bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Physiological and Anatomical Responses of Faba Bean Plants Infected with Chocolate Spot Disease to Chemical Inducers
Authors: Alnefaie Rasha M. , EL-Sayed Sahar A. , Ramadan Amany A. , Elmezien Ahmed I. , El-Taher Ahmed M. , Randhir Timothy O. , Bondok Ahmed
Published: February 2023

Plant diseases are biotic stresses that restrict crop plants’ ability to develop and produce. Numerous foliar diseases, such as chocolate spots, can cause significant production losses in Vicia faba plants. Certain chemical inducers, including salicylic acid (SA), oxalic acid (OA), nicotinic acid (NA), and benzoic acid (BA), were used in this study to assess efficacy in controlling these diseases. A foliar spray of these phenolic acids was used to manage the impacts of the biotic stress resulting from disease incidence. All tested chemical inducers resulted in a significant decrease in disease severity. They also enhanced the defense system of treated plants through increasing antioxidant enzyme activity (Peroxidase, polyphenol oxidase, β-1, 3-glucanase, and chitinase) compared to the corresponding control. Healthy leaves of faba plants recorded the lowest (p < 0.05) values of all antioxidant activities compared to those plants infected by Botrytis fabae. Moreover, the separation of proteins using SDS-PAGE showed slight differences among treatments. Furthermore, foliar spray with natural organic acids reduced the adverse effects of fungal infection by expediting recovery. The SA (5 mM) treatment produced a pronounced increase in the upper, lower epidermis, palisade thickness, spongy tissues, midrib zone, length, and width of vascular bundle. The foliar application with other treatments resulted in a slight increase in the thickness of the examined layers, especially by benzoic acid. In general, all tested chemical inducers could alleviate the adverse effects of the biotic stress on faba bean plants infected by Botrytis fabae.
Use of Mixed Reality in Neuro-Oncology: A Single Centre Experience
Authors: Jain Swati , Gao Yujia , Yeo Tseng Tsai , Ngiam Kee Yuan
Published: February 2023

(1) Background: Intra-operative neuronavigation is currently an essential component to most neurosurgical operations. Recent progress in mixed reality (MR) technology has attempted to overcome the disadvantages of the neuronavigation systems. We present our experience using the HoloLens 2 in neuro-oncology for both intra- and extra-axial tumours. (2) Results: We describe our experience with three patients who underwent tumour resection. We evaluated surgeon experience, accuracy of superimposed 3D image in tumour localisation with standard neuronavigation both pre- and intra-operatively. Surgeon training and usage for HoloLens 2 was short and easy. The process of image overlay was relatively straightforward for the three cases. Registration in prone position with a conventional neuronavigation system is often difficult, which was easily overcome during use of HoloLens 2. (3) Conclusion: Although certain limitations were identified, the authors feel that this system is a feasible alternative device for intra-operative visualization of neurosurgical pathology. Further studies are being planned to assess its accuracy and suitability across various surgical disciplines.
Exploring the Protective Effect of Food Drugs against Viral Diseases: Interaction of Functional Food Ingredients and SARS-CoV-2, Influenza Virus, and HSV
Authors: Ricci Andrea , Roviello Giovanni N.
Published: February 2023

A complex network of processes inside the human immune system provides resistance against a wide range of pathologies. These defenses form an innate and adaptive immunity, in which certain immune components work together to counteract infections. In addition to inherited variables, the susceptibility to diseases may be influenced by factors such as lifestyle choices and aging, as well as environmental determinants. It has been shown that certain dietary chemical components regulate signal transduction and cell morphologies which, in turn, have consequences on pathophysiology. The consumption of some functional foods may increase immune cell activity, defending us against a number of diseases, including those caused by viruses. Here, we investigate a range of functional foods, often marketed as immune system boosters, in an attempt to find indications of their potential protective role against diseases caused by viruses, such as the influenza viruses (A and B), herpes simplex virus (HSV), and severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), in some cases mediated by gut microbiota. We also discuss the molecular mechanisms that govern the protective effects of some functional foods and their molecular constituents. The main message of this review is that discovering foods that are able to strengthen the immune system can be a winning weapon against viral diseases. In addition, understanding how the dietary components function can aid in the development of novel strategies for maintaining human bodily health and keeping our immune systems strong.
The Efficacy of Pulmonary Rehabilitation in Patients with Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis
Authors: Choi Hee Eun , Kim Tae Hoon , Jang Ji Hoon , Jang Hang-Jea , Yi Jisook , Jung So Young , Kim Dae-Wook , Lee Jae Ha
Published: February 2023

