bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Novel Potential Biomarker of Adult Cardiac Surgery-Associated Acute Kidney Injury
Authors: Chen Zujun , Hu Zhenliang , Hu Yiqing , Sheng Yixuan , Li Yuan , Song Jiangping
Published: November 2020

Background

Acute kidney injury (AKI) occurs in about 30% of patients with cardiac surgery, but the pathogenesis of cardiac surgery-associated acute kidney injury (CSA-AKI) remains unclear and there are no predictive biomarkers or diagnostic criteria specific for CSA-AKI beyond the general clinical variables for AKI like serum creatinine (SCr).

Methods and Results

We measured the plasma levels of 48 cytokines within 24 h after cardiac surgery in a total of 306 adult patients including 204 with and 102 without AKI, and then evaluated the diagnostic efficacy of these cytokines for the development of CSA-AKI via ANOVA and Pearson correlation analysis. Among these 48 cytokines, 20 of them were significantly different in the AKI patients compared with the non-AKI patients. In particularly, 13 cytokines displayed tremendous changes with the P < 1E–5. Moreover, 10 of the 48 cytokines in the plasma were significantly different among the patients with different stages of AKI. Specifically, 6 cytokines exhibited immense differences with the P < 1E–5. Additionally, 7 of the 48 cytokines have the correlation coefficient of r > 0.5 with the postoperative changes of SCr after cardiac surgery.

Conclusion

Taken all the results together, IFN-γ and SCGF-β were the most relevant two cytokines that were not only remarkably changed in adult CSA-AKI patients during the first 24 h after cardiac surgery, but also significantly correlated with the postoperative changes of SCr after cardiac surgery. Therefore, IFN-γ and SCGF-β might be novel predictive plasma biomarker, as well as potential therapeutic targets specific for adult CSA-AKI.
The Role of Leisure Satisfaction in Serious Leisure and Subjective Well-Being: Evidence From Chinese Marathon Runners
Authors: Tian Hai Bo , Qiu Ya Jun , Lin Ye Qiang , Zhou Wen Ting , Fan Chu Yao
Published: November 2020

The topics of serious leisure and subjective well-being have been discussed extensively in previous research. It is generally acknowledged that people prefer to experience deeper satisfaction and happiness through serious participation in leisure-time physical activities. However, it is essential to examine the relationship between serious leisure and subjective well-being in an urban setting as well as the mediating effect of leisure satisfaction. Data were collected from 447 recreational runners at the 2018 Wuxi International Marathon event in China. The study results showed that serious leisure was positively associated with leisure satisfaction and subjective well-being, that leisure satisfaction was positively associated with subjective well-being, and that leisure satisfaction completely mediated the relationship between serious leisure and subjective well-being. Running group membership significantly affected the path from serious leisure to leisure satisfaction, while other demographic variables (e.g., gender and education) did not moderate any paths. These results help explain the intricate relationship between serious leisure and subjective well-being and offer theoretical and managerial implications for serious leisure.
Comparison of Hematological and Biochemical Results Derived from Arterial and Venous Blood Samples in Post-Anesthetic Dogs
Authors: Lee Song Mi , Kang Byung-Jae , Lee Sungin , Kim Wan Hee
Published: November 2020

Collecting blood from an indwelling arterial catheter may reduce stress from repeated venipuncture in patients requiring serial monitoring, but the use of arterial blood for hematological and biochemical testing remains understudied. Here, we compared hematological and biochemical results of arterial and venous blood and evaluated their clinical interchangeability. Blood samples from dogs who had recovered from anesthesia, collected by both arterial catheterization and venipuncture, were analyzed. To assess clinical acceptance between paired samples, the limit of agreement between the values derived from the arterial and venous blood samples was compared with the allowable total error (TEa) recommended for each parameter. We found no significant differences between the arterial and venous sample results for red/white blood cell and platelet counts and hematocrit, blood urea nitrogen, phosphate, total protein, albumin, alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase, total bilirubin, sodium, potassium, and chloride levels, whereas hemoglobin, glucose, creatinine, and calcium levels differed significantly (p < 0.05). Moreover, only gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase and potassium exceeded the recommended TEa. Hematological and biochemical results derived from venous and arterial blood samples are clinically interchangeable in post-anesthetic dogs, with the exception of gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase and potassium; thus, these values should be used with caution.
Molecular Evidence of Bartonella spp. in Rodents: A Study in Pianosa Island, Italy
Authors: Divari Sara , Pregel Paola , Zanet Stefania , Ferroglio Ezio , Giannini Francesca , Scaglione Frine Eleonora , Grinberg Alex , Biolatti Bartolomeo , Bollo Enrico
Published: November 2020

