bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Plasticized 3D-Printed Polymer Electrolytes for Lithium-Ion Batteries
Authors: Vinegrad Adi , Ragones Heftsi , Jayakody Nishani , Ardel Gilat , Goor Meital , Kamir Yossi , Dorfman Moty Marcos , Gladkikh Alexander , Burstein Larisa , Horowitz Yonatan , Greenbaum Steve , Golodnitsky Diana
Published: November 2021

In the current research, we developed and printed by fused-filament fabrication polylactide-polyethylene-oxide blended membranes. The influence of relative content of polymers on the ease of extrusion and printing processes was studied. Ionic liquid N-butyl-N-methylpyrrolidinium bis(trifluoromethane-sulfonyl)imide (Pyr14TFSI) with dissolved LiTFSI salt was infused into the membranes to produce free-standing films of quasi-solid polymer electrolytes. The printed membranes were characterized by ESEM, DSC, XPS, NMR and EIS methods. Neat-printed PLA (polylactide) membrane exhibited poor wetting and low uptake of ionic liquid. However, the XPS tests of 3D-printed PLA-PEO membrane infused with LiTFSI solvated ionic liquid show evidence of the interaction between lithium cations with both, PEO (polyethylene oxide) and PLA. The measurements of diffusion coefficients by PGSE-NMR suggest that the Li+ ions are coordinated by the PEO segments in the polymer blend. Increase of the PEO content at the expense of PLA polymer, leads to more than one order of magnitude improvement of bulk conductivity, approaching 0.2 mS cm−1 at 60

°
C
.
Textile-Based Humidity-Driven Wearable Electroluminescent for Visual Sensing
Authors: Guo Hua , Wang Jialin , Ren Dayong , Liu Mei , Jiang Zhen , Li Shengxia , Xiao Junfeng , Yang Jun
Published: November 2021

Miniaturization and integration have become a trend of modern wearable intelligent electronics. But how to visualize sensing information in a single-level device remains a challenge. Here, we present a humidity-driven textile-based electroluminescent (EL) interactive display that allows for both sensing and visualization of humidity changes. Based on an interdigitated EL structure, a transparent humidity sensor layer with high humidity sensitivity was creatively introduced on the top-emitting layer as a bridging electrode. The visualization and sensing of humidity can be attributed to the electrical conductivity difference of the sensor layer, thus leading to the varied lighting emitting of EL devices on the application of given electric fields. Benefiting from the highly sensitive sensor layer and well-designed device structure, a variety of humidity-based behavior can be read immediately, including hand-writing and finger approach. Furthermore, our devices fabricated from textiles have great flexibility, breathability, and skin affinity, which is very suitable for human wearing. More importantly, this humidity-driven textile-based EL interactive display shows great application potential in breathing monitoring and health assessment.
Kinetics of V5+/V4+ Redox Reaction—Butler-Volmer and Marcus Models
Authors: Tripathi Anand Kumar , Joy Miji E , Choudhury Debittree , Das Rubul , Neergat Manoj
Published: November 2021

Kinetics of the V5+/V4+ redox reaction on Vulcan XC-72 modified glassy carbon disk electrode is investigated in a three-electrode configuration. Cyclic voltammograms of V5+/V4+ redox couple suggest that the overpotential range for the kinetic analysis is limited to ±300 mV, after excluding V4+/V3+ redox reaction at the negative overpotential and the oxygen evolution reaction at the positive overpotential. The linear sweep-voltammograms (LSVs) are corrected for potential drop due to solution resistance (iR

s
), mass-transfer resistance, and most importantly, for the back reaction current. These corrections are imperative to estimate the Tafel slope in the limited range of overpotential for V5+/V4+ redox reaction. The charge-transfer coefficient (α) estimated from the Tafel slope deviates significantly from the expected value of 0.5 for the single electron-transfer reaction. Moreover, the instantaneous slope of the Tafel plot suggests that the α is overpotential dependent. Therefore, Marcus theory of electrochemical kinetics is applied to estimate the α. The reorganization energy (λ) calculated from the Arrhenius plots is in the range of values reported in the literature for the other redox couples.
Review—Single-Molecule Sensors Based on Protein Nanopores
Authors: Zuo Jiaqi , Song Ning-Ning , Wang Jia , Zhao Xian , Cheng Meng-Yuan , Wang Qinyi , Tang Wen , Yang Zekai , Qiu Kaipei
Published: November 2021

The recent development of single-molecule sensors (SMS), which detect individual targets one at a time, allows determination of ultra-low concentrations of structurally similar compounds from a complex matrix. Protein nanopores are one of the earliest methods able to resolve the signal from a single molecule, and have already been successfully employed in commercial DNA sequencers. The protein nanopore based SMS, however, remains challenging, largely because the quantitative single-molecule analysis requires recording a sufficient number of signals for statistical significance within a reasonable time frame, thus restricting the lower limit of detection. This review aims to critically evaluate the strategies developed in this field over the last two decades. The measurement principle of nanopore SMS is first elucidated, followed by a systematic examination of the eight common protein pores, and a comprehensive assessment of the major types of sensing applications. A particular emphasis is placed on the intrinsic relationship between the size and charge of protein nanopores and their sensing capabilities for different kinds of analytes. Innovative approaches to lift the performance of nanopore SMS are also analyzed in detail, with a prediction at the end of the most promising future applications.
Discharged Na5V12O32 Nanowire Arrays Coated with Cu-Cu2O for High Performance Lithium-Ion Batteries
Authors: Yang Guangjie , Cui Mengmeng , Han Tao , Fang Dong , Lu Xingjie , Peng Sui , Ruzimuradov Olim , Yi Jianhong
Published: November 2021

