bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Cretaceous Chafer Beetle (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) with Exaggerated Hind Legs—Insight from Comparative Functional Morphology into a Possible Spring Movement
Authors: Lu Yuanyuan , Ahrens Dirk , Shih Chungkun , Shaw Josh Jenkins , Yang Xingke , Ren Dong , Bai Ming
Published: February 2023

The phenomenon of exaggerated morphological structures has fascinated people for centuries. Beetles of the family Scarabaeidae show many very diverse exaggerated characters, for example, a variety of horns, enlarged mandibles or elongated antennal lamellae. Here, we report a new Mesozoic scarab, Antiqusolidus maculatus gen. et sp. n. from the Lower Cretaceous Yixian Formation (~125 Ma), which has unusually robust and structured hind legs with greatly enlarged spurs and a unique elongated apical process. Based on simulations and finite element analyses, the function of these structures is hypothesized to support springing to aid movement and fighting. Based on available morphological characters, we performed phylogenetic analyses (maximum parsimony) of the main subfamilies and families of Scarabaeoidea. The results support the placement of Antiqusolidus gen. n. as a sister group of Rutelinae within the phytophagous lineage of pleurostict Scarabaeidae. Furthermore, the unusual delicate color marking patterns in the fossil specimens suggest that the new species might have been diurnal and potentially visited the leaves or flowers of Early Cretaceous plants. This morphological and functional study on this extinct scarab species provides new sights into exaggerated structures in Mesozoic insects.
Alternating-Offers Bargaining with Nash Bargaining Fairness Concerns
Authors: Feng Zhongwei , Li Fangning , Tan Chunqiao
Published: February 2023

The Rubinstein alternating-offers bargaining game is reconsidered, where players show fairness concerns and their fairness references are characterized by the Nash bargaining solution. The objective of this paper is to explore the impact of fairness concerns in the alternating-offer bargaining game. Alternating-offer bargaining with fairness concerns is developed. We construct a subgame perfect equilibrium and show its uniqueness. Then, it is shown that players’ payoffs in the subgame perfect equilibrium are positively related to their own fairness concern coefficient and bargaining power and negatively to the opponents’ fairness concern coefficient. Moreover, it is shown that the limited equilibrium partition depends on the ratio of discount rates of the two players when the time lapse between two offers goes to zero. Finally, the proposed model is applied to the bilateral monopoly market of professional basketball players, and some properties of equilibrium price are shown. Our result provides the implication that players should carefully weigh their own fairness concerns, bargaining power and fairness concerns of their opponents, and then make proposals, rather than simply follow the suggestion that the proposal at the current stage is higher than that at the past stages.
Wear Regularity of Shotcrete Conveying Bend Based on CFD-DEM Simulation
Authors: Hou Yujie , Song Siyuan , Sun Jiahao , Liu Guoming , Liu Jianguo , Cui Xiangfei , Xu Qianqian
Published: February 2023

To reveal the flow characteristics of shotcrete during pneumatic transportation, the numerical simulation of the gas–solid flow of shotcrete in the pipeline transportation process was carried out based on a CFD-DEM coupling simulation method. When the particle diameter increased from 7 mm to 12 mm, the maximum wear depth of the pipeline increased from 1.48 × 10−6 mm to 4.58 × 10−6 mm. With an increase in particle diameter, the maximum wear depth of the pipeline increased. Moreover, the wear position gradually concentrated to a fixed area with the increase in particle diameter. In the wind speed range of this simulation study, when the wind speed increased from 42 m/s to 52 m/s, the maximum wear depth of the pipeline increased from 2.53 × 10−6 mm to 5.26 × 10−6 mm. The change in wind speed had little effect on the wear location of the pipeline. However, the wear depth of the pipeline increased with the increase in wind speed. When the curvature radius increased from 200 mm to 250 mm, the maximum wear depth decreased from 5.83 × 10−6 mm to 4.47 × 10−6 mm. When the curvature radius increased to 300 mm, the maximum wear depth increased to 6.58 × 10−6 mm. Finally, according to the law of pipeline wear and combined with the actual situation of pipeline wear in engineering, measures were put forward to prevent or reduce the degree of pipeline wear.
Differently Prepared PbO2/Graphitic Carbon Nitride Composites for Efficient Electrochemical Removal of Reactive Black 5 Dye
Authors: Marković Aleksandar , Savić Slađana , Kukuruzar Andrej , Konya Zoltan , Manojlović Dragan , Ognjanović Miloš , Stanković Dalibor M.
Published: February 2023

