bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Impact of Monetary Policy Uncertainty on R&D Investment Smoothing Behavior of Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Enterprises: Empirical Research Based on a Threshold Regression Model
Authors: Yang Jingyuan , Wang Ling , Sun Ziyuan , Zhu Fangming , Guo Yihui , Shen Yan
Published: November 2021

R&D investment is the source of technological innovation of pharmaceutical enterprises, but it will be restricted by the funding level, especially in the context of major public health emergencies occurring more frequently, therefore exploring the impact of monetary policy uncertainty on the R&D investment smoothing behavior of pharmaceutical manufacturing enterprises has important theoretical and practical value. Based on the relevant data of Chinese pharmaceutical manufacturing enterprises from 2012 to 2018, this paper studies the impact of monetary policy uncertainty on R&D investment smoothing behavior of pharmaceutical enterprises, and investigates whether there is a threshold effect. First, our results demonstrate that the empirical test results of this article support the hypothesis of R&D investment smoothing behavior of pharmaceutical manufacturing enterprises. Second, there is a negative correlation between monetary policy uncertainty and R&D investment smoothing behavior, and the shorter the period is, the higher the financing constraints of pharmaceutical enterprises are, and the more obvious the negative correlation is. Third, financing constraints have a single threshold effect on the R&D investment smoothing behavior of pharmaceutical manufacturing enterprises, with a threshold of −13.7693. Moreover, this conclusion can better promote the virtuous circle of the real economy of financial and pharmaceutical manufacturing enterprises. It is recommended that pharmaceutical manufacturing enterprises establish and improve the enterprise R&D reserve system, reduce the risk of R&D investment, play the role of R&D smoothing, and realize the sustainable development of enterprise R&D.
The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Ophthalmology Residents: A Narrative Review
Authors: Dub Natalia , Konopińska Joanna , Obuchowska Iwona , Lisowski Łukasz , Dmuchowska Diana Anna , Rękas Marek
Published: November 2021

The ongoing outbreak of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has drastically affected medical societies. We aim to provide an overview and summarize the information published so far concerning the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on ophthalmology residency programs and the mental wellbeing of trainees, and to establish factors to help maintain successful residency training to ensure high-quality, specialist ophthalmic training. A literature search was conducted in October 2021 of the PubMed database for articles assessing the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the mental health of ophthalmology trainees and on ophthalmology residency programs. Cross-sectional survey studies, editorials, articles in scientific journals, letters to editors, and commentaries were considered; finally, 19 studies were included after excluding abstract-only publications and conference posters. The studies’ demographic details, participant characteristics, interventions, outcomes, and limitations were extracted. Our summarized information showed the alarmingly significant impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on ophthalmology trainees’ mental health and the associated considerable changes in ophthalmic training programs. Thus, in future, virtual training and surgical simulators should be permanently introduced, in addition to traditional teaching, to complete successful ophthalmology residency programs. Additionally, we emphasize the need for a widely facilitated and encouraged access to psychological support programs for healthcare workers, including ophthalmologists.
The Antioxidant Transcription Factor Nrf2 in Cardiac Ischemia–Reperfusion Injury
Authors: Mata Ana , Cadenas Susana
Published: November 2021

Nuclear factor erythroid-2 related factor 2 (Nrf2) is a transcription factor that controls cellular defense responses against toxic and oxidative stress by modulating the expression of genes involved in antioxidant response and drug detoxification. In addition to maintaining redox homeostasis, Nrf2 is also involved in various cellular processes including metabolism and inflammation. Nrf2 activity is tightly regulated at the transcriptional, post-transcriptional and post-translational levels, which allows cells to quickly respond to pathological stress. In the present review, we describe the molecular mechanisms underlying the transcriptional regulation of Nrf2. We also focus on the impact of Nrf2 in cardiac ischemia–reperfusion injury, a condition that stimulates the overproduction of reactive oxygen species. Finally, we analyze the protective effect of several natural and synthetic compounds that induce Nrf2 activation and protect against ischemia–reperfusion injury in the heart and other organs, and their potential clinical application.
Machine Learning and IoT Applied to Cardiovascular Diseases Identification through Heart Sounds: A Literature Review
Authors: Brites Ivo Sérgio Guimarães , da Silva Lídia Martins , Barbosa Jorge Luis Victória , Rigo Sandro José , Correia Sérgio Duarte , Leithardt Valderi Reis Quietinho
Published: November 2021

This article presents a systematic mapping study dedicated to conduct a literature review on machine learning and IoT applied in the identification of diseases through heart sounds. This research was conducted between January 2010 and July 2021, considering IEEE Xplore, PubMed Central, ACM Digital Library, JMIR—Journal of Medical Internet Research, Springer Library, and Science Direct. The initial search resulted in 4372 papers, and after applying the inclusion and exclusion criteria, 58 papers were selected for full reading to answer the research questions. The main results are: of the 58 articles selected, 46 (79.31%) mention heart rate observation methods with wearable sensors and digital stethoscopes, and 34 (58.62%) mention care with machine learning algorithms. The analysis of the studies based on the bibliometric network generated by the VOSviewer showed in 13 studies (22.41%) a trend related to the use of intelligent services in the prediction of diagnoses related to cardiovascular disorders.
Information Technology Adoption on Digital Marketing: A Literature Review
Authors: Figueiredo Fátima , Gonçalves Maria José Angélico , Teixeira Sandrina
Published: November 2021

