bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Chemopreventive Effects of Onosma mutabilis against Azoxymethane-Induced Colon Cancer in Rats via Amendment of Bax/Bcl-2 and NF-κB Signaling Pathways
Authors: Jabbar Ahmed Aj. , Ibrahim Ibrahim Abdel Aziz , Abdullah Fuad O. , Aziz Kareem Fattah , Alzahrani Abdullah R. , Abdulla Mahmood Ameen
Published: January 2023

Onosma species (Boraginaceae) are well known as medicinal plants due to their wide range of pharmaceutical potential. The present study aims to investigate the anticancer (in vitro) and chemo-protective (in vivo) efficacies of Onosma mutabilis extract (OME) in the azoxymethane (AOM)-induced aberrant crypt foci (ACF) in rats. The in vitro antiproliferative effects of OME were determined on two human tumor cell lines (Caco-2 and HT-29) via MTT assay. The in vivo chemoprotective effects of OME were investigated by performing various biochemical analyses in serum and tissue homogenates of albino rats, along with determining oxidative stress biomarkers. Inflammatory biomarkers of colon, colonic gross morphology (by methylene blue), ACF formation, and colonic histopathology (H & E stain) were determined. The immunohistochemistry of colonic tissues was also assessed by Bax and Bcl-2 protein expression. The results showed that the antitumor activity of OME against Caco-2 and HT-29 colorectal cancer cells ranged between 22.28–36.55 µg/mL. OME supplementation caused a significant drop in the ACF values and improved the immunohistochemistry of the rats shown by up-regulation of Bax and down-regulation of Bcl-2 protein expressions. These outcomes reveal that O. mutabilis may have chemoprotective efficiency against AOM-induced colon cancer represented by the attenuation of ACF formation possibly through inhibition of free radicals, inflammation, and stimulation of the colon antioxidant armory (SOD, CAT, and GPx) and positive regulation of the Nrf2-Keap1 pathway.
Applications and Prospects of CRISPR/Cas9-Mediated Base Editing in Plant Breeding
Authors: Li Yizhen , Liang Jing , Deng Bufang , Jiang Yingli , Zhu Jingyan , Chen Like , Li Min , Li Juan
Published: January 2023

The clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)/associated protein 9 system (Cas9) has been used at length to optimize multiple aspects of germplasm resources. However, large-scale genomic research has indicated that novel variations in crop plants are attributed to single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). Therefore, substituting single bases into a plant genome may produce desirable traits. Gene editing by CRISPR/Cas9 techniques frequently results in insertions–deletions (indels). Base editing allows precise single-nucleotide changes in the genome in the absence of double-strand breaks (DSBs) and donor repair templates (DRTs). Therefore, BEs have provided a new way of thinking about genome editing, and base editing techniques are currently being utilized to edit the genomes of many different organisms. As traditional breeding techniques and modern molecular breeding technologies complement each other, various genome editing technologies have emerged. How to realize the greater potential of BE applications is the question we need to consider. Here, we explain various base editings such as CBEs, ABEs, and CGBEs. In addition, the latest applications of base editing technologies in agriculture are summarized, including crop yield, quality, disease, and herbicide resistance. Finally, the challenges and future prospects of base editing technologies are presented. The aim is to provide a comprehensive overview of the application of BE in crop breeding to further improve BE and make the most of its value.
Investigation via Electron Microscopy and Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy of the Effect of Aqueous Zinc Ions on Passivity and the Surface Films of Alloy 600 in PWR PW at 320 °C
Authors: Jiang Yifan , Bustillo Karen C. , Devine Thomas M.
Published: January 2023

Aqueous zinc ions lower the corrosion rate of Alloy 600, which helps lower the radiation dose rate in pressurized water reactors (PWRs). The influence of zinc on the electrochemical behavior of Alloy 600 in PWR primary water (PW) at 320 °C was investigated using a combination of electron microscopy and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). Secondary electron microscopy (SEM) and scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM)/energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) indicated duplex surface films were formed on the Alloy 600 in PWR PW with and without 100 ppb of zinc. There was no effect of zinc on the chromium-rich inner layer (IL) (of Cr2O3 and/or CrOOH). Zinc had a significant effect on the outer layer (OL). In the absence of zinc, a highly porous OL formed that was mostly composed of nickel oxide whiskers. In the presence of zinc, a zinc-containing, denser OL of oxide was formed. The EIS data were acquired in laboratory simulated PWR PW at 320 °C with and without 100 ppb zinc. The spectra were measured at nine different values of potential that spanned a 500 mV-wide range. The EIS indicated there was no effect of zinc on the oxidation rate of metals at the alloy/IL interface nor on the transport of ions through the IL. Zinc lowered the corrosion rate because the dense OL inhibited the release of nickel ions from the IL into the solution.
Application of Biocompatible Noble Metal Film Materials to Medical Implants: TiNi Surface Modification
Authors: Vikulova Evgeniia S. , Karakovskaya Ksenya I. , Korolkov Ilya V. , Koretskaya Tatyana P. , Chepeleva Elena V. , Kuz’min Nikolay B. , Fedorenko Anastasiya D. , Pischur Denis P. , Guselnikova Tatiana Ya. , Maksimovskii Eugene A. , Marchenko Ekaterina S. , Zheravin Aleksander A. , Morozova Natalya B.
Published: January 2023

