bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Multi‐UAV and SAR collaboration model for disaster management in B5G networks
Authors: Saif Abdu , Dimyati Kaharudin , Noordin Kamarul Ariffin , Alsamhi Saeed Hamood , Hawbani Ammar
Published: July 2021

Ensuring communication infrastructures always alive during disaster mitigation and recovery is of paramount importance. In this case, Unmanned Aerial vehicle (UAV) will be the ideal substitute for the malfunctioning ground base station due to disaster. Henceforth, we suggest a multi‐UAV and Search and Rescue (SAR) collaboration model in this letter. To improve its connectivity, we propose an optimal SAR elevation angle for the multi‐UAV and SARs to administer larger disaster areas effectively and efficiently. We evaluate the performance of the proposed model in terms of path loss, throughput, and coverage probability. The results demonstrate that the proposed model achieves a significant enhancement in serving the SARs.
Vaccination‐hesitancy and vaccination‐inequality as challenges in Pakistan's COVID‐19 response
Authors: Perveen Shama , Akram Muhammad , Nasar Asim , Arshad‐Ayaz Adeela , Naseem Ayaz
Published: July 2021

This study explores the mechanism for timely and equitable distribution of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) vaccination among the various communities in Pakistan. It examines the factors that support and/or impede peoples' access and response towards COVID‐19 vaccination in Pakistan. The study uses a literature synthesis approach to examine and analyze the situation of the COVID‐19 vaccination in Pakistan. The research results show “hesitancy” and “inequality” as two fundamental challenges that hinder the successful delivery of COVID‐19 vaccination in Pakistan. People are reluctant to use vaccines due to conspiracy theories and religious beliefs. However, inequality, especially unequal accessibility to all social groups appears to be a more significant barrier to getting a vaccine. We argue that there is a need to mobilize community influence, social media, and mass media campaigns for public education on vaccination programs along with the engagement of religious leaders to endorse the vaccination for the masses. The area of this study is underdeveloped; thereby, future studies are recommended to investigate the possible way for equitable distribution of vaccines in multiple regions.
Synthetic bacterial vesicles combined with tumour extracellular vesicles as cancer immunotherapy
Authors: Park Kyong‐Su , Svennerholm Kristina , Crescitelli Rossella , Lässer Cecilia , Gribonika Inta , Lötvall Jan
Published: July 2021

Bacterial outer membrane vesicles (OMV) have gained attention as a promising new cancer vaccine platform for efficiently provoking immune responses. However, OMV induce severe toxicity by activating the innate immune system. In this study, we applied a simple isolation approach to produce artificial OMV that we have named Synthetic Bacterial Vesicles (SyBV) that do not induce a severe toxic response. We also explored the potential of SyBV as an immunotherapy combined with tumour extracellular vesicles to induce anti‐tumour immunity. Bacterial SyBV were produced with high yield by a protocol including lysozyme and high pH treatment, resulting in pure vesicles with very few cytosolic components and no RNA or DNA. These SyBV did not cause systemic pro‐inflammatory cytokine responses in mice compared to naturally released OMV. However, SyBV and OMV were similarly effective in activation of mouse bone marrow‐derived dendritic cells. Co‐immunization with SyBV and melanoma extracellular vesicles elicited tumour regression in melanoma‐bearing mice through Th‐1 type T cell immunity and balanced antibody production. Also, the immunotherapeutic effect of SyBV was synergistically enhanced by anti‐PD‐1 inhibitor. Moreover, SyBV displayed significantly greater adjuvant activity than other classical adjuvants. Taken together, these results demonstrate a safe and efficient strategy for eliciting specific anti‐tumour responses using immunotherapeutic bacterial SyBV.
Surface wind and vertical extent features of the explosive cyclones in the Northern Hemisphere based on the ERA‐I reanalysis data
Authors: Jiang Li‐Zhi , Fu Shen‐Ming , Sun Jian‐Hua , Fu Rui , Li Wan‐Li , Zhao Si‐Xiong , Wang Hui
Published: July 2021

Although explosive cyclones (ECs) have long been a focus of research, there remains a lack of knowledge of the statistical characteristics of their associated maximum surface winds and vertical extents. This study fills this gap by conducting a targeted statistical analysis of ECs in the Northern Hemisphere using the ERA‐I reanalysis data during a 40‐year period. Some new findings are obtained: (a) The average location of formation of ECs undergoes a notable westward and equatorward shift from September to April in the next year which is consistent with the location variations of sea surface temperature's strong gradients in subtropical regions. (b) Extreme ECs with a deepening rate more than 2.0 Bergeron or with a longer lifespan more than 10 days tend to have a larger occurrence number over the Northern Atlantic Ocean than over the Northern Pacific. (c) The maximum surface wind associated with an EC tends to appear between the EC reaching its maximum deepening rate and reaching its minimum central pressure. (d) The northeastern quadrant of ECs accounts for the highest proportion of maximum surface wind and strongest wind speed, as the baroclinic energy conversion is generally strongest in this quadrant. (e) Over 60% of ECs belong to a type of vertically deep cyclone (ECs' top levels show close relationship to ascending motions within their central regions), and they tend to reach their maximum vertical extent around the time when they reach their minimum central pressures. (f) The highest top levels of ECs exhibit an overall upward extending trend as their minimum central pressure decreases or their maximum deepening rate increases.
Constraining growth rates and the ratio of living to nonliving particulate carbon using beam attenuation and adenosine‐5′‐triphosphate at Station ALOHA
Authors: Henderikx‐Freitas Fernanda , Karl David M. , Björkman Karin M. , White Angelicque E.
Published: July 2021

