bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Analysis of STAG3 variants in Chinese non-obstructive azoospermia patients with germ cell maturation arrest
Authors: Liu Wen , Gao Xuan , Zhang Haobo , Liu Ran , Cao Yongzhi , Yu Ruimei , Fang Ge , Ma Jinlong , Zhao Shidou 
Published: May 2021

AbstractSTAG3 is essential for male meiosis and testis of male Stag3−/− mice shows the histopathological type of germ cell maturation arrest (MA). Whether variants of the STAG3 gene exist in Chinese idiopathic non-obstructive azoospermia (NOA) patients needs to be determined. We recruited 58 Chinese NOA men with MA who underwent testis biopsy and 192 fertile men as the control group. The 34 exons of the STAG3 gene were amplified using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and sequenced. We identified eight novel single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), including two missense SNPs (c.433T > C in exon2 and c.553A > G in exon3), three synonymous SNPs (c.539G > A, c.569C > T in exon3, and c.1176C > G in exon8), and three SNPs in introns. The allele and genotype frequencies of the novel and other SNPs have no significant differences between two groups. Our results indicated that variants in the coding sequence of the STAG3 gene were uncommon in NOA patients with MA in Chinese population. Future studies in large cohorts of different ethnic populations will be needed to determine the association between the STAG3 gene and NOA.
Age- and sex-specific reference intervals for blood urea nitrogen in Chinese general population
Authors: Liu Qingquan , Wang Yiru , Chen Zhi , Guo Xiaolin , Lv Yongman 
Published: May 2021

AbstractBlood urea nitrogen (BUN) is a nitrogenous end product of protein metabolism. This study aims to explore the age- and sex-specific distribution of BUN among healthy Chinese adults. A total of 24,006 BUN values from healthy adults (14,148 males and 9858 females) were included in the cross-sectional study. Males had a higher median BUN value compared to females (4.6 mmol/L vs. 4.1 mmol/L). BUN values showed a positive correlation with body mass index (BMI), cholesterol, and blood sugar (P < 0.0001). However, eGFR showed a negative correlation with the BUN reference value (P < 0.0001) in both sexes. Multiple linear regression analysis confirmed that the positive associations of BUN levels and age were statistically significant after adjusting confounding factors (P < 0.001). Thus, the serum BUN values increased by 0.21 mmol/L for males and 0.282 mmol/L for females per 10 years. The BUN values corresponding to the 1st, 2.5th, 50th, 97.5th, and 99th percentiles for any specific age in both sex were also calculated. These results indicate that the serum BUN reference value is significantly affected by age and gender, and thus, its interpretation is age- and sex-dependent.
Correlation between the structure and skin permeability of compounds
Authors: Zeng Ruolan , Deng Jiyong , Dang Limin , Yu Xinliang 
Published: May 2021

AbstractA three-descriptor quantitative structure–activity/toxicity relationship (QSAR/QSTR) model was developed for the skin permeability of a sufficiently large data set consisting of 274 compounds, by applying support vector machine (SVM) together with genetic algorithm. The optimal SVM model possesses the coefficient of determination R2 of 0.946 and root mean square (rms) error of 0.253 for the training set of 139 compounds; and a R2 of 0.872 and rms of 0.302 for the test set of 135 compounds. Compared with other models reported in the literature, our SVM model shows better statistical performance in a model that deals with more samples in the test set. Therefore, applying a SVM algorithm to develop a nonlinear QSAR model for skin permeability was achieved.
Analysis of hip joint loading during walking with different shoe types using instrumented total hip prostheses
Authors: Palmowski Y. , Popović S. , Kosack D. , Damm P. 
Published: May 2021

AbstractHip joint loads need careful consideration during postoperative physiotherapy after joint replacement. One factor influencing joint loads is the choice of footwear, but it remains unclear which footwear is favorable. The objective of the present study was to investigate the influence of footwear on hip joint loads in vivo. Instrumented hip endoprostheses were used for in vivo load measurements. The parameters resultant contact force (Fres), bending moment (Mbend) and torsional moment (Mtors) were evaluated during treadmill walking at 4 km/h with different shoe types. In general, footwear tended to increase hip joint loading, with the barefoot shoe having the least influence. Fres and Mbend were significantly increased during heel strike for all shoe types in comparison to barefoot walking, with everyday shoe (34.6%; p = 0.028 and 47%; p = 0.028, respectively) and men’s shoe (33.2%; p = 0.043 and 41.1%; p = 0.043, respectively) resulting in the highest changes. Mtors at AbsMax was increased by all shoes except for the barefoot shoe, with the highest changes for men’s shoe (+ 17.6%, p = 0.043) and the shoe with stiffened sole (+ 17.5%, p = 0.08). Shoes, especially those with stiff soles or elaborate cuishing and guiding elements, increase hip joint loads during walking. The influence on peak loads is higher for Mtors than for Fres and Mbend. For patients in which a reduction of hip joints loads is desired, e.g. during physiotherapy after recent surgery or to alleviate symptoms of osteoarthritis, low profile shoes with a flexible sole may be preferred over shoes with a stiff sole or elaborate cushioning elements.
Impinging liquid jets on flat fluid interfaces
Authors: Patrascu C , Neagu F , Balan C 
Published: May 2021

