bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Integrated Metabolome and Transcriptome Analysis Reveals a Potential Mechanism for Water Accumulation Mediated Translucency in Pineapple (Ananas comosus (L.) Merr.) Fruit
Authors: Chen Jing , Yao Yanli , Zeng Hui , Zhang Xiumei
Published: April 2023

A physiological disease of the pineapple fruit called pineapple translucency causes the pulp to become water-soaked, which affects the fruit’s taste, flavor, shelf life, and integrity. In the present study, we analyzed seven pineapple varieties, of which three were watery and four were non-watery. There were no apparent macronutritional (K, P, or N) differences in their pulp, but the non-watery pineapple varieties had higher dry matter and soluble sugar content. The metabolomic analysis found 641 metabolites and revealed differential expression of alkaloids, phenolic acids, nucleotide derivatives, lipids, and other metabolites among the seven species. Transcriptome analysis and further KEGG enrichment showed downregulation of ‘flavonoid biosynthesis’ pathways, differential expression of metabolic pathways, secondary metabolites biosynthesis, plant–pathogen interaction, and plant hormone signal transduction. We believe this study will provide critical molecular data supporting a deeper understanding of pineapple translucency formation and greatly benefit future research on this commercially important crop.
An Update on Clinical Trials and Potential Therapeutic Strategies in T-Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia
Authors: Patel Janisha , Gao Xueliang , Wang Haizhen
Published: April 2023

Current therapies for T-cell acute leukemia are based on risk stratification and have greatly improved the survival rate for patients, but mortality rates remain high owing to relapsed disease, therapy resistance, or treatment-related toxicities/infection. Patients with relapsed disease continue to have poor outcomes. In the past few years, newer agents have been investigated to optimize upfront therapies for higher-risk patients in the hopes of decreasing relapse rates. This review summarizes the progress of chemo/targeted therapies using Nelarabine/Bortezomib/CDK4/6 inhibitors for T-ALL in clinical trials and novel strategies to target NOTCH-induced T-ALL. We also outline immunotherapy clinical trials using monoclonal/bispecific T-cell engaging antibodies, anti-PD1/anti-PDL1 checkpoint inhibitors, and CAR-T for T-ALL therapy. Overall, pre-clinical studies and clinical trials showed that applying monoclonal antibodies or CAR-T for relapsed/refractory T-ALL therapy is promising. The combination of target therapy and immunotherapy may be a novel strategy for T-ALL treatment.
Infants with Congenital Diseases Identified through Newborn Screening—United States, 2018–2020
Authors: Gaviglio Amy , McKasson Sarah , Singh Sikha , Ojodu Jelili
Published: April 2023

Newborn screening (NBS) is a state or territory-based public health system that screens newborns for congenital diseases that typically do not present with clinical symptoms at birth but can cause significant mortality and morbidity if not detected or treated quickly. NBS continues to be one of the most successful public health interventions in the US, providing early detection and intervention to all infants. The increase in overall birth prevalence of core Recommended Uniform Screening Panel (RUSP) diseases detected via dried blood spot (DBS) specimens from 2015–2017 (17.50–18.31 per 10,000) to 2018–2020 (20.07 per 10,000), as reported into the APHL NewSTEPs database, affirms the importance and impact of NBS programs. This report presents aggregate numbers and birth prevalence of diseases detected by DBS on the RUSP from 2018–2020, including data from fifty US states and two territories.
Deep Learning Algorithms for Estimation of Demographic and Anthropometric Features from Electrocardiograms
Authors: Ryu Ji Seung , Lee Solam , Chu Yuseong , Koh Sang Baek , Park Young Jun , Lee Ju Yeong , Yang Sejung
Published: April 2023

The electrocardiogram (ECG) has been known to be affected by demographic and anthropometric factors. This study aimed to develop deep learning models to predict the subject’s age, sex, ABO blood type, and body mass index (BMI) based on ECGs. This retrospective study included individuals aged 18 years or older who visited a tertiary referral center with ECGs acquired from October 2010 to February 2020. Using convolutional neural networks (CNNs) with three convolutional layers, five kernel sizes, and two pooling sizes, we developed both classification and regression models. We verified a classification model to be applicable for age (<40 years vs. ≥40 years), sex (male vs. female), BMI (<25 kg/m2 vs. ≥25 kg/m2), and ABO blood type. A regression model was also developed and validated for age and BMI estimation. A total of 124,415 ECGs (1 ECG per subject) were included. The dataset was constructed by dividing the entire set of ECGs at a ratio of 4:3:3. In the classification task, the area under the receiver operating characteristic (AUROC), which represents a quantitative indicator of the judgment threshold, was used as the primary outcome. The mean absolute error (MAE), which represents the difference between the observed and estimated values, was used in the regression task. For age estimation, the CNN achieved an AUROC of 0.923 with an accuracy of 82.97%, and a MAE of 8.410. For sex estimation, the AUROC was 0.947 with an accuracy of 86.82%. For BMI estimation, the AUROC was 0.765 with an accuracy of 69.89%, and a MAE of 2.332. For ABO blood type estimation, the CNN showed an inferior performance, with a top-1 accuracy of 31.98%. For the ABO blood type estimation, the CNN showed an inferior performance, with a top-1 accuracy of 31.98% (95% CI, 31.98–31.98%). Our model could be adapted to estimate individuals’ demographic and anthropometric features from their ECGs; this would enable the development of physiologic biomarkers that can better reflect their health status than chronological age.
Incomplete Lead Removal During the Extraction Procedure: Predisposing Factors and Impact on Long-Term Survival in Infectious and Non-Infectious Cases: Analysis of 3741 Procedures
Authors: Kutarski Andrzej , Jacheć Wojciech , Polewczyk Anna , Nowosielecka Dorota
Published: April 2023

