bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Dance of Pauses in Poetry Declamation
Authors: Barbosa Plinio A.
Published: March 2023

In poetry declamation, the appropriate use of prosody to cause pleasure is essential. Among the prosodic parameters, pause is one of the most effective to engage the listeners and provide them with a pleasant experience. The declamation of three poems in two varieties of Portuguese by ten Brazilian Portuguese (BP) speakers and ten European Portuguese (EP) speakers, balanced for gender, was used as a corpus for evaluating the degree of pleasantness by listeners from the same language variety. The distributions of pause duration and inter-pause interval (IPI) both varied greatly across the subjects, being the main source of variability and strongly right-tailed. The evaluation of the degree of pleasantness revealed that pause duration predicts degree of pleasantness in EP, whereas IPI predicts degree of pleasantness in BP. Reciters perform a kind of complex “dance”, where sonority between pauses is favored in BP and pause duration in EP.
Recovery of Aconitic Acid from Sweet Sorghum Plant Extract Using a Solvent Mixture, and Its Potential Use as a Nematicide
Authors: Klasson K. Thomas , Qi Yunci , Bruni Gillian O. , Watson Tristan T. , Pancio Bretlyn T. , Terrell Evan
Published: March 2023

Trans-aconitic acid (TAA) is naturally present in sweet sorghum juice and syrup, and it has been promoted as a potential biocontrol agent for nematodes. Therefore, we developed a process for the extraction of aconitic acid from sweet sorghum syrup. The process economics were evaluated, and the extract was tested for its capability to suppress the motility of the nematodes Caenorhabditis elegans and Meloidogyne incognita. Aconitic acid could be efficiently extracted from sweet sorghum syrup using acetone:butanol:ethanol mixtures, and it could be recovered from this solvent with a sodium carbonate solution, with an overall extraction and recovery efficiency of 86%. The estimated production cost was USD 16.64/kg of extract and this was highly dependent on the solvent cost, as the solvent was not recycled but was resold for recovery at a fraction of the cost. The extract was effective in reducing the motility of the parasitic M. incognita and causing over 78% mortality of the nematode when 2 mg/mL of TAA extract was added. However, this positive result could not conclusively be linked solely to TAA. An unidentified component (or components) in the acetone:butanol:ethanol sweet sorghum extract appears to be an effective nematode inhibitor, and it may merit further investigation. The impact of aconitic acid on C. elegans appeared to be entirely controlled by pH.
Characterization of Mechanical Properties and Grain Size of Stainless Steel 316L via Metal Powder Injection Molding
Authors: Hwang In-Seok , So Tae-Yeong , Lee Do-Hoon , Shin Chang-Seop
Published: March 2023

The metal powder injection molding process is completed by mixing a metal powder and a binder, performing an injection molding and degreasing process, and then performing a sintering process for high density. The disadvantage of metal powder injection molding is that defects occurring during the process affect mechanical properties, which are worse in mechanical properties than in products manufactured by cold-rolling. In this study, the mechanical properties and microstructure of stainless steel 316L manufactured by the metal powder injection molding process were analyzed. Mechanical properties such as density, tensile strength, and fatigue life were analyzed. The density was measured using Archimedes’ principle, and a relative density of 94.62% was achieved compared to the theoretical density. The tensile strength was approximately 539.42 MPa and the elongation to fracture was approximately 92%. The fatigue test was performed at 80% of maximum tensile strength and a stress ratio of R = 0.1. The fatigue life was found in 55% (297 MPa) of maximum tensile strength that achieved 106 cycles. The microstructure was observed through scanning electron microscope after etching, and as a result, the average grain size was 88.51 μm. Using electron backscatter diffraction, inverse pole figure map, image quality map, and kernel average misorientation map of the specimen were observed in three different areas which were undeformed, uniformly deformed, and deformed. Based on these results, it is expected that research is needed to apply the metal powder injection molding process to the manufacture of agricultural machinery parts with complex shapes.
Microstructures and Enhanced Mechanical Properties of (Zr, Ti)(C, N)-Based Nanocomposites Fabricated by Reactive Hot-Pressing at Low Temperature
Authors: Zhang Mengmeng , Wei Boxin , Liang Lanqing , Fang Wenbin , Chen Lei , Wang Yujin
Published: March 2023

Dense and enhanced mechanical properties (Zr, Ti)(C, N)-based composites were fabricated using ZrC, TiC0.5N0.5, and Si powders as the raw powders by reactive hot-pressing at 1500–1700 °C. At the low sintering temperature, both (Zr, Ti)(C, N) and (Ti, Zr)(C, N) solid solutions were formed in the composites by adjusting the ratio of ZrC to TiC0.5N0.5. During the sintering process, the Si added at a rate of 5 mol% reacted with ZrC and TiC0.5N0.5 to generate SiC. With the increase in Si addition, it was found that the residual β-ZrSi was formed, which greatly reduced the flexural strength of composites but improved their toughness. The reaction and solid-solution-driven inter-diffusion processes enhanced mass transfer and promote densification. The solid solution strengthening and grain refinement improved the mechanical properties. The ZrC–47.5 mol% TiC0.5N0.5–5 mol% Si (raw powder) composite possessed excellent comprehensive performance. Its flexural strength, Vickers hardness, and fracture toughness were 508 ± 33 MPa, 24.5 ± 0.7 GPa, and 3.8 ± 0.1 MPa·m1/2, respectively. These reached or exceeded the performance of most (Zr, Ti)(C, N) ceramics reported in previous studies. The lattice distortion, abundant grain boundaries, and fine-grained microstructure may make it possible for the material to be resistant to radiation.
Visualization of Electrolyte Reaction Field Near the Negative Electrode of a Lead Acid Battery by Means of Amplitude/Frequency Modulation Atomic Force Microscopy
Authors: Suzuki Yuki , Imamura Yuki , Katsube Daiki , Kogure Akinori , Hirai Nobumitsu , Kimura Munehiro
Published: March 2023

