bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Design and Mechanical Validation of Commercially Viable, Personalized Passive Prosthetic Feet
Authors: Folinus Charlotte , Winter, V Amos G. 
Published: November 2023

Abstract
Current high-performance prosthetic feet work well for many users, but the low resolution of size and stiffness categories may limit walking performance for certain users. A line of prosthetic feet with a high resolution of sizes and stiffnesses, designed through amputee-specific personalization, could provide clinical and economic value. The lower leg trajectory error (LLTE) design framework facilitates the design of high-performance, amputee-specific prosthetic feet; however, previous foot prototypes were not designed to satisfy the economic, mechanical, and aesthetic requirements for commercial adoption. The aims of this work were to understand how a personalized, affordable prosthetic foot can align with the clinical-commercial ecosystem, innovate a viable future product, and inform other prosthesis designers of considerations required to connect innovation to real-world implementation. We evaluated needs by identifying how products, capital, and services flow between stakeholders, and we elucidated design requirements for a personalized prosthetic foot that can be manufactured, distributed, and clinically provided. Based on material properties and manufacturing process capabilities, computer numerically controlled (CNC) machining of Nylon 6/6 satisfies these requirements. We present a novel parametric foot architecture that can be CNC machined, fits within a commercial foot shell, and can be designed for individual users’ body characteristics and activity levels. Prototypes made using the new foot design behaved as anticipated (1–12% error in modeled displacement), satisfied industry-standard strength (ISO 10328) and mechanical performance (AOPA dynamic heel/keel) requirements, and elicited positive feedback from both amputees and prosthetists.
Using Neural Networks for Thermal Analysis of Heat Conduction
Authors: Abdoh D. A. 
Published: November 2023

Abstract
Predicting heat transfer mechanisms through solids and fluids is a continuously demanding research topic since accurate and fast temperature calculation is crucial in many engineering and industrial applications. This article presents a new model to calculate the temperature variation of solids and fluids instantly, in less than 0.04 s, for the whole simulation period based on a novel computational framework of deep learning. The partial differential equation, such as the heat transfer equation, can be solved directly at any point according to a well-known boundary condition point without the need for domain discretization. Therefore, instant and accurate temperature calculation is achieved with the minimum computational resources. The proposed deep learning model can be applied in many engineering applications and products by using it in online thermal monitoring or digital twin technology. The new model is well validated by comparing the temperature values obtained from the deep learning model with the experimental temperature measurements. Moreover, a computational cost comparison with other numerical models is conducted to prove the high efficiency of the proposed deep learning model.
Effects of Riblet Dimensions on the Transitional Boundary Layers Over High-Lift Turbine Blades
Authors: Ananth S. M. , Nardini Massimiliano , Vaid Aditya , Kozul Melissa , Rao Vadlamani Nagabhushana , Sandberg Richard D. 
Published: November 2023

Abstract
Substantial research exists in the literature on reducing the profile loss of transitional boundary layers over low-pressure turbine (LPT) blades via different mechanisms such as freestream turbulence, upstream wakes, and surface roughness. These mechanisms have proven to be beneficial in mitigating the separation bubble-related losses in ultra-high-lift blade designs, despite an increase in the loss due to increased turbulent wetted area (TWA). In this work, we adopt a strategy of employing surface roughness in the transitional regime to minimize the separation bubble-related losses and flush-mounted riblets downstream to further mitigate the skin-friction drag and boundary layer losses due to an increase in the TWA. Several high-fidelity scale-resolving simulations are performed on this “rough-ribbed blade surface” to discern the effect of varying the riblet spacing (s+) and height (h+). The streamwise evolution of skin-friction coefficient, boundary layer integral parameters, and shape factor are compared and contrasted among riblets of different dimensions. The instantaneous flow features and second-order statistics such as the Reynolds stress, turbulent kinetic energy, and its production are analyzed for different test cases to determine the impact of riblets on these quantities. When compared to the roughness alone configuration, the scalloped shape riblets with s+ = 17 and h+ = 22 reduced the net skin-friction drag by 7.3% and the trailing edge momentum thickness by 14.5%, thereby demonstrating the efficacy of riblets in reducing the mixing losses under adverse pressure gradients. Through an analysis of flow blockage introduced by the application of riblets, the deleterious effects of increasing the riblet height along with the necessity of optimizing the riblet ramp are highlighted.
Precision Motion Control of an Independent Metering System With an Adaptive Piecewise Polynomial Valve Model
Authors: Li Chen , Yan Peishuai , Ding Ruqi , Lyu Litong , Helian Bobo , Chen Zheng , Yao Bin 
Published: November 2023

