bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Use of Cavitron Ultrasonic Surgical Aspirator for High-Risk Neuroblastoma with Image-Defined Risk Factors in Children
Authors: Pio Luca , Guérin Florent , Martucci Cristina , Martelli Helene , Gauthier Frédéric , Branchereau Sophie
Published: January 2023

Aim of the study: The cavitron ultrasonic surgical aspirator (CUSA) has gained popularity in adult surgical oncology, but its application in children is limited to liver surgery and neurosurgical procedures. The complete resection of neuroblastoma with image-defined risk factors (IDRFs) is still considered one of the most difficult procedures to achieve in pediatric surgical oncology, with a high morbidity rate and potential risk of intraoperative mortality. The aim of our study is to describe the application of ultrasonic dissection in neuroblastoma with IDRFs. Methods: A retrospective study was performed, analyzing patients operated on from 2000 to 2018. Patient characteristics, resection completeness, and postoperative surgical and oncology outcomes were analyzed. Main results: Twenty-six patients with high-risk neuroblastoma and IDRFs were operated on in the study period with a CUSA. A complete macroscopic resection was performed in 50% of patients, while the other half was operated on with minimal residual (<5 mL). Six post-operative complications occurred without the need for surgery (Clavien–Dindo < 3). The overall survival was 50%, with a median follow-up of 69.6 months (5.6–140.4). Conclusions: The application of the CUSA in neuroblastoma with IDRFs can be considered an effective and safe alternative technique to achieve a radical resection.
Influence of Child’s Temperament on Behaviour Management Problems in the Dental Office: A Literature Review
Authors: Do Nhat Minh , Clauss François , Schmitt Margot , Manière Marie-Cécile
Published: January 2023

Background: A child’s temperament could have an influence on his/her behaviour in the dental environment. This review aims to present the main temperament surveys and their clinical use and to discuss the relationship between certain temperament dimensions and Dental Behaviour Management Problems (DBMP). Methods: A literature search was conducted in Medline/PubMed, ScienceDirect, Wiley Online Library and Cochrane library electronic databases for publications, up to June 2022, investigating the link between child’s temperament and DBMP. Results: From 733 potentially eligible studies, 12 were included in qualitative synthesis. Conclusion: According to studies using the Child Behaviour Questionnaire (CBQ) scale, the most impactful dimensions are activity, extraversion and surgency, high-intensity pleasure and attention control. For those using the Emotionality–Activity–Sociability (EAS) scale, emotionality and shyness have a statistically significant positive linear correlation with dental anxiety and DBMP. It has yet to be determined whether the use and interpretation of these questionnaires can be carried out in a daily clinical situation as an aid to sharpen the indications for the several levels of sedation.
Transcriptomic Analysis of the Effect of Metformin against Cisplatin-Induced Ototoxicity: A Potential Mechanism of Metformin-Mediated Inhibition of Thioredoxin-Interacting Protein (Txnip) Gene Expression
Authors: Lee Sehee , Choi Sun , Park Seok Hyun , Im Gi Jung , Chang Jiwon
Published: January 2023

Ototoxicity is the drug-induced damage of the inner ear, causing bilateral irreversible sensorineural hearing loss. Cisplatin is a widely used chemotherapeutic agent which causes ototoxicity as its side effect. Pretreatment with metformin prior to the application of cisplatin significantly decreased the late apoptosis and attenuated the cisplatin-induced increase in ROS. To understand the molecular mechanisms that are involved in the preventive effect of metformin, we evaluated the change of gene expression induced by cisplatin at several different time points (0 h, 6 h, 15 h, 24 h and 48 h) and the alteration of gene expression according to pretreatment with metformin in HEI-OC1 cells through microarray analysis. Cisplatin exposure induced a total of 89 DEGs (differentially expressed genes) after 6 h, with a total of 433 DEGs after 15 h, a total of 941 DEGs after 24 h, and a total of 2764 DEGs after 48 h. When cells were pretreated with metformin for 24 h, we identified a total of 105 DEGs after 6 h of cisplatin exposure, a total of 257 DEGs after 15 h, a total of 1450 DEGs after 24 h, and a total of 1463 DEGs after 48 h. The analysis was performed based on the gene expression, network analyses, and qRT-PCR, and we identified several genes (CSF2, FOS, JUN, TNFα, NFκB, Txnip, ASK1, TXN2, ATF3, TP53, IL6, and IGF1) as metformin-related preventive biomarkers in cisplatin ototoxicity.
Antioxidant, Anti-Apoptotic, and Anti-Inflammatory Effects of Farrerol in a Mouse Model of Obstructive Uropathy
Authors: Kim Jung-Yeon , Leem Jaechan , Park Kwan-Kyu
Published: January 2023

