bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effect of Surface Pre-Treatment on the Adhesion between HiPIMS Thick Cu:CuCNx Coating and WC-Co Shim
Authors: Rashid Md Masud-Ur , Tomkowski Robert , Archenti Andreas
Published: October 2022

High-power impulse magnetron-sputtering thick metal/carbon–nitride-doped metal-matrix multilayer nano-composite coating can be applied to cutting-tool holder components to improve cutting insert’s life. One of the challenges of such an add-on solution is the poor adhesion between the thick coating and the hard alloy substrate, such as WC-Co shim. This work presents a study on WC-Co substrate surface preparation methods for HiPIMS coating and its adhesion improvement. Three mechanical surface pretreatment methods were investigated: machining (grinding), diamond polishing, and grit blasting. White-light interferometry was used for substrate surface texture measurement before and after pretreatment. It was demonstrated that, compared to machining and diamond polishing, grit blasting can significantly improve the interface adhesion between the ~200 µm-thick Cu:CuCNx coating and WC-Co shim. Grit blasting was also found to be beneficial for improving the cutting insert’s life in the external turning process. In turning tests, the coating lifetime for grit-blasted shim was more than 90 min, whereas the coating lifetimes for machined shim (conventional shim) and diamond-polished shim were ~85 min and ~70 min, respectively. Further, by comparing the HiPIMS gradient chromium pre-layer between the coating and substrate for the different shims, the study also explained that the quasi-isotropic surface texture of grit-blasted shim is more advantageous for coating–substrate interface adhesion.
In Situ Growth of PbS Nanoparticles without Organic Linker on ZnO Nanostructures via Successive Ionic Layer Adsorption and Reaction (SILAR)
Authors: ElZein Basma , Abulikemu Mutalifu , Barham Ahmad S. , Al-Kilani Alia , Alkhatab Mohammed I. , Hamdan Samir M. , Dogheche Elhadj , Jabbour Ghassan E.
Published: October 2022

The process of effective solar energy harvesting and conversion requires efficient photon absorption, followed by charge generation and separation, then electron transfer. Nanostructured materials have been considered as potential building blocks for the development of future generations of solar cells. Much attention has been given to wide-bandgap semiconductor nanowires, combined and sensitized with low-bandgap semiconductors effectively attached to the nanowires for low-cost and highly efficient solar cells. Here, the in situ growth of lead sulfide (PbS) nanoparticles on the surface of zinc oxide (ZnO) nanowires grown by the Successive Ionic Layer Adsorption and Reaction (SILAR) technique is presented for different numbers of cycles. The morphology and structure of PbS nanoparticles are confirmed by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), revealing the decoration of the nanowires with the PbS nanoparticles, Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) and HR-TEM, showing the tight attachment of PbS nanoparticles on the surface of the ZnO nanowires. The Selected Area Electron Diffraction (SAED) confirms the crystallization of the PbS. Photoluminescence spectra show a broad and more intense deep-level emission band.
MOF-Derived Hetero-Zn/Co Hollow Core-Shell TMOs as Anode for Lithium-Ion Batteries
Authors: Pan Junfeng , Gong Ming , Cui Wenhao , Zheng Guoxu , Song Mingxin
Published: October 2022

In this work, metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) were used as precursors to prepare Zn/Co oxide with a porous dodecahedral core-shell structure. Herein, a low-temperature self-assembly calcination and hydrothermal strategy of imidazole-based Zn-Co-MOF was used. As anode of lithium-ion batteries (LIBs), ZnO/Co3O4 has good cycling stability, the specific discharge capacity of ZnO/Co3O4 is stable at about 640 mAh g−1 after 200 cycles, and its coulombic efficiency (CE) is stable above 95% after the first 20 cycles. When the current density is 0.6 A/g, the discharge capacity is 420 mAh g−1. This excellent electrochemical performance is attributed to its unique porous hollow structure and unique heterojunction electrode interface, which improves the Li+ storage capacity, increases the contact area between the electrode and the electrolyte, and improves the overall electrochemical activity. In addition, the synergistic effect of ZnO and Co3O4 also plays an important role in improving the electrochemical performance.
Multiscale Simulation of Shot-Peening-Assisted Low-Pressure Cold Spraying Based on Al-Zn-Al2O3 Coatings
Authors: Zhang Kaoshi , Song Yanqiao , Cai Shun , Wang Ziyu , Chen Wenliang , Xie Lingling
Published: October 2022

Low-pressure cold spraying has gained much significance for its good economy in recent years. However, compared with high-pressure cold spraying, the unsatisfactory performance of coatings prepared by this method is a key problem restricting its further development. To improve the properties of the coating without incorporating severe conditions, the paper proposed an original shot-peening-assisted low-pressure cold-spraying method (i.e., SP-LPCS). By proceeding with cold spraying and shot peening alternately, SP-LPCS was proved to enhance the mechanical property of the coating effectively. Mixed particles of Zn, Al, and Al2O3 were adopted as the coating powder. Effects of shot-peening pressure, flow rate, and shot size on the micromorphology and the microhardness variance were studied. Results shows that the thickness of the plastic deformation layer stabilizes as the impact time increases to 6. The microscopic simulation of the deformation shows that according to the different metal characteristics of the powder, brittle grains fracture while plastic grains go through deformation and refinement. Meanwhile, the porosity decreases greatly after the impacts, resulting in a higher denseness of the coating. Several factors mutually contribute to the performance improvement of the coating. The microhardness of the material was increased after SP-LPCS, and obvious strengthening belts were observed, with the highest microhardness being 90.93Hv.
Microstructure Investigation and Cyclic Oxidation Resistance of Ce-Si-Modified Aluminide Coating Deposited by Pack Cementation on Inconel 738LC
Authors: Nourpoor Parviz , Javadian Soheila , Sabour Rouh Aghdam Alireza , Ghadami Farzin
Published: October 2022

