bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
30 anos de geologia de engenharia na UFRJ: visões do passado e do futuro
Authors: Barroso Josué Alves , Cabral Sérgio
Published: August 2021

When the fifth specialized school of geologists was created in Brazil, in the Rio de Janeiro City (1958), the Engineering Geology was one of the earliest matters included as an applied discipline of undergraduate geology curriculum. Some years late it became the main subject to begin the Departamento de Geologia UFRJ posgraduation course. Nowadays, celebrating its thirtieth anniversary, an historical review is made to settle its importance to students with geotcchnical interests, its succss on professional improvement and the whole of its scientific production.
Um novo lagarto do cretáceo do Brasil (Lepidosauria, Squamata, Lacertilia - formação santana, aptiano da Bacia do Araripe)
Authors: Bonfim Júnior Francisco De Castro , Marques Ricardo Benevides
Published: August 2021

The first lizaird fossil ever found in the Santana Formation (Araripe Basin, Lower Cretaceous) shows among other characteristics, impressions of skin and preserved scales, that support the diagnosis of the fossil taxon. An initial comparative analysis of the skin impressions and scales morphology with contemporary Laccrtilia. demonstrated a level of similarity among this fossil and the Teiidae family. In this study is described this new genus and specie - Tijubina pontei.
Simulation of Unsteady Flow Characteristics of the Reciprocating Pump Check Valve for High Pressure and High Flow Water Medium
Authors: Dong Jie , Liu Yinshui , Ji Hong , Wei Liejiang , Wu Defa
Published: August 2021

The distribution efficiency of the check valve directly affects the performance of the reciprocating pump. The flow coefficient is an important evaluation criterion for the flow capacity of the valve port, and it is of great significance to the design of the valve structure and even the control of cavitation. The traditional design uses flow coefficient as a fixed value, however, the flow state and flow coefficient will change during valve movement. In this study, a three-dimensional transient computational fluid dynamic model for high-pressure and large-flow reciprocating pump valve is established. The dynamic grid simulation method of coupling for the valves and plunger is innovatively proposed, and experimental verification was carried out. The flow state and pressure characteristics for the suction valve under high outlet pressure are analyzed, and the change rule of the suction coefficient is found. The research results show that the initial pressure of the plunger cavity prolongs the negative pressure duration of the plunger cavity when the valve is opened and increases the risk of cavitation of the valve. During the process from valve opening to maximum lift, the suction coefficient first increases and then decreases, and finally remains between 0.5 and 0.6. When the valve lift is large, two-stage throttling occurs, and the flow state will change from cylindrical jet on the lower surface of the valve disk to annular jet, which is beneficial to improve the suction coefficient.
Development of an Automated Mass-Customization Pipeline for Knee Replacement Surgery Using Biplanar X-Rays
Authors: Burge Thomas A. , Jeffers Jonathan R. T. , Myant Connor W.
Published: August 2021

For standard “off-the-shelf” knee replacement procedures, surgeons use X-ray images to aid implant selection from a limited number of models and sizes. This can lead to complications and the need for implant revision due to poor implant fit. Customized solutions have been shown to improve results but require increased preoperative assessment (Computed Tomography or Magnetic Resonance Imaging), longer lead times, and higher costs which have prevented widespread adoption. To attain the benefits of custom implants, whilst avoiding the limitations of currently available solutions, a fully automated mass-customization pipeline, capable of developing customized implant designs for fabrication via additive manufacturing from calibrated X-rays, is proposed. The proof-of-concept pipeline uses convolutional neural networks to extract information from biplanar X-ray images, point depth, and statistical shape models to reconstruct the anatomy, and application programming interface scripts to generate various customized implant designs. The pipeline was trained using data from the Korea Institute of Science and Technology Information. Thirty subjects were used to test the accuracy of the anatomical reconstruction, ten from this data set, and a further 20 independent subjects obtained from the Osteoarthritis Initiative. An average root-mean-squared error of 1.00 mm was found for the femur test cases and 1.07 mm for the tibia. Three-dimensional (3D) distance maps of the output components demonstrated these results corresponded to well-fitting components, verifying automatic customization of knee replacement implants is feasible from 2D medical imaging.
Integration of Design for Additive Manufacturing Constraints With Multimaterial Topology Optimization of Lattice Structures for Optimized Thermal and Mechanical Properties
Authors: Venugopal Vysakh , McConaha Matthew , Anand Sam
Published: August 2021

The design of multimaterial lattice structures with optimized elasticity tensor, coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE), and thermal conductivity is the main objective of the research presented in this article. In addition, the additive manufacturability of the lattice structure is addressed using a prismatic density filter to eliminate support structures, and an octant symmetry filter is used to design symmetric lattices. A density-based topology optimization model is formulated with a homogenization method and solved using a sequential linear programming method to obtain the desired unit cell geometry of the lattice structure. The optimized unit cell obtained has high mechanical stiffness, a low CTE, and low thermal conductivity. A finite element analysis is carried out on the optimized lattice structure and an equivalent cube of computed effective properties (with the same loading and boundary conditions) to validate the computed homogenized material properties. The results from the finite element analysis show that the methodology followed to generate the lattice structure is accurate. Such lattice structures with tailored material properties can be used in aerospace parts that are subjected to mechanical and thermal loads. The complex multimaterial geometry produced from the topology optimization routine presented here is intended explicitly for the manufacture of parts using the directed energy deposition process with multiple material deposition nozzles.
Reaction Model Development of Selected Aromatics as Relevant Molecules of a Kerosene Surrogate—The Importance of m-Xylene Within the Combustion of 1,3,5-Trimethylbenzene
Authors: Ramirez Hernandez Astrid , Kathrotia Trupti , Methling Torsten , Braun-Unkhoff Marina , Riedel Uwe
Published: August 2021

