bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Development of Insecticide Resistance in Field Populations of Onion Thrips, Thrips tabaci (Thysanoptera: Thripidae)
Authors: Wakil Waqas , Gulzar Sehrish , Wu Shaohui , Rasool Khawaja G. , Husain Mureed , Aldawood Abdulrahman S. , Toews Michael D.
Published: April 2023

The present study evaluated insecticide resistance in field populations of onion thrips, Thrips tabaci Lindeman (Thysanoptera: Thripidae), collected from eight different onion-growing regions of Punjab, Pakistan. These field-collected populations were assessed for resistance development against eight commonly used active ingredients including deltamethrin, lambda-cyhalothrin, imidacloprid, acetamiprid, spinosad, spinetoram, cypermethrin, and abamectin. In leaf dip bioassays, T. tabaci adults showed varied levels of resistance towards different insecticides. Moderate or high levels of resistance to deltamethrin (58–86 fold), lambda-cyhalothrin (20–63 fold), and cypermethrin (22–54 fold) were observed in T. tabaci field populations. There were very low to moderate resistance levels to imidacloprid (10–38 fold), acetamiprid (5–29 fold), and abamectin (10–30 fold). The lowest levels of resistance were detected in thrips exposed to spinosad (3–13 fold) and spinetoram (3–8 fold). Insecticide resistance levels varied among populations collected from various geographic locations, but all populations exhibited elevated levels of resistance to deltamethrin. Thrips tabaci populations with higher resistance levels were most commonly found from the southern part of Punjab, Pakistan. Our findings revealed that spinosyns could be used as alternatives to conventional insecticides for the successful management of T. tabaci in onion fields.
Novel Device Therapies for Heart Failure
Authors: Alkhatib Deya , Isa Sakiru , Pour-Ghaz Issa , Butt Asra , Al-Taweel Omar , Ugonabo Ifeoma , Yedlapati Neeraja , Jefferies John Lynn
Published: April 2023

Heart failure (HF) therapeutics have advanced significantly over the past few years [...]
Preoperative Predictors of Late Aortic Expansion in Acute Type B Aortic Dissection Treated with TEVAR
Authors: Dong Zhiqiang , Yang He , Li Gang , Xu Xinyang , Liu Hong , Gu Jiaxi , Li Minghui , Gu Weidong , Shao Yongfeng , Ni Buqing
Published: April 2023

Background: A patent false lumen (FL) in patients with thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR)-treated type B aortic dissection (TBAD) can cause a significant risk for late aortic expansion (LAE). We hypothesize that preoperative features can predict the occurrence of LAE. Methods: Sufficient preoperative and postoperative follow-up clinical and imaging feature data for patients treated with TEVAR in the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University from January 2018 to December 2020 were collected. A univariate analysis and multivariable logistic regression analysis were used to find potential risk factors of LAE. Results: Ninety-six patients were finally included in this study. The mean age was 54.5 ± 11.7 years and 85 (88.5%) were male. LAE occurred in 15 (15.6%) of 96 patients after TEVAR. Two preoperative factors showed strong associations with LAE according to the multivariable logistic regression analysis: preoperative partial thrombosis of the FL (OR = 10.989 [2.295–48.403]; p = 0.002) and the maximum descending aortic diameter (OR = 1.385 [1.100–1.743] per mm increase; p = 0.006). Conclusions: Preoperative partial thrombosis of the FL and an increase in the maximum aortic diameter are strongly associated with late aortic expansion. Additional interventions of the FL may help to improve the prognosis of patients with the high risk of late aortic expansion.
Mechanical and Tribological Behavior of LM26/SiC/Ni-Gr Hybrid Composites
Authors: Pawar Suyash Y. , Haider Julfikar , Pintaude Giuseppe , Sekar Santhosh Mozhuguan , Kolhe Vikram , Chandratre Kailas , Sonawane Sandipkumar , Ritapure Parmeshwar
Published: April 2023

The study evaluates the mechanical and wear properties of LM26 alloy and its hybrid composites with silicon carbide (SiC) and nickel-coated graphite (Ni-Gr). LM26 aluminum alloy is generally known for its high strength, wear, and corrosion resistance compared to similar materials such as zinc and magnesium. The effect of Ni-Gr was studied, with 2 wt.% was found to provide the best mechanical properties. LM26 composites reinforced with varying percentages of SiC (0 to 30 wt.%) showed the best properties at 20 wt.% reinforcement after fabrication using a bottom pouring type stir casting setup (Two step feeding method). Evaluation of five hybrid LM26 composites through tensile strength, elongation, hardness, impact, porosity, and thermal studies showed that the LM26/2 wt.% Ni-Gr/20 wt.% SiC configuration showed the best filler composition for improved strength. Sliding wear evaluation using experimental and Taguchi analysis was performed at different configurations to identify the best wear resistance. Microstructure studies showed the presence of Ni-Gr particles forming coatings and temperature playing a significant role in the progression of the wear rate. Furthermore, the hybrid composite with 20% SiC and 2% Ni-Gr reinforcement showed the best wear resistance.
Heat Treatment of AA7075 by Electropulsing and DC Current Application
Authors: Grimm Tyler , Mears Laine
Published: April 2023

