bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Changes in Soil Sulphur Fractions as Influenced by Nutrient Management Practices in Mulberry
Authors: Padhan Dhaneshwar , Shivaraj Dhanushree , Doddagenigera Nagaraja Akshitha , Rout Pragyan Paramita , Babu C. M. , Aurade Ravindra , Velayudhan Sobhana , Babulal
Published: June 2023

Sulphur (S) plays a vital role in improving the quality of mulberry leaves because of its involvement in protein synthesis. The knowledge of different pools of S in soils and its bioavailability for mulberry nutrition is thus, required for optimizing S fertilization. Hence, the present study was designed to ascertain the influence of chemical fertilizer and farmyard manure (both are S sources) on S fractions and its bioavailability in soils. In this regard, four nutrient management practices viz., control (without any chemical fertilizers and organic manures), recommended doses of N, P and K fertilizers (100% RDF), 80% RDF, 60% RDF with four mulberry varieties viz., V-1, G-4, AGB-8 and MSG-2 besides a fallow were considered for the study. Furthermore, the bioavailability of S in soils was tested using four commonly used chemical extractants viz., CaCl2, NaHCO3, AB-DTPA and Mehlich-3 (with different modes and chemistry of extraction). Organic S was the dominant fraction in the experimental soils accounting for 94.7% of total soil S while the inorganic fraction constituted only 5.3% that includes water soluble, sorbed and carbonate occluded S. Lowest amount of organic S content in soils of unmanured control (579.6 mg kg−1) was observed while the 100% RDF treatment (673.2 mg kg−1) maintained a higher content of soil organic S. High amount of sorbed and occluded S was observed in control plot compared to other fertilizer treatments (100% RDF, 80% RDF and 60% RDF). There was a gradual decline in soil S fractions when the fertilizer inputs were reduced to 60% suggesting that recommended doses of fertilizer inputs could maintain the soil S fractions. In addition, the extractable fractions of S were influenced by the fertilizer application rates and the extractability of all four extractants decreased with the reduction in fertilizer inputs. The amount of S extracted by all four chemical extractants followed the order of NaHCO3 > Mehlich-3 > AB-DTPA > CaCl2 across the tested soils. Dynamic relationships among the extractants indicated that they could extract the S from the same pools in soil. Of the four extractants tested for evaluating plant available S, Mehlich-3 showed a higher degree of correlations with plant tissue S concentration and applied S through chemical fertilizers and farmyard manure. Furthermore, it could maintain strong correlations with water soluble and organic S fractions which were found to contribute significantly to plant S concentration. Thus, Mehlich-3 can be recommended for the assessment of bioavailable S for the nutrition of mulberry.
Methodology for Determining Gully Widths in Multi-Temporal Studies in Olive Groves of Southern Spain
Authors: Mozas-Calvache Antonio Tomás , Calero González Julio Antonio , Guerra Dug Theo , Fernández del Castillo Tomas Manuel
Published: June 2023

This study describes a new methodology for estimating gully widths based on their digitized borders. The procedure adapts a previous method developed to determine the mean displacement between two 3D linestrings, considering them continuously, which represents an advance over conventional approaches. In addition to the calculation of the average horizontal distance, it also considers the calculation of widths by sections of a given length in order to analyze differences in their behavior compared to the results for the entire gully. The method is also adapted to multi-temporal studies to analyze the evolution of the gully by comparing width values from several dates. Application was carried out with a large number of linestrings representing gullies of a wide area of olive groves, which were digitized from orthoimages with 0.5 m resolution of two dates. The results demonstrate the feasibility of the proposed method for characterizing gullies and analyzing their evolution between several dates both completely and by sections, allowing the detection of critical areas of gully development. Therefore, these results can be used as input data to improve gully erosion susceptibility maps and to define zones for preventive or corrective actions.
Land Use Optimization Embedding in Ecological Suitability in the Embryonic Urban Agglomeration
Authors: Chen Xidong , Zhao Ruifeng , Shi Peiji , Zhang Lihua , Yue Xiaoxin , Han Ziyi , Wang Jingfa , Dou Hanmei
Published: June 2023

Healthy and sustainable urban agglomerations development relies heavily on land use optimization. However, there is insufficient scientific basis and reliable quantitative analysis for land use pattern identification and optimal prediction in embryonic urban agglomeration. Therefore, taking the Lanzhou–Xining (LX) region, a typical primary developing urban agglomeration, as the study area, we first assessed the land ecological suitability (LES). Then, we embedded the LES evaluation results in the land optimization process and constructed the MCR-MOP- Dyna-CLUE model framework, simulating and optimizing land use patterns for the year 2035 under ecological optimization and business as usual scenarios, which aimed to explore a sustainable land use pattern for embryonic urban agglomerations. The results indicated that the ecological optimization scenario based on LES had a more rational land use pattern. It appropriately controlled the expansion rate of construction land and effectively alleviated the problems of construction land encroaching on farming land and ecological land. Meanwhile, the ecosystem services increased in value based on adequately addressing the need for food security and economic development. Compared to the business as usual scenario, the construction land under the ecological optimization scenario was 19,622.69 ha less, and the cultivated land was 32,103.29 ha more. Moreover, the ecological benefit and the economic benefit increased by 187,490.4595 million yuan and 151,808,605.1 million yuan from 2020 to 2035, respectively, under the ecological optimization scenario. Our research is of great value for making decisions on sustainable land use and land resource management in initial developing agglomerations.
A Generative Urban Space Design Method Based on Shape Grammar and Urban Induction Patterns
Authors: Yang Ling , Li Jian , Chang Hsiao-Tung , Zhao Zhiqing , Ma He , Zhou Libin
Published: June 2023

