bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Learning Curve in Robotic-Assisted Total Knee Arthroplasty: A Systematic Review of the Literature
Authors: Cacciola Giorgio , Bosco Francesco , Giustra Fortunato , Risitano Salvatore , Capella Marcello , Bistolfi Alessandro , Massè Alessandro , Sabatini Luigi
Published: November 2022

Several innovations have been introduced in recent years to improve total knee arthroplasty (TKA). Robotic-assisted surgery is gaining popularity for more precise implant placement while minimizing soft tissue injury. The main concerns are increased cost, operative time, and a significant learning curve. This systematic review aims to analyze the surgical time learning curve, implant placement accuracy, and complications related to robotic-assisted TKA (raTKA). A systematic literature review was performed according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. The research was conducted up to September 2022 in four databases (PubMed/MEDLINE, Embase, Scopus, and the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews), with the following key terms: “robotic-assisted”, “total knee arthroplasty”, “robotic”, “TKA”, “learning”, and “TKR”. The methodology quality of the studies was assessed using the Methodological Index for Non-Randomized Studies (MINORS) criteria. This systematic review was registered on the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO), ID: CRD42022354797, in August 2022. Fifteen clinical studies that analyzed the raTKA learning curve of 29 surgeons and 2300 raTKAs were included in the systematic review. Fourteen surgeons reported the presence of an inflection point during the learning curve. Few studies have reported the learning curve of raTKA regarding lower limb alignment, component position, and intraoperative and postoperative complications. The main finding of this systematic review is that the procedure number required to reach the learning plateau is about 14.9 cases. Furthermore, an average decrease in surgical time of 23.9 min was described between the initial and proficiency phases; the average surgical time in the two phases was 98.8 min and 74.4 min, respectively. No learning curve was observed for implant placement and lower limb alignment because the implants were correctly placed from the first raTKAs. No significant complication rates were reported during the raTKA learning curve.
Geometric Method: A Novel, Fast and Accurate Solution for the Inverse Problem in Risley Prisms
Authors: Sandoval Juan Domingo , Delgado Keyla , Fariña David , Puente Fernando de la , Esper-Chaín Roberto , Martín Marrero
Published: November 2022

Today, mechanical tracking systems are becoming increasingly compact, enabling a new range of civil and military applications. These include aerial laser scanning, for which Risley prisms are used. In Risley systems, the so-called inverse problem, which focuses on obtaining the angles of the prisms for a given target coordinate, has not yet been solved mathematically. As a consequence, approximate approaches have been used, but the solutions obtained have significant errors and a lack of precision. To improve accuracy, iterative methods, which are computationally intensive, have also been implemented. In this paper, an analytical process which we call the geometric method is presented, and we verified that this strategy highly improves accuracy and computational speed. Using this method in an iterative process gives accuracies of up to 1 pm in only three iterations. This high accuracy would allow the geometric method to be applied in fields such as lithography, stereolithography, or 3D printing.
ACapMed: Automatic Captioning for Medical Imaging
Authors: Beddiar Djamila Romaissa , Oussalah Mourad , Seppänen Tapio , Jennane Rachid
Published: November 2022

Medical image captioning is a very challenging task that has been rarely addressed in the literature on natural image captioning. Some existing image captioning techniques exploit objects present in the image next to the visual features while generating descriptions. However, this is not possible for medical image captioning when one requires following clinician-like explanations in image content descriptions. Inspired by the preceding, this paper proposes using medical concepts associated with images, in accordance with their visual features, to generate new captions. Our end-to-end trainable network is composed of a semantic feature encoder based on a multi-label classifier to identify medical concepts related to images, a visual feature encoder, and an LSTM model for text generation. Beam search is employed to ensure the best selection of the next word for a given sequence of words based on the merged features of the medical image. We evaluated our proposal on the ImageCLEF medical captioning dataset, and the results demonstrate the effectiveness and efficiency of the developed approach.
Prediction Method for Mine Earthquake in Time Sequence Based on Clustering Analysis
Authors: Zhang Peng , Li Xiaolin , Chen Junli
Published: November 2022

Under the background of the intelligent construction of a coal mine, how to efficiently extract effective information from the massive monitoring data of mine earthquakes, and improve prediction accuracy, is a research hotspot in the field of coal mine safety production. In view of this problem, more and more machine learning methods are being applied to the prediction on mine earthquakes. Considering that clustering analysis can enhance the correlation between microseism data, we propose a method whose main idea is to cluster microseism data before establishing the prediction model, and then train the model, so as to improve prediction accuracy. Specifically, microseism events on a working face are divided into clusters in advance by the Spatial Temporal-DBSCAN(ST-DBSCAN) algorithm, then a prediction model is established with Support Vector Regression (SVR) to predict the occurrence location and daily frequency of high-energy mine earthquake events. A set of engineering experiments were conducted in H Coal Mine, and the results show that the spatial-temporal clustering analysis of microseism events can indeed improve the prediction accuracy of machine learning methods on mine earthquakes.
Augmented Reality Applications for Learning Geography in Primary Education
Authors: Volioti Christina , Keramopoulos Euclid , Sapounidis Theodosios , Melisidis Konstantinos , Kazlaris Georgios Christoforos , Rizikianos George , Kitras Christos
Published: November 2022

