bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Modulation of Kinase Activities In Vitro by Hepatitis C Virus Protease NS3/NS4A Mediated-Cleavage of Key Immune Modulator Kinases
Authors: Abdullah Mohd Amir F. , McWhirter Sarah M. , Suo Zucai
Published: January 2023

Hepatitis C Virus NS3/NS4A, a serine protease complex, has been found to interact with many host proteins and cause various adverse effects on cellular function and immune response. For example, the cleavage of important immune factors by NS3/NS4A has been suggested as a mechanism for the hepatitis C virus to evade innate immunity. The spectrum of susceptible substrates for NS3/NS4A cleavage certainly includes important immune modulator kinases such as IKKα, IKKβ, IKKε, and TBK1, as demonstrated in this paper. We show that the kinase activities of these four host kinases were transformed in unexpected ways by NS3/NS4A. Treatment with NS3/NS4A caused a significant reduction in the kinase activities of both IKKα and IKKβ, suggesting that HCV might use its NS3/NS4A protease activity to deactivate the NF-κB-associated innate immune responses. In contrast, the kinase activities of both IKKε and TBK1 were enhanced after NS3/NS4A treatment, and more strikingly, the enhancement was more than 10-fold within 20 min of treatment. Our mass spectroscopic results suggested that the cleavage after Cys89 in the kinase domain of IKKε by NS3/NS4A led to their higher kinase activities, and three potential mechanisms were discussed. The observed kinase activity enhancement might facilitate the activation of both IKKε- and TBK1-dependent cellular antiviral pathways, likely contributing to spontaneous clearance of the virus and observed acute HCV infection. After longer than 20 min cleavage, both IKKε- and TBK1 gradually lost their kinase activities and the relevant antiviral pathways were expected to be inactivated, facilitating the establishment of chronic HCV infection.
Recent Advance in Cortisol Immunosensing Technologies and Devices
Authors: Zhang Yanke , Lai Qingteng , Chen Wei , Zhang Chi , Mo Long , Liu Zhengchun
Published: January 2023

Well known as the “stress hormone”, cortisol plays an indispensable role in life activities. In the past few decades, accurate information about the intracorporal level of cortisol has been proven to be an important and effective indicator for evaluating physical and mental states and diagnosing a series of pressure-induced diseases. Hence, various rapid and efficient cortisol sensing technologies with high sensitivity and selectivity and low detection limit have been developed. This review examines most recent works and progress in cortisol detection via immunoassay, highlighting the construction of sensitive sensor systems. We aimed to provide a comprehensive description in the aspects of general optical and electrochemical detection methods, novel immunosensing systems, and advanced portable and wearable devices. Outlooks and suggestions for the development of continuous and real-time monitoring techniques and devices were finally provided.
Changes in Strength Parameters of Composite Cements as Affected by Storage Temperature—A Review of the Literature
Authors: Giełzak Joanna , Dejak Beata , Sokołowski Jerzy , Bociong Kinga
Published: January 2023

Fixed restorations are now among the most common restorations in modern dental prosthodontics. The current view in prosthodontics of maximum preparation economy is causing an increased interest in the mechanical properties of cements. Among the most important properties of materials used for indirect cementation are mechanical properties, i.e., hardness and compressive strength. These properties can change as a result of changes in physical factors. The purpose of this study was to analyze the available literature on the effect of conditioning temperature of cements used for cementation of indirect fixed restorations on the durability of their bonding to dental tissues and their mechanical and physical properties. The following databases were used: Mendeley, PubMed, ResearchGate, National Library of Medicine, and Google Scholar. Analysis of the available literature was carried out according to the Prisma diagram program. Forty-eight articles were selected, which were the following types of studies: clinical reports, research article, and review articles. Some studies indicated that mechanical properties, such as flexural strength, polymerization shrinkage, and conversion factor, did not change after heating the composite material. According to some researchers, preheating the composite material increased its conversion degree, which consequently led to an increase in hardness and fracture toughness, an increase in flexural strength and an increase in elastic modulus, and an increase in abrasion resistance. Studies on changes in the mechanical and physical properties of composite materials, as well as composite cements, have not always provided clear answers, as there are still no laboratory and clinical studies that fully confirm the benefits of heating composite cements. Conducting studies evaluating the effect of elevated storage temperature on the strength parameters of cements, in conjunction with the type of material and its composition, could provide answers to many clinical questions that are still unresolved. If the benefits of heating cements were unequivocally confirmed in laboratory studies, this could open up many possibilities for improving the retention of fixed prosthetic restorations.
The Mode Deformation Effect on Surface Nanocrystalline Structure Formation and Wear Resistance of Steel 41Cr4
Authors: Kyryliv Volodymyr , Maksymiv Olha , Gurey Volodymyr , Hurey Ihor , Kyryliv Yaroslav , Zvirko Olha
Published: January 2023

