bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Safety Profile of Ambulatory Prostatic Artery Embolization after a Significant Learning Curve: Update on Adverse Events
Authors: Amouyal Gregory , Tournier Louis , De Margerie-Mellon Constance , Pachev Atanas , Assouline Jessica , Bouda Damien , De Bazelaire Cédric , Marques Florent , Le Strat Solenne , Desgrandchamps François , De Kerviler Eric
Published: August 2022

Background: to report the safety of outpatient prostatic artery embolization (PAE) after a significant learning curve. Methods: a retrospective bi-institutional study was conducted between June 2018 and April 2022 on 311 consecutive patients, with a mean age of 69 years ± 9.8 (47–102), treated by outpatient PAE. Indications included lower urinary tract symptoms, acute urinary retention, and hematuria. When needed, 3D-imaging and/or coil protection of extra-prostatic supplies were performed to avoid non-target embolization. Adverse events were monitored at 1-, 6-, and 12-month follow-ups. Results: bilateral PAE was achieved in 305/311 (98.1%). Mean dose area product/fluoroscopy times were 16,408.3 ± 12,078.9 (2959–81,608) μGy.m2/36.3 ± 1.7 (11–97) minutes. Coil protection was performed on 67/311 (21.5%) patients in 78 vesical, penile, or rectal supplies. Embolization-related adverse events varied between 0 and 2.6%, access-site adverse events between 0 and 18%, and were all minor. There was no major event. Conclusion: outpatient PAE performed after achieving a significant learning curve may lead to a decreased and low rate of adverse events. Experience in arterial anatomy and coil protection may play a role in safety, but the necessity of the latter in some patterns may need confirmation by additional studies in randomized designs.
Machine Learning Models for Nocturnal Hypoglycemia Prediction in Hospitalized Patients with Type 1 Diabetes
Authors: Berikov Vladimir B. , Kutnenko Olga A. , Semenova Julia F. , Klimontov Vadim V.
Published: August 2022

Nocturnal hypoglycemia (NH) is a dangerous complication of insulin therapy that often goes undetected. In this study, we aimed to generate machine learning (ML)-based models for short-term NH prediction in hospitalized patients with type 1 diabetes (T1D). The models were trained on continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) data obtained from 406 adult patients admitted to a tertiary referral hospital. Eight CGM-derived metrics of glycemic control and glucose variability were included in the models. Combinations of CGM and clinical data (23 parameters) were also assessed. Random Forest (RF), Logistic Linear Regression with Lasso regularization, and Artificial Neuron Networks algorithms were applied. In our models, RF provided the best prediction accuracy with 15 min and 30 min prediction horizons. The addition of clinical parameters slightly improved the prediction accuracy of most models, whereas oversampling and undersampling procedures did not have significant effects. The areas under the curve of the best models based on CGM and clinical data with 15 min and 30 min prediction horizons were 0.97 and 0.942, respectively. Basal insulin dose, diabetes duration, proteinuria, and HbA1c were the most important clinical predictors of NH assessed by RF. In conclusion, ML is a promising approach to personalized prediction of NH in hospitalized patients with T1D.
Research on the Evaluation of Geological Environment Carrying Capacity Based on the AHP-CRITIC Empowerment Method
Authors: Qi Jiawei , Zhang Yichen , Zhang Jiquan , Chen Yanan , Wu Chenyang , Duan Chenyu , Cheng Zhongshuai , Pan Zengkai
Published: August 2022

In this study, two districts, Erdaojiang District and Dongchang District, in Tonghua City, Jilin Province, were evaluated for their geological environment carrying capacity. A total of 14 evaluation indicators were selected from the three aspects of the geological environment, ecological environment, and social environment to make it more comprehensive to evaluate the carrying capacity of the geological environment. Using the AHP and CRITIC methods, the subjective weight and objective weight of each evaluation index are obtained, and the combined weight is calculated by game theory. When combined with the GIS and combined weights, the distribution map of the geological environment carrying capacity is obtained, and it is classified into four grades: excellent, good, medium, and poor. A comprehensive evaluation of the carrying capacity of the geological environment is carried out. The following conclusions are drawn: the overall carrying capacity of the geological environment in the study area is good, and the carrying capacity of individual areas is poor. The comparative analysis of the good and poor areas provides a scientific basis for future environmental governance and urban planning and provides a scientific basis for geological disasters and mines.
Land Cover Changing Pattern in Pre- and Post-Earthquake Affected Area from Remote Sensing Data: A Case of Lushan County, Sichuan Province
Authors: Wang Jun , Wang Zhihua , Cheng Hongbin , Kang Junmei , Liu Xiaoliang
Published: August 2022

