bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Curcumin Supplementation and Human Disease: A Scoping Review of Clinical Trials
Authors: Panknin Timothy M. , Howe Carol L. , Hauer Meg , Bucchireddigari Bhanu , Rossi Anthony M. , Funk Janet L.
Published: February 2023

Medicinal properties of turmeric (Curcuma longa L.), a plant used for centuries as an anti-inflammatory, are attributed to its polyphenolic curcuminoids, where curcumin predominates. Although “curcumin” supplements are a top-selling botanical with promising pre-clinical effects, questions remain regarding biological activity in humans. To address this, a scoping review was conducted to assess human clinical trials reporting oral curcumin effects on disease outcomes. Eight databases were searched using established guidelines, yielding 389 citations (from 9528 initial) that met inclusion criteria. Half focused on obesity-associated metabolic disorders (29%) or musculoskeletal disorders (17%), where inflammation is a key driver, and beneficial effects on clinical outcomes and/or biomarkers were reported for most citations (75%) in studies that were primarily double-blind, randomized, and placebo-controlled trials (77%, D-RCT). Citations for the next most studied disease categories (neurocognitive [11%] or gastrointestinal disorders [10%], or cancer [9%]), were far fewer in number and yielded mixed results depending on study quality and condition studied. Although additional research is needed, including systematic evaluation of diverse curcumin formulations and doses in larger D-RCT studies, the preponderance of current evidence for several highly studied diseases (e.g., metabolic syndrome, osteoarthritis), which are also clinically common, are suggestive of clinical benefits.
Comparative Transcriptomic Analysis Revealed the Suppression and Alternative Splicing of Kiwifruit (Actinidia latifolia) NAP1 Gene Mediating Trichome Development
Authors: Miao Tonghao , Bao Huaxu , Ling Hui , Li Pengwei , Zhang Yiling , He Yan , Hu Xufan , Ling Chengcheng , Liu Yunyan , Tang Wei , Liu Yajing , Wang Songhu
Published: February 2023

Kiwifruit (Actinidia chinensis) is commonly covered by fruit hairs (trichomes) that affect kiwifruit popularity in the commercial market. However, it remains largely unknown which gene mediates trichome development in kiwifruit. In this study, we analyzed two kiwifruit species, A. eriantha (Ae) with long, straight, and bushy trichomes and A. latifolia (Al) with short, distorted, and spare trichomes, by second- and third-generation RNA sequencing. Transcriptomic analysis indicated that the expression of the NAP1 gene, a positive regulator of trichome development, was suppressed in Al compared with that in Ae. Additionally, the alternative splicing of AlNAP1 produced two short transcripts (AlNAP1-AS1 and AlNAP1-AS2) lacking multiple exons, in addition to a full-length transcript of AlNAP1-FL. The defects of trichome development (short and distorted trichome) in Arabidopsis nap1 mutant were rescued by AlNAP1-FL but not by AlNAP1-AS1. AlNAP1-FL gene does not affect trichome density in nap1 mutant. The qRT−PCR analysis indicated that the alternative splicing further reduces the level of functional transcripts. These results indicated that the short and distorted trichomes in Al might be caused by the suppression and alternative splicing of AlNAP1. Together, we revealed that AlNAP1 mediates trichome development and is a good candidate target for genetic modification of trichome length in kiwifruit.
Teaching System of Hydraulic Transmission Combined with Virtual Reality Technology
Authors: Song Jiuxiang , Chen Zhuoxian , Li Yi , Liu Jizhong
Published: February 2023

Traditional hydraulic drive experiments present a number of challenges. During the hydraulic transmission experiment, the equipment is easily damaged and must be frequently updated, which makes it difficult for a large number of students to study at the same time; the traditional offline, monotonous, and boring experiments make it difficult for students to increase their interest in learning from what is inherent; and most undergraduate students have to study at home due to the impact of COVID-19. Therefore, students need an excellent teaching system that allows them to perform experiments at home and improve their learning efficiency. A teaching system for the undergraduate hydraulic transmission course was designed to meet the needs of the hydraulic transmission course and to stimulate students’ interest in learning. This teaching system allows students to spend more time outside of the class to analyze experimental results and relate concepts presented in lecture courses to experimental results. Finally, a course on hydraulic drives taught at Nanchang University was used to evaluate the effectiveness of this teaching system. The analysis based on positive student feedback and academic performance shows that the proposed teaching system is an effective learning tool for undergraduate students in their learning process.
Implications of the Niche Partitioning and Coexistence of Two Resident Parasitoids for Drosophila suzukii Management in Non-Crop Areas
Authors: Buonocore Biancheri María Josefina , Núñez-Campero Segundo Ricardo , Suárez Lorena , Ponssa Marcos Darío , Kirschbaum Daniel Santiago , Garcia Flávio Roberto Mello , Ovruski Sergio Marcelo
Published: February 2023

