bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Statistical Quality Inspection Methodology in Production of Precast Concrete Elements
Authors: Skrzypczak Izabela
Published: January 2023

Today, prefabricated concrete elements are used in many construction areas, including in industrial, public, and residential construction; this was confirmed via questionnaire research. In the article, the prospects for precast concrete development are presented, and the factors determining the use of this technology are defined. Based on a review of the literature, it was shown that currently, higher-quality prefabricated elements are primarily created through the implementation of innovative materials and production technologies. For this reason, the lack of research regarding quality control in prefabricated elements based on statistical quality control is particularly noticeable. The quality control process is one of the most important distinguishing features in prefabrication due to the increasingly stringent expectations of customers; it helps to ensure that the desired durability of implemented constructions is achieved. Issues related to assessing the effectiveness of standard procedures presented in this paper were analyzed using statistical methods in the form of OC (operating characteristic) and AOQ (average outgoing quality) curves. Thus, a new approach was proposed because these methods have not been previously used in precast concrete. The shape of the curves obtained confirmed the significant dependence of the value of the acceptance probability on the defectiveness of production. In AQL control systems based on OC and AOQ curves, it is necessary to calculate the current average defectiveness, which should be treated as a basis for the decision to switch from one type of control (normal, tightened, or reduced) to another. In this respect, the standard requirements of quality control have been simplified, and it has not been considered necessary to determine the average defectiveness value in production processes. The examples included in this study, including the analysis of curb production data, clearly show the harmful effects of ignoring the actual process defectiveness. As a result of the calculations, it was found that the average actual defectiveness of the curbs produced could not be equated with batch defectiveness. The analyses carried out in this study prove that equating batch defectiveness with process defectiveness is not an appropriate approach, which was confirmed through the producer’s/customer’s risk analysis. The approach proposed in this study, the analysis of OC and AOQ curves, is an innovative solution in prefabrication and can be an effective tool for managing the quality of prefabricated products, taking into account economic boundary conditions.
Identification and In Silico Analysis of a Homozygous Nonsense Variant in TGM1 Gene Segregating with Congenital Ichthyosis in a Consanguineous Family
Authors: Almazroea Abdulhadi , Ijaz Ambreen , Aziz Abdul , Mushtaq Yasinzai Muhammad , Rafiullah Rafiullah , Rehman Fazal Ur , Daud Shakeela , Shaikh Rozeena , Ayub Muhammad , Wali Abdul
Published: January 2023

Background and Objectives: Lamellar ichthyosis is a rare skin disease characterized by large, dark brown plate-like scales on the entire body surface with minimum or no erythema. This phenotype is frequently associated with a mutation in the TGM1 gene, encoding the enzyme transglutaminase 1 which plays a catalytic role in the formation of the cornified cell envelop. The present study aimed to carry out clinical and genetic characterization of the autosomal recessive lamellar ichthyosis family from Balochistan. Materials and Methods: A consanguineous family with lamellar ichthyosis was enrolled from Balochistan, Pakistan. PCR amplification of all the exons and splice site junctions of the TGM1 gene followed by Sanger sequencing was performed on the genomic DNA. The identified variant was checked by In silico prediction tools to evaluate the effect of the variant on protein. Results: Sanger sequencing identified a homozygous nonsense variant c.131G >A (p.Trp44*) in the TGM1 gene that segregated in the autosomal recessive mode of inheritance in the family. The identified variant results in premature termination of transcribed mRNA and is predicted to cause a truncated or absent translation product transglutaminase-1 (TGase-1) accompanied by loss of catalytic activity, causing a severe clinical phenotype of lamellar ichthyosis in the patients. Conclusions: Here, we report a consanguineous lamellar ichthyosis family with a homozygous nonsense variant in the TGM1 gene. The variant is predicted as pathogenic by different In silico prediction tools.
Salivary Antioxidant Capacity and Magnesium in Generalized Anxiety Disorder
Authors: Proskurnina Elena V. , Liaukovich Krystsina M. , Bychkovskaya Lyubov S. , Mikheev Ivan V. , Alshanskaia Evgenia I. , Proskurnin Mikhail A. , Martynova Olga V. , Portnova Galina V.
Published: January 2023

Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) is a prevalent disorder. The search for biomarkers may contribute to new knowledge about molecular pathogenesis and treatment. Since oxidative stress and micronutrient imbalance play a key role in the development of mental disorders, we aimed to study salivary antioxidant capacity and magnesium in patients with GAD in an anxiety model of solving problems with increasing complexity. The study subgroup consisted of 15 patients with GAD, and 17 healthy volunteers of the same age made up the control subgroup. Participants took a test with six levels of difficulty, which included false feedback. In this test, the participants were asked to remember the colors of balloons and react when the color changed. The reaction time, the number of correct answers, as well as biochemical parameters such as the antioxidant capacity of saliva and salivary magnesium, were assessed. There was no difference in the results of the quest between the subgroups; however, anxious participants spent more time at the moment of experimental frustration due to incorrect feedback and additional negative psycho-emotional load. Antioxidant capacity did not differ between the subgroups both before and after the experimental session. Average antioxidant capacity also did not change significantly at the endpoint of the experiment. However, the endpoint antioxidant capacity correlated negatively with the reaction time in anxious patients in the second block (where the false feedback as a frustrating factor appeared). Magnesium was initially significantly higher in the group of anxious participants and decreased at the experiment endpoint; in healthy patients, there were no changes in salivary magnesium at the endpoint. In conclusion, the compensatory potential of oxidative metabolism and magnesium in patients with GAD was spent with additional psycho-emotional stress, in contrast to healthy individuals, but it was sufficient to avoid exhaustion during experimental frustrating exposure.
The Effect of a Gluten-Free Diet on Vitamin D Metabolism in Celiac Disease: The State of the Art
Authors: Di Stefano Michele , Miceli Emanuela , Mengoli Caterina , Corazza Gino Roberto , Di Sabatino Antonio
Published: January 2023

