bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Aggressive Primary Cutaneous Anaplastic T-Cell Lymphoma Successfully Treated with Autologous Stem Cell Transplant and Brentuximab Vedotin Consolidation: Case Report and Review of the Literature
Authors: Guarnera Luca , Meconi Federico , Pocci Marco , Esposito Fabiana , Rizzo Manuela , Rapisarda Vito Mario , Zizzari Annagiulia , Di Raimondo Cosimo , Pupo Livio , Anemona Lucia , Cantonetti Maria
Published: March 2022

Primary cutaneous CD30+ lymphoproliferative disorders include primary cutaneous anaplastic large cell lymphoma (pcALCL) and lymphomatoid papulosis. The prognosis of the disease is usually excellent but, in a minority of cases, it presents with extracutaneous involvement and aggressive behavior. The case we present—relapsed after surgical excision, immunosuppressive therapy, and conventional chemotherapy—is the first one treated with Autologous Stem Cell transplant followed by Brentuximab Vedotin consolidation, a scheme already used for high risk Hodgkin Lymphoma.
Markers of Maternal Insulin Resistance and Lipid Ratios Measured in Early Pregnancy Are Related to Adverse Fetomaternal Outcomes in Women Treated for Hyperglycemia Detected in Early Pregnancy—Data from a Retrospective Cohort Study
Authors: Zawiejska Agnieszka , Wróblewska-Seniuk Katarzyna , Gutaj Paweł , Kippen Joanna , Gomulska Anna , Wender-Ozegowska Ewa
Published: March 2022

Background: Hyperglycemia detected in early pregnancy is still inadequately studied as a risk factor for adverse maternal and neonatal outcomes. Methods: a retrospective study of a cohort of N = 193 women in singleton pregnancies with hyperglycemia diagnosed before the 20th gestational week (GW). Results: characteristics of the study group: GW at the diagnosis: 12.0 (9.0; 15.0), diabetes diagnosed in early pregnancy (eDiP): 21%, insulin-therapy required: 61.8%, gestational hypertension/preeclampsia: 7.7%, premature delivery: 9.2%, composite adverse neonatal outcome: 59.2%, high (LGA) birth weight/low (SGA) birth weight according to the WHO growth charts: 24.2%/9.2%, respectively. Women with eDiP have lower eGDR, a higher TAG/HDL ratio, and a higher atherogenic index of plasma (AIP) compared to women with gestational diabetes diagnosed in early pregnancy—eGDM (9.33 ± 1.56 vs. 7.92 ± 2.54, p = 0.007, 1.06 ± 0.78, vs. 1.25 ± 0.68, p = 0.020, and −0.06 ± 0.25 vs. 0.04 ± 0.23 p = 0.021, respectively). NonHDL/HDL cholesterol ratio > 2.6, and AIP > 0.24 total/HDL cholesterol ratio > 4.5 significantly predicted metabolic adverse neonatal outcome (hypoglycemia and/or hyperbilirubinemia)—OR (95% CI): 4.62 (1.35; 15.79), 3.60 (1.04; 12.48), 8.75 (1.02; 74.83), respectively. Conclusions: 1, Hyperglycemia diagnosed in early pregnancy coexists with a lipid profile suggestive of insulin resistance. 2, Lipid-related markers of cardiometabolic risk measured in early pregnancy can be useful tools in assessment of fetomaternal risk in high-risk populations. 3, Women with eDiP present a more severe insulin resistance phenotype than those with eGDM.
Improving Ocean Forecasting Using Deep Learning and Numerical Model Integration
Authors: Choi Youngjin , Park Youngmin , Hwang Jaedong , Jeong Kijune , Kim Euihyun
Published: March 2022

In this paper, we propose a novel method to enhance the accuracy of a real-time ocean forecasting system. The proposed system consists of a real-time restoration system of satellite ocean temperature based on a deep generative inpainting network (GIN) and assimilation of satellite data with the initial fields of the numerical ocean model. The deep learning real-time ocean forecasting system is as fast as conventional forecasting systems, while also showing enhanced performance. Our results showed that the difference in temperature between in situ observation and actual forecasting results was improved by about 0.5 °C in daily average values in the open sea, which suggests that cutting back the temporal gaps between data assimilation and forecasting enhances the accuracy of the forecasting system in the open ocean. The proposed approach can provide more accurate forecasts with an efficient operation time.
Trimethylamine N-Oxide (TMAO) and Trimethylamine (TMA) Determinations of Two Hadal Amphipods
Authors: Liu Qi , Jiang Shouwen , Li Wenhao , Pan Binbin , Xu Qianghua
Published: March 2022

