bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Characterization of a novel model for atherosclerosis imaging: the apolipoprotein E-deficient rat
Authors: Sijbesma Jürgen W. A. , van Waarde Aren , Kristensen Sebastiaan , Kion Ilse , Tietge Uwe J. F. , Hillebrands Jan-Luuk , Bulthuis Marian L. C. , Buikema Hendrik , Nakladal Dalibor , Westerterp Marit , Liu Fan , Boersma Hendrikus H. , Dierckx Rudi A. J. O. , Slart Riemer H. J. A.
Published: December 2023

Background

The apolipoprotein E-deficient (apoE−/−) mouse is a well-established model for studying atherosclerosis. However, its small size limits its use in longitudinal positron emission tomography (PET) imaging studies. Recently, the apoE−/− rat has emerged as an alternative. With this study, we investigate the feasibility of using apoE−/− rats as an in vivo model for longitudinal atherosclerotic PET/CT imaging.

Results

ApoE−/− rats showed significantly higher [18F]FDG uptake than controls in the aortic arch (+ 18.5%, p < 0.001) and abdominal aorta (+ 31.0%, p < 0.001) at weeks 12, 26, and 51. ApoE−/− rats exhibited hypercholesterolemia, as evidenced by plasma cholesterol levels that were up to tenfold higher, and total hepatic cholesterol levels that were up to threefold higher than the control rats at the end of the study. Fast protein liquid chromatography cholesterol profiling indicated very high levels of pro-atherogenic apoB-containing very low-density lipoprotein and low-density lipoprotein fractions in the apoE−/− rats. Atherosclerotic lesions cover 19.9% of the surface of the aortic arch (p = 0.0013), and there was a significantly higher subendothelial accumulation of ED1-positive macrophages in the abdominal aorta of the apoE−/− rats compared to control rats (Ctrl) (p = 0.01). No differences in neutral sterols were observed but higher levels of bile acids were found in the apoE−/− rats.

Conclusion

These data demonstrate early signs of hypercholesterolemia, high levels of bile acids, the development of atherosclerotic lesions, and macrophage accumulation in apoE−/− rats. Therefore, this model shows promise for atherosclerosis imaging studies.
Estimation of q for $\ell _{q}$-minimization in signal recovery with tight frame
Authors: Liang Kaihao , Zhang Chaolong , Zhang Wenfeng
Published: December 2023

This study aims to reconstruct signals that are sparse with a tight frame from undersampled data by using the $\ell _{q}$

ℓ
q

-minimization method. This problem can be cast as a $\ell _{q}$

ℓ
q

-minimization problem with a tight frame subjected to an undersampled measurement with a known noise bound. We proved that if the measurement matrix satisfies the restricted isometry property with $\delta _{2s}\leq 1/2$

δ

2
s

≤
1
/
2
, there exists a value $q_{0}$

q
0

such that for any $q\in (0,q_{0}]$
q
∈
(
0
,

q
0

]
, any signal that is s-sparse with a tight frame can be robustly recovered to the true signal. We estimated $q_{0}$

q
0

as $q_{0} = 2/3$

q
0

=
2
/
3
in the case of $\delta _{2s}\leq 1/2$

δ

2
s

≤
1
/
2
and discussed that the value of $q_{0}$

q
0

can be much higher. We also showed that when $\delta _{2s}\leq 0.3317$

δ

2
s

≤
0.3317
, for any $q\in (0,1]$
q
∈
(
0
,
1
]
, robust recovery for signals via $\ell _{q}$

ℓ
q

-minimization holds, which is consistent with the case of $\ell _{q}$

ℓ
q

-minimization without a tight frame.
Analysis of maxillary asymmetry before and after treatment of functional posterior cross-bite: a retrospective study using 3D imaging system and deviation analysis
Authors: Ronsivalle Vincenzo , Isola Gaetano , Lo Re Gianmarco , Boato Mattia , Leonardi Rosalia , Lo Giudice Antonino
Published: December 2023

Background

Previous evidence would suggest that subjects affected by functional posterior cross-bite (FPXB) present an asymmetric morphology of the maxilla. However, no evidence is available concerning the morphology (symmetry/asymmetry) of the maxilla after treatment of FPXB. This study aimed to investigate the volumetric and morphological changes of the palate in FPXB subjects treated with maxillary expansion and to compare these data with an untreated control group. The study sample included 20 FPXB subjects (mean age 8.1 ± 0.9 years) who underwent maxillary expansion (MEG group) and 21 FPXB subjects (mean age 7.7 ± 1.2 years) as controls (CG group). Digital models were recorded at T0 (first observation) and T1 (12–18 months after first observation) and analyzed to assess palatal volume and symmetry. Deviation analysis and percentage matching calculation were also performed between original and mirrored palatal models for each patient. All data were statistically analyzed for intra-timing, inter-timing and inter-groups assessments.

Results

At T0, the cross-bite side (CBS) was significantly smaller than non-cross-bite side (non-CBS) in both groups (p < 0.05). At T1, the CBS/non-CBS difference reduced significantly in the MEG group (p < 0.05) while slightly worsened in the CG, however without statistical significance (p > 0.05). The matching percentage of the palatal models improved significantly at T1 in the MEG group (T0 = 74.02% ± 9.8; T1 = 89.95% ± 7.12) (p < 0.05) while no significant differences were recorded in the CG (T0 = 76.36 ± 8.64; 72.18% ± 9.65) (p > 0.05).

Limitations

The small sample size and the retrospective design of the study represent two limitations that should be overcome with further clinical trials.

