bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Selection of an Appropriate In Vitro Susceptibility Test for Assessing Anti-Pythium insidiosum Activity of Potassium Iodide, Triamcinolone Acetonide, Dimethyl Sulfoxide, and Ethanol
Authors: Yolanda Hanna , Lohnoo Tassanee , Rujirawat Thidarat , Yingyong Wanta , Kumsang Yothin , Sae-Chew Pattarana , Payattikul Penpan , Krajaejun Theerapong
Published: October 2022

The orphan but highly virulent pathogen Pythium insidiosum causes pythiosis in humans and animals. Surgery is a primary treatment aiming to cure but trading off losing affected organs. Antimicrobial drugs show limited efficacy in treating pythiosis. Alternative drugs effective against the pathogen are needed. In-house drug susceptibility tests (i.e., broth dilution, disc diffusion, and radial growth assays) have been established, some of which adapted the standard protocols (i.e., CLSI M38-A2 and CLSI M51) designed for fungi. Hyphal plug, hyphal suspension, and zoospore are inocula commonly used in the drug susceptibility assessment for P. insidiosum. A side-by-side comparison demonstrated that each method had advantages and limitations. Minimum inhibitory and cidal concentrations of a drug varied depending on the selected method. Material availability, user experience, and organism and drug quantities determined which susceptibility assay should be used. We employed the hyphal plug and a combination of broth dilution and radial growth methods to screen and validate the anti-P. insidiosum activities of several previously reported chemicals, including potassium iodide, triamcinolone acetonide, dimethyl sulfoxide, and ethanol, in which data on their anti-P. insidiosum efficacy are limited. We tested each chemical against 29 genetically diverse isolates of P. insidiosum. These chemicals possessed direct antimicrobial effects on the growth of the pathogen in a dose- and time-dependent manner, suggesting their potential application in pythiosis treatment. Future attempts should focus on standardizing these drug susceptibility methods, such as determining susceptibility/resistant breakpoints, so healthcare workers can confidently interpret a result and select an effective drug against P. insidiosum.
Effect of Shock Waves on the Growth of Aspergillus niger Conidia: Evaluation of Germination and Preliminary Study on Gene Expression
Authors: Larrañaga-Ordaz Daniel , Martínez-Maldonado Miguel A. , Millán-Chiu Blanca E. , Fernández Francisco , Castaño-Tostado Eduardo , Gómez-Lim Miguel Ángel , Loske Achim M.
Published: October 2022

Shock waves, as used in medicine, can induce cell permeabilization, genetically transforming filamentous fungi; however, little is known on the interaction of shock waves with the cell wall. Because of this, the selection of parameters has been empirical. We studied the influence of shock waves on the germination of Aspergillus niger, to understand their effect on the modulation of four genes related to the growth of conidia. Parameters were varied in the range reported in protocols for genetic transformation. Vials containing conidia in suspension were exposed to either 50, 100 or 200 single-pulse or tandem shock waves, with different peak pressures (approximately 42, 66 and 83 MPa). In the tandem mode, three delays were tested. To equalize the total energy, the number of tandem “events” was halved compared to the number of single-pulse shock waves. Our results demonstrate that shock waves do not generate severe cellular effects on the viability and germination of A. niger conidia. Nevertheless, increase in the aggressiveness of the treatment induced a modification in four tested genes. Scanning electron microscopy revealed significant changes to the cell wall of the conidia. Under optimized conditions, shock waves could be used for several biotechnological applications, surpassing conventional techniques.
Assessing the Interplay between Weather and Septoria Leaf Blotch Severity on Lower Leaves on the Disease Risk on Upper Leaves in Winter Wheat
Authors: El Jarroudi Moussa , Kouadio Louis , Junk Jürgen , Maraite Henri , Tychon Bernard , Delfosse Philippe
Published: October 2022

Septoria leaf blotch (SLB) is among the most damaging foliar diseases of wheat worldwide. In this study, data for seven cropping seasons (2003–2009) at four representative wheat-growing sites in the Grand-Duchy of Luxembourg (GDL) were used to assess SLB risk on the three upper leaves (L3 to L1, L1 being the flag leaf) based on the combination of conducive weather conditions, simulated potential daily infection events by Zymoseptoria tritici, and SLB severity on lower leaves between stem elongation and mid-flowering. Results indicated that the variability in SLB severity on L3 to L1 at soft dough was significantly (p < 0.05) influenced by the disease severity on the lower leaf L5 at L3 emergence and the sum of daily mean air temperature between stem elongation and mid-flowering. Moreover, analyzing the predictive power of these variables through multiple linear regression indicated that the disease severity on L5 at L3 emergence and mild weather conditions between stem elongation and mid-flowering critically influenced the progress of SLB later in the season. Such results can help fine tune weather-based SLB risk models to guide optimal timing of fungicide application in winter wheat fields and ensure economic and ecological benefits.
The Use of Iloprost in the Treatment of Bone Marrow Edema Syndrome of the Proximal Femur: A Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Zippelius Timo , Strube Patrick , Rohe Sebastian , Schlattmann Peter , Dobrindt Oliver , Caffard Thomas , Awan Malik Hassan , Lindemann Chris , Matziolis Georg , Böhle Sabrina
Published: October 2022

