bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Sinapic Acid Suppresses SARS CoV-2 Replication by Targeting Its Envelope Protein
Authors: Orfali Raha , Rateb Mostafa E. , Hassan Hossam M. , Alonazi Mona , Gomaa Mokhtar R. , Mahrous Noura , GabAllah Mohamed , Kandeil Ahmed , Perveen Shagufta , Abdelmohsen Usama Ramadan , Sayed Ahmed M.
Published: April 2021

SARS CoV-2 is still considered a global health issue, and its threat keeps growing with the emergence of newly evolved strains. Despite the success in developing some vaccines as a protective measure, finding cost-effective treatments is urgent. Accordingly, we screened a number of phenolic natural compounds for their in vitro anti-SARS CoV-2 activity. We found sinapic acid (SA) selectively inhibited the viral replication in vitro with an half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) value of 2.69 µg/mL with significantly low cytotoxicity (CC50 = 189.3 µg/mL). Subsequently, we virtually screened all currently available molecular targets using a multistep in silico protocol to find out the most probable molecular target that mediates this compound’s antiviral activity. As a result, the viral envelope protein (E-protein) was suggested as the most possible hit for SA. Further in-depth molecular dynamic simulation-based investigation revealed the essential structural features of SA antiviral activity and its binding mode with E-protein. The structural and experimental results presented in this study strongly recommend SA as a promising structural motif for anti-SARS CoV-2 agent development.
Phage Therapy in Veterinary Medicine
Authors: Loponte Rosa , Pagnini Ugo , Iovane Giuseppe , Pisanelli Giuseppe
Published: April 2021

To overcome the obstacle of antimicrobial resistance, researchers are investigating the use of phage therapy as an alternative and/or supplementation to antibiotics to treat and prevent infections both in humans and in animals. In the first part of this review, we describe the unique biological characteristics of bacteriophages and the crucial aspects influencing the success of phage therapy. However, despite their efficacy and safety, there is still no specific legislation that regulates their use. In the second part of this review, we describe the comprehensive research done in the past and recent years to address the use of phage therapy for the treatment and prevention of bacterial disease affecting domestic animals as an alternative to antibiotic treatments. While in farm animals, phage therapy efficacy perspectives have been widely studied in vitro and in vivo, especially for zoonoses and diseases linked to economic losses (such as mastitis), in pets, studies are still few and rather recent.
Bibliometric Analysis on Tuberculosis and Tuberculosis-Related Research Trends in Africa: A Decade-Long Study
Authors: Igwaran Aboi , Edoamodu Chiedu Epiphany
Published: April 2021

Tuberculosis is one of the oldest known diseases and the leading communicable cause of deaths worldwide. Although several studies have been carried out on tuberculosis, no research has examined the publication trends in this area. Hence, this study aimed to fill the gap by conducting a bibliometric study in publications trends on tuberculosis and tuberculosis-related studies in Africa from 2010–2019 and explore the hotspots. Information in published documents on tuberculosis and its related studies from 2010 to 2019 were retrieved from the Web of Science (WoS) database. The bibliometric tool biblioshiny and Microsoft Excel 2016 were used to analyse the top leading journals, top cited documents, authors’ country production, country collaboration networks, most relevant authors, authors’ impacts, most relevant authors by corresponding author, most cited countries, university collaborations, most relevant affiliations, conceptual structural maps, title word co-occurrence networks, collaboration and significance of individual sources, university, country and keyword relations. A total of 3945 published documents were retrieved. The analyses showed that European Respiratory Journal was the leading journal in publications on tuberculosis studies with a total of 452 published articles, the WHO 2012 report was the most cited document with 2485 total citations while South Africa was the most productive country in tuberculosis publications as well as the leading country with the highest co-authorship collaboration. Analysis of top relevant authors revealed that Anonymous (133) and Dheda (44) were the two topmost relevant authors of tuberculosis publications, South Africa was the most relevant country by corresponding authors and the topmost cited country for tuberculosis publications. Furthermore, analysis of the university collaborations network showed that the University of Cape Town was the topmost university in Africa with the highest collaboration network, tuberculosis as a word had the highest co-occurrence network while the Three Field Plot diagram revealed the relations between universities, keywords and countries. This study provides a quantitative and qualitative analyses of the leading journals, most cited published articles, title word occurrences, and most relevant authors in published documents on tuberculosis and tuberculosis related studies from 2010–2019.
Recent Progress in Discovering the Role of Carotenoids and Their Metabolites in Prostatic Physiology and Pathology with a Focus on Prostate Cancer—A Review—Part I: Molecular Mechanisms of Carotenoid Action
Authors: Dulińska-Litewka Joanna , Sharoni Yoav , Hałubiec Przemysław , Łazarczyk Agnieszka , Szafrański Oskar , McCubrey James A. , Gąsiorkiewicz Bartosz , Laidler Piotr , Bohn Torsten
Published: April 2021