Carbon is not only the foundation of all life on our planet, but also an element that persists in detrital material long after living organisms die. Quantifying the relative amount of living and nonliving carbon in suspended particles in the ocean is challenging and rarely done; yet it is key to understanding the fate of organic matter and informing food web models. Here, we use particulate adenosine‐5′‐triphosphate (ATP) and particulate carbon (PC) data collected as a component of the Hawaii Ocean Time‐series program to show that living particles comprise only ~ 26–42% of the total PC pool in the surface waters of the North Pacific Subtropical Gyre, regardless of time of year. Diel‐resolving particulate beam attenuation data are then used in conjunction with PC and ATP data to constrain living particle net growth rates for this system, yielding rates of ~ 0.5–0.7 d−1 year‐round. These estimates are realistic and consistent with previous microscopy and incubation‐based work in the region.
Adaptive Nanoparticle‐Polymer Complexes as Optical Elements: Design and Application in Nanophotonics and Nanomedicine
Authors: Talianov Pavel , Fatkhutdinova Landysh I. , Timin Alexander S. , Milichko Valentin A. , Zyuzin Mikhail V.
Published: July 2021

Over the last few decades, nanomaterials have attracted significant attention in diverse applications. Today, a new generation of nanomaterials, which demonstrate tunable physical and chemical properties, is able to address modern challenges in personalized medicine, adaptive optics and smart chemistry. Here, a special class of such nanomaterials – biointegrated nanoparticle‐polymer complexes and their ensembles with tunable optical properties are reviewed. Key aspects of the design and synthesis of such complexes exhibiting dynamic structural changes to different external and internal stimuli (e.g., light, chemical, temperature, electric/magnetic fields and others) are discussed. Consequently, these changes allow one to tune the optical response in reversible or irreversible manner. The application of such complexes is considered as functional adaptive elements for optical filters, sensors, Bragg mirrors, artificial muscles, and drug delivery. The current state and the perspectives of further development of this research area are discussed.
Effect of Polypyrimidine Structure and Purity of Semiconducting SWCNTs on Thin‐Film Transistor Performance
Authors: Yimamu Mireguli , Maimaitiyiming Xieraili , Abliz Ablat
Published: July 2021

Advancements in the selective isolation and purification of semiconducting single‐walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) through the use of conjugated polymers have allowed for incorporation of high‐quality SWCNTs into solution‐processed thin‐film transistors (TFTs). In this study, copyrimidine‐alt‐diethynyl, copyrimidine‐alt‐carbazole, and copyrimidine‐alt‐dioctylfluorene that are capable of selectively dispersing semiconducting SWCNTs are reported and obtained polymer/SWCNTs dispersion solution is applied to TFTs for observing relationship between carrier mobilities and purity of sc‐SWCNTs. The exceptional sc‐SWCNT purity of the dispersion is confirmed by UV‐vis and Raman spectroscopy, of which the pyrimidine‐alt‐fluorene polymer‐selected sc‐SWCNT purity is up to 99.9%. On the contrary, among the average carrier mobility of TFTs prepared by the polymer‐SWCNT complex, the carrier mobility based on the pyrimidine‐alt‐ethynyl complex is the highest (4.47 cm2 V−1 s−1). The results indicate that the relationship between carrier mobility and sc‐SWCNTs purity reveals that polymer structure has great impact more than sc‐SWCNTs purity.
Dendrite‐Suppressing Polymer Materials for Safe Rechargeable Metal Battery Applications: From the Electro‐Chemo‐Mechanical Viewpoint of Macromolecular Design
Authors: Kwon Da‐Sol , Kim Hee Joong , Shim Jimin
Published: July 2021

Metal batteries have been emerging as next‐generation battery systems by virtue of ultrahigh theoretical specific capacities and low reduction potentials of metallic anodes. However, significant concerns regarding the uncontrolled metallic dendrite growth accompanied by safety hazards and short lifespan have impeded practical applications of metal batteries. Although a great deal of effort has been pursued to highlight the thermodynamic origin of dendrite growth and a variety of experimental methodologies for dendrite suppression, the roles of polymer materials in suppressing the dendrite growth have been underestimated. This review aims to give a state‐of‐the‐art overview of contemporary dendrite‐suppressing polymer materials from the electro‐chemo‐mechanical viewpoint of macromolecular design, including i) homogeneous distribution of metal ion flux, ii) mechanical blocking of metal dendrites, iii) tailoring polymer structures, and iv) modulating the physical configuration of polymer membranes. Judiciously tailoring electro‐chemo‐mechanical properties of polymer materials provides virtually unlimited opportunities to afford safe and high‐performance metal battery systems by resolving problematic dendrite issues. Transforming these rational design strategies into building dendrite‐suppressing polymer materials and exploiting them towards polymer electrolytes, separators, and coating materials hold the key to realizing safe, dendrite‐free, and long‐lasting metal battery systems.
MHA releases toolkit to celebrate BIPOC Mental Health Month
Authors: Canady Valerie A.
Published: July 2021

