bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Disturbed Microbial Niches of Itchy Scalp
Authors: Li Xuejing , Yang Fang , Ma Yingxin , Zhang Mengmeng , Zhang Yan , Zhang Menghui
Published: January 2025

Background

Scalp itch without evident cause is an uncomfortable symptom that annoys many people in life but lacks adequate attention in academic.

Aims

To investigate the relationship between scalp itching and microorganisms, and identify the key microbes and predicted functions associated with scalp itching, furtherly to provide useful targets for scalp itch solution.

Methods

We performed microbial comparison between 44 normal subjects and 89 subjects having scalp itching problem with un‐identified origin based on 16S rRNA gene sequencing and ddPCR (digital droplet PCR), and identified itch relevant microbes and predicted functions. To minimize false positive findings, another 43 itchy subjects were used for independent validation.

Results

The three most abundant bacterial genus Cutibacterium, Lawsonella, Staphylococcus and predominant fungi Malassezia were not significantly different between the normal and itchy subjects, but an imbalance between Cutibacterium and Staphylococcus occurred in itchy scalp. As the predominant function contributor in the community, various Cutibacterium ASVs (amplicon sequence variants) were detected in itchy or normal subjects with low abundance and were subject specific. Some non‐resident microbes from environment such as Leptolyngbya ANT.L52.2 and Pseudomonas were enhanced in itchy scalp and occupied an important ecological niche. The severity of itch was alleviated when these low abundant and low subject coverage ASVs were reduced or diminished.

Conclusions

Our findings raise the attention to (1) the ratio of Cutibacterium to Staphylococcus and (2) the low abundant bacteria on scalp, and provide potential solutions to ease scalp itch.
Insulin degludec 100 U/mL for treatment of spontaneous diabetes mellitus in dogs
Authors: Mott Jocelyn , Gal Arnon , Tardo Antonio Maria , Berg Alisa , Claude Riley , Hoelmer Alexis , Mui Mei Lun , Arjoonsingh Avin , Gilor Chen
Published: January 2025

Background

The advantages of insulin degludec 100 U/mL (IDeg100) in the treatment of diabetes mellitus (DM) include consistent release, predictable glucose‐lowering effect, and minimal day‐to‐day variability.

Hypothesis/Objectives

To describe the use of IDeg100 in dogs with DM, level of diabetic control and adverse effects.

Animals

Thirty‐three client‐owned dogs with DM.

Methods

A prospective, multi‐institutional, uncontrolled study of newly diagnosed or previously insulin‐treated, with or without comorbidities and with or without concurrent medications. Clinical signs and continuous glucose monitoring data were monitored and guided insulin dose adjustments. A per‐protocol analysis was performed.

Results

The final dose of IDeg100 in dogs was 1.3 U/kg (median, range, 0.4‐2.2) achieved in 14 days (median, range, 3‐32). Seventy‐nine percent (26/33) of the dogs had comorbidities with 42% (11/26) having more than 1 comorbidity. Sixty‐four percent (21/33) of dogs were receiving concurrent medications with 62% (13/21) receiving more than 1 non‐insulin medication. Seventy‐six percent (25/33) were scored as having excellent/very good DM control. From baseline to study exit, dogs showed improvements in both ALIVE DM clinical score (from 3 [0‐8, 96.49% CI (2‐5)] to 1 [0‐7, 96.49% CI (1‐2)]; P = .0007) and average 3‐day interstitial glucose (from 332.8 ± 68.7 mg/dL, 95% CI [308.8‐357.2] to 229.0 ± 56.3 mg/dL [CI 209.0 ‐ 248.9]; P < .0001).

Conclusions and Clinical Importance

Insulin degludec 100 U/mL is effective for the treatment of dogs with DM. Eighty‐four percent (28/33) of dogs responded to once daily dose of IDeg100 with low frequency of clinical hypoglycemia.
Value and Kinetics of Virological Markers in the Natural Course of Chronic Hepatitis D Virus Infection
Authors: Sandmann Lisa , Ohlendorf Valerie , Ehrenbauer Alena , Bremer Birgit , Kraft Anke R. M. , Cornberg Markus , Deterding Katja , Wedemeyer Heiner , Maasoumy Benjamin
Published: January 2025

Background and Aims

Chronic hepatitis D virus (HDV) infection can cause severe liver disease. With new treatment options available, it is important to identify patients at risk for liver‐related complications. We aimed to investigate kinetics and predictive values of novel virological and immunological markers in the natural course of chronic HDV infection.

Methods

HBcrAg, HBV RNA and quantitative anti‐HBc were analysed in samples from HDV‐infected patients at three consecutive time points. Results were linked to clinical outcome by univariable and multivariable analyses. Primary endpoint was the composite endpoint of any liver‐related event.