Electrical resistivity was used in this test methodology to estimate the relative precipitate density in AA7075. Various electrical test parameters were explored to determine the difference between pulsed and DC-type currents. No difference between these test conditions could be distinguished. Furthermore, an electroplastic effect was not needed to explain these results and the effects are likely to be caused by purely joule heating.
A Coupled Hydrodynamic–Structural Model for Flexible Interconnected Multiple Floating Bodies
Authors: Chen Mingsheng , Ouyang Mingjun , Guo Hongrui , Zou Meiyan , Zhang Chi
Published: April 2023

Evaluating the structural safety and seakeeping performance of very large floating structures (VLFS) using the rigid module flexible connector (RMFC) method remains challenging due to the complexity of the coupled hydrodynamic–structural responses in this system. In this study, a coupled hydrodynamic–structural frequency–time domain model is developed based on the RMFC method employing the planar Euler–Bernoulli beam elements to investigate the dynamic responses of multi-module floating systems. To reveal the dynamic characteristics of the systems, the coupled hydrodynamic–structural responses are investigated using a frequency–time-domain numerical model with viscous correction, in which the mass and stiffness attributes of connectors are incorporated into the system. Given the effects of hydrodynamic interaction, consideration is given to the case of three modular boxes connected by flexible beams aligned in series in shallow water to validate the present model. Higher efficiency and accuracy can be found in the system using viscous correction in potential flow theory and introducing state–space model to replace the convolution terms in the Cummins equation for the time domain. Moreover, this model can be extended to a considerable number of floating modules, which provides possibilities to analyze N-module floating systems.
Evaluation by a Quantitative Index about Intact Stability Performance in Waves of a Set of Megayacht Units
Authors: Petacco Nicola , Gualeni Paola
Published: April 2023

Intact stability represents one of the most important topics when addressing ship safety, and it is ruled by the IMO Intact Stability code, evaluating ship stability in a calm water scenario. However, the interest in ship stability in waves has increased in recent years and this has led to the formulation of the second generation intact stability criteria (SGISc), finalized at IMO in 2020. In this research, an approach to quantitatively and comprehensively evaluate the ship stability performance in waves has been pursued. A methodology is developed with reference to the SGISc. The intact stability in waves index (ISWI) has been proposed, with the aim to become a complementary tool for designers and shipbuilders in the assessment of stability performance in waves. The ISWI represents a comprehensive stability index, able to capture the stability in waves performance of a vessel. The stability index has been verified on a set of megayacht units and its sensitivity to the wave characteristics has been tested, changing the environmental conditions. The outcomes point to a good agreement between the ISWI and the influence of environmental condition changes on the stability performance.
Application of Idealised Modelling and Data Analysis for Assessing the Compounding Effects of Sea Level Rise and Altered Riverine Inflows on Estuarine Tidal Dynamics
Authors: Khojasteh Danial , Vibhani Tej , Shafiei Hassan , Glamore William , Felder Stefan
Published: April 2023

Estuaries worldwide are experiencing increasing threats from climate change, particularly from the compounding effects of sea level rise (SLR) and varying magnitude of river inflows. Understanding the tidal response of estuaries to these effects can guide future management and help assess ecological concerns. However, there is limited existing understanding on how estuarine tidal dynamics may respond to the compounding effects of SLR and altered riverine inflows in different estuaries. To partially address this knowledge gap, this study used data analysis and scrutinised idealised hydrodynamic models of different estuary shapes and boundary conditions to (i) identify broad effects of SLR on estuarine tidal dynamics under various river inflow conditions, (ii) determine how longitudinal cross-sections are impacted by these effects, and (iii) highlight some implications for environmental risk management. Results indicated that short- to moderate-length, high convergent estuaries experience the greatest and short- to moderate-length prismatic and low convergent estuaries experience the least variations in their overall tidal dynamics (i.e., tidal range, current velocity, and asymmetry). These variations were most evident in estuaries with large riverine inflows and macrotidal conditions. Compounding effects of SLR and altered riverine inflows induced spatially heterogenous changes to tidal range, current velocity, and asymmetry, with transects nearest to the estuary mouth/head and at a three-quarter estuary length (measured from estuary mouth) identified as the most and the least vulnerable zones, respectively. These findings provide an initial broad assessment of some effects of climate change in estuaries and may help to prioritise future investigations.
Experimental Validation of a Fast-Tracking FOCV-MPPT Circuit for a Wave Energy Converter Embedded into an Oceanic Drifter
Authors: Carandell Matias , Toma Daniel Mihai , Holmes Andrew S. , del Río Joaquín , Gasulla Manel
Published: April 2023

Wave Energy Converters (WECs) are an ideal solution for expanding the autonomy of surface sensor platforms such as oceanic drifters. To extract the maximum amount of energy from these fast-varying sources, a fast maximum power point tracking (MPPT) technique is required. Previous studies have examined power management units (PMU) with fast MPPT circuits, but none of them have demonstrated their feasibility in a real-world scenario. In this study, the performance of a fast-tracking fractional open circuit voltage (FOCV)-MPPT circuit (sampling period TMPPT of 48 ms) is compared with a commercial slow-tracking PMU (TMPPT of 16 s) in a monitored sea area while using a small-scale, pendulum-type WEC. A specific low-power relaxation oscillator circuit is designed to control the fast MPPT circuit. The results demonstrate that by speeding up the sampling frequency of the MPPT circuit, the harvested energy can be increased by a factor of three.
Phenotypic and Genotypic Identification of Dermatophytes from Mexico and Central American Countries
Authors: Pérez-Rodríguez Angélica , Duarte-Escalante Esperanza , Frías-De-León María Guadalupe , Acosta Altamirano Gustavo , Meraz-Ríos Beatriz , Martínez-Herrera Erick , Arenas Roberto , Reyes-Montes María del Rocío
Published: April 2023