A surface nanocrystalline steel layer in the low alloy steel 41Cr4 was fabricated by using mechanical-pulse treatment (MPT) with different deformation modes. The structure parameters, the physical and mechanical properties, the wear resistance, and the surface topography parameters of the treated steel depending on the deformation mode were investigated. A tool with a smooth working surface was used for inducing unidirectional deformation in the top surface layer (shear), and a tool with the oppositely directed grooves was used for generating multidirectional deformation. The surface layer with a nanocrystalline structure formed by MPT using both of the tools was characterised by enhanced mechanical properties and wear resistance compared with those of the untreated or heat-treated steels. Inducing multidirectional deformation during the MPT resulted in a decrease in the grain size and an increase in the depth and microhardness of the surface layer due to it facilitating the generation of dislocations compared to those formed under unidirectional deformation. The results also demonstrated that favourable surface topography parameters providing the highest wear resistance of the steel were obtained at MPT using multidirectional deformation.
Recent Trends in Antibacterial Coatings and Biofilm
Authors: Vodnar Dan Cristian , Teleky Bernadette-Emőke
Published: January 2023

In modern society, the growing use of plastic packaging has innumerable and unquestionable consequences [...]
The Stability of the Layer Nitrided in Low-Pressure Nitriding Process
Authors: Wołowiec-Korecka Emilia , Michalski Jerzy , Januszewicz Bartłomiej
Published: January 2023

The kinetics of the nitrided layer thickness growth and its structure depend on the nitrogen flux from the atmosphere to the nitrided surface. A nitrogen flux to the surface is more significant than a diffusion flux into the substrate, during forming surface iron nitrides and the internal nitriding zone. For pure iron, nitrided under low pressure, cutting off the nitriding atmosphere creates a flux from the subsurface layer of nitrides to the surface. The purpose of this paper is to determine the direction of the nitrogen flux in a similar situation for steels containing nitride-forming elements, thus answering the question of the stability of the layer nitrided under such conditions. The surface of X37CrMoV5-1 steel was nitrided under low pressure (of 24 hPa) and annealed in a vacuum or nitrogen. The microstructure, thickness of the nitride layers nitrided layers, the thickness of the internal nitriding zone, surface hardness and stresses were examined. The highest values of the nitrided layer properties were observed for the samples saturated only with nitrogen obtained from ammonia dissociation or additionally heated in nitrogen. It has been shown that using a pure vacuum during the annealing stage leads to unfavourable changes in the structure of the nitrided layer formed and, in particular, to the decomposition of the iron nitride layer formed at the saturation stage and occurrence of the tensile stresses—what excludes practical application of such layer. Ultimately, it has been shown that in the low-pressure nitriding process, the stability of the nitride layer of the nitrided surface strongly depends on the annealing atmosphere during the annealing stage, while the stability of the internal nitriding zone remains mainly at the same level.
Synthesis of Magnesium-Based Alloys by Mechanical Alloying for Implant Applications
Authors: Gonzaga Sergio , Molina Arturo , Guardián René , Martínez Horacio , Vélez Edna Vázquez , Tapia Jesús Santa-Olalla
Published: January 2023

The biocompatibility and biodegradability of magnesium (Mg), along with its lightness, make magnesium-based materials promising for use in the biomedical industry. In this work, ternary Mg–Zn–Ca alloys were manufactured for biomedical applications using mechanical alloying (MA). The objective of this work was to study the effect of milling time on the produced ternary alloys Mg65–Zn30–Ca5 and Mg70–Zn25–Ca5 (percentages by weight), the degradation of the alloys in synthetic human fluids, and their generated cytotoxicity. The Mg-based alloys were synthesized in a planetary ball mill under an argon atmosphere using stainless-steel containers and balls with a milling regimen of 400 rpm for 2, 5, 10, 15, and 20 h. The powders obtained after MA were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD), which verified that ternary Mg–Zn–Ca alloys can be obtained using MA. The XRD refinement analysis of the samples showed the presence of a MgZn intermetallic phase. Electrochemical tests showed that the corrosion resistance and corrosion current density of Mg65–Zn30–Ca5 and Mg70–Zn25–Ca5 alloys improved compared to those of pure Mg. Cytotoxicity testing was conducted using the Sulforhodamine B (SRB) assay, which revealed that the alloys did not exhibit cytotoxicity toward human fibroblast cells. Mg65–Zn30–Ca5 and Mg70–Zn25–Ca5 alloys show good potential to be used in biomedical applications.
Optimizing Friction Welding Parameters in AISI 304 Austenitic Stainless Steel and Commercial Copper Dissimilar Joints
Authors: Paventhan R. , Thirumalaikumarasamy D. , Kantumuchu Venkata Charan , Ahmed Omar Shabbir , Abbas Mohamed , Alahmadi Ahmad Aziz , Alwetaishi Mamdooh , Alzaed Ali Nasser , Ramachandran Chidambaram Seshadri
Published: January 2023

