bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Exploring the Temporal Dynamics of the Fungal Microbiome in Rootstocks, the Lesser-Known Half of the Grapevine Crop
Authors: Gramaje David , Eichmeier Aleš , Spetik Milan , Carbone María Julia , Bujanda Rebeca , Vallance Jessica , Rey Patrice
Published: April 2022

Rootstocks are the link between the soil and scion in grapevines, can provide tolerance to abiotic and biotic stresses, and regulate yield and grape quality. The vascular system of grapevine rootstocks in nurseries is still an underexplored niche for research, despite its potential for hosting beneficial and pathogenic microorganisms. The purpose of this study was to investigate the changes in the composition of fungal communities in 110 Richter and 41 Berlandieri rootstocks at four stages of the grapevine propagation process. Taxonomic analysis revealed that the fungal community predominantly consisted of phylum Ascomycota in all stages of the propagation process. The alpha-diversity of fungal communities differed among sampling times for both rootstocks, with richness and fungal diversity in the vascular system decreasing through the propagation process. The core microbiome was composed of the genera Cadophora, Cladosporium, Penicillium and Alternaria in both rootstocks, while the pathogenic genus Neofusicoccum was identified as a persistent taxon throughout the propagation process. FUNguild analysis showed that the relative abundance of plant pathogens associated with trunk diseases increased towards the last stage in nurseries. Fungal communities in the vascular system of grapevine rootstocks differed between the different stages of the propagation process in nurseries. Numerous genera associated with potential biocontrol activity and grapevine trunk diseases were identified. Understanding the large diversity of fungi in the rootstock vascular tissue and the interactions between fungal microbiota and grapevine will help to develop sustainable strategies for grapevine protection.
Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi Induced Plant Resistance against Fusarium Wilt in Jasmonate Biosynthesis Defective Mutant and Wild Type of Tomato
Authors: Wang Haixi , Hao Zhipeng , Zhang Xin , Xie Wei , Chen Baodong
Published: April 2022

Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi can form mutual symbiotic associations with most terrestrial plants and improve the resistance of host plants against pathogens. However, the bioprotection provided by AM fungi can depend on the host–fungus combinations. In this study, we unraveled the effects of pre-inoculation with AM fungus Rhizophagus irregularis on plant resistance against the hemibiotrophic fungal pathogen Fusarium oxysporum in jasmonate (JA) biosynthesis mutant tomato, suppressor of prosystemin-mediated responses8 (spr8) and the wild type Castlemart (CM). Results showed that R. irregularis colonization in CM plants significantly decreased the disease index, which was not observed in spr8 plants, suggesting that the disease protection of AM fungi was a plant-genotype-specific trait. Inoculation with R. irregularis significantly increased the shoot dry weight of CM plants when infected with F. oxysporum, with increased plant P content and net photosynthetic rate. Induced expression of the JA synthesis genes, including allene oxide cyclase gene (AOC) and lipoxygenase D gene (LOXD), and increased activities of polyphenol oxidase (PPO) and phenylalanine ammonia lyase (PAL) were recorded in mycorrhizal CM plants infected with F. oxysporum, but not in spr8 plants. Thus, mycorrhiza-induced resistance (MIR) to fungal pathogen in tomato was highly relevant to the JA signaling pathway.
Distinction of Alternaria Sect. Pseudoalternaria Strains among Other Alternaria Fungi from Cereals
Authors: Gannibal Philipp B. , Orina Aleksandra S. , Kononenko Galina P. , Burkin Aleksey A.
Published: April 2022

Species of the genus Alternaria are ubiquitous and frequently isolated from various plants, including crops. There are two phylogenetically and morphologically close Alternaria sections: the relatively well-known Infectoriae and the rarely mentioned Pseudoalternaria. Currently, the latter includes at least seven species that are less studied and sometimes misidentified. To perform precise identification, two primers (APsF and APsR) were designed and a sect. Pseudoalternaria-specific PCR method was developed. Thirty-five Russian A. infectoria-like strains were then examined. Five strains were found to be the members of the sect. Pseudoalternaria. Additionally, specificity of the previously developed primer set (Ain3F and Ain4R) was checked. It was found to be highly specific for sect. Infectoriae and did not amplify sect. Pseudoalternaria DNA. Identification of strains of the sect. Pseudoalternaria was supported and refined by phylogenetic reconstruction based on analysis of two loci, the glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase gene (gpd), and the plasma membrane ATPase gene (ATP). These fungi belonged to Alternaria kordkuyana and A. rosae, which were the first detection of those taxa for the Eastern Europe. Alternaria kordkuyana was isolated from cereal seeds and eleuthero leaves. Alternaria rosae was obtained from oat seed. All strains of sect. Pseudoalternaria were not able to produce alternariol mycotoxin, as well as the majority of A. sect. Infectoriae strains.
Recent Advances in the Biocontrol of Nosemosis in Honey Bees (Apis mellifera L.)
Authors: Iorizzo Massimo , Letizia Francesco , Ganassi Sonia , Testa Bruno , Petrarca Sonia , Albanese Gianluca , Di Criscio Dalila , De Cristofaro Antonio
Published: April 2022

