bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Developing an I4.0 Cyber-Physical System to Enhance Efficiency and Competitiveness in Manufacturing
Authors: Jamil Fraz , Pang Toh Yen , Cheng Chi-Tsun
Published: August 2023

Industry 4.0 (I4.0) grants businesses in the manufacturing sector significant benefits in terms of productivity and efficiency; however, industries must strive to reach a level of technological readiness and acquire the necessary expertise to implement and integrate I4.0 technologies to enhance their processes. This paper presents a framework designed to provide guidance to businesses within the manufacturing industry to improve efficiency and productivity. The framework was developed and refined in collaboration with a leading cold-chain insulated packaging manufacturer based in Melbourne, Australia. The proposed framework was designed and implemented utilising off-the-shelf sensing, processing, and visualisation components, which can be integrated into existing machinery, thereby achieving a cost-effective retrofit. Experimental results showed that a system developed using the proposed framework can accurately measure material consumption in terms of length. The system provides the building blocks for the manufacturer to avoid downtime by preventing the machine from running out of raw materials.
An Experiment Study on the Dynamic Behavior of Concrete Used in a Mine Sealing Wall under a High Temperature
Authors: Wang Qiusha , Luo Zhenmin
Published: August 2023

Micro-cracks and material deterioration occur in concrete under high-temperature conditions. To reveal the impact resistance of concrete at a high temperature, a dynamic splitting test and dynamic compression test were carried out using a split Hopkinson pressure bar (SHPB). The failure process and dynamic stress–strain curve of the concrete specimens were obtained, investigating the failure mode and dynamic tensile and compressive strength of the concrete. The test results showed that the surface cracks appeared along the loading direction and extended to the core area under the impact load. With an increase in the temperature, different degrees of damage would be caused, the dynamic strength and toughness of the concrete would decrease, showing brittle failure, and the energy absorbed in the failure process would also decrease correspondingly.
Two-Dimensional Metal–Organic Frameworks and Their Derivative Electrocatalysts for Water Splitting
Authors: Shen Lin , Qian Yongteng , Lyu Zhiyi , Kim Dong-Hwan , Kang Dae Joon
Published: August 2023

The escalating urgency to mitigate climate change and enhance energy security has prompted heightened exploration of hydrogen production via electrocatalysis as a viable alternative to conventional fossil fuels. Among the myriad of electrocatalysts under investigation, two-dimensional (2D) metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) stand out as a particularly appealing option. Their unique properties, including a large active specific surface area, distinctive pore structure, ample metal active sites, ultra-thin thickness, superior ion transport efficiency, fast electron transfer rate, and the ability to control the morphological synthesis, endow these frameworks with exceptional versatility and promising potential for electrocatalytic applications. In this review, we delineate the structural features and advantages of 2D MOFs and their derivatives. We proceed to summarize the latest advancements in the synthesis and utilization of these materials for electrocatalytic hydrogen evolution reactions (HER) and oxygen evolution reactions (OER). Finally, we scrutinize the potential and challenges inherent to 2D MOFs and their derivatives in practical applications, underscoring the imperative for continued research in this captivating field of electrocatalysis.
A Stacking Machine Learning Method for IL-10-Induced Peptide Sequence Recognition Based on Unified Deep Representation Learning
Authors: Li Jiayu , Jiang Jici , Pei Hongdi , Lv Zhibin
Published: August 2023

Interleukin-10 (IL-10) has anti-inflammatory properties and is a crucial cytokine in regulating immunity. The identification of IL-10 through wet laboratory experiments is costly and time-intensive. Therefore, a new IL-10-induced peptide recognition method, IL10-Stack, was introduced in this research, which was based on unified deep representation learning and a stacking algorithm. Two approaches were employed to extract features from peptide sequences: Amino Acid Index (AAindex) and sequence-based unified representation (UniRep). After feature fusion and optimized feature selection, we selected a 1900-dimensional UniRep feature vector and constructed the IL10-Stack model using stacking. IL10-Stack exhibited excellent performance in IL-10-induced peptide recognition (accuracy (ACC) = 0.910, Matthews correlation coefficient (MCC) = 0.820). Relative to the existing methods, IL-10Pred and ILeukin10Pred, the approach increased in ACC by 12.1% and 2.4%, respectively. The IL10-Stack method can identify IL-10-induced peptides, which aids in the development of immunosuppressive drugs.
A Secure Optical Body Area Network Based on Free Space Optics and Time-Delayed 2D-Spectral/Spatial Optical CDMA
Authors: Kanwal Firdos , Qureshi Khurram Karim , Imtiaz Waqas A. , Ul Haq Anwar , Mirza Jawad
Published: August 2023