Among the vast variety of plant-derived phytochemicals, the group of carotenoids has continuously been investigated in order to optimize their potential application in the area of dietary intervention and medicine. One organ which has been especially targeted in many of these studies and clinical trials is the human prostate. Without doubt, carotenoids (and their endogenous derivatives—retinoids and other apo-carotenoids) are involved in intra- and intercellular signaling, cell growth and differentiation of prostate tissue. Due to the accumulation of new data on the role of different carotenoids such as lycopene (LC) and β-carotene (BC) in prostatic physiology and pathology, the present review aims to cover the past ten years of research in this area. Data from experimental studies are presented in the first part of the review, while epidemiological studies are disclosed and discussed in the second part. The objective of this compilation is to emphasize the present state of knowledge regarding the most potent molecular targets of carotenoids and their main metabolites, as well as to propose promising carotenoid agents for the prevention and treatment of prostatic diseases.
The Potential of Sun-Dried Grape Pomace as a Multi-Functional Ingredient for Herbal Infusion: Effects of Brewing Parameters on Composition and Bioactivity
Authors: Goulas Vlasios , Stavrou Konstantina , Michael Christodoulos , Botsaris George , Barbouti Alexandra
Published: April 2021

Wine and by-products are essential elements of a Mediterranean diet and considered as a reservoir of bioactive compounds with various health effects. Grape pomace, an easily available natural material of low cost, shares a similar wealth of health benefiting bioactive phytochemicals. The objective of this study was to explore the utilization of grape pomace from Commandaria dessert wine as main ingredient for functional infusions. Therefore, the ratio of water to grape pomace powder (40–200 mL g−1), infusion time (3–15 min) and temperature (55–95 °C) were optimized in terms of composition and bioactivity. Multiple response optimization indicated that brewing 200 mL water per g of material for 12.2 min at 95 °C, was the optimum method for preparing the infusion. Results also revealed a significant impact of three parameters as well as quadratic and interactive effects on composition and bioactivity of infusions. Furthermore, the infusion presents antimicrobial effects against Listeria monocytogenes serotypes and other common food pathogenic bacteria. Finally, a sensory evaluation was performed to assess the organoleptic attributes of the infusion and its improvement, with the addition of Mediterranean aromatic plants. Overall, the present work describes a promising strategy for the re-use of sun-dried grape pomace as a functional ingredient of infusions.
Antioxidants Such as Flavonoids and Carotenoids in the Diet of Bogor, Indonesia Residents
Authors: Andarwulan Nuri , Cahyarani Puspita Niken , Saraswati  , Średnicka-Tober Dominika
Published: April 2021

Due to the strong antioxidant activity of flavonoids and carotenoids, daily consumption of these bioactive compounds has the potential for reducing the risk of many chronic and degenerative diseases caused by or contributed to by oxidative stress. Currently, the available research results related to the flavonoid and carotenoid intake in Asian countries are very limited, especially for Indonesian population. The present study was conducted in Bogor City and Bogor District, West Java, Indonesia. Food consumption data was obtained through the food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) method, involving 200 respondents aged 25–65 years old. Flavonoids and carotenoids contents of the consumed food items were determined by referring to the databases developed by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), scientific journals, and calculation based on the recipes recorded in the survey. The total flavonoid intake of Bogor adults was estimated as 149.5 mg/day, consisting of 49.4% isoflavones, 24.0% flavonols, 9.4% flavanones, 7.0% flavan-3-ols, 6.0% flavones, and 4.2% anthocyanidins, and was contributed to mainly by legumes (70.7%), vegetables (10.1%), and fruits (7.3%). At the same time, the estimated total carotenoid intake reached 7.6 mg/day, and was contributed to mainly by vegetables (53.9%), fruits (20.2%), and snacks (14.4%), with β-carotene consumed in the highest proportion (49.9%), followed by lycopene (19.9%), lutein and zeaxanthin (13.5%), α-carotene (6.9%), and β-cryptoxanthin (2.6%). The effects of different respondents’ characteristics, such as area of residence (city vs. district), gender (male vs. female), and age (25–40, 41–55, and 56–65 years old) on the flavonoid and carotenoid intake varied widely, due to the differences in the overall consumption patterns of the respective respondents’ groups.
Effectiveness of Consumption of a Combination of Citrus Fruit Flavonoids and Olive Leaf Polyphenols to Reduce Oxidation of Low-Density Lipoprotein in Treatment-Naïve Cardiovascular Risk Subjects: A Randomized Double-Blind Controlled Study
Authors: Victoria-Montesinos Desirée , Abellán Ruiz María Salud , Luque Rubia Antonio J. , Guillén Martínez Daniel , Pérez-Piñero Silvia , Sánchez Macarro Maravillas , García-Muñoz Ana María , Cánovas García Fernando , Castillo Sánchez Julián , López-Román Francisco Javier
Published: April 2021

