bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Moore–Gibson–Thompson Photothermal Model with a Proportional Caputo Fractional Derivative for a Rotating Magneto-Thermoelastic Semiconducting Material
Authors: Moaaz Osama , Abouelregal Ahmed E. , Alesemi Meshari
Published: August 2022

By considering the Moore–Gibson–Thompson (MGT) equation, the current work introduces a modified fractional photothermal model. The construction model is based on the proportional Caputo fractional derivative, which is a new definition of the fractional derivative that is simple and works well. In addition, the theory of heat transfer in semiconductor materials was used in the context of optical excitation transfer and plasma processes. The proposed model was used to investigate the interaction of light and heat within a magnetized semiconductor sphere rotating at a constant angular speed. The Laplace transform was used to obtain solutions for optical excitation induced by physical field variables. Using a numerical method, Laplace transforms can be reversed. The figures show the effects of carrier lifetime, conformable fractional operator, and rotation on thermal and mechanical plasma waves, which are shown in the graphs. The theory’s predictions were compared and extensively tested against other existing models.
Fuzzy Partial Metric Spaces and Fixed Point Theorems
Authors: Aygün Halis , Güner Elif , Miñana Juan-José , Valero Oscar
Published: August 2022

Partial metrics constitute a generalization of classical metrics for which self-distance may not be zero. They were introduced by S.G. Matthews in 1994 in order to provide an adequate mathematical framework for the denotational semantics of programming languages. Since then, different works were devoted to obtaining counterparts of metric fixed-point results in the more general context of partial metrics. Nevertheless, in the literature was shown that many of these generalizations are actually obtained as a corollary of their aforementioned classical counterparts. Recently, two fuzzy versions of partial metrics have been introduced in the literature. Such notions may constitute a future framework to extend already established fuzzy metric fixed point results to the partial metric context. The goal of this paper is to retrieve the conclusion drawn in the aforementioned paper by Haghia et al. to the fuzzy partial metric context. To achieve this goal, we construct a fuzzy metric from a fuzzy partial metric. The topology, Cauchy sequences, and completeness associated with this fuzzy metric are studied, and their relationships with the same notions associated to the fuzzy partial metric are provided. Moreover, this fuzzy metric helps us to show that many fixed point results stated in fuzzy metric spaces can be extended directly to the fuzzy partial metric framework. An outstanding difference between our approach and the classical technique introduced by Haghia et al. is shown.
(SDGFI) Student’s Demographic and Geographic Feature Identification Using Machine Learning Techniques for Real-Time Automated Web Applications
Authors: Verma Chaman , Illés Zoltán , Kumar Deepak
Published: August 2022

Nowadays, Google Forms is becoming a cutting-edge tool for gathering research data in the educational domain. Several researchers are using real-time web applications to collect the responses of respondents. Demographic and geographic features are the most important in the researcher’s study. Identifying students’ demographics (gender, age-group, course, institution, or university) and geographic features (locality and country) is a challenging problem in machine learning. We proposed a novel predictive algorithm, Student Demographic Identification (SDI), to identify a student’s demographic features (age-group, course) with the highest accuracy. SDI has been tested on primary reliable samples. SDI has also been compared with the traditional machine algorithms Random Forest (RF), and Logistic Regression (LR), and Radial Support Vector Machine (R–SVM). The proposed algorithm significantly improved the performance metrics such as accuracy, F1-score, precision, recall, and Matthews Correlation Coefficient (MCC) of these classifiers. We also proposed significant features to identify students’ age-group, course, and gender. SDI has identified the student’s age group with an accuracy of 96% and the course with an accuracy of 97%. Gradient Boosting (GB) has improved the accuracy of LR, R-SVM, and RF to predict the student’s gender. Also, the RF algorithm with the support of GB attained the highest accuracy of 98% to identify the gender of the students. All three classifiers have also identified the student’s locality and institution with an identical accuracy of 99%. Our proposed SDI algorithm may be useful for real-time survey applications to predict students’ demographic features.
An Optimal Iterative Technique for Multiple Root Finder of Nonlinear Problems
Authors: Behl Ramandeep , Bhalla Sonia , Mallawi Fouad , Alsulami Majed Aali
Published: August 2022

In this paper, an optimal higher-order iterative technique to approximate the multiple roots of a nonlinear equation has been presented. The proposed technique has special properties: a two-point method that does not involve any derivatives, has an optimal convergence of fourth-order, is cost-effective, is more stable, and has better numerical results. In addition to this, we adopt the weight function approach at both substeps (which provide us with a more general form of two-point methods). Firstly, the convergence order is studied for multiplicity m=2,3 by Taylor’s series expansion and then general convergence for m≥4 is proved. We have demonstrated the applicability of our methods to six numerical problems. Out of them: the first one is the well-known Van der Waals ideal gas problem, the second one is used to study the blood rheology model, the third one is chosen from the linear algebra (namely, eigenvalue), and the remaining three are academic problems. We concluded on the basis of obtained CPU timing, computational order of convergence, and absolute errors between two consecutive iterations for which our methods illustrate better results as compared to earlier studies.
Ulvan-Based Nanofibrous Patches Enhance Wound Healing of Skin Trauma Resulting from Cryosurgical Treatment of Keloids
Authors: Kikionis Stefanos , Koromvoki Marianna , Tagka Anna , Polichronaki Eleni , Stratigos Alexandros , Panagiotopoulos Antonios , Kyritsi Aikaterini , Karalis Vangelis , Vitsos Andreas , Rallis Michail , Ioannou Efstathia , Roussis Vassilios
Published: August 2022