Data generation is currently expanding at an astonishing pace, and the function of marketing is becoming increasingly sophisticated and customized. Companies seek to understand their internal corporate environment and externalities and to exponentially enhance their marketing power. This study aims to understand the influence of Big data analysis on digital marketing. The methodologies used to approach this issue were: (a) a systematic literature review based on articles dated between 2014 and 2020; and (b) a bibliometric analysis of articles dated between 2000 and 2020 using the software VOSviewer. The literature review allowed us to conclude that in the next decades, the business world in general, and marketing in particular, will define more oriented strategies based on a more profound knowledge of consumer behavior. Artificial intelligence agents driven by machine learning methods, technology, and Big data will be a conditioning factor in defining these strategies.
Impact of Prior Statin Use on Reperfusion Rate and Stroke Outcomes in Patients Receiving Endovascular Treatment
Authors: Lee Sang-Hwa , Jang Min Uk , Kim Yerim , Park So Young , Kim Chulho , Kim Yeo Jin , Sohn Jong-Hee
Published: November 2021

Background: We evaluated the impact of prior statin use on successful reperfusion and stroke outcomes after endovascular treatment (EVT). Method: Using consecutive multicenter databases, we enrolled acute ischemic stroke patients receiving EVT between 2015 and 2021. Patients were classified into prior statin users and no prior statin users after a review of premorbid medications. The primary outcome measure was successful reperfusion defined as modified TICI grade 2b or 3 after EVT. Secondary outcome measures were early neurologic deterioration (END) and a 3-month modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score of 0 to 2. Results: Among 385 patients receiving EVT, 74 (19.2%) were prior statin users, who had a significantly higher successful reperfusion rate compared with no prior statin users (94.6% versus 78.8%, p = 0.002). Successful reperfusion and END occurrence were improved according to statin intensity with a dose–response relationship. In multivariate analysis, prior statin was associated with successful reperfusion after EVT (adjusted odds ratio (95% confidence interval) 5.31 (1.67–16.86)). In addition, prior statin was associated with a lower occurrence of END and good functional status. Conclusion: Our study showed that prior statin use before ischemic stroke might improve successful reperfusion and stroke outcomes after EVT.
Newborn Hearing Screening and Intervention in Children with Unilateral Hearing Impairment: Clinical Practices in Three Nordic Countries
Authors: Laugen Nina Jakhelln , Erixon Elsa , Huttunen Kerttu , Mäki-Torkko Elina , Löfkvist Ulrika
Published: November 2021

Studies have limitedly considered children with early-identified unilateral hearing impairment (UHI), and clinical practices regarding screening, diagnostics and habilitation in this group are rarely documented. In this study, routines for newborns with UHI from screening to diagnostics and habilitation were explored in Norway, Sweden and Finland. An online survey was sent to hospitals responsible for the hearing diagnostics of children requesting information about their practices regarding congenital UHI. Responses covered 95% of the children born in the three included countries. The results revealed large variations in ways of organising healthcare and in clinical decisions regarding hearing screening, diagnostics and habilitation of children with congenital UHI. Finally, implications for policy making and research are also discussed.
Humoral Response to Microbial Biomarkers in Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients
Authors: Jasemi Seyedesomaye , Erre Gian Luca , Cadoni Maria Luisa , Bo Marco , Sechi Leonardo A.
Published: November 2021

Background/Objective: Chronic humoral immune response against multiple microbial antigens may play a crucial role in the etiopathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). We aimed to assess the prevalence and magnitude of antibody response against various bacterial and viral immunogen peptides in the sera of RA patients compared with the general population. Methods: Polyclonal IgG antibodies (Abs) specific for peptides derived from Porphyromonas gingivalis (RgpA, Kpg), Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans (LtxA1, LtxA2), Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis (MAP4027), Epstein–Barr virus (EBNA1, EBVBOLF), and human endogenous retrovirus (HERV-W env-su) were detected by ELISA in serum samples from 148 consecutive RA patients and 148 sex and age-matched healthy controls (HCs). In addition, the presence of a relationship between the positivity and the titer of antibodies and RA descriptors was explored by bivariate correlation analysis. Results: RA patients exhibit a higher prevalence of humoral immune response against all tested peptides compared to HCs with a statically significant difference for MAP4027 (30.4% vs. 10.1%), BOLF (25.7% vs. 8.1%), RgpA (24.3% vs. 9.4%), HERV W-env (20.3% vs. 9.4%), and EBNA1 (18.9% vs. 9.4%) peptides. Fifty-three (35.8%) out of 148 RA serum and 93 (62.8%) out of 148 HCs were negative for all pathogen-derived peptides. There was a significant correlation between OD values obtained by ELISA test against all peptides (p < 0.0001). We also found an increased titer and prevalence of Abs against LtxA1 and LtxA2 in seropositive vs. seronegative RF (p = 0.019, p = 0.018). Conclusion: This study demonstrates a significantly increased humoral response against multiple pathogens in patients with RA and implies that they could be an important factor in the pathogenesis of the disease. Therefore, the role of each individual pathogen in RA needs to be further investigated.
Correlation of Renal Profiles with Choroidal Vascularity Index in Eyes with Diabetic Retinopathy
Authors: Kim Jee Taek , Lee In Gul
Published: November 2021