Celiac disease is a chronic autoimmune disorder involving the small intestine, characterized by villous atrophy, crypt hyperplasia and an increase in intraepithelial lymphocytes. Due to both calcium malabsorption and immune activation, a high prevalence of bone mass derangement is evident in this condition, regardless of the presence of overt malabsorption. Alterations of mineral metabolism are also frequently described, and in this review, the modifications of serum levels of vitamin D are analyzed, according to the available literature on this topic. In untreated patients, secondary hyperparathyroidism is responsible for the hyperconversion of 25-vitamin D into 1,25-vitamin D making mandatory the determination of serum levels of both vitamin metabolites to avoid a wrong diagnosis of vitamin D deficit. A gluten-free diet allows for a normalization of bone and mineral metabolism, reverting these abnormalities and raising some doubts on the need for vitamin supplementation in all the patients. Data available do not support this wide indication, and a complete evaluation of bone and mineral metabolism should be performed to select patients who need this therapeutic approach.
Membrane Surface Modification via In Situ Grafting of GO/Pt Nanoparticles for Nitrate Removal with Anti-Biofouling Properties
Authors: Khajouei Mohammad , Najafi Mahsa , Jafari Seyed , Latifi Mohammad
Published: January 2023

Nanofiltration processes for the removal of emerging contaminants such as nitrate are a focus of attention of research works as an efficient technique for providing drinking water for people. Polysulfone (PSF) nanofiltration membranes containing graphene oxide (GO)/Pt (0, 0.25, 0.5, 0.75, 1 wt%) nanoparticles were generated with the phase inversion pathway. The as-synthesized samples were characterized by FTIR, SEM, AFM, and contact angle tests to study the effect of GO/Pt on hydrophilicity and antibacterial characteristics. The results conveyed that insertion of GO/Pt dramatically improved the biofouling resistance of the membranes. Permeation experiments indicated that PSF membrane embracing 0.75 wt% GO/Pt nanoparticles had the highest nitrate flux and rejection ability. The membrane’s configuration was simulated using OPEN-MX simulating software indicating membranes maintaining 0.75 wt% of GO/Pt nanoparticles revealed the highest stability, which is well in accordance with experimental outcomes.
Text-Mining to Identify Gene Sets Involved in Biocorrosion by Sulfate-Reducing Bacteria: A Semi-Automated Workflow
Authors: Thakur Payal , Alaba Mathew O. , Rauniyar Shailabh , Singh Ram Nageena , Saxena Priya , Bomgni Alain , Gnimpieba Etienne Z. , Lushbough Carol , Goh Kian Mau , Sani Rajesh Kumar
Published: January 2023

A significant amount of literature is available on biocorrosion, which makes manual extraction of crucial information such as genes and proteins a laborious task. Despite the fast growth of biology related corrosion studies, there is a limited number of gene collections relating to the corrosion process (biocorrosion). Text mining offers a potential solution by automatically extracting the essential information from unstructured text. We present a text mining workflow that extracts biocorrosion associated genes/proteins in sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB) from literature databases (e.g., PubMed and PMC). This semi-automatic workflow is built with the Named Entity Recognition (NER) method and Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) model. With PubMed and PMCID as inputs, the workflow identified 227 genes belonging to several Desulfovibrio species. To validate their functions, Gene Ontology (GO) enrichment and biological network analysis was performed using UniprotKB and STRING-DB, respectively. The GO analysis showed that metal ion binding, sulfur binding, and electron transport were among the principal molecular functions. Furthermore, the biological network analysis generated three interlinked clusters containing genes involved in metal ion binding, cellular respiration, and electron transfer, which suggests the involvement of the extracted gene set in biocorrosion. Finally, the dataset was validated through manual curation, yielding a similar set of genes as our workflow; among these, hysB and hydA, and sat and dsrB were identified as the metal ion binding and sulfur metabolism genes, respectively. The identified genes were mapped with the pangenome of 63 SRB genomes that yielded the distribution of these genes across 63 SRB based on the amino acid sequence similarity and were further categorized as core and accessory gene families. SRB’s role in biocorrosion involves the transfer of electrons from the metal surface via a hydrogen medium to the sulfate reduction pathway. Therefore, genes encoding hydrogenases and cytochromes might be participating in removing hydrogen from the metals through electron transfer. Moreover, the production of corrosive sulfide from the sulfur metabolism indirectly contributes to the localized pitting of the metals. After the corroboration of text mining results with SRB biocorrosion mechanisms, we suggest that the text mining framework could be utilized for genes/proteins extraction and significantly reduce the manual curation time.
Enzymatic Protein Immobilization on Amino-Functionalized Nanoparticles
Authors: Ma Qun , He Boqiang , Tang Guojin , Xie Ran , Zheng Peng
Published: January 2023

