bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Single-Institute Experience with C-ros Oncogene 1 Translocation in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancers in Taiwan
Authors: Wang Hsiang-Sheng , Liu Chien-Ying , Hsu Sheng-Chi , Huang Shih-Chiang , Hung Tsai-Hsien , Ng Kwai-Fong , Chen Tse-Ching
Published: May 2022

(1) Background: The C-ros oncogene 1 (ROS1) gene translocation is an important biomarker for selecting patients for crizotinib-targeted therapy. The aim of this study was to understand the incidence, diagnostic algorithm, clinical course and objective response to crizotinib in ROS1 translocated lung non-small cell lung cancers (NSCLCs) in Taiwan. (2) Methods: First, we retrospectively studied the ROS1 status in 100 NSCLC samples using break-apart fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) and immunohistochemical (IHC) staining to establish a diagnostic algorithm. Then, we performed routine ROS1 IHC tests in 479 NSCLCs, as crizotinib was available from 2018 in Taiwan. We analyzed the objective response rate and the survival impact of crizotinib. (3) Results: Four ROS1 translocations were clustered in epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) wild-type adenocarcinomas but not in cases with EGFR mutations. Strong ROS1 expression was positively correlated with ROS1 translocation (p < 0.001). NSCLCs with ROS1 translocation had a poor prognosis compared to those without ROS1 translocation (p = 0.004) in the pre-crizotinib stage. Twenty NSCLCs were detected with ROS1 translocation in 479 wild-type EGFR specimens from 2018. Therefore, the incidence of ROS1 translocation is approximately 4.18% in EGFR wild-type NSCLCs. In these 20 ROS1 translocation cases, 19 patients received crizotinib treatment, with an objective response rate (ORR) of 78.95% (confidence interval = 69.34% to 88.56%), including 1 complete response, 14 partial responses, 3 stable cases and 1 progressive case. Overall survival and progression-free survival were better in the 19 ROS1-translocated NSCLCs of the prospective group with crizotinib treatment than the four ROS1-translocated NSCLCs of the retrospective group without crizotinib treatment. (4) Conclusions: ROS1-translocated NSCLCs had a poor prognosis and could have a beneficial outcome with crizotinib.
Effects of Methoxyfenozide-Loaded Fluorescent Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticles on Plutella xylostella (L.) (Lepidoptera: Plutellidae) Mortality and Detoxification Enzyme Levels Activities
Authors: Bilal Muhammad , Sial Muhammad Umair , Cao Lidong , Huang Qiliang
Published: May 2022

The diamond back moth, Plutella xylostella, causes severe damage at all crop stages, beside its rising resistance to all insecticides. The objective of this study was to look for a new control strategy such as application of insecticide-loaded carbon dot-embedded fluorescent mesoporous silica nanoparticles (FL-SiO2 NPs). Two different-sized methoxyfenozide-loaded nanoparticles (Me@FL-SiO2 NPs-70 nm, Me@FL-SiO2 NPs-150 nm) were prepared, with loading content 15% and 16%. Methoxyfenozide was released constantly from Me@FL-SiO2 NPs only at specific optimum pH 7.5. The release of methoxyfenozide from Me@FL-SiO2 NPs was not observed other than this optimum pH, and therefore, we checked and controlled a single release condition to look out for the different particle sizes of insecticide-loaded NPs. This pH-responsive release pattern can find potential application in sustainable plant protection. Moreover, the lethal concentration of the LC50 value was 24 mg/L for methoxyfenozide (TC), 14 mg/L for Me@FL-SiO2 NPs-70 nm, and 15 mg/L for Me@FL-SiO2 NPs-150 nm after 72 h exposure, respectively. After calculating the LC50, the results predicted that Me@FL-SiO2 NPs-70 nm and Me@FL-SiO2 NPs-150 nm exhibited better insecticidal activity against P. xylostella than methoxyfenozide under the same concentrations of active ingredient applied. Moreover, the activities of detoxification enzymes of P. xylostella were suppressed by treatment with insecticide-loaded NPs, which showed that NPs could also be involved in reduction of enzymes. Furthermore, the entering of FL-SiO2 NPs into the midgut of P. xylostella was confirmed by confocal laser scanning microscope (CLSM). For comparison, P. xylostella under treatment with water as control was also observed under CLSM. The control exhibited no fluorescent signal, while the larvae treated with FL-SiO2 NPs showed strong fluorescence under a laser excitation wavelength of 448 nm. The reduced enzyme activities as well as higher cuticular penetration in insects indicate that the nano-based delivery system of insecticide could be potentially applied in insecticide resistance management.
The Small Molecule GAL-201 Efficiently Detoxifies Soluble Amyloid β Oligomers: New Approach towards Oral Disease-Modifying Treatment of Alzheimer’s Disease
Authors: Russ Hermann , Mazzanti Michele , Parsons Chris , Riemann Katrin , Gebauer Alexander , Rammes Gerhard
Published: May 2022

