bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Exocrine Chemistry of the Parasitic Wasp Sphecophaga orientalis and Its Host Vespa orientalis: A Case of Chemical Deception?
Authors: Dubiner Shahar , Cohen Nitzan , Volov Mika , Hefetz Abraham , Seltzer Rya , Levin Eran
Published: December 2020

The main challenge facing a parasite of social insects lies in deceiving its host’s detection and defense systems in order to enter and survive within the host colony. Sphecophaga orientalis is an ichneumonid wasp that parasitizes the pupae of the Oriental hornet Vespa orientalis. In Israel’s Mediterranean region, this parasitoid infects on average 23.48% (8–56%) of the host pupal cells. Observation of colonies brought to the laboratory revealed that the parasite moves around within the colony without being aggressed by the host workers. To assess how the parasite evades host detection and defense, we compared the cuticular hydrocarbon (CHC) profiles of both species. There was little similarity between the parasite and the host workers’ CHC, refuting the hypothesis of chemical mimicry. The parasite’s CHCs were dominated by linear alkanes and alkenes with negligible amounts of branched alkanes, while the host workers’ CHCs were rich in branched alkanes and with little or no alkenes. Moreover, the parasite cuticular wash was markedly rich in oleic acid, previously reported as a cue eliciting necrophoric behavior. Since nests of Oriental hornets are typified by large amounts of prey residues, we suggest that, due to its unfamiliar CHCs and the abundance of oleic acid, the parasite is considered as refuse by the host. We also detected rose oxide in the parasitoid head extracts. Rose oxide is a known insect repellent, and can be used to repel and mitigate aggression in workers. These two factors, in concert, are believed to aid the parasite to evade host aggression.
Biological Notes and Distribution in Southern Europe of Aclees taiwanensis Kȏno, 1933 (Coleoptera: Curculionidae): A New Pest of the Fig Tree
Authors: Farina Priscilla , Mazza Giuseppe , Benvenuti Claudia , Cutino Ilaria , Giannotti Paolo , Conti Barbara , Bedini Stefano , Gargani Elisabetta
Published: December 2020

Ficus carica L. is one of the earliest cultivated fruit trees, and figs are a typical fruit of the Mediterranean diet and traditional medicine as well. In recent years, a new pest, the black weevil Aclees taiwanensis Kȏno, 1933 (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) native to Asia, has been recorded in France and Italy. Aclees taiwanensis causes the rapid death of the fig tree by its larvae that dig alimentation galleries in the trunk and surface roots, compromising the phloem flux. In Italy, from 2005, the year of the first detection of A. taiwanensis, the fig production has nearly halved, decreasing from 20.09 t to 10.65 t. To date, no specific EU regulation has been applied to prevent the A. taiwanensis spread, and we can reasonably expect a rapid diffusion of this pest all over the Mediterranean area. To avoid the loss of the Mediterranean fig orchards, effective strategies to detect and control the black weevil are required. Such strategies need a detailed knowledge of A. taiwanensis distribution, biology, and physiology. This paper updates the known distribution of this species in Southern Europe, using a citizen science approach, and describes, under laboratory and field conditions, its main biological traits.
Water-Driven Music Technologies through Centuries
Authors: Valipour Mohammad , Briscoe Rodney , Falletti Luigi , Juuti Petri S. , Katko Tapio S. , Rajala Riikka P. , Kumar Rohitashw , Khan Saifullah , Chnaraki Maria , Angelakis Andreas
Published: December 2020

Water-driven music technology has been one of the primary sources of human leisure from prehistoric times up until the present. Water powered, along with air pressure organs, have been used throughout history. One of them was an organ of fountains located inside a formal garden. Throughout ancient mythology, several different gods have been linked to music in many civilizations, in particular, Minoa, Mehrgarh, and Gandhara. Water deities were usually significant amid civilizations located next to a sea or an ocean, or even a great river like the Indus River in Pakistan, the Nile River in the Middle East or the Ganga River in India. These fountains performed a wide range of songs from Classical to contemporary Arabic, and even included other worldly music. The study of water-driven music technology demonstrates the diachronic evolution and the revelation that ancient people had impressive knowledge of the engineering needed for water exploitation and manipulation. This revelation is still both fascinating and intriguing for today’s water engineers. This paper also shows the relationship between water in nature and music, and furthermore, how nature has inspired composers throughout history. This research shows the sustainability of different kinds of water-driven musical instruments, not only through their use in past centuries, but their relevance in music therapy and other purposes of today. This study is useful for researchers in the fields of history, music, engineering and sustainable development.
Continuous Maternal Hemodynamics Monitoring at Delivery Using a Novel, Noninvasive, Wireless, PPG-Based Sensor
Authors: Atzmon Yuval , Ben Ishay Efrat , Hallak Mordechai , Littman Romi , Eisenkraft Arik , Gabbay-Benziv Rinat
Published: December 2020