The development of advanced reaction models to predict pollutant emissions in aero-engine combustors usually relies on surrogate formulations of a specific jet fuel for mimicking its chemical composition. 1,3,5-trimethylbenzene is one of the suitable components to represent aromatics species in those surrogates. However, a comprehensive reaction model for 1,3,5-trimethylbenzene combustion requires a mechanism to describe the m-xylene oxidation. In this work, the development of a chemical kinetic mechanism for describing the m-xylene combustion in a wide parameter range (i.e., temperature, pressure, and fuel equivalence ratios) is presented. The m-xylene reaction submodel was developed based on existing reaction mechanisms of similar species such as toluene and reaction pathways adapted from literature. The submodel was integrated into an existing detailed mechanism that contains the kinetics of a wide range of n-paraffins, isoparaffins, cycloparaffins, and aromatics. Simulation results for m-xylene were validated against experimental data available in literature. Results show that the presented m-xylene mechanism correctly predicts ignition delay times at different pressures and temperatures as well as laminar burning velocities at atmospheric pressure and various fuel equivalence ratios. At high pressure, some deviations of the calculated laminar burning velocity and the measured values are obtained at stoichiometric to rich equivalence ratios. Additionally, the model predicts reasonably well concentration profiles of major and intermediate species at different temperatures and atmospheric pressure.
On the Correlation Between Spanwise Inducer Incidence and Impeller Diffusion for Ruled Surface and Barreled Sweep-Bow Impeller Design at Inlet Guide Vane-Off-Design
Authors: Hildebrandt A. , Ceyrowsky T. , Klausmann J. , Metz K. A.
Published: August 2021

In the present paper, three centrifugal stages of high volume flow coefficient are compared to each-other regarding their aerodynamic performance in design point and off-design point conditions at different speed and inlet guide vane (IGV)-setting angle: two stages with full-blade design (no splitter blades) have been numerically designed with different design geometry methodology. One geometry is based on a classical ruling surface design with a linear leading edge, the second geometry based on a fully-three-dimensional surface including a blade bow at the trailing edge and a barreled sweep at the leading edge. According to impeller test rig measurements and computational fluid dynamics (CFD) calculation, the classical ruling surface designed impeller outperforms the more sophisticated centrifugal stage with fully 3D-blade at fully axially guided IGV-flow. In the contrary, at closing IGV-off-design setting angles, toward surge operation, the fully 3D-blade impeller performs with higher efficiency and steeper negative pressure slope. On the search of the geometrical causes for the different aerodynamic performance (especially at IGV-off-design conditions), focus is set on the analysis of IGV-flow-interaction with the inducer flow and impeller diffusion. The one-dimensional analysis of the spanwise flow at the impeller leading edge reveals that, compared with the ruling surface impeller, the fully 3D-blade performs with lower flow incidence losses in favor to IGV-off-design operation than at IGV-neutral position. The streamwise flow analysis confirms the improved flow incidence characteristics of the 3D-blade impeller due to reduction of aerodynamic blockage and entropy production in the vicinity of the impeller leading edge. Based on CFD calculations, a new correlation of secondary flow and flow incidence is proposed, to be used for one-dimensional modeling.
Combustion Turbine Exhaust Duct, Silencer, and Stack Scale Modeling
Authors: Craven Robert , Kirkpatrick Keith , Idem Stephen
Published: August 2021

After constructing a scale model of planned changes to a power plant exhaust system, tests were performed to measure pressure losses in the transition, silencer, and stack. A dimension of 0.30 m (1.0 ft) for the scale model corresponded to 3.7 m (12.0 ft) at full scale. To the extent possible, the scale model tests exhibited geometric similarity with the actual power plant. Total pressure loss coefficients varied between 2.122, 1.969, and 1.932, for three separate scale model configurations that were considered. A combination of turning vanes and splitter vanes in the five-gore elbow, coupled with the use of turning vanes in the rectangular elbow yielded the lowest total pressure loss. Although Reynolds number similarity between the scale model experiments and the actual power plant was not attained, Reynolds number independence was achieved in the tests. The results from this study was applied to model pressure loss in the actual power plant. The scale model testing revealed that utilization of the exhaust ducting design designated as Case A would yield a sufficiently low pressure loss that it would not degrade the performance of the combustion turbine in the power plant to be repaired. Therefore it was selected for inclusion in the retro-fitting of the power plant to facilitate its being quickly brought back on-line.
Socio-Environmental Impacts of Hydro Power Technology- a Review
Authors: Singh Aanya , Mandavkar Rohit , Singh Sanjay , Prabhu Bhembre Raunak , Jain Devansh , Rufuss D. DSilva Winfred
Published: August 2021