Results

Samples from 190 individual patients were analysed with a median clinical follow‐up time of 2.69 (IQR 1.13–6.51) years. The majority of patients had cirrhosis (98/190, 52%), and the primary endpoint occurred in 33% (62/190). In univariable analysis, age, cirrhosis, lower quantitative anti‐HBc, higher ratio of HBcrAg/anti‐HBc and detectable HDV RNA were associated with the primary endpoint. In multivariable analysis, only the presence of liver cirrhosis (HR 7.74, p < 0.001) and age (1.06, p < 0.001) remained independently associated with the primary endpoint. Kinetics of virological parameters during follow‐up were similar between the groups. Quantitative anti‐HBc was significantly lower in patients with liver cirrhosis (687 (IQR 188–3388) IU/ml vs. 309 (IQR 82–924) IU/ml, p < 0.0004), and lower levels were independently associated with the development of the primary endpoint (HR 1.0, p = 0.014).

Conclusion

In chronic HDV infection, neither baseline values nor kinetics of HBV RNA, HBcrAg and anti‐HBc were independently associated with clinical outcome, while stage of liver disease and age were predictors of liver‐related events.
A Case of Migraine Aura‐Like Visual Symptoms Responding to Lomerizine in a Patient With Neuronal Intranuclear Inclusion Disease
Authors: Tanaka Ryo , Nukui Takamasa , Yamamoto Mamoru , Ichimata Shojiro , Tamai Chisato , Sone Jun , Noguchi Kyo , Nakane Shunya , Nakatsuji Yuji
Published: January 2025

A 62‐year‐old man experienced lower left blindness lasting 30 min to 1 h for 5 years. Treatment with lomerizine decreased its frequency. Subsequently, he was diagnosed with neuronal intranuclear inclusion disease by histological and genetic analysis. We consider two possibilities as follows: the visual symptoms are due to NIID and the visual symptoms and NIID are completely independent conditions that have coexisted by chance. The preventive effect of lomerizine on visual symptoms lasted for about 20 months from the start of treatment until his accidental death.
Consensus on Safe Initiation and Monitoring of Transanal Irrigation to Optimize Adherence With Therapy
Authors: Emmanuel Anton , Krogh Klaus , Perrouin‐Verbe Brigitte , Krassiukov Andrei , Koch Sacha , Mosiello Giovanni , Bazzocchi Gabriele , Christensen Peter , Rodriguez Gianna , Brugaletta Concetta
Published: January 2025

Background

Transanal irrigation is a well‐established minimally invasive therapy that addresses symptoms of both constipation and incontinence. The therapy has been extended from just neurogenic bowel dysfunction patients to those with disorders of brain–gut interaction and postsurgical conditions.

Aim

To summarized the literature on transanal irrigation and update the contraindication profile.

Materials and Methods

We undertook a literature review of transanal irrigation complications and outcomes.

Results

Initiation of therapy as part of a bowel care regime is becoming more common outside specialist centers. In addition, the concept of both high‐ and low‐volume irrigation schedules has entered the treatment paradigm, and it is clear that there is a differing safety profile. We present an update from the previous long list of contraindications.

Discussion

We describe how optimizing long‐term adherence depends on these factors in addition to a structured follow‐up programme.

Conclusion

Transanal irrigation is an increasingly used therapy, with a good safety profile, further improved by the advent of low‐volume irrigation options. Key to safe and effective usage of transanal irrigation is careful patient selection allied to tailored initial training of the patient.
MI‐Mamba: A hybrid motor imagery electroencephalograph classification model with Mamba's global scanning
Authors: Guo Minghan , Han Xu , Liu Hongxing , Zhu Jianing , Zhang Jie , Bai Yanru , Ni Guangjian
Published: January 2025

Deep learning has revolutionized electroencephalograph (EEG) decoding, with convolutional neural networks (CNNs) being a predominant tool. However, CNNs struggle with long‐term dependencies in sequential EEG data. Models like long short‐term memory and transformers improve performance but still face challenges of computational efficiency and long sequences. Mamba, a state space model–based method, excels in modeling long sequences. To overcome the limitations of existing EEG decoding models and exploit Mamba's potential in EEG analysis, we propose MI‐Mamba, a model integrating CNN with Mamba for motor imagery (MI) data decoding. MI‐Mamba processes multi‐channel EEG signals through a single convolutional layer to capture spatial features in the local temporal domain, followed by a Mamba module that processes global temporal features. A fully connected, layer‐based classifier is used to derive classification results. Evaluated on two public MI datasets, MI‐Mamba achieves 80.59% accuracy in the four‐class MI task of the BCI Competition IV 2a dataset and 84.42% in the two‐class task of the BCI Competition IV 2b dataset, while reducing parameter count by nearly six times compared to the most advanced previous models. These results highlight MI‐Mamba's effectiveness in MI decoding and its potential as a new backbone for general EEG decoding.
Tumour‐Associated Macrophages in Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Authors: Chaurasia Akhilanand , Brigi Carel , Daghrery Arwa , Asa'ad Farah , Spirito Francesca , Hasuike Akira , González‐Alva Patricia , Kojic Dave D. , Ünsal Revan Birke Koca , Sivaramakrishnan Gowri
Published: January 2025

Objective

Tumour‐associated macrophages (TAMs) are crucial in the progression and treatment response of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). TAMs infiltrate OSCC, adopting an M2‐like phenotype that promotes tumour growth, metastasis and immune suppression. The current narrative review explored the roles of TAMs in OSCC, focusing on their impact on the tumour microenvironment, invasion, metastasis, angiogenesis, immunosuppression and potential therapeutic targeting.

