bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Parity-Adjusted Term Neonatal Growth Chart Modifies Neonatal Morbidity and Mortality Risk Stratification
Authors: Kofman Roie , Farkash Rivka , Rottenstreich Misgav , Samueloff Arnon , Wasserteil Netanel , Kasirer Yair , Grisaru Granovsky Sorina
Published: May 2022

Objective: To investigate the impact of parity-customized versus population-based birth weight charts on the identification of neonatal risk for adverse outcomes in small (SGA) or large for gestational age (LGA) infants compared to appropriate for gestational age (AGA) infants. Study design: Observational, retrospective, cohort study based on electronic medical birth records at a single center between 2006 and 2017. Neonates were categorized by birth weight (BW) as SGA, LGA, or AGA, with the 10th and 90th centiles as boundaries for AGA in a standard population-based model adjusted for gestational age and gender only (POP) and a customized model adjusted for gestational age, gender, and parity (CUST). Neonates defined as SGA or LGA by one standard and not overlapping the other, are SGA/LGA CUST/POP ONLY. Analyses used a reference group of BW between the 25th and 75th centile for the population. Results: Overall 132,815 singleton, live, term neonates born to mothers with uncomplicated pregnancies were included. The customized model identified 53% more neonates as SGA-CUST ONLY who had significantly higher rates of morbidity and mortality compared to the reference group (OR = 1.33 95% CI [1.16–1.53]; p < 0.0001). Neonates defined as LGA by the customized model (LGA-CUST) and AGA by the population-based model LGA-CUST ONLY had a significantly higher risk for morbidity compared to the reference (OR = 1.36 95% CI [1.09–1.71]; p = 0.007) or the LGA POP group. Neonatal mortality only occurred in the SGA and AGA groups. Conclusions: The application of a parity-customized only birth weight chart in a population of singleton, term neonates is a simple platform to better identify birth weight related neonatal risk for morbidity and mortality.
Measurement of Lipid Peroxidation Products and Creatine Kinase in Blood Plasma and Saliva of Athletes at Rest and following Exercise
Authors: Ovchinnikov Aleksandr N. , Paoli Antonio , Seleznev Vladislav V. , Deryugina Anna V.
Published: May 2022

This study aimed to assess the agreement between quantitative measurements of plasmatic and salivary biomarkers capable of identifying oxidative stress and muscle damage in athletes at rest and following exercise. Thirty-nine high-level athletes participating in track and field (running), swimming or rowing were recruited and assigned to one of three groups depending on the sport. Each athlete group underwent its specific exercise. Blood and saliva samples were collected before and immediately after the exercise. Diene conjugates (DC), triene conjugates (TC), Schiff bases (SB), and creatine kinase (CK) were measured. Comparisons were made using Wilcoxon signed-rank test. Correlation analysis and Bland–Altman method were applied. DC levels were elevated in plasma (p < 0.01) and saliva (p < 0.01) in response to exercise in all three groups, as were the plasmatic (p < 0.01) and salivary (p < 0.01) TC and SB concentrations. CK activity was also significantly higher at postexercise compared to pre-exercise in both plasma (p < 0.01) and saliva (p < 0.01) in all groups. Strong positive correlation between salivary and plasmatic DC (p < 0.001), TC (p < 0.001), SB (p < 0.01), and CK (p < 0.001) was observed at rest and following exercise in each athlete group. The bias calculated for DC, TC, SB, and CK using the Bland–Altman statistics was not significant at both pre-exercise and postexercise in all three groups. The line of equality was within the confidence interval of the mean difference. All of the data points lay within the respective agreement limits. Salivary concentrations of DC, TC, SB, and CK are able to reliably reflect their plasma levels.
Optimization of Fiber Factors on Flexural Properties for Carbon Fiber Reinforced Polypropylene
Authors: Nugroho Gesang , Budiyantoro Cahyo
Published: May 2022

Fiber factor strongly influences the flexural properties of fiber-reinforced composites. Theoretically, strong fiber-matrix bonds combined with long fibers can produce high composite strength, while short fibers influence the ductility of the composite. Both conditions are obtained by aligning the fiber with the loading direction. In this study, an experimental study was conducted on the effect of fiber factors on the flexural strength and modulus of carbon fiber reinforced polypropylene. The fiber factors included in this study were: cryogenic fiber surface treatment, fiber length, and fiber orientation; each factor was divided into three levels. The relationship between the fiber factors and the responses was analyzed using the Response Surface Method (RSM) and Analysis of Variance (ANOVA). The results indicate that there is a good correlation between the predicted response values of the model and the results of the confirmation test. The fiber orientation has the most significant effect on the flexural strength of the composite. All fiber factors significantly affected flexural modulus, with fiber orientation as the most significant factor.
Digital Watermarking as an Adversarial Attack on Medical Image Analysis with Deep Learning
Authors: Apostolidis Kyriakos D. , Papakostas George A.
Published: May 2022

