bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Study on Rheological Properties of Graphene Oxide/Rubber Crowd Composite-Modified Asphalt
Authors: Li Zhenxia , Guo Tengteng , Chen Yuanzhao , Dong Luochao , Chen Qi , Hao Menghui , Zhao Xu , Liu Jinyuan
Published: September 2022

In order to improve the durability of asphalt pavement and prolong the service life of heavy traffic asphalt pavement, graphene oxide (GO) and rubber powder (RP) were used as composite modifiers to modify matrix asphalt. The high-temperature rheological properties of composite-modified asphalt at different temperatures and frequencies were analyzed. The influence of different stress levels on the viscoelastic properties of composite-modified asphalt was evaluated. The low-temperature rheological properties of composite-modified asphalt were studied. The difference between RP-modified asphalt and GO/RP composite-modified asphalt was analyzed, and the mechanism of GO and RP on asphalt modification was explored. The results show that the composite-modified asphalt has good rheological properties at low temperature, relatively smooth surface and stable network structure, which improves the segregation problem of RP in matrix asphalt. At present, GO and RP are rarely used as composite modifiers to modify matrix asphalt at home and abroad, which is an innovation in material selection.
Sound Insulation Performance of Furfuryl Alcohol-Modified Poplar Veneer Used in Functional Plywood
Authors: Wu Shuangshuang , Xu Wei
Published: September 2022

Plywood has poor sound insulation due to its insufficient areal density, which cannot satisfy the demands of an indoor acoustic environment. This report proposed to use furfuryl alcohol to impregnate poplar veneer as a raw material for plywood and explored the sound insulation potential of furfuryl alcohol-modified poplar veneer. The effect of different formulations on the sound insulation performance of modified veneers was discussed, such as furfuryl alcohol concentrations, catalyst categories, and solvent categories. The weight percent gain (WPG) and areal density (AD) were used to evaluate the impregnation effectiveness of furfuryl alcohol modification. The sound insulation was measured by the impedance tube method. The results showed that the WPG of the furfuryl alcohol-modified veneers was evident, and the AD was effectively improved. Furthermore, the average sound insulation of furfuryl alcohol-modified poplar veneer was 25.68~40.10 dB, which increased by 10.8~19.1% compared with that of unmodified veneer. The modified veneer with 50% furfuryl alcohol concentration, taking isopropanol as a solvent, and maleic anhydride as a catalyst, had the optimal sound insulation performance. At the same time, the cell microstructure and chemical components were characterized by scanning electron microscope (SEM), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) theory to explain the sound insulation mechanism further. The results showed that the distortion of cell walls was improved, suggesting a change in the mechanical properties of the cell wall. At the same time, more micropores formed since the filling of furfuryl alcohol resin, yielding a tortuous propagation pathway, so the sound insulation performance improved. Finally, it demonstrated the potential of furfuryl alcohol-modified poplar veneer as raw material to prepare plywood with excellent sound insulation.
Influence of the Geometrical Features of the Cutting Edges of Abrasive Grains on the Removal Efficiency of the Ti6Al4V Titanium Alloy
Authors: Rypina Łukasz , Lipiński Dariusz , Banaszek Kamil , Kacalak Wojciech , Szafraniec Filip
Published: September 2022

The shape of the cutting blades of the abrasive grains has an influence on the material separation process in the machining zone. The paper analyzes the influence of the geometrical parameters of the abrasive grains (rake angle γ, apex angle ε, opening angle α), as well as width bz and length bb of the cutting zone on the material removal efficiency. The material removal efficiency was determined taking into account the volume of the removed material VG and the volume of lateral piles-up VR. The analyses were carried out on the basis of the results of experimental and simulations using the finite element method. The relationship between the selected geometric parameters characterizing the cutting zone and the coefficient characterizing the efficiency of the material removal process was determined. A strong influence of the opening angle α as well as the width bz and length bb of the cutting zone on the material removal process by abrasive grain was demonstrated. It was observed that the wide cutting edge, and thus the large opening angle α of the grain, reduced the size of the pile-ups and more effectively removed the chip material.
Durability of Nano-Reinforced Recycled Aggregate Concrete under Load and Chloride Ingress
Authors: Yan Yongdong , Si Youdong , Zheng Yulong , Wang Xin
Published: September 2022

The improved performance of recycled aggregate has an important impact on its use in engineering. In this study, to improve the weak surface properties, recycled aggregates were treated by nano-silica slurry and applied to concrete beam specimens. Under the action of cracks caused by continuous load and drying-wetting cycles with chloride ingress, the effects of different recycled aggregate additions, nano-silica contents and crack widths on the self-healing performance of cracks and the resistance to chloride ingress of the recycled concrete beams were investigated. It was found that the self-healing rate of cracks increased first and then decreased with increased nano-silica content, reaching a maximum when the content reached 0.4%. Greater amounts of additive in the recycled aggregate increased the concentration of free chloride ions in cracks. However, this concentration was found to be weakened in nano-reinforced aggregate. From a comprehensive perspective, the relative chloride ion concentration can be effectively reduced by controlling the crack width to be smaller than 0.12 mm and using improved recycled aggregates treated with 0.2% nano-silica material. This study provides a reference for the application of recycled aggregate concrete under severe environmental and load conditions.
Review: Degradable Magnesium Corrosion Control for Implant Applications
Authors: Wang Lifei , He Jianzhong , Yu Jiawen , Arthanari Srinivasan , Lee Huseung , Zhang Hua , Lu Liwei , Huang Guangsheng , Xing Bin , Wang Hongxia , Shin Kwang-Seon
Published: September 2022

