bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Comparing the Measured and Thermodynamically Predicted AFm Phases in a Hydrating Cement
Authors: Holmes Niall , Russell Mark , Davis Geoff , Tyrer Mark
Published: October 2022

In hydrating Portland cements, more than one of the AFm family of calcium aluminates may exist. Depending on the amount of carbonate and sulfate present in the cement, the most common phase to precipitate is monosulfate, monocarbonate and/or hemicarbonate. It has been reported in the literature that hemicarbonate often appears in measurements such as XRD but not predicted to form/equilibrate in thermodynamic models. With the ongoing use of commercial cements such as CEM I and CEM II containing more and more limestone, it is important to understand which hydrate solids physically precipitate and numerically predict over time. Using 27 cement samples with three w/c ratios analysed at 1, 3 and 28 days, this paper shows that although hemicarbonate was observed in a hydrating commercial Portland cement, as well as being predicted based on its carbonate (CO2/Al2O3) and sulfate (SO3/Al2O3) ratios, thermodynamic analysis did not predict it to equilibrate and form as a solid hydrate. Regardless of the w/c ratio, thermodynamic analysis did predict hemicarbonate to form for calcite contents < 2 wt.%. It appears that the dominant stability of monocarbonate in thermodynamic models leads to it precipitating and remaining as a persistent phase.
Uncertainty Analysis and Improvement of Propellant Gauging System Applied in Space
Authors: Yang Yanjie , Han Wei , Huang Yiyong , Zhang Xiang , Huang Hao
Published: October 2022

Propellant Gauging is of vital importance to a spacecraft at the end of its life. Based on the Monte Carlo Method, uncertainty analysis and the improvement of propellant gauging using gas injection have been studied. As a result of the analysis, the gauging uncertainty has weak relation to the uncertainties of the volumes of the injection room and tank, the uncertainties of the pressure, and the temperature in the injection room. Relatively, the uncertainties of the temperature and pressure in the tank have a great effect on the gauging uncertainty. By improving the uncertainties of the tank pressure and temperature within 0.04% and 0.4%, the final gauging uncertainty can be obtained within 0.4%. Ground tests have been conducted and the results came out with approximately 0.4% error, well within the theoretical analysis.
Review of Development and Application of Digital Image Correlation Method for Study of Stress–Strain State of RC Structures
Authors: Blikharskyy Yaroslav , Kopiika Nadiia , Khmil Roman , Selejdak Jacek , Blikharskyy Zinoviy
Published: October 2022

Reliable assessment and prediction of the technical condition of reinforced concrete structures require accurate data of the stress–strain state of the structure at all stages of loading. The most appropriate technique to obtain such information is digital image correlation. Digital image correlation is a class of contactless methods which includes the following stages: obtaining an image from a studied physical object, saving it in digital form, and further analysis in order to obtain the necessary information about the stress–strain state of the structure. In this research, a detailed analysis of theoretical and experimental findings of digital image correlations was conducted. In the article, the main areas of scientific interest and computational approaches in digital image correlation issues were identified. Moreover, comparative analysis of alternative non-contact techniques, which also could be used for diagnostics of RC structures’ stress–strain state was conducted. The novelty of the study consists of a thorough comparative analysis with the indication of specific features of digital image correlation, which determine its wide application among the other similar methods. On the basis of the conducted literature review, it can be seen that the digital image correlation technique has gone through multi-stage evolution and transformation. Among the most widely studied issues are: image recognition and matching procedures, calibration methods and development of analytical concepts. The digital image correlation technique enables us to study cracking and fracture processes in structural elements, obtaining the full field of deformations and stresses. Further development of image processing methods would provide more precise measuring of stress–strain parameters and reliable assessment of structural behavior.
Predicting User’s Measurements without Manual Measuring: A Case on Sports Garment Applications
Authors: Vleugels Jochen , Veelaert Lore , Peeters Thomas , Huysmans Toon , Danckaers Femke , Verwulgen Stijn
Published: October 2022

As sports garments are stretchable, different sizing tables are used than for retail clothing. However, customers measuring themselves leads to errors and unsatisfaction, since these customized branded garments cannot be returned. Using fitting sets avoids this, but this is not always feasible, especially in an online retail environment. Therefore, this research aims to use descriptive measures—parameters that do not require manual measuring because they are readily known by heart by almost any customer—to predict users’ body measurements, which can, thus, be used by customers to determine the size of their sports garment from a sizing chart. To validate if these input measures are sufficient to predict the correct size, three prediction methods are used and compared with baseline manual measurements. The methods are: (i) clothing size predictions from shape models with descriptive measures as inputs, (ii) clothing size predictions from a regression analysis, and (iii) clothing size predictions from a shape model based on extensive 3D scanned measurements as input. The conclusion is that a regression algorithm with, as input variables, the straightforward demographics of age, gender, stature, and weight is more accurate than the algorithm with the same inputs but with a shape model behind it. Moreover, chest and hip circumferences have an intraclass correlation coefficient rating above 0.9 and are, thus, suited for online retail of stretchable garments, such as cycling clothes. As validated by end-users, the regression predictions are shown to agree with preferred garment sizes of the participants, within the natural variation of personal preferences.
Quantitative Microbial Risk Assessment of North Carolina Type 2 Reclaimed Water for Agricultural Reuse
Authors: Bailey Emily S. , Sobsey Mark D.
Published: October 2022

