bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Residual Stress Redistribution Analysis in the Repair Welding of AA6082-T6 Aluminum Alloy Joints: Experiment and Simulation
Authors: Chen Zhihao , Duan Yanjuan , Wang Ping , Qian Hongliang
Published: September 2022

Residual stress has a three-dimensional scale effect (length, depth, and width) in the process of repair welding, which has a detrimental impact on the service of the aluminum alloy welded structures in high-speed trains. This paper aims to systematically analyze the effects of the repair welding dimension on the residual stress redistribution and obtain the optimal repair welding principles. A combination of blind-hole drilling method and stress linearization in BS7910 was adopted to investigate residual stress redistribution under various repair welding dimensions. The results indicate that repair welding dimension was in accordance with the principle of “SNL (shallow, narrow and long)” and the optimal repair length, depth, and width of butt joints in this study were 15t, 0.25t, and t, respectively (t is the plate thickness of butt joints).
Investigation of the Optical Properties for Quaternary Se60−xGe35Ga5Sbx (x = 0, 5, and 10) Chalcogenide Glass
Authors: Abou-Elnour Huda Allah , Osman M. B. S. , Fadel M. , Shakra A. M.
Published: September 2022

A quenching technique was used to prepare the chalcogenide system of the Se60−xGe35Ga5Sbx (x = 0, 5, and 10 at. %), which was deposited as thin films onto glass substrates using a thermal evaporation technique. X-ray diffraction patterns were used for structure examination of the fabricated compositions, which exposes the amorphous nature of the deposited samples. Meanwhile, the chemical compositions of the prepared samples were evaluated and calculated via the energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), which was in agreement with the measured compositional element percentages of the prepared samples. Based on the optical reflectance R and transmittance T spectra from the recorded spectrophotometric data ranging from 350 to 2500 nm, the influence of the Sb element on the Se60−xGe35Ga5Sbx thin films’ optical properties was studied. The film thickness and the refractive index were calculated via Swanepoel’s technique from optical transmittance data. It has been observed that the films’ refractive index increases with increasing x value over the spectral range. The refractive index data were used to evaluate the dielectric constants and estimate dispersion parameters Eo and Ed using the Wemple–DiDomenico model. The optical energy gap Egopt was calculated for the tested compositions. The result of the optical absorption analysis shows the presence of allowed direct and indirect transitions.
Morphological and Gamma-Ray Attenuation Properties of High-Density Polyethylene Containing Bismuth Oxide
Authors: Almuqrin Aljawhara H. , Elsafi Mohamed , Yasmin Sabina , Sayyed M. I.
Published: September 2022

For extensive radiation exposure, inventing a novel radiation shielding material is a burning issue at present for the purpose of life saving. Considering this thought, in this study, by adding sundry amounts of Bi2O3 into pure high-density polyethylene (HDPE), six HDPE systems were prepared to evaluate the radiation shielding efficiency. These HDPE systems were HDPEBi-0 (pure HDPE), HDPEBi-10 (10 wt% Bi2O3), HDPEBi-20 (20 wt% Bi2O3−), HDPEBi-30 (30 wt% Bi2O3), HDPEBi-40 (40 wt% Bi2O3), and HDPEBi-50 (50 wt% Bi2O3). The values of the linear attenuation coefficients of the experimental results (calculated in the lab using HPGe) were compared with the theoretical results (obtained using Phy-X software) at 0.060, 0.662, 1.173, and 1.333 MeV energies. To ensure the accurateness of the experimental results, this comparison was made. It was crystal clear that for energy values from 0.06 MeV to 1.333 MeV, all the experimental values were in line with Phy-X software data, which demonstrated the research setup’s reliability. Here, the linear attenuation coefficient (LAC), and mean free path (MFP) shielding parameters were assessed. At the energy of 1.333 MeV, sample HDPEBi-0 showed an HVL value 1.7 times greater than that of HDPEBi-50, yet it was 23 times greater at 0.0595 MeV. That means that for proper radiation protection, very-low-energy HDPE systems containing 10–50% Bi2O3 could be used; however, the thickness of the HDPE system must be increased according to the energy of incident radiation.
Microstructure and Selected Properties of Iron–Vanadium Coatings Obtained by the Laser Processing of a VC Pre-Coat Applied on Steel—Single and Multiple Laser Tracks Study
Authors: Bartkowski Dariusz , Bartkowska Aneta , Przestacki Damian , Jurči Peter , Kieruj Piotr
Published: September 2022

This paper presents the results of the microstructure, mechanical and physicochemical properties of coatings produced by the remelting of a VC pre-coat applied in the form of a paste on 145Cr6 steel. The remelting process was carried out using a diode laser beam. A laser device with a rated power of 3 kW was used. During these tests, a constant laser beam scanning speed of 3 m/min was used. The variable parameter was the laser beam power. Values of 500 W, 900 W and 1100 W were used. In the first stage of this study, single laser tracks were formed, and basic tests, such as on microstructure, microhardness and chemical composition, were performed. In the second stage of this study, multiple laser tracks were prepared using previously selected parameters. On such specimens, it was possible to test the same traits as for single tracks and, additionally, to perform corrosion and wear resistance tests. It was found that the obtained coatings have different properties than the base material. No primary vanadium carbides were found in the melted zone, but the proposed production method contributed to an increase in microhardness and wear resistance.
Stress Concentration Factors of Concrete-Filled T-Joints under In-Plane Bending: Experiments, FE Analysis and Formulae
Authors: Matti Feleb , Mashiri Fidelis
Published: September 2022