The precise observation of a solid–liquid interface by means of frequency modulation atomic force microscopy (FM-AFM) was performed, demonstrating its applicability to a study on lead acid batteries using an electrochemical test cell for in-liquid FM-AFM embedded with a specialized cantilever holder. The consistency and reproducibility of each surface profile observed via amplitude modulation AFM and FM-AFM were verified properly in a strong acidic electrolyte. In terms of FM-AFM, the ability to observe remarkable changes in the force mapping is the most beneficial, especially near the negative electrode surface. The localization of lignosulfonate (LS) added into the electrolyte as an expander could be visualized since this characteristic force mapping was captured when LS was added to electrolyte.
Chemically Driven Ion Exchanging Synthesis of Na5YSi4O12-Based Glass-Ceramic Proton Conductors
Authors: Okura Toshinori , Matsuoka Naoki , Takahashi Yoshiko , Yoshida Naoya , Yamashita Kimihiro
Published: March 2023

We have developed 12-membered silica-tetrahedra-ringed Na5YSi4O12-type sodium ion conducting glass-ceramics on the basis of the composition Na3+3x-yR1-xPySi3-yO9 (R: rare earth elements; denoted as Narpsio); especially, the material of Na4Y0.6P0.2Si2.8O9 with the combined parameters of (x, y) = (0.4, 0.2) gives rise to the maximum conductivity of 1 × 10−1 Scm−1 at 300 °C. Because glass-ceramics generally have the advantage of structural rigidity and chemical durability over sintered polycrystalline ceramics, the present study employed glass-ceramic Narpsio to perform chemically driven ion exchange of Na+ with protonated water molecules with an aim to produce a proton conductor. The ion exchange was carried out in a hydrochloric acid solution by changing immersion time, temperature, and acid concentration. The ion exchanged Na4Y0.6P0.2Si2.8O9-based glass-ceramics were analyzed by the complex impedance method, and the proton conductivity was found to exhibit 3 × 10−4 Scm−1 at 300 °C with the activation energy of 59 kJ/mol. The dependence of humidity-sensitive conductivity of the ion exchanged bulk glass-ceramics was also examined; the conductivity increased almost linearly from 0.6 × 10−4 Scm−1 in dry air to 1.5 × 10−4 Scm−1 in 75% humid ambience at 300 °C. Thus, the ion exchanged glass-ceramics can be considered to be high temperature proton conductors as well as humidity sensors.
Thermoresponsive Shape-Memory Biobased Photopolymers of Tetrahydrofurfuryl Acrylate and Tridecyl Methacrylate
Authors: Jaras Justinas , Navaruckiene Aukse , Ostrauskaite Jolita
Published: March 2023

A series of thermoresponsive shape-memory photopolymers have been synthesized from the mixtures of two biobased monomers, tetrahydrofurfuryl acrylate and tridecyl methacrylate, with the addition of a small amount of 1,3-benzendithiol (molar ratio of monomers 0–10:0.5:0.03, respectively). Ethyl (2,4,6 trimethylbenzoyl) phenylphosphinate was used as photoinitiator. The calculated biorenewable carbon content of these photopolymers was in the range of (63.7–74.9)%. The increase in tetrahydrofurfuryl acrylate content in the photocurable resins resulted in a higher rate of photocuring, increased rigidity, as well as mechanical and thermal characteristics of the obtained polymers. All photopolymer samples showed thermoresponsive shape-memory behavior when reaching their glass transition temperature. The developed biobased photopolymers can replace petroleum-derived thermoresponsive shape-memory polymer analogues in a wide range of applications.
Application of Natural Molecules in Efficient and Stable Perovskite Solar Cells
Authors: Chen Yu , Zhou Qian , He Dongmei , Zhang Cong , Zhuang Qixin , Gong Cheng , Wang Ke , Liu Baibai , He Peng , He Yong , Li Yuelong , Xu Zong-Xiang , Lu Shirong , Zhao Pengjun , Zang Zhigang , Chen Jiangzhao
Published: March 2023

Perovskite solar cells (PSCs), one of the most promising photovoltaic technologies, have been widely studied due to their high power conversion efficiency (PCE), low cost, and solution processability. The architecture of PSCs determines that high PCE and stability are highly dependent on each layer and the related interface, where nonradiative recombination occurs. Conventional synthetic chemical materials as modifiers have disadvantages of being toxic and costly. Natural molecules with advantages of low cost, biocompatibility, and being eco-friendly, and have improved PCE and stability by modifying both functional layers and interface. In this review, we discuss the roles of natural molecules on PSCs devices in terms of the perovskite active layer, interface, carrier transport layers (CTLs), and substrate. Finally, the summary and outlook for the future development of natural molecule-modified PSCs are also addressed.
Experiment Study on the Effect of Aluminum Sulfate-Based Alkali-Free Accelerator and the w/c on Cement Hydration and Leaching
Authors: Ling Xuepeng , Wu Quande , Yang Jie , Wang Wenzheng , Liu Dagang , Zhang Yiteng
Published: March 2023