Background: This study evaluated the efficacy and safety of pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) on functional performance, exercise-related oxygen saturation, and health-related quality of life among patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). Methods: A total of 25 patients with IPF (13 in the PR group and 12 in the non-PR group) were enrolled between August 2019 and October 2021 at Haeundae-Paik Hospital in the Republic of Korea. A cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPET), six-minute walk test (6MWT), pulmonary function test (PFT), Saint George’s Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ), muscle strength test, and bioelectrical impedance analysis were performed in each group at baseline and after eight weeks of PR. Results: The mean age was 68 years of age and most subjects were male. Baseline characteristics were similar between the two groups. The distance during 6MWT after PR was significantly improved in the PR group (inter-group p-value = 0.002). VO2max and VE/VCO2 slopes showed a significant difference after eight weeks only in the PR group, but the rate of change did not differ significantly from the non-PR group. Total skeletal muscle mass, PFT variables, and SGRQ scores did not differ significantly between the groups. Conclusions: PR improved exercise capacity, as measured using CPET and 6 MWT. Further studies in larger samples are needed to evaluate the long-term efficacy of PR in IPF patients.
Micro-Current Stimulation Can Modulate the Adipogenesis Process by Regulating the Insulin Signaling Pathway in 3T3-L1 Cells and ob/ob Mice
Authors: Lee Hana , Lee Jin-Ho , Kim Doyong , Hwang Donghyun , Lee Minjoo , Chung Halim , Kim Tack-Joong , Kim Han Sung
Published: February 2023

Obesity is a disease in which fat is abnormally or excessively accumulated in the body, and many studies have been conducted to overcome it with various techniques. In this study, we evaluated whether micro-current stimulation (MCS) can be applied to prevent obesity by regulating the adipogenesis through 3T3-L1 cells and ob/ob mice. To specify the intensity of MCS, Oil Red O staining was conducted with various intensities of MCS. Based on these, subsequent experiments used 200 and 400 μA for the intensity of MCS. The expressions of insulin signaling pathway-related proteins, including phosphorylation of IGF-1 and IR, were decreased in all MCS groups, and in turn, downstream signals such as Akt and ERK were decreased. In addition, MCS reduced the nucleus translocation of PPAR-γ and decreased the protein expression of C/EBP-α. In the ob/ob mouse model, MCS reduced body weight gain and abdominal adipose tissue volume. In particular, the concentration of triglycerides in serum was also decreased. Taken together, our findings showed that MCS inhibited lipid accumulation by regulating insulin signaling in 3T3-L1, and it was effective at reducing body weight and adipose tissue volume in ob/ob mice. These suggest that MCS may be a useful treatment approach for obesity.
Intergenic Interactions of SBNO1, NFAT5 and GLT8D1 Determine the Susceptibility to Knee Osteoarthritis among Europeans of Russia
Authors: Novakov Vitaly , Novakova Olga , Churnosova Maria , Sorokina Inna , Aristova Inna , Polonikov Alexey , Reshetnikov Evgeny , Churnosov Mikhail
Published: February 2023

This study was conducted to examine the associations between genome-wide association studies (GWAS)-important single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and knee osteoarthritis (KOA) among Europeans of Russia. The present replicative study (“patient-control” design has been used) was carried out on 1000 DNA samples from KOA (n = 500) and KOA-free (n = 500) participants. Ten GWAS-important for KOA SNPs of eight candidate genes (LYPLAL1, GNL3, GLT8D1, SBNO1, WWP2, NFAT5, TGFA, GDF5) were studied. To assess the link between SNPs and KOA susceptibility, logistic regression (to establish independent SNP effects) and MB-MDR (to identify SNP–SNP interactions) were used. As a result of this genetic analysis, the associations of individual SNPs with KOA have not been proven. Eight loci out of ten tested SNPs interacted with each other (within twelve genetic models) and determined susceptibility to KOA. The greatest contribution to the disease development were made by three polymorphisms/genes such as rs6976 (C>T) GLT8D1, rs56116847 (G>A) SBNO1, rs6499244 (T>A) NFAT5 (each was included in 2/3 [8 out 12] KOA-responsible genetic interaction models). A two-locus epistatic interaction of rs56116847 (G >A) SBNO1 × rs6499244 (T>A) NFAT5 determined the maximum percentage (0.86%) of KOA entropy. KOA-associated SNPs are regulatory polymorphisms that affect the expression/splicing level, epigenetic modification of 72 genes in KOA-pathogenetically significant organs such as skeletal muscles, tibial arteries/nerves, thyroid, adipose tissue, etc. These putative KOA-effector genes are mainly involved in the organization/activity of the exoribonuclease complex and antigen processing/presentation pathways. In conclusion, KOA susceptibility among Europeans of Russia is mediated by intergenic interactions (but not the main effects) of GWAS-important SNPs.
Machinability Assessment of Hybrid Nano Cutting Oil for Minimum Quantity Lubrication (MQL) in Hard Turning of 90CrSi Steel
Authors: Ngoc Tran Bao , Duc Tran Minh , Tuan Ngo Minh , Hoang Vu Lai , Long Tran The
Published: February 2023