The aim of the study was to assess whether oral intake of a nutraceutical product (Citrolive™) could determine changes in low-density lipoprotein (LDL) oxidation and other parameters of lipid metabolism and plasma atherogenic capacity. Citrolive™ is a commercial extract obtained from the combination of citrus fruit flavonoids and olive leaf extracts. Twenty-three untreated subjects (69.6% males, 30.4% females, mean age 41.9 ± 9.4 years) with cardiovascular risk factors and a total cholesterol level >200 mg/dL and LDL cholesterol (LDL-C) > 130 mg/dL participated in a 3-month randomized double-blind controlled study. Participants in the intervention group (71.4% males, 28.6% females, mean age 42.7 ± 9.7 years) consumed Citrolive™ (500 mg, two capsules/day), and controls (66.7% males, 33.3% females, mean age 40.6 ± 9.4 years) received a matched placebo. At 3 months, oxidized LDL (ox-LDL) decreased significantly in the intervention group from 93.8 ± 19.1 U/L to 62.8 ± 28.7 U/L (p < 0.05), whereas the control group increased from 98.2 ± 23.5 U/L to 105.7 ± 21.9 U/L (p = 0.1). Between-group differences were also significant (p < 0.05). Similar findings in the ox-LDL/LDL-C ratio were observed. Serum paraoxonase activity (PON1) increased significantly in the intervention group from 64.5 ± 15.6 U/L to 78.7 ± 28.8 U/L (p < 0.05) but remained unchanged in controls. Consumption of Citrolive™ for 3 months in treatment-naïve subjects with moderate risk of atherosclerosis was associated with a reduction in oxidized LDL-C and LDL-oxidase/LDL-C ratio as compared to controls.
The Unity of Redox and Structural Remodeling of Brown Adipose Tissue in Hypothyroidism
Authors: Aleksic Marija , Kalezic Andjelika , Saso Luciano , Jankovic Aleksandra , Korac Bato , Korac Aleksandra
Published: April 2021

Brown adipose tissue (BAT) is important for maintaining whole-body metabolic and energy homeostasis. However, the effects of hypothyroidism, one of the most common diseases worldwide, which increases the risk of several metabolic disorders, on BAT redox and metabolic homeostasis remain mostly unknown. We aimed to investigate the dynamics of protein expression, enzyme activity, and localization of antioxidant defense (AD) enzymes in rat interscapular BAT upon induction of hypothyroidism by antithyroid drug methimazole for 7, 15, and 21 days. Our results showed an increased protein expression of CuZn- and Mn-superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutamyl–cysteine ligase, thioredoxin, total glutathione content, and activity of catalase and thioredoxin reductase in hypothyroid rats, compared to euthyroid control. Concomitant with the increase in AD, newly established nuclear, mitochondrial, and peroxisomal localization of AD enzymes was found. Hypothyroidism also potentiated associations between mitochondria, peroxisomes, and lipid bodies, creating specific structural–functional units. Moreover, hypothyroidism induced protein expression and nuclear translocation of a master regulator of redox-metabolic homeostasis, nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), and an increased amount of 4-hydroxynonenal (4-HNE) protein adducts. The results indicate that spatiotemporal overlap in the remodeling of AD is orchestrated by Nrf2, implicating the role of 4-HNE in this process and suggesting the potential mechanism of redox-structural remodeling during BAT adaptation in hypothyroidism.
The Mia40/CHCHD4 Oxidative Folding System: Redox Regulation and Signaling in the Mitochondrial Intermembrane Space
Authors: Dickson-Murray Eleanor , Nedara Kenza , Modjtahedi Nazanine , Tokatlidis Kostas
Published: April 2021

Mitochondria are critical for several cellular functions as they control metabolism, cell physiology, and cell death. The mitochondrial proteome consists of around 1500 proteins, the vast majority of which (about 99% of them) are encoded by nuclear genes, with only 13 polypeptides in human cells encoded by mitochondrial DNA. Therefore, it is critical for all the mitochondrial proteins that are nuclear-encoded to be targeted precisely and sorted specifically to their site of action inside mitochondria. These processes of targeting and sorting are catalysed by protein translocases that operate in each one of the mitochondrial sub-compartments. The main protein import pathway for the intermembrane space (IMS) recognises proteins that are cysteine-rich, and it is the only import pathway that chemically modifies the imported precursors by introducing disulphide bonds to them. In this manner, the precursors are trapped in the IMS in a folded state. The key component of this pathway is Mia40 (called CHCHD4 in human cells), which itself contains cysteine motifs and is subject to redox regulation. In this review, we detail the basic components of the MIA pathway and the disulphide relay mechanism that underpins the electron transfer reaction along the oxidative folding mechanism. Then, we discuss the key protein modulators of this pathway and how they are interlinked to the small redox-active molecules that critically affect the redox state in the IMS. We present also evidence that the mitochondrial redox processes that are linked to iron–sulfur clusters biogenesis and calcium homeostasis coalesce in the IMS at the MIA machinery. The fact that the MIA machinery and several of its interactors and substrates are linked to a variety of common human diseases connected to mitochondrial dysfunction highlight the potential of redox processes in the IMS as a promising new target for developing new treatments for some of the most complex and devastating human diseases.
Reliability of a New Portable Dynamometer for Assessing Hip and Lower Limb Strength
Authors: Marušič Jan , Marković Goran , Šarabon Nejc
Published: April 2021