Understanding the mechanisms associated with the coexistence of competing parasitoid species is critical in approaching any biological control strategy against the globally invasive pest spotted-wing drosophila (=SWD), Drosophila suzukii (Matsumura). This study assessed the coexistence of two resident pupal parasitoids, Trichopria anastrephae Lima and Pachycrepoideus vindemiae Rondani, in SWD-infested fruit, in disturbed wild vegetation areas of Tucumán, northwestern Argentina, based on niche segregation. Drosophilid puparia were collected between December/2016 and April/2017 from three different pupation microhabitats in fallen feral peach and guava. These microhabitats were “inside flesh (mesocarp)”, “outside flesh”, but associated with the fruit, and “soil”, i.e., puparia buried close to fruit. Saprophytic drosophilid puparia (=SD) belonging to the Drosophila melanogaster group and SWD were found in all tested microhabitats. SD predominated in both inside and outside flesh, whereas SWD in soil. Both parasitoids attacked SWD puparia. However, T. anastrephae emerged mainly from SD puparia primarily in the inside flesh, whereas P. vindemiae mostly foraged SWD puparia in less competitive microhabitats, such as in the soil or outside the flesh. Divergence in host choice and spatial patterns of same-resource preferences between both parasitoids may mediate their coexistence in non-crop environments. Given this scenario, both parasitoids have potential as SWD biocontrol agents.
Left-Sided Heart Defects and Laterality Disturbance in Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome
Authors: Yagi Hisato , Lo Cecilia W.
Published: February 2023

Hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS) is a complex congenital heart disease characterized by hypoplasia of left-sided heart structures. The developmental basis for restriction of defects to the left side of the heart in HLHS remains unexplained. The observed clinical co-occurrence of rare organ situs defects such as biliary atresia, gut malrotation, or heterotaxy with HLHS would suggest possible laterality disturbance. Consistent with this, pathogenic variants in genes regulating left–right patterning have been observed in HLHS patients. Additionally, Ohia HLHS mutant mice show splenic defects, a phenotype associated with heterotaxy, and HLHS in Ohia mice arises in part from mutation in Sap130, a component of the Sin3A chromatin complex known to regulate Lefty1 and Snai1, genes essential for left–right patterning. Together, these findings point to laterality disturbance mediating the left-sided heart defects associated with HLHS. As laterality disturbance is also observed for other CHD, this suggests that heart development integration with left–right patterning may help to establish the left–right asymmetry of the cardiovascular system essential for efficient blood oxygenation.
Infiltration of Conduction Tissue Is a Major Cause of Electrical Instability in Cardiac Amyloidosis
Authors: Frustaci Andrea , Verardo Romina , Russo Matteo , Caldarulo Marina , Alfarano Maria , Galea Nicola , Miraldi Fabio , Chimenti Cristina
Published: February 2023

Background: The pathology of conduction tissue (CT) and relative arrhythmias in living subjects with cardiac amyloid have never been reported. Aims: To report CT pathology and its arrhythmic correlations in human cardiac amyloidosis. Methods and Results: In 17 out of 45 cardiac amyloid patients, a left ventricular endomyocardial biopsy included conduction tissue sections. It was identified by Aschoff–Monckeberg histologic criteria and positive immunostaining for HCN4. The degree of conduction tissue infiltration was defined as mild when ≤30%, moderate when 30–70% and severe when >70% cell area was replaced. Conduction tissue infiltration was correlated with ventricular arrhythmias, maximal wall thickness and type of amyloid protein. Mild involvement was observed in five cases, moderate in three and severe in nine. Involvement was associated with a parallel infiltration of conduction tissue artery. Conduction infiltration correlated with the severity of arrhythmias (Spearman rho = 0.8, p < 0.001). In particular, major ventricular tachyarrhythmias requiring pharmacologic treatment or ICD implantation occurred in seven patients with severe, one patient with moderate and none with mild conduction tissue infiltration. Pacemaker implantation was required in three patients, with complete conduction section replacement. No significant correlation was observed between the degree of conduction infiltration and age, cardiac wall thickness or type of amyloid protein. Conclusions: Amyloid-associated cardiac arrhythmias correlate with the extent of conduction tissue infiltration. Its involvement is independent from type and severity of amyloidosis, suggesting a variable affinity of amyloid protein to conduction tissue.
Real Life Data on OnabotulinumtoxinA for Treatment of Chronic Migraine in Pediatric Age
Authors: Papetti Laura , Frattale Ilaria , Ursitti Fabiana , Sforza Giorgia , Monte Gabriele , Ferilli Michela Ada Noris , Tarantino Samuela , Proietti Checchi Martina , Valeriani Massimiliano
Published: February 2023