The alkali-free accelerator based on aluminum sulfate is widely used in shotcrete in tunnels. Long-term Ca-leaching of shotcrete may adversely affect the tunnels in a water-rich mountain. It is necessary to examine further the impact of the AS accelerator and w/c on cement hydration and leaching. In this study, all the cement pastes were cured in the environment with R.H. > 95% and 20 ± 1 °C for 60 days and leached in a running water test with 6 M NH4Cl at 1 cm/s. The hydration kinetics was characterized by isothermal calorimetry. Additionally, the microstructural and mineralogical alterations were characterized by XRD, SEM, MIP, and N2 absorption. The results show that (1) the AS accelerator affected the hydration kinetics of cement by stimulating early hydration and delaying the late silicate hydration, resulting in AS-accelerated cement pastes with rougher pore structure. As a result, the higher the dose of AS accelerator, the faster the cement pastes will leach. (2) Hydration kinetics of the accelerated cement are not affected by the w/c. The AS-accelerated cement pastes with lower w/c have a denser pore structure. So, the reduction in the w/c contributes to leaching resistance.
Enhanced Photocatalytic Hydrogen Production of ZnIn2S4 by Using Surface-Engineered Ti3C2Tx MXene as a Cocatalyst
Authors: Cai Mengdie , Zha Xiaoqing , Zhuo Zhenzhen , Bai Jiaqi , Wang Qin , Cheng Qin , Wei Yuxue , Sun Song
Published: March 2023

Developing efficient and stable photocatalysts is crucial for photocatalytic hydrogen production. Cocatalyst loading is one of the effective strategies for improving photocatalytic efficiency. Here, Ti3C2Tx (Tx = F, OH, O) nanosheets have been adopted as promising cocatalysts for photocatalytic hydrogen production due to their metallic conductivity and unique 2D characterization. In particular, surface functionalized Ti3C2(OH)x and Ti3C2Ox cocatalysts were synthesized through the alkalization treatment with NaOH and a mild oxidation treatment of Ti3C2Fx, respectively. ZnIn2S4/Ti3C2Tx composites, which were fabricated by the in-situ growth of ZnIn2S4 nanosheets on the Ti3C2Tx surface, exhibited the promoted photocatalytic performance, compared with the parent ZnIn2S4. The enhanced photocatalytic performance can be further optimized through the surface functionalization of Ti3C2Fx. As a result, the optimized ZnIn2S4/Ti3C2Ox composite with oxygen functionalized Ti3C2Ox cocatalyst demonstrated excellent photocatalytic hydrogen evolution activity. The characterizations and density functional theory calculation suggested that O-terminated Ti3C2Ox could effectively facilitate the transfer and separation of photogenerated electrons and holes due to the formation of a Schottky junction, with the largest difference in work function between ZnIn2S4 and Ti3C2Ox. This work paves the way for photocatalytic applications of MXene-based photocatalysts by tuning their surface termination groups.
Influence of Mixing Water Content and Curing Time on Bond Strength of Clinker Masonry: The Wrench Test Method
Authors: Kubica Jan , Galman Iwona
Published: March 2023

In the present study, experimental investigations on the influence of mixing water content used for the preparation of mortar mix using factory-made dry-mix mortar dedicated to bricklaying with clinker masonry units are presented, as well as the curing time on flexural bond strength of masonry made of these two materials. The flexural bond strength was tested using the “wrench test” method. The masonry tests specimens were prepared using three volumes of mixing water as follows: 4.0 L (the value recommended by the mortar manufacturer); 4.5 L; and 5 L of tap water per one 25 kg bag of dry pre-mixed mortar. The influence of the mixing water content was analyzed in relation to curing time. All masonry specimens were tested in four series after 9, 14, 21, and 28 days of sample curing. The results showed that the use of 6 and 18% more mixing water than recommended by the manufacturer (4.5 and 5 L per bag) adversely affected flexural bond strength. Moreover, for all three mixing water amounts, it was found that the maximum values of bonding strength were reached after 9 days of curing, which decreased over time. The largest decreases (30–40%) were recorded after 14 days. After 21 days, these values continued to decrease, but more slowly. The final value of the ratio of bond strength to flexural strength of the mortar was similar for all amounts of mixing water and for the 28-day curing time, it oscillated around 0.2.
Temperature Rise Calculation of the High Speed Magnetic Suspension Motor Based on Bidirectional Electromagnetic–Thermal–Fluid Coupling Analysis
Authors: Hu Xiaolu , Shi Guibing , Lai Yifan , Yu Juntao , Wang Li , Song Yumei
Published: March 2023

In order to accurately analyze the temperature distribution of a high-speed magnetic suspension amorphous motor, a multi-physical coupling method, including flow field, electromagnetic field and temperature field, is proposed. The electromagnetic loss obtained by electromagnetic analysis is directly mapped to the temperature field and input to the boundary conditions of the flow field for several coupled iterations. This paper compares the thermal analysis results of two different temperature rise calculation methods, analyzes the temperature distribution of magnetic suspension amorphous motor under different working conditions, and discusses the simulation results and the measured results. The error between the multi-field coupling simulation results and the experimental results is less than 10 °C, and the error of the traditional temperature rise analysis method is 30 °C, which verifies the superiority of the proposed coupling analysis method in improving the calculation accuracy of motor temperature rise, and has important significance for the accurate prediction of motor temperature rise in the design stage.
Processing Strategies for Dieless Forming of Fiber-Reinforced Plastic Composites
Authors: Rath Jan-Erik , Graupner Robert , Schüppstuhl Thorsten
Published: March 2023

