bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Analysis of Typical PCB Vibration Characteristics Based on Modal Simulation and Experiment
Authors: Cao Jingshuai , Qin Qiang , Wang Gang , Yang Pei , Qiao Hongkai
Published: September 2023

This study combines simulation and experimental methods to explore the vibration characteristics of a servo controller printed circuit board (PCB). CREO is used to build a simulation model based on PCB structure analysis. ANSYS was used to perform finite element simulation analysis of vibration characteristics. The hammering method is used to perform circuit board modal experiments. By comparing the results of simulation and experimentation, the PCB dynamic characteristics are analyzed. It was found that the fixed frequency error of the simulation and the experiment is within 6%, and the first three mode shapes are consistent. Hence, it is suggested to use the simulation model for the subsequent vibration reliability analysis of the electronic product.
Study on Effect of Ultrasonic Vibration on Adhesive-film Bonding of Al/CFRP Alloy Joints
Authors: Wang Hui , Zhang Chenkuo , Chen Yizhe , Yang Liu , Li Jianting , Cao Min
Published: September 2023

The adhesive film is solid at room temperature, and it is difficult to ensure the adhesion of the adhesive film to the adhered plate during the bonding process, resulting in poor bonding quality and difficult bonding quality control. Due to the need to solve this problem, this study proposed ultrasonic to improve the bonding quality. The ultrasonic mechanism to strengthen the adhesive-film bonded of AL/CFRP (carbon fiber reinforced composites) joints was investigated. The ultrasonic vibration was applied to the bonding area after the adhesive film was attached. A double-lap shear plate test revealed a 59.6% increase in bond strength and a 34.2% increase in bond quality stability. By analyzing the temperature and viscosity of the adhesive film after ultrasonic and observing the surface morphology of the cured joint, it was found that ultrasonic could reduce the film viscosity and improve the adhesive film fluidity. At the same time, the adhesive film was promoted to fill the irregular micro pits on the adherend surface, enhancing the mechanical anchoring effect between the adhesive and the adhered plate and thus improving the bonding quality.
Complex Deformation Behavior of GPa Grade Advanced High-strength Automotive Steel
Authors: Li Xiaotong , Liu Wenbo , Liang Xiao , Xu Xin , Su Hongying
Published: September 2023

To explore the complex deformation behavior of advanced high-strength automotive steel, the biaxial tensile test was carried out by using the thinned cruciform specimen. The stress in the central deformation area of the thinned specimen was analyzed by the simulation to verify the effectiveness of the specimen. The biaxial tensile test of metal sheets and the calculation method of yield trajectory were studied. The yield trajectories of DP980 and QP980 under different loading paths were obtained by using the strain-rate ratio control. The research results provide important technical support for improving the forming simulation accuracy of advanced high-strength steel DP980 and QP980.
Study of mixing characteristics of boiler slag in hexagonal cold slag tube
Authors: Li Renqiang , Huang Bo , Wang Jia , He Tao , Wang Manman , Zhao Fei
Published: September 2023

The slag cooler is an important auxiliary machine of the boiler. Taking the high-temperature ash particles in the hexagonal slag cooling tube as the research object, based on the EDEM discrete element method, a particle-particle contact model is established, and the mixing index and difference function are used as the mixing evaluation index, in-depth analysis of the impact of different filling rates on the mixing of high-temperature ash particles. The results show that as the filling rate decreases, the time for ash particles to reach stable mixing becomes shorter, and the time for particles to reach stable mixing under different filling rates is 22 seconds, 28 seconds, and 34 seconds, respectively. The smaller the filling rate, the smaller the fluctuation range of the difference function R and S values, therefore, the better the mixing effect of the particles in the material bed.
Modeling, simulation, and experimental study of personalized porous tooth structure formed by laser selective melting (SLM)
Authors: Li Weizhen , Jiang Libiao
Published: September 2023

The work aims to study and summarize the technology methods for personalized design and 3D printing for the human tooth, mainly including scanning the human model of the oral cavity with the lost tooth, dealing with the point clouds data, reconstructing the dental crown and dental root with porous structure, simulating the deformation and stress of different porous structure, and printing the different unit body by SLM 3D printing with metal powder material titanium alloys TC4. Finally, experiments are conducted to verify the performances of the printed unit entity with a porous structure. The conclusion is that the porous structure designed is effective for a closer elastic modulus E=2.20-3.00 GPa to the Human cementum. It can increase the matching between the elastic modulus of the patient’s jaw bone, reduce the stress shielding effect, achieve increased bone bonding area, improve bone bonding efficiency, and improve the long stability of implant bone bonding. It also has a 20.44 % weight loss. It becomes lighter and more economical. Through the research, the rapid and personalized customization forms can be realized to promote the further development of the dental reconstruction area.
Fatigue Life Analysis of Railway Axles under Pre-crack Conditions
Authors: Cai Guojie , Liu Chaotao , Xiao Xiangyu
Published: September 2023

