bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Programmable Stimuli-Responsive Actuators for Complex Motions in Soft Robotics: Concept, Design and Challenges
Authors: Decroly Gilles , Toncheva Antoniya , Blanc Loïc , Raquez Jean-Marie , Lessinnes Thomas , Delchambre Alain , Lambert Pierre
Published: December 2020

During the last years, great progress was made in material science in terms of concept, design and fabrication of new composite materials with conferred properties and desired functionalities. The scientific community paid particular interest to active soft materials, such as soft actuators, for their potential as transducers responding to various stimuli aiming to produce mechanical work. Inspired by this, materials engineers today are developing multidisciplinary approaches to produce new active matters, focusing on the kinematics allowed by the material itself more than on the possibilities offered by its design. Traditionally, more complex motions beyond pure elongation and bending are addressed by the robotics community. The present review targets encompassing and rationalizing a framework which will help a wider scientific audience to understand, sort and design future soft actuators and methods enabling complex motions. Special attention is devoted to recent progress in developing innovative stimulus-responsive materials and approaches for complex motion programming for soft robotics. In this context, a challenging overview of the new materials as well as their classification and comparison (performances and characteristics) are proposed. In addition, the great potential of soft transducers are outlined in terms of kinematic capabilities, illustrated by the related application. Guidelines are provided to design actuators and to integrate asymmetry enabling motions along any of the six basic degrees of freedom (translations and rotations), and strategies towards the programming of more complex motions are discussed. As a final note, a series of manufacturing methods are described and compared, from molding to 3D and 4D printing. The review ends with a Perspectives section, from material science and microrobotic points of view, on the soft materials’ future and close future challenges to be overcome.
Fault Estimation and Fault-Tolerant Control for the Pump-Controlled Electrohydraulic System
Authors: Trinh Hoai An , Truong Hoai Vu Anh , Ahn Kyoung Kwan
Published: December 2020

This paper proposes a fault estimation and fault-tolerant control strategy with two observers for a pump-controlled electro-hydraulic system (PCEHS) under the presence of internal leakage faults and an external loading force. The mathematical model of the PCEHS is dedicatedly derived in the state-space form for developing control methodology. Two different observers are developed in which an extended state observer is applied to estimate the internal leakage flow rate, and a disturbance observer is used to deal with the external loading force. Then, the proposed control is designed based on the backstepping sliding mode technique in which estimated information from the observers is taken into consideration to guarantee the working performance of the system. With the proposed methodology, the robustness and stability of the controlled system are theoretically analyzed and proven by the Lyapunov theorem. Comparative simulation results are given to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed methodology through different testing conditions.
Using Convolutional Neural Networks to Automate Aircraft Maintenance Visual Inspection
Authors: Doğru Anil , Bouarfa Soufiane , Arizar Ridwan , Aydoğan Reyhan
Published: December 2020

Convolutional Neural Networks combined with autonomous drones are increasingly seen as enablers of partially automating the aircraft maintenance visual inspection process. Such an innovative concept can have a significant impact on aircraft operations. Though supporting aircraft maintenance engineers detect and classify a wide range of defects, the time spent on inspection can significantly be reduced. Examples of defects that can be automatically detected include aircraft dents, paint defects, cracks and holes, and lightning strike damage. Additionally, this concept could also increase the accuracy of damage detection and reduce the number of aircraft inspection incidents related to human factors like fatigue and time pressure. In our previous work, we have applied a recent Convolutional Neural Network architecture known by MASK R-CNN to detect aircraft dents. MASK-RCNN was chosen because it enables the detection of multiple objects in an image while simultaneously generating a segmentation mask for each instance. The previously obtained F1 and F2 scores were 62.67% and 59.35%, respectively. This paper extends the previous work by applying different techniques to improve and evaluate prediction performance experimentally. The approach uses include (1) Balancing the original dataset by adding images without dents; (2) Increasing data homogeneity by focusing on wing images only; (3) Exploring the potential of three augmentation techniques in improving model performance namely flipping, rotating, and blurring; and (4) using a pre-classifier in combination with MASK R-CNN. The results show that a hybrid approach combining MASK R-CNN and augmentation techniques leads to an improved performance with an F1 score of (67.50%) and F2 score of (66.37%).
Adapting Syntropic Permaculture for Renaturation of a Former Quarry Area in the Temperate Zone
Authors: Cossel Moritz , Ludwig Heike , Cichocki Jedrzej , Fesani Sofia , Guenther Ronja , Thormaehlen Magnus , Angenendt Jule , Braunstein Isabell , Buck Marie-Luise , Kunle Maria , Bihlmeier Magnus , Cutura David , Bernhard AnnSophie , Ow-Wachendorf Felicitas , Erpenbach Federico , Melder Simone , Boob Meike , Winkler Bastian
Published: December 2020

