bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Electrical Bearing Damage, A Problem in the Nano- and Macro-Range
Authors: Schneider Volker , Behrendt Cara , Höltje Pauline , Cornel Daniel , Becker-Dombrowsky Florian Michael , Puchtler Steffen , Gutiérrez Guzmán Francisco , Ponick Bernd , Jacobs Georg , Kirchner Eckhard
Published: August 2022

Rolling bearings face different damaging effects: Besides mechanical effects, current-induced bearing damage occurs in electrical drive systems. Therefore, it is of increasing interest to understand the differences leading to known electrical damage patterns. It is of utmost importance not to consider the harmful current passage in the machine element as an isolated phenomenon but to take into account the whole drive system consisting of the machine elements, the electric motor and the connected power electronics. This publication works toward providing an overview of the state-of-the-art of research regarding electrical bearing currents.
Investigation of the Temperature Effects on Copper Losses in Hairpin Windings
Authors: Soltani Mohammad , Nuzzo Stefano , Barater Davide , Franceschini Giovanni
Published: August 2022

Today, an extensive electrification is occurring in all industrial sectors, with a special interest seen in the automotive and aerospace industries. The electric motor, surely, is one of the main actors in this context, and an ever-increasing effort is spent with the aim of improving its efficiency and torque density. Hairpin windings are one of the recent technologies which are implemented onto the stator of the electric motor. Compared to conventional random windings, it inherently features lower DC resistance, higher fill factor, better thermal performance, improved reliability, and an automated manufacturing process. However, its bottleneck is the high ohmic losses at high-frequency operations due to skin and proximity effects (AC losses), resulting in a negative impact on the temperature map of the machine. Nevertheless, while it is well-known that DC losses increase linearly with the operating temperatures, the AC losses trend needs further insight. This paper demonstrates that operating the machine at higher temperatures could be beneficial for overall efficiency, especially at high-frequency operations. This suggests that a paradigm shift is required for the design of electric motors equipped with hair-pin windings, which should therefore focus on a temperature-oriented approach. In addition, the effect of the rotor topology on AC losses, which is often overlooked, is also considered in this paper. The combination of these effects is used to carry out observations and, eventually, to provide design recommendations. Finite element electromagnetic and thermal evaluations are performed to prove the findings of this research.
Lateral Stability Control of a Tractor-Semitrailer at High Speed
Authors: Cai Haohao , Xu Xiaomei
Published: August 2022

To improve the high-speed lateral stability of the tractor-semitrailer, a lateral stability control strategy based on the additional yaw moment caused by differential braking is proposed and investigated based on the co-simulation environment. First of all, a five-degree-of-freedom (5-DOF) yaw-roll dynamic model of the tractor-semitrailer is established, and the model accuracy is verified. Secondly, the lateral stability control strategy of the tractor-semitrailer is proposed, two yaw moment controllers and the braking torque distributor are designed. Then, the effectiveness of the proposed control strategy and the influence of the yaw moment controller on the lateral stability of the tractor-semitrailer are investigated under the high-speed lane-change maneuvers. Finally, the controller robustness is discussed. Research results show that the proposed high-speed lateral stability control strategy can ensure the tractor-semitrailer to perform safely the single lane-change (SLC) maneuver at 110 km/h and the double lane-change (DLC) maneuver at 88 km/h; the yaw moment controller has significant influence on the lateral dynamic performance of the tractor-semitrailer; compared with the proportional-derivative (PD) control, the model predictive control (MPC) can make the tractor-semitrailer obtain better lateral stability under high-speed lane-change maneuvers; MPC and PD controllers exhibit good robustness to the considered vehicle parameter uncertainties.
Precision Design of Transmission Mechanism of Toggle Press Based on Error Modeling
Authors: Dong Xinyu , Sun Yu
Published: August 2022

The position accuracy of the bottom dead centre (BDC) of a slider is a crucial performance index to measure the quality of a multi-link mechanical press. At present, the research on improving the position accuracy of the BDC mainly focuses on error compensation, and there is a lack of research on the tolerance design of the transmission mechanism according to the accuracy requirements of the BDC. In this paper, the motion output accuracy of the press is characterized by the position error of the BDC of the slider and the inclined angle error of the slider. Based on the loop increment method, the error transmission model of the transmission mechanism of a multi-link mechanical press was established. The key error factors that affect the output accuracy of the press were determined by analysis of error sensitivity. On this basis, a precision synthesis method considering manufacturing cost and BDC precision reliability was proposed. Finally, a Monte Carlo simulation and experiments on a toggle mechanical press were conducted to verify the model. The results show that the proposed error model and optimization method are feasible and effective.
Research on Improved BBO Algorithm and Its Application in Optimal Scheduling of Micro-Grid
Authors: Zhang Qian , Wei Lisheng , Yang Benben
Published: August 2022

