bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Temporal and Geographical Variation of Intestinal Ulcers in Grey Seals (Halichoerus grypus) and Environmental Contaminants in Baltic Biota during Four Decades
Authors: Britt-Marie Bäcklin , Sara Persson , Suzanne Faxneld , Frank Rigét F. , Anna Roos M.
Published: October 2021

The prevalence of intestinal ulcers and parasites was investigated in 2172 grey seals (Halichoerus grypus) collected in the Baltic Sea and 49 grey seals collected outside the Baltic Sea (i.e., the Atlantic). An increase in frequency of ileocaeco-colonic ulcers was observed in the early 1980s, followed by a decrease in the mid-1990s. At the same time, there was an increase followed by a decrease in brominated flame retardants, Perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) and cadmium levels in herring (Clupea harengus), the most common prey item in Baltic grey seal diet, as well as in another top predator in the Baltic, the common guillemot (Uria aalge). The frequency of intestinal ulcers was significantly related to the intensity of acanthocephalan parasites, the age of the seal and the region of the Baltic Sea. Perforation of the intestinal wall was the cause of death in 26 of the investigated Baltic grey seals. In contrast, none of the investigated Atlantic grey seals had intestinal ulcers. They showed a thin colonic wall and very few acanthocephalan parasites. The high prevalence of intestinal ulcers and the high parasite intensity appear to be unique to the Baltic population of grey seals.
Effect of Intrinsic and Extrinsic Factors on the Pharmacokinetics of Antibody–Drug Conjugates (ADCs)
Authors: Mahmood Iftekhar
Published: October 2021

Antibody–drug conjugates (ADCs) are complex molecules wherein a monoclonal antibody is linked to a biologically active drug (a small molecule), forming a conjugate. Initially, most of the ADCs were developed and are being developed for the treatment of cancer; however, with time, it has been realized that ADCs can also be developed to manage or cure other diseases. Pharmacokinetics (PK) plays an important role in modern-day drug development and the knowledge of PK is crucial in designing a safe and efficacious dose to treat a wide variety of diseases. There are several factors that can alter the PK of a drug; as a result, one has to adjust the dose in a patient population. These factors can be termed ‘intrinsic’ or ‘extrinsic’. For small molecules, the impact of both intrinsic and extrinsic factors is well established. The impact of age, gender, disease states such as renal and hepatic impairment, drug–drug interaction, food, and in many cases alcohol on the PK of small molecules are well known. On the other hand, for macromolecules, the impact of these factors is not well established. Since the ADCs are a combination product of a monoclonal antibody linked to a small molecule, both the small molecule and the monoclonal antibody of the ADCs may be subjected to many intrinsic and extrinsic factors. This review summarizes the impact of intrinsic and extrinsic factors on the PK of ADCs and the payloads.
Metabolomic Profiling and Biological Activities of Pleurotus columbinus Quél. Cultivated on Different Agri-Food Byproducts
Authors: Angelini Paola , Pellegrino Roberto Maria , Tirillini Bruno , Flores Giancarlo Angeles , Alabed Husam B. R. , Ianni Federica , Blasi Francesca , Cossignani Lina , Venanzoni Roberto , Orlando Giustino , Menghini Luigi , Ferrante Claudio
Published: October 2021

The genus Pleurotus (Fr.) P. Kumm (Pleurotaceae, Basidiomycota) comprises a cosmopolitan group of mushrooms highly appreciated for their nutritional value and health-promoting benefits. Despite there being many studies about the phytochemical composition of Pleurotus spp., there are very few reports dealing with the phytochemistry, antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of P. columbinus Quél. In this study, a mass spectrometry ultra-performance liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (UHPLC)-QTOF method, coupled with principal component analysis (PCA), was applied to the P. columbinus metabolome in order to investigate the influence of different agri-food residues as growth substrates for P. columbinus cultivation, on the bioactive chemical profile of fruiting bodies and evaluated their potential as antioxidants and antimicrobials. Additionally, a quantitative HPLC-DAD-MS analysis was conducted on phenolic and flavonoid compounds, that could explain, albeit partially, the observed biological effects of P. columbinus extracts. The qualitative metabolic profile identified 97 metabolites, whereas the quantitative HPLC-DAD-MS analysis confirmed the presence of phenolic and flavonoids, in the mushroom extracts, which also showed intrinsic scavenging/reducing and antimicrobial effects. The antibacterial effects were particularly evident against Escherichia coli, whereas Tricophyton and Aspergillus were the dermatophytes more sensitive to the mushroom extracts. The present study supports more in-depth investigations, aimed at evaluating the influence of growth substrate on P. columbinus antimicrobial and antioxidant properties. The extracts from P. columbinus revealed valuable sources of primary and secondary metabolites, thus suggesting potential applications in the formulation of food supplements with biological properties, above all in terms of antioxidant and antimicrobial properties.
Optimal Cruise Characteristic Analysis and Parameter Optimization Method for Air-Breathing Hypersonic Vehicle
Authors: Li Hesong , Zhou Yunfan , Wang Yi , Du Sha , Xu Shangcheng
Published: October 2021

