bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Prediction of Porosity and its Mechanisms in Metal Additive Manufacturing
Authors: Mohan Ram V. , Ingle Nikhil
Published: February 2023

Selective Laser Melting (SLM) is an up-and-coming additive manufacturing technique that uses a laser as the power source and is specially developed for 3D Printing metal alloys. SLM advancement is significant since it can create custom property parts, reduce material usage and design freedom, and quickly manufacture complex components.

The high energy density of laser generates various unwanted structural defects such as keyholes and porosity, which results in crack formation & distortion, and subsequent reduction in mechanical strength of the components.

The present work aims to simulate the relevant physical configurations of the SLM process and identify process parameters and the effect of metal powder variation. A representative model based on Molecular Dynamics (MD) is developed to explore the sintering mechanism of metal powders. Open-source code LAMMPS (Large-scale Atomic/Molecular Massively Parallel Simulator) has been used to develop a working model to emulate a powder bed consisting of metal particles. The melting phenomenon is simulated by the heating layer of the metal particle bed. The results from this study will be able to predict the onset mechanism of porosity better and crack formation in Metal 3D printed parts.
Heat Transfer in Microchannel Heat Exchanger With Enhanced Surface Structure
Authors: Alnaimat Fadi , Mathew Bobby , Al Nuaimi Saeed
Published: February 2023

A simulation-based study is carried out on a counter-flow minichannel heat exchangers with smooth and staggered pinfins. The heat exchangers consist of two layers of hot and cold fluids. Each layer contained 10 minichannels with width of 2 mm and length of 100 mm; the height of the minichannel is 2 mm and the spacing between each minichannel is 0.5 mm. The heat exchanger is studied with water-water fluids. The investigation is carried out for different Reynolds numbers between 150 and 2000. The effectiveness is determined using the inlet and outlet temperatures of the fluids. Based on the investigation, it is observed that increasing Reynolds number decreases the effectiveness, and increases the overall heat transfer coefficient. It is also observed increasing Reynolds number decreases the friction factor. It was clearly observed that the heat transfer rate is higher for pin-fin minichannel compared to smooth channel. It is also noted that overall friction factor in pin-fin minichannel is higher than that in smooth channel.
Long Short-Term Memory Neural Networks for Predicting Dynamic Response of Structures of High Complexities
Authors: Liao Yabin , Poudel Biswas , Kumar Priyanshu , Sensemier Mark
Published: February 2023

This paper presents an initial investigation on the feasibility of modeling structural dynamics of complex structures using the Long Short-Time Memory (LSTM) deep learning neural networks, and predicting the structures’ vibration responses due to random excitation. LSTM networks are applied to the responses of various simulated systems subjected to random excitation loads, including mass-spring-damper systems with linear or nonlinear Duffing springs, a cantilever beam, and a tapered, cambered wing structure. Given a known force input, the dynamic response of the system is simulated in Matlab or ANSYS, which is used to train the LSTM model. In the case of mass-spring-damper and beam systems, the excellent agreement between the test and LSTM-predicted responses demonstrates the potential of the LSTM method for predicting vibration responses. In the case of cambered wing structure, the LSTM shows difficulties in dealing with responses consisting of multiple modes. Parametric studies are also performed to discover possible means for performance improvement. The studied learning parameters include the number of hidden units, the number of LSTM layers, and the size of train data. It is found that all these parameters have significant impact on the model accuracy. While it is always beneficial to have as much and there could be an optimal setting for the number of is not determined by the studies, they provide valuable directions to.
Relevant Aspects to Generate Reliable Simulations of Boiling Heat Transfer
Authors: Perez-Raya Isaac
Published: February 2023

Numerical simulations play a primary role in the understanding of multiphase flows with heat and mass transfer. The augment in computational studies comes from more accessible computer resources in terms of cost and performance. Another critical factor enabling computer simulations is the proposal of effective and easy-to-implement methods to capture the various multiphase physics, which leads to simulations resembling experimental trends. Despite relevant advances in computer modeling, an effort is still needed to get to the point where the simulations help explain the mechanisms that experimental researchers are observing. The present study discusses the development of multiphase modeling with an emphasis on boiling phenomena. The work provides a fundamental understanding on the working principles and highlights the relevance and weaknesses of its application in multiphase modeling. In addition, the study describes ways to validate simulations of multiphase flows with heat and mass transfer. Validating techniques compare simulation results against planar interface evaporation (Stefan type problems) and spherical bubble growth. Implications of numerical validation in the generated simulation results (heat transfer distribution, fluid dynamic behavior, and bubble growth rate) are discussed by analyzing simulation results of validated models. Moreover, the study outlines how validated simulations can accurately predict the performance of boiling systems.
Alignment of Nanomaterials in Hydrogels by Using Standing Surface Acoustic Wave-Enable
Authors: Li Jiali , Bo Luyu , Li Teng , Tian Zhenhua
Published: February 2023

Particle manipulation and patterning have gained tremendous attention in chemical, biomedical, and manufacturing studies. Hydrogels are usually used for applications in soft robots, biosensing, as well as tissue engineering. In this study, we investigated a nanoparticle manipulation method based on standing surface acoustic waves (SAWs). The SAW device consists of a piezoelectric lithium niobate (LiNbO3) substrate with a pair of interdigital transducers (IDTs). Finite element simulations were performed to understand the mechanisms of the SAW device as well as reveal the acoustic pressure field and electric potential field generated by the device. In addition to numerical studies, proof-of-concept experiments were performed by using a fabricated SAW device for patterning both silicon dioxide (SiO2) nanoparticles and multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) in a hydrogel solution.
Analysis of a Stationary Bicycle
Authors: Truhn Ryan , Saboori Parisa , Walker Graham
Published: February 2023