Magnesium (Mg) alloys have received increasing interest in the past two decades as biomaterials due to their excellent biological compatibility. However, the corrosion resistance of Mg alloys is relativity low which limits their usage in degradable implant applications, and controlling the corrosion resistance is the key to solving this problem. This review discusses the relative corrosion mechanisms, including pitting, filiform, high temperature, stress corrosion, etc., of Mg alloys. Various approaches like purification (Fe, Ni, Cu, etc.), micro-alloying (adding Zn, Mn, Ca, RE elements, and so on), grain refinement (severe plastic deformation, SPD, etc.), and surface modifications (various coating methods) to control corrosion and biological performance are summarized. Moreover, the in vivo implantations of Mg alloy vascular stents and the issues that have emerged based on the reports in recent years are introduced. It is recommended that corrosion mechanisms should be further investigated as there is no method that can remove all the impurities and a new purification approach needs to be developed. The concentration of micro-alloy elements should be carefully controlled to avoid superfluous compounds. Developing new continuous SPD methods to achieve fine-grained Mg alloys with a large size scale is necessary. The development of a multifunctional coating could also be considered in controlling the Mg degradation rate. Moreover, the research trends and challenges in the future of Mg biomaterials are proposed.
Training Deep Neural Networks with Novel Metaheuristic Algorithms for Fatigue Crack Growth Prediction in Aluminum Aircraft Alloys
Authors: Zafar Muhammad Hamza , Younis Hassaan Bin , Mansoor Majad , Moosavi Syed Kumayl Raza , Khan Noman Mujeeb , Akhtar Naureen
Published: September 2022

Fatigue cracks are a major defect in metal alloys, and specifically, their study poses defect evaluation challenges in aluminum aircraft alloys. Existing inline inspection tools exhibit measurement uncertainties. The physical-based methods for crack growth prediction utilize stress analysis models and the crack growth model governed by Paris’ law. These models, when utilized for long-term crack growth prediction, yield sub-optimum solutions and pose several technical limitations to the prediction problems. The metaheuristic optimization algorithms in this study have been conducted in accordance with neural networks to accurately forecast the crack growth rates in aluminum alloys. Through experimental data, the performance of the hybrid metaheuristic optimization–neural networks has been tested. A dynamic Levy flight function has been incorporated with a chimp optimization algorithm to accurately train the deep neural network. The performance of the proposed predictive model has been tested using 7055 T7511 and 6013 T651 alloys against four competing techniques. Results show the proposed predictive model achieves lower correlation error, least relative error, mean absolute error, and root mean square error values while shortening the run time by 11.28%. It is evident through experimental study and statistical analysis that the crack length and growth rates are predicted with high fidelity and very high resolution.
Condition Monitoring of a Three-Cathode Cascaded Plasma Spray Torch Regarding Process Reliability
Authors: Mauer Georg , Kurze Frank , Rauwald Karl-Heinz , Vaßen Robert
Published: September 2022

The TriplexPro™-210 plasma spray torch (Oerlikon Metco) is a three-cathode plasma generator. It became a kind of workhorse for the wide range of tasks handled at the Jülich Thermal Spray Center (JTSC). Compared to conventional single-cathode torches, the cascaded design of the nozzle suggests low fluctuations of the arc and thus high stability. However, after a certain time, degradation sets in even with such a torch, impairing the reliability of the process. It is therefore important to detect indications of performance loss in time and not only during the inspection of the deposited layer. In this study, standard samples of YSZ thermal barrier coatings were sprayed regularly over a period of two years. Operational data and feedstock characteristics were collected and correlated with the area-specific mass deposition. It turned out that the measured substrate surface temperature showed a distinct correlation. Searching for the reasons for the temperature variations, several process parameters could be ruled out as they are monitored by calibrated sensors, controlled, and their time course is recorded by the control unit. Moreover, there are other parameters, which can have a considerable impact such as the robot alignment or the substrate cooling conditions. However, the purposeful experimental variation of such variables resulted in a variability of the mass deposition being considerably smaller than observed over the two years. Thus, it can be concluded that torch degradation had a pronounced effect, too. The substrate surface temperature can be used as indicator for the torch status and the reliability of the spray process.
Skill Acquisition and Controller Design of Desktop Robot Manipulator Based on Audio–Visual Information Fusion
Authors: Li Chunxu , Chen Xiaoyu , Ma Xinglu , Sun Hao , Wang Bin
Published: September 2022

