bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Transition-Metal-Oxide-Based Nanozymes for Antitumor Applications
Authors: Sun Huilin , Bai Yang , Zhao Donghui , Wang Jianhao , Qiu Lin
Published: June 2024

Transition metal oxide (TMO)-based nanozymes have appeared as hopeful tools for antitumor applications due to their unique catalytic properties and ability to modulate the tumor microenvironment (TME). The purpose of this review is to provide an overview of the latest progress made in the field of TMO-based nanozymes, focusing on their enzymatic activities and participating metal ions. These nanozymes exhibit catalase (CAT)-, peroxidase (POD)-, superoxide dismutase (SOD)-, oxidase (OXD)-, and glutathione oxidase (GSH-OXD)-like activities, enabling them to regulate reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels and glutathione (GSH) concentrations within the TME. Widely studied transition metals in TMO-based nanozymes include Fe, Mn, Cu, Ce, and the hybrid multimetallic oxides, which are also summarized. The review highlights several innovative nanozyme designs and their multifunctional capabilities. Despite the significant progress in TMO-based nanozymes, challenges such as long-term biosafety, targeting precision, catalytic mechanisms, and theoretical supports remain to be addressed, and these are also discussed. This review contributes to the summary and understanding of the rapid development of TMO-based nanozymes, which holds great promise for advancing nanomedicine and improving cancer treatment.
Effect of Electrochemical Aryl Diazonium Salt Modification on Interfacial Properties of CF/PEEK Composites
Authors: Sun Mingchen , Li Xuekuan , Liu Hansong , Huang Chengyu , Wang Kai , Zhao Yan
Published: June 2024

The interfacial properties between carbon fiber (CF) and thermoplastic resin are relatively weak, which can be problematic for composites in structural applications. Improving the surface roughness of CF is regarded as an effective way to enhance the interface of composites. However, most CF modifying methods are complex and time-consuming, which cannot meet the demand for industrial production. Therefore, it is of great significance to research a fast technique of CF surface modification to strengthen the interface of composites. Herein, a one-pot reaction based on the aryl diazonium salt modification was applied to enhance the interface between CF and poly ether ether ketone (PEEK) resin. Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) were linked to CF by p-phenylenediamine (PPD) via cyclic voltammetry (CV). The surface morphology, chemical characteristics and surface energy of modified CF illustrated the effectiveness of this method, and the interfacial properties of as-prepared modified CF/PEEK demonstrated the increased tendency. All the CF was treated within 5 min and the interfacial shear strength (IFSS) of CF/PEEK was increased to the maximum of 99.62 MPa by aryl diazonium salt modification. This work may shed some light on the industrialized application of CF reinforced high-performance engineering thermoplastic composites.
The Behavior of Long Thin Rectangular Plates under Normal Pressure—A Thorough Investigation
Authors: Hakim Gilad , Abramovich Haim
Published: June 2024

Thin rectangular plates are considered basic structures in various sectors like aerospace, civil, and mechanical engineering. Moreover, isotropic and laminated composite plates subjected to transverse normal loading and undergoing small and large deflections have been extensively studied and published in the literature. Yet, it seems that the particular case of long thin plates having a high aspect ratio appears to be almost ignored by various scholars despite its engineering importance. The present study tries to fill this gap, yielding novel findings regarding the structural behavior of long thin plates in the small- and large-deflection regimes. In contrast to what is normally assumed in the literature, namely that a long plate with a high aspect ratio can be considered an infinitely long plate, the present results clearly show that the structural effects of the ends continue to exist near the remote ends of the long plate. An innovative finding is that long plates would (only on movable boundary conditions for the large-deflection regime) exhibit a larger mid-width displacement in comparison with deflections of infinitely long plates. This innovative higher deflection appears for both small and large-deflection regimes for both all-around simply supported and all-around clamped boundary conditions. This new finding was shown to be valid for both isotropic and orthotropic materials and presents a novel engineering approach for the old assumption well quoted in the literature that a relatively long plate on any boundary condition can be considered an infinite plate. Based on the present research, it is recommended that this assumption should be used carefully as the largest plate mid-deflection might occur at finite aspect ratios.
Advancing Predictive Maintenance with PHM-ML Modeling: Optimal Covariate Weight Estimation and State Band Definition under Multi-Condition Scenarios
Authors: Godoy David R. , Mavrakis Constantino , Mena Rodrigo , Kristjanpoller Fredy , Viveros Pablo
Published: June 2024

The proportional hazards model (PHM) is a vital statistical procedure for condition-based maintenance that integrates age and covariates monitoring to estimate asset health and predict failure risks. However, when dealing with multi-covariate scenarios, the PHM faces interpretability challenges when it lacks coherent criteria for defining each covariate’s influence degree on the hazard rate. Hence, we proposed a comprehensive machine learning (ML) formulation with Interior Point Optimizer and gradient boosting to maximize and converge the logarithmic likelihood for estimating covariate weights, and a K-means and Gaussian mixture model (GMM) for condition state bands. Using real industrial data, this paper evaluates both clustering techniques to determine their suitability regarding reliability, remaining useful life, and asset intervention decision rules. By developing models differing in the selected covariates, the results show that although K-means and GMM produce comparable policies, GMM stands out for its robustness in cluster definition and intuitive interpretation in generating the state bands. Ultimately, as the evaluated models suggest similar policies, the novel PHM-ML demonstrates the robustness of its covariate weight estimation process, thereby strengthening the guidance for predictive maintenance decisions.
The Impact of Heat Transfer and a Magnetic Field on Peristaltic Transport with Slipping through an Asymmetrically Inclined Channel
Authors: Magdy Muhammad , Nasr Ahmed G. , Abumandour Ramzy M. , El-Shorbagy Mohammed A.
Published: June 2024