As treated wastewater is increasingly used for agricultural purposes; questions remain about the microbiological quality of produce irrigated by these waters. This study conducted a quantitative microbial risk assessment (QMRA) using microbial data collected from North Carolina Type 2 reclaimed waters, which have been proposed as supplemental irrigation waters. Reclaimed waters were collected from four different water reclamation facilities located in central North Carolina and evaluated for five representative pathogens from the three groups of microorganisms (bacteria, virus, and protozoan parasites). Using these data, produce consumption scenarios were evaluated using a variety of irrigation techniques, including spray irrigation, drip irrigation, and subsurface drip irrigation, and the disability adjusted life years (DALYs) that result from illness by each pathogen as a result of produce consumption were compared to the acceptable level set by the World Health Organization. Based on the types of crop irrigation examined in this study using NC Type 2 reclaimed water, there were irrigation conditions and certain pathogens for which the annual risk of infection was not always reduced below the acceptable DALY risk level of <1 × 10−6 set by the WHO. The risks of viral infection by adenoviruses groups A–F were below the acceptable risk level; however, for Salmonella spp., Cryptosporidium, and Giardia, the annual risk of infection was sometimes greater than would be considered acceptable.
Electrical and Optical Properties of Laser-Induced Structural Modifications in PbSe Films
Authors: Olkhova Anastasiia A. , Patrikeeva Alina A. , Sergeev Maksim M.
Published: October 2022

PbSe chalcogenide films are widely used as photosensitive elements in gas analysis devices. High absorption in the IR spectrum region and low electrical resistance are important characteristics. Continuous laser radiation exposure of films in the near UV range makes it possible to achieve the desired characteristics, replacing oven heat treatment in the technological process. In the considered laser technology, PbSe films are subjected to photothermal action by a spot of focused radiation in the progressive scanning mode. In this work, changes in the optical and electrical film properties were studied, and the mechanism of structural laser modification was also considered.
Biomechanical Evaluation of a Novel Expandable Vertebral Augmentation System Using Human Cadaveric Vertebrae
Authors: Hsieh Ming-Kai , Chen Wen-Jer , Lee Mel S. , Lin Sheng-Yu , Liu Mu-Yi , Lee De-Mei , Tai Ching-Lung
Published: October 2022

Unacceptable sagittal alignment and cement leakage are major concerns of percutaneous vertebroplasty when treating patients with painful vertebral osteoporotic compression fractures. To maintain the restored vertebral height and reduce the reliance on cement as the major stabilizer, an expandable vertebral augment system (EVA®) made of titanium alloy consisting of a rigid tube encased by a barrel with an anterior expansion mechanism was developed. The aim of the current study was to determine whether this novel design is as effective as existing procedures in terms of height restoration and biomechanical performance. Eight osteoporotic vertebrae (T12-L3) confirmed by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry from two fresh-frozen human cadavers (70- and 72-year-old females) were used. Twenty-five percent reduced anterior wedge vertebral compression fractures were created using a material testing machine. Four randomized specimens were augmented with EVA® (Chang Gu Biotechnology Co. Ltd., Taipei city, Taiwan), and another four randomized specimens were augmented with OsseoFix® (AlphaTec Spine Inc., Carlsbad, CA, USA). The implant size and cement volume were controlled. The anterior vertebral body height (VBH) ratio and pre/postaugmented ultimate strength and stiffness were measured and compared. The mean anterior VBH restoration ratio was 8.54% in the EVA® group and 8.26% in the OsseoFix® groups. A significant difference from augmentation was measured in both groups (p < 0.05), but there was no significant difference between the EVA® and OsseoFix® groups in anterior VBH restoration. The ultimate strengths of the EVA® and OsseoFix® groups were 6071.4 ± 352.6 N and 6262.9 ± 529.2 N, respectively, both of which were statistically significantly higher than that of the intact group (4589.9 ± 474.6 N) (p < 0.05). The stiffnesses of the EVA®, OsseoFix®, and intact groups were 1087.2 ± 176.9, 1154.9 ± 168.9, and 1637.3 ± 340.8 N/mm, respectively, indicating that the stiffness was significantly higher in the intact group than in both the EVA® and OsseoFix® groups (p < 0.05). No significant differences were observed between the two augmentation procedures in height restoration or ultimate strength and stiffness. This novel EVA® system showed comparable height restoration and biomechanical performance to those of existing implants for human cadaveric osteoporotic compression fractures. Potential advantages of preventing cement posterior leakage and promoting cement interdigitation are expected with this ameliorated design.
PriRepVGG: Privacy-Preserving 3-Party Inference Framework for Image-Based Defect Detection
Authors: Liu Jiafu , Yao Zhiyuan , Guo Shirui , Xie Hongjun , Yang Genke
Published: October 2022