Objective: The aim of this meta-analysis was to investigate the impact of intravenous iloprost therapy on pain, function, edema changes, and follow-up surgery in bone marrow edema syndrome of the proximal femur. Methods: A systematic literature search up to May 2022 was performed to find relevant papers that made a statement about the outcome of intravenous iloprost therapy alone. Factors such as the Visual Analog Scale (VAS), Harris Hip Score (HHS), edema reduction, and follow-up interventions were considered. These were compared using Forest plots. Results: In 11 studies, 190 proximal femora with bone marrow edema syndrome that received intravenous iloprost therapy without further therapeutic intravenous or surgical intervention such as core decompression were studied. There was a significant mean improvement in VAS by 3.3 cm (2.07–4.5 cm) (p < 0.001) and HHS by 24.36 points (18.23–30.49) (p < 0.001) 3–6 months after receiving iloprost therapy. Only in 9.3% of cases (1.1–24.3%) did no clinical or radiological improvement occur. Conclusions: It could be shown that the existing publications support intravenous therapy with iloprost in patients with bone marrow edema syndrome and result in good clinical outcomes.
A Mortality Risk Analysis for OSHA’s COVID-19 Emergency Regulations
Authors: Broughel James , Baxter Andrew
Published: October 2022

In 2021, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) issued two emergency temporary standard regulations related to COVID-19 hazards in US workplaces. One regulation covered healthcare sector workers, while the second regulation would have covered workers at firms with 100 or more employees. This paper conducts an original mortality risk analysis for these regulations. Mortality risk analysis evaluates the increase or decrease in expected mortality associated with a new policy, such as a rule or regulation, taking into account economic factors like lost income due to regulatory costs. If we accept OSHA’s cost and health benefit estimates at face value, we find that the first regulation related to COVID-19 hazards in the healthcare sector reduces risk initially but increases risk over a longer time horizon. We find that the second regulation would reduce risk according to OSHA’s main estimates but may not reduce risk after including some ancillary costs and adjusting the agency’s prevented hospitalizations estimate based on more reasonable assumptions. Moreover, OSHA’s economic analysis for the two regulations in question does not purport to comprehensively evaluate costs; ergo, our mortality risk estimates probably underestimate countervailing mortality risks stemming from these regulations. We review some of OSHA’s underlying assumptions that could change the outcomes of our mortality analysis. These estimates demonstrate that OSHA would benefit from more comprehensive consideration of costs in its economic analysis.
Religiosity at the Top and Annual Report Readability
Authors: Nazrul Toufiq , Esplin Adam , Dow Kevin , Folsom David
Published: October 2022

This paper examines how individual religiosity at the top level of organizations affects the quality of their disclosure practices, as measured by the readability of annual reports. Our paper extends the recent accounting and finance literature that moves away from a location-based measure to an individual-based measure for capturing the effect of religiosity. Our findings suggest that the individual religiosity of C-suite executives matters in corporate decision-making and has positive implications for the quality of corporate disclosure practices, as reflected by more readable reports. This main finding is primarily driven by the religiosity of CEOs. Additional findings also suggest that the effect of religiosity is not solely driven by the religious denomination of the majority group within a given location-based setting. Previous research using religiosity proxies based on the majority religion in the locale of firms’ headquarters may have measurement issues that disguise the effect of religiosity. This issue is particularly problematic when CEOs or other executives participate in minority religious denominations. Overall, our paper finds that CEO religiosity is an important attribute that affects the overall quality of business practice.
What Remains Unsolved in Sub-African Environmental Exposure Information Disclosure: A Review
Authors: Dagestani Abd Alwahed , Qing Lingli , Abou Houran Mohamad
Published: October 2022

Background: Africa comprises the bulk of struggling economies. However, Sub-Saharan Africa is experiencing rapid industrialization and urbanization. Excessive resource use, pollution, and the absence of relevant environmental disclosure are factors that contribute to these human-made damages. Environmental pollution as a threat to sustainable development results from these damages. Although it has been established that Sub-Saharan Africa would benefit from resource-management development, sustainable environmental strategies, and a reduction in urbanization and persistent poverty, the information on these issues has not been made public. Objective: To provide a full account of the level of environmental-exposure disclosure in Sub-Saharan African countries, including the current level of progress, gaps, and prospects, we reviewed the literature on environmental exposure information research in African populations. Methodology: We searched PubMed and Google Scholar for peer-reviewed research articles, reviews, or books examining environmental exposure and information disclosure in human populations in Africa. Results: In total, 89 full-text articles were eligible for the inclusion criteria. A quality assessment of the retrieved articles using the PRISMA guidelines resulted in the exclusion of 40 articles; therefore, 49 studies were included in the final analysis. In Sub-Saharan Africa, the environmental exposure information on household injuries, the use of chemicals such as pesticides in farming, industry-linked vectors and diseases, laboratory chemical exposure, industrial exposure, and epigenetic factors are not well-disclosed to the population. Conclusion: Environmental information disclosure standards should be incorporated into central-government policy recommendations. Standards should identify polluting industries, and companies should refrain from the voluntary disclosure of environmental information to manage their reputation. Heavy-pollution industries should be made sufficiently transparent to lessen the company–media collusion on information disclosure.
Dependencies and Volatility Spillovers among Chinese Stock and Crude Oil Future Markets: Evidence from Time-Varying Copula and BEKK-GARCH Models
Authors: Yu Xiaoling , Xiao Kaitian
Published: October 2022

