bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Yttrium Oxide Nanoparticle Synthesis: An Overview of Methods of Preparation and Biomedical Applications
Authors: Rajakumar Govindasamy , Mao Lebao , Bao Ting , Wen Wei , Wang Shengfu , Gomathi Thandapani , Gnanasundaram Nirmala , Rebezov Maksim , Shariati Mohammad Ali , Chung Ill-Min , Thiruvengadam Muthu , Zhang Xiuhua
Published: March 2021

Metal oxide nanoparticles demonstrate uniqueness in various technical applications due to their suitable physiochemical properties. In particular, yttrium oxide (Y2O3) nanoparticle is familiar for technical applications because of its higher dielectric constant and thermal stability. It is widely used as a host material for a variety of rare-earth dopants, biological imaging, and photodynamic therapies. Y2O3 has also been used as a polarizer, phosphor, laser host material, and in the optoelectronic fields for cancer therapy, biosensor, and bioimaging. Yttrium oxide nanoparticles have attractive antibacterial and antioxidant properties. This review focuses on the promising applications of Y2O3, its drawbacks, and its modifications. The synthetic methods of nanoparticles, such as sol-gel, emulsion, chemical methods, solid-state reactions, combustion, colloid reaction techniques, and hydrothermal processing, are recapitulated. Herein, we also discuss the advantages and disadvantages of Y2O3 NPs based biosensors that function through various detection modes including colorimetric, electrochemistry, and chemo luminescent regarding the detection of small organic chemicals, metal ions, and biomarkers.
You Only Look Once, But Compute Twice: Service Function Chaining for Low-Latency Object Detection in Softwarized Networks
Authors: Xiang Zuo , Seeling Patrick , Fitzek Frank H. P.
Published: March 2021

With increasing numbers of computer vision and object detection application scenarios, those requiring ultra-low service latency times have become increasingly prominent; e.g., those for autonomous and connected vehicles or smart city applications. The incorporation of machine learning through the applications of trained models in these scenarios can pose a computational challenge. The softwarization of networks provides opportunities to incorporate computing into the network, increasing flexibility by distributing workloads through offloading from client and edge nodes over in-network nodes to servers. In this article, we present an example for splitting the inference component of the YOLOv2 trained machine learning model between client, network, and service side processing to reduce the overall service latency. Assuming a client has 20% of the server computational resources, we observe a more than 12-fold reduction of service latency when incorporating our service split compared to on-client processing and and an increase in speed of more than 25% compared to performing everything on the server. Our approach is not only applicable to object detection, but can also be applied in a broad variety of machine learning-based applications and services.
A Review of Smartphone Applications for Solar Photovoltaic Use: Current Status, Limitations, and Future Perspectives
Authors: Seo Heejin , Suh Jangwon
Published: March 2021

Smartphones and tablets can be effectively used in the solar photovoltaic (PV) energy field for different purposes because of their versatile capabilities incorporating hardware and software functionalities. These multifarious capabilities enable new approaches for measuring and visualizing data that are seldom available in conventional computing platforms. In this study, 100 accessible smartphone applications (apps) developed in the solar PV energy sector were investigated. The apps were categorized based on their main function as follows: computation of sun position, PV system optimal settings, PV site investigation, potential assessment of PV systems, environmental and economic assessment of PV systems, monitoring and control of PV systems, and education and learning for PV system. Each of these categories was further divided based on principal features or functions. Exemplary apps were chosen for each category and their characteristics and usefulness were investigated. Moreover, the apps for roof or rooftops and those that require built-in or external sensors were organized and analyzed according to their topic and functionality. Limitations regarding app implementation in solar PV and implications for future improvement as an alternative solar design tools were discussed. This study has significance in that it has first presented the current applicability and future perspectives of solar PV smartphone apps. Furthermore, they can be effectively used by the energy prosumers as an analysis tool for energy design due to evolving smartphone sensor technologies current opportunity factors.
Structural and Functional Shift in Soil Bacterial Community in Response to Long-Term Compost Amendment in Paddy Field
Authors: Kim Sookjin , Samaddar Sandipan , Chatterjee Poulami , Roy Choudhury Aritra , Choi Jeongyun , Choi Jongseo , Sa Tongmin
Published: March 2021

Microbial community composition and diversity of agricultural soils primarily depend on management practices. The application of compost on agricultural fields is known to increase soil fertility, which can also help to enhance agricultural productivity. The effects of long-term application of compost along with nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) (+Compost) on soil bacterial diversity and community profiles were assessed by amplicon sequencing targeting the 16S rRNA gene of bacteria and compared with those on soils that received only NPK but not compost (−Compost). Ordination plot showed treatments to cluster differently, implying changes in community composition, which were validated with taxonomical data showing Firmicutes, Actinobacteria, and their related classes to be significantly higher in +Compost than in −Compost soils. The predicted abundance of functional genes related to plant growth promotion, development, and decomposition was significantly higher in compost-amended soil than in soils without compost. The results are of particular importance as they provide insights into designing management practices to promote agricultural sustainability.
Anomaly Analysis of Alzheimer’s Disease in PET Images Using an Unsupervised Adversarial Deep Learning Model
Authors: Baydargil Husnu Baris , Park Jang-Sik , Kang Do-Young
Published: March 2021

