bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Comparison of Psoriatic Arthritis and Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients across Body Mass Index Categories in Switzerland
Authors: Vallejo-Yagüe Enriqueta , Burkard Theresa , Möller Burkhard , Finckh Axel , Burden Andrea M.
Published: July 2021

Abnormal body mass index (BMI) was associated with worse rheumatic markers in psoriatic arthritis (PsA) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Aiming to describe PsA and RA patients stratified by BMI, we performed a descriptive study in PsA and RA patients (two distinct cohorts) in the Swiss Clinical Quality Management in Rheumatic Diseases (SCQM) registry. New users of biologic or targeted synthetic disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (b/tsDMARDs) were stratified by BMI at the start of their treatment (underweight, normal weight, overweight, obese). The PsA underweight and normal weight categories were merged. Age at disease onset and further characteristics at the start of the first b/tsDMARD treatment were compared across BMI categories vs. the corresponding normal weight group. The study included 819 PsA (36.5% overweight, 23.8% obese) and 3217 RA patients (4.4% underweight, 31.8% overweight, 17.0% obese). Compared to the corresponding normal weight group, PsA and RA obese patients had significantly (p < 0.05) higher C-reactive protein, worse disease activity, and lower quality of life (QoL). Obese PsA patients had significantly worse skin manifestation and pain, while obese RA patients had significantly higher erythrocyte sedimentation rate and tender joint counts, as well as lower seropositive prevalence. To conclude, obese PsA and RA patients presented worse disease activity and poorer QoL than those with normal weight.
Neonatal Lupus Erythematosus as a Rare Cause of Fever in Young Infants
Authors: Song Ji Yeon , Park Su Eun , Byun Joung-Hee , Lee Narae , Han Young Mi , Byun Shin Yun , Kim Seong Heon
Published: July 2021

Neonatal lupus erythematosus (NLE) is a rare disease caused by passively transmitted autoantibodies from the mother. NLE is a multi-organ system disease characterized by cutaneous, cardiac, hematological, hepatobiliary, and neurological manifestations. This study aimed to review the various symptoms and clinical manifestations in young infants with NLE and their mothers. We conducted a retrospective review of medical records of patients with NLE who were both examined and treated at Pusan National University Children’s Hospital between January 2009 and December 2020 and their mothers. Twenty-seven patients with NLE comprising 13 male patients (48.1%) and 14 female patients (51.9%) were included. The most common symptom was rash (40.7%), followed by fever (25.9%), arrhythmia (14.8%), splenomegaly (11.1%), and intrauterine growth retardation (7.4%). Seven patients with fever had various organ system manifestations, including cutaneous (100%), hematological (71.4%), hepatobiliary (57.1%), and central nervous system (CNS; 28.6%) manifestations. Two of the febrile patients had aseptic meningitis. Cutaneous, cardiac, hematological, hepatobiliary, and CNS involvement were noted in 44.4%, 18.5%, 51.9%, 40.7%, and 22.2% of the patients, respectively. Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) was the most common maternal disease (14/27, 51.9%). Ten mothers (37.0%) had not been diagnosed with any autoimmune disease until their babies were diagnosed. Among them, three were subsequently diagnosed with SLE, five were diagnosed with the Sjögren’s syndrome, and two of them still had no known diagnosis of any autoimmune disorder. Fever is a common symptom of NLE; thus, when there is no clear focus of fever in infants, NLE needs to be considered, especially in cases with skin rashes.
Innovative Carbon-Doped Composite Pavements with Sensing Capability and Low Environmental Impact for Multifunctional Infrastructures
Authors: Birgin Hasan Borke , D’Alessandro Antonella , Laflamme Simon , Ubertini Filippo
Published: July 2021

Recently, smart composites that serve as multi-functional materials have gained popularity for structural and infrastructural applications yielding condition assessment capabilities. An emerging application is the monitoring and prediction of the fatigue of road infrastructure, where these systems may benefit from the ability to detect and estimate vehicle loads via weigh-in-motion (WIM) sensing without interrupting the traffic flow. However, off-the-shelf applications of WIM can be improved in terms of cost and durability, both on the hardware and software sides. This study proposes a novel multi-functional pavement material that can be utilized as a pavement embedded weigh-in-motion system. The material consists of a composite fabricated using an eco-friendly synthetic binder material called EVIzero, doped with carbon microfiber inclusions. The composite material is piezoresistive and, therefore, has strain-sensing capabilities. Compared to other existing strain-sensing structural materials, it is not affected by polarization and exhibits a more rapid response time. The study evaluates the monitoring capabilities of the novel composite according to the needs of a WIM system. A tailored data acquisition setup with distributed line electrodes is developed for the detection of moving loads. The aim of the paper is to demonstrate the sensing capabilities of the newly proposed composite pavement material and the suitability of the proposed monitoring system for traffic detection and WIM. Results demonstrate that the material is promising in terms of sensing and ready to be implemented in the field for further validation in the real world.
Urethane Diols through Non-Isocyanate Approach and Their Application in MF Coating
Authors: Huang Kuanchen , Ling Zichen , Zhou Qixin
Published: July 2021

