Basic Mechanisms Research Articles

A penta-linear backbone model for unbonded post-tensioned concrete masonry shear walls

Unbonded post-tensioned concrete masonry (UPCM) shear walls are an effective seismic force resisting system due to their ability to mitigate expected damage through their self-centering capabilities. A few design procedures were proposed to predict the in-plane flexural response of UPCM walls, albeit following only basic mechanics and/or extensive iterative methods. Such procedures, however, may not be capable of capturing the complex nonlinear relationships between different parameters that affect UPCM walls’ behavior or are tedious to be adopted for design practice. In addition, the limited datasets used to validate these procedures may cast doubt on their accuracy and validity for new, unseen data, further hindering their adoption by practitioners and design standards. To address these issues, an experimentally-validated nonlinear numerical model was adopted in this study and subsequently employed to simulate 95 UPCM walls with different design parameters to compensate for the lack of relevant experimental data in the current literature. Guided by mechanics and using this database, an evolutionary algorithm, multigene genetic programming (MGGP), was adopted to uncover the relationships controlling the response of UPCM walls, and subsequently develop simplified closed-form wall behavior prediction expressions. Specifically, through integrating MGGP and basic mechanics, a penta-linear backbone model was developed to predict the load-displacement backbone for UPCM walls up to 20% strength degradation. Compared to existing predictive procedures, the prediction accuracy of the developed model and its closed-form nature are expected to facilitate better understanding of such wall behaviors and subsequently open the gate to further incorporate other experimental and numerical results to ultimately incorporate UPCM in mainstream designs in the near future.

Models need mechanisms, but not labels.

The target article proposes a model involving the important but not well-investigated topics of curiosity and creativity. The model, however, falls short of providing convincing explanations of the basic mechanisms underlying these phenomena. We outline the importance of mechanistic thinking in dealing with the concepts outlined in this article specifically and within psychology and cognitive neuroscience in general.

Molecular approaches to mammalian uterine receptivity for conceptus implantation.

Mammalian reproduction is more inefficient than expected and embryo/conceptus implantation into the maternal endometrium is considered to be a rate-limiting process. Although extensive physiological and structural diversity exists among mammalian species, the basic molecular mechanisms underlying successful implantation are conserved. The extensive use of genetically engineered mouse models has provided considerable information on uterine receptivity for embryo implantation. The molecular mechanisms and cellular processes identified thus far require further validation in other mammalian species. In this review, representative ovarian steroid hormone-induced signaling pathways controlling uterine adaptation are presented based on the results of rodent studies. Selected examples of functional conservation in mammals, such as humans and cattle, are briefly described. To date, molecular therapeutic trials for fertility improvement have not been conducted. Considerable efforts are required to provide further understanding of these molecular mechanisms. Such understanding will contribute to the development of reliable clinical diagnostics and therapeutics for implantation failure, leading to reproductive success in a wide variety of mammals in the future.

Targeting the Multiple Complex Processes of Hypoxia-Ischemia to Achieve Neuroprotection

Hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) is a major cause of newborn brain damage stemming from a lack of oxygenated blood flow in the neonatal period. Twenty-five to fifty percent of asphyxiated infants who develop HIE die in the neonatal period, and about sixty percent of survivors develop long-term neurological disabilities. From the first minutes to months after the injury, a cascade of events occurs, leading to blood-brain barrier (BBB) opening, neuronal death and inflammation. To date, the only approach proposed in some cases is therapeutic hypothermia (TH). Unfortunately, TH is only partially protective and is not applicable to all neonates. This review synthesizes current knowledge on the basic molecular mechanisms of brain damage in hypoxia-ischemia (HI) and on the different therapeutic strategies in HI that have been used and explores a major limitation of unsuccessful therapeutic approaches.

Be FAIR to Pedestrian Dynamics Data

For improving the safety of people in large crowds, it is of great importance to understand the basic mechanisms of pedestrian dynamics, e.g. with help of experiments. The number of openly shared datasets of these experiments has increased in the last years also due to stricter requirements from journals and funders. We share our own experimental data by an open access data archive which data is widely used in the community. However, our data and also data of other researchers in the field of pedestrian dynamics is not annotated in a systematic or semantically harmonized way, which impairs FAIRness in general and interoperability specifically. In this paper, we propose a standardized extensible metadata schema and key data structures for trajectories and geometry. The proposed metadata schema and data structures hopefully support the interoperability within the community and will assist to make data reutilization more efficient. Our own legacy datasets are continuously annotated with essential information using this metadata schema steadily. This metadata is provided beside the converted data on our data archive and thus enhance its findability and reusability.

