bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Underwater Bending Actuator Based on Integrated Anisotropic Textile Materials and a Conductive Hydrogel Electrode
Authors: Pfeil Sascha , Mieting Alice , Grün Rebecca , Katzer Konrad , Mersch Johannes , Breitkopf Cornelia , Zimmermann Martina , Gerlach Gerald
Published: October 2021

Electroactive polymers (EAPs), especially dielectric elastomer actuators (DEAs), belong to a very promising and emerging class of functional materials. While DEAs are mostly utilized to rely on carbon-based electrodes, there are certain shortcomings of the use of carbon electrodes in the field of soft robotics. In this work we present a fish-like bending structure to serve as possible propulsion element, completely avoiding carbon-based electrodes. The presented robot is moving under water, using a particularly tailored conductive hydrogel as inner electrode and a highly anisotropic textile material to manipulate the bending behavior of the robot. The charge separation to drive two DEAs on the outsides of the robot is provided by the conductive hydrogel while the surrounding water serves as counter electrode. To characterize the hydrogel, tensile tests and impedance spectroscopy are used as measurement methods of choice. The performance of the robot was evaluated using a digital image correlation (DIC) measurement for its bending deflections under water. The developed fish-like robot was able to perform a dynamic bending movement, based on a tri-stable actuator setup. The performed measurements underpin the sufficient characteristics for an underwater application of conductive hydrogel electrodes as well as the applicability of the robotic concept for under water actuations.
Gliding Arc Plasma Treatment of Maize (Zea mays L.) Grains Promotes Seed Germination and Early Growth, Affecting Hormone Pools, but Not Significantly Photosynthetic Parameters
Authors: Šerá Božena , Vanková Radomíra , Roháček Karel , Šerý Michal
Published: October 2021

Maize grains (Zea mays convar. Indentata Sturt.) were treated with non-thermal plasma, where Gliding Arc plasma discharge at an atmospheric pressure was used (working gas: Air; time duration: 0 s, 180 s, 300 s, 600 s). The experiment was conducted at a temperature of 18 °C, light/dark 12/12 h, and a light intensity of 100 µmol/m2s. Seed germination, seedling growth, photosynthetic parameters, and hormone (abscisic acid, jasmonic acid, salicylic acid, indole-3-acetic acid, and cytokinin) contents were measured. The highest stimulation of seed germination (to 141%), root length (to 221%), shoot length (to 298%), and root weight (to 122%) in comparison with the control was recorded after Gliding Arc plasma treatment for 600 s. The photochemical and non-photochemical Chl fluorescence parameters were not significantly affected by Gliding Arc plasma treatment. In contrast, hormonal pools in maize were significantly affected. The short-term plasma treatment (180 s) was associated with a decrease in the stress hormones abscisic acid, salicylic acid, jasmonic acid, and jasmonate isoleucine, while indole-3-acetic acid and cytokinin precursors were elevated. Longer-term treatment (300 s, 600 s) had an opposite effect—an elevation of abscisic acid, jasmonic acid, and jasmonate isoleucine as well as active cytokinins. The content of auxin decreased. Gliding plasma treatment may significantly affect maize physiology, dependent on the treatment duration.
Assessing a Removable Mini-Lysimeter for Monitoring Crop Evapotranspiration Using a Well-Established Large Weighing Lysimeter: A Case Study for Barley and Potato
Authors: López-Urrea Ramón , Pardo José Jesús , Simón Llanos , Martínez-Romero Ángel , Montoya Francisco , Tarjuelo José María , Domínguez Alfonso
Published: October 2021

Further research is required on the measurement of crop evapotranspiration (ETc) to produce new or updated crop coefficients for a large number of crops using accurate weighing lysimeters. However, large weighing lysimeters are sometimes expensive and are not portable, and different prototypes of small-sized lysimeters may be a feasible alternative. This study evaluated the performance of a removable mini-lysimeter model to measure ETc and derive crop coefficients using a long-established large precision weighing lysimeter over a two-year period. The study was conducted during the 2017 and 2018 barley and potato growing seasons, respectively, at a lysimeter facility located in Albacete (southeast Spain). ETc values were determined using daily mass change in the lysimeters. Irrigation was managed to avoid any water stress. In the barley season, the mini-lysimeter underestimated the seasonal ETc by 2%, the resulting errors in barley ETc estimation were an MBE of −0.070 mm d−1 and an RMSE of ±0.289 mm d−1. In the potato season, the mini-lysimeter overestimated the cumulative ETc by 5%, the resulting errors in potato ETc measurement were an MBE of 0.222 mm d−1 and an RMSE of ±0.497 mm d−1. The goodness of fit indicators showed a good agreement between the large and mini-lysimeter barley and potato ETc measurements at daily time step. Single (Kc) and dual crop coefficients (Kcb, crop transpiration + Ke, soil evaporation) were derived from the lysimeter measurements, the grass reference evapotranspiration (ETo) and the FAO56 dual Kc approach; after temperate standard climate adjustment, mid-season values were Kc mid (std) = 1.05 and Kcb mid (std) = 1.00 for barley; and Kc mid (std) = 1.06 and Kcb mid (std) = 1.02 for potato. The good agreement found between Kcb values and fc will allow barley and potato water requirements to be accurately estimated.
Platelet-Rich Plasma for the Treatment of Degenerative Lumbosacral Stenosis: A Study with Retired Working Dogs
Authors: Hernández-Guerra Ángel María , Carrillo José María , Sopena Joaquín Jesús , Vilar José Manuel , Peláez Pau , Cuervo Belén , Santana Angelo , Rubio Mónica
Published: October 2021