Aiming at the cooperative optimization problem of economy and environmental protection of the traditional microgrid, including micro gas turbine and diesel engine, carbon capture and storage, and a power to gas system which can consume wind and light and deal with carbon dioxide, is introduced, and three optimization scheduling models of the microgrid based on improved BBO algorithm are proposed. Firstly, a micro-grid with a power to gas system is constructed, and an optimal scheduling model is built which takes into account the system operation cost, environmental governance cost and comprehensive economic benefit. Secondly, the ecological expansion operation is introduced, an improved BBO algorithm is explored by improving the mobility model, and its convergence is derived in detail. Finally, the microgrid system energy optimization scheduling is realized based on the improved BBO algorithm. Compared with the scheduling model that only considers the operation cost or pollution gas control cost, the total cost of the comprehensive economic benefit scheduling model is reduced by 15.5% and 5.5%, respectively, which reflects the reasonableness of the scheduling model and the effectiveness of the improved algorithm.
On Hermite Functions, Integral Kernels, and Quantum Wires
Authors: Fassari Silvestro , Gadella Manuel , Nieto Luis M. , Rinaldi Fabio
Published: August 2022

In this note, we first evaluate and subsequently achieve a rather accurate approximation of a scalar product, the calculation of which is essential in order to determine the ground state energy in a two-dimensional quantum model. This scalar product involves an integral operator defined in terms of the eigenfunctions of the harmonic oscillator, expressed in terms of the well-known Hermite polynomials, so that some rather sophisticated mathematical tools are required.
Assessment of Factors Influencing Personal Exposure to Air Pollution on Main Roads in Bogota: A Mixed-Method Study
Authors: Malagón-Rojas Jeadran N. , Parra-Barrera Eliana L. , Toloza-Pérez Yesith Guillermo , Soto Hanna , Lagos Luisa F. , Mendez Daniela , Rico Andrea , Almentero Julia Edith , Quintana-Cortes Mónica A. , Pinzón-Silva Diana C. , García Andrés , Benavides-Piracón John A. , Zona-Rubio Diana C. , Portilla Claudia , Wilches-Mogollon Maria A. , Romero-Díaz Sol A. , Hernández-Florez Luis Jorge , Morales Ricardo , Sarmiento Olga L.
Published: August 2022

Background and Objectives: Particulate Matter (PM), particles of variable but small diameter can penetrate the respiratory system via inhalation, causing respiratory and/or cardiovascular diseases. This study aims to evaluate the association of environmental particulate matter (PM2.5) and black carbon (BC) with respiratory health in users of different transport modes in four roads in Bogotá. Materials and Methods: this was a mixed-method study (including a cross sectional study and a qualitative description of the air quality perception), in 300 healthy participants, based on an exploratory sequential design. The respiratory effect was measured comparing the changes between pre- and post-spirometry. The PM2.5 and black carbon (BC) concentrations were measured using portable devices. Inhaled doses were also calculated for each participant according to the mode and route. Perception was approached through semi-structured interviews. The analysis included multivariate models and concurrent triangulation. Results: The concentration of matter and black carbon were greater in bus users (median 50.67 µg m−3; interquartile range (–IR): 306.7). We found greater inhaled dosages of air pollutants among bike users (16.41 µg m−3). We did not find changes in the spirometry parameter associated with air pollutants or transport modes. The participants reported a major sensory influence at the visual and olfactory level as perception of bad air quality. Conclusions: We observed greater inhaled doses among active transport users. Nevertheless, no pathological changes were identified in the spirometry parameters. People’s perceptions are a preponderant element in the assessment of air quality.
Determinants of Increased Effort of Breathing in Non-Intubated Critical COVID-19 Patients
Authors: Vicka Vaidas , Januskeviciute Elija , Krauklyte Justina , Aleknaviciene Aiste , Ringaitiene Donata , Jancoriene Ligita , Sipylaite Jurate
Published: August 2022

Background and objectives: Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is the most common complication occurring in COVID-19 patients admitted to the ICU. Given the increased respiratory work of these patients, it is necessary to evaluate their actual breathing efforts. The aim of this study is to report the incidence and determinants of increased effort of breathing (EOB) in critical COVID-19 patients. Materials and Methods: This was a retrospective study of COVID-19 patients admitted to the ICU during the year of 2020. Respiratory rate (RR) was chosen as an indicator of EOB. The cut-off value was set at more than 20 breaths per minute. ROC-AUC analysis was performed to identify the accuracy of the PaO2 and PaCO2 to determine increased EOB. Furthermore, multivariate regression analysis was performed to reveal the determinants of increased EOB. Results: 213 patients were included in the study. Mean RR in the population was 24.20 ± 6.28. 138 (64.8%) of the patients had increased EOB. The ROC-AUC analysis revealed the PaO2 (0.656 (CI 95%: 0.579–0.734, p < 0.001) as more accurate predictor of EOB than PaCO2 (0.584 (CI 95%: 0.505–0.662, p = 0.043). In the final multivariate model, the SpO2 (exp(B) = 0.922, CI 95%: 0.874–0.97 p = 0.033), PaO2/FiO2 ratio (exp(B) = 0.996, CI 95%: 0.922–1.000, p = 0.003) and PaO2 (exp(B) = 0.989 CI 95%: 0.982–0.996 p = 0.003) prevailed as independent predictors of increased EOB. Conclusions: To conclude, PaO2 was revealed as a more accurate predictor of increased EOB than PaCO2. Further investigation revealed the independent determinants of EOB: blood oxygen saturation, PaO2 and PaO2/FiO2 ratio.
The Effects of Lycium chinense, Cuscuta chinensis, Senna tora, Ophiopogon japonicus, and Dendrobium nobile Decoction on a Dry Eye Mouse Model
Authors: Yang Cheng-Chan , Chien Jia-Ying , Chou Yu-Yau , Ciou Jhih-Wei , Huang Shun-Ping
Published: August 2022

