bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Feasibility and Clinical Value of CT-Guided 125I Brachytherapy for Pain Palliation in Patients With Breast Cancer and Bone Metastases After External Beam Radiotherapy Failure
Authors: He Jian , Mai Qicong , Yang Fangfang , Zhuang Wenhang , Gou Qing , Zhou Zejian , Xu Rongde , Chen Xiaoming , Mo Zhiqiang
Published: March 2021

Objectives: To evaluate the feasibility and clinical value of CT-guided iodine-125 (125I) brachytherapy for pain palliation in patients with breast cancer and bone metastases after external beam radiotherapy failure.

Methods: From January 2014 to July 2016, a total of 90 patients, who had received the standard therapies for bone metastases but still suffered moderate-to-severe pain, were retrospectively studied. About 42 patients were treated with both 125I brachytherapy and bisphosphonates (Group A), and 48 patients were treated with bisphosphonates alone (Group B).

Results: In Group A, 45 125I brachytherapy procedures were performed in 42 patients with 69 bone metastases; the primary success rate of 125I seed implantation was 92.9%, without severe complications. Regarding pain progression of the two groups, Group A exhibited significant relief in “worst pain,” “least pain,” “average pain,” and “present pain” 3-day after treatment and could achieve a 12-week-remission for “worst pain,” “least pain,” “average pain,” and “present pain.” The morphine-equivalent 24-h analgesic dose at 3 days, 4 weeks, 8 weeks, and 12 weeks was 91 ± 27, 53 ± 13, 31 ± 17, and 34 ± 12 mg for Group A, and 129 ± 21, 61 ± 16, 53 ± 15, and 105 ± 23 mg for Group B. Group A experienced a lower incidence of analgesic-related adverse events and better quality of life than Group B.

Conclusion: The CT-guided 125I brachytherapy is a feasible and an effective treatment for the palliation of pain caused by bone metastases from breast cancer after external beam radiotherapy failure.
Repurposing of Pirfenidone (Anti-Pulmonary Fibrosis Drug) for Treatment of Rheumatoid Arthritis
Authors: Gan Donghao , Cheng Wenxiang , Ke Liqing , Sun Antonia RuJia , Jia Qingyun , Chen Jianhai , Lin Jietao , Li Jian , Xu Zhanwang , Zhang Peng
Published: March 2021

Clinical studies have shown that pirfenidone (PFD) effectively relieves joint pain in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients. However, the detailed mechanisms underlying the anti-RA effects of PFD have not been investigated. This study was undertaken to investigate the repurposing of PFD for the treatment of RA, and explore its anti-rheumatic mechanisms. A collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) rat model was used to observe joint pathological changes following PFD treatment. Based on bioinformatics to predict the mechanism of PFD anti-RA, using EA. hy926 and TNF-α-induced MH7A cells to establish in vitro model to explore its biological mechanism from the perspectives of synovial inflammation and angiogenesis. PFD significantly relieved pathological changes, including joint swelling, synovial hyperplasia, inflammatory cell infiltration and joint destruction. PFD was also associated with reduced expression of MMP-3 and VEGF in articular chondrocytes and synovial cells of CIA rats (p < 0.05). Using bioinformatic methods, we predicted that PFD inhibits cell inflammation and migration by interfering with the JAK2/STAT3 and Akt pathways. These results were verified using in vitro models. In particular, PFD effectively reduced the expression of pro-inflammatory, chondrogenic, and angiogenic cytokines, such as IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, MMP-1/3/2/9 and VEGF (p < 0.05), in TNF-α-induced MH7A cells. In addition, PFD significantly reduced the production of MMP-2/9 and VEGF in EA. hy926 cells, thereby weakening migration and inhibiting angiogenesis (p < 0.05). These findings suggest that PFD may alleviate the pathological process in CIA rats, by inhibiting inflammation and angiogenesis through multiple pathways, and serve as a potential therapeutic drug for RA.
Variations of Time Irreversibility of Heart Rate Variability Under Normobaric Hypoxic Exposure
Authors: Li Yang , Li Jianqing , Liu Jian , Xue Yong , Cao Zhengtao , Liu Chengyu
Published: March 2021

In the field of biomedicine, time irreversibility is used to describe how imbalanced and asymmetric biological signals are. As an important feature of signals, the direction of time is always ignored. To find out the variation regularity of time irreversibility of heart rate variability (HRV) in the initial stage of hypoxic exposure, the present study implemented 2 h acute normobaric hypoxic exposure on six young subjects who have no plateau or hypoxia experiences; oxygen concentration was set as 12.9%. Electrocardiogram (ECG) signals were recorded in the whole process and RR interval sequences were extracted. Mathematical operations were executed to transform the difference of adjacent RR intervals into proportion and distance with delay time to conduct time irreversibility analysis of HRV. The same calculating method was implemented on six items randomly picked out from the MIT-BIH normal sinus rhythm database as a control group. Results show that variation of time irreversibility of HRV in a hypoxic environment is different from that in a normoxic environment, time irreversibility indices of a hypoxic group decreases continually at a delay time of 1 and 2, and indices curves of time irreversibility gradually tend to be steady and gather with each other at a delay time of 3 or 4. The control group shows no consistent tendency no matter what the delay time is in the range of 1–4. Our study indicates that in short-time hypoxic exposure, as hypoxic time goes by, regulation of the cardiovascular autonomic nervous system weakens; regulation times and intensity of sympathetic and parasympathetic nerves tend to be equal.
Pandemic Nightmares: COVID-19 Lockdown Associated With Increased Aggression in Female University Students' Dreams
Authors: Kilius Erica , Abbas Noor H. , McKinnon Leela , Samson David R.
Published: March 2021