Obstructive uropathy is a clinical condition that can lead to chronic kidney disease. However, treatments that can prevent the progression of renal injury and fibrosis are limited. Farrerol (FA) is a natural flavone with potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Here, we investigated the effect of FA on renal injury and fibrosis in a mouse model of unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO). Mice underwent a sham or UUO operation and received intraperitoneal injections of FA (20 mg/kg) daily for 8 consecutive days. Histochemistry, immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence staining, TdT-mediated dUTP nick end labeling assay, Western blotting, gene expression analysis, and biochemical tests were performed. FA attenuated renal dysfunction (p < 0.05) and ameliorated renal tubular injury (p < 0.01) and interstitial fibrosis (p < 0.001) in UUO mice. FA alleviated 4-hydroxynonenal expression (p < 0.001) and malondialdehyde levels (p < 0.01) by regulating pro-oxidant and antioxidant enzymes. Apoptosis in the kidneys of UUO mice was inhibited by FA (p < 0.001), and this action was accompanied by decreased expression of cleaved caspase-3 (p < 0.01). Moreover, FA alleviated pro-inflammatory cytokine production (p < 0.001) and macrophage infiltration (p < 0.01) in the kidneys of UUO mice. These results suggest that FA ameliorates renal injury and fibrosis in the UUO model by inhibiting oxidative stress, apoptosis, and inflammation.
A Novel H2O/LiBr Absorption Heat Pump with Condensation Heat Recovery for Combined Heating and Cooling Production: Energy Analysis for Different Applications
Authors: Prieto Juan , Ayou Dereje S. , Coronas Alberto
Published: January 2023

The aim of this study is to analyze the feasibility of the single-effect H2O/LiBr absorption heat pump cycle to produce combined heating and cooling. To achieve this, first, the main changes that the absorption cycle requires are described in comparison with the conventional single-effect absorption chiller. Then, the cycle’s operational limits in terms of temperature lift and LiBr crystallization are evaluated. In this sense, driving heat temperatures required for these applications range from 85 °C to 120 °C. The energy and exergy performance (in terms of cooling and heating capacities, cooling and heating coefficient of performance, and exergy coefficient of performance) of the cycle is theoretically studied for five different types of applications that require simultaneous heating and cooling: building air conditioning, a 4th generation district heating and cooling network, a sports center with an indoor swimming pool, a hybrid air conditioning system with an absorption heat pump and a desiccant evaporative cooling system, and simultaneous cooling and water purification application for coastal areas. The system performance in terms of the cooling coefficient of performance varies in the range of 0.812–0.842, in terms of heating coefficient of performance from 0.58 to 1.842, and in terms of exergy coefficient of performance from 0.451 to 0.667. The application with the highest exergy coefficient of performance is the 4th generation district heating and cooling network.
Experimental Design Considerations for Assessing Atmospheric Corrosion in a Marine Environment: Surrogate C1010 Steel
Authors: Sanders Christine E. , Santucci Raymond J.
Published: January 2023

A rigorous assessment of marine atmospheric corrosion at a controlled NRL test site in Key West Florida was conducted. Certain factors which have been previously implicated in the literature as influencing the corrosion of engineering materials in atmospheric exposure were isolated and explored. In particular, the effect of sample size and orientation was explored. Low carbon steel (C1010) witness coupons were exposed in vertical non-sheltered, vertical sheltered, and tilted non-sheltered conditions. The effect of surface area on measured steel mass loss was also explored to identify the veracity of the so-called “edge effect”. Efforts were made to correlate meteorological atmospheric conditions (temperature, relative humidity, wind speed, wind direction, etc.) to the monthly assessment of corrosion damage. Results were assessed in terms of steel mass loss. Additive composite monthly corrosion damage tended to significantly overshoot the observed cumulative corrosion damage for samples exposed over the same period. This observation, among others presented herein, suggests that exposure of samples for less than 6 months is not an adequate predictor of long-term, natural exposure. Additionally, a smaller sample had a larger area-normalized mass loss than a larger sample. The influence of the sample edge (especially the bottom edge) was implicated in causing this difference.
Development of Photocatalytically Active Anodized Layers by a Modified Phosphoric Acid Anodizing Process for Air Purification
Authors: Lederer Stephan , Benfer Sigrid , Bloh Jonathan , Javed Rezan , Pashkova Aneta , Fuerbeth Wolfram
Published: January 2023

One of the key urban air quality issues is pollution by nitrogen oxides (NOx). To reduce NOx, facade cladding could be provided with photocatalytic properties by incorporating titanium dioxide nanoparticles. For this purpose, a modified phosphoric acid anodizing process (MPAA) was developed for the facade alloy EN AW-5005, in which highly ordered anodized structures with a low degree of arborization and tortuosity were produced. Pore widths between 70 nm and 150 nm and layer thicknesses of about 2–3 μm were obtained. The subsequent impregnation was carried out by dip coating from water-based systems. Depending on the dip-coating parameters and the suspension used, the pores can be filled up to 60% with the TiO2 nanoparticles. Photocatalytic tests according to ISO 22197-1 certify a high photocatalytic activity was obtained with rPCE values > 8 and with rPCE > 2, achieving “photocatalytically active for air purification”. Tests on the corrosion resistance of the anodized coatings with a commercially available aluminum and facade cleaner confirm a protective effect of the anodized coatings when compared with nonanodized aluminum material, as well as with compacted anodized layers.
Experimental Investigation and Optimization of AZ31 Mg alloy during Warm Incremental Sheet Forming to Study Fracture and Forming Behaviour
Authors: Magdum Rohit , Chinnaiyan Pandivelan
Published: January 2023

