X

Your email was sent successfully. Check your inbox.

An error occurred while sending the email. Please try again.

Proceed reservation?

Export
  • 1
    Online Resource
    Online Resource
    Interface Behavior and Interface Tensile Strength of a Hardened Concrete Mixture with a Coarse Aggregate for Additive Manufacturing
    MDPI AG ; 2020
    In:  Materials Vol. 13, No. 22 ( 2020-11-15), p. 5147-
    Details
    In: Materials, MDPI AG, Vol. 13, No. 22 ( 2020-11-15), p. 5147-
    Abstract: 3D concrete printing technology (3DCP) is a relatively new technology that was first established in the 1990s. The main weakness of the technology is the interface strength between the extruded layers, which are deposited at different time intervals. Consequently, the interface strength is assumed to vary in relation to the time of concrete casting. The proposed experimental study investigated the behavior of a hardened concrete mixture containing coarse aggregates that were up to 8 mm in size, which is rather unusual for 3DCP technology. The resulting direct tensile strength at the layer interface was investigated for various time intervals of deposition from the initial mixing of concrete components. To better understand the material behavior at the layer interface area, computed tomography (CT) scanning was conducted, where the volumetric and area analysis enabled validation of the pore size and count distribution in accordance with the layer deposition process. The analyzed CT data related the macroscopic anisotropy and the resulting crack pattern to the temporal and spatial variability that is inherent to the additive manufacturing process at construction scales while providing additional insights into the porosity formation during the extrusion of the cementitious composite. The observed results contribute to previous investigations in this field by demonstrating the causal relationships, namely, how the interface strength development is determined by time, deposition process, and pore size distribution. Moreover, in regard to the printability of the proposed coarse aggregate mixture, the specific time interval is presented and its interplay with interface roughness and porosity is discussed.
    Type of Medium: Online Resource
    ISSN: 1996-1944
    URL: Article
    DOI: 10.3390/ma13225147
    Language: English
    Publisher: MDPI AG
    Publication Date: 2020
    detail.hit.zdb_id: 2487261-1
    Library Location Call Number Volume/Issue/Year Availability
    BibTip Others were also interested in ...
    Online Resource
    Open Access Request
    Availability (electronic / print)
  • 2
    Online Resource
    Online Resource
    Applicability of Human Thermophysiological Model for Prediction of Thermal Strain in PPE
    MDPI AG ; 2023
    In:  Applied Sciences Vol. 13, No. 12 ( 2023-06-15), p. 7170-
    Details
    In: Applied Sciences, MDPI AG, Vol. 13, No. 12 ( 2023-06-15), p. 7170-
    Abstract: The use of personal protective equipment (PPE) is essential to protect the human body in hazardous environments or where there is a risk of CBRN agents. However, PPE also poses a barrier to evaporative heat dissipation, therefore increasing heat accumulation in the body. In our research, we investigated the applicability of thermophysiological models for the prediction of thermal strain and the permissible working time in a contaminated environment when the usage of protective ensembles is required. We investigated the relationship between the thermal insulation characteristics of four types of PPE against CBRN agents and the induced thermal strain in a set of real physiological strain tests with human probands wearing the PPE in a climatic chamber. Based on the results, we compared the predictions using two thermophysiological models—Predicted Heat Strain Index (PHS) and FIALA-based model of thermal comfort (FMTK)—with the experimental data. In order to provide a user-friendly platform for the estimation of thermal stress in PPE, a user-friendly computational tool, Predictor of Thermal Stress (PTS), was developed. The PTS tool is based on an extensive database of simulated calculations using an FMTK model based on PPE characteristics, environmental conditions, individual parameters, and expected workload. The PTS tool was validated by means of the results from real tests in a climatic chamber. The PTS was shown to be an easy-to-use computational tool, which can be run on a regular PC, based on real data applicable for the estimation of the permissible work time limit with regard to thermal strain in PPE under various conditions.
    Type of Medium: Online Resource
    ISSN: 2076-3417
    URL: Article
    DOI: 10.3390/app13127170
    Language: English
    Publisher: MDPI AG
    Publication Date: 2023
    detail.hit.zdb_id: 2704225-X
    Library Location Call Number Volume/Issue/Year Availability
    BibTip Others were also interested in ...