Keloids are skin fibroproliferative disorders, resulting from abnormal healing of deep cutaneous injuries. Cryosurgery, the most common treatment for keloids, causes skin traumas. Even though the clinical practice of cryosurgery has increased, effective wound healing therapy is still lacking. In this investigation, nonwoven nanofibrous patches composed of ulvan, a marine sulfated polysaccharide exhibiting anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities, and polyethylene oxide (PEO) were fabricated through electrospinning and characterized. Their wound healing efficacy on skin traumas resulting from cryosurgical treatment of keloids was clinically tested and evaluated in comparison to a reference product. Twenty-four volunteer patients undergoing cryosurgery as a treatment of keloids were selected to apply either the ulvan/PEO patch or the reference product for 21 days. The ulvan/PEO patch, 21 days after cryosurgery, showed significant wound healing, elimination of skin inflammation, restoration of biophysical parameters similar to normal values and significant decrease in haemoglobin concentration, skin texture and volume, while no discomfort or adverse reaction was observed. In contrast, the reference product showed inferior performance in all evaluated parameters. The designed ulvan/PEO patch represents the first wound dressing to effectively heal skin trauma after cryosurgical treatment of keloids.
Anxiety Screening among the General Population of Latvia and Associated Factors
Authors: Vinogradova Vineta Viktorija , Kivite-Urtane Anda , Vrublevska Jelena , Rancans Elmars
Published: August 2022

Background and Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine the point prevalence of at least mild anxiety symptoms and symptoms of generalized anxiety disorder in the Latvian general population, and to analyze the associated factors. Materials and Methods: A computer-assisted face-to-face survey was conducted in 2019–2020 with a multistage stratified probability sample of the Latvian general adult population (n = 2687). Anxiety was assessed using the 7-item Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD-7) scale; a score of ≥5 was defined as indicating the presence of mild symptoms of anxiety, and a score of ≥10 as the cutoff for identifying cases of generalized anxiety disorder. The Patient Health Questionnaire 9 (PHQ-9) and MINI International Neuropsychiatric Interview (M.I.N.I.) modules were used for assessing comorbid conditions. Multinomial logistic regression was conducted. Results: The point prevalence of mild anxiety symptoms was 10.9%. The point prevalence of generalized anxiety disorder symptoms was 3.9%. Higher odds of mild anxiety symptoms were detected in respondents of a young age (vs. 65 y.o. and older, aOR 3.1, p < 0.001), unmarried respondents (vs. married/cohabiting, aOR 1.5, p = 0.02), those living in the capital city (aOR 1.6, p = 0.008) or rural areas (aOR 1.5, p = 0.03) (vs. other towns), respondents with poor self-rated health (vs. good, aOR 2.6, p < 0.001), and diagnosed alcohol use disorder (aOR 1.9, p < 0.001), suicidal behavior (aOR 2.4, p < 0.001), and symptoms of depression (aOR 6.4, p < 0.001) (vs. no such conditions). As for symptoms of generalized anxiety disorder, female sex (vs. males, aOR 2.5, p = 0.003), age below 44 years (vs. 65+, aOR 6.2, p = 0.002), average self-rated health (vs. good, aOR 2.6, p = 0.005), and poor self-rated health (vs. good, aOR 5.3, p < 0.001), together with comorbid suicidal behavior (aOR 6.1, p < 0.001) and symptoms of depression (aOR 43.4, p < 0.001) (vs. no such conditions), increased the odds. Conclusions: Young age, poor self-rated health, and comorbid symptoms of depression and suicidal behavior were significant factors associated with symptoms of both mild anxiety and generalized anxiety disorder. Being unmarried, living in the capital city or rural areas, and alcohol use disorder were associated with mild anxiety symptoms alone. Female sex was associated with generalized anxiety disorder symptoms alone.
Pancreatic Tuberculosis—A Condition That Mimics Pancreatic Cancer
Authors: Diaconu Camelia Cristina , Gheorghe Gina , Hortopan Andreea , Enache Valentin , Ceobanu Gabriela , Jinga Viorel , Adrian Cosmin , Ionescu Vlad-Alexandru
Published: August 2022

Tuberculosis is a disease with serious consequences in terms of morbidity and mortality. Pancreatic localization is very rare and is mostly encountered in patients with immunosuppressive disorders. A 59-year-old woman with arterial hypertension, grade 2 obesity, and a history of cholecystectomy, was admitted for fever (38.5 °C), jaundice, and marked physical asthenia. The blood tests showed severe metabolic acidosis, with partial respiratory compensation, mild microcytic normochromic anemia, inflammatory syndrome, procalcitonin value ten times the upper limit of normal, nitrogen retention syndrome, hypoalbuminemia, hypertriglyceridemia, hypercholesterolemia, and moderate hyponatremia. The electrocardiogram, chest X-ray, and abdominal ultrasound did not show any significant pathological changes. Contrast-enhanced computed tomography raised the suspicion of acute-on-chronic pancreatitis and subsequent evaluation by magnetic resonance imaging raised the suspicion of a pancreatic tumor. Pancreatic fine needle biopsy under echoendoscopic guidance revealed purulent material, which was sent for cytological and bacteriological examination. The Ziehl-Neelsen stain showed acid-alcoholic resistant bacilli, while bacterial cultures were positive for gentamicin and tigecycline-sensitive Klebsiella. The diagnosis of pancreatic tuberculosis was established. Pancreatic tuberculosis is a very rare condition that often mimics pancreatic cancer. The peculiarity of the case is the appearance of pancreatic tuberculosis in an immunocompetent woman and the association with Klebsiella infection.
Near-Infrared Spectroscopy Intravascular-Ultrasound-Guided Intervention in Minimal Coronary Artery Stenosis: A Case Report
Authors: Kim Hyung-Oh , Woo Jong-Shin , Kim Joan , Kim Weon
Published: August 2022

