bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Type 2 Transglutaminase in Coeliac Disease: A Key Player in Pathogenesis, Diagnosis and Therapy
Authors: Paolella Gaetana , Sposito Silvia , Romanelli Antonio Massimiliano , Caputo Ivana
Published: July 2022

Type 2 transglutaminase (TG2) is the main autoantigen in coeliac disease (CD), a widespread inflammatory enteropathy caused by the ingestion of gluten-containing cereals in genetically predisposed individuals. As a consequence, serum antibodies to TG2 represent a very useful marker in CD diagnosis. However, TG2 is also an important player in CD pathogenesis, for its ability to deamidate some Gln residues of gluten peptides, which become more immunogenic in CD intestinal mucosa. Given the importance of TG2 enzymatic activities in CD, several studies have sought to discover specific and potent inhibitors that could be employed in new therapeutical approaches for CD, as alternatives to a lifelong gluten-free diet. In this review, we summarise all the aspects regarding TG2 involvement in CD, including its enzymatic reactions in pathogenesis, the role of anti-TG2 antibodies in disease management, and the exploration of recent strategies to reduce deamidation or to use transamidation to detoxify gluten.
Smad8 Is Increased in Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy and Suppresses miR-1, miR-133a, and miR-133b
Authors: Lopez Michael A. , Si Ying , Hu Xianzhen , Williams Valentyna , Qushair Fuad , Carlyle Jackson , Alesce Lyndsy , Conklin Michael , Gilbert Shawn , Bamman Marcas M. , Alexander Matthew S. , King Peter H.
Published: July 2022

Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is an X-linked recessive disease characterized by skeletal muscle instability, progressive muscle wasting, and fibrosis. A major driver of DMD pathology stems from aberrant upregulation of transforming growth factor β (TGFβ) signaling. In this report, we investigated the major transducers of TGFβ signaling, i.e., receptor Smads (R-Smads), in DMD patient skeletal muscle and observed a 48-fold increase in Smad8 mRNA. Smad1, Smad2, Smad3, and Smad5 mRNA were only minimally increased. A similar pattern was observed in the muscle from the mdx5cv mouse. Western blot analysis showed upregulation of phosphorylated Smad1, Smad5, and Smad8 compared to total Smad indicating activation of this pathway. In parallel, we observed a profound diminishment of muscle-enriched microRNAs (myomiRs): miR-1, miR-133a, and miR-133b. The pattern of Smad8 induction and myomiR suppression was recapitulated in C2C12 muscle cells after stimulation with bone morphogenetic protein 4 (BMP4), a signaling factor that we found upregulated in DMD muscle. Silencing Smad8 in C2C12 myoblasts derepressed myomiRs and promoted myoblast differentiation; there was also a concomitant upregulation of myogenic regulatory factors (myogenin and myocyte enhancer factor 2D) and suppression of a pro-inflammatory cytokine (interleukin-6). Our data suggest that Smad8 is a negative regulator of miR-1, miR-133a, and miR-133b in muscle cells and that the BMP4-Smad8 axis is a driver of dystrophic pathology in DMD.
Nucleophilic Substitution at a Coordinatively Saturated Five-Membered NHC∙Haloborane Centre
Authors: Kundu Gargi , Tothadi Srinu , Sen Sakya S.
Published: July 2022

In this paper, we have used a saturated five-membered N-Heterocyclic carbene (5SIDipp = 1,3-bis-(2,6-diisopropylphenyl)imidazolin-2-ylidine) for the synthesis of SNHC-haloboranes adducts and their further nucleophilic substitutions to put unusual functional groups at the central boron atom. The reaction of 5-SIDipp with RBCl2 yields Lewis-base adducts, 5-SIDipp·RBCl2 [R = H (1), Ph (2)]. The hydrolysis of 1 gives the NHC stabilized boric acid, 5-SIDipp·B(OH)3 (3), selectively. Replacement of chlorine atoms from 1 and 2 with one equivalent of AgOTf led to the formation of 5-SIDipp·HBCl(OTf) (4) and 5-SIDipp·PhBCl(OTf) (5a), where all the substituents on the boron atoms are different. The addition of two equivalents of AgNO3 to 2 leads to the formation of rare di-nitro substituted 5-SIDipp·BPh(NO3)2 (6). Further, the reaction of 5-SIDipp with B(C6F5)3 in tetrahydrofuran and diethyl ether shows a frustrated Lewis pair type small molecule activated products, 7 and 8.
First Interaction Network of Sarcosaprophagous Fauna (Acari and Insecta) Associated with Animal Remains in a Mediterranean Region (Northern Spain)
Authors: Pérez-Martínez Sandra , Moraza María
Published: July 2022

The potential of insects for forensic investigations has been known for more than 700 years. However, arthropods such as mites could also play a role in these investigations. The information obtained from insects, together with their phoretic mites, is of special interest in terms of estimating the time and geographical location of death. This paper presents the first interaction network between phoretic mites and their host insects in Navarra. It also reports the first time that an interaction network was applied to animal remains of forensic relevance. The data reveal the degrees of specificity of the interactions established, the biological and ecological characteristics of the mites at the time of association, and factors that played important roles in the mites’ dispersion. Fauna was collected using 657 traps baited with 20 g of pig carrion over a year. Only 0.6% of insects collected carried phoretic mites. The network comprised 312 insects (275 beetles, 37 flies) and 1533 mites and was analyzed using various packages of the R programming language. We contribute new host insect records for 15 mites, 3 new records of insects as hosts, 5 new mite records for the Iberian Peninsula, and 2 new mites records and 8 new insect records for Navarra.
Evaluation of Four Fully Integrated Molecular Assays for the Detection of Respiratory Viruses during the Co-Circulation of SARS-CoV-2, Influenza and RSV
Authors: Farfour Eric , Yung Thomas , Baudoin Robin , Vasse Marc
Published: July 2022

