bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
RETRACTED: The Effect of Vacuum Annealing Temperature on the Properties of AlCrTiSiN Coating Prepared by Arc Ion Plating
Authors: Zhu Qiang , Liu Yanmei , Cong Wanqi , Chang Dongmei , Fan Qixiang , Cao Fengting , Wang Tie-Gang
Published: March 2022

In order to further improve the mechanical and tribological properties of AlCrTiSiN coating, annealing treatment was carried out in this work. X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), nanoindentation, scratch tester, friction, and a wear tester were used to characterize and explore the effects of annealing temperature on the coating composition, phase component, surface and cross-sectional morphology, and mechanical properties as well as the friction and wear performance of the AlCrTiSiN coatings. The results indicated that after the vacuum annealing the content of amorphous phase decreased and the average size of nanocrystals increased in varying degrees. With the increase in annealing temperature the coating surface became smoother and the cross-section morphology changed little. The coating hardness first increased and then decreased. The adhesion between the coating and substrate decreased after annealing, but the wear resistance was improved. When the annealing temperature was 800 °C, the mechanical properties and wear resistance of the resulting coating were the best. In this case, the coating hardness was 27 GPa, the critical load was 61 N, the friction coefficient was 0.66, and the wear rate was 1.97 × 10−3 μm3/N·μm−1.
Environmental Fatigue Behavior of a Z3CN20.09M Stainless Steel in High Temperature Water
Authors: Fang Kewei , Luo Kunjie , Wang Li , Li Chengtao , Wang Lei , Qiao Yanxin
Published: March 2022

The low-cycle fatigue behavior of a Z3CN20.09M austenitic stainless steel was investigated and its fatigue life in high temperature water was compared to that in the air at room temperature. It is found that the fatigue life in water at 300 °C was shorter than that in air, and it decreased with the decreasing strain rate from 0.4% to 0.004%/s. The ductile striations having streamed down features were observed at the strain rate of 0.004%/s, indicating that Z3CN20.09M austenitic stainless steel experienced anodic dissolution. The fatigue life obtained in the present experiment was consistent with that using prediction models.
Facile In Situ Growth of Zif-8 Nanosheets with Enhanced Anti-Corrosion Performance for Carbon Steel in Seawater
Authors: Zhang Zhishu , Liu Qingjian , Qi Gaocan
Published: March 2022

Carbon steel is one of the most important and widely used structural materials, but preventing its corrosion remains a great challenge. Herein, a metal–organic framework film consisting of Zif-8 nanosheets array was prepared using a one-step in situ growth method. This coating film can effectively inhibit the corrosion behavior of low carbon steel in seawater, resulting in improved corrosion resistance (4010 Ω·cm−2) and low corrosion current density (23 μA·cm−2). After long-term immersion in seawater, no notable pitting corrosion was observed and the film integrity was well preserved, demonstrating the feasibility of Zif-8 film for anti-corrosion coating.
Polypyrrole-Coated Melamine Sponge as a Precursor for Conducting Macroporous Nitrogen-Containing Carbons
Authors: Stejskal Jaroslav , Vilčáková Jarmila , Jurča Marek , Fei Haojie , Trchová Miroslava , Kolská Zdeňka , Prokeš Jan , Křivka Ivo
Published: March 2022

Macroporous open-cell melamine sponges were coated with a conducting polymer, polypyrrole, during in-situ oxidative polymerization of pyrrole. Two samples, differing in polypyrrole content, 8.2 and 27.4 wt%, were prepared. They were exposed to various temperatures up to 700 °C in an inert atmosphere. The macroporous structure and mechanical integrity were preserved after this process. This converted both the polypyrrole coating and the melamine sponge to macroporous nitrogen-containing carbons. The changes in molecular structure in the course of carbonization were followed by elemental analysis and FTIR and Raman spectra. The specific surface area of polypyrrole-coated sponge increased from ca. 90 to ca. 300 m2 g−1 along with accompanying increase in the porosity. The conductivity of the sponges was recorded as a function of compression in a newly developed apparatus. The sponge containing 27.4 wt% pyrrole had conductivity of the order of 10−2 S·cm−1 at 0.1 MPa pressure, which was reduced by four orders of magnitude when exposed to 400–500 °C and nearly recovered after the temperature reached 700 °C. The sponges were tested in electromagnetic radiation shielding and displayed both radiation absorption and, to a lower extent, radiation reflection proportional mainly to the samples’ conductivity.
Electrochemical Corrosion of Titanium and Titanium Alloys Anodized in H2SO4 and H3PO4 Solutions
Authors: Jáquez-Muñoz Jesús , Gaona-Tiburcio Citlalli , Chacón-Nava José , Cabral-Miramontes Jose , Nieves-Mendoza Demetrio , Maldonado-Bandala Erick , Delgado Anabel , Flores-De los Rios Juan , Bocchetta Patrizia , Almeraya-Calderón Facundo
Published: March 2022

