bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Emulsifying properties of pea protein/guar gum conjugates and mayonnaise application
Authors: Shen Yanting , Babu Karthik Sajith , Amamcharla Jayendra , Li Yonghui
Published: January 2022

Modified plant protein may be used as a healthy and more functional emulsifier in food products. The objective of this study was to evaluate the emulsifying properties of functionally enhanced pea protein (i.e. pea protein conjugated with guar gum, G‐PPI) and its potential application to mayonnaise, compared with unmodified pea protein. Emulsions containing G‐PPI were prepared at different pH, salt concentrations, protein concentrations and oil/water ratios. Mayonnaise samples were prepared using the pea proteins or egg yolk powder. Various characteristics of the emulsions, including droplet size, apparent viscosity, viscoelasticity and microstructure, were analysed. The emulsions with G‐PPI had significantly increased stability of up to 89.4% and apparent viscosity of up to 48.62 mPa.s. The G‐PPI emulsion had a smaller average droplet size of 934.4 nm at pH 7 compared with the PPI emulsion (stability 62.7%, apparent viscosity 22.8 mPa.s and droplet size 1664.8 nm). The pH, NaCl concentration, protein concentration and oil/water ratio greatly affected the emulsifying properties. The G‐PPI mayonnaise at higher protein concentrations (6 or 8%) exhibited excellent emulsifying and rheological properties. The modified pea protein through the green modification process with natural polysaccharides could be used as a safe and functional emulsifier in different emulsified foods.
Wait times in an Australian emergency department: A comparison of mental health and non‐mental health patients in a regional emergency department
Authors: Pascoe Sharene E. , Aggar Christina , Penman Olivia
Published: January 2022

Worldwide, emergency departments in regional and remote areas have a higher per capita mental health presentation rate than their metropolitan counterparts. Evidence suggests that mental health presentations to metropolitan or city emergency departments are exposed to longer waiting times, extended length of stays, and higher rates of access block than non‐mental health presentations. However, there is little research investigating the experiences for mental health and non‐mental health presentations in the emergency department in regional and remote areas. The aim of the current study was to explore wait time and length of stay for mental and non‐mental health patients at a regional emergency department. Audit data from 38,782 presentations to a regional emergency department in NSW over a 12‐month period in 2019 were reviewed. The STROBE cross‐sectional research checklist was adhered to for reporting of results. Time to be seen, length of stay, and access block (length of stay longer than 8 hours) were described and compared for mental and non‐mental health patients. It was found that mental health patients in this study disproportionately experience longer wait times and length of stay in a regional emergency department. Future research is needed to identify whether this issue is present across other Australian regional emergency departments and review funding models to address the discrepancy. These findings make a unique contribution to the literature as previous research focussed on metropolitan emergency departments and only identified time to be seen and length of stay, largely ignoring differences in access block between mental health and non‐mental health patients.
Selection and outcome of implantable cardioverter‐defibrillator patients with and without cardiac resynchronization therapy: Comparison of 4384 patients from the German Device Registry to randomized controlled trials
Authors: Köbe Julia , Willy Kevin , Senges Jochen , Hochadel Matthias , Kleemann Thomas , Spitzer Stefan G. , Andresen Dietrich , Jehle Joachim , Steinbeck Gerhard , Szendey Istvan , Butter Christian , Brachmann Johannes , Hoffmann Ellen , Eckardt Lars
Published: January 2022

Background

Registry data add important information to randomized controlled trials (RCT) on real‐life aspects of implantable cardioverter‐defibrillator (ICD) patients with and without cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT‐D). This analysis of the prospectively conducted German Device Registry aims at comparing mortality rates, comorbidities, complication rates to results from RCT.

Methods

The German Device registry (DEVICE) prospectively collected data on ICD and CRT‐D first implantations from 50 German centres. Demographic data, details on cardiac disease, electrocardiogram (ECG), medication, and data about procedure, complications, and hospital stay were stored in electronic case report forms. One year after device implantation patients were contacted for follow‐up.

Results

DEVICE included n = 4384 first ICD/CRT‐D implantations (29.3% CRT‐D devices). We found a strong adherence to guidelines with over 90% of patients being on ß‐blocker and ACE‐inhibitor medication and adequate QRS width in the majority of CRT‐D patients. Patients receiving a CRT‐D were older (67.6 ± 11.0 years vs. 63.9 ± 13.4 years, p < .001) and had lower ejection fractions (mean 25% vs. 30%, p < .001) compared to ICD patients. Dilated cardiomyopathy was the predominant underlying heart disease in CRT‐D (53.3%), coronary artery disease in ICD patients (64.7%). Compared to RCT our DEVICE patients had more comorbidities (17.9% chronic kidney disease [CKD]) and higher 1‐year mortality rates (10.7% ICD group, 12.3% CRT group). In multivariate analysis, CKD patients had an almost 2‐fold higher risk of 1‐year mortality.