There is an optimal cruise point with the lowest fuel consumption when a hypersonic vehicle performs steady-state cruise. The optimal cruise point is composed of the optimal cruise altitude and the optimal cruise Mach number, and its position is closely related to the aircraft parameters. This article aims to explore the relationship between the optimal cruise point and relevant aircraft parameters and establish a model to describe it, then an aircraft parameter optimization method of adjusting the optimal cruise point to the target position is explored with validation by numerical simulation. Firstly, a parameterized model of a hypersonic vehicle is obtained as a basis, then the optimal cruise point is obtained by the optimization method, and the influence of a single aircraft parameter on the optimal point is investigated. In order to model the relationship between the aircraft parameters and the optimal cruise point, a neural network is employed. Finally, the model is used to optimize the aircraft parameters under multiple constraints. The results show that, after aircraft parameters optimization, the optimal cruise point is located at the predetermined position and the fuel consumption is lower, which provides a new perspective for the design of aircraft.
Feature-Based Multi-Class Classification and Novelty Detection for Fault Diagnosis of Industrial Machinery
Authors: Calabrese Francesca , Regattieri Alberto , Bortolini Marco , Galizia Francesco Gabriele , Visentini Lorenzo
Published: October 2021

Given the strategic role that maintenance assumes in achieving profitability and competitiveness, many industries are dedicating many efforts and resources to improve their maintenance approaches. The concept of the Smart Factory and the possibility of highly connected plants enable the collection of massive data that allow equipment to be monitored continuously and real-time feedback on their health status. The main issue met by industries is the lack of data corresponding to faulty conditions, due to environmental and safety issues that failed machinery might cause, besides the production loss and product quality issues. In this paper, a complete and easy-to-implement procedure for streaming fault diagnosis and novelty detection, using different Machine Learning techniques, is applied to an industrial machinery sub-system. The paper aims to offer useful guidelines to practitioners to choose the best solution for their systems, including a model hyperparameter optimization technique that supports the choice of the best model. Results indicate that the methodology is easy, fast, and accurate. Few training data guarantee a high accuracy and a high generalization ability of the classification models, while the integration of a classifier and an anomaly detector reduces the number of false alarms and the computational time.
Preliminary Design of a Self-Sufficient Electrical Storage System Based on Electrolytic Hydrogen for Power Supply in a Residential Application
Authors: Gómez-Sacedón Celia , López-Fernández Ester , de la Osa-Puebla Ana Raquel , Dorado-Fernández Fernando , Amores-Vera Ernesto , de Lucas-Consuegra Antonio
Published: October 2021

The use of renewable energy and hydrogen technology is a sustainable solution for the intermittent feature of renewable energies. Hence, the aim of the present work is to design a self-sufficient system for a one-family house by coupling a solar photovoltaic array and an anion exchange membrane water electrolyzer (AEMWE). The first step is the selection of the photovoltaic panel by using PV-SYST 7.0 software. Then, the hydrogen production system is calculated by coupling the electrolyzer and photovoltaic panel current–potential curves. A fuel cell is selected to use the hydrogen produced when solar energy is not available. Finally, the hydrogen storage tank is also estimated to store hydrogen for a design basis of four consecutive cloudy days according to the hydrogen consumption of the fuel cell. The whole system is designed by a simple procedure for a specific location in Ciudad Real (Spain) for January, which is known as the coldest month of the year. The simple procedure described in this work could be used elsewhere and demonstrated that the hydrogen production at low scale is a suitable technology to use renewable energy for self-energy supporting in a residential application without any connection to the grid.
Comparing Performances of CNN, BP, and SVM Algorithms for Differentiating Sweet Pepper Parts for Harvest Automation
Authors: Lee Bongki , Kam Donghwan , Cho Yongjin , Kim Dae-Cheol , Lee Dong-Hoon
Published: October 2021

For harvest automation of sweet pepper, image recognition algorithms for differentiating each part of a sweet pepper plant were developed and performances of these algorithms were compared. An imaging system consisting of two cameras and six halogen lamps was built for sweet pepper image acquisition. For image analysis using the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), a band-pass filter in the range of 435 to 950 nm with a broad spectrum from visible light to infrared was used. K-means clustering and morphological skeletonization were used to classify sweet pepper parts to which the NDVI was applied. Scale-invariant feature transform (SIFT) and speeded-up robust features (SURFs) were used to figure out local features. Classification performances of a support vector machine (SVM) using the radial basis function kernel and backpropagation (BP) algorithm were compared to classify local SURFs of fruits, nodes, leaves, and suckers. Accuracies of the BP algorithm and the SVM for classifying local features were 95.96 and 63.75%, respectively. When the BP algorithm was used for classification of plant parts, the recognition success rate was 94.44% for fruits, 84.73% for nodes, 69.97% for leaves, and 84.34% for suckers. When CNN was used for classifying plant parts, the recognition success rate was 99.50% for fruits, 87.75% for nodes, 90.50% for leaves, and 87.25% for suckers.
Optimization Design of Extrusion Roller of RP1814 Roller Press Based on ANSYS Workbench
Authors: Wei Weihua , Peng Fangxu , Li Yingli , Chen Bingrui , Xu Yiqi , Wei Yu
Published: October 2021

