bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Relatos de SERUMS: El médico peruano entre dos mundos
Authors: Guitiérrez Torres Andrés Martín
Published: May 2024

El presente libro tiene veintitrés relatos, que sin jerarquías cada lector le brindará atención o importancia. En estos relatos no hay ficción pero sí recuerdos, logros de sueños, reflexiones, emociones hasta hoy palpitantes, silencios por decir intensos y momentos llenos de aprendizaje social cultural. Relatos de SERUMS: el médico entre dos mundos tiene fuerza, coraje, sentimiento. Es la descripción sincera por parte de un médico que al igual que varios en estos momentos, enfrentan mil y una experiencias, sea bajo el sol que hace sucumbir, sea bajo la lluvia que limpia almas o enloda a muchos.
Introducción y Generalidades
Authors: Duran-Padrós Alfredo Alfonso
Published: May 2024

Cuando llega una interconsulta al Neurólogo sobre un paciente con diagnóstico preliminar de “Parálisis Aguda” casi nos lleva a pensar en el síndrome de Guillain-Barré. Más de una vez hemos tenido la experiencia del paciente preguntando “¿No tendré Guillain-Barré?”.
Síndrome de Guillain-Barré (SGC): Tratamiento
Authors: Alfaro-Oliden Maritza
Published: May 2024

El manejo del SGB depende del estadio y de la gravedad de la enfermedad (Figura 1). En la fase aguda, dentro de las dos primeras semanas de iniciado, hay mayor riesgo de desarrollar complicaciones y de empeoramiento de la enfermedad(1).
Presentación atípica del síndrome de Guillain-Barré
Authors: Martínez-Esteban Peggy
Published: May 2024

Varón de 64 años, contador de profesión, previamente sin problemas de salud crónicos, ni COVID u otra infección respiratoria o gastrointestinal reciente. Amaneció con debilidad leve en miembros superiores, 6 horas después notó dificultad para pasar los alimentos y cambios en la voz, así como mayor acentuación de la debilidad en los brazos. Hacia la noche, se acentuó la disfagia y disartria, por dicho motivo, acudió a emergencia, caminando aun por sus propios medios, se quedó en observación, el déficit motor evolucionó a una cuadriparesia a predominio de miembros superiores, postración y en la madrugada del día siguiente presentó dificultad respiratoria, requiriendo ingreso a UCI para ventilación mecánica.
Síndrome de Guillain-Barré en edad pediátrica: caso clínico
Authors: Martínez-Esteban Peggy
Published: May 2024

Paciente mujer, 8 años de edad, sin antecedentes de importancia, procedente de Piura. 8 días antes de su ingreso presentó síntomas respiratorios altos (estornudos y rinorrea), sin fiebre; 6 días antes de su ingreso inició debilidad en miembros inferiores, el déficit motor progresó y comprometió también a miembros superiores, 3 días antes de hospitalizarse la paciente ya no podía caminar ni sostener objetos como los utensilios o un lápiz, presentaba además, dolor intenso en miembros inferiores.
Suppressor tRNAs at the interface of genetic code expansion and medicine
Authors: Awawdeh Aya , Radecki Alexander A. , Vargas-Rodriguez Oscar
Published: May 2024

Suppressor transfer RNAs (sup-tRNAs) are receiving renewed attention for their promising therapeutic properties in treating genetic diseases caused by nonsense mutations. Traditionally, sup-tRNAs have been created by replacing the anticodon sequence of native tRNAs with a suppressor sequence. However, due to their complex interactome, considering other structural and functional tRNA features for design and engineering can yield more effective sup-tRNA therapies. For over 2 decades, the field of genetic code expansion (GCE) has created a wealth of knowledge, resources, and tools to engineer sup-tRNAs. In this Mini Review, we aim to shed light on how existing knowledge and strategies to develop sup-tRNAs for GCE can be adopted to accelerate the discovery of efficient and specific sup-tRNAs for medical treatment options. We highlight methods and milestones and discuss how these approaches may enlighten the research and development of tRNA medicines.
Natural biomimetic nano-system for drug delivery in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis: a literature review of the last 5 years
Authors: Li Jingyuan , Li Wei , Zhuang Liping
Published: May 2024

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic systemic autoimmune disease characterized primarily by synovitis, leading to the destruction of articular cartilage and bone and ultimately resulting in joint deformity, loss of function, and a significant impact on patients’ quality of life. Currently, a combination of anti-rheumatic drugs, hormonal drugs, and biologics is used to mitigate disease progression. However, conventional drug therapy has limited bioavailability, and long-term use often leads to drug resistance and toxic side effects. Therefore, exploring new therapeutic approaches for RA is of great clinical importance. Nanodrug delivery systems offer promising solutions to overcome the limitations of conventional drugs. Among them, liposomes, the first nanodrug delivery system to be approved for clinical application and still widely studied, demonstrate the ability to enhance therapeutic efficacy with fewer adverse effects through passive or active targeting mechanisms. In this review, we provide a review of the research progress on the targeting mechanisms of various natural biomimetic nano-delivery systems in RA therapy. Additionally, we predict the development trends and application prospects of these systems, offering new directions for precision treatment of RA.
Automated sleep staging on reduced channels in children with epilepsy
Authors: Proost Renee , Heremans Elisabeth , Lagae Lieven , Van Paesschen Wim , De Vos Maarten , Jansen Katrien
Published: May 2024

Objectives

This study aimed to validate a sleep staging algorithm using in-hospital video-electroencephalogram (EEG) in children without epilepsy, with well-controlled epilepsy (WCE), and with drug-resistant epilepsy (DRE).