In this study, the anomaly analysis of Alzheimer’s disease using positron emission tomography (PET) images using an unsupervised proposed adversarial model is investigated. The model consists of three parts: a parallel-network encoder, which is comprised of a convolutional pipeline and a dilated convolutional pipeline that extracts global and local features and concatenates them, a decoder that reconstructs the input image from the obtained feature vector, and a discriminator that distinguishes if the input image image is real or fake. The hypothesis is that if the proposed model is trained with only normal brain images, the corresponding construction loss for normal images should be minimal. However, if the input image belongs to a class that is designated as an anomaly that which the model is not trained with, then the construction loss will be high. This will reflect during the anomaly score comparison between the normal and the anomalous image. A multi-case analysis is performed for three major classes using the Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative dataset, Alzheimer’s disease, mild cognitive impairment, and normal control. The base parallel-encoder network shows better classification accuracy than the benchmark models, and the proposed model that is built on the parallel model outperforms the benchmark anomaly detection models. The proposed model gave out 96.03% and 75.21% in classification and area under the curve score, respectively. Additionally, a qualitative evaluation done by using Fréchet inception distance gave a better score than the state-of-the-art by three points.
Carbon Neutrality Pathways Effects on Air Pollutant Emissions: The Portuguese Case
Authors: Monjardino Joana , Dias Luís , Fortes Patrícia , Tente Hugo , Ferreira Francisco , Seixas Júlia
Published: March 2021

Air pollution and climate change are closely interlinked, once both share common emission sources, which mainly arise from fuel combustion and industrial processes. Climate mitigation actions bring co-benefits on air quality and human health. However, specific solutions can provide negative trade-offs for one side. The Portuguese Carbon Neutrality Roadmap was developed to assess conceivable cost-effective pathways to achieve zero net carbon emissions by 2050. Assessing its impacts, on air pollutant emissions, is the main focus of the present work. The bottom-up linear optimization energy system the integrated MARKAL-EFOM system (TIMES) model was selected as a modeling tool for the decarbonization scenarios assessment. The estimation of air pollutant emissions was performed exogenously to the TIMES model. Results show that reaching net zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions is possible, and technologically feasible, in Portugal, by 2050. The crucial and most cost-effective vector for decarbonizing the national economy is the end-use energy consumption electrification, renewable based, across all end-use sectors. Decarbonization efforts were found to have strong co-benefits for reducing air pollutant emissions in Portugal. Transport and power generation are the sectors with the greatest potential to reduce GHG emissions, providing likewise the most significant reductions of air pollutant emissions. Despite the overall positive effects, there are antagonistic effects, such as the use of biomass, mainly in industry and residential sectors, which translates into increases in particulate matter emissions. This is relevant for medium term projections, since results show that, by 2030, PM2.5 emissions are unlikely to meet the emission reduction commitments set at the European level, if no additional control measures are considered.
Bell-Based Bernoulli Polynomials with Applications
Authors: Duran Ugur , Araci Serkan , Acikgoz Mehmet
Published: March 2021

In this paper, we consider Bell-based Stirling polynomials of the second kind and derive some useful relations and properties including some summation formulas related to the Bell polynomials and Stirling numbers of the second kind. Then, we introduce Bell-based Bernoulli polynomials of order α and investigate multifarious correlations and formulas including some summation formulas and derivative properties. Also, we acquire diverse implicit summation formulas and symmetric identities for Bell-based Bernoulli polynomials of order α. Moreover, we attain several interesting formulas of Bell-based Bernoulli polynomials of order α arising from umbral calculus.
Optimization of Beer Brewing by Monitoring α-Amylase and β-Amylase Activities during Mashing
Authors: Parés Viader Raimon , Yde Maiken Søe Holmstrøm , Hartvig Jens Winther , Pagenstecher Marcus , Carlsen Jacob Bille , Christensen Troels Balmer , Andersen Mogens Larsen
Published: March 2021

(1) Background: In the current highly competitive brewing industry, most breweries may benefit from a reduction in mashing time. In this study, a novel enzymatic assay format was used to investigate the activities of α-amylase and β-amylase during different mashing profiles, with the aim to use it as a tool for optimizing the production time of an existing industrial mashing process; (2) Methods: Lab-scale mashings with eight different time-temperature programs and two different pilot brews were analyzed in terms of enzymatic activity, sugar composition, alcohol by volume in the final beer, FAN and others; (3) Results: A 20-min reduction (out of an original 73-min mashing program) was achieved by selecting a temperature profile which maintained a higher enzymatic activity than the original, without affecting the wort sugar composition and fermentability, or the ethanol concentration and foam stability of the final beer. (4) Conclusions: A method is presented which can be used by breweries to optimize their mashing profiles based on monitoring α-amylase and β-amylase activities.
Age-Related Skeletal Muscle Dysfunction Is Aggravated by Obesity: An Investigation of Contractile Function, Implications and Treatment
Authors: Tallis Jason , Shelley Sharn , Degens Hans , Hill Cameron
Published: March 2021

