bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effect of Cooling Mode on the Microstructure of High-Strength Steel during Hot Rolling
Authors: Liu Hongliang , Du Wenbin , Lu Hongzhou , Fu Yujing , Yu Shuai , Liu Chengjun
Published: July 2022

This paper studies the effect of extreme cooling and traditional cooling on the microstructure of high-strength steel during hot rolling by adjusting the cooling process, combining the theoretical calculation and the thermal simulation experiment, and using metallographic microscope, scanning electron microscope (SEM), and electron backscattered diffraction (EBSD) analysis methods in order to solve the problem of coil collapse in the production process of high-strength steel. The research results show that compared with the traditional cooling method, the front-section fast cooling mode can rapidly cool the hot-rolled sheet to the “nose tip” temperature of the ferrite transformation of the time-temperature-phase-transition (TTT) curve, which can promote the transformation of the material to ferrite, increase the proportion of ferrite, and make the grain size of the organization finer. It helps to improve the overall mechanical properties of the material and reduce coil collapse defects. The front-section fast cooling mode achieves good results in industrial application, the proportion of coil collapse reduces from 9.363% to 0.533%, and the problem of coil collapse is significantly improved.
Preparation of Micro-Pit-Textured PCD Tools and Micro-Turning Experiment on SiCp/Al Composites
Authors: Wang Xu , Popov Valentin L. , Yu Zhanjiang , Li Yiquan , Xu Jinkai , Li Qiang , Yu Huadong
Published: July 2022

Serious tool wear occurs very often during machining due to the reinforcing phases in the workpiece. In this study, micro-pit-textures were prepared on the surfaces of PCD tools with a nanosecond laser to improve their cutting performance on SiCp/Al composites. The micro-pits were designed with rounded corners to improve the chip flow. The location and size of the texture were determined by analyzing the tool-chip contact area of the non-textured tool. The cutting performance of these textured PCD tools was investigated through orthogonal cutting experiments. It was found that the optimal cutting performance of the textured tools was achieved with the proper distance of the texture from the main cutting edge (35 μm) and the pit spacing (60 μm), aa a result of which the main cutting force reduced by about 14%, and the tool wear and surface adhesion significantly reduced. This texture was then applied in the micro-turning experiments of the PCD tool on the SiCp/Al composites. The cutting force in this experiment reduced by 22%, and the textured tool provided better chip transfer and tool anti-tipping. In this study, the role of SiC particles as a third body between the tool and the chip surface is discussed.
Using Algorithmic Transformations and Sensitivity Analysis to Unleash Approximations in CNNs at the Edge
Authors: Ponzina Flavio , Ansaloni Giovanni , Peón-Quirós Miguel , Atienza David
Published: July 2022

Previous studies have demonstrated that, up to a certain degree, Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs) can tolerate arithmetic approximations. Nonetheless, perturbations must be applied judiciously, to constrain their impact on accuracy. This is a challenging task, since the implementation of inexact operators is often decided at design time, when the application and its robustness profile are unknown, posing the risk of over-constraining or over-provisioning the hardware. Bridging this gap, we propose a two-phase strategy. Our framework first optimizes the target CNN model, reducing the bitwidth of weights and activations and enhancing error resiliency, so that inexact operations can be performed as frequently as possible. Then, it selectively assigns CNN layers to exact or inexact hardware based on a sensitivity metric. Our results show that, within a 5% accuracy degradation, our methodology, including a highly inexact multiplier design, can reduce the cost of MAC operations in CNN inference up to 83.6% compared to state-of-the-art optimized exact implementations.
Effectiveness and Efficacy of Thermoformed and 3D Printed Aligners in Correcting Malocclusion (Spacing) and Its Impact on Periodontal Oral Health and Oral Microbiome: A Double-Blinded Parallel Randomized Controlled Multicenter Clinical Trial
Authors: Khijmatgar Shahnawaz , Tumedei Margherita , Del Fabbro Massimo , Tartaglia Gianluca Martino
Published: July 2022

Aligners are the common devices used in orthodontics for the correction of malocclusion. Various materials and techniques are employed to fabricate aligners. One of those includes thermoformed and 3D aligners. These aligners can be worn for several days, and their impact on periodontal health is not known. Therefore, the aim of our protocol is to determine the effectiveness of these aligners in correcting malocclusion and their impact on periodontal health and oral microbiome. A double-blinded randomized controlled clinical trial with a total of n = 60 patients will be included with n = 30 in each group (Test: 3D printed aligners and Control: Thermoformed). The evaluation of oral health indices such as basic periodontal examination (BPE), periodontal screening and recording (PSR) that provide the status of periodontal health will be recorded. The oral microbiome assessment will be conducted with polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The primary endpoint will be the correction of malocclusion, and the secondary end point will be the status of periodontal health and oral microbiome. The duration of follow-up for each group will be 7 days for periodontal health and oral microbiome and 6 months for the space closure of 5 mm by 3D and thermoformed aligners.
Hybrid Porous Nanomaterials for Energy and Environment
Authors: Favvas Evangelos P.
Published: July 2022

Porous materials have applications in a wide range of research and industrial processes [...]
Microbial Electrosynthesis Inoculated with Anaerobic Granular Sludge and Carbon Cloth Electrodes Functionalized with Copper Nanoparticles for Conversion of CO2 to CH4
Authors: Georgiou Sofia , Koutsokeras Loukas , Constantinou Marios , Majzer Rafał , Markiewicz Justyna , Siedlecki Marcin , Vyrides Ioannis , Constantinides Georgios
Published: July 2022

