Applied Sciences

11 pages, 1503 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Podiatric and Stabilographic Examinations of the Effects of School Bag Carrying in Children Aged 11 to 15 Years

by Joanna M. Bukowska, Małgorzata Jekiełek, Dariusz Kruczkowski, Tadeusz Ambroży, Łukasz Rydzik, Michał Spieszny and Jarosław Jaszczur-Nowicki

Appl. Sci. 2021, 11(19), 9357; https://doi.org/10.3390/app11199357 - 8 Oct 2021

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2681

Abstract

Background: The issues raised in this study were inspired by the concern for the musculoskeletal status of school children. Carrying excess weight in the form of a school bag in this period of life affects the correct body posture of school children. The [...] Read more.

Background: The issues raised in this study were inspired by the concern for the musculoskeletal status of school children. Carrying excess weight in the form of a school bag in this period of life affects the correct body posture of school children. The aim of the study was to analyze the influence of school bags on the feet force distribution on the ground and postural balance in children of both sexes between 11 and 15 years of age. Methods: The study investigated the distribution of pressure forces on the sole of the foot and its arch. The center of pressure for both feet and the whole body was also examined. The participants were 100 students from primary schools in Gdańsk, aged 11 to 15, including 54 girls and 46 boys. The research used a podobarographic platform that measures the distribution of foot pressure to the ground. The examinations included two measurements: in the first, the children stood on the platform in a natural position. Then, a 5 kg backpack was put on and they stood on the platform again. Results: Statistically significant differences were found in the distribution of the foot pressure on the ground in the left metatarsus (p = 0.000) and heel (p = 0.000) after putting on the backpack in both girls and boys. However, in the right foot, these differences concerned the metatarsal area (p = 0.001). The results of the balance tests were only statistically significant in the group of girls in the right foot sway area (p = 0.020). Conclusions: The school backpack load led to an increase in the values of the heel and metatarsal area measured in the students, causing its flattening. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Assistive Technology: Biomechanics in Rehabilitation Engineering)

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10 pages, 582 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Emerging Oncogenic Viruses in Head and Neck Cancers from Romanian Patients

by Ramona Gabriela Ursu, Ionut Luchian, Nicolae Ghetu, Victor Vlad Costan, Ovidiu Stamatin, Octavian Dragos Palade, Costin Damian, Luminita Smaranda Iancu and Elena Porumb-Andrese

Appl. Sci. 2021, 11(19), 9356; https://doi.org/10.3390/app11199356 - 8 Oct 2021

Cited by 10 | Viewed by 2817

Abstract

(1) Background: Head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCCs) are some of the most frequent malignancies globally. Oncogenic viruses MCPyV, EBV and HPVs are recognized to be related to HNSCCs and skin cancers. There are no data from Romania regarding the involvement of [...] Read more.

(1) Background: Head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCCs) are some of the most frequent malignancies globally. Oncogenic viruses MCPyV, EBV and HPVs are recognized to be related to HNSCCs and skin cancers. There are no data from Romania regarding the involvement of herpes viruses and polyomaviruses in these types of cancer. We aim to evaluate the association of oncogenic viruses from Papillomaviridae, Herpesviridae, and Polyomaviridae families in HNSCCs and skin cancers. (2) Methods: A total of 26 fresh tumors (6/26 women) were tested for 67 viral agents using a multiplex PCR genotyping assay. (3) Results: A total of 23/26 (88.5%) samples were positive for one or more viruses. All the tested tumors were negative for any HPV (alpha or beta types). In total, we detected as positive samples: 16 (61.63%) EBV1, 12 (46.15%) HHV7, 8 (30.76%) MCV, 6 (23.07%) CMV and HHV6, 2 (7.69%) HHV8, 1 (3.8%) HPyV6 and EBV2. (4) Conclusions: We detected HPV-negative cases that are HPyV and HHV positive. In these fractions of HPV-negative HNSCCs cases, other oncogenic viruses may be involved, such as EBV1, MCV or CMV. Additional research is required for clarifying the natural history of these viruses in HNSCCs, as virus detection would have a decisive impact on diagnostic and decisional algorithms. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advance in Cancer, Chemotherapy and Periodontal Disease)

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18 pages, 16680 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Batch and Packed Bed Column Study for the Removal of Cr (VI) and Ni (II) Using Agro-Industrial Wastes

by Candelaria Tejada-Tovar, Angel Villabona-Ortíz and Rodrigo Ortega-Toro

Appl. Sci. 2021, 11(19), 9355; https://doi.org/10.3390/app11199355 - 8 Oct 2021

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1972

Abstract

The objective of this study was to prepare bio adsorbents from agro-industrial wastes from yam starch (YSR) and plantain (PSR) production for its use in the removal of Cr (VI) and Ni (II) in aqueous solution in batch and continuous packed-bed column systems. [...] Read more.

The objective of this study was to prepare bio adsorbents from agro-industrial wastes from yam starch (YSR) and plantain (PSR) production for its use in the removal of Cr (VI) and Ni (II) in aqueous solution in batch and continuous packed-bed column systems. Bromatological analysis showed that the biomaterials are rich in cellulose, lignin, hemicellulose, and SEM micrographs that evidence a mesoporous structure characteristic of materials of lignocellulosic origin. FTIR evidenced functional groups such as hydroxyl, carbonyl, and methyl, possibly involved in the uptake of metal ions. EDS and FTIR analysis after adsorption confirmed that the retention of the metals on the surface of the adsorbent materials was successful. Cr (VI) and Ni (II) removal efficiencies above 80% were achieved using YSR and PSR in batch systems at the different conditions evaluated. The optimum conditions for removing Ni (II) on PSR were a bed height of 11.4 cm and a temperature of 33 °C, while for YSR, they were: 43 °C and 9 cm for temperature and bed height respectively. The variable with the most significant influence on the removal of Cr (VI) in a batch system on the two bio adsorbents was temperature. In contrast, the adsorbent dose and temperature are relevant factors for PSR Ni (II) removal. Therefore, the residues from the preparation of yam and plantain starch have high potential for removing heavy metals from wastewater and are presented as an alternative for their final disposal. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Determination and Extraction of Heavy Metals from Wastewater and Other Complex Matrices, Volume II)

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13 pages, 3145 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Analysis of Long-Term Change in the Thermal Resistance of Extruded Insulation Materials through Accelerated Tests

by Hyun-Jung Choi, Hosang Ahn, Gyeong-Seok Choi, Jae-Sik Kang and Jung-Ho Huh

Appl. Sci. 2021, 11(19), 9354; https://doi.org/10.3390/app11199354 - 8 Oct 2021

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2206

Abstract

Two experiments were executed to examine the slice accelerated test method, suggested in ISO 11561 “Ageing of thermal insulation materials—Determination of the long-term change in thermal resistance of closed-cell plastics (accelerated laboratory test methods)” and to observe the changes in the thermal performance [...] Read more.

Two experiments were executed to examine the slice accelerated test method, suggested in ISO 11561 “Ageing of thermal insulation materials—Determination of the long-term change in thermal resistance of closed-cell plastics (accelerated laboratory test methods)” and to observe the changes in the thermal performance of insulation material over time by the real-time ageing process. The accelerated test method was conducted for 120 consecutive days using 10 mm thick-sliced specimens, which were sampled from a 50 mm thick plate body. The real-time ageing process was performed for 5000 consecutive days under constant temperature and relative humidity conditions as of 20 ± 5 °C and 50 ± 5% without any slicing. Degradation of thermal performance was shown to be stabilized at around 38 to 41% down from the initial values, which were correspondent with the approximately 10 days after the initial time. The real-time ageing process revealed similar degradation levels at around 130 days after the starting point. Converting the results using the scaling method specified in ISO 11561, the change was found in the range of 37 to 41% for the thermal resistance after 25 years and of 30 to 38% for the 25-year-average thermal resistance, respectively. Within the 10% error range, both the accelerated method and real-time ageing resulted in a similar level of degradation. Consequently, it was our observation that the slice accelerated test was quite enough to predict the practical degradation of insulation materials with at least 90% of accuracy under the specified time duration, temperature and thickness satisfactions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Energy Science and Technology)

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15 pages, 444 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Framework of 6G Self-Evolving Networks and the Decision-Making Scheme for Massive IoT

by Bei Liu, Jie Luo and Xin Su

Appl. Sci. 2021, 11(19), 9353; https://doi.org/10.3390/app11199353 - 8 Oct 2021

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2623

Abstract

The increasingly huge amount of device connections will transform the Internet of Things (IoT) into the massive IoT. The use cases of massive IoT consist of the smart city, digital agriculture, smart traffic, etc., in which the service requirements are different and even [...] Read more.

