bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Qualitative and quantitative estimation of gallic acid in flower galls of Crataeva religiosa
through FT-IR and HPTLC techniques
Authors: Sharma Surabhi , Meena Rishikesh , Joshi Ridhi , Patni Vidya
Published: June 2022

In the present study, FT- IR (FourierTransform Infrared spectroscopy) analysis of galled flower was conducted to qualitatively identify gallic acid while comparative HPTLC (High-Performance ThinLayer Chromatography) studies of normal and galled flower extracts confirmed the gallic acid quantitatively. The quantitative estimation of gallic acid was carried out on silica gel 60 F24HPTLC plates (stationary phase). The plates were developed in a solvent system as prepared with Toluene, Acetone and Glacial acetic acid at a ratio of 3:1:2, in a CAMAG glass twin trough chamber of 20X10 cm, at a temperature of 2 20C. Detection was carried out densitometrically at 220 nm. The FTIR analysis was done with a spectrophotometer system, which was used to identify and analyze the characteristic peaks and their respective functional groups. HPTLC analysis revealed that gallic acid content increased almost two folds in gall tissues as compared to normal tissues. C. religiosa flower galls can be utilized medicinally due to enhanced gallic acid.This is the first report of the occurrence of gallic acid in flower galls of C.religiosa.
Diversity of Ulotrichales from the Satpura Ranges of Nandurbar District, Maharashtra,
India
Authors: Valvi Ashish B. , Gautam Prem Kumar
Published: June 2022

In the present research work, a total of 12 species belonging to 4 genera of Ulotrichales (Chlorophyceae) were reported from the Satpura ranges of Nandurbar District. The reported genera were : Ulothrix, Uronema, Lagerheim and Microspora. The genus Ulothrix was found dominant during the study.
Anti cancer potential of 4H- chromene siprooxindole hybrid molecules against Dalton’s
Lymphoma (DL) cells
Authors: Bajpai Shivam , Singh Sundaram
Published: June 2022

The anticancer efficacy of 4H- Chromene Spirooxindole hybrid molecules 4i-m1 (Samples 1- 5) was investigated on Dalton’s lymphoma (non-Hodgkin lymphoma) cells. Dalton’s lymphoma (DL) is a spontaneous and highly invasive T-cell lymphoma that develops as an ascitic tumor in murines. It was observed that treatment of DL cells with compounds showed significant decrease in cell viability, altered morphology, nuclear disintegration and DNA fragmentation into low molecular weight DNA fragments and thus characteristic of apoptosis. In this view, these compounds may be used as potential therapeutic regimen to treat this type of cancer in experimental mice.
Maurice Blanchot: ‘Theorist’ of the Diary?
Authors: Ferguson Sam
Published: June 2022

Maurice Blanchot’s writing on the diary has been presented as ignorant and contemptuous of its object, and as misrepresenting the diary by focusing on its literary qualities. This article rehabilitates Blanchot as a critic and theorist of the diary, and moreover, as a pivotal figure in realising the diary’s literary potential. Blanchot’s discussion of particular diarists (including Benjamin Constant, Joseph Joubert, Søren Kierkegaard, Franz Kafka, and André Gide), together with his critical reflections, were instrumental in his creation of conceptions of literature that exerted a strong influence on the avant-garde movements of the following decades, even though these avant-gardes rejected the introspective aspect of intimate writings. Furthermore, Blanchot produced a programme for how the diary might become a literary work, which was picked up again by Roland Barthes in 1979, and casts light on experimental uses of the diary in recent decades.
Cuidados paliativos en pandemia COVID-19
Authors: Salas-Alarcón Ibis Karina , Vásquez-Alva Rolando
Published: June 2022

Cuidados paliativos se presenta como una estrategia que mejora la calidad de vida del núcleo paciente-familia que está enfrentando situaciones que ponen en riesgo sus vidas; a su vez, la pandemia COVID-19 como emergencia sanitaria, ha creado el contexto exacto, debido a la situación extrema de gran morbimortalidad con gran impacto psicosocial y económico en la población, personal sanitario y sistemas de salud, para la implementación de cuidados paliativos como estrategia de atención en COVID.
LABELING DOES MORE HARM THAN GOOD & INCLUSION IS AN IDEAL PROGRAMME
Authors: Sakib S M Nazmuz
Published: June 2022

This is a poster titled as LABELING DOES MORE HARM THAN GOOD & INCLUSION IS AN IDEAL PROGRAMME
An Adjuvant-Free Mouse Model Using Skin Sensitization Without Tape-Stripping Followed by Oral Elicitation of Anaphylaxis: A Novel Pre-Clinical Tool for Testing Intrinsic Wheat Allergenicity
Authors: Gao Haoran , Jorgensen Rick , Raghunath Rajsri , Ng Perry K. W. , Gangur Venu
Published: June 2022

