bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Numerical Simulation on Air-Liquid Transient Flow and Regression Model on Air-Liquid Ratio of Air Induction Nozzle
Authors: Liu Changxi , Hu Jun , Li Yufei , Zhao Shengxue , Li Qingda , Zhang Wei
Published: January 2023

Air induction nozzle (AIN) has a special Venturi structure that has been widely used in the field of reducing the probability of drift of pesticide droplets and realizing precise application. The present research mainly adopts the method of comparative test and analyzes the difference between AIN and standard fan nozzle. However, the research on internal flow characteristics and air–liquid ratio (ALR) of AIN is very limited. In order to detect the air-liquid transient flow distribution and the influence of the geometric parameter structure of Venturi on the air–liquid ratio in the air induction nozzle, numerical simulation and air-liquid ratio prediction model of AIN combined with TD (Turbo Drop series) type Venturi tubes and ST110 (standard nozzle series) type fan nozzles are used. Based on the VOF (volume of fluid) model and Realizable k-ε turbulence control method, the TD-ST combined AIN is simulated numerically using open input and exit boundary conditions. The results show that the transient flow characteristic of the combined AIN is determined by the geometric structure of the Venturi tube, and the internal velocity and pressure change significantly at the Venturi angle. Under the same ST110 fan nozzle, the size of the larger TD Venturi tube will decrease the air phase content in the air–liquid flow. TD03-ST06 combined AIN has a maximum volume flow of 0.0092 (L/min) under 0.6 MPa. The air–liquid ratio regression model is established by designing the intake volume measurement system. According to this model, the influence law of tube size and spray parameters on the air–liquid ratio can be clarified. After variance analysis, it is proved that this model is suitable for air–liquid ratio prediction of TD-ST combined AIN. This study clarifies the air–liquid coupling law inside AIN and provides some reference for the quantitative analysis of the relationship between the geometric parameters, spray parameters, and the air–liquid ratio.
Morphological and Genetic Analysis of Wild Hop (Humulus lupulus L.) Germplasm from Calabria Region in South Italy
Authors: Calvi Antonio , Aci Meriem Miyassa , Lupini Antonio , Preiti Giovanni
Published: January 2023

Hops (Humulus lupulus L.) constitute a species that grows spontaneously in the region of Calabria (South Italy), but the species’ morphological and genetic characterization have not yet been explored. Thus, we explored some morphological traits related to cones of wild hops from three Calabrian sites: Cosenza (CS), Catanzaro (CZ), and Vibo Valentia (VV). In addition, eight Simple Sequence Repeats (SSR) were adopted to investigate the genetic diversity and population structure of the local germplasm, which were also compared to commercial varieties. Cone length exhibited large variation among the different populations, whereas cone shape was the most discriminant trait according to principal coordinate analysis. Eighty-one alleles were detected with a high mean of alleles per locus (10.12). The SSRs used in the present study were highly informative with a genetic diversity of 0.829 and a PIC value > 0.62, thereby confirming the high genetic variability in Calabria. Finally, genetic structure analysis revealed the existence of two distinct groups regardless of the specimens’ sampling sites. Further studies including other wild hops populations from Calabria will be performed in order to detect specific alleles for new breeding programs.
Genetic Diversity and Population Structure in Bread Wheat Germplasm from Türkiye Using iPBS-Retrotransposons-Based Markers
Authors: Haliloğlu Kamil , Türkoğlu Aras , Öztürk Ali , Niedbała Gniewko , Niazian Mohsen , Wojciechowski Tomasz , Piekutowska Magdalena
Published: January 2023

This study investigated the genetic diversity and population structure of 63 genotypes from Turkish bread wheat germplasm using iPBS-retrotransposons primers. The thirty-four iPBS primers produced a total of 1231 polymorphic bands, ranging from 8 (iPBS-2375) to 60 (iPBS-2381) alleles per marker, with an average number of 36.00 alleles. The polymorphism information content (PIC) per marker varied between 0.048 (iPBS 2087) and 0.303 (iPBS 2382), with an average of 0.175. The numbers of effective alleles (ne), genetic diversity of Nei (h), and Shannon’s information index (I) value were calculated as 1.157, 0.95, and 0.144, respectively. The greatest genetic distance (0.164) was between Eastern Anatolia Agricultural Research Institute genotypes and Çukurova Agricultural Research Institute genotypes. The unweighted pair-group method with arithmetic mean (UPGMA) dendrogram placed the 63 wheat genotypes into three clusters. The percentage of genetic diversity explained by each of the three main coordinates of the basic coordinate analysis was determined to be 44.58, 12.08, and 3.44, respectively. AMOVA (Analysis of Molecular Variance) showed that the variation within populations was 99% and that between populations was 1%. The result of genetic structure analysis suggests that the greatest value of K was calculated as 3. The F-statistic (Fst) value was determined as 0.4005, 0.2374, and 0.3773 in the first to third subpopulations, respectively. Likewise, the expected heterozygosity values (He) were determined as 0.2203, 0.2599, and 0.2155 in the first, second, and third subpopulations, respectively. According to the information obtained in the study, the most genetically distant genotypes were the G1 (Aksel 2000) and G63 (Karasu 90) genotypes. This study provided a deep insight into genetic variations in Turkish bread wheat germplasm using the iPBS-retrotransposons marker system.
Phytotoxic Effects of Essential Oils from Six Lamiaceae Species
Authors: Casella Francesca , Vurro Maurizio , Valerio Francesca , Perrino Enrico Vito , Mezzapesa Giuseppe N. , Boari Angela
Published: January 2023

