bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Reconfiguration of a Bus Chassis Module Using the Digital Expression for Connectivity between Module Interfaces
Authors: Peng Qian , Meng Xiangchao , Liu Sheng , Han Fenggang , Robinson Mark
Published: March 2022

Modular design for a bus chassis is a practical solution to address different bus types and their differing powertrains. Physics interfaces are used to connect interacting subsystems in bus chassis modules. There are few studies focusing on the criteria for assessing interface connectivity, with significantly non-standard characteristics, between bus chassis modules. This study proposes criteria for assessing the interface connectivity in bus chassis modules in accordance with the digital expression of the module interface. Criteria for judging the compatibility of the connection between bus chassis modules are proposed and modular reconfiguration methods are provided, based on the criteria. Reconfiguration of the process matrix is constructed to indicate changes in position, shape, and size after the component is modified, based on the connectivity between modules. Finally, the proposed method is applied to the reconfiguration and replacement of the front suspension frame module of a bus chassis. The results demonstrated and proved the effectiveness of this method.
Advances in Understanding Silicon Transporters and the Benefits to Silicon-Associated Disease Resistance in Plants
Authors: Li Ruonan , Sun Yihan , Wang Hongzhen , Wang Huasen
Published: March 2022

Silicon (Si) is the second most abundant element after oxygen in the earth’s crust and soil. It is available for plant growth and development, and it is considered as quasi-essential for plant growth. The uptake and transport of Si is mediated by Si transporters. With the study of the molecular mechanism of Si uptake and transport in higher plants, different proteins and coding genes with different characteristics have been identified in numerous plants. Therefore, the accumulation, uptake and transport mechanisms of Si in various plants appear to be quite different. Many studies have reported that Si is beneficial for plant survival when challenged by disease, and it can also enhance plant resistance to pathogens, even at low Si accumulation levels. In this review, we discuss the distribution of Si in plants, as well as Si uptake, transport and accumulation, with a focus on recent advances in the study of Si transporters in different plants and the beneficial roles of Si in disease resistance. Finally, the application prospects are reviewed, leading to an exploration of the benefits of Si uptake for plant resistance against pathogens.
Analysis and Forecast of Beijing’s Air Quality Index Based on ARIMA Model and Neural Network Model
Authors: Liu Tingyi , You Shibing
Published: March 2022

Based on Beijing’s Air Quality Index (AQI) and concentration changes of the six major pollutants from 2019 to 2021, the results are visualized through descriptive statistics, and the air pollution status and influencing factors of Beijing’s AQI are analyzed using the ARIMA model and neural network. A forecast system is built and the fitting effects of the two models are compared. The results show that PM2.5, PM10, and O3 of the six major pollutants have the greatest impact on AQI. Beijing’s air quality now shows a trend of improvement in recent years; however, there is obvious seasonal evidence that the summer pollution index has been high. Therefore, special attention should be paid to the treatment of ozone pollution in summer. Both models are useful for the forecast of AQI, but the forecast effect of the neural network model is better than that of the ARIMA model. Moreover, when using the additive seasonal model for the long-term forecast of monthly data, it is found that the Beijing AQI still shows seasonal cyclicality and has a slightly decreasing trend in the next two years. This research provides a basis for the forecast of air quality and policy enlightenment for environmental protection departments to deal with air pollution.
The Diffusion Behavior of CO2 Adsorption from a CO2/N2 Gas Mixture on Zeolite 5A in a Fixed-Bed Column
Authors: Boonchuay Arunaporn , Worathanakul Patcharin
Published: March 2022

The objective of this research was to investigate the behavior and conditions for CO2 adsorption using a mixture of CO2/N2 over a fixed-bed column of zeolite 5A. The study was performed with a variation in gas composition of CO2/N2 as a 20/80, 50/50, and 80/20 volume %, the adsorption temperatures as 298, 333, and 373 K and the total feed flow rates as 1, 2, and 4 L/h under 100 kPa pressure. The Bohart–Adams, Yoon–Nelson, and Thomas models were used to predict the breakthrough behavior of CO2 adsorption in a fixed column. Furthermore, the adsorption mechanism has been investigated using the kinetics adsorption of pseudo-first-order, pseudo-second-order, Boyd model, and intraparticle model. Increasing the CO2 composition of a gas mixture resulted in a high CO2 adsorption capacity because of the high partial pressure of CO2. The capacity of CO2 adsorption was decreased with increasing temperature because of physical adsorption with an exothermic reaction. The CO2 adsorption capacity was also decreased with increasing feed flow rates with inadequate time for CO2 adsorbates diffusion into the pores of the adsorbent before exiting the packed bed. The CO2 adsorption by zeolite 5A confirmed that the physical adsorption with intraparticle diffusion was the rate-controlling step of the whole process.
Some Results on Majorization of Matrices
Authors: Udayan Divya K. , Somasundaram Kanagasabapathi
Published: March 2022