Soluble amyloid β (Aβ) oligomers have been shown to be highly toxic to neurons and are considered to be a major cause of the neurodegeneration underlying Alzheimer’s disease (AD). That makes soluble Aβ oligomers a promising drug target. In addition to eliminating these toxic species from the patients’ brain with antibody-based drugs, a new class of drugs is emerging, namely Aβ aggregation inhibitors or modulators, which aim to stop the formation of toxic Aβ oligomers at the source. Here, pharmacological data of the novel Aβ aggregation modulator GAL-201 are presented. This small molecule (288.34 g/mol) exhibits high binding affinity to misfolded Aβ1-42 monomers (KD = 2.5 ± 0.6 nM). Pharmacokinetic studies in rats using brain microdialysis are supportive of its oral bioavailability. The Aβ oligomer detoxifying potential of GAL-201 has been demonstrated by means of single cell recordings in isolated hippocampal neurons (perforated patch experiments) as well as in vitro and in vivo extracellular monitoring of long-term potentiation (LTP, in rat transverse hippocampal slices), a cellular correlate for synaptic plasticity. Upon preincubation, GAL-201 efficiently prevented the detrimental effect on LTP mediated by Aβ1-42 oligomers. Furthermore, the potential to completely reverse an already established neurotoxic process could also be demonstrated. Of particular note in this context is the self-propagating detoxification potential of GAL-201, leading to a neutralization of Aβ oligomer toxicity even if GAL-201 has been stepwise removed from the medium (serial dilution), likely due to prion-like conformational changes in Aβ1-42 monomer aggregates (trigger effect). The authors conclude that the data presented strongly support the further development of GAL-201 as a novel, orally available AD treatment with potentially superior clinical profile.
Bone Marrow MSC Secretome Increases Equine Articular Chondrocyte Collagen Accumulation and Their Migratory Capacities
Authors: Contentin Romain , Jammes Manon , Bourdon Bastien , Cassé Frédéric , Bianchi Arnaud , Audigié Fabrice , Branly Thomas , Velot Émilie , Galéra Philippe
Published: May 2022

Equine osteoarthritis (OA) leads to cartilage degradation with impaired animal well-being, premature cessation of sport activity, and financial losses. Mesenchymal stem cell (MSC)-based therapies are promising for cartilage repair, but face limitations inherent to the cell itself. Soluble mediators and extracellular vesicles (EVs) secreted by MSCs are the alternatives to overcome those limitations while preserving MSC restorative properties. The effect of equine bone marrow MSC secretome on equine articular chondrocytes (eACs) was analyzed with indirect co-culture and/or MSC-conditioned media (CM). The expression of healthy cartilage/OA and proliferation markers was evaluated in eACs (monolayers or organoids). In vitro repair experiments with MSC-CM were made to evaluate the proliferation and migration of eACs. The presence of nanosized EVs in MSC-CM was appraised with nanoparticle tracking assay and transmission electron microscopy. Our results demonstrated that the MSC secretome influences eAC phenotype by increasing cartilage functionality markers and cell migration in a greater way than MSCs, which could delay OA final outcomes. This study makes acellular therapy an appealing strategy to improve equine OA treatments. However, the MSC secretome contains a wide variety of soluble mediators and small EVs, such as exosomes, and further investigation must be performed to understand the mechanisms occurring behind these promising effects.
Identification and Characterization of Chemosensory Receptors in the Pheromone Gland-Ovipositor of Spodoptera frugiperda (J. E. Smith)
Authors: Sun Ya-Lan , Dong Jun-Feng , Yang Hai-Bo , Li Ding-Xu , Tian Cai-Hong
Published: May 2022

Chemoreception by moth ovipositors has long been suggested, but underlying molecular mechanisms are mostly unknown. To reveal such chemosensory systems in the current study, we sequenced and assembled the pheromone gland-ovipositor (PG-OV) transcriptome of females of the fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda, a pest of many crops. We annotated a total of 26 candidate chemosensory receptor genes, including 12 odorant receptors (ORs), 4 gustatory receptors (GRs), and 10 ionotropic receptors (IRs). The relatedness of these chemosensory receptors with those from other insect species was predicted by phylogenetic analyses, and specific genes, including pheromone receptors, ORco, CO2 receptors, sugar receptors, and IR co-receptors, were reported. Although real-time quantitative-PCR analyses of annotated genes revealed that OR and IR genes were mainly expressed in S. frugiperda antennae, two ORs and two IRs expressed in antennae were also highly expressed in the PG-OV. Similarly, GR genes were mainly expressed in the proboscis, but two were also highly expressed in the PG-OV. Our study provides the first large-scale description of chemosensory receptors in the PG-OV of S. frugiperda and provides a foundation for exploring the chemoreception mechanisms of PG-OV in S. frugiperda and in other moth species.
Protists in the Insect Rearing Industry: Benign Passengers or Potential Risk?
Authors: Bessette Edouard , Williams Bryony
Published: May 2022