Methods

Overnight video-EEG, along with electrooculogram (EOG) and chin electromyogram (EMG), was recorded in children between 4 and 18 years of age. Classical sleep staging was performed manually as a ground truth. An end-to-end hierarchical recurrent neural network for sequence-to-sequence automatic sleep staging (SeqSleepNet) was used to perform automated sleep staging using three channels: C4-A1, EOG, and chin EMG.

Results

In 176 children sleep stages were manually scored: 47 children without epilepsy, 74 with WCE, and 55 with DRE. The 5-class sleep staging accuracy of the automatic sleep staging algorithm was 84.7% for the children without epilepsy, 83.5% for those with WCE, and 80.8% for those with DRE (Kappa of 0.79, 0.77, and 0.73 respectively). Performance per sleep stage was assessed with an F1 score of 0.91 for wake, 0.50 for N1, 0.83 for N2, 0.84 for N3, and 0.86 for rapid eye movement (REM) sleep.

Conclusion

We concluded that the tested algorithm has a high accuracy in children without epilepsy and with WCE. Performance in children with DRE was acceptable, but significantly lower, which could be explained by a tendency of more time spent in N1, and by abundant interictal epileptiform discharges and intellectual disability leading to less recognizable sleep stages. REM sleep time, however, significantly affected in children with DRE, can be detected reliably by the algorithm.

Clinical trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov, identifier NCT04584385.
The key role of muscle spindles in the pathogenesis of myofascial trigger points according to ramp-and-hold stretch and drug intervention in a rat model
Authors: Liu Lin , Liu Shi-Xuan , Huang Qiangmin , Liu Qing-Guang
Published: May 2024

This study investigated whether abnormal peak inversion spontaneous potentials (PISPs) recorded at resting myofascial trigger points (MTrPs) stem from the discharge of muscle spindles. Forty-eight male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into six groups. Five groups underwent MTrP modeling intervention, whereas one group did not receive intervention and was duly designated as the blank control. After model construction, five rat models were randomly subjected to ramp-and-hold stretch tests, succinylcholine injection, eperisone hydrochloride injection, saline injection, and blank drug intervention. By contrast, the rats in the blank control group were subjected to ramp-and-hold stretch tests as a control. Frequencies and amplitudes of PISPs were recorded pre- and post-interventions and compared with those of the blank group. Stretch tests showed that the depolarization time and amplitude of PISPs ranged from 0.4 ms to 0.9 ms and from 80 uV to 140 μV, respectively. However, no PISPs were observed in the control rats. The frequency of PISPs in the ramp and hold phases and the first second after the hold phase was higher than that before stretching (p < 0.01). Succinylcholine and eperisone exerted excitatory and inhibitory effects on PISPs, respectively. In the group injected with 0.9% saline, no considerable differences of the PISPs were observed during the entire observation period. In conclusion, PISPs recorded at resting MTrPs are closely related to muscle spindles. The formation of MTrPs may be an important factor that regulate dysfunctional muscle spindles.
ISSR-Assisted Breeding of Excellent New Strains of Ganoderma lingzhi through Single-Spore Selfing
Authors: Li Jintao , Wang Sheng , Fan Qi , Liu Linling , Gao Yanliang , Sun Changwei , Yan Meixia
Published: May 2024

To improve our understanding of the selfing of G. lingzhi basidiospore monokaryons and increase the efficiency of breeding excellent strains, 52 basidiospore monokaryons were isolated from a commercial G. lingzhi strain (laboratory number P). A severe partial segregation was observed using the chi-square test, the growth rate of the monokaryotic strains was normally distributed, and colonies exhibited 5 forms. The genetic diversity of the monokaryotic strains was further demonstrated by intersimple sequence repeat (ISSR) analysis, and the similarity coefficient was in the range of 0.49–1, which was consistent with the genotype classification results. In total, 14 AxBx monokaryotic strains were randomly selected for selfing with the 1 AyBy strain when the similarity coefficient was 0.76, and a total of 14 offspring were obtained via selfing, all of which were incompatible with their parents. The traits of the selfing progenies were diverse. The mycelial growth rate, fruiting body yield, and polysaccharide, triterpene, and sterol contents were the main indices. According to the membership function value, 71.43% of the selfing progeny were super parent, and the A88 strain with the best comprehensive traits was selected. These findings prove that ISSR molecular marker-assisted breeding reduces blindness, greatly reduces workload, and improves work efficiency.
1H-NMR Spectroscopy Coupled with Chemometrics to Classify Wines According to Different Grape Varieties and Different Terroirs
Authors: Bambina Paola , Spinella Alberto , Lo Papa Giuseppe , Chillura Martino Delia Francesca , Lo Meo Paolo , Cinquanta Luciano , Conte Pellegrino
Published: May 2024