The main purpose of this research work is to study the forming limit and fracture behaviour of the AZ31 magnesium alloy, as well as to improve the formability and surface roughness of parts formed using the warm incremental sheet forming (ISF) process. For the ISF process, AZ31 Mg alloy sheets were used. Initially, Taguchi orthogonal L27 arrays were used to design experiments, and a framed multi-objective optimization problem was solved using the grey-fuzzy method. The strain-based forming fracture limit diagrams (FFLD) were plotted after a variable wall angle test. The grey-fuzzy reasoning grade (GFRG) is calculated in this study by combining grey relational analysis (GRA) and fuzzy rationale. For the AZ31 Mg alloy, the maximum GFRG value was obtained for the following forming combinations: step depth 0.3 mm, feed rate 500 mm/min, spindle speed 700 rpm, and tool diameter 10 mm. Then, ANOVA was used to determine the importance of parameters on the responses, and it was discovered that the step depth has the greatest influence (68.78%) on GFRG value, followed by the feed rate (16.56%). The fracture behaviour of the Mg alloy was studied using fractographs. Later, FE simulation was used to validate the strain value obtained from experimentation and to investigate the effect of process parameters on responses.
Tribological Behaviour of Al-2024/TiC Metal Matrix Composites
Authors: Bedolla-Becerril Egberto , Garcia-Guerra Josefina , Lopez-Morelos Víctor H. , Garcia-Renteria Marco A. , Falcon-Franco Lazaro A. , Martinez-Landeros Víctor H. , García-Villarreal Sergio , Flores-Villaseñor Sergio E.
Published: January 2023

Pin-on-disk tests were performed to evaluate the wear behaviour of a 2024 aluminium alloy metal matrix composite (MMC) reinforced with 52 vol.% of TiC particles (Al-2024/TiC) in a fabricated and thermal-treated (T6) condition. The MMC was produced via pressureless infiltration of partially sintered TiC preforms with an average particle size of 1.1 μm at 1200 °C for 2 h under flowing argon. Microstructural and mechanical characterisation were carried out on both the monolithic alloy (MM) and the MMC with and without heat treatment. The effect of T6 heat treatment on the tribological behaviour of MMC has been investigated under dry sliding wear conditions under normal loads of 2, 5 and 10 N against ceramic α-Al2O3 and SAE 52100 steel spherical counterparts. Results indicate a substantial improvement in the microhardness (289–343 HV), hardness (25–34 HRC), and wear resistance of the MMC after T6 heat treatment (1 × 10−3 to 5 × 10−5 mm3/Nm). For a better understanding of the wear mechanisms, surfaces of the worn tracks were studied. Oxidation and abrasion were found as the dominant wear mechanisms in both MM and MMC samples. Even though MM exhibited a lower coefficient of friction (COF) (0.50–0.80), composites showed superior wear resistance by 5-fold higher than the base alloy.
N-Annulation of the BTI Rylene Imide Organic Building Block: Impact on the Optoelectronic Properties of π-Extended Molecular Structures
Authors: Andrés Castán José María , Abidi Sana , Ghanem Tatiana , Touihri Saad , Blanchard Philippe , Welch Gregory C. , Zagranyarski Yulian , Boixel Julien , Walker Bright , Josse Pierre , Cabanetos Clément
Published: January 2023

Benzothioxanthene imide (BTI) has recently emerged as an interesting and promising block for organic electronics. In this contribution, we report on the impact of the N-annulation of the latter dye on the optoelectronic of π-extended molecular structures. To do so, the thiophene-diketopyrrolopyrrole was selected, as central π-conjugated core, and either end-capped with two BTIs or its N-annulated version, namely the TCI. While almost similar band gaps were measured for individual rylene imide dyes, significant differences were highlighted, and rationalized, on their π-extended counterparts.
Charge–Phase Duality and Cotunneling of Fluxons in SQUID-like Nanorings
Authors: Latyshev Alex , Semenov Andrew G. , Zaikin Andrei D.
Published: January 2023

Employing charge–flux duality for Josephson junctions and superconducting nanowires, we predict a novel effect of fluxon cotunneling in SQUID-like nanorings. This process is strictly dual to that of Cooper pair cotunneling in superconducting transistors formed by a pairs of Josephson tunnel junctions connected in series. Cooper pair cotunneling is known to lift Coulomb blockade in these structures at low temperatures. Likewise, fluxon cotunneling may eliminate the magnetic blockade of superconducting phase fluctuations in SQUID-like nanorings, driving them into an insulating state.
Ecodesigned Formulations with Tomato Pomace Extracts
Authors: Jamaleddine Aya , Urrutigoïty Martine , Bouajila Jalloul , Merah Othmane , Evon Philippe , de Caro Pascale
Published: January 2023

Tomato pomace (TP) has previously been identified as a coproduct that is rich in bioactive molecules, with potential beneficial effects for health. For tomato pomace that is composed of the skin, seeds and fibers, the challenge is to recover the molecules of interest trapped in the biopolymers. The use of deep eutectic solvents to extract metabolites from vegetable materials could present some advantages. Four natural deep eutectic solvents (NaDESs) were synthesized and characterized by infrared spectroscopy, thermogravimetry (TG) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The TP was treated by maceration at moderate temperatures with the NaDESs. We identified 39 extracted molecules by HPLC–DAD, which revealed an abundance of hydroxy/methoxy flavones, flavanols, flavonols, phenolic acids, carotenoids and tannins, as well as a certain selectivity in the extracted molecules. Four cosmetic formulations that included the NaDESs were prepared. The NaDESs showed film-forming properties, which were harnessed for the final formulations, thanks to their biocompatibilities. Finally, the coupling of the extraction and formulation is a way to preserve the quality of the extracts and prepare ecodesigned formulations.
Effect of Longitudinal Magnetic Field on the Microstructure and Properties of A-TIG Welding with Different TiO2 Coating Amounts
Authors: Liu Xintong , Su Yunhai , Zhang Guiqing , Wang Ruiqi , Cai Xianglin
Published: January 2023