For two n×m real matrices X and Y, X is said to be majorized by Y, written as X≺Y if X=SY for some doubly stochastic matrix of order n. Matrix majorization has several applications in statistics, wireless communications and other fields of science and engineering. Hwang and Park obtained the necessary and sufficient conditions for X,Y to satisfy X≺Y for the cases where the rank of Y=n−1 and the rank of Y=n. In this paper, we obtain some necessary and sufficient conditions for X,Y to satisfy X≺Y for the cases where the rank of Y=n−2 and in general for rank of Y=n−k, where 1≤k≤n−1. We obtain some necessary and sufficient conditions for X to be majorized by Y with some conditions on X and Y. The matrix X is said to be doubly stochastic majorized by Y if there is S∈Ωm such that X=YS. In this paper, we obtain some necessary and sufficient conditions for X to be doubly stochastic majorized by Y. We introduced a new concept of column stochastic majorization in this paper. A matrix X is said to be column stochastic majorized by Y, denoted as X⪯cY, if there exists a column stochastic matrix S such that X=SY. We give characterizations of column stochastic majorization and doubly stochastic majorization for (0,1) matrices.
Durable Fast Charging of Lithium-Ion Batteries Based on Simulations with an Electrode Equivalent Circuit Model
Authors: Drees Robin , Lienesch Frank , Kurrat Michael
Published: March 2022

Fast charging of lithium-ion batteries is often related to accelerated cell degradation due to lithium-plating on the negative electrode. In this contribution, an advanced electrode equivalent circuit model is used in order to simulate fast-charging strategies without lithium-plating. A novel parameterization approach based on 3-electrode cell measurements is developed, which enables precise simulation fidelity. An optimized fast-charging strategy without evoking lithium-plating was simulated that lasted about 29 min for a 0–80% state of charge. This variable current strategy was compared in experiments to a conventional constant-current–constant-voltage fast-charging strategy that lasted 20 min. The experiments showed that the optimized strategy prevented lithium-plating and led to a 2% capacity fade every 100 fast-charging cycles. In contrast, the conventional strategy led to lithium-plating, about 20% capacity fade after 100 fast-charging cycles and the fast-charging duration extended from 20 min to over 30 min due to increased cell resistances. The duration of the optimized fast charging was constant at 29 min, even after 300 cycles. The developed methods are suitable to be applied for any given lithium-ion battery configuration in order to determine the maximum fast-charging capability while ensuring safe and durable cycling conditions.
The rs8176740 T/A and rs512770 T/C Genetic Variants of the ABO Gene Increased the Risk of COVID-19, as well as the Plasma Concentration Platelets
Authors: Vargas-Alarcón Gilberto , Ramírez-Bello Julian , Posadas-Sánchez Rosalinda , Rojas-Velasco Gustavo , López-Reyes Alberto , Martínez-Gómez Laura , Ortega-Peña Silvestre , Montúfar-Robles Isela , Barbosa-Cobos Rosa Elda , Arellano-González Marva , Fragoso José Manuel
Published: March 2022

We conducted a case-control study in order to evaluate whether ABO gene polymorphisms were associated with a high risk of developing COVID-19 in a cohort of patients. Six ABO gene polymorphisms (rs651007 T/C, rs579459 T/C, rs495828 T/G, rs8176746 A/C, rs8176740 T/A, and rs512770 T/C) were determined using TaqMan genotyping assays in a group of 415 COVID-19 patients and 288 healthy controls. The distribution of rs651007 T/C, rs579459 T/C, rs495828 T/G, and rs8176746 A/C polymorphisms was similar in patients and healthy controls. Nonetheless, under co-dominant (OR = 1.89, pCCo-dominant = 6 × 10−6), recessive (OR = 1.98, pCRecessive = 1 × 10−4), and additive (OR = 1.36, pCAdditive = 3 × 10−3) models, the TT genotype of the rs8176740 T/A polymorphism increased the risk of developing COVID-19. In the same way, under co-dominant, recessive, and additive models, the TT genotype of the rs512770 T/C polymorphism was associated with a high risk of developing COVID-19 (OR = 1.87, pCCo-dominant = 2 × 10−3; OR = 1.87, pCRecessive = 5 × 10−4; and OR = 1.35, pCAdditive = 4 × 10−3, respectively). On the other hand, the GTC and GAT haplotypes were associated with a high risk of COVID-19 (OR = 5.45, pC = 1 × 10−6 and OR = 6.33, pC = 1 × 10−6, respectively). In addition, the rs8176740 TT genotype was associated with high-platelet plasma concentrations in patients with COVID-19. Our data suggested that the ABO rs512770 T/C and rs8176740 T/A polymorphisms increased the risk of developing COVID-19 and the plasma concentration of platelets.
Success Is Not the Entire Story for a Scientific Theory: The Case of the Phonological Deficit Theory of Dyslexia
Authors: Zoccolotti Pierluigi
Published: March 2022

In a recent paper, Share discussed four different “Common Misconceptions about the Phonological Deficit Theory of Dyslexia” and described this theory as “a model of true scientific progress” and a clear “success story”. In this note, I argue that at least part of the success of this theory is due to the lack of explicit predictions which make it very difficult (if possible) to test its predictions, and, possibly, falsify the theory. Some areas of pertinent research, including categorical phoneme perception, picture naming, and phonological awareness are summarized. Furthermore, two lines of research in which groups of researchers have attempted to formulate more explicit predictions are briefly outlined. It is concluded that, although much research has variously referred to the phonological deficit theory of dyslexia, the resulting large body of evidence presents a complex pattern of results which, in the absence of an explicit formulation of the theory, is extremely difficult to frame within a unitary interpretation. Overall, what seems needed is a theoretical formulation that, on the one hand, can account for the complex pattern of available evidence and, on the other hand, provide testable predictions for future research.
Two-Dimensional Nanostructures in the World of Advanced Oxidation Processes
Authors: Ścieżyńska Dominika , Bury Dominika , Marcinowski Piotr , Bogacki Jan , Jakubczak Michał , Jastrzębska Agnieszka
Published: March 2022