The demand for lightweight materials, such as fiber-reinforced plastics (FRP), is constantly growing. However, current FRP production mostly relies on expensive molds representing the final part geometry, which is not economical for prototyping or highly individualized products, such as in the medical or sporting goods sector. Therefore, inspired by incremental sheet metal forming, we conduct a systematic functional analysis on new processing methods for shaping woven FRP without the use of molds. Considering different material combinations, such as dry fabric with thermoset resin, thermoset prepreg, thermoplastic commingled yarn weave and organo sheets, we propose potential technical implementations of novel dieless forming techniques, making use of simple robot-guided standard tools, such as hemispherical tool tips or rollers. Feasibility of selected approaches is investigated in basic practical experiments with handheld tools. Results show that the main challenge of dieless local forming, the conservation of already formed shapes while allowing drapability of remaining areas, is best fulfilled by local impregnation, consolidation and solidification of commingled yarn fabric, as well as concurrent forming of prepreg and metal wire mesh support material. Further research is proposed to improve part quality.
Real-Time Diagnosis of Structural Damage Based on NARX Neural Network with Dynamic Response
Authors: Xu Yanxin , Zheng Dongjian , Shao Chenfei , Zheng Sen , Gu Hao , Chen Huixiang
Published: March 2023

In order to improve the applicability of the time series model for structural damage diagnosis, this article proposed a real-time structural damage diagnosis method based on structural dynamic response and a recurrent neural network model. Starting from the transfer rate function of linear structure dynamic response, a generalized Auto-Regressive model with eXtra inputs (ARX) expression for a dynamic response under smooth excitation conditions was derived and extended to the case of nonlinear structure damage using a neural nonlinear ARX (NARX) network model. The method of NARX neural network construction and online parameter learning was studied to solve the definiteness of each factor in the network by applying unit input vectors to the model, and to construct diagnostic indices for structural nonlinear damage based on the Marxian distance (MD). Finally, the effectiveness of NARX damage diagnosis with neural network was verified by numerical arithmetic examples of stiffness loss in four-degree-of-freedom (4-DOF) nonlinear systems. The results showed that the NARX neural network can effectively describe the input-output relationship of the structural system under nonlinear damage. For dynamic neural networks, factor determination based on unit inputs has higher computational accuracy than that of the conventional method. The well-established MD damage index could effectively characterize the devolution of structural nonlinear damage.
On the Positive Decreasing Solutions of Half-Linear Delay Differential Equations of Even Order
Authors: AlNemer Ghada , Muhsin Waed , Moaaz Osama , Elabbasy Elmetwally M.
Published: March 2023

In this paper, we derive new properties for the decreasing positive solutions of half-linear delay differential equations of even order. The positive-decreasing solutions have a great influence on the study of qualitative properties, which include oscillation, convergence, etc.; therefore, we take care of finding sufficient conditions to exclude these solutions. In addition, we present new criteria for testing the oscillation of the studied equation.
Association Testing of a Group of Genetic Markers Based on Next-Generation Sequencing Data and Continuous Response Using a Linear Model Framework
Authors: Xu Zheng
Published: March 2023

Association testing has been widely used to study the relationship between phenotypes and genetic variants. Most testing methods are based on genotypes. To avoid genotype calling and directly test on next-generation sequencing (NGS) data, sequencing data-based methods have been proposed and shown advantages over genotype-based testing methods in scenarios where genotype calling is inaccurate. Most sequencing data-based testing methods are based on a single genetic marker. The objective of this paper is to extend the methods to allow testing for the association of a continuous response variable with a group of common variants or a group of rare variants without genotype calling. Our proposed methods are derived based on a standard linear model framework. We derive the joint significant test (JS) for a group of common genetic variables and the variable collapse test (VC) for a group of rare genetic variables. We have conducted extensive simulation studies to evaluate the performance of different estimators. According to our results, we found (1) all methods, including our proposed NGS data-based methods and genotype-based methods, can control the Type I error rate probability well; (2) our proposed NGS data-based methods can achieve better performance in terms of statistical power compared with their corresponding genotype-based methods in the literature; (3) when sequencing depth increases, the performance of all methods increases, and the difference between the performance of NGS data-based methods and corresponding genotype-based methods decreases. In conclusion, we have proposed NGS data-based methods that allow testing for the significance of a group of variants using a linear model framework and have shown the advantage of our NGS data-based methods over genotype-based methods in the literature.
Darcy–Brinkman Double Diffusive Convection in an Anisotropic Porous Layer with Gravity Fluctuation and Throughflow
Authors: Yeliyur Honnappa Gangadharaiah , Narayanappa Manjunatha , Udhayakumar Ramalingam , Almarri Barakah , Elshenhab Ahmed M. , Honnappa Nagarathnamma
Published: March 2023

