bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Thermal Behavior of Graphene Oxide Deposited on 3D-Printed Polylactic Acid for Photothermal Therapy: An Experimental–Numerical Analysis
Authors: Vence Jesús , Gil Christian , González-Rodríguez Laura , López-Álvarez Miriam
Published: January 2023

The present work evaluates the thermal behavior of graphene oxide (GO) when deposited on 3D-printed polylactic acid (PLA), in order to develop a medical device for photothermal therapy applications. An experimental–numerical analysis was performed to assess the photothermal conversion capacity, based on the power emitted by a NIR (785 nm) laser, and the subsequent temperature distribution on the GO-PLA material. The influence of the deposited mass of GO and the PLA thickness was studied through 40 different scenarios. The results estimated a value of photothermal conversion efficiency of up to 32.6%, achieved for the lower laser power density that was tested (0.335 mW/mm²), and a high mass value of deposited GO (1.024 × 10−3 mg/mm²). In fact, an optimal mass of GO in the range of 1.024–2.048 × 10−3 mg/mm2 is proposed, in terms of absorption capacity, since a higher mass of GO would not increase the conversion efficiency. Moreover, the study allowed for an estimation of the thermal conductivity of this specific biomaterial (0.064 W/m·K), and proved that a proper combination of GO mass, PLA thickness, and laser power can induce ablative (>60 °C, in a concentrated area), moderate (50 °C), and mild (43 °C) hyperthermia on the bottom face of the biomaterial.
The Issue of Gender Bias Represented in Authorship in the Fields of Exercise and Rehabilitation: A 5-Year Research in Indexed Journals
Authors: Rinaldo Natascia , Piva Giovanni , Ryder Suzanne , Crepaldi Anna , Pasini Alba , Caruso Lorenzo , Manfredini Roberto , Straudi Sofia , Manfredini Fabio , Lamberti Nicola
Published: January 2023

Despite progress made in recent decades, gender bias is still present in scientific publication authorship. The underrepresentation of women and overrepresentation of men has already been reported in the medical fields but little is known in the fields of exercise sciences and rehabilitation. This study examines trends in authorship by gender in this field in the last 5 years. All randomized controlled trials published in indexed journals from April 2017 to March 2022 through the widely inclusive Medline dataset using the MeSH term “exercise therapy” were collected, and the gender of the first and last authors was identified through names, pronouns and photographs. Year of publication, country of affiliation of the first author, and ranking of the journal were also collected. A chi-squared test for trends and logistic regression models were performed to analyze the odds of a woman being a first or last author. The analysis was performed on a total of 5259 articles. Overall, 47% had a woman as the first author and 33% had a woman as the last author, with a similar trend over five years. The trend in women’s authorship varied by geographical area, with the higher representation of women authors in Oceania (first: 53.1%; last: 38.8%), North-Central America (first: 45.3%; last: 37.2%), and Europe (first: 47.2%; last: 33.3%). The logistic regression models (p < 0.001) indicated that women have lower odds of being authors in prominent authorship positions in higher-ranked journals. In conclusion, over the last five years, in the field of exercise and rehabilitation research, women and men are almost equally represented as first authors, in contrast with other medical areas. However, gender bias, unfavoring women, still exists, especially in the last authorship position, regardless of geographical area and journal ranking.
Plant Extracts and SARS-CoV-2: Research and Applications
Authors: Heleno Sandrina A. , Carocho Marcio , Reis Filipa S. , Pires Tânia C. S. P. , Pintado Manuela , Ferreira Isabel C. F. R. , Barros Lillian
Published: January 2023

The recent pandemic of COVID-19 caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus has brought upon the world an unprecedented challenge. During its acute dissemination, a rush for vaccines started, making the scientific community come together and contribute to the development of efficient therapeutic agents and vaccines. Natural products have been used as sources of individual molecules and extracts capable of inhibiting/neutralizing several microorganisms, including viruses. Natural extracts have shown effective results against the coronavirus family, when first tested in the outbreak of SARS-CoV-1, back in 2002. In this review, the relationship between natural extracts and SARS-CoV is discussed, while also providing insight into misinformation regarding the use of plants as possible therapeutic agents. Studies with plant extracts on coronaviruses are presented, as well as the main inhibition assays and trends for the future regarding the yet unknown long-lasting effects post-infection with SARS-CoV-2.
A Scoping Review of Sleep Apnea: Where Do We Stand?
Authors: Hirani Rahim , Smiley Abbas
Published: January 2023

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), a condition in which there is a recurrent collapse of the upper airway while sleeping, is a widespread disease affecting 5% to 10% people worldwide. Despite several advances in the treatment modalities for OSA, morbidity and mortality remain a concern. Common symptoms include loud snoring, gasping for air during sleep, morning headache, insomnia, hypersomnia, attention deficits, and irritability. Obese individuals, male gender, older age (65+), family history, smoking, and alcohol consumption are well recognized risk factors of OSA. This condition holds the ability to increase inflammatory cytokines, cause metabolic dysfunction, and increase the sympathetic output, all of which exacerbate OSA due to their effect on the cardiovascular system. In this review, we discuss its brief history, risk factors, complications, treatment modalities, and the role of clinicians in curbing its risk.
Standard Deviation Effect of Average Structure Descriptor on Grain Boundary Energy Prediction
Authors: Dang Ruoqi , Yu Wenshan
Published: January 2023