Sodium vanadate have been widely used as a lithium-ion battery anode. However, its further application is restricted by the capacity attenuation during cycles because of its easy solubility in electrolyte, huge structural change, and low conductivity. Here, a lithium-ion battery electrode based on Cu-Cu2O coated Na5V12O32 nanowire arrays using a predischarge-electrodeposition method is freported. Remarkably, in the Cu-Cu2O@Na5V12O32 electrode, the Na5V12O32 nanowires function as the skeleton, and Cu-Cu2O nanoparticles function as the coating layer. At a specific current of 50 mA g−1, the composite electrode exhibits discharge and charge capacity of 837 and 821 mAh g−1 after 80 cycles, respectively, which is much higher than that of the Na5V12O32 nanowires electrode. This research provides a new pathway to explore electrode materials with enhanced electrochemical performance.
Damage Modeling of Solid Oxide Fuel Cells Accounting for Redox Effects
Authors: Nguyen Ba Nghiep , Karri Naveen K. , Mason C. J. Taylor , Fitzpatrick James F. , Koeppel Brian J.
Published: November 2021

This work applies a multiscale mechanistic damage model developed for brittle ceramics and implemented in commercial finite element (FE) packages via user subroutines to study progressive damage in solid oxide fuel cells (SOFC) subjected to thermomechanical loading under normal operating and shutdown conditions including redox effects. The damage model captures the micromechanics of stiffness reduction due to material porosity change and microcracking and integrates the as-obtained stiffness reduction law into a continuum damage mechanics (CDM) formulation for the evolution of microcracks up to fracture. The volumetric “swelling” that occurs during redox is treated in constitutive modeling similarly to thermal expansion, but swelling strains are irreversible. This damage model was first validated through predictions of strength and stress-strain response for the SOFC electrode materials. Next, it has been applied to predict the potential for degradation in a generic planar SOFC stack with large active area cells. Multicell stack models were simulated in both co-flow and counter-flow configurations. In addition, a constant temperature redox cycle was also simulated to capture overall cell electrode damage due to volumetric swelling of the nickel (Ni)-based anode in the anode-supported cells.
On-Chip Electrochemical Analysis Combined with Liquid-Phase Electron Microscopy of Zinc Deposition/Dissolution
Authors: Sasaki Yuki , Yoshida Kaname , Kuwabara Akihide , Ikuhara Yuichi
Published: November 2021

Dendrite growth of Zn on the anode of Zn-based rechargeable batteries can cause short-circuiting. To avoid the formation of dendrites, the Zn deposition/dissolution behaviors and their dependence on the electrochemical conditions should be clarified. In this study, in situ transmission electron microscopy (TEM) observations using an electrochemical chip (e-chip) were conducted to visualize the initial stage of the electrodeposition of Zn on an anode. The electrochemical data corresponding to the in situ TEM observations were precisely and extensively analyzed. The combined optimized use of a potentiostat and transmission electron microscope enabled electrochemical electrodes to be isolated completely from the potential of the TEM column. This environment stabilized the electrodeposition process during the in situ TEM observations. Under constant-current mode, the electric potential was varied, resulting in the deposition of various amounts of Zn onto the Pt working electrode. Controlling the surface materials of the electrodes and the electrochemical conditions was important for in situ TEM observations of electrochemical reactions.
Electrogenerated BF3 From Tetrafluoroborate-Based Ionic Liquids: Theoretical And Experimental Studies Towards Selective Styrene Oxide Isomerization
Authors: Bortolami Martina , Magboo Fernando Jr. Piamonte , Petrucci Rita , Vetica Fabrizio , Zollo Giuseppe , Feroci Marta
Published: November 2021

The anodic oxidation of tetrafluoroborate anion yields the Lewis acid BF3. If this reaction is carried out in an imidazolium ionic liquid, a quite stable system containing BF3 is obtained, whose reactivity is similar to the one of BF3·Et2O, but less harmful. The two reagents’ stabilities were compared by computational analysis, strongly suggesting a higher stability for BF3/BMIm-BF4 system. The effect of substituents on the imidazolium ring and of the electrochemical configuration on BF3 reactivity were studied in a model reaction, styrene oxide isomerization. The experimental conditions were defined for the selective formation of phenylacetaldehyde or of 2-benzyl-4-phenyl-1,3-dioxolane. Moreover, the formation of N-heterocyclic carbene-BF3 adduct was confirmed when carrying out the electrolysis in an undivided cell. Electrogenerated BF3/BMIm-BF4 system demonstrated to be a valid alternative to commercial BF3·Et2O.
Cycling Performance of NMC811 Anode-Free Pouch Cells with 65 Different Electrolyte Formulations
Authors: Eldesoky A. , Louli A. J. , Benson A. , Dahn J. R.
Published: November 2021