In this work, two urethane diols with different middle chain lengths were prepared by the non-isocyanate approach from 1,4-diaminobutane or 1,6-diaminohexane with ethylene cyclic carbonate at room temperature without the aid of a catalyst. Different weight percentages of hexa(methoxymethyl) melamine (HMMM) crosslinker was mixed with urethane diols then cured under elevated temperature to generate the melamine-formaldehyde (MF) coating films. Two different linear diols without urethane linkage were chosen to crosslink with HMMM as the control group. The mechanical properties of these MF coatings were investigated by tensile test, adhesion test, and conical mandrel bend test. It was found that coatings incorporated with urethane diols exhibited enhanced mechanical properties and flexibility. These properties were also influenced by the weight percentage of HMMM crosslinker. This study provided a facile non-isocyanate way to produce urethane diols and successfully applied them in MF coating.
Design and Analysis of a Mooring System for a Wave Energy Converter
Authors: Depalo Francesco , Wang Shan , Xu Sheng , Guedes Soares C.
Published: July 2021

The objective of this work is to develop an efficient method to carry out the preliminary design of the mooring system for a wave energy converter. A practical mooring design procedure is applied to a specific case of study, and it can be replicated for other cases. Firstly, the static analysis is performed for a configuration with three mooring cables with different pre-tensions on fairlead, diameters of the cables, and materials. Based on these configurations from the static analysis, a quasi-static analysis is carried out in the frequency domain and a preliminary design is conducted according to DNV rules. Then, a 3-h dynamic analysis in the time domain is performed on several selected configurations, considering the same environmental conditions in the quasi-static analysis using the finite element method. Extreme dynamic responses of the system, such as extreme surge motion and mooring tensions, are estimated by the global maximum method, which is performed by fitting 20 individual maximum observations by Gumbel distribution. The quasi-static method is validated by comparing the results of extreme tension and displacement with the coupled time domain analysis. In addition, the influence of pre-tensions and cable diameters on the static and dynamic responses of the mooring system are discussed.
Maritime Broadband Communication: Wireless Channel Measurement and Characteristic Analysis for Offshore Waters
Authors: Li Changzhen , Yu Junyi , Xue Jie , Chen Wei , Wang Shoufeng , Yang Kun
Published: July 2021

For a long time, the development of maritime communication has been restricted by the low data rate, high-latency and high cost of the current communication systems. The upgrade of new generation mobile communication technologies is attracting more and more attention to conduct a shore-based broadband mobile communication network with high-latency and high reliability to serve the maritime industries. This paper presents a solution by means of building a ship-to-infrastructure (S2I) and a ship-to-ship (S2S) wireless communication networks for an offshore region. We characterize the S2I and S2S channels at 5.9 GHz band based on the channel measurements in realistic environments. The channel characteristics, including power delay profile, delay spread, propagation path loss, are extracted and analyzed. In view of the difference between marine and terrestrial communications, we analyze the influencing factors of the offshore water, including effective reflection, divergence and shadowing from the water surface, and diffraction loss caused by the earth curvature. We also predict the power coverage range and the channel capacity for S2I and S2S wireless communications. Finally, the communication performance is evaluated according to the channel measurement and characterization analysis. The research results can be a reference for the construction of maritime communication networks.
Species Distribution, Antifungal Susceptibility, and Molecular Epidemiology of Candida Species Causing Candidemia in a Tertiary Care Hospital in Bangkok, Thailand
Authors: Boonsilp Siriphan , Homkaew Anchalee , Phumisantiphong Uraporn , Nutalai Daranee , Wongsuk Thanwa
Published: July 2021

Candida species represent a common cause of bloodstream infection (BSI). Given the emergence of non-albicans Candida (NAC) associated with treatment failure, investigations into the species distribution, fungal susceptibility profile, and molecular epidemiology of pathogens are necessary to optimize the treatment of candidemia and explore the transmission of drug resistance for control management. This study evaluated the prevalence, antifungal susceptibility, and molecular characteristics of Candida species causing BSI in a tertiary-level hospital in Bangkok, Thailand. In total, 54 Candida isolates were recovered from 49 patients with candidemia. C. tropicalis was the most prevalent species (33.3%), followed by C. albicans (29.6%). Most Candida species were susceptible to various antifungal agents, excluding C. glabrata and C. tropicalis, which had increased rates of non-susceptibility to azoles. Most C. glabrata isolates were non-susceptible to echinocandins, especially caspofungin. The population structure of C. albicans was highly diverse, with clade 17 predominance. GoeBURST analysis of C. tropicalis revealed associations between genotype and fluconazole resistance in a particular clonal complex. The population structure of C. glabrata appeared to have a low level of genetic diversity in MLST loci. Collectively, these data might provide a fundamental database contributing to the development of novel antifungal agents and diagnostic tests.
Fungal Endophytic Community and Diversity Associated with Desert Shrubs Driven by Plant Identity and Organ Differentiation in Extremely Arid Desert Ecosystem
Authors: Zuo Yiling , Li Xia , Yang Jingya , Liu Jiaqiang , Zhao Lili , He Xueli
Published: July 2021