Free space optics (FSO)-based optical body area networks (OBANs) are receiving massive attention as an opportunity to address the limitations of their radio frequency (RF)-based counterparts. This boom in research interests is primarily due to multitude of benefits, including high capacity, immunity to electromagnetic interference (EMI), rapid installation, cost efficiency, and license-free use of spectrum. Securing the transmission of patient health data against interception in OBANs using insecure FSO channels is a challenging task. Therefore, we propose a low-cost, flexible, and secure OBAN based on FSO technology and a time-delayed two dimensional (2D) spectral/spatial optical code-division multiple access (OCDMA) system. The proposed architecture consists of eight sensors attached to the bodies of patients. The sensors operate at a rate of 50 kbps. Electrical data generated from each sensor are used to modulate an optical carrier and then encoded using 2D-spectral/spatial double weight–zero cross correlation (DW-ZCC) code. The 2D encoded optical signals are then time delayed to eliminate the multiple parallel FSO channels between the transmitter and medical center. The combined optical signal consists of eight 2D-encoded time-delayed optical signals transmitted towards a remote medical center over an FSO channel with a range of 1 km. The received signal is decoded and the data from each sensor are recovered after photodetection at the medical center for further analysis. The overall performance of the sensors is analyzed using bit-error rate (BER) and quality factor (Q-factor) plots for different weather conditions and lengths of the FSO channel, considering the log-normal channel model. The capital expenditure (CAPEX) of the proposed architecture is analyzed and compared with the conventional 2D-spectral/spatial FSO system to determine the overall impact of introducing time delay units on the cost of implementation.
Instantaneous Square Current Signal Analysis for Motors Using Vision Transformer for the Fault Diagnosis of Rolling Bearings
Authors: Chen Fei , Zhou Xin , Xu Binbin , Yang Zheng , Qu Zege
Published: August 2023

Using vibration signals for bearing fault diagnosis can generally achieve good diagnostic results. However, it is not suitable for practical industrial applications due to the restricted installation and high cost of vibration sensors. Therefore, the easily obtainable motor current signal (MCS) has received widespread attention in recent years. Meanwhile, traditional fault diagnosis methods cannot meet the diagnostic accuracy requirements because of the low signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of the MCS. Committed to achieving bearing fault diagnosis through MCS, a rolling bearing fault diagnosis method, ISCV-ViT, based on the MCS and the Vision Transformer (ViT) model, is proposed. In particular, a signal processing method based on the instantaneous square current value (ISCV) is proposed to process the MCS directly obtained through a frequency converter into time-domain images. Then, the ViT model is applied for bearing fault diagnosis. Finally, experimental verification is carried out based on the public bearing dataset of Paderborn University (PU) and the bearing dataset of Shenzhen Technology University (SZTU). The analysis of the experimental results demonstrates that the average accuracy of the ISCV-ViT for the two datasets is up to 96.60% and 94.87%, respectively.
Airbag Protection and Alerting System for Elderly People
Authors: Ibrahim Mariam , Shawish Shuruq , Aldroubi Sabri , Dawoud Ali , Abdin Walid
Published: August 2023

In the elderly population, falling is an important cause of severe injuries like hip injuries. Injury- or unconsciousness-related immobility implies that the affected are unable to seek assistance. Building fall detection systems is essential since it is usual for senior individuals residing alone to go many hours without being located after a fall, considerably increasing the impact of injuries caused by falls. The primary goal of this paper is to implement an airbag protection and alerting system for elderly people. The system can be installed on a waist belt as an airbag. It is connected wirelessly to the elderly person’s mobile, where an Android mobile application is created to receive alert notifications from the system. The system will detect the fall using a gravity sensor that is connected to an Arduino board. If a fall is detected by the gravity sensor, then the system will activate an air valve and inflate the airbag from the air tank. The system will also send a warning notification to the elderly person’s mobile application via Bluetooth. Then, the elderly person’s GPS location will be determined from their mobile phone and an SMS will be transmitted to a mobile phone belonging to his/her emergency contact of choice. The system is tuned to provide a proper fall detection sensitivity with good accuracy (90%). It has a relatively low cost, very quick response time (only 150 ms delay from the electrical grid), and low power consumption (11.1 Wh).
Adversarial Attack and Defense in Breast Cancer Deep Learning Systems
Authors: Li Yang , Liu Shaoying
Published: August 2023

Deep-learning-assisted medical diagnosis has brought revolutionary innovations to medicine. Breast cancer is a great threat to women’s health, and deep-learning-assisted diagnosis of breast cancer pathology images can save manpower and improve diagnostic accuracy. However, researchers have found that deep learning systems based on natural images are vulnerable to attacks that can lead to errors in recognition and classification, raising security concerns about deep systems based on medical images. We used the adversarial attack algorithm FGSM to reveal that breast cancer deep learning systems are vulnerable to attacks and thus misclassify breast cancer pathology images. To address this problem, we built a deep learning system for breast cancer pathology image recognition with better defense performance. Accurate diagnosis of medical images is related to the health status of patients. Therefore, it is very important and meaningful to improve the security and reliability of medical deep learning systems before they are actually deployed.
Senolytic Combination Treatment Is More Potent Than Single Drugs in Reducing Inflammatory and Senescence Burden in Cells from Painful Degenerating IVDs
Authors: Mannarino Matthew , Wu-Martinez Oliver , Sheng Kai , Li Li , Navarro-Ramirez Rodrigo , Jarzem Peter , Ouellet Jean A. , Cherif Hosni , Haglund Lisbet
Published: August 2023