Renewable energy, is the primary load bearer of a sustainable circular economy and hydropower being one of the earliest forms of it, has a wide application base. With unprecedented situations being faced by the people every day, power consumption patterns and requirements are changing and so are the faces of the leading economies. However, like other renewable strategies it is assayed based on the greenhouse gas emissions during its operation. This unfortunately presents a true but blurry picture. Some of the long-term issues with creating a dam, are soil quality degradation in downstream regions, loss of aquatic life due to high-speed turbine blades, disbalance in the nutrient cycle of aquatic systems, water contamination with machinery oils, displacement of local communities, loss of soil fertility near the site due to drilling and tunnelling, landslides and seismic issues due to excavation of land which loosens the nearby soil cover. Therefore, our goal is to analyze and compile various case studies of hydro power projects throughout the globe which caused some environmental or social disruption in their respective regions and the various steps that were taken by the government or the locals to tackle these problems. Many areas faced seismic problems, environmental degradation, water profile alterations and social displacement. But, by opting for new turbine technologies, fish friendly channel designs and landscaping procedures featuring indigenous vegetation to restore surrounding ecology, those regions were able to amend the problems with their hydropower project.
Transient Exergy Analysis of the Dynamic Operation of a Combined Cycle Power Plant
Authors: Wittenburg Raphael , Hübel Moritz , Holtz Dorian , Müller Karsten
Published: August 2021

The increasing share of fluctuating electricity feed-in from wind energy and photovoltaic systems has a significant impact on the operating regime of conventional power plants. Since frequent load changes were not the focus of optimization in the past, there is still potential for improving the transient operating behavior. Exergy analyses are increasingly used to determine optimization potentials in energy conversion processes, but are mostly limited to stationary conditions.

In order to perform an exergy analysis of the transient operation of a combined cycle power plant on component level, detailed information on the state and process variables of the individual components is required. These are not completely accessible via measurement data alone. For this reason, a comprehensive dynamic simulation model was developed, which includes the process components and the power plant control system. With the help of the implemented exergetic balance and state equations, the desired exergy quantities can be determined.

The simulation results are used to evaluate the transient operating behaviour at different load change gradients and control actions on the basis of exergetic parameters. The exergy analysis results in an improved understanding of the causes of exergy destruction in the system, which can be used for optimization approaches. As expected, the main causes of exergy destruction are combustion processes and increased temperature gradients during transient operation. Overall, however, only moderately increased exergy destruction can be determined for the transient operation of the investigated plant compared to the steady state.
Numerical Study on the Adaptation of Diesel Wave Breakup Model for Large-Eddy Simulation of Non-Reactive Gasoline Spray
Authors: Sok Ratnak , Zhou Beini , Kusaka Jin
Published: August 2021

Gasoline direct injection (GDI) is a promising solution to increase engine thermal efficiency and reduce exhaust gas emissions. The GDI operation requires an understanding of fuel penetration and droplet size, which can be investigated numerically. In the numerical simulation, primary and secondary breakup phenomena are studied by the Kelvin-Helmholtz/Rayleigh-Taylor (KH-RT) wave breakup models. The models were initially developed for diesel fuel injection, and in the present work, the models are extended to the GDI application combined using large-eddy simulation (LES). The simulation is conducted using the KIVA4 code.

Measured data of experimental spray penetration and Mie-scattering image comparisons are carried out under non-reactive conditions at an ambient temperature of 613K and a density of 4.84 kg/m3. The spray penetration and structures using LES are compared with traditional Reynolds-Averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS). Grid size effects in the simulation using LES and RANS models are also investigated to find a reasonable cell size for future reactive gasoline spray/combustion studies. The fuel spray penetration and droplet size are dependent on specific parameters. Parametric studies on the effects of adjustable constants of the KH-RT models, such as time constants, size constants, and breakup length constant, are discussed. Liquid penetrations from the RANS turbulence model are similar to that of the LES turbulence model’s prediction. However, the RANS model is not able to capture the spray structure well.
Uncertain Gain and Time-Delay Control of 300-kW SOFC-GT
Authors: Emami Tooran , Tucker David , Watkins John
Published: August 2021

This paper presents a Proportional Integral Derivative (PID) controller design with the presence of an uncertain internal gain and additional time delay in the forward path of a 300 kW Solid Oxide Fuel Cell-Gas Turbine (SOFC-GT). The outputs of the system are turbine speed and the fuel cell mass flow rate. A fixed set of proportional controller coefficients are determined to graphically develop an area of selection for the integral and derivative coefficients of the PID controller. The inputs to the power plant are the electric load and cold air valve. The decentralized controllers are applied to four sub-systems as a Single Input Single Output (SISO). The PID controller coefficients are selected from a singular matrix solution that stabilizes the system and satisfies the internal gain and time delay uncertainties. Two sub-systems are the transfer functions of the turbine speed over the electric load and the cold air valve. The other two sub-systems are the transfer functions of the fuel cell mass flow rate over the electric load and the cold air bypass valve. Multiple options for selecting PID controller coefficients are beneficial to the SOFC-GT plant due to the wide range of operations and internal uncertainty interactions. The specific internal time delay and gain margins increase the reliability and robustness of the SOFC-GT with multiple uncertain parameters.
Gas Turbine Evaporative Cooling, A Novel Method for Combined Cycle Plant Part Load Optimization
Authors: Carmona Jose
Published: August 2021

In power plant engineering, gas turbine (GT) evaporative cooling is traditionally thought as one of the few power augmentation alternatives for existing plants.

For most combined cycle plants operating at part load, the GT Inlet Guide Vanes (IGV) will throttle the air flow to the combustor to maintain the turbine exhaust temperature (TET) as high as possible, thus maximizing the overall combined cycle efficiency. The IGV air throttling results in a reduction of the turbine inlet air temperature (TIT) due to a reduction on the mass of fuel burned in the combustors as the available combustion air decreases due to IGV throttling to maintain an optimum air to fuel ratio, resulting on a lower TET compared with the same GT at base load. The compounded result of these effects limits the maximum steam production capacity on the heat recovery steam generator, particularly for the high-pressure section, hampering the efficiency of the steam turbine.

