bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Drug-Coated Balloon vs. Drug-Eluting Stents for De Novo Unprotected Left Main Stem Disease: The SPARTAN-LMS Study
Authors: Gunawardena Tharusha D. , Corballis Natasha , Merinopoulos Ioannis , Wickramarachchi Upul , Reinhold Johannes , Maart Clint , Sreekumar Sulfi , Sawh Chris , Wistow Trevor , Sarev Toomas , Ryding Alisdair , Gilbert Tim J. , Clark Allan , Vassiliou Vassilios S. , Eccleshall Simon
Published: February 2023

The objective of this study is to compare the outcomes of patients treated with drug-coated balloons (DCBs) or second-generation drug-eluting stents (DESs) for de novo unprotected left main stem (LMS) disease. Previous studies comparing the treatment of LMS disease suggest that the mortality for DES PCI is not worse than CABG. There are limited data from studies investigating the treatment of de novo LMS disease with DCB angioplasty. We compared the all-cause and cardiac mortality of patients treated with paclitaxel DCB to those with second-generation DES for de novo LMS disease from July 2014 to November 2019. Data were analysed using Kaplan–Meier analyses and propensity-matched analyses. A total of 148 patients were treated with either a DCB or DES strategy. There was no significant difference in all-cause mortality in the DCB group (19.5%) compared to the DES group (15.9%) (HR 1.42 [0.61–3.32], p = 0.42). Regarding cardiac mortality, 2 (4.9%) were recorded for the DCB group and 7 (6.5%) for the DES group (HR 1.21 [0.31–4.67], p = 0.786); for target vessel myocardial infarction, there were 0 (0%) for the DCB group and 7 (6.5%) for the DES group; and for target lesion revascularisation, there were 3 (7.3%) in the DCB group and 9 (8.3%) in the DES group (HR: 0.89 [0.24–3.30]). p = 0.86. These remained not significant after propensity score matching. We found no difference in the mortality outcomes with DCB angioplasty compared to second-generation DES, with a median follow-up of 33 months. DCB can therefore be regarded as a safe option in the treatment of LMS disease in suitable patients.
Similarity Study of Electromagnetic and Underwater Acoustic Scattering by Three-Dimensional Targets in Unbounded Space
Authors: Wang Jie , Lin Hai , Guo Huaihai , Zhang Qi , Ge Junxiang
Published: February 2023

The characterization of targets by electromagnetic (EM) scattering and underwater acoustic scattering is an important object of research in these two related fields. However, there are some difficulties in the simulation and measurement of the scattering by large targets. Consequently, a similarity study between acoustic and EM scattering may help to share results between one domain and the other and even provide a general reference method for the simulation of scattering characteristics in both fields. Based on the method of physical optics, the similarity between the EM scattering of conductors and the acoustic scattering of soft/hard targets and the similarity between the EM scattering of dielectrics and the acoustic scattering of elastics are studied. In particular, we derive how to transfer quantities from one domain into another so that similar scattering patterns arise. Then, according to these transfer rules, the EM scattering and acoustic scattering of three typical targets with different types of boundaries were simulated and measured, and the simulated EM scattering and acoustic scattering curves were found to be in perfect agreement, with correlation coefficients above 0.93. The correlation coefficients between the electromagnetic and acoustic scattering patterns were above 0.98, 0.91, and 0.65 for three typical targets. The simulated and measured scattering results verify the proposed similarity theory of EM and acoustic scattering, including the transfer from one domain into the other and the conditions of EM and acoustic scattering, and illustrate that the acoustic scattering characteristic of the target can be simulated using the EM scattering based on the derived conditions and vice versa.
An Integrated Scheme of the Data-Driven Multi-Block FCMs for Modeling the Steady Turning Motion of Motorboats
Authors: Gao Xiaori , Wang Lidong , Wu Zeyu , Liu Xiaodong
Published: February 2023

The steady turning motion of merchant ships is modeled according to industry specifications. However, challenges arise when motorboats are modeled. This study proposes a novel data-driven multi-block fuzzy cognitive map (FCM) model trained based on sea trials with four ship states. The optimal positions sampled by two different types of sensors were modeled using inverse variance weighting, which takes both Cartesian coordinate transformation and the constraints of the locations of the apparatuses into consideration. Combining these samplings with a scheme of multi-block FCMs, we conducted a study on data from motorboat trials. Our results closely approximate the data from motorboat trials at sea and are validated by a generated dataset of the classical model. Furthermore, we reveal the characteristics of our scheme, including the number of data blocks, the boundary of each block, and the parameters of the FCM for each block. As opposed to the classical method, the proposed scheme is insensitive to speed. This study presents a promising step toward mining modeling information from ship trials.
Pre-IPO Financial Performance and Offer Price Estimation: Evidence from India
Authors: Yadav Ajay , Prosad Jaya Mamta , Singh Sumanjeet
Published: February 2023

