bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Exploring the Relationship between Cover Crop Adoption and Soil Erosion Severity: A Case Study from the Simcoe Watershed, Ontario, Canada
Authors: Shirriff Katherine , KC Krishna Bahadur , Berg Aaron
Published: June 2022

Runoff from agricultural fields during the nongrowing season is a significant factor leading to phosphorous loading and diminishing water quality in Lake Simcoe, Ontario. Cover crops offer the potential to alleviate phosphorous loss during the nongrowing season by minimizing soil erosional processes and uptaking excess phosphorous; however, recent research suggests that its adoption remains relatively low. More concern lies with the lack of cover crop adoption on areas that are sensitive to soil erosion. This study intends to investigate the likelihood of agricultural productions located on erosive soils to adopt cover crops. Using satellite imagery in corroboration with the Universal Soil Loss Equation (USLE), this study reveals the frequency of cover crop production and associates soil loss sensitivity at a 30 m resolution from 2013 to 2018. Consistent with recent literature, this study reveals that a small portion (18%) of agricultural operations in the south Simcoe Watershed have incorporated cover crops over the past six years. Cover crops tend to be adopted at a low frequency in areas that have a low sensitivity to soil erosion. This study reveals that areas with higher soil erosion sensitivity are consistent with low-frequency adoption, indicating that these areas are less likely to adopt cover crops regularly. Promoting farm-scale benefits associated with cover crops should target areas in the south Simcoe Watershed that are prone to soil erosion to mitigate total phosphorus (TP) loading into Lake Simcoe.
A Preliminary Content Validity Analysis of the Receptive and Expressive Language Pre-Referral Protocol for Bilingual Learners (RELPP-BL)
Authors: Garza Karla , Flores Janelle Beth , Flores Belinda Bustos
Published: June 2022

The number of bilingual-bicultural students in the US continues to grow exponentially. With this growth, educators have an increased need for ensuring that all bilingual-bicultural students have equal language learning opportunities. It is, therefore, crucial that bilingual educators have access to valid tools that can serve as guides for determining if a speech and language referral is needed. The Receptive and Expressive Language Pre-Referral Protocol for Bilingual Learners [RELPP-BL] was developed as a data gathering tool to assist educators in the decision-making process. The purpose of this study was to explore the content validity of the RELPP-BL. The preliminary results demonstrate that the RELPP-BL is a viable, valid tool for use in the pre-referral process; it is not intended as an evaluation measure.
Tribological Performance and Rheological Properties of Engine Oil with Graphene Nano-Additives
Authors: Alqahtani Bader , Hoziefa Wael , Abdel Moneam Hussein Mohammed , Hamoud Mohamed , Salunkhe Sachin , Elshalakany Abou Bakr , Abdel-Mottaleb Mohamed , Davim João Paulo
Published: June 2022

Nanoparticles dispersed in lubricants are being studied for their ability to reduce friction and wear. This paper examines SAE 5W-30 oil enhanced with dispersed graphene nanoplates for tribological and rheological properties. Graphene nanoplate (GNs) concentration effects on the rheological and tribological properties of 5W-30 base oil (0.03, 0.06, 0.09, 0.12, and 0.15 wt percent) were tested. Under various loads, a four-ball testing model was used to conduct a tribological analysis (200, 400, 600, and 800 N). Kinematic viscosity is calculated, and base oil and nanofluid-added 5W30 lubricant are compared for thermal conductivity and flashpoint. Wear scar and coefficient of friction improved by 15% and 33% with nano-additives. When related to the base oil, the flashpoint, thermal conductivity, kinematic viscosity, and pour point all increased, by 25.4%, 77.4%, 29.9%, and 35.4%, respectively. The addition of GNs improved the properties of 5W30 engine oil.
Rough Semiring-Valued Fuzzy Sets with Application
Authors: Močkoř Jiří , Hurtik Petr , Hýnar David
Published: June 2022

Many of the new fuzzy structures with complete MV-algebras as value sets, such as hesitant, intuitionistic, neutrosophic, or fuzzy soft sets, can be transformed into one type of fuzzy set with values in special complete algebras, called AMV-algebras. The category of complete AMV-algebras is isomorphic to the category of special pairs (R,R∗) of complete commutative semirings and the corresponding fuzzy sets are called (R,R∗)-fuzzy sets. We use this theory to define (R,R∗)-fuzzy relations, lower and upper approximations of (R,R∗)-fuzzy sets by (R,R∗)-relations, and rough (R,R∗)-fuzzy sets, and we show that these notions can be universally applied to any fuzzy type structure that is transformable to (R,R∗)-fuzzy sets. As an example, we also show how this general theory can be used to determine the upper and lower approximations of a color segment corresponding to a particular color.
User Authentication by Gait Data from Smartphone Sensors Using Hybrid Deep Learning Network
Authors: Cao Qian , Xu Fei , Li Huiyong
Published: June 2022