Background: Low back pain is a global health problem directly related to intervertebral disc (IVD) degeneration. Senolytic drugs (RG-7112 and o-Vanillin) target and remove senescent cells from IVDs in vitro, improving tissue homeostasis. One drawback of using a single senolytic agent is the failure to target multiple senescent antiapoptotic pathways. This study aimed to determine if combining the two senolytic drugs, o-Vanillin and RG-7112, could more efficiently remove senescent cells and reduce the release of inflammatory factors and pain mediators in cells from degenerating human IVDs than either drug alone. Methods: Preliminary data evaluating multiple concentrations of o-Vanillin and RG-7112 led to the selection of four treatment groups. Monolayer and pellet cultures of cells from painful degenerate IVDs were exposed to TLR-2/6 agonist. They were then treated with the senolytics o-Vanillin and RG7112 alone or combined. p16ink4a, Ki-67, caspase-3, inflammatory mediators, and neuronal sprouting were assessed. Results: Compared to the single treatments, the combination of o-Vanillin and RG-7112 significantly reduced the amount of senescent IVD cells, proinflammatory cytokines, and neurotrophic factors. Moreover, both single and combination treatments significantly reduced neuronal sprouting in rat adrenal pheochromocytoma (PC-12 cells). Conclusions: Combining o-Vanillin and RG-7112 greatly enhanced the effect of either senolytic alone. Together, these results support the potential of senolytics as a promising treatment for IVD-related low back pain.
Padina boergesenii-Mediated Copper Oxide Nanoparticles Synthesis, with Their Antibacterial and Anticancer Potential
Authors: Balaji Thirupathi , Manushankar Chethakkad Manikkan , Al-Ghanim Khalid A. , Kamaraj Chinnaperumal , Thirumurugan Durairaj , Thanigaivel Sundaram , Nicoletti Marcello , Sachivkina Nadezhda , Govindarajan Marimuthu
Published: August 2023

The utilization of nanoparticles derived from algae has generated increasing attention owing to their environmentally sustainable characteristics and their capacity to interact harmoniously with biologically active metabolites. The present study utilized P. boergesenii for the purpose of synthesizing copper oxide nanoparticles (CuONPs), which were subsequently subjected to in vitro assessment against various bacterial pathogens and cancer cells A375. The biosynthesized CuONPs were subjected to various analytical techniques including FTIR, XRD, HRSEM, TEM, and Zeta sizer analyses in order to characterize their stability and assess their size distribution. The utilization of Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) analysis has provided confirmation that the algal metabolites serve to stabilize the CuONPs and function as capping agents. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis revealed a distinct peak associated with the (103) plane, characterized by its sharpness and high intensity, indicating its crystalline properties. The size of the CuONPs in the tetragonal crystalline structure was measured to be 76 nm, and they exhibited a negative zeta potential. The biological assay demonstrated that the CuONPs exhibited significant antibacterial activity when tested against both Bacillus subtilis and Escherichia coli. The cytotoxic effects of CuONPs and cisplatin, when tested at a concentration of 100 µg/mL on the A375 malignant melanoma cell line, were approximately 70% and 95%, respectively. The CuONPs that were synthesized demonstrated significant potential in terms of their antibacterial properties and their ability to inhibit the growth of malignant melanoma cells.
Interaction of Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor with the Effects of Chronic Methamphetamine on Prepulse Inhibition in Mice Is Independent of Dopamine D3 Receptors
Authors: Hogarth Samuel , Jaehne Emily J. , Xu Xiangjun , Schwarz Quenten , van den Buuse Maarten
Published: August 2023

The aim of the present study was to gain a better understanding of the role of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and dopamine D3 receptors in the effects of chronic methamphetamine (METH) on prepulse inhibition (PPI), an endophenotype of psychosis. We compared the effect of a three-week adolescent METH treatment protocol on the regulation of PPI in wildtype mice, BDNF heterozygous mice (HET), D3 receptor knockout mice (D3KO), and double-mutant mice (DM) with both BDNF heterozygosity and D3 receptor knockout. Chronic METH induced disruption of PPI regulation in male mice with BDNF haploinsufficiency (HET and DM), independent of D3 receptor knockout. Specifically, these mice showed reduced baseline PPI, as well as attenuated disruption of PPI induced by acute treatment with the dopamine receptor agonist, apomorphine (APO), or the glutamate NMDA receptor antagonist, MK-801. In contrast, there were no effects of BDNF heterozygosity or D3 knockout on PPI regulation in female mice. Chronic METH pretreatment induced the expected locomotor hyperactivity sensitisation, where female HET and DM mice also showed endogenous sensitisation. Differential sex-specific effects of genotype and METH pretreatment were observed on dopamine receptor and dopamine transporter gene expression in the striatum and frontal cortex. Taken together, these results show a significant involvement of BDNF in the long-term effects of METH on PPI, particularly in male mice, but these effects appear independent of D3 receptors. The role of this receptor in psychosis endophenotypes therefore remains unclear.
Nanosphere Lithography-Enabled Hybrid Ag-Cu Surface-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy Substrates with Enhanced Absorption of Excitation Light
Authors: Wu Zixuan , Liu Jianxun , Wang Zhenming , Chen Lei , Xu Yiwei , Ma Zongjun , Kong Delai , Luo Dan , Liu Yan Jun
Published: August 2023

