bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
An Experimental Assessment of the Water Permeability of Concrete with a Superplasticizer and Admixtures
Authors: Skutnik Zdzisław , Sobolewski Mariusz , Koda Eugeniusz
Published: December 2020

This study presents a flow pump technique usually used for evaluating the permeability of soils, which was, for first time, applied to measure the water permeability of concrete. Additionally, a new easy-to-apply method to determine permeability is proposed, based on a modification of Valenta’s formula. In the calculations, the apparent air content of concrete mixes was taken into account. An additional purpose of the conducted research was to determine the influence of a new generation of polycarboxylate superplasticizer and chemically active admixtures on the permeability, compressive strength, and other properties of concrete. The following four types of concrete were tested: concrete without admixtures, concrete with an admixture to increase the compressive strength, concrete with a superplasticizer, and concrete containing two admixtures simultaneously. The results showed that the proposed method allows to obtain reliable measurements within a very short period of time. The obtained results confirmed that new method may be very useful in engineering practice, particularly in terms of the watertightness of hydrotechnical concretes and the properties of the concretes used in bridge construction, underground parts of office buildings, or sealed tanks.
Sustainability in the Aerospace, Naval, and Automotive Supply Chain 4.0: Descriptive Review
Authors: Ramirez-Peña Magdalena , Mayuet Pedro F. , Vazquez-Martinez Juan Manuel , Batista Moises
Published: December 2020

The search for sustainability in the Supply Chain (SC) is one of the tasks that most concerns business leaders in all manufacturing sectors because of the importance that the Supply Chain has as a transversal tool and due to the leading role that it has been playing lately. Of all the manufacturing sectors, this study focuses on the aerospace, shipbuilding, and automotive sectors identified as transport. The present study carries out a descriptive review of existing publications in these three sectors in relation to the sustainability of the Supply Chain in its 4.0 adaptation as an update in matters that are in constant evolution. Among the results obtained, Lean practices are common to the three sectors, as well as different technologies focused on sustainability. Furthermore, the results show that the automotive sector is the one that makes the greatest contribution in this sense through collaborative programs that can be very useful to the other two sectors, thus benefiting from the consequent applicable advantages. Meanwhile, the Aerospace and Shipbuilding sectors do not seem to be working on promoting a sustainable culture in the management of the Supply Chain or on including training programs for their personnel in matters related to Industry 4.0.
Highly Luminescent 4H-1,2,4-Triazole Derivatives: Synthesis, Molecular Structure and Photophysical Properties
Authors: Olesiejuk Monika , Kudelko Agnieszka , Świątkowski Marcin
Published: December 2020

An alternative approach to the Suzuki cross-coupling reaction is used to synthesize a series of new luminophores based on 4-alkyl-4H-1,2,4-triazole cores conjugated via 1,4-phenylene linker to fused-bicyclic and tricyclic aromatic, or heteroaromatic arrangements. The described methodology allows one to conduct the coupling reaction with the use of commercially available boronic acids in the presence of conventional solvents or ionic liquids and produced excellent yields. It was found that the use of ultrasounds or microwaves significantly accelerates the reaction. The obtained compounds exhibited high luminescent properties and a large quantum yield of emitted photons. The X-ray molecular structures of three highly conjugated 4H-1,2,4-triazole representatives are also presented.
Tensile Behavior of High-Strength, Strain-Hardening Cement-Based Composites (HS-SHCC) Reinforced with Continuous Textile Made of Ultra-High-Molecular-Weight Polyethylene
Authors: Gong Ting , Curosu Iurie , Liebold Frank , Vo Duy M. P. , Zierold Konrad , Maas Hans-Gerd , Cherif Chokri , Mechtcherine Viktor
Published: December 2020

The paper at hand presents an investigation of the tensile behavior of high-strength, strain-hardening cement-based composites (HS-SHCC), reinforced with a single layer of continuous, two-dimensional textile made of ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE). Uniaxial tension tests were performed on the bare UHMWPE textiles, on plain HS-SHCC, and on the hybrid fiber-reinforced composites. The bond properties between the textile yarns and the surrounding composite were investigated in single-yarn pullout experiments. In order to assess the influence of bond strength between the yarn and HS-SHCC on the tensile behavior of the composites with hybrid fiber reinforcement, the textile samples were analyzed both with, and without, an additional coating of epoxy resin and sand. Compared to the composites reinforced with carbon yarns in previous studies by the authors, the high elongation capacity of the UHMWPE textile established the higher strain capacity of the hybrid fiber-reinforced composites, and showed superior energy absorption capacity up to failure. The UHMWPE textile limited the average crack width in comparison with that of plain HS-SHCC, but led to slightly larger crack widths when compared to equivalent composites reinforced with carbon textile, the reason for which was traced back to the lower Young’s modulus and the higher elongation capacity of the polymer textile.
Influence of Sandblasting Particle Size and Pressure on Resin Bonding Durability to Zirconia: A Residual Stress Study
Authors: Kwon Sung-Min , Min Bong Ki , Kim Young Kyung , Kwon Tae-Yub
Published: December 2020

