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Appl. Sci., Volume 12, Issue 15 (August-1 2022) – 601 articles

Cover Story (view full-size image): Extracellular vesicles (EV) represent a promising therapeutic approach for unmet clinical needs in the field of tissue engineering and regenerative medicine (TERM). Current research on native and bioengineered microvesicles and apoptotic bodies (left), exosomes and biomineralization vesicles (center), and matrix bound nanovesicles (right) aim to harness the translational and regenerative potential of these EV subtypes. Substantial translational effort has focused on the development of EV therapies for clinical application across the fields of cardiovascular, respiratory, renal, hepatic, nervous system, and wound healing medicine. While early pre-clinical and clinical results are promising, further research is required as there remain significant translational hurdles to establishing EV therapies in the field of TERM. View this paper
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15 pages, 575 KiB  
Article
The FaaS-Based Cloud Agnostic Architecture of Medical Services—Polish Case Study
by Dariusz R. Augustyn, Łukasz Wyciślik and Mateusz Sojka
Appl. Sci. 2022, 12(15), 7954; https://doi.org/10.3390/app12157954 - 8 Aug 2022
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2637
Abstract
In this paper, the authors, based on a case study of the Polish healthcare IT system being deployed to the cloud, show the possibilities for limiting the computing resources consumption of rarely used services. The architecture of today’s developed application systems is often [...] Read more.
In this paper, the authors, based on a case study of the Polish healthcare IT system being deployed to the cloud, show the possibilities for limiting the computing resources consumption of rarely used services. The architecture of today’s developed application systems is often based on the architectural style of microservices, where individual groups of services are deployed independently of each other. This is also the case with the system under discussion. Most often, the nature of the workload of each group of services is different, which creates some challenges but also provides opportunities to make optimizations in the consumption of computing resources, thus lowering the environmental footprint and at the same time gaining measurable financial benefits. Unlike other scaling methods, such as those based on MDP and reinforcement learning in particular, which focus on system load prediction, in this paper, the authors propose a reactive approach in which any, even unpredictable, change in system load may result in a change (autoscaling) in the number of instances of computing processes so as to adapt the system to the current demand for computing resources as soon as possible. The authors’ main motivation for undertaking the study is to observe the growing interest in implementing FaaS technology in systems deployed to production in many fields, but with relatively little adoption in the healthcare field. Thus, as part of the research conducted here, the authors propose a solution for infrequently used services enabling the so-called scale-to-zero feature using the FaaS model implemented by the Fission tool. This solution is at the same time compatible with the cloud-agnostic approach which in turn helps avoid so-called cloud computing vendor lock-in. Using the example of the system in question, quantitative experimental results showing the savings achieved are presented, proving the justification for this novel implementation in the field of healthcare IT systems. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Cloud Computing, Big Data, and Internet of Things Technologies in Healthcare and Industry (Industry 4.0))
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16 pages, 4459 KiB  
Article
Optimal and Efficient Deep Learning Model for Brain Tumor Magnetic Resonance Imaging Classification and Analysis
by Manar Ahmed Hamza, Hanan Abdullah Mengash, Saud S. Alotaibi, Siwar Ben Haj Hassine, Ayman Yafoz, Fahd Althukair, Mahmoud Othman and Radwa Marzouk
Appl. Sci. 2022, 12(15), 7953; https://doi.org/10.3390/app12157953 - 8 Aug 2022
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2475
Abstract
A brain tumor (BT) is an abnormal development of brain cells that causes damage to the nerves and blood vessels. An accurate and early diagnosis of BT is important to prevent future complications. Precise segmentation of the BT provides a basis for surgical [...] Read more.
A brain tumor (BT) is an abnormal development of brain cells that causes damage to the nerves and blood vessels. An accurate and early diagnosis of BT is important to prevent future complications. Precise segmentation of the BT provides a basis for surgical and planning treatment to physicians. Manual detection utilizing MRI images is computationally difficult. Due to significant variation in their structure and location, viz., ambiguous boundaries and irregular shapes, computerized tumor diagnosis is still a challenging task. The application of a convolutional neural network (CNN) helps radiotherapists categorize the types of BT from magnetic resonance images (MRI). This study designs an evolutional algorithm with a deep learning-driven brain tumor MRI image classification (EADL-BTMIC) model. The presented EADL-BTMIC model aims to accurately recognize and categorize MRI images to identify BT. The EADL-BTMIC model primarily applies bilateral filtering (BF) based noise removal and skull stripping as a pre-processing stage. In addition, the morphological segmentation process is carried out to determine the affected regions in the image. Moreover, sooty tern optimization (STO) with the Xception model is exploited for feature extraction. Furthermore, the attention-based long short-term memory (ALSTM) technique is exploited for the classification of BT into distinct classes. To portray the increased performance of the EADL-BTMIC model, a series of simulations were carried out on the benchmark dataset. The experimental outcomes highlighted the enhancements of the EADL-BTMIC model over recent models. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advance in Deep Learning-Based Medical Image Analysis)
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3 pages, 206 KiB  
Editorial
New Industry 4.0 Advances in Industrial IoT and Visual Computing for Manufacturing Processes: Volume II
by Luis Norberto López de Lacalle and Jorge Posada
Appl. Sci. 2022, 12(15), 7952; https://doi.org/10.3390/app12157952 - 8 Aug 2022
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1553
Abstract
The second volume of the Special Issue New Industry 4 [...] Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Industry 4.0 Advances in Industrial IoT and Visual Computing for Manufacturing Processes: Volume II)
2 pages, 372 KiB  
Editorial
Editorial for the Special Issue: “Laser Cooling of Solids: Novel Advances and Applications”
by Galina Nemova
Appl. Sci. 2022, 12(15), 7951; https://doi.org/10.3390/app12157951 - 8 Aug 2022
Viewed by 1314
Abstract
Laser cooling, or refrigeration, is a physical process in which a substance is maintained at a temperature below that of its surroundings [...] Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Laser Cooling of Solids: Novel Advances and Applications)
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16 pages, 3014 KiB  
Article
Enhanced Search-and-Rescue Optimization-Enabled Secure Route Planning Scheme for Internet of Drones Environment
by Fatma S. Alrayes, Sami Dhahbi, Jaber S. Alzahrani, Amal S. Mehanna, Mesfer Al Duhayyim, Abdelwahed Motwakel, Ishfaq Yaseen and Amgad Atta Abdelmageed
Appl. Sci. 2022, 12(15), 7950; https://doi.org/10.3390/app12157950 - 8 Aug 2022
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1974
Abstract
The Internet of Drones (IoD) is greatly developed and promotes many civil applications. However, it can still be prone to several security problems which threaten public safety. The issue of security poses further problems upon linking the IoD to the Internet, as its [...] Read more.