Methods

A comprehensive analysis of the current literature on TAMs in OSCC was conducted. Specifically, we evaluated the biological functions of TAMs, their interactions within the tumour microenvironment, and their influence on disease progression and treatment outcomes.

Results

TAMs contribute to OSCC progression by secreting cytokines, such as IL‐10 and TGF‐β, that inhibit effector immune cells. They facilitate angiogenesis, extracellular matrix remodelling and the epithelial–mesenchymal transition, which are essential for tumour invasion and metastasis. TAMs support cancer stem cells and recruit regulatory T cells and myeloid‐derived suppressor cells, enhancing resistance to therapies. Their presence correlates with advanced OSCC stages, lymph node metastasis and poor prognosis.

Conclusion

TAMs regulate OSCC progression and therapy resistance. Reprogramming them to an M1‐like phenotype or depleting them enhances treatments. Understanding TAM–OSCC interactions is crucial for developing interventions against their tumour‐promoting functions and restoring anti‐tumour immunity.
Treatment of Femoral Neck Fractures in Adults With Improved Biplane Double‐Supported Screw Fixation and Femoral Neck System: Complications and Surgical Techniques
Authors: Zhang Xiaolong , Feng Xiwen , Ouyang Lingfei , Shu Shan , Zhuang Lebin , Gui Weichao , Zhang Sheng , Yao Zilong , Wang Gang , Liao Hua , Hu Jijie
Published: January 2025

Objectives

Treating femoral neck fractures remains a significant challenge for orthopedic surgeons and imposes a substantial economic burden on developing regions. Current novel internal fixation methods demonstrate excellent biomechanical performance. However, these new internal fixation methods are still associated with various complications. This study aimed to report the clinical complications of femoral neck system (FNS) and biplane double‐supported screw fixation (BDSF) treatments for femoral neck fractures at our institution and provide directions for selecting cost‐effective internal fixation methods.

Methods

A retrospective case–control study of adult patients with femoral neck fractures treated with BDSF or FNS was conducted at Nanfang Hospital from April 2019 to April 2022. General medical records were collected both preoperatively and intraoperatively. Primary complication measures included osteonecrosis of the femoral head, nonunion, screw‐out, and subtrochanteric fractures, along with femoral neck shortening. The primary functional measure evaluated was the Harris hip score. This study employed t‐test, Wilcoxon rank‐sum test, and chi‐square test to statistically analyze the data.

Results

Statistically significant differences were observed between the BDSF and FNS groups in terms of surgery duration (60.8 ± 12.6 min vs. 71.0 ± 12.0 min), incision length (5.5 ± 1.2 cm vs. 9.1 ± 1.6 cm) and hospitalization costs (39563.8 ± 9086.4 RMB vs. 24960.4 ± 10154.4 RMB). No statistically significant differences between the BDSF and FNS groups were found in the baseline data, blood loss or hospital stay. Moderate femoral neck shortening was significantly less common in the BDSF group than in the FNS group (27.1% vs. 61.5%, p = 0.016). Postoperatively, no statistically significant differences in complication rates, such as femoral head necrosis, nonunion, subtrochanteric fractures or screw‐out, were observed between the BDSF and FNS groups.

Conclusions

This study revealed no significant difference in the incidence of postoperative complications such as femoral head necrosis, nonunion or screw cut‐out between BDSF and FNS. Although BDSF has drawbacks, such as a long learning curve and the potential to cause subtrochanteric fractures, it is cost‐effective and better maintains the length of the femoral neck. The modified BDSF technique may be more suitable for developing regions with limited health care budgets.
Higher PEPC activity and vein density contribute to improve cotton leaf water use efficiency under water stress
Authors: Lei Z. , Han J. , Yi X. , Luo X. , Zhang W. , He D. , Gong C. , Zhang Y.
Published: January 2025

Plants with the C4 photosynthetic pathway can withstand water stress better than plants with C3 metabolism. However, it is unclear whether C4 photosynthesis can be preliminarily activated in droughted cotton leaves, and if this contributes to increase in water use efficiency (WUE).

An upland cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L., Xinluzao45) was used to determine gas exchange, stomatal and vein anatomy, phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PEPC) and Rubisco enzyme activity, and carbon isotope composition (δ13C) under well‐watered, mild or moderate water stress.

Water stress triggered reduced photosynthesis, stomatal conductance, and Rubisco activity, but higher vein density (VD), PEPC activity, and WUE. The correlations between δ13C and each of VD and PEPC activity implied that these coordinately contributed to higher leaf WUE via a preliminary induction of C4 photosynthetic pathway.