This paper takes the wheelset of a certain type of EMU as the research object and checks the strength of the axle according to the standard, and the most dangerous section of the axle is determined to be 35 mm away from the inner edge of the wheel seat. A crack with a depth of 1.2 mm was prefabricated by an electric spark in this position, and the crack was extended to a semi-elliptic crack with a depth of 2 mm by a fatigue test. The remaining service life of the non-damaged axle and the defective axle were analyzed based on the cumulative damage theory and the damage tolerance design method.
Simultaneous improvements in strength, stiffness, and toughness of bio-inspired hierarchical topological interlocking geometry
Authors: Ding Zhongqiu , Duan Yugang , Xiao Hong
Published: September 2023

Structural hierarchy plays an important role in the mechanical properties of natural materials. In this work, the concept of hierarchy was applied to topological interlocking assemblies to integrate different toughening strategies of multiple biologicals. Multi-material additive manufacturing was adopted to fabricate the bio-inspired interlocking structures comprised of discrete hard building blocks and soft intricate interfaces. An approach combining finite element simulation with direct mechanical testing on 3D-printed samples was conducted to investigate the mechanical consequences of these samples. It was found that the introduction of hierarchical surface design enabled the original interlocking assemblies to own additional interlocking effects at a smaller length scale, resulting in increased strength, stiffness, and toughness by 42.4%, 31.2%, and 83.8%, respectively.
Flow characteristics of cooling nozzle for high strength after hot rolling
Authors: Liu Bowen , Shi Jianhui , Bian Liping , Chen Chi , Yao Yilong
Published: September 2023

To further improve the cooling strength and uniformity of hot rolled strip steel after rolling and optimize the structure and process parameters of high-strength cooling equipment, this paper combined the basic structural characteristics and characteristic parameters of high-strength cooling nozzles of hot rolled strip steel, using finite element analysis software. The effect of various pressure and structural arguments on the internal flow characteristics of high-strength cooling nozzles was studied. The results show that with the increasing of the system pressure, the flow rate at the manifold outlet also increases gradually, and the fluctuation of the jet velocity increases gradually, but the flow line trend of the internal velocity is unchanged. The change in the position of the main shunt hole can affect the change in flow rate at the nozzle outlet. However, when the pressure is greater than 0.3 MPa, the fluctuation range of the flow rate at the slot outlet tends to be larger. The relevant results provide some reference for the design of high-strength cooling equipment in hot rolling.
Mechanical Behavior of Porous Epoxy Resin Mixture under Thermo-Mechanical Coupling
Authors: Xu Heng , Yao Bo , He Chao , Zhang Haoming , Yu Zhaoyu
Published: September 2023

The porous epoxy resin mixture has good mechanical properties, more internal pores, and superior drainage performance. Referring to the relevant data of indoor tests, this article uses PFC2D to construct a digital specimen in two dimensions based on its grading characteristics and spatial structure characteristics of the porous epoxy resin mixture to investigate its mechanical behavior. The indoor uniaxial penetration tests are carried out first, then the results are utilized to calibrate the necessary meso-parameters for different contact types, and we conduct a virtual uniaxial penetration test under coupled action of stress and temperature. We compare and analyze the results of both two tests and the evolution behavior and failure mechanism of porous epoxy resin mixture are investigated. The results of this article can preliminarily form a basic understanding of the mechanical behavior of porous epoxy resin mixture and have important theoretical significance and engineering application value for the evaluation of its road performance.
The influence of surface morphology of the as-fabricated layer on the molten pool flow behavior during the forming process of the next layer for laser powder bed fusion
Authors: Xiang Zhaowei , Huang Yefan , Yin Qin
Published: September 2023

The surface morphology is essential for the fabricated quality of Laser powder bed fusion (LPBF) additive manufacturing. There is a trend that more and more researchers are an attempt to improve surface quality unlimited. However, besides the final layer for the fabricated products, which directly affects the performance and user experience, does the surface morphology of the as-fabricated layer have an altogether positive effect on the forming process of the next layer? Furthermore, does it need to improve the surface quality unlimited? In this research, three kinds of typical surface morphology, flat surface, balling surface, and periodic rough surface, were analyzed and simplified. Then a fluid-heat coupling numerical model was built considering the surface morphology of the as-fabricated layer. The flow behavior of the molten pool during the forming process of the next layer under different kinds of surface morphology of the as-fabricated layer was investigated. The results indicate that achieving an excessively high-quality surface morphology is needless, and an appropriate periodic rough surface is beneficial to improve the forming quality.
Numerical Simulation of Particle Transport in Semi-Dry Desulfurization Slurry
Authors: Zhang Wei , Zhu Qunzhi
Published: September 2023

Among the desulfurization technologies, semi-dry technology is widely used, with the advantages of low cost, low water consumption, and no secondary effluent, which is favored by most domestic and foreign users. For a power plant, the slurry after desulfurization of a semi-dry desulfurization plant has the phenomenon of pipeline deposition in the process of pipeline transportation, which needs to be cleaned every short period, increasing unnecessary costs. Therefore, it is important to master the deposition law to allow safe and productive pipeline operation and reduce unnecessary waste.
The Simulation of the Non-standard Five-axis Automatic Drilling Machine Tool Based on DELMIA
Authors: Tan Hong , Chen Qiang , Sun Hailong , Wu Chengxu , Li Xiankun
Published: September 2023