Experimental and numerical investigations on seven cold-formed steel square hollow section (SHS) T-joints with concrete-filled chords were conducted for the determination of stress concentration factors (SCFs). The SCFs were experimentally determined using strain gauges and then numerically determined using Abaqus finite element analysis (FEA) software under static in-plane brace bending. Good agreement was observed between the two investigations. After validating the FEA results, a parametric study was conducted on the SCFs of concrete-filled SHS-SHS T-joints using Abaqus FEA to evaluate the effects of the non-dimensional parameters on the SCFs. Subsequently, design formulae for predicting the SCF of concrete-filled SHS-SHS T-joints subjected to in-plane bending were proposed. Comparable results were obtained between the numerical SCFs with SCFs calculated from the proposed design equations. The maximum SCF of concrete-filled SHS T-joints under in-plane brace bending occurred at different locations. The overall mean of the experimental reduction percentage in peak SCF due to concrete infill is 22% and the overall mean of the numerical reduction percentage in peak SCF due to concrete infill is 19%. The determination of SCFs in concrete-filled SHS-SHS T-joints under in-plane bending has been the subject of little research, and more information regarding the behavior of concrete-filled T-joints with SHS under in-plane bending needs to be provided to practicing engineers.
The Clinical Experience of Mycobacterial Culture Yield of Pleural Tissue by Pleuroscopic Pleural Biopsy among Tuberculous Pleurisy Patients
Authors: Lee Chung-Shu , Chiu Li-Chung , Chang Chih-Hao , Chung Fu-Tsai , Li Shih-Hong , Chou Chun-Liang , Wang Chih-Wei , Lin Shu-Min
Published: September 2022

Background and Objectives: Tuberculous pleurisy is a common extrapulmonary TB that poses a health threat. However, diagnosis of TB pleurisy is challenging because of the low positivity rate of pleural effusion mycobacterial culture and difficulty in retrieval of optimal pleural tissue. This study aimed to investigate the efficacy of mycobacterial culture from pleural tissue, obtained by forceps biopsy through medical pleuroscopy, in the diagnosis of TB pleurisy. Materials and Methods: This study retrospectively enrolled 68 TB pleurisy patients. Among them, 46 patients received semi-rigid pleuroscopy from April 2016 to March 2021 in a tertiary hospital. We analyzed the mycobacterial culture from pleural tissue obtained by forceps biopsy. Results: The average age of the study participants was 62.8 years, and 64.7% of them were men. In the pleuroscopic group, the sensitivity of positive Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M. TB) cultures for sputum, pleural effusion, and pleural tissue were 35.7% (15/42), 34.8% (16/46), and 78.3% (18/23), respectively. High sensitivities of M. TB culture from pleural tissue were up to 94.4% and 91.7% when pleural characteristic patterns showed adhesion lesions and both adhesion lesions and presence of micronodules, respectively. Conclusions: M. TB culture from pleural tissue should be considered a routine test when facing unknown pleural effusion during pleuroscopic examination.
Enhancing Imagistic Interstitial Lung Disease Diagnosis by Using Complex Networks
Authors: Trușculescu Ana Adriana , Manolescu Diana Luminița , Broască Laura , Ancușa Versavia Maria , Ciocârlie Horia , Pescaru Camelia Corina , Vaștag Emanuela , Oancea Cristian Iulian
Published: September 2022

Background and Objectives: Diffuse interstitial lung diseases (DILD) are a heterogeneous group of over 200 entities, some with dramatical evolution and poor prognostic. Because of their overlapping clinical, physiopathological and imagistic nature, successful management requires early detection and proper progression evaluation. This paper tests a complex networks (CN) algorithm for imagistic aided diagnosis fitness for the possibility of achieving relevant and novel DILD management data. Materials and Methods: 65 DILD and 31 normal high resolution computer tomography (HRCT) scans were selected and analyzed with the CN model. Results: The algorithm is showcased in two case reports and then statistical analysis on the entire lot shows that a CN algorithm quantifies progression evaluation with a very fine accuracy, surpassing functional parameters’ variations. The CN algorithm can also be successfully used for early detection, mainly on the ground glass opacity Hounsfield Units band of the scan. Conclusions: A CN based computer aided diagnosis could provide the much-required data needed to successfully manage DILDs.
Rational Design of Mono- and Bi-Nuclear Cyclometalated Ir(III) Complexes Containing Di-Pyridylamine Motifs: Synthesis, Structure, and Luminescent Properties
Authors: Sesolis Hugo , Gontard Geoffrey , Rager Marie Noelle , Bandini Elisa , Moncada Alejandra Saavedra , Barbieri Andrea , Amouri Hani
Published: September 2022