Preliminary C4 photosynthesis indicated by more PEPC enzyme and veins offers an effective way to improve leaf WUE and potentially aids in acclimation to adverse growing conditions.
Transit of NEAT1 and MTP11 to the plasma membrane and co‐localization to vesicles support a role for exocytosis‐mediated export in metal homeostasis
Authors: Vetal Pallavi V. , Jaskolowski Aime , Poirier Yves
Published: January 2025

Understanding the role and mode of action of nutrient transporters requires information about their dynamic associations with plant membranes. Historically, apoplastic nutrient export has been associated with proteins localized at the plasma membrane (PM), while the role of endomembrane localization has been less explored. However, recent work on the PHOSPHATE 1 (PHO1) inorganic phosphate (Pi) exporter demonstrated that, although primarily localized at the Golgi and trans‐Golgi network (TGN) vesicles, PHO1 does associate with the PM when clathrin‐mediated endocytosis (CME) was inhibited, supporting a mechanism for Pi homeostasis involving exocytosis. We explored whether CME inhibition can identify other transporters that, although primarily localized at Golgi/TGN at steady‐state level, also transit via the PM and are potentially involved in export via exocytosis. We found that, similar to PHO1, Golgi‐localized transporters NA EFFLUX TRANSPORTER1 (NAET1) and METAL TOLERANCE PROTEIN11 (MTP11) relocate to the PM when CME is inhibited, both transiently in Nicotiana benthamiana and conditionally in Arabidopsis thaliana. Such PM re‐localization of transporters upon CME inhibition is specific, since it does not occur with several other Golgi‐associated transporters, including MTP5 and BIVALENT CATION TRANSPORTER 3 (BICAT3), as well as resident Golgi/TGN membrane proteins, such as α‐1,2‐MANNOSIDASE I (Man1) and VESICLE TRANSPORT V‐SNARE 12 (VTI12). Additionally, we observed that NAET1, MTP11 and PHO1 all partially co‐localize to vesicles. Overall, our study supports a role for synaptic‐like vesicle‐mediated exocytosis for both NEAT1 and MTP11 in nutrient transport in plants and highlights the importance of assessing the transient localization of Golgi/TGN proteins to the PM.
Repercussions of abuse by caregivers in the elderly population with dementia: a scoping review
Authors: de Oliveira Bárbara Silva , Santos Diogo Bezerra Leite , Freire Graziela Rosa Lopes Bastos , Moura Clícia Grazielly de Lima , do Nascimento Ana Clara Lira , Barbosa Éverton Emanuel da Silva , Ferraz Lucas Ribeiro , Silva Hugo Rafael de Souza e
Published: January 2025

Due to the ageing population throughout the world, the rates of older adults suffering from dementia are increasing, requiring a closer look at this population. As a result, the aim of this scoping review is to gather data from the scientific literature on the repercussions of abuse of elderly people with dementia by their caregivers. For this review, Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta‐Analyses extension for scoping reviews was used as a guideline to structure the review topics. Six researchers during the period of December 2023 to March 2024 searched for relevant articles in the following databases: MEDLINE; SCOPUS; WEB OF SCIENCE; EMBASE; BIREME. Of 707 articles found in the databases, 16 were included in this scoping review. The articles addressed different aspects of the topic of abuse of elderly people with dementia by caregivers, 12 articles listed risk factors, six explained the different types of abuse, 11 articles dealt with neuropsychological aspects of caregivers, seven studies focused on the relationship between the elderly person and their caregiver and six portrayed the impacts of abuse. Studies point to several common risk factors, for example, advanced stage of the disease, financial cost of treatment and psychobehavioural symptoms of both the caregiver and the patient. Upon thorough examination and critical reflection on existing studies, a substantial void has been identified in the literature concerning the ramifications of abusive relationships within the care receiver and caregiver dyad. While many studies approach the issue in a broad manner, only a limited number of articles delve into the specific impact of such dynamics on the deterioration of the elderly's well‐being. There is an urgent demand for new research to investigate the consequences that abuse generates in the lives of elderly individuals with dementia.
STEM‐themed pathways within elementary preservice methods coursework: Benefits and challenges associated with designing and implementing integrated STEM projects
Authors: Menon Deepika , Johnson Allison M. , Cox Derek , Nguyen Ursula , Jeon Minji , Thomas Amanda
Published: January 2025

With the rapid advancements in science and technology, there is a growing emphasis on preparing high‐quality elementary science teachers with a deeper understanding of integrating Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) disciplines into their classrooms. Despite ongoing reform efforts of rethinking ways in which preservice elementary teachers (PSTs) are currently prepared, STEM is not always the central focus of their training programs. This article highlights the STEM pathways threaded throughout the concurrent elementary science, mathematics, and technology methods courses within a dedicated STEM semester. This approach allows PSTs to experience integrated STEM directly. Specifically, we discuss PSTs' planning and implementation of integrated STEM projects that explicitly blend multiple STEM disciplines to design solutions to problems situated within a local context under the theme of sustainability. The practicum experience played a pivotal role in helping PSTs realize the benefits and challenges associated with teaching STEM. Drawing from PSTs' written reflections, we provide evidence of how varied STEM engagements enhance their knowledge of STEM integration and shape their perceptions of successes and challenges associated with STEM teaching. Finally, we offer implications for practice and recommendations for future teacher educators to reshape elementary education programs to better integrate STEM.
Adic tropicalizations and cofinality of Gubler models
Authors: Foster Tyler , Payne Sam
Published: January 2025