Microbial electrosynthesis (MES) can sustainably convert CO2 to products and significant research is currently being conducted towards this end, mainly in laboratory-scale studies. The high-cost ion exchange membrane, however, is one of the main reasons hindering the industrialization of MES. This study investigates the conversion of CO2 (as a sole external carbon source) to CH4 using membraneless MES inoculated with anaerobic granular sludge. Three types of electrodes were tested: carbon cloth (CC) and CC functionalized with Cu NPs, where Cu NPs were deposited for 15 and 45 min, respectively. During the MES experiment, which lasted for 144 days (six cycles), methane was consistently higher in the serum bottles with CC electrodes and applied voltage. The highest CH4 (around 46%) was found in the second cycle after 16 days. The system’s performance declined during the following cycles; nevertheless, the CH4 composition was twice as high compared to the serum bottles without voltage. The MES with Cu NPs functionalized CC electrodes had a higher performance than the MES with plain CC electrodes. Microbial profile analysis showed that the Methanobacterium was the most dominant genus in all samples and it was found in higher abundance on the cathodes, followed by the anodes, and then in the suspended biomass. The genus Geobacter was identified only on the anodes regarding relative bacterial abundance at around 6–10%. Desulfovibrio was the most dominant genus in the cathodes; however, its relative abundance was significantly higher for the cathodes with Cu NPs.
Effect of Intradialytic Oral Nutritional Supplementation with or without Exercise Improves Muscle Mass Quality and Physical Function in Hemodialysis Patients: A Pilot Study
Authors: Martin-Alemañy Geovana , Perez-Navarro Monserrat , Wilund Kenneth R. , García-Villalobos Gloria , Gómez-Guerrero Irma , Cantú-Quintanilla Guillermo , Reyes-Caldelas Miguel Angel , Espinosa-Cuevas Angeles , Escobedo Galileo , Medeiros Mara , Bennett Paul N. , Valdez-Ortiz Rafael
Published: July 2022

Background: Oral nutritional supplementation (ONS) with or without exercise (EX) could improve muscle mass (MM) in chronic kidney disease. Methods: Patients were randomized into two groups: (1) ONS and (2) ONS + EX. Thigh muscle area (cm2) and intramuscular lipid content via attenuation were evaluated at baseline and 6 months with computed tomography (CT) to measure MM quantity and quality. Physical function was measured by six-minute walk test (6 MWT), gait speed, handgrip strength (HGS), and Time Up and Go test (TUG) at baseline and 3 and 6 months. Results: The ONS group (n= 14) showed statistically significant improvement in gait speed and HGS; ONS + EX group (n = 10) showed differences in gait speed, in 6 MWT, and HGS. In the ANOVA (3 times × 2 groups), no differences were observed between groups. Greater effect sizes in favor to ONS + EX group were observed in the 6 MWT (d = 1.02) and TUG test (d = 0.63). Muscle quality at six months revealed a significant trend in favor of the EX-group (p = 0.054). Conclusions: Both groups had improved physical function, and greater effect sizes were seen in the ONS + EX group for the 6 MWT and TUG test. Neither MM quantity or quality was improved in either group.
Serum Fatty Acid Profiles Are Associated with Disease Activity in Early Rheumatoid Arthritis: Results from the ESPOIR Cohort
Authors: Sigaux Johanna , Bellicha Alice , Buscail Camille , Julia Chantal , Flipo René-Marc , Cantagrel Alain , Laporte Francois , Beal Caroline , Boissier Marie-Christophe , Semerano Luca
Published: July 2022

Background: Long-chain omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids (n-3, n-6 FAs) may modulate inflammation and affect the risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis (RA). However, whether n-3/n-6 FA status affects RA after disease onset is unknown. This study aimed to assess whether FA profiles are independently associated with disease activity in a large prospective cohort of patients with early RA. Methods: Baseline serum FAs were quantified in 669 patients in the ESPOIR cohort. Principal component analysis identified three serum FA patterns that were rich in n-7–9, n-3 and n-6 FAs (patterns ω7–9, ω3 and ω6), respectively. The association of pattern tertiles with baseline variables and 6-month disease activity was tested using multivariable logistic regression. Results: Pattern ω3 was associated with low baseline and pattern ω6 with high baseline C-reactive protein level and disease activity. Both patterns ω3 and ω6 were associated with reduced odds of active disease after 6 months of follow-up (pattern ω3: odds ratio, tertile three vs. one, 0.49 [95% CI 0.25 to 0.97] and pattern ω6: 0.51 [0.28 to 0.95]; p = 0.04 and 0.03, respectively). Conclusions: In a cohort of early RA patients, a serum lipid profile rich in n-3 FAs was independently associated with persistently reduced disease activity between baseline and 6-month follow-up. An n-6 FA profile was also associated with lower 6-month disease activity.
Inpatient Rehabilitation during Intensive Refeeding in Severe Anorexia Nervosa
Authors: Dauty Marc , Menu Pierre , Jolly Baptiste , Lambert Sylvain , Rocher Bruno , Le Bras Maëlle , Jirka Adam , Guillot Pascale , Pretagut Stéphane , Fouasson-Chailloux Alban
Published: July 2022