Omniphobic/superhydrophobic surface effect on oil and gas flow: A critical review

AbstractFlow assurance in the petroleum business of the oil and gas industry ensures the efficient and continuous flow of hydrocarbons from production facilities to consumers. Impurities in oil and gas can cause corrosion and erosion, hydrate formation, scaling, and fouling, resulting in flow limits and reduced operating efficiency. The significant flow assurance issues must be managed through systematic exploration of effective mitigation and management approaches. The objective of this paper is to highlight the latest research in the field of flow assurance, including the application of superhydrophobic or omniphobic coatings to prevent scale growth, asphaltene precipitation, wax deposition, and hydrate formation. This review will provide new perspectives into the basic mechanistic mechanisms of deposition and blockage in oil and gas production systems, assisting in the development of novel methods compared to the employment of commercial chemical or mechanical techniques. Overall, the flow assurance engineers will gain new perspectives from this study regarding how to deal with the risk of pipeline blockage caused by the problems mentioned earlier.

Acoustically Enhanced Triboelectric Stethoscope for Ultrasensitive Cardiac Sounds Sensing and Disease Diagnosis.

Electronic stethoscope used to detect cardiac sounds that contains essential clinical information is a primary tool for diagnosis of various cardiac disorders. However, the linear electro-mechanical constitutive relation makes conventional piezoelectric sensors rather ineffective to detect low-intensity, low-frequency heart acoustic signal without the assistance of complex filtering and amplification circuits. Herein, we find that triboelectric sensor features superior advantages over piezoelectric one for micro-quantity sensing originated from the fast saturated constitutive characteristic. As a result, the triboelectric sensor shows ultrahigh sensitivity (1215mV/Pa) than the piezoelectric counterpart (21mV/Pa) in the sound pressure range of 50 - 80dB under the same testing condition. By designing a trumpet-shaped auscultatory cavity with a power function cross-section to achieve acoustic energy converging and impedance matching, triboelectric stethoscope delivers 36dB signal-to-noise ratio for human test (2.3 times of that for piezoelectric one). Further combining with machine learning, five cardiac states can be diagnosed at 97% accuracy. In general, the triboelectric sensor is distinctly unique in basic mechanism, provides a novel design concept for sensing micromechanical quantities, and presents significant potential for application in cardiac sounds sensing and disease diagnosis. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Effects of doping with selected rare-earth elements (Eu3+, Dy3+, Eu3+/Dy3+) on the structural characteristics as well as electrical and luminescent properties of K0.5Na0.5NbO3

The effects of adding Eu3+, Dy3+, and Eu3+/Dy3+ rare-earth elements on the microstructural, optical and electrical properties of lead-free piezoelectric materials based on K0.5Na0.5NbO3 (KNN) were investigated. A series of fine powders were synthesized via a modified Pechini route utilizing citric acid. Relatively large amounts of rare-earth elements were successfully incorporated into the crystal lattice of KNN. A combination of X-ray diffraction, X-ray absorption spectroscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray and scanning electron microscopy were used to characterize the structure and chemical composition of the powders and sinters. XRD patterns indicated the formation of a single-phase orthorhombic structure in the co-doped sinter. X-ray absorption spectroscopy revealed the nominal 3+ valence states of Eu and Dy in KNN ceramic sinters. The Mott model and group symmetry theory were used to discuss the characteristics of Raman spectra obtained for the EuDy:KNN ceramics. The ceramics exhibited good dielectric permittivity (ε≃1300) and low dielectric loss (tan δ=0.03) in the temperature range of 170–240°C. The electrical properties of the ceramics showed that the basic mechanism of conduction and relaxation was thermal activation, and that small polaron hopping was responsible for charge carrying. The Eu3+ and Dy3+ ions displayed characteristic red and orange emissions in sinters when excited with light in the wide ultraviolet spectra range (380–420 nm).

The objective side of the crime of unfair competition: theoretical and practical aspects

The objective side of the crime of unfair competition: theoretical and practical aspects

Steps into a Small World: First glimpses on everyday moment‐to‐moment decision making in an ecologically meaningful multi‐choice system for assessing animal preferences