The primary focus of this paper is to develop an empirical model to study the relationship between key Financial Performance Indicators and IPO Offer Prices. It seeks to assist Indian IPO investors to make more informed decisions by advancing their knowledge about relevant Pre-IPO Financial Performance Indicators that are effective predictors of Offer Price. The purpose is this study is to provide all the stakeholders with an approach to evaluate the Offer Price of IPOs. This will help the stakeholders to overcome pricing anomalies. The companies listed in the National Stock Exchange of India between the financial years 2015–2016 to 2020–2021 are taken as the sample of the study. The secondary data are analyzed by constructing a multiple linear regression model. This study uses a range of fundamental factors related to financial performance in a single framework to demonstrate that an IPO Offer Price can be assessed by its Pre-IPO Financial Performance. The findings of this study validate the objectives of the model constructed. This research shows that the Pre-IPO Financial Performance has an influential role in explaining the IPO offering price. The results of the study show that variables such as Net Asset Value (NAV), Return on Assets (ROA), Profit after Tax (PAT), and Return on Net Worth (RONW) have a substantial impact on IPO Offering Price. The findings of the research will assist IPO issuers in pricing their offerings better and more competitively. Furthermore, this study will also minimize the gap between offering and listing prices to prevent speculative failure. The study will help investors with minimal resources to evaluate the value of any IPO issue. An IPO’s value can be fairly estimated, and investors can decide whether the issue is worth investing in or not.
Synthesis, Physicochemical Characterization and Applications of Advanced Nanomaterials
Authors: Dippong Thomas
Published: February 2023

This Special Issue highlights the last decade’s progress regarding new nanostructured materials. In this regard, the development of nanoscale syntheses and innovative characterization tools that resulted in the tailored design of nanostructured materials with versatile abilities in many applications were investigated. Various types of engineered nanostructures, usually metal nanoparticles or nanoporous metal oxides, have been synthesized for various applications. This Special Issue covers the state-of-the-art of advanced nanoparticles in many disciplines (chemistry, pharmacy, nanomedicine, agriculture, catalysis, and environmental science). The crystallite sizes depended on the annealing temperature and type of doping ion. A combination of rigid and soft particles could simultaneously enhance both the tensile properties and the fracture toughness, which could not be achieved by the single-phase particles independently. The surface charge and in vitro corrosion resistance are key parameters characterizing biomaterials in the interaction of the implant with the biological environment. Solar energy in the presence of a photocatalyst can be effectively converted into electricity/fuel, break down chemical and microbial pollutants, and help water purification. The saturation magnetization, remanent magnetizations, coercivity, and anisotropy were found to depend on the doping ion, annealing temperature, and particle size. The efficiency of the photocatalysis reaction depends on several factors, including light absorption capacity/light intensity, the type of photocatalyst used, the concentration of a photocatalyst and contaminant particles, the pH of the reaction medium, etc. The variety of color pigments and coloring properties of the targeted application in the ceramic industry was also of interest.
Theoretical Analysis and Verification on Plastic Deformation Behavior of Rocket Nozzle Using a Novel Tube Upsetting-Bulging Method
Authors: Chen Yizhe , Zhao Shilong , Wang Hui , Li Jun , Hua Lin
Published: February 2023

The rocket nozzle is one of the core components to ensure the safe flight of rockets. To overcome the problems of multi-step forming, the occurrence of defects, and severe plastic deformation in traditional technology, a novel forming method named tube upsetting-bulging (TUBG) is put forward. With the support of internal pressure, a tube is deformed with an upsetting and bulging process at the same time. The tube is thickened at the small end and thinned at the large end. A nozzle with sharply varying diameters can be obtained. A theoretical model of TUBG that considers wrinkles and rupture is built. The influence factors of internal pressure during TUBG are discussed. Experiments and simulation works are conducted to analyze the plastic deformation process of TUBG. Results show that mechanical properties and geometrical parameters have an obvious influence on critical internal pressure. The proposed theoretical model can be used to predict a forming zone without wrinkles, rupture, and severe strain values. A well-formed nozzle can be obtained using the predicted forming zone, which verifies the correctness of the theoretical analysis. It can be found that TUBG is a novel potential method to fabricate rocket nozzles with high efficiency and quality without defects.
Structural Modal Parameter Identification Method Based on the Delayed Transfer Rate Function under Periodic Excitations
Authors: Xu Yanxin , Zheng Dongjian , Shao Chenfei , Zheng Sen , Gu Hao
Published: February 2023

The dynamic response transfer rate function (TRF) is increasingly used in the field of structural modal parameter identification because it does not depend on the white noise assumption of the excitation. In this paper, the interference of periodic excitation on structural modal parameter identification using TRF is analyzed theoretically for a class of civil engineering structures with obvious periodic components in excitation, and then an identification method of structural real modal parameters is proposed. First, a delayed TRF is constructed, and the pseudo-frequency response function is further obtained to identify the periodic spurious poles of the whole system. Then, the effective identification of the real modal parameters of the structure is achieved by comparing the system poles identified via conventional TRF. Finally, the feasibility and robustness of the proposed method were verified using a calculation example with four-degrees-of-freedom system. In addition, the modal parameters of a structure under periodic excitation were effectively identified by taking a pumping station as an example, and the results show that the method accurately identified the structural modal parameters when the excitation contained periodic components, which has wider prospects for technical applications.
Evaluation of Non-Invasive Sampling Methods for Detection of Hepatitis E Virus Infected Pigs in Pens
Authors: Meester Marina , Rademaker Aniek , Bouwknegt Martijn , Hakze-van der Honing Renate W. , Stegeman Arjan , van der Poel Wim H. M. , Tobias Tijs J.
Published: February 2023