In this paper, electrochemical degradation of Reactive Black 5 (RB5) textile azo dye was examined in regard to different synthesis procedures for making PbO2–graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) electrode. The reaction of PbOH3- with ClO− in the presence of different surfactants, i.e., cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) and tetrabutylammonium phosphate (TBAP), under conventional conditions, resulted in the formation of PbO2 with varying morphology. The obtained materials were combined with g-C3N4 for the preparation of the final composite materials, which were then characterized morphologically and electrochemically. After optimizing the degradation method, it was shown that an anode comprising a steel electrode coated with the composite of PbO2 synthesized using CTAB as template and g-C3N4, and using 0.15 M Na2SO4 as the supporting electrolyte, gave the best performance for RB5 dye removal from a 35 mg/L solution. The treatment duration was 60 min, applying a current of 0.17 A (electrode surface 4 cm2, current density of 42.5 mA/cm2), while the initial pH of the testing solution was 2. The reusability and longevity of the electrode surface (which showed no significant change in activity throughout the study) may suggest that this approach is a promising candidate for wastewater treatment and pollutant removal.
CerAMfacturing of Aluminum Nitride with High Thermal Conductivity via Lithography-Based Ceramic Vat Photopolymerization (CerAM VPP)
Authors: Schwarzer-Fischer Eric , Scheithauer Uwe , Michaelis Alexander
Published: February 2023

Aluminum nitride (AlN) is an excellent material for heat sinks and is used, for example, in high-performance electronics, high-power LEDs and photovoltaics. In order to meet the constantly increasing demands on substrate materials and heat sinks resulting from the permanent increase in power density and resulting heat in electronic components, new types of components made of high-performance materials with highly complex geometries are required. In this work, AlN based on a commercial powder (“TOYALNITE®”-JCGA-BLY5 by Toyal Europe), was successfully qualified for an AM technology through suspension and process development for CerAM VPP—a DLP-based vat photo polymerization technology. The properties of the components were characterized along the entire process chain, achieving densities of 3.33 g/cm3 (>99% Th.D.) and excellent thermal conductivities of more than 180 W/mK, which are comparable to state-of-the-art for conventionally manufactured AlN components. Homogeneous microstructures of good quality confirm the measured density and thermal conductivity. A complex-shaped component usable for an exemplary heating–cooling application demonstrates the potential of this development.
Pediatric Dental Fluorosis and Its Correlation with Dental Caries and Oral-Health-Related Quality of Life: A Descriptive Cross-Sectional Study among Preschool Children Living in Belagavi
Authors: Kumar Vaibhav , Gaunkar Ridhima , Thakker Jasleen , Ankola Anil V. , Iranna Hebbal Mamata , Khot Atrey J. Pai , Goyal Virinder , Ali Amel , Eldwakhly Elzahraa
Published: February 2023

Aim: This study aims to assess the prevalence of dental fluorosis and its association with dental caries, oral health behaviors, oral-health-related quality of life and parents’ perceptions among preschool children in the 3–5-year-old preschool children living in the Belagavi district of Karnataka, a non-endemic fluorosis region. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional questionnaire-based study was conducted among 1200 individuals of the preschool population from 48 government-sponsored child-care development centers in Belagavi, Karnataka, over a three-month period. They were examined following the Dean’s fluorosis index (1942) and dmft (decayed, missed, and filled) scores of the participants were also recorded. Parents’ perception of oral health was assessed using the self-administered Early Childhood Oral Health Impact Scale (ECOHIS). SPSS software (version 20) was used for statistical analysis. Chi-square test computed categorical data. One-way ANOVA test was used for multiple group comparisons. p < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: Of the 1200 children examined, 10 (0.83%) children exhibited dental fluorosis. Of the 10 children having fluorosis, six had fluorosis present on two or more of their primary teeth, and four had fluorosis on four or more teeth. The mean dmft score was 3.01 ± 1.38 to 3.60 ± 1.72 in 3–5-year-old children, respectively, with statistical significance difference (p < 0.001). The mean score of oral health-related quality of life was 10.74 ± 2.06, which was significantly correlated to the child’s age and parents’ education level (p < 0.05). Conclusion: The study shows a negligible amount of prevalence of dental fluorosis in the non-endemic fluorosis residential district. It also elucidates that children from lower and lower-middle socioeconomic status are more prone to suffer from dental fluorosis as compared to other groups. The mean score of ECOHIS increased proportionally with the caries experience, indicating a significant relationship between the dmft and ECOHIS score. Deciduous dentition fluorosis is often neglected, especially in areas that are not considered endemic for fluorosis and with only optimum fluoride levels in their groundwater, which supports the disease’s nature as multi-factorial and shows that a broader perspective is of prime importance to assess, diagnose, and prevent dental fluorosis among the preschoolers, thereby appraising their overall health and hygiene status.
Enhanced Corrosion−Resistance of AlTiCrFeMoSi High−Entropy Alloy Coating by Magnetron Sputtering
Authors: Zhang Li , Shi Yunzhu , Ye Qilu , Yang Bin
Published: February 2023

The amorphous AlTiCrFeMoSi high entropy alloy (HEA) coating with high hardness (11.88 GPa) is successfully deposited on T91 substrate by the magnetron sputtering method. Both T91 steel and as−deposited AlTiCrFeMoSi coating samples are exposed to a static liquid lead−bismuth eutectic (LBE) at 550 °C for up to 2000 h. The coating exhibits excellent corrosion resistance against lead−bismuth eutectic (LBE) compared with the uncoated T91 steel. The results show that the AlTiCrFeMoSi HEA coating has great potential in LBE−cooled fast reactor application.
Pressure-Induced Monoclinic to Tetragonal Phase Transition in RTaO4 (R = Nd, Sm): DFT-Based First Principles Studies
Authors: Banerjee Saheli , Tyagi Amit , Garg Alka B.
Published: February 2023