Dermatophytes are fungi included in the genera Trichophyton, Microsporum, Epidermophyton, Nannizzia, Paraphyton, Lophophyton, and Arthroderma. Molecular techniques have contributed to faster and more precise identification, allowing significant advances in phylogenetic studies. This work aimed to identify clinical isolates of dermatophytes through phenotypic (macro- and micromorphology and conidia size) and genotypic methods (sequences of ITS regions, genes of β tubulin (BT2), and elongation factor α (Tef-1α)) and determine the phylogenetic relationships between isolates. Ninety-four dermatophyte isolates from Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, and the Dominican Republic were studied. The isolates presented macro- and micromorphology and conidia size described for the genera Trichophyton, Microsporum, and Epidermophyton. Genotypic analysis classified the isolates into the genera Trichophyton (63.8%), Nannizzia (25.5%), Arthroderma (9.6%), and Epidermophyton (1.1%). The most frequent species were T. rubrum (26 isolates, 27.6%), T. interdigitale (26 isolates, 27.6%), and N. incurvata (11 isolates, 11.7%), N. gypsea and A. otae (nine isolates, 9.6%), among others. The genotypic methods clarified the taxonomic status of closely related species. For instance, the ITS and BT2 markers of T. rubrum/T. violaceum did not differ but the Tef-1α gene did. On the other hand, the three markers differed in T. equinum/T. tonsurans. Therefore, the ITS, BT2, and Tef-1α genes are useful for typing in phylogenetic analyses of dermatophytes, with Tef-1α being the most informative locus. It should be noted that isolate MM-474 was identified as T. tonsurans when using ITS and Tef-1α, but when using BT2, it was identified as T. rubrum. On the other hand, no significant difference was found when comparing the methods for constructing phylogenies, as the topologies were similar.
The Association between Type-1 Diabetes Mellitus and Risk of Depression among Saudi Patients: A Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Aldossari Bashair , Alhossan Abdulaziz , Ahmad Ajaz
Published: April 2023

Background and Aims: The importance of screening type-1 diabetic patients in Saudi Arabia is related to a high incidence rate of diabetes mellitus (DM) and the susceptibility to developing depression during or after the diagnosis. The objectives of the present study were to establish the relationship between type-1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM), depression, and depression risk among Saudi patients; estimating the prevalence and examining the relationship of depression with duration of diagnosis, the effect of glycemic control, and the presence of comorbidities. Methods: For this observational retrospective chart review, an analytical tool was used. The population of our study comprised Saudi patients with T1DM at King Khaled University Hospital, Riyadh. Data were collected from the hospital’s electronic medical records. A depression screening tool (Patient Health Questionnaire “PHQ-9”) was used to measure the depression risk of the diabetic patients, who had not been assessed before. The SPSS program was used to analyze the data. Results: The present study included 167 males (~45.75%) and 198 females (~54.25%). Patients with a normal body mass index (BMI) constituted 52%, while 21% were underweight, 19% were overweight, and 9% were obese. The investigators randomly selected 120 patients from the total of 365, and called them to assess their risk of developing depression. The results of the depression assessment were as follows: positive, 17 patients out of 22 (77.27%); negative, five patients out of 22 (22.73%). In total, 75 out of 120 (62.50%) patients were at risk of developing depression, while 45 patients out of 120 (37.50%) were not at risk of depression. There was a relationship between glycemic non-control, comorbidities with depression, and risk of developing depression in DM. The presence of complications was associated with diabetic and depressed patients, and the risk of developing depression may be increased with T1DM. Conclusions: To overcome the negative consequences of undiagnosed depression, screening for depression is recommended for patients with T1DM who have multiple comorbidities, glycemic non-control, diabetic complications, and unfavorable lifestyles, as well as those undergoing combination therapy with metformin.
Human Papillomavirus Infection and EGFR Exon 20 Insertions in Sinonasal Inverted Papilloma and Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Authors: Hirakawa Hitoshi , Ikegami Taro , Kise Norimoto , Kinjyo Hidetoshi , Kondo Shunsuke , Agena Shinya , Hasegawa Narumi , Kawakami Junko , Maeda Hiroyuki , Suzuki Mikio
Published: April 2023