The COVID-19 pandemic and its associated stressors have impacted the daily lives and sleeping patterns of many individuals, including university students. Dreams may provide insight into how the mind processes changing realities; dreams not only allow consolidation of new information, but may give the opportunity to creatively “play out” low-risk, hypothetical threat simulations. While there are studies that analyze dreams in high-stress situations, little is known of how the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted dreams of university students. The aim of this study was to explore how the dream content of students was affected during the university COVID-19 lockdown period (March–July, 2020). Using online survey methods, we analyzed dream recall content (n= 71) using the Hall-Van de Castle dream coding system and Fisher's exact tests for sex comparisons. Preliminary results indicate that female students experienced more nightmares as compared to male students. Dream analysis found that, relative to normative American College Student (ACS) samples generated pre-COVID-19, women were more likely to experience aggressive interactions in their dream content, including increased physical aggression. Results indicate that university students did experience changes in dream content due to the pandemic lockdown period, with women disproportionally affected. These findings can aid universities in developing support programs for students by bringing forth an understanding of students' concerns and anxieties as they process the “new normal” of social distancing.
Cytokine Imbalance in Schizophrenia. From Research to Clinic: Potential Implications for Treatment
Authors: Reale Marcella , Costantini Erica , Greig Nigel H.
Published: March 2021

Cytokines are one of the most important components of the immune system. They orchestrate the brain's response to infectious and other exogenous insults and are crucial mediators of the cross-talk between the nervous and immune systems. Epidemiological studies have demonstrated that severe infections and autoimmune disorders, in addition to genetic predisposition, are risk factors for schizophrenia. Furthermore, maternal infection during pregnancy appears to increase the risk of schizophrenia, and proinflammatory cytokines may be negatively involved in the neurodevelopmental process. A cytokine imbalance has been described in the blood and cerebrospinal fluid of schizophrenia patients, particularly in the T helper type 1 [Th1] and type 2 [Th2] cytokines, albeit the results of such studies appear to be contradictory. Chronic stress, likewise, appears to contribute to a lasting proinflammatory state and likely also promotes the disorder. The aim of this mini-review is to investigate the roles of different cytokines in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia and define how cytokines may represent key molecular targets to regulate for the prevention and treatment of schizophrenia. How current antipsychotic drugs impact cytokine networks is also evaluated. In this context, we propose to change the focus of schizophrenia from a traditionally defined brain disorder, to one that is substantially impacted by the periphery and immune system.
Polyphenols and Cannabidiol Modulate Transcriptional Regulation of Th1/Th2 Inflammatory Genes Related to Canine Atopic Dermatitis
Authors: Massimini Marcella , Dalle Vedove Elena , Bachetti Benedetta , Di Pierro Francesco , Ribecco Cataldo , D'Addario Claudio , Pucci Mariangela
Published: March 2021

Canine atopic dermatitis (AD) is a multifactorial allergic disease associated with immune and abnormal skin barrier dysfunction and it is one of the primary causes of pruritus. Using a novel in vitro model of AD, here we tried to revert the alteration of transcriptional regulation of AD canine key genes testing a nutraceutical mixture containing flavonoids, stilbene, and cannabinoids, which are already well-known for their applications within dermatology diseases. The nutraceutical mixture induced in inflamed cells a significant downregulation (p < 0.05) of the gene expression of ccl2, ccl17, and tslp in keratinocytes and of ccl2, ccl17, and il31ra in monocytes. Consistent with the observed alterations of tslp, ccl2, ccl17, and il31ra messenger RNA (mRNA) levels, a significant increase (p < 0.05) of DNA methylation at specific CpG sites on the gene regulatory regions was found. These results lay the foundation for the use of these natural bioactives in veterinary medicine and provide a model for deeper understanding of their mechanisms of action, with potential translation to human research.
Numerical Investigation of Spray Collapse in GDI with OpenFOAM
Authors: Gärtner Jan Wilhelm , Feng Ye , Kronenburg Andreas , Stein Oliver T.
Published: March 2021

During certain operating conditions in spark-ignited direct injection engines (GDI), the injected fuel will be superheated and begin to rapidly vaporize. Fast vaporization can be beneficial for fuel–oxidizer mixing and subsequent combustion, but it poses the risk of spray collapse. In this work, spray collapse is numerically investigated for a single hole and the spray G eight-hole injector of an engine combustion network (ECN). Results from a new OpenFOAM solver are first compared against results of the commercial CONVERGE software for single-hole injectors and validated. The results corroborate the perception that the superheat ratio Rp, which is typically used for the classification of flashing regimes, cannot describe spray collapse behavior. Three cases using the eight-hole spray G injector geometry are compared with experimental data. The first case is the standard G2 test case, with iso-octane as an injected fluid, which is only slightly superheated, whereas the two other cases use propane and show spray collapse behavior in the experiment. The numerical results support the assumption that the interaction of shocks due to the underexpanded vapor jet causes spray collapse. Further, the spray structures match well with experimental data, and shock interactions that provide an explanation for the observed phenomenon are discussed.
Experimental Study on Coherent Structures by Particles Suspended in Half-Zone Thermocapillary Liquid Bridges: Review
Authors: Ueno Ichiro
Published: March 2021