Severe forms of anorexia nervosa are responsible for weight loss and life-threatening consequences. Refeeding represents a real psychiatric and somatic challenge. Physical activities are usually not recommended during intensive refeeding in order to avoid energy expenditure. This study assessed the interest in an early return to controlled physical activities, during a hospitalization in a Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (PMR) department, including continuous nasogastric refeeding and psychiatric care. A total of 37 subjects aged 32 ± 11 years old performed inpatient physical activities during nasogastric refeeding initiated after intensive care. The physical activity program was adapted according to the hyperactivity of the patients. Evaluation parameters were weight, body mass index (BMI), body composition (fat, lean, and bone masses), and function (strength, balance, walking, ventilation). Patient satisfaction, re-hospitalizations, and physical activities continuation were assessed at 12 months of follow-up. Weight, BMI, and body fat increased significantly (+2.7 ± 1.7 kg; +1.0 ± 0.6 kg/m2; +1.7 ± 2.5 kg, respectively). Muscle strength increased even if the lean mass did not. Walking distance, balance, and respiratory function were significantly improved. Weight and fat mass gains did not differ according to the presence or absence of hyperactivity. At 12 months, 46% of the patients continued to be physically active, but 21% of the patients had been re-hospitalized. The early return to controlled physical activities in PMR hospitalization does not compromise the efficiency of intensive refeeding in severe anorexia nervosa patients.
GMP Manufacturing and IND-Enabling Studies of a Recombinant Hyperimmune Globulin Targeting SARS-CoV-2
Authors: Mizrahi Rena A. , Lin Wendy Y. , Gras Ashley , Niedecken Ariel R. , Wagner Ellen K. , Keating Sheila M. , Ikon Nikita , Manickam Vishal A. , Asensio Michael A. , Leong Jackson , Medina-Cucurella Angelica V. , Benzie Emily , Carter Kyle P. , Chiang Yao , Edgar Robert C. , Leong Renee , Lim Yoong Wearn , Simons Jan Fredrik , Spindler Matthew J. , Stadtmiller Kacy , Wayham Nicholas , Büscher Dirk , Terencio Jose Vicente , Germanio Clara Di , Chamow Steven M. , Olson Charles , Pino Paula A. , Park Jun-Gyu , Hicks Amberlee , Ye Chengjin , Garcia-Vilanova Andreu , Martinez-Sobrido Luis , Torrelles Jordi B. , Johnson David S. , Adler Adam S.
Published: July 2022

Conventionally, hyperimmune globulin drugs manufactured from pooled immunoglobulins from vaccinated or convalescent donors have been used in treating infections where no treatment is available. This is especially important where multi-epitope neutralization is required to prevent the development of immune-evading viral mutants that can emerge upon treatment with monoclonal antibodies. Using microfluidics, flow sorting, and a targeted integration cell line, a first-in-class recombinant hyperimmune globulin therapeutic against SARS-CoV-2 (GIGA-2050) was generated. Using processes similar to conventional monoclonal antibody manufacturing, GIGA-2050, comprising 12,500 antibodies, was scaled-up for clinical manufacturing and multiple development/tox lots were assessed for consistency. Antibody sequence diversity, cell growth, productivity, and product quality were assessed across different manufacturing sites and production scales. GIGA-2050 was purified and tested for good laboratory procedures (GLP) toxicology, pharmacokinetics, and in vivo efficacy against natural SARS-CoV-2 infection in mice. The GIGA-2050 master cell bank was highly stable, producing material at consistent yield and product quality up to >70 generations. Good manufacturing practices (GMP) and development batches of GIGA-2050 showed consistent product quality, impurity clearance, potency, and protection in an in vivo efficacy model. Nonhuman primate toxicology and pharmacokinetics studies suggest that GIGA-2050 is safe and has a half-life similar to other recombinant human IgG1 antibodies. These results supported a successful investigational new drug application for GIGA-2050. This study demonstrates that a new class of drugs, recombinant hyperimmune globulins, can be manufactured consistently at the clinical scale and presents a new approach to treating infectious diseases that targets multiple epitopes of a virus.
Disturbance Ecology Meets Bovine Tuberculosis (bTB) Epidemiology: A Before-and-After Study on the Association between Forest Clearfelling and bTB Herd Risk in Cattle Herds
Authors: Byrne Andrew W. , Barrett Damien , Breslin Philip , O’Keeffe James , Murphy Kilian J. , Conteddu Kimberly , Morera-Pujol Virginia , Ryan Eoin , Ciuti Simone
Published: July 2022

Disturbance ecology refers to the study of discrete processes that disrupt the structure or dynamics of an ecosystem. Such processes can, therefore, affect wildlife species ecology, including those that are important pathogen hosts. We report on an observational before-and-after study on the association between forest clearfelling and bovine tuberculosis (bTB) herd risk in cattle herds, an episystem where badgers (Meles meles) are the primary wildlife spillover host. The study design compared herd bTB breakdown risk for a period of 1 year prior to and after exposure to clearfelling across Ireland at sites cut in 2015–2017. The percent of herds positive rose from 3.47% prior to clearfelling to 4.08% after exposure. After controlling for confounders (e.g., herd size, herd type), we found that cattle herds significantly increased their odds of experiencing a bTB breakdown by 1.2-times (95%CIs: 1.07–1.36) up to 1 year after a clearfell risk period. Disturbance ecology of wildlife reservoirs is an understudied area with regards to shared endemic pathogens. Epidemiological observational studies are the first step in building an evidence base to assess the impact of such disturbance events; however, such studies are limited in inferring the mechanism for any changes in risk observed. The current cohort study suggested an association between clearfelling and bTB risk, which we speculate could relate to wildlife disturbance affecting pathogen spillback to cattle, though the study design precludes causal inference. Further studies are required. However, ultimately, integration of epidemiology with wildlife ecology will be important for understanding the underlying mechanisms involved, and to derive suitable effective management proposals, if required.
Palladium(II) Complexes of Substituted Salicylaldehydes: Synthesis, Characterization and Investigation of Their Biological Profile
Authors: Zianna Ariadni , Geromichalos George , Fiotaki Augusta-Maria , Hatzidimitriou Antonios G. , Kalogiannis Stavros , Psomas George
Published: July 2022