Pigs are a reservoir of hepatitis E virus (HEV), which causes hepatitis in humans. To study the epidemiology of HEV in pig farms, sampling methods are currently used that cause discomfort to pigs, such as rectal sampling. In line with the 3Rs principle, we aimed to evaluate non-invasive methods to detect pens with HEV-shedding pigs. Twenty-eight pens of one farm were sampled cross-sectionally. Individual rectal swabs (IRS) were collected to determine prevalence within pens. Four pen-level samples were compared: a pool of IRS per pen (P), boot socks (BS), oral fluid (OF) and pooled faecal droppings (FD). Each sample was tested by RT-PCR and the sensitivity and specificity of each method was determined by Bayesian latent class analysis. According to IRS, 19/28 pens were HEV positive. BS had a sensitivity of 95% and detected HEV in pens with 10% of pigs shedding; however, specificity was below 30%. FD were comparably accurate to P, with a sensitivity and specificity of 94% and 86%, respectively. BS sampling is thus advised to detect early shedding of HEV or pen contamination, and FD to determine the duration of shedding. This study demonstrates that non-invasive sampling can replace rectal swabs in research on HEV in pigs.
Mucin and Agitation Shape Predation of Escherichia coli by Lytic Coliphage
Authors: Carroll-Portillo Amanda , Rumsey Kellin N. , Braun Cody A. , Lin Derek M. , Coffman Cristina N. , Alcock Joe A. , Singh Sudha B. , Lin Henry C.
Published: February 2023

The ability of bacteriophage (phage), abundant within the gastrointestinal microbiome, to regulate bacterial populations within the same micro-environment offers prophylactic and therapeutic opportunities. Bacteria and phage have both been shown to interact intimately with mucin, and these interactions invariably effect the outcomes of phage predation within the intestine. To better understand the influence of the gastrointestinal micro-environment on phage predation, we employed enclosed, in vitro systems to investigate the roles of mucin concentration and agitation as a function of phage type and number on bacterial killing. Using two lytic coliphage, T4 and PhiX174, bacterial viability was quantified following exposure to phages at different multiplicities of infection (MOI) within increasing, physiological levels of mucin (0–4%) with and without agitation. Comparison of bacterial viability outcomes demonstrated that at low MOI, agitation in combination with higher mucin concentration (>2%) inhibited phage predation by both phages. However, when MOI was increased, PhiX predation was recovered regardless of mucin concentration or agitation. In contrast, only constant agitation of samples containing a high MOI of T4 demonstrated phage predation; briefly agitated samples remained hindered. Our results demonstrate that each phage–bacteria pairing is uniquely influenced by environmental factors, and these should be considered when determining the potential efficacy of phage predation under homeostatic or therapeutic circumstances.
Lactobacillus plantarum Metabolites Elicit Anticancer Effects by Inhibiting Autophagy-Related Responses
Authors: Jeong Sihyun , Kim Yuju , Park Soyeong , Lee Doyeon , Lee Juho , Hlaing Shwe Phyu , Yoo Jin-Wook , Rhee Sang Hoon , Im Eunok
Published: February 2023

Lactobacillus plantarum (L. plantarum) is a probiotic that has emerged as novel therapeutic agents for managing various diseases, such as cancer, atopic dermatitis, inflammatory bowel disease, and infections. In this study, we investigated the potential mechanisms underlying the anticancer effect of the metabolites of L. plantarum. We cultured L. plantarum cells to obtain their metabolites, created several dilutions, and used these solutions to treat human colonic Caco-2 cells. Our results showed a 10% dilution of L. plantarum metabolites decreased cell viability and reduced the expression of autophagy-related proteins. Moreover, we found co-treatment with L. plantarum metabolites and chloroquine, a known autophagy inhibitor, had a synergistic effect on cytotoxicity and downregulation of autophagy-related protein expression. In conclusion, we showed the metabolites from the probiotic, L. plantarum, work synergistically with chloroquine in killing Caco-2 cells and downregulating the expression of autophagy-related proteins, suggesting the involvement of autophagy, rather than apoptosis, in their cytotoxic effect. Hence, this study provides new insights into new therapeutic methods via inhibiting autophagy.
BaTiO3 Functional Perovskite as Photocathode in Microbial Fuel Cells for Energy Production and Wastewater Treatment
Authors: Touach Noureddine , Benzaouak Abdellah , Toyir Jamil , El Hamdouni Youssra , El Mahi Mohammed , Lotfi El Mostapha , Labjar Najoua , Kacimi Mohamed , Liotta Leonarda Francesca
Published: February 2023

Microbial fuel cells (MFCs) provide new opportunities for the sustainable production of energy, converting organic matter into electricity through microorganisms. Moreover, MFCs play an important role in remediation of environmental pollutants from wastewater with power generation. This work focuses on the evaluation of ferroelectric perovskite materials as a new class of non-precious photocatalysts for MFC cathode construction. Nanoparticles of BaTiO3 (BT) were prepared and tested in a microbial fuel cell (MFC) as photocathode catalytic components. The catalyst phases were synthesized, identified and characterized by XRD, SEM, UV–Vis absorption spectroscopy, P-E hysteresis and dielectric measurements. The maximum absorption of BT nanoparticles was recorded at 285 nm and the energy gap (Eg) was estimated to be 3.77 eV. Photocatalytic performance of cathodes coated with BaTiO3 was measured in a dark environment and then in the presence of a UV–visible (UV–Vis) light source, using a mixture of dairy industry and domestic wastewater as a feedstock for the MFCs. The performance of the BT cathodic component is strongly dependent on the presence of UV–Vis irradiation. The BT-based cathode functioning under UV–visible light improves the maximum power densities and the open circuit voltage (OCV) of the MFC system. The values increased from 64 mW m−2 to 498 mW m−2 and from 280 mV to 387 mV, respectively, showing that the presence of light effectively improved the photocatalytic activity of this ceramic. Furthermore, the MFCs operating under optimal conditions were able to reduce the chemical oxygen demand load in wastewater by 90% (initial COD = 2500 mg L−1).
DFT Study of Regio- and Stereoselective 13DC Reaction between Diazopropane and Substituted Chalcone Derivatives: Molecular Docking of Novel Pyrazole Derivatives as Anti-Alzheimer’s Agents
Authors: Al-Hazmy Sadeq , Zouaghi Mohamed , Amri Nasser , Arfaoui Youssef , Alhagri Ibrahim , Hamdi Naceur
Published: February 2023

