bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effect of Service Priority on the Integrated Continuous Berth Allocation and Quay Crane Assignment Problem after Port Congestion
Authors: Tang Shuang , Xu Sudong , Gao Jianwen , Ma Mengdi , Liao Peng
Published: September 2022

Container seaport congestion is a challenging problem in improving the service level and optimizing evacuating container vessels after congestion. There is a lack of research on container vessel evacuation strategies for continuous terminals. In this article, the weight of the objective function is regarded as the index for the service priority of vessels. The effects of the service priority on the continuous terminal are analyzed by establishing a mixed integer programming model. The model minimizes the total weighted delay departure time of vessels. Two sets of weight values are adopted, including handling volume of each ship and the squared handling volume, then the optimization results are compared with the unweighted scenario. The model is solved using a genetic algorithm. Lianyungang Port is selected as a case study. The results show that the method using the square of handled container volume is more conducive to ensuring the shipping period of large vessels after congestion. Besides, the quay crane number of large vessels affecting the scheduling strategy is discussed. The method proposed in this article provides a new idea for arranging scheduling strategies in other ports under congestion situations, which can better ensure the planned shipping period of large vessels.
Parametarhizium hingganense, a Novel Ectomycorrhizal Fungal Species, Promotes the Growth of Mung Beans and Enhances Resistance to Disease Induced by Rhizoctonia solani
Authors: Gao Ying , Gao Siyu , Bai Yang , Meng Wei , Xu Lijian
Published: September 2022

The mutualistic interactions between mycorrhizae and plants first occurred along with the terrestrialization of plants. The majority of vascular plants are in symbiosis with mycorrhizal fungi. Due to their importance to the economy and ecology, arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) and ectomycorrhizal (ECM) fungi emerge as the most popular ones. However, the mechanism underlying the beneficial function of ECM fungi is not as clear as AM fungi. Here, the interaction between Parametarhizium hingganense, a novel fungal species isolated from forest litter, and mung bean (Vigna radiata) was studied. P. hingganense demonstrated P solubilization ability in vitro. Treatment of P. hingganense on the seeds resulted in promoted growth with enhanced P content. The hyphae of green fluorescence protein (GFP)-tagged P. hingganense were found to surround the roots and develop between cells, suggesting the establishment of an ectomycorrhizal symbiosis. Upon symbiosis with P. hingganense, the levels of jasmonic acid (JA) and gibberellin (GA1) and total phenolic and flavonoid content elevated. Meanwhile, damping off caused by Rhizoctonia solani in mycorrhizal plants was alleviated. Taken together, the above findings suggested that symbiosis with P. hingganense conferred growth promotion and priming of defense responses to host plants which should be associated with facilitated P uptake and increased JA and GA1 levels.
Primary Synovial Sarcoma of the Kidney: Diagnostic Approach and Therapeutic Modalities for a Rare Nosological Entity
Authors: Mastoraki Aikaterini , Schizas Dimitrios , Karavolia Despoina Maria , Smailis Antonios , Machairas Nikolaos , Vailas Michail , Michalinos Adamantios , Tsapralis Dimitrios , Anastasiou Ioannis , Agrogiannis George
Published: September 2022

Synovial sarcoma (SS) is a rare mesenchymal entity that represents 5–10% among soft tissue sarcomas (STS). Primary renal synovial sarcoma (PRSS) is an uncommon, rapidly growing tumor, with potential metastatic dissemination. The main prognostic factors of PRSS include tumor size and histologic grade, while translocation t (X; 18) (p11.2; q11.2) (fusion of SYT gene -chromosome 18- with SSX genes (1, 2 or 4)-chromosome X) is the most common pathognomonic sign. Aggressive surgical resection of the tumor along with concomitant regional lymphadenectomy is the treatment of choice for PRSS, while additional en bloc resection of the adjacent affected organs is often performed. To date, the role of preoperative or postoperative chemotherapy remains equivocal. The prognosis of patients with PRSS is poor, as the 5-year survival rate is only 20–30% and further deteriorates when a high mitotic activity is detected. Local recurrence even after complete R0 surgical excision remains the most frequent cause of death. The aim of this review was to meticulously discuss clinical features, histogenesis, and morphological and immunochemical findings of PRSS, while the role of current diagnostic and therapeutic management of this aggressive neoplasm was emphasized.
CT-Diagnosed Sarcopenia and Cardiovascular Biomarkers in Patients Undergoing Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement: Is It Possible to Predict Muscle Loss Based on Laboratory Tests?—A Multicentric Retrospective Analysis
Authors: Hecht Stefan , Boxhammer Elke , Kaufmann Reinhard , Scharinger Bernhard , Reiter Christian , Kammler Jürgen , Kellermair Jörg , Hammerer Matthias , Blessberger Hermann , Steinwender Clemens , Hoppe Uta C. , Hergan Klaus , Lichtenauer Michael
Published: September 2022

