bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Uncovered Function of the Drosophila GBA1a-Encoded Protein
Authors: Cabasso Or , Paul Sumit , Maor Gali , Pasmanik-Chor Metsada , Kallemeijn Wouter , Aerts Johannes , Horowitz Mia
Published: March 2021

Human GBA1 encodes lysosomal acid β-glucocerebrosidase (GCase), which hydrolyzes cleavage of the beta-glucosidic linkage of glucosylceramide (GlcCer). Mutations in this gene lead to reduced GCase activity, accumulation of glucosylceramide and glucosylsphingosine, and development of Gaucher disease (GD). Drosophila melanogaster has two GBA1 orthologs. Thus far, GBA1b was documented as a bone fide GCase-encoding gene, while the role of GBA1a encoded protein remained unclear. In the present study, we characterized a mutant variant of the fly GBA1a, which underwent ERAD and mildly activated the UPR machinery. RNA-seq analyses of homozygous mutant flies revealed upregulation of inflammation-associated as well as of cell-cycle related genes and reduction in programmed cell death (PCD)-associated genes, which was confirmed by qRT-PCR. We also observed compromised cell death in the midgut of homozygous larvae and a reduction in pupation. Our results strongly indicated that GBA1a-encoded protein plays a role in midgut maturation during larvae development.
Genome-Wide Identification of U-To-C RNA Editing Events for Nuclear Genes in Arabidopsis thaliana
Authors: Ruchika  , Okudaira Chisato , Sakari Matomo , Tsukahara Toshifumi
Published: March 2021

Cytosine-to-Uridine (C-to-U) RNA editing involves the deamination phenomenon, which is observed in animal nucleus and plant organelles; however, it has been considered the U-to-C is confined to the organelles of limited non-angiosperm plant species. Although previous RNA-seq-based analysis implied U-to-C RNA editing events in plant nuclear genes, it has not been broadly accepted due to inadequate confirmatory analyses. Here we examined the U-to-C RNA editing in Arabidopsis tissues at different developmental stages of growth. In this study, the high-throughput RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) of 12-day-old and 20-day-old Arabidopsis seedlings was performed, which enabled transcriptome-wide identification of RNA editing sites to analyze differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and nucleotide base conversions. The results showed that DEGs were expressed to higher levels in 12-day-old seedlings than in 20-day-old seedlings. Additionally, pentatricopeptide repeat (PPR) genes were also expressed at higher levels, as indicated by the log2FC values. RNA-seq analysis of 12-day- and 20-day-old Arabidopsis seedlings revealed candidates of U-to-C RNA editing events. Sanger sequencing of both DNA and cDNA for all candidate nucleotide conversions confirmed the seven U-to-C RNA editing sites. This work clearly demonstrated presence of U-to-C RNA editing for nuclear genes in Arabidopsis, which provides the basis to study the mechanism as well as the functions of the unique post-transcriptional modification.
Performance of Exterior Wood Coatings in Temperate Climates
Authors: Davis Kent , Leavengood Scott , Morrell Jeffrey J.
Published: March 2021

Wood used in exposed exterior applications degrades and changes color due to weathering. Expanded use of mass timber is resulting in architects increasingly designing structures with wood in exterior exposure. Coatings can reduce the effects of weathering and prolong the visual characteristics of wood. However, coating performance depends on a variety of factors including the blend of resins, oils, pigments, and binders. Coating manufacturers often claim superior performance for products, but data directly comparing different coatings on different species is rarely publicly available. Premature coating failure increases long-term building maintenance expense while potentially enhancing biological degradation and reducing service life. This study compares the performance of 12 exterior wood coatings on 5 wood species. Performance was evaluated according to changes in the components in the International Commission on Illumination (CIE) L*a*b* color space of images taken at 6-month intervals over 18 months of the wood samples. The analysis was performed using Welch’s ANOVA, Games-Howell pairwise comparisons tests, and a clustering procedure using distances between each pair of groups means for the 18 months ΔL*, Δa*, Δb* values. Most of the coatings lost their protective effects within 1 year of exposure due to combinations of biological and ultraviolet radiation (UV) degradation illustrating the difficulty of protecting timber in exterior exposures. This study provides a guide for users wishing to specify coatings for exposed wood in mass timber structures.
Dip-Coating Approach to Fabricate Durable PDMS/STA/SiO2 Superhydrophobic Polyester Fabrics
Authors: Liu Xiaoli , Gu Youcai , Mi Tengfei , Wang Xiaomei , Zhang Xu
Published: March 2021

The facile, simple, highly efficient, and fluorine-free fabrication of superhydrophobic surfaces on fabrics with high durability has attracted considerable attention because of its urgent practical application. The simple dip-coating method was adopted to make a stable and durable polydimethylsiloxane/stearic acid/silica (PDMS/STA/SiO2) superhydrophobic fabric. The fabric’s surface morphology, roughness, and composition were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, respectively. The PDMS/STA/SiO2-coated fabric: demonstrated strong superhydrophobicity (a water contact angle (WCA) of around 163°), efficiently repelled different liquids (milk, coffee, orange juice, Coca-Cola, and 1 M of HCl and NaOH) with a contact angle above 155°, had excellent self-cleaning performance, and retained superhydrophobicity with a WCA greater than 150° after 72 h of ultraviolet irradiation and 700 cycles of mechanical abrasion. The PDMS/STA/SiO2 coating had few influences on the color fastness of the fabric. Superhydrophobic coatings are expected to be practically applied in the textile industry.
A Geometric Approach to Noisy EDM Resolution in FTM Measurements
Authors: Henry Jerome , Montavont Nicolas , Busnel Yann , Ludinard Romaric , Hrasko Ivan
Published: March 2021