Despite desert ecosystem being crucial to our understanding of natural geography, species evolution and global climate change, there is limited information on the dynamics of their composition and the diversity of endophytic fungi communities driven by plant identity and organ differentiation. Here, an extensive investigation of endophytic fungal microbiome in root, stem, and leaf organs associated with five xerophyte shrubs in an extremely arid desert, Northwest China, were examined. The fungal community dominated by Dothideomycetes and Pleosporales. Shrub species strongly drive the niche-based processes of endophytic fungi across the root, stem and leaf compartments. The diversity and composition of endophytic fungi in stem showed higher variability among plant species than leaf and root. The fungal communities in root libraries were more diverse and exhibited a remarkable differentiation of community composition. We further demonstrated the significant host preferences and tissue specificity of desert endophytic fungi, and unique specific taxa were also observed. The co-occurrence network revealed the coexistence of fungal endophytes in arid desert, and the root fungal network harbored the highest interspecies connectivity. Members of Pleosporales were the most common keystone species in the root fungal network. This is the first report of mycobiota in both plant species and organ differentiation in an extremely arid desert ecosystem.
Identifying a Common Functional Framework for Apathy Large-Scale Brain Network
Authors: Alfano Vincenzo , Longarzo Mariachiara , Mele Giulia , Esposito Marcello , Aiello Marco , Salvatore Marco , Grossi Dario , Cavaliere Carlo
Published: July 2021

Apathy is a neuropsychiatric condition characterized by reduced motivation, initiative, and interest in daily life activities, and it is commonly reported in several neurodegenerative disorders. The study aims to investigate large-scale brain networks involved in apathy syndrome in patients with frontotemporal dementia (FTD) and Parkinson’s disease (PD) compared to a group of healthy controls (HC). The study sample includes a total of 60 subjects: 20 apathetic FTD and PD patients, 20 non apathetic FTD and PD patients, and 20 HC matched for age. Two disease-specific apathy-evaluation scales were used to measure the presence of apathy in FTD and PD patients; in the same day, a 3T brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with structural and resting-state functional (fMRI) sequences was acquired. Differences in functional connectivity (FC) were assessed between apathetic and non-apathetic patients with and without primary clinical diagnosis revealed, using a whole-brain, seed-to-seed approach. A significant hypoconnectivity between apathetic patients (both FTD and PD) and HC was detected between left planum polare and both right pre- or post-central gyrus. Finally, to investigate whether such neural alterations were due to the underlying neurodegenerative pathology, we replicated the analysis by considering two independent patients’ samples (i.e., non-apathetic PD and FTD). In these groups, functional differences were no longer detected. These alterations may subtend the involvement of neural pathways implicated in a specific reduction of information/elaboration processing and motor outcome in apathetic patients.
Computational Analysis of the Properties of Post-Keynesian Endogenous Money Systems
Authors: Kuypers Stef , Goorden Thomas , Delepierre Bruno
Published: July 2021

The debate about whether or not a growth imperative exists in debt-based, interest-bearing monetary systems has not yet been settled. It is the goal of this paper to introduce a new perspective in this discussion. For that purpose, an SFC computational model is constructed that simulates a post-Keynesian endogenous money system without including economic parameters such as production, wages, consumption and savings. The case is made that isolating the monetary system allows for better analysis of the inherent properties of such a system. Loan demands, which are assumed to happen, are the driving force of the model. Simulations can be run in two modes, each based on a different assumption. Either the growth rate of the money stock is assumed to be constant or the loan ratio, expressed as a percentage of the money stock, is assumed to be constant. Simulations with varying parameters were run in order to determine the conditions under which the model converges to stability, which is defined as converging to a bounded debt ratio. The analysis showed that the stability of the model is dependent on net bank profit ratios, expressed relative to their debt assets, remaining below the growth rate of the money stock. Based on these findings, it is argued that the question about the existence of a growth imperative in debt-based, interest-bearing monetary systems needs to be reframed. The question becomes whether a steady-state economy can realistically support such a system without destabilising it. In order to answer this question, the real-world behaviour of economic actors must be included in the model. It was concluded that there are indications that it might not be feasible for a steady-state economy to support a stable debt-based, interest-bearing monetary system without strong interventions. However, more research is necessary for a definite answer. Real-world observable data should be analysed through the lens of the presented model to bring more clarity.
Multi-Year Mapping of Disturbance and Reclamation Patterns over Tronox’s Hillendale Mine, South Africa with DBEST and Google Earth Engine
Authors: Xulu Sifiso , Phungula Philani T. , Mbatha Nkanyiso , Moyo Inocent
Published: July 2021

