bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Elastomer elastic element visco-elastic properties’ impact on damping in a vehicle suspension
Authors: Stepanov E V , Ogorodnov S M , Orlov L N , Chegurov M K
Published: March 2021

Suspension structure, its elastic elements made of elastomers, is described in the paper. This allows to considerably decrease a vehicle’s unsprung weight improving its ride quality. The research is aimed at determining elastomer elastic element’s damping impact on a vehicle’s smooth ride quality. The impact estimate was carried out by comparing simulation modelling results of GAZelle NEXT vehicle’s front suspension and an equivalent suspension with an elastomer elastic element. Dual-mass single-axle suspension model was chosen as a calculation model. The modelling was performed in MATLAB/Simulink software package. Standard suspension key parameters, that is spring rate and shock absorber resistance characteristic, were experimentally obtained for each vehicle. Elastomer element elastic response was obtained at static necking and averaged with respect to loading and unloading characteristics. Damping capacity was estimated basing on the damped oscillations process realized on a special pendulum impact testing machine. “Relative” elastomer damping coefficient was calculated. All the measured parameters were reduced “awheel” by grapho-analytical methods. Vibration acceleration root-meant-square values (RMS) on the car frame and normal awheel response of a vehicle’s motion under various speed conditions over smooth cobbled road served as assessment criteria. Roadbed microprofile mathematic model was realized basing on superposition harmonic function method with various oscillations frequency and amplitude. Analytical findings reveal that a standard suspension with a cylindrical spiral spring and a hydraulic shock absorber outperforms the elastomer elastic element structure in all the given motion modes with respect to the ride quality criteria. The research findings bring about the conclusion that elastomers lack visco-elastic characteristics necessary to provide better ride quality compared to the standard suspension structure.
Features of macromodeling of small towns with a monostructured economy
Authors: Goncharov K O , Eliseev M E , Laschuk K V , Chikaev A O
Published: March 2021

The article discusses the features of a development macromodels of small towns with a monostructural economy. For a more accurate setting of the model, which will correspond to reality, the additional parameter “check in for a colleague at work” was taken into account when development a general origin-destination matrix(matrix OD). The model with this method was tested on the 2019 models and has a high convergence according to GEH statistics.
Predicting the durability of piston engine crankshafts
Authors: Gots A N , Amirseyidov Sh A
Published: March 2021

A method for testing crankshafts of automobile and tractor engines under the action of variable bending moment is proposed. The test machine consists of a frame on which the crankshaft is installed through elastic springs on the extreme root necks. On the extreme necks, pendulums are installed, one end of which is rigidly fixed, and at the opposite ends of the pendulums, two inertial (unbalanced) vibrators are installed, creating two equal forces in the horizontal plane, directed in opposite directions and changing their magnitude. This pair of forces creates a variable bending moment relative to the axis of the crankshaft, acting on all its elements, and causes fatigue failure in the weakest sections. Based on the test results, a graph is plotted in the coordinates of maximum stress – the number of loading cycles before failure, which allows you to determine the parameters of the crankshaft fatigue life model.

According to the corrected linear hypothesis of fatigue damage accumulation, shaft failure occurs when the sum of accumulated damage is equal to a certain value, which is determined by the results of fatigue tests.
Simulation of the process of interaction between the vehicle and snow in the environment of DEM and MBD-systems
Authors: Teslenko D S , Belyakov V V
Published: March 2021

The problem of increasing the mobility of tractors on snow in our country is very important. This is due to the long duration of the snow cover, primarily in those regions that are of great national and economic importance in terms of mining. There are many methods to increase the mobility of the vehicle, but all of them are associated with increased traction, as well as bearing characteristics of the wheel. The question of calculating the resistance to movement on the part of the body parts submerged in the snow, as well as transmission and engine for a long time did not receive sufficient attention, despite the fact that their contribution to the overall resistance to movement can reach 60%. In this article the existing methods of calculation and modeling of the value of resistance to movement on the side of housing parts are considered, their advantages and disadvantages are given. The design of a soil canal to study the movement of large-scale models of cars in the snow is considered, and the conclusion is made as to the feasibility of using this method at the present time. The paper also suggests a new method of drag calculation based on the joint use of discrete element modelling (DEM) and multibody dynamics (MBD) software packages. This approach allows both realistically simulate snow due to the discrete element modeling approach, and enter into the model the values of loads on the suspension, traction force, etc. through the use of MBD. The article deals with the technique of modeling the interaction of the body with snow in the EDEM package of DEM Solutions Ltd. The scheme of interaction between DEM and MBD-packages on the example of EDEM and MSC Adams software is described, as well as the technique of using Adams/Co-simulation Interface (ACSI).
Ways to reduce fuel consumption of a light commercial vehicle for WLTC and NEDC cycles
Authors: Kolin A A , Silantyev S E , Rogov P S
Published: March 2021