Hadal trenches are a unique habitat with high hydrostatic pressure, low temperature and scarce food supplies. Amphipods are the dominant scavenging metazoan species in this ecosystem. Trimethylamine (TMA) and trimethylamine oxide (TMAO) have been shown to play important roles in regulating osmotic pressure in mammals, hadal dwellers and even microbes. However, the distributions of TMAO and TMA concentrations of hadal animals among different tissues have not been reported so far. Here, the TMAO and TMA contents of eight tissues of two hadal amphipods, Hirondellea gigas and Alicella gigantea from the Mariana Trench and the New Britain Trench, were detected by using the ultrahigh performance liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) method. Compared with the shallow water Decapoda, Penaeus vannamei, the hadal amphipods possessed significantly higher TMAO concentrations and a similar level of TMA in all the detected tissues. A higher level of TMAO was detected in the external organs (such as the eye and exoskeleton) for both of the two hadal amphipods, which indicated that the TMAO concentration was not evenly distributed, although the same hydrostatic pressure existed in the outer and internal organs. Moreover, a strong positive correlation was found between the concentrations of TMAO and TMA in the two hadal amphipods. In addition, evolutionary analysis regarding FMO3, the enzyme to convert TMA into TMAO, was also conducted. Three positive selected sites in the conserved region and two specific mutation sites in two conserved motifs were found in the A. gigantea FMO3 gene. Combined together, this study supports the important role of TMAO for the environmental adaptability of hadal amphipods and speculates on the molecular evolution and protein structure of FMO3 in hadal species.
Fungal Fermented Palm Kernel Expeller as Feed for Black Soldier Fly Larvae in Producing Protein and Biodiesel
Authors: Liew Chin Seng , Wong Chung Yiin , Abdelfattah Eman A. , Raksasat Ratchaprapa , Rawindran Hemamalini , Lim Jun Wei , Kiatkittipong Worapon , Kiatkittipong Kunlanan , Mohamad Mardawani , Yek Peter Nai Yuh , Setiabudi Herma Dina , Cheng Chin Kui , Lam Su Shiung
Published: March 2022

Being the second-largest country in the production of palm oil, Malaysia has a massive amount of palm kernel expeller (PKE) leftover. For that purpose, black soldier fly larvae (BSFL) are thus employed in this study to valorize the PKE waste. More specifically, this work elucidated the effects of the pre-fermentation of PKE via different amounts of Rhizopus oligosporus to enhance PKE palatability for the feeding of BSFL. The results showed that fermentation successfully enriched the raw PKE and thus contributed to the better growth of BSFL. BSFL grew to be 34% heavier at the optimum inoculum volume of 0.5 mL/10 g dry weight of PKE as compared to the control. Meanwhile, excessive fungal inoculum induced competition between BSFL and R. oligosporus, resulting in a reduction in BSFL weight. Under optimum feeding conditions, BSFL also registered the highest lipid yield (24.7%) and protein yield (44.5%). The biodiesel derived from BSFL lipid had also shown good compliance with the European biodiesel standard EN 14214. The high saturated fatty acid methyl esters (FAMEs) content (C12:0, C14:0, C16:0) in derived biodiesel made it highly oxidatively stable. Lastly, the superior degradation rate of PKE executed by BSFL further underpinned the sustainable conversion process in attaining valuable larval bioproducts.
Differential Roles of Five Fluffy Genes (flbA–flbE) in the Lifecycle In Vitro and In Vivo of the Insect–Pathogenic Fungus Beauveria bassiana
Authors: Guo Chong-Tao , Luo Xin-Cheng , Ying Sheng-Hua , Feng Ming-Guang
Published: March 2022

The fluffy genes flbA–flbE are well-known players in the upstream developmental activation pathway that activates the key gene brlA of central developmental pathway (CDP) to initiate conidiation in Aspergillus nidulans. Here, we report insignificant roles of their orthologs in radial growth of Beauveria bassiana under normal culture conditions and different stresses although flbA and flbD were involved in respective responses to heat shock and H2O2. Aerial conidiation level was lowered in the deletion mutants of flbB and flbE (~15%) less than of flbA and flbC (~30%), in which the key CDP genes brlA and abaA were repressed consistently during normal incubation. The CDP-controlled blastospore production in submerged cultures mimicking insect hemolymph was abolished in the flbA mutant with brlA and abaA being sharply repressed, and decreased by 55% in the flbC mutant with only abaA being downregulated. The fungal virulence against a model insect was attenuated in the absence of flbA more than of flbC irrespective of normal cuticle infection or cuticle-bypassing infection (intrahemocoel injection). These findings unravel more important role of flbA than of flbC, but null roles of flbB/D/E, in B. bassiana’s insect–pathogenic lifecycle and a scenario distinctive from that in A.nidulans.
Monetary Policy Shocks in Open Economies and the Inflation Unemployment Trade-Off: The Case of the Euro Area
Authors: Ribba Antonio
Published: March 2022

In this paper, we show that in order to obtain a sound identification of Euro Area monetary policy shocks, one needs to deal with the interaction of the European Central Bank and the US Federal Reserve. In other words, a proper identification of monetary policy shocks for an open economy like the Euro Area requires consideration of the US policy rate. Indeed, when we exclude the Federal Funds Rate from an estimated VAR model including a set of Euro Area variables, i.e., Eonia, inflation and unemployment, we detect a wrong sign in the response of inflation to contractionary monetary policy shocks. Moreover, even adding the world price of oil does not help to overcome the problem. Instead, for a sample covering the period 1999–2019, when the Federal Funds Rate and the Euro–Dollar exchange rate are added to the VAR model inflation shows statistically non-significant effects for two years and thereafter decreases. Under this specification of the model, a clear and significant unemployment inflation trade-off emerges. These conclusions are confirmed by using industrial production instead of the unemployment rate in the VAR model.
Non-Parametric Statistic for Testing Cumulative Abnormal Stock Returns
Authors: Pynnonen Seppo
Published: March 2022