The purpose of this study was to evaluate intra- and inter-session reliability of the new, portable, and externally fixated dynamometer called MuscleBoard® for assessing the strength of hip and lower limb muscles. Hip abduction, adduction, flexion, extension, internal and external rotation, knee extension, ankle plantarflexion, and Nordic hamstring exercise strength were measured in three sessions (three sets of three repetitions for each test) on 24 healthy and recreationally active participants. Average and maximal value of normalized peak torque (Nm/kg) from three repetitions in each set and agonist:antagonist ratios (%) were statistically analyzed; the coefficient of variation and intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC2,k) were calculated to assess absolute and relative reliability, respectively. Overall, the results display high to excellent intra- and inter-session reliability with low to acceptable within-individual variation for average and maximal peak torques in all bilateral strength tests, while the reliability of unilateral strength tests was moderate to good. Our findings indicate that using the MuscleBoard® dynamometer can be a reliable device for assessing and monitoring bilateral and certain unilateral hip and lower limb muscle strength, while some unilateral strength tests require some refinement and more extensive familiarization.
Uncertainty Reduction on Flexibility Services Provision from DER by Resorting to DSO Storage Devices
Authors: Celli Gianni , Galici Marco , Pilo Fabrizio , Ruggeri Simona , Soma Gian Giuseppe
Published: April 2021

Current trends in electrification of the final energy consumption and towards a massive electricity production from renewables are leading a revolution in the electric distribution system. Indeed, the traditional “fit & forget” planning approach used by Distributors would entail a huge amount of network investment. Therefore, for making these trends economically sustainable, the concept of Smart Distribution Network has been proposed, based on active management of the system and the exploitation of flexibility services provided by Distributed Energy Resources. However, the uncertainties associated to this innovation are holding its acceptance by utilities. For increasing their confidence, new risk-based planning tools are necessary, able to estimate the residual risk connected with each choice and identify solutions that can gradually lead to a full Smart Distribution Network implementation. Battery energy storage systems, owned and operated by Distributors, represent one of these solutions, since they can support the use of local flexibility services by covering part of the associated uncertainties. The paper presents a robust approach for the optimal exploitation of these flexibility services with a simultaneous optimal allocation of storage devices. For each solution, the residual risk is estimated, making this tool ready for its integration within a risk-based planning procedure.
Bio-Inspired Modality Fusion for Active Speaker Detection
Authors: Assunção Gustavo , Gonçalves Nuno , Menezes Paulo
Published: April 2021

Human beings have developed fantastic abilities to integrate information from various sensory sources exploring their inherent complementarity. Perceptual capabilities are therefore heightened, enabling, for instance, the well-known "cocktail party" and McGurk effects, i.e., speech disambiguation from a panoply of sound signals. This fusion ability is also key in refining the perception of sound source location, as in distinguishing whose voice is being heard in a group conversation. Furthermore, neuroscience has successfully identified the superior colliculus region in the brain as the one responsible for this modality fusion, with a handful of biological models having been proposed to approach its underlying neurophysiological process. Deriving inspiration from one of these models, this paper presents a methodology for effectively fusing correlated auditory and visual information for active speaker detection. Such an ability can have a wide range of applications, from teleconferencing systems to social robotics. The detection approach initially routes auditory and visual information through two specialized neural network structures. The resulting embeddings are fused via a novel layer based on the superior colliculus, whose topological structure emulates spatial neuron cross-mapping of unimodal perceptual fields. The validation process employed two publicly available datasets, with achieved results confirming and greatly surpassing initial expectations.
Special Issue on Signal Processing and Machine Learning for Biomedical Data
Authors: Raso Giuseppe , Cascio Donato
Published: April 2021

This Special Issue is focused on advanced techniques in signal processing, analysis, modelling, and classification, applied to a variety of medical diagnostic problems [...]
COVID-19: Worldwide Profiles during the First 250 Days
Authors: António Nuno , Rita Paulo , Saraiva Pedro
Published: April 2021

The present COVID-19 pandemic is happening in a strongly interconnected world. This interconnection explains why it became universal in such a short period of time and why it stimulated the creation of a large amount of relevant open data. In this paper, we use data science tools to explore this open data from the moment the pandemic began and across the first 250 days of prevalence before vaccination started. The use of unsupervised machine learning techniques allowed us to identify three clusters of countries and territories with similar profiles of standardized COVID-19 time dynamics. Although countries and territories in the three clusters share some characteristics, their composition is not homogenous. All these clusters contain countries from different geographies and with different development levels. The use of descriptive statistics and data visualization techniques enabled the description and understanding of where and how COVID-19 was impacting. Some interesting extracted features are discussed and suggestions for future research in this area are also presented.
There Is No Cross Effect of Unstable Resistance Training on Power Produced during Stable Conditions
Authors: Zemková Erika , Jeleň Michal , Cepková Alena , Uvaček Marián
Published: April 2021

This study evaluates the effect of 8 weeks of the stable and unstable resistance training on muscle power. Thirty-three healthy men recreationally trained in resistance exercises, randomly assigned into two groups, performed resistance exercises either under stable or unstable conditions for 8 weeks (three sessions per week). Before and after 4 and 8 weeks of the training, they underwent squats and chest presses on either a stable surface or on a BOSU ball and a Swiss ball respectively with increasing weights up to at least 85% 1RM. Results showed significant improvements of mean power during chest presses on a Swiss ball at weights up to 60.7% 1RM after 4 and 8 weeks of the instability resistance training. Mean power increased significantly also during squats on a BOSU ball at weights up to 48.1% 1RM after 4 but not 8 weeks of instability resistance training. However, there were no significant changes in mean power during bench presses and squats on a stable support surface after the same training. These findings indicate that there is no cross effect of instability resistance training on power produced under stable conditions. This confirms and complies with the principle for specificity of training.
OSINT-Based LPC-MTD and HS-Decoy for Organizational Defensive Deception
Authors: Seo Sang , Kim Dohoon
Published: April 2021