Near-infrared spectroscopy intravascular ultrasounds (NIRS-IVUSs) can identify high-risk plaque morphologies associated with future event risk. However, the usage of NIRS-IVUSs is not universal. We report a case with insignificant coronary angiography (CAG) and high-risk NIRS-IVUS findings. A 58-year-old man with exertional dyspnea was admitted for a CAG evaluation. The CAG of the patient demonstrated mild angiographic stenosis in the mid-left anterior descending artery. However, NIRS-IVUS revealed a high maximum lipid core burden index at 4 mm (MaxLCBI4mm) and an intraluminal calcific protrusion with severe luminal stenosis at the lesion. Therefore, the patient was diagnosed as stable angina, and a drug-eluting stent was implanted in the lesion. A post-stent NIRS-IVUS demonstrated improved MaxLCBI4mm and significantly improved luminal stenosis. The patient did not have any procedural complications. In the present case, a patient with insignificant CAG demonstrated multiple high-risk features on NIRS-IVUS. Therefore, a percutaneous coronary intervention was performed. The presented case highlights the utility of NIRS-IVUS in nonobstructive CAG.
Effect of Empagliflozin and Dapagliflozin on Ambulatory Arterial Stiffness in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus and Cardiovascular Co-Morbidities: A Prospective, Observational Study
Authors: Patoulias Dimitrios , Papadopoulos Christodoulos , Zografou Ioanna , Katsimardou Alexandra , Karagiannis Asterios , Doumas Michael
Published: August 2022

Background and Objectives: Individuals with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) have an increased risk of cardiovascular disease. Arterial stiffness is an independent prognostic marker for cardiovascular disease development. We aimed at determining the effect of two different sodium-glucose co-transporter-2 (SGLT-2) inhibitors on ambulatory arterial stiffness in individuals with T2DM. Materials and Methods: In this single-center, single-arm, prospective study performed from January 2020 to August 2021, we planned to enroll adult subjects with T2DM and stable antidiabetic and antihypertensive treatment, assigned either to empagliflozin or dapagliflozin for 6 months. All eligible subjects underwent ambulatory blood pressure monitoring. We set as the primary efficacy outcome the change in ambulatory pulse wave velocity (PWV) from baseline to week 24. Results: We finally enrolled 46 diabetic subjects, with a mean age of 62.89 (8.53) years and mean T2DM duration of 9.72 (6.37) years. Thirty patients received dapagliflozin, while sixteen patients received empagliflozin. Due to COVID-19 pandemic restrictive measures during the study, the mean follow-up period extended from 6 months to 9.98 (3.27) months. Regarding the prespecified primary efficacy outcome, we found that the SGLT-2 inhibitor treatment did not have a significant effect on PWV (p = 0.65). Prior history of cardiovascular disease did not significantly affect the observed effects. Other indices of arterial stiffness, such as augmentation index and central pulse pressure, were not significantly affected, neither by empagliflozin nor by dapagliflozin. Conclusions: SGLT-2 inhibitor treatment with empagliflozin or dapagliflozin in subjects with T2DM failed to improve ambulatory PWV over a mean follow-up of 10 months. Registration number: ISRCTN88851713.
Tenecteplase or Alteplase Better in Patients with Acute Ischemic Stroke Due to Large Vessel Occlusion: A Single Center Observational Study
Authors: Teivane Agnete , Jurjāns Kristaps , Vētra Jānis , Grigorjeva Jekaterina , Kupcs Karlis , Masiliūnas Rytis , Miglāne Evija
Published: August 2022

Background and Objectives: The study aimed to investigate the efficacy of intravenous thrombolysis with Tenecteplase before thrombectomy for acute ischemic stroke (AIS) patients compared with previous results using Alteplase. Previous trials for Tenecteplase have indicated an increased incidence of vascular reperfusion. In April 2021, we started to primarily give Tenecteplase to patients eligible to undergo thrombectomy. Materials and Methods: In this retrospective observational single-center non-randomized study, we analyzed directly admitted patients with AIS who had occlusion of the internal carotid, middle cerebral, or basilar artery and who underwent thrombectomy, as well as the recanalization rate for these patients at the first angiographic assessment (mTICI score 2b–3), and complications. Results: We included 184 patients (demographic characteristics did not differ between Tenecteplase and Alteplase groups (mean age 68.4 vs. 73.0 years; female sex 53.3% vs. 51.1%, NIHSS 14 (IQR 4–26) vs. 15 (2–31). Forty-five patients received Tenecteplase and 139 Alteplase before endovascular treatment (EVT). Pre-EVT (endovascular treatment) recanalization was more likely to occur with Tenecteplase rather than Alteplase (22.2% vs. 8.6%, p = 0.02). Successful reperfusion (mTICI 2b–3) after EVT was achieved in 155 patients (42 (93.4%) vs. 113 (81.3), p = 0.07). Hemorrhagic imbibition occurred in 15 (33.3%) Tenecteplase-treated patients compared with 39 (28.1%) Alteplase-treated patients (p = 0.5). Patients treated with Tenecteplase had higher odds of excellent functional outcome than Alteplase-treated patients (Tenecteplase 48.6% vs. Alteplase 26.1%; OR 0.37 (95% CI 0.17–0.81), p = 0.01). Conclusions: Tenecteplase (25 mg/kg) could have superior clinical efficacy over Alteplase for AIS patients with large-vessel occlusion (LVO), administered before EVT. The improvement in reperfusion rate and the better excellent functional outcome could come without an increased safety concern.
Plasma Concentrations of Vinculin versus Talin-1 in Coronary Artery Disease
Authors: Aoyama Masayuki , Kishimoto Yoshimi , Saita Emi , Ohmori Reiko , Tanimoto Kojiro , Nakamura Masato , Kondo Kazuo , Momiyama Yukihiko
Published: August 2022