Background: The use of OnabotulinumtoxinA (OBT-A) for the treatment of chronic migraine (CM) in adults represents a therapy with the greatest efficacy and safety data. However, we have little evidence on the use of OBT-A in children or adolescents. The present study aims to describe the experience with OBT-A in the treatment of CM in adolescents in an Italian third-level headache center. Methods: The analysis included all patients under the age of 18 treated with OBT-A for CM at the Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital. All patients received OBT-A following the PREEMPT protocol. Subjects were classified as good responders if a greater than 50% reduction in the monthly frequency of attacks was observed, partial responders if the reduction was between 30 and 50%, and non-responders if it was <30%. Results: The treated population consisted of 37 females and 9 males with a mean age of 14.7 years. Before starting OBT-A, 58.7% of the subjects had attempted prophylactic therapy with other drugs. From OBT-A initiation to the last clinical observation, the mean duration of follow-up was 17.6 ± 13.7 SD (range: 1–48) months. The number of OBT-A injections were 3.4 ± 3 SD. Sixty eight percent of the subjects responded to treatment within the first three administrations of OBT-A. Proceeding with the number of administrations, a progressive improvement in frequency was further observed. Conclusions: The use of OBT-A in pediatric age can have benefits in terms of reduction in the frequency and intensity of headache episodes. Furthermore, treatment with OBT-A has an excellent safety profile. These data support the use of OBT-A in the treatment of childhood migraine.
Demographic and Clinicopathological Factors as Predictors of Lymph Node Metastasis in Merkel Cell Carcinoma: A Population-Based Analysis
Authors: Scampa Matteo , Kalbermatten Daniel F. , Oranges Carlo M.
Published: February 2023

Merkel cell carcinoma is an aggressive malignant skin tumor with high recurrence and low survival. Lymph nodal metastases are associated with a worse overall prognosis. Our aim was to assess how lymph node procedures and positivity are influenced by demographic, tumor, and treatment characteristics. The Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results database was searched for all cases of Merkel cell carcinoma of the skin between 2000 and 2019. Univariable analysis was conducted using the chi-squared test with the aim of identifying differences in lymph node procedures and lymph node positivity for each variable. We identified 9182 patients, of which 3139 had sentinel lymph node biopsy/sampling, and 1072 had therapeutic lymph node dissection. Increasing age, increasing tumor size, and truncal location were associated with higher positive lymph node rates.
Challenges for Optimization of Reverse Shoulder Arthroplasty Part I: External Rotation, Extension and Internal Rotation
Authors: Bauer Stefan , Blakeney William G. , Wang Allan W. , Ernstbrunner Lukas , Werthel Jean-David , Corbaz Jocelyn
Published: February 2023

A detailed overview of the basic science and clinical literature reporting on the challenges for the optimization of reverse shoulder arthroplasty (RSA) is presented in two review articles. Part I looks at (I) external rotation and extension, (II) internal rotation and the analysis and discussion of the interplay of different factors influencing these challenges. In part II, we focus on (III) the conservation of sufficient subacromial and coracohumeral space, (IV) scapular posture and (V) moment arms and muscle tensioning. There is a need to define the criteria and algorithms for planning and execution of optimized, balanced RSA to improve the range of motion, function and longevity whilst minimizing complications. For an optimized RSA with the highest function, it is important not to overlook any of these challenges. This summary may be used as an aide memoire for RSA planning.
Optimal Glomerular Filtration Rate Equations for Various Age Groups, Disease Conditions and Ethnicities in Asia: A Systematic Review
Authors: Safdar Aqsa , Akram Waqas , Ahmad Khan Mahtab , Muhammad Sajjad
Published: February 2023

(1) Background: The performance of estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) equations in the Asian population has been widely questioned. The primary objective of this study was to gather evidence regarding optimal GFR equations in Asia for various age groups, disease conditions, and ethnicities. The secondary objective was to see whether the equations based on the combination of creatinine and cystatin C biomarkers if employed are satisfactory across different age groups and disease conditions in various ethnicities in Asia compared to those based on either of the single biomarkers. (2) Methods: Validation studies that had both creatinine and cystatin C-based equations either alone or in combination, validated in specific disease conditions, and those which compared the performance of these equations with exogenous markers were eligible only. The bias, precision, and 30% accuracy (P30) of each equation were recorded accordingly. (3) Results: Twenty-one studies consisting of 11,371 participants were included and 54 equations were extracted. The bias, precision, and P30 accuracies of the equations ranged from −14.54 to 9.96 mL/min/1.73 m2, 1.61 to 59.85 mL/min/1.73 m2, and 4.7% to 96.10%. The highest values of P30 accuracies were found for the JSN-CKDI equation (96.10%) in Chinese adult renal transplant recipients, for the BIS-2 equation (94.5%) in Chinese elderly CKD patients, and Filler equation (93.70%) also in Chinese adult renal transplant recipients. (4) Conclusions: Optimal equations were identified accordingly and it was proven that combination biomarker equations are more precise and accurate in most of the age groups and disease conditions. These can be considered equations of choice for the specific age groups, disease conditions, and ethnicities within Asia.
What Makes a Foreign Language Intelligible? An Examination of the Impact of Musical Ability and Individual Differences on Language Perception and How Intelligible Foreign Languages Appear
Authors: Christiner Markus , Bernhofs Valdis , Sommer-Lolei Sabine , Groß Christine
Published: February 2023