In the present work, a combination of experimental and density functional theory (DFT) investigation of the (3+2) cycloaddition reactions of diazopropane with chalcone derivatives was reported. All calculations were performed using several DFT approaches (B3LYP, M06, M06-2X) and 6-311+G(d, p) basis set. Based on the NMR, MS analyses and IRC calculations, the pyrazole derivatives are the kinetic adducts over the oxadiazoles. The use of two equivalents of diazopropane leads to thermodynamical products. A molecular docking analysis was performed to investigate the efficiency of the obtained products against selected drug targets in anti-Alzheimer ligand-receptor interactions. We revealed that the ligands selected were bound mainly to the catalytic (CAS) and peripheral (PAS) anionic sites of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BuChE) inhibitors, respectively. The selected ligands 1, 3, 4 and P14 may act as the best inhibitors against Alzheimer’s disease (AD).
In Vivo Incorporation of Photoproteins into GroEL Chaperonin Retaining Major Structural and Functional Properties
Authors: Marchenkov Victor , Ivashina Tanya , Marchenko Natalia , Ryabova Natalya , Selivanova Olga , Timchenko Alexander , Kihara Hiroshi , Ksenzenko Vladimir , Semisotnov Gennady
Published: February 2023

The incorporation of photoproteins into proteins of interest allows the study of either their localization or intermolecular interactions in the cell. Here we demonstrate the possibility of in vivo incorporating the photoprotein Aequorea victoria enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) or Gaussia princeps luciferase (GLuc) into the tetradecameric quaternary structure of GroEL chaperonin and describe some physicochemical properties of the labeled chaperonin. Using size-exclusion and affinity chromatography, electrophoresis, fluorescent and electron transmission microscopy (ETM), small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS), and bioluminescence resonance energy transfer (BRET), we show the following: (i) The GroEL14-EGFP is evenly distributed within normally divided E. coli cells, while gigantic undivided cells are characterized by the uneven distribution of the labeled GroEL14 which is mainly localized close to the cellular periplasm; (ii) EGFP and likely GLuc are located within the inner cavity of one of the two GroEL chaperonin rings and do not essentially influence the protein oligomeric structure; (iii) GroEL14 containing either EGFP or GLuc is capable of interacting with non-native proteins and the cochaperonin GroES.
Chronological and Carbohydrate-Dependent Transformation of Fatty Acids in the Larvae of Black Soldier Fly Following Food Waste Treatment
Authors: Liu Yanxia , Liu Junliang , He Jinwen , Lu Hongxu , Sun Shibo , Ji Fengyun , Dong Xiaoying , Bao Yongming , Xu Jianqiang , He Gaohong , Xu Weiping
Published: February 2023

Although black soldier fly larvae (BSFL) can convert food waste into insectile fatty acids (FAs), the chronological and diet-dependent transformation of larval FAs has yet to be determined. This study focused on the dynamics of larval FA profiles following food waste treatment and characterized factors that may drive FA composition and bioaccumulation. Larval FA matters peaked on Day 11 as 7.7 ± 0.7% of food waste dry matter, maintained stably from Day 11–19, and decreased slightly from Day 19–21. The BSFL primarily utilized waste carbohydrates for FA bioconversion (Day 0–11) and shifted to waste FAs (Day 7–17) when the carbohydrates were close to depletion. The optimal time window for larvae harvest was Days 17–19, which fulfilled both targets of waste oil removal and larval FA transformation. Larval FAs were dominated by C12:0, followed by C18:2, C18:1, and C16:0. The waste-reducing carbohydrate primarily accounted for larval FA bioaccumulation (r = −0.947, p < 0.001). The increase in diet carbohydrate ratio resulted in the elevation of larval C12:0 yield, which indicated that larval C12:0-FA was primarily biosynthesized from carbohydrates and further transformed from ≥C16 FAs. This study elucidates the bioaccumulation process of larval FAs for food waste treatment and highlights the importance of waste carbohydrates for both the composition and transformation of larval FAs.
Influence of the Graft Length on Nanocomposite Structure and Interfacial Dynamics
Authors: Genix Anne-Caroline , Bocharova Vera , Carroll Bobby , Dieudonné-George Philippe , Chauveau Edouard , Sokolov Alexei P. , Oberdisse Julian
Published: February 2023