By using fusion welding to weld AISI 304 austenitic stainless steel (ASS) and commercial copper, the creation of brittle intermetallic in the weld region that compromises the strength of the joints is the primary challenge. However, friction welding is a suitable method for joining these two materials because no obvious defects are produced at the joints. The joint strength is significantly influenced by the friction-welding-process variables including the pressure of friction, pressure of forging, time of friction, and time of forging. Throughout this study, a central composite factorial design-based empirical relationship-building effort was carried out to determine the tensile strengths of friction-welded AISI 304 austenitic stainless steels (ASS) and commercial copper alloys dissimilar joints from the process variables. The process conditions were optimized employing response surface methods in order to attain the joint’s optimum tensile strength. This research revealed that the greatest tensile strength of the joint created with the friction pressure of 60 MPa, forging pressure of 60 MPa, friction duration of 4 s, and forging time of 4 s, correspondingly, was 489 MPa. As a result, the intermetallic formation at the interface could be identified.
Water-Droplet Impact and Sliding Behaviors on Slippery Surfaces with Various Weber Numbers and Surface Inclinations
Authors: Li Bo , Fan Lei , Bai Jie , Xiang Huiying , Yuan Yuan
Published: January 2023

The dynamic behaviors of water droplets on a slippery surface are significant to practical anti-icing applications. Herein, the impact and sliding behavior of water droplets on lubricant-infused surfaces (LISs) were investigated with a high-speed camera. LISs were prepared by infusing perfluoropolyether oils into anodized porous surfaces. The results show that the maximum spreading diameter and retraction velocity of the impact droplet increased with the We number. For LIS-100, the spreading factor at 2.5 ms increased from 2.00 to 3.88 with We increasing from 30 to 267. Low-viscosity lubricant facilitated the retraction speed and rebound of droplet impact on the surface, while high-viscosity lubricant contributed to the lubricant stability of the LIS. Additionally, high inclination angle (θ) facilitated the rapid shedding of water droplets on the surface. The velocity increased rapidly from 1.04 to 4.66 mm/s with θ increasing from 15° to 45°. The LIS prepared with low-viscosity lubricant had a high sliding velocity, and the sliding velocity of water droplets on LIS-100 was about seven times faster than that on LIS-104. This work reveals the impacting law of water droplets on LISs and provides useful information for the design of LISs under drop impact conditions.
Glass-Ceramic Protective Coatings Based on Metallurgical Slag
Authors: Gorokhovsky Alexander V. , Yurkov Gleb Yu. , Burmistrov Igor N. , Villalpando-Reyna Angel F. , Kuznetsov Denis V. , Gusev Alexander A. , Khaidarov Bekzod B. , Konyukhov Yuri V. , Zakharova Olga V. , Kiselev Nikolay V.
Published: January 2023

Pyroxene glass-ceramic enamels based on combinations of blast furnace slag and some additives were produced and investigated. The batch compositions and technological regimes of enameling were developed to produce high temperature protective coatings for carbon steel (ASTM 1010/1008). The composition of raw materials was selected to match the values of the thermal expansion coefficients of the glass-ceramic coating (~11∙10−6 K−1) and metal substrate (~12∙10−6 K−1) taking into account the temperatures of fluidization (Tf ~ 800°) and crystallization (Tc = 850−1020 °C) of the corresponding glasses. The covered and thermally treated samples of carbon steel were produced using single-layer enameling technology and investigated to specify structure, phase composition and properties of the coating and coating-steel interface. The obtained coatings were characterized with excellent adhesion to the steel (impact energy ~3 J) and protective properties. The closed porous structure of the coatings promoted low thermal conductivity (~1 W/(m·K)) and high (up to 1000 °C) thermal resistance, whereas the pyroxene-like crystalline phases supported high wear and chemical resistance as well as micro-hardness (~480 MPa) and thermal shock resistance (>30 cycles of 23–700 °C). The obtained cheap coatings and effective protective coatings could be used at the temperatures up to 1100 °C in the corrosive atmosphere and under the action of abrasive particles.
Impact of COVID-19 on UK Banks; How Banks Reshape Consumer Banking Behaviour during Pandemic
Authors: Darwish Nidal A. , Bayyoud Mohammed
Published: January 2023

Due to COVID-19 and prolonged lockdown, banks in the UK have reported impact on their operational activities and financial aspects. To deal with the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, banks have adopted different strategies that reshape consumer banking behaviour during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study evaluates the impact of COVID-19 on three banks in the UK, including HSBC, Royal Bank of Scotland, and Barclays Bank. A mixed research approach was adopted where a closed-ended survey with 30 employees (10 employees from each bank) were chosen to participate in the survey. Interviews are conducted with three managers of the banks. The study findings show that banks adopted social distancing to ensure that their brand operations were not affected. The banks did not consider shutting down the branches for cutting the cost. However, there has been a shift from a manual to a digital process for client queries to improve efficiency. The banks also created the brand image of operating during the pandemic.
Assessment of Inclusion Removal Ability in Refining Slags Containing Ce2O3
Authors: Cao Jianqi , Li Yao , Lin Wanming , Che Julong , Zhou Feng , Tan Yunfang , Li Dongliang , Dang Jie , Chen Chao
Published: January 2023