The synergistic effect of Si and Ce addition on the oxidation resistance of a pack cementation aluminide coating applied on a Ni-based IN738LC superalloy substrate was investigated in this study. The structural and thermal influences of both Si and Ce, focusing on morphology, oxidation behavior, and scale spallation tendency, are accordingly discussed based on the experimental results using X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and energy-dispersive X-ray analyses (EDX). For this purpose, the oxidation resistance of the modified coatings was evaluated by measuring the weight gain of the coated samples after 16 h for each cycle at 1100 °C for a total of 50 cycles of the oxidation process. The investigations indicated that Si addition to the modified aluminide coating improves the oxidation resistance through the formation of β-NiAl and δ-Ni2Al3 phases, and also δ-Ni2Si phases. Furthermore, the addition of 1% Ce to the modified aluminide coating enhances the formation of the fine-grained microstructure of the β-NiAl and δ-Ni2Al3 and reduces the outward/inward diffusion of elements (so-called blocking effect), which significantly modifies the cyclic oxidation resistance. The oxidation enhancement also may be attributed to synergistic effects of Ce and Si addition during the deposition process that reduce the inward oxygen diffusion and reduce the growth rate of α-Al2O3 during oxidation tests.
Immediate Hypersensitivity Reactions to Paraformaldehyde Used as a Dental Material
Authors: Jura-Szołtys Edyta , Rozłucka Lesia , Gawlik Radosław , Glück Joanna
Published: October 2022

According to actual recommendations, the use of paraformaldehyde as a dental material should be significantly limited; however, it is still used in certain cases. Its use can cause delayed anaphylaxis, which can be life-threatening. We analyzed 157 patients admitted to an allergological clinic between 2017 and 2022 because of a hypersensitivity reaction after dental treatment. Paraformaldehyde was used in 24 of them. Positive specific IgE levels against paraformaldehyde were found in 12 patients, which constituted 50% of the whole group of patients who were treated with paraformaldehyde. Twelve patients had negative results of specific IgE against paraformaldehyde estimation (the PF group). Between the study and control groups, the anaphylactic reaction after paraformaldehyde application was analyzed from many aspects; the level of certainty of anaphylaxis according to Brighton criteria was significantly higher in the PF-positive group than in controls. None of the patients treated with paraformaldehyde as a dental material was informed by a dentist about this risk and symptoms of anaphylaxis. Patients who received paraformaldehyde during dental treatment should be informed of the possibility, symptoms, and treatment of an anaphylactic reaction, which might occur even 24 h after treatment.
Feature Papers in Compounds
Authors: Mejuto Juan C.
Published: October 2022

Nearly two years ago, when Compounds was founded, the journal was introduced as an interdisciplinary tool for the scientific community to present their scientific results in an open access format so that their findings are disseminated quickly and efficiently [...]
Vehicle Auto-Classification Using Machine Learning Algorithms Based on Seismic Fingerprinting
Authors: Ahmad Ahmad Bahaa , Saibi Hakim , Belkacem Abdelkader Nasreddine , Tsuji Takeshi
Published: October 2022

Most vehicle classification systems now use data from images or videos. However, these approaches violate drivers’ privacy and reveal their identities. Due to various disruptions, detecting automobiles using seismic ambient noise signals is challenging. This study uses seismic surface waves to compare time series data between different vehicle types. We applied various artificial intelligence approaches using raw data from three different vehicle sizes (Bus/Truck, Car, and Motorcycle) and background noise. By using vertical component seismic data, this study compares the decoding abilities of Logistic Regression, Support Vector Machine, and Naïve Bayes (NB) approaches to determine the class of automobiles. The Multiclass classifiers were trained on 4185 samples and tested on 1395 randomly chosen from actual and synthetic data sets. Additionally, we used the convolutional neural network approach as a baseline to assess the effectiveness of machine learning (ML) methods. The NB method showed relatively high classification accuracy during training for the three multiclass classification situations. Overall, we investigate an ML-based decoding technique that can be used for security and traffic analysis across large geographic areas without endangering driver privacy and is more effective and economical than conventional methods.
Appropriate Human Serum Albumin Fluid Therapy and the Alleviation of COVID-19 Vulnerabilities: An Explanation of the HSA Lymphatic Nutrient Pump
Authors: Johnson Andrew S. , Polese Gianluca , Johnson Max , Winlow William
Published: October 2022