Coherent structures by the particles suspended in the half-zone thermocapillary liquid bridges via experimental approaches are introduced. General knowledge on the particle accumulation structures (PAS) is described, and then the spatial–temporal behaviours of the particles forming the PAS are illustrated with the results of the two- and three-dimensional particle tracking. Variations of the coherent structures as functions of the intensity of the thermocapillary effect and the particle size are introduced by focusing on the PAS of the azimuthal wave number m=3. Correlation between the particle behaviour and the ordered flow structures known as the Kolmogorov–Arnold—Moser tori is discussed. Recent works on the PAS of m=1 are briefly introduced.
A Cruel Homicide via Blades of a Young Boy under Custody in a Juvenile Correctional Unit
Authors: Valente-Aguiar Murilo Sérgio , Falcão Ana Cecília , Magalhães Teresa , Dinis-Oliveira Ricardo Jorge
Published: March 2021

Cut-throat wounds are traumatic injuries to the anterior or lateral part of the neck, between the larynx and the hyoid bone, or over the larynx (but rarely above or below these limits), produced by a sharp and heavy instrument with a cutting edge. The depths of such wounds are variable. They can reach the spine and can be singular or multiple. The medico-legal etiology of such wounds is commonly homicide, whereas suicides are infrequent, and accidental cases are rare. In this work, we report the homicide of a 16-year-old boy in a juvenile correctional unit, whose throat was cut with cruelty using two blades. The body was then partially charred. A careful examination of the injuries along with the death scene evidence was performed to clarify the cause, circumstances, and mechanism of death.
Pathophysiology of Preeclampsia: The Role of Exosomes
Authors: Matsubara Keiichi , Matsubara Yuko , Uchikura Yuka , Sugiyama Takashi
Published: March 2021

The pathogenesis of preeclampsia begins when a fertilized egg infiltrates the decidua, resulting in implantation failure (e.g., due to extravillous trophoblast infiltration disturbance and abnormal spiral artery remodeling). Thereafter, large amounts of serum factors (e.g., soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase 1 and soluble endoglin) are released into the blood from the hypoplastic placenta, and preeclampsia characterized by multiorgan disorder caused by vascular disorders develops. Successful implantation and placentation require immune tolerance to the fertilized egg as a semi-allograft and the stimulation of extravillous trophoblast infiltration. Recently, exosomes with diameters of 50–100 nm have been recognized to be involved in cell–cell communication. Exosomes affect cell functions in autocrine and paracrine manners via their encapsulating microRNA/DNA and membrane-bound proteins. The microRNA profiles of blood exosomes have been demonstrated to be useful for the evaluation of preeclampsia pathophysiology and prediction of the disease. In addition, exosomes derived from mesenchymal stem cells have been found to have cancer-suppressing effects. These exosomes may repair the pathophysiology of preeclampsia through the suppression of extravillous trophoblast apoptosis and promotion of these cells’ invasive ability. Exosomes secreted by various cells have received much recent attention and may be involved in the maintenance of pregnancy and pathogenesis of preeclampsia.
Development of a Double Skin Facade System Applied in a Virtual Occupied Chamber
Authors: Conceição Eusébio , Gomes João , Lúcio Maria Manuela , Awbi Hazim
Published: March 2021

In this study a system constituted by seven double skin facades (DSF), three equipped with venetian blinds and four not equipped with venetian blinds, applied in a virtual chamber, is developed. The project will be carried out in winter conditions, using a numerical model, in transient conditions, and based on energy and mass balance linear integral equations. The energy balance linear integral equations are used to calculate the air temperature inside the DSF and the virtual chamber, the temperature on the venetian blind, the temperature on the inner and outer glass, and the temperature distribution in the surrounding structure of the DSF and virtual chamber. These equations consider the convection, conduction, and radiation phenomena. The heat transfer by convection is calculated by natural, forced, and mixed convection, with dimensionless coefficients. In the radiative exchanges, the incident solar radiation, the absorbed solar radiation, and the transmitted solar radiation are considered. The mass balance linear integral equations are used to calculate the water mass concentration and the contaminants mass concentration. These equations consider the convection and the diffusion phenomena. In this numerical work seven cases studies and three occupation levels are simulated. In each case the influence of the ventilation airflow and the occupation level is analyzed. The total number of thermal and indoor air quality uncomfortable hours are used to evaluate the DSF performance. In accordance with the obtained results, in general, the indoor air quality is acceptable; however, when the number of occupants in the virtual chamber increases, the Predicted Mean Vote index value increases. When the airflow rate increases the total of Uncomfortable Hours decreases and, after a certain value of the airflow rate, it increases. The airflow rate associated with the minimum value of total Uncomfortable Hours increases when the number of occupants increases. The energy production decreases when the airflow increases and the production of energy is higher in DSF with venetian blinds system than in DSF without venetian blinds system.
A Self-Healing System Based on Ester Crosslinks for Carbon Black-Filled Rubber Compounds
Authors: Algaily Bashir , Kaewsakul Wisut , Sarkawi Siti Salina , Kalkornsurapranee Ekwipoo
Published: March 2021