User authentication and verification by gait data based on smartphones’ inertial sensors has gradually attracted increasing attention due to their compact size, portability and affordability. However, the existing approaches often require users to walk on a specific road at a normal walking speed to improve recognition accuracy. In order to recognize gaits under unconstrained conditions on where and how users walk, we proposed a Hybrid Deep Learning Network (HDLN), which combined the advantages of a long short-term memory (LSTM) network and a convolutional neural network (CNN) to reliably extract discriminative features from complex smartphone inertial data. The convergence layer of HDLN was optimized through a spatial pyramid pooling and attention mechanism. The former ensured that the gait features were extracted from more dimensions, and the latter ensured that only important gait information was processed while ignoring unimportant data. Furthermore, we developed an APP that can achieve real-time gait recognition. The experimental results showed that HDLN achieved better performance improvements than CNN, LSTM, DeepConvLSTM and CNN+LSTM by 1.9%, 2.8%, 2.0% and 1.3%, respectively. Furthermore, the experimental results indicated our model’s high scalability and strong suitability in real application scenes.
Sequential Completeness for ⊤-Quasi-Uniform Spaces and a Fixed Point Theorem
Authors: Jäger Gunther
Published: June 2022

We define sequential completeness for ⊤-quasi-uniform spaces using Cauchy pair ⊤-sequences. We show that completeness implies sequential completeness and that for ⊤-uniform spaces with countable ⊤-uniform bases, completeness and sequential completeness are equivalent. As an illustration of the applicability of the concept, we give a fixed point theorem for certain contractive self-mappings in a ⊤-uniform space. This result yields, as a special case, a fixed point theorem for probabilistic metric spaces.
Double-Diffusive Convection in Bidispersive Porous Medium with Coriolis Effect
Authors: Ramchandraiah Chirnam , Kishan Naikoti , Reddy Gundlapally , Paidipati Kiran , Chesneau Christophe
Published: June 2022

In this paper, the thermal instability of rotating convection in a bidispersive porous layer is analyzed. The linear stability analysis is employed to examine the stability of the system. The neutral curves for different values of the physical parameters are shown graphically. The critical Rayleigh number is evaluated for appropriate values of the other governing parameters. Among the obtained results, we find: the Taylor number has a stabilizing effect on the onset of convection; the Soret number does not show any effect on oscillatory convection, as the oscillatory Rayleigh number is independent of the Soret number; there exists a threshold, Rc* ∈ (0.45, 0.46), for the solute Rayleigh number, such that, if RC > Rc*, then the convection arises via an oscillatory mode; and the oscillatory convection sets in and as soon as the value of the Soret number reaches a critical value, (∈(0.6, 0.7)), and the convection arises via stationary convection.
An Update of Lectins from Marine Organisms: Characterization, Extraction Methodology, and Potential Biofunctional Applications
Authors: Ahmmed Mirja Kaizer , Bhowmik Shuva , Giteru Stephen G. , Zilani Md. Nazmul Hasan , Adadi Parise , Islam Shikder Saiful , Kanwugu Osman N. , Haq Monjurul , Ahmmed Fatema , Ng Charlene Cheuk Wing , Chan Yau Sang , Asadujjaman Md. , Chan Gabriel Hoi Huen , Naude Ryno , Bekhit Alaa El-Din Ahmed , Ng Tzi Bun , Wong Jack Ho
Published: June 2022

Lectins are a unique group of nonimmune carbohydrate-binding proteins or glycoproteins that exhibit specific and reversible carbohydrate-binding activity in a non-catalytic manner. Lectins have diverse sources and are classified according to their origins, such as plant lectins, animal lectins, and fish lectins. Marine organisms including fish, crustaceans, and mollusks produce a myriad of lectins, including rhamnose binding lectins (RBL), fucose-binding lectins (FTL), mannose-binding lectin, galectins, galactose binding lectins, and C-type lectins. The widely used method of extracting lectins from marine samples is a simple two-step process employing a polar salt solution and purification by column chromatography. Lectins exert several immunomodulatory functions, including pathogen recognition, inflammatory reactions, participating in various hemocyte functions (e.g., agglutination), phagocytic reactions, among others. Lectins can also control cell proliferation, protein folding, RNA splicing, and trafficking of molecules. Due to their reported biological and pharmaceutical activities, lectins have attracted the attention of scientists and industries (i.e., food, biomedical, and pharmaceutical industries). Therefore, this review aims to update current information on lectins from marine organisms, their characterization, extraction, and biofunctionalities.
Quantitative Evaluation of Inflammatory Markers in Peri-Implantitis and Periodontitis Tissues: Digital vs. Manual Analysis—A Proof of Concept Study
Authors: Henin Dolaji , Fiorin Luiz Guilherme , Carmagnola Daniela , Pellegrini Gaia , Toma Marilisa , Cristofalo Aurora , Dellavia Claudia
Published: June 2022

Background and Objectives: In dentistry, the assessment of the histomorphometric features of periodontal (PD) and peri-implant (PI) lesions is important to evaluate their underlying pathogenic mechanism. The present study aimed to compare manual and digital methods of analysis in the evaluation of the inflammatory biomarkers in PI and PD lesions. Materials and Methods: PD and PI inflamed soft tissues were excised and processed for histological and immunohistochemical analyses for CD3+, CD4+, CD8+, CD15+, CD20+, CD68+, and CD138+. The obtained slides were acquired using a digital scanner. For each marker, 4 pictures per sample were extracted and the area fraction of the stained tissue was computed both manually using a 594-point counting grid (MC) and digitally using a dedicated image analysis software (DC). To assess the concordance between MC and DC, two blinded observers analysed a total of 200 pictures either with good quality of staining or with non-specific background noise. The inter and intraobserver concordance was evaluated using the intraclass coefficient and the agreement between MC and DC was assessed using the Bland–Altman plot. The time spent analysing each picture using the two methodologies by both observers was recorded. Further, the amount of each marker was compared between PI and PD with both methodologies. Results: The inter- and intraobserver concordance was excellent, except for images with background noise analysed using DC. MC and DC showed a satisfying concordance. DC was performed in half the time compared to MC. The morphological analysis showed a larger inflammatory infiltrate in PI than PD lesions. The comparison between PI and PD showed differences for CD68+ and CD138+ expression. Conclusions: DC could be used as a reliable and time-saving procedure for the immunohistochemical analysis of PD and PI soft tissues. When non-specific background noise is present, the experience of the pathologist may be still required.
The Added Value of Point-Light Display Observation in Total Knee Arthroplasty Rehabilitation Program: A Prospective Randomized Controlled Pilot Study
Authors: Bidet-Ildei Christel , Deborde Quentin , Francisco Victor , Gand Elise , Blandin Yannick , Delaubier Anne , Jossart Anne , Rigoard Philippe , Billot Maxime , David Romain
Published: June 2022