Conclusions

Subjects with FPXB present an asymmetric development of the maxillary vault that improves after reestablishment of normal occlusion following maxillary expansion.
Muscle ultrasound shear wave elastography for detection of early onset lower limb ischemia in patients with veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation
Authors: Maslarska Mariya , Piepenburg Sven , Westermann Dirk , Supady Alexander , Hehrlein Christoph
Published: December 2023

Background and objectives

Limb ischemia or compartment syndrome, requiring surgery, are some of the frequent cannula-related complications in patients supported with veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA-ECMO). The purpose of this exploratory study is to depict and evaluate the dynamic changes in the lower limb muscles with ultrasound shear wave elastography as marker for early lower limb ischemia.

Methods

Eleven patients with VA-ECMO after cardiac arrest were included in this study. Seven patients received distal perfusion cannula (DPC) after implantation of the VA-ECMO, whereas 4 had no DPC after VA-ECMO. Compartment syndrome was clinically excluded in all patients. Both lower limbs, e.g., with and without arterial cannula, were monitored with near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) for the oxygen saturation of the local tissue. We performed ultrasound shear wave elastrography (SWE) to assess dynamic changes of the medial gastrocnemius muscle at maximum passive muscle stretch (exercise) of both legs. Color-coded duplexsonography was conducted to examine the blood flow velocity of the popliteal artery of the lower limb.

Results

We found no difference between DPC and no DPC (p = 0.115) during use of VA-ECMO. However, we detected marked lower limb muscle perfusion deficits of cannulated (58.9 ± 13.5 kPa) vs. cannula-free limb (95.7 ± 27.9 kPa: p < 0.001), applying SWE. No relationship was detected between NIRS measurements and SWE values (kPa) of both lower limbs. The mean peak systolic velocity of the popliteal artery at the cannulated side (30.0 ± 11.7 cm/s) was reduced compared to the non-cannulated side (39.3 ± 18.6 cm/s; p = 0.054).

Conclusions

Regardless of DPC after implantation of VA-ECMO, the gastrocnemius muscles seem to lose function due to cannula-related microcirculatory deficits. Muscle function analysis via SWE combined with NIRS might offer a sensitive indicator for early onset leg ischemia during VA-ECMO-related arterial cannulation.
Opening up ideas: an advent calendar for patient and public engagement in clinical trials research
Authors: Harman Nicola L. , McGiveron Kerrie , Tudur Smith Catrin , Williamson Paula R. , Barrington Heather
Published: December 2023

The involvement of patients and the public in research is now an expectation in research with funders requesting a clear plan of involvement and engagement. In the United Kingdom involvement typically focuses on research prioritisation, design and delivery, in contrast activities that share the results of research or research methods more generally are considered to be engagement. Clinical trials tend to concentrate on involvement activities with less emphasis on engagement. To promote engagement activities in the context of clinical trials we asked people attending the 2022 International Clinical Trials Methodology Conference to share ideas on how we can best engage with patients and the public. Responses were reviewed and 22 themes identified. One suggestion was to create an advent calendar and so these 22 themes plus two from the authors were used as a daily tweet from the 1st to the 24th December 2022. Here we share these ideas and draw comparisons between engagement activities in research and traditions of the Christmas period. The ideas shared are not intended as a definitive list but instead a novel way to start discussions between experts by experience, researchers, health professionals and communities to facilitate co-production of meaningful engagement strategies.
99mTc-DMSA renal cortical scanning: a comparison of planar, SPECT, and SPECT/CT imaging for the detection of renal cortical scarring
Authors: Mohamadien Nsreen R. A. , Mohamed Marwa S. , Mekkaway Mohamed A. , Ali Wageeh A. , Diab Waleed A.
Published: December 2023

Background

The best way to assess renal cortical scarring is planar scintigraphy with 99mTc-dimercaptosuccinic acid (DMSA), while the value of single-photon emission computed tomography/computed tomography (SPECT/CT) is not well validated. The aim of the present study was to assess the value of planar, SPECT, and SPECT/CT scanning using 99mTc-DMSA in detecting renal cortical scarring.

Methods

Patients with clinically suspected renal cortical scar were included in this prospective cohort. 99mTc-DMSA Planar images were obtained approximately 3–4 h after intravenous injection (IV) of 185 MBq of the tracer. SPECT/CT scans were obtained immediately after the planar ones. An expert nuclear medicine doctor who was unaware of the patient's clinical history or any previous imaging results analyzed the images. Each kidney was given a score of 0 for no obvious defects, 1 for equivocal lesions, 2 for a single defect, 3 for several defects, and 4 for non-visualized/non-functioning kidney (in CT images). The results of each method were then compared to each other.

Results

One hundred eighty-six kidneys from ninety-three individuals were eligible for assessment. Planar scans detected 21 kidneys with equivocal lesions, 5 with single and 7 with multiple defects. SPECT scans detected 17 kidneys with single and 40 with multiple defects, while SPECT/CT scans revealed 5 with single and 11 with multiple defects. Only 5 of the 17 kidneys with single defects diagnosed by SPECT imaging had a scar in the SPECT/CT scans, whereas the remaining 12 had a solitary cortical cyst in the CT images. Only 11 of 40 kidneys with multiple defects on SPECT were shown to have a scar in the corresponding SPECT/CT images, whereas the rest matched to either hydro-nephrotic changes or multiple cortical cysts. Four kidneys with multiple defects on the SPECT/CT images were normal in the planar readings, were ascribed to an increase in renal background activity and a reduction in renal function.