AbstractThe behaviour shown by an animal at any one time is the consolidated output of its behavioural control mechanism. Moreover, what animals “want” is viewed as (the most) important component for individual welfare. Accordingly, studying the motivation of animals helps understanding basic mechanisms and welfare related needs. However, studying wants of animals is notoriously difficult and many previous studies on the preferences of animals have been restricted in the sense that only two choice options were presented in an artificial test environment. Here, an extended approach, the “Small World” is presented, in which the choices of animals between eight ecologically relevant resources can be observed in a long‐term test to reach conclusions with respect to everyday moment‐to‐moment decisions. In this sense, the system offers a quasi‐natural environment. The approach was tested in three experiments with observations of individual female rats, small groups of female rats (Long Evans, Rattus norvegicus) and small groups of female chickens (Lohmann Brown, Gallus gallus domesticus). The animals oriented themselves quickly in the system and it was possible to collect multifaceted data on the use of the resources. These data included the faecal and urinary markings in the Small World cages, the daily frequency and duration of visits to these cages, the sequential analyses of the choices for and decisions among the resources, and the synchrony of the animals in the groups. Given the richness of these data and the lack of a stress response in the tested animals, the use of the Small World approach seems to be highly promising as an extension to previously used procedures. To further improve the approach and more directly reflect the subjective value of the different resources from the animals' point of view, the distances between the resources in a quasi‐natural landscape shall be manipulated in future studies.

Ultrasound enhances the removal of V5+ in wastewater by ball-milled zero-valent iron: Effects and mechanisms

Vanadium is considered to be a harmful industrial pollutant that poses a serious threat to health. In this study, the effect of ultrasonic-enhanced ball milling zero-valent iron removal of vanadium in wastewater was investigated and the basic mechanism of this process was elucidated. The results of the study confirmed that the ultrasonic intervention significantly accelerated the vanadium removal rate and greatly shortened the time required to achieve equilibrium. Under certain experimental conditions, the removal efficiency of vanadium under ultrasonic conditions is 99.1 %, which is 1.4 times higher than that of the traditional constant-temperature water bath device (70.86 %). Analytical techniques such as electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) and ultraviolet (UV) spectroscopy have confirmed that ultrasonic-induced cavitation and microjet phenomena actively stimulate the formation of more H radicals and Fe2+. The key role of Fe2+ in the removal reaction was further explored and confirmed by a quenching experiment. Through fitting the experimental data of different isothermal adsorption models and reaction kinetics, it is concluded that the adsorption process conforms to the pseudo-second-order kinetics and the Langmuir isothermal model. The adsorption process is dominated by chemisorption, and the maximum adsorption capacity is 153.033 mg·g−1. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and other analyses show that under the action of ultrasonic waves, V5+ is rapidly reduced to its lower oxidation state through reduction within the first 10 min of the reaction. Secondly, as the reaction progresses and the pH value increases, electrostatic adsorption and coprecipitation are involved in the removal reaction.

Update on human herpesvirus 7 pathogenesis and clinical aspects as a roadmap for future research.

Human herpesvirus 7 (HHV-7) is a common virus that is associated with various human diseases including febrile syndromes, dermatological lesions, neurological defects, and transplant complications. Still, HHV-7 remains one of the least studied members of all human betaherpesviruses. In addition, HHV-7-related research is mostly confined to case reports, while in vitro or in vivo studies unraveling basic virology, transmission mechanisms, and viral pathogenesis are sparse. Here, we discuss HHV-7-related literature linking clinical syndromes to the viral life cycle, epidemiology, and viral immunopathogenesis. Based on our review, we propose a hypothetical model of HHV-7 pathogenesis inside its host. Furthermore, we identify important knowledge gaps and recommendations for future research to better understand HHV-7 diseases and improve therapeutic interventions.

Human endogenous retrovirus W in multiple sclerosis: transcriptional activity is associated with decline in oligodendrocyte proportions in the white matter of the brain.

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic inflammatory demyelinating disease. One of the basic mechanisms in this disease is the autoimmune response against the myelin sheet leading to axonal damage. There is strong evidence showing that this response is regulated by both genetic and environmental factors. In addition, the role of viruses has been extensively studied, especially in the case of human endogenous retroviruses (HERVs). However, although several associations with MS susceptibility, especially in the case of HERV-W family have been observed, the pathogenic mechanisms have remained enigmatic. To clarify these HERV-mediated mechanisms as well as the responsible HERV-W loci, we utilized RNA sequencing data obtained from the white matter of the brain of individuals with and without MS. CIBERSORTx tool was applied to estimate the proportions of neuronal, glial, and endothelial cells in the brain. In addition, the transcriptional activity of 215 HERV-W loci were analyzed. The results indicated that 65 HERV-W loci had detectable expression, of which 14 were differentially expressed between MS and control samples. Of these, 12 HERV-W loci were upregulated in MS. Expression levels of the 8 upregulated HERV-W loci had significant negative correlation with estimated oligodendrocyte proportions, suggesting that they are associated with the dynamics of oligodendrocyte generation and/or maintenance. Furthermore, Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA) results indicated that expression levels of three upregulated HERV-W loci: 2p16.2, 2q13, and Xq13.3, are associated with suppression of oligodendrocyte development and myelination. Taken together, these data suggest new HERV-W loci candidates that might take part in MS pathogenesis.

