bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Mechanical and Biological Evaluation of Melt-Electrowritten Polycaprolactone Scaffolds for Acetabular Labrum Restoration
Authors: Santschi Matthias X. T. , Huber Stephanie , Bujalka Jan , Imhof Nouara , Leunig Michael , Ferguson Stephen J.
Published: November 2022

Repair or reconstruction of a degenerated or injured acetabular labrum is essential to the stability and health of the hip joint. Current methods for restoration fail to reproduce the structure and mechanical properties of the labrum. In this study, we characterized the structure and tensile mechanical properties of melt-electrowritten polycaprolactone scaffolds of varying architectures and assessed the labrum cell compatibility of selected graft candidates. Cell compatibility was assessed using immunofluorescence of the actin skeleton. First, labrum explants were co-cultured with scaffold specimen to investigate the scaffold compatibility with primary cells. Second, effects of pore size on pre-cultured seeded labrum cells were studied. Third, cell compatibility under dynamic stretching was examined. Grid-like structures showed favorable tensile properties with decreasing fibre spacing. Young’s moduli ranging from 2.33 ± 0.34 to 13.36 ± 2.59 MPa were measured across all structures. Primary labrum cells were able to migrate from co-cultured labrum tissue specimens into the scaffold and grow in vitro. Incorporation of small-diameter-fibre and interfibre spacing improved cell distribution and cell spreading, whereas mechanical properties were only marginally affected. Wave-patterned constructs reproduced the non-linear elastic behaviour of native labrum tissue and, therefore, allowed for physiological cyclic tensile strain but showed decreased cell compatibility under dynamic loading. In conclusion, melt-electrowritten polycaprolactone scaffolds are promising candidates for labral grafts; however, further development is required to improve both the mechanical and biological compatibility.
Simultaneous Identification of Functional Antigen-Specific CD8+ and CD4+ Cells after In Vitro Expansion Using Elongated Peptides
Authors: Schuhmacher Juliane , Kleemann Leon , Richardson Jennifer Rebecca , Rusch Elisa , Rammensee Hans-Georg , Gouttefangeas Cécile
Published: November 2022

Elongated peptides (EPs), containing possibly one or multiple epitope/s, are increasingly used for the screening of antigen-specific CD8+ and CD4+ cell responses. Here, we present an in vitro protocol that allows the amplification of antigen-specific cells and the subsequent functional analysis of both T cell types using EPs. Known viral-derived epitopes were elongated to 20 mer EPs on the N-, C-, and both termini for HLA class I binders, or on the N- and C- termini for HLA class II binders. With EP stimulation only, the percentage of responding CD8+ T cells was dependent on the elongation site of the EP, whereas CD4+ T cell responses were completely lost in 22% of the tests performed ex vivo. A short-term amplification step plus the addition of a TLR3 agonist (Poly-ICLC) together with an increased EP concentration improved markedly the detection of CD8+ and CD4+ T cell reactivities.
Effects of MgO and Fe2O3 Addition for Upgrading the Refractory Characteristics of Magnesite Ore Mining Waste/By-Products
Authors: Pagona Evangelia , Kalaitzidou Kyriaki , Zaspalis Vasileios , Zouboulis Anastasios , Mitrakas Manassis
Published: November 2022

In the context of a circular economy/zero-waste, the conversion of extractive wastes into new products is of particular importance. At the Grecian Magnesite SA mine (Chalkidiki, N. Greece), millions of tons of waste accumulate in the operation field. To achieve these goals, the effect of caustic calcined magnesia (MgO) at 10, 15, and 20 wt.% was investigated in combination with 0.5, 1, 2.5, and 5 wt.% Fe2O3 at 1300 °C and 1600 °C for 120 min. The main refractory properties were determined along with the mineralogical content. The morphological examination has been performed by SEM-EDS analysis. The addition of MgO increases the desired olivine and eliminates the unwanted pyroxenes, causing the formation of magnesium-ferrite and periclase. MgO wt.% addition resulted in the decrease of firing shrinkage at 1300 °C but increased with Fe2O3. At 1600 °C, firing shrinkage had a minimum value at the optimum MgO dose. Mechanical strength at 1600 °C achieved a maximum value at the optimum MgO dose plus 5 wt.% MgO and 2.5 wt.% Fe2O3 due to sintering process/magnesioferrite formation. These results indicate that MgO and Fe2O3 upgrade the refractoriness of magnesite mining wastes due to the diffusion of Fe2O3 in MgO excess.
Protection of Reinforced Concrete Steel Exposed to a Marine Environment: A Preliminary Onsite Study of the Performance of a New Generation of Surface-Applied Corrosion Inhibitors
Authors: Martín Diana , Seyhan Engin
Published: November 2022