Wild rodents are reservoirs of several Bartonella species that cause human bartonellosis. The aim of this study was to assess the presence of Bartonella spp. DNA in wild rodents in Pianosa island, Italy. Rats (Rattus spp.; n = 15) and field mice (Apodemus spp.; n = 16) were captured and spleen DNA tested for the presence of Bartonella spp. by means of an initial screening using a qPCR amplifying a short segment of the 16S-23S rRNA gene intergenic transcribed spacer region (ITS, ~200 bp) followed by conventional PCR amplification of a longer ITS fragment (~600 bp) and of a citrate synthase (gltA, ~340 bp) gene segment. A total of 25 spleen DNA samples obtained from 31 rodent carcasses (81%) yielded positive qPCR results. Bartonella genus was confirmed by amplicon sequencing. By conventional PCR, eight out of 25 samples (32%) yielded bands on gels consistent with ITS segment, and 6/25 (24%) yielded bands consistent with the gltA locus. Amplicon sequencing identified B. henselae and B. coopersplainsensis in 1/25 (4%), and 4/25 (16%) samples, respectively. Moreover, 5/25 (20%) of Bartonella spp. positive samples showed gltA sequences with about 97% identity to B. grahamii. These results provide support to recently published observations suggesting that B. henselae circulates in wild rodent populations.
Identification of Candidate Genes and Pathways Associated with Obesity-Related Traits in Canines via Gene-Set Enrichment and Pathway-Based GWAS Analysis
Authors: Sheet Sunirmal , Krishnamoorthy Srikanth , Cha Jihye , Choi Soyoung , Choi Bong-Hwan
Published: November 2020

The present study aimed to identify causative loci and genes enriched in pathways associated with canine obesity using a genome-wide association study (GWAS). The GWAS was first performed to identify candidate single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with obesity and obesity-related traits including body weight and blood sugar in 18 different breeds of 153 dogs. A total of 10 and 2 SNPs were found to be significantly (p < 3.74 × 10−7) associated with body weight and blood sugar, respectively. None of the SNPs were identified to be significantly associated with obesity trait. We subsequently followed up the GWAS analysis with gene-set enrichment and pathway analyses. A gene-set with 1057, 1409, and 1243 SNPs annotated to 449, 933 and 820 genes for obesity, body weight, and blood sugar, respectively was created by sub-setting the GWAS result at a threshold of p < 0.01 for the gene-set enrichment analysis. In total, 84 GO and 21 KEGG pathways for obesity, 114 GO and 44 KEGG pathways for blood sugar, 120 GO and 24 KEGG pathways for body weight were found to be enriched. Among the pathways and GO terms, we highlighted five enriched pathways (Wnt signaling pathway, adherens junction, pathways in cancer, axon guidance, and insulin secretion) and seven GO terms (fat cell differentiation, calcium ion binding, cytoplasm, nucleus, phospholipid transport, central nervous system development, and cell surface) that were found to be shared among all the traits. Our data provide insights into the genes and pathways associated with obesity and obesity-related traits.
Prevalence and Genomic Characterization of Brucella canis Strains Isolated from Kennels, Household, and Stray Dogs in Chile
Authors: Galarce Nicolás , Escobar Beatriz , Martínez Eduard , Alvarado Natalia , Peralta Gabriela , Dettleff Phillip , Dorner Jessica , Martínez Víctor , Borie Consuelo
Published: November 2020

Canine brucellosis caused by Brucella canis is a zoonotic disease that causes reproductive alterations in dogs, such as infertility, abortion, and epididymitis. This pathogen is especially prevalent in South America, and due to the lack of official control programs and the growing trend of adopting dogs it constitutes a public health risk that must be addressed. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of B. canis infection in kennel, shelter, and household dogs and to characterize the genomic properties of circulating strains, including ure and virB operons and omp25/31 genes. Samples from 771 dogs were obtained, and the infection was detected by blood culture and/or serology in 7.0% of the animals. The complete ure and virB operons and the omp25/31 genes were detected. Interestingly, we found different single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in some of the analyzed genes, which could mean a change in the fitness or virulence of these strains. This study provides further evidence about dogs as a source of B. canis strains that can infect people. This also highlights the need to implement official control programs, including the mandatory testing of dogs, especially stray dogs, before adoption.
Potential of Mulberry Leaf Biomass and Its Flavonoids to Improve Production and Health in Ruminants: Mechanistic Insights and Prospects
Authors: Hassan Faiz-ul , Arshad Muhammad Adeel , Li Mengwei , Rehman Muhammad Saif-ur , Loor Juan J. , Huang Jiaxiang
Published: November 2020

Leaf biomass from the mulberry plant (genus Morus and family Moraceae) is considered a potential resource for livestock feeding. Mulberry leaves (MLs) contain high protein (14.0–34.2%) and metabolizable energy (1130–2240 kcal/kg) with high dry matter (DM) digestibility (75–85%) and palatability. Flavonoid contents of MLs confer unique antioxidant properties and can potentially help alleviate oxidative stress in animals during stressful periods, such as neonatal, weaning, and periparturient periods. In addition, mulberry leaf flavonoids (MLFs) possess antimicrobial properties and can effectively decrease the population of ruminal methanogens and protozoa to reduce enteric methane (CH4) production. Owing to its rich flavonoid content, feeding MLs increases fiber digestion and utilization leading to enhanced milk production in ruminants. Dietary supplementation with MLFs alters ruminal fermentation kinetics by increasing total volatile fatty acids, propionate, and ammonia concentrations. Furthermore, they can substantially increase the population of specific cellulolytic bacteria in the rumen. Owing to their structural homology with steroid hormones, the MLFs can potentially modulate different metabolic pathways particularly those linked with energy homeostasis. This review aims to highlight the potential of ML and its flavonoids to modulate the ruminal microbiome, fermentation, and metabolic status to enhance productive performance and health in ruminants while reducing CH4 emission.
Correlation of Prostatic Artery Blood Flow Assessed by Doppler Ultrasonography with Semen Characteristics in Beagle Dogs
Authors: Luño Victoria , Servián Marina , Martínez Felisa , Borobia María , González Noelia , Gil Lydia
Published: November 2020

