bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Bone Anomaly Detection by Extracting Regions of Interest and Convolutional Neural Networks
Authors: Meqdad Maytham N. , Rauf Hafiz Tayyab , Kadry Seifedine
Published: February 2023

The most suitable method for assessing bone age is to check the degree of maturation of the ossification centers in the radiograph images of the left wrist. So, a lot of effort has been made to help radiologists and provide reliable automated methods using these images. This study designs and tests Alexnet and GoogLeNet methods and a new architecture to assess bone age. All these methods are implemented fully automatically on the DHA dataset including 1400 wrist images of healthy children aged 0 to 18 years from Asian, Hispanic, Black, and Caucasian races. For this purpose, the images are first segmented, and 4 different regions of the images are then separated. Bone age in each region is assessed by a separate network whose architecture is new and obtained by trial and error. The final assessment of bone age is performed by an ensemble based on the Average algorithm between 4 CNN models. In the section on results and model evaluation, various tests are performed, including pre-trained network tests. The better performance of the designed system compared to other methods is confirmed by the results of all tests. The proposed method achieves an accuracy of 83.4% and an average error rate of 0.1%.
Vitamin D Ameliorates the Hepatic Oxidative Damage and Fibrotic Effect Caused by Thioacetamide in Rats
Authors: Megahed Aya , Gadalla Hossam , Abdelhamid Fatma M. , Almehmadi Samah J. , Khan Anmar A. , Albukhari Talat A. , Risha Engy F.
Published: February 2023

Vitamin D3 (VD3) is a sunshine hormone that regulates cellular proliferation, differentiation, apoptosis, and angiogenesis related to liver parenchyma. We used a thioacetamide (TAA)-induced hepatic fibrosis rat model in our study to investigate the beneficial roles of VD3 to overcome extensive liver fibrosis. Randomly, four equal groups (eight rats per group) underwent therapy for eight successive weeks: a control group, a group treated with TAA 100 mg/kg BW IP every other day, a group treated with VD3 1000 IU/kg BW IM every day, and a TAA+VD group treated with both therapies. Treatment with VD3 after TAA-induced hepatic fibrosis was found to alleviate elevated liver function measures by decreasing ALT, AST, and ALP activity; decreasing total bilirubin, direct bilirubin, cholesterol, and triglyceride levels; and increasing glucose and 25[OH]D3. Rats treated with VD3 showed marked decreases in MDA and increased SOD, CAT, and GSH levels. In addition, CD34 and FGF23 gene expressions were reduced after dual therapy. Liver sections from the TAA+VD group showed markedly decreased hepatic lesions, and Masson’s trichrome stain showed a marked decrease in dense bluish-stained fibrous tissue. The immunohistochemical expression of TGF-β and α-SMA showed markedly decreased positive brown cytoplasmic expression in a few hepatocytes, clarifying the antifibrotic effect of VD3 in hepatic fibrosis. In conclusion, VD3 alleviates hepatotoxicity and fibrosis caused by TAA.
Melatonin Supplement Plus Exercise Effectively Counteracts the Challenges of Isoproterenol-Induced Cardiac Injury in Rats
Authors: Rahman Md. Mahbubur , Yang Dong Kwon
Published: February 2023

To explore the combined effects of exercise and melatonin supplement against the challenges of isoproterenol-induced cardiac oxidative stress and injury in rats., the expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma co-activator-1α (PGC-1α), mitochondrial biogenesis, and adenosine triphosphate (ATP) was up-regulated in cardiac muscle in normal rats and in a melatonin and exercise regimented group. Cardiac injury was induced by two subcutaneous injections of isoproterenol in the rats. The combination of exercise and melatonin supplement successfully counteracted the isoproterenol-induced cardiac injury, which is reflected by the improved hemodynamic parameters, reduction in oxidative stress markers, and cardiac injury serum markers (cardiac troponin-I and creatine kinase-MB). The cardiac tissue level of ATP, expression of PGC-1α and mitochondrial biogenesis-related genes, mitochondrial membrane potential, and the activities of typical antioxidants (glutathione, superoxide dismutase) were preserved, whereas the levels of reactive oxygen species, lipid peroxidation, and inflammatory cytokines were suppressed in the melatonin and exercise regimented (MEI) group compared to the group treated with isoproterenol alone. Furthermore, the expression of endoplasmic reticular stress- and apoptosis-related proteins (Bax, Bcl2, and caspase-3) was also effectively suppressed in the MEI group. Therefore, the present study suggests that melatonin supplement in combination with exercise prevents cardiac injury, possibly through the preservation of mitochondrial function and inhibition of oxidative stress in rats.
Red Ginger Extract Prevents the Development of Oxaliplatin-Induced Neuropathic Pain by Inhibiting the Spinal Noradrenergic System in Mice
Authors: Park Keun-Tae , Jo Heejoon , Kim Bonglee , Kim Woojin
Published: February 2023