In Southwest Germany, the renaturation of quarry areas close to settlements is usually based on the planting of native species of trees and shrubs, which are then neither cultivated nor used. This study investigates whether a species-rich agroforestry system based on Ernst Goetsch’s syntropic agriculture approach would be suitable for both renaturation in the form of soil fertility improvement and diverse food crop production under temperate climate. The quarry syntropy project was launched in summer 2019. Two shallow stony sections of a spoil heap of the quarry in Ehningen, Southwest Germany were available for demonstration plots. An interdisciplinary project team was set up both to obtain the official permits from five governmental institutions and to begin the study. The demonstration plots were each divided into three broad strips, which differ in three vegetation types: trees, shrubs, and annual food crops. The tree and shrub areas are mainly used for biomass production for a continuous mulch supply on the entire cultivated area in order to rapidly increase soil fertility. The food crops and also partly the trees and shrubs were intended to provide organically produced food (vegetables, fruit, berries and herbs). Most of the trees (eleven species) were planted in November 2019. In March 2020, soil samples were taken (0–30 cm), and a solar-powered water storage system was installed. Currently, the shrub and annual food crop strips are under preparation (pre-renaturation phase). In this initial phase, the priority is fertility improvement of the topsoil through intensive mulching of the existing grassland stock dominated by top grasses and the legumes hybrid alfalfa (Medicago × varia Martyn) and common bird’s-foot trefoil (Lotus corniculatus L.). The food crop strip should then start in 2021 after one year of mulching. Depending on the success of growth, the tree strips should then also gain in importance for mulch application in the following years. The strategy is to gradually build up food crop cultivation under organic low-input agricultural practices while simultaneously enhancing the biophysical growth conditions guided by natural succession.
Climate Change Impacts Assessment on Wine-Growing Bioclimatic Transition Areas
Authors: Piña-Rey Alba , González-Fernández Estefanía , Fernández-González María , Lorenzo Mª. Nieves , Rodríguez-Rajo Fco. Javier
Published: December 2020

Viticultural climatic indices were assessed for the evaluation of the meteorological variations in the requirements of wine cultivars. The applied bioclimatic indices have been widely used to provide an initial evaluation of climate change impacts on grapevine and to delineate wine regions and suitable areas for planting around the world. The study was carried out over a period of 16 years (from 2000 to 2015) in five Designation of Origin areas in Northwestern Spain located in the Eurosiberian region, the transition zone between the Eurosiberian and the Mediterranean areas, and in the Mediterranean area. In addition, the high-resolution meteorological dataset “Spain02” was applied to the bioclimatic indices for the period 1950–2095. To further assess the performance of “Spain02”, Taylor diagrams were elaborated for the different bioclimatic indices. A significant trend to an increase of the Winkler, Huglin, Night Cold Index and GSS Indices was detected in the North-western Spain, whereas slight negative trends for BBLI and GSP Indices were observed. To analyze future projections 2061–2095, data from the high-resolution dynamically downscaled daily climate simulations from EURO-CORDEX project were used. To further assess the performance of Spain02, Taylor diagrams were elaborated for the different bioclimatic indices. A trend to an increase of the Winkler, Huglin, Night Cold Index and GSP Indices was detected in Northwestern Spain, whereas slight negative trends for BBLI and GSP Indices were observed. Our results showed that climatic conditions in the study region could variate for the crop in the future, more for Mediterranean than Eurosiberian bioclimatic area. Due to an advance in the phenological events or the vintage data, more alcohol-fortified wines and variations in the acidity level of wines could be expected in Northwestern Spain, these processes being most noticeable in the Mediterranean area. The projections for the BBLI and GSP Indices will induce a decrease in the pressure of the mildew attacks incidence in the areas located at the Eurosiberian region and the nearest transition zones. Projections showed if the trend of temperature increase continues, some cultural practice variations should be conducted in order to preserve the grape cultivation suitability in the studied area.
Antimicrobial Action and Reversal of Resistance in MRSA by Difluorobenzamide Derivatives Targeted at FtsZ
Authors: Chai Wern Chern , Whittall Jonathan J. , Song Di , Polyak Steven W. , Ogunniyi Abiodun D. , Wang Yinhu , Bi Fangchao , Ma Shutao , Semple Susan J. , Venter Henrietta
Published: December 2020

The bacterial cell division protein, FtsZ, has been identified as a target for antimicrobial development. Derivatives of 3-methoxybenzamide have shown promising activities as FtsZ inhibitors in Gram-positive bacteria. We sought to characterise the activity of five difluorobenzamide derivatives with non-heterocyclic substituents attached through the 3-oxygen. These compounds exhibited antimicrobial activity against methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), with an isopentyloxy-substituted compound showing modest activity against vancomycin resistant Enterococcus faecium (VRE). The compounds were able to reverse resistance to oxacillin in highly resistant clinical MRSA strains at concentrations far below their MICs. Three of the compounds inhibited an Escherichia coli strain lacking the AcrAB components of a drug efflux pump, which suggests the lack of Gram-negative activity can partly be attributed to efflux. The compounds inhibited cell division by targeting S. aureus FtsZ, producing a dose-dependent increase in GTPase rate which increased the rate of FtsZ polymerization and stabilized the FtsZ polymers. These compounds did not affect the polymerization of mammalian tubulin and did not display haemolytic activity or cytotoxicity. These derivatives are therefore promising compounds for further development as antimicrobial agents or as resistance breakers to re-sensitive MRSA to beta-lactam antibiotics.
A Cationic Porphyrin, ZnPor, Disassembles Pseudomonas aeruginosa Biofilm Matrix, Kills Cells Directly, and Enhances Antibiotic Activity of Tobramycin
Authors: Patel Neha , Swavey Shawn , Robinson Jayne
Published: December 2020