Background: Patients with severe aortic valve stenosis (AS) often present with heart failure and sarcopenia. Sarcopenia, described as progressive degradation of skeletal muscle mass, has frequently been implicated as a cause of increased mortality, prolonged hospitalization and generalized poor outcome after transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). At present, sarcopenia is defined by the European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People (EWGSOP) based on clinical examination criteria and radiological imaging. The aim of the present study was to compare patients with Computed Tomography (CT)-diagnosed sarcopenia with regard to the expression of cardiovascular biomarkers in order to obtain additional, laboratory-chemical information. Methods: A total of 179 patients with severe AS were included in this retrospective study. Sarcopenia was determined via CT by measurement of the psoas muscle area (PMA), which was indexed to body surface area (PMAi). According to previous studies, the lowest tertile was defined as sarcopenic. Patients with (59/179) and without sarcopenia (120/179) in the overall cohort were compared by gender-specific cut-offs with regard to the expression of cardiovascular biomarkers such as brain natriuretic peptide (BNP), soluble suppression of tumorigenicity-2 (sST2), growth/differentiation of factor-15 (GDF-15), heart-type fatty-acid binding protein (H-FABP), insulin like growth factor binding protein 2 (IGF-BP2) and soluble urokinase-type plasminogen activator receptor (suPAR). Additionally, binary logistic regression analyses were calculated to detect possible predictors of the presence of sarcopenia. Results: No statistical differences regarding one-year survival could be detected between sarcopenic and non-sarcopenic patients in survival curves (log rank test p = 0.179). In the entire cohort, only BNP and hemoglobin (HB) showed a statistically significant difference, with only HB emerging as a relevant predictor for the presence of sarcopenia after binary logistic regression analysis (p = 0.015). No relevant difference in biomarker expression could be found in the male cohort. Regarding the female cohort, statistically significant differences were found in BNP, HB and hematocrit (HK). In binary logistic regression, however, none of the investigated criteria could be related to sarcopenia. Conclusion: Regardless of gender, patients with imaging-based muscle degradation did not demonstrate significantly different cardiovascular biomarker expression compared to those without it.
Low Bone Turnover Due to Hypothyroidism or Anti-Resorptive Treatment Does Not Affect Whole-Body Glucose Homeostasis in Male Mice
Authors: Lademann Franziska , Rauner Martina , Bonnet Nicolas , Hofbauer Lorenz C. , Tsourdi Elena
Published: September 2022

Bone is a large and dynamic tissue and its maintenance requires high amounts of energy as old or damaged bone structures need to be replaced during the process of bone remodeling. Glucose homeostasis is an essential prerequisite for a healthy bone and vice versa, the skeleton can act as an endocrine organ on energy metabolism. We recently showed that hypothyroidism in mice leads to an almost complete arrest of bone remodeling. Here, we aimed to investigate whether the profound suppression of bone remodeling affects whole-body glucose homeostasis. To that end, male C57BL/6JRj mice were rendered hypothyroid over 4 weeks using methimazole and sodium perchlorate in the drinking water. We confirmed trabecular bone gain due to decreased bone turnover in hypothyroid mice with decreased cortical but increased vertebral bone strength. Further, we found impaired glucose handling but not insulin resistance with hypothyroidism. In hypothyroid bone, glucose uptake and expression of glucose transporter Glut4 were reduced by 44.3% and 13.9%, respectively, suggesting lower energy demands. Nevertheless, hypothyroidism led to distinct changes in glucose uptake in muscle, liver, and epididymal white adipose tissue (eWAT). Reduced glucose uptake (−30.6%) and Glut1/Glut4 transcript levels (−31.9%/−67.5%) were detected in muscle tissue. In contrast, in liver and eWAT we observed increased glucose uptake by 25.6% and 68.6%, respectively, and upregulated expression of glucose transporters with hypothyroidism. To more specifically target bone metabolism and discriminate between the skeletal and systemic effects of hypothyroidism on energy metabolism, male mice were treated with zoledronate (ZOL), a bisphosphonate, that led to decreased bone turnover, trabecular bone gain, and reduced local glucose uptake into bone (−40.4%). However, ZOL-treated mice did not display alterations of systemic glucose handling nor insulin tolerance. Despite the close mutual crosstalk of bone and glucose metabolism, in this study, we show that suppressing bone remodeling does not influence whole-body glucose homeostasis in male mice.
Integrated Influencing Mechanism of Potential Drivers on Seasonal Variability of LST in Kolkata Municipal Corporation, India
Authors: Bera Dipankar , Das Chatterjee Nilanjana , Mumtaz Faisal , Dinda Santanu , Ghosh Subrata , Zhao Na , Bera Sudip , Tariq Aqil
Published: September 2022

Increasing land surface temperature (LST) is one of the major anthropogenic issues and is significantly threatening the urban areas of the world. Therefore, this study was designed to examine the spatial variations and patterns of LST during the different seasons in relation to influencing factors in Kolkata Municipality Corporation (KMC), a city of India. The spatial distribution of LST was analyzed regarding the different surface types and used 25 influencing factors from 6 categories of variables to explain the variability of LST during the different seasons. All-subset regression and hierarchical partitioning analyses were used to estimate the explanatory potential and independent effects of influencing factors. The results show that high and low LST corresponded to the artificial lands and bodies of water for all seasons. In the individual category regression model, surface properties gave the highest explanatory rate for all seasons. The explanatory rates and the combination of influencing factors with their independent effects on the LST were changed for the different seasons. The explanatory rates of integration of all influencing factors were 89.4%, 81.4%, and 88.7% in the summer, transition, and winter season, respectively. With the decreasing of LST (summer to transition, then to winter) more influencing factors were required to explain the LST. In the integrated regression model, surface properties were the most important factor in summer and winter, and landscape configuration was the most important factor in the transition season. LST is not the result of single categories of influencing factors. Along with the effects of surface properties, socio-economic parameters, landscape compositions and configurations, topographic parameters and pollutant parameters mostly explained the variability of LST in the transition (11.22%) and summer season (15.22%), respectively. These findings can help to take management strategies to reduce urban LST based on local planning.
Analysis of the Influences of Ecological Compensation Projects on Transfer Employment of Rural Labor from the Perspective of Capability
Authors: Gong Jing , Du Hongyan , Wang Zhi
Published: September 2022