The influence of residual stress induced by sandblasting the zirconia ceramic surface on the resin bonding to the ceramic is still unclear. The effect of four different sandblasting conditions (with 50 and 110 μm alumina at pressures of 0.2 and 0.4 MPa) on the bonding of adhesive resin cement (Panavia F 2.0) to zirconia (Cercon® ht) was investigated in terms of residual stress. The surface roughness and water contact angle of the zirconia surfaces were measured. The tetragonal-to-monoclinic (t–m) phase transformation and residual stresses (sin2ψ method) were studied by X-ray diffraction. The resin-bonded zirconia specimens were subjected to shear bond strength (SBS) tests before and after thermocycling (10,000 and 30,000 cycles) (n = 10). As the particle size and pressure increased, the roughness gradually and significantly increased (p = 0.023). However, there were no significant differences in roughness-corrected contact angle among all the sandblasted groups (p > 0.05). As the particle size and pressure increased, the m-phase/(t-phase + m-phase) ratios and compressive residual stresses gradually increased. After thermocycling, there were no significant differences in SBS among the sandblasted zirconia groups (p > 0.05). In conclusion, increased surface roughness and residual stress do not directly affect the resin bonding durability.
Catalyst-Less and Transfer-Less Synthesis of Graphene on Si(100) Using Direct Microwave Plasma Enhanced Chemical Vapor Deposition and Protective Enclosures
Authors: Gudaitis Rimantas , Lazauskas Algirdas , Jankauskas Šarūnas , Meškinis Šarūnas
Published: December 2020

In this study, graphene was synthesized on the Si(100) substrates via the use of direct microwave plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD). Protective enclosures were applied to prevent excessive plasma etching of the growing graphene. The properties of synthesized graphene were investigated using Raman scattering spectroscopy and atomic force microscopy. Synthesis time, methane and hydrogen gas flow ratio, temperature, and plasma power effects were considered. The synthesized graphene exhibited n-type self-doping due to the charge transfer from Si(100). The presence of compressive stress was revealed in the synthesized graphene. It was presumed that induction of thermal stress took place during the synthesis process due to the large lattice mismatch between the growing graphene and the substrate. Importantly, it was demonstrated that continuous horizontal graphene layers can be directly grown on the Si(100) substrates if appropriate configuration of the protective enclosure is used in the microwave PECVD process.
Determination of the Entire Stent Surface Area by a New Analytical Method
Authors: Saqib Muhammad , Bernhardt Ricardo , Kästner Markus , Beshchasna Natalia , Cuniberti Gianaurelio , Opitz Jörg
Published: December 2020

Stenting is a widely used treatment procedure for coronary artery disease around the world. Stents have a complex geometry, which makes the characterization of their corrosion difficult due to the absence of a mathematical model to calculate the entire stent surface area (ESSA). Therefore, corrosion experiments with stents are mostly based on qualitative analysis. Additionally, the quantitative analysis of corrosion is conducted with simpler samples made of stent material instead of stents, in most cases. At present, several methods are available to calculate the stent outer surface area (SOSA), whereas no model exists for the calculation of the ESSA. This paper presents a novel mathematical model for the calculation of the ESSA using the SOSA as one of the main parameters. The ESSA of seven magnesium alloy stents (MeKo Laser Material Processing GmbH, Sarstedt, Germany) were calculated using the developed model. The calculated SOSA and ESSA for all stents are 33.34%(±0.26%) and 111.86 mm (±0.85 mm), respectively. The model is validated by micro-computed tomography (micro-CT), with a difference of 12.34% (±0.46%). The value of corrosion rates calculated using the ESSA computed with the developed model will be 12.34% (±0.46%) less than that of using ESSA obtained by micro-CT.
Manufacturing of Lightweight Aggregates as an Auspicious Method of Sewage Sludge Utilization
Authors: Korol Jerzy , Głodniok Marcin , Hejna Aleksander , Pawlik Tomasz , Chmielnicki Błażej , Bondaruk Jan
Published: December 2020

Sewage sludge is a high-volume and low-cost waste commonly generated worldwide, so its utilization is a vital issue. The application of this waste in the manufacturing of lightweight aggregates was investigated. The process was performed using intensive mixers with volumes of 5 and 30 L, as well as the industrial 500 L mixer. Then, granulates were sintered in a tube furnace. The influence of composition and mixer size on the particle size, microstructure, mechanical performance, and stability of lightweight aggregates in different environments was analyzed. The best results were obtained for a 500 L mixer, enhancing the industrial potential of the presented process. Increasing the share of sewage sludge in the composition of aggregates enhanced their porosity and reduced the specific weight, which caused a drop in compressive strength. Nevertheless, for all analyzed materials, the mechanical performance was superior compared to many commercial products. Therefore, sewage sludge can be efficiently applied as a raw material for the manufacturing of lightweight aggregates. The presented results confirm that a proper adjustment of composition allows easy the tailoring of aggregates’ performance and cost.
Microstructural Evolution and Mechanical Behavior of Thermally Aged Cast Duplex Stainless Steel
Authors: Li Zhenhua , Hu Ying , Chen Tao , Wang Xinyu , Liu Pan , Lu Yonghao
Published: December 2020