As the insects for food and feed industry grows, a new understanding of the industrially reared insect microbiome is needed to better comprehend the role that it plays in both maintaining insect health and generating disease. While many microbiome projects focus on bacteria, fungi or viruses, protists (including microsporidia) can also make up an important part of these assemblages. Past experiences with intensive invertebrate rearing indicate that these parasites, whilst often benign, can rapidly sweep through populations, causing extensive damage. Here, we review the diversity of microsporidia and protist species that are found in reared insect hosts and describe the current understanding of their host spectra, life cycles and the nature of their interactions with hosts. Major entomopathogenic parasite groups with the potential to infect insects currently being reared for food and feed include the Amoebozoa, Apicomplexa, Ciliates, Chlorophyta, Euglenozoa, Ichtyosporea and Microsporidia. However, key gaps exist in the understanding of how many of these entomopathogens affect host biology. In addition, for many of them, there are very limited or even no molecular data, preventing the implementation of molecular detection methods. There is now a pressing need to develop and use novel molecular tools, coupled with standard molecular diagnostic methods, to help unlock their biology and predict the effects of these poorly studied protist parasites in intensive insect rearing systems.
Kidney Biopsy in Patients with Cancer along the Last Decade: A Multicenter Study
Authors: Bolufer Mónica , García-Carro Clara , Blasco Miquel , Quintana Luis F. , Shabaka Amir , Rabasco Cristina , Draibe Juliana , Merino Ana , Melero María Rosa , Alonso Fabiola , Buxeda Anna , Batalha Paula , Visús Maria Teresa , Soler Maria José
Published: May 2022

Background: Currently, following the new advances in cancer treatments and the increasing prevalence of kidney disease in the population, more kidney biopsies are being performed. The aim of our study is to analyze clinical and histological characteristics of patients with active solid organ malignancy who underwent kidney biopsy. This is a multi-center collaborative retrospective study supported by groups GLOSEN/Onconephrology from the Spanish Society of Nephrology. Clinical, demographical and histological data were collected. Results: A total of 148 patients with cancer who underwent a kidney biopsy from 12 hospitals were included. 64.3% men and mean age of 66.9 years old. The indications for biopsy were acute renal injury (67.1%), proteinuria (17.1%), exacerbated chronic kidney disease (8.2%), and chronic kidney disease (7.5%). Most frequent malignances were lung (29.1%) and abdominal (25%), with 49.7% metastatic cancer. As oncospecific treatment, 28% received chemotherapy, 29.3% immunotherapy, 19.3% specific therapies, and 2.1% conservative treatment. At the time of kidney biopsy, median creatinine was of 2.58 mg/dL [1.81–4.1 (IQ 25–75)], median urine protein-to-creatinine ratio of 700 mg/g [256–2463 (IQ 25–75)] and 53.1% presented hematuria. The most frequent renal biopsy diagnoses were: acute interstitial nephritis (39.9%), acute tubular necrosis (8.8%), IgA nephropathy (7.4%) and membranous nephropathy (6.1%). Median follow-up was 15.2 months [5.7–31.4 (IQ 25–75)]. Conclusions: There is a new trend in kidney disease and cancer patients in terms of diagnosis and treatment. Acute interstitial nephritis has established itself as the most common kidney injury in patients with cancer who underwent a kidney biopsy. Renal biopsy is a valuable tool for diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis of solid organ cancer patients with kidney damage.
Generation of Ince–Gaussian Beams Using Azocarbazole Polymer CGH
Authors: Singh Sumit Kumar , Haginaka Honoka , Jackin Boaz Jessie , Kinashi Kenji , Tsutsumi Naoto , Sakai Wataru
Published: May 2022

Ince–Gaussian beams, defined as a solution to a wave equation in elliptical coordinates, have shown great advantages in applications such as optical communication, optical trapping and optical computation. However, to ingress these applications, a compact and scalable method for generating these beams is required. Here, we present a simple method that satisfies the above requirement, and is capable of generating arbitrary Ince–Gaussian beams and their superposed states through a computer-generated hologram of size 1 mm2, fabricated on an azocarbazole polymer film. Other structural beams that can be derived from the Ince–Gaussian beam were also successfully generated by changing the elliptical parameters of the Ince–Gaussian beam. The orthogonality relations between different Ince–Gaussian modes were investigated in order to verify applicability in an optical communication regime. The complete python source code for computing the Ince–Gaussian beams and their holograms are also provided.
Exploration of Informal Farmland Leasing Mode: A Case Study of Huang Village in China
Authors: Fang Tingting , Zhuo Yuefei , Wu Cifang , Zhou Yihu , Xu Zhongguo , Li Guan
Published: May 2022

How to effectively promote the large-scale and market-oriented farmland leasing process in China is one of the most important practical issues concerning the current academic circle and decision makers. However, restricted by the current situation of rural social development, farmers’ spontaneous and informal farmland leasing is still widespread. Exploring the long-term evolution characteristics of informal farmland leasing at the village scale is of great significance for optimizing the process of farmland leasing, perfecting the farmland leasing market, and promoting moderate-scale farmland management. Therefore, based on field survey data from the whole village and social network analysis methods, this research conducted a detailed empirical study on the characteristics, development process, and consequences of informal farmland leasing behavior in a traditional rural society in central China. The results show that with the development of time, the scope of informal farmland leasing in Huang village has been expanding, of which more than 70% of the farmland in 2020 was leased among acquaintances. Farmland leasing among acquaintances is becoming a trend toward informal farmland leasing in some villages. At present, 13 large-scale households lease 73.9% of the total area of farmland leasing in Huang village. The informal farmland leasing in the village has basically formed a centralized circulation pattern with the villager group as the core, which can promote moderate-scale farming to a certain extent. However, there are also problems, such as the ability of a simple internal leasing mode to resist external risks is limited. The findings may be helpful in rethinking China’s farmland leasing policy and provide useful insights into the multifaceted rural sustainability of other similar traditional villages.
Dapagliflozin, Liraglutide, and Their Combination Attenuate Diabetes Mellitus-Associated Hepato-Renal Injury—Insight into Oxidative Injury/Inflammation/Apoptosis Modulation
Authors: El-Sherbiny Mohamed , El-Shafey Mohamed , Said Eman , Shaker Gehan Ahmed , El-Dosoky Mohamed , Ebrahim Hasnaa Ali , Abed Sally Yussef , Ibraheem Khalid M. , Mohsen Faheem Ahmed , AlMutawa Muntazar , Alatawi Bayader , Elsherbiny Nehal M.
Published: May 2022