Exploring the potential of fennel (<i>Foeniculum vulgare</i> Mill.) as a valuable medicinal plant: a comprehensive (review)

Introduction. Foeniculum vulgare Mill., commonly known as fennel or drugstore dill, is very common as one of the world's oldest spice plants, which has significant economic importance and wide application in the pharmaceutical industry. In medical practice, the fruits of this plant are mainly used, which are included in the State Pharmacopoeia of the XIV edition and are a source of essential oil. They are used as an antispasmodic and carminative agent in the form of an infusion. Fennel grass harvested before flowering is used for food, as well as fruits, stems and inflorescences of the plant as a seasoning.Text. The purpose of this study is to summarize scientific papers on the morphological characteristics, phytochemical compounds, therapeutic properties and basic mechanisms of pharmacological activity of F. vulgare. A systematic literature search was conducted using relevant keywords such as "fennel", "Foeniculum vulgare Mill.", "therapeutic" and "pharmacology" in well-known databases, including ScienceDirect, Scopus, EBSCO and Medline. The search covered articles published before April 25, 2023 in available journals. The results of the study showed that fennel has a wide range of pharmacological properties, including antioxidant, anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory, antifungal, antibacterial and estrogenic effects. These effects can be explained by the presence of aromatic compounds, in particular anethole, estragole and fenchone, which are abundantly present in fennel.Conclusion. The diverse pharmacological properties and rich chemical composition of fennel make it a promising raw material for the development of new medicines. Further study of the therapeutic potential of fennel through in vivo and in vitro studies will contribute to the establishment of mechanisms of pharmacological action of biologically active substances (BAS) of fennel.

Intertextual satire in media discourse

Abstract The paper investigates intertextual satire in media discourse from the cognitive linguistic perspective. Within the frameworks of conceptual blending theory and the theory of precedent-related phenomena, we examine the cognitive processes of producing and understanding intertextual satire. By modelling conceptual integration networks, we aim to specify the cognitive mechanisms and operations involved in decoding intertextual satirical articles, drawing on examples from Private Eye magazine. The study demonstrates that the basic cognitive mechanism involved in creating intertextual satire is blending, and, in contrast to ironic utterances, which involve two contexts, in intertextual satire one and the same scenario unfolds in three contexts: real, fictional, and satirical. Thus, the blend that occurs as a result of combining real and fictional scenarios is verbalised and obvious to the recipient. The emergent structure, based on the blend, represents the intended (non-verbalised) meaning of intertextual satire, namely indirect criticism of the real situation under focus.

Development of an Educational Kit Using CAD Software for Simple Machine Learning

Traditional simple machine topic is frequently theoretical and does not provide enough hands-on practise. Students may as a result fail to comprehend the fundamentals of simple machines and their applications. This research presents an innovative educational kit for simple machine learning. Students can utilize this kit to understand the fundamental concepts behind simple machines like levers, gears, and pulleys. This study investigates the creation of a simple machine kit using CAD software as a teaching tool for fundamental mechanics. A survey study is employed as part of this technique in order to ascertain audience needs and expectations. Beginning with idea generation and followed by rigorous evaluation, the process of developing the kit focuses on aligning pedagogical viability, marketability, and profitability. The selected concept is then transformed into a detailed technical drawing specifying dimensions, components, and assembly instructions, ensuring coherence between educational goals and machine learning integration. Iterative prototyping and testing further refine the kit's design, ensuring seamless interaction between machine learning elements and LEGO-based components. This approach culminates in an innovative educational kit that effectively imparts foundational machine learning principles through an engaging platform. The simple machine kit made through this research can then be utilized as an educational tool in primary, secondary, or higher education environments to facilitate students' grasp of basic mechanics. Students learning product design may find this novel approach both enjoyable and useful in their studies.

Impact of bisphenol A and analogues eluted from resin-based dental materials on cellular and molecular processes: An insight on underlying toxicity mechanisms.