We introduce adic tropicalizations for subschemes of toric varieties as limits of Gubler models associated to polyhedral covers of the ordinary tropicalization. Our main result shows that Huber's adic analytification of a subscheme of a toric variety is naturally isomorphic to the inverse limit of its adic tropicalizations, in the category of locally topologically ringed spaces. The key new technical idea underlying this theorem is cofinality of Gubler models, which we prove for projective schemes and also for more general compact analytic domains in closed subschemes of toric varieties. In addition, we introduce a ‐topology and structure sheaf on ordinary tropicalizations, and show that Berkovich analytifications are limits of ordinary tropicalizations in the category of topologically ringed topoi.
Effect of Air Content on the Internal Fluid Characteristics of Liquid Floated Gyro
Authors: Zhang Yaping , Wang Yanzhong , Niu Wentao , Yang Kai , Rao Sixian , Qiao Baiyu
Published: January 2025

The liquid floated gyro (LFG) is an inertial instrument widely used in aviation, aerospace, navigation, and other high-tech fields, with the advantages of high accuracy and good in-orbit reliability. The filling of internal floating oil is a key process in the manufacture of LFG, however, due to the limitation of technology level, environmental conditions, and other factors, the floating oil may be mixed with a certain amount of air, which affects the rheological characteristics of the oil, thus leading to the accuracy drift of the gyro instrument. Therefore, this paper analyzes the effect of air content on the fluid characteristics of the gyro oil by using the computational fluid dynamics method. The results show that the air content has a significant effect on the oil dynamics: when the air content increases from 0% to 3%, the average flow velocity of the oil decreases by 4.15%, and the viscous interference torque increases by 0.02%, which reduces the stability of the instrument accuracy to a certain extent, so the generation of air bubbles should be avoided or necessary measures should be taken to remove air bubbles during the oil filling process.
Experimental Investigation of Water–Alcohol Mixtures as Working Fluids in a Closed-Loop Two-Phase Thermosiphon
Authors: Baruah Arunjoy , Krishnan Shankar
Published: January 2025

Inverters are a crucial component in electric vehicle drivetrains, and this work attempts to develop and study a thermal management system for inverter cooling. This study aims to develop a low-cost, simple, closed-loop two-phase thermosiphon (CLTPT) to operate as a pumpless loop for power inverter applications. Some alcohols, when mixed with water, show self-rewetting behavior during boiling. Three 2-propanol–water mixtures and three 1-butanol–water mixtures have been studied as working fluids and compared against pure water to ascertain the benefits of alcoholic mixtures on heat transfer performance. The CLTPT was operated in two distinct regimes: (1) heat pipe mode and (2) mixed mode, using a ball valve positioning. Based on the valve position, a stable thermosiphon operation is demonstrated. Effects of operating conditions like condenser coolant inlet temperature and input power level to the thermosiphon have also been investigated. Regarding evaporator plate temperature and heat transfer coefficient, the 15-wt% 2-propanol–water solution outperforms pure water and butanol–water mixture as a working fluid for most test cases. If heat transfer performance is preferred, water outperforms in terms of heat transfer coefficient compared to other fluids tested.
Horn-Shaped Tesla Turbines: Experimental Output Power Comparison With a Conventional Bladeless Design Using Air as the Working Fluid
Authors: Coppo Federico , Bonazza Riccardo , Ludois Daniel C.
Published: January 2025

Tesla turbine designs using flat disks suffer from significant exit loss. It is believed that the working fluid’s 90 degree change in direction at the outlet ports on the disks causes a dramatic decrease in efficiency for Tesla turbines. This work first experimentally characterizes the relationship between disk spacing and turbine efficiency for equally sized flat disk turbines. Then, the established trend is used to guide the construction of three curved blade turbines with the same geometry as their flat disk counterparts that achieve the best efficiency. The turbine efficiency of equally sized flat disk and curved disk turbines is compared. Turbine efficiency is found experimentally by powering an induction machine generator, determining its electromechanical machine losses, and comparing electrical output power to fluid input power and machine losses.
Numerical Simulation of Flow Over a Car and the Effects of Rear Airfoil-Shaped Spoiler
Authors: Ma Xingchuan
Published: January 2025

The aerodynamic properties of a car are crucial for fuel efficiency and mechanical sustainability. Among these properties, the car’s shape is particularly important in reducing air resistance or aerodynamic drag, thus enhancing fuel efficiency. Previous research has shown that the angles of the front and rear windows can affect a car’s aerodynamic performance. Building upon these findings, this study focuses on examining the impact of an airfoil-shaped spoiler on a car model with optimized window angles. First, I conduct computational fluid dynamics simulations to determine an airfoil’s drag and lift coefficients with varying thicknesses and angles of attack. The results reveal that the angle of attack significantly influences the airfoil’s performance, while the effects of thickness depend on the airfoil’s position. Second, I identify an optimal airfoil design and incorporate it as a rear spoiler on a car model. Computational simulations are carried out on car models with and without a rear spoiler. The findings indicate that adding a well-designed rear spoiler can reduce the drag coefficient force by up to 26% and generate additional downward force, further enhancing the car’s ground effect. Further analysis reveals that the airfoil-shaped spoiler can modify the flow structures in the rear region and decrease flow separation, leading to improved pressure and drag force reduction. Future research will explore the spoiler’s position and the relationship between the rear window angle and the spoiler for various car models.
Machinability Enhancement of Bioabsorbable Mg Alloy in µEDM Using Cryo-Treated Electrodes
Authors: Davis Rahul
Published: January 2025