In this manuscript, we report the density functional theory-based first principles study of the structural and vibrational properties of technologically relevant M′ fergusonite (P2/c)-structured NdTaO4 and SmTaO4 under compression. For NdTaO4 and SmTaO4, ambient unit cell parameters, along with constituent polyhedral volume and bond lengths, have been compared with earlier reported parameters for EuTaO4 and GdTaO4 for a better understanding of the role of lanthanide radii on the primitive unit cell. For both the compounds, our calculations show the presence of first-order monoclinic to tetragonal phase transition accompanied by nearly a 1.3% volume collapse and an increase in oxygen coordination around the tantalum (Ta) cation from ambient six to eight at phase transition. A lower bulk modulus obtained in the high-pressure tetragonal phase when compared to the ambient monoclinic phase is indicative of the more compressible unit cell under pressure. Phonon modes are calculated for the ambient and high-pressure phases with compression for both the compounds along with their pressure coefficients. One particular IR mode has been observed to show red shift in the ambient monoclinic phase, possibly leading to the instability in the compounds under compression.
The Crystal Structure of Calcium Sebacate by X-ray Powder Diffraction Data
Authors: Lopresti Mattia , Milanesio Marco , Palin Luca
Published: February 2023

Sodium sebacate salts have several industrial applications as additives, lubricants, and a metal self-healing promoter in general industry, and some derivatives also have wide applications in cosmetics and pharmaceutical fields. Calcium sebacate formation and precipitation can be detrimental for the systems where sodium sebacate is used. It is thus important to investigate their crystallization features. Sodium and calcium sebacate were prepared, purified, and crystallized with different approaches to carry out a full X-ray diffraction powder diffraction structural analysis since suitable single crystals cannot be obtained. The calcium sebacate crystal structure was solved by simulated annealing. Calcium ions form layers connected by straight “all trans” sebacate molecules, a conformation that is also suggested by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy FTIR data. Water molecules are caged within calcium layers. The crystal structure is characterized by the calcium layers bent by 10.65° with respect to the plane where sebacate chains lie, different from other dicarboxilic salts, such as cesium suberate, where the layers are perpendicular to the cation planes. The sodium sebacate crystal structure resulted in being impossible to be solved, despite several crystallization attempts and the different data collection approaches. FTIR spectroscopy indicates marked differences between the structures of calcium and sodium sebacate, suggesting a different type of metal coordination by carboxyls. Calcium sebacate shows a bis-bidentate chelating and bridging configuration ((κ2)−(κ1−κ1)−μ3−Carb), while for sodium sebacate, FTIR spectroscopy indicates an ionic interaction between sodium and the carboxyls. A thermogravimetric analysis TGA was carried out to assess the hydration states of the two salts. Calcium sebacate shows, as expected, a total weight loss of ca. 7%, corresponding to the single water molecule located in the crystal structure, while sodium sebacate shows no weight loss before total combustion, indicating that its structure is not hydrated. Scanning electron microscopy SEM images show different morphologies for calcium and sodium salts, probably a consequence of the different interactions at the molecular lever suggested by FTIR and TGA. The used approach can be extended to fatty acid salt in general, a still under-explored field because of the difficulty of growing suitable single crystals.
Harnessing Real-World Evidence to Advance Cancer Research
Authors: Tang Monica , Pearson Sallie-Anne , Simes Robert J. , Chua Boon H.
Published: February 2023

Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) form a cornerstone of oncology research by generating evidence about the efficacy of therapies in selected patient populations. However, their implementation is often resource- and cost-intensive, and their generalisability to patients treated in routine practice may be limited. Real-world evidence leverages data collected about patients receiving clinical care in routine practice outside of clinical trial settings and provides opportunities to identify and address gaps in clinical trial evidence. This review outlines the strengths and limitations of real-world and RCT evidence and proposes a framework for the complementary use of the two bodies of evidence to advance cancer research. There are challenges to the implementation of real-world research in oncology, including heterogeneity of data sources, timely access to high-quality data, and concerns about the quality of methods leveraging real-world data, particularly causal inference. Improved understanding of the strengths and limitations of real-world data and ongoing efforts to optimise the conduct of real-world evidence research will improve its reliability, understanding and acceptance, and enable the full potential of real-world evidence to be realised in oncology practice.
One Species or Two: A Puzzling Case from Scapaniaceae (Marchantiophyta)
Authors: Maltseva Yulia D. , Fedosov Vladimir E. , Bakalin Vadim A. , Klimova Ksenia G. , Choi Seung Se
Published: February 2023