Oxaliplatin is a well-known chemotherapeutic drug that is widely used to treat colorectal cancer. However, it can induce acute side effects in up to 90% of patients. Serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) are used as first-choice drugs; however, even SNRIs are known to be effective only in treatment and not for prevention. Therefore, finding a drug that can prevent the development of cold and mechanical forms of allodynia induced by oxaliplatin is needed. This study demonstrated that multiple oral administrations of 100 mg/kg and 300 mg/kg of red ginger extract could significantly prevent pain development in mice. The role of the noradrenergic system was investigated as an underlying mechanism of action. Both the spinal α1- and α2-adrenergic receptors were significantly downregulated after treatment. Furthermore, the noradrenaline levels in the serum and spinal cord were upregulated and downregulated after treatment with paclitaxel and red ginger, respectively. As the active sub-component of red ginger, ginsenoside Rg3 (Rg3) was identified and quantified using HPLC. Moreover, multiple intraperitoneal injections of Rg3 prevented the development of pain in paclitaxel-treated mice, suggesting that RG3 may induce the effect of red ginger extract.
Effect of Wettability and Adhesion Property of Solid Margins on Water Drainage
Authors: Gao Can , Jiang Lei , Dong Zhichao
Published: February 2023

Liquid flows at the solid surface and drains at the margin under gravity are ubiquitous in our daily lives. Previous research mainly focuses on the effect of substantial margin’s wettability on liquid pinning and has proved that hydrophobicity inhibits liquids from overflowing margins while hydrophilicity plays the opposite role. However, the effect of solid margins’ adhesion properties and their synergy with wettability on the overflowing behavior of water and resultant drainage behaviors are rarely studied, especially for large-volume water accumulation on the solid surface. Here, we report the solid surfaces with high-adhesion hydrophilic margin and hydrophobic margin stably pin the air-water-solid triple contact lines at the solid bottom and solid margin, respectively, and then drain water faster through stable water channels termed water channel-based drainage over a wide range of water flow rates. The hydrophilic margin promotes the overflowing of water from top to bottom. It constructs a stable “top + margin + bottom” water channel, and a high-adhesion hydrophobic margin inhibits the overflowing from margin to bottom and constructs a stable “top + margin” water channel. The constructed water channels essentially decrease marginal capillary resistances, guide top water onto the bottom or margin, and assist in draining water faster, under which gravity readily overcomes the surface tension resistance. Consequently, the water channel-based drainage mode achieves 5–8 times faster drainage behavior than the no-water channel drainage mode. The theoretical force analysis also predicts the experimental drainage volumes for different drainage modes. Overall, this article reveals marginal adhesion and wettability-dependent drainage modes and provides motivations for drainage plane design and relevant dynamic liquid-solid interaction for various applications.
Design and Biomimicry: A Review of Interconnections and Creative Potentials
Authors: Sá Alice Araujo Marques de , Viana Dianne Magalhães
Published: February 2023

The study and application of biological knowledge favor the creation of innovative projects in several areas, so it is necessary to better understand the use of these resources specifically in the field of design. Thus, a systematic review was undertaken to identify, describe, and analyze the contributions of biomimicry to design. For this purpose, the integrative systematic review model, called the Theory of Consolidated Meta-Analytical Approach, was used, carrying out a search on the Web of Science with the descriptors “design” and “biomimicry”. For the period from 1991 to 2021, 196 publications were retrieved. The results were organized according to areas of knowledge, countries, journals, institutions, authors, and years. Citation, co-citation, and bibliographic coupling analyses were also performed. The investigation highlighted the following research emphases: the conception of products, buildings, and environments; the exploration of natural structures and systems to create materials and technologies; the use of biomimetic creative tools in product design; and projects focused on saving resources and implementing sustainability. It was noted that there was a tendency for authors to adopt a problem-based approach. It was concluded that the study of biomimicry can stimulate the development of multiple skills in design, improving creativity, and enhancing the potential integration of sustainability into production cycles.
Tribological Behavior of Bioinspired Surfaces
Authors: Sharma Sachin Kumar , Grewal Harpreet Singh
Published: February 2023

Energy losses due to various tribological phenomena pose a significant challenge to sustainable development. These energy losses also contribute toward increased emissions of greenhouse gases. Various attempts have been made to reduce energy consumption through the use of various surface engineering solutions. The bioinspired surfaces can provide a sustainable solution to address these tribological challenges by minimizing friction and wear. The current study majorly focuses on the recent advancements in the tribological behavior of bioinspired surfaces and bio-inspired materials. The miniaturization of technological devices has increased the need to understand micro- and nano-scale tribological behavior, which could significantly reduce energy wastage and material degradation. Integrating advanced research methods is crucial in developing new aspects of structures and characteristics of biological materials. Depending upon the interaction of the species with the surrounding, the present study is divided into segments depicting the tribological behavior of the biological surfaces inspired by animals and plants. The mimicking of bio-inspired surfaces resulted in significant noise, friction, and drag reduction, promoting the development of anti-wear and anti-adhesion surfaces. Along with the reduction in friction through the bioinspired surface, a few studies providing evidence for the enhancement in the frictional properties were also depicted.
Structural Insights into Plasticity and Discovery of Flavonoid Allosteric Inhibitors of Flavivirus NS2B–NS3 Protease
Authors: Saivish Marielena Vogel , Menezes Gabriela de Lima , Costa Vivaldo Gomes da , Nebo Liliane , Silva Gislaine Celestino Dutra da , Pacca Carolina Colombelli , Marques Rafael Elias , Nogueira Maurício Lacerda , Da Silva Roosevelt Alves
Published: February 2023