Liquid electrolytes for anode-free Li metal batteries (LMBs) provide a cost-effective path to high energy density. However, liquid electrolytes are challenging due to the reactivity of Li0 with the electrolyte and the resulting Li loss, as well as mossy Li deposits leading to inactive Li and dendrite formation. Thus, more research is needed to develop electrolytes capable of 80 % capacity retention after 800 cycles to meet electric vehicle (EV) demands. Here, we report cycle life results from 65 electrolyte mixtures consisting of various additives or co-solvents added to a dual-salt base electrolyte previously reported by our group. We tested these electrolyte systems using a practical anode-free pouch cell design with a high-loading (16 mg cm−2, or 3.47 mAh cm-2) LiNi0.8Mn0.1Co0.1O2 (NMC811) cathode, with a bare Cu foil as the counter electrode. All cells in this work were cycled at 40 °C with 0.2C/0.5C charge/discharge rates between 3.55–4.40 V. Based on the total energy delivered over 140 cycles, only four electrolytes showed marginal improvement over the baseline, while the other electrolytes were uncompetitive. This data set can serve as a guide for LMB researchers investigating electrolyte systems and highlights the challenges associated with liquid electrolytes.
High-Efficiency Electrocatalyst Phthalocyanine in Li/SOCl2 Batteries: From Experimental to Theoretical Investigation
Authors: Chen Liangting , Yang Xinyu , Wang Xiaoqing , Hu Guangfa , Zhang Ronglan , Weng Ng Seik , Zhao Jianshe
Published: November 2021

Li/SOCl2 batteries, which are used in various fields due to theirs easy-carry and brilliant electrochemical properties, have attracted much research. However, the existence of the voltage hysteresis has limited further practical application of this tiny device. Herein, three series of nineteen kinds of metal phthalocyanine electrocatalysts with excellent electronic conductivity were synthesized to improve Li/SOCl2 battery performance. The structure of the catalysts was verified by infrared spectroscopy, ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, and elemental analysis, and these materials were used to develop the discharge time, output voltage, and discharge capacity of the Li/SOCl2 battery. With the addition of the phthalocyanine, the discharge time of the Li/SOCl2 battery lengthens by approximately 20%, and the voltage can be increased by 0.02∼0.20 V. In addition, the actual battery capacity can also be raised by 20∼50%. Density functional theory was used to calculate the relationship between the metal center and catalytic activity and the results are in good agreement with the experimental which implies the electron density of the center metal is the key point in the electrocatalyst reaction.
Impact of Graphite Materials on the Lifetime of NMC811/Graphite Pouch Cells: Part I. Material Properties, ARC Safety Tests, Gas Generation, and Room Temperature Cycling
Authors: Eldesoky A. , Bauer Michael , Azam S. , Zsoldos E. , Song Wentao , Weber Rochelle , Hy Sunny , Johnson M. B. , Metzger Michael , Dahn J. R.
Published: November 2021

The impact of graphite materials on capacity retention in Li-ion cells is important to understand since Li inventory loss due to SEI formation, and cross-talk reactions between the positive and negative electrodes, are important cell failure mechanisms in Li-ion cells. Here, we investigate the impact of five graphite materials from reputable suppliers on the performance of NMC811/graphite cells. We show that natural graphites (NG) here have a mixture of 3R and 2H phases, while artificial graphites (AG) were 2H only. We find that there are differences between the N2 BET surface area and the electrochemically-accessible area where redox reactions can take place and it is the latter that is most important when optimizing graphite-containing cells. Part I of this 2-part series investigates physical and electrochemical differences between the graphite materials of interest here, as well as room temperature cycling to probe improvements in capacity retention. We demonstrate that advanced AG materials with small accessible surface areas can improve safety, 1st cycle efficiency (FCE) and long-term cycling compared to NG materials with higher accessible surface areas. Part II of this work examines elevated temperature cycling, cell swelling, and makes lifetime predictions for the best NMC811/graphite cells.
Certificateless Multisignature Scheme Suitable for Network Coding
Authors: Yu Huifang , Qi Zhewei , Liu Danqing , Yang Ke
Published: November 2021

Network coding can save the wireless network resources and improve the network throughput by combining the routing with coding. Traditional multisignature from certificateless cryptosystem is not suitable for the network coding environment. In this paper, we propose a certificateless multisignature scheme suitable for network coding (NC-CLMSS) by using the sequential multisignature and homomorphic hash function. NC-CLMSS is based on the CDH and ECDL problems, and its security is detailedly proved in the random oracle (RO) model. In NC-CLMSS, the source node generates a multisignature for the message, and the intermediate node linearly combines the receiving message. NC-CLMSS can resist the pollution and forgery attacks, and it has the fixed signature length and relatively high computation efficiency.
Alternative Load Path Analysis for Determining the Geometric Agreement of a Cable‐Stayed Bridge with Steel Truss Girders
Authors: Zheng Xiaobo , Zhang Gang , Zhang Yongfei , Ren Leping
Published: November 2021