In observance of July as Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) Mental Health Month, Mental Health America (MHA) has commenced its public education campaign dedicated to addressing the needs of this population. This year's theme, “Strength in Communities,” highlights alternative mental health supports created by BIPOC and queer and trans BIPOC (QTBIPOC).
l‐Carnosine Protects Against Deoxynivalenol‐Induced Oxidative Stress in Intestinal Stem Cells by Regulating the Keap1/Nrf2 Signaling Pathway
Authors: Zhou Jia‐yi , Lin Hua‐lin , Qin Ying‐chao , Li Xiang‐guang , Gao Chun‐qi , Yan Hui‐chao , Wang Xiu‐qi
Published: July 2021

Scope

The intestinal epithelium is nourished by various nutrients and subjected to persistent and widespread feed‐derived mycotoxin stress. l‐Carnosine (LC) possesses robust antioxidant activity; however, its role in protecting intestinal mucosa against deoxynivalenol (DON) is still unclear.

Methods and results

In this study, 300 mg kg‐1 BW LC and 3 mg kg‐1 BW DON are orally administered to mice either alone or in combination for 10 days to investigate the role of LC in protecting the intestine against DON. This study found that LC alleviates the growth retardation of mice and repairs the damaged jejunal structure and barrier functions under DON exposure. LC rescues the intestinal stem cells (ISCs), increases the growth advantage in enteroids derived from jejunal crypts of mice in each group ex vivo, improves the proliferation and apoptosis of intestinal cells, and promotes ISC differentiation into absorptive cells, goblet cells, and Paneth cells. Furthermore, LC activates Nrf2 signaling by binding to Keap1 to reverse the striking DON‐induced increase in ROS levels.

Conclusion

The study findings unveil that LC potentiates the antioxidant capacity of ISCs by regulating the Keap1/Nrf2 signaling pathway, which contributes to the intestinal epithelial regeneration response to DON insult.
New alternatives to single‐use plastics: Starch and chitosan‐graft‐polydimethylsiloxane‐coated paper for water‐ and oil‐resistant applications
Authors: Nair Aditya , Kansal Dhwani , Khan Ajmir , Rabnawaz Muhammad
Published: July 2021

An increase in the environmental and health concerns over fluorochemical‐based, wax‐based, and extrusion‐based paper coatings has led to a growing interest in bio‐based, biodegradable, and repulpable alternatives to obtain water‐ and oil‐repellent coatings. Reported herein is a fluorine‐free, plastic‐free, and cost‐effective water and grease resistant paper coating approach that utilizes blends of corn‐starch (S) and a novel chitosan‐graft‐polydimethylsiloxane (CP) copolymer. The hydrophobic and oleophobic performance of the S/CP‐coated paper was evaluated by varying the ratio of S and CP in the overall blend. The S/CP‐coated papers were observed to have low cobb60 values (water absorptivity) of 13 ± 0.9 g m−2 and an excellent kit rating (oil resistance) of 12/12. The S/CP‐coated paper substrate surface profile was analyzed via scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The repulpability of the coated paper is also demonstrated by washing the coating materials from the paper and recovering the pulp.
Benchmarking preconditioned boundary integral formulations for acoustics
Authors: van 't Wout Elwin , Haqshenas Seyyed R. , Gélat Pierre , Betcke Timo , Saffari Nader
Published: July 2021

The boundary element method (BEM) is an efficient numerical method for simulating harmonic wave propagation. It uses boundary integral formulations of the Helmholtz equation at the interfaces of piecewise homogeneous domains. The discretization of its weak formulation leads to a dense system of linear equations, which is typically solved with an iterative linear method such as GMRES. The application of BEM to simulating wave propagation through large‐scale geometries is only feasible when compression and preconditioning techniques reduce the computational footprint. Furthermore, many different boundary integral equations exist that solve the same boundary value problem. The choice of preconditioner and boundary integral formulation is often optimized for a specific configuration, depending on the geometry, material characteristics, and driving frequency. On the one hand, the design flexibility for the BEM can lead to fast and accurate schemes. On the other hand, efficient and robust algorithms are difficult to achieve without expert knowledge of the BEM intricacies. This study surveys the design of boundary integral formulations for acoustics and their acceleration with operator preconditioners. Extensive benchmarks provide valuable information on the computational characteristics of several hundred different models for multiple reflection and transmission of acoustic waves.
“Fairness” in an unequal society: Welfare workers, labor inspectors and the embedded moralities of street‐level bureaucracy in Argentina
Authors: Perelmiter Luisina
Published: July 2021

This article advances a new argument on street‐level bureaucrats’ (SLBs) moral dilemmas in developing countries. Developing countries feature deeper and more pervasive social and economic inequalities than their developed counterparts. They also feature what I call a fragmented stateness: states whose legal and bureaucratic reach is functional and territorially unequal and that also have an ambiguous relationship with their own legality. This macro‐level force shapes daily bureaucratic encounters and SLBs’ moral dilemmas and practices in ways that the literature has not fully grasped. I found that the awareness of this fragmented stateness implies a kind of structural experience of arbitrariness in bureaucratic encounters that makes the exercise of fair judgments in the implementation of policies elusive. I ground my argument in an ethnographic account of bureaucratic encounters in different arenas of the Argentinean social protection system: welfare provision and labor inspection. By reconstructing the connections between fragmented stateness and state workers’ moral dilemmas, this article presents a novel and empirically grounded theoretical argument on an often‐overlooked dimension of collective regulation of conflicts and judgments at the state frontlines.
A comparison of compression molded and additively manufactured short carbon fiber reinforced polyamide‐6 samples and the effect of different infill printing patterns
Authors: Hendlmeier Andreas , Simon Žan , Wickramasingha Y. Athulya , Henderson Luke C.
Published: July 2021