Flaviviruses are among the most critical pathogens in tropical regions; they cause various severe diseases in developing countries but are not restricted to these countries. The development of antiviral therapeutics is crucial for managing flavivirus outbreaks. Ten proteins are encoded in the flavivirus RNA. The N2B–NS3pro protein complex plays a fundamental role in flavivirus replication and is a promising drug target; however, no flavivirus protease inhibitors have progressed to the preclinical stage. This study analyzed the structural models and plasticity of the NS2B–NS3pro protein complex of five medically important non-dengue flaviviruses (West Nile, Rocio, Ilhéus, yellow fever, and Saint Louis encephalitis). The flavonoids amentoflavone, tetrahydrorobustaflavone, and quercetin were selected for their exceptional binding energies as potential inhibitors of the NS2B–NS3pro protein complex. AutoDock Vina results ranged from −7.0 kcal/mol to −11.5 kcal/mol and the compounds preferentially acted non-competitively. Additionally, the first structural model for the NS2B–NS3pro protein complex was proposed for Ilhéus and Rocio viruses. The NS2B–NS3pro protease is an attractive molecular target for drug development. The three identified natural flavonoids showed great inhibitory potential against the viral species. Nevertheless, further in silico and in vitro studies are required to obtain more information regarding NS2B–NS3pro inhibition by these flavonoids and their therapeutic potential.
3D Printing Ceramics—Materials for Direct Extrusion Process
Authors: Romanczuk-Ruszuk Eliza , Sztorch Bogna , Pakuła Daria , Gabriel Ewa , Nowak Krzysztof , Przekop Robert E.
Published: February 2023

Additive manufacturing and 3D printing methods based on the extrusion of material have become very popular in recent years. There are many methods of printing ceramics, but the direct extrusion method gives the largest range of sizes of printed objects and enables scaling of processes also in large-scale applications. Additionally, the application of this method to ceramic materials is of particular importance due to its low cost, ease of use, and high material utilization. The paper presents the most important literature reports on ceramics printed by direct extrusion. The review includes articles written in English and published between 2017 and 2022. The aim of this literature review was to present the main groups of ceramic materials produced by extrusion-based 3D printing.
Microstructure, Process Optimization, and Strength Response Modelling of Green-Aluminium-6061 Composite as Automobile Material
Authors: Akinwande Abayomi Adewale , Adesina Olanrewaju Seun , Adediran Adeolu Adesoji , Balogun Oluwatosin Abiodun , Mukuro David , Balogun Oluwayomi Peter , Tee Kong Fah , Kumar M. Saravana
Published: February 2023

The use of ashes derived from various waste sources as supplements to synthesized ceramic reinforcement in metal matrices has been established. However, studies involving a combination of particulates from three different sources are rare. In a bid to further knowledge in this aspect of research and develop a green aluminium composite for automobile applications, the present investigation studied the implication of adding palm kernel shell ash (PKA), rice husk ash (RHA), and waste steel particles (STP) to the morphology and strength behaviour of Al-6061-T6 alloy. The experimental design was undertaken via the Box–Behnken design (BBD) of the response surface method. A 4% STP at a constant dose was mixed with PKA and RHA at varying proportions and stirring temperatures according to the BBD. The experimental outcome revealed that the responses were greatly influenced by microstructural evolution. From the surface plots, 2–4% RHA and PKA enhanced tensile and flexural strengths, while 4–6% led to a decline in strength. Meanwhile, 2–6% of the particles are favourable to the enhancement of tensile and compressive strengths and moduli. Temperatures between 700 and 800 °C favored response improvement, whereas temperatures between 800 and 900 °C were detrimental to responses. Developed regression models for the responses were validated to be good representations of the experimental outcomes. The optimum mix was obtained at 4.81% PKA, 5.41% RHA, and a stirring temperature of 803 °C. The validation experiment conducted portrayed reliable responses with <5% deviation from the predicted values, thereby certifying the models to be statistically fit for future predictions.
Ultrasound-Assisted Encapsulation of Citronella Oil in Alginate/Carrageenan Beads: Characterization and Kinetic Models
Authors: Prasetyaningrum Aji , Wicaksono Bangkit Suryo , Hakiim Azafilmi , Ashianti Aulia Dwi , Manalu Sadrakh Farel Christian , Rokhati Nur , Utomo Dani Puji , Djaeni Mohammad
Published: February 2023

The objective of this research was to investigate the effect of ultrasonication on citronella oil encapsulation using alginate/carrageenan (Alg/Carr) in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS). The functional groups of microparticles were characterized using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and the beads’ morphologies were observed using a scanning electron microscope (SEM). The FTIR results showed that the ultrasonication process caused the C-H bonds (1426 cm−1) to break down, resulting in polymer degradation. The SEM results showed that the ultrasonication caused the presence of cavities or pores in the cracked wall and a decrease in the beads’ size. In this study, the use of ultrasound during the encapsulation of citronella oil in Alg/Carr enhanced the encapsulation efficiency up to 95–97%. The kinetic evaluation of the oil release of the beads treated with ultrasound (UTS) showed a higher k1 value of the Ritger–Peppas model than that without ultrasonication (non-UTS), indicating that the oil release rate from the beads was faster. The R/F value from the Peppas–Sahlin model of the beads treated with UTS was smaller than that of the non-UTS model, revealing that the release of bioactive compounds from the UTS-treated beads was diffusion-controlled rather than due to a relaxation mechanism. This study suggests the potential utilization of UTS for controlling the bioactive compound release rate.
Health Behavior and Social-Emotional Health Status of School-Aged Children According to their Experience with Atopic Dermatitis Diagnosis: Based on the 12th (2019) Panel Study on Korean Children
Authors: Kum Da-Jeong , Bang Kyung-Sook
Published: February 2023