Essential oils produced by plants, and their components, could be sources of new natural herbicidal compounds. Thirteen oils extracted from six wild Lamiaceae species (namely Clinopodium suaveolens (Sm.) Kuntze, Satureja montana L. subsp. montana, Thymbra capitata (L.) Cav., Salvia fruticosa Mill. subsp. thomasii (Lacaita) Brullo, Guglielmo, Pavone & Terrasi, Satureja cuneifolia Ten., and Thymus spinulosus Ten.) from South Italy were tested in vitro for the phytotoxic activity to cress and branched broomrape seeds, tomato radicles, and lambsquarters leaf disks. Moreover, the possible correlation between oil composition and biological activity was evaluated. One of the oils from T. capitata inhibited cress germination by 96.4% at the lowest tested concentration (100 ppm) and reduced both chlorophyll and carotenoid content in lambsquarters leaf disks by around 50%. Some oils, particularly those from T. spinulosus, inhibited tomato radicle elongation by 85% at 1000 ppm. Many oils inhibited broomrape seed germination up to 100% when tested in solution at 1000 ppm or released as vapors. Among the oil components, α-terpinene, p-cymene, β-cis-ocimene, cis-sabinene hydrate, carvacrol methyl ether, and thymol were mostly correlated to the inhibition of cress seeds germination and tomato radicle elongation. The presence of thymol and p-cymene was also correlated to the inhibition of broomrape seed germination. Some of the tested essential oils or their components could have potential as pre-emergence herbicides and could be useful in the development of new weed control strategies.
How Much Phosphorus Uptake Is Required for Achieving Maximum Maize Grain Yield? Part 2: Impact of Phosphorus Uptake on Grain Quality and Partitioning of Nutrients
Authors: Penn Chad J. , Camberato James J. , Wiethorn Matthew A.
Published: January 2023

Previous studies have shown that excess phosphorus (P) uptake by maize can lead to a decreased grain yield. Part one of this study demonstrated that maize experienced luxury consumption of P in three phases of P uptake. The objective of this work was to further explore how P uptake indirectly impacts the uptake of other nutrients and their translocation within the plant to explain the yield penalty associated with luxury P consumption. Three maize hybrids were grown under optimal conditions using sand-culture hydroponics for precise control of the root environment. Plants were grown to maturity with six different P concentrations followed by biomass and nutrient partitioning analysis of various maize parts. All non-P nutrients achieved maximum grain content at P uptake levels that coincided with the maximum grain yield, while the partitioning of K, Mg, Mn, B, N, S, and Fe into other non-grain tissue continued with further P uptake. With luxury P consumption beyond the point corresponding with maximum grain yield, the N, S, Fe, Cu, and Zn grain content significantly decreased along with the grain yield. With luxury P consumption, Cu, Zn, and Fe accumulated in the roots. Grain production with luxury P uptake may have been limited by P-inhibited translocation of Cu, Zn, and Fe from roots to grain. This decrease in translocation did not prevent further non-grain tissue growth since those nutrients were not as limiting as they were for grain. Data suggest that these micronutrients limited protein production, which was evident from the decrease in grain N and S content and concentration that coincided with the decrease in grain yield concomitant with luxury P uptake.
Toll-like Receptor 3 in the Hybrid Yellow Catfish (Pelteobagrus fulvidraco ♀ × P. vachelli ♂): Protein Structure, Evolution and Immune Response to Exogenous Aeromonas hydrophila and Poly (I:C) Stimuli
Authors: Guo Shengtao , Zeng Mengsha , Gao Wenxue , Li Fan , Wei Xiuying , Shi Qiong , Wen Zhengyong , Song Zhaobin
Published: January 2023

As a major mediator of cellular response to viral infection in mammals, Toll-like receptor 3 (TLR3) was proved to respond to double-stranded RNA (dsRNA). However, the molecular mechanism by which TLR3 functions in the viral infection response in teleosts remains to be investigated. In this study, the Toll-like receptor 3 gene of the hybrid yellow catfish was identified and characterized by comparative genomics. Furthermore, multiple sequence alignment, genomic synteny and phylogenetic analysis suggested that the homologous TLR3 genes were unique to teleosts. Gene structure analysis showed that five exons and four introns were common components of TLR3s in the 12 examined species, and interestingly the third exon in teleosts was the same length of 194 bp. Genomic synteny analysis indicated that TLR3s were highly conserved in various teleosts, with similar organizations of gene arrangement. De novo predictions showed that TLR3s were horseshoe-shaped in multiple taxa except for avian (with a round-shaped structure). Phylogenetic topology showed that the evolution of TLR3 was consistent with the evolution of the studied species. Selection analysis showed that the evolution rates of TLR3 proteins were usually higher than those of TLR3-TIR domains, indicating that the latter were more conserved. Tissue distribution analysis showed that TLR3s were widely distributed in the 12 tested tissues, with the highest transcriptions in liver and intestine. In addition, the transcription levels of TLR3 were significantly increased in immune-related tissues after infection of exogenous Aeromonas hydrophila and poly (I:C). Molecular docking showed that TLR3 in teleosts forms a complex with poly (I:C). In summary, our present results suggest that TLR3 is a pattern recognition receptor (PRR) gene in the immune response to pathogen infections in hybrid yellow catfish.
Increased Prevalence and New Evidence of Multi-Species Chelonid Herpesvirus 5 (ChHV5) Infection in the Sea Turtles of Mabul Island, Borneo
Authors: Robben Dexter Miller , Palaniappan Pushpa , Loganathan Aswini Leela , Subbiah Vijay Kumar
Published: January 2023