Traditionally, canine degenerative lumbosacral stenosis (DLS) has been defined as a multifactorial syndrome characterized by lumbosacral pain triggered by the compression of the nerve rootlets of the cauda equina. There is still no consensus on the treatment of this condition, probably because there are a plethora of possible causes. In addition to compression, inflammation is a very important factor in the physiopathology of the disorder. Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) consists of an increased concentration of autologous platelets suspended in a small amount of plasma. Platelets are a source of several growth factors. Growth factors were shown to help in wound healing and biological processes, such as chemotaxis, neovascularization and synthesis of extracellular matrix, and growth factors were used to improve soft tissue healing and bone regeneration. PRP also facilitates the restoration of the structural integrity of the affected anatomy. Fourteen dogs diagnosed with DLS were treated with three epidural injections of PRP on days 0, 15 and 45. All dogs showed clinical improvement 3 months after the initial treatment. Gait was also objectively assessed by means of the use of force platform analysis before and after treatment, showing significant improvement. The results show that PRP may provide a good alternative to other nonsurgical treatments, such as prednisolone epidural injection.
Ventriculitis: Infection or Inflammation
Authors: Ramanan Mahesh , Shorr Andrew , Lipman Jeffrey
Published: October 2021

Ventriculitis, or infection of the cerebrospinal fluid, in the presence of external ventricular drains (EVD), is an important complication and associated with substantial mortality, morbidity, and healthcare costs. Further, the conditions that require the insertion of an EVD, such as neurotrauma and subarachnoid hemorrhage, are themselves associated with inflammation of the cerebrospinal fluid. Phenotypically, patients with inflammation of the cerebrospinal fluid can present with very similar symptoms, signs, and laboratory findings to those with infection. This review examines various controversies relating to the definitions, diagnosis, challenges of differentiating infection from inflammation, prevention, and treatment of ventriculitis in patients with EVDs.
Resurgence of Chloramphenicol Resistance in Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Due to the Acquisition of a Variant Florfenicol Exporter (fexAv)-Mediated Chloramphenicol Resistance in Kuwait Hospitals
Authors: Udo Edet E. , Boswihi Samar S. , Mathew Bindu , Noronha Bobby , Verghese Tina
Published: October 2021

Following a surge in the prevalence of chloramphenicol-resistant methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in Kuwait hospitals, this study investigated the genotypes and antibiotic resistance of the chloramphenicol-resistant isolates to ascertain whether they represented new or a resurgence of sporadic endemic clones. Fifty-four chloramphenicol-resistant MRSA isolates obtained in 2014–2015 were investigated. Antibiotic resistance was tested by disk diffusion and MIC determination. Molecular typing was performed using spa typing, multilocus sequence typing, and DNA microarray. Curing and transfer experiments were used to determine the genetic location of resistance determinants. All 54 isolates were resistant to chloramphenicol (MIC: 32–56 mg/L) but susceptible to florfenicol. Two chloramphenicol-resistance determinants, florfenicol exporter (fexA) and chloramphenicol acetyl transferase (cat), were detected. The fexA-positive isolates belonged to CC5-ST627-VI-t688/t450/t954 (n = 45), CC5-ST5-V-t688 (n = 6), whereas the cat-positives isolates were CC8-ST239-III-t037/t860 (n = 3). While cat was carried on 3.5–4.4 kb plasmids, the location of fexA could not be established. DNA sequencing of fexA revealed 100% sequence similarity to a previously reported fexA variant that confers chloramphenicol but not florfenicol resistance. The resurgence of chloramphenicol resistance was due to the introduction and spread of closely related fexA-positive CC5-ST5-V and CC5-ST627-VI clones.
Salvianolic Acid C Protects against Cisplatin-Induced Acute Kidney Injury through Attenuation of Inflammation, Oxidative Stress and Apoptotic Effects and Activation of the CaMKK–AMPK–Sirt1-Associated Signaling Pathway in Mouse Models
Authors: Chien Liang-Hsuan , Wu Chien-Ta , Deng Jeng-Shyan , Jiang Wen-Ping , Huang Wen-Chin , Huang Guan-Jhong
Published: October 2021