In this study, we aim to explore the beneficial therapeutic impacts of dapagliflozin (Dapa), a highly potent, reversible, and selective sodium–glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitor, and liraglutide (Lira), a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist, as hypoglycaemic agents for the management of diabetes mellitus (DM), as well as their combination against DM-induced complications, including hepato-renal injury. Indeed, the progression of DM was found to be associated with significant hepatic and renal injury, as confirmed by the elevated biochemical indices of hepatic and renal functions, as well as histopathological examination. Dapa, Lira, and their combination effectively attenuated DM-induced hepatic and renal injury, as confirmed by the recovery of hepatic and renal functional biomarkers. The administration of both drugs significantly reduced the tissue contents of MDA and restored the contents of GSH and catalase activity. Moreover, NF-κB and TNF-α expression at the protein and gene levels was significantly reduced in the liver and the kidney. This was in parallel with the significant reduction in the caspase-3 content in the liver and the kidney, as well as suppressed cleaved caspase-3 expression in the hepatic and renal specimens, as confirmed by immune–histochemical analysis. Notably, the combined Dapa/Lira treatment demonstrated an additive superior hepato-renal protective impact compared with the use of either drug alone. Thus, it appears that Dapa and Lira, through the coordinated modulation of oxidative, inflammatory, and apoptotic signalling, confer a significant hepato-renal protective impact against DM-induced complications and tissue injury.
The Pressure Dependence of the Stability of the G-quadruplex Formed by d(TGGGGT)
Authors: Tariq Nabeel , Kume Takuma , Feroze Ujala N. , Macgregor Robert B.
Published: May 2022

The G-quadruplex (GQ), a tetrahelix formed by guanine-rich nucleic acid sequences, is a potential drug target for several diseases. Monomolecular GQs are stabilized by guanine tetrads and non-guanine regions that form loops. Hydrostatic pressure destabilizes the folded, monomolecular GQ structures. In this communication, we present data on the effect of pressure on the conformational stability of the tetramolecular GQ, d[5′-TGGGGT-3′]4. This molecule does not have loops linking the tetrads; thus, its physical properties presumably reflect those of the tetrads alone. Understanding the properties of the tetrads will aid in understanding the contribution of the other structural components to the stability of GQ DNA. By measuring UV light absorption, we have studied the effect of hydrostatic pressure on the thermal stability of the tetramolecular d[5′-TGGGGT-3′]4 in the presence of sodium ions. Our data show that, unlike monomolecular GQ, the temperature at which d[5′-TGGGGT-3′]4 dissociates to form the constituent monomers is nearly independent of pressure up to 200 MPa. This implies that there is no net molar volume difference (∆V) between the GQ and the unfolded random-coil states. This finding further suggests that the large negative ∆V values for the unfolding of monomolecular GQ are due to the presence of the loop regions in those structures.
Hard Negative Samples Contrastive Learning for Remaining Useful-Life Prediction of Bearings
Authors: Xu Juan , Qian Lei , Chen Weiwei , Ding Xu
Published: May 2022

In recent years, deep learning has become prevalent in Remaining Useful-Life (RUL) prediction of bearings. The current deep-learning-based RUL methods tend to extract high dimensional features from the original vibration data to construct the Health Indicators (HIs), and then use the HIs to predict the remaining life of the bearings. These approaches ignore the sequential relationship of the original vibration data and seriously affect the prediction accuracy. In order to tackle this problem, we propose a hard negative sample contrastive learning prediction model (HNCPM) with encoder module, GRU regression module and decoder module, used for feature embedding, regression RUL prediction and vibration data reconstruction, respectively. We introduce self-supervised contrast learning by constructing positive and negative samples of vibration data rather than constructing any health indicators. Furthermore, to avoid the subtle variability of vibration data in the health stage to aggravate the degradation features learning of the model, we propose the hard negative samples by cosine similarity, which are most similar to the positive sample. Meanwhile, a novel infoNCE and MSE-based loss function is derived and applied to the HNCPM to simultaneously optimize a lower bound on mutual information of the positive and negative sample over life cycle, as well as the discrepancy between true and predicted values of the vibration data, such that the model can learn the fine-grained degradation representations by predicting the future without any HIs as labels. The HNCPM is validated on the IEEE PHM Challenge 2012 dataset. The results demonstrate that the prediction performance of our model is superior to the state-of-the-art methods.
Creation of a Nanomodified Backfill Based on the Waste from Enrichment of Water-Soluble Ores
Authors: Ermolovich Elena A. , Ivannikov Alexander L. , Khayrutdinov Marat M. , Kongar-Syuryun Cheynesh B. , Tyulyaeva Yulia S.
Published: May 2022