This paper focuses on how to solve the demand of how to quickly explore more urban space design and layout in terms of the conservation and reuse of historical blocks under computer-aided design technology. Referring to urban inductive patterns, the author establishes an urban space design grammar of historical districts based on shape grammar and pattern language. It forms a complete generative urban space design method involving morphological analysis, rule-making, and scheme generation. Furthermore, taking the typical Russian-style historical block along the Chinese Eastern Railway—the historical district in front of Anda Station as an application example—this paper completed the generative urban space design process of block redevelopment and environmental reconstruction, which, using computer-aided technology, was under the premise of protecting the original historic block fabric. The final two group results of the experimental plot and the other plots of the historical district show that this method can quickly and accurately generate lots of urban space design schemes that meet the designers’ pre-thinking, and these schemes can be modified by real-time calculation and interactive operation.
Plumbagin, a Natural Compound with Several Biological Effects and Anti-Inflammatory Properties
Authors: Petrocelli Giovannamaria , Marrazzo Pasquale , Bonsi Laura , Facchin Federica , Alviano Francesco , Canaider Silvia
Published: June 2023

Phytochemicals from various medicinal plants are well known for their antioxidant properties and anti-cancer effects. Many of these bioactive compounds or natural products have demonstrated effects against inflammation, while some showed a role that is only approximately described as anti-inflammatory. In particular, naphthoquinones are naturally-occurring compounds with different pharmacological activities and allow easy scaffold modification for drug design approaches. Among this class of compounds, Plumbagin, a plant-derived product, has shown interesting counteracting effects in many inflammation models. However, scientific knowledge about the beneficial effect of Plumbagin should be comprehensively reported before candidating this natural molecule into a future drug against specific human diseases. In this review, the most relevant mechanisms in which Plumbagin plays a role in the process of inflammation were summarized. Other relevant bioactive effects were reviewed to provide a complete and compact scenario of Plumbagin’s potential therapeutic significance.
Identification of Phase-Separation-Protein-Related Function Based on Gene Ontology by Using Machine Learning Methods
Authors: Ma Qinglan , Huang FeiMing , Guo Wei , Feng KaiYan , Huang Tao , Cai Yu-Dong
Published: June 2023

Phase-separation proteins (PSPs) are a class of proteins that play a role in the process of liquid–liquid phase separation, which is a mechanism that mediates the formation of membranelle compartments in cells. Identifying phase separation proteins and their associated function could provide insights into cellular biology and the development of diseases, such as neurodegenerative diseases and cancer. Here, PSPs and non-PSPs that have been experimentally validated in earlier studies were gathered as positive and negative samples. Each protein’s corresponding Gene Ontology (GO) terms were extracted and used to create a 24,907-dimensional binary vector. The purpose was to extract essential GO terms that can describe essential functions of PSPs and build efficient classifiers to identify PSPs with these GO terms at the same time. To this end, the incremental feature selection computational framework and an integrated feature analysis scheme, containing categorical boosting, least absolute shrinkage and selection operator, light gradient-boosting machine, extreme gradient boosting, and permutation feature importance, were used to build efficient classifiers and identify GO terms with classification-related importance. A set of random forest (RF) classifiers with F1 scores over 0.960 were established to distinguish PSPs from non-PSPs. A number of GO terms that are crucial for distinguishing between PSPs and non-PSPs were found, including GO:0003723, which is related to a biological process involving RNA binding; GO:0016020, which is related to membrane formation; and GO:0045202, which is related to the function of synapses. This study offered recommendations for future research aimed at determining the functional roles of PSPs in cellular processes by developing efficient RF classifiers and identifying the representative GO terms related to PSPs.
Synthesis of Catena-bis(μ-bromo)-(O-methyl-N-phenylthiocarbamate)-dicopper(I) and Its Reactivity towards PAr3 (Ar = Ph, p-Tol)
Authors: Arar Wafa , Viau Lydie , Jourdain Isabelle , Knorr Michael , Strohmann Carsten , Scheel Rebecca , Ben Akacha Azaiez
Published: June 2023

In order to investigate the coordination chemistry of O-alkyl N-aryl thiocarbamate ligands toward coinage metals, CuBr was reacted with one equivalent of MeOC(=S)N(H)Ph L in MeCN solution to afford the 1D-polymeric title compound [{Cu(μ2-Br)2Cu}{μ2-MeOC(=S)N(H)Ph}2]n CP1. Compound 1 was characterized by IR spectroscopy and an elemental analysis. The formation of a polymeric 1D ribbon built upon μ2-bridging bromido and thione ligands via the C=S bond was ascertained by a single-crystal X-ray diffraction study performed at 100 K. In the presence of PAr3 (Ar = Ph, p-Tol), the polymer chain was broken to yield the mononuclear complexes [(Ar3P)2Cu{MeOC(=S)N(H)Ph}Br] C1 and C2.
Impact Behaviour of Steel-Fibre-Reinforced Alkali-Activated Slag Concrete Exposed to Elevated Temperatures
Authors: Abubakr Ahmed , Soliman Ahmed
Published: June 2023

