bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Impact of 5-Aminolevulinic Acid Supplementation on Redox Balance and Aerobic Capacity
Authors: Saga Norio , Hu Ailing , Yamaguchi Takuji , Naraoka Yuna , Kobayashi Hiroyuki
Published: January 2024

We examined the impact of 5-aminolevulinic acid (5-ALA) and sodium-ferrous-citrate supplementation on aerobic capacity and redox balance through a placebo-controlled, double-blind trial. Fourteen healthy volunteers were randomly assigned to Pla + ALA (4-week placebo followed by 4-week 5-ALA supplementation) or ALA + Pla (4-week 5-ALA supplement followed by a 4-week placebo) group and administered 5-ALA (25 mg/day) or placebo once daily. The participants underwent submaximal incremental cycling tests at weeks 0, 2, 4, 6, and 8. In the cycling test at week 0, individual load-intensity stages required for blood lactate levels >2 mmol/L (lactate threshold, LT) and 4 mmol/L (onset of blood lactate accumulation, OBLA) were determined. The heart rate (HR), blood lactate (La), and oxidative stress markers (diacron reactive oxygen metabolite, d-ROMs; biological antioxidant potential, BAP) were measured at resting, LT, and OBLA states in each cycling test. Marker values were not significantly different between the groups. HR, La, and d-ROMs at resting, LT, and OBLA states were not significantly different among the conditions. BAP and BAP/d-ROMs ratios were significantly different in the OBLA state at week 4 of the 5-ALA group compared with that of the placebo group (p < 0.05). In conclusion, 5-ALA supplementation might improve redox balance during high-intensity aerobic exercise.
Seepage Actions and Their Consequences on the Support Scheme of Deep-Buried Tunnels Constructed in Soft Rock Strata
Authors: Frenelus Wadslin , Peng Hui , Zhang Jingyu
Published: January 2024

The stability of deep soft rock tunnels under seepage conditions is of particular concern. Aiming at thoroughly discussing seepage actions and their consequences on the support schemes of such structures, the host rocks of the Weilai Tunnel situated in the Guangxi province of China are used as the research subject. Emphasis is placed on adequately examining the seepage conditions, stresses, displacements and plastic zone radii along the surrounding rocks of such tunnels, taking into consideration the Mogi–Coulomb strength criterion and the elastic-plastic theory. Explicitly, this article proposes analytical solutions for stresses, displacements and plastic radii around deep tunnels in soft rocks under seepage conditions by considering the aforesaid criterion and nonlinear elastoplastic approaches. Subsequently, based on the strain-softening model, the coupled actions of seepage and softening on the rocks surrounding the tunnel are studied. In order to investigate the effects of relevant influencing factors on tunnel stability, parametric studies are thoroughly examined. According to the results, it is revealed that the support scheme of deep soft rock tunnels must be of the highest resistance possible to better decrease the plastic zone and the tangential stress along the host rocks. Moreover, throughout the surrounding rocks, the dissemination of pore water pressure is strongly affected by the uneven permeability coefficient under anisotropic seepage states. The combined effects of softening and seepage are very dangerous for the surrounding rocks of deep-buried tunnels. It is also shown that the seepage pressure substantially affects the plastic radii and tunnel displacements. Under high seepage pressure, the surface displacements of the tunnel are excessive, easily exceeding 400 mm. To better guarantee the reasonable longevity of such tunnels, the long-term monitoring of their support structures with reliable remote sensors is strongly recommended.
Optimal dsRNA Concentration for RNA Interference in Asian Citrus Psyllid
Authors: Saberi Esmaeil , Mondal Mosharrof , Paredes-Montero Jorge R. , Nawaz Kiran , Brown Judith K. , Qureshi Jawwad A.
Published: January 2024

The Asian citrus psyllid (ACP) is a citrus pest and insect vector of “Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus”, the causal agent of citrus greening disease. Double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) biopesticides that trigger RNA interference (RNAi) offer an alternative to traditional insecticides. Standardized laboratory screening of dsRNA requires establishing the minimal effective concentration(s) that result in effective RNAi “penetrance” and trigger RNAi, resulting in one or more measurable phenotypes, herein, significant gene knockdown and the potential for mortality. In this study, knockdown was evaluated for a range of dsRNA concentrations of three ACP candidate genes, clathrin heavy chain (CHC), vacuolar ATPase subunit A (vATPase-A), and sucrose non-fermenting protein 7 (Snf7). Gene knockdown was quantified for ACP teneral adults and 3rd instar nymphs allowed a 48 h ingestion-access period (IAP) on 10, 50,100, 200, and 500 ng/µL dsRNA dissolved in 20% sucrose followed by a 5-day post-IAP on orange jasmine shoots. Significant gene knockdown (p < 0.05) in ACP third instar nymphs and adults ranged from 12–34% and 18–39%, 5 days post-IAP on dsRNA at 10–500 and 100–500 ng/µL, respectively. The threshold concentration beyond which no significant gene knockdown and adult mortality was observed post-48 h IAP and 10-day IAP, respectively, was determined as 200 ng/µL, a concentration indicative of optimal RNAi penetrance.
Assessing the Risk of Hypertension in Chronic, Elderly Patients during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Prospective Study
Authors: Quesada-Caballero Miguel , Carmona-García Ana , García-Lara Rubén A. , Caballero-Mateos Antonio M. , Suleiman-Martos Nora , Cañadas-De la Fuente Guillermo A. , Romero-Béjar José L.
Published: January 2024