Conclusions

In cases with suspected renal cortical scar, 99mTc-DMSA SPECT/CT scanning outperformed both planar and SPECT imaging by reducing the number of false-positive SPECT readings and false-negative planar readings.
GC–MS and ADME profile analysis of Carcinoscorpius rotundicauda bioactive compounds and their potential as COVID-19 antiviral
Authors: Sururi Ahmad Misbakhus , Rahayu Dwi Anggorowati , Rohma Martina Kurnia , Faizah Maftukhatul , Vebianawati Elsa Aulia , Savita Mia
Published: December 2023

Background

Carcinoscorpius rotundicauda is a species of horseshoe crab that is rarely studied. This animal is often used as part of the blood as a medical sterilization material. This study aims to identify the content of bioactive compounds and their bioactivity as an antiviral for COVID-19. The stages of this research include extraction, GC–MS analysis, molecular docking analysis, and ADME analysis.

Results

The results showed that in the ethyl acetate extract of the meat, there were 13 bioactive compounds with dominant compound which is propanoic acid (32.15%). Based on molecular docking, one potential compound was found as an antiviral for COVID-19 ACE2, 3CLpro, and RdRp inhibitor, namely 2-methyl-5-(4′-methyl phenyl)sulfonyl-4-nitroimidazole. The druglikeness and ADME compound profile shows support as an excellent oral drug compound.

Conclusions

Carcinoscorpius rotundicauda has potential as an inhibitor of ACE2, RdRp, and 3CLpro receptor as an anti-SARS-CoV-2. Further research, such as in vitro and in vivo, is still needed to develop its potential as a COVID-19 antiviral.
Black Girl Autopoetics
Authors: Wade Ashleigh Greene
Published: December 2023

In Black Girl Autopoetics Ashleigh Greene Wade explores how Black girls create representations of themselves in digital culture with the speed and flexibility enabled by smartphones. She analyzes the double bind Black girls face when creating content online: on one hand, their online activity makes them hypervisible, putting them at risk for cyberbullying, harassment, and other forms of violence; on the other hand, Black girls are rarely given credit for their digital inventiveness, rendering them invisible. Wade maps Black girls’ everyday digital practices, showing what their digital content reveals about their everyday experiences and how their digital production contributes to a broader archive of Black life. She coins the term Black girl autopoetics to describe how Black girls’ self-making creatively reinvents cultural products, spaces, and discourse in digital space. Using ethnographic research into the digital cultural production of adolescent Black girls throughout the United States, Wade draws a complex picture of how Black girls navigate contemporary reality, urging us to listen to Black girls’ experience and learn from their techniques of survival.
Διαχρονική απόδοση του οικιστικού χώρου των νησιών των Κυκλάδων και ερμηνεία του στο πλαίσιο εφαρμογής του πολεοδομικού και χωροταξικού σχεδιασμού
Authors: Δερδεμέζη Ευαγγελία-Θεοδώρα
Published: December 2023

Τα νησιά έχουν ιδιαίτερα χαρακτηριστικά, τα οποία από την μια πλευρά δημιουργούν δυσκολίες και αδυναμίες στην ανάπτυξη τους, από την άλλη πλευρά όμως συνθέτουν το ιδιαίτερο φυσικό και πολιτιστικό τους τοπίο, το οποίο αποτελεί πόλο έλξης για τον τουρισμό. Η τουριστική δραστηριότητα στα νησιά αναπτύσσεται ραγδαία τα τελευταία χρόνια, επιφέροντας έντονες οικιστικές πιέσεις. Ο Χωροταξικός και Πολεοδομικός Σχεδιασμός στην Ελλάδα λόγω των κενών, των χρονικών καθυστερήσεων και των αδυναμιών εφαρμογής των κατάλληλων εργαλείων, δεν έχει καταφέρει να αντισταθμίσει αυτές τις οικιστικές πιέσεις. Αντιθέτως, το “χαλαρό” σύστημα χωρικού σχεδιασμού, ενθαρρύνει την απρογραμμάτιστη δόμηση σε εκτός ορίων οικισμών περιοχές, η οποία αποτελεί τον βασικό παράγοντα πίεσης και μεταβολής των νησιωτικών τοπίων. Στην παρούσα διδακτορική διατριβή η περιοχή μελέτης που επιλέχθηκε είναι το νησιωτικό σύμπλεγμα των Κυκλάδων. Βασικός στόχος είναι να αναδειχθεί το ζήτημα της ανεξέλεγκτηςδόμησης στα ευαίσθητα χωρο - κοινωνικά συστήματα των νησιών των Κυκλάδων και να αναδειχθούν οι διαφοροποιήσεις μεταξύ των νησιών. Σκοπός είναι να αποδοθεί ποσοτικά αφενός η διαχρονική εξέλιξη της δόμησης στα νησιά και αφετέρου η δομή και η χωρική κατανομή που ακολουθεί στην εκτός ορίων οικισμών περιοχή και οδηγεί στην οικιστική διάχυση, η οποία επιφέρει σύνθετα και πολυεπίπεδα ζητήματα στα νησιά. Η ποσοτική απόδοση πραγματοποιείται διαχρονικά από το 2000 ως το 2020 με βήμα 5 ετών, με τη χρήση σύνθετων μεθόδων γεωπληροφορικής και τηλεπισκόπησης. Τα αποτελέσματα της έρευνας καταδεικνύουν την διαχρονική αύξηση της δόμησης και συνεχή αύξηση του κατακερματισμού του τοπίου, τα οποία σε εκτός ορίων οικισμών περιοχές είναι πολλαπλάσια και παρατηρείται έντονη ανισοκατανομή μεταξύ των νησιών. Η οικιστική διάχυση αποτελεί ζήτημα με μη αναστρέψιμες περιβαλλοντικές συνέπειες και έντονες κοινωνικοοικονομικές επιπτώσεις. Για τα νησιά η ποσοτική απόδοση και ερμηνεία της οικιστικής διάχυσης θα μπορούσε να οδηγήσει στην αναχαίτισή της και στην διαχείριση και προστασία του ιδιαίτερου νησιωτικού τοπίου μέσω ολοκληρωμένου σχεδιασμού. Απαραίτητο κρίνεται ένα ολοκληρωμένο και συνεπές σύστημα χωρικού σχεδιασμού, το οποίο θα διέπει όλες τις κλίμακες χώρου, θα μπορεί να θέσει τους στόχους για συνέργεια με την αναπτυξιακή πολιτική και θα προβλέπει σε ανάπτυξη με όρους αειφορίας.
Vorwort und Impressionen
Authors: Lassau Guido
Published: December 2023