Concrete protective structures are mainly meant to withstand impact loads. However, fire events weaken concrete and reduce its impact resistance. This study investigated the impact behaviour of steel-fibre-reinforced alkali-activated slag (AAS) concrete before and after exposure to elevated temperatures (i.e., 200 °C, 400 °C, and 600 °C). Hydration products’ stability under elevated temperatures, their effects on the fibre–matrix bond, and, consequently, AAS’s static and dynamic responses were investigated. The results reveal that adopting the performance-based design concept to achieve a balance between AAS mixtures’ performance under ambient and elevated temperatures is a crucial designing aspect. Advancing hydration products’ formation will increase the fibre–matrix bond at ambient temperature while negatively affecting it at elevated temperatures. High amounts of formed and, eventually, decomposed hydration products at elevated temperatures reduced the residual strength due to lowering the fibre–matrix bond and developing internal micro-cracks. Steel fibre’s role in reinforcing the hydrostatic core formed during impact loads and delaying crack initiation was emphasized. These findings highlight the need to integrate material and structure design to achieve optimum performance and that low-grade materials can be desired based on the targeted performance. A set of empirical equations for the correlation between steel fibre content in the AAS mixture and corresponding impact performance before and after fire exposure was provided and verified.
Orthogonal Experimental Optimization of Preparation and Microstructural Properties of a Diffusion Barrier for Tantalum-Based Silicide Coatings
Authors: Xiao Lairong , Xu Jiawei , Zhou Xiaojun , Zhang Yafang , Deng Guanzhi , Shen Hongtai , Li Wei , Zhao Xiaojun , Cai Zhenyang
Published: June 2023

To solve the problem of silicide coatings on tantalum substrates failing due to elemental diffusion under high-temperature oxidation environments and to find diffusion barrier materials with excellent effects of impeding Si elemental spreading, TaB2 and TaC coatings were prepared on tantalum substrates by the encapsulation and infiltration methods, respectively. Through orthogonal experimental analysis of the raw material powder ratio and pack cementation temperature, the best experimental parameters for the preparation of TaB2 coatings were selected: powder ratio (NaF:B:Al2O3 = 2.5:1:96.5 (wt.%)) and pack cementation temperature (1050 °C). After diffusion treatment at 1200 °C for 2 h, the thickness change rate of the Si diffusion layer prepared using this process was 30.48%, which is lower than that of non-diffusion coating (36.39%). In addition, the physical and tissue morphological changes of TaC and TaB2 coatings after siliconizing treatment and thermal diffusion treatment were compared. The results prove that TaB2 is a more suitable candidate material for the diffusion barrier layer of silicide coatings on tantalum substrates.
Critical Evaluation and Thermodynamic Re-Optimization of the Si–P and Si–Fe–P Systems
Authors: You Zhimin , Zhang Hao , Cui Senlin , Jiang Zhouhua , Jung In-Ho
Published: June 2023

Thermodynamic modeling of the Si–P and Si–Fe–P systems was performed using the CALculation of PHAse Diagram (CALPHAD) method based on critical evaluation of available experimental data in the literature. The liquid and solid solutions were described using the Modified Quasichemical Model accounting for the short-range ordering and Compound Energy Formalism considering the crystallographic structure, respectively. In the present study, the phase boundaries for the liquidus and solid Si phases of the Si–P system were reoptimized. Furthermore, the Gibbs energies of the liquid solution, (Fe)3(P,Si)1, (Fe)2(P,Si)1, and (Fe)1(P,Si)1 solid solutions and FeSi4P4 compound were carefully determined to resolve the discrepancies in previously assessed vertical sections, isothermal sections of phase diagrams, and liquid surface projection of the Si–Fe–P system. These thermodynamic data are of great necessity for a sound description of the entire Si–Fe–P system. The optimized model parameters from the present study can be used to predict any unexplored phase diagrams and thermodynamic properties within the Si–Fe–P alloys.
Effect of Versenium Hydrogensulfate on Properties of Nickel Coatings
Authors: Baraniak Marek , Lota Grzegorz , Wojciechowski Jarosław , Walkiewicz Filip , Regel-Rosocka Magdalena
Published: June 2023

The salt of formula [H2EDTA2+][HSO4−]2 (dihydrogen ethylenediaminetetraacetate di(hydrogen sulfate(VI)) was used to examine the physicochemical properties of the resulting Ni layer and evaluate the applicability of the salt as a new additive for Watts-type baths. The Ni coatings deposited from baths containing [H2EDTA2+][HSO4−]2 were compared with those obtained from other baths. The nucleation of nickel on the electrode was proven to occur the slowest in the bath that contained the mixture of [H2EDTA2+][HSO4−]2 and saccharin compared with other baths. The addition of [H2EDTA2+][HSO4−]2 alone (bath III) generated a coating with a morphology similar to that obtained from bath I (without additives). Despite the similar morphology and wettability of the Ni-coated surfaces plated from various baths (all Ni coatings were hydrophilic with contact angles in the range of 68 to 77°), some differences in electrochemical properties were noted. The corrosion resistance for the coatings plated from baths II and IV containing saccharin (Icorr = 1.1 and 1.5 µA/cm2, respectively) and the mixture of saccharin and [H2EDTA2+][HSO4−]2 (Icorr = 0.88 µA/cm2), respectively, was similar or even better than the coating obtained from baths without [H2EDTA2+][HSO4−]2 (Icorr = 9.02 µA/cm2).
Electron Beam-Assisted Synthesis of YAG:Ce Ceramics
Authors: Karipbayev Zhakyp T. , Lisitsyn Victor M. , Golkovski Mikhail G. , Zhilgildinov Zhassulan S. , Popov Anatoli I. , Zhunusbekov Amangeldy M. , Polisadova Elena , Tulegenova Aida , Mussakhanov Dossymkhan A. , Alpyssova Gulnur , Piskunov Sergei
Published: June 2023

