bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Fuzzy Logic-Based and Nondestructive Concrete Strength Evaluation Using Modified Carbon Nanotubes as a Hybrid PZT–CNT Sensor
Authors: Tareen Najeebullah , Kim Junkyeong , Kim Won-Kyu , Park Seunghee
Published: May 2021

Concrete strength and factors affecting its development during early concrete curing are important research topics. Avoiding uncertain incidents during construction and in service life of structures requires an appropriate monitoring system. Therefore, numerous techniques are used to monitor the health of a structure. This paper presents a nondestructive testing technique for monitoring the strength development of concrete at early curing ages. Dispersed carbon nanotubes (CNTs) were used with cementitious materials and piezoelectric (PZT) material, a PZT ceramic, owing to their properties of intra electromechanical effects and sensitivity to measure the electromechanical impedance (EMI) signatures and relevant properties related to concrete strength, such as the elastic modulus, displacement, acceleration, strength, and loading effects. Concrete compressive strength, hydration temperature, mixture ratio, and variation in data obtained from the impedance signatures using fuzzy logic were utilized in the comparative result prediction method for concrete strength. These results were calculated using a fuzzy logic-based model considering the maturity method, universal testing machine (UTM) data, and analyzed EMI data. In the study, for data acquisition, a hybrid PZT–CNT sensor and a temperature sensor (Smart Rock) were embedded in the concrete to obtain the hydration temperature history to utilize the concrete maturity method and provide data on the EMI signatures. The dynamic changes in the medium caused during the phase in the concrete strengthening process were analyzed to predict the strength development process of concrete at early curing ages. Because different parameters are considered while calculating the concrete strength, which is related to its mechanical properties, the proposed novel method considers that changes in the boundary condition occurring in the concrete paste modify the resonant frequency response of the structure. Thus, relating and analyzing this feature can help predict the concrete strength. A comprehensive comparison of the results calculated using the proposed module, maturity method, and cylindrical specimens tested using the UTM proved that it is a cost-effective and fast technique to estimate concrete strength to ensure a safe construction of reinforced cement concrete infrastructures.
Numerical Optimization of Stress Concentration in Composite Structures for Different Material Arrangement
Authors: Pate Sushant Bhalchandra , Korycki Ryszard
Published: May 2021

Complex machine parts are characterized by different shapes, material characteristics and working loads. The simultaneous theoretical optimization of shape and material properties is difficult because the single objective functional with a unique physical interpretation is unknown for these two features. The optimization is the multi-criteria procedure or the functional is a weighted average of partial criteria with the assumed weight values. Therefore, the structure and material characteristics are optimized numerically. The main goal of the article was to model and optimize the stress distribution inside the composite plates subjected to complex load. The advanced material composition was made of four different materials: steel, ductile iron, E-glass fibers and carbon fibers. The stress distributions were optimized for the homogeneous plate, the sandwich composite made of metal and textile layers, and the plate with additional stiffening elements (ribs and another plate along the neck portion). Based on the numerical simulations, the optimal structural shapes and material arrangements were determined.
Relation between Density and Compressive Strength of Foamed Concrete
Authors: Othman Rokiah , Jaya Ramadhansyah Putra , Muthusamy Khairunisa , Sulaiman MohdArif , Duraisamy Youventharan , Abdullah Mohd Mustafa Al Bakri , Przybył Anna , Sochacki Wojciech , Skrzypczak Tomasz , Vizureanu Petrica , Sandu Andrei Victor
Published: May 2021

This study aims to obtain the relationship between density and compressive strength of foamed concrete. Foamed concrete is a preferred building material due to the low density of its concrete. In foamed concrete, the compressive strength reduces with decreasing density. Generally, a denser foamed concrete produces higher compressive strength and lower volume of voids. In the present study, the tests were carried out in stages in order to investigate the effect of sand–cement ratio, water to cement ratio, foam dosage, and dilution ratio on workability, density, and compressive strength of the control foamed concrete specimen. Next, the test obtained the optimum content of processed spent bleaching earth (PSBE) as partial cement replacement in the foamed concrete. Based on the experimental results, the use of 1:1.5 cement to sand ratio for the mortar mix specified the best performance for density, workability, and 28-day compressive strength. Increasing the sand to cement ratio increased the density and compressive strength of the mortar specimen. In addition, in the production of control foamed concrete, increasing the foam dosage reduced the density and compressive strength of the control specimen. Similarly with the dilution ratio, the compressive strength of the control foamed concrete decreased with an increasing dilution ratio. The employment of PSBE significantly influenced the density and compressive strength of the foamed concrete. An increase in the percentage of PSBE reduced the density of the foamed concrete. The compressive strength of the foamed concrete that incorporated PSBE increased with increasing PSBE content up to 30% PSBE. In conclusion, the compressive strength of foamed concrete depends on its density. It was revealed that the use of 30% PSBE as a replacement for cement meets the desired density of 1600 kg/m3, with stability and consistency in workability, and it increases the compressive strength dramatically from 10 to 23 MPa as compared to the control specimen. Thus, it demonstrated that the positive effect of incorporation of PSBE in foamed concrete is linked to the pozzolanic effect whereby more calcium silicate hydrate (CSH) produces denser foamed concrete, which leads to higher strength, and it is less pore connected. In addition, the regression analysis shows strong correlation between density and compressive strength of the foamed concrete due to the R2 being closer to one. Thus, production of foamed concrete incorporating 30% PSBE might have potential for sustainable building materials.
Pyrolysis of Pruning Residues from Various Types of Orchards and Pretreatment for Energetic Use of Biochar
Authors: Kazimierski Paweł , Hercel Paulina , Suchocki Tomasz , Smoliński Jakub , Pladzyk Agnieszka , Kardaś Dariusz , Łuczak Justyna , Januszewicz Katarzyna
Published: May 2021