This study aimed to alleviate the theoretical limitations of existing moving target defense (MTD) and decoy concepts and improve the efficiency of defensive deception technology within an organization. We present the concept of an open-source intelligence (OSINT)-based hierarchical social engineering decoy (HS-Decoy) strategy while considering the actual fingerprint of each organization. In addition, we propose a loosely proactive control-based MTD strategy that is based on the intended competitive exposure of OSINT between defenders and attackers. Existing MTDs and decoys are biased toward proactive prevention, in that they only perform structural mutation-based attack avoidance or induce static traps. They also have practical limitations, e.g., they do not consider security characterization of each organizational social engineering attack and related utilization plans, no quantitative deception modeling is performed for the attenuation of the attack surface through exposure to OSINT, and there is no operational plan for optimal MTD and decoy application within the organization. Through the applied deception concepts proposed here, the total attack efficiency was reduced by 287% compared to the existing MTD and decoys, while the artificial deception efficiency dominated by defenders was improved by 382%. In addition, the increase rate of deception overhead was also reduced by 174%, and an optimized deceptive trade-off was also presented. In order to enable an organization to utilize the OSINT concept, statistical error reduction, and MTD mutation cycle-based deceptive selectivity, it was introduced as a loose adaptive mutation rather than a preferential avoidance strategy, and an organization-specific optimization direction was introduced through a combination of HS-Decoy and LPC-MTD. In the future, in order to improve the operational reliability of the HS-Decoy and LPC-MTD-based combined model and standardize threat information for each organization, we intend to advance it into an international standard-based complex architecture and characterize it as game theory.
Bacterial Colonization and Proliferation in Furcal Perforations Repaired by Different Materials: A Confocal Laser Scanning Microscopy Study
Authors: Elbahary Shlomo , Haj Yahya Sohad , Koç Cemre , Shemesh Hagay , Rosen Eyal , Tsesis Igor
Published: April 2021

Following furcal perforation, bacteria may colonize the defect and cause inflammation and periodontal destruction. This study used confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) to evaluate Enterococcus faecalis colonization and proliferation in furcal perforations repaired with different materials. Furcal perforations created in 55 extracted human mandibular molars were repaired using either MTA-Angelus, Endocem, or Biodentine and coronally subjected to E. faecalis suspension for 21 days. The specimens were then stained using a LIVE/DEAD Viability Kit and visualized by CLSM. The minimum and maximum depths of bacterial penetration into the dentinal tubules were 159 and 1790 μM, respectively, with a mean of 713 μM. There were significantly more live than dead bacteria inside the dentinal tubules (p = 0.0023) in all groups, and all three repair materials exhibited a similarly sized stained area (p = 0.083). However, there were significant differences in the numbers of dead bacteria at the circumference of the perforation defect (p = 0.0041), with a significantly higher ratio of live to dead bacteria in the MTA-Angelus group (p = 0.001). Following perforation repair, bacteria may colonize the interface between the repair material and dentin and may penetrate through the dentinal tubules. The type of repair material has a significant effect on the viability of the colonizing bacteria.
A Numerical Study of Sub-Millisecond Integrated Mix-and-Inject Microfluidic Devices for Sample Delivery at Synchrotron and XFELs
Authors: Hejazian Majid , Balaur Eugeniu , Abbey Brian
Published: April 2021

Microfluidic devices which integrate both rapid mixing and liquid jetting for sample delivery are an emerging solution for studying molecular dynamics via X-ray diffraction. Here we use finite element modelling to investigate the efficiency and time-resolution achievable using microfluidic mixers within the parameter range required for producing stable liquid jets. Three-dimensional simulations, validated by experimental data, are used to determine the velocity and concentration distribution within these devices. The results show that by adopting a serpentine geometry, it is possible to induce chaotic mixing, which effectively reduces the time required to achieve a homogeneous mixture for sample delivery. Further, we investigate the effect of flow rate and the mixer microchannel size on the mixing efficiency and minimum time required for complete mixing of the two solutions whilst maintaining a stable jet. In general, we find that the smaller the cross-sectional area of the mixer microchannel, the shorter the time needed to achieve homogeneous mixing for a given flow rate. The results of these simulations will form the basis for optimised designs enabling the study of molecular dynamics occurring on millisecond timescales using integrated mix-and-inject microfluidic devices.
Equivalent Electrical Circuit Modeling of CNT-Based Transparent Electrodes
Authors: La Mura Monica , Lamberti Patrizia , Tucci Vincenzo
Published: April 2021

