bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Life Cycle Assessment of Immobilised and Slurry Photocatalytic Systems for Removal of Natural Organic Matter in Water
Authors: Gowland Dan C. A. , Robertson Neil , Chatzisymeon Efthalia
Published: May 2024

This study investigates the environmental impacts caused by the scaling up of the photocatalytic purification of drinking water using ultraviolet light-emitting diode technology. The life cycle assessment methodology was utilised to estimate the environmental impacts of two different reactor setups commonly used in lab-scale studies: an immobilised and a suspended TiO2 catalytic system. The functional unit adopted was the treatment of 1 L of water with an initial 7.8 mg/L concentration of natural organic matter, achieving a final 1 mg/L concentration. The use of a suspended photocatalyst was found to have an environmental footprint that was 87% lower than that of the immobilised one. From the sensitivity analysis, the environmental hotspots of the treatment process were the electricity usage and immobilised catalyst production. Therefore, alternative scenarios investigating the use of a renewable electricity mix and recyclable materials were explored to enhance the environmental performance of the photocatalytic treatment process. Using a renewable electricity mix, a decrease of 55% and 15% for the suspended and immobilised catalyst, respectively, was observed. Additionally, the process of recycling the glass used to support the immobilised catalyst achieved a maximum reduction of 22% in the environmental impact from the original scenario, with 100 glass reuses appearing to provide diminishing returns on the environmental impact savings.
The Macroalga Kappaphycus alvarezii as a Potential Raw Material for Fermentation Processes within the Biorefinery Concept: Challenges and Perspectives
Authors: Tabacof Adam , Calado Verônica , Pereira Nei
Published: May 2024

Seaweed is a fast-growing biomass source that is currently studied as feedstock for sustainable industrial production in a wide variety of markets. Being composed mostly of polysaccharides, macroalgae can be integrated in biorefineries for obtaining bioproducts via fermentation. Kappaphycus alvarezii has been introduced experimentally to Brazil’s south coastline in 1995 and is now cultivated on a large scale to keep up with the high carrageenan demand in various industrial sectors. In this review article, an introduction is given on renewable biomass and environmental issues, focusing especially on third-generation biomass and its promising features and use advantages. Later on, the processing of K. alvarezii for the use of its saccharide portion for fermentative processes is approached. The current state of research conducted alongside challenges and hurdles in K. alvarezii hydrolysate fermentation processes provides insight into future studies needed to make new fermentation processes viable. Next, some fermentation products are discussed, and the metabolism of galactose in microorganisms is also presented to bring to light other possible fermentation products that are not yet, but can be, obtained from K. alvarezii. Finally, a simple and comprehensive scheme for K. alvarezii fermentation biorefinery is presented to demonstrate a generic example for a possible configuration for obtaining valuable bio-products. In the literature, production of ethanol and lactic acid were already reported from K. alvarezii. This review aims to help envision new industrial processes that can be developed for this most valuable macroalga.
Demonstrating Pilot-Scale Gas Fermentation for Acetate Production from Biomass-Derived Syngas Streams
Authors: Acuña López Pedro , Rebecchi Stefano , Vlaeminck Elodie , Quataert Koen , Frilund Christian , Laatikainen-Luntama Jaana , Hiltunen Ilkka , De Winter Karel , Soetaert Wim K.
Published: May 2024

Gas fermentation is gaining attention as a crucial technology for converting gaseous feedstocks into value-added chemicals. Despite numerous efforts over the past decade to investigate these innovative processes at a lab scale, to date, the evaluation of the technologies in relevant industrial environments is scarce. This study examines the fermentative production of acetate from biomass-derived syngas using Moorella thermoacetica. A mobile gas fermentation pilot plant was coupled to a bubbling fluidized-bed gasifier with syngas purification to convert crushed bark-derived syngas. The syngas purification steps included hot filtration, catalytic reforming, and final syngas cleaning. Different latter configurations were evaluated to enable a simplified syngas cleaning configuration for microbial syngas conversion compared to conventional catalytic synthesis. Fermentation tests using ultra-cleaned syngas showed comparable microbial growth (1.3 g/L) and acetate production (22.3 g/L) to the benchmark fermentation of synthetic gases (1.2 g/L of biomass and 25.2 g/L of acetate). Additional fermentation trials on partially purified syngas streams identified H2S and HCN as the primary inhibitory compounds. They also indicated that caustic scrubbing is an adequate and simplified final gas cleaning step to facilitate extended microbial fermentation. Overall, this study shows the potential of gas fermentation to valorize crude gaseous feedstocks, such as industrial off-gases, into platform chemicals.
Genetic Characterization of Endangered Sterlet (Acipenser ruthenus, Linnaeus 1758) Gene Bank Broodstock, Natural and Cultured Populations in Hungary
Authors: Fazekas Gyöngyvér , Kovács Gyula , Sándor Zsuzsanna J. , Bogár Katalin , Géczi Aliz , Kovács Balázs
Published: May 2024