Cycling is one of the most popular forms of exercise with most gyms and even homes having a stationary bicycle. Cycling is a form of low impact activity which means it results in low resultant forces to the legs and knees when compared to other exercises (running, jumping, etc.). However, overusing and misusing a bicycle can cause a cyclist to have more severe joint stress and increased knee pain. Therefore, this study looks at the affect that changing the dimensions of a bicycle has on the forces at the knees and quadriceps during cycling. The scope of the stationary bicycle was chosen for this research due to its simplistic geometric adjustments and controlled environment. The goal of this study is to determine the most optimal dimensions of the bicycle to reduce knee forces while allowing the same amount of effectiveness of the exercise. To do this a parametric leg and bicycle system was modeled in Siemens NX with a driver at the pedal to create the cycling motion. Motion analysis was then run and the resultant forces were then analyzed at the knee joint and a linear slider representing the quadricep. Three total experiments were run with varying methodologies. The analysis of each method showed that any alteration to the dimensions of the bicycle changed the reaction forces at both the knee and quad. The seat height was determined to be the most influential dimension changed in the experiment as increasing the seat height increased the maximum forces at the knees for each method.
Deploying Machine Learning (ML) for Improving Reliability and Resiliency of Thermal Energy Storage (TES) Platforms by Leveraging Phase Change Materials (PCM) for Sustainability Applications and Mitigating Food-Energy-Water (FEW) Nexus
Authors: Sai Sudhir Pinjala , Ren Gangchen , Chuttar Aditya , Shettigar Nandan , Banerjee Debjyoti
Published: February 2023

In this paper, machine learning (ML) techniques, more specifically artificial neural networks (ANN), are utilized to enhance the efficacy of Cold Finger Technique (CFT). Experiments were conducted by melting the PCM at different values of power input to an electrical heater (mounted at the base of the container and immersed in PCM). Temperature transients were recorded by three thermocouples that were mounted at locations corresponding to liquid-meniscus heights for melt fraction values of 30%, 60% and 85%. The surface temperature transients were measured using thermocouples mounted on the exterior of the container surface that were mounted at locations corresponding to liquid-meniscus heights for melt fraction values of 30%, 60% and 90%. The surface temperature transients afford a cheap, reliable and cost-effective option for predicting the required values in real-time (i.e., the time remaining to attain a desired melt fraction, say 85%, at any particular instant during the melting cycle). These results validated the approach reported by (Chuttar et al. 2022). The average prediction error in the last half hour (before reaching a target melt fraction of 85%) was less than 10 minutes for all but one of the datasets. The Mean Absolute Percentage Error (MAPE) was as low as 11% for some of the predicted values of the datasets.
Ultrasonic Guided Waves Nondestructive Damage Detection for Square Steel Pipe Based on Semi-Analytical Finite Element Method
Authors: Yang Tingting , Zhou Wensong
Published: February 2023

Ultrasonic guided-wave (UGW) NDT technology is an efficient means for damage identification and has been applied widely in the field of detection for pipelines, railway tracks, ships and aircrafts. Besides, the dispersion curves of the guided waves in a square steel pipe are indispensable references for the integrity test of continuous structural components, which represent the frequency dependence of guided wave velocities. Unfortunately, the complete dispersion curve of ultrasonic waves in square steel pipes cannot be solved by the traditional finite element modal analysis method.

To address the problem, the semi-analytical finite element (SAFE) method was used to obtain the ultrasonic guided wave dispersion curves in a square steel pipe, on this basis, a UGW-based NDT strategy is proposed. Firstly, triangular elements are adopted to perform the finite element discretization on the cross-section of the square steel pipe, and the guided wave is assumed to be in a harmonic motion along the wave propagation direction. Then, the wave equation of the ultrasonic guided waves propagating in the square steel pipe is deduced theoretically, through solving the characteristic equation, the wave number and frequency can be obtained, and the relation between the frequency and phase velocity & group velocity is obtained; thus, the dispersion curves can be plotted, which can be used to analyze the vibration characteristics of the guided wave modes. Afterwards, the optimal excitation frequency, excitation direction and excitation location are selected based on dispersion property for the different damage modes of the square steel pipe. Lastly, the proposed damage identification method is validated through numerical simulation. The results show that the dispersion curves of square steel pipe solved with the semi-analytical finite element method are in good agreement with the simulated result, besides, for the damage on the square steel pipe surface, the reflected guided wave package can identify the damage location effectively under the selected excitation.
Finite Element Modeling of Football Helmet Foams to Maximize Energy Absorption Against Impacts
Authors: Honarmandi Peyman , Ceriati Andrea
Published: February 2023

