bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
PtAu Nanoparticles Supported by Reduced Graphene Oxide as a Highly Active Catalyst for Hydrogen Evolution
Authors: Rakočević Lazar , Simatović Ivana Stojković , Maksić Aleksandar , Rajić Vladimir , Štrbac Svetlana , Srejić Irina
Published: January 2022

PtAu nanoparticles spontaneously deposited on graphene support, PtAu/rGO, have shown remarkably high catalytic activity for hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) in sulfuric acid solution. SEM images of the PtAu/rGO electrode surface showed that Pt nanoparticles that are non-uniform in size occupy both the edges of previously deposited uniform Au nanoparticles and the edges of graphene support. XPS analysis showed that the atomic percentages of Au and Pt in PtAu/rGO were 0.6% and 0.3%, respectively. The atomic percentage of Au alone on previously prepared Au/rGO was 0.7%. Outstanding HER activity was achieved for the PtAu/rGO electrode, showing the initial potential close to the equilibrium potential for HER and a low Tafel slope of −38 mV/dec. This was confirmed by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. The chronoamperometric measurement performed for 40 min for hydrogen evolution at a constant potential indicated good stability and durability of the PtAu/rGO electrode.
Impact of Motile Ciliopathies on Human Development and Clinical Consequences in the Newborn
Authors: Hyland Rachael M. , Brody Steven L.
Published: January 2022

Motile cilia are hairlike organelles that project outward from a tissue-restricted subset of cells to direct fluid flow. During human development motile cilia guide determination of the left-right axis in the embryo, and in the fetal and neonatal periods they have essential roles in airway clearance in the respiratory tract and regulating cerebral spinal fluid flow in the brain. Dysregulation of motile cilia is best understood through the lens of the genetic disorder primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD). PCD encompasses all genetic motile ciliopathies resulting from over 60 known genetic mutations and has a unique but often underrecognized neonatal presentation. Neonatal respiratory distress is now known to occur in the majority of patients with PCD, laterality defects are common, and very rarely brain ventricle enlargement occurs. The developmental function of motile cilia and the effect and pathophysiology of motile ciliopathies are incompletely understood in humans. In this review, we will examine the current understanding of the role of motile cilia in human development and clinical considerations when assessing the newborn for suspected motile ciliopathies.
A Broad-Spectrum Chemokine Inhibitor Blocks Inflammation-Induced Myometrial Myocyte–Macrophage Crosstalk and Myometrial Contraction
Authors: Boros-Rausch Adam , Shynlova Oksana , Lye Stephen James
Published: January 2022

Prophylactic administration of the broad-spectrum chemokine inhibitor (BSCI) FX125L has been shown to suppress uterine contraction, prevent preterm birth (PTB) induced by Group B Streptococcus in nonhuman primates, and inhibit uterine cytokine/chemokine expression in a murine model of bacterial endotoxin (LPS)-induced PTB. This study aimed to determine the mechanism(s) of BSCI action on human myometrial smooth muscle cells. We hypothesized that BSCI prevents infection-induced contraction of uterine myocytes by inhibiting the secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines, the expression of contraction-associated proteins and disruption of myocyte interaction with tissue macrophages. Myometrial biopsies and peripheral blood were collected from women at term (not in labour) undergoing an elective caesarean section. Myocytes were isolated and treated with LPS with/out BSCI; conditioned media was collected; cytokine secretion was analyzed by ELISA; and protein expression was detected by immunoblotting and immunocytochemistry. Functional gap junction formation was assessed by parachute assay. Collagen lattices were used to examine myocyte contraction with/out blood-derived macrophages and BSCI. We found that BSCI inhibited (1) LPS-induced activation of transcription factor NF-kB; (2) secretion of chemokines (MCP-1/CCL2 and IL-8/CXCL8); (3) Connexin43-mediated intercellular connectivity, thereby preventing myocyte–macrophage crosstalk; and (4) myocyte contraction. BSCI represents novel therapeutics for prevention of inflammation-induced PTB in women.
Drosophila D-idua Reduction Mimics Mucopolysaccharidosis Type I Disease-Related Phenotypes
Authors: De Filippis Concetta , Napoli Barbara , Rigon Laura , Guarato Giulia , Bauer Reinhard , Tomanin Rosella , Orso Genny
Published: January 2022

Deficit of the IDUA (α-L-iduronidase) enzyme causes the lysosomal storage disorder mucopolysaccharidosis type I (MPS I), a rare pediatric neurometabolic disease, due to pathological variants in the IDUA gene and is characterized by the accumulation of the undegraded mucopolysaccharides heparan sulfate and dermatan sulfate into lysosomes, with secondary cellular consequences that are still mostly unclarified. Here, we report a new fruit fly RNAi-mediated knockdown model of a IDUA homolog (D-idua) displaying a phenotype mimicking some typical molecular features of Lysosomal Storage Disorders (LSD). In this study, we showed that D-idua is a vital gene in Drosophila and that ubiquitous reduction of its expression leads to lethality during the pupal stage, when the precise degradation/synthesis of macromolecules, together with a functional autophagic pathway, are indispensable for the correct development to the adult stage. Tissue-specific analysis of the D-idua model showed an increase in the number and size of lysosomes in the brain and muscle. Moreover, the incorrect acidification of lysosomes led to dysfunctional lysosome-autophagosome fusion and the consequent block of autophagy flux. A concomitant metabolic drift of glycolysis and lipogenesis pathways was observed. After starvation, D-idua larvae showed a quite complete rescue of both autophagy/lysosome phenotypes and metabolic alterations. Metabolism and autophagy are strictly interconnected vital processes that contribute to maintain homeostatic control of energy balance, and little is known about this regulation in LSDs. Our results provide new starting points for future investigations on the disease’s pathogenic mechanisms and possible pharmacological manipulations.
Risk Stratification and Treatment in Smoldering Multiple Myeloma
Authors: Lussier Tyler , Schoebe Natalie , Mai Sabine
Published: January 2022