The sterlet (Acipenser ruthenus) is the smallest-bodied endangered species among the six native sturgeon species of the Danube River, and self-sustaining populations still inhabit the Hungarian section of the Danube River and its largest tributary, the Tisza River. Their populations are drastically decreasing; however, they still have natural reproduction in these habitats. For the genetic conservation of the species, an ex situ gene bank is maintained in Hungary. The present study aimed to analyze the genetic resources of a gene bank with a near 40-year history and to compare it with natural populations and farmed stocks. Twelve microsatellites were used for population genetics analyses and individual genotyping of 268 specimens from two natural habitats (Danube and Tisza Rivers) and three captive stocks (a gene bank broodstock and two farms). Microsatellites revealed similar patterns among wild populations and gene bank stocks and did not show genetic differentiation (FST: 0.016–0.017) among them. These results confirmed that the gene bank broodstock properly represents the genetic background of the Danube and Tisza populations and is suitable as a source of breeding materials for the restocking programs. Negative trends were detected in the farmed stocks, reflected in reduced polymorphism at a few loci. The results of the principal component analyses indicate the farm stocks’ separation from the wild and gene bank stocks. The present genetic characterization study reveals a valuable captive stock of the endangered sterlet populations and provides unique information about the genetic similarities and differences among farms and wild stocks in Hungary. Our results provide information that contributes to preserving the genetic structure and variability in sterlet populations and supports the management of gene bank broodstock—avoiding inbreeding and preserving the unique genetic background of the Carpathian basin.
Statistical Analysis of Bubble Parameters from a Model Bubble Column with and without Counter-Current Flow
Authors: Kováts P. , Zähringer K.
Published: May 2024

Bubble columns are widely used in numerous industrial processes because of their advantages in operation, design, and maintenance compared to other multiphase reactor types. In contrast to their simple design, the generated flow conditions inside a bubble column reactor are quite complex, especially in continuous mode with counter-current liquid flow. For the design and optimization of such reactors, precise numerical simulations and modelling are needed. These simulations and models have to be validated with experimental data. For this reason, experiments were carried out in a laboratory-scale bubble column using shadow imaging and particle image velocimetry (PIV) techniques with and without counter-current liquid flow. In the experiments, two types of gases—relatively poorly soluble air and well-soluble CO2—were used and the bubbles were generated with three different capillary diameters. With changing gas and liquid flow rates, overall, 108 different flow conditions were investigated. In addition to the liquid flow fields captured by PIV, shadow imaging data were also statistically evaluated in the measurement volume and bubble parameters such as bubble diameter, velocity, aspect ratio, bubble motion direction, and inclination. The bubble slip velocity was calculated from the measured liquid and bubble velocities. The analysis of these parameters shows that the counter-current liquid flow has a noticeable influence on the bubble parameters, especially on the bubble velocity and motion direction. In the case of CO2 bubbles, remarkable bubble shrinkage was observed with counter-current liquid flow due to the enhanced mass transfer. The results obtained for bubble aspect ratio are compared to known correlations from the literature. The comprehensive and extensive bubble data obtained in this study will now be used as a source for the development of correlations needed in the validation of numerical simulations and models. The data are available from the authors on request.
Modified MF-DFA Model Based on LSSVM Fitting
Authors: Wang Minzhen , Zhong Caiming , Yue Keyu , Zheng Yu , Jiang Wenjing , Wang Jian
Published: May 2024

This paper proposes a multifractal least squares support vector machine detrended fluctuation analysis (MF-LSSVM-DFA) model. The system is an extension of the traditional MF-DFA model. To address potential overfitting or underfitting caused by the fixed-order polynomial fitting in MF-DFA, LSSVM is employed as a superior alternative for fitting. This approach enhances model accuracy and adaptability, ensuring more reliable analysis results. We utilize the p model to construct a multiplicative cascade time series to evaluate the performance of MF-LSSVM-DFA, MF-DFA, and two other models that improve upon MF-DFA from recent studies. The results demonstrate that our proposed modified model yields generalized Hurst exponents h(q) and scaling exponents τ(q) that align more closely with the analytical solutions, indicating superior correction effectiveness. In addition, we explore the sensitivity of MF-LSSVM-DFA to the overlapping window size s. We find that the sensitivity of our proposed model is less than that of MF-DFA. We find that when s exceeds the limited range of the traditional MF-DFA, h(q) and τ(q) are closer than those obtained in MF-DFA when s is in a limited range. Meanwhile, we analyze the performances of the fitting of the two models and the results imply that MF-LSSVM-DFA achieves a better outstanding performance. In addition, we put the proposed MF-LSSVM-DFA into practice for applications in the medical field, and we found that MF-LSSVM-DFA improves the accuracy of ECG signal classification and the stability and robustness of the algorithm compared with MF-DFA. Finally, numerous image segmentation experiments are adopted to verify the effectiveness and robustness of our proposed method.
Radiation-Induced Hydrogel for Water Treatment
Authors: Haque SK Nazmul , Bhuyan Md Murshed , Jeong Jae-Ho
Published: May 2024