AbstractWe study the impact of a liquid jet on a liquid bath in the presence of an external Newtonian liquid. Attention is given to the impact zone where we find a stationary wave-like behavior of the liquid column. We unravel new dynamics, seen at high acquisition frame rates, of the instability of the liquid column at the critical distance between the capillary tip and the surface of the fluid bath. A dominant critical frequency of oscillation is found. Particle Image Velocimetry measurements of the velocity field, in the vicinity of the impact zone, are also performed, with emphasis on the vortex structure that develops near the flat interface.
Review of the existing state of the art regarding the use of CFD and human thermophysiological models for the vehicular comfort assessment
Authors: Jamin A , Bosschaerts W , Nastase I , Janssens B 
Published: May 2021

Abstract
The aim of this article is to present a comprehensive review of the state of the art regarding the use of the human thermophysiological model into computational fluid dynamics and the coupling of these two techniques. This article will focus on the modelling of the car cabin thermal environment, the integration of virtual thermal manikins and the thermal comfort assessment. Though the complexity of the car cabin geometry, the inhomogeneous air temperature/velocity fields, and transient conditions a CFD-simulation is a very powerful tool providing detailed results for a given sufficient computing power. Understanding the human body’s thermal aspects and quantifying cabin’s parameters are essential for a reliable computation. Virtual thermal manikins have become an important asset in numerical simulation, providing accurate predictions of human thermal sensation. For vehicular thermal comfort assessment, this article reviews the relevant thermal comfort indices. From 70’s, several human thermophysiological models have been developed based on the human energy balance equation to achieve realistic human thermal responses. This article introduces the most common human thermophysiological models classifies them into one-node, two-node, multi-node and multi-element thermal models. Today, in automotive R&D, the coupling technique is became a powerful tool for optimizing and evaluating the passenger’s thermal comfort.
Small scale measurement of artificial smoke optical properties
Authors: Burlacu D , Georgescu A M , Trache Ş N 
Published: May 2021

Abstract
For the assessment of the quality and behavior of building materials in the case of fire, standard testing methods which classify these products based on their performance have been developed. This testing covers among other parameters the smoke emission of the materials in case of fire. The testing methods require various quantities of the products in order to provide accurate results, hence they can rarely be used in the research and development phase of a product. Standard tests that are used to classify building materials, usually employ the principle of light intensity attenuation for the determination of information regarding the smoke emission of the product. This paper presents the 1:10 and 1:20 scale reduction of an experiment used to determine the optical properties of artificially generated smoke based on the same principle of light attenuation. The scale reduction was carried out by means of proportionally reducing each of the test compartment dimensions and the amount of smoke fluid used. For the assessment of the scale reduction accuracy, the extinction area of smoke, which is a parameter that can correlate the light intensity values measured in the different experimental scales was used as a benchmark.
The (r)evolution of wind energy systems in Romania: state-of-the-art, new trends and challenges
Authors: Chiulan Elena-Alexandra , Anton Anton 
Published: May 2021

Abstract
After decades of development, one of the most mature renewable energy technologies is recognized to be wind energy. Compared to other renewable energy sources the wind potential that can be used to produce electricity is much higher. Currently, the conversion of wind energy into electricity has several advantages, among which can be mentioned the following: “clean” energy source, renewable energy source, low costs per unit of electricity produced. Thus, the progress of future technological innovations must lead to the achievement of wind turbines that are more efficient, more robust, and less expensive than actual technology. The aim of this work is to provide an overview of the Global, European and, especially, Romanian situation of the wind energy market. Moreover, are presented aspects related to innovative constructive solutions for wind turbines used to capture wind energy in areas where wind potential is low.
Wind tunnel modelling of a residential ensemble in a high rise building urban area
Authors: Florea Iustina Bianca , Iagar Oana Alexandra , Vladut Cezar Alexandru , Cosoiu Costin Ioan , Georgescu Andrei Mugur , Hasegan Liviu Valer , Degeratu Mircea 
Published: May 2021