Heteroleptic cyclometalated iridium (III) complexes (1–3) containing di-pyridylamine motifs were prepared in a stepwise fashion. The presence of the di-pyridylamine ligands tunes their electronic and optical properties, generating blue phosphorescent emitters at room temperature. Herein we describe the synthesis of the mononuclear iridium complexes [Ir(ppy)2(DPA)][OTf] (1), (ppy = phenylpyridine; DPA = Dipyridylamine) and [Ir(ppy)2(DPA-PhI)][OTf] (2), (DPA-PhI = Dipyridylamino-phenyliodide). Moreover, the dinuclear iridium complex [Ir(ppy)2(L)Ir(ppy)2][OTf]2 (3) containing a rigid angular ligand “L = 3,5-bis[4-(2,2′-dipyridylamino)phenylacetylenyl]toluene” and displaying two di-pyridylamino groups was also prepared. For comparison purposes, the related dinuclear rhodium complex [Rh (ppy)2(L)Rh(ppy)2][OTf]2 (4) was also synthesized. The x-ray molecular structure of complex 2 was reported and confirmed the formation of the target molecule. The rhodium complex 4 was found to be emissive only at low temperature; in contrast, all iridium complexes 1–3 were found to be phosphorescent in solution at 77 K and room temperature, displaying blue emissions in the range of 478–481 nm.
Thermoresponsive Polyphosphoester via Polycondensation Reactions: Synthesis, Characterization, and Self-Assembly
Authors: Yamakita Yoshihiro , Takeuchi Issei , Makino Kimiko , Terada Hiroshi , Kikuchi Akihiko , Troev Kolio
Published: September 2022

Using a novel strategy, amphiphilic polyphosphoesters based on poly(oxyethylene H-phosphonate)s (POEHP) with different poly(ethylene glycol) segment lengths and aliphatic alcohols with various alkyl chain lengths were synthesized using polycondensation reactions. They were characterized by 1H NMR, 13C {H} NMR 31P NMR, IR, and size exclusion chromatography (SEC). The effects of the polymer structure on micelle formation and stability, micelle size, and critical micelle temperature were studied via dynamic light scattering (DLS). The hydrophilic/hydrophobic balance of these polymers can be controlled by changing the chain lengths of hydrophilic PEG and hydrophobic alcohols. A solubilizing test, using Sudan III, revealed that hydrophobic substances can be incorporated inside the hydrophobic core of polymer associates. Loading capacity depends on the length of alkyl side chains. The results obtained indicate that these structurally flexible polymers have the potential as drug carriers.
Isolation, Identification and Characterization of Growth Parameters of Pseudomonas putida HSM-C2 with Coumarin-Degrading Bacteria
Authors: Huang Shen , Wang Menghuan , Mao Duobin , Rasool Aamir , Jia Chunxiao , Yang Pengfei , Han Li , Yan Meiling
Published: September 2022

Natural coumarins contribute to the aroma of licorice, and they are often used as a flavoring and stabilizing agents. However, coumarins usage in food has been banned by various countries due to its toxic effect. In this study, a strain of HSM-C2 that can biodegrade coumarin with high efficiency was isolated from soil and identified as Pseudomonas putida through performing 16S rDNA sequence analysis. The HSM-C2 catalyzed the biodegradation up to 99.83% of 1 mg/mL coumarin within 24 h under optimal culture conditions, such as 30 °C and pH 7, which highlights the strong coumarin biodegrading potential of this strain. The product, such as dihydrocoumarin, generated after the biodegradation of coumarin was identified by performing GC-MS analysis. The present study provides a theoretical basis and microbial resource for further research on coumarin biodegradation.
Molybdenum, Vanadium, and Tungsten-Based Catalysts for Sustainable (ep)Oxidation
Authors: Pisk Jana , Agustin Dominique
Published: September 2022

This article gives an overview of the research activity of the LAC2 team at LCC developed at Castres in the field of sustainable chemistry with an emphasis on the collaboration with a research team from the University of Zagreb, Faculty of Science, Croatia. The work is situated within the context of sustainable chemistry for the development of catalytic processes. Those processes imply molecular complexes containing oxido-molybdenum, -vanadium, -tungsten or simple polyoxometalates (POMs) as catalysts for organic solvent-free epoxidation. The studies considered first the influence of the nature of complexes (and related ligands) on the reactivity (assessing mechanisms through DFT calculations) with model substrates. From those model processes, the work has been enlarged to the valorization of biomass resources. A part concerns the activity on vanadium chemistry and the final part concerns the use of POMs as catalysts, from molecular to grafted catalysts, (ep)oxidizing substrates from fossil and biomass resources.
Root-Associated Microbiomes of Panax notoginseng under the Combined Effect of Plant Development and Alpinia officinarum Hance Essential Oil
Authors: Zhou Han-Lin , Liu Xiao-Yun , Zhou Chao , Han Si-Fang , Xu Fu-Rong , Dong Xian
Published: September 2022