The microstructural evolution and mechanical behavior of cast duplex stainless steels (CDSSs) at 400 °C for different thermal aging times were investigated by transmission electron microscope (TEM) and small punch test (SPT). The results showed that the spinodal decomposition in ferrite was the main reason for the decrease in toughness, and G-phase did not play an important role in the embrittlement process. The change of membrane stretching zone (Wm) played an important role in the SPT load-displacement curve before and after thermal aging. During the deformation process of Wm in the SPT, for thermal aging for 10,000 h, some completely curved slip bands were generated inside the ferrite phase, which had no contact with the δ/γ phase interface and belonged to the slip bands produced by the independent deformation of ferrite. The combined effect of the curved slip bands and stress concentration led to the initiation of obvious micro-cracks at the δ/γ phase interface. The micro-cracks propagated along the ferrite phase curved slip bands, and eventually penetrated the entire hardened ferrite phase.
Magnetic and Tunable Sound Absorption Properties of an In-Situ Prepared Magnetorheological Foam
Authors: Muhazeli Noor Sahirah , Nordin Nur Azmah , Ubaidillah Ubaid , Mazlan Saiful Amri , Abdul Aziz Siti Aishah , Nazmi Nurhazimah , Yahya Iwan
Published: December 2020

Conventional polyurethane foam has non-tunable sound absorption properties. Here, a magneto-induced foam, called magnetorheological (MR) foam, was fabricated with the feature of being able to tune sound absorption properties, primarily from the middle- to higher-frequency ranges. Three different samples of MR foams were fabricated in situ by varying the concentration of Carbonyl Iron Particles (CIPs) (0, 35, and 75 wt.%). The magnetization properties and tunable sound absorption characteristics were evaluated. From the magnetic saturation properties, the results showed very narrow and small coercivity of hysteresis loops relative to the soft magnetic properties of the CIPs. MR foam with 75 wt.% CIPs showed a higher magnetic saturation at 91.350 emu/g compared to MR foam with 35 wt.% CIPs at 63.896 emu/g. For tunable sound absorption testing, the effect of ‘shifting’ to higher frequency was also observed when the magnetic field was applied, which was ~10 Hz for MR foam with 35 wt.% CIPs and ~130 Hz for MR foam with 75 wt.% CIPs. As the latest evolution of semi-active noise control materials, the results from this study are valuable guidance for the advancement of MR-based devices.
Development and Optimization of Tin/Flux Mixture for Direct Tinning and Interfacial Bonding in Aluminum/Steel Bimetallic Compound Casting
Authors: Ramadan Mohamed , Alghamdi Abdulaziz S. , Hafez K. M. , Subhani Tayyab , Abdel Halim K. S.
Published: December 2020

Interfacial bonding highly affects the quality of bimetallic bearing materials, which primarily depend upon the surface quality of a solid metal substrate in liquid–solid compound casting. In many cases, an intermediate thin metallic layer is deposited on the solid substrate before depositing the liquid metal, which improves the interfacial bonding of the opposing materials. The present work aims to develop and optimize the tinning process of a solid carbon steel substrate after incorporating flux constituents with the tin powder. Five ratios of tin-to-flux—i.e., 1:1, 1:5, 1:10, 1:15, and 1:20—were used for tinning process of carbon steel solid substrate. Furthermore, the effect of volume ratios of liquid Al-based bearing alloy to solid steel substrate were also varied—i.e., 5:1, 6.5:1 and 8.5:1—to optimize the microstructural and mechanical performance, which were evaluated by interfacial microstructural investigation, bonding area determination, hardness and interfacial strength measurements. It was found that a tin-to-flux ratio of 1:10 offered the optimum performance in AlSn12Si4Cu1/steel bimetallic materials, showing a homogenous and continuous interfacial layer structure, while tinned steels using other percentages showed discontinuous and thin layers, as in 1:5 and 1:15, respectively. Furthermore, bimetallic interfacial bonding area and hardness increased by increasing the volume ratio of liquid Al alloy to solid steel substrate. A complete interface bonding area was achieved by using the volume ratio of liquid Al alloy to solid steel substrate of ≥8.5.
Measurement of Dynamic Elastic Modulus and Poisson’s Ratio of Chemically Strengthened Glass
Authors: Ryou Sun-Youn , Lee Chang-Soon , Cho In-Sik , Amanov Auezhan
Published: December 2020

Glass with strong durability and transparency has been in the spotlight in various fields, including displays. Elastic and shear moduli and Poisson’s ratio are important properties of glasses. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the change in mechanical properties, such as the dynamic elastic modulus and Poisson’s ratio, with respect to the chemical strengthening time of glass for display applications, as measured by static and dynamic methods. The basic measurement principle of the dynamic method is to measure acoustic speed or resonant frequency using an ultrasonic generator. The mechanical properties of both non-strengthened and chemically strengthened glasses were investigated. It was found that the strength of the chemically strengthened glass decreased when chemical strengthening time increased. Chemical strengthening increased the bending strength and decreased the elastic modulus due to the introduction of compressive residual stress at the surface.
Micro-Mechanisms of Shear Deformation Localization of Ti6Al4V Alloy under Shear-Compressive Loading Conditions
Authors: Li Lintao , Jin Tao , Shuang Fei , Li Zhiqiang , Wang Zhihua , Ma Wei
Published: December 2020