Metric Multidimensional Scaling is commonly used to solve multi-sensor location problems in 2D or 3D spaces. In this paper, we show that such technique provides poor results in the case of indoor location problems based on 802.11 Fine Timing Measurements, because the number of anchors is small and the ranging error asymmetrically distributed. We then propose a two-step iterative approach based on geometric resolution of angle inaccuracies. The first step reduces the effect of poor ranging exchanges. The second step reconstructs the anchor positions, starting from the distances of highest likely-accuracy. We show that this geometric approach provides better location accuracy results than other Euclidean Distance Metric techniques based on Least Square Error logic. We also show that the proposed technique, with the input of one or more known location, can allow a set of fixed sensors to auto-determine their position on a floor plan.
Relationships between the Structural, Vibrational, and Optical Properties of Microporous Cancrinite
Authors: Shendrik Roman , Kaneva Ekaterina , Radomskaya Tatiana , Sharygin Igor , Marfin Alexander
Published: March 2021

The crystal-chemical, vibrational, and optical properties of microporous aluminosilicate cancrinite have been investigated by combining electron probe microanalysis, single-crystal X-ray diffraction, infrared (IR) absorption, Raman, UV-Visible absorption, and electron spin resonance spectroscopy. The behavior of the peaks in the IR spectra was also studied during the dehydration of the sample. The analyzed sample has the following unit cell parameters (P63): a = 12.63189(14) Å, c = 5.13601(7) Å. The empirical formula, based on 12(Si + Al), is Na6.47Ca1.23K0.01[Al5.97Si6.03O24] (CO3)1.45(SO4)0.03Cl0.01·2H2O. The Al-Si framework of AB-type is formed by columns of based-shared “cancrinite” (CAN) cages, containing Na and H2O positions located on the 3-fold axis, and channels with CO3 groups, lying in two mutually exclusive and partially occupied positions in the center of the channel, and split Na/Ca cation sites. The revealed characteristics are somewhat different in comparison with the cancrinite structural features previously described in the literature. Studied crystals change color from grayish-pink to blue after X-ray irradiation (104 Gy). The blue color of the irradiated cancrinite is caused by the formation (CO3)−● radicals in the crystals. Combining the results obtained using the selected methods will provide a better understanding of the relationships between the structural, chemical, and optical-physical properties of microporous aluminosilicates.
Simple and Acid-Free Hydrothermal Synthesis of Bioactive Glass 58SiO2-33CaO-9P2O5 (wt%)
Authors: Anh Tuan Ta , V. Guseva Elena , Anh Tien Nguyen , Tan Dat Ho , Vuong Bui Xuan
Published: March 2021

The paper focuses on the acid-free hydrothermal process for the synthesis of bioactive glass. The new method avoids the use of harmful acid catalysts, which are usually used in the sol-gel process. On the other hand, the processing time was reduced compared with the sol-gel method. A well-known ternary bioactive glass 58SiO2-33CaO-9P2O5 (wt%), which has been widely synthesized through the sol-gel method, was selected to apply to this new process. Thermal behavior, textural property, phase composition, morphology, and ionic exchange were investigated by thermal analysis, N2 adsorption/desorption, XRD, FTIR, SEM, and inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES) analysis. The bioactivity and biocompatibility of synthetic bioactive glass were evaluated by in vitro experiments with a simulated body fluid (SBF) solution and cell culture medium. The obtained results confirmed that the acid-free hydrothermal process is one of the ideal methods for preparing ternary bioactive glass.
The Effect of Digital Device Usage on Student Academic Performance: A Case Study
Authors: Limniou Maria
Published: March 2021

The aim of this investigation was to explore student behaviour when students brought their own digital devices into a lecture theatre. A total of 361 undergraduate psychology students from the University of Liverpool who used at least one digital device during lecture time fully completed an online questionnaire (159 first-, 124 second- and 78 third-year psychology students) during the 2018–2019 academic year. Although all the three years of undergraduate students brought laptops and/or smartphones into a lecture theatre, there was no significant difference in academic performance over the years of studies. The findings have linked student multitasking processes in a lecture theatre to Social Cognitive Theory principles (reciprocal interactions between behaviours, learning environment, and individuals). There was a significant difference between the three years regarding the use of applications and student characteristics after controlling for the different types of devices. Students who used only one application during lecture time were more likely to achieve higher academic performance as they were less distracted from their primary tasks of processing and retaining information. Overall, this investigation concluded the importance of reconsidering the teaching delivery process so as to avoid students’ escapism using devices during lecture theatres due to their engagement level and lecture norm pressures.
STEAM-Learning to Mars: Students’ Ideas of Space Research
Authors: Piila Erna , Salmi Hannu , Thuneberg Helena
Published: March 2021