Reinforcement corrosion is the risk most frequently cited to justify concrete durability research, especially where it is induced by chlorides. Surface-applied corrosion inhibitors are widely used to mitigate the corrosion process both for carbonation and chlorides of steel reinforcement in concrete. They are applied onto the surface of hardened concrete and penetrate towards steel reinforcement. This paper discusses the corrosion inhibition performance of a new generation of a dual-phase surface-applied corrosion inhibitor (DP-SACI), and its efficiency in corrosion induced by chlorides over 3% referred to cement mass, and also in pre- and post-cracked structures. This corrosion mitigation activity was evaluated onsite for almost four years, in a sea wall exposed to XS1 ambiance. The electrochemical techniques used were based on the determination of the electrical resistivity of concrete, the half-cell corrosion potential and the steel corrosion rate (from linear polarization resistance measurements). All of these electrochemical parameters provide accurate information for on-site structures about the efficiency over the time of surface-applied corrosion inhibitors. The effectiveness of the dual-phase surface-applied corrosion inhibitor proved to be up to 99%, even with ongoing corrosion and 0.3 mm cracks near the rebar. The use of DP-SACI provides a non-destructive repair method that inhibits the corrosion process and increases the service life of the element.
Development of Waterborne Heavy-Duty Anticorrosive Coatings with Modified Nanoscale Titania
Authors: Wang Xingjun , Sun Weipeng , Li Wenge , Zuo Chenglin , Jiang Yong , Wang Shuangxi
Published: November 2022

The steel structures of coastal engineering in the moist tropics and subtropics are always under a C5/CX level corrosion environment with high temperature, high humidity, and high salt fog. Anticorrosive waterborne coatings with high weatherability and reliability are urgently to be developed. In this work, one kind of waterborne heavy-duty anticorrosive coatings, with the advantages of excellent corrosion resistance, self-repairing ability, self-cleaning ability, and high film compactness, was successfully achieved through modifying the side chains on the surface morphologies of the spherical nanoscale titania. The micromorphology and structure of the coating were characterized by a scanning electron microscope (SEM), transmission electron microscope (TEM), and atomic force microscope (AFM). The anticorrosion characteristics and forming mechanism of the modified nanoscale titania coating were analyzed. The salt spray tests showed that the neutral salt spray resistance time of the modified nanoscale titania coating was 1440 h. Its durability reached the H level and met the design requirements for 15 years of anticorrosion lifetime. The modified nanoscale titania coatings had been large-scale commercially applied at some typical steel structures under an extreme harsh corrosion environment in one coastal thermal power plant. The results showed that no rusting, peeling, or crack phenomena were observed after 3 years of service under different harsh coastal corrosion conditions.
Design Simulation and Optimization of Germanium-Based Solar Cells with Micro-Nano Cross-Cone Absorption Structure
Authors: Zhou Ziyou , Liu Wenfeng , Guo Yan , Huang Hailong , Ding Xiaolong
Published: November 2022

In this paper, germanium-based solar cells were designed based on germanium (Ge) materials, and the cross-cone (CC) nanostructures were used as the absorber layer of the solar cells. The optical path inside the absorber layer was increased by microstructure reflection, thereby increasing the absorption efficiency of the germanium-based solar cell. The reflectivity, transmittance, electric field and magnetic field of the corresponding position of the device were simulated and calculated by the finite difference time domain (FDTD) method. By simulating doping and simulating the external potential difference, the short-circuit current density (JSC), open-circuit voltage (VOC), output power and photoelectric conversion efficiency (η) of the device were calculated. The study found that for the entire study wavelength range (300–1600 nm), the transmittance of the device was close to none, and the average light absorption rate under air mass 1.5 global (AM1.5G) was 94.6%. In the light wavelength range from 310 nm to 1512 nm with a width of 1201 nm, the absorption rate was greater than 90%, which is in line with the high absorption of the broadband. Among them, the absorption rate at 886 nm reached 99.84%, the absorption rate at 1016 nm reached 99.89%, and the absorption rate at 1108 nm reached 99.997%, which is close to full absorption. By exploring the electrical performance of the device under different Ge nanostructure parameters, a germanium-based solar cell device under the nanocross-cone absorption structure array with both high-efficiency light absorption and excellent electrical performance was finally obtained. The study shows that the VOC of its single-junction cell was 0.31 V, JSC reached 45.5 mA/cm2, and it had a fill factor (FF) of 72.7% and can achieve a photoelectric conversion efficiency of 10.3%, surpassing the performance of most Ge solar cells today.
Flavor Microencapsulation for Taste Masking in Medicated Chewing Gums—Recent Trends, Challenges, and Future Perspectives
Authors: Kaushik Prerna , Verma Ravinder , Mittal Vineet , Bhatia Saurabh , Pratap-Singh Anubhav , Kaushik Deepak
Published: November 2022

Chewing gum, being a pleasant formulation, requires effective taste-masking techniques, such as encapsulation methods along with an amalgamation of flavors and sweeteners. Taste-masked medicated chewing gum offers a palatable way of administering drugs and dietary supplements to children and old-aged people. The concept of chewing gum development provides a sustained and modified release of actives through various techniques, such as microencapsulation, cyclodextrin-complexation, buffering agents, ion exchange resin, solid dispersions, effervescent agents, etc. The taste, solubility, and stability of the active ingredient are the key parameters to be kept in mind, while formulating a medicated chewing gum. Flavor microencapsulation has been used as a crucial technology in the research and food industry to control sensory performance as demonstrated by the hefty number of chewing gum patents over the years. This manuscript provides an insight into conventional and novel taste-masking techniques employed in developing palatable chewing gums. Additionally, concepts of flavor microencapsulation, its applications, polymers, and patents have been discussed.
A Method of Improving the Structural Color Quality of HfO2 Grating Based on Thin Film Filter
Authors: Song Chi , Zhang Xin , Li Mingyang , Liu Zhenhao , Hu Henan , Li Zizheng
Published: November 2022