Essential oils (EOs) have been proposed as an alternative to conventional pesticides to inhibit fungal pathogens. However, the application of EOs is considerably limited due to their highly volatile nature and unpredictable effects on other microbes. In our study, the composition of bacterial and fungal communities from the rhizosphere soil of P. notoginseng under four treatment levels of Alpinia officinarum Hance EO was characterized over several growth stages. Leaf weight varied dramatically among the four EO treatment levels after four months of growth, and the disease index at a low concentration (0.14 mg/g) of EO addition was the lowest among the P. notoginseng growth stages. The content of monomeric saponins was elevated when EO was added. Bacterial and fungal diversity in the absence of plants showed a decreasing trend with increasing levels of EO. Bacterial diversity recovery was more correlated with plant growth than was fungal diversity recovery. Compared with the control (no EO addition), a low concentration of EO significantly accumulated Actinomycota, including Acidothermus, Blastococcus, Catenulispora, Conexibacter, Rhodococcus, and Sinomonas, after one month of plant-microbial interaction. Overall, the results showed that both the plant growth stage and EOs drive changes in the microbial community composition in the rhizosphere of P. notoginseng. Plant development status had a stronger influence on bacterial diversity than on fungal diversity. EO had a more significant effect on fungal community composition, increasing the dominance of Ascomycota when EO concentration was increased. Under the interaction of P. notoginseng growth and EO, a large number of bacterial genera that have been described as plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) responded positively to low concentrations of EO application, suggesting that EO may recruit beneficial microbes in the root zone to cope with pathogens and reduce root rot disease. These results offer novel insights into the relationship between EO application, altered microbial communities in the plant roots, plant growth stage, and disease occurrence.
The Free Radical Scavenging Property of the Leaves, Branches, and Roots of Mansoa hirsuta DC: In Vitro Assessment, 3D Pharmacophore, and Molecular Docking Study
Authors: Alves Patrícia e Silva , Preet Gagan , Dias Leandro , Oliveira Maria , Silva Rafael , Castro Isione , Silva Giovanna , Júnior Joaquim , Lima Nerilson , Silva Dulce Helena , Andrade Teresinha , Jaspars Marcel , Feitosa Chistiane
Published: September 2022

In this work, a metabolic profile of Mansoa hirsuta was investigated, and in vitro assays and theoretical approaches were carried out to evaluate its antioxidant potential. The phytochemical screening detected saponins, organic acids, phenols, tannins, flavonoids, and alkaloids in extracts of leaves, branches, and roots. Through LC-MS analysis, the triterpenes oleanolic acid (m/z 455 [M-H]−) and ursolic acid (m/z 455 [M-H]−) were identified as the main bioactive components. The extracts of the leaves, branches, and roots revealed moderate antioxidant potential in the DPPH test and all extracts were more active in the ABTS test. The leaf extracts showed better antioxidant capacity, displaying IC50 values of 43.5 ± 0.14, 63.6 ± 0.54, and 56.1 ± 0.05 µg mL−1 for DPPH, ABTS, and kinetics assays, respectively. The leaf extract showed higher total flavonoid content (TFC) (5.12 ± 1.02 mg QR/g), followed by branches (3.16 ± 0.88 QR/g) and roots (2.04 ± 0.52 QR/g/g). The extract of the branches exhibited higher total phenolic content (TPC) (1.07 ± 0.77 GAE/g), followed by leaves (0.58 ± 0.30 GAE/g) and roots (0.19 ± 0.47 GAE/g). Pharmacophore and molecular docking analysis were performed in order to better understand the potential mechanism of the antioxidant activity of its major metabolites.
Identification and Structural Characterization of Novel Chondroitin/Dermatan Sulfate Hexassacharide Domains in Human Decorin by Ion Mobility Tandem Mass Spectrometry
Authors: Sarbu Mirela , Ica Raluca , Sharon Edie , Clemmer David E. , Zamfir Alina D.
Published: September 2022

Chondroitin sulfate (CS) and dermatan sulfate (DS) are found in nature linked to proteoglycans, most often as hybrid CS/DS chains. In the extracellular matrix, where they are highly expressed, CS/DS are involved in fundamental processes and various pathologies. The structural diversity of CS/DS domains gave rise to efforts for the development of efficient analytical methods, among which is mass spectrometry (MS), one of the most resourceful techniques for the identification of novel species and their structure elucidation. In this context, we report here on the introduction of a fast, sensitive, and reliable approach based on ion mobility separation (IMS) MS and MS/MS by collision-induced dissociation (CID), for the profiling and structural analysis of CS/DS hexasaccharide domains in human embryonic kidney HEK293 cells decorin (DCN), obtained after CS/DS chain releasing by β-elimination, depolymerization using chondroitin AC I lyase, and fractionation by size-exclusion chromatography. By IMS MS, we were able to find novel CS/DS species, i.e., under- and oversulfated hexasaccharide domains in the released CS/DS chain. In the last stage of analysis, the optimized IMS CID MS/MS provided a series of diagnostic fragment ions crucial for the characterization of the misregulations, which occurred in the sulfation code of the trisulfated-4,5-Δ-GlcAGalNAc[IdoAGalNAc]2 sequence, due to the unusual sulfation sites.
Extraction of the Anticancer and Antimicrobial Agent, Prodigiosin, from Vibrio gazogenes PB1 and Its Identification by 1D and 2D NMR
Authors: Vijay Dhanya , Alshamsi Nassra S. , Moussa Ziad , Akhtar M. Kalim
Published: September 2022

Prodigiosin is a secondary metabolite produced in several species of bacteria. It exhibits antimicrobial and anticancer properties. Methods for the extraction and identification of prodigiosin and their related derivatives from bacterial cultures typically depend on solvent-based extractions followed by NMR spectroscopy. The estuarine bacterium, V. gazogenes PB1, was previously shown to produce prodigiosin. This conclusion, however, was based on analytical data obtained from ultraviolet-visible absorption spectrophotometry and infrared spectroscopy. Complete dependence on these techniques would be considered inadequate for the accurate identification of the various members of the prodiginine family of compounds, which possess very similar chemical structures and near-identical optical properties. In this study, we extracted prodigiosin from a culture of Vibrio gazogenes PB1 cultivated in minimal media, and for the first time, confirmed the synthesis of prodigiosin Vibrio gazogenes PB1 using NMR techniques. The chemical structure was validated by 1H and 13C NMR spectroscopy, and further corroborated by 2D NMR, which included 1H-1H-gDQFCOSY, 1H-13C-gHSQC, and 1H-13C-gHMBC, as well as 1H-1H-homonuclear decoupling experiments. Based on this data, previous NMR spectral assignments of prodigiosin are reaffirmed and in some cases, corrected. The findings will be particularly relevant for experimental work relating to the use of V. gazogenes PB1 as a host for the synthesis of prodigiosin.
Heterologous Expression and Catalytic Properties of Codon-Optimized Small-Sized Bromelain from MD2 Pineapple
Authors: Razali Rafida , Fahrudin Fikran Aranda , Subbiah Vijay Kumar , Takano Kazufumi , Budiman Cahyo
Published: September 2022