The elimination of inclusions in steelmaking processes has been widely studied. The removal of inclusions by slags containing the rare earth oxide Ce2O3 are studied using an integrated numerical model. The integrated model involves the inclusion motion model, interfacial tension calculation model, surface tension calculation model of slag, and the mass action concentration model, based on ion and molecule coexistence theory. The motion behaviors of both solid Al2O3 inclusions and 50%wtAl2O3–50%wtCaO liquid inclusions of varied sizes at CaO-Ce2O3-SiO2-Al2O3(-MgO) slag systems are evaluated. The results show that it is more difficult to remove the inclusions with smaller sizes and in slag with a higher viscosity. Liquid inclusions are more difficult to remove than solid inclusions. It is found that the CaO-Ce2O3-SiO2-Al2O3-MgO refining slag shows a better ability to remove Al2O3 inclusions than that of the CaO-SiO2-Al2O3-MgO slag. The reason for this is that the addition of the rare earth oxide Ce2O3 can decrease the viscosity of slags, as well as improving the wetting effects of slags on Al2O3 inclusions. For two slags systems, the CaO-Ce2O3-SiO2-Al2O3-MgO slag system shows a better ability to remove Al2O3 inclusions than the CaO-Ce2O3-SiO2-Al2O3 slag system. The addition of 5% to 8% Ce2O3 in a CaO-SiO2-Al2O3-MgO slag is an optimized case for industrial applications.
Expired Glucosamine Drugs as Green Corrosion Inhibitors for Carbon Steel in H2SO4 Solution and Synergistic Effect of Glucosamine Molecules with Iodide Ions: Combined Experimental and Theoretical Investigations
Authors: Feng Lijuan , Zhang Shanshan , Zhou Yan , Pan Rongkai , Du Hongchen , Liu Fangfang , Yang Yongqi
Published: January 2023

Glucosamine is a natural drug widely used for treating osteoarthritis and is usually left until it expires, which will cause a waste of resources if treated as garbage. However, its molecule contains many heteroatoms, entitling it to be a potential corrosion inhibitor. In this investigation, the corrosion inhibition activities of two types of expired glucosamine drugs (glucosamine hydrochloride and glucosamine sulfate) on carbon steel were estimated by electrochemical methods in the acidic solution. The results demonstrated that the glucosamine drugs were mixed-type corrosion inhibitors. Glucosamine hydrochloride could inhibit the carbon steel corrosion more significantly than that of sulfuric style at the same glucosamine content, suggesting a possible synergistic effect of glucosamine molecules with halide ions. Then, the co-adsorption behaviors of glucosamine sulfate with iodide ions were studied by experimental research, as well as theoretical investigations. The results indicated that the inhibition effect could be significantly enhanced when the glucosamine drug was utilized in combination with iodide ions. The electronic structures played a critical role in the synergistic inhibition of glucosamine drugs and iodide ions. Neutral molecules could interact with the metallic surface vertically through the amino and carbonyl groups, while protonated molecules were able to adsorb on it in parallel with the help of multiple functional groups. Since glucosamine molecules would be protonated and positively charged in the acidic solution, they were difficult to adsorb on the solid surface with metallic cations. When the iodide ions were presented, they preferentially adsorbed on the carbon steel surface and induced it to be negatively charged. Therefore, protonated glucosamine molecules could adsorb on the metallic surface using iodide ions as a bridge and form a protective film to mitigate the carbon steel corrosion.
Effect of Laser Shock Peening without Coating on Grain Size and Residual Stress Distribution in a Microalloyed Steel Grade
Authors: Samuel Calvin , MOGANRAJ Arivarasu , Swaroop Sathya , Praveenkumar K. , Natarajan Arivazhagan , Nageshwara Rao Muktinutalapati , Syed Badirujjaman , Bhattacharya Basudev
Published: January 2023

This study aimed to identify the optimal combination of wavelength and laser pulse density to achieve the optimal pulse pressure that can induce the maximum compressive residual stress at the subsurface of microalloyed steel. For this, laser shock peening without coating (LSPwC) was performed on microalloyed steel samples at the fundamental wavelength (1064 nm) with pulse densities of 3, 6, 9, and 12 GW/cm2 and at the second harmonic wavelength (532 nm) with pulse densities of 3, 6, and 9 GW/cm2. The residual stress distributions were studied to a depth of 500 µm in the laser-treated samples. Tensile residual stress was observed at the surface of laser-peened specimens in both wavelength conditions (1064 and 532 nm). The significant impartment of compressive residual stress across the depth was achieved at the fundamental wavelength (1064 nm). The maximum compressive residual stress was attained with a laser pulse density of 9 GW/cm2 in the 1064nm wavelength condition. The optical micrographic analysis in the subsurface regions of the LSPwC specimen at 1064 nm and 9 GW/cm2 shows evidence of a high degree of plastic deformation. Electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) analysis shows that there is grain refinement due to plastic deformations in samples subjected to the fundamental wavelength. Microhardness distribution analysis across the subsurface region shows work-hardening effects in the laser-processed samples in the 1064 nm condition. This study also shows that there is an indication of a thermal softening effect in the samples treated with the 532 nm wavelength, and it is correlated with lower compressive residual stress across the depth.
Pre-Recycling Material Analysis of NMC Lithium-Ion Battery Cells from Electric Vehicles
Authors: Pražanová Anna , Kočí Jan , Míka Martin Havlík , Pilnaj Dominik , Plachý Zbyněk , Knap Vaclav
Published: January 2023