In order to improve the poor weldability and low quality of welded joints during the welding of magnesium alloys, a longitudinal magnetic field is introduced in the welding process of A-TIG welding with a fixed magnetic field frequency (30 Hz) and magnetic field current (1.5 A). Experimental analysis is performed on the effect of the magnetic field on the microstructure and mechanical properties of welded joints under different TiO2 active agent coating amounts. The results show that the grain size tends to decrease and then increase with the increase in the active agent coating under the magnetic field. This is mainly because the active agent changes the arc morphology, which in turn affects the melt pool motion. The Lorentz force generated by the longitudinal magnetic field acts on the molten pool and will have an agitating effect on the pool. Both the magnetic field and the active agent are convective to the melt pool, and when the magnetic field and the active agent act together will further enhance the convective effect. However, when the active agent is too thick, it will affect the fluidity of the molten pool during welding and reduce the quality of the welded joint. Under the action of magnetic field, when the active agent coating amount is 3 mg/cm2, the grain size is the finest and the mechanical properties are the best. At this time, the tensile strength was 292 MPa, elongation was 11.2%, and hardness was 78.9 HV in the weld zone and 77.8 HV in the heat-affected zone. Further analysis of the melt pool change and grain refinement mechanism under the combined effect of the magnetic field and active agent revealed that the magnetic field promotes the solidification of the second phase in the weld tissue, but the effect on the heat-affected zone is not obvious. The addition of the magnetic field was found to refine the grains by EBSD testing, reducing the average grain size by 1.43 μm. This indicates that the introduction of the magnetic field in the A-TIG welding process improves the mechanical properties and microstructure of the welded joint, which is conducive to solving the problem of poor weldability in the welding process of magnesium alloys.
A Stochastic Thermo-Mechanical Waves with Two-Temperature Theory for Electro-Magneto Semiconductor Medium
Authors: Alenazi Abdulaziz , Ahmed Abdelaala , El-Bary Alaa A. , Tantawi Ramdan S. , Lotfy Khaled
Published: January 2023

This paper investigates an uncommon technique by using the influence of the random function (Weiner process function), on a two-temperature problem, at the free surface of the semiconducting medium, by using the photo-thermoelasticity theory. Using the Silicon material as an example of a semiconducting medium under the influence of a magnetic field, the novel model can be formulated. To make the problem more logical, the randomness of the Weiner process function is aged to the governing stochastic equation. A combining stochastic process with the boundary of the variables is studied. In this case, the stochastic and deterministic solutions were obtained for all physical quantities. The additional noise is regarded as white noise. The problem is investigated according to a two-dimensional (2D) deformation. The normal mode method can be used mathematically to obtain numerically the deterministic, stochastic, and variance solutions of all physical quantities. Three sample paths are obtained by making a comparison between the stochastic and deterministic distributions of the field variables. The impacts of adding randomization to the boundary conditions are highlighted. The numerical results are shown graphically and discussed in consideration of the two-temperature parameter effect.
Correlation between Lymphocyte-to-Monocyte Ratio (LMR), Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte Ratio (NLR), Platelet-to-Lymphocyte Ratio (PLR) and Extramural Vascular Invasion (EMVI) in Locally Advanced Rectal Cancer
Authors: Gawiński Cieszymierz , Hołdakowska Anna , Wyrwicz Lucjan
Published: January 2023

Rectal cancer constitutes around one-third of all colorectal cancers. New markers are required to optimize the treatment. Extramural vascular invasion (EMVI) is a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-based negative prognostic marker. Lymphocyte-to-monocyte ratio (LMR), neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) or platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) are blood-based systemic inflammatory response markers with proven prognostic value in many cancers, including CRC. We hypothesized whether there is a relationship between LMR, NLR, PLR and the presence of EMVI on pre-treatment MRI in patients with locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC). We conducted a retrospective analysis of 371 patients with LARC treated in the Maria Skłodowska-Curie National Research Institute of Oncology, Warsaw, Poland between August 2016 and December 2021. One hundred eighty-four patients were found eligible for the study. A correlation between the extension of the tumour, nodal status, clinical stage of the disease and the presence of EMVI was found (p < 0.001). The pre-treatment level of neutrophils, platelets and carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) was significantly higher in the EMVI-positive population (p = 0.041, p = 0.01, p = 0.027, respectively). There were no significant differences regarding the level of LMR, NLR and PLR between the EMVI-positive and EMVI-negative population. LMR, NLR and PLR do not differentiate patients in terms of EMVI; neither of these parameters is a good predictor of the status of EMVI in LARC.
Retrospective Assessment of Complementary Liquid Biopsy on Tissue Single-Gene Testing for Tumor Genotyping in Advanced NSCLC
Authors: Desmeules Patrice , Dusselier Matthieu , Bouffard Cédrik , Bafaro Josée , Fortin Marc , Labbé Catherine , Joubert Philippe
Published: January 2023