Both the dispersion state of nanoparticles (NPs) within polymer nanocomposites (PNCs) and the dynamical state of the polymer altered by the presence of the NP/polymer interfaces have a strong impact on the macroscopic properties of PNCs. In particular, mechanical properties are strongly affected by percolation of hard phases, which may be NP networks, dynamically modified polymer regions, or combinations of both. In this article, the impact on dispersion and dynamics of surface modification of the NPs by short monomethoxysilanes with eight carbons in the alkyl part (C8) is studied. As a function of grafting density and particle content, polymer dynamics is followed by broadband dielectric spectroscopy and analyzed by an interfacial layer model, whereas the particle dispersion is investigated by small-angle X-ray scattering and analyzed by reverse Monte Carlo simulations. NP dispersions are found to be destabilized only at the highest grafting. The interfacial layer formalism allows the clear identification of the volume fraction of interfacial polymer, with its characteristic time. The strongest dynamical slow-down in the polymer is found for unmodified NPs, while grafting weakens this effect progressively. The combination of all three techniques enables a unique measurement of the true thickness of the interfacial layer, which is ca. 5 nm. Finally, the comparison between longer (C18) and shorter (C8) grafts provides unprecedented insight into the efficacy and tunability of surface modification. It is shown that C8-grafting allows for a more progressive tuning, which goes beyond a pure mass effect.
The Impact of Antiviral Treatment of Hepatitis B Virus after Kidney Transplant and the Latest Insights
Authors: Fabrizi Fabrizio , Donato Maria Francesca , Tripodi Federica , Regalia Anna , Lampertico Pietro , Castellano Giuseppe
Published: February 2023

Background: The current frequency of hepatitis B virus infection in patients with advanced chronic kidney disease (CKD) (including patients on maintenance dialysis and kidney transplant recipients) is low but not negligible worldwide. HBV has a deleterious effect on survival after a kidney transplant; antiviral treatments improved the short-term outcomes of kidney transplant recipients, but their long-term impact remains uncertain. Aim: The aim of this review is to assess the role of antiviral therapy for HBV in improving survival after a kidney transplant. The recent publication of large surveys has prompted us to update the available evidence on the impact of HBV on patient and graft survival after a kidney transplant. Methods: We have conducted an extensive review of the medical literature, and various research engines have been used. Results: We retrieved several studies (n = 11; n = 121,436 unique patients) and found an association between positive serologic HBsAg status and diminished patient and graft survival after a kidney transplant; the adjusted relative risk (aRR) of all-cause mortality and graft loss was 2.85 (95% CI, 2.36; 3.33, p < 0.0001) and 1.26 (95% CI, 1.02; 1.51, p < 0.0001), respectively. To our knowledge, at least six studies reported improved patient and graft survival after the adoption of antiviral therapies for HBV (this result was reported with both survival curves and multivariable regression). According to novel clinical guidelines, entecavir has been suggested as a ‘first line’ antiviral agent for the treatment of HBV after a kidney transplant. Conclusions: The recent availability of safe and effective antiviral drugs for the treatment of HBV has meant that the survival curves of HBsAg-positive patients on antiviral therapy and HBsAg-negative patients after a kidney transplant can be comparable. Antiviral therapy should be systematically proposed to HBV-positive kidney transplant recipients and candidates to avoid the deleterious hepatic and extra-hepatic effects of chronic HBV replication.
Thermal Deformation Measurement of Aerospace Honeycomb Panel Based on Fusion of 3D-Digital Image Correlation and Finite Element Method
Authors: Yang Linghui , Fan Zezhi , Wang Ke , Sun Hui , Hu Shuotao , Zhu Jigui
Published: February 2023

Aiming to solve the problem of the high-precision deformation measurement of large-scale satellite structures in manufacturing and testing environments, this paper proposes a measurement method based on the idea of fusing actual measurements with finite element analysis. The digital image correlation (DIC) method is used to obtain the high-precision deformation of the honeycomb panel, and the finite element method (FEM) model is introduced to remove the limitations of existing pure measurement methods. Data fusion based on a machine learning neural network is proposed to fuse high-precision deformation and physical information such as temperature to conduct multi-level training on FEM parameters. Through an interpolation of the analysis and calculation results after training, not only can the accuracy of the finite element be improved, but difference and extrapolation of the digital image correlation measurement results can be performed. In the experiments, the satellite on-orbit temperature data are substituted into the modified finite element model. The testing results shows that the prediction accuracy of the model under different temperature loads can be controlled within 10 μm under an 840 mm × 640 mm scale. A high predictive accuracy can be achieved for the revised model for the complete deformation of large structural sections.
Approach towards a Quality Assurance System for Wire and Arc Additive Manufacturing
Authors: Baier Daniel , Weckenmann Tobias , Baehr Siegfried , Zaeh Michael F.
Published: February 2023

Wire and Arc Additive Manufacturing (WAAM) of Ti-6Al-4V is becoming increasingly important in the aerospace industry for the production of large parts. Due to the high welding requirements of the material, high quality demands are placed on the process. To meet these high demands, quality assurance measures are applied to maintain mechanical and geometrical part properties. First, the interlayer temperatures that are applied influence the final geometry. The part must meet geometric accuracies in order to be machined after the WAAM process. Second, Ti-6Al-4V materials have a high affinity to absorb oxygen from the environment at elevated temperatures. This oxygen uptake results in a discoloration of the surface and an embrittlement of the material. Therefore, a defined and monitored oxygen content in the build chamber is crucial. This work presents an approach to determine limitations for the interlayer temperature of the part and the oxygen content in the build chamber. The influence of a temperature deviating from the set interlayer temperature on the layer width was analyzed. By varying the interlayer temperature, the layer width varied by up to 3 mm. It was shown that different restrictions for the oxygen content in the build chamber apply depending on the part size.
Rock Surface Strain In Situ Monitoring Affected by Temperature Changes at the Požáry Field Lab (Czechia)
Authors: Racek Ondřej , Balek Jan , Loche Marco , Vích Daniel , Blahůt Jan
Published: February 2023