The increasingly huge amount of device connections will transform the Internet of Things (IoT) into the massive IoT. The use cases of massive IoT consist of the smart city, digital agriculture, smart traffic, etc., in which the service requirements are different and even constantly changing. To fulfill the different requirements, the networks must be able to automatically adjust the network configuration, architectures, resource allocations, and other network parameters according to the different scenarios to match the different service requirements in massive IoT, which are beyond the abilities of the fifth generation (5G) networks. Moreover, the sixth generation (6G) networks are expected to have endogenous intelligence, which can well support the massive IoT application scenarios. In this paper, we first propose the framework of the 6G self-evolving networks, in which the autonomous decision-making is one of the vital parts. Then, we introduce the autonomous decision-making methods and analyze the characteristics of the different methods and mechanisms for 6G networks. To prove the effectiveness of the proposed framework, we consider one of the typical scenarios of massive IoT and propose an artificial intelligence (AI)-based distributed decision-making algorithm to solve the problem of the offloading policy and the network resource allocation. Simulation results show that the proposed decision-making algorithm with the self-evolving networks can improve the quality of experience (QoE) compared with the lower training. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Internet of Things (IoT))

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19 pages, 7093 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperArticle

Three-Dimensional Ultrasonic Imaging and Acoustic Emission Monitoring of Hydraulic Fractures in Tight Sandstone

by Wei Zhu, Shangxu Wang, Xu Chang, Hongyu Zhai and Hezhen Wu

Appl. Sci. 2021, 11(19), 9352; https://doi.org/10.3390/app11199352 - 8 Oct 2021

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2095

Abstract

Hydraulic fracturing is an important means for the development of tight oil and gas reservoirs. Laboratory rock mechanics experiments can be used to better understand the mechanism of hydraulic fracture. Therefore, in this study we carried out hydraulic fracturing experiments on Triassic Yanchang [...] Read more.

Hydraulic fracturing is an important means for the development of tight oil and gas reservoirs. Laboratory rock mechanics experiments can be used to better understand the mechanism of hydraulic fracture. Therefore, in this study we carried out hydraulic fracturing experiments on Triassic Yanchang Formation tight sandstone from the Ordos Basin, China. Sparse tomography was used to obtain ultrasonic velocity images of the sample during hydraulic fracturing. Then, combining the changes in rock mechanics parameters, acoustic emission activities, and their spatial position, we analyzed the hydraulic fracturing process of tight sandstone under high differential stress in detail. The experimental results illuminate the fracture evolution processes of hydraulic fracturing. The competition between stress-induced dilatancy and fluid flow was observed during water injection. Moreover, the results prove that the “seismic pump” mode occurs in the dry region, while the “dilation hardening” and “seismic pump” modes occur simultaneously in the partially saturated region; that is to say, the hydraulic conditions dominate the failure mode of the rock. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Application of Acoustic Emission (AE) on Rock Samples II)

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15 pages, 10740 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Design, Construction and Validation of a Proof of Concept Flexible–Rigid Mechanism Emulating Human Leg Behavior

by Erik Jung, Victoria Ly, Christopher Cheney, Nicholas Cessna, Mai Linh Ngo, Dennis Castro and Mircea Teodorescu

Appl. Sci. 2021, 11(19), 9351; https://doi.org/10.3390/app11199351 - 8 Oct 2021

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2693

Abstract

In most robotics simulations, human joints (e.g., hips and knees) are assumed to be revolute joints with limited range rotations. However, this approach neglects the internal flexibility of the joint, which could present a significant drawback in some applications. We propose a tensegrity-inspired [...] Read more.

In most robotics simulations, human joints (e.g., hips and knees) are assumed to be revolute joints with limited range rotations. However, this approach neglects the internal flexibility of the joint, which could present a significant drawback in some applications. We propose a tensegrity-inspired robotic manipulator that can replicate the kinematic behavior of the human leg. The design of the hip and knee resembles the musculoskeletal connections within the human body. Our implementation represents muscles, tendons and ligament connections as cables, and bones as rods. This particular design manipulates muscles to replicate a human-like gait, which demonstrates its potential for use as an anatomically correct assistive device (prosthetic, exoskeleton, etc.). Using the OpenSim 3.0 simulation environment, we estimated the kinematics and structural integrity of the proposed flexural joint design and determined the actuation strategies for our prototype. Kinematics for the prototype include the mechanical limitations and constraints derived from the simulations. We compared the simulation, physical prototype, and human leg behaviors for various ranges of motion and demonstrated the potential for using OpenSim 3.0 as a flexible–rigid modeling and simulation environment. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Robotics and Automation)

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20 pages, 10860 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Keyboard Model of Seismic Cycle of Great Earthquakes in Subduction Zones: Simulation Results and Further Generalization

by Leopold I. Lobkovsky, Irina S. Vladimirova, Yurii V. Gabsatarov and Dmitry A. Alekseev

Appl. Sci. 2021, 11(19), 9350; https://doi.org/10.3390/app11199350 - 8 Oct 2021

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2003

Abstract

Catastrophic megaearthquakes (M > 8) occurring in the subduction zones are among the most devastating hazards on the planet. In this paper we discuss the seismic cycles of the megathrust earthquakes and propose a blockwise geomechanical model explaining certain features of the stress-deformation [...] Read more.

Catastrophic megaearthquakes (M > 8) occurring in the subduction zones are among the most devastating hazards on the planet. In this paper we discuss the seismic cycles of the megathrust earthquakes and propose a blockwise geomechanical model explaining certain features of the stress-deformation cycle revealed in recent decades from seismological and satellite geodesy (GNSS) observations. Starting with an overview of the so-called keyboard model of the seismic cycle by L. Lobkovsky, we outline mathematical formalism describing the motion of seismogenic block system assuming viscous rheology beneath and between the neighboring elastic blocks sitting on top of the subducting slab. By summarizing the GNSS-based evidence from our previous studies concerning the transient motions associated with the 2006–2007 Simushir earthquakes, 2010 Maule earthquake, and 2011 Tohoku earthquake, we demonstrate that those data support the keyboard model and reveal specific effect of the postseismic oceanward motion. However, since the seismogenic blocks in subduction systems are mostly located offshore, the direct analysis of GNSS-measured displacements and velocities is hardly possible in terms of the original keyboard model. Hence, the generalized two-segment keyboard model is introduced, containing both frontal offshore blocks and rear onshore blocks, which allows for direct interpretation of the onshore-collected GNSS data. We present a numerical computation scheme and a series of simulated data, which exhibits the consistency with measured motions and enables estimating the seismic cycle characteristics, important for the long-term earthquake forecasting. Full article

(This article belongs to the Collection Geoinformatics and Data Mining in Earth Sciences)

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16 pages, 6209 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Design of a Sweet Potato Transplanter Based on a Robot Arm

by Zhengduo Liu, Xu Wang, Wenxiu Zheng, Zhaoqin Lv and Wanzhi Zhang

Appl. Sci. 2021, 11(19), 9349; https://doi.org/10.3390/app11199349 - 8 Oct 2021

Cited by 10 | Viewed by 3019

Abstract

Traditional sweet potato transplanters have the problem of seedling leakage and can only accomplish one transplantation method at a time, which does not meet the requirements of complex planting terrain that requires multiple transplantation methods. Therefore, this paper proposes a design for a [...] Read more.

Traditional sweet potato transplanters have the problem of seedling leakage and can only accomplish one transplantation method at a time, which does not meet the requirements of complex planting terrain that requires multiple transplantation methods. Therefore, this paper proposes a design for a crawler-type sweet potato transplanting machine, which can accomplish a variety of transplanting trajectories and conduct automatic replanting. The machine has a transplanting piece and a replanting piece. The transplanting piece completes the transplanting action through a transplanting robot arm, and the replanting piece detects the transplanting status by deep learning. The mathematical model of the transplanting robot arm is built, and the transplanting trajectory is inferred from the inverse kinematics model of the transplanting robot. In the replanting piece, a target detection network is used to detect the transplanting status. The DBIFPN structure and the CBAM_Dense attention mechanism are proposed to improve the accuracy of the target detection of sweet potato seedlings. The experiment showed that the transplanting robot arm can transplant sweet potatoes in horizontal and vertical methods, and the highest transplanting qualification rate is 96.8%. Compared with the use of the transplanting piece alone, the leakage rate of the transplanting–replanting mechanism decreased by 5.2%. These results provide a theoretical basis and technical support for the research and development of sweet potato transplanters. Full article

(This article belongs to the Collection Agriculture 4.0: From Precision Agriculture to Smart Farming)

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22 pages, 2812 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Decision Problem on Imperfect Inspections Combined under Two-Stage Inspection Policy

by Anna Jodejko-Pietruczuk

Appl. Sci. 2021, 11(19), 9348; https://doi.org/10.3390/app11199348 - 8 Oct 2021

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1535

Abstract

Although one can presently observe great development in the methods for diagnosing conditions of technical systems, inspections which are not 100% accurate are still common in industry. If there are multiple available inspection methods which differ in accuracy of diagnosis, cost, or testing [...] Read more.