The paper presents the results of the simulation model employed for fuel consumption analysis of a light commercial vehicle in road traffic cycles; virtual tests are performed. The motor vehicle main parameters are analysed for impact on fuel consumption in NEDC and WLTC cycles. Changes of average fuel consumption are quantified for varying main parameters of the vehicle structure. The distribution of energy consumption for the vehicle in motion is demonstrated. On the basis of the regression analysis impact coefficients of individual gear ratios on the average fuel consumption of a light commercial vehicle are obtained.
Different plastic-bag type photobioreactor for biomass production of Chlorella species
Authors: Chen Yu Pei , Huang Yao Hsin , Huang Hsiang Chin
Published: March 2021

Microalgae were generally recognized as safe and a promising source for proteins, polyunsaturated fatty acids, carbohydrates, and other bioactive substances in the industrial application such as foods, health supplements, biofuels, and pharmaceuticals. For mass production and cost down, plastic-bag has been utilized for microalgal growth. In this study, three plastic-bag types (plastic-bag, vertical plastic-bag, and horizontal plastic-bag) were designed to shape the liquid circulation for improving the mass transfer. Microalgae were cultivated under different weathers including the sunshine times and average global radiation as 46.7 h and 9.15 MJ/m2, 13.7 h and 4.8 MJ/m2, 38.2 h and 8.07 MJ/m2, and 37.1 h and 11.25 MJ/m2 for 15 days. The pH, biomass, and antioxidant of microalgae were further detected. The pH values of microalgae were ranged from 7.3–9.0 within 15 days cultivation. No obvious difference was present among these plastic-bags. Under low global radiation with the average 4.8 MJ/m2, the microalgal biomass produced by the vertical plastic-bag was 1.4-fold and 1.9 - fold higher than that of the plastic-bag and horizontal plastic-bag, respectively. This result suggested that the vertical plastic-bag photobioreactor had a high mass transfer with low shear stress. Furthermore, the antioxidant activity was assayed by the total polyphenol and total reductive capability. The result revealed that the microalgae contained 360.4 μg/L-culture corresponding to gallic acid using vertical plastic-bag, followed by horizontal plastic-bag with 289.6 μg/L-culture and plastic-bag with 230.6 μg/L-culture by the total polyphenol determination after 15 days cultivation. The similar result was also observed in the total reductive capability by vertical plastic-bag with 413.4 μg/L-culture corresponding to ascorbic acid, followed by horizontal plastic-bag with 373.2 μg/L-culture and plastic-bag with 353.7 μg/L-culture. Consequently, the vertical plastic-bag had the potential to be applied in the industrial field.
Artificial neural network base on grey relational analysis estimate displacement of bridge-type amplifier
Authors: Tran Quang Phuoc , Huynh Ngoc Thai , Huang Shyh Chour
Published: March 2021

The power of complaint mechanisms is able for a dramatic reduction in the number of parts required to compass a specified task. It may reduce manufacturing and assembly time and cost. Reduce the number of joints can also increase mechanism precision. The output displacement must be larger than input displacement with lower stress. Thus, Optimize geometry-shape for besting parameter design of the structure was investigated in this paper. The part was designed by Autodesk Inventor and determined displacement amplifier and stress by FEM in ANSYS. We estimate the displacement of a bridge-type amplifier using Artificial Neural Network (ANN) and regression method (RM) base on Grey relational analysis (GRA). The variability of the thickness, the incline angle, the length and the width of the flexure hinges (FH) affects the variability of target displacement (DI) and stress (ST). The influence of the width and the area of the location force is very small and not clear. The result of the simulation is verified by ANOVA and also compared with the predicted value of ANN, GRA, and RM. The displacement of a bridge-type amplifier is reached 0.95 mm with displacement input 0.01 mm. The ratio amplifier is got 95 times.
Developing programmable robot for K12 STEAM education
Authors: Hsieh Cheng Tiao
Published: March 2021

STEAM is the acronym that is a group of academic disciplines, Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Mathematics. In recent years, the STEAM has been considered as the core parts of K12 education system in many countries. Regarding this need, this paper attempts to develop a cheap, interactive and programmable robot to assist K12 students to learn STEAM effectively and friendly. The robot was developed based the open source – Ottobot. Its primary external structure was made by 3D printers, so its shape can be customized by users. In addition, its electrical and electronic devices are compatible to Arduino. The development kits of Arduino are friendly and free, so it is very suitable to new users like K12 and the students with non-engineering background. The control board applied in this study is a low-cost Arduino Nano, which includes 14 digital I/O and 8 analog I/O. Associated with ESP8266 or HC-06, the robot can be controlled remotely via Wifi or Bluetooth. In this paper, we demonstrated the graphical programming tool, called mBlock, to code the firmware of the robot. Its friendly programming interface is similar to the Scratch, which provides K12 students a friendly and useful tool to explore programming world. This paper does not only present the detail information of building a programmable robot, but also demonstrate a friendly tool to assist K12 students to learn the programming ability for developing a smart robot or AI related products.
A DEMATEL approach to select green reverse logistics service providers
Authors: Taso Shu Hua , Yang Lu , Ou Shih Ming
Published: March 2021