One of the greatest threats to human health is the rise in antibiotic-resistant bacterial infections. Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PsA) is an “opportunistic” pathogen known to cause life-threatening infections in immunocompromised individuals and is the most common pathogen in adults with cystic fibrosis (CF). We report here a cationic zinc (II) porphyrin, ZnPor, that effectively kills planktonic and biofilm-associated cells of PsA. In standard tests against 16–18 h-old biofilms, concentrations as low as 16 µg/mL resulted in the extensive disruption and detachment of the matrix. The pre-treatment of biofilms for 30 min with ZnPor at minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) levels (4 µg/mL) substantially enhanced the ability of tobramycin (Tobra) to kill biofilm-associated cells. We demonstrate the rapid uptake and accumulation of ZnPor in planktonic cells even in dedicated heme-uptake system mutants (ΔPhu, ΔHas, and the double mutant). Furthermore, uptake was unaffected by the ionophore carbonyl cyanide m-chlorophenyl hydrazine (CCCP). Cells pre-exposed to ZnPor took up the cell-impermeant dye SYTOXTM Green in a concentration-dependent manner. The accumulation of ZnPor did not result in cell lysis, nor did the cells develop resistance. Taken together, these properties make ZnPor a promising candidate for treating multi-drug-resistant infections, including persistent, antibiotic-resistant biofilms.
Subcritical Water Extraction of Phenolic Compounds from Onion Skin Wastes (Allium cepa cv. Horcal): Effect of Temperature and Solvent Properties
Authors: Benito-Román Óscar , Blanco Beatriz , Sanz María Teresa , Beltrán Sagrario
Published: December 2020

The valorization of onion skin wastes (OSW) through the extraction, identification, and quantification of phenolic compounds was studied in this work, using subcritical water in a semicontinuous extractor (2.5 mL/min; 105–180 °C; 5 MPa). The extraction of flavonoids resulted to be fast (<30 min) and temperature sensitive (maximum at 145 °C; total flavonoids, 27.4 ± 0.9 mg/g dry OSW (DOSW)). The experimental results were fitted to the Weibull model. The influence of the solvent properties on the flavonoids quantification was found to be critical. A precipitate was formed once the extracts cooled down. If removed, a significant fraction of the high temperature extracted flavonoids (as much as 71%, at 180 °C) was lost. Such a condition affected especially those compounds that show extremely low solubility in water at room temperature, whereas quercetin glycosylated derivatives were less affected by the polarity change of the medium induced by the temperature change. It was demonstrated that it is necessary to re-dissolve the subcritical water extracts by the addition of ethanol, which led to a medium with a polarity equivalent to that obtained with water at high temperature. At 145 °C, quercetin (15.4 ± 0.4 mg/g DOSW) and quercetin-4′-glucoside (8.4 ± 0.1 mg/g DOSW) accounted for the 90% of the total flavonoids identified. By recovering high added value bioactive compounds from OSW the principles of circular economy were fulfilled, providing a new use for this agricultural waste.
Redox and Nitrosative Signaling and Stress
Authors: Penna Claudia
Published: December 2020

In this Special Issue, redox/nitrosative signaling has been considered in several aspects of cardiosciences and oncology, namely cardioncology [...]
Anti-Osteoarthritic Effects of Terminalia Chebula Fruit Extract (AyuFlex®) in Interleukin-1β-Induced Human Chondrocytes and in Rat Models of Monosodium Iodoacetate (MIA)-Induced Osteoarthritis
Authors: Kim Hae Lim , Lee Hae Jin , Lee Dong-Ryung , Choi Bong-Keun , Yang Seung Hwan
Published: December 2020

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a general joint illness caused by the destruction of joint cartilage, and is common in the population of old people. Its occurrence is related to inflammatory reactions and cartilage degradation. AyuFlex® is an aqueous extract of Terminalia chebula fruit, and T. chebula has been utilized extensively in several traditional oriental medications for the management of diverse diseases. Pre-clinical and clinical research has shown its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effectiveness. Nevertheless, the mechanism underlying the anti-arthritic effects of AyuFlex® remains unclear. In the current research, we proposed the ameliorating effects of AyuFlex® with respect to the incidence of OA and described the latent signalization in interleukin (IL)-1β-treated chondrocytes and MIA-incurred OA in a rat model. In vitro, AyuFlex® decreased oxidative stress and induction of pro-inflammatory cytokines and mediators as well as matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), while also increasing the levels of collagen synthesis-related proteins. Mechanistically, we identified that AyuFlex® disrupted nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) activation via the inhibition of NF-κB p65 and extracellular regulated protein kinase (ERK) phosphorylation. The ameliorating effects of AyuFlex® were also observed in vivo. AyuFlex® significantly inhibited the MIA-incurred increase in OA symptoms such as oxidative stress, cartilage damage, and changes in cytokines and MMPs revelation in arthrodial cartilage. Therefore, our results suggest that AyuFlex® attenuates OA progression in vivo, indicating that AyuFlex® can be suggested as an excellent therapeutic remedy for the care of OA.
Polymer Type Identification of Marine Plastic Litter Using a Miniature Near-Infrared Spectrometer (MicroNIR)
Authors: Pakhomova Svetlana , Zhdanov Igor , van Bavel Bert
Published: December 2020