Background and Objectives: The present study aimed to assess the potential benefit of the observation of rehabilitation-related point-light display in addition to a conventional 3-week rehabilitation program, the objective being to improve functional capacity in patients having undergone total knee arthroplasty. Materials and Methods: Patients randomized in the control group had conventional rehabilitation treatment with two sessions per day 5 days a week of physical therapy (90 min), whereas patients in the experimental group had a program of conventional rehabilitation combined with a point-light display observation two times per day (5 min) and 3 days a week. Results: The patients of both groups had improved their performances by the end of the program, and the pre- and post-test improvement were superior for the experimental group over the control group concerning the total WOMAC score (p = 0.04), the functional WOMAC score (p = 0.03), and correct recognition of point-light displays (p = 0.003). Conclusions: These findings provide new insight favoring systematic point-light display observation to improve functional recovery in patients with total knee arthroplasty.
Bloodstream Infections in a COVID-19 Non-ICU Department: Microbial Epidemiology, Resistance Profiles and Comparative Analysis of Risk Factors and Patients’ Outcome
Authors: Giannitsioti Efthymia , Louka Christina , Mamali Vasiliki , Kousouli Elisavet , Velentza Lemonia , Papadouli Vaia , Loizos Georgios , Mavroudis Panagiotis , Kranidiotis Georgios , Rekleiti Nektaria , Stamati Alexandra , Speggos Ioannis , Daniil Ioannis , Kouvatsos Panagiotis , Sidiropoulou Chrysanthi , Linardaki Garifallia , Gerakari Styliani , Chrysos Georgios , Themeli-Digalaki Katina , Zarkotou Olympia
Published: June 2022

Background: Bloodstream infections (BSI) caused by highly resistant pathogens in non-ICU COVID-19 departments pose important challenges. Methods: We performed a comparative analysis of incidence and microbial epidemiology of BSI in COVID-19 vs. non-COVID-19, non-ICU departments between 1 September 2020-31 October 2021. Risk factors for BSI and its impact on outcome were evaluated by a case-control study which included COVID-19 patients with/without BSI. Results: Forty out of 1985 COVID-19 patients developed BSI. The mean monthly incidence/100 admissions was 2.015 in COVID-19 and 1.742 in non-COVID-19 departments. Enterococcus and Candida isolates predominated in the COVID-19 group (p < 0.001 and p = 0.018, respectively). All Acinetobacter baumannii isolates were carbapenem-resistant (CR). In the COVID-19 group, 33.3% of Klebsiella pneumoniae was CR, 50% of Escherichia coli produced ESBL and 19% of Enterococcus spp. were VRE vs. 74.5%, 26.1% and 8.8% in the non-COVID-19 group, respectively. BSI was associated with prior hospitalization (p = 0.003), >2 comorbidities (p < 0.001), central venous catheter (p = 0.015), severe SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia and lack of COVID-19 vaccination (p < 0.001). In the multivariate regression model also including age and multiple comorbidities, only BSI was significantly associated with adverse in-hospital outcome [OR (CI95%): 21.47 (3.86–119.21), p < 0.001]. Conclusions: BSI complicates unvaccinated patients with severe SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia and increases mortality. BSI pathogens and resistance profiles differ among COVID-19/non-COVID-19 departments, suggesting various routes of pathogen acquisition.
Risk Factors, Diagnosis, and Management of Clostridioides difficile Infection in Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Authors: Del Vecchio Livio Enrico , Fiorani Marcello , Tohumcu Ege , Bibbò Stefano , Porcari Serena , Mele Maria Cristina , Pizzoferrato Marco , Gasbarrini Antonio , Cammarota Giovanni , Ianiro Gianluca
Published: June 2022

Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) are two pathologies that share a bidirectional causal nexus, as CDI is known to have an aggravating effect on IBD and IBD is a known risk factor for CDI. The colonic involvement in IBD not only renders the host more prone to an initial CDI development but also to further recurrences. Furthermore, IBD flares, which are predominantly set off by a CDI, not only create a need for therapy escalation but also prolong hospital stay. For these reasons, adequate and comprehensive management of CDI is of paramount importance in patients with IBD. Microbiological diagnosis, correct evaluation of clinical status, and consideration of different treatment options (from antibiotics and fecal microbiota transplantation to monoclonal antibodies) carry pivotal importance. Thus, the aim of this article is to review the risk factors, diagnosis, and management of CDI in patients with IBD.
Lomentospora prolificans: An Emerging Opportunistic Fungal Pathogen
Authors: Konsoula Afroditi , Tsioutis Constantinos , Markaki Ioulia , Papadakis Michail , Agouridis Aris P. , Spernovasilis Nikolaos
Published: June 2022