The routine pruning and cutting of fruit trees provides a considerable amount of biowaste each year. This lignocellulosic biomass, mainly in the form of branches, trunks, rootstocks, and leaves, is a potential high-quality fuel, yet often is treated as waste. The results of a feasibility study on biochar production by pyrolysis of residues from orchard pruning were presented. Three types of biomass waste were selected as raw materials and were obtained from the most common fruit trees in Poland: apple (AP), pear (PR), and plum (PL) tree prunings. Two heating rates and three final pyrolysis temperatures were applied. For the slow (SP) and fast pyrolysis (FP) processes, the heating rates were 15 °C/min and 100 °C/min, respectively. The samples were heated from 25 °C up to 400, 500, and 600 °C. Chemical analyses of the raw materials were conducted, and the pyrolysis product yields were determined. A significant rise of higher heating value (HHV) was observed for the solid pyrolysis products, from approximately 23.45 MJ/kg for raw materials up to approximately 29.52 MJ/kg for pyrolysis products at 400 °C, and 30.53 MJ/kg for pyrolysis products at 600 °C. Higher carbon content was observed for materials obtained by fast pyrolysis conducted at higher temperatures.
Recent Advances in High-Throughput Nanomaterial Manufacturing for Hybrid Flexible Bioelectronics
Authors: Zavanelli Nathan , Kim Jihoon , Yeo Woon-Hong
Published: May 2021

Hybrid flexible bioelectronic systems refer to integrated soft biosensing platforms with tremendous clinical impact. In this new paradigm, electrical systems can stretch and deform with the skin while previously hidden physiological signals can be continuously recorded. However, hybrid flexible bioelectronics will not receive wide clinical adoption until these systems can be manufactured at industrial scales cost-effectively. Therefore, new manufacturing approaches must be discovered and studied under the same innovative spirit that led to the adoption of novel materials and soft structures. Recent works have taken mature manufacturing approaches from the graphics industry, such as gravure, flexography, screen, and inkjet printing, and applied them to fully printed bioelectronics. These applications require the cohesive study of many disparate parts. For instance, nanomaterials with optimal properties for each specific application must be dispersed in printable inks with rheology suited to each printing method. This review summarizes recent advances in printing technologies, key nanomaterials, and applications of the manufactured hybrid bioelectronics. We also discuss the existing challenges of the available nanomanufacturing methods and the areas that need immediate technological improvements.
Hardness of Learning in Rich Environments and Some Consequences for Financial Markets
Authors: Bhattacharya Ayan
Published: May 2021

This paper examines the computational feasibility of the standard model of learning in economic theory. It is shown that the information update technique at the heart of this model is impossible to compute in all but the simplest scenarios. Specifically, using tools from theoretical machine learning, the paper first demonstrates that there is no polynomial implementation of the model unless the independence structure of variables in the data is publicly known. Next, it is shown that there cannot exist a polynomial algorithm to infer the independence structure; consequently, the overall learning problem does not have a polynomial implementation. Using the learning model when it is computationally infeasible carries risks, and some of these are explored in the latter part of the paper in the context of financial markets. Especially in rich, high-frequency environments, it implies discarding a lot of useful information, and this can lead to paradoxical outcomes in interactive game-theoretic situations. This is illustrated in a trading example where market prices can never reflect an informed trader’s information, no matter how many rounds of trade. The paper provides new theoretical motivation for the use of bounded rationality models in the study of financial asset pricing—the bound on rationality arising from the computational hardness in learning.
Integrating and Controlling ICT Implementation in the Supply Chain: The SME Experience from Baja California
Authors: Pérez-López Rubén Jesús , Olguín-Tiznado Jesús Everardo , García-Alcaraz Jorge Luis , Mojarro-Magaña María , Camargo-Wilson Claudia , López-Barreras Juan Andrés
Published: May 2021

It is mentioned that companies’ competition is currently more associated with supply chains (SC) than production processes since sometimes logistics costs represent up to 70% of the total production cost in a product. To improve efficiency in SC, companies are implementing information and communication technologies (ICT). This paper reports a structural equation model that incorporates four latent variables related to ICT applied in SC: technological innovation, information management, and information availability as independent variables, and operating benefits gained as a dependent variable. These variables are related using six hypotheses that are validated using information obtained from 80 responses to a survey applied to small and medium-sized enterprises in Baja California (Mexico). The partial least squares technique is used to validate the hypotheses in the structural equation model. Findings indicate that technological innovation is the basis for the successful implementation of ICT and its application guarantees greater information availability and efficient management, leading to obtaining operating benefits in SC.
COVID-19 Data Imputation by Multiple Function-on-Function Principal Component Regression
Authors: Acal Christian , Escabias Manuel , Aguilera Ana M. , Valderrama Mariano J.
Published: May 2021