Image classification is widely used in industrial defect detection, medical diagnosis, social welfare, and other fields, in which privacy and security of models and data must be involved. For example, in diamond synthesis, the diamond substrate image annotation data and the defect detection model are of value for conservation. Based on ensuring inference efficiency and the security of these private data intellectual property, the 3-party secure inference based on secure multi-party computation (MPC) can be adopted. MPC allows parties to use neural networks while preserving their input privacy for collaborative computing, but it will lead to huge communication and memory consumption. This paper propose PriRepVGG, a lightweight privacy-preserving image-based defect detection framework for 3-party. In this work, firstly, This work optimized the division and added an AdaptiveAvgpool layer in MPC framework FALCON; then, This work ported the inference architecture of the RegVGG network into FALCON creatively. Our work applied PriRepVGG to the secure inference of the diamond substrates defect detection under the data server, model server, and compute server settings, which can be carried out in batches with a low misjudgment rate and verify the feasibility of image-based secure inference with a lightweight network in an industrial case under MPC.
Virtual Reality Retooling Humanities Courses: Finance and Marketing Experience at a Czech University
Authors: Koreňová Lilla , Gurný Petr , Hvorecký Jozef , Lůžek Petr , Rozehnal Petr
Published: October 2022

Virtual reality environments (VRE) allow users to visualize both real-life and imaginary activities. For this reason, they make appropriate training fields at universities, too. However, the positive or negative effects of VRE are still a subject of research. There is a need to verify methods of their deployment, student responses and the impact of VRE implementation. Science and medicine courses are frequently exploiting VRE, while their exploitation in humanities is much less frequent. In our paper, we describe and evaluate their application in finance and marketing courses. Both courses were designed and developed as part of a larger, potentially university-wide project. The courses were enriched by mazes including 3-D rooms with course content elements. Students could explore them and communicate with their lecturers and classmates. To allow anytime/anywhere access, the VRE does not require using any special interface. The finance course was organized as a pedagogical experiment with test and control groups. Due to organizational and scheduling reasons, the VRE in marketing served just as enrichment. At the end of the term, all students using VRE were given a questionnaire assessing their satisfaction. The majority expressed satisfaction. In the finance course, positive opinion was also supported by students’ improved grades. In total, 87.5% of students agreed that the application of VRE contributed to gaining knowledge. Based on the positive experience and outcomes, the university plans to expand and to intensify its VRE-supported education.
Effect of Grating Ruling Machine System Errors on Grating Spectral Performance
Authors: Yang Chao , Chen Xu
Published: October 2022

Grating groove functions scalar theory can describe the light source through the grating interference and diffraction effect of the physical phenomenon of splitting light. It can be used to represent the distribution of the complex amplitude of the illumination light source on the diffraction screen under the action of the diffraction grating and display the information on the diffracted light position and intensity distribution. As a result, the effect of groove error on the intensity of grating ghost lines and stray light is analyzed. This paper presents an energy solution and analysis of the grating periodic groove error utilizing the grating scalar diffraction theory. Based on this, the effect of the core components of the grating ruling machines, such as screw and worm gear, on the stray light and ghost line of the grating is analyzed. Finally, the random groove error is analyzed. The analysis results show that the worm gear error is an important reason for the appearance of ghost lines in the machine ruling grating, and the lead screw error and random grooving error are the main reasons for the stray light produced by the grating. We optimize the worm gear, lead screw, and error compensation system of the grating ruling machine to effectively improve the ruling quality of the grating.
Modeling Undrained Shear Strength of Sensitive Alluvial Soft Clay Using Machine Learning Approach
Authors: Elsawy Mohamed B. D. , Alsharekh Mohammed F. , Shaban Mahmoud
Published: October 2022

Soft soils are commonly located in many regions near seas, oceans, and rivers all over the world. These regions are vital and attractive for population and governments development. Soft soil is classified as problematic soil owing to sustaining low shear strength and high settlement under structures. Constructing structures and/or infrastructures on soft soil is a considerable risk that needs great attention from structural engineers. The bearing capacity of structure foundations on soft soil depends mainly on their undrained shear strength. This soil feature strongly influences the selection of appropriate soil improvement methods. However, determining undrained shear strength is very difficult, costly, and time-consuming, especially for sensitive clay. Consequently, extracting undisturbed samples of sensitive clay faces several difficulties on construction sites. In this research, accurate field-tested data were fed to advanced machine learning models to predict the undrained shear strength of the sensitive clay to save hard effort, time, repeated laboratory testing, and costs. In this context, a dataset of 111 geotechnical testing points were collected based on laboratory and field examinations of the soil’s key features. These features included the water content, liquid limit, dry unit weight, plasticity index, consistency index, void ratio, specific gravity, and pocket penetration shear. Several machine learning algorithms were adopted to provide the soft clay modeling, including the linear, Gaussian process regression, ensemble and regression trees, and the support vector regression. The coefficient of determination was mainly used to assess the performance of each predictive model. The achieved results revealed that the support vector regression model attained the most accurate prediction for soil undrained shear strength. These outcomes lay the groundwork for evaluating soil shear strength characteristics in a practical, fast, and low-cost way.
Effect of Medial-Lateral, Inferior-Superior, and Rotational Positions of Palms on Muscle Recruitment during the Push-Up Exercise
Authors: Barnamehei Hamidreza , Renganathan Gunarajulu , Aflatounian Fatemeh , Fatemigarakani Samirasadat , Maboudmanesh Ava , Fatahzadeh Aidasadat , Shaabani Aram , Kurita Yuichi
Published: October 2022