Nosemosis is a disease triggered by the single-celled spore-forming fungi Nosema apis and Nosema ceranae, which can cause extensive colony losses in honey bees (Apis mellifera L.). Fumagillin is an effective antibiotic treatment to control nosemosis, but due to its toxicity, it is currently banned in many countries. Accordingly, in the beekeeping sector, there is a strong demand for alternative ecological methods that can be used for the prevention and therapeutic control of nosemosis in honey bee colonies. Numerous studies have shown that plant extracts, RNA interference (RNAi) and beneficial microbes could provide viable non-antibiotic alternatives. In this article, recent scientific advances in the biocontrol of nosemosis are summarized.
Genotoxicity of Three Micro/Nanocelluloses with Different Physicochemical Characteristics in MG-63 and V79 Cells
Authors: Ventura Célia , Marques Catarina , Cadete João , Vilar Madalena , Pedrosa Jorge F. S. , Pinto Fátima , Fernandes Susete Nogueira , da Rosa Rafaela Raupp , Godinho Maria Helena , Ferreira Paulo J. T. , Louro Henriqueta , Silva Maria João
Published: April 2022

(1) Background: Nanocellulose is an innovative engineered nanomaterial with an enormous potential for use in a wide array of industrial and biomedical applications and with fast growing economic value. The expanding production of nanocellulose is leading to an increased human exposure, raising concerns about their potential health effects. This study was aimed at assessing the potential toxic and genotoxic effects of different nanocelluloses in two mammalian cell lines; (2) Methods: Two micro/nanocelluloses, produced with a TEMPO oxidation pre-treatment (CNFs) and an enzymatic pre-treatment (CMFs), and cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) were tested in osteoblastic-like human cells (MG-63) and Chinese hamster lung fibroblasts (V79) using the MTT and clonogenic assays to analyse cytotoxicity, and the micronucleus assay to test genotoxicity; (3) Results: cytotoxicity was observed by the clonogenic assay in V79 cells, particularly for CNCs, but not by the MTT assay; CNF induced micronuclei in both cell lines and nucleoplasmic bridges in MG-63 cells; CMF and CNC induced micronuclei and nucleoplasmic bridges in MG-63 cells, but not in V79 cells; (4) Conclusions: All nanocelluloses revealed cytotoxicity and genotoxicity, although at different concentrations, that may be related to their physicochemical differences and availability for cell uptake, and to differences in the DNA damage response of the cell model.
Women Caring for Husbands Living with Parkinson’s Disease: A Phenomenological Study Protocol
Authors: White Dawn R. , Palmieri Patrick Albert
Published: April 2022

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is an emerging pandemic caused by aging, longevity, and industrialization. Most people diagnosed with PD initially experience mild symptoms, but over time the symptoms become debilitating. Given their intensive care requirement, most married people living with PD receive care from their spouses; most are female caregivers. Because caregiving is hard work with long hours, caregivers experience stress, fatigue, and depression, often leading to exhaustion and burnout. The purpose of this descriptive phenomenological study is to understand the lived experience of women caregivers of husbands living with PD. As part of this study protocol, women caring at home for their husbands diagnosed with PD will be purposely recruited from the Colorado Parkinson Foundation. Semi-structured interviews will be conducted by Zoom© until data saturation is achieved. Colaizzi’s seven-step process will be used to analyze the data in Atlas.ti. Strategies have been incorporated into the study protocol to maximize trustworthiness and to insure methodological rigor. The study will be reported using recommendations from the Standards for Reporting Qualitative Research and the Consolidated Criteria for Reporting Qualitative Research. Findings from this study may guide intervention development to improve the caregiving experience and to inform clinical practice guidelines for health care professionals.
Personalized Medicine for Liver Disease: From Molecular Mechanisms to Potential Targeted Therapies
Authors: Bell Aaron W.
Published: April 2022

This Special Issue, entitled “Personalized Medicine for Liver Disease: From Molecular Mechanisms to Potential Targeted Therapies”, includes 11 publications from colleagues working on various liver diseases including non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), alcoholic liver disease (ALD), hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), primary biliary cholangitis (PBC), as well as various treatment modalities including pharmacotherapies and liver transplantation [...]
Deposit Competition, Interbank Market, and Bank Profit
Authors: Jiang Bo , Tzavellas Hector , Yang Xiaoying
Published: April 2022

In this paper, we study how the interbank market could impact deposit competition and bank profits. We first document two stylized facts: the net interbank funding ratio is negatively correlated with net interest margin (NIM), as well as with the cost-to-income ratio (CIR). To rationalize these two facts, we embed the interbank market into a BLP model framework. The model is calibrated using Chinese listed banks’ data. A counterfactual experiment reveals that shutting down the interbank market will lead to a decline in NIM and bank profits. Our results indicate that the interbank market can facilitate specialization and reduce the intensity of deposit competition.
Spatial Features of Urban Expansion in Vietnam Based on Long-Term Nighttime Lights Data
Authors: Zhou Keyang , Liang Yutian , Zhong Chen , Zeng Jiaqi , Zhou Zhengke
Published: April 2022