Environmental concerns push for a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions and technologies with a low carbon footprint. In the transportation sector, this drives the transition toward electric vehicles (EVs), which are nowadays mainly based on lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). As the number of produced EVs is rapidly growing, a large amount of waste batteries is expected in the future. Recycling seems to be one of the most promising end-of-life (EOL) methods; it reduces raw material consumption in battery production and the environmental burden. Thus, this work introduces a comprehensive pre-recycling material characterization of waste nickel-manganese-cobalt (NMC) LIB cells from a fully electric battery electric vehicle (BEV), which represents a basis for cost-effective and environmentally friendly recycling focusing on the efficiency of the implemented technique. The composition of the NCM 622 battery cell was determined; it included a LiNi0.6Co0.2Mn0.2O2 spinel on a 15 μm Al-based current collector (cathode), a graphite layer on 60 μm copper foil (anode), 25 μm PE/PVDF polymer separator, and a LiPF6 salt electrolyte with a 1:3 ratio in primary solvents DMC and DEC. The performed research was based on a series of X-ray, infrared (IR) measurements, gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS), and inductively coupled plasma–optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES) characterization of an aqueous solution with dissolved electrolytes. These results will be used in subsequent works devoted to optimizing the most suitable recycling technique considering the environmental and economic perspectives.
New Insights into the Geochemical Processes Occurring on the Surface of Stuccoes Made of Slaked Lime Putty
Authors: Pocostales Luciana , Pitarch Martí Àfrica , Guasch-Ferré Núria , Doménech-Carbó María Teresa , Prada Pérez José Luís
Published: January 2023

The fresco technique performed with slaked lime putty as binding material has been well known since Antiquity. However, the geochemical processes that occur on the surface have been generally described as part of the carbonation process of the intonaco itself. When approaching this technique from experimental archaeology, it has been observed for the first time that during the execution period (from 0 to 20 h, approximately) the processes occurring on the surface of the stucco are different from those occurring inside. Furthermore, these processes lead to the formation of an epigenetic film of specific texture, stiffness and compactness. This study investigates the formation and evolution of this surface film using a series of slaked lime putty stucco test tubes. Samples were extracted at different intervals and subsequently analyzed by polarized optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Results indicate that the development of the film, composed of an amorphous gel-like stratum and a micro-crystalline stratum, occurs in parallel to the carbonation occurring inside the stucco. Moreover, this process does not respond to the classical geological processes of calcium carbonate formation. It was also observed that its presence slows down the carbonation in the underlying strata (intonaco, intonachino, arriccio, etc.) and that the surface becomes more crystalline over time. The identification of this film has implications for the field of the conservation–restoration of fresco paintings and lime-based wall paintings.
The Renaissance and Golden Age of Epitaxial Dry Germanene
Authors: Minissale Marco , Salomon Eric , Pappalardo Federica , Martin Céline , Muntwiler Matthias , Angot Thierry , Le Lay Guy
Published: January 2023

Germanene, as an artificial graphene-like near room temperature topological insulator, compatible with ubiquitous silicon technology, is potentially the most promising artificial Xene for ultra-scale nanoelectronics. Here, we follow its emergence and development when prepared in situ under ultra-high vacuum in clean and controlled conditions by dry epitaxy on prominent metal surfaces (e.g., aluminum, silver, gold). We describe its predicted electronic properties and its birth in 2014, even if it was just a renaissance, as it was only understood after 51 years after an undeciphered birth certificate lost in oblivion. We emphasize the lifting of germanene flakes from an aluminum template with the tip of a scanning tunneling microscope, and their repositioning to form bilayer germanene with Bernal stacking. Finally, we discuss the growth of monolayer germanene in a single phase harboring Dirac fermions, following a bottom-up synthesis strategy by segregation on a gold thin film in epitaxy on a germanium support.
Noise Interference Impacts Simple and Choice Response Times during a Lower Extremity Cognitive–Motor Task
Authors: Chander Harish , McCrory Abbey , Chandler Sunny Jo , Freeny Seth , Griffith Aaron , Burch Reuben , Strawderman Lesley , Knight Adam C.
Published: January 2023