Carbon black-reinforced rubber compounds based on the blends of natural rubber (NR) and butadiene rubber (BR) for tire sidewall applications were formulated to investigate the self-healing efficacy of a modifier called EMZ. This modifier is based on epoxidized natural rubber (ENR) modified with hydrolyzed maleic anhydride (HMA) as the ester crosslinking agent plus zinc acetate dihydrate (ZAD) as the transesterification catalyst. The influence of EMZ modifier content in sidewall compounds on processing characteristics, reinforcement, mechanical and fatigue properties, as well as property retentions, was investigated. Increasing the content of EMZ, the dump temperatures and Mooney viscosities of the compounds slightly increase, attributed to the presence of extra polymer networks and filler–rubber interactions. The bound rubber content and Payne effect show a good correction that essentially supports that the EMZ modifier gives enhanced filler–rubber interaction and reduced filler–filler interaction, reflecting the improved homogeneity of the composites. This is the key contribution to a better flex cracking resistance and a high fatigue-to-failure resistance when utilizing the EMZ modifier. To validate the property retentions, molecular damages were introduced to vulcanizates using a tensile stress–strain cyclic test following the Mullins effect concept. The property retentions are significantly enhanced with increasing EMZ content because the EMZ self-healing modifier provides reversible or dynamic ester linkages that potentially enable a bond-interchange mechanism of the crosslinks, leading to the intermolecular reparation of the rubber network.
Language, or Dialect, That Is the Question. How Attitudes Affect Language Statistics Using the Example of Low German
Authors: Adler Astrid
Published: March 2021

This paper explores how attitudes affect the seemingly objective process of counting speakers of varieties using the example of Low German, Germany’s sole regional language. The initial focus is on the basic taxonomy of classifying a variety as a language or a dialect. Three representative surveys then provide data for the analysis: the Germany Survey 2008, the Northern Germany Survey 2016, and the Germany Survey 2017. The results of these surveys indicate that there is no consensus concerning the evaluation of Low German’s status and that attitudes towards Low German are related to, for example, proficiency in the language. These attitudes are shown to matter when counting speakers of Low German and investigating the status it has been accorded.
Prediction Models Based on Regression and Artificial Neural Network for Moduli of Layers Constituted by Open-Graded Aggregates
Authors: Lee Yunje , Choi Yongjin , Ahn Donghyun , Ahn Jaehun
Published: March 2021

The impermeable cover in urban area has been growing due to rapid urbanization, which prevents stormwater from being naturally infiltrated into the ground. There is a higher chance of flooding in urban area covered with conventional concretes and asphalts. The permeable pavement is one of Low-Impact Development (LID) technologies that can reduce surface runoff and water pollution by allowing stormwater into pavement systems. Unlike traditional pavements, permeable pavement bases employ open-graded aggregates (OGAs) with highly uniform particle sizes. There is very little information on the engineering properties of compacted OGAs. In this study, the moduli of open-graded aggregates under various compaction energies are investigated based on the Plate Load Test (PLT) and Light-Weight Deflectometer (LWD). Artificial Neural Network (ANN) and Linear Regression (LR) models are employed for estimation of the moduli of the aggregates based on the material type and level of compaction. Overall, the moduli from PLT and LWD steeply increase until the number of roller passes reaches 4, and they gradually increase until the number of roller passes becomes 8. A set of simple linear equations are proposed to evaluate the moduli of open-graded aggregates from PLT and LWD based on the material type and the number of roller passes.
Granite Powder vs. Fly Ash for the Sustainable Production of Air-Cured Cementitious Mortars
Authors: Chajec Adrian
Published: March 2021

The partial replacement of cement in concrete with the addition of granite powder and fly ash can help to reduce the carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions into the atmosphere associated with cement production. The aim of the article is to compare the performance of granite powder and fly ash for the sustainable production of air-cured cementitious mortars. The morphological, chemical, and granulometric properties of these additives were first compared with the properties of cement. Afterward, a series of mortars modified with the addition of granite powder and fly ash was made. The properties of the fresh mixes and the mechanical properties of the hardened composites were then tested. Finally, based on the obtained results, a cost analysis of the profitability of modifying cementitious composites with granite powder or fly ash was investigated. The obtained results allow similarities and differences between granite powder and fly ash in relation to cement to be shown. To conclude, it should be stated that both of these materials can successfully be used for the sustainable production of air-cured cementitious composites. This conclusion has a significant impact on the possibility of improving the natural environment by reducing the amount of cement production. More sustainable production of cement-based materials could enable CO2 emissions to be decreased. The use of granite powder for the production of cementitious mortars can significantly reduce the amount of this material deposited in landfills.
Vibration and Damping Analysis of Pipeline System Based on Partially Piezoelectric Active Constrained Layer Damping Treatment
Authors: Zhang Yuanlin , Liu Xuefeng , Rong Weichong , Gao Peixin , Yu Tao , Han Huawei , Xu Langjun
Published: March 2021