In the past years, Deep Neural Networks (DNNs) have become popular in many disciplines such as Computer Vision (CV), and the evolution of hardware has helped researchers to develop many powerful Deep Learning (DL) models to deal with several problems. One of the most important challenges in the CV area is Medical Image Analysis. However, adversarial attacks have proven to be an important threat to vision systems by significantly reducing the performance of the models. This paper brings to light a different side of digital watermarking, as a potential black-box adversarial attack. In this context, apart from proposing a new category of adversarial attacks named watermarking attacks, we highlighted a significant problem, as the massive use of watermarks, for security reasons, seems to pose significant risks to vision systems. For this purpose, a moment-based local image watermarking method is implemented on three modalities, Magnetic Resonance Images (MRI), Computed Tomography (CT-scans), and X-ray images. The introduced methodology was tested on three state-of-the art CV models, DenseNet 201, DenseNet169, and MobileNetV2. The results revealed that the proposed attack achieved over 50% degradation of the model’s performance in terms of accuracy. Additionally, MobileNetV2 was the most vulnerable model and the modality with the biggest reduction was CT-scans.
Dynamic Response Analysis of Offshore Converter Station Based on Vector Form Intrinsic Finite Element (VFIFE) Method
Authors: Sun Zhenzhou , Yu Yang , Wang Huakun , Huang Shanshan , Chen Jiefeng
Published: May 2022

This study aims at proposing a simulation method for an offshore converter station platform (OCS) under dynamic loading. A user-defined in-house FORTRAN code was developed based on the Vector Form Intrinsic Finite Element (VFIFE) method, and the numerical model was validated by test data. After model validation, the dynamic behavior of the OCS was carefully studied and the effect of different loading conditions, including seismic, hydrodynamic and wind load, on the dynamic behavior of OCS was investigated. The time history of the structural response was obtained, and the relationship between the structural peak response and the peak value of the seismic load was also shown. It indicated that water damping accelerates energy consumption, while the effect of hydrodynamic and wind load has little influence on the cases studied in this work. Generally, the peak response increases almost linearly with the increase in the peak acceleration of the ground, and the seismic propagating direction has a great impact. In addition, both a whipping effect and stretching-squeezing effect were observed, and the vertical acceleration response of the valve hall deck is much higher than other structures, which is caused by the relatively lower local rigidity of the large-span structure and the inertia force caused by the valve tower.
Comparison of the Hydraulic Performance and Pressure Pulsation Characteristics of Shaft Tubular Pump Device under Multiple Working Conditions
Authors: Ji Dongtao , Lu Weigang , Xu Lei , Lu Linguang
Published: May 2022

For pumping station projects in plain areas, shaft tubular pump devices are often used due to the low head. In actual operation, the common working range of the pump device is generally 0.8 Qbep~1.2 Qbep. Therefore, it is of great significance to study the hydraulic performance and pressure pulsation characteristics of the pump device in the working range. In this study, the hydraulic performance of a shaft pump device was tested by a model test, and the internal flow and pressure pulsation characteristics were analyzed by numerical simulation. The results obtained from the model test and numerical simulation were in general agreement, indicating that the numerical results were reliable. The results show that the inlet passage has a good flow pattern in the working range, which may offer a favorable flow state for the impeller. When Q = 0.8 Qbep, the flow in the impeller and guide vane was chaotic, the guide vane had a poor adjustment function on flow direction, and the flow in the outlet passage presented in a spiral motion. When Q = 1.0 and 1.2 Qbep, the flow in the impeller and guide vane was ordered, and the spiral flow in the outlet passage improved. In the working range, the pressure pulsation was similar. The main frequency at the impeller inlet and outlet was consistent with the blade passing frequency. For the same flow rate condition, the amplitude rose from hub to shroud and declined from impeller inlet to outlet. In addition, the amplitude decreased with an increasing flow rate.
Field Investigation on the Coastal Erosion and Progradation Evolution of the Binzhou Shelly Chenier in China: Comparisons between Normal and Typhoon Hydrodynamics
Authors: Wen Mingzheng , Zhang Huaibo , Wang Shoujun , Shang Zhiwen , Zhang Shaotong , Yang Peng , Wang Hong
Published: May 2022

The shelly chenier is a dike-like accumulation formed by waves, currents, and other hydrodynamic forces pushing the shells and their debris in the intertidal zone to the high tide line. It is a special type of coastal dike. The shelly chenier located in Wangzi Island of northern Shandong Province is the last well-preserved chenier of the Bohai Bay with natural attributes exposed on the surface. It has unique and irreplaceable attributes among the shell beaches of China. Based on remote sensing interpretation, field investigation, and GPS-RTK (Real-Time Kinematic) measurement, this paper investigates the coastal erosion and progradation evolution of the Binzhou Shelly Chenier in China usingcomparisons between normal and typhoon hydrodynamics. The results show that: (1) There are two kinds of shelly chenier in the study area, the first is “the tidal channel shelly chenier” which is significantly affected by the tidal current, and the second is “the open shelly chenier”, which is significantly affected by direct scouring and silting of waves. The open shelly chenier is continuously eroding under the normal hydrodynamics and the shell beach is supplied by a large number of shells and their debris under the typhoon hydrodynamics, while the tidal channel shelly chenier is gradually developed due to the action of alongshore currents and in–out flows. (2) The energy of waves and currents under normal hydrodynamics is insufficient to transport the shells and their debris in the intertidal zone to the shell-beach. On the contrary, the continuous action of waves makes the shells and their debris on the open-shell beach finer and transports the shells and their debris to the sea causing erosion and retreat of the shelly chenier. (3) The action of typhoons and other strong winds and waves results in the original accumulation on the open shell-beach being further transported to the land and provides a large amount of shells and debris from the intertidal zone to the shelly chenier. Based on GPS-RTK monitoring data from 2020–2021, it was found that the transport volume of shells and debris caused by a typhoon storm surge is equivalent to the annual transport volume under normal ocean dynamics.
Lateral Buckling of Subsea Pipelines Triggered by Sleeper with a Nonlinear Pipe–Soil Interaction Model
Authors: Wang Zhenkui , Guedes Soares C.
Published: May 2022