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic inflammatory skin disease that is common in children and is increasing worldwide. This study aimed to identify differences in children’s health behavior and social-emotional health status based on AD diagnosis at late school age. For this purpose, we conducted a descriptive survey using the 12th Panel Study on Korean Children data obtained in 2019. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, the Rao–Scott χ2 test, and a t-test using a complex sample analysis. A total of 1412 11-year-old Korean children participated in the study, of whom an estimated 8.2% were diagnosed with AD. In the children diagnosed with AD, the transition from exclusive breastfeeding to mixed feeding was later than that in children without AD (F = 5.71, p = 0.024), and the prevalence of AD in their parents was higher (F = 6.97, p = 0.014). Regarding health behaviors, the children diagnosed with AD had a higher intake frequency of protein (F = 5.41, p = 0.028) and vegetables (F = 6.09, p = 0.020). Regarding social-emotional health, subjective health status (F = 3.94, p = 0.026) and friend relationships (F = 2.95, p = 0.007) were lower in the children diagnosed with AD. These results, as preliminary data for interventions for school-aged children with AD, suggest that the difficulties of children’s peer relationships should be considered and dealt with in further interventions.
Myrrh Essential Oil Mitigates Renal Ischemia/Reperfusion-Induced Injury
Authors: Younis Nancy S.
Published: February 2023

Background: Ischemia/reperfusion (I/R)-induced renal injury is a common reason for kidney injury in clinical settings; therefore, continuous investigation of novel nephroprotective agents is crucial. Myrrh, the oleoresin exudates generated by the genus Commiphora, display numerous pharmacological actions. This study tried to assess the preventive effects of myrrh essential oil against I/R-induced renal damage. Methods: Rats were randomized into five groups. In the sham group, the animals were subjected to bilateral renal artery separation with no occlusion. In the sham + myrrh group; the rats were administered myrrh essential oil and then treated similarly to the sham group. Renal I/R group: the animals were challenged with renal I/R. In the myrrh + renal I/R groups, rats were administered 50 or 100 mg/kg of myrrh essential oil orally for three weeks before being confronted with I/R. Results: Serum levels of renal function tests and renal injury biomarkers, including NGAL, KIM-1, and CysC, were amplified in the renal I/R group. Animals that experienced renal I/R exhibited elevated lipid peroxidation (MDA); declined SOD, CAT, and GPx activity; declined GSH content; augmented TLR4/NFκB gene expression; and subsequent enhancement of inflammatory mediators (TNF-α, IFN-γ, IL-1β, and IL-6). Myrrh reduced renal function tests and injury biomarkers and amended renal histological alterations. Pretreatment with myrrh reduced MDA, elevated the antioxidant enzymes’ activities and GSH content, and reduced the TLR4 and NFκB gene expression, leading to subsequent inflammation and apoptosis alleviation. Conclusions: The outcomes of the present investigation established the protective effect of myrrh essential oil against renal I/R via pointing out the antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-apoptotic effects of myrrh.
Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer Immunotherapy and Sleep Characteristics: The Crossroad for Optimal Survival
Authors: Zarogoulidis Paul , Petridis Dimitrios , Kosmidis Christoforos , Sapalidis Konstantinos , Nena Lila , Matthaios Dimitris , Papadopoulos Vasilis , Perdikouri Eleni Isidora , Porpodis Konstantinos , Kakavelas Paschalis , Steiropoulos Paschalis
Published: February 2023

Introduction: Non-small-cell lung cancer is still diagnosed at an inoperable stage and systematic treatment is the only option. Immunotherapy is currently considered to be the tip of the arrow as the first-line treatment for patients with a programmed death-ligand 1 ≥ 50. Sleep is known to be an essential part of our everyday life. Patients and Methods: We investigated, upon diagnosis and after nine months, 49 non-small-cell lung cancer patients undergoing immunotherapy treatment with nivolumab and pemprolisumab. A polysomnographic examination was conducted. Moreover, the patients completed the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS), the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), the Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS) and the Medical Research Council (MRC) dyspnea scale. Results: Tukey mean-difference plots, summary statistics, and the results of paired t-test of five questionnaire responses in accordance with the PD-L1 test across groups were examined. The results indicated that, upon diagnosis, patients had sleep disturbances which were not associated with brain metastases or their PD-L1 expression status. However, the PD-L1 status and disease control were strongly associated, since a PD-L1 ≥80 improved the disease status within the first 4 months. All data from the sleep questionnaires and polysomnography reports indicated that the majority of patients with a partial response and complete response had their initial sleep disturbances improved. There was no connection between nivolumab or pembrolisumab and sleep disturbances. Conclusion: Upon diagnosis, lung cancer patients have sleep disorders such as anxiety, early morning wakening, late sleep onset, prolonged nocturnal waking periods, daytime sleepiness, and unrefreshing sleep. However, these symptoms tend to improve very quickly for patients with a PD-L1 expression ≥80, because disease status improves also very quickly within the first 4 months of treatment.
Carbon Capture Utilisation and Storage in Extractive Industries for Methanol Production
Authors: Peppas Antonis , Kottaridis Sotiris , Politi Chrysa , Angelopoulos Panagiotis M.
Published: February 2023