About 3.8 million concussions occur every year in the U.S. from sports-related injuries. Studying and improving the protective gears of the head, particularly by focusing on the use of foams, would help to mitigate traumatic brain injuries. The use of closed-cell polyurethane foams is widespread in protective football helmets applications. The purpose of this research is to investigate the maximization of energy absorption under impact-loading conditions through the use of foams, maximizing their protective potential. Implementing the hyperfoam model together with the Prony series it was possible to accurately describe the nonlinear hyperelastic-viscoelastic behavior of these foams. By plotting stress-strain curves of the constitutive model it was possible to visualize and understand how constitutive model parameters influence foam behavior and to choose the optimal starting parameters to input in ABAQUS to perform impact simulations on a foam sample. Changing parameters and properties in the software it was possible to determine how the energy absorption capability of foam was influenced by them. It was concluded that this research offered a new approach to study and maximize foams energy absorption capability, acting on the constitutive model parameters and on foam properties such as thickness and density. A method to understand and visualize how these parameters influence foam behavior was also presented, as well as a strategy to perform accurate FEA of impact conditions.
Additive Remanufacturing Integrated Design Approach for Performance Improvement of Automotive Components
Authors: Dalpadulo Enrico , Pini Fabio , Leali Francesco
Published: February 2023

Metal Additive Manufacturing technologies provide many advantages among industrial sectors. Most applications exploit design freedom for functional design enabled by Powder Bed Fusion processes, while Directed Energy Deposition systems are mainly restricted to the construction of large parts and reparation of damaged components. Nevertheless, the latter provide not only high deposition rates, but also high flexibility, and the possibility to process multi-materials, to grade and combine their characteristics for enhanced features and performance. Therefore, a rising application is the remanufacturing of existing components to produce functional design variants. Those parts can integrate different features and materials through direct deposition of metals over bounded areas. This work concerns the development of a Design for Additive Remanufacturing methodology for existing components with improved performances to be produced by the laser-based Direct Metal Deposition process. It relies on the use of CAD platforms for the integrated design of products and the associated processes. The design approach is based on the integration of CAE structural analysis and Topology Optimization, to define the location and the morphology of deposited structures. The design of an automotive suspension arm with enhanced performances is the use case to demonstrate the effectiveness of the approach, which could be extended to the remanufacturing of several bodies and chassis automotive subsystems.
Anti-seed PNAs targeting multiple oncomiRs for brain tumor therapy
Authors: Wang Yazhe , Malik Shipra , Suh Hee-Won , Xiao Yong , Deng Yanxiang , Fan Rong , Huttner Anita , Bindra Ranjit S. , Singh Vijender , Saltzman W. Mark , Bahal Raman
Published: February 2023

Glioblastoma (GBM) is one of the most lethal malignancies with poor survival and high recurrence rates. Here, we aimed to simultaneously target oncomiRs 10b and 21, reported to drive GBM progression and invasiveness. We designed short (8-mer) γ-modified peptide nucleic acids (sγPNAs), targeting the seed region of oncomiRs 10b and 21. We entrapped these anti-miR sγPNAs in nanoparticles (NPs) formed from a block copolymer of poly(lactic acid) and hyperbranched polyglycerol (PLA-HPG). The surface of the NPs was functionalized with aldehydes to produce bioadhesive NPs (BNPs) with superior transfection efficiency and tropism for tumor cells. When combined with temozolomide, sγPNA BNPs administered via convection-enhanced delivery (CED) markedly increased the survival (>120 days) of two orthotopic (intracranial) mouse models of GBM. Hence, we established that BNPs loaded with anti-seed sγPNAs targeting multiple oncomiRs are a promising approach to improve the treatment of GBM, with a potential to personalize treatment based on tumor-specific oncomiRs.
Metabolite asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) functions as a destabilization enhancer of SOX9 mediated by DDAH1 in osteoarthritis
Authors: Wu Yizheng , Shen Shuying , Chen Jiaxin , Ni Weiyu , Wang Qinxin , Zhou Hongyi , Chen Junxin , Zhang Haitao , Mei Zixuan , Sun Xuewu , Shen Panyang , Jie Zhiwei , Xu Wenbin , Hong Zhenghua , Ma Yan , Wang Kefan , Wan Shuanglin , Wu Hongfei , Xie Ziang , Qin An , Fan Shunwu
Published: February 2023

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a degenerative disease with a series of metabolic changes accompanied by many altered enzymes. Here, we report that the down-regulated dimethylarginine dimethylaminohydrolase-1 (DDAH1) is accompanied by increased asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) in degenerated chondrocytes and in OA samples. Global or chondrocyte-conditional knockout of ADMA hydrolase
DDAH1
accelerated OA development in mice. ADMA induces the degeneration and senescence of chondrocytes and reduces the extracellular matrix deposition, thereby accelerating OA progression. ADMA simultaneously binds to
SOX9
and its deubiquitinating enzyme USP7, blocking the deubiquitination effects of USP7 on
SOX9
and therefore leads to SOX9 degradation. The ADMA level in synovial fluids of patients with OA is increased and has predictive value for OA diagnosis with good sensitivity and specificity. Therefore, activating
DDAH1
to reduce ADMA level might be a potential therapeutic strategy for OA treatment.
Anti-merozoite antibodies induce natural killer cell effector function and are associated with immunity against malaria
Authors: Odera Dennis O. , Tuju James , Mwai Kennedy , Nkumama Irene N. , Fürle Kristin , Chege Timothy , Kimathi Rinter , Diehl Stefan , Musasia Fauzia K. , Rosenkranz Micha , Njuguna Patricia , Hamaluba Mainga , Kapulu Melissa C. , Frank Roland ,   on behalf of the CHMI-SIKA Study Team, Osier Faith H. A. , Abdi Abdirahman I. , Chi Primus Che , de Laurent Zaydah , Jao Irene , Kamuya Dorcas , Kamuyu Gathoni , Makale Johnstone , Murungi Linda , Musyoki Jennifer , Muthui Michelle , Mwacharo Jedidah , Kariuki Silvia , Mwanga Daniel , Mwongeli Joyce , Ndungu Francis , Njue Maureen , Nyangweso George , Kimani Domitila , Ngoi Joyce M. , Musembi Janet , Ngoto Omar , Otieno Edward , Ooko Michael , Shangala Jimmy , Wambua Juliana , Mohammed Khadija Said , Omuoyo Donwilliams , Mosobo Moses , Kibinge Nelson , Kinyanjui Sam , Bejon Philip , Lowe Brett , Marsh Kevin , Marsh Vicki , Abebe Yonas , Billingsley Peter F. , Sim Betty Kim Lee , Hoffman Stephen L. , James Eric R. , Richie Thomas L. , Audi Agnes , Olewe Fredrick , Oloo James , Ongecha John , Ongas Martin O. , Koskei Nelly , Bull Peter C. , Hodgson Susanne H. , Kivisi Cheryl , Imwong Mallika , Murphy Sean C. , Ogutu Bernhards , Tarning Joel , Winterberg Markus , Williams Thomas N.
Published: February 2023