    Online Resource
    Open Access Request
    Availability (electronic / print)
  • 3
    Online Resource
    Online Resource
    Prognosis of Laboratory-Confirmed Influenza and Respiratory Syncytial Virus in Acute Heart Failure
    MDPI AG ; 2021
    In:  Journal of Clinical Medicine Vol. 10, No. 19 ( 2021-09-30), p. 4546-
    Details
    In: Journal of Clinical Medicine, MDPI AG, Vol. 10, No. 19 ( 2021-09-30), p. 4546-
    Abstract: Concomitant respiratory viral infections may influence clinical outcomes of acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF) but this association is based on indirect observation. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence and impact of laboratory-confirmed influenza or respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection on outcomes in patients hospitalised for ADHF. Prospective cohort of patients hospitalised for ADHF with systematic influenza and RSV screening using real-time PCR on nasopharyngeal swabs. The primary outcome was all-cause mortality or readmission at 90 days. Among 803 patients with ADHF, 196 (24.5%) patients had concomitant flu-like symptoms of influenza. PCR was positive in 45 patients (27 for influenza, 19 for RSV). At 90 days, PCR positive patients had lower rates of all-cause mortality or readmission as compared to patients without flu-like symptoms (HR 0.40, 95% CI 0.18–0.91, p = 0.03), and non-significantly less all-cause mortality (HR 0.30, 95% CI 0.04–2.20, p = 0.24), or HF-related death or readmission (HR 0.36, 95% CI 0.13–0.99, p = 0.05). The prevalence of influenza or RSV infection in patients admitted for ADHF was low and associated with less all-cause mortality and readmission. Concomitant viral infection with ADHF may not in itself be a predictor of poor outcomes. (ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02444416).
    Type of Medium: Online Resource
    ISSN: 2077-0383
    URL: Article
    DOI: 10.3390/jcm10194546
    Language: English
    Publisher: MDPI AG
    Publication Date: 2021
    detail.hit.zdb_id: 2662592-1
    Library Location Call Number Volume/Issue/Year Availability
    BibTip Others were also interested in ...
    Online Resource
    Open Access Request
    Availability (electronic / print)
  • 4
    Online Resource
    Online Resource
    The Metabolic Profile of Young, Watered Chickpea Plants Can Be Used as a Biomarker to Predict Seed Number under Terminal Drought
    MDPI AG ; 2023
    In:  Plants Vol. 12, No. 11 ( 2023-05-30), p. 2172-
    Details
    In: Plants, MDPI AG, Vol. 12, No. 11 ( 2023-05-30), p. 2172-
    Abstract: Chickpea is the second-most-cultivated legume globally, with India and Australia being the two largest producers. In both of these locations, the crop is sown on residual summer soil moisture and left to grow on progressively depleting water content, finally maturing under terminal drought conditions. The metabolic profile of plants is commonly, correlatively associated with performance or stress responses, e.g., the accumulation of osmoprotective metabolites during cold stress. In animals and humans, metabolites are also prognostically used to predict the likelihood of an event (usually a disease) before it occurs, e.g., blood cholesterol and heart disease. We sought to discover metabolic biomarkers in chickpea that could be used to predict grain yield traits under terminal drought, from the leaf tissue of young, watered, healthy plants. The metabolic profile (GC-MS and enzyme assays) of field-grown chickpea leaves was analysed over two growing seasons, and then predictive modelling was applied to associate the most strongly correlated metabolites with the final seed number plant−1. Pinitol (negatively), sucrose (negatively) and GABA (positively) were significantly correlated with seed number in both years of study. The feature selection algorithm of the model selected a larger range of metabolites including carbohydrates, sugar alcohols and GABA. The correlation between the predicted seed number and actual seed number was R2 adj = 0.62, demonstrating that the metabolic profile could be used to predict a complex trait with a high degree of accuracy. A previously unknown association between D-pinitol and hundred-kernel weight was also discovered and may provide a single metabolic marker with which to predict large seeded chickpea varieties from new crosses. The use of metabolic biomarkers could be used by breeders to identify superior-performing genotypes before maturity is reached.
    Type of Medium: Online Resource
    ISSN: 2223-7747
    URL: Article
    DOI: 10.3390/plants12112172
    Language: English
    Publisher: MDPI AG
    Publication Date: 2023
    detail.hit.zdb_id: 2704341-1
    Library Location Call Number Volume/Issue/Year Availability
    BibTip Others were also interested in ...