This paper addresses the genetic delimitation of narrowly distributed Scapania magadanica and broadly circumpolar S. kaurinii. The phylogenetic trees based on maximum likelihood and Bayesian inference constructed for one of the most informative loci (ITS1–2) showed that Scapania magadanica was deeply nested within the clade of S. kaurinii. The comparison of the obtained topologies with known strong morphological dissimilarities of two taxa has led to the understanding that this approach does not work. The latter may be due to a widespread variable tentatively ‘ancestral’ species (S. kaurinii) having no joint molecular synapomorphies that would delimit it from the locally distributed derived taxon (S. magadanica). Therefore, the relationships of these two species were evaluated using molecular genetic distances with the Neighbor Net split network and TCS haplotype network. The obtained data have confirmed the speculation above, and it is possible to assume that when the S. magadanica lineage split, S. kaurinii already occupied a rather wide range, which could limit further gene flow among its remote populations.
Diagnosis of Uric Acid-Based Urine Sedimentation in the Bladder Using Dual-Energy CT
Authors: Booz Christian , Yel Ibrahim , Wichmann Julian L. , Martin Simon S. , Koch Vitali , Gruenewald Leon D. , Alizadeh Leona S. , Vogl Thomas J. , D’Angelo Tommaso
Published: February 2023

Urine sedimentation in the bladder can occur in various circumstances and can lead to urinary obstruction/stasis with associated pain. It is usually diagnosed with an ultrasound; however, CT is also used to assess the amount and to further check for urinary stones. Depending on the composition, urine sedimentation and stones can be treated medically by alkalinisation of the urine with potassium sodium hydrogen citrate in the case of uric acid-based sedimentation/stones. Due to technical developments and improved material differentiation and characterisation in CT imaging, dual-energy CT allows for differentiation of uric acid from calcium, which can be used for sedimentation/stone composition analysis. Subsequently, treatment decisions can be made based on the findings in dual-energy CT.
Evaluation of Sciatic Nerve Stiffness Using Shear Wave Elastography in Patients with Unilateral Diabetic Foot Ulcers
Authors: Chen Shun-Ping , Ye Ting-Ting , Hong Jing , Zhu Hong
Published: February 2023

Objective: To evaluate the stiffness of the sciatic nerve by shear wave elastography (SWE) and to determine whether SWE can be used to predict diabetic foot ulcer (DFU) in a patient with diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN). Methods: Sixteen patients (thirty-two lower limbs) with unilateral DFU were studied retrospectively. The ultrasonographic parameters including cross-sectional area (CSA) of sciatic nerve, intraneural blood flow, peak systolic velocity (Vmax) and resistive index (RI) in the intraneural artery of the sciatic nerve, and the SWE stiffness value of the sciatic nerve were measured. The examinations of arteries of the lower limbs were also performed by ultrasound. According to the presence or absence of DFU, the 32 lower limbs were divided into two groups: the DFU group and the non-DFU group. The ultrasonographic parameters were compared between these two groups. Results: There was no significant difference (p > 0.05) between the two groups for CSA, intraneural blood flow, Vmax and RI in the intraneural artery of the sciatic nerve, and numbers of severe artery stenosis or full occlusion of the artery in the lower limbs. However, SWE stiffness values in the sciatic nerve in the DFU group are higher than the non-DFU group (p < 0.05). When the SWE stiffness values were used for prediction of DFU in patients with DPN, the area under the ROC curve (AUC) was 0.727 (95% CI: 0.541–0.868). When the best SWE stiffness value of 24.48 kPa was taken as a cutoff for prediction of DFU, the sensitivity was 62.50% (95% CI: 35.4–84.8%), and the specificity was 75% (95% CI: 47.6–92.7%). Conclusions: Sciatic nerve stiffness is significantly higher in lower limbs with DFU. SWE is a noninvasive imaging method that may be used to evaluate sciatic nerve stiffness, then potentially predict DFU in patients with DPN.
DNA Damage and the Gut Microbiome: From Mechanisms to Disease Outcomes
Authors: Hsiao Yun-Chung , Liu Chih-Wei , Yang Yifei , Feng Jiahao , Zhao Haoduo , Lu Kun
Published: February 2023

Both the number of cells and the collective genome of the gut microbiota outnumber their mammalian hosts, and the metabolic and physiological interactions of the gut microbiota with the host have not yet been fully characterized. Cancer remains one of the leading causes of death, and more research into the critical events that can lead to cancer and the importance of the gut microbiota remains to be determined. The gut microbiota can release microbial molecules that simulate host endogenous processes, such as inflammatory responses, or can alter host metabolism of ingested substances. Both of these reactions can be beneficial or deleterious to the host, and some can be genotoxic, thus contributing to cancer progression. This review focused on the molecular evidence currently available on the mechanistic understanding of how the gut microbiota are involved in human carcinogenesis. We first reviewed the key events of carcinogenesis, especially how DNA damage proceeds to tumor formulation. Then, the current knowledge on host DNA damage attributed to the gut microbiota was summarized, followed by the genotoxic endogenous processes the gut microbiota can induce. Finally, we touched base on the association between specific gut microbiota dysbiosis and different types of cancer and concluded with the up-to-date knowledge as well as future research direction for advancing our understanding of the relationship between the gut microbiota and cancer development.
Expeditious Low-Cost SfM Photogrammetry and a TLS Survey for the Structural Analysis of Illasi Castle (Italy)
Authors: Fabris Massimo , Fontana Granotto Pietro , Monego Michele
Published: February 2023