Pipelines work in serious vibration environments caused by mechanical-based excitation, and it is thus challenging to put forward effective methods to reduce the vibration of pipelines. The common vibration control technique mainly uses the installation of dampers, constrained layer damping materials, and an optimized layout to control the vibration of pipelines. However, the passive damping treatment has little influence on the low frequency range of a pipeline system. Active control technology can obtain a remarkable damping effect. An active constrained layer damping (ACLD) system with piezoelectric materials is proposed in this paper. This paper aims to investigate the vibration and damping effect of ACLD pipeline under fixed support. The finite element method is employed to establish the motion equations of the ACLD pipeline. The effect of the thickness and elastic modulus of the viscoelastic layer, the laying position, and the coverage of ACLD patch, and the voltage of the piezoelectric material are all considered. The results show that the best damping performance can be obtained by selecting appropriate control parameters, and it can provide effective design guidance for active vibration control of a pipeline system.
Thermogelling Behaviors of Aqueous Poly(N-Isopropylacrylamide-co-2-Hydroxyethyl Methacrylate) Microgel–Silica Nanoparticle Composite Dispersions
Authors: Hwang Byung Soo , Kim Jong Sik , Kim Ju Min , Shim Tae Soup
Published: March 2021

Gelation behaviors of hydrogels have provided an outlook for the development of stimuli-responsive functional materials. Of these materials, the thermogelling behavior of poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (p(NiPAm))-based microgels exhibits a unique, reverse sol–gel transition by bulk aggregation of microgels at the lower critical solution temperature (LCST). Despite its unique phase transition behaviors, the application of this material has been largely limited to the biomedical field, and the bulk gelation behavior of microgels in the presence of colloidal additives is still open for scrutinization. Here, we provide an in-depth investigation of the unique thermogelling behaviors of p(NiPAm)-based microgels through poly(N-isopropylacrylamide-co-2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) microgel (p(NiPAm-co-HEMA))–silica nanoparticle composite to expand the application possibilities of the microgel system. Thermogelling behaviors of p(NiPAm-co-HEMA) microgel with different molar ratios of N-isopropylacrylamide (NiPAm) and 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA), their colloidal stability under various microgel concentrations, and the ionic strength of these aqueous solutions were investigated. In addition, sol–gel transition behaviors of various p(NiPAm-co-HEMA) microgel systems were compared by analyzing their rheological properties. Finally, we incorporated silica nanoparticles to the microgel system and investigated the thermogelling behaviors of the microgel–nanoparticle composite system. The composite system exhibited consistent thermogelling behaviors in moderate conditions, which was confirmed by an optical microscope. The composite demonstrated enhanced mechanical strength at gel state, which was confirmed by analyzing rheological properties.
Tailorable Zinc-Substituted Mesoporous Bioactive Glass/Alginate-Methylcellulose Composite Bioinks
Authors: Guduric Vera , Belton Niall , Richter Richard Frank , Bernhardt Anne , Spangenberg Janina , Wu Chengtie , Lode Anja , Gelinsky Michael
Published: March 2021

Bioactive glasses have been used for bone regeneration applications thanks to their excellent osteoconductivity, an osteostimulatory effect, and high degradation rate, releasing biologically active ions. Besides these properties, mesoporous bioactive glasses (MBG) are specific for their highly ordered mesoporous channel structure and high specific surface area, making them suitable for drug and growth factor delivery. In the present study, calcium (Ca) (15 mol%) in MBG was partially and fully substituted with zinc (Zn), known for its osteogenic and antimicrobial properties. Different MBG were synthesized, containing 0, 5, 10, or 15 mol% of Zn. Up to 7 wt.% of Zn-containing MBG could be mixed into an alginate-methylcellulose blend (algMC) while maintaining rheological properties suitable for 3D printing of scaffolds with sufficient shape fidelity. The suitability of these composites for bioprinting applications has been demonstrated with immortalized human mesenchymal stem cells. Uptake of Ca and phosphorus (P) (phosphate) ions by composite scaffolds was observed, while the released concentration of Zn2+ corresponded to the initial amount of this ion in prepared glasses, suggesting that it can be controlled at the MBG synthesis step. The study introduces a tailorable bioprintable material system suitable for bone tissue engineering applications.
Lumped Element Model for Thermomagnetic Generators Based on Magnetic SMA Films
Authors: Joseph Joel , Ohtsuka Makoto , Miki Hiroyuki , Kohl Manfred
Published: March 2021

This paper presents a lumped element model (LEM) to describe the coupled dynamic properties of thermomagnetic generators (TMGs) based on magnetic shape memory alloy (MSMA) films. The TMG generators make use of the concept of resonant self-actuation of a freely movable cantilever, caused by a large abrupt temperature-dependent change of magnetization and rapid heat transfer inherent to the MSMA films. The LEM is validated for the case of a Ni-Mn-Ga film with Curie temperature TC of 375 K. For a heat source temperature of 443 K, the maximum power generated is 3.1 µW corresponding to a power density with respect to the active material’s volume of 80 mW/cm3. Corresponding LEM simulations allow for a detailed study of the time-resolved temperature change of the MSMA film, the change of magnetic field at the position of the film and of the corresponding film magnetization. Resonant self-actuation is observed at 114 Hz, while rapid temperature changes of about 10 K occur within 1 ms during mechanical contact between heat source and Ni-Mn-Ga film. The LEM is used to estimate the effect of decreasing TC on the lower limit of heat source temperature in order to predict possible routes towards waste heat recovery near room temperature.
Sustainable Lightweight Insulation Materials from Textile-Based Waste for the Automobile Industry
Authors: Cai Zengxiao , Al Faruque Md Abdullah , Kiziltas Alper , Mielewski Deborah , Naebe Maryam
Published: March 2021