The paper analyzes losses during the development of low-value water-soluble ore deposits. The importance of development systems with backfill is shown. The use of industrial wastes of water-soluble ores to replace specially produced inert components in the preparation of backfill seems to be a good way to utilize them. The aim of the work was to create a fill mass with improved strength properties based on industrial wastes of water-soluble ores activated with a nanomodifying material. The characteristics (chemical and granulometric compositions) of an aggregate of the backfill based on the waste from enrichment of water-soluble ores are given. The validation of the hardening mixture compositions for various mining systems was carried out considering: the specified strength, the time of the artificial mass erection, the time to achieve the required strength properties of the material, which determine the possible intensity of the mining operations; method of transporting the backfill. The expediency of using a multilayer fulleroid nanomodifier astralene as a nanomodifying additive has been proved. The effect of the backfill activation with a nanomodifying additive, astralene, on the structural changes of halite wastes from the halurgic enrichment of water-soluble ores (potash) was investigated. To study the strength properties of the fill mass, the comparative analytical method was used. The strength properties of the backfill were measured in standard test periods, taking into account the intensity of hardening of the backfill material (after 7, 14, 28, 60, 90 days). To obtain reliable results, 10 backfill samples were tested at each of the scheduled dates. The shape and chemical composition of crystalline new forms were studied. Studies were performed using X-ray phase analysis and scanning electron microscopy. As a result of uniaxial compression of hardening backfill samples, the dependence of the ultimate strength on the astralene content and the hardening time were established. It has been experimentally proved that the use of a nanomodifying additive, astralene, in the backfill allows an increase in the strength properties of the created artificial mass by 1.76–2.36 times while reducing binder consumption.
First Principle Calculation of Accurate Electronic and Related Properties of Zinc Blende Indium Arsenide (zb-InAs)
Authors: Diakite Yacouba Issa , Malozovsky Yuriy , Bamba Cheick Oumar , Franklin Lashounda , Bagayoko Diola
Published: May 2022

We carried out a density functional theory (DFT) study of the electronic and related properties of zinc blende indium arsenide (zb-InAs). These related properties include the total and partial densities of states and electron and hole effective masses. We utilized the local density approximation (LDA) potential of Ceperley and Alder. Instead of the conventional practice of performing self-consistent calculations with a single basis set, albeit judiciously selected, we do several self-consistent calculations with successively augmented basis sets to search for and reach the ground state of the material. As such, our calculations strictly adhere to the conditions of validity of DFT and the results are fully supported by the theory, which explains the agreement between our findings and corresponding, experimental results. Indeed, unlike some 21 previous ab initio DFT calculations that reported zb-InAs band gaps that are negative or zero, we found the room temperature measured value of 0.360 eV. It is a clear achievement to reproduce not only the locations of the peaks in the valence band density of states, but also the measured values of the electron and hole effective masses. This agreement with experimental results underscores not only the correct description of the band gap, but also of the overall structure of the bands, including their curvatures in the vicinities of the conduction band minimum (CBM) and of the valence band maximum (VBM).
Parametric Analysis of Failure Loads of Masonry Textures by Means of Discontinuity Layout Optimization (DLO)
Authors: Schiantella Mattia , Cluni Federico , Gusella Vittorio
Published: May 2022

Several masonry structures of cultural and historical interest are made with a non-periodic masonry material. In the case of periodic textures, several methods are available to estimate the strength of the masonry; however, in the case of non-periodic masonry, few methods are available, and they are frequently difficult to use. In the present paper we propose using discontinuity layout optimization (DLO) to estimate the failure load and mechanism of a masonry wall made with non-periodic texture. We developed a parametric analysis to account for the main features involved in the estimation of failure: in particular we considered three different textures (periodic, quasi-periodic, and chaotic), variable height-to-width ratio of the wall (from 0 to 3) and of the blocks (from 0.25 to 1), different mechanical properties of mortar joints and blocks, and possible presence of a load on the top. The results highlight the importance of the parameters considered in the analysis, both on the values of the failure load and on the failure mechanism. Therefore, it is found that DLO can be an useful and affordable method in order to assess the mechanical strength of masonry wall made with non-periodic textures.
Acoustic Anomalies and the Critical Slowing-Down Behavior of MAPbCl3 Single Crystals Studied by Brillouin Light Scattering
Authors: Lee Jeong Woo , Naqvi Furqanul Hassan , Ko Jae-Hyeon , Kim Tae Heon , Ahn Chang Won
Published: May 2022