Pulsed-wave Doppler ultrasonography (PwD) is a method used to rapidly and noninvasively assess blood flow dynamics of the canine prostate. Modifications in gland vascularization can affect seminal plasma production and consequently sperm quality. The aim of this study was to determine the normal blood flow parameters of the prostate artery in beagle dogs and to analyze the correlations between vascular flow and semen quality characteristics. PwD was performed on five beagle dogs (5–6 years) measuring vascular features in four different locations of the prostatic artery (cranial, subcapsular, parenchymal and caudal); the measured features were peak systolic velocity (PSV), end-diastolic velocity (EDV), resistive index (RI) and pulsatility index (PI). Ejaculates were obtained using digital manipulation and semen quality was evaluated by determining macroscopic (total volume, sperm-rich fraction volume, color and pH) and microscopic (sperm motility, morphology, viability and acrosome integrity) characteristics. The values of PSV, PI and RI in cranial and caudal prostatic arteries were significantly higher than in subcapsular and parenchymal arteries (p < 0.05). Moreover, a positive correlation of PSV value in the cranial region of the prostatic artery with total ejaculate volume (p < 0.01, r = 0.612) and sperm concentration (p < 0.01, r = 0.587) was determined. PI index was negatively correlated with sperm concentration (p < 0.01, r = −0.709). In conclusion, the results suggest that the prostatic artery blood flow parameters can affect macroscopic semen quality characteristics in healthy dogs.
Comparison of the Effects of Nonprotein and Protein Nitrogen on Apoptosis and Autophagy of Rumen Epithelial Cells in Goats
Authors: Kong Zhiwei , Zhou Chuanshe , Kang Jinhe , Tan Zhiliang
Published: November 2020

Protein nutrition is particularly important for the self-renewal processes of gastrointestinal epithelial cells. The self-renewal of cells is inseparable from the interaction between apoptosis and autophagy. However, there are few reports on the relationship between different nitrogen sources and apoptosis/autophagy. In this study, the relative protein expression of Bcl-2-associated X protein(Bax), caspase-3, and p62 was significantly higher (p < 0.05), while that of Bcl-xl, Bcl-2, Beclin1, and Microtuble-associated protein light chain 3 (LC3-II) was significantly lower (p < 0.05), in the NH4Cl group in comparison with the NH4Cl + 4-phenylbutyric acid (4PBA) group. In addition, the relative protein expression of Bax and caspase-3 was significantly higher (p < 0.05), while that of Bcl-2 and Bcl-xl was decreased significantly (p < 0.05), in the NH4Cl + 3-Methyladenine (3-MA) group and the methionine (Met) + 3-MA group in comparison with the NH4Cl group. Furthermore, the relative protein expression of Beclin1 and LC3B-II was significantly lower (p < 0.05), while that of p62 was significantly higher (p < 0.05), in the NH4Cl + Z-VAD-FMK group and the Met + Z-VAD-FMK group in comparison with the NH4Cl group. In conclusion, our results suggested that endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress played a critical role in the crosstalk between apoptosis and autophagy induced by NH4Cl and Met. Autophagy had a more obvious ameliorative effect on ruminal epithelial cell apoptosis after treatment with nonprotein nitrogen than after treatment with protein nitrogen. These findings may reveal the molecular mechanism of apoptosis and autophagy induced by nonprotein nitrogen and protein nitrogen.
Determining the Importance of Macro and Trace Dietary Minerals on Growth and Nutrient Retention in Juvenile Penaeus monodon
Authors: Truong Ha H. , Moss Amy F. , Bourne Nicholas A. , Simon Cedric J.
Published: November 2020

Twelve minerals were screened to identify key dietary minerals important for Penaeus monodon growth. The minerals selected included boron, calcium plus phosphorus (assessed in tandem at a 1:1 ratio), cobalt, copper, magnesium, manganese, potassium, selenium, sodium, strontium and zinc. Twelve purified casein/gelatin-based diets were formulated and contained minerals at two levels: below expected requirements, as attributed by the basal formulation (−) and above expected requirements by adding inorganic minerals (+). The two levels were allocated to dietary treatments in juvenile prawns in accordance with the PB design. A two-level screening analysis was employed where effect of each mineral at level − or + across twelve diets were compared to identify the minerals of importance for culture performance of juvenile prawns. Calcium plus phosphorus (at a 1:1 ratio), magnesium, boron, manganese, selenium and zinc produced the greatest positive effects on weight gain, feed conversion efficiency, biomass gain and nutrient/energy retention. Particularly, boron and manganese significantly increased retention of key macronutrients and energy including gross energy, crude protein and crude lipid. Our study demonstrates the importance of several macro and trace minerals in prawn diets and the pressing need to refine their requirements for P. monodon.
Development of 340-GHz Transceiver Front End Based on GaAs Monolithic Integration Technology for THz Active Imaging Array
Authors: Liu Yang , Zhang Bo , Feng Yinian , Lv Xiaolin , Ji Dongfeng , Niu Zhongqian , Yang Yilin , Zhao Xiangyang , Fan Yong
Published: November 2020