In this study, 1H-NMR spectroscopy coupled with chemometrics was applied to study the wine metabolome and to classify wines according to different grape varieties and different terroirs. By obtaining the metabolomic fingerprinting and profiling of the wines, it was possible to assess the metabolic biomarkers leading the classification (i.e., phenolic compounds, aroma compounds, amino acids, and organic acids). Moreover, information about the influence of the soil in shaping wine metabolome was obtained. For instance, the relationship between the soil texture and the content of amino acids and organic acids in wines was highlighted. The analysis conducted in this study allowed extraction of relevant spectral information not only from the most populated and concentrated spectral areas (e.g., aliphatic and carbinolic areas), but also from crowded spectral areas held by lowly concentrated compounds (i.e., polyphenols). This may be due to a successful combination between the parameters used for data reduction, preprocessing and elaboration. The metabolomic fingerprinting also allowed exploration of the H-bonds network inside the wines, which affects both gustatory and olfactory perceptions, by modulating the way how solutes interact with the human sensory receptors. These findings may have important implications in the context of food traceability and quality control, providing information about the chemical composition and biomolecular markers from a holistic point of view.
Characterizing Spatial and Temporal Variations in N2O Emissions from Dairy Manure Management in China Based on IPCC Methodology
Authors: Hu Bin , Zhang Lijie , Liang Chao , Yang Xiao , Shi Zhengxiang , Wang Chaoyuan
Published: May 2024

The emission factor method (Tier 1) recommended by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) is commonly used to estimate greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from livestock and poultry farms. However, the estimation accuracy may vary due to practical differences in manure management across China. The objectives of this study were to estimate the direct and indirect nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions from dairy manure management between 1990 and 2021 in China and characterize its spatial and temporal variations following IPCC guideline Tier 2. The N2O emission factor (EF) of dairy cow manure management systems was determined at the national level and regional level as well. The results showed that the national cumulative N2O emission of manure management from 1990 to 2021 was 113.1million tons of CO2 equivalent, ranging from 90.3 to 135.9 million tons with an uncertainty of ±20.2%. The annual EF was 0.021 kg N2O-N (kg N)−1 for total emissions, while it was 0.014 kg N2O-N (kg N)−1 for direct emissions. The proportions of N2O emissions in North China, Northeast China, East China, Central and Southern China, Southwest China and Northwest China were 32.3%, 18.6%, 11.4%, 5.8%, 6.1% and 25.8%, respectively. In addition, N2O emissions varied among farms in different scales. The respective proportions of total N2O emissions from small-scale and large-scale farms were 64.8% and 35.2% in the past three decades. With the improvement in farm management and milk production efficiency, the N2O emissions per unit mass of milk decreased from 0.77 × 10−3 kg to 0.48 × 10−3 kg in 1990–2021. This study may provide important insights into compiling a GHG emission inventory and developing GHG emission reduction strategies for the dairy farming system in China.
Establishing a Hyperspectral Model for the Chlorophyll and Crude Protein Content in Alpine Meadows Using a Backward Feature Elimination Method
Authors: Ji Tong , Liu Xiaoni
Published: May 2024

(1) Background: The effective selection of hyperspectral feature bands is pivotal in monitoring the nutritional status of intricate alpine grasslands on the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau. The traditional methods often employ hierarchical screening of multiple feature indicators, but their universal applicability suffers due to the use of a consistent methodology across diverse environmental contexts. To remedy this, a backward feature elimination (BFE) selection method has been proposed to assess indicator importance and stability. (2) Methods: As research indicators, the crude protein (CP) and chlorophyll (Chl) contents in degraded grasslands on the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau were selected. The BFE method was integrated with partial least squares regression (PLS), random forest (RF) regression, and tree-based regression (TBR) to develop CP and Chl inversion models. The study delved into the significance and consistency of the forage quality indicator bands. Subsequently, a path analysis framework (PLS-PM) was constructed to analyze the influence of grassland community indicators on SpecChl and SpecCP. (3) Results: The implementation of the BFE method notably enhanced the prediction accuracy, with ΔR2RF-Chl = 56% and ΔR2RF-CP = 57%. Notably, spectral bands at 535 nm and 2091 nm emerged as pivotal for CP prediction, while vegetation indices like the PRI and mNDVI were critical for Chl estimation. The goodness of fit for the PLS-PM stood at 0.70, indicating the positive impact of environmental factors such as grassland cover on SpecChl and SpecCP prediction (rChl = 0.73, rCP = 0.39). SpecChl reflected information pertaining to photosynthetic nitrogen associated with photosynthesis (r = 0.80). (4) Disscusion: Among the applied model methods, the BFE+RF method is excellent in periodically discarding variables with the smallest absolute coefficient values. This variable screening method not only significantly reduces data dimensionality, but also gives the best balance between model accuracy and variables, making it possible to significantly improve model prediction accuracy. In the PLS-PM analysis, it was shown that different coverage and different community structures and functions affect the estimation of SpecCP and SpecChl. In addition, SpecChl has a positive effect on the estimation of SpecCP (r = 0.80), indicating that chlorophyll does reflect photosynthetic nitrogen information related to photosynthesis, but it is still difficult to obtain non-photosynthetic and compound nitrogen information. (5) Conclusions: The application of the BFE + RF method to monitoring the nutritional status of complex alpine grasslands demonstrates feasibility. The BFE filtration process, focusing on importance and stability, bolsters the system’s generalizability, resilience, and versatility. A key research avenue for enhancing the precision of CP monitoring lies in extracting non-photosynthetic nitrogen information.
Human Antibodies against Herpes Simplex Virus 2 Glycoprotein G Do Not Neutralize but Mediate Antibody-Dependent Cellular Cytotoxicity
Authors: Liljeqvist Jan-Åke , Önnheim Karin , Tunbäck Petra , Eriksson Kristina , Görander Staffan , Bäckström Malin , Bergström Tomas
Published: May 2024