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a sudden reduction in kidney activity and has a high mortality rate. Salvianolic acid C (SAC), one of the main polyphenolic components of Salvia miltiorrhiza, displays significant pharmacologically active effects. An animal model of cisplatin-induced kidney injury was used to study the potential of SAC to improve AKI. First, SAC was administered intraperitoneally in mice for 10 consecutive days, and then cisplatin was administered intraperitoneally on day 7 to establish a nephrotoxicity mouse model. SAC mitigated renal histological changes, blood creatinine (CRE) and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) production and the levels of inflammatory mediators in the cisplatin-induced AKI. Furthermore, malondialdehyde (MDA) levels were reduced and glutathione (GSH) was increased after intraperitoneal injection (i.p.) administration of SAC. In addition, based on Western blot data, SAC reduced the expression of inducible NO synthase (iNOS), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) activation in mouse renal tissues. Finally, SAC diminished the level of TLR-4 expression and enhanced the production of several antioxidative enzymes (superoxidase dismutase (SOD1), glutathione peroxidase (GPx3), catalase, nuclear-factor-erythroid-2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) and heme oxygenase 1 (HO-1)), Sirtuin 1 (Sirt1), p-AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) and p-Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase kinase (CaMKK). In addition, Sirt1 inhibition (EX 527) inverted the effect of SAC against cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity. Collectively, SAC provides a therapeutic target with promising clinical potential after cisplatin treatment by attenuating oxidative stress and inflammation.
Erratum: Altomare et al. In-Depth AGE and ALE Profiling of Human Albumin in Heart Failure: Ex Vivo Studies. Antioxidants 2021, 10, 358
Authors: Altomare Alessandra , Baron Giovanna , Balbinot Marta , Martínez Fernández Alma , Pedretti Alessandro , Zoanni Beatrice , Brioschi Maura , Agostoni Piergiuseppe , Carini Marina , Banfi Cristina , Aldini Giancarlo
Published: October 2021

The authors of this paper [...]
CT-Video Matching for Retrograde Intrarenal Surgery Based on Depth Prediction and Style Transfer
Authors: Lei Honglin , Pan Yanqi , Yu Tao , Fu Zuoming , Zhang Chongan , Zhang Xinsen , Wang Peng , Liu Jiquan , Ye Xuesong , Duan Huilong
Published: October 2021

Retrograde intrarenal surgery (RIRS) is a minimally invasive endoscopic procedure for the treatment of kidney stones. Traditionally, RIRS is usually performed by reconstructing a 3D model of the kidney from preoperative CT images in order to locate the kidney stones; then, the surgeon finds and removes the stones with experience in endoscopic video. However, due to the many branches within the kidney, it can be difficult to relocate each lesion and to ensure that all branches are searched, which may result in the misdiagnosis of some kidney stones. To avoid this situation, we propose a convolutional neural network (CNN)-based method for matching preoperative CT images and intraoperative videos for the navigation of ureteroscopic procedures. First, a pair of synthetic images and depth maps reflecting preoperative information are obtained from a 3D model of the kidney. Then, a style transfer network is introduced to transfer the ureteroscopic images to the synthetic images, which can generate the associated depth maps. Finally, the fusion and matching of depth maps of preoperative images and intraoperative video images are realized based on semantic features. Compared with the traditional CT-video matching method, our method achieved a five times improvement in time performance and a 26% improvement in the top 10 accuracy.
Probiotic Characterization and Population Diversity Analysis of Gut-Associated Pediococcus acidilactici for Its Potential Use in the Dairy Industry
Authors: Kanwal Hafsa , Di Cerbo Alessandro , Zulfiqar Freeha , Sabia Carla , Nawaz Amara , Siddiqui Fariha Masood , Aqeel Muhammad , Ghazanfar Shakira
Published: October 2021

In recent years, gut-tailored probiotics have been proven to be beneficial for host health. Probiotic strains such as lactic acid bacteria (LAB) are known to exhibit antimicrobial activity, acting as natural substitutes for the regulation of foodborne pathogens. In the present study, a complete analysis, isolation, biochemical characterization, and molecular identification of Pediococcus acidilactici (NMCC-11) from Nili Ravi water buffalo (Bubalis bubalis) gut was carried out. NMCC-11 showed the best enzymatic potential, antimicrobial activity against known pathogenic strains, and survivability at a wide pH range (pH 4–pH 6) out of all isolates. The isolates were screened for their antimicrobial activity against the five most infectious microbes such as Escherichia coli (ATCC 8739), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (ATCC9027), Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC6538), Listeria monocytogenes (ATCC13932), and Bacillus cereus (ATCC 11778) using the agar-well diffusion method. Moreover, after NMCC-11 isolation, a comparative diversity analysis against a variety of other randomly selected strains from around the world was carried out using R software. This study showed relatively low genetic diversity, which also contributed to the claim of the stability of this probiotic strain and its potential use as a starter culture and feed probiotic in the dairy industry. However, further studies are certainly warranted to determine its optimal dosage, time frame, and intake frequency.
Comprehensive Analysis of Housing Estate Infrastructure in Relation to the Passability of Firefighting Equipment
Authors: Vrtal Pavel , Kohout Tomáš , Nováček Jakub , Svatý Zdeněk
Published: October 2021

The article focuses on the assessment and evaluation of the passability in densely populated parts of cities with multi-storey housing estates, in terms of the operation of the integrated rescue system (IRS) in the Czech Republic. The aim of the research is to minimize the arrival times to conduct the intervention as efficiently as possible. The presented problem is caused by unsystematic development of housing estates and the emergence of secondary problems in the form of inability to reach the place of intervention by the larger IRS vehicles. The vision presented in this document presents a systematic approach to improve the serviceability of individual blocks of flats. The main aim is to ensure passability, even for the largest equipment, such as fire engine ladders. Detailed mapping of the selected sites by drones, construction of their digital model, and subsequent virtual verification of the passability by specific vehicle models on identified access roads was performed. The results obtained by this procedure can then be implemented in the navigation of the fire safety forces and facilitate their arrival at the site of intervention. At the end, specific ways are presented in which the whole system can be modified to be able to intuitively change and choose individual access routes in real time, based on the current situation in the area.
Chemical State Mapping of p/n-Controlled SrB6 Bulk Specimens by Soft X-ray Emission Electron Microscope
Authors: Terauchi Masami , Sato Yohei K. , Takeda Masatoshi
Published: October 2021

