bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Implants Survival Rate in Regenerated Sites with Innovative Graft Biomaterials: 1 Year Follow-Up
Authors: Minetti Elio , Celko Martin , Contessi Marcello , Carini Fabrizio , Gambardella Ugo , Giacometti Edoardo , Santillana Jesus , Beca Campoy Tomas , Schmitz Johannes H. , Libertucci Mauro , Ho Henrykim , Haan Simon , Mastrangelo Filiberto
Published: September 2021

In thirteen different dental clinics in Singapore, Spain, Czech Republic and Italy, 504 patients were selected, and 483 dental implants were placed in maxillary sites after alveolar socket preservation (ASP) procedures with an autologous demineralized tooth extracted as graft material from an innovative Tooth Transformer device was obtained. All procedures used were reported in n°638 Ethical Committee surgical protocol of University of Chieti and approved. After 4 months, at dental implant placing, bone biopsies were performed to evaluate the histologic outcomes, and 12 months after implant loading, global implant survival rate, failure percentage and peri-implant bone loss were detected. After ASP, only 27 post-operative complications were observed and after 4 months, bone biopsy histomorphometric analysis showed a high percentage of bone volume (BV) 43.58 (±12.09), and vital new bone (NB) 32.38 (±17.15) with an absence of inflammation or necrosis areas. Twelve months after loading, only 10 dental implants failed (2.3%), with a 98.2% overall implant survival rate, nine cases showed mucositis (1.8%) and eight showed peri-implantitis (1.6%). At mesial sites, 0.43 mm (±0.83) of bone loss around the implants was detected and 0.23 mm (±0.38) at the distal sites with an average value of 0.37 mm (±0.68) (p > 0.568). Several studies with a longer follow-up will be necessary to confirm the preliminary data observed. However, clinical results seem to suggest that the post-extraction socket preservation procedure using innovative demineralized autologous tooth-derived biomaterial may be a predictable procedure to produce new vital bone able to support dental implant rehabilitation of maxilla edentulous sites.
Experimental Determination of Coefficients for the Renner Model of the Thermodynamic Equation of State of the Poly(butylene succinate) and Wheat Bran Biocomposites
Authors: Sasimowski Emil , Majewski Łukasz , Jachowicz Tomasz , Sąsiadek Michał
Published: September 2021

This paper presents the assumptions of a thermodynamic equation of state for polymers according to the Renner model. The experiments involved extruding a biocomposite based on poly(butylene succinate) that was filled with ground wheat bran with its size not exceeding 200 μm. The biocomposite was produced in pellet form with three different contents by weight of wheat bran, i.e., 10%, 30% and 50%. All specimens were examined for their thermodynamic p-v-T characteristics. Taking advantage of the SimFit module of Cadmould 3D-F, experimental results were used to determine the coefficients of thermodynamic equation of state for the tested biocomposite according to the Renner model. The coefficients were then used to calculate transition temperature and to create diagrams illustrating the relationship between pressure, temperature and specific volume for the tested biocomposite. The obtained results can serve as a basis for assessing the suitability of the biocomposite for injection molding, selecting technological parameters of this process, as well as for analyzing shrinkage and defects of injection-molded parts.
The Failure Mechanisms of Precast Geopolymer after Water Immersion
Authors: Wang Shunfeng , Yu Long , Xu Linglin , Wu Kai , Yang Zhenghong
Published: September 2021

Precast geopolymers with lower water/binder (0.14), which mainly consists of alkali solution, fly ash (FA) and steel slag (SS), were manufactured through molding pressing technology. The failure mechanisms of precast geopolymers after water immersion were studied by testing the loss of compressive strength, the pH of the leaching solution, the concentration of ions (Na+, Ca2+, Si4+ and Al3+), the evolution of phases, pore structure and morphology, and further discussion of the regulation evolution was performed. The results show that the harmful pores (>50 nm) of geopolymers progressively decrease from 70% to 50% after 28 days of water immersion when the content of steel slag increases from 0 to 80 wt.%. Compressive strength of geopolymers sharply reduces in the first 3 days and then increases during the water immersion process, but the phase composition varies slightly. Furthermore, increasing the content of steel slag could decrease the total porosity and further prevent the water resistance.
Biomimetic Octacalcium Phosphate Bone Has Superior Bone Regeneration Ability Compared to Xenogeneic or Synthetic Bone
Authors: Kim Jooseong , Kim Sukyoung , Song Inhwan
Published: September 2021

Octacalcium phosphate (OCP) is a precursor of biological apatite crystals that has attracted attention as a possible bone substitute. On the other hand, few studies have examined this material at the experimental level due to the limitations on OCP mass production. Recently, mass production technology of OCP was developed, and the launch of OCP bone substitutes is occurring. In this study, the bone regeneration capacity of OCP products was compared with two of the most clinically used materials: heat-treated bovine bone (BHA) and sintered biphasic calcium phosphate (BCP). Twelve rabbits were used, and defects in each tibia were filled with OCP, BHA, BCP, and left unfilled as control (CON). The tibias were harvested at 4 and 12 weeks, and 15 μm slides were prepared using the diamond grinding method after being embedded in resin. Histological and histomorphometric analyses were performed to evaluate the bone regeneration ability and mechanism. The OCP showed significantly higher resorption and new bone formation in both periods analysed (p < 0.05). Overall, OCP bone substitutes can enhance bone regeneration significantly by activating osteoblasts and a rapid phase transition of OCP crystals to biological apatite crystals (mineralization), as well as providing additional space for new bone formation by rapid resorption.
Influence of the Silica Specific Surface Area and Ionic Liquids on the Curing Characteristics and Performance of Styrene–Butadiene Rubber Composites
Authors: Sowińska-Baranowska Anna , Maciejewska Magdalena
Published: September 2021