Background and objective: Dry eye disease (DED) is a relatively common disorder associated with abnormal tear film and the ocular surface that causes ocular irritation, dryness, visual impairment, and damage to the cornea. DED is not a life-threatening disease but causes discomfort and multifactorial disorders in vision that affect daily life. It has been reported that all traditional medicinal plants exhibit anti-inflammatory effects on several diseases. We hypothesized that the decoction ameliorated ocular irritation and decreased cytokine expression in the cornea. This study aimed to investigate the molecular mechanisms of DED and discover a therapeutic strategy to reduce corneal inflammation. Material and Methods: We used a DED mouse model with extraorbital lacrimal gland (ELG) excision and treated the mice with a decoction of five traditional medicines: Lycium chinense, Cuscuta chinensis, Senna tora, Ophiopogon japonicus, and Dendrobium nobile for 3 months. The tear osmolarity and the ocular surface staining were evaluated as indicators of DED. Immunohistochemistry was used to detect the level of inflammation on the cornea. Results: After treatment with the decoction for three months, epithelial erosions and desquamation were reduced, the intact of corneal endothelium was maintained, and tear osmolarity was restored in the eyes. The IL-1β-associated inflammatory response was reduced in the cornea in the DED model. Conclusions: These data suggested that a mixture of traditional medicines might be a novel therapy to treat DED.
Effect of Silica Sodalite Loading on SOD/PSF Membranes during Treatment of Phenol-Containing Wastewater
Authors: Sadare Olawumi O. , Ngobeni Rivoningo , Daramola Michael O.
Published: August 2022

In this study, silica sodalite (SSOD) was prepared via topotactic conversion and different silica sodalite loadings were infused into the polysulfone (PSF) for application in phenol-containing water treatment. The composite membranes were fabricated through the phase inversion technique. Physicochemical characteristics of the nanoparticles and membranes were checked using a Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM), Brunauer Emmett–Teller (BET), and Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) for surface morphology, textural properties, and surface chemistry, respectively. A nanotensile test, Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM), and contact angle measurement were used to check the mechanical properties, surface roughness, and hydrophilicity of the membranes, respectively. SEM results revealed that the pure polysulfone surface is highly porous with large evident pores. However, the pores decreased with increasing SSOD loading. The performance of the fabricated membranes was evaluated using a dead-end filtration device at varying feed pressure during phenol-containing water treatment. The concentration of phenol in water used in this study was 20 mg/L. The pure PSF displayed the maximum phenol rejection of 95 55% at 4 bar, compared to the composite membranes having 61.35% and 64.75% phenol rejection for 5 wt.% SSOD loading and 10 wt.% SSOD loading, respectively. In this study, a novel Psf-infused SSOD membrane was successfully fabricated for the treatment of synthetic phenol-containing water to alleviate the challenges associated with it.
Influence of the Machining Process on the Service Life and Pitting Morphology of Gear-Tooth Surfaces
Authors: Xu Wenbo , Huang Hongtao , Gao Yang , Qin Xiaofeng , Wen Taolue , Yang Shufeng , Zhang Peng , Wang Liang , Guo Ce
Published: August 2022

Pitting, which results from contact fatigue, is a common failure mode in gear transmission systems and is influenced by the material strength and stress state of the contact area, which is further influenced by lubrication and roughness because of stress fluctuations. In this study, a comparative contact-fatigue test was conducted on two types of gears with different terminal machining processes. The contact stress of the tooth surface considering the microtopography was analyzed using the fractal method based on surface microtopography data measured from the surface formed by the two processes. Test results show that the average service life of gears machined using the barrel-finishing process was approximately 5–7 times that of gears machined using grinding. The pitting morphologies of gears fabricated using different processes exhibited evident differences. The maximum stress level of the gears machined with barrel finishing was approximately twice that of the gears machined through grinding. Different stress levels resulted in different micropitting load-bearing capacities, which could be attributed to the different service lives of gears manufactured through different machining processes. The different presence features of the pitting morphology were due to the different micromorphologies of the surface formed by the different finishing processes. In particular, the randomly distributed pitting morphology of the gear surface machined using the barrel-finishing process was due to its flattening and polishing effect. Optimization of the surface-microgeometry distribution via the finishing process is an effective method for prolonging the service life of gears.
Effect of Temperature and Solidification Structure Evolution of S355 Slabs with Different Corner Shapes on Transverse Corner Cracks
Authors: Wang Minglin , Zhang Hui , Liu Heping , Xu Lijun
Published: August 2022