The geometric agreement, commonly hailed as load‐transferring paths within bridge structures, is significantly crucial to the bridge structural mechanical performance, such as capacity, deformation, and collapse behavior. This paper presents a methodology dependent on alternative load paths to investigate the collapse behavior of a double‐pylon cable‐stayed bridge with steel truss girders subjected to excess vehicle loading. The cable‐stayed bridge with steel truss girders is simplified using a series‐parallel load‐bearing system. This research manifests that the enforced vehicle loading can be transferred to alternative paths of cable‐stayed bridges in different load‐structure scenarios. A 3‐D finite element model is established utilizing computer software ANSYS to explore the collapse path of cable‐stayed bridge with steel truss girders, taking into account chord failure, loss of cables together with corrosion in steel truss girders. The results show that chord failures in the mid‐portion of the mainspan result in brittle damage in truss girders or even sudden bridge collapse. Further,the loss of long cables leads to ductile damage with significant displacement.The corrosion in steel truss girders has a highly slight influence on the collapse behavior of cable‐stayed bridge. The proposed methodology can be reliably used to assess and determine the vulnerability of cable‐stayed bridge with steel truss girders during their service lifetime, thus preventing structural collapses in this type of bridge.
Lesser Tuberosity Avulsion Fracture in an 11-Year-Old Baseball Player due to Batting
Authors: Cheng Ryan , Moran Jay , Smith Samantha , Li Don , Schneble Christopher A. , Chan Shin Mei , Gardner Elizabeth C.
Published: November 2021

Case. We report an 11-year-old male who sustained a lesser tuberosity avulsion fracture of the proximal humerus upon making contact with a baseball during an at-bat. This injury was neglected for 14 months and was eventually detected by an axillary radiograph and subsequent MRI. He successfully underwent an open surgical repair and regained full range of motion and level of activity at 1-year follow-up. Conclusion. In pediatric baseball players, lesser tuberosity avulsion fractures may occur upon striking a baseball with a bat. Even after being neglected for several months, these injuries can be treated successfully with an open surgical repair.
Quantitative Investigation of Hand Grasp Functionality: Thumb Grasping Behavior Adapting to Different Object Shapes, Sizes, and Relative Positions
Authors: Liu Yuan , Zeng Bo , Jiang Li , Liu Hong , Ming Dong
Published: November 2021

This paper is the first in the two-part series quantitatively modelling human grasp functionality and understanding the way human grasp objects. The aim is to investigate the thumb movement behavior influenced by object shapes, sizes, and relative positions. Ten subjects were requested to grasp six objects (

3
 
shapes
×
2
 
sizes

) in 27 different relative positions (

3
 
X
 
deviation
×
3
 
Y
 
deviation
×
3
 
Z
 
deviation

). Thumb postures were investigated to each specific joint. The relative position (

X

,

Y

, and

Z

deviation) significantly affects thumb opposition rotation (Rot) and flexion (interphalangeal (IP) and metacarpo-phalangeal (MCP)), while the object property (object shape and size) significantly affects thumb abduction/adduction (ABD) motion. Based on the

F

value, the

Y

deviation has the primary effects on thumb motion. When the

Y

deviation changing from proximal to distal, thumb opposition rotation (Rot) and flexion (IP and MCP joint) angles were increased and decreased, respectively. For principal component analysis (PCA) results, thumb grasp behavior can be accurately reconstructed by first two principal components (PCs) which variance explanation ratio reached 93.8% and described by the inverse and homodromous coordination movement between thumb opposition and IP flexion. This paper provides a more comprehensive understanding of thumb grasp behavior. The postural synergies can reproduce the anthropomorphic motion, reduce the robot hardware, and control dimensionality. All of these provide a more accurate and general basis for the design and control of the bionic thumb and novel wearable assistant robot, thumb function assessment, and rehabilitation.
Identification of miRNA Regulatory Networks and Candidate Markers for Fracture Healing in Mice
Authors: Li Xianglu , Zhong Zhaohua , Ma Enguang , Wu Xiaowei
Published: November 2021

Background. It is important to improve the understanding of the fracture healing process at the molecular levels, then to discover potential miRNA regulatory mechanisms and candidate markers. Methods. Expression profiles of mRNA and miRNA were obtained from the Gene Expression Omnibus database. We performed differential analysis, enrichment analysis, protein-protein interaction (PPI) network analysis. The miRNA-mRNA network analysis was also performed. Results. We identified 499 differentially expressed mRNAs (DEmRs) that were upregulated and 534 downregulated DEmRs during fracture healing. They were mainly enriched in collagen fibril organization and immune response. Using the PPI network, we screened 10 hub genes that were upregulated and 10 hub genes downregulated with the largest connectivity. We further constructed the miRNA regulatory network for hub genes and identified 13 differentially expressed miRNAs (DEmiRs) regulators. Cd19 and Col6a1 were identified as key candidate mRNAs with the largest fold change, and their DEmiR regulators were key candidate regulators. Conclusion. Cd19 and Col6a1 might serve as candidate markers for fracture healing in subsequent studies. Their expression is regulated by miRNAs and is involved in collagen fibril organization and immune responses.
γ‐Glutamylcysteine Alleviates Ischemic Stroke‐Induced Neuronal Apoptosis by Inhibiting ROS‐Mediated Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress
Authors: Li Hui-qin , Xia Sheng-nan , Xu Si-yi , Liu Pin-yi , Gu Yue , Bao Xin-yu , Xu Yun , Cao Xiang
Published: November 2021