Previous research suggests that musical ability is associated with language processing and foreign language pronunciation. Whether musical ability is associated with the ability to generate intelligible unfamiliar utterances has not been investigated. Furthermore, how unfamiliar languages are perceived has rarely been related to musical ability. We tested 80 healthy adults, with a mean age of 34.05 and a combination of 41 women and 39 men. We used batteries of perceptual and generational music and language measures to assess foreign language intelligibility and musical capacity. Regression analysis revealed that five measures explained the variance in the intelligibility of unfamiliar foreign utterances. These were short-term memory capacity, melodic singing ability, speech perception ability, and how melodic and memorable the utterances sounded to the participants. Correlational analyses revealed that musical aptitude measures are related to melodic perception and how memorable unfamiliar utterances sound, whereas singing aptitude is related to the perceived difficulty level of the language material. These findings provide novel evidence of the link between musical and speech abilities. In particular, intelligibility measures are associated with singing aptitude and how melodic languages appear to be. As impressions on how foreign languages are perceived are also related to musical capacities, perceptual language parameters address a new perspective that facilitates the understanding of the link between music and language in general.
Estimation of a Freak Wave Lifetime in the Shallow Sea
Authors: Didenkulova Ekaterina , Pelinovsky Efim
Published: February 2023

Unexpected large waves known as freak or rogue waves are a phenomenon emerging in the World Ocean and are causing significant damage to vessels and coastal structures. These waves are often associated with deep-water waves; however, they can also be dangerously close to the shore. The present study is devoted to the numerical modeling of the sea state with parameters close to the ones of the freak wave event that happened in Tillamook Bay, Oregon, on 25 January 2007. Parameters of waves and winds are taken from the description of the event and from the reanalysis model ERA5, which proved to be in good agreement. The Korteweg–de Vries equation is chosen to be the model for the numerical simulation as it is an etalon model for water waves in shallow water with weak nonlinearity and dispersion. Possible scenarios of occurrence of freak waves have been analyzed. Lifetimes of freak waves of different shapes have been estimated.
Analysis of the Distribution and Seasonal Variability of the South China Sea Water Masses Based on the K-means Cluster Method
Authors: Jin Shanshan , Nie Xunwei , Wang Guanlin , Teng Fei , Xu Tengfei
Published: February 2023

Influenced by local mixing and coastal runoff, water masses in the South China Sea degenerate significantly. The K-means algorithm is used to classify the water masses based on WOD13 temperature and salinity observations from 1966 to 2013 because its principle is consistent with the definition of a shallow water mass. The numbers and initial centers of the water masses are determined using functions of in-cluster distance and density values. The result shows that there are ten water masses in the South China Sea. In combination with the T-S scatter diagram, the properties of the South China Sea water masses were analyzed, including their distribution, the seasonal variability, and the degeneration processes. The temperatures of water masses were higher in summer and lower in winter, with the amplitudes of variation gradually reduced from the surface to the bottom. The seasonal variation in salinity of the surface water masses was high in winter and low in summer, which mainly depends on the amount of river discharge and precipitation. The subsurface water masses were strongly affected by water from the Pacific Ocean; thus, the seasonal variability of these water masses is weak, especially for the intermediate water mass that characterized by prominent low salinity. The water mass formed by the Kuroshio water invading the South China Sea has insignificant seasonal variations in temperature and salinity. The properties and seasonal variabilities of the water masses derived from the K-means algorithm are in agreement with the existing conclusions, suggesting that the improved K-means algorithm is efficient and accurate in the shallow water mass division.
Comparative Constructions in Zhoutun from a Language Contact Perspective
Authors: Zhou Chenlei
Published: February 2023

The paper describes comparative constructions in Zhoutun, a Chinese variety that was heavily influenced by Amdo Tibetan and spoken in Guide County, Qinghai Province. There are five comparative constructions (Cxn), based on the type of comparative marker, in Zhoutun, namely (1) the xa-Cxn; (2) the pi-Cxn; (3) the ‘look’-Cxn; (4) the ‘and’-Cxn; and (5) the hybrid Cxn. The five constructions illustrate features from both Chinese and Amdo Tibetan, and their co-existence demonstrates the mixed nature of the comparative constructions, as well as the grammar system of Zhoutun due to language contact. This paper also argues that the “comparative subject” should be further subcategorized into “comparative subject” and “attributive subject”, and that the “comparative result” should be divided into “abstract measurement” and “concrete measurement” in the typological study of comparative constructions.
Electronic, Optical, Mechanical, and Electronic Transport Properties of SrCu2O2: A First-Principles Study
Authors: Jiang Sheng , Hu Chaohao , Wang Dianhui , Zhong Yan , Tang Chengying
Published: February 2023

The structural, electronic, optical, mechanical, lattice dynamics, and electronic transport properties of SrCu2O2 crystals were studied using first-principles calculations. The calculated band gap of SrCu2O2 using the HSE hybrid functional is about 3.33 eV, which is well consistent with the experimental value. The calculated optical parameters show a relatively strong response to the visible light region for SrCu2O2. The calculated elastic constants and phonon dispersion indicate that SrCu2O2 has strong stability in mechanical and lattice dynamics. The deep analysis of calculated mobilities of electrons and holes with their effective masses proves the high separation and low recombination efficiency of photoinduced carriers in SrCu2O2.
Damage Caused by Material Defects of Carbon Composites Used on Various Types of Railway Pantographs
Authors: Kuźnar Małgorzata
Published: February 2023