Herpes simplex virus 2 (HSV-2) is a sexually transmitted infection affecting 491 million individuals globally. Consequently, there is a great need for both prophylactic and therapeutic vaccines. Unfortunately, several vaccine clinical trials, primarily employing the glycoprotein D of HSV-2 (gD-2), have failed. The immune protection conferred by human anti-HSV-2 antibodies in genital infection and disease remains elusive. It is well-known that gD-2 elicits cross-reactive neutralizing antibodies, i.e., anti-gD-2 antibodies recognize gD in HSV-1 (gD-1). In contrast, anti-glycoprotein G in HSV-2 (mgG-2) antibodies are exclusively type-specific for HSV-2. In this study, truncated versions of gD-2 and mgG-2 were recombinantly produced in mammalian cells and used for the purification of anti-gD-2 and anti-mgG-2 antibodies from the serum of five HSV-2-infected subjects, creating a pool of purified antibodies. These antibody pools were utilized as standards together with purified mgG-2 and gD-2 antigens in ELISA to quantitatively estimate and compare the levels of cross-reactive anti-gD-1 and anti-gD-2 antibodies, as well as anti-mgG-2 antibodies in sera from HSV-1+2-, HSV-2-, and HSV-1-infected subjects. The median concentration of anti-mgG-2 antibodies was five times lower in HSV-1+2-infected subjects as compared with cross-reactive anti-gD-1 and anti-gD-2 antibodies, and three times lower in HSV-2 infected subjects as compared with anti-gD-2 antibodies. The pool of purified anti-gD-2 antibodies presented neutralization activity at low concentrations, while the pool of purified anti-mgG-2 antibodies did not. Instead, these anti-mgG-2 antibodies mediated antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) by human granulocytes, monocytes, and NK-cells, but displayed no complement-dependent cytotoxicity. These findings indicate that antibodies to mgG-2 in HSV-2-infected subjects are present at low concentrations but mediate the killing of infected cells via ADCC rather than by neutralizing free viral particles. We, and others, speculate that Fc-receptor mediated antibody functions such as ADCC following HSV-2 vaccination may serve as a better marker of protection correlate instead of neutralizing activity. In an mgG-2 therapeutic vaccine, our findings of low levels of anti-mgG-2 antibodies in HSV-2-infected subjects may suggest an opportunity to enhance the immune responses against mgG-2. In a prophylactic HSV-2 mgG-2 vaccine, a possible interference in cross-reactive immune responses in already infected HSV-1 subjects can be circumvented.
A Study of Multi-Step Sparse Vessel Trajectory Restoration Based on Feature Correlation
Authors: Ye Lin , Chen Xiaohui , Liu Haiyan , Zhang Ran , Li Jia , Lu Chuanwei , Zhao Yunpeng
Published: May 2024

To address the issue of data integrity and reliability caused by sparse vessel trajectory data, this paper proposes a multi-step restoration method for sparse vessel trajectory based on feature correlation. First, we preserved the overall trend of the trajectory by detecting and marking the sparse and abnormal vessel trajectories points and using the cubic spline interpolation method for preliminary restoration. Then, we established a composite indicator of feature correlation for selecting highly correlated trajectory features as inputs to the model, reducing data redundancy while improving the key correlation between trajectory features. Finally, we developed a vessel trajectory restoration model based on the Seq2Seq network for secondary restoration of the trajectory to ensure the accurate restoration of the vessel trajectory. Through comparison and ablation experiments, we demonstrate that the method can efficiently extract highly correlated features from vessel trajectories and combines the advantages of the interpolation method and neural network model to effectively improve the accuracy of trajectory restoration and ensure the integrity and accuracy of trajectory data. The research results could provide crucial technical support for the subsequent mining of vessel behavior patterns and assisted decision-making, which holds significant application prospects and potential value.
Balance Control of Brushless Direct Current Motor Driven Two-Rotor UAV
Authors: Cukdar Ibrahim , Yigit Tevfik , Celik Hakan
Published: May 2024