In this work, we present the effect of silica’s specific surface area (180 m2·g−1 and 380 m2·g−1, respectively) on the crosslinking of styrene–butadiene rubber (SBR) composites, as well as their crosslink density and functional properties, such as thermal stability, damping behavior, resistance to thermo-oxidative aging, and tensile properties. Ionic liquids (ILs) with a bromide anion and different cations, i.e., 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium (Bmi), 1-butyl-3-methylpyrrolidinium (Bmpyr), and 1-butyl-3-methylpiperidinium (Bmpip), were used to enhance the cure characteristics of SBR compounds and the functional properties of SBR vulcanizates. It was proven that apart from the silica’s specific surface area, the filler–polymer and filler–filler physical interactions have a significant impact on the vulcanization kinetics of silica-filled SBR composites. Additionally, the performed studies have shown that ILs positively affected the dispersion of silica’s particles and reduced their ability to form agglomerates in the elastomer matrix, which enhanced the functional properties of the SBR vulcanizates.
A Pilot Study on Machining Difficult-to-Cut Materials with the Use of Tools Fabricated by SLS Technology
Authors: Deja Mariusz , Zieliński Dawid
Published: September 2021

The growing use of contemporary materials in various industrial sectors, such as aerospace, automotive, as well as the oil and gas industry, requires appropriate machining methods and tools. Currently, apart from the necessity to obtain high-dimensional and shape accuracy, the efficiency and economic aspects of the selected manufacturing process are equally important, especially when difficult-to-cut materials, such as hard and brittle ceramics, have to be machined. In the research presented in this paper, a prototype tool fabricated from polyamide powder by the SLS method was used in flat-lapping of Al2O3 ceramics, showing the promising potential and efficacy of rapid tooling and manufacturing in the area of abrasive machining. The influence of the selected input process factors, such as machining time, the type of abrasive suspension, kinematic parameters, and unit pressure, on technological effects, was analyzed. The microscopic observations of the active surface of the prototype tool showed its reinforcement with loose diamond abrasive particles (size D107), resulting in the effective material removal and improved surface finish of Al2O3 ceramic samples. The directions for further development of tools fabricated by the SLS method for applications in abrasive machining were also envisaged by the authors.
Preliminary Study on Light-Activated Antimicrobial Agents as Photocatalytic Method for Protection of Surfaces with Increased Risk of Infections
Authors: Bucuresteanu Razvan , Ditu Lia-Mara , Ionita Monica , Calinescu Ioan , Raditoiu Valentin , Cojocaru Bogdan , Cinteza Ludmila Otilia , Curutiu Carmen , Holban Alina Maria , Enachescu Marius , Enache Laura-Bianca , Mustatea Gabriel , Chihaia Viorel , Nicolaev Adela , Borcan Elena-Larisa , Mihaescu Grigore
Published: September 2021

Preventing and controlling the spread of multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria implicated in healthcare-associated infections is the greatest challenge of the health systems. In recent decades, research has shown the need for passive antibacterial protection of surfaces in order to reduce the microbial load and microbial biofilm development, frequently associated with transmission of infections. The aim of the present study is to analyze the efficiency of photocatalytic antimicrobial protection methods of surfaces using the new photocatalytic paint activated by light in the visible spectrum. The new composition is characterized by a wide range of analytical methods, such as UV-VIS spectroscopy, electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray powder diffraction (PXRD) or X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The photocatalytic activity in the UV-A was compared with the one in the visible light spectrum using an internal method developed on the basis of DIN 52980: 2008-10 standard and ISO 10678—2010 standard. Migration of metal ions in the composition was tested based on SR EN1186-3: 2003 standard. The new photocatalytic antimicrobial method uses a type of photocatalytic paint that is active in the visible spectral range and generates reactive oxygen species with inhibitory effect against all tested microbial strains.
Study on the Pre-Oxidation and Resulting Oxidation Mechanism and Kinetics of Mo-9Si-8B Alloy
Authors: Wang Cheng , Li Qiuliang , Guo Zhenping , Li Xiangrong , Ding Xiangyu , Li Xin , Li Zhuoyue , Li Bin
Published: September 2021

Molybdenum silicon boron alloy is regarded as the next generation of superalloy that is expected to replace nickel-based superalloys. However, the high-temperature oxidation resistance of Mo-Si-B alloy has always been an issue worth studying. In this study, Mo-9Si-8B alloy was prepared via a plasma oscillatory pressure sintering process and pre-oxidized at 1300 °C while maintaining a certain balance of mechanical and oxidation properties. The influence of the oxide protective layer on its performance at high temperature of 1150 °C was explored, the micro-mechanism of its performance and its failure mode of the hinge-locking mechanism was illustrated, and finally, its oxidation kinetics was inferred. In conclusion, pre-oxidized Mo-9Si-8B (at.%) alloy did play a role in delaying the oxidation process during the initial period of cyclic oxidation. However, with the increase of cyclic oxidation time, the improvement of high-temperature oxidation resistance was limited.
Influence of Geocomposite Properties on the Crack Propagation and Interlayer Bonding of Asphalt Pavements
Authors: Spadoni Sara , Ingrassia Lorenzo Paolo , Paoloni Giulio , Virgili Amedeo , Canestrari Francesco
Published: September 2021