This theoretical investigation explores the intricate interplay of slip, heat transfer, and magneto-hydrodynamics (MHD) on peristaltic flow within an asymmetrically inclined channel. The channel walls exhibit sinusoidal undulations to simulate flexibility. The governing equations for continuity, momentum, and energy are utilized to mathematically represent the flow dynamics. Employing the perturbation method, these nonlinear equations are systematically solved, yielding analytical expressions for key parameters such as stream function, temperature distribution, and pressure gradient. This study meticulously examines the influence of various physical parameters on flow characteristics, presenting comprehensive visualizations of flow streamlines, fluid axial velocity profiles, and pressure gradient distributions. Noteworthy findings include the observation that the axial velocity of the fluid increases by 55% when the slip parameter is increased from 0 to 0.1, indicative of enhanced fluid transport. Furthermore, the analysis reveals that the pressure gradient amplifies by 80% with increased magnetic field strength from 0.5 to 4, underscoring the significant role of MHD effects on overall flow behavior. In essence, this investigation elucidates the complex dynamics of peristaltic flow in an asymmetrically inclined channel under the combined influence of slip, heat transfer, and magnetohydrodynamics. It sheds light on fundamental mechanisms that govern fluid dynamics in complex geometries and under diverse physical conditions.
Dynamic Responses of U-Shaped Caverns under Transient Stress Waves in Deep Rock Engineering
Authors: Liang Lisha , Li Xibing , Liu Zhixiang , Peng Siyu
Published: June 2024

Deep caverns are frequently subjected to transient loading, resulting in different failure characteristics in the surrounding rock compared to those in shallow caverns. Previous research has rarely focused on the transient responses of non-circular caverns. To address this gap, a theoretical solution for the dynamic stress concentration factor around a U-shaped cavern under transient stress waves was derived based on elasto-dynamic theory and conformal mapping. The theoretical results were validated through simulations using the discrete element software PFC2D 7.0 (Particle Flow Code in two dimensions). Additionally, the energy evolution and failure pattern of the surrounding rock under coupled static–dynamic loading were investigated. The results indicated that, when the stress wave was horizontally incident, rockburst failure was more likely to be observed in the cavern floor, while dynamic tensile failure was prone to occur in the incident sidewall. Furthermore, when the incident direction of the stress wave aligned with the maximum principal stress, more violent rockburst occurred. Moreover, when the rising time of the stress wave was greater than 6.0 ms, the peak dynamic stress concentration factor converged to a stable value, and the surrounding rock could be considered to be in a quasi-static loading state. These findings provide insight into the failure mechanisms of deep caverns and could guide the design of cavern supporting structures.
Complex-Valued FastICA Estimator with a Weighted Unitary Constraint: A Robust and Equivariant Estimator
Authors: E Jianwei , Yang Mingshu
Published: June 2024

Independent component analysis (ICA), as a statistical and computational approach, has been successfully applied to digital signal processing. Performance analysis for the ICA approach is perceived as a challenging task to work on. This contribution concerns the complex-valued FastICA algorithm in the range of ICA over the complex number domain. The focus is on the robust and equivariant behavior analysis of the complex-valued FastICA estimator. Although the complex-valued FastICA algorithm as well as its derivatives have been widely used methods for approaching the complex blind signal separation problem, rigorous mathematical treatments of the robust measurement and equivariance for the complex-valued FastICA estimator are still missing. This paper strictly analyzes the robustness against outliers and separation performance depending on the global system. We begin with defining the influence function (IF) of complex-valued FastICA functional and followed by deriving its closed-form expression. Then, we prove that the complex-valued FastICA algorithm based on the optimizing cost function is linear-equivariant, depending only on the source signals.
Exploring Bioactive Components and Assessing Antioxidant and Antibacterial Activities in Five Seaweed Extracts from the Northeastern Coast of Algeria
Authors: Bouzenad Nawal , Ammouchi Nesrine , Chaib Nadjla , Messaoudi Mohammed , Bousabaa Walid , Bensouici Chawki , Sawicka Barbara , Atanassova Maria , Ahmad Sheikh F. , Zahnit Wafa
Published: June 2024