As an environmental policy that directly brings economic benefits to farmers, ecological compensation should achieve the dual goals of ecological environmental protection and rural poverty reduction. With the implementation of various ecological compensation projects, a large number of studies began to focus on the impact of ecological compensation projects on rural labor transfer employment. However, most of the existing studies focus on a specific project and fail to consider a comparative analysis of different types of projects. Therefore, this study used the survey data of 1279 rural laborers in the Yanqing District of Beijing to analyze the impact of different types of ecological compensation projects on the transfer employment of rural labor from the perspective of self-development capacity. The results show that post-based ecological compensation projects provide a low quality of posts and weaken the initiative of participants to further expand their employment channels. Land-based projects downsize agricultural production and reduce the agricultural production activities of participants, without significantly increasing their likelihood of transfer employment. In the long run, the current implementation of ecological compensation projects may cause problems regarding labor surpluses and land restoration. This study has certain practical application value and practical guiding significance for further improving the design of ecological compensation mechanisms.
Differences and Drivers of Urban Resilience in Eight Major Urban Agglomerations: Evidence from China
Authors: Huang Jie , Sun Zimin , Du Minzhe
Published: September 2022

This paper constructs an evaluation indicator system for urban resilience in China on four dimensions—economy, environment, society, and infrastructure. The evaluation indicator is used by the entropy weight method to measure the resilience levels of 138 cities in 8 urban agglomerations from 2005 to 2018. Using the Theil index and variance decomposition method, we explore the size and sources of urban resilience differences among the eight urban agglomerations from the dual perspectives of space and structure and employ geographic detectors to identify the driving factors behind their differences. The results show that although the overall resilience level of the eight urban agglomerations is not high, it shows an upward trend. The differences within the eight urban agglomerations are the main spatial sources of urban resilience differences and economic resilience is the main structural source of urban resilience differences. Moreover, economic resilience and social resilience have the greatest contribution and driving effect on the resilience differences of BTH, YRD, PRD, MYR, CC, GP, and HC urban agglomerations, but the difference in resilience of CP is mainly caused by the difference in infrastructure resilience. Compared with the single factor, the impact of the interaction of each factor is even greater.
The Endogenous Development Mechanism of the Baiyankeng Geocultural Village in China
Authors: Zhao Wenqi , Morimoto Takehiro
Published: September 2022

This study aims to clarify a new endogenous model of geocultural villages by examining land use change, industrial transformation, and their impacts on rural society and the economy of Baiyankeng village, Zhejiang Province, China. This empirical study focuses on the actions of residents and their effects after Baiyankeng was registered as the pilot geocultural village in China. To address the dual configuration of urban/rural areas and three-dimensional rural issues, the Chinese government released a set of policies for rural vitalization in the early 2000s, which included the establishment and promotion of geocultural villages in 2013. This study found that the local leadership—the township government and the village committee—played a significant role in leveraging the unique geological resources of the village. They aggressively pitched for Baiyankeng village to be recognized as the first-ever geocultural village, and successfully established an effective model of self-governance that empowered villagers to actively and enthusiastically participate in the process. By doing so, they successfully created a booming tourism industry while boosting local production of Chinese Torreya nuts and green tea. From the perspective of the land system in China, the mechanism of geocultural villages (henceforth known as rural geoparks) in this study shows new endogeneities of rural vitalization in China.
Land Subsidence Detection in the Coastal Plain of Tabasco, Mexico Using Differential SAR Interferometry
Authors: Pérez-Falls Zenia , Martínez-Flores Guillermo , Sarychikhina Olga
Published: September 2022

Land subsidence (LS) increases flood vulnerability in coastal areas, coastal plains, and river deltas. The coastal plain of Tabasco (TCP) has been the scene of recurring floods, which caused economic and social damage. Hydrocarbon extraction is the main economic activity in the TCP and could be one of the causes of LS in this region. This study aimed to investigate the potential of differential SAR interferometric techniques for LS detection in the TCP. For this purpose, Sentinel-1 SLC descending and ascending images from the 2018–2019 period were used. Conventional DInSAR, together with the differential interferograms stacking (DIS) approach, was applied. The causes of interferometric coherence degradation were analyzed. In addition, Sentinel-1 GRD images were used for delimitation of areas recurrently affected by floods. Based on the results of the interferometric processing, several subsiding zones were detected. The results indicate subsidence rates of up to −6 cm/yr in the urban centers of Villahermosa, Paraíso, Comalcalco, and other localities. The results indicate the possibility of an influence of LS on the flood vulnerability of the area south of Villahermosa city. They also suggest a possible relationship between hydrocarbon extraction and surface deformation.
Spatial Structure and Corridor Construction of Intangible Cultural Heritage: A Case Study of the Ming Great Wall
Authors: Lin Feiyang , Zhang Xuan , Ma Zhiyao , Zhang Yifu
Published: September 2022