This study was devised to examine the pattern of disturbance and reclamation by Tronox, which instigated a closure process for its Hillendale mine site in South Africa, where they recovered zirconium- and titanium-bearing minerals from 2001 to 2013. Restoring mined-out areas is of great importance in South Africa, with its ominous record of almost 6000 abandoned mines since the 1860s. In 2002, the government enacted the Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Act (No. 28 of 2002) to enforce extracting companies to restore mined-out areas before pursuing closure permits. Thus, the trajectory of the Hillendale mine remains unstudied despite advances in the satellite remote sensing technology that is widely used in this field. Here, we retrieved a collection of Landsat-derived normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) within the Google Earth Engine and applied the Detecting Breakpoints and Estimating Segments in Trend (DBEST) algorithm to examine the progress of vegetation transformation over the Hillendale mine between 2001 and 2019. Our results showed key breakpoints in NDVI, a drop from 2001, reaching the lowest point in 2009–2011, with a marked recovery pattern after 2013 when the restoration program started. We also validated our results using a random forests strategy that separated vegetated and non-vegetated areas with an accuracy exceeding 78%. Overall, our findings are expected to encourage users to replicate this affordable application, particularly in emerging countries with similar cases.
Maintaining the Many Societal Benefits of Rangelands: The Case of Hawaiʻi
Authors: Bremer Leah L. , Nathan Neil , Trauernicht Clay , Pascua Puaʻala , Krueger Nicholas , Jokiel Jordan , Barton Jayme , Daily Gretchen C.
Published: July 2021

Well-managed rangelands provide important economic, environmental, and cultural benefits. Yet, many rangelands worldwide are experiencing pressures of land-use change, overgrazing, fire, and drought, causing rapid degradation. These pressures are especially acute in the Hawaiian Islands, which we explore as a microcosm with some broadly relevant lessons. Absent stewardship, land in Hawaiʻi is typically subject to degradation through the spread and impacts of noxious invasive plant species; feral pigs, goats, deer, sheep, and cattle; and heightened fire risk. We first provide a framework, and then review the science demonstrating the benefits of well-managed rangelands, for production of food; livelihoods; watershed services; climate security; soil health; fire risk reduction; biodiversity; and a wide array of cultural values. Findings suggest that rangelands, as part of a landscape mosaic, contribute to social and ecological health and well-being in Hawaiʻi. We conclude by identifying important knowledge gaps around rangeland ecosystem services and highlight the need to recognize rangelands and their stewards as critical partners in achieving key sustainability goals, and in bridging the long-standing production-conservation divide.
Impacts of a Profile Failure of the Cycloidal Drive of a Planetary Gear on Transmission Gear
Authors: Csobán Attila
Published: July 2021

Recently, cycloidal drives have been increasingly used due to their beneficial features, such as the implementation of a large transmission, efficiency, and high performance density. Production accuracy is inevitable in order to ensure the dynamically proper and smooth operation of the drive. Smaller backlash and minimal transmission fluctuations can only be achieved by improving the production accuracy, reducing the number of production failures, and shrinking the tolerance zone. This research primarily focuses on the investigation of the tolerable production accuracy of small-series and individually manufactured drives. The analysis of load distribution was calculated on the cogs of a planetary gear made with a wire EDM machine. On the other hand, we investigate how production failures affect transmission fluctuations and the backlash of a drive. The novelty of this research is based on the determined analytical equations, which can help engineers to find the right tolerances to a given gear ratio fluctuation.
Influence of Y2O3 Content on Structural, Optical, Spectroscopic, and Laser Properties of Er3+, Yb3+ Co-Doped Phosphate Glasses
Authors: Veselský Karel , Lahti Vilma , Petit Laeticia , Prajzler Václav , Šulc Jan , Jelínková Helena
Published: July 2021

The influence of the addition of Y2O3 on the structural, spectroscopic, and laser properties of newly prepared Er, Yb-doped strontium-sodium phosphate glass was investigated. While the addition of Y2O3 has a small influence on the absorption spectra and fluorescence lifetime, it has a strong impact on the emission cross-section and on OH− content. The glasses were used as the active medium for diode-pumped laser emitting at 1556 nm. The increase in Y2O3 content leads to a significant 35% increase in laser slope efficiency up to 10.4%, but at the expense of the substantial reduction of the wavelength tunability from 82 to 54 nm.
Structural Properties of Thin ZnO Films Deposited by ALD under O-Rich and Zn-Rich Growth Conditions and Their Relationship with Electrical Parameters
Authors: Mishra Sushma , Przezdziecka Ewa , Wozniak Wojciech , Adhikari Abinash , Jakiela Rafal , Paszkowicz Wojciech , Sulich Adrian , Ozga Monika , Kopalko Krzysztof , Guziewicz Elzbieta
Published: July 2021