Along with serving as drug delivery sensors and flexible devices, hydrogels are playing pioneering roles in water purification. Both chemical and radiation methods can produce hydrogels, with the latter method gaining preference for its pure adducts. The water treatment process entails the removal of heavy and toxic metals (above the threshold amount), dyes, and solid wastes from industrial effluents, seawater, and groundwater, as well as sterilization for microorganism destruction. This review analyzed the different types of hydrogels produced by applying various radiations for water treatment. Particularly, we examined the hydrogels created through the application of varying levels of gamma and electron beam radiation from the electron gun and Co-60 sources. Moreover, we discuss the optimized radiation doses, the compositions (monomers and polymers) of raw materials required for hydrogel preparation, and their performance in water purification. We present and predict the current state and future possibilities of radiation-induced hydrogels. We explain and compare the superiority of one radiation method over other radiation methods (UV-visible, X-ray, microwave, etc.) based on water treatment.
Phenotypic Diversity of Pomegranate Cultivars: Discriminating Power of Some Morphological and Fruit Chemical Characteristics
Authors: Radunić Mira , Jukić Špika Maja , Gadže Jelena
Published: May 2024

In modern agricultural production, where a small number of commercial cultivars dominate, the collection, evaluation, and preservation of germplasm are important tasks to reduce the erosion of genes and preserve biodiversity. The aim of this study is to characterize the morphological and fruit chemical properties of the pomegranate germplasm grown on the East Adriatic coast, including the commercial cultivars ‘Hicaznar’, ‘Granada’, and ‘Wonderful’, and to highlight the characteristics with the greatest discriminating power. The characterization of the tree, leaf, flower, arils, seed, and juice was carried out using the UPOV descriptor. The colors of the peel, arils, and juice were analyzed according to the CIEL*a*b* method, total soluble solids were measured using refractometers, and total acidity was determined by titration with 0.1 M NaOH. The research results showed significant diversity between the cultivars, which were grouped into several clusters using an unsupervised analysis technique. Factors such as plant vigor, plant growth habit, predominant number of leaves per node on young shoots, crown type, fruit shape, fruit shape in cross-section, peel weight, total aril weight, aril weight, number of arils per fruit, seed length and width, seed yield, total acidity, TSS/TA ratio, and color parameters of the peel, arils, and juice showed high variability, indicating their strong discriminating power in determining the phenotypic diversity of pomegranate.
An Environmentally Friendly Method to Protect Box Trees (Buxus spp.) from Attacks by the Invasive Moth Cydalima perspectalis
Authors: Baur Bruno , Gysin Werner , Rusterholz Hans-Peter
Published: May 2024

The non-native invasive box-tree moth Cydalima perspectalis causes severe damage to ornamental box trees (Buxus spp.) and natural boxwood stands. So far, no promising natural enemy of C. perspectalis has been discovered in Europe. Many garden owners would like to protect their box trees from C. perspectalis without the use of insecticides, which also harm other arthropod species. In a controlled experiment under natural conditions, we tested whether box trees covered with a net during the flight period of C. perspectalis are as well protected against the moth as trees treated with a bioinsecticide. After 1 year, the box trees covered with a net during the moths’ flight activity (monitored by light traps) showed no damage by larvae (average loss of leaves 0%), as did box trees regularly treated with a bioinsecticide (control group 1). In contrast, box trees with no protection (untreated box trees; control group 2) lost 97.7% of their leaves due to larval feeding. In a second experiment, we investigated whether defoliated box trees can recover when covered with a net during the flight period of the moth. Protected by the net, the emerging new leaves were not attacked by C. perspectalis. After 1.5 years, the trees had 24% of their original foliage again. Our study demonstrates that temporarily covering box trees with a net protects them against damage by C. perspectalis in an effective way.
Experiences Using MEMS Accelerometers on Railway Bearers at Switches and Crossings to Obtain Displacement—Awkward Situations
Authors: Shih Jou-Yi , Weston Paul , Entezami Mani , Roberts Clive , O’Callaghan Mark
Published: May 2024

A sleeper, or more generally a “bearer”, moves vertically under a passing train load. The extent of this motion depends on the static and dynamic load of the train, the train speed, and the support conditions at the bearer and its neighbours. Excessive motion, typically from voiding see-sawing, low support stiffness or possibly excessive stiffness, or even too little stiffness, are all of interest to maintainers. Typically, problems arise around transition zones, switches and crossings, but plain track with poor support can also be a problem. Within the last decade, low-cost micro-electro-mechanical system (MEMS) accelerometers have been used to capture the time history of vertical motion for use in condition monitoring. Existing condition monitoring systems often overlook or sometimes even ignore the possibility of problematic data, which seem to be common in monitored locations. It is essential to understand whether such “bad” data require further attention. Three problematic sites are presented, focussing on examples where the acceleration was higher than expected or the computed displacement was not as expected. Potential causes include wheel defects, hammering of the ballast by a hanging bearer, or high acceleration at some structural resonant frequency. The present paper aims to show the challenges of using MEMS accelerometers to collect data for condition monitoring and offers insights into the sort of problematic data that may be collected from real sites.
Using Multiple Machine Learning Models to Predict the Strength of UHPC Mixes with Various FA Percentages
Authors: Safieh Hussam , Hawileh Rami A. , Assad Maha , Hajjar Rawan , Shaw Sayan Kumar , Abdalla Jamal
Published: May 2024