In order to eliminate the influence of the high-order magnetic dipole modes in the short-wave range of the high-refractive-index dielectric grating, we propose a thin film filter to cut off the “useless” short-wave. In this way, the high-order magnetic dipole can be suppressed, and the quality of the structure color is highly improved after the thin film filter cut off the incident light in the non-resonant band. The combined application of the thin film filter and the grating filter not only avoids the problem of too big film layer thickness, but also reduces the manufacturing process cost. For example, the film system (basic film system 0.5 L H 0.5 L) and thickness of green, 15° and 45° incident film filters are 21 layers, 1.76 μm and 41 layers, 4.02 μm. The color coordinates corresponding to the calculation results occupy a large area on the Commission Internationale de l’Eclairage 1931 (CIE 1931) chromaticity diagram, which proves that this design scheme can effectively improve the structural color quality. This method obtains excellent theoretical simulation results. This has important implications for high-end imaging equipment and sensors.
The Viscosity and Self-Diffusion of Some Real Colloidal Ferrofluids
Authors: Ávalos González Luis D. , Hernández-Contreras Martin , Martínez Karen Meza
Published: November 2022

One primary concern in colloid science is understanding the relationship of its macroscopic rheology and diffusion behavior with the observed microscopic arrangements of the nanoparticles in the fluid. This manuscript addresses the study of these dynamical properties through a first-principle stochastic method. Both properties directly relate to the observed fluid structure factor, which depends on a few known material parameters. However, in the literature, this static quantity is reported up to the first prominent peak of its small momentum transfer of the scattered radiation, leading to inaccurate determination of the transport properties. Here, it is proposed to use the rescaled mean spherical approximation under the requirement of fitting the experimental data of the structure beyond the dependence of more significant wave numbers. The predicted viscosity agrees with the observed ones at a low volume fraction of particles for ferrofluids dispersed in polymer solvents. This rheological quantity is inversely related to the self-diffusion coefficient of a tracer particle.
Assessing Antipsoriatic Effects of Bitter Pu’er Tea and Its Three Major Compounds, Strictinin, Theacrine and Epigallocatechin Gallate, in Imiquimod-Treated Mice
Authors: Lin Pei-Yi , Jhuo Cian-Fen , Lin Nan-Hei , Chen Wen-Ying , Tzen Jason T. C.
Published: November 2022

Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory skin disease with hyperproliferation and aberrant differentiation of keratinocytes in association with the elevation of interleukin-17A (IL-17A) and IL-23 levels. In an animal model, psoriasis-like dermatitis was induced on the shaved dorsal skin of BALB/c mice by topical application of imiquimod (IMQ), a synthetic ligand of Toll-like receptor 7. Administration of bitter Pu’er tea significantly reduced psoriasis-like dermatitis in IMQ-treated mice, including a reduction in dorsal skin lesions, splenomegaly and the mRNA expression levels of IL-17A and IL-23. To examine putative antipsoriatic constituents, three major compounds in bitter Pu’er tea, strictinin, theacrine and epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), were separately given as supplements to IMQ-treated mice. The results showed that all the three compounds attenuated the severity of psoriasis by reducing epidermal thickness. Only theacrine significantly attenuated splenomegaly. All the three compounds inhibited the expression of IL-23 mRNA in the skin as well as reduced the content of IL-17A+CD4+ T cells in the spleen, and strictinin was found to be relatively effective. It seemed that the antipsoriatic activity of bitter Pu’er tea was attributed to the additive effects of its multiple active compounds.
Anisotropic Surface Formation Based on Brush-Coated Nickel-Doped Yttrium Oxide Film for Enhanced Electro-Optical Characteristics in Liquid Crystal Systems
Authors: Lee Dong-Wook , Yang Da-Bin , Kim Dong-Hyun , Oh Jin-Young , Liu Yang , Seo Dae-Shik
Published: November 2022

This paper introduces anisotropic nickel yttrium oxide (NYO) film formed by the brush coating technique. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy confirmed well-formed NYO film after the curing process, and the morphology of the surface was investigated using atomic force microscopy. The shear stress driven from brush hair movements caused the nano/micro-grooved anisotropic surface structure of NYO. This anisotropic surface induced uniform liquid crystal (LC) alignment on the surface, which was confirmed by pre-tilt angle analysis and polarized optical microscopy. The contact angle measurements revealed an increase in hydrophilicity at higher temperature curing, which contributed to homogenous LC alignment. The NYO film achieved good optical transmittance and thermal stability as an LC alignment layer. In addition, the film demonstrated good electro-optical properties, stable switching, and significantly enhanced operating voltage performance in a twisted-nematic LC system. Therefore, we expect that this brush coating method can be applied to various inorganic materials to achieve an advanced LC alignment layer.
Patient-Factors Influencing the 2-Year Trajectory of Mental and Physical Health in Prostate Cancer Patients
Authors: Cicchetti Alessandro , Noale Marianna , Dordoni Paola , Noris Chiorda Barbara , De Luca Letizia , Bellardita Lara , Montironi Rodolfo , Bertoni Filippo , Bassi Pierfrancesco , Schiavina Riccardo , Gacci Mauro , Serni Sergio , Sessa Francesco , Maruzzo Marco , Maggi Stefania , Valdagni Riccardo
Published: November 2022