Mainstream materials of the railway pantograph strips are carbon composites. They are subject to wear during use, as well as various types of damage. It is important that their operation time is as long as possible and that they are not damaged, as it may damage the remaining elements of the pantograph and the overhead contact line. As part of the article, three types of pantographs were tested: AKP−4E, 5ZL, and 150 DSA. They had carbon sliding strips made of MY7A2 material. By testing the same material on different types of current collectors, it was possible to check what impact the wear and damage of the sliding strips has on (among others) the method of their installation, i.e., whether the damage to the strips depends on the type of current collector and what is the participation of damage caused by material defects. As a result of the research, it was found that the type of pantograph on which it is used has an undoubted influence on the damage characteristics of the carbon sliding strips, whereas the damage caused by material defects can be classified as a more general group—the group of damage of a sliding strip, which also includes overburning of a carbon sliding strip.
Inhomogeneous Superconductivity Onset in FeSe Studied by Transport Properties
Authors: Grigoriev Pavel D. , Kochev Vladislav D. , Orlov Andrey P. , Frolov Aleksei V. , Sinchenko Alexander A.
Published: February 2023

Heterogeneous superconductivity onset is a common phenomenon in high-Tc superconductors of both the cuprate and iron-based families. It is manifested by a fairly wide transition from the metallic to zero-resistance states. Usually, in these strongly anisotropic materials, superconductivity (SC) first appears as isolated domains. This leads to anisotropic excess conductivity above Tc, and the transport measurements provide valuable information about the SC domain structure deep within the sample. In bulk samples, this anisotropic SC onset gives an approximate average shape of SC grains, while in thin samples, it also indicates the average size of SC grains. In this work, both interlayer and intralayer resistivity were measured as a function of temperature in FeSe samples of various thicknesses. To measure the interlayer resistivity, FeSe mesa structures oriented across the layers were fabricated using FIB. As the sample thickness decreases, a significant increase in superconducting transition temperature Tc is observed: Tc raises from 8 K in bulk material to 12 K in microbridges of thickness ∼40 nm. We applied analytical and numerical calculations to analyze these and earlier data and find the aspect ratio and size of the SC domains in FeSe consistent with our resistivity and diamagnetic response measurements. We propose a simple and fairly accurate method for estimating the aspect ratio of SC domains from Tc anisotropy in samples of various small thicknesses. The relationship between nematic and superconducting domains in FeSe is discussed. We also generalize the analytical formulas for conductivity in heterogeneous anisotropic superconductors to the case of elongated SC domains of two perpendicular orientations with equal volume fractions, corresponding to the nematic domain structure in various Fe-based superconductors.
Atomic-Scale Insights into the Deformation Mechanism of the Microstructures in Precipitation-Strengthening Alloys
Authors: Wei Chenshuang , Tang Sai , Kong Yi , Shuai Xiong , Mao Hong , Du Yong
Published: February 2023

Clarifying the deformation behaviors of microstructures could greatly help us understand the precipitation-strengthening mechanism in alloys. However, it is still a formidable challenge to study the slow plastic deformation of alloys at the atomic scale. In this work, the phase-field crystal method was used to investigate the interactions between precipitates, grain boundary, and dislocation during the deformation processes at different degrees of lattice misfits and strain rates. The results demonstrate that the pinning effect of precipitates becomes increasingly strong with the increase of lattice misfit at relatively slow deformation with a strain rate of 10−4. The cut regimen prevails under the interaction between coherent precipitates and dislocations. In the case of a large lattice misfit of 19.3%, the dislocations tend to move toward the incoherent phase interface and are absorbed. The deformation behavior of the precipitate-matrix phase interface was also investigated. Collaborative deformation is observed in coherent and semi-coherent interfaces, while incoherent precipitate deforms independently of the matrix grains. The faster deformations (strain rate is 10−2) with different lattice misfits all are characterized by the generation of a large number of dislocations and vacancies. The results contribute to important insights into the fundamental issue about how the microstructures of precipitation-strengthening alloys deform collaboratively or independently under different lattice misfits and deformation rates.
An Experimental Investigation of Hardwoods Harvested in Croatian Forests for the Production of Glued Laminated Timber
Authors: Uzelac Glavinić Ivana , Boko Ivica , Lovrić Vranković Jelena , Torić Neno , Abramović Mario
Published: February 2023

The aim of this study was to assess the potential of hardwoods harvested in Croatian forests for the production of glued laminated timber (glulam), mainly of those species for which there is no published performance assessment. Nine sets of glulam beams were produced: three sets using lamellas from European hornbeam, three sets from Turkey oak, and three sets from maple. Each set was characterized by a different hardwood species and surface preparation method. The surface preparation methods included planing, planing followed by sanding with fine grit, and planing followed by sanding with coarse grit. The experimental investigations included shear tests of the glue lines in dry conditions and bending tests of the glulam beams. The shear tests showed satisfactory performance of the glue lines for the Turkey oak and European hornbeam, but not for the maple. The results of the bending tests showed superior bending strength of the European hornbeam compared to the Turkey oak and maple. Planing followed by rough sanding of the lamellas was shown to have a significant influence on the bending strength and stiffness of the glulam from Turkey oak.
Corrosion Resistance of GMAW Duplex Stainless Steels Welds
Authors: Miranda-Pérez Argelia , Rodríguez-Vargas Bryan , Calliari Irene , Pezzato Luca
Published: February 2023