Lomentospora prolificans is an emerging opportunistic pathogen that primarily affects immunocompromised individuals leading to disseminated disease with high mortality rates while also causing infections in healthy populations. Successful recovery from infection is difficult due to high rates of intrinsic resistance to antifungals. Rapid and readily available diagnostic methods, aggressive surgical debridement wherever appropriate, and effective and timely antifungal treatment are the pillars for successful management. Future research will need to clarify the environmental niche of the fungus, further investigate the pathophysiology of infection and define species-specific therapeutic targets.
Control of Maize Sheath Blight and Elicit Induced Systemic Resistance Using Paenibacillus polymyxa Strain SF05
Authors: Chen Bin , Han Hailiang , Hou Junfeng , Bao Fei , Tan Heping , Lou Xiaocheng , Wang Guiyue , Zhao Fucheng
Published: June 2022

Maize (Zea mays L.) is an important crop in the world and maize sheath blight damages the yield and quality greatly. In this study, an antagonist strain, which exhibited antagonism against pathogenic fungi of maize and controlled maize banded leaf sheath blight in the field, was effectively isolated and named Paenibacillus polymyxa strain SF05. High cellulase and chitinase activity of the strain were detected in this study, which might contribute to degrading the cell wall of fungi. Furthermore, different resistant genes such as ZmPR1a, OPR1 and OPR7 were elicited differently by the strain in the leaves and stems of maize. In order to explain the biocontrol mechanism of P. polymyxa strain SF05, the genome was sequenced and then the genes involving the biocontrol mechanism including biofilm formation pathways genes, cell wall degradation enzymes, secondary metabolite biosynthesis gene clusters and volatile organic compounds biosynthesis genes were predicted. The study revealed the biocontrol mechanism of P. polymyxa strain SF05 preliminary and laid a foundation for further research of biocontrol mechanism of P. polymyxa.
Unusual Luminescence of Quartz from La Sassa, Tuscany: Insights on the Crystal and Defect Nanostructure of Quartz Further Developments
Authors: Monti Andrea Maurizio , Ricci Giulia , Martini Marco , Galli Anna , Lugli Federico , Dalconi Maria Chiara , Artioli Gilberto
Published: June 2022

Quartz luminescence finds applications on many fields, but much work still needs to be done to precisely characterize it. In this work, we made further developments on the study of luminescence of quartz from La Sassa, Tuscany: a sample with unique properties in this regard. Photoluminescence (PL) measurements allowed study of the excitation profile of the previously reported luminescence, showing an excitation maximum at around 4.3 eV, among other minor ones. This kind of luminescence has also been studied as a function of X-ray irradiation, showing that ionizing radiation desensitizes the photoluminescence emissions. New radioluminescence (RL) measurements have been done to study the effect of thermal annealing at 1000 °C, showing a more complex emission picture in the red region (1.8–2.0 eV), with multiple emissions. The data presented here allow more precise assumptions regarding the assignment of the centers responsible for each emission. The assignment has been confirmed by chemical profiles measured by laser-ablation inductively coupled plasma (ICP) mass spectrometry. The previously tentative assignment of non-bridging oxygen hole centers (NBOHCs) has been disproved for the PL and LIF emissions and confirmed for the RL ones.
Age of Gold Mineralizations of Dongping and Xiaoyingpan Gold Deposits in North China Craton: Constraints from the Zircon U–Pb Dating and Fission-Track Analysis
Authors: Feng Yunlei , Wei Hao , Li Dong , Du Wenbiao
Published: June 2022

Northwest Hebei province is one of the gold-producing areas in China. Based on a geochronological analysis of the Zhangjiakou-Xuanhua area, zircon U–Pb with an age of 2487–142 Ma and zircon fission-track (ZFT) with a cooling age of 155–66 Ma were obtained. Zircon U–Pb dating of the Xiaoyingpan deposit revealed two ages of 2487 ± 92 Ma and 1745 ± 89 Ma, representing the Archaean and Early Proterozoic metamorphism of the Sanggan Group. The ZFT cooling age of 155 ± 10 Ma represents the deposit’s lower limit metallogenic age. The Shuiquangou (SQG) alkaline complex emplaced at 388.9 ± 3.0 Ma and experienced magmatic activities until the Late Devonian (ca 377 Ma), considering the response to the collision between the Siberian plate and the North China Craton. The emplacement age of Shangshuiquan (SSQ) granite is 142.3 ± 1.1 Ma and is coeval with the thinning of the North China Craton during the Late Jurassic–Early Cretaceous. The intrusion of SSQ might partially reheat the SQG complex, resulting in the Yanshanian gold mineralization in Dongping. The SQG complex and SSQ granite underwent a relatively consistent rapid cooling process in the Cretaceous based on the ZFT ages.
Level-Set Interface Description Approach for Thermal Phase Change of Nanofluids
Authors: Yahyaee Ali , Bahman Amir Sajjad , Olesen Klaus , Sørensen Henrik
Published: June 2022