This study aimed to examine the physical and mental Quality of Life (QoL) trajectories in prostate cancer (PCa) patients participating in the Pros-IT CNR study. QoL was assessed using the Physical (PCS) and Mental Component Score (MCS) of Short-Form Health Survey upon diagnosis and two years later. Growth mixture models were applied on 1158 patients and 3 trajectories over time were identified for MCS: 75% of patients had constantly high scores, 13% had permanently low scores and 12% starting with low scores had a recovery; the predictors that differentiated the trajectories were age, comorbidities, a family history of PCa, and the bowel, urinary and sexual functional scores at diagnosis. In the physical domain, 2 trajectories were defined: 85% of patients had constantly high scores, while 15% started with low scores and had a further slight decrease. Two years after diagnosis, the psychological and physical status was moderately compromised in more than 10% of PCa patients. For mental health, the trajectory analysis suggested that following the compromised patients at diagnosis until treatment could allow identification of those more vulnerable, for which a level 2 intervention with support from a non-oncology team supervised by a clinical psychologist could be of help.
Magnetic Resonance-Guided Radiation Therapy for Head and Neck Cancers
Authors: Lavigne Danny , Ng Sweet Ping , O’Sullivan Brian , Nguyen-Tan Phuc Felix , Filion Edith , Létourneau-Guillon Laurent , Fuller Clifton D. , Bahig Houda
Published: November 2022

Despite the significant evolution of radiation therapy (RT) techniques in recent years, many patients with head and neck cancer still experience significant toxicities during and after treatments. The increased soft tissue contrast and functional sequences of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) are particularly attractive in head and neck cancer and have led to the increasing development of magnetic resonance-guided RT (MRgRT). This approach refers to the inclusion of the additional information acquired from a diagnostic or planning MRI in radiation treatment planning, and now extends to online high-quality daily imaging generated by the recently developed MR-Linac. MRgRT holds numerous potentials, including enhanced baseline and planning evaluations, anatomical and functional treatment adaptation, potential for hypofractionation, and multiparametric assessment of response. This article offers a structured review of the current literature on these established and upcoming roles of MRI for patients with head and neck cancer undergoing RT.
Using Real-World Data to Determine Health System Costs of Ontario Women Screened for Breast Cancer
Authors: Mittmann Nicole , Seung Soo Jin , Diong Christina , Gatley Jodi M. , Wolfson Michael , Guertin Marie-Hélène , Pashayan Nora , Simard Jacques , Chiarelli Anna M.
Published: November 2022

Our study was to determine breast cancer screening costs in Ontario, Canada for screenings conducted through a formal (Ontario Breast Screening Program, OBSP) and informal (non-OBSP) screening program using administrative databases. Included women were 49–74 years of age when receiving screening mammograms between 1 January 2013 to 31 December 2019. Each woman was followed for a screening episode with screening and diagnostic components, and costs were calculated as an average cost per woman per month in 2021 Canadian dollars. The final cohort of 1,546,386 women screened had a mean age of 59.4 ± 7.1 years and ~87% were screened via OBSP. The average total cost per woman per month was $136 ± $103, $134 ± $103 and $155 ± $104 for the entire, OBSP and non-OBSP cohorts, respectively. This was further disaggregated into the average total screening cost per month, which was $103 ± $8, $100 ± $4 and $117 ± $9 per woman, and the average total diagnostic cost per woman per month at $219 ± $166, $228 ± $165 and $178 ± $159. for the entire, OBSP and non-OBSP cohorts, respectively. These results indicate similar screening costs across the different cohorts, but higher diagnostic costs for the OBSP cohort.
Taxonomic Reassessment of Freshwater Mussels from the Western Balkans Reveals an Overlooked but Critical Refugium and Defines Conservation Priorities
Authors: Lyubas Artem A. , Kondakov Alexander V. , Tomilova Alena A. , Gofarov Mikhail Yu. , Eliseeva Tatyana A. , Konopleva Ekaterina S. , Vikhrev Ilya V. , Yunitsyna Olesya A. , Pešić Vladimir , Bolotov Ivan N.
Published: November 2022

Freshwater mussels are an endangered group of animals, especially in the water bodies of Central and Western Europe. Conservation priorities were established for many endangered freshwater mussel species in the last decade. Here, we present new data on a cryptic refugium of freshwater mussels in the Western Balkans. Two species, Anodonta exulcerata Porro, 1838 and Unio elongatulus Pfeiffer, 1825, were discovered in Montenegro for the first time. The phylogenetic position and taxonomic status of freshwater mussel species from Montenegro were studied by means of an integrative approach, combining morphological data and COI gene sequences. Unio carneus Küster, 1854 stat. rev. represents a species with a restricted range, which is endemic to the Western Balkans. A viable population of Microcondylaea bonellii (Férussac, 1827) was discovered in the Zeta River. This species was not mentioned in Montenegro since the 1900s. A significant level of genetic diversity was revealed for the studied species. In the Skadar Lake basin, freshwater mussels from diverse ecological groups were discovered. Rheophilic species of freshwater mussels may represent ancient lineages, which need special conservation planning. Conservation priorities should be aimed at the protection of freshwater mussel habitats on the Balkan Peninsula.
The Importance of Being Diverse: The Idiosyncratic Ethnobotany of the Reka Albanian Diaspora in North Macedonia
Authors: Berisha Rinor , Sõukand Renata , Nedelcheva Anely , Pieroni Andrea
Published: November 2022