COVID-19 and long COVID-19 vulnerabilities may be caused indirectly by albumin binding deficiency (ABD), which can be corrected by the correct administration of human serum albumin (HSA). The liver is the primary site of nutrient regulation and fluid volume maintenance; control of both is by changes to albumin concentration. In healthy subjects, the HSA lymphatic nutrient pump (HSALNP) ensures continual pumping of nutrients from the liver and that nutrients are appropriately distributed to organs. Nutrients are delivered to cells according to the availability of binding to HSA. The HSALNP, therefore, maintains the correct nutrient and colloidal pressure balance in all tissues independently. In unhealthy tissues, following COVID-19 infection, the passage of HSA/nutrients through the interstitial spaces and lymph will be impeded. Fluid therapy into the periphery leads to the dilution of essential nutrients attached to the protein carriers such as albumin. The levels of albumin being charged by the liver with nutrients is critical in maintaining immune stability by maintaining nutrient support and colloidal pressure of the cellular structures. The site of HSA binding by the liver is of great importance, and direct infusion of albumin into the hepatic portal vein is the most appropriate method of maintaining colloid pressure and cellular nutrient levels.
Mitigation of Emergent Bacterial Pathogens Using Pseudomonas syringae pv. actinidiae as a Case Study—From Orchard to Gene and Everything in Between
Authors: Nunes da Silva Marta , Santos Miguel G. , Vasconcelos Marta W. , Carvalho Susana M. P.
Published: October 2022

Globalization propelled human migration and commercial exchanges at the global level, but woefully led to the introduction of non-indigenous organisms into several agroecological systems. These include pathogenic bacteria with devastating consequences for numerous crops of agronomical importance for food production worldwide. In the last decade, research efforts have focused on these noxious organisms, aiming to understand their evolutionary processes, degree of pathogenicity, and mitigation strategies, which have allowed stakeholders and policymakers to develop evidence-based regulatory norms to improve management practices and minimize production losses. One of these cases is the bacterium Pseudomonas syringae pv. actinidiae (Psa), the causal agent of the kiwifruit bacterial canker, which has been causing drastic production losses and added costs related to orchard management in the kiwifruit industry. Although Psa is presently considered a pandemic pathogen and far from being eradicated, the implementation of strict regulatory norms and the efforts employed by the scientific community allowed the mitigation, to some extent, of its negative impacts through an integrated pest management approach. This included implementing directive guidelines, modifying cultural practices, and searching for sources of plant resistance. However, bacterial pathogens often have high spatial and temporal variability, with new strains constantly arising through mutation, recombination, and gene flow, posing constant pressure to agroecosystems. This review aims to critically appraise the efforts developed to mitigate bacterial pathogens of agronomical impact, from orchard management to genome analysis, using Psa as a case study, which could allow a prompter response against emerging pathogens in agroecosystems worldwide.
Responses to Ice Formation and Reasons of Frost Injury in Potato Leaves
Authors: Stegner Matthias , Buchner Othmar , Schäfernolte Tanja , Holzinger Andreas , Neuner Gilbert
Published: October 2022

Potato leaves are ice-tolerant but are frost-damaged at −3 °C. Freezing occurs in two steps, a first non-destructive freezing event and a second independent lethal event. Localization of ice, and whether cells freeze-dehydrate after the first freezing event remains unknown. The cause of frost damage during the second freezing event lacks experimental evidence. Cytological responses of mesophyll cells were examined during ice formation using cryo-microscopic techniques after high-pressure freeze-fixation and freeze-substitution. CO2 gas exchange on frozen leaves revealed functional responses, but also frost damage. After the first freezing event, gas exchange was uninterrupted. Consequently, intercellular spaces are free of ice, and ice may be restricted to xylem vessels. The cellular shape of the mesophyll cells was unchanged, cells did not freeze-dehydrate but were supercooled. When thawed after the first freezing event, leaves were initially photoinhibited but regained photosynthesis. During the second freezing event, cells froze intracellularly, and some palisade parenchyma cells remained intact for a prolonged time. Intracellular ice caused complete destruction of cells, and chloroplasts became invisible at the light microscopic level. When thawed after the second freezing, leaves were unable to regain photosynthesis. Consequently, freezing avoidance is the only viable strategy for potatoes to survive frost.
Blockchain of Resource-Efficient Anonymity Protection with Watermarking for IoT Big Data Market
Authors: Wang Chia-Hui , Hsu Chih-Hao
Published: October 2022

According to the ever-growing supply and demand of IoT content, IoT big data in diversified applications are deemed a valuable asset by private and public sectors. Their privacy protection has been a hot research topic. Inspired by previous work on bounded-error-pruned IoT content market, we observe that the anonymity protection with robust watermarking can be developed by further pruning data for better resource-efficient IoT big data without violating the required quality of sensor service or quality of decision-making. In this paper, resource-efficient anonymity protection with watermarking is thus proposed for data consumers and owners of IoT big data market via blockchain. Our proposed scheme can provide the IoT data with privacy protections of both anonymity and ownership in IoT big data market with resource efficiency. The experiments of four different-type IoT datasets with different settings included bounded-errors, sub-stream sizes, watermark lengths, and ratios of data tampering. The performance results demonstrated that our proposed scheme can provide data owners and consumers with ownership and anonymity via watermarking the IoT big data streams for lossless compressibility. Meanwhile, the developed DApp with our proposed scheme on the Ethereum blockchain can help data owners freely share and trade with consumers in convenience with availability, reliability, and security without mutual trust.
Efficient RO-PUF for Generation of Identifiers and Keys in Resource-Constrained Embedded Systems
Authors: Martínez-Rodríguez Macarena C. , Rojas-Muñoz Luis F. , Camacho-Ruiz Eros , Sánchez-Solano Santiago , Brox Piedad
Published: October 2022