The structural complexities of grain boundaries (GBs) result in their complicated property contributions to polycrystalline metals and alloys. In this study, we propose a GB structure descriptor by linearly combining the average two-point correlation function (PCF) and standard deviation of PCF via a weight parameter, to reveal the standard deviation effect of PCF on energy predictions of Cu, Al and Ni asymmetric tilt GBs (i.e., Σ3, Σ5, Σ9, Σ11, Σ13 and Σ17), using two machine learning (ML) methods; i.e., principal component analysis (PCA)-based linear regression and recurrent neural networks (RNN). It is found that the proposed structure descriptor is capable of improving GB energy prediction for both ML methods. This suggests the discriminatory power of average PCF for different GBs is lifted since the proposed descriptor contains the data dispersion information. Meanwhile, we also show that GB atom selection methods by which PCF is evaluated also affect predictions.
Exploring the Relationship between Particulate Matter Emission and the Construction Material of Road Surface: Case Study of Highways and Motorways in Poland
Authors: Penkała Magdalena , Rogula-Kozłowska Wioletta , Ogrodnik Paweł , Bihałowicz Jan Stefan , Iwanicka Natalia
Published: January 2023

Road dust is an important inexhaustible source of particulate matter from traffic and the resuspension of finer particles carried by wind and traffic. The components of this material are of both natural and anthropogenic origin. Sources of particulate pollution are vehicles and road infrastructure. The work aimed to analyze the mass fraction of the finest fractions of road dust (<0.1 mm) collected from highways and expressways with asphalt and concrete surfaces. Sampling points were located in the central and southern parts of Poland. The research material was sieved on a sieve shaker. It has been proven that concrete pavement is less susceptible to abrasion than asphalt pavement. Particles formed under the influence of the erosion of asphalt and concrete belong to the fraction gathering coarser particles than the critical for this research fraction (<0.1 mm). It was found that limiting the area with sound-absorbing screens leads to the accumulation of fine road dust in this place, contrary to the space where are strong air drafts that remove smaller particles from the vicinity of the road. In general, the mass fraction of particles smaller than 100 μm in road dust was from 12.8% to 3.4% for asphalt surfaces and from 12.0% to 6.5% for concrete surfaces.
The Effect of Postprocessing on the Fatigue Properties of Ti-5Al-5Mo-5V-1Cr-1Fe Produced Using Electron Beam Melting
Authors: Karoluk Michał , Kobiela Karol , Madeja Marcin , Dziedzic Robert , Ziółkowski Grzegorz , Kurzynowski Tomasz
Published: January 2023

Despite the significant potential advantages of processing Ti-5Al-5Mo-5V-1Cr-1Fe alloy (Ti-55511) using Electron Beam Melting (PBF-EB/M), when compared to conventional manufacturing technologies, the resulting internal defects are an important characteristic of such additive technologies and can highly decrease mechanical properties. One of the most dangerous defects formed during metal additive manufacturing processes are material discontinuities such as a lack of fusion. Defects of this type, due to their “flat” nature, are difficult to characterize. For cycle-loaded specimens, where the loading force acts perpendicular to the lack-of-fusion plane, defects of this type can significantly reduce fatigue properties. This paper presents the results of research aimed at improving the fatigue properties of Ti55511 alloy by reducing the influence of the lack-of-fusion defect on fatigue damage. The static and fatigue properties of specimens in the as-built state, as well as after hot isostatic pressing (HIP) treatment, were analyzed. The effect of HIP on both the reduction of pores and the degree of sphericity when using the X-ray computed tomography (XCT) system was presented. The change in the microstructure after HIP was analyzed in terms of the change in the size of individual phases, as well as the change in the phase ratio. This paper also contains a fractographic analysis of the samples after tensile and fatigue tests.
IL-1 Polymorphism and Helicobacter pylori Infection Features: Highlighting VNTR’s Potential in Predicting the Susceptibility to Infection-Associated Disease Development
Authors: El Filaly Hajar , Outlioua Ahmed , Desterke Christophe , Echarki Zerif , Badre Wafaa , Rabhi Moncef , Riyad Myriam , Arnoult Damien , Khalil Abdelouahed , Akarid Khadija
Published: January 2023

Genetic polymorphisms at the IL-1 cluster are associated with increased Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori)-associated disease risk in an ethnically dependent manner. Due to the corroborated role of IL-1β in H. pylori infection progression, our aim is to depict the impact of IL1B rs1143627 and rs16944 as well as the IL1RN variable number of identical tandem repeats (VNTR) on the clinical and biological features of Moroccan H. pylori-infected patients. A total of 58 patients with epigastralgic pain were referred to the gastroenterology department for histopathological and clinical analysis. DNA extraction from antrum and fundus biopsies and PCR–RFLP were performed to detect polymorphisms. As a result, VNTR was significantly associated with IL-1β antrum levels (p-value = 0.029), where the *1/*4 genotype showed a positive association with upregulated cytokine levels in the antrum and was clustered with H. pylori-infected patients’ features and higher levels of IL-1β in the antrum and fundus. Likewise, *1/*1 genotype carriers clustered with severe gastritis activity and H. pylori density scores along with low levels of IL-1β in the antrum and fundus, while the *1/*2 genotype was clustered with non-infected-patient features and normal IL-1β levels. In conclusion, VNTR might be an interesting predictor to identify patients at risk of developing H. pylori-associated pathologies.
Rapid and Easy-Read Porcine Circovirus Type 4 Detection with CRISPR–Cas13a-Based Lateral Flow Strip
Authors: Wang Jieru , Zhu Xiaojie , Yin Dongdong , Cai Chang , Liu Hailong , Yang Yuqing , Guo Zishi , Yin Lei , Shen Xuehuai , Dai Yin , Pan Xiaocheng
Published: January 2023