The hydrocarbon industry constantly requires a better understanding of stainless-steel welding metallurgy. Despite the fact that gas metal arc welding (GMAW) is one of the most commonly employed welding processes in the petrochemical industry, the process is characterized by the presence of a high number of variables to control in order to obtain components that are dimensionally repeatable and satisfy the functional requirements. In particular, corrosion is still a phenomenon that highly affects the performance of the exposed materials, and special attention must be paid when welding is applied. In this study, the real operating conditions of petrochemical industry were reproduced through an accelerated test in a corrosion reactor at 70 °C for 600 h, exposing robotic GMAW samples free of defects with suitable geometry. The results show that, even if duplex stainless steels are characterized for being more corrosion resistant than other stainless steels, under these conditions it was possible to identify microstructural damage. In detail was found that the corrosion properties were strongly related to the heat input during welding and that the best corrosion properties can be obtained with the higher heat input.
Recycling of Periwinkle Shell Waste as Partial Substitute for Sand and Stone Dust in Lightweight Hollow Sandcrete Blocks towards Environmental Sustainability
Authors: Olofinnade Oluwarotimi M. , Anwulidiunor Joshua U. , Ogundipe Kunle E. , Ajimalofin David A.
Published: February 2023

Global consumption of nonrenewable natural aggregate for construction activities is now becoming a significant concern. Reusing agricultural or marine-based wastes could offer a promising alternative to achieve natural aggregate conservation and a pollution-free environment. This study investigated the suitability of using crushed periwinkle shell (CPWS) as a reliable constituent material for sand and stone dust in producing hollow sandcrete blocks. The CPWS was used to partially substitute river sand and stone dust at 5, 10, 15 and 20% in sandcrete block mixes using a constant water–cement ratio (w/c) of 0.35. The weight, density and compressive strength of the hardened hollow sandcrete samples were determined after 28 days of curing along with the water absorption rate. Results showed an increase in the water absorbing rate of the sandcrete blocks as CPWS content increased. Mixes containing 5% and 10% CPWS substitute for sand with 100% stone dust surpassed the minimum targeted strength of 2.5 N/mm2. The compressive strength results suggested that CPWS is most suitable to be deployed as a partial substitute for sand as a constant stone dust material, thus imply that the construction industry can achieve sustainable construction with agro or marine-based wastes in hollow sandcrete production.
Recent Advances on 3D-Printed Zirconia-Based Dental Materials: A Review
Authors: Branco Ana Catarina , Colaço Rogério , Figueiredo-Pina Célio Gabriel , Serro Ana Paula
Published: February 2023

Zirconia-based materials are widely used in dentistry due to their biocompatibility and suitable mechanical and tribological behavior. Although commonly processed by subtractive manufacturing (SM), alternative techniques are being explored to reduce material waste, energy consumption and production time. 3D printing has received increasing interest for this purpose. This systematic review intends to gather information on the state of the art of additive manufacturing (AM) of zirconia-based materials for dental applications. As far as the authors know, this is the first time that a comparative analysis of these materials’ properties has been performed. It was performed following the PRISMA guidelines and using PubMed, Scopus and Web of Science databases to select studies that met the defined criteria without restrictions on publication year. Stereolithography (SLA) and digital light processing (DLP) were the techniques most focused on in the literature and the ones that led to most promising outcomes. However, other techniques, such as robocasting (RC) and material jetting (MJ), have also led to good results. In all cases, the main concerns are centered on dimensional accuracy, resolution, and insufficient mechanical strength of the pieces. Despite the struggles inherent to the different 3D printing techniques, the commitment to adapt materials, procedures and workflows to these digital technologies is remarkable. Overall, the research on this topic can be seen as a disruptive technological progress with a wide range of application possibilities.
Long-Term Stability in Electronic Properties of Textile Organic Electrochemical Transistors for Integrated Applications
Authors: Manfredi Riccardo , Vurro Filippo , Janni Michela , Bettelli Manuele , Gentile Francesco , Zappettini Andrea , Coppedè Nicola
Published: February 2023

Organic electrochemical transistors (OECTs) have demonstrated themselves to be an efficient interface between living environments and electronic devices in bioelectronic applications. The peculiar properties of conductive polymers allow new performances that overcome the limits of conventional inorganic biosensors, exploiting the high biocompatibility coupled to the ionic interaction. Moreover, the combination with biocompatible and flexible substrates, such as textile fibers, improves the interaction with living cells and allows specific new applications in the biological environment, including real-time analysis of plants’ sap or human sweat monitoring. In these applications, a crucial issue is the lifetime of the sensor device. The durability, long-term stability, and sensitivity of OECTs were studied for two different textile functionalized fiber preparation processes: (i) adding ethylene glycol to the polymer solution, and (ii) using sulfuric acid as a post-treatment. Performance degradation was studied by analyzing the main electronic parameters of a significant number of sensors for a period of 30 days. RGB optical analysis were performed before and after the treatment of the devices. This study shows that device degradation occurs at voltages higher than 0.5 V. The sensors obtained with the sulfuric acid approach exhibit the most stable performances over time.
Numerical and Experimental Investigations of Cold-Sprayed Basalt Fiber-Reinforced Metal Matrix Composite Coating
Authors: Liang Sihan , Wang Yingying , Normand Bernard , Xie Yingchun , Tang Junlei , Zhang Hailong , Lin Bing , Zheng Hongpeng
Published: February 2023