Recently, film materials based on the combination of noble metals have showed promising results for surface modification of medical implants, allowing both to improve biocompatibility and to acquire the increased antibacterial effect. An important challenge here is to combine the developed coating morphology, which is favorable for biological response, with a high protective function, which, on the contrary, requires a compact coating microstructure. In this work, we aimed to solve this problem with respect to the TiNi implant material. We have tested two types of compact thin sublayers: Iridium (Ir’), formed by metal-organic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD), and gold (Au), formed by physical vapor deposition (PVD). Subsequently these sublayers were coated with a developed-columnar-iridium (Ir) by MOCVD. Features of the microstructure, chemical and phase composition of all these film materials were studied using powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The changes in the characteristics of TiNi martensitic transformation due to MOCVD experiments were also studied by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The biocompatibility of Ir’/TiNi, Au/TiNi, Ir/Ir’/TiNi, Ir/Au/TiNi samples was assessed by cytoxicity testing (Man-1 cells) and measuring of nickel content in the biological extracts. The application of both sublayers effectively reduces the release of nickel, which was previously shown for Ir/TiNi samples. This prevents the toxic effect. Note that the Ir’ sublayer better protects against nickel release, while the Au sublayer promotes cell proliferation.
Preparation and Characterization of Biomimetic SiO2-TiO2-PDMS Composite Hydrophobic Coating with Self-Cleaning Properties for Wall Protection Applications
Authors: Xia Xiaojing , Liu Jue , Liu Yang , Lei Zijie , Han Yutong , Zheng Zeping , Yin Jian
Published: January 2023

Superhydrophobic surfaces have great potential for self-cleaning, anti-icing, and drag-reducing characteristics because of their water repellent property. This study demonstrates the potential application of coatings to protect architectures from detrimental atmospheric effects via a self-cleaning approach. In this research, a SiO2-TiO2-PDMS composite coating was prepared on the surface of building walls by the sol-gel method. Tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS) and titanium isopropoxide (TTIP) were used as inorganic precursors, and polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) was used as low surface energy substances. The effects of TEOS and PDMS content on microstructure, wettability, and self-cleaning performance of coating wall surfaces were investigated by conducting various tests, including scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray energy spectroscopy (EDS), angle measurement, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The results indicated that hydrolysis and condensation reactions of TEOS, TTIP, and PDMS were performed on the surface of the substrates, leading to a micro- and nano-structure similar to the surface of lotus leaves. When the molar ratio of PDMS to TEOS was 1:5, the static contact angle of the coating reached a maximum of 152.6°. At this point, the coated surface was able to resist the adhesion of particle pollutants and liquid pollutants, which could keep the walls clean and possess a good ability of self-cleaning. In conclusion, SiO2-TiO2-PDMS composite coating is potentially useful in wall protection applications with its hydrophobic and environmentally friendly superhydrophobic properties.
Improved Corrosion Resistance Behaviour of AlSi10Mg Alloy due to Selective Laser Melting
Authors: Tiwari Abhishek , Singh Gaurav , Jayaganthan Rengaswamy
Published: January 2023

The corrosion behaviour of AlSi10Mg alloy produced by selective laser melting (SLM) under two different atmospheres, namely argon and nitrogen, was compared to that of AlSi10Mg alloy that had been cast. The present study demonstrates the systematic electrochemical behaviour of selective-laser-melted (SLMed) AlSi10Mg. Potentiodynamic polarisation and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) were used to investigate the electrochemical behaviour, illustrating the degrading features of SLMed AlSi10Mg alloy in 0.1 M NaCl solution. The corrosion resistance of AlSi10Mg produced using selective laser melting was found to be 2–3 times greater than that of AlSi10Mg that had been cast. The degradation behaviour was also explained by SEM analysis of the corroded samples of SLMed AlSi10Mg and as-cast AlSi10Mg alloy. It may be deduced that the better corrosion resistance of AlSi10Mg produced through selective laser melting is due to the fast cooling rate associated with the solidification of AlSi10Mg alloy fabricated through selective laser melting, compared with the slow cooling rate associated with the solidification of AlSi10Mg produced by casting.
Influence of Process Parameters on the Electrodeposition of Vanadium in NaCl-KCl-NaF-V2O3 Molten Salt
Authors: Tian Ying , Li Changqing , Li Yungang
Published: January 2023

In NaCl-KCl-NaF-V2O3 molten salt, used graphite as an anode and carbon steel plate as a cathode, vanadium was successfully prepared by molten salt electrodeposition. The reduction mechanism of molten salt electrodeposition vanadium is discussed, and the influence of NaF content, current density, electrodeposition temperature, and electrodeposition time on the electrodeposition vanadium are studied. The optimum electrodeposition conditions are obtained: the composition of molten salt is XNaCl = 0.4, XKCl = 0.4, XNaF = 0.2, V2O3 is 15%; adopt bidirectional pulse current (pulse period T = 1000 ms, positive and negative current ratio ip/in = 6:1, positive and negative time ratio tp/tn = 3:1); the current density is 200 mA·cm−2. The electrodeposition temperature is 973 K, and the electrodeposition time is 30 min.
Solid-to-Liquid Ratio Influenced on Adhesion Strength of Metakaolin Geopolymer Coating Paste Added Photocatalyst Materials
Authors: Jamaludin Liyana , Razak Rafiza , Al Bakri Abdullah Mohd , Vizureanu Petrica , Sandu Andrei , Abd Rahim Shayfull , Ahmad Romisuhani
Published: January 2023