Tensile samples were 3D printed using a commercially available 3D printing material, and the same material was pelletized and hot‐pressed. The samples had a 0°, ±45°, and a 90° filling orientation and their tensile modulus and tensile strength of the samples were determined and compared between fabrication methods. A tensile modulus of 7.56 ± 0.35 GPa (0°), 5.10 ± 0.13 GPa (±45°), and 4.05 ± 0.13 GPa (90°) was found, and the same trend was found for the tensile strength, 92.0 ± 9.5 MPa (0°), 63.3 ± 8.3 MPa (±45°), and 58.7 ± 2.2 MPa (90°). The hot‐pressed samples possessed a tensile modulus of 8.13 ± 0.8 GPa and tensile strength of 98.3 ± 6.8 MPa, very similar to that of the 0° printed samples. These results could be attributed to the printing mechanism and poor adhesion between each deposited composite layer was observed, contributing to the depressed properties. Thermogravimetric analysis was conducted and the carbon fiber content per weight of the commercially sourced printing material was determined to be 13.9%, and the length of the filaments showed that more than 50% of all measured fragments were between 50 and 150 μm.
A review of coextruded wood–plastic composites
Authors: Wang Huanbo , Zhang Xuefeng , Guo Shiyu , Liu Tian
Published: July 2021

Wood–plastic composites (WPCs) are increasingly broadly applied composites that combine the merits of wood and plastics, such as the renewable, degradable, lightweight, and low‐cost characteristics of wood, and the thermoplasticity, hydrophobicity, and toughness of plastics. However, WPCs also display the disadvantages of the two main components including hydrophilicity and flammability of wood, and weathering degradability, flammability, and thermal expansion of plastics. Coextruded WPCs (Co‐WPCs) are multilayer composites in which regular WPCs are coated with a protective shell layer through coextrusion. The core–shell structure of Co‐WPCs provides a way to overcome the shortcomings of WPCs by modifications specific to the composite surfaces. This review summarizes the studies of Co‐WPCs in terms of their mechanical properties, moisture absorption, weathering, flame resistance, and dimensional stability. It also presents expectations for the further development of Co‐WPCs.
‘First time right’ freeform optics
Authors: Duerr Fabian , Thienpont Hugo
Published: July 2021

Today's design of optical systems relies largely on efficient ray tracing and optimization algorithms. Such a ‘step‐and‐repeat’ approach to optical design typically requires considerable experience, intuition, and trial‐and‐error guesswork. Brussels Photonics (B‐PHOT) researchers have developed a design method that allows highly systematic generation and evaluation of directly calculated freeform design solutions and enables a rigorous, extensive, and real‐time evaluation in solution space. Readers have the opportunity for hands‐on freeform design experience via an open‐access web application.
Computer vision tool for detection, mapping, and fault classification of photovoltaics modules in aerial IR videos
Authors: Bommes Lukas , Pickel Tobias , Buerhop‐Lutz Claudia , Hauch Jens , Brabec Christoph , Peters Ian Marius
Published: July 2021

Increasing deployment of photovoltaics (PV) plants demands for cheap and fast inspection. A viable tool for this task is thermographic imaging by unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV). In this work, we develop a computer vision tool for the semi‐automatic extraction of PV modules from thermographic UAV videos. We use it to curate a dataset containing 4.3 million IR images of 107,842 PV modules from thermographic videos of seven different PV plants. To demonstrate its use for automated PV plant inspection, we train a ResNet‐50 to classify ten common module anomalies with more than 90% test accuracy. Experiments show that our tool generalizes well to different PV plants. It successfully extracts PV modules from 512 out of 561 plant rows. Failures are mostly due to an inappropriate UAV trajectory and erroneous module segmentation. Including all manual steps our tool enables inspection of 3.5 MWp to 9 MWp of PV installations per day, potentially scaling to multi‐gigawatt plants due to its parallel nature. While we present an effective method for automated PV plant inspection, we are also confident that our approach helps to meet the growing demand for large thermographic datasets for machine learning tasks, such as power prediction or unsupervised defect identification.
DichroWeb, a website for calculating protein secondary structure from circular dichroism spectroscopic data
Authors: Miles Andrew J. , Ramalli Sergio G. , Wallace B. A.
Published: July 2021

Circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy is a widely‐used method for characterizing the secondary structures of proteins. The well‐established and highly used analysis website, DichroWeb (located at: http://dichroweb.cryst.bbk.ac.uk/html/home.shtml) enables the facile quantitative determination of helix, sheet, and other secondary structure contents of proteins based on their CD spectra. DichroWeb includes a range of reference datasets and algorithms, plus graphical and quantitative methods for determining the quality of the analyses produced. This article describes the current website content, usage and accessibility, as well as the many upgraded features now present in this highly popular tool that was originally created nearly two decades ago.
Comparison of UAV and fixed‐wing aerial application for alfalfa insect pest control: evaluating efficacy, residues, and spray quality
Authors: Li Xuan , Giles D Ken , Andaloro John T , Long Rachael , Lang Edward B , Watson Lawrence J , Qandah Issa
Published: July 2021

BACKGROUND

Integrating unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) as a new method of pesticide application into existing commercial crop protection systems requires extensive research and comparison to conventional, proven application technology. Pest control expressed as efficacy against target pests, and spray quality expressed as coverage and chemical residue are three key criteria. We investigated and compared these quantitative parameters between a multi‐rotor UAV and conventional piloted airplanes in two commercial alfalfa production systems.