Cultural diversity and biodiversity are strongly intertwined through the ways in which local human communities have understood, categorized, perceived, and used nature and species for centuries. Folk nomenclature and uses of wild plants in particular are strongly linked to specific ethno-diversities and have often been considered as cultural markers. In the current study, through thirty-one interviews with elderly villagers, the ethnobotany of five Albanian villages in North Macedonia was recorded, as these villages are inhabited by descendants of Reka Albanians, whose peculiar dialect and customs have been the subject in the past of some linguistic, historical, and ethnographic works. A few folk names and utilizations of commonly used species (such as Rumex, Urtica, Tilia, Crocus, and Hypericum spp.), as well as the traditional customs of collecting tree cambium during the spring and ritually adorning home doors with Cornus mas and Salix spp. branches on St. George’s Day, partially overlap Macedonian/Bulgarian folklore, and, to a minor extent, data previously collected in NE Albania and South Kosovo. Nevertheless, some archaic uses (such as the consumption of Crocus corms) remain very idiosyncratic. While the origin of the Reka Albanians and the exact historical reasons for their peculiar ethnobotany practices cannot be exactly established, the data showed that this cultural group living at the cultural edge between the Albanian and South Balkan Slavic realms has maintained its diversity until the present. Its uniqueness should be valorized and celebrated.
Correction: Sebro, R.; De la Garza-Ramos, C. Machine Learning for Opportunistic Screening for Osteoporosis from CT Scans of the Wrist and Forearm. Diagnostics 2022, 12, 691
Authors: Sebro Ronnie , De la Garza-Ramos Cynthia
Published: November 2022

In the original publication [...]
Laboratory Diagnostic Methods and Antibiotic Resistance Patterns of Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli Strains: An Evolving Human Health Challenge
Authors: Alzaben Feras , Fat’hi Shawkat , Elbehiry Ayman , Alsugair Maha , Marzouk Eman , Abalkhail Adil , Almuzaini Abdulaziz M. , Rawway Mohammed , Ibrahem Mai , Sindi Wael , Alshehri Turki , Hamada Mohamed
Published: November 2022

Raw ground meat is known as a transmission vehicle for biological agents that may be harmful to human health. The objective of the present study was to assess microbiological quality of the ground meats. A total of 280 samples of local and imported chilled meats were randomly collected from retail shops in Buraydah City, Saudi Arabia. The meat samples were microbiologically analyzed using standard methods, peptide mass fingerprinting (PMF) technique, MicroScan Walkaway System (MicroScan) and qPCR System. The imported meat was more bacterially contaminated than local meat, with variable contamination degrees of Staphylococcus aureus (40.33%), Escherichia coli (36.13%), Hafnia alvei (7.56%), Pseudomonas spp. (6.72%), Salmonella spp. (5.88%) and Aeromonas spp. (3.36%). PMF verified all the isolated bacteria by 100%, compared to 75–95% achieved by MicroScan. The gene encoding flagellin (fliC) was recognized in 67.44% of E. coli strains, while the thermonuclease (nuc) and methicillin resistance (mecA) genes were detected in 100% S. aureus and 39.6% of methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) strains, respectively. The S. aureus and E. coli strains were highly resistant to multiple antibiotics (e.g., ampicillin, amoxicillin-clavulanic acid and cephalothin). For identifying various foodborne pathogens, PMF has been recognized as a powerful and precise analytical method. In light of the increasing use of PMF to detect multidrug-resistant bacteria, this study emphasizes the need for improved ways of treating and preventing pathogens, as well as setting up monitoring systems to guarantee hygiene and safety in meat production.
Distributed Support Vector Ordinal Regression over Networks
Authors: Liu Huan , Tu Jiankai , Li Chunguang
Published: November 2022

Ordinal regression methods are widely used to predict the ordered labels of data, among which support vector ordinal regression (SVOR) methods are popular because of their good generalization. In many realistic circumstances, data are collected by a distributed network. In order to protect privacy or due to some practical constraints, data cannot be transmitted to a center for processing. However, as far as we know, existing SVOR methods are all centralized. In the above situations, centralized methods are inapplicable, and distributed methods are more suitable choices. In this paper, we propose a distributed SVOR (dSVOR) algorithm. First, we formulate a constrained optimization problem for SVOR in distributed circumstances. Since there are some difficulties in solving the problem with classical methods, we used the random approximation method and the hinge loss function to transform the problem into a convex optimization problem with constraints. Then, we propose subgradient-based algorithm dSVOR to solve it. To illustrate the effectiveness, we theoretically analyze the consensus and convergence of the proposed method, and conduct experiments on both synthetic data and a real-world example. The experimental results show that the proposed dSVOR could achieve close performance to that of the corresponding centralized method, which needs all the data to be collected together.
Comprehensive Empirical Evaluation of Deep Learning Approaches for Session-Based Recommendation in E-Commerce
Authors: Maher Mohamed , Ngoy Perseverance Munga , Rebriks Aleksandrs , Ozcinar Cagri , Cuevas Josue , Sanagavarapu Rajasekhar , Anbarjafari Gholamreza
Published: November 2022