Wheat is a major food allergen per the regulatory bodies of various nations. Hypersensitivity reactions to wheat have been steadily increasing for reasons that are not completely understood. Wheat-allergy models typically use adjuvants to induce sensitization to wheat proteins followed by an intraperitoneal challenge to elicit anaphylaxis. Although these models are very useful, they lack the ability to reveal the intrinsic allergenicity potential of wheat. To improve the mouse model of wheat allergy, we tested the hypothesis that repeated skin application of salt-soluble protein extract (SSPE) from durum wheat will clinically sensitize the mice to oral anaphylaxis to SSPE. Balb/c mice were bred and maintained on a plant-protein-free diet and used in the experiments. Adult female mice were exposed to SSPE once a week for 9 weeks via a solution on intact skin. Sensitization was measured by SSPE-specific IgE (sIgE) antibody and total IgE (tIgE) levels. Oral anaphylaxis was quantified by hypothermic shock response (HSR), and mucosal mast cell response (MMCR) was quantified by measuring MMCP-1 after oral challenge. Using single mouse data, correlation analyses were performed to determine the relationship among the allergenicity readouts. Spleen cytokines were quantified using a protein microarray method. Our results show that (i) repeated skin exposures to SSPE elicited robust increases in the sIgE and tIgE levels; (ii) skin exposure to SSPE was sufficient to sensitize mice for oral anaphylaxis and MMCR; (iii) both HSR and MMCR showed a strong correlation with each other, as well as with sIgE, and a modest correlation with tIgE levels; (iv) selected Th2/Th17/Th1 cytokines were elevated in skin-sensitized mice; and (v) oral allergen-challenged mice showed selective elevation of IL-6 and a panel of chemokines compared to saline-challenged mice. Together, we report the development and characterization of a novel adjuvant-free wheat-allergy mouse model that uses skin sensitization without tape-stripping followed by oral elicitation of anaphylaxis. Furthermore, validation of quantifiable wheat allergenicity readouts makes this model particularly suitable as a pre-clinical testing tool to assess the intrinsic sensitization/oral-anaphylaxis elicitation potential of novel wheat proteins (e.g., processed wheat) and to develop hypo/non-allergenic wheat products.
Estimation of Joint Moments During Turning Maneuvers in Alpine Skiing Using a Three Dimensional Musculoskeletal Skier Model and a Forward Dynamics Optimization Framework
Authors: Heinrich Dieter , Van den Bogert Antonie J. , Nachbauer Werner
Published: June 2022

In alpine skiing, estimation of the joint moments acting onto the skier is essential to quantify the loading of the skier during turning maneuvers. In the present study, a novel forward dynamics optimization framework is presented to estimate the joint moments acting onto the skier incorporating a three dimensional musculoskeletal model (53 kinematic degrees of freedom, 94 muscles). Kinematic data of a professional skier performing a turning maneuver were captured and used as input data to the optimization framework. In the optimization framework, the musculoskeletal model of the skier was applied to track the experimental data of a skier and to estimate the underlying joint moments of the skier at the hip, knee and ankle joints of the outside and inside leg as well as the lumbar joint. During the turning maneuver the speed of the skier was about 14 m/s with a minimum turn radius of about 16 m. The highest joint moments were observed at the lumbar joint with a maximum of 1.88 Nm/kg for lumbar extension. At the outside leg, the highest joint moments corresponded to the hip extension moment with 1.27 Nm/kg, the knee extension moment with 1.02 Nm/kg and the ankle plantarflexion moment with 0.85 Nm/kg. Compared to the classical inverse dynamics analysis, the present framework has four major advantages. First, using a forward dynamic optimization framework the underlying kinematics of the skier as well as the corresponding ground reaction forces are dynamically consistent. Second, the present framework can cope with incomplete data (i.e., without ground reaction force data). Third, the computation of the joint moments is less sensitive to errors in the measurement data. Fourth, the computed joint moments are constrained to stay within the physiological limits defined by the musculoskeletal model.
An Overview of Current Research on Mesenchymal Stem Cell-Derived Extracellular Vesicles: A Bibliometric Analysis From 2009 to 2021
Authors: Zhang Xudong , Lu Yimeng , Wu Shanshan , Zhang Siwen , Li Shuyu , Tan Jichun
Published: June 2022

Background: Mesenchymal stem cell-derived extracellular vesicles (MSC-EVs) are important mediators of intercellular communication and participate in numerous physiological and pathological processes in the body. This study aims to introduce the research status, analyze the research hotspots, and predict the development trend through bibliometric analysis of MSC-EVs.

Methods: We searched all relevant literature on MSC-EVs from 2009 to 2021 in the Web of Science. R-bibliometrix, VOSviewer, and CiteSpace software were used to visualize the quantitative analysis of the published literature, including co-authorship, co-occurrence, citation, and co-citation, to provide objective presentation and predictions in the field.

Results: A total of 1595 articles and reviews on MSC-EVs published between 2009 and 2021 were identified. The annual publication outputs increased at an exponential rate, reaching as high as 555 publications in 2021. China contributed the most publications (n = 899, 56.36%) and had the most citations (n = 24,210). The United States had the strongest intensity of cooperation in this field. Shanghai Jiao Tong University had the maximum number of publications (n = 79). In terms of the number of publications and co-citations, the journal of Stem cell research & therapy ranked first. Camussi G was the most productive and most cited author. The top three themes in the research area were cell biology, research experimental medicine, and biochemistry molecular biology. Keyword co-occurrence and co-citation clustering analysis revealed that studies of MSC-EVs covered cellular origin (bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell, adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cell), injurious diseases (spinal cord injury, acute lung injury, ischemia/reperfusion injury, acute kidney injury, traumatic brain injury), tumor (breast cancer, tumor microenvironment), biological processes (drug delivery system, angiogenesis, inflammation, proliferation, differentiation, senescence), and molecular mechanisms (signaling pathway, signal transduction, oxidative stress, VEGF, TGF β).