Background: The clinical presentation of viral respiratory infections is unspecific. We assessed the performances of two new RT-PCR, the Idylla™ SARS-CoV-2 and the Idylla™ SARS-CoV2/Flu/RSV, and two isothermal amplification assays, the ID NOW COVID and the ID NOW influenza A & B 2. Methods: The study was conducted in two parts: (i) the Idylla™ assays were assessed using a collection of nasopharyngeal swabs which were positive for various respiratory viruses. (ii) The performances of the four assays were assessed prospectively: all of the symptomatic patients admitted to the emergency department from 10 to 21 December were enrolled. Results: (i) All of the SARS-CoV-2 false negatives with the Idylla™ assays had a Ct value greater than 30 with the reference RT-PCR. No cross-reactivity was identified. (ii) Overall, 218 patients were enrolled. The respective prevalences of SARS-CoV-2, influenza A, and RSV were 19.8%, 4.8%, and 3.2%. All of the assays were 100% specific. The sensitivity of SARS-CoV-2 detection was 97.7%, 82.5%, and 86.3% for the Idylla™ SARS-CoV2, the Idylla™ SARS-CoV2/Flu/RSV, and the ID NOW COVID-19, respectively. For influenza A, it was 90.0% for the Idylla™ SARS-CoV2/Flu/RSV and 80.0% for the ID NOW Influenza. Discussion. All of the assays are suitable for testing patients with respiratory symptoms. False negatives should be considered, and the test should be repeated regarding the context.
Treatment of Actinic Keratosis: The Best Choice through an Observational Study
Authors: Yoo Seung-Ah , Kim Yeong-Ho , Han Ju-Hee , Bang Chul-Hwan , Park Young-Min , Lee Ji-Hyun
Published: July 2022

Actinic keratosis (AK) is a precancerous lesion that can progress to invasive squamous cell carcinoma if untreated. However, no gold standard treatment has been established. We aimed to investigate the management of AK by comparing the effectiveness and treatment duration of treatment modalities, including cryotherapy, imiquimod (IMQ), and photodynamic therapy (PDT). We reviewed the medical records of 316 patients diagnosed with AK at Seoul St. Mary’s Hospital from February 2015 to May 2020, and a total of 195 patients were included. The clearance rate was the highest in PDT, followed by cryotherapy and IMQ (82.4%, 71.2%, and 68.0%, respectively). The recurrence rate was the lowest in cryotherapy, followed by PDT and IMQ (3.5%, 6.7%, and 10.5%, respectively, p < 0.05). The average treatment duration was shortest with PDT, followed by IMQ and cryotherapy (5.5 weeks, 6.8 weeks, and 9.1 weeks, respectively, p < 0.05). The number of hospital visits was lowest for PDT, followed by cryotherapy and IMQ (1.8, 2.8, and 3.6, respectively, p < 0.05). PDT showed the highest clearance rate, a moderate recurrence rate, the shortest treatment duration, and the least number of visits, suggesting that PDT could be the first choice for treatment of AK. Considering the advantages as a topical agent, IMQ could also be a treatment option.
Impella versus Venoarterial Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation for Acute Myocardial Infarction Cardiogenic Shock: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Batchelor Riley J. , Wheelahan Andrew , Zheng Wayne C. , Stub Dion , Yang Yang , Chan William
Published: July 2022

Objectives: Despite an increase in the use of mechanical circulatory support (MCS) devices for acute myocardial infarction cardiogenic shock (AMI-CS), there is currently no randomised data directly comparing the use of Impella and veno-arterial extra-corporeal membrane oxygenation (VA-ECMO). Methods: Electronic databases of MEDLINE, EMBASE and CENTRAL were systematically searched in November 2021. Studies directly comparing the use of Impella (CP, 2.5 or 5.0) with VA-ECMO for AMI-CS were included. Studies examining other modalities of MCS, or other causes of cardiogenic shock, were excluded. The primary outcome was in-hospital mortality. Results: No randomised trials comparing VA-ECMO to Impella in patients with AMI-CS were identified. Six cohort studies (five retrospective and one prospective) were included for systematic review. All studies, including 7093 patients, were included in meta-analysis. Five studies reported in-hospital mortality, which, when pooled, was 42.4% in the Impella group versus 50.1% in the VA-ECMO group. Impella support for AMI-CS was associated with an 11% relative risk reduction in in-hospital mortality compared to VA-ECMO (risk ratio 0.89; 95% CI 0.83–0.96, I2 0%). Of the six studies, three studies also adjusted outcome measures via propensity-score matching with reported reductions in in-hospital mortality with Impella compared to VA-ECMO (risk ratio 0.72; 95% CI 0.59–0.86, I2 35%). Pooled analysis of five studies with 6- or 12-month mortality data reported a 14% risk reduction with Impella over the medium-to-long-term (risk ratio 0.86; 95% CI 0.76–0.97, I2 0%). Conclusions: There is no high-level evidence comparing VA-ECMO and Impella in AMI-CS. In available observation studies, MCS with Impella was associated with a reduced risk of in-hospital and medium-term mortality as compared to VA-ECMO.
Evaluating the Link between BAFF System Gene Expression and Acute Rejection Development in Kidney Transplantation
Authors: Alfaro Rafael , Lorente Santiago , Jimenez-Coll Víctor , Martínez-Banaclocha Helios , Galián José , Botella Carmen , Moya-Quiles María , Muro-Pérez Manuel , de la Peña-Moral Jesús , Minguela Alfredo , Legaz Isabel , Muro Manuel
Published: July 2022