The elevated increase of CO2 emissions related to activities of the extractive industry is becoming a challenging issue gradually affecting climate change and global warming. In this frame, the effective utilisation of CO2 through the techniques of Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) as well as Carbon Capture and Utilisation (CCU) can alleviate the greenhouse effect. Converting CO2 into a value-added chemical or liquid fuel (e.g., methanol, hydrocarbons, propylene, dimethyl ether, ethylene, etc.) is a promising approach in this regard. Methanol (MeOH) synthesis offers a key feedstock for industries, being both an industrial commodity for several chemical products and an efficient transportation fuel. This article presents a review of the CCS and CCU technologies for the production of MeOH in extractive industries. The CCS technologies investigated in this framework are the amine-based absorption and the WGS-enhanced CCS. The CCU technologies are CO2 hydrogenation and enhanced CO2 transformation by the Fischer-Tropsch reaction. Incorporating these systems for the processing of the flue-gases of the extractive industries significantly reduces the CO2 emissions, while creating new revenues by the production of valuable MeOH.
Effects of Low-Temperature and Low-Salt Fermentation on the Physicochemical Properties and Volatile Flavor Substances of Chinese Kohlrabi Using Gas Chromatography–Ion Mobility Spectrometry
Authors: Chen Hongfan , Nie Xin , Peng Tao , Xiang Lu , Liu Dayu , Luo Huailiang , Zhao Zhiping
Published: February 2023

To explore the effect of low-temperature and low-salt fermentation on the volatile flavor substances of Chinese kohlrabi, low-temperature and low-salt fermented Chinese kohlrabi (LSCK) and traditional high-salt fermented Chinese kohlrabi (HSCK) were produced. The physicochemical and texture properties of the two kinds of Chinese kohlrabies were evaluated. Headspace gas chromatography-ion mobility spectrometry (GC-IMS) and electronic nose (E-nose) were used to analyze the volatile flavor substances of the kohlrabi. The results showed that the total acid content significantly decreased (p < 0.05), while protein and reducing sugar contents significantly increased (p < 0.05) by low-temperature and low-salt fermentation. A total of 114 volatile flavor substances were identified. The alcohol, ketone, pyrazine, ether, and nitrile contents in LSCK were significantly higher than those in HSCK (p < 0.05). Moreover, the unpleasant flavor from the 3-methylbutyric acid formation was effectively depressed in LSCK. The principal component analysis (PCA) and orthogonal partial least squares discrimination analysis (OPLS-DA) models established by multivariate statistical analysis significantly distinguished the two types of kohlrabies. Multivariate statistical analysis suggested that 16 volatile flavor substances with VIP >1, including tetrahydrothiophene, ethyl 3-(methylthio)propanoate, 3-methylbutyric acid, hexanenitrile, and 3-methyl-3-buten-1-ol, could be used as potential biomarkers for identifying LSCK and HSCK. The E-nose analysis further demonstrated that there was a significant difference in overall flavor between the LSCK and HSCK. The present study provides support for the development of green processing technology and new low-salt Chinese kohlrabi products.
Fire Safety Index for High-Rise Buildings in the Emirate of Sharjah, UAE
Authors: Omar Musab , Mahmoud Abdelgadir , Aziz Sa’ardin Bin Abdul
Published: February 2023

The purpose of this paper was to develop a fire index system for measuring the compliance of high-rise residential buildings with fire requirements in the Emirate of Sharjah, and also to develop an index system for measuring the fire response efficiency, which is linked the two indexes, and the higher the compliance rate, the greater chance of a successful response. The two systems depend on the automation of the firefighting system management processes using the techniques of the fourth industrial revolution, and they were developed based on consultation with subject matter experts in the field and used multiple methods, such as the analytic hierarchy process, failure mode effect, criticality analysis, and Delphi techniques. The main criteria of the indexes were identified as the fire risk assessment, fire suppression system, fire accident management, fire alarm system, fire extinguisher, employees, residents, service rooms, lifts, gas connections, waste, housekeeping, and evacuation facilities. Each main criterium was detailed in the sub-criteria and weighted to achieve the index for each sub-criteria based on the fire legislation in UAE, the fire response index (developed based on the high-rise building fire index), the category of the building in terms of floor numbers, and the distance between building and the fire station. The two index systems can contribute to improving emergency preparedness in high-rise residential buildings in the Emirate of Sharjah and are also considered as measurement indexes for compliance with fire requirements in the Emirate of Sharjah.
Editorial for Special Issue: “Tourism Forecasting: Time-Series Analysis of World and Regional Data”
Authors: Teixeira João Paulo , Gunter Ulrich
Published: February 2023

This Special Issue was honored with six contribution papers embracing the subject of tourism forecasting [...]
Dynamics of Nonlinear Optics with Different Analytical Approaches
Authors: Ullah Naeem , Asjad Muhammad Imran , Almusawa Musawa Yahya , Eldin Sayed M.
Published: February 2023

In this article, we investigate novel optical solitons solutions for the Lakshmanan–Porsezian–Daniel (LPD) equation, along with group velocity dispersion and spatio-temporal dispersion, via three altered analytical techniques. A variety of bright, singular, dark, periodic singular, and kink solitons solutions are constructed via the Kudryashov method, the generalized tanh method and the Sardar-subequation method. The dynamical behavior of the extracted solutions is demonstrated in graphical form such as 3D plots, 2D plots, and contour plots. The originality of the obtained solutions is recognized by comparison with each other and solutions previously stated in the literature for the LPD model, which displays the efficiency of the methods under consideration.
Time-Gated Pulsed Raman Spectroscopy with NS Laser for Cultural Heritage
Authors: Bai Xueshi , Detalle Vincent
Published: February 2023