Simulations of thermally driven phase change phenomena of nanofluids are still in their infancy. Locating the gas–liquid interface location as precisely as possible is one of the primary problems in simulating such flows. The VOF method is the most applied interface description method in commercial and open-source CFD software to simulate nanofluids’ thermal phase change. Using the VOF method directs to inaccurate curvature calculation, which drives artificial flows (numerical non-physical velocities), especially in the vicinity of the gas–liquid interface. To recover accuracy in simulation results by VOF, a solver coupling VOF with the level-set interface description method can be used, in which the VOF is employed to capture the interface since it is a mass conserving method and the level-set is employed to calculate the curvature and physical quantities near the interface. We implemented the aforementioned coupled level-set and VOF (CLSVOF) method within the open-source OpenFOAM® framework and conducted a comparative analysis between CLSVOF and VOF (the default interface capturing method) to demonstrate the CLSVOF method’s advantages and disadvantages in various phase change scenarios. Using experimental mathematical correlations from the literature, we consider the effect of nanoparticles on the base fluid. Results shows that the new inferred technique provides more precise curvature calculation and greater agreement between simulated and analytical/benchmark solutions, but at the expense of processing time.
Reset First Resistive Switching in Ni1−xO Thin Films as Charge Transfer Insulator Deposited by Reactive RF Magnetron Sputtering
Authors: Kim Dae-woo , Kim Tae-ho , Kim Jae-yeon , Sohn Hyun-chul
Published: June 2022

Reset-first resistive random access memory (RRAM) devices were demonstrated for off-stoichiometric Ni1−xO thin films deposited using reactive sputtering with a high oxygen partial pressure. The Ni1−xO based RRAM devices exhibited both unipolar and bipolar resistive switching characteristics without an electroforming step. Auger electron spectroscopy showed nickel deficiency in the Ni1−xO films, and X-ray photoemission spectroscopy showed that the Ni3+ valence state in the Ni1−xO films increased with increasing oxygen partial pressure. Conductive atomic force microscopy showed that the conductivity of the Ni1−xO films increased with increasing oxygen partial pressure during deposition, possibly contributing to the reset-first switching of the Ni1−xO films.
Synthesis, Properties and Photocatalytic Activity of CaTiO3-Based Ceramics Doped with Lanthanum
Authors: Zdorovets Maxim V. , Borgekov Daryn B. , Zhumatayeva Inesh Z. , Kenzhina Inesh E. , Kozlovskiy Artem L.
Published: June 2022

The aim of this work is to study the effect of lanthanum doping on the phase formation processes in ceramics based on CaTiO3, as well as to evaluate the effectiveness of the ceramics as photocatalysts for the decomposition of the organic dye Rhodamine B. The methods used were scanning electron microscopy to evaluate the morphological features of the synthesized ceramics, X-ray diffraction to determine the phase composition and structural parameters, and UV-Vis spectroscopy to determine the optical properties of the ceramics. During the experiments it was found that an increase in the lanthanum dopant concentration from 0.05 to 0.25 mol leads to the formation of the orthorhombic phase La0.3Ca0.7TiO3 and the displacement from the ceramic structure of the impurity phase TiO2, which presence is typical for the synthesized ceramics by solid-phase synthesis. On the basis of the data of the X-ray phase analysis the dynamics of phase transformations depending on concentration of lanthanum was established: CaTiO3/TiO2 → CaTiO3/La2TiO5 → CaTiO3/La0.3Ca0.7TiO3 → La0.3Ca0.7TiO3. During the determination of photocatalytic activity it was found that the formation of La0.3Ca0.7TiO3 phase leads to an increase in the decomposition rate as well as the degree of mineralization.
DFT Analysis of Hole Qubits Spin State in Germanium Thin Layer
Authors: Chibisov Andrey , Aleshin Maxim , Chibisova Mary
Published: June 2022

Due to the presence of a strong spin–orbit interaction, hole qubits in germanium are increasingly being considered as candidates for quantum computing. These objects make it possible to create electrically controlled logic gates with the basic properties of scalability, a reasonable quantum error correction, and the necessary speed of operation. In this paper, using the methods of quantum-mechanical calculations and considering the non-collinear magnetic interactions, the quantum states of the system 2D structure of Ge in the presence of even and odd numbers of holes were investigated. The spatial localizations of hole states were calculated, favorable quantum states were revealed, and the magnetic structural characteristics of the system were analyzed.
Molecular Targets and Signaling Pathways of microRNA-122 in Hepatocellular Carcinoma
Authors: Chun Kwang-Hoon
Published: June 2022

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the leading global causes of cancer mortality. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small interfering RNAs that alleviate the levels of protein expression by suppressing translation, inducing mRNA cleavage, and promoting mRNA degradation. miR-122 is the most abundant miRNA in the liver and is responsible for several liver-specific functions, including metabolism, cellular growth and differentiation, and hepatitis virus replication. Recent studies have shown that aberrant regulation of miR-122 is a key factor contributing to the development of HCC. In this review, the signaling pathways and the molecular targets of miR-122 involved in the progression of HCC have been summarized, and the importance of miR-122 in therapy has been discussed.
New Mater-Bi, Biodegradable Mulching Film for Strawberry (Fragaria × Ananassa Duch.): Effects on Film Duration, Crop Yields, Qualitative, and Nutraceutical Traits of Fruits
Authors: Morra Luigi , Bilotto Maurizio , Mignoli Emiliana , Sicignano Mariarosaria , Magri Anna , Cice Danilo , Cozzolino Rosaria , Malorni Livia , Siano Francesco , Picariello Gianluca , Guerrini Sara , Petriccione Milena
Published: June 2022