In this work, we present the results of the structure and luminescence properties of YAG:Ce (Y3Al5O12 doped with Ce3+ ions) ceramic samples. Their synthesis was carried out by sintering samples from the initial oxide powders under the powerful action of a high-energy electron beam with an energy of 1.4 MeV and a power density of 22–25 kW/cm2. The measured diffraction patterns of the synthesized ceramics are in good agreement with the standard for YAG. Luminescence characteristics at stationary/time-resolved regimes were studied. It is shown that under the influence of a high-power electron beam on a mixture of powders, it is possible to synthesize YAG:Ce luminescent ceramics with characteristics close to the well-known YAG:Ce phosphor ceramics obtained by traditional methods of solid-state synthesis. Thus, it has been demonstrated that the technology of radiation synthesis of luminescent ceramics is very promising.
Optoelectrical Properties of Treated CdSe Thin Films with Variations in Indium Chloride Concentration
Authors: Nisham Rosly Hasrul , Doroody Camellia , Harif Muhammad Najib , Mohamad Ili Salwani , Isah Mustapha , Amin Nowshad
Published: June 2023

The effect of a nontoxic chloride treatment on the crystallinity and optoelectrical characteristics of a CdSe thin film was studied. A detailed comparative analysis was conducted utilizing four molarities (0.01 M, 0.10 M, 0.15 M, and 0.20 M) of indium (III) chloride (InCl3), where the results showed a notable improvement in CdSe properties. The crystallite size of treated CdSe samples increased from 31.845 nm to 38.819 nm, and the strain in treated films dropped from 4.9 × 10−3 to 4.0 × 10−3, according to XRD measurements. The highest crystallinity resulted from the 0.10 M InCl3-treated CdSe films. The In contents in the prepared samples were verified by compositional analysis, and FESEM images from treated CdSe thin films demonstrated compact and optimal grain arrangements with passivated grain boundaries, which are required for the development of a robust operational solar cell. The UV-Vis plot, similarly, showed that the samples were darkened after treatment and the band gap of 1.7 eV for the as-grown samples fell to roughly 1.5 eV. Furthermore, the Hall effect results suggested that the carrier concentration increased by one order of magnitude for samples treated with 0.10 M of InCl3, but the resistivity remained in the order of 103 ohm/cm2, suggesting that the indium treatment had no considerable effect on resistivity. Hence, despite the deficit in the optical results, samples treated at 0.10 M InCl3 showed promising characteristics as well as the viability of treatment with 0.10 M InCl3 as an alternative to standard CdCl2 treatment.
A Study of Grain Selection in Two-Dimensional (2D) Grain Selectors during the Investment Casting of Single-Crystal Superalloy
Authors: Zhu Xintao , Wang Fu , Ma Dexin
Published: June 2023

In this study, a series of Bridgman casting experiments were conducted to study the physical processes occurring in 2D grain selectors with different geometric parameters. The corresponding effects of the geometric parameters on grain selection were quantified by using an optical microscopy (OM) and a scanning electronic microscopy (SEM) equipped with electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) function. Based on the results, the influences of the geometric parameters of the grain selectors are discussed, and an underlying mechanism accounting for the experimental results is proposed. The critical nucleation undercooling in the 2D grain selectors during grain selection was also analyzed.
The Design of a Biomimetic Hierarchical Thin-Walled Structure Inspired by a Lotus Leaf and Its Mechanical Performance Analysis
Authors: Liu Lili , Li Longhai , Guo Ce , Ge Yizheng , Chen Yue , Zhang Lei
Published: June 2023

Inspired by the macro- and microstructures of the lotus leaf, a series of biomimetic hierarchical thin-walled structures (BHTSs) was proposed and fabricated, exhibiting improved mechanical properties. The comprehensive mechanical properties of the BHTSs were evaluated using finite element (FE) models constructed in ANSYS, which were validated by the experimental results. Light-weight numbers (LWNs) were used as an index to assess these properties. The simulation results were compared with the experimental data to validate the findings. The compression results indicated that the maximum load carried by each BHTS was very similar, with the highest bearing load being 32,571 N and the lowest being 30,183 N, resulting in only a 7.9% difference between them. In terms of the LWN-C values, the BHTS-1 exhibited the highest value at 318.51 N/g, while the BHTS-6 had the lowest value at 295.16 N/g. For the torsion and bending results, these findings suggested that increasing the bifurcation structure at the end side of the thin tube branch significantly improved the torsional resistance properties of the thin tube. For the impact characteristics of the proposed BHTSs, enhancing the bifurcation structure at the end of the thin tube branch significantly increased the energy absorption capacity and improved the energy absorption (EA) and the specific energy absorption (SEA) values of the thin tube. The BHTS-6 had the best structural design in terms of both the EA and SEA among all the BHTSs, but its CLE value was slightly lower than that of the BHTS-7, indicating slightly lower structural efficiency. This study provides a new idea and method for developing new lightweight and high-strength materials as well as designing more effective energy absorption structures. At the same time, this study has important scientific value in understanding how biological structures in nature exhibit their unique mechanical properties.
Study Effects of Gradation and Material Thermal Property of Chip Seal Aggregates in Roller Concrete Pavement Crack Healing by Image Processing and RMS
Authors: Norozi Zahra , Khabiri Mohammad Mehdi
Published: June 2023