The evaluation of strain in rock masses is crucial information for slope stability studies. For this purpose, a monitoring system for analyzing surface strain using resistivity strain gauges has been tested. Strain is a function of stress, and it is known that stress affects the mechanical properties of geomaterials and can lead to the destabilization of rock slopes. However, stress is difficult to measure in situ. In industrial practice, resistivity strain gauges are used for strain measurement, allowing even small strain changes to be recorded. This setting of dataloggers is usually expensive and there is no accounting for the influence of exogenous factors. Here, the aim of applying resistivity strain gauges in different configurations to measure surface strain in natural conditions, and to determine how the results are affected by factors such as temperature and incoming solar radiation, has been pursued. Subsequently, these factors were mathematically estimated, and a data processing system was created to process the results of each configuration. Finally, the new strategy was evaluated to measure in situ strain by estimating the effect of temperature. The approach highlighted high theoretical accuracy, hence the ability to detect strain variations in field conditions. Therefore, by adjusting for the influence of temperature, it is potentially possible to measure the deformation trend more accurately, while maintaining a lower cost for the sensors.
Using Raw Accelerometer Data to Predict High-Impact Mechanical Loading
Authors: Veras Lucas , Diniz-Sousa Florêncio , Boppre Giorjines , Devezas Vítor , Santos-Sousa Hugo , Preto John , Vilas-Boas João Paulo , Machado Leandro , Oliveira José , Fonseca Hélder
Published: February 2023

The purpose of this study was to develop peak ground reaction force (pGRF) and peak loading rate (pLR) prediction equations for high-impact activities in adult subjects with a broad range of body masses, from normal weight to severe obesity. A total of 78 participants (27 males; 82.4 ± 20.6 kg) completed a series of trials involving jumps of different types and heights on force plates while wearing accelerometers at the ankle, lower back, and hip. Regression equations were developed to predict pGRF and pLR from accelerometry data. Leave-one-out cross-validation was used to calculate prediction accuracy and Bland–Altman plots. Body mass was a predictor in all models, along with peak acceleration in the pGRF models and peak acceleration rate in the pLR models. The equations to predict pGRF had a coefficient of determination (R2) of at least 0.83, and a mean absolute percentage error (MAPE) below 14.5%, while the R2 for the pLR prediction equations was at least 0.87 and the highest MAPE was 24.7%. Jumping pGRF can be accurately predicted through accelerometry data, enabling the continuous assessment of mechanical loading in clinical settings. The pLR prediction equations yielded a lower accuracy when compared to the pGRF equations.
Precision Agriculture Using Soil Sensor Driven Machine Learning for Smart Strawberry Production
Authors: Elashmawy Rania , Uysal Ismail
Published: February 2023

Ubiquitous sensor networks collecting real-time data have been adopted in many industrial settings. This paper describes the second stage of an end-to-end system integrating modern hardware and software tools for precise monitoring and control of soil conditions. In the proposed framework, the data are collected by the sensor network distributed in the soil of a commercial strawberry farm to infer the ultimate physicochemical characteristics of the fruit at the point of harvest around the sensor locations. Empirical and statistical models are jointly investigated in the form of neural networks and Gaussian process regression models to predict the most significant physicochemical qualities of strawberry. Color, for instance, either by itself or when combined with the soluble solids content (sweetness), can be predicted within as little as 9% and 14% of their expected range of values, respectively. This level of accuracy will ultimately enable the implementation of the next phase in controlling the soil conditions where data-driven quality and resource-use trade-offs can be realized for sustainable and high-quality strawberry production.
Imbalanced Text Sentiment Classification Based on Multi-Channel BLTCN-BLSTM Self-Attention
Authors: Cai Tiantian , Zhang Xinsheng
Published: February 2023

With the continuous expansion of the field of natural language processing, researchers have found that there is a phenomenon of imbalanced data distribution in some practical problems, and the excellent performance of most methods is based on the assumption that the samples in the dataset are data balanced. Therefore, the imbalanced data classification problem has gradually become a problem that needs to be studied. Aiming at the sentiment information mining of an imbalanced short text review dataset, this paper proposed a fusion multi-channel BLTCN-BLSTM self-attention sentiment classification method. By building a multi-channel BLTCN-BLSTM self-attention network model, the sample after word embedding processing is used as the input of the multi-channel, and after fully extracting features, the self-attention mechanism is fused to strengthen the sentiment to further fully extract text features. At the same time, focus loss rebalancing and classifier enhancement are combined to realize text sentiment predictions. The experimental results show that the optimal F1 value is up to 0.893 on the Chnsenticorp-HPL-10,000 corpus. The comparison and ablation of experimental results, including accuracy, recall, and F1-measure, show that the proposed model can fully integrate the weight of emotional feature words. It effectively improves the sentiment classification performance of imbalanced short-text review data.
Suppression of Clothing-Induced Acoustic Attenuation in Robotic Auscultation
Authors: Tsumura Ryosuke , Umezawa Akihiro , Morishima Yuko , Iwata Hiroyasu , Yoshinaka Kiyoshi
Published: February 2023