With the development of science and technology, the problems of environmental pollution and waste of resources are becoming more and more serious. Urban logistics is one of the regions with the highest frequency of logistics activities. In the face of the destruction of the environment and its impact on human life, urban logistics need to be transformed to be more friendly to the environment. This study aims to find the key success factors for selecting green reverse logistics service providers. Based on urban logistics and reverse logistics, on the perspective of sustainability, this study collected five aspects and twenty-four factors. DEMATEL is employed to process the data of expert assessments. Referring to the causal map, “Green operations level” and “Greenness of facilities and equipment” are crucial.
Preparation of hydroxyapatite by aqueous precipitation from calcium carbonate and phosphoric acid
Authors: Lee Byeong Woo
Published: March 2021

Hydroxyapatite (Ca10(PO4)6(OH)2, HAp) is the representative biological mineral which is hard to attain the solution equilibrium and difficult to produce by solution synthesis. HAp finds new application fields to remove harmful elements from polluted wastewater in industrial scales. The low-cost manufacturing process should be developed using abundant available CaCO3 materials. Calcium carbonate (CaCO3), as an economically feasible and abundant precursor, has been used in calcium source for the HAp synthesis. The synthesis was conducted by reacting CaCO3 with phosphoric acid (H3PO4) in aqueous solution with aid of citric acid and sodium hydroxide under moderate synthesis conditions. Compositionally pure HAp has been prepared. The process offered a relatively fast, convenient and economical route for the synthesis of HAp.
The stabilization of state feedback for a class of systems with time delay
Authors: Li H P , Zhang Y
Published: March 2021

In this paper we consider the stabilization of state feedback for a class of systems with time delay. At first, we investigated the stability on the system with two additive time delays. Then an appropriate LKF with double integral was constructed. Since the linear matrix inequalities, we get the sufficient condition to guarantee the system’s asymptotically stability. At last, the effectiveness of the proposed method is demonstrated by a numerical example.
Fuzzy cognitive map based vulnerability analysis of agricultural products cold chain logistics: a perspective of carbon footprint
Authors: Zhou Rongxia , Ou Shih Ming
Published: March 2021

As an important part of the development of a low-carbon economy, developing low-carbon logistics is an important measure to implement transform the economic development mode and cope with global warming. In order to effectively realize the low-carbon operation of agricultural cold chain logistics, a fuzzy cognitive map is employed to analyze the vulnerability of agricultural cold chain logistics on the perspective of carbon footprint. With the analysis above, the influencing factors of carbon emissions in cold chain logistics operations can be identified. Therefore, the carbon reduction strategy of the cold chain logistics of agricultural products can be obtained. Our findings can be as decision-making reference for relevant departments and enterprises to better formulate cold chain low carbon emission strategies and promote green logistics to achieve high-quality development.
Using improved neural network for the risk assessment of information security
Authors: Lee Zne Jung , Yang Zhao Yun , Lee Chou Yuan , Chen Zhi Hao , Wu Wen Bing
Published: March 2021

Because of the information age, protecting information is very important to satisfy the three main aspects of information security, namely confidentiality, integrity and availability. In this case, information security has become one of the most important problems in information technology. Information security is a very important activity and risk assessment is the kernel of information security. However, most of the current risk assessment activities are comparatively subjective and the performances are not good enough. To understand this problem, we propose the improved neural network for the risk assessment of information security. Basically, it is processed under back-propagation neural network (BPN). Moreover, particle swarm optimization (PSO) is used for fine parameter optimization of BPN. The experimental results show that the proposed algorithm has the best performance among these compared approaches.
Simulating the thickness effect of the graphene oxide layer in CsPbBr3- based solar cells
Authors: Mehrabian Masood , Afshar Elham Norouzi , Yousefzadeh Sonya Asl
Published: March 2021

Perovskite-based inverted structure of solar cells with TiO2, graphene oxide (GO), and TiO2-GO photo-anodes were analyzed by SCAPS profile. The photovoltaic performance showed that GO produces the maximum power conversion efficiency of 10.34% under illumination. Quantum efficiency, carrier generation, recombination and concentrations through layers of devices were investigated. Then, the impact of GO thickness on photovoltaic characteristics was investigated to optimize the GO thickness. By optimizing the thickness of the GO layer, the efficiency of the device improved from 10.34% to 10.91% in the thickness of 40 nm. These simulation results could provide guidelines to fabricate higher efficiency solar cells.
Effect of glass, carbon, and kevlar fibers on mechanical properties for polymeric composite tubes produced by a unidirectional winding method
Authors: Babazadeh Jafar , Rahmani Kaveh , Hashemi Seyed Jalal , Sadooghi Ali
Published: March 2021