Bromelain is a unique enzyme-based bioactive complex containing a mixture of cysteine proteases specifically found in the stems and fruits of pineapple (Ananas comosus) with a wide range of applications. MD2 pineapple harbors a gene encoding a small bromelain cysteine protease with the size of about 19 kDa, which might possess unique properties compared to the other cysteine protease bromelain. This study aims to determine the expressibility and catalytic properties of small-sized (19 kDa) bromelain from MD2 pineapple (MD2-SBro). Accordingly, the gene encoding MD2-SBro was firstly optimized in its codon profile, synthesized, and inserted into the pGS-21a vector. The insolubly expressed MD2-SBro was then resolubilized and refolded using urea treatment, followed by purification by glutathione S-transferase (GST) affinity chromatography, yielding 14 mg of pure MD2-SBro from 1 L of culture. The specific activity and catalytic efficiency (kcat/Km) of MD2-SBro were 3.56 ± 0.08 U mg−1 and 4.75 ± 0.23 × 10−3 µM−1 s−1, respectively, where optimally active at 50 °C and pH 8.0, and modulated by divalent ions. The MD2-SBro also exhibited the ability to scavenge the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl-hydrazyl-hydrate (DPPH) with an IC50 of 0.022 mg mL−1. Altogether, this study provides the production feasibility of active and functional MD2-Bro as a bioactive compound.
Genetic Variants in One-Carbon Metabolism and Their Effects on DHA Biomarkers in Pregnant Women: A Post-Hoc Analysis
Authors: Loinard-González Aura (Alex) P. , Malysheva Olga V. , Klatt Kevin C. , Caudill Marie A.
Published: September 2022

The delivery of docosahexanoic acid (DHA) to the fetus is dependent on maternal one-carbon metabolism, as the latter supports the hepatic synthesis and export of a DHA-enriched phosphatidylcholine molecule via the phosphatidylethanolamine N-methyltransferase (PEMT) pathway. The following is a post-hoc analysis of a choline intervention study that sought to investigate whether common variants in one-carbon metabolizing genes associate with maternal and/or fetal blood biomarkers of DHA status. Pregnant women entering their second trimester were randomized to consume, until delivery, either 25 (n = 15) or 550 (n = 15) mg choline/d, and the effects of genetic variants in the PEMT, BHMT, MTHFD1, and MTHFR genes on DHA status were examined. Variant (vs. non-variant) maternal PEMT rs4646343 genotypes tended to have lower maternal RBC DHA (% total fatty acids) throughout gestation (6.9% vs. 7.4%; main effect, p = 0.08) and lower cord RBC DHA at delivery (7.6% vs. 8.4%; main effect, p = 0.09). Conversely, variant (vs. non-variant) maternal MTHFD1 rs2235226 genotypes exhibited higher cord RBC DHA (8.3% vs. 7.3%; main effect, p = 0.0003) and higher cord plasma DHA (55 vs. 41 μg/mL; main effect, p = 0.05). Genotype tended to interact with maternal choline intake (p < 0.1) to influence newborn DHA status for PEMT rs4646343 and PEMT rs7946. These data support the need to consider variants in one-carbon metabolic genes in studies assessing DHA status and requirements during pregnancy.
Anti-Obesogenic Effects of Sulforaphane-Rich Broccoli (Brassica oleracea var. italica) Sprouts and Myrosinase-Rich Mustard (Sinapis alba L.) Seeds In Vitro and In Vivo
Authors: Men Xiao , Han Xionggao , Lee Se-Jeong , Oh Geon , Park Keun-Tae , Han Jong-Kwon , Choi Sun-Il , Lee Ok-Hwan
Published: September 2022

Glucoraphanin (GRA), a glucosinolate particularly abundant in broccoli (Brassica oleracea var. italica) sprouts, can be converted to sulforaphane (SFN) by the enzyme myrosinase. Herein, we investigated the anti-obesogenic effects of broccoli sprout powder (BSP), mustard (Sinapis alba L.) seed powder (MSP), and sulforaphane-rich MSP-BSP mixture powder (MBP) in bisphenol A (BPA)-induced 3T3-L1 cells and obese C57BL/6J mice. In vitro experiments showed that MBP, BSP, and MSP have no cytotoxic effects. Moreover, MBP and BSP inhibited the lipid accumulation in BPA-induced 3T3-L1 cells. In BPA-induced obese mice, BSP and MBP treatment inhibited body weight gain and ameliorated dyslipidemia. Furthermore, our results showed that BSP and MBP could activate AMPK, which increases ACC phosphorylation, accompanied by the upregulation of lipolysis-associated proteins (UCP-1 and CPT-1) and downregulation of adipogenesis-related proteins (C/EBP-α, FAS, aP2, PPAR-γ, and SREBP-1c), both in vitro and in vivo. Interestingly, MBP exerted a greater anti-obesogenic effect than BSP. Taken together, these findings indicate that BSP and MBP could inhibit BPA-induced adipocyte differentiation and adipogenesis by increasing the expression of the proteins related to lipid metabolism and lipolysis, effectively treating BPA-induced obesity. Thus, BSP and MBP can be developed as effective anti-obesogenic drugs.
Distinguishing the Impacts of Rapid Urbanization on Ecosystem Service Trade-Offs and Synergies: A Case Study of Shenzhen, China
Authors: Liu Zhenhuan , Liu Ziyu , Zhou Yi , Huang Qiandu
Published: September 2022