Absorbable biomedical implants or devices are expected to be completely absorbed within the human body during a predetermined period of time. In this relation, Magnesium (Mg) alloys are becoming much popular in the biomedical industry due to their bioabsorbability characteristics. The increasing demand for bioabsorbable implants primarily necessitates the development of manufacturing processes that can produce them in minimum time, better dimensional accuracy, and superior surface features at macro- as well as micro-levels. Micro-electric discharge machining (μ-EDM) is an exceptional process offering low magnitude of force amid material erosion with high precision in terms of dimensional accuracy at a micro-level for several medical implant applications such as bone screws for facial reconstruction. Further, the EDM electrode material plays a noticeable role during the material subtraction since the same can directly affect the output response factors such as geometrical precision, surface integrity (SI), material subtraction rate (MSR), recast layer dimensions, electrode degradation rate etc. In addition, the existing characteristics of an EDM electrode might be remarkably improved by its cryogenic treatment by immersing and holding the same preferably in liquid nitrogen’s (LN2) environment, exhibiting a temperature under −180 °C for a predetermined time span. In the past experimental works, cryogenic treatment notably enhanced the electrode degradation, grain size, and overcut. In this regard, the major focus of this research was to achieve the best machining conditions for Mg AZ31B alloy during μ-EDM using copper and brass μ-electrodes in untreated and cryogenically treated forms. A one-factor-at-a-time (OFAT) optimization approach, according to an idea to ascertain the effect of one factor while all other factors are held constant, was employed to design the experimental trials in this study. OFAT is an influential, although not undoubtedly a structured experimental plan when the variables are individualistic. The findings of this work revealed that cryo-treated copper μ-electrode could noticeably reduce the machining time (MT) by 45.43% and dimensional-error (DE) by 44.79%. Hence, the same was proven to be the best μ-electrode among all the μ-electrodes employed in this research. The comparative analyses showed that the cryogenically (cryo)-treated copper μ-electrode outperformed all the other μ-electrodes by achieving minimum machining-time, dimensional-error, and surface cracks.
Offshore Wind Fixed Foundations: A Technical Analysis Aimed to Simplify Foundations Decisions and Increase Project Efficiency
Authors: Rath Lindsey , Imam Ramy
Published: January 2025

Since Denmark pioneered offshore wind in 1991, the sector’s growth has surged. Despite this progress, offshore wind foundation standards remain minimal. Optimizing foundations can enhance cost-efficiency, easing budget constraints. As demand for renewable energy grows, more global sites are developed, leading to larger turbines and deeper, less ideal locations. This research reviews offshore wind foundation complexities, focusing on monopiles and jackets. This study will analyze global wind farms, considering variables like weather, wind speeds, bathymetry, soil conditions, and marine life. Data will be processed using Microsoft Excel to create visual representations. Additionally, the global supply chain for foundation development and installation will be examined for correlations with wind farm structures. The goal is to develop a simplified foundation decision matrix incorporating environmental variables and dynamic loads to determine feasible foundation types. This matrix will balance environmental factors with global supply chain preferences, simplifying structural analysis. Insights from current offshore wind farms will refine the matrix. This research aims to streamline the process from site acquisition to farm installation, benefiting owners, developers, and investors by explaining foundation choices and associated risks. Future improvements could automate the matrix, enhancing offshore wind farm development efficiency through detailed load and structural analysis.
A One-Dimensional Model of an Oil-Injected Helium Screw Compressor for Cryogenic Refrigeration Systems
Authors: Anthony Scott , Hasan Nusair , Ganni Venkatarao , Engeda Abraham
Published: January 2025

Oil flooded rotary screw compressors are widely used in the field of helium cryogenics to provide the thermodynamic availability necessary to operate a cryogenic plant. Due to helium’s low normal boiling point (NBP, approximately 4.2 K for helium-4) and its inability to freeze (except at high pressures), helium is the only working fluid that can be used in refrigeration systems where temperatures approaching absolute zero are required. The process of cooling helium from ambient temperature (around 300 K) to its NBP is highly energy intensive. For large and efficient helium refrigerators, approximately 250 W of actual input power is required for 1 W of cooling at 4.2 K. Currently, in large systems, compressor skid losses account for approximately one-half of the input power or two-thirds of the total system losses. The focus of this study is to numerically investigate the performance of a helium twin rotary screw compressor in order to better understand the influences of different operating parameters on the overall compressor efficiency. A 1-D model of the gas-oil compression process through a rotary screw compressor is developed and validated against published data. The 1-D model is derived from an energy and mass balance of the gas and oil mixture. Primary parameters investigated in the present study include oil-gas mass ratio, pressure ratio, discharge temperature, and isothermal efficiency. Based on the simulation results, it is observed that the discharge temperature and the isothermal efficiency can exhibit significant variations (up to 25%) depending on the oil-gas mass ratio. The results from the present study will be used to gain insight into how to improve compressor efficiency and specific design changes necessary to enable these improvements.
Enhancing Thermal Insulation in 3D Printed (3DP) Structures Using Date Palm Waste and Local Soil
Authors: Yousaf Arslan , Koç Muammer
Published: January 2025