One of the most roller cement concrete pavement failures of pavement is the formation of first cracks. The roughness of its completed surface after the installation has restricted the usage of this pavement. Therefore, engineers increase the quality of service of this pavement by placing a layer of asphalt coating; The primary goal of this study is to evaluate the impact of particle size and type of chip seal aggregates on filling cracks in rolled concrete pavement. Accordingly, rolled concrete samples with chip seal covering were prepared with various aggregates (limestone, steel slag, and copper slag). Then, the influence of temperature on its self-healing ability was tested by putting the samples in the microwave device for cracking improvements. With the aid of Design Expert Software and image processing, the Response Surface Method reviewed the data analysis. Even though due to the study’s limitations, a constant mixing design was applied, the results of this study indicate that the amount of crack filling and repair in specimens slag is higher than that of aggregate materials. With the increase of steel and copper slag, 50% of repair and crack repair at 30 °C, the temperature is 27.13% and 28.79%, respectively, and at 60 °C, the temperature is 58.7% and 59.4%, respectively.
Electrical Resistance Performance of Cable Accessory Interface Considering Thermal Effects
Authors: Wu Kai , Zhang Tianfeng , Lin Wenxin , Wu Shaolei , Feng Yu , Zuo Xiangyu , Zhang Yunxiao
Published: June 2023

Power cables are widely used in various fields of power transmission, and cable accessories are the weakest link in power cable systems due to their complex structure and multi-layer insulation coordination issues. This paper investigates the changes in electrical properties of the silicone rubber/cross-linked polyethylene (SiR/XLPE) interface at high temperatures. The physicochemical properties of XLPE material under thermal effects with different times are characterized through FTIR, DSC, and SEM tests. Finally, the mechanism of the effects of the interface state on the electrical properties of the SiR/XLPE interface is analyzed. It is found that with the increase in temperature, the changes in electrical performance of the interface do not show a monotonic downward trend, while interestingly, they can be divided into three stages. Under the thermal effects for 40 d, the internal recrystallization of XLPE in the early stage improves the electrical properties of the interface. In the later stage of thermal effects, the amorphous region inside the material is severely damaged and the molecular chains are severely broken, resulting in a decrease in the electrical properties of the interface. The results above provide a theoretical basis for the interface design of cable accessories at high temperatures.
Efficacy and Safety of Preoperative Melatonin for Women Undergoing Cesarean Section: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Placebo-Controlled Trials
Authors: Albzea Wardah , Almonayea Lolwa , Aljassar Marah , Atmeh Mousa , Al Sadder Khaled , AlQattan Yousef , Alhajaji Raghad , AlNadwi Hiba , Alnami Inaam , Alhajaji Fatima
Published: June 2023

Background: Cesarean section (CS) has been linked to a number of negative effects, such as pain, anxiety, and sleeping problems. The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to investigate the safety and efficacy of preoperative melatonin on postoperative outcomes in pregnant women who were scheduled for elective CS. Methods: We systemically searched 4 electronic databases (PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library) from inception until 10 March 2023. We included randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing melatonin and placebo for postoperative outcomes in CS patients. For risk of bias assessment, we used the Cochrane Risk of Bias 2 tool. Continuous variables were pooled as mean difference (MD), and categorical variables were pooled as a risk ratio (RR) with a 95% confidence interval (CI). Results: We included 7 studies with a total of 754 pregnant women scheduled for CS. The melatonin group had a lower pain score (MD = −1.23, 95% CI [−1.94, −0.51], p < 0.001) and longer time to first analgesic request (MD = 60.41 min, 95% CI [45.47, 75.36], p < 0.001) than the placebo group. No difference was found regarding hemoglobin levels, heart rate, mean arterial pressure, total blood loss, or adverse events. Conclusions: Preoperative melatonin may reduce postoperative pain in CS patients without side effects. This research offers a safe and affordable pain management method for this population, which has clinical consequences. Further research is needed to validate these findings and determine the best melatonin dosage and timing.
Preparation of a Molecularly Imprinted Silica Nanoparticles Embedded Microfiltration Membrane for Selective Separation of Tetrabromobisphenol A from Water
Authors: Zhang Xingran , Luo Xiang , Wei Jiaqi , Zhang Yuanyuan , Jiang Minmin , Wei Qiaoyan , Chen Mei , Wang Xueye , Zhang Xuehong , Zheng Junjian
Published: June 2023

The ubiquitous presence of tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA) in aquatic environments has caused severe environmental and public health concerns; it is therefore of great significance to develop effective techniques to remove this compound from contaminated waters. Herein, a TBBPA imprinted membrane was successfully fabricated via incorporating imprinted silica nanoparticles (SiO2 NPs). The TBBPA imprinted layer was synthesized on the 3-(methacryloyloxy) propyltrimethoxysilane (KH-570) modified SiO2 NPs via surface imprinting. Eluted TBBPA molecularly imprinted nanoparticles (E-TBBPA-MINs) were incorporated onto a polyvinylidene difluoride (PVDF) microfiltration membrane via vacuum-assisted filtration. The obtained E-TBBPA-MINs embedded membrane (E-TBBPA-MIM) showed appreciable permeation selectivity toward the structurally analogous to TBBPA (i.e., 6.74, 5.24 and 6.31 of the permselectivity factors for p-tert-butylphenol (BP), bisphenol A (BPA) and 4,4′-dihydroxybiphenyl (DDBP), respectively), far superior to the non-imprinted membrane (i.e., 1.47, 1.17 and 1.56 for BP, BPA and DDBP, respectively). The permselectivity mechanism of E-TBBPA-MIM could be attributed to the specific chemical adsorption and spatial complementation of TBBPA molecules by the imprinted cavities. The resulting E-TBBPA-MIM exhibited good stability after five adsorption/desorption cycles. The findings of this study validated the feasibility of developing nanoparticles embedded molecularly imprinted membrane for efficient separation and removal of TBBPA from water.
A Flexible 8-in-1 Microsensor Embedded in Proton Battery Stack for Real-Time Microscopic Measurements
Authors: Lee Chi-Yuan , Chen Chia-Hung , Chuang Sheng-Ming , Yang Chin-Yuan , Hsu Jia-Yu
Published: June 2023