The vascular system is affected by systemic conditions, including diabetes, hypertension, and cardiovascular disease. The choroid is an important vascular tissue surrounding the sensory retina. However, the relationship between the choroid and systemic factors in patients with diabetes has rarely been investigated. Here, we assessed the correlation of renal profiles with choroidal vasculature in eyes with diabetic retinopathy (DR) using a retrospective study design. The study included 131 patients with diabetes who underwent swept-source optical coherence tomography and routine medical work-up within a 4-week period between 1 February 2016 and 30 October 2018. Consecutive patients with treatment-naïve DR who did not receive any subsequent treatment were included. The distribution of patients according to the DR stage was as follows: no DR, 32 patients; mild-to-moderate non-proliferative DR (NPDR), 33 patients; severe NPDR, 34 patients; and treatment-naïve proliferative DR, 32 patients. Multivariate regression analyses showed that the choroidal vascularity index (CVI) of naïve eyes with DR was negatively correlated with age (p = 0.013) and the serum levels of phosphorus (p = 0.002) and positively correlated with subfoveal choroidal thickness (p < 0.001). Taken together, our findings suggest that a lower CVI is associated with phosphorus retention in patients with chronic kidney disease.
Risk Factors for Lead-Related Venous Obstruction: A Study of 2909 Candidates for Lead Extraction
Authors: Czajkowski Marek , Jacheć Wojciech , Polewczyk Anna , Kosior Jarosław , Nowosielecka Dorota , Tułecki Łukasz , Stefańczyk Paweł , Kutarski Andrzej
Published: November 2021

Background: our knowledge of lead-related venous stenosis/occlusion (LRVSO) remains limited and there is still controversy regarding the risk factors for LRVSO. Venography is mandatory before transvenous lead extraction (TLE). Methods: we performed a retrospective analysis of venograms in 2909 patients (39.43% females, average age 66.90 years) who underwent TLE between 2008 and 2021 at high-volume centers. Results: the severity of LRVSO was likely to be dependent on the number of leads in the system (OR = 1.345; p = 0.003), the number of abandoned leads (OR = 1.965; p < 0.001), the presence of coronary sinus leads (OR = 1.184; p = 0.056), male gender (OR = 1.349; p = 0.003) and patient age at first CIED implantation (OR = 1.008; p = 0.021). The presence of permanent atrial fibrillation (OR = 0.666; p < 0.001) and right ventricular diastolic diameter (OR = 0.978; p = 0.006) showed an inverse correlation with the degree of LRVSO. The combined three-model multivariate analysis provided better prediction of LRSVO using the above-mentioned factors than the CHA2DS2-VASc score. Conclusions: the severity of LRVSO is probably dependent on the mechanical impact of the implanted/abandoned leads on the vein wall, therefore the study has demonstrated the central role of system-/procedure-related risk factors. The thrombotic mechanism may be less important, especially long after implantation, and for this reason the combined prediction model for LRVSO in this study was more effective than the CHA2DS2-VASc score.
Immunotherapy Monitoring with Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors Based on [18F]FDG PET/CT in Metastatic Melanomas and Lung Cancer
Authors: Lopci Egesta
Published: November 2021

Immunotherapy with checkpoint inhibitors has prompted a major change not only in cancer treatment but also in medical imaging. In parallel with the implementation of new drugs modulating the immune system, new response criteria have been developed, aiming to overcome clinical drawbacks related to the new, unusual, patterns of response characterizing both solid tumors and lymphoma during the course of immunotherapy. The acknowledgement of pseudo-progression, hyper-progression, immune-dissociated response and so forth, has become mandatory for all imagers dealing with this clinical scenario. A long list of acronyms, i.e., irRC, iRECIST, irRECIST, imRECIST, PECRIT, PERCIMT, imPERCIST, iPERCIST, depicts the enormous effort made by radiology and nuclear medicine physicians in the last decade to optimize imaging parameters for better prediction of clinical benefit in immunotherapy regimens. Quite frequently, a combination of clinical-laboratory data with imaging findings has been tested, proving the ability to stratify patients into various risk groups. The next steps necessarily require a large scale validation of the most robust criteria, as well as the clinical implementation of immune-targeting tracers for immuno-PET or the exploitation of radiomics and artificial intelligence as complementary tools during the course of immunotherapy administration. For the present review article, a summary of PET/CT role for immunotherapy monitoring will be provided. By scrolling into various cancer types and applied response criteria, the reader will obtain necessary information for better understanding the potentials and limitations of the modality in the clinical setting.
Zebrafish Paralogs brd2a and brd2b Are Needed for Proper Circulatory, Excretory and Central Nervous System Formation and Act as Genetic Antagonists during Development
Authors: Branigan Gregory L. , Olsen Kelly S. , Burda Isabella , Haemmerle Matthew W. , Ho Jason , Venuto Alexandra , D’Antonio Nicholas D. , Briggs Ian E. , DiBenedetto Angela J.
Published: November 2021