Due to the non-normality of stock returns, nonparametric rank tests are gaining accceptance relative to parametric tests in financial economics event studies. In rank tests, financial assets’ multiple day cumulative abnormal returns (CARs) are replaced by cumulated ranks. This paper proposes modifications to the existing approaches to improve robustness to cross-sectional correlation of returns arising from calendar time overlapping event windows. Simulations show that the proposed rank test is well specified in testing CARs and is robust towards both complete and partial overlapping event windows.
Impact Mechanism of the Urban Network on Carbon Emissions in Rapidly Developing Regions: Example of 47 Cities in Southwest China
Authors: Su Jie , Zhou Bo , Liao Yuanpei , Wang Chaoshen , Feng Tian
Published: March 2022

Southwest China faces harsh environmental pollution challenges and rapid development. Against this backdrop, exploring the impact mechanism of the urban network on carbon emissions in rapidly developing regions is of great significance to the balance between regional development and carbon emissions reduction, as well as regional sustainable development. The objective of this study is to quantify the relationship between carbon emissions and the urban network, using panel data analysis for 47 cities in southwest China from 2010 to 2019. Therefore, several urban network indices were selected and quantitatively studied by using the spatial Durbin model to reveal the impact mechanism of the urban network on carbon emissions in rapidly developing regions. The results show that: (1) the growth of carbon emissions in a city has a significant positive spatial spillover effect on the surrounding areas; (2) the temporal and spatial distribution of carbon emissions is highly coincident with the urban network; (3) the urban network has a two-sided impact mechanism of promoting and inhibiting carbon emissions; and (4) the effect of the impact mechanism is affected by regional development conditions, and the promotion effect plays the main role in rapidly developing regions.
Mesenchymal Stem Cells Potentiate the Vasculogenic Capacity of Endothelial Colony-Forming Cells under Hyperglycemic Conditions
Authors: Lee Hyunsook , Huh Yang-Hoon , Kang Kyu-Tae
Published: March 2022

Many studies have demonstrated a reduced number and vasculogenic capacity of endothelial colony-forming cells (ECFCs) in diabetic patients. However, whether the vasculogenic capacity of ECFCs is recovered or not when combined with pericyte precursors, mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), under hyperglycemic conditions has not been studied. Thus, we investigated the role of MSCs in ECFC-mediated vascular formation under high-glucose conditions. The ECFCs and MSCs were treated with normal glucose (5 mM; NG) or high glucose (30 mM; HG) for 7 days. The cell viability, proliferation, migration, and tube formation of ECFCs were reduced in HG compared to NG. Interestingly, the ECFC+MSC combination after HG treatment formed tubular structures similar to NG-treated ECFCs+MSCs. An in vivo study using a diabetic mouse model revealed that the number of perfused vessels formed by HG-treated ECFCs+MSCs in diabetic mice was comparable with that of NG-treated ECFCs+MSCs in normal mice. Electron microscopy revealed that the ECFCs+MSCs formed pericyte-covered perfused blood vessels, while the ECFCs alone did not form perfused vessels when injected into the mice. Taken together, MSCs potentiate the vasculogenic capacity of ECFCs under hyperglycemic conditions, suggesting that the combined delivery of ECFCs+MSCs can be a promising strategy to build a functional microvascular network to repair vascular defects in diabetic ischemic regions.
Wrist Hemiarthroplasty for Complex Intraarticular Distal Radius Fracture in a Patient with Manifest Osteoporosis
Authors: Holzbauer Matthias , Bodell Leonard S. , Froschauer Stefan M.
Published: March 2022

Distal radius fracture (DRF) is one of the most common fractures of the elderly. The higher the degree of joint surface destruction, and the more adverse factors are involved, the more challenging proper treatment becomes. In this regard, osteoporosis as underlying systemic disease, chondropathy or degeneration of adjacent wrist bones as well as incompliance significantly impair the success of the chosen primary therapy. Wrist hemiarthroplasty has already been reported as primary or secondary procedure for DRFs. In this case report, we present a patient with a severely comminuted DRF including posttraumatic degeneration of the lunate as well as manifest osteoporosis. Wrist hemiarthroplasty using the ReMotion radius component in combination with proximal row carpectomy was performed as secondary surgery. This procedure proved to be a viable treatment option in terms of achieving low pain levels, high range of motion values and stable osteointegration over a course of 6.5 follow-up years.
Determination of Heat Transfer Coefficient for Air-Atomized Water Spray Cooling and Its Application in Modeling of Thermomechanical Controlled Processing of Die Forgings
Authors: Apostoł Marcin , Skubisz Piotr , Adrian Henryk
Published: March 2022

The paper presents the method and results of determination of heat transfer coefficient for air-atomized water spray cooling with consideration of infrastructural factors of industrial cooling conveyor, such as effect of accelerated air. The established values of heat transfer coefficient were implemented into a numerical model of cooling line, with special definition of sprayers and the movement of the part subjected to quenching. After quantitative validation on selected samples, the obtained coefficients were used for the solution of the technological problem by means of localized cooling rate enhancement, which forms a case study confirming reliability of the established water spray heat transfer functions and suitability of the determined models for design of thermomechanical controlled processing of complex-geometry parts.
Machinability Investigation of Nitronic 60 Steel Turning Using SiAlON Ceramic Tools under Different Cooling/Lubrication Conditions
Authors: Padhan Smita , Das Sudhansu Ranjan , Das Anshuman , Alsoufi Mohammad S. , Ibrahim Ahmed Mohamed Mahmoud , Elsheikh Ammar
Published: March 2022