Two-dimensional compounds with nanostructural features are attracting attention from researchers worldwide. Their multitude of applications in various fields and vast potential for future technology advancements are successively increasing the research progress. Wastewater treatment and preventing dangerous substances from entering the environment have become important aspects due to the increasing environmental awareness, and increasing consumer demands have resulted in the appearance of new, often nonbiodegradable compounds. In this review, we focus on using the most promising 2D materials, such as MXenes, Bi2WO6, and MOFs, as catalysts in the modification of the Fenton process to degrade nonbiodegradable compounds. We analyze the efficiency of the process, its toxicity, previous environmental applications, and the stability and reusability of the catalyst. We also discuss the catalyst’s mechanisms of action. Collectively, this work provides insight into the possibility of implementing 2D material-based catalysts for industrial and urban wastewater treatment.
Controlled Synthesis and Photoelectrochemical Performance Enhancement of Cu2−xSe Decorated Porous Au/Bi2Se3 Z-Scheme Plasmonic Photoelectrocatalyst
Authors: Hu Linyu , Li Yuqi , Chen Wenbo , Liu Xiaogang , Liang Shan , Cheng Ziqiang , Li Jianbo , Zhou Li
Published: March 2022

In this paper, uniform Cu2−xSe-modified Au/Bi2Se3 hybrid nanoparticles with porous shells have been prepared through a cation exchange method. Bi2Se3/Cu2−xSe Z-scheme heterojunction is introduced onto Au nanocube by replacing Bi3+ with Cu2+. Owing to the effective coupling between Au core and semiconductor shells, Au/Bi2Se3/Cu2−xSe hybrids present a broad and strong plasmon resonance absorption in the visible band. More intriguingly, the carrier lifetime of Au/Bi2Se3/Cu2−xSe hybrid photoelectrodes can be further tailored with corresponding Cu2−xSe content. Through parameter optimization, 0.1-Au/Bi2Se3/Cu2−xSe electrode exhibits the longest electron lifetime (86.03 ms) among all the parallel samples, and corresponding photoelectrochemical performance enhancement is also observed in the tests. Compared with that of pure Bi2Se3 (0.016% at 0.90 V vs. RHE) and Au/Bi2Se3 (0.02% at 0.90 V vs. RHE) nanoparticles, the maximum photoconversion efficiency of porous Au/Bi2Se3/Cu2−xSe hybrid photoanodes increased by 5.87 and 4.50 times under simulated sunlight illumination, attributing to the cooperation of Z-scheme heterojunction and plasmon resonance enhancement effects. All the results indicate that Au/Bi2Se3/Cu2−xSe porous hybrids combine eco-friendliness with excellent sunlight harvesting capability and effectively inhibiting the charge recombination, which provide a new idea for efficient solar-driven water splitting.
Stevioside Enhances the Anti-Adipogenic Effect and β-Oxidation by Activating AMPK in 3T3-L1 Cells and Epididymal Adipose Tissues of db/db Mice
Authors: Park Miey , Baek Hana , Han Jin-Young , Lee Hae-Jeung
Published: March 2022

Stevioside, the primary sweetener in stevia, is a glycoside with numerous beneficial biological activities. However, its anti-adipogenic effects on tissue differentiation and adipose tissues remain to be thoroughly investigated. In this study, the anti-adipogenic effects of stevioside during the differentiation of 3T3-L1 cells and epididymal adipose tissues of db/db mice were investigated by measuring the lipid droplets stained with Oil Red O and an immunoblot assay. Immunoblot analysis revealed that stevioside downregulated the expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma (PPARγ), sterol regulatory element-binding protein-1c (SREBP-1c), CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein alpha (C/EBPα), and fatty acid synthase (FAS). Additionally, the protein expression of carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1 (CPT1), silent mating type information regulation 2 homolog 1 (SIRT1), and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator 1 alpha (PGC-1α) increased following treatment with stevioside. Furthermore, stevioside increased the phosphorylation of adenosine monophosphate (AMP)-activated protein kinase (AMPK) and acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC), both in vitro and in vivo. The activity of AMPK in stevioside-treated 3T3-L1 cells was further confirmed using agonists and antagonists of AMPK signaling. Our data indicate that stevioside ameliorates anti-adipogenic effects and promotes β-oxidation in adipocytes by activating AMPK-mediated signaling. The results of this study clearly demonstrated the inhibitory effect of stevioside on the differentiation of adipocytes and the reduction of lipid accumulation in the epididymal adipose tissues of db/db mice.
In Vitro Erythropoiesis at Different pO2 Induces Adaptations That Are Independent of Prior Systemic Exposure to Hypoxia
Authors: Simionato Greta , Rabe Antonia , Gallego-Murillo Joan Sebastián , van der Zwaan Carmen , Hoogendijk Arie Johan , van den Biggelaar Maartje , Minetti Giampaolo , Bogdanova Anna , Mairbäurl Heimo , Wagner Christian , Kaestner Lars , van den Akker Emile
Published: March 2022