This study aimed to clarify the roles of high-risk human papillomavirus (HR-HPV) infection and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) exon 20 mutations in sinonasal inverted papilloma (IP) and sinonasal squamous cell carcinoma (SNSCC). Samples were collected from 20 cases with IP, 7 with IP and squamous cell carcinoma (IP-SCC), and 20 with SNSCC and examined for HPV infection and EGFR exon 20 mutations. Low- or high-risk HPV DNA was observed in 25% of IP, 57.1% of IP-SCC, and 35% of SNSCC cases. Transcriptionally active HR-HPV infections in IP-SCC and SNSCC, accompanied by p16 overexpression, were observed in 28.5% and 25% of cases, respectively. Heterozygous EGFR exon 20 amino acid insertions (ex20ins), located between amino acids 768–774, were observed in 45% of IP, 28.5% of IP-SCC, and 0% of SNSCC and chronic sinusitis cases. EGFR phosphorylation sites were located at tyrosine (Y) 845, Y1068, Y1086, and Y1197 and induced PI3K/AKT/mTOR activation. The phosphorylation pattern of EGFR with ex20ins resembled that of HPV-related SNSCC and oropharyngeal cancer. The transcriptionally active HR-HPV infection and ex20ins might be responsible for the pathogenesis of IP-SCC cases with different fashions. Since IP-SCC might be a multifactorial disease, further investigation is needed to understand IP-SCC etiology.
An Explainable Artificial Intelligence Approach for Multi-Criteria ABC Item Classification
Authors: Qaffas Alaa Asim , Ben HajKacem Mohamed-Aymen , Ben Ncir Chiheb-Eddine , Nasraoui Olfa
Published: April 2023

Multi-criteria ABC classification is a useful model for automatic inventory management and optimization. This model enables a rapid classification of inventory items into three groups, having varying managerial levels. Several methods, based on different criteria and principles, were proposed to build the ABC classes. However, existing ABC classification methods operate as black-box AI processes that only provide assignments of the items to the different ABC classes without providing further managerial explanations. The multi-criteria nature of the inventory classification problem makes the utilization and the interpretation of item classes difficult, without further information. Decision makers usually need additional information regarding important characteristics that were crucial in determining the managerial classes of the items because such information can help managers better understand the inventory groups and make inventory management decisions more transparent. To address this issue, we propose a two-phased explainable approach based on eXplainable Artificial Intelligence (XAI) capabilities. The proposed approach provides both local and global explanations of the built ABC classes at the item and class levels, respectively. Application of the proposed approach in inventory classification of a firm, specialized in retail sales, demonstrated its effectiveness in generating accurate and interpretable ABC classes. Assignments of the items to the different ABC classes were well-explained based on the item’s criteria. The results in this particular application have shown a significant impact of the sales, profit, and customer priority as criteria that had an impact on determining the item classes.
Assessment of Conservation Effectiveness of the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau Nature Reserves from a Human Footprint Perspective with Global Lessons
Authors: Jiang Mingjun , Zhao Xinfei , Wang Run , Yin Le , Zhang Baolei
Published: April 2023

The intensity of human pressure (HP) has an important impact on the biodiversity and ecosystem services of nature reserves (NRs), and the conflict and the coordination between NRs and human activities are now key issues to solve in the construction of NR systems. This study improved and applied a human footprint (HF) model that considers population density, land use, night light, grazing intensity, and road construction as indicators of human activity to evaluate the effectiveness of NRs in the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau in mitigating HP from 2000 to 2020. The results indicated that during this period, the average HP in the national NRs of the plateau increased from 1.47646 to 1.76687, where values were generally high in the east and low in the west. The average value in wetland NRs was the largest and had the smallest growth rate, while that in desert NRs was the smallest and had the largest growth rate. From 2000 to 2020, the average HP in the core areas, buffer areas, and experimental areas of the NRs increased by 0.12969, 0.29909, and 0.44244, respectively. It is a challenge for the Chinese government to strengthen the ability of NRs to mitigate HP on the wetland reserves and experimental zones in the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau region.
Radiation Doses in Cardiovascular Computed Tomography
Authors: Kędzierski Bartłomiej , Macek Piotr , Dziadkowiec-Macek Barbara , Truszkiewicz Krystian , Poręba Rafał , Gać Paweł
Published: April 2023

We discussed the contemporary views on the effects of ionising radiation on living organisms and the process of estimating radiation doses in CT examinations and the definitions of the CTDI, CTDIvol, DLP, SSDE, ED. We reviewed the reports from large analyses on the radiation doses in CT examinations of the coronary arteries prior to TAVI procedures, including the CRESCENT, PROTECTION, German Cardiac CT Registry studies. These studies were carried out over the last 10 years and can help confront the daily practice of performing cardiovascular CT examinations in most centres. The reference dose levels for these examinations were also collected. The methods to optimise the radiation dose included tube voltage reduction, ECG-monitored tube current modulation, iterative and deep learning reconstruction techniques, a reduction in the scan range, prospective study protocols, automatic exposure control, heart rate control, rational use of the calcium score, multi-slices and dual-source and wide-field tomography. We also present the studies that indicated the need to raise the organ conversion factor for cardiovascular studies from the 0.014–0.017 mSv/mGy*cm used for chest studies to date to a value of 0.0264–0.03 mSv/mGy*cm.
Low-Dose Chest CT Protocols for Imaging COVID-19 Pneumonia: Technique Parameters and Radiation Dose
Authors: Suliman Ibrahim I. , Khouqeer Ghada A. , Ahmed Nada A. , Abuzaid Mohamed M. , Sulieman Abdelmoneim
Published: April 2023