Objective: To evaluate continuous monitoring of maternal hemodynamics during labor and delivery utilizing an innovative, noninvasive, reflective photoplethysmography-based device. Study design: The Biobeat Monitoring Platform includes a wearable wristwatch monitor that automatically samples cardiac output (CO), blood pressure (BP), stroke volume (SV), systemic vascular resistance (SVR), heart rate (HR) every 5 s and uploads all data to a smartphone-based app and to a data cloud, enabling remote patient monitoring and analysis of data. Low-risk parturients at term, carrying singletons pregnancies, were recruited at early delivery prior to the active phase. Big data analysis of the collected data was performed using the Power BI analysis tool (Microsoft). Next, data were normalized to visual presentation using Excel Data Analysis and the regression tool. Average measurements were compared before and after rupture of membranes, epidural anesthesia, fetal delivery, and placental expulsion. Results: Eighty-one parturients entered analysis. Epidural anesthesia was associated with a slight elevation in CO (5.5 vs. 5.6, L/min, 10 min before and after EA, p < 0.05) attributed to a non-significant increase in both HR and SV. BP remained stable as of counter decrease in SVR (1361 vs. 1319 mmHg⋅min⋅mL−1, 10 min before and after EA, p < 0.05). Fetal delivery was associated with a peak in CO after which it rapidly declined (6.0 vs. 7.2 vs. 6.1 L/min, 30 min before vs. point of delivery vs. after delivery, p < 0.05). The mean BP remained stable throughout delivery with a slight increase at fetal delivery (92 vs. 95 vs. 92.1 mmHg, p < 0.05), reflecting the increase in CO and decrease in SVR (1284 vs. 1112 vs. 1280 mmHg⋅min⋅mL−1, p < 0.05)with delivery. Placental expulsion was associated with a second peak in CO and decrease in SVR. Conclusions: We presented a novel application of noninvasive hemodynamic maternal monitoring throughout labor and delivery for both research and clinical use.
Preoperative Diagnosis and Indications for Endoscopic Resection of Superficial Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Authors: Matsueda Katsunori , Ishihara Ryu
Published: December 2020

Endoscopic resection (ER) is the mainstay of treatment for superficial esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (SESCC) instead of esophagectomy because of its minimal invasiveness and favorable clinical outcomes. Developments in endoscopic submucosal dissection have enabled en bloc resection of SESCCs regardless of size, thus reducing the risk of local recurrence. Although ER for SESCC is effective, metastasis may subsequently occur. Additionally, extensive esophageal ER confers a risk of postoperative esophageal stricture. Therefore, accurate assessment of the invasion depth and circumferential extent of SESCCs is important in determining the indications for ER. Diagnostic accuracies for SESCC invasion differ between epithelial (EP)/lamina propria (LPM), muscularis mucosa (MM)/submucosal (SM1), and SM2 cancers. ER is strongly indicated for clinically diagnosed (c)EP/LPM cancers because 90% of these are as pathologically diagnosed (p)EP/LPM, which has a very low risk of metastasis. Remarkably, the diagnostic accuracy for cMM/SM1 differs significantly with lateral spread of cancer. Eighty percent of cMM/SM1 cancers with ≤3/4 circumferential spread prove to be pEP/LPM or pMM/SM1, which have very low or low risk of metastasis. Thus, these are adequate candidates for ER. However, given the relatively low proportion of pEP/LPM or pMM/SM1 and high risk of subsequent stricture, ER is not recommended for whole circumferential cMM/SM1 cancers. For cMM/SM1 cancers that involve >3/4 but not the whole circumference, ER should be considered on a lesion-by-lesion basis because the risk of post-ER stricture is not very high, but the proportion of pEP/LPM or pMM/SM1 is relatively low. ER is contraindicated for cSM2 cancers because 75% of them are pSM2, which has high risk of metastasis.
Morphologic Features of Cutaneous T-Cell Lymphomas Using Dermoscopy and High Frequency Ultrasound
Authors: Wohlmuth-Wieser Iris , Ramjist Joel M. , Shear Neil , Alhusayen Raed
Published: December 2020

The diagnosis of cutaneous T-cell lymphomas (CTCL) is frequently delayed by a median of three years and requires the clinical evaluation of an experienced dermatologist and a confirmatory skin biopsy. Dermoscopy and high-frequency ultrasound (HFUS) represent two non-invasive diagnostic tools. While dermoscopy is inexpensive and widely used for the diagnosis of melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancers, HFUS of skin lymphomas represents a novel diagnostic approach that is not yet implemented in the routine dermatologic practice. The aim of our study was to prospectively assess skin lesions of patients with either CTCL patches or plaques with dermoscopy and HFUS and to compare the findings with atopic dermatitis (AD) and psoriasis. Thirteen patients with an established diagnosis of CTCL, psoriasis, or AD were studied: Dermoscopy features including spermatozoa-like structures and the presence of white scales could assist in differentiating between early-stage CTCL and AD. HFUS measurements of the skin thickness indicated increased epidermal-, thickness in CTCL, and psoriasis compared with AD. Our results support the use of dermoscopy as a useful tool to diagnose CTCL. HFUS could augment the dermatologic assessment, but further studies will be needed to define standardized parameters.
Sustainable Sandwich Composites Manufactured from Recycled Carbon Fibers, Flax Fibers/PP Skins, and Recycled PET Core
Authors: Jiang Qihong , Chen Guiyong , Kumar Abhideep , Mills Andrew , Jani Krutarth , Rajamohan Vasudevan , Venugopal Barathan , Rahatekar Sameer
Published: December 2020