Elemental and chemical state maps of p/n-controlled SrB6 bulk specimens are presented by using a soft X-ray emission spectroscopy electron microscope. Those bulk specimens were obtained by sintering powder specimens, prepared by the molten-salt method with different compositions of initial materials. A Sr-map, a chemical shift map of B K-emission, and the spectra of characteristic regions of those materials were compared. It was observed that a local Sr deficiency caused a local hole-doped region, confirmed by a chemical shift in the B K-emission spectrum. n-type SrB6 was rather homogeneous. On the other hand, the p-type SrB6 bulk specimen was a mixture of two different p-type regions. This mixed nature originated, presumably, from an uneven Sr content of SrB6 particles prepared by the molten-salt method using a Sr-deficient starting material. A separation process of the two types of materials will realize a high-quality homogeneous p-type SrB6 bulk specimens.
A Holistic Quality Assurance Approach for Machine Learning Applications in Cyber-Physical Production Systems
Authors: Wiemer Hajo , Dementyev Alexander , Ihlenfeldt Steffen
Published: October 2021

With the trend of increasing sensors implementation in production systems and comprehensive networking, essential preconditions are becoming required to be established for the successful application of data-driven methods of equipment monitoring, process optimization, and other relevant automation tasks. As a protocol, these tasks should be performed by engineers. Engineers usually do not have enough experience with data mining or machine learning techniques and are often skeptical about the world of artificial intelligence (AI). Quality assurance of AI results and transparency throughout the IT chain are essential for the acceptance and low-risk dissemination of AI applications in production and automation technology. This article presents a conceptual method of the stepwise and level-wise control and improvement of data quality as one of the most important sources of AI failures. The appropriate process model (V-model for quality assurance) forms the basis for this.
Anti-Bacterial Action of Plasma Multi-Jets in the Context of Chronic Wound Healing
Authors: Maho Thomas , Binois Raphaelle , Brulé-Morabito Fabienne , Demasure Maryvonne , Douat Claire , Dozias Sébastien , Escot Bocanegra Pablo , Goard Isabelle , Hocqueloux Laurent , Le Helloco Claire , Orel Inna , Pouvesle Jean-Michel , Prazuck Thierry , Stancampiano Augusto , Tocaben Clément , Robert Eric
Published: October 2021

This work is a contribution to the development and implementation of non-thermal plasma technology for decontamination in the perspective of nosocomial and chronic wound innovative therapies. Multi jets devices based on Plasma Gun® technology in static and scanning operation modes and bacterial lawns inoculated with resistant and non-resistant bacterial strains were designed and used. A pilot toxicity study exploring plasma treatment of wound bearing patients, performed with a low voltage plasma applicator, is documented as a first step for the translation of in vitro experiments to clinical care. Bacterial inactivation was demonstrated for Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and drug resistant S. aureus, P. aeruginosa and Escherichia Coli strains collected from patient wounds at Orleans (France) hospital. A few square centimeter large contaminated samples were inactivated following a single plasma exposure as short as one minute. Samples inoculated with a single but also a mix of three resistant pathogens were successfully inactivated not only right after their contamination but for mature lawns as well. Similar bactericidal action was demonstrated for antibiotic-resistant and non-resistant P. aeruginosa. The time exposure dependent increase of the inhibition spots, following multi jets exposure, is discussed as either the accumulation of reactive species or the likely combinatory action of both the reactive species and transient electric field delivery on inoculated samples.
Method and Test Course for the Evaluation of Industrial Exoskeletons
Authors: Ralfs Lennart , Hoffmann Niclas , Weidner Robert
Published: October 2021

In recent years, the trend for implementing exoskeletons in industrial workplaces has significantly increased. A variety of systems have been developed to support different tasks, body parts, and movements. As no standardized procedure for evaluating industrial exoskeletons is currently available, conducted laboratory and field tests with different setups and methodologies aim to provide evidence of, e.g., the support for selected isolated activities. Accordingly, a comparison between exoskeletons and their workplace applicability proves to be challenging. In order to address this issue, this paper presents a generic method and modular test course for evaluating industrial exoskeletons: First, the seven-phase model proposes steps for the comprehensive evaluation of exoskeletons. Second, the test course comprises a quick check of the system’s operational requirements as well as workstations for an application-related evaluation of exoskeletons’ (short-term) effects. Due to the vastness and heterogeneity of possible application scenarios, the test course offers a pool of modular configurable stations or tasks, and thus enables a guided self-evaluation for different protagonists. Finally, several exemplary exoskeletons supporting varying body regions passed the test course to evaluate and reflect its representativity and suitability as well as to derive discernible trends regarding the applicability and effectiveness of exoskeleton types.
Research Advances and Application Prospect of Low-Temperature Plasma in Tumor Immunotherapy
Authors: Wang Xiangni , Shi Xingmin , Zhang Guanjun
Published: October 2021