The aluminum-basalt fiber composite coating was prepared for the first time with basalt fiber as the spraying material by cold-spraying technology. Hybrid deposition behavior was studied by numerical simulation based on Fluent and ABAQUS. The microstructure of the composite coating was observed on the as-sprayed, cross-sectional, and fracture surfaces by SEM, focusing on the deposited morphology of the reinforcing phase basalt fibers in the coating, the distribution of basalt fibers, and the interaction between basalt fibers and metallic aluminum. The results show that there are four main morphologies of the basalt fiber-reinforced phase, i.e., transverse cracking, brittle fracture, deformation, and bending in the coating. At the same time, there are two modes of contact between aluminum and basalt fibers. Firstly, the thermally softened aluminum envelops the basalt fibers, forming a seamless connection. Secondly, the aluminum that has not undergone the softening effect creates a closed space, with the basalt fibers securely trapped within it. Moreover, the Rockwell hardness test and the friction-wear test were conducted on Al–basalt fiber composite coating, and the results showed that the composite coating has high wear resistance and high hardness.
Epitaxial CdSe/PbSe Heterojunction Growth and MWIR Photovoltaic Detector
Authors: McDowell Lance L. , Rastkar Mirzaei Milad , Shi Zhisheng
Published: February 2023

A novel Epitaxial Cadmium Selenide (CdSe) on Lead Selenide (PbSe) type-II heterojunction photovoltaic detector has been demonstrated by Molecular Beam Epitaxy (MBE) growth of n-type CdSe on p-type PbSe single crystalline film. The use of Reflection High-Energy Electron Diffraction (RHEED) during the nucleation and growth of CdSe indicates high-quality single-phase cubic CdSe. This is a first-time demonstration of single crystalline and single phase CdSe growth on single crystalline PbSe, to the best of our knowledge. The current–voltage characteristic indicates a p–n junction diode with a rectifying factor over 50 at room temperature. The detector structure is characterized by radiometric measurement. A 30 μm × 30 μm pixel achieved a peak responsivity of 0.06 A/W and a specific detectivity (D*) of 6.5 × 108 Jones under a zero bias photovoltaic operation. With decreasing temperature, the optical signal increased by almost an order of magnitude as it approached 230 K (with thermoelectric cooling) while maintaining a similar level of noise, achieving a responsivity of 0.441 A/W and a D* of 4.4 × 109 Jones at 230 K.
Sensitivity of Al-Doped Zinc-Oxide Extended Gate Field Effect Transistors to Low-Dose X-ray Radiation
Authors: Ali Amal Mohamed Ahmed , Ahmed Naser M. , Kabir Norlaili A. , AL-Diabat Ahmad M. , Algadri Natheer A. , Alsadig Ahmed , Aldaghri Osamah A. , Ibnaouf Khalid H.
Published: February 2023

Herein, we investigated the applicability of thick film and bulk disk forms of aluminum-doped zinc oxide (AZO) for low-dose X-ray radiation dosimetry using the extended gate field effect transistor (EGFET) configuration. The samples were fabricated using the chemical bath deposition (CBD) technique. A thick film of AZO was deposited on a glass substrate, while the bulk disk form was prepared by pressing the collected powders. The prepared samples were characterized via X-ray diffraction (XRD) and field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM) to determine the crystallinity and surface morphology. The analyses show that the samples are crystalline and comprise nanosheets of varying sizes. The EGFET devices were exposed to different X-ray radiation doses, then characterized by measuring the I–V characteristics pre- and post-irradiation. The measurements revealed an increase in the values of drain–source currents with radiation doses. To study the detection efficiency of the device, various bias voltages were also tested for the linear and saturation regimes. Performance parameters of the devices, such as sensitivity to X-radiation exposure and different gate bias voltage, were found to depend highly on the device geometry. The bulk disk type appears to be more radiation-sensitive than the AZO thick film. Furthermore, boosting the bias voltage increased the sensitivity of both devices.
Data-Driven-Model-Based Full-Region Optimal Mapping Method of Permanent Magnet Synchronous Motors in Wide Temperature Range
Authors: Bian Yuanjun , Wen Xuhui , Fan Tao , Li Hongyang , Liu Zhongyong
Published: February 2023

To improve the motor efficiency and expand the actual external characteristic region of electric vehicle permanent magnet synchronous motor (PMSM) drive systems, the optimal operation of mapping torque to d-q axis current is usually applied. Nevertheless, it is difficult to deal with the complex mechanism factors such as parameter saturation and temperature change for the traditional optimization method based on the basic voltage equation of PMSM. In this paper, a black-box-model-based torque–current optimization method is proposed, which does not rely on any information of the inner mechanism model, and the derivative-free, optimal, improved Nelder–Mead Simplex(NMS) method is used to minimize the copper loss and maximize the electromagnetic torque in the flux-weakening region. Moreover, a synchronous online compensation of the electromagnetic torque and optimal current angle is implemented, in view of the time variation of permanent magnet flux with temperature. Finally, through a comparison experiment with the nominal-parameters-based formula maximum torque per ampere (MTPA) method, the proposed method achieves higher torque accuracy and better efficiency performance in a wide temperature range with regard to a reasonable response speed.
Superconductivity and Fermi Surface Studies of β″-(BEDT-TTF)2[(H2O)(NH4)2Cr(C2O4)3]·18-Crown-6
Authors: Laramee Brett , Ghimire Raju , Graf David , Martin Lee , Blundell Toby J. , Agosta Charles C.
Published: February 2023