Vinculin and talin-1, which are cytoskeletal proteins affecting focal adhesions, were reported to be down-expressed in atherosclerotic lesions. Recently, we reported high concentrations of plasma talin-1 in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). However, blood vinculin concentrations in CAD patients have not been clarified. Plasma vinculin concentrations as well as talin-1 were studied in 327 patients in whom coronary angiography was performed. CAD was proven in 177 patients (1-vessel, n = 79; 2-vessel, n = 57; 3-vessel disease, n = 41). However, vinculin concentrations were not markedly different between the CAD(-) and CAD groups (median 122.5 vs. 119.6 pg/mL, p = 0.325) or among patients with CAD(-), 1-, 2-, and 3-vessel diseases (122.5, 112.8, 107.9, and 137.2 pg/mL, p = 0.202). In contrast, talin-1 concentrations were higher in CAD than the CAD(-) group (0.29 vs. 0.23 ng/mL, p = 0.006) and increased stepwise in the number of stenotic vessels: 0.23 in CAD(-), 0.28 in 1-vessel, 0.29 in 2-vessel, and 0.33 ng/mL in 3-vessel disease (p = 0.043). No correlation was observed between vinculin and talin-1 concentrations. In multivariate analysis, vinculin concentrations were not a factor for CAD. In conclusion, plasma vinculin concentrations in patients with CAD were not high and were not associated with the presence or severity of CAD.
ssPINE: Probabilistic Algorithm for Automated Chemical Shift Assignment of Solid-State NMR Data from Complex Protein Systems
Authors: Dwarasala Adilakshmi , Rahimi Mehdi , Markley John L. , Lee Woonghee
Published: August 2022

The heightened dipolar interactions in solids render solid-state NMR (ssNMR) spectra more difficult to interpret than solution NMR spectra. On the other hand, ssNMR does not suffer from severe molecular weight limitations like solution NMR. In recent years, ssNMR has undergone rapid technological developments that have enabled structure–function studies of increasingly larger biomolecules, including membrane proteins. Current methodology includes stable isotope labeling schemes, non-uniform sampling with spectral reconstruction, faster magic angle spinning, and innovative pulse sequences that capture different types of interactions among spins. However, computational tools for the analysis of complex ssNMR data from membrane proteins and other challenging protein systems have lagged behind those for solution NMR. Before a structure can be determined, thousands of signals from individual types of multidimensional ssNMR spectra of samples, which may have differing isotopic composition, must be recognized, correlated, categorized, and eventually assigned to atoms in the chemical structure. To address these tedious steps, we have developed an automated algorithm for ssNMR spectra called “ssPINE”. The ssPINE software accepts the sequence of the protein plus peak lists from a variety of ssNMR experiments as inputs and offers automated backbone and side-chain assignments. The alpha version of ssPINE, which we describe here, is freely available through a web submission form.
Research on the Mechanical Behavior of a Steel–Concrete Composite Link Slab on a Simply Supported Girder Bridge
Authors: Wang Chengquan , Xie Jun , Shen Yonggang , Jiang Jiqing
Published: August 2022

Water leakage and debris accumulation caused by the expansion joints in a bridge superstructure reduce the service life of the bridge and increase the maintenance costs. A link slab is an effective means to eliminate the expansion joints, providing a continuous deck system. However, the load-caused concrete cracking of the link slab also leads to problems associated with water leakage and rebar corrosion. In order to solve these problems, a new type of steel–concrete composite link slab (SCC-LS) was designed to continuously subject the bridge deck to a positive bending moment and surface concrete compression, which reduced the cracking damage in the link slab. This paper presents the mechanical performance results of the SCC-LS obtained using full-scale model tests. Furthermore, theoretical calculations and finite element (FE) models of the jointless bridge validated the performance based on the experimental results. The results of this study show that the SCC-LS can effectively solve the problem of concrete cracking on the surface of the bridge deck, which has theoretical reference significance and engineering application value for the structural design, maintenance and transformation of continuous simply supported bridge decks and the promotion of seamless bridges.
Interpolation of Pathway Based Non-Destructive Testing (NDT) Data for Defect Detection and Localization in Pre-Baked Carbon Anodes
Authors: Rodrigues Daniel , Duchesne Carl , Lauzon-Gauthier Julien
Published: August 2022