Buckle-initiation techniques, such as sleepers, are usually installed to trigger lateral buckling at pre-designated locations to release the axial compressive forces induced by thermal loading. Taking the nonlinear pipe–soil interaction model into account, a mathematical model is proposed to investigate the lateral buckling of subsea pipelines triggered by a sleeper. The numerical solution is validated by comparing the model with solutions in the literature, and the model shows good agreement. The discrepancy between them is analysed by presenting the effect of mobilisation distance during buckling. The influence of the breakout resistance, sleeper height, and sleeper friction coefficient on the buckled configuration, post-buckling behaviour, and minimum critical temperature difference is discussed parametrically. The results show that the deformation of the buckled pipeline shrinks, and both the minimum critical temperature difference and the maximum stress along the buckled pipeline enlarge when the nonlinear pipe–soil interaction model is incorporated. However, the influence of the nonlinear pipe–soil interaction reduces with increasing sleeper height.
Mushrooms Do Produce Flavonoids: Metabolite Profiling and Transcriptome Analysis of Flavonoid Synthesis in the Medicinal Mushroom Sanghuangporus baumii
Authors: Wang Shixin , Liu Zengcai , Wang Xutong , Liu Ruipeng , Zou Li
Published: May 2022

Mushrooms produce a large number of medicinal bioactive metabolites with antioxidant, anticancer, antiaging, and other biological activities. However, whether they produce flavonoids and, if so, how they synthesize them remains a matter of some debate. In the present study, we combined flavonoid-targeted metabolomics and transcriptome analysis to explore the flavonoid synthesis in the medicinal mushroom Sanghuangporus baumii. The S. baumii synthesized 81 flavonoids on a chemically defined medium. The multiple classes of flavonoids present were consistent with the biosynthetic routes in plants. However, paradoxically, most of the genes that encode enzymes involved in the flavonoid biosynthetic pathway are missing from S. baumii. Only four genes related to flavonoid synthesis were found in S. baumii, among which phenylalanine ammonia lyase gene (PAL) is a key gene regulating flavonoid synthesis, and overexpression of SbPAL increases the accumulation of flavonoids. These results suggest that the flavonoid synthesis pathway in S. baumii is different from that in known plants, and the missing genes may be replaced by genes from the same superfamilies but are only distantly related. Thus, this study provides a novel method to produce flavonoids by metabolic engineering using mushrooms.
High Incidence of Invasive Fungal Diseases in Patients with FLT3-Mutated AML Treated with Midostaurin: Results of a Multicenter Observational SEIFEM Study
Authors: Cattaneo Chiara , Marchesi Francesco , Terrenato Irene , Bonuomo Valentina , Fracchiolla Nicola Stefano , Delia Mario , Criscuolo Marianna , Candoni Anna , Prezioso Lucia , Facchinelli Davide , Pasciolla Crescenza , Del Principe Maria Ilaria , Dargenio Michelina , Buquicchio Caterina , Mitra Maria Enza , Farina Francesca , Borlenghi Erika , Nadali Gianpaolo , Gagliardi Vito Pier , Fianchi Luana , Sciumè Mariarita , Menna Pierantonio , Busca Alessandro , Rossi Giuseppe , Pagano Livio
Published: May 2022

The potential drug-drug interactions of midostaurin may impact the choice of antifungal (AF) prophylaxis in FLT3-positive acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients. To evaluate the incidence of invasive fungal diseases (IFD) during the treatment of FLT3-mutated AML patients and to correlate it to the different AF prophylaxis strategies, we planned a multicenter observational study involving 15 SEIFEM centers. One hundred fourteen patients treated with chemotherapy + midostaurin as induction/reinduction, consolidation or both were enrolled. During induction, the incidence of probable/proven and possible IFD was 10.5% and 9.7%, respectively; no statistically significant difference was observed according to the different AF strategy adopted. The median duration of neutropenia was similar in patients with or without IFD. Proven/probable and possible IFD incidence was 2.4% and 1.8%, respectively, during consolidation. Age was the only risk factor for IFD (OR, 95% CI, 1.10 [1.03–1.19]) and complete remission achievement after first induction the only one for survival (OR, 95% CI, 5.12 [1.93–13.60]). The rate of midostaurin discontinuation was similar across different AF strategies. The IFD attributable mortality during induction was 8.3%. In conclusion, the 20.2% overall incidence of IFD occurring in FLT3-mutated AML during induction with chemotherapy + midostaurin, regardless of AF strategy type, was noteworthy, and merits further study, particularly in elderly patients.
Understanding the Dynamics of Blast Resistance in Rice-Magnaporthe oryzae Interactions
Authors: Devanna Basavantraya N. , Jain Priyanka , Solanke Amolkumar U. , Das Alok , Thakur Shallu , Singh Pankaj K. , Kumari Mandeep , Dubey Himanshu , Jaswal Rajdeep , Pawar Deepak , Kapoor Ritu , Singh Jyoti , Arora Kirti , Saklani Banita Kumari , AnilKumar Chandrappa , Maganti Sheshu Madhav , Sonah Humira , Deshmukh Rupesh , Rathour Rajeev , Sharma Tilak Raj
Published: May 2022