Natural killer (NK) cells are potent immune effectors that can be activated via antibody-mediated Fc receptor engagement. Using multiparameter flow cytometry, we found that NK cells degranulate and release IFN-γ upon stimulation with antibody-opsonized
Plasmodium falciparum
merozoites. Antibody-dependent NK (Ab-NK) activity was largely strain transcending and enhanced invasion inhibition into erythrocytes. Ab-NK was associated with the successful control of parasitemia after experimental malaria challenge in African adults. In an independent cohort study in children, Ab-NK increased with age, was boosted by concurrent
P. falciparum
infections, and was associated with a lower risk of clinical episodes of malaria. Nine of the 14 vaccine candidates tested induced Ab-NK, including some less well-characterized antigens: P41, P113, MSP11, RHOPH3, and
Pf
_11363200. These data highlight an important role of Ab-NK activity in immunity against malaria and provide a potential mechanism for evaluating vaccine candidates.
Peer-provided psychological intervention for Syrian refugees: results of a randomised controlled trial on the effectiveness of Problem Management Plus
Authors: de Graaff Anne M , Cuijpers Pim , Twisk Jos W R , Kieft Barbara , Hunaidy Sam , Elsawy Mariam , Gorgis Noer , Bouman Theo K , Lommen Miriam J J , Acarturk Ceren , Bryant Richard , Burchert Sebastian , Dawson Katie S , Fuhr Daniela C , Hansen Pernille , Jordans Mark , Knaevelsrud Christine , McDaid David , Morina Naser , Moergeli Hanspeter , Park A-La , Roberts Bayard , Ventevogel Peter , Wiedemann Nana , Woodward Aniek , Sijbrandij Marit
Published: February 2023

Background

The mental health burden among refugees in high-income countries (HICs) is high, whereas access to mental healthcare can be limited.

Objective

To examine the effectiveness of a peer-provided psychological intervention (Problem Management Plus; PM+) in reducing symptoms of common mental disorders (CMDs) among Syrian refugees in the Netherlands.

Methods

We conducted a single-blind, randomised controlled trial among adult Syrian refugees recruited in March 2019–December 2021 (No. NTR7552). Individuals with psychological distress (Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K10) >15) and functional impairment (WHO Disability Assessment Schedule (WHODAS 2.0) >16) were allocated to PM+ in addition to care as usual (PM+/CAU) or CAU only. Participants were reassessed at 1-week and 3-month follow-up. Primary outcome was depression/anxiety combined (Hopkins Symptom Checklist; HSCL-25) at 3-month follow-up. Secondary outcomes included depression (HSCL-25), anxiety (HSCL-25), post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms (PTSD Checklist for Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition; PCL-5), impairment (WHODAS 2.0) and self-identified problems (PSYCHLOPS; Psychological Outcomes Profiles). Primary analysis was intention-to-treat.

Findings

Participants (n=206; mean age=37 years, 62% men) were randomised into PM+/CAU (n=103) or CAU (n=103). At 3-month follow-up, PM+/CAU had greater reductions on depression/anxiety relative to CAU (mean difference −0.25; 95% CI −0.385 to −0.122; p=0.0001, Cohen’sd=0.41). PM+/CAU also showed greater reductions on depression (p=0.0002, Cohen’sd=0.42), anxiety (p=0.001, Cohen’sd=0.27), PTSD symptoms (p=0.0005, Cohen’sd=0.39) and self-identified problems (p=0.03, Cohen’sd=0.26), but not on impairment (p=0.084, Cohen’sd=0.21).

Conclusions

PM+ effectively reduces symptoms of CMDs among Syrian refugees. A strength was high retention at follow-up. Generalisability is limited by predominantly including refugees with a resident permit.