European union end of life vehicle directive mandates the use of more sustainable/recyclable materials in automotive industries. Thermoplastics matrix-based composites allow recyclability of composites at the end of life; however, their processing technology is more challenging than thermoset composites. Manufacturing process and mechanical testing of sustainable sandwich composite made from sustainable materials: flax, recycled carbon fiber, polypropylene, and recycled PET foam are presented in this article. High pressure compression molding with adhesive thermoplastic polymer film was used for manufacturing sandwich composite skin. The recycled PET foam core was integrated/joined with the skin using a thermoplastics adhesive film. A three-point bending test was conducted to compare the flexural properties. The results show that such sustainable sandwich composites will be an excellent material for truck side panel to operate in adverse wind/storm conditions. The sustainable sandwich composite can potentially be an excellent candidate for the fabrication of light-duty, lightweight, and low-cost engineering structures in automotive industry to meet the EU end of life requirements.
Frequency-Based Performance Analysis of an Array of Wave Energy Converters around a Hybrid Wind–Wave Monopile Support Structure
Authors: Gkaraklova Sofia , Chotzoglou Pavlos , Loukogeorgaki Eva
Published: December 2020

In this paper, we investigate, in the frequency domain, the performance (hydrodynamic behavior and power absorption) of a circular array of four semi-immersed heaving Wave Energy Converters (WECs) around a hybrid wind–wave monopile (circular cylinder). The diffraction/radiation problem is solved by deploying the conventional boundary integral equation method. Oblate-spheroidal and hemispherical-shaped WECs are considered. For each geometry, we assess the effect of the array’s net radial distance from the monopile and of the incident wave direction on the array’s performance under regular waves. The results illustrate that by placing the oblate spheroidal WECs close to the monopile, the array’s power absorption ability is enhanced in the low frequency range, while the opposite occurs for higher wave frequencies. For hemispherical-shaped WECs, the array’s power absorption ability is improved when the devices are situated close to the monopile. The action of oblique waves, with respect to the WECs’ arrangement, increases the absorbed power in the case of oblate spheroidal WECs, while these WECs show the best power absorption ability among the two examined geometries. Finally, for the most efficient array configuration, consisting of oblate spheroidal WECs situated close to the monopile, we utilize an “active” Power Take-Off (PTO) mechanism, facilitating the consideration of a variable with frequency PTO damping coefficient. By deploying this mechanism, the power absorption ability of the array is significantly enhanced under both regular and irregular waves.
The Impact of the Introduction of Uniform European Collective Action Clauses on European Government Bonds as a Regulatory Result of the European Sovereign Debt Crisis
Authors: Layher Nicoletta , Samunderu Eyden
Published: December 2020

This paper conducts an empirical study on the inclusion of uniform European Collective Action Clauses (CACs) in sovereign bond contracts issued from member states of the European Union, introduced as a regulatory result of the European sovereign debt crisis. The study focuses on the reaction of sovereign bond yields from European Union member states with the inclusion of the new regulation in the European Union. A two-stage least squares regression analysis is adopted in order to determine the extent of impact effects of CACs on member states sovereign bond yields. Evidence is found that CACs in the European Union are priced on financial markets and that sovereign bond yields do respond to the inclusion of uniform CACs in the European Union.
The Event of Croatia’s EU Accession and Membership from the Croatian High School Students’ Perspective
Authors: Pisarović Anamarija , Tišma Sanja , Dujmović Krševan Antun , Škrtić Mira Mileusnić
Published: December 2020

The knowledge, attitudes and perceptions of the high school students on Croatia’s European Union (EU) accession event were omitted in numerous public opinion polls conducted since the 2013 accession. Therefore, the paper shows key benefits of Croatia’s EU accession and the recent attitudes of high school students about the meaning of this event for their future lives. Research methods include desktop analysis regarding previous researches of the population attitudes and a quantitative survey conducted in January 2017 on a sample of a total of 1944 school graduates who were interviewed on issues of knowledge, perception and attitude to the event of Croatia’s entrance and membership in the EU. The results point out that although Croatia acquires significant benefits from the EU accession, the very event is not recognized as being the key one by high school students. Considering that in many cases the youth opinion is the best indicator of overall social problems and considering the future programs and obligations as well as the role expected from the youth in implementation of these programs, the research findings on the perception of the event of Croatia’s accession to the EU are a field within which future policy activities are envisaged.
Multi-Period Portfolio Optimization with Investor Views under Regime Switching
Authors: Oprisor Razvan , Kwon Roy
Published: December 2020