In the main strawberry areas of Southern Italy, cultivation is carried out by transplanting plants on raised beds (30–40 cm from ground level), mulched with black polyethylene (PE). This technique has becoming increasingly expensive due to the growing prices of plastic mulches, the cost to remove them at the end of crop cycle, and the difficulty to dispose of black, dirty plastic films. The main objective of this research was the replacement of PE mulch with a new biodegradable mulching film Mater-Bi®-based (Novamont), characterized by an increased permanence in the field designed for long crop life. In 2021, two Mater-Bi-based, black, 18 μm thick mulching films were tested under tunnel: N5 as innovative film and N18 as commercial standard film. Black PE film, 50 μm thick was the control. Strawberry cultivars ‘Sabrina’ and ‘Elide’ were cropped on the three mulching films according to a split plot design with four replications. Harvests lasted from March to June 2021. Cvs Sabrina and Elide yielded around 40 t ha−1, while the mean effect of mulching films did not point out differences between the biodegradable mulches and PE. In 4 out of 12 harvests we analyzed samples of fruits to assess the influence of mulches on the contents of °Brix, polyphenols, antioxidant activity, ascorbic acid, flavonoids, and anthocyanins. On average, °Brix was clearly improved in fruits on PE compared to biodegradable films, while all the other qualitative traits resulted in being more dependent on the cultivars and times of sampling effects. Overall, biodegradable mulches are a viable alternative to PE mulch, and the innovative N5 film appeared promising for the enhancement of durability of soil coverage in a long-lasting cycle.
The Impact of Swine Manure Biochar on the Physical Properties and Microbial Activity of Loamy Soils
Authors: Ayaz Muhammad , Feizienė Dalia , Feiza Virginijus , Tilvikienė Vita , Baltrėnaitė-Gedienė Edita , Khan Attaullah
Published: June 2022

Biochar has been proven to influence soil hydro-physical properties, as well as the abundance and diversity of microbial communities. However, the relationship between the hydro-physical properties of soils and the diversity of microbial communities is not well studied in the context of biochar application. The soil analyzed in this study was collected from an ongoing field experiment (2019–2024) with six treatments and three replications each of biochar (B1 = 25 t·ha−1 and B0 = no biochar) and nitrogen fertilizer (N1 = 160, N2 = 120 kg·ha−1, and N0 = no fertilizer). The results show that biochar treatments (B1N0, B1N1, and B1N2) significantly improved the soil bulk density and total soil porosity at different depths. The B1N1 treatment substantially enhanced the volumetric water content (VMC) by 5–7% at −4 to −100 hPa suction at 5–10 cm depth. All three biochar treatments strengthened macropores by 33%, 37%, and 41%, respectively, at 5–10 cm depth and by 40%, 45%, and 54%, respectively, at 15–20 cm depth. However, biochar application significantly lowered hydraulic conductivity (HC) and enhanced carbon source utilization and soil indices at different hours. Additionally, a positive correlation was recorded among carbon sources, indices, and soil hydro-physical properties under biochar applications. We can summarize that biochar has the potential to improve soil hydro-physical properties and soil carbon source utilization; these changes tend to elevate fertility and the sustainability of Cambisol.
Effect of the Addition of MgO Nanoparticles on the Thermally-Activated Shape Memory Behavior of Plasticized PLA Electrospun Fibers
Authors: Leonés Adrián , Peponi Laura , Fiori Stefano , Lieblich Marcela
Published: June 2022

In this work, the thermally-activated shape memory behavior of poly(lactic acid)-based electrospun fibers (PLA-based efibers) reinforced with different amounts of magnesium oxide (MgO) nanoparticles (NPs) was studied at different temperatures. In particular, MgO NPs were added at different concentrations, such as 0.1, 0.5, 1 and 3 wt%, with respect to the PLA matrix. The glass-transition temperature of PLA-based efibers was modulated by adding a 20 wt% of oligomer lactic acid as plasticizer. Once the plasticized PLA-based efibers were obtained and basically characterized in term of morphology as well as thermal and mechanical properties, thermo-mechanical cycles were carried out at 60 °C and 45 °C in order to study their thermally-activated shape memory response, demonstrating that their crystalline nature strongly affects their shape memory behavior. Importantly, we found that the plastificant effect in the mechanical response of the reinforced plasticized PLA efibers is balanced with the reinforcing effect of the MgO NPs, obtaining the same mechanical response of neat PLA fibers. Finally, both the strain recovery and strain fixity ratios of each of the plasticized PLA-based efibers were calculated, obtaining excellent thermally-activated shape memory response at 45 °C, demonstrating that 1 wt% MgO nanoparticles was the best concentration for the plasticized system.
The Impact of Reprocessing with a Quad Screw Extruder on the Degradation of Polypropylene
Authors: Alotaibi Mansour , Aldhafeeri Thamer , Barry Carol
Published: June 2022