Among the various applications of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) that have been investigated since the discovery of their exceptional potential in the electronic field, great interest has been directed towards the creation of carbon-based materials capable of replacing Indium Tin Oxide (ITO) as a transparent electrode. Such transparent conductive films find application in touch panels, LCD screens, OLED displays, photovoltaic cells, and many others. This review presents a collection of techniques that have been proposed during the last decade for the modeling of carbon nanotube-based materials by means of equivalent electrical networks. These networks represent the electrical properties of CNT-based conductive thin films in a way that can be easily included in circuit simulators for the simulation-assisted design of the different devices under static and dynamic conditions.
Estimation of Pressuremeter Modulus and Limit Pressure in Weathered Granite Based on the SPT-N Value and Chemical Weathering Index: A Case Study in South Korea
Authors: Lee Seung-Hwan , Kwak Tae-Young , Park Ka-Hyun
Published: April 2021

A pressuremeter test (PMT) is a representative and highly reliable in situ test for assessing the stress–strain behavior of weathered granite. Its application, however, is restricted by its cost and time requirements. Many researchers have also investigated the correlations between the SPT-N value and the pressuremeter modulus (Em) and limit pressure (PL) of soils, but they have mostly focused on sand, silt, and clay and have employed simple regression analysis. In this study, equations for Em and PL were derived for weathered granite through multiple nonlinear regression analyses using a chemical weathering index that quantitatively represents the degree of weathering. Nonlinear multiple regression analyses were conducted by combining the allometric models that produced the optimal correlations between Em, PL, energy corrected SPT-N (SPT-N60), and normalized VR (Vogt’ ratio) with vertical effective stress. The obtained equations for Em and PL had higher R2 values (0.76 and 0.46, respectively) compared with the simple regression equations reported in previous studies. Because local characteristics are important determinants of the engineering properties of geo-materials, the Em and PL equations proposed in this paper are intended for use in geotechnical surveys of weathered granite in South Korea.
Three-Dimensional Nondestructive Isotope-Selective Tomographic Imaging of 208Pb Distribution via Nuclear Resonance Fluorescence
Authors: Ali Khaled , Zen Heishun , Ohgaki Hideaki , Kii Toshiteru , Hayakawa Takehito , Shizuma Toshiyuki , Toyokawa Hiroyuki , Fujimoto Masaki , Taira Yoshitaka , Katoh Masahiro
Published: April 2021

Combining the nuclear resonance fluorescence (NRF) transmission method with computed tomography (CT) can be a novel method for imaging the isotope distributions, which is indispensable in nuclear engineering. We performed an experiment to reconstruct a three-dimensional NRF-CT image with isotope selectivity of enriched lead isotope rods (208Pb) together with a set of different rods, including another enriched isotope (206Pb), iron, and aluminum rods, inserted into a cylindrical aluminum holder. Using a laser Compton scattering (LCS) gamma ray beam with a 5.528 MeV maximum energy, 2 mm beam size, and 10 photon·s−1·eV−1 flux density, which is available at the BL1U beamline in the ultraviolet synchrotron orbital radiation-III (UVSOR-III) synchrotron radiation facility at the Institute of Molecular Science at the National Institutes of Natural Sciences in Japan, and we excited the Jπ = 1− NRF level at 5.512 MeV in 208Pb. An isotope-selective three-dimensional NRF-CT image of the 208Pb isotope distribution was experimentally obtained for the first time with a pixel resolution of 4 mm in the horizontal plane.
Distributed 3-D Path Planning for Multi-UAVs with Full Area Surveillance Based on Particle Swarm Optimization
Authors: Ahmed Nafis , Pawase Chaitali J. , Chang KyungHi
Published: April 2021

Collision-free distributed path planning for the swarm of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) in a stochastic and dynamic environment is an emerging and challenging subject for research in the field of a communication system. Monitoring the methods and approaches for multi-UAVs with full area surveillance is needed in both military and civilian applications, in order to protect human beings and infrastructure, as well as their social security. To perform the path planning for multiple unmanned aerial vehicles, we propose a trajectory planner based on Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) algorithm to derive a distributed full coverage optimal path planning, and a trajectory planner is developed using a dynamic fitness function. In this paper, to obtain dynamic fitness, we implemented the PSO algorithm independently in each UAV, by maximizing the fitness function and minimizing the cost function. Simulation results show that the proposed distributed path planning algorithm generates feasible optimal trajectories and update maps for the swarm of UAVs to surveil the entire area of interest.
Phonons and Thermal Transport in Si/SiO2 Multishell Nanotubes: Atomistic Study
Authors: Isacova Calina , Cocemasov Alexandr , Nika Denis L. , Fomin Vladimir M.
Published: April 2021

Thermal transport in the Si/SiO2 multishell nanotubes is investigated theoretically. The phonon energy spectra are obtained using the atomistic lattice dynamics approach. Thermal conductivity is calculated using the Boltzmann transport equation within the relaxation time approximation. Redistribution of the vibrational spectra in multishell nanotubes leads to a decrease of the phonon group velocity and the thermal conductivity as compared to homogeneous Si nanowires. Phonon scattering on the Si/SiO2 interfaces is another key factor of strong reduction of the thermal conductivity in these structures (down to 0.2 Wm−1K−1 at room temperature). We demonstrate that phonon thermal transport in Si/SiO2 nanotubes can be efficiently suppressed by a proper choice of nanotube geometrical parameters: lateral cross section, thickness and number of shells. We argue that such nanotubes have prospective applications in modern electronics, in cases when low heat conduction is required.
Structural Health Monitoring of Walking Dragline Excavator Using Acoustic Emission
Authors: Barat Vera , Marchenkov Artem , Kritskiy Dmitry , Bardakov Vladimir , Karpova Marina , Kuznetsov Mikhail , Zaprudnova Anastasia , Ushanov Sergey , Elizarov Sergey
Published: April 2021