The Internet of Drones (IoD) is greatly developed and promotes many civil applications. However, it can still be prone to several security problems which threaten public safety. The issue of security poses further problems upon linking the IoD to the Internet, as its data stream is exposed to attack. For secure communication between drones, an effective route planning scheme with a major intention of accomplishing security is needed. With this aim, this study develops an enhanced search-and-rescue optimization-enabled secure route planning (ESRO-SRP) scheme for the IoD environment. The presented ESRO-SRP technique mainly aims to derive a set of optimal routes to the destination. In addition, the ESRO-SRP algorithm is derived by the integration of the quasi-oppositional-based learning (QOBL) concept with the conventional SRO algorithm. Moreover, the presented ESRO-SRP technique derived a fitness function encompassing different input parameters such as residual energy, distance, and degree of trust. The experimental validation of the ESRO-SRP technique is carried out under several aspects, and the results demonstrated the enhancements of the ESRO-SRP model over recent approaches. The ESRO-SRP model has provided an increased packet delivery ratio (PDR) of 86%, whereas the BRUe-IoE, ORP-FANET, UAVe-WSN, and TR-UAV Swarm approaches have accomplished a minimal PDR of 79.60%, 73.60%, 67.60%, and 63.20%, respectively. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Trends in Robotics, Automation and Mechatronics (RAM))
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11 pages, 797 KiB  
Article
Do Carbon-Plated Running Shoes with Different Characteristics Influence Physiological and Biomechanical Variables during a 10 km Treadmill Run?
by Pierre Kiesewetter, Sabrina Bräuer, Ralf Haase, Nico Nitzsche, Christian Mitschke and Thomas L. Milani
Appl. Sci. 2022, 12(15), 7949; https://doi.org/10.3390/app12157949 - 8 Aug 2022
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 6491
Abstract
Footwear properties can influence physiological and biomechanical variables, which may lead to positive changes in distance running performance. One innovative development in running shoe technology is adding carbon fiber plates to increase midsole bending stiffness. However, there are only a few studies investigating [...] Read more.
Footwear properties can influence physiological and biomechanical variables, which may lead to positive changes in distance running performance. One innovative development in running shoe technology is adding carbon fiber plates to increase midsole bending stiffness. However, there are only a few studies investigating the influence of shoe conditions on both physiological and biomechanical variables, simultaneously, when running for longer than 5 min or for distances > 1 km. Hence, the purpose of the current study was to investigate the influence of different running shoe concepts with carbon fiber plates on physiological and biomechanical parameters during a 10 km treadmill run. Twenty-three athletes participated in the study, which comprised four measurement days for each subject. On the first day, subjects performed a treadmill exhaustion test to determine maximum oxygen uptake. On the second, third, and fourth days, each subject ran 10 km at 70% of their maximum oxygen uptake in one of three shoe models. Significant differences were found between the shoe conditions for the biomechanical parameters, but not for the physiological parameters. It seems that runners adjusted their running styles to the shoe conditions during the 10 km run to reduce the load on the lower extremities without compromising their endurance performance. These results may have practical implications for runners, coaches, and shoe manufacturers. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Running Biomechanics: From Commuting to Elite)
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14 pages, 5813 KiB  
Article
Experimental and Implementation of a 15 × 10 TEG Array of a Thermoelectric Power Generation System Using Two-Pass Flow of a Tap Water Pipeline Based on Renewable Energy
by Mohammed A. Qasim, Vladimir I. Velkin and Sergey E. Shcheklein
Appl. Sci. 2022, 12(15), 7948; https://doi.org/10.3390/app12157948 - 8 Aug 2022
Cited by 10 | Viewed by 2813
Abstract
At the present time, the entire world is suffering from global climate change due to emissions caused by the combustion of fossil fuels. Thus, it is necessary to look for alternative power sources to generate clean electrical energy. Thermoelectric generators (TEG) are one [...] Read more.
At the present time, the entire world is suffering from global climate change due to emissions caused by the combustion of fossil fuels. Thus, it is necessary to look for alternative power sources to generate clean electrical energy. Thermoelectric generators (TEG) are one of these alternatives. They convert thermal energy into useful electricity. There are many thermal energy sources such as hot water pipes. The current paper aims to convert waste heat from solar water-fed hot water pipes into electricity using a TEG panel made from 15 × 10 TEG modules. A pipe through which hot water flows serves as the hot side of the panel. The cold side of the panel is cooled using normal tap water. The maximum recorded temperature difference is 42.35 °C which yields an open-circuit voltage of 15.3 V. The maximum efficiency of the panel is 2.1% with an average energy production of 1.435 kWh. This proposed novel TEG panel system can be used continuously day and night. This is in contrast to a solar system, which operates only during the day, as it relies solely on solar radiation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Renewable and Sustainable Energy Integration in Power Systems)
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11 pages, 1881 KiB  
Article
Using Blockchain to Protect 3D Printing from Unauthorized Model Tampering
by Yajing Wang, Yaodong Yang, Shuaipeng Suo, Mingyuan Wang and Weifeng Rao
Appl. Sci. 2022, 12(15), 7947; https://doi.org/10.3390/app12157947 - 8 Aug 2022
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 3020
Abstract
As three-dimensional (3D) printing technology is widely used, security issues have arisen, especially in the terminal parts of automobiles, aircraft, and 3D-printed military equipment. If the original design models or the STL (stereolithography) files are hacked or tampered, severe consequences can be anticipated. [...] Read more.
As three-dimensional (3D) printing technology is widely used, security issues have arisen, especially in the terminal parts of automobiles, aircraft, and 3D-printed military equipment. If the original design models or the STL (stereolithography) files are hacked or tampered, severe consequences can be anticipated. In this paper, we propose a demonstration to use a high-throughput blockchain to store the “fingerprints” of the 3D model and verify the “fingerprints” before printing to prevent illegal tampering. Relying on the tamper-resistant features of blockchain, the security of the model and the credibility of the terminal components can be ensured. The combination of blockchain and 3D printing will help people to build a trusted manufacturing environment and realize a more flexible manufacturing for future industry. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Additive Manufacturing Technologies)
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13 pages, 2476 KiB  
Article
Theoretical Exposure Dose Modeling and Phase Modulation to Pattern a VLS Plane Grating with Variable-Period Scanning Beam Interference Lithography
by Ying Song, Ning Zhang, Yujuan Liu, Liu Zhang and Zhaowu Liu
Appl. Sci. 2022, 12(15), 7946; https://doi.org/10.3390/app12157946 - 8 Aug 2022
Viewed by 1582
Abstract
Variable-period scanning beam interference lithography (VP-SBIL) can be used to fabricate varied-line-spacing (VLS) plane gratings. The exposure phase modulation method to pattern a VLS grating with a desired groove density must be carefully devised. In this paper, a mathematical model of the total [...] Read more.