One of the applications of composites is in the manufacturing tubes, which are widely used in industries such as petroleum, petrochemical, and aerospace. Composite tubes are made of thermoset resin base material and reinforced by fibers, having a solid, lightweight, and corrosion-resistant structure, which is a great replacement for metal and concrete tubes. In this research, composite tubes with various resins base material, Swancor901, Epiran-1012, and Epiran-06FL reinforced by different fibers glass, carbon, and kevlar fibers, according to the compatible role, with the angle of 45° and unidirectional and same size, thickness, and diameter, were produced by the winding method. To study the mechanical properties of produced composite tubes, tensile, compressive, and three-point flexural strength tests were performed. The results showed that the highest ultimate tensile strength was obtained for carbon fibers reinforced tube (CFR) equal to 139MPa, which was 136% and 26% higher than kevlar fibers reinforced tube (KFR) and glass fibers reinforced tube (GFR), respectively. The highest flexural strength was also obtained for GFR equal to 91.08MPa, which is 132% and 13% higher than the flexural strength of CFR and KFR, respectively. Also, according to the results of the compression test, the highest compressive strength was observed in the samples reinforced with glass, kevlar, and carbon fibers, respectively. SEM imaging results from the cross-sections show that the best bonding between the base material and the fibers was observed for CFR.
Oxide copper nanoparticles stabilized by acrylonitrile and methyl methacrylate polar monomers through a ligand exchange reaction
Authors: Rodríguez Bárbara , Ramírez Sara , Gutiérrez Pablo , Silva Nataly , Díaz-Aburto Isaac , García Andreina , Martínez Iván
Published: March 2021

This research reports the synthesis of copper oxide nanoparticles (CuONP) functionalized by the polar monomers acrylonitrile (ACN) and methyl methacrylate (MMA). The synthesis was achieved by a practical exchange ligand reaction from CuONP previously stabilized by hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB). The replacement of CTAB by ACN or MMA produced the functionalized nanoparticles CuONP-ACN and CuONP-MMA, respectively. The functionalized nanoparticles were characterized by ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy (UV–vis), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), field emission scanning electron microscopy (SEM), dynamic light scattering (DLS), Zeta potential, x-ray diffraction (XRD), high-resolution-transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM), and selected area electron diffraction (SAED) analysis. Changes in surface plasmon resonance (SPR) band and the functional group bands observed in UV–vis and FTIR spectra confirmed the efficient replacement of CTAB by polar monomers. Moreover, CuONP-ACN and CuONP-MMA showed a negative surface charge with spherical morphology. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis showed that a monoclinic CuO crystal system was formed.
Presynaptic accumulation of α-synuclein causes synaptopathy and progressive neurodegeneration in Drosophila
Authors: Bridi Jessika C , Bereczki Erika , Smith Saffron K , Poças Gonçalo M , Kottler Benjamin , Domingos Pedro M , Elliott Christopher J , Aarsland Dag , Hirth Frank
Published: March 2021

Alpha-synuclein (α-syn) mislocalization and accumulation in intracellular inclusions is the major pathological hallmark of degenerative synucleinopathies, including Parkinson’s disease, Parkinson’s disease with dementia and dementia with Lewy bodies. Typical symptoms are behavioural abnormalities including motor deficits that mark disease progression, while non-motor symptoms and synaptic deficits are already apparent during the early stages of disease. Synucleinopathies have therefore been considered synaptopathies that exhibit synaptic dysfunction prior to neurodegeneration. However, the mechanisms and events underlying synaptopathy are largely unknown. Here we investigated the cascade of pathological events underlying α-syn accumulation and toxicity in a Drosophila model of synucleinopathy by employing a combination of histological, biochemical, behavioural and electrophysiological assays. Our findings demonstrate that targeted expression of human α-syn leads to its accumulation in presynaptic terminals that caused downregulation of synaptic proteins, cysteine string protein, synapsin, and syntaxin 1A, and a reduction in the number of Bruchpilot puncta, the core component of the presynaptic active zone essential for its structural integrity and function. These α-syn-mediated presynaptic alterations resulted in impaired neuronal function, which triggered behavioural deficits in ageing Drosophila that occurred prior to progressive degeneration of dopaminergic neurons. Comparable alterations in presynaptic active zone protein were found in patient brain samples of dementia with Lewy bodies. Together, these findings demonstrate that presynaptic accumulation of α-syn impairs the active zone and neuronal function, which together cause synaptopathy that results in behavioural deficits and the progressive loss of dopaminergic neurons. This sequence of events resembles the cytological and behavioural phenotypes that characterise the onset and progression of synucleinopathies, suggesting that α-syn-mediated synaptopathy is an initiating cause of age-related neurodegeneration.
Pre-treatment of blood samples reveal normal blood hypocretin/orexin signal in narcolepsy type 1
Authors: Ægidius Helene M , Kruse Lars , Christensen Gitte L , Lorentzen Marc P , Jørgensen Niklas R , Moresco Monica , Pizza Fabio , Plazzi Giuseppe , Jennum Poul J , Kornum Birgitte R
Published: March 2021