The immobilization of proteins on nanoparticles has received much attention in recent years. Among different approaches, enzymatic protein immobilization shows unique advantages because of its site-specific connection. OaAEP1 is a recently engineered peptide ligase which can specifically recognize an N-terminal GL residue (NH2–Gly–Leu) and a C-terminal NGL amino acid residue (Asn–Gly–Leu–COOH) and ligates them efficiently. Herein, we report OaAEP1-mediated protein immobilization on synthetic magnetic nanoparticles. Our work showed that OaAEP1 could mediate C-terminal site-specific protein immobilization on the amino-functionalized Fe3O4 nanoparticles. Our work demonstrates a new method for site-specific protein immobilization on nanoparticles.
Synthesis, Structural and Behavioral Studies of Indole Derivatives D2AAK5, D2AAK6 and D2AAK7 as Serotonin 5-HT1A and 5-HT2A Receptor Ligands
Authors: Kaczor Agnieszka A. , Kędzierska Ewa , Wróbel Tomasz M. , Grudzińska Angelika , Pawlak Angelika , Laitinen Tuomo , Bartyzel Agata
Published: January 2023

Serotonin receptors are involved in a number of physiological functions and regulate aggression, anxiety, appetite, cognition, learning, memory, mood, nausea, sleep, and thermoregulation. Here we report synthesis and detailed structural and behavioral studies of three indole derivatives: D2AAK5, D2AAK6, and D2AAK7 as serotonin 5-HT1A and 5-HT2A receptor ligands. X-ray studies revealed that the D2AAK5 compound crystallizes in centrosymmetric triclinic space group with one molecule in the asymmetric unit. The main interaction between the ligands and the receptors is the salt bridge between the protonatable nitrogen atom of the ligands and the conserved Asp (3.32) of the receptors. The complexes were stable in the molecular dynamic simulations. MD revealed that the studied ligands are relatively stable in their binding sites, with the exception of D2AAK7 in the serotonin 5-HT1A receptor. D2AAK7 exerts anxiolytic activity in the EPM test, while D2AAK5 has a beneficial effect on the memory processes in the PA test.
In Silico Analysis of Nanoplastics’ and β-amyloid Fibrils’ Interactions
Authors: Gabbrielli Silvia , Colnaghi Luca , Mazzuoli-Weber Gemma , Redaelli Alberto Cesare Luigi , Gautieri Alfonso
Published: January 2023

Plastic pollution has become a global environmental threat, which leads to an increasing concern over the consequences of plastic exposition on global health. Plastic nanoparticles have been shown to influence the folding of proteins and influence the formation of aberrant amyloid proteins, therefore potentially triggering the development of systemic and local amyloidosis. This work aims to study the interaction between nanoplastics and β-amyloid fibrils to better understand the potential role of nanoplastics in the outbreak of neurodegenerative disorders. Using microsecond-long coarse-grained molecular dynamics simulations, we investigated the interactions between neutral and charged nanoparticles made of the most common plastic materials (i.e., polyethylene, polypropylene, and polystyrene) and β-amyloid fibrils. We observe that the occurrence of contacts, region of amyloid fibril involved, and specific amino acids mediating the interaction depend on the type and charge of the nanoparticles.
Permeability of New Antifungal Fluconazole Derivatives through a Lipophilic Membrane: Experiment and Modeling
Authors: Volkova Tatyana V. , Perlovich German L.
Published: January 2023

Relationships between the structures of molecules and their properties form the basis of modern chemistry and lay the foundation for structure-based drug design. Being the main two determinants of bioavailability, solubility and permeability of drugs are widely investigated experimentally and predicted from physicochemical parameters and structural descriptors. In the present study, we measure the passive diffusion permeability of a series of new fluconazole derivatives with triazole and thiazolo-pyrimidine moieties connected by different linker bridges through the PermeaPad barrier—a relatively new biomimetic lipophilic membrane that has been increasingly used in recent years. The permeability coefficients of new derivatives are shown to be dependent both on the structure of the linker fragment and on the substituent in the phenyl ring of the thiazolo-pyrimidine moiety. The impact of the compound ionization state on the permeability is revealed. Reliable correlations of the permeability with the antifungal activity and distribution coefficient are found. In addition, the solubility–diffusion approach is shown to be able to successfully predict the permeability of the studied derivatives. The obtained results can be considered another step in the development of permeability databases and design of schemes for in vitro permeability prediction.
Inhibition of Advanced Glycation End-Products by Tamarindus indica and Mitragyna inermis Extracts and Effects on Human Hepatocyte and Fibroblast Viability
Authors: Ouédraogo Relwendé Justin , Aleem Umair , Ouattara Lassina , Nadeem-ul-Haque Muhammad , Ouédraogo Georges Anicet , Jahan Humera , Shaheen Farzana
Published: January 2023