Titanium and its alloys have superior electrochemical properties compared to other alloy systems due to the formation of a protective TiO2 film on metal surfaces. The ability to generate the protective oxide layer will depend upon the type of alloy to be used. The aim of this work was to characterize the electrochemical corrosion behavior of titanium Ti-CP2 and alloys Ti-6Al-2Sn-4Zr-2Mo, Ti-6Al-4V, and Ti Beta-C. Samples were anodized in 1 M H2SO4 and H3PO4 solutions with a current density of 0.025 A/cm2. Electrochemical tests on anodized alloys were carried out using a three-electrode cell and exposed in two electrolytes, i.e., 3.5 wt % NaCl and 3.5 wt % H2SO4 solutions at room temperature. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used to observe the morphology of anodized surfaces. The electrochemical techniques used were cyclic potentiodynamic polarization (CPP) and electrochemical noise (EN), based on the ASTM-G61 and G199 standards. Regarding EN, two methods of data analysis were used: the frequency domain (power spectral density, PSD) and time-frequency domain (discrete wavelet transform). For non-anodized alloys, the results by CCP and EN indicate icorr values of ×10−6 A/cm2. However, under anodizing conditions, the icorr values vary from ×10−7 to ×10−9 A/cm2. The PSD Ψ0 values are higher for non-anodized alloys, while in anodized conditions, the values range from −138/−122 dBi (A2·Hz−1)1/2 to −131/−180 dBi (A2·Hz−1)1/2. Furthermore, the results indicated that the alloys anodized in the H3PO4 bath showed an electrochemical behavior that can be associated with a more homogeneous passive layer when exposed to the 3.5 wt % NaCl electrolyte. Alloys containing more beta-phase stabilizers formed a less homogeneous anodized layer. These alloys are widely used in aeronautical applications; thus, it is essential that these alloys have excellent corrosion performance in chloride and acid rain environments.
Multimodal Lip-Reading for Tracheostomy Patients in the Greek Language
Authors: Voutos Yorghos , Drakopoulos Georgios , Chrysovitsiotis Georgios , Zachou Zoi , Kikidis Dimitris , Kyrodimos Efthymios , Exarchos Themis
Published: March 2022

Voice loss constitutes a crucial disorder which is highly associated with social isolation. The use of multimodal information sources, such as, audiovisual information, is crucial since it can lead to the development of straightforward personalized word prediction models which can reproduce the patient’s original voice. In this work we designed a multimodal approach based on audiovisual information from patients before loss-of-voice to develop a system for automated lip-reading in the Greek language. Data pre-processing methods, such as, lip-segmentation and frame-level sampling techniques were used to enhance the quality of the imaging data. Audio information was incorporated in the model to automatically annotate sets of frames as words. Recurrent neural networks were trained on four different video recordings to develop a robust word prediction model. The model was able to correctly identify test words in different time frames with 95% accuracy. To our knowledge, this is the first word prediction model that is trained to recognize words from video recordings in the Greek language.
Prospecting In Vitro Antioxidant and Photoprotective Properties of Rosmarinic Acid in a Sunscreen System Developed by QbD Containing Octyl p-Methoxycinnamate and Bemotrizinol
Authors: Cândido Thalita Marcílio , Ariede Maíra Bueno , Pinto Claudinéia Aparecida Sales de Oliveira , Lourenço Felipe Rebello , Rosado Catarina , Velasco Maria Valéria Robles , Baby André Rolim
Published: March 2022

Progressively growing diagnoses of skin cancer trigger public health concerns about excessive sun exposure, awareness of the deleterious effects of ultraviolet (UV) radiation on the skin, and the proper use of sunscreens. Studies show that bioactive molecules, such as rosmarinic acid (RA), may potentiate the photoprotective and antioxidant activity of topical formulations. This research presents the application of the concepts of quality by design (QbD) to evaluate the critical parameters of quality and the development of an optimized cosmetic formulation with RA by means of an understanding of product design space. Samples were developed using design of experiments (DoE) and they were evaluated for in vitro antioxidant activity and photoprotective efficacy, as well as for photostability through artificial irradiation. We were able to achieve the RA performance regarding antioxidant and SPF properties through in vitro experiments. We obtained the equations for predicting the in vitro antioxidant activity and SPF. Considering our sunscreen system, developed with octyl p-methoxycinnamate and bemotrizinol, the presence of RA increased its antioxidant capacity; however, the in vitro SPF was reduced when both UV filters were used. The development of multifunctional sunscreens is of utmost importance; moreover, there is a need for the rational development of formulations that ensure representative statistical tests of the effects and interactions among the components of a formulation on the desired critical quality attributes, including efficacy.
Investigation of Lattice Plasmon Modes in 2D Arrays of Au Nanoantennas
Authors: Ferraro Antonio , Djouda Joseph Marae , Lio Giuseppe Emanuele , Lévêque Gaëtan , Adam Pierre-Michel , Umeton Cesare Paolo , Maurer Thomas , Caputo Roberto
Published: March 2022

The coupling of gold nanoantennas (AuNAs) in the arrangement of monomers in bidimensional gratings is investigated both experimentally and numerically. The influence of edge diffraction, corresponding to the grazing propagation of specific diffracted orders, and the dependence of grating parameters on lattice plasmon modes are studied. It is shown that the grating pitch influences the spectral position of the Rayleigh wavelength related to the grazing diffraction in air and/or in glass. In order to investigate the effect of diffraction and its interplay with the Rayleigh wavelength, extinction measurements with different incidence angles are carried out. For incidence angles above θ=20∘, along with the excitation of quadrupolar and vertical modes, very narrow dips or sharp excitations are observed in the spectra. These ones strongly depend on the respective spectral position of Rayleigh anomaly and specific dipolar mode, on the propagation direction of the grazing diffraction, and on the considered plasmon mode. These features are explained in the light of numerical calculations obtained with Green’s tensor method. All the above different characteristics and couplings are of great practical interest, especially for a possible implementation in biosensor devices and for other technological applications spanning from precision medicine and life science to telecommunications and energy systems.
Anharmonic Motion in the Crystal Structure of 2-Mercaptopyridone
Authors: Lutz Martin , Smak Tom J. , Sanderse Arnaud T.
Published: March 2022