Cities and urban areas are an important part of global sustainable development, and the health and well-being of urban residents are closely related to the quality, quantity, and diversity of urban ecosystem services. Although the rapid urbanization process has changed the structure and function of urban ecosystems, which is notably different from natural ecosystems, the affected ecosystem services and their interactions—the trade-off impact of urbanization intensity on ecosystem services—remain to be discussed. Using land use/land cover and impervious surface area remote sensing datasets, and InVEST and RUSLE-related ecosystem services models to evaluate seven typical ecosystem services in Shenzhen, this study explored the evolution of multiple ecosystem service trade-offs and synergies during the transition from a natural ecosystem to an urban ecosystem, and how they are affected by urbanization intensity through correlation analysis and a discrete time-step simulation model. The results show that: (1) from 1978 to 2018, in the process of ecosystem transformation, grain production dropped from 228,795 tons to 11,733 tons, fruit production peaked in 1990 at 271,508 tons, and service capacity of both showed obvious degradation. Conversely, the cultural service capacity was remarkably enhanced. (2) With the increase in urbanization level, the trade-off and synergy of ecosystem services gradually transition from linear to nonlinear. The rapid urbanization process drives the nonlinear degradation of ecosystem services and the nonlinear enhancement of synergy. (3) Over the past four decades, ecosystem service bundles within the same kilometer grid have shown a quadratic curve-like decrease with increasing impervious surface area, slowly in the early stages and faster in the later stages. This study concludes that urbanization intensity has a significant impact on ecosystem service trade-offs, which can provide support for the formulation of ecological protection and restoration strategies in territorial space based on ecosystem services.
An Empirical Study on Retinex Methods for Low-Light Image Enhancement
Authors: Rasheed Muhammad Tahir , Guo Guiyu , Shi Daming , Khan Hufsa , Cheng Xiaochun
Published: September 2022

A key part of interpreting, visualizing, and monitoring the surface conditions of remote-sensing images is enhancing the quality of low-light images. It aims to produce higher contrast, noise-suppressed, and better quality images from the low-light version. Recently, Retinex theory-based enhancement methods have gained a lot of attention because of their robustness. In this study, Retinex-based low-light enhancement methods are compared to other state-of-the-art low-light enhancement methods to determine their generalization ability and computational costs. Different commonly used test datasets covering different content and lighting conditions are used to compare the robustness of Retinex-based methods and other low-light enhancement techniques. Different evaluation metrics are used to compare the results, and an average ranking system is suggested to rank the enhancement methods.
Elevation Change of CookE2 Subglacial Lake in East Antarctica Observed by DInSAR and Time-Segmented PSInSAR
Authors: Moon Jihyun , Lee Hoseung , Lee Hoonyol
Published: September 2022

In this study, elevation change and surface morphology of CookE2, one of the most active subglacial lakes in East Antarctica, were analyzed by using Differential Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (DInSAR) and a newly adapted Time-Segmented Persistent Scatterer Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (TS-PSInSAR) techniques. Firstly, several DInSAR pairs were used to study the surface morphology of the subglacial lake during the rapid discharge event in 2007 and the subsequent recharge in 2010 by using ALOS PALSAR data and the continuous recharge from 2018 to 2020 by using Sentinel-1 SAR data. For time-series observation from 2018 to 2020, however, simple integration of DInSAR deviates largely from the satellite altimeter data because errors from the horizontal flow of the surrounding ice field or atmospheric phase accumulate. Conventional PSInSAR deviates from the altimeter data if the LOS displacement exceeds 300 mm, i.e., approximately 1/4 of the slant range resolution of the Sentinel-1 SAR in Interferometric Wide-swath (IW) mode, during the time window. Therefore, a series of Time-Segmented PSInSAR with a 4-month time window could accurately distinguish 1.10 ± 0.01 m/year of highly linear (R2 = 0.99) surface rise rate of CookE2 and 0.63 m/year of horizontal deformation rate of the surrounding ice field from 2018 to 2020.
Efficient 3D Lidar Odometry Based on Planar Patches
Authors: Galeote-Luque Andres , Ruiz-Sarmiento Jose-Raul , Gonzalez-Jimenez Javier
Published: September 2022