Background: This study considers care management for older chronic patients during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. Aims: To identify groups of variables at previous time points as a basis for deriving efficient classification models during and after a pandemic situation and to quantify the effect of each variable within the model to predict levels of worsening risk in diastolic and systolic arterial hypertension (AHT). Material and Methods: In this prospective longitudinal study, data were collected at three time points: before, during, and after the COVID-19 pandemic period. Results: The study included 148 patients with an average age of 81.6 years. During the study period, mean systolic blood pressure among this population rose by 5 mmHg to 128.8 mmHg; the number of patients with systolic blood pressure > 140 mmHg rose by 45.3%; among those with diastolic blood pressure > 90, the number rose by 41.2%; mean triglycerides levels rose to 152.6 mg/dL; cholesterol levels rose to 147 mg/dL; and LDL cholesterol rose to 112.2 mg/dL. Meanwhile, mean levels of HDL cholesterol decreased to 46.5 mg/dL. Binary-response logistic regression models were constructed to identify the most relevant variables for predicting AHT risk during and after the pandemic. The heart rate (OR = 1.79; 95% CI: 1.22–2.72) and body mass index (OR = 1.75; 95% CI: 1.08–2.94) variables were significant at the population level (p < 0.05) for diastolic and systolic AHT in the pandemic period risk models. The body mass index variable was also significant for diastolic AHT in the post-pandemic period risk model (OR = 1.97; 95% CI: 1.32–2.94), whilst the triglycerides variable was significant in the systolic AHT post-pandemic period risk model (OR = 1.49; 95% CI: 1.01–1.86). Conclusions: Bad control of arterial hypertension in older patients with chronic disease is associated with elevated levels of LDL cholesterol, total cholesterol, systolic blood pressure, heart rate and triglycerides, and lower levels of HDL cholesterol.
Active Brazing for Energy Devices Sealing
Authors: Feng Jian , Herrmann Marion , Reinecke Anne-Maria , Hurtado Antonio
Published: January 2024

The pursuit of reliable energy devices sealing solutions stands as a paramount engineering challenge for ensuring energy safety and dependability. This review focuses on an examination of recent scientific publications, primarily within the last decade, with a central aim to grasp and apply critical concepts relevant to the efficient design and specification of brazements for ceramic–metal active-brazed assemblies, emphasizing the sealing of energy devices. The goal is to establish robust and enduring joints capable of withstanding water-vapor and hydrogen environments. The review commences with a concise recapitulation of the fundamental principles of active brazing, followed by an in-depth exploration of material selection, illustrated using water-vapor-resistant sensors as illustrative examples. Furthermore, the review presents practical solutions for the sealing of energy devices while also scrutinizing the factors that exert significant influence on the deterioration of these active-brazed connections. Ultimately, the review culminates in a comprehensive discussion of emerging trends and developments in active brazing techniques for energy-related applications.
Reduced Order Data-Driven Analysis of Cavitating Flow over Hydrofoil with Machine Learning
Authors: Guang Weilong , Wang Peng , Zhang Jinshuai , Yuan Linjuan , Wang Yue , Feng Guang , Tao Ran
Published: January 2024

Predicting the flow situation of cavitation owing to its high-dimensional nonlinearity has posed great challenges. To address these challenges, this study presents a novel reduced order modeling (ROM) method to accurately analyze and predict cavitation flow fields under different conditions. The proposed ROM decomposes the flow field into linearized low-order modes while maintaining its accuracy and effectively reducing its dimensionality. Specifically, this study focuses on predicting cavitation on the Clark-Y hydrofoil using a combination of numerical simulation, proper orthogonal decomposition (POD), and neural networks. By analyzing different cavitation conditions, the results revealed that the POD method effectively reduces the order of the cavity flow field while achieving excellent flow field reconstruction. Notably, the zeroth- and first-order modes are associated with attachment cavitation, while the second-, third- and fourth-order modes correspond to cavitation shedding. Additionally, the fifth- and sixth-order modes along the hydrofoil surface are associated with the backward jet flow. To predict the conditions of high-energy modes, the neural network proved to be more effective, exhibiting excellent performance in stable attached cavitation. However, for cloud cavitation, the accuracy of the neural network model requires further improvement. This study not only introduces a novel approach for predicting cavitation flow fields but also highlights new challenges that will require continuous attention in future research endeavors.
Influence of Emission-Control Areas on the Eco-Shipbuilding Industry: A Perspective of the Synthetic Control Method
Authors: Xu Lang , Zou Zeyuan , Liu Lin , Xiao Guangnian
Published: January 2024

Annex VI of the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL Convention), adopted in October 2008, was dedicated to addressing environmental issues caused by ships, especially in ports, inland waterways, and some sea areas with concentrated routes and high navigational density. This study utilizes a regional-level ship dataset to assess the influences of emission-control areas (ECAs) on the ecological shipbuilding industry by fitting the policy utility through the synthetic control method and testing robustness via the difference-in-differences method. The outcomes of this study show that the cumulative new orders for eco-designed ships in China, The Netherlands, Republic of Korea, the UK, and the USA increased by 3401, 81, 234, 549, and −1435, respectively, after the implementation of ECAs. Compared to the implementation of ECAs, the increases were about 32%, 20%, 41%, 66%, and −83%, respectively.
Compensation Method for Current Measurement Errors in the Synchronous Reference Frame of a Small-Sized Surface Vehicle Propulsion Motor
Authors: Guo Haohao , Xiang Tianxiang , Liu Yancheng , Zhang Qiaofen , Wei Yi , Zhang Fengkui
Published: January 2024