Hypoxia is associated with increased erythropoietin (EPO) release to drive erythropoiesis. At high altitude, EPO levels first increase and then decrease, although erythropoiesis remains elevated at a stable level. The roles of hypoxia and related EPO adjustments are not fully understood, which has contributed to the formulation of the theory of neocytolysis. We aimed to evaluate the role of oxygen exclusively on erythropoiesis, comparing in vitro erythroid differentiation performed at atmospheric oxygen, a lower oxygen concentration (three percent oxygen) and with cultures of erythroid precursors isolated from peripheral blood after a 19-day sojourn at high altitude (3450 m). Results highlight an accelerated erythroid maturation at low oxygen and more concave morphology of reticulocytes. No differences in deformability were observed in the formed reticulocytes in the tested conditions. Moreover, hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells isolated from blood affected by hypoxia at high altitude did not result in different erythroid development, suggesting no retention of a high-altitude signature but rather an immediate adaptation to oxygen concentration. This adaptation was observed during in vitro erythropoiesis at three percent oxygen by a significantly increased glycolytic metabolic profile. These hypoxia-induced effects on in vitro erythropoiesis fail to provide an intrinsic explanation of the concept of neocytolysis.
New Directions in Understanding Atopic March Starting from Atopic Dermatitis
Authors: Maiello Nunzia , Comberiati Pasquale , Giannetti Arianna , Ricci Giampaolo , Carello Rossella , Galli Elena
Published: March 2022

Recent evidence showed that the postulated linear progression of the atopic march, from atopic dermatitis to food and respiratory allergies, does not capture the heterogeneity of allergic phenotypes, which are influenced by complex interactions between environmental, genetic, and psychosocial factors. Indeed, multiple atopic trajectories are possible in addition to the classic atopic march. Nevertheless, atopic dermatitis is often the first manifestation of an atopic march. Improved understanding of atopic dermatitis pathogenesis is warranted as this could represent a turning point in the prevention of atopic march. In this review, we outline the recent findings on the pathogenetic mechanisms leading to atopic dermatitis that could be targeted by intervention strategies for the prevention of atopic march.
Degradation of Cycle Paths—A Survey in Swedish Municipalities
Authors: Larsson Martin , Niska Anna , Erlingsson Sigurdur
Published: March 2022

There is a need to move society in a sustainable direction. One way to contribute to this move is to change to more sustainable transport modes, such as cycling. To increase cycling, the infrastructure is important, and good quality cycle paths are needed. However, little is known about the degradation of cycle paths. This paper aims to investigate what modes of pavement distress are found on municipal cycle paths in Sweden, and what probable mechanisms lie behind such distress; these are determined based on questions from a state-of-practice survey, interviews, and a literature review. The main findings are that the most commonly stated distress modes are surface unevenness followed by longitudinal cracks, and the most commonly stated causes of distress are ageing, followed by structural interventions, and roots and vegetation. The results also show that for several distress modes, there are probable connections with climatic factors such as temperature and moisture, as well as with the population size of the urban areas. Objective data are needed regarding traffic load and the climatic factors that affect cycle paths, along with information on their structural design, to better understand their degradation.
Carbonation Potential of Cementitious Structures in Service and Post-Demolition: A Review
Authors: Maia Pederneiras Cinthia , Brazão Farinha Catarina , Veiga Rosário
Published: March 2022

The construction sector is responsible for a great environmental impact. The cement industry, which is included in this sector, emits about 650 to 800 kg of CO2 per each tonne of cement produced, being one of the most polluting industries in terms of greenhouse gas emissions. The cement manufacturing process releases about 7% of the total worldwide CO2 emissions. However, concrete and cement-based materials present CO2 uptake potential during their service life and post-demolition through carbonation processes. The carbonation reactions rate depends on several factors, namely type and content of cement, porosity of concrete, temperature, relative humidity and exposure conditions area. Therefore, to estimate the CO2 capture of concrete during its life cycle is not a straightforward calculation. Some studies have been developed using different methodologies in order to evaluate the CO2 potential of cementitious elements in service and post-demolition. This paper reviews the documented approaches that quantify the CO2 uptake of concrete over time, summarizing the assumptions adopted for each previous work. Overall, it was concluded that part of the CO2 emissions released during cement production are reabsorbed by concrete products during their life cycle, which partially offsets the environmental impact and reduces the CO2 footprint of the cement industry.
Effects of Magnetohydrodynamics Flow on Multilayer Coatings of Newtonian and Non-Newtonian Fluids through Porous Inclined Rotating Channel
Authors: Shehzad Nasir , Zeeshan Ahmad , Shakeel Muhammad , Ellahi Rahmat , Sait Sadiq M.
Published: March 2022