Clinical implications

Peer-provided psychological interventions should be considered for scale-up in HICs.
Developing architecture of system management in the English NHS: evidence from a qualitative study of three Integrated Care Systems
Authors: Sanderson Marie , Allen Pauline , Osipovic Dorota , Petsoulas Christina , Boiko Olga , Lorne Colin
Published: February 2023

Objective

Integrated Care Systems (ICSs) mark a change in the English National Health Service to more collaborative interorganisational working. We explored how effective the ICS form of collaboration is in achieving its goals by investigating how ICSs were developing, how system partners were balancing organisational and system responsibilities, how partners could be held to account and how local priorities were being reconciled with ICS priorities.

Design

We carried out detailed case studies in three ICSs, each consisting of a system and its partners, using interviews, documentary analysis and meeting observations.

Setting/participants

We conducted 64 in-depth, semistructured interviews with director-level representatives of ICS partners and observed eight meetings (three in case study 1, three in case study 2 and two in case study 3).

Results

Collaborative working was welcomed by system members. The agreement of local governance arrangements was ongoing and challenging. System members found it difficult to balance system and individual responsibilities, with concerns that system priorities could run counter to organisational interests. Conflicts of interest were seen as inherent, but the benefits of collaborative decision-making were perceived to outweigh risks. There were multiple examples of work being carried out across systems and ‘places’ to share resources, change resource allocation and improve partnership working. Some interviewees reported reticence addressing difficult issues collaboratively, and that organisations’ statutory accountabilities were allowing a ‘retreat’ from the confrontation of difficult issues facing systems, such as agreeing action to achieve financial sustainability.

Conclusions

There remain significant challenges regarding agreeing governance, accountability and decision-making arrangements which are particularly important due to the recent Health and Care Act 2022 which gave ICSs allocative functions for the majority of health resources for local populations. An arbiter who is independent of the ICS may be required to resolve disputes, along with increased support for shaping governance arrangements.
Safety profile of upadacitinib over 15 000 patient-years across rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis and atopic dermatitis
Authors: Burmester Gerd R , Cohen Stanley B , Winthrop Kevin L , Nash Peter , Irvine Alan D , Deodhar Atul , Mysler Eduardo , Tanaka Yoshiya , Liu John , Lacerda Ana P , Palac Hannah , Shaw Tim , Mease Philip J , Guttman‑Yassky Emma
Published: February 2023

Objective

To evaluate the long-term safety profile for upadacitinib across rheumatoid arthritis (RA), psoriatic arthritis (PsA), ankylosing spondylitis (AS) and atopic dermatitis (AD).

Methods

Safety data from clinical trials of upadacitinib 15 mg and upadacitinib 30 mg (AD only) for treating RA, PsA, AS and AD as of 30 June 2021 were analysed; some RA and PsA studies included adalimumab and methotrexate as active comparators. Treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs) were presented by disease as exposure-adjusted event rates per 100 patient years (E/100 PY).

Results

The analysis included 6991 patients (RA, n=3209; PsA, n=907; AS, n=182; AD, n=2693) who received at least one dose of upadacitinib, representing 15 425 PY of exposure (maximum duration 2.75–5.45 years) across diseases. Rates (E/100 PY) of any TEAE (205.5–278.1) and TEAE leading to discontinuation (4.5–5.4) were similar across diseases; serious TEAEs were numerically higher in patients with RA and PsA. Rates of herpes zoster (1.6–3.6), non-melanoma skin cancer (0–0.8) and elevations in creatine phosphokinase levels (4.4–7.9) were higher with upadacitinib than with active comparators in the RA and PsA populations. Deaths (0–0.8), serious infections (0–3.9), major adverse cardiovascular events (0–0.4), venous thromboembolism (<0.1–0.4) and malignancies (0.3–1.4) were observed, with rates generally lowest in AS and AD. Increased rates of acne were observed in patients with AD only.

Conclusions

Findings from this analysis demonstrate that upadacitinib is generally well tolerated with observed differences in safety profiles likely reflective of varying patient characteristics across RA, PsA, AS and AD populations.

Trial registration numbers

NCT02675426,NCT02706951,NCT02706847,NCT02629159,NCT02706873,NCT03086343,NCT03104374,NCT03104400,NCT03178487,NCT03569293,NCT03568318andNCT03607422.
Role of the nonribosomal peptide synthetase siderophore enzyme (Rfs) ofMucor lusitanicusin controlling the growth of fungal phytopathogens
Authors: Alejandre-Castañeda Viridiana , Patiño-Medina J. Alberto , Guzmán-Pérez Juan Bosco , Valle-Maldonado Marco I. , Villegas Javier , Solorio-Alvarado César R. , Ruiz-Herrera León Francisco , Ortiz-Alvarado Rafael , Macías-Sánchez Karla , Ramírez-Díaz Martha I. , Meza-Carmen Víctor
Published: February 2023

Dimorphic species of Mucor, which are cosmopolitan fungi belonging to subphylum Mucoromycotina, are metabolically versatile. Some species of Mucor are sources of biotechnological products, such as biodiesel from Mucor circinelloides and expression of heterologous proteins from Mucor lusitanicus. Furthermore, Mucor lusitanicus has been described as a model for understanding mucormycosis infections. However, little is known regarding the relationship between Mucor lusitanicus and other soil inhabitants. In this study, we investigated the potential use of Mucor lusitanicus as a biocontrol agent against fungal phytopathogens, namely Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici, Fusarium solani, and Alternaria solani, which destroy economically important crops. Results showed that aerobic cell-free supernatants of the culture broth (SS) from Mucor lusitanicus inhibited the growth of the fungal phytopathogens in culture, soil, and tomato fruits. The SS obtained from a strain of Mucor lusitanicus carrying the deletion of rfs gene, which encodes an enzyme involved in the synthesis of siderophore rhizoferrin, had a decreased inhibitory effect against the growth of the phytopathogens. Contrarily, this inhibitory effect was more evident with the SS from an rfs-overexpressing strain compared to the wild-type. This study provides a framework for the potential biotechnological use of the molecules secreted from Mucor lusitanicus in the biocontrol of fungal phytopathogens.
The effect of piercing and drilling processes on burr formation and delamination of aged carbon and aramid fiber-reinforced polymer composites
Authors: Engin Kaan Emre , Kaya Ali Ihsan , Tandogan Mahmut
Published: February 2023