The development of AI and robotics has led to an explosion of research and the number of implementations in automated systems. However, whilst commonplace in manufacturing, these approaches have not impacted chemistry due to difficulty in developing robot systems that are dexterous enough for experimental operation. In this paper, a control system for desktop experimental manipulators based on an audio-visual information fusion algorithm was designed. The robot could replace the operator to complete some tedious and dangerous experimental work by teaching it the arm movement skills. The system is divided into two parts: skill acquisition and movement control. For the former, the visual signal was obtained through two algorithms of motion detection, which were realized by an improved two-stream convolutional network; the audio signal was extracted by Voice AI with regular expressions. Then, we combined the audio and visual information to obtain high coincidence motor skills. The accuracy of skill acquisition can reach more than 81%. The latter employed motor control and grasping pose recognition, which achieved precise controlling and grasping. The system can be used for the teaching and control work of chemical experiments with specific processes. It can replace the operator to complete the chemical experiment work while greatly reducing the programming threshold and improving the efficiency.
The Discrete Fractional Variable-Order Tinkerbell Map: Chaos, 0–1 Test, and Entropy
Authors: Bensid Ahmed Souad , Ouannas Adel , Al Horani Mohammed , Grassi Giuseppe
Published: September 2022

The dynamics of the Caputo-fractional variable-order difference form of the Tinkerbell map are studied. The phase portraits, bifurcation, and largest Lyapunov exponent (LLE) were employed to demonstrate the presence of chaos over a different fractional variable-order and establish the nature of the dynamics. In addition, the 0–1 test tool was used to detect chaos. Finally, the numerical results were confirmed using the approximate entropy.
Secondary Metabolites from Marine-Derived Bacillus: A Comprehensive Review of Origins, Structures, and Bioactivities
Authors: Xiao Shaoyujia , Chen Nan , Chai Zixue , Zhou Mengdie , Xiao Chenghaotian , Zhao Shiqin , Yang Xiliang
Published: September 2022

The marine is a highly complex ecosystem including various microorganisms. Bacillus species is a predominant microbialflora widely distributed in marine ecosystems. This review aims to provide a systematic summary of the newly reported metabolites produced by marine-derived Bacillus species over recent years covering the literature from 2014 to 2021. It describes the structural diversity and biological activities of the reported compounds. Herein, a total of 87 newly reported metabolites are included in this article, among which 49 compounds originated from marine sediments, indicating that marine sediments are majority sources of productive strains of Bacillus species Therefore, marine-derived Bacillus species are a potentially promising source for the discovery of new metabolites.
Modification and Functionalization of Fibers Formed by Electrospinning: A Review
Authors: Medeiros Gabriela B. , Lima Felipe de A. , de Almeida Daniela S. , Guerra Vádila G. , Aguiar Mônica L.
Published: September 2022

The development of new materials with specific functionalities for certain applications has been increasing with the advent of nanotechnology. A technique widely used for this purpose is electrospinning, because control of several parameters involved in the process can yield nanoscale fibers. In addition to the production of innovative and small-scale materials, through structural, chemical, physical, and biological modifications in the fibers produced in electrospinning, it is possible to obtain specific properties for a given application. Thus, the produced fibers can serve different purposes, such as in the areas of sensors, catalysis, and environmental and medical fields. Given this context, this article presents a review of the electrospinning technique, addressing the parameters that influence the properties of the fibers formed and some techniques used to modify them as specific treatments that can be conducted during or after electrospinning. In situ addition of nanoparticles, changes in the configuration of the metallic collector, use of alternating current, electret fibers, core/shell method, coating, electrospray-coating, plasma, reinforcing composite materials, and thermal treatments are some of the examples addressed in this work. Therefore, this work contributes to a better comprehension of some of the techniques mentioned in the literature so far.
The Use of CFRP for Structural Reinforcement—Literature Review
Authors: Pawlak Aleksandra M. , Górny Tomasz , Dopierała Łukasz , Paczos Piotr
Published: September 2022

Carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) composites are increasingly being used to strengthen structures and to retrofit existing structures. CFRP composites are used in various industries: construction, automotive, and many others. This literature review has shown that CFRP composites find numerous practical applications. Improving structures by reinforcing them with CFRP composite is an innovative approach in design. This review aims to explore the current state of the art in the types of structures that can be reinforced with CFRP, and modifications to the CFRP composite as an additional aspect to increase the strength of the reinforced structure. It has been shown that regardless of the type of reinforced material, the most critical element in this connection is the bonded joint. Proper surface preparation and the use of an appropriate adhesive are also important.
The Rollers’ Offset Position Influence on the Counter-Roller Flow-Forming Process
Authors: Zhu Chengcheng , Li Fan , Dong Yuanzhe , Zhao Shengdun , Lv Jingxiang , Meng Dean
Published: September 2022

Background: The general counter-roller flow-forming (CRFF) process rarely considers the roller’s offset position for the symmetric rollers. However, the rollers’ offset position can regulate the tube shape, force, and other features. Studying the novel asymmetric CRFF process, which is the CRFF process with the rollers’ offset position, is essential. Methods: The influence of the rollers’ offset position, the tube blank thickness, thickness reduction on the material deformation, flow-forming force, final tube middle radius, and thickness in the CRFF process are studied using AA5052 aluminum tube experiments and numerical simulation. Result: The final tubes with three tube blank thicknesses, four thickness reduction, and four rollers’ offset positions were obtained by the symmetric and asymmetric CRFF processes. Conclusions: AA5052 aluminum alloy tube can be made by the novel asymmetric CRFF process using a small rollers’ offset position (−17.5–0%). Different rollers’ positions could change the tube’s middle radius. With negative rollers’ offset position, the outer roller force is larger than the inner roller force. The force differences increase with the increase of tube blank thickness, the increase of thickness reduction, and the decrease of rollers’ offset position. The asymmetric CRFF process helps design and construct large tube flow-forming equipment.
Effect of the Annealing Treatment on the Microstructure and Corrosion Resistance of a Cu-Al-Ni Alloy
Authors: Abreu Carmen M. , Feijoo Iria , Pérez Consuelo
Published: September 2022