The structure and motion characteristics of a non-standard five-axis automatic drilling machine tool were analyzed, and the virtual simulation models were established based on DELMIA. In order to verify the correctness of the NC code and to simulate the machining process, the VBA method was used to develop a simulation module of an automatic drilling machine tool based on DELMIA.
Experimental and numerical investigation on the failure behavior of multi-spar composite box under bending and shear
Authors: Zhang Zhao , Yuan Fei , Li Xinxiang , Chen Xiangmin
Published: September 2023

Multi-spar composite boxes (MSCB) are common elements in structural design due to their high load capacity in different loading conditions. This paper presents an experimental and numerical investigation of the failure behavior of MSCB subjected to a combined bending-shearing load. Quadratic failure criteria and mixed-mode strain energy release rate criteria are used to predict the onset and propagation of damage at the inter-laminar interfaces of the MSCB, which was implemented into Abaqus/Explicit analysis via a user-defined material subroutine VUMT. At last, a good agreement between tests and numerical prediction was observed.
Numerical simulation study of electron beam welding of 2219 aluminium alloy
Authors: Ning Wei , Liu Hailang , Liu Haiyang , Tang Jie , Yin Wangyu
Published: September 2023

In arrange to consider the morphology of the weld seam of 2219 aluminium alloy electron beam welding as well as to obtain a well-formed welded joint, FLUENT software was adopted to electron beam welding numerically simulate the temperature field of 10 mm thick 2219 aluminium alloy. Along with the welding, the keyhole and temperature field of the molten pool changes constantly. The findings demonstrate that the liquid metal beneath the combined activity of recoil pressure and Marangoni convection causes the molten pool width to always increment and the depth to rise fast during the evolution of the keyhole and temperature field. The profundity and breadth of the liquid pool do not rise significantly at the same time when the energy of the fluid metal decays to a specific value, and the liquid pool has been in a steady oscillation state.
A metal-organic framework constructed by ferrocene and titanium clusters for CO2 photoreduction under visible light
Authors: Chen Xianqi , Li Yaqiong , Wei Zihao , Li Shenghua , Pang Siping
Published: September 2023

As a promising photocatalyst, titanium-based metal organic framework (Ti-MOF) has been widely used for the photoreduction of CO2. In this paper, we developed a new Ti-MOF named Fe-Tc, constructed from titanium clusters and ferrocene. Fe-Tc had a wide absorbance range and a good response to visible light. Introducing ferrocene gave it good separation performance of photogenerated electrons and holes. What’s more, Fe-Tc showed excellent photocatalytic activity of CO2 photoreduction. Its production rate of formate (HCOO−) reached 39.5 μmol g−1 h−1 under visible light, which was better than some classical Ti-MOFs.
An Improved Model for Hysteretic Behavior Investigation on the Twin-tube Hydraulic Adjustable Damper
Authors: Zhang Qiang , Li Huixiang , Wang Shengde , Zhao Deng
Published: September 2023

The damper, as an integral constituent of the automotive suspension system, assumes a critical function in determining the suspension’s overall performance. To enhance the ride comfort and stability of automobiles, further research on the performance of dampers is particularly important. In this paper, an improved mathematical model with a twin-tube hydraulic adjustable damper (THAD) was developed to analyze the hysteretic behavior. The cavitation process of THAD was studied by studying the compressibility of oil and the structure of the valve port. Mathematical model results and published data under compression stroke and rebound stroke are compared for different working situations. The simulation results consistently illustrate the correctness of the model.
Properties of Ag-GNP silver-graphene composites and finite element analysis of electrical contact coupling field
Authors: Wang Saibei , Wang Song , Chen Song , Li Aikun , Ma Hongwei , Zhao Shangqiang , Chen Yongtai , Zhu Mei , Xie Ming
Published: September 2023

By using powder metallurgy, new electrical contact materials of Ag-GNP with mass fractions of 0.2%–3% were created. The mechanical and electrical properties of the materials were studied, and the force-thermal-electric coupling fields of the electrical contact process were calculated using the finite element method. The findings demonstrate that GNP can greatly boost the material’s mechanical strength while also increasing its resistivity; nevertheless, concentration levels of less than 3 weight percent do not appreciably impair the silver matrix’s electrical conductivity. The finite element simulation gives the stress field, current density distribution, and temperature field during contact. A comparison of the theoretically calculated contact radius and the simulation results show the same trend of variation. Both the stress field and temperature field are enhanced with increasing GNP content. The temperature rise of the contact may be unfavorable when the GNP content is greater than 1 wt.%.
Development of complete sets of equipment for new intelligent carbon extruder
Authors: Sun Dehe , Shi Zhuang , Zhou Xuejun , Xie Jiuming
Published: September 2023