The main goal of this study was to assess the bioactive and polysaccharide compositions, along with the antioxidant and antibacterial potentials, of five seaweeds collected from the northeastern coast of Algeria. Through Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy analysis and X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy, the study investigated the elemental composition of these seaweeds and their chemical structure. In addition, this study compared and identified the biochemical makeup of the collected seaweed by using cutting-edge methods like tandem mass spectrometry and ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography, and it searched for new sources of nutritionally valuable compounds. According to the study’s findings, Sargassum muticum contains the highest levels of extractable bioactive compounds, showing a phenolic compound content of 235.67 ± 1.13 µg GAE·mg−1 and a total sugar content of 46.43 ± 0.12% DW. Both S. muticum and Dictyota dichotoma have high concentrations of good polyphenols, such as vanillin and chrysin. Another characteristic that sets brown algae apart is their composition. It showed that Cladophora laetevirens has an extracted bioactive compound content of 12.07% and a high capacity to scavenge ABTS+ radicals with a value of 78.65 ± 0.96 µg·mL−1, indicating high antioxidant activity. In terms of antibacterial activity, S. muticum seaweed showed excellent growth inhibition. In conclusion, all five species of seaweed under investigation exhibited unique strengths, highlighting the variety of advantageous characteristics of these seaweeds, especially S. muticum.
Avellanin A Has an Antiproliferative Effect on TP-Induced RWPE-1 Cells via the PI3K-Akt Signalling Pathway
Authors: Xu Chang , Cao Guangping , Zhang Hong , Bai Meng , Yi Xiangxi , Qu Xinjian
Published: June 2024

Cyclic pentapeptide compounds have garnered much attention as a drug discovery resource. This study focused on the characterization and anti-benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) properties of avellanin A from Aspergillus fumigatus fungus in marine sediment samples collected in the Beibu Gulf of Guangxi Province in China. The antiproliferative effect and molecular mechanism of avellanin A were explored in testosterone propionate (TP)-induced RWPE-1 cells. The transcriptome results showed that avellanin A significantly blocked the ECM–receptor interaction and suppressed the downstream PI3K-Akt signalling pathway. Molecular docking revealed that avellanin A has a good affinity for the cathepsin L protein, which is involved in the terminal degradation of extracellular matrix components. Subsequently, qRT-PCR analysis revealed that the expression of the genes COL1A1, COL1A2, COL5A2, COL6A3, MMP2, MMP9, ITGA2, and ITGB3 was significantly downregulated after avellanin A intervention. The Western blot results also confirmed that it not only reduced ITGB3 and FAK/p-FAK protein expression but also inhibited PI3K/p-PI3K and Akt/p-Akt protein expression in the PI3K-Akt signalling pathway. Furthermore, avellanin A downregulated Cyclin D1 protein expression and upregulated Bax, p21WAF1/Cip1, and p53 proapoptotic protein expression in TP-induced RWPE-1 cells, leading to cell cycle arrest and inhibition of cell proliferation. The results of this study support the use of avellanin A as a potential new drug for the treatment of BPH.
Advances in Chlamydia trachomatis Vaccination: Unveiling the Potential of Major Outer Membrane Protein Derivative Constructs
Authors: Kiekens Celien , Morré Servaas A. , Vanrompay Daisy
Published: June 2024

Chlamydia (C.) trachomatis, a leading cause of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) worldwide, continues to be a significant public health concern. The majority of infections are asymptomatic and, when left untreated, severe sequelae such as infertility and chronic pelvic pain can occur. Despite decades of research, an effective vaccine remains elusive. This review focuses on the potential of Major Outer Membrane Protein (MOMP)-derived constructs as promising candidates for C. trachomatis vaccination. MOMP, the most abundant protein in the outer membrane of C. trachomatis, has been a focal point of vaccine research over the years due to its antigenic properties. To overcome issues associated with the use of full MOMP as a vaccine antigen, derivative constructs have been studied. As these constructs are often not sufficiently immunogenic, antigen delivery systems or accompanying adjuvants are required. Additionally, several immunization routes have been explored with these MOMP-derived vaccine antigens, and determining the optimal route remains an ongoing area of research. Future directions and challenges in the field of C. trachomatis vaccination are discussed.
NaCl Modifies Biochemical Traits in Bacterial Endophytes Isolated from Halophytes: Towards Salinity Stress Mitigation Using Consortia
Authors: Barajas González Jesús Adrián , de la Rosa Yersaín Ely Keller , Carrillo-González Rogelio , González-Chávez Ma. del Carmen Ángeles , Hidalgo Lara María Eugenia , Soto Hernández Ramón Marcos , Herrera Cabrera Braulio Edgar
Published: June 2024

Bacterial endophytes (120) were isolated from six halophytes (Distichlis spicata, Cynodon dactylon, Eragrostis obtusiflora, Suaeda torreyana, Kochia scoparia, and Baccharis salicifolia). These halophiles were molecularly identified and characterized with or without NaCl conditions. Characterization was based on tests such as indole acetic acid (IAA), exopolysaccharides (EPS), and siderophores (SID) production; solubilization of phosphate (P), potassium (K), zinc (Zn), and manganese (Mn); mineralization of phytate; enzymatic activity (acid and alkaline phosphatase, phytases, xylanases, and chitinases) and the mineralization/solubilization mechanisms involved (organic acids and sugars). Moreover, compatibility among bacteria was assessed. Eleven halophiles were characterized as highly tolerant to NaCl (2.5 M). The bacteria isolated were all different from each other. Two belonged to Bacillus velezensis and one to B. pumilus while the rest of bacteria were identified up to the genus level as belonging to Bacillus, Halobacillus, Halomonas, Pseudomonas, Nesterenkonia, and three strains of Oceanobacillus. The biochemical responses of nutrient solubilization and enzymatic activity were different between bacteria and were influenced by the presence of NaCl. Organic acids were involved in P mineralization and nutrient solubilization. Tartaric acid was common in the solubilization of P, Zn, and K. Maleic and vanillic acid were only detected in Zn and K solubilization, respectively. Furthermore, sugars appeared to be involved in the solubilization of nutrients; fructose was detected in the solubilization tests. Therefore, these biochemical bacterial characteristics should be corroborated in vivo and tested as a consortium to mitigate saline stress in glycophytes under a global climate change scheme that threatens to exacerbate soil salinity.
The Development of a Method for Obtaining Tripleurospermum inodorum (L.) Sch. Bip. Herb Extract Enriched with Flavonoids and an Evaluation of Its Biological Activity
Authors: Marakhova Anna , Zhilkina Vera Yu. , Elapov Alexander , Sachivkina Nadezhda , Samorodov Alexander , Pupykina Kira , Krylova Irina , Kezimana Parfait , Stoynova Anastasia M. , Venkatesan Raja , Vetcher Alexandre A.
Published: June 2024