The structural analysis of degraded historical buildings requires an adequate 3D model of the object. Structure from motion (SfM) photogrammetry and laser scanning geomatics techniques can satisfy this request by providing geometrically affordable data. The accuracy and resolution depend on the instruments and procedures used to extract the 3D models. This work focused on a 3D survey of Illasi Castle, a strongly degraded historical building located in northern Italy, aimed at structural analysis in the prevision of a static recovery. A low-cost drone, a single-lens reflex (SLR) camera, and a smartphone were used in the survey. From each acquired dataset, using the integration between the images acquired by the drone and the SLR camera, a 3D model of the building was extracted by means of the SfM technique. The data were compared with high-precision and high-resolution terrestrial laser scanning (TLS) acquisitions to evaluate the accuracy and performance of the fast and low-cost SfM approach. The results showed a standard deviation value for the point cloud comparisons in the order of 2–3 cm for the best solution (integrating drone and SLR images) and 4–7 cm using smartphone images. Finally, the integration of the best SfM model of the external walls and the TLS model of the internal portion of the building was used in finite element (FE) analysis to provide a safety assessment of the structure.
A Novel Dual-Polarized Magnetoelectric Dipole Antenna and Its Array for LTE and 5G Sub-6 GHz Base Station Applications
Authors: Song Zhiwei , Qi Junwu
Published: February 2023

This study presents a novel dual-polarized magnetoelectric dipole antenna and its array with director and rectangular parasitic metal patches for LTE and 5G sub-6 GHz base station applications. This antenna is composed of L-shaped magnetic dipoles, planar electric dipoles, rectangular director, rectangular parasitic metal patches, and η-shaped feed probes. The gain and bandwidth were enhanced by using the director and parasitic metal patches. The measured impedance bandwidth of the antenna was 82.8% (1.62–3.91 GHz, VSWR < 1.5), and its gain was 10 ± 0.5 dBi. The profile of the antenna unit, operated at 1.7 GHz, was only 42 mm (0.227λ0, where λ0 represents the free space wavelength corresponding to the lowest resonance frequency point). Subsequently, four antenna units were arranged in a line array with 0.6λ0 spacing. Both the antenna and its array were fabricated and measured. The measurement results show that the array has good radiation characteristics, such as broad bandwidth covering 1.65–3.97 GHz (VSWR < 1.5), high gain (its gain was great than 15.2 dBi), and high radiation efficiency (>90%). Its HPBWs were 63° ± 4° and 15° ± 2° for H- and E-planes, respectively. The design can cover TD-LTE and 5G sub-6 GHz NR n78 frequency bands very well, meaning that this is a good candidate antenna for base station applications.
Co-Movement of Indonesian State-Owned Enterprise Stocks
Authors: Atahau Apriani Dorkas Rambu , Robiyanto Robiyanto , Huruta Andrian Dolfriandra
Published: February 2023

According to portfolio theory, diversifying investment to several stocks with negative correlations may reduce portfolio risk. In contrast, combining stocks with similar movement (co-movement) has no impact on portfolio risk reduction. This study aims to examine state-owned enterprise stock co-movement in Indonesia using orthogonal generalized auto-regressive conditional heteroscedasticity (O-GARCH) to help investors selectively choose stocks in a portfolio to reduce portfolio risks. Saturation sampling was used since all state-owned enterprise stocks listed on the Indonesian Stock Exchange were selected as samples. Based on monthly data from January 2013 to December 2021, the O-GARCH method was able to simplify the covariance matrix of the 17 SOEs. Of 17 SOEs, 11 had co-movement, as indicated by their similar principal components, whereas the remaining 6 stocks had a different principal component. Hence, investment managers or investors should not put the eleven stocks in the same portfolio as they have similar risk factors; instead, they may combine them with the six remaining SOE stocks which have a different co-movement. In addition, when the fiscal deficit is high and unconventional monetary policy is implemented in a crisis period, the SOE stock co-movement is higher. Thus, the SOE stock co-movement also depends on government-related matters and faces slightly different risks compared to its private-sector counterparts. Hence, the regulators formulating the policy on SOE stock holdings may use the results of this study by considering the potential merging of the SOE stocks with a similar stock return co-movement by taking account the timing in relation to fiscal deficit and crisis period.
Thermal Analysis of Water-Cooling Permanent Magnet Synchronous Machine for Port Traction Electric Vehicle
Authors: Tang Yongming , Sun Shouguang , Yu Wenfei , Hua Wei
Published: February 2023