Titanium Ti6Al4V alloy is a superior material that has extremely high strength, hardness and good anti-corrosion resistance. Dynamic shear-compression experiments were carried out on the alloy to investigate the micro-mechanisms of adiabatic shear banding (ASB) formation. The split Hopkinson pressure bar (SHPB) setup were used for the tests at high strain rates. It was found that the shear deformation localization (SDL) was considerably affected by the complex loading conditions. The micro-mechanisms for the ASB formation relied on different shear compressive proportion of loadings (SCLPs). Scanning electron microscope (SEM) observations showed that the ASB width was related with the SCLP and the fracture failure of alloy was induced by the nucleation and growth of microvoids. In transmission electron microscope (TEM) analysis, the microstructural changes of material within the ASB were characterized by dynamic recrystallization (DRX) and twining grain formation, dislocation migration, and stacking and grain refining processes. The results in this article demonstrates a complex image of microstructural evolution of alloy in the shear localization process.
The Influence of Criteria Selection Method on Consistency of Pairwise Comparison
Authors: Bureš Vladimír , Cabal Jiří , Čech Pavel , Mls Karel , Ponce Daniela
Published: December 2020

The more criteria a human decision involves, the more inconsistent the decision. This study experimentally examines the effect on the degree of pairwise comparison inconsistency by using the (im)possibility of selecting the criteria for the evaluation and the size of the decision-making problem. A total of 358 participants completed objective and subjective tasks. While the former was associated with one possible correct solution, there was no single correct solution for the latter. The design of the experiment enabled the acquisition of eight groups in which the degree of inconsistency was quantified using three inconsistency indices (the Consistency Index, the Consistency Ratio and the Euclidean distance) and these were analysed by the repeated measures ANOVA. The results show a significant dependence of the degree of inconsistency on the method of determining the criteria for pairwise evaluation. If participants are randomly given the criteria, then with more criteria, the overall inconsistency of the comparison decreases. If the participants can themselves choose the criteria for the comparison, then with more criteria, the overall inconsistency of the comparison increases. This statistical dependence exists only for males. For females, the dependence is the opposite, but it is not statistically significant.
Finite Cascades of Pitchfork Bifurcations and Multistability in Generalized Lorenz-96 Models
Authors: Pelzer Anouk F. G. , Sterk Alef E.
Published: December 2020

In this paper, we study a family of dynamical systems with circulant symmetry, which are obtained from the Lorenz-96 model by modifying its nonlinear terms. For each member of this family, the dimension n can be arbitrarily chosen and a forcing parameter F acts as a bifurcation parameter. The primary focus in this paper is on the occurrence of finite cascades of pitchfork bifurcations, where the length of such a cascade depends on the divisibility properties of the dimension n. A particularly intriguing aspect of this phenomenon is that the parameter values F of the pitchfork bifurcations seem to satisfy the Feigenbaum scaling law. Further bifurcations can lead to the coexistence of periodic or chaotic attractors. We also describe scenarios in which the number of coexisting attractors can be reduced through collisions with an equilibrium.
Relationship between Night Shifts and Risk of Breast Cancer among Nurses: A Systematic Review
Authors: Fagundo-Rivera Javier , Gómez-Salgado Juan , García-Iglesias Juan Jesús , Gómez-Salgado Carlos , Camacho-Martín Selena , Ruiz-Frutos Carlos
Published: December 2020

Background and objectives: The incidence of breast cancer worldwide has increased in recent decades, accounting for 1 in 3 neoplasms in women. Besides, nurses are mainly represented by the female collective, most of them, undertaking working conditions with intensive rotative and night shifts due to the 24-h pace of work of this profession. The objective of this study was to assess the possible relationship between shift work, especially night-time work, and the development of breast cancer among nurses. Materials and Methods: A systematic review of the literature was carried out through the consultation of the following databases: Cochrane Plus Library, PubMed, CINAHL (Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature), Web of Science, ScienceDirect, Scopus, and Dialnet. Records were selected between 2010 and 2020, in Spanish and English, which covered the association between breast cancer diagnosed among nursing professionals and rotating night shifts. Results: A total of 12 studies were identified after critical reading. Most of the studies found an association between breast cancer and consecutive rotating night shifts prolonged over time. Among the associated factors, the alteration of the circadian rhythm influenced the expression of peripheral clock genes, which was the same as reproductive hormones. The risk of breast cancer in nurses increased during early adulthood and after 5 or more years with 6 or more consecutive nights. Conclusions: The different studies of this review show significant associations between breast cancer and prolonged rotating night shifts. Similarly, there is a relationship between the alterations in certain circadian rhythm markers (such as melatonin), epigenetic markers (such as telomeres), and breast cancer that would require more studies in order to corroborate these findings.
A Co-Induction Technique Utilizing 4% Sevoflurane Followed by 0.75 mg/kg Propofol in Elderly Patients Undergoing Minimally Invasive Procedures: A Prospective Randomized Control Study
Authors: Ababneh Omar A. , Suleiman Aiman M. , Bsisu Isam K. , Al-Ghanem Subhi M. , Samarah Walid K. , Al-Zaben Khaled R. , Qudaisat Ibraheem Y. , Khreesha Lubna A. , Al Edwan Ghazi M. , Murshidi Mujalli M.
Published: December 2020

