bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Optical Nanomotion Detection to Rapidly Discriminate between Fungicidal and Fungistatic Effects of Antifungals on Single-Cell Candida albicans
Authors: Radonicic Vjera , Kalauzi Aleksandar , Villalba Maria Ines , Radotić Ksenija , Devreese Bart , Kasas Sandor , Willaert Ronnie G.
Published: July 2024

Candida albicans is an emerging pathogen that poses a significant challenge due to its multidrug-resistant nature. There are two types of antifungal agents, fungicidal and fungistatic, with distinct mechanisms of action against fungal pathogens. Fungicidal agents kill fungal pathogens, whereas fungistatic agents inhibit their growth. The growth can be restored once the agent is removed and favorable conditions are established. Recognizing this difference is crucial as it influences treatment selection and infection prognosis. We present a technique based on optical nanomotion detection (ONMD) (i.e., observing the movement of the cells using an optical microscope) to discriminate rapidly between fungicidal (caspofungin) and fungistatic (fluconazole) drugs. The technique is based on the change in a yeast cell’s nanomotion as a function of time during a two-hour treatment with the antifungal of interest followed by a one-hour growth period. The cells are entrapped in microwells in a microfluidic chip, which allows a quick exchange of growth medium and antifungal agent, enabling ONMD measurements on the same individual cells before and after treatment. This procedure permits to discriminate between fungicidal and fungistatic antifungals in less than 3 h, with single-cell resolution by observing if the nanomotion recovers after removing the treatment and reintroducing growth medium (YPD), or continues to drop. The simplicity of the approach holds promise for further development into a user-friendly device for rapid antifungal susceptibility testing (AFST), potentially being implemented in hospitals and medical centers worldwide in developed and developing countries.
Antimicrobial and Hemostatic Diatom Biosilica Composite Sponge
Authors: Youn Sol , Ki Mi-Ran , Min Ki Ha , Abdelhamid Mohamed A. A. , Pack Seung Pil
Published: July 2024

The 3D nanopatterned silica shells of diatoms have gained attention as drug delivery vehicles because of their high porosity, extensive surface area, and compatibility with living organisms. Tooth extraction may result in various complications, including impaired blood clotting, desiccation of the root canal, and infection. Therapeutic sponges that possess multiple properties, such as the ability to stop bleeding and kill bacteria, provide numerous advantages for the healing of the area where a tooth has been removed. This study involved the fabrication of a composite material with antibacterial and hemostatic properties for dental extraction sponges. We achieved this by utilizing the porous nature and hemostatic capabilities of diatom biosilica. The antibiotic used was doxycycline. The gelatin-based diatom biosilica composite with antibiotics had the ability to prevent bleeding and release the antibiotic over a longer time compared to gelatin sponge. These properties indicate its potential as a highly promising medical device for facilitating rapid healing following tooth extraction.
Analytical Investigation of Vertical Force Control in In-Wheel Motors for Enhanced Ride Comfort
Authors: Bunlapyanan Chanoknan , Chantranuwathana Sunhapos , Phanomchoeng Gridsada
Published: July 2024

This study explores the effectiveness of vertical force control in in-wheel motors (IWMs) to enhance ride comfort in electric vehicles (EVs). A dynamic vehicle model and a proportional ride-blending controller were used to reduce vertical vibrations of the sprung mass. By converting the state-space model into a transfer function, the system’s frequency response was evaluated using road profiles generated according to ISO 8608 standards and converted into Power Spectral Density (PSD) inputs. The frequency-weighted acceleration (aw) was calculated based on ISO 2631 standards to measure ride comfort improvements. The results showed that increasing the proportional gain (Kp) effectively reduced the frequency-weighted acceleration and the RMS of the vertical acceleration of the sprung mass. However, the proportional gain could not be increased indefinitely due to the torque limitations of the IWMs. Optimal proportional gains for various road profiles demonstrated significant improvements in ride comfort. This study concludes that advanced suspension technologies, including the proportional ride-blending controller, can effectively mitigate the challenges of increased unsprung mass in IWM vehicles, thereby enhancing ride quality and vehicle dynamics.
Testing the Quality of the Mobile Application Interface Using Various Methods—A Case Study of the T1DCoach Application
Authors: Milosz Marek , Plechawska-Wójcik Małgorzata , Dzieńkowski Mariusz
Published: July 2024

The T1DCoach mobile application is designed to educate patients—children with type 1 diabetes (T1D) and their caregivers and diabetes educators. The idea behind the mobile application is that its users perform actions that the patient needs to perform in real life. These include measuring blood glucose levels, operating the insulin pump, meal calculation, bolus administration, etc. These in-application activities are performed on the patient’s digital twin. To increase user engagement, gamification elements have been implemented in the application. An important element of the T1DCoach mobile application is its interface, which should be adapted to very different groups of users: children, their caregivers and educators. In addition to presenting the T1DCoach application, the paper presents the stage examining the quality of the interface using three research groups: children, their caregivers and educators. The research was conducted using the scenario method, using eye-tracking, recording activities and thinking aloud. After the application testing sessions, surveys were carried out using the System Usability Scale method and focus group interviews were conducted. The research results are presented in the article along with the most important recommendations for improving the application interface.
Impact of Silica Sand on Mechanical Properties of Epoxy Resin Composites and Their Application in CFRP–Concrete Bonding
Authors: Babba Riad , Hebbache Kamel , Douadi Abdellah , Boutlikht Mourad , Hammouche Redha , Dahmani Saci , Del Serrone Giulia , Moretti Laura
Published: July 2024

