bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Review of Ambient Air Pollution as a Risk Factor for Posterior Segment Ocular Diseases
Authors: Markeviciute Agne , Huang-Lung Jessie , Zemaitiene Reda , Grzybowski Andrzej
Published: June 2023

Purpose. To review the most recent evidence on the association of ambient air pollution with posterior segment ocular diseases. Methods. A search of the most recently published medical literature was performed in PubMed and Google Scholar on 10 December 2022. Articles published between 2018 and December 2022 were included in this rapid review. Studies that evaluated the association between ambient air pollutants (nitrogen dioxide (NO2), carbon monoxide (CO), sulfur dioxide (SO2), ozone (O3), particulate matters (PMs), total hydrocarbons (THC), nonmethane hydrocarbons (NMHC), benzene), and ocular posterior segment diseases (glaucoma, age-related macular degeneration (AMD), and retinal vascular diseases) were included. Results. Nineteen research articles met the inclusion criteria. Significant associations were found between PM2.5 and glaucoma, including primary open angle, primary angle closure, and normal tension glaucoma. An increased risk of AMD was linked to increased exposure to PM2.5, NO2, and CO. Single studies suggested that increased exposure to PM2.5 and PM10 is associated with diabetic retinopathy; THC and NMHC increased the risk of retinal vein occlusion; and CO, NO2, and PM10 are linked to an increased risk of central retinal artery occlusion. Conclusions. There is increasing evidence that toxic air pollutants have an impact on posterior segment ocular diseases, hence determining it as a potential modifiable risk factor for visual impairment.
Managing Vulvodynia with Central Sensitization: Challenges and Strategies
Authors: Rubal Cristina , Pereira Augusto , Sastre Laura Calles , Pérez-Cejuela Belén Almoguera , Gámiz Sofía Herrero , Chaves Pilar , Medina Tirso Pérez
Published: June 2023

Background: Vulvodynia is defined as a chronic idiopathic vulvar pain condition. This study aimed to investigate the effect of central sensitization on the prognosis of neuromodulator treatment for vulvodynia. Method: A total of 105 patients with vulvodynia who underwent pelvic mapping pain exploration were included and scored according to the Convergence PP Criteria for pelvic pain and central sensitization. The patients were treated according to chronic pelvic pain guidelines, and their response to treatment was evaluated. Results: A total of 35 out 105 patients (33%) with vulvodynia had central sensitization, which was associated with comorbidities, dyspareunia, pain with micturition, and pain with defecation. Dyspareunia and pain with defecation were independent prognostic factors for central sensitization. Patients with central sensitization experienced more pain during intercourse, urination, or defecation, had more comorbidities, and responded worse to treatment. They required more treatment, with a longer response time (over 2 months). Patients with localized vulvodynia were treated with physiotherapy and lidocaine, while patients with generalized vulvodynia were treated with neuromodulators. Amitriptyline was effective in treating patients with generalized spontaneous vulvodynia and dyspareunia. Conclusions: Overall, this study highlights the importance of considering central sensitization in the diagnosis and treatment of vulvodynia and the need for individualized treatment based on the patient’s symptoms and underlying mechanisms. Vulvodynia patients with central sensitization had more pain during intercourse, urination, or defecation, and responded worse to treatment, requiring more time and medication.
Within-Individual Variation in Cognitive Performance Is Not Noise: Why and How Cognitive Assessments Should Examine Within-Person Performance
Authors: Vaughan Arabella Charlotte , Birney Damian Patrick
Published: June 2023

Despite evidence that it exists, short-term within-individual variability in cognitive performance has largely been ignored as a meaningful component of human cognitive ability. In this article, we build a case for why this within-individual variability should not be viewed as mere measurement error and why it should be construed as a meaningful component of an individual’s cognitive abilities. We argue that in a demanding and rapidly changing modern world, between-individual analysis of single-occasion cognitive test scores does not account for the full range of within-individual cognitive performance variation that is implicated in successful typical cognitive performance. We propose that short-term repeated-measures paradigms (e.g., the experience sampling method (ESM)) be used to develop a process account of why individuals with similar cognitive ability scores differ in their actual performance in typical environments. Finally, we outline considerations for researchers when adapting this paradigm for cognitive assessment and present some initial findings from two studies in our lab that piloted the use of ESM to assess within-individual cognitive performance variation.
Patterns of the Satisfaction and Frustration of Psychological Needs and Their Associations with Adolescent Students’ School Affect, Burnout, and Achievement
Authors: Zhang Linjia , Jiang Yi
Published: June 2023