The goal of the present article is to compare neuromuscular activation patterns among medial-lateral, superior-inferior, and rotational positions of palms for 14 selective muscles during the push-up exercise. Muscle activity and kinematics information of fifteen males (68.35 ± 7.18 kg, 175 ± 3.40 cm, 24.50 ± 7.50 years) were recorded by Myon Electromyographic (EMG) system and Vicon motion capture, respectively. EMG activity in the anterior deltoid, middle deltoid, posterior deltoid, infraspinatus, upper pectoralis major, middle pectoralis major, lower pectoralis major, latissimus dorsi, triceps lateral, triceps medial, biceps brachii, upper trapezius, middle trapezius, and lower trapezius was measured. According to the results, the narrow position of palms increased the infraspinatus, upper pectoralis major, triceps brachii (lateral and medial head), middle trapezius, and lower trapezius muscles, while the wide position of palms enhanced the lower pectoralis major muscle. Superior positions of palms enhanced the upper trapezius, while the inferior positions of palms increased the anterior deltoid, posterior deltoid, infraspinatus, biceps brachii, middle trapezius, lower trapezius, and pectoralis major (lower, middle, and upper) muscles. Internal positions of the palms increased all pectoralis major muscles (lower, middle, and upper), while external positions (lower, middle, and upper) enhanced the middle deltoid, latissimus dorsi, biceps brachii, middle trapezius, and lower trapezius muscles. The information about muscle activation during various types of push-ups can potentially help athletes, coaches, personal trainers, and clinicians to apply modified push-up exercises to make new systematic and useful exercise plans.
Performance Analysis of the YOLOv4 Algorithm for Pavement Damage Image Detection with Different Embedding Positions of CBAM Modules
Authors: Li Li , Fang Baihao , Zhu Jie
Published: October 2022

One of the most critical tasks for pavement maintenance and road safety is the rapid and correct identification and classification of asphalt pavement damages. Nowadays, deep learning networks have become the popular method for detecting pavement cracks, and there is always a need to further improve the accuracy and precision of pavement damage recognition. An improved YOLOv4-based pavement damage detection model was proposed in this study to address the above problems. The model improves the saliency of pavement damage by introducing the convolutional block attention module (CBAM) to suppress background noise and explores the influence of the embedding position of the CBAM module in the YOLOv4 model on the detection accuracy. The K-means++ algorithm was used to optimize the anchor box parameters to improve the target detection accuracy and form a high-performance pavement crack detection model called YOLOv4-3. The training and test sets were constructed using the same image data sources, and the results showed the mAP (mean average precision) of the improved YOLOv4-3 network was 2.96% higher than that before the improvement. The experiments indicate that embedding CBAM into the Neck module and the Head module can effectively improve the detection accuracy of the YOLOv4 model.
Study on Preparation and Properties of Sintered Brick from Multi-Source Solid Waste
Authors: Guo Chen , Kong Jiafeng , Wang Zhenghua , Meng Xiangbin , Zhao Yuchao , Wu Wenhao , Quan Hongzhu
Published: October 2022

The recycling of construction waste and the use of a new sintering process in the field of sintered bricks can greatly solve the problems of clay resource depletion, soil structure destruction, and high CO2 emissions that always limit the development of the sintered brick field. The study was carried out using an orthogonal experiment to derive the optimal mix ratio for the preparation of sintered bricks, and subsequently, the sintered bricks were prepared using the optimal mix ratio. The experimental results show that the maximum compressive strength of construction waste sintered brick (MRB sintered brick) prepared using high-temperature sintering is 8.1 MPa, and the water absorption is 11. When the waste glass slag is mixed with 10%, it can show a better fluxing effect in the preparation of sintered bricks by mixing construction waste with waste glass slag (MGB sintered bricks), so that the MGB sintered bricks have a higher densification. The compressive strength is 32.9% higher and the water absorption is 3.5% lower than that of MRB sintered brick. MGS sintered bricks were prepared by mixing Yellow River sedimentary sand into MGB sintered bricks. The strength of MGS sintered bricks increased with the replacement rate of Yellow River sedimentary sand, and when the replacement rate of Yellow River sedimentary sand reached 16%, the strength of the MGS sintered bricks increased by 88.9%, and the water absorption rate was reduced by 4.6% compared with the MGB sintered bricks. The sintering mechanism had significant effects on the compressive strength, weathering resistance, and frost resistance of the sintered brick. The microwave sintering process has the characteristics of high efficiency, uniform heating, selective heating, and low thermal inertia, which can increase the compressive strength of MGS sintered brick by 4.6%, reduce the water absorption by 12.9%, shorten the sintering time by 43.6%, and improve the frost resistance.
Comparison of Phase-Screen and Geometry-Based Phase Aberration Correction Techniques for Real-Time Transcranial Ultrasound Imaging
Authors: Mozaffarzadeh Moein , Verweij Martin D. , de Jong Nico , Renaud Guillaume
Published: October 2022