A complete set of equipment for a new type of intelligent carbon extrusion machine was developed in this paper. This equipment starts from batching and kneading, and then sends materials to the extruder chamber for stamping, pre-pressing, and extrusion. According to customer requirements, the extruded products are sized using a speed-measuring device, cut using an intelligent sizing device, and automatically marked. Finally, the material slot is moved and flipped to the quality detection system for quality detection and recording. Through on-site operation and production, the complete set of equipment for this new intelligent carbon extrusion machine meets user requirements.
The Dispersive Matrix perspective on Lepton Flavour Universality observables
Authors: Martinelli G. , Naviglio M. , Simula S. , Vittorio L.
Published: September 2023

We review the results of the application of the Dispersion Matrix method to semileptonic charged-currentB→D(*)decays. This approach allows to determine the hadronic form factors in a model-independent and non-perturbative way. Starting from lattice results at large values of the momentum transfer (or, equivalently, at low recoil), we are able to describe the form factors in their whole kinematical range without introducing any assumption on the functional dependence on their momentum transfer. We will focus on fully-theoretical determinations of theR(D(*)) ratios, which are an important test of Lepton Flavour Universality. Our Dispersion Matrix analysis allows to reduce the tensions among the theoretical and the experimental determinations of these quantities.
Imaging of muon track in CsI(Tl) crystal with single photon sensitive camera
Authors: Wang Zhimin , Li Min , Wu Diru , Liu Jinchang , Zhang Yongpeng , Meng Xiangcheng , Liu Caimei , Yang Changgen
Published: September 2023

This work presents a novel approach to visual photon imaging using a single-photon-sensitive camera and PMTs. The aim of this study is to measure and identify muon tracks from 2D images captured by CsI(Tl) crystal scintillator detectors. The proposed approach allows for direct observation of muon tracks with a reasonable signal-to-noise ratio, eliminating the need for additional amplification or external light sources. With further enhancements to the analysis and setup, this algorithm offers an innovative method for particle measurement in low-photon environments and enables precise direction measurement of scintillation detectors. The setup of the crystal and camera testing system, along with the identification algorithm for muon tracks, will be discussed in detail. This will encompass system calibration, the identification model, signal-to-noise ratio analysis, muon track confirmation, and expectations for future improvements and applications.
Development and optimisation of hydroxyapatite-polyethylene glycol diacrylate hydrogel inks for 3D printing of bone tissue engineered scaffolds
Authors: Rajabi Mina , Cabral Jaydee D , Saunderson Sarah , Gould Maree , Ali M Azam
Published: September 2023

In the event of excessive damage to bone tissue, the self-healing process alone is not sufficient to restore bone integrity. Three-dimensional (3D) printing, as an advanced additive manufacturing technology, can create implantable bone scaffolds with accurate geometry and internal architecture, facilitating bone regeneration. This study aims to develop and optimise hydroxyapatite-polyethylene glycol diacrylate (HA-PEGDA) hydrogel inks for extrusion 3D printing of bone tissue scaffolds. Different concentrations of HA were mixed with PEGDA, and further incorporated with pluronic F127 (PF127) as a sacrificial carrier. PF127 provided good distribution of HA nanoparticle within the scaffolds and improved the rheological requirements of HA-PEGDA inks for extrusion 3D printing without significant reduction in the HA content after its removal. Higher printing pressures and printing rates were needed to generate the same strand diameter when using a higher HA content compared to a lower HA content. Scaffolds with excellent shape fidelity up to 75-layers and high resolution (∼200 µm) with uniform strands were fabricated. Increasing the HA content enhanced the compression strength and decreased the swelling degree and degradation rate of 3D printed HA-PEGDA scaffolds. In addition, the incorporation of HA improved the adhesion and proliferation of human bone mesenchymal stem cells (hBMSCs) onto the scaffolds. 3D printed scaffolds with 2 wt% HA promoted osteogenic differentiation of hBMSCs as confirmed by the expression of alkaline phosphatase activity and calcium deposition. Altogether, the developed HA-PEGDA hydrogel ink has promising potential as a scaffold material for bone tissue regeneration, with excellent shape fidelity and the ability to promote osteogenic differentiation of hBMSCs.
Effects of changing climate extremes and vegetation phenology on wildlife associated with grasslands in the southwestern United States
Authors: Creech Tyler G , Williamson Matthew A , Sesnie Steven E , Rubin Esther S , Cayan Daniel R , Fleishman Erica
Published: September 2023