Premature debonding between carbon fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP) and concrete is a critical issue in structural reinforcement applications, often leading to a significant reduction in the load-carrying capacity of the system. This failure mode is typically initiated by inadequate adhesion at the interface, compromising the effectiveness of CFRP in enhancing the structural performance of concrete elements. To address these issues, this study explores the impact of silica sand on the mechanical and adhesion properties of epoxy resin composites. Initially, this paper investigates the physical and mechanical properties of epoxy resin composites by varying the ratios of silica sand from 0% to 15% by volume. Subsequently, it examines the effectiveness of these composites as sealing materials to enhance the bond strength between CFRP and concrete. Incorporating a 10% silica content improves the mechanical properties of the epoxy resin, with the tensile strength increasing from 29.47 MPa to 35.52 MPa and an elastic modulus from 4.38 GPa to 5.83 GPa. Furthermore, silica sand enhances the adhesion strength between CFRP and concrete, as confirmed by the increase in the pull-out force from 14.21 kN to 18.79 kN. Silica particles improve surface roughness and interlocking, contributing to a better load distribution and stress transfer at the interface. Therefore, silica-filled epoxy resin is an efficient material for CFRP–concrete bonding applications.
Geological Modeling of Shale Oil in Member 7 of the Yanchang Formation, Heshui South Area, Ordos Basin
Authors: Wang Linyu , Li Shaohua
Published: July 2024

In recent years, the Chang 7 member of the Mesozoic Triassic Yanchang Formation in the Ordos Basin has emerged as a significant repository of abundant and distinctive unconventional oil resources. The Heshui area boasts substantial shale oil reserves, with reported third-level reserves surpassing 600 million tons. However, the region in the southern part of Heshui is marked by pronounced variability in reservoir quality, intricate oil–water dynamics, low formation energy, and suboptimal fluid properties, leading to divergent development outcomes for horizontal wells. There is an imperative need to devise and refine new geological models to underpin the efficient exploitation of shale oil in the southern Heshui area. This study focuses on the shale oil reservoir of the Chang 7 member in the southern Heshui area of the Ordos Basin, conducting detailed stratigraphic correlation and establishing a refined isochronous stratigraphic framework. Utilizing PetrelTM modeling software (version 2018), we integrate deterministic and stochastic modeling approaches, adhering to the principles of isochronous and phased modeling. By assessing the thickness of sand and mudstone layers and the overall stratigraphic sequence, we derive a geological probability surface. Subsequently, this surface is harnessed to constrain the lithofacies, yielding a constrained lithofacies model. Employing sequential indicator simulation and sequential Gaussian stochastic simulation, we develop a reservoir attribute model that is anchored in the lithofacies model and its controls, culminating in a robust and dependable static model. Employing the geological probability surface constraint method, we meticulously construct the reservoir matrix model, amalgamating individual well data with the inherent certainty and randomness of reservoir plane thickness. This approach further enhances the model’s accuracy and mitigates the uncertainty and randomness associated with inter-well interpolation to a significant degree.
Chloride Resistance of Assembled Bridge Piers Reinforced with Epoxy-Coated Steel Bars
Authors: Fan Dazhang , Wang Hailong , Xu Hongquan , He Tingquan
Published: July 2024

To reveal the influence of joint type and epoxy-coated steel bar surface damage on the durability of assembled bridge piers, this study simulated the potential damage to epoxy-coated steel bars at various stages of an actual construction process by bending, scratching, and knocking. The pier inter-segmental joint and the pier-bearing platform joint were designed to highlight the critical zones affecting the durability of sea-crossing bridge substructures. The migration of chloride ions into the concrete was accelerated by applying a constant voltage DC electric field. The electrochemical indexes of epoxy-coated steel bars and chloride ion content in concrete were measured regularly. Results show that the corrosion risk and corrosion rate of steel bars increase significantly when the damaged area ratio of epoxy coating is higher than 5%. The chloride ion transport rate at the interface of the pier-bearing platform joint is about 5 times that of the pier inter-segmental joint. The service life of the pier-bearing platform joint is only 1/2 that of the pier inter-segmental joint when epoxy-coated steel bars with the same treatment are used.
Non-Thermal Technology Approaches to Improve Extraction, Fermentation, Microbial Stability, and Aging in the Winemaking Process
Authors: Perić Katarina , Tomašević Marina , Ćurko Natka , Brnčić Mladen , Kovačević Ganić Karin
Published: July 2024