Background: The long-term significance of lead remnants (LR) following transvenous lead extraction (TLE) remains disputable, especially in infectious patients. Methods: Retrospective analysis of 3741 TLEs focused on the relationship between LR and procedure complexity, complications and long-term survival. Results: The study group consisted of 156 individuals with LR (4.17%), and the control group consisted of 3585 patients with completely removed lead(s). In a multivariable model, a younger patient age at CIED implantation, more CIED procedures and procedure complexity were independent risk factors for retention of non-removable LR. Although patients with LR showed better survival outcomes following TLE (log rank p = 0.041 for non-infectious group and p = 0.017 for infectious group), multivariable Cox regression analysis did not confirm the prognostic significance of LR either in non-infectious [HR = 0.777; p = 0.262], infectious [HR = 0.983; p = 0.934] or the entire group of patients [HR = 0.858; p = 0.321]. Conclusions: 1. Non-removable LRs are encountered in 4.17% of patients. 2. CIED infection has no influence on retention of LRs, but younger patient age, multiple CIED-related procedures and higher levels of procedure complexity are independent risk factors for the presence of LR. 3. Better survival outcomes following TLE in patients with LRs are not the effects of their presence but younger patient and better health status.
Usefulness of 18F-Fluorodeoxyglucose Positron Emission Tomography in Diagnosing Polymyalgia Rheumatica and Large-Vessel Vasculitis: A Case-Control Study
Authors: Desvages Anne , Hives Florent , Deprez Xavier , Pierache Adeline , Béhal Hélène , Flipo René-Marc , Paccou Julien
Published: April 2023

Introduction: We aimed to evaluate the utility of FDG-PET/CT in diagnosing polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) and associated large-vessel vasculitis (LVV). Methods: We analyzed FDG-PET/CT completed between 2015 and 2019 on patients diagnosed with PMR. For comparisons, patients with PMR were matched 1:1 to controls based on age and gender. FDG-PET/CT had been completed on the controls over the same period. The FDG uptake was scored visually for 17 articular or periarticular sites and 13 vascular sites using a semi-quantitative scoring system (score of 0–3). Results: Eighty-one patients with PMR and eighty-one controls were included (mean age 70.7 (9.8) years; 44.4% women). Significant differences between the PMR and control groups were found at all articular and periarticular sites for the following: (i) the FDG uptake score (p < 0.001 for all locations); (ii) the number of patients per site with significant FDG uptake (score ≥ 2); (iii) the global FDG articular uptake scores (31 [IQR, 21 to 37] versus 6 [IQR, 3 to 10], p < 0.001); and (iv) the number of sites with significant FDG uptake (score ≥ 2) (scores of 0–17) (11 [IQR, 7 to 13] versus 1 [IQR, 0 to 2], p < 0.001). No significant differences in the global FDG vascular uptake scores were found between the patients who were considered isolated PMR and the control groups. Conclusions: The FDG uptake score and the number of sites with significant FDG uptake could be pertinent criteria for the diagnosis of PMR. Unlike others, we did not confirm the presence of vascular involvement in patients with isolated PMR.
Cardiac and Pulmonary Rehabilitation: Two Underutilized Approaches with Some Unexpected Benefits
Authors: Ambrosino Pasquale , Marcuccio Giuseppina , Formisano Roberto , Marcuccio Laura , Filosa Rosanna , Maniscalco Mauro
Published: April 2023

Although still underutilized [...]
Adverse Events for Monoclonal Antibodies in Patients with Allergic Rhinitis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Clinical Trials
Authors: Lin Yuxi , Wang Weiqing , Zhu Zhenzhen , Aodeng Surita , Wang Lei , Liu Yuzhuo , Li Jingjing , Zha Yang , Wang Xiaowei , Lv Wei
Published: April 2023

(1) Background: Allergic rhinitis (AR) is a common disease in otolaryngology and novel biological therapies are required for clinical needs. To assess the tolerability of monoclonal antibodies, justifying their clinical applications, we presented a comprehensive safety profile of biologics in AR; (2) Methods: A systematic literature search was conducted following PRISMA guidelines for randomized clinical trials comparing monoclonal antibodies and placebo in AR. PubMed, Web of Science, Medline, and Cochrane were searched up until 9 January 2023. Among 3590 records in total, 12 studies with more than 2600 patients were included. Quality was assessed for all studies using Cochrane risk-of-bias tool for randomized trials, and subgrouped meta-analysis was performed; (3) Results: We accomplished an up-to-date literature overview and analysis on adverse events of monoclonal antibodies in AR. Total, common, severe, discontinuation-causing, and serious adverse events failed to reach statistical significance. Country was an essential factor for heterogeneity, and urticaria was the adverse event at highest risk (RR 2.81, 95% CI 0.79–9.95); (4) Conclusions: Monoclonal antibodies are considered well tolerated and relatively safe in patients with AR. The regions of patients and hypersensitive adverse reactions such as urticaria require a special caution in biological treatments in AR.
Raven’s Standard Progressive Matrices for Adolescents: A Case for a Shortened Version
Authors: Kramer Anne-Wil , Huizenga Hilde M.
Published: April 2023