We demonstrated a low-cost, highly sensitive hybrid Ag-Cu substrate with enhanced absorption for the excitation laser beam via the nanosphere lithography technique. The hybrid Ag-Cu surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) substrate consists of a Cu nanoarray covered with Ag nanoparticles. The geometry of the deposited Cu nanoarray is precisely determined through a self-assembly nanosphere etching process, resulting in optimized absorption for the excitation laser beam. Further Raman enhancement is achieved by incorporating plasmonic hotspots formed by dense Ag nanoparticles, grown by immersing the prepared Cu nanoarray in a silver nitrate solution. The structural design enables analytical enhancement factor of hybrid Ag-Cu SERS substrates of 1.13 × 105. The Ag-Cu SERS substrates exhibit a highly sensitive and reproducible SERS activity, with a low detection limit of 10−13 M for Rhodamine 6G detection and 10−9 M for 4,4′-Bipyridine. Our strategy could pave an effective and promising approach for SERS-based rapid detection in biosensors, environmental monitoring and food safety.
Bonding Performance of Melamine–Urea–Formaldehyde and Polyurethane Adhesives for Laminated Hybrid Beams and Their Selected Mechanical Properties
Authors: Fašalek Andrej , Straže Aleš , Šega Bogdan , Huber Johannes A. J. , Šernek Milan
Published: August 2023

Beech (Fagus Sylvatica L.) is a prevalent tree species in Slovenia and is suitable for manufacturing glulam beams. However, beech wood has certain limitations that can potentially be mitigated by combining it with Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst.) wood to create hybrid beams. This study aimed to determine the bonding performance of commonly used melamine–urea–formaldehyde and polyurethane adhesives for these hybrid beams. Moreover, how varying the proportion of beech wood in a hybrid beam affects its mechanical properties was examined. Shear and delamination tests (method B) were conducted, and EN 14080:2013 requirements were met in all cases. The four-point bending tests of the beams showed that hybrid beams containing 20% of beech wood in the cross-sectional height on each side of the neutral axis exhibited a similar modulus of elasticity values as pure beech beams, but their strength was not equally improved. Hybrid beams with 11% of beech wood did not show any improvement in bending stiffness or strength compared to pure spruce beams. It was noted that the presence of beech wood in a hybrid beam can influence its failure mode. Furthermore, analytical calculations showed that a symmetrical lay-up is preferable to an asymmetrical one to increase the effective modulus of elasticity.
Space Efficiency in Finnish Mid-Rise Timber Apartment Buildings
Authors: Tuure Antti , Ilgın Hüseyin
Published: August 2023

As in many other building types, space efficiency in mid-rise timber apartment buildings is one of the critical design parameters to make a project feasible. Space efficiency depends on varying selection criteria related to construction materials, construction methods, and proper planning. To date, no study provides a comprehensive understanding of space efficiency in mid-rise timber apartment buildings. This paper examined data from 55 Finnish mid-rise timber apartment buildings built between 2018 and 2022 under the Finnish Land Use and Building Act to increase the understanding of which factors and design parameters influence the space efficiency of mid-rise timber apartment buildings. The main findings of this study indicated that: (1) among the case studies, the space efficiency ranged from 77.8% to 87.9%, and the average was 83%; (2) the mean values of the ratios of structural wall area to gross floor area, vertical circulation area to gross floor area, and technical spaces (including shafts) to gross floor area were found to be 12.9%, 2.6%, and 1.5%, respectively; (3) construction methods or shear wall materials make no significant difference in terms of space efficiency, and there is no scientific correlation between the number of stories and space efficiency; (4) the best average space efficiency was achieved with central core type, followed by peripheral core arrangement. This research will contribute to design guidelines for clients, developers, architects, and other construction professionals of mid-rise timber apartment building projects.
The Structure–Activity Relationship of CuO in the Catalytic Conversion Reaction of Glycerol to Lactic Acid
Authors: Tang Cheng , Li Shuangming , Li Shanqi , Wang Yiwen , He Mingyue , Huang Mengyuan , Yu Sansan
Published: August 2023

Three types of CuO with different micro–structures were applied to catalyze the conversion of glycerol to lactic acid. The structure–activity relationship between CuO and its catalytic performance was investigated by combining experiments and theoretical calculations. We demonstrated that two CuO samples (CuO–BCC and CuO–CA), as prepared by calcining copper salts, show larger lattice spacing than that of commercial CuO (CuO–COM). In the catalytic experiments, CuO–BCC, which had the largest lattice spacing (d = 0.2480 nm), exhibited the highest yield of 78.54% for lactic acid. The lattice strain caused by lattice expansion was considered more favorable for CuO–BCC in adsorbing glycerol molecules, thereby improving the conversion of glycerol to lactic acid. The DFT simulation calculation results further prove that CuO–BCC has a larger adsorption energy for glycerol and a smaller thermodynamic energy barrier for the dehydrogenation of glycerol to form the key intermediate products (glyceraldehyde and 1,3-dihydroxyacetone) than CuO–COM. This study demonstrates the role of lattice strain effects in the development of catalysts and provides ideas for catalytic glycerol-selective oxidation studies.
Recent Advances in Design and Synthesis of 1,3-Thiaselenolane and 1,3-Thiaselenole Derivatives
Authors: Amosova Svetlana V. , Makhaeva Nataliya A.
Published: August 2023

