bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Quality Analysis and Comprehensive Evaluation of Fruits from Different Cultivars of Pecan (Carya illinoinensis (Wangenheim) K. Koch)
Authors: Wu Shuang , Yao Xiaohua , Wang Kailiang , Yang Shuiping , Ren Huadong , Huang Mei , Chang Jun
Published: May 2022

A comprehensive method for evaluating kernel quality was established by estimating in detail the kernel quality of 27 pecan cultivars introduced into China and by exploring the major trait differences among the different cultivars of pecan. The contents of crude fat, crude protein, soluble sugar, and tannin; the fatty acid composition; the amino acid composition; and the mineral element composition of 27 pecan cultivars were analyzed and tested using the national standards for principal component analysis (PCA), and orthogonal partial least-squares discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA) was used to comprehensively evaluate the 34 characteristic indicators. The fatty acids in the kernel were dominated by unsaturated fats, with oleic acid having the highest content relative to linoleic acid; the amino acid composition was dominated by medicinal amino acids; and potassium, magnesium, and calcium were the predominant mineral elements. Systematic cluster analysis revealed that the 27 pecan cultivars could be classified into three categories (relatively optimal, general, and poorest kernel quality) and 21 indexes, including oleic, linoleic, linolenic, crude fat, soluble sugars, aspartic acid, and threonine, served as indexes of the differences among the 27 tested cultivars. Combined with principal component analysis and stepwise regression analysis, a kernel quality evaluation model was established and verified, and reliable evaluation results were obtained. In addition, Nos. 9, 65, 66, 72, 8, and 21, which had the best quality, were further ranked using the probability ranking method within the third category of optimal quality cultivars. There were obvious differences in kernel characteristics among the different cultivars of pecan. Six cultivars with potential to be developed into excellent cultivars were preliminarily screened out. It was found that the organic combination of cluster analysis, principal component analysis, and orthogonal partial least-squares discriminant analysis can provide a reliable method for the quality evaluation of pecans.
Crown Shapes of Urban Trees-Their Dependences on Tree Species, Tree Age and Local Environment, and Effects on Ecosystem Services
Authors: Franceschi Eleonora , Moser-Reischl Astrid , Rahman Mohammad , Pauleit Stephan , Pretzsch Hans , Rötzer Thomas
Published: May 2022

Crown shapes of common European urban tree species differ from tree species to tree species and are modified by the age of a tree and its local environment. A tree’s crown shape has a great influence on the crown volume and thus on the ecosystem service provision of a tree such as the shade area or the shade density. We used the data of 3852 tree individuals from eight German cities and the crown shape data of 528 trees for the species Acer platanoides, Acer pseudoplatanus, Aesculus hippocastanum, Fraxinus excelsior, Platanus × acerifolia, Robinia pseudoacacia and Tilia cordata to analyze tree structural dimensions and the crown volume and shade dependency on a tree’s crown shapes. Ovoid (57% of all tree individuals) and spherical (24%) crown shapes were mostly observed. However, columnar shape was observed for light-demanding R. pseudoacacia in close proximity of objects. The greatest shade areas were measured for spherical shape and the highest shade density for ovoid shape. Logistic regression analysis showed significant effects of age and distance to objects on crown shapes. Significant probability of crown shapes was found for different tree species, e.g., A. hippocastanum strongly showed half-ellipsoid crown shapes.
Date, Apple, and Pear By-Products as Functional Ingredients in Pasta: Cooking Quality Attributes and Physicochemical, Rheological, and Sensorial Properties
Authors: Bchir Brahim , Karoui Romdhane , Danthine Sabine , Blecker Christophe , Besbes Souhail , Attia Hamadi
Published: May 2022

This study aims to evaluate the impact of incorporating pear, date, and apple by-products on pasta properties. Pasta properties including cooking quality, texture, color, rheology, thermal gelling, and microstructural characteristics were evaluated. Common wheat flour was substituted by 0, 2.5, 5, 7, and 10 g/100 g of by-products. To choose the best-suited substitute of flour for the preparation of pasta, the sensorial properties of pasta were investigated. Interrelationships between all the physicochemical parameters were investigated using multiple factor analysis. We also studied the impact of storage (7, 15, and 30 days) on the physicochemical proprieties of pasta. The results revealed that the chemical composition of pasta elaborated with by-products was characterized by higher energy (~386 Kcal) and fiber content (~13%) than the control pasta. Generally, materials added to the durum wheat pasta reduce optimum cooking time, adhesiveness, and extensibility, and enhance the swelling index, cooking loss, cooking water absorption, water activity, firmness, and tenacity of pasta. Cooked pasta samples were significantly (p < 0.05) darker (L*) and greener (-a*) than the control pasta. Increasing the rate of by-products from 2.5% to 10% principally altered the texture and structure of pasta. Scanning electron microscopy analysis showed that the inclusion of by-products into pasta leads to a disruption of the protein matrix. A practical formulation (2.5% of by-products) can be selected, since a significant difference was detected between overall acceptability scores. Grouping the variables in the principal component analysis plot showed that pasta samples can be divided into three groups. Each group was correlated by a specific variable. A significant modification of the physical parameters of pasta was observed after 30 days of storage.
The Modified Shields Classification and 12 Families with Defined DSPP Mutations
Authors: Simmer James P. , Zhang Hong , Moon Sophie J. H. , Donnelly Lori A-J. , Lee Yuan-Ling , Seymen Figen , Koruyucu Mine , Chan Hui-Chen , Lee Kevin Y. , Wu Suwei , Hsiang Chia-Lan , Tsai Anthony T. P. , Slayton Rebecca L. , Morrow Melissa , Wang Shih-Kai , Shields Edward D. , Hu Jan C.-C.
Published: May 2022