Producing consistent quality pre-baked carbon anodes for the Hall–Héroult aluminum reduction process is challenging due to the decreasing quality and increasing variability of anode raw materials. Non-destructive testing techniques (NDT) have been developed and recently implemented in manufacturing plants to establish better suited and more efficient quality control schemes than core sampling and characterization. These technologies collect measurements representing effective properties of the materials located along a pathway between two transducers (emitter and receiver), and not spatially-resolved distribution of properties within the anode volume. A method to interpolate pathway-based measurements and provide spatially-resolved distribution of properties is proposed in this work to help NDT technologies achieve their full potential. The interpolation method is tested by simulating acousto-ultrasonic data collected from a large number of 2D and 3D toy examples representing simplified anode internal structures involving randomly generated defects. Experimental validation was performed by characterizing core samples extracted from a set of industrial anodes and correlating their properties with interpolated speed of sound by the algorithm. The method is shown to be successful in determining the defect positions, and the interpolated results are shown to correlate significantly with mechanical properties.
Material Flow and Mechanical Properties of a Non-Keyhole Friction Stir Welded Aluminum Alloy with Improved Sleeve Bottom Geometry
Authors: Sun Zelin , Li Yuting , Qi Xin , Ji Shude , Jia Zhen , Li Feng , Zhang Yewei
Published: August 2022

Non-keyhole friction stir welding (N-KFSW) is a technique that can fabricate a welding joint without a keyhole through a one-time welding process. The Al–Mg–Si alloy was chosen as a research object, and the N-KFSW technique was investigated by numerical and experimental methods. Firstly, the sleeve bottoms of the N-KFSW welding tool system were innovatively optimized in this study. The optimal sleeve bottom with an 80° angle between the spiral groove and the sleeve inner side wall allowed avoiding the incomplete root penetration defect at the bottom of the stir zone (SZ), which was verified by numerical results and the C-shaped line height. Then, using a 3 mm-thick aluminum alloy as the experimental material, the material flow and joint formation characteristics and mechanical properties at 110, 150 and 190 mm/min welding speeds were studied and compared. The results showed that the SZ presented a drum shape due to the action of the clamping ring and the threads on the side wall of the sleeve. The SZ width decreased from 7.17 to 6.91 mm due to the decreased heat input. From 70 to 210 mm/min welding speed, the maximum tensile strength of the joint was 250 MPa at 190 mm/min, and the joint with relatively higher strength fractured at the heat-affected zone.
Ball Burnishing of Friction Stir Welded Aluminum Alloy 2024-T3: Experimental and Numerical Studies
Authors: Amini Cyrus , Jerez-Mesa Ramón , Travieso-Rodriguez Jose Antonio , Mousavi Hojjat , Lluma-Fuentes Jordi , Zandi Mohammad Damous , Hassanifard Soran
Published: August 2022

This paper deals with the improvement of the material surface state of friction stir welding paths modified in situ by plastic deformation through ball burnishing. The metallurgical and topological states of materials joined by this welding technique are typically detrimental to the ulterior performance of the workpiece, and it is believed that ball burnishing can improve these states to enhance functioning. This study is divided into two phases. The first one is experimental and consists of welding aluminum AA2024-T3 plates while combining different tool rotations and welding speeds. Then, the welding line is deformed locally by ball burnishing. The improvement of the topology and deep hardness distribution is measured and discussed, and the evolution of mechanical properties is assessed through tensile tests. The second phase is oriented towards estimating the residual stresses by combining two pre-existing models of friction stir welding and burnishing developed by the same authors using ANSYS®. Friction stir welding experimentation and measurements show a decrease in the values of all measured mechanical properties compared to the original material. The dominant factor affecting the properties and texture of the materials is the rotational speed of the tool, with the rupture point in the tensile test located in the distinct zone with the lowest value of microhardness on the advancing side. The higher the ratio of the rotational speed to the welding speed, the lower the roughness value. Finally, ball burnishing is proven to be an effective method to enhance the surface integrity of friction stir welded joints in light of the results, achieving a reduction of 11% to 36% in average roughness and an increase of about 22% in hardness profile, along with an integrated numerical model estimation of a remarkable effect on compressive residual stresses in-depth on the retreating side of the welded samples. However, in some tests, this treatment reduced some characteristics (yield stress and failure strain).
Gut Microbiota across Normal Gestation and Gestational Diabetes Mellitus: A Cohort Analysis
Authors: Dualib Patricia M. , Taddei Carla R. , Fernandes Gabriel , Carvalho Camila R. S. , Sparvoli Luiz Gustavo , Silva Isis T. , Mattar Rosiane , Ferreira Sandra R. G. , Dib Sergio A. , Almeida-Pititto Bianca de
Published: August 2022

The prevalence of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is a global public health concern. The mechanism that leads to glucose tolerance beyond normal physiological levels to pathogenic conditions remains incompletely understood, and it is speculated that the maternal microbiome may play an important role. This study analyzes the gut microbiota composition in each trimester of weight-matched women with and without GDM and examines possible bacterial genera associations with GDM. This study followed 56 pregnant women with GDM and 59 without admitted to the outpatient clinic during their first/second or third trimester of gestation. They were submitted to a standardized questionnaire, dietary recalls, clinical examination, biological sample collection, and molecular profiling of fecal microbiota. Women with GDM were older and had a higher number of pregnancies than normal-tolerant ones. There was no difference in alpha diversity, and the groups did not differ regarding the overall microbiota structure. A higher abundance of Bacteroides in the GDM group was found. A positive correlation between Christensenellaceae and Intestinobacter abundances with one-hour post-challenge plasma glucose and a negative correlation between Enterococcus and two-hour plasma glucose levels were observed. Bifidobacterium and Peptococcus abundances were increased in the third gestational trimester for both groups. The gut microbiota composition was not dependent on the presence of GDM weight-matched women throughout gestation. However, some genera abundances showed associations with glucose metabolism. Our findings may therefore encourage a deeper understanding of physiological and pathophysiological changes in the microbiota throughout pregnancy, which could have further implications for diseases prevention.
Farnesysltransferase Inhibitor Prevents Burn Injury-Induced Metabolome Changes in Muscle
Authors: Nakazawa Harumasa , Wong Lai Ping , Shelton Laura , Sadreyev Ruslan , Kaneki Masao
Published: August 2022