Smoldering multiple myeloma is a heterogeneous asymptomatic precursor to multiple myeloma. Since its identification in 1980, risk stratification models have been developed using two main stratification methods: clinical measurement-based and genetics-based. Clinical measurement models can be subdivided in three types: baseline measurements (performed at diagnosis), evolving measurements (performed over time during follow-up appointments), and imaging (for example, magnetic resonance imaging). Genetic approaches include gene expression profiling, DNA/RNA sequencing, and cytogenetics. It is important to accurately distinguish patients with indolent disease from those with aggressive disease, as clinical trials have shown that patients designated as “high-risk of progression” have improved outcomes when treated early. The risk stratification models, and clinical trials are discussed in this review.
Substrate- and Calcium-Dependent Differential Regulation of Mitochondrial Oxidative Phosphorylation and Energy Production in the Heart and Kidney
Authors: Zhang Xiao , Tomar Namrata , Kandel Sunil M. , Audi Said H. , Cowley Allen W. , Dash Ranjan K.
Published: January 2022

Mitochondrial dehydrogenases are differentially stimulated by Ca2+. Ca2+ has also diverse regulatory effects on mitochondrial transporters and other enzymes. However, the consequences of these regulatory effects on mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation (OxPhos) and ATP production, and the dependencies of these consequences on respiratory substrates, have not been investigated between the kidney and heart despite the fact that kidney energy requirements are second only to those of the heart. Our objective was, therefore, to elucidate these relationships in isolated mitochondria from the kidney outer medulla (OM) and heart. ADP-induced mitochondrial respiration was measured at different CaCl2 concentrations in the presence of various respiratory substrates, including pyruvate + malate (PM), glutamate + malate (GM), alpha-ketoglutarate + malate (AM), palmitoyl-carnitine + malate (PCM), and succinate + rotenone (SUC + ROT). The results showed that, in both heart and OM mitochondria, and for most complex I substrates, Ca2+ effects are biphasic: small increases in Ca2+ concentration stimulated, while large increases inhibited mitochondrial respiration. Furthermore, significant differences in substrate- and Ca2+-dependent O2 utilization towards ATP production between heart and OM mitochondria were observed. With PM and PCM substrates, Ca2+ showed more prominent stimulatory effects in OM than in heart mitochondria, while with GM and AM substrates, Ca2+ had similar biphasic regulatory effects in both OM and heart mitochondria. In contrast, with complex II substrate SUC + ROT, only inhibitory effects on mitochondrial respiration was observed in both the heart and the OM. We conclude that the regulatory effects of Ca2+ on mitochondrial OxPhos and ATP synthesis are biphasic, substrate-dependent, and tissue-specific.
Caspase-1-Dependent Pyroptosis Mediates Adjuvant Activity of Platycodin D as an Adjuvant for Intramuscular Vaccines
Authors: Zhu Liyan , Han Ziyi , He Yanfei , Sun Hongxiang
Published: January 2022

Platycodin D (PD) is a potent adjuvant with dual Th1 and Th2 potentiating activity, but its mechanisms of action remain unclear. Here, the C2C12 myoblast cell line and mice were used as in vitro and in vivo models to identify potential signaling pathways involved in the adjuvant activity of PD. PD induced a transient cytotoxicity and inflammatory response in the C2C12 cells and in mouse quadricep muscles. A comparative analysis of microarray data revealed that PD induced similar gene expression profiles in the C2C12 cells and in the quadricep muscles, and triggered rapid regulation of death, immune, and inflammation-related genes, both in vivo and in vitro. It was further demonstrated that caspase-1-dependent pyroptosis was involved in the PD-induced cytotoxicity and inflammatory response in the C2C12 cells via the Ca2+–c-jun N-terminal kinase (JNK)/p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK)–NLR family pyrin domain containing 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome signaling pathway. Consistently, the in vivo analysis revealed that a local blockage of NLRP3 and caspase-1 inhibited PD-induced cytokine production and immune cell recruitment at the injection site, and impaired the adjuvant activity of PD on antigen-specific immune responses to model antigen ovalbumin (OVA) in mice. These findings identified the caspase-1-dependent adjuvanticity of PD and expanded the current knowledge on the mechanisms of action of saponin-based adjuvants.
Rescue of Mutant CFTR Trafficking Defect by the Investigational Compound MCG1516A
Authors: Lopes-Pacheco Miquéias , Bacalhau Mafalda , Ramalho Sofia S. , Silva Iris A. L. , Ferreira Filipa C. , Carlile Graeme W. , Thomas David Y. , Farinha Carlos M. , Hanrahan John W. , Amaral Margarida D.
Published: January 2022