There are two major problems with fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) composites during their machining that need to be addressed. The first concern is the delamination and formation of burrs at machined edges, and the second is the effects of aging leading to mechanical deterioration. In this study, carbon FRP (CFRP) and aramid FRP (AFRP) composites were manufactured by vacuum infusion method and aged for 2 years under natural environmental conditions. Piercing with three different clearances (1%, 5%, and 10% of sheet thickness) and speed of 4 m/s were performed. Additionally, conventional drilling was carried out at a feed rate of 0.2 m/min. The highest delamination factor difference between piercing and drilling processes was calculated as 7.3% and 13.9% for CFRP and AFRP, respectively. The highest burr amounts for AFRP and CFRP composites were obtained as 91.5% and 39% at 10% clearance for piercing process and 123% and 32.1% for drilling process, respectively. Compared with drilling, piercing generates less burr formation except for CFRP composites in the case of 10% clearance and more precise hole production. It is understood that piercing results significantly improve when smaller clearances up to 5% of the sheet thickness are utilized.
Qubit-oscillator relationships in the open quantum Rabi model: the role of dissipation
Authors: Di Bello G. , Cangemi L. M. , Cataudella V. , De Filippis G. , Nocera A. , Perroni C. A.
Published: February 2023

Using a dissipative quantum Rabi model, we study the dynamics of a slow qubit coupled to a fast quantum harmonic oscillator interacting with a bosonic bath from weak to strong and ultra-strong coupling regimes. Solving the quantum Heisenberg equations of motion, perturbative in the internal coupling between qubit and oscillator, we derive functional relationships directly linking the qubit coordinates in the Bloch sphere to oscillator observables. We then perform accurate time-dependent Matrix Product State simulations and compare our results both with the analytical solutions of the Heisenberg equations of motion, and with numerical solutions of a Lindblad master equation, perturbative in the external coupling between oscillator and environment. Indeed, we show that, up to the strong coupling regime, the qubit state accurately fulfils the derived functional relationships. We analyse in detail the case of a qubit starting with generic coordinates on the Bloch sphere of which we evaluate the three components of the Bloch vector through the averages of oscillator observables. Interestingly, a weak to intermediate oscillator coupling to the bath is able to simplify the Bloch vector evaluation since qubit-oscillator relationships are more immediate. Moreover, by monitoring the qubit fidelity with respect to free limit, we find the parameter regime where the combined effect of internal and external couplings is able to hinder the reliable evaluation of the qubit Bloch vector. Finally, in the ultra-strong coupling regime, non-Markovian effects become robust and the dynamics of qubit and oscillator are inextricably entangled making the qubit Bloch vector evaluation difficult.

Graphical Abstract
Effector-Triggered Immunity
Authors: Remick Brenna C. , Gaidt Moritz M. , Vance Russell E.
Published: February 2023

The innate immune system detects pathogens via germline-encoded receptors that bind to conserved pathogen ligands called pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs). Here we consider an additional strategy of pathogen sensing called effector-triggered immunity (ETI). ETI involves detection of pathogen-encoded virulence factors, also called effectors. Pathogens produce effectors to manipulate hosts to create a replicative niche and/or block host immunity. Unlike PAMPs, effectors are often diverse and rapidly evolving and can thus be unsuitable targets for direct detection by germline-encoded receptors. Effectors are instead often sensed indirectly via detection of their virulence activities. ETI is a viable strategy for pathogen sensing and is used across diverse phyla, including plants, but the molecular mechanisms of ETI are complex compared to simple receptor/ligand-based PAMP detection. Here we survey the mechanisms and functions of ETI, with a particular focus on emerging insights from animal studies. We suggest that many examples of ETI may remain to be discovered, hiding in plain sight throughout immunology.
The Expression of Serum lncRNA MIR17HG in Patients with Multiple Myeloma and Its Clinical Significance
Authors: Ge Hongfeng , Li Shue , Feng Jiangzhou , Chu Hailiang
Published: February 2023