Boosting the sales of e-commerce services is guaranteed once users find more items matching their interests in a short amount of time. Consequently, recommendation systems have become a crucial part of any successful e-commerce service. Although various recommendation techniques could be used in e-commerce, a considerable amount of attention has been drawn to session-based recommendation systems in recent years. This growing interest is due to security concerns over collecting personalized user behavior data, especially due to recent general data protection regulations. In this work, we present a comprehensive evaluation of the state-of-the-art deep learning approaches used in the session-based recommendation. In session-based recommendation, a recommendation system counts on the sequence of events made by a user within the same session to predict and endorse other items that are more likely to correlate with their preferences. Our extensive experiments investigate baseline techniques (e.g., nearest neighbors and pattern mining algorithms) and deep learning approaches (e.g., recurrent neural networks, graph neural networks, and attention-based networks). Our evaluations show that advanced neural-based models and session-based nearest neighbor algorithms outperform the baseline techniques in most scenarios. However, we found that these models suffer more in the case of long sessions when there exists drift in user interests, and when there are not enough data to correctly model different items during training. Our study suggests that using the hybrid models of different approaches combined with baseline algorithms could lead to substantial results in session-based recommendations based on dataset characteristics. We also discuss the drawbacks of current session-based recommendation algorithms and further open research directions in this field.
Cognition as Morphological/Morphogenetic Embodied Computation In Vivo
Authors: Dodig-Crnkovic Gordana
Published: November 2022

Cognition, historically considered uniquely human capacity, has been recently found to be the ability of all living organisms, from single cells and up. This study approaches cognition from an info-computational stance, in which structures in nature are seen as information, and processes (information dynamics) are seen as computation, from the perspective of a cognizing agent. Cognition is understood as a network of concurrent morphological/morphogenetic computations unfolding as a result of self-assembly, self-organization, and autopoiesis of physical, chemical, and biological agents. The present-day human-centric view of cognition still prevailing in major encyclopedias has a variety of open problems. This article considers recent research about morphological computation, morphogenesis, agency, basal cognition, extended evolutionary synthesis, free energy principle, cognition as Bayesian learning, active inference, and related topics, offering new theoretical and practical perspectives on problems inherent to the old computationalist cognitive models which were based on abstract symbol processing, and unaware of actual physical constraints and affordances of the embodiment of cognizing agents. A better understanding of cognition is centrally important for future artificial intelligence, robotics, medicine, and related fields.
Correspondence Rules for SU(1,1) Quasidistribution Functions and Quantum Dynamics in the Hyperbolic Phase Space
Authors: Baltazar Miguel , Valtierra Iván F. , Klimov Andrei B.
Published: November 2022

We derive the explicit differential form for the action of the generators of the SU(1,1) group on the corresponding s-parametrized symbols. This allows us to obtain evolution equations for the phase-space functions on the upper sheet of the two-sheet hyperboloid and analyze their semiclassical limits. Dynamics of quantum systems with SU(1,1) symmetry governed by compact and non-compact Hamiltonians are discussed in both quantum and semiclassical regimes.
Effect of Carrier Gas Flow Rates on the Structural and Optical Properties of ZnO Films Deposited Using an Aerosol Deposition Technique
Authors: Toe May Zin , Tan Wai Kian , Muto Hiroyuki , Kawamura Go , Matsuda Atsunori , Yaacob Khatijah Aisha Binti , Pung Swee-Yong
Published: November 2022

Aerosol deposition (AD) is a simple, dry raw-powder deposition process in which the targeted film is formed by direct bombardment of accelerated starting powder onto the substrate surface at room temperature. Despite the increased interest in AD film formation, no work has been completed to systematically investigate the formation of dense zinc oxide (ZnO) films using the AD method and their optical properties. Therefore, this study was carried out to investigate the effect of AD gas flow rate on the formation of AD films and the optical properties of aerosol-deposited ZnO films. ZnO films with nanosized (<40 nm) crystallites were successfully deposited on FTO substrates at room temperature. A dense and uniform layer of aerosol-deposited ZnO films with a roughened surface was obtained without subsequent heat treatment. With the increase in the AD gas flow rate, the crystal size and the AD film’s thickness were reduced. The Raman spectroscopy verified that the thin film was of a ZnO wurtzite structure. The room temperature photoluminescence of the ZnO thin film produced strong visible emissions. The findings of this work demonstrated that AD can be an alternative technique for the rapid deposition of dense and thick ZnO films for optoelectronic applications.
Deep Learning-Based Pedestrian Detection in Autonomous Vehicles: Substantial Issues and Challenges
Authors: Iftikhar Sundas , Zhang Zuping , Asim Muhammad , Muthanna Ammar , Koucheryavy Andrey , Abd El-Latif Ahmed A.
Published: November 2022