Augmented Reality is an emerging educational technology that has the potential to provide innovative methods of teaching and create engaging learning experiences. Augmented Reality applications implementing game-based design could enrich education by increasing motivation and engagement and enabling better learning outcomes. Similarly, Augmented Reality, in the context of Geography, could enhance the learning process and the user experience through the visualization of the content and a better understanding of abstract concepts. Therefore, in this study, (a) three specially designed Augmented Reality applications are described for teaching Geography in the fifth and sixth grades, and (b) an extensive usability evaluation study is reported using the three applications. Teachers (N = 6) and pupils (N = 43) from the fifth and sixth grades, as well as computer science students (N = 43) participated to assess the usability of the proposed Augmented Reality apps. The results were positive since the proposed Augmented Reality apps provided high-level usability. Finally, they revealed that there was acceptance for the Augmented Reality technology by all participants and a willingness to be incorporated into the teaching process.
Exploring the Evolution of Typhoon Lekima (2019) Moving Offshore Northeast of Taiwan with a Multi-Resolution Global Model
Authors: Huang Ching-Yuang , Chang Chau-Hsiang , Kuo Hung-Chi
Published: November 2022

Typhoon Lekima occurred in early August 2019 and moved northwestward toward Taiwan. During offshore passage, the typhoon underwent rapid intensification, with a northward deflected track, moving closer to northeastern Taiwan. A global model, MPAS, at a multi-resolution of 60-15-3 km, is utilized with ensemble forecasts to investigate the dynamic processes causing the track deflection and intensity change as well as identify the track uncertainty to initial perturbed conditions under the topographic effects of the Central Mountain Range (CMR). For spinning up the typhoon vortex in ensemble forecasts, dynamic vortex initialization has been enforced with a 3 km resolution targeted at the Taiwan area. As one specific member track is similar to the best track, the track deflection is significantly reduced in the absence of the Taiwan terrain, highlighting the role of the topographic effects of the CMR. For these tracks with similar deflection, the northward deflection is caused by the induced strong flow to the east of the typhoon center in response to the re-circulating flow around southern Taiwan, which produces the wavenumber-one gyre in the asymmetric flow difference to drive the vortex northward. The typhoon translation around the Taiwan terrain is dominated by the changing wavenumber-one horizontal potential vorticity (PV) advection during the track deflection in the ensemble forecasts. The formation of an intense PV tongue along the upper eyewall is a facilitation precondition of RI, while RI can be significantly enhanced in the presence of an intense lower-stratospheric PV core near the upper eye, which is produced by the radial inflow of the developed transverse vortex circulation over the upper-level outflow layer.
Evaluating Global Container Shipping Companies: A Novel Approach to Investigating Both Qualitative and Quantitative Criteria for Sustainable Development
Authors: Wang Chia-Nan , Dang Thanh-Tuan , Nguyen Ngoc-Ai-Thy , Chou Chien-Chang , Hsu Hsien-Pin , Dang Le-Thanh-Hieu
Published: November 2022

The COVID-19 pandemic has implications for the container shipping industry and global supply chains. Measuring the efficiency of major international container shipping companies (CSCs) is an important issue that helps them make strategic decisions to improve performance, especially in the context that all businesses and governments are adapting to build back better the post-pandemic world. This paper develops a new integrated approach using both a qualitative assessment tool and a performance assessment tool as a systematic and flexible framework for evaluating the container shipping industry. This new methodology is implemented in two phases to consider both qualitative and quantitative criteria for assessing the performance of CSCs based on efficiency. In the first phase, qualitative performance evaluation is performed using spherical fuzzy analytical hierarchical process (AHP-SF) to find criteria weights and then the grey complex proportional assessment methodology (COPRAS-G) is used to find the ranking of CSCs. Qualitative variables are converted into a quantitative variable for use in the data envelopment analysis (DEA) model as an output called an output variable called expert-based qualitative performance (EQP). Then, DEA is performed to identify efficient and inefficient CSCs with the EQP variable and other quantitative parameters (i.e., capacity, lifting, expenses, revenue, and CO2 emissions). The efficiency of 14 major global CSCs is empirically evaluated, and the scores for CSCs’ efficiency in all dimensions are measured and examined. The results show that the average cargo efficiency of the CSCs is lower than their eco-efficiency performance, revealing the operational disruption caused by the pandemic. Moreover, by identifying efficient and inefficient CSCs, our findings provide practical implications for decision-makers in the maritime field and assist in modifying applicable policies and strategies to achieve sustainable performance.
Existence Solutions for Implicit Fractional Relaxation Differential Equations with Impulsive Delay Boundary Conditions
Authors: Wattanakejorn Varaporn , Karthikeyann Panjaiyan , Poornima Sadhasivam , Karthikeyan Kulandhaivel , Sitthiwirattham Thanin
Published: November 2022