Five palladium(II) complexes of substituted salicylaldehydes (X-saloH, X = 4-Et2N (for 1), 3,5-diBr (for 2), 3,5-diCl (for 3), 5-F (for 4) or 4-OMe (for 5)) bearing the general formula [Pd(X-salo)2] were synthesized and structurally characterized. The crystal structure of complex [Pd(4-Et2N-salo)2] was determined by single-crystal X-ray crystallography. The complexes can scavenge 1,1-diphenyl-picrylhydrazyl and 2,2′-azinobis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) radicals and reduce H2O2. They are active against two Gram-positive (Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus subtilis) and two Gram-negative (Escherichia coli and Xanthomonas campestris) bacterial strains. The complexes interact strongly with calf-thymus DNA via intercalation, as deduced by diverse techniques and via the determination of their binding constants. Complexes interact reversibly with bovine and human serum albumin. Complementary insights into their possible mechanisms of bioactivity at the molecular level were provided by molecular docking calculations, exploring in silico their ability to bind to calf-thymus DNA, Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus DNA-gyrase, 5-lipoxygenase, and membrane transport lipid protein 5-lipoxygenase-activating protein, contributing to the understanding of the role complexes 1–5 can play both as antioxidant and antibacterial agents. Furthermore, in silico predictive tools have been employed to study the chemical reactivity, molecular properties and drug-likeness of the complexes, and also the drug-induced changes of gene expression profile (as protein- and mRNA-based prediction results), the sites of metabolism, the substrate/metabolite specificity, the cytotoxicity for cancer and non-cancer cell lines, the acute rat toxicity, the rodent organ-specific carcinogenicity, the anti-target interaction profiles, the environmental ecotoxicity, and finally the activity spectra profile of the compounds.
Solid Self-Nano Emulsifying Nanoplatform Loaded with Tamoxifen and Resveratrol for Treatment of Breast Cancer
Authors: Shrivastava Nupur , Parikh Ankit , Dewangan Rikeshwer Prasad , Biswas Largee , Verma Anita Kamra , Mittal Saurabh , Ali Javed , Garg Sanjay , Baboota Sanjula
Published: July 2022

The solid self-nanoemulsifying drug delivery system (s-SNEDDS) is a growing platform for the delivery of drugs via oral route. In the present work, tamoxifen (TAM) was loaded in SNEDDS with resveratrol (RES), which is a potent chemotherapeutic, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and P-gp inhibitor for enhancing bioavailability and to obtain synergistic anti-cancer effect against breast cancer. SNEDDS were developed using capmul MCM as oil, Tween 80 as surfactant and transcutol-HP as co-surfactant and optimized by central composite rotatable design. Neusilin US2 concentration was optimized for adsorption of liquid SNEDDS to prepare s-SNEDDS. The developed formulation was characterized and investigated for various in vitro and cell line comparative studies. Optimized TAM-RES-s-SNEDDS showed spherical droplets of a size less than 200 nm. In all in vitro studies, TAM-RES-s-SNEDDS showed significantly improved (p ˂ 0.05) release and permeation across the dialysis membrane and intestinal lumen. Moreover, TAM-RES-s-SNEDDS possessed significantly greater therapeutic efficacy (p < 0.05) and better internalization on the MCF-7 cell line as compared to the conventional formulation. Additionally, oral bioavailability of TAM from SNEDDS was 1.63 folds significantly higher (p < 0.05) than that of combination suspension and 4.16 folds significantly higher (p < 0.05) than TAM suspension. Thus, findings suggest that TAM- RES-s-SNEDDS can be the future delivery system that potentially delivers both drugs to cancer cells for better treatment.
Holographic Acoustic Tweezers for 5-DoF Manipulation of Nanocarrier Clusters toward Targeted Drug Delivery
Authors: Cao Hiep Xuan , Jung Daewon , Lee Han-Sol , Nguyen Van Du , Choi Eunpyo , Kang Byungjeon , Park Jong-Oh , Kim Chang-Sei
Published: July 2022

Acoustic tweezers provide unique capabilities in medical applications, such as contactless manipulation of small objects (e.g., cells, compounds or living things), from nanometer-sized extracellular vesicles to centimeter-scale structures. Additionally, they are capable of being transmitted through the skin to trap and manipulate drug carriers in various media. However, these capabilities are hindered by the limitation of controllable degrees of freedom (DoFs) or are limited maneuverability. In this study, we explore the potential application of acoustical tweezers by presenting a five-DoF contactless manipulation acoustic system (AcoMan). The system has 30 ultrasound transducers (UTs) with single-side arrangement that generates active traveling waves to control the position and orientation of a fully untethered nanocarrier clusters (NCs) in a spherical workspace in water capable of three DoFs translation and two DoFs rotation. In this method, we use a phase modulation algorithm to independently control the phase signal for 30 UTs and manipulate the NCs’ positions. Phase modulation and switching power supply for each UT are employed to rotate the NCs in the horizontal plane and control the amplitude of power supply to each UT to rotate the NCs in the vertical plane. The feasibility of the method is demonstrated by in vitro and ex vivo experiments using porcine ribs. A significant portion of this study could advance the therapeutic application such a system as targeted drug delivery.
CYP3A5*3 and SLCO1B1 c.521T>C Polymorphisms Influence the Pharmacokinetics of Atorvastatin and 2-Hydroxy Atorvastatin
Authors: Park Jin-Woo , Kim Jong-Min , Lee Hwa-Young , Noh Jihyeon , Kim Kyoung-Ah , Park Ji-Young
Published: July 2022