Although one can presently observe great development in the methods for diagnosing conditions of technical systems, inspections which are not 100% accurate are still common in industry. If there are multiple available inspection methods which differ in accuracy of diagnosis, cost, or testing time, the answer for the question: which inspection method should be chosen is not a simple task. This paper addresses the problem and proposes a two-stage inspection policy model whose aim is to combine inspection methods that differ in their accuracy and cost features. The two-stage policy models that have been used so far in the literature assume that the second stage of an inspection is perfect, which is not always possible or profitable. For this reason, the mathematical model of the two-stage inspection policy with not-necessarily-perfect second stage is developed here, and its results are presented for the case study of diagnosing sealing in a hydraulic cylinder. The example proved that the application of mixed imperfect inspections could decrease maintenance cost, compared to the one-stage perfect inspection policy, by up to 35%. The paper also formulates a set of rules that support decision making while searching for cost-effective parameters of the two-stage policy. Their application is confirmed by a numerical example, which shows their potential in suboptimization of the proposed policy. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Mechanical Engineering)

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The methodology of the research study. Full article ">Figure 2
Alternative scenarios of a failure process development resulting in a failure during the third inspection interval. Full article ">Figure 3
The expected cost per unit time for the inspection interval T if the one-stage and various combinations of the two-stage policy are applied. Full article ">Figure 4
The lowest expected cost per unit time found for the tested one-stage and the two-stage policies. Full article ">Figure 5
The expected cost per unit time for all the tested combinations of the two-stage policy for the range of inspection interval T limited with respect to the most economical solutions. Full article ">Figure 6
The expected number of system failures for the inspection interval T if the one-stage and various combinations of the two-stage policies are applied. Full article ">Figure 7
The expected lifetime of the sealing for the inspection interval T if the one-stage and various combinations of the two-stage policy are applied. Full article ">Figure 8
The expected cost per unit of time for the inspection interval T if the one-stage and various combinations of the two-stage policies are applied. Full article ">

19 pages, 3601 KiB

Open AccessArticle

System of Parametric Modelling and Assessing the Production Staff Utilisation as a Basis for Aggregate Production Planning

by Martin Krajčovič, Beáta Furmannová, Patrik Grznár, Radovan Furmann, Dariusz Plinta, Radovan Svitek and Ivan Antoniuk

Appl. Sci. 2021, 11(19), 9347; https://doi.org/10.3390/app11199347 - 8 Oct 2021

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2122

Abstract

The requirement to achieve effective solutions in the shortest possible time in the manufacturing environment is essential, and it can be solved only by effective production planning methods. The scientific problem is that traditional methods for creating and assessing the production plans are [...] Read more.

The requirement to achieve effective solutions in the shortest possible time in the manufacturing environment is essential, and it can be solved only by effective production planning methods. The scientific problem is that traditional methods for creating and assessing the production plans are insufficient for the future and it is necessary to look for new alternatives. The planners in the framework of designing the production layouts and subsequent capacity planning of the employees are missing the information, methods and tools for making clear decisions. The production costs in general and especially the costs for the workforce create a large part of the operating costs in many manufacturing enterprises. The scientific goal of the article is to present a design of the system for parametric modelling and assessing the working utilisation of the production staff intended for reducing costs. The described solution is based on object-oriented analysis and contains a methodology of planning and controlling the production process in the industrial environment. The designed methodology was used for developing a planning module of project software and was shown through a case study in a company dealing with the production of automotive components. Effective modelling of the digital copy of the manufacturing system in the software environment is one of the most difficult and important steps for developing reliable information systems for planning and inspection in the industry. The methodology’s results in a company are that the solution can be used as a basis for the aggregate production planning that brings savings and efficiency increases. The research results can be used in any company with strictly defined working positions, working activities, and limiting conditions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Trends in Modeling and Simulation of Production Processes and Systems)

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17 pages, 33989 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Vibrations Analysis of the Fruit-Pedicel System of Coffea arabica var. Castillo Using Time–Frequency and Wavelets Techniques

by Carlos I. Cardona, Hector A. Tinoco, Luis Perdomo-Hurtado, Juliana López-Guzmán and Daniel A. Pereira

Appl. Sci. 2021, 11(19), 9346; https://doi.org/10.3390/app11199346 - 8 Oct 2021

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2466

Abstract

Colombian coffee production is well-known, and selective manual harvesting plays a vital task in guaranteeing high ripe coffee fruit rates in this process, leading to its known worldwide aroma and flavor. To maintain this quality approach, selective harvesting methods based on mechanical vibrations [...] Read more.

Colombian coffee production is well-known, and selective manual harvesting plays a vital task in guaranteeing high ripe coffee fruit rates in this process, leading to its known worldwide aroma and flavor. To maintain this quality approach, selective harvesting methods based on mechanical vibrations are a promising alternative for developing technologies that could accomplish the challenging Colombian coffee production context. In this study, a vibrations analysis in coffee fruits at three ripening stages was carried out to evaluate the dynamic behavior at two frequency windows: 10 to 100 Hz and 100 to 1000 Hz. Two groups of fruits previously classified in the CIELab color space were chosen for the vibration test study samples. Time and frequency signals were characterized via FFT (fast Fourier transform), and bump wavelets were determined to obtain the frequency–time magnitude scalograms. The measurements were obtained in three degrees of freedom over the fruits: one for measuring the input force (computed in voltage way) and the other two measured by the velocity. The results revealed frequency ranges with specific resonant peaks between 24 and 45 Hz, and close to 700 Hz, where the ripe fruits presented higher magnitudes in the calculated parameters. FFT of the velocity and scaled mechanical impedance were used to estimate these frequency ranges. This work is an important step to identify a “vibrational fingerprint” of each Coffea arabica var. Castillo fruit-ripening stage. However, we consider that more experiments should be performed to reconstruct the modal shape in each resonance. In future studies, fatigue analysis could show which are the most effective frequency ranges to detach the ripe fruits from the perspective of a real selective coffee-harvesting scenario. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Applied Sciences in Functional Foods)

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22 pages, 5886 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A Framework of Structural Damage Detection for Civil Structures Using Fast Fourier Transform and Deep Convolutional Neural Networks

by Yingying He, Hongyang Chen, Die Liu and Likai Zhang

Appl. Sci. 2021, 11(19), 9345; https://doi.org/10.3390/app11199345 - 8 Oct 2021

Cited by 28 | Viewed by 3488

Abstract

In the field of structural health monitoring (SHM), vibration-based structural damage detection is an important technology to ensure the safety of civil structures. By taking advantage of deep learning, this study introduces a data-driven structural damage detection method that combines deep convolutional neural [...] Read more.

In the field of structural health monitoring (SHM), vibration-based structural damage detection is an important technology to ensure the safety of civil structures. By taking advantage of deep learning, this study introduces a data-driven structural damage detection method that combines deep convolutional neural networks (DCNN) and fast Fourier transform (FFT). In this method, the structural vibration data are fed into FFT method to acquire frequency information reflecting structural conditions. Then, DCNN is utilized to automatically extract damage features from frequency information to identify structural damage conditions. To verify the effectiveness of the proposed method, FFT-DCNN is carried out on a three-story building structure and ASCE benchmark. The experimental result shows that the proposed method achieves high accuracy, compared with classic machine-learning algorithms such as support vector machine (SVM), random forest (RF), K-Nearest Neighbor (KNN), and eXtreme Gradient boosting (xgboost). Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Applications of Deep Learning in Engineering Structures)

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26 pages, 7907 KiB

Open AccessArticle

An Effective Simulation Scheme for Predicting the Aerodynamic Heat of a Scramjet-Propelled Vehicle

by Lu Yang and Guangming Zhang

Appl. Sci. 2021, 11(19), 9344; https://doi.org/10.3390/app11199344 - 8 Oct 2021

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1940

Abstract

Currently, aerothermal research into scramjet-propelled vehicles characterized by a wedge-shaped section is relatively sparse. Based on the Mach number, grid strategy, and numerical method, an effective simulation scheme for predicting the aerodynamic heat of a scramjet-propelled vehicle during flight is proposed in this [...] Read more.

Currently, aerothermal research into scramjet-propelled vehicles characterized by a wedge-shaped section is relatively sparse. Based on the Mach number, grid strategy, and numerical method, an effective simulation scheme for predicting the aerodynamic heat of a scramjet-propelled vehicle during flight is proposed in this paper. At different Mach numbers, the appropriate grid strategy and numerical method were determined by validation tests. Two-dimensional external flow field models based on wedge sections were established and, unlike in blunt bodies, the tests showed that at the high supersonic stage, the ideal cell Reynolds number should be no larger than 16. At the hypersonic stage, the ideal cell Reynolds number and aspect ratio of wall cells near the shock should be no larger than 40, and the AUSM+ flux type performs better than Roe’s FDS flux type at the above stages. The aerothermal prediction indicates that during a flight time of about 34 s, the temperature change reaches about 1913.35 °C, and the maximum average temperature change rate reaches 115 °C/s. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Aerospace Science and Engineering)

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15 pages, 2852 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Puerarin Improves Dexamethasone-Impaired Wound Healing In Vitro and In Vivo by Enhancing Keratinocyte Proliferation and Migration

by Ly Thi Huong Nguyen, Sang-Hyun Ahn, Min-Jin Choi, In-Jun Yang and Heung-Mook Shin

Appl. Sci. 2021, 11(19), 9343; https://doi.org/10.3390/app11199343 - 8 Oct 2021

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2703

Abstract

The delayed and impaired wound healing caused by dexamethasone (DEX) is commonly reported. Puerarin, the major isoflavone found in Pueraria montana var. lobata (Willd.) Sanjappa & Pradeep promoted the wound healing process in diabetic rats. However, the effects and underlying mechanisms of puerarin [...] Read more.