With the present study, we revise earlier results about the title compound 2-mercaptopyridone in which the deformation density was determined from an X–N study in 1982 (X-ray, neutron diffraction). In the current X–X study (X-ray, X-ray), anharmonic motion parameters for the atoms were included and it resulted in a very clean deformation density map without the unexplainable features of the literature results. The presence of anharmonic effects is supported by a study of the thermal expansion in the temperature range 100–260 K. A topological study of the electron density confirms a bond length alternation in the six-membered ring. The calculation of the electrostatic potential indicates that the N–H⋯S hydrogen bond is an electrostatic interaction, and that other attractive intermolecular contacts are probably dispersive.
Real-World Evidence of Systemic Therapy Sequencing on Overall Survival for Patients with Metastatic BRAF-Mutated Cutaneous Melanoma
Authors: Kartolo Adi , Deluce Jasna , Hopman Wilma M. , Liu Linda , Baetz Tara , Ernst Scott , Lenehan John G.
Published: March 2022

Aim: To evaluate optimal systemic therapy sequencing (first-line targeted therapy (1L-TT) vs. first-line immunotherapy (1L-IO)) in patients with BRAF-mutated metastatic melanoma. Methods: Nation-wide prospective data of patients with newly diagnosed BRAF-mutated metastatic melanoma were retrieved from the Canadian Melanoma Research Network. Results: Our study included 79 and 107 patients in the 1L-IO and 1L-TT groups, respectively. There were more patients with ECOG 0–1 (91% vs. 72%, p = 0.023) in the 1L-IO group compared to the 1L-TT group. Multivariable Cox analysis suggested no OS differences between the two groups (HR 0.838, 95%CI 0.502–1.400, p = 0.500). However, patients who received 1L-TT then 2L-IO had the longest OS compared to 1L-IO without 2L therapy, 1L-IO then 2L-TT, and 1L-TT without 2L therapy (38.3 vs. 32.2 vs. 16.9 vs. 6.3 months, p < 0.001). For patients who received 2L therapy, those who received 2L-IO had a trend towards OS improvement compared with the 2L-TT group (21.7 vs. 8.9 months, p = 0.053). Conclusions: Our nation-wide prospective study failed to establish any optimal systemic therapy sequencing in advanced BRAF-mutant melanoma patients. Nevertheless, we provided evidence that immunotherapy has durable efficacy in advanced BRAF-mutant melanoma patients, regardless of treatment line, and that Canadian medical oncologists were selecting the appropriate treatment sequences in a real-world setting, based on patients’ clinical and tumour characteristics.
Diversifying of Two Pampus Species across the Indo–Pacific Barrier and the Origin of the Genus
Authors: Fan Gong , Yin Guoxing , Sarker Anirban , Li Chenhong
Published: March 2022

Among marine species distributed in the Indian Ocean and the Pacific, the Indo–Pacific Barrier (IPB) has been found to be an important barrier of divergence of species distributed on both sides. Among the five species of the genus Pampus, only Pampus chinensis and P. cinereus are distributed across the western Pacific and the Indian Oceans and have not been studied comparatively using extensive sampling and gene markers. Furthermore, the origin and history of genus Pampus remain unrevealed. We used thousands of nuclear loci based on target gene enrichment to explore genetic structure of P. chinensis and P. cinereus across the western Pacific and Indian Oceans. We performed divergence dating and ancestral area reconstruction analysis and inferred the dispersal routes of the Pampus species. The results suggest that the IPB played an important role in the differentiation between populations among the two oceans for both P. chinensis and P. cinereus, dividing species into the Pacific lineage and the Indian Ocean lineage. Low sea level in the late Pleistocene may be the main cause. The result also showed that the South China Sea was the center of origin of the genus Pampus, and dispersal routes of each species may be associated with the ocean currents. Our study provided new examples for the IPB effect on marine species.
Provider–Patient Interactions as Predictors of Lifestyle Behaviors Related to the Prevention and Management of Diabetes
Authors: Robles Brenda , Kuo Tony
Published: March 2022