The application of geocomposites as reinforcement in asphalt pavements is a promising solution for the maintenance/rehabilitation of existing pavements and for the construction of new pavements, whose effectiveness strongly depends on the physical and mechanical properties of the geocomposite. This study aims at assessing the influence of four different geocomposites, obtained by combining a reinforcing geosynthetic with a bituminous membrane, on the crack propagation and interlayer bonding of asphalt pavements. First, a laboratory investigation was carried out on double-layered asphalt specimens. The crack propagation resistance under static and dynamic loads was investigated through three-point bending tests (carried out on specimens with and without notch) and reflective cracking tests respectively, whereas the interlayer shear strength was evaluated through Leutner tests. Then, a trial section was constructed along an Italian motorway and a Falling Weight Deflectometer (FWD) testing campaign was carried out. The laboratory investigation highlighted that—as compared to the unreinforced system—the geocomposites increased the crack propagation energy in the layer above the reinforcement from five to ten times, indicating that they can significantly extend the service life of the pavement by delaying bottom-up and reflective cracking. However, they also worsened the interlayer bonding between the asphalt layers (de-bonding effect). The field investigation indicated that all geocomposites decreased the stiffness of the asphalt layers with respect to the unreinforced pavement as a consequence of the de-bonding effect, thus corroborating the laboratory results. Based on the results obtained, it is desirable that the geocomposite possess a high energy dissipation capability and an upper coating ensuring good adhesion between the asphalt layers. The monitoring of the existing trial section in the future will provide useful data on the long-term field performance of reinforced pavements subjected to actual motorway traffic.
Nanocrystalline Cellulose from Microcrystalline Cellulose of Date Palm Fibers as a Promising Candidate for Bio-Nanocomposites: Isolation and Characterization
Authors: Hachaichi Amina , Kouini Benalia , Kian Lau Kia , Asim Mohammad , Fouad Hassan , Jawaid Mohammad , Sain Mohini
Published: September 2021

Date palm fiber (Phoenix dactylifera L.) is a natural biopolymer rich in lignocellulosic components. Its high cellulose content lends them to the extraction of tiny particles like microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) and nanocrystalline cellulose (NCC). These cellulose-derived small size particles can be used as an alternative biomaterial in wide fields of application due to their renewability and sustainability. In the present work, NCC (A) and NCC (B) were isolated from date palm MCC at 60 min and 90 min hydrolysis times, respectively. The isolated NCC product was subjected to characterization to study their properties differences. With the hydrolysis treatment, the yields of produced NCC could be attained at between 22% and 25%. The infrared-ray functional analysis also revealed the isolated NCC possessed a highly exposed cellulose compartment with minimized lignoresidues of lignin and hemicellulose. From morphology evaluation, the nanoparticles’ size was decreased gradually from NCC (A) (7.51 nm width, 139.91 nm length) to NCC (B) (4.34 nm width, 111.51 nm length) as a result of fragmentation into cellulose fibrils. The crystallinity index was found increasing from NCC (A) to NCC (B). With 90 min hydrolysis time, NCC (B) showed the highest crystallinity index of 71% due to its great cellulose rigidity. For thermal analysis, NCC (B) also exhibited stable heat resistance, in associating with its highly crystalline cellulose structure. In conclusion, the NCC isolated from date palm MCC would be a promising biomaterial for various applications such as biomedical and food packaging applications.
Improvement of Mechanical Properties and Forming Efficiency during Hot Gas Forming of CFRP Curved Surface Components
Authors: Chen Yizhe , Lin Yi , Wang Hui , Liu Zhiwen , Hua Lin
Published: September 2021

Carbon fiber reinforced plastics (CFRP) are widely used in aerospace and new energy vehicles due to their high specific strength and flexible design ability. At present, the traditional forming process of CFRP curved surface components has problems of low mechanical properties and long processing time. In this paper, a new method of hot gas forming was proposed to obtain CFRP components. By applying high temperature and high-pressure gas on one side of CFRP, the material was forced to deform and solidify at the same time. A special device for hot gas forming was designed and developed. The curing behavior and mechanical properties of original CFRP plates were studied. The main defects and the corresponding control methods of hot gas forming parts were analyzed by forming spherical parts, and the feasibility of the hot gas forming process was verified. Taking the battery cover plate of a new energy vehicle as the research object, the influence of forming temperature, gas pressure, pressurization rate and other process parameters on the mechanical properties of complex CFRP components were analyzed. The mechanism of both strength and efficiency improvement was analyzed. The results showed that with the increasing of gas pressure, the tensile strength and forming efficiency of the CFRP curved components were improved obviously. Under reasonable forming parameters, the tensile strength of the obtained parts was increased by 37%, and the forming efficiency was increased by 58%. The fiber bundles were distributed more evenly and compactly under the hot gas forming. This showed that the use of hot gas forming had good potential in the preparation of high-performance CFRP parts, which was helpful to improve the processing efficiency and forming quality of CFRP curved parts in the aerospace and new energy automotive fields.
A Novel Red-Emitting Na2NbOF5:Mn4+ Phosphor with Ultrahigh Color Purity for Warm White Lighting and Wide-Gamut Backlight Displays
Authors: Hou Jingshan , Yin Wenxiang , Dong Langping , Li Yang , Liu Yufeng , Liu Zhifu , Zhao Guoying , Zhang Ganghua , Fang Yongzheng
Published: September 2021