In this study, we investigated multilayer coatings fully developed with steady Newtonian and non-Newtonian fluids through parallel inclined plates. The channel was rotating about the y-axis with angular velocity Ω. The channel contained three regions; Region 1 and Region 3 were filled with Newtonian fluid, while Region 2 had Jeffrey fluid through a porous medium. The governing equations were formed by using Navier stokes and energy equations. The equations were coupled and were non-linear due to the involvement of Darcy’s dissipation terms. The systems of equations for Region 1 and Region 3 were solved analytically, while the equations of Region 2 were solved by using the regular perturbation method. The effects of governing parameters such as magnetic field, Grashof number, the ratio of heights, angle of inclination, and ratio of viscosities on velocity and temperature were investigated, and the results are presented graphically in this paper. It is noted that the increase in buoyancy force incorporated through the Grashof number and the angle of inclination enhanced the axial and transverse velocities and the temperature for the three layers. We found that the Nusselt number increases by increasing the couple stress parameter and magnetic field parameters, and skin friction decreases at the lower plate. The main observation is that temperature and both velocity profiles increased in Region 2 with the increase in the Jeffrey parameter.
Molecular Self-Assembly of an Unusual Dinuclear Ruthenium(III) Complex Based on the Nucleobase Guanine
Authors: Orts-Arroyo Marta , Silvestre-Llora Adriana , Castro Isabel , Martínez-Lillo José
Published: March 2022

The study of crystal structures based on complexes containing purine nucleobases is a significant research subject, mainly regarding the diagnosis and treatment of some diseases and the investigation of genetic mutations and biochemical structures in life sciences. We have obtained and characterized a new dinuclear ruthenium(III) complex based on guanine with the formula [{Ru(µ-Cl)(µ-gua)}2Cl4]·2H2O (1) (gua = guanine). 1 was characterized by means of Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT–IR), scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive X-ray analysis (SEM–EDX), single-crystal X-ray diffraction (XRD), Hirshfeld surface analysis and cyclic voltammetry (CV). The study of its electrochemical properties allowed us to investigate the presence of guanine molecules when linked to the ruthenium(III) ion in 1. The well-resolved voltammetric response together with the reliability and stability achieved through 1 could provide a step forward to developing new ruthenium-based platforms, devices and modified electrodes adequate to study this purine nucleobase.
Data Release: DNA Barcodes of Plant Species Collected for the Global Genome Initiative for Gardens (GGI-Gardens) II
Authors: Gostel Morgan R. , Carlsen Mónica M. , Devine Amanda , Barker Katharine B. , Coddington Jonathan A. , Steier Julia
Published: March 2022

The Global Genome Initiative for Gardens (GGI-Gardens) is an international partnership of botanic gardens and arboreta that aims to preserve and understand the genomic diversity of plants on Earth. GGI-Gardens has organized a collection program focused on the living collections that partner institutions and supports the preservation of herbarium and genomic vouchers. Collections made through GGI-Gardens are deposited in recognized herbaria and Global Genome Biodiversity Network-partnered biorepositories worldwide, meaning that they are made available to the public. With support from its parent organization, the Global Genome Initiative (GGI), plant DNA barcode sequencing is performed using tissues collected through this partnership that represent taxa without barcode sequences in GenBank. This is the second data release published by GGI-Gardens and constitutes 2722 barcode sequences from 174 families and 702 genera of land plants. All DNA barcodes generated in this study are now available through the Barcode of Life Data Systems (BOLD) and GenBank.
Daytime versus Nighttime in Acute Appendicitis
Authors: Bom Wouter J. , de Jonge Joske , Scheijmans Jochem C. G. , van Geloven Anna A. W. , Gans Sarah L. , Boermeester Marja A. , Bemelman Willem A. , van Rossem Charles C. ,   on behalf of the SNAPSHOT
Published: March 2022

Background: Little is known about patients with appendicitis presenting at nighttime. It is hypothesized that patients presented at night more frequently have a complicated (gangrenous or perforated) appendicitis and therefore develop more postoperative complications. Methods: In this study data were used from the nationwide, prospective SNAPSHOT study appendicitis, including 1975 patients undergoing surgery for suspected appendicitis. This study included only adults. Two primary outcomes were defined: (A) The proportion of patients with complicated appendicitis and (B) the proportion of patients with a complication postoperatively presenting during daytime versus nighttime period. Analysis for both complicated and uncomplicated appendicitis was performed, and a multivariate model was used to correct for baseline characteristics and time to surgery. Results: In total, 1361 adult patients with appendicitis were analyzed. Both at nighttime and at daytime, 34% had complicated appendicitis. In patients presenting in the daytime, 12.1% developed a postoperative complication versus 18.6% for presentation at night (p = 0.008). In a multivariate analysis, the risk for a postoperative complication when presenting at night was significantly increased (adjusted OR 1.74; 95% CI 1.14–2.66, p = 0.01). Surgery within eight hours after presentation does not lower this risk (adjusted OR 1.37; 95% CI 0.97–1.95, p = 0.078). Conclusion: Complicated appendicitis is seen as frequently during the day as at nighttime. For patients who present at nighttime with acute appendicitis, the risk of a postoperative complication is higher compared with a presentation at daytime. In multivariate analysis, nighttime presentation but not surgery within 8 h after presentation is independently associated with postoperative complication risk.
Helicobacter pylori in Native Americans in Northern Arizona
Authors: Monroy Fernando P. , Brown Heidi E. , Sanderson Priscilla R. , Jarrin Gregory , Mbegbu Mimi , Kyman Shari , Harris Robin B.
Published: March 2022