This paper investigates co-movements among the Chinese stock market, Shanghai International Energy Exchange (INE) crude oil futures and West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude oil futures. We use Copula models to capture tail dependencies and employ the VAR-BEKK-GARCH model to examine the direction of volatility spillovers. We find that there are positively time-varying dependency relationships among the three markets. Compared with the corresponding upper-tail dependencies, the lower-tail dependencies were larger before the COVID-19 pandemic while relatively weaker after the breakout of the pandemic. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, there was only a statistically significant volatility spillover from WTI crude oil future market to the INE crude oil future market. After the breakout of the COVID-19 pandemic, there were statistically significant volatility spillovers in the two pairs of markets, namely, the WTI–INE and Chinese stock–WTI. However, we only find statistically significant evidence of unidirectional volatility spillover from the Chinese crude oil future market to the Chinese stock market during the pandemic.
The Definitive Guide to Actual Sensor Network Deployments in Research Studies from 2013–2017: A Systematic Review
Authors: Judvaitis Janis , Abolins Valters , Mednis Artis , Balass Rihards , Nesenbergs Krisjanis
Published: October 2022

The research community has been working on sensor networks for more that seven decades and altogether more than a million research articles on sensor networks have been published, with this number growing every day. In this article, we try to provide a thorough and complete systematic review on the sensor network field resulting from representative subset of more than 3000 articles which include actual sensor network deployments. After a thorough analysis of these data, we provide a definitive overview of the trends in sensor network deployment described in published research articles.
Overcoming the Collaboration Barriers among Stakeholders in Urban Renewal Based on a Two-Mode Social Network Analysis
Authors: Li Lingyan , Zhu Jiaxin , Duan Mimi , Li Pingbo , Guo Xiaotong
Published: October 2022

The relationship among stakeholders is complicated and full of collaboration barriers, which makes urban renewal an intersection of various contradictions. However, the existing literature considers the barriers to urban renewal independent of stakeholders, and the interaction between multiple stakeholders and barriers to collaboration has been ignored. Therefore, this study uses a literature review and expert interviews to identify stakeholders and their collaboration barriers in the process of urban renewal. Based on the results of expert questionnaires, a two-mode network model of stakeholder–collaboration barrier is constructed to clarify the complex interaction and reveal the power and status of stakeholders in a network relationship. The study found that each barrier was associated with at least three stakeholders, indicating the necessity of stakeholders to establish partnerships. Further analysis shows that the government, local and other administrative organizations, consulting parties, and developers are the most influential stakeholders. The vague boundary of property rights, lack of expert advice and expertise, and different stakeholder awareness were identified as key barriers affecting sustainable collaboration. Finally, this study proposes and validates five strategies to promote collaboration among stakeholders. This study helps practitioners identify the priority problems to be solved under limited resources and provides effective measures to promote stakeholder collaboration.
Accommodation and Avoidance: Functional Conflict Theory (FCT)-Based Governance Logic of Resettled Community Conflict in China
Authors: Xu Kexi , Gao Hui , Su Jieyu , Bao Haijun , Zhan Bingqian , Jiang Chun , Chen Liuzhao
Published: October 2022

The resettled community is a special type of transitional community in China where the residents are urbanized peasants who lost their lands during urbanization development. However, resettled community conflicts (RCCs) are barriers to sustainable community transformation. Focusing on functional conflict, this study identified the conflicts in the resettled community and proposed feasible governance logic for RCCs. The research in this article has a significant theoretical foundation in functional conflict theory. By examining a large sample of cases, seven RCC types were identified (e.g., inner discontent of residents, mass incidents), of which three have positive functions and four have negative impacts. Furthermore, three RCC causes were identified: right-based, interest-based, and value-based conflicts. Their mechanisms for the conflict function are, respectively, the contextual dual-functional, destructive one-way, and structural dual-functional paths. Considering these findings, we propose a dual governance logic of RCC: accommodation and avoidance. Within the dual logic, specific governance strategies are proposed for the different RCC causes and their functional formation paths. This research serves as an important reference for proper policy measures to govern RCCs and promote the sustainable transformation of resettled communities. The methodology adopted can be extended to the study of RCC in broader global contexts.
Relationship Analysis of Local Community Participation in Sustainable Ecotourism Development in Protected Areas, Iran
Authors: Sobhani Parvaneh , Esmaeilzadeh Hassan , Sadeghi Seyed Mohammad Moein , Wolf Isabelle D. , Deljouei Azade
Published: October 2022

Nature conservation efforts cannot succeed without stakeholder participation. The inherent complexity of nature-based ecotourism has made the development of sustainable ecotourism operations a challenge, so it is essential to increase community stakeholder participation. Hence, this study investigates local community participation in Lar National Park (LNP) and the Jajrud Protected Area with the Sustainable Use of Natural Resource Areas (JPA) in Iran and evaluates how this influences the sustainability of ecotourism. This study found that in LNP, sustainable ecotourism development involving local communities is increasing because of the high level of attachment and interest to this part of pristine nature. In the JPA, the relationship between local community participation and ecotourism sustainability is significant too. As a result, natural habitats have been degraded and sustainability has decreased. To conserve these critically endangered natural areas, managers and decision-makers must increase community participation and education to encourage local communities to engage more in developing sustainable ecotourism.
Hierarchical Structure and Organizational Model of County Tourism Network of the Tibetan Plateau
Authors: Shi Shanshan , Liu Menghao , Xi Jianchao
Published: October 2022