Extremely hard-hit areas face frequent secondary geological hazards and difficulties in vegetation recovery, and subsequent effects have a significant impact on land cover changes. At present, there is a lack of research on the dynamic restoration of, and changes in, the ecological environment before and after an earthquake, and especially a lack of quantitative assessment of the impact of earthquakes on land cover at the microscopic scale of spatial distribution of landscape indices. Taking the Lushan earthquake in Sichuan Province as an example, this paper obtained land cover data from the study area between 2012 and 2020, and analyzes the spatial distribution characteristics and influencing factors of land cover change frequency by using a comprehensive land cover degree index, land cover transfer matrix and landscape ecology index. The results show that the types of cropland, forest, built-up and bare land have changed significantly in the study area. During the earthquake recovery period, the comprehensive land cover index of the study area showed an increasing trend, and land cover has been continuously improved under the effect of artificial measures and natural restoration. After 2013, patch density (PD) and landscape shape index (LSI) values decreased and aggregation index (AI) values increased for the vast majority of landscape land classes, indicating a benign ecological development across the region in the post-earthquake period. The research results are not only helpful to establish scientific ecological environmental management in the earthquake-stricken areas, but also helpful to formulate medium- and long-term ecological environmental monitoring and ecological restoration plans based on land cover change patterns.
Decoupling Relationship between Industrial Land Expansion and Economic Development in China
Authors: Qi Junheng , Hu Mingxing , Han Bing , Zheng Jiemin , Wang Hui
Published: August 2022

Economic expansion has caused increasingly serious land resource problems, and the decoupling of urban industrial land expansion from economic development has become a big topic for intensive development. The current research has mainly concerned industrial land efficiency, a single, static indicator, compared to a decoupling model, which takes into account two variables and gives a full expression of the spatio-temporal dynamic characteristics. However, little attention has been paid to the relationship between industrial land expansion and economic development in China from the perspective of decoupling. Based on a combination of Tapio‘s decoupling model and spatial analysis methods, this paper investigates the decoupling relationship between industrial land expansion and economic development in Chinese cities from 2010 to 2019. On that basis, we divided the study area into three policy zones and made differentiated policy recommendations. In addition, based on the decoupling model, we obtained the decoupling indices of the cities and grouped the cities into eight decoupling types. After the spatial autocorrelation analysis, we further verified the spillover effect of decoupling with the results of urban spatial differentiation. This paper draws the following conclusions: (1) Urban industrial land expansion and economic development exhibit marked and increasingly significant spatial heterogeneity and agglomeration. (2) Industry and economy are in weak decoupling in most cities, but there are a growing number of cities in negative decoupling. (3) Decoupled cities are shifting from the southeast coast to the middle and lower reaches of the Yellow River and Yangtze River, while negatively decoupled cities keep spreading from northeast and south China to their periphery, with clear signs of re-coupling. (4) It is necessary to develop urban industrial land supply and supervision policies according to local actuality and to implement differentiated control of industrial land for cities and industrial sectors with different decoupling types. To some extent, this paper reveals the evolution dynamics, performances, and strategies of industrial land, providing a decision basis for industrial land management policies and industrial planning in China and other countries at similar stages.
Long-Term Effectiveness and Safety of Biologic and Small Molecule Drugs for Moderate to Severe Atopic Dermatitis: A Systematic Review
Authors: Ayen-Rodríguez Angela , Pereyra-Rodríguez José-Juan , Navarro-Triviño Francisco J. , Alcantara-Luna Sara , Domínguez-Cruz Javier , Galán-Gutiérrez Manuel , Vilar-Palomo Samuel , Armario-Hita Jose Carlos , Ruiz-Villaverde Ricardo
Published: August 2022

Introduction: Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a genetically based chronic inflammatory dermatosis associated with multiple triggers and complex pathophysiological mechanisms. Nowadays, an authentic therapeutic revolution is taking place with the incorporation of biological drugs for the treatment of moderate and severe atopic dermatitis. A new systematic revision (RS) is necessary to support decision-making for specialists treating AD. Methods: A literature search of MEDLINE, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials was performed between 1 January 2000 and 30 April 2022. Phase III randomized clinical trials (RCTs) of EMA-approved molecules were included. The main variables analyzed were a 75% improvement in the Eczema Area and Severity Index (EASI 75) and the number of patients who reached 0 in the Investigator Global Assessment (IGA) (fully cleared patients) or IGA 1 (almost cleared patients) at the end of the study period (week 48–60). The risk of bias was analyzed with the Cochrane Risk of Bias Assessment (ROB-2) tool, focused on the primary objectives. Before carrying out the study, the protocol was registered in PROSPERO with the number CRD42022331109. Results: A total of 3299 studies were systematically identified via databases and registers (442 from PubMed/MEDLINE, 2857 from Embase and 719 from CENTRAL). Finally, five publications containing seven RCTs were included in the final sample of detailed data extraction and data analyses. Regarding efficacy, the best results are obtained with Upadacitinib 30 mg (84.7% (77.3–92.1)) at 52 weeks, slightly improving its results when TCS is added (84.9% (80.3–89.5)). These results are replicated in the measurement of vIGA 0/1 for Updacitinib 30 mg + TCS, where 65.5% (55.7–75.2) of patients maintain it at 52 weeks. Of the four drugs, no long-term safety results have been reported for baricitinib. In relation to the safety findings, there were no significant differences in the dropout rates for this reason in the remaining three drugs. Discussion: Today, different therapeutic options for AD patients can be prescribed. Individualizing the treatment allows for better therapeutic consistency, in addition to being cost-efficient to avoid primary therapeutic failures. The results of the present SR may provide us with a useful basis for the preparation of management guidelines for the use of new generation therapies in moderate to severe atopic dermatitis.
Recapsoma®: A Novel Mixture Based on Bergamot, Ipomoea Batatas, Policosanol Extracts and Liposomal Berberine for the Treatment of Hypercholesterolemia
Authors: Amante Chiara , Esposito Tiziana , Luccheo Gianni , Luccheo Luigi , Russo Paola , Del Gaudio Pasquale
Published: August 2022