The evolution process of corner temperatures for a typical micro-alloyed steel S355 is numerically simulated under various working conditions. The microstructure near the corner cracks of the S355 slab is experimentally examined, and the austenite/ferrite transformation temperatures of S355 steel during heating and cooling are measured. The results indicate that the right-angle slab corner temperature at the exit of the mould rapidly decreased to below Ar3 under intensive cooling in the foot roller zone. The film-like ferrite began to precipitate along the austenite grain boundary at the slab corner. The transformation from ferrite to austenite cannot be fully realized because the corner temperature cannot be quickly returned to Ac3 or higher. The slab transverse corner cracks occur along the film-like ferrite during the bending process. The chamfered slab, which modifies the original right angle of the slab into the 30° chamfered angle with a chamfered length of 60 mm, can significantly weaken the heat transfer and cooling effect of the slab corner. The chamfered slab corner temperature always remained above Ar3 during the bending and straightening processes. Precipitation of the pro-eutectoid film-like ferrite along the grain boundary cannot occur during cooling for the chamfered slab. The chamfered slab can keep the corner temperature above Ar3 and effectively avoid the occurrence of transverse corner cracks caused by grain boundary embrittlement.
Effect of Microstructure on Electrochemical Properties of the EN S275 Mild Steel under Chlorine-Rich and Chlorine-Free Media at Different pHs
Authors: Parapurath Shahid , Jacob Liyamol , Gunister Ebru , Vahdati Nader
Published: August 2022

This study examines microstructural modification as an effective strategy for reducing corrosion and its impact on the mechanical properties of mild steel. The effect of heat treatment on morphology, strength, toughness, and ductility was studied using optical microscopy, SEM, Scherrer equation, Vickers’s hardness test, and tensile-strength measurement. The heat treatment changed the microstructures, grain sizes, and particle sizes of the samples. It also increased the material strength by 56% and 25% for the quenched and tempered samples, respectively. The hardness was increased to 95% by quenching. The effect of the microstructural changes on the corrosion rate in chlorine-rich and chlorine-free media at different pH was studied using linear-polarization-resistance and dynamic-polarization-resistance methods. In both media, the quenched samples showed a lower corrosion rate compared to the original and tempered samples. The heat treatment resulted in the formation of homogenous martensite with coarse grains and small particle sizes that seemed to reduce the corrosion rate significantly. It also had an impact on the corrosion mechanism of these materials. The original and tempered samples showed pitting-corrosion behavior with high corrosion rates, while the quenched samples were more susceptible to intergranular corrosion. The rate of corrosion was investigated further at different pH, and it was shown to decrease when the pH was raised. This study confirms the impact of microstructural changes on the corrosion behavior of S275 structural steel.
Special Issue on “Advances in Cholesterol and Lipid Metabolism”
Authors: Reiss Allison B. , De Leon Joshua
Published: August 2022

Cholesterol and lipid metabolism is a broad topic that encompasses multiple aspects of cellular function in every organ [...]
Acclimation and Compensating Metabolite Responses to UV-B Radiation in Natural and Transgenic Populus spp. Defective in Lignin Biosynthesis
Authors: Wong Tiffany , Sullivan Joe , Eisenstein Edward
Published: August 2022

Plants have evolved to protect leaf mesophyll tissue from damage caused by UV-B radiation by producing an array of UV-absorbing secondary metabolites. Flavonoids (phenolic glycosides) and sinapate esters (hydroxycinnamates) have been implicated as UV-B protective compounds because of the accumulation in the leaf epidermis and the strong absorption in the wavelengths corresponding to UV. Environmental adaptations by plants also generate a suite of responses for protection against damage caused by UV-B radiation, with plants from high elevations or low latitudes generally displaying greater adaptation or tolerance to UV-B radiation. In an effort to explore the relationships between plant lignin levels and composition, the origin of growth elevation, and the hierarchical synthesis of UV-screening compounds, a collection of natural variants as well as transgenic Populus spp. were examined for sensitivity or acclimation to UV-B radiation under greenhouse and laboratory conditions. Noninvasive, ecophysiological measurements using epidermal transmittance and chlorophyll fluorescence as well as metabolite measurements using UPLC-MS generally revealed that the synthesis of anthocyanins, flavonoids, and lignin precursors are increased in Populus upon moderate to high UV-B treatment. However, poplar plants with genetic modifications that affect lignin biosynthesis, or natural variants with altered lignin levels and compositions, displayed complex changes in phenylpropanoid metabolites. A balance between elevated metabolic precursors to protective phenylpropanoids and increased biosynthesis of these anthocyanins, flavonoids, and lignin is proposed to play a role in the acclimation of Populus to UV-B radiation and may provide a useful tool in engineering plants as improved bioenergy feedstocks.
Theoretical Studies on the Motions of Cloud and Precipitation Particles—A Review
Authors: Wang Pao K.
Published: August 2022

The theoretical studies on the flow fields around falling cloud and precipitation particles are briefly reviewed. The hydrodynamics of these particles, collectively called hydrometeors, are of central importance to cloud development and dissipation, which impact both the short-term weather and long-term climate processes. This review focuses on the solutions of the appropriate Navier–Stokes equations around the falling hydrometeor, particularly those obtained by numerical methods. The hydrometeors reviewed here include cloud drops, raindrops, cloud ice crystals, snow aggregates, conical graupel, and smooth and lobed hailstones. The review is made largely in chronological order so that readers can obtain a sense of how the research in this field has progressed over time. Although this review focuses on theoretical studies, brief summaries of laboratory experiments and field observations on this subject are also provided so as to substantiate the calculation results. An outlook is given at the end to describe future works necessary to improve our knowledge in this area.
Doric Foot and Metrological Implications of the Ancient Theatre of Makyneia, Western Greece
Authors: Stiros Stathis C.
Published: August 2022