As a developing country, Vietnam has experienced rapid economic development since the 21st century. It is therefore becoming increasingly important to understand its spatial pattern of urban expansion. However, the key challenge in this endeavor lies in the lack of national accounting data for the sub-administrative divisions of Vietnam at the national level, especially longitudinal data over a long time series. The nighttime lights (NTL) data can objectively reflect the scope and intensity of human development and construction in urban built-up areas, which can effectively support the empirical analysis of the urban expansion process in Vietnam. This paper uses the intercalibration model to correct and fit the long time series of DMSP/OLS and VIIRS/NPP NTL data. Based on this, the data for the urban built areas of Vietnam from 2000 to 2018 are further extracted. The results are as follows. (1) The main urban expansion in Vietnam is concentrated in the southern Mekong Delta and the northern Red River Delta, represented by Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi City, respectively. (2) Vietnam’s urban NTL has significant high–high clustering characteristics in the north-south delta regions. The main urban expansion hotspots were concentrated around Ho Chi Minh City before 2012, the northern region represented by Hanoi City was gradually transformed into a critical area that gathering urban expansion hotspots after 2012. (3) The cities with significant influence and high coupling degree of industrialization and globalization on the urbanization of Vietnam are concentrated in Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, and some northern delta provinces, showing that the impact of industrialization and globalization on urbanization in Vietnam is still limited to some regions. In addition, the results show that the size of the population and the level of industrialization are the main drivers of urban expansion in Vietnam, while the level of foreign investment shows little significance. The results are helpful for promoting the application of long time series NTL data in urban expansion and for further analyzing the urban pattern changes in Vietnam and the influencing factors behind them.
Relational Values of Cultural Ecosystem Services in an Urban Conservation Area: The Case of Table Mountain National Park, South Africa
Authors: Brill Gregg C. , Anderson Pippin M. L. , O’Farrell Patrick
Published: April 2022

This paper assesses how residents of a developing city in the Global South, recognize and value the multiple diverse cultural ecosystem services associated with freshwater ecosystems, as provided by different landscape features originating in an urban protected area. This objective was achieved by establishing who benefits from freshwater ecosystem services, uncovering the spatial and temporal relationships these beneficiaries have with landscape features, and determining the relational nature of ecosystem service values, benefits and trade-offs as experienced by the different users. Recreation, aesthetic and existence services were valued highest by respondents. People who live closer to the park use, and benefit from, the park’s freshwater ecosystems more frequently than those living further away. Park visitors want ease of access in terms of distance to specific freshwater ecosystems, and then once there, they want a diversity of activity options, such as recreation opportunities, as well as places to reflect and meditate. This study of cultural ecosystem services improves our understanding of social-ecological systems in urban areas by exploring the relationships between park and people which can guide management to ensure equitable and sustainable ecosystem service provision to all city residents.
The Low-Carbon City Pilot Policy and Urban Land Use Efficiency: A Policy Assessment from China
Authors: Liu Jingbo , Feng Haoyuan , Wang Kun
Published: April 2022

Against the backdrop of severe global warming, the low-carbon city pilot policy, with carbon emission reduction as its main objective, is an important initiative for China to fulfil its international commitment to carbon emission reduction and promote a green and low-carbon development strategy. However, none of the literature has yet evaluated whether the pilot low-carbon city policy promotes urban land use efficiency as a policy effect. In view of this, this paper measures urban land use efficiency from a low-carbon perspective using a global reference super-efficiency SBM model based on data from 186 prefecture-level cities in China from 2005–2017, and subsequently constructs a difference-in-differences method to test the true impact of low-carbon city pilot policies on urban land use efficiency and carbon emissions, and uses a propensity score matching method to test its robustness. It is found that: (1) the average level of urban land use efficiency in China is low and on a downward trend; (2) overall, cities are predominantly low-efficiency cities, with only the high-efficiency cities in Guangdong Province showing spatial agglomeration; and (3) the low-carbon city pilot policy reduces carbon emissions while also negatively affecting urban land use efficiency. Accordingly, this paper puts forward corresponding policy recommendations.
Word Order, Intonation, and Prosodic Phrasing: Individual Differences in the Production and Identification of Narrow and Wide Focus in Urdu
Authors: Jabeen Farhat
Published: April 2022