This paper proposes a new method for compensating current measurement errors in shipboard permanent magnet propulsion motors. The method utilizes cascade decoupling second-order generalized integrators (SOGIs) and adaptive linear neurons (ADALINEs) as the current harmonic extractor and the compensator, respectively. It can compensate for the dq-axes offset and scaling errors simultaneously, improving phase current distortion while reducing the ripples of motor speed and torque. Compared to the traditional motor model-based compensation strategies, the proposed method is robust against the changes in motor parameters with the online adaptive capability of the ADALINE algorithm. Furthermore, due to the good real-time performance of SOGIs and ADALINEs, the proposed compensation strategy can effectively operate in both the steady state and transient state of the motor. Finally, the effectiveness of the proposed method is verified through the physical and hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) experiments. After compensating for the current measurement errors of a 1 kW test motor with the propeller-characteristics load, the torque ripple and speed ripple are reduced by more than 65% and 80%, respectively. At the same time, the DC component and the second-order and third-order harmonics in the phase currents are also significantly reduced. Similar test results can be also obtained on the HIL platform with a 100 kW permanent magnet motor.
The IFSD Score—A Practical Prognostic Model for Invasive Fungal Spondylodiscitis
Authors: Yang Chao-Chun , Lee Ming-Hsueh , Liu Chia-Yen , Lin Meng-Hung , Yang Yao-Hsu , Chen Kuo-Tai , Huang Tsung-Yu
Published: January 2024

Objectives: Invasive fungal spondylodiscitis (IFSD) is rare and could be lethal in certain circumstances. The previous literature revealed limited data concerning its outcomes. This study aimed to establish a risk-scoring system to predict the one-year mortality rate of this disease. Methods: A total of 53 patients from a multi-centered database in Taiwan were included in this study. All the clinicopathological and laboratory data were retrospectively analyzed. Variables strongly related to one-year mortality were identified using a multivariate Cox proportional hazards model. A receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to express the performance of our IFSD scoring model. Results: Five strong predictors were included in the IFSD score: predisposing immunocompromised state, the initial presentation of either radiculopathy or myelopathy, initial laboratory findings of WBC > 12.0 or <0.4 103/µL, hemoglobin < 8 g/dL, and evidence of candidemia. One-year mortality rates for patients with IFSD scores of 0, 1, 2, 3, and 4 were 0%, 16.7%, 56.3%, 72.7%, and 100%, respectively. The area under the curve of the ROC curve was 0.823. Conclusions: We developed a practical scoring model with easily obtained demographic, clinical, and laboratory parameters to predict the probability of one-year mortality in patients with IFSD. However, more large-scale and international validations would be necessary before this scoring model is commonly used.
It’s Not Always about Wide and Deep Models: Click-Through Rate Prediction with a Customer Behavior-Embedding Representation
Authors: Alves Gomes Miguel , Meyes Richard , Meisen Philipp , Meisen Tobias
Published: January 2024

Alongside natural language processing and computer vision, large learning models have found their way into e-commerce. Especially, for recommender systems and click-through rate prediction, these models have shown great predictive power. In this work, we aim to predict the probability that a customer will click on a given recommendation, given only its current session. Therefore, we propose a two-stage approach consisting of a customer behavior-embedding representation and a recurrent neural network. In the first stage, we train a self-supervised skip-gram embedding on customer activity data. The resulting embedding representation is used in the second stage to encode the customer sequences which are then used as input to the learning model. Our proposed approach diverges from the prevailing trend of utilizing extensive end-to-end models for click-through rate prediction. The experiments, which incorporate a real-world industrial use case and a widely used as well as openly available benchmark dataset, demonstrate that our approach outperforms the current state-of-the-art models. Our approach predicts customers’ click intention with an average F1 accuracy of 94% for the industrial use case which is one percentage point higher than the state-of-the-art baseline and an average F1 accuracy of 79% for the benchmark dataset, which outperforms the best tested state-of-the-art baseline by more than seven percentage points. The results show that, contrary to current trends in that field, large end-to-end models are not always needed. The analysis of our experiments suggests that the reason for the performance of our approach is the self-supervised pre-trained embedding of customer behavior that we use as the customer representation.
Polarity of Aqueous Solutions
Authors: Madeira Pedro P. , Ferreira Luisa A. , Uversky Vladimir N. , Zaslavsky Boris Y.
Published: January 2024

This short review describes the expansion of the solvatochromic approach utilizing water-soluble solvatochromic dyes to the analysis of solvent features of aqueous media in solutions of various compounds. These solvent features (polarity/dipolarity, hydrogen bond donor ability (HBD acidity), and hydrogen bond acceptor ability (HBA basicity)) vary depending on the nature and concentration of a solute. Furthermore, the solvent features of water (the solvent dipolarity/polarizability and hydrogen bond donor ability) in solutions of various compounds describe multiple physicochemical properties of these solutions (such as the solubility of various compounds in aqueous solutions, salting-out and salting-in constants for polar organic compounds in the presence of different inorganic salts, as well as water activity, osmotic coefficients, surface tension, viscosity, and the relative permittivity of aqueous solutions of different individual compounds) and are likely related to changes in the arrangement of hydrogen bonds of water in these solutions.
Porous Lithium Disilicate Glass–Ceramics Prepared by Cold Sintering Process Associated with Post-Annealing Technique
Authors: Lyu Xigeng , Seo Yeongjun , Han Do Hyung , Cho Sunghun , Kondo Yoshifumi , Goto Tomoyo , Sekino Tohru
Published: January 2024