Tamarindus indica and Mitragyna inermis are widely used by herbalists to cure diabetes mellitus. The aim of this study is to investigate the inhibitory potential of aqueous and various organic solvent fractions from both plants and some isolated compounds against advanced glycation end-products (AGEs). For this purpose, an in vitro BSA–fructose glycation model was used to evaluate the inhibition of AGE formation. Furthermore, the effects of the fractions on mouse fibroblast (NIH-3T3) and human hepatocyte (HepG2) survival were evaluated. The leaf, stem, and root fractions of both plants exhibited significant inhibition of AGEs formation. The IC50 values appeared to be less than 250 µg/mL; however, all fractions presented no adverse effects on NIH-3T3 up to 500 µg/mL. Otherwise, our phytochemical investigation afforded the isolation of a secoiridoid from the Mitragyna genus named secoiridoid glucoside sweroside (1), along with three known quinovic acid glycosides: quinovic acid-3β-O-β-d-glucopyranoside (2), quinovic acid-3-O-β-d-6-deoxy-glucopyranoside, 28-O-β-d-glucopyranosyl ester (3), and quinovic acid 3-O-α-l-rhamnopyranosyl-(4→1)-β-d-glucopyranoside (4). In particular, 1–3 are compounds which have not previously been described in Mitragyna inermis roots. However, the isolated compounds did not exhibit AGE inhibitory activity. Further investigation on these potent antiglycation fractions may allow for the isolation of new antidiabetic drug candidates.
Hepatoprotective Effect of a New FFAR1 Agonist—N-Alkylated Isobornylamine
Authors: Pon`kina Darya , Kuranov Sergey , Khvostov Mikhail , Zhukova Nataliya , Meshkova Yulia , Marenina Mariya , Luzina Olga , Tolstikova Tatyana , Salakhutdinov Nariman
Published: January 2023

Free fatty acid receptor-1 (FFAR1) is one of the possible therapeutic targets in the search for new hepatoprotective drugs. FFAR1 agonists were found to have hypolipidemic, antifibrotic, anti-inflammatory, antiproliferative and antioxidant effects in addition to hypoglycemic action. In this work, we conducted a study of the hepatoprotective effect of the compound QS-528 (previously discovered as an agonist of FFAR1) at doses of 60, 90, 120 and 150 mg/kg on carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced liver injury. At the end of the experiment, a biochemical blood assay demonstrated that the introduction of QS-528 dose-dependently reduces the levels of liver enzymes (AST, ALT and ALKP). Histological and morphometric studies of animals’ livers treated with QS-528 at doses of 120 and 150 mg/kg showed a decrease in degenerative/necrotic changes in hepatocytes and an increase in the regenerative activity of the liver. In addition, no toxicity at a single oral dose of 1000 mg/kg and an increase in HepG2 cell viability in vitro were found. Thus, the compound QS-528 was found to exhibit a hepatoprotective effect against CCl4-induced toxic liver damage.
Assessing the Contribution of the Neutral Blocks in DNA/Block-Copolymer Polyplexes: Poly(acrylamide) vs. Poly(ethylene Oxide)
Authors: Giona Renata Mello , Vitorazi Letícia , Loh Watson
Published: January 2023

The interaction of DNA with different block copolymers, namely poly (trimethylammonium chloride methacryloyoxy)ethyl)-block-poly(acrylamide), i.e., (PTEA)-b-(PAm), and poly (trimethylammonium chloride methacryloyoxy)ethyl)-block-poly(ethylene oxide), i.e., (PTEA)-b-(PEO), was studied. The nature of the cationic block was maintained fixed (PTEA), whereas the neutral blocks contained varying amounts of acrylamide or (ethylene oxide) units. According to results from isothermal titration microcalorimetry measurements, the copolymers interaction with DNA is endothermic with an enthalpy around 4.0 kJ mol−1 of charges for (PTEA)-b-(PAm) and 5.5 kJ mol−1 of charges for (PTEA)-b-(PEO). The hydrodynamic diameters of (PTEA)-b-(PEO)/DNA and (PTEA)-b-(PAm)/DNA polyplexes prepared by titration were around 200 nm at charge ratio (Z+/−) < 1. At Z+/− close and above 1, the (PTEA)50-b-(PAm)50/DNA and (PTEA)50-b-(PAm)200/DNA polyplexes precipitated. Interestingly, (PTEA)50-b-(PAm)1000/DNA polyplexes remained with a size of around 300 nm even after charge neutralization, probably due to the size of the neutral block. Conversely, for (PTEA)96-b-(PEO)100/DNA polyplexes, the size distribution was broad, indicating a more heterogeneous system. Polyplexes were also prepared by direct mixture at Z+/− of 2.0, and they displayed diameters around 120–150 nm, remaining stable for more than 10 days. Direct and reverse titration experiments showed that the order of addition affects both the size and charge of the resulting polyplexes.
A pH-Responsive Drug Delivery System Based on Conjugated Polymer for Effective Synergistic Chemo-/Photodynamic Therapy
Authors: Zhang Chen , Yuan Qiong , Zhang Ziqi , Tang Yanli
Published: January 2023