Although some therapeutic progress has been achieved in developing small molecules that correct F508del-CFTR defects, the mechanism of action (MoA) of these compounds remain poorly elucidated. Here, we investigated the effects and MoA of MCG1516A, a newly developed F508del-CFTR corrector. MCG1516A effects on wild-type (WT) and F508del-CFTR were assessed by immunofluorescence microscopy, and biochemical and functional assays both in cell lines and in intestinal organoids. To shed light on the MoA of MCG1516A, we evaluated its additivity to the FDA-approved corrector VX-661, low temperature, genetic revertants of F508del-CFTR (G550E, R1070W, and 4RK), and the traffic-null variant DD/AA. Finally, we explored the ability of MCG1516A to rescue trafficking and function of other CF-causing mutations. We found that MCG1516A rescues F508del-CFTR with additive effects to VX-661. A similar behavior was observed for WT-CFTR. Under low temperature incubation, F508del-CFTR demonstrated an additivity in processing and function with VX-661, but not with MCG1516A. In contrast, both compounds promoted additional effects to low temperature to WT-CFTR. MCG1516A demonstrated additivity to genetic revertant R1070W, while VX-661 was additive to G550E and 4RK. Nevertheless, none of these compounds rescued DD/AA trafficking. Both MCG1516A and VX-661 rescued CFTR processing of L206W- and R334W-CFTR with greater effects when these compounds were combined. In summary, the absence of additivity of MCG1516A to genetic revertant G550E suggests a putative binding site for this compound on NBD1:NBD2 interface. Therefore, a combination of MCG1516A with compounds able to rescue DD/AA traffic, or mimicking the actions of revertant R1070W (e.g., VX-661), could enhance correction of F508del-CFTR defects.
Structural Aspects of LIMK Regulation and Pharmacology
Authors: Chatterjee Deep , Preuss Franziska , Dederer Verena , Knapp Stefan , Mathea Sebastian
Published: January 2022

Malfunction of the actin cytoskeleton is linked to numerous human diseases including neurological disorders and cancer. LIMK1 (LIM domain kinase 1) and its paralogue LIMK2 are two closely related kinases that control actin cytoskeleton dynamics. Consequently, they are potential therapeutic targets for the treatment of such diseases. In the present review, we describe the LIMK conformational space and its dependence on ligand binding. Furthermore, we explain the unique catalytic mechanism of the kinase, shedding light on substrate recognition and how LIMK activity is regulated. The structural features are evaluated for implications on the drug discovery process. Finally, potential future directions for targeting LIMKs pharmacologically, also beyond just inhibiting the kinase domain, are discussed.
Generation of Spike-Extracellular Vesicles (S-EVs) as a Tool to Mimic SARS-CoV-2 Interaction with Host Cells
Authors: Verta Roberta , Grange Cristina , Skovronova Renata , Tanzi Adele , Peruzzi Licia , Deregibus Maria Chiara , Camussi Giovanni , Bussolati Benedetta
Published: January 2022

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) and viruses share common features: size, structure, biogenesis and uptake. In order to generate EVs expressing the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein on their surface (S-EVs), we collected EVs from SARS-CoV-2 spike expressing human embryonic kidney (HEK-293T) cells by stable transfection with a vector coding for the S1 and S2 subunits. S-EVs were characterized using nanoparticle tracking analysis, ExoView and super-resolution microscopy. We obtained a population of EVs of 50 to 200 nm in size. Spike expressing EVs represented around 40% of the total EV population and co-expressed spike protein with tetraspanins on the surfaces of EVs. We subsequently used ACE2-positive endothelial and bronchial epithelial cells for assessing the internalization of labeled S-EVs using a cytofluorimetric analysis. Internalization of S-EVs was higher than that of control EVs from non-transfected cells. Moreover, S-EV uptake was significantly decreased by anti-ACE2 antibody pre-treatment. Furthermore, colchicine, a drug currently used in clinical trials, significantly reduced S-EV entry into the cells. S-EVs represent a simple, safe, and scalable model to study host-virus interactions and the mechanisms of novel therapeutic drugs.
Wave Analysis for Offshore Aquaculture Projects: A Case Study for the Eastern Mediterranean Sea
Authors: Karathanasi Flora E. , Soukissian Takvor H. , Hayes Daniel R.
Published: January 2022

The investigation of wave climate is of primary concern for the successful implementation of offshore aquaculture systems as waves can cause significant loads on them. Up until now, site selection and design (or selection) of offshore cage system structures on extended sea areas do not seem to follow any specific guidelines. This paper presents a novel methodology for the identification of favorable sites for offshore aquaculture development in an extended sea area based on two important technical factors: (i) the detailed characterization of the wave climate, and (ii) the water depth. Long-term statistics of the significant wave height, peak wave period, and wave steepness are estimated on an annual and monthly temporal scale, along with variability measures. Extreme value analysis is applied to estimate the design values and associated return periods of the significant wave height; structures should be designed based on this data, to avoid partial or total failure. The Eastern Mediterranean Sea is selected as a case study, and long-term time series of wave spectral parameters from the ERA5 dataset are utilized. Based on the obtained results, the most favorable areas for offshore aquaculture installations have been identified.
Sustainability Evaluation of Cold In-Place Recycling and Hot Mix Asphalt Pavements: A Case of Qassim, Saudi Arabia
Authors: Alharbi Fawaz , Alshubrumi Fahad , Almoshaogeh Meshal , Haider Husnain , Elragi Ahmed , Elkholy Sherif
Published: January 2022