The delayed and impaired wound healing caused by dexamethasone (DEX) is commonly reported. Puerarin, the major isoflavone found in Pueraria montana var. lobata (Willd.) Sanjappa & Pradeep promoted the wound healing process in diabetic rats. However, the effects and underlying mechanisms of puerarin on DEX-impaired wound healing have not been investigated. This study examined the potential uses of puerarin in upregulating keratinocyte proliferation and migration in dexamethasone (DEX)-suppressed wound healing model. The effects of puerarin on wound healing in vivo were investigated by taking full-thickness 5 mm punch biopsies from the dorsal skin of BALB/c mice and then treating them topically with 0.1% DEX. For the in vitro study, DEX-treated HaCaT cells were used to examine the effects of puerarin on DEX-induced keratinocyte proliferation and migration and the mechanisms of its action. Puerarin, when applied topically, accelerated the wound closure rate, increased the density of the capillaries, and upregulated the level of collagen fibers and TGF-β in the wound sites compared to the DEX-treated mice. Puerarin promoted the proliferation and migration of keratinocytes by activating the ERK and Akt signaling pathways in DEX-treated HaCaT cells. In conclusion, puerarin could be effective in reversing delayed and disrupted wound healing associated with DEX treatments. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Natural Bioactive Compounds and Biological Effects)

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Effects of puerarin on cutaneous wound healing in mice treated with DEX. (A) Wound sizes were measured on day 0, day 7, and day 14 of the experiment. (B) Representative images of wounds from five groups. (C) Hematoxylin and eosin (H&E), Masson trichrome (M/T), and phloxine-tartrazine (P/T) stained sections of wound samples from the five groups. Scale bar: 50 μm. (D) Immunohistochemical analysis (day 14) of TGF-β in the wound areas. The data are presented as the means ± SDs (n = 6 per experiment). Bars labeled by the same letter on the graph are not significantly different from each other (p < 0.05) by one-way ANOVA followed by post hoc Tukey’s test. Full article ">Figure 1 Cont.
Effects of puerarin on cutaneous wound healing in mice treated with DEX. (A) Wound sizes were measured on day 0, day 7, and day 14 of the experiment. (B) Representative images of wounds from five groups. (C) Hematoxylin and eosin (H&E), Masson trichrome (M/T), and phloxine-tartrazine (P/T) stained sections of wound samples from the five groups. Scale bar: 50 μm. (D) Immunohistochemical analysis (day 14) of TGF-β in the wound areas. The data are presented as the means ± SDs (n = 6 per experiment). Bars labeled by the same letter on the graph are not significantly different from each other (p < 0.05) by one-way ANOVA followed by post hoc Tukey’s test. Full article ">Figure 2
Effects of puerarin on the proliferation of HaCaT cells stimulated with DEX. HaCaT cells were incubated with DEX (100 nM) and puerarin (1, 10 µM) or Centella asiatica extract (100 µg/mL) for 48 h. (A) Ki67 expression was assessed using a Muse Ki67 Proliferation kit. (B) Protein levels of K16 and K17 were determined by Western blotting. (C) Cell cycle analysis was performed using a Muse Cell Cycle kit. The results are presented as the means ± SDs of three independent experiments. Bars labeled by the same letter on the graph are not significantly different from each other (p < 0.05) by one-way ANOVA followed by post hoc Tukey’s test. Full article ">Figure 2 Cont.
Effects of puerarin on the proliferation of HaCaT cells stimulated with DEX. HaCaT cells were incubated with DEX (100 nM) and puerarin (1, 10 µM) or Centella asiatica extract (100 µg/mL) for 48 h. (A) Ki67 expression was assessed using a Muse Ki67 Proliferation kit. (B) Protein levels of K16 and K17 were determined by Western blotting. (C) Cell cycle analysis was performed using a Muse Cell Cycle kit. The results are presented as the means ± SDs of three independent experiments. Bars labeled by the same letter on the graph are not significantly different from each other (p < 0.05) by one-way ANOVA followed by post hoc Tukey’s test. Full article ">Figure 3
Effects of puerarin on cell migration in HaCaT cells stimulated with DEX. The HaCaT cells were incubated with DEX (100 nM) and puerarin (1, 10 µM) or Centella asiatica extract (100 µg/mL). Before the scratch wound was made, the cells were treated with mitomycin C (10 µg/mL) for 1 h to inhibit cell proliferation. The images of the scratch gap width were captured at 0, 12, and 24 h post-scratching. The wound closure rates were defined as the difference between the wound width at 0 and 24 h. The results are presented as the means ± SDs of three independent experiments. Bars labeled by the same letter on the graph are not significantly different from each other (p < 0.05) by one-way ANOVA followed by post hoc Tukey’s test. Full article ">Figure 4
Effects of puerarin on the ERK and Akt signaling pathways in HaCaT cells stimulated with DEX. (A) HaCaT cells were incubated with DEX (100 nM) and puerarin (1, 10 µM) or Centella asiatica extract (100 µg/mL) for 30 min. Protein expression of p-ERK, p-Akt, ERK, Akt was determined by Western blotting. (B) HaCaT cells were pretreated with U0126 (10 µM) or wortmannin (1 µM) for 1 h and then treated with DEX (100 nM) and puerarin (1 µM) for 48 h. The proliferation rate was assessed using BrdU assays. (C) HaCaT cells were pretreated with U0126 (10 µM) or wortmannin (1 µM) for 1 h and scratched and treated with dexamethasone (DEX, 100 nM) and puerarin (1 µM). Images of the scratch gap width were captured at 0 and 24 h post-scratching. The wound closure rates were defined as the difference between the wound width at 0 and 24 h. The results are presented as the means ± SDs (n = 3 per experiment). Bars labeled by the same letter on the graph are not significantly different from each other (p < 0.05) by one-way ANOVA followed by post hoc Tukey’s test. Full article ">Figure 4 Cont.
Effects of puerarin on the ERK and Akt signaling pathways in HaCaT cells stimulated with DEX. (A) HaCaT cells were incubated with DEX (100 nM) and puerarin (1, 10 µM) or Centella asiatica extract (100 µg/mL) for 30 min. Protein expression of p-ERK, p-Akt, ERK, Akt was determined by Western blotting. (B) HaCaT cells were pretreated with U0126 (10 µM) or wortmannin (1 µM) for 1 h and then treated with DEX (100 nM) and puerarin (1 µM) for 48 h. The proliferation rate was assessed using BrdU assays. (C) HaCaT cells were pretreated with U0126 (10 µM) or wortmannin (1 µM) for 1 h and scratched and treated with dexamethasone (DEX, 100 nM) and puerarin (1 µM). Images of the scratch gap width were captured at 0 and 24 h post-scratching. The wound closure rates were defined as the difference between the wound width at 0 and 24 h. The results are presented as the means ± SDs (n = 3 per experiment). Bars labeled by the same letter on the graph are not significantly different from each other (p < 0.05) by one-way ANOVA followed by post hoc Tukey’s test. Full article ">

12 pages, 1103 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Clinical Outcomes in the Second versus First Pandemic Wave in Italy: Impact of Hospital Changes and Reorganization

by Antonio Voza, Antonio Desai, Sabino Luzzi, Alice Giotta Lucifero, Elena Azzolini, Maria Kogan, Giulia Goretti, Daniele Piovani, Stefanos Bonovas, Giovanni Angelotti, Victor Savevski, Alessio Aghemo, Massimiliano Greco, Elena Costantini, Ana Lleo, Claudio Angelini, Mauro Giordano, Salvatore Badalamenti and Maurizio Cecconi

Appl. Sci. 2021, 11(19), 9342; https://doi.org/10.3390/app11199342 - 8 Oct 2021

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2054

Abstract

The region of Lombardy was the epicenter of the COVID-19 outbreak in Italy. Emergency Hospital 19 (EH19) was built in the Milan metropolitan area during the pandemic’s second wave as a facility of Humanitas Clinical and Research Center (HCRC). The present study aimed [...] Read more.

The region of Lombardy was the epicenter of the COVID-19 outbreak in Italy. Emergency Hospital 19 (EH19) was built in the Milan metropolitan area during the pandemic’s second wave as a facility of Humanitas Clinical and Research Center (HCRC). The present study aimed to assess whether the implementation of EH19 was effective in improving the quality of care of COVID-19 patients during the second wave compared with the first one. The demographics, mortality rate, and in-hospital length of stay (LOS) of two groups of patients were compared: the study group involved patients admitted at HCRC and managed in EH19 during the second pandemic wave, while the control group included patients managed exclusively at HCRC throughout the first wave. The study and control group included 903 (56.7%) and 690 (43.3%) patients, respectively. The study group was six years older on average and had more pre-existing comorbidities. EH19 was associated with a decrease in the intensive care unit admission rate (16.9% vs. 8.75%, p < 0.001), and an equal decrease in invasive oxygen therapy (3.8% vs. 0.23%, p < 0.001). Crude mortality was similar but overlap propensity score weighting revealed a trend toward a potential small decrease. The adjusted difference in LOS was not significant. The implementation of an additional COVID-19 hospital facility was effective in improving the overall quality of care of COVID-19 patients during the first wave of the pandemic when compared with the second. Further studies are necessary to validate the suggested approach. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Spreading of Infectious Diseases Like COVID-19 and Influenza: Modelling and Propagation Control 2.0)

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17 pages, 1202 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Attentional Skills in Soccer: Evaluating the Involvement of Attention in Executing a Goalkeeping Task in Virtual Reality

by Andria Shimi, Vanessa Tsestou, Marios Hadjiaros, Kleanthis Neokleous and Marios Avraamides

Appl. Sci. 2021, 11(19), 9341; https://doi.org/10.3390/app11199341 - 8 Oct 2021

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 3414

Abstract

Physical abilities are essential to goalkeepers in soccer but the involved cognitive abilities for these players have only recently become the focus of extensive research. In this study, we investigated the role of different aspects of attention in a basic goalkeeping task in [...] Read more.