Exploring the spatial structure of intangible cultural heritage (ICH) and constructing heritage corridors are conducive to the adaptive reuse of heritage and the improvement of the surviving environment, which is of great significance to the living inheritance of ICH. Guided by the concept of the heritage corridor, this study took the ICH along the Ming Great Wall as the research object. Kernel density estimation and a standard deviation ellipse analysis were used to explore the spatial structure and then combined with a suitability analysis of heritage corridors to further explore the spatial locations of corridors. A multifactor spatial superposition was carried out with the minimal cumulative resistance (MCR) method. The resistance factors, including land use type, elevation, slope, road system, river system, and the heritage corridors, were constructed. The results show that: (1) ICH along the Ming Great Wall forms a spatial pattern of “three cores and one belt”. The high-density core areas exist in Beijing and Liaoning, and the secondary core areas exist in northern Ningxia and southwestern Inner Mongolia. This results from the joint action of the natural, economic, and social environment. (2) On the whole, all kinds of ICH are distributed from southwest to northeast, among which folk art is particularly obvious. (3) The distribution trend of suitability is “high in the east and low in the west”. The high-suitability areas are mainly concentrated in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei and Liaoning regions, while the low-suitability areas are concentrated in Gansu, Ningxia, and northern Inner Mongolia. Finally, this study discusses the appropriate development mode of the heritage corridors of the Ming Great Wall from the macrolevel to the mesolevel.
Quality Evaluation and Obstacle Identification of Human Settlements in the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau Based on Multi-Source Data
Authors: Wei Hejie , Gao Yingying , Han Qing , Li Ling , Dong Xiaobin , Liu Mengxue , Meng Qingxiang
Published: September 2022

The unique high/cold environment of the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau (QTP) limits the natural distribution of the population living there and threatens local residents’ health. Thus, exploring the quality of human settlements in this area is of great significance. In this study, 5 first-level indicators and 25 second-level indicators were initially selected, and the entropy TOPSIS method was used to determine the weight of each indicator and evaluate the quality of the human settlements in each county of the QTP. Then, the coefficient of variation and spatial autocorrelation were used to analyze the spatial differences in human settlement quality. Finally, the obstacle degree model was used to identify those obstacles that affect the quality of the human settlements in the QTP. This study has gathered important findings. (1) The human settlement quality in these counties can be divided into 18 high-level areas, 45 mid- and high-level areas, 44 mid-level areas, 79 mid- and low-level areas, and 28 low-level areas. (2) In terms of spatial patterns, the north is higher than the south, the east is slightly higher than the west, and the surrounding area is higher than the interior. (3) In the clustering model, the high–high clustering trend is mainly concentrated in the north of the QTP, whereas the south-central part of the QTP and the zone where Tibet, Qinghai, and Sichuan meet exhibit obvious low–low clustering. (4) The variability of human settlement quality occurs in the order of Sichuan < Yunnan < Gansu < Xinjiang Autonomous Region < Tibet Autonomous Region < Qinghai. (5) The main first-level obstacles affecting human settlement quality in the counties of the QTP are living conditions, construction level of public service facilities, and infrastructure. The main second-level obstacles are the number of living service facilities, the number of residential districts, and the density of the road networks.
Urban Land Expansion Dynamics and Drivers in Peri-Urban Areas of China: A Case of Xiaoshan District, Hangzhou Metropolis (1985–2020)
Authors: Chen Yufan , He Yong
Published: September 2022

China has seen a transition from impulsive industrial development-driven urban expansion to urban planning and government control since the start of the 21st century. Urban planning attempts to ensure the sustainable development of cities and the rational use of land resources. The dual-track urbanization process does, however, often result in a significant gap between planning and actual development. This paper contends that a comprehensive dual-track urbanization research perspective is better suited for investigating urban sprawl in peri-urban areas in post-reform market economy-active regions. Taking Xiaoshan District, the peri-urban area of Hangzhou, China, as a case study, this research utilizes land use raster data from 1985, 2000, 2010, and 2020 to identify the dynamic changes in urban construction land and examines the driving elements through the logistic regression model. Based on the results, the mechanisms of market-incented and government-controlled impacts on urban expansion are explained. This study aims to (1) analyze the spatial and temporal patterns of Xiaoshan’s urban expansion during 1985–2020; (2) compare the compositional characteristics of three types of urban growth (edge growth, infilling, and leapfrog development) in each phase of Xiaoshan; (3) identify the natural environment, accessibility factors, and socioeconomic aspects that promote Xiaoshan’s urban expansion in 2000–2020; (4) discuss Xiaoshan’s dual-track urbanization from four perspectives: regional development, private business, government control, and major events. This study advanced our knowledge of the driving mechanisms of urban land expansion in small towns, from peri-urban areas to metropolitan sub-centers, and, thus, has important implications for Chinese urban planning and the management of metropolitan suburbs, especially those located in the Yangtze River Delta.
Early Emergence of Agreement in Yucatec Maya Sign Language
Authors: Le Guen Olivier
Published: September 2022