The generation of unique identifiers extracted from the physical characteristics of the underlying hardware ensures the protection of electronic devices against counterfeiting and provides security to the data they store and process. This work describes the design of an efficient Physical Unclonable Function (PUF) based on the differences in the frequency of Ring Oscillators (ROs) with identical layout due to variations in the technological processes involved in the manufacture of the integrated circuit. The logic resources available in the Xilinx Series-7 programmable devices are exploited in the design to make it more compact and achieve an optimal bit-per-area rate. On the other hand, the design parameters can also be adjusted to provide a high bit-per-time rate for a particular target device. The PUF has been encapsulated as a configurable Intellectual Property (IP) module, providing it with an AXI4-Lite interface to ease its incorporation into embedded systems in combination with soft- or hard-core implementations of general-purpose processors. The capability of the proposed RO-PUF to generate implementation-dependent identifiers has been extensively tested, using a series of metrics to evaluate its reliability and robustness for different configuration options. Finally, in order to demonstrate its utility to improve system security, the identifiers provided by RO-PUFs implemented on different devices have been used in a Helper Data Algorithm (HDA) to obfuscate and retrieve a secret key.
Effect of Basicity on the Reduction Swelling Performance of Pellets Prepared from Bayan Obo Iron Ore Concentrate Based on Microscopic Characterization
Authors: Chai Yifan , Fan Yingjie , Gao Xing , Luo Guoping , Wang Yici , An Shengli , Liu Jinzhou
Published: October 2022

The development of blast furnace smelting technology with a high proportion of pellets is an important means for improving the utilization rate of complex co-associated mineral resources. The effect of basicity on the reduction swelling performance of pellets prepared from Bayan Obo iron ore concentrate is characterized by the aspects of microscopic morphology, element distribution and weight-loss behavior. The results show that with the increase in basicity, the reduction swelling rate and the weight-loss rate of pellets follows the change rule by first increasing and then decreasing. With a basicity of 0.8, the pellets have the largest swelling rate (75.743%) and the largest weight-loss rate (24.77%). The reduction swelling rate is proportional to the porosity and inversely proportional to the amount-of-liquid phase. In the first stage of reduction, pellets with a basicity of 0.8 changed from tabular to granular, and there were a large number of cracks. In the third stage of reduction, pellets with a basicity of 0.8 had coarse iron whiskers. In the same reduction stage, the amount of K and Na elements in the pellets with a basicity of 0.8 entering the iron oxide lattice was much larger than that in the pellets with a different basicity. As the reduction progresses, the ability of alkali metals to enter the iron oxide gradually increases.
Relation between Electronic Structure and Thermoelectric Properties of Heusler-Type Ru2VAl Compounds
Authors: Miyazaki Hidetoshi , Kimura Shin-ichi , Onishi Kensuke , Hihara Takehiko , Yoshimura Masato , Ishii Hirofumi , Mikami Masashi , Nishino Yoichi
Published: October 2022

We investigated Heusler-type Ru2VAl, a candidate material for next-generation thermoelectric conversion, by first-principle calculations of its thermoelectric conversion properties and direct experimental observations of its electronic structures, employing photoemission and infrared spectroscopy. Our results show that Ru2VAl has a wider pseudogap near the Fermi level compared to Fe2VAl. Accordingly, a higher thermoelectric conversion performance can be expected in Ru2VAl at higher temperatures.
Ferrocene Formic Acid Surface Modified Ni(OH)2 for Highly Efficient Alkaline Oxygen Evolution
Authors: Shen Guo-Ping , Fan Ruo-Yao , Dong Bin , Chen Bo
Published: October 2022

FeNi-based hybrid materials are among the most representative catalysts for alkaline oxygen evolution reaction (OER), but the modulation of their surface atoms to achieve the optimal catalytic properties is still a big challenge. Here, we report the surface modification of Ni(OH)2/nickel foam (NF)-based electrocatalyst with a trace amount of ferrocene formic acid (FFA) (FFA-Ni(OH)2/NF) for highly efficient OER. Owing to the strong electron interaction and synergistic effects of Fe-Ni heteroatoms, FFA-Ni(OH)2/NF exhibits an overpotential of 311 mV at a current density of 100 mA cm−2. Impressively, the overpotential of FFA-Ni(OH)2/NF at 100 mA cm−2 is 108 mV less than that of bulk phase doped Ni/FFA(OH)2/NF, demonstrating the surprising effect of heteroatomic surface modification. In addition, by introducing a small amount of surface modifier into the electrolyte, the weak surface reconstruction process in the electrochemical process can be fully utilized to achieve obvious modification effects. Therefore, this work fully proves the feasibility of improving catalytic activities of FeNi-based catalysts by modifying surface heterogeneous atom pairs.
Investigation of Electronic and Optical Properties of (Cs, Br, Cs-Br) Doped Mono-Layer Hexagonal Boron Nitride Using First Principles
Authors: Fu Yangchen , Zhang Wenchao , Fan Zhihua , Jiang Hongcheng , Hou Yuhang , Luo Qiuyu , Wang Yi
Published: October 2022