Hierarchical structures and organizational models highly affect the sustainable operation of the spatial network of tourism destinations. This paper adopted the modified tourism gravity model and social network analysis method to reveal the spatial characteristics of the tourism network on the Tibetan Plateau based on tourism flow data in 2019. The results are as follows: (1) the spatial organization of tourism flows was unbalanced, showing the characteristics of “high in the east and low in the west”; (2) The county tourism flow formed a multidimensional system of spatial hierarchy with Chengguan District of Lhasa, Golmud City, and Pengzhou City as the top nodes, the spatial polarization characteristics, and zonal distribution differences were evident; (3) The inter-county tourism linkage conformed to the law of distance decay, and the multiple network structure hierarchy features highlighted the complex linkage pattern; (4) The tourism network had a more distinctive dominant flow and was influenced by county-level administrative divisions; (5) The tourism linkage network formed eight subgroups with significant geographical characteristics. This study provides recommendations for optimizing the spatial structure of the Tibetan Plateau county tourism network for the government.
Characteristics of Bottom Sediments in the Coastal Areas of the Crimean Peninsula
Authors: Gurova Yulia S. , Gurov Konstantin I. , Orekhova Natalia A.
Published: October 2022

The aim of this work was to assess the influence of physical, chemical, and hydrochemical factors on the characteristics of bottom sediments in various areas of the shelf of the Crimean Peninsula. The data obtained during the cruises of the RV “Professor Vodianitsky” in the fall of 2018 and summer of 2019 were analyzed. Hydrochemical analyses of the bottom waters were carried out using standard hydrochemical methods. Profiles of dissolved oxygen, hydrogen sulfide, and oxidized and reduced forms of iron in pore waters were obtained, and the geochemical characteristics of bottom sediments were determined. The features of their spatial and vertical distributions were considered. Pelite-aleuritic sediments with inclusions of sandy material and shell detritus prevailed in the coastal zone of the Crimean shelf. The organic carbon content varied from 0.5–0.6% in the gravel–sand sediments of the Kerch pre-strait area to 2.5–2.7% in the northwestern part. The prevalence of suboxic conditions was noted, and the main processes in the sediment upper layer were controlled mainly by reactions involving iron. In some areas of the southern coast of Crimea and the Kerch pre-strait area from the Sea of Azov, the development of anoxic conditions in the surface layer of bottom sediments was recorded.
Givenness and Stress Rejection
Authors: Schubö Fabian
Published: October 2022

This paper addresses the impact of givenness on phrasal stress assignment in German. It has been observed for English that nuclear stress is rejected on given elements that are part of the focused material if another focused word is available to bear nuclear stress. It is shown that the same effect applies to German. There are various proposals of constraints that militate against prosodic prominence on given elements. The present paper reviews these proposals and argues in favor of a constraint that is restricted to banning nuclear stress on given elements, but not phrasal stress in general. The argument is based on the observation for German that phrasal stress commonly occurs on pre-focal given constituents and may as well be present in post-focal position. The paper offers an analysis in the framework of Optimality Theory that captures the aforementioned stress rejection effect as well as the variability observed with regard to post-nuclear phrasal stress positions.
Selective RNA Labeling by RNA-Compatible Type II Restriction Endonuclease and RNA-Extending DNA Polymerase
Authors: Jo Hyesung , Beon Jiyun , Oh Seung Soo
Published: October 2022

RNAs not only offer valuable information regarding our bodies but also regulate cellular functions, allowing for their specific manipulations to be extensively explored for many different biological and clinical applications. In particular, rather than temporary hybridization, permanent labeling is often required to introduce functional tags to target RNAs; however, direct RNA labeling has been revealed to be challenging, as native RNAs possess unmodifiable chemical moieties or indefinable dummy sequences at the ends of their strands. In this work, we demonstrate the combinatorial use of RNA-compatible restriction endonucleases (REs) and RNA-extending polymerases for sequence-specific RNA cleavage and subsequent RNA functionalization. Upon the introduction of complementary DNAs to target RNAs, Type II REs, such as AvrII and AvaII, could precisely cut the recognition site in the RNA-DNA heteroduplexes with exceptionally high efficiency. Subsequently, the 3′ ends of the cleaved RNAs were selectively and effectively modified when Therminator DNA polymerase template-dependently extended the RNA primers with a variety of modified nucleotides. Based on this two-step RNA labeling, only the target RNA could be chemically labeled with the desired moieties, such as bioconjugation tags or fluorophores, even in a mixture of various RNAs, demonstrating the potential for efficient and direct RNA modifications.
Lithium Biological Action Mechanisms after Ischemic Stroke
Authors: Munteanu Constantin , Rotariu Mariana , Turnea Marius , Tătăranu Ligia Gabriela , Dogaru Gabriela , Popescu Cristina , Spînu Aura , Andone Ioana , Ionescu Elena Valentina , Țucmeanu Roxana Elena , Oprea Carmen , Țucmeanu Alin , Cseppento Carmen Nistor , Silișteanu Sînziana Calina , Onose Gelu
Published: October 2022