Biomarker testing is key for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) management and plasma based next-generation sequencing (NGS) is increasingly characterized as a non-invasive alternative. This study aimed to evaluate the value of complementary circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) NGS on tissue single-gene testing (SGT). Ninety-one advanced stage NSCLC patients with tumor genotyping by tissue SGT (3 genes) followed by ctDNA (38 genes amplicon panel) were included. ctDNA was positive in 47% (n = 43) and identified a targetable biomarker in 19 patients (21%). The likelihood of positivity on ctDNA was higher if patients had extra-thoracic disease (59%) or were not under active treatment (59%). When compared to SGT, ctDNA provided additional information in 41% but missed a known alteration in 8%. Therapeutic change for targeted therapy based on ctDNA occurred in five patients (5%), while seven patients with missed alterations on ctDNA had EGFR mutations or ALK fusions. The median turnaround time of ctDNA was 10 days (range 6–25), shorter (p = 0.002) than the cumulative delays for the tissue testing trajectory until biomarker availability (13 d; range 7–1737). Overall, the results from this study recapitulate the potential and limitations of ctDNA when used complementarily to tissue testing with limited biomarker coverage.
How Might Climate Change Affect Adaptive Responses of Polar Arthropods?
Authors: Matheson Paige , McGaughran Angela
Published: January 2023

Climate change is expected to impact the global distribution and diversity of arthropods, with warmer temperatures forcing species to relocate, acclimate, adapt, or go extinct. The Arctic and Antarctic regions are extremely sensitive to climate change and have displayed profound and variable changes over recent decades, including decreases in sea ice extent, greening of tundra, and changes to hydrological and biogeochemical cycles. It is unclear how polar-adapted arthropods will respond to such changes, though many are expected to be at great risk of extinction. Here, we review the adaptive mechanisms that allow polar arthropods to persist in extreme environments and discuss how the effects of climate change at the poles will likely favour non-native species or those with the ability to rapidly evolve and/or acclimate. We find that physiological, behavioural, plastic, and genetic data are limited in scope for polar arthropods and research on adaptive responses to change is scarce. This restricts our ability to predict how they may respond to a warming climate. We call for a greater investment in research that specifically targets the ecology and evolution of these taxa, including genomic and transcriptomic approaches that can evaluate the potential for plastic and evolved environmental responses.
Acanthopharynx Marine Nematodes (Nematoda, Chromadoria, Desmodoridae) Dwelling in Tropical Demosponges: Integrative Taxonomy with Description of a New Species
Authors: Tchesunov Alexei , García Patricia Rodríguez , Simakova Ulyana , Mokievsky Vadim
Published: January 2023

In the exploration of the meiofauna associated with sponges and corals in the shallows of Cuba, we investigated nine species of sponges (Demospongia), wherein 26 nematode species were revealed. Most nematode specimens (50–95% of all individuals) in all sponge samples belonged to the family Desmodoridae (order Desmodorida), followed by the family Chromadoridae (order Chromadorida). A major part of Desmodoridae is constituted by the genus Acanthopharynx. A statistical morphometric analysis (principal component analysis and multidimensional scaling with testing via analysis of similarities) revealed two close cohorts that differed in size and pharynx shape. Molecular genetic analyses (COI, 18S, and 28S) also distinguished two groups of specimens that corresponded to morphometric cohorts. Based on the morphometry and molecular genetics, the larger-sized group was defined as Acanthopharynx micans (Eberth, 1873), while the smaller-sized group was considered A. parva sp. n. In light of the taxonomic review of the Acanthopharynx, emended generic diagnosis, and the annotated list of ten valid species, A. parva sp. n. differed from other Acanthopharynx species by its peculiar shape of the pharynx (gradually widened to cardia), smaller body size, and pattern of precloacal organs.
A Consistent Land Cover Map Time Series at 2 m Spatial Resolution—The LifeWatch 2006-2015-2018-2019 Dataset for Wallonia
Authors: Radoux Julien , Bourdouxhe Axel , Coppée Thomas , De Vroey Mathilde , Dufrêne Marc , Defourny Pierre
Published: January 2023

Ecosystem accounting is based on the definition of the extent and the status of an ecosystem. Land cover maps extents are representative of several ecosystems and can therefore be used to support ecosystem accounting if reliable change information is available. The dataset described in this paper aims to provide land cover information (13 classes) for biodiversity monitoring, which has driven two key features. On one hand, open areas were described in more details (5 classes) than in the other maps available in the study area in order to increase their relevance for biodiversity models. On the other hand, monitoring means that the time series must consist of comparable layers. The time series integrate information from existing high quality land cover maps that are not fully comparable, as well as thematic products (crop type, road network and forest type) and remote sensing data (25 cm orthophotos, 0.8 pts/m2 LIDAR and Sentinel-1&2 data). Because of the high spatial resolution of the data and the fragmented landscape, boundary errors could cause a large proportion of false change detection if the maps are classified independently. Buildings and forests were therefore consolidated across time in order to build a time series where these changes can be trusted. Based on an independent validation, the overall accuracy was 93.1%, 92.6%, 94.8% and 93.9% +/−1.3% for the years 2006, 2015, 2018 and 2019, respectively. The specific assessment of forest patch change highlighted a 98% +/−2.7% user accuracy across the 4 years and 85% of forest cut detection. This time series will be completed and further consolidated with other dates using the same protocol and legend.
Block Sparse Bayesian Learning Based Joint User Activity Detection and Channel Estimation in Grant-Free MIMO-NOMA
Authors: Chen Shuo , Li Haojie , Zhang Lanjie , Zhou Mingyu , Li Xuehua
Published: January 2023