During mechanical recycling, polypropylene typically is reprocessed using a single- or twin-screw extruder. The degradation of polypropylene during this reprocessing reduces the polymer’s molecular weight and, consequently, limits the performance of the recycled resin. This work investigated the impact of a quad screw extruder (QSE), which has greater free volume, on the reprocessing of an impact copolymer polypropylene. To mimic the recycling process, the polypropylene was subjected to three processing cycles using a QSE and a comparable twin-screw extruder (TSE) operated at three screw speeds. The reprocessed materials were characterized for their rheological, morphological, and mechanical properties. For both extruders, increasing the number of reprocessing cycles and the screw speed resulted in higher melt flow indices, decreases in zero-shear viscosity, and shifting of the crossover points for the storage and loss moduli, which indicate reductions in the molecular weight and narrowing of the molecular weight distribution of the polypropylene. The QSE exhibited greater reductions in molecular weight compared to the TSE, probably due to the higher stresses associated with the three intermeshing points along its screws. Reprocessing caused a significant reductions in the Izod impact strength of the reprocessed polypropylene, which correlated with reductions in the particle size and particle size distribution of the dispersed rubbery phase in the polypropylene during reprocessing.
Investigation of Mechanical Behaviors of Functionally Graded CNT-Reinforced Composite Plates
Authors: Cho Jin-Rae , Ahn Young-Ju
Published: June 2022

In this paper, the mechanical behavior of a functionally graded carbon nanotube-reinforced composite (FG-CNTRC) plate is numerically investigated. According to the concept of a hierarchical model, the displacement is decomposed into the in-field functions and the assumed thickness-wise monomial. The former is defined on the plate midsurface and is approximated by the 2-D meshfree natural element method (NEM). The FG-CNTRC plate is modeled as a homogenized orthotropic body, and its effective elastic properties are determined by referring to MD simulation and the linear rule of mixtures. Regarding the thickness-wise distribution of CNTs, one uniform and three functionally gradient distributions are taken. Through comparative numerical experiments, the reliability of the numerical method is justified with the maximum relative difference of 6.12%. The effects of the volume fraction and vertical distribution of CNTs, the plate width-thickness and aspect ratios, and the boundary conditions on the bending, free vibration, and buckling behaviors of FG-CNTRC plates are examined. It is found that the mechanical behavior of FG-CNTRC plates is significantly dependent of these major parameters.
A Fuzzy System Based Iterative Learning Control for Nonlinear Discrete-Time Systems with Iteration-Varying Uncertainties
Authors: Chien Chiang-Ju , Wang Ying-Chung
Published: June 2022

In this paper, we consider an iterative learning control problem for a class of unknown discrete-time nonlinear systems with iteration-varying initial error, iteration-varying system parameters, iteration-varying external disturbance, iteration-varying desired output, and iteration-varying control direction. These iteration-varying uncertainties are not required to take any particular structure such as the high-order internal model and only need to satisfy certain boundedness conditions. We propose an iterative learning control law with an adaptive iteration-varying fuzzy system to overcome all the uncertainties and achieve the learning control objective. Furthermore, we present a sufficient condition for designing adaptive gains and prove the convergence of the learning error to a small value as the trial number is large enough. Finally, we use two simulation examples to demonstrate all the theoretical results.
Algorithm for Process Innovation by Increasing Ideality
Authors: Sojka Vladimir , Lepsik Petr
Published: June 2022

Continual efforts to have better processes lead us to search for new ways to improve and innovate. One of the most powerful approaches to innovating technical systems is the TRIZ (Theory of Inventive Problem Solving). TRIZ is, unfortunately, very hard to learn and adequately use. This paper introduces a new comprehensive algorithm for the innovation of processes in production based on TRIZ principles. The Algorithm for Process Innovation by Increasing Ideality (AP3I) helps search for innovative ways to improve or change the process—either the whole process or its segments. Besides the original TRIZ, AP3I is easier to use and might be applied by engineers in industrial practice. On the other hand, results from AP3I are probably weaker compared to full TRIZ. Still, the AP3I can be very helpful in efforts to improve processes and can provide powerful ideas. The overall algorithm is also demonstrated in case studies on processes of packing and assembly.
Investigation on the Separation Performance and Multiparameter Optimization of Decanter Centrifuges
Authors: Kang Xiang , Cai Liuxi , Li Yun , Gao Xiufeng , Bai Guangqian
Published: June 2022

Decanter centrifuges are widely used for solid–liquid separation. Although parameter analysis for decanter centrifuges was performed by numerical simulation in previous studies, some structural parameters are rarely mentioned and investigated. At the same time, the results obtained by the single-parameter analysis in previous studies are difficult to truly realize the comprehensive performance optimization of decanter centrifuges. In this paper, the influences of the window structure and bowl–conveyor gap on the separation performance are systematically analyzed with the employment of a numerical computation method. The results show that the increase in the window angle and window height will accelerate the flow of the upper layer, while the increase in the bowl–conveyor gap may make particles flow through it directly and further form a solid retention zone. Both of the structural changes will lead to deterioration of the separation performance. On the basis of numerical simulation analysis, a genetic algorithm-based method for multiparameter optimization is proposed in this paper. Parameter optimization shows that bowl speed and feed flow rate have the most significant effects on the separation performance and power consumption. Compared with the minimal specific power in the first generation, the optimized specific power is reduced by 15.7%, and the cake solid content merely decreases by 0.044%.
Acute Hepatic and Renal Toxicity Assessment of Euphorbia huanchahana (Klotzsch & Garcke) Boissier (Huachangana) in Holtzman Rats
Authors: Villafuerte Graciela , Ñañez Daniel , Félix Luis M. , Moya-Salazar Marcia M. , Torres-Véliz Ernesto R. , Ramos Antonio G. , Contreras-Pulache Hans , Moya-Salazar Jeel
Published: June 2022