Plastic pollution in the marine environment has turned into an important research topic in recent decades. Until recently, studies were often based on visual assessment only, which is not enough to draw any conclusion about the chemical nature of found plastic items and could lead to incorrect results. Standardized, fast, and efficient low-cost methods for marine plastic litter identification are urgently needed to monitor the occurrence and distribution worldwide. In this paper, we demonstrate that a miniaturized handheld near-infrared spectrometer—MicroNIR—can be used for on-site identification of different plastic polymers. A database containing polymer spectra of the most produced and reported polymer types in the marine environment was created including polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polystyrene (PS), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polyamide (PA), polycarbonate (PC), polyurethane (PUR), and Silicone. Using spectral match value (SMV, included in the instrument software) for spectra analysis resulted in an accurate classification of all nine polymer types. The method was used for the identification of marine macro-, meso-, and microplastic litter collected on beaches in sediments and seawater and enabled the correct identification of marine plastic litter for macro-, meso- (96%), and microplastics (73%) with exception of totally black items and items less than 1 mm in size. The method and instrumentation presented here are very well suited to support “Citizen Science” marine litter monitoring projects during beach cleaning and similar activities.
Synthesis and Application in Cell Imaging of Acridone Derivatives
Authors: Chan Yung-Chieh , Li Chia-Ying , Lai Chin-Wei , Wu Min-Wei , Tseng Hao-Jui , Chang Cheng-Chung
Published: December 2020

Tricyclic acridone derivatives have been extensively developed as antimicrobial, antimalarial, and antitumor drugs due to their broad spectrum of drug design and biological activity. In this study, we developed a surfactant-like acridone scaffold that contained two vinylpyridines and a dodecyl pyridine chain. The acridone scaffold decorated the dodecyl pyridine chain by N-bromosuccinimide reagent. The surfactant-like core scaffold incorporated with 4-vinylpyridines at the 2- and 7-positions via a Heck coupling reaction. Subsequently, the acridone derivatives were methylated onto these pyridine groups. Here we developed two similar acridone derivatives, MedAcd12C and MedAcd12P. The MedAcd12C incorporated two pyridine groups, and MedAcd12P incorporated three pyridine groups. MedAcd12C and MedAcd12P have two identical vinylpyridines and the different anchor tails at the N10 position. Their physicochemical properties, cell compatibility, and photoluminescence were demonstrated. Although both compounds have no fluorescence emission in water solution, MedAcd12P and MedAcd12C significantly appeared with orange light emission in the cellular imaging. We suggested that the surfactant-like scaffold promoted the drugs’ self-assembly and caused the aggregation-induced emission (AIE) after cellular uptake. This innovative design endowed acridone derivatives with an AIE and traceability for cell imaging.
Improving the Structural Behavior of Tied-Arch Bridges by Doubling the Set of Hangers
Authors: García-Guerrero Juan Manuel , Jorquera-Lucerga Juan José
Published: December 2020

In tied-arch bridges with a single arch, the deck is usually suspended from the arch by means of a single set of cables, pinned at both ends and anchored to the centerline, using either vertical or Nielsen-type hanger arrangements. When properly designed, this layout can significantly reduce forces and deflections under loads that are symmetrical with respect to the plane of the arch. However, it does not contribute to the support of nonsymmetrical loads, such as eccentric loads distributions or wind loading, and does not reduce the sensibility of the arch to out-of-plane buckling. Thus, this paper studies how a cable arrangement composed of two sets of lateral hangers, attached to both edges of a deck, can be very suitable to address these problems. Firstly, it is demonstrated that the structural behavior under symmetrical loads improves with respect to the bridge with centered hangers. Secondly, it is shown how nonsymmetric loads are partially carried by structural systems (such as the transversal stiffness both of the arch and the deck) that would remain inactive for tied-arch bridges with centered hangers, leading to a general reduction in the forces and the deflections of the bridge and in the critical buckling load of the arch.
Experimental Investigation of Thin-Walled UHPFRCC Modular Barrier for Blast and Ballistic Protection
Authors: Mára Michal , Talone Candida , Sovják Radoslav , Fornůsek Jindřich , Zatloukal Jan , Kheml Přemysl , Konvalinka Petr
Published: December 2020