Rice is a global food grain crop for more than one-third of the human population and a source for food and nutritional security. Rice production is subjected to various stresses; blast disease caused by Magnaporthe oryzae is one of the major biotic stresses that has the potential to destroy total crop under severe conditions. In the present review, we discuss the importance of rice and blast disease in the present and future global context, genomics and molecular biology of blast pathogen and rice, and the molecular interplay between rice–M. oryzae interaction governed by different gene interaction models. We also elaborated in detail on M. oryzae effector and Avr genes, and the role of noncoding RNAs in disease development. Further, rice blast resistance QTLs; resistance (R) genes; and alleles identified, cloned, and characterized are discussed. We also discuss the utilization of QTLs and R genes for blast resistance through conventional breeding and transgenic approaches. Finally, we review the demonstrated examples and potential applications of the latest genome-editing tools in understanding and managing blast disease in rice.
Crop Rotation and Minimal Tillage Selectively Affect Maize Growth Promotion under Late Wilt Disease Stress
Authors: Degani Ofir , Gordani Asaf , Becher Paz , Chen Assaf , Rabinovitz Onn
Published: May 2022

In recent years, worldwide scientific efforts towards controlling maize late wilt disease (LWD) have focused on eco-friendly approaches that minimize the environmental impact and health risks. This disease is considered to be the most severe threat to maize fields in Israel and Egypt, and a major growth restraint in India, Spain, and Portugal. Today’s most commonly used method for LWD control involving resistant maize genotypes is under constant risk from aggressive pathogen lines. Thus, this study’s objectives were to evaluate the effect of crop rotation and avoiding tillage on restraining the disease. Such an agrotechnical approach will support the continuity of soil mycorrhiza networks, which antagonize the disease’s causal agent, Magnaporthiopsis maydis. The method gained positive results in previous studies, but many knowledge gaps still need to be addressed. To this end, a dual-season study was conducted using the LWD hyper-susceptible maize hybrid, Megaton cv. The trials were performed in a greenhouse and in the field over full dual-growth seasons (wheat or clover as the winter crop followed by maize as the summer crop). In the greenhouse under LWD stress, the results clearly demonstrate the beneficial effect of maize crop rotation with clover and wheat on plant weight (1.4-fold), height (1.1–1.2-fold) and cob yield (1.8–2.4-fold), especially in the no-till soil. The clover-maize growth sequence excels in reducing disease impact (1.7-fold) and pathogen spread in the host tissues (3-fold). Even though the wheat-maize crop cycle was less effective, it still had better results than the commercial mycorrhizal preparation treatment and the uncultivated non-infected soil. The results were slightly different in the field. The clover-maize rotation also achieved the best growth promotion and disease restraint results (2.6-fold increase in healthy plants), but the maize rotation with wheat showed only minor efficiency. Interestingly, pre-cultivating the soil with clover had better results in no-till soil in both experiments. In contrast, the same procedure with wheat had a better impact when tillage was applied. It may be concluded that crop rotation and soil cultivation can be essential in reducing LWD, but other factors may affect this approach’s benefits in commercial field growth.
MaOpy2, a Transmembrane Protein, Is Involved in Stress Tolerances and Pathogenicity and Negatively Regulates Conidial Yield by Shifting the Conidiation Pattern in Metarhizium acridum
Authors: Wen Zhiqiong , Fan Yu , Xia Yuxian , Jin Kai
Published: May 2022

Opy2 is an important membrane-anchored protein upstream of the HOG-MAPK signaling pathway and plays important roles in both the HOG-MAPK and Fus3/Kss1 MAPK. In this study, the roles of MaOpy2 in Metarhizium acridum were systematically elucidated. The results showed that the MaOpy2 disruption significantly reduced fungal tolerances to UV, heat shock and cell-wall-disrupting agents. Bioassays showed that the decreased fungal pathogenicity by topical inoculation mainly resulted from the impaired penetration ability. However, the growth ability of ∆MaOpy2 was enhanced in insect hemolymph. Importantly, MaOpy2 deletion could significantly increase the conidial yield of M. acridum by shifting the conidiation pattern from normal conidiation to microcycle conidiation on the 1/4SDAY medium. Sixty-two differentially expressed genes (DEGs) during the conidiation pattern shift, including 37 up-regulated genes and 25 down-regulated genes in ∆MaOpy2, were identified by RNA-seq. Further analysis revealed that some DEGs were related to conidiation and hyphal development. This study will provide not only the theoretical basis for elucidating the regulation mechanism for improving the conidial yield and quality in M. acridum but also theoretical guidance for the molecular improvement of entomopathogenic fungi.
A Promising Approach for Primary Cytoreductive Surgery for Advanced Ovarian Cancer: Survival Outcomes and Step-by-Step Description of Total Retroperitoneal en-Bloc Resection of Multivisceral-Peritoneal Packet (TROMP)
Authors: Muallem Mustafa Zelal , Kluge Luisa , Sayasneh Ahmad , Sehouli Jalid , Zocholl Dario , Muallem Jumana , Miranda Andrea
Published: May 2022