The aim of this paper is the imputation of missing data of COVID-19 hospitalized and intensive care curves in several Spanish regions. Taking into account that the curves of cases, deceases and recovered people are completely observed, a function-on-function regression model is proposed to estimate the missing values of the functional responses associated with hospitalized and intensive care curves. The estimation of the functional coefficient model in terms of principal components’ regression with the completely observed data provides a prediction equation for the imputation of the unobserved data for the response. An application with data from the first wave of COVID-19 in Spain is developed after properly homogenizing, registering and smoothing the data in a common interval so that the observed curves become comparable. Finally, Canonical Correlation Analysis is performed on the functional principal components to interpret the relationship between hospital occupancy rate and illness response variables.
Closed-Form Solution for Circular Membranes under In-Plane Radial Stretching or Compressing and Out-of-Plane Gas Pressure Loading
Authors: Shi Bin-Bin , Sun Jun-Yi , Huang Ting-Kai , He Xiao-Ting
Published: May 2021

The large deflection phenomenon of an initially flat circular membrane under out-of-plane gas pressure loading is usually involved in many technical applications, such as the pressure blister or bulge tests, where a uniform in-plane stress is often present in the initially flat circular membrane before deflection. However, there is still a lack of an effective closed-form solution for the large deflection problem with initial uniform in-plane stress. In this study, the problem is formulated and is solved analytically. The initial uniform in-plane stress is first modelled by stretching or compressing an initially flat, stress-free circular membrane radially in the plane in which the initially flat circular membrane is located, and based on this, the boundary conditions, under which the large deflection problem of an initially flat circular membrane under in-plane radial stretching or compressing and out-of-plane gas pressure loading can be solved, are determined. Therefore, the closed-form solution presented in this paper can be applied to the case where the initially flat circular membrane may, or may not, have a uniform in-plane stress before deflection, and the in-plane stress can be either tensile or compressive. The numerical example conducted shows that the closed-form solution presented has satisfactory convergence.
Improving the Teaching of Real Valued Functions Using Serious Games. Binary Who Is Who?
Authors: Lantarón Sagrario , López Mariló , Merchán Susana , Rodrigo Javier
Published: May 2021

The study presented makes an original, new and exhaustive analysis of the adaptation of a classical board game which has been named Binary Who is Who? This proposal shows a very useful tool for the consolidation of mathematical concepts related to the study of real-valued functions that are treated in the different levels of the teaching of mathematics (first and second year of superior secondary studies and the first years of some university degrees). The use of games as a means for learning is the authors’ proposal. The aim is to offer teachers the chance of using the games as a method of teaching mathematical concepts, as well as a motivating instrument for them. This game has been created to be played face-to-face in the classroom and it has also been programmed to create a video game which allows the students to play virtually.
Bi-Smoothed Functional Independent Component Analysis for EEG Artifact Removal
Authors: Vidal Marc , Rosso Mattia , Aguilera  Ana M.
Published: May 2021

Motivated by mapping adverse artifactual events caused by body movements in electroencephalographic (EEG) signals, we present a functional independent component analysis based on the spectral decomposition of the kurtosis operator of a smoothed principal component expansion. A discrete roughness penalty is introduced in the orthonormality constraint of the covariance eigenfunctions in order to obtain the smoothed basis for the proposed independent component model. To select the tuning parameters, a cross-validation method that incorporates shrinkage is used to enhance the performance on functional representations with a large basis dimension. This method provides an estimation strategy to determine the penalty parameter and the optimal number of components. Our independent component approach is applied to real EEG data to estimate genuine brain potentials from a contaminated signal. As a result, it is possible to control high-frequency remnants of neural origin overlapping artifactual sources to optimize their removal from the signal. An R package implementing our methods is available at CRAN.
Deep Learning-Based Survival Analysis for High-Dimensional Survival Data
Authors: Hao Lin , Kim Juncheol , Kwon Sookhee , Ha Il Do
Published: May 2021

With the development of high-throughput technologies, more and more high-dimensional or ultra-high-dimensional genomic data are being generated. Therefore, effectively analyzing such data has become a significant challenge. Machine learning (ML) algorithms have been widely applied for modeling nonlinear and complicated interactions in a variety of practical fields such as high-dimensional survival data. Recently, multilayer deep neural network (DNN) models have made remarkable achievements. Thus, a Cox-based DNN prediction survival model (DNNSurv model), which was built with Keras and TensorFlow, was developed. However, its results were only evaluated on the survival datasets with high-dimensional or large sample sizes. In this paper, we evaluated the prediction performance of the DNNSurv model using ultra-high-dimensional and high-dimensional survival datasets and compared it with three popular ML survival prediction models (i.e., random survival forest and the Cox-based LASSO and Ridge models). For this purpose, we also present the optimal setting of several hyperparameters, including the selection of a tuning parameter. The proposed method demonstrated via data analysis that the DNNSurv model performed well overall as compared with the ML models, in terms of the three main evaluation measures (i.e., concordance index, time-dependent Brier score, and the time-dependent AUC) for survival prediction performance.
Neural Architecture Search for Lightweight Neural Network in Food Recognition
Authors: Tan Ren Zhang , Chew XinYing , Khaw Khai Wah
Published: May 2021