Raman spectroscopy, a non-destructive reference technique, is used in heritage science to directly identify materials like pigments, minerals, or binding media. However, depending on the material, the laser source can induce a strong fluorescence signal that may mask the Raman signal during spectral detection. This photo-induced effect can prevent the detection of a Raman peak. A pulsed Raman spectroscopy, using a time-gated detection and pulsed laser, is proven capable of rejecting the fluorescence background and working with the environmental light, which makes Raman spectroscopy more adapted for in situ applications. In this paper, we investigated how an ns pulsed laser can be an excitation source of Raman spectroscopy by focusing on different parameters of laser excitation and collection. With proper implementation, this pulsed Raman technique can be used for cultural heritage with an ns pulsed laser for the first time.
Investigation of Color and Bioactive Compounds of Different Colors from Pansy (Viola × wittrockiana Gams.) Dried in Hot Air Dryer
Authors: Hazar Deniz , Boyar Ismail , Dincer Cuneyt , Ertekin Can
Published: February 2023

The popularity of edible flowers is increasing day by day and new solutions are sought due to their short shelf life. For this purpose, in this study, four different colors of Viola × wittrockiana Gams.; white (Fino Clear White), orange (Delta Pure Orange), bordeaux/mauve rose (Mammoth Rocky Rose), and yellow (Delta Premium Pure Lemon) flowers were dried at drying air temperature of 60, 70, and 80 °C with a convective hot air dryer. Color (L*, a*, b*, C*, h°, ∆E, and BI), drying time and bioactive compounds (Total Phenolic Content (TPC), anthocyanin content (AC), and antioxidant activity (AO) values were measured). The orange flowers showed the fastest drying (78 min at 80 °C). The lowest total color change (∆E) (4.58 at 70 °C) and browning index (BI) (9.58 at 60 °C) values were observed in all drying processes of white flowers. The highest AC was determined in bordeaux flowers in both fresh (2.4 mg malvidin glucoside/g) and dried (25.57 mg malvidin glucoside/g at 60 °C) samples. The AO decreased in all samples depending on the temperature increase, it was found that the most beneficial result in terms of bioactive compounds was the bordeaux flowers dried at drying air temperature of 60 °C.
Improved Photocatalytic H2 Evolution by Cobaloxime-Tethered Imidazole-Functionalized Periodic Mesoporous Organosilica
Authors: Navarro M. Ángeles , Martín Miguel A. , Ruiz José Rafael , Jiménez-Sanchidrián César , Romero-Salguero Francisco J. , Esquivel Dolores
Published: February 2023

Molecular cobaloxime-based heterogeneous systems have attracted great interest during the last decades in light-driven hydrogen production. Here, we present a novel cobaloxime-tethered periodic mesoporous organosilica (PMO) hybrid (Im-EtPMO-Co) prepared through the immobilization of a molecular cobaloxime complex on the imidazole groups present in ethylene-bridged PMO. The successful assembly of a molecular cobaloxime catalyst via cobalt-imidazole axial ligation has been evidenced by several techniques, such as 13C NMR, Raman spectroscopy, ICP-MS, and XPS. The catalytic performance of Im-EtPMO-Co catalyst was essayed on the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) under visible light in presence of a photosensitizer (Eosin Y) and an electron donor (TEOA). It showed an excellent hydrogen production of 95 mmol hydrogen at 2.5 h, which corresponded to a TON of 138. These results reflect an improved photocatalytic activity with respect to its homogenous counterpart [Co(dmgH)2(Im)Cl] as well as a previous cobaloxime-PMO system with pyridine axial ligation to the cobaloxime complex.
Evaluation of a Group Therapy for Work-Related Mental Disorders
Authors: Hondong Sinja , Morawa Eva , Kastel-Hoffmann Silke , Kandler Anja , Erim Yesim
Published: February 2023

Objectives: Work-related mental distress is one of the most dominant reasons for sick leave and early retirement. Specialized therapy programs for work-related mental health problems are rare, especially in a group setting. This study evaluates the severity of depression, anxiety, somatization and burnout symptoms before and after a work-related group therapy program. Methods: Patients of a psychosomatic outpatient clinic with work-related mental disorders completed 12 sessions of a manual-based group training with reference to the workplace. Data were collected using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), Patient Health Questionnaire-15 (PHQ-15), General Anxiety Disorder Scale-7 (GAD-7) and the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) before (T1) and directly after the intervention (T2). Results: Overall, 48 participants completed the intervention. The participants’ symptoms of depression (T1: M = 11.06, SD = 6.19, T2: M = 8.92, SD = 8.17; p < 0.001, d = 0.53) and anxiety (T1: M = 9.94, SD = 5.18, T2: M = 7.13, SD = 5.69; p = 0.001, d = 0.49) as well as their emotional exhaustion (T1: M = 4.63, SD = 0.95, T2: M = 4.05, SD = 1.35; p < 0.001, d = 0.55) decreased significantly, and the difference was clinically relevant at T2. For cynicism (T1: M = 3.93, SD = 0.99, T2: M = 3.70, SD = 1.32; p = 0.14, d = 0.22) and personal fulfillment at work (T1: M = 4.30, SD = 0.83, T2: M = 4.41, SD = 0.94; p = 0.24, d = 0.17), the difference between T1 and T2 was not significant. Women benefited more than men (PHQ-9: p < 0.001, d = 0.96; GAD-7: p < 0.001, d = 0.91; PHQ-15: p < 0.001, d = 0.76) from the training. Conclusions: Participants’ mental health symptoms were substantially reduced during the course of the work-related group therapy. As mental health problems account for the largest group of work disability days, the potential of group therapy should be better exploited in health care services.
Reversible Conversion between Lithium Superoxide and Lithium Peroxide: A Closed “Lithium–Oxygen” Battery
Authors: Wang Junkai , Gao Rui , Liu Xiangfeng
Published: February 2023