There is a large variability in individual responses to atorvastatin administration. This study assessed the pharmacogenetic effects of solute carrier organic anion transporter family member 1B1 (SLCO1B1, c.388A>G and c.521T>C) and cytochrome P450 3A5 (CYP3A5, CYP3A5*3) genetic polymorphisms on the pharmacokinetics of atorvastatin and its active metabolite, 2-hydroxy (2-OH) atorvastatin, in 46 individuals who were administered a clinically used single oral dosage of 80 mg. The Cmax and AUC of atorvastatin in CYP3A5*3/*3 carriers were 2.6- and 2.8-fold higher, respectively, than those in CYP3A5*1/*1 carriers, and similar results were observed for 2-OH atorvastatin pharmacokinetics. SLCO1B1 c.521T>C also increased the AUC of atorvastatin and 2-OH atorvastatin. The AUC ratio of atorvastatin and 2-OH atorvastatin were not affected by SLCO1B1 c.388A>G or c.521T>C, whereas CYP3A5*3 reduced the AUC ratio. In an analysis evaluating the simultaneous effect of the SLCO1B1 c.521T>C and CYP3A5*3 polymorphisms, SLCO1B1 c.521TT/CYP3A5*1/*1 carriers showed lower Cmax and AUC values for atorvastatin and 2-OH atorvastatin than in individuals with the SLCO1B1 c.521T>C and/or CYP3A5*3 genotypes. Among the participants with the SLCO1B1 c.521TT genotype, the CYP3A5*3 carriers had a higher systemic exposure to atorvastatin and 2-OH atorvastatin than the CYP3A5*1/*1 carriers. Thus, SLCO1B1 c.521T>C and CYP3A5*3 polymorphisms affect the pharmacokinetics of atorvastatin and 2-OH atorvastatin.
The Moderating Power of Impulsivity: A Systematic Literature Review Examining the Theory of Planned Behavior
Authors: Hohmann Lindsey A. , Garza Kimberly B.
Published: July 2022

The theory of planned behavior (TPB) states that behavioral intention is the best predictor of actual behavior change. However, intention explains only a portion of the variance in behavior. Of specific interest is the question of which moderating or mediating variables can be leveraged to aid health promotion interventions utilizing the tenets of behavioral economics (delay discounting and commitment contracts) in the intention–behavior pathway. Impulsivity has been postulated to fill this role and may be applied to multiple behaviors. We aim to determine if impulsivity moderates the association between intention and actual behavior in the TPB, to discover what other variables may moderate or mediate this association, and to apply the findings to future studies in the field of behavioral economics. To this end, a systematic review was conducted using the PubMed, PsychINFO, and Embase online databases. Eligible studies in peer-reviewed journals published prior to November 2021 were selected. Thirty-three studies were included in the final review, examining physical activity, diet, preventive health, mental health, addiction, and medication adherence behaviors. Three main concepts emerged: (1) impulsivity moderates the association between intention and behavior change; (2) self-efficacy moderates the association between intention and behavior change; and (3) planning and self-efficacy contribute to moderated mediation. This review demonstrates a gap in the literature regarding the application of the TPB to the intention–behavior pathway for health behaviors. Future studies in behavioral economics may leverage the variables of impulsivity, self-efficacy, and planning to predict follow-through in this area and to develop targeted change initiatives.
LC/MS Profiling and Gold Nanoparticle Formulation of Major Metabolites from Origanum majorana as Antibacterial and Antioxidant Potentialities
Authors: El-Ghorab Ahmed H. , Behery Fathy A. , Abdelgawad Mohamed A. , Alsohaimi Ibrahim Hotan , Musa Arafa , Mostafa Ehab M. , Altaleb Hamud A. , Althobaiti Ibrahim O. , Hamza Mohamed , Elkomy Mohammed H. , Hamed Ahmed A. , Sayed Ahmed M. , Hassan Hossam M. , Aboseada Mahmoud A.
Published: July 2022

Origanum majoranum L. is a Lamiaceae medicinal plant with culinary and ethnomedical applications. Its biological and phytochemical profiles have been extensively researched. Accordingly, this study aimed to investigate the chemical composition and the antibacterial and antioxidant properties of O. majoranum high features, as well as to search for techniques for activity optimization. A metabolomics study of the crude extract of O. majoranum using liquid chromatography-high-resolution electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (LC ± HR ± ESI ± MS) was conducted. Five fractions (petroleum ether, dichloromethane, ethyl acetate, n-butanol, and aqueous) were derived from the total extract of the aerial parts. Different chromatographic methods and NMR analysis were utilized to purify and identify the isolated phenolics (high features). Moreover, the antimicrobial, antibiofilm, and antioxidant activity of phenolics were performed. Results showed that metabolomic profiling of the crude extract of O. majoranum aerial parts revealed the presence of a variety of phytochemicals, predominantly phenolics, resulting in the isolation and identification of seven high-feature compounds comprising two phenolic acids, rosmarinic and caffeic acids, one phenolic diterpene, 7-methoxyepirosmanol, in addition to four flavonoids, quercetin, hesperitin, hesperidin, and luteolin. On the other hand, 7-methoxyepirosmanol (OM1) displayed the most antimicrobial and antioxidant potential. Such a phenolic principal activity improvement seems to be established after loading on gold nanoparticles.
Consequences of Radiothermal Ageing on the Crystalline Morphology of Additive-Free Silane-Crosslinked Polyethylene
Authors: Hettal Sarah , Roland Sébastien , Colin Xavier
Published: July 2022