Cognitive ability of adolescents is often measured using the Raven’s Standard Progressive Matrices (RSPM). However, the RSPM knows a long administration time which may be suboptimal, as time-on-task effects are known to increase fatigue, to lower motivation, and to worsen performance on cognitive tasks. Therefore, a shortened version for adolescents was developed recently. In the current preregistered study we investigated this shortened version in a sample of adolescents (N = 99) of average educational backgrounds. We tested whether the shortened RSPM is a valid alternative to the original RSPM, which proved to be the case, as we observed a moderate to high correlation between the two versions. Moreover, we tested version effects on fatigue, motivation and performance. Fatigue was lower and motivation was higher after completing the short compared to the original version, and performance was better in the short compared to the original version. However, additional analyses suggested that beneficial version effects on performance were not due to reduced time-on-task, but due to the short version containing less difficult items than the original version. Moreover, version related differences in performance were not related to version related differences in fatigue and motivation. We conclude that the shortened version of the RSPM is a valid alternative to the original version, and that the shortened version is beneficial in terms of fatigue and motivation, but that these beneficial effects on fatigue and motivation do not carry over to performance.
Multiphase Flow Simulation of ITTC Standard Cavitator for Underwater Radiated Noise Prediction
Authors: Hynninen Antti , Viitanen Ville , Tanttari Jukka , Klose Rhena , Testa Claudio , Martio Jussi
Published: April 2023

This work focuses on the main issues related to noise measurements in cavitation tunnels. The scope of the paper is to twofold: to obtain a better understanding on the main phenomena underlying experiments and to define consistent cavitation tunnel measurement corrections for background noise, wall reflections, and distance normalisation. To this aim, the acoustic field generated by the ITTC standard cavitator model inside a cavitation tunnel is predicted by Lighthill’s acoustic analogy and solved through a finite element method that inherently accounts for the presence of the walls. Sources of sound detection relies on two multiphase CFD solvers, namely, the homogeneous mixture model—Volume of Fluid method and the Euler–Euler formulations. Starting from the computation of the sound pressure level in the free field with the assumption of spherical spreading without absorption, corrections from losses and spreading are detected by the above approach. Background-corrected sound pressure levels are identified and then compared with the source levels measured in the cavitation tunnel of the Potsdam Model Basin (SVA). It is found that free-field computations corrected by tunnel-induced effects match well with experiments up to 100 Hz (in the one-third octave band), whereas relevant discrepancies arise out of this range that need further investigations.
Nerve Transfers for Brachial Plexus Reconstruction in Patients over 60 Years
Authors: Gohritz Andreas , Laengle Gregor , Boesendorfer Anna , Gesslbauer Bernhard , Gstoettner Clemens , Politikou Olga , Sturma Agnes , Aszmann Oskar C.
Published: April 2023

Negative expectations regarding nerve reconstruction in the elderly prevail in the literature, but little is known about the effectiveness of nerve transfers in patients with brachial plexus injuries aged over 60 years. We present a series of five patients (1 female, 4 male) aged between 60 and 81 years (median 62.0 years) who underwent nerve reconstruction using multiple nerve transfers in brachial plexopathies. The etiology of brachial plexus injury was trauma (n = 2), or iatrogenic, secondary to spinal surgical laminectomy, tumor excision and radiation for breast cancer (n = 3). All but one patient underwent a one-stage reconstruction including neurolysis and extra-anatomical nerve transfer alone (n = 2) or combined with anatomical reconstruction by sural nerve grafts (n = 2). One patient underwent a two-stage reconstruction, which involved a first stage anatomical brachial plexus reconstruction followed by a second stage nerve transfer. Neurotizations were performed as double (n = 3), triple (n = 1) or quadruple (n = 1) nerve or fascicular transfers. Overall, at least one year postoperatively, successful results, characterized by a muscle strength of M3 or more, were restored in all cases, two patients even achieving M4 grading in the elbow flexion. This patient series challenges the widely held dogma that brachial plexus reconstruction in older patients will produce poor outcomes. Distal nerve transfers are advantageous as they shorten the reinnervation distance. Healthy, more elderly patients should be judiciously offered the whole spectrum of reconstructive methods and postoperative rehabilitation concepts to regain useful arm and hand function and thus preserve independence after a traumatic or nontraumatic brachial plexus injury.
Towards a Truly Decentralized Blockchain Framework for Remittance
Authors: Coutinho Kevin , Khairwal NeerajKumari , Wongthongtham Pornpit
Published: April 2023