This study investigates speaker based variation in the use of word order and intonation to mark narrow and wide focus in Urdu. The identification of focus type and position, as well as the prosodic phrasing of declarative sentences produced in the target focus conditions, is also discussed. The results of a semi-spontaneous production experiment indicated no preference for a linear position, as the focused nouns were mostly placed in situ (89%). The analysis of phonetic cues showed significant inter- and intraspeaker variation in participants’ use of longer noun duration, higher F0 peak, and wider F0 range in the narrowly focused nouns, as compared with their counterparts produced in wide focus. In the identification survey conducted online, the consistent use of phonetic cues in speech production was found to influence the correct identification of narrow focus and the position of focused nouns. Another online survey, concerning the prosodic phrasing of sentences produced in narrow and wide focus, showed participants’ slight preference for a recursive Intonational Phrase boundary on the left edge of the narrowly focused nouns. The results of both the surveys show that Urdu speakers vary in their identification of focus as well as their choice of prosodic phrasing in the target contexts. This research highlights the role of individual variation in the use of word order and phonetic cues to mark narrow and wide focus in Urdu. It also illustrates that the identification of focus type and phrasing is far from uniform. These findings have implications for the analysis of intonation in general, as this study testifies that the production and identification of intonation and prosodic phrasing are not invariable and speakers and listeners differ in their use of available linguistic means (word order vs. intonational categories), the selection, as well as the manipulation of phonetic cues.
Band-Aid on a Bullet Wound—Canada’s Open Work Permit for Vulnerable Workers Policy
Authors: Depatie-Pelletier Eugénie , Deegan Hannah , Berze Katherine
Published: April 2022

In June 2019, the Government of Canada implemented the Open work permit for vulnerable workers (OWP-V) policy, authorizing immigration officers to issue open work permits to migrant workers on employer-specific work permits if they demonstrate reasonable grounds to believe that they are experiencing abuse or are at risk of abuse in their workplace. Drawing on research conducted by a community organization on the impact of the policy, this article examines the policy’s potential to remedy the problematic effects of the employer-specific work permit and whether it has been implemented efficiently. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with organizations that provide direct legal and social support to migrant workers in Canada. Additionally, two datasets regarding the role of the OWP-V policy in IRCC’s employer compliance regime were analyzed. The research concludes that the OWP-V policy cannot be expected to counteract the high risk of abuse imposed on workers through the employer-specific work permit. Numerous barriers were identified that make it difficult for migrant workers to apply for the permit. The small number of OWP-V permits issued in proportion to the number of employers authorized to hire migrant workers makes it unlikely that the policy will significantly impact employers’ propensity to comply with the program conditions.
Antibodies and SARS-CoV-2: New Data on Diagnostics and Therapeutics
Authors: Focosi Daniele , Franchini Massimo
Published: April 2022

Welcome to the Special Issue of Life entitled “Neutralizing-Antibody-Based Treatments for COVID-19: Achievements and Lessons Learnt for Future Pandemics” [...]
Karyotypical Confirmation of Natural Hybridization between Two Manatee Species, Trichechus manatus and Trichechus inunguis
Authors: de Oliveira Edivaldo H. C. , Gomes Anderson J. B. , Costa Alexandra F. , Emin-Lima Renata , Bonvicino Cibele R. , Viana Maria C. , Reis Laura M. A. , Vidal Marcelo D. , Cavalcanti Mirella V. G. , Attademo Fernanda L. N. , Luna Fábia O. , Siciliano Salvatore
Published: April 2022

Two species of manatees are found in Northern Brazil—the Antillean manatee (Trichechus manatus), which is found along the coast from Florida to Northeastern Brazil, and the Amazonian manatee (Trichechus inunguis), endemic to the Amazon drainage basin. These species show a sympatric distribution in the region of the Marajó Archipelago, an estuarine area surrounding the Amazon River mouth. There is evidence of the occurrence of interspecific hybrids in this area, based on mitochondrial DNA analyses, although the use of nuclear markers has not corroborated this proposal. Considering that these species show very distinct karyotypes, despite being closely related (2n = 48 in T. manatus and 2n = 56 in T. inunguis), hybrids would present distinct chromosome numbers. Based on this, we conducted cytogenetic analyses using classic and molecular techniques in three calves found stranded in the Marajó Island and Amapá coast. The results showed that one of them, morphologically classified as T. inunguis, presented the correspondent karyotype, with 2n = 56. However, the other two, which were phenotypically similar to T. manatus, showed 2n = 49. Despite the same diploid number, their G-banding patterns revealed some differences. The results of the distribution of some microsatellite sequences have also confirmed the heterozygosity of some chromosomal pairs in these two individuals. These results are the first indubitable confirmation of the occurrence of natural hybrids between T. manatus and T. inunguis, and also brings about some issues concerning the viability of hybrids, considering that these two individuals do not correspond to an F1 hybrid, but instead, both presented a possible F2 karyotype.
Total Wrist Arthroplasty for Posttraumatic Wrist Osteoarthritis: A Cohort Study Comparing Three Indications
Authors: Holzbauer Matthias , Mihalic Julian A. , Pollak Michael , Froschauer Stefan M.
Published: April 2022