Lithium is a source of great scientific interest because although it has such a simple structure, relatively easy-to-analyze chemistry, and well-established physical properties, the plethora of effects on biological systems—which influence numerous cellular and molecular processes through not entirely explained mechanisms of action—generate a mystery that modern science is still trying to decipher. Lithium has multiple effects on neurotransmitter-mediated receptor signaling, ion transport, signaling cascades, hormonal regulation, circadian rhythm, and gene expression. The biochemical mechanisms of lithium action appear to be multifactorial and interrelated with the functioning of several enzymes, hormones, vitamins, and growth and transformation factors. The widespread and chaotic marketing of lithium salts in potions and mineral waters, always at inadequate concentrations for various diseases, has contributed to the general disillusionment with empirical medical hypotheses about the therapeutic role of lithium. Lithium salts were first used therapeutically in 1850 to relieve the symptoms of gout, rheumatism, and kidney stones. In 1949, Cade was credited with discovering the sedative effect of lithium salts in the state of manic agitation, but frequent cases of intoxication accompanied the therapy. In the 1960s, lithium was shown to prevent manic and also depressive recurrences. This prophylactic effect was first demonstrated in an open-label study using the “mirror” method and was later (after 1970) confirmed by several placebo-controlled double-blind studies. Lithium prophylaxis was similarly effective in bipolar and also unipolar patients. In 1967, the therapeutic value of lithemia was determined, included in the range of 0.5–1.5 mEq/L. Recently, new therapeutic perspectives on lithium are connected with improved neurological outcomes after ischemic stroke. The effects of lithium on the development and maintenance of neuroprotection can be divided into two categories: short-term effects and long-term effects. Unfortunately, the existing studies do not fully explain the lithium biological action mechanisms after ischemic stroke.
Glycine Effect on the Expression Profile of Orphan Receptors GPR21, GPR26, GPR39, GPR82 and GPR6 in a Model of Inflammation in 3T3-L1 Cells
Authors: Gutiérrez-Rojas Rocío Alejandra , Aguayo-Cerón Karla Aidee , Vargas-De-León Cruz , Cabrera-Becerra Sandra Edith , Almanza-Pérez Julio Cesar , Huang Fengyang , Villafaña Santiago , Romero-Nava Rodrigo
Published: October 2022

Background: Chronic or low-grade inflammation is a process where various immune cells are recruited from the periphery into adipose tissue. This event gives rise to localised inflammation, in addition to having a close interaction with cardiometabolic pathologies where the mediation of orphan receptors is observed. The aim of this study was to analyse the participation of the orphan receptors GPR21, GPR39, GPR82 and GPR6 in a chronic inflammatory process in 3T3-L1 cells. The 3T3-L1 cells were stimulated with TNF-α (5 ng/mL) for 60 min as an inflammatory model. Gene expression was measured by RT-qPCR. Results: We showed that the inflammatory stimulus of TNF-α in adipocytes decreased the expression of the orphan receptors GPR21, GPR26, GPR39, GPR82 and GPR6, which are related to low-grade inflammation. Conclusions: Our results suggest that GPR21 and GPR82 are modulated by glycine, it shows a possible protective role in the presence of an inflammatory environment in adipocytes, and they could be a therapeutic target to decrease the inflammation in some diseases related to low-grade inflammation such as diabetes, obesity and metabolic syndrome.
Landscape Analysis of Runoff and Sedimentation Based on Land Use/Cover Change in Two Typical Watersheds on the Loess Plateau, China
Authors: Liu Xiaojun , Zhang Yi
Published: October 2022

Understanding sedimentation and runoff variations caused by land use change have emerged as important research areas, due to the ecological functions of landscape patterns. The aims of this study were to determine the relationship between landscape metrics (LMs), runoff, and sedimentation and explore the crucial LMs in the watersheds on the Loess Plateau. From 1985 to 2010, grassland was the dominant landscape in the Tuweihe (TU) and Gushanchuan (GU) watersheds. Unused land and cropland experienced the greatest transformations. The landscape in the study area tended to become regular, connected, and aggregated, represented by increasing of the Shannon’s diversity index and the largest patch index, and decreasing landscape division over time. The landscape stability of the TU watershed was higher than that of the GU watershed. Annual runoff and sedimentation gradually decreased and a significant relationship was found between water and soil loss. Due to larger cropland area and lower landscape stability in the GU watershed, the sedimentation of the two watersheds were similar, even though the runoff in the TU watershed was greater. There were stronger effects of LMs on runoff than that on sedimentation yield. The Shannon’s evenness and the patch cohesion index was identified as the key factors of influencing water and soil loss, which had the greatest effects on runoff and sedimentation. Results indicated that regional water and soil loss is sensitive to landscape regulation, which could provide a scientific understanding for the prevention and treatment of soil erosion at landscape level.
Preparation of Iron-Doped Titania Nanoparticles and Their UV-Blue Light-Shielding Capabilities in Polyurethane
Authors: Baimanova Regina , Luo Fushuai , Yang Mingshu
Published: October 2022