Using melt-derived LD glass powders and 5–20 M NaOH solutions, porous lithium disilicate (Li2Si2O5, LD) glass–ceramics were prepared by the cold sintering process (CSP) associated with the post-annealing technique. In this novel technique, H2O vapor originating from condensation reactions between residual Si–OH groups in cold-sintered LD glasses played the role of a foaming agent. With the increasing concentration of NaOH solutions, many more residual Si–OH groups appeared, and then rising trends in number as well as size were found for spherical pores formed in the resultant porous LD glass–ceramics. Correspondingly, the total porosities and average pore sizes varied from 25.6 ± 1.3% to 48.6 ± 1.9% and from 1.89 ± 0.68 μm to 13.40 ± 10.27 μm, respectively. Meanwhile, both the volume fractions and average aspect ratios of precipitated LD crystals within their pore walls presented progressively increasing tendencies, ranging from 55.75% to 76.85% and from 4.18 to 6.53, respectively. Young’s modulus and the hardness of pore walls for resultant porous LD glass–ceramics presented remarkable enhancement from 56.9 ± 2.5 GPa to 79.1 ± 2.1 GPa and from 4.6 ± 0.9 GPa to 8.1 ± 0.8 GPa, whereas their biaxial flexural strengths dropped from 152.0 ± 6.8 MPa to 77.4 ± 5.4 MPa. Using H2O vapor as a foaming agent, this work reveals that CSP associated with the post-annealing technique is a feasible and eco-friendly methodology by which to prepare porous glass–ceramics.
Effect of Fiber Content on Mechanical Properties of Fiber-Reinforced CGF All-Solid-Waste Binder-Solidified Soil
Authors: Qiu Xinyi , Yang Junjie , Wu Yalei , Yan Lijun , Liu Qiang
Published: January 2024

In order to realize the resource utilization of solid waste and improve the tensile strength and toughness of soil, CCR-GGBS-FA all-solid-waste binder (CGF) composed of general industrial solid waste calcium carbide residue (CCR), ground granulated blast furnace slag (GGBS) and fly ash (FA) was used instead of cement and combined with polypropylene fiber to strengthen the silty soil taken from Dongying City, China. An unconfined compressive strength test (UCS test) and a uniaxial tensile test (UT test) were carried out on 10 groups of samples with five different fiber contents to uncover the effect of fiber content on tensile and compressive properties, and the reinforcement mechanism was studied using a scanning electron microscopy (SEM) test. The test results show that the unconfined compressive strength, the uniaxial tensile strength, the deformation modulus, the tensile modulus, the fracture energy and the residual strength of fiber-reinforced CGF-solidified soil are significantly improved compared with nonfiber-solidified soil. The compressive strength and the tensile strength of polypropylene-fiber-reinforced CGF-solidified soil reach the maximum value when the fiber content is 0.25%, as the unconfined compressive strength and the tensile strength are 3985.7 kPa and 905.9 kPa, respectively, which are 116.60% and 186.16% higher than those of nonfiber-solidified soil, respectively. The macro–micro tests identify that the hydration products generated by CGF improve the compactness through gelling and filling in solidified soil, and the fiber enhances the resistance to deformation by bridging and forming a three-dimensional network structure. The addition of fiber effectively improves the toughness and stiffness of solidified soil and makes the failure mode of CGF-solidified soil transition from typical brittle failure to plastic failure. The research results can provide a theoretical basis for the application of fiber-reinforced CGF-solidified soil in practical engineering.
Crack-Tip Opening Displacement of Girth Welds in a Lean X70 Pipeline Steel
Authors: Li Jing , Yu Peng , Saini Nitin , Li Leijun
Published: January 2024

Crack-tip opening displacement (CTOD) tests were conducted on girth welds of two API 5L X70 pipeline steels (pipe A and pipe B) to investigate the influence of base metal composition on the fracture toughness of the joint. CTOD measurements across the weld showed that the weld fusion zone had the lowest CTOD values for both pipes, with pipe B having a higher CTOD value than pipe A. Detailed microstructure characterization of the multi-pass weld showed that the fusion zone in both pipes consisted of three distinct zones: the columnar zone, the coarse equiaxed zone, and the fine equiaxed zone. Both the columnar zone and coarse-grained equiaxed zone had acicular ferrite and grain boundary ferrite microstructures, whereas the fine-grained equiaxed zone had a finer ferrite microstructure compared to the other two zones. The main difference between the two pipes was the variation in ferrite grain sizes and the volume fractions of grain boundary ferrite and acicular ferrite. In comparison to pipe B, pipe A, with a higher concentration of Mo, Ni, and Cu in both the base metal and the weld fusion zones, consisted of a higher volume fraction of grain boundary ferrite and a lower volume fraction of acicular ferrite in the columnar and coarse-grained equiaxed zones. The lower concentration of Mo, Ni, and Cu in pipe B likely resulted in the formation of a predominantly acicular ferrite microstructure in the fusion zone, thereby improving the toughness of the weld joint in comparison to pipe A.
Analytic Solution for Buckling Problem of Rectangular Thin Plates Supported by Four Corners with Four Edges Free Based on the Symplectic Superposition Method
Authors: Yang Yushi , Xu Dian , Chu Jinkui , Li Rui
Published: January 2024