Research into non-thermal wine processing technologies is constantly evolving due to the increasing trend towards high-quality, minimally processed, and preservative-free wines. Technologies such as high-power ultrasound, high hydrostatic pressure, pulsed electric field, ultra-high pressure homogenization, and, more recently, cold plasma are some of the best examples currently being explored. This article provides an overview of the latest scientific research into these five non-thermal technologies and their current status in relation to winemaking. By exploring the potential applications of these technologies, it becomes possible to enhance extraction, shorten maceration time, inactivate microorganisms and oxidative enzymes, reduce the addition of chemical additives, accelerate aging, improve wine quality, and much more. However, further experiments are necessary to better comprehend the short- and long-term impacts on the overall quality of the wines produced, especially in terms of sensory characteristics and consumer acceptance. Optimizing processing conditions and scaling up are also of paramount importance to ensure better performance of these technologies at the various stages of winemaking. Additionally, a combined technologies approach has been highlighted as one of the future directions to overcome the limitations of processing with a single technology.
BOPVis: Bridge Monitoring Data Visualization for Operational Performance Mining
Authors: Wang Xiaohui , Zheng Zilong , You Jiaxiang , Qin Yuning , Xia Wentao , Zhou Yi
Published: July 2024

Bridges are fundamental facilities in the transportation system, and their operational performance is crucial for economic and social development. Many large bridges are now equipped with structural health monitoring (SHM) systems that collect various types of real-time data. However, our user study found that despite the accumulation of massive amounts of monitoring data, current analysis methods cannot efficiently process large-scale, high-dimensional data. To address this, we have developed BOPVis, a visualization system for bridge monitoring data. BOPVis allows users to intuitively locate sensors and extract corresponding data from a 3D digital model of a bridge. It also provides convenient and flexible interactions for examining trends over time and correlations across hundreds of monitoring channels. A real-world long-span suspension bridge in China is used as a case study to demonstrate the advantages of the BOPVis system for operational performance mining. Through BOPVis, the global temperature deformation behaviors of the bridge are explored and found to align with the physical mechanism documented in the SHM literature. The BOPVis system, with its interactive visualization analysis capabilities, offers a new method for analyzing bridge monitoring data.
Suitability Evaluation of Urban Underground Space Development: A Case Study of Qingdao City
Authors: Hao Ming , Ren Wenyu , Xia Weiqiang , Fu Jiani , Zhu Henghua , Sun Ping , Wang Kun , Xu Meijun
Published: July 2024

Urban underground space, as an underutilized land resource, holds tremendous potential and value. Efficient and rational development and utilization of this resource are key to addressing current urban challenges. This study takes the main urban area of Qingdao City as an example and establishes a comprehensive evaluation system for the suitability of urban underground space development at different depth levels through the integration of geological, hydrological, and urban planning factors. By utilizing the Analytic Hierarchy Process to assign weights to evaluation criteria within the system, both a multi-objective linear weighting function model and a fuzzy comprehensive evaluation model are employed to assess the suitability of underground space development. The results delineate the distribution of underground space development suitability within the study area. Comparative analysis of the two models reveals that the fuzzy comprehensive evaluation model offers a more detailed and comprehensive reflection of the complexity and diversity of underground space development, providing forward-looking and insightful evaluation results for urban planning and development. The evaluation indicates that certain streets within the main urban area of Qingdao exhibit excellent prospects for underground space development.
Advanced UAV Material Transportation and Precision Delivery Utilizing the Whale-Swarm Hybrid Algorithm (WSHA) and APCR-YOLOv8 Model
Authors: Wu Yuchen , Wei Zhijian , Liu Huilin , Qi Jiawei , Su Xu , Yang Jiqiang , Wu Qinglin
Published: July 2024

This paper proposes an effective material delivery algorithm to address the challenges associated with Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) material transportation and delivery, which include complex route planning, low detection precision, and hardware limitations. This novel approach integrates the Whale-Swarm Hybrid Algorithm (WSHA) with the APCR-YOLOv8 model to enhance efficiency and accuracy. For path planning, the placement paths are transformed into a Generalized Traveling Salesman Problem (GTSP) to be able to compute solutions. The Whale Optimization Algorithm (WOA) is improved for balanced global and local searches, combined with an Artificial Bee Colony (ABC) Algorithm and adaptive weight adjustment to quicken convergence and reduce path costs. For precise placement, the YOLOv8 model is first enhanced by adding the SimAM attention mechanism to the C2f module in the detection head, focusing on target features. Secondly, GhoHGNetv2 using GhostConv is the backbone of YOLOv8 to ensure accuracy while reducing model Params and FLOPs. Finally, a Lightweight Shared Convolutional Detection Head (LSCDHead) further reduces Params and FLOPs through shared convolution. Experimental results show that WSHA reduces path costs by 9.69% and narrows the gap between the best and worst paths by about 34.39%, compared to the Improved Whale Optimization Algorithm (IWOA). APCR-YOLOv8 reduces Params and FLOPs by 44.33% and 34.57%, respectively, with mAP@0.5 increasing from 88.5 to 92.4 and FPS reaching 151.3. This approach can satisfy the requirements for real-time responsiveness while effectively preventing missed, false, and duplicate detections during the inspection of emergency airdrop stations. In conclusion, combining bionic optimization algorithms and image processing significantly enhances the efficiency and precision of material placement in emergency management.
Point Cloud Measurement of Rubber Tread Dimension Based on RGB-Depth Camera
Authors: Huang Luobin , Chen Mingxia , Peng Zihao
Published: July 2024