The methodology developed in the subject study aims at counteracting the afore-mentioned effects by optimizing the evaporative cooler air/water ratio which results in the lower possible heat rate for full load and part load operation. By dynamically controlling the air/water ratio, a preheating effect can be achieved in the compressor inlet air, which results on higher exhaust gas temperature, thus augmenting the high-pressure steam production on the heat recovery steam generator and accordingly the steam turbine efficiency.

For a newly built 907 MWe Combined Cycle Gas Turbine (CCGT) plant, application of the evaporative cooling part load optimization methodology presented in this study could lead to a potential reduction of up to 158kJ/kWh on heat rate and 9.318 g/kWh of CO2 emissions if compared with the same plant without dynamic control of the evaporative cooler air/water ratio.
Combined Cycle Gas Turbines With Electrically-Heated Thermal Energy Storage for Dispatchable Zero-Carbon Electricity
Authors: Stack Daniel , Forsberg Charles
Published: August 2021

A low-carbon world needs a replacement for natural gas-fired power to provide variable heat and electricity. The coupling of simple or combined cycle gas turbines (CCGTs) with advanced electrically-heated thermal energy storage (E-TES) systems is an alternative approach to energy storage with cost advantages over batteries or hydrogen production. CCGTs with E-TES may use stored low-value electricity to run the power cycle in place of fossil fuels. This (1) saves money for the power plants by allowing them to switch heat sources based on price, and (2) reduces carbon emissions by making use of otherwise curtailed renewable energy. The development of electrically conductive firebricks enables temperatures approaching 2000°C, hotter than existing E-TES options, sufficient to run CCGTs. Levelized cost of storage (LCOS) calculations show that the use of CCGTs with novel E-TES increases the cost of energy by less than a factor of 2, compared to a factor of 9 increase when using lithium-ion batteries. Unlike batteries, the CCGT with E-TES, provides assured generating capacity by normal operation of the gas turbine. A case study of CCGT coupled with E-TES is included based on 2019 electricity prices in Southern California, which showed an 18% reduction in fuel consumption and $11M savings based purely on the arbitrage case. The arbitrage case is expected to improve dramatically over the decade as deployment of renewable energy in California increases.
Hierarchical colloid-based lithography for wettability tuning of semiconductor surfaces
Authors: Shapturenka Pavel , Gaillard Pauline , Chan Lesley , Polonskyi Oleksandr , Gordon Michael J.
Published: August 2021

Hierarchical colloid-based lithography and two-step plasma etching involving mask reduction were used to probe and tune the wettability landscape of Si and GaN surfaces from the hydrophilic to superhydrophobic limits over cm length scales. Hydrophobicity, due to the classical Cassie–Baxter (CB) wetting effect, was observed on Si with surface pillars having pitches below 1 μm. Additional tuning of plasma processing conditions at this critical transition provided additional increases in hydrophobicity and led to a highly repellent, lotus leaf effect. Superhydrophobic surfaces were created within the CB wetting state by varying the extent and duration of plasma-based mask reduction and pattern transfer, achieving a maximum contact angle of 157°. Additional submicrometer topography (310 nm spacing) was added to a nominally Wenzel-impregnated, hydrophilic Si micropillar surface (a diameter of 6 μm) with a second lithography cycle, rendering the surface hydrophobic and robust to aging in ambient conditions. An increase in the contact angle with added hierarchy (46°–88°) was also observed for GaN surfaces, albeit diminished compared to Si owing to the relatively lower initial GaN-water contact angle. Overall, this approach has demonstrated a significant degree of wetting tunability in multiple semiconductor systems using colloidal-based nano- and micro-patterning.
Correlating chemical and electronic states from quantitative photoemission electron microscopy of transition-metal dichalcogenide heterostructures
Authors: Renault Olivier , Kim Hokwon , Dumcenco Dumitru , Unuchek Dmitrii , Chevalier Nicolas , Gay Maxime , Kis Andras , Fairley Neal
Published: August 2021

Vertical heterostructures of MoS2 and WSe2 layers are studied by spectroscopic photoemission electron microscopy as an effective technique for correlating chemical and electronic states at the micrometer scale. Element-specific, surface-sensitive images recorded at high lateral and energy resolution from core-level photoelectrons using different laboratory excitation sources are postprocessed to obtain laterally resolved maps of elemental composition and energy shifts in the Mo3d spectra of a few hundred meV. For monolayer MoS2, the method reveals substrate-dependent charge transfer properties within the narrow energy range of 360 meV, with MoS2 becoming more n-type after transfer onto WSe2. The band structure data from momentum microscopy taken over the same areas confirm the charge transfer from WSe2 to MoS2 by the shift of the K-bands away from the Fermi level and illustrates the layer-specific contributions to the electronic band structure of the heterostructure. From work function mapping, the reconstructed energy-level diagram reveals a type II heterostructure but with a very small conduction-band offset.
Are Self-Efficacy and Perceived Environmental Characteristics Determinants of Decline in Physical Activity Time?
Authors: Silva Eduarda Cristina da Costa , Barbosa Arthur Oliveira , Silva Juliana Maria da Penha Freire , de Farias Júnior José Cazuza
Published: August 2021