RESULTS

Effective and equivalent control of leaf‐feeding insect pests was achieved by both methods of aerial application when delivering chlorantraniliprole at the same labeled use rate in different spray volumes (46.8 and 93.5 L ha–1) on commercially grown alfalfa in California. Residue levels and spray coverage were also comparable and consistent between the UAV and airplane applications across three sampling techniques, specifically residue levels on alfalfa, insecticide recovery from filter paper, and spray coverage on water sensitive cards. Differences in droplet size and deposit characteristics were more variable for the UAV than airplanes based on analysis of deposition images.

CONCLUSION

The results of this study provide confidence supporting the use of small‐scale multi‐rotor UAVs for pesticide application on agricultural crops. According to the parameters tested, UAV application quality and crop protection performance were comparable to that of the conventional fixed wing airplane application. However, the droplet spectrum and the short‐term fate of droplets from unmanned aerial spray system require further optimization for effective and efficient crop protection with minimal risk to the environment.
A subaqueous soil‐landscape conceptual model to guide soil survey in Chesapeake Bay subestuaries
Authors: Wessel Barret M. , Rabenhorst Martin C. , Needelman Brian A.
Published: July 2021

RhodeRiver, a subestuary on the western shore of Chesapeake Bay, contains a diverse array of subaqueous soils that range from submerged paleosols to fine‐textured fluid soils and organic soils. A subaqueous soil survey was completed for the Rhode River subestuary by collecting bathymetric data, delineating landforms, and sampling and describing soils across the submerged landscape. Soil map units were developed by correlating soil properties and taxonomic classification with delineated landforms, resulting in the development of seven proposed soil series corresponding to new soil map units. Geologic maps and other supporting information about the dominant factors of soil formation in this landscape were used with the soil survey of Rhode River to develop a conceptual subaqueous soil‐landscape model of soil genesis to explain the origin and distribution of soils in Rhode River. This is the first time that a subaqueous soil‐landscape model has been developed for the flooded river valley geomorphic setting of Chesapeake Bay, and it will assist subaqueous soil surveys in other western shore Chesapeake Bay subestuaries and similar environmental settings where upland environments have been or are currently submerging.
Pseudo‐Periodically Coupling NiO Lattice with CeO Lattice in Ultrathin Heteronanowire Arrays for Efficient Water Oxidation
Authors: Yang Hongyuan , Dai Guoliang , Chen Ziliang , Wu Jie , Huang Hui , Liu Yang , Shao Mingwang , Kang Zhenhui
Published: July 2021

Transition metal oxides (TMOs) have been under the spotlight as promising precatalysts for electrochemical oxygen evolution reaction (OER) in alkaline media. However, the slow and incomplete self‐reconstruction from TMOs to (oxy)hydroxides as well as the formed (oxy)hydroxides with unmodified electronic structure gives rise to the inferior OER performance to the noble metal oxide ones. Herein, a unique dual metal oxides lattice coupling strategy is proposed to fabricate carbon cloth‐supported ultrathin nanowires arrays, which are composed of pseudo‐periodically welded NiO with CeO2 nanocrystals (NiO/CeO2 NW@CC). When served as an OER precatalyst in 1.0 m KOH, the NiO/CeO2 NW@CC shows an ultralow overpotential of 330 mV at 50 mA cm−2, along with an impressive cycle durability of more than 3 days even at 50 mA cm−2, surpassing CC‐supported NiO and commercial IrO2 catalysts. The combined experimental and theoretical investigations unveil that the atomic coupling of CeO2 can not only appreciably trigger the generation of oxygen vacancies and expedite phase transformation of NiO into active NiOOH, but also in situ create a chemical bond with the formed NiOOH and enable the electron injection, thus effectively inhibiting the aggregation of the accessible NiOOH nanodomains and optimizing their reaction free energy towards oxygen‐containing intermediates.
Aspects of albendazole metabolism in western lowland gorillas (Gorilla gorilla gorilla) compared to humans and other species assessed by HPLC, LC‐MS, and chiral electrokinetic chromatography
Authors: Theurillat Regula , Stirnimann Guido , Wenker Christian , Hoby Stefan , Thormann Wolfgang
Published: July 2021