We propose a novel multi-period trading model that allows portfolio managers to perform optimal portfolio allocation while incorporating their interpretable investment views. This model’s significant advantage is its intuitive and reactive design that incorporates the latest asset return regimes to quantitatively solve managers’ question: how certain should one be that a given investment view is occurring? First, we describe a framework for multi-period portfolio allocation formulated as a convex optimization problem that trades off expected return, risk and transaction costs. Using a framework borrowed from model predictive control introduced by Boyd et al., we employ optimization to plan a sequence of trades using forecasts of future quantities, only the first set being executed. Multi-period trading lends itself to dynamic readjustment of the portfolio when gaining new information. Second, we use the Black-Litterman model to combine investment views specified in a simple linear combination based format with the market portfolio. A data-driven method to adjust the confidence in the manager’s views by comparing them to dynamically updated regime-switching forecasts is proposed. Our contribution is to incorporate both multi-period trading and interpretable investment views into one framework and offer a novel method of using regime-switching to determine each view’s confidence. This method replaces portfolio managers’ need to provide estimated confidence levels for their views, substituting them with a dynamic quantitative approach. The framework is reactive, tractable and tested on 15 years of daily historical data. In a numerical example, this method’s benefits are found to deliver higher excess returns for the same degree of risk in both the case when an investment view proves to be correct, but, more notably, also the case when a view proves to be incorrect. To facilitate ease of use and future research, we also developed an open-source software library that replicates our results.
Geographic Information Systems and the Sustainable Development of Rural Areas
Authors: Kurowska Krystyna , Marks-Bielska Renata , Bielski Stanisław , Aleknavičius Audrius , Kowalczyk Cezary
Published: December 2020

Sustainable development is socioeconomic growth that integrates political, economic, and social measures alongside environmental protection to meet the needs of communities and citizens without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs. The sustainable development concept was initially based on three main pillars: environment, economy, and society. In successive years, this concept has been expanded to include new pillars. The awareness of these changes has influenced our research interests. The main research objective of this study was to evaluate the applicability of geographic information system (GIS) tools (data, tools, and multidimensional analyses) to the implementation of sustainable development principles in rural areas. The study covered rural and nonurbanized areas in Poland, especially farmland, forests, fisheries, and farms. The study presents the results of our research into environmental, economic, and social determinants of growth in the spatial dimension. GIS tools continue to evolve, which improves access to information and increases database managers’ awareness that highly accurate data are needed for spatial analyses. GIS systems allow us to formulate, in a structured and formal way, models that reflect both the current state and forecast changes that will occur in space. It is a very useful tool in the sustainable development of rural areas.
The ER Stress/UPR Axis in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease and Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis
Authors: Aghaei Mahmoud , Dastghaib Sanaz , Aftabi Sajjad , Aghanoori Mohamad-Reza , Alizadeh Javad , Mokarram Pooneh , Mehrbod Parvaneh , Ashrafizadeh Milad , Zarrabi Ali , McAlinden Kielan Darcy , Eapen Mathew Suji , Sohal Sukhwinder Singh , Sharma Pawan , Zeki Amir A. , Ghavami Saeid
Published: December 2020

Cellular protein homeostasis in the lungs is constantly disrupted by recurrent exposure to various external and internal stressors, which may cause considerable protein secretion pressure on the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), resulting in the survival and differentiation of these cell types to meet the increased functional demands. Cells are able to induce a highly conserved adaptive mechanism, known as the unfolded protein response (UPR), to manage such stresses. UPR dysregulation and ER stress are involved in numerous human illnesses, such as metabolic syndrome, fibrotic diseases, and neurodegeneration, and cancer. Therefore, effective and specific compounds targeting the UPR pathway are being considered as potential therapies. This review focuses on the impact of both external and internal stressors on the ER in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and discusses the role of the UPR signaling pathway activation in the control of cellular damage and specifically highlights the potential involvement of non-coding RNAs in COPD. Summaries of pathogenic mechanisms associated with the ER stress/UPR axis contributing to IPF and COPD, and promising pharmacological intervention strategies, are also presented.
Effect of Cover Plate on the Ballistic Performance of Ceramic Armor
Authors: Sun Miao , Cao Wuxiong , Hu Diqi , Zhang Nana , Chi Runqiang
Published: December 2020

The interface defeat and dwell can effectively improve the ballistic performance of ceramic armors under high velocity impact of long rod projectiles. Confinement conditions along both axial and radial directions of ceramic armors can affect these behaviors. With the aim of giving an insight into the effect of cover plate thickness and connection mode of cover plates with confining tubes on these behaviors, numerical simulations were performed in which the confined silicon carbide (SiC) targets with cover plates were impacted by tungsten rods. The pressure on the surfaces of SiC targets with fixed cover plates are compared to that with free cover plates, showing that the plates fixed with the confining tubes can produce higher pressure by way of wedging. With the increase in cover plate thickness, the dwell duration of the tungsten rods on the ceramic interface gradually grows. In addition, the upper and lower limits of transition impact velocities for the SiC targets with cover plates in different connection modes (i.e., free or fixed) were obtained and analyzed. The results show that the increase rate of the transition velocity region for the cover plate with the fixed-mode is relatively stable and lower than with the free-mode. On this basis, the fixed cover plate contributes higher ballistic performances to the SiC target than the free cover plate. It is also noteworthy that the size of transition velocity region does not enlarge linearly with the increase in cover plate thickness due to the slow growth of the upper limit. Accordingly, thickness thresholds exist, which are 5 mm and 6 mm for the fixed and free cover plates, respectively. Considering the ballistic performance and economy, the cover plate with the thickness ranging from 3 mm to 5 mm, i.e., 1.5~2.5 times of the tungsten rod diameter, is ideal for the structural dimensions in this paper.
Organic Thin-Film Transistors as Gas Sensors: A Review
Authors: Cavallari Marco Roberto , Pastrana Loren Mora , Sosa Carlos Daniel Flecha , Marquina Alejandra Maria Rodriguez , Izquierdo José Enrique Eirez , Fonseca Fernando Josepetti , Amorim Cleber Alexandre de , Paterno Leonardo Giordano , Kymissis Ioannis
Published: December 2020