The structural, optical, and electrical properties of ZnO are intimately intertwined. In the present work, the structural and transport properties of 100 nm thick polycrystalline ZnO films obtained by atomic layer deposition (ALD) at a growth temperature (Tg) of 100–300 °C were investigated. The electrical properties of the films showed a dependence on the substrate (a-Al2O3 or Si (100)) and a high sensitivity to Tg, related to the deviation of the film stoichiometry as demonstrated by the RT-Hall effect. The average crystallite size increased from 20–30 nm for as grown samples to 80–100 nm after rapid thermal annealing, which affects carrier scattering. The ZnO layers deposited on silicon showed lower strain and dislocation density than on sapphire at the same Tg. The calculated half crystallite size (D/2) was higher than the Debye length (LD) for all as grown and annealed ZnO films, except for annealed ZnO/Si films grown within the ALD window (100–200 °C), indicating different homogeneity of charge carrier distribution for annealed ZnO/Si and ZnO/a-Al2O3 layers. For as grown films the hydrogen impurity concentration detected via secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS) was 1021 cm−3 and was decreased by two orders of magnitude after annealing, accompanied by a decrease in Urbach energy in the ZnO/a-Al2O3 layers.
Deflection Estimation Based on the Thermal Characteristics of Composite Deck Slabs Containing Macro-Synthetic Fibers
Authors: Son Dong-Hee , Ahn Hyo-Jun , Chung Joo-Hong , Bae Baek-Il , Choi Chang-Sik
Published: July 2021

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the structural performance of composite deck slabs containing macro-synthetic fibers. after a fire by proposing a deflection estimation method for non-fireproof structural decks. Therefore, this study evaluated the fire resistance performance and deflection of deck slabs mixed with macro-synthetic fibers. Afterward, the deflection estimation method considering the thermal characteristics of concrete and deck plates was proposed. A material test was first conducted to evaluate the mechanical properties of concrete mixed with macro-synthetic fibers. This test found that the compressive strength and elasticity modulus of concrete mixed with macro-synthetic fibers was greater than that of general concrete. A flexural tensile test confirmed that residual strength was maintained after the maximum strength was achieved. The fire resistance of the deck slab was adequate even when a fire-resistant coating was not applied. The internal temperature was lowest for the specimen with macro-synthetic fibers. Deflection was evaluated using previously published equations and standards. The deflection evaluation confirmed that the temperature distribution should be applied differently in the estimation method that uses the thermal load of the deck slab.
A Low-Cost System for Remote Access and Control of Automation Equipment
Authors: Chand Praneel , Al-Rawi Mohammad , James Sebin , Antony Joseph , Jose Jobin
Published: July 2021

The shift towards remote access and control of equipment has become more prominent, especially due to COVID-19 lockdowns. Access to physical/real equipment for practical learning remains important for engineering studies. Thus, this paper presents an approach for remotely accessing and controlling automation equipment for engineering practical activities. Specifically, it addresses the issue of accessing and controlling machines for programmable logic controller (PLC) programming tasks. The combination of a scheduler, remote desktop access, graphical user interface, and a micro-controller allows students to work remotely on practical equipment. The lab computer can be accessed via a remote computer to select one of multiple equipment for practical activities. A prototype system was constructed as proof of concept. The prototype system functions as required.
Corruption Shock in Mexico: fsQCA Analysis of Entrepreneurial Intention in University Students
Authors: Castelló-Sirvent Fernando , Pinazo-Dallenbach Pablo
Published: July 2021

Entrepreneurship is the basis of the production network, and thus a key to territorial development. In this line, entrepreneurial intention has been pointed out as an indicator of latent entrepreneurship. In this article, the entrepreneurial intention of university students is studied from a configurational approach, allowing the study of the combined effect of corruption perception, corruption normalization, gender, university career area, and family entrepreneurial background to explain high levels of entrepreneurial intention. The model was tested with the fsQCA methodology according to two samples of students grouped according to their household income (medium and high level: N = 180; low level: N = 200). Stress tests were run to confirm the robustness of the results. This study highlights the negative impact produced by corruption among university students’ entrepreneurial intention. Furthermore, the importance of family entrepreneurial background for specific archetypes like female, STEM, and low household income students is pointed out, as well as the importance of implementing education programs for entrepreneurship in higher education, and more specifically in STEM areas. Policies focused on facilitating the access to financial resources for female students and low household income students, and specific programs to foster female entrepreneurship, are also recommended.
A Mathematical Program for Scheduling Preventive Maintenance of Cogeneration Plants with Production
Authors: Alhamad Khaled , M’Hallah Rym , Lucas Cormac
Published: July 2021

This paper considers the scheduling of preventive maintenance for the boilers, turbines, and distillers of power plants that produce electricity and desalinated water. It models the problem as a mathematical program (MP) that maximizes the sum of the minimal ratios of production to the demand of electricity and water during a planning time horizon. This objective encourages the plants’ production and enhances the chances of meeting consumers’ needs. It reduces the chance of power cuts and water shortages that may be caused by emergency disruptions of equipment on the network. To assess its performance and effectiveness, we test the MP on a real system consisting of 32 units and generate a preventive maintenance schedule for a time horizon of 52 weeks (one year). The generated schedule outperforms the schedule established by experts of the water plant; it induces, respectively, 16% and 12% increases in the surpluses while either matching or surpassing the total production. The sensitivity analysis further indicates that the generated schedule can handle unforeseen longer maintenance periods as well as a 120% increase in demand—a sizable realization in a country that heavily relies on electricity to acclimate to the harsh weather conditions. In addition, it suggests the robustness of the schedules with respect to increased demand. In summary, the MP model yields optimal systematic sustainable schedules.
Solving a Real-Life Distributor’s Pallet Loading Problem
Authors: Dell’Amico Mauro , Magnani Matteo
Published: July 2021