The influence of the throughflow and gravity fluctuation on thermosolutal convection in an anisotropic porous bed with the Darcy–Brinkman effect is considered numerically. The critical Rayleigh numbers for the onset of stationary and oscillatory modes have been found via linear instability analysis. The impact of various gravitational functions in the presence of throughflow on stability is studied. The analysis has been carried out for decreasing and increasing gravity fluctuations. The convective problem has been numerically analyzed using a single-term Galerkin approach. The results show that the mechanical anisotropy parameter and Lewis number have a destabilizing effect, while the thermal anisotropy parameter, Darcy number, solutal Rayleigh number, throughflow parameter, and gravity parameter have a stabilizing effect on stationary and oscillatory convection. It is clear that the system changes in a way that makes it more stable for case (iii) gravity fluctuation and more unstable for case (iv) gravity fluctuation.
Study of the Water Build-Up Effect Formation in Upcast Shafts
Authors: Kolesov Evgeniy , Kazakov Boris , Shalimov Andrey , Zaitsev Artem
Published: March 2023

A theoretical study of the formation of water build-up, or water blanketing, and its influence on the ventilation of mine upcast shafts was carried out. Two scenarios for droplet moisture accumulation in the shaft were considered: condensation from saturated air rising up the shaft and groundwater inflows through the leaky shaft lining. Analytical dependencies of the pressure drop due to the influence of water build-up versus the outgoing air flow velocity and the height of the groundwater source were obtained, taking into account the fractional composition of the droplet moisture. Practical arrangements are proposed to reduce the influence of the effect of water build-up in upcast shafts in the case of groundwater inflows through the leaky shaft lining.
VRR-Net: Learning Vehicle–Road Relationships for Vehicle Trajectory Prediction on Highways
Authors: Zhan Tingzhang , Zhang Qieshi , Chen Guangxi , Cheng Jun
Published: March 2023

Vehicle trajectory prediction is an important decision-making and planning basis for autonomous driving systems that enables them to drive safely and efficiently. To accurately predict vehicle trajectories, the complex representations and dynamic interactions among the elements in a traffic scene are abstracted and modelled. This paper presents vehicle–road relationships net, a deep learning network that extracts features from vehicle–road relationships and models the effects of traffic environments on vehicles. The introduction of geographic highway information and the calculation of spatiotemporal distances with a reference not only unify heterogeneous vehicle–road relationship representations into a time series vector but also reduce the requirement for sensing transient changes in the surrounding area. A hierarchical long short-term memory network extracts environmental features from two perspectives—social interactions and road constraints—and predicts the future trajectories of vehicles by their manoeuvre categories. Accordingly, vehicle–road relationships net fully exploits the contributions of historical trajectories and integrates the effects of road constraints to achieve performance that is comparable to or better than that of state-of-the-art methods on the next-generation simulation dataset.
An Iterative PSD-Based Procedure for the Gaussian Stochastic Earthquake Model with Combined Intensity and Frequency Nonstationarities: Its Application into Precast Concrete Structures
Authors: Cao Xu-Yang
Published: March 2023

Earthquakes cause severe damage to human beings and financial development, and they are commonly associated with a lot of uncertainties and stochastic factors regarding their frequency, intensity and duration. Thus, how to accurately select an earthquake record and determine an earthquake’s influence on structures are important questions that deserve further investigation. In this paper, the author developed an iterative power spectral density (PSD)-based procedure for the Gaussian stochastic earthquake model with combined intensity and frequency nonstationarities. In addition, they applied this procedure to five precast concrete structures for dynamic analysis and verification. The research proved the effectiveness of the iterative procedure for matching the target response spectra and for generating the required seismic records. The application examples verified the accuracy of the seismic design for the precast concrete structures and indicated the reliable dynamic demands of the precast concrete structures under the stochastic excitation of nonstationary earthquakes. In general, the research provided a meaningful reference for further stochastic earthquake selections, and it could play an effective role in further assessments of precast structures.
Weighted Competing Risks Quantile Regression Models and Variable Selection
Authors: Li Erqian , Pan Jianxin , Tang Manlai , Yu Keming , Härdle Wolfgang Karl , Dai Xiaowen , Tian Maozai
Published: March 2023

The proportional subdistribution hazards (PSH) model is popularly used to deal with competing risks data. Censored quantile regression provides an important supplement as well as variable selection methods due to large numbers of irrelevant covariates in practice. In this paper, we study variable selection procedures based on penalized weighted quantile regression for competing risks models, which is conveniently applied by researchers. Asymptotic properties of the proposed estimators, including consistency and asymptotic normality of non-penalized estimator and consistency of variable selection, are established. Monte Carlo simulation studies are conducted, showing that the proposed methods are considerably stable and efficient. Real data about bone marrow transplant (BMT) are also analyzed to illustrate the application of the proposed procedure.
Qualitative Numerical Analysis of a Free-Boundary Diffusive Logistic Model
Authors: Casabán María Consuelo , Company Rafael , Egorova Vera N. , Jódar Lucas
Published: March 2023

A two-dimensional free-boundary diffusive logistic model with radial symmetry is considered. This model is used in various fields to describe the dynamics of spreading in different media: fire propagation, spreading of population or biological invasions. Due to the radial symmetry, the free boundary can be treated by a front-fixing approach resulting in a fixed-domain non-linear problem, which is solved by an explicit finite difference method. Qualitative numerical analysis establishes the stability, positivity and monotonicity conditions. Special attention is paid to the spreading–vanishing dichotomy and a numerical algorithm for the spreading–vanishing boundary is proposed. Theoretical statements are illustrated by numerical tests.
Accurate Key Parameters Estimation of PEMFCs’ Models Based on Dandelion Optimization Algorithm
Authors: Abbassi Rabeh , Saidi Salem , Abbassi Abdelkader , Jerbi Houssem , Kchaou Mourad , Alhasnawi Bilal Naji
Published: March 2023