As an emerging technology, low-temperature plasma (LTP) is widely used in medical fields such as sterilization, wound healing, stomatology, and cancer treatment. Great achievements have been made in tumor therapy. In vitro and in vivo studies have shown that LTP has anti-tumor effects, and LTP is selective to tumor cells. Studies in recent years have found that LTP can activate dendritic cells (DC), macrophages, T cells, and other immune cells to achieve anti-tumor effects. This paper reviews the current status of tumor immunotherapy, the application of LTP in antitumor therapy, the activation of antitumor immunity by LTP, the possible mechanism of LTP in antitumor immunity, and meanwhile analyses the prospect of applying LTP in tumor immunotherapy.
Minimally Invasive Metatarsal Osteotomies (MIMOs) for the Treatment of Plantar Diabetic Forefoot Ulcers (PDFUs): A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis with Meta-Regressions
Authors: Biz Carlo , Belluzzi Elisa , Crimì Alberto , Bragazzi Nicola Luigi , Nicoletti Pietro , Mori Fabiana , Ruggieri Pietro
Published: October 2021

Plantar Diabetic Foot Ulcers (PDFUs) are frequent injuries affecting and heavily limiting the quality of life in diabetic patients. PDFUs can be treated both conservatively (with a high recurrence rate) or surgically (with a high rate of complication). Recently, minimally invasive surgery (MIS), performed by small incisions, has been increasingly applied on diabetic feet due to their encouraging outcomes and low complication rate. This systematic review with meta-analysis and meta-regression aims to evaluate for the first time the effectiveness of minimally invasive metatarsal osteotomies (MIMOs) in treating PDFUs and reducing their recurrence rate. A literature search of PubMed/MEDLINE, ISI/Web of Science and Scopus databases was carried out with the keywords “(metatarsal osteotom*) OR (metatarsal AND osteotom*) AND diabet* AND (feet OR foot OR forefoot) AND ulcer”, covering the period from 1980 until June 2021 following PRISMA guidelines. The JBI critical appraisal tool was used for Quality Assessment. Healing rate/time, infection rate, recurrence rate, non-union rate and complication rate were evaluated. When possible, these values were pooled and expressed in effect size (ES), and their 95% confidence interval (CI) was computed. Meta-regression analysis (both uni- and multivariate) was conducted. Eight studies were included in the review, including 189 patients. The healing rate of these studies ranged between 55.1 and 100%, infection rate from 3.3 to 31.8%, recurrence rate from 0.0% and 13.6% and non-union rate from 4.5–30.0%. Overall complication rate was reported in three studies and ranged from 44.9 to 68.2%. Meta-analysis of the various rates revealed an overall healing rate of 91.9% (range from 74.9 to 97.8%), infection rate of 10.9% (4.2–25.2%), recurrence rate 7.2% (3.6–14.2%), non-union rate 16.9% (10.2–26.7%) and finally, the complication rate was computed at 53.2%. Satisfactory short- to medium-term clinical and radiographic results were reported by the studies included in this review, supporting that MIMOs represent an effective surgical approach to treat PDFUs. However, poor quality in the methodology of some studies and the lack of long-term data were reported. Therefore, randomized controlled trials, prospective studies and long-term follow-up studies are needed.
RT-SPeeDet: Real-Time IP–CNN-Based Small Pit Defect Detection for Automatic Film Manufacturing Inspection
Authors: Ban Geunwoo , Yoo Joonhyuk
Published: October 2021

Pits are defects that occur during the film manufacturing process; they appear in the micrometer scale, which makes distinguishing them with the human eye difficult. Existing defect detectors have poor recognition rates for small objects or require a considerable amount of time. To resolve these problems, we propose a real-time small pit defect detector (RT-SPeeDet), a two-stage detection model based on an image processing and convolutional neural network (IP–CNN) approach. The proposed method predicts boundary boxes using a lightweight image-processing algorithm optimized for pit defects, and applies binary classification to the predicted regions; thus, simultaneously simplifying the problem and achieving real-time processing speed, unlike existing detection methods that rely on CNN-based detectors for both boundary box prediction and classification. RT-SPeeDet uses lightweight image processing operations to extract pit defect candidate region image patches from high-resolution images. These patches are then passed through a CNN-based binary classifier to detect small pit defects at a real-time processing speed of less than 0.5 s. In addition, we propose a multiple feature map synthesis method that enhances the features of pit defects, enabling efficient detection of faint pit defects, which are particularly difficult to detect.
Performance Improvement in a Wavy Twisted Rudder by Alignment of the Wave Peak
Authors: Shin Yong-Jin , Kim Moon-Chan , Kang Jin-Gu , Kim Jin-Wook
Published: October 2021

An improved wavy twisted rudder (WTR) is proposed based on a previous study. The misalignment of the wavy and propeller centers and the computational work of the previous study are supplemented to determine the effectiveness of the developed wavy twisted rudder. The aligned wavy twisted rudder (AWTR) was also applied to a KRISO container ship (KCS). The resistance, self-propulsion performance, and rudder forces due to the angular variation in the WTR and AWTR were compared using computational fluid dynamics (CFD). The numerical results were compared with the experimental results. The self-propulsion performance of the AWTR was superior to that of the WTR, with an efficiency gain of approximately 0.3% in both the model test and numerical analyses. The effectiveness of the AWTR was demonstrated using CFD; the CFD improved for the WTR in comparison with a conventional twisted rudder, especially at large rudder angles. The stall point of the AWTR was approximately 5° greater than that of the WTR in both directions. The results confirm the superiority of the AWTR in terms of its delayed stall and high lift-to-drag ratio, which was investigated by visualizing the streamline around the rudder. The actual maneuverability, such as the turning circle, realized with AWTR shall be compared with that realized with a WTR and conventional TR in the near future.
A Low-Complexity Volterra Filtered-Error LMS Algorithm with a Kronecker Product Decomposition
Authors: Zhang Jinhui , Zheng Chengshi , Zhang Fangjie , Li Xiaodong
Published: October 2021