Ultra High-Performance Concrete (UHPC) has shown extraordinary performance in terms of strength and durability. However, having a cost-effective and sustainable UHPC mix design is a challenge in the construction sector. This study aims on building a predictable model that can help in determining the compressive strength of UHPC. The research focuses on applying multiple machine learning (ML) models and evaluating their performance in predicting the strength prediction of UHPC. Two reliable metrics are used to evaluate the performance of the model which are the coefficient of determination (R2) and mean squared error (MSE). The parameters that are affecting the compressive strength of UHPC are fly ash percentage levels (FA%), superplasticizer content, water to binder ratio (w/b), and curing period. A total of 54 ML models were used, consisting of Linear Regression, Support Vector Machines (SVM), Neural Networks, and Random forests algorithms. Among these models, Random Forest proved to be the most effective in capturing the relationships in UHPC’s behaviour with an R squared score of 0.8857. The Random Forest ML model is also used in this paper to conduct a parametric study that will help in obtaining the compressive strength of UHPC with higher content of FA%, which is not sufficiently studied in the literature.
Greedy Ensemble Hyperspectral Anomaly Detection
Authors: Hossain Mazharul , Younis Mohammed , Robinson Aaron , Wang Lan , Preza Chrysanthe
Published: May 2024

Hyperspectral images include information from a wide range of spectral bands deemed valuable for computer vision applications in various domains such as agriculture, surveillance, and reconnaissance. Anomaly detection in hyperspectral images has proven to be a crucial component of change and abnormality identification, enabling improved decision-making across various applications. These abnormalities/anomalies can be detected using background estimation techniques that do not require the prior knowledge of outliers. However, each hyperspectral anomaly detection (HS-AD) algorithm models the background differently. These different assumptions may fail to consider all the background constraints in various scenarios. We have developed a new approach called Greedy Ensemble Anomaly Detection (GE-AD) to address this shortcoming. It includes a greedy search algorithm to systematically determine the suitable base models from HS-AD algorithms and hyperspectral unmixing for the first stage of a stacking ensemble and employs a supervised classifier in the second stage of a stacking ensemble. It helps researchers with limited knowledge of the suitability of the HS-AD algorithms for the application scenarios to select the best methods automatically. Our evaluation shows that the proposed method achieves a higher average F1-macro score with statistical significance compared to the other individual methods used in the ensemble. This is validated on multiple datasets, including the Airport–Beach–Urban (ABU) dataset, the San Diego dataset, the Salinas dataset, the Hydice Urban dataset, and the Arizona dataset. The evaluation using the airport scenes from the ABU dataset shows that GE-AD achieves a 14.97% higher average F1-macro score than our previous method (HUE-AD), at least 17.19% higher than the individual methods used in the ensemble, and at least 28.53% higher than the other state-of-the-art ensemble anomaly detection algorithms. As using the combination of greedy algorithm and stacking ensemble to automatically select suitable base models and associated weights have not been widely explored in hyperspectral anomaly detection, we believe that our work will expand the knowledge in this research area and contribute to the wider application of this approach.
Reanalyzing Variable Agreement with tu Using an Online Megacorpus of Brazilian Portuguese
Authors: Schwenter Scott A. , Miranda Lauren , Pérez Ileana , Cataloni Victoria
Published: May 2024

We reanalyze the phenomenon of verbal (non)agreement with the 2SG tu in a megacorpus of Brazilian Portuguese compiled from the web. Unlike previous research, which has analyzed sociolinguistic interview data and regional differences, we examine these data with a focus on the internal linguistic factors that constrain the variability. Our analysis of 4860 tokens of tu + verb reveals that non-agreement with the 3SG verb form is by far the most common pattern, 2SG agreement being relatively infrequent. Individual verb lexemes show highly distinct rates of (non)agreement. In addition, the specific tense/aspect/mood forms and main/auxiliary status are likewise significant factors affecting the variation. We conclude that future studies of this phenomenon should not ignore these internal linguistic factors. We situate our study within a group of other recent studies in Romance linguistics, which have found that individual verbal and constructional patterns can have diverse effects on morphosyntactic variation.
Uncertainty in XAI: Human Perception and Modeling Approaches
Authors: Chiaburu Teodor , Haußer Frank , Bießmann Felix
Published: May 2024

Artificial Intelligence (AI) plays an increasingly integral role in decision-making processes. In order to foster trust in AI predictions, many approaches towards explainable AI (XAI) have been developed and evaluated. Surprisingly, one factor that is essential for trust has been underrepresented in XAI research so far: uncertainty, both with respect to how it is modeled in Machine Learning (ML) and XAI as well as how it is perceived by humans relying on AI assistance. This review paper provides an in-depth analysis of both aspects. We review established and recent methods to account for uncertainty in ML models and XAI approaches and we discuss empirical evidence on how model uncertainty is perceived by human users of XAI systems. We summarize the methodological advancements and limitations of methods and human perception. Finally, we discuss the implications of the current state of the art in model development and research on human perception. We believe highlighting the role of uncertainty in XAI will be helpful to both practitioners and researchers and could ultimately support more responsible use of AI in practical applications.
Exploring the Extended Beta-Logarithmic Function: Matrix Arguments and Properties
Authors: Alqarni Mohammed Z.
Published: May 2024