The construction of conventional hot mix asphalt (HMA) pavements results in a number of economic and environmental issues, such as the cost of new overlays and associated impacts on natural resources. Although the cold recycling with an emulsified asphalt-recycling agent holds certain benefits over the HMA, its implementation on different road types, ranging from farm-to-market roads to expressways, is yet contentious due to the need for sophisticated equipment and trained workforce. The present research developed a methodology to evaluate all the three dimensions of sustainability, including economic (construction cost), environmental (natural resource depletion), and social (need for advanced equipment and skilled labor) of various scenarios of RAP and conventional asphalt pavements. The present study evaluated an equivalent thickness of the Cold In-place Recycling (CIR) pavement, which behaves similar to HMA pavement under the influence of different traffic loads. Fifty CIR and HMA scenarios for different traffic volumes and pavement layers thicknesses were developed. Finally, the sustainability of all the scenarios was evaluated for traffic designation in Saudi Arabia using fuzzy-based multicriteria analysis. Ranking of scenarios found CIR as a more sustainable overlay option for the feeders, collectors, main urban streets, expressways, and heavily trafficked highways in industrial areas where ESALs (Equivalent Single Axle Loads) range between 2,000,000 and >31,000,000. Considering the limited availability of advanced equipment and skilled labor for CIR pavements, HMA was found be a more sustainable option for farm-to-market roads with the “very light” traffic class. The methodology will help the pavement managers in decision making regarding the selection of sustainable pavement technologies for different road types in Saudi Arabia and the rest of the world.
Stiffness Data of High-Modulus Asphalt Concretes for Road Pavements: Predictive Modeling by Machine-Learning
Authors: Baldo Nicola , Miani Matteo , Rondinella Fabio , Valentin Jan , Vackcová Pavla , Manthos Evangelos
Published: January 2022

This paper presents a study about a Machine Learning approach for modeling the stiffness of different high-modulus asphalt concretes (HMAC) prepared in the laboratory with harder paving grades or polymer-modified bitumen which were designed with or without reclaimed asphalt (RA) content. Notably, the mixtures considered in this study are not part of purposeful experimentation in support of modeling, but practical solutions developed in actual mix design processes. Since Machine Learning models require a careful definition of the network hyperparameters, a Bayesian optimization process was used to identify the neural topology, as well as the transfer function, optimal for the type of modeling needed. By employing different performance metrics, it was possible to compare the optimal models obtained by diversifying the type of inputs. Using variables related to the mix composition, namely bitumen content, air voids, maximum and average bulk density, along with a categorical variable that distinguishes the bitumen type and RAP percentages, successful predictions of the Stiffness have been obtained, with a determination coefficient (R2) value equal to 0.9909. Nevertheless, the use of additional input, namely the Marshall stability or quotient, allows the Stiffness prediction to be further improved, with R2 values equal to 0.9938 or 0.9922, respectively. However, the cost and time involved in the Marshall test may not justify such a slight prediction improvement.
Reducing the Energy Consumption of Circular Saws in the Cutting Process of Plywood
Authors: Fekiač Jozef , Svoreň Ján , Gáborík Jozef , Němec Miroslav
Published: January 2022

Cutting, as the most widely used machining process, is applied in both primary and secondary wood processing. Optimum cutting conditions that result in the high quality of the machined surface and low energy consumption are crucial for wood processing. The effects of the feed speed, cutting speed and average chip thickness on the energy consumption and surface temperature of a circular saw blade during the cutting process of two types of plywood with a thickness of h = 14 mm is described in this paper. In experimental measurements, two circular saw blades with cutting tungsten carbide inserts for wood were used as tools. One circular saw blade was standard, and was not surface treated (CSB1), and second circular saw blade (CSB2) differed by the powder coating surface and the length of the cutting edge. In the experiment, the energy consumption and the surface temperature of the circular saw blade was measured in order to find the optimal cutting conditions for the most energy-efficient cutting process. The results show that the cutting power and the surface temperature of the circular saw blade increased when the feed speed increased. The investigated values of the surface-treated circular saw blade were lower compared to the values of the standard circular saw blade. When comparing the lightweight plywood with the classic plywood, experimentally obtained cutting power values of the circular saw were made 19% lower on average by using the circular saw blade CSB1. When using the CSB2 circular saw blade, these values of the cutting power of the circular saw were 22% lower on average. The surface temperature of the circular saw blade is the highest on the outer edge (tooth root area 31.7 °C) and decreases towards the center of the circular saw blade. There must be a reasonable compromise between machine productivity and energy consumption.
Effects of Grain Boundary Angles on Initial Deformation of 304 Austenitic Stainless Steel under Nanoindentation: A Molecular Dynamics Simulation
Authors: Yang Longlong , Sun Kun , Peng Weixiang , Li Xuejie , Zhang Liang
Published: January 2022