The static response of ballistic panels and also its resistance to blast and ballistic impact is investigated in the framework of this study. By connecting individual ballistic panels together, the protective barrier can be constructed. The protective barrier can be featured as a system with high mobility and versatility that is achieved by linking basic interlocking plate elements together. The resulting protective barrier can be shaped according to many possible scenarios in a wall with various possible opening angles and a small post with the tetragonal base or a larger post with the hexagonal ground plan. The material solution of the protective barrier benefits from the application of ultra-high-performance fibre-reinforced cement-based composites (UHPFRCC), which meets the requirements for enhanced resistance against extreme loads such as blast or impact. Besides, by using UHPFRCC, thin and slender design can be adopted, which is advantageous in many ways. Slender design results in a lower weight, allowing for easy manipulation and replacement. To verify the behavior of the panels, the proposed barrier was subjected to various loadings at different strain rates. The experimental campaign demonstrated that the protective barrier has a reasonable load-bearing capacity and also sufficient resistance against projectile impact and blast effects.
Multianalyzer Spectroscopic Data Fusion for Soil Characterization
Authors: Hark Richard R. , Throckmorton Chandra S. , Harmon Russell S. , Plumer John R. , Harmon Karen A. , Harrison J. Bruce , Hendrickx Jan M. H. , Clausen Jay L.
Published: December 2020

The ability to rapidly conduct in-situ chemical analysis of multiple samples of soil and other geological materials in the field offers many advantages over a traditional approach that involves collecting samples for subsequent examination in the laboratory. This study explores the application of complementary spectroscopic analyzers and a data fusion methodology for the classification/discrimination of >100 soil samples from sites across the United States. Commercially available, handheld analyzers for X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy (XRFS), Raman spectroscopy (RS), and laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) were used to collect data both in the laboratory and in the field. Following a common data pre-processing protocol, principal component analysis (PCA) and partial least squares discriminant analysis (PLSDA) were used to build classification models. The features generated by PLSDA were then used in a hierarchical classification approach to assess the relative advantage of information fusion, which increased classification accuracy over any of the individual sensors from 80-91% to 94% and 64-93% to 98% for the two largest sample suites. The results show that additional testing with data sets for which classification with individual analyzers is modest might provide greater insight into the limits of data fusion for improving classification accuracy.
An Integrated Approach to Real-Time Acoustic Emission Damage Source Localization in Piled Raft Foundations
Authors: Kim Yong-Min , Han Gyeol , Kim Hyunwoo , Oh Tae-Min , Kim Jin-Seop , Kwon Tae-Hyuk
Published: December 2020

Acoustic emission (AE) has garnered significant interest as a promising way to detect the early-stage development of internal cracks and damage in underground and geotechnical structures, associated with natural disasters. Meanwhile, AE source localization techniques that can identify the damage location in a piled-raft foundation (PRF) are premature because of its complex geometry, although the PRF is a widely used deep foundation type for high-rise buildings. In this study, we propose an integrated approach to localize AE sources in the PRF by using the modified Akaike information criterion (AIC) method and examine its accuracy to mark with pile zones. We performed a series of experiments on a scaled PRF model at a ratio of 1:50, composed of one raft and 25 piles. The results demonstrate that the combined approach with the modified AIC method and the Simplex method can localize the AE source zones with good accuracy, greater than 95% on average. The suggested two-stage AIC picker shows accurate onset time determination, and hence, it significantly improves the accuracy, particularly effective for the signals with low signal-to-noise ratios. The approach exploiting the two-stage AIC picker can be readily used for automated real-time AE monitoring to detect crack generation and its location in buried foundations that cannot be inspected visually.
Magnolol, A Novel Antagonist of Thrombin and PAR-1, Inhibits Thrombin-Induced Connective Tissue Growth Factor (CTGF) Expression in Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells and Ameliorate Pathogenesis of Restenosis in Rats
Authors: Ko Wen-Chin , Tsai Chia-Ti , Hsu Kai-Cheng , Cheng Yu-Che , Lin Tony Eight , Chen Yi-Ling , Hong Chuang-Ye , Lu Wan-Jung , Shih Chun-Ming , Yen Ting-Lin
Published: December 2020

Restenosis and destructive vascular remodeling are the main reasons for treatment failure in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). In this study, we explored the efficacy of magnolol (a traditional Chinese medicine) in the treatment of restenosis. The results of this study showed that the activities of thrombin and PAR-1 (protease-activated receptor 1) were significantly decreased by the treatment of magnolol. Based on protein docking analysis, magnolol exhibits its potential to bind to the PAR-1 active site. In addition, thrombin-induced connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) expression and the upstream of CTGF such as JNK-1 (but not JNK-2), c-Jun, and AP-1 were distinctly inhibited by magnolol (50 μM) in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC). For the functional assay, magnolol (50 μM) significantly inhibited the migration of VSMC, and rats treated with magnolol (13 mg/kg/day) after balloon angioplasty has observed a significant reduction in the formation of common arterial neointima. In conclusion, we identified a novel mechanism by which magnolol acts as the thrombin activity inhibitor and may be the PAR-1 antagonist. In accordance with these functions, magnolol could decrease thrombin-induced CTGF expression in VSMCs via PAR-1/JNK-1/AP-1 signaling.
Selection Methodology of an Electric Actuator for Nose Landing Gear of a Light Weight Aircraft
Authors: Shams Taimur Ali , Shah Syed Irtiza Ali , Ahmad Muhammad Ayaz , Mehmood Kashif , Ahmad Waseem , Rizvi Syed Tauqeer ul Islam
Published: December 2020