In the massive machine type of communication (mMTC), grant-free non-orthogonal multiple access (NOMA) is receiving more and more attention because it can skip the complex grant process to allocate non-orthogonal resources to serve more users. To address the limited wireless resources and substantial connection challenges, combining grant-free NOMA and multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) is crucial to further improve the system’s capacity. In the grant-free MIMO-NOMA system, the base station should obtain the relevant information of the user before data detection. Thus, user activity detection (UAD) and channel estimation (CE) are two problems that should be solved urgently. In this paper, we fully consider the sparse characteristics of signals and the spatial correlation between multiple antennas in the grant-free MIMO-NOMA system. Then, we propose a spatial correlation block sparse Bayesian learning (SC-BSBL) algorithm to address the joint UAD and CE problems. First, by fully mining the block sparsity of signals in the grant-free MIMO-NOMA system, we model the joint UAD and CE problem as a three-dimensional block sparse signal recovery problem. Second, we derive the cost function based on the hierarchical Bayesian theory and spatial correlation. Finally, to estimate the channel and the set of active users, we optimize the cost function with fast marginal likelihood maximization. The simulation results indicate that, compared with the existing algorithms, SC-BSBL can always fully use the signal sparsity and spatial correlation to accurately complete UAD and CE under various user activation probabilities, SNRs, and the number of antennas. The normalized mean square error of CE can be reduced to 0.01, and the UAD error rate can be less than 10−5.
A System for the Direct Monitoring of Biological Objects in an Ecologically Balanced Zone
Authors: Zhiqiang Wang , Balabanov Pavel , Muromtsev Dmytry , Ushakov Ivan , Divin Alexander , Egorov Andrey , Zhirkova Alexandra , Kucheryavii Yevgeny
Published: January 2023

This article discusses a model of a robotic platform that can be used for the proximal probing of biological objects in an ecologically balanced zone. The proximal probing is for scanning deciduous and fertile parts of biological objects with a hyperspectral camera at a distance of no more than a few meters. It allows for the obtention of information about the presence of phyto-diseases of tissues and also about the degree of ripeness and other parameters of the internal quality of the fruit. In this article, we report the methods and approaches used to detect fruits in the crown of a tree and also to identify their diseases such as scab and decay with an accuracy of at least 87%. For the autonomous movement of the platform in an ecologically balanced area, visual and inertial navigation is based on a Zed 2i stereo camera. This allows for the moving of biological objects in accordance with a given route indicated on the 2D map. The analysis of the information received from this platform allows for the building of maps of the presence of phyto-deseases in an ecologically balanced zone, and decisions are promptly made regarding the implementation of technical and protective measures that ensure high-quality products.
Improving the Process of Early-Warning Detection and Identifying the Most Affected Markets: Evidence from Subprime Mortgage Crisis and COVID-19 Outbreak—Application to American Stock Markets
Authors: Elsegai Heba
Published: January 2023

Stock-market-crash predictability is of particular interest in the field of financial time-series analysis. Famous examples of major stock-market crashes are the real-estate bubble in 2008 and COVID-19 in 2020. Several studies have studied the prediction process without taking into consideration which markets might be falling into a crisis. To this end, a combination analysis is utilized in this manuscript. Firstly, the auto-regressive estimation (ARE) algorithm is successfully applied to electroencephalography (EEG) brain data for detecting diseases. The ARE algorithm is employed based on state-space modelling, which applies the expectation-maximization algorithm and Kalman filter. This manuscript introduces its application, for the first time, to stock-market data. For this purpose, a time-evolving interaction surface is constructed to observe the change in the surface topology. This enables tracking of the stock market’s behavior over time and differentiates between different states. This provides a deep understanding of the underlying system behavior before, during, and after a crisis. Different patterns of the stock-market movements are recognized, providing novel information regarding detecting an early-warning sign. Secondly, a Granger-causality time-domain technique, called directed partial correlation, is employed to infer the underlying interconnectivity structure among markets. This information is crucial for investors and market players, enabling them to differentiate between those markets which will fall in a catastrophic loss, and those which will not. Consequently, they can make successful decisions towards selecting less risky portfolios, which guarantees lower losses. The results showed the effectiveness of the use of this methodology in the framework of the process of early-warning detection.
Multi-Representation Domain Adaptation Network with Duplex Adversarial Learning for Hot-Rolling Mill Fault Diagnosis
Authors: Peng Rongrong , Zhang Xingzhong , Shi Peiming
Published: January 2023