Fibropapillomatosis (FP) is a debilitating tumor disease affecting all species of sea turtles globally. The most probable etiological agent for FP is the chelonid herpesvirus 5 (ChHV5). A 2015–2016 field survey of the sea turtles at Mabul Island, Sabah, Malaysia, found three green turtles (Chelonia mydas) with FP tumors. However, the presence of ChHV5 was confirmed in 7.8% (9/115) green turtles and was absent (0/16) in the hawksbill (Eretmochelys imbricata) turtles, as determined through molecular approaches. Subsequent to this, we managed to conduct field sampling of sea turtles in November 2019, just prior to the pandemic lockdown. Here, we aim to determine the extent of ChHV5 infection, and whether the virus has spread to other species of sea turtles around Mabul Island after the first reports of ChHV5 and FP. A total of 69 tissue samples were obtained from green (63), hawksbill (5), and olive ridley (Lepidochelys olivacea) (1) turtles in November 2019. We observed only one green turtle that exhibited FP tumors. To determine the presence of ChHV5, viral DNA was isolated from all the tissue samples, and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis targeting three highly conserved regions of the virus, i.e., the capsid protein gene, glycoprotein H gene, and glycoprotein B gene, was performed. Out of 63 green turtles, 27 were positive for the presence of the virus. The prevalence of ChHV5 in the green turtles showed an increase of 42.9% as compared to the previous sampling conducted in 2015–2016. Additionally, for the first time, three out of the five hawksbill turtles, and one olive ridley turtle, were also PCR-positive for the virus. In conclusion, this study reveals that there has been an increase in ChHV5 infection among turtles in Mabul Island over the last 3 years. ChHV5 should be considered a potential threat, and mitigation efforts should be taken to prevent the spread of infection among the endangered sea turtles of Mabul Island and surrounding islands within the Coral Triangle.
The Effect of Oat Hay, Alfalfa Hay, and Their Combined Diets on the Morphology and Function of the Pancreas in Preweaning Yak Calves
Authors: Jiao Yang , Zhou Yanan , Liu Shujie , Yang Deyu , Li Jilan , Sun Lu , Cui Zhanhong
Published: January 2023

In this study, we used a combination of animal nutrition and nontargeted metabolomics to investigate the effects of feeding different sources forages rations on the morphology and function of the pancreas in preweaning yak calves, providing theoretical guidance and important references for the healthy and high-quality rearing of yak calves. At 45 days old, 21 yak calf males were divided into OP, AP, and AOP groups, with seven animals in each group, which were fed with oat hay, alfalfa hay, and mixed oat and alfalfa hay, respectively. Five calves from each group were selected randomly to slaughter after a pretest period of 21 days and the official period of 120 days, when the average daily feed intake reached 1 kg. During the test, the growth and pancreas weight of yak calves were recorded, and the morphology and function of the pancreas tissues were determined using tissue sectioning methods, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) tests, and nontargeted metabolomics strategies. The results showed that the body weight and pancreatic organ index of yak calves in the AOP group were significantly higher than those of the AP and OP groups. Compared to the AP and OP groups, the AOP group had considerably lower ratios of the area of the pancreatic endocrine component and overall percentage of that section of the organ, and the AOP group increased pancreatic amylase activity and a higher concentration of growth inhibitor. The AP group had significantly higher levels of the differential metabolites L-ascorbic acid, spermidine, spermine, and dopaquinone in the glutathione, β-alanine, and tyrosine metabolic pathways than the OP group. The AOP group had significantly lower levels of the differential metabolites spermine and phenylacetylglycine in the glutathione and phenylalanine metabolic pathways than the AP group. In summary, compared to feeding oat or alfalfa hay alone, combined feeding oat hay and alfalfa hay is more beneficial to promote the morphological and functional development of the pancreas in preweaning yak calves, so as to enhance the digestion and absorption of nutrients in the diet and maintain the positive regulation of blood glucose levels. This provides an important basis for the optimized forage supply of healthy and high-quality rearing in preweaning yak calves.
Phytogenic Effects on Layer Production Performance and Cytoprotective Response in the Duodenum
Authors: Anagnostopoulos Evangelos C. , Brouklogiannis Ioannis P. , Griela Eirini , Paraskeuas Vasileios V. , Mountzouris Konstantinos C.
Published: January 2023