Background and Objectives: Elderly patients constitute a large segment of healthcare receivers. Considering the functional deterioration of multiple organ systems with aging, achieving a safe perioperative approach is challenging. Our aim is to study the safety and effectiveness of a genuinely regimented co-induction technique in order to minimize anesthesia-related complications. Materials and Methods: One hundred and five patients were assigned to three groups according to the induction technique: propofol, sevoflurane and co-induction group. Inclusion criteria: patients with age ≥65 and American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status classification (ASA) II-III who underwent endoscopic urological procedures. The propofol group received a dose of 1.5 mg kg−1 of propofol over two minutes for induction. The sevoflurane group received 8% of sevoflurane and 100% oxygen through a plastic facemask with the fresh gas flow set at 8 L min−1. The co-induction group received 4% sevoflurane through plastic facemask for two minutes, followed by a 0.75 mg kg−1 dose of propofol. After ensuring full range jaw relaxation, the laryngeal mask airway (LMA) was inserted. Results: Overall, the co-induction technique had a favorable profile in terms of respiratory adverse events, while the sevoflurane group had a favorable profile in terms of hemodynamic stability. Furthermore, 24 (68.6%) patients receiving inhalational sevoflurane had episodes of transient apnea, which constitutes 77.4% of the 31 episodes of transient apnea in the studied sample (p < 0.001). Moreover, six (17.1%) patients in the sevoflurane group had an episode of partial laryngospasm (p = 0.034). Compared with the co-induction group, we found that the propofol group had significantly less systolic and diastolic blood pressures in the second minute, with p values of (0.018) and (0.015), respectively. Conclusions: The co-induction technique utilizing 4% sevoflurane at 8 L min−1 flow of oxygen inhaled over two minutes followed by 0.75 mg kg−1 of propofol achieved less respiratory adverse events compared with the sevoflurane group, and less hemodynamic instability compared with the propofol group.
Additive Modulated Perovskite Microstructures for High Performance Photodetectors
Authors: Gao Zhan , Zheng Yifan , Huang Guancheng , Yang Genjie , Yu Xinge , Yu Junsheng
Published: December 2020

Organic-inorganic hybrid perovskites have been widely used as light sensitive components for high-efficient photodetectors due to their superior optoelectronic properties. However, the unwanted crystallographic defects of perovskites typically result in high dark current, and thus limit the performance of the device. Herein, we introduce a simple route of microstructures control in MAPbI3 perovskites that associates with introducing an additive of 3,3,4,4-benzophenonetetracarboxylic dianhydridean (BPTCD) for crystallization adjustment of the perovskite film. The BPTCD additive can facilitate the formation of high-quality perovskite film with a compact and nearly pinhole-free morphology. Through characterizing the molecular interactions, it was found that the carbonyl groups in BPTCD is the key reason that promoted the nucleation and crystallization of MAPbI3. As a result, we obtained high-efficient and stable perovskite photodetectors with low dark current of 9.98 × 10−8 A at −0.5 V, an on/off ratio value of 103, and a high detectivity exceeding 1012 Jones over the visible region.
Review and Mechanism of the Thickness Effect of Solid Dielectrics
Authors: Zhao Liang , Liu Chun Liang
Published: December 2020

The thickness effect of solid dielectrics means the relation between the electric breakdown strength (EBD) and the dielectric thickness (d). By reviewing different types of expressions of EBD on d, it is found that the minus power relation (EBD = E1d−a) is supported by plenty of experimental results. The physical mechanism responsible for the minus power relation of the thickness effect is reviewed and improved. In addition, it is found that the physical meaning of the power exponent a is approximately the relative standard error of the EBD distributions in perspective of the Weibull distribution. In the end, the factors influencing the power exponent a are discussed.
Is Gluten the Only Culprit for Non-Celiac Gluten/Wheat Sensitivity?
Authors: Mumolo Maria Gloria , Rettura Francesco , Melissari Sara , Costa Francesco , Ricchiuti Angelo , Ceccarelli Linda , de Bortoli Nicola , Marchi Santino , Bellini Massimo
Published: December 2020

The gluten-free diet (GFD) has gained increasing popularity in recent years, supported by marketing campaigns, media messages and social networks. Nevertheless, real knowledge of gluten and GF-related implications for health is still poor among the general population. The GFD has also been suggested for non-celiac gluten/wheat sensitivity (NCG/WS), a clinical entity characterized by intestinal and extraintestinal symptoms induced by gluten ingestion in the absence of celiac disease (CD) or wheat allergy (WA). NCG/WS should be regarded as an “umbrella term” including a variety of different conditions where gluten is likely not the only factor responsible for triggering symptoms. Other compounds aside from gluten may be involved in the pathogenesis of NCG/WS. These include fructans, which are part of fermentable oligosaccharides, disaccharides, monosaccharides and polyols (FODMAPs), amylase trypsin inhibitors (ATIs), wheat germ agglutinin (WGA) and glyphosate. The GFD might be an appropriate dietary approach for patients with self-reported gluten/wheat-dependent symptoms. A low-FODMAP diet (LFD) should be the first dietary option for patients referring symptoms more related to FODMAPs than gluten/wheat and the second-line treatment for those with self-reported gluten/wheat-related symptoms not responding to the GFD. A personalized approach, regular follow-up and the help of a skilled dietician are mandatory.
Metabolic Bone Disease of Prematurity: Risk Factors and Associated Short-Term Outcomes
Authors: Avila-Alvarez Alejandro , Urisarri Adela , Fuentes-Carballal Jesús , Mandiá Natalia , Sucasas-Alonso Andrea , Couce María L.
Published: December 2020