Vorwort des Kantonsarchäologen Guido Lassau und Impressionen aus dem Berichtsjahr 2022.
Fundchronik: Ausgrabungen und Funde im Jahr 2022
Authors: Allemann Martin , Bernasconi Marco , Billo Sven , Braun Ingmar M. , Graber Simon , Hodel Corinne , Ketzler Michael , Lenz Lara , Martin Erik , Savary Johann , Schmidig Roman , Steiner Susan , Wimmer Johannes , Wyss Benedikt , Blättler Hubert , Glaser Viviane
Published: December 2023

Berichte zu den archäologischen Untersuchungen der Archäologischen Bodenforschung Basel-Stadt im Jahr 2022.
Über den Spuren der Anderen: Ausgrabungen zur Fernwärmeleitung im Jahr 2022
Authors: Graber Simon , Hodel Corinne , Martin Erik , Savary Johann , Schmidig Roman , Wyss Benedikt
Published: December 2023

Wie ein dichtes Netz durchziehen die neuen Fernwärmleitungen den Untergrund Basels. Sie gewähren über weite Strecken einen einmaligen Einblick in die Geschichte der Stadt. Auch im Jahr 2022 haben deshalb drei Teams der Archäologischen Bodenforschung die umfassenden Bauarbeiten begleitet. Auf einem Spaziergang führen die Archäolog:innen zu den wichtigsten Entdeckungen.

Am Marktplatz und in der Freien Strasse wurden zahlreiche ältere Pflästerungen, eine römische Spolie und Reste der früheren Bebauungen entdeckt. Funde, die im Brandschutt eines Kellers freigelegt wurden, erlauben wichtige Erkenntnisse zum handwerklichen Kontext und dem Alltag im Spätmittelalter. Weiter geht es durch die St. Alban-Vorstadt zu 2000 Jahre alten Karren- und Fussspuren sowie Gräbern, die zum mittelalterlichen Kloster gehörten. Jenseits des Rheins gelangt man zum römischen Befestigungsgraben und frühmittelalterlichen Bestattungen im Wettsteinquartier. Die Gräber lassen den Wohlstand und die überregionalen Beziehungen der Reichen im späten Frühmittelalter erahnen, zeugen aber auch vom Leid durch brutale Gewalt.
Community social responsibility of continued and appropriate use of silver amalgam as dental restorative material in southern India: A cross-sectional study
Authors: Vasthare Ramprasad , Ballal Nidambur Vasudev , Nayak Prajna P , Kamath Pujan , Singla Nishu , Hegde Thrisha
Published: December 2023

Background For more than 150 years, dental amalgam (DA) has been popular as a dental restorative material. Yet, many organisations oppose its use due to perceived toxicity and environmental concerns. Hence, this study aimed to explore the continued use of DA from a South Indian dental practitioners’ perspective. Methods This cross-sectional study was conducted among fifty-two private and public dental practitioners of Udupi district in Southern India. A self‑administered questionnaire was distributed, that involved assessment of their preferences, continuation of use and concerns of using DA as a restorative material. Percentage contribution of each variable was calculated. Preferences for continuation of use of silver amalgam based upon the age, experience and mercury toxicity as a risk factor were analysed using Students-t test and Chi-square test. Results The majority of dentists were satisfied (87%) with the results of the DA, found minimal failures (96%) and found DA more economical (89%). More than half (54%) of the participants reported that they would not continue the use of DA owing to mercury toxicity and environmental concerns. Dentists with higher age and longer clinical experience preferred continuation of DA. Conclusions In spite of satisfaction with DA for its minimal failure, longevity and affordability, the authors found that a majority of practitioners did not prefer its continued usage. This highlights their concerns over mercury toxicity and soft tissue lesions and accentuates their community social responsibility. There is also an urgent need to educate dentists on mercury hygiene, mercury waste management and disposal.
Analysis of carbon nano particle variant as the propellant fuel to increase specific impulses of rockets
Authors: Navalino RDA , Muda NRS , Hafizah MAE , Ruyat Y
Published: December 2023