Conclusions: Studies on MSC-EVs have shown a steep growth trend in recent years. Available studies mostly focused on the therapeutic effects and underlying mechanisms of MSC-EVs in aplastic diseases. Multidisciplinary integration is a development trend in this field, and senescence-related topics might be the focus of future research on MSC-EVs.
Lipid Signaling During Gamete Maturation
Authors: Mostafa Sherif , Nader Nancy , Machaca Khaled
Published: June 2022

Cell lipids are differentially distributed in distinct organelles and within the leaflets of the bilayer. They can further form laterally defined sub-domains within membranes with important signaling functions. This molecular and spatial complexity offers optimal platforms for signaling with the associated challenge of dissecting these pathways especially that lipid metabolism tends to be highly interconnected. Lipid signaling has historically been implicated in gamete function, however the detailed signaling pathways involved remain obscure. In this review we focus on oocyte and sperm maturation in an effort to consolidate current knowledge of the role of lipid signaling and set the stage for future directions.
Biological Features of Extracellular Vesicles and Challenges
Authors: Zeng Ye , Qiu Yan , Jiang Wenli , Shen Junyi , Yao Xinghong , He Xueling , Li Liang , Fu Bingmei , Liu Xiaoheng
Published: June 2022

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are vesicles with a lipid bilayer membrane on the outside, which are widely found in various body fluids and contain biological macromolecules such as DNA, RNA, lipids and proteins on the inside. EVs were once thought to be vesicles for the removal of waste materials, but are now known to be involved in a variety of pathophysiological processes in many diseases. This study examines the advantage of EVs and the challenges associated with their application. A more rational use of the advantageous properties of EVs such as composition specificity, specific targeting, circulatory stability, active penetration of biological barriers, high efficient drug delivery vehicles and anticancer vaccines, oxidative phosphorylation activity and enzymatic activity, and the resolution of shortcomings such as isolation and purification methods, storage conditions and pharmacokinetics and biodistribution patterns during drug delivery will facilitate the clinical application of EVs.
Two-Photon Absorption: An Open Door to the NIR-II Biological Window?
Authors: Shaw Paige A. , Forsyth Ewan , Haseeb Fizza , Yang Shufan , Bradley Mark , Klausen Maxime
Published: June 2022

The way in which photons travel through biological tissues and subsequently become scattered or absorbed is a key limitation for traditional optical medical imaging techniques using visible light. In contrast, near-infrared wavelengths, in particular those above 1000 nm, penetrate deeper in tissues and undergo less scattering and cause less photo-damage, which describes the so-called “second biological transparency window”. Unfortunately, current dyes and imaging probes have severely limited absorption profiles at such long wavelengths, and molecular engineering of novel NIR-II dyes can be a tedious and unpredictable process, which limits access to this optical window and impedes further developments. Two-photon (2P) absorption not only provides convenient access to this window by doubling the absorption wavelength of dyes, but also increases the possible resolution. This review aims to provide an update on the available 2P instrumentation and 2P luminescent materials available for optical imaging in the NIR-II window.
Transcatheter Mitral Valve-in-Valve Implantations Using Inverted J-Valve
Authors: Liu Lulu , Xiao Bowen , Wu Binggang , Guo Yingqiang
Published: June 2022

Background

As bioprosthetic valves are being widely used, the incidence of structural valve deterioration increases, as well as the need for reoperation. Transcatheter mitral valve-in-valve implantations are being increasingly adopted as an alternative to redo-surgical mitral replacement for patients with high surgical risks. This study reports a series of transcatheter mitral valve-in-valve implantations using inverted J-valves.

Methods

From April 2019 to September 2021, 17 symptomatic high-risk patients with mitral bioprosthetic valve dysfunction underwent transapical transcatheter mitral valve-in-valve implantations using inverted J-valves at our institution.

Results

The median age was 70 years, with 76.5% being female. The median Society of Thoracic Surgeons predicted risk of mortality (STS PROM) was 17.2% (8.7–82.24%). All patients had successful transapical transcatheter mitral valve-in-valve implantations except for one intraoperative death due to left ventricle rupture. Four patients underwent simultaneous transcatheter aortic valve implantation, two of which had valve-in-valve transcatheter aortic valve implantation. There was no major complication except one case of bleeding. Thirty-day mortality was 11.8% (2/17), and 90-days mortality was 23.5% (4/17). Percentages of patients with New York Heart Association class III/IV symptoms decreased from 100 (17/17) to 20% (3/15) at 30-days. Median mitral inflow velocity was 1.95 mm/s at 30 days, compared to 2.7 mm/s at baseline. Median mitral valve effective orifice area increases from 1.5 mm at baseline to 1.85 mm at 30 days.

Conclusion

Transcatheter transapical valve-in-valve implantations with J-valve can be a plausible solution to failed mitral bioprosthesis with acceptable results for high-risk patients.
Treatment of Hyperlactatemia in Acute Circulatory Failure Based on CO2-O2-Derived Indices: Study Protocol for a Prospective, Multicentric, Single, Blind, Randomized, Superiority Study (The LACTEL Study)
Authors: Caruso Vincenza , Besch Guillaume , Nguyen Maxime , Pili-Floury Sebastien , Bouhemad Belaid , Guinot Pierre-Grégoire ,   the Lactel Study Group
Published: June 2022

Background

Hyperlactatemia is a biological marker of tissue hypoperfusion with well-known diagnostic, prognostic, and therapeutic implications in shock states. In daily clinical practice, it is difficult to find out the exact mechanism underlying hyperlactatemia. Central venous to arterial CO2 difference (pCO2 gap) is a better parameter of tissue hypoperfusion than the usual ones (clinical examination and mixed venous saturation). Furthermore, the ratio between the pCO2 gap and p(v–a)CO2/C(a–v)O2 may be a promising indicator of anaerobic metabolism, allowing for the identification of different causes of tissue hypoxia and hyperlactatemia. The main aim of the study is to demonstrate that initial hemodynamic resuscitation based on an algorithm integrating the pCO2 gap and p(v–a)CO2/C(a–v)O2 ratio vs. usual clinical practice in acute circulatory failure improves lactate clearance.