Coating materials are used on surfaces such as steel and ceramic to offer protection, corrosion resistance, wear and erosion resistance, a thermal barrier, or aesthetics. Although organic coating materials such as epoxy resins, silane, and acrylic are widely used, there are restrictions and drawbacks associated with their use, including the ease with which cracking, hazardous and harmful human health and environment, peeling, and deterioration occur. Organic matrices also have the capacity to release vapor pressure, which can lead to the delamination of coatings. Geopolymer coating materials offer an environmentally friendly solution to this concern to encourage sustainable growth. The simplicity with which geopolymers can be synthesized and their low emission of greenhouse gases such as CO2, SO2, and NOx are advantages of geopolymers. The advent of geopolymer coatings with photocatalytic properties is advantageous for the decomposition of pollution and self-cleaning properties. The aim of this paper is to study the optimum solid-to-liquid ratio of metakaolin geopolymer paste added TiO2 and ZnO by adhesion strength. Through iterative mixture optimization, we investigated the effects of different design parameters on the performance of a metakaolin-based geopolymer as a coating material. The assessed material was a metakaolin which was activated by an alkali activator (a mixture of sodium hydroxide and sodium silicate), with the addition of titanium dioxide and zinc oxide as photocatalyst substances. Varying proportions of solid-to-liquid ratio were tested to optimize the best mix proportion related to the coating application. Adhesion analyses of geopolymer coating paste were evaluated after 7 days. According to the findings, the optimal parameters for metakaolin geopolymer coating material are 0.6 solid-to-liquid ratios with the highest adhesion strength (19 MPa) that is suitable as coating material and enhanced the properties of geopolymer.
Synthesis and Predicted Activity of Some 4-Amine and 4-(α-Aminoacid) Derivatives of N-Expanded-metronidazole Analogues
Authors: Żwawiak Justyna , Zaprutko Lucjusz
Published: January 2023

The discovery of azomycin provided the major impulse for the systematic search for medicines showing activity against anaerobic protozoa. Nowadays, many other interesting applications have been found for nitroimidazoles as therapeutic agents. This research led to the acquisition of numerous new 4-amine-5-nitroimidazole derivatives, which have a structure analogous to metronidazole, characteristic of medicines most widely used in the treatment of anaerobic bacteria, protozoa and parasitic infections. The therapeutic activity of the described compounds is analyzed and confirmed with predictive methods.
Ageladine A, a Bromopyrrole Alkaloid from the Marine Sponge Agelas nakamurai
Authors: Magoulas George E.
Published: January 2023

During the last three decades, secondary metabolites of marine origin have emerged as a significant source of bioactive compounds. Among the marine organisms explored, sponges offer a vast number of metabolites with unique structural diversity and a plethora of biological activities. Ageladine A, a fluorescent bromopyrrole alkaloid isolated from the marine sponge Agelas nakamurai, exhibited matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) inhibitory properties, as well as antiangiogenic activity. Due to this interesting biological profile, Ageladine A became, soon after its discovery, a target for total synthesis. In addition, a significant number of derivatives have been synthesized, and their biological activity was evaluated. The present review highlights all the successful efforts made towards the synthesis of Ageladine A. Furthermore, all the medicinal chemistry approaches to identify and assess new more potent inhibitors and to elucidate the structural features responsible for the activity are described.
Efficient Data-Driven Machine Learning Models for Water Quality Prediction
Authors: Dritsas Elias , Trigka Maria
Published: January 2023

Water is a valuable, necessary and unfortunately rare commodity in both developing and developed countries all over the world. It is undoubtedly the most important natural resource on the planet and constitutes an essential nutrient for human health. Geo-environmental pollution can be caused by many different types of waste, such as municipal solid, industrial, agricultural (e.g., pesticides and fertilisers), medical, etc., making the water unsuitable for use by any living being. Therefore, finding efficient methods to automate checking of water suitability is of great importance. In the context of this research work, we leveraged a supervised learning approach in order to design as accurate as possible predictive models from a labelled training dataset for the identification of water suitability, either for consumption or other uses. We assume a set of physiochemical and microbiological parameters as input features that help represent the water’s status and determine its suitability class (namely safe or nonsafe). From a methodological perspective, the problem is treated as a binary classification task, and the machine learning models’ performance (such as Naive Bayes–NB, Logistic Regression–LR, k Nearest Neighbours–kNN, tree-based classifiers and ensemble techniques) is evaluated with and without the application of class balancing (i.e., use or nonuse of Synthetic Minority Oversampling Technique–SMOTE), comparing them in terms of Accuracy, Recall, Precision and Area Under the Curve (AUC). In our demonstration, results show that the Stacking classification model after SMOTE with 10-fold cross-validation outperforms the others with an Accuracy and Recall of 98.1%, Precision of 100% and an AUC equal to 99.9%. In conclusion, in this article, a framework is presented that can support the researchers’ efforts toward water quality prediction using machine learning (ML).
SENSIPLUS-LM: A Low-Cost EIS-Enabled Microchip Enhanced with an Open-Source Tiny Machine Learning Toolchain
Authors: Vitelli Michele , Cerro Gianni , Gerevini Luca , Miele Gianfranco , Ria Andrea , Molinara Mario
Published: January 2023