Background: Euphorbia huachahana (Klotzch & Garcke) Boissier (Huachangana) (EhKGBh) has been used for over a century for medicinal purposes in the Peruvian population; however, its safety and possible toxic effects of use have not been reported. The purpose of this study was to determine the acute hepatic and renal toxicity of EhKGBh in Holtzman rats. Methods: Analytical and experimental study. The population consisted of 52 rats of both sexes weighing between 300 and 350 g divided into four groups: G1 and G2 EhKGBh groups (26 rats each) and two control groups (10 rats each). The experimental group was administered EhKGBh at a single dose of 2000 mg/kg P.O. to demonstrate toxicity during the 14-day follow-up. A daily assessment of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), total bilirubin (TBIL), and conjugated bilirubin (CBIL) was performed. Results: Evaluation of the liver tissue showed mild changes in inflammation, predominantly vascular, with small clots. Kidney tissue did not show inflammatory or necrotic changes. However, we showed differences in the weight of the rats between both groups (p < 0.004) and significant increases in TBIL (0.98–1.07 mg/dL), CBIL (0.43–0.45 mg/dL), AST (126.4–141.8 U/L), and ALP (254–298 U/L) but not ALT (39.7–41.1 U/L) (p < 0.05). Conclusion: The single dose of EhKGBh extract at 2000 mg/kg has no toxicity, and there is no change in tissue toxicity during the 14-day follow-up.
Correction: Almar et al. Sea State from Single Optical Images: A Methodology to Derive Wind-Generated Ocean Waves from Cameras, Drones and Satellites. Remote Sens. 2021, 13, 679
Authors: Almar Rafael , Bergsma Erwin W. J. , Catalan Patricio A. , Cienfuegos Rodrigo , Suarez Leandro , Lucero Felipe , Lerma Alexandre Nicolae , Desmazes Franck , Perugini Eleonora , Palmsten Margaret L. , Chickadel Chris
Published: June 2022

There was an error in the original article [...]
Wavefield Decomposition of Ocean-Bottom Multicomponent Seismic Data with Composite Calibration Filters
Authors: Chu Mingzhi , Yu Pengfei
Published: June 2022

Downgoing/upgoing P/S-wave decomposition of ocean-bottom seismic (OBS) multicomponent data can help suppress the water-layer multiples and cross-talks between P- and S-waves, and therefore plays an important role in seismic migration and construction of P- and S-wave velocity models. We proposed novel composite calibration filters by introducing an additional dimension to the calibration of the particle velocity components, extending the wave-equation-based adaptive decomposition method. We also modified the existing workflow by jointly using primary reflections at near-to-medium offsets and ocean-bottom refractions at far offsets in the calibration optimization. The decomposition scheme with the novel calibration filters yielded satisfactory results in a deep-water OBS field data decomposition example. Expected decomposition effects, such as the enhancement of primary reflections and the attenuation of water-layer multiple events, can be observed in the decomposed upgoing wavefields. An experiment illustrated the effectiveness of composite calibration filters that compensated for unexpected velocity errors along the offset dimension.
Exploring VIIRS Night Light Long-Term Time Series with CNN/SI for Urban Change Detection and Aerosol Monitoring
Authors: Cao Changyong , Zhang Bin , Xia Frank , Bai Yan
Published: June 2022

There is a great need to study the decadal long-term time series of urban night-light changes since the launch of Suomi NPP, NOAA-20, to future JPSS-2, 3, and 4 in the next decades. The recently recalibrated and reprocessed Suomi NPP VIIRS/DNB dataset overcomes a number of limitations in the operational data stream for time series studies. However, new methodologies are desirable to explore the large volume of historical data to reveal long-term socio-economic and environmental changes. In this study, we introduce a novel algorithm using convolutional neural network similarity index (CNN/SI) to rapidly and automatically identify cloud-free observations for selected cities. The derived decadal clear sky mean radiance time series allows us to study the urban night light changes over a long period of time. Our results show that the radiometric changes for some metropolitan areas changed on the order of 29% in the past decade, while others had no appreciable change. The strong seasonal variation in the mean radiance appears to be highly correlated with seasonal aerosol optical thickness. This study will facilitate the use of recalibrated/reprocessed data, and improve our understanding of urban night light changes due to geophysical, climatological, and socio-economic factors.
Densely Residual Network with Dual Attention for Hyperspectral Reconstruction from RGB Images
Authors: Wang Lixia , Sole Aditya , Hardeberg Jon Yngve
Published: June 2022

In the last several years, deep learning has been introduced to recover a hyperspectral image (HSI) from a single RGB image and demonstrated good performance. In particular, attention mechanisms have further strengthened discriminative features, but most of them are learned by convolutions with limited receptive fields or require much computational cost, which hinders the function of attention modules. Furthermore, the performance of these deep learning methods is hampered by tackling multi-level features equally. To this end, in this paper, based on multiple lightweight densely residual modules, we propose a densely residual network with dual attention (DRN-DA), which utilizes advanced attention and adaptive fusion strategy for more efficient feature correlation learning and more powerful feature extraction. Specifically, an SE layer is applied to learn channel-wise dependencies, and dual downsampling spatial attention (DDSA) is developed to capture long-range spatial contextual information. All the intermediate-layer feature maps are adaptively fused. Experimental results on four data sets from the NTIRE 2018 and NTIRE 2020 Spectral Reconstruction Challenges demonstrate the superiority of the proposed DRN-DA over state-of-the-art methods (at least −6.19% and −1.43% on NTIRE 2018 “Clean” track and “Real World” track, −6.85% and −5.30% on NTIRE 2020 “Clean” track and “Real World” track) in terms of mean relative absolute error.