Background: In Arizona Helicobacter pylori prevalence of infection among Navajo adults is about 62% and gastric cancer incidence rate is 3–4 times higher than that of the non-Hispanic White population. Aim: The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of specific H. pylori virulence factors (cagA and vacA) among Navajo patients undergoing and their association with gastric disease. Methods: Virulence genes, cagA and vacA, in H. pylori were investigated in gastric biopsies from 96 Navajo patients over age 18 who were undergoing esophagogastroduodenoscopy. Biopsies from the antrum and fundus were used for molecular characterization to determine cagA type and number of EPIYA motifs and presence of alleles in the signal (s) and medium (m) regions of the vacA gene. Results: H. pylori infection was found in 22.9% of the biopsy samples. The cagA gene amplified in 57.6% of samples and showed a predominant “Western cagA” type, with the EPIYA-ABC motif (45.4%), most prevalent. The vacA allele s1bm1 was the most prevalent (54.5%). Conclusions: H. pylori genotypes were predominantly cagA Western-type and ABC EPIYA motifs. The vacA s1bm1 genotype was the most prevalent and seemed to be associated with gastritis. American Indian/Alaska Native populations are at higher risk for gastric cancer. It is important to identify genotypes of H. pylori and virulence factors involved in the high prevalence of H. pylori and associated disease among the Navajo population.
Design of Active Continuous Variable Transmission Control System with Planetary Gear
Authors: Yao Wu-Sung , Lin Chun-Yi
Published: March 2022

Planetary gearboxes have been employed in various applications due to their advantages of maintaining a high speed-reduction ratio, such as in wind power applications which have now become a prevailing green energy resource. A traditional power transmission machine of the wind turbine has a fixed gear-ratio mechanical gearbox for speed-increasing transmission. The purpose of this study is to propose an active continuous variable transmission (ACVT) control system with a planetary gear to apply to the wind turbine. The planetary gear holds three terminals, i.e., the ring gear, the planet carrier, and sun gear, and the motions of three terminals can be controlled purposely by the servomotors to achieve ACVT. The three different transmission types of the proposed ACVT can be operated. The dynamic characteristic of the planetary gear is expressed in block diagram form, and a pseudo derivative feedback feed-forward controller of the velocity control loop is designed for the required performance. The results can be used to verify the effect of the proposed ACVT with the planetary gear.
A Data Aggregation Approach Exploiting Spatial and Temporal Correlation among Sensor Data in Wireless Sensor Networks
Authors: Dash Lucy , Pattanayak Binod Kumar , Mishra Sambit Kumar , Sahoo Kshira Sagar , Jhanjhi Noor Zaman , Baz Mohammed , Masud Mehedi
Published: March 2022

Wireless sensor networks (WSNs) have various applications which include zone surveillance, environmental monitoring, event tracking where the operation mode is long term. WSNs are characterized by low-powered and battery-operated sensor devices with a finite source of energy. Due to the dense deployment of these devices practically it is impossible to replace the batteries. The finite source of energy should be utilized in a meaningful way to maximize the overall network lifetime. In the space domain, there is a high correlation among sensor surveillance constituting the large volume of the sensor network topology. Each consecutive observation constitutes the temporal correlation depending on the physical phenomenon nature of the sensor nodes. These spatio-temporal correlations can be efficiently utilized in order to enhance the maximum savings in energy uses. In this paper, we have proposed a Spatial and Temporal Correlation-based Data Redundancy Reduction (STCDRR) protocol which eliminates redundancy at the source level and aggregator level. The estimated performance score of proposed algorithms is approximately 7.2 when the score of existing algorithms such as the KAB (K-means algorithm based on the ANOVA model and Bartlett test) and ED (Euclidian distance) are 5.2, 0.5, respectively. It reflects that the STCDRR protocol can achieve a higher data compression rate, lower false-negative rate, lower false-positive rate. These results are valid for numeric data collected from a real data set. This experiment does not consider non-numeric values.
Application of Novel AC–AC Matrix VFD for Power Factor Improvement in Conventional AC–DC–AC VFD-Loaded Power Distribution Lines
Authors: Petrauskas Gytis , Svinkunas Gytis , Jonaitis Audrius , Giannakis Andreas
Published: March 2022

In this study, an innovative approach to matrix-converter-based AC-–AC variable frequency drives (VFDs) is introduced. The possibility of using AC–AC matrix VFDs for reactive power compensation in conventional AC–DC–AC VFD-loaded power distribution lines is investigated. It is found that the interaction of a large number of conventional AC–DC–AC VFDs with a conventional capacitor-based local compensation device leads to overcompensation in 0.4 kV power distribution lines. This is due to the fact that the conventional compensation device is designed to compensate the lagging reactive power produced by inductive loads, such as AC motors. This highlights the demand for the compensation of leading reactive power that is not predicted by the designer. To solve this problem, the modification of a certain number of previously installed VFDs by replacing their conventional AC–DC–AC converters with AC–AC matrix converters is proposed. This can lead to improvements in the power factor in 0.4 kV power distribution lines. In this study, the range of reactive power produced by conventional AC–DC–AC VFDs was determined mathematically, by simulation, and experimentally. The range of reactive power produced by the novel AC–AC matrix VFD was also determined. On that basis, the number of VFDs to be modified is defined to keep the power factor close to unity.
Fundamental Investigation on a Foam-Generating Microorganism and Its Potential for Mobility Reduction in High-Permeability Flow Channels
Authors: Ito Miu , Sugai Yuichi
Published: March 2022