The aim of this paper is to study the existence and uniqueness of solutions for nonlinear fractional relaxation impulsive implicit delay differential equations with boundary conditions. Some findings are established by applying the Banach contraction mapping principle and the Schauder fixed-point theorem. An example is provided that illustrates the theoretical results.
Seed Germination Ecology of Chenopodium album and Chenopodium murale
Authors: Bana Ram Swaroop , Kumar Vipin , Sangwan Seema , Singh Teekam , Kumari Annu , Dhanda Sachin , Dawar Rakesh , Godara Samarth , Singh Vijay
Published: November 2022

Chenopodium album L. and Chenopodium murale L. are two principal weed species, causing substantial damage to numerous winter crops across the globe. For sustainable and resource-efficient management strategies, it is important to understand weeds’ germination behaviour under diverse conditions. For the germination investigations, seeds of both species were incubated for 15 days under different temperatures (10–30 °C), salinity (0–260 mM NaCl), osmotic stress (0–1 MPa), pH (4–10), and heating magnitudes (50–200 °C). The results indicate that the germination rates of C. album and C. murale were 54–95% and 63–97%, respectively, under a temperature range of 10 to 30 °C. The salinity levels for a 50% reduction in the maximum germination (GR50) for C. album and C. murale were 139.9 and 146.3 mM NaCl, respectively. Regarding osmotic stress levels, the GR50 values for C. album and C. murale were 0.44 and 0.43 MPa, respectively. The two species showed >95% germination with exposure to an initial temperature of 75 °C for 5 min; however, seeds exposed to 100 °C and higher temperatures did not show any germination. Furthermore, a drastic reduction in germination was observed when the pH was less than 6.0 and greater than 8.0. The study generated information on the germination biology of two major weed species under diverse ecological scenarios, which may be useful in developing efficient weed management tactics for similar species in future agri-food systems.
Effect of Diet on the Midgut Microbial Composition and Host Immunity of the Fall Armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda
Authors: Xu Xiaoxia , De Mandal Surajit , Wu Hongxin , Zhu Shaojie , Kong Jinrong , Lin Sisi , Jin Fengliang
Published: November 2022

The fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda, J.E. Smith) is one of the most important agricultural pests in the world and causes serious damage to many significant crops. Insect gut microbiota plays a vital role in host immunity, digestion, and development, helping the higher organism colonize in a new environment. However, the effects of different diets on midgut microbial composition and host immunity in S. frugiperda remain unclear. So far, no reports have compared the gut microbiota of fall armyworm reared using an artificial diet compared to corn leaf in Guangzhou, China. High-throughput 16S rRNA sequencing technology was applied to gain insight into the composition of the gut microbiota of S. frugiperda feeding on corn leaf (field diet) and on a starch-rich artificial diet (lab diet). The fall armyworm gut microbiota was dominated by the bacterial phyla Firmicutes and Proteobacteria. Despite the difference in diet, the core bacterial community was represented by the genus Enterococcus. However, the bacterial community is dominated by a few phylotypes, namely operational taxonomical units 1 (OTU1) (Enterococcus casseliflavus), OTU3 (Enterobacteriaceae), OTU2 (Weissella), and OTU4 (Clostridium), accounting for 97.43% of the total OTUs in the complete dataset. A significant difference was identified in the bacterial communities between the “lab diet” and the “field diet” groups. OTU1 and OTU2 were significantly higher in the “field diet” group, whereas OTU3 and OTU4 were higher in the “lab diet” group. A phylogenetic investigation of the communities by reconstruction of unobserved states (PICRUSt) predicted functional analysis indicates the presence of several genes associated with plant biomass degradation. Importantly, antibiotic-mediated perturbation of the midgut microbial community significantly impacts the expression profile of the important immune genes of the host. Furthermore, the oral reintroduction of gut bacterial isolates (E. mundtii and E. gallinarum) significantly enhances host resistance to AcMNPV infection. Taken together, our results indicate that diet composition is an important driver in shaping insect gut microbiome and immune gene expression, ultimately playing an important role in the pest defense system.
The Difference in Structural States between Canonical Proteins and Their Isoforms Established by Proteome-Wide Bioinformatics Analysis
Authors: Osmanli Zarifa , Falgarone Theo , Samadova Turkan , Aldrian Gudrun , Leclercq Jeremy , Shahmuradov Ilham , Kajava Andrey V.
Published: November 2022

Alternative splicing is an important means of generating the protein diversity necessary for cellular functions. Hence, there is a growing interest in assessing the structural and functional impact of alternative protein isoforms. Typically, experimental studies are used to determine the structures of the canonical proteins ignoring the other isoforms. Therefore, there is still a large gap between abundant sequence information and meager structural data on these isoforms. During the last decade, significant progress has been achieved in the development of bioinformatics tools for structural and functional annotations of proteins. Moreover, the appearance of the AlphaFold program opened up the possibility to model a large number of high-confidence structures of the isoforms. In this study, using state-of-the-art tools, we performed in silico analysis of 58 eukaryotic proteomes. The evaluated structural states included structured domains, intrinsically disordered regions, aggregation-prone regions, and tandem repeats. Among other things, we found that the isoforms have fewer signal peptides, transmembrane regions, or tandem repeat regions in comparison with their canonical counterparts. This could change protein function and/or cellular localization. The AlphaFold modeling demonstrated that frequently isoforms, having differences with the canonical sequences, still can fold in similar structures though with significant structural rearrangements which can lead to changes of their functions. Based on the modeling, we suggested classification of the structural differences between canonical proteins and isoforms. Altogether, we can conclude that a majority of isoforms, similarly to the canonical proteins are under selective pressure for the functional roles.
Biosensors for the Detection of Enzymes Based on Aggregation-Induced Emission
Authors: Gao Fengli , Liu Gang , Qiao Mingyi , Li Yingying , Yi Xinyao
Published: November 2022