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is considered one of the major causes of mortality worldwide. Epidemiological studies have shown that regular consumption of phenols is inversely associated with cardiovascular disease, and the use of nutraceuticals and functional foods can provide protective, preventive, and possibly curative effects in CVD. A novel mixture of different natural substances named Recapsoma® (bergamot, liposomal berberine, Ipomoea batatas, oleuropein, polycosanols, and vitamin E) has been produced, and its anti-dyslipidaemic efficacy has been tested, specifically studying the in vitro effects on the mechanisms of action underlying cholesterol synthesis, triglycerides, and LDL-cholesterol oxidation. The work has demonstrated the ability of this herbal extract mixture to inhibit the action of PCSK, ACAT, PAP, and HMGR and to increase the LDL receptor (LDLR), underlying the synergistic effect of the mixture over the single components. Such results suggest that the Recapsoma® mixture could be used as a tool for controlling hypercholesterolemia, and an alternative to statins, especially for those patients with metabolic syndrome.
Impact of Hypoxia-Ischemia on Neurogenesis and Structural and Functional Outcomes in a Mild–Moderate Neonatal Hypoxia-Ischemia Brain Injury Model
Authors: Ehlting Anne , Zweyer Margit , Maes Elke , Schleehuber Yvonne , Doshi Hardik , Sabir Hemmen , Bernis Maria Eugenia
Published: August 2022

Hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) is a common type of brain injury caused by a lack of oxygen and blood flow to the brain during the perinatal period. The incidence of HIE is approximately 2–3 cases per 1000 live births in high-income settings; while in low- and middle-income countries, the incidence is 3–10-fold higher. Therapeutic hypothermia (TH) is the current standard treatment for neonates affected by moderate–severe HIE. However, more than 50% of all infants with suspected HIE have mild encephalopathy, and these infants are not treated with TH because of their lower risk of adverse outcomes. Despite this, several analyses of pooled data provide increasing evidence that infants who initially have mild encephalopathy may present signs of more significant brain injury later in life. The purpose of this study was to expand our knowledge about the effect of mild–moderate hypoxia-ischemia (HI) at the cellular, structural, and functional levels. An established rat model of mild–moderate HI was used, where postnatal day (P) 7 rats were exposed to unilateral permanent occlusion of the left carotid artery and 90 min of 8% hypoxia, followed by TH or normothermia (NT) treatment. The extent of injury was assessed using histology (P14 and P42) and MRI (P11 and P32), as well as with short-term and long-term behavioral tests. Neurogenesis was assessed by BrdU staining. We showed that mild–moderate HI leads to a progressive loss of brain tissue, pathological changes in MRI scans, as well as an impairment of long-term motor function. At P14, the median area loss assessed by histology for HI animals was 20% (p < 0.05), corresponding to mild–moderate brain injury, increasing to 55% (p < 0.05) at P42. The data assessed by MRI corroborated our results. HI led to a decrease in neurogenesis, especially in the hippocampus and the lateral ventricle at early time points, with a delayed partial recovery. TH was not neuroprotective at early time points following mild–moderate HI, but prevented the increase in brain damage over time. Additionally, rats treated with TH showed better long-term motor function. Altogether, our results bring more light to the understanding of pathophysiology following mild-moderate HI. We showed that, in the context of mild-moderate HI, TH failed to be significantly neuroprotective. However, animals treated with TH showed a significant improvement in motor, but not cognitive long-term function. These results are in line with what is observed in some cases where neonates with mild HIE are at risk of neurodevelopmental deficits in infancy or childhood. Whether TH should be used as a preventive treatment to reduce adverse outcomes in mild-HIE remains of active interest, and more research has to be carried out in order to address this question.
Inflammaging, a Common Factor in the Development of Sarcopenia and Metabolic-Associated Liver Disease (MAFLD)
Authors: Jorquera Gonzalo , Cubero Francisco Javier
Published: August 2022

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most common liver disease in Western countries, with its prevalence increasing annually [...]
Electric-Field-Coupled Resonator Antenna for 5G Applications
Authors: Rahman Md. Mushfiqur , Islam Md. Shabiul , Islam Mohammad Tariqul , Alam Touhidul
Published: August 2022

In this paper, a compact wideband patch antenna comprising a modified electric-field-coupled resonator with parasitic elements is presented. The resonance at low frequency is achieved due to the electric field polarization along the split of the conventional LC (inductive-capacitive) structure. However, this antenna gives low bandwidth as well as low gain. Some evolutionary techniques are adopted to get a compact wideband antenna at 3GPP bands of 5G. The split width and the ground plane are modified to achieve enhanced bandwidth with good impedance matching, whereas the addition of the parasitic elements on both sides of the microstrip feed line enhances the gain with a slight reduction of bandwidth. The compact dimension of the proposed antenna is 0.26 λL × 0.26 λL × 0.017 λL, where λL is the free space wavelength at the lowest frequency. A prototype of the presented design is fabricated and measured. Measurement shows that the antenna has an operating bandwidth of 19.74% for |S11| < −10 dB where the gain of 1.15 dBi is realized. In addition, the radiation pattern is omnidirectional in the horizontal plane and dumbbell shaped in the elevation plane. The cross-polarization levels in both planes are less than −12 dB.
Aqueous-Based Synthesis of Photocatalytic Copper Sulfide Using Sulfur Waste as Sulfurizing Agent
Authors: Sarapajevaite Gabriele , Morselli Davide , Baltakys Kestutis
Published: August 2022