The development of new drugs derived from plant sources is of significant interest in modern pharmacy. One of the promising plant sources for introduction into pharmaceuticals is Tripleurospermum inodorum (L.) Sch. Bip., also known as Tripleurospermum perforatum (Merat.) M. This plant has been shown to possess various biological activities, including anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and antimycotic activities, among others. However, a review of the current literature reveals a paucity of studies investigating the chemical composition of the herb Tripleurospermum inodorum (L.) Sch. Bip. This study presents the development of a method for obtaining an extract of the herb Tripleurospermum inodorum (L.) Sch. Bip. enriched with flavonoids, harvested before flowering and butonization. This study focused on determining the optimal conditions for extraction, including the concentration of the extractant (ethanol), extraction time, raw material/extractant ratio, extraction frequency, complexation reaction time, amount of aluminum chloride solution, and amount of diluted acetic acid. The results indicate that herbs harvested during this specific period exhibited a higher flavonoid content compared to those collected during butonization and flowering. Moreover, this study demonstrated that the flavonoid content could exceed 7% mg REq/100 g D.W. through a one-hour extraction process. Furthermore, the flavonoid content was found to be 7.65 ± 0.03 mg REq/100 g D.W. following a three-minute ultrasound-assisted extraction process, followed by thermal extraction. A qualitative analysis identified a variety of phenolic compounds in the extract, such as chlorogenic acid, 5-O-p-coumaroylquinic acid, 1-O-p-coumaroylquinic acid, luteolin-7-glucoside, quercetin-3-glucoside, luteolin-7-rutinoside, 3,5-O-dicaffeoylquinic acid, quercetin-3-O-malonylglucoside, apigenin-7-glucoside, luteolin-3-malonylglucoside, cynarin, rhamnetin-3-(O-dimethyl rhamnosyl glucosylglucoside), and luteolin. Moreover, this study demonstrated the antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, anticoagulant, anti-aggregation, and antioxidant activities of the aqueous alcoholic extract from T. inodorum herb (ETIH) against pathogens such as Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, and Candida albicans. Additionally, the extract exhibited comparable anti-inflammatory effects on diclofenac sodium. These findings contribute to the understanding of the potential pharmacological applications of the developed herb extract.
Diagnosis of Citrus Greening Using Artificial Intelligence: A Faster Region-Based Convolutional Neural Network Approach with Convolution Block Attention Module-Integrated VGGNet and ResNet Models
Authors: Dong Ruihao , Shiraiwa Aya , Pawasut Achara , Sreechun Kesaraporn , Hayashi Takefumi
Published: June 2024

The vector-transmitted Citrus Greening (CG) disease, also called Huanglongbing, is one of the most destructive diseases of citrus. Since no measures for directly controlling this disease are available at present, current disease management integrates several measures, such as vector control, the use of disease-free trees, the removal of diseased trees, etc. The most essential issue in integrated management is how CG-infected trees can be detected efficiently. For CG detection, digital image analyses using deep learning algorithms have attracted much interest from both researchers and growers. Models using transfer learning with the Faster R-CNN architecture were constructed and compared with two pre-trained Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) models, VGGNet and ResNet. Their efficiency was examined by integrating their feature extraction capabilities into the Convolution Block Attention Module (CBAM) to create VGGNet+CBAM and ResNet+CBAM variants. ResNet models performed best. Moreover, the integration of CBAM notably improved CG disease detection precision and the overall performance of the models. Efficient models with transfer learning using Faster R-CNN were loaded on web applications to facilitate access for real-time diagnosis by farmers via the deployment of in-field images. The practical ability of the applications to detect CG disease is discussed.
Chemical Protein Crosslinking-Coupled Mass Spectrometry Reveals Interaction of LHCI with LHCII and LHCSR3 in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii
Authors: Mosebach Laura , Ozawa Shin-Ichiro , Younas Muhammad , Xue Huidan , Scholz Martin , Takahashi Yuichiro , Hippler Michael
Published: June 2024