Inelastic light scattering spectra of organic–inorganic halide perovskite MAPbCl3 single crystals were investigated by using Brillouin spectroscopy. Sound velocities and acoustic absorption coefficients of longitudinal and transverse acoustic modes propagating along the cubic [100] direction were determined in a wide temperature range. The sound velocities exhibited softening upon cooling in the cubic phase, which was accompanied by the increasing acoustic damping. The obtained relaxation time showed a critical slowing-down behavior, revealing the order–disorder nature of the phase transition, which is consistent with the growth of strong central peaks upon cooling toward the phase transition point. The temperature dependences of the two elastic constants C11 and C44 were obtained in the cubic phase for the first time. The comparison of C11 and C44 with those of other halide perovskites showed that C11 of MAPbCl3 is larger and C44 is slightly smaller compared to the values of MAPbBr3 and MAPbI3. It suggests that MAPbCl3 has a more compact structure (smaller lattice constant) along with stronger binding forces, causing larger C11 and bulk modulus in this compound, and that the shear rigidity is exceedingly small similar to other halide perovskites. The reported elastic constants in this study may serve as a testbed for theoretical and calculational approaches for MAPbCl3.
Shear Capacity Evaluation of the Recycled Concrete Beam
Authors: Yang Qiuwei , Peng Xi , Sun Yun
Published: May 2022

Compared with traditional concrete beams, recycled concrete beams are more prone to cracking and shear failure. Generally, shear failure is a brittle failure and its failure consequences are often very serious. Thus, the shear capacity is an important parameter in the design and testing for beam structures. In this work, the computation method and size effect on shear capacity of recycled concrete beams without stirrups are studied. Four recycled aggregate concrete beams with different sizes are tested by the bending experiment to obtain their ultimate shear capacities. By keeping the shear span ratio unchanged, the variation laws of mechanical parameters such as cracking load, ultimate shear capacity and shear strength for these beam specimens are studied. From the experiment results, it is concluded that the shear capacities of beams with lengths of 740 mm, 1010 mm, 1280 mm and 1550 mm are 86.3 kN, 106 kN, 124.7 kN and 177.7 kN, respectively. The corresponding shear strengths are 6.84 MPa, 5.59 MPa, 4.9 MPa, and 5.56 MPa, respectively. Nine computation formulas of shear capacity in the literature, such as ACI 318M-14, EN 1992-1-1, GB50010-2010 and so on, are used to calculate the shear capacities of these recycled concrete beams for comparison. The comparative study shows that it is feasible to consider the size effect in the computation of shear capacity for the recycled concrete beam.
Assessment of Metallurgical and Mechanical Properties of Welded Joints via Numerical Simulation and Experiments
Authors: Ferro Paolo
Published: May 2022

Welding has been the most important joining technique applied to metallic materials since the early twentieth century when arc welding was introduced [...]
A High-Performance Flag-Type Triboelectric Nanogenerator for Scavenging Wind Energy toward Self-Powered IoTs
Authors: Zou Yongjiu , Sun Minzheng , Yan Fei , Du Taili , Xi Ziyue , Li Fangming , Zhu Chuanqing , Wang Hao , Zhao Junhao , Sun Peiting , Xu Minyi
Published: May 2022

Pervasive and continuous energy solutions are highly desired in the era of the Internet of Things for powering wide-range distributed devices/sensors. Wind energy has been widely regarded as an ideal energy source for distributed devices/sensors due to the advantages of being sustainable and renewable. Herein, we propose a high-performance flag-type triboelectric nanogenerator (HF-TENG) to efficiently harvest widely distributed and highly available wind energy. The HF-TENG is composed of one piece of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) membrane and two carbon-coated polyethylene terephthalate (PET) membranes with their edges sealed up. Two ingenious internal-structure designs significantly improve the output performance. One is to place the supporting sponge strips between the PTFE and the carbon electrodes, and the other is to divide the PTFE into multiple pieces to obtain a multi-degree of freedom. Both methods can improve the degree of contact and separation between the two triboelectric materials while working. When the pair number of supporting sponge strips is two and the degree of freedom is five, the maximum voltage and current of HF-TENG can reach 78 V and 7.5 μA, respectively, which are both four times that of the untreated flag-type TENG. Additionally, the HF-TENG was demonstrated to power the LEDs, capacitors, and temperature sensors. The reported HF-TENG significantly promotes the utilization of the ambient wind energy and sheds some light on providing a pervasive and sustainable energy solution to the distributed devices/sensors in the era of the Internet of Things.
Object Detection and Distance Measurement in Teleoperation
Authors: Zhang Ailing , Chu Meng , Chen Zixin , Zhou Fuqiang , Gao Shuo
Published: May 2022

In recent years, teleoperation has experienced rapid development. Numerous teleoperation applications in diverse areas have been reported. Among all teleoperation-related components, computer vision (CV) is treated as one of the must-have technologies, because it allows users to observe remote scenarios. In addition, CV can further help the user to identify and track the desired targets from complex scenes. It has been proven that efficient CV methods can significantly improve the operation accuracy and relieve user’s physical and mental fatigue. Therefore, furthering understanding about CV techniques and reviewing the latest research outcomes is necessary for teleoperation designers. In this context, this review article was composed.
Automatic Shift Control of an Electric Motor Direct Drive for an Electric Loader
Authors: Cai Shaole , Chen Qihuai , Lin Tianliang , Xu Mingkai , Ren Haoling
Published: May 2022