B-cell activating factor (BAFF) system signaling is critical for B-cell homeostasis, effector functions, and tolerance maintenance in transplants, but it has not been studied in kidney transplant recipients (KTRs). The aim was to analyze the changes in BAFF system expression in KTRs with/without acute rejection (AR/NAR). The BAFF system expression was analyzed by qPCR in 40 KTRs. A meta-analysis of BAFF system expression and histological renal damage was identified by the Chronic Allograft Damage Index (CADI) and performed from the GEO database. Proliferation-inducing ligand (APRIL) expression increased at three- and six-months post-KT (p = 0.014 and p < 0.001). B-cell maturation antigen (BCMA) expression increased at six-months post-KT (p = 0.038). BAFF expression remained stable in NAR-KTRs, but was increased in CADI concerning the No-CADI group at one year (p = 0.008). BCMA expression increased in the CADI group at one- (p = 0.001) and six-years post-KT (p = 0.024). At three months, the transmembrane activator and calcium modulator interactor (TACI) gene significantly elevated KTRs with DSAs (donor-specific antibody; p = 0.034). KTRs with DSAs significantly increase the B-cell activating factor receptor (R-BAFF; p = 0.021) and TACI (p = 0.018) between pre- and three-month post-KT. Changes in the expression of the BAFF system increase during post-KTR in the development of AR and chronic allograft damage, and could be an important pathological tool to detect and prevent kidney graft outcomes.
Multi-View Learning for Material Classification
Authors: Sumon Borhan Uddin , Muselet Damien , Xu Sixiang , Trémeau Alain
Published: July 2022

Material classification is similar to texture classification and consists in predicting the material class of a surface in a color image, such as wood, metal, water, wool, or ceramic. It is very challenging because of the intra-class variability. Indeed, the visual appearance of a material is very sensitive to the acquisition conditions such as viewpoint or lighting conditions. Recent studies show that deep convolutional neural networks (CNNs) clearly outperform hand-crafted features in this context but suffer from a lack of data for training the models. In this paper, we propose two contributions to cope with this problem. First, we provide a new material dataset with a large range of acquisition conditions so that CNNs trained on these data can provide features that can adapt to the diverse appearances of the material samples encountered in real-world. Second, we leverage recent advances in multi-view learning methods to propose an original architecture designed to extract and combine features from several views of a single sample. We show that such multi-view CNNs significantly improve the performance of the classical alternatives for material classification.
Simulating Landfast Ice in Lake Superior
Authors: Lin Yuchun , Fujisaki-Manome Ayumi , Anderson Eric J.
Published: July 2022

Landfast ice plays an important role in the nearshore hydrodynamics of large lakes, such as the dampening of surface waves and currents. In this study, previously developed landfast ice basal stress parameterizations were added to an unstructured grid hydrodynamic ice model to represent the effects of grounded ice keels and tensile strength of ice cover. Numerical experiments using this model were conducted to evaluate the development of coastal landfast ice in Lake Superior. A sensitivity study of the free parameters was conducted from December 2018 to May 2021 to cover both high and low ice cover winters in Lake Superior and was compared against observations from the United States National Ice Center. The model reproduces the annual variation in coastal landfast ice in Lake Superior, particularly in shallow nearshore areas and the semi-enclosed bays in the northern regions of the lake. Experiments also show that the growth of landfast ice is mainly controlled by the free parameter that controls the critical ice thickness for the activation of basal stress. Overall, the model tends to underestimate the extent of coastal landfast against observations.
Autonomic Dysfunction and Management after Spinal Cord Injury: A Narrative Review
Authors: Henke Austin M. , Billington Zackery J. , Gater David R.
Published: July 2022

The autonomic nervous system (ANS), composed of the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems, acts to maintain homeostasis in the body through autonomic influences on the smooth muscle, cardiac muscles, blood vessels, glands and organs of the body. The parasympathetic nervous system interacts via the cranial and sacral segments of the central nervous system, and the sympathetic nervous system arises from the T1–L2 spinal cord segments. After a spinal cord injury (SCI), supraspinal influence on the ANS is disrupted, leading to sympathetic blunting and parasympathetic dominance resulting in cardiac dysrhythmias, systemic hypotension, bronchoconstriction, copious respiratory secretions and uncontrolled bowel, bladder, and sexual dysfunction. Further, afferent signals to the sympathetic cord elicit unabated reflex sympathetic outflow in response to noxious stimuli below the level of SCI. This article outlines the pathophysiology of SCI on the ANS, clinical ramifications of autonomic dysfunction, and the potential long-term sequelae of these influences following SCI.
Modeling a Novel Variant of Glycogenosis IXa Using a Clonal Inducible Reprogramming System to Generate “Diseased” Hepatocytes for Accurate Diagnosis
Authors: Garcia-Llorens Guillem , Lopez-Navarro Sergi , Jaijo Teresa , Castell Jose V. , Bort Roque
Published: July 2022