Chest computed tomography (CT) plays a vital role in the early diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up of COVID-19 pneumonia during the pandemic. However, this raises concerns about excessive exposure to ionizing radiation. This study aimed to survey radiation doses in low-dose chest CT (LDCT) and ultra-low-dose chest CT (ULD) protocols used for imaging COVID-19 pneumonia relative to standard CT (STD) protocols so that the best possible practice and dose reduction techniques could be recommended. A total of 564 articles were identified by searching major scientific databases, including ISI Web of Science, Scopus, and PubMed. After evaluating the content and applying the inclusion criteria to technical factors and radiation dose metrics relevant to the LDCT protocols used for imaging COVID-19 patients, data from ten articles were extracted and analyzed. Technique factors that affect the application of LDCT and ULD are discussed, including tube current (mA), peak tube voltage (kVp), pitch factor, and iterative reconstruction (IR) algorithms. The CTDIvol values for the STD, LDCT, and ULD chest CT protocols ranged from 2.79–13.2 mGy, 0.90–4.40 mGy, and 0.20–0.28 mGy, respectively. The effective dose (ED) values for STD, LDCT, and ULD chest CT protocols ranged from 1.66–6.60 mSv, 0.50–0.80 mGy, and 0.39–0.64 mSv, respectively. Compared with the standard (STD), LDCT reduced the dose reduction by a factor of 2–4, whereas ULD reduced the dose reduction by a factor of 8–13. These dose reductions were achieved by applying scan parameters and techniques such as iterative reconstructions, ultra-long pitches, and fast spectral shaping with a tin filter. Using LDCT, the cumulative radiation dose of serial CT examinations during the acute period of COVID-19 may have been inferior or equivalent to that of conventional CT.
Expression of Glucose Transporters 1 and 3 in the Placenta of Pregnant Women with Gestational Diabetes Mellitus
Authors: Aldahmash Waleed , Harrath Abdel Halim , Aljerian Khaldoon , Sabr Yasser , Alwasel Saleh
Published: April 2023

Background: The annual prevalence of gestational diabetes mellitus—characterized by an increase in blood glucose in pregnant women—has been increasing worldwide. The goal of this study was to evaluate the expression of glucose transporter 1 (GLUT1) and glucose transporter 3 (GLUT3) in the placenta of women with gestational diabetes mellitus. Methods: Sixty-five placentas from women admitted to the King Saud University Medical City, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, were analyzed; 34 and 31 placentas were from healthy pregnant women and women with gestational diabetes, respectively. The expressions of GLUT1 and GLUT3 were assessed using RT-PCR, Western blotting, and immunohistochemical methods. The degree of apoptosis in the placental villi was estimated via a TUNEL assay. Results: The results of the protein expression assays and immunohistochemical staining showed that the levels of GLUT1 and GLUT3 were significantly higher in the placentas of pregnant women with gestational diabetes than those in the placentas of healthy pregnant women. In addition, the findings showed an increase in apoptosis in the placenta of pregnant women with gestational diabetes compared to that in the placenta of healthy pregnant women. However, the results of gene expression assays showed no significant difference between the two groups. Conclusions: Based on these results, we conclude that gestational diabetes mellitus leads to an increased incidence of apoptosis in the placental villi and alters the level of GLUT1 and GLUT3 protein expressions in the placenta of women with gestational diabetes. Understanding the conditions in which the fetus develops in the womb of a pregnant woman with gestational diabetes may help researchers understand the underlying causes of the development of chronic diseases later in life.
Sacubitril/Valsartan Improves Left Atrial and Ventricular Strain and Strain Rate in Patients with Heart Failure with Reduced Ejection Fraction
Authors: Brás Pedro Garcia , Gonçalves António Valentim , Branco Luísa Moura , Moreira Rita Ilhão , Pereira-da-Silva Tiago , Galrinho Ana , Timóteo Ana Teresa , Rio Pedro , Leal Ana , Gameiro Fernanda , Soares Rui M. , Ferreira Rui Cruz
Published: April 2023

Background: Data on the impact of sacubitril/valsartan (SV) therapy on phasic left atrial (LA) and left ventricular (LV) strain in heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) are limited. The aim of this study was to evaluate changes in two-dimensional speckle tracking (2D-STE) parameters with SV therapy in HFrEF patients. Methods: Prospective evaluation of HFrEF patients receiving optimized medical therapy. Two-dimensional speckle tracking (2D-STE) parameters were assessed at baseline and after 6 months of SV therapy. LA strain and strain rate (SR) in reservoir, conduit, and contraction phases were compared with LV longitudinal, radial, and circumferential strain and SR and stratified according to heart rhythm and HFrEF etiology. Results: A total of 35 patients completed the 6-month follow-up, with a mean age of 59 ± 11 years, 40% in atrial fibrillation, 43% with ischemic etiology, and LVEF of 29 ± 6%. There were significant improvements in LA reservoir, conduit, and contractile strain and SR following SV therapy, particularly among patients in sinus rhythm. There were significant improvements in longitudinal, radial, and circumferential LV function indices. Conclusion: SV therapy in HFrEF was associated with improved longitudinal, radial, and circumferential function, particularly among patients in sinus rhythm. These findings can provide insights into the mechanisms underlying the improvement of cardiac function and help assess subclinical responses to the treatment.
Impact of Pulse Parameters of a DC Power Generator on the Microstructural and Mechanical Properties of Sputtered AlN Film with In-Situ OES Data Analysis
Authors: Zhou Wei-Yu , Chen Hsuan-Fan , Tseng Xue-Li , Lo Hsiao-Han , Wang Peter J. , Jiang Ming-Yu , Fuh Yiin-Kuen , Li Tomi T.
Published: April 2023