Abstract
The independent metering approach decouples the meter-in and meter-out flow, offering more flexibility in the motion control of the hydraulic actuator. In such a system, two or more proportional valves are used, which may amplify the flow control deviation induced by the uncertainty and nonlinearity inherent in the valve, leading to a decline in the control accuracy. Our previous work introduced a polynomial flow model to improve valve modeling accuracy, but it cannot handle the flow varying of piecewise characteristics. Particularly, for those valves with piecewise spool notch shape design, the flow characteristics vary greatly in different input zone, which cannot be modeled well with only one polynomial. To address the issue, this study proposes a piecewise polynomial valve flow model, which can better characterize the segmental feature of the valve flow and improve control performance. Based on the prior knowledge of the spool notch shape or identification data, the valve flow model is divided into multiple segments, and polynomials of different orders are used in each part. The adaptive robust approach is applied for motion control, pressure control, and parameter estimation. The motion control performance and parameter estimation results are investigated through simulation and experiments. It shows that the proposed method can better describe the piecewise flow gain of the valve compared with the previous polynomial model and the piecewise linear model.
Practical Implementation of Secondary Control Principles in an Electro-Hydraulic Speed-Variable Drive Applied to an Injection Moulding Machine
Authors: Hertz Rasmus Aagaard , Therkelsen Ole , Kristiansen Søren , Christensen Jesper Kjærsgaard , Helver Christian-Emil , Schmidt Lasse 
Published: November 2023

Abstract
In this work, a hydraulic state of the art injection molding machine is retrofitted with a dual pump drive. The dual pump drive is an electro-hydraulic speed-variable drive, with focus on high bandwidth control through secondary control principles. Secondary control is based on providing the torque references for the electric machines directly, instead of a speed reference. The pressure control loop is based on decoupling of the piston load pressure and sum pressure enabling the possibility to utilize two SISO controllers. The application is the injection cylinder of an industrial injection molding machine, retrofitted with the designed dual pump drive. Experimental results for the proposed secondary control structure are presented and difficulties of implementation are documented, and a large gap between the theoretical achievable bandwidth and the experimental achievable bandwidth is shown. Three possible reasons for this gap are identified, namely amplification of high frequency components from e.g. signal noise on sensors, the use of axial piston pumps which induce pressure pulsations and the influence of the discrete sample time of the digital controller hardware. Lastly future work within the field is considered, including possible methods to minimize the influence of the identified issues.
Electric and Hydraulic Propel Torque Modulation for a Compact Track Loader With the Hybrid Hydraulic Electric Architecture (HHEA)
Authors: Wills Jackson , Li Perry Y. 
Published: November 2023

Abstract
The Hybrid Hydraulic Electric Architecture (HHEA) has previously been proposed for off-highway vehicles to reap the efficiency and controllability benefits of electrification without needing very large electric motors. This is achieved with the use of a set of selectable common pressure rails to transmit the majority of power and small electric motors to modulate that power. Previous work has shown significant energy savings for the work circuits of a variety of machines.
In this paper, the energy saving potential of HHEA for the propel circuit of a compact track loader is studied. The ports of the track hydraulic motors are selectably connected to the common pressure rails, and instead of using the electric assist motors to buck/boost pressure, as in HHEA for linear actuators, small electric assist motors are used to add/subtract torque directly. The interplay between the torque limits of the electric motors and the ability of the hydraulic motor to vary displacements is studied, along with the effect these factors have on energy saving potential.
It is found that the ability to vary the displacement of the hydraulic motor allows for: more efficient electric motor operating conditions, reduced electric torque requirement, and reduced pressure rail switching events. All three of these advantages can be achieved at once using variable displacements; but trade-offs exist between these advantages (i.e. improved efficiency can be achieved at the expense of a larger electric torque requirement). Overall, the HHEA can reduce energy consumption by ∼ 36% compared to the stock machine, depending on the hydraulic motor’s ability to vary displacements, and assuming the electric motor torque is limited to 20% of that required in a direct electrification scheme.
An Analysis of Cavitation Phenomena Scalability in Axial Piston Machine
Authors: Boland Hannah , Shang Lizhi 
Published: November 2023