Nitrogen-containing 0Cr19Ni10 (304 NG) austenitic stainless steel plays a significant role in Generation IV reactor pressure vessels. The structure and properties of 304 NG are heavily influenced by the grain boundaries (GBs), especially the initial mechanical response and dislocation evolutions. Hence, in this paper, we carried out molecular dynamics (MD) simulations to investigate the effects of the GB angles on the initial deformation of 304 models under nanoindentation. It is found that the GB angle has great effects on the mechanical properties of 304 NG. With the GB angles changing from 90° to 150°, the values of Young’s modulus and maximum shear stress first decrease and then increase due to decreasing of the interaction among the GBs and the grain interiors (GIs) and the smoother shape of GBs. The hardening region slope decreases rapidly result from the GB angles changing the grain size on the both sides, which fully fits the Hall–Petch relationship. After the dislocations reaching the GBs along the slip system, the dislocation piles-up on the GBs at first, and then GBs serve as a source of dislocation and emit dislocation to free surface with the depth of nanoindentation increasing. This work provides a better understanding on the angle effects of GBs in materials.
Is Elevation of Alkaline Phosphatase a Predictive Factor of Response to Alectinib in NSCLC?
Authors: Shalata Walid , Yakobson Alexander , Steckbeck Rachel , Jama Ashraf Abu , Abu Saleh Omar , Agbarya Abed
Published: January 2022

In the following report, we describe a case of alkaline phosphatase (ALP) elevation occurring during treatment with alectinib (Alecensa™), which was administered for anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) mutated metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (mNSCLC). A 51 year-old female with widespread metastatic disease exhibited a rapid and significant response within a very short period to alectinib therapy, accompanied by a rapid increase of ALP to more than six times the upper limit of normal (grade 3) ALP, decreasing to within normal limits within 3 weeks after initiation of therapy without any dose modification.
Landscape Planning for Conservation: The Case of the Flora and Fauna Protection Area “Sierra de San Miguelito”, San Luis Potosi, Mexico
Authors: Hernández Gerardo A. , Rosete Fernando A. , Salas Lidia , Alvarado Luis F. , Martinez Juan , Sanchez José F.
Published: January 2022

A supporting study was developed to identify the priority elements for conservation in the region called “Sierra de San Miguelito” (SSM), in the San Luis Potosi State (SLP), Mexico, with the purpose of establishing a federal protected natural area (PNA). The methodological approach used was the integral-spatial analysis applied in territorial planning processes. The study showed that the forests, xerophilous scrubland, and natural grasslands of the SSM present a high biodiversity, an abundance of endemism (27% of species are endemic to the country, n = 285), and protected species (5% of reported species). In addition, 32.74% of vertebrates and 18.32% of flora reported for SLP status is present in SSM, with an area that represents only 1.79% of the state territory. As a result of the study, an area of 109,638.95 ha was proposed to be declared a federally PNA. The area provides environmental services that favor the San Luis Potosí city (SLPc) and the surrounding population; therefore, its conservation will promote the preservation of natural, cultural, and landscape heritage, being a transversal axis for sustainable development in its area of influence. The result was the basis for starting the negotiation process, developed in 2021, for the creation of the PNA.
The Joint Contributions of Environmental Filtering and Spatial Processes to Macroinvertebrate Metacommunity Dynamics in the Alpine Stream Environment of Baima Snow Mountain, Southwest China
Authors: Farooq Muhammad , Li Xianfu , Li Zhengfei , Yang Ronglong , Tian Zhen , Tan Lu , Fornacca Davide , Li Yanpeng , Cili Nima , Ciren Zhongyong , Liu Shuoran , Xiao Wen
Published: January 2022

While macroinvertebrates are extensively investigated in many river ecosystems, meta-community ecology perspectives in alpine streams are very limited. We assessed the role of ecological factors and temporal dynamics in the macroinvertebrate meta-community assembly of an alpine stream situated in a dry-hot valley of Baima Snow Mountain, China. We found that spatial structuring and environmental filtering jointly drive the structure of macroinvertebrate meta-community, with relative contributions to the variance in community composition changing over time. RDA ordination and variation partitioning indicate that environmental variables are the most important predictors of community organization in most scenarios, whereas spatial determinants also play a significant role. Moreover, the explanatory power, identity, and the relative significance of ecological factors change over time. Particularly, in the years 2018 and 2019, stronger environmental filtering was found shaping community assembly, suggesting that deterministic mechanisms predominated in driving community dynamics. However, spatial factors had a stronger predictive power on meta-community structures in 2017, implying conspicuous dispersal mechanisms which may be owing to increased connectivity amongst sites. Thereby, we inferred that the alpine stream macroinvertebrate metacommunity composition can be regulated by the interaction of both spatial processes and environmental filtering, with relative contributions varying over time. Based on these findings, we suggest that community ecology studies in aquatic systems should be designed beyond single snapshot investigations.
Are Congenital Cervical Block Vertebrae a Risk Factor for Adjacent Segment Disease? A Retrospective Cross-Sectional CT and MR Imaging Study
Authors: Jung Cornelius , Asbach Patrick , Niehues Stefan M.
Published: January 2022