Scapholunate ligament ruptures and scaphoid nonunion with consecutive advanced collapse (SLAC and SNAC wrists) as well as intra-articular distal radius fractures (DRF) are prone to cause posttraumatic wrist osteoarthritis. The aim of this study was to compare the outcomes of these indications for total wrist arthroplasty. We included 13, 11, and 8 patients with an overall mean age of 60 ± 9 years in the SLAC, SNAC, and DRF cohort, respectively. After an average follow-up period of 6 ± 3 years, we found no difference between our groups regarding pain levels and functional scores, although these parameters significantly improved compared to preoperative parameters. Complication and revision rates revealed no significant difference. However, significantly higher extension, arc of range of motion values in the flexion-extension, as well as in radial-ulnar deviation plain were detected in the SLAC compared to the DRF group. Finally, TWA proved to show a beneficial performance in all three investigated indications.
Environmental and Economic Assessment of Repairable Carbon-Fiber-Reinforced Polymers in Circular Economy Perspective
Authors: Abbate Elisabetta , Mirpourian Maryam , Brondi Carlo , Ballarino Andrea , Copani Giacomo
Published: April 2022

The explosive growth of the global market for Carbon-Fiber-Reinforced Polymers (CFRP) and the lack of a closing loop strategy of composite waste have raised environmental concerns. Circular economy studies, including Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and Life Cycle Costing (LCC), have investigated composite recycling and new bio-based materials to substitute both carbon fibers and matrices. However, few studies have addressed composite repair. Studies focused on bio-based composites coupled with recycling and repairing are also lacking. Within this framework, the paper aims at presenting opportunities and challenges of the new thermosetting composite developed at the laboratory including the criteria of repairing, recycling, and use of bio-based materials in industrial applications through an ex ante LCA coupled with LCC. Implementing the three criteria mentioned above would reduce the environmental impact from 50% to 86% compared to the baseline scenario with the highest benefits obtained by implementing the only repairing. LCC results indicate that manufacturing and repairing parts built from bio-based CFRP is economically sustainable. However, recycling can only be economically sustainable under a specific condition. Managerial strategies are proposed to mitigate the uncertainties of the recycling business. The findings of this study can provide valuable guidance on supporting decisions for companies making strategic plans.
The Effect of Number and Distribution of Mini Dental Implants on Overdenture Stability: An In Vitro Study
Authors: Alshenaiber Rafif , Barclay Craig , Silikas Nick
Published: April 2022

The rotational movement of mini dental implants (MDIs) overdenture disturbs the function of the prosthesis. Many dentists place more MDIs to improve the overdenture stability; however, the influence of the MDIs number and distribution on the overdenture resistance to para-axial dislodgment has not been investigated. Seven resin models simulating atrophic mandibles housed twenty MDIs placed according to seven arrangements. Acrylic overdentures were fabricated for each cast and were dislodged five times in lateral, anterior and posterior directions, and the peak load dislodgment was measured. Each overdenture underwent 540 axial removal/placement cycles. The para-axial dislodgments were measured again, and data were compared. Dislodgment force values were measured in all directions, and the data were analysed using analysis of variance ANOVA and post hoc (p < 0.05). After six months of simulated placement/removal, increasing the MDI number showed a difference in resistance to para-axial dislodgment. The distribution affected the resistance to dislodgment in some directions. The inter-implant distance of 27 mm provided better resistance to posterior dislodgment than placing two MDIs close together at 19 mm. The placement of three MDIs at any distribution showed no significant difference except for resistance to posterior dislodgment. FourMDIs placed at any distribution showed a significant difference in all groups in all tested directions. The resistance to the para-axial dislodgment of MDI overdenture could improve with the increasing MDIs number and careful planning of MDI distribution.
Fabrication and Optical Characterization of VO2-Based Thin Films Deposited on Practical Float Glass by Magnetron Sputtering and Professional Annealing
Authors: Chu Xinhong , Xie Qiusheng , Zhang Xiaoming , Guo Bingfeng , Liao Jianqing , Zhao Xiujian
Published: April 2022

In this paper, VO2 thin films with good optical properties are fabricated on practical float glass by magnetron sputtering and a professional annealing method. The near-infrared switching efficiency (NIRSE) of the prepared film reaches 39% (@2000 nm), and its near-infrared energy modulation ability (ΔTir) reaches 10.9% (780–2500 nm). Further, the highest integral visible transmittance Tlum is 63%. The proposed method exhibits good reproducibility and does not cause any heat damage to the magnetron sputtering machine. The crystalline structure of the VO2 film is characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD). The lattice planes (011) and (−211) grow preferentially (JCPDS 65-2358), and a large number of NaV2O5 crystals are detected simultaneously. The microstructures are characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and a large number of long sheet crystals are identified. The phase transition temperature is significantly reduced by an appropriate W doping concentration (Tc = 29 °C), whereas excessive W doping causes distortion of the thermal hysteresis loop and a reduction in the NIRSE. Oxygen vacancies are created by low pressure annealing, due to which the phase transition temperature of VO2 film decreases by 8 °C. The addition of an intermediate SiO2 layer can prevent the diffusion of Na+ ions and affect the preparation process of the VO2 thin film.
Possibility to Use Short Sawn Timber in the Production of Glued Laminated Beams
Authors: Dziurka Dorota , Kuliński Marcin , Trociński Adrian , Mirski Radosław
Published: April 2022