Organic thin-film transistors (OTFTs) are miniaturized devices based upon the electronic responses of organic semiconductors. In comparison to their conventional inorganic counterparts, organic semiconductors are cheaper, can undergo reversible doping processes and may have electronic properties chiefly modulated by molecular engineering approaches. More recently, OTFTs have been designed as gas sensor devices, displaying remarkable performance for the detection of important target analytes, such as ammonia, nitrogen dioxide, hydrogen sulfide and volatile organic compounds (VOCs). The present manuscript provides a comprehensive review on the working principle of OTFTs for gas sensing, with concise descriptions of devices’ architectures and parameter extraction based upon a constant charge carrier mobility model. Then, it moves on with methods of device fabrication and physicochemical descriptions of the main organic semiconductors recently applied to gas sensors (i.e., since 2015 but emphasizing even more recent results). Finally, it describes the achievements of OTFTs in the detection of important gas pollutants alongside an outlook toward the future of this exciting technology.
Experimental Analysis of Perimeter Shear Strength of Composite Sandwich Structures
Authors: Święch Łukasz , Kołodziejczyk Radosław , Stącel Natalia
Published: December 2020

The work concerns the experimental analysis of the process of destruction of sandwich structures as a result of circumferential shearing. The aim of the research was to determine the differences that occur in the destruction mechanism of such structures depending on the thickness and material of the core used. Specimens with a Rohacell foam core and a honeycomb core were made for the purposes of the research. The specimen destruction process was carried out in a static loading test with the use of a system introducing circumferential shear stress. The analysis of the tests results was made based on the load-displacement curves, the maximum load, and the energy absorbed by individual specimens. The tests indicated significant differences in the destruction mechanism of specimens with varied core material. The specimen with the honeycomb core was characterized by greater stiffness, which caused the damage to occur locally in the area subjected to the pressure of the punch. In specimens with the foam core, due to the lower stiffness of that core, the skins of the structure were bent, which additionally transfers compressive and tensile loads. This led to a higher maximum force that the specimens obtained at the time of destruction and greater energy absorption.
The Properties of Different Healing Agents Considering the Micro-Self-Healing Process of Asphalt with Encapsulations
Authors: Shu Benan , Zhou Min , Yang Tengyu , Li Yongling , Ma Yunlong , Liu Kai , Bao Shiwen , Barbieri Diego Maria , Wu Shaopeng
Published: December 2020

Improving the self-healing performance of asphalt by employing encapsulation technology is a topic of wide interest. This study investigated the performance of sunflower oil, engine oil, and waste cooking oil based on the microhealing mechanism of asphalt with compartmented polymeric fiber. Capillary flow, contact angle, Brookfield viscosity, bar thin layer chromatography, and fatigue–recovery–fatigue tests were conducted to characterize the capillary flow capacity, wetting ability, viscosity reduction ability, suitability of components, and performance restoration ability of the different kinds of healing agents. The diffusion process of sunflower oil in asphalt was simulated using molecular dynamics. The results showed that sunflower oil exhibited the best capillary flow capacity, viscosity reduction ability, and the fastest wetting rate in asphalt. Engine oil exhibited the largest wetting work and the best recovery performance related to fatigue. The diffusion process of sunflower oil in asphalt could be divided into two stages. Two major factors (aging and higher temperature) increased the diffusion rate of sunflower oil in asphalt. The comprehensive analysis showed that sunflower oil was the most suitable to be encapsulated to improve the self-healing performance of asphalt.
Modelling and Experimental Study of Moisture Transport in Wood, Taking into Account Diffusion and the Accompanying Adsorption of Water Vapour by Cell Walls
Authors: Kucharczyk Andrzej , Pawlik Kamil
Published: December 2020

The paper presents a model of moisture transport in wood taking into account diffusion and the accompanying adsorption of water vapour through the skeleton. A two-parameter form of the source term was proposed, depending on the distance of the current moisture content (MC) from the equilibrium state. The tests on cubic samples with a side of 2 cm were carried out which allowed to determine the coefficients of the proposed model on the basis of the reverse method. The tests were performed for pine, larch, oak and ash in all directions of orthotropy. Tests on thin samples were also performed to verify the source term.
Mechanical Performance of High-Strength Sustainable Concrete under Fire Incorporating Locally Available Volcanic Ash in Central Harrat Rahat, Saudi Arabia
Authors: Amin Muhammad Nasir , Khan Kaffayatullah
Published: December 2020