Objective. Multiple myeloma (MM) represents a malignant tumor with abnormal proliferation of plasma cells. The current study sought to investigate the changes in serum lncRNA MIR17HG (long noncoding RNA miR-17-92a-1 cluster host gene) levels in MM patients and its values in assessing the accuracy of MM diagnosis and predicting diagnosis. Methods. First, 108MM patients and 85 healthy controls were enrolled as the study subjects. The serum levels of MIR17HG in all subjects were determined by RT-qPCR. MM patients were clinically staged according to the Durie-Salmon (DS) and international staging system (ISS), and the levels of serum MIR17HG were compared among patients at different stages. The correlation of serum MIR17H level with serum creatinine (Scr), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and albumin (ALB) was analyzed using the Pearson method. The accuracy of the serum MIR17HG level in identifying MM was evaluated using receiver operating characteristic curves. The progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) curves of MM patients were plotted using the Kaplan–Meier method. Results. Serum MIR17HG levels were up-regulated in MM patients and elevated with the development of DS and ISS stages. The serum MIR17HG was positively correlated with Scr and LDH and negatively correlated with ALB in MM patients. Serum MIR17HG level >1.485 could evaluate the accuracy of identifying MM. The PFS and OS were significantly shortened in MM patients with elevated MIR17HG levels. Conclusion. Our findings collectively indicate that the serum MIR17HG can aid the evaluation of accurate MM identification, and a high serum MIR17HG level can predict poor prognosis of patients with MM.
Trends in Medicare Reimbursement for Adult Cardiothoracic Surgery Procedures: 2007 to 2020
Authors: Zahiri Keyana , Khurana Aditya , Scrimgeour Laura , Eltorai Adam E. M.
Published: February 2023

Background. Cardiovascular disease has been the leading cause of death in the US for decades. Over half a million cardiothoracic surgery procedures are performed per year, with an increasingly aging population and rising healthcare costs. The purpose of this study was to evaluate trends in Medicare reimbursement rates from 2007 to 2020 for various cardiothoracic surgery procedures. Methods. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Physician Fee Schedule Look-Up Tool was queried for common procedural terminology codes for 119 common cardiothoracic surgery procedures to obtain reimbursement data by year. Procedures were organized into cardiac, CABG, and thoracic subgroups. All monetary data were adjusted for inflation to 2020 US dollars. Adjusted data were analyzed to calculate compound annual growth rates (CAGR), average annual change, and total percent change for each procedure. Results. After adjusting for inflation, the reimbursement rates for cardiothoracic surgery procedures decreased by 10.20% on average. Reimbursement rates for cardiac, CABG, and thoracic surgical procedures decreased by 8.74%, 14.46%, and 10.94%, respectively. The mean annual change overall was −$14.47, and the CAGR was 0.82%. CABG procedures had the greatest decrease in CAGR (−1.11%), annual change (−$30.30), and total percent change (−14.46%). Conclusions. Medicare reimbursements for cardiothoracic surgery procedures steadily decreased from 2007 to 2020, with CABG procedures experiencing the highest percentage of decline. Dissemination of these findings is crucial to raising awareness for healthcare administrators, surgeons, insurance companies, and policymakers to ensure the accessibility of these procedures for high-quality cardiothoracic surgery care in the United States.
Comparison of Perioperative, Functional, and Oncological Outcomes of Transperitoneal and Extraperitoneal Laparoscopic Radical Prostatectomy
Authors: Bejrananda Tanan , Karnjanawanichkul Watid , Tanthanuch Monthira
Published: February 2023

Purpose. This study aimed to compare the oncological, functional, and perioperative outcomes of localized and locally advanced prostate cancer treated with intraperitoneal or extraperitoneal laparoscopic radical prostatectomy (LRP). Methods. From April, 2008, through December, 2020, 266 patients underwent laparoscopic radical prostatectomy, 168 cases with an extraperitoneal approach (E-LRP) and 98 cases using a transperitoneal approach (T-LRP). The clinical, perioperative, functional, and oncological outcomes were collected and compared between these groups. At the 3-, 12- and 24-monthfollow-ups, the functional outcomes tested were urinary function (urinary domain of EPIC) and sexual function (sexual domain of EPIC). The oncological outcomes of biochemical recurrence, biochemical recurrence-free survival, and positive surgical margin status were evaluated. Univariable and multivariable Cox regression analyses were used to identify factors predictive for biochemical recurrence. All statistical analyses used the R program. Results. The patient characteristics were similar between the E-LRP and T-LRP groups except for higher prostatic-specific antigen (PSA) in the T-LRP group. The T-LRP had lower overall operative time (222.5 min vs. 290 min,

p

0.001), decreased blood loss (400 ml vs. 800 ml,

p
<
0.001

), and shorter hospital stays (4 days vs. 7 days,

p
<
0.001

) compared to the E-LRP. Early sexual intercourse with penetration at 3 months was higher in the T-LRP group (36.7% vs. 15.5%,

p

0.001). Urinary continence (no pads) was not different between the T-LRP and E-LRP groups at 3 and 24 months after surgery but higher in the E-LRP group at 12 months (1% vs. 3%;

p
=
0.419

, 85.1 vs. 83.7%;

p
=
0.889

, 47.4% vs. 34.6%;

p
=
0.028

, respectively). The EPIC questionnaire was used to assess functional outcomes at 3, 12, and 24 months after surgery and found that urinary function was significantly higher in the T-LRP group at 3 and 12 months (

p
<
0.001

) but did not show a difference at 24 months (

p
=
0.734

), and sexual function scores were higher in the T-LRP group at 12 and 24 months (

p
=
0.001

). The positive surgical margin rate was higher in the E-LRP (38.7% vs. 21.4%;

p
=
0.006

). The BCR rate was not different between the groups (36.3% in the E-LRP group and 27.6% in the E-LRP group;

p
=
0.184

). Conclusion. Transperitoneal laparoscopic radical prostatectomy (T-LRP) was found to be superior to extraperitoneal radical prostatectomy (E-LRP) in perioperative outcomes such as decreased operative time, decreased blood loss, shorter hospital stay, lower positive surgical margin, and improved early sexual intercourse and sexual function. The urinary functional outcome was better in the T-LRP group at 3 and 12 months. These findings support the use of transperitoneal laparoscopic radical prostatectomy, as our study patients exhibited significant benefits from this procedure.
Identification of Gene Signature-Related Oxidative Stress for Predicting Prognosis of Colorectal Cancer
Authors: Wang Xiaolong , Chen Liang , Cao Hongtao , Huang Jianpeng
Published: February 2023