Context: This study analyzed whether self-efficacy (SE) and perceived environmental characteristics (EC) are determinants of the decline in physical activity (PA) time in adolescents. Methods: This used longitudinal observational approach, with 4 years of data collection, involving 355 adolescents (57.7% girls and 42.3% boys), average age of 11.8 years (0.1 y), from João Pessoa, Paraiba, Brazil. SE and EC were measured by scales and PA by a questionnaire. Ordinal logistic regression was used to associate SE and EC with a decline in PA. Results: There was a linear trend toward a decrease in average PA duration (58.3 [13.7] min/wk/y) and a rise in average access to places for PA (point per year) (0.6 [0.1]), urban safety (0.2 [0.1]), and traffic safety scores (0.5 [0.1]). The results of multivariable analysis indicated that SE and EC were not associated with the decline in PA. Conclusion: There was a decline in PA time, and SE and perceived EC were not determinants of this decline.
Status Quo or Drop-Off: Do Older Adults Maintain Benefits From Choose to Move—A Scaled-Up Physical Activity Program—12 Months After Withdrawing the Intervention?
Authors: McKay Heather A. , Nettlefold Lindsay , Sims-Gould Joanie , Macdonald Heather M. , Khan Karim M. , Bauman Adrian
Published: August 2021

Background: Choose to Move is one of few scaled-up health-promoting interventions for older adults. The authors evaluated whether Choose to Move participants maintained their intervention-related gains in physical activity (PA), mobility, and social connectedness 12 months after the intervention ended. Methods: The authors assessed PA, mobility, loneliness, social isolation, and muscle strength via questionnaire and objective measures in 235 older adults at 0 months (baseline), 6 months (end of intervention), and 18 months (12-months postintervention). The authors fitted linear mixed models to examine the change in each outcome from 6 to 18 months (primary objective) and 0 to 18 months (secondary objective) and reported by age group (60–74 and ≥75 y). Results: In younger participants, PA decreased between 6 and 18 months, but remained significantly higher than at baseline. Intervention-related benefits in loneliness, social isolation, mobility, and muscle strength were maintained between 6 and 18 months in the younger participants. Older participants maintained their intervention benefits in loneliness, mobility, and muscle strength. When compared with baseline values, PA levels in older participants were unchanged, whereas social isolation increased. Conclusions: Older adults maintained some, but not all, health benefits of Choose to Move 12 months after the intervention ended. Long-term commitments are needed to deliver effective health-promoting interventions for older adults if benefits are to be maintained.
Age-dependent regulation of SARS-CoV-2 cell entry genes and cell death programs correlates with COVID-19 severity
Authors: Inde Zintis , Croker Ben A. , Yapp Clarence , Joshi Gaurav N. , Spetz Johan , Fraser Cameron , Qin Xingping , Xu Le , Deskin Brian , Ghelfi Elisa , Webb Gabrielle , Carlin Aaron F. , Zhu Yanfang Peipei , Leibel Sandra L. , Garretson Aaron F. , Clark Alex E. , Duran Jason M. , Pretorius Victor , Crotty-Alexander Laura E. , Li Chendi , Lee Jamie Casey , Sodhi Chhinder , Hackam David J. , Sun Xin , Hata Aaron N. , Kobzik Lester , Miller Jeffrey , Park Jin-Ah , Brownfield Douglas , Jia Hongpeng , Sarosiek Kristopher A.
Published: August 2021

Changes in lung ACE2 expression and apoptotic priming throughout life span may affect COVID severity.
Red/far-red light signals regulate the activity of the carbon-concentrating mechanism in cyanobacteria
Authors: Oren Nadav , Timm Stefan , Frank Marcus , Mantovani Oliver , Murik Omer , Hagemann Martin
Published: August 2021

Red/far-red light signals regulate the cyanobacterial CO
2
-concentrating mechanism by activating/inactivating bicarbonate uptake.
Invasion of phagocytic Galectin 3 expressing macrophages in the diabetic brain disrupts vascular repair
Authors: Mehina Eslam M. F. , Taylor Stephanie , Boghozian Roobina , White Emily , Choi Sun Eui , Cheema Manjinder S. , Korbelin Jakob , Brown Craig E.
Published: August 2021

Preventing immune cells from invading sites of brain injury facilitates repair of damaged blood vessels in diabetic mice.
N
6
-methyladenosine binding induces a metal-centered rearrangement that activates the human RNA demethylase Alkbh5
Authors: Purslow Jeffrey A. , Nguyen Trang T. , Khatiwada Balabhadra , Singh Aayushi , Venditti Vincenzo
Published: August 2021

NMR and MD simulations provide insights into the mechanisms governing activation and substrate selectivity of Alkbh5.
Israel’s grim warning: Delta can overwhelm shots
Authors: Wadman Meredith
Published: August 2021

With early vaccination and outstanding data, country is the world’s real-life COVID-19 lab
Rare variant
MX1
alleles increase human susceptibility to zoonotic H7N9 influenza virus
Authors: Chen Yongkun , Graf Laura , Chen Tao , Liao Qijun , Bai Tian , Petric Philipp P. , Zhu Wenfei , Yang Lei , Dong Jie , Lu Jian , Chen Ying , Shen Juan , Haller Otto , Staeheli Peter , Kochs Georg , Wang Dayan , Schwemmle Martin , Shu Yuelong
Published: August 2021