In this study, the balance control of a Brushless Direct Current Motor (BLDCM) driven Two-Rotor UAV (2R-UAV) was carried out. First, a MATLAB/Simulink model of the balance system of the 2R-UAV was built. Afterwards, classical and 2-DOF PID, and proposed Adaptive Fuzzy (AF) 2-DOF PID control structures were created on the STM32F4 microprocessor for both balance angle of the system and speed control of the BLDCMs. Classical and 2-DOF PID controller parameters were determined via Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO), a technique that is commonly used in control applications. For the balance control of the 2R-UAV, a Co-Simulation structure was created using the STM32F4 microprocessor and MATLAB/Simulink, and the performances of classical and 2-DOF PID, and AF 2-DOF PID controllers were examined comparatively. Upon examining the comparison results, it was found that the classical and 2-DOF PID, and AF 2-DOF PID stably controlled the balance of the 2R-UAV. The AF 2-DOF PID controller, proposed in this research, performed better than the classical and 2-DOF PID, especially under variable operating conditions.
Preparing Shotcrete Materials Applied to Roadways Using Gangue Solid Wastes: Influences of Mix Proportions of Materials on the Mechanical Properties
Authors: Li Meng , Xing Shihao , Zhao Yang , Luo Xiaobao , Xie Linlin , Xie Chunhui
Published: May 2024

Coal gangue is a waste product commonly produced during coal mining. Using gangue as a replacement for conventional aggregates in shotcrete applied to underground roadways is a feasible approach to promote the resource utilization of gangue solid waste. The mix proportions of shotcrete materials are crucial to the effectiveness of field applications. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of mix proportions on the mechanical properties of the gangue-based shotcrete material applied to roadways. To achieve this, we conducted experiments to measure changes in the slump under different gangue sizes, mass concentrations, sand contents, and cement contents. The study analyzed the influences of various mix proportions on the conveying and mechanical properties of the gangue-based shotcrete material applied to roadways. The slump and the compressive strength were analysed. The following was concluded: (1) The gangue size and sand content have a similar effect on the slump. As the gangue size and sand content increase, the slurry slump initially decreases and then increases, which is attributed to the plasticity of the aggregates themselves. The mass concentration has a negative correlation with the slump, which is the least sensitive to changes in cement content. (2) The compressive strength of all specimens increases with prolonged curing, reaching its maximum after 28 d under the compressive experimental conditions. (3) This paper analyzed the reasons for better mechanical properties under the conditions of smaller size gangue, higher mass concentration, and higher cement content. It has also examined the reasons for greater compressive strength at 35% sand content. The experimental results of this paper also offer relevant guidance regarding the specific mix proportions of the material of the field gangue-based shotcrete material applied to roadways.
The Montreal Experience: Impact of Different Orthokeratology Lens Designs on Corneal Treatment Zone Characteristics
Authors: Marcotte-Collard Remy , Ouzzani Mhamed , Simard Patrick , Michaud Langis , Hanssens Jean-Marie
Published: May 2024

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of the orthokeratology (OK) lens design, used in the Montreal Experience cohort, on corneal treatment zone characteristics and their relationship to the pupil. METHODS: This retrospective study follows previously published work and refers to the analysis of 4 different OK lenses. Tangential topography maps were obtained at baseline and after 1 month of OK lens wear. The extracted parameters are: distance treatment zone diameter (DTZD (mm)); relative peripheral power (RPP (D)); mid-peripheral width (MPW (mm)); a new concept, the plus power ratio (PPR (%)), corresponding to the coverage of the pupil area by the positive power zones. RESULTS: DTZD and MPW were significantly different between the lens designs (Welch’s ANOVA). (DTZD (OK 1: 3.68 ± 0.46 mm; OK 2: 3.06 ± 0.67; OK 3: 2.83 ± 0.54; OK 4: 3.20 ± 0.53) MPW (OK 1: 1.65 ± 0.21 mm; OK 2: 1.31 ± 0.40 mm; OK 3: 1.46 ± 0.17 mm; OK 4: 1.57 ± 0.17 mm)). PPR was significantly lower in OK 1 (40.1 ± 22.1%) than the other designs (OK 2: 53.8 ± 18.4%; OK 3: 60.3 ± 13.6; OK 4: 54.7 ± 15.3). CONCLUSION: This study shows that the corneal response to OK lens wear varies with lens design. When analyzed, topographic analysis shows that OK 1 is associated with a larger DTZD, which produces a lower PPR. This may explain why previously published results showed significantly faster axial length (AL) progression with this lens.
Unveiling Valuable Geomechanical Monitoring Insights: Exploring Ground Deformation in Geological Carbon Storage
Authors: Seabra Gabriel Serrão , Barbosa Machado Marcos Vitor , Delshad Mojdeh , Sepehrnoori Kamy , Voskov Denis , Vossepoel Femke C.
Published: May 2024