In many sign languages, space is used to express grammatical features. However, verb agreement in space is noticeably slow to appear in emerging sign languages. Many reasons have been proposed to explain this delay or even absence: the reduced size of the community, the recent creation of the sign language and the lack of exposure to a fully formed language. To examine the way space is used to express agreement in Yucatec Maya Sign Language (YMSL), a new signed language from the peninsula of Yucatán (Mexico), a task was conducted using video stimuli created to elicit ditransitive constructions showing transfer events, such as events of giving or taking. Results show that agreement is present early in YMSL, even from the first generation of deaf signers. While many signers used single agreement constructions, the second generation of deaf children systematically employed double agreement constructions, placing them on the high end of the evolutionary path proposed for verb agreement in sign languages. I argue that cultural habits of the surrounding community, namely the preference for a geocentric frame of reference among Yucatec Maya speakers, is what facilitates the early emergence of the use of space to express agreement in YMSL.
Identification and Validation of Reference Genes for Expression Analysis in Nitrogen-Fixing Bacteria under Environmental Stress
Authors: Parks Dylan , Peterson Christian , Chang Woo-Suk
Published: September 2022

Reference genes, also referred to as housekeeping genes (HKGs), play an important role in gene expression analysis by serving as an internal control. These HKGs are usually involved in basic cellular functions and their expression should remain at relatively constant levels. Quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) has been used to measure gene expression. Since the normalization of gene expression data depends on baseline expression of HKGs, it is important to identify and verify true HKGs for the qRT-PCR analysis. The goal of this study is to identify and confirm HKGs in Bradyrhizobium diazoefficiens, a nitrogen fixing bacterium which forms a symbiotic relationship with soybean. By revealing such HKGs, the normalization of gene expression would be more robust, reliable, and consistent. Here, we analyzed previous gene expression data for B. diazoefficiens under multiple environmental conditions. As a result, we identified seven constitutively expressed genes among 8453 genes across all conditions. Their fold-change values were within a range of −1.25-fold < x < 1.25-fold. We adopted GeNorm, NormFinder, and comparative ∆Ct methods to rank the seven candidate genes based on their expression stability. To validate these potential HKGs, we measured their expression in various experimental conditions, such as heat, pH, and heavy metal stress. The HKGs that were found in B. diazoefficiens were also applied in closely related species by identifying their homologs.
MPP7 as a Novel Biomarker of Esophageal Cancer: MPP7 Knockdown Inhibits Esophageal Cancer Cell Migration and Invasion
Authors: Li Zhaodong , Tang Yongyao , Cai Jing , Wu Shunlong , Song Fangzhou
Published: September 2022

MAGUK p55 scaffold protein 7 (MPP7) is a member of the stardust family of membrane-associated guanosine kinase protein P55 and plays a role in the establishment of epithelial cell polarity. However, its potential implication in human esophageal cancer is unclear. In this study, we investigated the expression profile of MPP7 and its functional impact on esophagus cancer. Expression analyses of immunohistochemical microarrays with survival and prognostic information of 103 patients with esophageal cancer demonstrated that MPP7 was overexpressed in 52 patients, who showed poor survival rates. The transcriptional expression of MPP7 in esophageal cancer in TCGA database increased successively from normal epithelial, to esophageal adenocarcinoma, to esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. Transcriptome sequencing after MPP7 knockdown in esophageal carcinoma cells showed that wound-healing-associated proteins were down-regulated, and the TGF-β pathway was one of the important signaling pathways. A loss-of-function study showed that the knockdown of MPP7 inhibited cell migration and invasion. These results could be verified in a model of tumor cells injected into the tail vein and subcutaneous tumor of nude mice. Herein, our results indicated that MPP7 could have an oncogenic role in human esophagus cancer, thus demonstrating its potential as a novel biomarker for the diagnosis and/or treatment of esophagus cancer.
Assessment of Pharmacological Potential of Novel Exopolysaccharide Isolated from Marine Kocuria sp. Strain AG5: Broad-Spectrum Biological Investigations
Authors: Alshawwa Samar Zuhair , Alshallash Khalid S. , Ghareeb Ahmed , Elazzazy Ahmed M. , Sharaf Mohamed , Alharthi Afaf , Abdelgawad Fathy Elsayed , El-Hossary Dalia , Jaremko Mariusz , Emwas Abdul-Hamid , Helmy Yosra A.
Published: September 2022