The technological step towards sensors’ miniaturization, low-cost platforms, and evolved communication paradigms is rapidly moving the monitoring and computation tasks to the edge, causing the joint use of the Internet of Things (IoT) and machine learning (ML) to be massively employed. Edge devices are often composed of sensors and actuators, and their behavior depends on the relative rapid inference of specific conditions. Therefore, the computation and decision-making processes become obsolete and ineffective by communicating raw data and leaving them to a centralized system. This paper responds to this need by proposing an integrated architecture, able to host both the sensing part and the learning and classifying mechanisms, empowered by ML, directly on board and thus able to overcome some of the limitations presented by off-the-shelf solutions. The presented system is based on a proprietary platform named SENSIPLUS, a multi-sensor device especially devoted to performing electrical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) on a wide frequency interval. The measurement acquisition, data processing, and embedded classification techniques are supported by a system capable of generating and compiling code automatically, which uses a toolchain to run inference routines on the edge. As a case study, the system capabilities of such a platform in this work are exploited for water quality assessment. The joint system, composed of the measurement platform and the developed toolchain, is named SENSIPLUS-LM, standing for SENSIPLUS learning machine. The introduction of the toolchain empowers the SENSIPLUS platform moving the inference phase of the machine learning algorithm to the edge, thus limiting the needs of external computing platforms. The software part, i.e., the developed toolchain, is available for free download from GitLab, as reported in this paper.
Preparation and Properties of RDX@FOX-7 Composites by Microfluidic Technology
Authors: Yu Jin , Jiang Hanyu , Xu Siyu , Li Heng , Wang Yiping , Yao Ergang , Pei Qing , Li Meng , Zhang Yang , Zhao Fengqi
Published: January 2023

1,3,5-trinitro-1,3,5-triazacyclohexane (RDX) is a type of high energy explosive, its application in weapon systems is limited by its high mechanical sensitivity. At the same time, 1,1-diamino-2,2-dinitroethylene (FOX-7) is a famous insensitive explosive. The preparation of RDX@FOX-7 composites can meet the requirements, high energy and low sensitivity, of the weapon systems. It is difficult for the reactor to achieve uniform quality of composite material, which affects its application performance. Based on the principle of solvent-anti-solvent, the recrystallization process was precisely controlled by microfluidic technology. The RDX@FOX-7 composites with different mass ratios were prepared. At the mass ratio of 10%, the RDX@FOX-7 composites are ellipsoid of about 15 μm with uniform distribution and quality. The advantages of microscale fabrication of composite materials were verified. The results of structure characterization showed that there is no new bond formation in RDX@FOX-7, but the distribution of two components on the surface of the composite was uniform. Based on the structure characterization, we established the structure model of RDX@RDX-7 and speculated the formation process of the composites in microscale. With the increase of FOX-7 mass ratios, the melting temperature of RDX was advanced, the thermal decomposition peak of RDX changed to double peaks, and the activation energy of RDX@FOX-7 composite decreased. These changes were more pronounced between 3 and 10% but not between 10 and 30%. The ignition delay time of RDX@FOX-7 was shorter than that of RDX and FOX-7. RDX@FOX-7 burned more completely than RDX indicating that FOX-7 can assist heat transfer and improve the combustion efficiency of RDX.
Investigation of OP-GaP Grown on OP-GaAs Templates Using Nondestructive Reciprocal Space Mapping
Authors: Manavaimaran Balaji , Strömberg Axel , Tassev Vladimir L. , Vangala Shivashankar R. , Bailly Myriam , Grisard Arnaud , Gérard Bruno , Lourdudoss Sebastian , Sun Yan-Ting
Published: January 2023

Orientation-patterned gallium phosphide (OP-GaP) has been grown heteroepitaxially on OP gallium arsenide (GaAs) templates using hydride vapor phase epitaxy (HVPE). The effect of OP-GaAs template fabrication methods of epitaxial-inversion and wafer bonding on the heteroepitaxial OP-GaP growth has been investigated. OP-GaP layers with a growth rate of up to 35 µm/h and excellent domain fidelity were obtained. The growth rate and the domain fidelity have been revealed/studied by scanning electron microscope (SEM). In addition, we demonstrate that the crystalline quality of the individual domains, namely, the substrate-oriented domains (ODs) and the inverted domains (IDs), can be investigated by high-resolution x-ray diffraction reciprocal space mapping (HRXRDRSM), which can also indicate the domain fidelity. Attempts to increase the growth rate and improve the domain fidelity by increasing the III and V group precursors resulted in either an increase in the growth rate in the OP-GaP layers grown on epitaxial inversion OP-GaAs template at the expense of the domain crystalline quality and fidelity or an improvement in the crystalline quality of the domains at the expense of the growth rate in the OP-GaP layers grown on wafer-bonded OP-GaAs templates. In the case of OP-GaP grown on OP-GaAs templates prepared by epitaxial inversion, the crystalline quality of the ODs is better than that of the IDs, but it shows that the quality of the inverted layer in the template influences the quality and fidelity of the grown domains. To the authors’ knowledge, exploitation of HRXRDRSM studies on OP-GaP to establish the crystalline quality of its individual domains (ODs and IDs) is the first of its kind. OP-ZnSe grown on OP-GaAs templates has also been included in this study to further emphasize the potential of this method. We propose from this study that once the growth rate is optimized from SEM studies, HRXRDRSM analysis alone can be used to assess the structural quality and to infer the domain fidelity of the OP structures.
Pure and Yb-Doped LaxYySc4-x-y(BO3)4 Crystals: A Review of Recent Advances
Authors: Broasca Alin , Greculeasa Madalin , Voicu Flavius , Gheorghe Cristina , Gheorghe Lucian
Published: January 2023