The multi-process manufacturing of steel rolling products requires the cooperation of complicated and variable rolling conditions. Such conditions pose challenges to the fault diagnosis of the key equipment of the rolling mill. The development of transfer learning has alleviated the problem of fault diagnosis under variable working conditions to a certain extent. However, existing diagnosis methods based on transfer learning only consider the distribution alignment from a single representation, which may only transfer part of the state knowledge and generate fuzzy decision boundaries. Therefore, this paper proposes a multi-representation domain adaptation network with duplex adversarial learning for hot rolling mill fault diagnosis. First, a multi-representation network structure is designed to extract rolling mill equipment status information from multiple perspectives. Then, the domain adversarial strategy is adopted to match the source and target domains of each pair of representations for learning domain-invariant features from multiple representation networks. In addition, the maximum classifier discrepancy adversarial algorithm is adopted to generate target features that are close to the source support, thereby forming a robust decision boundary. Finally, the average value of the predicted probabilities of the two classifiers is used as the final diagnostic result. Extensive experiments are conducted on an experimental platform of a four-high hot rolling mill to collect the fault state data of the reduction gearbox and roll bearing. The experimental results reveal that the method can effectively realize the fault diagnosis of rolling mill equipment under variable working conditions and can achieve average diagnostic rates of up to 99.15% and 99.40% on the data sets of the rolling mill gearbox and bearing, which are respectively 2.19% and 1.93% higher than the rates achieved by the most competitive method.
A p-Adic Model of Quantum States and the p-Adic Qubit
Authors: Aniello Paolo , Mancini Stefano , Parisi Vincenzo
Published: January 2023

We propose a model of a quantum N-dimensional system (quNit) based on a quadratic extension of the non-Archimedean field of p-adic numbers. As in the standard complex setting, states and observables of a p-adic quantum system are implemented by suitable linear operators in a p-adic Hilbert space. In particular, owing to the distinguishing features of p-adic probability theory, the states of an N-dimensional p-adic quantum system are implemented by p-adic statistical operators, i.e., trace-one selfadjoint operators in the carrier Hilbert space. Accordingly, we introduce the notion of selfadjoint-operator-valued measure (SOVM)—a suitable p-adic counterpart of a POVM in a complex Hilbert space—as a convenient mathematical tool describing the physical observables of a p-adic quantum system. Eventually, we focus on the special case where N=2, thus providing a description of p-adic qubit states and 2-dimensional SOVMs. The analogies—but also the non-trivial differences—with respect to the qubit states of standard quantum mechanics are then analyzed.
A Clustering-Enhanced Memetic Algorithm for the Quadratic Minimum Spanning Tree Problem
Authors: Zhang Shufan , Mao Jianlin , Wang Niya , Li Dayan , Ju Chengan
Published: January 2023

The quadratic minimum spanning tree problem (QMSTP) is a spanning tree optimization problem that considers the interaction cost between pairs of edges arising from a number of practical scenarios. This problem is NP-hard, and therefore there is not a known polynomial time approach to solve it. To find a close-to-optimal solution to the problem in a reasonable time, we present for the first time a clustering-enhanced memetic algorithm (CMA) that combines four components, i.e., (i) population initialization with clustering mechanism, (ii) a tabu-based nearby exploration phase to search nearby local optima in a restricted area, (iii) a three-parent combination operator to generate promising offspring solutions, and (iv) a mutation operator using Lévy distribution to prevent the population from premature. Computational experiments are carried on 36 benchmark instances from 3 standard sets, and the results show that the proposed algorithm is competitive with the state-of-the-art approaches. In particular, it reports improved upper bounds for the 25 most challenging instances with unproven optimal solutions, while matching the best-known results for all but 2 of the remaining instances. Additional analysis highlights the contribution of the clustering mechanism and combination operator to the performance of the algorithm.
Variational Quantum Process Tomography of Non-Unitaries
Authors: Xue Shichuan , Wang Yizhi , Liu Yong , Shi Weixu , Wu Junjie
Published: January 2023

Quantum process tomography is a fundamental and critical benchmarking and certification tool that is capable of fully characterizing an unknown quantum process. Standard quantum process tomography suffers from an exponentially scaling number of measurements and complicated data post-processing due to the curse of dimensionality. On the other hand, non-unitary operators are more realistic cases. In this work, we put forward a variational quantum process tomography method based on the supervised quantum machine learning framework. It approximates the unknown non-unitary quantum process utilizing a relatively shallow depth parametric quantum circuit and fewer input states. Numerically, we verified our method by reconstructing the non-unitary quantum mappings up to eight qubits in two cases: the weighted sum of the randomly generated quantum circuits and the imaginary time evolution of the Heisenberg XXZ spin chain Hamiltonian. Results show that those quantum processes could be reconstructed with high fidelities (>99%) and shallow depth parametric quantum circuits (d≤8), while the number of input states required is at least two orders of magnitude less than the demands of the standard quantum process tomography. Our work shows the potential of the variational quantum process tomography method in characterizing non-unitary operators.
Design and Evaluation of the Elastic and Anti-Corrosion Cement Slurry for Carbon Dioxide Storage
Authors: Lian Jihong , Yue Jiaping , Xing Xuesong , Wu Zhiqiang
Published: January 2023