First identified as a new circovirus in Hunan Province in China in 2019, porcine circovirus (PCV4) is now widely detected in other Chinese provinces and South Korea. In recent years, the virus has threatened pig health and operations in the pig industry. Hence, early PCV4 detection and regular surveillance are required to control the spread of infection and prevent collateral damage to the industry. Due to PCV4 being difficult to isolate in vitro, molecular detection methods, such as conventional PCR and real-time PCR, and serological assays are currently the main methods used for the detection of PCV4 infection. However, they are time-consuming, labor-intensive, and complex and require professional personnel. To facilitate rapid pen-side PCV4 diagnoses, we used clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR) and Cas13a technology to develop a quick testing kit. Five recombinase-aided amplification (RPA) primer sets were designed based on the conserved PCV4-Cap gene nucleotide region, which were used to determine several key lateral flow strip (LFD) characteristics (sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy). The results showed that the RPA-Cas13a-LFD reaction could detect PCV4 within 1.5 h in genomic DNA harboring a minimum of a single copy. Furthermore, the assay showed good specificity and absence of cross-reactivity with PCV2, PCV3, or other porcine viruses. When we tested 15 clinical samples, a high accuracy was also recorded. Therefore, we successfully developed a detection assay that was simple, fast, accurate, and suitable for on-site PCV4 testing.
3D Printing of pH Indicator Auxetic Hydrogel Skin Wound Dressing
Authors: Tsegay Filmon , Hisham Muhammed , Elsherif Mohamed , Schiffer Andreas , Butt Haider
Published: January 2023

The benefits of enclosing pH sensors into wound dressings include treatment monitoring of wounded skin and early detection of developing chronic conditions, especially for diabetic patients. A 3D printed re-entrant auxetic hydrogel wound dressing, doped with pH indicator phenol red dye, was developed and characterized. The re-entrant auxetic design allows wound dressing adhesion to complex body parts, such as joints on arms and legs. Tensile tests revealed a yield strength of 140 kPa and Young’s modulus of 78 MPa. In addition, the 3D-printed hydrogel has a swelling capacity of up to 14%, limited weight loss to 3% in six days, and porosity of near 1.2%. A reasonable pH response resembling human skin pH (4–10) was obtained and characterized. The integration of color-changing pH indicators allows patients to monitor the wound’s healing process using a smartphone. In addition to the above, the mechanical properties and their dependence on post-processing were studied. The results show that the resin composition and the use of post-treatments significantly affect the quality and durability of the wound dressings. Finally, a poly (acrylic acid) (PAA) and water-based adhesive was developed and used to demonstrate the performance of the auxetic wound dressing when attached to moving body joints.
Orthorexia Nervosa Practices in Rheumatoid Arthritis: The DORA Study
Authors: Sifakaki Maria , Gkiouras Konstantinos , Lindqvist Helen M. , Marakis Georgios , Petropoulou Anastasia , Donini Lorenzo M. , Bogdanos Dimitrios P. , Grammatikopoulou Maria G.
Published: January 2023

Medical nutrition therapy (MNT) is an indisputable component of the multidisciplinary therapeutic approach in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Previous research has suggested that in chronic disease where nutrition is an important effector of prognosis, healthy dietary choices might take an unhealthy turn, with patients developing disordered eating in the form of orthorexia nervosa (ON). ON is characterized by a pathological preoccupation with “healthy”, “pure” eating, associated with restrictive dietary patterns, nutrient deficiencies and worsening disease outcomes. The aim of the present cross-sectional study was to evaluate ON tendencies in a sample of adult patients with RA. A total of 133 patients with RA were recruited, and completed the ORTO-15 questionnaire for the assessment of ON tendencies. Most of the patients were overweight/obese (53.4%). The results revealed ON tendencies in the sample, with the median ORTO-15 score reaching 36 (IQR: 33–39). Greater ON tendencies were associated with the female gender, and lowered ON tendencies with increasing age and body mass index. The present findings highlight the need for health professional awareness regarding the problem of ON in patients with RA and the importance of screening patients.
Adipocyte and Adipokines Promote a Uterine Leiomyoma Friendly Microenvironment
Authors: Afrin Sadia , Ramaiyer Malini , Begum Umme Aoufa Mafruha , Borahay Mostafa A.
Published: January 2023