While transcranial ultrasound imaging is a promising diagnostic modality, it is still hindered due to phase aberration and multiple scattering caused by the skull. In this paper, we compare near-field phase-screen modeling (PS) to a geometry-based phase aberration correction technique (GB) when an ultrafast imaging sequence (five plane waves tilted from −15 to +15 degrees in the cutaneous tissue layer) is used for data acquisition. With simulation data, the aberration profile (AP) of two aberrator models (flat and realistic temporal bone) was estimated in five isoplanatic patches, while the wave-speed of the brain tissue surrounding the point targets was either modeled homogeneously (ideal) or slightly heterogeneously to generate speckle (for mimicking a more realistic brain tissue). For the experiment, a phased array P4-1 transducer was used to image a wire phantom; a 4.2-mm-thick bone-mimicking plate was placed in front of the probe. The AP of the plate was estimated in three isoplanatic patches. The numerical results indicate that, while all the scatterers are detectable in the image reconstructed by the GB method, many scatterers are not detected with the PS method when the dataset used for AP estimation is generated with a realistic bone model and heterogeneous brain tissue. The experimental results show that the GB method increases the signal-to-clutter ratio (SCR) by 7.5 dB and 6.5 dB compared to the PS and conventional reconstruction methods, respectively. The GB method reduces the axial/lateral localization error by 1.97/0.66 mm and 2.08/0.7 mm compared to the PS method and conventional reconstruction, respectively. The lateral spatial resolution (full-width-half-maximum) is also improved by 0.1 mm and 1.06 mm compared to the PS method and conventional reconstruction, respectively. Our comparison study suggests that GB aberration correction outperforms the PS method when an ultrafast multi-angle plane wave sequence is used for transcranial imaging with a single transducer.
Study on Sand-Accumulation Changes of Highway and Formation Mechanism of Sand Damage in Drifting Dunes Areas
Authors: Han Feng , Wang Chengxiang , Liu Zhibo , Li Liangying , Yin Wenhua
Published: October 2022

After the construction of desert highway, the physiognomy changes caused by surface wind erosion and accumulation not only seriously threaten the stability of road structure, but also have a tremendous impact on the safety of the highway operation and the maintenance work on the highway. The purpose of this paper is to explore the change of sand sedimentation and the law of sand transport along the highway in the moving dune areas, and to clarify the change of sand flow and the formation mechanism of sand damage in the moving dune areas. Taking the test section of Wuhai-Maqin Expressway in the hinterland of Tengger Desert as the research object, the on-site observation of sand accumulation and the recording of wind information by small weather stations were adopted, supplemented by CFD numerical simulation method, in order to provide reference for the construction of sand control system in moving dune areas. The study results show that: (1) Dunes not only obstruct wind-drift sand but are also the sediment source condition for forming road sand. The windward dunes near the road are affected by wind and the deposition of sand will quickly bury the road in the strong wind season. (2) Compared with highways with flat terrain, the existence of dunes affects the flow field structure and the distribution of sand sedimentation on the highway, in which, under the influence of the gathering effect, the flow velocity reaches the maximum at the top of the dune and a large low-speed recirculation zone is formed on the lee side of the dune, easily causing sand accumulation. (3) Sediment accumulates at the windward side of the embankment or dune where sandy air current is easy to saturate. However, with the increase of wind speed, in addition to the grit carried by the sandy air current itself, new sand rolled up on the windward side of the dunes also form deposits on the road surface and the amount of sand-accumulation on highway surface and leeward side tends to increase. As a result, for the highway in drifting sand dunes areas, sediment prevention and control measures should be taken actively. It is necessary to remove sediment from the road in time and reduce the moving speed of sand dunes and the deposition range of wind-sand flow, ultimately for the purpose of reducing the damage wind-sand activity causes to the highway in desert.
Special Issue on Green Construction, Maintenance, Structural Health Monitoring and Non-Destructive Testing in Complex Structures and Infrastructures
Authors: Wang Wensheng , Tan Guojin , Yang Tao , Wu Chunli , He Xin
Published: October 2022

It is widely acknowledged that structural design, new construction technology, maintenance, monitoring and testing remain core aspects of civil engineering [...]
An Integration Model for Flux Density Distribution Formed by a Heliostat
Authors: Zong Chenggang , Shi Yemao , Yu Liang , Liu Bowen , Huang Weidong
Published: October 2022

An accurate flux density calculation is essential for optimizing and designing solar tower systems. Most of the existing methods introduce multiple assumptions, and the accuracy and scope of the application are limited. This paper proposes an integration model used to calculate the flux density distribution after only applying the Gaussian model for solar brightness distribution. It is the first time that multiple reflections and the influence of the optical error transferred from different planes of the glass mirror are considered in order to build an optical model for the flux density of a heliostat. The reflection from two surfaces of the glass mirror used to form three main parts of beams was considered in the present model, and Fresnel’s equations were applied to calculate the energy of the three parts of reflected rays. An elliptic Gaussian model was applied for the optical error distribution of the heliostat. The model error was evaluated using the experimental data of ten heliostats, and the applicability and accuracy of the model were verified through flux distribution and an intercept factor. The average relative prediction error of the present model from the experimental data was only 2.83%, which is less than SolTrace and other models.
A Power Based Analysis for a Transonic Transport Aircraft Configuration through 3D RANS Simulations
Authors: Lv Peijian , Lin Defu , Mo Li
Published: October 2022