The buckling behavior of rectangular thin plates, which are supported at their four corner points with four edges free, is a matter of great concern in the field of plate and shell mechanics. Nevertheless, the complexities arising from the boundary conditions and governing equations present a formidable obstacle to the attainment of analytical solutions for these problems. Despite the availability of various approximate/numerical methods for addressing these challenges, the literature lacks accurate analytic solutions. In this study, we employ the symplectic superposition method, a recently developed method, to effectively analyze the buckling problem of rectangular thin plates analytically. These plates have four supported corners and four free edges. To achieve this, the problem is divided into two sub-problems and solve them separately using variable separation and symplectic eigen expansion, leading to analytical solutions. Finally, we obtain the resolution to the initial issue by superposing the sub-problems. The current solution method can be regarded as a logical, analytical, and rational approach as it begins with the basic governing equation and is systematically derived without assuming the forms of the solutions. To examine various aspect ratios and in-plane load ratios of rectangular thin plates, which are supported at their four corner points with four edges free, we provide numerical examples that demonstrate the buckling loads and typical buckling mode shapes.
A Non-Traditional Finite Element Method for Scattering by Partly Covered Grooves with Multiple Media
Authors: Fang Xianqi , Zhang Wenbin , Zhao Meiling
Published: January 2024

We present a non-traditional finite element method for the electromagnetic scattering of the partly covered groove filled with multiple media. The non-local boundary condition is introduced to make the unbounded scattering into a bounded domain problem. Non-body-fitted mesh is applied to save the cost of discretizing groove domain greatly. In addition, the level set functions are utilized to describe complex media interfaces and boundaries. Numerical tests demonstrate the effectiveness and second-order convergence rate of the proposed method.
Toward Optimal Robot Machining Considering the Workpiece Surface Geometry in a Task-Oriented Approach
Authors: Hace Aleš
Published: January 2024

Robot workpiece machining is interesting in industry as it offers some advantages, such as higher flexibility in comparison with the conventional approach based on CNC technology. However, in recent years, we have been facing a strong progressive shift to custom-based manufacturing and low-volume/high-mix production, which require a novel approach to automation via the employment of collaborative robotics. However, collaborative robots feature only limited motion capability to provide safety in cooperation with human workers. Thus, it is highly necessary to perform more detailed robot task planning to ensure its feasibility and optimal performance. In this paper, we deal with the problem of studying kinematic robot performance in the case of such manufacturing tasks, where the robot tool is constrained to follow the machining path embedded on the workpiece surface at a prescribed orientation. The presented approach is based on the well-known concept of manipulability, although the latter suffers from physical inconsistency due to mixing different units of linear and angular velocity in a general 6 DOF task case. Therefore, we introduce the workpiece surface constraint in the robot kinematic analysis, which enables an evaluation of its available velocity capability in a reduced dimension space. Such constrained robot kinematics transform the robot’s task space to a two-dimensional surface tangent plane, and the manipulability analysis may be limited to the space of linear velocity only. Thus, the problem of physical inconsistency is avoided effectively. We show the theoretical derivation of the proposed method, which was verified by numerical experiments.
Global Regular Axially Symmetric Solutions to the Navier–Stokes Equations: Part 2
Authors: Zajączkowski Wojciech M.
Published: January 2024

The axially symmetric solutions to the Navier–Stokes equations are considered in a bounded cylinder Ω⊂R3 with the axis of symmetry. S1 is the boundary of the cylinder parallel to the axis of symmetry, and S2 is perpendicular to it. We have two parts of S2. On S1 and S2, we impose vanishing of the normal component of velocity and the angular component of vorticity. Moreover, we assume that the angular component of velocity vanishes on S1 and the normal derivative of the angular component of velocity vanishes on S2. We prove the existence of global regular solutions. To prove this, the coordinate of velocity along the axis of symmetry must vanish on it. We have to emphasize that the technique of weighted spaces applied to the stream function plays a crucial role in the proof of global regular axially symmetric solutions. The paper is a generalization of Part 1, where the periodic boundary conditions are prescribed on S2. The transformation is not trivial because it needs to examine many additional boundary terms and derive new estimates.
Utilizing a Novel AI Tool to Detect the Posterior Superior Alveolar Artery’s Location’s Impact on Maxillary Sinus Mucosal Thickening in the Presence of Periapical Lesions
Authors: Aboelmaaty Wael , Alfadley Abdulmohsen , Awawdeh Mohammed , Sapri Ahmed , Awawdeh Lama , Mira Eman
Published: January 2024