Enzymes play a critical role in most complex biochemical processes. Some of them can be regarded as biomarkers for disease diagnosis. Taking advantage of aggregation-induced emission (AIE)-based biosensors, a series of fluorogens with AIE characteristics (AIEgens) have been designed and synthesized for the detection and imaging of enzymes. In this work, we summarized the advances in AIEgens-based probes and sensing platforms for the fluorescent detection of enzymes, including proteases, phosphatases, glycosidases, cholinesterases, telomerase and others. The AIEgens involve organic dyes and metal nanoclusters. This work provides valuable references for the design of novel AIE-based sensing platforms.
Overview on the Design of Magnetically Assisted Electrochemical Biosensors
Authors: Chang Yong , Wang Yanyan , Zhang Jingyi , Xing Yuejiao , Li Gang , Deng Dehua , Liu Lin
Published: November 2022

Electrochemical biosensors generally require the immobilization of recognition elements or capture probes on the electrode surface. This may limit their practical applications due to the complex operation procedure and low repeatability and stability. Magnetically assisted biosensors show remarkable advantages in separation and pre-concentration of targets from complex biological samples. More importantly, magnetically assisted sensing systems show high throughput since the magnetic materials can be produced and preserved on a large scale. In this work, we summarized the design of electrochemical biosensors involving magnetic materials as the platforms for recognition reaction and target conversion. The recognition reactions usually include antigen–antibody, DNA hybridization, and aptamer–target interactions. By conjugating an electroactive probe to biomolecules attached to magnetic materials, the complexes can be accumulated near to an electrode surface with the aid of external magnet field, producing an easily measurable redox current. The redox current can be further enhanced by enzymes, nanomaterials, DNA assemblies, and thermal-cycle or isothermal amplification. In magnetically assisted assays, the magnetic substrates are removed by a magnet after the target conversion, and the signal can be monitored through stimuli–response release of signal reporters, enzymatic production of electroactive species, or target-induced generation of messenger DNA.
Emerging Trends in Non-Enzymatic Cholesterol Biosensors: Challenges and Advancements
Authors: Ahmad Mashkoor , Nisar Amjad , Sun Hongyu
Published: November 2022

The development of a highly sensitive and selective non-enzymatic electrochemical biosensor for precise and accurate determination of multiple disease biomarkers has always been challenging and demanding. The synthesis of novel materials has provided opportunities to fabricate dependable biosensors. In this perspective, we have presented and discussed recent challenges and technological advancements in the development of non-enzymatic cholesterol electrochemical biosensors and recent research trends in the utilization of functional nanomaterials. This review gives an insight into the electrochemically active nanomaterials having potential applications in cholesterol biosensing, including metal/metal oxide, mesoporous metal sulfide, conductive polymers, and carbon materials. Moreover, we have discussed the current strategies for the design of electrode material and key challenges for the construction of an efficient cholesterol biosensor. In addition, we have also described the current issues related to sensitivity and selectivity in cholesterol biosensing.
Endoscopic Treatment of Rathke’s Cleft Cysts: The Case for Simple Fenestration
Authors: Millesi Matthias , Lai Carolyn , Lau Ruth , Ye Vincent Chen , Yang Kaiyun , Leite Matheus , Mohan Nilesh , Mete Ozgur , Ezzat Shereen , Gentili Fred , Zadeh Gelareh , Kalyvas Aristotelis
Published: November 2022

Background: Rathke’s cleft cysts (RCC) arise from the pars intermedia because of incomplete regression of the embryologic Rathke pouch. A subset of RCC becomes symptomatic causing headaches, visual and endocrinological disturbances such that surgical intervention is indicated. Several points in surgical management remain controversial including operative strategy (simple fenestration (SF) vs complete cyst wall resection (CWR)) as well as reconstructive techniques. Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted of pathologically confirmed RCC operated on by endoscopic endonasal approach from 2006 to 2019. Pre-operative symptoms, imaging characteristics, operative strategy, symptom response, complications and recurrences were recorded. Results: Thirty-nine patients were identified. Thirty-three underwent SF and six underwent CWR. Worsening pituitary function was significantly increased with CWR (50%) compared to SF (3%) (p = 0.008). All patients underwent “closed” reconstruction with a post-operative CSF leak rate of 5% (3% SF vs 16% CWR, p = 0.287). Six (15%) recurrences necessitating surgery were reported. Recurrence rates stratified by surgical technique (18% SF vs 0% CWR, p = 0.564) were not found to be significantly different. Conclusions: The current series illustrates variability in the surgical management of RCCs. SF with closed reconstruction is a reasonable operative strategy for most symptomatic RCCs cases while CWR can be reserved for selected cases.
An Online Survey Testing Factorial Invariance of the Optimization in Primary and Secondary Control Scales among Older Couples in Japan and the US
Authors: Okabayashi Hideki , Takemura Akiko , Morling Beth
Published: November 2022