The beta-logarithmic function substantially generalizes the standard beta function, which is widely recognized for its significance in many applications. This article is devoted to the study of a generalization of the classical beta-logarithmic function in a matrix setting called the extended beta-logarithmic matrix function. The proofs of some essential properties of this extension, such as convergence, partial derivative formulas, functional relations, integral representations, inequalities, and finite and infinite sums, are established. Moreover, an application of the extended beta-logarithmic function in matrix arguments is proposed in probability theory. Further, numerical examples and graphical presentations of the new generalization are obtained.
Unaddressed Challenges in the Treatment of Cutaneous Melanoma?
Authors: Villani Alessia , Potestio Luca , Lallas Aimilios , Apalla Zoe , Scalvenzi Massimiliano , Martora Fabrizio
Published: May 2024

Background and Objectives: While the management of noninvasive cutaneous melanoma (CM) is typically limited to a secondary excision to reduce recurrence risk and periodic follow-up, treating patients with advanced melanoma presents ongoing challenges. Materials and Methods: This review provides a comprehensive examination of both established and emerging pharmacologic strategies for advanced CM management, offering an up-to-date insight into the current therapeutic milieu. The dynamic landscape of advanced CM treatment is explored, highlighting the efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitors and targeted therapies, either in monotherapy or combination regimens. Additionally, ongoing investigations into novel treatment modalities are thoroughly discussed, reflecting the evolving nature of melanoma management. Results: The therapeutic landscape for melanoma management is undergoing significant transformation. Although various treatment modalities exist, there remains a critical need for novel therapies, particularly for certain stages of melanoma or cases resistant to current options. Conclusions: Consequently, further studies are warranted to identify new treatment avenues and optimize the utilization of existing drugs.
Surgical Outcomes of Pancreatic Solid Pseudopapillary Neoplasm: Experiences of 24 Patients in a Single Institute
Authors: Ku Peng-Yu , Cheng Shao-Bin , Chen Yi-Ju , Lai Chia-Yu , Liu Hsiao-Tien , Chen Wei-Hsin
Published: May 2024

Background and Objectives: The pancreatic solid pseudopapillary neoplasm (SPN), a rare tumor predominantly affecting young women, has seen an increased incidence due to improved imaging and epidemiological knowledge. This study aimed to understand the outcomes of different interventions, possible complications, and associated risk factors. Materials and Methods: This study retrospectively analyzed 24 patients who underwent pancreatic surgery for SPNs between September 1998 and July 2020. Results: Surgical intervention, typically required for symptomatic cases or pathological confirmation, yielded favorable outcomes with a 5-year survival rate of up to 97%. Despite challenges in standardizing preoperative evaluation and follow-up protocols, aggressive complete resection showed promising long-term survival and good oncological outcomes. Notably, no significant differences were found between conventional and minimally invasive (MI) surgery in perioperative outcomes. Histopathological correlations were lacking in prognosis and locations. Among the patients, one developed diffuse liver metastases 41 months postoperatively but responded well to chemotherapy and transcatheter arterial chemoembolization, with disease stability observed at 159 postoperative months. Another patient developed nonalcoholic steatohepatitis after surgery and underwent liver transplantation, succumbing to poor medication adherence 115 months after surgery. Conclusions: These findings underscore the importance of surgical intervention in managing SPNs and suggest the MI approach as a viable option with comparable outcomes to conventional surgery.
The Relationship between Fragmented QRS and Myocardial Injury in Patients with Acute Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
Authors: Küçükkelepçe Osman , Yılmaz Emre , Çamcı Sencer
Published: May 2024

Background and Objectives: Carbon monoxide (CO) intoxication is one of the most common causes of poisoning-related deaths and complications. Myocardial injury is an important complication of CO poisoning. In our study, we aimed to evaluate the relationship between the presence and prevalence of fragmented QRS (fQRS) and myocardial injury in patients with CO intoxication. Materials and Methods: We retrospectively evaluated patients who presented to the emergency department of our tertiary care center with CO intoxication between January 2020 and December 2023. In our study, we performed subgroup analyses according to the presence of myocardial injury and fQRS. We evaluated the parameters and risk factors associated with myocardial injury. Results: Myocardial injury was detected in 44 patients, and fQRS was detected in 38 patients. In the myocardial injury (+) group, the fQRS rate was 38.6%, and the median number of leads with fQRS was 3 (2–6) and was significantly higher than in the myocardial injury (−) group (p < 0.001). We found that carboxyhemoglobin had a significant positive correlation with troponin (p = 0.001) and pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (proBNP) (p = 0.009). As a result of multivariate analysis, we determined that age, creatinine, proBNP, fQRS, and ≥3 leads with fQRS are independent risk factors for myocardial injury. Conclusions: Myocardial injury in CO intoxication patients is associated with proBNP, the presence of fQRS, and the number of leads with fQRS. Age, creatinine level, proBNP, the presence of fQRS, and ≥3 leads with fQRS are independent risk factors for myocardial injury in patients with CO intoxication.
Comparison of Immediate Implantation into the Socket with and without Periapical Pathology: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Pranckeviciene Alma , Vaitkeviciene Inga , Siudikiene Jolanta , Poskeviciene Skaiste , Maciulskiene-Visockiene Vita
Published: May 2024