Friction and very high temperature are still the major challenges in hard machining technology and they greatly affect cutting efficiency. The application of the MQL (minimum quantity lubrication) method, using nanoparticles in order to improve the cooling lubrication performance of the base cutting oil, has proven to be a promising solution. Hence, this work aimed to investigate the effectiveness of Al2O3/MoS2 hybrid nanofluid and Al2O3 and MoS2 mono nanofluids in the hard turning of 90CrSi steel (60–62 HRC) under an MQL environment. The Box-Behnken experimental design was used for three input variables, including nanoparticle concentration, air pressure, and air flow rate. Their influences on surface roughness and cutting forces were studied. According to the obtained results, it was shown that the application of hybrid nano cutting oils in MQL contributes to achieving better hard machining performance than the use of mono nanofluids. In particular, a lower cutting temperature is reported and the values of surface roughness Ra, back force Fp, and cutting force Fc were smaller and more stable under Al2O3/MoS2 hybrid nanofluid MQL than those under Al2O3 and MoS2 mono nanofluid MQL due to an improvement in cooling lubrication characteristics. Thus, this work provides a novel approach to study hybrid nanofluids for MQL hard machining.
Synthesis and Frictional Characteristics of Bio-Based Lubricants Obtained from Fatty Acids of Castor Oil
Authors: Campos Flexa Ribeiro Filho Paulo Roberto , Rocha do Nascimento Matheus , Otaviano da Silva Silvia Shelly , Tavares de Luna Francisco Murilo , Rodríguez-Castellón Enrique , Loureiro Cavalcante Célio
Published: February 2023

The depletion of oil reserves and concerns about the environmental impact of the use and incorrect disposal of mineral lubricants have been promoting the development of bio-based lubricants. In this study, biolubricants obtained from fatty acids of castor oil were synthesized by esterification (>wt.%93), epoxidation (>wt.%92), and oxirane ring opening reactions using water (>wt.%92) or 2-ethylhexanol (>wt.%94) as nucleophilic agents. The frictional characteristics of the synthesized samples were obtained through tribological tests performed in a four-ball tester and compared with a commercial mineral oil. The sample obtained through oxirane ring opening with water showed the best frictional performance (FC = 0.0699 ± 0.0007) among the prepared samples, with equivalent wear rate (WSD = 281.2 ± 5.54 μm) and ca. 20% lower friction coefficient when compared to the commercial mineral oil, indicating its great potential for replacing mineral fossil oils.
A Parametric Study on the Effect of FSW Parameters and the Tool Geometry on the Tensile Strength of AA2024–AA7075 Joints: Microstructure and Fracture
Authors: Beygi Reza , Zarezadeh Mehrizi Majid , Akhavan-Safar Alireza , Mohammadi Sajjad , da Silva Lucas F. M.
Published: February 2023

Friction stir welding (FSW) is a process by which a joint can be made in a solid state. The complexity of the process due to metallurgical phenomena necessitates the use of models with the ability to accurately correlate the process parameters with the joint properties. In the present study, a multilayer perceptron (MLP) artificial neural network (ANN) was used to model and predict the ultimate tensile strength (UTS) of the joint between the AA2024 and AA7075 aluminum alloys. Three pin geometries, pyramidal, conical, and cylindrical, were used for welding. The rotation speed varied between 800 and 1200 rpm and the welding speed varied between 10 and 50 mm/min. The obtained ANN model was used in a simulated annealing algorithm (SA algorithm) to optimize the process to attain the maximum UTS. The SA algorithm yielded the cylindrical pin and rotational speed of 1110 rpm to achieve the maximum UTS (395 MPa), which agreed well with the experiment. Tensile testing and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were used to assess the joint strength and the microstructure of the joints, respectively. Various defects were detected in the joints, such as a root kissing bond and unconsolidated banding structures, whose formations were dependent on the tool geometry and the rotation speed.
Zn Modification of Pd/TiO2/Ti Catalyst for CO Oxidation
Authors: Samadi Payam , Binczarski Michal J. , Maniukiewicz Waldemar , Pawlaczyk Aleksandra , Rogowski Jacek , Szubiakiewicz Elzbieta , Szynkowska-Jozwik Malgorzata I. , Witonska Izabela A.
Published: February 2023

The main goal of this study was to modify the activity of Pd/TiO2/Ti catalyst in the reaction of CO oxidation by the addition of Zn. Plasma electrolytic oxidation (PEO) of Ti wire was conducted to produce a uniform porous layer of TiO2. A mixture of Pd and Zn was then introduced by means of adsorption. After reduction treatment, the activity of the samples was examined by oxidation of 5% CO in a temperature range from 80–350 °C. Model catalysts with sufficient amounts of the metals for physico-chemical investigation were prepared to further investigate the reaction between Pd and Zn during CO oxidation. The structures and compositions of the samples were investigated using scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive spectroscopy (SEM-EDS), time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (TOF-SIMS), inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), and X-ray diffraction (XRD). Modification of Pd/TiO2/Ti catalyst by Zn with a Pd:Zn atomic ratio of 2:1 decreased the temperature of complete CO oxidation from 220 °C for Pd/TiO2/Ti to 180 °C for Pd-Zn/TiO2/Ti. The temperature of 50% CO conversion on Pd-Zn(2:1)/TiO2/Ti was around 55 °C lower than in the reaction on monometallic Pd catalyst. The addition of Zn to the Pd catalyst lowered the binding energy of CO on the surface and improved the dissociative adsorption of oxygen, facilitating the oxidation of CO. FTIR showed that the bridging form of adsorbed CO is preferred on bimetallic systems. Analysis of the surface compositions of the samples (SEM-EDS, TOF-SIMS) showed higher amounts of oxygen on the bimetallic systems.
Energy Conversion and Transfer in the Luminescence of CeSc3(BO3)4:Cr3+ Phosphor
Authors: Chen Lei , Wu Yabing , Liu Qi , Guo Yanguang , Liu Fanghai , Wang Bo , Wei Shizhong
Published: February 2023