Understanding the length and subdivisions of ancient length units is necessary for Archaeology, Architecture, and engineering, among other fields. These metrological units derive from anthropocentric concepts (fathom, cubit, foot, finger, etc.) and hence their metrological characteristics are variable and unknown for various ancient civilizations. The Roman length units are well determined, but the ancient Greek units are not. A rule sculpted in a metrological relief recently permitted the recognition of the Doric foot as having a length of 327 mm, but the broader use and divisions of this length unit remain unknown. In this article we present evidence of use of the Doric foot from the modeling of an ancient, atypical small theatre of the 4th–3rd century B.C., at Makyneia, on the western Greece mainland. It was found that this structure was designed using the Doric foot and its division in 24 (or even 12) digits. This result from a small provincial town indicates that the Doric foot was in broad use in architectural and engineering works of the ancient Greek World, and this result may be used to solve various problems of that era.
Tuning Axial Resolution Independent of Lateral Resolution in a Computational Imaging System Using Bessel Speckles
Authors: Anand Vijayakumar
Published: August 2022

Speckle patterns are formed by random interferences of mutually coherent beams. While speckles are often considered as unwanted noise in many areas, they also formed the foundation for the development of numerous speckle-based imaging, holography, and sensing technologies. In the recent years, artificial speckle patterns have been generated with spatially incoherent sources using static and dynamic optical modulators for advanced imaging applications. In this report, a basic study has been carried out with Bessel distribution as the fundamental building block of the speckle pattern (i.e., speckle patterns formed by randomly interfering Bessel beams). In general, Bessel beams have a long focal depth, which in this scenario is counteracted by the increase in randomness enabling tunability of the axial resolution. As a direct imaging method could not be applied when there is more than one Bessel beam, an indirect computational imaging framework has been applied to study the imaging characteristics. This computational imaging process consists of three steps. In the first step, the point spread function (PSF) is calculated, which is the speckle pattern formed by the random interferences of Bessel beams. In the next step, the intensity distribution for an object is obtained by a convolution between the PSF and object function. The object information is reconstructed by processing the PSF and the object intensity distribution using non-linear reconstruction. In the computational imaging framework, the lateral resolution remained a constant, while the axial resolution improved when the randomness in the system was increased. Three-dimensional computational imaging with statistical averaging for different cases of randomness has been synthetically demonstrated for two test objects located at two different distances. The presented study will lead to a new generation of incoherent imaging technologies.
Optimization of Microchannels and Application of Basic Activation Functions of Deep Neural Network for Accuracy Analysis of Microfluidic Parameter Data
Authors: Ahmed Feroz , Shimizu Masashi , Wang Jin , Sakai Kenji , Kiwa Toshihiko
Published: August 2022

The fabrication of microflow channels with high accuracy in terms of the optimization of the proposed designs, minimization of surface roughness, and flow control of microfluidic parameters is challenging when evaluating the performance of microfluidic systems. The use of conventional input devices, such as peristaltic pumps and digital pressure pumps, to evaluate the flow control of such parameters cannot confirm a wide range of data analysis with higher accuracy because of their operational drawbacks. In this study, we optimized the circular and rectangular-shaped microflow channels of a 100 μm microfluidic chip using a three-dimensional simulation tool, and analyzed concentration profiles of different regions of the microflow channels. Then, we applied a deep learning (DL) algorithm for the dense layers of the rectified linear unit (ReLU), Leaky ReLU, and Swish activation functions to train and test 1600 experimental and interpolation of data samples which obtained from the microfluidic chip. Moreover, using the same DL algorithm, we configured three models for each of these three functions by changing the internal middle layers of these models. As a result, we obtained a total of 9 average accuracy values of ReLU, Leaky ReLU, and Swish functions for a defined threshold value of 6×10−5 using the trial-and-error method. We applied single-to-five-fold cross-validation technique of deep neural network to avoid overfitting and reduce noises from data-set to evaluate better average accuracy of data of microfluidic parameters.
A Focused Review on the Flexible Wearable Sensors for Sports: From Kinematics to Physiologies
Authors: Liu Lei , Zhang Xuefeng
Published: August 2022

As an important branch of wearable electronics, highly flexible and wearable sensors are gaining huge attention due to their emerging applications. In recent years, the participation of wearable devices in sports has revolutionized the way to capture the kinematical and physiological status of athletes. This review focuses on the rapid development of flexible and wearable sensor technologies for sports. We identify and discuss the indicators that reveal the performance and physical condition of players. The kinematical indicators are mentioned according to the relevant body parts, and the physiological indicators are classified into vital signs and metabolisms. Additionally, the available wearable devices and their significant applications in monitoring these kinematical and physiological parameters are described with emphasis. The potential challenges and prospects for the future developments of wearable sensors in sports are discussed comprehensively. This review paper will assist both athletic individuals and researchers to have a comprehensive glimpse of the wearable techniques applied in different sports.
Pressure-Driven Perfusion System to Control, Multiplex and Recirculate Cell Culture Medium for Organs-on-Chips
Authors: de Graaf Mees N. S. , Vivas Aisen , van der Meer Andries D. , Mummery Christine L. , Orlova Valeria V.
Published: August 2022