Multidisciplinarity and the enrichment of science and mathematics education toward the so-called STEAM-approach where the A stands for art, has raised a lot of academic interest in the past decade. In this study, 5th and 6th graders from the greater Helsinki area (N = 390) participated in a several months long, Mars-colonization themed STEAM-learning intervention. Testing the students’ science knowledge using pre- and post-tests, their learning outcomes were compared to those of 5th and 6th graders from a control school (N = 119), who during the same period studied STEM-subjects in a more traditional manner. The main factors that were taken into account during the comparisons were gender and academic achievement level. Based on only whether there was any improvement between the pre- and post-test scores, girls were found to have benefitted from the Mars-module more than boys did. While also considering the magnitude of the said improvement, no significant difference in the effectiveness of the learning module was found between genders. The group of academically highest-achieving students improved their test scores the most after participating in the STEAM-learning module. This is an important, somewhat surprising finding, as often informal, outside of school learning has been found to benefit especially students with lower grade point averages.
Preparation of Li3PS4–Li3PO4 Solid Electrolytes by Liquid-Phase Shaking for All-Solid-State Batteries
Authors: Phuc Nguyen H. H. , Maeda Takaki , Yamamoto Tokoharu , Muto Hiroyuki , Matsuda Atsunori
Published: March 2021

A solid solution of a 100Li3PS4·xLi3PO4 solid electrolyte was easily prepared by liquid-phase synthesis. Instead of the conventional solid-state synthesis methods, ethyl propionate was used as the reaction medium. The initial stage of the reaction among Li2S, P2S5 and Li3PO4 was proved by ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy. The powder X-ray diffraction (XRD) results showed that the solid solution was formed up to x = 6. At x = 20, XRD peaks of Li3PO4 were detected in the prepared sample after heat treatment at 170 °C. However, the samples obtained at room temperature showed no evidence of Li3PO4 remaining for x = 20. Solid phosphorus-31 magic angle spinning nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy results proved the formation of a POS33− unit in the sample with x = 6. Improvements of ionic conductivity at room temperature and activation energy were obtained with the formation of the solid solution. The sample with x = 6 exhibited a better stability against Li metal than that with x = 0. The all-solid-state half-cell employing the sample with x = 6 at the positive electrode exhibited a better charge–discharge capacity than that employing the sample with x = 0.
EREBOTS: Privacy-Compliant Agent-Based Platform for Multi-Scenario Personalized Health-Assistant Chatbots
Authors: Calvaresi Davide , Calbimonte Jean-Paul , Siboni Enrico , Eggenschwiler Stefan , Manzo Gaetano , Hilfiker Roger , Schumacher Michael
Published: March 2021

Context. Asynchronous messaging is increasingly used to support human–machine interactions, generally implemented through chatbots. Such virtual entities assist the users in activities of different kinds (e.g., work, leisure, and health-related) and are becoming ingrained into humans’ habits due to factors including (i) the availability of mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets, (ii) the increasingly engaging nature of chatbot interactions, (iii) the release of dedicated APIs from messaging platforms, and (iv) increasingly complex AI-based mechanisms to power the bots’ behaviors. Nevertheless, most of the modern chatbots rely on state machines (implementing conversational rules) and one-fits-all approaches, neglecting personalization, data-stream privacy management, multi-topic management/interconnection, and multimodal interactions. Objective. This work addresses the challenges above through an agent-based framework for chatbot development named EREBOTS. Methods. The foundations of the framework are based on the implementation of (i) multi-front-end connectors and interfaces (i.e., Telegram, dedicated App, and web interface), (ii) enabling the configuration of multi-scenario behaviors (i.e., preventive physical conditioning, smoking cessation, and support for breast-cancer survivors), (iii) online learning, (iv) personalized conversations and recommendations (i.e., mood boost, anti-craving persuasion, and balance-preserving physical exercises), and (v) responsive multi-device monitoring interface (i.e., doctor and admin). Results. EREBOTS has been tested in the context of physical balance preservation in social confinement times (due to the ongoing pandemic). Thirteen individuals characterized by diverse age, gender, and country distribution have actively participated in the experimentation, reporting advancements in the physical balance and overall satisfaction of the interaction and exercises’ variety they have been proposed.
Coarse-Grained Reconfigurable Computing with the Versat Architecture
Authors: Lopes João D. , Véstias Mário P. , Duarte  Rui Policarpo , Neto Horácio C. , de Sousa  José T.
Published: March 2021

Reconfigurable computing architectures allow the adaptation of the underlying datapath to the algorithm. The granularity of the datapath elements and data width determines the granularity of the architecture and its programming flexibility. Coarse-grained architectures have shown the right balance between programmability and performance. This paper provides an overview of coarse-grained reconfigurable architectures and describes Versat, a Coarse-Grained Reconfigurable Array (CGRA) with self-generated partial reconfiguration, presented as a case study for better understanding these architectures. Unlike most of the existing approaches, which mainly use pre-compiled configurations, a Versat program can generate and apply myriads of on-the-fly configurations. Partial reconfiguration plays a central role in this approach, as it speeds up the generation of incrementally different configurations. The reconfigurable array has a complete graph topology, which yields unprecedented programmability, including assembly programming. Besides being useful for optimising programs, assembly programming is invaluable for working around post-silicon hardware, software, or compiler issues. Results on core area, frequency, power, and performance running different codes are presented and compared to other implementations.
Performance Analysis of Multi-Task Deep Learning Models for Flux Regression in Discrete Fracture Networks
Authors: Berrone Stefano , Della Santa Francesco
Published: March 2021