Physical abilities are essential to goalkeepers in soccer but the involved cognitive abilities for these players have only recently become the focus of extensive research. In this study, we investigated the role of different aspects of attention in a basic goalkeeping task in soccer. One hundred participants assumed the role of a goalkeeper in immersive virtual reality (VR) and carried out a task that entailed blocking balls shot towards their goal. In addition, they carried out two computerized tasks each assessing different attentional abilities: the Attention Network Test provided scores for three well-established networks of attention, namely the alerting, the orienting, and the executive control. The Whack-a-Mole task evaluated inhibitory control, by measuring performance in a classic Go/No-Go task and tapping on response inhibition. A regression analysis revealed that all three attention network scores contributed to performance in the VR goalkeeping task. Furthermore, performance in the Whack-a-Mole task correlated significantly with performance in the VR goalkeeping task. Overall, findings confirm that cognitive skills relating to attention play a critical role in the efficient execution of soccer-specific tasks. These findings have important implications for the training of cognitive skills in sports. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Extended Reality: From Theory to Applications)

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18 pages, 3610 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Synthesis of Chitosan-Coated Silver Nanoparticle Bioconjugates and Their Antimicrobial Activity against Multidrug-Resistant Bacteria

by Surbhi Shinde, Veronica Folliero, Annalisa Chianese, Carla Zannella, Anna De Filippis, Luigi Rosati, Marina Prisco, Annarita Falanga, Avinash Mali, Marilena Galdiero, Massimiliano Galdiero and Gianluigi Franci

Appl. Sci. 2021, 11(19), 9340; https://doi.org/10.3390/app11199340 - 8 Oct 2021

Cited by 21 | Viewed by 3675

Abstract

The increase in multidrug-resistant bacteria represents a true challenge in the pharmaceutical and biomedical fields. For this reason, research on the development of new potential antibacterial strategies is essential. Here, we describe the development of a green system for the synthesis of silver [...] Read more.

The increase in multidrug-resistant bacteria represents a true challenge in the pharmaceutical and biomedical fields. For this reason, research on the development of new potential antibacterial strategies is essential. Here, we describe the development of a green system for the synthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) bioconjugated with chitosan. We optimized a Prunus cerasus leaf extract as a source of silver and its conversion to chitosan–silver bioconjugates (CH-AgNPs). The AgNPs and CH-AgNPs were characterized using transmission electron microscopy (TEM), dynamic light scattering (DLS), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy (UV–Vis), and zeta potential measurement (Z-potential). The cytotoxic activity of AgNPs and CH-AgNPs was assessed on Vero cells using the 3-[4.5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2.5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) cell proliferation assay. The antibacterial activity of AgNPs and CH-AgNPs synthesized using the green system was determined using the broth microdilution method. We evaluated the antimicrobial activity against standard ATCC and clinically isolated multisensitive (MS) and multidrug-resistant bacteria (MDR) Escherichia coli (E. coli), Enterococcus faecalis (E. faecalis), Klebsiella pneumonia (K. pneumoniae), and Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus), using minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) assays and the broth dilution method. The results of the antibacterial studies demonstrate that the silver chitosan bioconjugates were able to inhibit the growth of MDR strains more effectively than silver nanoparticles alone, with reduced cellular toxicity. These nanoparticles were stable in solution and had wide-spectrum antibacterial activity. The synthesis of silver and silver chitosan bioconjugates from Prunus cerasus leaf extracts may therefore serve as a simple, ecofriendly, noncytotoxic, economical, reliable, and safe method to produce antimicrobial compounds with low cytotoxicity. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Natural Compounds with Antimicrobial and Immunomodulatory Activity)

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UV–Vis absorption spectra of synthesized AgNPs (429 nm) and CH-AgNPs (445 nm). Full article ">Figure 2
Particle size distribution of synthesized (A) silver nanoparticles (32.16 nm) and PDI (0.2), and (B) silver chitosan nanoparticles (50 nm) and PDI (0.2). Full article ">Figure 3
Zeta potential analysis of (A) AgNPs (−7.20 mV) and (B) CH-AgNPs (9 mV). Full article ">Figure 4
FT-IR analysis of (A) AgNPs and (B) FT-IR analysis of silver chitosan nanoparticles. Full article ">Figure 5
Transmission electron microscopy analysis of synthesized AgNPs (A,B) and CH-AgNPs (C,D). Full article ">Figure 6
MTT assay on Vero cells treated with different concentrations of AgNPs and CH-AgNPs for 24 h.—refers to the negative control, i.d. cells treated with DMSO; + indicates positive control that corresponds to cells not treated with any compound. * p < 0.05. Full article ">Figure 7
Antibacterial activity of nanoparticles against (A) a panel of Gram-negative bacteria: E. coli ATCC, E. coli MS, E. coli MDR, K. pneumoniae ATCC, K. pneumoniae MS, and K. pneumoniae MDR; (B) S. aureus ATCC, S. aureus MS, S. aureus MDR, E. faecalis ATCC, E. faecalis MS, and E. faecalis MDR. * p < 0.05. Full article ">

29 pages, 5792 KiB

Open AccessReview

Review of Magnetorheological Damping Systems on a Seismic Building

by Bhre Wangsa Lenggana, Ubaidillah Ubaidillah, Fitrian Imaduddin, Seung-Bok Choi, Yusep Muslih Purwana and Harjana Harjana

Appl. Sci. 2021, 11(19), 9339; https://doi.org/10.3390/app11199339 - 8 Oct 2021

Cited by 17 | Viewed by 4290

Abstract

Building structures are vulnerable to the shocks caused by earthquakes. Buildings that have been destroyed by an earthquake are very detrimental in terms of material loss and mental trauma. However, technological developments now enable us to anticipate shocks from earthquakes and minimize losses. [...] Read more.

Building structures are vulnerable to the shocks caused by earthquakes. Buildings that have been destroyed by an earthquake are very detrimental in terms of material loss and mental trauma. However, technological developments now enable us to anticipate shocks from earthquakes and minimize losses. One of the technologies that has been used, and is currently being further developed, is a damping device that is fitted to the building structure. There are various types of damping devices, each with different characteristics and systems. Multiple studies on damping devices have resulted in the development of various types, such as friction dampers (FDs), tuned mass dampers (TMDs), and viscous dampers (VDs). However, studies on attenuation devices are mostly based on the type of system and can be divided into three categories, namely passive, active, and semi-active. As such, each type and system have their own advantages and disadvantages. This study investigated the efficacy of a magnetorheological (MR) damper, a viscous-type damping device with a semi-active system, in a simulation that applied the damper to the side of a building structure. Although MR dampers have been extensively used and developed as inter-story damping devices, very few studies have analyzed their models and controls even though both are equally important in controlled dampers for semi-active systems. Of the various types of models, the Bingham model is the most popular as indicated by the large number of publications available on the subject. Most models adapt the Bingham model because it is the most straightforward of all the models. Fuzzy controls are often used for MR dampers in both simulations and experiments. This review provides benefits for further investigation of building damping devices, especially semi-active damping devices that use magnetorheological fluids as working fluids. In particular, this paper provides fundamental material on modeling and control systems used in magnetorheological dampers for buildings. In fact, magnetorheological dampers are no less attractive than other damping devices, such as tuned mass dampers and other viscous dampers. Their reliability is related to the damping control, which could be turned into an interesting discussion for further investigation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Magneto-Rheological Fluids)

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21 pages, 5482 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Mineral Additives to Enhance Early-Age Crack Resistance of Concrete under a Large-Temperature-Difference Environment

by Jinjun Guo, Liyan Cui, Jingjiang Wu, Hongyin Xu, Zheng Zhang, Yong Zhang, Gefei Qin, Qingxin Meng, Hao Li and Kun Wang

Appl. Sci. 2021, 11(19), 9338; https://doi.org/10.3390/app11199338 - 8 Oct 2021

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1808

Abstract

The large temperature difference condition in Northwest China threatens a myriad of concrete structures during construction, with the daily temperature varying by around 40 °C. To investigate the macro-mechanical properties and microstructural characteristics of concrete containing different amounts of mineral admixtures under such [...] Read more.