This study proposed a novel foam EOR technique using Pseudomonas aeruginosa to generate the foam and investigated the potential of the microbial foam EOR to modify the permeability of a high-permeability porous system. We investigated oxygen nanobubble, carbon dioxide nanobubble and ferrous sulfate concentrations to discover the optimal levels for activating the foam generation of the microorganism through cultivation experiments. We also clarified the behavior of the microbial foam generation and the bioproducts that contribute to the foam generation. The potential of the foam to decrease the permeability of high-permeability porous systems was evaluated through flooding experiments using sand pack cores. The foam generation became more active with the increase in the number of nanobubbles, while there was an optimal concentration of ferrous sulfate for foam generation. The foam was identified as being induced by the proteins produced by the microorganism, which can be expected to bring about several advantages over surfactant-induced foam. The foam successfully decreased the permeability of high-permeability sand pack cores to half of their initial levels. These results demonstrate that the microbial foam EOR has the potential to decrease the permeability of high-permeability porous systems and improve the permeability heterogeneity in oil reservoirs.
Residual Axial Behavior of Restrained Reinforced Concrete Columns Damaged by a Standard Fire
Authors: Alhadid Mohamed Monir A. , Youssef Maged A.
Published: March 2022

A simplified procedure to predict the residual axial capacity and stiffness of both rectangular and circular reinforced concrete (RC) columns after exposure to a standard fire provides the means to replace the current descriptive methods. The availability of such a procedure during the design phase provides engineers with the flexibility to come up with better designs that ensure safety. In this paper, finite difference heat transfer and sectional analysis models are combined to determine the axial behavior of RC columns with various end-restraint conditions at different standard fire durations. The influence of cooling phase on temperature distribution and residual mechanical properties is considered in the analysis. The ability of the model to predict the axial behavior of the damaged columns is validated in view of related experimental studies and shown to be in very good agreement. A parametric study is then conducted to assess the axial performance of fire-damaged RC columns. A procedure is proposed to determine the residual strength and stiffness of fire-damaged RC columns in typical frame structures.
Spanwise-Discontinuous Grooves for Separation Delay and Drag Reduction of Bodies with Vortex Shedding
Authors: Pasqualetto Elena , Lunghi Gianmarco , Mariotti Alessandro , Salvetti Maria Vittoria
Published: March 2022

Suitably shaped grooves, placed transverse to the flow, can delay flow separation over curved surfaces. When grooves are fully extruded in the spanwise direction, they may reduce the drag of boat-tailed bodies with vortex shedding, but with the drawback of increasing the spanwise correlation of the vortex shedding. We investigate herein the effect of spanwise-discontinuous grooves through Large Eddy Simulations. A systematic analysis is carried out on the effect of the number, N, of grooves that are present for N equally long portions of the total spanwise length of the boat-tail. Discontinuous grooves further reduce the drag compared with the full-spanwise-extruded groove. Increasing N produces an improvement of the flow-control-device performance, whose maximum value is reached for N=3, corresponding to a spanwise extension of the groove roughly equal to the body crossflow dimension. Above this value, no further improvements are found. The maximum drag reduction is equal to 25.7% of the drag of the boat-tail without grooves and to 17.7% of the one of the boat-tail with the full-spanwise-extruded groove. The lowest drag value occurs for the least correlated vortex-shedding in the spanwise direction. The reduction in the correlation is mainly related to a flow separation line that is less regular in the spanwise direction.
Comparison of Flow Behavior in Saccular Aneurysm Models Using Proper Orthogonal Decomposition
Authors: Yu Paulo , Durgesh Vibhav
Published: March 2022

Aneurysms are abnormal ballooning of a blood vessel. Previous studies have shown presence of complex flow structures in aneurysms. The objective of this study was to quantify the flow features observed in two selected saccular aneurysm geometries over a range of inflow conditions using Proper Orthogonal Decomposition (POD). For this purpose, two rigid-wall saccular aneurysm models geometries were used (i.e., the bottleneck factor of 1 and 1.6), and the inflow conditions were varied using a peak Reynolds number (Rep) from 50 and 270 and Womersley number (α) from 2 and 5. The velocity flow field data for the studied aneurysm geometries were acquired using Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV). The average flow field from the PIV measurement showed that the model geometry and Rep have more significant impact on the average flow field than the variations in α. The POD results showed that the method was able to quantify the flow field characteristics between the two model geometries. The mode shapes obtained showed different spatial structures for each inflow scenarios and models. The POD energy results showed that more than 80% of the fluctuating kinetic energy were captured within five POD modes for BF=1.0 flow scenarios, while they were captured within ten modes for BF=1.6. The time varying coefficient results showed the complex interplay of POD modes at different inflow scenarios, highlighting important modes at different phases of the flow cycle. The low-order reconstruction results showed that the vortical structure either proceeded outward or stayed within the aneurysm, and this behavior was highly dependent on α, Rep, and model geometry that were not evident in average PIV results.
Chemical Composition, Nutritive Value, Volatile Profiles and Antioxidant Activity of Coconut (Cocos nucifera L.) Haustorium with Different Transverse Diameter
Authors: Zhang Yufeng , Kan Jintao , Tang Minmin , Song Fei , Li Niu , Zhang Youlin
Published: March 2022