The photosystem I (PSI) of the green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii associates with 10 light-harvesting proteins (LHCIs) to form the PSI-LHCI complex. In the context of state transitions, two LHCII trimers bind to the PSAL, PSAH and PSAO side of PSI to produce the PSI-LHCI-LHCII complex. In this work, we took advantage of chemical crosslinking of proteins in conjunction with mass spectrometry to identify protein–protein interactions between the light-harvesting proteins of PSI and PSII. We detected crosslinks suggesting the binding of LHCBM proteins to the LHCA1-PSAG side of PSI as well as protein–protein interactions of LHCSR3 with LHCA5 and LHCA3. Our data indicate that the binding of LHCII to PSI is more versatile than anticipated and imply that LHCSR3 might be involved in the regulation of excitation energy transfer to the PSI core via LHCA5/LHCA3.
Enhancement in Tomato Yield and Quality Using Biochar Amendments in Greenhouse under Salinity and Drought Stress
Authors: Obadi Abdullah , Alharbi Abdulaziz , Alomran Abdulrasoul , Alghamdi Abdulaziz G. , Louki Ibrahim , Alkhasha Arafat , Alqardaeai Thabit
Published: June 2024

Enhancing saline water productivity in arid regions is essential for sustainable agriculture. Adding biochar can improve the quantity and quality of tomato yield under higher levels of salinity and lower levels of irrigation. The experiment aimed to evaluate the effects of biochar on enhancing tomato fruit quality and yield under salinity and drought stress. The experiment combines two treatments for irrigation water quality (0.9 and 2.3 dS m−1), four irrigation levels (40, 60, 80, and 100%) of crop evapotranspiration (ETc), and the addition of 5% of biochar to treated soil (BC5%) and untreated soil (BC0%). The results showed that the decrease in the water quality and irrigation levels negatively impacted the yield and properties of tomato fruit, while 5% of biochar application positively improved the yield. Adding biochar decreased the tomato yield by 29.33% and 42.51% under lower-saline-irrigation water than the control, negatively affecting the fruit’s physical parameters and mineral content. In contrast, adding biochar and irrigating with saline water at 60% of ETc improved the firmness and quality characteristics of the fruit by 56.60%, 67.19, 99.75, and 73.57% for vitamin C (VC), total titratable acidity (TA), total soluble solids (TSS), and total sugars (TS), respectively, compared to the control, and also reduced the sodium content of the fruits under all irrigation levels compared to untreated plants by biochar. Generally, biochar with saline water under deficit irrigation with 80 and 60% of ETc could be an excellent strategy to enhance the qualitative characteristics of tomato fruits and save approximately 20–40% of the applied water.
The Micromorphology and Its Taxonomic Value of the Genus Sanicula L. in China (Apiaceae)
Authors: Song Boni , Yong Feng , Liu Changkun , Wang Yunyi , Yang Lei , Chen Lian , Wang Yuan , Zhou Songdong , He Xingjin
Published: June 2024

The genus Sanicula L. possesses many medically important plants, belonging to the family Apiaceae. It is one of the most taxonomically difficult taxa, largely due to the great variability in habit, foliage, flowers and fruits. Previous studies have mainly focused on the molecular studies of this genus, and the morphological research for this genus was limited, especially in the micromorphological research. In the current study, we newly obtained leaf materials from twenty-two Sanicula members, fruit and pollen materials from twenty Sanicula members and performed comprehensively micromorphological analyses for this complicated genus. The results of the leaf epidermis showed that the upper and lower epidermis were smooth and glabrous, and the cell shape was polygonal or irregular. The patterns of anticlinal wall were shallowly undulating, deeply undulating, subflat or flat. The cuticular membrane ornamentations were diverse, and some species had epidermal appendage. All Sanicula species observed the stomata in the lower epidermis, and only five species (S. rugulosa, S. elongata, S. hacquetioides, S. tienmuensis and S. elata) observed stomata in the upper epidermis, which can easily identify them from other Sanicula members. In addition, we found that the fruits scarcely compressed, and some fruits had their distinctive shape, such as the fruit shape of S. tienmuensis was subglobose, S. subgiraldii was broadly ovate and S. pengshuiensis was ellipsoid. All Sanicula taxa fruits surfaces were covered with prickles, bristles, protuberance, or tubercles, prickles were either long or short, uncinate or straight, rarely scale-like, ribs inconspicuous or slightly prominent, but the prickles/bristles/tubercles were different in shape, sparseness and arrangement. The vittae were distinct in S. rubriflora, S. chinensis, S. caerulescens, S. pengshuiensis, S. pauciflora, S. lamelligera, S. oviformis, S. flavovirens and S. elata, and the remaining taxa were obscure. These findings indicated that the fruits can clearly distinguish these Sanicula members. Furthermore, the micromorphological characteristics of pollen showed that the equatorial view included four shapes: ellipsoid, subrectangular, equatorially constricted and super-rectangular-equatorially constricted; and the polar view possessed four shapes: triangular, triangular–circular, suborbicular and trilobate circular. The germ furrow and the outer wall ornamentation of all Sanicula taxa were quite similar, indicating that the genus was a natural unit. In summary, our study promoted the improvement of a taxonomic system for the genus and also provided additional evidence for future taxonomic study of the genus Sanicula.
Synergistic Effects of Soil-Based Irrigation and Manure Substitution for Partial Chemical Fertilizer on Potato Productivity and Profitability in Semiarid Northern China
Authors: Jiang Lingling , Jiang Rong , He Ping , Xu Xinpeng , Huang Shaohui , Xie Hanyou , Wang Xiya , Wu Qiying , Zhang Xia , Yang Yi
Published: June 2024