It is well known that ultraviolet (UV) and blue light cause a series of health problems and damages to polymer materials. Therefore, there are increasing demands for UV-blue light-shielding. Herein, a new type of iron-doped titania (Fe-TiO2) nanoparticle was synthesized. Fe-TiO2 nanoparticles with small particle size (ca. 10 nm) are composed of anatase and brookite. The iron element is incorporated into the lattice of titania and forms a hematite phase (α-Fe2O3). The iron doping imparted full-band UV and blue light absorption to Fe-TiO2 nanoparticles, and greatly suppressed the photocatalytic activity. The prepared Fe-TiO2/polyurethane (PU) films exhibited prominent UV-blue light-shielding performance and high transparency, which showed great potential in light-shielding fields.
Comparison of the Material Quality of AlxIn1−xN (x—0–0.50) Films Deposited on Si(100) and Si(111) at Low Temperature by Reactive RF Sputtering
Authors: Sun Michael , Blasco Rodrigo , Nwodo Julian , de la Mata María , Molina Sergio I. , Ajay Akhil , Monroy Eva , Valdueza-Felip Sirona , Naranjo Fernando B.
Published: October 2022

AlxIn1−xN ternary semiconductors have attracted much interest for application in photovoltaic devices. Here, we compare the material quality of AlxIn1−xN layers deposited on Si with different crystallographic orientations, (100) and (111), via radio-frequency (RF) sputtering. To modulate their Al content, the Al RF power was varied from 0 to 225 W, whereas the In RF power and deposition temperature were fixed at 30 W and 300 °C, respectively. X-ray diffraction measurements reveal a c-axis-oriented wurtzite structure with no phase separation regardless of the Al content (x = 0–0.50), which increases with the Al power supply. The surface morphology of the AlxIn1−xN layers improves with increasing Al content (the root-mean-square roughness decreases from ≈12 to 2.5 nm), and it is similar for samples grown on both Si substrates. The amorphous layer (~2.5 nm thick) found at the interface with the substrates explains the weak influence of their orientation on the properties of the AlxIn1−xN films. Simultaneously grown AlxIn1−xN-on-sapphire samples point to a residual n-type carrier concentration in the 1020–1021 cm−3 range. The optical band gap energy of these layers evolves from 1.75 to 2.56 eV with the increase in the Al. PL measurements of AlxIn1−xN show a blue shift in the peak emission when adding the Al, as expected. We also observe an increase in the FWHM of the main peak and a decrease in the integrated emission with the Al content in room-temperature PL measurements. In general, the material quality of the AlxIn1-xN films on Si is similar for both crystallographic orientations.
Hydroxyapatite Coating on Ti-6Al-7Nb Alloy by Plasma Electrolytic Oxidation in Salt-Based Electrolyte
Authors: Schwartz Avital , Kossenko Alexey , Zinigrad Michael , Gofer Yosef , Borodianskiy Konstantin , Sobolev Alexander
Published: October 2022

Titanium alloys have good biocompatibility and good mechanical properties, making them particularly suitable for dental and orthopedic implants. Improving their osseointegration with human bones is one of the most essential tasks. This can be achieved by developing hydroxyapatite (HA) on the treating surface using the plasma electrolytic oxidation (PEO) method in molten salt. In this study, a coating of titanium oxide-containing HA nanoparticles was formed on Ti-6Al-7Nb alloy by PEO in molten salt. Then, samples were subjected to hydrothermal treatment (HTT) to form HA crystals sized 0.5 to 1 μm. The effect of the current and voltage frequency for the creation of the coating on the morphology, chemical, and phase composition was studied. The anti-corrosion properties of the samples were studied using the potentiodynamic polarization test (PPT) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). An assessment of the morphology of the sample formed at a frequency of 100 Hz shows that the structure of this coating has a uniform submicron porosity, and its surface shows high hydrophilicity and anti-corrosion properties (4.90 × 106 Ohm·cm2). In this work, for the first time, the process of formation of a bioactive coating consisting of titanium oxides and HA was studied by the PEO method in molten salts.
Competitive Formation Zones in Carbon Nanotube Float-Catalysis Synthesis: Growth in Length vs. Growth Suppression
Authors: Mordkovich Vladimir Z. , Karaeva Aida R. , Kazennov Nikita V. , Mitberg Eduard B. , Nasraoui Mariem , Kulnitskiy Boris A. , Blank Vladimir D.
Published: October 2022

Catalytic synthesis of carbon nanotubes (CNT) produces numerous various byproducts such as soot, graphite platelets, catalyst nanoparticles, etc. Identification of the byproduct formation mechanisms would help develop routes to more selective synthesis of better carbon-based materials. This work reports on the identification of the formation zone and conditions for rather unusual closed multishell carbon nanocapsules in a reactor for float-catalysis synthesis of longer CNT. Structural investigation of the formed nanocapsule material along with computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations of the reactor suggested a nanocapsule formation mechanism, in which CNT embryos are suppressed in growth by the in-reactor turbulence. By means of TEM and FFT investigation, it is found that differently oriented single crystals of γ–Fe2O3, which do not have clear connections with each other, determine a spherical surface. The carbon atoms that seep through these joints do not form crystalline graphite layers. The resulting additional product in the form of graphene-coated (γ–Fe/Fe3C)/γ–Fe2O3 nanoparticles can be a lightweight and effective microwave absorber.
3D Printing Technology for Smart Clothing: A Topic Review
Authors: Wu Shuangqing , Zeng Taotao , Liu Zhenhua , Ma Guozhi , Xiong Zhengyu , Zuo Lin , Zhou Zeyan
Published: October 2022