The influence of annealing treatment on the microstructure and the corrosion behaviour of a complex bronze Al-Ni alloy was analysed. The microstructural characterization after thermic treatment shows that the retained β-phase disappears and the KII-phase undergoes a spheroidization process. Moreover, there is an augmentation of K-phase precipitates within the α-phase, particularly KIV and KV, which homogenizes the distribution of alloying elements between the phases. The corrosion behaviour was investigated by means of selective corrosion tests, potentiodynamic measurements, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. All of the experiments showed that thermic treatment greatly improves the corrosion resistance of the alloy. As such, annealing treatment influences a microstructure to be more dealloying resistant, which allows the development of a more protective air-formed passive film. On the other hand, the lower current registered after anodic peaks and Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy data seem be correlated with a more protective layer formed on annealed material. As such, this protective character is due to a greater incorporation of Al3+, Ni2+ and Cu2+ in the passive film, as revealed by X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy results.
Buckling of Hydroformed Toroidal Pressure Hulls with Octagonal Cross-Sections
Authors: Liu Xiaobin , Zhang Jian , Di Chenyang , Zhan Ming , Wang Fang
Published: September 2022

This paper is devoted to the hydroforming performances of toroidal pressure hulls with octagonal cross-sections, together with the buckling performances of hydroformed hulls. The octagonal cross-sections of toroidal preforms are inscribed from the circular cross-sections of perfect toroidal shells with a 150 mm major radius, a 75 mm section radius, and a 1.058 mm wall thickness. The nonlinear finite-element method was employed to study the hydroforming and buckling performances under various hydroforming pressures. To verify the numerical findings, three nominally identical toroidal pressure hulls with discrete octagonal cross-sections were tentatively manufactured, internally hydroformed, and externally collapsed. The numerical and experimental data exhibited satisfactory agreement. It is indicated that the hydroforming technique could greatly enhance the loading capacity of toroidal pressure hulls.
Maternal Serum and Placental Metabolomes in Association with Prenatal Phthalate Exposure and Neurodevelopmental Outcomes in the MARBLES Cohort
Authors: Parenti Mariana , Schmidt Rebecca J. , Ozonoff Sally , Shin Hyeong-Moo , Tancredi Daniel J. , Krakowiak Paula , Hertz-Picciotto Irva , Walker Cheryl K. , Slupsky Carolyn M.
Published: September 2022

Prenatal exposure to phthalates, a family of endocrine-disrupting plasticizers, is associated with disruption of maternal metabolism and impaired neurodevelopment. We investigated associations between prenatal phthalate exposure and alterations of both the maternal third trimester serum metabolome and the placental metabolome at birth, and associations of these with child neurodevelopmental outcomes using data and samples from the Markers of Autism Risk in Babies Learning Early Signs (MARBLES) cohort. The third trimester serum (n = 106) and placental (n = 132) metabolomes were investigated using 1H nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Children were assessed clinically for autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and cognitive development. Although none of the urinary phthalate metabolite concentrations were associated with maternal serum metabolites after adjustment for covariates, mixture analysis using quantile g-computation revealed alterations in placental metabolites with increasing concentrations of phthalate metabolites that included reduced concentrations of 2-hydoxybutyrate, carnitine, O-acetylcarnitine, glucitol, and N-acetylneuraminate. Child neurodevelopmental outcome was not associated with the third trimester serum metabolome, but it was correlated with the placental metabolome in male children only. Maternal phthalate exposure during pregnancy is associated with differences in the placental metabolome at delivery, and the placental metabolome is associated with neurodevelopmental outcomes in males in a cohort with high familial ASD risk.
Novel Regulators of Macropinocytosis-Dependent Growth Revealed by Informer Set Library Screening in Pancreatic Cancer Cells
Authors: Kim Sang Hoon , Song Jae Ho , Kim Min Ji , Song Mun Gu , Ku Angel A. , Bandyopadhyay Sourav , McCormick Frank , Kim Sung Eun
Published: September 2022

Cancer cells utilize multiple nutrient scavenging mechanisms to support growth and survival in nutrient-poor, hypoxic tumor microenvironments. Among these mechanisms, macropinocytosis has emerged as an important pathway of extracellular nutrient acquisition in cancer cells, particularly in tumors with activated RAS signaling, such as pancreatic cancer. However, the absence of a clinically available inhibitor, as well as the gap of knowledge in macropinocytosis regulation, remain a hurdle for its use for cancer therapy. Here, we use the Informer set library to identify novel regulators of macropinocytosis-dependent growth in pancreatic cancer cells. Understanding how these regulators function will allow us to provide novel opportunities for therapeutic intervention.
Exercise Training Ameliorates Renal Oxidative Stress in Rats with Chronic Renal Failure
Authors: Yamakoshi Seiko , Nakamura Takahiro , Xu Lusi , Kohzuki Masahiro , Ito Osamu
Published: September 2022