Methods

LACTEL is a randomized, prospective, multicentric, controlled study. It compares the treatment of hyperlactatemia using an algorithm based on the pCO2 gap and P(v–a)CO2/C(a–v)O2 ratio vs. usual clinical practice in acute circulatory failure. A total of 90 patients were enrolled in each treatment group. The primary endpoint is the number of patients with a lactate clearance of more than 10% 2 h after inclusion. Lactate levels were monitored during the first 48 h of treatment as hemodynamic parameters, biological markers of organ failure, and 28-day mortality.

Discussion

pCO2 derivate indices may be of better interest than routine clinical indices to differentiate causes of hyperlactatemia and diagnose anaerobiosis. LACTEL results will provide clinical insights into the role of these indices in the early hemodynamic management of acute circulatory failure in the ICU.

Clinical Trial Registration

www.clinicaltrials.gov; identifier: NCT05032521.
Non-linear Associations Between Visceral Adiposity Index and Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular Diseases: Results From the NHANES (1999–2018)
Authors: Zhang Yangchang , He Qiang , Zhang Weihao , Xiong Yang , Shen Shisi , Yang Jialu , Ye Mengliang
Published: June 2022

Objective

To investigate associations between visceral adiposity index (VAI) and cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases (CCDs) in the American population from 1999 to 2018.

Methods

Data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (1998–2018) were analyzed in this study. Specifically, VAI scores were calculated using sex-specific equations that incorporate body mass index, waist circumference (WC), high-density lipoprotein (HDL), triglycerides (TG), and cholesterol. Weighted logistic regression analysis was conducted to assess the relationship between VAI tertile and increased risk of CCDs. Restricted cubic splines were used to evaluate the non-linear relationship between VAI and CCDs, such as heart failure, angina, heart attack, stroke, hypertension, and coronary heart disease. Sensitivity analysis was conducted, using VAI quartiles as independent variables.

Results

A total of 22,622 subjects aged over 20 years were included. In the fully adjusted model after controlling for covariates, the third VAI tertile was more strongly associated with CCDs than the first VAI tertile, with odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (95% CI) values for angina of 2.86, 1.68–4.85; heart attack, 1.75, 1.14–2.69; stroke, 2.01, 1.23–3.26; hypertension, 2.28, 1.86–2.78; and coronary heart disease, 1.78, 1.32–2.41; but there was no significant association with heart failure (p > 0.05). Restricted cubic splines revealed parabolic relationships between VAI score and angina (p for non-linear = 0.03), coronary heart disease (p for non-linear = 0.01), and hypertension (p for non-linear < 0.001). Sensitivity analysis indicated that the fourth VAI quartile was more strongly associated with an increased risk of angina (OR = 2.92, 95% CI, 1.49–5.69), hypertension (OR = 2.37, 95% CI, 1.90–2.97), heart attack (OR = 1.77, 95% CI, 1.09–2.88), and coronary heart disease (OR = 1.89, 95% CI, 1.24–2.86) than the first VAI quartile. VAI had superior predictive power for prevalent CCDs than other independent indicators (p < 0.05).

Conclusion

Visceral adiposity index score is positively correlated with angina, heart attack, stroke, hypertension, and coronary heart disease, but not heart failure, and the relationships between VAI score and angina, hypertension, and coronary heart disease are non-linear.
Qia’erdunbasixi Fe–Cu Deposit in Sawur, Xinjiang: A Case Study of Skarn Deposit Hosted by Volcanic Rock
Authors: Yang Shuang , Zhou Qiu-Shi , Wang Rui , Zhu Yongfeng
Published: June 2022