Research on the effect of alternative doping on the photoelectric properties of boron nitride is still at an early stage. In particular, research on hexagonal boron nitride’s diatomic co-doping is still rarely studied. In this work, first-principles calculations are selected as the main method to investigate the electronic structure and optical properties of different atoms used to dope hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN). The band gap value of intrinsic h-BN is 4.66 eV. The band gap was changed after Cs, Br, and Cs-Br doping. The results show that the band gap is 4.61 eV when the Br atom replaces the N atom, while the band gap of h-BN doped with Cs is 3.52 eV. Additionally, the band gap width can be reduced to a typical narrower band gap width of 3.19 eV when Cs-Br is used for doping. At the same time, the complex dielectric function representing the optical properties is calculated after Cs, Br, and Cs-Br doping. The optical absorption peaks of Cs-Br-doped h-BN are weaker at low-frequency conditions. The optical absorption of h-BN can be modified by Cs doping, Br doping, and Cs-Br co-doping in the near-infrared, visible, or portion of the near-ultraviolet bands, which makes the doped material more suited for photoelectric detectors in the relevant frequency bands.
Experimental and Modeling Study of Phase-Specific Flow Stress Distribution in Intercritically Annealed Quenching and Partitioning Steels
Authors: Gao Pengfei , Li Feng , An Ke , Zhao Zhengzhi
Published: October 2022

To meet the increasing demand and stringent requirements of automotive structural steels, intercritically annealed quenching and partitioning (QP) steels are attracting significant attention owing to their excellent strength–plasticity balance. However, to date, limited reports have focused on the correlation between the microstructure and strength of intercritically annealed QP. In this study, the mechanical behaviors of QP steels with different Si contents were investigated by developing a physical-based mechanical model based on microstructural characterizations. In situ neutron diffraction was used to analyze the evolution of the phase constitution. Si content influenced the phase transformation behavior of the test steel. In the early stages of deformation, Si-strengthened steel exhibited lower retained austenite (RA) stability and faster transformation kinetics. The variation in the RA volume fraction with the deformation was fitted using a segmented exponential function. Based on the microstructure and strengthening mechanisms, a mechanical model considering grain refinement during phase transformation was proposed. The model was validated using intercritically annealed QP steels with different Si contents. The transformation-induced plasticity effect, that is, the contribution of RA to the strength, was discussed from two perspectives. Deformation-induced martensite (DIM) exhibited a significant work-hardening rate owing to the high solid solution strengthening by carbon and the high dislocation density. The residual RA after the DIM transformation exhibited a non-negligible stress distribution. Particularly, the grain boundary density and dislocations increased with strain, strengthening the remaining RA.
Free Intermetallic Cladding Interface between Aluminum and Steel through Friction Stir Processing
Authors: Mahmoud Essam R. I. , Khan Sohaib Z. , Aljabri Abdulrahman , Almohamadi Hamad , Elkotb Mohamed Abdelghany , Gepreel Mohamed A. , Ebied Saad
Published: October 2022

In this paper, the cladding of pure aluminum and a low-carbon steel alloy was performed through friction stir processing with minimal intermetallic compound formation. A 3 mm thick aluminum plate was clamped on top of a steel plate. A thick, pure copper plate was used as a backing plate. The tool pin length was adjusted to be the same as the upper plate’s thickness (3 mm) and longer than 3.2 mm. The effect of the tool pin length and the rotation speed (500–1500 rpm) on the cladding’s quality, microstructure, and the mechanical properties of the steel/aluminum interface were investigated using optical and scanning electron microscopy, a hardness test, and a peel test. The results showed that the bonding of pure aluminum and a low-carbon steel alloy can be successfully performed at a more than 500 rpm rotation speed. At a tool pin length of 3 mm and a rotation speed of 1000 rpm, sound and free-intermetallic compound–cladding interfaces were formed, while some Fel2Al5 intermetallics were formed when the rotation speed was increased to 1500 rpm. The pure copper backing plate has an essential role in eliminating or reducing the formation of intermetallic compounds in the cladding interface. When the tool pin length was increased to 3.2 mm, more steel fragments were found on the aluminum side. Moreover, with a higher rotation speed and longer tool pin length, more Fe2Al5 intermetallics were formed at the interface. Increasing the rotation speed and the pin tool length contributed to the enhancement of interface bonding. Meanwhile, the maximum tensile shear load was obtained at a rotation speed of 1500 rpm and a tool pin length of 3.2 mm. In addition, the hardness values of the interface were higher than the aluminum base metal for all the investigated samples. Decreasing the rotation speed and increasing the tool pin length can significantly increase hardness measurements. The average hardness increases from 42 HV of the pure aluminum to 143 HV at a rotation speed and a tool pin length of 1500 rpm and 3.2, respectively.
Effects of Pre-Deformation under Tension and Annealing Process on the Microstructure and Properties of Al-6Mg-1.0Mn Extruded Wide Reinforcement Plate
Authors: Li Pengwei , Han Qiqiang , Sun Wei , Wang Xiangjie , Cui Jianzhong , Wang Rui , Liu Chunzhong , Jiang Min
Published: October 2022