Landing gear system of an aircraft enables it to take off and land with safety and comfort. Because of the horizontal and vertical velocity of aircraft, upon landing, the complete aircraft undergoes different forcing functions in the form of the impact force that is absorbed by landing gears, shock absorbers, and actuators. In this research, a selection methodology has been proposed for an electrical actuator to be installed in the retraction mechanism of nose landing gear of an aircraft having 1600 kg gross takeoff weight. Nose landing gear and its associated components, like strut and shock absorbers, were modeled in CAD software. Analytical expressions were then developed in order to calculate the actuator stroke, translational velocity, force, and power for complete cycle of retraction, and some were subsequently compared with the computational results that were obtained using MSC ADAMS®. Air in the oleo-pneumatic shock absorber of nose landing gear was modeled as a nonlinear spring with equivalent spring constant, whereas hydraulic oil was modeled as a nonlinear damper with equivalent damping constant. The nose landing gear system was modeled as a mass-spring-damper system for which a solution for sinusoidal forcing functions is proposed. Finally, an electrical actuator has been selected, which can retract and extend nose landing gear, meeting all of the constraints of aircraft, like fuselage space, aircraft ground clearance, locking loads, power consumption, retraction and extension time, and dynamic response of aircraft. It was found that the selection of an electrical actuator is based upon the quantification of forces transmitted to electrical actuator during one point load at gross takeoff weight. The ability of retraction and extension time, as dictated by Federal Aviation Regulation, has also been given due consideration in the proposed methodology as significant criteria. The proposed system is now in the process of ground testing, followed by flight testing in the near future.
Screening Patients with Early Stage Parkinson’s Disease Using a Machine Learning Technique: Measuring the Amount of Iron in the Basal Ganglia
Authors: Lee Seon , Oh Se-Hong , Park Sun-Won , Shin Chaewon , Kim Jeehun , Rhim Jung-Hyo , Lee Jee-Young , Choi Joon-Yul
Published: December 2020

The purpose of this study was to determine whether a support vector machine (SVM) model based on quantitative susceptibility mapping (QSM) can be used to differentiate iron accumulation in the deep grey matter of early Parkinson’s disease (PD) patients from healthy controls (HC) and Non-Motor Symptoms Scale (NMSS) scores in early PD patients. QSM values on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) were obtained for 24 early PD patients and 27 age-matched HCs. The mean QSM values in deep grey matter areas were used to construct SVM and logistic regression (LR) models to differentiate between early PD patients and HCs. Additional SVM and LR models were constructed to differentiate between low and high NMSS scores groups. A paired t-test was used to assess the classification results. For the differentiation between early PD patients and HCs, SVM had an accuracy of 0.79 ± 0.07, and LR had an accuracy of 0.73 ± 0.03 (p = 0.027). SVM for NMSS classification had a fairly high accuracy of 0.79 ± 0.03, while LR had 0.76 ± 0.04. An SVM model based on QSM offers competitive accuracy for screening early PD patients and evaluates non-motor symptoms, which may offer clinicians the ability to assess the progression of motor symptoms in the patient population.
Market-Oriented Procurement Planning Leading to a Higher Service Level and Cost Optimization
Authors: Gallego-García Sergio , García-García Manuel
Published: December 2020

The current global market situation pursues high adaptability, but why? Complexity due to mass customization is greater than ever. Globalization is no longer a theory but a fact that makes disruptions in the globalized supply chain a major risk for operations. In this context, customers demand novelty and unique experiences. These are the main drivers for market success. Therefore, existing products are now in continuous states of change with shortened product lifecycles. The purpose of this article is to analyze the impact of new market entries and product changes along the lifecycle as well as supply chain disruptions in supplier inventory levels. The goal is to minimize costs by achieving a given service level with a market-oriented procurement planning model. The model pursues minimizing the time needed to align the system with the market and, therefore, the adaptability of the system. The research compares classical inventory management models with the new proposed approach by means of simulation with the system dynamics methodology. The results show how the proposed model increased the delivery service level, reduced inventory costs, and increased the utilization of resources due to lower demand uncertainty. Therefore, the developed model is able to plan the inventory supply with a low risk of stock outages. The conclusion proposes a differentiated forecasting and inventory strategy depending on the product lifecycle stage. The developed market-oriented procurement planning model provides guidance for inventory managers regarding how to optimize their operations as an opportunity within the fourth industrial revolution to develop information technology (IT) systems to gather and utilize demand and inventory data with real-time efficiency.
LEED-EB Gold Projects for Office Spaces in Large Buildings Transitioning from Version 3 (v3) to 4 (v4): Similarities and Differences between Finland and Spain
Authors: Pushkar Svetlana
Published: December 2020