Nonlinear active control is very important in many practical applications. Many well-known nonlinear active noise control algorithms may suffer from high computational complexity and low convergence speed, especially in the nonlinear secondary path case. Thus, it is still an actively researched topic for reducing complexity and improving the convergence rate. This paper presents a low-complexity Volterra filtered-error least mean square algorithm when taking a decomposable Volterra model into account for active control of nonlinear noise processes, which is referred as DVMFELMS. The computational complexity analysis shows that the proposed DVMFELMS algorithm can significantly reduce the nonlinear active noise control system’s complexity. The simulation results further show that the proposed algorithm can achieve promising performance compared with the Volterra-based FELMS algorithm and other state-of-the-art nonlinear filters, while the decomposable error of the Volterra kernel may be introduced inevitably. Moreover, the proposed DVMFELMS algorithm shows a better convergence rate in the broadband primary noise case due to fewer parameters used in each sub-filter.
Hyperbaric Oxygen Treatment—From Mechanisms to Cognitive Improvement
Authors: Gottfried Irit , Schottlender Nofar , Ashery Uri
Published: October 2021

Hyperbaric oxygen treatment (HBOT)—the medical use of oxygen at environmental pressure greater than one atmosphere absolute—is a very effective therapy for several approved clinical situations, such as carbon monoxide intoxication, incurable diabetes or radiation-injury wounds, and smoke inhalation. In recent years, it has also been used to improve cognition, neuro-wellness, and quality of life following brain trauma and stroke. This opens new avenues for the elderly, including the treatment of neurological and neurodegenerative diseases and improvement of cognition and brain metabolism in cases of mild cognitive impairment. Alongside its integration into clinics, basic research studies have elucidated HBOT’s mechanisms of action and its effects on cellular processes, transcription factors, mitochondrial function, oxidative stress, and inflammation. Therefore, HBOT is becoming a major player in 21st century research and clinical treatments. The following review will discuss the basic mechanisms of HBOT, and its effects on cellular processes, cognition, and brain disorders.
Prevalence and Management of Alkyl-Methoxypyrazines in a Changing Climate: Viticultural and Oenological Considerations
Authors: Pickering Gary J. , Willwerth Jim , Botezatu Andreea , Thibodeau Margaret
Published: October 2021

Alkyl-methoxypyrazines are an important class of odor-active molecules that contribute green, ‘unripe’ characters to wine and are considered undesirable in most wine styles. They are naturally occurring grape metabolites in many cultivars, but can also be derived from some Coccinellidae species when these ‘ladybugs’ are inadvertently introduced into the must during harvesting operations. The projected impacts of climate change are discussed, and we conclude that these include an altered alkyl-methoxypyrazine composition in grapes and wines in many wine regions. Thus, a careful consideration of how to manage them in both the vineyard and winery is important and timely. This review brings together the relevant literatures on viticultural and oenological interventions aimed at mitigating alkyl-methoxypyrazine loads, and makes recommendations on their management with an aim to maintaining wine quality under a changing and challenging climate.
Cell-Free Protein Synthesis by Diversifying Bacterial Transcription Machinery
Authors: Snapyan Marina , Robin Sylvain , Yeretssian Garabet , Lecocq Michèle , Marc Frédéric , Sakanyan Vehary
Published: October 2021

We have evaluated several approaches to increase protein synthesis in a cell-free coupled bacterial transcription and translation system. A strong pargC promoter, originally isolated from a moderate thermophilic bacterium Geobacillus stearothermophilus, was used to improve the performance of a cell-free system in extracts of Escherichia coli BL21 (DE3). A stimulating effect on protein synthesis was detected with extracts prepared from recombinant cells, in which the E. coli RNA polymerase subunits α, β, β’ and ω are simultaneously coexpressed. Appending a 3′ UTR genomic sequence and a T7 transcription terminator to the protein-coding region also improves the synthetic activity of some genes from linear DNA. The E. coli BL21 (DE3) rna::Tn10 mutant deficient in a periplasmic RNase I was constructed. The mutant cell-free extract increases by up to four-fold the expression of bacterial and human genes mediated from both bacterial pargC and phage pT7 promoters. By contrast, the RNase E deficiency does not affect the cell-free expression of the same genes. The regulatory proteins of the extremophilic bacterium Thermotoga, synthesized in a cell-free system, can provide the binding capacity to target DNA regions. The advantageous characteristics of cell-free systems described open attractive opportunities for high-throughput screening assays.
Mass Timber Envelopes in Passivhaus Buildings: Designing for Moisture Safety in Hot and Humid Australian Climates
Authors: Strang Marcus , Leardini Paola , Brambilla Arianna , Gasparri Eugenia
Published: October 2021