Cognitive performance is negatively affected by the presence of noise, which is seen as a distractor and a stressor, especially in hazardous occupational environments. The addition of musculoskeletal fatigue that commonly accompanies occupational work due to noise interruption can further elevate risk and compromise safety. The purpose of the study was to investigate the impact of both individual and a combination of noise interference and physical workload on simple and choice response time tasks. Sixteen healthy male and female participants (age: 20 ± 1 years; height: 169.48 ± 8.2 cm; weight: 67.93 ± 12.7 kg) performed a simple (SRT) and choice response task (CRT) with three Blazepod™ light response time systems by striking with the dominant lower extremity from a seated position while listening to noises from a construction site (65–85dB) through headphones. Participants then performed a low-intensity musculoskeletal fatigue task and completed the above measures again. Response times (RT) (ms) from three trials of SRT and CRT, both without and with noise interference, before (PRE) and after the workload (POST), were averaged, and a 2 (Noise) × 2 (workload) × 2 (task) repeated measure ANOVA and a 2 (Noise) × 2 (workload) repeated measure ANOVA were performed for SRT and CRT, respectively, using JASP at an alpha level of 0.05. Results revealed a significant interaction between workload task (p = 0.041), as well as a main effect significance for the workload (p = 0.007) and noise (p = 0.044). The main effect significance also existed for workload in SRT (p = 0.009) and for noise in CRT (p = 0.002). In SRT, RT was significantly faster during the POST fatigue measure, suggesting a possible cognitive arousal and a learning effect improvement rather than a negative fatigue effect. In both SRT and CRT, as well as individually in CRT, RT was significantly slower due to noise interruption, negatively impacting performance, especially in the more challenging CRT compared to SRT. Thus, findings from the current study suggest that the impact of noise interruption is significant when the complexity of the response task is greater, and the potential cognitive arousal due to the workload and potential learning effects may influence response time performances. Finally, a lower extremity cognitive–motor task demonstrates response time behavior similar to such upper extremity cognitive–motor tasks.
Learning Curve for Ultrasound Assessment of Myometrial Infiltration in Endometrial Cancer Visualizing Videoclips: Potential Implications for Training
Authors: Chacón Enrique , Marucco Julia , Martinez Irene , Monroy Alba , Laza Maria Victoria , Tomaizeh Aida , Pascual Maria Ángela , Guerriero Stefano , Alcázar Juan Luis
Published: January 2023

Background: Diagnostic accuracy for estimating myometrial infiltration by ultrasound in endometrial cancer requires experience. The objective of this study is to determine the learning curve (LC) for assessing myometrial infiltration in cases of endometrial cancer using transvaginal ultrasound (TVS). Methods: Five trainees (one staff radiologist and four fourth-year OB/GYN residents) participated in this study. All trainees had experience in performing TVS, but none of them had specific training on the assessment of myometrial infiltration. Trainees were given one specific lecture about the topic, and then they observed videoclips from 10 cases explained by the trainer. After this, all trainees visualized 45 videoclips of uterine ultrasound scans of endometrial cancer cases. The assessment of myometrial infiltration was based on the subjective impression. Definitive histology was used as a reference standard. Trainees stated whether myometrial infiltration was ≥50% or <50%. LC-CUSUM and standard CUSUM graphics were plotted to determine how many cases were needed to reach competence, allowing a mistake rate of 15%. Results: All trainees completed the study. LC-CUSUM graphics showed that three trainees reached competence at the 33rd, 35th and 36th case, respectively. All three of them kept the process under control after reaching competence. One trainee reached competence but did not maintain it in the cumulative analysis. One trainee did not reach competence. Conclusion: Our study suggests that 30–40 cases would be needed to be trained for assessing myometrial infiltration by TVS by visual interpretation of videoclips by most trainees.
Post-Dilatation of New-Generation Self-Expandable Transcatheter Aortic Valves Does Not Increase Atrioventricular Conduction Abnormalities
Authors: Massoullié Grégoire , Combaret Nicolas , Souteyrand Géraud , Salazard Jean Pascal , Pereira Bruno , Jean Frédéric , Motreff Pascal , Taghli-Lamallem Ouarda , Clerfond Guillaume , Eschalier Romain
Published: January 2023

The impact that post-dilatation has on the risk of experiencing conduction disorders after post-transcatheter aortic valve replacement with self-expanding valves (SE-TAVR) is unclear. We compared the rate of developing an atrioventricular (AV) high-grade conduction disorder and permanent pacemaker implantation (PPI) in post-TAVR patients undergoing post-dilatation. We enrolled patients with severe symptomatic calcified aortic stenosis (CAS) who were undergoing SE-TAVR between 1 January 2016, and 19 April 2019 at a single French center. Of the 532 patients treated with SE-TAVR, 417 subjects (78.4%) received Corevalve Evolute R and 115 subjects (21.6%) received the latest-generation Corevalve Evolute Pro valve. In total, 104/532 patients (19.5%; 21.6% with Evolute R vs. 12.2% with Evolute Pro, p = 0.024) required post-dilatation. Evolut R was associated with an increased risk of post-dilatation (odds ratio 2.1 (1.01–4.33, p = 0.046)). We did not observe any post-dilatation increases in AV or in intra- and interventricular conduction disorders. In total, 26.1% of participants needed PPI within the first 30 post-procedure days (p = 0.449). Post-dilatation was not associated with a higher PPI risk (subdistribution hazard ratio 1.033 (0.726–1.471); p = 0.857). No significant differences existed between the groups in terms of one-year mortality (10.3%; p = 0.507). Post-dilatation in SE-TAVR did not increase the rate of electrical conduction disorders and PPI in the early implantation phase. The latest generation of SE-TAVR valves was associated with less need for post-dilatation.
Complications during Pregnancy after Abdominal Burn Scars: A Review
Authors: van Gelder Zosha J. , Snoeks Annabel , van Zuijlen Paul P.M. , de Vries Ralph , Pijpe Anouk
Published: January 2023