Growing evidence suggests that healthcare provider advice may reduce alcohol use, increase physical activity, and improve the adoption of other desirable lifestyle behaviors among patients. However, how brief interventions and other provider–patient interactions can shape the cumulative adoption of multiple modifiable behaviors is less well studied for diabetes prevention and control. Using weighted Internet panel survey data from a large socio-demographically diverse urban population in the United States (n = 1003), the present study describes differences in group characteristics among those who ‘had been ever diagnosed’ with prediabetes/diabetes versus those who had not. It also examines the associations between the cumulative adoption of lifestyle behaviors and each of the following: (a) lifetime prediabetes/diabetes diagnosis; (b) brief lifestyle intervention exposure (i.e., ever received provider encouragement to modify lifestyle behaviors); and (c) recent provider–patient communication about diabetes. There were several group differences among those who ‘had been ever diagnosed’ with prediabetes/diabetes versus those who had not, by age, employment status, health status, nutrition knowledge, blood pressure/hypertension diagnosis, and diabetes-related health behaviors (p < 0.05). Each of the three provider–patient interactions of interest were positively associated with a higher cumulative sum of adopted modifiable lifestyle behaviors for diabetes prevention and management. The results suggest that provider advice/provider–patient interactions of any type can have a salutary impact on whether individuals with prediabetes or type 2 diabetes will engage in recommended lifestyle behavior modifications.
Reduced Radiation Exposure Protocol during Computer Tomography of the Left Atrium Prior to Catheter Ablation in Patients with Atrial Fibrillation
Authors: Jadczyk Tomasz , Wolf Jiri , Pesl Martin , Soucek Filip , Lehar Frantisek , Jez Jiri , Kulik Tomas , Tyshchenko Bohdan , Belaskova Silvie , Ourednicek Petr , Caluori Guido , Novak Miroslav , Starek Zdenek
Published: March 2022

(1) Background: Computer tomography (CT) is an imaging modality used in the pre-planning of radiofrequency catheter ablation (RFA) procedure in patients with cardiac arrhythmias. However, it is associated with a considerable ionizing radiation dose for patients. This study aims to develop and validate low-dose CT scanning protocols of the left atrium (LA) for RFA guidance. (2) Methods: 68 patients scheduled for RFA of atrial fibrillation were sequentially assigned to four groups of ECG-gated scanning protocols, based on the set tube current (TC): Group A (n = 20, TC = 33 mAs), Group B (n = 18, TC = 67 mAs), Group C (n = 10, TC = 135 mAs), and control Group D (n = 20, TC = 600 mAs). We used a 256-row multidetector CT with body weight-dependent tube voltage of 80 kVp (<70 kg), 100 kVp (70–90 kg), and 120 kVp (>90 kg). We evaluated scanning parameters including radiation dose, total scanning procedure time and signal-to-noise ratio (SNR). (3) Results: The average effective radiation dose (ED) was lower in Group A in comparison to Group B, C and D (0.83 (0.76–1.10), 1.55 (1.36–1.67), 2.91 (2.32–2.96) and 9.35 (8.00–10.04) mSv, p < 0.05). The total amount of contrast media was not significantly different between groups. The mean SNR was 6.5 (5.8–7.3), 7.1 (5.7–8.2), 10.8 (10.1–11.3), and 12.2 (9.9–15.7) for Group A, B, C and D, respectively. The comparisons of SNR in group A vs. B and C vs. D were without significant differences. (4) Conclusions: Optimized pre-ablation CT scanning protocols of the LA can reduce an average ED by 88.7%. Three dimensional (3D) models created with the lowest radiation protocol are useful for the integration of electro-anatomic-guided RFA procedures.
Duplicating Complete Dentures with Conventional and Digital Methods: Comparisons of Trueness and Efficiency
Authors: Chen Li , Li Deli , Zhou Jianfeng , Lin Wei-Shao , Tan Jianguo
Published: March 2022

Background: A complete denture (CD) can be duplicated with a conventional or digital protocol. However, there are no comparative studies of these methods. This study aimed to compare the trueness and efficiency of conventional and digital CD duplication methods. Methods: A mandibular CD was digitized as the virtual reference model and duplicated using five methods (n = 10). The trueness (root mean square (RMS)) was calculated for the whole denture and across the dentition, cameo denture extension, and intaglio portions. The manual labor time spent during denture duplication was also recorded at different steps. The trueness and labor time comparisons were statistically analyzed among the five groups (α = 0.05). Results: The conventional group was the least true with the largest RMS (mean, 95% CI) in all of the comparisons. The four digital groups yielded similar trueness values across the dentition, cameo denture extension, and intaglio areas, yet they had a significant difference in the whole denture comparison between the Digital-CBCT-SLA printer (0.17, 0.15–0.19 mm) and Digital-Laboratory Scanner-SLA printer (0.13, 0.11–0.15 mm). The conventional protocol required longer trimming and finishing time (7.55 ± 1.02 min), as well as total labor time (27.64 ± 1.72 min) than the other four digital techniques. Conclusions: The conventional CD duplication method was less true and efficient than digital techniques.
A Comparison of Methods for the Production of Kilobase-Length Single-Stranded DNA
Authors: Oh Chang-Yong , Henderson Eric R.
Published: March 2022

DNA nanoengineering, in particular, DNA origami has potential applications in a variety of areas including, for example, nanoelectronics, biomedical diagnostics, and therapeutics. To fully realize the potential of DNA self-assembly in these and other areas, methods must be available for economical, scalable, and reliable production of single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) scaffolds from virtually any source. In this review, we will describe the virtues and liabilities of four strategies for generating ssDNA, including Rolling Circle Amplification (RCA), strand-specific exonuclease digestion, chemical denaturation, and asymmetric PCR (aPCR), with suggestions for approaches to optimize the use of each method.
How Big Is That Manta Ray? A Novel and Non-Invasive Method for Measuring Reef Manta Rays Using Small Drones
Authors: Setyawan Edy , Stevenson Ben C. , Izuan Muhamad , Constantine Rochelle , Erdmann Mark V.
Published: March 2022