Variable-period scanning beam interference lithography (VP-SBIL) can be used to fabricate varied-line-spacing (VLS) plane gratings. The exposure phase modulation method to pattern a VLS grating with a desired groove density must be carefully devised. In this paper, a mathematical model of the total exposure dose for VLS plane grating fabrication is established. With model-based numerical calculations, the phase modulation effects of the parameters, including the fringe locked phase, fringe density, and step size, are analyzed. The parameter combinations for the phase modulation are compared and chosen, and the optimal coordinate for phase compensation is selected. The calculation results show that the theoretical errors of the groove density coefficients can be controlled within 1e-8. The mathematical model can represent the deposited exposure dose for patterning VLS gratings during the lithography process, and the chosen parameters and proposed phase modulation method are appropriate for patterning VLS gratings with VP-SBIL. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue State of the Art in Diffraction Grating: From Manufacturing to Spectroscopy Application)
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17 pages, 7090 KiB  
Article
End-Effectors Developed for Citrus and Other Spherical Crops
by Xu Xiao, Yaonan Wang and Yiming Jiang
Appl. Sci. 2022, 12(15), 7945; https://doi.org/10.3390/app12157945 - 8 Aug 2022
Cited by 10 | Viewed by 2989
Abstract
Citrus harvesting is time-intensive and labor-intensive, relying mainly on manual harvesting. The automatic harvesting of fruit and vegetable crops can not only reduce the physical labor of fruit farmers in the harsh field environment but also greatly improve the harvesting efficiency. Based on [...] Read more.
Citrus harvesting is time-intensive and labor-intensive, relying mainly on manual harvesting. The automatic harvesting of fruit and vegetable crops can not only reduce the physical labor of fruit farmers in the harsh field environment but also greatly improve the harvesting efficiency. Based on the principle of manual citrus picking, an end-effector with three-finger grasping is designed in this study. First, the structure of the end-effector was designed to achieve the function of stable grasping and effective cutting of citrus fruits, and then the working process and key parameters of the end-effector were explained in detail. Finally, a picking test was conducted without considering robot vision. The test results show that the end-effector has a picking success rate of 95.23% for citrus with a diameter of 30–100 mm and an average picking time of 4.65 s for a single fruit. This end-effector can realize the picking function for citrus of different sizes and shapes and has the advantages of high adaptability, stable gripping and no damage to the fruit. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Mechanical Engineering)
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25 pages, 7107 KiB  
Article
Geochemical Characterization of Groundwater in the Confined and Unconfined Aquifers of the Northern Italy
by Cristina Orecchia, Beatrice M. S. Giambastiani, Nicolas Greggio, Bruno Campo and Enrico Dinelli
Appl. Sci. 2022, 12(15), 7944; https://doi.org/10.3390/app12157944 - 8 Aug 2022
Cited by 11 | Viewed by 2833
Abstract
Having an accurate and easily accessible geochemical database is crucial for a correct groundwater management. Here, for the first time in Italy, chemico-physical data of groundwater collected by different Environmental Protection Agencies during the 2018 were integrated into a single database to assess [...] Read more.
Having an accurate and easily accessible geochemical database is crucial for a correct groundwater management. Here, for the first time in Italy, chemico-physical data of groundwater collected by different Environmental Protection Agencies during the 2018 were integrated into a single database to assess the geochemical status of a wide and complex aquifer system. Data were assembled, reformatted, corrected, homogenized, and then grouped according to the aquifer type (phreatic, semi-confined, and confined) and the sampling seasons. A total of 3671 validated samples were classified into hydrochemical facies; inorganic N compounds and trace elements were also evaluated. The water were classified mainly as Ca-HCO3 and Ca-Mg-HCO3 (90%); locally, Na-HCO3, Mg-HCO3, Ca-SO4, Na-Cl, and Ca-Cl types were detected. In the phreatic aquifers, NO3 contamination and high concentrations of Na+, K+, and NH4+ were found and linked to anthropogenic sources, such as agricultural and livestock activities. Along the Adriatic coast, Na-Cl water confirmed saltwater intrusion phenomena. Landward, evaporitic rocks dissolution, and the upconing of relict marine water explained high EC, Na+, K+, Cl−, and SO42− concentrations. The dissolution of Fe-Mn oxide-hydroxides coupled with organic carbon oxidation under reducing environment justified high NH4+, Fe, Mn, and As recorded in the semi-confined and confined aquifers. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Environmental Sciences)
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15 pages, 1248 KiB  
Review
Application of Machine Learning in the Field of Intraoperative Neurophysiological Monitoring: A Narrative Review
by Dougho Park and Injung Kim
Appl. Sci. 2022, 12(15), 7943; https://doi.org/10.3390/app12157943 - 8 Aug 2022
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 4594
Abstract
Intraoperative neurophysiological monitoring (IONM) is being applied to a wide range of surgical fields as a diagnostic tool to protect patients from neural injuries that may occur during surgery. However, several contributing factors complicate the interpretation of IONM, and it is labor- and [...] Read more.
Intraoperative neurophysiological monitoring (IONM) is being applied to a wide range of surgical fields as a diagnostic tool to protect patients from neural injuries that may occur during surgery. However, several contributing factors complicate the interpretation of IONM, and it is labor- and training-intensive. Meanwhile, machine learning (ML)-based medical research has been growing rapidly, and many studies on the clinical application of ML algorithms have been published in recent years. Despite this, the application of ML to IONM remains limited. Major challenges in applying ML to IONM include the presence of non-surgical contributing factors, ambiguity in the definition of false-positive cases, and their inter-rater variability. Nevertheless, we believe that the application of ML enables objective and reliable IONM, while overcoming the aforementioned problems that experts may encounter. Large-scale, standardized studies and technical considerations are required to overcome certain obstacles to the use of ML in IONM in the future. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Research on Biomedical Signal Processing)
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31 pages, 4717 KiB  
Article
Development of an Open-Source Testbed Based on the Modbus Protocol for Cybersecurity Analysis of Nuclear Power Plants
by Israel Barbosa de Brito and Rafael T. de Sousa, Jr.