Brd2 belongs to the BET family of epigenetic transcriptional co-regulators that act as adaptor-scaffolds for the assembly of chromatin-modifying complexes and other factors at target gene promoters. Brd2 is a protooncogene and candidate gene for juvenile myoclonic epilepsy in humans, a homeobox gene regulator in Drosophila, and a maternal-zygotic factor and cell death modulator that is necessary for normal development of the vertebrate central nervous system (CNS). As two copies of Brd2 exist in zebrafish, we use antisense morpholino knockdown to probe the role of paralog Brd2b, as a comparative study to Brd2a, the ortholog of human Brd2. A deficiency in either paralog results in excess cell death and dysmorphology of the CNS, whereas only Brd2b deficiency leads to loss of circulation and occlusion of the pronephric duct. Co-knockdown of both paralogs suppresses single morphant defects, while co-injection of morpholinos with paralogous RNA enhances them, suggesting novel genetic interaction with functional antagonism. Brd2 diversification includes paralog-specific RNA variants, a distinct localization of maternal factors, and shared and unique spatiotemporal expression, providing unique insight into the evolution and potential functions of this gene.
Utilising Natural Attributes of Tropical Islands for Beach Protection
Authors: Black Kerry , Steinhobel Derick
Published: November 2021

This study reveals the coastal protection benefits of small artificial reefs on tropical islands. A monitored case study involving field and computer modelling investigations, as well as construction of a 95 m long reef and 12,000 m3 of local sand nourishment in a tropical lagoon on the north-east coast of Mauritius, is presented. Monitoring showed that a large salient widened the beach by 50 m in one year. The salient has continued to grow slowly and has remained stable for four years, including during a cyclone. Only a simple and inexpensive artificial reef was needed in the shallow lagoon to rebalance the shoreline wave conditions, because most wave energy was lost by breaking further offshore on the natural reef. With rising sea levels, inshore reefs with nourishment can overcome increases in wave height, wave set-up and wave run-up at the shoreline, which are jointly responsible for erosion and the flooding of homes by erosion and over-topping. To find suitable nourishment sources, regional computer modelling identified the following dominant circulation patterns: currents both coming into the lagoon over the reef crest (driven by breaking wave energy) and exiting via relict river channels or zones of lower waves. Sand for nourishment may be extracted from the exit locations with reduced environmental impact, because net currents are driving sand out of the lagoon system into deeper water. These relict sands have the same grain size as the natural beach and are readily accessible.
Mobile IoT-Edge-Cloud Continuum Based and DevOps Enabled Software Framework
Authors: Judvaitis Janis , Balass Rihards , Greitans Modris
Published: November 2021

This research aims to provide a high-level software framework for IoT-Edge-Cloud computational continuum-based applications with support for mobile IoT and DevOps integration utilizing the Edge computing paradigms. This is achieved by dividing the system in a modular fashion and providing a loosely coupled service and module descriptions for usage in the respective system layers for flexible and yet trustworthy implementation. The article describes the software architecture for a DevOps-enabled Edge computing solution in the IoT-Edge-Cloud computational continuum with the support for flexible and mobile IoT solutions. The proposed framework is validated on an intelligent transport system use case in the rolling stock domain and showcases the improvements gained by using the proposed IoT-Edge-Cloud continuum framework.
Quantifying Mechanistic Detachment Parameters Due to Humic Acids in Biological Soil Crusts
Authors: Abbood Atheer A. , Al-Madhhachi Abdul-Sahib T.
Published: November 2021

Humic acid (HA) is a material that could be used to decrease erosion and improve soil structure. It is also known that biological soil crusts (biocrusts) have a major role in soil stabilization, but the mechanism is not well understood in the presence of HA, especially with mechanistic soil detachment rate parameters (b0 and b1) of the Wilson model, where b0 is the dimensional soil detachment parameter and b1 is the dimensional soil threshold parameter. Therefore, this study intends to (1) investigate the effect of different humic acid (HA) concentrations (0%, 4%, and 8%) on mechanistic soil detachment rate parameters (b0 and b1,) in the Tigris Riversides of the Gheraiat region, Baghdad City, Iraq, of the crusted versus uncrusted soils using a small scale model of the jet erosion tests (mini-JET) at different curing periods (1 week, 2 weeks, and 3 weeks), and (2) examine the impact of HA on b0 and b1 parameters versus some soil characteristics, such as electrical conductivity, cation exchange capacity, and soil organic matter for uncrusted and crusted soils. Thirty-six undisturbed soil specimens (18 for crusted soils and 18 for uncrusted soils) were acquired from the Tigris Riverbank. On these specimens, the mini-JET was used to determine the mechanistic cohesive soil erodibility parameters b0 and b1. The results showed that the value of b0 decreased up to 60% with an increase in curing times for crusted soils until they reached their optimum values at 2 weeks. There was no consistent pattern for b1 at different curing times. As the concentration of HA increased, the value of b0 decreased up to 86% and 99% for crusted and uncrusted soils, respectively. HA significantly improved electrical conductivity, exchange capacity, and organic matter in the soil and reduced soil erodibility. This study provides the benefits of adding HA to the soils as a soil stabilizer using a low-cost technique, which is the JET instrument.
Global Markets, Local Issues: The Hegemonic Process of Agri-Food Construction to Present Challenges
Authors: Fracarolli Guilherme Silva
Published: November 2021