Assessments of the potential responses of animal species to climate change often rely on correlations between long-term average temperature or precipitation and species’ occurrence or abundance. Such assessments do not account for the potential predictive capacity of either climate extremes and variability or the indirect effects of climate as mediated by plant phenology. By contrast, we projected responses of wildlife in desert grasslands of the southwestern United States to future climate means, extremes, and variability and changes in the timing and magnitude of primary productivity. We used historical climate data and remotely sensed phenology metrics to develop predictive models of climate-phenology relations and to project phenology given anticipated future climate. We used wildlife survey data to develop models of wildlife-climate and wildlife-phenology relations. Then, on the basis of the modeled relations between climate and phenology variables, and expectations of future climate change, we projected the occurrence or density of four species of management interest associated with these grasslands: Gambel’s Quail (Callipepla gambelii), Scaled Quail (Callipepla squamat), Gunnison’s prairie dog (Cynomys gunnisoni), and American pronghorn (Antilocapra americana). Our results illustrated that climate extremes and plant phenology may contribute more to projecting wildlife responses to climate change than climate means. Monthly climate extremes and phenology variables were influential predictors of population measures of all four species. For three species, models that included climate extremes as predictors outperformed models that did not include extremes. The most important predictors, and months in which the predictors were most relevant to wildlife occurrence or density, varied among species. Our results highlighted that spatial and temporal variability in climate, phenology, and population measures may limit the utility of climate averages-based bioclimatic niche models for informing wildlife management actions, and may suggest priorities for sustained data collection and continued analysis.
Temporal and spatial changes in hydrological wet extremes of the largest river basin on the Tibetan Plateau
Authors: Wang Yuanwei , Wang Suheng , Wang Lei , Guo Xiaoyu , Zhou Jing , Chai Chenhao , Xu Jie , Li Xiangfei , Fan Mengtian , Wang Shengfeng , Zhao Lin
Published: September 2023

Global warming accelerates the rate of inter-regional hydrological cycles, leading to a significant increase in the frequency and intensity of hydrological wet extremes. The Tibetan Plateau (TP) has been experiencing a rapid warming and wetting trend for decades. This trend is especially strong for the upper Brahmaputra basin (UBB) in the southern TP. The UBB is the largest river on the TP, and these changes are likely to impact the water security of local and downstream inhabitants. This study explores the spatial-temporal variability of wet extremes in the UBB from 1981–2019 using a water- and energy-budget distributed hydrological model (WEB-DHM) to simulate river discharge. The simulated results were validated against observed discharge from the Ministry of Water Resources at a mid-stream location and our observations downstream. The major findings are as follows: (1) the WEB-DHM model adequately describes land-atmosphere interactions (slight underestimation of −0.26 K in simulated annual mean land surface temperature) and can accurately reproduce daily and monthly discharge (Nash-Sutcliffe efficiency is 0.662 and 0.796 respectively for Nuxia station); (2) although extreme discharge generally occurs in July and is concentrated in the southeastern TP, extreme wet events in the UBB are becoming increasingly frequent (after 1998, the number of extreme days per year increased by 13% compared to before) and intense (maximum daily discharge increased with a significant trend of 444 (m3s−1) yr−1), and are occurring across a wider region; (3) Precipitation is more likely to affect the intensity and spatial distribution of wet extremes, while the air temperature is more correlated with the frequency. Our wet extreme analysis in the UBB provides valuable insight into strategies to manage regional water resources and prevent hydrological disasters.
Investigation of vertical axis wind turbine with guiding flat plates
Authors: Iliev R
Published: September 2023

The publication presents the results of the investigation of a guiding apparatus for vertical cross-flow wind turbine using modern Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD). The airflow through the guiding apparatus and the turbine’s runner is analyzed. The obtained results are validated on stand №7 in the Laboratory of Hydropower and Hydraulic Tyrbomachinery (HEHT Lab) at Technical University of Sofia. The location of the passive area of the runner that generates negative torque have been found.
Thermal characteristics analyses of clay bricks with wheat straw additives
Authors: Zlateva P
Published: September 2023

The production technology of the environmentally polluting baked bricks suggests that they can be replaced by bricks that are produced in an ecologically clean environment, such as the unbaked ones. In the present research work, different brick samples were made and studied, built with clay, sand and agricultural waste raw materials. With the development of the construction industry and increasing environmental requirements, research studies in the field continue to improve the thermal characteristics of the new construction materials. Thus, in the presented work bricks were made, which are a mixture of yellow clay and sand with added 5, 10, 15 and 20% wheat straw. The finished bricks are 0.35/0.08/0.17 m in size. Then, non-destructive measurements were carried out and thermal conductivity coefficient (k), specific heat capacity (Cp), thermal diffusivity (a) and density (ρ) were determined. The results of the measurements show that as the amount of wheat straw increases, the thermal characteristics of the samples improve. Finally, it is proved that the use of unbacked bricks from local clays and the utilization of binders from agricultural waste raw materials, will help to improve the energy performance of the produced environmentally friendly and economically beneficial structural building materials.
Experimental study of a pump in turbine mode, energy characteristics, selection methods and operation in a system
Authors: Stanilov Alexander , Ivanov Martin , Bekriev Ognyan
Published: September 2023