Firstly, the force of an extrusion roller under actual working condition was analyzed while the contact stress between the roller shaft and the roller sleeve and the extrusion force between the roller sleeve and the material were calculated. Secondly, static analysis of the extrusion roller was carried out using ANSYS software, and conclusively, the stress concentration appears at the roller sleeve’s inner ring step. Furthermore, an optimization scheme of the setting transition arc at the step of the contact surface between roller shaft and roller sleeve was proposed, and a simulation test was carried out., Finally, the maximum equivalent stress of the extrusion roller was set at the minimum value of the objective function; the extrusion roller was further optimized by using the direct optimization module in ANSYS Workbench. The results from optimization show that the maximum equivalent stress is reduced by 29% and the maximum deformation is decreased by 28%. It can be seen that the optimization scheme meets the strength and deformation requirements of the extrusion roller design. The optimization scheme can effectively improve the bearing capacity of the extrusion roller and reduce its production cost. This can provide a reference for the design of the roller press.
Assessment of the Effect of Phase Change Material (PCM) Glazing on the Energy Consumption and Indoor Comfort of an Office in a Semiarid Climate
Authors: Uribe Daniel , Vera Sergio
Published: October 2021

Office buildings are usually characterized by low thermal inertia, which could cause underperformance in terms of energy consumption. Moreover, the use of large glazed façades in office buildings can cause thermal and visual discomfort due to high solar heat gains and excessive daylight transmitted into the office space. Phase Change Materials (PCMs) integrated into glazing have arisen as an innovative strategy to increase thermal inertia and improve office buildings’ energy performance and indoor comfort at a low cost. This paper aims to analyze the impact of PCM glazing on buildings’ energy performance and occupants’ thermal and visual comfort. The analysis is performed through a one-year real-scale experiment in two offices in Santiago, Chile, with an east-oriented façade and a window-to-wall ratio (WWR) of 56%. The results are analyzed on two timescales: seasonally and daily. Representative days in each season were selected to carry out the analysis. Regarding the energy consumption of the HVAC system, PCM glazing reduces energy consumption during summer and mid-seasons and significantly reduces the peak loads in summer. A meaningful improvement in thermal comfort is achieved due to the control of the mean radiant temperature for the whole year. Considering visual comfort, there is an improvement in the luminance distribution in winter and mid-season cold conditions.
Actuating Performance Analysis of a New Smart Aggregate Using Piezoceramic Stack
Authors: Lu Guangtao , Wang Qi , Song Huijun , Liu Zhe , Wang Tao
Published: October 2021

A new type of smart aggregate using piezoceramic stack (SAPS) was developed for improved output, as compared with a conventional smart aggregate with a single piezoceramic patch. Due to the better output, the proposed smart aggregate is preferred where the attenuating effect is strong. In this research, lead zirconate titanate (PZT) material in the form of discs was used due to its strong piezoelectric performance. For analysis, the proposed SAPS was simplified to a one-dimensional axial model to investigate its electromechanical and displacement output characteristics, and an experimental setup was designed to verify the simplified model. Moreover, the influence of the structural parameters, including the number of the PZT discs, the dimensions of the PZT disc, protective shell, and copper lids, and the elastic modulus of the epoxy on the electromechanical and displacement output performance of SAPSs, were numerically studied by using the one-dimensional axial model. The numerical analysis results indicate that the structural dimension of the PZT discs has a greater effect on the electromechanical performance of SAPSs than that of the protective shell and copper lids. Moreover, the results show that the number of the PZT discs and the outer diameter of the protective shell have a much greater influence on the displacement output of SAPSs than other parameters. The analysis results of SAPSs with different elastic moduli of the epoxy demonstrate that the SAPSs’ first resonance frequency, first electromechanical coupling factor, and displacement output change less than 1.79% when the epoxy’s elastic modulus changes from 1.28 GPa to 5.12 GPa, which indicates that the elastic modulus of the epoxy has a limited influence on the property of SAPSs, and it will be helpful for their fabrication. This study provides an approach to increasing the output of SAPS and also develops a method to design the structure of SAPSs.
Design and Development of Magnesium-Based Suture Anchor for Rotator Cuff Repair Using Finite Element Analysis and In Vitro Testing
Authors: Su Ting-Yu , Tang Hao-Yuan , Jang Jason Shian-Ching , Chen Chih-Hwa , Chen Hsiang-Ho
Published: October 2021

A suture anchor is a medical device commonly used in rotator cuff repair surgery to attach tendons to the greater tuberosity of the humerus. Patient- and device-related factors, such as structural designs and poor bone density, can cause unsatisfactory clinical results. In this study, a new suture anchor design with four distinctive parameters was proposed, and the structural performance was optimized in a full factorial experimental design using finite element analysis. Two types of bone blocks—normal and osteoporotic bone—which received screw implants, were simulated to investigate the parametrical effects on various bone qualities. The prescribed motion at a constant removal velocity was used to evaluate the pullout strength. The von Mises criterion was employed in a force control simulation for topology optimization. Moreover, mechanical tests guided by ASTM-F543-17 were conducted for validation. This paper demonstrates the comprehensive process for developing a suture anchor with sufficient mechanical integrity for clinical use and clarifies the contributions of each distinctive design parameter in this application.
Applications of Plant Polymer-Based Solid Foams: Current Trends in the Food Industry
Authors: Jarpa-Parra Marcela , Chen Lingyun
Published: October 2021