The machining of nickel-based super alloys is challenging, owing to the generation of high cutting temperatures, as well as difficulty in maintaining dimensional accuracy and minimizing surface roughness, which compels the use of cutting fluids for reducing these issues due to efficient cooling/lubrication strategies. The present work investigates the comparative performance of four cooling/lubrication techniques: dry cutting, wet, minimum quantity lubricant (MQL) and compressed-air modes in turning Nitronic 60 steel using a new-generation SiAlON ceramic inserts. Several machinability parameters were analyzed for performance evaluation. For this purpose, 16 cycles of turning trials were performed based on Taguchi’s L16 orthogonal array experimental design by varying cutting conditions and lubrication modes. MQL exhibits beneficial effects as compared to the other lubrication conditions concerning low cutting force, improved surface finish, decreased cutting temperature, longer tool life, and lower white layer thickness on machined surface. Burr formation on the saw-tooth chip surface, as well as friction, greatly influenced the tool flank wear due to improper cooling and poor lubrication approach in dry, wet, and compressed-air-cooled machining environments in comparison to MQL-machining. From an economical perspective, the tool life in MQL machining improved by 11%, 72%, and 138% in the comparison with flooded, compressed-air, and dry conditions, respectively. The results of the study demonstrate that using the MQL system can help with heat extraction capability, and provide some promising outcomes.
Temperature Changes during Implant Osteotomy Preparations in Fresh Human Cadaver Tibiae, Comparing Straight with Tapered Drills
Authors: Soldatos Nikolaos , Nelson-Rabe Laura , Palanker Nathan , Angelov Nikola , Romanos Georgios , Weltman Robin
Published: March 2022

The success of osseointegration depends on many factors. With temperatures beyond a 47 °C threshold over 1 min, bone survival may be impaired. The purpose of the study was to evaluate, in fresh human cadaver tibiae, the temperature changes during osteotomy preparations using two straight and two tapered implant systems’ drills, external irrigation, and varying revolutions per minute (RPM). The tibiae from a fresh female cadaver were harvested bilaterally. Two tapered and two straight design drills were assessed. Two-hundred and forty osteotomies were prepared at 6 mm depth following the drill sequence of the manufacturers’ protocol for each drilling speed. Difference in temperature (ΔΤ) was calculated by subtracting the baseline from the maximum temperature (ΔT = Tmax − Tbase). Drill design and drill diameter, as independent variables or synergistically, had a significant effect on ΔΤ. Tapered drills: As the drill diameter increased, ΔΤ increased at all RPM. Straight drills: As the drill diameter increased, ΔΤ remained constant or slightly decreased at all RPM. Drill diameter and design had a significant effect on ΔΤ in human tibiae, which never exceeded the critical threshold of 47 °C. Tapered drills caused significantly greater heat production compared to straight drills.
Study of NBT–Pluronic F–127 Gels as 1D UV Radiation Dosimeters for Measurement of Artificial Light Sources
Authors: Sąsiadek-Andrzejczak Elżbieta , Mądrakowska Agata , Kozicki Marek
Published: March 2022

This work reports on radiochromic dosimeters for 1D UV light measurements. The dosimeter is composed of a 25% Pluronic F–127 that forms a physical gel matrix and nitro blue tetrazolium chloride (NBT) as a radiation-sensitive compound. This dosimeter was exposed to UVA, UVB and UVC radiation, and the radiochromic reactions were followed with reflectance spectrophotometry including changes in light reflectance and color coordinates in the CIELAB color system. The exposition of dosimeters to all UV radiation caused color changes from pale yellow to dark violet, and its intensity increased with increasing absorbed dose. The effects of NBT concentration and UV radiation type on the dose–response of the dosimeters were also examined. The results obtained reveal that the dosimeters are the least sensitive to irradiation with UVC and the most sensitive to irradiation with UVB (e.g., dosimeter with 2 g/dm3 of NBT was characterized by the following parameters: the threshold dose 0.1 J/cm2; the dose sensitivity −5.97 ± 0.69 cm2/J; the linear dose range 0.1–2.5 J/cm2; the dynamic dose range was equal to 0.1–3 J/cm2). The results obtained reveal that the NBT–Pluronic F–127 dosimeters can be potentially useful as 1D sensors for artificial UV radiation sources measurements.
Fracture Load Predictions in Additively Manufactured ABS U-Notched Specimens Using Average Strain Energy Density Criteria
Authors: Sánchez Marcos , Cicero Sergio , Arrieta Sergio , Martínez Victor
Published: March 2022