With more than 17 clinically approved Drugs and over 20 prodrugs under clinical investigations, marine bacteria are believed to have a potential supply of innovative therapeutic bioactive compounds. In the current study, Kocuria sp. strain AG5 isolated from the Red Sea was identified and characterized by biochemical and physiological analysis, and examination of a phylogenetic 16S rRNA sequences. Innovative exopolysaccharide (EPS) was separated from the AG5 isolate as a major fraction of EPS (EPSR5, 6.84 g/L−1). The analysis of EPSR5 revealed that EPSR5 has a molecular weight (Mw) of 4.9 × 104 g/mol and number average molecular weight (Mn) of 5.4 × 104 g/mol and contains sulfate (25.6%) and uronic acid (21.77%). Analysis of the monosaccharide composition indicated that the EPSR5 fraction composes of glucose, galacturonic acid, arabinose, and xylose in a molar ratio of 2.0:0.5:0.25:1.0, respectively. Assessment of the pharmacological potency of EPSR5 was explored by examining its cytotoxicity, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anti-acetylcholine esterase influences. The antioxidant effect of EPSR5 was dose- and time-dependently increased and the maximum antioxidant activity (98%) was observed at 2000 µg/mL after 120 min. Further, EPSR5 displayed a significant repressive effect regarding the proliferation of HepG-2, A-549, HCT-116, MCF7, HEP2, and PC3 cells with IC50 453.46 ± 21.8 µg/mL, 873.74 ± 15.4 µg/mL, 788.2 ± 32.6 µg/mL, 1691 ± 44.2 µg/mL, 913.1 ± 38.8 µg/mL, and 876.4 ± 39.8 µg/mL, respectively. Evaluation of the inhibitory activity of the anti-inflammatory activity of EPSR5 indicated that EPSR5 has a significant inhibitory activity toward lipoxygenase (5-LOX) and cyclooxygenase (COX-2) activities (IC50 15.39 ± 0.82 µg/mL and 28.06 ± 1.1 µg/mL, respectively). Finally, ESPR5 presented a substantial hemolysis suppressive action with an IC50 of 65.13 ± 0.89 µg /mL, and a considerable inhibitory activity toward acetylcholine esterase activity (IC50 797.02 μg/mL). Together, this study reveals that secondary metabolites produced by Kocuria sp. strain AG5 marine bacteria serve as an important source of pharmacologically active compounds, and their impact on human health is expected to grow with additional global work and research.
Activated Carbon Nano-Particles from Recycled Polymers Waste as a Novel Nano-Additive to Grease Lubrication
Authors: Nassef Mohamed G. A. , Hassan Hassan Shokry , Nassef Galal A. , Nassef Belal Galal , Soliman Mina , Elkady Marwa F.
Published: September 2022

A worldwide growing trend is dedicated towards reducing carbon dioxide emissions from mechanical systems in different industries. One key factor under focus of research is to decrease energy losses in rotating machinery during operation by improving lubrication performance. This paper presents a novel grease nano-additive using activated carbon (AC) as a byproduct from recycled polymer waste. Five different concentrations of AC nanoparticles (ACNPs) are added to lithium grease to obtain blends containing 0.025 wt.%, 0.05 wt.%, 0.1 wt.%, 0.5 wt.%, and 1 wt.%. The tribological assessment of blends has been performed using a four-ball wear test and load carrying capacity test. The obtained results for blends are compared to samples of base grease and to blends with 2 wt.% reduced graphene oxide (rGO). Test results showed a remarkable enhancement of load carrying capacity of AC samples by 20–30% as compared to base grease. By observing wear scar in rolling elements, the ACNPs lowered the average wear scar diameter (WSD) for all samples by 30–36%. Base grease samples showed the highest coefficient of friction (COF) values between 0.15 and 0.17. These values are reduced to 0.03 and 0.06 for grease with ACNPs reaching their minimum in the case of 1 wt.% AC. These outcomes are found consistent with the enhancements in driving power saving values. The results proved the competitiveness and suitability of the AC as a recycled waste and nano-additive for improving the tribological performance of grease lubrication.
Dichloro{4-(4-chlorophenoxy)phthalazin-1-yl} methylphosphonic dichloride
Authors: Amrane Dyhia , Khoumeri Omar , Vanelle Patrice , Primas Nicolas
Published: September 2022

As part of our ongoing scaffold-hopping work on an antiplasmodial 2-trichloromethylquinazoline scaffold, we aimed to explore the 1-trichloromethylphthalazine scaffold as a potential new antimalarial series. Using previously chlorination conditions described by our lab to obtain a trichloromethyl group from a methyl group, we did not obtain the target compound; instead, we obtained a dichloro methylphosphonic dichloride side product 3. The nature of this compound was then characterized by NMR, HRMS and X-ray crystallography. The same issue was previously reported by Kato et al., starting from the 2-methyl-3-nitropyridine. Finally, compound 3, although not cytotoxic, was not active against P. falciparum, the parasite responsible for human malaria.
Synthesis of Bisoxazole and Bromo-substituted Aryloxazoles
Authors: Kotha Sambasivarao , Cheekatla Subba Rao
Published: September 2022

Herein, we report a bisoxazole derivative as well as a bromo-substituted oxazole derivatives via a simple approach. The synthesis begins with an inexpensive and readily available starting material, such as 2,5-dimethoxybenzaldehyde, hydroquinone, and p-toluenesulfonylmethyl isocyanide (TosMIC). This approach relies on the Van Leusen oxazole method and electrophilic aromatic bromination. The structures of bisoxazole and bromosubstituted aryloxazoles were fully supported by spectroscopic methods (IR, NMR, and HRMS) and further established using single crystal X-ray diffraction studies.
An Innovation of the Markov Probability Model for Predicting the Remaining Service Life of Civil Airport Rigid Pavements
Authors: Wei Baoli , Guo Chengchao , Deng Miaoyi
Published: September 2022