Poultry passport to pandemic

What conditions are required to nurture the seeds of a pandemic? The avian influenza virus H7N9 rarely spills over into humans, but when it does, mortality exceeds 30%, far in excess of that of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Chen
et al
. used whole-genome sequencing to investigate the contribution of rare mutations among poultry workers who can be exposed to high levels of H7N9. Multiple defective single-nucleotide variants in the myxovirus resistance Mx1 locus were prevalent in H7N9 patients. In vitro infection experiments and influenza polymerase activity assays showed that 14 of the 17 MxA protein variants had no antiviral activity. Thus, individuals with such genetic vulnerabilities, when exposed to high virus loads, may act as crucibles for transmission of virulent new influenza subtypes. —CA
Soft robotic manipulator for intraoperative MRI-guided transoral laser microsurgery
Authors: Fang Ge , Chow Marco C. K. , Ho Justin D. L. , He Zhuoliang , Wang Kui , Ng T. C. , Tsoi James K. H. , Chan Po-Ling , Chang Hing-Chiu , Chan Danny Tat-Ming , Liu Yun-hui , Holsinger F. Christopher , Chan Jason Ying-Kuen , Kwok Ka-Wai
Published: August 2021

A compact and dexterous magnetic resonance (MR)–safe soft robot enables MR imaging–guided transoral laser microsurgery.
ALT neuroblastoma chemoresistance due to telomere dysfunction–induced ATM activation is reversible with ATM inhibitor AZD0156
Authors: Koneru Balakrishna , Farooqi Ahsan , Nguyen Thinh H. , Chen Wan Hsi , Hindle Ashly , Eslinger Cody , Makena Monish Ram , Burrow Trevor A. , Wilson Joanne , Smith Aaron , Pilla Reddy Venkatesh , Cadogan Elaine , Durant Stephen T. , Reynolds C. Patrick
Published: August 2021

ATM activation at telomeres confers chemoresistance in ALT neuroblastoma and is reversible in preclinical models by ATM knockdown or inhibition.
Treatment with ROS detoxifying gold quantum clusters alleviates the functional decline in a mouse model of Friedreich ataxia
Authors: Villa Chiara , Legato Mariella , Umbach Alessandro , Riganti Chiara , Jones Rebecca , Martini Beatrice , Boido Marina , Medana Claudio , Facchinetti Irene , Barni Dario , Pinto Milena , Arguello Tania , Belicchi Marzia , Fagiolari Gigliola , Liaci Carla , Moggio Maurizio , Ruffo Riccardo , Moraes Carlos T. , Monguzzi Angelo , Merlo Giorgio R. , Torrente Yvan
Published: August 2021

Gold quantum clusters are therapeutic in preclinical models of Friedreich ataxia.
Blocking α
4
β
7
integrin delays viral rebound in SHIV
SF162P3
-infected macaques treated with anti-HIV broadly neutralizing antibodies
Authors: Frank Ines , Cigoli Mariasole , Arif Muhammad S. , Fahlberg Marissa D. , Maldonado Stephanie , Calenda Giulia , Pegu Amarendra , Yang Eun Sung , Rawi Reda , Chuang Gwo-Yu , Geng Hui , Liu Cuiping , Zhou Tongqing , Kwong Peter D. , Arthos James , Cicala Claudia , Grasperge Brooke F. , Blanchard James L. , Gettie Agegnehu , Fennessey Christine M. , Keele Brandon F. , Vaccari Monica , Hope Thomas J. , Fauci Anthony S. , Mascola John R. , Martinelli Elena
Published: August 2021

Broadly neutralizing antibodies and an anti-α
4
β
7
monoclonal antibody prolong viral load control in SHIV
SF162P3
-infected macaques.
Cooperation under Pressure: Lessons from the COVID-19 Swab Crisis
Authors: Arnaout Ramy A.
Published: August 2021

The early months of the COVID-19 pandemic were marked by a desperate need for nasopharyngeal swabs to test for SARS-CoV-2, with demand far outstripping supply. April marked the anniversary of an unprecedented nationwide multibusiness/multihospital partnership that successfully met this need, a fitting occasion to review lessons learned.
Establishment of Full-Length cDNA Clones and an Efficient Oral Infection Model for Feline Coronavirus in Cats
Authors: Wang Gang , Hu Guangli , Liang Rui , Shi Jiale , Qiu Xiuxiu , Yang Yiling , Jiao Zhe , Chen Yixi , Shen Zhou , Li Mengxia , Shi Yuejun , Mao Junfu , Peng Guiqing
Published: August 2021

Tissue- or cell culture-adapted feline infectious peritonitis virus (FIPV) usually loses pathogenicity. To develop a highly virulent FIPV, we constructed a field isolate type I FIPV full-length clone with the spike gene replaced by the 79-1146 spike gene, corresponding to a virus named rQS-79, which induces high mortality in adult cats. rQS-79 represents the first described reverse genetics system for highly pathogenic FCoV.
The Borna Disease Virus 2 (BoDV-2) Nucleoprotein Is a Conspecific Protein That Enhances BoDV-1 RNA-Dependent RNA Polymerase Activity
Authors: Kanda Takehiro , Horie Masayuki , Komatsu Yumiko , Tomonaga Keizo
Published: August 2021

Borna disease virus 1 (BoDV-1), a prototype virus of the species
Mammalian 1 orthobornavirus
, is a nonsegmented negative-strand RNA virus that persists in the host nucleus. The nucleoprotein (N) of BoDV-1 encapsidates genomic and antigenomic viral RNA, playing important roles in viral transcription and replication.
Bacterial Diversity of Water and Sediment Samples from Gull Point State Park (West Okoboji, Iowa) Determined Using 16S rRNA Gene Amplicon Sequencing
Authors: Kyndt John A.
Published: August 2021