Background: This study compares propellant fuels’ specific thrust and impulse parameters using nanocarbon variant fuels from coconut shells and coal. Specific impulses and impulses are essential parameters that determine rocket performance. The specific thrust and impulses are influenced by fuel type, material composition, heat flow, and burning time parameters. The characteristics of nanocarbon as a fuel are proven to have high-value features and a long combustion time. This parameter is essential to add value to specific thrusts and impulses. Methods: The method to prove the quality of solid fuel material was done experimentally. The composition of the propellant fuel variant mixed with NH4ClO4 as an oxidizer through the printing process and sample testing was carried out using scanning electron microscope (SEM), X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD), combustion time, and specific impulse tests. Results: Test results with the composition of CBK2 (Coconut Shell + NH4ClO4 + Binder + Al = 15: 70: 10: 5) produced a specific impulse of 267 seconds or an increase of 37 seconds without carbon. CBB2 (Coal + NH4ClO4 + Binder + Al = 15: 70: 10: 5) produced a specific impulse of 261 seconds or an increase of 31 seconds. Conclusions: The composition of nanocarbon as a solid fuel propellant has been proven to increase a rocket’s thrust and specific impulses. After all the material variants have been tested for thrust and specific impulse, the best rocket propellant is CBK2.
Evaluation of comparative efficacy of Celastrus paniculatus (Jyotishmati) capsule versus sertraline capsule in the management of Chittodvega (generalized anxiety disorder): protocol for a randomized controlled trial
Authors: Gamne Reeya , Misar Sadhana , Rai Mayank
Published: December 2023

Background Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) (Chittodvega) is one among many types of mental disorders explained in Ayurveda. It can be defined as a Chitta (mind) + Udvega (anxiety)= Chittodvega- Anxious status of a mind. Celastrus paniculatus is one of the most important medicinal plants of the Celatraceae family commonly known as Jyotishmati. It stimulates and improves the digestive fire and metabolism at a cellular level (Jatharagni and Majja dhatwagni). It can be correlated to GAD. GAD is characterized by feelings of threat, restlessness, irritability, sleep disturbance, and tension, and symptoms such as palpitations, dry mouth, and sweating. It affects women more frequently than men and prevalence rates are high in midlife (prevalence in females over age 35: 10%) and older subjects. In modern medicine the first-line psychological and pharmaceutical treatments are selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) like sertraline (SNRIs). Aim and objectives To evaluate the comparative efficacy of Jyotishmati versus sertraline in the management of Chittodvega. Methods In this randomized clinical equivalence trial a total of 70 patients will be enrolled and divided into two equal groups. Patients between 20–50 years age of either gender having symptoms of Chittodvega and a Hamilton anxiety rating (HAM-A) scale score less than 24 (i.e., mild to moderate) will be selected for the study. In Group A, sertraline capsules 25 mg for first 7 days and then dose increased to 50 mg at bedtime for next 53 days and in Group B Jyotishmati Capsules 500 mg will be given twice a day after food with water for 60 days. Result and observation The patients will be assessed on the HAM-A scale, serum cortisol and WHO Quality of Life on day 0, 30, 60 and 90 and data collected will be analysed by using statistical tests. Trial registration CTRI No. REF/2023/07/069880 Date – 15/09/2023
Defining and conceptualizing patient-centered family planning counseling: A scoping review
Authors: Meekers Dominique , Elkins Aaron , Obozekhai Vivian
Published: December 2023

Background Family planning counseling has long been dominated by the tiered-effectiveness model, which discusses contraceptive methods in order of effectiveness. However, there is growing recognition that patients may prioritize factors other than method effectiveness. This scoping review identifies how patient-centered family planning care has been defined and conceptualized, and discusses the implications for measurement. Methods We systematically searched PubMed and SCOPUS for documents on “patient-centered family planning counseling or support” published between 2013 and 2022. Eligibility criteria included discussion of 1) strategies for providing patient-centered care, 2) interventions using a patient-centered approach, or 3) the impact of patient-centered approaches. We describe the definitions and domains of patient-centered family planning counseling addressed in the literature. Results Our scoping review is based on 33 documents. Only 18 documents clearly defined patient-centered family planning counseling or discussed what it entails. We identified important differences in how patient-centered family planning care was defined. However, most studies emphasized patients’ needs and preferences, respect for the patient, and informed decision-making and can be mapped against the McCormack’s framework for patient-centered communication. Conclusions It is important for studies to more clearly state how they define or conceptualize patient-centered family planning. Inconsistent use of indicators makes it difficult, if not impossible, to make generalized conclusions about the effectiveness of the patient-centered approach relative to the tiered-effectiveness approach. Consistent use of comparable indicators of key domains of patient-centered care is needed to address the gap in evidence about the effectiveness of patient-centered family planning counseling on various family planning outcomes, and to support future interventions. Wider use of existing scales to measure patient-centered family planning care may help standardize the definition of patient-centered care and strengthen the evidence base.
STRUCTURAL HEALTH MONITORING APPLICATION ON CHEMICAL MILL LINE CRACKING
Authors: STEPHENS DANIELLE , SWINDELL PAUL , TIAN YONGZHE , SIPPEL WALTER , KESSLER SETH , KUMAR AMRITA , YADAV SUSHEEL KUMAR , LI FRANKLIN
Published: December 2023

The FAA’s Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) research program is integral in the FAA’s regulatory policy and guidance development for the implementation of SHM in civil aircraft. It also assists the FAA’s Emerging Technology Research program in numerous test scenarios. Various SHM technologies get real structure testing and provide the FAA with inspection results. Further, the SHM research team also participates in the SAE Aerospace Industry Steering Committee (AISC) for SHM. This paper will provide a brief history of the SHM research program and its assistance in FAA certification of SHM use. It will provide results from one of the Emerging Technology test programs at the FAA William J Hughes Technical Center focused on the evaluation of two SHM technologies and their ability to detect chemical mill line cracking on a full-scale test panel.
PERFORMANCE OF A NOVEL INERTER-BASED ISOLATION SYSTEM FOR MEDIUM-RISE BUILDINGS UNDER SEISMIC AND WIND EXCITATIONS
Authors: LU JUBIN , ZHU SONGYE
Published: December 2023