The hypocretin/orexin system regulates arousal through central nervous system mechanisms and plays an important role in sleep, wakefulness and energy homeostasis. It is unclear whether hypocretin peptides are also present in blood due to difficulties in measuring reliable and reproducible levels of the peptides in blood samples. Lack of hypocretin signalling causes the sleep disorder narcolepsy type 1, and low concentration of cerebrospinal fluid hypocretin-1/orexin-A peptide is a hallmark of the disease. This measurement has high diagnostic value, but performing a lumbar puncture is not without discomfort and possible complications for the patient. A blood-based test to assess hypocretin-1 deficiency would therefore be of obvious benefit. We here demonstrate that heating plasma or serum samples to 65°C for 30 min at pH 8 significantly increases hypocretin-1 immunoreactivity enabling stable and reproducible measurement of hypocretin-1 in blood samples. Specificity of the signal was verified by high-performance liquid chromatography and by measuring blood samples from mice lacking hypocretin. Unspecific background signal in the assay was high. Using our method, we show that hypocretin-1 immunoreactivity in blood samples from narcolepsy type 1 patients does not differ from the levels detected in control samples. The data presented here suggest that hypocretin-1 is present in the blood stream in the low picograms per millilitres range and that peripheral hypocretin-1 concentrations are unchanged in narcolepsy type 1.
Loss of autophagy protein ATG5 impairs cardiac capacity in mice and humans through diminishing mitochondrial abundance and disrupting Ca2+ cycling
Authors: Ljubojević-Holzer Senka , Kraler Simon , Djalinac Nataša , Abdellatif Mahmoud , Voglhuber Julia , Schipke Julia , Schmidt Marlene , Kling Katharina-Maria , Franke Greta Therese , Herbst Viktoria , Zirlik Andreas , von Lewinski Dirk , Scherr Daniel , Rainer Peter P , Kohlhaas Michael , Nickel Alexander , Mühlfeld Christian , Maack Christoph , Sedej Simon
Published: March 2021

Aims

Autophagy protects against the development of cardiac hypertrophy and failure. While aberrant Ca2+ handling promotes myocardial remodelling and contributes to contractile dysfunction, the role of autophagy in maintaining Ca2+ homeostasis remains elusive. Here, we examined whether Atg5 deficiency-mediated autophagy promotes early changes in subcellular Ca2+ handling in ventricular cardiomyocytes, and whether those alterations associate with compromised cardiac reserve capacity, which commonly precedes the onset of heart failure.

Methods and results

RT–qPCR and immunoblotting demonstrated reduced Atg5 gene and protein expression and decreased abundancy of autophagy markers in hypertrophied and failing human hearts. The function of ATG5 was examined using cardiomyocyte-specific Atg5-knockout mice (Atg5−/−). Before manifesting cardiac dysfunction, Atg5−/− mice showed compromised cardiac reserve in response to β-adrenergic stimulation. Consequently, effort intolerance and maximal oxygen consumption were reduced during treadmill-based exercise tolerance testing. Mechanistically, cellular imaging revealed that Atg5 deprivation did not alter spatial and functional organization of intracellular Ca2+ stores or affect Ca2+ cycling in response to slow pacing or upon acute isoprenaline administration. However, high-frequency stimulation exposed stunted amplitude of Ca2+ transients, augmented nucleoplasmic Ca2+ load, and increased CaMKII activity, especially in the nuclear region of hypertrophied Atg5−/− cardiomyocytes. These changes in Ca2+ cycling were recapitulated in hypertrophied human cardiomyocytes. Finally, ultrastructural analysis revealed accumulation of mitochondria with reduced volume and size distribution, meanwhile functional measurements showed impaired redox balance in Atg5−/− cardiomyocytes, implying energetic unsustainability due to overcompensation of single mitochondria, particularly under increased workload.

Conclusion

Loss of cardiac Atg5-dependent autophagy reduces mitochondrial abundance and causes subtle alterations in subcellular Ca2+ cycling upon increased workload in mice. Autophagy-related impairment of Ca2+ handling is progressively worsened by β-adrenergic signalling in ventricular cardiomyocytes, thereby leading to energetic exhaustion and compromised cardiac reserve.
Larval social cues influence testicular investment in an insect
Authors: Liu Junyan , He Xiong Z , Zheng Xia-Lin , Zhang Yujing , Wang Qiao
Published: March 2021

Socio-sexual environment can have critical impacts on reproduction and survival of animals. Consequently, they need to prepare themselves by allocating more resources to competitive traits that give them advantages in the particular social setting they have been perceiving. Evidence shows that a male usually raises his investment in sperm after he detects the current or future increase of sperm competition because relative sperm numbers can determine his paternity share. This leads to the wide use of testis size as an index of the sperm competition level, yet testis size does not always reflect sperm production. To date, it is not clear whether male animals fine-tune their resource allocation to sperm production and other traits as a response to social cues during their growth and development. Using a polygamous insect Ephestia kuehniella, we tested whether and how larval social environment affected sperm production, testis size, and body weight. We exposed the male larvae to different juvenile socio-sexual cues and measured these traits. We demonstrate that regardless of sex ratio, group-reared males produced more eupyrenes (fertile and nucleate sperm) but smaller testes than singly reared ones, and that body weight and apyrene (infertile and anucleate sperm) numbers remained the same across treatments. We conclude that the presence of larval social, but not sexual cues is responsible for the increase of eupyrene production and decrease of testis size. We suggest that male larvae increase investment in fertile sperm cells and reduce investment in other testicular tissues in the presence of conspecific juvenile cues.
A rapid and accurate method for screening T-2 toxin in food and feed using competitive AlphaLISA
Authors: Zhang Liwen , Lv Qingyu , Zheng Yuling , Chen Xuan , Kong Decong , Huang Wenhua , Liu Peng , Jiang Hua , Jiang Yongqiang
Published: March 2021