Frequency multipliers and mixers based on Schottky barrier diodes (SBDs) are widely used in terahertz (THz) imaging applications. However, they still face obstacles, such as poor performance consistency caused by discrete flip-chip diodes, as well as low efficiency and large receiving noise temperature. It is very hard to meet the requirement of multiple channels in THz imaging array. In order to solve this problem, 12-μm-thick gallium arsenide (GaAs) monolithic integrated technology was adopted. In the process, the diode chip shared the same GaAs substrate with the transmission line, and the diode’s pads were seamlessly connected to the transmission line without using silver glue. A three-dimensional (3D) electromagnetic (EM) model of the diode chip was established in Ansys High Frequency Structure Simulator (HFSS) to accurately characterize the parasitic parameters. Based on the model, by quantitatively analyzing the influence of the surface channel width and the diode anode junction area on the best efficiency, the final parameters and dimensions of the diode were further optimized and determined. Finally, three 0.34 THz triplers and subharmonic mixers (SHMs) were manufactured, assembled, and measured for demonstration, all of which comprised a waveguide housing, a GaAs circuit integrated with diodes, and other external connectors. Experimental results show that all the triplers and SHMs had great performance consistency. Typically, when the input power was 100 mW, the output power of the THz tripler was greater than 1 mW in the frequency range of 324 GHz to 352 GHz, and a peak efficiency of 6.8% was achieved at 338 GHz. The THz SHM exhibited quite a low double sideband (DSB) noise temperature of 900~1500 K and a DSB conversion loss of 6.9~9 dB over the frequency range of 325~352 GHz. It is indicated that the GaAs monolithic integrated process, diodes modeling, and circuits simulation method in this paper provide an effective way to design THz frequency multiplier and mixer circuits.
Efficient Algorithm for Providing Live Vulnerability Assessment in Corporate Network Environment
Authors: Walkowski Michał , Krakowiak Maciej , Oko Jacek , Sujecki Sławomir
Published: November 2020

The time gap between public announcement of a vulnerability—its detection and reporting to stakeholders—is an important factor for cybersecurity of corporate networks. A large delay preceding an elimination of a critical vulnerability presents a significant risk to the network security and increases the probability of a sustained damage. Thus, accelerating the process of vulnerability identification and prioritization helps to red the probability of a successful cyberattack. This work introduces a flexible system that collects information about all known vulnerabilities present in the system, gathers data from organizational inventory database, and finally integrates and processes all collected information. Thanks to application of parallel processing and non relational databases, the results of this process are available subject to a negligible delay. The subsequent vulnerability prioritization is performed automatically on the basis of the calculated CVSS 2.0 and 3.1 scores for all scanned assets. The environmental CVSS vector component is evaluated accurately thanks to the fact that the environmental data is imported directly from the organizational inventory database.
VaNetChain: A Framework for Trustworthy Exchanges of Information in VANETs Based on Blockchain and a Virtualization Layer
Authors: Vintimilla-Tapia Paúl , Bravo-Torres Jack , López-Nores Martín , Gallegos-Segovia Pablo , Ordóñez-Morales Esteban , Ramos-Cabrer Manuel
Published: November 2020

Vehicular ad hoc networks (VANETs) face challenges related to the reliability of the data exchanged and the unstability of the communication links. These shortcomings have hampered the development of the long-awaited applications that would turn roads into a smart environment. We present a framework to deploy such services, in which a virtualization layer ensures means to efficiently deliver messages between vehicles and roadside units (RSUs) and, on top of that, blockchain technology is used to enable features of data integrity, traceability, and reliability that cannot be furnished by existing consensus and reputation mechanisms. A simulation experiment is included to determine the optimal number of RSUs to be installed as supporting infrastructure in a city.
Freshness Monitoring of Packaged Vegetables
Authors: Beshai Heba , Sarabha Gursimran , Rathi Pranali , Alam Arif , Deen M.
Published: November 2020

Smart packaging is an emerging technology that has a great potential in solving conventional food packaging problems and in meeting the evolving packaged vegetables market needs. The advantages of using such a system lies in extending the shelf life of products, ensuring the safety and the compliance of these packages while reducing the food waste; hence, lessening the negative environmental impacts. Many new concepts were developed to serve this purpose, especially in the meat and fish industry with less focus on fruits and vegetables. However, making use of these evolving technologies in packaging of vegetables will yield in many positive outcomes. In this review, we discuss the new technologies and approaches used, or have the potential to be used, in smart packaging of vegetables. We describe the technical aspects and the commercial applications of the techniques used to monitor the quality and the freshness of vegetables. Factors affecting the freshness and the spoilage of vegetables are summarized. Then, some of the technologies used in smart packaging such as sensors, indicators, and data carriers that are integrated with sensors, to monitor and provide a dynamic output about the quality and safety of the packaged produce are discussed. Comparison between various intelligent systems is provided followed by a brief review of active packaging systems. Finally, challenges, legal aspects, and limitations facing this smart packaging industry are discussed together with outlook and future improvements.
Dispatchable Substation for Operation and Control of Renewable Energy Resources
Authors: Yoo Yeuntae , Jung Seungmin , Kang Sungwoo , Song Sungyoon , Lee Jaehyeong , Han Changhee , Jang Gilsoo
Published: November 2020