Mutations in Dentin Sialophosphoprotein (DSPP) are known to cause, in order of increasing severity, dentin dysplasia type-II (DD-II), dentinogenesis imperfecta type-II (DGI-II), and dentinogenesis imperfecta type-III (DGI-III). DSPP mutations fall into two groups: a 5′-group that affects protein targeting and a 3′-group that shifts translation into the −1 reading frame. Using whole-exome sequence (WES) analyses and Single Molecule Real-Time (SMRT) sequencing, we identified disease-causing DSPP mutations in 12 families. Three of the mutations are novel: c.53T>C/p.(Val18Ala); c.3461delG/p.(Ser1154Metfs*160); and c.3700delA/p.(Ser1234Alafs*80). We propose genetic analysis start with WES analysis of proband DNA to identify mutations in COL1A1 and COL1A2 causing dominant forms of osteogenesis imperfecta, 5′-DSPP mutations, and 3′-DSPP frameshifts near the margins of the DSPP repeat region, and SMRT sequencing when the disease-causing mutation is not identified. After reviewing the literature and incorporating new information showing distinct differences in the cell pathology observed between knockin mice with 5′-Dspp or 3′-Dspp mutations, we propose a modified Shields Classification based upon the causative mutation rather than phenotypic severity such that patients identified with 5′-DSPP defects be diagnosed as DGI-III, while those with 3′-DSPP defects be diagnosed as DGI-II.
Enhancing DLG2 Implications in Neuropsychiatric Disorders: Analysis of a Cohort of Eight Patients with 11q14.1 Imbalances
Authors: Bertini Veronica , Milone Roberta , Cristofani Paola , Cambi Francesca , Bosetti Chiara , Barbieri Filippo , Bertelloni Silvano , Cioni Giovanni , Valetto Angelo , Battini Roberta
Published: May 2022

Neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs) are considered synaptopathies, as they are due to anomalies in neuronal connectivity during development. DLG2 is a gene involved insynaptic function; the phenotypic effect of itsalterations in NDDs has been underestimated since few cases have been thoroughly described.We report on eight patients with 11q14.1 imbalances involving DLG2, underlining its potential effects on clinical presentation and its contribution to NDD comorbidity by accurate neuropsychiatric data collection. DLG2 is a very large gene in 11q14.1, extending over 2.172 Mb, with alternative splicing that gives rise to numerous isoforms differentially expressed in brain tissues. A thorough bioinformatic analysis of the altered transcripts was conducted for each patient. The different expression profiles of the isoforms of this gene and their influence on the excitatory–inhibitory balance in crucial brain structures could contribute to the phenotypic variability related to DLG2 alterations. Further studies on patients would be helpful to enrich clinical and neurodevelopmental findings and elucidate the molecular mechanisms subtended to NDDs.
Methylation Heterogeneity and Gene Expression of SPG20 in Solid Tumors
Authors: Cusenza Vincenza Ylenia , Braglia Luca , Frazzi Raffaele
Published: May 2022

Introduction. The downregulation of the Spastic Paraplegia-20 (SPG20) gene is correlated with a rare autosomal recessive disorder called Troyer Syndrome. Only in recent years has SPG20 been studied and partially characterized in cancer. SPG20 has been shown to be hypermethylated in colorectal cancer, gastric cancer, non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma and hepatocellular carcinoma. In this study, we analyze the methylation status and the gene expression of SPG20 in different tumors of various histological origins. Methods. We analyzed the data generated through Infinium Human Methylation 450 BeadChip arrays and RNA-seq approaches extrapolated from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database. The statistics were performed with R 4.0.4. Results. We aimed to assess whether the hypermethylation of this target gene was a common characteristic among different tumors and if there was a correlation between the m-values and the gene expression in paired tumor versus solid tissue normal. Overall, our analysis highlighted that SPG20 open sea upstream the TSS is altogether hypermethylated, and the tumor tissues display a higher methylation heterogeneity compared to the solid tissue normal. The gene expression evidences a reproducible, higher gene expression in normal tissues. Conclusion. Our research, based on data mining from TCGA, evidences that colon and liver tumors display a consistent methylation heterogeneity compared to their normal counterparts. This parallels a downregulation of SPG20 gene expression in tumor samples and suggests a role for this multifunctional protein in the control of tumor progression.
Bacterial and Fungal Co-Infections and Superinfections in a Cohort of COVID-19 Patients: Real-Life Data from an Italian Third Level Hospital
Authors: Ceccarelli Manuela , Marino Andrea , Pulvirenti Sarah , Coco Viviana , Busà Barbara , Nunnari Giuseppe , Cacopardo Bruno Santi
Published: May 2022