Blockchain is a revolutionary technology that is constructively transforming many traditional industries, including financial services. Blockchain demonstrates immense potential in bringing substantial benefits to the remittance industry. Although the remittance industry has crossed the mark of USD 600 billion in 2021, remittance cost is still substantially high, around 6% on average, indirectly limiting financial inclusion and promoting de-risking. The involvement of multiple intermediaries in global remittances makes cross-border payments more expensive. Many projects, including Ripple and Stellar, employ blockchain technology to provide alternative infrastructure for cross-border payments. However, the decentralization of blockchain networks in both solutions is debatable. This paper examines the market characteristics impacting remittance cost, a prominent factor driving the evolution of the remittance industry. A truly decentralized blockchain framework viz. LayerOneX, which provides remittance services at a reduced cost, is proposed in this paper. Devices with low computation and memory capacity can act as transaction validators in this solution. A universal wallet across homogeneous and heterogeneous blockchains is proposed to facilitate fast and inexpensive remittance services. Thus, a novel framework for true decentralization of blockchain-based remittance services, resulting in reduced cost and, therefore, better financial inclusion, is proposed in this paper.
Public Spaces, Equality, Diversity and Inclusion: Connecting Disabled Entrepreneurs to Urban Spaces
Authors: Lawton Smith Helen
Published: April 2023

In the UK and in many other countries, the lack of support for disabled entrepreneurs is an economic, cultural, and societal issue. This is because while disabled entrepreneurs belong to and contribute to public spaces, there are often barriers to their full engagement in the local economy. Where interaction is well established, such entrepreneurs add to the cultural richness of places, to personal and societal well-being and economically by wealth creation. The goal of the study is to identify what can be done to overcome the marginalisation of disabled entrepreneurs, which leads to increased local equality of opportunity, thereby adding to the diversity of local economies and, thus, to a more inclusive society. However, as the evidence from this study of the geography of specialised networks which support disabled entrepreneurs in the UK shows, the entrepreneurial capacity of public spaces (inclusive entrepreneurial ecosystems) for disabled entrepreneurs is better in some places and entirely absent in others. It is this local dimension that has been missing in other studies of disabled entrepreneurs. By focusing on the formal networks that have been established to support disabled entrepreneurs rather than the entrepreneurs themselves, the particular knowledge gap that this paper addresses is the importance of the networks in making those connections and bringing about systemic change in urban spaces. They do this in three ways. They provide access to resources that disabled entrepreneurs need to start and grow a business; in turn, they need to engage with other local public and private sector organisations in order to sustain their own activities, and by their role as advocates on behalf of their members through their leadership, they increase the visibility of disabled entrepreneurs within urban spaces. The contribution to academic literature is to explore the interconnection between the agency of particular organisations to improve inclusive entrepreneurial ecosystems and overcome embedded exclusion within urban spaces. Examples from the UK and from the USA provide empirical insights into what can be done.
The Impact of High-Speed Rail on Economic Development: A County-Level Analysis
Authors: Chi Fangting , Han Haoying
Published: April 2023

High-speed rail has an important impact on the location choices of enterprises and the labor force, which is reflected in a complex space–time process. Previous studies have been unable to show the change characteristics between enterprises and the labor force at the county level. Therefore, based on the new economic geography theory, we first constructed a theoretical analysis framework to explore high-speed railway’s impact on county economy development and then obtained the two economic subdivision factors’ impacts: industrial enterprises and secondary labor force. Then, based on the panel data of 1791 county units in China from 2003 to 2019, the study constructed a multi-period PSM-DID model to empirically explore high-speed rail’s impact on the county’s agglomeration of industrial enterprises and secondary labor force. The results show that high-speed rail has a long-term negative effect on the county area’s agglomeration of industrial enterprises. From the perspective of the labor force, high-speed rail has a long-term and continuous positive effect on the agglomeration of the secondary labor force in county units.
The Role of Paddy Fields in the Sediment of a Small Agricultural Catchment in the Three Gorges Reservoir Region by the Sediment Fingerprinting Method
Authors: Chen Taili , Shi Zhonglin , Wen Anbang , Li Lina , Wang Wenkai
Published: April 2023

Identifying sediment sources is a prerequisite for developing sediment management strategies. Erosion sediment derived from a small agriculture catchment is an important component of sediment inflow in the Three Gorges Reservoir Area. Paddy fields are one of the major land-use types in this region and can have both positive and negative effects on sediment. In this study, two different source group classification schemes were used to analyze the effect of paddy fields on the sediment in a typical small agriculture catchment in the Three Gorges Reservoir Region. A total of 32 soil source samples were collected from four kinds of land-use types (13 from dry land, 5 from orchards, 8 from paddy fields, and 6 from forest) in the Shipanqiu catchment. Moreover, the properties consisted of 41 elements and 12 element ratios were analyzed. Composite fingerprinting methodology was applied to discriminate and quantify the sediment source contributions. Additionally, element ratio was used as the fingerprint property in the fingerprinting application. The results showed that the element ratio was verified as an effective fingerprint property. Additionally, the relative sediment contributions of the potential land-use sources were 55.25% of dry land, 32.69% of orchards, and 12.06% of forest. Paddy fields played a role of sink rather than of source in this study. Accordingly, both forest and paddy fields are effective sediment management strategies. Particularly, paddy fields are a preferred choice for soil erosion control in mountainous and hilly areas. Furthermore, the proper management of paddy fields can help promote sediment retention and reduce soil erosion, which have positive effects on both the environment and agricultural productivity.
Lubricity Properties of Palm Oil Biodiesel Blends with Petroleum Diesel and Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil
Authors: Fathurrahman Nur Allif , Auzani Ahmad Syihan , Zaelani Rizal , Anggarani Riesta , Aisyah Lies , Maymuchar  , Wibowo Cahyo Setyo
Published: April 2023