The Sawur Cu–Au belt, northern Xinjiang, China, is the eastward extension of the Zarma–Sawur Cu–Au belt in Kazakhstan, where Late Paleozoic volcanic rocks and intrusions are highly developed. The Qia’erdunbasixi Fe–Cu deposit in Sawur is a recently discovered deposit and is still under exploration. The intrusive rocks are syenite and diorite, and the wall rocks consist of andesite and minor basalt, lamprophyre, and tuff. The U–Pb SHRIMP zircon age of the Qia’erdunbasixi syenite intruding into the volcanic rocks is 345 ± 2.2 Ma (MSWD = 1.3), presenting as the lower limit of skarn Fe mineralization. The intrusives belong to the calc–alkaline to high-K calc-alkaline series with large ion lithophile element (LILE) enrichment, high LREE/HREE fractionation, and high field strength element (HFSE) depletion. The initial 87Sr/86Sr ratios of the Qia’erdunbasixi syenite range from 0.70403 to 0.70420, and the εNd(t) values are from +5.5 to +6.8, which are the typical characteristics of island arc igneous rocks. Diorites having similar REE features with syenite should share the same magma source. Magnetite and copper mineralization develop mostly along the contact zones of syenite and diorite, respectively. Fe mineralization develops along the contact zone of syenite, with typical skarn zonation. The metallogenesis event can be divided into the prograde skarn stage (diopside–augite–andradite–magnetite–calcite–quartz), retrograde skarn stage (epidote–chlorite–actinolite–K-feldspar–calcite–magnetite–quartz), and quartz–sulfide stage (quartz–magnetite–K-feldspar–calcite–sercite–chlorite–actinolite–prehnite–chalcopyrite–pyrite). The early–mid-stage magnetite with certain amounts of Ti and V was crystallized from magma, while the late-stage magnetite has the typical characteristics of hydrothermal calcic skarn magnetite. The temperature of mineralization is between 350 and 450°C based on mineral assemblages and phase diagrams. Copper mineralization is concentrated along the outer contact zone of the diorite. Paragenesis sequences of the four stages of mineralization could be identified for copper mineralization: 1) albite–quartz; 2) chalcopyrite–pyrite–gold–seriate–quartz; 3) chalcopyrite–pyrite–epidotic–reunite; and 4) sphalerite–galena–quartz–calcite. Qia’erdunbasixi is a composite deposit with skarn-type Fe mineralization and mesothermal Cu mineralization and has a genetic relationship with magmatism in an island arc setting.
The Snowline and 0°C Isotherm Altitudes During Precipitation Events in the Dry Subtropical Chilean Andes as Seen by Citizen Science, Surface Stations, and ERA5 Reanalysis Data
Authors: Schauwecker Simone , Palma Gabriel , MacDonell Shelley , Ayala Álvaro , Viale Maximiliano
Published: June 2022

Understanding the variability of the snowline and the closely related 0°C isotherm during infrequent precipitation events in the dry Andes in Chile is fundamental for precipitation, snow cover, and discharge predictions. For instance, it is known that on the windward side of mountains, the 0°C isotherm can be several hundreds of meters lower than on the free air upwind counterpart, but little is understood about such effects in the Andes due to missing in situ evidence on the precipitation phase. To bridge this gap, 111 photographs of the snowline after precipitation events between 2011 and 2021 were gathered in the frame of a citizen science programme to estimate the snowline altitude. Since photographs of the mountain snowline are in good agreement with Sentinel-2 imagery, they have great potential to validate empirical snowline estimations. Using the snowline altitude from the photos, we evaluated different methods to estimate the snowline and 0°C isotherm altitude during precipitation events based on surface meteorological observations and ERA5 reanalysis data. We found a high correlation between the observed snowline altitude and the extrapolated 0°C isotherm based on constant lapse rates (−5.5 to −6.5°C km−1) applied to air temperature from single, near stations. However, uncertainty increases for distances >10 km. The results also indicate that the linear regression method is a good option to estimate ZSL, but the results strongly depend on the availability of high-elevation station datasets. During half of the precipitation events, the 0°C isotherm lies between ∼1,800 and ∼2,400–2,500 m asl. in winter, and the snowline is on average ∼280 m below this altitude. Our results indicate the presence of a mesoscale lowering of the 0°C isotherm over the windward slopes compared to the free-air upwind value during precipitation events and a possible isothermal layer of near-freezing air temperatures comparable to other mountain ranges. Due to this mesoscale and local behavior, ERA5 data generally overestimate the snow–rain transition in high-elevation areas, especially for relatively intense events. On the other hand, the 0°C isotherm altitude is underestimated if only low-elevation valley stations are considered, highlighting the importance of high-altitude meteorological stations in the network.
The Effect of Diffuse Radiation on Ecosystem Carbon Fluxes Across China From FLUXNET Forest Observations
Authors: Deng Xiaoqing , Zhang Jing , Che Yunfei , Zhou Lihua , Lu Tianwei , Han Tian
Published: June 2022

Aerosol loading and cloud cover can alter the composition of radiation reaching the Earth’s surface and affect the ecosystem’s carbon cycle. In this study, we established an empirical model of the diffuse radiation fraction (Kd) based on a clearness index (Kt) to obtain the Kd of four FLUXNET forest sites in China. We focused on the relationships among the Kd, photosynthetically active radiation (PAR), light-use efficiency (LUE) and gross primary productivity (GPP) through mechanistic analysis. The relationships between carbon fluxes [including GPP, ecosystem respiration (ER), and net ecosystem exchange (NEE)] and the Kd were explored. Furthermore, we investigated the influence of environmental factors on carbon fluxes. The results showed that the Kd models were accurate in estimating Kd (R2= 0.88–0.93). Overall, the GPP first increased and then decreased with increasing Kd. When Kd< Ko (Ko, the diffuse radiation fraction corresponding to the maximum value of GPP), the direct PAR decreased as Kd increased, while the diffuse PAR increased rapidly. At this stage, the diffuse fertilization effect led to an increase in GPP. When Ko<Kd<Kdiff-max (Kdiff-max, the diffuse radiation fraction corresponding to the maximum value of diffuse PAR), as Kd increased the direct PAR still decreased and the diffuse PAR still increased, but the GPP declined. When Kd>Kdiff-max, the diffuse PAR began to decrease, and the reduction in the superimposed direct PAR caused the GPP of the canopy to drop rapidly. The LUE of the vegetation canopy was higher under diffuse light conditions than under direct light. Furthermore, with an increase in the Kd, the negative value change of the NEE was consistent with the GPP, but the ER was less affected by the Kd. Finally, the impact of temperature (TA) and vapor pressure deficit (VPD) on the GPP was unimodal, and the impact on the NEE was U-shaped. In addition, latent heat (LE) had a significant positive effect on GPP and NEE. Our study emphasized the relationship between the change in PAR composition and the Kd, as well as its impact on the carbon fluxes change, which is highly important to the study of carbon neutralization.
Double-O-Tube Shield Tunneling-Induced Soil Displacement Considering Burial Depth and Convergence Mode: Transparent Soil Experiment and DEM Simulation
Authors: Zeng Bin , Zhu Yucong , Ye Siqiao , Zheng Yong , He Lei , Ma Rui
Published: June 2022