Appl. Sci. 2022, 12(15), 7942; https://doi.org/10.3390/app12157942 - 8 Aug 2022
Cited by 19 | Viewed by 4842
Abstract
The possibility of cyber-attacks against critical infrastructure, and in particular nuclear power plants, has prompted several efforts by academia. Many of these works aim to capture the vulnerabilities of the industrial control systems used in these plants through computer simulations and hardware in [...] Read more.
The possibility of cyber-attacks against critical infrastructure, and in particular nuclear power plants, has prompted several efforts by academia. Many of these works aim to capture the vulnerabilities of the industrial control systems used in these plants through computer simulations and hardware in the loop configurations. However, general results in this area are limited by the cost and diversity of existing commercial equipment and protocols, as well as by the inherent complexity of the nuclear plants. In this context, this work introduces a testbed for the study of cyber-attacks against a realistic simulation of a nuclear power plant. Our approach consists in surveying issues regarding realistic simulations of nuclear power plants and to design and experimentally validate a software testbed for the controlled analysis of cyberattacks against the simulated nuclear plant. The proposal integrates a simulated Modbus/TCP network environment containing basic industrial control elements implemented with open-source software components. We validate the proposed testbed architecture by performing and analyzing a representative cyberattack in the developed environment, thus showing the principles for the analysis of other possible cybernetic attacks. Full article
(This article belongs to the Topic Cyber Security and Critical Infrastructures)
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16 pages, 8909 KiB  
Article
Development of TiO2-Based Photocatalyst Supported on Ceramic Materials for Oxidation of Organic Pollutants in Liquid Phase
by Sadjo Danfá, Cátia Oliveira, Regina Santos, Rui C. Martins, Margarida M. J. Quina and João Gomes
Appl. Sci. 2022, 12(15), 7941; https://doi.org/10.3390/app12157941 - 8 Aug 2022
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2021
Abstract
Water scarcity is one of the major concerns of this century. The photocatalysis through TiO2 can be suitable for improving liquid wastewater treatment. However, TiO2 is used as a powder (nanoparticles), which is a drawback for full-scale applications. To overcome this, [...] Read more.
Water scarcity is one of the major concerns of this century. The photocatalysis through TiO2 can be suitable for improving liquid wastewater treatment. However, TiO2 is used as a powder (nanoparticles), which is a drawback for full-scale applications. To overcome this, in the present work, powder TiO2 was impregnated on ceramic material. Several parameters, such as support cleanliness, support load, TiO2 suspension concentration, powder dispersion in a solvent, contact method, and drying temperature, were evaluated on the impregnation method. The influence of TiO2 concentration in suspensions was tested from 1 to 10% w/w. The results showed that the preparation conditions impact the TiO2 impregnation yield. The 10%TiO2/Leca was the most effective in photocatalysis but had a relevant loss of TiO2 from the support by erosion. For 3.6%TiO2/Leca and 5%TiO2/Leca, at TiO2 concentrations of 86.6 and 102.5 mg/L promoted 71 to 85% of sulfamethoxazole removal in 6 h under UVA radiation, respectively. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) revealed the TiO2 adhesion onto the surface of the ceramic material, and the thickness of the TiO2 layer over the support can attain 7.64 to 10.9 μm. The work showed that the TiO2 impregnation method over Leca could be suitable for obtaining cost-effective photocatalysts. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Selected Papers in the Section Materials 2022)
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12 pages, 829 KiB  
Article
Birotons and “Dark” Quantum Hall Hierarchies
by Oleg A. Grigorev, Liliya I. Musina, Alexander B. Van’kov, Oleg V. Volkov and Leonid V. Kulik
Appl. Sci. 2022, 12(15), 7940; https://doi.org/10.3390/app12157940 - 8 Aug 2022
Viewed by 1505
Abstract
A computational scheme is suggested to estimate neutral excitation energies in the fractional quantum Hall effect (FQHE) states. The FQHE states are systematized according to the Farey-number hierarchy structure. We show that besides the widely known Laughlin–Jain hierarchy of fractional states, there exist [...] Read more.
A computational scheme is suggested to estimate neutral excitation energies in the fractional quantum Hall effect (FQHE) states. The FQHE states are systematized according to the Farey-number hierarchy structure. We show that besides the widely known Laughlin–Jain hierarchy of fractional states, there exist other “dark” hierarchies. Although hardly observed in the highest mobility samples, they can significantly affect the thermodynamics and spectral characteristics of the FQHE states. The known problems in the interpretation of the FQHE’s experimental results are explained in terms of the coexistence of two fundamentally different transformations of the electron system, one of which is a neutral excitation in the FQHE state, whereas the other is a transition between two FQHE ground states, one of which represents the Laughlin–Jain FQHE hierarchy and the other a state of “dark” hierarchies. Full article
(This article belongs to the Topic Advances and Applications of 2D Materials, 2nd Volume)
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10 pages, 327 KiB  
Article
Vibrational Model of Heat Conduction in a Fluid of Hard Spheres
by Sergey Khrapak
Appl. Sci. 2022, 12(15), 7939; https://doi.org/10.3390/app12157939 - 8 Aug 2022
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1725
Abstract
Application of a vibrational model of heat transfer to a fluid made of hard spheres is discussed. The model was originally proposed to describe heat conduction in fluids with soft pairwise interactionsHere, it is shown that only minor modifications are required to apply [...] Read more.
Application of a vibrational model of heat transfer to a fluid made of hard spheres is discussed. The model was originally proposed to describe heat conduction in fluids with soft pairwise interactionsHere, it is shown that only minor modifications are required to apply the model in the opposite limit of hard sphere interactions. Good agreement with recent results from molecular dynamics simulation is documented in the moderately dense regime. Near the freezing point, however, the model overestimates the thermal conductivity coefficient (by ≃50%). The new approach is compared with other simple models for the thermal conductivity coefficients such as Bridgman’s expression and the Enskog formula. The value of the coefficient in the Bridgman’s expression, appropriate for the hard sphere fluid, is determined. A new expression for the dependence of the reduced thermal conductivity coefficient on the reduced excess entropy is proposed. The obtained results can be useful for rough estimates of the thermal conductivity coefficient of simple fluids with steep interactions when more accurate experimental results are not available. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Molecular Dynamics in Materials Science, Heat Conduction and Nanofluids)
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16 pages, 3059 KiB  
Article
Nucleofection as an Efficient Method for Alpha TC1-6 Cell Line Transfection
by Marija Đorđević, Verica Paunović, Maja Jovanović Tucović, Anja Tolić, Jovana Rajić, Svetlana Dinić, Aleksandra Uskoković, Nevena Grdović, Mirjana Mihailović, Ivanka Marković, Jelena Arambašić Jovanović and Melita Vidaković
Appl. Sci. 2022, 12(15), 7938; https://doi.org/10.3390/app12157938 - 8 Aug 2022
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 4338
Abstract
An efficient transfection is a crucial step for the introduction of epigenetic modification in host cells, and there is a need for an optimized transfection process for individual model systems separately. Mouse pancreatic αTC1-6 cells, which act as an attractive model system for [...] Read more.