Geological Carbon Storage (GCS) involves storing CO2 emissions in geological formations, where safe containment is challenged by structural and stratigraphic trapping and caprock integrity. This study investigates flow and geomechanical responses to CO2 injection based on a Brazilian offshore reservoir model, highlighting the critical interplay between rock properties, injection rates, pressure changes, and ground displacements. The findings indicate centimeter-scale ground uplift and question the conventional selection of the wellhead as a monitoring site, as it might not be optimal due to the reservoir’s complexity and the nature of the injection process. This study addresses the importance of comprehensive sensitivity analyses on geomechanical properties and injection rates for advancing GCS by improving monitoring strategies and risk management. Furthermore, this study explores the geomechanical effects of modeling flow in the caprock, highlighting the role of pressure dissipation within the caprock. These insights are vital for advancing the design of monitoring strategies, enhancing the predictive accuracy of models, and effectively managing geomechanical risks, thus ensuring the success of GCS initiatives.
A Display-Adaptive Pipeline for Dynamic Range Expansion of Standard Dynamic Range Video Content
Authors: Luzardo Gonzalo , Kumcu Asli , Aelterman Jan , Luong Hiep , Ochoa Daniel , Philips Wilfried
Published: May 2024

Recent advancements in high dynamic range (HDR) display technology have significantly enhanced the contrast ratios and peak brightness of modern displays. In the coming years, it is expected that HDR televisions capable of delivering significantly higher brightness and, therefore, contrast levels than today’s models will become increasingly accessible and affordable to consumers. While HDR technology has gained prominence over the past few years, low dynamic range (LDR) content is still consumed due to a substantial volume of historical multimedia content being recorded and preserved in LDR. Although the amount of HDR content will continue to increase as HDR becomes more prevalent, a large portion of multimedia content currently remains in LDR. In addition, it is worth noting that although the HDR standard supports multimedia content with luminance levels up to 10,000 cd/m2 (a standard measure of brightness), most HDR content is typically limited to a maximum brightness of around 1000 cd/m2. This limitation aligns with the current capabilities of consumer HDR TVs but is a factor approximately five times brighter than current LDR TVs. To accurately present LDR content on a HDR display, it is processed through a dynamic range expansion process known as inverse tone mapping (iTM). This LDR to HDR conversion faces many challenges, including the inducement of noise artifacts, false contours, loss of details, desaturated colors, and temporal inconsistencies. This paper introduces complete inverse tone mapping, artifact suppression, and a highlight enhancement pipeline for video sequences designed to address these challenges. Our LDR-to-HDR technique is capable of adapting to the peak brightness of different displays, creating HDR video sequences with a peak luminance of up to 6000 cd/m2. Furthermore, this paper presents the results of comprehensive objective and subjective experiments to evaluate the effectiveness of the proposed pipeline, focusing on two primary aspects: real-time operation capability and the quality of the HDR video output. Our findings indicate that our pipeline enables real-time processing of Full HD (FHD) video (1920 × 1080 pixels), even on hardware that has not been optimized for this task. Furthermore, we found that when applied to existing HDR content, typically capped at a brightness of 1000 cd/m2, our pipeline notably enhances its perceived quality when displayed on a screen that can reach higher peak luminances.
Exploring Factors Influencing Recreational Experiences of Urban River Corridors Based on Social Media Data
Authors: Shi Lin , Maruthaveeran Sreetheran , Yusof Mohd Johari Mohd , Dai Chenyang
Published: May 2024

River corridors, recognized as “blue–green infrastructure,” have become a crucial support system for urban sustainability in contemporary urbanized societies. Understanding the factors influencing the recreational experience along urban river corridors is paramount for enhancing visitors’ health and well-being. This study focuses on the Hutuo River Corridor in Shijiazhuang, China, collecting 3006 valid reviews from Dianping, a prominent review platform. We developed a text-based thematic model and conducted content analysis using this dataset. The main social (visiting time, duration of stay, motivation, safety, and visitors’ types and activities) and physical (natural elements, artificial facilities, maintenance and management, accessibility, distance, models of transportation, weather, and seasons) factors associated with recreational experiences were identified. We assessed visitor perceptions of urban river corridors and elucidated facilitators or barriers through textual content analysis in reviews. The results indicate the feasibility of employing social media data to study visitors’ recreational experiences along urban river corridors. This comprehensive exploration from a qualitative ecological perspective contributes valuable insights for urban planning and management. Moreover, the findings hold significant implications for understanding the usage patterns of river corridors in China and potentially in other countries.
Study on the Fracture of a Shield Segment in a Fully Excavated Hard Rock Section under the Influence of Construction Loads
Authors: Zhu Cheng , Zheng Bin , Ren Guoping , Feng Tugen , Zhong Xiaochun , Huang Siyuan
Published: May 2024

In this paper, the initiation of the fracture of a segment caused by the pressure of the jack and other factors during shield construction is discussed. Based on the Rots model in the finite element software Diana 10.4, the fracture width is solved. Combined with in situ measurements, the mechanisms of concrete fracturing of a segment under external loads, such as the jack thrust deflection angle and uneven jack thrust caused by the changes in the segment due to the upward buoyancy and shield attitude, are studied; additionally, the occurrence conditions and engineering control measures for segment fracture are summarized. The results show that when the attitudes of the shield and segment are identical, the total thrust of the shield is recommended not to exceed 21,000 kN, and is strictly limited to 24,000 kN. When the attitude inclination angle between the shield machine and the segment is less than 1°, the impact on the segment quality is small. When the inclination angle reaches 2°, the total thrust of the shield is recommended not to exceed 16,000 kN, and is strictly limited to 18,000 kN. When the inclination reaches 3°, a fracture is easily produced. When the total thrust is 19,000 kN, it is recommended that the loading increase or decrease in the left and right four grippers should not exceed 20%, and they are prohibited to exceed 30%. The fracture width increases exponentially with the increase in misalignment between adjacent segment rings. These research results provide a theoretical basis for jack pressure control during shield construction.
Experimental Evaluation of a Takagi–Sugeno Fuzzy Controller for an EV3 Ballbot System
Authors: Enemegio Rodolfo , Jurado Francisco , Villanueva-Tavira Jonathan
Published: May 2024