Burn injury remains a significant public health issue worldwide. Metabolic derangements are a major complication of burn injury and negatively affect the clinical outcomes of severely burned patients. These metabolic aberrations include muscle wasting, hypermetabolism, hyperglycemia, hyperlactatemia, insulin resistance, and mitochondrial dysfunction. However, little is known about the impact of burn injury on the metabolome profile in skeletal muscle. We have previously shown that farnesyltransferase inhibitor (FTI) reverses burn injury-induced insulin resistance, mitochondrial dysfunction, and the Warburg effect in mouse skeletal muscle. To evaluate metabolome composition, targeted quantitative analysis was performed using capillary electrophoresis mass spectrometry in mouse skeletal muscle. Principal component analysis (PCA), partial least squares discriminant analysis (PLS-DA), and hierarchical cluster analysis demonstrated that burn injury induced a global change in metabolome composition. FTI treatment almost completely prevented burn injury-induced alterations in metabolite levels. Pathway analysis revealed that the pathways most affected by burn injury were purine, glutathione, β-alanine, glycine, serine, and threonine metabolism. Burn injury induced a suppressed oxidized to reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+/NADH) ratio as well as oxidative stress and adenosine triphosphate (ATP) depletion, all of which were reversed by FTI. Moreover, our data raise the possibility that burn injury may lead to increased glutaminolysis and reductive carboxylation in mouse skeletal muscle.
Impact of Visceral Leishmaniasis on Local Organ Metabolism in Hamsters
Authors: Lesani Mahbobeh , Gosmanov Camil , Paun Andrea , Lewis Michael D. , McCall Laura-Isobel
Published: August 2022

Leishmania is an intracellular parasite with different species pathogenic to humans and causing the disease leishmaniasis. Leishmania donovani causes visceral leishmaniasis (VL) that manifests as hepatosplenomegaly, fever, pancytopenia and hypergammaglobulinemia. If left without treatment, VL can cause death, especially in immunocompromised people. Current treatments have often significant adverse effects, and resistance has been reported in some countries. Determining the metabolites perturbed during VL can lead us to find new treatments targeting disease pathogenesis. We therefore compared metabolic perturbation between L. donovani-infected and uninfected hamsters across organs (spleen, liver, and gut). Metabolites were extracted, analyzed by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry, and processed with MZmine and molecular networking to annotate metabolites. We found few metabolites commonly impacted by infection across all three sites, including glycerophospholipids, ceramides, acylcarnitines, peptides, purines and amino acids. In accordance with VL symptoms and parasite tropism, we found a greater overlap of perturbed metabolites between spleen and liver compared to spleen and gut, or liver and gut. Targeting pathways related to these metabolite families would be the next focus that can lead us to find more effective treatments for VL.
Non-Esterified Fatty Acid Induces ER Stress-Mediated Apoptosis via ROS/MAPK Signaling Pathway in Bovine Mammary Epithelial Cells
Authors: Yan Yexiao , Huang Junpeng , Huan Changchao , Li Lian , Li Chengmin
Published: August 2022

Elevated concentrations of non-esterified fatty acid (NEFA) induced by negative energy balance (NEB) during the transition period of dairy cows is known to be toxic for multiple bovine cell types. However, the effect of NEFA in bovine mammary epithelial cells (BMECs) remains unclear. The present study aimed to explore the role and molecular mechanism of NEFA in endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and the subsequent apoptosis in BMECs. The results showed that NEFA increased ER stress and activated the three unfolded protein response (UPR) signaling sub-pathways by upregulating the expression of GRP78, HSP70, XBP1, ATF6, phosphor-PERK, and phosphor-IRE1α. We also found that NEFA dose-dependently induced apoptosis in BMECs, as indicated by flow cytometry analysis and increased apoptotic gene expression. RNA-seq analysis revealed that NEFA induced apoptosis in BMECs, probably via the ATF4-CHOP axis. Mechanistically, our data showed that NEFA increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels, resulting in the activation of the MAPK signaling pathway. Moreover, quercetin, a well-known antioxidant, was found to alleviate ER stress-mediated apoptosis in NEFA-treated BMECs. Collectively, our results suggest that NEFA induces ER stress-mediated apoptosis, probably via the ROS/MAPK signaling pathway, as quercetin has been shown to alleviate ER stress-mediated apoptosis in NEFA-treated BMECs.
Metabolomic Analysis of Wheat Grains after Tilletia laevis Kühn Infection by Using Ultrahigh-Performance Liquid Chromatography–Q-Exactive Mass Spectrometry
Authors: Jabran Muhammad , Chen Delai , Muhae-Ud-Din Ghulam , Liu Taiguo , Chen Wanquan , Liu Changzhong , Gao Li
Published: August 2022