This study investigated the effect of elevated temperatures on the mechanical properties of high-strength sustainable concrete incorporating volcanic ash (VA). For comparison, control and reference concrete specimens with fly ash (FA) were also cast along with additional specimens of VA and FA containing electric arc furnace slag (EAFS). Before thermal exposure, initial tests were performed to evaluate the mechanical properties (compressive strength, tensile strength, and elastic modulus) of cylindrical concrete specimens with aging. Additionally, 91 day moist-cured concrete specimens, after measuring their initial weight and ultrasonic pulse velocity (UPV), were exposed up to 800 °C and cooled to air temperature. Subsequently, the weight loss, residual UPV, and mechanical properties of concrete were measured with respect to exposure temperature. For all concrete specimens, test results demonstrated a higher loss of weight, UPV, and other mechanical properties under exposure to higher elevated temperature. Moreover, all the results of concrete specimens incorporating VA were observed before and after exposure to elevated temperature as either comparable to or slightly better than those of control and reference concrete with FA. According to the experimental results, a correlation was developed between residual UPV and residual compressive strength (RCS), which can be used to assess the RCS of fire-damaged concrete (up to 800 °C) incorporating VA and EAFS.
Research on Performance Test System of Space Harmonic Reducer in High Vacuum and Low Temperature Environment
Authors: Wang Jing , Wan Zhihua , Dong Zhurong , Li Zhengguo
Published: December 2020

The harmonic reducer, with its advantages of high precision, low noise, light weight, and high speed ratio, has been widely used in aerospace solar wing deployment mechanisms, antenna pointing mechanisms, robot joints, and other precision transmission fields. Accurately predicting the performance of the harmonic reducer under various application conditions is of great significance to the high reliability and long life of the harmonic reducer. In this paper, a set of automatic harmonic reducer performance test systems is designed. By using the CANOpen bus interface to control the servo motor as the drive motor, through accurately controlling the motor speed and rotation angle, collecting the angle, torque, and current in real time, the life cycle test of space harmonic reducer was carried out in high vacuum and low temperature environment on the ground. Then, the collected data were automatically analyzed and calculated. The test data of the transmission accuracy, backlash, and transmission efficiency of the space harmonic reducer were obtained. It is proven by experiments that the performance data of the harmonic reducer in space work can be more accurately obtained by using the test system mentioned in this paper, which is convenient for further research on related lubricating materials.
Health-Related Quality of Life and Related Factors in Persons with Preserved Ratio Impaired Spirometry: Data from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Surve
Authors: Heo I Re , Kim Ho Cheol , Kim Tae Hoon
Published: December 2020

Background and Objectives: preserved ratio impaired spirometry (PRISm) is a common spirometric pattern that causes respiratory symptoms, systemic inflammation, and mortality. However, its impact on health-related quality of life (HRQOL) and its associated factors remain unclear. We aimed to identify these HRQOL-related factors and investigate the differences in HROOL between persons with PRISm and those with normal lung function. Materials and Methods: we reviewed the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey data from 2008 to 2013 to evaluate the HRQOL of persons with PRISm, as measured while using the Euro Quality of Life-5D (EQ-5D) and identify any influencing factors. PRISm was defined as pre-bronchodilator forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1) <80% predicted and FEV1 to forced vital capacity (FVC) ratio (FEV1/FVC) ≥0.7. Individuals with FEV1 ≥80% predicted and FEV1/FVC ≥0.7 were considered as Controls. Results: of the 27,824 participants over the age of 40 years, 1875 had PRISm. The age- and sex-adjusted EQ-5D index was lower in the PRISm group than in the control group (PRISm, 0.930; control, 0.941; p = 0.005). The participants with PRISm showed a significantly higher prevalence of hypertension (p < 0.001), diabetes (p < 0.001), obesity (p < 0.001), low physical activity (p = 0.001), ever-smoker (p < 0.001), and low income (p = 0.034) than those in the control group. In participants with PRISm, lower EQ-5D index scores were independently associated with old age (p = 0.002), low income (p < 0.001), low education level (p < 0.001), and no economic activity (p < 0.001). Three out of five EQ-5D dimensions (mobility, self-care, and usual activity) indicated a higher proportion of dissatisfied participants in the PRISm group than the control group. Conclusions: the participants with PRISm were identified to have poor HRQOL when compared to those without PRISm. Old age and low socioeconomic status play important roles in HRQOL deterioration in patients with PRISm. By analyzing risk factors that are associated with poor HRQOL, early detection and intervention of PRISm can be done in order to preserve patients’ quality of life.
Synergies Radiotherapy-Immunotherapy in Head and Neck Cancers. A New Concept for Radiotherapy Target Volumes—“Immunological Dose Painting”
Authors: Mireştean Camil Ciprian , Crişan Anda , Buzea Călin , Iancu Roxana Irina , Iancu DragoşPetru Teodor
Published: December 2020