The social construction of the agri-food market has undergone revolutionary changes throughout history since the Anthropocene. This conceptual paper discusses the embeddedness of institutions in this market construction. To do so, this work analyses the geographical indication (GI) of agri-food market formation through the lens of critical theory. Through dialectics, it analyzes the historical process of agrarian systems’ shape according to their complexity, and the origins and effects of hegemonic interests in the construction of agri-food markets. Furthermore, this work shows how the market has evolved from different trade types as the capitalist system also evolved, changing the mechanics of trade and functions of food production. The results indicate that as agrarian systems evolved, food became more homogeneous and standardized in order to meet the demands of urban masses in capitalist economies. Regions where less complex systems predominate tend to hinder the creation, maintenance, and perpetuation of products such as GI, which may compromise their existence in the long run. Moreover, nations reproduce ideologically oriented interests according to the formation of dominant groups in each place, as also expressed in the agri-food market. This paper aims to provide new conceptual and theoretical insights into the institutional mechanisms and historical processes of agri-food market construction in terms of power interests.
Lightweight Structural Materials in Open Access: Latest Trends
Authors: Blanco David , Rubio Eva María , Lorente-Pedreille Raquel María , Sáenz-Nuño María Ana
Published: November 2021

The aeronautical and automotive industries have, as an essential objective, the energy efficiency optimization of aircraft and cars, while maintaining stringent functional requirements. One working line focuses on the use of lightweight structural materials to replace conventional materials. For this reason, it is considered enlightening to carry out an analysis of the literature published over the last 20 years through Open Access literature. For this purpose, a systematic methodology is applied to minimize the possible risks of bias in literature selection and analysis. Web of Science is used as a search engine. The final selection comprises the 30 articles with the highest average numbers of citations per year published from 2015 to 2020 and the 7 articles published from the period of 2000–2014. Overall, the selection is composed of 37 Open Access articles with 2482 total citations and an average of 67.1 citations per article/year published, and includes Q1 (62%) and Q2 (8%) articles and proceeding papers (30%). The study seeks to inform about the current trends in materials and processes in lightweight structural materials for aeronautical and automotive applications with a sustainable perspective. All the information collected is summarized in tables to facilitate searches and interpretation by interested researchers.
Pilot Scale Production of Precast Concrete Elements with Wood Biomass Ash
Authors: Šantek Bajto Jelena , Štirmer Nina , Cerković Sonja , Carević Ivana , Kostanić Jurić Karmen
Published: November 2021

Downsizing fossil fuel dependence and greenhouse gas emissions is at the forefront of a sustainable future. The expansion of renewable energy while striving to minimize dependence on fossil fuels has led to biomass taking the lead among renewable energy sources, with wood having the broadest application. Along with the growing trend of using biomass as a renewable energy source, the combustion of wood biomass results in wood biomass ash (WBA), leading to compelling amounts of waste. In this study, the technical feasibility of fly WBA from different Croatian power plants was analyzed to evaluate its potential use in precast concrete drainage elements and curb units. By implementing a performance-based design, the influence of various factors in thermal processing of wood biomass was investigated, together with a detailed characterization of WBA in order to assess the feasibility of using WBA as a secondary raw material in a large-scale industrial batching plant. The compressive strength and durability properties (water absorption, permeability, and freeze–thaw resistance) of concrete mixtures with WBA as a replacement for 15 wt% cement were evaluated and compared with the precast concrete manufacturer’s technical requirements. The main concerns identified were compositional inconsistency of WBA, workability downturn, delay in initial reactivity rate, and increased water absorption. Concrete with WBA based on a circular design has been found to be a viable solution to cement depletion, stepping up from recycling to reuse of industrial waste.
Fatigue Models for Airfield Concrete Pavement: Literature Review and Discussion
Authors: Yuan Jie , Li Wenhao , Li Yuening , Ma Lukuan , Zhang Jiake
Published: November 2021

The fatigue model plays an important role in the mechanistic–empirical design procedure of airfield pavement. As for cement concrete pavement, the fatigue model represents the relationship between the stress and the number of load repetitions. To further understand the fatigue model, a literature review was performed in this paper along with the discussion. In this paper, the developed fatigue models available now were classified as the full-scale testing-based fatigue model and the concrete beam testing-based fatigue model, according to the data source. Then, the regression analysis process and stress calculation method of each fatigue model were summarized. Besides, the fatigue model proposed by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) was compared with the fatigue model of the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC). The design thicknesses using the two models were obtained based on the finite element analysis. The results show that the designed slab using the fatigue model of FAA is thicker than that of CAAC, meaning that the fatigue model of FAA is comparatively conservative. Moreover, it can be concluded that the differences in the slab thickness become more significant with the increase in the wheel load and the foundation strength. Finally, the recommendation was proposed to refine the fatigue model in the future study from three aspects: data source, stress calculation method, and regression analysis process.
Augmentation Stability of Guided Bone Regeneration for Peri-Implant Dehiscence Defects with L-shaped Porcine-Derived Block Bone Substitute
Authors: Lee Jae-Hong , Jung Eun-Hee , Jeong Seong-Nyum
Published: November 2021