Periapical lesions have been implicated in sinus-related complications, but the precise influence of anatomical variations in the posterior superior alveolar artery (PSAA) on mucosal thickening remains an uncharted aspect. The new AI tool employed in this research utilizes advanced image processing algorithms to enhance image visualization. Background and Objectives: This study examines the accuracy of a new cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) software (eVol DXS, version 1.0.1.0) employing AI to detect the PSAA’s location and the effect of that on maxillary sinus thickening in the presence of periapical lesions. Materials and Methods: This retrospective study included 120 CBCT cases with posterior maxillary periapical lesions and 120 without odontogenic infections. Teeth with proximity (<2 mm) to the sinus were excluded in both groups to eliminate the sinus floor’s perforation effect. Both the PSAA locations and maxillary sinus thickening were classified and compared. Results: The mucosal thickening differs significantly (p < 0.001) between the study group and the control group. The study showed that an increased sinus thickness occurred when the PSAA was beneath the sinus membrane in the study group (62.5% compared to 8.6%; p < 0.001 *). The AI tool helped to achieve a 100% identification rate in determining the PSAA locations. Conclusions: AI algorithms for PSAA localization, which affects mucosal thickness in response to periapical lesions, yield excellent results.
Giant Congenital Hemangioma of the Skull: Prenatal Diagnosis and Multimodal Endovascular and Surgical Management
Authors: Alexandre Andrea , Romi Andrea , Gaudino Simona , Gessi Marco , Frassanito Paolo , Camilli Arianna , Luca Scarcia , Pedicelli Alessandro
Published: January 2024

Introduction: calvarial capillary hemangiomas are vascular tumors rarely seen in newborns. Differential diagnosis may be not straightforward on imaging studies and the management depends on patient and lesion characteristics. Case report: we present the case of a large congenital intracranial extra-axial lesion detected by routine prenatal US screening, a giant calvarial congenital hemangioma, treated with a multimodal strategy. Neonatal MR showed a hemorrhagic solid lesion, causing compression of brain tissue. Conservative treatment was attempted, but a one-month follow-up MR showed growth of the lesion with increased mass effect. Pre-operative endovascular embolization and surgical resection were performed. The pathology was consistent with intraosseous capillary hemangioma. The post-operative course was uneventful. At the 8-month follow-up, the patient had no clinical deficits and MR showed complete resection of the lesion. At the 13-month follow-up, the patient was asymptomatic, showing normal neurological examination and psychophysical development. Conclusions: although wait-and-see policy is feasible for small and asymptomatic lesions, radical resection is indicated when the mass is large, thus causing severe mass effect on the brain. Hypervascularization of the tumor may be responsible for hemorrhagic complications and severe anemia. On these grounds, endovascular treatment is feasible and effective to reduce hemorrhagic complications.
The Understanding and Compact Modeling of Reliability in Modern Metal–Oxide–Semiconductor Field-Effect Transistors: From Single-Mode to Mixed-Mode Mechanisms
Authors: Sun Zixuan , Chen Sihao , Zhang Lining , Huang Ru , Wang Runsheng
Published: January 2024

With the technological scaling of metal–oxide–semiconductor field-effect transistors (MOSFETs) and the scarcity of circuit design margins, the characteristics of device reliability have garnered widespread attention. Traditional single-mode reliability mechanisms and modeling are less sufficient to meet the demands of resilient circuit designs. Mixed-mode reliability mechanisms and modeling have become a focal point of future designs for reliability. This paper reviews the mechanisms and compact aging models of mixed-mode reliability. The mechanism and modeling method of mixed-mode reliability are discussed, including hot carrier degradation (HCD) with self-heating effect, mixed-mode aging of HCD and Bias Temperature Instability (BTI), off-state degradation (OSD), on-state time-dependent dielectric breakdown (TDDB), and metal electromigration (EM). The impact of alternating HCD-BTI stress conditions is also discussed. The results indicate that single-mode reliability analysis is insufficient for predicting the lifetime of advanced technology and circuits and provides guidance for future mixed-mode reliability analysis and modeling.
Accelerated Computational Fluid Dynamics Simulations of Microfluidic Devices by Exploiting Higher Levels of Abstraction
Authors: Takken Michel , Wille Robert
Published: January 2024

The design of microfluidic devices is a cumbersome and tedious process that can be significantly improved by simulation. Methods based on Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) are considered state-of-the-art, but require extensive compute time—oftentimes limiting the size of microfluidic devices that can be simulated. Simulation methods that abstract the underlying physics on a higher level generally provide results instantly, but the fidelity of these methods is usually worse. In this work, a simulation method that accelerates CFD simulations by exploiting simulation methods on higher levels of abstraction is proposed. Case studies confirm that the proposed method accelerates CFD simulations by multiple factors (often several orders of magnitude) while maintaining the fidelity of CFD simulations.
Development of a Microheater with a Large Heating Area and Low Thermal Stress in the Heating Area
Authors: Zhang Tao , Pan Zequan , Zhang Chunhua , Xiong Liuguang , Yang Chunmei , Zhang Jian , Shi Mengjiao , Wang Yuhang , Qu Wen
Published: January 2024

In this paper, a microheater that can absorb thermal stress and has a large heating area is demonstrated by optimizing the structure and process of the microheater. Four symmetrically distributed elongated support beam structures were machined around the microheater via deep silicon etching. This design efficiently mitigates the deformation of the heated region caused by thermal expansion and enhances the structural stability of the microheater. The updated microheater no longer converts the work area into a thin film; instead, it creates a stable heating platform that can uniformly heat a work area measuring 10 × 10 mm2. The microheater is verified to have high temperature uniformity and structural stability in finite element simulation. Finally, thorough investigations of electrical–thermal–structural characterization were conducted. The test findings show that the new microheater can achieve 350 °C with a power consumption of 6 W and a thermal reaction time of 22 s. A scan of its whole plane reveals that the surface of the working area of the new microheater is flat and does not distort in response to variations in temperature, offering good structural stability.
Enterococci, Van Gene-Carrying Enterococci, and Vancomycin Concentrations in the Influent of a Wastewater Treatment Plant in Southeast Germany
Authors: Geissler Michael , Schröttner Percy , Oertel Reinhard , Dumke Roger
Published: January 2024