This paper reviews the progress in developing the LaxYySc4-x-y(BO3)4-LYSB and Yb-doped LaxYySc4-x-y(BO3)4-LYSB:Yb huntite-type crystals grown by the Czochralski method as new candidates for the next generation of nonlinear optical (NLO) and/or laser crystals. Considering the incongruent melting of these crystals, the initial compositions of the melt and the pulling and rotation rates were optimized. Additionally, a special thermal setup was engineered to grow LYSB-type crystals by the Czochralski crystal growth method. The chemical compositions of the LYSB and LYSB:Yb grown crystals were found to be La0.78Y0.32Sc2.90(BO3)4 and La0.78Y0.32Yb0.04Sc2.86(BO3)4, respectively. Therefore, for the LYSB:Yb crystal, the doping concentration of Yb3+ ions was considered to be 4 at.% with respect to the nonstoichiometric (La1-xYx)1.25Sc2.75(BO3)4 undoped compounds, i.e., LYSB:Yb (4 at.%). In terms of NLO properties, the obtained results demonstrate that LYSB and LYSB:Yb (4 at.%) crystals possess remarkable properties specific to huntite-type crystals. The main advantage of these crystals consists in the fact that they may be obtained with large dimensions and excellent optical quality by the Czochralski method, which recommends them as a new class of highly efficient crystals for different NLO applications, including second harmonic generation (SHG) of high-power or high-energy laser beams. The laser performances of the LYSB:Yb (4 at.%) crystal prove its favorable intrinsic properties to generate laser emissions in the 1 µm range with high efficiency. The efficient laser emission at ~1028 nm together with good NLO characteristics to convert its own emission into emission at ~514 nm via SHG make the LYSB:Yb (4 at.%) crystal a very promising active medium to be used in self-frequency doubling configuration.
Pressure-Induced Structural Phase Transitions in the Chromium Spinel LiInCr4O8 with Breathing Pyrochlore Lattice
Authors: Varma Meera , Krottenmüller Markus , Poswal H. K. , Kuntscher C. A.
Published: January 2023

This study reports high-pressure structural and spectroscopic studies on polycrystalline cubic chromium spinel compound LiInCr4O8. According to pressure-dependent X-ray diffraction measurements, three structural phase transitions occur at ∼14 GPa, ∼19 GPa, and ∼36 GPa. The first high-pressure phase is indexed to the low-temperature tetragonal phase of the system which coexists with the ambient phase before transforming to the second high-pressure phase at ∼19 GPa. The pressure-dependent Raman and infrared spectroscopic measurements show a blue-shift of the phonon modes and the crystal field excitations and an increase in the bandgap under compression. During pressure release, the sample reverts to its ambient cubic phase, even after undergoing multiple structural transitions at high pressures. The experimental findings are compared to the results of first principles based structural and phonon calculations.
Photocatalytic Degradation of Textile Orange 16 Reactive Dye by ZnO Nanoparticles Synthesized via Green Route Using Punica Granatum Leaf Extract
Authors: Al-Zahrani Salma A. , Patil Mallikarjunagouda B. , Mathad Shridhar N. , Patil Arun Y. , Otaibi Ahmed A. , Masood Najat , Mansour Dorsaf , Khan Anish , Manikandan A. , Syafri Edi
Published: January 2023

Since it does not use any dangerous chemicals and is a simple, low-cost process, the green synthesis approach for nanoparticle creation has several benefits compared to the physical and chemical synthesis routes. The current study describes an environmentally friendly synthesis of zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles (NPs) using an extract of Punica granatum plant leaves. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), ultraviolet-visible spectrophotometer (UV-Vis), field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, and X-ray diffraction techniques were used to characterize the morphology, composition, and structural properties of the synthesized zinc oxide nanoparticles. The XRD pattern reveals that the ZnO nanoparticles are crystalline and have a diameter of 20 nm. According to the FESEM studies, the ZnO-NPs have sizes ranging from 50 to 100 nm on average and are almost spherical. When exposed to direct sunlight, the produced ZnO-NPs demonstrate impressive photocatalytic oxidation of textile Orange 16, a reactive dye. As a result, our research advances the development of a green photocatalyst for the removal of harmful dyes from water.
Hydrothermal Synthesis of Well-Defined Red-Emitting Eu-Doped GdPO4 Nanophosphors and Investigation of Their Morphology and Optical Properties
Authors: Ezerskyte Egle , Zarkov Aleksej , Klimkevicius Vaidas , Katelnikovas Arturas
Published: January 2023

Rare-earth-doped GdPO4 nanoparticles have recently attracted much scientific interest due to the simultaneous optical and magnetic properties of these materials and their possible application in bio-imaging. Herein, we report the hydrothermal synthesis of GdPO4:Eu3+ nanoparticles by varying different synthesis parameters: pH, : molar ratio, and Eu3+ concentration. It turned out that the Eu3+ content in the synthesized nanoparticles had little effect on particle shape and morphology. The synthesis media pH, however, has showed a pronounced impact on particle size and distribution, i.e., the nanoparticle length can be adjusted from hundreds to tens of nanometers by changing the pH from 2 to 11, respectively. Increasing the : molar ratio resulted in a decrease in nanoparticle length and an increase in its width. The temperature-dependent measurements in the 77–500 K range revealed that the GdPO4:50%Eu3+ sample maintains half of its emission intensity, even at room temperature (TQ1/2 = 291 ± 19 K).
Effect of Bi3+ Doping on the Electronic Structure and Thermoelectric Properties of (Sr0.889-xLa0.111Bix)TiO2.963: First-Principles Calculations
Authors: Gong Lingyun , Zhang Ping , Lou Zhihao , Wei Ziyao , Wu Zhuozhao , Xu Jie , Chen Xuanjie , Xu Weihang , Wang Yiqi , Gao Feng
Published: January 2023