Block bone substitutes have better augmentation stability for guided bone regeneration (GBR) than particulate bone substitutes. This study sought to determine whether GBR with an L-shaped porcine block bone (DPBM-C) differs from GBR with an L-shaped bovine block bone (DBBM-C) based on clinical, radiographic, and volumetric outcomes for peri-implant dehiscence defects. A total of 42 peri-implant defects were grafted with 20 L-shaped DPBM-C and 22 DBBM-C groups. The horizontal and vertical thicknesses of the augmented hard tissue were measured using sagittal cone-beam computed tomography, and the volumetric tissue change was evaluated by stereolithography image superimposition. Postoperative discomfort, early wound healing outcomes, and implant stability were also assessed. Among the clinical (subjective pain and swelling, wound dehiscence, membrane exposure, and periotest values), radiographic (changes in horizontal and vertical hard tissue thickness), and volumetric parameters of the L-shaped DPBM-C and DBBM-C groups during the healing period, only the periotest values showed a statistically significant difference (0.67 ± 1.19, p = 0.042). Within the limitations of this study, an L-shaped DPBM-C is not inferior to an L-shaped DBBM-C based on their clinical, radiographic, and volumetric outcomes for GBR of peri-implant dehiscence defects.
Comparative Life Cycle Assessment of Asphalt Mixtures Using Composite Admixtures of Lignin and Glass Fibers
Authors: Khater Ahmed , Luo Dong , Abdelsalam Moustafa , Ma Jianxun , Ghazy Mohamed
Published: November 2021

Lignin and glass fiber were used as additives to improve the quality of road pavements and minimize moisture damage and cracking at low temperatures on asphalt pavement, according to a previous laboratory study. The aim of this paper is to make a significant contribution to the environmental assessment of the construction of road pavements using four types of asphalt mixtures based on the life cycle assessment (LCA) methodology according to the requirements of ISO 14040, considering the impact of raw material extraction, asphalt mixture manufacturing, transportation, and wearing surface construction. The results of the environmental assessment showed that all studied asphalt mixtures do not offer any improvement in all impact categories, and three modified asphalt mixtures have a slight negative effect in all impact categories. The composite mixture has the highest negative effect of the studied three modified asphalt mixtures in all categories except in the marine aquatic ecotoxicity potential category and freshwater aquatic ecotoxicity potential category, where the lignin modified asphalt mixture has the highest negative effect in these two categories but has the best environmental impacts on most of other impact categories. Furthermore, the negative effect caused by composite asphalt mixtures is minimal and thus can be used to improve the overall performance of asphalt pavement.
High-Temperature Chemical Stability of Cr(III) Oxide Refractories in the Presence of Calcium Aluminate Cement
Authors: Xu Tengteng , Xu Yibiao , Liao Ning , Li Yawei , Nath Mithun
Published: November 2021

Al2O3-CaO-Cr2O3 castables are used in various furnaces due to excellent corrosion resistance and sufficient early strength, but toxic Cr(VI) generation during service remains a concern. Here, we investigated the relative reactivity of analogous Cr(III) phases such as Cr2O3, (Al1−xCrx)2O3 and in situ Cr(III) solid solution with the calcium aluminate cement under an oxidizing atmosphere at various temperatures. The aim is to comprehend the relative Cr(VI) generation in the low-cement castables (Al2O3-CaO-Cr2O3-O2 system) and achieve an environment-friendly application. The solid-state reactions and Cr(VI) formation were investigated using powder XRD, SEM, and leaching tests. Compared to Cr2O3, the stability of (Al1−xCrx)2O3 against CAC was much higher, which improved gradually with the concentration of Al2O3 in (Al1−xCrx)2O3. The substitution of Cr2O3 with (Al1−xCrx)2O3 in the Al2O3-CaO-Cr2O3 castables could completely inhibit the formation of Cr(VI) compound CaCrO4 at 500–1100 °C and could drastically suppress Ca4Al6CrO16 generation at 900 to 1300 °C. The Cr(VI) reduction amounting up to 98.1% could be achieved by replacing Cr2O3 with (Al1−xCrx)2O3 solid solution. However, in situ stabilized Cr(III) phases as a mixture of (Al1−xCrx)2O3 and Ca(Al12−xCrx)O19 solid solution hardly reveal any reoxidation. Moreover, the CA6 was much more stable than CA and CA2, and it did not participate in any chemical reaction with (Al1−xCrx)2O3 solid solution.
3D Printing Optimization for Environmental Sustainability: Experimenting with Materials of Protective Face Shield Frames
Authors: Zgodavová Kristína , Lengyelová Kristína , Bober Peter , Eguren José Alberto , Moreno Amaia
Published: November 2021