Organ-on-chip (OoC) devices are increasingly used to mimic the tissue microenvironment of cells in intact organs. This includes microchannels to mimic, for example, fluidic flow through blood vessels. Present methods for controlling microfluidic flow in these systems rely on gravity, rocker systems or external pressure pumps. For many purposes, pressure pumps give the most consistent flow profiles, but they are not well-suited for high throughput as might be required for testing drug responses. Here, we describe a method which allows for multiplexing of microfluidic channels in OoC devices plus the accompanying custom software necessary to run the system. Moreover, we show the approach is also suitable for recirculation of culture medium, an essential cost consideration when expensive culture reagents are used and are not “spent” through uptake by the cells during transient unidirectional flow.
Isolation of a Marine Bacterium and Application of Its Bioflocculant in Wastewater Treatment
Authors: Maliehe Tsolanku Sidney , Moganedi Kgabo , Masoko Peter , Selepe Tlou Nelson
Published: August 2022

Bioflocculation has become the method of choice in wastewater treatment because of its effectiveness, environmental friendliness and innocuousness to humans. In this study, the bioflocculant-producing bacterium was isolated and its bioflocculant was used in wastewater treatment. The isolate was identified by 16S rRNA gene sequencing analysis. Its culture conditions (inoculum size, carbon and nitrogen sources, pH, temperature and time) were optimised using the one-factor-at-a-time assay. The cytotoxicity of the bioflocculant was assessed on human colorectal adenocarcinoma cells (Caco2) by tetrazolium-based colorimetric method. The ability of the bioflocculant to reduce biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) and chemical oxygen demand (COD) in wastewater was evaluated using Jar test. The bacterium was identified as Bacillus subtilis CSM5 and the maximum flocculating activity of 92% was observed when fructose and urea were used as nutrients and the culture conditions were adjusted to 30 °C, pH 9, 160 rpm and 72 h of incubation. Caco2 exhibited 90% viability when the highest bioflocculant concentration of 200 µg/µL was used. The reduction of BOD and COD was achieved at 59 ± 3.1 and 75 ± 0.4%, respectively. In conclusion, B. subtilis CSM5 is a good candidate for bioflocculant production and its bioflocculant has good potential for use in wastewater treatment.
Antepartum Antibiotic Therapy under 34 Weeks of Gestation and Its Impact on Early-Onset Neonatal Infection and Maternal Vaginal Microbiota
Authors: Muraoka Junsuke , Kaneko Masatoki , Doi Koutaro , Kodama Yuki , Sameshima Hiroshi
Published: August 2022

The use of prenatal antibiotics should be carefully considered, owing to their potential adverse effects on neonatal outcomes. This study aimed to identify the contributing factors to early-onset neonatal infection and to determine the influence of antepartum antibiotics on women and neonates. This study included 127 pregnant women without obvious intra-amniotic infection on admission, who delivered under 34 weeks of gestation. Information on maternal and neonatal characteristics was obtained from their medical charts. Vaginal swabs were taken from all women on admission. In total, 29 (22.8%) neonates developed early-onset infection. Multivariate analysis revealed that antepartum antibiotics were the most strongly associated factor for early-onset neonatal infection (odds ratio, 11.2; 95% confidence interval, 4.08–31.02). The frequency of early-onset neonatal infection was significantly higher in women who received antibiotic therapy than in those who did not; no significant difference in prolonging their gestation or neonatal morbidities was observed. The prevalence of women who hosted vaginal microorganisms on admission was similar to that in women whose infants subsequently developed early-onset neonatal infection compared with that of women whose infants did not. Among infants of the 40 women who received antepartum antibiotic therapy, 21 developed early-onset infection. Of the women who delivered these 21 infants, 62% (13/21) showed reduced lactobacilli and 43% (9/21) had resistant bacterial strains in their vaginal microbiota at the time of delivery. The use of antepartum antibiotics is the most strongly associated factor in early-onset neonatal infection; it does not prolong gestation and would change the vaginal environment.
Unraveling the Genomic Potential of the Thermophilic Bacterium Anoxybacillus flavithermus from an Antarctic Geothermal Environment
Authors: Schultz Júnia , Parise Mariana Teixeira Dornelles , Parise Doglas , Medeiros Laenne G. , Sousa Thiago J. , Kato Rodrigo B. , Uetanabaro Ana Paula Trovatti , Araújo Fabrício , Ramos Rommel Thiago Jucá , de Castro Soares Siomar , Brenig Bertram , de Carvalho Azevedo Vasco Ariston , Góes-Neto Aristóteles , Rosado Alexandre S.
Published: August 2022