Novel near-infrared (NIR) phosphors are in demand for light-emitting diode (LED) devices to extend their suitability for new applications and, in turn, support the sustainable and healthy development of the LED industry. The Cr3+ has been used as an activator in the development of new NIR phosphors. However, one main obstacle for the Cr3+-activated phosphors is the low luminescence efficiency due to the spin-forbidden d-d transition of Cr3+. The rare-earth (RE) huntite minerals that crystallize in the form of REM3(BO3)4 (M = Al, Sc, Cr, Fe, Ga) have a large family of members, including the rare-earth scandium borates of RESc3(BO3)4. Interestingly, in our research, we found that the luminescence efficiency of Cr3+ in the CeSc3(BO3)4 host, whose quantum yield was measured at 56%, is several times higher than that in GdSc3(BO3)4, TbSc3(BO3)4, and LuSc3(BO3)4 hosts. Hereby, the energy conversion and transfer in the luminescence of CeSc3(BO3)4:Cr3+ phosphor were examined. The Stokes shift of electron energy conversion within the Cr3+ 4T2g level for the emission at 818 nm and excitation at 625 nm in CeSc3(BO3)4 host was evaluated to be 3775.1 cm−1, and the super-large splitting energy of the 2F5/2 and 2F72 sub-states of the Ce3+ 4f1 state, about 3000 cm−1, was found in CeSc3(BO3)4 host. The typical electronic thermal vibration peaks were observed in the excitation spectra of CeSc3(BO3)4:Cr3+. On this basis, the smallest phonon energy, around 347.7 cm−1, of the CeSc3(BO3)4 host was estimated. Finally, the energy transfer that is responsible for the far higher photoluminescence of Cr3+ in CeSc3(BO3)4 than in other hosts was proven through the way of Ce3+ emission and Cr3+ reabsorption.
zPasteurAIzer: An AI-Enabled Solution for Product Quality Monitoring in Tunnel Pasteurization Machines
Authors: Afolaranmi Samuel Olaiya , Drakoulelis Michalis , Filios Gabriel , Melchiorre Christian , Nikoletseas Sotiris , Panagiotou Stefanos H. , Timpilis Konstantinos
Published: February 2023

In the food and beverage industry, many foods, beers, and soft drinks need to be pasteurized in order to minimize the effect of micro-organisms on the physical stability, quality, and flavour of the product. Although modern tunnel pasteurizers provide integrated solutions for precise process monitoring and control, a great number of packaging plants continue to operate with legacy pasteurizers that require irregular manual measurements to be performed by shop floor operators in order to monitor the process. In this context, the present paper presents zPasteurAIzer, an end-to-end system that provides real-time quality monitoring for legacy tunnel pasteurization machines and constitutes a low-cost alternative to replacement or the upgrading of installed equipment by leveraging IoT technologies and AI-enabled virtual sensing techniques. We share details on the design and implementation of the system, which is based on a microservice-oriented architecture and includes functionalities such as configuration of the pasteurizer machine, data acquisition, and preprocessing methodology as well as machine learning-based estimation and live dashboard monitoring of the process parameters. Experimental work has been conducted in a real-world use case at a large brewing manufacturing plant in Greece, and the results indicate the value and potential of the proposed system.
A Deep-Learning-Based Approach for Aircraft Engine Defect Detection
Authors: Upadhyay Anurag , Li Jun , King Steve , Addepalli Sri
Published: February 2023

Borescope inspection is a labour-intensive process used to find defects in aircraft engines that contain areas not visible during a general visual inspection. The outcome of the process largely depends on the judgment of the maintenance professionals who perform it. This research develops a novel deep learning framework for automated borescope inspection. In the framework, a customised U-Net architecture is developed to detect the defects on high-pressure compressor blades. Since motion blur is introduced in some images while the blades are rotated during the inspection, a hybrid motion deblurring method for image sharpening and denoising is applied to remove the effect based on classic computer vision techniques in combination with a customised GAN model. The framework also addresses the data imbalance, small size of the defects and data availability issues in part by testing different loss functions and generating synthetic images using a customised generative adversarial net (GAN) model, respectively. The results obtained from the implementation of the deep learning framework achieve precisions and recalls of over 90%. The hybrid model for motion deblurring results in a 10× improvement in image quality. However, the framework only achieves modest success with particular loss functions for very small sizes of defects. The future study will focus on very small defects detection and extend the deep learning framework to general borescope inspection.
Adaptive Backlash Compensation for CNC Machining Applications
Authors: Gan Lu , Wang Liuping , Huang Fei
Published: February 2023

The mechanical transmission employed inside the computer numerical control (CNC) machine electromechanical system usually has an inherent backlash. As a position-controlled system is commonly used for the electromechanical system, the backlash limits the performance of the motion control system due to its nonlinearity and discontinuity. This paper proposes an effective method to adaptively detect and compensate for the backlash effect in real time, in which the end-effect load position of the CNC machine is estimated and controlled by the position-controlled servo system, in order to eliminate the influence of backlash on the contour path performance. The simulation results obtained from the model of a realistic CNC machine show the successful elimination of the error between the reference and the end-effector position and a significant improvement in the control system performance.
Analysis of the Causes of Damage to the Stabilisation Actuator of the Cap Piece of the Powered Roof Supports and a Proposal to Reduce the Effects
Authors: Szurgacz Dawid
Published: February 2023