Most of the copper sulfide synthetic approaches developed until now are still facing issues in their procedure, such as long synthesis duration, high energetic consumption, and high implementation costs. This publication reports a facile and sustainable approach for synthesizing copper sulfides on a large scale. In particular, an industrial by-product of sulfur waste was used as a sulfurizing agent for copper sulfide synthesis in a water medium. The reaction was performed in the hydrothermal environment by following a novel proposed mechanism of copper sulfide formation. The investigation of morphological and optical properties revealed that the target products obtained by using waste possess the resembling properties as the ones synthesized from the most conventional sulfurizing agent. Since the determined band gap of synthesis products varied from 1.72 to 1.81 eV, the photocatalytic properties, triggered under visible light irradiation, were also investigated by degrading the methylene blue as a model pollutant. Importantly, the degradation efficiency of the copper sulfide synthesized from sulfur waste was equivalent to a sample obtained from a reference sulfurizing agent since the value for both samples was 96% in 180 min. This very simple synthetic approach opens up a new way for large-scale sustainable production of visible-light-driven photocatalysts for water purification from organic pollutants.
Effect of Solution Temperature on Microstructure and Properties of Thixotropic Back-Extruded Tin–Bronze Shaft Sleeve
Authors: Zhou Yuhang , Cui Yunxin , Zhang Qingbiao , Yang Zhiqiang , Li Yongkun , Xiao Han
Published: August 2022

To study the heat-treatment process of a semi-solid copper alloy, a thixotropic back-extruded tin–bronze shaft sleeve was heat-treated at 630 °C, 660 °C, 690 °C and 720 °C for 1 h, respectively. Microstructure changes and mechanical properties under different solution temperatures of shaft sleeve were characterized using a metallographic microscope (OM), scanning electron microscope (SEM), transmission electron microscope (TEM), hardness tester, and tensile tester. The results show that the tensile strength first increases and then decreases; the elongation decreases; and the Brinell hardness increases gradually with increasing solution temperature. When the solution treatment is at 690 °C, the tin–bronze shaft sleeve’s microstructure and comprehensive mechanical properties are the best. The shape factor is 0.75, the average grain size is 82.52 μm, the Brinell hardness is 122 HBW, the tensile strength is 437 MPa, and the elongation is 17.4%, which is 3.4 times higher than that before solution treatment.
Thermal Decomposition, Low Temperature Phase Transitions and Vapor Pressure of Less Common Ionic Liquids Based on the Bis(trifuoromethanesulfonyl)imide Anion
Authors: Paolone Annalisa , Haddad Boumediene , Villemin Didier , Boumediene Mostefa , Fetouhi Bekhaled , Assenine Mohammed Amin
Published: August 2022

Four ionic liquids (ILs) based on the bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide (NTf2) anion were synthesized and characterized concerning their thermal stability, the occurrence of low temperature phase transitions and their volatility. All these physical quantities are highly important for possible applications. Both monocationic and dicationic ILs were considered. All ILs exhibit thermal stability exceeding 350 °C, an extremely high value, due to the presence of the NTf2 anion. Monocationic ILs can undergo crystallization, and they melt at 1 and 38 °C. On the contrary, dicationic ILs containing large positively charged ions display only a glass transition around −40 °C, without any crystallization or melting process; this fact is particularly important in view of the possibly low temperature applications of the dication ILs. The vapor pressure, pv, of the four ILs was measured by isothermal thermogravimetry in the temperature range between 250 and 325 °C; the lowest values of pv were obtained for the two dicationic liquids, suggesting that they are particularly well suited for high temperature applications. The vaporization enthalpy was calculated through the Clausius–Clapeyron equation and was found in the range between ~140 and ~180 kJ/mol depending on the specific IL.
Effect of Alumina on Crystallization Behavior of Calcium Ferrite in Fe2O3-CaO-SiO2-Al2O3 System
Authors: Xin Rui-Feng , Du Yu , Guo Xing-Min
Published: August 2022

Al2O3 is a gangue component in iron ores, significantly influencing the formation and crystallization of calcium ferrite in the sintering process. But the mechanism of the Al2O3 effect on the crystallization of calcium ferrite is rarely reported. In this work, a crystallization device was designed to investigate the crystallization behavior of calcium ferrite in Fe2O3-CaO-SiO2-Al2O3 melt under non-isothermal conditions. XRD, SEM-EDS, and optical microscopy were used to identify the crystalline phase and the microstructure of samples. The result shows that the crystal morphology of SFCA changed in the order of strip, column, and needle as the Al2O3 content increased. The crystallization sequence of samples containing Al2O3 was observed as Ca4Fe14O25 (C4F14) → Fe2O3 → Ca3.18Fe15.48Al1.34O36 (SFCA-I) → CaFe2O4 (CF) → Ca5Si2(Fe, Al)18O36 (SFCA) → γ-Ca2SiO4 (C2S). The generation pathway of SFCA-I was found to be C4F14 + Si4+ + Al3+ → SFCA-I. Increasing the cooling rate can promote the formation of C4F14, SFCA-I, Fe2O3 and the amorphous phase. However, it prevented the crystallization of CF and SFCA while inhibiting the transformation of β-C2S to γ-C2S. When the Al2O3 content reached or exceeded 2.5 mass pct, the viscosity of Fe2O3-CaO-SiO2-Al2O3 melt increased sharply, resulting in the decrease in the crystal size of calcium ferrite.
Investigation of Potential Use of Soybean Protein Isolate–Chinese Bayberry Tannin Extract Cross-Linked Films in Packaging Applications
Authors: Liao Jingjing , Deng Shuangqi , Essawy Hisham , Bao Xiaoyan , Wang Hongyan , Du Guanben , Zhou Xiaojian
Published: August 2022