The use of immune suppressive drugs combined with the natural immune suppression caused by SARS-CoV-2 can lead to a surge of secondary bacterial and fungal infections. The aim of this study was to estimate the incidence of superinfections in hospitalized subjects with COVID-19. We carried out an observational retrospective single center cohort study. We enrolled patients admitted at the “Garibaldi” hospital for ≥72 h, with a confirmed diagnosis of COVID-19. All patients were routinely investigated for bacterial, viral, and fungal pathogens. A total of 589 adults with COVID-19 were included. A total of 88 infections were documented in different sites among 74 patients (12.6%). As for the etiology, 84 isolates were bacterial (95.5%), while only 4 were fungal (4.5%). A total of 51 episodes of hospital-acquired infections (HAI) were found in 43 patients, with a bacterial etiology in 47 cases (92.2%). Community-acquired infections (CAIs) are more frequently caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae, while HAIs are mostly associated with Pseudomonas aeruginosa. A high rate of CAIs and HAIs due to the use of high-dose corticosteroids and long hospital stays can be suspected. COVID-19 patients should be routinely evaluated for infection and colonization. More data about antimicrobial resistance and its correlation with antibiotic misuse in COVID-19 patients are required.
Injuries in Wheelchair Basketball Players: A Systematic Review
Authors: Sá Karina , Costa e Silva Anselmo , Gorla José , Silva Andressa , Magno e Silva Marília
Published: May 2022

Background: Sports injuries have physical and psychological effects that negatively affect sports performance. Although there are data available on sports injuries in wheelchair basketball, some aspects need to be clarified, such as the location, mechanisms and risk factors for injury, which are not well described due to variations and/or a lack of definition of injury. The aim of this study was to determine epidemiological information, primary injury characteristics and affected body regions in wheelchair basketball players; Methods: The PubMed, Science Direct, Scopus, Web of Science and Google Scholar databases were used; Results: eight articles were included in this review. The shoulder was the body region most affected (N = 60; 22.1%). When divided by body segments, the upper limbs were the most affected (N = 128; 47.2%), followed by the head and/or face (N = 53; 19.5%), trunk (included spine and ribs) (N = 48; 17.8%) and lower limbs (N = 42; 15.5%); Conclusions: wheelchair basketball players suffer a large number of injuries with different characteristics that are mainly linked to biomechanics and sport. These results can be used to guide coaches in structuring training to minimize recurring injuries, in addition to assisting in the organization of medical teams in competitions.
Human Exposure Assessment to Wearable Antennas: Effect of Position and Interindividual Anatomical Variability
Authors: Gallucci Silvia , Bonato Marta , Chiaramello Emma , Fiocchi Serena , Tognola Gabriella , Parazzini Marta
Published: May 2022

(1) Background: This work aims to assess the human exposure to the RF-EMFs emitted by a wearable antenna. (2) Methods: a wearable antenna tuned at f = 2.45 GHz was tested by placing it in six realistic configurations relative to a male and female human model. The exposure assessment was performed by means of computational methods to estimate the SAR10g distributions at 1W of input power. (3) Results: (i) for all the configurations the SAR10g distributions resulted always mainly concentrated on a superficial area immediately below the antenna itself; (ii) the obtained values have shown that the configuration with the highest exposure value was when the antenna was posed on the arm; (iii) the exposure tends to be higher for male model. (4) Discussion and Conclusions: This work highlights the importance of performing an exposure assessment when the antenna is placed on the human wearer considering the growth of the wearable technology and its wide variety of fields of application, e.g., medical and military.
Role of Participation in Activities and Perceived Accessibility on Quality of Life among Nondisabled Older Adults and Those with Disabilities in Israel during COVID-19
Authors: Segev-Jacubovski Orit , Shapiro Ephraim
Published: May 2022

During the COVID-19 pandemic, quality of life (QoL) was reduced among many groups, including Israeli older adults. This study investigated perceived QoL, perceived accessibility of the living environment, and participation in activities among nondisabled older adults and those with disabilities in the community. It also examined whether the perceived accessibility’s effect on QoL occurs directly and/or indirectly via mediators of participation in community activities. A voluntary and anonymous survey was administered from February to May 2021 to 495 participants aged 60 and older. Respondents completed three questionnaires: WHOQOL-BREF, Community Integration Questionnaire-Revised (CIQ-R), and Perceived Accessibility of Living Environment (PALE). The main finding was that participation in activities in the community had a direct positive impact on QoL. Perceived accessibility of the living environment also had indirect positive effects on QoL through participation in activities in the community, for those without disabilities but, interestingly, not for those with disabilities. Hierarchal linear regressions revealed that participation in activities explained 53.3% of the variance for both groups while perceived accessibility added 1.1% for the nondisabled. We conclude that accessibility of living environment is a good indicator of positively perceived QoL through participation in various activities in the community for nondisabled older adults. This may be especially important during a pandemic.
Impact of Environmental Innovation Strategy on Green Competitiveness: Evidence from China
Authors: Wang Na , Zhang Shan Jin , Wang Wei
Published: May 2022