To achieve an accurate measurement of tread size after fixed-length cutting, this paper proposes a point-cloud-based tread size measurement method. Firstly, a mathematical model of corner points and a reprojection error is established, and the optimal solution of the number of corner points is determined by the non-dominated sorting genetic algorithm II (NSGA-II), which reduces the reprojection error of the RGB-D camera. Secondly, to address the problem of the low accuracy of the traditional pixel metric ratio measurement method, the random sampling consensus point cloud segmentation algorithm (RANSAC) and the oriented bounding box (OBB) collision detection algorithm are introduced to complete the accurate detection of the tread size. By comparing the absolute error and relative error data of several groups of experiments, the accuracy of the detection method in this paper reaches 1 mm, and the measurement deviation is between 0.14% and 2.67%, which is in line with the highest accuracy standard of the national standard. In summary, the RGB-D visual inspection method constructed in this paper has the characteristics of low cost and high inspection accuracy, which is a potential solution to enhance the pickup guidance of tread size measurement.
The Seismic Behavior of Rectangular Concrete-Encased Steel Bridge Piers: A Review
Authors: Moradian Mohammadreza , Hassan Munzer
Published: July 2024

This paper proposes a review of the previous research work and the representative publications regarding the seismic behavior of the concrete-encased steel (CES) columns. Concrete-encased steel sections are composed of steel sections encased in reinforced concrete members. The research work recently showed increased attention to this type of column due to its advantages compared to conventional reinforced concrete columns. Firstly, the analytical studies of the behavior of the CES columns under axial loads, including comparative studies between different research works, are presented. Then, the behavior of the CES columns under combined axial and flexural loads is also highlighted. An overview of the analytical confinement material models is addressed. In addition, the discussion and summary of the seismic behavior of the CES columns and the important parameters affecting the seismic behavior of these types of columns are included. Although important progress has been made by the previous studies in the CES columns under the axial load and the combination of axial and seismic loads, they fundamentally focused on the building columns, and little attention was paid to the impact of lateral reinforcement and their configuration in bridge piers. Due to the lack of studies on the parameters affecting the seismic behavior of the bridges, more studies should still be made to better understand the behavior of the CES bridge piers. This paper provides a reference for the research and engineering practice of concrete-encased steel bridge piers. It also concludes with suggestions for future studies to integrate the seismic requirement of the CES bridge piers in Canada.
The Potential of Fiber-Reinforced Concrete to Reduce the Environmental Impact of Concrete Construction
Authors: Alberti Marcos G. , Enfedaque Alejandro , Faria Duarte M. V. , Fernández Ruiz Miguel
Published: July 2024

Material optimization was one of the challenges for achieving cost-competitive solutions when concrete was introduced in construction, leading to new structural shapes for both civil works and buildings. As concrete construction became dominant, saving material was given less significance, and the selection of the structural typology was mostly influenced by construction or architectural considerations. Simple and non-time-consuming methods for building thus arose as the dominant criteria for design, and this led to the construction of less efficient structures. Currently, the awareness of the environmental footprint in concrete construction has brought the focus again to the topic of structural efficiency and material optimization. In addition, knowledge of material technology is pushing the use of cements and binders with lower environmental impact. Within this framework, Fiber-Reinforced Concrete (FRC) has been identified as a promising evolution of ordinary concrete construction. In this paper, a discussion is presented on the structural properties required for efficient design, focusing on the toughness and deformation capacity of the material. By means of several examples, the benefits and potential application of limit analysis to design at the Ultimate Limit State with FRC are shown. On this basis, the environmental impact of a tailored mix design and structural typology is investigated for the case of slabs in buildings, showing the significant impact that might be expected (potentially reducing CO2-eq emissions to half or even less in slabs when compared to ordinary solutions).
Mechanical Properties of Cement Concrete with Waste Rubber Powder
Authors: Liu Junqin , Li Jiyue , Xu Yanwei , Ma Shibin
Published: July 2024

To investigate the mechanical properties of cement concrete incorporating waste rubber powder, the response surface methodology was employed. The Box–Behnken central composite design was applied to analyze the three primary factors influencing the road performance of cement concrete containing waste rubber powder: the water–cement ratio, sand ratio, and waste rubber powder content. The study determined the impact of these factors on the flexural strength of waste rubber powder cement concrete at both 7 and 28 days. Additionally, the effects of the water–cement ratio, sand ratio, and waste rubber powder content on the performance of cement concrete were analyzed. To investigate the impact of waste rubber powder on cement concrete, various mechanical property tests were conducted, including compressive, flexural, dynamic elastic modulus, and impact performance tests. Furthermore, the study explored the influence of waste rubber powder on the noise reduction capacity of cement concrete using both the rubber ball impact method and ultrasonic method. Lastly, the durability of cement concrete with added rubber powder was assessed through shrinkage tests, frost resistance tests, and chloride ion penetration tests.
Endogenous Cannabinoids in Crohn’s Disease
Authors: Bochenek Michał S. , Tomasik Jan T. , Wędrychowicz Andrzej , Tomasik Przemysław J.
Published: July 2024