The motivation for research on 3D printing of protective face shields was the urgent societal demand for healthcare in the fight against the spread of COVID19 pandemic. Research is based on a literature review that shows that objects produced by additive technologies do not always have consistent quality suitable for the given purpose of use. Besides, they have different effects on the environment and leave different footprints. The overall goal of the research was to find out the most suitable thermoplastic material for printing shield frames in terms of mechanical properties, geometric accuracy, weight, printing time, filament price, and environmental sustainability. Fused deposition modeling (FDM) technology was used for 3D printing, and three different filaments were investigated: polylactic acid (PLA), polyethylene terephthalate (PETG), and polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA). The weighted sum method for multi-objective optimization was used. Finally, PHA material was chosen, mainly due to its environmental sustainability, as it has the most negligible impact on the environment.
The Use of ZrO2 Waste for the Electrolytic Production of Composite Ni–P–ZrO2 Powder
Authors: Niedbała Jolanta , Popczyk Magdalena , Benke Grzegorz , Okła Hubert , Gabor Jadwiga , Wrzalik Roman , Stanula Arkadiusz , Swinarew Andrzej S.
Published: November 2021

Ni–P–ZrO2 composite powder was obtained from a galvanic nickel bath with ZrO2 powder. Production was conducted under galvanostatic conditions. The Ni–P–ZrO2 composite powder was characterized by the presence of ZrO2 particles covered with electrolytical nanocrystalline Ni–P coating. The chemical composition (XRF method), phase structure (XRD method) and morphology (SEM) of Ni–P–ZrO2 and the distribution of elements in the powder were all investigated. Based on the analyses, it was found that the obtained powder contained about 50 weight % Zr and 40 weight % Ni. Phase structure analysis showed that the basic crystalline component of the tested powder is a mixed oxide of zirconium and yttrium Zr0.92Y0.08O1.96. In addition, the sample contains very large amounts of amorphous compounds (Ni–P). The mechanism to produce the composite powder particles is explained on the basis of Ni2+ ions adsorption process on the metal oxide particles. Current flow through the cell forces the movement of particles in the bath. Oxide grains with adsorbed nickel ions were transported to the cathode surface. Ni2+ ions were discharged. The oxide particles were covered with a Ni–P layer and the heavy composite grains of Ni–P–ZrO2 flowed down to the bottom of the cell.
Production and Physical–Mechanical Characterization of Peat Moss (Sphagnum) Insulation Panels
Authors: Kain Günther , Morandini Marco , Stamminger Angela , Granig Thomas , Tudor Eugenia Mariana , Schnabel Thomas , Petutschnigg Alexander
Published: November 2021

Peat moss (sphagnum) is a commonly used sealant, fill, and insulation material in the past. During the efforts to rewet drained moors due to ecological considerations, the technical use of peat moss (sphagnum farming) again became the focus of attention. In the framework of this investigation, insulation panels consisting of peat moss, bound with urea formaldehyde, were produced. Panels manufactured in a wet process and mats bound with textiles were also fabricated. The specimens’ thermal conductivity, water vapor diffusion resistance, modulus of rupture, modulus of elasticity, internal bond, compression resistance, water absorption, and thickness swelling were measured. Physical–mechanical properties were adequate with the resin-bound panels, but not with wet process panels. Moss mats had good characteristics for cavity insulation purposes. The thermal conductivity of the moss panels and mats was found to be lowest with a density of 50 kg/m3, accounting for 0.04 W/m·K. The results show that peat moss is a promising resource for production insulation panels, because their thermal conductivity and mechanical stability are comparable to other insulation materials.
The Probability Flow in the Stock Market and Spontaneous Symmetry Breaking in Quantum Finance
Authors: Arraut Ivan , Lobo Marques João Alexandre , Gomes Sergio
Published: November 2021

The spontaneous symmetry breaking phenomena applied to Quantum Finance considers that the martingale state in the stock market corresponds to a ground (vacuum) state if we express the financial equations in the Hamiltonian form. The original analysis for this phenomena completely ignores the kinetic terms in the neighborhood of the minimal of the potential terms. This is correct in most of the cases. However, when we deal with the martingale condition, it comes out that the kinetic terms can also behave as potential terms and then reproduce a shift on the effective location of the vacuum (martingale). In this paper, we analyze the effective symmetry breaking patterns and the connected vacuum degeneracy for these special circumstances. Within the same scenario, we analyze the connection between the flow of information and the multiplicity of martingale states, providing in this way powerful tools for analyzing the dynamic of the stock markets.
A Map of the Poor or a Poor Map?
Authors: Corral Paul , Himelein Kristen , McGee Kevin , Molina Isabel
Published: November 2021