The mining and geological conditions in which coal mining is carried out are highly variable, which results in dynamic rock manifestations. These include rock mass dynamic failure (seismicity), causing dynamic impacts and also quasi-static rock movements that do not result in seismicity but increases pressure in the powered roof support. The paper analyses the resulting damage to the stabilisation actuator of the cap piece. The analysis was carried out based on the research results conducted in real conditions (a mining longwall). This research study aims to obtain information about the pressure created in hydraulic actuators. Exceeding the design pressure limits caused damage to the bolt holes of the cap piece actuator. The pressure in the sub-piston space of the hydraulic prop was also analysed. The previous research conducted on mechanically powered roof supports focused mainly on bench tests. The results of the analysis carried out under real testing conditions currently comprise the starting point for the development of a new method to reduce adverse effects. Under the mining and geological conditions where the research was carried out, a high load on the roof’s side was under the load applied directly on the powered roof support. The load of the test’s results identified problems related to the safety valve in the sub-piston space of the actuators as it did not reach its opening time during the build up of the load.
Effect of the Position in the Build Chamber on the Fatigue Strength of Additively Manufactured Maraging Steel MS1
Authors: Croccolo Dario , Ćirić-Kostić Snežana , De Agostinis Massimiliano , Fini Stefano , Olmi Giorgio , Bogojević Nebojša , Šoškić Zlatan
Published: February 2023

The quality of additively produced parts and the achievable mechanical response may be affected by several factors, such as build orientation, heat treatment, or machining. A further rarely investigated factor is the position of the built part in the chamber with respect to inert gas flow. Previous studies have highlighted that the interaction between gas flow and laser track may induce an intense vaporization with consequent lack of fusion, particle entrainment, drop in density and denudation of the produced part, which is likely to detrimentally affect mechanical properties. This study addresses the effect of part position on the fatigue strength of heat-treated maraging steel MS1 produced by an EOSINT M280 machine in a nitrogen environment. Novelty arises from the lack of studies in this field, especially under fatigue. A factorial plan with subsequent statistical analysis highlighted that positioning the part upstream with respect to the gas flow leads to a slightly lower fatigue strength; however, no significant differences are observed. The failure mode, involving initiation from subsurface porosities of the same size, is also unaffected. Finally, a fatigue limit of 26% of the ultimate tensile strength is found, which is consistent with previous outcomes.
A Multi-Task-Based Deep Multi-Scale Information Fusion Method for Intelligent Diagnosis of Bearing Faults
Authors: Xin Ruihao , Feng Xin , Wang Tiantian , Miao Fengbo , Yu Cuinan
Published: February 2023

The use of deep learning for fault diagnosis is already a common approach. However, integrating discriminative information of fault types and scales into deep learning models for rich multitask fault feature diagnosis still deserves attention. In this study, a deep multitask-based multiscale feature fusion network model (MEAT) is proposed to address the limitations and poor adaptability of traditional convolutional neural network models for complex jobs. The model performed multidimensional feature extraction through convolution at different scales to obtain different levels of fault information, used a hierarchical attention mechanism to weight the fusion of features to achieve an accuracy of 99.95% for the total task of fault six classification, and considered two subtasks in fault classification to discriminate fault size and fault type through multi-task mapping decomposition. Of these, the highest accuracy of fault size classification reached 100%. In addition, Precision, ReCall, and Sacore F1 all reached the index of 1, which achieved the accurate diagnosis of bearing faults.
Design and Implementation of SAE J1939 and Modbus Communication Protocols for Electric Vehicle
Authors: Alzahrani Ahmad , Wangikar Shriya Makarand , Indragandhi Vairavasundaram , Singh Rassaiah Raja , Subramaniyaswamy Vairavasundaram
Published: February 2023

The charging station has a vital role in the electric vehicle sector. The charging station provides supply (AC or DC) to vehicles as per requirements. The charging station infrastructure includes software and hardware that ensure energy transfer and safety. Communication is mandatory to transmit messages that contain information from the battery management system and charger. This research focuses on implementing the communication between the charger controller and the battery management system. This paper adopts the controller area network (CAN) bus charger communication protocol based on the SAE J1939 standard from the Society of Automotive Engineers. The data are transmitted over a network to facilitate the information that is to be conveyed by an electronic control unit. The vehicle communicates via the battery management system to the charger controller using CAN communication. The charger power modules with AC to DC and DC to DC converters uses Modbus communication protocol. Therefore, this paper integrates CAN bus and Modbus communication protocols and implements the communication between charger and electric vehicle battery management system using a cost-effective Arduino UNO micro-controller. Using the CAN bus module (MCP2515) and Modbus module (MAX485), the distance between the electric vehicle and the charger is increased. Finally, the communication is validated using PCAN View software.
Experimental Studies on the Phase Separation Behavior of Molten Benzenesulfonate-Modified PET/PA6 Blends
Authors: Ma Xiao-Jun , Ye Qi-Yu , Zheng Shao-Jie , Hu Ji-Jiang , Yao Zhen
Published: February 2023