Recent advances in the design and synthesis of five-membered heterocycles containing both sulfur and selenium atoms—1,3-thiaselenolane and 1,3-thiaselenole derivatives—are discussed in this review. These heterocyclic systems are of interest as intermediates for organic synthesis and compounds that can exhibit various useful properties, including biological activity and electrical conductivity. The main focus of the review is on the works of the last 20 years that make use of catalytic reactions. Synthetic methods for the preparation of structurally related 1,4,5,8-diselenadithiafulvalenes based on catalytic cross-coupling reactions are also presented. To date, the design and synthesis of 1,3-thiaselenolane and 1,3-thiaselenole derivatives have not been discussed in a separate review.
From Molecules to Imaging: Assessment of Placental Hypoxia Biomarkers in Placental Insufficiency Syndromes
Authors: Al Darwish Fatimah M. , Meijerink Lotte , Coolen Bram F. , Strijkers Gustav J. , Bekker Mireille , Lely Titia , Terstappen Fieke
Published: August 2023

Placental hypoxia poses significant risks to both the developing fetus and the mother during pregnancy, underscoring the importance of early detection and monitoring. Effectively identifying placental hypoxia and evaluating the deterioration in placental function requires reliable biomarkers. Molecular biomarkers in placental tissue can only be determined post-delivery and while maternal blood biomarkers can be measured over time, they can merely serve as proxies for placental function. Therefore, there is an increasing demand for non-invasive imaging techniques capable of directly assessing the placental condition over time. Recent advancements in imaging technologies, including photoacoustic and magnetic resonance imaging, offer promising tools for detecting and monitoring placental hypoxia. Integrating molecular and imaging biomarkers may revolutionize the detection and monitoring of placental hypoxia, improving pregnancy outcomes and reducing long-term health complications. This review describes current research on molecular and imaging biomarkers of placental hypoxia both in human and animal studies and aims to explore the benefits of an integrated approach throughout gestation.
PFKFB3-Mediated Glycolysis Boosts Fibroblast Activation and Subsequent Kidney Fibrosis
Authors: Yang Qiuhua , Huo Emily , Cai Yongfeng , Zhang Zhidan , Dong Charles , Asara John M. , Wei Qingqing
Published: August 2023

Renal fibrosis, a hallmark of chronic kidney diseases, is driven by the activation of renal fibroblasts. Recent studies have highlighted the role of glycolysis in this process. Nevertheless, one critical glycolytic activator, 6-phosphofructo-2-kinase/fructose-2,6-bisphosphatase 3 (PFKFB3), remains unexplored in renal fibrosis. Upon reanalyzing the single-cell sequencing data from Dr. Humphreys’ lab, we noticed an upregulation of glycolysis, gluconeogenesis, and the TGFβ signaling pathway in myofibroblasts from fibrotic kidneys after unilateral ureter obstruction (UUO) or kidney ischemia/reperfusion. Furthermore, our experiments showed significant induction of PFKFB3 in mouse kidneys following UUO or kidney ischemia/reperfusion. To delve deeper into the role of PFKFB3, we generated mice with Pfkfb3 deficiency, specifically in myofibroblasts (Pfkfb3f/f/PostnMCM). Following UUO or kidney ischemia/reperfusion, a substantial decrease in fibrosis in the injured kidneys of Pfkfb3f/f/PostnMCM mice was identified compared to their wild-type littermates. Additionally, in cultured renal fibroblast NRK-49F cells, PFKFB3 was elevated upon exposure to TGFβ1, accompanied by an increase in α-SMA and fibronectin. Notably, this upregulation was significantly diminished with PFKFB3 knockdown, correlated with glycolysis suppression. Mechanistically, the glycolytic metabolite lactate promoted the fibrotic activation of NRK-49F cells. In conclusion, our study demonstrates the critical role of PFKFB3 in driving fibroblast activation and subsequent renal fibrosis.
Hemoglobin and Its Z Score Reference Intervals in Febrile Children: A Cohort Study of 98,572 Febrile Children
Authors: Cheng Chu-Yin , Hsu Ting-Hsuan , Yang Ya-Ling , Huang Ying-Hsien
Published: August 2023

Objectives: Febrile disease and age of children were associated with a variation in hemoglobin (Hb) level. Both CRP and Hb serve as laboratory markers that offer valuable insights into a patient’s health, particularly in relation to inflammation and specific medical conditions. Although a direct correlation between CRP and Hb levels is not established, the relationship between these markers has garnered academic attention and investigation. This study aimed to determine updated reference ranges for Hb levels for age and investigated its correlation with CRP in febrile children under the age of 18. Methods: This is a cohort study of in Chang Gung Memorial Hospitals conducted from January 2010 to December 2019. Blood samples were collected from 98,572 febrile children who were or had been admitted in the pediatric emergency department. The parameters of individuals were presented as the mean ± standard deviation or 2.5th and 97.5th percentiles. We also determined the variation of Hb and Z score of Hb between CRP levels in febrile children. Result: We observed that the Hb levels were the highest immediately after birth and subsequently underwent a rapid decline, reaching their lowest point at around 1–2 months of age, and followed by a steady increment in Hb levels throughout childhood and adolescence. In addition, there was a significant and wide variation in Hb levels during the infant period. It revealed a significant association between higher CRP levels and lower Hb levels or a more negative Z score of Hb across all age subgroups. Moreover, in patients with bacteremia, CRP levels were higher, Hb concentrations were lower, and Z scores of Hb were also lower compared to the non-bacteremia group. Furthermore, the bacteremia group exhibited a more substantial negative correlation between CRP levels and a Z score of Hb (r = −0.41, p < 0.001) compared to the non-bacteremia group (r = −0.115, p < 0.049). Conclusion: The study findings revealed that the Hb references varied depending on the age of the children and their CRP levels. In addition, we established new reference values for Hb and its Z scores and explore their relationship with CRP. It provides valuable insights into the Hb status and its potential association with inflammation in febrile pediatric patients.
Pediatric Palliative Care: Insights into Assessment Tools and
Review Instruments
Authors: Papa Simonetta , Mercante Anna , Giacomelli Luca , Benini Franca
Published: August 2023