In recent years, autonomous vehicles have become more and more popular due to their broad influence over society, as they increase passenger safety and convenience, lower fuel consumption, reduce traffic blockage and accidents, save costs, and enhance reliability. However, autonomous vehicles suffer from some functionality errors which need to be minimized before they are completely deployed onto main roads. Pedestrian detection is one of the most considerable tasks (functionality errors) in autonomous vehicles to prevent accidents. However, accurate pedestrian detection is a very challenging task due to the following issues: (i) occlusion and deformation and (ii) low-quality and multi-spectral images. Recently, deep learning (DL) technologies have exhibited great potential for addressing the aforementioned pedestrian detection issues in autonomous vehicles. This survey paper provides an overview of pedestrian detection issues and the recent advances made in addressing them with the help of DL techniques. Informative discussions and future research works are also presented, with the aim of offering insights to the readers and motivating new research directions.
Machine Learning for Short-Term Load Forecasting in Smart Grids
Authors: Ibrahim Bibi , Rabelo Luis , Gutierrez-Franco Edgar , Clavijo-Buritica Nicolas
Published: November 2022

A smart grid is the future vision of power systems that will be enabled by artificial intelligence (AI), big data, and the Internet of things (IoT), where digitalization is at the core of the energy sector transformation. However, smart grids require that energy managers become more concerned about the reliability and security of power systems. Therefore, energy planners use various methods and technologies to support the sustainable expansion of power systems, such as electricity demand forecasting models, stochastic optimization, robust optimization, and simulation. Electricity forecasting plays a vital role in supporting the reliable transitioning of power systems. This paper deals with short-term load forecasting (STLF), which has become an active area of research over the last few years, with a handful of studies. STLF deals with predicting demand one hour to 24 h in advance. We extensively experimented with several methodologies from machine learning and a complex case study in Panama. Deep learning is a more advanced learning paradigm in the machine learning field that continues to have significant breakthroughs in domain areas such as electricity forecasting, object detection, speech recognition, etc. We identified that the main predictors of electricity demand in the short term: the previous week’s load, the previous day’s load, and temperature. We found that the deep learning regression model achieved the best performance, which yielded an R squared (R2) of 0.93 and a mean absolute percentage error (MAPE) of 2.9%, while the AdaBoost model obtained the worst performance with an R2 of 0.75 and MAPE of 5.70%.
Fiscal- and Space-Constrained Energy Optimization Model for Hybrid Grid-Tied Solar Nanogrids
Authors: Shahid Muhammed , Butt Rizwan Aslam , Khawaja Attaullah
Published: November 2022

Due to rising fossil fuel costs, electricity tariffs are also increasing. This is motivating users to install nanogrid systems to reduce their electricity bills using solar power. However, the two main constraints for a solar system installation are the initial financial investment cost and the availability of space for the installation of solar panels. Achieving greater electricity savings requires more panels and a larger energy storage system (ESS). However, a larger ESS also increases the electricity bill and reduces the available solar power due to higher charging power requirements. The increase in solar power leads to the need for more space for solar panel installation. Therefore, achieving the maximum electricity savings for a consumer unit requires an optimized number of solar panels and ESS size within the available financial budget and the available physical space. Thus, this study presents a fiscal- and space-constrained mixed-integer linear programming-based nanogrid system model (FS-MILP) designed to compute the optimal number of solar panels and ESS requirements, and the daily electricity unit consumption and savings. The proposed model is also validated through an OMNET++-based simulation using real-time solar irradiance and residential load values of one year for the city of Karachi, Pakistan. The investigation results show that a maximum of 1050 electricity units can be saved and exported to the main power grid within the maximum financial budget of PKR 1,000,000/-.
Gender Mainstreaming the European Union Energy Transition
Authors: Carroll Paula
Published: November 2022

This paper explores gender dimensions of the energy transition in the European Union (EU). The EU has set out its ambitions for an equitable transition to clean secure energy. It has also set out it objectives for gender equality. In this paper, I implement a systematic literature review to explore the intersection of gender issues with the energy transition in the EU. There is little peer reviewed literature in this area. Analysis of academic papers shows most focus on social science rather than technical or engineering problems. A critical review of the grey literature including EU policies and reports shows that there is a disconnect between EU gender equality and clean energy plans and that gender has yet to be mainstreamed into the EU energy transition. This review identifies opportunities to mainstream gender into EU energy policies by linking to EU gender equality objectives, and connecting to gender-energy research themes.
Comparative Evaluation of Data-Driven Approaches to Develop an Engine Surrogate Model for NOx Engine-Out Emissions under Steady-State and Transient Conditions
Authors: Brusa Alessandro , Giovannardi Emanuele , Barichello Massimo , Cavina Nicolò
Published: November 2022

In this paper, a methodology based on data-driven models is developed to predict the NOx emissions of an internal combustion engine using, as inputs, a set of ECU channels representing the main engine actuations. Several regressors derived from the machine learning and deep learning algorithms are tested and compared in terms of prediction accuracy and computational efficiency to assess the most suitable for the aim of this work. Six Real Driving Emission (RDE) cycles performed at the roll bench were used for the model training, while another two RDE cycles and a steady-state map of NOx emissions were used to test the model under dynamic and stationary conditions, respectively. The models considered include Polynomial Regressor (PR), Support Vector Regressor (SVR), Random Forest Regressor (RF), Light Gradient Boosting Regressor (LightGBR) and Feed-Forward Neural Network (ANN). Ensemble methods such as Random Forest and LightGBR proved to have similar performances in terms of prediction accuracy, with LightGBR requiring a much lower training time. Afterwards, LightGBR predictions are compared with experimental NOx measurements in steady-state conditions and during two RDE cycles. Coefficient of determination (R2), normalized root mean squared error (nRMSE) and mean average percentage error (MAPE) are the main metrics used. The NOx emissions predicted by the LightGBR show good coherence with the experimental test set, both with the steady-state NOx map (R2 = 0.91 and MAPE = 6.42%) and with the RDE cycles (R2 = 0.95 and nRMSE = 0.04).
Thermal Treatment (Hydrodistillation) on The Biomass of Ficus hispida L. f.: Volatile Organic Compounds Yield, Phytochemical Composition, and Antioxidant Activity Evaluation
Authors: Xu Ziyue , Gao Peizhong , Ren Xiaohan , Liu Xu
Published: November 2022