In the present study, the sputtered aluminum nitride (AlN) films were processed in a reactive pulsed DC magnetron system. We applied a total of 15 different design of experiments (DOEs) on DC pulsed parameters (reverse voltage, pulse frequency, and duty cycle) with Box–Behnken experimental method and response surface method (RSM) to establish a mathematical model by experimental data for interpreting the relationship between independent and response variables. For the characterization of AlN films on the crystal quality, microstructure, thickness, and surface roughness, X-ray diffraction (XRD), atomic force microscopy (AFM), and field emission-scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) were utilized. AlN films have different microstructures and surface roughness under different pulse parameters. In addition, in-situ optical emission spectroscopy (OES) was employed to monitor the plasma in real-time, and its data were analyzed by principal component analysis (PCA) for dimensionality reduction and data preprocessing. Through the CatBoost modeling and analysis, we predicted results from XRD in full width at half maximum (FWHM) and SEM in grain size. This investigation identified the optimal pulse parameters for producing high-quality AlN films as a reverse voltage of 50 V, a pulse frequency of 250 kHz, and a duty cycle of 80.6061%. Additionally, a predictive CatBoost model for obtaining film FWHM and grain size was successfully trained.
Investigation of MAF for Finishing the Inner Wall of Super-Slim Cardiovascular Stents Tube
Authors: Liu Guangxin , Zhao Yugang , Li Zhihao , Cao Chen , Meng Jianbing , Yu Hanlin , Zhang Haiyun
Published: April 2023

The internal wall of cardiovascular stent tubing produced by a drawing process has defects such as pits and bumps, making the surface rough and unusable. In this research, the challenge of finishing the inner wall of a super-slim cardiovascular stent tube was solved by magnetic abrasive finishing. Firstly, a spherical CBN magnetic abrasive was prepared by a new method, plasma molten metal powders bonding with hard abrasives; then, a magnetic abrasive finishing device was developed to remove the defect layer from the inner wall of ultrafine long cardiovascular stent tubing; finally, response surface tests were performed and parameters were optimized. The results show that the prepared spherical CBN magnetic abrasive has a perfect spherical appearance; the sharp cutting edges cover the surface layer of the iron matrix; the developed magnetic abrasive finishing device for a ultrafine long cardiovascular stent tube meets the processing requirements; the process parameters are optimized by the established regression model; and the inner wall roughness (Ra) of the nickel–titanium alloy cardiovascular stents tube is reduced from 0.356 μm to 0.083 μm, with an error of 4.3% from the predicted value. Magnetic abrasive finishing effectively removed the inner wall defect layer and reduced the roughness, and this solution provides a reference for polishing the inner wall of ultrafine long tubes.
A Comprehensive View of the Optimization of Chromium (VI) Processing through the Application of Electrocoagulation Using a Pair of Steel Electrodes
Authors: Pikna Ľubomír , Heželová Mária , Remeteiová Dagmar , Ružičková Silvia , Findorák Róbert , Briančin Jaroslav
Published: April 2023

In the presented article, an electrocoagulation method using a steel cathode and a steel anode was used to obtain chromium from laboratory-prepared model solutions with known compositions. The study aimed to analyze the effect of solution conductivity, pH, and 100% efficiency of chromium removal from the solution, as well as the highest possible Cr/Fe ratio in the final solid product throughout the process of electrocoagulation. Different concentrations of chromium (VI) (100, 1000, and 2500 mg/L) and different pH values (4.5, 6, and 8) were investigated. Various solution conductivities were provided by the addition of 1000, 2000, and 3000 mg/L of NaCl to the studied solutions. Chromium removal efficiency equal to 100% was achieved for all studied model solutions for different experiment times, depending on the selected current intensity. The final solid product contained up to 15% chromium in the form of mixed FeCr hydroxides obtained under optimal experimental conditions: pH = 6, I = 0.1 A, and c (NaCl) = 3000 mg/L. The experiment indicated the advisability of using a pulsed change of electrode polarity, which led to a reduction in the time of the electrocoagulation process. The results may help in the rapid adjustment of the conditions for further electrocoagulation experiments, and they can be used as the optimization experimental matrix.
Cork Porous Biocomposites with Polyurethane Matrix Modified with Polyol Based on Used Cooking Oil
Authors: Kurańska Maria , Ptak Mariusz , Malewska Elżbieta , Prociak Aleksander , Barczewski Mateusz , Dymek Mateusz , Fernandes Fábio A. O. , de Sousa Ricardo Alves , Polaczek Krzysztof , Studniarz Karolina , Uram Katarzyna
Published: April 2023

Renewable materials are materials that are replenished naturally and can be used again and again. These materials include things such as bamboo, cork, hemp, and recycled plastic. The use of renewable components helps to reduce the dependence on petrochemical resources and reduce waste. Adopting these materials in various industries such as construction, packaging, and textiles can lead to a more sustainable future and decrease the carbon footprint. The presented research describes new porous polyurethane biocomposites based on used cooking oil polyol (50 per hundred polyol—php) modified with cork (3, 6, 9, and 12 php). The research described here demonstrated that it is possible to replace some petrochemical raw materials with raw materials of renewable origin. This was achieved by replacing one of the petrochemical components used for the synthesis of the polyurethane matrix with a waste vegetable oil component. The modified foams were analyzed in terms of their apparent density, coefficient of thermal conductivity, compressive strength at 10% of deformation, brittleness, short-term water absorption, thermal stability, and water vapor permeability, while their morphology was examined using scanning electron microscopy and the content of closed cells. After the successful introduction of a bio-filler, it was found that the thermal insulation properties of the modified biomaterials were comparable to those of the reference material. It was concluded that it is possible to replace some petrochemical raw materials with raw materials of renewable origin.
In-Depth Evaluation of Ultrasonically Welded Al/Cu Joint: Plastic Deformation, Microstructural Evolution, and Correlation with Mechanical Properties
Authors: Li Junqi , Zillner Johannes , Balle Frank
Published: April 2023