We consider the distributor’s pallet loading problem where a set of different boxes are packed on the smallest number of pallets by satisfying a given set of constraints. In particular, we refer to a real-life environment where each pallet is loaded with a set of layers made of boxes, and both a stability constraint and a compression constraint must be respected. The stability requirement imposes the following: (a) to load at level k+1 a layer with total area (i.e., the sum of the bottom faces’ area of the boxes present in the layer) not exceeding α times the area of the layer of level k (where α≥1), and (b) to limit with a given threshold the difference between the highest and the lowest box of a layer. The compression constraint defines the maximum weight that each layer k can sustain; hence, the total weight of the layers loaded over k must not exceed that value. Some stability and compression constraints are considered in other works, but to our knowledge, none are defined as faced in a real-life problem. We present a matheuristic approach which works in two phases. In the first, a number of layers are defined using classical 2D bin packing algorithms, applied to a smart selection of boxes. In the second phase, the layers are packed on the minimum number of pallets by means of a specialized MILP model solved with Gurobi. Computational experiments on real-life instances are used to assess the effectiveness of the algorithm.
RANS versus Scale Resolved Approach for Modeling Turbulent Flow in Continuous Casting of Steel
Authors: Gregorc Jurij , Kunavar Ajda , Šarler Božidar
Published: July 2021

Numerical modeling is the approach used most often for studying and optimizing the molten steel flow in a continuous casting mold. The selection of the physical model might very much influence such studies. Hence, it is paramount to choose a proper model. In this work, the numerical results of four turbulence models are compared to the experimental results of the water model of continuous casting of steel billets using a single SEN port in a downward vertical orientation. Experimental results were obtained with a 2D PIV (Particle Image Velocimetry) system with measurements taken at various cut planes. Only hydrodynamic effects without solidification are considered. The turbulence is modeled using the RANS (Realizable k-ε, SST k-ω), hybrid RANS/Scale Resolved (SAS), and Scale Resolved approach (LES). The models are numerically solved by the finite volume method, with volume of fluid treatment at the free interface. The geometry, boundary conditions, and material properties were entirely consistent with those of the water model experimental study. Thus, the study allowed a detailed comparison and validation of the turbulence models used. The numerical predictions are compared to experimental data using contours of velocity and velocity plots. The agreement is assessed by comparing the lateral dispersion of the liquid jet in a streamwise direction for the core flow and the secondary flow behavior where recirculation zones form. The comparison of the simulations shows that while all four models capture general flow features (e.g., mean velocities in the temporal and spatial domain), only the LES model predicts finer turbulent structures and captures temporal flow fluctuations to the extent observed in the experiment, while SAS bridges the gap between RANS and LES.
Effect of Al Addition on Martensitic Transformation Stability and Microstructural and Mechanical Properties of CuZr Based Shape Memory Alloys
Authors: Biffi Carlo Alberto , Fiocchi Jacopo , Coduri Mauro , Tuissi Ausonio
Published: July 2021

In this work, the effect of the Al content (x = 5, 10, and 15 at. %) on the martensitic transformation (MT) and microstructure and mechanical properties of Cu(50−x)Zr50Alx alloys was studied. The microstructure of the alloys was characterized at room temperature by means of scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction. An increase in Al content reduces the amount of transforming CuZr phase, and consequently the secondary phase formation is favored. The evolution of the MT upon thermal cycling was investigated as a function of the Al content by differential scanning calorimetry. MT temperatures and enthalpies were found to be decreased when increasing the Al content. Al addition can induce a sudden, stable MT below 0 °C, while the binary alloy requires ten complete thermal cycles to stabilize. Finally, the mechanical properties were investigated through microhardness and compression testing. No linear dependence was found with composition. Hardness lowering effect was observed for 5–10 at. % of Al content, while the hardness was increased only for 15 at. % Al addition with respect to the binary alloy. Similarly, compressive response of the alloys showed behavior dependent on the Al content. Up to 10 at. % Al addition, the alloys indicate a superelastic response at room temperature, while higher Al content induced untimely failure.
Diagnostic Potential of the Plasma Lipidome in Infectious Disease: Application to Acute SARS-CoV-2 Infection
Authors: Gray Nicola , Lawler Nathan , Zeng Annie , Ryan Monique , Bong Sze , Boughton Berin , Bizkarguenaga Maider , Bruzzone Chiara , Embade Nieves , Wist Julien , Holmes Elaine , Millet Oscar , Nicholson Jeremy , Whiley Luke
Published: July 2021