The proper assessment of needs and outcomes in pediatric palliative care (PPC) is imperativeto ensure the best possible service to patients and families. However, given the multidimensionalnature of PPC, the low number of patients in this setting, the heterogeneity of diseases, the presenceof cognitive impairment in many patients, and the physiological development of children, outcomescan be complex and difficult to measure. Consequently, in this context, the use of standardizedand validated tools to assess the needs of children and families, to assess symptom severity, andto estimate the quality of PPC service represent a current need. Even if efforts have been made tostandardize approaches and tools for palliative care in adults, to our knowledge, a similar comprehensiveassessment of PPC has not yet been conducted to date. This narrative review provides anoverview and discusses the evaluation of tools currently applied in PPC, with an educational intentfor healthcare providers. We found that several instruments are available to assess different dimensionsof PPC. We proposed a classification into eligibility tools, patient and family needs assessmenttools, and care assessment tools. At present, two main eligibility tools exist, the PaPaS Scale and theACCAPED Scale questionnaire. Most of the tools for patient and family needs assessment have notbeen specifically validated in the PPC setting, and many may be more readily applied in researchsettings rather than in daily practice. Similar considerations can be made for tools assessing QoL,while tools assessing PPC service quality seem to be easily applied. Efforts to develop new specifictools and validate existing ones are undoubtedly advocated. However, in the patient’s best interest,PPC healthcare providers should start using available tools, regardless of their validation status.
Energy Distribution of Sputtered Atoms Explored by SRIM Simulations
Authors: Mahne Nastja , Čekada Miha , Panjan Matjaž
Published: August 2023

The energy of the sputtered atoms is important to control the microstructure and physical properties of thin films. In this work, we used the SRIM program to simulate the energy of sputtered atoms. We analyzed the energy distribution functions (EDFs) and the average energies of the atoms in different spatial directions for a range of target materials and Ar ion energies. The results were compared to the analytical equations for EDFs derived by Sigmund and Thompson and with experimental data from the literature. The SRIM simulations give realistic EDFs for transition metals, but not for elements lighter than Si. All EDFs show a low-energy peak positioned close to one-half of the surface binding energy and a high-energy tail decreasing as approximately E−2. We analyzed the characteristics of EDFs, specifically, the position of low- and high-energy peaks, FWHM, and the energy tail, with respect to the ion energy and position of the element in the periodic table. The low-energy peak increases with atomic number for elements within each group in the periodic table. Similar changes were observed for FWHM. For the period 5 and 6 elements, additional broad high-energy peaks were observed at emission angles above 45° when sputtered by Ar ions with 300 eV and also in some heavier elements when bombarded by 600 eV and 1200 eV ions. The transition metals in groups 4, 5, and 6 in periods 5 and 6 have the highest average energies, while the lowest average energies have elements in group 11. The results of simulations show that the average energies of sputtered atoms were inversely proportional to the sputtering yield, i.e., the higher the sputtering yield, the lower the average energy of sputtered atoms. We established an empirical equation for transition metals to estimate the average energy of sputtered atoms from the sputtering yield. The angular distribution of the average atom energy depends on the atomic number. Transition metals with 22 < Z < 72 have an anisotropic energy distribution, with the highest average energies in the 40°–70° range. For the elements in group 11, the angular distribution of the average energies is more isotropic.
Feasibility of Carnauba Wax Rejuvenators for Asphalt Concrete with Vacuum Tower Bottom Binder
Authors: Kim Jinhwan , Kim Kyungnam , Haeng Jo , Le Tri
Published: August 2023

This study addresses the need for effective rejuvenators in asphalt concrete mixtures containing Vacuum Tower Bottom (VB) binder, a by-product of petroleum refining. We investigated the use of a softening rejuvenator, comprising Carnauba (5.5%), Soybean oil (3%), water (81%), surfactant (1.5%), and additive (3%) from a Korean refining company, to mitigate the brittleness of VB binder. Laboratory experiments were conducted to compare the performance of the modified binder with the original hardened binder. The results showed that adding the rejuvenator improved the properties of the VB binder. Optimal asphalt grades were achieved with a 2% content of the softening additive in the VB binder. The rejuvenator enhanced moisture resistance, leading to settlements comparable to the control asphalt. Settlements after 20,000 load repetitions were 11.49 mm for the modified mixture, which were slightly better than the control material at 12.44 mm. Moisture stripping points occurred at around 16,000 cycles for the modified mixture, while the control material experienced them at approximately 13,000 cycles. Under freeze-thaw cycles, the modified mixture exhibited enhanced durability compared to the control mixture. The control mixture experienced a significant increase in rutting value of approximately 59.7% (from 12.4 mm to 19.7 mm), while the modified mixture showed a relatively lower increase of approximately 37.4% (from 11.5 mm to 15.8 mm). Additionally, the modified VB mixture demonstrated approximately 7.8% higher dynamic modulus at lower temperatures, indicating improved mechanical properties. It also displayed superior fatigue crack resistance, with a fatigue life of 18,385 cycles compared to 15,775 cycles for the control asphalt. Field results confirmed that the VB asphalt mixture with the rejuvenator achieved comparable site compactness to the control mixture, indicating successful compaction performance. These findings highlight the rejuvenator’s efficacy in mitigating binder stiffening and restoring the original state of aged asphalt binders.
Dioxin-Linked Covalent Organic Framework-Supported Palladium Complex for Rapid Room-Temperature Suzuki–Miyaura Coupling Reaction
Authors: Campbell Allea , Alsudairy Ziad , Dun Chaochao , Akram Fazli , Smith-Petty Kayla , Ambus Abrianna , Bingham Danielle , Dinadayalane Tandabany , Ingram Conrad , Li Xinle
Published: August 2023