Despite the importance of early recognition of metabolic bone disease (MBD) of prematurity, there is still significant variability in screening practices across institutions. We conducted an observational study of infants born at ≤32 weeks of gestation with a birth weight of ≤1500 g (n = 218) to identify clinical factors associated with biochemical indicators of MBD. Bone mineral status was assessed by measuring alkaline phosphatase and phosphate levels between weeks 3 and 5 of life. Two comparisons were performed after classifying infants as either MBD (cases) or non-MBD (controls), and as either high or low risk for MBD, as determined based on the results of MBD screening. In total, 27 infants (12.3%) were classified as cases and 96 (44%) as high-risk. Compared with controls, MBD infants had a significantly lower gestational age and birth weight, and a longer duration of parenteral nutrition and hospital stay. Respiratory outcomes were significantly poorer in high- versus low-risk infants. Multivariate logistic regression showed that birth weight was the only independent risk factor for MBD (odds ratio [OR]/100 g, 0.811; confidence interval [CI95%], 0.656–0.992; p = 0.045) and that birth weight (OR/100 g, 0.853; CI95%, 0.731–0.991; p = 0.039) and red blood cell transfusion (OR, 2.661; CI95%, 1.308–5.467; p = 0.007) were independent risk factors for high risk of MBD. Our findings provide evidence of risk factors for MBD that could help clinicians to individualize perinatal management. The association of red blood cell transfusion with MBD is a novel finding that may be related to iron overload and that merits further study.
Dietary Cameroonian Plants Exhibit Anti-Inflammatory Activity in Human Gastric Epithelial Cells
Authors: Nwakiban Achille Parfait Atchan , Fumagalli Marco , Piazza Stefano , Magnavacca Andrea , Martinelli Giulia , Beretta Giangiacomo , Magni Paolo , Tchamgoue Armelle Deutou , Agbor Gabriel Agbor , Kuiaté Jules-Roger , Dell’Agli Mario , Sangiovanni Enrico
Published: December 2020

In Cameroon, local plants are traditionally used as remedies for a variety of ailments. In this regard, several papers report health benefits of Cameroonian spices, which include antioxidant and anti-microbial properties, whereas gastric anti-inflammatory activities have never been previously considered. The present study investigates the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities of hydro-alcoholic extracts of eleven Cameroonian spices in gastric epithelial cells (AGS and GES-1 cells). The extracts showed antioxidant properties in a cell-free system and reduced H2O2-induced ROS generation in gastric epithelial cells. After preliminary screening on TNFα-induced NF-κB driven transcription, six extracts from Xylopia parviflora, Xylopia aethiopica, Tetrapleura tetraptera, Dichrostachys glomerata, Aframomum melegueta, and Aframomum citratum were selected for further studies focusing on the anti-inflammatory activity. The extracts reduced the expression of some NF-κB-dependent pro-inflammatory mediators strictly involved in the gastric inflammatory process, such as IL-8, IL-6, and enzymes such as PTGS2 (COX-2), without affecting PTGS1 (COX-1). In conclusion, the selected extracts decreased pro-inflammatory markers by inhibiting the NF-κB signaling in gastric cells, justifying, in part, the traditional use of these spices. Other molecular mechanisms cannot be excluded, and further studies are needed to better clarify their biological activities at the gastric level.
Hijacking and Use of Host Kinases by Chlamydiae
Authors: Sah Prakash , Lutter Erika I.
Published: December 2020

Chlamydia species are causative agents of sexually transmitted infections, blinding trachoma, and animal infections with zoonotic potential. Being an obligate intracellular pathogen, Chlamydia relies on the host cell for its survival and development, subverting various host cell processes throughout the infection cycle. A key subset of host proteins utilized by Chlamydia include an assortment of host kinase signaling networks which are vital for many chlamydial processes including entry, nutrient acquisition, and suppression of host cell apoptosis. In this review, we summarize the recent advancements in our understanding of host kinase subversion by Chlamydia.
Metformin Protects against Podocyte Injury in Diabetic Kidney Disease
Authors: Lehtonen Sanna
Published: December 2020

Metformin is the most commonly prescribed drug for treating type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D). Its mechanisms of action have been under extensive investigation, revealing that it has multiple cellular targets, either direct or indirect ones, via which it regulates numerous cellular pathways. Diabetic kidney disease (DKD), the serious complication of T2D, develops in up to 50% of the individuals with T2D. Various mechanisms contribute to the development of DKD, including hyperglycaemia, dyslipidemia, oxidative stress, chronic low-grade inflammation, altered autophagic activity and insulin resistance, among others. Metformin has been shown to affect these pathways, and thus, it could slow down or prevent the progression of DKD. Despite several animal studies demonstrating the renoprotective effects of metformin, there is no concrete evidence in clinical settings. This review summarizes the renoprotective effects of metformin in experimental settings. Special emphasis is on the effects of metformin on podocytes, the glomerular epithelial cells that are central in maintaining the glomerular ultrafiltration function.
Vegetation Dynamic Changes and Their Response to Ecological Engineering in the Sanjiangyuan Region of China
Authors: Zhai Xiaohui , Liang Xiaolei , Yan Changzhen , Xing Xuegang , Jia Haowei , Wei Xiaoxu , Feng Kun
Published: December 2020