Environmental issues are a significant field in both research and practice. Manufacturing enterprises are adopting sustainable initiatives to achieve efficient resource usage, emissions reduction, energy utilization reduction, and improve waste management. Therefore, drawing on ecological modernization theory (EMT) and knowledge-based theory (KBT), this study proposes a comprehensive framework for the relationships among environmental innovation strategy (EIS), green knowledge sharing (GKS), organizational green learning (OGL), and green competitiveness (GC), through literature review; after, a survey questionnaire method was employed, and multiple-regression method was used for the analysis. The empirical results show that environmental innovation strategy has a positive effect on green competitiveness; the green knowledge sharing and organizational green learning chain mediates the relationship between environmental innovation strategy and green competitiveness. The results further reveal that green knowledge sharing and organizational green learning are crucial paths for manufacturing enterprises to enhance green competitiveness in implementing their environmental innovation strategies. This study extends previous research by emphasizing the importance of environmental innovation strategy in the context of sustainable development, and enriches existing research related to green competitiveness.
Female and Rural School Students Show More Positive Attitudes toward Disability during Physical Education Lessons
Authors: Rojo-Ramos Jorge , Vega-Muñoz Alejandro , Contreras-Barraza Nicolás , Barrios-Fernandez Sabina
Published: May 2022

Physical education (PE) lessons offer an excellent opportunity to encourage participation and learning for students with and without disabilities. However, there are still barriers that prevent educative inclusion (EI) from being achieved, with negative attitudes being one of the major issues. This study aimed to explore students without disabilities’ attitudes toward their peers with disabilities in the second stage of Primary Education, examining possible differences according to sex (male or female) and school location (urban or rural). The Scale of Attitudes toward Students with Disabilities in Physical Education–Primary Education (SASDPE-PE), a four-item instrument with a five-point Likert scale ranging from 1 (strongly disagree) to 5 (strongly agree), was administered to 545 Spanish students aged 9 to 12 years old. The results revealed that girls and students from rural schools showed more positive attitudes toward their peers with disabilities during the PE lessons; differences were significant in both cases. Thus, according to our findings, the SASDPE-PE is a practical tool to assess attitudes, even after an attitude-change programme. Furthermore, PE attitude-change programmes should be implemented, especially considering male students and those enrolled in urban schools.
How Do Environmental Technology Standards Affect the Green Transformation? New Evidence from China
Authors: Zhang Xiufeng , Li Yan , Shi Ke , Feng Yanchao
Published: May 2022

During the period of high-quality development in China, environmental regulations have been regarded as powerful exogenous forces, especially for accelerating the green transformation of the manufacturing industry. Treating the first implementation of cleaner production industry standard policies in 2003 as a quasi-natural experiment, and employing the difference-in-differences (DID) model, this paper discusses the impacts of environmental technology standards on the green transformation of the manufacturing industry in China, with systematic consideration of three technological modification mechanisms, including terminal governance, capital renewal, and resource structure adjustments. The results show that: (1) environmental technology standards can have “win–win” effects, i.e., environmental technology standards can simultaneously improve the environmental performance and the economic performance; (2) the dynamic effects of environmental technology standards are proven in the parallel trend test; (3) environmental technology standards can not only promote the green transformation of the manufacturing industry directly, but can also mediate the effects of terminal governance, capital renewal, and resource structure adjustments. In summary, this paper makes four suggestions for government actions, namely re-examining command-and-control environmental regulations, paying attention to environmental regulation tools, changing the mechanism from technological modification to technological innovation, and updating environmental technology standards regularly.
Relationship between Vehicle Safety Ratings and Drivers’ Injury Severity in the Context of Gender Disparity
Authors: Fu Wen , Lee Jaeyoung
Published: May 2022

Previous studies have analyzed the relationship between vehicle safety ratings from impact tests and actual crash injury severity. Nevertheless, no study has investigated the relationship in the context of gender disparity. The main objective of this paper is to explore the validity of the 5-star ratings of the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, which describes vehicles’ protectiveness, using actual traffic crash data by gender. Random parameter models are developed using 2015–2020 two-vehicle crash data from Maryland, United States. According to the data, over 90% of vehicles have 4–5 stars in overall, front-impact, and side-impact 5-star ratings. After controlling other factors, it is shown that woman drivers are more likely to be seriously injured in two-vehicle crashes than men drivers when using vehicles with the same 5-star safety ratings. Moreover, there is significant individual heterogeneity in the effect of vehicles with different 5-star safety ratings on driver injury severity. Using vehicles with more stars can reduce the risk of being seriously injured for most man drivers. However, the probability of woman drivers being seriously injured is reduced by approximately 5% on average by using vehicles with higher star ratings in the overall and front-impact 5-star rating, and individual heterogeneity shows a difference of nearly 50% in positive and negative effects. The overall and front-impact 5-star ratings of vehicles could not provide reasonable information as the safety performance of vehicles in traffic crashes for woman drivers. On the other hand, drivers’ residence, driving characteristics, crash types, and environmental characteristics are significantly associated with the injury severity. It is expected that the results from this study will contribute to guide a better vehicle safety design for both men and women.
Victims of Cyberbullying: Feeling Loneliness and Depression among Youth and Adult Chileans during the Pandemic
Authors: Varela Jorge J. , Hernández Cristóbal , Miranda Rafael , Barlett Christopher P. , Rodríguez-Rivas Matías E.
Published: May 2022

In Chile, during the COVID-19 pandemic, reports of cyberbullying victimization increased for adolescents and younger adults. Research has shown that cyber-victims—adolescents and young adults alike—are at greater risk for mental health problems such as depression as a result of this negative type of aggression. Yet, a paucity of research has examined the individual mechanisms germane to cyber-victim depression. We focused on loneliness for the current study. We hypothesized that cyber-victimization would be positively related to depressive symptoms through increased fears of loneliness and that this effect would differ between adolescents and younger adults. Thus, we examined a sample of 2370 participants from all main regions of Chile aged from 15 to 29 years. Moderated mediation results showed a negative effect of cyberbullying on depression, which was mediated by increased fears of being alone. The effect of frequency of cyberbullying on fear of loneliness was stronger for younger adults compared to adolescents. Our results suggest different mechanisms for both age groups, which can inform prevention programs and their specific activities.
TRUE Gene Silencing
Authors: Nashimoto Masayuki
Published: May 2022