As global warming leads to increased temperature, the built environment faces challenges in maintaining indoor cooling sufficient for human comfort. Traditional construction materials, such as ordinary Portland cement (OPC), are widely used. Still, they are known to contribute to global warming due to their carbon emissions and poor thermal insulation properties, making built environment structures more reliant on expensive cooling systems in terms of energy and economy. This paper presents an innovative approach utilizing 3D printing (3DP) technology for constructing building structures using locally sourced materials, specifically local soil and date palm fibers. The study involves the fabrication of various porous 3DP four-walled cubical structures using local soil and agricultural waste. The thermal conductivity performance of these structures will be systematically analyzed to demonstrate that adding date palm fibers significantly enhances thermal insulation properties. This research aims to highlight the potential of these improved properties in creating energy-efficient structures, particularly in regions with hot climates such as Qatar. The reduced reliance on cooling technologies, like air conditioning, promotes sustainability by conserving energy and contributes to the principles of a circular economy by utilizing local resources. The study contributes to the evolving field of sustainable construction methods, emphasizing the importance of leveraging indigenous materials for eco-friendly and energy-efficient building practices.
Numerical Simulation of Airfoil Designed With Magnus Effect
Authors: Zhang Qin
Published: January 2025

Within the intricate design of an aircraft, wings play a pivotal role, providing essential lift while often increasing aerodynamic drag. Thus, aerodynamic analysis becomes a critical component in wing design, aiming to maximize lift while minimizing drag to enhance aircraft performance. This paper introduces an innovative approach that combines the Magnus cylinder with conventional airfoil technology, employing computational fluid dynamics (CFD) for numerical simulations. The research explores how varying the Magnus cylinder’s rotational speed can delay the stall angle of attack for the airfoil, thereby enhancing overall aerodynamic efficiency. Additionally, adjustments to the cylinder’s diameter and its relative position are investigated to determine the optimal design configuration. The findings demonstrate that this refined airfoil design not only achieves higher lift and reduced drag but also effectively delays wing stall and mitigates flow separation at the wing’s rear region. The study validates the feasibility of applying the Magnus effect to contemporary wings and opens new pathways for aviation innovation.
Acoustic Emission Analysis and Source Localization With Pencil Lead Breaks on Graphene-Reinforced Epoxy Specimens
Authors: Ewles Michael , Rousseau Griffin , Zhu Linda , Han Je-Heon , Aluko Olanrewaju
Published: January 2025

Graphene-reinforced epoxy materials have become popular in engineering applications because of their advanced mechanical properties, such as their light weight and high strength. When introducing composite materials into structures, it has also brought great interest in how to monitor the functionality of the materials and identify material failure in real-time. Therefore, the structure-health monitoring of such materials has received great attention. Engineers are especially working on understanding the structure of composite materials and whether the mechanical properties and failure behavior could change when the contents vary in the composite materials. There is a broad range of non-destructive testing methods, such as ultrasonic and thermographic tests. In our study, we have chosen the acoustic emission (AE) method because it could be conducted with a minimal number of sensors and provide real-time feedback with a limited signal processing time. The goal of the proposed project was to validate the efficiency of using the AE method to identify the location of failure(s) in the graphene-reinforced structure. Sound source localization algorithms have been widely used with AE technology to identify the location of defects and cracks. It usually collects the time of arrival (TOA) or time differences of arrival (TDOA) at the sensor arrays, and calculates the location of the sound source, saying where the AE is generated by cracks, with the geometry information of the structure. In this project, three different types of samples were prepared, on epoxy with 1%, 2%, and 3% graphene-reinforced. The samples were shaped based on the ASME tensile test specimen standard. During the experiments, two sensors were placed on both ends of a sample, and a pencil lead break was used to produce AE signals at multiple locations in between the sensors on the sample. After each pencil lead break, the time instances of the first hit signal at each sensor were recorded. The TDOA between the two sensors was recorded. Because of the geometric setup of the samples, we simplified it to a two-dimensional problem. With the prior information of the break location measured, the TDOAs were used to identify the speed of sound traveling in the sample. Ten trials at multiple pencil breakpoints were conducted and the accuracy of AE source localization was evaluated. The mean and standard deviation values were plotted. The results of different samples with 1%, 2%, and 3% graphene content were compared. The future work of the project will be to conduct tensile tests on the samples and evaluate the AE localization effectiveness in monitoring fracture location in real-time.
Tensile Testing of Multifunctional Structural Batteries
Authors: Raju Karthikayen , Jiahao Huang , Beng Chye Tan Vincent , Tay Tong-Earn
Published: January 2025

Structural batteries are multifunctional systems that can store electrochemical energy and provide load-bearing capability. An important aspect is the mechanical testing of such multi-functional systems to establish mechanical properties while maintaining electrical functionality. This article proposes a tensile testing protocol while simultaneously cycling the structural pouch batteries electrochemically. Since most batteries require encapsulation and cannot be used in exposed environments, damage to the protective encapsulation (pouch) needs to be avoided to ensure that the battery function is not affected. The protocol ensures that the critical encapsulation layer remains intact. The fabrication and testing of structural batteries in practical operating conditions are demonstrated in this work.