The electronic structure and thermoelectric properties of Bi3+-doped (Sr0.889-xLa0.111Bix)TiO2.963 were studied by the first principles method. Doping Bi3+ can increase the cell parameters, cell asymmetry and band gap. With increasing Bi3+ content, the asymmetry of DOS relative to the Fermi level increases, which results in an enhanced Seebeck coefficient, increasing carrier mobility and decreasing carrier concentration. An appropriate Bi3+-doping concentration (7.4–14.8%) can increase the lattice distortion and reduce the lattice thermal conductivity of the material. An appropriate Bi3+-doping concentration (7.4%) can effectively optimize the electrical transport performance and improve the thermoelectric properties of strontium titanate. The optimal Bi3+-doping concentration is 7.4%, and Sr0.815La0.111Bi0.074TiO2.963 obtains a maximum ZT of 0.48. This work shows the mechanism of Bi3+ doping in enhancing the thermoelectric properties of strontium titanate.
Terrestrial Species of Drouetiella (Cyanobacteria, Oculatellaceae) from the Russian Arctic and Subarctic Regions and Description of Drouetiella ramosa sp. nov.
Authors: Davydov Denis , Vilnet Anna , Novakovskaya Irina , Patova Elena
Published: January 2023

The strains of Drouetiella species (Cyanobacteria, Oculatellaceae) from a terrestrial biotope were isolated and characterized using an integrative approach including molecular, morphological, and ecological information. The specimens were collected from the Arctic and Subarctic areas of European Russia. Drouetiella species possess morphological plasticity and can be confused with similar species of Oculatellaceae or Leptolyngbyaceae. The 16S rRNA gene phylogeny supported the strong monophyly of the genus Drouetiella with the separation of four linages corresponding to three known species and one to new taxon. The 16S-23S ITS rRNA sequences of the analyzed Drouetiella strains differ in length and nucleotide composition, which has had an effect on the hypothetical secondary structures of the D1–D1′, Box-B, V2, and V3 helices. As a result of complex study of the genus Drouetiella, a new species—Drouetiella ramosa sp. nov.—is described from the Subarctic of European Russia.
Acknowledgment to the Reviewers of Diversity in 2022
Authors:   Diversity Editorial Office
Published: January 2023

High-quality academic publishing is built on rigorous peer review [...]
How to Reach Green Word of Mouth through Green Trust, Green Perceived Value and Green Satisfaction
Authors: Román-Augusto Jose Antonio , Garrido-Lecca-Vera Camila , Lodeiros-Zubiria Manuel Luis , Mauricio-Andia Martin
Published: January 2023

The production and consumption of green food products have become hot topics in marketing. Companies are implementing marketing strategies such as green perceived value, green trust, and green satisfaction to guarantee green word of mouth. An online questionnaire distributed through social media was used to collect the data. The sample consists of 297 people. The 297 responses were coded and analysed with the Software Smart-PLS. The data described include the sample sociodemographic profile, the descriptive analysis of all items, the reliability and validity of the measures of the reflective model and the evaluation of the results of the structural model. Four hypotheses included in the PLS-SEM proposed were validated for a p-value of 0.001. The results confirmed the influence of green perceived value on green trust and green satisfaction. Moreover, the results highlight that green satisfaction and green trust influence green word of mouth.
Acknowledgment to the Reviewers of Dermatopathology in 2022
Authors:   Dermatopathology Editorial Office
Published: January 2023

High-quality academic publishing is built on rigorous peer review [...]
Acknowledgment to the Reviewers of Designs in 2022
Authors:   Designs Editorial Office
Published: January 2023

High-quality academic publishing is built on rigorous peer review [...]
Acknowledgment to the Reviewers of Diabetology in 2022
Authors:   Diabetology Editorial Office
Published: January 2023

High-quality academic publishing is built on rigorous peer review [...]
Acknowledgment to the Reviewers of Diagnostics in 2022
Authors:   Diagnostics Editorial Office
Published: January 2023

High-quality academic publishing is built on rigorous peer review [...]
Research Progress of Respiratory Disease and Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis Based on Artificial Intelligence
Authors: Zhang Gerui , Luo Lin , Zhang Limin , Liu Zhuo
Published: January 2023