Double-O-tube shield tunneling technology has gained extensive attention due to saving space and the high cost-effectiveness of the underground construction method. Estimating and predicting DOT shield tunneling-induced soil displacements is essential to prevent damage to nearby aboveground and underground structures in densely populated urban areas. This study develops a device for modeling DOT shield tunneling based on transparent soil technology and image processing technique and investigates soil displacement during the construction process of the DOT shield tunnel, which is considered in the uniform convergence mode (UCM) of soil loss. Meanwhile, the soil displacement under the non-uniform convergence mode (NCM) is analyzed contrastively using a two-dimension particle flow code (PFC2D). The results show that horizontal displacements increase gradually when the shield tail passes the monitoring face, while settlements increase rapidly. The maximum horizontal displacement of the surface and the maximum surface settlement under NCM are slightly larger than those under UCM. A trapezoid-shaped failure pattern of soil is experienced at three tunnel depths. The maximum soil displacement under NCM is 1.93, 2.10, and 2.05 times, respectively, as much as that under UCM, corresponding to H/D (the ratio of the tunnel depth to the tunnel diameter) = 1.0, 1.5, and 2.0. The soil arch effect above DOT tunnels arises as the DOT tunnel depth increases. Moreover, the experimental and numerical results are adopted to assess the validity of the proposed model, which indicates that the proposed model is close to the test results of the disturbance zone on DOT tunnels.
Law of Nuclide Migration in Clayey Rocks considering Diffusion and Fluid Transport
Authors: Yu Hongdan , Lu Chen , Chen Weizhong , Wang Luyu , Li Honghui , Lu Haifeng
Published: June 2022

A core concern in the research on deep geological disposal of high-level radioactive waste is the migration of radionuclides in geological bodies. Most studies on radionuclide migration consider the role of only the rock fissures without incorporating the influence of the rock matrix. In this paper, the rock mass for geological disposal of high-level radioactive waste is regarded as a fissure-pore medium. Considering the influences of radionuclide diffusion and fluid transport on radionuclide migration in the process of disposal, the governing equation of radionuclide migration and evolution in the pore-fissure medium is established. The numerical scheme of the governing equation is given based on the mixed finite volume method (FVM), using our program solution module written in C++. On this basis, the numerical test model with fissures was developed, which analyzed the radionuclide migration law in clayey rocks under various fissure and rock matrix diffusion coefficients and hydraulic conductivities. The simulation results are compared with finite element method results, revealing the superiority of the mixed FVM method in solving problems of radionuclide migration in discontinuous geological bodies containing hiatuses, mutations, and fissures. The study provides a theoretical basis for evaluating the safety, feasibility, and suitability of geological disposal repositories for high-level radioactive waste in terms of radionuclide migration.
Exploring First Semester Changes in Domain-Specific Critical Thinking
Authors: Nielsen Tine , Martínez-García Inmaculada , Alastor Enrique
Published: June 2022

Critical thinking is a common aim for higher education students, often described as general competencies to be acquired through entire programs as well as domain-specific skills to be acquired within subjects. The aim of the study was to investigate whether statistics-specific critical thinking changed from the start of the first semester to the start of the second semester of a two-semester statistics course, where the curriculum contains learning objectives and assessment criteria related to critical thinking. The brief version of the Critical Thinking scale (CTh) from the Motivated Strategies of Learning Questionnaire addresses the core aspects of critical thinking common to three different definitions of critical thinking. Students rate item statements in relation to their statistics course using a frequency scale: 1 = never, 2 = rarely, 3 = sometimes, 4 = often, and 5 = always. Participants were two consecutive year-cohorts of full-time Bachelor of Psychology students taking a two-semester long statistics course placed in the first two semesters. Data were collected in class with a paper-pencil survey 1 month into their first semester and again 1 month into the second. The study sample consisted of 336 students (ncohort 1 = 166, ncohort 2 = 170) at baseline, the follow-up was completed by 270 students with 165 students who could be matched to their baseline response. To investigate the measurement properties of the CTh scale, item analysis by the Rasch model was conducted on baseline data and subsequently on follow-up data. Change scores at the group level were calculated as the standardized effect size (ES) (i.e., the difference between baseline and follow-up scores relative to the standard deviation of the baseline scores). Data fitted Rasch models at baseline and follow-up. The targeting of the CTh scale to the student sample was excellent at both timepoints. Absolute individual changes on the CTh ranged from −5.3 to 5.1 points, thus showing large individual changes in critical thinking. The overall standardized effect was small and negative (−0.12), with some variation in student strata defined by, gender, age, perceived adequacy of math knowledge to learn statistics, and expectation to need statistics in future employment.
Immunoreactivities Against Different Tyrosine-Phosphatase 2 (IA-2)(256-760) Protein Domains Characterize Distinct Phenotypes in Subjects With LADA
Authors: Tiberti Claudio , D’Onofrio Luca , Panimolle Francesca , Zampetti Simona , Maddaloni Ernesto , Buzzetti Raffaella
Published: June 2022