Covalent organic framework (COF)-supported palladium catalysts have garnered enormous attention for cross-coupling reactions. However, the limited linkage types in COF hosts and their suboptimal catalytic performance have hindered their widespread implementation. Herein, we present the first study immobilizing palladium acetate onto a dioxin-linked COF (Pd/COF-318) through a facile solution impregnation approach. By virtue of its permanent porosity, accessible Pd sites arranged in periodic skeletons, and framework robustness, the resultant Pd/COF-318 exhibits exceptionally high activity and broad substrate scope for the Suzuki–Miyaura coupling reaction between aryl bromides and arylboronic acids at room temperature within an hour, rendering it among the most effective Pd/COF catalysts for Suzuki–Miyaura coupling reactions to date. Moreover, Pd/COF-318 demonstrates excellent recyclability, retaining high activity over five cycles without significant deactivation. The leaching test confirms the heterogeneity of the catalyst. This work uncovers the vast potential of dioxin-linked COFs as catalyst supports for highly active, selective, and durable organometallic catalysis.
Effect of a Long-Range Dislocation Pileup on the Atomic-Scale Hydrogen Diffusion near a Grain Boundary in Plastically Deformed bcc Iron
Authors: Peng Yipeng , Ji Rigelesaiyin , Phan Thanh , Chen Xiang , Zhang Ning , Xu Shuozhi , Bastawros Ashraf , Xiong Liming
Published: August 2023

In this paper, we present concurrent atomistic-continuum (CAC) simulations of the hydrogen (H) diffusion along a grain boundary (GB), nearby which a large population of dislocations are piled up, in a plastically deformed bi-crystalline bcc iron sample. With the microscale dislocation slip and the atomic structure evolution at the GB being simultaneously retained, our main findings are: (i) the accumulation of tens of dislocations near the H-charged GB can induce a local internal stress as high as 3 GPa; (ii) the more dislocations piled up at the GB, the slower the H diffusion ahead of the slip–GB intersection; and (iii) H atoms diffuse fast behind the pileup tip, get trapped within the GB, and diffuse slowly ahead of the pileup tip. The CAC simulation-predicted local H diffusivity, Dpileup−tip, and local stresses, σ, are correlated with each other. We then consolidate such correlations into a mechanics model by considering the dislocation pileup as an Eshelby inclusion. These findings will provide researchers with opportunities to: (a) characterize the interplay between plasticity, H diffusion, and crack initiation underlying H-induced cracking (HIC); (b) develop mechanism-based constitutive rules to be used in diffusion–plasticity coupling models for understanding the interplay between mechanical and mass transport in materials at the continuum level; and (c) connect the atomistic deformation physics of polycrystalline materials with their performance in aqueous environments, which is currently difficult to achieve in experiments.
5.7 ps Resolution Time-to-Digital Converter Implementation Using Routing Path Delays
Authors: Siecha Roza Teklehaimanot , Alemu Getachew , Prinzie Jeffrey , Leroux Paul
Published: August 2023

A tapped delay line (TDL)-based time-to-digital converter (TDC) implemented on an FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array) is sensitive to nonlinearities because of significant variations in the delay of the delay elements. Most of the nonlinearity of FPGA-based TDCs comes from the routing of the design. It is promising to realize TDCs using internal routing resources available in FPGAs, as these devices contain a lot of routing resources and are resistant to voltage and temperature changes. This work implements and tests a TDC based on a series of counters driven by a variable delay line that exploits the internal routing resources available in the FPGA as delay elements. A manual placement and routing technique that results in greater resolution and linearity is proposed. The time-interleaving concept is used to improve the resolution of the TDC. A measurement matrix with 512 and 1024 parallel counters is implemented on a Zynq Evaluation and Development (ZED) board. The result of the 1024-unit TDC showed that a dynamic range of 93.6 ns can be measured using a 4-bit coarse gray code counter running at a reference frequency of 171 MHz, and a resolution of 5.7 ps is achieved. The implemented TDC is low-cost, has a fast time to market, and it benefits from the abundant routing resources in the FPGA.
Designing and Evaluating a Flexible and Scalable HTTP Honeypot Platform: Architecture, Implementation, and Applications
Authors: Rabzelj Matej , Južnič Leon Štefanić , Volk Mojca , Kos Andrej , Kren Matej , Sedlar Urban
Published: August 2023