The combination of immune checkpoint inhibitors and definitive radiotherapy is investigated for the multimodal treatment of cisplatin non-eligible locally advanced head and neck cancers (HNC). In the case of recurrent and metastatic HNC, immunotherapy has shown benefit over the EXTREME protocol, being already considered the standard treatment. One of the biggest challenges of multimodal treatment is to establish the optimal therapy sequence so that the synergistic effect is maximal. Thus, superior results were obtained for the administration of anti-CTLA4 immunotherapy followed by hypofractionated radiotherapy, but the anti-PD-L1 therapy demonstrates the maximum potential of radio-sensitization of the tumor in case of concurrent administration. The synergistic effect of radiotherapy–immunotherapy (RT–IT) has been demonstrated in clinical practice, with an overall response rate of about 18% for HNC. Given the demonstrated potential of radiotherapy to activate the immune system through already known mechanisms, it is necessary to identify biomarkers that direct the “nonresponders” of immunotherapy towards a synergistic RT–IT stimulation strategy. Stimulation of the immune system by irradiation can convert “nonresponder” to “responder”. With the development of modern techniques, re-irradiation is becoming an increasingly common option for patients who have previously been treated with higher doses of radiation. In this context, radiotherapy in combination with immunotherapy, both in the advanced local stage and in recurrent/metastatic of HNC radiotherapy, could evolve from the “first level” of knowledge (i.e., ballistic precision, dose conformity and homogeneity) to “level two” of “biological dose painting” (in which the concept of tumor heterogeneity and radio-resistance supports the need for doses escalation based on biological criteria), and finally to the “third level“ ofthe new concept of “immunological dose painting”. The peculiarity of this concept is that the radiotherapy target volumes and tumoricidal dose can be completely reevaluated, taking into account the immune-modulatory effect of irradiation. In this case, the tumor target volume can include even the tumor microenvironment or a partial volume of the primary tumor or metastasis, not all the gross and microscopic disease. Tumoricidal biologically equivalent dose (BED) may be completely different from the currently estimated values, radiotherapy treating the tumor in this case indirectly by boosting the immune response. Thus, the clinical target volume (CTV) can be replaced with a new immunological-clinical target volume (ICTV) for patients who benefit from the RT–IT association (Image 1).
Electrochemical Properties of Lipid Membranes Self-Assembled from Bicelles
Authors: Dziubak Damian , Strzelak Kamil , Sek Slawomir
Published: December 2020

Supported lipid membranes are widely used platforms which serve as simplified models of cell membranes. Among numerous methods used for preparation of planar lipid films, self-assembly of bicelles appears to be promising strategy. Therefore, in this paper we have examined the mechanism of formation and the electrochemical properties of lipid films deposited onto thioglucose-modified gold electrodes from bicellar mixtures. It was found that adsorption of the bicelles occurs by replacement of interfacial water and it leads to formation of a double bilayer structure on the electrode surface. The resulting lipid assembly contains numerous defects and pinholes which affect the permeability of the membrane for ions and water. Significant improvement in morphology and electrochemical characteristics is achieved upon freeze–thaw treatment of the deposited membrane. The lipid assembly is rearranged to single bilayer configuration with locally occurring patches of the second bilayer, and the number of pinholes is substantially decreased. Electrochemical characterization of the lipid membrane after freeze–thaw treatment demonstrated that its permeability for ions and water is significantly reduced, which was manifested by the relatively high value of the membrane resistance.
Metabolomic Analysis to Elucidate Mechanisms of Sunitinib Resistance in Renal Cell Carcinoma
Authors: Sato Tomonori , Kawasaki Yoshihide , Maekawa Masamitsu , Takasaki Shinya , Morozumi Kento , Sato Masahiko , Shimada Shuichi , Kawamorita Naoki , Yamashita Shinichi , Mitsuzuka Koji , Mano Nariyasu , Ito Akihiro
Published: December 2020

Metabolomics analysis possibly identifies new therapeutic targets in treatment resistance by measuring changes in metabolites accompanying cancer progression. We previously conducted a global metabolomics (G-Met) study of renal cell carcinoma (RCC) and identified metabolites that may be involved in sunitinib resistance in RCC. Here, we aimed to elucidate possible mechanisms of sunitinib resistance in RCC through intracellular metabolites. We established sunitinib-resistant and control RCC cell lines from tumor tissues of RCC cell (786-O)-injected mice. We also quantified characteristic metabolites identified in our G-Met study to compare intracellular metabolism between the two cell lines using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. The established sunitinib-resistant RCC cell line demonstrated significantly desuppressed protein kinase B (Akt) and mesenchymal-to-epithelial transition (MET) phosphorylation compared with the control RCC cell line under sunitinib exposure. Among identified metabolites, glutamine, glutamic acid, and α-KG (involved in glutamine uptake into the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle for energy metabolism); fructose 6-phosphate, D-sedoheptulose 7-phosphate, and glucose 1-phosphate (involved in increased glycolysis and its intermediate metabolites); and glutathione and myoinositol (antioxidant effects) were significantly increased in the sunitinib-resistant RCC cell line. Particularly, glutamine transporter (SLC1A5) expression was significantly increased in sunitinib-resistant RCC cells compared with control cells. In this study, we demonstrated energy metabolism with glutamine uptake and glycolysis upregulation, as well as antioxidant activity, was also associated with sunitinib resistance in RCC cells.
Acoustic Cell Patterning in Hydrogel for Three-Dimensional Cell Network Formation
Authors: Koo Kyo-in , Lenshof Andreas , Huong Le Thi , Laurell Thomas
Published: December 2020