Numerous studies have shown that the geometry of micro-joints significantly affects the strength of the so joined timber element. The bending strength increases by creating a larger bonding area by increasing the length of the wedge joint. Although this type of joint has been successfully used for many years, it can still be troublesome to make. For these reasons, the present study investigated an easy-to-fabricate wedge joint, which we folded during the beams’ formation and glued with the same adhesive as the individual lamellas. Although the research has not fully answered all the questions relevant to both scientific and technological curiosity, it indicates the great potential of this solution. Following the principle adopted in the ongoing wood optimisation work, we concluded that the beams of the target cross-section should be produced, and it should only be possible to cut them to a certain length. In this approach, we only removed defects at critical points for the beam structure and, in this way, up to 30% of the timber processed could be saved or better utilised.
Segregation Behavior of Miscible PC/PMMA Blends during Injection Molding
Authors: Moonprasith Nantina , Date Jitsuhiro , Sako Takumi , Kida Takumitsu , Hiraoka Tatsuhiro , Yamaguchi Masayuki
Published: April 2022

Miscible blends composed of bisphenol-A polycarbonate (PC) and poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA), in which one of them has low molecular weight, were employed to study the surface segregation behavior during flow. The blend samples showed typical rheological behaviors, such as simple polymer melts without a long-time relaxation mechanism ascribed to phase separation, demonstrating that they were miscible. After injection molding, the amounts of a low molecular weight component on the blend surface were found to be larger than the actual blend ratio. Because the injection-molded products were transparent despite a huge difference in refractive indices between PC and PMMA, they showed no phase separation. This result demonstrated that surface segregation of a low molecular weight component occurred under flow field, which expands the material design such as tough plastics with good scratch resistance and optical fibers with tapered refractive index.
Oxidation Behavior Characterization of Zircaloy-4 Cladding with Different Hydrogen Concentrations at 500–800 °C in an Ambient Atmosphere
Authors: Yung Tung-Yuan , Lu Wen-Fang , Tsai Kun-Chao , Chuang Cheng-Hao , Chen Po-Tuan
Published: April 2022

This study simulated the after-burned zirconium cladding oxidation in air at temperatures between 500 and 800 °C. The weight changes of Zircaloy-4 cladding with hydrogen contents of 100–1000 ppm continuously measured through thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) during oxidation tests at different temperatures in an air atmosphere. The TGA results indicate a transition of oxidation kinetics from a parabolic rate law to a linear rate law for as-received and hydrided Zircaloy-4 cladding. The hydrogen concentration of Zircaloy-4 had a marked effect on its pre-transition oxidation in air between 500 and 800 °C. For all samples, the linear oxidation (post transition stage) at 650 °C, which is the critical oxidation temperature, displays a similar trend. In addition, scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron micros-copy examinations indicated the presence of a few and numerous discontinuous micro-cracks in the oxide layer in the pre-transition and post-transition stages, respectively.
Magnetic Functional Materials: Synthesis, Characterization and Application: A New Open Special Issue in Materials
Authors: Wang Haiou , Wang Yan , Yang Dexin
Published: April 2022

Magnetic Functional Materials: Synthesis, Characterization and Application is a new open Special Issue of Materials, which aims to publish original and review papers on new scientific and applied research, and make great contributions to the finding and understanding of magnetic functional materials and related synthesis, fundamentals, characterization, and applications [...]
Evaluation of Rheological and Anti-Aging Properties of TPU/Nano-TiO2 Composite-Modified Asphalt Binder
Authors: Ji Haidong , He Dongpo , Li Bo , Lu Guanzhong , Wang Chenyu
Published: April 2022

Research on polyurethane-modified asphalt has become very popular. To this end, researchers have explored different ways, such as the use of polyurethane, to improve the road performance of asphalt. However, according to existing experimental research findings, it seems that the use of polyurethane alone cannot completely improve the road performance of asphalt. Therefore, the influence of nano-titanium dioxide and polyurethane on the rheological behavior and anti-ultraviolet aging properties of asphalt was studied. In this research, the rheological and microscopic tests of asphalt were conducted using Dynamic Shear Rheometer, Curved Beam Rheometer, and Fourier Infrared Spectrometer. The results show that the addition of TPU and nano-TiO2 to the asphalt not only improves the high- and low-temperature rheological behavior of the asphalt, but also improves the thermal oxygen resistance and UV aging resistance of the asphalt, and prolongs the use performance. Considering economic factors and environmental influences, among all the selected dosages, 4% TPU and 1% nano-TiO2 had the best performance.
A Study on Design of S-Duct Structures and Air Intake for Small Aircraft Applied to High Strength Carbon–Epoxy Composite Materials
Authors: Lim Semyeong , Choi Won , Park Hyunbum
Published: April 2022