In this work, we investigate the sensitivity of a family of multi-task Deep Neural Networks (DNN) trained to predict fluxes through given Discrete Fracture Networks (DFNs), stochastically varying the fracture transmissivities. In particular, detailed performance and reliability analyses of more than two hundred Neural Networks (NN) are performed, training the models on sets of an increasing number of numerical simulations made on several DFNs with two fixed geometries (158 fractures and 385 fractures) and different transmissibility configurations. A quantitative evaluation of the trained NN predictions is proposed, and rules fitting the observed behavior are provided to predict the number of training simulations that are required for a given accuracy with respect to the variability in the stochastic distribution of the fracture transmissivities. A rule for estimating the cardinality of the training dataset for different configurations is proposed. From the analysis performed, an interesting regularity of the NN behaviors is observed, despite the stochasticity that imbues the whole training process. The proposed approach can be relevant for the use of deep learning models as model reduction methods in the framework of uncertainty quantification analysis for fracture networks and can be extended to similar geological problems (for example, to the more complex discrete fracture matrix models). The results of this study have the potential to grant concrete advantages to real underground flow characterization problems, making computational costs less expensive through the use of NNs.
Design, Development and Applicability Evaluation of a Digital Cartographic Model for 3D Cadastre Mapping in China
Authors: Wang Chen , Yu Chang-bin
Published: March 2021

Structurally describing the portrayal-related information by using a standalone Digital Cartographic Model on top of a Digital Landscape Model has been proved applicable and beneficial for 2D mapping but has not yet been applied to 3D cadastre. This study, therefore, evaluates the applicability of digital cartographic model and the corresponding visualization pipeline for 3D cadastre in the context of Chinese urban cadastre. This research starts by identifying the requirements and design features of 3D cadastre mapping through a literature review and interviews with users and cartographers. Addressing the limitations of the existing general-purpose models, this paper proposes an ad hoc 3D cadastre digital cartographic model. The main developments of the proposed model are the inclusion of 3D content modeling, the support of the compound 3D symbols, and the introduction of the semantic transformation. The proposed model is then embedded into three parts of the cadastre visualization pipeline: the symbolic rule design, graphic content creation, and scene dissemination. The empirical result of qualitative proof-of-concept user tests supports that the proposed visualization pipeline is applicable and yields promising visualization results. The digital cartographic model-based visualization pipeline is a novel 3D cadastre mapping paradigm that facilitates designing, producing, sharing, and administrating.
Mental Health and Perceived Access to Care among People Who Inject Drugs in Athens, Greece
Authors: Pampaka Despina , Pantavou Katerina , Giallouros George , Pavlitina Eirini , Williams Leslie D. , Piovani Daniele , Bonovas Stefanos , Nikolopoulos Georgios K.
Published: March 2021

Poor mental health among human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-positive people who inject drugs (PWID) may contribute to stigma, and together they act as barriers to medical care. This analysis aims to examine factors associated with the mental health of PWID and their network contacts, and the association of poor mental health with the experience of HIV-related stigmatizing events, with HIV-related social support, and with perceived access to care. Data were collected during the Transmission Reduction Intervention Project (TRIP) conducted in Athens, Greece (2013–2015). PWID (n = 292; n = 122 HIV-positive) were interviewed both at baseline and follow-up. Items of depression, anxiety, and general positive affect subscales of the Mental Health Inventory were used to explore the psychological distress and well-being of participants at follow-up. Items of the Access to Care Scale were used to evaluate perceived access to medical care at baseline and follow-up. Linear regression showed that unemployment was positively related to depression (β = 1.49, p = 0.019), while injecting drug use was a risk factor for a low general positive affect score (β = −3.21, p = 0.015). Poor mental health was not linked to HIV-related stigma or social support. Positive perception of access to care was associated in multivariable analyses with low depression (β = −0.22, p = 0.049). The perceived access to care score improved from baseline to follow-up (p = 0.019) and HIV-positive participants had a higher score than HIV-negative participants. Future interventions should include targets to improve the mental well-being of participants, reduce psychosocial distress, and minimize perceived barriers to accessing medical care.
A Validation Employing Convolutional Neural Network for the Radiographic Detection of Absence or Presence of Teeth
Authors: Prados-Privado María , García Villalón Javier , Blázquez Torres Antonio , Martínez-Martínez Carlos Hugo , Ivorra Carlos
Published: March 2021