In this work, nylon 6 (PA6) and cationic dyeable polyester (CDP) modified with benzenesulfonate groups were reactively blended in a twin-screw extruder. The well-mixed CDP/PA6 blends were re-molten and statically kept for various amounts of time. The morphology evolution caused by phase separation was observed by a scanning electron microscope (SEM) and an atomic force microscopy-infrared (AFM-IR) technique. In the absence of shear force, the homogeneously mixed blends were found to separate rapidly into two phases because of the poor miscibility between polyester and polyamide. In the early stage, the dispersed phase was small in size and irregular in shape. With prolongation of the phase separation time, the dispersed phase turned into larger and spherical particles to minimize the interface between phases. The phase separation process typically lasted 2 to 7 min. This means that the effects of phase separation on the morphology of the blends cannot be ignored in injection molding, compression molding, or other processing processes short of shear force. The effects of the ratio between polyester and polyamide, the benzenesulfonate content, and the molecular weight of polymers on phase separation behavior were investigated.
Insight into Unsteady Separated Stagnation Point Flow of Hybrid Nanofluids Subjected to an Electro-Magnetohydrodynamics Riga Plate
Authors: Khashi’ie Najiyah Safwa , Arifin Norihan Md , Wahid Nur Syahirah , Pop Ioan
Published: February 2023

The main objective of this work is to analyze and compare the numerical solutions of an unsteady separated stagnation point flow due to a Riga plate using copper–alumina/water and graphene–alumina/water hybrid nanofluids. The Riga plate generates electro-magnetohydrodynamics (EMHD) which is expected to delay the boundary layer separation. The flow and energy equations are mathematically developed based on the boundary layer assumptions. These equations are then simplified with the aid of the similarity variables. The numerical results are generated by the bvp4c function and then presented in graphs and tables. The limitation of this model is the use of a Riga plate as the testing surface and water as the base fluid. The results may differ if another wall surfaces or base fluids are considered. Another limitation is the Takabi and Salehi’s correlation of hybrid nanofluid is used for the computational part. The findings reveal that dual solutions exist where the first solution is stable using the validation from stability analysis. Graphene–alumina/water has the maximum skin friction coefficient while copper–alumina/water has the maximum thermal coefficient for larger acceleration parameter. Besides, the single nanofluids (copper–water, graphene–water and alumina–water) are also tested and compared with the hybrid nanofluids. Surprisingly, graphene–water has the maximum skin friction coefficient while alumina–water has the maximum heat transfer rate. The findings are only conclusive and limited to the comparison between graphene–alumina and copper–alumina with water base fluid. The result may differ if another base fluid is used. Hence, future study is necessary to investigate the thermal progress of these hybrid nanofluids.
Fine-Grained Tb3Al5O12 Transparent Ceramics Prepared by Co-Precipitation Synthesis and Two-Step Sintering
Authors: Zhang Lixuan , Li Xiaoying , Hu Dianjun , Dobrotvorska Mariya , Yavetskiy Roman , Dai Zhengfa , Xie Tengfei , Yuan Qiang , Chen Haohong , Liu Qiang , Li Jiang
Published: February 2023

In recent years, transparent terbium aluminum garnet (TAG) ceramics have attracted much attention for use in high-power Faraday isolators. Fine-grained ceramics usually possess better mechanical properties and accordingly better service performance. In this work, transparent TAG ceramics with fine grains were prepared using a two-step sintering procedure based on the low-temperature sintering process to suppress grain growth. The composition of TAG precursor and powders calcined at different temperatures was studied in detail. The microstructure and relative density of air pre-sintered TAG ceramics were studied to meet the requirements of hot isostatic pressing (HIP) post-treatment. Driven by the low pre-sintering temperature in air, the average grain sizes of the obtained TAG ceramics after HIP treatment are about 2.9–5.3 μm. The TAG ceramics (1.2 mm thick) pre-sintered at 1450 °C with HIP post-treatment at 1550 °C for 3 h under a 176 MPa Ar atmosphere possess the highest in-line transmittance of 80.3% at 1064 nm. The Verdet constant of the TAG ceramics at 632.8 nm is −180.5 rad·T−1·m−1 at room temperature, which is about 1.3 times larger than that of the commercial Tb3Ga5O12 single crystals.
Intuitionistic Fuzzy Deep Neural Network
Authors: Atanassov Krassimir , Sotirov Sotir , Pencheva Tania
Published: February 2023

The concept of an intuitionistic fuzzy deep neural network (IFDNN) is introduced here as a demonstration of a combined use of artificial neural networks and intuitionistic fuzzy sets, aiming to benefit from the advantages of both methods. The investigation presents in a methodological way the whole process of IFDNN development, starting with the simplest form—an intuitionistic fuzzy neural network (IFNN) with one layer with single-input neuron, passing through IFNN with one layer with one multi-input neuron, further subsequent complication—an IFNN with one layer with many multi-input neurons, and finally—the true IFDNN with many layers with many multi-input neurons. The formulas for strongly optimistic, optimistic, average, pessimistic and strongly pessimistic formulas for NN parameters estimation, represented in the form of intuitionistic fuzzy pairs, are given here for the first time for each one of the presented IFNNs. To demonstrate its workability, an example of an IFDNN application to biomedical data is here presented.
On the Significance of Parameters in the Choice and Collection Schemata in the 2nd Order Peano Arithmetic
Authors: Kanovei Vladimir , Lyubetsky Vassily
Published: February 2023