In patients with chronic kidney disease, exercise training with moderate intensity protects renal function and improves mortality. However, the mechanisms of the renal protective effects of exercise training in chronic kidney disease have not been clarified. This study investigated the effects of exercise training on renal NADPH oxidative and xanthine oxidase, which are major sources of reactive oxygen species, in rats with chronic renal failure. Six-week-old, male Sprague–Dawley rats were divided into the sham operation, 5/6 nephrectomy (Nx)+ sedentary, and Nx+ exercise training groups. The Nx+ exercise training group underwent treadmill running. After 12 weeks, systolic blood pressure, renal function, malondialdehyde, renal NADPH oxidase, and xanthine oxidase were examined. Nx induced hypertension, proteinuria, and renal dysfunction, and exercise training attenuated these disorders. Although the plasma levels of malondialdehyde were not different among the group, urinary levels were increased by Nx and decreased by exercise training. Renal activity and expression of NADPH oxidase and xanthine oxidase were increased by Nx and decreased by exercise training. These results indicate that exercise training attenuates hypertension and renal dysfunction and ameliorates NADPH oxidase and xanthine oxidase in rats with chronic renal failure, suggesting that the reduction of reactive oxygen species generation may be involved in the renal protective effects of exercise training.
Metabolomic and Genomic Approach to Study Defense Induction by Nesidiocoris tenuis against Tuta absoluta and Tetranychus urticae in Tomato Plants
Authors: Sarmah Nomi , Kaldis Athanasios , Kalampokis Ioannis , Aliferis Konstantinos A. , Voloudakis Andreas , Perdikis Dionysios
Published: September 2022

The phytophagy of the predator Nesidiocoris tenuis (Hemiptera: Miridae) can trigger defense responses in tomato plants against pests, such as two spotted spider mite Tetranychus urticae (Acari: Tetranychidae) and South American leaf miner Tuta absoluta (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae). The expression of genes governing Jasmonic Acid (JA) biosynthesis pathway and fluctuations in the levels of underlying metabolites have been rarely studied in mirid-infested plants. In the present study, fifteen 3rd instar nymphs of N.tenuis were caged on each top and lower leaf of tomato plants for 4 d to induce plant defense; after this period the predators were removed. With regard to T. absoluta, oviposition preference; larval period; and pupal weight were significantly reduced in N. tenuis-punctured plants. T. urticae adults exhibited a significantly higher escape tendency and reduced survival on punctured plants. Metabolomics confirmed such observations revealing substantial differences between N. tenuis-punctured and unpunctured (control) plants. Metabolites directly associated with the activation of the JA defense pathway, such as the precursor α-linolenic acid, had increased concentrations. The expression of the defense-related genes PI-II, MYC2, VSP2, and HEL was increased in the top leaves and only VSP2 and MBP2 in the lower leaves; interestingly, in the middle (unpunctured) leaves VSP2, HEL, and MBP2 were also upregulated, indicating systemic signaling. Collectively, phytophagy of N. tenuis caused adverse effects on T. absoluta and T. urticae, whereas the multi-omics approach (phenomics, metabolomics, and genomics) offered valuable insights into the nature of the plant defense responses and provided useful evidence for future applications in integrated pest management, plausibly resulting in the reduction in the required pesticide volumes.
Identification of the Transcription Factor ATF3 as a Direct and Indirect Regulator of the LDLR
Authors: Bauer Sabine , Eigenmann Jana , Zhao Yuqi , Fleig Julia , Hawe Johann S. , Pan Calvin , Bongiovanni Dario , Wengert Simon , Ma Angela , Lusis Aldons J. , Kovacic Jason C. , Björkegren Johan L. M. , Maegdefessel Lars , Schunkert Heribert , von Scheidt Moritz
Published: September 2022

Coronary artery disease (CAD) is a complex, multifactorial disease caused, in particular, by inflammation and cholesterol metabolism. At the molecular level, the role of tissue-specific signaling pathways leading to CAD is still largely unexplored. This study relied on two main resources: (1) genes with impact on atherosclerosis/CAD, and (2) liver-specific transcriptome analyses from human and mouse studies. The transcription factor activating transcription factor 3 (ATF3) was identified as a key regulator of a liver network relevant to atherosclerosis and linked to inflammation and cholesterol metabolism. ATF3 was predicted to be a direct and indirect (via MAF BZIP Transcription Factor F (MAFF)) regulator of low-density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR). Chromatin immunoprecipitation DNA sequencing (ChIP-seq) data from human liver cells revealed an ATF3 binding motif in the promoter regions of MAFF and LDLR. siRNA knockdown of ATF3 in human Hep3B liver cells significantly upregulated LDLR expression (p < 0.01). Inflammation induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulation resulted in significant upregulation of ATF3 (p < 0.01) and subsequent downregulation of LDLR (p < 0.001). Liver-specific expression data from human CAD patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) surgery (STARNET) and mouse models (HMDP) confirmed the regulatory role of ATF3 in the homeostasis of cholesterol metabolism. This study suggests that ATF3 might be a promising treatment candidate for lowering LDL cholesterol and reducing cardiovascular risk.
A Study on the Sub-5 nm Nano-Step Height Reference Materials Fabricated by Atomic Layer Deposition Combined with Wet Etching
Authors: Wang Chenying , Li Lei , Jing Weixuan , Zhang Yaxin , Wang Song , Lin Qijing , Xian Dan , Mao Qi , Zhang Yijun , Duan Duanzhi , Liu Ming , Jiang Zhuangde
Published: September 2022