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of a phytogenic premix (PP) on the production performance and critical genes relevant to the detoxification (i.e., aryl hydrocarbon receptor pathway) and antioxidant (i.e., nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 pathway) response in the duodenum of laying hens. The PP was based on bioactive substances derived from ginger, lemon balm, oregano, and thyme (Anco FIT-Poultry). A total of 385 20 week old Hy-Line Brown layers were assigned to five dietary treatments with seven replicates of 11 hens each for a 12-week feeding trial. The experimental treatments included a corn–soybean meal basal diet with no PP (CON) or supplemented with PP at 500 (P500), 750 (P750), 1000 (P1000), and 1500 mg/kg diet (P1500). The overall (1–12 weeks) laying rate (p < 0.001) and egg mass (p = 0.008) were significantly increased in the P1000 group compared with the CON. At the duodenum, increasing dietary PP inclusion levels beneficially affected (p ≤ 0.05) the expression of the majority of the AhR and Nrf2 pathway genes studied. In conclusion, according to the gene expression analysis, PP inclusion resulted in a reduced requirement for detoxification and an increased antioxidant capacity, with most of the effects seen at the PP inclusion range of 750 to 1000 mg/kg diet.
Vibrational Molecular Spectroscopy as a Tool to Study Molecular Structure Features of Cool-Season Chickpeas Impacted by Varieties and Thermal Processing in Relation to Nutrient Availability in Ruminants
Authors: Cerna Linda , Espinosa María E. Rodríguez , Zhang Weixian , Yu Peiqiang
Published: January 2023

To our knowledge, there is no study on the relationship between molecular spectral features and nutrient availability in chickpeas. The purpose of this study was to reveal molecular structure spectral profiles among cool-season adapted CDC chickpea varieties and detect the molecular structure changes induced by thermal processing methods using vibrational Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. Three varieties of chickpea samples (CDC Alma, Cory, Frontier) were finely ground using a 0.12 mm screen. Spectral analyses were conducted using a JASCO FTIR-4200 spectroscope with Spectra Manager II software in the mid-infrared region from ca. 4000–800 cm−1 with a 4 cm−1 resolution. Data were analyzed using the “Mixed” procedure of SAS 9.4. Multiple regression was performed with PROC REG analysis for variable selection. Results showed that amide I area was higher (p = 0.038) in CDC Frontier than CDC Cory (30.85 vs. 24.64 AU). Amide I peak height (p = 0.028) was also higher in CDC Frontier and CDC Alma (0.45 AU in both) than CDC Cory (0.36 AU). Cellulosic compound (CEC) to total CHO (TCHO) area ratio was higher in CDC Frontier (0.05 AU) than the other two varieties (0.14 AU in both). As to thermal treatment impact, the results showed that total amide area was higher (p = 0.013) with autoclave and microwave heating (47.38 and 45.19 AU, respectively) than dry heating (33.06 AU). The CEC area was also higher (p < 0.001) for autoclave and microwave heating (3.74 and 3.61 AU, respectively) than dry heating (2.20 AU). Moreover, the ratio of amide I to II height was higher (p = 0.022) with microwave heating than dry heating (1.44 vs. 1.16 AU, respectively). Relationship analysis showed that the effective degraded crude protein (EDCP) and bypass dry matter (% BDM) were associated with STCHO peaks and CEC height (p < 0.05, R2 = 0.68). Also, feed milk value (FMVDVE) was associated with STC1, STC_A, and CEC_A (p < 0.05, R2 = 0.85). In conclusion, vibrational molecular spectroscopy mid-infrared FTIR was able to reveal different molecular spectral characteristics among the cool-season adapted CDC chickpea varieties and detect molecular structure changes induced by thermal processing (dry heating, autoclaving, and microwave heating).
Azithromycin Susceptibility Testing and Molecular Investigation of Neisseria gonorrhoeae Isolates Collected in Russia, 2020–2021
Authors: Kandinov Ilya , Shaskolskiy Boris , Kravtsov Dmitry , Vinokurova Alexandra , Gorshkova Sofya , Kubanov Alexey , Solomka Victoria , Shagabieva Julia , Deryabin Dmitry , Dementieva Ekaterina , Gryadunov Dmitry
Published: January 2023

The aim of this work was to study the resistance to macrolides (azithromycin) in the modern Russian population of N. gonorrhoeae with the analysis of genetic resistance determinants. Azithromycin is not used to treat gonococcal infection in Russia. However, among 162 isolates collected in 2020–2021, 22 isolates (13.6%) were phenotypically resistant to azithromycin. Mutations in 23S rRNA genes were found only in two isolates; erm and mefA genes were absent. Azithromycin resistance was shown to be predominantly associated with mutations in the mtrR and mtrD genes of the MtrCDE efflux pump and their mosaic alleles which may have formed due to a horizontal transfer from N. meningitidis. A total of 30 types of mtrR alleles and 10 types of mtrD alleles were identified including mosaic variants. Matching between the mtrR and mtrD alleles was revealed to indicate the cooperative molecular evolution of these genes. A link between the mtrR and mtrD alleles and NG-MAST types was found only for NG-MAST 228 and 807, typical of N. gonorrhoeae in Russia. The high level of resistance to azithromycin in Russia may be related to the spread of multiple transferable resistance to antimicrobials regardless of their use in the treatment of gonococcal infection.
Antibacterial Activity of Biodegradable Films Incorporated with Biologically-Synthesized Silver Nanoparticles and the Evaluation of Their Migration to Chicken Meat
Authors: das Neves Meiriele da S. , Scandorieiro Sara , Pereira Giovana N. , Ribeiro Jhonatan M. , Seabra Amedea B. , Dias Adriana P. , Yamashita Fabio , Martinez Claudia B. dos R. , Kobayashi Renata K. T. , Nakazato Gerson
Published: January 2023