(1) Background: A complete tumor resection during primary cytoreductive surgery has been reported to be the most important and perhaps the only independent prognostic factor in advanced ovarian cancers. The goal of complete cytoreduction needs to be weighed against the potential morbidities and long-term survival outcomes. (2) Methods: in this retrospective analysis of a prospectively obtained database, 208 consecutive patients with advanced ovarian cancer who underwent a conventional primary cytoreductive surgery (150 patients) or TROMP technique (58 patients) were included. Progression-free and overall survival rates were calculated using Kaplan–Meier analysis as well as the 95% confidence interval of the hazard ratio between treatment groups. (3) Results: After a median follow-up phase of more than 3 years (range 1–72 months), there are no statistically significant differences between both groups in progression-free and overall survival rates. Albeit, the TROMP group included statistically significant more advanced-stage cases compared to the conventional surgery group. (4) Conclusions: the TROMP technique is a promising tool for successful primary cytoreductive surgery in a selected group of patients with high tumor burdens in order to achieve optimal surgical results and survival outcomes without introducing any additional risks or complications.
Closing the Gap: Bridging Peripheral Sensory Nerve Defects with a Chitosan-Based Conduit a Randomized Prospective Clinical Trial
Authors: Böcker Arne , Aman Martin , Kneser Ulrich , Harhaus Leila , Siemers Frank , Stang Felix
Published: May 2022

Introduction: If tensionless nerve coaptation is not possible, bridging the resulting peripheral nerve defect with an autologous nerve graft is still the current gold standard. The concept of conduits as an alternative with different materials and architectures, such as autologous vein conduits or bioartificial nerve conduits, could not replace the nerve graft until today. Chitosan, as a relatively new biomaterial, has recently demonstrated exceptional biocompatibility and material stability with neural lineage cells. The purpose of this prospective randomized clinical experiment was to determine the efficacy of chitosan-based nerve conduits in regenerating sensory nerves in the hand. Materials and methods: Forty-seven patients with peripheral nerve defects up to 26 mm distal to the carpal tunnel were randomized to receive either a chitosan conduit or an autologous nerve graft with the latter serving as the control group. Fifteen patients from the conduit group and seven patients from the control group were available for a 12-month follow-up examination. The primary outcome parameter was tactile gnosis measured with two-point discrimination. The secondary outcome parameters were Semmens Weinstein Monofilament Testing, self-assessed pain, and patient satisfaction. Results: Significant improvement (in static two-point discrimination) was observed six months after trauma (10.7 ± 1.2 mm; p < 0.05) for chitosan-based nerve conduits, but no further improvement was observed after 12 months of regeneration (10.9 ± 1.3 mm). After six months and twelve months, the autologous nerve graft demonstrated comparable results to the nerve conduit, with a static two-point discrimination of 11.0 ± 2.0 mm and 7.9 ± 1.1 mm. Semmes Weinstein Filament Testing in the nerve conduit group showed a continuous improvement over the regeneration period by reaching from 3.1 ± 0.3 after three months up to 3.7 ± 0.4 after twelve months. Autologous nerve grafts presented similar results: 3.3 ± 0.4 after three months and 3.7 ± 0.5 after twelve months. Patient satisfaction and self-reported pain levels were similar between the chitosan nerve conduit and nerve graft groups. One patient required revision surgery due to complications associated with the chitosan nerve tube. Conclusion: Chitosan-based nerve conduits are safe and suitable for bridging nerve lesions up to 26 mm in the hand. Tactile gnosis improved significantly during the early regeneration period, and functional outcomes were similar to those obtained with an autologous nerve graft. Thus, chitosan appears to be a sufficient substitute for autologous nerve grafts in the treatment of small nerve defects in the hand.
Correlation Comparison and Personalized Utility of Field Walking Tests in Assessing the Exercise Capacity of Patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Ko Eun Jae , Lee Jang Ho , Lee Hyang Yi , Lee Seong Ho , Lee Hack-Jae , Chae Ganghee , Lee Sei Won , Ra Seung Won
Published: May 2022

Background: Incremental shuttle walking tests (ISWT) are regarded as valuable alternatives to 6-min walking tests (6MWT) and cardiopulmonary exercise tests (CPET) owing to the maximal and externally paced loading. This study investigated the validity and reliability of ISWT by analyzing the correlation of the distances of two field tests with peak oxygen consumption (VO2) of CPET in patients with COPD. Methods: In this randomized controlled trial, patients with COPD were enrolled from two hospitals. Three assessments were performed for all patients. The ISWT and 6MWT were repeated twice in Hospital 1 to assess reliability. Results: A total of 29 patients were enrolled. The distances of ISWT (0.782, p < 0.001) and 6MWT (0.512, p = 0.005) correlated with peak VO2. The intraclass correlation coefficients of both ISWT (0.988, p < 0.001) and 6MWT (0.959, p < 0.001) was high. Patients with higher peak VO2 walked a longer distance in ISWT than 6MWT (r = 0.590, p < 0.001). Conclusions: The ISWT more highly correlates with peak VO2 than the 6MWT and has excellent reliability in patients with COPD. According to peak VO2, the walking distances of each field test varied, suggesting that the application should be personalized for the exercise capacity.
Evaluation for Appropriate Tillage of Sandy Land in Arid Sandy Area Based on Limitation Factor Exclusion Method
Authors: Xu Yan , Cai Zhaoyang , Wang Kaige , Zhang Yuwei , Zhang Fengrong
Published: May 2022