To further increase the torque/power density of a permanent magnet synchronous machine (PMSM) employed for a port traction electric vehicle, improving the thermal dissipation capacity of the cooling system used in the PMSM has become more and more important. This paper focuses on the thermal analysis of a water-cooling 200 kW PMSM for a port traction electric vehicle. First, the size parameters of the machine and the thermal property parameters of the materials used for each component are given. Based on the heat transfer theory, a fast evaluation method for a transient temperature rise in the water-cooling machine under multiple operating conditions is proposed. A lumped parameter thermal network (LPTN) model is established, and the temperature distributions of the machine at different operating conditions are analyzed. Second, under the same conditions, based on computational fluid dynamics (CFD), a three-dimensional (3D) CFD model is constructed. The influence of different cooling structures on temperature distribution is studied. The validity of the proposed fast evaluation method for a transient temperature rise in water-cooling machines under multiple operating conditions is verified. Finally, the results of the CFD and LPTN calculation are verified by experiments; the maximum temperature deviation of the rated speed/rated power operating condition is 8.5%. This paper provides a reference for the design and analysis of port traction electric vehicle machines.
Projecting Annual Rainfall Timeseries Using Machine Learning Techniques
Authors: Skarlatos Kyriakos , Bekri Eleni S. , Georgakellos Dimitrios , Economou Polychronis , Bersimis Sotirios
Published: February 2023

Hydropower plays an essential role in Europe’s energy transition and can serve as an important factor in the stability of the electricity system. This is even more crucial in areas that rely strongly on renewable energy production, for instance, solar and wind power, as for example the Peloponnese and the Ionian islands in Greece. To safeguard hydropower’s contribution to total energy production, an accurate prediction of the annual precipitation is required. Valuable tools to obtain accurate predictions of future observations are firstly a series of sophisticated data preprocessing techniques and secondly the use of advanced machine learning algorithms. In the present paper, a complete procedure is proposed to obtain accurate predictions of meteorological data, such as precipitation. This procedure is applied to the Greek automated weather stations network, operated by the National Observatory of Athens, in the Peloponnese and the Ionian islands in Greece. The proposed prediction algorithm successfully identified the climatic zones based on their different geographic and climatic characteristics for most meteorological stations, resulting in realistic precipitation predictions. For some stations, the algorithm underestimated the annual total precipitation, a weakness also reported by other research works.
A Hierarchical Met-Ocean Data Selection Model for Fast O&M Simulation in Offshore Renewable Energy Systems
Authors: Xie Hailun , Johanning Lars
Published: February 2023

In this research, a hierarchical met-ocean data selection model is proposed to reduce the computational cost in stochastic simulation of operation and maintenance (O&M) and enable rapid evaluation of offshore renewable energy systems. The proposed model identifies the most representative data for each calendar month from the long-term historical met-ocean data in two steps, namely the preselection and the refined selection. The preselection incorporates three distinct metrics to evaluate the characteristics of statistical distributions, including the Jensen–Shannon divergence, the encapsulation of extreme met-ocean conditions, as well as the overall vessel accessibility. For the refined selection, a component of temporal synchrony is devised to emulate dynamic changes of met-ocean conditions. As such, a met-ocean reference year comprising twelve representative historical months is subsequently produced and deployed as the input for O&M stochastic simulation. While this research focuses on the development of a generalised methodology for selecting representative met-ocean data, the proposed statistical method is validated empirically using a case study inspired by real-life floating offshore wind installations in Scotland, e.g., Hywind and Kincardine projects. According to the O&M simulation results with five capacity scenarios, the proposed data selection model reduces the computational cost by up to 97.65% while emulating the original results with minor deviations, i.e., within ±5%. The simulation speed is therefore 43 times quicker. Overall, the proposed met-ocean data selection model attains an excellent trade off between computational efficiency and accuracy in O&M stochastic simulation.
Yeast Carotenoids: Cost-Effective Fermentation Strategies for Health Care Applications
Authors: Paul Debarati , Kumari Panda Kusuma , Siddiqui Nahid
Published: February 2023

Carotenoid production from oleaginous red yeast has been considered as a safe alternative to chemically synthesized carotenoids commonly used in the food industry, since plant-based carotenoids are expensive and an irregular source for obtaining pigments. This is a summative review on the factors affecting carotenoid production, cost-effective production strategies using various inexpensive feedstock, metabolic engineering, and strain improvisation. The review specially highlights the various potential applications of carotenoids as anti-microbial, anti-viral, antioxidant, anti-cancerous, anti-malarial agents, etc. The importance of such natural and easily available resources for prevention, evasion, or cure of emerging diseases and their plausible nutraceutical effect demands exhaustive research in this area.
Ultra-High Hydrostatic Pressure Pretreatment on White Que Zui Tea: Chemical Constituents, Antioxidant, Cytoprotective, and Anti-Inflammatory Activities
Authors: Zhang Xiaoyu , Li Mengcheng , Zhen Li , Wang Yudan , Wang Yifen , Qin Yuyue , Zhang Zhihong , Zhao Tianrui , Cao Jianxin , Liu Yaping , Cheng Guiguang
Published: February 2023