Clothing is considered to be an important element of human social activities. With the increasing maturity of 3D printing technology, functional 3D printing technology can realize the perfect combination of clothing and electronic devices while helping smart clothing to achieve specific functions. Furthermore, the application of functional 3D printing technology in clothing not only provides people with the most comfortable and convenient wearing experience, but also completely subverts consumers’ perception of traditional clothing. This paper introduced the progress of the application of 3D printing from the aspect of traditional clothing and smart clothing through two mature 3D printing technologies normally used in the field of clothing, and summarized the challenges and prospects of 3D printing technology in the field of smart clothing. Finally, according to the analysis of the gap between 3D-printed clothing and traditionally made clothing due to the material limitations, this paper predicted that the rise in intelligent materials will provide a new prospect for the development of 3D-printed clothing. This paper will provide some references for the application research of 3D printing in the field of smart clothing.
Mathematical Models and Experiments on the Acoustic Properties of Granular Packing Structures (Measurement of Tortuosity in Hexagonal Close-Packed and Face-Centered Cubic Lattices)
Authors: Sakamoto Shuichi , Suzuki Kyosuke , Toda Kentaro , Seino Shotaro
Published: October 2022

In this study, the sound absorption characteristics of hexagonal close-packed and face-centered cubic lattices were estimated by theoretical analysis. Propagation constants and characteristic impedances were obtained by dividing each structure into elements perpendicular to the incident direction of sound waves and by approximating each element to a clearance between two parallel planes. Consequently, the propagation constant and the characteristic impedance were treated as a one-dimensional transfer matrix in the propagation of sound waves, and the normal incident sound absorption coefficient was calculated by the transfer matrix method. The theoretical value of the sound absorption coefficient was derived by using the effective density applied to the measured tortuosity. As a result, the theoretical value was becoming closer to the measured value. Therefore, the measured tortuosity is reasonable.
Prediction of Corrosion-Induced Longitudinal Cracking Time of Concrete Cover Surface of Reinforced Concrete Structures under Load
Authors: Wang Jian , Yuan Yongyu , Xu Qiang , Qin Hongtu
Published: October 2022

Reinforced concrete (RC) structures suffer from different types of loads during service life, and the corrosion characteristics of steel bars embedded in concrete under load are different from those under non-load. In this paper, when the interface between steel bars and concrete (IBSC) cracked and the concrete cover surface (CCS) cracked, the effects of load on the critical corrosion depth of steel bars were analysed based on the thick-walled cylinder model, and a prediction model for the corrosion-induced longitudinal cracking (CLC) time (i.e., initiation cracking time) of the CCS of RC structures under load was proposed. Finally, the influence of load on the CLC time of CCS was discussed on the basis of the proposed prediction model. The results showed that the load had a significant effect on the critical corrosion depth of steel bars when the IBSC cracked induced by corrosion, while the influence of load on the critical corrosion depth of steel bars when the CCS cracked induced by corrosion was not obvious. When the CCS cracks induced by corrosion under load, the influence of the rust-filling layer on the critical corrosion depth of steel bars was larger than that of the load. With the increase in load, the CLC time of CCS decreased. The calculated values of the proposed prediction model were in reasonable agreement with the experimental values, which can provide a reference for durability evaluation and service life prediction of RC structures and lay the foundation for the investigation of the corrosion depth of steel bars in concrete under load.
Investigating the Effect of PCL Concentrations on the Characterization of PLA Polymeric Blends for Biomaterial Applications
Authors: Solechan Solechan , Suprihanto Agus , Widyanto Susilo Adi , Triyono Joko , Fitriyana Deni Fajar , Siregar Januar Parlaungan , Cionita Tezara
Published: October 2022

Polylactic acid (PLA) and polycaprolactone (PCL) are synthetic polymers that are extensively used in biomedical applications. However, the PLA/PCL blend produced by ball milling, followed by pressure compaction and sintering, has not been extensively explored. The goal of this research is to investigate the effect of the composition of biomaterials derived from PLA and PCL prepared by ball milling, followed by pressure compaction and sintering, on mechanical and physical properties. PCL and PLA with various concentrations were blended utilizing a ball milling machine for 2 h at an 80-rpm rotation speed. The obtained mixture was placed in a stainless steel 304 mold for the compacting process, which uses a pressure of 30 MPa to create a green body. The sintering procedure was carried out on the green body created at 150 °C for 2 h using a digital oven. The obtained PLA/PCL blend was tested using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), density, porosity, and three-point bending. Following the interaction between PCL and PLA in the PLA/PCL blend, the FTIR spectra and XRD diffractograms obtained in this work revealed a number of modifications in the functional groups and crystal phase. The 90PLA specimen had the best mechanical properties, with a maximum force and displacement of 51.13 N and 7.21 mm, respectively. The porosity of the PLA/PCL blend decreased with increasing PLA concentration so that the density and flexural properties of the PLA/PCL blend increased. The higher PCL content decreased the stiffness of the PLA molecular chain, consequently reducing its flexural properties.
Ionic Liquid Mixture Electrolyte Matching Porous Carbon Electrodes for Supercapacitors
Authors: Zhao Yuhua , Chen Yujuan , Du Quanzhou , Zhuo Kelei , Yang Lifang , Sun Dong , Bai Guangyue
Published: October 2022