An efficient transfection is a crucial step for the introduction of epigenetic modification in host cells, and there is a need for an optimized transfection process for individual model systems separately. Mouse pancreatic αTC1-6 cells, which act as an attractive model system for epigenetic cell reprogramming and diabetes treatment, were transiently transfected with two different transfection methods: the chemical method with polyethyleneimine (PEI) and nucleofection as a physical transfection method. Flow cytometry and fluorescent microscopy examination of GFP expression showed that transfection efficiency was affected by the size of plasmids using both transfection methods. Subsequently, the Cas9 mRNA expression confirmed successful transfection with EpiCRISPR plasmid, whereas the cell physiology remained unchanged. The adjusted nucleofection protocol for αTC1-6 cells transfected with an EpiCRISPR mix of plasmids reached 71.1% of GFP-positive transfected cells on the fifth post-transfection day and proved to be much more efficient than the 3.8% GFP-positive PEI transfected cells. Modifying the protocol, we finally specify CM-156 program and SF 4D-Nucleofector X Solutions for Amaxa™ nucleofection as a method of choice for alpha TC1-6 cell line transfection. Full article
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17 pages, 5065 KiB  
Article
SRP: A Microscopic Look at the Composition Mechanism of Website Fingerprinting
by Yongxin Chen, Yongjun Wang and Luming Yang
Appl. Sci. 2022, 12(15), 7937; https://doi.org/10.3390/app12157937 - 8 Aug 2022
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1763
Abstract
Tor serves better at protecting users’ privacy than other anonymous communication tools. Even though it is resistant to deep packet inspection, Tor can be de-anonymized by the website fingerprinting (WF) attack, which aims to monitor the website users are browsing. WF attacks based [...] Read more.
Tor serves better at protecting users’ privacy than other anonymous communication tools. Even though it is resistant to deep packet inspection, Tor can be de-anonymized by the website fingerprinting (WF) attack, which aims to monitor the website users are browsing. WF attacks based on deep learning perform better than those using manually designed features and traditional machine learning. However, a deep learning model is data-hungry when simulating the mapping relations of traffic and the website it belongs to, which may not be practical in reality. In this paper, we focus on investigating the composition mechanism of website fingerprinting and try to solve data shortage with bionic traffic traces. More precisely, we propose a new concept called the send-and-receive pair (SRP) to deconstruct traffic traces and design SRP-based cumulative features. We further reconstruct and generate bionic traces (BionicT) based on the rearranged SRPs. The results show that our bionic traces can improve the performance of the state-of-the-artdeep-learning-based Var-CNN. The increment in accuracy reaches up to 50% in the five-shot setting, much more effective than the data augmentation method HDA. In the 15/20-shot setting, our method even defeated TF with more than 95% accuracy in closed-world scenarios and an F1-score of over 90% in open-world scenarios. Moreover, expensive experiments show that our method can enhance the deep learning model’s ability to combat concept drift. Overall, the SRP can serve as an effective tool for analyzing and describing website traffic traces. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Cryptology and Information Security in Open and Convergent Environment)
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14 pages, 1533 KiB  
Article
Challenges of Hydrodynamic Cavitation of Organic Wastes
by Aleksandra Szaja, Agnieszka Montusiewicz and Magdalena Lebiocka
Appl. Sci. 2022, 12(15), 7936; https://doi.org/10.3390/app12157936 - 8 Aug 2022
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2084
Abstract
The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of hydrodynamic cavitation (HC) as a pre-treatment method for selected organic wastes. In these HC experiments, municipal wastewater (MW) and mature landfill leachate (MLL) as well as mixtures of lignocellulosic waste (LB) suspended [...] Read more.
The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of hydrodynamic cavitation (HC) as a pre-treatment method for selected organic wastes. In these HC experiments, municipal wastewater (MW) and mature landfill leachate (MLL) as well as mixtures of lignocellulosic waste (LB) suspended in these waste streams were investigated. For all HC tests, the same operational parameters were assumed: an inlet pressure of 7 bar, and 30 recirculations through the cavitation zone. A steel orifice plate with a conical concentric hole of 3/10 mm was used as the HC inductor. In almost all the materials analysed, solubilisation and decomposition of complex organic matter were observed, which were confirmed by an improved biodegradability index (BI) and soluble chemical oxygen demand (SCOD) content in the cavitated mixtures. The exception was the series with sole MW; in this case, the BI was reduced. In turn, regarding the multicomponent mixtures, more beneficial results were found for LB and MW, which were confirmed by improved BI, alkalinity and SCOD content. The results obtained indicate that HC might be applied as a pre-treatment method for selected organic wastes for further biomethane production. However, a key factor in its successful application is the selection of suitable operational conditions chosen individually for each waste type. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Water and Wastewater Management in Agriculture)
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25 pages, 3192 KiB  
Article
Optimization of Train Operation Planning with Full-Length and Short-Turn Routes of Virtual Coupling Trains
by Xu Zhou, Fang Lu and Liyu Wang
Appl. Sci. 2022, 12(15), 7935; https://doi.org/10.3390/app12157935 - 8 Aug 2022
Cited by 9 | Viewed by 2395
Abstract
Virtual coupling uses wireless communication instead of mechanical coupling to ensure that trains are easily reconnected or disconnected. This technology can shorten the interval time between trains, give full play to the carrying capacity of lines, and improve the service level of urban [...] Read more.