Abstract
This paper refers to wind tunnel testing of a residential complex located in a crowded urban area in the vicinity of some tall buildings. Due to the agglomeration of certain urban areas, the erection of new tall buildings becomes increasingly challenging, both in terms of location finding and structural load assessment. For a tall building located in such an area, the complexity of the structural challenges is increased by the loads resulting from the wind action. Usually the wind velocity profile from which these loads result is influenced by the roughness height factor associated with the urban areas surrounding the building. In the vicinity of other tall buildings, the interinfluences between the buildings must also be ascertained. Following the request of the project developer, the Technical University of Civil Engineering Bucharest through the Aerodynamics and Wind Engineering Laboratory “Constantin Iamandi” performed wind tunnel static tests of the residential complex using two different roughness heights above the floor of the wind tunnel (corresponding to different terrain categories with respect to wind orientation) and adding models of the existing adjacent tall buildings for some of the wind directions. The paper presents test methodologies used, the wind tunnel set-up, the residential complex static model and obtained results.
Renewable energy sources for industrial consumers - a past to present analysis of technical and financial efficiency
Authors: Delcea A , Bitir-Istrate I 
Published: May 2021

Abstract
Renewable energy sources represent one of the solutions to mitigate the impact energy production, transportation and use have on climate change. Solar heat for industrial processes is an emerging solution that has yet to reach its true potential. When an industrial consumer is considering installing an energy source on site, a technical and financial analysis is performed to find the optimal solution. However, the analysis is characterized by a certain degree of uncertainty due to the assumptions made, that influence the final decision. Hence, the profitability of renewable energy-based solutions can either be overvalued or undervalued when compared to a fossil fuel-based solution. In this paper, the solar heat potential for the industry in Romania is calculated. Then, a past to present analysis is performed in order to assess the real benefits an industrial energy consumer would have gained had he considered a few years back to cover a fraction of its heat consumption with a solar heat source, by using the real historic data regarding the energy market evolution. The results show that subsidies are necessary in order to make solar heating profitable and more appealing for industrial applications in the market conditions from Romania.
Experimental research on increasing the static torque for a small Savonius rotor of helical type
Authors: Ciocănea A , Budea S , Simionescu Ş M , Lambescu O 
Published: May 2021

Abstract
A small Savonius wind turbine of helical type was tested in an open jet wind facility for identifying the optimum position of the rotor blades aiming the maximization of static torque. The two blades of the wind turbine of U shape were twisted up to 1800 from bottom to top and three values for blade overlap were considered i.e. 0.35, 0.2 and 0.0. The turbine torque was measured for no load conditions and wind velocities between 2-8 m/s. In the same time the air flow through Savonius rotor was observed by using a visualization setup aiming to identify the correlation between the torque and the flow pattern inside the returning blade at rotating angles where the torque has highest values. Best results for the torque coefficient of 0.72 and power coefficient of 0.265 were obtained at a wind velocity of 5.8 m/s and low overlap ratio of 0.2. By measuring the overall torque of the rotor for each case study, the positive effect of pressure recovery was explained as a result of air flow through the blade overlap from the concave side of the advancing blade to concave side of the returning blade for a certain interval of the rotating angle a = 50-60°.
Rural water distribution system with groundwater supply and water tower: Numerical modelling in EPANET 2.2
Authors: Primejdie Lucian George , Achim Andrei Valentin , Bucur Diana Maria , Dunca Georgiana , Georgescu Sanda-Carmen 
Published: May 2021

Abstract
The paper focuses on the numerical modelling of a rural Water Distribution System (WDS), supplied from a deep well, from which the water is pumped in a water tower (storage tank). Consumers are fed gravitationally from the water tower, with variable demand over 24 hours. Simulations were carried out in EPANET 2.2 using two methods: Demand Driven Analysis (DDA) with outflow issuing from emitters, and Pressure Driven Analysis (PDA). To minimize numerical instabilities, a particular attention was paid to the groundwater well (modelled both with variable, and constant hydrodynamic level), as well as to the connection of the water tower to WDS (where the connection was made either using 2 pipes, or a single pipe). By applying the DDA and PDA methods to the resulting 2×2 configurations of the hydraulic system, a total of 8 sets of simulations (solutions) were obtained and compared. The most advantageous pair of method and configuration is recommended to be considered when modelling a complex (e.g. urban size) WDS with groundwater supply and storage tanks.
Modelling of a drip irrigation system operation for greenhouses rose cultivation using PDD in EPANET 2.2
Authors: Săvulete Alexandru Constantin , Pîrăianu Vlad Florin , Georgescu Sanda-Carmen , Georgescu Andrei-Mugur 
Published: May 2021

Abstract
The present study focuses on the operation of a drip irrigation system for greenhouses rose cultivation in Adunatii-Copaceni, Giurgiu County, Romania. The numerical modelling of the irrigation system was performed in EPANET 2.2, using the pressure driven demand model. The pumping schedule fits the real operation, where five greenhouses are irrigated successively each morning, directly through pumping from a groundwater source. Fertigation is applied for each greenhouse every 5 days, in the evening, through pumping from a storage tank. Despite the hydraulic assumptions adopted to model the groundwater well and dripper lines, the computed results match the values of the outflow rates measured for the dripper lines of the real drip irrigation system. Simulations are useful to investigate, at no cost, different scenarios attached to the operation of the studied drip irrigation system.
Advanced Workplace Management Platform for Monitoring and Management of Indoor Climate Parameters
Authors: Kraus V F , Udrea I 
Published: May 2021