Conclusion

Despite relevant limitations of registry data, DEVICE highlights important differences between RCT and real‐world registry data and the impact of comorbidities on mortality of ICD and CRT‐D recipients.
Deep‐sea nodules versus land ores: A comparative systems analysis of mining and processing wastes for battery‐metal supply chains
Authors: Paulikas Daina , Katona Steven , Ilves Erika , Ali Saleem H.
Published: January 2022

To meet UN Sustainable Development goals, a clean‐energy transition with minimal ecological impact from its raw‐material supply chain is essential. Polymetallic nodules lying unattached on the abyssal seafloor of the Pacific Ocean's Clarion Clipperton Zone contain four critical metals (nickel, cobalt, manganese, copper) in large quantities, and the International Seabed Authority may soon enact regulations to allow their commercial exploitation. There are complex global ecological implications of doing so. Nodule exploitation would damage abyssal habitats and may impact midwater‐column organisms; but in the absence of nodule exploitation, terrestrial mining's environmental and social impacts would intensify. This paper adds to the growing systems‐based literature on nodule collection by contributing a preliminary material flow analysis of global‐average cradle‐to‐gate waste streams using either nodules or terrestrial sources as part of a preliminary life cycle assessment, as well as integrated risk assessments of those waste streams. System endpoints are battery precursors (nickel sulfate, cobalt sulfate, manganese sulfate), copper cathode, and a 40% or 75% manganese product. Overburden, tailings, and processing and refining wastes from terrestrial mining are compared to the nodule industry's anticipated offshore and onshore wastes, including sediment disrupted by nodule‐collection machines. Robustness to offshore technology assumptions is tested using Monte Carlo simulation, while onshore mass‐flow scenarios incorporate a “negligible‐waste” flowsheet and high‐waste flowsheets where manganese is not recovered. A billion‐EV scenario incorporates the effects of declining terrestrial copper and nickel ore grades. Results imply that metal production from nodules may produce less waste of lower severities, caveated by uncertain impacts of disrupted sediment.
The root microbiome: Community assembly and its contributions to plant fitness
Authors: Bai Bo , Liu Weidong , Qiu Xingyu , Zhang Jie , Zhang Jingying , Bai Yang
Published: January 2022

The root microbiome refers to the community of microbes living in association with a plant's roots, and includes mutualists, pathogens, and commensals. Here we focus on recent advances in the study of root commensal community which is the major research object of microbiome‐related researches. With the rapid development of new technologies, plant–commensal interactions can be explored with unprecedented breadth and depth. Both the soil environment and the host plant drive commensal community assembly. The bulk soil is the seed bank of potential commensals, and plants use root exudates and immune responses to build healthy microbial communities from the available microbes. The plant microbiome extends the functional system of plants by participating in a variety of processes, including nutrient absorption, growth promotion, and resistance to biotic and abiotic stresses. Plants and their microbiomes have evolved adaptation strategies over time. However, there is still a huge gap in our understanding of the regulatory mechanisms of plant–commensal interactions. In this review, we summarize recent research on the assembly of root microbial communities and the effects of these communities on plant growth and development, and look at the prospects for promoting sustainable agricultural development through the study of the root microbiome.
Complicated wound closure following mastectomy and breast reconstruction
Authors: Olshinka Asaf , Shay Tamir , Amir Aharon , Meshulam‐Derazon Sagit , Icekson Michael , Wadhawker Sonya , Lvovsky Alex , Ad‐El Dean , Yaacobi Dafna Shilo
Published: January 2022

Breast reconstruction incidence increased, including preventive surgery. In this context, providing women best surgical care and results is crucial, with minimum complications, such as wound dehiscence and skin flap necrosis. Tension‐free closure of skin flaps is mandatory for successful healing. However, since this is not always possible, various techniques have been developed to reduce tension from wound margins, facilitate primary wound closure, and minimize and improve scarring. These techniques have not been investigated in breast surgeries. The aim of this study was to describe our experience with the Tension‐Relief System in mastectomy and breast reconstructive patients, and the advantages of using this technique.

The retrospective cohort consisted of 13 breasts of 11 women aged 29–74 years who underwent surgery with primary wound closure using the System, in 2019–2020 in our department. It was applied averagely 19.7 days, demonstrated effectiveness in preventing complications and as secondary treatment following complications. This enabled avoiding further and more extensive surgeries, including donor‐site morbidity when needed.