Uterine leiomyomas are the most common benign tumors of the female reproductive system. Obese individuals have a higher burden of uterine leiomyoma, yet the mechanism relating obesity and leiomyoma development remains unknown. In this study, we observe the effect of adipocyte coculture and leptin treatment on human myometrium and leiomyoma cells. We isolated primary leiomyoma and myometrium cells from hysterectomy or myomectomy patients. Protein expression levels of phosphorylated ERK1/2/total ERK1/2, phosphorylated STAT3/total STAT3, and phosphorylated AKT1/2/3/total AKT1/2/3 were quantified using immunoblotting in immortalized and primary leiomyoma and myometrial cells cocultured with human adipocytes and treated with leptin. An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to assess pro-inflammatory, fibrotic, and angiogenic factors in immortalized human myometrium and leiomyoma cells treated with leptin. The effects of STAT3, ERK, and AKT inhibitors were assessed in leiomyoma cell lines additionally cultured with adipocytes. Adipocyte coculture and leptin treatment increases the expression of JAK2/STAT3, MAPK/ERK, and PI3K/AKT signaling while inhibitors suppressed this effect. Leptin induces a tumor-friendly microenvironment through upregulation of pro-inflammatory (IFNγ, IL-8, IL-6, GM-CSF, MCP-1, and TNF-α), fibrotic (TGF-β1, TGF-β2, and TGF-β3), and angiogenic (VEGF-A, HGF, and Follistatin) factors in human leiomyoma cells. Furthermore, adipocyte coculture and leptin treatment increases leiomyoma cells growth through activation of MAPK/ERK, JAK2/STAT3, and PI3k/AKT signaling pathways. Finally, STAT3, ERK, and AKT inhibitor treatment suppressed PCNA, TNF-α, TGF-β3, and VEGF-A intracellular staining intensity in both adipocyte coculture and leptin treated leiomyoma cells. These findings suggest that, in obese women, adipocyte secreted hormone or adipocytes may contribute to leiomyoma development and growth by activating leptin receptor signaling pathways.
Design, Synthesis, and Biological Evaluation of a Small-Molecule PET Agent for Imaging PD-L1 Expression
Authors: Xu Liang , Zhang Lixia , Liang Beibei , Zhu Shiyu , Lv Gaochao , Qiu Ling , Lin Jianguo
Published: January 2023

Immunotherapy blocking programmed cell death protein 1/programmed death ligand 1 (PD-1/PD-L1) pathway has achieved great therapeutic effect in the clinic, but the overall response rate is not satisfactory. Early studies showed that response to treatment and overall survival could be positively related to PD-L1 expression in tumors. Therefore, accurate measurement of PD-L1 expression will help to screen cancer patients and improve the overall response rate. A small molecular positron emission tomography (PET) probe [18F]LP-F containing a biphenyl moiety was designed and synthesized for measurement of PD-L1 expression in tumors. The PET probe [18F]LP-F was obtained with a radiochemical yield of 12.72 ± 1.98%, a radiochemical purity of above 98% and molar activity of 18.8 GBq/μmol. [18F]LP-F had good stability in phosphate buffer saline (PBS) and mouse serum. In vitro assay indicated that [18F]LP-F showed moderate affinity to PD-L1. Micro-PET results showed that the tumor accumulation of [18F]LP-F in A375 tumor was inferior to that in A375-hPD-L1 tumor. All the results demonstrated that [18F]LP-F could specifically bind to PD-L1 and had a potential application in non-invasive evaluation of PD-L1 expression in tumors.
Coriander (Coriandrum sativum) Cultivation Combined with Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi Inoculation and Steel Slag Application Influences Trace Elements-Polluted Soil Bacterial Functioning
Authors: Langrand Julien , Lounès-Hadj Sahraoui Anissa , Duclercq Jérôme , Raveau Robin , Laruelle Frédéric , Bert Valérie , Facon Natacha , Tisserant Benoît , Fontaine Joël
Published: January 2023

The cultivation of aromatic plants for the extraction of essential oils has been presented as an innovative and economically viable alternative for the remediation of areas polluted with trace elements (TE). Therefore, this study focuses on the contribution of the cultivation of coriander and the use of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) in combination with mineral amendments (steel slag) on the bacterial function of the rhizosphere, an aspect that is currently poorly understood and studied. The introduction of soil amendments, such as steel slag or mycorrhizal inoculum, had no significant effect on coriander growth. However, steel slag changed the structure of the bacterial community in the rhizosphere without affecting microbial function. In fact, Actinobacteria were significantly less abundant under slag-amended conditions, while the relative proportion of Gemmatimonadota increased. On the other hand, the planting of coriander affects the bacterial community structure and significantly increased the bacterial functional richness of the amended soil. Overall, these results show that planting coriander most affected the structure and functioning of bacterial communities in the TE-polluted soils and reversed the effects of mineral amendments on rhizosphere bacterial communities and their activities. This study highlights the potential of coriander, especially in combination with steel slag, for phytomanagement of TE-polluted soils, by improving soil quality and health.
Preparation and Physico-Chemical Characterization of OSA-Modified Starches from Different Botanical Origins and Study on the Properties of Pickering Emulsions Stabilized by These Starches
Authors: Zhou Fengchao , Dong Mingyang , Huang Jianhui , Lin Guorong , Liang Jie , Deng Shibin , Gu Chenqi , Yang Qingyu
Published: January 2023