Vancomycin-resistant (VR) Enterococcus spp. can be detected in high concentrations in wastewaters and pose a risk to public health. During a one-year study (September 2022–August 2023), 24 h composite raw wastewater samples (n = 192) of a municipal wastewater treatment plant were investigated for cultivable enterococci. After growth on Slanetz–Bartley agar (SBA), a mean concentration of 29,736 ± 9919 cfu/mL was calculated. Using MALDI-TOF MS to characterize randomly picked colonies (n = 576), the most common species were found to be Enterococcus faecium (72.6%), E. hirae (13.7%), and E. faecalis (8.0%). Parallel incubation of wastewater samples on SBA and VRESelect agar resulted in a mean rate of VR enterococci of 2.0 ± 1.5%. All the tested strains grown on the VRESelect agar (n = 172) were E. faecium and carried the vanA (54.6%) or vanB gene (45.4%) with limited sequence differences. In susceptibility experiments, these isolates showed a high-level resistance to vancomycin (>256 µg/mL). Concentration of vancomycin was determined in 93.7% of 112 wastewater samples (mean: 123.1 ± 64.0 ng/L) and varied between below 100 ng/L (the detection limit) and 246.6 ng/L. A correlation between the concentration of vancomycin and the rate of VR strains among the total enterococci could not be found. The combination of incubation of samples on SBA and a commercial vancomycin-containing agar applied in clinical microbiology with a multiplex PCR for detection of van genes is an easy-to-use tool to quantify and characterize VR Enterococcus spp. in water samples.
Antibiotic Resistance and Genetic Profiles of Vibrio parahaemolyticus Isolated from Farmed Pacific White Shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) in Ningde Regions
Authors: Zhang Fangfang , Zhang Jie , Lin Guowen , Chen Xiaoqiang , Huang Huizhen , Xu Chunxia , Chi Hai
Published: January 2024

To better understand the antibiotic resistance, virulence genes, and some related drug-resistance genes of Vibrio parahaemolyticus in farmed pacific white shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) in Ningde regions, Fujian province, we collected and isolated a total of 102 strains of V. parahaemolyticus from farmed pacific white shrimp in three different areas of Ningde in 2022. The Kirby–Bauer disk method was used to detect V. parahaemolyticus resistance to 22 antibiotics, and resistant genes (such as quinolones (qnrVC136, qnrVC457, qnrA), tetracyclines (tet A, tetM, tetB), sulfonamides (sulI, sulII, sulIII), aminoglycosides (strA, strB), phenicols (cat, optrA, floR, cfr), β-lactams (carB), and macrolides (erm)) were detected by using PCR. The findings in this study revealed that V. parahaemolyticus was most resistant to sulfamoxazole, rifampicin, and erythromycin, with resistance rates of 56.9%, 36.3%, and 33.3%, respectively. Flufenicol, chloramphenicol, and ofloxacin susceptibility rates were 97.1%, 94.1%, and 92.2%, respectively. In all, 46% of the bacteria tested positive for multi-drug resistance. The virulence gene test revealed that all bacteria lacked the tdh and trh genes. Furthermore, 91.84% and 52.04% of the isolates were largely mediated by cat and sulII, respectively, with less than 5% resistance to aminoglycosides and macrolides. There was a clear mismatch between the antimicrobial resistance phenotypes and genotypes, indicating the complexities of V. parahaemolyticus resistance.
An Open View on SARS-CoV-2 Infection
Authors: Diani Erica , Gibellini Davide
Published: January 2024

The onset of the SARS-CoV-2 virus led to the appearance of a devastating pandemic, which once again demonstrated the practical importance of virology [...]
Influence of Nε-Lysine Acetylation on the Formation of Protein Aggregates and Antibiotic Persistence in E. coli
Authors: Stojowska-Swędrzyńska Karolina , Kuczyńska-Wiśnik Dorota , Laskowska Ewa
Published: January 2024

Numerous studies indicate that reversible Nε-lysine acetylation in bacteria may play a key role in the regulation of metabolic processes, transcription and translation, biofilm formation, virulence, and drug resistance. Using appropriate mutant strains deficient in non-enzymatic acetylation and enzymatic acetylation or deacetylation pathways, we investigated the influence of protein acetylation on cell viability, protein aggregation, and persister formation in Escherichia coli. Lysine acetylation was found to increase protein aggregation and cell viability under the late stationary phase. Moreover, increased lysine acetylation stimulated the formation of persisters. These results suggest that acetylation-dependent aggregation may improve the survival of bacteria under adverse conditions (such as the late stationary phase) and during antibiotic treatment. Further experiments revealed that acetylation-favorable conditions may increase persister formation in Klebsiella pneumoniae clinical isolate. However, the exact mechanisms underlying the relationship between acetylation and persistence in this pathogen remain to be elucidated.
Novel Flurbiprofen Derivatives as Antioxidant and Anti-Inflammatory Agents: Synthesis, In Silico, and In Vitro Biological Evaluation
Authors: Ivanov Iliyan , Manolov Stanimir , Bojilov Dimitar , Marc Gabriel , Dimitrova Diyana , Oniga Smaranda , Oniga Ovidiu , Nedialkov Paraskev , Stoyanova Maria
Published: January 2024