In mastectomy and breast reconstruction, the system minimizes complications and yields satisfactory esthetic and functional outcomes, with minimal inconvenience to the patient, and good pain control. The technique is low‐cost, simple to use, and does not require special settings, surgical equipment, or particular skills.
Digital inclusion and participation of people with intellectual disabilities during COVID‐19: A rapid review and international bricolage
Authors: Chadwick Darren , Ågren Kristin Alfredsson , Caton Sue , Chiner Esther , Danker Joanne , Gómez‐Puerta Marcos , Heitplatz Vanessa , Johansson Stefan , Normand Claude L. , Murphy Esther , Plichta Piotr , Strnadová Iva , Wallén Eva Flygare
Published: January 2022

The COVID‐19 pandemic has meant a rapid transfer of everyday activities to the online world. Information and communication technologies (ICTs) have become more embedded than ever in people's lives. This investigation addresses how this change has affected the lives of people with intellectual disabilities (ID). A two‐step design was used. A rapid review was conducted on empirical studies published between January 2019 and June 2021. Search terms related to ID, ICT use and COVID‐19. A qualitative international bricolage was also conducted corresponding to author nationalities. Data gathered from the review and bricolage were analysed separately using thematic analysis and relationally synthesised. Digital solutions to provide access to COVID‐19 information and guidance seemed inadequate but were seldom empirically studied. Digital poverty, literacy and exclusion remain significant issues for people with ID internationally. People and their carers experienced reduced and removed service provision, loneliness and impoverished daily lives during the pandemic; amelioration of which was facilitated by digital solutions. One solution often used was videoconferencing. Prior experience of digital participation, adequate finances, connection, support and digital literacy mentoring for both people with ID and those providing services and support facilitated digital inclusion. Digital exclusion during COVID‐19 was exacerbated by sociopolitical, structural, individual and support‐related barriers. Although awareness of digital exclusion appears to have been raised, the extent to which this has led to action and change remains unclear. Despite digital exclusion and digital participation benefitting continuation of life, social and emotional well‐being and autonomy, COVID‐19 has not provided the impetus to eradicate digital poverty for people with ID. Governmental support, digital education, creativity and problem solving are required to enable people with ID the human right to be included in the digital world at this essential time and into the future.
Brain transcriptome analysis reveals gene expression differences associated with dispersal behaviour between range‐front and range‐core populations of invasive cane toads in Australia
Authors: Yagound Boris , West Andrea J. , Richardson Mark F. , Selechnik Daniel , Shine Richard , Rollins Lee A.
Published: January 2022

Understanding the mechanisms allowing invasive species to adapt to novel environments is a challenge in invasion biology. Many invaders demonstrate rapid evolution of behavioural traits involved in range expansion such as locomotor activity, exploration and risk‐taking. However, the molecular mechanisms that underpin these changes are poorly understood. In 86 years, invasive cane toads (Rhinella marina) in Australia have drastically expanded their geographic range westward from coastal Queensland to Western Australia. During their range expansion, toads have undergone extensive phenotypic changes, particularly in behaviours that enhance the toads’ dispersal ability. Common‐garden experiments have shown that some changes in behavioural traits related to dispersal are heritable. At the molecular level, it is currently unknown whether these changes in dispersal‐related behaviour are underlain by small or large differences in gene expression, nor is known the biological function of genes showing differential expression. Here, we used RNA‐seq to gain a better understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying dispersal‐related behavioural changes. We compared the brain transcriptomes of toads from the Hawai'ian source population, as well as three distinct populations from across the Australian invasive range. We found markedly different gene expression profiles between the source population and Australian toads. By contrast, toads from across the Australian invasive range had very similar transcriptomic profiles. Yet, key genes with functions putatively related to dispersal behaviour showed differential expression between populations located at each end of the invasive range. These genes could play an important role in the behavioural changes characteristic of range expansion in Australian cane toads.
Diffuse Lewy body disease presenting as Parkinson's disease with progressive aphasia
Authors: Koga Shunsuke , Murakami Aya , Josephs Keith A. , Dickson Dennis W.
Published: January 2022

Primary progressive aphasia (PPA) is a progressive language disorder often due to an underlying neurodegenerative disease. The most common pathologies associated with PPA include frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD)‐tau, FTLD‐associated with transactivation response DNA‐binding protein of 43 kDa (TDP‐43) (FTLD‐TDP), and Alzheimer's disease (AD). Accumulating evidence has suggested that Lewy body disease (LBD) can also be associated with PPA. We herein report a 78‐year‐old Caucasian woman who initially presented with levodopa‐responsive parkinsonism at age 67 and later developed cognitive impairment, visual hallucinations, rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder, and progressive aphasia, characterized by reduced spontaneous speech, word‐finding difficulty, and difficulties in writing and reading. 18Fluorodeoxyglucoase (FDG)‐positron emission tomography (PET) performed at the age of 73 years identified hypometabolism in the frontal (right > left), temporal (left > right), and parietal (left > right) lobes. Neuropathological assessment revealed diffuse LBD (DLBD), AD, and TDP‐43 stage 6 with prehippocampal sclerosis. Senile plaques were numerous, but only a few neurofibrillary tangles were present in the neocortex. The Braak neurofibrillary tangle stage was IV, and the Thal amyloid phase was 3. Lewy‐related pathology was severe in the neocortex, as well as limbic cortices, basal forebrain, amygdala, and brainstem. Compared to 166 DLBD cases with a clinical diagnosis of dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB), the Lewy body count of the patient in this report was highest in the inferior parietal cortex, followed by midfrontal and superior temporal cortices. The findings suggest that severe cortical LBD pathology has contributed to her progressive aphasia. Autopsy cases of LBD presenting as PPA have been reported, but patients with PD and autopsy‐proven DLBD who later developed progressive aphasia have not been reported. Our findings indicate that PD can be associated with progressive aphasia later in the disease course. Although uncommon, LBD should be considered as a differential diagnosis of progressive aphasia.
Multi‐trait genetic variation in resource‐use strategies and phenotypic plasticity correlates with local climate across the range of a Mediterranean oak (Quercus faginea)
Authors: Solé‐Medina Aida , Robledo‐Arnuncio Juan José , Ramírez‐Valiente José Alberto
Published: January 2022