The uptake of buildings employing cross-laminated timber (CLT) assemblies and designed to Passivhaus standard has accelerated internationally over the past two decades due to several factors including responses to the climate crisis by decarbonising the building stock. Structural CLT technology and the Passivhaus certification both show measurable benefits in reducing energy consumption, while contributing to durability and indoor comfort. However, there is a general lack of evidence to support a fast uptake of these technologies in Australia. This paper responds to the compelling need of providing quantitative data and adoption strategies; it explores their combined application as a potential pathway for climate-appropriate design of energy-efficient and durable mass timber envelope solutions for subtropical and tropical Australian climates. Hygrothermal risk assessments of interstitial condensation and mould growth of CLT wall assemblies inform best-practice design of mass timber buildings in hot and humid climates. This research found that the durability of mass timber buildings located in hot and humid climates may benefit from implementing the Passivhaus standard to manage interior conditions. The findings also suggested that climate-specific design of the wall assembly is critical for mass timber buildings, in conjunction with excellent stormwater management practices during construction and corrosion protection for metallic fasteners.
The Framework of Technical Evaluation Indicators for Constructing Low-Carbon Communities in China
Authors: Bai Yifei , Zhang Weirong , Yang Xiu , Wei Shen , Yu Yang
Published: October 2021

In recent years, in order to promote the construction of low-carbon communities (LCCs) in China, many scholars have proposed an evaluation indicator system of LCC. The existing indicator systems are mostly established from the macro perspective of environmental impact and resource conservation, but few are from the micro technical perspective. Thus, the aim of this study is to construct a micro technical evaluation indicator system for LCCs. Firstly, the index system was divided into three categories: low-carbon building, low-carbon transportation, and low-carbon environment. Then, the technical indicators were selected through empirical analysis. The indicator weights were assigned by the improved analytic hierarchy process (AHP) and the multi-level fuzzy comprehensive evaluation method was used as the evaluation method of the indicators. Finally, in order to examine the practicality of the indicator system, two typical communities in Tianjin and Shanghai were selected as case studies. The results showed that the indicator system gave a reasonable low-carbon level for the two communities, which was in line with the actual low-carbon construction status of each community. In addition, the evaluation results pointed out that the low-carbon community (LCC) in Tianjin needs to further strengthen the construction of the low-carbon environment, including community compactness, rainwater collection and utilization, and waste recycling. For the LCC in Shanghai, it was pointed out that the construction of the low-carbon building and low-carbon transportation needs to be strengthened. The indicator system can be used as a tool for urban planning and construction personnel to evaluate the construction progress and low-carbon degree of LCC.
Integrative Metabolomics Reveals Deep Tissue and Systemic Metabolic Remodeling in Glioblastoma
Authors: Gilard Vianney , Ferey Justine , Marguet Florent , Fontanilles Maxime , Ducatez Franklin , Pilon Carine , Lesueur Céline , Pereira Tony , Basset Carole , Schmitz-Afonso Isabelle , Di Fioré Frédéric , Laquerrière Annie , Afonso Carlos , Derrey Stéphane , Marret Stéphane , Bekri Soumeya , Tebani Abdellah
Published: October 2021

(1) Background: Glioblastoma is the most common malignant brain tumor in adults. Its etiology remains unknown in most cases. Glioblastoma pathogenesis consists of a progressive infiltration of the white matter by tumoral cells leading to progressive neurological deficit, epilepsy, and/or intracranial hypertension. The mean survival is between 15 to 17 months. Given this aggressive prognosis, there is an urgent need for a better understanding of the underlying mechanisms of glioblastoma to unveil new diagnostic strategies and therapeutic targets through a deeper understanding of its biology. (2) Methods: To systematically address this issue, we performed targeted and untargeted metabolomics-based investigations on both tissue and plasma samples from patients with glioblastoma. (3) Results: This study revealed 176 differentially expressed lipids and metabolites, 148 in plasma and 28 in tissue samples. Main biochemical classes include phospholipids, acylcarnitines, sphingomyelins, and triacylglycerols. Functional analyses revealed deep metabolic remodeling in glioblastoma lipids and energy substrates, which unveils the major role of lipids in tumor progression by modulating its own environment. (4) Conclusions: Overall, our study demonstrates in situ and systemic metabolic rewiring in glioblastoma that could shed light on its underlying biological plasticity and progression to inform diagnosis and/or therapeutic strategies.
Intrahepatic Cholangiocarcinoma: A Summative Review of Biomarkers and Targeted Therapies
Authors: Acher Alexandra W. , Paro Alessandro , Elfadaly Ahmed , Tsilimigras Diamantis , Pawlik Timothy M.
Published: October 2021

Although rare, intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) is the second most common primary hepatic malignancy and the incidence of ICC has increased 14% per year in recent decades. Treatment of ICC remains difficult as most people present with advanced disease not amenable to curative-intent surgical resection. Even among patients with operable disease, margin-negative surgical resection can be difficult to achieve and the incidence of recurrence remains high. As such, there has been considerable interest in systemic chemotherapy and targeted therapy for ICC. Over the last decade, the understanding of the molecular and genetic foundations of ICC has reshaped treatment approaches and strategies. Next-generation sequencing has revealed that most ICC tumors have at least one targetable mutation. These advancements have led to multiple clinical trials to examine the safety and efficacy of novel therapeutics that target tumor-specific molecular and genetic aberrations. While these advancements have demonstrated survival benefit in early phase clinical trials, continued investigation in randomized larger-scale trials is needed to further define the potential clinical impact of such therapy.
Autophagy and the Lysosomal System in Cancer
Authors: Kumar Suresh , Sánchez-Álvarez Miguel , Lolo Fidel-Nicolás , Trionfetti Flavia , Strippoli Raffaele , Cordani Marco
Published: October 2021