In this paper we present a new way to compute the odometry of a 3D lidar in real-time. Due to the significant relation between these sensors and the rapidly increasing sector of autonomous vehicles, 3D lidars have improved in recent years, with modern models producing data in the form of range images. We take advantage of this ordered format to efficiently estimate the trajectory of the sensor as it moves in 3D space. The proposed method creates and leverages a flatness image in order to exploit the information found in flat surfaces of the scene. This allows for an efficient selection of planar patches from a first range image. Then, from a second image, keypoints related to said patches are extracted. This way, our proposal computes the ego-motion by imposing a coplanarity constraint between pairs  whose correspondences are iteratively updated. The proposed algorithm is tested and compared with state-of-the-art ICP algorithms. Experiments show that our proposal, running on a single thread, can run 5× faster than a multi-threaded implementation of GICP, while providing a more accurate localization. A second version of the algorithm is also presented, which reduces the drift even further while needing less than half of the computation time of GICP. Both configurations of the algorithm run at frame rates common for most 3D lidars, 10 and 20 Hz on a standard CPU.
Artificial Tongue Embedded with Conceptual Receptor for Rubber Gustatory Sensor by Electrolytic Polymerization Technique with Utilizing Hybrid Fluid (HF)
Authors: Shimada Kunio
Published: September 2022

The development of gustatory sensors is essential for the development of smart materials for use in robotics, and in the food, beverage, and pharmaceutical industries. We therefore designed a prototype of a rubber tongue embedded with a gustatory receptor mimicking a human tongue using our previously proposed hybrid fluid rubber (HF rubber) and an electrolytic polymerization technique. The fabricated gustatory receptor was composed of Pacinian corpuscles, which are well known and have already been elucidated as effective haptic and auditory receptors in previous studies. Moreover, the receptor has self-powered voltage generated as built-in electricity as a result of the ionized particles and molecules in the HF rubber. The utilization of a layered structure for the Pacinian corpuscles induced a typical response not only to normal and shear forces but to thermal variations. Typical gustatory characteristics, including the initial response voltage and the cyclic voltammogram form, were clearly varied by five tastes: saltiness, sourness, sweetness, bitterness, and umami. These results were due to ORP, pH, and conductivity.
WoX+: A Meta-Model-Driven Approach to Mine User Habits and Provide Continuous Authentication in the Smart City
Authors: Mainetti Luca , Panarese Paolo , Vergallo Roberto
Published: September 2022

The literature is rich in techniques and methods to perform Continuous Authentication (CA) using biometric data, both physiological and behavioral. As a recent trend, less invasive methods such as the ones based on context-aware recognition allows the continuous identification of the user by retrieving device and app usage patterns. However, a still uncovered research topic is to extend the concepts of behavioral and context-aware biometric to take into account all the sensing data provided by the Internet of Things (IoT) and the smart city, in the shape of user habits. In this paper, we propose a meta-model-driven approach to mine user habits, by means of a combination of IoT data incoming from several sources such as smart mobility, smart metering, smart home, wearables and so on. Then, we use those habits to seamlessly authenticate users in real time all along the smart city when the same behavior occurs in different context and with different sensing technologies. Our model, which we called WoX+, allows the automatic extraction of user habits using a novel Artificial Intelligence (AI) technique focused on high-level concepts. The aim is to continuously authenticate the users using their habits as behavioral biometric, independently from the involved sensing hardware. To prove the effectiveness of WoX+ we organized a quantitative and qualitative evaluation in which 10 participants told us a spending habit they have involving the use of IoT. We chose the financial domain because it is ubiquitous, it is inherently multi-device, it is rich in time patterns, and most of all it requires a secure authentication. With the aim of extracting the requirement of such a system, we also asked the cohort how they expect WoX+ will use such habits to securely automatize payments and identify them in the smart city. We discovered that WoX+ satisfies most of the expected requirements, particularly in terms of unobtrusiveness of the solution, in contrast with the limitations observed in the existing studies. Finally, we used the responses given by the cohorts to generate synthetic data and train our novel AI block. Results show that the error in reconstructing the habits is acceptable: Mean Squared Error Percentage (MSEP) 0.04%.
Modeling, Simulation and Implementation of All Terrain Adaptive Five DOF Robot
Authors: Wang Zhe , Zhao Jianwei , Zeng Gang
Published: September 2022

The ability of an off-road robot to traverse obstacles determines whether the robot can complete complex environmental tasks. In order to improve the off-road ability of off-road robots, this paper proposes a new design idea, in which four hub motors are the power system of the robot, the steering system of the robot is composed of a steering machine and a stepping motor, and a five degree of freedom robot model is established. The body structure is designed according to the characteristics of arthropods. The body structure is divided into three modules, and the connecting rod is used as the joint system of the robot to connect the three parts. The body can deform when facing complex obstacles, so as to adapt to different terrains. Then the body structure is simplified, and a mathematical model is established to describe the mathematical relationship between body joint changes. In order to verify the ability of the adaptive all-terrain cross-country robot to traverse obstacles, the load-bearing experiment and obstacle-crossing simulation experiment were carried out through Adams software, and the continuous traversing performance at low obstacles and the ability to break through high obstacles were tested, respectively. The experimental results prove that the designed adaptive all-terrain off-road robot is feasible, has good carrying capacity, and has good passability in the face of low obstacles and high obstacles. Using Ansys software to perform finite element analysis on the wheel connection, the experimental results show that the strength meets the material strength requirements. Finally, a real vehicle test is carried out to verify the correctness of the simulation results.
Multi-User Joint Detection Using Bi-Directional Deep Neural Network Framework in NOMA-OFDM System
Authors: Rahman Md Habibur , Sejan Mohammad Abrar Shakil , Yoo Seung-Geun , Kim Min-A , You Young-Hwan , Song Hyoung-Kyu
Published: September 2022