With the increasing demand for electrical energy and the challenges related to its production, along with the need to be environmentally friendly to achieve sustainability for future generations, proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) are emerging as a clean energy source that can effectively replace conventional energy sources, in various fields of application and especially in the field of transportation exploiting electric vehicles (EVs). To improve the development and control of the PEMFCs, the precise determination of its mathematical model remains an essential task. Indeed, the accuracy of such a model depends on the ability to overcome the constraints associated with the nonlinearity and the numerous involved unknown parameters. The present paper proposes a new Dandelion Optimizer (DO) to accurately identify, for the first time, the parameters of the PEMFC model. The DO addresses the weaknesses of the majority of metaheuristic algorithms related to the self-adaptation of parameters, the stagnation of convergence to local minima, and the ability to refer to the whole population. The high ability of the proposed method is investigated using both steady-state and dynamic situations. The DO-based parameters estimation approach has been assessed through a specific comparative study with the most recently published techniques including GWO, GBO, HHO, IAEO, VSDE, and ABCDESC is performed using two typical PEMFC modules, namely 250 W PEMFC and NedStack PS6. The results obtained proved that the proposed approach obtained promising achievements and better performances comparatively with well-recognized and competitive methods.
Multi-Objective Optimization for Mixed-Model Two-Sided Disassembly Line Balancing Problem Considering Partial Destructive Mode
Authors: Chao Bao , Liang Peng , Zhang Chaoyong , Guo Hongfei
Published: March 2023

Large-volume waste products, such as refrigerators and automobiles, not only consume resources but also pollute the environment easily. A two-sided disassembly line is the most effective method to deal with large-volume waste products. How to reduce disassembly costs while increasing profit has emerged as an important and challenging research topic. Existing studies ignore the diversity of waste products as well as uncertain factors such as corrosion and deformation of parts, which is inconsistent with the actual disassembly scenario. In this paper, a partial destructive mode is introduced into the mixed-model two-sided disassembly line balancing problem, and the mathematical model of the problem is established. The model seeks to comprehensively optimize the number of workstations, the smoothness index, and the profit. In order to obtain a high-quality disassembly scheme, an improved non-dominated sorting genetic algorithm-II (NSGA-II) is proposed. The proposed model and algorithm are then applied to an automobile disassembly line as an engineering illustration. The disassembly scheme analysis demonstrates that the partial destructive mode can raise the profit of a mixed-model two-sided disassembly line. This research has significant application potential in the recycling of large-volume products.
Eighteen Novel Bioactive Peptides from Monkfish (Lophius litulon) Swim Bladders: Production, Identification, Antioxidant Activity, and Stability
Authors: Sheng Yan , Wang Wan-Yi , Wu Ming-Feng , Wang Yu-Mei , Zhu Wang-Yu , Chi Chang-Feng , Wang Bin
Published: March 2023

In the study, papain was chosen from five proteases to hydrolyze proteins of monkfish swim bladders for effectively utilizing monkfish (Lophius litulon) processing byproducts, and the hydrolysis conditions of papain were optimized as hydrolysis temperature of 65 °C, pH 7.5, enzyme dose 2.5% and time 5 h using single-factor and orthogonal experiments. Eighteen peptides were purified from the swim bladder hydrolysate of monkfish by ultrafiltration and gel permeation chromatography methods and identified as YDYD, QDYD, AGPAS, GPGPHGPSGP, GPK, HRE, GRW, ARW, GPTE, DDGGK, IGPAS, AKPAT, YPAGP, DPT, FPGPT, GPGPT, GPT and DPAGP, respectively. Among eighteen peptides, GRW and ARW showed significant DPPH· scavenging activities with EC50 values of 1.053 ± 0.003 and 0.773 ± 0.003 mg/mL, respectively; YDYD, QDYD, GRW, ARW and YPAGP revealed significantly HO· scavenging activities with EC50 values of 0.150 ± 0.060, 0.177 ± 0.035, 0.201 ± 0.013, 0.183 ± 0.0016 and 0.190 ± 0.010 mg/mL, respectively; YDYD, QDYD, ARW, DDGGK and YPAGP have significantly O2−· scavenging capability with EC50 values of 0.126 ± 0.0005, 0.112 ± 0.0028, 0.127 ± 0.0002, 0.128 ± 0.0018 and 0.107 ± 0.0002 mg/mL, respectively; and YDYD, QDYD and YPAGP showed strong ABTS+· scavenging ability with EC50 values of 3.197 ± 0.036, 2.337 ± 0.016 and 3.839 ± 0.102 mg/mL, respectively. YDYD, ARW and DDGGK displayed the remarkable ability of lipid peroxidation inhibition and Ferric-reducing antioxidant properties. Moreover, YDYD and ARW can protect Plasmid DNA and HepG2 cells against H2O2-induced oxidative stress. Furthermore, eighteen isolated peptides had high stability under temperatures ranging from 25–100 °C; YDYD, QDYD, GRW and ARW were more sensitive to alkali treatment, but DDGGK and YPAGP were more sensitive to acid treatment; and YDYD showed strong stability treated with simulated GI digestion. Therefore, the prepared antioxidant peptides, especially YDYD, QDYD, GRW, ARW, DDGGK and YPAGP from monkfish swim bladders could serve as functional components applied in health-promoting products because of their high-antioxidant functions.
Determination of the Influence of Steelmaking Parameters on Surface Defects in Quarto Plates
Authors: Knap Matjaž , Bradaškja Boštjan
Published: March 2023