Tilletia laevis causes common bunt disease in wheat, with severe losses of production yield and seed quality. Metabolomics studies provide detailed information about the biochemical changes at the cell and tissue level of the plants. Ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography–Q-exactive mass spectrometry (UPLC-QE-MS) was used to examine the changes in wheat grains after T. laevis infection. PCA analysis suggested that T. laevis-infected and non-infected samples were scattered separately during the interaction. In total, 224 organic acids and their derivatives, 170 organoheterocyclic compounds, 128 lipids and lipid-like molecules, 85 organic nitrogen compounds, 64 benzenoids, 31 phenylpropanoids and polyketides, 21 nucleosides, nucleotides, their analogues, and 10 alkaloids and derivatives were altered in hyphal-infected grains. According to The Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and genomes analysis, the protein digestion and absorption, biosynthesis of amino acids, arginine and proline metabolism, vitamin digestion and absorption, and glycine, serine, and threonine metabolism pathways were activated in wheat crops after T. laevis infection.
Nucleic Acid Detection with Ion Concentration Polarization Microfluidic Chip for Reduced Cycle Numbers of Polymerase Chain Reaction
Authors: Yu Chengzhuang , Dai Shijie , Li Shanshan , Li Junwei , Hu Hezhi , Meng Jiyu , Wei Chunyang , Wu Jie
Published: August 2022

Nucleic acid detection is widely used in disease diagnosis, food safety, environmental monitoring and many other research fields. The continuous development of rapid and sensitive new methods to detective nucleic acid is very important for practical application. In this study, we developed a rapid nucleic-acid detection method using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) combined with electrokinetic preconcentration based on ion concentration polarization (ICP). Using a Nafion film, the proposed ICP microfluidic chip is utilized to enrich the nucleic acid molecules amplified by PCR thermal cycles. To demonstrate the capability of the microfluidic device and the hybrid nucleic-acid detection method, we present an animal-derived component detection experiment for meat product identification applications. With the reduced cycle numbers of 24 cycles, the detection can be completed in about 35 min. The experimental results show that this work can provide a microfluidic device and straightforward method for rapid detection of nucleic acids with reduced cycle numbers.
Research on the Efficiency of Working Status Based on Wearable Devices in Different Light Environments
Authors: Yan Shuhan , Zhang Yuncui , Qiu Sen , Liu Long
Published: August 2022

According to the working scenes, a proper light environment can enable people to maintain greater attention and meditation. A posture detection system in different working scenes is proposed in this paper, and different lighting conditions are provided for changes in body posture. This aims to stimulate the nervous system and improve work efficiency. A brainwave acquisition system was used to capture the participants’ optimal attention and meditation. The posture data are collected by ten miniature inertial measurement units (IMUs). The gradient descent method is used for information fusion and updating the participant’s attitude after sensor calibration. Compared with the optical capture system, the reliability of the system is verified, and the correlation coefficient of both joint angles is as high as 0.9983. A human rigid body model is designed for reconstructing the human posture. Five classical machine learning algorithms, including logistic regression, support vector machine (SVM), decision tree, random forest, and k-nearest neighbor (KNN), are used as classification algorithms to recognize different postures based on joint angles series. The results show that SVM and random forest achieve satisfactory classification effects. The effectiveness of the proposed method is demonstrated in the designed systematic experiment.
Cluster-ID-Based Throughput Improvement in Cognitive Radio Networks for 5G and Beyond-5G IoT Applications
Authors: Devaraj Stalin Allwin , Gurumoorthy Kambatty Bojan , Kumar Pradeep , Jacob Wilson Stalin , Rosita Prince Jenifer Darling , Ali Tanweer
Published: August 2022

Cognitive radio (CR), which is a common form of wireless communication, consists of a transceiver that is intelligently capable of detecting which communication channels are available to use and which are not. After this detection process, the transceiver avoids the occupied channels while simultaneously moving into the empty ones. Hence, spectrum shortage and underutilization are key problems that the CR can be proposed to address. In order to obtain a good idea of the spectrum usage in the area where the CRs are located, cooperative spectrum sensing (CSS) can be used. Hence, the primary objective of this research work is to increase the realizable throughput via the cluster-based cooperative spectrum sensing (CBCSS) algorithm. The proposed scheme is anticipated to acquire advanced achievable throughput for 5G and beyond-5G Internet of Things (IoT) applications. Performance parameters, such as achievable throughput, the average number of clusters and energy, have been analyzed for the proposed CBCSS and compared with optimal algorithms.
Heat Transport Exploration for Hybrid Nanoparticle (Cu, Fe3O4)—Based Blood Flow via Tapered Complex Wavy Curved Channel with Slip Features
Authors: Abbasi A. , Farooq W. , Tag-ElDin El Sayed Mohamed , Khan Sami Ullah , Khan M. Ijaz , Guedri Kamel , Elattar Samia , Waqas M. , Galal Ahmed M.
Published: August 2022