In order to achieve the combination of mechanical and corrosion properties for the Al-Mg-Mn alloy, a novel combination of pre-deformation under tension and an annealing process was investigated on the microstructure and properties of the Al-6Mg-1.0Mn extruded wide reinforcing plate. This was conducted by means of a tensile test, an intergranular corrosion test, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and transmission electron microscope (TEM) experiments. The results showed that when the pre-deformation under tension in the range of 10–14%, the corrosion performance is first decreased, and then increases with the increase in temperature, becoming stable at 300 °C. After stabilization annealing at 300 °C for 2 h and then sensitizing at 150 °C for 10–200 h, the intergranular corrosion resistance of the aluminum alloy first decreases and then increases as the sensitization time is prolonged. When the sensitization time exceeds 50 h, the intergranular corrosion resistance is significantly improved. After 14% pretension and stabilization annealing at 300 °C for 2 h, the tensile strength, yield strength, and elongation of the alloy reached 360 MPa, 205 MPa, and 18.5%, and a good combination of strength and corrosion resistance of Al-Mg-Mn alloys could be obtained. These excellent properties were attributed to the continuous distribution of β-phase at the grain boundaries, and the combination of pre-deformation under tension with the annealing process promotes the dynamic precipitation of nanoparticles and the formation of substructure.
Neuroendocrine Carcinomas of the Uterine Cervix, Endometrium, and Ovary Show Higher Tendencies for Bone, Brain, and Liver Organotrophic Metastases
Authors: Park Hyung Kyu
Published: October 2022

Neuroendocrine carcinoma (NEC) of the female genital tract is a rare and aggressive subtype of cancer that is still poorly understood. Several recent studies reported that pulmonary and gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine neoplasms show significantly different patterns of metastasis compared to non-NECs of the same primary sites. The aim of this study was to evaluate the metastatic patterns of gynecologic NECs and to compare the metastatic patterns of NECs and non-NECs of the same primary sites. We retrieved and analyzed cervical, endometrial, and ovarian NEC cases from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database. To validate the results, we also retrieved and analyzed cervical NEC cases from an institutional database. Uterine cervical NEC was the most common NEC. The overall metastatic rate was significantly higher in the NEC group than in the non-NEC group for all three primary sites. All cervical, endometrial, and ovarian NECs showed a higher tendency for bone, brain, and liver organotrophic metastasis than non-NECs of the same primary sites. We demonstrated that gynecologic NECs show significantly different metastatic patterns compared to non-NECs of the same primary sites. These findings might help clinicians to better manage patients with gynecologic NECs.
Measuring the Impact of Conservation: The Growing Importance of Monitoring Fauna, Flora and Funga
Authors: Stephenson P. J. , Londoño-Murcia Maria Cecilia , Borges Paulo A. V. , Claassens Louw , Frisch-Nwakanma Heidrun , Ling Nicholas , McMullan-Fisher Sapphire , Meeuwig Jessica J. , Unter Kerrigan Marie Machado , Walls Judith L. , Burfield Ian J. , do Carmo Vieira Correa Danilo , Geller Gary N. , Montenegro Paredes Irina , Mubalama Leonard K. , Ntiamoa-Baidu Yaa , Roesler Ignacio , Rovero Francesco , Sharma Yash Pal , Wiwardhana Nara Wisesa , Yang Jun , Fumagalli Luca
Published: October 2022

Many stakeholders, from governments to civil society to businesses, lack the data they need to make informed decisions on biodiversity, jeopardising efforts to conserve, restore and sustainably manage nature. Here we review the importance of enhancing biodiversity monitoring, assess the challenges involved and identify potential solutions. Capacity for biodiversity monitoring needs to be enhanced urgently, especially in poorer, high-biodiversity countries where data gaps are disproportionately high. Modern tools and technologies, including remote sensing, bioacoustics and environmental DNA, should be used at larger scales to fill taxonomic and geographic data gaps, especially in the tropics, in marine and freshwater biomes, and for plants, fungi and invertebrates. Stakeholders need to follow best monitoring practices, adopting appropriate indicators and using counterfactual approaches to measure and attribute outcomes and impacts. Data should be made openly and freely available. Companies need to invest in collecting the data required to enhance sustainability in their operations and supply chains. With governments soon to commit to the post-2020 global biodiversity framework, the time is right to make a concerted push on monitoring. However, action at scale is needed now if we are to enhance results-based management adequately to conserve the biodiversity and ecosystem services we all depend on.
Mollusc Crystallins: Physical and Chemical Properties and Phylogenetic Analysis
Authors: Dominova Irina N. , Zhukov Valery V.
Published: October 2022