This paper provides a methodology for the prediction of fracture loads in additively manufactured ABS material containing U-notches. The approach is based on the Average Strain Energy Density (ASED) criterion, which assumes that the material being analysed develops fully linear-elastic behaviour. Thus, in those cases where the material has a certain (non-negligible) amount of non-linear behaviour, the ASED criterion needs to be corrected. In this sense, in this paper, the ASED criterion is also combined with the Equivalent Material Concept (EMC) and the Fictitious Material Concept (FMC), both being corrections in which the non-linear real material is substituted by a linear equivalent or fictitious material, respectively. The resulting methodologies have been applied to additively manufactured ABS U-notched single-edge-notched bending (SENB) specimens combining five different notch radii (0, 0.25, 0.5, 1 and 2 mm) and three different raster orientations (0/90, 45/−45 and 30/−60). The results obtained demonstrate that both the ASED-EMC and the ASED-FMC combined criteria provide more accurate predictions than those obtained directly through the ASED criterion, with the ASED-EMC criterion generally providing safe more accurate predictions, with an average deviation from the experimental fracture loads between +1.0% (predicted loads higher than experimental loads) and −7.6% (predicted loads lower than experimental loads).
Performance of Asphalt Rubber Mixture Overlays to Mitigate Reflective Cracking
Authors: Thives Liseane Padilha , Pais Jorge C. , Pereira Paulo A. A. , Minhoto Manuel C. , Trichês Glicério
Published: March 2022

Adequately predicting overlay behaviour is essential for flexible pavement rehabilitation to reach the predicted lifespan. Reflective cracking is one of the main failure mechanisms affecting overlay performance. This failure may occur due to cracks in the lower layers that propagate to the overlay due to traffic loads, temperature variations, shrinkage cracking of cement-treated layers, and subgrade movements. This work aims to assess the reflective cracking phenomenon of asphalt rubber mixtures as an overlay through laboratory tests and numerical simulation. Four-point bending equipment and the reflective crack device were used to perform the laboratory tests. A numerical simulation through the finite element method was accomplished to estimate the von Mises strain and develop reflective cracking fatigue laws. The results showed that the asphalt rubber mixtures are suitable for extending overlay lifespan considering reflective cracking. The evaluated asphalt rubber mixtures presented reflective cracking resistance almost eight times greater than the conventional ones.
Three-Dimensional (3D) Stereolithographic Tooth Replicas Accuracy Evaluation: In Vitro Pilot Study for Dental Auto-Transplant Surgical Procedures
Authors: Mastrangelo Filiberto , Battaglia Rossella , Natale Dario , Quaresima Raimondo
Published: March 2022

After immediate tooth extraction or after alveolar socket healing, tooth transplants are increasingly used for functional restoration of edentulous maxillary areas. Recent studies have shown the periodontal ligament (PDL) viability and the tooth housing time in the adapted neo-alveolus as key factors for transplantation success. During surgical time, 3D stereolithographic replicas are used for fitting test procedures. In this paper, the accuracy of 3D dental replicas, compared with the corresponding natural teeth, is assessed in surgical transplantation. Lamb skulls were selected and submitted to Cone Beam Computer Tomography (CBCT). Scanning information, converted into Standard Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine (DICOM) and Standard Triangulation Language (STL), was sent to the Volux X-ray Centre for 3D replica printing. After the tooth extractions, all lambs’ incisors were measured with a digital caliber and compared with the 3D replicas. Volume and dimensional error values were evaluated. All replicas showed macroscopically smaller volume (45.54%). Root replicas showed higher variations compared with the crown areas, with several unreplicated apical root areas. The cement–enamel junction tooth area was replicated quite faithfully, and the base area relative error showed 9.8% mean value. Even further studies with a larger number of replicas are needed. Data obtained confirmed high volumes of macroscopic discrepancies with several unreproduced apical root sites. The achieved accuracy (90.2%) confirmed that the 3D replicas cannot be used to reduce the surgical time during transplantation predictable procedures.
Carbon and Manganese in Semi-Insulating Bulk GaN Crystals
Authors: Amilusik Mikolaj , Zajac Marcin , Sochacki Tomasz , Lucznik Boleslaw , Fijalkowski Michal , Iwinska Malgorzata , Wlodarczyk Damian , Somakumar Ajeesh Kumar , Suchocki Andrzej , Bockowski Michal
Published: March 2022

Co-doping with manganese and carbon was performed in gallium nitride grown by halide vapor phase epitaxy method. Native seeds of high structural quality were used. The crystallized material was examined in terms of its structural, optical, and electrical properties. For that purpose, different characterization methods: x-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy, low-temperature photoluminescence, and temperature-dependent Hall effect measurements, were applied. The physical properties of the co-doped samples were compared with the properties of crystals grown in the same reactor, on similar seeds, but doped only with manganese or carbon. A comparison of the electrical and optical properties allowed to determine the role of manganese and carbon in doped and co-doped gallium nitride crystals.
Alginate Biofunctional Films Modified with Melanin from Watermelon Seeds and Zinc Oxide/Silver Nanoparticles
Authors: Łopusiewicz Łukasz , Macieja Szymon , Śliwiński Mariusz , Bartkowiak Artur , Roy Swarup , Sobolewski Peter
Published: March 2022

Bioactive films find more and more applications in various industries, including packaging and biomedicine. This work describes the preparation, characterization and physicochemical, antioxidant and antimicrobial properties of alginate films modified with melanin from watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) seeds at concentrations of 0.10%, 0.25% and 0.50% w/w and with silver and zinc oxide nanoparticles (10 mM film casting solutions for both metal nanoparticles). Melanin served as the active ingredient of the film and as a nanoparticle stabilizer. The additives affected the color, antioxidant (~90% ABTS and DPPH radicals scavenging for all melanin modified films) and antimicrobial activity (up to 4 mm grow inhibition zones of E. coli and S. aureus for both zinc oxide and silver nanoparticles), mechanical (silver nanoparticles addition effected two-fold higher tensile strength), thermal and barrier properties for water and UV-vis radiation. The addition of ZnONP resulted in improved UV barrier properties while maintaining good visible light transmittance, whereas AgNP resulted in almost complete UV barrier and reduced visible light transmittance of the obtained films. What is more, the obtained films did not have an adverse effect on cell viability in cytotoxicity screening. These films may have potential applications in food packaging or biomedical applications.
Experimental Investigation on High Capacity Stove-Powered Thermoelectric Generator Incorporated with a Novel Heat Collector
Authors: Ru Xiaoxiao , Li Guoneng , Zheng Youqu , Guo Wenwen , Tang Yuanjun
Published: March 2022