Based on self-determination theory and adopting a person-oriented approach, we aimed to investigate the latent profiles of adolescent students’ basic psychological needs and their associations with personal characteristics (gender, socioeconomic status) as well as school functioning (school affect, burnout, academic achievement). Latent profile analyses based on a group of 1521 Chinese high school students identified four need profiles: low satisfaction/moderate frustration, high satisfaction/low frustration, average all, and moderate satisfaction/high frustration. Furthermore, there were significant differences in students’ school functioning among the four latent profiles. Specifically, students with moderate to high levels of need frustration were most likely to experience maladaptive school functioning, regardless of their need satisfaction level. Additionally, gender and socioeconomic status were significant predictors of profile membership. The findings of this study can assist educators in gaining a better understanding of the diverse patterns of psychological needs among students and help them to implement targeted interventions.
Robust Adaptive Backstepping Motion Control of Underwater Cable-Driven Parallel Mechanism Using Improved Linear Model Predictive Control
Authors: Zhao Jiafeng , Qin Yuanqin , Hu Chaocheng , Xu Guohua , Xu Kan , Xia Yingkai
Published: June 2023

This paper proposes a novel motion-tracking control methodology for an underwater cable-driven parallel mechanism (CDPM) that achieves calculation of dynamic tension constraint values, tension planning, parameter linearization, and motion tracking. The control objective is divided into three sub-objectives: motion tracking, horizontal displacement suppression, and cable-tension restriction. A linear model predictive control (LMPC) method is designed to plan cable tensions for motion-tracking and displacement suppression. The robust adaptive backstepping controller converts cable tension into winch speed based on the joint-space method and command filtering. Moreover, the X−swapping method is used to linearize and identify the time−varying nonlinear parameters. An essential prerequisite for restricting cable tension is to obtain cable-tension constraint values. A novel dynamic minimum tension control (DMTC) method, based on the equivalent control concept, is proposed for this aim. The DMTC can adaptively obtain the lower cable-tension threshold through the platform posture and motion status, anchor distribution position, and cable integrity status. Compared to traditional fixed tension constraint values, DMTC can more effectively cope with sudden changes in cable tension than fixed tension constraints. Finally, several simulations are carried out to verify the effectiveness and robustness of the proposed approach.
Estimation and Control of a Towed Underwater Vehicle with Active Stationary and Low-Speed Maneuvering Capabilities
Authors: Kim Hyo-Gon , Yun Sung-Jo , Park Jeong-Woo , Lee Hyo-Jun , Hwang Jeong-Hwan , Kim Jong-Chan , Choi Young-Ho , Ryu Jae-Kwan , Suh Jin-Ho
Published: June 2023

A variety of mission equipment is mounted and utilized on UUVs (unmanned underwater vehicles) for the development of marine resources and underwater searching for military purposes. For exploration of a wide area, it is advantageous to use a towed underwater platform, and for precision exploration to a specific location, to use an active mobile ROV (remotely operated vehicles). Since the TUV (towed underwater vehicle) moves according to the speed of the towing vessel, it cannot be operated if the vessel is stationary or the speed is low. Therefore, TUVs do not have equipment that is useful at low speeds, such as optical cameras or forward looking sonars. If a TUV capable of active movement such as stationary or low-speed operation is developed, it can search a wide area and then accurately search for a specific location, with one platform mounting various mission equipment. In this paper, we propose a method for estimating the control model for a prototype of this novel TUV, and propose a depth and posture control algorithm to which the model is applied. The proposed TUV and control algorithm were verified by experiments under the flow rate environment in the circulating water channel.
Optimized APF-ACO Algorithm for Ship Collision Avoidance and Path Planning
Authors: Li Mingze , Li Bing , Qi Zhigang , Li Jiashuai , Wu Jiawei
Published: June 2023