Gull Point State Park is located on a peninsula on the west shore of West Okoboji Lake (Iowa, USA). It is the primary state park in the Iowa Great Lakes region. Sediment and water samples from three locations at the Gull Point pond were analyzed for their microbial composition.
Exposure to Parasitic Protists and Helminths Changes the Intestinal Community Structure of Bacterial Communities in a Cohort of Mother-Child Binomials from a Semirural Setting in Mexico
Authors: Partida-Rodriguez Oswaldo , Nieves-Ramirez Miriam , Laforest-Lapointe Isabelle , Brown Eric M. , Parfrey Laura , Valadez-Salazar Alicia , Thorson Lisa , Morán Patricia , Gonzalez Enrique , Rascon Edgar , Magaña Ulises , Hernandez Eric , Rojas-Velázquez Liliana , Torres Javier , Arrieta Marie Claire , Ximenez Cecilia , Finlay B. Brett
Published: August 2021

The impact of intestinal eukaryotes on the prokaryotic microbiome composition of asymptomatic carriers has not been extensively explored, especially in infants and mothers with multiple parasitic infections. In this work, we studied the relationship between protist and helminth parasite colonization and the intestinal microbiota structure in an asymptomatic population of mother-child binomials from a semirural community in Mexico.
RNase III and RNase E Influence Posttranscriptional Regulatory Networks Involved in Virulence Factor Production, Metabolism, and Regulatory RNA Processing in Bordetella pertussis
Authors: Ifill Gyles , Blimkie Travis , Lee Amy Huei-Yi , Mackie George A. , Chen Qing , Stibitz Scott , Hancock Robert E. W. , Fernandez Rachel C.
Published: August 2021

Noncoding, regulatory RNAs in bacterial pathogens are critical components required for rapid changes in gene expression profiles. However, little is known about the role of regulatory RNAs in the growth and pathogenesis of
Bordetella pertussis
.
Pre-Vaccine Positivity of SARS-CoV-2 Antibodies in Alberta, Canada during the First Two Waves of the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Charlton Carmen L. , Nguyen Leonard T. , Bailey Ashley , Fenton Jayne , Plitt Sabrina S. , Marohn Carol , Lau Cheryl , Hinshaw Deena , Lutsiak Christie , Simmonds Kimberley , Kanji Jamil N. , Zelyas Nathan , Lee Nelson , Mengel Michael , Tipples Graham
Published: August 2021

Using SARS-CoV-2 serology testing, we assessed the proportion of people in Alberta, Canada (population 4.4 million) positive for COVID-19 antibodies, indicating previous infection, during the first two waves of the COVID-19 pandemic (prior to vaccination programs). Linking these results with sociodemographic population data provides valuable information as to which groups of the population are more likely to have been infected with the SARS-CoV-2 virus to help facilitate public health decision-making and interventions.
Host Bias in Diet-Source Microbiome Transmission in Wild Cohabitating Herbivores: New Knowledge for the Evolution of Herbivory and Plant Defense
Authors: Zhu Lifeng , Zhang Yongyong , Cui Xinyuan , Zhu Yudong , Dai Qinlong , Chen Hua , Liu Guoqi , Yao Ran , Yang Zhisong
Published: August 2021

We discovered a host bias among cohabitating herbivores (leaf-eating insects and deer), where a significant portion of the herbivorous insect gut microbiome may originate from the diet, while in deer, only a tiny fraction of the gut microbiome is of dietary origin. We speculated that the putative difference in the oxygenation level in the host digestion systems would lead to these host biases in plant-source (diet) microbiome transmission due to the oxygenation living condition of the dietary plant's symbiotic microbiome.
Erosion due to a century of road construction and maintenance at Mount Diablo State Park, California
Authors: Fuller Michael S. , Roffers Peter D.
Published: August 2021

Mount Diablo State Park exemplifies many other conservation areas where managers balance the dual missions of protecting natural resources while providing public access. Roads and trails that crisscross the park are etched into the geomorphic surface, capturing and redirecting storm runoff, and presenting both a challenge for soil conservation and a consequence of construction and maintenance.

We used field mapping, remote sensing, and modeling to assess erosion along the roads and trails in Mount Diablo State Park, which encompasses the headwaters of several urbanized watersheds. The field mapping in 2011 determined that 56% of the assessed roads and trails required either repair or reconstruction to control erosion and that ~67% of the culverts in the park required either repair or replacement. Aerial photography and modeling showed that other erosion (unrelated to roads or trails) preferentially occurred during wet periods, in specific lithologies, and on convergent slopes.

Although lithology and climate drive slope-forming geomorphic processes, we found that the road and trail system (1) expanded the stream network with a capillary-like system of rills, (2) catalyzed prolonged erosion, and (3) altered the timing and pattern of sediment yield. In addition to water-driven erosion during wet periods, road and trail surfaces were subject to mechanical and wind erosion during dry periods. Spatially, dry erosion and runoff both conformed with and crossed topographic gradients by following the road and trail network. Road- and trail-induced erosion occurred across a wider range of rock properties and slope geometries than is typical for other erosion. Hence, the roads and trails have expanded the spatial and temporal boundary conditions over which geomorphic processes operate and, due to continual soil disturbance, have accelerated erosion rates.