The diagnosis of inherited metabolic disorders is a long and tedious process. The matching of clinical data with a genomic variant in a specific metabolic pathway is an essential step, but the link between a genome and the clinical data is normally difficult, primarily for new missense variants or alterations in intron sequences. Notwithstanding, elucidation of the pathogenicity of a specific variant might be critical for an accurate diagnosis. In this study, we described a novel intronic variant c.2597 + 5G > T in the donor splice sequence of the PHKA2 gene. To investigate PHKA2 mRNA splicing, as well as the functional consequences on glycogen metabolism, we generated hepatocyte-like cells from a proband’s fibroblasts by direct reprogramming. We demonstrated an aberrant splicing of PHKA2, resulting in the incorporation of a 27 bp upstream of intron 23 into exon 23, which leads to an immediate premature STOP codon. The truncated protein was unable to phosphorylate the PYGL protein, causing a 4-fold increase in the accumulation of glycogen in hepatocyte-like cells. Collectively, the generation of personalized hepatocyte-like cells enabled an unequivocal molecular diagnosis and qualified the sister’s proband, a carrier of the same mutation, as a candidate for a preimplantation genetic diagnosis. Additionally, our direct reprogramming strategy allows for an unlimited source of “diseased” hepatocyte-like cells compatible with high-throughput platforms.
Does the Absence of Zoo Visitors during the COVID-19 Pandemic Impact Gorilla Behavior?
Authors: Masman Mary , Scarpace Clarice , Liriano Angelina , Margulis Susan W.
Published: July 2022

Whether or not primates are behaviorally affected by the presence of visitors in a zoo setting is a question of great relevance to zoo animal well-being. The situation imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic provided an unusual opportunity to examine how the absence of visitors impacts behavior. We took advantage of this opportunity to study the behavior of a gorilla troop during periods of no-visitors compared to our long-term database on gorilla behavior during normal zoo operations. While there were notable individual differences in response to visitors, we found no significant relationship between presence of visitors and behavior. These results suggest that the presence of visitors does not have a significant impact on behavior and well-being of zoo-housed gorillas.
Mitigated Greenhouse Gas Emissions in Cropping Systems by Organic Fertilizer and Tillage Management
Authors: Gong Huarui , Li Jing , Liu Zhen , Zhang Yitao , Hou Ruixing , Ouyang Zhu
Published: July 2022

Cultivating ecological benefits in agricultural systems through greenhouse gas emission reduction will offer extra economic benefits for farmers. The reported studies confirmed that organic fertilizer application could promote soil carbon sequestration and mitigate greenhouse gas emissions under suitable tillage practices in a short period of time. Here, a field experiment was conducted using a two-factor randomized block design (organic fertilizers and tillage practices) with five treatments. The results showed that the application of microbial fertilizers conserved soil heat and moisture, thereby significantly reducing CO2 emissions (6.9–18.9%) and those of N2O and CH4 fluxes during corn seasons, compared with chemical fertilizer application. Although deep tillage increased total CO2 emissions by 4.9–37.7%, it had no significant effect on N2O and CH4 emissions. Application of microbial organic fertilizer increased corn yield by 21.5%, but it had little effect on the yield of wheat. Overall, application of microbial fertilizers significantly reduced soil GHG emission and concurrently increased yield under various tillage practices in a short space of time. With this, it was critical that microbial fertilizer be carefully studied for application in wheat–corn cropping systems.
Soil Compaction in Harvesting Operations of Phalaris arundinacea L.
Authors: Bianchini Leonardo , Alemanno Riccardo , Di Stefano Valerio , Cecchini Massimo , Colantoni Andrea
Published: July 2022

Tillage and harvesting operations of perennial forage crops have problems with soil compaction. The effects of this phenomenon are soil deterioration with reduced crop performance and yield. This study aims to assess soil disturbance by measuring the level of compaction caused by the harvesting operations of Phalaris arundinacea L. P. arundinacea is a species that lends itself to biomass production and phytoremediation of contaminated soils; it adapts to difficult soil conditions, outperforming other species in terms of ease of planting, cost, maturity time, yield, and contamination levels. The crop was sown in three plots of the experimental teaching farm of the University of Tuscia, Viterbo, Italy. Following a detailed analysis of the chemical–physical characteristics of the soil, minimum tillage was chosen in order to concentrate on harvesting operations, which were carried out with a disc mower coupled to a tractor. This was followed by penetration resistance and soil moisture measurements to verify the incidence of the operations and the effect of the type of crop on compaction. On the study site, measurements were taken at points that the wheels of the tractor had gone over and at points that they had not. The soil analysis results indicate different chemical–physical characteristics between the two areas, the texture being frankly sandy to clayey. Penetration resistance measurements indicated differences for the first 20 cm between the part that was covered by the tractor’s tyres and the part that was left touched but also between the three plots. Moisture influenced penetration resistance. This study provides an evaluation of the first data obtained from a project that will last four years and which will explore the dynamics between soil, cultivation, and harvesting operations, giving a fundamental basis for further investigation of further harvesting operations and soil characteristics, which are crucial for planning and managing crops and reducing impacts on the soil in order to preserve it.
Intraoperative Circulatory Support in Lung Transplantation: Current Trend and Its Evidence
Authors: Starke Henning , von Dossow Vera , Karsten Jan
Published: July 2022