Healthy eating is an essential element to prevent obesity that will lead to chronic diseases. Despite numerous efforts to promote the awareness of healthy food consumption, the obesity rate has been increased in the past few years. An automated food recognition system is needed to serve as a fundamental source of information for promoting a balanced diet and assisting users to understand their meal consumption. In this paper, we propose a novel Lightweight Neural Architecture Search (LNAS) model to self-generate a thin Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) that can be executed on mobile devices with limited processing power. LNAS has a sophisticated search space and modern search strategy to design a child model with reinforcement learning. Extensive experiments have been conducted to evaluate the model generated by LNAS, namely LNAS-NET. The experimental result shows that the proposed LNAS-NET outperformed the state-of-the-art lightweight models in terms of training speed and accuracy metric. Those experiments indicate the effectiveness of LNAS without sacrificing the model performance. It provides a good direction to move toward the era of AutoML and mobile-friendly neural model design.
Stability Analysis of Systems with Fuzzy PI Controllers Applied to Electric Drives
Authors: Voloşencu Constantin
Published: May 2021

This paper analyzes the stability of fuzzy control systems with applications for electric drives. Ensuring the stability of these systems is a necessity in practice. The purpose of the study is the analysis of the dynamic characteristics of the speed control systems of electric drives based on fuzzy PI controllers in the context of performing stability analyses, both internal and input–output, finding solutions to stabilize these systems and provide guidance on fuzzy regulator design. The main methods of treatment applied are as follows: framing the control system in the theory of stability of multivariable non-linear systems, application of Lyapunov’s theory, performing an input–output stability analysis, and verification of the stability domain. The article presents the conditions for correcting the fuzzy controller to ensure internal and external stability, determines the limits of the stability sector, and gives indications for choosing the parameters of the controller. The considerations presented can be applied to various structures for regulating the speed of electric drives which use various PI fuzzy controllers.
Electro-Mechanical Whole-Heart Digital Twins: A Fully Coupled Multi-Physics Approach
Authors: Gerach Tobias , Schuler Steffen , Fröhlich Jonathan , Lindner Laura , Kovacheva Ekaterina , Moss Robin , Wülfers Eike Moritz , Seemann Gunnar , Wieners Christian , Loewe Axel
Published: May 2021

Mathematical models of the human heart are evolving to become a cornerstone of precision medicine and support clinical decision making by providing a powerful tool to understand the mechanisms underlying pathophysiological conditions. In this study, we present a detailed mathematical description of a fully coupled multi-scale model of the human heart, including electrophysiology, mechanics, and a closed-loop model of circulation. State-of-the-art models based on human physiology are used to describe membrane kinetics, excitation-contraction coupling and active tension generation in the atria and the ventricles. Furthermore, we highlight ways to adapt this framework to patient specific measurements to build digital twins. The validity of the model is demonstrated through simulations on a personalized whole heart geometry based on magnetic resonance imaging data of a healthy volunteer. Additionally, the fully coupled model was employed to evaluate the effects of a typical atrial ablation scar on the cardiovascular system. With this work, we provide an adaptable multi-scale model that allows a comprehensive personalization from ion channels to the organ level enabling digital twin modeling.
New Cubic B-Spline Approximation for Solving Linear Two-Point Boundary-Value Problems
Authors: Latif Busyra , Abdul Karim Samsul Ariffin , Hashim Ishak
Published: May 2021

In this study, we introduce a new cubic B-spline (CBS) approximation method to solve linear two-point boundary value problems (BVPs). This method is based on cubic B-spline basis functions with a new approximation for the second-order derivative. The theoretical new approximation for a second-order derivative and the error analysis have been successfully derived. We found that the second-order new approximation was O(h3) accurate. By using this new second-order approximation, the proposed method was O(h5) accurate. Four numerical problems consisting of linear ordinary differential equations and trigonometric equations with different step sizes were performed to validate the accuracy of the proposed methods. The numerical results were compared with the least squares method, finite difference method, finite element method, finite volume method, B-spline interpolation method, extended cubic B-spline interpolation method and the exact solutions. By finding the maximum errors, the results consistently showed that the proposed method gave the best approximations among the existing methods. We also found that our proposed method involved simple implementation and straightforward computations. Hence, based on the results and the efficiency of our method, we can say that our method is reliable and a promising method for solving linear two-point BVPs.
The Influence of the Developed Specific Multi-Paradigm Programming in Digital Logic Education
Authors: Hapl Lukas , Habiballa Hashim
Published: May 2021