Native starch (NS) from different botanical origins (native rice/tapioca/oat starch, NRS/NTS/NOS) were hydrophobically modified by octenyl succinic anhydride (OSA), and the octenyl succinic (OS) groups were successfully introduced in the starch molecules which obtained OS-starch (OSRS, OSTS and OSOS) with different levels of modification (0.5%, 1.0%, 1.5%, 2.0%, 2.5%, 3.0%) and degree of substitution (DS). The structural properties of the OS-starch, such as granule size, crystal, wettability and morphology were studied, and the OS-starch was used as particulate stabilizers to produce oil-in-water (O/W) Pickering emulsions. The emulsion index, droplet size distribution and microstructures of Pickering emulsions produced by different OS-starches were compared. OSA modification had almost no effect on the morphology or crystal structure types of three kinds of NS and OS-starch but markedly increased the contact angle and particle size distribution of OSRS, OSTS and OSOS. Esterification reaction of OSA and starch mainly occurred in amorphous regions of starch, and the OSA significantly improved the emulsifying capacity of OSRS, OSTS and OSOS granules and thus stabilized emulsions formed at higher levels (2.5% and 3.0%) of modification of OS-Starch exhibited better stability; the ability of OS-starch to stabilize Pickering emulsion was 3.0% OSRS > 3.0% OSOS > 3.0% OSTS, respectively. Observation and structural properties analysis of OS-starch granules and Pickering emulsion droplets showed that the number and thickness of the starch granules on the oil-water interface of the emulsion droplets increased with improvement of the OSA modification level, and an aggregation state was formed between the OS-starch granules, which was also enhanced with the OSA modification levels. These were all necessary for the Pickering emulsion stabilized by starch granules to remain in a steady state.
Mechanical and Shape Recovery Characterization of MWCNTs/HNTs-Reinforced Thermal-Responsive Shape-Memory Polymer Nanocomposites
Authors: Namathoti Sivanagaraju , Vakkalagadda Manikanta Ravindra Kumar
Published: January 2023

Mechanical and shape recovery characteristics of thermal-responsive shape-memory polyurethane (SMPU) reinforced with two types of reinforcements, multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) and halloysite nanotubes (HNTs), were studied in the present research work. Three weight percentages of reinforcement (0, 0.5 and 1%) in the SMPU matrix were considered, and the required composite specimens were obtained through injection moulding. Tensile, flexural, impact and shape recovery behaviours were studied experimentally. Further, flexural tests were performed for multiple cycles to understand the specimens’ flexural strength variation after shape recovery. The concentration of both reinforcements (MWCNTs and HNTs) considered in the present study significantly improved mechanical properties and shape recovery.
Transient Modeling and Performance Analysis of Hydrogen-Fueled Aero Engines
Authors: Wang Xiting , He Ai , Hu Zhongzhi
Published: January 2023

With the combustor burning hydrogen, as well as the strongly coupled fuel and cooling system, the configuration of a hydrogen-fueled aero engine is more complex than that of a conventional aero engine. The performance, and especially the dynamic behavior of a hydrogen-fueled aero engine, need to be fully understood for engine system design and optimization. In this paper, both the transient modeling and performance analysis of hydrogen-fueled engines are presented. Firstly, the models specific to the hydrogen-fueled engine components and systems, including the hydrogen-fueled combustor, the steam injection system, a simplified model for a quick NOx emission assessment, and the heat exchangers, are developed and then integrated to a conventional engine models. The simulations with both Simulink and Speedgoat-based hardware in the loop system are carried out. Secondly, the performance analysis is performed for a typical turbofan engine configuration, CF6, and for the two hydrogen-fueled engine configurations, ENABLEH2 and HySIITE, which are currently under research and development by the European Union and Pratt & Whitney, respectively. At last, the simulation results demonstrate that the developed transient models can effectively reflect the characteristics of hydrogen burning, heat exchanging, and NOx emission for hydrogen-fueled engines. In most cases, the hydrogen-fueled engines show lower specific fuel consumption, lower turbine entry temperature, and less NOx emissions compared with conventional engines. For example, at max thrust state, the advanced hydrogen-fueled engine can reduce the parameters mentioned above by about 68.5%, 3.7%, and 12.7%, respectively (a mean value of two configurations).
An Increase of GNSS Data Time Rate and Analysis of the Carrier Phase Spectrum
Authors: Demyanov Vladislav , Danilchuk Ekaterina , Sergeeva Maria , Yasyukevich Yury
Published: January 2023

Natural hazards and geomagnetic disturbances can generate a combination of atmospheric and ionospheric waves of different scales. The carrier phase of signals of global navigation satellite system (GNSS) can provide the highest efficiency to detect and study the weak ionospheric disturbances in contrast to total electron content (TEC) and TEC-based indices. We consider the border between the informative part of the carrier phase spectrum and the uninformative noises—the deviation frequency—as the promising means to improve the GNSS-based disturbance detection algorithms. The behavior of the deviation frequency of the carrier phase spectra was studied under quiet and disturbed geomagnetic conditions. The results showed that the deviation frequency value increases under magnetic storms. This effect was revealed for all GNSS constellations and signals regardless the GNSS type, receiver type/make and data rate (50 or 100 Hz). For the 100 Hz data, the most probable values of the deviation frequency grouped within ~28–40 Hz under quiet condition and shifted to ~37–48 Hz during the weak geomagnetic storms. Additionally, the lower values of deviation frequency of ~18–25 Hz almost disappear from the distribution of the deviation frequencies as it becomes narrower during geomagnetic storms. Considering that the small-scale irregularities shift the deviation frequencies, we can use this indicator as a “red alert” for weakest small-scale irregularities when the deviation frequency reaches ~35–50 Hz.
Forecasting Table Beet Root Yield Using Spectral and Textural Features from Hyperspectral UAS Imagery
Authors: Saif Mohammad S. , Chancia Robert , Pethybridge Sarah , Murphy Sean P. , Hassanzadeh Amirhossein , van Aardt Jan
Published: January 2023