Lung transplantation has a high risk of haemodynamic complications in a highly vulnerable patient population. The effects on the cardiovascular system of the various underlying end-stage lung diseases also contribute to this risk. Following a literature review and based on our own experience, this review article summarises the current trends and their evidence for intraoperative circulatory support in lung transplantation. Identifiable and partly modifiable risk factors are mentioned and corresponding strategies for treatment are discussed. The approach of first identifying risk factors and then developing an adjusted strategy is presented as the ERSAS (early risk stratification and strategy) concept. Typical haemodynamic complications discussed here include right ventricular failure, diastolic dysfunction caused by left ventricular deconditioning, and reperfusion injury to the transplanted lung. Pre- and intra-operatively detectable risk factors for the occurrence of haemodynamic complications are rare, and the therapeutic strategies applied differ considerably between centres. However, all the mentioned risk factors and treatment strategies can be integrated into clinical treatment algorithms and can influence patient outcome in terms of both mortality and morbidity.
Study on Forming Law and Penetration of a Spherical Cone Composite Structure Liner Based on the Explosion Pressure-Coupling Constraint Principle
Authors: Han Jilong , Du Zhonghua , Zheng Chao , Wang Yongxu , Shang Yuqing , Huang Weiming , Wang Xi , Zhao Jinbei
Published: July 2022

The liner is an important part of shaped charge. In this paper, the spherical cone composite structure liner composed of a spherical missing body and truncated cone (hereinafter referred to as the SCS liner) is studied. The SCS liner is made of copper. Based on this, a shaped charge structure based on the explosion pressure-coupling constraint principle is designed, filling an 8701 explosive (RDX-based explosive). Through pulse X-ray tests, numerical simulation, and static explosion tests, the significance of the detonation pressure-coupling constraint principle, as well as the forming law and penetration efficiency of the SCS liner are studied. The results show that in the pulsed X-ray test, a split jet with high velocity is formed in the SCS liner. The explosion pressure-coupling constraint principle delays the attenuation of the internal explosion pressure and improves the shape of jet. After the SCS liner is selected, the penetration depth is increased by 70.38%. The average head velocity of the explosive charge jet is 7594.81 m/s. The diameter of the hole formed by the jet of the explosive charge is 20.33 mm. The hole expands inside, and the perforation depth is 178.87 mm. The numerical simulation is in good agreement with the test.
A New Methodological Approach to the Characterization of Optimal Charging Rates at the Hydrogen Plasma Smelting Reduction Process Part 1: Method
Authors: Zarl Michael Andreas , Ernst Daniel , Cejka Julian , Schenk Johannes
Published: July 2022

The development of a carbon lean steel production process following the concept of direct carbon avoidance is one of the most challenging tasks the iron and steel industry must tackle in just a few decades. The necessary drastic reduction of 80% of the process’s inherent emissions by 2050 is only possible if a new process concept that uses hydrogen as the primary reductant is developed. The Hydrogen Plasma Smelting Reduction (HPSR) of ultra-fine iron ores is one of those promising concepts. The principle was already proven at a lab scale. The erection of a bench-scale facility followed this, and further scaled-ups are already planned for the upcoming years. For this scale-up, a better understanding of the fundamentals of the process is needed. In particular, knowledge of the kinetics of the process is essential for future economically feasible operations. This investigation shows the principles for evaluating and comparing the process kinetics under varying test setups by defining a representative kinetic parameter. Aside from the fundamentals for this definition, the conducted trials for the first evaluation are shown and explained. Several differences in the reduction behavior of the material at varying parameters of the process have already be shown. However, this investigation focuses on the description and definition of the method. An overall series of trials for detailed investigations will be conducted as a follow-up.
Image Based Visual Servoing for Floating Base Mobile Manipulator Systems with Prescribed Performance under Operational Constraints
Authors: Karras George C. , Fourlas George K. , Nikou Alexandros , Bechlioulis Charalampos P. , Heshmati-Alamdari Shahab
Published: July 2022

This paper presents a novel Image-Based Visual Servoing (IBVS) control approach for Floating Base Mobile Manipulator Systems (FBMMSs) that imposes prescribed transient and steady-state response on the image feature coordinate errors while satisfying the visibility constraints that arise owing to the camera’s limited field of view. The proposed control strategy does not incorporate any knowledge on either the FBMMS dynamic model, the exogenous disturbances, or the inevitable camera calibration and depth measurement errors. More specifically, it guarantees: (i) predefined behavior in terms of overshoot, convergence rate, and maximum steady-state error value of the image features and system velocities tracking errors; (ii) satisfaction of camera field of view constraints; (iii) bounded closed-loop control signals, and (iv) reduced design and implementation complexity. Additionally, the performance of the developed scheme is solely determined by certain designer-specified performance functions/parameters, and it is fully decoupled by the control gains selection. The efficiency of the proposed scheme is demonstrated via a realistic simulation study, using an eye-in-hand Underwater Vehicle Manipulator System (UVMS) as a test-bed FBMMS platform.
An Optimized VMD Method for Predicting Milling Cutter Wear Using Vibration Signal
Authors: Chang Hao , Gao Feng , Li Yan , Wei Xiaoqing , Gao Chuang , Chang Lihong
Published: July 2022