Stimuli-responsive drug release and photodynamic therapy (PDT) have aroused extensive attention for their enormous potential in antitumor treatment. pH-responsive drug delivery systems (PFE-DOX-1 and PFE-DOX-2) based on water-soluble conjugated polymers were constructed in this work for high-performance synergistic chemo-/PDT therapy, in which the anticancer drug doxorubicin (DOX) is covalently attached to the side chains of the conjugated polymers via acid-labile imine and acylhydrazone bonds. Concurrently, the intense fluorescence of poly(fluorene-co-ethynylene) (PFE) is effectively quenched due to the energy/electron transfer (ET) between the PFE-conjugated backbone and DOX. Effective pH-responsive drug release from PFE-DOX-2 is achieved by the cleavage of acylhydrazone linkages in the acidic tumor intracellular microenvironment. Additionally, the drug release process can be monitored by the recovered fluorescence of conjugated polymers. Furthermore, the conjugated polymers can produce reactive oxygen species (ROS) under light irradiation after drug release in an acidic environment, which prevents possible phototoxicity to normal tissues. It is noted that PFE-DOX-2 demonstrates remarkable antitumor cell performance, which is attributed to its efficient cell uptake and powerful synergistic chemo-/PDT therapeutic effectiveness. This report thus provides a promising strategy for in vivo anticancer treatment with the construction of a stimuli-responsive multifunctional drug delivery system.
Development of Pectinase Based Nanocatalyst by Immobilization of Pectinase on Magnetic Iron Oxide Nanoparticles Using Glutaraldehyde as Crosslinking Agent
Authors: Behram Tayyaba , Pervez Sidra , Nawaz Muhammad Asif , Ahmad Shujaat , Jan Amin Ullah , Rehman Haneef Ur , Ahmad Shahbaz , Khan Nasir Mehmood , Khan Farman Ali
Published: January 2023

To increase its operational stability and ongoing reusability, B. subtilis pectinase was immobilized on iron oxide nanocarrier. Through co-precipitation, magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles were synthesized. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive electron microscopy (EDEX) were used to analyze the nanoparticles. Pectinase was immobilized using glutaraldehyde as a crosslinking agent on iron oxide nanocarrier. In comparison to free pectinase, immobilized pectinase demonstrated higher enzymatic activity at a variety of temperatures and pH levels. Immobilization also boosted pectinase’s catalytic stability. After 120 h of pre-incubation at 50 °C, immobilized pectinase maintained more than 90% of its initial activity due to the iron oxide nanocarrier, which improved the thermal stability of pectinase at various temperatures. Following 15 repetitions of enzymatic reactions, immobilized pectinase still exhibited 90% of its initial activity. According to the results, pectinase’s catalytic capabilities were enhanced by its immobilization on iron oxide nanocarrier, making it economically suitable for industrial use.
Improving Bond Performance and Reducing Cross-Linker Dosage of Soy Protein Adhesive via Hyper-Branched and Organic–Inorganic Hybrid Structures
Authors: Cui Zheng , Xu Yecheng , Sun Gang , Peng Lai , Li Jianzhang , Luo Jing , Gao Qiang
Published: January 2023

Eco-friendly soybean protein adhesives could be an ideal substitute for replacing traditional formaldehyde-based adhesives in wood industry. However, a large number of cross-linking agents are required in soy protein adhesive formulations to obtain sufficiently performing properties. Inspired by the high performance of nacre and branched structures, a hyper-branched amine (HBPA) was synthesized and grafted to graphene oxide (GO), generating a hyper-branched amine-functionalized GO (FGO). A novel soy protein-based adhesive was developed by mixing FGO with soy protein (SPI) and a low dose polyamidoamine-epichlorohydrin (PAE). Results showed that the addition of only 0.4 wt% FGO and 0.75 wt% PAE to the SPI adhesive formulation enhanced the wet shear strength of plywood to 1.18 MPa, which was 181% higher than that of the adhesive without enhancement. The enhanced performance is attributed to the denser cross-linking structure and improved toughness of the adhesive layer. Using FGO in the adhesive formulation also greatly reduced the concentration of the additive cross-linker by up to 78.6% when compared with values reported in the literature. Thus, using a hyper-branched functionalized nano-material to form an organic–inorganic hybrid structure is an effective and efficient strategy to reinforce the composites and polymers. It significantly reduces the chemical additive levels, and is a practical way to develop a sustainable product.
Effect of Polyphenols on the Ice-Nucleation Activity of Ultrafine Bubbles
Authors: Uchida Tsutomu , Fukushi Yukiharu
Published: January 2023

Ultrafine bubbles (UFBs) in water provide a large amount of gas and a large gas–liquid interfacial area, and can release energy through their collapse. Such features may promote ice nucleation. Here, we examined the nucleation of ice in solutions containing polyphenols and UFBs. To reduce the likelihood of nucleation occurring on the container walls over that in previous studies, we used a much larger sample volume of 1 mL. In our experiments, UFBs (when present) had a number concentration of 108 mL−1. We quantified changes to the nucleation activity by examining the shift in the cumulative freezing (nucleation) probability distribution. Compared to pure water, this freezing curve shifts approximately 0.6 °C higher with the UFBs. Then, to the water, we added three polyphenols (tannic acid TA, tea catechin TC, and oligonol OLG), chosen because they had been reported to reduce the ice-nucleation activity of heterogeneous ice nuclei (e.g., AgI). We found experimentally that, without UFBs, all polyphenols instead shift the pure-water freezing curve to a higher temperature. Then, when UFBs are added, the additional temperature shift in the freezing curve is slightly higher for OLG, essentially unchanged for TA, and slightly lower for TC. To help to explain these differences, we examined the UFB size distributions using dynamic light scattering and freeze-fractured replicas with transmission electron microscopy, finding that OLG and TC alter the UFBs, but that TA does not.
Total Usual Nutrient Intakes and Nutritional Status of United Arab Emirates Children (4 Years–12.9 Years): Findings from the Kids Nutrition and Health Survey (KNHS) 2021
Authors: Hwalla Nahla , Chehade Lara , O’Neill Lynda M. , Kharroubi Samer , Kassis Amira , Cheikh Ismail Leila , Al Dhaheri Ayesha S. , Ali Habiba I. , Ibrahim Sarah , Chokor Fatima Al Zahraa , Mohamad Maysm N. , Ayesh Wafaa , Nasreddine Lara , Naja Farah
Published: January 2023