Investigating and evaluating the quantity and spatial distribution of arable sandy land in arid and semiarid sandy areas is of great significance for the sustainable development and utilization of sandy land resources and the maintenance of the stability of the structure and function of regional ecosystems. Based on the characteristics of sandy soil, being without structure and susceptible to wind erosion, this study used the limiting factor exclusion method to investigate and evaluate arable sandy land in arid and semiarid areas. All sandy soils were taken as the evaluation objects of arable sandy land (including visible sandy land and invisible sandy land). On the basis of following the principle of ecological protection, the evaluation indicators and limiting factor exclusion evaluation methods of arable sandy land were determined. The results of Hangjin Banner are as follows: the total area of the visible sandy land and the recessive sandy land was 1.2 × 106 hm2; the visible sandy land accounted for 42.6%, and the invisible sandy land accounted for 57.5%. However, only 7.7% of the sandy land was suitable for farming, which is the current cultivated land of bare sand and sandy soil, extremely-low-coverage grassland, inland tidal flats, and other saline-alkali land. Even if these arable sandy lands are to be used sustainably after reclamation, reasonable ecological protection, irrigation engineering measures, and field protective farming measures must be taken. It is hoped that this study can provide a valuable reference for the sustainable development and utilization of arable sandy land and desertification control in arid and semiarid areas.
Aboveground Biomass Models in the Combretum-Terminalia Woodlands of Ethiopia: Testing Species and Site Variation Effects
Authors: Abich Amsalu , Negash Mesele , Alemu Asmamaw , Gashaw Temesgen
Published: May 2022

The Combretum-Terminalia woodlands and wooded grasslands (CTW) are widely distributed in East Africa. While these landscapes may have the potential to act as key global carbon sinks, relatively little is known about their carbon storage capacity. Here we developed a set of novel aboveground biomass (AGB) models and tested for species and site variation effects to quantify the potential for CTW to store carbon. In total, 321 trees were sampled from 13 dominant tree species, across three sites in the Northwest lowlands of Ethiopia. Overall, fitted species-specific models performed the best, with diameter at breast height explaining 94–99% of the AGB variations. Interspecific tree allometry differences among species were more substantial than intraspecific tree allometry among sites. Incorporating wood density and height in the mixed-species models significantly improved the model performance relative mean absolute error (MAPE) of 2.4–8.0%, while site variation did not affect the model accuracy substantially. Large errors (MAPE%) were observed when using existing pantropical models, indicating that model selection remains an important source of uncertainty. Although the estimates of selected site-specific models were accurate for local sites, mixed-species and species-specific models performed better when validation data collated from different sites were incorporated together. We concluded that including site- and species-level data improved model estimates of AGB for the CTW of Ethiopia.
How COVID-19 Hijacks the Cytoskeleton: Therapeutic Implications
Authors: Aminpour Maral , Hameroff Stuart , Tuszynski Jack A.
Published: May 2022

The SARS-CoV-2 virus invades and replicates within host cells by “hijacking” biomolecular machinery, gaining control of the microtubule cytoskeleton. After attaching to membrane receptors and entering cells, the SARS-CoV-2 virus co-opts the dynamic intra-cellular cytoskeletal network of microtubules, actin, and the microtubule-organizing center, enabling three factors that lead to clinical pathology: (1) viral load due to intra-cellular trafficking, (2) cell-to-cell spread by filopodia, and (3) immune dysfunction, ranging from hyper-inflammatory cytokine storm to ineffective or absent response. These factors all depend directly on microtubules and the microtubule-organizing center, as do cell functions such as mitosis and immune cell movement. Here we consider how the SARS-CoV-2 virus may “hijack” cytoskeletal functions by docking inside the microtubule-organizing center’s centriole “barrels”, enabling certain interactions between the virus’s positively charged spike (“S”) proteins and negatively charged C-termini of the microtubules that the centriole comprises, somewhat like fingers on a keyboard. This points to the potential benefit of therapies aimed not directly at the virus but at the microtubules and microtubule-organizing center of the host cell on which the virus depends. These therapies could range from anti-microtubule drugs to low-intensity ultrasound (megahertz mechanical vibrations) externally applied to the vagus nerve at the neck and/or to the spleen (since both are involved in mediating inflammatory response). Given that ultrasound imaging machines suitable for vagal/splenic ultrasound are available for clinical trials in every hospital, we recommend an alternative therapeutic approach for COVID-19 based on addressing and normalizing the host cell microtubules and microtubule-organizing centers co-opted by the SARS-CoV-2 virus.
Application of Sensor Path Weighting RAPID Algorithm on Pitting Corrosion Monitoring of Aluminum Plate
Authors: Xu Duo , Zhang Weifang , Han Lu , Liu Xuerong , Hu Weiwei
Published: May 2022