In the field of engineered organ and drug development, three-dimensional network-structured tissue has been a long-sought goal. This paper presents a direct hydrogel extrusion process exposed to an ultrasound standing wave that aligns fibroblast cells to form a network structure. The frequency-shifted (2 MHz to 4 MHz) ultrasound actuation of a 400-micrometer square-shaped glass capillary that was continuously perfused by fibroblast cells suspended in sodium alginate generated a hydrogel string, with the fibroblasts aligned in single or quadruple streams. In the transition from the one-cell stream to the four-cell streams, the aligned fibroblast cells were continuously interconnected in the form of a branch and a junction. The ultrasound-exposed fibroblast cells displayed over 95% viability up to day 10 in culture medium without any significant difference from the unexposed fibroblast cells. This acoustofluidic method will be further applied to create a vascularized network by replacing fibroblast cells with human umbilical vein endothelial cells.
Sulfur Isotope Analysis to Examine the Provenance of Cinnabar Used in Wall Paintings in the Roman domus Avinyó (Barcelona)
Authors: Tsantini Evanthia , Minami Takeshi , Cau Ontiveros Miguel Ángel , Takahashi Kazuya , Melgarejo Joan Carles
Published: December 2020

Wall paintings in the Roman period were used to decorate both public and private spaces; therefore, they reflect, on the one hand, ideas and convictions, and on the other, daily activities and socio-economic models. Characterizations of the pigments used in mural paintings are useful for determining the economic status of a specific settlement or the importance of a particular area or the buildings within it, since the cost of different pigments varied widely. Isotope analysis can be used to identify the provenance of pigments and to establish whether the raw materials are local, regional, or imported. This provides very important information, as it might be related to both the quality and the cost of the pigments, which, in turn, might be indicators of the socio-economic status of the area in question. The present study examines the sulfur isotope ratios of the cinnabar used in Roman wall paintings sampled from the high-status Roman Domus of Casa d’Avinyó and compares them with the ratios of the analyzed geological ores sampled at various Spanish cinnabar/mercury mines. The results exclude the possibility of the cinnabar being imported from outside the Iberian Peninsula. An isotopic analysis also suggested a few possible sources for the pigments.
Novel Therapeutic Delivery of Nanocurcumin in Central Nervous System Related Disorders
Authors: Panzarini Elisa , Mariano Stefania , Tacconi Stefano , Carata Elisabetta , Tata Ada Maria , Dini Luciana
Published: December 2020

Nutraceuticals represent complementary or alternative beneficial products to the expensive and high-tech therapeutic tools in modern medicine. Nowadays, their medical or health benefits in preventing or treating different types of diseases is widely accepted, due to fewer side effects than synthetic drugs, improved bioavailability and long half-life. Among herbal and natural compounds, curcumin is a very attractive herbal supplement considering its multipurpose properties. The potential effects of curcumin on glia cells and its therapeutic and protective properties in central nervous system (CNS)-related disorders is relevant. However, curcumin is unstable and easily degraded or metabolized into other forms posing limits to its clinical development. This is particularly important in brain pathologies determined blood brain barrier (BBB) obstacle. To enhance the stability and bioavailability of curcumin, many studies focused on the design and development of curcumin nanodelivery systems (nanoparticles, micelles, dendrimers, and diverse nanocarriers). These nanoconstructs can increase curcumin stability, solubility, in vivo uptake, bioactivity and safety. Recently, several studies have reported on a curcumin exosome-based delivery system, showing great therapeutical potential. The present work aims to review the current available data in improving bioactivity of curcumin in treatment or prevention of neurological disorders.
Triaxial Carbon Nanotube/Conducting Polymer Wet-Spun Fibers Supercapacitors for Wearable Electronics
Authors: Mirabedini Azadeh , Lu Zan , Mostafavian Saber , Foroughi Javad
Published: December 2020

The ubiquity of wearables, coupled with the increasing demand for power, presents a unique opportunity for nanostructured fiber-based mobile energy storage systems. When designing wearable electronic textiles, there is a need for mechanically flexible, low-cost and light-weight components. To meet this demand, we have developed an all-in-one fiber supercapacitor with a total thickness of less than 100 μm using a novel facile coaxial wet-spinning approach followed by a fiber wrapping step. The formed triaxial fiber nanostructure consisted of an inner poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) polystyrene sulfonate (PEDOT:PSS) core coated with an ionically conducting chitosan sheath, subsequently wrapped with a carbon nanotube (CNT) fiber. The resulting supercapacitor is highly flexible, delivers a maximum energy density 5.83 Wh kg−1 and an extremely high power of 1399 W kg−1 along with remarkable cyclic stability and specific capacitance. This asymmetric all-in-one fiber supercapacitor may pave the way to a future generation of wearable energy storage devices.