This study aims at investigating the anthropometric status and food consumption patterns of children in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and assessing their adherence to nutrient and dietary recommendations. It is a population-based cross-sectional survey of 690 children (4–12.9 years), from 3 major Emirates. Socio-demographic and anthropometric characteristics were collected. Dietary intakes were assessed using the 24-hour recall approach. Of the total sample, 4% were stunted, 8% were wasted and 28% were overweight/obese. A third of participating children consumed above the Estimated Energy Requirement, while the majority’s intakes carbohydrate, total fat, and protein were within the recommendations; whereas over 70% and 90% of participants consumed above the WHO daily limits of free sugars and saturated fats, respectively. Inadequate intakes of linoleic acid (36% of children), alpha-linolenic acid (91%) and dietary fiber (100%) were observed. All children failed to meet the recommendation for vitamin D and considerable proportions had inadequate intakes of vitamin A, calcium, zinc, folate, and magnesium. Compared with the American Heart Association/American Academy of Pediatrics recommendations, low dietary adherence was noted for fruits (9%), vegetables (4%), and milk/dairy (14%). These findings may be used in the development of nutritional policies aimed at improving the diets of children in the UAE.
The Key Role of Patient Empowerment in the Future Management of Cancer-Related Malnutrition
Authors: Casirati Amanda , Da Prat Valentina , Cereda Emanuele , Serra Francesco , Perrone Lorenzo , Corallo Salvatore , De Lorenzo Francesco , Pedrazzoli Paolo , Caccialanza Riccardo
Published: January 2023

Malnutrition is a common condition in cancer patients [...]
Degradation of Diazo Congo Red Dye by Using Synthesized Poly-Ferric-Silicate-Sulphate through Co-Polymerization Process
Authors: Zainudin Nor Fauziah , Sam Sung Ting , Wong Yee Shian , Ismail Hanafi , Walli Saparu , Inoue Kazuki , Kawamura Go , Tan Wai Kian
Published: January 2023

The ability of poly-ferric-silicate-sulphate (PFSS) synthesized via a co-polymerization process has been applied for the removal of diazo Congo red dye. A novel degradation pathway of diazo Congo red dye by using PFSS is proposed based on LC–MS analysis. Diazo Congo red dye was successfully removed using synthesized PFSS at lower coagulant dosages and a wider pH range, i.e., 9 mg/L from pH 5 to 7, 11 mg/L at pH 9, and 50 mg/L at pH 11. The azo bond cleavage was verified by the UV–Vis spectra of diazo Congo red-loaded PFSS and FTIR spectra which showed disappearance of the peak at 1584 cm−1 for –N=N– stretching vibrations. The synchronized results of UV–Vis spectra, FTIR, and the LC–MS analysis in this study confirmed the significance of the Si and Fe bond in PFSS towards the degradation of diazo Congo red dye. The successfully synthesized PFSS coagulant was characterized by FTIR, SEM, TEM, and HRTEM analysis. From this analysis, it was proven that PFSS is a polycrystalline material which is favorable for the coagulation–flocculation process. Based on all these findings, it was established that synthesized PFSS can be employed as a highly efficient polymeric coagulant for the removal of dye from wastewater.
UAV Propeller Rotational Speed Measurement through FMCW Radars
Authors: Ciattaglia Gianluca , Iadarola Grazia , Senigagliesi Linda , Spinsante Susanna , Gambi Ennio
Published: January 2023

The growing number of civil applications in which Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) are involved can create many concerns for airspace security and surveillance. Gathering as much information as possible about a drone can be crucial to apply proper countermeasures if a potentially dangerous situation is detected. Of course, the presence of a UAV can be detected by radar, but it is possible to extend the system capabilities to obtain additional information. For example, in the case in which the UAV is equipped with propellers, the radar-measured rotational speed could be important information to classify the type of UAV or to reveal if it is carrying some possibly harmful payload. In addition, the rotational speed measured through radar could be used for different purposes, such as to detect a drone manumission, to estimate its maximum payload, or for predictive maintenance of the drone. Measuring the propellers’ rotational speed with radar systems is a critical task, as the Doppler generated by the rotation can be very high, and it is very difficult to find commercial radar systems in the market able to handle such a high Doppler. Another problem is caused by the typically very small Radar Cross-Section (RCS) of the propellers, which makes their detection even more difficult. In the literature, common detection techniques are based on the measurement of the Doppler effect produced by the propellers to derive their rotational speed, but due to the very limited capabilities of commercial sensors, this approach can be applied only at very low values of the rotational speed. In this work, a different approach based on a Frequency-Modulated Continuous Wave (FMCW) radar is proposed, which exploits the vibration of the UAV generated by the rotation of the propellers. The phenomenon and how the sensor can detect it will be presented, which is joined with a performance analysis comparing different estimation techniques for the indirect measurement of the propellers’ speed to evaluate the potential benefits of the proposed approach.
Automatic Rural Road Centerline Detection and Extraction from Aerial Images for a Forest Fire Decision Support System
Authors: Lourenço Miguel , Estima Diogo , Oliveira Henrique , Oliveira Luís , Mora André
Published: January 2023