In this work, a novel red-emitting oxyfluoride phosphor Na2NbOF5:Mn4+ with an ultra-intense zero-phonon line (ZPL) was successfully synthesized by hydrothermal method. The phase composition and luminescent properties of Na2NbOF5:Mn4+ were studied in detail. The photoluminescence excitation spectrum contains two intense excitation bands centered at 369 and 470 nm, which match well with commercial UV and blue light-emitting diode (LED) chips. When excited by 470 nm blue light, Na2NbOF5:Mn4+ exhibits red light emission dominated by ZPL. Notably, the color purity of the Na2NbOF5:Mn4+ red phosphor can reach 99.9%. Meanwhile, the Na2NbOF5:Mn4+ phosphor has a shorter fluorescence decay time than commercial K2SiF6:Mn4+, which is conducive to fast switching of images in display applications. Profiting from the intense ZPL, white light-emitting diode (WLED) with high color rendering index of Ra = 86.2 and low correlated color temperature of Tc = 3133 K is realized using yellow YAG:Ce3+ and red Na2NbOF5:Mn4+ phosphor. The WLED fabricated using CsPbBr3 quantum dots (QDs) and red Na2NbOF5:Mn4+ phosphor shows a wide color gamut of 127.56% NTSC (National Television Standard Committee). The results show that red-emitting Na2NbOF5:Mn4+ phosphor has potential application prospects in WLED lighting and display backlight.
Dendrimeric Structures in the Synthesis of Fine Chemicals
Authors: Bizzarri Bruno Mattia , Fanelli Angelica , Botta Lorenzo , Zippilli Claudio , Cesarini Silvia , Saladino Raffaele
Published: September 2021

Dendrimers are highly branched structures with a defined shape, dimension, and molecular weight. They consist of three major components: the central core, branches, and terminal groups. In recent years, dendrimers have received great attention in medicinal chemistry, diagnostic field, science of materials, electrochemistry, and catalysis. In addition, they are largely applied for the functionalization of biocompatible semiconductors, in gene transfection processes, as well as in the preparation of nano-devices, including heterogeneous catalysts. Here, we describe recent advances in the design and application of dendrimers in catalytic organic and inorganic processes, sustainable and low environmental impact, photosensitive materials, nano-delivery systems, and antiviral agents’ dendrimers.
An Experimental Study on Properties of Pre-Coated Aggregates Grouting Asphalt Concrete for Bridge Deck Pavement
Authors: Xiao Zhicheng , Huang Wenke , Wu Kuanghuai , Nie Guihai , Hassan Hafiz Muhammad Zahid , Hu Bei
Published: September 2021

Epoxy asphalt concrete, mortar asphalt concrete and Gussasphalt concrete are commonly used types of deck pavement materials in bridge deck pavement engineering. However, achieving the high-temperature stability and anti-fatigue performance of the deck pavement materials is still challenging. In order to reduce the rutting and cracking risks of the asphalt mixture, this paper proposed pre-coated aggregates grouting asphalt concrete (PGAC) for bridge deck pavement. Laboratory tests were conducted to determine the optimum grouting materials and to evaluate the mechanical performances of the PGAC material. Test results showed that the mechanical properties for PGAC with grouting material of high-viscosity-modified asphalt binder blending with mineral filler were superior to that of GMA-10 used for the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge deck pavement. Microstructural analysis showed that the PGAC had a more stable skeleton structure compared to other typical aggregate mixtures. This study highlights the performances of the proposed PGAC and sheds light on the deck pavement material improvement of both high-temperature stability and anti-fatigue performance that could be achieved.
Development of Infrared-Guided Missile Precision Detection Simulator
Authors: Wang Zhuo , Wu Zhenyu , Wang Tao , Zhang Bo
Published: September 2021

In order to carry out various detections of system indicators during the research and development phase of infrared guided missiles, the article first analyzes several main design schemes of the infrared guided missile detection simulator and finds that it has the disadvantages of difficult processing technology and low detection accuracy. The overall structure of the detection device was designed, including the design of the rotation and swing mechanism, lens mechanism, optical system and control system. The optical system error analysis is performed on the infrared guided missile detection simulator. The position of the receiving light source is obtained by analyzing the mechanism characteristics of the detection simulator and the kinematics model of the device. The phase difference analysis of the eccentricity and tilt system is obtained. The image quality was evaluated by the optical transfer function (MTF), and the system error was found to meet the requirements of imaging quality. The experiments show that the simulation of 1.7~4.9 um medium wave infrared dynamic target signals provides an accurate and reasonable experimental environment for the missile and the verification of the light source target and meets the experimental requirements.
Inter- and Intra-Hydrogen Bonding Strategy to Control the Fluorescence of Acylhydrazone-Based Conjugated Microporous Polymers and Their Application to Nitroaromatics Detection
Authors: Cha Inhwan , Baek Seohyun , Song Sun Gu , Kim Junggong , Lee Ho Keun , Lee Jongman , Kim Kyung-su , Song Changsik
Published: September 2021