We report rf-penetration depth measurements of the quasi-2D organic superconductor β″-(BEDT-TTF)2[(H2O)(NH4)2Cr(C2O4)3]·18-crown-6, which has the largest separation between consecutive conduction layers of any 2D organic metal with a single packing motif. Using a contactless tunnel diode oscillator measurement technique, we show the zero-field cooling dependence and field sweeps up to 28 T oriented at various angles with respect to the crystal conduction planes. When oriented parallel to the layers, the upper critical field, Hc2=7.6 T, which is the calculated paramagnetic limit for this material. No signs of inhomogeneous superconductivity are seen, despite previous predictions. When oriented perpendicular to the layers, Shubnikov–de Haas oscillations are seen as low as 6 T, and from these we calculate Fermi surface parameters such as the superconducting coherence length and Dingle temperature. One remarkable result from our data is the high anisotropy of Hc2 in the parallel and perpendicular directions, due to an abnormally low Hc2⊥=0.4 T. Such high anisotropy is rare in other organics and the origin of the smaller Hc2⊥ may be a consequence of a lower effective mass.
Maximal Solvable Leibniz Algebras with a Quasi-Filiform Nilradical
Authors: Abdurasulov Kobiljon , Adashev Jobir , Kaygorodov Ivan
Published: February 2023

This article is part of a study on solvable Leibniz algebras with a given nilradical. In this paper, solvable Leibniz algebras, whose nilradical is naturally graded quasi-filiform algebra and the complemented space to the nilradical has maximal dimension, are described up to isomorphism.
Finding an Efficient Computational Solution for the Bates Partial Integro-Differential Equation Utilizing the RBF-FD Scheme
Authors: Farahmand Gholamreza , Lotfi Taher , Ullah Malik Zaka , Shateyi Stanford
Published: February 2023

This paper proposes a computational solver via the localized radial basis function finite difference (RBF-FD) scheme and the use of graded meshes for solving the time-dependent Bates partial integro-differential equation (PIDE) arising in computational finance. In order to avoid facing a large system of discretization systems, we employ graded meshes along both of the spatial variables, which results in constructing a set of ordinary differential equations (ODEs) of lower sizes. Moreover, an explicit time integrator is used because it can bypass the need to solve the large discretized linear systems in each time level. The stability of the numerical method is discussed in detail based on the eigenvalues of the system matrix. Finally, numerical tests revealed the accuracy and reliability of the presented solver.
Optimal Homotopy Asymptotic Method for an Anharmonic Oscillator: Application to the Chen System
Authors: Ene Remus-Daniel , Pop Nicolina
Published: February 2023

The aim of our work is to obtain the analytic solutions for a new nonlinear anharmonic oscillator by means of the Optimal Homotopy Asymptotic Method (OHAM), using only one iteration. The accuracy of the obtained results comes from the comparison with the corresponding numerical ones for specified physical parameters. Moreover, the OHAM method has a greater degree of flexibility than an iterative method as is presented in this paper. Based on these results, the analytically solutions of the Chen system were obtained for a special case (just one analytic first integral). The chaotic behaviors were excluded here. The provided solutions are usefully for many engineering applications.
A Novel Discrete Generator with Modeling Engineering, Agricultural and Medical Count and Zero-Inflated Real Data with Bayesian, and Non-Bayesian Inference
Authors: Emam Walid , Tashkandy Yusra , Hamedani G.G. , Shehab Mohamed Abdelhamed , Ibrahim Mohamed , Yousof Haitham M.
Published: February 2023

This study introduces a unique flexible family of discrete probability distributions for modeling extreme count and zero-inflated count data with different failure rates. Certain significant mathematical properties, such as the cumulant generating function, moment generating function, dispersion index, L-moments, ordinary moments, and central moment are derived. The new failure rate function offers a wide range of flexibility, including “upside down”, “monotonically decreasing”, “bathtub”, “monotonically increasing” and “decreasing-constant failure rate” and “constant”. Moreover, the new probability mass function accommodates many useful shapes including the “right skewed function with no peak”, “symmetric”, “right skewed with one peak” and “left skewed with one peak”. To obtain significant characterization findings, the hazard function and the conditional expectation of certain function of the random variable are both employed. Both Bayesian and non-Bayesian estimate methodologies are considered when estimating, assessing, and comparing inferential efficacy. The Bayesian estimation approach for the squared error loss function is suggested, and it is explained. Markov chain Monte Carlo simulation studies are performed using the Metropolis Hastings algorithm and the Gibbs sampler to compare non-Bayesian vs. Bayesian results. Four real-world applications of count data sets are used to evaluate the Bayesian versus non-Bayesian techniques. Four more real count data applications are used to illustrate the significance and versatility of the new discrete class.