Autophagy and the lysosomal system, together referred to as the autophagolysosomal system, is a cellular quality control network which maintains cellular health and homeostasis by removing cellular waste including protein aggregates, damaged organelles, and invading pathogens. As such, the autophagolysosomal system has roles in a variety of pathophysiological disorders, including cancer, neurological disorders, immune- and inflammation-related diseases, and metabolic alterations, among others. The autophagolysosomal system is controlled by TFEB, a master transcriptional regulator driving the expression of multiple genes, including autophagoly sosomal components. Importantly, Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) production and control are key aspects of the physiopathological roles of the autophagolysosomal system, and may hold a key for synergistic therapeutic interventions. In this study, we reviewed our current knowledge on the biology and physiopathology of the autophagolysosomal system, and its potential for therapeutic intervention in cancer.
NUAK Kinases: Brain–Ovary Axis
Authors: Molina Ester , Hong Linda , Chefetz Ilana
Published: October 2021

Liver kinase B (LKB1) and adenosine monophosphate (AMP)-activated protein kinase (AMPK) are two major kinases that regulate cellular metabolism by acting as adenosine triphosphate (ATP) sensors. During starvation conditions, LKB1 and AMPK activate different downstream pathways to increase ATP production, while decreasing ATP consumption, which abrogates cellular proliferation and cell death. Initially, LKB1 was considered to be a tumor suppressor due to its loss of expression in various tumor types. Additional studies revealed amplifications in LKB1 and AMPK kinases in several cancers, suggesting a role in tumor progression. The AMPK-related proteins were described almost 20 years ago as a group of key kinases involved in the regulation of cellular metabolism. As LKB1-downstream targets, AMPK-related proteins were also initially considered to function as tumor suppressors. However, further research demonstrated that AMPK-related kinases play a major role not only in cellular physiology but also in tumor development. Furthermore, aside from their role as regulators of metabolism, additional functions have been described for these proteins, including roles in the cell cycle, cell migration, and cell death. In this review, we aim to highlight the major role of AMPK-related proteins beyond their functions in cellular metabolism, focusing on cancer progression based on their role in cell migration, invasion, and cell survival. Additionally, we describe two main AMPK-related kinases, Novel (nua) kinase family 1 (NUAK1) and 2 (NUAK2), which have been understudied, but play a major role in cellular physiology and tumor development.
Cross-Sectional Descriptive Pilot Study on the Risk of Psychotic Disorders among Adolescents
Authors: Cendrero-Luengo Carmen , Jiménez-Palomares María , Rodríguez-Mansilla Juan , Garrido-Ardila Elisa María
Published: October 2021

Background: Adolescence is a key stage for the development of different mental disorders, particularly psychotic disorders. This stage of life is accompanied by new habits or behaviours that can make a person more vulnerable to developing a psychotic disorder or, on the contrary, play a protective role. Objective: To study the vulnerability to developing a psychotic disorder in adolescents and to analyse the main risk factors. Materials and methods: This is an observational, descriptive and cross-sectional study. The data collection was conducted using the Prodromal Questionnaire Brief Version (PQ-B) test and a self-developed questionnaire based on the vulnerability–stress model. Results: Of the total sample (n = 44), 65.9% were male and 100% lived in a rural environment. In general, among risk factors (stress, alcohol and cannabis consumption, history, bullying, traumatic event and sedentary lifestyle), alcohol consumption and the presence of stress were found to have high values. Furthermore, a risk of psychosis was found in 38.6% of the studied population. Of this percentage of adolescents at risk, 64.7% consumed alcohol (p = 0.99) and 82.4% suffered from stress (p = 0.7161). The protective factor (physical activity) was found in more than half (59% p = 0.16). Conclusions: There is a high risk of psychosis among the young adolescents assessed in this study, where the explanatory factors identified with higher values were alcohol consumption and the presence of stress.
Relationship between Friction Coefficient and Surface Roughness of Stone and Ceramic Floors
Authors: Khaday Samsiya , Li Kai-Way , Peng Lu , Chen Ching-Chung
Published: October 2021

Slips and falls are common occupational incidents worldwide. The friction on a floor surface is one of the critical environmental factors affecting the risk of a slip. In this research, we conducted friction measurements on stone and ceramic floor tiles under dry, wet, and water–detergent (WD) solution covered conditions using a horizontal pull slip meter (HPS). Our purposes were to quantify the slip resistance of commonly used stone and ceramic floors under different surface conditions and to validate the curvilinear relationship between the coefficient of friction (COF) and surface roughness of the floors proposed in the literature. The COF data were analyzed together with a surface profile parameter (Ra) of the floor samples. The results showed that the COFs of the stone floors were significantly (p < 0.0001) higher than those of the ceramic floors. All the floors under the dry conditions were slip resistant when adopting the ANSI 1264.2 criterion. Two and five ceramic floors were not slip resistant under the wet and WD solution covered conditions, respectively. Three polynomial regression equations were established to describe the relationship between the COF and Ra. The curvilinear functions of these models indicate that the three-zone (initial growth, steady-growth, and plateau) concept concerning the COF–Ra relationship in the literature was valid when static COF values measured using an HPS were adopted. In addition, the three-zone concept was valid not only on WD solution covered surfaces but also on dry and wet surfaces.