We make use of generalized iterations of the Sacks forcing to define cardinal-preserving generic extensions of the constructible universe L in which the axioms of ZF hold and in addition either (1) the parameter-free countable axiom of choice ACω* fails, or (2) ACω* holds but the full countable axiom of choice ACω fails in the domain of reals. In another generic extension of L, we define a set X⊆P(ω), which is a model of the parameter-free part PA2* of the 2nd order Peano arithmetic PA2, in which CA(Σ21) (Comprehension for Σ21 formulas with parameters) holds, yet an instance of Comprehension CA for a more complex formula fails. Treating the iterated Sacks forcing as a class forcing over Lω1, we infer the following consistency results as corollaries. If the 2nd order Peano arithmetic PA2 is formally consistent then so are the theories: (1) PA2+¬ACω*, (2) PA2+ACω*+¬ACω, (3) PA2*+CA(Σ21)+¬CA.
Criteria Weights in Hiring Decisions—A Conjoint Approach
Authors: Maer Matei Monica Mihaela , Zamfir Ana-Maria , Mocanu Cristina
Published: February 2023

Understanding human behavior in the decision-making process represents a challenge for researchers in the socio-economic field. The complexity comes from multiple criteria acting simultaneously. Hiring decisions are made on a set of criteria representing the attributes of the applicants. This study’s main objective is to investigate Romanian employers’ behavior when recruiting for jobs targeting graduates from economic studies. The method used to identify the weights employers assign to different skills was based on an experimental technique-choice based conjoint. A survey experiment was conducted to produce causal conclusions about the recruiting process. The estimation was performed with a methodology based on machine learning, which allows to investigate interactions between subjects’ characteristics and conjoint criteria. The findings of our experiment align with other studies pointing to the increased relevance of non-cognitive skills for employability. Additionally, our results show that criteria weights in hiring decisions depend on company size, ownership, activity sector or personal characteristics of the recruiter. Our research provides a mechanism for understanding employers’ perspectives. This is valuable for informing job seekers to adjust their job search strategies and to invest in the skills offering hiring opportunities. Moreover, universities can use the results to adapt their educational programs to labor market needs.
On the Conjecture of Berry Regarding a Bernoulli Two-Armed Bandit
Authors: Zhang Jichen , Wu Panyu
Published: February 2023

In this paper, we study an independent Bernoulli two-armed bandit with unknown parameters ρ and λ, where ρ and λ have a pair of priori distributions such that dR(ρ)=CRρr0(1−ρ)r0′dμ(ρ),dL(λ)=CLλl0(1−λ)l0′dμ(λ) and μ is an arbitrary positive measure on [0,1]. Berry proposed the conjecture that, given a pair of priori distributions (R,L) of parameters ρ and λ, the arm with R is the current optimal choice if r0+r0′<l0+l0′ and the expectation of ρ is not less than that of λ. We give an easily verifiable equivalent form of Berry’s conjecture and use it to prove that Berry’s conjecture holds when R and L are two-point distributions as well as when R and L are beta distributions and the number of trials N≤r0r0′+1.
A Combinatorial Approach to Study the Nordhaus–Guddum-Type Results for Steiner Degree Distance
Authors: Liu Hongfang , Liang Jinxia , Liu Yuhu , Das Kinkar Chandra
Published: February 2023

In 1994, Dobrynin and Kochetova introduced the concept of degree distance DD(Γ) of a connected graph Γ. Let dΓ(S) be the Steiner k-distance of S⊆V(Γ). The Steiner Wiener k-index or k-center Steiner Wiener indexSWk(Γ) of Γ is defined by SWk(Γ)=∑|S|=kS⊆V(Γ)dΓ(S). The k-center Steiner degree distanceSDDk(Γ) of a connected graph Γ is defined by SDDk(Γ)=∑|S|=kS⊆V(Γ)∑v∈SdegΓ(v)dΓ(S), where degΓ(v) is the degree of the vertex v in Γ. In this paper, we consider the Nordhaus–Gaddum-type results for SWk(Γ) and SDDk(Γ). Upper bounds on SWk(Γ)+SWk(Γ¯) and SWk(Γ)·SWk(Γ¯) are obtained for a connected graph Γ and compared with previous bounds. We present sharp upper and lower bounds of SDDk(Γ)+SDDk(Γ¯) and SDDk(Γ)·SDDk(Γ¯) for a connected graph Γ of order n with maximum degree Δ and minimum degree δ. Some graph classes attaining these bounds are also given.
Efficacy of Adipose-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells and Stromal Vascular Fraction Alone and Combined to Biomaterials in Tendinopathy or Tendon Injury: Systematic Review of Current Concepts
Authors: Senesi Letizia , De Francesco Francesco , Marchesini Andrea , Pangrazi Pier Paolo , Bertolini Maddalena , Riccio Valentina , Riccio Michele
Published: February 2023