New York state is among the largest producers of table beets in the United States, which, by extension, has placed a new focus on precision crop management. For example, an operational unmanned aerial system (UAS)-based yield forecasting tool could prove helpful for the efficient management and harvest scheduling of crops for factory feedstock. The objective of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of predicting the weight of table beet roots from spectral and textural features, obtained from hyperspectral images collected via UAS. We identified specific wavelengths with significant predictive ability, e.g., we down-select >200 wavelengths to those spectral indices sensitive to root yield (weight per unit length). Multivariate linear regression was used, and the accuracy and precision were evaluated at different growth stages throughout the season to evaluate temporal plasticity. Models at each growth stage exhibited similar results (albeit with different wavelength indices), with the LOOCV (leave-one-out cross-validation) R2 ranging from 0.85 to 0.90 and RMSE of 10.81–12.93% for the best-performing models in each growth stage. Among visible and NIR spectral regions, the 760–920 nm-wavelength region contained the most wavelength indices highly correlated with table beet root yield. We recommend future studies to further test our proposed wavelength indices on data collected from different geographic locations and seasons to validate our results.
Multiscale Variability of Hydrological Responses in Urbanizing Watershed
Authors: Panikkar Urmila R. , Srivastav Roshan , Srivastava Ankur
Published: January 2023

Anthropically-induced land-use/land cover (LULC) changes create an imbalance between water and energy fluxes by affecting rainfall-runoff partitioning. This alters the catchment’s flow regime, generating increased highs and reduced low flows, triggering socio-economic and environmental damages. The focus of this study is two-fold (i) to quantify the hydrological changes induced in the urbanizing watershed and (ii) to analyze changes in streamflow variability and generation of extremes (high- and low-flow), using the soil and water assessment tool (SWAT) for Peachtree Creek, USA. The results indicate that the change in LULC significantly influences the availability of soil moisture, ET, and contribution to groundwater flow. It is observed that the variations in these processes regulate the water availability from the surface and sub-surface sources, thus affecting the generation of extreme flows. The spatio-temporal analysis, in response to LULC changes, indicates that (i) urbanization significantly affects baseflow, and its variability depends on the degree of urbanization and the predominant land-use class of the subwatersheds, and (ii) the seasonal variations in the baseflow contribution to the streams depend on ET and the timing and magnitude of groundwater outflow to streams. These variations in ET and groundwater lead to water excess/deficit regions, thus increasing the susceptibility to floods during heavy precipitation events and reducing the reliability of streams during dry periods. Thus, in an urbanizing watershed, the hydrological regime of the watershed may not always be a function of changes in the surface runoff, but will be modified by ET and groundwater dynamics. Further, the study shows that the changes in model parameters can provide insight into the implications of LULC changes on hydrological processes and flow regimes. Evaluating the implications on the basin water balance is paramount for deriving any management operations and restoration activities. The study also outlines the significance of analyzing the spatial and temporal scale streamflow variations for managing water resources to reduce damage to lives and properties.
The Effect of Driving Style on Responses to Unexpected Vehicle Cyberattacks
Authors: Zhang Fangda , Wang Meng , Parker Jah’inaya , Roberts Shannon C.
Published: January 2023

Vehicle cybersecurity is a serious concern, as modern vehicles are vulnerable to cyberattacks. How drivers respond to situations induced by vehicle cyberattacks is safety critical. This paper sought to understand the effect of human drivers’ risky driving style on response behavior to unexpected vehicle cyberattacks. A driving simulator study was conducted wherein 32 participants experienced a series of simulated drives in which unexpected events caused by vehicle cyberattacks were presented. Participants’ response behavior was assessed by their change in velocity after the cybersecurity events occurred, their post-event acceleration, as well as time to first reaction. Risky driving style was portrayed by scores on the Driver Behavior Questionnaire (DBQ) and the Brief Sensation Seeking Scale (BSSS). Half of the participants also received training regarding vehicle cybersecurity before the experiment. Results suggest that when encountering certain cyberattack-induced unexpected events, whether one received training, driving scenario, participants’ gender, DBQ-Violation scores, together with their sensation seeking measured by disinhibition, had a significant impact on their response behavior. Although both the DBQ and sensation seeking have been constantly reported to be linked with risky and aberrant driving behavior, we found that drivers with higher sensation seeking tended to respond to unexpected driving situations induced by vehicle cyberattacks in a less risky and potentially safer manner. This study incorporates not only human factors into the safety research of vehicle cybersecurity, but also builds direct connections between drivers’ risky driving style, which may come from their inherent risk-taking tendency, to response behavior to vehicle cyberattacks.
Calluna vulgaris Crude Extract Reverses Liver Steatosis and Insulin Resistance-Associated-Brain Lesion Induced by CCl4 Administration
Authors: Alhujaily Muhanad
Published: January 2023