Dental radiography plays an important role in clinical diagnosis, treatment and making decisions. In recent years, efforts have been made on developing techniques to detect objects in images. The aim of this study was to detect the absence or presence of teeth using an effective convolutional neural network, which reduces calculation times and has success rates greater than 95%. A total of 8000 dental panoramic images were collected. Each image and each tooth was categorized, independently and manually, by two experts with more than three years of experience in general dentistry. The neural network used consists of two main layers: object detection and classification, which is the support of the previous one. A Matterport Mask RCNN was employed in the object detection. A ResNet (Atrous Convolution) was employed in the classification layer. The neural model achieved a total loss of 0.76% (accuracy of 99.24%). The architecture used in the present study returned an almost perfect accuracy in detecting teeth on images from different devices and different pathologies and ages.
Trunk Muscle Mass Measured by Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis Reflecting the Cross-Sectional Area of the Paravertebral Muscles and Back Muscle Strength: A Cross-Sectional Analysis of a Prospective Cohort Study of Elderly Population
Authors: Salimi Hamidullah , Ohyama Shoichiro , Terai Hidetomi , Hori Yusuke , Takahashi Shinji , Hoshino Masatoshi , Yabu Akito , Habibi Hasibullah , Kobayashi Akio , Tsujio Tadao , Kotake Shiro , Nakamura Hiroaki
Published: March 2021

Trunk muscles play an important role in supporting the spinal column. A decline in trunk muscle mass, as measured by bioelectrical impedance analysis (TMM–BIA), is associated with low back pain and poor quality of life. The purpose of this study was to determine whether TMM–BIA correlates with quantitative and functional assessments traditionally used for the trunk muscles. We included 380 participants (aged ≥ 65 years; 152 males, 228 females) from the Shiraniwa Elderly Cohort (Shiraniwa) study, for whom the following data were available: TMM–BIA, lumbar magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and back muscle strength (BMS). We measured the cross-sectional area (CSA) and fat-free CSA of the paravertebral muscles (PVM), including the erector spinae (ES), multifidus (MF), and psoas major (PM), on an axial lumbar MRI at L3/4. The correlation between TMM–BIA and the CSA of PVM, fat-free CSA of PVM, and BMS was investigated. TMM–BIA correlated with the CSA of total PVM and each individual PVM. A stronger correlation between TMM–BIA and fat-free CSA of PVM was observed. The TMM–BIA also strongly correlated with BMS. TMM–BIA is an easy and reliable way to evaluate the trunk muscle mass in a clinical setting.
White Blood Cells and Severe COVID-19: A Mendelian Randomization Study
Authors: Sun Yitang , Zhou Jingqi , Ye Kaixiong
Published: March 2021

Increasing evidence shows that white blood cells are associated with the risk of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), but the direction and causality of this association are not clear. To evaluate the causal associations between various white blood cell traits and the COVID-19 susceptibility and severity, we conducted two-sample bidirectional Mendelian Randomization (MR) analyses with summary statistics from the largest and most recent genome-wide association studies. Our MR results indicated causal protective effects of higher basophil count, basophil percentage of white blood cells, and myeloid white blood cell count on severe COVID-19, with odds ratios (OR) per standard deviation increment of 0.75 (95% CI: 0.60–0.95), 0.70 (95% CI: 0.54–0.92), and 0.85 (95% CI: 0.73–0.98), respectively. Neither COVID-19 severity nor susceptibility was associated with white blood cell traits in our reverse MR results. Genetically predicted high basophil count, basophil percentage of white blood cells, and myeloid white blood cell count are associated with a lower risk of developing severe COVID-19. Individuals with a lower genetic capacity for basophils are likely at risk, while enhancing the production of basophils may be an effective therapeutic strategy.
A Quantitative Framework for Measuring Personalized Medicine Integration into US Healthcare Delivery Organizations
Authors: Agarwal Arushi , Pritchard Daryl , Gullett Laura , Amanti Kristen Garner , Gustavsen Gary
Published: March 2021

Personalized medicine (PM) approaches have revolutionized healthcare delivery by offering new insights that enable healthcare providers to select the optimal treatment approach for their patients. However, despite the consensus that these approaches have significant value, implementation across the US is highly variable. In order to address barriers to widespread PM adoption, a comprehensive and methodical approach to assessing the current level of PM integration within a given organization and the broader healthcare system is needed. A quantitative framework encompassing a multifactorial approach to assessing PM adoption has been developed and used to generate a rating of PM integration in 153 organizations across the US. The results suggest significant heterogeneity in adoption levels but also some consistent themes in what defines a high-performing organization, including the sophistication of data collected, data sharing practices, and the level of internal funding committed to supporting PM initiatives. A longitudinal approach to data collection will be valuable to track continued progress and adapt to new challenges and barriers to PM adoption as they arise.
The Effects of Shot Distance and Impact Sequence on the Residual Stress Field in Shot Peening Finite Element Model
Authors: Wang Zhou , Shi Ming , Gan Jin , Wang Xiaoli , Yang Ying , Ren Xudong
Published: March 2021