This study examines the factorial invariance of the Optimization in Primary and Secondary Control (OPS) scale and its associations with subjective well-being among older couples in Japan and the US. To this end, 200 older couples in Japan and 220 in the US were recruited through paid vendors and completed the questionnaire online. Couples were eligible if husbands were 70 years or older and wives were 60 years or older. A six-factor model, in which Compensatory Primary Control was subdivided into two factors, fit the data best; its factorial invariance was confirmed among the four subsamples. Compensatory Secondary Control was more strongly associated with subjective well-being in American couples than in Japanese couples, although the associations between well-being and the other five OPS factors were similar in the two countries. Future research on this six-factor model will be able to examine how these control strategies function in different cultures.
Magnetic Signal Characteristics in Critical Yield State of Steel Box Girder Based on Metal Magnetic Memory Inspection
Authors: Su Sanqing , Zuo Fuliang , Wang Wei , Liu Xinwei , Deng Ruize , Li Junting
Published: November 2022

Metal magnetic memory testing (MMMT) is a nondestructive testing technique that can detect early signs of damage in components. Many scholars have studied the effect of uniaxial stress on the self-magnetic-leakage field (SMLF)’s strength. Nevertheless, there is still insufficient research on the combined action of bending and shear. We studied the law of distribution of the magnetic signal, ΔHSF(y), at different stress parts of a steel box girder and the quantitative relationship between the magnetic characteristic parameters and the external load. The results showed that the MMMT could accurately detect the early stress concentration zone (SCZ) and predict the final buckling zone of steel box girders. It could be judged that the corresponding parts of the steel box girder had entered the elastic-plastic working stage by the reverse change of the  ΔHSF(y)-F and |HSF(y)|a -F curve trends, this feature could be used as an early warning sign before the steel box girder was deformed or destroyed. The fitted |HSF(y)|ave -F linear expression could be used as the expression between the magnetic signal and the shear capacity. All the evaluation methods were expected to provide a basis for effectively evaluating the stress state of steel box girders with the MMMT method.
Influence of Urban Geometry on Thermal Environment of Urban Street Canyons in Hong Kong
Authors: Zhu Shanshan , Chen Mingyue , Lu Shiyao , Mai Xianmin
Published: November 2022

Hong Kong is a typical high-density city in a subtropical climate region, and deep street canyons are among the main features of its urban planning. How the urban geometry influences the urban thermal environment in this city has become a hot topic these days. The height-to-width ratio (H/W) and sky view factor (SVF) are commonly used to indicate the outdoor thermal environment performance, while previous studies in Hong Kong rarely analysed the importance bias of these two influencing factors systematically in this context. To fill this research gap, in this paper, we chose four typical sites in Hong Kong as research objects. Firstly, we conducted a field investigation to calculate the main influencing factors of urban street geometry (H/W and SVF) and then used field measurements to collect climatic data, including air temperature, wind speed, and relative humidity, and finally used regression to analyse the correlation between H/W, SVF, and temperature. The results indicate the following: (1) There is a greater correlation between H/W and air temperature than between SVF and air temperature by regression analysis, and H/W is more effective at improving the thermal environment within urban street canyons. (2) After field measurements, it was found that H/W at the measurement sites was 0.60 to 6.02, with an average of 2.13. (3) In the study area, H/W of 2.31–2.48 and 3.35–3.60 had a positive correlation with air temperature, and H/W had a dominant influence on outdoor air temperature, and H/W of 2.09–2.31 and H/W > 3.60 was inversely related to air temperature. The conclusions can provide support for urban planning in Hong Kong.
The Impact of Passive Strategies on the Overall Energy Performance of Traditional Houses in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Authors: Aldersoni Ali , Albaker Abdullah , Alturki Mansoor , Said Mohamed Ahmed
Published: November 2022

Communities in nations all over the world must work to address the problem of energy consumption, which has emerged in modern times. Given that domestic consumers account for roughly 49% of the total electricity used annually by all sectors, buildings can be seen as a key player in this conundrum. The architecture field can therefore play a vital role in saving energy, not only through building design but also through the materials used. To minimize architectural programmes’ negative impact on the environment, sustainable design that saves energy is being employed today in traditional Saudi Arabian buildings. This study examined whether current housing designs can effectively integrate four key passive energy-saving strategies: outdoor green area, thermal mass wall, window-to-wall ratio and shading device. This study analysed two types of traditional houses from two different cities in Saudi Arabia’s Najd region, Riyadh and Hail, examining the four passive strategies. Using traditional house designs, this paper created four simulation models for each house, and compared the simulation results with the base case model to determine how well these strategies could affect the energy consumption for residential buildings in Saudi Arabia (KSA). The results indicate that the selected strategies can play an important role in saving energy in residential buildings in the KSA.
Axial Compression Behavior of FRP Confined Laminated Timber Columns under Cyclic Loadings
Authors: Shi Feng , Wang Libin , Du Hao , Zhao Min , Li Hao , Wang Feiqiu , Wang Shuangjun
Published: November 2022

Fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) has been proved to be effective to improve the structural strength and ductility for column structures. An experimental study was conducted to investigate the compressive performance of FRP confined glued-laminated timber (GLT) and cross-laminated timber (CLT) columns. A total of 60 column specimens of two dimensions in height using different FRP types, FRP thickness, and laminate types were tested under cyclic axial compression loads. This study focuses on the compressive capacity and ductility of the new FRP composited timber structure. For this purpose, a loading protocol was designed, including a force-dependent pre-load and an amplitude-increasing displacement-dependent cyclic compression load. The results showed that the ultimate compression load of specimens was considerably promoted by the FRP sheets. Wrapping FRP sheets led to an average improvement of 29% and 24% for the FRP confined CLT and GLT specimens, respectively, compared to the initial stiffness of unreinforced specimens. Using the FRP sheets, the energy dissipation capacity of CLT and GLT specimens was increased by 358% and 266%, respectively. In general, GLT specimens had a higher energy dissipation rate compared to the CLT specimens, while CLT specimens showed a better potential for sustained energy consumption if confined with sufficient FRP sheets.
Double-Diffusive Mixed Convection and Radionuclides Removals from the Tail Gas Treatment Unit in Nuclear Medicine Building: Multiple Sifting Structures and Porous Medium
Authors: Li Jian , Chen Yi-Chao , Hong Jian , Xu Hang , Zhao Fu-Yun , Guo Jiang-Hua
Published: November 2022

This paper investigates the effect of porous-media arrangement, hot-plate arrangement, heat flux, and inlet flow on the mixed convection heat transfer, and uniformity of temperature and concentration in an open enclosure. This model is considered for use as an adsorption treatment unit for radioactive waste gas in a nuclear medicine building. The radioactive waste gas flows through the cavity from bottom to top. The two-dimensional governing equations have been solved using the finite volume method. The Prandtl number and aspect ratio of the cavity are fixed at 0.71 and 1, respectively. The problem has been governed by five parameters: −10 ≤ Br ≤ 10, 10−6 ≤ Da ≤ 102, 0.1 ≤ Kc ≤ 10, 10−2 ≤ Ri ≤ 10, and 0.1 ≤ Kr ≤ 10, and the layouts of the porous layer and hot plates. The simulation results indicate that the Type C (polymeric porous media) has excellent heat transfer characteristics with a 10% increase in the Nusselt number (Nu). The contours of streamlines, isotherms and heatlines indicate that, with the increase of Richardson number (Ri), the trend of Nu varies for different arrangements of hot plates. It is interesting to note that the convective heat transfer of Type F (surrounded arrangement) was found to have the lowest Nu number for the same Ri number. The convective heat transfer is more pronounced for Type E (symmetrical arrangement). The Nu number of Type E (symmetrical arrangement) is about 110% higher than that of Type F (surrounded arrangement) and it is about 35% higher than that of Type D (centralized arrangement). This type also has a more uniform temperature distribution, as indicated by the temperature variance. The findings of this study can guide preheating system optimization.
Effect of Constructing a New Tunnel on the Adjacent Existed Tunnel in Weak Rock Mass: A Case Study
Authors: Zhang Qi , Guo Xiaokang , Yu Tao , Shen Yixin , Liu Xingen
Published: November 2022

This study takes a new Shidao tunnel where the left line constructing in weak rock mass as a case study, and the effect of the new constructing tunnel on the existed tunnel are studied by the numerical analysis. High-precision field investigations are conducted to provide accurate parameters for the numerical model. The modified generalized Zhang-Zhu (GZZ) constitutive model is applied, and the numerical analysis results containing horizontal convergence displacement of side walls of the new constructing tunnel and a longitudinal crack in existed tunnel are validated by real-time monitoring. The vertical displacement of the vault, the horizontal displacement of the adjacent side wall, the plastic zone of the new constructing tunnel are studied. The effect of the new constructing tunnel on the existed tunnel is studied by analyzing the vertical displacement of the vault and the horizontal displacement of the adjacent side wall of the existed tunnel. During the constructing process of new tunnel, the maximum width variation of longitudinal crack is less than 0.3 mm. The maximum vertical displacement of the vault is less than 1 mm, and the maximum horizontal displacement of the adjacent side wall is less than 0.5 mm for the existed tunnel. Finally, the effects of tunnel spacing between new constructing and existed tunnels and geological condition represented by geological strength index (GSI) are investigated. The result shows that the maximum vertical displacements of the vault and the maximum horizontal displacement of adjacent side wall can reach −10.4 mm and −4.9 mm respectively when tunnel spacing is 0.5 d (d is actual spacing). When GSI is increased from 15 to 30, the maximum vertical displacement of the vault is reduced obviously.
Experimental Investigation on the Response of Elliptical CFT Columns Subjected to Lateral Impact Loading
Authors: Wang Yingtao , Hu Shaohua
Published: November 2022