Globally, automotive manufacturers are looking for ways to produce environmentally sustainable and recyclable materials for automobiles to meet new regulations and customer desires. To enable the needs for rapid response, this study investigated the feasibility of using waste and virgin wool fibres as cost-effective and sustainable alternatives for automotive sound and heat insulation using a chemical-free approach. Several properties of the currently available commercial automotive insulators were investigated in order to facilitate the designing of green wool-based needle-punched nonwoven materials. The effect of fibre diameter, nonwoven surface, layer structure, thickness, and area density on sound absorption and thermal resistance was investigated. The results suggested that the wool nonwoven materials, fabricated using waste and virgin wool fibres, possessed extremely efficient acoustic and thermal insulating properties comparable with the currently used commercial synthetic insulating materials. Besides, the wool nonwoven materials showed identical antibacterial and antifungal properties with a greater biodegradation rate (50%) than that of the commercial synthetic insulating materials. Hence, this study showed that natural wool fibres have the potential to be used as green, lightweight, and sustainable materials in the automobiles, while they qualify for Reuse–Recycle and Reuse–Recover purposes at the end-of-life of vehicles.
Inequalities in Life Expectancy by Education and Its Changes in Lithuania during 2001–2014
Authors: Mesceriakova-Veliuliene Olga , Kalediene Ramune , Sauliune Skirmante , Urbonas Gvidas
Published: March 2021

Background and Objectives: Reduction of health inequalities is a highly important task in public health policies worldwide. In Lithuania, inequalities in life expectancy (LE) by education level are among the greatest, compared to other European countries. However, studies on inequalities in LE by level of education over a long-term period are quite scarce in Lithuania. The aim of the study was to analyze inequalities in life expectancy by education and its changes in Lithuania during 2001–2014. Materials and Methods: Information on deaths (in population aged ≥30 years) was obtained from Statistics Lithuania. Life expectancy at age 30 (LE30) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated using life tables. Inequalities in LE30 were assessed using rate differences. Joinpoint regression analysis was used to assess the trends and inequalities of LE30 during 2001–2014. Results: During 2001–2014, LE30 in males and females with post-secondary education was higher than in those with up-to-secondary education (p < 0.05). Among males and females, LE30 increased in both education groups, except for males with up-to-secondary education. Among individuals with post-secondary education, LE30 started increasing earlier and more quickly than in those with up-to-secondary education. Over the analyzed period, greater differences in LE30 between post-secondary and up-to-secondary education groups were found among males. Differences in LE30 due to different educational background were statistically significantly, increasing across the sexes with a more rapid increase for females than for males. During 2001 and 2014, the highest number of years of LE30 lost in both education groups was due to cardiovascular diseases. Conclusions: Throughout the period of 2001–2014, life expectancy in Lithuania in the post-secondary education group was statistically significantly longer and was increasing more rapidly compared to the up-to secondary education group. Inequalities in life expectancy by level of education significantly increased among both males and females.
Synergistic Effect by Polyethylene Glycol as Interfacial Modifier in Silane-Modified Silica-Reinforced Composites
Authors: Xu Minghan , Xue Hao , Tin Wit Yee , Wang He , Yong Zhanfu , Wang Qingfu
Published: March 2021

The viscoelastic behavior and reinforcement mechanism of polyethylene glycol (PEG) as an interfacial modifier in green tire tread composites were investigated in this study. The results show a clear positive effect on overall performance, and it significantly improved all the parameters of the “magic triangle” properties, the abrasion resistance, wet grip and ice traction, as well as the tire rolling resistance, simultaneously. For the preparation of the compounds, two mixing steps were used, as PEG 4000 was added on the second stage in order to avoid the competing reaction between silica/PEG and silanization. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) confirmed that PEG could cover the silanol groups on the silica surface, resulting in the shortening of cure times and facilitating an increase of productivity. At low content of PEG, the strength was enhanced by the improvement of silica dispersion and the slippage of PEG chains, which are chemically and physically adsorbed on silica surface, but the use of excess PEG uncombined with silica in the compound, i.e., 5 phr, increases the possibility to shield the disulfide bonds of bis(3-(triethoxysilyl)-propyl) tetrasulfide (TESPT), and, thus, the properties were deteriorated. A constrained polymer model was proposed to explain the constrained chains of PEG in the silica-loaded composites on the basis of these results. An optimum PEG content is necessary for moderately strong matrix–filler interaction and, hence, for the enhancement in the mechanical properties.
Effects of Fruit Maturity on Physicochemical Properties, Sugar Accumulation and Antioxidant Capacity of Wild Harvested Kakadu Plum (Terminalia ferdinandiana)
Authors: Phan Anh Dao Thi , Damyeh Maral Seidi , Akter Saleha , Chaliha Mridusmita , Netzel Michael E. , Cozzolino Daniel , Sultanbawa Yasmina
Published: March 2021