Aluminum alloy is widely used in aerospace structures. However, it often suffers from a harsh corrosion environment, resulting in different damage such as pitting corrosion, which leads to a reduction in the service life of aerospace structures. In the present study, the pitting corrosion with a radius of 1 mm and a depth of 0.6 mm was manufactured using hydrofluoric (HF) acid on a 2024-T3 aluminum alloy plate (400 mm × 400 mm × 2 mm) to simulate the corrosion state of equipment. A signal acquisition system with a square sensor network of 12 piezoelectric transducers (PZTs) was established. The sensor path weighting reconstruction algorithm for the probabilistic inspection of defects (SPW-RAPID) is proposed based on corrosion damage characteristic parameters including signal correlation coefficient (SDC), root mean squared error (RMSE), and signal energy damage index (E1) to explore the monitoring efficacy of pitting corrosion. The sensor path weight w, which is the product of value coefficient a and impact factor l, is established to modify the corrosion damage characteristic parameters. The results indicate that the SPW-RAPID algorithm can improve the accuracy and clarity of image reconstruction results based on SDC, RMSE and E1, which can locate the pitting corrosion with a radius of 1 mm and a depth of 0.6 mm, and the positioning error is controlled within 0.1 mm. The research work may provide an available way to monitor tiny corrosion damage on an aluminum alloy structure.
Tribocorrosion and Abrasive Wear Test of 22MnCrB5 Hot-Formed Steel
Authors: Ulbrich Dariusz , Stachowiak Arkadiusz , Kowalczyk Jakub , Wieczorek Daniel , Matysiak Waldemar
Published: May 2022

The article presents the results of research on abrasive and tribocorrosion wear of boron steel. This type of steel is used in the automotive and agricultural industries for the production of tools working in soil. The main goal of the article is the evaluation of tribocorrosion and abrasive wear for hot-formed 22MnCrB5 steel and a comparison of the obtained results with test results for steel in a cold-formed state. The spinning bowl method to determine the wear of samples working in the abrasive mass was used. Furthermore, a stand developed based on the ball-on-plate system allows to determine the wear during the interaction of friction and corrosion. After the hot-forming process, 22MnCrB5 steel was three times more resistant for the abrasive wear than steel without this treatment. The average wear intensity for 22MnCrB5 untreated steel was 0.00046 g per km, while for 22MnCrB5 hot-formed steel it was 0.00014 g per km. The tribocorrosion tests show that the wear trace of hot-formed 22MnCrB5 steel was about 7.03 µm, and for cold-formed 22MnCrB5 steel a 12.11 µm trace was noticed. The hot-forming method allows to obtain the desired shape of the machine element and improves the anti-wear and anti-corrosion properties for boron steel.
Eco-Friendly Adhesives Based on the Oligomeric Condensed Tannins-Rich Extract from Alder Bark for Particleboard and Plywood Production
Authors: Janceva Sarmite , Andersone Anna , Spulle Uldis , Tupciauskas Ramunas , Papadopoulou Electra , Bikovens Oskars , Andzs Martins , Zaharova Natalija , Rieksts Gints , Telysheva Galina
Published: May 2022

Toxic formaldehyde emissions, and the necessity to reduce the consumption of petrochemicals, stimulates the development of environmentally friendly adhesives. The aim of this research was to study, for the first time, the possibility of using condensed tannins (CTs)-rich extracts from grey alder (Alnus incana) and black alder (Alnus glutinosa) bark in the production of particleboards and plywood adhesives. The chemical structure, composition, and molecular weight of the CTs were identified by a 13C-NMR and TOF-MS analysis. Three innovative adhesive systems were studied: CTs-phenol-formaldehyde (CTs-PF) resin; a CTs-polyethyleneimine (PEI) adhesive system; and CTs–PEI combined with an ultra-low emitting formaldehyde resin (ULEFR)—CTs–PEI–ULEFR. The results showed that CTs-PF resin has properties close to commercial PF resin, and the formaldehyde emission was twice lower. CTs–PEI bonded particleboards corresponded to the requirements of the EN 312:2010 standard for particleboards in dry conditions (Type P2). CTs–PEI–ULEFR, with a 40–60% substitution of ULEFR by CTs–PEI, had adhesive properties very close to ULEFR; the plywood shear strength fit the requirements of the EN 314-2:1993 standard for application in internal and external system conditions. The introduction of extracted alder bark residues microparticles into the composition of the adhesive system showed their positive potential for application as a filler.
Production of Electrolytic Composite Powder by Nickel Plating of Shredded Polyurethane Foam
Authors: Niedbała Jolanta , Popczyk Magdalena , Hawełek Łukasz , Orda Szymon , Okła Hubert , Gabor Jadwiga , Stach Sebastian , Swinarew Andrzej S.
Published: May 2022

Ni–poly(DPU) composite powder was produced under galvanostatic conditions from a nickel bath with the addition of pulverized polymer obtained during the shredding of polyurethane foam (poly(DPU)). The Ni–poly(DPU) composite powder was characterized by the presence of polymer particles covered with an electrolytical amorphous-nanocrystalline nickel coating. The phase structure, chemical composition, morphology, and the distribution of elements was investigated. The chemical analysis showed that the powder contains 41.7% Ni, 16.4% C, 15.7% O, 8.2% P and 0.10% S. The other components were not determined (nitrogen and hydrogen). The phase analysis showed the presence of NiC phase. Composite powder particles are created as a result of the adsorption of Me ions on the fragmented polymer. The current flowing through the galvanic bath forces the flow of the particles. The foam particles with adsorbed nickel ions are transported to the cathode surface, where the Ni2+ is discharged. The presence of compound phosphorus in galvanic solution generates the formation of amorphous-nanocrystalline nickel, which covers the polymer particles. The formed nickel–polymer composite powder falls to the bottom of the cell.
Approach to the Fatigue and Cellular Behavior of Superficially Modified Porous Titanium Dental Implants
Authors: Trueba Paloma , Navarro Carlos , Giner Mercè , Rodríguez-Ortiz José A. , Montoya-García María José , Delgado-Pujol Ernesto J. , Rodríguez-Albelo Luisa M. , Torres Yadir
Published: May 2022