This study reports an experimental investigation on the impact behavior of elliptical concrete-filled steel tubular (CFT) columns subjected to lateral loading. A total of five CFT columns, including one circular cross-section and four elliptical cross-sections, were tested using a horizontal-impact-testing system. The influences of the impact velocity, the impact times, and the cross-section geometry on the dynamic response of the elliptical CFT columns were analyzed. The experimental results have shown that the specimens withstood the global displacements without the buckling of the steel tubes. The strain rates of the steel tubes in this paper were small. The impact velocity had significant influences on the impact load-time histories and energy absorption. Meanwhile, the impact times had little influence on the impact force and displacement at the same impact velocity. Circular CFT columns have the highest ductility and impact-energy-absorption capacity. Based on the finite element analysis software ABAQUS, the finite element models of the elliptical CFT columns under impact loads were established. The simulation results were in good agreement with the experimental results. Finally, the mechanical mechanism of the elliptical CFT columns under lateral impact was analyzed by the finite element model.
Tau Protein as Therapeutic Target for Cancer? Focus on Glioblastoma
Authors: Hedna Rayane , Kovacic Hervé , Pagano Alessandra , Peyrot Vincent , Robin Maxime , Devred François , Breuzard Gilles
Published: November 2022

Despite being extensively studied for several decades, the microtubule-associated protein Tau has not finished revealing its secrets. For long, Tau has been known for its ability to promote microtubule assembly. A less known feature of Tau is its capability to bind to cancer-related protein kinases, suggesting a possible role of Tau in modulating microtubule-independent cellular pathways that are associated with oncogenesis. With the intention of finding new therapeutic targets for cancer, it appears essential to examine the interaction of Tau with these kinases and their consequences. This review aims at collecting the literature data supporting the relationship between Tau and cancer with a particular focus on glioblastoma tumors in which the pathological significance of Tau remains largely unexplored. We will first treat this subject from a mechanistic point of view showing the pivotal role of Tau in oncogenic processes. Then, we will discuss the involvement of Tau in dysregulating critical pathways in glioblastoma. Finally, we will outline promising strategies to target Tau protein for the therapy of glioblastoma.
Thermography as a Method for Bedside Monitoring of Infantile Hemangiomas
Authors: Leñero-Bardallo Juan Antonio , Acha Begoña , Serrano Carmen , Pérez-Carrasco José Antonio , Ortiz-Álvarez Juan , Bernabéu-Wittel José
Published: November 2022

Infantile hemangiomas occur in 3 to 10% of infants. To predict the clinical course and counsel on treatment, it is crucial to accurately determine the hemangiomas’ extension, volume, and location. However, this can represent a challenge because hemangiomas may present irregular patterns or be covered by hair, or their depth may be difficult to estimate. Diagnosis is commonly made by clinical inspection and palpation, with physicians basing their diagnoses on visual characteristics such as area, texture, and color. Doppler ultrasonography or magnetic resonance imaging are normally used to estimate depth or to confirm difficult assessments. This paper presents an alternative diagnosis tool—thermography—as a useful, immediate means of carrying out accurate hemangioma examinations. We conducted a study analyzing infantile hemangiomas with a custom thermographic system. In the first phase of the study, 55 hemangiomas of previously diagnosed patients were analyzed with a thermal camera over several sessions. An average temperature variation before and after treatment of −0.19 °C was measured. In the second phase, we selected nine patients and assessed their evolution over nine months by analyzing their thermographic images and implementing dedicated image processing algorithms. In all cases, we found that the thermal image analysis concurred with the independent diagnoses of two dermatologists. We concluded that a higher temperature inside the tumor in the follow-up was indicative of an undesirable evolution.
The Function and Molecular Mechanism of Commensal Microbiome in Promoting Malignant Progression of Lung Cancer
Authors: Wang Haiyang , Hu Jiayi , Wu Junlu , Ji Ping , Shang Anquan , Li Dong
Published: November 2022

The human commensal microbiome existing in an internal environment is relatively consistent with that of the host. The presence of bacterial dysbiosis, on the other hand, promptly results in the termination of this symbiotic association. The altered microbial structure in the lung may be responsible for the development of lung cancer by controlling the host’s inflammatory response and influencing a variety of immunological pathways. More and more studies have pointed to the fact that the commensal microbiota plays a vital role in both the development of tumors and the body’s response to lung cancer treatment. Microbiome dysbiosis, genotoxicity, virulence effect, and epigenetic dysregulations are some of the potential mechanisms that may lie behind the process of tumorigenesis that is mediated by microbiome. Other potential mechanisms include regulating host immune activity through a variety of pathogenic factors, dysregulating host metabolism as a result of microbiome alterations, and microbiome dysbiosis. In this historical overview, we go through some of the more recent mechanistic discoveries into the biological processes that are involved in lung cancer that are caused by bacteria. Without a question, obtaining a greater knowledge of the dynamic link between the lung microbiome and lung cancer has the potential to inspire the development of innovative early detection and customized treatment methods for lung cancer.
In Situ Etching Synthesis of TiO2-SBA-15 Nanocomposite Enhancing Adsorption and Photocatalytic Degradation
Authors: Lv Fujian , Miao Yingchun , Yang Didi , Mao Bing , Bian Zhenfeng , Zhu Fengxia
Published: November 2022