Abstract
While linear scaling laws for swashplate axial piston pumps have previously demonstrated a predictive capacity for speed limitations in commercial units, experimental results in the literature show deviations with smaller displacement pumps, as well as scaled unit sets with a significant difference in displacement from the baseline. This paper presents a comparison and analysis of simulated cavitation-based phenomena from a baseline open-circuit axial piston pump and scaled versions of the unit. This investigation is implemented through a CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics) model of the reference unit. Cavitation effects within fluid flow are applied through a simplified version of Singh’s Full Cavitation Model, with dissolved gas handled through an equilibrium analysis. By using published scaling laws to determine shaft rotational speeds corresponding to equivalent behavior in the scaled units across varying degrees of cavitating conditions, the cavitation phenomena results of each are analyzed in a normalized manner to assess the level of agreement within specific fluid volumes of interest. The analysis performed demonstrates that some averaged phenomena, such as reduced volumetric efficiency, can be predicted reliably with scaling laws, while the spatial distribution of some phenomena within chamber fluid volumes, such as vapor volumetric fraction, exhibit significant discrepancies across scaled units. Such results indicate that the eventual damage or other negative impacts of cavitation may not be accurately accounted for by published scaling laws, and that further considerations may need to be made when scaling units for applications where cavitation is high-risk.
Individual meropenem epithelial lining fluid and plasma PK/PD target attainment
Authors: Rohani Roxane , Yarnold Paul R. , Scheetz Marc H. , Neely Michael N. , Kang Mengjia , Donnelly Helen K. , Dedicatoria Kay , Nozick Sophie H. , Medernach Rachel L. , Hauser Alan R. , Ozer Egon A. , Diaz Estefani , Misharin Alexander V. , Wunderink Richard G. , Rhodes Nathaniel J. 
Published: November 2023

ABSTRACT

It is unclear whether plasma is a reliable surrogate for target attainment in the epithelial lining fluid (ELF). The objective of this study was to characterize meropenem target attainment in plasma and ELF using prospective samples. The first 24-hour T
>MIC
was evaluated vs 1xMIC and 4xMIC targets at the patient (i.e., fixed MIC of 2 mg/L) and population [i.e., cumulative fraction of response (CFR) according to EUCAST MIC distributions] levels for both plasma and ELF. Among 65 patients receiving ≥24 hours of treatment, 40% of patients failed to achieve >50% T
>4xMIC
in plasma and ELF, and 30% of patients who achieved >50% T
>4xMIC
in plasma had <50% T
>4xMIC
in ELF. At 1xMIC and 4xMIC targets, 3% and 25% of patients with >95% T
>MIC
in plasma had <50% T
>MIC
in ELF, respectively. Those with a CRCL >115 mL/min were less likely to achieve >50%T
>4xMIC
in ELF (
P
< 0.025). In the population, CFR for
Escherichia coli
at 1xMIC and 4xMIC was >97%. For
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
, CFR was ≥90% in plasma and ranged 80%–85% in ELF at 1xMIC when a loading dose was applied. CFR was reduced in plasma (range: 75%–81%) and ELF (range: 44%–60%) in the absence of a loading dose at 1xMIC. At 4xMIC, CFR for
P. aeruginosa
was 60%–86% with a loading dose and 18%–62% without a loading dose. We found that plasma overestimated ELF target attainment inup to 30% of meropenem-treated patients, CRCL >115 mL/min decreased target attainment in ELF, and loading doses increased CFR in the population.
Farnesol remodels the peritoneal cavity immune environment influencing
Candida albicans
pathogenesis during intra-abdominal infection
Authors: Hargarten Jessica C. , Vaughan Malcolm J. , Lampe Anna T. , Jones Riley M. , Ssebambulidde Kenneth , Nickerson Kenneth W. , Williamson Peter R. , Atkin Audrey L. , Brown Deborah M. 
Published: November 2023