This paper reveals the issues related to the operation of a standard centrifugal pump in turbine mode. The features related to predicting the parameters of the pump, when operating both as a turbine and operating in a system, are considered. An experimental study of a centrifugal pump with a specific frequency NSp=34 is made. The characteristics of the machine in pump and turbine mode are determined. A comparison is made with related models for pump selection for operation in turbine mode. The deviations in the obtained results were evaluated theoretically and experimentally. The obtained results are compared with models for predicting machine parameters in turbine mode, and there are considered different cases of operation of the particular machine in a system.
Sorption comparative study of nectarine powder and flour mixtures with its participation
Authors: Vasileva A L , Durakova A G
Published: September 2023

The current paper presented the sorption comparative study of nectarine powder and four mixtures with its participation. Four mixtures were made replacing 30% of the basic flour (white wheat, whole wheat, einkorn, and oat) with nectarine fruit powder of Bulgarian origin. Sorption characteristics were done at temperatures 10°C, 25°C, and 40°C, and the water activities (aw) in the interval 0.112 to 0.868 by the gravimetric-static method. For all compared products, augmentation in the temperature leads to a diminution in the sorption capacity. Using the statistical software “Statistica”, it was evaluated four models of Oswin, Chung-Pfost, Henderson, and Halsey. According to the obtained coefficients of each model and the criteria – P and SEM, the most appropriate model is the Halsey (for nectarine powder, white wheat, whole wheat, and einkorn mixtures). The Oswin model was suggested for the satisfactory description of the oat flour mixture with nectarine powder. The results showed that the monolayer moisture content varied in the large limits from 5.78% d.b. to 11.38% d.b. for water activities below 0.5.
Contamination of natural resources and its configuration of environmental crime in a high Andean artisanal mining, Apurimac, Perú.
Authors: Cartolin Hilda María Bernal , Felix Mario Huachaca
Published: September 2023

The impacts of the extraction of natural resources, including mining, in Andean communities have generated pollution problems and require intervention for their configuration of environmental crimes to mitigate the impacts on high Andean communities. The purpose of the research was to describe the different indicators that determine the severity of damage to natural resources due to their configuration of environmental crime in the Andean region of Apurimac, Peru. A quantitative investigation was carried out through the historical-logical, the interview was used, with a sample of 38 legal operators specialized in cases of environmental crimes of the high Andean sector of the study area. Itfound that the factors of dangerous behavior, prolongation in time and repetitive behavior cause the intensity of the polluting act towards natural resources for their configuration of environmental damage to illegal mining companies, with negative impacts on surface water, groundwater and soil. However, acts of pollution by artisanal mining activities do not respond with responsibility, being necessary that the organs of a company will respond as mediate authors of the crime of undue propagation of pollutants only in those cases in which they have instrumentalized their subordinates by way of error or coercion. Environmental management is necessary to mitigate pollution from artisanal mining to guarantee the natural resources of indigenous peoples.
Experimentally investigation of thermoelectric materials based on Bi2Te3: Energy conversion system
Authors: Nabieva S.A. , Sadig Kh.O. , Eminova V.I.
Published: September 2023

The studied thermoelectric materials based on Bi2Te3 attracted researches attention, due to thermoelectric properties allow direct conversion between thermal and electrical energy. In this work, we examined the (0001) surfaces for investigated AV
2BVI
3 crystals before and after irradiation implementing the AFM method. We have been studied the fractality of formed nano-objects and resulting in the formation of nanoislands on different scales.
Numerical simulation of flow past an 8:1 oscillating rectangular cylinder at Re = 22 000
Authors: Wu Jian , Liu YaKun , Zhang Di , Cao Ze
Published: September 2023

To investigate the influence of structure’s oscillatory motion on flow, the present study employs the arbitrary Lagrangian–Eulerian method in k–ω shear stress transport (SST) turbulence model to simulate the flow past an oscillating rectangular cylinder at Re= 22 000. The cylinder undergoes reciprocating sinusoidal motion at a specified frequency f
e, and the frequency ratio fr (defined as the ratio of cylinder oscillation frequency f
e to the stationary cylinder vortex shedding frequency f
0), ranges from 0 to 4. The results demonstrate that, in the synchronization region (0.8 ⩽ fr⩽ 1.2), the drag coefficient shows the most notable variation and reaches its maxima at fr= 1.1 and the root mean square (r.m.s.) of the lift coefficient is proportional to the square of fr (

C
l
′

=
1.08
∗

f
r

2

, R
2 = 0.99). Moreover, the present study compares the similarities and differences of vortex shedding morphology between stationary and oscillating cylinders. With the increase of fr, the wake vortex gradually transforms from a single-row arrangement on the wake centerline to a parallel double-row arrangement, with the main vortex modes in the wake region observed as ‘2S’, ‘P + S’, ‘2P’ and ‘C’. Furthermore, spectral analysis, including amplitude spectrum analysis and wavelet analysis, in addition to probability density function statistical methods, are employed to comprehensively understand the velocity characteristics of the wake region. The results indicate that the oscillation of the cylinder reduces the correlation of the wake velocity. Those are beneficial in understanding the interaction between turbulence and structural fluid-induced motion.
Leveraging Electronic Health Records to Construct a Phenotype for Hypertension Surveillance in the United States
Authors: He Siran , Park Soyoun , Kuklina Elena , Therrien Nicole L , Lundeen Elizabeth A , Wall Hilary K , Lampley Katrice , Kompaniyets Lyudmyla , Pierce Samantha L , Sperling Laurence , Jackson Sandra L
Published: September 2023

BACKGROUND

Hypertension is an important risk factor for cardiovascular diseases. Electronic health records (EHRs) may augment chronic disease surveillance. We aimed to develop an electronic phenotype (e-phenotype) for hypertension surveillance.