This study aims to assess the similarities and differences between Finland and Spain in terms of Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design for Existing Buildings (LEED-EB) Gold large office building-type projects transitioning from version 3 (v3) to version 4 (v4). The percentages of the average scores are used here to assess the achievements of the LEED-EB data. The natural logarithm of the odds ratio lnθ and Fisher′s exact 2 × 2 tests with a mid p-value are used to evaluate dichotomous data, while the exact Wilcoxon–Mann–Whitney and Cliff′s δ effect size tests are used to evaluate ordinary data. The results for LEED-EB Gold large offices demonstrate similar certification strategies in Finland and Spain. These results may be useful to LEED-EB practitioners in Finland and Spain for facilitating the selection of appropriate certification strategies in line with identified high-performance credits for large offices.
Slug Regime Transitions in a Two-Phase Flow in Horizontal Round Pipe. CFD Simulations
Authors: Sergeev Vitaly , Vatin Nikolai , Kotov Evgeny , Nemova Darya , Khorobrov Svyatoslav
Published: December 2020

The main objective of the study is to propose a technical solution integrated into the pipeline for the transition of the flow regime from slug to bubbly two-phase flow. The object of research is isothermal two-phase gas–Newtonian-liquid flow in a horizontal circular pipeline. There is local resistance in the pipe in the form of a streamlined transverse mesh partition. The mesh partition ensures the transition of the flow from the slug regime to the bubbly regime. The purpose of the study is to propose a technical solution integrated into the pipeline for changing the flow regime of a two-phase flow from slug to bubbly flow. The method of research is a simulation using computational fluid dynamics (CFD) numerical simulation. The Navier–Stokes equations averaged by Reynolds describes the fluid motion. The k-ε models were used to close the Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes (RANS) equations. The computing cluster «Polytechnic—RSK Tornado» was used to solve the tasks. The results of simulation show that pressure drop on the grid did not exceed 10% of the pressure drop along the length of the pipeline. The mesh partition transits the flow regime from slug to layered one, which will help to increase the service life and operational safety of a real pipeline at insignificant energy costs to overcome the additional resistance integrated into the pipeline.
Development and Validation of Electronic Stability Control System Algorithm Based on Tire Force Observation
Authors: Lu Dang , Ma Yao , Yin Hengfeng , Deng Zhihui , Qi Jiande
Published: December 2020

In view of the higher and higher assembly rate of the electronic stability control system (ESC in short), the control accuracy still needs to be improved. In order to make up for the insufficient accuracy of the tire model in the nonlinear area of the tire, in this paper, an algorithm for the electronic stability control system based on the control of tire force feedforward used in conjunction with tire force sensors is proposed. The algorithm takes into consideration the lateral stability of the tire under extreme conditions affected by the braking force. We use linear optimal control to determine the optimal yaw moment, and obtain the brake wheel cylinder pressure through an algorithm combining feedforward compensation based on measured tire force and feedback correction. The controller structure is divided into two layers, the upper layer is controlled by a linear quadratic regulator (LQR in short) and the lower layer is controlled by PID (Proportional-integral-derivative) and feedforward. After that, verification of the controller’s algorithms using software cosimulation and hardware-in-the-loop (HIL in short) testing in the double lane change (DLC in short) and sine with dwell (SWD in short) conditions. From the test results it can be concluded that the controller based on tire force observation has partially control advantages.
Deep-Learning Model to Predict Coronary Artery Calcium Scores in Humans from Electrocardiogram Data
Authors: Eem Changkyoung , Hong Hyunki , Noh Yoohun
Published: December 2020

We introduce a deep-learning neural network model that uses electrocardiogram (ECG) data to predict coronary artery calcium scores, which can be useful for reliably detecting cardiovascular risk in patients. In our pre-processing method, each lead of the ECG is segmented into several waves with an interval, which is determined as the period from the starting point of a P-wave to the end point of a T-wave. The number of segmented waves of one lead represents the number of heartbeats of the subject per 10 s. The segmented waves of one cycle are transformed into normalized waves with an amplitude of 0–1. Owing to the use of eight-lead ECG waves, the input ECG dataset has two dimensions. We used a convolutional neural network with 16 layers and 5 fully connected layers, comprising a one-dimensional filter to examine the normalized wave of one lead, rather than a two-dimensional filter to examine the coherence among the unit waves of eight leads. The training and testing are repeated 10 times with a randomly assigned dataset (177,547 ECGs). Our network model achieves an average area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.801–0.890, and the average accuracy is in the range of 72.9–80.6%.
Regulatory Requirements on the Competence of Remote Operator in Maritime Autonomous Surface Ship: Situation Awareness, Ship Sense and Goal-Based Gap Analysis
Authors: Yoshida Masanori , Shimizu Etsuro , Sugomori Masashi , Umeda Ayako
Published: December 2020

Maritime Autonomous Surface Ship (MASS) has been developed recently, and demonstration projects have been carried out internationally. Considering the full autonomous level is unlikely to be addressed shortly, remote control centre and Remote Operator (RO) will play a vital role in the MASS system. Although competence of watchkeeping at the ship’s bridge is inevitable for RO to avoid ship accidents caused by human errors, international requirements have not been introduced yet. This paper presents a way to develop the regulatory framework on the competence of RO based on the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW) by exploring the concept of Situation Awareness (SA). Goal-Based Gap Analysis (GBGA) is constructed based on the human-behaviour model and the required information for SA. A case study through the mini focus group discussion with interviews by a total of three (3) veteran instructors of training ships is conducted utilising the information including the results of previous demonstration projects on the remote control. The results show the relationship between required information and ship sense, shortage of these factors when RO is operating, additional competence and possible regulatory requirements for RO. The findings support the usefulness of GBGA and pave the way to develop a regulatory framework for RO further.
Evaluation of the Biomechanical Parameters of Human-Wheelchair Systems during Ramp Climbing with the Use of a Manual Wheelchair with Anti-Rollback Devices
Authors: Wieczorek Bartosz , Kukla Mateusz , Rybarczyk Dominik , Warguła Łukasz
Published: December 2020