Background: An increasing number of people around the world suffer from Crohn’s disease (CD), one of the inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs). Recent evidence suggests that the endogenous cannabinoid system plays an important role in IBD. The main endocannabinoids, anandamide (AEA) and 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG), are ligands of the CB1 and CB2 receptors that are expressed on immune cells. These receptors as well as endocannabinoids are believed to mediate inflammatory activity and participate in the pathophysiology of CD. Objective: Very little is known about the secretion of endogenous cannabinoids throughout the course of CD. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine and analyze the 2-AG and AEA concentrations in children who suffered from CD. Methods: We studied 34 adolescents with CD, mean age 13.5 years ± 2.0. Blood samples were collected three times in the active phase of the disease (during admission to hospital, before treatment), 2–4 weeks later, during the treatment and clinical improvement of the patients, and 3–6 months later, in the period of remission. The control group included 33 healthy teenagers of the same age who were examined once. In all patients, fasting blood samples were collected in the morning. 2AG and AEA concentrations in serum were measured using EIA kits (Abclonal, Woburn, MA, USA and ELK Biotechnology Co., Ltd. Wuhan, China, respectively). Results: The median 2-AG concentration in the study group was stable: acute phase 907.4 [379.3; 1300.5] pg/mL, during treatment 715.1 [416.7; 1302.5] pg/mL; remission 991.1 [381.1; 1652.5] pg/mL, and similar to the values observed in the control group 761.8 [504.3; 1497.0] pg/mL. No significant differences were found between the results obtained at all time points in the study group and compared to the control group (in all cases p > 0.44). In the case of AEA, in the study group before treatment, the median concentration was 2.63 [2.24; 2.79] ng/mL and similar to values obtained during treatment 2.56 [2.33; 3.06] ng/mL, and in remission, with 2.61 [2.46; 2.85] ng/mL. All these concentrations were lower compared to the values measured in the control group of 3.18 [2.57; 3.88] ng/mL (p = 0.023, p = 0.035, p = 0.056, respectively). Conclusions: While 2-AG levels remained stable throughout the disease course and were comparable to controls, AEA concentrations were consistently lower in CD patients. Therefore, therapeutic interventions aimed at increasing AEA-related signaling, such as administration of its analogues or fatty acid amide hydrolase inhibitors, may improve symptoms associated with Crohn’s disease in children.
Experimental Investigation on a Water Diversion Shield Segment Using a Newly Developed Model Test Chamber
Authors: Sun Yuxuan , Xing Shuai , Tian Zhongxi , Zhang Boliang , Liu Wanrong
Published: July 2024

Jinan City in China is known for its abundant spring water, and the protection of underground spring water transport channels is a key issue that needs to be paid attention to in Jinan subway construction. In areas where underground spring water transport channels are easily disturbed, when the shield tunnel passes through a composite formation with a permeable layer in the middle and an impermeable layer in the upper and lower parts, the underground spring water transportation channel is blocked, the spring veins are damaged, and the underground spring water is blocked in the upstream, resulting in an increase in the water pressure difference on both sides of the tunnel. In this paper, based on the working principle of a new type of pipe segment with a diversion function, a diversion function pipe model test box is designed and fabricated. Using this model box, the working state of the diversion function pipe segments is simulated. An earth pressure box and pore water pressure gauges are embedded in the model box to measure the earth pressure and pore pressure around the pipe under seepage unsymmetrical pressure. Strain gauges are attached in a circular shape on the inner side of the pipe to measure and calculate the strain and stress of the pipe. Through model tests, the effective repair of the diversion pipe on blocking groundwater flow and the relief effect of the unsymmetrical pressure of the pipe are verified.
Prediction of Network Security Situation Based on Attention Mechanism and Convolutional Neural Network–Gated Recurrent Unit
Authors: Feng Yuan , Zhao Hongying , Zhang Jianwei , Cai Zengyu , Zhu Liang , Zhang Ran
Published: July 2024

Network-security situation prediction is a crucial aspect in the field of network security. It is primarily achieved through monitoring network behavior and identifying potential threats to prevent and respond to network attacks. In order to enhance the accuracy of situation prediction, this paper proposes a method that combines a convolutional neural network (CNN) and a gated recurrent unit (GRU), while also incorporating an attention mechanism. The model can simultaneously handle the spatial and temporal features of network behavior and optimize the weight allocation of features through the attention mechanism. Firstly, the CNN’s powerful feature extraction ability is utilized to extract the spatial features of the network behavior. Secondly, time-series features of network behavior are processed through the GRU layer. Finally, to enhance the model’s performance further, we introduce attention mechanisms, which can dynamically adjust the importance of different features based on the current context information; this enables the model to focus more on critical information for accurate predictions. The experimental results show that the network-security situation prediction method, which combines a CNN and a GRU and introduces an attention mechanism, performs well in terms of the fitting effect and can effectively enhance the accuracy of situation prediction.
Process Parameter Optimisation in Laser Powder Bed Fusion of Duplex Stainless Steel 2205
Authors: Mayoral N. , Medina L. , Rodríguez-Aparicio R. , Díaz A. , Alegre J. M. , Cuesta I. I.
Published: July 2024