The article is devoted to the organization of the structural health monitoring of a walking dragline excavator using the acoustic emission (AE) method. Since the dragline excavator under study is a large and noisy industrial facility, preliminary prospecting researches were carried out to conduct effective control by the AE method, including the study of AE sources, AE waveguide, and noise parameters analysis. In addition, AE filtering methods were improved. It is shown that application of the developed filtering algorithms allows to detect AE impulses from cracks and defects against a background noise exceeding the useful signal in amplitude and intensity. Using the proposed solutions in the monitoring of a real dragline excavator during its operation made it possible to identify a crack in one of its elements (weld joint in a dragline back leg).
Component Materials, 3D Digital Restoration, and Documentation of the Imperial Gates from the Wooden Church of Voivodeni, Sălaj County, Romania
Authors: Neamțu Călin , Bratu Ioan , Măruțoiu Constantin , Măruțoiu Victor Constantin , Nemeș Olivia Florena , Comes Radu , Bodi Ștefan , Buna Zsolt , Popescu Daniela
Published: April 2021

The wooden churches from Transylvania, Romania, are a unique and representative cultural heritage asset for rural communities, both in terms of architecture and the style of painting that defines them as monuments of national heritage. These churches are in danger of degradation because rural communities are beginning to abandon them for various motives (e.g., they are too small, are expensive to maintain, or are being replaced by modern churches, built of stone and modern materials). The reason behind their accelerated degradation is that they are covered with shingles that need to be periodically changed and repaired to prevent water from reaching the inner painting layer, a process that is, in many cases, ignored. Imperial gates are the symbol of these churches and separate the nave from the narthex. They are made entirely out of wood and were sculpted and painted manually by skilled craftsmen and still represent the central element of these churches, in terms of art and aesthetics. The digital preservation of these heritage assets is an interdisciplinary undertaking, which begins with the physico-chemical analysis of the pigments in the painting layer, continues with three-dimensional (3D) digitization of the monument and of the objects of interest (such as the imperial gates), and finishes with a digital restoration of these monuments and artefacts. This paper presents a working methodology, successfully applied in digitizing and digitally restoring imperial gates from wooden churches in Transylvania, namely from the wooden church of Voivodeni, Sălaj County, Romania (Transylvania region). X-ray fluorescence and FTIR spectroscopy were used to determine the pigments in the painting layer of these artefacts, and after they were identified, they were synthesized in laboratory conditions. The resulting color was digitized and used for digitally restoring the artefact(s) to its (their) pristine condition. To popularize these cultural heritage assets, the authors make use of virtual reality to mediate the interaction between the general public and heritage objects in their current state of preservation, in a digital environment. Moreover, to showcase how these heritage objects were degraded over time, a digitally restored version of the artefact in pristine condition is presented alongside a version in its current state (as is, digitized, but not yet digitally restored).
Efficacy of TENS in Cervical Pain Syndromes: An Umbrella Review of Systematic Reviews
Authors: Paolucci Teresa , Agostini Francesco , Paoloni Marco , de Sire Alessandro , Verna Simone , Pesce Mirko , Ribecco Luca , Mangone Massimiliano , Bernetti Andrea , Saggini Raoul
Published: April 2021

Neck pain is defined as perceived pain, originating in an area bounded above by the nuchal line, below by an imaginary line passing through the spinous process of T1 and laterally by the sagittal plane tangent to the lateral edges of the neck. Our purpose is to investigate the effectiveness of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) in patients suffering from both acute and chronic cervical pain syndromes. The literature research was conducted by consulting the following databases: PubMed, PEDro, Cochrane, and Google Scholar. To formulate the scientific question correctly, the PICO model was used. This umbrella review includes all systematic reviews with or without meta-analysis, in English, which analyze the use of TENS in subjects suffering from acute or chronic cervical pain. To evaluate the methodological quality of the studies, the AMSTAR model. A total of eleven systematic reviews with or without meta-analyses were included. The results of the study show how TENS seems to have an effect in reducing the intensity of acute and chronic cervical pain, especially in the short term. However, it was not possible to provide precise recommendations in this regard. Based on our result, it is desirable to carry out further studies that support the effectiveness of using TENS in patients suffering from acute and chronic neck pain.
Tuned Mass Damper Design for Slender Masonry Structures: A Framework for Linear and Nonlinear Analysis
Authors: Zucca Marco , Longarini Nicola , Simoncelli Marco , Aly Aly Mousaad
Published: April 2021