In recent decades, the vegetation of the Sanjiangyuan region has undergone a series of changes under the influence of climate change, and ecological restoration projects have been implemented. In this paper, we analyze the spatiotemporal dynamics of vegetation in this region using the satellite-retrieved normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) from the global inventory modeling and mapping studies (GIMMS) and moderate resolution imaging and spectroradiometer (MODIS) datasets during the past 34 years. Specifically, the characteristics of vegetation changes were analyzed according to the stage of implementation of different ecological engineering programs. The results are as follows. (1) The vegetation in 65.6% of the study area exhibited an upward trend, and in 53.0% of the area, it displayed a large increase, which was mainly distributed in the eastern part of the study area. (2) The vegetation NDVI increased to differing degrees during stages of ecological engineering. (3) The NDVI in the western part of the Sanjiangyuan region is mainly affected by temperature, while in the northeastern part, the NDVI is affected more by precipitation. In the southern part, however, vegetation growth is affected neither by temperature nor by precipitation. On the whole region, vegetation growing is more affected by temperature than by precipitation. (4) The impacts of human activities on vegetation change are both positive and negative. In recent years, ecological engineering projects have had a positive impact on vegetation growth. This study can help us to correctly understand the impact of climate change on vegetation growth, so as to provide a scientific basis for the evaluation of regional ecological engineering effectiveness and the formulation of ecological protection policies.
Thermal Infrared Radiation and Laser Ultrasound for Deformation and Water Saturation Effects Testing in Limestone
Authors: Kravcov Alexander , Cherepetskaya Elena , Svoboda Pavel , Blokhin Dmitry , Ivanov Pavel , Shibaev Ivan
Published: December 2020

During the operation of engineering structures made of natural stone, for industrial and civil purposes, an important parameter in monitoring their technical condition is the assessment of their reliability and safety under the influence of various external influences. In this case, high-quality monitoring of the stress–strain state of natural stone structures, its physical, mechanical and filtration properties, as well as internal structural features is necessary to study the possibility of replacing individual elements of objects that have lost their original characteristics. To assess the state of geomaterials, this article proposes using a complex of introscopic methods, including infrared radiometry and laser-ultrasound structuroscopy. An important aspect is the calculation based on the Green–Christoffel equation of the velocity of a quasi-longitudinal wave in limestone consisting of densely packed, chaotically oriented calcite grains with a small quartz content. For the first time, using laser-ultrasonic structuroscopy and standard methods for determining open porosity, both total and closed porosity were determined. This allowed us to find the values of specific heat capacities of dry and water-saturated samples. The obtained values are used to find the ratio of changes in the temperature of dry and water-saturated samples at the same stress values. The results obtained demonstrate the need to take into account changes in the intensity of thermal radiation of limestone with different moisture content under conditions of uniaxial compression, when identifying changes in the stress state of elements of stone structures in real conditions.
Spectrum- and RGB-D-Based Image Fusion for the Prediction of Nitrogen Accumulation in Wheat
Authors: Xu Ke , Zhang Jingchao , Li Huaimin , Cao Weixing , Zhu Yan , Jiang Xiaoping , Ni Jun
Published: December 2020

The accurate estimation of nitrogen accumulation is of great significance to nitrogen fertilizer management in wheat production. To overcome the shortcomings of spectral technology, which ignores the anisotropy of canopy structure when predicting the nitrogen accumulation in wheat, resulting in low accuracy and unstable prediction results, we propose a method for predicting wheat nitrogen accumulation based on the fusion of spectral and canopy structure features. After depth images are repaired using a hole-filling algorithm, RGB images and depth images are fused through IHS transformation, and textural features of the fused images are then extracted in order to express the three-dimensional structural information of the canopy. The fused images contain depth information of the canopy, which breaks through the limitation of extracting canopy structure features from a two-dimensional image. By comparing the experimental results of multiple regression analyses and BP neural networks, we found that the characteristics of the canopy structure effectively compensated for the model prediction of nitrogen accumulation based only on spectral characteristics. Our prediction model displayed better accuracy and stability, with prediction accuracy values (R2) based on BP neural network for the leaf layer nitrogen accumulation (LNA) and shoot nitrogen accumulation (SNA) during a full growth period of 0.74 and 0.73, respectively, and corresponding relative root mean square errors (RRMSEs) of 40.13% and 35.73%.
Using Hyperspectral Imagery to Detect an Invasive Fungal Pathogen and Symptom Severity in Pinus strobiformis Seedlings of Different Genotypes
Authors: Haagsma Marja , Page Gerald F. M. , Johnson Jeremy S. , Still Christopher , Waring Kristen M. , Sniezko Richard A. , Selker John S.
Published: December 2020