Acylhydrazone-based fluorescent conjugated microporous polymers (CMPs) with inter-and intra-hydrogen bonding-controlled emissive properties were prepared. The synthesized CMPs (BH-CMP and ABH-CMP) were characterized by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, solid-state 13C cross polarization/magic angle spinning nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, and photoluminescence spectroscopy. Interestingly, BH-CMP exhibited emission enhancement via adsorption of water molecules, whereas the emission of ABH-CMP, which possesses free amine groups, decreased upon the addition of water molecules. The differences in the emission trends of BH-CMP and ABH-CMP in the presence of water molecules originate from the formation of different hydrogen-bonding networks in each CMP. The acylhydrazone-based CMPs were applied to the detection of nitroaromatic compounds. As a result, ABH-CMP in DMF exhibited high selectivity for 1,3,5-trinitrotoluene (TNT) over other nitroaromatic compounds nitrobenzene, 1-chloro-4-nitrobenzene, 2,3-dichloronitrobenzene, and 2,4-dinitrotoluene.
Sorting-Based Discrete Artificial Bee Colony Algorithm for Solving Fuzzy Hybrid Flow Shop Green Scheduling Problem
Authors: Li Mei , Wang Gai-Ge , Yu Helong
Published: September 2021

In this era of unprecedented economic and social prosperity, problems such as energy shortages and environmental pollution are gradually coming to the fore, which seriously restrict economic and social development. In order to solve these problems, green shop scheduling, which is a key aspect of the manufacturing industry, has attracted the attention of researchers, and the widely used flow shop scheduling problem (HFSP) has become a hot topic of research. In this paper, we study the fuzzy hybrid green shop scheduling problem (FHFGSP) with fuzzy processing time, with the objective of minimizing makespan and total energy consumption. This is more in line with real-life situations. The non-linear integer programming model of FHFGSP is built by expressing job processing times as triangular fuzzy numbers (TFN) and considering the machine setup times when processing different jobs. To address the FHFGSP, a discrete artificial bee colony (DABC) algorithm based on similarity and non-dominated solution ordering is proposed, which allows individuals to explore their neighbors to different degrees in the employed bee phase according to a sequence of positions, increasing the diversity of the algorithm. During the onlooker bee phase, individuals at the front of the sequence have a higher chance of being tracked, increasing the convergence rate of the colony. In addition, a mutation strategy is proposed to prevent the population from falling into a local optimum. To verify the effectiveness of the algorithm, 400 test cases were generated, comparing the proposed strategy and the overall algorithm with each other and evaluating them using three different metrics. The experimental results show that the proposed algorithm outperforms other algorithms in terms of quantity, quality, convergence and diversity.
A Posteriori Fractional Tikhonov Regularization Method for the Problem of Analytic Continuation
Authors: Xue Xuemin , Xiong Xiangtuan
Published: September 2021

In this paper, the numerical analytic continuation problem is addressed and a fractional Tikhonov regularization method is proposed. The fractional Tikhonov regularization not only overcomes the difficulty of analyzing the ill-posedness of the continuation problem but also obtains a more accurate numerical result for the discontinuity of solution. This article mainly discusses the a posteriori parameter selection rules of the fractional Tikhonov regularization method, and an error estimate is given. Furthermore, numerical results show that the proposed method works effectively.
A Hyper Heuristic Algorithm Based Genetic Programming for Steel Production Scheduling of Cyber-Physical System-ORIENTED
Authors: Chen Xiaowu , Jiang Guozhang , Xiao Yongmao , Li Gongfa , Xiang Feng
Published: September 2021

Intelligent manufacturing is the trend of the steel industry. A cyber-physical system oriented steel production scheduling system framework is proposed. To make up for the difficulty of dynamic scheduling of steel production in a complex environment and provide an idea for developing steel production to intelligent manufacturing. The dynamic steel production scheduling model characteristics are studied, and an ontology-based steel cyber-physical system production scheduling knowledge model and its ontology attribute knowledge representation method are proposed. For the dynamic scheduling, the heuristic scheduling rules were established. With the method, a hyper-heuristic algorithm based on genetic programming is presented. The learning-based high-level selection strategy method was adopted to manage the low-level heuristic. An automatic scheduling rule generation framework based on genetic programming is designed to manage and generate excellent heuristic rules and solve scheduling problems based on different production disturbances. Finally, the performance of the algorithm is verified by a simulation case.
Human Networks and Toxic Relationships
Authors: Solferino Nazaria , Tessitore Maria Elisabetta
Published: September 2021

We devise a theoretical model to shed light on the dynamics leading to toxic relationships. We investigate what intervention policy people could advocate to protect themselves and to reduce suffocating addiction in order to escape from physical or psychological abuses either inside family or at work. Assuming that the toxic partner’s behavior is exogenous and that the main source of addiction is income or wealth we find that an asymptotically stable equilibrium with positive love is always possible. The existence of a third unconditionally reciprocating part as a benchmark, i.e., presence of another partner, support from family, friends, private organizations in helping victims, plays an important role in reducing the toxic partner’s appeal. Analyzing our model, we outline the conditions for the best policy to heal from a toxic relationship.
Calendar Effect and In-Sample Forecasting Applied to Mesothelioma Mortality Data
Authors: Isakson Alex , Krummaker Simone , Martínez-Miranda María Dolores , Rickayzen Ben
Published: September 2021