This paper evaluates the performance of different small area estimation methods using model and design-based simulation experiments. Design-based simulation experiments are carried out using the Mexican Intra Censal survey as a census of roughly 3.9 million households from which 500 samples are drawn using a two-stage selection procedure similar to that of Living Standards Measurement Study (LSMS) surveys. The estimation methods considered are that of Elbers, Lanjouw and Lanjouw (2003), the empirical best predictor of Molina and Rao (2010), the twofold nested error extension presented by Marhuenda et al. (2017), and finally an adaptation, presented by Nguyen (2012), that combines unit and area level information, and which has been proposed as an alternative when the available census data is outdated. The findings show the importance of selecting a proper model and data transformation so that model assumptions hold. A proper data transformation can lead to a considerable improvement in mean squared error (MSE). Results from design-based validation show that all small area estimation methods represent an improvement, in terms of MSE, over direct estimates. However, methods that model unit level welfare using only area level information suffer from considerable bias. Because the magnitude and direction of the bias is unknown ex ante, methods relying only on aggregated covariates should be used with caution, but may be an alternative to traditional area level models when these are not applicable.
Sensitivity to Context in Human Interactions
Authors: Waddup Oliver , Blasiak Pawel , Yearsley James M. , Wojciechowski Bartosz W. , Pothos Emmanuel M.
Published: November 2021

Considering two agents responding to two (binary) questions each, we define sensitivity to context as a state of affairs such that responses to a question depend on the other agent’s questions, with the implication that it is not possible to represent the corresponding probabilities with a four-way probability distribution. We report two experiments with a variant of a prisoner’s dilemma task (but without a Nash equilibrium), which examine the sensitivity of participants to context. The empirical results indicate sensitivity to context and add to the body of evidence that prisoner’s dilemma tasks can be constructed so that behavior appears inconsistent with baseline classical probability theory (and the assumption that decisions are described by random variables revealing pre-existing values). We fitted two closely matched models to the results, a classical one and a quantum one, and observed superior fits for the latter. Thus, in this case, sensitivity to context goes hand in hand with (epiphenomenal) entanglement, the key characteristic of the quantum model.
Modelling the Deformation, Recrystallization, and Microstructure-Related Properties in Metals
Authors: Sidor Jurij J.
Published: November 2021

Experimental investigations of the thermomechanical processing (TMP) of metals clearly demonstrate that technological process-tuning parameters have a great influence on the evolution of both microstructure and texture, which determine the chemical, physical, and mechanical properties of metals [...]
XFEM Simulation of Tensile and Fracture Behavior of Ultrafine-Grained Al 6061 Alloy
Authors: Gairola Saurabh , Jayaganthan Rengaswamy
Published: November 2021

In the present work, the tensile and fracture behavior of ultra-fine grained (UFG) Al 6061 alloy was simulated using extended finite element method (XFEM). UFG Al 6061 alloy processed by cryorolling (CR) and accumulative roll bonding (ARB) was investigated in this work. Numerical simulations of two-dimensional and three-dimensional models were performed in “Abaqus 6.14” software using an elastic-plastic approach, and the results obtained were validated with the experimental results. The specimens corresponding to the three-point bend test, compact tension test with center crack, and double edge cracks were analyzed using XFEM (eXtended Finite Element Method) approach. In XFEM, the partition of unity (PU) was used to model a crack in the standard finite element mesh. The tensile and fracture properties obtained from the simulation were in tandem with the experimental data. UFG Al alloy showed higher tensile strength and fracture toughness compared to their bulk solution treated counterparts. Fracture toughness was measured in terms of stress intensity factor and J integral. In CR Al alloys, with increasing thickness reduction, an increase in stress intensity factor and a decrease in the J integral was observed. This behavior is attributed to the increase in strength and decrease in ductility of CR samples with increasing thickness reduction. In ARB Al alloys, the strength and ductility have increased with an increase in number of cycles. It also revealed an increase in both the stress intensity factor and J integral in ARB processed Al alloys with increase in number of cycles, as evident from XFEM simulation results.
Retrospective Observational Study on Microbial Contamination of Ulcerative Foot Lesions in Diabetic Patients
Authors: Petrone Federica , Giribono Anna Maria , Massini Laura , Pietrangelo Laura , Magnifico Irene , Bracale Umberto Marcello , Di Marco Roberto , Bracale Renata , Petronio Petronio Giulio
Published: November 2021

According to recent studies, there are almost 435 million people worldwide with diabetes mellitus. It is estimated that of these 148 million will develop Diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs) during their lifetime, of which 35 to 50% will be infected. In this scenario, the presence and frequency of pathogenic microorganisms and their level of susceptibility to the most frequent classes of antibiotics used to treat this pathological condition from patients with DFUs admitted to the outpatient clinic of vascular surgery of the Federico II University Hospital of Naples from January 2019 to March 2021 were investigated. Furthermore, the diabetic population characteristics under study (i.e., general, clinical, and comorbidities) and the pathogenic bacteria isolated from lesions were also considered. Bacterial strains poorly susceptible to antibiotics were more frequent in polymicrobial infections than in monomicrobial infections. β-Lactams showed the highest levels of resistance, followed by fluoroquinolones, aminoglycosides, and finally macrolides. The main findings of the study demonstrated that the occurrence of resistant microorganisms is the dominant factor in ulcer healing; thus it is essential to investigate the antibiotics’ susceptibility before setting antibiotic therapy to avoid inappropriate prescriptions that would affect the treatment and increase the development and spread of antibiotic resistance.