It is vital to supply necessary electric power during natural disasters and in deprived regions. A novel heat collector is proposed to improve the capacity of the stove-powered thermoelectric generator (SPTEG). Enclosed combustion walls are constructed with four W-shape copper plates, and act as a whole to be an exceptional heat collector, which was not previously reported in TEG studies. Forty TE modules are installed and two DC–DC converters are employed to stabilize the electric power. Owing to the novel heat collector, the generated electric power reaches 0.024 W/K per unit temperature difference for an individual TE module, which is 200% higher than the previous record (0.008 W/K) when forty TE modules are incorporated. The proposed SPTEG is able to generate a net electric power of 119 W, which is considerably larger than the previous record (75.2 W). The corresponding TE efficiency reaches 3.12%, which is measured at a temperature difference of 140 °C. The startup performance, power load feature, and cooling water flow rate of the SPTEG are studied in detail. Furthermore, one-dimensional theoretical analyses are conducted to explore the SPTEG performance. The theoretical electric power agrees well with the experimental data when DC–DC converters are not involved. Applying DC–DC converters to stabilize the electric power will alter the impendence of the SPTEG, resulting in much lower electric power output than that without DC–DC converters.
Using Digital Twin Documents to Control a Smart Factory: Simulation Approach with ROS, Gazebo, and Twinbase
Authors: Mattila Joel , Ala-Laurinaho Riku , Autiosalo Juuso , Salminen Pauli , Tammi Kari
Published: March 2022

Digital twin documents are expected to form a global network of digital twins, a “Digital Twin Web”, that allows the discovery and linking of digital twins with an approach similar to the World Wide Web. Digital twin documents can be used to describe various aspects of machines and their twins, such as physical properties, nameplate information, and communication interfaces. Digital twin is also one of the core concepts of the fourth industrial revolution, aiming to make factories more efficient through optimized control methods and seamless information flow, rendering them “smart factories”. In this paper, we investigate how to utilize digital twin documents in smart factory communication. We implemented a proof-of-concept simulation model of a smart factory that allowed simulating three different control methods: centralized client-server, decentralized client-server, and decentralized peer-to-peer. Digital twin documents were used to store the necessary information for these control methods. We used Twinbase, an open-source server software, to host the digital twin documents. Our analysis showed that decentralized peer-to-peer control was most suitable for a smart factory because it allowed implementing the most advanced cooperation between machines while still being scalable. The utilization of Twinbase allowed straightforward removal, addition, and modification of entities in the factory.
Jointly Modeling Rating Responses and Times with Fuzzy Numbers: An Application to Psychometric Data
Authors: Cao Niccolò , Calcagnì Antonio
Published: March 2022

In several research areas, ratings data and response times have been successfully used to unfold the stagewise process through which human raters provide their responses to questionnaires and social surveys. A limitation of the standard approach to analyze this type of data is that it requires the use of independent statistical models. Although this provides an effective way to simplify the data analysis, it could potentially involve difficulties with regard to statistical inference and interpretation. In this sense, a joint analysis could be more effective. In this research article, we describe a way to jointly analyze ratings and response times by means of fuzzy numbers. A probabilistic tree model framework has been adopted to fuzzify ratings data and four-parameters triangular fuzzy numbers have been used in order to integrate crisp responses and times. Finally, a real case study on psychometric data is discussed in order to illustrate the proposed methodology. Overall, we provide initial findings to the problem of using fuzzy numbers as abstract models for representing ratings data with additional information (i.e., response times). The results indicate that using fuzzy numbers leads to theoretically sound and more parsimonious data analysis methods, which limit some statistical issues that may occur with standard data analysis procedures.
Image Encryption Schemes Based on a Class of Uniformly Distributed Chaotic Systems
Authors: Zang Hongyan , Tai Mengdan , Wei Xinyuan
Published: March 2022

This paper proposes a method to construct a one-dimensional discrete chaotic system. First, we define a generalized distance function to control the boundedness of the one-dimensional discrete system. Based on Marotto’s theorem, one-dimensional discrete systems are proven to be chaotic in the sense of Li–Yorke, and the corresponding chaos criterion theorem is proposed. The system can be distributed uniformly by adjusting the parameters. In this paper, we propose an image encryption scheme based on a uniformly distributed discrete chaotic system and DNA encoding. DNA encoding and decoding rules are determined by plain text. The experimental results demonstrate that our encryption algorithm has a large key space, high key sensitivity, and fast encryption speed and can resist differential and statistical attacks.
Communication-Efficient Distributed Learning for High-Dimensional Support Vector Machines
Authors: Zhou Xingcai , Shen Hao
Published: March 2022