Curved veins and arteries make up the human cardiovascular system, and the peristalsis process underlies the blood flowing in these ducts. The blood flow in the presence of hybrid nanoparticles through a tapered complex wavy curved channel is numerically investigated. The behavior of the blood is characterized by the Casson fluid model while the physical properties of iron (Fe3O4) and copper (Cu) are used in the analysis. The fundamental laws of mass, momentum and energy give rise the system of nonlinear coupled partial differential equations which are normalized using the variables, and the resulting set of governing relations are simplified in view of a smaller Reynolds model approach. The numerical simulations are performed using the computational software Mathematica’s built-in ND scheme. It is noted that the velocity of the blood is abated by the nanoparticles’ concentration and assisted in the non-uniform channel core. Furthermore, the nanoparticles’ volume fraction and the dimensionless curvature of the channel reduce the temperature profile.
Fabrication of Low-Cost Resistance Temperature Detectors and Micro-Heaters by Electrohydrodynamic Printing
Authors: Ahmad Salman , Rahman Khalid , Cheema Taqi Ahmad , Shakeel Muhammad , Khan Arshad , Bermak Amine
Published: August 2022

EHD printing is an advanced deposition technology that is commonly utilized for the direct manufacture of electrical devices. In this study, meander-type resistive electrodes consisting of silver nanoparticles were printed directly on rigid glass and flexible polyethylene terephthalate (PET) substrates. High-resolution patterns of ≈50 µm linewidth were successfully printed on untreated surfaces utilizing a bigger nozzle of 100 µm inner diameter after improving the experimental settings. The manufactured electrodes were evaluated and used as Resistance Temperature Detectors (RTDs) and micro-heaters in a systematic manner. The temperature sensors performed well, with a Temperature Coefficient of Resistivity (TCRs) of 11.5 ×10−3/°C and 13.3 ×10−3/°C, for glass and PET substrates, respectively, throughout a wide temperature range of 100 °C and 90 °C. Furthermore, the RTDs had a quick response and recovery time, as well as minimal hysteresis. The electrodes’ measured sensitivities as micro-heaters were 3.3 °C/V for glass and 6.8 °C/V for PET substrates, respectively. The RTDs were utilized for signal conditioning in a Wheatstone bridge circuit with a self-heating temperature of less than 1 °C as a practical demonstration. The micro-heaters have a lot of potential in the field of soft wearable electronics for biomedical applications, while the extremely sensitive RTDs have a lot of potential in industrial situations for temperature monitoring.
Anisotropic and Isotropic Shrinking of Candle Droplets in Cold Water and Warm Water
Authors: Xie An-Xin , Rendine Nicole , Ji Hai-Feng
Published: August 2022

The effects of temperature and surfactant on the shape of candle droplets that solidify at air-water interfaces were investigated. In pure water, triangular or quadrangular shaped candle droplets were formed when the temperature was ≤6 °C and round shape droplets were observed when the temperature was ≥10 °C. In SDS/water solutions ≥ 0.5 mM, oval or concave bowl-shaped candle droplets were formed when the temperature was ≤6 °C and round shape droplets were observed when the temperature was ≥10 °C. The formation mechanisms of the different shapes were explored and discussed.
Unexpected Vertical Transmission of SARS-CoV-2: Discordant Clinical Course and Transmission from Mother to Newborn
Authors: Boncompagni Alessandra , De Agostini Mattia , Lugli Licia , Ternelli Giliana , Colonna Valeria , Biagioni Emanuela , Bonasoni Maria Paola , Salviato Tiziana , Gabrielli Liliana , Falconi Mirella , Facchinetti Fabio , Berardi Alberto
Published: August 2022

Mother-to-newborn COVID-19 transmission is mainly postnatal, but single-case reports and small case series have also described SARS-CoV-2 transplacental transmission. Unfortunately, studies regarding vertical transmission of SARS-CoV-2 lack systematic approaches to diagnosis and classification. So far, scientific evidence seems to suggest that the severity of maternal infection increases the risk of vertical transmission. We report two neonates born from COVID-19-positive mothers, of which one of the newborns had a vertical infection. The placental involvement, and consequent intrauterine transmission of SARS-CoV-2, were inversely related to the severity of the maternal disease. The description of cases divergent from current evidence on this topic could provide new insights to better understand SARS-CoV-2 vertical transmission.
A Comparative Analysis of the Core Proteomes within and among the Bacillus subtilis and Bacillus cereus Evolutionary Groups Reveals the Patterns of Lineage- and Species-Specific Adaptations
Authors: Nikolaidis Marios , Hesketh Andrew , Mossialos Dimitris , Iliopoulos Ioannis , Oliver Stephen G. , Amoutzias Grigorios D.
Published: August 2022

By integrating phylogenomic and comparative analyses of 1104 high-quality genome sequences, we identify the core proteins and the lineage-specific fingerprint proteins of the various evolutionary clusters (clades/groups/species) of the Bacillus genus. As fingerprints, we denote those core proteins of a certain lineage that are present only in that particular lineage and absent in any other Bacillus lineage. Thus, these lineage-specific fingerprints are expected to be involved in particular adaptations of that lineage. Intriguingly, with a few notable exceptions, the majority of the Bacillus species demonstrate a rather low number of species-specific fingerprints, with the majority of them being of unknown function. Therefore, species-specific adaptations are mostly attributed to highly unstable (in evolutionary terms) accessory proteomes and possibly to changes at the gene regulation level. A series of comparative analyses consistently demonstrated that the progenitor of the Cereus Clade underwent an extensive genomic expansion of chromosomal protein-coding genes. In addition, the majority (76–82%) of the B. subtilis proteins that are essential or play a significant role in sporulation have close homologs in most species of both the Subtilis and the Cereus Clades. Finally, the identification of lineage-specific fingerprints by this study may allow for the future development of highly specific vaccines, therapeutic molecules, or rapid and low-cost molecular tests for species identification.