Antibodies (Abs) against intracellular epitopes of the tyrosine-phosphatase 2 (IA-2) are detected in type 1 diabetes. Abs directed against the IA-2(256-760) portion, with both intra- and extracellular epitopes, are present in people with latent autoimmune diabetes in adults (LADA) and in obese subjects with normal glucose tolerance (NGT). We aim to characterize distribution and clinical features of intra- and extra-cellular IA-2(256-760) immunoreactivities in people with LADA compared to obese people with NGT. The intracellular immunoreactivity represented by immune response against two intracellular IA-2 constructs (IA-2JM(601-630) and IA-2IC(605-979)) was analyzed and related to clinical and biochemical features in 101 people with LADA and in 20 NGT obese subjects, all testing positive for IA-2(256-760) Abs. IA-2 intracellular immunoreactivity showed a frequency of 40.6% in LADA while it was not detected among NGT obese (p<0.001). Amongst LADA, the presence of immunoreactivity against the IA-2 intracellular domains was associated with lower BMI, waist circumference, higher HDL cholesterol and lower triglycerides, lower prevalence of hypertension and higher prevalence of other autoimmune disorders. Immunoreactivity against IA-2 does not involve intracellular domains in the majority of LADA and in obese people with NGT. This study shows that there is heterogeneity in the IA-2 epitopes, associated with different clinical features.
From Farm to Flight: CoverCress as a Low Carbon Intensity Cash Cover Crop for Sustainable Aviation Fuel Production. A Review of Progress Towards Commercialization
Authors: Phippen Winthrop B. , Rhykerd Rob , Sedbrook John C. , Handel Cristine , Csonka Steve
Published: June 2022

Thlaspi arvense L. (Field Pennycress; pennycress) is being converted into a winter-annual oilseed crop that confers cover crop benefits when grown throughout the 12 million-hectares U.S. Midwest. To ensure a fit with downstream market demand, conversion involves not only improvements in yield and maturity through traditional breeding, but also improvements in the composition of the oil and protein through gene editing tools. The conversion process is similar to the path taken to convert rapeseed into Canola. In the case of field pennycress, the converted product that is suitable as a rotational crop is called CoverCress™ as marketed by CoverCress Inc. or golden pennycress if marketed by others. Off-season integration of a CoverCress crop into existing corn and soybean hectares would extend the growing season on established croplands and avoid displacement of food crops or ecosystems while yielding up to 1 billion liters of seed oil annually by 2030, with the potential to grow to 8 billion liters from production in the U.S. Midwest alone. The aviation sector is committed to carbon-neutral growth and reducing emissions of its global market, which in 2019 approached 122 billion liters of consumption in the U.S. and 454 billion liters globally. The oil derived from a CoverCress crop is ideally suited as a new bioenergy feedstock for the production of drop-in Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF), renewable diesel, biodiesel and other value-added coproducts. Through a combination of breeding and genomics-enabled mutagenesis approaches, considerable progress has been made in genetically improving yield and other agronomic traits. With USDA-NIFA funding and continued public and private investments, improvements to CoverCress germplasm and agronomic practices suggest that field-scale production can surpass 1,680 kg ha−1 (1,500 lb ac−1) in the near term. At current commodity prices, economic modeling predicts this level of production can be profitable across the entire supply chain. Two-thirds of the grain value is in oil converted to fuels and chemicals, and the other one-third is in the meal used as an animal feed, industrial applications, and potential plant-based protein products. In addition to strengthening rural communities by providing income to producers and agribusinesses, cultivating a CoverCress crop potentially offers a myriad of ecosystem services. The most notable service is water quality protection through reduced nutrient leaching and reduced soil erosion. Biodiversity enhancement by supporting pollinators’ health is also a benefit. While the efforts described herein are focused on the U.S., cultivation of a CoverCress crop will likely have a broader application to regions around the world with similar agronomic and environmental conditions.
A Detailed Investigation Into the Wave Energy Resource at a Small-Scale Ocean Energy Test Site in China
Authors: Fang Yizhou , Wu He , Zhou Qingwei , Jiang Bo , Wang Xiaoyong
Published: June 2022

During the R&D of marine renewable energy converters, scale models are usually used in the early stages of development of marine renewable energy converters. China’s National Ocean Integrated Test Site (NOITS) is being developed by the National Ocean Technology Center (NOTC) in Weihai, Shandong Province, to facilitate testing of scaled wave and tidal energy converters in an open sea environment. This research aims to gain a detailed understanding of the wave characteristics and the wave energy resource at this site. A nested modeling system has been implemented using Simulating WAves Nearshore (SWAN) to provide a 10-year high-resolution wave hindcast between 2009 and 2019 with an approximately 60 m resolution covering the test site. Analysis of the spatio-temporal distribution of wave energy resource in NOITS reveals its strong seasonality, with the mean wave power density of >1.5 kW/m during winter and <0.2 kW/m during summer. We also performed a statistical analysis of the high and extreme wave conditions and their occurrence. By applying scaling methods to wave resources, four WECs were selected to demonstrate the testing at different scale ratios in NOITS. The results of this study provide engineering references for the design of scale wave energy converter models which target to perform open sea trials in NOITS.
Review of the Hydraulic and Structural Design of High-Speed Centrifugal Pumps
Authors: Hao Yang , Hao Jia , Zuchao Zhu , Xianghui Su , Wenqi Lu , Gruszczynski Maciej , Qiangmin Ding , Panlong Gao
Published: June 2022