Recently, many structural parts using composite materials are being applied to small aircraft and UAV in the world. The aim of this work is to design the engine intake structure of a small aircraft. For structural safety evaluation, a finite element analysis method was applied. In this work, structural design and numerical analysis of air intake and s-duct structures for small aircraft were performed. The target structure is composed of an s-duct and a cylindrical intake structure. Firstly, an investigation of the mechanical properties of carbon/epoxy material was conducted. The distributed pressure load and acceleration condition was applied to the structural design. The structural design load was investigated considering safety factors. The structural analysis was performed to analyze the validity of the design results. Through the structural analysis using the finite element analysis method, it was confirmed that the designed air intake structure is safe. The manufacturing of the prototype structure will be carried out based on the designed result.
The Role of Rheological Additives on Fresh and Hardened Properties of Cemented Paste Backfill
Authors: Jin Jiaxu , Qin Zhifa , Zuo Shenghao , Feng Jiaju , Sun Qi
Published: April 2022

Cemented paste backfill (CPB) has become a significant structural material in most mines across the world. In this study, the effects of chemical rheological additives including viscosity modifying agent (i.e., polyacrylamide) and polycarboxylate superplasticizer (PCE) on fresh and hardened properties of CPB with different water-to-solid (W/S) ratios and water-to-cement (W/C) ratios were investigated. The microstructure of CPB specimens was also characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and backscattered electron image (SEM-BSE). The obtained results indicate that PAM (polyacrylamide) dosage and W/S are the most significant parameters influencing the workability of fresh CPB mixtures. For the hardened CPB specimens, the decreasing W/S ratio leads to higher flexural and compressive strength values and lower dry shrinkage strains. The interfacial transition zone (ITZ) between the cement matrix and the tailings sand was also observed to be narrower, with fewer micro cracks and capillary pores. Meanwhile, the existence of PAM decreased the number of hydration products and retarded the hydration reaction. Overall, the CPBs with high W/C ratios (i.e., 1.0 and 1.2), low W/S ratios (i.e., 0.3), and moderate amounts of rheological additives (i.e., 0.05% PAM and 1.0% PCE) have excellent fresh and hardened properties. The findings of this study contribute to better optimization of CPB mixtures in backfill construction, bringing benefits of low costs and low environmental impacts.
A Multi-Scale Simulation Study of Irradiation Swelling of Silicon Carbide
Authors: Yin Chunyu , Fu Baoqin , Jiao Yongjun , Duan Zhengang , Wu Lei , Zou Yu , Liu Shichao
Published: April 2022

Silicon carbide (SiC) is a promising structural and cladding material for accident tolerant fuel cladding of nuclear reactor due to its excellent properties. However, when exposed to severe environments (e.g., during neutron irradiation), lattice defects are created in amounts significantly greater than normal concentrations. Then, a series of radiation damage behaviors (e.g., radiation swelling) appear. Accurate understanding of radiation damage of nuclear materials is the key to the design of new fuel cladding materials. Multi-scale computational simulations are often required to understand the physical mechanism of radiation damage. In this work, the effect of neutron irradiation on the volume swelling of cubic-SiC film with 0.3 mm was studied by using the combination of molecular dynamics (MD) and rate theory (RT). It was found that for C-vacancy (CV), C-interstitial (CI), Si-vacancy (SiV), Si-interstitial (SiI), and Si-antisite (SiC), the volume of supercell increases linearly with the increase of concentration of these defects, while the volume of supercell decreases linearly with the increase of defect concentration for C-antisite (CSi). Furthermore, according to the neutron spectrum of a certain reactor, one RT model was constructed to simulate the evolution of point defect under neutron irradiation. Then, the relationship between the volume swelling and the dose of neutrons can be obtained through the results of MD and RT. It was found that swelling typically increases logarithmically with radiation dose and saturates at relatively low doses, and that the critical dose for abrupt transition of volume is consistent with the available experimental data, which indicates that the rate theory model can effectively describe the radiation damage evolution process of SiC. This work not only presents a systematic study on the relationship between various point defect and excess volume, but also gives a good example of multi-scale modelling through coupling the results of binary collision, MD and RT methods, etc., regardless of the multi-scale modelling only focus on the evolution of primary point defects.
Analysis of the Implementation of the Single Minute Exchange of Die Methodology in an Agroindustry through Action Research
Authors: Ribeiro Murilo Augusto Silva , Santos Ana Carolina Oliveira , de Amorim Gabriela da Fonseca , de Oliveira Carlos Henrique , da Silva Braga Rodrigo Aparecido , Netto Roberto Silva
Published: April 2022

This work aims to implement and analyze the effect of the Single Minute Exchange of Die (SMED) implementation in the bean packaging operation in a company in east Minas Gerais, Brazil. Design/Methodology/Approach: The research methodology used was action research. Two cycles of action research were conducted; the first to carry out phase one of SMED, and the second to execute phases two and three. Originality/Research gap: There are few studies on the application of Lean Manufacturing tools in agroindustry. Some works present case studies, mainly in the food supply chain aiming to fill this gap. Regarding SMED applied in agribusiness, no work was found. Key statistical results: The implementation of this methodology allowed the reduction of setup time by around 58%, the distance travelled by operators in the process by approximately 50%, in addition to gains in a production capacity of 14%. Practical Implications: It is concluded that the application of the methodology caused an increase in the company’s productivity, as it was possible to obtain gains in productive capacity without changing the amount of hours worked or the number of employees involved in the production process. Limitations of the investigation: This methodology was applied only once and the challenges encountered were not documented.
A Derivative Free Fourth-Order Optimal Scheme for Applied Science Problems
Authors: Behl Ramandeep
Published: April 2022