The possibility of using commercial bayberry tannin (BT) from a Chinese source as a cross-linker and functional additive to develop soybean protein isolate (SPI)-based films was explored in this study by using the solvent casting method. In particular, the impacts of BT loading on the tensile strength, microstructure, thermal stability, water resistance and antioxidant capacity were fully investigated. The results reveal that SPI incorporated with BT yielded a phenolic–protein hybrid whose relevant films exhibited an improvement in tensile strength of around two times greater compared with native SPI as a result of the formed interactions and covalent cross-links, which could be proven using FTIR spectroscopy. The introduction of BT also led to the compact microstructure of SPI–BT films and enhanced the thermal stability, while the water vapor permeability was reduced compared with the control SPI film, especially at high loading content of tannin. Additionally, the use of BT significantly promoted the antioxidant capacity of the SPI-based films according to DPPH radical scavenging assay results. On this basis, Chinese bayberry tannin is considered a promising natural cross-linker and multifunctional additive that can be dedicated to developing protein-derived films with antioxidant activity for food packaging applications.
Fracture of Lithia Disilicate Ceramics under Different Environmental Conditions
Authors: Esquivel-Upshaw Josephine F. , Hsu Shu-Min , Ren Fan , Stephany Jenna , Xia Xinyi , Chiu Chan-Wen , Neal Dan , Mecholsky John J.
Published: August 2022

The objective of this research was to quantify the effect of surface degradation and abrasion separately and in combination on the flexural strength of lithia disilicate ceramics. Lithia disilicate disks were fabricated using the lost wax technique and pressing in vacuum. The eight groups in this pilot experiment were (i) reference, hydrated in distilled water for 24 h prior to fracture; (ii) reference, non-hydrated group; (iii) 28-day pH cycling group; (iv) 125K chewing cycle group; (v) combined pH cycling + 125K chewing cycle; (vi) constant pH 2 solution for 28 days; (vii) constant pH 7 solution for 28 days; and (viii) constant pH 10 solution for 28 days. pH cycling is a method that alternates between pH 2, 7 and 10 over 28 days. A total of 15 disks were used for each group. All the groups were tested using the biaxial piston and a three-ball flexural strength test to obtain their biaxial flexural strength. pH 2 constant immersion demonstrated the highest fracture strength and was significantly greater than all other groups (p < 0.0001). Chewing and pH cycling + chewing groups exhibited the lowest fracture strengths and were significantly lower than all other groups (p < 0.0001). The damage observed from the chewing simulator does not represent apparent clinical fractures.
Structural, Electronic, Mechanical, and Thermodynamic Properties of Na Deintercalation from Olivine NaMnPO4: First-Principles Study
Authors: Dima Ratshilumela S. , Maleka Prettier M. , Maluta Nnditshedzeni E. , Maphanga Rapela R.
Published: August 2022

The impact of Na atom deintercalation on olivine NaMnPO4 was investigated in a first-principle study for prospective use as cathode materials in Na-ion batteries. Within the generalized gradient approximation functional with Hubbard (U) correction, we used the plane-wave pseudopotential approach. The calculated equilibrium lattice constants are within 5% of the experimental data. The difference in equilibrium cell volumes for all deintercalated phases was only 6%, showing that NaMPO4 is structurally more stable. The predicted voltage window was found to be between 3.997 and 3.848 V. The Na1MnPO4 and MnPO4 structures are likely to be semiconductors, but the Na0.75MnPO4, Na0.5MnPO4, and Na0.25MnPO4 structures are likely to be metallic. Furthermore, all independent elastic constants for NaxMPO4 structures were shown to meet the mechanical stability requirement of the orthorhombic lattice system.
Misfit of Complete Maxillary Dentures’ Posterior Palatal Seal following Polymerisation with Four Different Autopolymerising Resins: An In Vitro Study
Authors: Schiller Simone , Rustemeier Elke , Kraus Dominik , Stark Helmut , Müller Frauke , Utz Karl-Heinz
Published: August 2022