Fatty liver (FL) is one of the most prevalent diseases in the world, characterized by insulin resistance and hyperlipidemia, which consequently lead to neurodegenerative disorders through the induction of oxidative stress-inflammatory axis, which alters the neurotransmitters’ levels. Calluna vulgaris (CV), also known as heather, has anti-inflammatory and antidepressant properties, making it a promising candidate for treating steatosis and brain lesions. This study aimed to assess the prophylactic and therapeutic effect of CV extract on brain dysfunction associated with steatosis. FL was induced in rats by CCl4 oral administration (50 µL/Kg in olive oil three times/week) for six weeks. The protection group received 200 mg/kg CV extract orally for two weeks before and two weeks during FL induction, while the treatment group was orally administered CV extract after FL induction for one month. The biochemical parameters revealed that CCl4 administration induced hepatotoxicity as blood-liver function parameters (AST, ALT, ALP, protein, and LDH) were increased by 1.8, 1.4, 2, 2.4, and 1.2-fold, respectively. Moreover, insulin resistance was characterized by a two-fold increase in the glucose, insulin, and lipid profile when compared to control one, at p < 0.05. Steatosis liver demonstrated a two-fold increase in all following parameters— acetaldehyde (AC), prooxidant (TBARS), acetylcholine esterase (AChE), monoamine oxidase (MAO), hyaluronidase, and ATPase—when compared to control one, at p < 0.05. CCl4 administration led to brain lesions where the brain level of TBARS, insulin, cholesterol, AChE, and MAO was progressively increased by 2, 1.6, 2.2, 4, and 1.6-fold, respectively, that was associated with reduced glucose (8-fold) and GSH (2-fold) than that of control level, at p < 0.05. CV extract as a prophylactic and therapeutic agent increased GSH and decreased TBARS of both the liver and brain than that of induced group, at p < 0.05, normalized the activities of AChE and MAO, and increased insulin sensitivity where they successfully decreased the HOMA-IR, glucose, TG, and cholesterol compared to than that of induced group, at p < 0.05. This positive effect of CV extract contributed to the presence of polyphenolic compounds such as catechins (5.501 ± 0.056 µg/g extract), gallic (3.525 ± 0.143 µg/g) extract, and protocatechuic acid (2.719 ± 0.132 µg/g extract). Therefore, we concluded that FL induced brain dysfunction through the formation of ROS and elevation of insulin and lipid inside the brain tissue, which alter the amount of neurotransmitter and cellular energy production. Rich in polyphenolic compounds, CV extract functions as an antioxidant, antidiabetic, hepatoprotective, inhibitor of neurotransmitter catabolizing enzymes, and a regulator for energy production. Therefore, it can be used as a preventative or treatment for NAFLD and brain damage.
Viscoelasticity of Recycled Asphalt Mixtures with High Content Reclaimed SBS Modified Asphalt Pavement
Authors: Zheng Kunpeng , Xu Jian , Wang Jie
Published: January 2023

For the concerns of investigating the viscoelastic properties of recycled asphalt mixtures incorporating high content reclaimed styrene-butadiene-styrene (SBS) modified asphalt pavement (RAP-SBS), asphalt mixture performance tester (AMPT) was applied to analyze the dynamic modulus and phase angle of recycled mixtures by the influence of RAP-SBS content, temperature, loading frequency, long-term aging (LOTA), and the incorporation of a rejuvenating agent. Master curves of recycled asphalt mixture regarding dynamic modulus and phase angle are developed, and the viscoelastic properties of recycled mixtures within a wide frequency range are characterized with the Christensen–Anderson–Marastean (CAM) model. Eventually, the one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was applied to investigate the role of factors on the viscoelasticity of recycled mixtures. The research indicates that (1) the elastic component of recycled mixtures elevates with the increasing of RAP-SBS content and loading frequency; as a result, the high-temperature stability of it enhances, while it is prone to cracking at low temperatures; (2) RAP-SBS content should be selected according to specific characteristics of pavement. For most cases, a content of 50% is recommended; (3) the recycled mixtures incorporating high-content RAP-SBS mixed with a rejuvenating agent has outstanding aging resistance performance; (4) RAP-SBS content is observed to have a significant influence on the viscoelasticity of recycled mixtures.
Reply to Perk, J.H.H. Comment on “Zhang, D. Exact Solution for Three-Dimensional Ising Model. Symmetry 2021, 13, 1837”
Authors: Zhang Degang
Published: January 2023

In this reply, I point out that the comment by Jacques H. H. Perk [...]
Effects of Dietary Milk Thistle (Silybum marianum) Supplementation in Ducks Fed Mycotoxin-Contaminated Diets
Authors: Bencze-Nagy Jennifer , Strifler Patrik , Horváth Boglárka , Such Nikoletta , Farkas Valéria , Dublecz Károly , Pál László
Published: January 2023