The method is demonstrated with a structural battery (in pouch cell format) fabricated with commercial carbon fibre nylon (CFN) unidirectional composite (which acts as a mechanical substrate onto which the anode and cathode is coated).

The fabricated cells are subjected to mechanical tension load and electrochemical testing simultaneously. The load’s effect on the electrochemical cycling is studied and the cells are observed to cycle electrochemically (i.e. remain functional) even after the conclusion of the mechanical tensile test. The potential of the presented method for structural battery evaluation and development will be discussed.
Experimental and Numerical Analysis of Frost Formation Over a Flat Additive Manufactured Surface
Authors: Demirhan Kaan , Abdusoglu Alper , Hosseini Seyedmehrab , Basol Altug Melik , Arik Mehmet , Mirkoohi Elham
Published: January 2025

Frost formation is a major challenge in the design of heat exchanger components in refrigeration and heat pump systems. The frost layer on the surfaces acts as an insulation layer on the surface which blocks the heat transfer to the surface and reduces the heat transfer capacity of the heat exchanger. Additive manufacturing (AM) has been of interest over the last decade for a wide range of engineering applications and offers certain advantages in the manufacturing of complex geometries.

In this study, a custom-designed AM surface with pins is manufactured and experimentally tested in a closed-loop frosting wind tunnel. The effect of pinned fin geometry of AM plate on frost accumulation is examined. According to the comparison, the influence of the water vapor diffusivity coefficient is studied numerically. The frosting experiments are simulated via a multiphase Eulerian-Eulerian frosting model developed in ANSYS FLUENT, and the results are compared to predict frosting phenomena on these surfaces. It is found that AM surfaces significantly affect frost formation and heat transfer characteristics.
Enhancing Consistency and Controllability in pH-Sensitive Polymer Films: Investigating the Efficacy of Near-Infrared Light Curing in Targeted Drug Delivery Applications
Authors: Taylor Luke , Hirst Gregory , Terry Benjamin
Published: January 2025

This study aims to address the issue of inconsistent thickness in pH-sensitive polymer films used for medical applications. We hypothesize that curing films using Near-Infrared (NIR) light would result in consistent and predictable dissolution times. Two main experiments were conducted, one to compare the thickness consistency of films cured with NIR light and ambient conditions, and another to examine the relationship between film thickness and dissolution time. The thickness of films cured under both conditions was measured at three locations, and a statistical analysis was performed. Films of different thicknesses were exposed to a phosphate buffer solution to measure their time to dissolution. NIR-cured films exhibited a 2.5x lower standard deviation in inter-film thickness and comparable dissolution times to thinner air-cured films. Despite some overlap in thickness ranges, dissolution time appeared to be more dependent on initial solution volume rather than actual film thickness. Our results suggest that the use of NIR light in the curing process can significantly improve the consistency and predictability of pH-sensitive polymer films, making them more suitable for targeted drug delivery applications. Further research could focus on optimizing NIR exposure parameters and exploring long-term stability. This study presents a promising avenue for quality control in the in the field of targeted drug delivery, by enhancing the consistency and controllability of pH-sensitive polymer films through NIR technology. Additionally, for the first time, we have refined and documented a complete process for curing the polymer film solutions by using NIR light.
Testing and Constitutive Modeling of Creep for Wireline Cables
Authors: Zhang Haitao , Abuhaikal Muhannad , Chang Sheng , Singh Viraj , Wen James
Published: January 2025

Wireline cables used in the oil and gas industry can experience substantial length change due to creep during downhole conditions such as elevated temperature, long time duration, extended well depth, and heavy tool weight. Fast and accurate prediction of the length of wireline cables is important for positioning downhole tools being conveyed and for quality of services. In this study, we develop a method that couples constitutive modeling and testing of wireline cables for predicting creep of wireline cables under temperature and tension load. Creep test data are used to calibrate coefficients of the Voigt-Wiechert model to predict elongation of the cable. The calibrated constitutive model is verified in ABAQUS with finite element modeling by comparing the model predicted creep and test measurement. The developed test procedure can be applied to other wireline cables. The constitutive model can be easily implemented in computer programs for real-time prediction and control of wireline depth under complex job conditions.
Analytical and Numerical Implementation of Microelement Plastic Strain Accumulation Model for Rotating Bending Fatigue Life Prediction
Authors: Gopalakrishnan Vignesh Kumar , Venkatesh Bhukya , Vedantam Srikanth
Published: January 2025

In this paper, we present an analytical and numerical solution of the Microelement Plastic Strain Accumulation (MPSA) model for rotating bending fatigue life prediction to investigate the effect of the spatial arrangement of heterogeneities and its associated scatter. The MPSA model is based on a modified Jenkin-Masing model, where the distribution of microscale heterogeneities in the material is captured using discrete uniaxial linear elastic-perfectly plastic microelements arranged in parallel. We employ this model to study monotonic stress-strain response, moment-curvature response, and the corresponding bending fatigue life for different spatial arrangements of the same set of microelements, whose yield strengths follow a uniform distribution. The results provide insights into the limits of scatter in rotating bending fatigue life and endurance strength.