Virtual coupling uses wireless communication instead of mechanical coupling to ensure that trains are easily reconnected or disconnected. This technology can shorten the interval time between trains, give full play to the carrying capacity of lines, and improve the service level of urban rail transit. This paper optimizes the train operation plan with full-length and short-turn routes of virtual coupling trains by establishing a two-level optimization model. The upper model is used to minimize passenger travel time and enterprise operation cost, and the lower model to optimize the equilibrium of train load rate on short-turn routes. Meanwhile, a method based on the genetic algorithm is designed to solve the model. A case study of the Metro Line M has been carried out. The results can verify the efficiency and feasibility of the proposed method. The full-length and short-turn routes of virtual coupling trains can effectively reduce passenger travel time, enterprise operating cost and the number of vehicles, and improve the average load factor of the trains. Finally, sensitivity analyses are performed using three parameters which include departure frequency of the full-length train and short-turn train, starting and terminal station of short-turn route, and number of marshalled vehicles of the full-length train and short-turn train. Full article
(This article belongs to the Collection Urban Transport Systems Efficiency, Network Planning and Safety: Volume II)
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17 pages, 684 KiB  
Review
Falls among Older Adults: Screening, Identification, Rehabilitation, and Management
by Silvia Giovannini, Fabrizio Brau, Vincenzo Galluzzo, Domenico Alessandro Santagada, Claudia Loreti, Lorenzo Biscotti, Alice Laudisio, Giuseppe Zuccalà and Roberto Bernabei
Appl. Sci. 2022, 12(15), 7934; https://doi.org/10.3390/app12157934 - 8 Aug 2022
Cited by 23 | Viewed by 14010
Abstract
A fall is an event where a person unintentionally and traumatically finds themselves on the floor or a lower level. Falls are very common, especially in the older adult population. One in four people falls at least once a year after age 65. [...] Read more.
A fall is an event where a person unintentionally and traumatically finds themselves on the floor or a lower level. Falls are very common, especially in the older adult population. One in four people falls at least once a year after age 65. Because of falls, there can be injuries, whereby there can be an impairment of health status. Fractures, reduced mobility, disability, and the need for institutionalization are potential consequences after falls. In older adult patients, especially frail ones, these types of complications are more common. There are several risk factors for falls. Falls generally result from a combination of factors operating simultaneously. Sarcopenia, cognitive impairment, or poly-pharmacotherapy are just a few examples of risk factors that are common in the older people. Through careful clinical evaluation, it is possible to identify risk factors and conditions predisposing to falls. In some cases, it is possible to correct these factors. Several types of treatment are available to restore the health status before the fall and prevent subsequent falls. Using multi-component interventions, the risk of falls can be effectively reduced. Aware that this review will not be exhaustive of such a broad topic, the purpose of this narrative review is to summarize relevant and recent evidence in the current literature to encapsulate fall-related risk factors, risk identification, fall prevention, and management, including various rehabilitation techniques. This article conforms to the Scale for Assessment of Narrative Review Articles (SANRA) guidelines. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Physical Therapies and Related Treatment in Falling and Rehabilitation in the Elderly)
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16 pages, 7519 KiB  
Article
Study on Failure Mechanism of Mudstone Based on Digital Core and Digital Volume Correlation Method
by Dong Duan, Xiaoyu Chen, Xiaojing Feng, Xin Wang and Jiang Sun
Appl. Sci. 2022, 12(15), 7933; https://doi.org/10.3390/app12157933 - 8 Aug 2022
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1724
Abstract
In order to study the damage evolution law and failure mechanism of mudstone under different stress states, with the help of high-resolution CT scanning equipment, in situ CT scanning experiments of mudstone under uniaxial compression were carried out. Combined with digital core technology [...] Read more.
In order to study the damage evolution law and failure mechanism of mudstone under different stress states, with the help of high-resolution CT scanning equipment, in situ CT scanning experiments of mudstone under uniaxial compression were carried out. Combined with digital core technology and the digital volume image correlation method, the 3D characterization of meso-structure and the evolution process of localized damage in mudstone were analyzed. The research shows that brittle minerals such as quartz in mudstone often exist in the form of agglomerated strips, resulting in the formation of weak structural planes at the contact surfaces of different minerals. There are a large number of primary intergranular pores near the mineral accumulation zone. With the increase in axial load, the connectivity of pores will gradually increase, cracks will gradually emerge, internal pores will develop abnormally, and rocks will reach the critical state of failure; at this time, the throat number and coordination number of pores increase obviously. There was no obvious difference found in the distribution of mineral particles of different sizes, and the slip between mineral zones was mainly dominated by small particles. The accumulated mineral zone was able to easily form a weak surface, and the aggregated mineral zone under loading was easily able to produce local deformation, which is related to the mechanical properties of the mineral zone and its surrounding rock matrix, with the rock failure easily occurring along the junction of the two minerals. The displacement in the polymeric mineral zone was small, the deformation displacement of the rock skeleton dominated by clay minerals near the quartz mineral zone was larger, and the stronger quartz minerals restrained the rock skeleton deformation in the region. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Experimental Investigation and Numerical Modeling of Rock Brittle Failure Behavior under High Stress Conditions)
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12 pages, 2781 KiB  
Article
Damping Behavior of Hybrid Composite Structures by Aeronautical Technologies
by Alice Proietti, Nicola Gallo, Denise Bellisario, Fabrizio Quadrini and Loredana Santo
Appl. Sci. 2022, 12(15), 7932; https://doi.org/10.3390/app12157932 - 8 Aug 2022
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1853
Abstract
Hybrid composite laminates are manufactured by using technologies and raw materials of the aeronautic sector with the aim to improve the damping behavior of composite structures. Matrix hybridization was achieved by laminating carbon fiber reinforced (CFR) plies with elastomer interlayers. Up to 10 [...] Read more.
Hybrid composite laminates are manufactured by using technologies and raw materials of the aeronautic sector with the aim to improve the damping behavior of composite structures. Matrix hybridization was achieved by laminating carbon fiber reinforced (CFR) plies with elastomer interlayers. Up to 10 different composite sandwich architectures were investigated by changing the stacking sequence, the thickness of the elastomer layers, and the elastomer typology, whereas the total number of the CFR plies was fixed to six for all the hybrid composites. Square panels with the size of 300 × 300 mm2 were autoclave molded with vacuum bagging, and rectangular samples were extracted for static and dynamic tests. Dynamic mechanical analyses were performed to measure the storage modulus and loss factor of hybrid materials, which were compared with static and dynamic performances of the composite structures under bending. Repeated loading–unloading cycles and free oscillation tests allowed us to the energy loss per unit of volume, and the acceleration damping, respectively. Results show that softest elastomer interlayers lead to big loss of stiffness without any positive effect in the damping behavior, which worsens as well. By using soft elastomers, complex architectures do not provide any additional benefit in comparison with the traditional sandwich structure with soft core and hard skins. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Perspectives on Smart Structures and Infrastructures for Enhanced Vibration Mitigation and Health Monitoring)
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13 pages, 4856 KiB  
Article
Tensile Test Analysis of Tire Tread Rubber’s Tendency to Resist Cracks
by Ingyu Noh, Sangyeop Hong and Jaehoon Kim
Appl. Sci. 2022, 12(15), 7931; https://doi.org/10.3390/app12157931 - 8 Aug 2022
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2235
Abstract
Among the various components of a tire, this study explores the tread portion, which has the longest contact with the ground during the summer, all-weather, and in the winter. The mechanical properties of three types of tread crack specimens were measured, and a [...] Read more.