TRUE gene silencing is an RNA-mediated gene expression control technology and is termed after tRNase ZL-utilizing efficacious gene silencing. In this review, I overview the potentiality of small guide RNA (sgRNA) for TRUE gene silencing as novel therapeutics. First, I describe the physiology of tRNase ZL and cellular small RNA, and then sgRNA and TRUE gene silencing. An endoribonuclease, tRNase ZL, which can efficiently remove a 3′ trailer from pre-tRNA, is thought to play the role in tRNA maturation in the nucleus and mitochondria. There exist various small RNAs including miRNA and fragments from tRNA and rRNA, which can function as sgRNA, in living cells, and human cells appear to be harnessing cytosolic tRNase ZL for gene regulation together with these small RNAs. By utilizing the property of tRNase ZL to recognize and cleave micro-pre-tRNA, a pre-tRNA-like or micro-pre-tRNA-like complex, as well as pre-tRNA, tRNase ZL can be made to cleave any target RNA at any desired site under the direction of an artificial sgRNA that binds a target RNA and forms the pre-tRNA-like or micro-pre-tRNA-like complex. This general RNA cleavage method underlies TRUE gene silencing. Various examples of the application of TRUE gene silencing are reviewed including the application to several human cancer cells in order to induce apoptosis. Lastly, I discuss the potentiality of sgRNA as novel therapeutics for multiple myeloma.
Digital Transformation in Healthcare 4.0: Critical Factors for Business Intelligence Systems
Authors: Kitsios Fotis , Kapetaneas Nikolaos
Published: May 2022

The health sector is one of the most knowledge-intensive and complicated globally. It has been proven repeatedly that Business Intelligence (BI) systems in the healthcare industry can help hospitals make better decisions. Some studies have looked at the usage of BI in health, but there is still a lack of information on how to develop a BI system successfully. There is a significant research gap in the health sector because these studies do not concentrate on the organizational determinants that impact the development and acceptance of BI systems in different organizations; therefore, the aim of this article is to develop a framework for successful BI system development in the health sector taking into consideration the organizational determinants of BI systems’ acceptance, implementation, and evaluation. The proposed framework classifies the determinants under organizational, process, and strategic aspects as different types to ensure the success of BI system deployment. Concerning practical implications, this paper gives a roadmap for a wide range of healthcare practitioners to ensure the success of BI system development.
The Role of Vitamin D3 as an Independent Predicting Marker for One-Year Mortality in Patients with Acute Heart Failure
Authors: Thiele Kirsten , Cornelissen Anne , Florescu Roberta , Kneizeh Kinan , Brandenburg Vincent Matthias , Witte Klaus , Marx Nikolaus , Schuh Alexander , Stöhr Robert
Published: May 2022

Background: Deficiency in vitamin D3 and its metabolites has been linked to dismal outcomes in patients with chronic diseases, including cardiovascular disease and heart failure (HF). It remains unclear if a vitamin D3 status is a prognostic feature in patients with acute decompensated HF. Methods: We assessed serum levels of 25-OH-vitamin D3 and 1,25-(OH)2-vitamin D3 in 139 patients with acute HF who had been admitted to the intermediate care unit of a maximum care hospital. The follow-up period was one year. After exclusion of patients with sampling errors and those who were lost to follow-up, 118 patients remained in the final study cohort. Outcome estimates by 25-OH-vitamin D3 and 1,25-(OH)2-vitamin D3 levels were compared to the Seattle Heart Failure (SHF) Model. Results: More than two-thirds (79.7%) of the patients showed inadequate 25-OH-vitamin D3 levels (i.e., <30 ng/mL) upon admission. Low levels of 1,25-(OH)2-vitamin D3 (i.e., <19.9 pg/mL) were observed in 16.1% of patients. Of the 118 HF patients, 22 (19%) died during the following 12 months. There were no differences in vitamin D3 levels between patients who died and those who survived, neither in 25-OH-vitamin D3 (23.37 ± 19.14 ng/mL vs. 19.11 ± 12.25 ng/mL; p = 0.19) nor in 1,25-(OH)2-vitamin D3 levels (31.10 ± 19.75 ng/mL vs. 38.25 ± 15.73 ng/mL; p = 0.02); therefore, vitamin D3 levels alone did not predict one-year survival (AUC [25-OH-vitamin D3] 0.50; 95% CI 0.34–0.65; AUC [1,25-(OH)2-vitamin D3] 0.62; 95% CI 0.48–0.76). Moreover, whilst the SHF model exhibited acceptable discriminatory ability for predicting one-year mortality (AUC 0.79; 95% CI 0.66–0.91), adding vitamin D levels on admission to the SHF score did not improve its discriminatory value. Conclusion: Our data do not support the use of vitamin D3 screening in patients admitted with acute decompensated HF to aid prognostication.
Verifying the Synthesized Effects of Intensive Urban Land Use on Quality of Life, Ecology, and Urban-Land-Use Scale in China
Authors: Li Bingqing , Wang Zhanqi , Chai Ji
Published: May 2022