Finding trees that are resistant to pathogens is key in preparing for current and future disease threats such as the invasive white pine blister rust. In this study, we analyzed the potential of using hyperspectral imaging to find and diagnose the degree of infection of the non-native white pine blister rust in southwestern white pine seedlings from different seed-source families. A support vector machine was able to automatically detect infection with a classification accuracy of 87% (κ = 0.75) over 16 image collection dates. Hyperspectral imaging only missed 4% of infected seedlings that were impacted in terms of vigor according to expert’s assessments. Classification accuracy per family was highly correlated with mortality rate within a family. Moreover, classifying seedlings into a ‘growth vigor’ grouping used to identify the degree of impact of the disease was possible with 79.7% (κ = 0.69) accuracy. We ranked hyperspectral features for their importance in both classification tasks using the following features: 84 vegetation indices, simple ratios, normalized difference indices, and first derivatives. The most informative features were identified using a ‘new search algorithm’ that combines both the p-value of a 2-sample t-test and the Bhattacharyya distance. We ranked the normalized photochemical reflectance index (PRIn) first for infection detection. This index also had the highest classification accuracy (83.6%). Indices such as PRIn use only a small subset of the reflectance bands. This could be used for future developments of less expensive and more data-parsimonious multispectral cameras.
Robust T-End Detection via T-End Signal Quality Index and Optimal Shrinkage
Authors: Su Pei-Chun , Soliman Elsayed Z. , Wu Hau-Tieng
Published: December 2020

An automatic accurate T-wave end (T-end) annotation for the electrocardiogram (ECG) has several important clinical applications. While there have been several algorithms proposed, their performance is usually deteriorated when the signal is noisy. Therefore, we need new techniques to support the noise robustness in T-end detection. We propose a new algorithm based on the signal quality index (SQI) for T-end, coined as tSQI, and the optimal shrinkage (OS). For segments with low tSQI, the OS is applied to enhance the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR). We validated the proposed method using eleven short-term ECG recordings from QT database available at Physionet, as well as four 14-day ECG recordings which were visually annotated at a central ECG core laboratory. We evaluated the correlation between the real-world signal quality for T-end and tSQI, and the robustness of proposed algorithm to various additive noises of different types and SNR’s. The performance of proposed algorithm on arrhythmic signals was also illustrated on MITDB arrhythmic database. The labeled signal quality is well captured by tSQI, and the proposed OS denoising help stabilize existing T-end detection algorithms under noisy situations by making the mean of detection errors decrease. Even when applied to ECGs with arrhythmia, the proposed algorithm still performed well if proper metric is applied. We proposed a new T-end annotation algorithm. The efficiency and accuracy of our algorithm makes it a good fit for clinical applications and large ECG databases. This study is limited by the small size of annotated datasets.
A Sensor Fusion Based Nonholonomic Wheeled Mobile Robot for Tracking Control
Authors: Tsai Shun-Hung , Kao Li-Hsiang , Lin Hung-Yi , Lin Ta-Chun , Song Yu-Lin , Chang Luh-Maan
Published: December 2020

In this paper, a detail design procedure of the real-time trajectory tracking for the nonholonomic wheeled mobile robot (NWMR) is proposed. A 9-axis micro electro-mechanical systems (MEMS) inertial measurement unit (IMU) sensor is used to measure the posture of the NWMR, the position information of NWMR and the hand-held device are acquired by global positioning system (GPS) and then transmit via radio frequency (RF) module. In addition, in order to avoid the gimbal lock produced by the posture computation from Euler angles, the quaternion is utilized to compute the posture of the NWMR. Furthermore, the Kalman filter is used to filter out the readout noise of the GPS and calculate the position of NWMR and then track the object. The simulation results show the posture error between the NWMR and the hand-held device can converge to zero after 3.928 seconds for the dynamic tracking. Lastly, the experimental results show the validation and feasibility of the proposed results.
An Advanced Statistical Approach Using Weighted Linear Regression in Electroanalytical Method Development for Epinephrine, Uric Acid and Ascorbic Acid Determination
Authors: Majer David , Mastnak Tinkara , Finšgar Matjaž
Published: December 2020

In this study, the use of weighted linear regression in the development of electrochemical methods for the determination of epinephrine (EP), ascorbic acid (AA), and uric acid (UA) is presented. The measurements were performed using a glassy carbon electrode and square-wave voltammetry (SWV). All electroanalytical methods were validated by determination of the limit of detection, limit of quantification, linear concentration range, accuracy, and precision. The normal distribution of all data sets was checked using the quantile-quantile plot and Kolmogorov-Smirnov statistical tests. The heteroscedasticity of the data was tested using Hartley’s test, Bartlett’s test, Cochran’s C test, and the analysis of residuals. The heteroscedastic behavior was observed with all analytes, justifying the use of weighted linear regression. Six different weighting factors were tested, and the best weighted model was determined using relative percentage error. Such statistical approach improved the regression models by giving greater weight on the values with the smallest error and vice versa. Consequently, accuracy of the analytical results (especially in the lower concentration range) was improved. All methods were successfully used for the determination of these analytes in real samples: EP in an epinephrine auto-injector, AA in a dietary supplement, and UA in human urine. The accuracy and precision of real sample analysis using best weighted model gave satisfactory results with recoveries between 95.21–113.23% and relative standard deviations between 0.85–7.98%. The SWV measurement takes about 40 s, which makes the presented methods for the determination of EP, AA, and UA a promising alternative to chromatographic techniques in terms of speed, analysis, and equipment costs, as the analysis is performed without organic solvents.