T-2 is a common mycotoxin contaminating cereal crops. Chronic consumption of food contaminated with T-2 toxin can lead to death, so simple and accurate detection methods in food and feed are necessary. In this paper, we establish a highly sensitive and accurate method for detecting T-2 toxin using AlphaLISA. The system consists of acceptor beads labeled with T-2-bovine serum albumin (BSA), streptavidin-labeled donor beads and biotinylated T-2 antibodies. T-2 in the sample matrix competes with T-2-BSA for antibodies. Adding biotinylated antibodies to the test well followed by T-2 and T-2-BSA acceptor beads yielded a detection range of 0.03–500 ng/mL. The half-maximal inhibitory concentration was 2.28 ng/mL and the coefficient of variation was <10%. In addition, this method had no cross-reaction with other related mycotoxins. This optimized method for extracting T-2 from food and feed samples achieved a recovery rate of approximately 90% in T-2 concentrations as low as 1 ng/mL, better than the performance of a commercial ELISA kit. This competitive AlphaLISA method offers high sensitivity, good specificity, good repeatability and simple operation for detecting T-2 toxin in food and feed.
Bacteriophage manipulation of the microbiome associated with tumour microenvironments-can this improve cancer therapeutic response?
Authors: Kabwe Mwila , Dashper Stuart , Bachrach Gilad , Tucci Joseph
Published: March 2021

Some cancer treatment failures have been attributed to the tumour microbiota, with implications that microbiota manipulation may improve treatment efficacy. While antibiotics have been used to control bacterial growth, their dysbiotic effects on the microbiome, failure to penetrate biofilms and decreased efficacy due to increasing antimicrobial resistance by bacteria, suggest alternatives are needed. Bacteriophages may provide a precise means for targeting oncobacteria whose relative abundance is increased in tumour tissue microbiomes. Fusobacterium, Streptococcus, Peptostreptococcus, Prevotella, Parvimonas, and Treponema species are prevalent in tumour tissue microbiomes of some cancers. They may promote cancer growth by dampening immunity, stimulating release of proinflammatory cytokines, and directly interacting with cancer cells to stimulate proliferation. Lytic bacteriophages against some of these oncobacteria have been isolated and characterised. The search continues for others. The possibility exists for their testing as adjuncts to complement existing therapies. In this review, we highlight the role of oncobacteria, specifically those whose relative abundance in the intra-tumour microbiome is increased, and discuss the potential for bacteriophages against these micro-organisms to augment existing cancer therapies. The capacity for bacteriophages to modulate immunity and kill specific bacteria makes them suitable candidates to manipulate the tumour microbiome and negate the effects of these oncobacteria.
Consecutive cycles of accreditation and quality of in-hospital care: a Danish population-based study
Authors: Falstie-Jensen Anne Mette , Bogh Søren Bie , Johnsen Søren Paaske
Published: March 2021

Background

Little is known about whether repeated cycles of hospital accreditation are a robust method to improve quality of care continuously.

Objective

We aimed to examine the association between compliance with consecutive cycles of accreditation and quality of in-hospital care.

Methods

We conducted a Danish nationwide population-based study including patients aged 18 years treated for acute stroke, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, diabetes, heart failure or hip fracture at public, non-psychiatric hospitals. From 2012 to 2015, two cycles of national hospital accreditation were completed, resulting in 12 high and 14 low compliant hospitals (Low = partially accredited in both cycles). Our outcome measure was quality of in-hospital care measured by 39 process performance measures (PPMs), reflecting recommendations from the national clinical guidelines by adherence to (i) individual PPMs and (ii) the full bundle of PPMs (all-or-none). We computed adjusted odds ratios (ORs) using logistic regression based on robust standard error estimation for cluster sampling of data at hospital level.

Results

In total, 78 387 patient pathways covering 508 816 processes were included, of which 47% had been delivered at high compliant hospitals and 53% at low compliant hospitals, respectively. Compliance with consecutive cycles was not associated with improved quality of in-hospital care (individual: OR = 0.92, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.77–1.10; All-or-none: OR = 0.87, 95% CI: 0.66–1.15). However, in the second cycle alone, patients treated at partially accredited hospitals had a lower adherence than patients treated at fully accredited hospitals (Individual: OR = 0.84, 95% CI: 0.71–0.99; All-or-none: OR = 0.78, 95% CI: 0.59–1.03). The association was particularly strong among patients treated at partially accredited hospitals required to submit additional documentation.