The large temperature difference condition in Northwest China threatens a myriad of concrete structures during construction, with the daily temperature varying by around 40 °C. To investigate the macro-mechanical properties and microstructural characteristics of concrete containing different amounts of mineral admixtures under such harsh conditions, this investigation used an environmental chamber to simulate a saline soil erosion environment with a large temperature difference. Four types of concrete containing different proportions of fly ash and slag were prepared and exposed in the environmental chamber with a daily temperature change of −5~40 °C to investigate their compressive strength, flexural strength, and fracture properties. Moreover, the X-ray diffraction (XRD) characteristics, microscopic morphological characteristics, pore structure characteristics, and post-erosion chloride ion distribution characteristics were also observed and recorded. Results showed that the mineral admixture could improve the early strength development of the concrete and effectively improve the fracture performance of the concrete. The average compressive strength growth rate of concrete from day 3 to day 14 was 83.25% higher than that of ordinary concrete (OC) when 15% fly ash and 15% slag were added. In addition, the fracture energy of the concrete was maximized when 15% fly ash and 20% slag were added, which was 50.67% higher than that of OC; furthermore, the internal compactness and pore structure were optimized, and the resistance to saline soil erosion was strong. This provides a basis for the practical application of compounded mineral admixture-modified concrete in an arid environment with a large temperature difference and saline soil erosion. Full article

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17 pages, 2014 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Aquaphotomics Reveals Subtle Differences between Natural Mineral, Processed and Aged Water Using Temperature Perturbation Near-Infrared Spectroscopy

by Yasuhiro Kato, Jelena Munćan, Roumiana Tsenkova, Dušan Kojić, Masato Yasui, Jing-Yu Fan and Jing-Yan Han

Appl. Sci. 2021, 11(19), 9337; https://doi.org/10.3390/app11199337 - 8 Oct 2021

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 3543

Abstract

Current approaches to the quality control of water are unsatisfying due to either a high cost or the inability to capture all of the relevant information. In this study, near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) with aquaphotomics as a novel approach was assessed for the discrimination [...] Read more.

Current approaches to the quality control of water are unsatisfying due to either a high cost or the inability to capture all of the relevant information. In this study, near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) with aquaphotomics as a novel approach was assessed for the discrimination of natural, processed and aged water samples. Temperature perturbation of water samples was employed to probe the aqueous systems and reveal the hidden information. A radar chart named an aquagram was used to visualize and compare the absorbance spectral patterns of waters at different temperatures. For the spectra acquired at a constant temperature of 30 °C, the discrimination analysis of different water samples failed to produce satisfying results. However, under perturbation by increasing the temperature from 35 to 60 °C, the absorbance spectral pattern of different waters displayed in aquagrams revealed different, water-specific dynamics. Moreover, it was found that aged processed water changed with the temperature, whereas the same processed water, when freshly prepared, had hydrogen bonded structures unperturbed by temperature. In summary, the aquaphotomics approach to the NIRS analysis showed that the water absorbance spectral pattern can be used to describe the character and monitor dynamics of each water sample as a complex molecular system, whose behavior under temperature perturbation can reveal even subtle changes, such as aging and the loss of certain qualities during storage. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Novel Spectroscopy Applications in Food Detection)

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Dendrograms of HCA analysis performed using auto-scaled physico-chemical parameters (<a href="#applsci-11-09337-t001" class="html-table">Table 1</a>) (Panel a,b). The nine different waters were classified into 6 groups based on ion type (panel a) or 8 groups when pH and 17O-NMR values were used in addition to the ion content (panel b). The similarity between the thus found clusters was 0.8. Full article ">Figure 2
Dendrograms of HCA analysis performed using SNV transformed NIR spectra of waters acquired at 30 °C. The nine different waters were classified into 4 groups based on the similarities in the spectral characteristics. The similarity between thus found clusters was 0.8. Full article ">Figure 3
Difference spectra indicate the regions of largest spectral difference during temperature perturbation between: Aged water (Cha2014) and freshly produced water (Cha2016)—green line, low ion content waters (Q, PQ, Cha, Cha2014/2016, and Gan) and high mineral content waters (Tib, Kun, and Tap)—red line, low pH waters (p < 7.5) and high pH waters (≥7.5)—black line, and processed water (PQ, Ch2014 and Cha2016) and non-processed water (Q and Cha)—blue line. Full article ">Figure 4
The score and loading plot of the principal component analysis for nine different waters. (a) The score plot of factor 2 and 4 (Tap: blue, Cha: green, Tib: gray with an underline, Cha2014: yellow, Q: black, Gan: gray, Kun: red with an underline, Cha2016: light blue, and PQ: red). The numbers in parentheses next to the factors 2 and 4, indicate the percentages of the explained total variance. (b) The loading of factor 4 shows the importance of certain wavelengths in the respective spectral pattern of this principal component. All indicated wavelengths are water absorbance bands in the first overtone of water. Full article ">Figure 5
SIMCA interclass distance plotted as a function of temperature unravel information in the natural, processed and aged water. (a) The interclass distance of the eight different waters compared to pure water (Q). Solid lines with circular marks, PQ: red, Cha2016: light blue, Gan: gray and Tap: dark blue and dotted lines with triangular marks, Cha: green, Cha2014: yellow, Tib: gray and Kun: red. (b) The interclass distance between processed water and non-processed water (Q vs. PQ) as a function of temperature. (c) The interclass distance between aged and freshly produced processed waters (Cha2014 vs. 2016) as a function of temperature. Spectral data are transformed using the SNV, average Q at the given temperature is subtracted and, finally, the spectra are smoothed using Savitzky Golay filter (25 pts). Full article ">Figure 6
The aquagrams displaying the water absorbance spectral pattern of processed and unprocessed waters under temperature perturbation: ((a) 30 °C; (b) 35 °C; (c) 40 °C; (d) 45 °C; (e) 50 °C; and (f) 55 °C). Normalized absorbance presented at radial axes is calculated as follows: an average of pure water at all temperatures was subtracted from the averaged spectra of each water at a specific temperature and SNV transformed. Different color of the lines represents different waters (Cha: green, Cha2014: yellow, Cha2016: light blue and PQ: red). Since all waters are being compared to the pure water, central zero line corresponds to the pure water (Q: black). Spectral data are SNV transformed and average Q across all temperatures is subtracted. Full article ">

23 pages, 4202 KiB

Open AccessReview

Polysorbate-Based Drug Formulations for Brain-Targeted Drug Delivery and Anticancer Therapy

by Vasanthan Ravichandran, Minjong Lee, Thuy Giang Nguyen Cao and Min Suk Shim

Appl. Sci. 2021, 11(19), 9336; https://doi.org/10.3390/app11199336 - 8 Oct 2021

Cited by 33 | Viewed by 7716

Abstract

Polysorbates (PSs) are synthetic nonionic surfactants consisting of polyethoxy sorbitan fatty acid esters. PSs have been widely employed as emulsifiers and stabilizers in various drug formulations and food additives. Recently, various PS-based formulations have been developed for safe and efficient drug delivery. This [...] Read more.

Polysorbates (PSs) are synthetic nonionic surfactants consisting of polyethoxy sorbitan fatty acid esters. PSs have been widely employed as emulsifiers and stabilizers in various drug formulations and food additives. Recently, various PS-based formulations have been developed for safe and efficient drug delivery. This review introduces the general features of PSs and PS-based drug carriers, summarizes recent progress in the development of PS-based drug formulations, and discusses the physicochemical properties, biological safety, P-glycoprotein inhibitory properties, and therapeutic applications of PS-based drug formulations. Additionally, recent advances in brain-targeted drug delivery using PS-based drug formulations have been highlighted. This review will help researchers understand the potential of PSs as effective drug formulation agents. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polymeric Nanoparticles in Drug Delivery)