In order to investigate the effect of shot distance and impact sequence on the residual stress distribution of 42CrMo steel in shot peening (SP) finite element (FE) simulation, 3D dynamic models with order dimple pattern and stochastic dimple pattern were established via ABAQUS/Explicit 6.14, and the simulation results were compared with experiments. The results show that shot overlap has a significant effect on the residual stress distribution of peened parts. Meanwhile, there is a threshold (related to SP parameter) for shot distance in the vertical and horizontal directions. When the shot distance is greater than the threshold in this direction, the residual stress distribution after SP tends to be stable. The impact sequence has almost no effect on the impact of a small number of shots, but this effect will appear when the number of shots increases. It is necessary to avoid shot overlap and continuous impact of adjacent dimples when the FE model is established; on this basis, the distance between shots and the number of layers of the shots can be reduced as much as possible without affecting the residual stress distribution. In addition, the comparison of simulation and experimental results shows that the residual stress evaluation area consistent with the experimental measurement is essential to obtain accurate residual stress distribution in the FE simulation process.
Nanometer Pore Structure Characterization of Taiyuan Formation Shale in the Lin-Xing Area Based on Nitrogen Adsorption Experiments
Authors: Ding Chenlong , He Jinxian , Wu Hongchen , Zhang Xiaoli
Published: March 2021

Ordos Basin is an important continental shale gas exploration site in China. The micropore structure of the shale reservoir is of great importance for shale gas evaluation. The Taiyuan Formation of the lower Permian is the main exploration interval for this area. To examine the nanometer pore structures in the Taiyuan Formation shale reservoirs in the Lin-Xing area, Northern Shaanxi, the microscopic pore structure characteristics were analyzed via nitrogen adsorption experiments. The pore structure parameters, such as specific surface area, pore volume, and aperture distribution, of shale were calculated; the significance of the pore structure for shale gas storage was analyzed; and the main controlling factors of pore development were assessed. The results indicated the surface area and hole volume of the shale sample to be 0.141–2.188 m2/g and 0.001398–0.008718 cm3/g, respectively. According to the IUPAC (International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry) classification, mesopores and macropores were dominant in the pore structure, with the presence of a certain number of micropores. The adsorption curves were similar to the standard IV (a)-type isotherm line, and the hysteresis loop type was mainly similar to H3 and H4 types, indicating that most pores are dominated by open type pores, such as parallel plate-shaped pores and wedge-shaped slit pores. The micropores and mesopores provide the vast majority of the specific surface area, functioning as the main area for the adsorption of gas in the shale. The mesopores and macropores provide the vast majority of the pore volume, functioning as the main storage areas for the gas in the shale. Total organic carbon had no notable linear correlation with the total pore volume and the specific surface area. Vitrinite reflectance (Ro) had no notable correlation with the specific surface area, but did have a low “U” curve correlation with the total pore volume. There was no relationship between the quartz content and specific surface area and total pore volume. In addition, there was no notable correlation between the clay mineral content and total specific surface area and total pore volume.
Chrysin Derivative CM1 and Exhibited Anti-Inflammatory Action by Upregulating Toll-Interacting Protein Expression in Lipopolysaccharide-Stimulated RAW264.7 Macrophage Cells
Authors: Byun Eui-Baek , Song Ha-Yeon , Kim Woo Sik , Han Jeong Moo , Seo Ho Seong , Park Woo Yong , Kim Kwangwook , Byun Eui-Hong
Published: March 2021

Although our previous study revealed that gamma-irradiated chrysin enhanced anti-inflammatory activity compared to intact chrysin, it remains unclear whether the chrysin derivative, CM1, produced by gamma irradiation, negatively regulates toll-like receptor (TLR) signaling. In this study, we investigated the molecular basis for the downregulation of TLR4 signal transduction by CM1 in macrophages. We initially determined the appropriate concentration of CM1 and found no cellular toxicity below 2 μg/mL. Upon stimulation with lipopolysaccharide (LPS), CM1 modulated LPS-stimulated inflammatory action by suppressing the release of proinflammatory mediators (cytokines TNF-α and IL-6) and nitric oxide (NO) and downregulated the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) signaling pathways. Furthermore, CM1 markedly elevated the expression of the TLR negative regulator toll-interacting protein (Tollip) in dose- and time-dependent manners. LPS-induced expression of cell surface molecules (CD80, CD86, and MHC class I/II), proinflammatory cytokines (TNF-α and IL-6), COX-2, and iNOS-mediated NO were inhibited by CM1; these effects were prevented by the knockdown of Tollip expression. Additionally, CM1 did not affect the downregulation of LPS-induced expression of MAPKs and NF-κB signaling in Tollip-downregulated cells. These findings provide insight into effective therapeutic intervention of inflammatory disease by increasing the understanding of the negative regulation of TLR signaling induced by CM1.
Deformation Potentials: Towards a Systematic Way beyond the Atomic Fragment Approach in Orbital-Free Density Functional Theory
Authors: Finzel Kati
Published: March 2021

This work presents a method to move beyond the recently introduced atomic fragment approximation. Like the bare atomic fragment approach, the new method is an ab initio, parameter-free, orbital-free implementation of density functional theory based on the bifunctional formalism that treats the potential and the electron density as two separate variables, and provides access to the Kohn–Sham Pauli kinetic energy for an appropriately chosen Pauli potential. In the present ansatz, the molecular Pauli potential is approximated by the sum of the bare atomic fragment approach, and a so-called deformation potential that takes the interaction between the atoms into account. It is shown that this model can reproduce the bond-length contraction due to multiple bonding within the list of second-row homonuclear dimers. The present model only relies on the electron densities of the participating atoms, which themselves are represented by a simple monopole expansion. Thus, the bond-length contraction can be rationalized without referring to the angular quantum numbers of the participating atoms.
Novel IMB16-4 Compound Loaded into Silica Nanoparticles Exhibits Enhanced Oral Bioavailability and Increased Anti-Liver Fibrosis In Vitro
Authors: Niu Xia , Wang Xiaomei , Niu Bingyu , Li Guoqing , Yang Xinyi , Wang Yucheng , Li Guiling
Published: March 2021