ABSTRACT

Candida albi
c
ans
is a lifelong member of the mycobiome causing mucosal candidiasis and life-threatening, systemic, and intra-abdominal disease in immunocompromised and transplant patients. Despite the clinical importance of intra-abdominal candidiasis with mortality rates between 40% and 70%, the contribution of fungal virulence factors and host immune responses to disease has not been extensively studied. Secretion of the quorum-sensing molecule, farnesol, acts as a virulence factor for
C. albicans
during systemic infection, while inducing local, protective innate immune responses in oral models of infection. Previously, we reported that farnesol recruits macrophages to the peritoneal cavity in mice, suggesting a role for farnesol in innate immune responses. Here, we expand on our initial findings, showing that farnesol profoundly alters the peritoneal cavity microenvironment promoting innate inflammation. Intra-peritoneal injection of farnesol stimulates rapid local death of resident peritoneal cells followed by recruitment of neutrophils and inflammatory macrophages into the peritoneal cavity and peritoneal mesothelium associated with an early increase in chemokines followed by proinflammatory cytokines. These rapid inflammatory responses to farnesol significantly increase morbidity and mortality of mice with intra-abdominal candidiasis associated with increased formation of peritoneal adhesions, despite similar rates of fungal clearance from the peritoneal cavity and retro-peritoneal organs.
C. albicans ddp3Δ/ddp3Δ
knockout and reconstituted strains recapitulate these findings. This indicates that farnesol may be detrimental to the host during intra-abdominal infections. Importantly, our results highlight a need to understand how
C. albicans
virulence factors modulate the host immune response within the peritoneum, an exceedingly common site of
Candida
infection.
The type VI secretion system of the emerging pathogen
Stenotrophomonas maltophilia
complex has antibacterial properties
Authors: Crisan Cristian V. , Van Tyne Daria , Goldberg Joanna B. 
Published: November 2023

ABSTRACT

Antagonistic behaviors between bacterial cells can have profound effects on microbial populations and disease outcomes. Polymicrobial interactions may be mediated by contact-dependent proteins with antibacterial properties. The type VI secretion system (T6SS) is a macromolecular weapon used by Gram-negative bacteria to translocate proteins into adjacent cells. Many pathogens deploy the T6SS to escape immune cells, eliminate commensal bacteria, and facilitate infection.
Stenotrophomonas maltophilia
complex is a Gram-negative opportunistic pathogen that primarily affects immunocompromised people and infects the lungs of patients with cystic fibrosis. Infections with the bacterium can be deadly and are challenging to treat because many isolates are multidrug-resistant. We found that globally dispersed
S. maltophilia
complex clinical and environmental strains possess T6SS genes. We demonstrate that the T6SS of an
S. maltophilia
complex patient isolate is active and can eliminate other bacteria. We provide evidence that the T6SS contributes to the competitive fitness of
S. maltophilia
complex against a co-infecting
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
isolate, and the T6SS alters the organization of
S. maltophilia
and
P. aeruginosa
co-cultures. This study expands our knowledge of the mechanisms employed by
S. maltophilia
complex to secrete antibacterial proteins and compete against other bacteria.

IMPORTANCE

Infections with the opportunistic pathogen
Stenotrophomonas maltophilia
complex can be fatal for immunocompromised patients. The mechanisms used by the bacterium to compete against other prokaryotes are not well understood. We found that the type VI secretion system (T6SS) allows
S. maltophilia
complex to eliminate other bacteria and contributes to the competitive fitness against a co-infecting isolate. The presence of T6SS genes in isolates across the globe highlights the importance of this apparatus as a weapon in the antibacterial arsenal of
S. maltophilia
complex. The T6SS may confer survival advantages to
S. maltophilia
complex isolates in polymicrobial communities in both environmental settings and during infections.
The phylogeny of
Acetobacteraceae
: photosynthetic traits and deranged respiratory enzymes
Authors: Degli Esposti Mauro , Guerrero Gabriela , Rogel Marco A. , Issotta Francisco , Rojas-Villalobos Camila , Quatrini Raquel , Martinez-Romero Esperanza 
Published: November 2023