Tool wear has a negative impact on machining quality and efficiency. As for the nonlinear and non-stationary characteristics of vibration signals and strong background noises during the milling process, an identification method of the milling cutter wear state based on the optimized Variational Mode Decomposition (VMD) was proposed, in which the objective function is to minimize the Envelope Entropy (Ep); the various modes of the vibration signal are decomposed using the self-adaptive optimization parameters with Differential Evolution (DE). According to the cross-correlation coefficient in the frequency domain between Intrinsic Mode Function (IMF) and the original signals, the informative IMF components were selected as the sensitive IMF components to superimpose the reconstruction signal and extract the eigenvalues. The mapping relationship between the eigenvalues and the milling cutter wear degree is established by the Naive Bayes classifier method. The experimental results under the various operation conditions indicate that the proposed optimized VMD method possesses an excellent generalization performance. Compared with Empirical Mode Decomposition (EMD) and Ensemble Empirical Mode Decomposition (EEMD), it has better denoising capacity, and so can improve the identification accuracy of the milling cutter wear. Therefore, the processing quality and production efficiency are ensured effectively.
Theory of Chiral Electrodeposition by Chiral Micro-Nano-Vortices under a Vertical Magnetic Field -1: 2D Nucleation by Micro-Vortices
Authors: Morimoto Ryoichi , Miura Miki , Sugiyama Atsushi , Miura Makoto , Oshikiri Yoshinobu , Mogi Iwao , Yamauchi Yusuke , Takagi Satoshi , Aogaki Ryoichi
Published: July 2022

Remarkable chiral activity is donated to a copper deposit surface by magneto-electrodeposition, whose exact mechanism has been clarified by the three-generation model. In copper deposition under a vertical magnetic field, a macroscopic tornado-like rotation called the vertical magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) flow (VMHDF) emerges on a disk electrode, inducing the precessional motions of various chiral microscopic MHD vortices: First, chiral two-dimensional (2D) nuclei develop on an electrode by micro-MHD vortices. Then, chiral three-dimensional (3D) nuclei grow on a chiral 2D nucleus by chiral nano-MHD vortices. Finally, chiral screw dislocations are created on a chiral 3D nucleus by chiral ultra-micro MHD vortices. These three processes constitute nesting boxes, leading to a limiting enantiomeric excess (ee) ratio of 0.125. This means that almost all chiral activity of copper electrodes made by this method cannot exceed 0.125. It also became obvious that chirality inversion by chloride additive arises from the change from unstable to stable nucleation by the specific adsorption of it.
Improving Deep Learning for Maritime Remote Sensing through Data Augmentation and Latent Space
Authors: Sobien Daniel , Higgins Erik , Krometis Justin , Kauffman Justin , Freeman Laura
Published: July 2022

Training deep learning models requires having the right data for the problem and understanding both your data and the models’ performance on that data. Training deep learning models is difficult when data are limited, so in this paper, we seek to answer the following question: how can we train a deep learning model to increase its performance on a targeted area with limited data? We do this by applying rotation data augmentations to a simulated synthetic aperture radar (SAR) image dataset. We use the Uniform Manifold Approximation and Projection (UMAP) dimensionality reduction technique to understand the effects of augmentations on the data in latent space. Using this latent space representation, we can understand the data and choose specific training samples aimed at boosting model performance in targeted under-performing regions without the need to increase training set sizes. Results show that using latent space to choose training data significantly improves model performance in some cases; however, there are other cases where no improvements are made. We show that linking patterns in latent space is a possible predictor of model performance, but results require some experimentation and domain knowledge to determine the best options.
Hopf Bifurcation in a Delayed Equation with Diffusion Driven by Carrying Capacity
Authors: Hui Yuanxian , Liu Yunfeng , Zhao Zhong
Published: July 2022

In this paper, a delayed reaction–diffusion equation with carrying capacity-driven diffusion is investigated. The stability of the positive equilibrium solutions and the existence of the Hopf bifurcation of the equation are considered by studying the principal eigenvalue of an associated elliptic operator. The properties of the bifurcating periodic solutions are also obtained by using the normal form theory and the center manifold reduction. Furthermore, some representative numerical simulations are provided to illustrate the main theoretical results.
A Novel MRAC Scheme for Output Tracking
Authors: Tian Tingting , Hou Xiaorong , Yan Fang
Published: July 2022

This paper puts forward a novel output feedback model reference adaptive control (MRAC) scheme for solving an adaptive output tracking problem. The proposed control scheme only needs a scalar function to be updated online, which decreases the system adaptation complexity, compared to the existing MRAC schemes. Furthermore, the closed-loop signal boundedness and asymptotic output tracking are guaranteed with the proposed MRAC scheme. A simulation study is carried out to verify the effectiveness of the established approach.
Blockchain Consensus Mechanism Based on Quantum Teleportation
Authors: Wen Xiaojun , Chen Yongzhi , Zhang Wei , Jiang Zoe L. , Fang Junbin
Published: July 2022