Background: Liver fibrosis, as a common and refractory disease, is challenging to treat due to the lack of effective agents worldwide. Recently, we have developed a novel compound, N-(3,4,5-trichlorophenyl)-2(3-nitrobenzenesulfonamide) benzamide (IMB16-4), which is expected to have good potential effects against liver fibrosis. However, IMB16-4 is water-insoluble and has very low bioavailability. Methods: Mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) were selected as drug carriers for the purpose of increasing the dissolution of IMB16-4, as well as improving its oral bioavailability and inhibiting liver fibrosis. The physical states of IMB16-4 and IMB16-4-MSNs were investigated using nitrogen adsorption, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), HPLC, UV-Vis, X-ray diffraction (XRD) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Results: The results show that MSNs enhanced the dissolution rate of IMB16-4 significantly. IMB16-4-MSNs reduced cytotoxicity at high concentrations of IMB16-4 on human hepatic stellate cells LX-2 cells and improved oral bioavailability up to 530% compared with raw IMB16-4 on Sprague–Dawley (SD) rats. In addition, IMB16-4-MSNs repressed hepatic fibrogenesis by decreasing the expression of hepatic fibrogenic markers, including α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β1) and matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP2) in LX-2 cells. Conclusions: These results provided powerful information on the use of IMB16-4-MSNs for the treatment of liver fibrosis in the future.
Green Synthesis of Nickel Oxide Nanoparticles from Berberis balochistanica Stem for Investigating Bioactivities
Authors: Uddin Siraj , Safdar Luqman Bin , Anwar Saeed , Iqbal Javed , Laila Sabiha , Abbasi Banzeer Ahsan , Saif Muhammad Saqib , Ali Musrat , Rehman Abdul , Basit Abdul , Wang Yong , Quraishi Umar Masood
Published: March 2021

Green synthesis of nanomaterials is advancing due to its ease of synthesis, inexpensiveness, nontoxicity and renewability. In the present study, an eco-friendly biogenic method was developed for the green synthesis of nickel oxide nanoparticles (NiONPs) using phytochemically rich Berberis balochistanica stem (BBS) extract. The BBS extract was rich in phenolics, flavonoids and berberine. These phytochemicals successfully reduced and stabilised the NiNO3 (green) into NiONPs (greenish-gray). BBS-NiONPs were confirmed by using UV-visible spectroscopy (peak at 305 nm), X-ray diffraction (size of 31.44 nm), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (identified -OH group and Ni-O formation), energy dispersive spectroscopy (showed specified elemental nature) and scanning electron microscopy (showed rhombohedral agglomerated shape). BBS-NiONPs were exposed to multiple in vitro bioactivities to ascertain their beneficial biological applications. They exhibited strong antioxidant activities: total antioxidant capacity (64.77%) and 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (71.48%); and cytotoxic potential: Brine shrimp cytotoxicity assay with IC50 (10.40 µg/mL). BBS-NiONPs restricted the bacterial and fungal pathogenic growths at 1000, 500 and 100 µg/mL. Additionally, BBS-NiONPs showed stimulatory efficacy by enhancing seed germination rate and seedling growth at 31.25 and 62.5 µg/mL. In aggregate, BBS extract has a potent antioxidant activity which makes the green biosynthesis of NiONPs easy, economical and safe. The biochemical potential of BBS-NiONPs can be useful in various biomedical and agricultural fields.
Thermodynamic Properties Investigation of Process Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) and Its Transport Impact Factor in Oil Sands Management
Authors: Yuan Jing , Sun Yuyong , Jia Yong , Zhang Qianfeng
Published: March 2021

This paper presents a new approach for the determination of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) characteristics and their migration influencing factors in oil sands management processes and reveals the relationship between different asphaltene content and different solvents. Specifically, thermodynamic (i.e., partitioning coefficients, Kr, specific retention volume, Vg, the activity coefficients, γ and enthalpy of solution, ΔH0) and their impact factors are discussed. Gas-liquid chromatography (GLC) experimental measurements were used as the test data. A range of solvents (nC5, iC5, nC6, nC7, and Toluene) has been tested in different asphalt contents (0, 2.56, 9.93, 36.86, 53.67 wt%). There are temperatures in the range of 333.2–393.2 K (with 10 K increase) were conducted, respectively. The dynamics properties of asphalt mixture are calculated, and the relation between dynamics properties of asphalt mixture and absolute temperature, asphalt content and solvent type is discussed. The results show that within the acceptable error range, partitioning coefficients, Kr, specific retention volume, Vg, and enthalpy of solution, ΔH0 and other thermodynamic properties have a good tendency to predict, they decrease with the increase in asphaltene content and temperature and increase with the increase in solute carbon number.
Effects of Nine-Month Lifestyle Intervention on Cardiometabolic Risk Factors: Sex Differences in Obese Individuals
Authors: Besnier Florent , Nigam Anil , Juneau Martin , Guilbeault Valérie , Latour Elise , Gayda Mathieu
Published: March 2021