Foams are a type of material of great importance, having an extensive range of applications due to a combination of several characteristics, such as ultra-low density, tunable porous architecture, and outstanding mechanical properties. The production of polymer foams worldwide is dominated by those based on synthetic polymers, which might be biodegradable or non-biodegradable. The latter is a great environmental concern and has become a major waste management problem. Foams derived from renewable resources have aroused the interest of researchers, solid foams made from plant polymers in particular. This review focuses on the development of plant polymer-based solid foams and their applications in the food industry over the last fifteen years, highlighting the relationship between their material and structural properties. The applications of these foams fall mainly into two categories: edible foams and packaging materials. Most plant polymers utilized for edible applications are protein-based, while starch and cellulose are commonly used to produce food packaging materials because of their ready availability and low cost. However, plant polymer-based solid foams exhibit some drawbacks related to their high water absorbency and poor mechanical properties. Most research has concentrated on improving these two physical properties, though few studies give a solid understanding and comprehension of the micro- to macrostructural modifications that would allow for the proper handling and design of foaming processes. There are, therefore, several challenges to be faced, the control of solid foam structural properties being the main one.
Study on the Precise Displacement Controlling Method for a Suspended Deck in the Hanger Replacement Process of an Arch Bridge
Authors: Wang Hua , Wang Longlin , Zhuo Xiaoli , Huang Kainan , Wang Xirui , Wang Wensheng
Published: October 2021

The hanger often needs to be replaced many times during the operation period of hanger arch bridges. To ensure the safety of the hanger replacement in the construction process of pocket hanging, the structural response in the whole construction process needs to be precisely controlled. In this paper, aiming at half-through arches with a suspended deck by cable hangers, the precise displacement controlling method for hanger replacement of an arch bridge based on the pocket hanging method has been proposed. Firstly, the equivalent model of an arch bridge in the hanger replacement process is established, and the boundary conditions of the equivalent model are calculated precisely. Secondly, in the hanger replacement process, including old hanger demolition and new hanger installation, the precise displacement expressions of the suspended deck are derived on the basis of the equivalent model. Finally, the correctness and feasibility of the proposed precise displacement controlling method are verified by the hanger replacement engineering of an arch bridge. Through this research on the hanger replacement of an arch bridge, the equivalent model adopted in this paper has been proven accurate, and only partial boundary conditions need to be considered in practical engineering applications to get accurate results. Meanwhile, the calculation results are accurate enough through the practical engineering verification, and the precise displacement controlling method is feasible in the hanger replacement process of an arch bridge based on the pocket hanging method. It is also found that satisfactory results can be achieved using hanger demolition and installation by equal step length.
Development of a Mouthwash Using Freeze-Drying Technique: An Optimization Study
Authors: Iurian Sonia M. , Adespei Diana-Roxana , Pop Anca , Fizeșan Ionel , Carpa Rahela , Moldovan Mirela L. , Loghin Felicia , Achim Marcela , Bogdan Cătălina
Published: October 2021

In recent years, the development of solid cosmetics, as part of sustainable cosmetics strategy, is generating increasing interest. In addition, novel approaches such as Quality by Design concept allowed the development of high-quality products together with a decrease in waste generation. The present study aimed the development of freeze-dried mouthwashes containing Cetraria islandica extract using the Quality by Design approach. Based on the results of preliminary experiments, a factorial design with three factors that varied on two levels was developed. As factors, the filler type (sorbitol or mannitol) was chosen as the qualitative factor and the two quantitative factors were: the filler ratio set from 3 to 5% and polymer (methylcellulose) ratio from 0 to 0.5%. After the preparation and the complete characterization of the formulations generated through the experimental design, the effect of the formulation variables on the lyophilized mouthwashes and the interactions between formulation factors were investigated. Finally, an optimal formulation with appropriate mechanical properties that ensure easy manipulation and no material loss when extracted from the package and fast reconstitution was generated.
A Scalable Moving Boundary Treatment in the Lattice Boltzmann Method
Authors: He Peng , Xie Jiang , Wang Liangjun , Zhang Wu
Published: October 2021

Based on the lattice Boltzmann Method (LBM), a new moving boundary treatment is proposed by studying the influence of the moving boundary in a low-speed incompressible fluid. Simulating flow past a static cylinder, flow past a moving cylinder, and flow in a curved moving pipe shows that the LBM has high reliability and stability with moving boundary conditions. In order to reduce parallel computing time and take full advantage of the characteristics of the model, the solid grids are allocated according to the number of computing cores. Two parallel speedup ratios were tested, keeping the overall task volume unchanged to increase the number of cores and keeping the single-core task volume unchanged. In the first speedup ratio, the efficiency of the flow field calculation at 112 cores reached more than 80%. The second speedup ratio indicated that the proportion of communication in the program was tiny and suitable for large-scale parallel computing. The study of the moving boundary problem can effectively help solve the fluid-structure coupling problem. Due to the particularity of the model, it can be used to simulate the fluid-structure coupling problem of blood vessel flow effectively.
Risk Assessment and Source Apportionment of Heavy Metals in Soils from Handan City
Authors: Zhang Haixia , Cai Angzu , Wang Xiaojian , Wang Litao , Wang Qing , Wu Xiaoqi , Ma Yingqun
Published: October 2021