Obesity is a global epidemic and coupled with the unprecedented growth of the world’s older adult population, a growing number of individuals are both old and obese. Whilst both ageing and obesity are associated with an increased prevalence of chronic health conditions and a substantial economic burden, evidence suggests that the coincident effects exacerbate negative health outcomes. A significant contributor to such detrimental effects may be the reduction in the contractile performance of skeletal muscle, given that poor muscle function is related to chronic disease, poor quality of life and all-cause mortality. Whilst the effects of ageing and obesity independently on skeletal muscle function have been investigated, the combined effects are yet to be thoroughly explored. Given the importance of skeletal muscle to whole-body health and physical function, the present study sought to provide a review of the literature to: (1) summarise the effect of obesity on the age-induced reduction in skeletal muscle contractile function; (2) understand whether obesity effects on skeletal muscle are similar in young and old muscle; (3) consider the consequences of these changes to whole-body functional performance; (4) outline important future work along with the potential for targeted intervention strategies to mitigate potential detrimental effects.
Retinal Microvascular Impairment in COVID-19 Bilateral Pneumonia Assessed by Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography
Authors: González-Zamora Jorge , Bilbao-Malavé Valentina , Gándara Elsa , Casablanca-Piñera Anna , Boquera-Ventosa Claudia , Landecho Manuel F. , Zarranz-Ventura Javier , García-Layana Alfredo
Published: March 2021

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the presence of retinal and microvascular alterations in COVID-19 patients with bilateral pneumonia due to SARS-COV-2 that required hospital admission and compare this with a cohort of age- and sex-matched controls. COVID-19 bilateral pneumonia patients underwent retinal imaging 14 days after hospital discharge with structural optical coherence tomography (OCT) and optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) measurements. Vessel density (VD) and foveal avascular zone (FAZ) area were evaluated in the superficial, deep capillary plexus (SCP, DCP), and choriocapillaris (CC). After exclusion criteria, only one eye per patient was selected, and 50 eyes (25 patients and 25 controls) were included in the analysis. COVID-19 patients presented significantly thinner ganglion cell layer (GCL) (p = 0.003) and thicker retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) compared to controls (p = 0.048), and this RNFL thickening was greater in COVID-19 cases with cotton wool spots (CWS), when compared with patients without CWS (p = 0.032). In both SCP and DCP, COVID-19 patients presented lower VD in the foveal region (p < 0.001) and a greater FAZ area than controls (p = 0.007). These findings suggest that thrombotic and inflammatory phenomena could be happening in the retina of COVID-19 patients. Further research is warranted to analyze the longitudinal evolution of these changes over time as well as their correlation with disease severity.
15-Deoxy-Δ12,14-prostaglandin J2 Upregulates VEGF Expression via NRF2 and Heme Oxygenase-1 in Human Breast Cancer Cells
Authors: Kim Eun-Hee , Kim Su-Jung , Na Hye-Kyung , Han Wonshik , Kim Nam-Jung , Suh Young-Ger , Surh Young-Joon
Published: March 2021

There is a plethora of evidence to support that inflammation is causally linked to carcinogenesis. Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), a rate-limiting enzyme in the biosynthesis of prostaglandins, is inappropriately overexpressed in various cancers and hence recognized as one of the hallmarks of chronic inflammation-associated malignancies. However, the mechanistic role of COX-2 as a link between inflammation and cancer remains largely undefined. In this study, we found that 15-deoxy-Δ12,14-prostaglandin J2 (15d-PGJ2), one of the final products of COX-2, induced upregulation of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and capillary formation and migration through nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (NRF2)-dependent heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) induction in MCF-7 cells. Analysis of the publicly available TCGA data set showed that high mRNA levels of both COX-2 and NRF2 correlated with the poor clinical outcomes in breast cancer patients. Moreover, human tissue analysis showed that the levels of 15d-PGJ2 as well the expression of COX-2, NRF2, and HO-1 were found to be increased in human breast cancer tissues. In conclusion, the elevated levels of 15d-PGJ2 during inflammatory response activate VEGF expression through NRF2-driven induction of HO-1 in human breast cancer cells, proposing a novel mechanism underlying the oncogenic function of 15d-PGJ2.
Clostridium Butyricum ZJU-F1 Benefits the Intestinal Barrier Function and Immune Response Associated with Its Modulation of Gut Microbiota in Weaned Piglets
Authors: Fu Jie , Wang Tenghao , Xiao Xiao , Cheng Yuanzhi , Wang Fengqin , Jin Mingliang , Wang Yizhen , Zong Xin
Published: March 2021

This study investigated the effects of dietary C. butyricum ZJU-F1 on the apparent digestibility of nutrients, intestinal barrier function, immune response, and microflora of weaned piglets, with the aim of providing a theoretical basis for the application of Clostridium butyricum as an alternative to antibiotics in weaned piglets. A total of 120 weanling piglets were randomly divided into four treatment groups, in which piglets were fed a basal diet supplemented with antibiotics (CON), Bacillus licheniformis (BL), Clostridium butyricum ZJU-F1 (CB), or Clostridium butyricum and Bacillus licheniformis (CB-BL), respectively. The results showed that CB and CB-BL treatment increased the intestinal digestibility of nutrients, decreased intestinal permeability, and increased intestinal tight junction protein and mucin expression, thus maintaining the integrity of the intestinal epithelial barrier. CB and CB-BL, as exogenous probiotics, were also found to stimulate the immune response of weaned piglets and improve the expression of antimicrobial peptides in the ileum. In addition, dietary CB and CB-BL increased the proportion of Lactobacillus. The levels of butyric acid, propionic acid, acetic acid, and total acid were significantly increased in the ceca of piglets fed CB and CB-BL. Furthermore, we validated the effects of C. butyricum ZJU-F1 on the intestinal barrier function and immune response in vitro and found C. butyricum ZJU-F1 improved intestinal function and enhanced the TLR-2-MyD88-NF-κB signaling.
Who Is Responsible for Embodied CO2?
Authors: Sanderson Hans
Published: March 2021