Traditional loaders with engines present the drawbacks of high energy consumption and poor emissions performance. The usage of an electric motor instead of an engine in an electric loader can effectively improve energy efficiency and emissions. The loader is mainly used in the earthwork construction of unstructured roads. Compared to the automobile, during the working process of the loader, the load fluctuates violently, and the vibration is serious. A large torque range during operation, a wide speed range during transfer, and frequently switching gears to ensure power are required by the loader. Therefore, the automatic shift control strategy for an automobile cannot be well applied to the loader directly. In this paper, a novel distributed electric motor-driven loader in which the walking drive system and the hydraulic system is decoupled is studied. The shift rule of the electric loader is also studied. A comprehensive automatic shift control strategy considering power and economy is proposed. Simulations are carried out to verify the feasibility of the proposed control strategy. The results show that under the “V” cycle operation condition of the loader, the shift rule meets the control requirements and the shift effect is obvious and reasonable. In terms of transfer conditions, the proposed control strategy yields ideal power performance and energy savings.
Analysis of 3-DOF Cutting Stability of Titanium Alloy Helical Milling Based on PKM and Machining Quality Optimization
Authors: Qin Xuda , Shi Mengrui , Hou Zhuojie , Li Shipeng , Li Hao , Liu Haitao
Published: May 2022

Aiming at the requirements of titanium alloy holes in aircraft industry, the 3-DOF cutting stability and surface quality optimization of parallel kinematic manipulator (PKM) are studied. The variation of natural frequencies with the end-effector position of the PKM is analyzed. The cutting force model of titanium alloy helical milling based PKM is developed, and the cutting force coefficients are identified. The prediction model for 3-DOF the stability of helical milling based on the PKM is established through a Semi-Discrete method, and the stability lobes are obtained. The correctness of the stability lobes is verified by subjecting the cutting force signal to time-frequency transformation and roughness detection. The step-cutter is used for machining process improvement to enhance the stability domain. The method proposed in this paper can provide a reference for further optimization of the prediction and optimization of the milling process of difficult-to-process materials based on PKM in the future.
Modeling Electricity Price Dynamics Using Flexible Distributions
Authors: Tashpulatov Sherzod N.
Published: May 2022

We consider the wholesale electricity market prices in England and Wales during its complete history, where price-cap regulation and divestment series were introduced at different points in time. We compare the impact of these regulatory reforms on the dynamics of electricity prices. For this purpose, we apply flexible distributions that account for asymmetry, heavy tails, and excess kurtosis usually observed in data or model residuals. The application of skew generalized error distribution is appropriate for our case study. We find that after the second series of divestments, price level and volatility are lower than during price-cap regulation and after the first series of divestments. This finding implies that a sufficient horizontal restructuring through divestment series may be superior to price-cap regulation. The conclusion could be interesting to other countries because the England and Wales electricity market served as the benchmark model for liberalizing energy markets worldwide.
Exopolysaccharides from Microalgae and Cyanobacteria: Diversity of Strains, Production Strategies, and Applications
Authors: Laroche Céline
Published: May 2022

Microalgae and cyanobacteria are photosynthetic organisms that can produce/accumulate biomolecules with industrial interest. Among these molecules, EPSs are macromolecular polysaccharidic compounds that present biological activities and physico-chemical properties, allowing to consider their valorization in diverse commercial markets, such as cosmetic, therapeutic, nutraceutic, or hydrocolloids areas. The number of microalgae and cyanobacteria strains described to produce such EPSs has increased in recent years as, among the 256 producing strains gathered in this review, 86 were published in the last 10 years (~33%). Moreover, with the rise of research on microalgae EPSs, a variety of monosaccharides compositions have been discovered, highlighting the versatility of these organisms. If some production strategies can be applied to increase EPS production yields, it appears that case by case studies are needed to promote EPS synthesis by a strain, as many responses exist. This paper proposes an up-to-date state of the art of the diversity of microalgae and cyanobacteria EPS-producing strains, associated to the variability of compositions. The strategies for the production and extraction of the polymers are also discussed. Finally, an overview of the biological activities and physico-chemical properties allow one to consider their use on several commercial markets.
Craniovertebral and Craniomandibular Changes in Patients with Temporomandibular Joint Disorders after Physiotherapy Combined with Occlusal Splint Therapy: A Prospective Case Control Study
Authors: Derwich Marcin , Gottesman Lawrence , Urbanska Karolina , Pawlowska Elzbieta
Published: May 2022

Background and Objectives: The aim of the study was to assess the craniovertebral and craniomandibular changes in patients diagnosed with temporomandibular joint disorders (TMD) after physiotherapy combined with occlusal splint therapy. Materials and Methods: There were forty patients (32 females, 80%), diagnosed with TMD, included into the study group. After the initial series of physiotherapy, patients received maxillary occlusal splints to be worn day and night. Participants continued physiotherapy simultaneously with occlusal splint therapy for 6 months. Lateral cephalograms taken in natural head position before and after the end of the therapy were used for measurements. The control group consisted of 15 healthy participants (12 females, 80%), who had taken lateral cephalograms twice, and did not receive any type of occlusal treatment nor physiotherapy in the meantime. Results: Occlusal splint therapy and physiotherapy combined together significantly affected: the vertical position of the mandible (significant increase, p < 0.0001), the sagittal position of mandible (significant decrease, p = 0.0065), as well as the width of the functional space between C1 and C2 (significant decrease, p = 0.0042). Moreover, the cervical lordosis was restored after the end of the treatment (p < 0.0001). Conclusions: Cooperation of physiotherapists with dental practitioners is necessary in the treatment of patients with TMD, including temporomandibular joint osteoarthritis.
Effect of Vertical High Magnetic Field on the Morphology of Solid-Liquid Interface during the Directional Solidification of Zn-2wt.%Bi Immiscible Alloy
Authors: Zhou Bangfei , Guo Xianghui , Lin Wenhao , Liu Ying , Guo Yifeng , Zheng Tianxiang , Zhong Yunbo , Wang Hui , Wang Qiuliang
Published: May 2022