In this study, we present the synthesis of five novel compounds by combining flurbiprofen with various substituted 2-phenethylamines. The synthesized derivatives underwent comprehensive characterization using techniques such as 1H- and 13C-NMR spectroscopy, UV-Vis spectroscopy, and high-resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS). Detailed HRMS analysis was performed for each of these newly created molecules. The biological activities of these compounds were assessed through in vitro experiments to evaluate their potential as anti-inflammatory and antioxidant agents. Furthermore, the lipophilicity of these derivatives was determined, both theoretically using the cLogP method and experimentally through partition coefficient (RM) measurements. To gain insights into their binding affinity, we conducted an in silico analysis of the compounds’ interactions with human serum albumin (HSA) using molecular docking studies. Our findings reveal that all of the newly synthesized compounds exhibit significant anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities, with results statistically comparable to the reference compounds. Molecular docking studies further explain the observed in vitro results, shedding light on the molecular mechanisms behind their biological activities. Using in silico method, toxicity was calculated, resulting in LD50 values. Depending on the administration route, the novel flurbiprofen derivatives show lower toxicity compared to the standard flurbiprofen.
Investigation into the Influence of the Process Parameters on the Stability of a Poly(Vinyl)-Alcohol-Based Coating System
Authors: Canale Viviana Claudia , Paleari Lorenzo , Bragaglia Mario , Petrella Greta , Severini Leonardo , Nanni Francesca , Mazzuca Claudia , Palleschi Antonio
Published: January 2024

Most tablets put on the market are coated with polymers soluble in water. The Opadry II 85 series from Colorcon Inc., is a family of PVA-based products marketed since the 1990s. Despite numerous publications on the properties of PVA, to date, limited work has been undertaken to determine the physico-chemical parameters (i.e., UV light, high temperature, and relative humidity) that could affect the performance of PVA-based coatings. To this end, we performed artificial ageing processes on samples made of Opadry Orange II or of some selected components of this coating and analysed them by means of a multidisciplinary approach, using, for example, FTIR, NMR, rheology, and DMTA measurements. In this way, we analysed the influence of the critical components of the Opadry Orange II formula, such as titanium dioxide and aluminium hydroxide, on the coating characteristics under ageing conditions.
Design, Synthesis, and Anti-Hepatocellular Carcinoma Evaluation of Sesquiterpene Lactone Epimers Trilobolide-6-O-isobutyrate Analogs
Authors: Zhou Xiuqiao , Yi Guohui , Qian Yiming , Yang Xiaorong , Chen Guangying , Hui Yang , Chen Wenhao
Published: January 2024

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), one of the most common malignant cancers with a low 5-year survival rate, is the third leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. The finding of novel agents and strategies for the treatment of HCC is an urgent need. Sesquiterpene lactones (SLs) have attracted extensive attention because of their potent antitumor activity. In this study, a new series of SL derivatives (3–18) were synthesized using epimers 1 and 2 as parent molecules, isolated from Sphagneticola trilobata, and evaluated for their anti-HCC activity. Furthermore, the structures of 4, 6, and 14 were confirmed by X-ray single-crystal diffraction analyses. The cytotoxic activities of 3–18 on two HCC cell lines, including HepG2 and Huh7, were evaluated using the CCK-8 assay. Among them, compound 10 exhibited the best activity against the HepG2 and Huh7 cell lines. Further studies showed that 10 induced cell apoptosis, arrested the cell cycle at the S phase, and induced the inhibition of cell proliferation and migration in HepG2 and Huh7. In addition, absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion (ADME) properties prediction showed that 10 may possess the properties to be a drug candidate. Thus, 10 may be a promising lead compound for the treatment of HCC.
Introducing CuCo2S4 Nanoparticles on Reduced Graphene Oxide for High-Performance Supercapacitor
Authors: Fang Xue , Yang Cong , Zhang Xiaochen , Wang Yang , Yu Jiali
Published: January 2024

In this work, a bimetallic sulfide-coupled graphene hybrid was designed and constructed for capacitive energy storage. The hybrid structure involved decorating copper–cobalt–sulfide (CuCo2S4) nanoparticles onto graphene layers, with the nanoparticles anchored within the graphene layers, forming a hybrid energy storage system. In this hybrid structure, rGO can work as the substrate and current collector to support the uniform distribution of the nanoparticles and provides efficient transportation of electrons into and out of the electrode. In the meantime, CuCo2S4-active materials are expected to offer an evident enhancement in electrochemical activities, due to the rich valence change provided by Cu and Co. Benefiting from the integrated structure of CuCo2S4 nanoparticles and highly conductive graphene substrates, the prepared CuCo2S4@rGO electrode exhibited a favorable capacitive performance in 1 M KOH. At 1 A g−1, CuCo2S4@rGO achieved a specific capacitance of 410 F g−1. The capacitance retention at 8 A g−1 was 70% of that observed at 1 A g−1, affirming the material’s excellent rate capability. At the current density of 5 A g−1, the electrode underwent 10,000 charge–discharge cycles, retaining 98% of its initial capacity, which indicates minimal capacity decay and showcasing excellent cycling performance.