Resource‐use strategies are hypothesized to evolve along climatic gradients. However, our understanding of the environmental factors driving divergent evolution of resource‐use strategies and the relationship between trait genetic variation and phenotypic plasticity is far from complete. Using the Mediterranean tree Quercus faginea as study system, we tested the hypothesis that a conservative resource‐use strategy with increased drought tolerance and reduced phenotypic plasticity has evolved in areas with longer and more severe dry seasons.

We conducted a glasshouse experiment in which we measured leaf morphological, physiological, growth and allocation traits in seedlings from 10 range‐wide climatically contrasting populations, grown under two different watering treatments.

Both univariate and multivariate analyses revealed a genetic gradient of resource‐use strategies and phenotypic plasticity associated with provenance climate. In particular, populations from harsher (drier and colder) environments had more sclerophyllous leaves, lower growth rates, better physiological performance under dry conditions and reduced multi‐trait phenotypic plasticity compared to populations from more mesic and milder environments.

Our results suggest that contrasting precipitation and temperature regimes play an important role in the adaptive intraspecific evolution of multivariate phenotypes and their plasticity, resulting in coordinated morphology, physiology, growth and allometry according to alternative resource‐use strategies.
Mathematical modeling on conservation of depleted forestry resources
Authors: Goshu Masitawal Demsie , Endalew Mehari Fentahun
Published: January 2022

In this article, a nonlinear mathematical model is constructed to investigate the conservation of depleted forest resources due to the increase of population and associated pressures. Fundamental equations governing the dynamics of the system are defined by the set of highly nonlinear ordinary differential equations and solved numerically. The model is analyzed by using the nature of stability analysis theory of dynamical system. The numerical solutions and simulations of the system are carried out using ODE45 subroutine of MATLAB. Presentations of results are revealed using graphs and interpreted biologically. It is noted that the increase of population density and associated pressures causes the depletion of forestry resources. However, forest resources can be conserved by controlling man made fire, toxicant activities, applying economical incentives and technological efforts.

Recommendations for Resource managers

The forest resources are natural resources that can be used for ecosystem balancing mechanism in nature. However, forest resources are depleted as a result of augmented population and associated pressures. Therefore,

When population and associated pressures increase, the depletion of forestry resources increases.

As conservation efforts applied, the density of forestry resources increases.
Genome wide simple sequence repeats development and their application in genetic diversity analysis in wax gourd (Benincasa hispida)
Authors: Hu Qianmei , Wang Haiping , Jiang Biao , Zhu Huayu , He Xiaoming , Song Pengyao , Song Jiangping , Yang Sen , Shen Junjun , Li Zheng , Hu Jianbin , Sun Shouru , Yang Luming
Published: January 2022

Wax gourd is one of the most important winter vegetables of the Cucurbitaceae family. There are only limited markers available for this crop and the draft genome of wax gourd provides a powerful tool for simple sequence repeats (SSR) marker development. In this study, we developed genome‐wide SSR markers from wax gourd genome and characterized their distribution and frequency of different motifs and repeats. A total of 52,431 microsatellites from wax gourd genome were identified, of which 39,319 SSR markers were developed. The 1152 non‐wax gourd SSR markers were selected from cucumber, melon, watermelon and pumpkin to test their transferability in wax gourd. The 580 SSR markers could be transferable in wax gourd, and 42 of them were detected with polymorphic in 11 tested accessions of wax gourd. In addition, 11 good polymorphic transferrable SSR markers and 21 SSR markers of wax gourd were selected to investigate the genetic diversity and population structure of 129 wax gourd accessions. One hundred twelve alleles were detected by these 32 SSR markers. The result of population structure showed that the 129 wax gourd accessions were divided into two main populations, and the genetic diversity analysis separated them into two clusters. The large number of wax gourd SSR markers developed in this study provides a valuable resource for genetic linkage map construction, molecular mapping, and marker‐assisted selection (MAS) in wax gourd.
The Japanese Sleep Questionnaire for preschoolers within a Malaysian context
Authors: Jayanath Subhashini , Hamzah Norhamizan , Ahmad Fauzi Aishah , Ahmad Adlan Aida Syarinaz , Muhamad Nor Asiah , Zainal Azlin Zaiti , Mohri Ikuko , Tachibana Masaya
Published: January 2022

Background

Childhood sleep practices impact growth, development, and long‐term health. There is a paucity of sleep data pertaining to preschool children in Asia, especially South‐East Asia.