In view of the time series update of airport runway health status detection data, the Markov chain of stochastic process theory was adopted. Considering the influence of aircraft traffic load, age, and pavement structure surface-layer thickness on the performance deterioration process of airport runways, the method of survival analysis was used. The parameter model of survival analysis was used to establish the duration function model of the four condition states of the airport runway PCI (pavement condition index). The Markov transition matrix for the performance prediction of airport runways was constructed. In order to evaluate the ability of the Markov transition matrix method to predict the trend of deterioration for PCI of the airport runway under different conditions of aircraft traffic volume and thickness of the runway pavement surface, a data set was constructed with the actual inspection data of the airport runway, and the corresponding samples were selected for analysis. The results showed that a Markov transition matrix for airport runway performance prediction, constructed based on survival analysis theory, can combine discontinuous inspection data or monitoring data with Weibull function survival curves. The method proposed in this paper can quantitatively predict the remaining service life of airport runways and provide support for cost-effective decisions about airport pavement maintenance and rehabilitation.
Elements of Designing Upholstered Furniture Sandwich Frames Using Finite Element Method
Authors: Matwiej Łukasz , Wieruszewski Marek , Wiaderek Krzysztof , Pałubicki Bartosz
Published: September 2022

This paper presents an approach to the design of an upholstered furniture frame using the finite element method and empirical studies. Three-dimensional discrete models of upholstered furniture frames were developed taking into account orthotropic properties of solid pine wood (Pinus sylvestris L.) without and with details strengthening their structure in the form of glue joints and upholstery staples. Using the CAE Autodesk Inventor Nastran finite element method, linear static analyses were performed by simulating normative loading. The finite element method was performed considering the experimentally determined stiffness coefficients of the PCAC adhesive and staple joints. As a result, stress, displacement, and equivalent strain distributions were obtained for upholstered furniture frame models with stapled corner joints. The deformation and strength behavior of the upholstered furniture frames was improved by reinforcing with a wood strip. A new approach to the design of upholstered furniture frame frames using the FEM method with stapled component connections was developed and tested. The results of the study can be applied in the optimization of upholstered furniture construction.
Zirconolite Polytypes and Murataite Polysomes in Matrices for the REE—Actinide Fraction of HLW
Authors: Yudintsev Sergey V. , Nickolsky Maximilian S. , Ojovan Michael I. , Stefanovsky Olga I. , Nikonov Boris S. , Ulanova Amina S.
Published: September 2022

Electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) has been used for more than 30 years for analyzing the structure of minerals and artificial substances. In recent times, EBSD has been widely applied for investigation of irradiated nuclear fuel and matrices for the immobilization of radioactive waste. The combination of EBSD and scanning electron microscopy (SEM/EDS) methods allows researchers to obtain simultaneously data on a specimen’s local composition and structure. The article discusses the abilities of SEM/EDS and EBSD techniques to identify zirconolite polytype modifications and members of the polysomatic murataite–pyrochlore series in polyphase ceramic matrices, with simulations of Pu (Th) and the REE-actinide fraction (Nd) of high-level radioactive waste.
A Novel Method for Carbendazim High-Sensitivity Detection Based on the Combination of Metamaterial Sensor and Machine Learning
Authors: Yang Ruizhao , Li Yun , Zheng Jincun , Qiu Jie , Song Jinwen , Xu Fengxia , Qin Binyi
Published: September 2022

Benzimidazole fungicide residue in food products poses a risk to consumer health. Due to its localized electric-field enhancement and high-quality factor value, the metamaterial sensor is appropriate for applications regarding food safety detection. However, the previous detection method based on the metamaterial sensor only considered the resonance dip shift. It neglected other information contained in the spectrum. In this study, we proposed a method for highly sensitive detection of benzimidazole fungicide using a combination of a metamaterial sensor and mean shift machine learning method. The unit cell of the metamaterial sensor contained a cut wire and two split-ring resonances. Mean shift, an unsupervised machine learning method, was employed to analyze the THz spectrum. The experiment results show that our proposed method could detect carbendazim concentrations as low as 0.5 mg/L. The detection sensitivity was enhanced 200 times compared to that achieved using the metamaterial sensor only. Our present work demonstrates a potential application of combining a metamaterial sensor and mean shift in benzimidazole fungicide residue detection.
Design Solutions for Slender Bars with Variable Cross-Sections to Increase the Critical Buckling Force
Authors: Botis Marius Florin , Cerbu Camelia
Published: September 2022

In large metal civil constructions (stadium roofs, bridges), slender bars can lose their stability under compression loading. There is a lack in the literature regarding design solutions and methods for increasing the critical buckling force of bars with variable cross-sections. The aim of this research is to present a numerical model with finite elements used for a comparative analysis of increasing the critical force of stability loss in cases of (i) bars with stepwise variation in the cross-sections and (ii) bars with continuous variation in the moment of inertia along the bar axis (parabolic, sinusoidal, triangular, and trapezoidal variation). Considering the large-scale applications in civil engineering, bars that were pin-connected at one end and simple-supported at the other end were analyzed. Firstly, the analytical model was described to compute the critical buckling force for bars with stepwise variation in the cross-sections. Then, a finite element model for a slender bar and the assumptions considered were presented. The results were computed using the MATLAB program based on the numerical model proposed and were validated with the analytical model for stepwise variable cross-sections of the bars. The numerical model was adapted for bars with continuous variation in the moment of inertia along the bar axis. It was shown that, by trapezoidal variation in the second moment of inertia along the axis of a bar, i.e., as buckling occurred in the elastic field, the critical buckling force could be increased by 3.556 times compared to a bar with a constant section. It was shown that there was certain bar with stepwise variation in the cross-section for which the critical buckling force was approximately equal to the one obtained for the bar with sinusoidal variation in the moment of inertia (increased by 3.427 times compared to a bar with a constant section).
Microstructure and Key Properties of Phosphogypsum-Red Mud-Slag Composite Cementitious Materials
Authors: Ma Feiyue , Chen Liangliang , Lin Zhiwei , Liu Zhuo , Zhang Weichuan , Guo Rongxin
Published: September 2022