Antarctica is a mosaic of extremes. It harbors active polar volcanoes, such as Deception Island, a marine stratovolcano having notable temperature gradients over very short distances, with the temperature reaching up to 100 °C near the fumaroles and subzero temperatures being noted in the glaciers. From the sediments of Deception Island, we isolated representatives of the genus Anoxybacillus, a widely spread genus that is mainly encountered in thermophilic environments. However, the phylogeny of this genus and its adaptive mechanisms in the geothermal sites of cold environments remain unknown. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to unravel the genomic features and provide insights into the phylogenomics and metabolic potential of members of the genus Anoxybacillus inhabiting the Antarctic thermophilic ecosystem. Here, we report the genome sequencing data of seven A. flavithermus strains isolated from two geothermal sites on Deception Island, Antarctic Peninsula. Their genomes were approximately 3.0 Mb in size, had a G + C ratio of 42%, and were predicted to encode 3500 proteins on average. We observed that the strains were phylogenomically closest to each other (Average Nucleotide Identity (ANI) > 98%) and to A. flavithermus (ANI 95%). In silico genomic analysis revealed 15 resistance and metabolic islands, as well as genes related to genome stabilization, DNA repair systems against UV radiation threats, temperature adaptation, heat- and cold-shock proteins (Csps), and resistance to alkaline conditions. Remarkably, glycosyl hydrolase enzyme-encoding genes, secondary metabolites, and prophage sequences were predicted, revealing metabolic and cellular capabilities for potential biotechnological applications.
Virulence Characteristics and Distribution of the Pathogen Listeria ivanovii in the Environment and in Food
Authors: Rossi Franca , Giaccone Valerio , Colavita Giampaolo , Amadoro Carmela , Pomilio Francesco , Catellani Paolo
Published: August 2022

Listeria ivanovii and L. monocytogenes, are the only pathogenic species of the genus Listeria and share many virulence factors and mechanisms of pathogenicity. L. ivanovii shows host tropism towards small ruminants and rodents and much lower virulence for humans compared to L. monocytogenes. However, severe infections caused by L. ivanovii, resulting in bacteremia, abortion and stillbirth, occasionally occurred in immunocompromised persons and in pregnant women, while in immunocompetent hosts L. ivanovii can cause gastroenteritis. In this review, the updated knowledge on virulence aspects and distribution of L. ivanovii in the environment and in food is summarized. Recent research on its virulence characters at genome level gave indications on how pathogenicity evolved in this bacterial species. As for L. monocytogenes, L. ivanovii infections occurred after the ingestion of contaminated food, so an overview of reports regarding its distribution in food products was carried out to obtain indications on the categories of foods exposed to contamination by L. ivanovii. It was found that a wide variety of food products can be a source of this microorganism and that, like L. monocytogenes, L. ivanovii is able to persist in the food production environment. Studies on its ability to grow in enrichment and isolation media suggested that its occurrence in nature might be underestimated. Moreover, virulence varies among strains for differences in virulence character regulation, presence/absence of genetic regions and the possible instability of a Listeria pathogenicity genomic island, LIPI-2, which is unique to L. ivanovii. We can conclude that L. ivanovii, as a possible pathogen for animals and humans, requires more focused investigations regarding its occurrence in the environment and in food and on intra-species variability of pathogenic potential.
The Gene Expression Profile Differs in Growth Phases of the Bifidobacterium Longum Culture
Authors: Veselovsky Vladimir A. , Dyachkova Marina S. , Bespiatykh Dmitry A. , Yunes Roman A. , Shitikov Egor A. , Polyaeva Polina S. , Danilenko Valeriy N. , Olekhnovich Evgenii I. , Klimina Ksenia M.
Published: August 2022

To date, transcriptomics have been widely and successfully employed to study gene expression in different cell growth phases of bacteria. Since bifidobacteria represent a major component of the gut microbiota of a healthy human that is associated with numerous health benefits for the host, it is important to study them using transcriptomics. In this study, we applied the RNA-Seq technique to study global gene expression of B. longum at different growth phases in order to better understand the response of bifidobacterial cells to the specific conditions of the human gut. We have shown that in the lag phase, ABC transporters, whose function may be linked to active substrate utilization, are increasingly expressed due to preparation for cell division. In the exponential phase, the functions of activated genes include synthesis of amino acids (alanine and arginine), energy metabolism (glycolysis/gluconeogenesis and nitrogen metabolism), and translation, all of which promote active cell division, leading to exponential growth of the culture. In the stationary phase, we observed a decrease in the expression of genes involved in the control of the rate of cell division and an increase in the expression of genes involved in defense-related metabolic pathways. We surmise that the latter ensures cell survival in the nutrient-deprived conditions of the stationary growth phase.
Mineralogy and Innovative Flash Flotation Separation of Cu-Pb-Zn Polymetallic Ore in Weak Acidic Pulp
Authors: Feng Fan , Liu Wenbiao , Liu Siqing , Chen Siyu
Published: August 2022

Intimate knowledge of the mineralogical assembly of the Yushui complex ore rich in Cu, Pb, and Ag is essential if efficient separation processing is to be conducted. With the aid of testing instruments, such as scanning electron microscope (SEM), X-ray diffractometer (XRD), and mineral liberation analyzer (MLA) combined with energy-dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX), the texture, such as the size distribution, dissemination, and association of the minerals, was investigated. The results demonstrate that the ore consists of 35 categories of minerals, assaying Cu 7.99%, Pb 9.39%, and Zn 1.96% in the forms of chalcopyrite, galena, and sphalerite, respectively, and silver assaying 157.9 g/t is closely associated with these sulfides; sulfides are present in amounts of 80.31% of the total, traditional gangues only 19.69%, and pyrite as a Cu-Pb-Zn-Ag carrier mineral up to 44.80%. According to the characteristics of the ore, the innovative process of flash copper flotation in weak acidic pulp and lead flotation, followed by further copper recovery, was developed. The closed-circuit test shows that copper concentrate assays Cu 16.33%, Pb 7.98%, Ag 242 g/t at Cu recovery of 86.67%; lead concentrate contains Pb 46.23%, Cu 3.75%, Ag 165 g/t at Pb recovery of 56.84%; total recovery of silver in both concentrates is 75.57%.
Petrogenesis of the Late Jurassic Granodiorite and Its Implications for Tectonomagmatic Evolution in the Nuocang District, Western Gangdeses
Authors: Jiang Junsheng , Gao Shunbao , Bao Bo , Hu Peng , Chen Xin , Tian Kan , Huang Pengcheng , Huang Jian , Guo Xinran
Published: August 2022