Ultrasonic metal welding (USMW) is widely used in assembling lithium-ion (Li-ion) battery packs due to its advantages in joining dissimilar and conductive materials in the solid state. However, the welding process and mechanisms are not yet clearly understood. In this study, dissimilar joints of aluminum alloy EN AW 1050 to copper alloy EN CW 008A were welded by USMW to simulate the tab-to-bus bar interconnects for Li-ion battery assembly. Qualitative and quantitative investigations were carried out on plastic deformation, microstructural evolution, and the correlated mechanical properties. During USMW, the plastic deformation concentrated on the Al side. The thickness of Al was reduced by more than 30%; complex dynamic recrystallization and grain growth occurred near the weld interface. The mechanical performance of the Al/Cu joint was evaluated with the tensile shear test. The failure load gradually increased until a welding duration of 400 ms, and then remained almost constant. The obtained results showed that the mechanical properties were greatly influenced by plastic deformation and microstructure evolution, which provides guidance for improving the weld quality and the process in general.
Design and Stability Analysis of Sliding Mode Controller for Non-Holonomic Differential Drive Mobile Robots
Authors: Azar Ahmad Taher , Abed Azher M. , Abdul-Majeed Farah Ayad , Hameed Ibrahim A. , Jawad Anwar Ja’afar Mohamad , Abdul-Adheem Wameedh Riyadh , Ibraheem Ibraheem Kasim , Kamal Nashwa Ahmad
Published: April 2023

This paper presents a novel extended state observer (ESO) approach for a class of plants with nonlinear dynamics. The proposed observer estimates both the state variables and the total disturbance, which includes both exogenous and endogenous disturbance. The study’s changes can be summarized by developing a sliding mode higher-order extended state observer with a higher-order augmented state and a nonlinear function for the estimation error correction terms (SMHOESO). By including multiple enhanced states, the proposed observer can monitor total disturbances asymptotically, with the second derivative of the total disturbance serving as an upper constraint on the estimation error. This feature improves the observer’s ability to estimate higher-order disturbances and uncertainty. To extend the concept of the linear extended state observer (LESO), a nonlinear function can modify the estimation error in such a way that the proposed observer can provide faster and more accurate estimations of the state and total disturbance. The proposed nonlinearity also reduces the chattering issue with LESOs. This research thoroughly examines and analyzes the proposed SMHOESO’s convergence using the Lyapunov technique. According to this analysis, the SMHOESO is asymptotically stable, and the estimation error can be significantly reduced under real-world conditions. In addition to the SMHOESO, a modified Active Disturbance Rejection Control (ADRC) scheme is built, which includes a nonlinear state error feedback (NLSEF) controller and a nonlinear tracking differentiator (TD). Several nonlinear models, including the Differential Drive Mobile Robot (DDMR), are numerically simulated, and the proposed SMHOESO is compared to several alternative types, demonstrating a significant reduction in controller energy, increased control signal smoothness, and accurate tracking of the reference signal.
Hybridization of a Backhoe Loader: Electric Drive System Design
Authors: Brandao Dener A. de L. , Ramos Mariana de F. , Parreiras Thiago M. , Maia Thales A. C. , Pires Igor A. , Corrêa Tomás P. , Cardoso Filho Braz de J. , Nascimento Anderson
Published: April 2023

Heavy machinery is critical to agriculture, construction, mining, and other sectors of a country’s economy. However, such vehicles consume a high amount of fuel, increasing production costs and the emission of polluting gases into the atmosphere. One of the alternatives to reduce fuel consumption is the electrification of these vehicles, but the definition of an optimal topology for the electrification of heavy vehicles is still under study, and works with electric drive systems projects for these machines are scarce. This paper presents the main characteristics of the design of an electric drive system for the electrification of a backhoe, including the control and simulation of the motor drive system, and presents a prototype bench and experimental tests carried out in the context of the hybridization topology presented. Based in these results, improvements are proposed and discussed with aid of computational simulation.
Zero-Field Slow Magnetic Relaxation in Binuclear Dy Acetylacetonate Complex with Pyridine-N-Oxide
Authors: Shtefanets Valeriya P. , Shilov Gennady V. , Korchagin Denis V. , Yureva Elena A. , Dmitriev Alexei I. , Zhidkov Mikhail V. , Morgunov Roman B. , Sanina Nataliya A. , Aldoshin Sergey M.
Published: April 2023