Herbal tea has numerous biological activities and exhibits broad benefits for human health. In China, the flower buds of Lyonia ovalifolia are traditionally processed as herbal tea, namely White Que Zui tea (WQT). This study was aimed to evaluate the effect of ultra-high hydrostatic pressure (UHHP) pretreatment on the chemical constituents and biological activities of free, esterified, and insoluble-bound phenolic fractions from WQT. A total of 327 chemical constituents were identified by a quasi-targeted metabolomics analysis. UHHP pretreatment extremely inhibited reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and cell apoptosis in H2O2-induced HepG2 cells, and it increased the activities of intracellular antioxidant enzymes (SOD and CAT) and GSH content in different phenolic fractions from WQT. In addition, after UHHP pretreatment, the anti-inflammatory effects of different phenolic fractions from WQT were improved by inhibiting the production of nitric oxide (NO) and pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-1β) in LPS-induced RAW264.7 cells. Thus, the UHHP method might be a potential pretreatment strategy for improving the bioavailability of phytochemicals from natural plants.
Bactericidal Action of Shrimp Shell Chitooligosaccharide Conjugated with Epigallocatechin Gallate (COS-EGCG) against Listeria monocytogenes
Authors: Buatong Jirayu , Mittal Ajay , Mittraparp-arthorn Pimonsri , Palamae Suriya , Saetang Jirakrit , Benjakul Soottawat
Published: February 2023

The antibacterial effect of chitooligosaccharide conjugated with five different polyphenols, including catechin (COS-CAT), epigallocatechin gallate (COS-EGCG), gallic acid (COS-GAL), caffeic acid (COS-CAF), and ferulic acid (COS-FER), against Listeria monocytogenes was investigated. Among all the conjugates tested, COS-EGCG showed the highest inhibition toward Listeria monocytogenes, with a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) of 1024 and 1024 µg/mL, respectively. The COS-EGCG conjugate also had a bactericidal effect on the environmental and clinical strains of L. monocytogenes. The low concentration of COS-EGCG conjugate augmented the formation of biofilm and the growth of L. monocytogenes. Nevertheless, the inhibition of biofilm formation and bacterial growth was achieved when treated with the COS-EGCG conjugate at 2 × MIC for 48 h. In addition, the COS-EGCG conjugate at 2 × MIC had the potential to inactivate the pre-biofilm, and it reduced the production of the extracellular polysaccharides of L. monocytogenes. The COS-EGCG conjugate at the MIC/4 effectively impeded the motility (the swimming and swarming) of L. monocytogenes, with an 85.7–94.3% inhibition, while 100% inhibition was achieved with the MIC. Based on scanning electron microscopic (SEM) images, cell wall damage with numerous pores on the cell surface was observed. Such cell distortion resulted in protein leakage. As a result, COS-EGCG could penetrate into the cell and bind with the DNA backbone. Therefore, the COS-EGCG conjugate could be further developed as a natural antimicrobial agent for inhibiting or controlling L. monocytogenes.
Computer-Aided Screening and Revealing Action Mechanism of Green Tea Polyphenols Intervention in Alzheimer’s Disease
Authors: Wang Min , Yang Xiaotang , Gao Yilin , Han Weiwei
Published: February 2023

The accumulation of cross-β-sheet amyloid fibrils is a hallmark of the neurodegenerative process of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Although it has been reported that green tea substances such as epicatechin (EC), epicatechin-3-gallate (ECG), epigallocatechin (EGC) and epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) could alleviate the symptoms of AD and other neurodegenerative diseases, the pharmacological mechanism remains largely unexplored. This study aimed to reveal the underlying mechanism of EC, ECG, EGC and EGCG in AD using a computer-aided screening strategy. Our results showed that the four tea polyphenols interfered with the signaling pathways of AD via calcium signaling channels, neurodegeneration-multiple disease signal pathways and others. We also identified the key residues of the interaction between VEGFA and the four active components, which included Glu64 and Phe36. Overall, we have provided valuable insights into the molecular mechanism of tea polyphenols, which could be used as a reference to improve therapeutic strategies against AD.
Xylan–Porphyrin Hydrogels as Light-Triggered Gram-Positive Antibacterial Agents
Authors: Elkihel Abdechakour , Vernisse Charlotte , Ouk Tan-Sothéa , Lucas-Roper Romain , Chaleix Vincent , Sol Vincent
Published: February 2023

In the present work, we report on the synthesis of light-triggered antibacterial hydrogels, based on xylan chains covalently bound to meso-tetra(4-carboxyphenyl)porphyrin (TCPP). Not only does TCPP act as a photosensitizer efficient against Gram-positive bacteria, but it also serves as a cross-linking gelator, enabling the simple and easy building of xylan conjugate hydrogels. The hydrogels were characterized by infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), along with swelling and rheological tests. The antimicrobial activity of the hydrogels was tested under visible light irradiation against two Gram-positive bacterial strains, Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus cereus. The preliminary results showed an interesting activity on these bacteria, indicating that these hydrogels could be of great potential in the treatment of skin bacterial infections with this species by photodynamic antimicrobial chemotherapy (PACT).
Conservation of Earthen Bricks in Architecture: An Experimental Campaign to Test Different Treatments on Vernacular Built Heritage
Authors: Rescic Silvia , Mattone Manuela , Fratini Fabio , Luvidi Loredana
Published: February 2023