Background and Objectives: Tendon injury and tendinopathy are among the most frequent musculoskeletal diseases and represent a challenging issue for surgeons as well as a great socio-economic global burden. Despite the current treatments available, either surgical or conservative, the tendon healing process is often suboptimal and impaired. This is due to the inherent scarce ability of tendon tissue to repair and return itself to the original structure. Recently, Adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (ADSC) and stromal vascular fraction (SVF) have gained a central interest in the scientific community, demonstrating their effectiveness in treatments of acute and chronic tendon disorders in animals and humans. Either enzymatic or mechanical procedures to obtain ADSC and SVF have been described and used in current clinical practice. However, no unified protocols and processes have been established. Materials and Methods: This systematic review aims at providing a comprehensive update of the literature on the clinical application of ADSC enzymatically or mechanically processed to obtain SVF, alone and in association with biomaterials in the local treatment of tendinopathy and tendon injury in vivo, in animal models and humans. The study was performed according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA). Results: Thirty-two articles met our inclusion criteria, with a total of 18 studies in animals, 10 studies in humans and 4 studies concerning the application of biomaterials in vivo in animals. The review of the literature suggests that ADSC/SVF therapy can represent a promising alternative in tendonregenerative medicine for the enhancement of tendon healing. Conclusions: Nevertheless, further investigations and randomized control trials are needed to improve the knowledge, standardize the procedures and extend the consensus on their use for such applications.
A Meta-Analysis Showing the Quantitative Evidence Base of Preemptive Pregabalin for Postoperative Pain from Cancer-Related Surgery
Authors: Wang Qian , Dong Jing , Ye Xin , Ren Yi-Feng
Published: February 2023

Background and Objectives: As an adjunct to postoperative multimodal analgesic regimens, pregabalin has been reported in reducing postoperative acute pain and opioid consumption. However, there is only a small amount of evidence for preemptive pregabalin in patients undergoing cancer-related surgery. This systematic review was conducted to integrate high-quality evidence to evaluate the preemptive analgesic effects of pregabalin in cancer-related surgery. Materials and Methods: Seven electronic databases were searched in a combination of subject terms and free words. Efficacy and safety of preemptive pregabalin on postoperative pain for cancer-related surgery were evaluated by assessing resting and dynamic pain scores postoperatively, cumulative morphine equivalent consumption, time to first analgesic request, hemodynamic parameters, and the safety indicators. Results: Thirteen trials were incorporated for quantitative synthesis. The pooled results showed administration of pregabalin preoperatively is clinically significant for improving resting (weighted mean difference (WMD), −1.53 cm; 95% CI, −2.30 to −0.77) and dynamic (WMD, −1.16 cm; 95% CI, −2.22 to −0.11) pain severity scores at 2 h postoperatively and prolonging time to first analgesic request (WMD, 2.28 h; 95% CI, 0.79 to 3.77) in cancer-related surgery. Preemptive pregabalin was also statistically effective in some other pain indicators but would increase the risk of pregabalin-related side effects after surgery. Conclusions: Our findings do not support the administration of pregabalin in doses larger than 300 mg when put in cancer-related surgery. Taken together, more high-quality research particularly focused on the optimal dosages and timing of pregabalin in cancer-related surgery is needed in the future to establish stronger evidence for therapeutic effects.
Comparison of the McGRATHTM Video Laryngoscope and Macintosh Laryngoscope for Orotracheal Intubation in a Simulated Difficult Airway Scenario: An Open-Label, Randomized Clinical Trial
Authors: Kim Jong-Yeop , Park Seonghyeok , Oh Minho , Choi Jong-Bun , John Hyun-Ji , Lee Soo-Kyung , Choi Yi-Hwa
Published: February 2023

Background and Objectives: Difficult intubation, which may be encountered unexpectedly during anesthesia, can increase patients’ morbidity and mortality. The McGRATH video laryngoscope is known to provide improved laryngeal visibility in patients with difficult or normal airways. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of the McGRATH video laryngoscope for orotracheal intubation compared with that of conventional Macintosh laryngoscopes in simulated difficult airway scenarios. Materials and Methods: In this randomized controlled trial, patients who were scheduled for surgery under general anesthesia requiring orotracheal intubation were assigned to the Macintosh laryngoscope (n = 50) or McGRATH video laryngoscope (n = 45) groups. In this study, to create a simulated difficult airway condition, the subjects performed manual in-line stabilization and applied a soft cervical collar. The primary outcome was the rate of successful intubation within 30 s. The time required for an intubation, glottis grade, intubation difficulty scale (IDS score), the subjective ease of intubation, and optimal external laryngeal manipulation (OLEM) were evaluated. In addition, complications caused by each blade were investigated. Results: The intubation success rate within 30 s was not significantly different between the two groups (44 (88.0%) vs. 36 (80.0%), p = 0.286). The glottic grade was better in the McGRATH group than in the Macintosh group (p = 0.029), but neither the intubation time (26.3 ± 8.2 s vs. 24.2 ± 5.0 s, p = 0.134) nor the rates of oral bleeding (2 (4.0%) vs. 0 (0.0%)) and tooth injury (0 (0.0%) vs. 1 (2.2%)) were significantly different between the two groups. Conclusions: The use of the McGRATH video laryngoscope did not improve the intubation success rate or shorten the intubation time. However, the McGRATH video laryngoscope provided a better glottis view than the conventional Macintosh laryngoscope in patients with a simulated difficult airway.