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Schematic illustration for the synthesis of polysorbates from sorbitan. Full article ">Figure 2
Chemical structures of various polysorbates. Full article ">Figure 3
Chemical structures of niosome components (DOTMA: 1,2-di-O-octadecenyl-3-trimethylammonium propane, HLB: Hydrophilic lipophilic balance). Reproduced with permission from Reference [<a href="#B73-applsci-11-09336" class="html-bibr">73</a>]. Copyright 2018, Elsevier B.V. Full article ">Figure 4
Possible chemical modifications of PSs. Hydroxyl groups of PS can be functionalized (e.g., esters, carbonates, ethers, carboxylic acids, carbamate, and amines). Full article ">Figure 5
Synthesis of PS 20-AmB conjugates. Hydroxyl groups of PS were activated with para-nitrophenyl chloroformate (PNPC), followed by conjugation with amphotericin B (AmB) in the presence of dimethylaminopyridine (DMAP). THF: Tetrahydrofuran, DMF: Dimethylformamide. Reproduced with permission from Reference [<a href="#B110-applsci-11-09336" class="html-bibr">110</a>]. Copyright 2018, Bentham Science. Full article ">Figure 6
(A) Schematic illustration for the synthesis of polyethylenimine-graft-PS (PEIP) copolymer. (B) Schematic representation for the fabrication of hydrogel NPs using PEIP and alginate (TEA: Triethylamine, DMSO: Dimethyl sulfoxide, CDI: Carbonyldiimidazole). Reproduced with permission from Reference [<a href="#B112-applsci-11-09336" class="html-bibr">112</a>]. Copyright 2016, Royal Society of Chemistry. Full article ">Figure 7
Schematic representation of PS 80-mediated drug delivery to brain. PS 80 enables the adsorption of ApoE onto NPs, and the PS 80-coated NPs interact with lipoprotein receptors on the BBB’s luminal surface, leading to receptor-mediated transcytosis of the PS-coated NPs. Full article ">Figure 8
(A) PS-coated superparamagnetic iron oxide NPs (PS-SPIONs) pass through the intact BBB in rats under magnetic field. (B) Intracellular distribution of the PS-SPIONs in the frontal cortex in the presence of EMF. (i, ii) TEM images of PS-SPIONs that enter the brain by crossing BBB. (iii) Nanoparticle clusters were found near the axons of neurons. (iv) EDS analysis of electron-dense black clusters indicates the presence of Fe. Reproduced with permission from Reference [<a href="#B137-applsci-11-09336" class="html-bibr">137</a>]. Copyright 2016, American Chemical Society. Full article ">Figure 9
BBB crossing mechanism of PS 80-coated PLGA NPs loaded with methotraxate–transferrin prodrug conjugates. Redrawn and reproduced with permission from Reference [<a href="#B140-applsci-11-09336" class="html-bibr">140</a>]. Full article ">Figure 10
Schematic illustrating the design and mechanism of BBB pathophysiology–independent delivery of siRNA in TBI using siRNA-loaded PLGA NPs. Various siRNA-loaded PLGA NPs with five different surface coating materials (e.g., PS 80, Pluronic F-68, DSPE-PEG, DSPE-PE G-GSH, and DSPE-PEG-transferrin (DSPE-PEG-Tf)) and different coating densities were prepared. The gene silencing efficiency and BBB permeability of siRNA-loaded PLGA NPs with various surface coatings were assessed in TBI mice when administered during early injury or late injury periods, corresponding to physically breached BBB and intact BBB, respectively. Upon neuronal uptake of NPs, siRNA is released and silences the harmful proteins involved in TBI pathophysiology. Reproduced with permission from Reference [<a href="#B142-applsci-11-09336" class="html-bibr">142</a>]. Full article ">Figure 11
PL- and ICG-loaded PS 80-based NPs for combination chemo/photothermal/photodynamic therapy. Reproduced with permission from Reference [<a href="#B150-applsci-11-09336" class="html-bibr">150</a>]. Copyright 2020, Elsevier B.V. Full article ">

11 pages, 3688 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Method for Accuracy Assessment of the Length Measurement Unit of Laser Tracking Systems

by Maciej Gruza, Adam Gąska, Jerzy A. Sładek, Slavenko M. Stojadinovic, Vidosav D. Majstorovic, Piotr Gąska and Wiktor Harmatys

Appl. Sci. 2021, 11(19), 9335; https://doi.org/10.3390/app11199335 - 8 Oct 2021

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2139

Abstract

Laser tracking systems are widely used in large-scale metrology of geometric quantities. Their importance is confirmed by the fact that one of the parts of the ISO 10360 series of standards has been devoted to the issue of assessing their accuracy (ISO 10360-10). [...] Read more.

Laser tracking systems are widely used in large-scale metrology of geometric quantities. Their importance is confirmed by the fact that one of the parts of the ISO 10360 series of standards has been devoted to the issue of assessing their accuracy (ISO 10360-10). A laser tracker is a device whose final measurement result is calculated using indications from various subsystems included in it, such as devices for measuring length and angle. The analysis of these individual impacts can be useful in creating simulation models of accuracy which, in regard to the Industry 4.0 concept, seem to be the most justified in terms of speed of operation and ease of use. For this reason, it may be particularly important to undertake research on the accuracy of this component in isolation from other factors affecting the measurement of the coordinates of the point. The article describes a method that allows separation of the length measurement error from the other components. The method uses a high-accuracy interferometer which is treated as a reference system that allows for the comparison of indications obtained using the tested distance measurement system. Thanks to the proposed method, it is possible to minimize errors from the optical system and other measuring systems. The use of a precise linear guide allows the reduction of errors related to the implementation of linear motion. The article presents the test method and the results obtained from performed experiments, as well as formulates conclusions and the directions of further development. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Trends in Manufacturing Metrology)

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The simplified diagram of test station: red line—laser tracker beam, orange line—reference interferometer beam. Full article ">Figure 2
Test station—retroreflector (1), beam splitter (2), tested system (3), reference system (4) and linear guide (5); (a) top view; (b) view from the reference system side. Full article ">Figure 3
Averaged error values during measurement: (a) increasing direction, inactive motors; (b) decreasing direction, inactive motors; (c) increasing direction, active motors; (d) decreasing direction, active motors. Error bars show the standard deviation value. Full article ">Figure 3 Cont.
Averaged error values during measurement: (a) increasing direction, inactive motors; (b) decreasing direction, inactive motors; (c) increasing direction, active motors; (d) decreasing direction, active motors. Error bars show the standard deviation value. Full article ">Figure 4
Hysteresis error for measurements with motors turned off and on. Full article ">Figure 5
The values of the intervals between cycles in both directions: (a) inactive motors; (b) active motors. Full article ">Figure 6
The reconfigurable ball-bar standard: (a) the technical drawing; (b) real specimen of reference object. Full article ">

11 pages, 3126 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Yb-ASE Suppression in Single-Frequency Hybrid Double Cladding Erbium–Ytterbium Co-Doped Fiber Amplifier with SMS Structure

by Xiaolei Bai, Meng Wang, Yuxing Yang, Zhiguo Lv and Weiguo Jia

Appl. Sci. 2021, 11(19), 9334; https://doi.org/10.3390/app11199334 - 8 Oct 2021

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2597

Abstract

A hybrid double cladding erbium–ytterbium co-doped fiber (EYDF) amplifier with a single-mode-multimode-single-mode (SMS) active fiber is demonstrated in this study. The hybrid gain fiber with an SMS structure is composed of two kinds of EYDFs with 6 and 12 μm core diameters. The [...] Read more.

A hybrid double cladding erbium–ytterbium co-doped fiber (EYDF) amplifier with a single-mode-multimode-single-mode (SMS) active fiber is demonstrated in this study. The hybrid gain fiber with an SMS structure is composed of two kinds of EYDFs with 6 and 12 μm core diameters. The transmission spectra of the SMS fiber structure were theoretically analyzed and the simulation results indicated that the maximum loss in the 1~1.1 μm band where the Yb-band amplified spontaneous emission (Yb-ASE) located, was much larger than that of the 1.5-μm band because of the wavelength difference. The power performance and spectra properties of the hybrid fiber amplifier were theoretically and experimentally analyzed and compared with a typical uniform fiber amplifier under the same conditions. The experimental results demonstrated that this hybrid fiber amplifier can suppress the Yb-ASE by over 12 dB and increase the slope efficiency by more than 2%, but the ASE in the 1.5-μm band increases by 2~3 dB. This work provides a possible method to enable EYDF amplifiers to suppress the Yb-ASE and overcome the pump bottleneck effect. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Laser Technologies and Nonlinear Optics in Surface Sciences)

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The schematic diagram of the hybrid EYDF amplifier. CLS, cladding light striper. Full article ">Figure 2
(a) The transmission spectrum of the active SMS with 5-cm multimode fiber; (b) the maximum loss in the 1-μm band and wavelength spacing with variation in multimode fiber length; (c) the transmission spectrum of the active SMS with 1-m multimode fiber. (Inset) the transmission loss of a uniform EYDF-6/125 fiber; (d) the zoomed transmission spectrum in the range of 1545~1555 nm. Full article ">Figure 3
(a) Simulated pump and signal power evolution of amplifier with hybrid fiber and uniform fiber. (b) The simulation spectra at the 1-μm band. (c) The simulation spectra at the 1.5-μm band. Full article ">Figure 4
(a) The power scaling of the hybrid and uniform EYDF amplifier. (b) The output spectra of the hybrid and uniform fiber amplifier at the maximum output power in the 900 to 1700 nm region. Full article ">Figure 5
(a) Output spectra in the range of 1000 to 1100 nm. (b) The output spectra of the hybrid and uniform fiber amplifier in the 1530 to 1560 nm region. The insertion is the zoomed spectra in the range of 1534 to 1540 nm. Full article ">

15 pages, 19889 KiB

Open AccessReview

City Information Modeling: State of the Art

by Zhen Xu, Mingzhu Qi, Yingying Wu, Xintian Hao and Yajun Yang

Appl. Sci. 2021, 11(19), 9333; https://doi.org/10.3390/app11199333 - 8 Oct 2021

Cited by 14 | Viewed by 6680

Abstract

The concept of city information modeling (CIM) has become increasingly popular in recent years. A literature review of previous CIM studies is presented in this paper. First, a bibliometric analysis of the current global CIM research is described, revealing that CIM has become [...] Read more.