The adsorption-enhancing TiO2-SBA-15 photocatalyst has been synthesized by an in situ etching displacement method, which possesses unique regular hexagonal pores and large specific surface area. The as-prepared TiO2-SBA-15 can effectively adsorb and increase the concentration of pollutants in the photocatalyst and collision likelihood with the photogenerated radicals, thus improving the efficiency of photocatalytic organic degradation. The structure and morphology have been characterized by N2 adsorption isotherms, X-ray diffraction (XRD), high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). These characterizations confirm that TiF4 alcohol solution prefers to react with the internal surface of SBA-15 because of the Siphon effect. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectra demonstrate that a Ti-O-Si bond formed after the reaction of TiF4 with SBA-15, which reveals a wonderful combination of TiO2 and SiO2 even at low temperatures. Through this function, the nanocomposite TiO2-SBA-15 could obviously improve the efficiency of photocatalytical removal of toluene in the gas phase.
Naturally Nano: Magnetically Separable Nanocomposites from Natural Resources for Advanced Catalytic Applications
Authors: Arancon Rick A. D. , Al Othman Zeid A. , Len Thomas , Shih Kaimin , Voskressensky Leonid , Luque Rafael
Published: November 2022

The present manuscript describes the use of silk cocoons as a structuring agent for the formation of an iron-based active phase for the controlled oxidation of benzyl alcohol. Different samples were prepared using different calcination temperatures. X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy showed a higher proportion of alpha-Fe2O3 phase and a higher global crystallinity at superior calcination temperature. In terms of catalytic activity, the sample treated at 500 °C presented the highest conversion reaching 47%, with selectivity in benzaldehyde of 75.9%.
Chalcogenides and Chalcogenide-Based Heterostructures as Photocatalysts for Water Splitting
Authors: Khan Mohammad Mansoob , Rahman Ashmalina
Published: November 2022

Chalcogenides are essential in the conversion of solar energy into hydrogen fuel due to their narrow band gap energy. Hydrogen fuel could resolve future energy crises by substituting carbon fuels owing to zero-emission carbon-free gas and its eco-friendliness. The fabrication of different metal chalcogenide-based photocatalysts with enhanced photocatalytic water splitting have been summarized in this review. Different modifications of these chalcogenides, including coupling with another semiconductor, metal loading, and doping, are fabricated with different synthetic routes that can remarkably improve the photo-exciton separation and have been extensively investigated for photocatalytic hydrogen generation. In this direction, this review is undertaken to provide an overview of the enhanced photocatalytic performance of the binary and ternary chalcogenide heterostructures and their mechanisms for hydrogen production under irradiation of light.
Membrane Attack Complex Mediates Retinal Pigment Epithelium Cell Death in Stargardt Macular Degeneration
Authors: Ng Eunice , Kady Nermin , Hu Jane , Dave Arpita , Jiang Zhichun , Pei Jacqueline , Gorin Michael , Matynia Anna , Radu Roxana
Published: November 2022

Recessive Stargardt disease (STGD1) is an inherited retinopathy caused by mutations in the ABCA4 gene. The ABCA4 protein is a phospholipid-retinoid flippase in the outer segments of photoreceptors and the internal membranes of retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells. Here, we show that RPE cells derived via induced pluripotent stem-cell from a molecularly and clinically diagnosed STGD1 patient exhibited reduced ABCA4 protein and diminished activity compared to a normal subject. Consequently, STGD1 RPE cells accumulated intracellular autofluorescence-lipofuscin and displayed increased complement C3 activity. The level of C3 inversely correlated with the level of CD46, an early negative regulator of the complement cascade. Persistent complement dysregulation led to deposition of the membrane attack complex on the surface of RPE cells, decrease in transepithelial resistance, and subsequent cell death. These findings are strong evidence of complement-mediated RPE cell damage in STGD1, in the absence of photoreceptors, caused by reduced CD46 regulatory protein.
In Vitro Antibacterial Activity of Different Bioceramic Root Canal Sealers
Authors: Dagna Alberto , Colombo Marco , Poggio Claudio , Russo Gianluigi , Pellegrini Matteo , Pietrocola Giampiero , Beltrami Riccardo
Published: November 2022

Bioceramic root canal sealers have been introduced in clinical dental use, but less is known about the antibacterial activity against Streptococcus mutans, Streptococcus salivarius, and Streptococcus sanguis. The purpose of the study is to compare new bioceramic sealers with a traditional zinc-oxide eugenol material considered as a control. The different bioceramic root canal sealants tested were FillRoot ST, BioRoot™RCS, Well-Root™ PT, and CeraSeal. In vitro antibacterial activity against Streptococci was assessed using the agar disc diffusion test at two different intervals, 24 h and 48 h. A non-parametric statistical analysis was performed to compare the inhibition zones for each of the different materials. Bioceramic root canal sealers showed mild antibacterial activity, while zinc-oxide eugenol-based material showed a stronger inhibition of Streptococci diffusion. No differences were detected for the measurements of inhibition zones between 24 h and 48 h except for FillRoot ST and BioRoot™RCS.