Lithium–air batteries have become a desirable research direction in the field of green energy due to their large specific capacity and high energy density. The current research mainly focuses on an open system continuously supplying high-purity oxygen or air. However, factors such as water and CO2 in the open system and liquid electrolytes’ evaporation will decrease battery performance. To improve the practical application of lithium–air batteries, developing a lithium–oxygen battery that does not need a gaseous oxygen supply is desirable. In this study, we designed a closed lithium–oxygen battery model based on the conversion of lithium superoxide and lithium peroxide (LiO2 + e− + Li+ ↔ Li2O2). Herein, the Pd-rGO as a catalyst will produce the LiO2 in the pre-discharge process, and the closed battery can cycle over 57 cycles stably. In addition to in situ Raman spectra, electrochemical quartz crystal microbalance (EQCM) and differential electrochemical mass spectrometry (DEMS) have been applied to explanation the conversion between LiO2 and Li2O2 during the charge–discharge process. This work paves the way to introduce a new closed “lithium–oxygen” battery system for developing large-capacity green energy.
Coordination Chemistry of Polynitriles, Part XII—Serendipitous Synthesis of the Octacyanofulvalenediide Dianion and Study of Its Coordination Chemistry with K+ and Ag+
Authors: Nimax Patrick , Kunzelmann Yannick , Sünkel Karlheinz
Published: February 2023

The reaction of diazotetracyanocyclopentadiene with copper powder in the presence of NEt4Cl yields, unexpectedly, besides the known NEt4[C5H(CN)4] (3), the NEt4 salt of octacyanofulvalenediide (NEt4)2[C10(CN)8] (5), which can be transformed via reaction with AgNO3 to the corresponding Ag+ salt (4), which in turn can be reacted with KCl to yield the corresponding K+ salt 6. The molecular and crystal structures of 4–6 could be determined, and show a significantly twisted aromatic dianion which uses all its nitrile groups for coordination to the metals; 4 and 6 form three-dimensional coordination polymers with fourfold coordinated Ag+ and eightfold coordinated K+ cations.
The Influence of Different Type Materials of Grit Blasting on the Corrosion Resistance of S235JR Carbon Steel
Authors: Bogatu Nicoleta , Muresan Alina Crina , Mardare Laurentiu , Ghisman Viorica , Ravoiu Anca , Dima Floricel Maricel , Buruiana Daniela Laura
Published: February 2023

The aim of this paper is to evaluate the corrosion rate expressed in material loss per unit of time and the surface properties of carbon steel type S235JR blasted with different types of materials (quartz, alumina, and red garnet with a particle size between 60 and 80 mesh (0.25–0.60 mm)). The estimation of corrosion rate was determined by electrochemical methods, such as open circuit potential (OCP), polarization resistance (Rp), corrosion rate (Vcorr), and gravimetric method by immersing the samples in 3.5% NaCl solution for a period of 336 h. All surfaces were characterized before and after corrosion tests using ex-situ characterizations, such as optical microscopy and roughness analysis. The results indicate that S235JR non-sandblasted exhibited higher polarization resistance, the lowest corrosion rate, and the lowest roughness values. While for the S235JR sandblasted groups, reduced corrosion resistance and increasing roughness values were noted. From the sandblasted groups, the lowest corrosion resistance and the highest value of roughness are attributed to the S235JR surface sandblasted with quartz. The S235JR surface sandblasted with quartz shows a decrease in corrosion resistance approximately two times lower than the non-sandblasted surface and an increasing of roughness approximately six times greater than the non-sandblasted surface.
Investigation of Welding Parameters of Dissimilar Weld of SS316 and ASTM A36 Joint Using a Grey-Based Taguchi Optimization Approach
Authors: Pratiwi Diah Kusuma , Arifin Amir , Gunawan  , Mardhi Alim , Afriansyah
Published: February 2023

A grey-based Taguchi method was applied to investigate the optimal operating conditions in shielded metal arc welding (SMAW) to join SS316 and ASTM A36. This work aims to set optimal parameters for the mechanical properties of the weld joint. The effects of various welding factors on electrode type, welding current, arc welding, and welding speed have to be characterized and optimized to achieve an optimum condition. An L9 orthogonal array was used to group the various components. The mechanical properties of a dissimilar weld joints were described through hardness, tensile and flexural strength tests. The optimum welding parameters were obtained simultaneously as an electrode type E309, a welding current of 100 A, an arc voltage of 14 V, and a welding speed of 4 cm/min, which predicted improve 23.0% in its performance.
Design and Experimental Study of Core Bit for Hard Rock Drilling in Deep-Sea
Authors: Li Xingchen , Xiong Liang , Xie Wenwei , Gao Ke , Shao Yutao , Chen Yunlong , Yu Yanjiang , Kou Beibei , Lu Qiuping , Zeng Jing , Yu Haoyu
Published: February 2023