Methods

This cross‐sectional study involved parents of well siblings, aged 2–6 years. It aimed to: (i) test the reliability of the English version of the Japanese Sleep Questionnaire for Preschoolers (JSQ‐P), and (ii) obtain the prevalence, as well as describe, sleep‐related issues. Ninety‐one (91) parents (74.7%; mothers) self‐administered the questionnaire in the pediatric clinic waiting area of a Malaysian tertiary hospital. Recruitment was from August to November 2020.

Results

The English version of the JSQ‐P has good internal consistency (Cronbach alpha = 0.85). Range of Cronbach alpha values for each item: 0.36–0.87. Many (77%) children slept at 10:00 p.m. or later, similar to parents' late bedtimes. One‐third had difficulty waking up in the morning. There were significant strong positive correlations between some features of restless leg syndrome, daytime tiredness, morning symptoms, and obstructive sleep apnea symptoms. Co‐sleeping was prevalent (97.9%). Mean screen time for those who had set time limits was 2.35 ± 1.68 h.

Conclusions

The English‐language translation of the JSQ‐P is a questionnaire with good internal consistency that can be used in non‐Japanese speaking countries. Parents need to be educated on healthy sleep and screen time practices to optimize children's sleep quality and quantity.
Studies on seed transmission of “Candidatus Liberibacter solanacearum” in pepper and its impact on plant emergence
Authors: Workneh Fekede , Paetzold Li , Rush Charles M.
Published: January 2022

“Candidatus Liberibacter solanacearum” (Lso), transmitted by the potato psyllid (Bactericera cockerelli), is the causal agent of potato zebra chip, but can also infect other solanaceous plants, including peppers. Studies were conducted to investigate whether Lso could be transmitted to the next generation of plants through seeds from infected pepper plants. In 2014, jalapeno pepper plants were infested with psyllids carrying a mixture of Lso A and B (AB) at the AgriLife Research Station at Bushland. The study was again conducted in 2019 and pepper plants were infested with psyllids carrying Lso B or Lso AB. In each of the studies, noninfested plants served as controls. At harvest, fruits were collected and tested for the presence of Lso using quantitative PCR. Seeds from infected fruits were then tested for Lso. Overall, the percentage of seeds that tested positive for Lso ranged from 33% to 70%. However, Lso detection in embryos ranged only from 0% to 8%. Seed samples from Lso‐positive fruits were planted in the greenhouse to determine the impact of Lso on emergence and the incidence of Lso in emerged plants. Although plant emergence differed between some of the seeds obtained from Lso‐positive and ‐negative fruits, the overall impact of Lso on plant emergence was not consistent. However, of the 182 plants that emerged from seeds collected from infected fruits, none was positive for Lso, suggesting that seeds are unlikely to serve as sources for new Lso infections and their impact on disease epidemiology is negligible.
Deprovincialization: Its Importance for Plural Societies
Authors: Verkuyten Maykel , Voci Alberto , Pettigrew Thomas F.
Published: January 2022

Deprovincialization is a set of attitudes characterized by two sides: a nuanced and fresh perspective on the in‐group culture and an open and accepting attitude toward other groups. After reviewing early research and indirect tests of the construct, we focused our attention on research investigating these two sides of deprovincialization. Studies conducted in various countries demonstrate that deprovincialization as in‐group cultural nuance is a strong and reliable correlate of reduced prejudice and improved intergroup relations; moreover, it is distinct from both national identification and cultural relativism. Studies conducted in Italy show that deprovincialization as openness toward other groups is related to positive intergroup contact and intergroup harmony and has longitudinal negative effects on prejudice. Importantly, in both lines of research the beneficial role of deprovincialization goes beyond the effects of constructs such as social dominance orientation, right‐wing authoritarianism, nationalism, and demographic variables. We conclude by proposing suggestions for future research and highlighting relevant issues to be considered in policy development and implementation.
Fatal allograft mucormycosis complicating severe COVID‐19 infection and bacterial pyelonephritis
Authors: Chandra Abhilash , Rao S. Namrata , Malhotra Kiran Preet
Published: January 2022

We herein present a case of live related kidney transplant recipient who initially developed severe coronavirus (COVID‐19) disease associated with E.coli related pyelonephritis and graft dysfunction, who improved over one week only to deteriorate in the second week, with fever, oligoanuria and refractory shock. A postmortem allograft biopsy revealed angioinvasive mucormycosis. With the resurgence of mucormycosis during the COVID‐19 pandemic, the transplant team should add allograft mucormycosis as a rare differential for severe graft dysfunction and oligoanuria in the COVID‐19‐infected kidney transplant recipient.
Porosity Inspection in Metal Directed Energy Deposition Using Femtosecond Laser Based Transient Thermoreflectance Measurement
Authors: Liu Peipei , Yi Kiyoon , Sohn Hoon
Published: January 2022