Although road density is a commonly used metric to rank road-related impacts at watershed scales, it misses both spatial variability and the opportunity to identify specific road and trail segments for remediation. We developed a spatially explicit scoring scheme based on actual erosion and the potential for sedimentation of discrete waterbodies. The data were incorporated into the park’s road and trail management plan in 2016.
Mid-Cenozoic succession on the northeast limb of the Mount Diablo anticline, California—A stratigraphic record of tectonic events in the forearc basin
Authors: Sullivan Raymond , Sullivan Morgan D. , Edwards Stephen W. , Sarna-Wojcicki Andrei M. , Hackworth Rebecca A. , Deino Alan L.
Published: August 2021

The mid-Cenozoic succession in the northeast limb of the Mount Diablo anticline records the evolution of plate interactions at the leading edge of the North America plate. Subduction of the Kula plate and later Farallon plate beneath the North America plate created a marine forearc basin that existed from late Mesozoic to mid-Cenozoic times. In the early Cenozoic, extension on north-south faults formed a graben depocenter on the west side of the basin. Deposition of the Markley Formation of middle to late? Eocene age took place in the late stages of the marine forearc basin. In the Oligocene, the marine forearc basin changed to a primarily nonmarine basin, and the depocenter of the basin shifted eastward of the Midland fault to a south-central location for the remainder of the Cenozoic. The causes of these changes may have included slowing in the rate of subduction, resulting in slowing subsidence, and they might also have been related to the initiation of transform motion far to the south. Two unconformities in the mid-Cenozoic succession record the changing events on the plate boundary. The first hiatus is between the Markley Formation and the overlying Kirker Formation of Oligocene age. The succession above the unconformity records the widespread appearance of nonmarine rocks and the first abundant appearance of silicic volcanic detritus due to slab rollback, which reversed the northeastward migration of the volcanic arc to a more proximal location. A second regional unconformity separates the Kirker/Valley Springs formations from the overlying Cierbo/Mehrten formations of late Miocene age. This late Miocene unconformity may reflect readjustment of stresses in the North America plate that occurred when subduction was replaced by transform motion at the plate boundary. The Cierbo and Neroly formations above the unconformity contain abundant andesitic detritus due to proto-Cascade volcanism. In the late Cenozoic, the northward-migrating triple junction produced volcanic eruptive centers in the Coast Ranges. Tephra from these local sources produced time markers in the late Cenozoic succession.
Balloons on the battlefield: REBOA implementation in the UK Defence Medical Services
Authors: Marsden Max E R , Buckley A M , Park C , Tai N , Rees P
Published: August 2021

Established in 2018, the Defence Endovascular Resuscitation (DefER) group recognised that resuscitative endovascular balloon occlusion of the aorta (REBOA) offered an option to improve survival in battle casualties dying from haemorrhage, particularly in remote and austere surgical settings. Following a successful jHub opportunity assessment, DefER purchased training and operational kit at pace. By 1 April 2019, the first forward surgical group undertook a bespoke endovascular training and assessment package. Results of the pilot were presented back to a jHub 4* Innovation Board, which initially awarded £500 000 to fund the project to full implementation. Med Op Cap provided a solution to establish REBOA as a core capability on to the 370 modules. REBOA catheters and arterial access kit are now available to deployed Role 2 facilities across defence as an adjunct to damage control resuscitation in specific circumstances. REBOA has, from a standing start, gained pan-Defence Medical Services (DMS) endorsement and has been integrated into deployed damage control resuscitation. To establish a new resuscitation capability across all Role 2 platforms within 15 months of inception represents implementation at pace. This agility was unlocked by empowering clinicians to develop the platform in conjunction with commercial procurement. This article describes how this innovative pathway facilitated the rapid introduction of a lifesaving haemorrhage control technique to equip DMS clinicians.
Factors influencing the readiness to tackle the burden of ischaemic heart disease in India: a systematic review protocol
Authors: Bhattacharjee Shuvarthi , Yaghmaei Nima , Phuong Cao Tran Le , Neupane Dinesh
Published: August 2021

Introduction

Ischaemic heart disease (IHD) is one of the leading causes of death and disease burden in India affecting all age groups. To reduce the deaths and tackle the burden of existing IHD, the government approach has been mostly through the National Health Policy (2017) and National Programme for Prevention and Control of Diabetes, Cardiovascular diseases and Stroke. This paper offers a protocol for the systematic review of studies exploring the factors influencing service readiness of the public health system of India to tackle the burden of IHD.

Methods and analysis

Electronic databases of Embase (Ovid), AMED (Ovid), HMIC (Ovid), BNI (ProQuest), CINAHL (EBSCO), EMCARE (Ovid), PsycINFO (ProQuest), MEDLINE/PubMed and Web of Science (Clarivate Analytics) will be searched till 2020 for primary studies. Grey literature will be accessed through OpenGrey, TRIP Medical, WHO database, MoHFW website, Open Government Data (OGD) Platform of India and Google Scholar (between 2010 and 2020). Primary studies meeting the eligibility criteria and grey literature published in English between 2010 and 2020 will be included. Data will be analysed through a conceptual framework, and the primary outcome will constitute both quantitative and qualitative data. The quality of included studies will be assessed based on study design. Data will be managed on the COVIDENCE platform. All authors will be involved in data extraction, quality appraisal, data synthesis and formulation of the final draft.

Ethics and dissemination

This study, being a systematic review, does not involve any clinical trial, primary data collection or empirical study involving humans or animals. Therefore, no ethical permissions were sought by reviewers.

PROSPERO registration number

CRD42020219490.