Adjacent segment disease (ASDI) is a well-described complication of spinal fusion surgery that may ultimately lead to spinal stenosis and repeated surgical intervention. Although congenital block vertebrae also present with degenerative changes in the adjacent segments, this has not yet been systematically investigated. The aim of this study was to assess the presence and degree of ASDI in congenital cervical block vertebrae. Methods: A total of 51 patients with congenital vertebral fusion in one cervical segment were analysed in this IRB-approved retrospective cross-sectional study using available CT/MR imaging. Exclusion criteria were prior spinal surgery and the presence of additional hereditary abnormalities. We assessed the severity of degenerative changes using a sum score. The sum score for adjacent and non-adjacent segments was then divided by the highest possible degeneration score, which resulted in a ratio of severity for adjacent and remaining segments (ranging from 0 to 1). Results: Overall, 35 of 51 patients (68.6%) showed evidence of ASDI, and 34 of 51 patients (66.7%) also showed degenerative changes in the remaining segments. The severity score was significantly higher (p = 0.025) in the segments adjacent to the congenital block vertebrae (mean value 0.307) compared to the non-adjacent segments (mean value 0.188). Conclusions: Our results suggest that ASDI is also caused by congenital block vertebrae of the cervical spine.
Prediction of Bacteremia Based on 12-Year Medical Data Using a Machine Learning Approach: Effect of Medical Data by Extraction Time
Authors: Lee Kyoung Hwa , Dong Jae June , Kim Subin , Kim Dayeong , Hyun Jong Hoon , Chae Myeong-Hun , Lee Byeong Soo , Song Young Goo
Published: January 2022

Early detection of bacteremia is important to prevent antibiotic abuse. Therefore, we aimed to develop a clinically applicable bacteremia prediction model using machine learning technology. Data from two tertiary medical centers’ electronic medical records during a 12-year-period were extracted. Multi-layer perceptron (MLP), random forest, and gradient boosting algorithms were applied for machine learning analysis. Clinical data within 12 and 24 hours of blood culture were analyzed and compared. Out of 622,771 blood cultures, 38,752 episodes of bacteremia were identified. In MLP with 128 hidden layer nodes, the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC) of the prediction performance in 12- and 24-h data models was 0.762 (95% confidence interval (CI); 0.7617–0.7623) and 0.753 (95% CI; 0.7520–0.7529), respectively. AUROC of causative-pathogen subgroup analysis predictive value for Acinetobacter baumannii bacteremia was the highest at 0.839 (95% CI; 0.8388–0.8394). Compared to primary bacteremia, AUROC of sepsis caused by pneumonia was highest. Predictive performance of bacteremia was superior in younger age groups. Bacteremia prediction using machine learning technology appeared possible for acute infectious diseases. This model was more suitable especially to pneumonia caused by Acinetobacter baumannii. From the 24-h blood culture data, bacteremia was predictable by substituting only the continuously variable values.
Processing and Interpretation of UAV Magnetic Data: A Workflow Based on Improved Variational Mode Decomposition and Levenberg–Marquardt Algorithm
Authors: Zheng Yaoxin , Li Shiyan , Xing Kang , Zhang Xiaojuan
Published: January 2022

Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) have become a research hotspot in the field of magnetic exploration because of their unique advantages, e.g., low cost, high safety, and easy to operate. However, the lack of effective data processing and interpretation method limits their further deployment. In view of this situation, a complete workflow of UAV magnetic data processing and interpretation is proposed in this paper, which can be divided into two steps: (1) the improved variational mode decomposition (VMD) is applied to the original data to improve its signal-to-noise ratio as much as possible, and the decomposition modes number K is determined adaptively according to the mode characteristics; (2) the parameters of target position and magnetic moment are obtained by Euler deconvolution first, and then used as the prior information of the Levenberg–Marquardt (LM) algorithm to further improve its accuracy. Experiments are carried out to verify the effectiveness of the proposed method. Results show that the proposed method can significantly improve the quality of the original data; by combining the Euler deconvolution and LM algorithm, the horizontal positioning error can be reduced from 15.31 cm to 4.05 cm, and the depth estimation error can be reduced from 16.2 cm to 5.4 cm. Moreover, the proposed method can be used not only for the detection and location of near-surface targets, but also for the follow-up work, such as the clearance of targets (e.g., the unexploded ordnance).
Application of Entropy Method to Quantify Future Ecological Flow in the Yellow River Basin
Authors: Wang Xinru , Cui Huijuan
Published: January 2022

Due to both anthropogenic and climate change impacts, precipitation and runoff in the Yellow River basin have decreased in the past 50 years, leading to more pressure in sustaining human beings and ecosystem needs. It is essential to evaluate the flow condition in the Yellow River basin and see whether it may satisfy its ecological flow in the future. Therefore, this study applied an entropy-based method to calculate the flow duration curves from both observed and simulated data to evaluate the impact of climate change on ecological flow in the Yellow River basin. The simulated FDCs from H08 and DBH models show good agreement with each other and fit observation well. Results show that the decadal FDC at each station is generally predicted to be higher or stay in the higher range under both RCP 2.6 and 8.5 scenarios, suggesting an increase in water amount in the future. It is found that the high flows increase much faster than the low flows, resulting in larger slopes than the references ones, which is due to the larger entropy and M values in the future. At most of the stations, the future values of Q95 and Q90 will safely exceed the threshold. It is found that at the Lanzhou, Wubao, Longmen, and Huayuankou stations, there will be no or little threat to future ecological flow. Still, at the Toudaoguai and Sanmanxia stations, the ecological requirement is not always satisfied. The water stress at the Tangnaihai station from the upper stream of the Yellow River may be threatened in the future.
On a 2-Relative Entropy
Authors: Fullwood James
Published: January 2022