Among the various components of a tire, this study explores the tread portion, which has the longest contact with the ground during the summer, all-weather, and in the winter. The mechanical properties of three types of tread crack specimens were measured, and a stress–strain diagram for each specimen at low and high speeds was derived. Through the digital image correlation method, the crack tip opening displacement and angle were considered as fracture parameters and derived through equations. Subsequently, the different fracture progression regions were compared and analyzed to confirm the characteristics of the elastic displacement field. It was found that under both low- and high-speed conditions, the maximum elastic strains for the tread specimens were attained in the following order: summer, all-weather, and winter. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Selected Papers from ICAMSME 2022)
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12 pages, 1072 KiB  
Article
Dried and Powdered Leaves of Parsley as a Functional Additive to Wheat Bread
by Dariusz Dziki, Waleed H. Hassoon, Beata Biernacka and Urszula Gawlik-Dziki
Appl. Sci. 2022, 12(15), 7930; https://doi.org/10.3390/app12157930 - 8 Aug 2022
Cited by 14 | Viewed by 2835
Abstract
Parsley leaves (PL) are a rich source of many bioactive compounds and show many health-promoting properties. The aim of this study is to analyze the effect of the addition of PL to wheat flour on the physical, antioxidant, and sensory properties of wheat [...] Read more.
Parsley leaves (PL) are a rich source of many bioactive compounds and show many health-promoting properties. The aim of this study is to analyze the effect of the addition of PL to wheat flour on the physical, antioxidant, and sensory properties of wheat bread. Wheat flour was partially substituted with 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5% PL. Bread dough was prepared using the direct method. Bread loaves were cooled, and then their volume, texture, color, total phenolic content, and antioxidant activity were evaluated. In addition, a sensory evaluation of bread was performed. Incorporation of PL into wheat decreased the bread volume and increased the crumb moisture but had little influence on the crumb texture. The crumb of the enriched bread was darker and greener compared with the control sample. PL addition increased the redness of the crumb as well. The total color difference for the enriched bread ranged from 9.3 to 21.4. According to the sensory evaluation, the amount of wheat flour added to PL should not exceed 3%. Such a kind of bread showed about a twofold higher level of phenolic compounds and enhanced antioxidant activity compared with the control bread. This study showed that powdered PL can be a valuable nutritional supplement to wheat bread. Future research should focus on the possibilities of fortifying various types of food with this additive. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Functional Foods in Disease Prevention and Health Promotion)
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21 pages, 6608 KiB  
Article
Numerical Investigation of Slurry Fracturing during Shield Tunneling under a Reservoir
by Bingyu Han, Dajun Yuan, Teng Wang and Zhongxin Wang
Appl. Sci. 2022, 12(15), 7929; https://doi.org/10.3390/app12157929 - 8 Aug 2022
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1876
Abstract
The Jinan Jiluo Road Crossing the Yellow River Tunnel North Extension Project will intersect the Queshan reservoir, which currently supplies 60% of the domestic water in Jinan City. During the excavation process of the large-diameter slurry type shield used in this project, it [...] Read more.
The Jinan Jiluo Road Crossing the Yellow River Tunnel North Extension Project will intersect the Queshan reservoir, which currently supplies 60% of the domestic water in Jinan City. During the excavation process of the large-diameter slurry type shield used in this project, it may lead to slurry fracturing of the stratum in front of the excavation face and slurry blow-out from the surface if the slurry support pressure is too high. The leakage of shield slurry will pollute the reservoir water, and the safety of domestic water in Jinan will be threatened. Shield slurry blow-out may also lead to water inrush accidents. It is difficult to prevent slurry blow-out during shallow shield tunnel construction due to an insufficient understanding of the shield slurry fracturing mechanism. The initiation and extension of shield slurry fracturing are very complex and difficult to observe in the stratum. Currently, there is no effective method to study the slurry fracturing mechanism of shield tunneling. This paper presents a numerical simulation method of shield tunneling slurry fracturing based on the extended finite element method (XFEM). The risk of slurry blow-out in shield tunnel crossing reservoir engineering is analyzed. The advantages of the XFEM for simulating crack propagation are fully exploited. Considering the coexistence of tensile and shear failures in soft soils, embedding the combined tensile and shear failure criterion is realized in the XFEM by the secondary development of the ABAQUS extended finite element. Compared with the slurry fracturing test of blind-hole clay samples, the rationality of the simulation method for slurry fracturing in cohesive soil is verified. Through the establishment of the slurry fracturing extension model, the slurry fracturing process of shield tunneling in cohesive soil layer is simulated. The variation law of slurry pressure in the process of fracture extension is studied, and the influence of shield slurry support pressure, overburden thickness, formation shear strength, and slurry viscosity on fracture extension pressure and extension path is analyzed. Based on this numerical simulation method, the risk of slurry blow-out is analyzed in the shield tunneling intersecting the Queshan Reservoir of the Jinan Jiluo Road Crossing the Yellow River Tunnel North Extension Project. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Tunneling and Underground Engineering: From Theories to Practices)
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13 pages, 2975 KiB  
Article
Contributions of Body Segments to the Toe Velocity during Taekwondo Roundhouse Kick
by Taewoon Jung and Hyoungjin Park
Appl. Sci. 2022, 12(15), 7928; https://doi.org/10.3390/app12157928 - 8 Aug 2022
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2707
Abstract
The roundhouse kick is the most commonly executed kick in Taekwondo competitions. Because it is the fastest kick among kicking techniques and can easily change its motion on the basis of the opponent’s motion, the roundhouse kick is suitable for scoring points. To [...] Read more.