Base isolation is a useful technique to mitigate superstructural vibrations based on the principle of shifting structural natural frequencies lower than the dominant frequency range of seismic excitations. However, excessive displacement may be concentrated at the flexible substructure, causing the loss of its building functions. Besides, the conventional isolation systems make the building structures, especially the medium- and high-rise ones, be vulnerable to wind excitations. This paper presents a novel inerter-based isolation system and investigate its seismic isolation and wind resistance performances through a 12-story RC building model. First, the isolation principle of the inerter-based isolation system is investigated based on an equivalent 2- DOF model. Also, the optimization scheme for the inerter-based isolation system is proposed. Then, the spectral representation methods (SRM) for 1d-1v and 1d-Nv stochastic processes are utilized to generate the time history samples of seismic and wind excitations, respectively. Last, the performance of the inerter-based isolation system is evaluated in time domain. The results show that the inerter-based isolation system can achieve the comparable seismic isolation effect for the superstructure without reducing the physical stiffness of the substructure so that there are not amplified displacement. Meanwhile, the inerter-based isolation system exhibits a satisfying performance under wind excitations, which means that it is a preferable isolation technique for building structures located in both seismic and typhoon fields.
INFLUENCE OF UNIAXIAL LOADS ON LOCAL RESONANCES
Authors: ZHANG KEPING , WU YUNING , CUI RANTING , ZHU XUAN
Published: December 2023

Accurate and reliable nondestructive evaluation (NDE) for stress measurement is essential for assessing structural performance and preventive maintenance. Local resonances offer an efficient NDE method due to their "amplified and localized" vibration amplitude. This allows for mounting or wiring near the structural edge without affecting the vibration modes. In this paper, we investigate the influence of stress level on the local resonances in a rectangular aluminum bar structure. In the first step, we utilize the electromechanical impedance method (EMI) to extract local resonances and verified them as Zero-Group-Velocity (ZGV) mode and cutoff frequency modes by performing two-dimensional fast Fourier transform (2D-FFT) on the wavefield. Furthermore, we investigate the influence of uniaxial tensile stress on the local resonance frequencies. It is observed that both the ZGV mode and cutoff frequency mode demonstrate a measurable sensitivity to the applied axial load.
CROSSTALK EFFECTS IN MATRIX OF PZT SENSORS FOR SHM APPLICATIONS BASED ON THE ELECTROMECHANICAL IMPEDANCE PRINCIPLE
Authors: FILHO JOZUE VIEIRA , CADALSO MARIO ROLANDO RODRIGUEZ , LEDESMA NICOLÁS EUSEBIO CORTEZ , OLIVEIRA MARIO ANDERSON DE , PARK GYUHAE
Published: December 2023

Using PZT transducers leads to different structural health monitoring techniques, such as those based on Frequency Response Function and Lamb Waves. When two or more PZT transducers are closely placed, an important interference, namely crosstalk, appears. This approach verified that such an effect can be modelled and implemented as a technique to detect damage. Accordingly, this work aims to present a methodology for studying the crosstalk effect in arrangements of PZT, where the electromechanical impedance (EMI) is used as a parameter of a PZT arrangement modelled as a coupled transmission line. For that purpose, the eigenvalues of a coupled electromechanical impedance matrix are obtained. We anticipate that the structural damage will influence the EMI signatures and the modelled matrix will be distinct for the healthy and damaged conditions. The proposed methodology was tested by simulating a simple Structural Health Monitoring system based on the EMI technique. The simulated structure was considered as a homogeneous medium in which two small PZT transducers separated by 6mm were attached. Two independent damages were simulated in the structure at 10 mm and 30 mm from each PZT. The initial simulations were implemented using the software SPICE and the crosstalk was estimated in time-domain. Some metric damage indices demonstrated the effectiveness of the proposed methodology.
ELECTRO-MECHANICAL IMPEDANCE SPECTROSCOPY LEVERAGING ZERO GROUP VELOCITY MODES FOR STRUCTURAL SENSING
Authors: LU RUNYE , SHEN YANFENG
Published: December 2023

This paper presents an Electro-Mechanical Impedance Spectroscopy (EMIS) leveraging zero group velocity (ZGV) modes for active structural sensing. EMIS employs a piezoelectric wafer active sensor (PWAS) as both the actuator and the receiver to achieve structural damage evaluation via structural resonances. Distinctive from the conventional EMIS methodology, this research exploits the ZGV modes originated from localized resonance in thickness direction. The ZGV modes possess the unique property of an elapsed group velocity with a finite nonzero wavenumber and can confine the wave energy within the vicinity of the excitation source. To develop an insight into the mechanism behind the ZGV modes, semianalytical finite element (SAFE) method is implemented to extract and identify the ZGV frequencies and wave modes. Parametric case studies are performed to examine the influence of geometric and material properties change. Subsequently, fully discretized finite element (FDFE) model considering the PWAS is established to conduct coupled-filed harmonic analysis. The obtained EMI spectra verify the capability of PWAS for exciting and identifying the ZGV modes. Ultimately, the experimental validations on aluminum plates bonded with PWAS transducers are carried out to demonstrate the practical feasibility to extract the ZGV modes. The ZGV frequencies are mutually verified in comparison with the SAFE and FDFE results and are in consistency with each other. This study excavates the potential of EMIS method exploiting ZGV resonance modes for the damage characterization.
TOWARDS DYNAMIC DIGITAL TWIN FOR MONOPILE-SUPPORTED OFFSHORE WIND TURBINES
Authors: WANG YING , LIANG JUN , FU YUHAO
Published: December 2023