Background. Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common cancer. Nearly a decade of studies had shown that cancer regimens tailored to molecular and pathological features lead to improved overall survival. Oxidative stress (OS) refers to a state in which oxidation and antioxidant effects are unbalanced in the body. However, the molecular mechanism of OS-related CRC remains unclear. Methods. Univariate Cox regression analysis gained OS signature genes related to CRC prognosis, and then, different CRC molecular subtypes were obtained by consensus clustering analysis. Differential expression analysis and least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) algorithm were used to obtain prognostic-related signature genes. Significantly, risk score was calculated by

RiskScore
=
Σ
β
i
×
Exp
i

. Moreover, the Kaplan-Meier survival analysis, immune cell infiltration, and sensitivity to treatment regimens were performed to assess the model’s validity and adaptability. Finally, RiskScore incorporated clinicopathological features to further improve prognostic models and survival prediction. Results. 63 OS-related prognostic genes were obtained, and four distinct molecular subtypes of CRC were identified based on the expression characteristics. 230 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between different molecular subtypes were compressed by LASSO algorithm, and finally, 6 OS-related genes were obtained. The Kaplan-Meier survival analysis indicated that the high RiskScore groups had poorer prognosis and the RiskScore model showed better predictive performance in all three other independent datasets. Moreover, immunotherapy/chemosensitivity analysis found that the low-risk group was more sensitive to different treatment options and could achieve better treatment outcomes. Conclusion. Oxidative stress-related RiskScore model built in this work has good predictive performance for CRC.
A Design and Development of the Smart Forest Alert Monitoring System Using IoT
Authors: Krishnamoorthy Murugaperumal , Asif Md. , Kumar Polamarasetty P. , Nuvvula Ramakrishna S. S. , Khan Baseem , Colak Ilhami
Published: February 2023

Forest is one of the main sources of living organisms. Its needs start from the human breath to usage of the wood. But due to many reasons, area occupied by the forest is reducing every year. The reasons behind these environmental impacts are natural disasters (forest fires), deforestation activities, and unlawful actions. Forest fire could be creating most serious threat to wild animals and resources of human welfares. The primary phenomenon of the wild fire occurrence is circumstance hotness of the forest. The dry and hot atmosphere caused the fire in the forest. The deforestation and smuggling activities are also tridents to the available forest. The main consideration of this article is to detect wildfires in advance and protect forest resources from social crimes through advanced sensor integration in the IoT (Internet of Things) environment. A smart forest alert monitoring system has been proposed in this article to avoid forest mishap over by automated self‐decision‐making protective actions such as parameter measures and alert and implementing the harm mitigation actions related to the hot temperature, humidity, smoke, and smuggling of trees. All the sensors work as per the algorithm designed by the specific application of IoT (Internet of Things). The accurate predictions of the forest fire events and ensuring the forest safety have been tested and verified by a conducted case study on the real forest zone environment.
Long Noncoding RNA SAMMSON Promotes Melanoma Progression by Inhibiting FOXA2 Expression
Authors: Yang Lijuan , Zhou Meiling , Wang Shulei , Yi Xiaojia , Xiong Guohang , Cheng Jing , Sai Buqing , Zhang Qiao , Yang Zhe , Kuang Yingmin , Zhu Yuechun
Published: February 2023

Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) play crucial roles in melanoma initiation and development, serving as potential therapeutic targets and prognostic markers for melanoma. lncRNA survival-associated mitochondrial melanoma-specific oncogenic noncoding RNA (SAMMSON) is upregulated in many types of human cancers. However, the functions of SAMMSON in melanoma have not been fully elucidated. This study is aimed at investigating the expression and functions of SAMMSON in melanoma development. Bioinformatics analysis was performed to determine the expression of SAMMSON and its correlation with the 10-year overall survival (OS) in melanoma patients. Cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and tumorigenesis were detected by MTT, colony formation, Transwell assays, and mouse xenograft model. The expression of cell cycle-related factors, epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) makers, and matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) was assessed by RT-qPCR and western blotting analysis. The results demonstrated that SAMMSON expression was upregulated in melanoma tissues and cells, and lower SAMMSON expression was correlated with longer 10-year OS. SAMMSON knockdown decreased the proliferation, migration, and invasion of melanoma cells by regulating the expression of proliferation-related genes, EMT factors, and MMPs, respectively. Additionally, Forkhead box protein A2 (FOXA2) was confirmed to be a target of SAMMSON, and the biological effects induced by FOXA2 overexpression were similar to those induced by SAMMSON silencing in melanoma cells. Further studies showed that SAMMSON downregulated FOXA2 expression in melanoma cells by modulating the EZH2/H3K27me3 axis. Taken together, our data indicate that SAMMSON plays an important role in melanoma progression and can be a valuable biomarker and therapeutic target in melanoma.