In this paper, we apply and further illustrate a recently developed extended continuous chain ladder model to forecast mesothelioma deaths. Making such a forecast has always been a challenge for insurance companies as exposure is difficult or impossible to measure, and the latency of the disease usually lasts several decades. While we compare three approaches to this problem, we show that the extended continuous chain ladder model is a promising benchmark candidate for asbestosis mortality forecasting due to its flexible and simple forecasting strategy. Furthermore, we demonstrate how the model can be used to provide an update for the forecast of the number of deaths due to mesothelioma in Great Britain using in recent Health and Safety Executive (HSE) data.
Prediction of Kerf Width in Laser Cutting of Thin Non-Oriented Electrical Steel Sheets Using Convolutional Neural Network
Authors: Nguyen Dinh-Tu , Ho Jeng-Rong , Tung Pi-Cheng , Lin Chih-Kuang
Published: September 2021

Kerf width is one of the most important quality items in cutting of thin metallic sheets. The aim of this study was to develop a convolutional neural network (CNN) model for analysis and prediction of kerf width in laser cutting of thin non-oriented electrical steel sheets. Three input process parameters were considered, namely, laser power, cutting speed, and pulse frequency, while one output parameter, kerf width, was evaluated. In total, 40 sets of experimental data were obtained for development of the CNN model, including 36 sets for training with k-fold cross-validation and four sets for testing. Compared with a deep neural network (DNN) model and an extreme learning machine (ELM) model, the developed CNN model had the lowest mean absolute percentage error (MAPE) of 4.76% for the final test dataset in predicting kerf width. This indicates that the proposed CNN model is an appropriate model for kerf width prediction in laser cutting of thin non-oriented electrical steel sheets.
Analysis of the Use of a Wind Turbine as an Energy Recovery Device in Transport Systems
Authors: Rubio Francisco , Llopis-Albert Carlos
Published: September 2021

A wind turbine can act as an energy recovery device (ERS) in a comparable way to brakes (regenerative braking). When the velocity of a vehicle changes, the amount of energy related to it also changes. When its velocity decreases, the energy tends to dissipate. Over time, this dissipated energy has been ignored. For example, during the braking process, the kinetic energy of the vehicle was converted into heat. In recent years, society’s greater awareness of climate change, pollution, and environmental issues has led to a great deal of interest in developing energy recovery systems. It allows the recovery of kinetic energy from braking (KERS), resulting in consumption reductions (efficiency gains) of up to 45%. The usefulness of installing a wind turbine as an energy recovery device is analysed, evaluating the savings that can be achieved with its two possible working modes: as an energy recovery device and as a system for utilizing aerodynamic force. The wind turbine has a horizontal axis and a diameter of 50 cm and is installed on the front of a vehicle. This vehicle will undergo three particular driving schemes, which will operate under different experimental conditions and operational parameters characterized by speeds, accelerations, stops, and driving time. The results clearly show the advantages of using the proposed technology.
A Closed-Form Solution without Small-Rotation-Angle Assumption for Circular Membranes under Gas Pressure Loading
Authors: He Xiao-Ting , Li Xue , Shi Bin-Bin , Sun Jun-Yi
Published: September 2021

The closed-form solution of circular membranes subjected to gas pressure loading plays an extremely important role in technical applications such as characterization of mechanical properties for freestanding thin films or thin-film/substrate systems based on pressured bulge or blister tests. However, the only two relevant closed-form solutions available in the literature are suitable only for the case where the rotation angle of membrane is relatively small, because they are derived with the small-rotation-angle assumption of membrane, that is, the rotation angle θ of membrane is assumed to be small so that “sinθ = 1/(1 + 1/tan2θ)1/2” can be approximated by “sinθ = tanθ”. Therefore, the two closed-form solutions with small-rotation-angle assumption cannot meet the requirements of these technical applications. Such a bottleneck to these technical applications is solved in this study, and a new and more refined closed-form solution without small-rotation-angle assumption is given in power series form, which is derived with “sinθ = 1/(1 + 1/tan2θ)1/2”, rather than “sinθ = tanθ”, thus being suitable for the case where the rotation angle of membrane is relatively large. This closed-form solution without small-rotation-angle assumption can naturally satisfy the remaining unused boundary condition, and numerically shows satisfactory convergence, agrees well with the closed-form solution with small-rotation-angle assumption for lightly loaded membranes with small rotation angles, and diverges distinctly for heavily loaded membranes with large rotation angles. The confirmatory experiment conducted shows that the closed-form solution without small-rotation-angle assumption is reliable and has a satisfactory calculation accuracy in comparison with the closed-form solution with small-rotation-angle assumption, particularly for heavily loaded membranes with large rotation angles.
Bipolar Radiofrequency Ablation of Painful Spinal Bone Metastases Performed under Local Anesthesia: Feasibility Regarding Patient’s Experience and Pain Outcome
Authors: Kastler Adrian , Barbé Daniel-Ange , Alemann Guillaume , Hadjidekov Georges , Cornelis Francois H. , Kastler Bruno
Published: September 2021