This work aimed to establish a relationship between the parameters affecting the steelmaking process and the quality of the quarto plates. We knew that the main causes of product defects in the plates were in the steelmaking process, so we sought to make changes to the process. All units in the steelmaking plant were equipped with sensors to control the working parameters, which were regularly stored in databases. These data are supplemented by the chemical composition of the molten steel at various stages of the process. To organise and analyse the huge amounts of data, data mining tools included in the Orange Software were used. For industrial use, the tree algorithm seems to be the most suitable, but we also used other models based on artificial intelligence. Unexpectedly, we obtained evidence of self-regulation and robustness in the steelmaking process. Another important result was that some additional parameters should be measured and analysed regularly, at least the amount of oligo-elements in the molten steel and the basicity of the final refining slag.
Preparation of Black Ceramic Tiles with Chromium Slag and Copper Smelting Waste Slag
Authors: Hou Yanglai , Yu Jiajie , Li Zhiqiao , Hai Yuanhao , Xu Ju , Zheng Dingli
Published: March 2023

Chromium slag and copper smelting waste slag are solid wastes generated in the process of industrial production of chromium salt and copper metal, respectively. In this study, chromium slag and copper smelting waste slag were used as raw materials to produce black ceramic tiles. It can not only reduce environmental pollution but also increase their utilization value. The chromaticity values of ceramic tiles (L*, a*, and b*), which are color models developed by the International Commission on Illumination, were measured using a colorimeter. The phases and microstructure of the ceramic tile were analyzed by X-ray diffractometer (XRD), scanning electron microscope and energy-dispersive X-ray spectrometry (SEM-EDS), respectively. The effects of different process parameters on the coloring performance of ceramic tiles were also investigated. The results show that the color of ceramic tile is the best when the Fe/Cr ratio is 1.5, the sintering temperature is 1200 °C, the holding time is 30 min and the ceramic tile is cooled in the furnace. The values of L*, a*, and b* are, respectively, 22.5, 0, and −1.6. The compressive strength of ceramic tile and the leaching concentration of Cr(VI) are 127.2 MPa and 3.31 mg/L, respectively, which can meet the relevant national standards.
Signal-to-Noise Ratio Analysis for the Voltage-Mode Read-Out of Quartz Tuning Forks in QEPAS Applications
Authors: Di Gioia Michele , Lombardi Luigi , Marzocca Cristoforo , Matarrese Gianvito , Menduni Giansergio , Patimisco Pietro , Spagnolo Vincenzo
Published: March 2023

Quartz tuning forks (QTFs) are employed as sensitive elements for gas sensing applications implementing quartz-enhanced photoacoustic spectroscopy. Therefore, proper design of the QTF read-out electronics is required to optimize the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), and in turn, the minimum detection limit of the gas concentration. In this work, we present a theoretical study of the SNR trend in a voltage-mode read-out of QTFs, mainly focusing on the effects of (i) the noise contributions of both the QTF-equivalent resistor and the input bias resistor RL of the preamplifier, (ii) the operating frequency, and (iii) the bandwidth (BW) of the lock-in amplifier low-pass filter. A MATLAB model for the main noise contributions was retrieved and then validated by means of SPICE simulations. When the bandwidth of the lock-in filter is sufficiently narrow (BW = 0.5 Hz), the SNR values do not strongly depend on both the operating frequency and RL values. On the other hand, when a wider low-pass filter bandwidth is employed (BW = 5 Hz), a sharp SNR peak close to the QTF parallel-resonant frequency is found for large values of RL (RL > 2 MΩ), whereas for small values of RL (RL < 2 MΩ), the SNR exhibits a peak around the QTF series-resonant frequency.
Microbial-Based Plant Biostimulants
Authors: Hijri Mohamed
Published: March 2023

Beneficial microorganisms offer essential ecological services to both natural and agricultural ecosystems [...]
Alterations in the Expression of IFN Lambda, IFN Gamma and Toll-like Receptors in Severe COVID-19 Patients
Authors: Sorrentino Leonardo , Fracella Matteo , Frasca Federica , D’Auria Alessandra , Santinelli Letizia , Maddaloni Luca , Bugani Ginevra , Bitossi Camilla , Gentile Massimo , Ceccarelli Giancarlo , Turriziani Ombretta , Mastroianni Claudio Maria , Antonelli Guido , d’Ettorre Gabriella , Pierangeli Alessandra , Scagnolari Carolina
Published: March 2023