Distributed learning has received increasing attention in recent years and is a special need for the era of big data. For a support vector machine (SVM), a powerful binary classification tool, we proposed a novel efficient distributed sparse learning algorithm, the communication-efficient surrogate likelihood support vector machine (CSLSVM), in high-dimensions with convex or nonconvex penalties, based on a communication-efficient surrogate likelihood (CSL) framework. We extended the CSL for distributed SVMs without the need to smooth the hinge loss or the gradient of the loss. For a CSLSVM with lasso penalty, we proved that its estimator could achieve a near-oracle property for l1 penalized SVM estimators on whole datasets. For a CSLSVM with smoothly clipped absolute deviation penalty, we showed that its estimator enjoyed the oracle property, and that it used local linear approximation (LLA) to solve the optimization problem. Furthermore, we showed that the LLA was guaranteed to converge to the oracle estimator, even in our distributed framework and the ultrahigh-dimensional setting, if an appropriate initial estimator was available. The proposed approach is highly competitive with the centralized method within a few rounds of communications. Numerical experiments provided supportive evidence.
Fucoxanthin from Algae to Human, an Extraordinary Bioresource: Insights and Advances in up and Downstream Processes
Authors: Pajot Anne , Hao Huynh Gia , Picot Laurent , Marchal Luc , Nicolau Elodie
Published: March 2022

Fucoxanthin is a brown-colored pigment from algae, with great potential as a bioactive molecule due to its numerous properties. This review aims to present current knowledge on this high added-value pigment. An accurate analysis of the biological function of fucoxanthin explains its wide photon absorption capacities in golden-brown algae. The specific chemical structure of this pigment also leads to many functional activities in human health. They are outlined in this work and are supported by the latest studies in the literature. The scientific and industrial interest in fucoxanthin is correlated with great improvements in the development of algae cultures and downstream processes. The best fucoxanthin producing algae and their associated culture parameters are described. The light intensity is a major influencing factor, as it has to enable both a high biomass growth and a high fucoxanthin content. This review also insists on the most eco-friendly and innovative extraction methods and their perspective within the next years. The use of bio-based solvents, aqueous two-phase systems and the centrifugal partition chromatography are the most promising processes. The analysis of the global market and multiple applications of fucoxanthin revealed that Asian companies are major actors in the market with macroalgae. In addition, fucoxanthin from microalgae are currently produced in Israel and France, and are mostly authorized in the USA.
The Impact of Epithelial–Mesenchymal Transition and Metformin on Pancreatic Cancer Chemoresistance: A Pathway towards Individualized Therapy
Authors: Gulla Aiste , Andriusaityte Urte , Zdanys Gabrielius , Babonaite Elena , Strupas Kestutis , Kelly Helena
Published: March 2022

Globally, pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma remains among the most aggressive forms of neoplastic diseases, having a dismal prognostic outcome. Recent findings elucidated that epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) can play an important role in pancreatic tumorigenic processes, as it contributes to the manifestation of malignant proliferative masses, which impede adequate drug delivery. An organized literature search with PubMed, Scopus, Microsoft Academic and the Cochrane library was performed for articles published in English from 2011 to 2021 to review and summarize the latest updates and knowledge on the current understanding of EMT and its implications for tumorigenesis and chemoresistance. Furthermore, in the present paper, we investigate the recent findings on metformin as a possible neoadjuvant chemotherapy agent, which affects EMT progression and potentially provides superior oncological outcomes for PDAC patients. Our main conclusions indicate that selectively suppressing EMT in pancreatic cancer cells has a promising therapeutic utility by selectively targeting the chemotherapy-resistant sub-population of cancer stem cells, inhibiting tumor growth via EMT pathways and thereby improving remission in PDAC patients. Moreover, given that TGF-β1-driven EMT generates the migration of tumor-initiating cells by directly linking the acquisition of abnormal cellular motility with the maintenance of tumor initiating potency, the chemoprevention of TGF-β1-induced EMT may have promising clinical applications in the therapeutic management of PDAC outcomes.
Translation and Adaptation of the French Version of the Risk Stratification Index, a Tool for Stratified Care in Chronic Low Back Pain: A Pilot Study
Authors: Naïr Alexandra , Lin Chiao-I , Wippert Pia-Maria
Published: March 2022

Background and Objectives: Low back pain is a worldwide health problem. An early diagnosis is required to develop personalized treatment strategies. The Risk Stratification Index (RSI) was developed to serve the purpose. The aim of this pilot study is to cross-culturally translate the RSI to a French version (RSI-F) and evaluate the test-retest reliability of RSI-F using a French active population. Materials and Methods: The RSI was translated from German to French (RSI-F) based on the guidelines of cross-cultural adaptation of self-report measures. A total of 42 French recreational athletes (age 18–63 years) with non-specific low back pain were recruited and filled in the RSI-F twice. The test-retest reliability was examined using intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC1,2) and Pearson correlation coefficient. Results: Finally, 33 questionnaires were analyzed (14 males and 19 females, age 31 ± 10 years, 9.5 ± 3.2 h/week of training). The test-retest of RSI-F CPI and DISS were excellent (CPI: ICC1,2 = 0.989, p < 0.001; r = 0.989, p < 0.001; DISS: ICC1,2 = 0.991, p < 0.001; r = 0.991, p < 0.001), as well as Korff pain intensity (ICC1,2 = 0.995, p < 0.001; r = 0.995, p < 0.001) and disability (ICC1,2 = 0.998, p < 0.001; r = 0.998, p < 0.001). Conclusion: The RSI-F is linguistically accurate and reliable for use by a French-speaking active population with non-specific low back pain. The RSI-F is considered a tool to examine the evolution of psychosocial factors and therefore the risk of chronicity and the prognostic of pain. Further evaluations, such as internal, external validity, and responsiveness should be evaluated in a larger population.
Do Gastric Signet Ring Cell Carcinomas and ECL-Cell Neuroendocrine Tumours Have a Common Origin?
Authors: Fossmark Reidar , Johannessen Rune , Qvigstad Gunnar , Mjønes Patricia
Published: March 2022