The food industry has been exploring the association of polymers with nanoparticles in packaging production, and active products are essential to increase the shelf life of food and avoid contamination. Our study developed starch-poly (adipate co-terephthalate butyl) films with silver nanoparticles produced with Fusarium oxysporum components (bio-AgNPs), intending to control foodborne pathogens. The bio-AgNPs showed activity against different Salmonella serotypes, including multidrug-resistant Salmonella Saint Paul and Salmonella Enteritidis, with minimum bactericidal concentrations ranging from 4.24 to 16.98 µg/mL. Biodegradable films with bio-AgNPs inhibited the growth of up to 106Salmonella isolates. Silver migration from the films to chicken was analyzed using electrothermal atomic absorption spectrophotometry, and the results showed migration values (12.94 mg/kg and 3.79 mg/kg) above the limits allowed by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) (0.05 mg/kg). Thus, it is necessary to improve the technique to avoid the migration of silver to chicken meat, since these concentrations can be harmful.
Hotspot Information Network and Domain Knowledge Graph Aggregation in Heterogeneous Network for Literature Recommendation
Authors: Chen Wei , Zhang Yihao , Xian Yantuan , Wen Yonghua
Published: January 2023

Tremendous academic articles face serious information overload problems while supporting literature searches. Finding a research article in a relevant domain that meets researchers’ requirements is challenging. Hence, different paper recommendation models have been proposed to address this issue. However, these models lack a more comprehensive analysis of the connections between the literature, the domain knowledge provided, and the hotspot information expressed in the literature. Previous models make it impossible to locate the appropriate documents for domain literature. Additionally, these models encounter problems such as cold start papers and data sparsity. To overcome these problems, this paper presents a recommendation model termed PRHN. Inputs of the model are the hotspot information network and the domain knowledge graph, which both were developed during the preceding research phase. After the query terms are extracted and the associated heterogeneous literature networks are formed, they are aggregated in a uniform hidden space. Similarity with the candidate set is determined to transform the search problem into a TOP N recommendation problem. Compared to state-of-the-art models, results generated by PRHN on public available datasets show improvement in HR and NDCG. Concretely, results on the metallurgical literature dataset are more conspicuous, with more remarkable improvement in HR and NGCC by approximately 4.5% and 4.2%.
Investigation of Cutting Path Effect on Spindle Vibration and AE Signal Features for Tool Wear Monitoring in Micro Milling
Authors: Huang Ci-Rong , Lu Ming-Chyuan
Published: January 2023

In the development of a tool wear monitoring system in milling, the complex cutting path always brings challenges to the system’s reliability in the production line. The cutting path effect on the acoustic emission (AE) and vibration signals during the micro milling processes was investigated in this study by implementing three types of cutting paths in a micro milling experiment. To generate the data for analysis, an experiment was conducted on a micro milling research platform using an AE sensor and an accelerometer installed on a fixture attached to the spindle housing. To demonstrate the effect of the cutting path on the performance in the monitoring of tool wear, a simple linear classifier is proposed, along with the signal features generated from the different signal lengths and the bandwidth size in the frequency domain. The results show that the signal features generated from the cutting of a straight line, the corner of the square path, and the circle path are different from each other. The increase in the signal length to generate features, which will reduce the corner effect, could improve the performance of the developed monitoring system. However, the results suggest that avoiding the complex cutting path for feature generation might be a better strategy for developing a micro milling tool wear monitoring system.
Enhancing the UV Response of All-Inorganic Perovskite Photodetectors by Introducing the Mist-CVD-Grown Gallium Oxide Layer
Authors: Zhang Zeyulin , Ba Yanshuang , Chen Dazheng , Yan Pengru , Song Qingwen , Zhang Yuming , Zhu Weidong , Zhang Chunfu , Hao Yue
Published: January 2023

All-inorganic perovskites, with their low-cost, simple processes and superior heat stability, have become potential candidate materials for photodetectors (PDs). However, they have no representative responsivity in the deep-ultraviolet (UV) wavelength region. As a new-generation semiconductor, gallium oxide (Ga2O3), which has an ultrawide bandgap, is appropriate for solar-blind (200 nm–280 nm) deep-UV detection. In this work, ultrawide-bandgap Ga2O3 was introduced into an inorganic perovskite device with a structure of sapphire/β-Ga2O3/Indium Zinc Oxide (IZO)/CsPbBr3. The performance of this perovskite PD was obviously enhanced in the deep UV region. A low-cost, vacuum-free Mist-CVD was used to realize the epitaxial growth of β-Ga2O3 film on sapphire. By introducing the Ga2O3 layer, the light current of this heterojunction PD was obviously enhanced from 10−8 to 10−7, which leds its detectivity (D*) to reach 1.04 × 1012 Jones under a 254 nm light illumination with an intensity of 500 μW/cm2 at a 5 V bias.
Transient Responses of Repeated Transverse Impacts on Beams
Authors: Wang Hui , Mao Shunyuan , Wu Xiaomao , Zhang Huiling
Published: January 2023