Due to the low content of silicon and aluminum in red mud and the low reaction activity of red mud, when it was used to prepare composite cementitious materials, it was necessary to assist other aluminosilicates and improve their activity by certain methods. In this study, it was proposed to add slag to increase the percentage of silicon and aluminum in the system, and to improve the reactivity of the system through the activation effect of sulfate in phosphogypsum. The effects of slag and phosphogypsum contents on the mechanical properties and microstructures of composite cementitious materials were studied. X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD), thermogravimetric analysis (TG-DTG), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were used to analyze the effects of slag and phosphogypsum contents on the hydration products, microstructure, and strength formation mechanism of composite cementitious materials. The results show that with the increase of slag, the strength of the composite cementitious material increases gradually. When the slag content is 50%, the 28-day compressive strength reaches a maximum of about 14 MPa. Compared with the composite material without phosphogypsum, the composite cementitious material with 10–20% phosphogypsum showed higher strength properties, in which the 28-day compressive strength exceeds 24 MPa. The main reason for this is that the sulfate in phosphogypsum can cause the composite cementitious material to generate a large amount of ettringite and accelerate the dissolution of red mud and slag, increasing the release of aluminates, silicates, and Ca2+ to form more C-(A)-S-H and ettringite. In addition, a large amount of C-(A)-S-H makes ettringite and unreacted particles combine into a uniform and compact structure, thus improving the strength. When the content of phosphogypsum exceeds 40%, the 28-day compressive strength of the composite cementitious material drops below 12 MPa due to the presence of fewer hydration products and the expansion of ettringite.
Experimental Investigation and Comparative Analysis of Aluminium Hybrid Metal Matrix Composites Reinforced with Silicon Nitride, Eggshell and Magnesium
Authors: Mohan Dhanenthiran , Chinnasamy Balamurugan , Naganathan Senthil Kumar , Nagaraj Nagaprasad , Jule LetaTesfaye , Badassa Bayissa , Ramaswamy Krishnaraj , Kathirvel Parthiban , Murali Gunasekaran , Vatin Nikolai Ivanovich
Published: September 2022

In today’s scenario, composite materials play a vital role in automobile, aerospace, and defence sectors because of their higher strength, light weight and other mechanical properties. Aluminium alloy Al6082 is a medium strength alloy with good corrosion resistance properties; hence, it is used for high-stress applications, bridges, cranes, etc. The present work focuses on comparing the mechanical properties of Al6082 and Al6082 with the addition of silicon nitride, magnesium, and bio waste of eggshells. Samples of Al6082 reinforced with 2% of silicon nitride (Si3N4), 5% of eggshell, and 1% magnesium reinforcements were prepared using the crucible casting process. Mechanical properties were evaluated through hardness test, tensile test and compressive tests, which varied with the additives of reinforcement materials. The results showed that the reinforced materials could increase mechanical properties. Further, it will be analysed by the machining parameters involved through the CNC turning process. Analysis of variance from optimisation technique shows a noteworthy increment of material removal rate (MRR) and significant decrement in surface roughness (Ra) and machining time compared to standard aluminium. Additionally, the analysis of mechanical testing has been predicted with the outcomes of stresses and displacements using the ANSYS platform.
Adsorption Effect and Adsorption Mechanism of High Content Zeolite Ceramsite on Asphalt VOCs
Authors: Chen Wei , Zhao Hui , Xue Yongjie , Chang Xiwen
Published: September 2022

In order to meet the requirements of industrial-scale fixed beds and develop an excellent adsorbent for asphalt VOCs. Zeolite ceramsite containing binder was prepared and successfully applied to the inhibition of asphalt VOCs. The results showed that prepared zeolite ceramsite possessed a high degree of crystallinity, and its main crystal phase is zeolite. The micropores with a pore size of 0.88 nm dominated the pore size distribution of the material. The adsorption experiment of asphalt VOCs showed a lower VOCs adsorption effect of 8.72% at a small dosage of 5%, while at a large dosage of 50%, the adsorption effect of VOCs exceeded 45%. This might be caused by the quite small external specific surface area, which occupied only 8.3% of the total specific surface area, and the low intraparticle diffusion coefficient due to the micropores. Meanwhile, the kinetics diameters of most aromatic hydrocarbons, which were comparable to the pore size of micropores, and the increase in the intraparticle diffusion resistance of aliphatic hydrocarbon molecules were the important factors in obtaining high adsorption of aromatic hydrocarbons in asphalt VOCs. Furthermore, the results indicated that the particulate adsorbent with a microporous structure should be mixed into the asphalt as a fine aggregate rather than an asphalt modifier for better asphalt VOCs adsorption effect.