This study explores the application of small, commercially available drones to determine morphometric the measurements and record key demographic parameters of reef manta rays (Mobula alfredi) in Raja Ampat, Indonesia. DJI Mavic 2 Pro drones were used to obtain videos of surface-feeding M. alfredi with a floating, known-length PVC pipe as a reference scale—thus avoiding the need to utilize altitude readings, which are known to be unreliable in small drones, in our photogrammetry approach. Three dimensions (disc length (DL), disc width (DW), and cranial width (CW)) from 86 different individuals were measured. A hierarchical multivariate model was used to estimate the true measurements of these three dimensions and their population-level multivariate distributions. The estimated true measurements of these dimensions were highly accurate and precise, with the measurement of CW more accurate than that of DL and, especially, of DW. Each pairing of these dimensions exhibited strong linear relationships, with estimated correlation coefficients ranging from 0.98–0.99. Given these, our model allows us to accurately calculate DW (as the standard measure of body size for mobulid rays) using the more accurate CW and DL measurements. We estimate that the smallest mature M. alfredi of each sex we measured were 274.8 cm (males, n = 30) and 323.5 cm DW (females, n = 8). We conclude that small drones are useful for providing an accurate “snapshot” of the size distribution of surface-feeding M. alfredi aggregations and for determining the sex and maturity of larger individuals, all with minimal impact on this vulnerable species.
A Multi-Data Geospatial Approach for Understanding Flood Risk in the Coastal Plains of Tamil Nadu, India
Authors: George Sekar Leo , Kantamaneni Komali , V Rasme Allat , Prasad Kumar Arun , Shekhar Sulochana , Panneer Sigamani , Rice Louis , Balasubramani Karuppusamy
Published: March 2022

The coastal plains of Tamil Nadu, India, are prone to floods, the most common disaster experienced in this region almost every year. This research aims to identify flood risks in the coastal plain region of Tamil Nadu, delineated through a watershed approach with 5020 micro-administrative units covering an area of about 26,000 sq. km. A comprehensive flood risk assessment covering hazard, vulnerability, and exposure parameters was carried out using multiple datasets derived from field surveys, satellite data, and secondary data sources. The flood hazard layer was prepared on a probability scale (0–1) with the help of Sentinel-1 Synthetic Aperture Radar data coupled with GIS-based water rise modelling using Shuttle Radar Topography Mission Digital Elevation Model (SRTM-DEM) and reports of the District Disaster Management Plans of 13 coastal districts. In addition, the National Resources Conservation Service-Curve Number (NRCS-CN) method was adopted to estimate surface runoff potential for identifying low probability flood-prone regions. The vulnerability and exposure of the population to flood hazards were determined using census and household data-based indicators. The different categories of built-up areas were delineated and intersected with the flood hazard layer to estimate elements at flood risk. An exhaustive field survey was conducted at 514 locations of the study area, targeting deprived communities of all major settlements to validate the flood hazard layer and understand the public perceptions. The amalgamation of results shows that very high flood risk prevails in the northern parts of coastal Tamil Nadu, especially the stretch between Chennai and Cuddalore. In addition, to provide baseline datasets for the first time at micro-administrative units for the entire coastal plains of Tamil Nadu, the study offers a pragmatic methodology for determining location-specific flood risks for policy interventions.
Introducing Food Sustainability in Formal Education: A Teaching-Learning Sequence Contextualized in the Garden for Secondary School Students
Authors: Eugenio-Gozalbo Marcia , Ramos-Truchero Guadalupe , Suárez-López Rafael , Andaluz Romanillos María Sagrario , Rees Susan
Published: March 2022

The purpose of this paper is to assess the impact of a garden-based teaching unit about “Food and Nutrition” on students’ knowledge and habits of sustainable healthy diets, and to compare it with that of a more traditional unit from a textbook. This communication is framed in a research project (EDUCYL2020-01 “Sembrando interés, cosechando competencia”, financed by the Consejería de Educación de la Junta de Castilla y León through the Dirección General de Innovación y Formación del Profesorado (ORDEN EDU/262/2020, de 9 de marzo, por la que se convoca la selección de proyectos de investigación educativa a desarrollar por equipos de profesores y equipos de inspectores que presten servicios educativos de la Comunidad de Castilla y León durante los cursos 2020/2021)) whose aim is to improve science education by approaching scientific topics of the official curriculum from a context-based strategy. The authors first designed a teaching-learning sequence, using an organic learning garden as a context, including real-life activities to promote reflection and debate among students. Such a sequence was implemented in a group of 40 students at the third course of Spanish compulsory secondary education, whose results were compared with those of a group of 15 students who followed the textbook. The impact was assessed by posing four open questions to students from the two groups, both at the beginning and the end of the instruction, whose answers were analyzed quantitatively and qualitatively. Results show that implementing the sequence constituted an educational improvement with respect to traditional teaching, since students’ answers on the topic were overall more comprehensive and evidenced better preparation for making real-life decisions. Students from the experimental group became more aware of the environmental impacts of human nutrition, and of sustainable healthy diets. It was also indicated that the health and nutrition-centered approach that still predominates in education needs to be overcome, and a sustainable approach needs to be taken. This is a novel study that leads a new line of research devoted to addressing education about sustainable food, which arises from the demands of raising awareness among citizens toward changing diets within the transition toward sustainable food systems.
Finnish University Students’ Views on Climate Change Education and Their Own Ability to Act as Climate Educators
Authors: Yli-Panula Eija , Jeronen Eila , Koskinen Salla , Mäki Sanna
Published: March 2022