The primary objective of this study is to investigate maritime collision avoidance and trajectory planning in the presence of dynamic and static obstacles during navigation. Adhering to safety regulations is crucial when executing ship collision avoidance tasks. To address this issue, we propose an optimized APF-ACO algorithm for collision avoidance and path planning. First, a ship collision avoidance constraint model is constructed based on COLREGs to enhance the safety and applicability of the algorithm. Then, by introducing factors such as velocity, position, and shape parameters, the traditional APF method is optimized, creating a dynamic APF gradient for collision avoidance decision making in the face of dynamic obstacles. Furthermore, the optimized APF method is integrated with the ant colony optimization algorithm, the latter modified to overcome the inherent local optimality issues in the APF method. Ultimately, validations are conducted in three areas: static avoidance and planning in restricted sea areas, avoidance under conditions of mixed static and dynamic obstacles, and avoidance in situations of multiple ship encounters. These serve to illustrate the feasibility and efficacy of the proposed algorithm in achieving dynamic ship collision avoidance while simultaneously completing path-planning tasks.
Pricing Decisions and Coordination in E-Commerce Supply Chain with Wholesale Price Contract Considering Focus Preferences
Authors: Zhu Xide , Song Yao , Lin Guihua , Xu Weina
Published: June 2023

Decision makers’ behavioral preferences have always been important in coordinating the supply chain. Decision makers need to choose a partner wisely to increase the profitability of the entire supply chain, especially in the competitive e-commerce environment. In this paper, we examine a two-echelon e-commerce supply chain with one retailer and one supplier using the most popular wholesale price contract to facilitate collaboration. Traditional research has shown that the classical expectation model cannot coordinate the supply chain. We apply the focus theory of choice to describe the retailer’s behavior as a follower, and we examine the impact of the retailer’s pricing decisions on the supplier under different focus preferences and the coordination for the entire supply chain. The lower the parameter φ, which represents the degree of positivity, and the higher the parameter κ, which represents the level of confidence, the closer the profit of the whole supply chain is to the coordination result—both are visualized through numerical experiments and images. In the case of φ determination, the lower the κ, the better the supply chain coordination. The finding implies that the retailer may be able to coordinate the supply chain and produce better results than the expectation model when he or she makes choices using a positive evaluation system that includes both higher levels of optimism and lower levels of confidence. The findings of the FTC model can simultaneously offer a theoretical foundation for expanding collaboration among supply chain participants and management insights for decision makers to choose cooperation partners.
Conceptual Number in Bilingual Agreement Computation: Evidence from German Pseudo-Partitives
Authors: Reifegerste Jana , Garibagaoglu Ayse , Felser Claudia
Published: June 2023

During subject–verb agreement (SVA) computation, the conceptual or notional number of the subject can affect whether speakers choose a singular or a plural verb, potentially overriding the grammatical number of the subject’s head. The influence of notional number has hardly been investigated in bilinguals, however. Most previous research on bilingual agreement computation has focused on agreement errors, and less is known about agreement computation in cases where multiple licit options exist. One such phenomenon is pseudo-partitives (German: eine Tüte Nüsse ‘one bag of nuts’), for which a verb may agree with either the first or the second noun phrase. We present data from 150 L1 speakers of German and Turkish–German early bilinguals who performed a sentence-completion task. While both groups showed awareness of the optionality in agreement, both preferred the first noun phrase as the agreement controller. Interestingly, notional plurality affected bilinguals’ verb choices more than those of L1 speakers, whose responses were influenced by notional plurality only in the most challenging number conflict condition. We suggest that increased cognitive demands during bilingual SVA computation may render bilinguals more susceptible to conceptual effects.
Biophysical Aspects of Neurodegenerative and Neurodevelopmental Disorders Involving Endo-/Lysosomal CLC Cl−/H+ Antiporters
Authors: Coppola Maria Antonietta , Tettey-Matey Abraham , Imbrici Paola , Gavazzo Paola , Liantonio Antonella , Pusch Michael
Published: June 2023

Endosomes and lysosomes are intracellular vesicular organelles with important roles in cell functions such as protein homeostasis, clearance of extracellular material, and autophagy. Endolysosomes are characterized by an acidic luminal pH that is critical for proper function. Five members of the gene family of voltage-gated ChLoride Channels (CLC proteins) are localized to endolysosomal membranes, carrying out anion/proton exchange activity and thereby regulating pH and chloride concentration. Mutations in these vesicular CLCs cause global developmental delay, intellectual disability, various psychiatric conditions, lysosomal storage diseases, and neurodegeneration, resulting in severe pathologies or even death. Currently, there is no cure for any of these diseases. Here, we review the various diseases in which these proteins are involved and discuss the peculiar biophysical properties of the WT transporter and how these properties are altered in specific neurodegenerative and neurodevelopmental disorders.
Protection of Liver Functions and Improvement of Kidney Functions by Twelve Weeks Consumption of Cuban Policosanol (Raydel®) with a Decrease of Glycated Hemoglobin and Blood Pressure from a Randomized, Placebo-Controlled, and Double-Blinded Study with Healthy and Middle-Aged Japanese Participants
Authors: Cho Kyung-Hyun , Kim Ji-Eun , Komatsu Tomohiro , Uehara Yoshinari
Published: June 2023

