomes of Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis in the Highly Admixed Brazilian Population
Authors: Nardelli Mateus Jorge , Bittencourt Paulo Lisboa , Cançado Guilherme Grossi Lopes , Faria Luciana Costa , Villela-Nogueira Cristiane Alves , Rotman Vivian , Silva de Abreu Eliabe , Maria Farage Osório Fernanda , Evangelista Andreia Silva , Sampaio Costa Mendes Liliana , Ferraz de Campos Mazo Daniel , Hyppolito Elodie Bonfim , de Souza Martins Adrielly , Codes Liana , Signorelli Izabelle Venturini , Perez Medina Gomide Geisa , Agoglia Luciana , Alexandra Pontes Ivantes Claudia , Ferreira de Almeida e Borges Valéria , Coral Gabriela Perdomo , Eulira Fontes Rezende Rosamar , Lucia Gomes Ferraz Maria , Raquel Benedita Terrabuio Debora , Luiz Rachid Cançado Eduardo , Couto Claudia Alves
Published: November 2021

Background. Primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) is associated with a broad phenotypic spectrum in different populations from diverse ethnic and racial backgrounds. This study aimed to describe the clinical characteristics and outcomes of PSC in a multicenter cohort of patients from Brazil. Methods. Data from the Brazilian Cholestasis Study Group were retrospectively reviewed to assess demographic information and clinical characteristics of PSC, as well as the outcomes, such as transplantation-free survival. Results. This cohort included 210 patients. After excluding 33 (15.7%) patients with PSC and overlap syndrome of autoimmune hepatitis, 177 (97 males, median age 33 (21–42) years) with clear-cut PSC were eligible for this study. Most of the patients (n = 139, 78.5%) were symptomatic, and 104 (58.7%) had advanced PSC at the time of diagnosis. Concurrent inflammatory bowel disease was observed in 78 (58.6%) of the investigated patients (n = 133), and most of them had ulcerative colitis (n = 61, 78.2%). The 1- and 5-year survival free of liver transplantation or death were 92.3 ± 2.1% and 66.9 ± 4.2%, respectively, and baseline advanced PSC, pruritus, and elevated bilirubin levels were independent risk factors for the composite adverse outcome. Females were significantly older and had lower bilirubin levels than males at baseline, but survival was not associated with sex. Approximately 12.4% (n = 22) of patients with PSC died, and 32.8% (n = 58) underwent liver transplantation at a median follow-up time of 5.3 and 3.2 years. Conclusion. Multiethnic Brazilian PSC patients exhibited a less pronounced male predominance and a lower frequency of inflammatory bowel disease than Caucasians. Adverse outcomes were more frequent, probably due to advanced disease at baseline.