The radiothermal ageing of silane-crosslinked low-density PE (Si-XLPE) films was studied in the air under three different γ dose rates (8.5, 77.8, and 400 Gy·h−1) at a low temperature close to ambient (47, 47, and 21 °C, respectively). Changes in crystalline morphology were investigated using a multi-technique approach based on differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), wide- (WAXS) and small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS), and density measurements. In particular, the changes in four structural variables were accurately monitored during radiothermal ageing: crystallinity ratio (XC), crystalline lamellae thickness (LC), long period (Lp), and interlamellar spacing (La). Concerning the changes in XC, a perfect agreement was found between DSC and WAXS experiments. Successive sequences of self-nucleation and annealing (SSA) were also performed on aged Si-XLPE samples in the DSC chamber in order to assess the thickness distribution of crystalline lamellae. This method allowed the thermally splitting of the melting domain of Si-XLPE into a series of elementary melting peaks, with each one characterised by a distinct thickness of crystalline lamellae. DSC (used with the SSA method) showed a slight increase in LC during the oxidation of Si-XLPE, while SAXS confirmed a catastrophic decrease in La. The critical value of the interlamellar spacing characterising the ductile/brittle transition of Si-XLPE was found to be of the same order of magnitude as that for linear polyethylene (LaF≈6 nm). This structural end-of-life criterion can now be used for predicting the lifetime of Si-XLPE in a nuclear environment.
Viscoelastic Characterization of a Thermoplastic Elastomer Processed through Material Extrusion
Authors: Adrover-Monserrat Bàrbara , García-Vilana Silvia , Sánchez-Molina David , Llumà Jordi , Jerez-Mesa Ramón , Travieso-Rodriguez J. Antonio
Published: July 2022

Objective. We aim to characterize the viscoelastic behavior of Polyether-Block-Amide (PEBA 90A), provide reference values for the parameters of a constitutive model for the simulation of mechanical behaviors, and paying attention to the influence of the manufacturing conditions. Methods. Uniaxial relaxation tests of filaments of PEBA were used to determine the values of the parameters of a Prony series for a Quasi-Linear Visco-Elastic (QLVE) model. Additional, fast cyclic loading tests were used to corroborate the adequacy of the model under different test criteria in a second test situation. Results. The QLVE model predicts the results of the relaxation tests very accurately. In addition, the behavior inferred from this model fits very well with the measurements of fast cyclic loading tests. The viscoelastic behavior of PEBA under small strain polymer fits very well to a six-parameter QLVE model.
Efficient Removal of Methylene Blue by Bio-Based Sodium Alginate/Lignin Composite Hydrogel Beads
Authors: Chen Tao , Liu Haochen , Gao Jie , Hu Guowen , Zhao Yuan , Tang Xiuqin , Han Xiaobing
Published: July 2022

Dye pollution is a serious issue in current environment protection, and bio-based adsorbents have been receiving much attention in wastewater treatment, due to their low cost, renewable, and environmentally friendly characteristics. Bio-based sodium alginate/lignin composite (SA/Lig) hydrogel beads were fabricated by a facile cross-linking with calcium ion and used for the removal of methylene blue (MB). The obtained SA/Lig microbeads were characterized with SEM, FTIR, and TG, and the effect of lignin content, pH, and temperature on the MB adsorption was investigated. The results indicated that the introduction of aromatic lignin can not only enhance thermal stability but also can improve the adsorption performance. Under optimal conditions, the maximum adsorption capacity (254.3 mg/g) was obtained for the SA/Lig-20% beads, with a removal efficiency of 84.8%. The adsorption process for MB is endothermic, and the rate-limiting step is chemical adsorption. The removal efficiency is higher than 90% after five cycles, revealing that the prepared beads show good regeneration ability.
Sodium Silicate from Rice Husk Ash and Their Effects as Geopolymer Cement
Authors: Handayani Lia , Aprilia Sri , Abdullah  , Rahmawati Cut , Aulia Teuku Budi , Ludvig Péter , Ahmad Jawad
Published: July 2022

Sodium silicate is a commonly used activator in geopolymer that is produced commercially. In this study, rice husk ash (RHA) from agricultural waste was used to synthesize sodium silicate as an activator for geopolymer cement. This white ash was applied for producing sodium silicate with different molarities (8, 10, and 12) and then used to synthesize fly ash-based geopolymer cement. Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), X-ray Diffraction (XRD), and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) were applied to investigate the micro-characteristics of the geopolymerization products. Bulk density, water absorption, compressive strength, flexural strength, and fracture toughness were carried out to measure and evaluate the geopolymers with sodium silicate. The combination of 10 M NaOH with sodium silicate increased the compressive strength by 16.21% and the flexural strength and fracture toughness by 81.6%. However, sodium silicate combined with 12 M NaOH decreased compressive strengths by 13.23% and flexural strength and fracture toughness by 61.94%. The lowest water absorption value of 12.3% was obtained in a geopolymer paste using sodium silicate combined with 10 M NaOH, and the largest was 13.3% for sodium silicate combined with 8 M NaOH. The microstructure analysis showed the hydrated calcium alumina silicate gel (C–A–S–H) and the SEM image also revealed a compact geopolymer matrix. Thus, it can be concluded that sodium silicate from rice husk ash can be utilized as an activator or reactive material to produce geopolymer cement with a good geopolymer network.
Bergenin from Bergenia Species Produces a Protective Response against Myocardial Infarction in Rats
Authors: Ahmad Taseer , Haq Imran Ul , Khan Taous , Mahnashi Mater H. , Alasmary Mohammed Y. , Almedhesh Sultan A. , Shehri Hamdan Al , Alshahrani Mohammed A. , Shah Abdul Jabbar
Published: July 2022