ABSTRACT

We present here a comprehensive phylogenomic analysis of
Acetobacteraceae
, a vast group of alphaproteobacteria that has been widely studied for their economic importance. Our results indicate that the ancestor of
Acetobacteraceae
most likely was photosynthetic and evolved via a progressive transition from versatile photoferrotrophy to the incomplete oxidation of organic substrates defining acetous physiology. Vestigial signs of photosynthetic carotenoid metabolism are present in non-photosynthetic acetous taxa that have lost cytochrome oxidase, while their sister taxa retain such traits. The dominant terminal oxidase of acetous bacteria, the
bo
3
ubiquinol oxidase, is derived from duplication and diversification of operons present in
Acidocella
taxa that have lost photosynthesis. We analyzed the bioenergetic traits that can compensate for the electron transfer function of photosynthetic reaction centers or constitute alternative pathways for the oxidoreduction of
c
-type cytochromes, such as iron oxidation. The latter pathway bypasses the deranged cytochrome
bc
1
complex that is characteristically present in acidophilic taxa due to the loss of conserved ligands in both the Rieske iron-sulfur protein and cytochrome
b
subunit. The deranged or non-functional
bc
1
complex may be retained for its structural role in stabilizing Complex I. The combination of our phylogenetic analysis with in-depth functional evaluations indicates that the order Acetobacterales needs to be emended to include three families:
Acetobacteraceae sensu stricto
,
Roseomonadaceae
fam. nov., and
Acidocellaceae
fam. nov.

IMPORTANCE

Acetobacteraceae are one of the best known and most extensively studied groups of bacteria, which nowadays encompasses a variety of taxa that are very different from the vinegar-producing species defining the family. Our paper presents the most detailed phylogeny of all current taxa classified as
Acetobacteraceae
, for which we propose a taxonomic revision. Several of such taxa inhabit some of the most extreme environments on the planet, from the deserts of Antarctica to the Sinai desert, as well as acidic niches in volcanic sites like the one we have been studying in Patagonia. Our work documents the progressive variation of the respiratory chain in early branching Acetobacteraceae into the different respiratory chains of acidophilic taxa such as
Acidocella
and acetous taxa such as
Acetobacter
. Remarkably, several genomes retain remnants of ancestral photosynthetic traits and functional
bc
1
complexes. Thus, we propose that the common ancestor of
Acetobacteraceae
was photosynthetic.
Crustal block-controlled contrasts in deformation, uplift, and exhumation in the Santa Cruz Mountains, California, USA, imaged through apatite (U-Th)/He thermochronology and 3-D geological modeling
Authors: Baden Curtis W. , Shuster David L. , Hourigan Jeremy H. , Gooley Jared T. , Cahill Melanie R. , Hilley George E. 
Published: November 2023

Abstract
Deformation along strike-slip plate margins often accumulates within structurally partitioned and rheologically heterogeneous crustal blocks within the plate boundary. In these cases, contrasts in the physical properties and state of juxtaposed crustal blocks may play an important role in accommodation of deformation. Near the San Francisco Bay Area, California, USA, the Pacific–North American plate-bounding San Andreas fault bisects the Santa Cruz Mountains (SCM), which host numerous distinct, fault-bounded lithotectonic blocks that surround the San Andreas fault zone. In the SCM, a restraining bend in the San Andreas fault (the SCM bend) caused recent uplift of the mountain range since ca. 4 Ma. To understand how rheologic heterogeneity within a complex fault zone might influence deformation, we quantified plausible bounds on deformation and uplift across two adjacent SCM lithotectonic blocks on the Pacific Plate whose stratigraphic and tectonic histories differ. This was accomplished by combining 31 new apatite (U-Th)/He ages with existing thermochronological datasets to constrain exhumation of these two blocks. Additionally, surface exposures of the latest Miocene to late Pliocene Purisima Formation interpreted in 18 structural cross sections spanning the SCM allowed construction and restoration of Pliocene deformation in a three-dimensional geologic model. We found that rock uplift and deformation concentrated within individual Pacific Plate lithotectonic blocks in the SCM. Since 4 Ma, maximum principal strain computed for the more deformed block adjacent to the fault exceeded that computed for the less deformed block by at least 375%, and cumulative uplift has been more spatially extensive and higher in magnitude. We attribute the difference in uplift and deformation between the two blocks primarily to contrasts in lithotectonic structure, which resulted from diverging geologic histories along the evolving plate boundary.