The paper presents a proposed framework to optimize the tuned mass damper (TMD) design, useful for seismic improvement of slender masonry structures. A historical masonry chimney located in northern Italy was considered to illustrate the proposed TMD design procedure and to evaluate the seismic performance of the system. The optimization process was subdivided into two fundamental phases. In the first phase, the main TMD parameters were defined starting from the dynamic behavior of the chimney by finite element modeling (FEM). A series of linear time-history analyses were carried out to point out the structural improvements in terms of top displacement, base shear, and bending moment. In the second phase, masonry’s nonlinear behavior was considered, and a fiber model of the chimney was implemented. Pushover analyses were performed to obtain the capacity curve of the structure and to evaluate the performance of the TMD. The results of the linear and nonlinear analysis reveal the effectiveness of the proposed TMD design procedure for slender masonry structures.
Correction: Antonelli, A., et al. Can Bone Compaction Improve Primary Implant Stability? An In Vitro Comparative Study with Osseodensification Technique. Applied Sciences 2020, 10, 8623
Authors: Antonelli Alessandro , Bennardo Francesco , Brancaccio Ylenia , Barone Selene , Femiano Felice , Nucci Ludovica , Minervini Giuseppe , Fortunato Leonzio , Attanasio Ferdinando , Giudice Amerigo
Published: April 2021

The author wishes to make the following corrections to this paper [...]
Optimal Feature Set Size in Random Forest Regression
Authors: Han Sunwoo , Kim Hyunjoong
Published: April 2021

One of the most important hyper-parameters in the Random Forest (RF) algorithm is the feature set size used to search for the best partitioning rule at each node of trees. Most existing research on feature set size has been done primarily with a focus on classification problems. We studied the effect of feature set size in the context of regression. Through experimental studies using many datasets, we first investigated whether the RF regression predictions are affected by the feature set size. Then, we found a rule associated with the optimal size based on the characteristics of each data. Lastly, we developed a search algorithm for estimating the best feature set size in RF regression. We showed that the proposed search algorithm can provide improvements over other choices, such as using the default size specified in the randomForest R package and using the common grid search method.
Ultrasound-Guided Procedures in Common Tendinopathies at the Elbow: From Image to Needle
Authors: Mezian Kamal , Jačisko Jakub , Novotný Tomáš , Hrehová Laura , Angerová Yvona , Sobotová Karolína , Naňka Ondřej
Published: April 2021

Elbow pain is a prevalent condition in musculoskeletal physicians’ settings. The majority of cases present with periarticular pathologies (varying from tendinopathy to nerve entrapment syndrome). Nevertheless, in some cases, the underlying cause can be intra-articular, e.g., loose bodies or rheumatic disease. Progress in ultrasound (US) technology has yielded high-resolution assessment of the elbow and, importantly, allows real-time, radiation-free guidance for interventions. Particularly in ambiguous cases, US imaging is necessary to arrive at the correct diagnosis. The following four clinical conditions are covered: tennis elbow, golfer’s elbow, distal biceps, and distal triceps tendinopathy. The present review illustrates cadaveric elbow anatomy, corresponding US images, and exemplary pathologies. Additionally, the authors also discuss the existing evidence on ultrasound-guided procedures in the conditions mentioned above.
Solid-State Foaming Process Optimization for the Production of Shape Memory Polymer Composite Foam
Authors: Salah Tamem , Ziout Aiman
Published: April 2021

This research examined the optimization of the sustainable manufacturing process for polyester-based polymers/Fe3O4 nanocomposite foaming. The foamed structure was achieved by using a solid-state foaming process, where the prepared foams were tested in order to ascertain the optimum foaming parameters with the highest foaming ratios and the lowest foaming densities. The foaming parameters used in this research were the polymer type, nanoparticle percentage, packing pressure, holding time, foaming temperature, and foaming time. Two levels were selected for each factor, and a Taguchi plan was designed to determine the number of experiments required to reach a conclusion. Further characterization techniques, namely, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and X-ray diffraction (XRD) were used with the original samples to gain a better understanding of their structure and chemical composition. The data analysis showed that regardless of the parameters used, a high foaming ratio resulted in a low density. The introduction of nanoparticles (NPs) to the polymer structure resulted in higher foaming ratios. This increment in foaming ratio was noticeable on Corro-Coat PE Series 7® (CC) polymer more than Jotun Super Durable 2903® (JSD). The optimum parameters to prepare the highest foaming ratios were as follows: CC polymer with 2% NPs, compressed under a pressure of 10 K lbs. for a 3 min holding time and foamed at 290 °C for 15 min in the oven.
The Integration of Earthwork Design Review and Planning Using UAV-Based Point Cloud and BIM
Authors: Kim Jeonghwan , Lee Soomin , Seo Jongwon , Lee Dong-Eun , Choi Hee Seon
Published: April 2021

Earthwork is seemingly guesswork, but it requires a high level of accuracy and precise planning. Differences between earthwork design and finishing levels cause project delays and cost overrun due to the time-consuming nature of earthwork re-work. Therefore, error-free earthwork planning and design review is a key to the success of earthwork projects. This study utilized an integrated approach of an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV)-based point cloud and BIM (Building Information Modeling) to verify the design and to operate the earthwork planning. The integrated approach was proposed and applied to a 420 square meters housing construction project to review an original earthwork design and create an earthwork plan for excavator work. As a result, errors in earthwork design that caused by inaccurate initial DEM was revealed, thus the earthwork design was revised with a UAV-based point cloud map. Additionally, the integrated approach was able to generate an explicit task sequence for an excavator.