In recent years, much attention has been paid to the application of high-speed centrifugal pumps; still, the development of this pump faces several challenges. In order to obtain a more comprehensive understanding of the high-speed centrifugal pump, this paper reviewed the engineering application, technical challenges, and feasible solutions of this pump from the aspects of hydraulic design, including cavitation, hydraulic excitation, efficiency issue at an ultra-low specific speed, and the solution to these problems. The current state of the structural design of the high-speed centrifugal pump was briefly described in addition. For the faults in the existing high-speed centrifugal pump, some research studies on pump monitoring were presented. Finally, the status and shortcomings of the design of the pump were simply analyzed and summarized. It is hoped that this study can provide some references for the design and practical usage of high-speed centrifugal pumps.
Distributed Secondary Control Strategy Against Bounded FDI Attacks for Microgrid With Layered Communication Network
Authors: Wang Fuzhi , Shan Qihe , Teng Fei , He Zhiqiang , Xiao Yang , Wang Zhiyu
Published: June 2022

This paper investigates FDI attacks in distributed secondary control strategy for low inertia microgrid with a high proportion of renewable energy and power electronics. Adversaries always aim to tamper information exchange between the neighbor distributed generators (DGs) in microgrids, which results in voltage and frequency deviation leading to power breakdown. To enhance the resilience against FDI attacks of microgrid, a control network layer interconnecting with the original data transmission layer is introduced to form a layered communication network. Due to the higher openness of the layered network, the introduced control network layer also faces to potential FDI attacks. This paper proposed a distributed secondary control strategy against double-layered bounded FDI attacks rather than only attacks in the information transmission layer. The strategy can mitigate FDI attacks launched in the control network layer, and adverse influence on the data transmission layer can also be mitigated caused by FDI attacks launched in the control network layer by designing proper interconnecting matrices. In this paper, the Lyapunov theory is used to demonstrate that the strategy can make the low inertia microgrid still maintain stable against double-layered bounded FDI attacks. The effectiveness of the distributed secondary strategy against bounded FDI attacks is validated in a test microgrid consisting of 4 DGs using the Matlab/Simpower system.
A Novel Cooperation Multi-Objective Optimization Approach: Multi-Swarm Multi-Objective Evolutionary Algorithm Based on Decomposition (MSMOEA/D)
Authors: Liu Rui , Chen Hanning , Wang Zhixue , Hu Yabao
Published: June 2022

In order to achieve good adaptability, medical bone implants for clinical applications need to have porous characteristics. From a biological and mechanical point of view, the design of porous structures requires both suitable porosities to facilitate cell ingrowth and suitable strength to avoid implant damage. To handle the multiobjective optimization problems of porous structure design, this work introduced an improved multi-objective optimization algorithm, which is called a multi-swarm multi-objective evolutionary algorithm based on decomposition (MSMOEA/D), and the main idea is a multi-swarm strategy. After a predetermined algebraic evolution, the whole swarm was evenly divided into several parts, and the elite non-dominated sorting mechanism was used to select the individuals with excellent performance and poor performance in the sub-swarms to exchange information between the sub-swarms. The performance of the MSMOEA/D algorithm was verified and validated on 12 constraint two-objective and three-objective benchmark functions and compared with MOEA/D, MOEADM2M, and MOEADDRA algorithms in terms of generational distance indicators. The solutions obtained by the proposed MSMOEA/D algorithm were accurate. Finally, the proposed MSMOEA/D algorithm was applied to optimize the constructed RS porous structure, and the porous optimized models with porosities of 50%, 60% and 70% were obtained.
Assessment of Soil Erosion Potential From the Disturbed Surface of Skid Trails in Small Shovel Harvesting System
Authors: Lee Eunjai , Eu Song , Li Qiwen
Published: June 2022

Forest roads, haul roads, and especially skid trails have been associated with sedimentation and soil erosion risk. Despite the widespread small shovel harvesting system on steep terrains in South Korea, the subsequent risks of deep (rut depth >5 cm) and compact disturbances, and erosion rates in skid trails are largely unknown. Therefore, the main objectives of this study were to compare the soil erosion rate in each skid trail and predict the total soil erosion rate in a small shovel harvesting area. The soil erosion rate was measured at the plot scale (5 × 3 m) in different skid trail parts (bladed skid trail by small-shovel loader passage, BT; and compacted skid trail CT by carrier passage with construction by a small-shovel loader) using a silt fence experiment. In addition, we investigated the applicability of the Water Erosion Prediction Project (WEPP) model to each disturbance. Among all disturbances, the highest erosion rate (average value of 9.13 ± 0.96 kg m−2 4 months−1) was because of CT. The model predictions were over- and under-estimated and showed particularly poor performance where uncovered soil was exposed (less than 1%) to high machine traffic frequency and excavation. Further, the annual soil erosion rates ranged from 11.59 to 28.94 ton ha−1 year−1. The results suggested that the WEPP model could partially validate the soil erosion results, and further research is still required to improve the accuracy of the model.