To effectively manage the terrestrial firefighting fleet in a forest fire scenario, namely, to optimize its displacement in the field, it is crucial to have a well-structured and accurate mapping of rural roads. The landscape’s complexity, mainly due to severe shadows cast by the wild vegetation and trees, makes it challenging to extract rural roads based on processing aerial or satellite images, leading to heterogeneous results. This article proposes a method to improve the automatic detection of rural roads and the extraction of their centerlines from aerial images. This method has two main stages: (i) the use of a deep learning model (DeepLabV3+) for predicting rural road segments; (ii) an optimization strategy to improve the connections between predicted rural road segments, followed by a morphological approach to extract the rural road centerlines using thinning algorithms, such as those proposed by Zhang–Suen and Guo–Hall. After completing these two stages, the proposed method automatically detected and extracted rural road centerlines from complex rural environments. This is useful for developing real-time mapping applications.
Improving Concrete Crack Segmentation Networks through CutMix Data Synthesis and Temporal Data Fusion
Authors: Jamshidi Maziar , El-Badry Mamdouh , Nourian Navid
Published: January 2023

A key element in an automated visual inspection system for concrete structures is identifying the geometric properties of surface defects such as cracks. Fully convolutional neural networks (FCNs) have been demonstrated to be powerful tools for crack segmentation in inspection images. However, the performance of FCNs depends on the size of the dataset that they are trained with. In the absence of large datasets of labeled images for concrete crack segmentation, these networks may lose their excellent prediction accuracy when tested on a new target dataset with different image conditions. In this study, firstly, a Transfer Learning approach is developed to enable the networks better distinguish cracks from background pixels. A synthetic dataset is generated and utilized to fine-tune a U-Net that is pre-trained with a public dataset. In the proposed data synthesis approach, which is based on CutMix data augmentation, the crack images from the public dataset are combined with the background images of a potential target dataset. Secondly, since cracks propagate over time, for sequential images of concrete surfaces, a novel temporal data fusion technique is proposed. In this technique, the network’s predictions from multiple time steps are aggregated to improve the recall of predictions. It is shown that application of the proposed improvements has increased the F1-score and mIoU by 28.4% and 22.2%, respectively, which is a significant enhancement in performance of the segmentation network.
MTF Measurement by Slanted-Edge Method Based on Improved Zernike Moments
Authors: Zhang Shuo , Wang Fengyan , Wu Xiang , Gao Kangzhe
Published: January 2023

The modulation transfer function (MTF) is an important parameter for performance evaluation of optical imaging systems in photogrammetry and remote sensing; the slanted-edge method is one of the main methods for measuring MTF. To solve the problem of inaccurate edge detection by traditional methods under the conditions of noise and blur, this paper proposes a new method of MTF measurement with a slanted-edge method based on improved Zernike moments, which firstly introduces the Otsu algorithm to automatically determine the Zernike moment threshold for sub-pixel edge detection to precisely locate the edge points, then obtains LSF through edge point projection, ESF sampling point acquisition, smoothing, fitting, taking ESF curve differential and Gaussian fitting, and finally, accurately obtaining MTF by LSF Fourier transform and modulo normalization. Based on simulation experiments and outdoor target experiments, the reliability of the proposed algorithm is verified by the deviations of slanted-edge angle and MTF measurement, and the tolerance degree of edge detection to noise and ambiguity are analyzed. The results show that compared with ISO 12233, OMNI-sine method, Hough transform method and LSD method, this algorithm has the highest edge detection accuracy, the maximum tolerance of noise and ambiguity, and also improves the accuracy of MTF measurement.
Combination of Material Processing and Characterization Methods for Miniaturization of Field-Effect Gas Sensor
Authors: Samotaev Nikolay , Litvinov Artur , Oblov Konstantin , Etrekova Maya , Podlepetsky Boris , Dzhumaev Pavel
Published: January 2023

The technological approach for the low-scale production of field-effect gas sensors as electronic components for use in non-lab ambient environments is described. In this work, in addition to the mechanical protection of a gas-sensitive structure, an emphasis was also placed on the very topical issue of thermal stabilization around the one temperature point, even if it is several degrees higher than the surrounding one, which will probably also be useful for any type of application for many types of field-effect sensors. Considerable attention was paid to the characterization of the results obtained by various invasive and non-invasive methods for diagnosing the manufactured construction. The technology described in this article occupies an intermediate position between laboratory samples tested in clean rooms with stable ambient atmospheres, and experimental and small-scale production sensors designed for real operating conditions to solve the narrow application of measuring low concentrations of hydrogen.
The Effects of Grafting on Plant, Fruit and Seed Quality in Cantaloupe (Cucumis melo L. var. cantalupensis) Melons
Authors: Adıgüzel Pınar , Namlı Mihriban , Nyirahabimana Fildaus , Solmaz İlknur , Sarı Nebahat
Published: January 2023