We suggest a new and cost-effective iterative scheme for nonlinear equations. The main features of the presented scheme are that it does not involve any derivative in the structure, achieves an optimal convergence of fourth-order factors, has more flexibility for obtaining new members, and is two-point, cost-effective, more stable and yields better numerical results. The derivation of our scheme is based on the weight function technique. The convergence order is studied in three main theorems. We have demonstrated the applicability of our methods on four numerical problems. Out of them, two are real-life cases, while the third one is a root clustering problem and the fourth one is an academic problem. The obtained numerical results illustrate preferable outcomes as compared to the existing ones in terms of absolute residual errors, CPU timing, approximated zeros and absolute error difference between two consecutive iterations.
Research on Formation Control Method of Heterogeneous AUV Group under Event-Triggered Mechanism
Authors: Chen Ke , Luo Guangyu , Zhou Hao , Zhao Dongming
Published: April 2022

The time-sampling control strategy has communication discontinuities in the control of multiple AUVs (autonomous underwater vehicles). To overcome this problem, a distributed event-triggered communication mechanism is proposed to make each AUV communicate only when its own state is updated, which reduces the frequency of communication and improves the stability. This mechanism has better adaptability for formation control between heterogeneous AUV groups. At the same time, two consistency control algorithms based on event-triggered for homogeneous and heterogeneous AUV groups are studied, respectively. The known consistency algorithms are applied to the control of heterogeneous AUV groups for comparative analysis. The simulation results demonstrate that the number of communication among AUVs under the event-triggered control strategy can be significantly reduced. Therefore, the stability of the system is improved. Compared with the traditional consensus algorithm, the algorithm proposed in this paper has advantages in the control of heterogeneous AUV groups.
Constitutive Modeling of Normally and Over-Consolidated Clay with a High-Order Yield Function
Authors: Tong Chen-Xi , Liu Hong-Wei , Li Hai-Chao
Published: April 2022

In this paper, a simple sub-loading yield surface model for both normally consolidated and over-consolidated clay is proposed with emphasis on the effect of the yield surface shape. Compared with the modified Cam-clay model, only one additional material parameter is introduced to reflect geometry features of the yield surface. A higher-order stress–dilatancy relation is given in the current study, leading to a new yield function capable of offering an adequate description of the yield surface of soil samples in the p–q plane. By introducing the concept of the sub-loading yield surface and the unified hardening parameter, the proposed model can capture the main features of the over-consolidated clay with dilatancy and strain-softening behavior and the main features of the normally consolidated clay with contraction and strain-hardening behavior. The results show that adjusting the yield surface leads to more accurate predictions than the modified Cam-clay model. The proposed model can also reasonably describe its mechanical behavior for clay samples.
Brauer Configuration Algebras Arising from Dyck Paths
Authors: Cañadas Agustín Moreno , Rios Gabriel Bravo , Gaviria Isaías David Marín
Published: April 2022

The enumeration of Dyck paths is one of the most remarkable problems in Catalan combinatorics. Recently introduced categories of Dyck paths have allowed interactions between the theory of representation of algebras and cluster algebras theory. As another application of Dyck paths theory, we present Brauer configurations, whose polygons are defined by these types of paths. It is also proved that dimensions of the induced Brauer configuration algebras and the corresponding centers are given via some integer sequences related to Catalan triangle entries.
An Enriched Finite Element Method with Appropriate Interpolation Cover Functions for Transient Wave Propagation Dynamic Problems
Authors: Qu Jue , Xue Hongjun , Li Yancheng , Chai Yingbin
Published: April 2022

A novel enriched finite element method (EFEM) was employed to analyze the transient wave propagation problems. In the present method, the traditional finite element approximation was enriched by employing the appropriate interpolation covers. We mathematically and numerically showed that the present EFEM possessed the important monotonic convergence property with the decrease of the used time steps for transient wave propagation problems when the unconditional stable Newmark time integration scheme was used for time integration. This attractive property markedly distinguishes the present EFEM from the traditional FEM for transient wave propagation problems. Two typical numerical examples were given to demonstrate the capabilities of the present method.
On Some Properties of the First Brocard Triangle in the Isotropic Plane
Authors: Volenec Vladimir , Kolar-Begović Zdenka , Kolar-Šuper Ružica
Published: April 2022

In this paper we introduce the first Brocard triangle of an allowable triangle in the isotropic plane and derive the coordinates of its vertices in the case of a standard triangle. We prove that the first Brocard triangle is homologous to the given triangle and that these two triangles are parallelogic. We consider the relationships between the first Brocard triangle and the Steiner axis, the Steiner point, and the Kiepert parabola of the triangle. We also investigate some other interesting properties of this triangle and consider relationships between the Euclidean and the isotropic case.