Carbon dioxide capture and storage is the primary way to reduce greenhouse gas emissions on a large scale. Carbon dioxide storage is the critical link of this technology, and the way in which to achieve long-term storage is a problem to be considered. The elastic and anti-corrosion cement slurry is the key for the successful storage of carbon dioxide. In order to develop the cement slurry for carbon dioxide storage, the influence of resin with both elastic and anti-corrosion properties on the performance of a cement slurry was investigated. The dispersant, retarder, and filtrate reducer suitable for the cement slurry were studied, and the performance of the designed cement slurry for carbon dioxide storage was evaluated. The experimental results show that the resin can reduce water loss and improve the elasticity and corrosion resistance of cement paste. The elastic modulus and corrosion depth of the resin cement slurry were significantly lower than those of the non-resin cement slurry. By studying the dispersant and retarder, the performances of the cement slurry for carbon dioxide storage was found to be able to meet the requirements of the cementing operation. The water loss of the designed cement slurry was low, the thickening time was more than three hours, and the rheological property was excellent. The elastic modulus and corrosion depth of the designed cement slurry was very low. The cement paste had a strong resistance to damage and corrosion. The structure after corrosion was denser than the conventional cement slurry, and the characteristic peak of corrosion products was weaker. The designed elastic and anti-corrosion cement slurry was well suitable for the cementing operation of carbon dioxide storage wells.
Aluminum-Based Fuels as Energy Carriers for Controllable Power and Hydrogen Generation—A Review
Authors: Gao Xinyue , Wang Chang’an , Bai Wengang , Hou Yujie , Che Defu
Published: January 2023

Metallic aluminum is widely used in propellants, energy-containing materials, and batteries due to its high energy density. In addition to burning in the air, aluminum can react with water to generate hydrogen. Aluminum is carbon-free and the solid-phase products can be recycled easily after the reaction. Micron aluminum powder is stable in the air and enables global trade. Aluminum metal is considered to be a viable recyclable carrier for clean energy. Based on the reaction characteristics of aluminum fuel in air and water, this work summarizes the energy conversion system of aluminum fuel, the combustion characteristics of aluminum, and the recycling of aluminum. The conversion path and application direction of electric energy and chemistry in the aluminum energy conversion system are described. The reaction properties of aluminum in the air are described, as well as the mode of activation and the effects of the aluminum-water reaction. In situ hydrogen production is achievable through the aluminum-water reaction. The development of low-carbon and energy-saving electrolytic aluminum technology is introduced. The work also analyzes the current difficulties and development directions for the large-scale application of aluminum fuel energy storage technology. The development of energy storage technology based on aluminum is conducive to transforming the energy structure.
A Quantum Approach to the Problem of Charging Electric Cars on a Motorway
Authors: Różycki Rafał , Józefowska Joanna , Kurowski Krzysztof , Lemański Tomasz , Pecyna Tomasz , Subocz Marek , Waligóra Grzegorz
Published: January 2023

In this paper, the problem of charging electric motor vehicles on a motorway is considered. Charging points are located alongside the motorway. It is assumed that there are a number of vehicles on a given section of a motorway. In the motorway, there are several nodes, and for each vehicle, the entering and the leaving nodes are known, as well as the time of entrance. For each vehicle, we know the total capacity of its battery, and the current amount of energy in the battery when entering the motorway. It is also assumed that for each vehicle, there is a finite set of speeds it can use when traveling the motorway. The speed is chosen when entering the motorway, and cannot be changed before reaching the charging station. For each speed, there is given a corresponding power usage; the higher the speed, the larger the power usage. Each vehicle can only use one charger, and when its battery is full, the amount of energy is sufficient for reaching the outgoing node. We look for a feasible solution to the problem, i.e., a solution in which no vehicle has to wait for a charger. The problem is formulated as a problem of scheduling independent, nonpreemptable jobs in parallel, unrelated machines under an additional doubly constrained resource, which is power. Quantum approaches to solve the defined problem are proposed. They use the quantum approximate optimization algorithm and the quantum annealing technique. A computational experiment is presented and discussed. Some conclusions and directions for future research are given.
Experimental Study on Utilizing Silica Gel with Ethanol and Water for Adsorption Heat Storage
Authors: Rezk Ahmed , Olabi Abdul , Alami Abdul , Radwan Ali , Demir Hasan , Rahman Shek , Shah Sheikh , Abdelkareem Mohammad
Published: January 2023

Adsorption heat storage is the most feasible technology for heating decarbonization, which can store large quantities of waste and renewable heat for an exceptionally long time. However, utilizing adsorption heat storage in geographical locations with sub-zero ambient conditions is challenging. Therefore, this paper experimentally investigates the use of ethanol as a working fluid paired with silica gel for adsorption heat storage and utilizes sub-zero ambient as the heat source. The heat storage characteristics, heat charging/discharging cyclic performance, and energy conversion performance via exergy analysis were determined under realistic operating conditions and benchmarked against the widely investigated silica gel/water. Ethanol adsorbate was successfully utilized as a working fluid to employ the evaporators operating under sub-zero ambient conditions. Silica gel/ethanol showed the most significant net cyclic uptake, twice that of silica gel/water. However, the physical characteristics of ethanol molecules led to a degree of non-desorbed fluid, which hampered such potential to store 18.08 kJ/kgads under a sub-zero evaporator temperature and 24.84 kJ/kgads for an above-zero evaporator temperature compared to silica gel of 155.12 kJ/kgads operating an above-zero evaporator temperature. On the other hand, silica gel/ethanol showed the fastest heat charging/discharging rate that can shorten the cycle time by 45%. The major contributor to exergy destruction was the exergy transferred by charging heat, which was five times the discharging heat due to the high charging temperature.