Background and objectives: To assess the pain relief of bipolar RFA combined or not with vertebroplasty in patients with painful vertebral metastases and to evaluate the feasibility and tolerance of the RFA procedure performed under local anesthesia. Materials and Methods: 25 patients (18 men, 7 women, mean age: 60.X y.o) with refractory painful vertebral metastasis were consecutively included between 2012 and 2019. A total of 29 radiofrequency ablation (RFA) procedures were performed under CT guidance, local anesthesia and nitrous oxide inhalation, including 16 procedures combined with vertebroplasty for bone consolidation purposes. Pain efficacy was clinically evaluated using the visual analogue scale (VAS) at day 1, 1 month, 3 months, 6 months and 12 months, and the tolerance of the procedure was evaluated. Results: Procedure tolerance was graded as either not painful or tolerable in 97% of cases. Follow-up postprocedure mean VAS score decrease was 74% at day 1: 6.6 (p < 0.001), 79% at 1 month: 6.6 (p < 0.001), 79% at 3 months: 6.5 (p < 0.001), 77% at 6 months, and 79% at 12 months: 6.6 (p < 0.001). Conclusions: Bipolar RFA, with or without combined vertebroplasty, appears to be an effective and reliable technique for the treatment of refractory vertebral metastases in patients in the palliative care setting. It is a feasible procedure under local anesthesia which is well tolerated by patients therefore allowing to broaden the indications of such procedures. Field of study: interventional radiology.
Physiological and Behavioral Effects of SiO2 Nanoparticle Ingestion on Daphnia magna
Authors: Kim Youngsam , Samadi Afshin , Gwag Eun , Park Jayoung , Kwak Minjeong , Park Jihoon , Lee Tae , Kim Young
Published: September 2021

The increasingly widespread use of engineered nanoparticles in medical, industrial, and food applications has raised concerns regarding their potential toxicity to humans and the environment. Silicon dioxide nanoparticles (SiO2 NPs), which have relatively low direct toxicity, have been increasingly applied in both consumer products and biomedical applications, leading to significantly higher exposure for humans and the environment. We carried out a toxicity assessment of SiO2 NPs using the common water flea D. magna by focusing on physiological and behavioral indicators such as heart rate, swimming performance, and growth. Exposure to SiO2 NPs did not produce acute or chronic toxicity at limited concentrations (<100 μg/mL), but did have statistically significant negative effects on heart rate, swimming distance, and body size. The use of fluorescein isothiocyanate in a silica matrix allowed the tracing and visualization of clear SiO2 NP accumulation in D. magna, which was confirmed by ICP-MS. Although exposure to SiO2 NPs seemed to affect cardiac and swimming performance, such end-point experiments may be insufficient to fully understand the toxicity of these nanoparticles. However, the physiological and behavioral changes shown here suggest potential adverse effects on the aquatic environment by substances previously considered nontoxic.
Analysis of Shape Memory Behavior and Mechanical Properties of Shape Memory Polymer Composites Using Thermal Conductive Fillers
Authors: Kim Mijeong , Jang Seongeun , Choi Sungwoong , Yang Junghoon , Kim Jungpil , Choi Duyoung
Published: September 2021

Shape memory polymers (SMPs) are attracting attention for their use in wearable displays and biomedical materials due to their good biocompatibility and excellent moldability. SMPs also have the advantage of being lightweight with excellent shape recovery due to their low density. However, they have not yet been applied to a wide range of engineering fields because of their inferior physical properties as compared to those of shape memory alloys (SMAs). In this study, we attempt to find optimized shape memory polymer composites. We also investigate the shape memory performance and physical properties according to the filler type and amount of hardener. The shape memory composite was manufactured by adding nanocarbon materials of graphite and non-carbon additives of Cu. The shape-recovery mechanism was compared, according to the type and content of the filler. The shape fixation and recovery properties were analyzed, and the physical properties of the shape recovery composite were obtained through mechanical strength, thermal conductivity and differential scanning calorimetry analysis.
Valorization Potential of a Novel Bacterial Strain, Bacillus altitudinis RSP75, towards Lignocellulose Bioconversion: An Assessment of Symbiotic Bacteria from the Stored Grain Pest, Tribolium castaneum
Authors: Dar Mudasir A. , Dhole Neeraja P. , Xie Rongrong , Pawar Kiran D. , Ullah Kalim , Rahi Praveen , Pandit Radhakrishna S. , Sun Jianzhong
Published: September 2021