While the methyl ester structure in biodiesel is responsible for lubrication improvement in base fuels with poor lubricity properties such as ultra-low sulfur diesel and non-upgraded HVO, relatively little is known about its effect on all-level blends, which would provide higher energy security for biodiesel utilization. In this study, binary blends of palm oil biodiesel (POB) with commercial petroleum diesel fuel (DF) and HVO at every 10%-v/v blend point were analyzed using a high-frequency reciprocating rig (HFRR) according to the standard method of ASTM D6079. It was found that the addition of POB successfully improved the lubricating properties of DF-CN48 and DF-CN51 and efficiently acted as a lubricity improver that showed a minimum friction coefficient and improved the specific wear rate. The adsorption of ester molecules on the metallic surfaces acted as a protective layer during the rubbing process, resulting in lubricity improvement for the diesel fuel. Interestingly, the 60–90%-v/v POB blend with HVO showed a lubricity capacity that competed determinatively and attractively, resulting in a non-ideal contribution to the changes in the friction coefficient, WSD formation, and specific wear rate.
Resistance to Abrasive Wear with Regards to Mechanical Properties Using Low-Alloy Cast Steels Examined with the Use of a Dry Sand/Rubber Wheel Tester
Authors: Białobrzeska Beata , Jasiński Robert
Published: April 2023

This paper focuses on relationship between the mechanical properties and abrasive wear resistance, expressed by the Kb index, using an example of low-alloy cast steels. In order to achieve the aim of this work, eight cast steels of varying chemical composition were designed, cast and then heat treated. The heat treatment involved quenching and tempering at 200, 400 and 600 °C. Structural changes caused by tempering are demonstrated by the different morphologies of the carbide phases in the ferritic matrix. In the first part of this paper, the present state of knowledge about the influence of structure and hardness on the tribological properties of steels is discussed. This research involved the evaluation of a material’s structure, as well as its tribological and mechanical properties. Microstructural observations were performed using a light microscope and a scanning electron microscope. Next, tribological tests were carried-out with the use of a dry sand/rubber wheel tester. To determine the mechanical properties, Brinell hardness measurements and a static tensile test were carried out. The relationship between the determined mechanical properties and abrasive wear resistance was then investigated. The analyses also provided information regarding the heat treatment states of the analyzed material in the as-cast and as-quenched states. It was found that the abrasive wear resistance, expressed by the index Kb, was most strongly correlated with hardness and yield point. In addition, observations of the wear surfaces indicated that the main wear mechanisms were microcutting and microplowing.
Experimental Investigation on Shear Capacity of Steel-Fiber-Reinforced High-Strength Concrete Corbels
Authors: Li Shu-Shan , Zheng Jin-Yan , Zhang Jun-Hong , Li Hong-Mei , Guo Gui-Qiang , Chen Ai-Jiu , Xie Wei
Published: April 2023

As short cantilever members, corbels are mainly used to transfer eccentric loads to columns. Because of the discontinuity of load and geometric structure, corbels cannot be analyzed and designed using the method based on beam theory. Nine steel-fiber-reinforced high-strength concrete (SFRHSC) corbels were tested. The width of the corbels was 200 mm, the cross-section height of the corbel column was 450 mm, and the cantilever end height was 200 mm. The shear span/depth ratios considered were 0.2, 0.3, and 0.4; the longitudinal reinforcement ratios were 0.55%, 0.75%, and 0.98%; the stirrup reinforcement ratios were 0.39%, 0.52%, and 0.785%; and the steel fiber volume ratios were 0, 0.75%, and 1.5%. According to the test results, this paper discusses the failure process and failure mode of corbel specimens with a small shear span/depth ratio and analyzes the effects of variables such as shear span/depth ratio, longitudinal reinforcement ratio, stirrup reinforcement ratio, and steel fiber volume content on the shear capacity of corbels. The shear capacity of corbels is significantly affected by the shear span/depth ratio, followed by the longitudinal reinforcement ratio and the stirrup reinforcement ratio. Moreover, it is shown that steel fibers have little impact on the failure mode and ultimate load of corbels, but can enhance the crack resistance of corbels. In addition, the bearing capacities of these corbels were calculated by Chinese code GB 50010-2010 and further compared with ACI 318-19 code, EN 1992-1-1:2004 code, and CSA A23.3-19 code, which adopt the strut-and-tie model. The results indicate that the calculation results by the empirical formula in the Chinese code are close to the corresponding test results, while the calculation method based on the strut-and-tie model of a clear mechanical concept yields conservative results, and hence the related parameter values must be further modified.
Reconstructing the Quarterly Series of the Chilean Gross Domestic Product Using a State Space Approach
Authors: Caamaño-Carrillo Christian , Contreras-Espinoza Sergio , Nicolis Orietta
Published: April 2023