The benzimidazole anthelmintic drug albendazole becomes metabolized to chiral albendazole sulfoxide, albendazole sulfone, albendazole 2‐aminosulfone, and other metabolites. High‐performance liquid chromatography with UV absorbance and fluorescence detection, liquid chromatography with mass spectrometry, and chiral electrokinetic chromatography were used to analyze albendazole metabolites in extracts of western lowland gorilla (Gorilla gorilla gorilla) plasma of patients with alveolar echinococcosis and the data are compared to those obtained with human patient samples and to those reported for other species in the literature. The data revealed that the albendazole sulfoxide to albendazole sulfone concentration ratio in gorilla plasma is significantly smaller compared to that in samples of men, rats, dogs, and cattle. It is, however, similar to what was observed in sheep and goats. The (+)‐albendazole sulfoxide to (−)‐albendazole sulfoxide enantiomeric ratio in gorilla blood determined by chiral electrokinetic chromatography was found to be >1 which is comparable to what was observed in humans, dogs, sheep, goats, and cattle but different to mice and rats. Furthermore, the electrokinetic chromatography data suggest that small amounts of albendazole 2‐aminosulfone may be present in plasma of gorillas and humans. The data gathered with the various separation‐based assays illustrate the value of technology featuring different analyte separation and detection principles. This is the first account describing aspects of the albendazole metabolism in gorillas.
Development and Optimization of Biofilms Made from Potato or Arracacha Starch
Authors: Lescano María , Vásquez Nerli , Tarrillo Silvia , Yoplac Ives , Velásquez‐Barreto Frank F.
Published: July 2021

Arracacha starch and potato starch are alternatives to synthetic polymers as starting materials for the production of biofilms. Herein, we determined the optimal concentrations of glycerol and potato or arracacha starch to obtain biofilms with high whiteness, transparency value (TV), and elastic modulus (E). Central composite design with the response surface methodology and desirability function are used to optimize the concentration of starch and glycerol. The biofilms are formed by the casting method using gelatinized starch suspensions (3–5%) mixed with glycerol (1–3%). The solubility and swelling power differences of the potato and arracacha starches indicated differences in the starch structures, which affected the properties of the biofilms. The potato and arracacha biofilms with the same starch and glycerol concentrations exhibited different TV and E. Linear effects, quadratics, and the interaction of the starch and glycerol have significant effects on the whiteness, TV, and E of the potato and arracacha biofilms (p < 0.05). The coefficient of variation for the obtained models is >0.98%. The optimal conditions determined using the desirability function are 5% starch and 1.02% glycerol for potato biofilms and 5% starch and 1% glycerol for arracacha starch biofilms.
Reliability‐based layout optimization in offshore wind energy systems
Authors: Clark Caitlyn E. , Barter Garrett , Shaler Kelsey , DuPont Bryony
Published: July 2021

Existing methods for optimizing wind array layouts typically use power or cost objectives and rarely consider reliability‐based objectives. Component and system failure rates, however, are dependent on location‐specific wind conditions, are influenced by array layout and wake interactions, and have a direct and significant impact on capital costs, operational costs, and power production. Although wind power plant models exist that calculate wind loads with sufficient resolution to capture component loading dynamics from wind conditions, they are computationally expensive and thus not suitable for research applications requiring many evaluations, particularly optimization. This study describes the development of computationally efficient, reliability‐based layout optimization methods, enabling us to explore the relationship between component reliability and layout optimization. These methods include the surrogate modeling of the planet bearing life based on varying wind conditions simulated in FAST.Farm and the formulation of reliability‐based objectives based on failure cost and power production models. Through demonstration of this method, we explore how wind conditions, objective functions, and capacity density influence reliability‐based layout optimization. Results indicate that considering reliability alongside power production can reduce failure costs associated with replacement costs and downtime whilemaintaining or improving power production. Our conclusions highlight the opportunity for wind power plant developers to integrate reliability and operational expenditures alongside performance and capital expenditure objectives in plant design and development to improve plant performance and costs.
Integration of coagulation and ozonation with flat‐sheet ceramic membrane filtration for shale gas hydraulic fracturing wastewater treatment: A laboratory study
Authors: Song Tiantian , Fu Wanyi , Liu Shaohui , Zhang Xihui
Published: July 2021

The performance of the integrated process of coagulation and ozonation with ceramic membrane filtration was evaluated for the treatment of shale gas hydraulic fracturing flowback wastewater (HFFW). The removal efficiencies of carbon oxygen demand (CODCr), dissolved organic carbon (DOC), petroleum oils, and turbidity in effluent by the combined process were 87.1%, 72.2%, 94.3%, and 99.6%, respectively. Compared with sole membrane filtration, the transmembrane pressure (TMP) of ceramic membrane filtration was reduced by >99% with the integrated process. The coagulation and ozonation can effectively remove the organics with high molecular weights in the cake layer of ceramic membrane. To the best of our knowledge, this work proposed the combined process of coagulation, ozonation, and flat‐sheet ceramic membrane filtration for the treatment of HFFW for the first time. The water quality of the effluent met the discharge standard (Comprehensive Wastewater Discharge Standard GB8978‐1996). The findings can provide an important technical foundation for the innovation of integrated equipment for HFFW treatment.

Practitioner points

An integrated process combining coagulation and ozonation with flat‐sheet ceramic membrane ultrafiltration for the treatment of shale gas wastewater.

The water quality of this integrated process met the discharge standard.

Coagulation and ozonation effectively alleviated the membrane fouling related to organics with high molecular weights.