The purpose of the present study was to perform bioinformatic analysis of crystallin diversity in aquatic molluscs based on the sequences in the NCBI Protein database. The objectives were as follows: (1) analysis of some physical and chemical properties of mollusc crystallins, (2) comparison of mollusc crystallins with zebrafish and cubomedusa Tripedalia cystophora crystallins, and (3) determination of the most probable candidates for the role of gastropod eye crystallins. The calculated average GRAVY values revealed that the majority of the seven crystallin groups, except for μ- and ζ-crystallins, were hydrophilic proteins. The predominant predicted secondary structures of the crystallins in most cases were α-helices and coils. The highest values of refractive index increment (dn/dc) were typical for crystallins of aquatic organisms with known lens protein composition (zebrafish, cubomedusa, and octopuses) and for S-crystallin of Pomacea canaliculata. The evolutionary relationships between the studied crystallins, obtained from multiple sequence alignments using Clustal Omega and MUSCLE, and the normalized conservation index, calculated by Mirny, showed that the most conservative proteins were Ω-crystallins but the most diverse were S-crystallins. The phylogenetic analysis of crystallin was generally consistent with modern mollusc taxonomy. Thus, α- and S-, and, possibly, J1A-crystallins, can be assumed to be the most likely candidates for the role of gastropod lens crystallins.
Genetic Architecture and Signatures of Selection in the Caqueteño Creole (Colombian Native Cattle)
Authors: Toro-Ospina Alejandra , Herrera Rios Ana , Bizarria Santos Wellington , Pimenta Schettini Gustavo , Vallejo Aristizabal Viviana , Tovar Claros Gilberto , Morea Edna
Published: October 2022

Evolutionary mechanisms have shaped the genomic architecture of Colombian Creole cattle breeds. The mating and selection processes have impacted several traits, promoting differences within and between populations. Studies of population structure and selection signatures in Colombian Creole breeds are scarce, and need more attention to better understand genetic differentiation, gene flow, and genetic distance. This study aimed to analyze the population structure and identify selection imprints in the Criollo Caqueteño (CAQ) population. It used 127 CAQ animals genotyped with Chip HD 777,000 SNPs. The population structure analyses used discriminant principal component analysis (DAPC), integrated haplotype scoring (iHS), and index-fixing (Fst) methodologies to detect selection signals. We can highlight SNP regions on the genes TMPRSS15, PGAM2, and EGFR, identified by the Fst method. Additionally, the iHS regions for cluster 1 identified candidate genes on BTA 3 (CMPK1 and FOXD2), BTA 11 (RCAN1), and BTA 22 (ARPP21). In group 2, we can highlight the genes on BTA 4 (SLC13A4, BRAF), BTA 9 (ULBP), BTA 14 (CSMD3) and BTA 19 (KRTAP9-2). These candidate genes have been associated with fertility traits, precocity, growth, and environmental and disease resistance, indicating a genetic potential in CAQ animals. All this promotes a better understanding of the diversity and genetic structure in the CAQ population. Based on that, our study can significantly assist the sustainable development and conservation of the breed in the Colombian Amazon.
Assessment of Climate Change and Land Use Effects on Water Lily (Nymphaea L.) Habitat Suitability in South America
Authors: Nzei John M. , Ngarega Boniface K. , Mwanzia Virginia M. , Kurauka Joseph K. , Wang Qing-Feng , Chen Jin-Ming , Li Zhi-Zhong , Pan Cheng
Published: October 2022

Many aquatic species have restricted dispersal capabilities, making them the most vulnerable organisms to climate change and land use change patterns. These factors deplete Nymphaea species’ suitable habitats, threatening their populations and survival. In addition, the species are poorly documented, which may indicate how scarce they are or will become. Members of Nymphaea are ecologically important as well as having cultural and economic value, making them of conservation interest. Therefore, using the maximum entropy (MaxEnt) approach, climatic variables, land use, and presence points were modeled for seven Nymphaea species in South America, using three general circulation models (CCSM4, HADGEM2-AO, and MIROC5) and in two representative concentration pathways (RCPs 4.5 and 8.5) and two scenarios (2050 and 2070). Our results indicated that mean diurnal range (bio2), precipitation of the wettest month (bio13), temperature seasonality (bio15), and land use (dom_lu) were the main influencing factors. For all species, suitable areas were concentrated east of Brazil, and they were variable in northern parts of the continent. Besides, inconsistent expansion and contraction of suitable habitats were noticed among the species. For example, N. amazonum, N. rudgeana, and N. lasiophylla future habitat expansions declined and habitat contraction increased, while for N. ampla and N. jamesoniana, both future habitat expansion and contraction increased, and for N. pulchella and N. rudgeana it varied in the RCPs. Moreover, the largest projected suitable habitats were projected outside protected areas, characterized by high human impacts, despite our analysis indicating no significant change between protected and unprotected areas in suitable habitat change. Finally, understanding how climate change and land use affect species distribution is critical to developing conservation measures for aquatic species.
Stochastic Processes Drive Plant Community Assembly in Alpine Grassland during the Restoration Period
Authors: Deng Zhaoheng , Zhao Jingxue , Wang Zhong , Li Ruicheng , Guo Ying , Luo Tianxiang , Zhang Lin
Published: October 2022