In this work, we use a cointegration state space approach to estimate the quarterly series of the Chilean Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in the period 1965–2009. First, the equation of Engle–Granger is estimated using the data of the yearly GPD and some related variables, such as the price of copper, the exports of goods and services, and the mining production index. The estimated coefficients of this regression are then used to obtain a first estimation of the quarterly GDP series with measurement errors. A state space model is then applied to improve the preliminary estimation of the GDP with the main purpose of eliminating the maximum error of measurement such that the sum of the three-month values coincide swith the yearly GDP. The results are then compared with the traditional disaggregation methods. The resulting quarterly GDP series reflects the major events of the historical Chilean economy.
Generation and Controllability of High-Dimensional Rogue Waves in an Electromagnetically Induced Transparent Medium
Authors: Li Zhongyin , Lin Ji , Li Huijun
Published: April 2023

We propose a scheme to generate and control high-dimensional rogue waves in a coherent three-level Λ-type atomic system via electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT). Under EIT conditions, the probe field envelopes obey the non-integrable nonlinear Schrödinger equations (NLSE) with or without the external potential, which result from the stark (Zeeman) effect contributed by an electric (magnetic) field. By adjusting the amplitude and width of the initial pulse, we can generate the high-dimensional rogue waves and obtain the phase-transition curves of high-dimensional rogue waves. In the system, the far-detuned electric field, the random weak magnetic field, and the Gauss weak magnetic field are not conducive to the excitation of high-dimensional rogue waves. The results not only provide a theoretical basis for the experimental realization or prevention of the high-dimensional rogue waves, but also prove the possibility of generating and controlling the rogue waves in other high-dimensional non-integrable systems.
Developments of Electro-Osmotic Two-Phase Flows of Fourth-Grade Fluid through Convergent and Divergent Channels
Authors: Fatima Nahid , Nazeer Mubbashar , Lashin Maha M. A. , Ghafar M. M. , Gorji M. R. , Hameed M. K.
Published: April 2023

This paper discusses the development of two different bi-phase flows. Fourth-grade fluid exhibiting the non-Newtonian fluid nature is taken as the base liquid. Two-phase suspension is obtained by using the spherically homogeneous metallic particle. Owing to the intense application of mechanical and chemical multiphase flows through curved and bent configurations effectively transforms the flow dynamics of the fluid. Differential equations for electro-osmotically driven fluid are modeled and solved with the help of the regular perturbation method. The obtained theoretical solution is further compared with the ones obtained by using two different numerical techniques and found to be in full agreement.
Horizontal Axis Wind Turbine Weather Vane Aerodynamic Characteristics: Delayed Detached Eddy Simulation and Experimental Approach
Authors: Solomin Evgeny V. , Ryavkin Gleb N.
Published: April 2023

The known differential yaw error of horizontal axis wind turbines is clearly linked to weather vane fluctuations, arising out of the deflection of the onrushing wind flow from the rotating blades. Since the problem has not been resolved as the control systems still present this problem, it should be considered as an actual difficulty requiring deeper studies of the weather vane’s aerodynamic features, including the modeling of its deviations. This paper focuses on the computational fluid dynamics and experimental study of the aerodynamic characteristics of the weather vane located on the nacelle top of horizontal axis wind turbines. Computational fluid dynamics simulation is based on the k-ω Shear Stress Transport turbulence model and the Delayed Detached Eddy Simulation. The numerical simulation and laboratory experiment arrangements are demonstrated in detail. The new scientific results obtained during the research include the validation of the numerical experiment, demonstration of the differences in forming the wake structures for the used models on the studied angles of attack and comparison of the mean values of the moment and power spectral densities for all cases, which demonstrated a good correlation between the Delayed Detached Eddy Simulation data and the experiment. The time spent on the preparation of numerical experiments using different models was accurately estimated, to give an understanding of man-hour resources. The obtained moment values for the weather vane are applied for further mathematical modeling of the systems intended for the reduction in the differential yaw error. The applicability of the Delayed Detached Eddy Simulation approach was proved by the simulation of the aerodynamic characteristics of complexly streamlined bodies, but at the same time, it showed an extended calculation period. The results obtained during the study expand upon the experience of using numerical simulation when studying horizontal axis wind turbines and may be used to build mathematical models of yaw control systems.
The Effects of Heat Transfer through the Ends of a Cylindrical Cavity on Acoustic Streaming and Gas Temperature
Authors: Gubaidullin Amir A. , Pyatkova Anna V.
Published: April 2023

The longitudinal vibrational motion of a cylindrical cavity with gas, in which the acoustic streaming occurs, is considered. The motion is described by the system of equations for the dynamics and thermal conductivity of a viscous perfect gas, written in a cylindrical coordinate system associated with the cavity. The system of equations is solved numerically by the finite volume method with an implicit staggered grid scheme, while the convective–diffusion fluxes are approximated by the power law scheme. According to the boundary conditions, the lateral surface of the cavity is maintained at a constant equal initial temperature. The effects of heat transfer through the ends of the cavity are studied. Heat transfer is given by isothermal boundary conditions. The obtained solutions are compared with the solutions under adiabatic boundary conditions. It is shown for the first time that the effects of heat transfer manifest themselves with an increase in the nonlinearity of the process; when the frequency and amplitude of vibration increase, this is also facilitated by an increase in the radius of the cavity. The effects of heat transfer on the period average temperature, on the streaming velocity and on structure are established.
An Improved Convergence Condition of the MMS Iteration Method for Horizontal LCP of H+-Matrices
Authors: Li Cuixia , Wu Shiliang
Published: April 2023