We construct a 2-categorical extension of the relative entropy functor of Baez and Fritz, and show that our construction is functorial with respect to vertical morphisms. Moreover, we show such a ‘2-relative entropy’ satisfies natural 2-categorial analogues of convex linearity, vanishing under optimal hypotheses, and lower semicontinuity. While relative entropy is a relative measure of information between probability distributions, we view our construction as a relative measure of information between channels.
Nonequilibrium Time Reversibility with Maps and Walks
Authors: Hoover William Graham , Hoover Carol Griswold , Smith Edward Ronald
Published: January 2022

Time-reversible dynamical simulations of nonequilibrium systems exemplify both Loschmidt’s and Zermélo’s paradoxes. That is, computational time-reversible simulations invariably produce solutions consistent with the irreversible Second Law of Thermodynamics (Loschmidt’s) as well as periodic in the time (Zermélo’s, illustrating Poincaré recurrence). Understanding these paradoxical aspects of time-reversible systems is enhanced here by studying the simplest pair of such model systems. The first is time-reversible, but nevertheless dissipative and periodic, the piecewise-linear compressible Baker Map. The fractal properties of that two-dimensional map are mirrored by an even simpler example, the one-dimensional random walk, confined to the unit interval. As a further puzzle the two models yield ambiguities in determining the fractals’ information dimensions. These puzzles, including the classical paradoxes, are reviewed and explored here.
Numerical Investigation of Heat Transfer Characteristics of scCO2 Flowing in a Vertically-Upward Tube with High Mass Flux
Authors: Gong Kaigang , Zhu Bingguo , Peng Bin , He Jixiang
Published: January 2022

In this work, the heat transfer characteristics of supercritical pressure CO2 in vertical heating tube with 10 mm inner diameter under high mass flux were investigated by using an SST k-ω turbulent model. The influences of inlet temperature, heat flux, mass flux, buoyancy and flow acceleration on the heat transfer of supercritical pressure CO2 were discussed. Our results show that the buoyancy and flow acceleration effect based on single phase fluid assumption fail to explain the current simulation results. Here, supercritical pseudo-boiling theory is introduced to deal with heat transfer of scCO2. scCO2 is treated to have a heterogeneous structure consisting of vapor-like fluid and liquid-like fluid. A physical model of scCO2 heat transfer in vertical heating tube was established containing a gas-like layer near the wall and a liquid-like fluid layer. Detailed distribution of thermophysical properties and turbulence in radial direction show that scCO2 heat transfer is greatly affected by the thickness of gas-like film, thermal properties of gas-like film and turbulent kinetic energy in the near-wall region. Buoyancy parameters Bu < 10−5, Bu* < 5.6 × 10−7 and flow acceleration parameter Kv < 3 × 10−6 in this paper, which indicate that buoyancy effect and flow acceleration effect has no influence on heat transfer of scCO2 under high mass fluxes. This work successfully explains the heat transfer mechanism of supercritical fluid under high mass flux.
Palindromic Vectors, Symmetropy and Symmentropy as Symmetry Descriptors of Binary Data
Authors: Girault Jean-Marc , Ménigot Sébastien
Published: January 2022

Today, the palindromic analysis of biological sequences, based exclusively on the study of “mirror” symmetry properties, is almost unavoidable. However, other types of symmetry, such as those present in friezes, could allow us to analyze binary sequences from another point of view. New tools, such as symmetropy and symmentropy, based on new types of palindromes allow us to discriminate binarized 1/f noise sequences better than Lempel–Ziv complexity. These new palindromes with new types of symmetry also allow for better discrimination of binarized DNA sequences. A relative error of 6% of symmetropy is obtained from the HUMHBB and YEAST1 DNA sequences. A factor of 4 between the slopes obtained from the linear fits of the local symmentropies for the two DNA sequences shows the discriminative capacity of the local symmentropy. Moreover, it is highlighted that a certain number of these new palindromes of sizes greater than 30 bits are more discriminating than those of smaller sizes assimilated to those from an independent and identically distributed random variable.
The Law of Entropy Increase and the Meissner Effect
Authors: Nikulov Alexey
Published: January 2022

The law of entropy increase postulates the existence of irreversible processes in physics: the total entropy of an isolated system can increase, but cannot decrease. The annihilation of an electric current in normal metal with the generation of Joule heat because of a non-zero resistance is a well-known example of an irreversible process. The persistent current, an undamped electric current observed in a superconductor, annihilates after the transition into the normal state. Therefore, this transition was considered as an irreversible thermodynamic process before 1933. However, if this transition is irreversible, then the Meissner effect discovered in 1933 is experimental evidence of a process reverse to the irreversible process. Belief in the law of entropy increase forced physicists to change their understanding of the superconducting transition, which is considered a phase transition after 1933. This change has resulted to the internal inconsistency of the conventional theory of superconductivity, which is created within the framework of reversible thermodynamics, but predicts Joule heating. The persistent current annihilates after the transition into the normal state with the generation of Joule heat and reappears during the return to the superconducting state according to this theory and contrary to the law of entropy increase. The success of the conventional theory of superconductivity forces us to consider the validity of belief in the law of entropy increase.
Climate Adaptation as Organizational Learning: A Grounded Theory Study on Manufacturing Companies in a Bavarian Region
Authors: Fischer Sophie , Keupp Luzia , Paeth Heiko , Göhlich Michael , Schmitt Jan
Published: January 2022