This article introduces the possible usage of the developed programming discourse that can be used to support training in the digital logic area. The discourse merges several programming paradigms into one solution. The intended learners are secondary school students focused on digital system programming. The main intent is to find out whether digital logic curriculum based on Digital Circuits Based Logical Programming (DCBLP) inheritance has positive impact on the students and the way they explore the digital logic itself. Students’ cognitive and affective areas are in the scope of this preliminary research and questionnaires and cognitive tests will help to support the research. Experimental and control groups were used to gather relevant records. To analyse and support the interpretation of the data gathered by questionnaires, the chi-square test (two-tailed) has been used. ANOVA has been used to evaluate data for the achievement test results. The preliminary research revealed there is a possibility of using developed programming discourse DCBLP in digital logic training. Students claim overall usefulness of the discourse in the training; the strong motivation power of the programming discourse itself has not been discovered. From the test we conclude that the performance of the students trained using new programming discourse is significantly better. It is possible to use more different programming paradigms, such as imperative and declarative, in one solution to support training in the area of digital logic. Such solutions can enhance the way the students deal with the programming languages and also supports interdisciplinary relationships.
Involutes of Pseudo-Null Curves in Lorentz–Minkowski 3-Space
Authors: López Rafael , Milin Šipuš Željka , Primorac Gajčić Ljiljana , Protrka Ivana
Published: May 2021

In this paper, we analyze involutes of pseudo-null curves in Lorentz–Minkowski 3-space. Pseudo-null curves are spacelike curves with null principal normals, and their involutes can be defined analogously as for the Euclidean curves, but they exhibit properties that cannot occur in Euclidean space. The first result of the paper is that the involutes of pseudo-null curves are null curves, more precisely, null straight lines. Furthermore, a method of reconstruction of a pseudo-null curve from a given null straight line as its involute is provided. Such a reconstruction process in Euclidean plane generates an evolute of a curve, however it cannot be applied to a straight line. In the case presented, the process is additionally affected by a choice of different null frames that every null curve allows (in this case, a null straight line). Nevertheless, we proved that for different null frames, the obtained pseudo-null curves are congruent. Examples that verify presented results are also given.
Algae-Derived Anti-Inflammatory Compounds against Particulate Matters-Induced Respiratory Diseases: A Systematic Review
Authors: Tan Pek Xyen , Thiyagarasaiyar Krishnapriya , Tan Cheng-Yau , Jeon You-Jin , Nadzir Mohd Shahrul Mohd , Wu Yong-Jiang , Low Liang-Ee , Atanasov Atanas G. , Ming Long Chiau , Liew Kai Bin , Goh Bey-Hing , Yow Yoon-Yen
Published: May 2021

Air pollution has recently become a subject of increasing concern in many parts of the world. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimated that nearly 4.2 million early deaths are due to exposure to fine particles in polluted air, which causes multiple respiratory diseases. Algae, as a natural product, can be an alternative treatment due to potential biofunctional properties and advantages. This systematic review aims to summarize and evaluate the evidence of metabolites derived from algae as potential anti-inflammatory agents against respiratory disorders induced by atmospheric particulate matter (PM). Databases such as Scopus, Web of Science, and PubMed were systematically searched for relevant published full articles from 2016 to 2020. The main key search terms were limited to “algae”, “anti-inflammation”, and “air pollutant”. The search activity resulted in the retrieval of a total of 36 publications. Nine publications are eligible for inclusion in this systematic review. A total of four brown algae (Ecklonia cava, Ishige okamurae, Sargassum binderi and Sargassum horneri) with phytosterol, polysaccharides and polyphenols were reported in the nine studies. The review sheds light on the pathways of particulate matter travelling into respiratory systems and causing inflammation, and on the mechanisms of actions of algae in inhibiting inflammation. Limitations and future directions are also discussed. More research is needed to investigate the potential of algae as anti-inflammatory agents against PM in in vivo and in vitro experimental models, as well as clinically.
Attenuating Effects of Dieckol on High-Fat Diet-Induced Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease by Decreasing the NLRP3 Inflammasome and Pyroptosis
Authors: Oh Seyeon , Son Myeongjoo , Byun Kyung-A , Jang Ji Tae , Choi Chang Hu , Son Kuk Hui , Byun Kyunghee
Published: May 2021

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), which promotes serious health problems, is related to the increase in the nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-like receptor family, pyrin domain containing 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome and pyroptosis by a high-fat diet (HFD). Whether dieckol (DK), a component of Ecklonia cava extracts (ECE), attenuated NAFLD in an HFD-induced NAFLD animal model was evaluated. The expression of high mobility group box 1/Toll-like receptor 4/nuclear factor-κB, which initiated the NLRP3 inflammasome, was increased in the liver of HFD-fed animals and significantly decreased with ECE or DK administration. The expression of NLRP3/ASC/caspase-1, which are components of the NLRP3 inflammasome, and the number of pyroptotic cells were increased by HFD and decreased with ECE or DK administration. The accumulation of triglycerides and free fatty acids in the liver was increased by HFD and decreased with ECE or DK administration. The histological NAFLD score was increased by HFD and decreased with ECE or DK administration. The expression of lipogenic genes (FASN, SREBP-2, PPARγ, and FABP4) increased and that of lipolytic genes (PPARα, CPT1A, ATGL, and HSL) was decreased by HFD and attenuated with ECE or DK administration. In conclusion, ECE or DK attenuated NAFLD by decreasing the NLRP3 inflammasome and pyroptosis.
The Management of Prodromal Symptoms of Bipolar Disorder: Available Options and Future Perspectives
Authors: Del Favero Elisa , Montemagni Cristiana , Bozzatello Paola , Brasso Claudio , Riccardi Cecilia , Rocca Paola
Published: May 2021