The concept of city information modeling (CIM) has become increasingly popular in recent years. A literature review of previous CIM studies is presented in this paper. First, a bibliometric analysis of the current global CIM research is described, revealing that CIM has become a significant research hotspot. Next, three main research areas of the current CIM technique, namely data collection, integration, and visualization, are summarized to describe the characteristics of CIM research. Furthermore, some widely used CIM platforms are compared, and typical application cases of the CIM technique at different stages of the city life cycle are summarized. Finally, the current issues in CIM research are discussed, and future development directions are proposed. The findings of this study are expected to help researchers understand the current state of CIM and identify future development directions, thereby promoting CIM research development. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Advances on Structural Engineering)

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21 pages, 3754 KiB

Open AccessReview

Current Status of Optical Systems for Measuring Lycopene Content in Fruits: Review

by Marcos-Jesús Villaseñor-Aguilar, José-Alfredo Padilla-Medina, José-Enrique Botello-Álvarez, Micael-Gerardo Bravo-Sánchez, Juan Prado-Olivares, Alejandro Espinosa-Calderon and Alejandro-Israel Barranco-Gutiérrez

Appl. Sci. 2021, 11(19), 9332; https://doi.org/10.3390/app11199332 - 8 Oct 2021

Cited by 12 | Viewed by 3888

Abstract

Optical systems are used for analysing the internal composition and the external properties in food. The measurement of the lycopene content in fruits and vegetables is important because of its benefits to human health. Lycopene prevents cardiovascular diseases, cataracts, cancer, osteoporosis, male infertility, [...] Read more.

Optical systems are used for analysing the internal composition and the external properties in food. The measurement of the lycopene content in fruits and vegetables is important because of its benefits to human health. Lycopene prevents cardiovascular diseases, cataracts, cancer, osteoporosis, male infertility, and peritonitis. Among the optical systems focused on the estimation and identification of lycopene molecule are high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), the colorimeter, infrared near NIR spectroscopy, UV-VIS spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, and the systems of multispectral imaging (MSI) and hyperspectral imaging (HSI). The main objective of this paper is to present a review of the current state of optical systems used to measure lycopene in fruits. It also reports important factors to be considered in order to improve the design and implementation of those optical systems. Finally, it was observed that measurements with HPLC and spectrophotometry present the best results but use toxic solvents and require specialized personnel for their use. Moreover, another widely used technique is colorimetry, which correlates the lycopene content using color descriptors, typically those of CIELAB. Likewise, it was identified that spectroscopic techniques and multispectral images are gaining importance because they are fast and non-invasive. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Applications of Instrumental Methods for Food and Food By-Products Analysis)

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9 pages, 282 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Assessing the Microbiological Safety Parameters of Minas Artisanal Cheese Samples in Retail Environments in São Paulo, Brazil

by Josisleine Recalde Allaion, Karina Ghougassian Barrionuevo and Bernadette Dora Gombossy de Melo Franco

Appl. Sci. 2021, 11(19), 9331; https://doi.org/10.3390/app11199331 - 8 Oct 2021

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2245

Abstract

Minas artisanal cheese is the best known and most consumed type of cheese in Brazil. Prepared with raw bovine milk and starter cultures, these cheeses face many opportunities for post-processing contamination during their transport to commercial establishments as well as in how they [...] Read more.

Minas artisanal cheese is the best known and most consumed type of cheese in Brazil. Prepared with raw bovine milk and starter cultures, these cheeses face many opportunities for post-processing contamination during their transport to commercial establishments as well as in how they are stored, displayed, and maintained for cutting/slicing at retail establishments. It is a common practice for retailers to purchase entire cheeses from the producers, cut them into smaller pieces for retail sale, and store them at room temperature instead of properly refrigerating them. This study evaluated the microbiological safety parameters of samples of Minas artisanal cheeses collected at retail establishments in the city of São Paulo, Brazil, to more realistically assess consumer exposure to the most common pathogens. Samples were submitted for investigation of Salmonella spp., Listeria monocytogenes, and the counts of total coliforms, Escherichia coli, and coagulase-positive enterotoxigenic staphylococci using culture and real-time PCR methods. A worrisome number of samples failed to comply with the current Brazilian legislation for foods in retail environments and presented more than one non-compliance issue. Results highlighted that quality and safety management tools, such as good hygiene practices and HACCP, in retail environments deserve more attention to reduce the possible risks to consumer health. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Food Microbiology: Dairy Products Microbiota)

19 pages, 59019 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Design and Implementation of Inverse Kinematics and Motion Monitoring System for 6DoF Platform

by Ming-Yen Wei

Appl. Sci. 2021, 11(19), 9330; https://doi.org/10.3390/app11199330 - 8 Oct 2021

Cited by 10 | Viewed by 3717

Abstract

Six-axis motion platforms have a low contraction height and a high degree of freedom. First of all, the designed six-axis crank arm platform, including the motor, reducer, crank arm, link, platform support arm, and upper and lower platforms, can be designed for different [...] Read more.

Six-axis motion platforms have a low contraction height and a high degree of freedom. First of all, the designed six-axis crank arm platform, including the motor, reducer, crank arm, link, platform support arm, and upper and lower platforms, can be designed for different bearing requirements. Secondly, it uses a coordinate transform and kinematics theory to derive each motor rotor angle. A set of platform data acquisition (DAQ) monitoring modules was established, and the LabVIEW programming language was used to write measurement software. The monitoring items include displacement, speed, and acceleration, which can be displayed on the screen and recorded by an industrial computer in real time and dynamically. Then, an RS-485 or RS-232 communication transmission interface was used to provide the control system with the related movement information. Finally, an industrial computer combined with a motion control card was used as a control kernel to realize the control algorithms, internet module function, I/O write and read signals, firmware integration, and human–machine interface message. The experimental results validate the appropriateness of the proposed method. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Modelling and Control of Mechatronic and Robotic Systems, Volume II)

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26 pages, 68047 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Effect of Magnetic Field on the Corrosion of API-5L-X65 Steel Using Electrochemical Methods in a Flow Loop

by Shahid Parapurath, Arjun Ravikumar, Nader Vahdati and Oleg Shiryayev

Appl. Sci. 2021, 11(19), 9329; https://doi.org/10.3390/app11199329 - 8 Oct 2021

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 3085

Abstract

Limited studies have been conducted on the effect of a magnetic field on the corrosion behavior of steels. Investigating the effect on pipeline material in the oil and gas industries will be beneficial regarding corrosion prediction and control. In this work, the effect [...] Read more.

Limited studies have been conducted on the effect of a magnetic field on the corrosion behavior of steels. Investigating the effect on pipeline material in the oil and gas industries will be beneficial regarding corrosion prediction and control. In this work, the effect of a magnetic field on the corrosion process of API 5L X65 carbon steel was investigated in a well-developed flow loop using potentiodynamic polarization curves and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). Using permanent magnets and a well-designed corrosion electrode set-up, the corrosion mechanism of API 5L X65 steel was studied at different magnetic orientations and different flow conditions in a NaCl solution. The surface morphology of the corroded samples was studied using a scanning electron microscope, and the micro-morphologies of the corrosion deposits and the surface elemental composition were analyzed. The results show that the presence of a magnetic field increases the corrosion rate of API 5L X65 carbon steel, and that flow velocities and magnetic orientation have a significant influence on the anodic corrosion current. The results of the polarization curves indicate a negative shift in the Tafel curve, leading to an increase in the corrosion rate with the introduction of a magnetic field in the flow system. The results of the EIS show that the charge transfer rate is decreased when a magnetic field is applied. This work provides important direction in terms of the understanding of the combined effect of magnetism and flow on the corrosion in pipelines used in the oil and gas industries. Full article

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32 pages, 7363 KiB

Open AccessArticle

I Explain, You Collaborate, He Cheats: An Empirical Study with Social Network Analysis of Study Groups in a Computer Programming Subject

by Beatriz Barros, Ricardo Conejo, Amparo Ruiz-Sepulveda and Francisco Triguero-Ruiz

Appl. Sci. 2021, 11(19), 9328; https://doi.org/10.3390/app11199328 - 8 Oct 2021

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2406

Abstract

Students interact with each other in order to solve computer science programming assignments. Group work is encouraged because it has been proven to be beneficial to the learning process. However, sometimes, collaboration might be confused with dishonest behaviours. This article aimed to quantitatively [...] Read more.

Students interact with each other in order to solve computer science programming assignments. Group work is encouraged because it has been proven to be beneficial to the learning process. However, sometimes, collaboration might be confused with dishonest behaviours. This article aimed to quantitatively discern between both cases. We collected code similarity measures from students over four academic years and analysed them using statistical and social network analyses. Three studies were carried out: an analysis of the knowledge flow to identify dishonest behaviour, an analysis of the structure of the social organisation of study groups and an assessment of the relationship between successful students and social behaviour. Continuous dishonest behaviour in students is not as alarming as many studies suggest, probably due to the strict control, automatic plagiarism detection and high penalties for unethical behaviour. The boundary between both is given by the amount of similar content and regularity along the course. Three types of study groups were identified. We also found that the best performing groups were not made up of the best individual students but of students with different levels of knowledge and stronger relationships. The best students were usually the central nodes of those groups. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Social Network Analysis)

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Appl. Sci., Volume 11, Issue 19 (October-1 2021) – 568 articles

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