    Online Resource
    Open Access Request
    Availability (electronic / print)
  • 5
    Online Resource
    Online Resource
    First-Line Pembrolizumab Mono- or Combination Therapy of Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer: Baseline Metabolic Biomarkers Predict Outcomes
    MDPI AG ; 2021
    In:  Cancers Vol. 13, No. 23 ( 2021-12-03), p. 6096-
    Details
    In: Cancers, MDPI AG, Vol. 13, No. 23 ( 2021-12-03), p. 6096-
    Abstract: Quantitative biomarkers derived from positron-emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) have been suggested as prognostic variables in immune-checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) treated non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). As such, data for first-line ICI therapy and especially for chemotherapy–ICI combinations are still scarce, we retrospectively evaluated baseline 18F-FDG-PET/CT of 85 consecutive patients receiving first-line pembrolizumab with chemotherapy (n = 70) or as monotherapy (n = 15). Maximum and mean standardized uptake value, total metabolic tumor volume (MTV), total lesion glycolysis, bone marrow-/and spleen to liver ratio (BLR/SLR) were calculated. Kaplan–Meier analyses and Cox regression models were used to assess progression-free/overall survival (PFS/OS) and their determinant variables. Median follow-up was 12 months (M; 95% confidence interval 10–14). Multivariate selection for PFS/OS revealed MTV as most relevant PET/CT biomarker (p 〈 0.001). Median PFS/OS were significantly longer in patients with MTV ≤ 70 mL vs. 〉 70 mL (PFS: 10 M (4–16) vs. 4 M (3–5), p = 0.001; OS: not reached vs. 10 M (5–15), p = 0.004). Disease control rate was 81% vs. 53% for MTV ≤/ 〉 70 mL (p = 0.007). BLR ≤ 1.06 vs. 〉 1.06 was associated with better outcomes (PFS: 8 M (4–13) vs. 4 M (3–6), p = 0.034; OS: 19 M (12-/) vs. 6 M (4–12), p = 0.005). In patients with MTV 〉 70 mL, concomitant BLR ≤ 1.06 indicated a better prognosis. Higher MTV is associated with inferior PFS/OS in first-line ICI-treated NSCLC, with BLR allowing additional risk stratification.
    Type of Medium: Online Resource
    ISSN: 2072-6694
    URL: Article
    DOI: 10.3390/cancers13236096
    Language: English
    Publisher: MDPI AG
    Publication Date: 2021
    detail.hit.zdb_id: 2527080-1
    Library Location Call Number Volume/Issue/Year Availability
    BibTip Others were also interested in ...
    Online Resource
    Open Access Request
    Availability (electronic / print)
  • 6
    Online Resource
    Online Resource
    Awareness Is Not Enough: Frequent Use of Water Pollution Information and Changes to Risky Behavior
    MDPI AG ; 2020
    In:  Sustainability Vol. 12, No. 20 ( 2020-10-20), p. 8695-
    Details
    In: Sustainability, MDPI AG, Vol. 12, No. 20 ( 2020-10-20), p. 8695-
    Abstract: Hazard information plays an important role in how risk perceptions are formed and what actions are taken in response to risk. While past studies have shown that information on water and air pollution is associated with changes to individual behavior, there is a need for examination of water quality information in the context of environmental disturbances. This study fills that gap by examining water pollution in an active industrial region of the United States—the Galveston Bay of Texas. Using original survey data collected in 2019 of 525 adults living in the Galveston Bay region, logistic regression was used to analyze the association of awareness and use of water pollution information on changes to outdoor activities and consumption of drinking water and/or seafood. Controls for chronic and acute exposure to environmental hazards, environmental knowledge and experience, and demographics were included in the model. The findings indicate frequent use of water quality information is significantly associated with action to reduce risk. On average, an individual who checks water pollution monitoring every day is 26% and 33% more likely to change their outdoor activities and consumption behavior, respectively, than someone who is not aware of this information. There is a need for improvement in pollution data collection and the development of a risk communication framework that facilitates the dissemination of this information in relevant, accessible, and credible ways.
    Type of Medium: Online Resource
    ISSN: 2071-1050
    URL: Article
    DOI: 10.3390/su12208695
    Language: English
    Publisher: MDPI AG
    Publication Date: 2020
    detail.hit.zdb_id: 2518383-7
    Library Location Call Number Volume/Issue/Year Availability
    BibTip Others were also interested in ...