Earthen architecture, by its nature, is a fragile because it has a poor resistance toward the action of weathering, which has also increased in recent years through the effects of climate change. The presence of interesting examples of earthen brick buildings, for example, in the Piedmont Region of Italy, is characterised by the absence of rendering, which reveals the need to test treatments for the protection and/or strengthening of the walls of these buildings. This action is of fundamental importance to improve its resistance to the aggressive action of atmospheric agents and avoid their disappearance. A testing campaign adopting protective products with sustainability characteristics and low environmental impact was carried out on earthen brick walls. Different products belonging to various categories (synthetic polymers, natural resins, nano-structured materials) and selected based on previous experiments or tested for the first time on earthen surfaces were selected. The performance assessment of the products was carried out by taking into account the standardised procedures in the field of cultural heritage conservation through the following tests: water absorption, water vapour permeability, drilling resistance, water erosion tests (Geelong and spray), contact angle measurements, colorimetric measurements, and ageing tests. Although the choice of the optimal protective product should be made on a case-by-case basis, where it is not sustainable to proceed in this way, the results of this experimental campaign—in the presence of materials and weathering conditions similar to those of the case study analysed—will provide indications in identifying of the most appropriate product.
A Non-Invasive and Sustainable Characterization of Pigments in Wall Paintings: A Library of Apulian Colors
Authors: Fioretti Giovanna , Clausi Marina , Eramo Giacomo , Longo Elisabetta , Monno Alessandro , Pinto Daniela , Tempesta Gioacchino
Published: February 2023

This paper proposed a multianalytical, non-invasive, accessible and expensive (compared to traditional ones) approach for the characterization of pictorial surfaces. A set of 18 pigments and 37 mixtures widely used in the Middle Ages in the Apulia (Italy) artistic and archaeological contexts was considered, and corresponding replicas were produced. Pigments were first characterized by X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD), then replicas were studied by optical microscopy using a portable instrument, colorimetry and fiber optic reflectance spectroscopy (FORS). The investigation provided encouraging results, which allowed the creation of a library including diagnostic microscopic, colorimetric and reflectance markers of each pigment and the identification of the mixtures’ components.
Hydrobiology of Saline Agriculture Ecosystem: A Review of Scenario Change in South-West Region of Bangladesh
Authors: Akter Rayhana , Hasan Nazmul , Reza Farhadur , Asaduzzaman Md. , Begum Kohinoor , Shammi Mashura
Published: February 2023

The aim of this review paper is to identify the production trends of shrimp and rice farming systems and associated hydrobiological parameters such as salinity in the coastal districts of Bangladesh. An intensive literature review has been conducted to explore salt stress-driven land use change, crop production, and changing ecosystem hydrobiology to adapt climate change impact from 2012–2022. The results indicate that a gradual extension of salt-driven land use and land cover (LULC) change has stressed agricultural production to a greater extent from 1973 to 2022 due to the high level of salinity. The unplanned expansion of shrimp culture is creating adverse consequences for the coastal ecosystem. Some suggestions have been proposed by analysing the mechanisms of crops’ response to salt stress, including several physiological, biochemical, and molecular bases to mitigate the adverse effects of salinity on agricultural production. Alternatively, prawn, shrimp, and crab have similar or slightly higher economic outputs, except for the crop-based agricultural system, which is highly affected by salinity rise. However, due to low input costs, low maintenance, and less environmental impact, farmers are shifting towards crab fattening and thus changing the hydrobiology of coastal land use and land cover.
Application of Near-Infrared Spectroscopy to Detect Modification of the Cation Exchange Properties of Soils from European Beech and Silver Fir Forest Stands in Poland
Authors: Kania Mateusz , Kupka Dawid , Gruba Piotr
Published: February 2023

This study investigated changes in the composition of the cation exchange capacity of soil samples caused by the acid leaching of soil cations under laboratory conditions. Furthermore, near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy was used to evaluate the properties of forest soils. The potential influence of the species composition of stands (beech and fir) was also investigated. Eighty soil samples from the topsoil of plots located in central Poland were analyzed. Soil samples were leached 0 (non-leached), 5, 10, and 15 times and then analyzed to determine the contents of cations (Al3+, Ca2+, K+, and Mg2+), the total carbon content, and the pH. From NIR spectra obtained by scanning 54 samples and measurement results for soil sample properties, a calibration model was developed. The model was validated using 26 independent samples. The results showed that acid leaching decreased the pH of soil solutions and the carbon content. The amounts of Al3+, Ca2+, K+, and Mg2+ decreased with an increasing number of leaching treatments, but most leaching had occurred after five treatments. Data analysis showed that leaching with hydrochloric acid depleted alkaline cations and Al3+ in the soil, which reduced the stability of organic matter, causing its release. Modification of ion exchange properties is observable based on the analysis of the NIR spectra. Good calibration results were achieved for all tested parameters (R2C ≥ 0.89). The best validation results were obtained for Al3+ and C contents under fir stands, and for the pH and Al3+ content of soils under beech stands (R2V > 0.8). However, the differences between the measured and estimated mean values of the investigated soil were relatively small (no significant difference, p > 0.05). The species composition of stands (beech and fir) had no impact on the developed mathematical models. Soil assessment using NIR spectroscopy allowed calibration models to be obtained, which were successfully used to calculate soil properties at a much lower cost and in a much shorter time compared with other laboratory methods. The results of the paper affirmed that using a relatively small number of samples (3–4) to calculate an average of soil content properties provided satisfactory results.