With the Paris Agreement, countries are obliged to report greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reductions, which will ensure that the global temperature increase is maintained well below 2 °C. The parties will report their nationally determined contributions (NDCs) in terms of plans and progress towards these targets during the postponed COP26 (Conference of the Parties under the UNFCCC) in Glasgow in November 2021. These commitments, however, do not take significant portions of the consumption-related emissions related to countries imports into account. Similarly, the majority of companies that report their emissions to CDP (Formerly Carbon Disclosure Project) also do not account for their embodied value-chain-related emissions. Municipalities, on the path towards carbon neutrality in accordance with the methods outlined by C40, also do not include imported and embodied CO2 in their total emission tallies. So, who is responsible for these emissions—the producer or the consumer? How can we ensure that the NDCs, municipalities’ and companies’ reduction targets share the responsibility of the emissions in the value chain, thus ensuring that targets and plans become sustainable, climate fair, and just in global value chains? Today the responsibility lays with the producer, which is not sustainable. We have the outline for the tools needed to quantify and transparently share the responsibility between producers and consumers at corporate, municipal and national levels based on an improved understanding of the attendant sources, causes, flows and risks of GHG emissions globally. Hybrid life cycle analysis/environmentally extended input–output (LCA/EEIO) models can for example be further developed. This will, in the end, enable everyday consumption to support a more sustainable, green and low carbon transition of our economy.
Fabrication, Characterization and In Vitro Cytotoxicity of Mesoporous β-Tricalcium Phosphate Using the Spray Drying Method
Authors: Ningsih Henni Setia , Tannesia Leonhard , Chen Hsiang-Ho , Shih Shao-Ju
Published: March 2021

Mesoporous beta tricalcium phosphate (β-TCP) has recently attracted significant interest as an artificial bone tissue in orthopedics. However, a scalable process is required to meet future demands. Spray drying is one of the potential synthesis methods owing to its low cost and scalable production. In this study, various mesoporous β-TCP powders were calcined in the range of 800 to 1100 °C, with particle sizes ranging from ~0.3 to ~1.8 μm, specific surface areas from ~16 to ~64 m2/g, and average pore sizes of 3 nm. Except for the 800 °C calcined powder, the other β-TCP powders (calcination temperatures of 900, 1000, and 1100 °C) exhibited no cytotoxicity. These results indicate that spray-dried mesoporous β-TCP powders were obtained. Finally, the corresponding formation mechanisms are discussed.
Management of the Sequelae of a Sport-Related Traumatic Dental Injury Using Ultrasound Examination in the Diagnosis and Follow-Up
Authors: Musu Davide , Bardini Giulia , Ideo Francesca , Mezzena Silvia , Cotti Elisabetta
Published: March 2021

About a quarter of all oral pathologies involving the oral cavity and dental apparatus are traumatic injuries, and a substantial number of these cases are the result of sports injuries affecting adolescents and young adults. Here, we report the case of a 25-year-old healthy female referred to the department of Endodontics for the evaluation and management of teeth 1.2 and 1.1 because of a chronic apical abscess in an area involved in a sport-related dental trauma in the past. A multi-modular diagnostic assessment, comprising conventional periapical radiographs, CBCT imaging, ultrasound, and histopathologic examination, led to a final diagnosis of an apical granulomatous lesion connected to both teeth, and an associated sinus tract. During the follow-up period of three years, the patient was reviewed twice a year and showed progressive healing of the bone and absence of the sinus tract. The present report shows the challenges of diagnosing complications arising from past dental trauma. Furthermore, it is the first documented traumatic case where ultrasound examination was fruitfully used. Emphasis should be put on introducing diagnostic ultrasound for the management of both apical periodontitis and the related sinus tract.
Overcoming Bottlenecks for Realizing a Vehicle-to-Grid Infrastructure in Europe through Standardization
Authors: Fulari Sameer Chandrakant , van de Kaa Geerten
Published: March 2021

This paper focuses on committee–market standards battles for the case of vehicle-to-grid technology in Europe. In this battle, standards such as CHArge de MOve (CHAdeMO) and Combined Charging System (CCS) Combo are competing. The paper identifies relevant factors with the help of a literature review and expert interviews. Furthermore, the importance weights were established for the factors. The paper ends with a discussion and conclusion in which the theoretical contributions, practical implications, limitations, and recommendations for further research are discussed.
Performance Assessment of Double Corrugated Tubes in a Tube-In-Shell Heat Exchanger
Authors: Navickaitė Kristina , Penzel Michael , Bahl Christian R. H. , Engelbrecht Kurt
Published: March 2021