In this paper, inspired by the previous work in (Appl. Math. Comput., 369 (2020) 124890), we focus on the convergence condition of the modulus-based matrix splitting (MMS) iteration method for solving the horizontal linear complementarity problem (HLCP) with H+-matrices. An improved convergence condition of the MMS iteration method is given to improve the range of its applications, in a way which is better than that in the above published article.
Novel Low-Alcohol Sangria-Type Wine Products with Immobilized Kefir Cultures and Essential Oils
Authors: Nikolaou Anastasios , Santarmaki Valentini , Mitropoulou Gregoria , Sgouros Georgios , Kourkoutas Yiannis
Published: April 2023

Low-alcohol wines (ranging from <0.5 to 10.5% vol) are novel products that have been steadily gaining scientific and commercial attention. Over the past few years, consumer interest in healthier foods has augmented the development of novel functional products containing probiotic microorganisms, while the urge for a reduction in chemical preservatives has shifted the food and wine industry’s interest to natural alternatives, such as essential oils (EOs). In the present study, low-alcohol (~6% vol) wines with (wet or dried) immobilized kefir cultures on fruit pieces, and essential oils (Citrus medica or Cinnamomum zeylanicum) were produced and evaluated for their properties. The viability of the immobilized kefir cultures on apple and pear pieces was not affected by the addition of EOs, and levels >7 logcfu/g were maintained after 2 h of immersion in wines. HS-SPME GC/MS analysis revealed characteristic compounds originating from the chemical composition of the added EOs in the final products. Principal component analysis (PCA) revealed that the relative content of terpenes, alcohols and carbonyl compounds played a major role in the discrimination of low-alcohol wine products. EO addition affected the products’ sensory evaluation and resulted in significantly higher aroma and taste density compared to control samples. Notably, all novel Sangria-type wine variants were approved during preliminary sensory evaluation.
Biogenic Silver Nanoparticles Produced by Soil Rare Actinomycetes and Their Significant Effect on Aspergillus-derived mycotoxins
Authors: Abd El-Ghany Mohamed N. , Hamdi Salwa A. , Korany Shereen M. , Elbaz Reham M. , Emam Ahmed N. , Farahat Mohamed G.
Published: April 2023

The current investigation addressed the green synthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) using newly isolated silver-resistant rare actinomycetes, Glutamicibacter nicotianae SNPRA1 and Leucobacter aridicollis SNPRA2, and investigated their impact on the mycotoxigenic fungi Aspergillus flavus ATCC 11498 and Aspergillus ochraceus ATCC 60532. The formation of AgNPs was evidenced by the reaction’s color change to brownish and the appearance of the characteristic surface plasmon resonance. The transmission electron microscopy of biogenic AgNPs produced by G. nicotianae SNPRA1 and L. aridicollis SNPRA2 (designated Gn-AgNPs and La-AgNPs, respectively) revealed the generation of monodispersed spherical nanoparticles with average sizes of 8.48 ± 1.72 nm and 9.67 ± 2.64 nm, respectively. Furthermore, the XRD patterns reflected their crystallinity and the FTIR spectra demonstrated the presence of proteins as capping agents. Both bioinspired AgNPs exhibited a remarkable inhibitory effect on the conidial germination of the investigated mycotoxigenic fungi. The bioinspired AgNPs caused an increase in DNA and protein leakage, suggesting the disruption of membrane permeability and integrity. Interestingly, the biogenic AgNPs completely inhibited the production of total aflatoxins and ochratoxin A at concentrations less than 8 μg/mL. At the same time, cytotoxicity investigations revealed the low toxicity of the biogenic AgNPs against the human skin fibroblast (HSF) cell line. Both biogenic AgNPs exhibited feasible biocompatibility with HSF cells at concentrations up to 10 μg/mL and their IC50 values were 31.78 and 25.83 μg/mL for Gn-AgNPs and La-AgNPs, respectively. The present work sheds light on the antifungal prospect of the biogenic AgNPs produced by rare actinomycetes against mycotoxigenic fungi as promising candidates to combat mycotoxin formation in food chains at nontoxic doses.
Why Pre-Registration of Research Must Be Taken More Seriously
Authors: Gray Richard , Bressington Daniel , Thompson David R. , Jones Martin
Published: April 2023

The scientific method assumes that researchers use evidence generated from observational research to make predictions (hypotheses) that can be tested experimentally [...]
Infant Exposure to Antituberculosis Drugs via Breast Milk and Assessment of Potential Adverse Effects in Breastfed Infants: Critical Review of Data
Authors: Algharably Engi Abdelhady , Kreutz Reinhold , Gundert-Remy Ursula
Published: April 2023