In this study, a new method for biomass thermal treatment was introduced. The volatile organic compounds (VOCs) of Ficus hispida biomass were obtained via hydrodistillation. The qualitative analysis of VOCs performed by GC–MS and GC–FID techniques identified pentadecanal (14.65%), 2-(E)-hexenal (11.15%), and 2-butyl-5-methyl-2-hexenoic acid ethyl ester (8.53%) as the major compounds. The chemical components varied significantly from the previous study. The results of the DPPH, ABTS, and FRAP methods gave IC50 and antioxidant capacity values of 3.08 ± 0.024 mg/mL, 0.44 ± 0.009 mg/mL, and 135.64 ± 25.49 mM/g, respectively. From the results, the VOCs distilled from F. hispida leaves have an antioxidant property that can be utilized as a natural botanical supplement as an antioxidant and preservative. In addition, the present research offers additional scientific support and a chemical basis for future natural drug discovery.
Ensuring the Safety of Buildings by Reducing the Noise Impact through the Use of Green Wall Systems
Authors: Shushunova Natalia , Korol Elena , Luzay Elisaveta , Shafieva Diana , Bevilacqua Piero
Published: November 2022

Modern environmental problems are caused by increased energy consumption and the urban heat island effect. Urban noise pollution is another big problem in the Megacities. Ensuring safety with reducing hazards in the urban space is one of the priority tasks of the urban city centers. One solution is the use of green technologies in the construction of office and residential real estate. In this research, we provide the analysis of reducing the noise impact through the use of different green wall systems, such as modular, hydroponic and container, analyzing their benefits and disadvantages in terms of operation and maintenance. After that, we chose hydroponic systems as the most efficient ones and examined different conditions of the system and how these types reduce the noise analyzing absorption coefficient. As a result, we found out that the efficiency of the hydroponic green wall system depends on the humidity of the substrate and the presence of the plants, which confirms the importance of vegetation in reducing noise impact in urban environment.
Hybrid Solar-Driven Desalination/Cooling Systems: Current Situation and Future Trend
Authors: Alsaman Ahmed S. , Hassan Ahmed A. , Ali Ehab S. , Mohammed Ramy H. , Zohir Alaa E. , Farid Ayman M. , Eraqi Ayman M. Zakaria , El-Ghetany Hamdy H. , Askalany Ahmed A.
Published: November 2022

Global warming and climate change, accompanied and assisted by rapid economic and population growth, are causing a sharp rise in cooling demands and stressing the already-limited supply of freshwater for many countries worldwide, especially those developing under hot-climate conditions. Thus, it is imperative to find solutions to meet cooling and freshwater needs without negatively affecting the environment and exacerbating the global warming problem. Solar-driven hybrid desalination/cooling technologies are a promising solution that can help in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and increasing overall efficiency and energy savings. The present study summarizes research efforts in meeting cooling and freshwater demands using the available solar resources. Various solar desalination technologies, such as multi-effect distillation (MED), single and multi-stage flash (MSF), reverse osmosis (RO), adsorption, absorption desalination, and membrane distillation (MD), and their integration with different cooling technologies, are reported. The study reported system performance indicators, such as water production rate, cooling capacity, Coefficient of Performance, and freshwater cost.
A Case Study of Field Thermal Response Test and Laboratory Test Based on Distributed Optical Fiber Temperature Sensor
Authors: Ma Yongjie , Zhang Yanjun , Cheng Yuxiang , Zhang Yu , Gao Xuefeng , Shan Kun
Published: November 2022

To design an efficient ground source heat pump (GSHP) system, it is important to accurately measure the thermophysical parameters of the geotechnical layer. In the current study, a borehole is tested in detail using a combined thermal response test system (CTRTS) based on a distributed optical fiber temperature sensor (DOFTS) and a laboratory test. Real-time monitoring of the stratum temperature according to depth and operation time and the geothermal profile and thermal conductivity of each stratum are obtained. The results show that the undisturbed ground temperature is 10.0 °C, and the formation temperature field within 130 m can be divided into variable temperature formation, constant temperature formation (9.13 °C), and warming formation (geothermal gradient is 3.0 °C/100 m). The comprehensive thermal conductivity of the region is 1.862 W/m·K. From top to bottom, the average thermal conductivity of silty clay, mudstone, argillaceous siltstone, and mudstone is 1.631 W/m·K, 1.888 W/m·K, 1.862 W/m·K, and 2.144 W/m·K, respectively. By comparing the measurement results, the accuracy and effectiveness of the CTRTS are verified. Therefore, it is recommended to use the thermal conductivity obtained by the CTRTS to optimize the design of the borehole heat exchanger (BHE). This study provides a case for establishing a standard distributed thermal response test (DTRT).