Ischemic stroke is a severe and acute neurological disorder with limited therapeutic strategies currently available. Oxidative stress is one of the critical pathological factors in ischemia/reperfusion injury, and high levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) may drive neuronal apoptosis. Rescuing neurons in the penumbra is a potential way to recover from ischemic stroke. Endogenous levels of the potent ROS quencher glutathione (GSH) decrease significantly after cerebral ischemia. Here, we aimed to investigate the neuroprotective effects of γ‐glutamylcysteine (γ‐GC), an immediate precursor of GSH, on neuronal apoptosis and brain injury during ischemic stroke. Middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) and oxygen‐glucose deprivation/reoxygenation (OGD/R) were used to mimic cerebral ischemia in mice, neuronal cell lines, and primary neurons. Our data indicated that exogenous γ‐GC treatment mitigated oxidative stress, as indicated by upregulated GSH and decreased ROS levels. In addition, γ‐GC attenuated ischemia/reperfusion‐induced neuronal apoptosis and brain injury in vivo and in vitro. Furthermore, transcriptomics approaches and subsequent validation studies revealed that γ‐GC attenuated penumbra neuronal apoptosis by inhibiting the activation of protein kinase R‐like endoplasmic reticulum kinase (PERK) and inositol‐requiring enzyme 1α (IRE1α) in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress signaling pathway in OGD/R‐treated cells and ischemic brain tissues. To the best of our knowledge, this study is the first to report that γ‐GC attenuates ischemia‐induced neuronal apoptosis by suppressing ROS‐mediated ER stress. γ‐GC may be a promising therapeutic agent for ischemic stroke.
A New EEMD‐Effective Transfer Entropy‐Based Methodology for Exchange Rate Market Information Transmission in Southern Africa Development Community
Authors: Adam Anokye M. , Gyamfi Emmanuel N. , Kyei Kwabena A. , Moyo Simiso , Gill Ryan S.
Published: November 2021

The desire to form monetary unions among regional blocs in Africa has necessitated the need to assess the degree of financial systems interdependencies in Africa economic blocs for their suitability to have harmonised economic policies of eventual monetary unions. In this regard, SADC has pursued policies to harmonise and integrate its financial system as a precursor to its intended monetary union. However, the ensuing risk among exchange rates of economies in SADC is presumed to rise during severe uncertainties. This study examines the degree of asymmetry and nonlinear directional causality between exchange rates in SADC in the frequency domain. We employ both the ensemble empirical mode decomposition (EEMD) and the Rényi effective transfer entropy techniques to investigate the multiscale information that might be disregarded and further quantify the directional flow of information. Analysis of the study is presented for four frequency‐domains: high‐, medium‐, and low frequencies, representing short‐, medium‐, and long‐terms, respectively, in addition to the residue (fundamental feature). We find a mixture of asymmetric and nonlinear bidirectional and unidirectional causality between exchange rates in SADC for the sampled period. The study reveals a significant positive information flow in the high frequency, but negative flow in the medium and low frequencies. In addition, we gauge a bidirectional significant negative information flow within all the 15 economies for the residue. This suggests a higher risk of uncertainties in exchange rates of SADC. Our findings for low probability events at multiscales have implications for the direction of the future of the SADC monetary union. This calls for further sustained policy harmonisation in the region.
Effect of Pretreatment and Drying Methods on the Quality of Anchote (Coccinia abyssinica (Lam.)) Flour
Authors: Desalegn Abebe , Kibr Gesessew
Published: November 2021

Reduction of postharvest losses through improved technique is studied in this work. Pretreatment and drying, in particular, are important methods for using various tuber-based food items to produce intermediate products that increase economic benefit and availability with a longer shelf life in the production and consumption communities. This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of pretreatment and drying methods on the proximate composition and physical and functional properties of flour developed from anchote. The treated anchote flour was prepared using hot distilled water for blanching and potassium metabisulphite solution and drying methods (sun, solar, and oven). The obtained data were statistically analyzed using SAS software at

P
<
0.05

. Accordingly, the untreated and sun-dried anchote had greater moisture content (10.34%) than the chemically treated and oven-dried anchote (8.71%). The samples treated with potassium metabisulphite and the solar-drying methods have higher protein content (4.02%) than the blanched and sun-dried samples (3.14%). Samples treated with blanching and solar drying have lower ash content (3.96%) than samples treated with potassium metabisulphite and dried (4.89%). The highest fiber content was recorded for samples treated with blanching and oven-drying methods, with a rating of 4.71%. Sun-dried samples had an increased fat content (1.14%) compared to blanch with all drying methods (0.72%). The untreated and sun-dried flour had lower carbohydrate content (80.95%) than blanched and oven-dried (83.03%). The potassium-metabisulphite-treated and oven-dried samples rated 2.66% with the highest water absorption value. The blanched and oven-dried samples had the lowest oil absorption capacity of 1.71%, a significantly different value from the highest value of 1.98% for the potassium-metabisulphite-treated and solar-dried samples. Oven-dried samples had higher swelling power than solar- and sun-drying methods. The anchote samples treated by blanching methods and dried in the oven had the highest solubility rating of 43.84% and the lowest value of 38.8% for control and sun-dried samples. The sun-dried anchote flour had the highest dispersibility value, which is significantly different from both the oven-dried and solar-dried versions. Along with that, the untreated samples had significantly lower dispersibility values than the potassium-metabisulphite-treated and blanched flour samples. The proximate values of anchote flour were significantly affected by pretreatment and drying methods. Additionally, the main and interactive effect of pretreatment and drying methods influenced the water absorption capacity, oil absorption capacity, swelling power, solubility, and dispersibility significantly. Further research is required to improve flour properties and characterize pasting properties to assess the suitability of the starch for different industrial inputs.
Dual Use of Auxiliary Information for Estimating the Finite Population Mean under the Stratified Random Sampling Scheme
Authors: Ahmad Sohaib , Hussain Sardar , Aamir Muhammad , Yasmeen Uzma , Shabbir Javid , Ahmad Zubair
Published: November 2021