Nano-steps, as classical nano-geometric reference materials, are very important for calibrating measurements in the semiconductor industry; therefore, controlling the height of nano-steps is critical for ensuring accurate measurements. Accordingly, in this study nano-steps with heights of 1, 2, 3 and 4 nm were fabricated with good morphology using atomic layer deposition (ALD) combined with wet etching. The roughness of the fabricated nano-steps was effectively controlled by utilizing the three-dimensional conformal ALD process. Moreover, the relationship between the surface roughness and the height was studied using a simulation-based analysis. Essentially, roughness control is crucial in fabricating nano-steps with a critical dimension of less than 5 nm. In this study, the minimum height of a nano-step that was successfully achieved by combining ALD and wet etching was 1 nm. Furthermore, the preconditions for quality assurance for a reference material and the influencing factors of the fabrication method were analyzed based on the 1 nm nano-step sample. Finally, the fabricated samples were used in time-dependent experiments to verify the optimal stability of the nano-steps as reference materials. This research is instructive to fabricate nano-geometric reference materials to within 5 nm in height, and the proposed method can be easily employed to manufacture wafer-sized step height reference materials, thus enabling its large-scale industrial application for in-line calibration in integrated circuit production lines.
Dynamic Balancing of Humanoid Robot with Proprioceptive Actuation: Systematic Design of Algorithm, Software, and Hardware
Authors: Xie Yan , Wang Jiajun , Dong Hao , Ren Xiaoyu , Huang Liqun , Zhao Mingguo
Published: September 2022

For humanoid robots, maintaining a dynamic balance against uncertain disturbance is crucial, and this function can be achieved by coordinating the whole body to perform multiple tasks simultaneously. Researchers generally accept hierarchical whole-body control (WBC) to address this function. Although experts can build feasible hierarchies using prior knowledge, real-time WBC is still challenging because it often requires a quadratic program with multiple inequality constraints. In addition, the torque tracking performance of the WBC algorithm will be affected by uncertain factors such as joint friction for a large transmission ratio proprioceptive-actuated robot. Therefore, the balance control of physical robots requires a systematic solution. In this study, a robot control system with high computing power and real-time communication ability, UBTMaster, is implemented to achieve a reduced WBC in real time. Based on these, a whole-body control scheme based on task priority for the dynamic balance of humanoid robots is implemented. After realizing the joint friction model identification, finally, a variety of balancing scenarios are tested on the Walker3 humanoid robot driven by the proprioceptive actuators to verify the effectiveness of the proposed scheme. The Walker3 robot exhibits excellent balance when multiple external disturbances occur simultaneously. For example, the two feet of the robot are subjected to tilt and displacement perturbations, respectively, while the torso is subjected to external shocks simultaneously. The experimental results show that the dynamic balance of the robot under multiple external disturbances can be achieved by using strictly hierarchical real-time WBC with a systematic design.
Biocontrol of Fruit Rot of Litchi chinensis Using Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles Synthesized in Azadirachta indica
Authors: Ahmed Junaid , Ali Musrat , Sheikh Huda M. , Al-Kattan Manal O. , Farhana  , Haroon Urooj , Safaeishakib Masoumeh , Akbar Mahnoor , Kamal Asif , Zubair Mohammad Sameer , Munis Muhammad Farooq Hussain
Published: September 2022

Lychee (Litchi chinensis Sonn.) is a famous fruit species of tropical and subtropical regions of the world and many biotic and abiotic stresses affect its yield. In this study, lychee fruit rot has been observed and its incidence has been controlled by using zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs). Diseased lychee fruits were collected and diagnosed to identify disease-causing pathogens. Morphological appearance, microscopic observation, and sequence analysis of the amplified ITS region identified this isolated pathogen as Aspergillus niger. To control this problem, ZnO NPs were prepared in the leaf extract of Azadirachta indica. Before their antifungal activity, ZnO NPs were characterized using sophisticated approaches. FTIR revealed the presence of reducing and stabilizing molecules on ZnO NPs including alcohol, carboxylic acid, alkyl halide, amine, and alkyl halide. Crystalline nature and average size (29.024 nm) of synthesized ZnO NPs were described by X-ray diffraction. EDX analysis depicted the mass percentage of zinc (30.15%) and oxygen (14.90%). SEM analysis displayed the irregular shape of nanoparticles and confirmed the nano-size of ZnO NPs. Maximum mycelial growth inhibition (70.5%) was observed at 1.0 mg/mL concentration of ZnO NPs in vitro. In in-vivo disease-control analysis, maximum control of lychee fruit rot disease was observed at the same concentration. These results reveal the potential use of these ZnO NPs on a larger scale to replace hazardous chemical fungicides.
Molecularly Imprinted Polymer-Coated Inorganic Nanoparticles: Fabrication and Biomedical Applications
Authors: Orbay Sinem , Kocaturk Ozgur , Sanyal Rana , Sanyal Amitav
Published: September 2022

Molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) continue to gain increasing attention as functional materials due to their unique characteristics such as higher stability, simple preparation, robustness, better binding capacity, and low cost. In particular, MIP-coated inorganic nanoparticles have emerged as a promising platform for various biomedical applications ranging from drug delivery to bioimaging. The integration of MIPs with inorganic nanomaterials such as silica (SiO2), iron oxide (Fe3O4), gold (Au), silver (Ag), and quantum dots (QDs) combines several attributes from both components to yield highly multifunctional materials. These materials with a multicomponent hierarchical structure composed of an inorganic core and an imprinted polymer shell exhibit enhanced properties and new functionalities. This review aims to provide a general overview of key recent advances in the fabrication of MIPs-coated inorganic nanoparticles and highlight their biomedical applications, including drug delivery, biosensor, bioimaging, and bioseparation.
Vibration Characteristics and Experimental Research of Combined Beam Tri-Stable Piezoelectric Energy Harvester
Authors: Zhang Xuhui , Xu Hengtao , Chen Xiaoyu , Zhu Fulin , Guo Yan , Tian Hao
Published: September 2022

Vibration energy harvesting technology is expected to solve the power supply and endurance problems of wireless sensor systems, realize the self-power supply of wireless sensor systems in coal mines, and promote the intelligent development of coal mine equipment. A combined beam tri-stable piezoelectric energy harvester (CTPEH) is designed by introducing magnetic force into the combined beam structure. In order to explore the vibration characteristics of CTPEH, a nonlinear magnetic model is obtained based on the magnetic dipole theory, and the dynamic equation of the system is established using the Lagrange theorem and Rayleigh–Ritz theory. The influence of the different magnet distances and excitation conditions on the static bifurcation characteristics and dynamic response characteristics of the system are analyzed by numerical simulation, and the simulation results are validated by the experiments. The research results show that the motion state of the CTPEH system has four transition forms from mono-stable to tri-stable with the change in magnet distance. The tri-stable system has three potential energy curves with different characteristic shapes. The appropriate starting excitation position and excitation frequency can make it easier for the system to realize a large-amplitude response state, thereby improving the output performance of the system. This research provides new ideas and methods for optimizing the performance of the combined beam piezoelectric energy harvester.
Experimental Study on Surface Integrity of Solar Cell Silicon Wafers Sliced by Electrochemical Multi-Wire Saw
Authors: Bao Guanpei , Huang Chen , Zhang Yajing , Yu Zhen , Wang Wei
Published: September 2022

Electrochemical multi-wire sawing (EMWS) is a hybrid machining method based on a traditional multi-wire sawing (MWS) system. In this new method, a silicon ingot is connected to a positive electrode; the slicing wire is connected to a negative electrode. Material is removed by the interaction of mechanical grinding and an electrochemical reaction. In this paper, contrast experiments of EMWS and MWS were conducted based on industrialized equipment to verify the beneficial effects of the hybrid method. The experimental statistical results show that the composite processing method improved the processing qualification rate by 1.28%, and the Bow of silicon wafers was reduced by about 2.74 microns. Further testing on the surface of the silicon wafer after electrochemical action showed that obvious holes were present on the surface, and the surface hardness of the wafer decreased significantly. Therefore, the scratches on the surface of wafer sliced by EMWS were reduced; in addition, the thickness of the surface damage layer was reduced by about 9 microns. After standard texturing, the average reflectivity of the wafers sliced by EMWS was about 2–10% lower than that of the wafers sliced by MWS in the wavelength of 300–1100 nm. In this paper, the voltage parameter of the composite machining is set to 48 V; the amount of electrolyte added in each experiment is 2 L; and a good machining effect is obtained. In the future, the electric parameters and cutting fluid components will be further studied to improve the electrochemical effect.
Mini Review of Reliable Fabrication of Electrode under Stretching for Supercapacitor Application
Authors: Kim Haeji , Matteini Paolo , Hwang Byungil
Published: September 2022

Currently, there is an increasing demand for portable and wearable electronics. This has necessitated the development of stretchable energy storage devices, while simultaneously maintaining performance. Hence, the electrodes and electrolyte materials used in stretchable supercapacitors should be robust under severe mechanical deformation. Polymers are widely used in the fabrication of stretchable supercapacitors. It is not only crucial to choose good polymer candidates with inherent advantages, but it is also important to design suitable polymer materials for both electrodes and electrolytes. This mini-review explains the concept of stretchable supercapacitors, the theoretical background of polymer-based electrodes for supercapacitors, and the fabrication strategies of stretchable electrodes for supercapacitors. Finally, we present the drawbacks and areas that still need to be developed.
Additive-Manufactured Platinum Thin-Film Strain Gauges for Structural Microstrain Testing at Elevated Temperatures
Authors: Pan Xiaochuan , Lin Fan , Wu Chao , Zeng Yingjun , Chen Guochun , Chen Qinnan , Sun Daoheng , Hai Zhenyin
Published: September 2022