Additive Manufacturing (AM) appears as a very interesting alternative to conventional production routes for alloys and metals, thanks to the fact that at the end of printing, the final product is obtained directly. The present article looks for the inclusion of duplex stainless steel 2205 (DSS-2205) in the commercial catalog of steels utilized in powder bed fusion (PBF) technologies, specifically applying the selective laser melting (SLM) technique. The main objective is to establish optimal printing parameters that reproduce the closest results to the base material properties. To achieve this, the response surface method was used in the methodology and experimental design, studying the parameters of laser power, scanning speed, and hatching distance. A reference material, machined from a hot-rolled plate, was utilized to compare the results obtained through tensile strength. Lastly, the optimal parameters have been obtained for this stainless steel. Additionally, a study of heat treatments has been developed, aiming to optimize the austenitization process, achieving an improvement in mechanical properties. A steel with mechanical properties practically identical to those of steel produced using conventional techniques has been obtained through SLM.
Determining the Safety Level of State Roads: An Italian Case Study
Authors: Pernetti Mariano , Antoniazzi Arianna , Ketabdari Misagh , Crispino Maurizio , Toraldo Emanuele
Published: July 2024

This study aims to establish an effective approach for evaluating the safety performance of road infrastructure. Road safety levels are typically quantified using safety performance indicators. However, due to the stochastic nature of accidents, many safety performance indicators cannot adequately and completely describe reality. Therefore, predictive methods based on regression models are widely used. This approach also allows for the identification of latent risk conditions in the infrastructure, even in the absence of accidents. Among available approaches, the Highway Safety Manual (HSM) methodology is chosen for its synthesis of validated highway research and best practices for incorporating safety into both new design and rehabilitation. For this study, a preliminary new version of HSM is used. The application of this method, which combines a predictive model with observed accidents through an empirical Bayesian approach, requires a calibration process that is crucial to tailoring this method to the specific study context. In this research, the predictive model is calibrated for single carriageway roads with one lane per direction across the Italian national network. Following calibration, the safety indicators are evaluated. The results obtained according to different indicators are compared to show the importance of adopting this method to counteract the regression to the mean of observed crashes. In fact, the method, supported by empirical Bayesian analysis, enables the identification of high-risk sections of the road network, selecting more sections that would be neglected by traditional indicators based solely on observed crashes. Finally, a possible approach to prioritizing sites for inspection based both on the excess of crashes and the Safety Potential (SAPO) is proposed. In addition, SAPO is adjusted to local conditions to account for the specific context and the decreasing trend of accidents over the years.
An Integrated Hydration and Property Evaluation Model for Coral Powder–Cement Binary Blends
Authors: Meng Li-Yi , Wang Xiao-Yong
Published: July 2024

With the rise in the marine industry and marine tourism, coral powder is increasingly used to make concrete for marine islands. This study proposes a three-parameter hydration model and a hydration kinetic model to predict the performance of coral powder concrete based on previous experimental data. The process of the proposed prediction model is as follows: 1. The input parameters of the three-parameter hydration model are calibrated for the first 7 days using the cumulative hydration heat per gram of cement. The maximum cumulative hydration heat (455.87 J/g cement) and the shape coefficient (−0.87) remain constant. In this study, the hydration rate coefficients for 0%, 10%, and 20% coral powder were 6.91, 6.19, and 5.55, respectively, showing decreases of 10.41% and 19.68% compared with the specimens without coral powder. 2. At 28 days, the cumulative heat release values per gram of cement for 0%, 10%, and 20% coral powder were 389.77, 395.69, and 401.62 J/g, showing increases of 1.52% and 3.04% for the specimens containing 10% and 20% coral powder, respectively. Meanwhile, the hydration degrees for 0%, 10%, and 20% coral powder were 0.855, 0.868, and 0.881, respectively, showing increases of 1.52% and 3.04%. Furthermore, the cumulative heat release values per gram of binder were 389.77, 356.12, and 321.29 J/g, showing decreases of 8.63% and 17.56% for specimens containing 10% and 20% coral powder, respectively. 3. Properties such as compressive strength, ultrasonic pulse velocity (UPV), and surface electrical resistivity were evaluated using the power function and the cumulative hydration heat per gram of binder. 4. At 28 days, the chemically bound water contents for samples with 0%, 10%, and 20% coral powder were 0.2402, 0.2197, and 0.1981 g/g binder, respectively. Moreover, the calcium hydroxide contents were 0.1848, 0.1690, and 0.1524 g/g binder, showing reductions of 8.53% and 17.52% in bound water and 8.54% and 17.53% in calcium hydroxide. 5. A hydration kinetic model is proposed, which can distinguish between the dilution effect and the nucleation effect of coral powder, unlike the three-parameter model, which cannot distinguish between the two effects. Furthermore, the input parameters of the hydration kinetic model remain unchanged for different mixtures, while the input parameters of the three-parameter model must be varied among mixtures. Parameter analysis of the hydration kinetic model indicated that a low water–binder ratio and a high coral powder substitution rate significantly improve the relative reaction level of cement.
Safety and Efficacy of Peptide Receptor Radionuclide Therapy (PRRT) Following Bland Embolization for Metastatic Neuroendocrine Tumors
Authors: Alayli Adam , Ngo Hoang , Sikaria Dhiraj , Ahmed Altan , Salloum Elias , Strosberg Jonathan R. , Al-Toubah Taymeyah E. , Kis Bela , Haider Mintallah , El-Haddad Ghassan
Published: July 2024