In this paper, we proposed an improved family of estimators for finite population mean under stratified random sampling, which needed a helping variable on the sample mean and rank of the auxiliary variable. The expression of the bias and mean square error of the proposed and existing estimators are computed up to the first-order approximation. The estimators proposed in different situations were investigated and provided a minimum mean square error relative to all other estimators considered. Four actual data sets and simulation studies are carried out to observe the performance of the estimators. For simulation study, R software is used. The mean square errors of all four data sets are minimum and percent relative efficiencies are more than a hundred percent higher than the other existing estimators, which indicated the importance of the newly proposed family of estimators. From the simulation study, it is concluded that the suggested family of estimators achieved better results. We demonstrate theoretically and numerically that the proposed estimator produces efficient results compared to all other contend estimators in entire situations. Overall, we conclude that the performance of the family of suggested estimators is better than all existing estimators.
Living-Donor Liver Transplant in Oman: A Quantitative Cross-Sectional Study of Donors’ Experiences and Challenges
Authors: Al Adawi Mudhar , Al Harthi Hasina , Al Hinai Raja , Al Haddabi Suad , Al Busaidi Iqbal , Al Siyabi Omar , Al Awaidy Salah Thabit
Published: November 2021

Background. In Oman, the first liver transplant was performed at the Royal Hospital (RH) in September 2017. Since then, thirteen cases have been operated on at the RH. All of these cases were living-donor liver transplants (LDLT), and the remaining cases were treated in India with a total of approximately 193 recipients. To provide an in-depth overview of donor experiences, challenges, and perceptions, a cross-sectional study was conducted. Methods. A cross-sectional study was conducted at one tertiary hospital in 2019. The survey was designed to collect data composed of closed and open-ended questions to reveal a thorough knowledge of the topic. Results. A total of 50 of 120 donors responded to the survey with male dominance in the sample (68%) and 64% were aged 28 to 38 years. 66% of the respondents came to know about the donation through hospital staff. Interestingly, respondents (n = 8/12) who reported that fear of operation is the cause that prevents people from donating are among the male gender, while more men believe that the main cause is lack of knowledge. 90% of the respondents felt satisfied after donation. More men reported ambiguous feelings before donation. Moreover, married donors reported ambiguous feelings before donation (p = 0.008). The younger age group reported anxiety and doubt as a challenge through their donation experience. Conclusion. This study revealed that donors have a positive feeling after donating as they have saved a life, as well as being empowered by family and community. The donors encourage individuals to donate a portion of their liver. Some crucial questions arose, such as anxiety before surgery, ambiguous feelings before surgery, and fatigue after surgery. These findings underscore the importance of a holistic approach that would enable donors to be well informed prior to surgery.
Research on Optimization of Power Emergency Material Dispatching for Beijing Winter Olympics
Authors: Zhao Yue , Hou Hanping , He Ting , Li Dandan , Fang Jiaqi
Published: November 2021

The Beijing Winter Olympic Games is an extremely important event, and the supply of electricity is the basis for it. In order to prevent the sudden loss of power to the event, it is necessary to carry out power repair and restore normal power supply in the shortest possible time. Contemporary research is less focused on the emergency repair of power systems. This thesis studies the dispatching of power emergency materials in two stages and in the first stage, the minimum gap rate and the shortest time for material dispatching and transportation are mainly considered, and the required types of power emergency materials are dispatched from the storage near the Olympic venues to various power failure points. In the second stage, aiming at the shortage of power emergency materials at each fault point, the power emergency materials will be dispatched from the rear national power grid regional material reserve to the power emergency materials reserve near the Olympic venues and then dispatched to each power fault point through the power emergency materials reserve. Finally, this paper verifies the effectiveness of the combination of the primary and secondary dispatching models in an example, providing a reference for further improving the emergency response capability of the Olympic venues and improving the safety system of the power system.
Vulnerability Assessment and Spatiotemporal Differentiation of Provinces Tourism Economic System Based on the Projection Pursuit Clustering Model
Authors: Yu Xiaohong , Xu Haiyan , Wang Shengqiao
Published: November 2021

The vulnerability assessment indicator system (VAIS), including the tourism economic sensitivity and respondence, is modified and established in this paper. According to the collected data, during 2014–2018 of the 31 provinces of China, of the tourism economy sensitivity and respondence, the improved comprehensive evaluation projection pursuit clustering (PPC) model is established, and the vulnerability indexes of the 31 provinces are calculated, thus expanding the tourism economic vulnerability assessment methods. Our empirical results show that, during the period of 2014 to 2018, the sensitivity, the respondence, and the vulnerability indexes are unbalanced overall. The tourism economy sensitivity and the respondence show that the spatiotemporal distribution characteristics are high in the east and low in the west. On the contrary, as for the vulnerability, the spatiotemporal distribution characteristics are low in the east and high in the west. Among the 40 indicators, the ratio of industrial solid waste utilized (%), urbanization rate, and the density of grade highway and railway network (km/km2) have the greatest impact on the respondence, while the proportion of the population affected by natural disasters, the diversification index of industrial structure, and the number of traffic accident casualties have the most significant impact on the sensitivity, which are the indicators that have the greatest impact on vulnerability. Therefore, in order to effectively reduce sensitivity, improve respondence, and thus reduce the vulnerability index of the tourism economy, the provinces should first improve the above-mentioned evaluation indicators with the largest weights. Our research results in this paper enrich the theory of sustainable development of the tourism industry and derive managerial and policy insights for further achieving the high-quality development of the tourism economy.
A Dynamic Method to Predict the Earthquake-Triggered Sliding Displacement of Slopes
Authors: Feng Wenkai , Lu Zhichun , Yi Xiaoyu , Dong Shan
Published: November 2021