Background: The majority of complete dentures are still conventionally manufactured using a flask-and-pack technique. However, the polymerization process may introduce a distortion of the denture body. The aim of this study was to evaluate the three-dimensional fit of the posterior palatal seal of maxillary complete dentures with the original impression, and to give recommendations for scraping. Methods: Four autopolymerising resins were used to manufacture 40 palatal plates each for high, medium and flat palates (total n = 120). The misfit was captured by taking a reline impression with a highly fluid silicone, the dimensions of which were measured with a flat-bed scanner. Results: The shape of the palate had a significant impact (median p = 0.0435), but not the resin type (median p = 0.2575). It was largest for the flat palate and smallest for the high palate. The largest misfit was observed in the palatal midline area (flat-palate average median: 685 µm; high and medium palates: 620 µm) decreasing towards the lateral and anterior regions. Conclusions: The results suggest compensating for the palatal misfit that occurs with autopolymerising resins by scraping a postdam of an approximately 0.7 mm depth to the master cast, decreasing towards the anterior and lateral areas. In high and medium palates, the scraping could be less pronounced.
Numerical Analysis of Microcrack Propagation Characteristics and Influencing Factors of Serrated Structural Plane
Authors: Zhang Xing , Lin Hang , Qin Jianxin , Cao Rihong , Ma Shaowei , Hu Huihua
Published: August 2022

The serrated structural plane is the basic unit of structural plane morphology. However, the understanding of its internal stress distribution, failure mode and crack evolution law was not clear enough in previous studies. In this paper, the shear mechanical properties of the serrated structural planes were studied by numerical simulation, and the crack evolution law of the serrated structural planes and the effects of four microscopic parameters on the shear properties were analyzed. The results show that: (1) the number of microcracks increases with the increase in normal stress; the crack expansion rate is slow before the shear stress reaches the peak. After the shear stress reaches the peak, the crack expansion rate continues to increase, and the microcracks keep sprouting and expanding, and the number of microcracks tends to stabilize when the shear stress reaches the residual shear strength. (2) The particle contact stiffness ratio kn∗/ks∗ and parallel bond stiffness ratio kn/ks were negatively correlated with the shear strength; and the particle contact modulus E and parallel bond modulus E∗ were positively correlated with the shear strength. As the particle contact modulus E and parallel bond modulus E∗ increase, the peak shear displacement gradually decreases. The parallel bond stiffness ratio kn/ks has a negative correlation with the peak shear displacement. This study is expected to provide theoretical guidance for the microscopic parameter calibration and shear mechanical analysis of serrated structural planes. (3) Several XGBoost, WOA-XGBoost, and PSO-XGBoost algorithms are introduced to construct the quantitative prediction model, and the comparative analysis found that WOA-XGBoost has the best fitting effect and can be used for the prediction of shear strength. When using this model to calculate the weight shares of micro-parameters, it was found that kn∗/ks∗ has the greatest influence on shear strength, followed by E∗; E and kn/ks had the least influence.
A Multimethod Assessment of a New Customized Heat-Treated Nickel–Titanium Rotary File System
Authors: Silva Emmanuel J. N. L. , Martins Jorge N. R. , Ajuz Natasha C. , Antunes Henrique S. , Vieira Victor T. L. , Braz Fernandes Francisco M. , Belladonna Felipe G. , Versiani Marco A.
Published: August 2022

This study aimed to compare three endodontic rotary systems. The new Genius Proflex (25/0.04), Vortex Blue (25/0.04), and TruNatomy (26/0.04v) instruments (n = 41 per group) were analyzed regarding design, metallurgy, and mechanical performance, while shaping ability (untouched canal walls, volume of removed dentin and hard tissue debris) was tested in 36 anatomically matched root canals of mandibular molars. The results were compared using one-way ANOVA, post hoc Tukey, and Kruskal–Wallis tests, with a significance level set at 5%. All instruments showed symmetrical cross-sections, with asymmetrical blades, no radial lands, no major defects, and almost equiatomic nickel–titanium ratios. Differences were noted in the number of blades, helical angles, cross-sectional design, and tip geometry. The Genius Proflex and the TruNatomy instruments had the highest and lowest R-phase start and finish temperatures, as well as the highest and lowest time and cycles to fracture (p < 0.05), respectively. The TruNatomy had the highest flexibility (p < 0.05), while no differences were observed between the Genius Proflex and the Vortex Blue (p > 0.05). No differences among tested systems were observed regarding the maximum torque, angle of rotation prior to fracture, and shaping ability (p > 0.05). The instruments showed similarities and differences in their design, metallurgy, and mechanical properties. However, their shaping ability was similar, without any clinically significant errors. Understanding these characteristics may help clinicians to make decisions regarding which instrument to choose for a particular clinical situation.
Kinematic Characteristics Analysis of Orbiting Scroll and Structural Optimization of Oldham’s Coupling in Scroll Compression
Authors: Zhu Yuqi , Yuan Wei , Guo Qianjian , Wang Wenhua , Zhang Liguo , Zhu Shuailun
Published: August 2022

The contact form of the orbiting scroll and Oldham’s coupling plays an important role in improving the operation stability of the scroll compressor. In this study, the kinematic simulation of key moving parts such as the orbiting scroll and Oldham’s coupling was carried out under the condition of low speed, and the reason for the impact between Oldham’s coupling and the orbiting scroll was revealed. Results showed that the clearance between the moving pairs causes the orbiting scroll to have a slight rotation tendency and causes the impact between Oldham’s coupling and the orbiting scroll. The angular velocity of the orbiting scroll in the x-axis direction can effectively characterize this impact. The impact of the Oldham’s coupling convex key on the mainframe keyway is more severe than that on the keyway of the orbiting scroll. By optimizing the structure of the convex key of Oldham’s coupling, the contact form between Oldham’s coupling and the orbiting scroll is improved, and the starting acceleration of the orbiting scroll is reduced by 53%, which greatly improved the working stability of the scroll compressor.
ULO: An Underwater Light-Weight Object Detector for Edge Computing
Authors: Wang Lin , Ye Xiufen , Wang Shunli , Li Peng
Published: August 2022