In this paper, experimental results about the performance of a Takagi–Sugeno Fuzzy Controller (TSFC) for an EV3 Ballbot Robotic System (EV3BRS) are reported. The physical configuration of the EV3BRS has the form of an inverted pendulum mounted on a ball. The EV3BRS is an underactuated robotic system with four outputs and two control torques. In this work, following the Takagi–Sugeno (TS) fuzzy control design methodology, the Parallel Distributed Compensation (PDC) approach is used in the design of the TSFC. The EV3BRS’s TS Fuzzy Model (TSFM) design comes from linearization of the nonlinear model around two operation points near the upright position of EV3BRS’s body. The Linear Matrix Inequality (LMI) approach was used to obtain the feedback gains for every local linear controller, guaranteeing, via a conservative stability condition, the global asymptotic stability of the overall fuzzy control system. The main goal of the control task consists of maintaining the EV3BRS’s body at its upright position. Measurement and control data from and to the EV3BRS are transferred via telecontrol and telemetry. The appropriate performance of the controller design is corroborated via experimentation.
Study on Microscopic Characteristics and Rock Mechanical Properties of Tight Sandstone after Acidification–Supercritical CO2 Composite Action: Case Study from Xujiahe Formation, China
Authors: Zhao Yunfei , Huang Gun , Liang Qinming , Chen Qiang
Published: May 2024

Acidified CO2 fracturing is a viable method for increasing production in deep, tight sandstone reservoirs. However, the potential mechanism of changes in pore structure and mechanical properties of sandstone under acidified CO2 supercritical composite is not clear. Understanding this mechanism is important for the study of crack initiation and extension in tight sandstone reservoirs. This study utilizes sandstone samples from the Xujiahe Formation reservoir in Rongchang District as experimental specimens. The primary focus is to analyze the changes in pore structure and mechanical properties of these samples after acidification–supercritical CO2 composite action. Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and uniaxial compression tests are employed as the main investigative techniques. The results show that there was a physicochemical synergy between the acidification–supercritical CO2 composite effect; the crack initial stress, damage stress, and peak stress of the sandstone after 16 MPa supercritical CO2 acidification treatment were reduced by 20%, 49.5%, and 49.8%, respectively; the crack volumetric strain accelerated and the sandstone evolved from brittle to ductile damage; and the larger pore space and microcracks of the sandstone increased significantly after the treatment, which can be attributed to the gradual dissolution of intergranular cement leading to the formation of new pores connected to the existing pore network. The change mechanism of sandstone after acidification–supercritical CO2 compound treatment is also proposed.
Plant Density and Health Evaluation in Green Stormwater Infrastructure Using Unmanned-Aerial-Vehicle-Based Imagery
Authors: Xue Jingwen , Qian Xuejun , Kang Dong Hee , Hunter James G.
Published: May 2024

Over the past few decades, there has been a notable surge in interest in green stormwater infrastructure (GSI). This trend is a result of the need to effectively address issues related to runoff, pollution, and the adverse effects of urbanization and impervious surfaces on waterways. Concurrently, umanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) have gained prominence across applications, including photogrammetry, military applications, precision farming, agricultural land, forestry, environmental surveillance, remote-sensing, and infrastructure maintenance. Despite the widespread use of GSI and UAV technologies, there remains a glaring gap in research focused on the evaluation and maintenance of the GSIs using UAV-based imagery. This study aimed to develop an integrated framework to evaluate plant density and health within GSIs using UAV-based imagery. This integrated framework incorporated the UAV (commonly known as a drone), WebOpenDroneMap (WebDOM), ArcMap, PyCharm, and the Canopeo application. The UAV-based images of GSI components, encompassing trees, grass, soil, and unhealthy trees, as well as entire GSIs (e.g., bioretention and green roofs) within the Morgan State University (MSU) campus were collected, processed, and analyzed using this integrated framework. Results indicated that the framework yielded highly accurate predictions of plant density with a high R2 value of 95.8% and lower estimation errors of between 3.9% and 9.7%. Plant density was observed to vary between 63.63% and 75.30% in the GSIs at the MSU campus, potentially attributable to the different types of GSI, varying facility ages, and inadequate maintenance. Normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) maps and scales of two GSIs were also generated to evaluate plant health. The NDVI and plant density results can be used to suggest where new plants can be added and to provide proper maintenance to achieve proper functions within the GSIs. This study provides a framework for evaluating plant performance within the GSIs using the collected UAV-based imagery.
Profile of Accelerations and Decelerations in Young Basketball Players
Authors: Ibáñez Sergio José , Gantois Petrus , Rico-González Markel , García-Rubio Javier , Ortega José Pino
Published: May 2024