Dental resin systems, used for artificial replacement of teeth and their surrounding structures, have gained popularity due to the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) recommendation to reduce dental amalgam use in high-risk populations and medical circumstances. Bisphenol A (BPA), an endocrine-disrupting chemical, is an essential monomer within dental resin in the form of various analogues and derivatives. Leaching of monomers from resins results in toxicity, affecting hormone metabolism and causing long-term health risks. Understanding cellular-level toxicity profiles of bisphenol derivatives is crucial for conducting toxicity studies in in vivo models. This review provides insights into the unique expression patterns of BPA and its analogues among different cell types and their underlying toxicity mechanisms. Lack of a consistent cell line for toxic effects necessitates exploring various cell lines. Among the individual monomers, BisGMA was found to be the most toxic; however, BisDMA and BADGE generates BPA endogenously and found to elicit severe adverse reactions. In correlating in vitro data with in vivo findings, further research is necessary to classify the elutes as human carcinogens or xenoestrogens. Though the basic mechanisms underlying toxicity were believed to be the production of intracellular reactive oxygen species and a corresponding decline in glutathione levels, several underlying mechanisms were identified to stimulate cellular responses at low concentrations. The review calls for further research to assess the synergistic interactions of co-monomers and other components in dental resins. The review emphasizes the clinical relevance of these findings, highlighting the necessity for safer dental materials and underscoring the potential health risks associated with current dental resin systems.

Targeting epidermal growth factor receptor and its downstream signaling pathways by natural products: A mechanistic insight.

The epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is a transmembrane receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) that maintains normal tissues and cell signaling pathways. EGFR is overactivated and overexpressed in many malignancies, including breast, lung, pancreatic, and kidney. Further, the EGFR gene mutations and protein overexpression activate downstream signaling pathways in cancerous cells, stimulating the growth, survival, resistance to apoptosis, and progression of tumors. Anti-EGFR therapy is the potential approach for treating malignancies and has demonstrated clinical success in treating specific cancers. The recent report suggests most of the clinically used EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors developed resistance to the cancer cells. This perspective provides a brief overview of EGFR and its implications in cancer. We have summarized natural products-derived anticancer compounds with the mechanistic basis of tumor inhibition via the EGFR pathway. We propose that developing natural lead molecules into new anticancer agents has a bright future after clinical investigation.

A Bayesian model calibration framework for stochastic compartmental models with both time-varying and time-invariant parameters

We consider state and parameter estimation for compartmental models having both time-varying and time-invariant parameters. In this manuscript, we first detail a general Bayesian computational framework as a continuation of our previous work. Subsequently, this framework is specifically tailored to the susceptible-infectious-removed (SIR) model which describes a basic mechanism for the spread of infectious diseases through a system of coupled nonlinear differential equations. The SIR model consists of three states, namely, the susceptible, infectious, and removed compartments. The coupling among these states is controlled by two parameters, the infection rate and the recovery rate. The simplicity of the SIR model and similar compartmental models make them applicable to many classes of infectious diseases. However, the combined assumption of a deterministic model and time-invariance among the model parameters are two significant impediments which critically limit their use for long-term predictions. The tendency of certain model parameters to vary in time due to seasonal trends, non-pharmaceutical interventions, and other random effects necessitates a model that structurally permits the incorporation of such time-varying effects. Complementary to this, is the need for a robust mechanism for the estimation of the parameters of the resulting model from data. To this end, we consider an augmented state vector, which appends the time-varying parameters to the original system states whereby the time evolution of the time-varying parameters are driven by an artificial noise process in a standard manner. Distinguishing between time-varying and time-invariant parameters in this fashion limits the introduction of artificial dynamics into the system, and provides a robust, fully Bayesian approach for estimating the time-invariant system parameters as well as the elements of the process noise covariance matrix. This computational framework is implemented by leveraging the robustness of the Markov chain Monte Carlo algorithm permits the estimation of time-invariant parameters while nested nonlinear filters concurrently perform the joint estimation of the system states and time-varying parameters. We demonstrate performance of the framework by first considering a series of examples using synthetic data, followed by an exposition on public health data collected in the province of Ontario.

Vascular Organization: Lessons from Development and Disease.

Organ formation requires tight coordination with vascular growth. Intricate networks of blood vessels course through all organs and tissues and are composed of both endothelial cells (ECs) and associated mural cells. Despite decades of research into the biology of blood vessel formation and homeostasis, little is known about how the vasculature ensures its properly coordinated growth and intimate development with the cells of different organs. Even more mystifying is how a highly dynamic endothelium quiesces to differentiate into mature vessels, and how disruption of this mature quiescence results in pathological conditions. Interestingly, both intra- and interorgan vascular architecture hold critical importance to the maintenance of blood vessels, as the rate of flow and supply of supportive angiogenic factors can be altered with deleterious effects. In this article, we review the basic mechanisms of blood vessel formation and maintenance with an emphasis on organ-specific vascular development, and we examine the case of transient pulmonary arteriovenous malformations as a case study of vascular homeostatic mechanisms.