Rationale: Evaluating the long-term safety and efficacy of peptide receptor radionuclide therapy (PRRT) in patients with metastatic neuroendocrine tumors (mNETs) who have undergone prior bland hepatic transarterial embolization (TAE). Methods: Retrospective review of mNET patients who received PRRT with 177Lu-DOTATATE between 4/2018 and 02/2022 with and without prior TAE. The most recent clinical, imaging, and laboratory findings, including hepatic Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events v5.0, were compared to pre-PRRT. Results: 171 patients (95 M, 76 F, median age = 66) with mNET of different primary sites (9 foregut, 100 midgut, 9 hindgut, 44 pancreas, 9 unknown) received at least 1 cycle of PRRT with at least 6 months of follow-up, 110 of whom were embolization-naïve and 61 who had prior TAE. The median follow up was 22 months (range: 6–43). Patients with prior TAE had higher liver tumor burden on average than patients without prior TAE; however, the difference was not statistically significant (p = 0.06). There was no significant difference in the rates of G3 or G4 hepatotoxicity (p = 0.548 and p = 0.999, respectively) in patients who underwent prior TAE and those who were TAE-naïve. The hepatic progression-free survival was 22.9 months in TAE-naïve patients and 25.7, 20.2, and 12.8 months in patients with 1, 2, and 3 prior TAE treatments, respectively. Conclusion: Peptide receptor radionuclide therapy following transarterial bland embolization for mNET is safe and effective.
Derived Neutrophils to Lymphocyte Ratio Predicts Survival Benefit from TPF Induction Chemotherapy in Local Advanced Oral Squamous Cellular Carcinoma
Authors: Zhu Fangxing , Zhou Xinyu , Zhang Yiyi , Zhou Zhihang , Huang Yingying , Zhong Laiping , Zhao Tongchao , Yang Wenjun
Published: July 2024

Background: This study aimed to evaluate the derived neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (dNLR) in predicting the prognosis of patients with locally advanced oral squamous cell carcinoma (LAOSCC) and to assess the survival benefits from docetaxel, cisplatin, and 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) (TPF) induction chemotherapy (IC). Methods: Patients from a phase III trial involving TPF IC in stage III/IVA OSCC patients (NCT01542931) were enrolled. Receiver operating characteristic curves were constructed, and the area under the curve was computed to determine dNLR cutoff points. Kaplan–Meier survival estimates and Cox proportional hazards models were used for longitudinal analysis. Results: A total of 224 patients were identified (median age: 55.4 years; range: 26 to 75 years; median follow-up: 90 months; range: 3.2 to 93 months). The cutoff point for the dNLR was 1.555. Multivariate analysis showed that the dNLR was an independent negative predictive factor for survival (overall survival (OS): hazard ratio (HR) = 1.154, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.018–1.309, p = 0.025; disease-free survival (DFS): HR = 1.123, 95% CI: 1.000–1.260, p = 0.050; local recurrence-free survival (LRFS): HR = 1.134, 95% CI: 1.002–1.283, p = 0.047; distant metastasis-free survival (DMFS): HR = 1.146, 95% CI: 1.010–1.300, p = 0.035). A low dNLR combined with cTNM stage III disease predicted benefit from TPF IC for the patients [OS (χ2 = 4.674, p = 0.031), DFS (χ2 = 7.134, p = 0.008), LRFS (χ2 = 5.937, p = 0.015), and DMFS (χ2 = 4.832, p = 0.028)]. Conclusions: The dNLR is an independent negative predictive factor in LAOSCC patients. Patients with cTNM stage III disease and a low dNLR can benefit from TPF IC.
A Host–Guest Platform for Highly Efficient, Quantitative, and Rapid Detection of Nitroreductase
Authors: Si Wen , Jiao Yang , Jia Xianchao , Gao Meng , Zhang Yihao , Gao Ye , Zhang Lei , Duan Chunying
Published: July 2024

Nitroreductase (NTR) is an enzyme expressed at an abnormally high level in solid tumors, which is associated with the hypoxia level in tumors. The establishment of a high-performance and convenient fluorescent platform for the fast monitoring of NTR is of pivotal importance. Herein, a novel host–guest complex was created by encapsulating a fluorescent substrate GP-NTR within a metal–organic capsule Zn-MPB that included a NADH mimic for the detection of hypoxia via responding to nitroreductase (NTR) with fast responsiveness and good fluorescence imaging. Notably, the double-substrate process was streamlined to a single–substrate process by the host–guest supramolecular method in the catalytic process of NTR, which enabled the reaction to be independent of the cofactor NADH supply and shortened the distance between the substrate and the active site of NTR. The increasing fluorescence intensity of Zn-MPB⊃GP-NTR exhibits a linear relationship with NTR concentration and shows a fast response toward NTR in solution in tens of seconds. Zn-MPB⊃GP-NTR also displays high sensitivity to NTR with a low detection limit of 6.4 ng/mL. Cells and in vivo studies have confirmed that Zn-MPB⊃GP-NTR could be successfully applied for the fast imaging of NTR in NTR-overexpressed tumor cells and tumor-bearing animals. The host–guest platform not only provides a new avenue for the design and optimization of a fluorescence detection platform for the rapid and quantitative detection of NTR activity, but also offers an imaging tool for the early diagnosis of hypoxia-related tumors.
An Innovative Virtual Reality System for Measuring Refractive Error
Authors: Huang Chin-Te , Lin Chien-Nien , Chen Shyan-Tarng , Kuo Hui-Ying , Sun Han-Yin
Published: July 2024