This paper investigates the feasibility and performance of the fabrication of platinum high-temperature thin-film strain sensors on nickel-based alloy substrates by additive manufacturing. The insulating layer was made of a dielectric paste by screen printing process. A 1.8-micron-thick platinum film was deposited directly on the insulating layer. The four-wire resistance measurement method was used to eliminate the contact resistance of the solder joints. Comprehensive morphological and electrical characterization of the platinum thin-film strain gauge was carried out, and good static and dynamic strain responses were obtained, which confirmed that the strain gauge was suitable for in situ strain monitoring of high-temperature complex components.
Computational Fluid Dynamics Study of the Effects of Temperature and Geometry Parameters on a Virtual Impactor
Authors: Wang Ruofei , Zhao Heng , Li Jiaqi , Wang Xingbo
Published: September 2022

The virtual impactor, as an atmospheric particle classification chip, provides scientific guidance for identifying the characteristics of particle composition. Most of the studies related to virtual impactors focus on their size structure design, and the effect of temperature in relation to the dynamic viscosity on the cut−off diameter is rarely considered. In this paper, a new method that can reduce the cut−off particle size without increasing the pressure drop is proposed. Based on COMSOL numerical simulations, a new ultra−low temperature virtual impactor with a cut−off diameter of 2.5 μm was designed. A theoretical analysis and numerical simulation of the relationship between temperature and the performance of the virtual impactor were carried out based on the relationship between temperature and dynamic viscosity. The effects of inlet flow rate (Q), major flow channel width (S), minor flow channel width (L) and split ratio (r) on the performance of the virtual impactor were analyzed. The collection efficiency curves were plotted based on the separation effect of the new virtual impactor on different particle sizes. It was found that the new ultra−low temperature approach reduced the PM2.5 cut−off diameter by 19% compared to the conventional virtual impactor, slightly better than the effect of passing in sheath gas. Meanwhile, the low temperature weakens Brownian motion of the particles, thus reducing the wall loss. In the future, this approach can be applied to nanoparticle virtual impactors to solve the problem of their large pressure drop.
Electrochemical Detection of Ascorbic Acid in Finger-Actuated Microfluidic Chip
Authors: Liu Xing , Li Mi , Zheng Jiahui , Zhang Xiaoling , Zeng Junyi , Liao Yanjian , Chen Jian , Yang Jun , Zheng Xiaolin , Hu Ning
Published: September 2022

The traditional quantitative analysis methods of ascorbic acid (AA), which require expensive equipment, a large amount of samples and professional technicians, are usually complex and time-consuming. A low-cost and high-efficiency AA detection device is reported in this work. It integrates a three-electrode sensor module prepared by screen printing technology, and a microfluidic chip with a finger-actuated micropump peeled from the liquid-crystal display (LCD) 3D printing resin molds. The AA detection process on this device is easy to operate. On-chip detection has been demonstrated to be 2.48 times more sensitive than off-chip detection and requires only a microliter-scale sample volume, which is much smaller than that required in traditional electrochemical methods. Experiments show that the sample and buffer can be fully mixed in the microchannel, which is consistent with the numerical simulation results wherein the mixing efficiency is greater than 90%. Commercially available tablets and beverages are also tested, and the result shows the reliability and accuracy of the device, demonstrating its broad application prospects in the field of point-of-care testing (POCT).
Re Variation Triggered from the Paleo-Pacific Plate Evolution: Constrains from Mo Polymetallic Deposits in Zhejiang Province, South China Mo Province
Authors: Li Xiangcai , Wang Yongbin , Wang Xuance , Cai Jiaqi , Guo Yunkang , Lin Song
Published: September 2022

Although highly dispersed, critical Re metal has attracted lots of attention from geoscientists, the controlling factors of Re-content variation are not completely understood, especially with regards to the genetic relationship between Re-bearing Mo polymetallic deposits and plate subduction evolution. It is well documented that the South China Mo Province, in Zhejiang Province, is characterized by multi-stage Mo polymetallic mineralization associated with Paleo-Pacific plate subduction. The Xianlin Mo(Cu)–Fe deposit occurs in Western Zhejiang as porphyry mineralization or skarn mineralization between the granodiorite and limestone. Zircon U–Pb analysis of the ore-forming granodiorite yields a Concordia age of 150.8 ± 1.1 Ma. Six molybdenite samples have relatively high Re contents (128.9~155.7 ppm) and deliver a weighted mean model age of 149.6 ± 1.3 Ma. These geochronological data suggest the Xianlin polymetallic mineralization was genetically related to the granodiorite in the Late Jurassic. Moreover, a new compilation of reliable Re contents and Re–Os isotope age data in Zhejiang Province indicates a decreasing trend in Re contents of molybdenite from the Jurassic Fe-/Cu-dominated Mo mineralization stage to the Cretaceous PbZn-enriched Mo mineralization stage in the South China Mo Province. Based on previously proposed models relating tectonic, magmatic, and hydrothermal processes, it is suggested that the Jurassic Re-enriched Mo mineralization, associated with I-type granitoids, formed in a compressive setting during the low-angle subduction of the Paleo-Pacific slab, whilst the Cretaceous Re-poorer Mo/Mo–Pb–Zn mineralization, related to both I- and A-type granitoids, formed in an extensional back-arc setting triggered by the rollback of the Paleo-Pacific slab.