Infants of mothers treated for tuberculosis might be exposed to drugs via breast milk. The existing information on the exposure of breastfed infants lacks a critical review of the published data. We aimed to evaluate the quality of the existing data on antituberculosis (anti-TB) drug concentrations in the plasma and milk as a methodologically sound basis for the potential risk of breastfeeding under therapy. We performed a systematic search in PubMed for bedaquiline, clofazimine, cycloserine/terizidone, levofloxacin, linezolid, pretomanid/pa824, pyrazinamide, streptomycin, ethambutol, rifampicin and isoniazid, supplemented with update references found in LactMed®. We calculated the external infant exposure (EID) for each drug and compared it with the recommended WHO dose for infants (relative external infant dose) and assessed their potential to elicit adverse effects in the breastfed infant. Breast milk concentration data were mainly not satisfactory to properly estimate the EID. Most of the studies suffer from limitations in the sample collection, quantity, timing and study design. Infant plasma concentrations are extremely scarce and very little data exist documenting the clinical outcome in exposed infants. Concerns for potential adverse effects in breastfed infants could be ruled out for bedaquiline, cycloserine/terizidone, linezolid and pyrazinamide. Adequate studies should be performed covering the scenario in treated mothers, breast milk and infants.
A Novel Intraretinal Layer Semantic Segmentation Method of Fundus OCT Images Based on the TransUNet Network Model
Authors: Gao Zhijun , Wang Zhiming , Li Yi
Published: April 2023

Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is used to obtain retinal images and stratify them to obtain the thickness of each intraretinal layer, which plays an important role in the clinical diagnosis of many ophthalmic diseases. In order to overcome the difficulties of layer segmentation caused by uneven distribution of retinal pixels, fuzzy boundaries, unclear texture, and irregular lesion structure, a novel lightweight TransUNet deep network model was proposed for automatic semantic segmentation of intraretinal layers in OCT images. First, ResLinear-Transformer was introduced into TransUNet to replace Transformer in TransUNet, which can enhance the receptive field and improve the local segmentation effect. Second, Dense Block was used as the decoder of TransUNet, which can strengthen feature reuse through dense connections, reduce feature parameter learning, and improve network computing efficiency. Finally, the proposed method was compared with the state-of-the-art on the public SD-OCT dataset of diabetic macular edema (DME) patients released by Duke University and POne dataset. The proposed method not only improves the overall semantic segmentation accuracy of retinal layer segmentation, but also reduces the amount of computation, achieves better effect on the intraretinal layer segmentation, and can better assist ophthalmologists in clinical diagnosis of patients.
Nanoparticles-Based Delivery Systems for Salicylic Acid as Plant Growth Stimulator and Stress Alleviation
Authors: Polyakov Vladimir , Bauer Tatiana , Butova Vera , Minkina Tatiana , Rajput Vishnu D.
Published: April 2023

The population growth tendency leads to an increase in demand for food products, and in particular, products obtained from the processing of plants. However, there are issues of biotic and abiotic stresses that can significantly reduce crop yields and escalate the food crisis. Therefore, in recent years, the development of new methods of plant protection became an important task. One of the most promising ways to protect plants is to treat them with various phytohormones. Salicylic acid (SA) is one of the regulators of systemic acquired resistance (SAR) signaling pathways. These mechanisms are able to protect plants from biotic and abiotic stresses by increasing the expression of genes that encode antioxidant enzymes. However, salicylic acid in high doses can act as an antagonist and have the negative rebound effect of inhibition of plant growth and development. To maintain optimal SA concentrations in the long term, it is necessary to develop systems for the delivery and slow release of SA in plants. The purpose of this review is to summarize and study methods of delivery and controlled release of SA in a plant. Various carriers-based nanoparticles (NPs) synthesized from both organic and inorganic compounds, their chemical structure, impacts on plants, advantages, and disadvantages are comprehensively discussed. The mechanisms of controlled release of SA and the effects of the use of the considered composites on the growth and development of plants are also described. The present review will be helpful to design or fabricate NPs and NPs-based delivery systems for salicylic acid-controlled release and better understating of the mechanism of SA-NPs interaction to alleviate stress on plants.
Preparation of Thermally Conductive Silicone Rubber-Based Ultra-Thin Sheets with Low Thermal Resistance and High Mechanical Properties
Authors: Liu Mengqi , Tong Shengfu , Guo Xinhua , Ye Jing , Liu Jianping , Bao Chenlu
Published: April 2023

Thermally conductive silicone rubber (TCSR)-based thin sheets with low thermal resistance and high electrical insulation properties have been widely used in thermal management applications in the electronic and energy storage fields. The low thermal resistance is mainly attributed to the sheets’ small thickness. In order to further decrease the sheets’ thermal resistance, it is necessary to decrease their thickness. However, the sheets mostly have a thickness of at least 0.20 mm, and it is still a challenge to decrease the thickness to less than 0.10 mm mainly due to the difficulty of smooth calendering through a narrow roll-to-roll gap on calenders. Here, a low-viscosity calendering method has been developed to prepare TCSR-based ultra-thin sheets. The sheets present unprecedentedly small thickness (~0.08 mm), low thermal resistance (0.87 cm2K/W), high tensile strength (~8 MPa), high flexibility, high electrical resistance (>1014 Ω·cm), and high thermal dissipation (>30 °C decrease in LED working temperature). Comparison studies between this new method and the conventional preparation method have been carried out to understand the mechanism of the improvements.