In this article, the performance of double corrugated tubes applied in a tube-in-shell heat exchanger is analysed and compared to the performance of a heat exchanger equipped with straight tubes. The CFD (computational fluid dynamics) analysis was performed considering a turbulent flow regime at several mass flow rates. It is observed that the double corrugated geometry does not have a significant impact on the pressure drop inside the analysed heat exchanger, while it has the potential to increase its thermal performance by up to 25%. The ε–NTU (effectiveness–number of transfer units) relation also demonstrates the advantage of using double corrugated tubes in tube-in-shell heat exchangers over straight tubes.
A CFD Study on Flow Control of Ammonia Injection for Denitrification Processes of SCR Systems in Coal-Fired Power Plants
Authors: Kim Min-Gyu , Seo Deok-Cheol , Chung Hee-Taeg
Published: March 2021

The selective catalytic reduction method is a useful method for the denitrification process of exhaust gas emitted from industrial facilities. The distribution of the ammonia–nitrogen oxide mixing ratio at the inlet of the catalyst layers is important in the denitrification process. In this study, a computational analysis technique was used to improve the uniformity of the NH3/NO molar ratio by controlling the flow rate of the ammonia injection nozzle according to the flow distribution of nitrogen oxides in the inlet exhaust gas of the denitrification facility. The application model was simplified to the two-dimensional array adopted from the existing selective catalytic reduction (SCR) process in the large-scaled coal-fired power plant. As the inlet conditions, four (4) types of flow pattern were simulated, i.e., parabolic, upper-skewed, lower-skewed, and random. The flow rate of the eight (8) nozzles installed in the ammonia injection grid was controlled by Design Xplorer as the optimization tool. In order to solve the two-dimensional steady, incompressible, and viscous flow fields, the commercial software named ANSYS Fluent was used with the κ-ε turbulence model. The root mean square of NH3/NO molar ratio at the inlet of the catalyst layer has been improved from 84.6% to 90.1% by controlling the flow rate of the ammonia injection nozzles. From the present numerical simulation, the operation guide could be drawn for the ammonia injection nozzles in SCR DeNOx facilities.
Design of Cylindrical Thermal Dummy Cell for Development of Lithium-Ion Battery Thermal Management System
Authors: Li Wei , Xiong Shusheng , Zhou Xiaojun , Shi Wei , Wang Chongming , Lin Xianke , Cheng Junjie
Published: March 2021

This paper aims to design thermal dummy cells (TDCs) that can be used in the development of lithium-ion battery thermal management systems. Based on physical property and geometry of real 18,650 cylindrical cells, a three-dimensional model of TDCs was designed, and it is used to numerically simulate the thermal performance of TDCs. Simulations show that the TDC can mimic the temperature change on the surface of a real cell both at static and dynamic current load. Experimental results show that the rate of heating resistance of TDC is less than 0.43% for temperatures between 27.5 °C and 90.5 °C. Powered by a two-step voltage source of 12 V, the temperature difference of TDCs is 1 °C and 1.6 °C along the circumference and the axial directions, respectively. Powered by a constant voltage source of 6 V, the temperature rising rates on the surface and in the core are higher than 1.9 °C/min. Afterwards, the proposed TDC was used to simulate a real cell for investigating its thermal performance under the New European Driving Cycle (NEDC), and the same tests were conducted using real cells. The test indicates that the TDC surface temperature matches well with that of the real battery during the NEDC test, while the temperature rise of TDC exceeds that of the real battery during the suburban cycle. This paper demonstrates the feasibility of using TDCs to replace real cells, which can greatly improve safety and efficiency for the development of lithium-ion battery thermal management systems.
Triggering Local Innovation Processes for the Implementation of Sector Coupling Projects: An Integrated Approach
Authors: Kanngießer Annedore , Venjakob Johannes , Hicking Jan , Kockel Christina , Drewing Emily , Beckamp Marius , Jaeger Stefan
Published: March 2021

Local implementation projects for sector coupling play an important role in the transformation to a more sustainable energy system. Despite various technical possibilities, there are various barriers to the realisation of local projects. Against this backdrop, we introduce an inter- and transdisciplinary approach to identifying and evaluating different power-to-X paths as well as setting up robust local implementation projects, which account for existing drivers and potential hurdles early on. After developing the approach conceptually, we exemplify our elaborations by applying them to a use case in the German city of Wuppertal. It can be shown that a mix of several interlinked interdisciplinary methods as well as several participatory elements is suitable for triggering a collective, local innovation process. However, the timing and extent of end-user integration remain a balancing act. The paper does not focus on a detailed description of power-to-X (PtX) as a central pillar of the sustainable transformation of the energy system. Rather, it focuses on the innovative methodological approach used to select a suitable use path and design a corresponding business model. The research approach was successfully implemented in the specific case study. However, it also becomes clear that the local-specific consideration entails limitations with regard to the transferability of the research design to other spatial contexts.
Triple Decomposition of Velocity Gradient Tensor in Compressible Turbulence
Authors: Boukharfane Radouan , Er-raiy Aimad , Alzaben Linda , Parsani Matteo
Published: March 2021