METHODS

We included 11,031,368 eligible adults from the 2019 IQVIA Ambulatory Electronic Medical Records-US (AEMR-US) dataset. We identified hypertension using three criteria, alone or in combination: diagnosis codes, blood pressure (BP) measurements, and antihypertensive medications. We compared AEMR-US estimates of hypertension prevalence and control against those from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2017–18, which defined hypertension as BP ≥130/80 mm Hg or ≥1 antihypertensive medication.

RESULTS

The study population had a mean (SD) age of 52.3 (6.7) years, and 56.7% were women. The selected three-criteria e-phenotype (≥1 diagnosis code, ≥2 BP measurements of ≥130/80 mm Hg, or ≥1 antihypertensive medication) yielded similar trends in hypertension prevalence as NHANES: 42.2% (AEMR-US) vs. 44.9% (NHANES) overall, 39.0% vs. 38.7% among women, and 46.5% vs. 50.9% among men. The pattern of age-related increase in hypertension prevalence was similar between AEMR-US and NHANES. The prevalence of hypertension control in AEMR-US was 31.5% using the three-criteria e-phenotype, which was higher than NHANES (14.5%).

CONCLUSIONS

Using an EHR dataset of 11 million adults, we constructed a hypertension e-phenotype using three criteria, which can be used for surveillance of hypertension prevalence and control.
Melica as an emerging model system for comparative studies in temperate Pooideae grasses
Authors: Khodaverdi Masoumeh , Mullinger Mark D , Shafer Hannah R , Preston Jill C
Published: September 2023

Background and Aims

Pooideae grasses contain some of the world’s most important crop and forage species. Although much work has been conducted on understanding the genetic basis of trait diversification within a few annual Pooideae, comparative studies at the subfamily level are limited by a lack of perennial models outside ‘core’ Pooideae. We argue for development of the perennial non-core genus Melica as an additional model for Pooideae, and provide foundational data regarding the group’s biogeography and history of character evolution.

Methods

Supplementing available ITS and ndhF sequence data, we built a preliminary Bayesian-based Melica phylogeny, and used it to understand how the genus has diversified in relation to geography, climate and trait variation surveyed from various floras. We also determine biomass accumulation under controlled conditions for Melica species collected across different latitudes and compare inflorescence development across two taxa for which whole genome data are forthcoming.

Key Results

Our phylogenetic analyses reveal three strongly supported geographically structured Melica clades that are distinct from previously hypothesized subtribes. Despite less geographical affinity between clades, the two sister ‘Ciliata’ and ‘Imperfecta’ clades segregate from the more phylogenetically distant ‘Nutans’ clade in thermal climate variables and precipitation seasonality, with the ‘Imperfecta’ clade showing the highest levels of trait variation. Growth rates across Melica are positively correlated with latitude of origin. Variation in inflorescence morphology appears to be explained largely through differences in secondary branch distance, phyllotaxy and number of spikelets per secondary branch.

Conclusions

The data presented here and in previous studies suggest that Melica possesses many of the necessary features to be developed as an additional model for Pooideae grasses, including a relatively fast generation time, perenniality, and interesting variation in physiology and morphology. The next step will be to generate a genome-based phylogeny and transformation tools for functional analyses.
The Piano Man: A Case Report of Anterior Thalamic Infarct with Dementia and Preserved Music Ability
Authors: Parker Ashleigh F , Paterson Theone S E , Goranson Tamara , Gawryluk Jodie R
Published: September 2023

Objective

The thalamus is the integrative hub of the brain with reciprocal connections throughout the cortex. This case report describes a right-handed 81-year-old male patient who experienced sudden onset cognitive impairment following a focal left anterior thalamic infarct.

Methods

With consent/assent, the patient was seen for a short neuropsychological assessment 6 weeks post stroke. Neuropsychological assessment included review of medical history, collateral intake, the Toronto Cognitive Assessment, Frontal Systems Behavior Scale-Family Rating Form, the Neuropsychiatric Inventory Questionnaire, and piano performance.

Results

The assessment revealed impaired performance on measures of orientation, memory, executive function, and language, as well as symptoms including hallucinations, apathy, and hypersomnolence, consistent with thalamic dementia. Remarkably, in this context, the patient maintained an ability to play piano and read music.