Climate adaptation supports organizations in dealing with the current and projected effects of climate change by recognizing challenges as opportunities and increasing their economic efficiency. Based on the regional climate model REMO and 13 expert interviews with representatives from mainly manufacturing companies analyzed by the Grounded Theory methodology, this contribution aims to outline actual and future challenges of climate adaptation in the investigated region. We analyze how manufacturing companies respond to climate change and assess the main promoters and barriers of organizational learning in the context of climate adaptation. The expert interviews confirm the importance for companies of having a concrete business case for any strategies and of increasingly making their processes and manufacturing more transparent, through supply chain assessments. In accordance, a focus on strategic management levels is crucial for organizational learning processes as they are responsible for development, mobilization of resources and realization of adaptation concepts.
An Approach to the Construction of a Recursive Argument of Polynomial Evaluation in the Discrete Log Setting
Authors: Kim Sungwook
Published: January 2022

Succinct Non-interactive Arguments of Knowledge (SNARks) are receiving a lot of attention as a core privacy-enhancing technology for blockchain applications. Polynomial commitment schemes are important building blocks for the construction of SNARks. Polynomial commitment schemes enable the prover to commit to a secret polynomial of the prover and convince the verifier that the evaluation of the committed polynomial is correct at a public point later. Bünz et al. recently presented a novel polynomial commitment scheme with no trusted setup in Eurocrypt’20. To provide a transparent setup, their scheme is built over an ideal class group of imaginary quadratic fields (or briefly, class group). However, cryptographic assumptions on a class group are relatively new and have, thus far, not been well-analyzed. In this paper, we study an approach to transpose Bünz et al.’s techniques in the discrete log setting because the discrete log setting brings a significant improvement in efficiency and security compared to class groups. We show that the transposition to the discrete log setting can be obtained by employing a proof system for the equality of discrete logarithms over multiple bases. Theoretical analysis shows that the transposition preserves security requirements for a polynomial commitment scheme.
Direct Sliding Mode Control for Dynamic Instabilities in DC-Link Voltage of Standalone Photovoltaic Systems with a Small Capacitor
Authors: Al-Wesabi Ibrahim , Fang Zhijian , Wei Zhiguo , Dong Hanlin
Published: January 2022

Large electrolytic capacitors used in grid-connected and stand-alone photovoltaic (PV) applications for power decoupling purposes are unreliable because of their short lifetime. Film capacitors can be used instead of electrolytic capacitors if the energy storage requirement of the power conditioning units (PCUs) is reduced, since they offer better reliability and have a longer lifetime. Film capacitors have a lower capacitance than electrolytic capacitors, causing enormous frequency ripples on the DC-link voltage and affecting the standalone photovoltaic system’s dynamic performance. This research provided novel direct sliding mode controllers (DSMCs) for minimizing DC-link capacitor, regulating various components of the PV/BES system that assists to manage the DC-link voltage with a small capacitor. DSMCs were combined with the perturb and observe (P&O) method for DC boost converters to increase the photovoltaic system’s dynamic performance, and regulate the battery’s bidirectional converter (BDC) to overcome the DC-link voltage instabilities caused via a lower DC-link capacitor. The system is intended to power both AC and DC loads in places without grid connection. The system’s functions are divided into four modes, dependent on energy supply and demand, and the battery’s state of charge. The findings illustrate the controllers’ durability and the system’s outstanding performance. The testing was carried out on the MT real-time control platform NI PXIE-1071 utilizing Hardware-In-The-Loop experiments and MATLAB/Simulink.
Low-Power On-Chip Implementation of Enhanced SVM Algorithm for Sensors Fusion-Based Activity Classification in Lightweighted Edge Devices
Authors: Chang Juneseo , Kang Myeongjin , Park Daejin
Published: January 2022

Smart homes assist users by providing convenient services from activity classification with the help of machine learning (ML) technology. However, most of the conventional high-performance ML algorithms require relatively high power consumption and memory usage due to their complex structure. Moreover, previous studies on lightweight ML/DL models for human activity classification still require relatively high resources for extremely resource-limited embedded systems; thus, they are inapplicable for smart homes’ embedded system environments. Therefore, in this study, we propose a low-power, memory-efficient, high-speed ML algorithm for smart home activity data classification suitable for an extremely resource-constrained environment. We propose a method for comprehending smart home activity data as image data, hence using the MNIST dataset as a substitute for real-world activity data. The proposed ML algorithm consists of three parts: data preprocessing, training, and classification. In data preprocessing, training data of the same label are grouped into further detailed clusters. The training process generates hyperplanes by accumulating and thresholding from each cluster of preprocessed data. Finally, the classification process classifies input data by calculating the similarity between the input data and each hyperplane using the bitwise-operation-based error function. We verified our algorithm on ‘Raspberry Pi 3’ and ‘STM32 Discovery board’ embedded systems by loading trained hyperplanes and performing classification on 1000 training data. Compared to a linear support vector machine implemented from Tensorflow Lite, the proposed algorithm improved memory usage to 15.41%, power consumption to 41.7%, performance up to 50.4%, and power per accuracy to 39.2%. Moreover, compared to a convolutional neural network model, the proposed model improved memory usage to 15.41%, power consumption to 61.17%, performance to 57.6%, and power per accuracy to 55.4%.