Purpose: The main purpose of the research conducted was the analysis of kinematic and biomechanical parameters measured during manual wheelchair ramp-climbing with the use of the anti-rollback system and the comparison of the values tested with the manual wheelchair climbing the same ramp but without any modifications. The paper presents a quantitative assessment relating to the qualitative research of the anti-rollback system performed by another research team. Method and materials: The article presents the measurement results of the wheelchair motion kinematics and the activity of four upper limb muscles for eight subjects climbing a 4.58° ramp. Each subject propelled the wheelchair both with and without the anti-rollback system. The kinematic parameters were measured by means of two incremental encoders with the resolution of 500 impulses per single revolution of the measurement wheel. Whereas, the muscle activity was measured by means of surface electromyography with the use of Noraxon Mini DTS apparatus equipped with four measurement channels. Results: The surface electromyography measurement indicated an increase in the muscle activity for all four muscles, during the use of the anti-rollback system. The increase was: 18.56% for deltoid muscle anterior, 12.37% for deltoid muscle posteriori, 13.0% for triceps brachii, and 15.44% for extensor carpi radialis longus. As far as the kinematics analysis is concerned, a decrease in the measured kinematic parameters was observed in most participants. The medium velocity of the propelling cycle decreased by 26%. The ratio of the generated power and the loss power in a single propelling cycle λ had decreased by 18%. The least decrease was recorded for the measurement of mechanical energy E and the propelling cycle duration time. For the total mechanical energy, the decrease level was 3%, and for the propelling cycle duration it was 1%. The research carried out did not demonstrate any impact of the anti-rollback system use on the push phase share in the entire propelling cycle.
Evaluation of the In Vitro and In Vivo Antitumor Efficacy of Peanut Sprout Extracts Cultivated with Fermented Sawdust Medium Against Bladder Cancer
Authors: Park Hongbeom , Song Jun-Hui , Hwang Byungdoo , Moon BoKyung , Yun Seok-Joong , Kim Wun-Jae , Moon Sung-Kwon
Published: December 2020

Peanut sprout extracts reportedly exhibit numerous beneficial effects; however, there are few investigations on the biological effects of peanut sprout extracts cultivated with fermented sawdust medium (PSEFS). Here, we examined whether PSEFS demonstrates antitumor activity against bladder cancer, in vitro and in vivo. The results showed that PSEFS prohibited the proliferation of bladder cancer T24 cells, with this effect attributed to induction of cell cycle arrest at the G1 phase through reduced expression of cyclins and cyclin-dependent kinases caused by a promotion of p21WAF1 expression. Additionally, PSEFS induced phosphorylation of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase. Moreover, PSEFS treatment attenuated the invasive and migratory potential of T24 cells due to decreased matrix metalloproteinase-9 activity combined with downregulation of the transcriptional binding activity of SP1, activator protein -1, and nuclear factor-kappaB. Furthermore, PSEFS (20 mg/kg) attenuated the tumor-growth rate in xenograft mice bearing T24 cells, with an effect equivalent to that of cisplatin and in the absence of toxicity following weight-loss evaluation and hematobiochemical testing of PSEFS-treated mice. These results demonstrated the antitumor efficacy of PSEFS both in vitro and in vivo, thereby reporting it as a potential candidate for development of novel agents against bladder cancer.
A Landscape Study of Sediment Formation and Transport in the Urban Environment
Authors: Yarmoshenko Ilia , Malinovsky Georgy , Baglaeva Elena , Seleznev Andrian
Published: December 2020

Background: Sediment deposition in the urban environment affects aesthetic, economic, and other aspects of city life, and through re-suspension of dust, may pose serious risks to human health. Proper environmental management requires further understanding of natural and anthropogenic factors influencing the sedimentation processes in urbanized catchments. To fill the gaps in the knowledge about the relationship between the urban landscape and sedimentation, field landscape surveys were conducted in the residential areas of the Russian cities of Ekaterinburg, Nizhniy Novgorod, Rostov-on-Don, Tyumen, Chelyabinsk, and Murmansk. Methods: In each city, six elementary urban residential landscapes were chosen in blocks of multi-story apartment buildings typical for Russian cities. The method of landscape survey involved delineating functional segments within the elementary landscapes and describing each segment according to the developed procedure during a field survey. Results: The complexity of sedimentation processes in the urban environment was demonstrated. The following main groups of factors have significant impacts on sediment formation and transport in residential areas in Russian cities: low adaptation of infrastructure to a high density of automobiles, poor municipal services, and bad urban environmental management in the course of construction and earthworks. Conclusion: A high sediment formation potential was found for a considerable portion of residential areas.