    Online Resource
    Open Access Request
    Availability (electronic / print)
  • 7
    Online Resource
    Online Resource
    Efficacy of Oral Rabies Vaccine Baits Containing SPBN GASGAS in Domestic Dogs According to International Standards
    MDPI AG ; 2023
    In:  Vaccines Vol. 11, No. 2 ( 2023-01-30), p. 307-
    Details
    In: Vaccines, MDPI AG, Vol. 11, No. 2 ( 2023-01-30), p. 307-
    Abstract: (1) Background: The oral vaccination of free-roaming dogs against rabies has been developed as a promising complementary tool for mass dog vaccination. However, no oral rabies vaccine has provided efficacy data in dogs according to international standards. (2) Methods: To test the immunogenicity and efficacy of the third-generation oral rabies virus vaccine strain, SPBN GASGAS, in domestic dogs, dogs were offered an egg-flavoured bait containing 3.0 mL of the vaccine (107.5 FFU/mL) or a placebo egg-flavoured bait. Subsequently, these 25 vaccinated and 10 control animals were challenged approximately 6 months later with a dog rabies virus isolate. Blood samples were collected at different time points postvaccination and examined by ELISA and RFFIT. (3) Results: All but 1 of the 25 vaccinated dogs survived the challenge infection; meanwhile, all 10 control dogs succumbed to rabies. The serology results showed that all 25 vaccinated dogs seroconverted in ELISA ( 〉 40% PB); meanwhile, only 13 of the 25 vaccinated dogs tested seropositive ≥ 0.5 IU/mL) in RFFIT. (4) Conclusions: The SPBN GASGAS rabies virus vaccine meets the efficacy requirements for live oral rabies vaccines as laid down by the European Pharmacopoeia and the WOAH Terrestrial Manual. SPBN GASGAS already fulfilled the safety requirements for oral rabies vaccines targeted at dogs. Hence, the egg-flavoured bait containing SPBN GASGAS is the first oral vaccine bait that complies with WOAH recommendations for the intended use of oral vaccination of free-roaming dogs against rabies.
    Type of Medium: Online Resource
    ISSN: 2076-393X
    URL: Article
    DOI: 10.3390/vaccines11020307
    Language: English
    Publisher: MDPI AG
    Publication Date: 2023
    detail.hit.zdb_id: 2703319-3
    Library Location Call Number Volume/Issue/Year Availability
    BibTip Others were also interested in ...
    Online Resource
    Open Access Request
    Availability (electronic / print)
  • 8
    Online Resource
    Online Resource
    Effect of Aerodynamic Damping Approximations on Aeroelastic Eigensensitivities
    MDPI AG ; 2022
    In:  Aerospace Vol. 9, No. 3 ( 2022-03-01), p. 127-
    Details
    In: Aerospace, MDPI AG, Vol. 9, No. 3 ( 2022-03-01), p. 127-
    Abstract: Aeroelastic sensitivities for the flutter solution are a crucial component of the multi-disciplinary optimization methods employed in modern aircraft design. This paper derives the aeroelastic sensitivities for different aerodynamic damping approximations—the p-k method, the g method and the generalized aeroelastic analysis method—highlighting the influence of the employed aerodynamic approximation on the required derivatives. The derived formulation for the determination of aeroelastic sensitivities by means of a direct method is verified for the case of a two-degree-of-freedom typical section model, where analytical aeroelastic sensitivities can be analytically obtained. For this and for an additional model, namely the AGARD 445.6 weakened wing, the significant effect of the aerodynamic damping approximation on the aeroelastic sensitivities is shown.
    Type of Medium: Online Resource
    ISSN: 2226-4310
    URL: Article
    DOI: 10.3390/aerospace9030127
    Language: English
    Publisher: MDPI AG
    Publication Date: 2022
    detail.hit.zdb_id: 2756091-0
    Library Location Call Number Volume/Issue/Year Availability
    BibTip Others were also interested in ...