Grafting techniques are being used to improve economically important horticultural crops including Cucumis melo L. This 2-year study was carried out at Cukurova University, Adana, Turkey. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of grafting using different rootstocks on plant, fruit and seed quality in cantaloupe melons. The double haploid (DH) female (H27) and male (H4) parental lines of Solmaz F1 (Cucumis melo L. var. cantalupensis) variety developed by Cukurova University Faculty of Agriculture were used as scion and three commercial interspecific hybrid Cucurbita (Cucurbita maxima Duchesne × Cucurbita moschata Duchesne) varieties, Nun-9075 F1 (Nunhems), Ares F1 (ITU) and TZ-148 (Clause) were used as rootstocks. The parental lines were also self grafted and ungrafted parents were used as the control group. The grafted and ungrafted parents were crossed during pollination. Graft combinations and control were compared for performances in measured parameters such as the main stem length (cm), main stem diameter (mm), node number, harvest time (day), fruit weight (g), fruit length (cm), fruit diameter (cm), fruit cavity length (cm), fruit cavity diameter (cm), fruit flesh thickness (cm), fruit rind thickness (mm), total soluble solids (TSS, %), fruit flesh productivity (%), number of full and empty seeds (number/fruit), 1000 seeds weight (g), seed germination rate (%) and time (day), seed emergence rate (%), and time (day). Most of the plant, fruit and seed parameters have been positively affected by grafting. The use of commercial interspesific Cucurbita hybrid rootstocks resulted in high values compared to the control group however, harvest time, fruit cavity length and diameter, fruit rind thickness and fuit flesh productivity parameters were not statistically significant between rootstocks. Considering seed emergence and germination rate Cucurbita hybrid rootstocks performed lower values than self grafted and ungrafted control. The current study concludes that grafting plays a crucial role in plant growth, fruit and seed characters in cantaloupe melons. Statistically significant differences were mostly observed based on evaluated parameters.
Proposing a Quality Inspection Process Model Using Advanced Technologies for the Transition to Smart Building Construction
Authors: Shin Hyeon-Ju , Cha Hee-Sung
Published: January 2023

With advancements in new technologies in the industry, efforts have been made to adopt various smart devices during the life cycle of building construction. However, little attention has been paid to developing a work process model to maximize the benefits of smart technologies. While identifying the shortcomings of conventional quality inspection, this study configures a new quality inspection process model in collaboration with smart devices. Based on the proposal, the study developed a new tool that effectively improves the current quality inspection practice. The final goal of this research is to propose a novel inspection process model by developing an Application Programming Interface (API) system using Building Information Model (BIM) software. Additionally, to verify the applicability of the system, this study includes a case study on tile work and confirms the effects of a prototype of the proposed system through an expert survey. The survey results reveal that the proposed system is effective and practical. This research contributes to maximizing the effectiveness of using smart devices and supporting effective application in smart construction.
The Consensus of Global Teaching Evaluation Systems under a Sustainable Development Perspective
Authors: Zhang Yi , Sun Siyu , Ji Yuhan , Li Yazhi
Published: January 2023

As an elemental driving force for promoting teaching reform, teaching evaluation has been receiving extensive attention in the fundamental reform of the overall education system. Using six dimensions including evaluation indicators, evaluation objectives, evaluation methods, interest relations, rights and roles, and accountability models, this article conducts a survey of eighteen teaching evaluation systems in seven countries including the United States, Germany, China, Japan, Australia, Singapore, and Chile. After analyzing these evaluation systems, this paper concluded the following major trends: evaluation indicators tend to be more standardized, evaluation objectives are closer to teachers’ professional development, evaluation methods pay more attention to formative evaluation, interest relationships tend to be low-risk, and evaluation plays a diagnostic role in teachers’ growth and the increased autonomy of schools in the accountability system. At last, this paper proposed that the future teaching evaluation system should focus on improving teachers’ skills and profession, designing the evaluation system with the principle of combining practice and theory, and finally changing from high-risk summative results to low-risk formative ones. Through the above revelations, we hope to help educational policymakers systematically consider and solve core problems in the teacher evaluation system.
Editorial for the Special Issue on the Environmentally Friendly Management and Treatment of Solid Waste to Approach Zero Waste City
Authors: Yao Zhitong , Qi Wei , Francisco Alves José Luiz
Published: January 2023

Cities around the world are expanding rapidly, taking up vast resources (e [...]
Waste to Wealth of Apple Pomace Valorization by Past and Current Extraction Processes: A Review
Authors: Putra Nicky Rahmana , Rizkiyah Dwila Nur , Abdul Aziz Ahmad Hazim , Che Yunus Mohd Azizi , Veza Ibham , Harny Irianto , Tirta Andy
Published: January 2023

Every year, more than 50 million metric tons of apples are produced, and apple pomace is frequently discarded as waste in the food industry. Apple pomace, a byproduct of apple juice and cider production, is used as a sustainable raw material to make valuable products such as nutraceuticals and pectin. Apple pomace contains a substantial amount of antioxidant compounds, which have been related to several health advantages. Therefore, valuable components extracted from this byproduct may be used in the food and pharmaceutical industries. The common and new technologies to obtain valuable products from apple pomace which has come from production of apple juice or cider. Especially, emphasis of new and green technique is very important and will contribute the literature. Therefore, this review discussed apple processing, pectin as a bioactive compound, the extraction methods, current applications of apple pomace byproducts, and future studies on its potential uses in food.