Renewable generation in power systems has proved to be challenging for system operators owing to the increasing levels of penetration. The operation of power systems currently requires additional flexibility and reserves due to the intermittency and unpredictability of renewable generators. However, it is difficult to precisely predict and control the stochastic nature of renewable sources; nevertheless, its capacity continues to increase. To monitor and control renewable generators efficiently, the entire system needs to be established in a hierarchical order. This study proposed the concept of a substation that is uniquely designed for renewable interconnection. The purpose of this substation is simple: to make the renewable generators dispatchable to operators such that each group of renewable generators is sufficiently stable to be considered as conventional generators. For this purpose, methods for sizing and controlling energy storage system are proposed based on forecasts and error distributions.
Compressive Ghost Imaging of the Moving Object Using the Low-Order Moments
Authors: Yang Dongyue , Chang Chen , Wu Guohua , Luo Bin , Yin Longfei
Published: November 2020

Ghost imaging reconstructs the image based on the second-order correlation of the repeatedly measured light fields. When the observed object is moving, the consecutive sampling procedure leads to a motion blur in the reconstructed images. To overcome this defect, we propose a novel method of ghost imaging to obtain the motion information of moving object with a small number of measurements, in which the object could be regarded as relatively static. Our method exploits the idea of compressive sensing for a superior image reconstruction, combining with the low-order moments of the images to directly extract the motion information, which has the advantage of saving time and computation. With the gradual motion estimation and compensation during the imaging process, the experimental results show the proposed method could effectively overcome the motion blur, also possessing the advantage of reducing the necessary measurement number for each motion estimation and improving the reconstructed image quality.
Influence of Powder and Liquid Multi-Wall Carbon Nanotubes on Hydration and Dispersion of the Cementitious Composites
Authors: Lee Gun-Cheol , Kim Youngmin , Hong Seongwon
Published: November 2020

Two types of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs), powder and liquid, were added to cementitious composites to build self-sensing concrete. To properly evaluate and quantify the effect of MWCNTs on electrical resistance, various tests, including isothermal conduction calorimetry, were carried out. One of primary issues of self-monitoring concrete is dispersion, so ultrasonication was used to properly mix the CNTs in the dispersion solution, and silica fume was employed to make the specimens. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Raman spectroscopy, and porosity analyses were performed to investigate the physical properties of the composites and to confirm uniform dispersion. The distance of the electrical resistance was also measured, and the dosages and types of MWCNTs were analyzed.
Life Cycle Assessment of Sugar Palm Fiber Reinforced-Sago Biopolymer Composite Takeout Food Container
Authors: Salwa H. N. , Sapuan S. M. , Mastura M. T. , Zuhri M. Y. M.
Published: November 2020

In the development of packaging products, the considerations are not limited to the food shelf-life, safety, and practicality, but also environmental sustainability. This paper reports a life cycle assessment (LCA) analysis of a proposed natural fiber-reinforced biopolymer composite takeout food container. The study focuses on the damage assessment of the whole product system, including disposal scenarios of the thermoformed sugar palm fiber (SPF)-reinforced sago starch composite takeout food container. The analysis performed was to anticipate the environmental impact of the cradle-to-grave approach. The results exhibited the total human health damage of 2.63 × 10−5 DALY and ecosystem damage of 9.46 × 10−8 species.year per kg of containers. The main contributor was the carbon dioxide emission from fossil fuel combustion for energy generation that contributed to climate change and caused human health and the ecosystem damages with low-level metrics of 1.3 × 10−5 DALY and 7.39 × 10−8 species.yr per kg of containers, respectively. The most contributed substances in the ‘Particulate matter formation’ impact categories that caused respiratory diseases were from air/nitrogen oxides, air/particulates, <2.5 µm, and air/sulphur dioxide with the metrics of 2.93 × 10−6 DALY, 2.75 × 10−6 DALY, and 1.9 × 10−6 DALY per kg containers, correspondingly. Whereas, for the ‘Agricultural land occupation’, which contributed to ecosystem damage, almost the total contributions came from raw/occupation, forest, intensive with the metric of 1.93 × 10−9 species.yr per kg of containers. Nevertheless, from the results, all impact categories impacted below than 0.0001 DALY for the Human Health damage category and below 0.00001 species.yr for the ecosystem damage category. These results would provide important insights to companies and manufacturers in commercializing the fully biobased takeout food containers.
Numerical Investigation on the Water Entry of Several Different Bow-Flared Sections
Authors: Wang Qiang , Zhang Boran , Yu Pengyao , Li Guangzhao , Yuan Zhijiang
Published: November 2020