The earthquake-induced permanent displacement is an important index of the potential damage to a slope during an earthquake. The Newmark method assumes that a slope is a rigid-plastic body, and the seismic responses of sliding masses or seismic forces along the slide plane are ignored. The decoupled method considers no relative displacement across the sliding plane, so it overpredicts the seismic response of the sliding mass. Both dynamic and sliding analyses are performed in the coupled method, but when Ts/Tm is large, the results are unconservative. In this paper, a method is proposed to predict the earthquake-triggered sliding displacement of slopes. The proposed method is based on the Newmark rigid method, coupled method, and decoupled method considering both the forces at the sliding interface and the system dynamics under critical conditions. For the flexible system, the displacements are calculated with different stiffness values, and the results show that as the stiffness increases and tends to infinity, the critical acceleration and displacements of the proposed method are close to those of the Newmark method. The proposed method is also compared with the Newmark method with the period ratio Ts/Tm. At small values of Ts/Tm, the flexible system analysis results of the displacement are more conservative than those of the rigid block model; at larger values of Ts/Tm, the rigid block model is more conservative than the flexible system.
IBOA‐Based Optimization of Cross‐Sectional Dimension of Rods for a 3‐RRR PPM to Minimize Energy Consumption
Authors: Gao Yin , Chen Ke , Gao Hong , Zheng Hongmei , Wang Lei , Jiang Kerong
Published: November 2021

For obtaining optimal cross‐sectional dimensions of rods for a 3‐RRR planar parallel manipulator (PPM) to minimize energy consumption, the inverse dynamics of the manipulator is modeled based on the Newton–Euler method, after which the coefficient matrix of the inverse dynamics equation is decomposed based on matrix theory. Hence, the objective function, that is, the logical relationship between the energy consumption of the manipulator and the cross‐sectional dimension of each rod, is established. However, in solving the multidimensional constrained single‐object optimization problem, there are difficulties such as the penalty function’s sensitivity to the penalty factors if the problem is transformed into the one of unconstrained multiobjective optimization. Therefore, to properly handle the constraints, an improved butterfly optimization algorithm (IBOA) is presented to ensure that the new iterated point always falls into the feasible region according to the butterfly optimization algorithm (BOA). Finally, the comparisons among the IBOA, particle swarm optimization (PSO), and BOA and further experiments of the physical prototype are implemented to validate the effectiveness of the proposed theoretical model and numerical algorithm. Results indicate that the proposed IBOA is more suitable for solving the constrained single‐object optimization problem with better convergence speed and accuracy.
Auraptene, a Monoterpene Coumarin, Inhibits LTA-Induced Inflammatory Mediators via Modulating NF-κB/MAPKs Signaling Pathways
Authors: Hsia Chih-Hsuan , Jayakumar Thanasekaran , Lu Wan-Jung , Sheu Joen-Rong , Hsia Chih-Wei , Saravana Bhavan Periyakali , Manubolu Manjunath , Huang Wei-Chieh , Chang Yi
Published: November 2021

Objective. Oxidative stress-mediated inflammatory events involve in the progress of several diseases such as asthma, cancers, and multiple sclerosis. Auraptene (AU), a natural prenyloxycoumarin, possesses numerous pharmacological activities. Here, the anti-inflammatory effects of AU were investigated in lipoteichoic acid- (LTA-) induced macrophage cells (RAW 264.7). Methods. The expression of cyclooxygenase (COX-2), tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and the phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) 1/2, p38 MAPK, c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), heme oxygenase (HO-1), p65, and IκBα were all identified by western blotting assay. The level of nitric oxide (NO) was measured by spectrometer analysis. The nuclear translocation of p65 nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) was assessed by the confocal microscopic staining method. Native polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis was performed to perceive the activity of antioxidant enzyme catalase (CAT). Results. AU expressively reduced NO production and COX-2, TNF-α, IL-1 β, and iNOS expression in LTA-stimulated cells. AU at higher concentration (10 µM) inhibited ERK and JNK, but not p38 phosphorylation induced by LTA. Moreover, AU blocked IκB and p65 phosphorylation, and p65 nuclear translocation. However, AU pretreatment was not effective on antioxidant HO-1 expression, CAT activity, and reduced glutathione (GSH, a nonenzymatic antioxidant), in LTA-induced RAW 264.7 cells. Conclusion. The findings of this study advocate that AU shows anti-inflammatory effects via reducing NF-κB/MAPKs signaling pathways.
Effect of Glutinous Rice Slurry on the Reinforcement of Silt in the Yellow River Basin by Microbially Induced Carbonate Precipitation (MICP): Mechanical Property and Microcosmic Structure
Authors: Yue Jianwei , Zhao Limin , Zhang Baoxi , Kong Qingmei , Wang Siyuan , Wang Hao
Published: November 2021