The hard rock stratum will seriously affect the efficiency of deep-sea drilling and greatly increase the cost of drilling operations due to its complexity. In ocean drilling operations, the design of the bit is critical. Therefore, the core bit should be able to drill in a variety of formations, especially in hard rock stratum, with the function of reducing the need to change the bit due to formation changes and improving the drilling efficiency. In this paper, three different core bits were designed according to the hard rock stratum of the seabed: the roller bit, diamond bit and bionic bit. According to the test results, it was observed that: (1) It is fully proven that the roller core bit has the characteristics of stable drilling in hard strata, small torque and high drilling efficiency. The same method can realize the core in shallow soft strata through the setting of drilling parameters. (2) For the diamond bit, the field test data show that the new formula diamond bit has a good adaptability to the changing hard rock strata in this area, with an average rate of penetration (ROP) of 4.4 m/h and a bit life of 137.75 m. (3) For the bionic bit, field experiment data showed that drilling in the formation lithology was gray green tuff, which had a core recovery up to 100%. The average ROP was 1.35 m/h, and the highest ROP was 1.88 m/h. The design and experiment of three kinds of drill bits have effectively solved the technical problem of efficient drilling in deep-sea hard-rock stratum.
Ray-Based Analysis of Subcritical Scattering from Buried Target
Authors: Choo Yeon-Seong , Choi Giyung , Lee Keunhwa , Byun Sung-Hoon , Choo Youngmin
Published: February 2023

A ray approach is used to simulate subcritical scattering from a buried target at low-to-high frequencies (100 Hz–15 kHz). A penetrating wave at a subcritical angle decays along the depth at the bottom (i.e., evanescent wave) and propagates horizontally at a subcritical angle-dependent speed lower than the sound speed of the bottom. The corresponding target strength (TS) is distinguished from that of a standard plane wave. Its pattern is asymmetric by the evanescent wave including for symmetric targets and is more complicated owing to the higher wavenumber induced by the lower speed of the evanescent wave. A scattered signal is simulated by considering the features of the penetrating wave with the TS and then verified using the finite element method. In the ray approach, once the TS is computed, a scattered field is efficiently derived with low computational complexity. Strong peaks are observed in the scattered signal via mid-frequency enhancement; however, their amplitudes are less than those yielded by the free-field target owing to the more diminished penetrating waves at higher frequencies. The peaks indicate the possibility of detecting the buried target using a receiver near the target (bistatic sonar) with a broadband source signal that includes low-to-mid frequencies.
Real-Time Relative Positioning Study of an Underwater Bionic Manta Ray Vehicle Based on Improved YOLOx
Authors: Zhao Qiaoqiao , Zhang Lichuan , Zhu Yuchen , Liu Lu , Huang Qiaogao , Cao Yong , Pan Guang
Published: February 2023

Compared to traditional vehicles, the underwater bionic manta ray vehicle (UBMRV) is highly maneuverable, has strong concealment, and is an emerging research field in underwater vehicles. Based on the completion of the single-body research, it is crucial to research the swarm of UBMRVs for the implementation of complex tasks, such as large-scale underwater detection. The relative positioning capability of the UBMRV is the key to realizing a swarm, especially when underwater acoustic communications are delayed. To solve the real-time relative positioning problem between individuals in the UBMRV swarm, this study proposes a relative positioning method based on the combination of the improved object detection algorithm and binocular distance measurement. To increase the precision of underwater object detection in small samples, this paper improves the original YOLOx algorithm. It increases the network’s interest in the object area by adding an attention mechanism module to the network model, thereby improving its detection accuracy. Further, the output of the object detection result is used as the input of the binocular distance measurement module. We use the ORB algorithm to extract and match features in the object-bounding box and obtain the disparity of the features. The relative distance and bearing information of the target are output and shown on the image. We conducted pool experiments to verify the proposed algorithm on the UBMRV platform, proved the method’s feasibility, and analyzed the results.
Design and Optimization of a Pneumatic Clamping System for Direct-Driven Rotary Tables
Authors: Croccolo Dario , De Agostinis Massimiliano , Fini Stefano , Mele Mattia , Olmi Giorgio , Canella Giulio , Gaspa Costantino , Vincenzi Nicolò
Published: February 2023

Modern direct-driven and high-speed rotary tables with torque motor are optimally suited for all handling and assembly applications that require the shortest indexing times and flexible positioning. The following paper is devoted to the study, the design, and the optimization of an innovative table clamping system (brake for accurate positioning) actuated by pneumatic energy, working at a maximum clamping pressure of 6 bar. The challenge for the aforementioned application is related to developing a solution able to provide a maximum tangential torque (with clamping actuated) in the range of thousands of Nm without leveraging the use of high-pressure hydraulic energy. The optimization of the proposed solution is based on the precise calculation of the stresses in order to perform a fatigue assessment and on the elastic deformation of the clamps in order to set the correct tolerances between the mating parts. Eventually, an experimental campaign is carried out in order to tune the numerical model, which is then used to validate the proposed design solution.