Climate change (CC) has widespread impacts on human and natural systems and thus threatens the future of contemporary youths. Only a few studies on climate change education (CCE) have been published in Finland, and no research has been conducted on upper secondary education. Thus, this study investigated Finnish university students’ views on CCE in upper secondary schools. According to them, the most common goals in CCE are increasing and structuring knowledge, developing thinking skills, and encouraging action both today and in the future. The respondents considered preconceived notions and opinions stemming from their inner circles, the media, and social debate to be the most difficult factor in teaching about CC. CCE was perceived to provide either a weak or relatively weak capacity to follow a climate-friendly lifestyle. By increasing and diversifying teaching and strengthening multidisciplinarity, climate-friendly lifestyles can be improved. The respondents’ views on current and future CCE differed most clearly concerning motivation and inclusion, which are not prevalent in contemporary teaching. The results indicate, however, that the university students were motivated to increase and develop CCE, and according their answers, their own capacity to address different aspects of CCE was relatively good.
The Impact of Communication on the Effectiveness of Educational Organizations
Authors: Brinia Vasiliki , Selimi Panagiota , Dimos Alexandros , Kondea Anna
Published: March 2022

The purpose of this study was to research the level of satisfaction teachers received from communication within their working environment, their sense of the effectiveness of the institution itself, as well as the relationship between these factors. A quantitative method was used in the study. A total of 296 questionnaires were answered by teachers aged 25–64. Statistical analysis of the data was performed using the statistical software SPSS, while for the implementation of the statistical tests we applied the independent-samples T-test parametric, as well as one-way ANOVA, Kruskal–Wallis, and Mann–Whitney parametric statistical criteria. According to the results, the teachers showed high levels of satisfaction with the communication related to their feedback and believed that both parents and the local community do not participate actively in the school life. The development of an effective communication system within an educational institution can potentially become the driving force for effective functioning. The study complements the existing research on communication as a factor in the effectiveness of an educational organization. It highlights the dynamics of the teachers’ association to the greatest possible extent, attempting to link the communication factor to all aspects of school effectiveness.
Fabrication and Characterization of Micrometer Scale Graphene Structures for Large-Scale Ultra-Thin Electronics
Authors: Planillo Jordan , Alves Fabio
Published: March 2022

Graphene offers many useful properties that can revolutionize modern electronic devices. Specifically, it provides high charge carrier mobility in a mechanically robust, atomically thin form factor. Many of these properties are observed in graphene which is prepared from exfoliated graphite and processed with electron beam lithography. These processes are both time intensive and cost- prohibitive for the large-scale production necessary for use in consumer electronics. This work details the processing and characterization of commercially available graphene from chemical vapor deposition (CVD) on SiO2/Si and on hBN-layered SiO2/Si wafers using conventional photolithography on the 4″ wafer standard. The findings indicate that the CVD graphene films are resilient after processing even for lengths up to 1 mm. Electrical characterization via resistance measurements and the Hall Effect at room temperature clearly indicates the influence of the substrate material on the graphene’s electrical properties. At these length scales, graphene on SiO2 resembles that of a lightly doped semiconductor in terms of its carrier density (7.8 × 1015 cm−2), yet its carrier mobility (2.6 cm2/Vs) resembles that of a metal. Graphene on hBN/SiO2 has a carrier density of 8.2 × 1012 cm−2 and carrier mobility of 2.68 × 103 cm2/Vs—comparable to existing high-mobility semiconducting materials. CVD graphene and conventional photolithography does provide a cost-effective means for producing large form-factor graphene devices for low to moderate mobility applications and eventually for large-scale monolithic graphene electronics.
Performance of an Adaptive Aggregation Mechanism in a Noisy WLAN Downlink MU-MIMO Channel
Authors: Kassa Lemlem , Davis Mark , Deng Jianhua , Cai Jingye
Published: March 2022

This paper investigates an adaptive frame aggregation technique in the medium access control (MAC) layer for the Wireless Local Area Network (WALN) downlink Multi-User–Multiple-In Multiple-Out (MU-MIMO) channel. In tackling the challenges of heterogeneous traffic demand among spatial streams, we proposed a new adaptive aggregation algorithm which has a superior performance over the baseline First-in–First-Out (FIFO) scheme in terms of system throughput performance and channel utilization. However, this earlier work does not consider the effects of wireless channel error. In addressing the limitations of this work, this study contributes an enhanced version of the earlier model considering the effect of channel error. In this approach, a dynamic adaptive aggregation selection scheme is proposed by employing novel criteria for selecting the optimal aggregation policy in WLAN downlink MU-MIMO channel. Two simulation setups are conducted to achieve this approach. The simulation setup in Step 1 performs the dynamic optimal aggregation policy selection strategy as per the channel condition, traffic pattern, and number of stations in the network. Step 2 then performed the optimal wireless frame construction that would be transmitted in the wireless channel in adopting the optimal aggregation policy obtained from Step 1 that maximizes the system performance. The proposed adaptive algorithm not only achieve the optimal system throughput in minimizing wasted space channel time but also provide a good performance under the effects of different channel conditions, different traffic models such as Pareto, Weibull, and fBM, and number of users using the traffic mix of VoIP and video data. Through system-level simulation, our results again show the superior performance of our proposed aggregation mechanism in terms of system throughput performance and space channel time compared to the baseline FIFO aggregation approach.
A Novel text2IMG Mechanism of Credit Card Fraud Detection: A Deep Learning Approach
Authors: Alharbi Abdullah , Alshammari Majid , Okon Ofonime Dominic , Alabrah Amerah , Rauf Hafiz Tayyab , Alyami Hashem , Meraj Talha
Published: March 2022