Bioconversion of lignocellulose into renewable energy and commodity products faces a major obstacle of inefficient saccharification due to its recalcitrant structure. In nature, lignocellulose is efficiently degraded by some insects, including termites and beetles, potentially due to the contribution from symbiotic gut bacteria. To this end, the presented investigation reports the isolation and characterization of cellulolytic bacteria from the gut system of red flour beetle, Tribolium castaneum. Out of the 15 isolated bacteria, strain RSP75 showed the highest cellulolytic activities by forming a clearance zone of 28 mm in diameter with a hydrolytic capacity of ~4.7. The MALDI-TOF biotyping and 16S rRNA gene sequencing revealed that the strain RSP75 belongs to Bacillus altitudinis. Among the tested enzymes, B. altitudinis RSP75 showed maximum activity of 63.2 IU/mL extract for xylanase followed by β-glucosidase (47.1 ± 3 IU/mL extract) which were manifold higher than previously reported activities. The highest substrate degradation was achieved with wheat husk and corn cob powder which accounted for 69.2% and 54.5%, respectively. The scanning electron microscopy showed adhesion of the bacterial cells with the substrate which was further substantiated by FTIR analysis that depicted the absence of the characteristic cellulose bands at wave numbers 1247, 1375, and 1735 cm−1 due to hydrolysis by the bacterium. Furthermore, B. altitudinis RSP75 showed co-culturing competence with Saccharomyces cerevisiae for bioethanol production from lignocellulose as revealed by GC-MS analysis. The overall observations signify the gut of T. castaneum as a unique and impressive reservoir to prospect for lignocellulose-degrading bacteria that can have many biotechnological applications, including biofuels and biorefinery.
Isolation and Polyphasic Characterization of Desulfuromonas versatilis sp. Nov., an Electrogenic Bacteria Capable of Versatile Metabolism Isolated from a Graphene Oxide-Reducing Enrichment Culture
Authors: Xie Li , Yoshida Naoko , Ishii Shun’ichi , Meng Lingyu
Published: September 2021

In this study, a novel electrogenic bacterium denoted as strain NIT-T3 of the genus Desulfuromonas was isolated from a graphene-oxide-reducing enrichment culture that was originally obtained from a mixture of seawater and coastal sand. Strain NIT-T3 utilized hydrogen and various organic acids as electron donors and exhibited respiration using electrodes, ferric iron, nitrate, and elemental sulfur. The strain contained C16:1ω7c, C16:0, and C15:0 as major fatty acids and MK-8, 9, and 7 as the major respiratory quinones. Strain NIT-T3 contained four 16S rRNA genes and showed 95.7% similarity to Desulfuromonasmichiganensis BB1T, the closest relative. The genome was 4.7 Mbp in size and encoded 76 putative c-type cytochromes, which included 6 unique c-type cytochromes (<40% identity) compared to those in the database. Based on the physiological and genetic uniqueness, and wide metabolic capability, strain NIT-T3 is proposed as a type strain of ‘Desulfuromonas versatilis’ sp. nov.
Quantification of Myxococcus xanthus Aggregation and Rippling Behaviors: Deep-Learning Transformation of Phase-Contrast into Fluorescence Microscopy Images
Authors: Zhang Jiangguo , Comstock Jessica A. , Cotter Christopher R. , Murphy Patrick A. , Nie Weili , Welch Roy D. , Patel Ankit B. , Igoshin Oleg A.
Published: September 2021

Myxococcus xanthus bacteria are a model system for understanding pattern formation and collective cell behaviors. When starving, cells aggregate into fruiting bodies to form metabolically inert spores. During predation, cells self-organize into traveling cell-density waves termed ripples. Both phase-contrast and fluorescence microscopy are used to observe these patterns but each has its limitations. Phase-contrast images have higher contrast, but the resulting image intensities lose their correlation with cell density. The intensities of fluorescence microscopy images, on the other hand, are well-correlated with cell density, enabling better segmentation of aggregates and better visualization of streaming patterns in between aggregates; however, fluorescence microscopy requires the engineering of cells to express fluorescent proteins and can be phototoxic to cells. To combine the advantages of both imaging methodologies, we develop a generative adversarial network that converts phase-contrast into synthesized fluorescent images. By including an additional histogram-equalized output to the state-of-the-art pix2pixHD algorithm, our model generates accurate images of aggregates and streams, enabling the estimation of aggregate positions and sizes, but with small shifts of their boundaries. Further training on ripple patterns enables accurate estimation of the rippling wavelength. Our methods are thus applicable for many other phenotypic behaviors and pattern formation studies.
A Small Virus to Deliver Small Antibodies: New Targeted Therapies Based on AAV Delivery of Nanobodies
Authors: Silva-Pilipich Noelia , Smerdou Cristian , Vanrell Lucía
Published: September 2021

Nanobodies are camelid-derived single-domain antibodies that present some advantages versus conventional antibodies, such as a smaller size, and higher tissue penetrability, stability, and hydrophilicity. Although nanobodies can be delivered as proteins, in vivo expression from adeno-associated viral (AAV) vectors represents an attractive strategy. This is due to the fact that AAV vectors, that can provide long-term expression of recombinant genes, have shown an excellent safety profile, and can accommodate genes for one or several nanobodies. In fact, several studies showed that AAV vectors can provide sustained nanobody expression both locally or systemically in preclinical models of human diseases. Some of the pathologies addressed with this technology include cancer, neurological, cardiovascular, infectious, and genetic diseases. Depending on the indication, AAV-delivered nanobodies can be expressed extracellularly or inside cells. Intracellular nanobodies or “intrabodies” carry out their function by interacting with cell proteins involved in disease and have also been designed to help elucidate cellular mechanisms by interfering with normal cell processes. Finally, nanobodies can also be used to retarget AAV vectors, when tethered to viral capsid proteins. This review covers applications in which AAV vectors have been used to deliver nanobodies, with a focus on their therapeutic use.