: Terminalia ferdinandiana (Kakadu plum), belonging to the family Combretaceae, is endemic to Australia and has a long history of traditional medicinal applications and food cuisine by the Australian Indigenous people. This study investigated the effects of maturity stages on the morphology, physicochemical parameters (total soluble solids (TSS), total acid content (TAC), and pH), soluble sugar profile and antioxidant capacity of Kakadu plum (KP) fruits that were wild harvested from different trees and classified into four different maturity stages (immature to mature). TSS and TAC were determined by standard assays/procedures, main sugars by UHPLC–MS/MS and antioxidant capacity (total phenolic content (TPC) and DPPH free radical scavenging capacity) by spectrophotometry. The results showed that soluble sugars (glucose, sucrose and fructose) ranging from 1.3 to 17.7% dry weight (DW), TSS (17.0–52.7% DW) and TAC (1.3–6.7% DW) increased with maturity. However, antioxidant capacity (TPC in the range of 7.4–21.9% DW and DPPH free radical scavenging capacity from 22 to 76% inhibition at the extract concentration of 20 g·L−1) did not follow the same trend as the one observed for soluble sugars, TSS and TAC. These differences were associated with the tree-to-tree variability as a consequence of the wild harvest condition. This study provides important information to both the KP industry and Indigenous enterprises regarding the selection of the appropriate maturity stage to harvest KP fruit to target for different markets (e.g., low-sugar vs. high-sugar fruit).
The Successful Elimination of Sylvatic Rabies Using Oral Vaccination of Foxes in Slovenia
Authors: Černe Danijela , Hostnik Peter , Toplak Ivan
Published: March 2021

Sylvatic rabies was present in Slovenia between 1973 and 2013, with the red fox as the main reservoir of the rabies virus. The first oral rabies vaccination (ORV) control program in foxes started in 1988, using the manual distribution of baits. Significant improvement of fox vaccination was achieved with the aerial distribution of baits, starting in 1995 and successfully finished with the final, fifty-ninth vaccination campaign in 2019. Between 1979 and 2019, a total of 86,471 samples were tested, and 10,975 (12.69%) rabies-positive animals were identified. Within the ORV, two different vaccines were used, containing modified live virus strain Street Alabama Dufferin (SAD) B19 and SAD Bern, while the last ORV campaigns were completed in 2019, with a vaccine containing a genetically modified strain of SPBN GASGAS. Molecular epidemiological studies of 95 rabies-positive samples, originating from red foxes, badgers, cattle, dogs, martens, cats, and horses, revealed a low genetic diversity of circulating strains and high similarity to strains from neighboring countries. During the elimination program, few vaccine-induced rabies cases were detected: three in red foxes and one case in a marten, with no epidemiological relevance. Slovenia has been officially declared a country free of rabies since 2016.
Comparison of Reduction Methods for Finite Element Geometrically Nonlinear Beam Structures
Authors: Shen Yichang , Vizzaccaro Alessandra , Kesmia Nassim , Yu Ting , Salles Loïc , Thomas Olivier , Touzé Cyril
Published: March 2021

The aim of this contribution is to present numerical comparisons of model-order reduction methods for geometrically nonlinear structures in the general framework of finite element (FE) procedures. Three different methods are compared: the implicit condensation and expansion (ICE), the quadratic manifold computed from modal derivatives (MD), and the direct normal form (DNF) procedure, the latter expressing the reduced dynamics in an invariant-based span of the phase space. The methods are first presented in order to underline their common points and differences, highlighting in particular that ICE and MD use reduction subspaces that are not invariant. A simple analytical example is then used in order to analyze how the different treatments of quadratic nonlinearities by the three methods can affect the predictions. Finally, three beam examples are used to emphasize the ability of the methods to handle curvature (on a curved beam), 1:1 internal resonance (on a clamped-clamped beam with two polarizations), and inertia nonlinearity (on a cantilever beam).
Do Grading Gray Stimuli Help to Encode Letter Position?
Authors: Perea Manuel , Baciero Ana , Marcet Ana , Fernández-López María , Gómez Pablo
Published: March 2021

Numerous experiments in the past decades recurrently showed that a transposed-letter pseudoword (e.g., JUGDE) is much more wordlike than a replacement-letter control (e.g., JUPTE). Critically, there is an ongoing debate as to whether this effect arises at a perceptual level (e.g., perceptual uncertainty at assigning letter position of an array of visual objects) or at an abstract language-specific level (e.g., via a level of “open bigrams” between the letter and word levels). Here, we designed an experiment to test the limits of perceptual accounts of letter position coding. The stimuli in a lexical decision task were presented either with a homogeneous letter intensity or with a graded gray intensity, which indicated an unambiguous letter order. The pseudowords were either transposed-letter pseudowords or replaced-letter pseudowords (e.g., jugde vs. jupte). The results showed much longer response times and substantially more errors in the transposed-letter pseudowords than in the replacement-letter pseudowords, regardless of visual format. These findings favor the idea that language-specific orthographic element factors play an essential role when encoding letter position during word recognition.
ВИМОГИ ЩОДО НЕСУМІСНОСТІ ПОСАДИ СУДДІ З ІНШИМИ ВИДАМИ ДІЯЛЬНОСТІ: ТРУДО-ПРАВОВИЙ АСПЕКТ
Authors: Власенко М. В.
Published: March 2021