The Gangdese magmatic rocks of the southern Lhasa terrane, are generally thought to be an important window to witness the formation and evolution of the Neo-Tethys oceanic opening, subduction, and closure, and India-Eurasian continental collision. We investigated a new occurrence of granodiorite in the Nuocang district of western Gangdese, southern Lhasa terrane, and conducted a series of analyses on their petrology, chronology, and geochemistry. The Nuocang granodiorites have the zircon U-Pb ages of 151–154 Ma, which suggest that Late Jurassic granitoids are present in the western Gangdese of southern Lhasa terrane. They are relatively high in SiO2, Al2O3, low K2O, Na2O, and Sr/Y ratios, enrichments of LILE and LREE, and depletion of HFSE, with the positive correlation between Rb and Th, and negative correlations between SiO2 and P2O5, Rb, and Y, showing the features of I-type granites. The relatively high (87Sr/86Sr)i values from 0.712231 to 0.712619, low εNd(t) values from −9.56 to −8.99, together with the negative εHf(t) values from −10.8 to −5.0 (mean value −8.9) suggested that the Nuocang granodiorites probably sourced from the partial melting of the ancient Lhasa terrane, with parts of mantle materials involving in. Combined with the previous geochronology and geochemical data of Mesozoic magmas in the Gangdese belt, as well as the Late Jurassic granodiorite, in this paper, we propose that the Nuocang granodiorites formed in a continental margin arc environment triggered by the northward subduction of Neo−Tethys oceanic crust.
Effects of Natural Rheum tanguticum on the Cell Wall Integrity of Resistant Phytopathogenic Pectobacterium carotovorum subsp. Carotovorum
Authors: Qi Yanjiao , Wang Mingyang , Zhang Bo , Liu Yue , Fan Jiaqin , Wang Zifan , Song Li , Mohamed Abdul Peer , Zhang Hong
Published: August 2022

The abuse of agricultural antibiotics has led to the emergence of drug-resistant phytopathogens. Rifampicin and streptomycin and streptomycin resistance Pectobacterium carotovorum subsp. carotovorum (PccS1) was obtained from pathological plants in a previous experiment. Rheum tanguticum, derived from the Chinese plateau area, exhibits excellent antibacterial activity against PccS1, yet the action mode has not been fully understood. In present text, the cell wall integrity of the PccS1 was tested by the variation of the cellular proteins, SDS polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Fourier transform infrared spectrophotometer (FTIR) characteristics. Label-free quantitative proteomics was further used to identify the DEPs in the pathogen response to treatment with Rheum tanguticum Maxim. ex Balf. extract (abbreviated as RTMBE). Based on the bioinformatics analysis of these different expressed proteins (DEPs), RTMBE mainly inhibited some key protein expressions of beta-Lactam resistance, a two-component system and phosphotransferase system. Most of these membrane proteins were extraordinarily suppressed, which was also consistent with the morphological tests. In addition, from the downregulated flagellar motility related proteins, it was also speculated that RTMBE played an essential antibacterial role by affecting the swimming motility of the cells. The results indicated that Rheum tanguticum can be used to attenuate the virulence of the drug-resistant phytopathogenic bacteria.
Fragaria × ananassa cv. Senga Sengana Leaf: An Agricultural Waste with Antiglycation Potential and High Content of Ellagitannins, Flavonols, and 2-Pyrone-4,6-dicarboxylic Acid
Authors: Fecka Izabela , Bednarska Katarzyna , Włodarczyk Maciej
Published: August 2022

Strawberry leaves are considered a valuable waste material; so far, mainly due to their antioxidant properties. Since the annual production of this crop is high, our study aimed to thoroughly examine the chemical composition and antidiabetes-related bioactivity of Fragaria × ananassa leaf of its popular and productive cultivar Senga Sengana. Leaves from three different seasons, collected after fruiting, were extensively analyzed (UHPLC-qTOF-MS/MS, HPLC-DAD). Some individual components were isolated and quantified, including specific flavonol diglycosides (e.g., 3-O-[β-xylosyl(1‴→2″)]-β-glucuronosides). The separated quercetin glycosides were tested in an antiglycation assay, and their methylglyoxal uptake capacity was measured. In addition, the biodegradable polyester precursor 2-pyrone-4,6-dicarboxylic acid (PDC) was confirmed at relatively high levels, providing further opportunity for strawberry leaf utilization. We want to bring to the attention of the food, pharmaceutical, and cosmetic industries the Senga Sengana strawberry leaf as a new botanical raw material. It is rich in PDC, ellagitannins, and flavonols—potent glycation inhibitors.