Recent studies on underwater object detection have progressed with the development of deep-learning methods. Generally, the model performance increase is accompanied by an increase in computation. However, a significant fraction of remotely operated underwater vehicles (ROVs) and autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) operate in environments with limited power and computation resources, making large models inapplicable. In this paper, we propose a fast and compact object detector—namely, the Underwater Light-weight Object detector (ULO)—for several marine products, such as scallops, starfish, echinus, and holothurians. ULO achieves comparable results to YOLO-v3 with less than 7% of its computation. ULO is modified based on the YOLO Nano architecture, and some modern architectures are used to optimize it, such as the Ghost module and decoupled head design in detection. We propose an adaptive pre-processing module for the image degradation problem that is common in underwater images. The module is lightweight and simple to use, and ablation experiments verify its effectiveness. Moreover, ULO Tiny, a lite version of ULO, is proposed to achieve further computation reduction. Furthermore, we optimize the annotations of the URPC2019 dataset, and the modified annotations are more accurate in localization and classification. The refined annotations are available to the public for research use.
Design and Study of a Stair Climbing Robots with Two Wheels and a “4R+2P” Pattern
Authors: Wu Guanwu , Wu Liqun , Wang Hongcheng , Yang Wenzhe , Wang Zeen , Zhang Zheng , Shen Tongzhou
Published: August 2022

Aimed at the current major problems of “slipping, misstep and misplace” in the robot stair climbing process and at reaching the goals of being “flexible, adaptive and stable” in multiple scenarios, a two-wheeled robot with a “4R+2P” pattern that can independently climb different structures of stairs is proposed, and a gait pattern for stair climbing through a four-step cycle of “approaching, lifting, putting and retraction” based on this pattern is proposed. Relevant kinematic and dynamic models are established to study the constraint relation. In the experiment, the robot goes up and down different stairs. The simulation and experimental results showed that the two-wheeled robot with a “4R+2P” configuration fundamentally realized up–down stair climbing, adaptive steering and multiscene functions.
Design and Motion Analysis of a Magnetic Climbing Robot Applied to Ship Shell Plate
Authors: Cui Shuwan , Pei Xunyi , Song Huzhe , Dai Penghui
Published: August 2022

The manufacture, maintenance and inspection of a ship involve a series of works on the ship shell plate, which were always seen as harmful for human operators and time-consuming work. The shipping industry is looking to replace manual work with automation equipment. A magnetic climbing robot that can omnidirectionally move on ship shell plate was presented in this paper. This article summarized the mechanical structure, control system, kinematic model, and autonomy of robot. The mechanical structure of the robot was inspired by bionics and adopted a wheel-leg hybrid locomotion system. In the control system of this robot, industrial control computer (IPC) was adopted as the core controller and brushless direct current servomotor was chosen as the actuating station. Finally, the motion analysis of the designed robot was performed. The results of the analysis show that the magnetic climbing robot adapted to the ship curved shell plate and crossed obstacles.
An Improved Permanent Magnet Synchronous Motor Rotor Position Observer Design Based on Error Harmonic Elimination
Authors: Lv Haiying , Zhang Lei , Yao Chunya , Sun Qiang , Du Jingjuan , Chen Xueyong
Published: August 2022

An improved rotor position observer based on sliding mode control was proposed to eliminate estimation error and harmonic ripples for PMSM sensorless control. A multi-proportional resonant filter was designed instead of a low-pass filter to filter out the specific harmonics of back EMF. The improved filter can solve the phase delay problem caused by a low-pass filter, eliminate the rotor angle compensator, simplify the system structure, and effectively suppress the system chattering. Then, a fractional normalized phase-locked loop was adopted to calculate the speed and rotor position, further eliminating the influence of noise. Compared with the traditional sliding mode control and the improved sliding mode control, the improved sliding mode observer can effectively suppress the back EMF chattering and reduce the speed estimation error. The correctness and effectiveness of the proposed improved sliding mode observer were verified through the simulation model and experimental platform of PMSM sensorless control.
Influence of Bi Content on the Temperature of the Formation of the Hard Magnetic MnBi Phase: Simultaneous Irreversible Drop of Resistance
Authors: Vergara José , Favieres Cristina , Madurga Vicente
Published: August 2022

Pulsed laser-deposited (PLD) MnBi films were fabricated by alternating deposition of Mn and Bi layers. In order to obtain the ferromagnetic MnBi phase, heat treatments were performed on the samples. Simultaneously, the resistance of the samples was monitored as a function of the temperature. Thus, on increasing the temperature, a steep decrease in the resistance of the films was observed, simultaneous to the onset of the formation of the MnBi phase. At room-temperature, these annealed samples showed a ferromagnetic behavior, as well as the presence of the characteristic LT-MnBi phase diffraction peaks in the X-ray diffraction patterns. The temperature of the generation of the MnBi phase depended on the relative concentration of Mn and Bi in the different samples: on increasing the Bi atomic concentration, the temperature of the generation of the MnBi phase decreased.
Propagation of Elastic Waves in Homogeneous Media: 2D Numerical Simulation for a Concrete Specimen
Authors: Alì Giuseppe , Demarco Francesco , Scuro Carmelo
Published: August 2022