Intensive urban land use has been proposed as a method to promote sustainable development in the context of rapid urban sprawl. However, a consensus has not been reached on whether this approach is beneficial for ecology and compatible with suitable living conditions. Exploring this issue in China will help promote high-quality development. Extant research has mainly explored the effects of intensive urban land use on quality of life, ecology, and urban-land-use scale separately, while a synthesized analysis in this regard is lacking. In the light of this, we establish an analysis framework by which to verify the effects of intensive urban land use on the three aspects, using data from China spanning 2005–2019, subjected to structural equation modeling. The results show that intensive urban land use has varying degrees of positive effects on quality of life, ecology, and urban-land-use scale. It had no strong effect on the three items initially, while quality of life was significantly optimized by 2010, and ecology was markedly improved from 2015. However, there was a trend toward shrinking living space and sprawling urban areas. The corresponding suggestions are formulated for policy makers to improve intensive urban-land-use policy.
Wear and the Transition from Static to Mixed Lubricated Friction of Sorption or Spreading Dominated Metal-Thermoplastic Contacts
Authors: Koplin Christof , Oehler Harald , Praß Olaf , Schlüter Bernadette , Alig Ingo , Jaeger Raimund
Published: May 2022

Stiction, run-in wear and friction of lubricated polyoxymethylene homopolymer (POM)- and aliphatic polyamide (PA46)-steel tribosystems were investigated for mild-loaded mixed lubrication conditions with and without thermal conditioning of the polymers in the lubricant prior to testing. Macroscopic oscillatory tribometry and standard gliding experiments were carried out. The hypothesis that sorption of a lubricant into a thermoplastic polymer and partial solving of the surface by the lubricant can change wear rate and friction was tested. It was found that for POM-lubricant-pairings, the tribological behavior is dominated by the sorption of the lubricant into the polymer; it is not influenced by the spreading energy. For the PA46-lubricant pairings, no mass uptake by sorption was measured, and the tribological behavior is influenced by spreading and changes in hardness due to thermal aging. For mild loading in mixed lubricated conditions, friction and wear properties seem to be primarily determined by the hardness-dependence of abrasive contact and less by adhesion or hysteretic mechanisms.
Water Corrosion of Tungsten Target for Accelerator-Driven Neutron Source
Authors: Xie Yupeng , Sun Qiuyu , Hu Yaocheng , Li Xiaobo , Qiao Zhaopeng , Wang Jie , Wang Sheng
Published: May 2022

The water corrosion of tungsten as a target material can affect the safe operation of accelerator-driven neutron source. This paper reported the corrosion behaviors of tungsten in ultrapure water and tap water for 7, 14, 21, 30 and 60 days. Moreover, ICP-MS, XRD, XPS, SEM-EDS and LSCM were used to analyze the components in solutions, crystalline structures, chemical compositions and surface morphologies. It was found that the dissolution of tungsten, due to corrosion, reached its maximum between 30 days and 60 days in both solutions. The cube-shape substance, CaWO4, was the main corrosion product after tungsten in tap water. The tungsten oxide was changed from WO3 to WO2 during the corrosion of tungsten in ultrapure water. Compared with tungsten in ultrapure water, tungsten in tap water had its surface completely destroyed, with a dense diamond shape. Therefore, based on the analysis from this study, the corrosion mechanisms of tungsten in ultrapure and tap water were revealed.
Biomimetic Organic-Inorganic Hybrid Membranes for Removal of Fluoride Ions
Authors: Chen Yun , Kong Hao , Guo Lei , Wei Gang
Published: May 2022

Carbon nanofibers (CaNFs) exhibit promising applications in the fields of environmental science and nanotechnology, and self-assembled peptide nanofibers (PNFs) are useful for the biomimetic synthesis of organic-inorganic hybrid nanomaterials and the fabrication of functional hybrid membranes for the removal of various pollutants from water. In this work, we report the biomimetic synthesis of hybrid nanomaterials by the interweaving of CaNFs and PNFs. Using the biomimetic mineralization properties of PNFs, ZrO2 nanoparticles were synthesized along the nanofiber surface, and then functional nanohybrid porous membranes were prepared by the vacuum filtration technology. For the fabrication of membranes, the amount of PNFs and ZrO2 precursors in the hybrid membrane were optimized. The designed organic-inorganic hybrid membranes exhibited high removal performance for fluorine ion (F−) from water, and the removal efficiency of the fabricated membranes towards F− ion-containing aqueous solution with a concentration of 50–100 mg/L reached more than 80%. In addition, the nanofiltration membranes revealed good adsorption capacity for F− ions. It is expected that the strategies shown in this study will be beneficial for the design, biomimetic synthesis, and fabrication of nanoporous membranes for economic, rapid, and efficient water purification.
Mechanical and Durability Analysis of Fly Ash Based Geopolymer with Various Compositions for Rigid Pavement Applications
Authors: Tahir Muhammad Faheem Mohd , Abdullah Mohd Mustafa Al Bakri , Rahim Shayfull Zamree Abd , Mohd Hasan Mohd Rosli , Sandu Andrei Victor , Vizureanu Petrica , Ghazali Che Mohd Ruzaidi , Kadir Aeslina Abdul
Published: May 2022