Soil-based irrigation and the partial substitution of chemical fertilizers with manure are promising practices to improve water and nitrogen (N) use efficiency. We hypothesize that their combination would simultaneously benefit potato production, tuber quality and profitability. A two-year experiment was conducted in semiarid northern China to investigate the combined effects of three water treatments [rainfed (W0), soil-based irrigation (W1), conventional irrigation (W2)] and three N treatments [no N (N0), chemical N (N1), 25% manure substitution (N2)] on these indicators, and to perform a comprehensive evaluation and correlation analysis. The results showed that water and N treatments separately affected all indicators except vitamin C content. Compared to W2, W1 significantly increased water productivity by 12% and irrigation water use efficiency (IWUE) by 30% due to 10% lower evapotranspiration and 21% lower water use. However, W1 and W2 negatively affected crude protein content. Conversely, this was compensated by the combination with N1 and N2. There were slight differences between N1 and N2 for all indicators on average across water treatments, while under W1, N2 significantly increased leaf area index (LAI) and N recovery efficiency (REN) by 18% and 29.4%, respectively, over N1. Also, comprehensive evaluations showed that W1N2 performed best, with the highest tuber yield, profit and acceptable quality. This can be explained by the increase in LAI, IWUE and REN due to the positive correlations with tuber yield and net return. Consequently, soil-based irrigation combined with 25% manure substitution had complementary effects on tuber quality and synergistic effects on potato productivity and profitability.
Effects of Olive Oil and Tween 80 on Production of Lipase by Yarrowia Yeast Strains
Authors: Sipiczki Gizella , Micevic Stefan Savo , Kohari-Farkas Csilla , Nagy Edina Szandra , Nguyen Quang D. , Gere Attila , Bujna Erika
Published: June 2024

Lipase is one of the most commonly used biocatalysts in the food, pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries, and can be produced by Yarrowia lipolytica yeast. Despite the intensive studies of lipase from Yarrowia, there are still many open questions regarding the enzyme secretion process, especially by new isolates of this genus as well as the effect of substrates or surfactants, or both on the production of lipase. This research focused on the effect of olive oil and surfactant Tween 80 including the optimisation of the concentration of these compounds on the production of lipase by some novel Yarrowia isolates. Moreover, the optimal environmental parameters (pH, temperature) of crude enzyme synthetised by Yarrowia strains were determined. All investigated strains were able to produce lipase in both intracellular and extracellular fractions. The extracellular lipase activities were higher than the intracellular ones (Y. divulgata Y.02062 and Yarrowia lipolytica 854/4 147 U/L, 80 U/L and 474 U/L, 122 U/L, respectively). In the case of extracellular lipase, supplementing olive oil and Tween 80 enhanced significantly the synthesis and secretion of the enzyme. The lipase activity can even be enhanced by 20 times higher from 25 U/L to 474 U/L in the case of Yarrowia lipolytica 854/4 strain. In the case of intracellular, supplementation of Tween 80 generally reduces lipase activity except for the Y. lipolytica 1/4 strain, which was affected by two times the increase. The optimised concentration of olive oil and Tween 80 were determined for Y. divulgata Y.02062, Y. divulgata 5257, Y. lipolytica 1/4, and Yarrowia lipolytica 854/4 strains as 1.6% olive oil and 0.09% Tween 80, 1.6% olive oil and 0.06% Tween 80, 1.4% olive oil and 0.09% Tween 80 as well as 1.6% olive oil and 0.065% Tween 80, respectively. The optimum pH and temperature of crude lipases (intra and extracellular) synthetised by the tested Yarrowia lipolytica and Y. divulgata yeast strains were found to be pH 7.2 and 37 °C, respectively. Our results confirmed that the new isolate Y. divulgata is a very promising species for further development for industrial use as Y. lipolytica.
Research on Solidification Layer Detection in Coal Transportation Process Based on Improved YOLOv8 Algorithm
Authors: Xiang Baokang , Zhou Ruihong , Huang Kaifeng , Dou Litong
Published: June 2024

Railway transportation is one of the main modes of long-distance coal transportation, and it inevitably causes environmental pollution during the transportation process. In order to improve the environment along the railway and increase the utilization rate of coal resources, this paper proposes a detection algorithm for the scattered coal solidification layer during transportation based on the YOLOv8 model and designs an intelligent recognition model suitable for coal solidification layer detection devices by combining fluorescence detection methods. Through experimental analysis, we found that the model meets the requirements of practical detection and can play a crucial role in environmental protection, with high practical application value.
Comprehensive Characterisation of a Low-Frequency-Vibration Energy Harvester
Authors: Plaza Aitor , Iriarte Xabier , Castellano-Aldave Carlos , Carlosena Alfonso
Published: June 2024