Over the past decades, long-term sequelae of burns have gained increasing attention. Women of childbearing age, who sustained abdominal burns earlier in life, may have unmet information needs on scar-related complications they can expect during pregnancy. We performed a review of the literature to identify abdominal, foetal, and potential other complications during pregnancy in women with abdominal burn scars. PubMed, Embase, and Scopus were searched from inception to 1 July 2020 and updated once on 23 April 2021 (PROSPERO CRD42022187883). Main search terms included pregnancy, scar, burns, and abdominal. Studies on burns obtained during pregnancy have been excluded. Screening, data extraction and bias assessment were conducted by two investigators. We included 22 studies comprising 217 patients. The time between burn injury and first pregnancy varied between 7 and 32 years. Most of the women had normal pregnancies regarding delivery mode and duration of pregnancy. The most reported abdominal burn scar complications were an increased feeling of tightness, itch, pain, and scar breakdown. In some cases, scar release surgery was performed during or prior to pregnancy. Some cases of foetal complications were described. Complications during pregnancy after abdominal burn scars may be limited. More quantitative and qualitative research is needed to assess the maternal and foetal outcomes and complications. The results may be used to inform women and contribute to personalised obstetric management.
Emotional Exhaustion Variables in Trainee Teachers during the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Martínez-Líbano Jonathan , Yeomans María-Mercedes
Published: January 2023

Introduction: emotional exhaustion among trainee teachers is a relevant topic since it could have repercussions regarding the lives of their future pupils. Our objective was to determine the degree of trainee teachers’ emotional exhaustion and associated variables during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: the design was cross-sectional and descriptive. Questionnaires with sociodemographic variables, perceptions of mental health, and the Emotional Exhaustion Scale (ECE) (α = 0.890; ω = 0.893) validated for the Chilean context were answered by 204 trainee teachers. The results were analyzed using SPSS software version 25 and the Emotional Exhaustion Interpretation Table (EES-Int). Results: the results show that 92.2% of the trainee teachers presented a worsening in their mental health, stress (66.2%), irritability (38.2%), anxiety (37.7%), and depressive symptoms (32.8%). Online classes (73.04%) and the pandemic (67.6%) were the main influencing factors. Education students who perceived their mental health had worsened became 6.63 times more likely to develop emotional exhaustion [AOR = 6.63; 95% CI: 1.78, 24.69]. In addition, education students with a high perception of academic stress were 7.45 more likely to develop emotional exhaustion [AOR = 7.45; 95% CI: 1.98, 28.09]. Conclusion: we can conclude that trainee teachers have high levels of emotional exhaustion and their perception of their mental health and the academic stress they are being subjected to during the COVID-19 pandemic may lead them to present symptoms of frequent or permanent problems with concentration, attention, recall of information, dissatisfaction with their performance, and frequent learning difficulties. From the affective dimension, they present frequent or permanent anxiety, restlessness, irritability, indifference, low mood, and psychomatization. From the socio-interactional dimension, they present frequent or permanent social withdrawal, interpersonal problems, problems at work or school, and family and relationship problems. Increasing the sample to delve into emotional exhaustion by subject area is necessary. For future studies, research should be conducted on the causes of emotional exhaustion by subject area and the coping strategies of trainee teachers to understand differences and provide input on emotional support in practice.
TMD-BERT: A Transformer-Based Model for Transportation Mode Detection
Authors: Drosouli Ifigenia , Voulodimos Athanasios , Mastorocostas Paris , Miaoulis Georgios , Ghazanfarpour Djamchid
Published: January 2023

Aiming to differentiate various transportation modes and detect the means of transport an individual uses, is the focal point of transportation mode detection, one of the problems in the field of intelligent transport which receives the attention of researchers because of its interesting and useful applications. In this paper, we present TMD-BERT, a transformer-based model for transportation mode detection based on sensor data. The proposed transformer-based approach processes the entire sequence of data, understand the importance of each part of the input sequence and assigns weights accordingly, using attention mechanisms, to learn global dependencies in the sequence. The experimental evaluation shows the high performance of the model compared to the state of the art, demonstrating a prediction accuracy of 98.8%.
The Method for Identifying the Scope of Cyberattack Stages in Relation to Their Impact on Cyber-Sustainability Control over a System
Authors: Grigaliūnas Šarūnas , Brūzgienė Rasa , Venčkauskas Algimantas
Published: January 2023

Industry X.0 is the new age of digitization, when information and communication systems are strongly linked to other systems and processes and are accessed remotely from anywhere at any time. The existing information systems’ security methods are ineffective because they should focus on and assess a broader range of factors in physical and digital spaces, especially because tactics of cybercrimes are always evolving and attackers are getting more inventive in searching for holes that might be exploited. To fight it, it is a need to be one step ahead of the attacker, including understanding the nature, stages and scope of the upcoming cyberattack. The objective of our research is to identify the impact of the scope of a cyberattack’s stages on the cyber resilience of an information and communication system, assessing the level of cybersecurity based on existing technical and operational measures. The research methodology includes a numerical simulation, an analytical comparison and experimental validation. The achieved results allow for the identification of up to 18 attack stages based on the aggregation of technical and organizational security metrics and detection sources. The analytical comparison proved the proposed method to be 13% more effective in identifying the stage of a cyberattack and its scope. Based on this research, the extensive scoping flexibility of the proposed method will enable additional control measures and methods that would reduce the impact of an attack on the robustness while increasing the cyber-sustainability of a system.
A Novel Analytical Equivalent Circuit for Single-Sided Linear Induction Motors Considering Secondary Leakage Reactance
Authors: Gomes Daniel R. , Chabu Ivan E.
Published: January 2023