Gastric cancer is a heterogenous group of tumours, and a better understanding of the carcinogenesis and cellular origin of the various sub-types could affect prevention and future treatment. Gastric neuroendocrine tumours (NETs) and adenocarcinomas that develop in the gastric corpus and fundus of patients with chronic atrophic gastritis have atrophic gastritis, hypoacidity, and hypergastrinemia as common risk factors and a shared cellular origin has been suggested. In particular, signet ring cell carcinomas have previously been suggested to be of neuroendocrine origin. We present a case of a combined gastric NET and signet ring cell carcinoma in a patient with hypergastrinemia due to autoimmune chronic atrophic gastritis. The occurrence of such a combined tumour strengthens the evidence that gastric NETs and signet ring cell carcinomas develop from a common origin.
High-Temperature Deformation Behavior of M50 Steel
Authors: Chen Guoxin , Lu Xingyu , Yan Jin , Liu Hongwei , Sang Baoguang
Published: March 2022

The hot deformation characteristics of M50 steel in the temperature range of 900–1150 °C and strain-rate range of 0.01–10 s−1 was investigated in this study using a Gleeble-3800 thermal simulation testing machine. The true stress–strain curves showed that the deformation resistance increased with decreasing deformation temperature, and increasing strain rate before the peak stress was reached. After the peak stress, dynamic reversion occurred, and consequently, the deformation stress decreased. The softening phenomenon was more obvious when the strain rate was low. The calculated values of the thermal deformation-activation energy Q and stress index n were 233,684.2 J/mol and 5.025568, respectively. On this basis, the Arrhenius-type constitutive equation was established, and in addition, a polynomial fit based on strain was performed to obtain the 9th-order strain-compensated constitutive equation with high fitting accuracy. By processing the flow stress curves, the processing maps of M50 steel were constructed, and the optimal processing range was predicted to be in the range of 1070–1150 °C and 0.01–1 s−1. The recrystallization behavior of M50 steel was also studied by constructing a dynamic recrystallization kinetic model and combining optical microscope (OM) and electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) observation. The results show that with the increase of deformation temperature, the degree of recrystallization transformation increased accordingly, and the original grains were gradually replaced by recrystallized grains. Besides, in the optimal process zone for thermal processing, the recrystallized grains grew with decreasing strain rate and increasing temperature.
Numerical Modelling of Blasting Dust Concentration and Particle Size Distribution during Tunnel Construction by Drilling and Blasting
Authors: Shi Jianjun , Zhang Wei , Guo Shucheng , An Huaming
Published: March 2022

In order to reduce the blasting dust concentration in the tunnel during the drilling and blasting, accelerate the tunnel excavation process, and improve the working environment for the construction workers, a three-dimensional geometric model of dust transport was established based on the gas-solid two-phase flow model using the DesginModeler software, and the discrete phase model (DPM) in the FLUENT software was used to simulate the variation of dust concentration and the distribution of dust particle size at different locations along the tunnel route within 1200 s after tunnel blasting. The results showed that the concentration of blasting dust gradually decreased over time, with the fastest decrease in the range of 2 s to 120 s, and after 900 s, the dust concentration stabilized. The overall spatial distribution of the dust concentration showed a trend of decreasing from the palm face to the tunnel entrance and from the bottom plate to the upper part. The distribution pattern of dust with different particle sizes was not the same along the length of the tunnel. The large particles settled in the area of 25 m from the palm face under the action of gravity. With the increases of distance, the mass flow rate decreased, and the dust particle size became smaller, but the proportion of small particles gradually increased, while the R-R distribution index increased. The results in this study were confirmed to be reliable by comparing the measured data to provide guidance for the dust reduction technology in tunnel blasting, so as to quickly remove the dust generated during the blasting process and improve the engineering construction efficiency.
Analysis of Vector Network Analyzer Thermal Drift Error
Authors: Bystrov Aleksandr , Wang Yi , Gardner Peter
Published: March 2022

Ensuring a high accuracy when measuring the parameters of devices under testing is an important task when conducting research in the terahertz-frequency range. The purpose of this paper is a practical study of the thermal drift errors of a vector network analyzer using low-terahertz-frequency extender modules. For this, the change in the measurement error, which is a function of time, was analysed using system, based on Keysight N5247B vector network analyzer and covering the frequency ranges of 220–330 GHz, 500–750 GHz, and 750–1100 GHz. The results of our experiment showed that the measurement error decreased rapidly during the first half hour of warm-up and stabilized by 3 h after turning on the equipment. These results allow for an estimation of the necessary warm-up time depending on the requirements for the measurement’s accuracy. This makes it possible to optimize the experiment and reduce its duration.