This paper presents a power-based analysis through 3D Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes simulations for a typical transonic transport aircraft resented by the DLR-F6 model. Two configurations were employed in CFD simulations. The original F6 model geometry was defined as the wing body configuration, and a wake-filling actuator disc was added to the F6 model to establish the BLI configuration. This study proposes a segregated 3D computational domain in RANS simulations to track the change in power terms in the flow field so that the power conversion process can be studied and visualized. For the wing body configuration, the power-based analysis illustrated the power conversion process, showing that about 35% of the total power input remains in the form of the mechanical power of aircraft wake at the outlet plane. For the BLI configuration, 22% of the total power input was left in the form of the mechanical power of downstream flow mixed with the wake and jet at the outlet plane. This study elaborates on the error of the mechanical power imbalance, showing that the convergence in aircraft drag does not necessarily lead to a small error in 3D RANS simulations. The high value of power imbalance error is associated with the wing.
An Optimization of Statistical Index Method Based on Gaussian Process Regression and GeoDetector, for Higher Accurate Landslide Susceptibility Modeling
Authors: Cheng Cen , Yang Yang , Zhong Fengcheng , Song Chao , Zhen Yan
Published: October 2022

Landslide susceptibility assessment is an effective non-engineering landslide prevention at the regional scale. This study aims to improve the accuracy of landslide susceptibility assessment by using an optimized statistical index (SI) method. A landslide inventory containing 493 historical landslides was established, and 20 initial influencing factors were selected for modeling. First, a combination of GeoDetector and recursive feature elimination was used to eliminate the redundant factors. Then, an optimization method for weights of SI was adopted based on Gaussian process regression (GPR). Finally, the predictive abilities of the original SI model, the SI model with optimized factors (GD-SI), and the SI model with optimized factors and weights (GD-GPR-SI) were compared and evaluated by the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) on the testing datasets. The GD-GPR-SI model has the highest AUC value (0.943), and the GD-SI model (0.936) also has a higher value than the SI model (0.931). The results highlight the necessity of factor screening and weight optimization. The factor screening method used in this study can effectively eliminate factors that negatively affect the SI model. Furthermore, by optimizing the SI weights through GPR, more reasonable weights can be obtained for model performance improvement.
Crouch Gait Analysis and Visualization Based on Gait Forward and Inverse Kinematics
Authors: Gonzalez-Islas Juan-Carlos , Dominguez-Ramirez Omar-Arturo , Lopez-Ortega Omar , Peña-Ramirez Jonatan , Ordaz-Oliver Jesus-Patricio , Marroquin-Gutierrez Francisco
Published: October 2022

Crouch gait is one of the most common gait abnormalities; it is usually caused by cerebral palsy. There are few works related to the modeling of crouch gait kinematics, crouch gait analysis, and visualization in both the workspace and joint space. In this work, we present a quaternion-based method to solve the forward kinematics of the position of the lower limbs during walking. For this purpose, we propose a modified eight-DoF human skeletal model. Using this model, we present a geometric method to calculate the gait inverse kinematics. Both methods are applied for gait analysis over normal, mild, and severe crouch gaits, respectively. A metric-based comparison of workspace and joint space for the three gaits for a gait cycle is conducted. In addition, gait visualization is performed using Autodesk Maya for the three anatomical planes. The obtained results allow us to determine the capabilities of the proposed methods to assess the performance of crouch gaits, using a normal pattern as a reference. Both forward and inverse kinematic methods could ultimately be applied in rehabilitation settings for the diagnosis and treatment of diseases derived from crouch gaits or other types of gait abnormalities.
Iterated Partial Sums of the k-Fibonacci Sequences
Authors: Falcón Sergio , Plaza Ángel
Published: October 2022

In this paper, we find the sequence of partial sums of the k-Fibonacci sequence, say, Sk,n=∑j=1nFk,j, and then we find the sequence of partial sums of this new sequence, Sk,n2)=∑j=1nSk,j, and so on. The iterated partial sums of k-Fibonacci numbers are given as a function of k-Fibonacci numbers, in powers of k, and in a recursive way. We finish the topic by indicating a formula to find the first terms of these sequences from the k-Fibonacci numbers themselves.
Red Light Resets the Expression Pattern, Phase, and Period of the Circadian Clock in Plants: A Computational Approach
Authors: Huang Ting , Shui Yao , Wu Yue , Hou Xilin , You Xiong
Published: October 2022