Conclusion

Compliance with consecutive cycles of hospital accreditation in Denmark was not associated with improved quality of in-hospital care. However, compliance with the second cycle alone was associated with improved quality of in-hospital care.
Between Discipline and Neglect: The Regulation of Asylum Accommodation in Spain
Authors: Gabrielli Lorenzo , Garcés-MascareÑas Blanca , Ribera-Almandoz Olatz
Published: March 2021

In 2019, Spain had the third highest number of asylum applications in the Europen Union, after Germany and France. The number of asylum applications grew from 31,120 in 2017 to 55,668 in 2018 and 118,264 in 2019. Following this exponential increase, the number of accommodation places in the state reception system has risen almost proportionally. In this changing context, this article seeks to explain the regulation of asylum accommodation in Spain. Following critical refugee studies in the Global North and the Global South, we argue that the Spanish asylum reception system is characterized by a hybrid model that imposes forms of discipline and neglect. By using a mixed-methods approach combining document analysis of secondary data, in-depth interviews with both stakeholders and asylum seekers, and an exploratory survey to 301 asylum seekers, we analyse the implications of this hybrid model in terms of asylum seekers trajectories and eventual inclusion.
Recrudescence ofPlasmodium falciparummalaria in a migrant treated by tocilizumab
Authors: Cordaillat Romain , Carnino Luisa , Eperon Gilles
Published: March 2021

We report an atypical case of recrudescence of Plasmodium falciparum in a migrant with 4% parasitemia, 7 years after leaving endemic country. This case supports the hypothesis of recrudescence of a latent and persistent sub-microscopic parasitemia, triggered by time-related decreasing immunity and immunosuppression (tocilizumab).
A Failure of Rapid Drug Desensitization
Authors: Prewitt Benjamin S , Mendoza Jun C , Coop Christopher A , Weiss Samuel , Quinn James M
Published: March 2021

We present the case of a patient who was unable to tolerate rapid drug desensitization protocol to receive a continuous penicillin (PCN) G infusion for the treatment of neurosyphilis. A 38-year-old male with past medical history for human immunodeficiency virus, migraines, PCN allergy, doxycycline allergy, shellfish allergy, and untreated latent syphilis presented to the emergency room for a posterior migraine with associated nausea, vomiting, photophobia, right-sided paresthesias, and “shaky” vision. He was diagnosed with neurosyphilis and underwent rapid drug desensitization with the goal to receive a continuous infusion of PCN G. The patient’s hospital course was complicated by intermittent drug reactions consisting of tachycardia, rash, and dyspnea, followed by periods of being able to tolerate the infusion. After being able to tolerate the recommended dose of PCN infusion, the patient was discharged home to complete the course. However, he returned almost immediately after a recurrence of symptoms at home requiring the use of intramuscular epinephrine. Ultimately, the patient was transitioned to ceftriaxone and completed the infusion course as an inpatient because of continued intermittent recurrence of drug reaction symptoms.
The Nation as Imperative: Cooperative Nationalism and the Idea of the State in Martin Buber and Hermann Cohen
Authors: Biemann Asher D
Published: March 2021

Imperatives, as Immanuel Kant observed, differ from laws. Laws set limits through coercion, whereas imperatives imagine infinity through freedom. What does it mean for the nation to be an imperative? Starting with the famous 1916 controversy on Zionism between the neo-Kantian philosopher Hermann Cohen and the philosopher of dialogue Martin Buber, this essay explores how Buber developed Cohen’s dialectic of Machtstaat (power-state) and Kulturstaat (culture-state) into a model of cultural cooperation. Unlike Cohen, whose understanding of nation and nationality relied on Herder and Fichte, and who feared that Zionism would always be exclusionary, Buber believed that Zionism could be the inclusive self-realization of the Jewish people. Yet Buber’s Zionism of meta-national cooperation also deeply echoed Cohen’s own understanding of the German State as transcending itself in cooperative federalism. In the end, both believed that human culture offered ways of solidarity and community that the state per se could not provide and which, in fact, functioned as a corrective to the state’s “omnipotence.” For Buber, the pragmatic acceptance of the State of Israel was but the beginning of a meta-political imperative articulated by the prophets, and anticipated a time when the state, as Cohen believed, would be “displaced by messianism.”
Being Unreasonable
Authors: Simester A P
Published: March 2021

This chapter looks at the ways in which findings of unreasonableness inform judgements about the culpability of defendants. The chapter suggests that, even without using tracing strategies, it is possible to defend many of the criminal law’s invocations (un)reasonableness in terms of a defendant’s blameworthiness. Sometimes the defendant’s failure to meet an objective standard does reflect a moral vice on her part. The function of the so-called ‘reasonable person’ in this context is really to hold the defendant up to an external standard of moral characteristics. Conversely, if it is to comprise a standard of culpability, the ‘reasonable person’ ought to be personalized to the extent that the defendant’s shortcomings do not disclose moral vices. In particular, and alongside physical limitations, that includes shortcomings of intelligence.
Staggered Boards and the Value of Voting Rights
Authors: Karakas¸ Oğuzhan , Mohseni Mahdi
Published: March 2021