The onset of prodromal symptoms in subjects who are at familial or clinical risk for bipolar disorder could be considered as an important alarm bell for the development of the disease and should be carefully detected. The management of prodromes in bipolar high-risk patients appears to be an important means of prevention; nevertheless, at the moment, there aren’t clear and widely shared treatment indications. The aim of this review is to summarize the available treatment options (pharmacological, psychosocial and nutraceutical) for the management of prodromal symptoms in subjects who are at familial or clinical risk for bipolar disorder.
Bevacizumab-Containing Chemoimmunotherapy for Recurrent Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer after Chemoradiotherapy: Case Report
Authors: Kataoka Nobutaka , Kunimatsu Yusuke , Tsutsumi Rei , Tani Nozomi , Sato Izumi , Tanimura Mai , Nakano Takayuki , Tanimura Keiko , Kato Daishiro , Takeda Takayuki
Published: May 2021

Chemoimmunotherapy has become the standard of care as the first-line treatment of advanced or recurrent non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The bevacizumab-containing chemoimmunotherapy regimen is theoretically more effective than a non-bevacizumab-containing regimen via two mechanisms: a superior outcome of bevacizumab-containing chemothrerapy than the standard platinum doublet regimen, and the synergistic effect of bevacizumab with an immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI). Bevacizumab effectively normalizes vascularization, especially when the vascular bed is damaged by previous treatment. Bevacizumab promotes immunomodulation when used with ICI. We describe a patient with nonsquamous NSCLC who returned 2.5 years after definitive chemoradiotherapy for postoperative locoregional recurrence in the right supraclavicular lymph node. Considering the destroyed vascular bed due to prior chemoradiotherapy, attaining vascular normalization was critical for effective drug delivery. The patient was treated with a bevacizumab-containing chemoimmunotherapy regimen, which resulted in a complete metabolic response. The patient responded well for 23 months and is receiving ongoing treatment. Thus, bevacizumab-containing chemoimmunotherapy could be advantageous in some recurrent cases after chemoradiotherapy.
Comparison of Postoperative Adjuvant Chemotherapy and Concurrent Chemoradiotherapy for FIGO2018 Stage IIIC1 Cervical Cancer: A Retrospective Study
Authors: Kagabu Masahiro , Nagasawa Takayuki , Tatsuki Shunsuke , Fukagawa Yasuko , Tomabechi Hidetoshi , Takatori Eriko , Kaido Yoshitaka , Shoji Tadahiro , Baba Tsukasa
Published: May 2021

Background and Objectives: In October 2018, the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) revised its classification of advanced stages of cervical cancer. The main points of the classification are as follows: stage IIIC is newly established; pelvic lymph node metastasis is stage IIIC1; and para-aortic lymph node metastasis is stage IIIC2. Currently, in Japan, radical hysterectomy is performed in advanced stages IA2 to IIB of FIGO2014, and concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) is recommended for patients with positive lymph nodes. However, the efficacy of CCRT is not always satisfactory. The aim of this study was to compare postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy (CT) and postoperative CCRT in stage IIIC1 patients. Materials and Methods: Of the 40 patients who had undergone a radical hysterectomy at Iwate Medical University between January 2011 and December 2016 and were pathologically diagnosed as having positive pelvic lymph nodes, 21 patients in the adjuvant CT group and 19 patients in the postoperative CCRT group were compared. Results: The 5 year survival rates were 77.9% in the CT group and 74.7% in the CCRT group, with no significant difference. There was no significant difference in overall survival or progression-free survival between the two groups. There was no significant difference between CT and CCRT in postoperative adjuvant therapy in the new classification IIIC1 stage. Conclusions: The results of the prospective Japanese Gynecologic Oncology Group (JGOG) 1082 study are pending, but the present results suggest that CT may be a treatment option in rural areas where radiotherapy facilities are limited.
Effects of Rapid Weight Loss on Kidney Function in Combat Sport Athletes
Authors: Lakicevic Nemanja , Paoli Antonio , Roklicer Roberto , Trivic Tatjana , Korovljev Darinka , Ostojic Sergej M. , Proia Patrizia , Bianco Antonino , Drid Patrik
Published: May 2021

Even though scientific literature shows numerous heath complications and performance decrements associated with rapid weight loss (RWL), its prevalence remains exceedingly high across various combat sports. The aim of this study was to thoroughly search the existing literature to explore the influence of RWL on kidney function in Olympic and non-Olympic combat sport athletes. PubMed and Web of Science were searched for the relevant studies. Only original articles published from 2005 onwards, written in English, that included healthy males and females who prompted ~5% weight loss within a week or less, were included in the study. Retrieved studies showed that creatinine, blood urea nitrogen and urine specific gravity values were significantly increased after RWL in the majority of the included studies. This observation indicates that RWL caused dehydration and subsequent acute kidney damage despite various degrees of weight lost during the RWL phase, which can lead to adverse events in other body systems. Alternative methods of weight reduction that prioritize athletes’ health should be considered.
Are Three Weeks of Oral Anticoagulation Sufficient for Safe Cardioversion in Atrial Fibrillation?
Authors: Naydenov Stefan , Runev Nikolay , Manov Emil
Published: May 2021