Single-sided linear induction motors usually appear in magnetic levitation systems of transportation. Since the beginning of such developments, edge effects represent one of the great challenges to overcome in analytical modelling. For almost four decades, in order to simplify the mathematical treatment of border effects, most analytical models have not considered the secondary leakage flux properly. Although concise and accurate in most cases, such approaches have deficiencies in slotted secondaries. This paper presents an analytical equivalent circuit that considers the secondary reactance for both edge effects, i.e., entry and exit sides. The proposed approach uses an analogical RLC circuit which describes the behavior of magnetizing (exit) and demagnetizing (entry) waves, as well as adapted correction factors for transverse effects. By means of an 8 pole/120–175 N prototype, the measured thrust and vertical forces remarkably validate the model for frequencies equal or higher than 60 Hz. The relevance of secondary reactance in such cases can be explained by accounting its influence, specially, in the rise of the demagnetizing entry wave.
Assessment of the Gross, Technical and Economic Potential of Region’s Solar Energy for Photovoltaic Energetics
Authors: Shepovalova Olga , Arbuzov Yuri , Evdokimov Vladimir , Ilyushin Pavel , Suslov Konstantin
Published: January 2023

A great number of factors determining the development of photovoltaics are associated with the assessment of possible volumes of solar energy use in correlation with the technical and economic characteristics of photovoltaic equipment. An appropriate assessment of solar energy potential that applies universally to any subsequent use option still remains a crucial task. This work is devoted to the assessment and analysis of the gross, technical and economic potentials of solar energy for photovoltaics. The smart analysis includes the basic program working in the context of connection to databases and to the programs used for determining required initial data or, as a limited option, in the context of full or partial initial data input by the user. Therefore, optimally, a smart network is formed, which for the purposes of obtaining the values of potentials, uses the most up-to-date values of initial data and other required information. This work sets out the tried and tested assessment program for the potentials of solar energy available in large and medium areas. The proposed approach to the analysis of solar energy potential in a region makes it possible to secure a high degree of assessment reliability which can be used for more detailed calculations, including the potentials analysis for a specific point on the ground or a specific type of PV system.
Experimental and Numerical Analysis of Temperature Reduction Potentials in the Heating Supply of an Unrenovated University Building
Authors: Sauerwein David , Fitzgerald Niall , Kuhn Christoph
Published: January 2023

Lowering the temperatures in heating systems is the key to decarbonizing the heat supply in the building sector, because it is a door opener to greater integration of renewable heat, the use of excess heat and to improve compatibility for heat pumps. This often fails because heating systems, especially in unrenovated building stock, usually require high supply temperatures. Previous studies on temperature reduction in existing buildings are performed mainly numerically, whereas in this research the numeric calculations are validated by measurements. For this purpose, a demonstrator with two different ceiling heating systems is integrated in the listed architecture building of the Technical University of Darmstadt and the achievable temperature reduction is investigated. Based on this, parameter variations are conducted through a simulation model in order to test the feasibility of the concept for the entire building. The results show that even with an unrenovated building envelope, a significant temperature reduction to below 45 °C is possible without exceeding the normative limits of thermal comfort. With moderate building envelope renovation, the reduction is possible even to below 36 °C. The measures investigated can make the building compatible with renewable heat potentials without negative impacts on the cultural heritage.
A Mathematical Programming Approach for the Optimal Operation of Storage Systems, Photovoltaic and Wind Power Generation
Authors: da Silva Diego Jose , Belati Edmarcio Antonio , López-Lezama Jesús M.
Published: January 2023

The ever-growing participation of Renewable Energy Sources (RES) in modern distribution networks is replacing an important portion of Conventional Generation (CG), which brings along new challenges in the planning and operation of distribution grids. As RES such as Photovoltaic Energy (PV) and Wind Power Generation (WPG) increase in distribution networks, studies regarding their integration and coordination become more important. In this context, the purpose of this paper is to propose a Multi-period Optimal Power Flow (MOPF) model for the optimal coordination of Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESSs) with PV, WPG, and CG in modern distribution networks. The model formulation was developed in A Modeling Language for Mathematical Programming (AMPL) and solved through the Knitro solver within a time horizon of 24 h. A distinctive feature and one of the main contributions of the proposed approach is the fact that BESSs can provide both active and reactive power. The proposed optimization model reduces power losses and improves voltage profiles. To show the applicability and effectiveness of the proposed model, several tests were carried out on the 33-bus distribution test system and a real distribution system of 141 buses located in the metropolitan area of Caracas. Power loss reductions of up to 58.4% and 77% for the test systems of 33 and 141 buses were obtained, respectively, when BESSs provided both active and reactive power. The results allow us to conclude that the proposed model for optimal coordination of BESSs with RES is suitable for real-life applications, resulting in important reductions of power losses and flattening of voltage profiles.