Improved methods are required for investigating the systemic metabolic effects of SARS-CoV-2 infection and patient stratification for precision treatment. We aimed to develop an effective method using lipid profiles for discriminating between SARS-CoV-2 infection, healthy controls, and non-SARS-CoV-2 respiratory infections. Targeted liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry lipid profiling was performed on discovery (20 SARS-CoV-2-positive; 37 healthy controls; 22 COVID-19 symptoms but SARS-CoV-2negative) and validation (312 SARS-CoV-2-positive; 100 healthy controls) cohorts. Orthogonal projection to latent structure-discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA) and Kruskal–Wallis tests were applied to establish discriminant lipids, significance, and effect size, followed by logistic regression to evaluate classification performance. OPLS-DA reported separation of SARS-CoV-2 infection from healthy controls in the discovery cohort, with an area under the curve (AUC) of 1.000. A refined panel of discriminant features consisted of six lipids from different subclasses (PE, PC, LPC, HCER, CER, and DCER). Logistic regression in the discovery cohort returned a training ROC AUC of 1.000 (sensitivity = 1.000, specificity = 1.000) and a test ROC AUC of 1.000. The validation cohort produced a training ROC AUC of 0.977 (sensitivity = 0.855, specificity = 0.948) and a test ROC AUC of 0.978 (sensitivity = 0.948, specificity = 0.922). The lipid panel was also able to differentiate SARS-CoV-2-positive individuals from SARS-CoV-2-negative individuals with COVID-19-like symptoms (specificity = 0.818). Lipid profiling and multivariate modelling revealed a signature offering mechanistic insights into SARS-CoV-2, with strong predictive power, and the potential to facilitate effective diagnosis and clinical management.
Facile Preparation of Mesoporous MCM-48 Containing Silver Nanoparticles with Fly Ash as Raw Materials for CO Catalytic Oxidation
Authors: Tian Dong , Chen Yonghong , Lu Xiaoyong , Ling Yihan , Lin Bin
Published: July 2021

An environmentally friendly method was proposed to prepare mesoporous Mobil Composition of Matter No.48 (MCM-48) using fly ash as the silica source. Silver nanoparticles were infiltrated on MCM-48 facilely by an in situ post-reduction method and evaluated as an effective catalyst for CO oxidation. The as-prepared MCM-48 and Ag/MCM-48 nanoparticles were characterized by XRD, N2 adsorption/desorption, and TEM. Investigations by means of XPS for Ag/MCM-48 were performed in order to illuminate the surface composition of the samples. Studies revealed the strong influence of the loading of Ag nanoparticles on catalysts in the oxidation of CO. CO conversion values for Ag/MCM-48 of 10% and 100% were achieved at temperatures of 220 °C and 270 °C, respectively, indicating that the Ag-decorated MCM-48 catalyst is extremely active for CO oxidation.
Effect of Optical and Morphological Control of Single-Structured LEC Device
Authors: Jeong Woo Jin , Lee Jong Ik , Kwak Hee Jung , Jeon Jae Min , Shin Dong Yeol , Kang Moon Sung , Kim Jun Young
Published: July 2021

We investigated the performance of single-structured light-emitting electrochemical cell (LEC) devices with Ru(bpy)3(PF6)2 polymer composite as an emission layer by controlling thickness and heat treatment. When the thickness was smaller than 120–150 nm, the device performance decreased because of the low optical properties and non-dense surface properties. On the other hand, when the thickness was over than 150 nm, the device had too high surface roughness, resulting in high-efficiency roll-off and poor device stability. With 150 nm thickness, the absorbance increased, and the surface roughness was low and dense, resulting in increased device characteristics and better stability. The heat treatment effect further improved the surface properties, thus improving the device characteristics. In particular, the external quantum efficiency (EQE) reduction rate was shallow at 100 °C, which indicates that the LEC device has stable operating characteristics. The LEC device exhibited a maximum luminance of 3532 cd/m2 and an EQE of 1.14% under 150 nm thickness and 100 °C heat treatment.
Carbon Dioxide Sensor Module Based on NDIR Technology
Authors: Zhou Libing , He Yaoyi , Zhang Qing , Zhang Lei
Published: July 2021

In this paper, a gas detection system with an environmental compensation algorithm based on nondispersive infrared (NDIR) technology was designed. The prepared infrared pyroelectric detector was a dual-channel type based on the lithium tantalate (LiTaO3) wafer. The design of the optical gas chamber adopted a combination of two ellipsoids and a spherical top surface, which not only enhanced the coupling efficiency of the light propagation but also facilitated the miniaturization of the sensor module. In addition to this, a temperature and humidity compensation algorithm based on the least square method was proposed to make the measurement accuracy up to ±0.9% full scale (FS).
Observation and Optimization on Garbage Collection of Flash Memories: The View in Performance Cliff
Authors: Du Yajuan , Liu Wei , Gao Yuan , Ausavarungnirun Rachata
Published: July 2021