Recent research in the fields of biochemistry and molecular biology has shown that different light qualities have extremely different effects on plant development, and optimizing light quality conditions can speed up plant growth. Clock-regulated red-light signaling, can enhance hypocotyl elongation, and increase seedling height and flower and fruit productivity. In order to investigate the effect of red light on circadian clocks in plants, a novel computational model was established. The expression profiles of the circadian element CCA1 from previous related studies were used to fit the model. The simulation results were validated by the expression patterns of CCA1 in Arabidopsis, including wild types and mutants, and by the phase shifts of CCA1 after red-light pulse. The model was used to further explore the complex responses to various photoperiods, such as the natural white-light/dark cycles, red/white/dark cycles, and extreme 24 h photoperiods. These results demonstrated that red light can reset the expression pattern, period, and phase of the circadian clock. Finally, we identified the dependence of phase shifts on the length of red-light pulse and the minimum red-light pulse length required for producing an observable phase shift. This work provides a promising computational approach to investigating the response of the circadian clock to other light qualities.
Internalisation of RGD-Engineered Extracellular Vesicles by Glioblastoma Cells
Authors: Gečys Dovydas , Kazlauskas Arūnas , Gečytė Emilija , Paužienė Neringa , Kulakauskienė Deimantė , Lukminaitė Indrė , Jekabsone Aistė
Published: October 2022

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most aggressive CNS tumour with no efficient treatment, partly due to the retention of anticancer drugs by the blood–brain barrier (BBB) and their insufficient concentration in tumour cells. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are attractive drug carriers because of their biocompatibility and ability to cross the BBB. Additional efficiency can be achieved by adding GBM-cell-specific ligands. GBM cells overexpress integrins; thus, one of the most straightforward targeting strategies is to modify EVs with integrin-recognising molecules. This study investigated the therapeutic potential of genetically engineered EVs with elevated membrane levels of the integrin-binding peptide RGD (RGD-EVs) against GBM cells in vitro. For RGD-EV production, stable RGD-HEK 293FT cells were generated by using a pcDNA4/TO-Lamp2b-iRGD-HA expression vector and performing antibiotic-based selection. RGD-EVs were isolated from RGD-HEK 293FT-cell-conditioned medium and characterised by size (Zetasizer), specific markers (ELISA) and RGD expression (Western Blot). Internalisation by human GBM cells HROG36 and U87 MG and BJ-5ta human fibroblasts was assessed by fluorescent EV RNA labelling. The effect of doxorubicin-loaded RGD-EVs on GBM cells was evaluated by the metabolic PrestoBlue viability assay; functional GAPDH gene knockdown by RGD-EV-encapsulated siRNA was determined by RT-qPCR. RGD-EVs had 40% higher accumulation in GBM cells (but not in fibroblasts) and induced significantly stronger toxicity by loaded doxorubicin and GAPDH silencing by loaded siRNA compared to unmodified EVs. Thus, RGD modification substantially increases the specific delivery capacity of HEK 293FT-derived EVs to GBM cells.
From Genes to Geography, from Cells to Community, from Biomolecules to Behaviors: The Importance of Social Determinants of Health
Authors: Davidson Jaysón , Vashisht Rohit , Butte Atul J.
Published: October 2022

Much scientific work over the past few decades has linked health outcomes and disease risk to genomics, to derive a better understanding of disease mechanisms at the genetic and molecular level. However, genomics alone does not quite capture the full picture of one’s overall health. Modern computational biomedical research is moving in the direction of including social/environmental factors that ultimately affect quality of life and health outcomes at both the population and individual level. The future of studying disease now lies at the hands of the social determinants of health (SDOH) to answer pressing clinical questions and address healthcare disparities across population groups through its integration into electronic health records (EHRs). In this perspective article, we argue that the SDOH are the future of disease risk and health outcomes studies due to their vast coverage of a patient’s overall health. SDOH data availability in EHRs has improved tremendously over the years with EHR toolkits, diagnosis codes, wearable devices, and census tract information to study disease risk. We discuss the availability of SDOH data, challenges in SDOH implementation, its future in real-world evidence studies, and the next steps to report study outcomes in an equitable and actionable way.
Shared Genetic Regulatory Networks Contribute to Neuropathic and Inflammatory Pain: Multi-Omics Systems Analysis
Authors: Ye Fang , Du Li , Huang Wenqi , Wang Sheng
Published: October 2022

The mechanisms of chronic pain are complex, and genetic factors play an essential role in the development of chronic pain. Neuropathic pain (NP) and inflammatory pain (IP) are two primary components of chronic pain. Previous studies have uncovered some common biological processes in NP and IP. However, the shared genetic mechanisms remained poorly studied. We utilized multi-omics systematic analyses to investigate the shared genetic mechanisms of NP and IP. First, by integrating several genome-wide association studies (GWASs) with multi-omics data, we revealed the significant overlap of the gene co-expression modules in NP and IP. Further, we uncovered the shared biological pathways, including the previously reported mitochondrial electron transport and ATP metabolism, and stressed the role of genetic factors in chronic pain with neurodegenerative diseases. Second, we identified 24 conservative key drivers (KDs) contributing to NP and IP, containing two well-established pain genes, IL1B and OPRM1, and some novel potential pain genes, such as C5AR1 and SERPINE1. The subnetwork of those KDs highlighted the processes involving the immune system. Finally, gene expression analysis of the KDs in mouse models underlined two of the KDs, SLC6A15 and KCNQ5, with unidirectional regulatory functions in NP and IP. Our study provides strong evidence to support the current understanding of the shared genetic regulatory networks underlying NP and IP and potentially benefit the future common therapeutic avenues for chronic pain.
Systematic Screening of Trigger Moieties for Designing Formaldehyde Fluorescent Probes and Application in Live Cell Imaging
Authors: Jiang Yin , Huang Shumei , Liu Minghui , Li Zejun , Xiao Weimin , Zhang Huatang , Yang Liu , Sun Hongyan
Published: October 2022