The medicinal plant milk thistle (Silybum marianum) has been widely used due to its hepatoprotective properties. The main objective of our study was to investigate the health protective effects of dietary milk thistle seed (MS), oil (MO), and seed cake (MSC) in ducks fed diets naturally contaminated with deoxynivalenol (DON; 3.43–3.72 mg/kg feed) and zearalenone (ZEN; 0.46–0.50 mg/kg feed). Female White Hungarian ducks were randomly allocated to four dietary treatments consisting of the control diet (C), the control diet supplemented with 0.5% MS, 0.5% MSC, or 0.1% MO. The feeding of experimental diets did not result in mortality cases, clinical signs of mycotoxicosis, or in differences of clinical chemistry values of blood serum. The positive effect of MO on vacuolar hepatocyte degeneration exceeded that of the MSC on d14 and both MS and MSC on d42. Each treatment was equally effective in the decrease of the severity of solitary cell death and infiltration of lympho- and histiocytes in the liver on d28 as well as in the prevention of lymphocyte depletion in the spleen and bursa of Fabricius on d14. In conclusion, the applied treatments have been proven effective in the prevention of histopathological changes caused by DON and ZEN.
Computational Tools for Supporting the Operation and Management of Water Distribution Systems towards Digital Transformation
Authors: Carriço Nelson , Ferreira Bruno , Antunes André , Caetano João , Covas Dídia
Published: January 2023

This paper presents a set of computational tools specially developed for supporting the operation and management of water distribution systems towards digital transformation of water services. These tools were developed in the scope of two R&D projects carried out in Portugal, DECIdE and WISDom, during 2018–2022. The DECIdE project focused on the development of tools for importing cadastral and operational data, as well as on the three operational tools for supporting the performance assessment: the first allows the calculation of different key performance indicators, both at a global and sectorial level, which is an annual requirement of the water regulator, and the other two allow the calculation of the water and the energy balances and a set of complementary indices. The WISDom project aimed at the implementation of applications that directly address specific water utility needs, namely, the flow rate data processing, the optimal location of pressure sensors, the identification of critical areas in the distribution network for pipe burst location, and the prioritization of pipes for rehabilitation. Implemented tools are useful to support water utilities in the daily operation and management of their systems, being a step forward towards digital transformation of the water sector.
Utilization of Agro-Wastes in Biohydrogen Fermentation by Various Microorganisms
Authors: Bélafi-Bakó Katalin , Tóth Gábor , Bakonyi Péter , Nemestóthy Nándor
Published: January 2023

Biohydrogen production based on agro-industrial wastes might be an attractive and effective technology for providing an energy source in the future. Dark fermentation is considered to be one of the most suitable biohydrogen formation processes. In this paper, various agro-industrial wastes as well as microorganisms applied for biohydrogen formation are reviewed.
Estrategias basadas en las ciencias del comportamiento para abordar la violencia contra las mujeres en América Latina y el Caribe
Authors: Bellatin Paloma , McKay Jessica
Published: January 2023

En América Latina, una de cada tres mujeres sufre violencia a lo largo de su vida. Las ciencias del comportamiento, referidas al estudio riguroso de la conducta humana y de cómo nuestras acciones son moldeadas por el contexto, pueden desempeñar un papel clave en el desarrollo de soluciones basadas en la evidencia para este problema. Las intervenciones que buscan modificar el comportamiento de los hombres, las comunidades, los estudiantes y de las propias sobrevivientes, así como los sistemas de apoyo con los que interactúan, han demostrado tener un impacto significativo en la reducción y prevención de la violencia contra las mujeres.
Considerations regarding the macrobotanical remains from ceramic vessels found at Șoimuș – La Avicola (Ferma 2), Hunedoara County
Authors: Golea Mihaela
Published: January 2023

In 2011, a joint team from various cultural institutions (“Vasile Pârvan” Institute of Archaeology, Museum of Dacian and Roman Civilisation and National Romanian History Museum) have collaborated in rescue excavations on the A1 highway (Lugoj– Deva). This research uncovered a multi‑stratified settlement with occupations dated to the Neolithic, Bronze Age, Iron Age, Roman and Medieval periods. The Neolithic period (Vinča culture) is represented by two main layers. Radiocarbon dated the Neolithic occupation between the end of the sixth millennium and the beginning of the fifth millennium BC (Vinča culture, B and C phases). It this study, the contents of twenty‑one complete and fragmented ceramic pots were analysed. The infill sediment from these vessels was wet sieved. The soil infill of eleven vessels yielded macrobotanical remains, mainly charred seeds. The context of these pots are as follows : five vessels were discovered in pits, two were found in dwellings, three came from the occupational layers, and one from an unknown context. The archaeobotanical samples recovered consist of fragments of caryopses, chaff of wheat (Triticum sp.) and einkorn (Triticum monococcum)

and some seeds of weeds and shrubs.
Cercetări arheologice în zona fortificațiilor bastionare ale cetății Timișoara/ Archaeological research in the area of the bastion fortifications of the Timișoara fortress
Authors: Ene Silviu , Micle Dorel , Iliuță Silviu
Published: January 2023

The archaeological research took place between May 21 and June 13, 2020, behind the penitentiary located on Popa Șapcă Street, in Timișoara. Forty‑five archaeological features have been identified and researched, which can be dated, in the current stage of research, in : Antiquity (2nd– 4th centuries AD), Arpadian period (12th– 13th centuries) and the Austro‑Hungarian period (19th– 20th century), and some are chronologically inconclusive. Of these, 22 are pits, 13 are tombs, four walls, three houses, two ditches and a fountain.