In this paper, the eigenfunction expansion method combined with local contact models are presented to analyze the repeated impact behaviors between the sphere and the beam. The simulations are verified with the experimental results of a simply-supported beam struck 91 times by a sphere. In order to clarify the validity of the eigenfunction expansion method to solve the repeated transverse impacts on beams, the simulation results of the spring-mass method are also compared with the experiments. It shows that with appropriate contact models, the eigenfunction expansion method can predict agreeable results with the experimental results, especially the impact behaviors (including the accumulated permanent indentation, the coefficient of restitution and the separation velocity of the sphere) representing energy dissipations, due to the consideration of structural vibrations, local impact behaviors, as well as the wave propagations. The comparisons between the eigenfunction expansion method and the spring-mass model show that the wave propagations are important for energy dissipations, which cannot be neglected in flexible structure impacts. The studies are important for the analysis of repeated impact response of beam structures.
Evaluating the Thermal Performance and Environmental Impact of Agricultural Greenhouses Using Earth-to-Air Heat Exchanger: An Experimental Study
Authors: Hamdane Samia , Pires Luis Carlos Carvalho , Silva Pedro Dinho , Gaspar Pedro Dinis
Published: January 2023

The thermal performance and environmental impact of agricultural greenhouses (GH) connected to earth-to-air heat exchanger (EAHE) systems depend on the ambient temperature, soil temperature, EAHE system, and greenhouse specifications. The impact of an EAHE system on the temperature and humidity of a GH microclimate, as well as its effects on CO2 emissions and heating energy consumption, are determined experimentally. Two scaled-down models of agricultural GHs (2 × 1.4 × 1.4 m3) were developed. Each GH was equipped with a heater. A spiral EAHE system was integrated into only one of the GHs. The temperature differences in the microclimate range from 3.5 °C to 7.5 °C, with the microclimates of GH + EAHE and GH being quite similar. In summary, the EAHE system helped to reduce the hourly energy consumption of the heating system by more than 40%. It also reduced emissions to the environment by more than 100 g (CO2)/hour. The EAHE coefficient of performance (COP) for the cooling mode has a higher average value than that for the heating mode. The closed-loop performed better in cooling mode, while the open-loop performed better in heating mode. When the difference between the set temperature in the heater and the air outlet temperature of the EAHE system is smaller, the heater performs better in reducing energy consumption and CO2 emissions of the heater. The COPheating range is between 0 and 3.4 and the COPcooling range is between 0.5 and 7.3. The energy consumption ranges between 0 and 1.41 kWh and the CO2 emissions are between 0 and 359.55 g. Thus, using EAHE in agricultural greenhouses improves thermal performance and reduces environmental impact, providing an overall benefit in terms of energy consumption and environmental sustainability.
Possibilities of Ultrasound Examination in the Assessment of Age-Related Changes in the Soft Tissues of the Face and Neck: A Review
Authors: Alimova Sekina , Sharobaro Valentin , Yukhno Anna , Bondarenko Elizaveta
Published: January 2023

Purpose. The ultrasound imaging of the soft tissues of the face and neck in the vertical position of the patient and determining the degree of participation of each of them in the age-related changes in the contours of the face and neck. Methods. In this review, we discuss the ultrasound anatomy of the soft tissues of the face and neck, the importance of ultrasound for planning surgical treatment, and the results of clinical studies that report ultrasound imaging of the soft tissues of the cervicofacial region. Results. Ultrasound imaging allows for the determination of the causes of age-related changes in the contours of the soft tissues of the cervicofacial region as well as determining the further tactics of surgical treatment. Ultrasound results help the plastic surgeon at all stages of treatment including intraoperative evaluation of the effectiveness of correction. Conclusions. A review of the literature has shown the need for wider use of ultrasound in aesthetic surgery as an important diagnostic procedure that should be performed with the upright position of the patient that allows for an objective assessment of the degree of participation of each of the tissues (skin, adipose tissue, muscles, submandibular salivary glands, etc.) in the formation of age-related changes in the face and neck.
Spatiotemporal Patterns of Risk Propagation in Complex Financial Networks
Authors: Chen Tingting , Li Yan , Jiang Xiongfei , Shao Lingjie
Published: January 2023

The methods of complex networks have been extensively used to characterize information flow in complex systems, such as risk propagation in complex financial networks. However, network dynamics are ignored in most cases despite systems with similar topological structures exhibiting profoundly different dynamic behaviors. To observe the spatiotemporal patterns of risk propagation in complex financial networks, we combined a dynamic model with empirical networks. Our analysis revealed that hub nodes play a dominant role in risk propagation across the network and respond rapidly, thus exhibiting a degree-driven effect. The influence of key dynamic parameters, i.e., infection rate and recovery rate, was also investigated. Furthermore, the impacts of two typical characteristics of complex financial systems—the existence of community structures and frequent large fluctuations—on the spatiotemporal patterns of risk propagation were explored. About 30% of the total risk propagation flow of each community can be explained by the top 10% nodes. Thus, we can control the risk propagation flow of each community by controlling a few influential nodes in the community and, in turn, control the whole network. In extreme market states, hub nodes become more dominant, indicating better risk control.
Investigating the Effects of Cell Size in Statistical Landslide Susceptibility Modelling for Different Landslide Typologies: A Test in Central–Northern Sicily
Authors: Martinello Chiara , Cappadonia Chiara , Rotigliano Edoardo
Published: January 2023