The consensus mechanism is the core secret of the blockchain network. However, the consensus mechanism of the classical blockchain is based on the classical cryptosystem, which is based on the problem of computational complexity. With the improvement of computing power, the security of this cryptosystem is being threatened. In addition, the consensus mechanism of classic blockchain also has the following disadvantages: serious waste of computing resources and energy; the inability to withstand a 51% attack; low system throughput and large delay. Based on quantum teleportation technology and the randomness of quantum measurement, a consensus mechanism for a quantum blockchain system is proposed. Based on the physical properties of quantum mechanics, this scheme has the unconditional security of quantum cryptography. This new consensus mechanism does not involve a great deal of computing resources and hence has a lower energy consumption, shorter time delay and higher throughput. Furthermore, the new consensus mechanism could withstand a 51% attack.
Preface to the Special Issue on “Modelling and Simulation in Engineering”
Authors: Petrescu Camelia , David Valeriu
Published: July 2022

The continuing achievements in Information Technology and Computer science in recent decades provide new tools for engineers in the design of devices and systems, with significant advances both in numerical and in analytical methods of analysis [...]
Verification of Approximate Initial-State Opacity for Control Systems via Neural Augmented Barrier Certificates
Authors: Wang Shengpu , Ding Mi , Lin Wang , Jia Yubo
Published: July 2022

In this paper, we propose an augmented barrier certificate-based method for formally verifying the approximate initial-state opacity property of discrete time control systems. The opacity verification problem is formulated as the safety verification of an augmented system and is then addressed by searching for augmented barrier certificates. A set of well-defined verification conditions is a prerequisite for successfully identifying augmented barrier certificates of a specific type. We first suggest a new type of augmented barrier certificate which produces a weaker sufficient condition for approximate initial-state opacity. Furthermore, we develop an algorithmic framework where a learner and a verifier interact to synthesize augmented barrier certificates in the form of neural networks. The learner trains neural certificates via the deep learning method, and the verifier solves several mixed integer linear programs to either ensure the validity of the candidate certificates or yield counterexamples, which are passed back to further guide the learner. The experimental results demonstrate that our approach is more scalable and effective than the existing sum of squares programming method.
Generating Integrally Indecomposable Newton Polygons with Arbitrary Many Vertices
Authors: Ðapić Petar , Pavkov Ivan , Crvenković Siniša , Tanackov Ilija
Published: July 2022

In this paper we shall give another proof of a special case of Gao’s theorem for generating integrally indecomposable polygons in the sense of Minkowski. The approach of proving this theorem will enable us to give an effective algorithm for construction integrally indecomposable convex integral polygons with arbitrary many vertices. In such a way, classes of absolute irreducible bivariate polynomials corresponding to those indecomposable Newton polygons are generated.
Bifurcation Theory, Lie Group-Invariant Solutions of Subalgebras and Conservation Laws of a Generalized (2+1)-Dimensional BK Equation Type II in Plasma Physics and Fluid Mechanics
Authors: Adeyemo Oke Davies , Zhang Lijun , Khalique Chaudry Masood
Published: July 2022

The nonlinear phenomena in numbers are modelled in a wide range of fields such as chemical physics, ocean physics, optical fibres, plasma physics, fluid dynamics, solid-state physics, biological physics and marine engineering. This research article systematically investigates a (2+1)-dimensional generalized Bogoyavlensky–Konopelchenko equation. We achieve a five-dimensional Lie algebra of the equation through Lie group analysis. This, in turn, affords us the opportunity to compute an optimal system of fourteen-dimensional Lie subalgebras related to the underlying equation. As a consequence, the various subalgebras are engaged in performing symmetry reductions of the equation leading to many solvable nonlinear ordinary differential equations. Thus, we secure different types of solitary wave solutions including periodic (Weierstrass and elliptic integral), topological kink and anti-kink, complex, trigonometry and hyperbolic functions. Moreover, we utilize the bifurcation theory of dynamical systems to obtain diverse nontrivial travelling wave solutions consisting of both bounded as well as unbounded solution-types to the equation under consideration. Consequently, we generate solutions that are algebraic, periodic, constant and trigonometric in nature. The various results gained in the study are further analyzed through numerical simulation. Finally, we achieve conservation laws of the equation under study by engaging the standard multiplier method with the inclusion of the homotopy integral formula related to the obtained multipliers. In addition, more conserved currents of the equation are secured through Noether’s theorem.
Seroprevalence of Hepatitis E Virus Infection in Middle Eastern Countries: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Qashqari Fadi S.
Published: July 2022

Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is a hepatotropic virus that is a major public health concern worldwide. Autochthonous HEV is spread through oral feces in unsanitary environments, as well as vertical and, occasionally, blood transfusion. HEV is more common in developing countries, but it has recently become more widespread in developed countries as well. The Middle East (ME) has long been an endemic location for HEV infection. Therefore, the aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to assess the seroprevalence of anti-HEV antibodies in ME countries. The author systematically searched five databases, namely ScienceDirect, EMBASE, Scopus, PubMed, and Google Scholar, to identify English-language articles published on or before 25 April 2022. Comprehensive meta-analysis software was used for all statistical analyses (CMA, version 3, BioStat, Englewood, CO, USA). After quality control and exclusion of irrelevant studies, 80 studies were included in the qualitative synthesis and meta-analysis. A forest plot showed that the overall pooled seroprevalence of HEV infection in ME countries in the fixed-effect and random-effect models were 21.3% (95% CI: 0.209–0.216) and 11.8% (95% CI: 0.099–0.144), respectively. Furthermore, the findings showed a high level of heterogeneity (I2 = 98.733%) among the included studies. In both fixed-effect and random-effect models, the seroprevalence of HEV infection by country was high in Egypt as compared to other regions, at 35.0% (95% CI: 0.342–0.359), and 34.7% (95% CI: 0.153–0.611), respectively. The seroprevalence of HEV infection by country was high among pregnant women, at 47.9% (95% CI: 0.459–0.499) in the fixed-effect model, and in renal transplant recipients, at 30.8% (95% CI: 0.222–0.410) in the random-effect model. The seroprevalence of HEV infection varies by country and study population in the Middle East. More research is needed to determine the disease’s incidence, morbidity, and mortality in the region, where it is prevalent.
Al2O3-Based Hollow Fiber Membranes Functionalized by Nitrogen-Doped Titanium Dioxide for Photocatalytic Degradation of Ammonia Gas
Authors: Magnone Edoardo , Hwang Jae Yeon , Shin Min Chang , Zhuang Xuelong , Lee Jeong In , Park Jung Hoon
Published: July 2022

In recent years, reactive ammonia (NH3) has emerged as a major source of indoor air pollution. In this study, Al2O3-based hollow fiber membranes functionalized with nitrogen-doped titanium dioxide were produced and successfully applied for efficient heterogeneous photocatalytic NH3 gas degradation. Al2O3 hollow fiber membranes were prepared using the phase inversion process. A dip-coating technique was used to deposit titanium dioxide (TiO2) and nitrogen-doped titanium dioxide (N-TiO2) thin films on well-cleaned Al2O3-based hollow fiber membranes. All heterogeneous photocatalytic degradation tests of NH3 gas were performed with both UV and visible light irradiation at room temperature. The nitrogen doping effects on the NH3 heterogeneous photocatalytic degradation capacity of TiO2 were investigated, and the effect of the number of membranes (30, 36, 42, and 48 membranes) of the prototype lab-scale photocatalytic membrane reactor, with a modular design, on the performances in different light conditions was also elucidated. Moreover, under ultraviolet and visible light, the initial concentration of gaseous NH3 was reduced to zero after only fifteen minutes in a prototype lab-scale stage with a photocatalytic membrane reactor based on an N-TiO2 photocatalyst. The number of Al2O3-based hollow fiber membranes functionalized with N-TiO2 photocatalysts increases the capacity for NH3 heterogeneous photocatalytic degradation.
Mechanism Study of Proteins under Membrane Environment
Authors: Zhang Yue , Zhu Xiaohong , Zhang Honghui , Yan Junfang , Xu Peiyi , Wu Peng , Wu Song , Bai Chen
Published: July 2022

Membrane proteins play crucial roles in various physiological processes, including molecule transport across membranes, cell communication, and signal transduction. Approximately 60% of known drug targets are membrane proteins. There is a significant need to deeply understand the working mechanism of membrane proteins in detail, which is a challenging work due to the lack of available membrane structures and their large spatial scale. Membrane proteins carry out vital physiological functions through conformational changes. In the current study, we utilized a coarse-grained (CG) model to investigate three representative membrane protein systems: the TMEM16A channel, the family C GPCRs mGlu2 receptor, and the P4-ATPase phospholipid transporter. We constructed the reaction pathway of conformational changes between the two-end structures. Energy profiles and energy barriers were calculated. These data could provide reasonable explanations for TMEM16A activation, the mGlu2 receptor activation process, and P4-ATPase phospholipid transport. Although they all belong to the members of membrane proteins, they behave differently in terms of energy. Our work investigated the working mechanism of membrane proteins and could give novel insights into other membrane protein systems of interest.
High Methoxyl Pectin and Sodium Caseinate Film Matrix Reinforced with Green Carbon Quantum Dots: Rheological and Mechanical Studies
Authors: Murru Clarissa , Mohammadifar Mohammad Amin , Wagner Jakob Birkedal , Badía Laiño Rosana , Díaz García Marta Elena
Published: July 2022

Nowadays, proteins and polysaccharides play a fundamental role in the manufacturing of biocompatible materials applied in food packaging. The resulting films have, however, limits associated with the resistance to mechanical stress; therefore, it is important to reinforce the initial mixture with additives that promote the development of stronger molecular links. Carbon dots (CDs) are excellent candidates for this purpose due to the presence of surface functional groups that determine the formation of numerous intramolecular bonds between the charged biopolymers. The present research aims to evaluate the effect of CDs on the mechanical properties of biopolymer films obtained from sodium caseinate (CAS), high methoxyl pectin (HMP) and glycerol used as plasticizers. Green carbon dots (gCDs) were obtained from natural organic sources by green synthesis. The effects of gCDs on the flow behavior and viscoelastic properties of mixed biopolymer dispersions and the thermophysical properties of the corresponded films were evaluated by steady and unsteady shear rheological measurements and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) tests, respectively. The dynamic mechanical measurements were realized taking into account the parameters of temperature and relative humidity. The results indicate a significant change in the viscosity of the protein–polysaccharide dispersions and the thermomechanical properties of the corresponding film samples reinforced with higher amounts of gCDs.