Bergenin is a phenolic glycoside that has been reported to occur naturally in several plant species, reported as a cardioprotective. However, bergenin, one of the important phytochemicals in these plants, is still not reported as a cardioprotective. The present study was designed to investigate the cardioprotective effects of bergenin on isoproterenol-induced myocardial infarction in rats. Bergenin and atenolol were administered through intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection to Sprague Dawley (SD) rats in separate experiments for five (5) days. At the end of this period, rats were administered isoproterenol (80 mg/kg s.c.) to induce myocardial injury. After induction, rats were anaesthetized to record lead II ECG, then sacrificed, blood was collected to analyze cardiac marker enzymes, and a histopathological study of the heart tissues was also performed. Pretreatment with bergenin showed a significant decrease in ST-segment elevation, deep Q-wave, infarct size, and also normalized cardiac marker enzymes (cTnI, CPK, CK-MB, LDH, ALT, and AST), particularly at 3 mg/kg, as compared to isoproterenol treated group. Our findings revealed, for the first time, the use of glycoside bergenin as a potential cardioprotective agent against the isoproterenol-induced MI in rats.
Blue Diode Laser Welding of Commercially Pure Titanium Foils
Authors: Pasang Tim , Lin Pai-Chen , Misiolek Wojciech Z. , Wei Jia-Yuan , Masuno Shinichiro , Tsukamoto Masahiro , Hori Eiji , Sato Yuji , Tao Yuan , Yudhistiro Danang , Yunus Salahuddin
Published: July 2022

The need for thin foil welding is increasing significantly, particularly in the electronic industries. The technologies that are currently available limit the joining processes in terms of materials and their geometries. In this paper, a series of trials of fusion welding (bead-on- plate) of commercially pure titanium (CPTi) foils were conducted using a blue diode laser (BDL) welding method. The power used was 50 W and 100 W for 0.1 mm and 0.2 mm thick foils, respectively. Following welding, various samples were prepared to examine the weld profiles, microstructures, hardness, tensile strength, and fracture surface characteristics. The results showed that the base metal (BM) had an annealed microstructure with equiaxed grains, while the weld zones contained martensite (α’) with large grains. The hardness increased in both regions, from around 123 HV to around 250 HV, in the heat-affected zone (HAZ) and fusion zone (FZ) areas. The tensile tests revealed that the strengths of the welded samples were slightly lower than the unwelded samples, i.e., UTS = 300–350 MPa compared with 325–390 MPa for the unwelded samples. Fracture took place within the BM area. All of the samples, welded and unwelded, showed identical fracture mechanisms, i.e., microvoid coalescence or ductile fracture. The weld zone experienced very small strains (elongation) at fracture, which indicates a good weld quality.
Cloud Removal for Optical Remote Sensing Imagery Using Distortion Coding Network Combined with Compound Loss Functions
Authors: Zhou Jianjun , Luo Xiaobo , Rong Wentao , Xu Hao
Published: July 2022

Optical remote sensing (RS) satellites perform imaging in the visible and infrared electromagnetic spectrum to collect data and analyze information on the optical characteristics of the objects of interest. However, optical RS is sensitive to illumination and atmospheric conditions, especially clouds, and multiple acquisitions are typically required to obtain an image of sufficient quality. To accurately reproduce surface information that has been contaminated by clouds, this work proposes a generative adversarial network (GAN)-based cloud removal framework using a distortion coding network combined with compound loss functions (DC-GAN-CL). A novel generator embedded with distortion coding and feature refinement mechanisms is applied to focus on cloudy regions and enhance the transmission of optical information. In addition, to achieve feature and pixel consistency, both coherent semantics and local adaptive reconstruction factors are considered in our loss functions. Extensive numerical evaluations on RICE1, RICE2, and Paris datasets are performed to validate the good performance achieved by the proposed DC-GAN-CL in both peak signal-to-noise ratio (PSNR) and visual perception. This system can thus restore images to obtain similar quality to cloud-free reference images, in a dynamic range of over 30 dB. The restoration effect on the coherence of image semantics produced by this technique is competitive compared with other methods.
Multiscale Assimilation of Sentinel and Landsat Data for Soil Moisture and Leaf Area Index Predictions Using an Ensemble-Kalman-Filter-Based Assimilation Approach in a Heterogeneous Ecosystem
Authors: Montaldo Nicola , Gaspa Andrea , Corona Roberto
Published: July 2022