A new complex [Dy(C5H7O2)3(C5H5NO)]2·2CHCl3 (1) has been synthesized by the reaction of pyridine-N-oxide with dysprosium (III) acetylacetonate in an n-heptane/chloroform mixture (1/20). X-ray data show that each dysprosium atom is chelate-like coordinated by three acetylacetonate ligands and the oxygen atom from two bridging molecules of pyridine-N-oxide, which unite the dysprosium atoms into a binuclear complex. Static (constant current) and dynamic (alternating current) investigations and ab initio calculations of the magnetic properties of complex 1 were performed. The complex was shown to exhibit a frequency maximum under alternating current. At temperatures above 10 K, the maximum shifts to a higher frequency, which is characteristic of SMM behavior. It is established that the dependence of ln(τ) on 1/T for the relaxation process is nonlinear, which indicates the presence of Raman relaxation mechanisms, along with the Orbach mechanism.
Nylon-6-Coated Doxorubicin-Loaded Magnetic Nanoparticles and Nanocapsules for Cancer Treatment
Authors: Kovrigina Ekaterina , Poletaeva Yuliya , Zheng Yanfang , Chubarov Alexey , Dmitrienko Elena
Published: April 2023

Nanoplatforms used for the loading of anticancer drugs constitute a promising approach to cancer treatment and reducing the side effects of these drugs. Among the cutting-edge systems used in this area are magnetic nanocomposites (MNCs) and nanocapsules (NCs). MNCs are considered to constitute a smart tool for magnetic-field-guided targeted drug delivery, magnetic resonance imaging, and hyperthermia therapy. Nanocapsules offer great potential due to their ability to control drug-loading capacity, their release efficiency, their stability, and the ease with which their surfaces can be modified. This study proposes a method for the development of nylon-6-coated MNCs and nylon-6 polymeric membrane NCs. A biocompatible nylon-6 polymer was first used for NC synthesis. Oleic-acid-modified and non-modified Fe3O4 nanoparticles were synthesized for the production of nylon-coated MNCs. Dynamic light scattering (DLS), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and ζ-potential measurements were used to perform size, morphology, and charge analyses. The above-mentioned two types of MNCs were considered templates for the manufacture of nylon nanocapsules, leading to NCs with different charges and structures. The developed oleic-acid-coated nylon-6 MNCs and NCs showed excellent loading values of the chemotherapy drug doxorubicin (DOX) of up to 732 and 943 µg/mg (DOX/MNC or NC), respectively. On the contrary, the capacity of the nano-construction that was not modified with oleic acid did not exceed 140 µg/mg. The DOX-loaded nanosystems displayed pH-sensitive drug release properties, for which the highest efficiency was observed at an acidic pH. The series of DOX-loaded MNCs and NCs inhibited A549 and HEK 293FT cell lines, with the lowest IC50 value of 0.31 µM observed for the nanocapsules, which is a 1.5-fold lower concentration than the free DOX. Therefore, the presented nanoscale systems offer great potential for cancer treatment.
A Text-Oriented Fault Diagnosis Method for Electromechanical Device Based on Belief Rule Base
Authors: Chen Manlin , Zhou Zhijie , Han Xiaoxia , Feng Zhichao
Published: April 2023

At present, quantitative data is often used for fault diagnosis of electromechanical devices, while qualitative data in the form of text is rarely used. In order to integrate qualitative data in the form of text and quantitative data in the fault diagnosis of an electromechanical device, a text-oriented fault diagnosis method based on belief rule base (BRB) is proposed in this paper. Specifically, the key information of fault diagnosis is extracted from the text through natural language processing (NLP) and then converted into belief rules. Then, a rule supplement method is adopted to add the extracted belief rules to the BRB for the completion of the BRB construction. This method applies qualitative data in the form of text to the process of BRB construction, which is a new attempt at the BRB construction method. It not only solves the problem that BRB cannot use qualitative data in text form but also improves the modeling accuracy and data comprehensive processing ability of BRB. To verify the effectiveness of the algorithm, we designed an experiment of asynchronous motor fault diagnosis in the case study. The experimental result shows that the proposed method can use qualitative data in text form to construct BRB and effectively diagnose faults of asynchronous motors. The MSE of the proposed method is 0.0451, which is better than that of traditional BRB (0.1461), BP (0.0613), and SVR (0.0974) under the same experimental conditions.
CISA: Context Substitution for Image Semantics Augmentation
Authors: Nesteruk Sergey , Zherebtsov Ilya , Illarionova Svetlana , Shadrin Dmitrii , Somov Andrey , Bezzateev Sergey V. , Yelina Tatiana , Denisenko Vladimir , Oseledets Ivan
Published: April 2023

Large datasets catalyze the rapid expansion of deep learning and computer vision. At the same time, in many domains, there is a lack of training data, which may become an obstacle for the practical application of deep computer vision models. To overcome this problem, it is popular to apply image augmentation. When a dataset contains instance segmentation masks, it is possible to apply instance-level augmentation. It operates by cutting an instance from the original image and pasting to new backgrounds. This article challenges a dataset with the same objects present in various domains. We introduce the Context Substitution for Image Semantics Augmentation framework (CISA), which is focused on choosing good background images. We compare several ways to find backgrounds that match the context of the test set, including Contrastive Language–Image Pre-Training (CLIP) image retrieval and diffusion image generation. We prove that our augmentation method is effective for classification, segmentation, and object detection with different dataset complexity and different model types. The average percentage increase in accuracy across all the tasks on a fruits and vegetables recognition dataset is 4.95%. Moreover, we show that the Fréchet Inception Distance (FID) metrics has a strong correlation with model accuracy, and it can help to choose better backgrounds without model training. The average negative correlation between model accuracy and the FID between the augmented and test datasets is 0.55 in our experiments.