Background and Objectives: The present systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted to evaluate and compare the long-term clinical outcomes of immediate implants placed into fresh sockets with and without periapical pathology. Materials and Methods: After the search and review of the literature in the electronic databases, 109 publications were achieved. The titles and abstracts of 66 publications were screened. After the evaluation of the full text of 22 publications, based on the inclusion criteria, six controlled clinical studies were included in this systematic review and meta-analysis. Results: The statistical calculation showed no heterogeneity among the studies included. The implant survival was 99.6% in the test (socket with periapical pathology) and control (socket without periapical pathology) groups of all the clinical trials. The results of the meta-analysis showed no statistically significant difference between test and control groups regarding the marginal bone level and the width of keratinized mucosa in all the studies. Other parameters indicating plaque level, bleeding on probing, and gingival recession also did not differ between test and control groups at the final follow-up in nearly all studies. Conclusions: Within the limitation of this systemic review and meta-analysis, the obtained data suggest that implants immediately placed into the extraction sockets of teeth exhibiting periapical pathology can be successfully osseointegrated for an extended period.
In Situ Self-Assembly of Nitrogen-Doped 3D Flower-like Hierarchical Porous Carbon and Its Application for Supercapacitors
Authors: Qiu Liqing , Liu Hangzhong , He Chenweijia , He Shuijian , Liu Li , Zhang Qian
Published: May 2024

The hierarchical porous carbon-based materials derived from biomass are beneficial for the enhancement of electrochemical performances in supercapacitors. Herein, we report the fabrication of nitrogen-doped 3D flower-like hierarchical porous carbon (NPC) assembled by nanosheets using a mixture of urea, ZnCl2, and starch via a low-temperature hydrothermal reaction and high-temperature carbonization process. As a consequence, the optimized mass ratio for the mixture is 2:2:2 and the temperature is 700 °C. The NPC structures are capable of electron transport and ion diffusion owing to their high specific surface area (1498.4 m2 g−1) and rich heteroatoms. Thereby, the resultant NPC electrodes display excellent capacitive performance, with a high specific capacitance of 249.7 F g−1 at 1.0 A g−1 and good cycling stability. Remarkably, this implies a superior energy density of 42.98 Wh kg−1 with a power density of 7500 W kg−1 in organic electrolyte for the symmetrical supercapacitor. This result verifies the good performance of as-synthesized carbon materials in capacitive energy storage applications, which is inseparable from the hierarchical porous features of the materials.
Dual Optoelectronic Organic Field-Effect Device: Combination of Electroluminescence and Photosensitivity
Authors: Trukhanov Vasiliy A. , Sosorev Andrey Y. , Dominskiy Dmitry I. , Fedorenko Roman S. , Tafeenko Victor A. , Borshchev Oleg V. , Ponomarenko Sergey A. , Paraschuk Dmitry Y.
Published: May 2024

Merging the functionality of an organic field-effect transistor (OFET) with either a light emission or a photoelectric effect can increase the efficiency of displays or photosensing devices. In this work, we show that an organic semiconductor enables a multifunctional OFET combining electroluminescence (EL) and a photoelectric effect. Specifically, our computational and experimental investigations of a six-ring thiophene-phenylene co-oligomer (TPCO) revealed that this material is promising for OFETs, light-emitting, and photoelectric devices because of the large oscillator strength of the lowest-energy singlet transition, efficient luminescence, pronounced delocalization of the excited state, and balanced charge transport. The fabricated OFETs showed a photoelectric response for wavelengths shorter than 530 nm and simultaneously EL in the transistor channel, with a maximum at ~570 nm. The devices demonstrated an EL external quantum efficiency (EQE) of ~1.4% and a photoelectric responsivity of ~0.7 A W–1, which are among the best values reported for state-of-the-art organic light-emitting transistors and phototransistors, respectively. We anticipate that our results will stimulate the design of efficient materials for multifunctional organic optoelectronic devices and expand the potential applications of organic (opto)electronics.
2-Aryladenine Derivatives as a Potent Scaffold for Adenosine Receptor Antagonists: The 6-Morpholino Derivatives
Authors: Areias Filipe , Correia Carla , Rocha Ashly , Teixeira Sofia , Castro Marián , Brea Jose , Hu Huabin , Carlsson Jens , Loza Maria I. , Proença M. Fernanda , Carvalho M. Alice
Published: May 2024

A set of 2-aryl-9-H or methyl-6-morpholinopurine derivatives were synthesized and assayed through radioligand binding tests at human A1, A2A, A2B, and A3 adenosine receptor subtypes. Eleven purines showed potent antagonism at A1, A3, dual A1/A2A, A1/A2B, or A1/A3 adenosine receptors. Additionally, three compounds showed high affinity without selectivity for any specific adenosine receptor. The structure-activity relationships were made for this group of new compounds. The 9-methylpurine derivatives were generally less potent but more selective, and the 9H-purine derivatives were more potent but less selective. These compounds can be an important source of new biochemical tools and/or pharmacological drugs.
Ultrafast Microwave-Assisted Synthesis of Porous NiCo Layered Double Hydroxide Nanospheres for High-Performance Supercapacitors
Authors: Yang Xing , He Qing , Hu Longbo , Wang Wanglong , Chen Wenmiao , Fang Xing , Liu Jun
Published: May 2024