Online sales and purchases are increasing daily, and they generally involve credit card transactions. This not only provides convenience to the end-user but also increases the frequency of online credit card fraud. In the recent years, in some countries, this fraud increase has led to an exponential increase in credit card fraud detection, which has become increasingly important to address this security issue. Recent studies have proposed machine learning (ML)-based solutions for detecting fraudulent credit card transactions, but their detection scores still need improvement due to the imbalance of classes in any given dataset. Few approaches have achieved exceptional results on different datasets. In this study, the Kaggle dataset was used to develop a deep learning (DL)-based approach to solve the text data problem. A novel text2IMG conversion technique is proposed that generates small images. The images are fed into a CNN architecture with class weights using the inverse frequency method to resolve the class imbalance issue. DL and ML approaches were applied to verify the robustness and validity of the proposed system. An accuracy of 99.87% was achieved by Coarse-KNN using deep features of the proposed CNN.
A Dual CNN for Image Super-Resolution
Authors: Song Jiagang , Xiao Jingyu , Tian Chunwei , Hu Yuxuan , You Lei , Zhang Shichao
Published: March 2022

High-quality images have an important effect on high-level tasks. However, due to human factors and camera hardware, digital devices collect low-resolution images. Deep networks can effectively restore these damaged images via their strong learning abilities. However, most of these networks depended on deeper architectures to enhance clarities of predicted images, where single features cannot deal well with complex screens. In this paper, we propose a dual super-resolution CNN (DSRCNN) to obtain high-quality images. DSRCNN relies on two sub-networks to extract complementary low-frequency features to enhance the learning ability of the SR network. To prevent a long-term dependency problem, a combination of convolutions and residual learning operation is embedded into dual sub-networks. To prevent information loss of an original image, an enhanced block is used to gather original information and obtained high-frequency information of a deeper layer via sub-pixel convolutions. To obtain more high-frequency features, a feature learning block is used to learn more details of high-frequency information. The proposed method is very suitable for complex scenes for image resolution. Experimental results show that the proposed DSRCNN is superior to other popular in SR networks. For instance, our DSRCNN has obtained improvement of 0.08 dB than that of MemNet on Set5 for ×3.
The Impact of Administrative Partitioning on the Regional Effectiveness of Forest Pest Management in Protected Area-Centered Ecosystems
Authors: Tiffany Bri , Chaudhry Todd , Hofstetter Richard W. , Aslan Clare
Published: March 2022

Research Highlights: Forest pest outbreaks that cross jurisdictional boundaries pose particular challenges, since both ecological and social factors influence the effectiveness of management responses. This study found that difficulties emerge from the misalignment of management objectives and policies that deter collaboration. The sharing of resources and collaborative responses to outbreaks may improve management outcomes. Background and Objectives: This study examines if and how boundaries influence the effectiveness of forest pest management within the protected area-centered ecosystems of Rocky Mountain National Park and Grand Canyon National Park, USA. Materials and Methods: Using semi-structured interviews and a survey distributed to forest managers, we explored how partitioning affects pest management effectiveness and identified barriers to and strategies for managing outbreaks that cross boundaries. Results: Cross-boundary outbreaks are uniquely challenging due to federally mandated policies, agency mission misalignment, a lack of formal collaboration, and a lack of public support for timber management programs. Strategies that may improve outcomes include reevaluating problematic policies; ensuring messaging is consistent across agencies; and developing a preventative cross-boundary forest insect outbreak management team. Conclusions: Measures to increase collaboration in multi-jurisdictional landscapes will help managers prepare for future forest pest outbreaks, which are expected to increase in frequency with climate change.
Characterization of Green Manure Sunn Hemp Crop Silage Prepared with Additives: Aerobic Instability, Nitrogen Value, and In Vitro Rumen Methane Production
Authors: Kaewpila Chatchai , Khota Waroon , Gunun Pongsatorn , Kesorn Piyawit , Kimprasit Thachawech , Sarnklong Chaweng , Cherdthong Anusorn
Published: March 2022