For patients who are often embarrassed and uncomfortable when exposing their breasts and having them touched by physicians of different genders during auscultation, we are developing a robotic system that performs auscultation over clothing. As the technical issue, the sound obtained through the clothing is often attenuated. This study aims to investigate clothing-induced acoustic attenuation and develop a suppression method for it. Because the attenuation is due to the loss of energy as sound propagates through a medium with viscosity, we hypothesized that the attenuation is improved by compressing clothing and shortening the sound propagation distance. Then, the amplitude spectrum of the heart sound was obtained over clothes of different thicknesses and materials in a phantom study and human trial at varying contact forces with a developed passive-actuated end-effector. Our results demonstrate the feasibility of the attenuation suppression method by applying an optimum contact force, which varied according to the clothing condition. In the phantom experiments, the attenuation rate was improved maximumly by 48% when applying the optimal contact force (1 N). In human trials, the attenuation rate was under the acceptable attenuation (40%) when applying the optimal contact force in all combinations in each subject. The proposed method promises the potential of robotic auscultation toward eliminating gender bias.
Advancing C-V2X for Level 5 Autonomous Driving from the Perspective of 3GPP Standards
Authors: Khan Muhammad Jalal , Khan Manzoor Ahmed , Malik Sumbal , Kulkarni Parag , Alkaabi Najla , Ullah Obaid , El-Sayed Hesham , Ahmed Amir , Turaev Sherzod
Published: February 2023

Cellular vehicle-to-everything (C-V2X) is one of the enabling vehicular communication technologies gaining momentum from the standardization bodies, industry, and researchers aiming to realize fully autonomous driving and intelligent transportation systems. The 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) standardization body has actively been developing the standards evolving from 4G-V2X to 5G-V2X providing ultra-reliable low-latency communications and higher throughput to deliver the solutions for advanced C-V2X services. In this survey, we analyze the 3GPP standard documents relevant to V2X communication to present the complete vision of 3GPP-enabled C-V2X. To better equip the readers with knowledge of the topic, we describe the underlying concepts and an overview of the evolution of 3GPP C-V2X standardization. Furthermore, we provide the details of the enabling concepts for V2X support by 3GPP. In this connection, we carry out an exhaustive study of the 3GPP standard documents and provide a logical taxonomy of C-V2X related 3GPP standard documents divided into three categories: 4G, 4G & 5G, and 5G based V2X services. We provide a detailed analysis of these categories discussing the system architecture, network support, key issues, and potential solution approaches supported by the 3GPP. We also highlight the gap and the need for intelligence in the execution of different operations to enable the use-case scenarios of Level-5 autonomous driving. We believe, the paper will equip readers to comprehend the technological standards for the delivery of different ITS services of the higher level of autonomous driving.
Outlining Potential Biomarkers of Exposure and Effect to Critical Minerals: Nutritionally Essential Trace Elements and the Rare Earth Elements
Authors: Jenkins Jill A. , Musgrove MaryLynn , White Sarah Jane O.
Published: February 2023

Emerging and low-carbon technologies and innovations are driving a need for domestic sources, sustainable use, and availability of critical minerals (CMs)—those vital to the national and economic security of the United States. Understanding the known and potential health effects of exposures to such mineral commodities can inform prudent and environmentally responsible handling and harvesting. We review the occurrence, use, predominant exposure pathways, and adverse outcome pathways (AOP) for human and fish receptors of those CMs that are nutritionally essential trace metals (specifically, cobalt, chromium, manganese, nickel, and zinc), as well as the rare earth elements. Biological responses to some elements having comparable biogeochemistry can sometimes be similar. Candidate quantifiable biomarkers for assessing potential AOP are conveyed.
An Empirical Orthogonal Function Study of the Ionospheric TEC Predicted Using the TIEGCM Model over the South Atlantic Anomaly in 2002 and 2008
Authors: Yu Jing , Li Zheng , Wang Yan , Shao Jingjing , Wang Luyao , Li Jingyuan , Zhang Hua , Xu Xiaojun , Gu Chunli
Published: February 2023

In this study, the variability of the ionospheric total electron content (TEC) in the South Atlantic Anomaly (SAA) in the solar maximum of 2002 and the solar minimum of 2008 were compared by using an empirical orthogonal function (EOF) analysis. The ionospheric TEC data were simulated using the National Center for Atmospheric Research Thermosphere-Ionosphere-Electrodynamics General Circulation Model (TIEGCM). The first three EOFs accounted for 94.8% and 93.86% of the variability in the data in 2002 and 2008, respectively. The results showed that the TEC variations of the first three EOFs were generally consistent in 2002 and 2008. The first mode showed the equatorial anomaly caused by plasma drift and the east–west asymmetry possibly caused by the change in geomagnetic declination and zonal wind; EOF2 exhibited the zonal variation influenced by the solar EUV radiation and the semiannual variation possibly controlled by the [O/N2], solar zenith angle, and atmospheric circulation. EOF3 suggested an equatorial anomaly and winter anomaly influenced by the [O/N2] variation. However, the values and amplitude variations in the TEC were significantly greater in the solar maximum than that in the solar minimum, and the spring–autumn asymmetry of the TEC was more obvious in the solar minimum. In addition, we used the EOF method to extract the annual variation characteristics of the time coefficients and carried out a correlation analysis. The results showed that the annual variation in the TEC in 2002 was mainly affected by the solar EUV radiation, which was strongly correlated with F10.7 (r = 0.7348). In contrast, the TEC was mainly influenced by the geomagnetic activity in 2008 and had a strong correlation with Dst (r = −0.7898).
Percepción social del servicio de agua potable en México. Un análisis al diseño institucional de un organismo operador municipal
Authors: Martínez-Mendoza Abigail , Mendoza-Nuñez Alondra
Published: February 2023