Мета статті полягає в характеристиці трудо-правового аспекту вимог щодо несумісності посади судді з іншими видами діяльності. Автор зазначає, що суддя є працівником з особливим правовим статусом, специфіка якого визначається саме своєрідною трудовою функцією, пов’язаною зі здійсненням правосуддя, реалізацією судової влади в межах відповідних судових процедур. Ця специфіка визначається через спеціальні юридичні гарантії реалізації права на працю суддею. Автор статті дійшов висновку, що відповідними гарантіями якісного та ефективного здійснення суддею своїх професійних обов’язків, а отже, й здійснення правосуддя в Україні, що функціонує на засадах верховенства права відповідно до європейських стандартів і забезпечує право кожного на справедливий суд, слід вважати встановлення вимог щодо несумісності посади судді із іншими видами діяльності. Адже саме ці вимоги є заходами забезпечення належного виконання правосуддя як специфічної трудової функції судді і, як наслідок, утворюють підґрунтя для гарантування прав фізичних та юридичних осіб. Надаються пропозиції щодо вдосконалення чинного законодавства України.
Rancang Bangun Sistem Klinik Fisioterapi (Studi Kasus: VISIC Surabaya)
Authors: Purwanto Devi Dwi , Tegarianto Jimmy
Published: March 2021

VISIC Surabaya merupakan klinik fisioterapis yang berfokus menangani pasien cedera pasca olahraga. Di era persaingan bisnis yang mengandalkan perkembangan teknologi, saat ini VISIC memiliki kendala dalam menyediakan pelayanan yang cepat dan tepat, dimana pelayanan masih menggunakan sistem manual yakni dengan dicatat dalam buku tulis. Oleh karena itu untuk memberikan pelayanan yang lebih baik maka diperlukan suatu sistem informasi untuk membantu baik pendaftaran, pencatatan hingga pelaporan seluruh transaksi yang ada di VISIC Surabaya. Aplikasi klinik VISIC Surabaya merupakan suatu aplikasi berbasis website menggunakan framework Codeigniter yang ditujukan untuk membantu pasien sehingga dapat melakukan pendaftaran secara online, melihat history pemeriksaan, dan mengubah jadwal kedatangan. Untuk fisioterapis, aplikasi ini bertujuan untuk membantu memberikan kemudahan dalam memberikan jadwal praktek ke pasien, pencatatan rekam medis, dan kemudahan dalam pencatatan pemeriksaan pasien dengan gambar menggunakan HTML 5 Canvas. Sedangkan untuk petugas, aplikasi ini bertujuan untuk memudahkan pencatatan barang, melihat kedatangan pasien, melakukan check in kedatangan, mencetak invoice hingga pelaporan. Hasil pengujian menggunakan metode Blackbox menunjukkan bahwa aplikasi ini dapat berjalan dengan baik pada browser umum seperti Chrome, Mozilla, dan lain lain. Berdasarkan hasil pengujian melalui kuesioner didapatkan hasil 80% aplikasi VISIC mampu menangani masalah dan memberikan pelayanan yang cepat dengan memberikan fitur reservasi online serta 73,3% menghasilkan informasi yang akurat dalam hal titik terapi yang dilakukan oleh fisioterapis.
Effect of Electric Field on ANTA
Authors: Türker Lemi
Published: March 2021

The present study considers an insensitive explosive, ANTA, (5(3)-amino-3(5)-nitro-1H-1,2,4-triazole) which is optimized within the restrictions of DFT (B3LYP/cc-PVTZ and B3LYP/6-311++G(d,p)). The optimized structure is subsequently subjected to single-point semi empirical MNDO and/or PM3 level of calculations to visualize the effect of electric field which has been set to magnitudes of 0.001 and 0.01 au. Perturbations on the energy and dipole moment are investigated. Also, the directional effect of the field along the axes of inertia of the molecule has been investigated. Generally, the effect of the field is more pronounced along the principle axis of ANTA.
Historical references to Marudham
Authors: A Rajalakshmi
Published: March 2021

The main characteristic of The Sangam literature is the five types of lands captive kurinji, mullai, marudham, neithal and palai, and the adjoining people sects, the customs and disciplines shown by the department. There are many reports of the ethics and customs that arose in the prehistory of the state and that the state was not the state. The article deals with the Marudham historical references spoken in the Akananuru.
Detection of human papilloma virus by «Self sampling»: a new model of cervical cancer screening
Authors: Kovalyov O. O. , Voloshina N. N. , Riaboshapka A. M. , Kovalyov K. A.
Published: March 2021

The article presents the advantages of screening cervical cancer based on the detection of oncogenic strains of human papillomavirus compare to traditional cytological screening using the PAP test. Self sampling using Aprovix's Qvintip tool (Sweden) allows to increase the percentage of women participating in national population screening programs, which will lead to an improvement in the incidence and mortality rates of the female population from cervical cancer.