Machine Learning (ML) is an algorithm based on big data, which learns patterns from the previously observed data through classifying, predicting, and optimizing to accomplish specific tasks. In recent years, there has been rapid development in the field of ML in medicine, including lung imaging analysis, intensive medical monitoring, mechanical ventilation, and there is need for intubation etiology prediction evaluation, pulmonary function evaluation and prediction, obstructive sleep apnea, such as biological information monitoring and so on. ML can have good performance and is a great potential tool, especially in the imaging diagnosis of interstitial lung disease. Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a major problem in the treatment of respiratory diseases, due to the abnormal proliferation of fibroblasts, leading to lung tissue destruction. The diagnosis mainly depends on the early detection of imaging and early treatment, which can effectively prolong the life of patients. If the computer can be used to assist the examination results related to the effects of fibrosis, a timely diagnosis of such diseases will be of great value to both doctors and patients. We also previously proposed a machine learning algorithm model that can play a good clinical guiding role in early imaging prediction of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. At present, AI and machine learning have great potential and ability to transform many aspects of respiratory medicine and are the focus and hotspot of research. AI needs to become an invisible, seamless, and impartial auxiliary tool to help patients and doctors make better decisions in an efficient, effective, and acceptable way. The purpose of this paper is to review the current application of machine learning in various aspects of respiratory diseases, with the hope to provide some help and guidance for clinicians when applying algorithm models.
Evaluation of the HD-GLIO Deep Learning Algorithm for Brain Tumour Segmentation on Postoperative MRI
Authors: Sørensen Peter , Carlsen Jonathan , Larsen Vibeke , Andersen Flemming , Ladefoged Claes , Nielsen Michael , Poulsen Hans , Hansen Adam
Published: January 2023

In the context of brain tumour response assessment, deep learning-based three-dimensional (3D) tumour segmentation has shown potential to enter the routine radiological workflow. The purpose of the present study was to perform an external evaluation of a state-of-the-art deep learning 3D brain tumour segmentation algorithm (HD-GLIO) on an independent cohort of consecutive, post-operative patients. For 66 consecutive magnetic resonance imaging examinations, we compared delineations of contrast-enhancing (CE) tumour lesions and non-enhancing T2/FLAIR hyperintense abnormality (NE) lesions by the HD-GLIO algorithm and radiologists using Dice similarity coefficients (Dice). Volume agreement was assessed using concordance correlation coefficients (CCCs) and Bland–Altman plots. The algorithm performed very well regarding the segmentation of NE volumes (median Dice = 0.79) and CE tumour volumes larger than 1.0 cm3 (median Dice = 0.86). If considering all cases with CE tumour lesions, the performance dropped significantly (median Dice = 0.40). Volume agreement was excellent with CCCs of 0.997 (CE tumour volumes) and 0.922 (NE volumes). The findings have implications for the application of the HD-GLIO algorithm in the routine radiological workflow where small contrast-enhancing tumours will constitute a considerable share of the follow-up cases. Our study underlines that independent validations on clinical datasets are key to asserting the robustness of deep learning algorithms.
Efficacy of Lavage by Tube under Local Anesthesia versus Arthroscopic Treatment of Acute Septic Arthritis of Native Knee
Authors: Oh Byung Hak , Heo Youn Moo , Yeo In UK , Shin Woo Jin , Yoo Hyun Jin
Published: January 2023

Although arthroscopic treatment is a minimally invasive surgery that effectively treats septic arthritis of the knee joint, it requires general or regional anesthesia. This study aimed to compare the clinical results of lavage after tube insertion versus arthroscopic treatment. Patients treated with arthroscopic treatment were included in group I (n = 76), while those treated with lavage by tube were included in group II (n = 34). We investigated the following in all patients: demographics, underlying disorders, initial serum white blood cell (WBC) count, C-reactive protein (CRP) level, synovial fluid WBC and polymorphonuclear cell counts, causative organism, initial Kellgren–Lawrence grade, lavage number, interventional delay, hospitalization days, CRP normalization time, and Western Ontario McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis index scores for clinical outcomes at 3 months postoperative. The mean interventional delay was significantly greater in group I (23.6 ± 15.6 h vs. 8.7 ± 9.3 h, p < 0.001). The lavage by tube featured a significantly shorter interventional delay time than arthroscopy, while the CRP decrease rate did not differ between groups. Moreover, lavage by tube showed no significant differences in outcomes, including laboratory results and functional outcomes at 3 months postoperative.
Associations among Health Status, Occupation, and Occupational Injuries or Diseases: A Multi-Level Analysis
Authors: Su Shu-Yuan , Li Yu-Wen , Wen Fur-Hsing , Yao Chi-Yu , Wang Jong-Yi
Published: January 2023

Purpose: The present study used a hierarchical generalized linear model to explore the effects of physical and mental health and occupational categories on occupational injuries and diseases. Methods: The data were obtained from the Registry for Beneficiaries of the 2002–2013 National Health Insurance Research Database. The benefit categories involved adults with occupational injuries and diseases. Six major occupational categories and 28 subcategories were used. The main analysis methods were binary logistic regression (BLR) and hierarchical generalized linear model (HGLM). Results: After adjustment for relevant factors, the three major occupation subcategories most likely to develop occupational injuries and diseases were Subcategory 12 “employees with fixed employers” of Category 1 “civil servants, employees in public or private schools, laborers, and self-employed workers”; Subcategory 2 “employees in private organizations” of Category 1; and “sangha and religionists” of Category 6 “other citizens.” Conditions such as mental disorders and obesity increased the risk of occupational injuries and diseases. Conclusion: A portion of the occupational categories had a higher risk of occupational injuries and diseases. Physical and mental health issues were significantly correlated with occupational injuries and diseases. To the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study to use HGLM to analyze differences in occupational categories in Taiwan.
Joint Trajectory Planning, Time and Power Allocation to Maximize Throughput in UAV Network
Authors: Wang Kehao , Xu Jiangwei , Li Xiaobai , Liu Pei , Cao Hui , Liu Kezhong
Published: January 2023