The recent development of 3D flash memories has promoted the widespread application of SSDs in modern storage systems by providing large storage capacity and low cost. Garbage collection (GC) as a time-consuming but necessary operation in flash memories largely affects the performance. In this paper, we perform a comprehensive experimental study on how garbage collection impacts the performance of flash-based SSDs, in the view of performance cliff that closely relates to Quality of Service (QoS). According to the study results using real-world workloads, we first observe that GC occasionally causes response time spikes, which we call the performance cliff problem. Then, we find that 3D SSDs exacerbate the situation by inducing a much higher number of page migrations during GC. To relieve the performance cliff problem, we propose PreGC to assist normal GC. The key idea is to distribute the page migrations into the period before normal GC, thus leading to a reduction in page migrations during the GC period. Comprehensive experiments with real-world workloads have been performed on the SSDsim simulator. Experimental results show that PreGC can efficiently relieve the performance cliff by reducing the tail latency from the 90th to 99.99th percentiles while inducing a little extra write amplification.
Dual RNA-Seq Enables Full-Genome Assembly of Measles Virus and Characterization of Host–Pathogen Interactions
Authors: Karamitros Timokratis , Pogka Vasiliki , Papadopoulou Gethsimani , Tsitsilonis Ourania , Evangelidou Maria , Sympardi Styliani , Mentis Andreas
Published: July 2021

Measles virus (MeV) has a negative-sense 15 kb long RNA genome, which is generally conserved. Recent advances in high-throughput sequencing (HTS) and Dual RNA-seq allow the analysis of viral RNA genomes and the discovery of viral infection biomarkers, via the simultaneous characterization of the host transcriptome. However, these host–pathogen interactions remain largely unexplored in MeV infections. We performed untargeted Dual RNA-seq in 6 pharyngeal and 6 peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMCs) specimens from patients with MeV infection, as confirmed via routine real-time PCR testing. Following optimised DNase treatment of total nucleic acids, we used the pharyngeal samples to build poly-A-enriched NGS libraries. We reconstructed the viral genomes using the pharyngeal datasets and we further conducted differential expression, gene-ontology and pathways enrichment analysis to compare both the pharyngeal and the peripheral blood transcriptomes of the MeV-infected patients vs. control groups of healthy individuals. We obtained 6 MeV genotype-B3 full-genome sequences. We minutely analyzed the transcriptome of the MeV-infected pharyngeal epithelium, detecting all known viral infection biomarkers, but also revealing a functional cluster of local antiviral and inflammatory immune responses, which differ substantially from those observed in the PBMCs transcriptome. The application of Dual RNA-seq technologies in MeV-infected patients can potentially provide valuable information on the virus genome structure and the cellular innate immune responses and drive the discovery of new targets for antiviral therapy.
Grapevine Powdery Mildew: Fungicides for Its Management and Advances in Molecular Detection of Markers Associated with Resistance
Authors: Kunova Andrea , Pizzatti Cristina , Saracchi Marco , Pasquali Matias , Cortesi Paolo
Published: July 2021

Grapevine powdery mildew is a principal fungal disease of grapevine worldwide. Even though it usually does not cause plant death directly, heavy infections can lead to extensive yield losses, and even low levels of the disease can negatively affect the quality of the wine. Therefore, intensive spraying programs are commonly applied to control the disease, which often leads to the emergence and spread of powdery mildew strains resistant to different fungicides. In this review, we describe major fungicide classes used for grapevine powdery mildew management and the most common single nucleotide mutations in target genes known to confer resistance to different classes of fungicides. We searched the current literature to review the development of novel molecular methods for quick detection and monitoring of resistance to commonly used single-site fungicides against Erysiphe necator. We analyze and compare the developed methods. From our investigation it became evident that this research topic has been strongly neglected and we hope that effective molecular methods will be developed also for resistance monitoring in biotroph pathogens.
SARS-CoV-2 Spike Mutations, L452R, T478K, E484Q and P681R, in the Second Wave of COVID-19 in Maharashtra, India
Authors: Cherian Sarah , Potdar Varsha , Jadhav Santosh , Yadav Pragya , Gupta Nivedita , Das Mousumi , Rakshit Partha , Singh Sujeet , Abraham Priya , Panda Samiran , Team NIC
Published: July 2021

As the global severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic expands, genomic epidemiology and whole genome sequencing are being used to investigate its transmission and evolution. Against the backdrop of the global emergence of “variants of concern” (VOCs) during December 2020 and an upsurge in a state in the western part of India since January 2021, whole genome sequencing and analysis of spike protein mutations using sequence and structural approaches were undertaken to identify possible new variants and gauge the fitness of the current circulating strains. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that newly identified lineages B.1.617.1 and B.1.617.2 were predominantly circulating. The signature mutations possessed by these strains were L452R, T478K, E484Q, D614G and P681R in the spike protein, including within the receptor-binding domain (RBD). Of these, the mutations at residue positions 452, 484 and 681 have been reported in other globally circulating lineages. The structural analysis of RBD mutations L452R, T478K and E484Q revealed that these may possibly result in increased ACE2 binding while P681R in the furin cleavage site could increase the rate of S1-S2 cleavage, resulting in better transmissibility. The two RBD mutations, L452R and E484Q, indicated decreased binding to select monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) and may affect their neutralization potential. Further in vitro/in vivo studies would help confirm the phenotypic changes of the mutant strains. Overall, the study revealed that the newly emerged variants were responsible for the second wave of COVID-19 in Maharashtra. Lineage B.1.617.2 has been designated as a VOC delta and B.1.617.1 as a variant of interest kappa, and they are being widely reported in the rest of the country as well as globally. Continuous monitoring of these and emerging variants in India is essential.