The decomposition of the local motion of a fluid into straining, shearing, and rigid-body rotation is examined in this work for a compressible isotropic turbulence by means of direct numerical simulations. The triple decomposition is closely associated with a basic reference frame (BRF), in which the extraction of the biasing effect of shear is maximized. In this study, a new computational and inexpensive procedure is proposed to identify the BRF for a three-dimensional flow field. In addition, the influence of compressibility effects on some statistical properties of the turbulent structures is addressed. The direct numerical simulations are carried out with a Reynolds number that is based on the Taylor micro-scale of Reλ=100 for various turbulent Mach numbers that range from Mat=0.12 to Mat=0.89. The DNS database is generated with an improved seventh-order accurate weighted essentially non-oscillatory scheme to discretize the non-linear advective terms, and an eighth-order accurate centered finite difference scheme is retained for the diffusive terms. One of the major findings of this analysis is that regions featuring strong rigid-body rotations or straining motions are highly spatially intermittent, while most of the flow regions exhibit moderately strong shearing motions in the absence of rigid-body rotations and straining motions. The majority of compressibility effects can be estimated if the scaling laws in the case of compressible turbulence are rescaled by only considering the solenoidal contributions.
Resilience of Community Food Systems (CFS): Co-Design as a Long-Term Viable Pathway to Face Crises in Neglected Territories?
Authors: Turetta Ana Paula Dias , Bonatti Michelle , Sieber Stefan
Published: March 2021

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought on a global crisis, with impacts an ongoing food security and nutrition, exposing the vulnerabilities of our society. However, it can be a time for reflection and an opportunity to propose and stimulate initiatives that are ready to facilitate resilience within the food system. The food to fork must be shortened and diversified where it is viable and feasible, while made affordable for all societal levels. To face these challengers, the community food systems (CFS) approach has a crucial role, since it copes with relevant principles, including the necessities of low-income societies from areas particularly marginalized from mainstream food systems, of which those land areas also can pose as additional insurance just in case of occurrence of whatever crises. Systematizing the components and contributions of CFS can facilitate the advance of strategies to better deal with crises and increase resilience. Therefore, in this paper, through key elements of CFS, we propose a theoretical framework that can be applied by decision makers as a conceptual guide for combating threats to food systems in neglected territories.
Effect of Nonlinear Elasticity on the Swelling Behaviors of Highly Swollen Polyelectrolyte Gels
Authors: Tang Jian , Katashima Takuya , Li Xiang , Mitsukami Yoshiro , Yokoyama Yuki , Chung Ung-il , Shibayama Mitsuhiro , Sakai Takamasa
Published: March 2021

Polyelectrolyte gels exhibit swelling behaviors that are dependent on the external environment. The swelling behaviors of highly charged polyelectrolyte gels can be well explained using the Flory–Rehner model combined with the Gibbs–Donnan effect and Manning’s counterion condensation effect (the FRGDM model). This study investigated the swelling properties of a series of model polyelectrolyte gels, namely tetra-polyacrylic acid-polyethylene glycol gels (Tetra-PAA-PEG gels), and determined the applicability of the FRGDM model. The swelling ratio (Vs/V0) was well reproduced by the FRGDM model in the moderate swelling regime (Vs/V0 < 10). However, in the high swelling regime (Vs/V0 > 10), the FRGDM model is approx. 1.6 times larger than the experimental results. When we introduced the finite extensibility to the elastic free energy in the FRGDM model, the swelling behavior was successfully reproduced even in the high swelling regime. Our results reveal that finite extensibility is one of the factors determining the swelling equilibrium of highly charged polyelectrolyte gels. The modified FRGDM model reproduces well the swelling behavior of a wide range of polyelectrolyte gels.
Dialogical Memory and Immemorial Poetics: The Ethical Imperatives of Holocaust Literature
Authors: Remington Blake W.
Published: March 2021

Drawing from Emmanuel Levinas’s philosophical ethics and Paul Celan’s dialogical poetics, this article interrogates the impossible memorial and ethical demands that literary responses to the Holocaust place upon their readers. While Levinas reveals our position as summoned to radical responsibility, Celan shows us how that responsibility plays out in the form of ethical reading. By attending to the imperative commands found in Celan’s longest poem, “Engführung”, this article demonstrates how Holocaust literature memorializes the Shoah through an invocation of Levinasian ethics and the concept of the immemorial—that which exceeds memory. Following the discussion of Levinas, Celan, and “Engführung”, I turn to Primo Levi’s “Shema”, a paradigmatic text that likewise directly challenges us, calling us into question as readers during the moment of reading and demanding an attentiveness to the text that proves beyond our ability to deliver. Throughout, I aim to show how dialogical memory enables us to better comprehend the ethical burden we encounter in the literary texts of the Holocaust.
Differences in Knee Shape between ACL Injured and Non-Injured: A Matched Case-Control Study of 168 Patients
Authors: van Kuijk Koen S.R. , Eggerding Vincent , Reijman Max , van Meer Belle L. , Bierma-Zeinstra Sita M.A. , van Arkel Ewoud , Waarsing Jan H. , Meuffels Duncan E.
Published: March 2021