This paper examines the impact of staggered boards on the value of voting rights (i.e., the voting premium) estimated using option prices. We find companies with staggered boards have a higher voting premium. Exploiting plausibly exogenous court rulings, we confirm that weakening the effectiveness of staggered boards decreases the voting premium. Given that the voting premium reflects private benefits consumption and associated managerial inefficiencies, our findings are consistent with the entrenchment view of staggered boards. Analyzing the cross-sectional heterogeneity in our sample, we find the entrenchment effect of staggered boards to be particularly pronounced for firms in noncompetitive industries and for mature firms. (JEL G13, G30, G34, K22)
SIZE-SPECIFIC DOSE ESTIMATES FOR PEDIATRIC NON-CONTRAST HEAD CT SCANS: A RETROSPECTIVE PATIENT STUDY IN TUNJA, COLOMBIA
Authors: Jaramillo-Garzón W , Caballero M A , Alvarez-Aldana D F
Published: March 2021

This investigation is aimed to study the feasibility of size-specific dose estimate (SSDE) to patient dosimetry in pediatric head CT scans and to establish typical values in a hospital in Tunja, Colombia. The volumetric computed tomography index (CTDIvol) and the dose-length product of 468 pediatric patients from newborn to 15-year-olds, who underwent non-contrast head CT scans, were collected retrospectively. For 186 cases only, SSDE was estimated using patient attenuated-based size metrics and CTDIvol,16-to-SSDE conversion factors reported in AAPM report 293. Results showed that SSDE is an accurate metric that can be used to establish typical dose values from pediatric head CT scans. Median SSDE values of 33.5, 31.6, 36.2 and 57.9 mGy were established as typical dose values for the 0–<3 months, 3 months–<1 y, 1–<6 y and ≥6 y, respectively, to further assist the optimization process at the hospital. Further studies with more robust data of patients and hospitals should be conducted to establish local and national dose reference levels from pediatric CT scans in Colombia.
Revision of Beroidae (Ctenophora) in the southern seas of Europe: systematics and distribution based on genetics and morphology
Authors: Shiganova Tamara A , Abyzova Galina A
Published: March 2021

Genetic and morphological analyses were used to revise historical controversies in identities of Beroe species in the southern seas of Europe. DNA analyses with ITS sequences were used to explore their phylogenetic relationships. Three species of Beroe were initially listed as occurring in the Mediterranean Sea. Recently, the specimens were often re-identified using genetic analyses, causing confusions of identity. In 1997, a non-native Beroe was introduced into the Black Sea, which established there and spread to the adjacent seas, adding more controversy and confusion to species identification in this group of comb jellies.

Our revisions suggest the following systematic changes: (1) re-naming of the species from what was initially labelled as Beroe ovata, and later as B. cucumis (sensuMayer, 1912), to Beroe pseudocucumis sp. nov.. (2) Beroe mitrata but not Beroe ‘anatoliensis’ inhabits the Aegean Sea, as was reported previously. (3) Beroe ovata is the only species of Beroidae that became invasive and should be used with the authority of Bruguière, 1789, but not in the sense of Mayer, 1912. (4) Beroe forskalii appears to be represented by two species in the Mediterranean and in the Antarctic, but further justification is needed. (5) Beroe cucumis is a species of bipolar occurrence, inhabiting both subpolar areas and its recent definition as Beroe ‘norvegica’ is incorrect.
A Rule of Thumb for Evaluating Surface Areas of Chronic Wounds
Authors: Yao Zexin , He Suiping , Pang Mengru , Lei Xiaoxuan , Wu Cuiwen , Lin Enqing , Cao Zhilong , Jiang Wencai , Fu Xiaobing , Cheng Biao
Published: March 2021

BACKGROUND

Rapid estimation of the area of chronic wounds is clinically important. A simple method using the thumb was investigated for universal physical measurement, particularly of small and multiple wounds; the thumb surface area (TSA) was then compared with the total body surface area (TBSA).

METHODS

A cross-sectional observational study and random sampling were used to obtain the characteristics of 343 participants. Data related to handprint surface area of the thumb and palm were collected using a scanner and laptop and assessed using image software. The TSA as a percentage of TBSA was confirmed based on the traditional rule that regards palmar surface area as 1% of TBSA. Information on factors potentially influencing measurement was gathered with questionnaires to analyze correlations.

RESULTS

The left and right TSAs were on average 4.27% and 4.28%, respectively, of the palmar surface area for all participants. Multiple linear regression analysis found that male and older participants had higher TSA:TBSA proportions (sex, P = .0020; age, P < .0001). The TSA:TBSA proportion increased by age for both males (by age group, 0.0418%, 0.0426%, 0.0432%, and 0.0460%, respectively) and females (0.0400%, 0.0409%, 0.0427%, and 0.0430%, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

Thumb size is relatively stable in relation to TBSA, lending itself to a universal method for estimating the size of chronic wounds as a percentage of TBSA. It therefore represents a convenient physical measurement for assessing the area of burns and other wounds.
Unique factors to the implementation of a disaster preparedness plan at Georgetown Public Hospital in Guyana
Authors: Van Meter Jessica , Lauderdale Jana , Rohde John Paul
Published: March 2021

Disaster planning in developing countries is largely ineffective despite these countries being more likely to suffer from catastrophic events. This article aims to identify strengths, educational needs, practice improvement opportunities, and local factors that may contribute to the development/implementation of a disaster preparedness plan at Georgetown Public Hospital in Guyana.