Abstract
The aim of this paper is to develop an advanced system of indoor parameters monitoring and management to increase operational efficiency and improve the life in buildings. The system will monitor the environmental parameters, using a system of sensors for temperature, relative humidity, and the main indoor pollutants measurement. Reports related to the building’s CAD plans are defined. Thus, for each room, the corresponding indoor parameters can be viewed in real time. In addition, using the read parameters a heat index is computed by several methods. The solution helps to locate the problems with certainty, due to the relationship with the CAD plans. It could support the facilities managers by alerting maintenance teams when the parameters exceed certain values. The sensor system is cheap, and its scalability allows the management of an unlimited number of objectives.
Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) in the construction of healthcare buildings. Analysis of environmental impact
Authors: Botejara-Antúnez M , Garrido-Píriz P , Sánchez-Barroso G , González-Domínguez J , García-Sanz-Calcedo J 
Published: May 2021

Abstract
Currently the optimization of raw materials, energetic efficiency and the reduction of environmental impact are aspects of such importance at the time of choosing a product, process or system. The healthcare buildings are a kind of building composed by a whole group of systems, products and processes. This means a great margin for improvement in energy efficiency and environmental impact caused during the construction as well. The main goal of this project is to verify the viability of applying a case of study of Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) in a healthcare building. After the analysis of the results obtained in previous studies, a series of advantages and drawbacks have appeared as a result of applying this tool in healthcare buildings. The result has been beyond satisfactory, since clear conclusions have been obtained from an exhaustive analysis. Among the most important conclusions, it should be noted that the LCA technique is a great asset to evaluate environmental impacts. The application of LCA methodology helps to reduce the total environmental impact generated during the construction of a healthcare building, having a great impact on social benefit as well as an economic benefit. This last is usually associated to the reduction of waste and operative costs and in the energy savings. Also, it has been proposed some solutions to the main drawbacks. These can be the draw of a guide for the application of the LCA technique or the implementation of educational courses.
Alcohol jets investigations in a microchannel in a viscous outer medium
Authors: Chiriac E , Bratu A M , Avram M , Bălan C 
Published: May 2021

Abstract
This paper is concerned with the experimental investigation of jets formation in a classic microchannel with low aspect ratio a/r=0.125. The confined jets are obtained in a Y-shaped microchannel using isopropyl alcohol and ethanol in a viscous outer medium represented by mineral oil. In the cases with high flow rate of the inner jets the interface has an important contribution on the velocity distribution inside the jet.
Improving the efficiency of energy recovery from wastewater by using a double heat exchanger to protect the environment
Authors: Albaiyati M S A , Danca P A , Neagu A , Sandu M 
Published: May 2021

Abstract
A possible strategy for reducing energy consumption and carbon dioxide emissions in order to protect the environment is the recovery of heat from wastewater. This study aims to achieve an improvement in the effectiveness of heat transfer by changing the flow parameters by using a double heat exchanger to recover the heat from greywater. The results, the thermal energy from wastewater can be recovered, the effectiveness ranged between (25 % — 45 %) with the discharge of (0.15-0.51m3/h) lower to higher, respectively. The cold water flow has a clear effect on the heat transfer efficiency, the decrease in cold water velocity led to the increase in heat transfer performance. This technique is simple to implement and inexpensive. It can be designed and built on the basement of the multi-storey building. The dual heat exchanger splits the flow into two-pipe, decreasing the flow rate velocity and thus, increasing the heat transfer efficiency.
Earthquake loss estimation for an educational reinforced concrete building by using FEMA P-58 methodology
Authors: Majdi A , Isa Said A , Vacareanu R , Obied Wissam 
Published: May 2021

Abstract
The costs of damages in both social and economic aspects are increased as a result of several significant earthquakes worldwide, the economic and social losses are a function of damage of the buildings because the buildings are vulnerable to earthquake damage [1]. In this study a probabilistic methodology FEMA P-58 is applied for seismic performance assessment for Iraqi educational reinforced concrete building in order to calculate the performance in terms of two aspects, the first one is the direct economic losses which include repair costs and repair time and the second one is social losses which include casualties and injuries. This methodology is prepared by ATC, the American Applied Technology Council and its prepared for Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) in 2012. The study is a continuation of other research papers related to applying the same method to the same building that the researcher undertook for the purpose of evaluating the performance of the building when exposed to earthquake and calculating the losses resulting from these damages by choosing different aspects of each research in terms of the method of simplified analysis or the calculation of damages and losses.