Background and Objectives: Patients with atrial fibrillation (AF), lasting >48 h, considered for cardioversion, are recommended ≥3 weeks of oral anticoagulation before sinus rhythm restoration because of high risk of development of left atrial thrombosis (LAT) and stroke. However, the optimal duration of anticoagulation in the presence of overt LAT is unknown. Materials and Methods: An open-label study aimed to investigate the prevalence of spontaneous echo contrast (SEC) and LAT before and after 3 weeks of direct oral anticoagulant (DOAC) treatment. We included 51 consecutive patients (50.9% males), mean age 69.3 ± 7.4 years with paroxysmal/unknown duration of AF, considered for cardioversion, who agreed to have transesophageal echocardiography at enrollment and 3 weeks later. Results: At baseline SEC was present in 26 (50.9%) and LAT in 10 (19.6%) of 51 patients. After 3 weeks on DOAC, SEC persisted in 12 (25.0%) and LAT in 7 (14.5%) of 48 patients, p < 0.05 vs. baseline. Factors, associated most strongly with persistence of SEC/LAT, were left atrial appendage (LAA) emptying velocity <20 cm/s (OR = 2.82), LAA lobes >2 (OR = 1.84), and indexed left atrial volume ≥34 mL/m2 (OR = 1.37). Conclusions: In our study the incidence of SEC/LAT, particularly in AF with unknown duration, was not as low as we expected. The prevalence of SEC/LAT seemed to be dependent on factors not routinely evaluated in AF patients planned for cardioversion (indexed LA volume, LAA morphology and number of lobules, LAA emptying velocity, etc.). Our data suggested an individualized approach for DOAC duration in AF patients before an attempt for restoration of sinus rhythm is made, taking into consideration the LAA morphology and function.
The Role of Poly-Herbal Extract in Sodium Chloride-Induced Oxidative Stress and Hyperlipidemia in Male Wistar Rats
Authors: Olorunnisola Olubukola Sinbad , Adegbola Peter Ifeoluwa , Ajilore Bamidele Stephen , Akintola Olayemi Adebola , Fadahunsi Olumide Samuel
Published: May 2021

Consistent consumption of high salt diet (HSD) has been associated with increased cellular generation of free radicals, which has been implicated in the derangement of some vital organs and etiology of cardiovascular disorders. This study was designed to investigate the combined effect of some commonly employed medicinal plants on serum lipid profile and antioxidant status of aorta, kidney, and liver of high salt diet-fed animals. Out of the total fifty male Wistar rats obtained, fifteen were used for acute toxicity study, while the remaining thirty-five were divided into 5 groups of 7 animals each. Group 1 and 2 animals were fed normal rat chow (NRC) and 16% high salt diet (HSD) only, respectively. Animals in groups 3, 4 and 5 were fed 16% HSD with 800, 400, and 200 mg/kg bw poly-herbal extract (PHE), respectively, once for 28 consecutive days. Serum low-density lipoprotein (LDL), triacylglycerol (TG), total cholesterol (TC) and high-density lipoprotein (HDL), malondialdehyde, nitric oxide, catalase, superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione concentration, and activities were assessed in the aorta, kidney, and liver. Poly-herbal extract (p < 0.05) significantly reduced malondialdehyde and nitric oxide concentrations and also increased antioxidant enzymes and glutathione activity. Elevated serum TG, TC, LDL, and TC content in HSD-fed animals were significantly (p < 0.05) reduced to normal in PHE-treated rats while HDL was significantly elevated (p < 0.05) in a concentration-dependent manner in PHE treated animals. Feeding with PHE attenuated high-salt diet imposed derangement in serum lipid profile and antioxidant status in the organs of the experimental rats.
Carbon Dioxide Enrichment PEBAX/MOF Composite Membrane for CO2 Separation
Authors: Tang Po-Hsiang , So Pamela Berilyn , Li Wa-Hua , Hui Zi-You , Hu Chien-Chieh , Lin Chia-Her
Published: May 2021

Zeolitic imidazole framework (ZIF-8) was incorporated into poly(ether-block-amide) (Pebax-1657) in differing ratios to prepare mixed matrix membranes (MMMs) for gas separation. As ZIF-8 loading is increased, gas separation selectivity also gradually increases. For economic considerations, the proportion of the increase in selectivity to the amount of MOF loaded per unit was calculated. The results show that mixing 5% MOF gives the best unit performance. With this, a variety of MOFs (UiO-66, UiO-66-NH2, A520, MIL-68(Al) and MIL-100(Fe)) were mixed with PEBAX at 5 loading to prepare MMMs. In this work, metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) were processed using the dry-free method, where in the synthesized MOF was not dried prior to incorporation. The gas separation performance test carried out shows the highest separation performance was exhibited by P-UiO-66, wherein the CO2/N2 gas selectivity was 85.94, and the permeability was 189.77 (Barrer), which was higher than Robeson’s Upper bound in 2008, and obtained a high permeability and selectivity among mixed matrix membranes. In the preparation of high quality MMMs for gas separation, details regarding the interface phenomenon were assessed.
Use of the Microheterogeneous Model to Assess the Applicability of Ion-Exchange Membranes in the Process of Generating Electricity from a Concentration Gradient
Authors: Davydov Denis , Nosova Elena , Loza Sergey , Achoh Aslan , Korzhov Alexander , Sharafan Mikhail , Melnikov Stanislav
Published: May 2021