According to the latest literature, it is difficult to measure the multiple important physical parameters inside a proton battery stack accurately and simultaneously. The present bottleneck is external or single measurements, and the multiple important physical parameters (oxygen, clamping pressure, hydrogen, voltage, current, temperature, flow, and humidity) are interrelated, and have a significant impact on the performance, life, and safety of the proton battery stack. Therefore, this study used micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS) technology to develop a micro oxygen sensor and a micro clamping pressure sensor, which were integrated into the 6-in-1 microsensor developed by this research team. In order to improve the output and operability of microsensors, an incremental mask was redesigned to integrate the back end of the microsensor in combination with a flexible printed circuit. Consequently, a flexible 8-in-1 (oxygen, clamping pressure, hydrogen, voltage, current, temperature, flow, and humidity) microsensor was developed and embedded in a proton battery stack for real-time microscopic measurement. Multiple micro-electro-mechanical systems technologies were used many times in the process of developing the flexible 8-in-1 microsensor in this study, including physical vapor deposition (PVD), lithography, lift-off, and wet etching. The substrate was a 50 μm-thick polyimide (PI) film, characterized by good tensile strength, high temperature resistance, and chemical resistance. The microsensor electrode used Au as the main electrode and Ti as the adhesion layer.
Differential Confocal Optical Probes with Optimized Detection Efficiency and Pearson Correlation Coefficient Strategy Based on the Peak-Clustering Algorithm
Authors: Wang Zhiyi , Wang Tingyu , Yang Yongqiang , Mi Xiaotao , Wang Jianli
Published: June 2023

Quantifying free-form surfaces using differential confocal microscopy can be challenging, as it requires balancing accuracy and efficiency. When the axial scanning mechanism involves sloshing and the measured surface has a finite slope, traditional linear fitting can introduce significant errors. This study introduces a compensation strategy based on Pearson’s correlation coefficient to effectively reduce measurement errors. Additionally, a fast-matching algorithm based on peak clustering was proposed to meet real-time requirements for non-contact probes. To validate the effectiveness of the compensation strategy and matching algorithm, detailed simulations and physical experiments were conducted. The results showed that for a numerical aperture of 0.4 and a depth of slope < 12°, the measurement error was <10 nm, improving the speed of the traditional algorithm system by 83.37%. Furthermore, repeatability and anti-disturbance experiments demonstrated that the proposed compensation strategy is simple, efficient, and robust. Overall, the proposed method has significant potential for application in the realization of high-speed measurements of free-form surfaces.
Revolutionizing Prosthetic Design with Auxetic Metamaterials and Structures: A Review of Mechanical Properties and Limitations
Authors: Fardan Muhammad Faris , Lenggana Bhre Wangsa , Ubaidillah U , Choi Seung-Bok , Susilo Didik Djoko , Khan Sohaib Zia
Published: June 2023

Prosthetics have come a long way since their inception, and recent advancements in materials science have enabled the development of prosthetic devices with improved functionality and comfort. One promising area of research is the use of auxetic metamaterials in prosthetics. Auxetic materials have a negative Poisson’s ratio, which means that they expand laterally when stretched, unlike conventional materials, which contract laterally. This unique property allows for the creation of prosthetic devices that can better conform to the contours of the human body and provide a more natural feel. In this review article, we provide an overview of the current state of the art in the development of prosthetics using auxetic metamaterials. We discuss the mechanical properties of these materials, including their negative Poisson’s ratio and other properties that make them suitable for use in prosthetic devices. We also explore the limitations that currently exist in implementing these materials in prosthetic devices, including challenges in manufacturing and cost. Despite these challenges, the future prospects for the development of prosthetic devices using auxetic metamaterials are promising. Continued research and development in this field could lead to the creation of more comfortable, functional, and natural-feeling prosthetic devices. Overall, the use of auxetic metamaterials in prosthetics represents a promising area of research with the potential to improve the lives of millions of people around the world who rely on prosthetic devices.
GaN/Si Heterojunction VDMOS with High Breakdown Voltage and Low Specific On-Resistance
Authors: Yang Xin , Duan Baoxing , Yang Yintang
Published: June 2023