Soil-heavy metals are potentially harmful to the ecosystem and human health. Quantifying heavy metals sources is conducive to pollution control. In this study, 64 surface-soil samples were collected in Handan city. Cr, Mn, Ni, Cu, Zn, Cd and Pb were determined; then, their spatial distribution in the sampling area was drawn by ArcGIS. The pollution index (PI) method, geo-accumulation index (Igeo) method, Nemerow integrated pollution index (NIPI) and pollution load index (PLI) were used to evaluate the pollution level of heavy metals in surface soil; then, an ecological and health risk assessment of soil-heavy metals was carried out. Combined with the spatial distribution, correlation analysis, cluster analysis, PCA and PMF model, the pollution sources of heavy metals in soil were identified and apportioned. The results showed that the average content of Cd was nearly ten times that of the background limit, which was the most serious among the studied metals. In terms of non-carcinogenic risk, Cr had the highest value, followed by Pb. In terms of carcinogenic risk, Cd, Cr, and Ni had an acceptable or tolerable risk. Three pollution sources were identified by cluster analysis and PCA, including traffic sources with Cu, Pb and Cd as main loads, industrial sources with Mn, Cd and Zn as main loads, and natural sources with Cr and Ni as main loads. The PMF model analyzed three main factors: traffic source (17.61%), natural source (28.62%) and industrial source (53.77%). The source categories and the main load elements obtained from the source apportionment results were consistent with the source identification results.
Experiments on Material Proportions for Similar Materials with High Similarity Ratio and Low Strength in Multilayer Shale Deposits
Authors: Shi Yaobin , Ye Yicheng , Hu Nanyan , Huang Xu , Wang Xianhua
Published: October 2021

It is important to systematically investigate the similar materials with high similarity ratio and low strength in multilayer shale deposits, to provide a scientific basis and experimental basis for the research of underground mining of multilayer shale deposits. In this paper, using an orthogonal experimental method, the physical and mechanical parameters of different material proportions were analyzed with four control factors of mica powder/standard sand, filling material/bonding material, Portland cement/gypsum, silicone oil ratio. Twenty-five groups of material proportioning schemes were designed, and the density, porosity, compressive strength, and elastic modulus of each group of materials were measured. Through the range analysis and significance analysis, the influence of control factors on the material parameters was explored, and multivariate linear regression analysis of test results was carried to eliminate outliers. The result showed that the physical and mechanical parameters of similar materials prepared according to the proportioning scheme were widely distributed, which can meet the preparation requirements of similar materials with different lithologies. The density and compressive strength were most affected by the ratio of Portland cement/gypsum, the porosity was most affected by the ratio of filling material/bonding material, and the elastic modulus was mainly controlled by the silicone oil ratio. The proportioning scheme was applied to three similar prepared shale materials with large lithology differences. The error between actual similar constant and design similar constant of low strength similar material was less than 1.62%. The physical and mechanical parameters of similar materials were in good agreement with the original rock.
Sharp and Rounded Cutouts in a Chevron Orifice and Them Impact on the Acoustic and Flow Parameters of Synthetic Jet
Authors: Smyk Emil
Published: October 2021

The application of a synthetic jet actuator in workplaces entails the necessity of noise reduction, which they generate. One of the methods to achieve this is the use of the chevron orifice or nozzle. Therefore, the impact of different numbers of chevrons and rounding of cutouts in the orifice on the actuator efficiency and the sound pressure level was tested. The chevron orifices were compared to the circular orifice. The time-mean reaction force method was used to measured efficiency and flow parameters, and the noise was measured according to the ISO 3746:2010. The rounded cutouts had an advantageous impact on the actuator efficiency at the power P>1 W, while the efficiency of the actuator with classic chevron orifice was smaller than with circular orifice. The noise generated by the actuator with the chevron orifice was smaller from 0.6 to 1.6 dB than by the actuator with the circular orifice, at the number of chevrons equal to 7 or more. The rounding of cutouts in the chevron orifice can advantageously impact the parameters of synthetic jet actuators.
Fluidization Behavior of Soft Soil Induced by Shield Construction
Authors: Jin Hui , Yuan Dajun , Jin Dalong , Zhou Shunxin , Wang Xiaoyu
Published: October 2021