Due to the advantages of strong mobility, flexible deployment, and low cost, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) are widely used in various industries. As a flying relay, UAVs can establish line-of-sight (LOS) links for different scenarios, effectively improving communication quality. In this paper, considering the limited energy budget of UAVs and the existence of multiple jammers, we introduce a simultaneous wireless information and power transfer (SWIPT) technology and study the problems of joint-trajectory planning, time, and power allocation to increase communication performance. Specifically, the network includes multiple UAVs, source nodes (SNs), destination nodes (DNs), and jammers. We assume that the UAVs need to communicate with DNs, the SNs use the SWIPT technology to transmit wireless energy and information to UAVs, and the jammers can interfere with the channel from UAVs to DNs. In this network, our target was to maximize the throughput of DNs by optimizing the UAV’s trajectory, time, and power allocation under the constraints of jammers and the actual motion of UAVs (including UAV energy budget, maximum speed, and anti-collision constraints). Since the formulated problem was non-convex and difficult to solve directly, we first decomposed the original problem into three subproblems. We then solved the subproblems by applying a successive convex optimization technology and a slack variables method. Finally, an efficient joint optimization algorithm was proposed to obtain a sub-optimal solution by using a block coordinate descent method. Simulation results indicated that the proposed algorithm has better performance than the four baseline schemes.
Research on Aerodynamic Characteristics of Trans-Media Vehicles Entering and Exiting the Water in Still Water and Wave Environments
Authors: Wei Jun , Sha Yong-Bai , Hu Xin-Yu , Cao Zhe , Chen De-Ping , Zhou Da , Chen Yan-Li
Published: January 2023

The problem of aircraft entering and exiting water is a complex, nonlinear, strongly disturbed, and multi-coupled multiphase flow problem, which involves the precise capture of the air/water interface and the multi-coupling interaction between aircraft, water, and air. Moreover, due to the large difference in medium properties during the crossing, the load on the body will suddenly change. In this paper, the VOF (volume of fluid) algorithm is used to capture the liquid surface at the air/water interface, and since body movement is involved in this process, the overset grid technology is used to avoid the traditional dynamic grid deformation problem. In the process of this numerical simulation prediction, the effects of different water-entry angles and different water-entry heights on the body load and attitude of the trans-medium aircraft, as well as the cavitation evolution law of the body water entry are analyzed. On this basis, to simulate the authenticity and complexity of the water-entry environment, numerical wave-making technology was introduced to analyze the water-entry load, posture, and cavitation evolution law of the body under different wave environments. The numerical parameters under the condition of wave and no wave are compared, and the difference in water-entry performance under the condition of wave and no wave is analyzed.
Mapping of Glaciers on Horseshoe Island, Antarctic Peninsula, with Deep Learning Based on High-Resolution Orthophoto
Authors: Selbesoğlu Mahmut Oğuz , Bakirman Tolga , Vassilev Oleg , Ozsoy Burcu
Published: January 2023

Antarctica plays a key role in the hydrological cycle of the Earth’s climate system, with an ice sheet that is the largest block of ice that reserves Earth’s 90% of total ice volume and 70% of fresh water. Furthermore, the sustainability of the region is an important concern due to the challenges posed by melting glaciers that preserve the Earth’s heat balance by interacting with the Southern Ocean. Therefore, the monitoring of glaciers based on advanced deep learning approaches offers vital outcomes that are of great importance in revealing the effects of global warming. In this study, recent deep learning approaches were investigated in terms of their accuracy for the segmentation of glacier landforms in the Antarctic Peninsula. For this purpose, high-resolution orthophotos were generated based on UAV photogrammetry within the Sixth Turkish Antarctic Expedition in 2022. Segformer, DeepLabv3+ and K-Net deep learning methods were comparatively analyzed in terms of their accuracy. The results showed that K-Net provided efficient results with 99.62% accuracy, 99.58% intersection over union, 99.82% precision, 99.76% recall and 99.79% F1-score. Visual inspections also revealed that K-Net was able to preserve the fine details around the edges of the glaciers. Our proposed deep-learning-based method provides an accurate and sustainable solution for automatic glacier segmentation and monitoring.
Oxpecker: A Tethered UAV for Inspection of Stone-Mine Pillars
Authors: Martinez Rocamora Bernardo , Lima Rogério R. , Samarakoon Kieren , Rathjen Jeremy , Gross Jason N. , Pereira Guilherme A. S.
Published: January 2023

This paper presents a state-of-the-art tethered unmanned aerial vehicle (TUAV) for structural integrity assessment of underground stone mine pillars. The TUAV, powered by its tether, works in tandem with an unmanned ground vehicle (UGV) that hosts the TUAV batteries, a self-leveled landing platform, and the tether management system. The UGV and the TUAV were named Rhino and Oxpecker, respectively, given that the TUAV stays landed on the UGV while the ensemble moves inside a mine. The mission of Oxpecker is to create, using a LiDAR sensor, 3D maps of the mine pillars to support time-lapse hazard mapping and time-dependent pillar degradation analysis. Given the height of the pillars (7–12 m), this task cannot be executed by Rhino alone. This paper describes the drone’s hardware and software. The hardware includes the tether management system, designed to control the tension of the tether, and the tether perception system, which provides information that can be used for localization and landing in global navigation satellite systems (GNSS)-denied environments. The vehicle’s software is based on a state machine that controls the several phases of a mission (i.e., takeoff, inspection, and landing) by coordinating drone motion with the tethering system. The paper also describes and evaluates our approach for tether-based landing and autonomous 3D mapping of pillars. We show experiments that illustrate and validate our system in laboratories and underground mines.