In this work, the fatigue and cellular performance of novel superficially treated porous titanium dental implants made up using conventional powder metallurgy and space-holder techniques (30 vol.% and 50 vol.%, both with a spacer size range of 100–200 µm) are evaluated. Before the sintering stage, a specific stage of CNC milling of the screw thread of the implant is used. After the consolidation processing, different surface modifications are performed: chemical etching and bioactive coatings (BG 45S5 and BG 1393). The results are discussed in terms of the effect of the porosity, as well as the surface roughness, chemical composition, and adherence of the coatings on the fatigue resistance and the osteoblast cells’ behavior for the proposed implants. Macro-pores are preferential sites of the nucleation of cracks and bone cell adhesion, and they increase the cellular activity of the implants, but decrease the fatigue life. In conclusion, SH 30 vol.% dental implant chemical etching presents the best bio-functional (in vitro osseointegration) and bio-mechanical (stiffness, yield strength and fatigue life) balance, which could ensure the required characteristics of cortical bone tissue.
X-Shaped Structure-Based Modeling and Control for a Stable Platform with a Series Elastic Actuator
Authors: Teng Ai , Wu Qingxiang , Yang Tong , Sun Lei , Sun Ning
Published: May 2022

Stable platforms are widely used in many fields to keep the environment stable for the load under the influence of the motion of the craft and other carriers. However, its stability has always been an important and serious challenge for researchers. In order to further improve its shock absorption performance, a dynamic model based on the stable platform with the series elastic actuator (SEA) is established. Meanwhile, a dynamic reference trajectory based on the X-shaped structure is designed for ignorance of the beneficial nonlinearity in the fixed reference trajectory of the stable platform. In addition, a backstepping control method is proposed to accomplish stronger and faster stabilization with more robustness. Simulations are carried out, and the effectiveness of the proposed method is verified by comparative simulations with a PID controller.
Chaotic and Hyperchaotic Dynamics of a Clapp Oscillator
Authors: Petrzela Jiri
Published: May 2022

This paper describes recent findings achieved during a numerical investigation of the circuit known as the Clapp oscillator. By considering the generalized bipolar transistor as an active element and after applying the search-for-chaos optimization approach, parameter regions that lead to either chaotic or hyperchaotic dynamics were discovered. For starters, the two-port that represents the transistor was firstly assumed to have a polynomial-forward trans-conductance; then the shape of trans-conductance changes into the piecewise-linear characteristics. Both cases cause vector field symmetry and allow the coexistence of several different attractors. Chaotic and hyperchaotic behavior were deeply analyzed by using standard numerical tools such as Lyapunov exponents, basins of attraction, bifurcation diagrams, and solution sensitivity. The structural stability of strange attractors observed numerically was finally proved via a real practical experiment: a flow-equivalent chaotic oscillator was constructed as the lumped electronic circuit, and desired attractors were captured and provided as oscilloscope screenshots.
Study on the Oil Film Force with Unlimited Length Oil Film of the Sliding Bearing and the ERSFD with Bosses
Authors: Pang Guoying , Cao Shuqian , Chen Yushu
Published: May 2022

The research background is the elastic ring squeeze film damper. Four contact pressure models were established by analyzing the structural characteristics and movement, combined with the sliding bearing theory, including structural parameters and eccentricities. Multi-structure and multi-interval dynamic boundary conditions were selected by analyzing actual structures. Simpson, polynomial, and integrated parameters methods extended Booker formulas. By combining existences and forms of the solution and mean-value theories, approximate analytical solutions of the finite length bearing were obtained under different contacts. Combined with the short and long bearing, general structures and expressions of analytical solutions of oil film pressures and forces under three approximation theories were obtained. The oil film characteristics of the dynamic equilibrium state were obtained, and the correctness was verified by theoretical comparison. Numerical simulations analyzed the relationship among relevant parameters. It provided a theoretical basis upon which to study the geometric form, motion state, and the approximate analytical solution of the ERSFD dynamic model, and increased its research ability.
Recent Advances in the Synthesis of Marine-Derived Alkaloids via Enzymatic Reactions
Authors: Chen Bi-Shuang , Zhang Di , de Souza Fayene Zeferino Ribeiro , Liu Lan
Published: May 2022

Alkaloids are a large and structurally diverse group of marine-derived natural products. Most marine-derived alkaloids are biologically active and show promising applications in modern (agro)chemical, pharmaceutical, and fine chemical industries. Different approaches have been established to access these marine-derived alkaloids. Among these employed methods, biotechnological approaches, namely, (chemo)enzymatic synthesis, have significant potential for playing a central role in alkaloid production on an industrial scale. In this review, we discuss research progress on marine-derived alkaloid synthesis via enzymatic reactions and note the advantages and disadvantages of their applications for industrial production, as well as green chemistry for marine natural product research.