Accelerometry is a crucial tool in basketball for quantifying the external load borne by players in response to the demands of intermittent high-intensity sports. To advance scientific knowledge in this field, it is imperative to study accelerometry across various populations, sexes, and competitive levels. The primary objective of this research was to characterize the acceleration (ACC) and deceleration (DEC) profiles of male under-18 basketball players during official games, identifying differences in acceleration and deceleration thresholds during playing periods and specific positions. Additionally, the interaction between specific positions and playing periods in acceleration thresholds was examined. Acceleration and deceleration were characterized using four variables: maximum ACC and DEC, distance covered, initial velocity and final velocity. These parameters were analyzed to understand the response of players participating in the Euroleague Basketball based on playing position and game period. A one-way ANOVA, along with effect size, was employed for statistical analysis. Demands exceeding ACC and DEC > 4 m·s−2 were found to differentiate player interventions. High-intensity ACC was greater in the first period compared to the third and fourth periods. Distinctions were observed between Guards and Forwards concerning high-intensity ACC being superior to the Centers, and Guards differed from Centers in moderate DEC (2–4 m·s−2), presenting higher values. For all playing positions, high-intensity accelerations were greater during the first period compared to subsequent periods. The four variables used for characterizing ACC and DEC were found to be interrelated. Distance covered depended on maximum ACC and DEC, initial velocity on covered distance, and final velocity on maximum ACC and DEC, distance, and initial velocity.
Heat Sink Equivalent Thermal Test Method and Its Application in Low-Orbit Satellites
Authors: Bai Tian , Kong Lin , Ao Hongrui , Jiang Feng
Published: May 2024

In order to shorten the length of satellite thermal testing and reduce the cost of satellite development, a new method of satellite thermal testing using a heat sink to simulate space heating flow has been proposed. First, based on the characteristics of low-orbit satellites and the current research of thermal tests, the necessity of studying high-efficiency thermal test methods for satellites is expounded, and the advantages of the heat sink equivalent thermal tests compared to conventional tests are explained. Then, the principle of the heat sink equivalent thermal tests is described, the formula to calculate the heat sink temperature is given, and an error analysis of the formula is conducted. It is found that when the emissivity of the heat sink surface is greater than 0.9 and the ratio of the heat sink’s surface area to the satellite’s is greater than 10, the error of the heat sink equivalent tests should be within 1 °C. Next, the application of the heat sink equivalent thermal test is described using the Jilin−1 GF02F satellite as an example. Finally, the test results and the flight temperature of the GF02F satellite are acquired and analyzed. The results show that the error of the heat sink equivalent thermal test is 0.9 °C, the test time is shortened by one-third compared to traditional thermal tests, and the cost of the thermal test is reduced by more than 70%.
Early Age Assessment of a New Course of Irish Fly Ash as a Cement Replacement
Authors: Shaji Nikki , Holmes Niall , Tyrer Mark
Published: May 2024

This paper explores the potential of a new source of fly ash, deposited on the site of a coal-fired power plant in Ireland dating from 1985 to 1995, as a cement replacement material. A series of X-ray diffraction (XRD) analyses on binder samples with cement replacement levels of 0, 10, 25 and 35% was undertaken to determine the fly ash’s mineralogical composition and to determine its suitability as a supplemental cementitious material (SCM). The XRD results reveal a unique mineral composition with promising characteristics for enhancing the strength and durability of concrete. The experimental results were used to calibrate a thermodynamic model to predict changing phase assemblage and hydration behaviour over time and per replacement level. Thermodynamic models have been shown to give credible predictions of the long-term performance of cements, including SCMs. The initial experimental results’ thermodynamic modelling demonstrates the feasibility of this fly ash source as a sustainable alternative to traditional cement, paving the way for more eco-friendly construction. Ash deposits dating from 1995 to 2005 and from 2005 to the present will be presented in subsequent publications.
Devices for Gait and Balance Rehabilitation: General Classification and a Narrative Review of End Effector-Based Manipulators
Authors: Diego Paul , Herrero Saioa , Macho Erik , Corral Javier , Diez Mikel , Campa Francisco J. , Pinto Charles
Published: May 2024

Gait and balance have a direct impact on patients’ independence and quality of life. Due to a higher life expectancy, the number of patients suffering neurological disorders has increased exponentially, with gait and balance impairments being the main side effects. In this context, the use of rehabilitation robotic devices arises as an effective and complementary tool to recover gait and balance functions. Among rehabilitation devices, end effectors present some advantages and have shown encouraging outcomes. The objective of this study is twofold: to propose a general classification of devices for gait and balance rehabilitation and to provide a review of the existing end effectors for such purposes. We classified the devices into five groups: treadmills, exoskeletons, patient-guided systems, perturbation platforms, and end effectors. Overall, 55 end effectors were identified in the literature, of which 16 were commercialized. We found a disproportionate number of end effectors capable of providing both types of rehabilitation (2/55) and those focused on either balance (21/55) or gait (32/55). The analysis of their features from a mechanical standpoint (degrees of freedom, topology, and training mode) allowed us to identify the potential of parallel manipulators as driving mechanisms of end effector devices and to suggest several future research directions.