In metal directed energy deposition (DED), defects such as porosity, lack-of-fusion and cracking often occur during its material melting-solidification process. In this research, a femtosecond laser based transient thermoreflectance (TTR) technique was developed for porosity inspection in metal DED. The major contributions of the proposed technique include the following: (1) A femtosecond laser based TTR measurement system is developed for fully noncontact measurement of thermoreflectance from a newly deposited layer in DED. (2) Porosity is inspected by comparing the thermoreflectance measured at different thermal diffusion length. (3) Due to the noncontact nature and scanning capability, the proposed porosity inspection technique can be readily applied to online porosity monitoring during the DED process. It is inferred that, together with instantaneous correction actions, enhanced quality of the manufactured objects can be achieved. In this paper, offline validation tests were performed on Ti-6Al-4V samples manufactured with different DED printing parameters.
Fatigue Detection and Estimation in Martensitic Stainless-Steel Using Magnetic Nondestructive Evaluation Technique
Authors: Shenoy Bharath Basti , Li Zi , Udpa Lalita , Udpa Satish , Deng Yiming , Seuaciuc-Osorio Thiago
Published: January 2022

Stainless steel is used in many applications because of its excellent mechanical properties at elevated temperatures. Material fatigue is a major problem in steel structures and can cause catastrophic damage resulting in significant economic consequences. Conventional nondestructive evaluation techniques can detect macro defects, but do not perform well when it comes to material degradation due to fatigue, which happens at a microstructure level. It is well known that stress applied on a material will have an impact on the microstructure and produces a change in the magnetic properties of the material. Hence magnetic nondestructive evaluation techniques that are sensitive to changes in magnetic properties play a major role in the early-stage fatigue detection, i.e., before the macro crack initiates. This paper introduces the Magnetic Barkhausen Noise technique to garner information about fatigue state of the material under test. Experimental results prove that the sample categories, based on the percentage of remaining fatigue life, can be differentiated using this technique with a system performance slightly over 80%.
Coplanar Capacitive Sensing as a New Electromagnetic Technique for Non-Destructive Evaluation
Authors: Abdollahi-Mamoudan Farima , Savard Sebastien , Ibarra-Castanedo Clemente , Filleter Tobin , Maldague Xavier
Published: January 2022

Coplanar capacitive technique is a relatively novel electro-magnetic Non-Destructive Testing (NDT) method that could be applied to the evaluation of materials by moving a set of electrodes on the surface of the specimen. In addition to the design-related parameters such as electrode shape, size, and the separation distance between the main electrodes, the material of the specimen affects the coplanar capacitive probe performance. In this paper, a 3D Finite Element Modeling (FEM) was employed to assess and identify the electric field behaviour as a function of material under test for non-conducting and conducting specimens with/without defect. Physical experiments were carried out by a pair of rectangular coplanar electrodes on an aluminium specimen with surface defects covered by a 5 mm thick plexiglass insulation layer to verify the simulation results and evaluate the performance of the probe. A good qualitative agreement was observed between the numerical simulations and experimental results.
Non-Destructive Tests for the Assessment of R.C. Buildings
Authors: Diaferio Mariella , Vitti Michele
Published: January 2022

During the recent decades, the use of non-destructive tests has reached greater attention due to its high versatility and the possibility of extending the investigations on a great number of points. On the other side, the existence of a wide building stock realized in reinforced concrete, which is reaching the end of its service life, has increased the research on the assessment of their safety level.

In this field, one of the most important parameters for r.c. structure is the concrete compressive strength, which “classically” is evaluated by means of compression tests on drilled cores. However, usually the extension of such procedure to a high number of points is quite difficult due to logistic and economic reasons. The use of non-destructive tests may overcome these limits, but still needs further investigations to improve the calibration process of the relationship between the acquired data and the compressive strength. The present paper deals with this issue and discusses the results of the investigations on r.c. buildings in Bari (Italy) which make use of both destructive and non-destructive tests. The data are analyzed by considering several test scenarios and by evaluating the variability of parameters related to the calibration process.
Robust Guided Wave Tomography Method for Large and Irregular Defects
Authors: Tong Junkai , Lin Min , Wang Xiaocen , Ren Jiahao , Li Jian , Liu Yang
Published: January 2022

Finding a fast, robust way to quantitatively measuring the remaining wall thickness of complex structures when multiple defects exist is one of the leading challenges in Nondestructive Testing (NDT). Traditional inversion algorithms like ray tomography and full waveform inversion (FWI) suffered from problems like convergence, limited resolution and slow speed. Diffraction tomography (DT) has speed advantage over the preceding methods and its resolution can be further amplified by integrating with other methods like bent-ray tomography and iteration. However, DT can only detect shallow and small defects. Compared with those methods, convolutional neural network (CNN) opens a new way for quantitative defect imaging, as with pre-trained data it can achieve significant speed and resolution than the traditional methods. In this paper, we investigated the performance of CNN in imaging multiple defects and the inversion results show that when dealing with multiple defects with complex shape on a plate-like structure, CNN can achieve better resolution than other methods with maximum errors below 0.54mm in most regions. This research provides the experimental guidance for future study in finding the possible ways to improve the resolution of the algorithms.
Estimating Guided Wave Velocity Variation With Neural Networks
Authors: Leibovici Ori , Yang Kang , Harley Joel B.
Published: January 2022