    Online Resource
    Open Access Request
    Availability (electronic / print)
  • 9
    Online Resource
    Online Resource
    Lumbar Interbody Fusion Conducted on a Porcine Model with a Bioresorbable Ceramic/Biopolymer Hybrid Implant Enriched with Hyperstable Fibroblast Growth Factor 2
    MDPI AG ; 2021
    In:  Biomedicines Vol. 9, No. 7 ( 2021-06-25), p. 733-
    Details
    In: Biomedicines, MDPI AG, Vol. 9, No. 7 ( 2021-06-25), p. 733-
    Abstract: Many growth factors have been studied as additives accelerating lumbar fusion rates in different animal models. However, their low hydrolytic and thermal stability both in vitro and in vivo limits their workability and use. In the proposed work, a stabilized vasculogenic and prohealing fibroblast growth factor-2 (FGF2-STAB®) exhibiting a functional half-life in vitro at 37 °C more than 20 days was applied for lumbar fusion in combination with a bioresorbable scaffold on porcine models. An experimental animal study was designed to investigate the intervertebral fusion efficiency and safety of a bioresorbable ceramic/biopolymer hybrid implant enriched with FGF2-STAB® in comparison with a tricortical bone autograft used as a gold standard. Twenty-four experimental pigs underwent L2/3 discectomy with implantation of either the tricortical iliac crest bone autograft or the bioresorbable hybrid implant (BHI) followed by lateral intervertebral fixation. The quality of spinal fusion was assessed by micro-computed tomography (micro-CT), biomechanical testing, and histological examination at both 8 and 16 weeks after the surgery. While 8 weeks after implantation, micro-CT analysis demonstrated similar fusion quality in both groups, in contrast, spines with BHI involving inorganic hydroxyapatite and tricalcium phosphate along with organic collagen, oxidized cellulose, and FGF2- STAB® showed a significant increase in a fusion quality in comparison to the autograft group 16 weeks post-surgery (p = 0.023). Biomechanical testing revealed significantly higher stiffness of spines treated with the bioresorbable hybrid implant group compared to the autograft group (p 〈 0.05). Whilst histomorphological evaluation showed significant progression of new bone formation in the BHI group besides non-union and fibrocartilage tissue formed in the autograft group. Significant osteoinductive effects of BHI based on bioceramics, collagen, oxidized cellulose, and FGF2-STAB® could improve outcomes in spinal fusion surgery and bone tissue regeneration.
    Type of Medium: Online Resource
    ISSN: 2227-9059
    URL: Article
    DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines9070733
    Language: English
    Publisher: MDPI AG
    Publication Date: 2021
    detail.hit.zdb_id: 2720867-9
    Library Location Call Number Volume/Issue/Year Availability
    BibTip Others were also interested in ...
    Online Resource
    Open Access Request
    Availability (electronic / print)
  • 10
    Online Resource
    Online Resource
    Methodology for the Implementation of Internal Standard to Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy Analysis of Soft Tissues
    MDPI AG ; 2021
    In:  Sensors Vol. 21, No. 3 ( 2021-01-29), p. 900-
    Details
    In: Sensors, MDPI AG, Vol. 21, No. 3 ( 2021-01-29), p. 900-
    Abstract: The improving performance of the laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) triggered its utilization in the challenging topic of soft tissue analysis. Alterations of elemental content within soft tissues are commonly assessed and provide further insights in biological research. However, the laser ablation of soft tissues is a complex issue and demands a priori optimization, which is not straightforward in respect to a typical LIBS experiment. Here, we focus on implementing an internal standard into the LIBS elemental analysis of soft tissue samples. We achieve this by extending routine methodology for optimization of soft tissues analysis with a standard spiking method. This step enables a robust optimization procedure of LIBS experimental settings. Considering the implementation of LIBS analysis to the histological routine, we avoid further alterations of the tissue structure. Therefore, we propose a unique methodology of sample preparation, analysis, and subsequent data treatment, which enables the comparison of signal response from heterogenous matrix for different LIBS parameters. Additionally, a brief step-by-step process of optimization to achieve the highest signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) is described. The quality of laser–tissue interaction is investigated on the basis of the zinc signal response, while selected experimental parameters (e.g., defocus, gate delay, laser energy, and ambient atmosphere) are systematically modified.
    Type of Medium: Online Resource
    ISSN: 1424-8220
    URL: Article
    DOI: 10.3390/s21030900
    Language: English
    Publisher: MDPI AG
    Publication Date: 2021
    detail.hit.zdb_id: 2052857-7
    Library Location Call Number Volume/Issue/Year Availability
    BibTip Others were also interested in ...
    Online Resource
    Open Access Request
    Availability (electronic / print)
Nothing or not found what you are looking for? Please check your search query or use the Interlibrary Loan Search.
Close ⊗
This website uses cookies and the analysis tool Matomo. Further information can be found on the KOBV privacy pages