Objective: Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury prevention programs could be more effective if we could select patients at risk for sustaining an ACL rupture. The purpose of this study is to identify radiographic shape variants of the knee between patients with and patients without an ACL rupture. Methods: We compared the lateral and Rosenberg view X-rays of 168 prospectively followed patients with a ruptured ACL to a control group with intact ACLs, matched for gender, after knee trauma. We used statistical shape modeling software to examine knee shape and find differences in shape variants between both groups. Results: In the Rosenberg view X-rays, we found five shape variants to be significantly different between patients with an ACL rupture and patients with an intact ACL but with knee trauma. Overall, patients who had ruptured their ACL had smaller, flatter intercondylar notches, a lower lateral tibia plateau, a lower medial spike of the eminence, and a smaller tibial eminence compared to control patients. Conclusion: Patients with an ACL rupture have smaller intercondylar notches and smaller tibial eminences in comparison to patients with an intact ACL after knee trauma.
Sublingual Buprenorphine/Naloxone and Multi-Modal Management for High-Risk Chronic Pain Patients
Authors: Kaski Shane , Marshalek Patrick , Herschler Jeremy , Wen Sijin , Zheng Wanhong
Published: March 2021

Patients with chronic pain managed with opioid medications are at high risk for opioid overuse or misuse. West Virginia University (WVU) established a High-Risk Pain Clinic to use sublingual buprenorphine/naloxone (bup/nal) plus a multimodal approach to help chronic pain patients with history of Substance Use Disorder (SUD) or aberrant drug-related behavior. The objective of this study was to report overall retention rates and indicators of efficacy in pain control from approximately six years of High-Risk Pain Clinic data. A retrospective chart review was conducted for a total of 78 patients who enrolled in the High-Risk Pain Clinic between 2014 and 2020. Data gathered include psychiatric diagnoses, prescribed medications, pain score, buprenorphine/naloxone dosing, time in clinic, and reason for dismissal. A linear mixed effects model was used to assess the pain score from the Defense and Veterans Pain Rating Scale (DVPRS) and daily bup/nal dose across time. The overall retention of the High-Risk Pain Clinic was 41%. The mean pain score demonstrated a significant downward trend across treatment time (p < 0.001), while the opposite trend was seen with buprenorphine dose (p < 0.001). With the benefit of six years of observation, this study supports buprenorphine/naloxone as a safe and efficacious component of comprehensive chronic pain treatment in patients with SUD or high-risk of opioid overuse or misuse.
Risk of Metabolic Syndrome in Kidney Stone Formers: A Comparative Cohort Study with a Median Follow-Up of 19 Years
Authors: Geraghty Robert M. , Cook Paul , Roderick Paul , Somani Bhaskar
Published: March 2021

Background: Kidney stone formers (SF) are more likely to develop diabetes mellitus (DM), but there is no study examining risk of metabolic syndrome (MetS) in this population. We aimed to describe the risk of MetS in SF compared to non-SF. Methods and Materials: SF referred to a tertiary referral metabolic centre in Southern England from 1990 to 2007, comparator patients were age, sex, and period (first stone) matched with 3:1 ratio from the same primary care database. SF with no documentation or previous MetS were excluded. Ethical approval was obtained and MetS was defined using the modified Association of American Clinical Endocrinologists (AACE) criteria. Analysis with cox proportional hazard regression. Results: In total, 828 SF were included after 1000 records were screened for inclusion, with 2484 age and sex matched non-SF comparators. Median follow-up was 19 years (interquartile range—IQR: 15–22) for both stone formers and stone-free comparators. SF were at significantly increased risk of developing MetS (hazard ratio—HR: 1.77; 95% confidence interval—CI: 1.55–2.03, p < 0.001). This effect was robust to adjustment for pre-existing components (HR: 1.91; 95% CI: 1.66–2.19, p < 0.001). Conclusions: Kidney stone formers are at increased risk of developing metabolic syndrome. Given the pathophysiological mechanism, the stone is likely a ‘symptom’ of an underlying metabolic abnormality, whether covert or overt. This has implications the risk of further stone events and cardiovascular disease.
Visual Evoked Potential Responses after Photostress in Migraine Patients and Their Correlations with Clinical Features
Authors: Coppola Gianluca , Di Lorenzo Cherubino , Di Lenola Davide , Serrao Mariano , Pierelli Francesco , Parisi Vincenzo
Published: March 2021

In the past few years, researchers have detected subtle macular vision abnormalities using different psychophysical experimental tasks in patients with migraine. Recording of visual evoked potential (VEP) after photostress (PS) represents an objective way to verify the integrity of the dynamic properties of macular performance after exposure to intense light. VEPs were recorded before and after PS in 51 patients with migraine (19 with aura (MA) and 22 without aura (MO) between attacks, and 10 recorded during an attack (MI)) and 14 healthy volunteers. All study participants were exposed to 30 s of PS through the use of a 200-watt bulb lamp. The P100 implicit time and N75-P100 amplitude of the baseline VEP were compared with those collected every 20 s up to 200 s after PS. VEP parameters recorded at baseline did not differ between groups. In all groups, the VEP recordings exhibited a significant increase in implicit times and a reduction in amplitude at 20 s after the PS. In migraine, the percentage decrease in amplitudes observed at 20 s after photostress was significantly lower than in healthy volunteers, in both MO and MA patients, but not in MI patients. When data for MO and MA patients were combined, the percentage of amplitude change at 20 s was negatively correlated with the number of days that had elapsed since the last migraine attack, and positive correlated with attack frequency. We showed dynamic changes of recovery of VEP after PS depending on the migraine cycle. This finding, in conjunction with those previously attained with other neuromodulatory interventions using VEPs, leads us to argue that migraine-disease-related dysrhythmic thalamocortical activity precludes amplitude suppression by PS.
Exploring Obscurin and SPEG Kinase Biology
Authors: Fleming Jennifer R. , Rani Alankrita , Kraft Jamie , Zenker Sanja , Börgeson Emma , Lange Stephan
Published: March 2021