Offshore wind turbines (OWTs) are critical in achieving the global goal of net zero greenhouse gas emissions. However, they face significant safety and reliability challenges due to harsh environmental conditions and complex evolution mechanisms of structural properties. To address these challenges, dynamic digital twin technology is proposed as a potential solution to accurately monitor structural performance and condition variations. It can contribute to real-time tracking of OWTs' performance, early detection of potential structural damages, and accurate estimation of remaining useful life.
DEVELOPING AN EXPERIMENTABLE DIGITAL TWIN OF A NOVEL FORESTRY MACHINE: APPLICATION, EXPERIENCES, AND BENEFITS
Authors: SCHMID SEBASTIAN , DAHMEN ULRICH , SHAO LONGXIANG , SCHRODER KAI-UWE , ROSSMANN JURGEN
Published: December 2023

The forestry sector in central Europe aims for a fully mechanized wood harvest. This goal is currently restricted by the limited reach of forest harvesters on the market and legislative specifications on the distance between skid trails. As a consortium of industry and academia, we are developing a novel forestry machine that is designed to fell and skid trees in the inter-field between skid trails and which is equipped with a lightweight boom for an extended reach; to date, felling in the inter-field is not reachable for harvesters and is done in manual labor. As a key risk, overturning the whole forestry vehicle prevents a transfer of current harvester designs to an extended reach. To avoid overturning, we apply a consequent lightweight design for the boom of the new forestry machine. The development of the forestry vehicle will be supported by a versatile use of Experimentable Digital Twins (EDT), which are one promising concept to push the idea of Digital Twins into practice. The EDT allows for interaction in a pure virtual or in a hybrid environment. The tasks of EDT in the context of the new forestry machine will include a virtual prototype in the development phase, a driver assistance system in the operational phase, and a central hub for a strain-based monitoring system in the operational phase. This contribution gives an insight into our present work on the EDT of the novel forestry machine, emphasizing the load monitoring system of the lightweight boom. On a conceptual level, we present the load monitoring system, addressing the challenges specific to this application. We outline the proposed strain sensor distribution and describe the interaction with the EDT.
STRUCTURAL DAMAGE DETECTION THROUGH FINITE ELEMENT MODEL UPDATING USING EVOLUTIONARY ALGORITHM
Authors: RANGOJU SAI SIDDHARTHA VIVEK DHIR , POLEPALLY GOVARDHAN , KALAP PRAFULLA , PASUPULETI VENKATA DILIP KUMAR
Published: December 2023

Structural damage can be caused by a variety of factors, which include internal factors such as design flaws, construction errors, material deficiencies, and external factors such as earthquakes, overloading, environmental factors, and terms of service violations. As such damage can compromise the safety, functionality, and financial viability of a structure, it is essential to identify and address any issues quickly. The engineering community, including civil, mechanical, and aerospace engineers, is greatly interested in structural damage identification. Numerous methods, such as experiential and simulation-based techniques, have been developed to achieve this goal. However, accurately modeling a structure and developing a robust inverse algorithm for damage detection is a significant challenge. Finite element modeling is one of the widely used methods for detecting structural damage. Here, Model updating is a crucial process that involves adjusting a structural model to improve its accuracy and reliability. Various methods for updating Finite Element Models have been proposed, including sensitivity-based, direct, statistical, probabilistic, and iterative methods. However, traditional methods can be complex and time-consuming, leading researchers to explore the use of evolutionary algorithms to streamline the process. Evolutionary algorithms are a type of computational optimization technique that mimics the process of natural selection to find the best solution to a given problem. In the context of model updating, evolutionary algorithms can identify the optimal combination of model parameters that best matches measured data. There has been a growing interest in using evolutionary algorithms to update Finite Element Models for structural damage identification in recent years. This paper presents a case study on damage identification, specifically sectional loss and boundary condition rigidity, as an optimization problem. It demonstrates the use of an evolutionary algorithm to update a Finite Element model for structural damage detection and discusses the advantages of using this algorithm over traditional methods. The abstract also highlights some of the key challenges associated with using evolutionary algorithms for model updating, including the need for accurate and reliable data and the need to carefully tune algorithm parameters.
HIGH-DIMENSIONAL DATA ANALYTICS FOR SPARSE RECOVERY OF GUIDED-WAVES DISPERSION CURVES USING B-SPLINES
Authors: MOMENI HAMED , JEDDI MOHAMMAD , EBRAHIMKHANLOU ARVIN
Published: December 2023

This research presents a technique to recover the dispersion curves of guidedwaves by utilizing the inherent sparsity of these signals in the frequency-wavenumber domain. The proposed methodology is a data-driven approach that combines physicsbased knowledge with high-dimensional analysis to obtain the dispersion curves of the medium from experimental signals. Initially, a sparse two-dimensional dispersion matrix is constructed using sparse wavenumber analysis. Then, B-splines are fitted to non-zero elements of this matrix to establish an initial estimate of the dispersion curve parameters. These parameters are further optimized using the quasi-Newton algorithm to improve the accuracy of signal prediction. The results demonstrate that this method can significantly reduce the dimensions of Lamb waves signals to approximately 0.05%, which avoids overfitting. The retrieved signals in the frequency-distance domain exhibit a correlation of approximately 50% with the original signals. In comparison with sparse wavenumber analysis, this technique requires two orders of magnitude fewer parameters to represent the medium's dispersion curves.
ROBOTIC END-OF-LINE TESTING FOR HYDROGEN PRESSURE VESSELS USING A STRAIN-BASED SHM SYSTEM
Authors: RICHSTEIN REBECCA , SCHRODER KAI-UWE
Published: December 2023