In this study, we aimed to validate a novel light field virtual reality (LFVR) system for estimating refractive errors in the human eye. Fifty participants with an average age of 22.12 ± 2.2 years (range 20–30 years) were enrolled. The present study compared spherical equivalent (SE) and focal line measurements (F1 and F2) obtained by the LFVR system with those obtained by established methods, including closed-field and open-field autorefractors, retinoscopy, and subjective refraction. The results showed substantial agreement between the LFVR system and the traditional methods, with intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) for SE ranging from 82.7% to 86.7% (p < 0.01), and for F1 and F2 from 80.7% to 86.4% (p < 0.01). Intra-repeatability for F1 and F2 demonstrated strong agreement, with ICC values of 88.8% and 97.5%, respectively. These findings suggest that the LFVR system holds potential as a primary tool for refractive error measurement in optical care, offering high agreement and repeatability compared to conventional methods.
Identifying Acute Aortic Syndrome and Thoracic Aortic Aneurysm from Chest Radiography in the Emergency Department Using Convolutional Neural Network Models
Authors: Lin Yang-Tse , Wang Bing-Cheng , Chung Jui-Yuan
Published: July 2024

(1) Background: Identifying acute aortic syndrome (AAS) and thoracic aortic aneurysm (TAA) in busy emergency departments (EDs) is crucial due to their life-threatening nature, necessitating timely and accurate diagnosis. (2) Methods: This retrospective case-control study was conducted in the ED of three hospitals. Adult patients visiting the ED between 1 January 2010 and 1 January 2020 with a chief complaint of chest or back pain were enrolled in the study. The collected chest radiography (CXRs) data were divided into training (80%) and testing (20%) datasets. The training dataset was trained by four different convolutional neural network (CNN) models. (3) Results: A total of 1625 patients were enrolled in this study. The InceptionV3 model achieved the highest F1 score of 0.76. (4) Conclusions: Analysis of CXRs using a CNN-based model provides a novel tool for clinicians to interpret ED patients with chest pain and suspected AAS and TAA. The integration of such imaging tools into ED could be considered in the future to enhance the diagnostic workflow for clinically fatal diseases.
Feedback Approach for the Relay Channel with Noisy Feedback and Its Security Analysis
Authors: Hu Rong , Zhang Haonan , Yang Huan
Published: July 2024

Relay channels capture the essence of several important communication scenarios such as sensor network and satellite communication. In this paper, first, we propose an efficient coding scheme for an additive white Gaussian noise (AWGN) relay channel in the presence of AWGN feedback, which generalizes the conventional scheme for the AWGN relay channel with noiseless feedback by introducing a lattice-based strategy to eliminate the impact of the feedback channel noise on the performance of the original scheme. Next, we further extend the proposed scheme to the multi-input single-output (MISO) fading relay channel (FRC) with noisy feedback. The key to this extension is to use a pre-coding strategy to transform the MISO channel into a single-input single-output (SISO) channel and applying a two-dimensional lattice coding strategy to deal with the feedback fading channel noise. Finally, we analyze the security performance of our proposed scheme in several cases, and the results of this paper are further illustrated by numerical examples.
Gamifying Teacher Education with FantasyClass: Effects on Attitudes towards Physics and Chemistry among Preservice Primary Teachers
Authors: Jiménez-Valverde Gregorio , Heras-Paniagua Carlos , Fabre-Mitjans Noëlle , Calafell-Subirà Genina
Published: July 2024

This study investigates the impact of structural gamification, using the digital platform FantasyClass, on the attitudes and motivation of preservice primary education teachers towards physics and chemistry. Employing a mixed-methods approach, the research combined quantitative and qualitative data collection and analysis involving 65 second-year university students over a 14-week course. The quantitative component was framed within a quasi-experimental pre-post design, allowing for the comparison of students’ attitudes and motivations before and after the gamified intervention. The qualitative component was designed to complement the quantitative findings. Quantitative analysis revealed significant improvements in students’ perceptions and motivation, with notable increases in positive attitudes towards these sciences. Qualitative data further highlighted enhanced interest and enjoyment, with students reporting greater engagement and a shift in their perception of physics and chemistry as accessible and enjoyable. The study also noted an increase in self-confidence among future teachers and improved teaching self-efficacy. The findings suggest that integrating gamification in initial primary science teacher education can effectively foster more favorable attitudes, enhance motivation towards science, and improve teaching confidence. Future research should explore long-term impacts, as well as personalized gamification approaches to cater to different types of learners and maximize educational effectiveness.