While guided wave structural health monitoring (SHM) is widely researched for ensuring safety, estimating performance deterioration, and detecting damage in structures, it experiences setbacks in accuracy due to varying environmental, sensor, and material factors. To combat these challenges, environmentally variable guided wave data is often stretched with temperature compensation methods, such as the scale transform and optimal signal stretch, to match a baseline signal and enable accurate damage detection. Yet, these methods fail for large environmental changes. This paper addresses this challenge by demonstrating a machine learning method to predict stretch factors. This is accomplished with feed-forward neural networks that approximate the complex velocity change function. We demonstrate that our machine learning approach outperforms the prior art on simulated Lamb wave data and is robust with extreme velocity variations. While our machine learning models do not conduct temperature compensation, their accurate stretch factor predictions serve as a proof of concept that a better model is plausible.
Guided Waves Mode Filtering Using Fiber Bragg Grating Sensors
Authors: Soman Rohan , Kudela Pawel , Radzienski Maciej , Ostachowicz Wieslaw
Published: January 2022

Guided waves (GW) allow fast inspection of a large area and hence have received great interest from the structural health monitoring (SHM) community. Fiber Bragg grating (FBG) sensors offer several advantages but their use for GW sensing has been limited due to their limited sensitivity. FBG sensors in the edge-filtering configuration have overcome this issue with sensitivity and there is a renewed interest in their use. It has been seen that depending on the ratio of the wavelength of the propagating wave to the gauge length of the FBG, the mechanism of the transduction of the wave measurement is different. A large ratio leads to a more uniform strain over the FBG leading to a shift in the frequency, while a non-uniform strain due to a short wavelength, leads to the peak widening. The present paper studies this phenomena and develops a signal processing technique for the filtering of the modes.
Development of a Convolutional Neural Network Assisted Fiber Optics Based Passive Structural Health Monitoring System
Authors: Khan Ainulla , Balasubramaniam Krishnan
Published: January 2022

The continuous Non-Destructive Evaluation of assets for long-term assurance of performance has led to several developments over the deployment of a Real-Time Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) system. Considering the challenges involved under the implementation of an SHM system for the applications working under harsh environmental conditions with limited access to power sources this work is aimed to contribute towards overcoming those challenges by using the noise from the structure’s machinery or any ambient source as an alternative energy source and employing Fiber Optics based sensing, for its applicability under harsh environments. The required SHM system is realized with the cross-correlation of a fully diffused noise field, sensed using the Fiber Bragg Grating (FBG) sensors at two random locations. With no control on the input received as noise, to this end, a method is developed based on a Deep Learning framework, which is aimed towards a Universal Deployment of the passive SHM system. The methodology is designed to perform the health monitoring of the system, independent of the input perturbations. The validation performed on simulation data has demonstrated the feasibility of the developed technique towards the required kind of passive SHM system.
A Fast Unsupervised Online Learning Algorithm to Detect Structural Damage in Time-Varying Environments
Authors: Gopalakrishnan Karthik , Mathews V. John
Published: January 2022

Machine learning based health monitoring techniques for damage detection have been widely studied. Most such approaches suffer from two main problems, time-varying environmental and operating conditions, and the difficulty in acquiring training data from damaged structures. Recently, our group presented an unsupervised learning algorithm using support vector data description (SVDD) and an autoencoder to detect damage in time-varying environments without training on data from damaged structures. Though the preliminary experiments produced promising results, the algorithm was computationally expensive. This paper presents an iterative algorithm that learns the state of a structure in time-varying environments online in a computationally efficient manner. This algorithm combines the fast, incremental SVDD (FISVDD) algorithm with signal features based on wavelet packet decomposition (WPD) to create a method that is efficient and provides more accurate detection of smaller damage than the autoencoder-based method. The use of FISVDD has created the possibility of online learning and adaptive damage detection in time-varying environmental and operating conditions (EOC). The WPD-based features also have the potential to provide explainability for the learning algorithm.
Nonlinear electrohydrodynamic ion transport in graphene nanopores
Authors: Jiang Xiaowei , Zhao Chunxiao , Noh Yechan , Xu Yang , Chen Yuang , Chen Fanfan , Ma Laipeng , Ren Wencai , Aluru Narayana R. , Feng Jiandong
Published: January 2022

Pressure-modulated ion transport through single graphene nanopores reveals a nonlinear electrohydrodynamic coupling phenomenon.
The genetic identity of the earliest human-made hybrid animals, the kungas of Syro-Mesopotamia
Authors: Bennett E. Andrew , Weber Jill , Bendhafer Wejden , Champlot Sophie , Peters Joris , Schwartz Glenn M. , Grange Thierry , Geigl Eva-Maria
Published: January 2022

Ancient DNA identifies elite equids in Bronze Age Mesopotamia as the first human-bred hybrid animals, the enigmatic kungas.
An antiquated language, reimagined
Kingdom of Characters: The Language Revolution That Made China Modern
Jing Tsu
Riverhead Books, 2022. 336 pp.
Authors: Wang Zuoyue
Published: January 2022