Se revisa el caso del Organismo Público Descentralizado para la Prestación de los Servicios de Agua Potable en un municipio mexicano que se caracteriza por su complejidad hídrica, al contar con los dos sistemas más importantes de extracción de agua en el país, por que en su territorio operan dos organismos operadores de agua, y porque se encuentra sobre la segunda cuenca más importante, la cuenca del Alto Lerma. El enfoque teórico es el diseño institucional planteado desde del nuevo institucionalismo económico. El estudio se realiza desde el enfoque cualitativo para analizar la percepción de los usuarios del servicio de agua potable, a través de un cuestionario que retoma los principios del diseño institucional de revisión, solidez, sensibilidad y viabilidad y los articula con los aspectos que marca la normativa de universalidad, disponibilidad, calidad y accesibilidad. Los resultados muestran una percepción negativa en todos los principios evaluados, cabe resaltar que se obtuvo mayor participación de la región con más rezago social y en donde el acceso al servicio no se cumple con apego al derecho humano al agua. Se propone cambiar la figura del usuario del agua por el de corresponsable del agua, esto se inscribe en la visión de los bienes naturales y se aleja de la perspectiva económica de los recursos naturales.
SERBP1 Promotes Stress Granule Clearance by Regulating 26S Proteasome Activity and G3BP1 Ubiquitination and Protects Male Germ Cells from Thermostimuli Damage
Authors: Wang Fengli , Wang Lingjuan , Gan Shiming , Feng Shenglei , Ouyang Sijin , Wang Xiaoli , Yuan Shuiqiao
Published: February 2023

Stress granules (SGs) are membraneless cytoplasmic condensates that dynamically assemble in response to various stressors and reversibly disassemble after stimulus removal; however, the mechanisms underlying SG dynamics and their physiological roles in germ cell development are elusive. Here, we show that SERBP1 (SERPINE1 mRNA binding protein 1) is a universal SG component and conserved regulator of SG clearance in somatic and male germ cells. SERBP1 interacts with the SG core component G3BP1 and 26S proteasome proteins PSMD10 and PSMA3 and recruits them to SGs. In the absence of SERBP1, reduced 20S proteasome activity, mislocalized valosin containing protein (VCP) and Fas associated factor family member 2 (FAF2), and diminished K63-linked polyubiquitination of G3BP1 during the SG recovery period were observed. Interestingly, the depletion of SERBP1 in testicular cells in vivo causes increased germ cell apoptosis upon scrotal heat stress. Accordingly, we propose that a SERBP1-mediated mechanism regulates 26S proteasome activity and G3BP1 ubiquitination to facilitate SG clearance in both somatic and germ cell lines.
ОЦІНКА СУЧАСНОГО СТАНУ ПРОБЛЕМИ ВНУТРІШНЬО-КОРЕНЕВОЇ РЕЗОРБЦІЇ ЗУБА ЗА ДАНИМИ АНКЕТНОГО ОПИТУВАННЯ ЛІКАРІВ-СТОМАТОЛОГІВ
Authors: Гевкалюк Н.О. , Добровольський Д.В.
Published: February 2023

Мета дослідження. Оцінка інформованості лікарів-стоматологів із питань внутрішньо-кореневої резорбції зуба, їх відношення до проблеми та шляхи її вирішення. Методи дослідження. Проведено анкетування 155 лікарів-стоматологів на онлайн-платформі ендодонтичної спільноти лікарів-стоматологів України 2022 року у групі «Ендодонтична спільнота лікарів України Lviv Endo Hub». Була використана спеціально розроблена анкета, в якій були представлені напівзакриті питання. Оцінка анкетування передбачала аналіз можливих причин виникнення внутрішньо- кореневої резорбції зуба та застосовуваних в клінічній практиці лікарями-стоматологами методів діагностики та лікування зубів із внутрішньо-кореневою резорбцією. Наукова новизна. До даного часу епідеміологічних даних про поширеність внутрішньо-кореневої резорбції немає. Не встановлено причини її виникнення; перебіг внутрішньої резорбції кореня зуба. На думку різних авторів, резорбція кореня зуба може бути спричинена місцевими факторами – ятрогенною травмою пульпи зуба, надмірним навантаженням при проведенні ортодонтичного лікування, а також пов’язана із загальними факторами – системними захворюваннями, функціональними порушеннями, персистуючою вірусною інфекцією, ін. На сучасному етапі недостатня увага до проблеми внутрішньо- кореневої резорбції зуба призводить до діагностичних помилок і ускладнень, а результати лікування виявляються малоефективними. Висновки. Аналізуючи результати анкетування, встановлено, що лікарі- стоматологи часто недостатньо проінформовані та недооцінюють проблему внутрішньо-кореневої резорбції зуба. Практикуючі лікарі-стоматологи не мають достатнього ступеня інформованості про методи та засоби лікування і профілактики внутрішньо-кореневої резорбції зуба, про дотримання алгоритму лікування на всіх його етапах, що, в кінцевому результаті могли б підвищити якість лікування.