A new avenue for on‐site treatment of shale gas wastewater and an alternative of the current centralized wastewater management.
When are maps preserving semi-inner products linear?
Authors: Wójcik Paweł
Published: July 2021

We observe that every map between finite-dimensional normed spaces of the same dimension that respects fixed semi-inner products must be automatically a linear isometry. Moreover, we construct a uniformly smooth renorming of the Hilbert space $$\ell _2$$

ℓ
2

and a continuous injection acting thereon that respects the semi-inner products, yet it is non-linear. This demonstrates that there is no immediate extension of the former result to infinite dimensions, even under an extra assumption of uniform smoothness.
Multi-objective topology optimization of pin-fin heat exchangers using spectral and finite-element methods
Authors: Ghasemi Ali , Elham Ali
Published: July 2021

Forced convective pin-fin heat exchangers, due to the high wet surface area per volume and the hindered thermal boundary layers, feature low thermal resistances. However, the considerable coolant pressure drop, particularly for densely packed fin arrays, imposes operational costs for pumping power supply. This paper develops a multi-objective topology optimization approach to optimize sink geometries in order to minimize thermal resistance and pressure loss, concurrently. In accordance to the pin-fin geometrical characteristics, a dedicated pseudo-3D conjugate heat transfer model is utilized, by assuming periodic flow and fin design pattern, to reasonably reduce the high cost of full-3D model optimization. For the solution of flow part, a pseudo-spectral scheme is used, which is intrinsically periodic and features a high spectral accuracy, and the finite element method for the non-periodic conjugate heat transfer model. Exact partial derivatives of the discrete solutions are obtained analytically by hand-differentiation. This task is rather convenient for the flow part, due to the simplicity of the pseudo-spectral implementation; however, the MATLAB symbolic toolbox is selectively utilized for the finite element code to ensure an error-free implementation. Finally, the sensitivities are computed directly or via a discrete adjoint method, for the flow and heat models, respectively. To examine the present approach, two approaches are used for optimization of a practical cooling task: constrained and unconstrained multi-objective formulations, where in all cases more emphasis is placed on thermal resistance minimization. A series of optimized heat sink geometries via constrained or unconstrained multi-objective optimizations are obtained to examine practical utility of the present approach. The optimized topologies demonstrated superior cooling performances at lower costs of pressure losses compared to conventional (circular) in-line and staggered fins, and confirmed the supremacy of topology over pure sizing optimization.
Micro-scale Experimental System Coupled with Fluorescence-based Estimation of Fungal Biomass to Study Utilisation of Plant Substrates
Authors: Németh Julianna B. , Knapp Dániel G. , Kósa Annamária , Hegedűs Panna Á. , Herczeg Gábor , Vági Pál , Kovács Gábor M.
Published: July 2021

The degradation capacity and utilisation of complex plant substrates are crucial for the functioning of saprobic fungi and different plant symbionts with fundamental functions in ecosystems. Measuring the growth capacity and biomass of fungi on such systems is a challenging task. We established a new micro-scale experimental setup using substrates made of different plant species and organs as media for fungal growth. We adopted and tested a reliable and simple titration-based method for the estimation of total fungal biomass within the substrates using fluorescence-labelled lectin. We found that the relationship between fluorescence intensity and fungal dry weight was strong and linear but differed among fungi. The effect of the plant organ (i.e. root vs. shoot) used as substrate on fungal growth differed among plant species and between root endophytic fungal species. The novel microscale experimental system is useful for screening the utilisation of different substrates, which can provide insight into the ecological roles and functions of fungi. Furthermore, our fungal biomass estimation method has applications in various fields. As the estimation is based on the fungal cell wall, it measures the total cumulative biomass produced in a certain environment.
Multicenter external validation of the radical cystectomy pentafecta in a European cohort of patients undergoing robot-assisted radical cystectomy with intracorporeal urinary diversion for bladder cancer
Authors: Baron P. , Khene Z. , Lannes F. , Pignot G. , Bajeot A. S. , Ploussard G. , Verhoest G. , Gasmi A. , Perrot O. , Roumiguie M. , Mori K. , Cacciamani G. E. , Rouprêt M. , Bruyère F. , Pradere B.
Published: July 2021

Objective

To perform an external validation of this RC-pentafecta.

Method

Between January 2014 and December 2019, 104 consecutive patients who underwent RARC with ICUD within 6 urological centers were analyzed retrospectively. Patients who simultaneously demonstrated negative soft tissue surgical margins (STSMs), a lymph node (LN) yield ≥ 16, absence of major (Clavien–Dindo grade III–V) 90-day postoperative complications, absence of UD-related long-term sequelae, and absence of 12-month clinical recurrence were considered to have achieved RC-pentafecta. A multivariable logistic regression model was used to measure predictors for achieving RC-pentafecta. We analyzed the influence of this RC-pentafecta on survival, and the impact ofthe surgical experience.

Results

Since 2014, 104 patients who had completed at least 12 months of follow-up were included. Over a mean follow-up of 18 months, a LN yield ≥ 16, negative STSMs, absence of major complications at 90 days, and absence of UD-related surgical sequelae and clinical recurrence at ≤ 12 months were observed in 56%, 96%, 85%, 81%, and 91% of patients, respectively, resulting in a RC-pentafecta rate of 39.4%. Multivariate analysis showed that age was an independent predictor of pentafecta achievement (odds ratio [OR], 0.96; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.90. 0.99; p = 0.04). The surgeon experience had an impact on the validation of the criteria.