In this paper, we describe a measurement procedure to fully characterise a novel vibration energy harvester operating in the ultra-low-frequency range. The procedure, which is more thorough than those usually found in the literature, comprises three main stages: modelling, experimental characterisation and parameter identification. Modelling is accomplished in two alternative ways, a physical model (white box) and a mixed one (black box), which model the magnetic interaction via Fourier series. The experimental measurements include not only the input (acceleration)–output (energy) response but also the (internal) dynamic behaviour of the system, making use of a synchronised image processing and signal acquisition system. The identification procedure, based on maximum likelihood, estimates all the relevant parameters to characterise the system to simulate its behaviour and helps to optimise its performance. While the method is custom-designed for a particular harvester, the comprehensive approach and most of its procedures can be applied to similar harvesters.
A Surface Electromyography (sEMG) System Applied for Grip Force Monitoring
Authors: Wu Dantong , Tian Peng , Zhang Shuai , Wang Qihang , Yu Kang , Wang Yunfeng , Gao Zhixing , Huang Lin , Li Xiangyu , Zhai Xingchen , Tian Meng , Huang Chengjun , Zhang Haiying , Zhang Jun
Published: June 2024

Muscles play an indispensable role in human life. Surface electromyography (sEMG), as a non-invasive method, is crucial for monitoring muscle status. It is characterized by its real-time, portable nature and is extensively utilized in sports and rehabilitation sciences. This study proposed a wireless acquisition system based on multi-channel sEMG for objective monitoring of grip force. The system consists of an sEMG acquisition module containing four-channel discrete terminals and a host computer receiver module, using Bluetooth wireless transmission. The system is portable, wearable, low-cost, and easy to operate. Leveraging the system, an experiment for grip force prediction was designed, employing the bald eagle search (BES) algorithm to enhance the Random Forest (RF) algorithm. This approach established a grip force prediction model based on dual-channel sEMG signals. As tested, the performance of acquisition terminal proceeded as follows: the gain was up to 1125 times, and the common mode rejection ratio (CMRR) remained high in the sEMG signal band range (96.94 dB (100 Hz), 84.12 dB (500 Hz)), while the performance of the grip force prediction algorithm had an R2 of 0.9215, an MAE of 1.0637, and an MSE of 1.7479. The proposed system demonstrates excellent performance in real-time signal acquisition and grip force prediction, proving to be an effective muscle status monitoring tool for rehabilitation, training, disease condition surveillance and scientific fitness applications.
VA-LOAM: Visual Assist LiDAR Odometry and Mapping for Accurate Autonomous Navigation
Authors: Jung Tae-Ki , Jee Gyu-In
Published: June 2024

In this study, we enhanced odometry performance by integrating vision sensors with LiDAR sensors, which exhibit contrasting characteristics. Vision sensors provide extensive environmental information but are limited in precise distance measurement, whereas LiDAR offers high accuracy in distance metrics but lacks detailed environmental data. By utilizing data from vision sensors, this research compensates for the inadequate descriptors of LiDAR sensors, thereby improving LiDAR feature matching performance. Traditional fusion methods, which rely on extracting depth from image features, depend heavily on vision sensors and are vulnerable under challenging conditions such as rain, darkness, or light reflection. Utilizing vision sensors as primary sensors under such conditions can lead to significant mapping errors and, in the worst cases, system divergence. Conversely, our approach uses LiDAR as the primary sensor, mitigating the shortcomings of previous methods and enabling vision sensors to support LiDAR-based mapping. This maintains LiDAR Odometry performance even in environments where vision sensors are compromised, thus enhancing performance with the support of vision sensors. We adopted five prominent algorithms from the latest LiDAR SLAM open-source projects and conducted experiments on the KITTI odometry dataset. This research proposes a novel approach by integrating a vision support module into the top three LiDAR SLAM methods, thereby improving performance. By making the source code of VA-LOAM publicly available, this work enhances the accessibility of the technology, fostering reproducibility and transparency within the research community.
A New Method for Traffic Participant Recognition Using Doppler Radar Signature and Convolutional Neural Networks
Authors: Ślesicki Błażej , Ślesicka Anna
Published: June 2024

The latest survey results show an increase in accidents on the roads involving pedestrians and cyclists. The reasons for such situations are many, the fault actually lies on both sides. Equipping vehicles, especially autonomous vehicles, with frequency-modulated continuous-wave (FMCW) radar and dedicated algorithms for analyzing signals in the time–frequency domain as well as algorithms for recognizing objects in radar imaging through deep neural networks can positively affect safety. This paper presents a method for recognizing and distinguishing a group of objects based on radar signatures of objects and a special convolutional neural network structure. The proposed approach is based on a database of radar signatures generated on pedestrian, cyclist, and car models in a Matlab environment. The obtained results of simulations and positive tests provide a basis for the application of the system in many sectors and areas of the economy. Innovative aspects of the work include the method of discriminating between multiple objects on a single radar signature, the dedicated architecture of the convolutional neural network, and the use of a method of generating a custom input database.
The Characteristics of Endurance Events with a Variable Pacing Profile—Time to Embrace the Concept of “Intermittent Endurance Events”?
Authors: Falk Neto Joao Henrique , Faulhaber Martin , Kennedy Michael D.
Published: June 2024