The paper shows the possibility of using a microheterogeneous model to estimate the transport numbers of counterions through ion-exchange membranes. It is possible to calculate the open-circuit potential and power density of the reverse electrodialyzer using the data obtained. Eight samples of heterogeneous ion-exchange membranes were studied, two samples for each of the following types of membranes: Ralex CM, Ralex AMH, MK-40, and MA-41. Samples in each pair differed in the year of production and storage conditions. In the work, these samples were named “batch 1” and “batch 2”. According to the microheterogeneous model, to calculate the transport numbers of counterions, it is necessary to use the concentration dependence of the electrical conductivity and diffusion permeability. The electrolyte used was a sodium chloride solution with a concentration range corresponding to the conditional composition of river water and the salinity of the Black Sea. During the research, it was found that samples of Ralex membranes of different batches have similar characteristics over the entire range of investigated concentrations. The calculated values of the transfer numbers for membranes of different batches differ insignificantly: ±0.01 for Ralex AMH in 1 M NaCl. For MK-40 and MA-41 membranes, a significant scatter of characteristics was found, especially in concentrated solutions. As a result, in 1 M NaCl, the transport numbers differ by ±0.05 for MK-40 and ±0.1 for MA-41. The value of the open circuit potential for the Ralex membrane pair showed that the experimental values of the potential are slightly lower than the theoretical ones. At the same time, the maximum calculated power density is higher than the experimental values. The maximum power density achieved in the experiment on reverse electrodialysis was 0.22 W/m2, which is in good agreement with the known literature data for heterogeneous membranes. The discrepancy between the experimental and theoretical data may be the difference in the characteristics of the membranes used in the reverse electrodialysis process from the tested samples and does not consider the shadow effect of the spacer in the channels of the electrodialyzer.
Synergistic Effect of Chemical Penetration Enhancers on Lidocaine Permeability Revealed by Coarse-Grained Molecular Dynamics Simulations
Authors: Bozdaganyan Marine E. , Orekhov Philipp S.
Published: May 2021

The search for new formulations for transdermal drug delivery (TDD) is an important field in medicine and cosmetology. Molecules with specific physicochemical properties which can increase the permeability of active ingredients across the stratum corneum (SC) are called chemical penetration enhancers (CPEs), and it was shown that some CPEs can act synergistically. In this study, we performed coarse-grained (CG) molecular dynamics (MD) simulations of the lidocaine delivery facilitated by two CPEs—linoleic acid (LA) and ethanol—through the SC model membrane containing cholesterol, N-Stearoylsphingosine (DCPE), and behenic acid. In our simulations, we probed the effects of individual CPEs as well as their combination on various properties of the SC membrane and the lidocaine penetration across it. We demonstrated that the addition of both CPEs decreases the membrane thickness and the order parameters of the DPCE hydrocarbon chains. Moreover, LA also enhances diffusion of the SC membrane components, especially cholesterol. The estimated potential of mean force (PMF) profiles for the lidocaine translocation across SC in the presence/absence of two individual CPEs and their combination demonstrated that while ethanol lowers the free energy barrier for lidocaine to enter SC, LA decreases the depth of the free energy minima for lidocaine inside SC. These two effects supposedly result in synergistic penetration enhancement of drugs. Altogether, the present simulations provide a detailed molecular picture of CPEs’ action and their synergistic effect on the penetration of small molecular weight therapeutics that can be beneficial for the design of novel drug and cosmetics formulations.
Microstructure Characterization and Properties of Graphene Oxide-Reinforced TiAl Matrix Composites
Authors: Sun Zhiyu , Zhu Langping , Mo Xiaofei , Nan Hai , Ding Xianfei
Published: May 2021

TiAl matrix composites reinforced with graphene oxide (GO) were prepared by powder metallurgy technology. The graphene oxide plates were added into TiAl powder by ultrasonic dispersion and milling, and then, shaped by Hot Isostatic Pressing (HIPing). Microstructures of the composites were characterized by using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) as well as Raman spectrum were conducted on the composite powder. The thermal and mechanical properties were tested on the TiAl matrix composites. The results show that the compression strength and heat conductivity of the composites can be improved distinctly at both room temperature and high temperature. The heat conductivity coefficient can reach to above 23 W/m K, and the compressive strength can reach to 1700 MPa at room temperature. GO was homogeneously dispersed into TiAl matrix in the form of random film with the diameter less than 10 μm. The minimum thickness of the GO film is about 5 nm. However, The GO does not well represent thermodynamically stable reinforcement at high temperatures, GO existed not only in the form of graphene but also a certain amount of Ti3AlC, and its size is about 2 μm rather than nanoscale, which can decrease the ductile reinforcement of GO in the TiAl matrix.