A new tome traces efforts to unify, reform, and modernize the Chinese language
Who gets counted and how
Queer Data: Using Gender, Sex and Sexuality Data for Action
Kevin Guyan
Bloomsbury Academic, 2022. 240 pp.
Authors: Bates Nancy
Published: January 2022

Sexual orientation and gender identity data must be collected and used with thought and with care
The scent of atherosclerosis
Authors: Rayner Katey J. , Rasheed Adil
Published: January 2022

Vascular macrophages sense an odorant to induce atherosclerotic plaque formation
In Other Journals
Authors: Ash Caroline , Lopez Bianca , Stajic Jelena , Ray L. Bryan , Stern Peter , Funk Michael A. , Smith H. Jesse
Published: January 2022

Editors’ selections from the current scientific literature
BATF promotes group 2 innate lymphoid cell–mediated lung tissue protection during acute respiratory virus infection
Authors: Wu Xiaopeng , Kasmani Moujtaba Y. , Zheng Shikan , Khatun Achia , Chen Yao , Winkler Wendy , Zander Ryan , Burns Robert , Taparowsky Elizabeth J. , Sun Jie , Cui Weiguo
Published: January 2022

BATF regulates ILC2-mediated tissue repair and inflammation resolution during acute respiratory virus infection.
Supplemental Material: The newly discovered ca. 1.35 Ga metamafic rocks in the Oulongbuluke Block, NW China, and its record for transition from the Columbia to Rodinia supercontinent
Authors: Lv Pei , Shengyao Yu , al. et
Published: January 2022

Table S1: U-Th-Pb LA-ICP-MS data of zircons from metamafic rocks in the Oulongbuluke Block. Table S2: LA-MC-ICP-MS Lu-Hf isotope data of zircons from metamafic rocks in the Oulongbuluke Block. Table S3: Major and trace element compositions of metamafic rocks in the Oulongbuluke Block.
Development of the Healthy Eating Food Index (HEFI)-2019 measuring adherence to Canada’s Food Guide 2019 recommendations on healthy food choices
Authors: Brassard Didier , Elvidge Munene Lisa-Anne , St-Pierre Sylvie , Guenther Patricia M. , Kirkpatrick Sharon I. , Slater Joyce , Lemieux Simone , Jessri Mahsa , Haines Jess , Prowse Rachel , Olstad Dana Lee , Garriguet Didier , Vena Jennifer , Vatanpatast Hassan , L’Abbe Mary R. , Lamarche Benoît
Published: January 2022

The release of Canada’s Food Guide (CFG) in 2019 by Health Canada prompted the development of indices to measure adherence to these updated dietary recommendations for Canadians. This study describes the development and scoring standards of the Healthy Eating Food Index (HEFI-2019), which is intended to measure alignment of eating patterns with CFG-2019 recommendations on food choices among Canadians aged 2 years and older. Alignment with the intent of each key recommendation in the CFG-2019 was the primary principle guiding the development of the HEFI-2019. Additional considerations included previously published indices, data on Canadians’ dietary intakes from the 2015 Canadian Community Health Survey-Nutrition, and expert judgement. The HEFI-2019 includes 10 components: Vegetables and fruits (20 points), Whole-grain foods (5 points), Grain foods ratio (5 points), Protein foods (5 points), Plant-based protein foods (5 points), Beverages (10 points), Fatty acids ratio (5 points), Saturated fats (5 points), Free sugars (10 points), and Sodium (10 points). All components are expressed as ratios (e.g., proportions of total foods, total beverages, or total energy). The HEFI-2019 score has a maximum of 80 points. Potential uses of the HEFI-2019 include research as well as monitoring and surveillance of food choices in population-based surveys.

Novelty: The Healthy Eating Food Index-2019 was developed to measure adherence to the 2019 Canada's Food Guide recommendations on healthy food choices. The HEFI-2019 includes 10 components, of which 5 are based on foods, 1 on beverages and 4 on nutrients, for a total of 80 points.
China and Climate Change Governance: A Golden Opportunity
Authors: Buzan Barry
Published: January 2022

Climate change is a threat to all of humankind, yet there is still a leadership vacuum on climate governance. At the same time, the deepening climate crisis also presents a golden opportunity for Beijing to assume the role of a global leader. China has the capacity to do it in a way that the United States, Russia, India, and the European Union do not. Taking swift climate action is in Beijing’s interest. Greater contributions to climate governance will certainly help advance China’s long-term political interest in both raising its political status and demonstrating the claimed superiority of its system of government. Positive rhetoric and robust action by China are likely to have a disproportionate effect on the rest of the world. Policy adjustment and implementation by Beijing will bring benefits to the rest of the world. Climate policy options that Beijing may take in the future are not mutually exclusive. The policy shift on climate change could also be attached more firmly to the idea of sustainable development as a defining factor of China’s approach to tackling the climate change threat.