Formaldehyde (FA) is involved in multiple physiological regulatory processes and plays a crucial role in memory storage. Meanwhile, FA has a notorious reputation as a toxic compound, and it will cause a variety of diseases if its level is unbalanced in the human body. To date, there have been numerous fluorescent probes for FA imaging reported. Among them, the probes based on the 2−aza−Cope rearrangement have attracted the most attention, and their applications in cell imaging have been greatly expanded. Herein, we screened the various trigger moieties of FA fluorescent probes based on the mechanism of 2−aza−Cope rearrangement. FA−2, in which a fluorophore is connected to a 4−nitrobenzylamine group and an allyl group, demonstrated the highest sensitivity, selectivity, and reaction kinetics. Furthermore, FA−Lyso, derived from FA−2, has been successfully designed and applied to monitor exogenous and endogenous FA fluctuations in lysosomes of living cells.
Subdural Effusion Evolves into Chronic Subdural Hematoma after Deep Brain Stimulation Surgery: Case Report and Review of the Literature
Authors: Wu Dongdong , Dang Yuanyuan , Wang Jian , Cui Zhiqiang
Published: October 2022

Background: Although chronic subdural hematoma (CSDH) has been known for over several hundred years, the etiology and pathogenesis of it are still not completely understood. Neurosurgical procedures resulting in CSDH are a rare clinical complication, and there was no report about how subdural effusion (SDE) evolves into CSDH after deep brain stimulation (DBS) surgery. The formation mechanism of CSDH after surgery, especially in DBS surgery, and the effect of recovery, need to be explored. Methods: We present two cases, complicated with SDE after DBS surgery, serious dysfunction complications such as hemiplegia and aphasia occurred on the postoperative day 36 and 49 individually, and images showed CSDH. Fusion image showed the bilateral electrodes were significantly shifted. Then, they were performed to drill craniotomy with a closed system drainage. Result: The symptoms of hemiplegia and aphasia caused by CSDH were completely recovered, and the follow-up images showed CSDH was disappeared. However, DBS stimulation is poorly effective, it cannot reach the preoperative level, especially in the ipsilateral side of CSDH. Conclusions: The iatrogenic SDE that evolved into CSDH in the present two cases shows that SDE is one of the causes of CSDH. Patients develop SDE after DBS, which increases the risk of developing CSDH. CSDH after DBS can be successfully treated. however, the postoperative efficacy of DBS will decline.
Home Away from Home: Comparing Factors Impacting Migrants’ and Italians Sense of Psychological Home
Authors: Camilleri Andrew P. , Ferrari Joseph R. , Romoli Vittoria , Cardinali Paola , Migliorini Laura
Published: October 2022

Psychological home is an understudied concept within community psychology, especially focused on migrants. Previous literature on psychological home found a positive relationship with well-being and resilience in general populations and migrants. Studying psychological home in migrants may provide important tools to buffer various stresses associated with migration. The present study explored the relationship between psychological home and demographic factors, including dwelling type and situation between migrants (n = 132) and Italian citizens’ population (n = 76). Results offer theoretical reasons explaining the differences in the meaning of home between migrant and non-immigrant populations.
Wind-Induced Vibration Coefficient of Landscape Tower with Curved and Twisted Columns and Spiral Beams Based on Wind Tunnel Test Data
Authors: Zhao Shuang , Zhang Chengtao , Yue Jiahao , Yan Zhitao , Liu Jun , Zhang Bin , Liu Bowei
Published: October 2022

The complex aerodynamic shape and structural form affect the wind-induced vibration coefficient β of landscape towers with a twisted column and spiral beam (short for LTs). To clarify the β distribution characteristics, evaluate the applicability of existing load codes, and provide accurate design wind loads, wind tunnel tests and numerical simulations were carried out on a LT. The LT’s aerodynamic coefficients and wind-induced responses were measured using rigid sectional and aeroelastic models. Furthermore, the displacement wind-induced vibration coefficient βd and inertial load wind-induced vibration coefficient βi(z) of the LT were calculated from these measured data. Combined with test data and a finite element model, the impacts of the wind speed spectrum type, the structural damping ratio ξ, and the peak factor g on β of the LT are analyzed. The accuracy of β of the LT calculated by Chinese and American load codes was examined and given the correction method. The results showed that the wind yaw angle had a significant impact on βd of the LT, which cannot be neglected in current load codes. The abrupt mass increase at the platform location makes the distribution characteristics of βi(z) of the LT different from conventional high-rise structures. The values of ξ and g have a significant impact on the calculation results of β, which are the key to the accurate design wind loads of LTs. The existing load codes are not suitable for LTs, and the correction method proposed in this paper can be used to improve them.