Limited data is available on the sex differences and individual responses of cardiometabolic parameters adjusted with potential confounders (i.e. sex, age, baseline values) after a longer term Mediterranean diet (MedD) and high intensity interval training (HIIT) in obese subjects. The objective of this study was to compare the effects of nine-month MedD counseling and supervised HIIT on cardiometabolic risk factors and individual responses in obese women (n = 99) and obese men (n = 35). Body composition (body mass, fat mass, lean body mass, waist circumference), cardiorespiratory fitness (METs), and cardiometabolic risk factors (blood pressure, blood sample variables) were measured at baseline and after nine months of a program combining MedD and HIIT two to three times a week. When adjusted with sex, age, and baseline values, obese women similarly improved their body composition, METs, and cardiometabolic risk factors vs. obese men. The proportion of responders according to clinical cutoff levels were the same in obese women and men. A longer MedD and HIIT intervention similarly improves body composition, cardiometabolic risk factors, and individual responses in obese women and men, even after adjustment of confounders (sex, age, baseline value).
Occurrence of Echinococcusgranulosussensulato and Other Taeniids in Bhutan
Authors: Sharma Puspa M. , Thapa Nirmal K. , Tshomo Pema , Dema Tshewang , Alvarez Rojas Cristian A. , Tenzin Tenzin , Gurung Ratna B. , Norbu Tshering , Lhatru Lhatru , Namgyel Phurpa , Jamtsho Chimi , Dukpa Kinzang , Phuentshok Yoenten , Sharma Krishna P. , Pelden Sonam , Deplazes Peter
Published: March 2021

The present research shows the results of a national study documenting the occurrence and genetic diversity of Echinococcus and Taenia species across Bhutan. Environmental dog faecal samples (n = 953) were collected from 2016 to 2018 in all 20 Bhutanese districts, mainly in urbanised areas. Cystic echinococcosis cysts were isolated from 13 humans and one mithun (Bos frontalis). Isolation of taeniid eggs from faeces was performed by sieving/flotation technique, followed by DNA isolation, PCR and sequence analyses for species identification (gene target: small subunit of ribosomal RNA). Genetic diversity of E. granulosuss.s. was based on the sequence (1609 bp) of the cox1 gene. A total of 67 out of 953 (7%) dog faecal samples were positive for at least one taeniid species. From the 670 free-roaming dog faecal samples, 40 (5.9%) were positive for taeniid DNA, 22 (3.2%) of them were identified as E. granulosuss.s. and four (0.5%) as E. ortleppi (G5). From the 283 faecal samples originating from yak-grazing areas, 27 (9.5%) were taeniid positive, including eight (2.8%) infected with E. granulosuss.s. and four (1.4%) with E. ortleppi. E. granulosuss.s. was identified in all isolates from human and the cyst from mithun. A haplotype network (cox1 gene) from E. granulosuss.s, including isolates from 12 dogs, two human and one mithun, revealed eight different haplotypes. The most common cox1 haplotype was the globally distributed Eg01, followed by Eg40 and Eg37 (previously described in China). Five new cox1 haplotypes (EgBhu1–5) originated from human, dogs, and a mithun were identified. The study indicated the contamination of urban areas and pastures with Echinococcus eggs in seven districts in Bhutan. The molecular characterisation of E. granulosuss.l. revealed different E. granulosuss.s. haplotypes as well as E. ortleppi. The transmission of T. multiceps was documented only in the western part of the country. Considering the zoonotic feature of E. granulosus s.s. and E. ortleppi and the economic impact of coenurosis caused by T. multiceps (also known as gid) in Bhutan, the findings of this study represent a significant contribution towards an epidemiological baseline for the establishment of a national control programme.
Harnessing a Transient Gene Expression System in Nicotiana benthamiana to Explore Plant Agrochemical Transporters
Authors: Wu Bingqi , Chen Zhiting , Xu Xiaohui , Chen Ronghua , Wang Siwei , Xu Hanhong , Lin Fei
Published: March 2021

Functional characterization of plant agrichemical transporters provided an opportunity to discover molecules that have a high mobility in plants and have the potential to increase the amount of pesticides reaching damage sites. Agrobacterium-mediated transient expression in tobacco is simple and fast, and its protein expression efficiency is high; this system is generally used to mediate heterologous gene expression. In this article, transient expression of tobacco nicotine uptake permease (NtNUP1) and rice polyamine uptake transporter 1 (OsPUT1) in Nicotiana benthamiana was performed to investigate whether this system is useful as a platform for studying the interactions between plant transporters and pesticides. The results showed that NtNUP1 increases nicotine uptake in N. benthamiana foliar discs and protoplasts, indicating that this transient gene expression system is feasible for studying gene function. Moreover, yeast expression of OsPUT1 apparently increases methomyl uptake. Overall, this method of constructing a transient gene expression system is useful for improving the efficiency of analyzing the functions of plant heterologous transporter-encoding genes and revealed that this system can be further used to study the functions of transporters and pesticides, especially their interactions.