Non-orthogonal multiple access (NOMA) has great potential to implement the fifth-generation (5G) requirements of wireless communication. For a NOMA traditional detection method, successive interference cancellation (SIC) plays a vital role at the receiver side for both uplink and downlink transmission. Due to the complex multipath channel environment and prorogation of error problems, the traditional SIC method has a limited performance. To overcome the limitation of traditional detection methods, the deep-learning method has an advantage for the highly efficient tool. In this paper, a deep neural network which has bi-directional long short-term memory (Bi-LSTM) for multiuser uplink channel estimation (CE) and signal detection of the originally transmitted signal is proposed. Unlike the traditional CE schemes, the proposed Bi-LSTM model can directly recover multiuser transmission signals suffering from channel distortion. In the offline training stage, the Bi-LTSM model is trained using simulation data based on channel statistics. Then, the trained model is used to recover the transmitted symbols in the online deployment stage. In the simulation results, the performance of the proposed model is compared with the convolutional neural network model and traditional CE schemes such as MMSE and LS. It is shown that the proposed method provides feasible improvements in performance in terms of symbol-error rate and signal-to-noise ratio, making it suitable for 5G wireless communication and beyond.
Toward Collaborative Intelligence in IoV Systems: Recent Advances and Open Issues
Authors: Danba Sedeng , Bao Jingjing , Han Guorong , Guleng Siri , Wu Celimuge
Published: September 2022

Internet of Vehicles (IoV) technology has been attracting great interest from both academia and industry due to its huge potential impact on improving driving experiences and enabling better transportation systems. While a large number of interesting IoV applications are expected, it is more challenging to design an efficient IoV system compared with conventional Internet of Things (IoT) applications due to the mobility of vehicles and complex road conditions. We discuss existing studies about enabling collaborative intelligence in IoV systems by focusing on collaborative communications, collaborative computing, and collaborative machine learning approaches. Based on comparison and discussion about the advantages and disadvantages of recent studies, we point out open research issues and future research directions.
Analysis of the Planar Point Identification Accuracy in CMM Measurements
Authors: Mazur Tomasz , Cepova Lenka , Szymanski Tomasz , Rucki Miroslaw
Published: September 2022

The paper presents the results of the investigations on the direction-dependent accuracy of the point identification during contact probe measurements with a coordinate measuring machine (CMM). Considering the contact point identified by an orthogonal to the surface probe movement, the transformation of coordinates was made in order to calculate the displacement of the measured point. As a result, the positioning accuracy was estimated in three axes. The experiments demonstrated a strong dependence of the displacement on the declination angle. Moreover, it was found that the directional surface texture which provided different roughness in perpendicular directions, had an impact on the positioning accuracy.
Individual and Organizational Strategies for Promoting Work–Life Balance for Sustainable Workforce: A Systematic Literature Review from Pakistan
Authors: Fazal Shawana , Masood Sobia , Nazir Farrukh , Majoka Muhammad Iqbal
Published: September 2022

This systematic review aimed to explore the challenges and strategies for maintaining a work–life balance (WLB) between individual workers and their organizations during COVID-19 in the Pakistani context. Using the inductive approach in thematic synthesis, we analyzed eight qualitative studies on WLB from December 2019–April 2022. The Quality Appraisal process for selecting studies, constant comparison method, and critical discussion was frequently used to enhance the validity and reliability of findings. Eight analytical themes provided insight related to the challenges of maintaining WLB, strategies for facilitating, and recommended strategies for a sustainable workforce. Workload during COVID-19, lack of resources, training in technology, and mental pressure appeared as significant barriers, while family support, counseling provided by the organization, and self-motivation emerged as facilitators for WLB. Further, the findings highlighted the need for organizational interventions, for instance, emergency preparedness and capacity building of employees. Findings provided insight about guidelines for policymakers and government to make informed decisions and policies about maintaining WLB for mental well-being and a sustainable workforce, particularly women. The synthesis implied that investment in the well-being and productivity of employees could contribute to retaining a more resilient and skilled workforce, ensuring women’s workforce sustainability, and enabling lasting recovery from the pandemic.
Romanian Farmers’ Markets: Understanding the Environmental Attitudes of Farmers as an Instrument for Bioeconomy Development
Authors: Polimeni John M. , Iorgulescu Raluca I. , Albu Lucian Liviu , Ionica Andrei
Published: September 2022

Farmers’ markets are vital income sources for many farmers. Farmers’ markets are a direct-to-consumer marketing approach that has existed for centuries, enabling urban dwellers to interact with farmers while shopping for produce and products. In Romania, the piaţa is their version of a farmers’ market. The focus on environmental sustainability within the European Union provides an opportunity for Romanian farmers using sustainable approaches to sell their products. Therefore, understanding the attitudes of farmers selling at farmers’ markets is important to the development of the agricultural sector and the bioeconomy. Furthermore, having knowledge of farmer attitudes enables policy to be developed to encourage the development of sustainable agricultural techniques. The results of this paper indicate that there is a disconnect between the beliefs and attitudes farmers have about the environment and their agricultural practices under various scenarios. Additionally, agricultural training that includes sustainable agricultural techniques and education on the economic benefits of using them would be beneficial. Lastly, the results suggest that a farmer that feels part of the community is more likely to be a steward of the environment.