Conclusions

The case has implications for understanding the complex integrative functions of the thalamus, including how profound impairment can simultaneously present with cognitive strengths that may not be captured by performance on neuropsychological testing. This case also suggests that magnetic resonance imaging may be indicated in cases presenting with vascular risk factors and sudden onset cognitive impairment, given that computed tomography may not be sensitive to small subcortical infarcts.
Phenotypic plasticity over genetic diversity: ecomorphological patterns revealed in the eurytopic and threatened Italian endemic freshwater fishSarmarutilus rubilio(Bonaparte, 1837)
Authors: Petrosino Gerardo , Rossi Anna Rita , Tancioni Lorenzo , Gallozzi Francesco , Colangelo Paolo
Published: September 2023

The large number of cryptic species and extensive intraspecific phenotypic plasticity among freshwater fishes pose a challenge to the correct assessment of diversity within these taxa, which is crucial for their conservation. Recently, three different genetic lineages have been identified within the Italian endemic South European roach Sarmarutilus rubilio, a threatened species with a broad ecological niche. Using geometric morphometrics, we tested the existence of morphological differences associated with genetic common ancestry (i.e. between lineages) and/or environmental parameters. We observed streamlined body shapes in sites scarcely altered by human intervention and with fast water flow; on the contrary, we observed deeper body shapes in canals and in one reservoir with slow/still water flow. Our results suggest that morphological diversity in the South European roach is mainly a result of phenotypic plasticity in response to different environmental drivers (i.e. lotic vs. lentic hydrodynamic patterns) rather than different genetic backgrounds.
Elastic vipers: reproducing snakes adjust their size and internal volume to accommodate their developing offspring
Authors: Lourdais Olivier , Dupoué Andréaz , Legentihomme Jérôme , Bonnet Xavier , Shine Richard , Guiller Gaëtan
Published: September 2023

In many taxa, natural selection favours the ability of a female to accommodate a clutch or litter that is very large relative to her own body, placing a selective premium on traits that increase available abdominal space relative to litter volume. Flexible changes during pregnancy might help to mitigate these constraints. Using ultrasound scanning of captive snakes and snakes captured in the field, we explored such traits in reproducing female vipers (Vipera aspis). First, the anteriormost embryos moved forwards as they swelled during pregnancy, taking up space previously occupied by maternal viscera. Second, the oviductal membrane-bound packages containing embryos changed shape to fit flexibly into thicker vs. thinner parts of the mother’s body. Third, intervertebral spaces increased during pregnancy, allowing the mother’s body to lengthen. Maternal size elongation during pregnancy was reversed shortly after parturition. The decrease in size was closely related to the degree of abdominal displacement and reproductive output and was also evident in field-collected females of three European snakes. In summary, our data suggest that elasticity of the mother’s body and flexibility in packaging of the offspring can mitigate abdominal constraints on maximal litter volume and space competition among siblings.
Izokibep for the treatment of moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis: a phase II, randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind, dose-finding multicentre study including long-term treatment
Authors: Gerdes Sascha , Staubach Petra , Dirschka Thomas , Wetzel Dieter , Weirich Oliver , Niesmann Johannes  , da Mota Rodrigo , Rothhaar Alex , Ardabili Michael , Vlasitz Gerda , Feldwisch Joachim , Osterling Koskinen Lisa , Ohlman Sven , Peloso Paul M , Brun Nikolai C , Frejd Fredrik Y
Published: September 2023

Background

Monoclonal antibodies to interleukin (IL)-17 have shown strong efficacy in patients with psoriasis. Izokibep is a unique IL-17A inhibitor with a small molecular size and favourable distribution to sites of inflammation.

Objectives

To evaluate the dose response, efficacy and safety of izokibep in patients with plaque psoriasis.

Methods

In this double-blind, randomized, phase II dose-finding study (AFFIRM-35) in adults with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis and inadequate response to two or more standard therapies, patients were randomized (1:1:1:1:1) to placebo or izokibep 2, 20, 80 or 160 mg every 2 weeks for 12 weeks. During the remainder of the 52-week core study, patients given placebo were switched to izokibep 80 mg, and dosing intervals were adapted based on Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) scores for all patients. The core study was followed by two optional consecutive 1-year extension periods for a total duration of 3 years. The primary endpoint was a 90% reduction in PASI score (PASI 90) at week 12. Additional efficacy outcomes and adverse event (AE) rates were evaluated.

Results

In total, 109 patients were randomized [safety set, n = 108 (one exclusion criteria failure); full analysis set, n = 106]. At week 12, PASI 90 response rates were 0%, 5%, 19%, 71% and 59% for the placebo, 2-, 20-, 80- and 160-mg izokibep groups, respectively. Rapid dose-dependent improvements were also observed across other efficacy outcomes. During the placebo-controlled period, AEs in the izokibep groups were similar to placebo except for mild injection site reactions. AEs were generally mild to moderate and the drug was well tolerated. Izokibep maintained efficacy at the higher dosage groups for up to 3 years, with no new safety signals.

Conclusions

Data from this phase II study indicate that izokibep is well tolerated and efficacious in the treatment of plaque psoriasis. Higher doses or more frequent dosing could be explored to further enhance response rates.