The bow-flared section may be simplified in the prediction of slamming loads and whipping responses of ships. However, the difference of hydrodynamic characteristics between the water entry of the simplified sections and that of the original section has not been well documented. In this study, the water entry of several different bow-flared sections was numerically investigated using the computational fluid dynamics method based on Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes equations. The motion of the grid around the section was realized using the overset mesh method. Reasonable grid size and time step were determined through convergence studies. The application of the numerical method in the water entry of bow-flared sections was validated by comparing the present predictions with previous numerical and experimental results. Through a comparative study on the water entry of one original section and three simplified sections, the influences of simplification of the bow-flared section on hydrodynamic characteristics, free surface evolution, pressure field, and impact force were investigated and are discussed here.
Active Control Method Based on Equivalent Stiffness and Damping Coefficient for an Electromagnetic Isolation System
Authors: Zhang Lei , Zhuan Xiangtao
Published: November 2020

For improving the performance of an electromagnetic isolation system with reasonable parameters and avoid the parameter tuning problem of a PID controller, an active control method is put forward based on equivalent stiffness and damping coefficient. In this paper, the range of equivalent stiffness coefficient and damping coefficient of the electromagnetic force are calculated based on the required range of dynamic performance indexes. According to the nonlinear expression between electromagnetic force and coil current and gap, the relationships between the coil current and equivalent stiffness coefficient and damping coefficient are established. Then, the equivalent stiffness coefficient and damping coefficient can be satisfied by the controlled current in different gaps for meeting the required dynamic performance indexes. For reducing the maximum overshoot and the number of oscillations of the system, the active control method with the piecewise equivalent stiffness and damping coefficient is proposed based on the piecewise control strategy to realize the variable control parameters of the isolation system. Simulation and experimental results verify that the control method based on the equivalent stiffness and damping coefficient can obtain the desired dynamic performance indexes and the proposed control method with the piecewise strategy can not only reduce the setting time of the system, but also ensure the stability of the system.
Effects of Changes in the Frankfort Horizontal Plane Definition on the Three-Dimensional Cephalometric Evaluation of Symmetry
Authors: Mangal Utkarsh , Hwang Jae Joon , Jo Heon , Lee Sung Min , Jung Yun-Hoa , Cho Bong-Hae , Cha Jung-Yul , Choi Sung-Hwan
Published: November 2020

The plane formed by the intersection of bilateral porions (PoR and PoL) and left orbitale (OrL) is conventionally defined as the Frankfort horizontal (FH) plane. We aim to test the influence of the FH plane definition on a 3D cephalometric assessment. We selected 38 adult patients (20 males, 18 females; average age: 22.87 ± 5.17 years) without any gross asymmetry from retrospective records and traced and analyzed their cone-beam computed tomographic images. The findings were categorized into the following four groups: FH1: conventional; FH2: PoR, PoL, right orbitale (OrR); FH3: OrR, OrL, PoL; FH4: OrR, OrL, PoR. The average menton (Me) deviation from the MSP was statistically significant for the FH1 group (0.56 ± 0.27 mm; p < 0.001), compared to the FH3 (1.37 ± 1.23 mm) and FH4 (1.33 ± 1.16 mm) groups. The spatial orientation level (SOL) of the FH plane showed a marked difference (p < 0.05) between the FH2 (0.602° ± 0.503°) and FH4 (0.944° ± 0.778°) groups. The SOL of the MSP was comparatively small (p < 0.001) for FH2 (0.015° ± 0.023°) in comparison to both FH 3 (0.644° ± 0.546°) and FH 4 (0.627° ± 0.516°). Therefore, the FH plane definition can significantly influence the interpretation of cephalometric findings. Future studies should focus on standardization to improve the reliability and reproducibility of 3D cephalometry.
Direct Annihilation Position Classification Based on Deep Learning Using Paired Cherenkov Detectors: A Monte Carlo Study
Authors: Ote Kibo , Ota Ryosuke , Hashimoto Fumio , Hasegawa Tomoyuki
Published: November 2020

To apply deep learning to estimate the three-dimensional interaction position of a Cherenkov detector, an experimental measurement of the true depth of interaction is needed. This requires significant time and effort. Therefore, in this study, we propose a direct annihilation position classification method based on deep learning using paired Cherenkov detectors. The proposed method does not explicitly estimate the interaction position or time-of-flight information and instead directly estimates the annihilation position from the raw data of photon information measured by paired Cherenkov detectors. We validated the feasibility of the proposed method using Monte Carlo simulation data of point sources. A total of 125 point sources were arranged three-dimensionally with 5 mm intervals, and two Cherenkov detectors were placed face-to-face, 50 mm apart. The Cherenkov detector consisted of a monolithic PbF2 crystal with a size of 40 × 40 × 10 mm3 and a photodetector with a single photon time resolution (SPTR) of 0 to 100 picosecond (ps) and readout pitch of 0 to 10 mm. The proposed method obtained a classification accuracy of 80% and spatial resolution with a root mean square error of less than 1.5 mm when the SPTR was 10 ps and the readout pitch was 3 mm.
Improved Loss-of-Lubrication Performance with Lubricants Containing Nano-Graphene Platelets and Ionic Liquids
Authors: Murthy Nikhil , Rai Amarendra K. , Berkebile Stephen
Published: November 2020