Shield construction will cause the fluidization of soft soil which is characterized by flow plasticity. This paper presents two theoretical models of soil flow behavior based on a fluid mechanics framework to understand the behavior of soft soil during shield tunneling, especially under the shearing action of the shield skin and the cutting wheel. The characteristics of the flow field are discussed, and their relationships with shield construction parameters such as advancing speed, cutting wheel rotation, applied thrust and torque, and water content are analyzed, while the proposed theory is verified by the results of a numerical simulation. Considering the shear-thinning effect of the soil, a closed four-stage shear path to describe the complete process of the soil behavior during shield tunneling is further interpreted. The results indicate that the sheared region produced by the rotating cutting wheel was larger than that produced by the shield shell shearing and that it was significantly affected by soil properties and tunneling parameters. In addition, it is concluded that the sheared region was significantly expanded due to the shear-thinning effect.
Use of Covariance Analysis in Electroencephalogram Reveals Abnormalities in Parkinson’s Disease
Authors: González-González Gabriela , Velasco-Herrera Víctor M. , Ortega-Aguilar Alicia
Published: October 2021

Covariance analysis from wavelet data in electroencephalographic records (EEG) was, for the first time, applied in this study to unravel information contained in the standard EEG, which was previously not taken into consideration due to the mathematical models used. The methodology discussed here could be applied to any neurological condition, including the important early stages of neurodegenerative diseases. In this study, we analyzed EEG from control (CL) participants and participants with diagnosed Parkinson’s disease (PD), who were age-matched women in an eyes-closed resting state, to test the model. PD is predicted to rise over the next decades as the population ages. Furthermore, women are more likely to undergo PD-related complications and worse disability than men. Two groups based on age were considered: under and over 60 years (PD patients <60 and >60; CL <60 and >60). Continuous Wavelet Transform and Cross Wavelet Transform were applied to determine patterns of global wavelet curves, main frequencies, and power analyses. Our results indicate that both CL age groups and PD patients <60 share a main α brainwave and PD patients >60 showed a main δ brainwave. Interestingly, power anomalies analyses show a decreasing anteroposterior gradient in CL, whereas it is increasing in PD patients, which was not previously observed. The brainwave power in PD patients <60 was higher in θ, α and β waves and in >60 group, the δ, θ and β brainwaves were predominant. This methodology offers a tool to reveal abnormal electrical brain activity unseen by a regular EEG analysis. The advent of new models that process EEG, such as the model proposed in this study, promotes renewed interest in electrophysiology of the brain to study the early stages of PD and improve understanding of the origin and progress of the disease.
A Study on a New Method for Flexoelectric Coefficient Estimation of the Flexoelectric Unimorph Sensing Element
Authors: Kwon Seol Ryung , Roh Yongrae
Published: October 2021

In a flexoelectric sensing element using bending mode, estimation of the flexoelectric coefficient was investigated using 3-D stress/strain analysis and experiments. The proposed method uses the results (deformation and strain) from the finite element analysis (FEA). The estimated flexoelectric coefficients were compared with those obtained via the conventional method (Euler’s beam theory) under the assumption of the quasi 1-D stress field. The results show that the RMS value and standard deviation of the estimated flexoelectric coefficient for the 3-D stress field case of the sensing element are 31.51 µC/m and 0.24%, respectively. In addition, we found that the flexoelectric coefficient obtained from the results of the 3-D stress analysis is 1.8% smaller than that of the quasi-1-D stress analysis. Therefore, in order to obtain a more reliable flexoelectric coefficient in the sensing element, the results of the 3-D numerical stress analysis should be used for accurate estimation of the flexoelectric coefficient.
Decision Support System in Dynamic Pricing of Horticultural Products Based on the Quality Decline Due to Bacterial Growth
Authors: Pina Miguel , Gaspar Pedro , Lima Tânia
Published: October 2021

A decision support system (DSS) was developed to help reduce food waste at traditional food retailers while selling fresh horticultural products, but also to promote food safety and quality. This computational tool includes two major functions: (1) the prediction of the remaining shelf life of fresh horticultural product, namely lettuce, onion, carrot, and cabbage based on its microbial growth status, governed by extrinsic and intrinsic parameters (temperature, water activity and pH, respectively). The remaining shelf life of the studied horticultural products is determined by using the online predictive food microbiology tool— the Combined Database for Predictive Microbiology (Combase). The time to reach the infectious doses of bacteria considered in the study for each of the four horticultural products are predicted; (2) the calculation of the dynamic price of the produce that should be set each day, depending on the predicted end of the marketing period to increase the demand and potential for sale to the final consumer. The proposed dynamic pricing model assumes a linear relation with the remaining shelf life of the analyzed vegetable to set the selling price. The shelf life determined by the DSS for optimal storage conditions is, in general, conservative, ensuring food safety. The automatic dynamic pricing gives new opportunities to small retailers to manage their business, fostering profit and simultaneously contributing to reduce food waste. Thus, this decision support system can contribute to the sustainable value of reducing food waste by providing information to small grocers and retailers on the safety of their perishable status depending on storage conditions and allowing them to suggest a fair price depending on that quality.
A Theoretical Study of the N2 + H2 Reactive Collisions for High Vibrational and Translational Energies
Authors: Garrido Juan de Dios , Ballester Maikel Yusat
Published: October 2021