Ordinary Portland cement (OPC) is a conventional material used to construct rigid pavement that emits large amounts of carbon dioxide (CO2) during its manufacturing process, which is bad for the environment. It is also claimed that OPC is susceptible to acid attack, which increases the maintenance cost of rigid pavement. Therefore, a fly ash based geopolymer is proposed as a material for rigid pavement application as it releases lesser amounts of CO2 during the synthesis process and has higher acid resistance compared to OPC. This current study optimizes the formulation to produce fly ash based geopolymer with the highest compressive strength. In addition, the durability of fly ash based geopolymer concrete and OPC concrete in an acidic environment is also determined and compared. The results show that the optimum value of sodium hydroxide concentration, the ratio of sodium silicate to sodium hydroxide, and the ratio of solid-to-liquid for fly ash based geopolymer are 10 M, 2.0, and 2.5, respectively, with a maximum compressive strength of 47 MPa. The results also highlight that the durability of fly ash based geopolymer is higher than that of OPC concrete, indicating that fly ash based geopolymer is a better material for rigid pavement applications, with a percentage of compressive strength loss of 7.38% to 21.94% for OPC concrete. This current study contributes to the field of knowledge by providing a reference for future development of fly ash based geopolymer for rigid pavement applications.
Study on Hot Deformation Behavior of an Antibacterial 50Cr15MoVCu Tool Steel
Authors: Liu Ziyuan , Yang Zhao
Published: May 2022

Hot deformation behaviors of an antibacterial 50Cr15MoVCu tool steel were studied. The flow stress curves presented three typical characteristics: (i) a single peak dynamic recrystallization curve, (ii) a monotone incremental work-hardening curve, and (iii) the equilibrium dynamic recovery curve. The flow stress increased with the increase of the deformation rate at each deformation temperature and decreased with the increase of the deformation temperature at the same deformation rate. The thermal activation energy and material constants were Q of 461.6574 kJ/mol, A of 3.42 × 1017, and α of 0.00681 MPa−1, respectively. The high temperature constitutive equation was: Z=ε˙expQ/RT=3.42 × 1017sinh0.0068 × σ5.6807. Based on the processing maps and microstructure evolution, the best hot working process was a deformation temperature of 1050 °C and deformation rate of 0.001 s−1.
Changes in the Structural Composition and Moisture-Adsorption Properties of Mechanically Rolled Bamboo Fibers
Authors: Zhao Wenjuan , Zhang Jian , Zhang Wenfu , Wang Jin , Wang Ge
Published: May 2022

The chemical content, mechanical capability, and dimensional stability of bamboo fibers (BFs) are all directly related to the hygroscopic behavior, which is crucial for industrial applications. To support the utilization of BFs, the structural and chemical composition of BFs with different opening times after mechanical rolling were investigated in this study, and the Guggenheim–Anderson–de Boer (GAB) model was selected to predict their moisture-adsorption properties. The results showed that the length and diameter of the fibers gradually decreased with the increase in the number of openings, and the fibers gradually separated from bundles into single fibers. It was also observed that the treated BFs exhibited different equilibrium moisture contents (EMCs). BFs with a smaller number of openings had a higher hemicellulose content and more exposed parenchyma cells on the fibers, which increased the number of water adsorption sites. As the number of openings increased, the parenchyma cells on the fibers decreased, and the lignin content increased, which reduced the number of fiber moisture-adsorption sites and decreased the EMC of the fibers.
Numerical Analysis of Mechanical Characteristics of Constant-Resistance, Energy-Absorbing and Anti-Scour Bolts
Authors: Tang Zhi , Wu Hao , Liu Ying , Pan Yishan , Lv Jinguo , Chang Dezhi
Published: May 2022

In order to improve the impact resistance mechanical properties of bolt, the requirements of rock burst roadway support must be met. Based on the requirements that the anchor should have a reasonable deformation load threshold, high stroke efficiency, constant reaction force and stable repeatable deformation damage mode. A constant resistance anti-impact device was designed, and a new constant resistance energy-absorbing impact anchor rod was designed in combination with a conventional anchor rod, and the working principle of a constant resistance energy-absorbing impact anchor rod was given. ABAQUS finite element software was used to analyze the mechanical properties of bolt and the results showed that the constant resistance energy-absorbing anti-shock anchor has a stable and repeatable deformation damage mode under both static and impact loads, and the three indexes of the constant resistance energy-absorbing anti-shock anchor, such as yield distance, impact resistance time and energy absorption, are significantly better than those of the conventional anchor. The impact energy and impact velocity have less influence on the load-bearing capacity and stroke efficiency of the impact device. The impact velocity has less influence on the indices of the rod yield load, breaking load, absorbed energy and the yield distance of a conventional anchor and constant resistance energy-absorbing anti-stroke anchor, and the impact resistance time decreases non-linearly with the increase in the impact velocity.
Numerical Analysis of Guided Waves to Improve Damage Detection and Localization in Multilayered CFRP Panel
Authors: Papanaboina Mastan Raja , Jasiuniene Elena , Žukauskas Egidijus , Mažeika Liudas
Published: May 2022