In this study, nano-graphene platelets (NG) and a phosphonium-phosphate-based ionic liquid (IL) were studied as additives to rotorcraft gearbox oil to improve the resistance to scuffing under starved lubricated conditions. Behavior under a loss of lubrication was evaluated using a high-speed ball-on-disk tribometer and a reciprocating cylindrical pin-on-disk tribometer. In addition, the scuffing load and friction over a wide range of sliding and entrainment speeds was determined. On the high-speed ball-on-disk tribometer, an oil blend containing both NG and IL additives was able to operate two times longer than an unadditivized oil before scuffing after the lubrication supply was removed. The increase in time to scuffing was larger for two additives together than the sum of their parts. The additives showed an increase in scuffing load individually but were detrimental when mixed together with a lower scuffing load. The combination of NG and IL show promise as additives to increase the operation time of gears during loss of lubrication, however at the potential cost of decreasing the load-carrying capacity of the oil.
Towards A Geo-Hydro-Mechanical Characterization of Landslide Classes: Preliminary Results
Authors: Cotecchia Federica , Santaloia Francesca , Tagarelli Vito
Published: November 2020

Nowadays, landslides still cause both deaths and heavy economic losses around the world, despite the development of risk mitigation measures, which are often not effective; this is mainly due to the lack of proper analyses of landslide mechanisms. As such, in order to achieve a decisive advancement for sustainable landslide risk management, our knowledge of the processes that generate landslide phenomena has to be broadened. This is possible only through a multidisciplinary analysis that covers the complexity of landslide mechanisms that is a fundamental part of the design of the mitigation measure. As such, this contribution applies the “stage-wise” methodology, which allows for geo-hydro-mechanical (GHM) interpretations of landslide processes, highlighting the importance of the synergy between geological-geomorphological analysis and hydro-mechanical modeling of the slope processes for successful interpretations of slope instability, the identification of the causes and the prediction of the evolution of the process over time. Two case studies are reported, showing how to apply GHM analyses of landslide mechanisms. After presenting the background methodology, this contribution proposes a research project aimed at the GHM characterization of landslides, soliciting the support of engineers in the selection of the most sustainable and effective mitigation strategies for different classes of landslides. This proposal is made on the assumption that only GHM classification of landslides can provide engineers with guidelines about instability processes which would be useful for the implementation of sustainable and effective landslide risk mitigation strategies.
Constitutive Analysis of the Anisotropic Flow Behavior of Commercially Pure Titanium
Authors: Kim Daehwan , Lee Taekyung , Lee Chong Soo
Published: November 2020

Plastic anisotropy is an important issue for metals possessing a hexagonal close-packed structure. This study investigated the anisotropic deformation characteristics of commercially pure titanium with basal texture. A quasi-static uniaxial compression gave rise to clear differences in flow curves and strain-hardening rates depending on the loading direction. This study employed a constitutive approach to quantify the contribution of (i) dynamic Hall–Petch strengthening, (ii) dislocation pile-up, and (iii) texture hardening with respect to the total flow stress. Such an approach calculated a flow stress comparable to the measured value, providing logical validity. The microstructural and mechanical differences depending on the loading direction (i.e., anisotropy) were successfully interpreted based on this approach.
Standardized Drought Indices for Pre-Summer Drought Assessment in Tropical Areas
Authors: Romero David , Alfaro Eric , Orellana Roger , Hernandez Cerda Maria-Engracia
Published: November 2020

The main climatic indices used for the determination of pre-summer drought severity were developed for temperate zones with very different climatic conditions from those found in the tropical climate zones, particularly with respect to seasonal rainfall variations. The temporal evolution of pre-summer drought leads the authors to compute the indices for each year over a defined period according to the climatic normals of each meteorological station and to consider the months inside the dry episode differently, according to the law of emptying the water reserves. As a function of this, standardized drought indices are proposed for the evaluation of the pre-summer drought in tropical zone. Two new indices were tested: one developed from precipitation and the other also considering temperature. These indices were validated by correlation with Advanced very-high-resolution radiometer (AVHRR) normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) time series and used to identify the most severe drought conditions in the Yucatan Peninsula. The comparison between the indices and their temporal variations highlighted the importance of temperature in the most critical events and left indications of the impact of global warming on the phenomenon.
Characteristics of Rain and Sea Spray Droplet Size Distribution at a Marine Tower
Authors: Okachi Hiroki , Yamada Tomohito J. , Baba Yasuyuki , Kubo Teruhiro
Published: November 2020