The silty clay in the lower reaches of the Yellow River is characterized by loose structure, low strength, and strong capillary effect. Based on the technology of ancient glutinous rice mortar and microbial‐induced calcium carbonate precipitation (MICP), experiments on optimal mass ratio of cementitious liquid to bacterial liquid and optimal concentration of cementitious liquid for MICP and improved MICP technology were carried out by measuring the production of CaCO3, and direct shear test and unconfined compressive strength test of plain silt, glutinous mixing silt, and improved silt with MICP and modified MICP were conducted. The microstructure of the reaction products of MICP and improved MICP technology were also evaluated based on scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Research results showed that the mechanical properties of silt with glutinous rice slurry were effectively improved. With the increase in the concentration of glutinous rice slurry, the strength and internal friction angle of soil samples first increased and then decreased, and the cohesion presented a linear increasing trend. When the concentration of cementitious liquid was 0.5 M and the mass ratio of cementitious liquid to bacterial liquid was 2 : 1, the amount of CaCO3 formed was the most, and the conversion rate of Ca2+ was more than 80%. The improved MICP could increase the conversion rate of Ca2+ (93.44%). An improved MICP showed that glutinous rice slurry could improve bacterial activity, increase the urease content in the bacterial solution, and promote the production of CaCO3. Silt cohesion and internal friction angle of the silt were improved by the improved MICP technology, and the strengthening effect of mechanical properties of modified MICP‐reinforced soil is better than that of the MICP‐reinforced soil; conventional MICP technology could also improve the soil cohesion, but the improvement in the internal friction angle was not obvious. The SEM results indicated that compared with the reaction product of MICP technology, the structure of the product of improved MICP technology is more compact, resulting in a marked reinforcement of MICP performance with glutinous rice slurry. This study provides new insights into enhancing the mechanical behaviour of MICP‐treated silt in the Yellow River Basin with glutinous rice slurry.
Refined Color Texture Classification Using CNN and Local Binary Pattern
Authors: Hosny Khalid M. , Magdy Taher , Lashin Nabil A. , Apostolidis Kyriakos , Papakostas George A.
Published: November 2021

Representation and classification of color texture generate considerable interest within the field of computer vision. Texture classification is a difficult task that assigns unlabeled images or textures to the correct labeled class. Some key factors such as scaling and viewpoint variations and illumination changes make this task challenging. In this paper, we present a new feature extraction technique for color texture classification and recognition. The presented approach aggregates the features extracted from local binary patterns (LBP) and convolution neural network (CNN) to provide discriminatory information, leading to better texture classification results. Almost all of the CNN model cases classify images based on global features that describe the image as a whole to generalize the entire object. LBP classifies images based on local features that describe the image’s key points (image patches). Our analysis shows that using LBP improves the classification task when compared to using CNN only. We test the proposed approach experimentally over three challenging color image datasets (ALOT, CBT, and Outex). The results demonstrated that our approach improved up to 25% in the classification accuracy over the traditional CNN models. We identify optimal combinations for each dataset and obtain high classification rates. The proposed approach is robust, stable, and discriminatory among the three datasets and has shown enhancement in classification and recognition compared to the state-of-the-art method.
Test-Retest Reliability of the Coronary Heart Disease Damp Phlegm and Blood Stasis Pattern Questionnaire: Results from a Multicenter Clinical Trial
Authors: Fang Ge , Wang Yaxin , Yan Zhenqian , Zhou Xiaowen , Fan Xingyu , Liao Xiaoqian , Hu Zhixi , Li Xiantao
Published: November 2021

Background. Damp phlegm and blood stasis pattern (DPBSP) is the main pattern in coronary heart disease (CHD) patients. To quantify and standardize the diagnosis of DPBSP, questionnaires are usually administered. The CHD Damp Phlegm and Blood Stasis Pattern Questionnaire (CHD-DPBSPQ) is the standard metric for measuring CHD-DPBSP signs and symptoms in practice and clinical research. The CHD-DPBSPQ has moderate diagnostic efficiency, as evidenced by its receiver operating characteristic curves. Furthermore, and high reliability and validity have been shown in some studies but not in a multicenter clinical trial. Our purpose was to evaluate the test-retest reliability of a proprietary CHD-DPBSPQ. Methods. The CHD-DPBSPQ uses a standard procedure for measuring symptoms. The (interrater) reliability and validity of this questionnaire have been previously studied. Here, we evaluated the test interval and weighted kappa value of items of test-retest (intrarater) reliability of the CHD-DPBSPQ. The test-retest reliability was evaluated by the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) for the total CHD-DPBSPQ score and the phlegm domain and blood stasis domain scores. Weighted kappa statistics were calculated for the individual CHD-DPBSPQ items. Results. Using the CHD-DPBSPQ, 79 patients with late-stage CHD who were participating in a multicenter clinical trial were assessed twice. The ICCs for the CHD-DPBSPQ score were as follows: 0.827 for the total CHD-DPBSPQ, 0.778 for the phlegm domain score, and 0.828 for the blood stasis domain score. The reliability was slightly better in patients whose test interval was ≤14 days. The weighted kappa values of individual items showed moderate consistency. Conclusions. The CHD-DPBSPQ was found to have excellent test-retest reliability in this sample of patients.