Optimally sizing grid cells is a relevant research issue in landslide susceptibility evaluation. In fact, the size of the adopted mapping units influences several aspects spanning from statistical (the number of positive/negative cases and prevalence and resolution/precision trade-off) and purely geomorphological (the representativeness of the mapping units and the diagnostic areas) to cartographic (the suitability of the obtained prediction images for the final users) topics. In this paper, the results of landslide susceptibility modelling in a 343 km2 catchment for three different types of landslides (rotational/translational slides, slope flows and local flows) using different pixel-size mapping units (5, 8, 10, 16 and 32 m) are compared and discussed. The obtained results show that the higher-resolution model (5 m) did not produce the best performance for any of the landslide typologies. The model with 8 m sized pixels displayed the optimal threshold size for slides and slope flows. In contrast, for local flows, an increasing trend of model prediction accuracy was reached with 32 m pixels, which was a higher value than that presented using 8 m pixels. The variable importance analysis demonstrated that the better performance of the 8 m cells was due to their effectiveness in capturing morphological conditions which favour slope instability (profile curvature and middle and high ridges).
A Simple Method to Convert Cellular Polymers into Auxetic Metamaterials
Authors: Chen Xiao Yuan , Underhill Royale S. , Rodrigue Denis
Published: January 2023

The objective of this study was to present a simple and environmentally friendly process combining low pressure (vacuum) and mechanical compression to convert low-density polyethylene (LDPE) foams into low-density foams (76–125 kg/m3) with negative tensile and compressive Poisson’s ratios (NPR). As a first step, four series of recycled LDPE foams (electronics packaging) with starting densities of 16, 21, 30 and 36 kg/m3 were used to determine the effect of different processing conditions including temperature and pressure. Based on the optimized conditions, the tensile and compressive Poisson ratios of the resulting auxetic foams reached −2.89 and −0.66, while the tensile and compressive modulus of the auxetic foams reached 40 kPa and 2.55 kPa, respectively. The foam structure of the samples was characterized via morphological analysis and was related to the mechanical properties before and after the treatment (i.e., foams with positive and negative Poisson’s ratios). The tensile and compressive properties (Young’s modulus, strain energy, energy dissipation and damping capacity) for these auxetic foams were also discussed and were shown to be highly improved. These auxetic foams can be applied in sports and military protective equipment. To the best of our knowledge, there is only one report on vacuum being used for the production of auxetic foams.
Optimal Lane Change Path Planning Based on the NSGA-II and TOPSIS Algorithms
Authors: Wang Dongyi , Wang Guoli , Wang Hang
Published: January 2023

Among so many autonomous driving technologies, autonomous lane changing is an important application scenario, which has been gaining increasing amounts of attention from both industry and academic communities because it can effectively reduce traffic congestion and improve road safety. However, most of the existing researchers transform the multi-objective optimization problem of lane changing trajectory into a single objective problem, but how to determine the weight of the objective function is relatively fuzzy. Therefore, an optimization method based on the combination of the Non-Dominated Sorting Genetic Algorithm II (NSGA-II) and the Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS), which provides a new idea for solving the multi-objective optimization problem of lane change trajectory algorithm, is proposed in this paper. Firstly, considering the constraints of lane changing and combining with the collision detection algorithm, the feasible lane changing trajectory cluster is obtained based on the quintic polynomial. In order to ensure the comfort, stability and high efficiency of the lane changing process, the NSGA-II Algorithm is used to optimize the longitudinal displacement and time of lane changing. The continuous ordered weighted averaging (COWA) operator is introduced to calculate the weights of three objective optimization functions. Finally, the TOPSIS Algorithm is applied to obtain the optimal lane change trajectory. The simulations are conducted, and the results demonstrate that the proposed method can generate a satisfactory trajectory for automatic lane changing actions.
The Infantile Amnesia Phenomenon and the Beginning of Autobiographical Memories
Authors: Occhionero Miranda , Tonetti Lorenzo , Giovagnoli Sara , Natale Vincenzo
Published: January 2023

The first years of life are characterized by an absence or paucity of memories, a condition known as infantile amnesia (IA). This study examines the distribution of the early memory recall of young adults, considering the distinction between the first (0–3) and the second (4–6) epoch of IA. We used five categories to classify memories: Perceptual-Visual Fragment, General Semantic Memory, Episodic Fragment, Repeated Episode, Single Episode. Fifty-five students (20 males; mean age = 20.85) were asked to remember their earliest events. We were also interested in understanding the presence of content features. Remembering at first epoch were low; in the second epoch, the frequency of memory increased. Results showed as the presence and number of different types of memory decrease the likelihood of memory being structured as episodic. The participants reported more elements of perceptual-visual fragments, episodic fragments, semantic memories, or repeated events when a well-organized episodic memory does not emerge. These results suggest that the episodic system assumes the role of organizer of the experience and becomes the most relevant form of memory with respect a less structured form of partial remembering. Significant differences were observed in the content features of the different memory types. The offset of IA has a complex articulation, and the complete episodic memories are the last step in the different development stages.
Experimental Evaluation of the Factors That Influence Cylindrical Water Projection Devices against IEDs
Authors: Ródenas-García José F. , Otón-Martínez Ramón A. , Sancho-Val Joaquín , de Francisco Ortiz Oscar , Jiménez Pacheco Roberto , Gil Garnacho Iván
Published: January 2023