This paper addresses the theoretical foundation of a localization method for crack detection in a concrete sample based on the time of arrival of the elastic wave generated by the crack formation to a group of sensors positioned on the boundary of the sample. The equations of motion for the elastic waves are carefully presented, including a body force term which accounts for the sudden formation of a crack. Then, a localization method based on the detection of acoustic emissions, and specifically on their arrival times, is described. Finally, a discretization scheme for the 2D equations of elasticity is developed, and some numerical experiments are performed to assess the validity of the method.
Investigating the Effectiveness of Government Public Health Systems against COVID-19 by Hybrid MCDM Approaches
Authors: Pan Jiaji , Fan Ruilin , Zhang Hanlu , Gao Yi , Shu Zhiquan , Chen Zhongxiang
Published: August 2022

To elucidate the effectiveness of the containment strategies against the pandemic, a Multi-Criteria Decision Making (MCDM) model is established to evaluate the government’s performance against COVID-19. In this study, the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP), Entropy, and Technique for Order of Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) method are used in determining the performance of the public health system. We adopt both subjective and objective weighting methods for a more accurate evaluation. In addition, the evaluation of performance against COVID-19 is conducted in various aspects and divided into different periods. Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) is applied to evaluate the sustainability of the public health system. Composite scores of the public health system are determined based on the performance and sustainability assessment. The five countries, South Korea, Japan, Germany, Australia, and China are rated with higher composite scores. On the country, the US, Indonesia, Egypt, South Africa, and Brazil receive lower rating scores among the countries for evaluation. This modeling study can provide a practical quantitative justification for developing containment policies and suggestions for improving the public health system in more countries or areas.
The Mediating Effects of Green Innovation and Corporate Social Responsibility on the Link between Transformational Leadership and Performance: An Examination Using SEM Analysis
Authors: Sobaih Abu Elnasr E. , Gharbi Hassane , Hasanein Ahmed M. , Elnasr Ahmed E. Abu
Published: August 2022

Since the inauguration of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDGs), environmental performance and sustainability have become more important to decision makers, scientists and leaders of organizations than before. In response to this, leaders of different organizations spend all endeavors conserving resources and ensuring environmental sustainability. In this context, transformational leaders have the capacity to ensure the green performance of their organization. The purpose of this study is to test the link between green transformational leadership (GTL), green innovation (GI), corporate social responsibility (CSR) and green performance (GP) in the hotel industry in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). The study empirically tests the mediating effect of GI and CSR on the link between GTL and GP. The study used a quantitative research method via a pre-test instrument, self-distributed and collected from employees in large hotels at different regions of the KSA. The findings from 732 valid responses, analyzed with structural equation modeling (SEM) showed that GTL had a significant effect on GI (β = +0.72, t-value = 14.603, p < 0.001), CSR (β = +0.58, t-value = 8.511, p < 0.001) and GP (β = +0.17, t-value = 2.585, p < 0.001). Moreover, GI and CSR had a direct positive effect on GP (β = +0.10, t-value = 2.866, p < 0.01 and β = +0.61, t-value = 4.358, p < 0.001, respectively). GI had a partial mediation effect (p = 0.048 < 0.05) on the link between GTL and GP. On the other hand, CSR had a perfect mediation effect (p = 0.077 > 0.05) on the link between GTL and GP. This reflects the vital part that CSR plays in this relationship, which can be changed based on the status of CSR. In addition, this reflects the value of CSR in achieving GP, which contributes to the achievement of environmental sustainability at a national level (i.e., the Green Saudi Initiative) at a regional level (i.e., the Green Middle East Initiative) and at an international level (i.e., UNSDGs).
Deep Deterministic Policy Gradient-Based Active Disturbance Rejection Controller for Quad-Rotor UAVs
Authors: Zhao Kai , Song Jia , Hu Yunlong , Xu Xiaowei , Liu Yang
Published: August 2022

Thanks to their hovering and vertical take-off and landing abilities, quadrotor unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) are receiving a great deal of attention. With the diversified development of the functions of UAVs, the requirements for flight performance with higher stability and maneuverability are increasing. Aiming at parameter uncertainty and external disturbance, a deep deterministic policy gradient-based active disturbance rejection controller (DDPG-ADRC) is proposed. The total disturbances can be compensated dynamically by adjusting the controller bandwidth and the estimation of system parameters online. The tradeoff between anti-interference and rapidity can be better realized in this way compared with the traditional ADRC. The process of parameter tuning is demonstrated through the simulation results of tracking step instruction and sine sweep under ideal and disturbance conditions. Further analysis shows the proposed DDPG-ADRC has better performance.
On Robust Stability and Stabilization of Networked Evolutionary Games with Time Delays
Authors: An Qiguang , Guo Hongfeng , Zheng Yating
Published: August 2022

This paper investigates the robust stability and stabilization of networked evolutionary games (NEGs) with time delays. First, a mathematical model is presented to describe the dynamics of NEG with time-varying delays and disturbances. Second, an auxiliary system is constructed using the semi-tensor product of matrices and a dimension augmenting technique. Then, a verification condition of robust stability is derived. Third, in order to stabilize NEG to the Nash equilibrium, the robust stability problem is transformed into the robust stabilization problem. Moreover, an algorithm is proposed to design the stabilization controller. Finally, the validity of the results is verified by an example.