Contradictory results have been reported regarding interferon (IFN) lambda (λ1–3) and IFN gamma (γ) production in COVID-19 patients. To gain insight into the roles played by these IFNs in SARS-CoV-2 infection, IFNλ1–3 and IFNγ mRNA expression was evaluated in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) (n = 32) and in cells of paired bronchoalveolar lavages (BALs) (n = 12). Lower IFNλ1–3 values (p < 0.001 for IFNλ1 and 3 and p = 0.013 for IFNλ2) in the PBMCs of severely ill patients were found compared to healthy donors (n = 15). Reduced levels of IFNγ were also detected in patients’ PBMCs (p < 0.01) and BALs (p = 0.041) compared to healthy donors. The presence of secondary bacterial infections was associated with decreased IFNλ amounts in PBMCs (p = 0.001, p = 0.015 and p = 0.003, respectively) but increased concentrations of IFNλ3 (p = 0.022) in BALs. Patients with alterations in C-reactive protein, lactate dehydrogenase and D-dimer levels had decreased IFNλ1 and 3 (p = 0.003 and p < 0.001) and increased IFNγ (p = 0.08) in PBMCs. Analyzing Toll-like receptors (TLRs) involved in IFN production, we found that TLR3 was highly expressed (p = 0.033) in patients with bacterial superinfections, while TLR7 and 8 (p = 0.029 and p = 0.049) were reduced in BALs of deceased patients. Overall, severe COVID-19 might be characterized by dysregulation in IFNγ, IFNλ and TLR3, 7 and 8 production.
Special Issue “Halophilic Microorganisms”
Authors: Sánchez-Porro Cristina
Published: March 2023

Hypersaline environments are mainly represented by aquatic systems, such as solar salt ponds or natural salt lakes, as well as by the sediments of these hypersaline aquatic ecosystems and soils with high salt content [...]
Surface Atomic Arrangement of Aluminum Ultra-Thin Layers Grown on Si(111)
Authors: Jum’h Inshad , Abu-Safe Husam H. , Ware Morgan E. , Qattan I. A. , Telfah Ahmad , Tavares Carlos J.
Published: March 2023

Surface atomic arrangement and physical properties of aluminum ultrathin layers on c-Si(111)-7 × 7 and hydrogen-terminated c-Si(111)-1 × 1 surfaces deposited using molecular beam epitaxy were investigated. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy spectra were collected in two configurations (take-off angle of 0° and 45°) to precisely determine the surface species. Moreover, 3D atomic force microscopy (AFM) images of the air-exposed samples were acquired to investigate the clustering formations in film structure. The deposition of the Al layers was monitored in situ using a reflection high-energy electron diffraction (RHEED) experiments to confirm the surface crystalline structure of the c-Si(111). The analysis of the RHEED patterns during the growth process suggests the settlement of aluminum atoms in Al(111)-1 × 1 clustered formations on both types of surfaces. The surface electrical conductivity in both configurations was tested against atmospheric oxidation. The results indicate differences in conductivity based on the formation of various alloys on the surface.
The Effects of Omega-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids on Breast Cancer as a Preventive Measure or as an Adjunct to Conventional Treatments
Authors: Theinel Matheus H. , Nucci Mariana P. , Alves Arielly H. , Dias Olivia F. M. , Mamani Javier B. , Garrigós Murilo M. , Oliveira Fernando A. , Rego Gabriel N. A. , Valle Nicole M. E. , Cianciarullo Gabriela , Gamarra Lionel F.
Published: March 2023

In order to understand how omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (ω-3 PUFA) supplements affect breast cancer prevention and treatment, a systematic review of articles published in the last 5 years in two databases was performed. Of the 679 articles identified, only 27 were included and examined based on five topics, taking into account: the induction type of the breast cancer used in animal models; the characteristics of the induction model by cell transplantation; the experimental design of the ω-3 supplementation—combined or not with a treatment antitumor drug; the fatty acids (FAs) composition used; the analysis of the studies’ outcomes. There are diverse and well-established animal models of breast cancer in the literature, with very relevant histological and molecular similarities depending on the specific objective of the study, such as whether the method of tumor induction was transgenic, by cell transplantation, or by oncogenic drugs. The analyses of outcomes were mainly focused on monitoring tumor growth, body/tumor weight, and molecular, genetic, or histological analyses, and few studies evaluated latency, survival, or metastases. The best results occurred when supplementation with ω-3 PUFA was associated with antitumor drugs, especially in the analysis of metastases and volume/weight of tumors or when the supplementation was started early and maintained for a long time. However, the beneficial effect of ω-3 PUFA supplementation when not associated with an antitumor agent remains unclear.
Health and Sedentary Behaviors within Polish Nurses: A Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Bartosiewicz Anna , Łuszczki Edyta
Published: March 2023

Health behaviors play a pivotal role in improving and strengthening health. Nurses, who constitute the vast majority of employees in the health sector, play a crucial role not only in treating disease but also in promoting and maintaining optimal health for themselves and society. The purpose of the study was to assess the level of health and sedentary behavior and the factors influencing them among nurses. A survey, cross-sectional study was conducted among 587 nurses. Standardized questionnaires evaluating health and sedentary behavior were used. The study utilized both single-factor and multifactor analyses, employing the linear regression method and Spearman correlation coefficient. The results showed that the health behaviors of the survey nurses were at an average level. Sedentary time (in hours) was an average of 5.62 h (SD = 1.77) and correlates significantly (p < 0.05) and negatively (r < 0) with health behaviors in terms of the positive mental attitude subscale; the longer the sitting time, the lower the intensity of this type of health behaviors. The efficient functioning of the healthcare system is greatly dependent on nursing staff. To improve health behaviors among nurses, systemic solutions such as workplace wellness programs, incentives for healthy behaviors, and education on the benefits of a healthy lifestyle are needed.