The effects of sea spray on open-ocean rainfall measurements-the drop size distribution (DSD) and rainfall intensities-were studied using a state-of-the-art optical disdrometer. The number of rain droplets less than 1 mm in diameter is affected by several factors, including the type of rainfall and seasonality. Over the ocean, small rain and large sea spray droplets co-exist in the same diameter size class (0.072 to 1000 mm); hence, sea spray creates uncertainty when seeking to characterize the drop size distribution (DSD) of rain droplets over the ocean. We measured droplet sizes at a marine tower using a state-of-the-art optical disdrometer, a tipping-bucket rain gauge, a wind anemometer, and a time-lapse camera, over a period that included typhoon Krosa of 2019. The number of rain droplets of diameter less than 1 mm increased monotonically as the horizontal wind speed became stronger. Thus, the shape parameter μ of the Ulbrich distribution decreased. This decreasing trend can be recognized as an increase in sea spray. During no-rainfall hours (indicated by rain gauges on the ocean tower and nearby land), sea spray DSDs were obtained at various horizontal wind speeds. Furthermore, the proportions of sea spray to rainfall at different rainfall intensities and horizontal wind speeds were determined; at a horizontal wind speed of 16 to 20 m s−1, the average sea spray proportions were 82.7%, 19.1%, and 5.3% during total rainfall periods of 2.1 mm h−1, 8.9 mm h−1, and 32.1 mm h−1, respectively. Representation of sea spray DSDs, as well as rainfall DSDs, is a key element of calculating real rainfall intensities over the open ocean.
Modeling of Atmospheric Boundary Layers at Turbulence-Resolving Grid Spacings
Authors: Muñoz-Esparza Domingo , Sauer Jeremy A. , Shin Hyeyum Hailey
Published: November 2020

The atmospheric boundary layer (ABL) represents the lowest portion of the atmosphere, which is in direct contact with the Earth’s surface and where most of the activities impacting human lives take place [...]
The Effects of Ozone on Herbivore-Induced Volatile Emissions of Cultivated and Wild Brassica Rapa
Authors: Brosset Agnès , Saunier Amélie , Mofikoya Adedayo O. , Kivimäenpää Minna , Blande James D.
Published: November 2020

Since preindustrial times, concentrations of tropospheric ozone, a phytotoxic pollutant, have risen in the Northern Hemisphere. Selective breeding has intentionally modified crop plant traits to improve yield but may have altered plant defenses against abiotic and biotic stresses. This study aims to determine if cultivated and wild plants respond differently to herbivory under elevated ozone. We studied the volatile emissions of four cultivated Brassica rapa ssp. oleifera varieties and one wild population after exposure to ozone or Plutella xylostella larval feeding either individually or together. Ozone modulated the volatiles emitted in response to herbivory by all plant varieties to different extents. We did not observe a clear difference in the effects of ozone on wild and cultivated plants, but cultivated plants had higher volatile emission rates in response to herbivory and ozone had either no effect or increased the herbivore-induced response. Larvae tended to feed more on elevated ozone-treated plants; however, we could not link the increase of feeding to the change in volatile emissions. Our study complements recent studies reporting that selective breeding might not have weakened chemical defenses to biotic and abiotic stresses of cultivated plants.
Deep Learning for Osteoporosis Classification Using Hip Radiographs and Patient Clinical Covariates
Authors: Yamamoto Norio , Sukegawa Shintaro , Kitamura Akira , Goto Ryosuke , Noda Tomoyuki , Nakano Keisuke , Takabatake Kiyofumi , Kawai Hotaka , Nagatsuka Hitoshi , Kawasaki Keisuke , Furuki Yoshihiko , Ozaki Toshifumi
Published: November 2020

This study considers the use of deep learning to diagnose osteoporosis from hip radiographs, and whether adding clinical data improves diagnostic performance over the image mode alone. For objective labeling, we collected a dataset containing 1131 images from patients who underwent both skeletal bone mineral density measurement and hip radiography at a single general hospital between 2014 and 2019. Osteoporosis was assessed from the hip radiographs using five convolutional neural network (CNN) models. We also investigated ensemble models with clinical covariates added to each CNN. The accuracy, precision, recall, specificity, negative predictive value (npv), F1 score, and area under the curve (AUC) score were calculated for each network. In the evaluation of the five CNN models using only hip radiographs, GoogleNet and EfficientNet b3 exhibited the best accuracy, precision, and specificity. Among the five ensemble models, EfficientNet b3 exhibited the best accuracy, recall, npv, F1 score, and AUC score when patient variables were included. The CNN models diagnosed osteoporosis from hip radiographs with high accuracy, and their performance improved further with the addition of clinical covariates from patient records.
Liquid Metal Based Flexible and Implantable Biosensors
Authors: Zhang Mingkuan , Wang Xiaohong , Huang Zhiping , Rao Wei
Published: November 2020

Biosensors are the core elements for obtaining significant physiological information from living organisms. To better sense life information, flexible biosensors and implantable sensors that are highly compatible with organisms are favored by researchers. Moreover, materials for preparing a new generation of flexible sensors have also received attention. Liquid metal is a liquid-state metallic material with a low melting point at or around room temperature. Owing to its high electrical conductivity, low toxicity, and superior fluidity, liquid metal is emerging as a highly desirable candidate in biosensors. This paper is dedicated to reviewing state-of-the-art applications in biosensors that are expounded from seven aspects, including pressure sensor, strain sensor, gas sensor, temperature sensor, electrical sensor, optical sensor, and multifunctional sensor, respectively. The fundamental scientific and technological challenges lying behind these recommendations are outlined. Finally, the perspective of liquid metal-based biosensors is present, which stimulates the upcoming design of biosensors.