A variable pacing profile is common in different endurance events. In these races, several factors, such as changes in elevation or race dynamics, lead participants to perform numerous surges in intensity. These surges are so frequent that certain events, such as cross-country (XC) skiing, mountain biking (MTB), triathlon, and road cycling, have been termed “intermittent endurance events”. The characteristics of these surges vary depending on the sport: MTB and triathlon require athletes to perform numerous short (<10 s) bouts; XC skiing require periods of short- and moderate-(30 s to 2 min) duration efforts, while road cycling is comprised of a mix of short-, moderate-, and long-duration (>2 min) bouts. These bouts occur at intensities above the maximal metabolic steady state (MMSS), with many efforts performed at intensities above the athletes’ maximal aerobic power or speed (MAP/MAS) (i.e., supramaximal intensities). Given the factors that influence the requirement to perform surges in these events, athletes must be prepared to always engage in a race with a highly stochastic pace. The aim of this review is to characterize the variable pacing profile seen in endurance events and to discuss how the performance of multiple maximal and supramaximal surges in intensity can affect how athletes fatigue during a race and influence training strategies that can lead to success in these races.
A Two-Echelon Multi-Trip Capacitated Vehicle Routing Problem with Time Windows for Fresh E-Commerce Logistics under Front Warehouse Mode
Authors: Guo Shuyuan , Hu Hongtao , Xue Hui
Published: June 2024

Given the swift expansion of fresh e-commerce, the front warehouse mode can respond quickly and ensure the quality of fresh products. However, the complexity of the supply chain structure under front warehouse mode poses a challenge in reducing logistics costs and improving distribution efficiency while meeting consumers’ immediate delivery demands. Therefore, this paper studies the vehicle routing problem of two-echelon fresh e-commerce under front warehouse mode. Considering trans-shipment time constraints between the two echelons and the characteristics of terminal distribution, this paper initially models the vehicle routing problem for front warehouses as a two-echelon multi-trip capacitated vehicle routing problem with time windows. A mixed-integer linear programming model is subsequently established. To solve the model, a hybrid genetic algorithm integrated with neighborhood search is developed. Matrix coding is employed to merge vehicle selection and route assignment decisions. Simultaneously, neighborhood search is applied to enhance the search capability of algorithms, thereby improving the quality of solutions. Furthermore, the effectiveness and efficiency of the model and algorithm are verified through experiments of varying scales. Finally, comparative strategies and sensitivity analysis highlight the advantages of multi-trip strategies and provide insights into the optimal vehicle capacity limit.
Blockchain-Based Security Factors on Sustainable Supply Chain Management in UK Manufacturing Firms: A Hybrid SEM-ANN Approach
Authors: Ali Rao Faizan , Jahankhani Hamid , Ali Kashif , Hassan Bilal
Published: June 2024

Recently, there has been a notable surge in the intricate complexities of global supply chain management (SCM), which is gaining researchers’ attention. Supply chain sustainability is put at risk by security issues in blockchain technology that affect everything from infrastructure to management. For sustainable supply chain management (SSCM), these elements are deemed crucial. To address this, the purpose of this research is to examine the impact of blockchain security factors on SSCM among United Kingdom manufacturing firms. Based on the resource-based view (RBV) theory and the Technology–Organisation–Environment (TOE) framework, the research hypotheses and framework were developed. To achieve the research objectives, a hybrid approach that combines structural equation modelling and artificial neural networks (ANNs) was adopted to perform the analysis. The research findings indicate that privacy, network, confidentiality, and managerial factors are vital to promoting SSCM. Furthermore, the ANN analysis highlights that managerial (trust management) and supplier privacy factors are the most important constructs. Unlike prior research that theoretically assumed that all relationships are linear, this has been a novel study that has successfully validated that there exists a nonlinear relationship between the RBV theory and the TOE framework. Based on the outcomes, the study’s contributions, its practical implications, and future research avenues are discussed.
Estenosis mitral complicada con trombos intracavitarios y fibrilación auricular: Reporte de un caso
Authors: Cárdenas Santos Carlos Daniel , Serrano Orozco Diego Alejandro , Sánchez Parra Emily Alexandra
Published: June 2024

La estenosis mitral es una valvulopatía que impide el flujo de sangre desde la aurícula izquierda hacia el ventrículo izquierdo. La fiebre reumática es la principal etiología en países en vías de desarrollo, otras causas pueden ser de carácter degenerativo o congénito. Los síntomas más frecuentes son disnea de esfuerzo, que en ocasiones puede progresar a edema agudo de pulmón, además de la presencia de palpitaciones.Otra sintomatología que se presenta en función de la gravedad es la presencia de hemoptisis, dolor torácico embolia sistémica, signos y síntomas de falla cardiaca derecha. El diagnóstico se realiza mediante anamnesis, examen físico y métodos complementarios como electrocardiograma y ecocardiograma. El objetivo fue presentar un caso de una paciente femenina de 56 años de edad, con diagnóstico de estenosis mitral complicada con trombos intracavitarios y fibrilación auricular.La paciente presentó disnea y fibrilación auricular, con historial de hipertensión e insuficiencia cardiaca. El ecocardiograma reveló estenosis mitral severa con trombosintracavitarios, hipertrofia auricular izquierda y disfunción ventricular derecha. Se manejó con anticoagulantes, betabloqueantes, diuréticos y digoxina, pero suspendió los anticoagulantes, persistiendo los trombos. Sufrió síncope, paro cardiorrespiratorio, y se diagnosticó un gran trombo flotante en la aurícula izquierda. Paciente fallece por sospecha de tromboembolismo pulmonar. Se concluye que la falta de adherencia al tratamiento llevó a un desenlace fatal con sospecha de tromboembolismo pulmonar no confirmado, resaltando la importancia del manejo individualizado en estos casos.