Digitalization of our economy and society has ushered in notable productivity increases but has also exposed more of our infrastructures and systems to cyberattacks. This trend is exacerbated by the proliferation of poorly designed Internet of Things (IoT) devices and cloud services, which often lack appropriate security measures, either due to bugs or configuration mistakes. In this article, we propose, validate, and critically evaluate a flexible honeypot system based on the Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) that can mimic any HTTP-based service and application. This covers a large share of IoT devices, including black box devices with no software or firmware available for emulation, as well as cloud- and web-based services. We validate the system by implementing 14 services and by running a 4-month experiment, collecting data from attackers. We propose a novel data enrichment mechanism for identifying internet scanning services, as well as several other data collection and enrichment approaches. Finally, we present some results and visualizations of the data collection experiment, demonstrating possible applications and future use cases, as well as potential drawbacks of such systems.
A 220 GHz to 325 GHz Grounded Coplanar Waveguide Based Periodic Leaky-Wave Beam-Steering Antenna in Indium Phosphide Process
Authors: Bhutani Akanksha , Kretschmann Marius , Dittmer Joel , Lu Peng , Stöhr Andreas , Zwick Thomas
Published: August 2023

This paper presents a novel periodic grounded coplanar waveguide (GCPW) leaky-wave antenna implemented in an Indium Phosphide (InP) process. The antenna is designed to operate in the 220 GHz–325 GHz frequency range, with the goal of integrating it with an InP uni-traveling-carrier photodiode to realize a wireless transmitter module. Future wireless communication systems must deliver a high data rate to multiple users in different locations. Therefore, wireless transmitters need to have a broadband nature, high gain, and beam-steering capability. Leaky-wave antennas offer a simple and cost-effective way to achieve beam-steering by sweeping frequency in the THz range. In this paper, the first periodic GCPW leaky-wave antenna in the 220 GHz–325 GHz frequency range is demonstrated. The antenna design is based on a novel GCPW leaky-wave unit cell (UC) that incorporates mirrored L-slots in the lateral ground planes. These mirrored L-slots effectively mitigate the open stopband phenomenon of a periodic leaky-wave antenna. The leakage rate, phase constant, and Bloch impedance of the novel GCPW leaky-wave UC are analyzed using Floquet’s theory. After optimizing the UC, a periodic GCPW leaky-wave antenna is constructed by cascading 16 UCs. Electromagnetic simulation results of the leaky-wave antenna are compared with an ideal model derived from a single UC. The two design approaches show excellent agreement in terms of their reflection coefficient and beam-steering range. Therefore, the ideal model presented in this paper demonstrates, for the first time, a rapid method for developing periodic leaky-wave antennas. To validate the simulation results, probe-based antenna measurements are conducted, showing close agreement in terms of the reflection coefficient, peak antenna gain, beam-steering angle, and far-field radiation patterns. The periodic GCPW leaky-wave antenna presented in this paper exhibits a high gain of up to 13.5 dBi and a wide beam-steering range from −60° to 35° over the 220 GHz–325 GHz frequency range.
Path Planning for the Rapid Reconfiguration of a Multi-Robot Formation Using an Integrated Algorithm
Authors: Zhao Dewei , Zhang Sheng , Shao Faming , Yang Li , Liu Qiang , Zhang Heng , Zhang Zihan
Published: August 2023

Path planning is crucial in the scheduling and motion planning of multiple robots. However, solving multi-robot path-planning problems efficiently and quickly is challenging due to their high complexity and long computational time, especially when dealing with many robots. This paper presents a unified mathematical model and algorithm for the path planning of multiple robots moving from one formation to another in an area with obstacles. The problem was initially simplified by constructing a cost matrix, and then the route planning was achieved by integrating an elite enhanced multi-population genetic algorithm and an ant colony algorithm. The performance of the proposed planning method was verified through numerical simulations in various scenarios. The findings indicate that this method exhibits high computational efficiency and yields a minimal overall path distance when addressing the path-planning problem of a multi-robot formation reconstruction. As a result, it holds promising potential for the path-planning problem of a multi-robot formation reconstruction.
Impact of Thermal Processing on the Composition of Curcuma longa Rhizome
Authors: Zagórska Justyna , Kukula-Koch Wirginia , Czop Marcin , Iłowiecka Katarzyna , Koch Wojciech
Published: August 2023

Curcuma longa L. (Zingiberaceae), known as turmeric, is a perennial tuberous plant from the genus Curcuma, which includes about 100 plant species. The chemical composition of the turmeric rhizome is very diverse. Diarylheptanoid derivatives, also known as curcuminoids (of which curcumin, demethoxycurcumin and bisdemethoxycurcumin are the most important representatives), are the major active constituents of the plant rhizome. Many extracts used in the food and pharmaceutical industries are produced from thermally processed rhizome, when there are significant changes in the composition of the main compounds. Therefore, the aim of the study was to compare how the type of thermal treatment affects the content of curcuminoids and the antioxidant properties of the rhizome. The plant material was subjected to three different methods of thermal processing—microwave heating, boiling and frying in different time intervals. The chemical composition and antioxidant activity of the processed rhizome was evaluated using LC-MS (liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry), HPLC (high-performance liquid chromatography) and spectrophotometric methods (a DPPH test and TPC assay). Obtained results revealed that curcumin was the major curcuminoid present in all samples (113.92 mg/g of the fresh rhizome). Significant correlation between the type and time of the thermal processing and the composition of turmeric samples was revealed. A traditional boiling process lasting for 10 min was the most beneficial process in terms of the curcuminoid content (204 mg/g of curcumin) and antioxidant activity of the samples.