High translational temperatures appear in the air inside the shock waves layers created by relatively large meteorites, reentry space vehicles, and hypersonic missiles. Under these conditions, reactions between molecular nitrogen and hydrogen are energetically permitted. In the present work, a quasiclassical trajectories study of the N2(v′)+H2(v″) reaction for relative translational energies covering the range of translational energy 20.0≤Etr/kcalmol−1≤120.0 is presented. In the calculations, several values of vibrational quantum numbers v′=0,4,6,8,10,12 and v″=4,6,8,10,12 have been considered. To model the interatomic interactions, a six-dimension global potential energy surface for the ground electronic state of N2H2 was used. The specific initial state reaction cross-sections and rate coefficients are reported. The energy effects produced by the reaction that could influence the shock wave modeling are here considered. An analysis of the possible impact of these processes under the atmospheric composition is also presented.
Peptides in COVID-19 Clinical Trials—A Snapshot
Authors: Hilpert Kai
Published: October 2021

Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been a strong drive and desire to find effective treatments for and protection against the disease. On the webpage ClinicalTrials.gov, a total of 6505 clinical trials currently (September 2021) investigating various aspects of COVID-19 are registered. Of these, 124 studies involving peptides were identified. These 124 were further evaluated, and 88 trials that used peptides only for routine diagnostics were excluded. The remaining 36 trials were classified into 5 different classes according to their function: immunomodulatory (5 trials), regain homeostasis (10 trials), diagnostics/biomarkers (8 trials), vaccination (9 trials), and antiviral activity (4 trials, all overlap with immunomodulatory activities). In the current review, these 36 trials are briefly described and tabularly summarised. According to the estimated finish date, 14 trials have not yet finished. All of the finished trials are yet to report their results. Seven trials were based in the USA, and Egypt, France, the UK, Turkey, and the Russian Federation conducted three trials each. This review aims to present a snapshot of the current situation of peptides in COVID-19 clinical trials and provides a template to follow up on trials of interest; it does not claim to be a complete overview.
Elevated Levels of Renalase, the β-NAD(P)H Isomerase, Can Be Used as Risk Factors of Major Adverse Cardiovascular Events and All-Cause Death in Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease
Authors: Knop Wojciech , Serwin Natalia Maria , Cecerska-Heryć Elżbieta , Grygorcewicz Bartłomiej , Dołęgowska Barbara , Gomółka Aleksandra , Wiśniewska Magda , Ciechanowski Kazimierz
Published: October 2021

Background: Renalase is an enzyme and a cytokine involved in cell survival. Since its discovery, associations between it and both cardiovascular and kidney disease have been noted. Recognizing this, we conducted a study in which we followed patients with chronic kidney disease. Material and methods: The study involved 90 CKD patients with varying stages of the disease and 30 healthy controls. Renalase was measured with an ELISA kit, and patients were followed-up after a median of 18 months. During the follow-up, we asked about the occurrence of MACE, all-cause mortality and the need for dialysis initiation. Results: In CKD subgroups, RNSL correlated with all-cause death only in the HD group (Rs = 0.49, p < 0.01). In the whole CKD population, we found a positive correlation of RNSL concentration and both MACE occurrence (Rs = 0.38, p < 0.001) and all-cause death (Rs = 0.34, p < 0.005). There was a significant increase in MACE occurrence probability in patients with elevated renalase levels (>25 μg/mL). Conclusions: Elevated renalase levels can be used as a risk factor of MACE in patients with CKD, but its long-term utility needs further research. High renalase levels are a risk factor of death among CKD patients. In HD patients, all deaths were observed among patients with >30 μg/mL; this level could be used as a “red flag” marker in future studies.
Partial Ablation of Non-Myogenic Progenitor Cells as a Therapeutic Approach to Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy
Authors: Gao Zhanguo , Lu Aiping , Daquinag Alexes C. , Yu Yongmei , Huard Matthieu , Tseng Chieh , Gao Xueqin , Huard Johnny , Kolonin Mikhail G.
Published: October 2021

Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), caused by the loss of dystrophin, remains incurable. Reduction in muscle regeneration with DMD is associated with the accumulation of fibroadipogenic progenitors (FAPs) differentiating into myofibroblasts and leading to a buildup of the collagenous tissue aggravating DMD pathogenesis. Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) expressing platelet-derived growth factor receptors (PDGFRs) are activated in muscle during DMD progression and give rise to FAPs promoting DMD progression. Here, we hypothesized that muscle dysfunction in DMD could be delayed via genetic or pharmacologic depletion of MSC-derived FAPs. In this paper, we test this hypothesis in dystrophin-deficient mdx mice. To reduce fibro/adipose infiltration and potentiate muscle progenitor cells (MPCs), we used a model for inducible genetic ablation of proliferating MSCs via a suicide transgene, viral thymidine kinase (TK), expressed under the Pdgfrb promoter. We also tested if MSCs from fat tissue, the adipose stromal cells (ASCs), contribute to FAPs and could be targeted in DMD. Pharmacological ablation was performed with a hunter-killer peptide D-CAN targeting ASCs. MSC depletion with these approaches resulted in increased endurance, measured based on treadmill running, as well as grip strength, without significantly affecting fibrosis. Although more research is needed, our results suggest that depletion of pathogenic MSCs mitigates muscle damage and delays the loss of muscle function in mouse models of DMD.
Associations between SNPs in Intestinal Cholesterol Absorption and Endogenous Cholesterol Synthesis Genes with Cholesterol Metabolism
Authors: Schroor Maite M. , Mokhtar Fatma B. A. , Plat Jogchum , Mensink Ronald P.
Published: October 2021

Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) have been associated with cholesterol metabolism and may partly explain large inter-individual variability in intestinal cholesterol absorption and endogenous cholesterol synthesis rates. This cross-sectional study therefore examined whether SNPs in genes encoding for proteins involved in intestinal cholesterol absorption (ABCG5, ABCG8, and NPC1L1) and endogenous cholesterol synthesis (CYP51A1, DHCR7, DHCR24, HMGCR, HSD17B7, LBR, and MSMO1) were associated with intestinal cholesterol absorption markers (total cholesterol (TC) standardized campesterol and sitosterol levels), an endogenous cholesterol synthesis marker (TC-standardized lathosterol levels), and serum low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) concentrations in a European cohort. ABCG5 (rs4245786) and the tag SNP ABCG8 (rs4245791) were significantly associated with serum campesterol and/or sitosterol levels. In contrast, NPC1L1 (rs217429 and rs217416) were significantly associated with serum lathosterol levels. The tag SNP in HMGCR (rs12916) and a SNP in LBR (rs12141732) were significantly associated with serum LDL-C concentrations. SNPs in the cholesterol absorption genes were not associated with serum LDL-C concentrations. SNPs in CYP51A1, DHCR24, HSD17B7, and MSMO1 were not associated with the serum non-cholesterol sterols and LDL-C concentrations. Given the variable efficiency of cholesterol-lowering interventions, the identification of SNPs associated with cholesterol metabolism could be a step forward towards personalized approaches.
On-Site Detection of Carcinoembryonic Antigen in Human Serum
Authors: Mahmoudi Tohid , Pourhassan-Moghaddam Mohammad , Shirdel Behnaz , Baradaran Behzad , Morales-Narváez Eden , Golmohammadi Hamed
Published: October 2021

Real-time connectivity and employment of sustainable materials empowers point-of-care diagnostics with the capability to send clinically relevant data to health care providers even in low-resource settings. In this study, we developed an advantageous kit for the on-site detection of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) in human serum. CEA sensing was performed using cellulose-based lateral flow strips, and colorimetric signals were read, processed, and measured using a smartphone-based system. The corresponding immunoreaction was reported by polydopamine-modified gold nanoparticles in order to boost the signal intensity and improve the surface blocking and signal-to-noise relationship, thereby enhancing detection sensitivity when compared with bare gold nanoparticles (up to 20-fold in terms of visual limit of detection). Such lateral flow strips showed a linear range from 0.05 to 50 ng/mL, with a visual limit of detection of 0.05 ng/mL and an assay time of 15 min. Twenty-six clinical samples were also tested using the proposed kit and compared with the gold standard of immunoassays (enzyme linked immunosorbent assay), demonstrating an excellent correlation (R = 0.99). This approach can potentially be utilized for the monitoring of cancer treatment, particularly at locations far from centralized laboratory facilities.
Relevance of CSF, Serum and Neuroimaging Markers in CNS and PNS Manifestation in COVID-19: A Systematic Review of Case Report and Case Series
Authors: Podury Sanjiti , Srivastava Samiksha , Khan Erum , Kakara Mihir , Tandon Medha , Shrestha Ashish K. , Freeland Kerri , Wen Sijin , Sriwastava Shitiz
Published: October 2021

Background: The data on neurological manifestations in COVID-19 patients has been rapidly increasing throughout the pandemic. However, data on CNS and PNS inflammatory disorders in COVID-19 with respect to CSF, serum and neuroimaging markers is still lacking. Methods: We screened all articles resulting from a search of PubMed, Google Scholar and Scopus, using the keywords “SARS-CoV-2 and neurological complication”, “SARS-CoV-2 and CNS Complication” and “SARS-CoV-2 and PNS Complication” looking for transverse myelitis, vasculitis, acute disseminated encephalomyelitis, acute hemorrhagic necrotizing encephalitis (AHNE), cytotoxic lesion of the corpus callosum (CLOCC) and Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS), published between 1 December 2019 to 15 July 2021. Results: Of the included 106 CNS manifestations in our study, CNS inflammatory disorders included transverse myelitis (17, 14.7%), AHNE (12, 10.4%), ADEM (11, 9.5%), CLOCC/MERS (10, 8.6%) and vasculitis (4, 3.4%). Others were nonspecific encephalopathy, encephalitis, seizures and stroke. Most patients were >50 years old (75, 70.8%) and male (64, 65.3%). Most (59, 63.4%) were severe cases of COVID-19 and 18 (18%) patients died. Of the included 94 PNS manifestations in our study, GBS (89, 92.7%) was the most common. Most of these patients were >50 years old (73, 77.7%) and male (59, 64.1%). Most (62, 67.4%) were non-severe cases of COVID-19, and ten patients died. Conclusion: Our comprehensive review of the clinical and paraclinical findings in CNS and PNS manifestations of COVID-19 provide insights on the pathophysiology of SARS-CoV-2 and its neurotropism. The higher frequency and severity of CNS manifestations should be noted by physicians for increased vigilance in particular COVID-19 cases.