The roundhouse kick is the most commonly executed kick in Taekwondo competitions. Because it is the fastest kick among kicking techniques and can easily change its motion on the basis of the opponent’s motion, the roundhouse kick is suitable for scoring points. To explore the functional role of segmental movements during the roundhouse kick, this study aimed to investigate the effects of various footwork techniques on biomechanical contributions of body segments to toe velocity during roundhouse kicks. Ten elite Taekwondo athletes performed roundhouse kicks with different footwork positions. The contributions of body segments to the toe velocity were obtained through 3D motion analysis. Results were compared by repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA), and there were significant differences in the contributions of whole-body movement, trunk movement, trunk rotation, and toe velocity. It was concluded that in the minimum knee flexion (MKF) event, for all types of footwork, thigh rotation showed the most significant contribution (51–64.4%), followed by trunk rotation (16.7–29.9%) and whole-body movement (5.1–13.4%). However, in the impact event, the contribution of thigh rotation decreased, while the contribution of calf rotation increased significantly. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Athletes Performance and Analysis in Combat Sports and Martial Arts)
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15 pages, 1823 KiB  
Article
Improving Adversarial Robustness of CNNs via Maximum Margin
by Jiaping Wu, Zhaoqiang Xia and Xiaoyi Feng
Appl. Sci. 2022, 12(15), 7927; https://doi.org/10.3390/app12157927 - 8 Aug 2022
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2330
Abstract
In recent years, adversarial examples have aroused widespread research interest and raised concerns about the safety of CNNs. We study adversarial machine learning inspired by a support vector machine (SVM), where the decision boundary with maximum margin is only determined by examples close [...] Read more.
In recent years, adversarial examples have aroused widespread research interest and raised concerns about the safety of CNNs. We study adversarial machine learning inspired by a support vector machine (SVM), where the decision boundary with maximum margin is only determined by examples close to it. From the perspective of margin, the adversarial examples are the clean examples perturbed in the margin direction and adversarial training (AT) is equivalent to a data augmentation method that moves the input toward the decision boundary, the purpose also being to increase the margin. So we propose adversarial training with supported vector machine (AT-SVM) to improve the standard AT by inserting an SVM auxiliary classifier to learn a larger margin. In addition, we select examples close to the decision boundary through the SVM auxiliary classifier and train only on these more important examples. We prove that the SVM auxiliary classifier can constrain the high-layer feature map of the original network to make its margin larger, thereby improving the inter-class separability and intra-class compactness of the network. Experiments indicate that our proposed method can effectively improve the robustness against adversarial examples. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in Cybersecurity and Computer Networks)
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12 pages, 1430 KiB  
Article
Comparison between Personal Protective Equipment Wearing Protocols to Shorten Time to Treatment in Pre-Hospital Settings
by Or Lavi, Oren Wacht, Idan Menashe, Eli Jaffe and Yuval Bitan
Appl. Sci. 2022, 12(15), 7926; https://doi.org/10.3390/app12157926 - 8 Aug 2022
Viewed by 1834
Abstract
Background. Arrival times at the scene and provision of initial emergency treatment have importance in pre-hospital care settings. Donning proper protective equipment by medical personnel, as was needed during the COVID-19 pandemic, prolongs the time between the arrival of medical personnel to a [...] Read more.
Background. Arrival times at the scene and provision of initial emergency treatment have importance in pre-hospital care settings. Donning proper protective equipment by medical personnel, as was needed during the COVID-19 pandemic, prolongs the time between the arrival of medical personnel to a patient and provision of primary medical care. Objective. We examined the effect of a suggested personal protective equipment (PPE) wearing protocol (gown protocol) on shortening pre-hospital treatment times compared to the current coverall protocol. Method. In this prospective simulation-based study, participants were instructed to inject a practice epinephrine syringe into a simulation mannequin after donning either a gown or a coverall PPE kit in the shortest possible time. Participants performed the two protocols in a randomized order. Donning time, physiological measures, and participants’ perceptions were measured after completion of each of the protocols. Results. Donning times and heart rates were significantly lower in the gown protocol compared to the standard coverall protocol. In addition, participants reported that the gown protocol was more comfortable and allowed provision of better medical care. Conclusions. Advantages of using the new protocol included shortening the time until primary medical care can be provided, perceptions of greater comfort, less difficulty in administering medical care, and lower heart rate values. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Biomedical Engineering)
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19 pages, 6502 KiB  
Article
Study on the Measurement of the On-Site Overvoltage and Internal Temperature Rise Simulation of the EMU Arrester
by Shenghui Wang, Qi Ou, Shengfeng Lei, Huaqi Liu, Shuaitao Mao, Qizhe Zhang, Jian Liu and Fangcheng Lv
Appl. Sci. 2022, 12(15), 7925; https://doi.org/10.3390/app12157925 - 8 Aug 2022
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1431
Abstract
In order to analyze the explosion accidents of the CRH5 EMU roof arrester in recent years, an internal temperature measuring platform based on fluorescence fiber was established, and the temperature distribution characteristics under the continuous operating voltage and high-current impulse were analyzed. The [...] Read more.
In order to analyze the explosion accidents of the CRH5 EMU roof arrester in recent years, an internal temperature measuring platform based on fluorescence fiber was established, and the temperature distribution characteristics under the continuous operating voltage and high-current impulse were analyzed. The test results show that passing section overvoltage and steep impulse overvoltage have higher amplitudes, while high-harmonic overvoltage has a lower amplitude but a longer duration. The maximum temperature rise of the arrester was 5.2 °C under 34 kV for 3 h. The surface temperature of the valve plate column was high in the middle and low on both sides; the maximum temperature difference at different positions was only 2.2 °C. The maximum temperature of the valve plate column rose to 97.6 °C under 105 times of the high-current impulse, and the maximum temperature difference at different positions reached 33.8 °C. Then, the actual overvoltage of the arrester in operation was measured and analyzed statistically, and the arrester simulation model was established. The temperature characteristics of the normal arrester and the arrester with the electric tree were studied under the actual typical overvoltage, and the influence of air velocity on the internal temperature rise was analyzed. The simulation results show that, due to the low amplitude and small current of high-harmonic overvoltage, the internal temperature rise of the normal and defective arresters was very small. Under the effects of passing section overvoltage and steep impulse overvoltage, the internal temperature of the normal arrester can reach 36.57 °C and 241 °C, and the arrester with the electric tree defect can reach 44.75 °C and 536 °C, respectively. The air velocity has little effect on the internal temperature rise of the arrester. Passing section overvoltage and steep impulse overvoltage occur frequently and have an obvious influence on the internal temperature rise of the arrester, so the roof overvoltage of the EMU is an important reason for the arrester burst. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering)
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