A novel VDMOS with the GaN/Si heterojunction (GaN/Si VDMOS) is proposed in this letter to optimize the breakdown voltage (BV) and the specific on-resistance (Ron,sp) by Breakdown Point Transfer (BPT), which transfers the breakdown point from the high-electric-field region to the low-electric-field region and improves the BV compared with conventional Si VDMOS. The results of the TCAD simulation show that the optimized BV of the proposed GaN/Si VDMOS increases from 374 V to 2029 V compared with the conventional Si VDMOS with the same drift region length of 20 μm, and the Ron,sp of 17.2 mΩ·cm2 is lower than 36.5 mΩ·cm2 for the conventional Si VDMOS. Due to the introduction of the GaN/Si heterojunction, the breakdown point is transferred by BPT from the higher-electric-field region with the largest radius of curvature to the low-electric-field region. The interfacial state effects of the GaN/Si are analyzed to guide the fabrication of the GaN/Si heterojunction MOSFETs.
A 17.8–20.2 GHz Compact Vector-Sum Phase Shifter in 130 nm SiGe BiCMOS Technology for LEO Gateways Receivers
Authors: del Pino Javier , Khemchandani Sunil L. , San-Miguel-Montesdeoca Mario , Mateos-Angulo Sergio , Mayor-Duarte Daniel , Saiz-Perez Jose Luis , Galante-Sempere David
Published: June 2023

This paper presents a novel and compact vector modulator (VM) architecture implemented in 130 nm SiGe BiCMOS technology. The design is suitable for use in receive phased arrays for the gateways of major low Earth orbit (LEO) constellations that operate in the 17.8 to 20.2 GHz frequency range. The proposed architecture uses four variable gain amplifiers (VGA) that are active at any given time and are switched to generate the four quadrants. Compared to conventional architectures, this structure is more compact and produces double the output amplitude. The design offers 6-bit phase control for 360°, and the total root mean square (RMS) phase and gain errors are 2.36° and 1.46 dB, respectively. The design occupies an area of 1309.4 μm × 1783.8 μm (including pads).
Effect of Borrelia burgdorferi on the Expression of miRNAs in Breast Cancer and Normal Mammary Epithelial Cells
Authors: Debbarma Ananya , Mansolf Miranda , Khatri Vishwa A. , Valentino Justine A. , Sapi Eva
Published: June 2023

Breast cancer is one of the leading causes of death in women worldwide. Recent studies have demonstrated that inflammation due to infections with microorganisms could play a role in breast cancer development. One of the known human pathogens, Borrelia burgdorferi, the causative agent of Lyme disease, has been shown to be present in various types of breast cancer and is associated with poor prognosis. We reported that B. burgdorferi can invade breast cancer cells and affect their tumorigenic phenotype. To better understand the genome-wide genetic changes caused by B. burgdorferi, we evaluated the microRNA (miRNA or miR) expression profiles of two triple-negative breast cancer cell lines and one non-tumorigenic mammary cell line before and after B. burgdorferi infection. Using a cancer-specific miRNA panel, four miRNAs (miR-206, 214-3p, 16-5p, and 20b-5p) were identified as potential markers for Borrelia-induced changes, and the results were confirmed by quantitative real-time reverse transcription (qRT-PCR). Among those miRNAs, miR-206 and 214 were the most significantly upregulated miRNAs. The cellular impact of miR-206 and 214 was evaluated using DIANA software to identify related molecular pathways and genes. Analyses showed that the cell cycle, checkpoints, DNA damage–repair, proto-oncogenes, and cancer-related signaling pathways are mostly affected by B. burgdorferi infection. Based on this information, we have identified potential miRNAs which could be further evaluated as biomarkers for tumorigenesis caused by pathogens in breast cancer cells.
Region Expansion of a Hyperspectral-Based Mineral Map Using Random Forest Classification with Multispectral Data
Authors: Tsubomatsu Hideki , Tonooka Hideyuki
Published: June 2023

Observation images from hyperspectral (HS) sensors on satellites and aircraft can be used to map minerals in greater detail than those from multispectral (MS) sensors. However, the coverage of HS images is much less than that of MS images, so there are often cases where MS images cover the entire area of interest while HS images cover only a part of it. In this study, we propose a new method to more reasonably expand the mineral map of an HS image with an MS image in such cases. The method uses various mineral indices from the MS image and MS sensor’s band values as the input and HS image-based mineral classes as the output. Random forest (RF) two-class classification is then applied iteratively to determine the distribution of each mineral in turn, starting with the minerals that are most consistent with the HS image-based mineral map. The method also involves the correction of misalignment between HS and MS images and the selection of input variables by RF multiclass classification. The method was evaluated in comparison with other methods in the Cuprite area, Nevada, using the Airborne Visible/Infrared Imaging Spectrometer (AVIRIS) and Hyperspectral Imager Suite (HISUI) as HS sensors and the Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer (ASTER) as MS sensors. As a result, all of the evaluated region-expansion methods with an HS–MS image pair, including the proposed method, showed better performance than the method using only an MS image. The proposed method had the highest performance, and the inter-mineral averages of the F1-scores for the overlap and non-overlap areas were 85.98% and 46.46% for the AVIRIS–ASTER image pair and 82.78% and 42.60% for the HISUI–ASTER image pair, respectively. Although the performance in the non-overlap region was lower than in the overlap region, the method showed high precision and high accuracy for almost all minerals, including minerals with only a few pixels. Misalignment between the HS–MS images is a factor that degrades accuracy and requires precise alignment, but the misalignment correction in the proposed method could suppress the effect of misalignment. Validation studies using different regions and different sensors will be carried out in the future.
The Effect of SiC on the Phase Composition and Structure of Mixed Slag
Authors: Hao Shuai , Luo Guoping , Lu Yuanyuan , An Shengli , Chai Yifan , Song Wei
Published: June 2023