Three members of the obscurin protein family that contain tandem kinase domains with important signaling functions for cardiac and striated muscles are the giant protein obscurin, its obscurin-associated kinase splice isoform, and the striated muscle enriched protein kinase (SPEG). While there is increasing evidence for the specific roles that each individual kinase domain plays in cross-striated muscles, their biology and regulation remains enigmatic. Our present study focuses on kinase domain 1 and the adjacent low sequence complexity inter-kinase domain linker in obscurin and SPEG. Using Phos-tag gels, we show that the linker in obscurin contains several phosphorylation sites, while the same region in SPEG remained unphosphorylated. Our homology modeling, mutational analysis and molecular docking demonstrate that kinase 1 in obscurin harbors all key amino acids important for its catalytic function and that actions of this domain result in autophosphorylation of the protein. Our bioinformatics analyses also assign a list of putative substrates for kinase domain 1 in obscurin and SPEG, based on the known and our newly proposed phosphorylation sites in muscle proteins, including obscurin itself.
Therapeutic Outcomes and Prognostic Factors of Unresectable Intrahepatic Cholangiocarcinoma: A Data Mining Analysis
Authors: Shirono Tomotake , Niizeki Takashi , Iwamoto Hideki , Shimose Shigeo , Suzuki Hiroyuki , Kawaguchi Takumi , Kamachi Naoki , Noda Yu , Okamura Shusuke , Nakano Masahito , Kuromatu Ryoko , Koga Hironori , Torimura Takuji
Published: March 2021

Prognosis of patients with intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) is unsatisfactory. Tumor, host, and treatment factors including hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy (HAIC) are intricately involved in the progression of ICC. We aimed to identify profiles associated with disease control rate (DCR) and the prognosis of patients with unresectable ICC by decision tree analysis. We analyzed 31 consecutive patients with unresectable ICC (median age, 71 years; the male ratio was 58.1%). Stage IVB occupied 51.6% of patients, and 38.7% and 58.1% of patients were treated with gemcitabine plus cisplatin combination therapy and HAIC, respectively. Profiles associated with prognosis as well as DCR were investigated by decision tree analysis. The median survival time (MST) of the patients was 11.6 months, and the DCR was 70.9%. Multivariate correlation analysis showed that albumin levels and WBC levels were significantly correlated with survival time (albumin, ρ = 0.3572, p = 0.0485; WBC, ρ = −0.4008, p = 0.0280). In decision tree analysis, WBC level was selected as the initial split variable, and subjects with WBC levels of 6800/μL or less (45.1%) showed a long survival time (MST 476 days). We also demonstrated that the profile associated with the highest DCR was “less than 4.46 mg/dL of CRP levels and treatment with HAIC”. We demonstrated a new prognostic profile for ICC patients, which consisted of WBC and CRP levels. Moreover, we demonstrated that HAIC was associated with better disease control in ICC patients with low CPR levels. Thus, these new profiles may be useful for the management of ICC patients.
High Comorbidity Burden in Patients with SLE: Data from the Community-Based Lupus Registry of Crete
Authors: Gergianaki Irini , Garantziotis Panagiotis , Adamichou Christina , Saridakis Ioannis , Spyrou Georgios , Sidiropoulos Prodromos , Bertsias George
Published: March 2021

Comorbidities and multimorbidity, often complicating the disease course of patients with chronic inflammatory rheumatic diseases, may be influenced by disease-intrinsic and extrinsic determinants including regional and social factors. We analyzed the frequency and co-segregation of self-reported comorbid diseases in a community-based Mediterranean registry of patients (n = 399) with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Predictors for multimorbidity were identified by multivariable logistic regression, strongly-associated pairs of comorbidities by the Cramer’s V-statistic, and comorbidities clusters by hierarchical agglomerative clustering. Among the most prevalent comorbidities were thyroid (45.6%) and metabolic disorders (hypertension: 24.6%, dyslipidemia: 33.3%, obesity: 35.3%), followed by osteoporosis (22.3%), cardiovascular (20.8%), and allergic (20.6%) disorders. Mental comorbidities were also common, particularly depression (26.7%) and generalized anxiety disorder (10.7%). Notably, 51.0% of patients had ≥3 physical and 33.1% had ≥2 mental comorbidities, with a large fraction (n = 86) displaying multimorbidity from both domains. Sociodemographic (education level, marital status) and clinical (disease severity, neurological involvement) were independently associated with physical or mental comorbidity. Patients were grouped into five distinct clusters of variably prevalent comorbid diseases from different organs and domains, which correlated with SLE severity patterns. Conclusively, our results suggest a high multimorbidity burden in patients with SLE at the community, advocating for integrated care to optimize outcomes.