Multilayered carbon fiber-reinforced polymers (CFRP) are increasingly used in aircraft components because of their superior mechanical properties. However, composite materials are vulnerable to impact loads, resulting in delamination-type damage which, if unnoticed, could lead to catastrophic structural failure. The objective of this research was to investigate possibilities to improve damage detection and the localization using signal processing methods. Numerical modeling using the semi-analytical finite element (SAFE) method was performed to obtain guided wave dispersion curves and to perform modal analysis. From the modal analysis, A0 mode for inspection of the composite with delamination type defects was selected. From the numerical simulation, A0 mode interaction with delamination along the longitudinal direction was analyzed and the location of the defect was estimated by measuring the time of flight (ToF) of the signal using Hilbert transform (HT) and continuous wavelet transform (CWT). The CWT has shown better results in estimating the delamination location compared with HT. The depth of delamination was characterized in the frequency domain by comparing the amplitude of the A0 mode. Inverse fast Fourier transform (IFFT) is recommended to reconstruct the reflected and transmitted modes for better damage detection and to reduce the complexity of signal interpretation.
Additive Digital Casting: From Lab to Industry
Authors: Lloret-Fritschi Ena , Quadranti Elia , Scotto Fabio , Fuhrimann Lukas , Demoulin Thibault , Mantellato Sara , Unteregger Lukas , Burger Joris , Pileggi Rafael G. , Gramazio Fabio , Kohler Matthias , Flatt Robert J.
Published: May 2022

Concrete construction harms our environment, making it urgent to develop new methods for building with less materials. Structurally efficient shapes are, however, often expensive to produce, because they require non-standard formworks, thus, standard structures, which use more material than is often needed, remain cheaper. Digital fabrication has the potential to change this paradigm. One method is Digital Casting Systems (DCS), where the hydration of self-compacting concrete is controlled on the fly during production, shortening the required setting time and reducing hydrostatic pressure on the formwork to a minimum. This enables a productivity increase for standard concrete production. More importantly, though, it enables a rethinking of formworks, as the process requires only cheap thin formworks, thus, unlocking the possibility to produce optimised structural members with less bulk material and lower environmental cost. While DCS has already proven effective in building structural members, this process faces the challenge of moving into industry. This paper covers the next steps in doing so. First, we present the benchmark and expectations set by the industry. Second, we consider how we comply with these requirements and convert our fast-setting self-compacting mortar mix into a coarser one. Third, we present the next generation of our digital processing system, which moves closer to the industrial requirements in terms of size and the control system. Finally, two prototypes demonstrate how DSC: (a) increases standard bulk production by 50% and (b) can be cast into ultra-thin formworks. We discuss the results and the short-term industrial concerns for efficiency and robustness, which must be addressed for such a system to be fully implemented in industry.
Effect of Sintering Temperature on Adhesion Property and Electrochemical Activity of Pt/YSZ Electrode
Authors: Wang Jixin , Cui Jiandong , Zhang Xiao , Tang Wentao , Mao Changhui
Published: May 2022

The (Pt/YSZ)/YSZ sensor unit is the basic component of the NOx sensor, which can detect the emission of nitrogen oxides in exhaust fumes and optimize the fuel combustion process. In this work, the effect of sintering temperature on adhesion property and electrochemical activity of Pt/YSZ electrode was investigated. Pt/YSZ electrodes were prepared at different sintering temperatures. The microstructure of the Pt/YSZ electrodes, as well as the interface between Pt/YSZ electrode and YSZ electrolyte, were observed by SEM. Chronoamperometry, linear scan voltammetry, and AC impedance were tested by the electrochemical workstation. The results show that increasing the sintering temperature (≤1500 °C) helped to improve adhesion property and electrochemical activity of the Pt/YSZ electrode, which benefited from the formation of the porous structure of the Pt/YSZ electrode. For the (Pt/YSZ) electrode/YSZ electrolyte system, O2− in YSZ is converted into chemisorbed O2 on Pt/YSZ, which is desorbed into the gas phase in the form of molecular oxygen; this process could be the rate-controlling step of the anodic reaction. Increasing the sintering temperature (≤1500 °C) could reduce the reaction activation energy of the Pt/YSZ electrode. The activation energy reaches the minimum value (1.02 eV) when the sintering temperature is 1500 °C.
Effects of Fused Silica Addition on Thermal Expansion, Density, and Hardness of Alumix-231 Based Composites
Authors: Rodrigues Luciano M. , Marinkovic Bojan A.
Published: May 2022

Fused silica is a ceramic with promising applications as a filler in composites due to its near-zero thermal expansion. Substitution of heavy cast iron with Al-based light alloys is of utmost importance for the automotive industry. However, the high thermal expansion of Al alloys is an obstacle to their use in some applications. As such, ceramic fillers are natural candidates for tuning thermal expansion of Al-based matrices, due to their inherently moderate or low thermal expansion. Alumix-231 is a new promising alloy, and fused silica has never been used before to lower its thermal expansion. Composites with the addition of 5 to 20 vol.% of fused silica were developed through powder metallurgy, and the best results in terms of reduction of thermal expansion were reached after liquid phase sintering at 565 °C. Coefficients of thermal expansion as low as 13.70 and 12.73 × 10−6 °C−1 (between 25 and 400 °C) were reached for the addition of 15 and 20 vol.% of fused silica, a reduction of 29.9% and 34.8%, respectively, in comparison to neat Alumix-231. In addition, the density and hardness of these composites were not significantly affected, since they suffered only a small decrease, no higher than 6% and 5%, respectively. As such, the obtained results showed that Alumix-231/fused silica composites are promising materials for automotive applications.