Conclusion

This study confirmed that the RC-pentafecta is reproducible and could be externally used for the outcome assessment after RARC with ICUD. Therefore, the RC-pentafecta could be a useful tool to assess surgical success and its impact on different outcomes.
Adolescents’ pain and distress during peripheral intravenous cannulation in a paediatric emergency setting
Authors: Cozzi Giorgio , Cognigni Marta , Busatto Riccardo , Grigoletto Veronica , Giangreco Manuela , Conte Mariasole , Barbi Egidio
Published: July 2021

The objective of the study is to investigate pain and distress experienced by a group of adolescents and children during peripheral intravenous cannulation in a paediatric emergency department. This cross-sectional study was performed between November 2019 and June 2020 at the paediatric emergency department of the Institute for Maternal and Child Health of Trieste, Italy. Eligible subjects were patients between 4 and 17 years old undergoing intravenous cannulation, split into three groups based on their age: adolescents (13–17 years), older children (8–12 years), and younger children (4–7 years). Procedural distress and pain scores were recorded through validated scales. Data on the use of topical anaesthesia, distraction techniques, and physical or verbal comfort during procedures were also collected. We recruited 136 patients: 63 adolescents, 48 older children, and 25 younger children. There was no statistically significant difference in the median self-reported procedural pain found in adolescents (4; IQR = 2–6) versus older and younger children (5; IQR = 2–8 and 6; IQR = 2–8, respectively). Furthermore, no significant difference was observed in the rate of distress between adolescents (79.4%), older (89.6%), and younger (92.0%) children. Adolescents received significantly fewer pain relief techniques.

Conclusion: This study shows that adolescents experience similar pain and pre-procedural distress as younger children during peripheral intravenous cannulation.

What is Known:• Topical and local anaesthesia, physical and verbal comfort, and distraction are useful interventions for pain and anxiety management during intravenous cannulation in paediatric settings. • No data is available on pain and distress experienced by adolescents in the specific setting of the emergency department.

What is New:• Adolescents experienced high levels of pre-procedural distress in most cases and similar levels of pain and distress when compared to younger patients• The number of pain relief techniques employed during procedures was inversely proportional to patient’s age, topical or local anaesthesia were rarely used
Geographic patterns of seed trait variation in an invasive species: how much can close populations differ?
Authors: Fenollosa Erola , Jené Laia , Munné-Bosch Sergi
Published: July 2021

Seeds play a major role in plant species persistence and expansion, and therefore they are essential when modeling species dynamics. However, homogeneity in seed traits is generally assumed, underestimating intraspecific trait variability across the geographic space, which might bias species success models. The aim of this study was to evaluate the existence and consequences of interpopulation variability in seed traits of the invasive species Carpobrotus edulis at different geographical scales. We measured seed production, morphology, vigour and longevity of nine populations of C. edulis along the Catalan coast (NE Spain) from three differentiated zones with a human presence gradient. Geographic distances between populations were contrasted against individual and multivariate trait distances to explore trait variation along the territory, evaluating the role of bioclimatic variables and human density of the different zones. The analysis revealed high interpopulation variability that was not explained by geographic distance, as regardless of the little distance between some populations (< 0.5 km), significant differences were found in several seed traits. Seed production, germination, and persistence traits showed the strongest spatial variability up to 6000% of percent trait variability between populations, leading to differentiated C. edulis soil seed bank dynamics at small distances, which may demand differentiated strategies for a cost-effective species management. Seed trait variability was influenced by human density but also bioclimatic conditions, suggesting a potential impact of increased anthropogenic pressure and climate shifts. Geographic interpopulation trait variation should be included in ecological models and will be important for assessing species responses to environmental heterogeneity and change.
Antimalarial drugs—are they beneficial in rheumatic and viral diseases?—considerations in COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Grygiel-Górniak Bogna
Published: July 2021

The majority of the medical fraternity is continuously involved in finding new therapeutic schemes, including antimalarial medications (AMDs), which can be useful in combating the 2019-nCoV: coronavirus disease (COVID-19). For many decades, AMDs have been widely used in the treatment of malaria and various other anti-inflammatory diseases, particularly to treat autoimmune disorders of the connective tissue. The review comprises in vitro and in vivo studies, original studies, clinical trials, and consensus reports for the analysis, which were available in medical databases (e.g., PubMed). This manuscript summarizes the current knowledge about chloroquine (CQ)/hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) and shows the difference between their use, activity, recommendation, doses, and adverse effects on two groups of patients: those with rheumatic and viral diseases (including COVID-19). In the case of connective tissue disorders, AMDs are prescribed for a prolonged duration in small doses, and their effect is observed after few weeks, whereas in the case of viral infections, they are prescribed in larger doses for a short duration to achieve a quick saturation effect. In rheumatic diseases, AMDs are well tolerated, and their side effects are rare. However, in some viral diseases, the effect of AMDs is questionable or not so noticeable as suggested during the initial prognosis. They are mainly used as an additive therapy to antiviral drugs, but recent studies have shown that AMDs can diminish the efficacy of some antiviral drugs and may cause respiratory, kidney, liver, and cardiac complications.