Sunn hemp (SH, Crotalaria juncea, L.) is a tropical multiple-purpose legume. The green manure SH (GMSH) crop might display protein ecology in sustaining ruminants; however, its silage features remain unclear. To efficiently prepare GMSH crop silage, additive treatments consisting of control (no additive, CON), molasses (MO), Acremonium cellulase (AC), and Lactobacillus casei TH14 strain inoculant (TH14) were implemented using a completely randomized design. Repeated measurements were done after silage (AE conditions) in a small-scale silo system for 120 days and after aerobic instability (AE + AIS conditions). Briefly, ensiling loss and aerobic stability ranged from 150 to 175 g/kg and 8.3 to 104 days, respectively. In AE conditions, the pH ranged from 4.33 to 5.74, and MO or AC was desirable (p < 0.01) for lactic acid fermentation. AC reduced the fiber contents. MO increased soluble non-protein nitrogen by decreasing insoluble nitrogen. TH14 increased the ammonia nitrogen level and in vitro methane production. In AE + AIS conditions, AC led to more air damage to the chemical compositions and reduced digestibility in vitro. The results show that an optimization of additives could effectively modify GMSH crop silage to make it a good protein roughage source; however, more studies are required for effectively feeding ruminants.
A Natural Technology for Vacuum-Packaged Cooked Sausage Preservation with Potentially Postbiotic-Containing Preservative
Authors: de Lima Aloizio Lemos , Guerra Carlos Alberto , Costa Lucas Marques , de Oliveira Vanessa Sales , Lemos Junior Wilson José Fernandes , Luchese Rosa Helena , Guerra André Fioravante
Published: March 2022

In this study, a potentially postbiotic-containing preservative (PPCP) was produced in an axenic fermentation system with Lacticaseibacillus paracasei DTA 83 as a natural technology alternative for vacuum-packaged cooked sausage preservation. Cooked sausage-related microorganisms were obtained during the induced spoiling process in packages by pair incubation of sausages at different temperatures. The turbidity method was used to determine the microbiota susceptibility to PPCP. A controlled in situ design was performed by adding PPCP on the surface or to the mass of the sausages. Sodium lactate FCC85, which was used according to the manufacturer’s recommendation, was included in the design for comparison. The results revealed that PPCP was as efficient as FCC85, which indicates PPCP as a promising alternative to the use of natural technologies to preserve and develop functional cooked sausages. Moreover, a strategy to use preservatives in vacuum-packaged cooked sausages was presented: the concentration needed to achieve the total inhibition of the microbiota determined by an in vitro trial should be respected when adding PPCP on the sausages’ surface. When adding PPCP to the mass of the sausages, the concentration that showed a partial inhibition in vitro can also be applied in situ.
Influence of Natural Fire Development on Concrete Compressive Strength
Authors: Kuehnen Robert , Youssef Maged A. , El-Fitiany Salah F.
Published: March 2022

With increasing acceptance of performance-based design principles in the field of fire safety, it is imperative to accurately define the behaviour of materials during fire exposure. Real-world fire events, otherwise referred to as natural fires, are defined by four characteristics: heating rate, maximum temperature, exposure duration, and cooling rate. Each of these four characteristics influences concrete’s behaviour in a different manner. In this paper, the available experimental work for concrete, tested at elevated temperatures, is examined to identify the influence of the four natural fire characteristics on concrete compressive strength. This review focuses on normal strength concrete tests only, omitting parameters such as unique additives and confinement. The intent is to provide a fundamental understanding of normal strength concrete. The findings show that maximum temperature and cooling rates have a significant influence on concrete strength. Exposure duration has a moderate impact, particularly at shorter durations. Variable rates of heating have minimal influence on strength. Detailed conclusions are provided along with review limitations, practical considerations for designers, and future research needs.
A Historical Perspective to Inform Strategic Planning for 2020 End-of-Year Wildland Fire Response Efforts
Authors: Belval Erin J. , Short Karen C. , Stonesifer Crystal S. , Calkin David E.
Published: March 2022

A severe outbreak of wildfire across the US Pacific Coast during August 2020 led to persistent fire activity through the end of summer. In late September, Fire Weather Outlooks predicted higher than usual fire activity into the winter in parts of California, with concomitant elevated fire danger in the Southeastern US. To help inform the regional and national allocation of firefighting personnel and equipment, we developed visualizations of resource use during recent late season, high-demand analogs. Our visualizations provided an overview of the crew, engine, dozer, aerial resource, and incident management team usage by geographic area. While these visualizations afforded information that managers needed to support their decisions regarding resource allocation, they also revealed a potentially significant gap between resource demand and late-season availability that is only likely to increase over time due to lengthening fire seasons. This gap highlights the need for the increased assessment of suppression resource acquisition and allocation systems that, to date, have been poorly studied.
MCT/LCT Mixed Oil Phase Enhances the Rheological Property and Freeze-Thawing Stability of Emulsion
Authors: Liu Jiahao , Han Yi , Chen Jiashi , Zhang Zhigang , Miao Song , Zheng Baodong , Zhang Longtao
Published: March 2022

The main objective of this study was to investigate the effect of different oil phase compositions (medium-chain triglyceride (MCT) and long-chain triglyceride (LCT), the proportion of MCT is 0%, 5%, 10%, 15% and 20%, respectively) on the rheological properties and freeze-thaw stability of emulsions. The emulsions were characterized by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), rheometer, stability analyzer, Malvern particle size meter and confocal microscope. Results showed that all emulsions exhibited a gel-like characteristic with a storage modulus higher than the loss modulus. The elastic modulus and complex viscosity of the emulsions increased with the increase of MCT proportions. During the heating from 4 °C to 80 °C, the complex viscosity of all emulsions decreased first and then remained unchanged at a continuous high temperature, indicating that the emulsions had good stability and internal structural integrity during the cooling and high-temperature processes. With the increase of MCT proportions, the freeze-thaw stability of the emulsions increased first and then decreased, and showed the optimum with 10% MCT. That could be referred for the production of a product with better freeze-thaw stability and rheological property in the food and cosmetic industries.