Currently, new clean energy storage technology must be effective, affordable, and ecologically friendly so as to meet the diverse and sustainable needs of the energy supply. In this work, NiCo-LDH containing intercalated EG was successfully prepared within 210 s using an ultrafast microwave radiation technique. Subsequently, a series of characterization and systematic electrochemical tests were conducted to analyze the composition, structure, and energy storage mechanism of the NiCo-LDH material. The Ni:Co ratio of 5:5 results in the highest capacitance value of 2156 F/g at 1 A/g and an outstanding rate performance of 86.8% capacity retention rate at 10 A/g. The results demonstrated that the unique porous structure of NiCo-LDH and large layer spacing were conducive to more electrochemical reactions. Additionally, an electrochemical test was carried out on the NiCo-LDH as a hybrid supercapacitor electrode material, with NiCo-LDH-5:5 serving as the positive electrode and activated carbon as the negative electrode, the asymmetric supercapacitor can achieve a maximum energy density of 82.5 Wh kg−1 and power density of 8000 W kg−1. The NiCo-LDH-5:5//AC hybrid supercapacitors own 81.5% cycle stability and 100% coulombic efficiency after 6000 cycles at 10 A/g.
Hypoxia in Uterine Fibroids: Role in Pathobiology and Therapeutic Opportunities
Authors: Olson Sydney L. , Akbar Razeen J. , Gorniak Adrianna , Fuhr Laura I. , Borahay Mostafa A.
Published: May 2024

Uterine fibroids are the most common tumors in females, affecting up to 70% of women worldwide, yet targeted therapeutic options are limited. Oxidative stress has recently surfaced as a key driver of fibroid pathogenesis and provides insights into hypoxia-induced cell transformation, extracellular matrix pathophysiology, hypoxic cell signaling cascades, and uterine biology. Hypoxia drives fibroid tumorigenesis through (1) promoting myometrial stem cell proliferation, (2) causing DNA damage propelling the transformation of stem cells to tumor-initiating cells, and (3) driving excess extracellular matrix (ECM) production. Common fibroid-associated DNA mutations include MED12 mutations, HMGA2 overexpression, and fumarate hydratase loss of function. Evidence suggests an interaction between hypoxia signaling and these mutations. Fibroid development and growth are promoted by hypoxia-triggered cell signaling via various pathways including HIF-1, TGFβ, and Wnt/β-catenin. Fibroid-associated hypoxia persists due to antioxidant imbalance, ECM accumulation, and growth beyond adequate vascular supply. Current clinically available fibroid treatments do not take advantage of hypoxia-targeting therapies. A growing number of pre-clinical and clinical studies identify ROS inhibitors, anti-HIF-1 agents, Wnt/β-catenin inhibition, and TGFβ cascade inhibitors as agents that may reduce fibroid development and growth through targeting hypoxia.
Correction: Vispoel et al. Extending Applications of Generalizability Theory-Based Bifactor Model Designs. Psych 2023, 5, 545–575
Authors: Vispoel Walter P. , Lee Hyeryung , Chen Tingting , Hong Hyeri
Published: May 2024

In the original publication [...]
Formation Fit for Purpose: Empowering Religious Educators Working in Catholic Schools
Authors: Poncini Antonella
Published: May 2024

The purpose of this paper is to provide curriculum support to religious educators working in Catholic schools. The paper provides a practical response to research advocating serious attention be given to religious educators because they are at the “coalface” of Catholic education, increasingly confronted by content and policy decisions, the diverse values and needs of their students, and other competing cultural and social challenges. Religious educators play a significant role in the evangelising mission of the Catholic Church as interpreters of Scripture and Tradition and can positively or negatively influence the quality of their students’ learning and its application. Entitled RECALL, the support offered to religious educators in this paper is research-led and utilises educational, standards-based principles. It is a community-minded approach that aims to build religious literacy and deepen the religious educators’ awareness and connections to the legacy of the Catholic Faith Tradition. The desired outcome is to inspire evidence-based conversations encompassing faith and reason, the perceived value and reality of the identity and mission of the Catholic Church, and its impact on Catholic culture and education. Intended to enhance rather than replace existing professional formation, the approach has structures, pedagogical processes, and practices that draw from a set of overarching theoretical considerations. Furthermore, the approach employs three guiding questions for categorising and analysing Catholic content. The questions are: (i) “Who are we as Catholics and what is our mission?” (ii) “What do we believe?” and (iii) “How do we practice?” The proposed curriculum support to religious educators may foster a culture of learning in Religious Education that is focused on improving and progressing the quality of educational outcomes for students. The premise is that if religious educators are supported to engage with the great Gospel narrative, their students may do the same.
Application of Continuous Stability Control to a Lightweight Solar-Electric Vehicle Using SMC and MPC
Authors: Lidfors Lindqvist Anna , Zhou Shilei , Halkon Benjamin , Aguilera Ricardo P. , Walker Paul D.
Published: May 2024