In order to investigate the influence of SiC on the composition and structure of mixed slag (blast-furnace slag: steel slag = 1:9), the chemical composition, equilibrium-phase composition, and microscopic morphological characteristics and elemental distribution in the microscopic region of the SiC-reagent-tempered slag samples were analyzed by X-ray diffractometer (XRD), FactSage7.1 thermodynamic analysis software, scanning electron microscope, and energy spectrum analyzer. It was found that the main physical phases of the tempered slag samples were magnesia–silica–calcite (Ca3Mg(SiO4)2, C3MS2), calcium–aluminum yellow feldspar (Ca2Al2SiO7, C2AS), C2S, and iron alloy. Theoretical calculations suggest that the experimental temperature should be higher than 1500 °C to facilitate the combination of P5+ with Fe and Mn in the liquid phase to form an alloy, reduce the P5+ content in the tempered slag, and create conditions for the self-powdering of the conditioned slag. The doping of the SiC reagent can increase the liquid phase line temperature and reduce the binary basicity in the liquid phase; the liquid phase line temperatures were 1150 °C, 1200 °C, and 1300 °C and the basicities in the liquid phase were 4.68, 4.13, and 3.10 for the doping amounts of 3%, 4%, and 5% of the SiC reagent, respectively. The mixed slag doped with 4% SiC reagent achieves self-powdering and reduction of ferroalloys during the air-cooling and cooling processes, realizing the purpose of “resource utilization” of blast-furnace slag and steel slag.
Different Aryl Thiourea Compounds as Flotation Collectors in a Lead–Zinc Sulfide Mixed System
Authors: Li Bowen , Sun Wei , Gao Zhiyong , Zheng Renji , Cao Jian
Published: June 2023

The primary coexisting mineral with galena is sphalerite. Hence, it is critical to selectively separate galena from sphalerite by flotation. In this work, thiourea and related derivatives as potential flotation collectors for separating galena from sphalerite were investigated. Thiourea and its related derivatives were found to be effective selective collectors in batch flotation studies of a single mineral, with 1,1-diphenylthiourea (11DTA) emerging as the best choice. Galena has superior floatability compared to sphalerite in the presence of 11DTA, and the recovery difference between the two minerals at pH 8 (where the 11DTA concentration is 5 × 10−6 mol/L) is around 38%. This was revealed in batch flotation studies using artificial mixed minerals. Moreover, the findings from the measurements of adsorption amount, FTIR, zeta potential and XPS revealed that 11DTA has a strong adsorption on galena yet a relatively weak adsorption on sphalerite. Additionally, DFT calculations demonstrated that sphalerite exhibits stronger hydrophilicity than galena, and 11DTA possessed a better affinity for galena.
Application and Significance of the Wavelet–Fractal Method on the Data of the Induced Polarization Method in the Graphite Deposits of Datong, China
Authors: Liang Yuqi , Xia Qinglin , Zhao Mengyu , Bi Rui , Liu Jiankang
Published: June 2023

Wavelet transformation has been widely used in geophysical and geochemical exploration, and the fractal feature of wavelet coefficients has recently stood out from many wavelet threshold methods. We introduced the wavelet–fractal method to analyze the polarizability and resistivity of graphite deposits. Due to the unique nature of graphite-bearing gneiss, characterized by high polarizability and low resistivity, we concluded that the polarizability background mode is better suited to depict the morphology of the graphite-bearing formation, with the resistivity background mode serving as complementary information for verification. Symlets5 is regarded as the optimal mother wavelet to indicate the characteristics of graphite ore by means of comparison and analysis. The polarizability anomalies showed two different linear forms: the direction of the measuring line and the strike of the ore bodies. According to the data of drill holes on the profile, we inferred that the high values of the anomaly mode can be used to delineate the target area where the graphite is enriched. Combining the application of both modes, we used the wavelet–fractal method for the quantitative prediction and effective selection of a potential area with a high grade. The approach used in this current study can be extended to the prospecting of other graphite deposits or sedimentary–metamorphic deposits containing conductive minerals, where geochemical and geophysical data are available.
Control Model of Organic Shale Enrichment by Terrigenous Weathering in Wufeng Formation–Longmaxi Formation, Southeast Sichuan, China
Authors: Zhang Zhibo , Guo Yinghai , Zhao Difei , Zhang Jiaming , Zeng Chunlin , Li Yan
Published: June 2023

The relationship between the Late Ordovician–Early Silurian sedimentary system, weathering, paleoclimate, and primary productivity in the Yangzi region is not well understood. In this study, by analyzing the sedimentation cycle and major trace elements of the Youc well 2 in the southeast Sichuan Basin, the coupling relationships of weathering indicators, terrigenous debris input indicators, paleoclimate, redox condition indicators, U-Mo covariance model, Mo/TOC relationship, and paleoproductivity indicators are investigated. The results show that single-well logs delineate four third-order sedimentary sequences (SS1, SS2, SS3, and SS4), two sedimentary subfacies, and four sedimentary microfacies in the Wufeng Formation–Longmaxi Formation. The weathering degree is stronger at the bottom where the climate shifts from warm–wet to cold–dry, and the seawater is in an oxidic–anoxic–oxidic–anoxic environment. While the primary productivity and material source input decreases gradually in the middle and upper part, the climate becomes dry and cold, and the seawater is in an anoxic–oxidic environment. Thus, a rock enrichment model for the organic matter shale of the Wufeng Formation–Longmaxi Formation in southeast Sichuan has been established. This provides more information on the control factors concerning organic matter enrichment and their interactions.