Terrorists usually employ Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) to cause maximum damage with a single action, in asymmetric war scenarios. In the counter-terrorism fight, bomb disposal specialists have to combat these instruments by safeguarding their lives, avoiding fortuitous IED explosion, and preserving evidence of the device that could lead to the capture of the perpetrators. Some very effective deactivation tools that combine these features are high-speed water-explosive projection devices. To understand and quantify the impacts of the many factors that intervene in their operation and effectiveness, extensive experimental tests should be conducted. However, Operations Research techniques allow robust results to be obtained by minimizing experiments. This study focuses on the use of Design of Experiments (DoE), with a factorial experiment plan divided into two levels, to analyze the influence of the amount of explosive, the diameter of the device (that is, the mass of water to be projected), the density of the water, the distance at which the IED is located, and the resistance of the inner tube material. Results show that the mass of explosive, the diameter of the device, the interaction of the mass of explosive and the density of the water, and the interaction between the resistance of the inner tube and the diameter of the container have a strong influence on the speed of projected water.
Fault Location Method of Multi-Terminal Transmission Line Based on Fault Branch Judgment Matrix
Authors: Yang Yongsheng , Zhang Qi , Wang Minzhen , Wang Xinheng , Qi Entie
Published: January 2023

Aiming at the difficulty of fault location of multi-source transmission lines, this paper proposes a fault location method for multi-terminal transmission lines based on a fault branch judgment matrix. The fault traveling wave signal is decomposed by Complete Ensemble Empirical Mode Decomposition with Adaptive Noise (CEEMDAN), and the IMFs sensitive components that can characterize the fault characteristics of the target signals are selected by constructing a correlation-rearrangement entropy function. The arrival time of fault signals at the endpoint has been accurately calibrated by combining them with the Teager Energy Operator (TEO). To eliminate the influence of wave velocity and fault time on the location results, this paper proposes a two-terminal location method based on the line mode component to improve the location accuracy. On this basis, combined with the fault branch judgment matrix, the accurate location of multi-terminal transmission line faults is realized. This method has been shown to have high accuracy in detecting traveling wave heads, accurately judging fault branches, and producing a small error in fault location results. Compared with the existing multi-terminal transmission line fault location algorithm, it has obvious advantages and meets the needs of actual working conditions.
A Framework for Attribute-Based Access Control in Processing Big Data with Multiple Sensitivities
Authors: Tall Anne M. , Zou Cliff C.
Published: January 2023

There is an increasing demand for processing large volumes of unstructured data for a wide variety of applications. However, protection measures for these big data sets are still in their infancy, which could lead to significant security and privacy issues. Attribute-based access control (ABAC) provides a dynamic and flexible solution that is effective for mediating access. We analyzed and implemented a prototype application of ABAC to large dataset processing in Amazon Web Services, using open-source versions of Apache Hadoop, Ranger, and Atlas. The Hadoop ecosystem is one of the most popular frameworks for large dataset processing and storage and is adopted by major cloud service providers. We conducted a rigorous analysis of cybersecurity in implementing ABAC policies in Hadoop, including developing a synthetic dataset of information at multiple sensitivity levels that realistically represents healthcare and connected social media data. We then developed Apache Spark programs that extract, connect, and transform data in a manner representative of a realistic use case. Our result is a framework for securing big data. Applying this framework ensures that serious cybersecurity concerns are addressed. We provide details of our analysis and experimentation code in a GitHub repository for further research by the community.
Analysis of Optimal Shift Pattern Based on Continuously Variable Transmission of Electric Vehicle for Improving Driving Distance
Authors: Kim Wootaek , Kim Daekuk , Lee Dokyeong , Moon Iljoo , Lee Jinwook
Published: January 2023

Extending the maximum driving distance of an electric vehicle would be beneficial given these vehicles’ long charging time and limited battery capacity and to improve electricity consumption. Research on the optimal development of the powertrain is essential because the efficiency of an electric motor varies according to the operating point. In this study, we developed a simulation analysis model with a continuously variable transmission. based on the commercial electric vehicle (Company B) model and using actual vehicle driving data supplied by the Argonne National Laboratory. The shift pattern of the continuously variable transmission was then optimized by considering the change in the operating point, constant motor output area, and transmission response speed. In addition, a performance comparison was made using the model with a single reducer. The results obtained by this study showed that electronic economy improved by approximately 5% when the continuously variable transmission was applied through the combined driving simulation. Furthermore, the time taken to accelerate 0–100 km/h and 80–120 km/h reduced by 15% and 6%, respectively. The maximum driving distance on a single charge improved by 7 km. It was confirmed that the driving performance of an EV with continuously variable transmission could be improved by downsizing the electric motor to reduce manufacturing costs.