In order to promote the development and utilization of coconut haustorium (CH). The basic chemical composition, volatile profiles and antioxidant activities of three haustoria with different transverse diameters were investigated. Results showed large coconut haustorium (LCH) contained more soluble sugar (47.10%) and reducing sugar (17.68%), while small coconut haustorium (SCH) possessed more ash (10.17%), protein (9.22%) and fat (5.03%). All CH were rich in potassium (4.06–4.69%) and phosphorus (0.39–0.50%). The fatty acid composition of SCH and amino acid composition of middle coconut haustorium (MCH) was more reasonable, which indicated its relatively higher nutritive value. Acids ranging from 26.90% to 60.82% were the dominant volatile components in CH, especially isobutyric acid whose relative content in SCH was up to 56.78%. The haustorium extract with polysaccharide as the main component has certain antioxidant activities, the half eliminating concentration (EC50 values) of LCH on hydroxyl radical and SCH on 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2,2′-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulphonic acid) (ABTS) radical were 8.33, 1.18 and 2.44 mg/mL, respectively. These results provided a reference for the development and utilization of different CH as a raw material in functional food or dietary additives.
Chitooligosaccharide Conjugates Prepared Using Several Phenolic Compounds via Ascorbic Acid/H2O2 Free Radical Grafting: Characteristics, Antioxidant, Antidiabetic, and Antimicrobial Activities
Authors: Mittal Ajay , Singh Avtar , Zhang Bin , Visessanguan Wonnop , Benjakul Soottawat
Published: March 2022

Chitooligosaccharide (COS)-polyphenol (PPN) conjugates prepared using different PPNs, including gallic, caffeic, and ferulic acids, epigallocatechin gallate, and catechin, at various concentrations were characterized via UV-visible, FTIR, and 1H-NMR spectra and tested for antioxidant, antidiabetic, and antimicrobial activities. Grafting of PPNs with COS was achieved. The highest conjugation efficiency was noticed for COS-catechin (COS-CAT), which was identified to have the highest total phenolic content (TPC) out of all the conjugates (p < 0.05). For antioxidant activities, DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging activities (DPPH-RSA and ABTS-RSA, respectively), oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC), ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), and metal chelating activity (MCA) of all the samples were positively correlated with the TPC incorporated. COS-CAT had higher DPPH-RSA, ABTS-RSA, ORAC, and FRAP than COS and all other COS-PPN conjugates (p < 0.05). In addition, COS-CAT also showed the highest antidiabetic activity of the conjugates, as determined by inhibitory activity toward α-amylase, α-glucosidase, and pancreatic lipase (p < 0.05). COS-CAT also had the highest antimicrobial activity against all tested Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria (p < 0.05). Overall, grafting of PPNs, especially CAT on COS, significantly enhanced bioactivities, including antioxidant and antimicrobial, which could be used to retard spoilage and enhance shelf-life of various food systems. Moreover, the ability of COS-CAT to inhibit digestive enzymes reflects its preventive effect on diabetes mellitus and its complications.
Meating Conflict: Toward a Model of Ambivalence-Motivated Reduction of Meat Consumption
Authors: Pauer Shiva , Rutjens Bastiaan T. , Ruby Matthew B. , Perino Grischa , van Harreveld Frenk
Published: March 2022

An increasing number of people are concerned about eating meat, despite enjoying doing so. In the present research, we examined whether the desire to resolve this ambivalence about eating meat leads to a reduction in meat consumption. Our model of ambivalence-motivated meat reduction proposes that the pervasive nature of evaluative conflict motivates meat avoidance, and we highlight two potential mechanisms involved: the anticipation of ambivalence reduction through behavioral change, and information seeking for contents that facilitate meat reduction. Study 1 drew on a cross-sectional 6-day food diary with 7485 observations in a quota sample to investigate why meat-related ambivalence arises and to demonstrate the correlation of ambivalence with meat reduction. Two experiments investigated the causal direction of this association by showing that ambivalence-induced discomfort motivated participants to eat less meat when they introspected on their preexisting incongruent evaluations (Study 2 and 3), which was mediated by the aforementioned mechanisms involved (Study 3; preregistered). The studies utilized diverse samples from Germany, England, and the US (total N = 1192) and support the proposed model by indicating that behavioral change is an important coping strategy to resolve ambivalent discomfort in the context of meat consumption. Our model of ambivalence-motivated meat reduction contributes to theorizing on the consequences of ambivalence and the psychology of (not) eating meat.
Simultaneous Determination of Tetrodotoxin in the Fresh and Heat-Processed Aquatic Products by High-Performance Liquid Chromatography–Tandem Mass Spectrometry
Authors: Ye Hongli , Xi Yinfeng , Tian Liangliang , Huang Dongmei , Huang Xuanyun , Shen Xiaosheng , Cai Youqiong , Wangs Yuan
Published: March 2022

Tetrodotoxin (TTX) was simultaneously detected in the fresh and heat-processed aquatic products by high-performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry method. The detection conditions were investigated, including the chromatography column and mobile phase. Based on the optimized parameters, a sensitive determination method of TTX was established. The proposed method featured the merits of a good linear relationship between signal and TTX concentration (R2 = 0.9998), a wide detection matrix-based range of 0.2–100 ng/g, and a low detection limit of 0.2 ng/g, etc. The spiked assays evidenced its accuracy and reliability with recoveries of 90.5–107.2%. Finally, the developed method was simultaneously successfully applied in the determination of TTX in various fresh and heat-processed aquatic products.