Data assimilation techniques allow researchers to optimally merge remote sensing observations in ecohydrological models, guiding them for improving land surface fluxes predictions. Presently, freely available remote sensing products, such as those of Sentinel 1 radar, Landsat 8 sensors, and Sentinel 2 sensors, allow the monitoring of land surface variables (e.g., radar backscatter for soil moisture and the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) and for leaf area index (LAI)) at unprecedentedly high spatial and time resolutions, appropriate for heterogeneous ecosystems, typical of semiarid ecosystems characterized by contrasting vegetation components (grass and trees) competing for water use. A multiscale assimilation approach that assimilates radar backscatter and grass and tree NDVI in a coupled vegetation dynamic–land surface model is proposed. It is based on the ensemble Kalman filter (EnKF), and it is not limited to assimilating remote sensing data for model predictions, but it uses assimilated data for dynamically updating key model parameters (the ENKFdc approach), including saturated hydraulic conductivity and grass and tree maintenance respiration coefficients, which are highly sensitive parameters of soil–water balance and biomass budget models, respectively. The proposed EnKFdc assimilation approach facilitated good predictions of soil moisture, grass, and tree LAI in a heterogeneous ecosystem in Sardinia for a 3-year period with contrasting hydrometeorological (dry vs. wet) conditions. Contrary to the EnKF-based approach, the proposed EnKFdc approach performed well for the full range of hydrometeorological conditions and parameters, even assuming extremely biased model conditions with very high or low parameter values compared with the calibrated (“true”) values. The EnKFdc approach is crucial for soil moisture and LAI predictions in winter and spring, key seasons for water resources management in Mediterranean water-limited ecosystems. The use of ENKFdc also enabled us to predict evapotranspiration and carbon flux well, with errors of less than 4% and 15%, respectively; such results were obtained even with extremely biased initial model conditions.
Evaluate Radar Data Assimilation in Two Momentum Control Variables and the Effect on the Forecast of Southwest China Vortex Precipitation
Authors: Xu Dongmei , Yang Gangjie , Wu Zheng , Shen Feifei , Li Hong , Zhai Danhua
Published: July 2022

Based on the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) Model and the three-dimensional variational (3DVAR) data assimilation system, this study investigates the effects of assimilation of radar reflectivity and radial velocity under different momentum control variables on the forecast of Southwest China Vortex precipitation. It is shown that the U−V control variable strengthens the wind speed and vorticity to be better matching the observation, while using ψ−χ as the control variable will produce too large increments which are unphysical. The root mean square errors (RMSE) of radar radial velocity are around 2.4 m/s in the experiment using ψ−χ control variables, while the RMSE are below 2 m/s in the experiment with U−V control variables. The composite reflectivity from the analysis of the U−V control variables matches better with the observation than that from the analysis of the ψ−χ control variables, i.e., the forecast rain band location under U−V control variables is more accurate. ψ−χ control variable enhances the cold high-pressure system in near surface, while the U−V control variable is not significant. The water vapor flux convergence in the lower layers of the ψ−χ control variable is overestimated leading excessive precipitation in the forecast. The Equitable Threat Score (ETS) of the U−V control variable is about 0.1 higher than ψ−χ control variable. In summary, the U−V control variable is superior to the ψ−χ control variable in terms of analysis and forecasting about Southwest China Vortex precipitation.
Locating Smartphone Indoors by Using Tightly Coupling Bluetooth Ranging and Accelerometer Measurements
Authors: Yan Ke , Chen Ruizhi , Guo Guangyi , Chen Liang
Published: July 2022

High-precision, low-cost, and wide coverage indoor positioning technology is the key to indoor and outdoor integrated location-based services, and it has broad market prospects and social value. However, achieving sub-meter level positioning accuracy in indoor environments remains a real challenge due to the blockage of indoor Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) signals, the complexity of indoor environments, and the unpredictability of user behavior. In this paper, we introduce a multi-module BLE broadcaster (MMBB)-based indoor positioning solution in which a tightly coupled fusion architecture is implemented on a smartphone. The solution integrates ranging measurements from multiple MMBB and the measurements of the accelerometer built into a smartphone. It becomes an instant positioning solution without any training phase by adopting a calibrated linearly segmented path loss model for ranging. We apply the pedestrian walking speed derived by the smartphone accelerometer to constrain an unscented Kalman filter method that is used to estimate the location and speed. The accuracy of the proposed method is 50% at 0.79 m and 95% at 1.6 m at in terms of horizontal error distance. Position update frequency is 10 Hz and the time to first fix is 0.1 s. The system can easily adapt a global coordinator system so that it can seamlessly work together with the GNSS to form an indoor/outdoor positioning solution.
Sickle Cell Disease in Bahia, Brazil: The Social Production of Health Policies and Institutional Neglect
Authors: Mota Clarice , Trad Leny A. B. , Dikomitis Lisa
Published: July 2022

A disease is considered neglected when it is not given due priority in health policies despite the social relevance of that disease, either in terms of the number of individuals affected by it or its morbidity or mortality. Although the causes are structural, neglect in health does not occur in a vacuum. In this paper, we explore how sickle cell disease (SCD) is constructed and neglected in Brazil, based on insights from our long-term participatory qualitative research in the state of Bahia. We present five overarching themes relevant to the social production of SCD, and associated health policies in Brazil: (1) The achievements and setbacks to overcome neglect in SCD, (2) Continuity of comprehensive SCD care; (3) Social movements of people with SCD; (4) Biocultural citizenship; and (5) Academic advocacy. We conclude that it is insufficient to merely recognize the health inequities that differentiate white and black populations in Brazil; racism must be understood as both a producer and a reproducer of this process of neglect. We conclude with a set of recommendations for the main SCD stakeholder groups committed to improving the lives of people living with SCD.