High safety factors lead to increased material input and costs for Composite Overwrapped Pressure Vessels (COPV) in hydrogen mobility. Reducing safety factors in the form of material can improve profitability, but reliability must be maintained. Currently, there is no automated end-of-line testing that can help quickly and reliably check the structural integrity and enhance testing scalability for COPVs. Our novel approach to COPV quality assurance uses robotically applied test loads to inspect the structural condition of each COPV. It captures the structural response using a strain-based SHM system. The design of the sensor layout for this application faces two central challenges: selecting an efficient combination of measuring points, damage indicators, and appropriate test loads and ensuring the system is functional as an onboard SHM system. In the context of this conference contribution, we explain the mentioned quality assurance approach in more detail. Additionally, the first results in the design of the sensor layout, which measures the structural state of COPV in robotic testing and onboard operation, are presented.
AUTONOMOUS MONITORING OF BREATHING DEBONDS IN BONDED COMPOSITE STRUCTURES USING NONLINEAR ULTRASONIC SIGNALS
Authors: SIKDAR SHIRSENDU
Published: December 2023

This study aims to develop a structural health monitoring model that autonomously assesses breathing-type debonds between the base plate and stiffener in lightweight composite structures. The approach utilizes a specifically designed deep learning architecture that employs nonlinear ultrasonic signals for automatic debond assessment. To achieve this, a series of laboratory experiments were conducted on multiple composite panels with and without base plate-stiffener debonds. A network of piezoelectric transducers (actuators/sensors) was used to collect time-domain guided wave signals from the composite structures. These signals, representing nonlinear signatures such as higher harmonics, were separated from the raw signals and transformed into time-frequency scalograms using continuous wavelet transforms. A convolutional neural network-based deep learning architecture was designed to extract discrete image features automatically, enabling the characterization of composite structures under healthy and variable breathing-debond conditions. The proposed deep learning-assisted health monitoring model exhibits promising potential for autonomous inspection with high accuracy in complex structures that experience breathing-debonds.
CERTIFICATION OF CVM™ SENSORS FOR MONITORING 737 AFT PRESSURE BULKHEAD
Authors: LYNCH-STAUNTON TREVOR , SHAIGEC BRIAN , FORMOSA DERRICK , ROACH DENNIS
Published: December 2023

Structural health monitoring (SHM) systems are a desired solution to provide aircraft operators information on the health of aircraft structures. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is responsible for ensuring the safety of the air transportation system in the United States and its certification of SHM systems is essential to ensure that these systems meet safety standards and do not compromise aircraft safety. This paper provides an overview of the efforts undertaken to supply the necessary data and analysis for certification of a CVM SHM system, including the regulatory requirements and the steps involved in the certification process. Additionally, this paper discusses the benefits of SHM systems for the aviation industry and their potential impact on safety. Cost and time savings are driving the demand for certification of a CVMTM SHM system that satisfies the requirements of Boeing SB-737-53A1248 along with the guidance of an FAA Issue Paper. This certification would be the first for any SHM system in a safety critical Principle Structural Element of a Commercial Fixed Wing Aircraft, the Aft Pressure Bulkhead (APB), where an FAA Airworthiness Directive is mandating the inspection for 737 operators. The existing Service Bulletin allows for two inspection options, Option 1: LFEC and detailed inspection (aft side) every 1,200 flight cycles or Option 2: HFEC and detailed inspection (fwd side) every 3,800 flight cycles. The approval of the revised service bulletin would allow for Option 3: CVMTM inspection (fwd side) every 1,200 flight cycles, thus reducing the inspection time from 24 hr to 15 min1.
AN ORIGINAL SMART DATA SAMPLING FOR WIRELESS SENSOR: APPLICATION TO BRIDGE CABLE MONITORING
Authors: CAM VINCENT LE , LEMARCHAND LAURENT , BOUCHE ARTHUR , PALLIER DAVID , ILLIEN FRANÇOIS
Published: December 2023

Structural health monitoring (SHM) systems often ask for a robust, flexible and costeffective solution. In that domain, since years, the technological development of Wireless Sensor Network try to be an answer. Between many other questions, one of the keypoint in wireless sensing resides in the time synchronization (e.g. how to ensure the same time base between electronic systems that doesn’t know each others ?). At Gustave Eiffel University, robust and deterministic solutions based on GNSS modules have already been demonstrated [1], the goal of the work presented in this paper is to go deeper into turn-key solutions by implementing and coupling this GNSS-synchronization principle into a low-power FPGA to an Analog-To-Digital converter. This hardware and software association represents a generic solution for signal sampling in a wireless manner. This work is illustrated and demonstrated by an application on the acoustic monitoring of wire-breaks in bridges cables.
VALIDATION OF A PIEZO BASED INTEGRATED PROCESS AND SHM SYSTEM ON HOLLOW COMPOSITE AIRCRAFT PART MADE BY VACUUM INFUSION USING A 3D PRINTED SMART MOLD
Authors: SCHEERER MICHAEL , SIMON ZOLTAN , MARISCHLER MICHAEL , KAMPENHUBER DAVID , HATZENBICHLER MARKUS
Published: December 2023

During the last years the authors developed a novel hybrid multi-functional piezo / temperature sensor concept for flow front, cure and structural health monitoring of composite parts thus allowing monitoring of the production and the usage with the same sensor type. Within this paper, the authors present the latest validation results of the developed sensor and monitoring concept on a hollow composite aircraft part. The production of the part was done by vacuum infusion using a smart separable Al mold, made by selective laser melting to enable surface near complex cooling channels and lightweight design. Process parameters such as flow front propagation and degree of cure were successfully monitored during the production of the part. Finally, the ability of the co-cured sensor for passive acoustic emission monitoring for the occurrence of and localization of impacts and the application of guided ultrasonic waves was demonstrated.