The morphology of the solid-liquid (S-L) interface is crucial for the directionally solidified microstructures of various alloys. This paper investigates the effect of vertical high magnetic field (VHMF) on the morphology evolution of the S-L interface and the solidified microstructure during the directional solidification of Zn-2wt.%Bi immiscible alloy. The results indicate that the morphology of the S-L interface is highly dependent on the VHMF, resulting in various solidified microstructures. When the growth rate was 1 μm/s, the aligned droplets were formed directly at the disturbed S-L interface under a 1 T VHMF. However, the stability of the S-L interface was improved to form a stable Bi-rich fiber under a 5 T VHMF. When the growth rate was 5 μm/s, the S-L interface was changed from cellular to dendritic to cellular again with increasing magnetic flux density. A theory regarding constitutional supercooling and efficient solute diffusion has been proposed to explain the S-L interface transition under the VHMF. The difference in the effective diffusion capacity of the solute originates from the thermoelectric magnetic effect and the magneto-hydrodynamic damping effect. The present work may initiate a new method to transform the solidified microstructures of immiscible alloys via an applied magnetic field during directional solidification.
The Role of Grain Boundaries in the Corrosion Process of Fe Surface: Insights from ReaxFF Molecular Dynamic Simulations
Authors: Xiao Zigen , Huang Yun , Liu Zhixiao , Hu Wangyu , Wang Qingtian , Hu Chaowei
Published: May 2022

Intergranular corrosion is the most common corrosion phenomenon in Fe-based alloys. To better understand the mechanism of intergranular corrosion, the influence of grain boundaries on Fe-H2O interfacial corrosion was studied using molecular dynamics simulation based on a new Fe-H2O reaction force field potential. It is found that the corrosion rate at the polycrystalline grain boundary is significantly faster than that of twin crystals and single crystals. By the analysis of stress, it can be found that the stress at the polycrystalline grain boundary and the sigma5 twin grain boundary decreases sharply during the corrosion process. We believe that the extreme stress released at the grain boundary will promote the dissolution of Fe atoms. The formation of vacancies on the Fe matrix surface will accelerate the diffusion of oxygen atoms. This leads to the occurrence of intergranular corrosion.
Bending Behaviour Analysis of Aluminium Profiles in Differential Velocity Sideways Extrusion Using a General Flow Field Model
Authors: Zhou Wenbin , Xi Ziqi
Published: May 2022

The work in this paper concerns an analytical model for quantitatively describing the bending behaviour of aluminium profiles produced in a novel extrusion process: the differential velocity sideways extrusion (DVSE), in which two opposing rams with a velocity of v1 and v2 were employed, respectively. The analytical model was built on the basis of the upper bound theorem utilising a general streamline equation controlled by a shape factor n, and the curvature was calculated using the material flow velocity gradient across the die exit orifice. The predicted material flow velocity across the die exit orifice, and extrudate curvature agreed well with the finite element (FE) modelling results, which were found to be irrespective of the shape factor n of the streamline equation. For a given extrusion ratio, the minimum value of n = 2 leads to the minimum and closest theoretical extrusion pressure, the n value for obtaining the best approximated mean effective strain of the extruded profile increases with the increase of the velocity ratio v2/v1, and the value of n = 3.5 gives the closest mean effective strain as a whole.
Lactate Neuroprotection against Transient Ischemic Brain Injury in Mice Appears Independent of HCAR1 Activation
Authors: Buscemi Lara , Price Melanie , Castillo-González Julia , Chatton Jean-Yves , Hirt Lorenz
Published: May 2022

Lactate can protect against damage caused by acute brain injuries both in rodents and in human patients. Besides its role as a metabolic support and alleged preferred neuronal fuel in stressful situations, an additional signaling mechanism mediated by the hydroxycarboxylic acid receptor 1 (HCAR1) was proposed to account for lactate’s beneficial effects. However, the administration of HCAR1 agonists to mice subjected to middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) at reperfusion did not appear to exert any relevant protective effect. To further evaluate the involvement of HCAR1 in the protection against ischemic damage, we looked at the effect of HCAR1 absence. We subjected wild-type and HCAR1 KO mice to transient MCAO followed by treatment with either vehicle or lactate. In the absence of HCAR1, the ischemic damage inflicted by MCAO was less pronounced, with smaller lesions and a better behavioral outcome than in wild-type mice. The lower susceptibility of HCAR1 KO mice to ischemic injury suggests that lactate-mediated protection is not achieved or enhanced by HCAR1 activation, but rather attributable to its metabolic effects or related to other signaling pathways. Additionally, in light of these results, we would disregard HCAR1 activation as an interesting therapeutic strategy for stroke patients.