Enclosure (prohibition of grazing) is an important process to restore alpine grassland on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau. However, few studies have quantified the extent to which the long-term enclosure may contribute to the changes in plant phylogenetic diversity and community assembly in alpine grassland under environmental change. In this study, based on an 11-year fencing experiment along an altitudinal gradient ranging from 4400 m to 5200 m in central Tibet, we conducted an observation of species composition and coverage within and outside the fences in the fifth, eighth and eleventh year, and monitored the related climate and soil factors at 7 sites. Our aim is to quantify the relative effects of environmental change and grassland management on the alpine plant community assemblage. The results were: (1) the overall phylogenetic structure (NRI) of the alpine plant communities, whether inside or outside the enclosure, was divergent at altitudes where the environment was relatively unextreme (4800–5100 m), but aggregative at altitudes with low precipitation (4400–4650 m) or with low temperature (5200 m). (2) The phylogenetic structure of the nearest taxon of species (NTI) was more aggregative along the whole gradient. (3) Precipitation was the dominant factor driving the changes in species richness, phylogenetic diversity and community α-phylogenetic structure indices (NRI and NTI), followed by enclosure duration and soil C:N ratio. (4) The phylogenetic structure of the communities was similar at higher altitudes under grazing or enclosure treatments, and was opposite at lower sites. Stochastic processes have driven the changes in the communities between inside and outside the fences at all altitudes. In addition, homogeneous dispersal occurred in communities at higher sites. In summary, the 11-year enclosure had little effect on community structure of alpine meadows where the grazing pressure is relative lower, whereas it could help restore the community of steppe meadow at lower altitudes where the grazing pressure is extensively higher. This study may provide a vital theoretical support for the formulation of differential management for alpine grassland on the Tibetan Plateau.
Characterisation of Macroinvertebrate Communities in Maritsa River (South Bulgaria)—Relation to Different Environmental Factors and Ecological Status Assessment
Authors: Varadinova Emilia , Sakelarieva Lidia , Park Jiyoung , Ivanov Miroslav , Tyufekchieva Violeta
Published: October 2022

A survey of the macrozoobenthos communities in the Maritsa River (South Bulgaria) was carried out in the summer of 2021. Benthic samples were collected and physicochemical parameters (water temperature, pH, conductivity, dissolved oxygen and nutrients) were measured at 15 sites located on the main river and its tributary system. The studied sites belonged to different river types and characterised the diversity of the ecological conditions—from unaffected to anthropogenically influenced river stretches. In addition, data from a study conducted in the summer of 2020 were used to analyse species–factor interactions in the river ecosystems and to assess the bio-indicative potential of the aquatic invertebrates. The dynamics of the taxonomic composition and abundance of the macrozoobenthos were analysed in relation to environmental factors. The physicochemical conditions of the water environment changed during the period of high water, which led to a reduction in the composition of the macrozoobenthos. Plecoptera and Trichoptera decreased in richness and abundance downstream and under human impacts. Ephemeroptera and Chironomidae were permanently present along the whole river. Oligochaeta increased in the lower river reaches and at sites with a greater amount of organic matter. The ecological status determined by the macrozoobenthos varied from high (site 1) to good, moderate and bad (site 13) at the studied sites.
How Many Mammals Are Killed on Brazilian Roads? Assessing Impacts and Conservation Implications
Authors: Pinto Fernando Antônio Silva , Cirino Douglas William , Cerqueira Rafaela Cobucci , Rosa Clarissa , Freitas Simone Rodrigues
Published: October 2022

Millions of animals are killed on roads annually due to collisions with vehicles, particularly medium–large mammals. Studies on mammal road-kill flourished in Brazil in the last decade and an assessment of research on road-kill impacts at a country level will help define science-based conservation strategies. In this study, we used the compiled scientific literature to provide the state of knowledge on medium and large-sized mammals killed by road traffic in Brazil, their conservation status, and an approximation of the road-kill magnitude. We reviewed a total of 62 scientific papers that reported road-kill data accounting for 11.817 individuals. Of the 102 species of medium–large mammals found in the IUCN list, more than half (n = 62; 61%) were recorded as road-kill on Brazilian roads. The Carnivora order comprises over a quarter (n = 23; 37%) of the total road-killed species. A total of 9 species (14.5%) were classified as threatened, with a further 10 (16%) as Near Threatened. Over half of the road-killed species (n = 33, 53%) showed declining population trends according to their IUCN conservation status. Our extrapolation of the results for the entire Brazilian paved road network showed that the number of medium–large road-killed mammals can reach almost 9 million yearly (maximum 8.7 million; mean 1.3 million), representing a biomass of more than 10000 tons. The highest roadkill rates were recorded for common generalists and least concern species, although there were also threatened and near threatened species within the top 15 highest road-kill rates. The declining population trends found for most species reflect serious conservation concerns, since there is a lack of information on the mortality effects at population levels. Our results suggest that medium–large mammals are severally affected by road mortality in Brazil. More investigations are needed at local and abundance population levels, in a way that allows the inclusion of road network as an important threat for target species impacted by road-kill in the national territory, in order to develop adequate plans to mitigate those impacts.