Ionic liquids (ILs), with their wide electrochemical stable potential window, are promising electrolytes for supercapacitors (SCs). The suitable matching of the ion size and shape of the ILs to the pore size and structure of porous carbon (PC) electrode materials can realize the enhanced capacitive performance of the SCs. Here we report an interesting result: The capacitance of PC-based SCs shows a quasi-sinusoidal relationship with the composition (mass fraction) of the binary IL mixture as the electrolyte. This relationship is also interpreted based on the matching between the pore sizes of the PC materials and the size/shape of various ions of the IL mixture electrolyte. This can provide a new strategy to improve the performance of SCs by formulating a suitable mixture of different ILs to match the carbon-based electrode materials with a special pore size distribution.
Thermo-Mechanical Coupling Model of Bond-Based Peridynamics for Quasi-Brittle Materials
Authors: Zhang Haoran , Liu Lisheng , Lai Xin , Mei Hai , Liu Xiang
Published: October 2022

The mechanical properties of quasi-brittle materials, which are widely used in engineering applications, are often affected by the thermal condition of their service environment. Moreover, the materials appear brittle when subjected to tensile loading and show plastic characteristics under high pressure. These two phenomena manifest under different circumstances as completely different mechanical behaviors in the material. To accurately describe the mechanical response, the material behavior, and the failure mechanism of quasi-brittle materials with the thermo-mechanical coupling effect, the influence of the thermal condition is considered in calculating bond forces in the stretching and compression stages, based on a new bond-based Peridynamic (BB-PD) model. In this study, a novel bond-based Peridynamic, fully coupled, thermo-mechanical model is proposed for quasi-brittle materials, with a heat conduction component to account for the effect of the thermo-mechanical coupling. Numerical simulations are carried out to demonstrate the validity and capability of the proposed model. The results reveal that agreement could be found between our model and the experimental data, which show good reliability and promise in the proposed approach.
Hot Deformation Behavior and Processing Maps of ZnSnO3/Cu Composites
Authors: Li Wei-Jian , Chen Zi-Yao , Tang Xiao-Peng , Shao Wen-Zhu , Zhen Liang
Published: October 2022

In this work, we designed ternary ZnSnO3 particle-reinforced Cu matrix composites and evaluated the hot deformation behavior of ZnSnO3/Cu composites. The hot deformation characteristics of typical dynamic recrystallization were probed by the resulting true stress–strain curves of ZnSnO3/Cu composites. The influences of deformation conditions, including temperatures (650–850 °C) and strain rates (0.01–5 s−1), on the flow stress of the designed composites were investigated. This revealed that the peak stress increased with the increasing of strain rate and decreasing of temperature. Additionally, the activation energy was calculated to be 237.05 kJ/mol and followed by yielding a constitutive equation for low-stress ZnSnO3/Cu composites. The processing maps established by dynamic materials model theory indicated that the designed composites possessed excellent hot workability, and then the processing parameters (790–850 °C and 0.01–0.04 s−1) of the ZnSnO3/Cu composites were determined for practical industrial production. Our work discloses the deformation behavior of ZnSnO3/Cu matrix composites and extends the rational process design for ternary ceramic/metal materials with excellent hot workability.
Waste Glass Valorization as Raw Material in the Production of Portland Clinker and Cement
Authors: Bădănoiu Alina , Moanță Adriana , Dumitrescu Ovidiu , Nicoară Adrian Ionuț , Trușcă Roxana
Published: October 2022

The paper presents experimental results regarding the synthesis of Portland clinker starting from raw mixes based on two types of clayey precursors, i.e., clay and marl (the most common types of raw materials used in the cement industry), with and without glass waste content. The soda-lime glass waste addition (5.36–5.59 wt %), used to control the silica ratio of the raw mix, improved the raw mix burnability and decreased the calcination temperature (by 20 °C), leading to a decrease in fuel consumption and contributing to the reduction in CO2 emissions associated with clinker and cement production. The clinkers obtained by the calcination of raw mixes with glass waste content at 1430 °C with a 30 min plateau had a similar mineralogical composition and microstructure to the clinkers obtained from the reference raw mixes and fulfilled the requirements of the specific standard EN 197-1. The obtained clinkers were used to produce two types of Portland cement, i.e., a unitary cement (CEM I) and a binary blended cement with slag (CEM II/B-S). The main characteristics of these cements, i.e., loss on ignition, insoluble residue, sulfate and chloride contents, as well as the setting time and soundness, meet the conditions stipulated in the EN 197-1 standard. The values of compressive strength, assessed on mortars after 2, 7 and 28 days of curing, allow the classification of all CEM I cements in the 42.5 R class. In the case of CEM II/B-S cements, those obtained from raw mixes with clay can be classified in the 42.5 N class, while those obtained from raw mixes with marl are classified in the 32.5 R class.