This paper investigates the application of contusion stability yaw control of a lightweight solar-electric vehicle. The vehicle’s customized design envelope makes it more sensitive to variations in load due to its low weight and relatively large size. To address this issue, control strategies were developed using differential motor torques to generate direct yaw moments using the vehicle’s rear in-wheel motors. This paper introduces the working conditions of solar vehicles and demonstrates the necessity of stability control. Vehicle parameters such as mass and center of gravity position are obtained to apply control to the real vehicle. The paper then describes two stability control strategies, using (i) sliding-mode control (SMC) and (ii) model predictive control (MPC). To account for the road bank angle of the test area and the impact of additional weight from a driver and passenger, a Kinematic-Based Observer is designed to estimate the vehicle’s side-slip based on measured values. To collect real-time data, a dSPACE MicroAutobox was installed on the solar vehicle. The results show the effect of the observer and controllers under different vehicle speeds and load conditions. Finally, closed-loop simulation results are presented to support the findings from the open-loop testing.
Design and Optimization of External Rotor Consequent Pole Permanent Magnet Motor with Low Iron Loss and Low Torque Ripple
Authors: Guo Liyan , Yu Hubin , Wang Huimin
Published: May 2024

To reduce the iron loss and torque ripple of an external rotor consequent pole (ERCP) motor used in an electric vehicle air-conditioning compressor, the magnetic pole structure of the motor was improved, and an unequal piecewise consequent pole (CP) structure was designed. The performance of the motor is optimized by reducing the harmonic content in the air gap flux density and reducing the iron saturation degree of the motor. The designed CP structure can significantly reduce the iron loss and torque ripple of the motor. Based on the Taguchi method, the optimal size parameters of the unequal piecewise CP structure are determined, and the final optimization design scheme is obtained. The results of finite element simulation and high-precision iron loss model show the following: compared with the original motor, the iron loss and torque ripple of the motor with the final optimized design scheme are significantly reduced.
Study on the Emission of Connected Autonomous Vehicle Considering the Control of Electronic Throttle Opening
Authors: Kang Yirong , Tian Chuan
Published: May 2024

Aiming at the networked cruise control scenario of CAV (connected autonomous vehicle) queue, we propose a new networked cruise control strategy for CAV by introducing the average information of ET (electronic throttle) opening of the downstream vehicle group as a feedback signal. By performing linear stability analysis on the new model, we derive its linear stability conditions. Further, we design exhaustive numerical simulation experiments aiming to systematically investigate the effect of the multi-vehicle ahead electronic throttle opening average feedback signal on CAV traffic stability, fuel consumption, and key emission factors, such as CO, HC, and NOx, during the cruise control process. The results show that the feedback signal can not only significantly improve the operational stability of the CAV traffic flow but also significantly improve its fuel consumption and the emission levels of CO, HC, and NOx. When the number of CAV vehicles in the feedback signal is set to three, the levels of CO, HC, and NOx emissions as well as fuel consumption in the road system can reach a stable and optimized state.
Membrane Reactors in Photocatalytic Processes
Authors: Bélafi-Bakó Katalin , Tóth Gábor
Published: May 2024

Photocatalytic membrane reactors are integrated systems where the photocatalytic process and separation by a membrane occur simultaneously. This simultaneous arrangement has been found to be more effective than traditional methods. In this mini review, the membrane techniques applied as well as their features, behavior and operation in addition to some of the applications of PMRs are presented.
Building capacity and promoting health through online volunteering
Authors: Upvall Michele , Vu Lisa , Trang Ho Thi Thuy , Pinner April
Published: May 2024

Purpose
Significant changes to in-person volunteering were necessary during the COVID-19 pandemic. Health Volunteers Overseas (HVO) responded to the pandemic by developing an online education platform and pivoting to online volunteering. This qualitative study explores the dynamics of online volunteering and provides visibility to this novel trend in the training of health professionals in resource-scarce countries.
Methodology/approach
Barriers and facilitators, actual and potential outcomes, and recommendations for online volunteering were addressed through a comparative case study approach focusing on three HVO global projects: physical therapy in Rwanda and Ghana, oral health in Nepal, and anesthesiology—a multi-country collaboration between Bhutan, Cambodia, and Laos.
Findings
A total of 15 participants, including project directors, host country representatives, and teaching volunteers, were interviewed online. Three themes emerged through the online interviews with HVO volunteers, project directors, and host country directors: Creating Space, the Future is Hybrid, and Geographical Expansion.
Research implications
Online volunteering provides a new opportunity for volunteers to expand their networks, learn new skills, and meet the needs of the host country participants. There is also an opportunity to expand projects beyond national boundaries, but logistical, cultural, and linguistic challenges must be considered.
Practical implications
Online volunteering is a feasible approach for building teaching and research capacity globally, and volunteer agencies should consider a hybrid model combining online volunteering with in-person volunteering.
Originality
Online volunteering provides support to meet the needs of both volunteers and in-country program participants.
Limitations
This study focused on the volunteer, project director, and host coordinator experience and not on the learner. More research is needed to investigate how online and in-person dynamics coalesce.