Policosanol consumption has been associated with treating blood pressure and dyslipidemia by increasing the level of high-density lipoproteins-cholesterol (HDL-C) and HDL functionality. Although policosanol supplementation also ameliorated liver function in animal models, it has not been reported in a human clinical study, particularly with a 20 mg doage of policosanol. In the current study, twelve-week consumption of Cuban policosanol (Raydel®) significantly enhanced the hepatic functions, showing remarkable decreases in hepatic enzymes, blood urea nitrogen, and glycated hemoglobin. From the human trial with Japanese participants, the policosanol group (n = 26, male 13/female 13) showed a remarkable decrease in alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) from baseline up to 21% (p = 0.041) and 8.7% (p = 0.017), respectively. In contrast, the placebo group (n = 26, male 13/female 13) showed almost no change or slight elevation. The policosanol group showed a 16% decrease in γ-glutamyl transferase (γ-GTP) at week 12 from the baseline (p = 0.015), while the placebo group showed a 1.2% increase. The policosanol group exhibited significantly lower serum alkaline phosphatase (ALP) levels at week 8 (p = 0.012), week 12 (p = 0.012), and after 4-weeks (p = 0.006) compared to those of the placebo group. After 12 weeks of policosanol consumption, the ferric ion reduction ability and paraoxonase of serum were elevated by 37% (p < 0.001) and 29% (p = 0.004) higher than week 0, while placebo consumption showed no notable changes. Interestingly, glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) in serum was lowered significantly in the policosanol group 4 weeks after consumption, which was approximately 2.1% (p = 0.004) lower than the placebo group. In addition, blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and uric acid levels were significantly lower in the policosanol group after 4 weeks: 14% lower (p = 0.002) and 4% lower (p = 0.048) than those of the placebo group, respectively. Repeated measures of ANOVA showed that the policosanol group had remarkable decreases in AST (p = 0.041), ALT (p = 0.008), γ-GTP (p = 0.016), ALP (p = 0.003), HbA1c (p = 0.010), BUN (p = 0.030), and SBP (p = 0.011) from the changes in the placebo group in point of time and group interaction. In conclusion, 12 weeks of 20 mg consumption of policosanol significantly enhanced hepatic protection by lowering the serum AST, ALT, ALP, and γ-GTP via a decrease in glycated hemoglobin, uric acid, and BUN with an elevation of serum antioxidant abilities. These results suggest that improvements in blood pressure by consumption of 20 mg of policosanol (Raydel®) were accompanied by protection of liver function and enhanced kidney function.
Clotting Factor Deficiencies as an Underlying Cause of Abnormal Uterine Bleeding in Women of Reproductive Age: A Literature Review
Authors: Livanou Maria Effrosyni , Matsas Alkis , Valsami Serena , Papadimitriou Dimitrios T. , Kontogiannis Athanasios , Christopoulos Panagiotis
Published: June 2023

Clotting Factor deficiencies are rare disorders with variations in clinical presentation and severity of symptoms ranging from asymptomatic to mild to life-threatening bleeding. Thus, they pose a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge, mainly for the primary health care providers, general practitioners, and gynecologists who are more likely to first encounter these patients. An additional diagnostic challenge arises from the variable laboratory presentations, as PT, PTT, and BT are not always affected. The morbidity is higher among women of reproductive age since Abnormal Uterine Bleeding–specifically Heavy Menstrual Bleeding–is one of the most prevalent manifestations of these disorders, and in some cases of severe deficiencies has led to life-threatening episodes of bleeding requiring blood transfusions or even immediate surgical intervention. Physician awareness is important as, in the case of some of these disorders–i.e., Factor XIII deficiency–prophylactic treatment is available and recommended. Although uncommon, the potential for rare bleeding disorders and for hemophilia carrier states should be considered in women with HMB, after more prevalent causes have been excluded. Currently, there is no consensus on the management of women in these instances and it is reliant on the physicians’ knowledge.
Eccentric Rotor Drop Dynamics Study of Vertical Maglev Bearing System
Authors: Pang Xiaoxu , Zhu Dingkang , Qiu Ming , Wang Dongfeng , Wang Xinlong
Published: June 2023

When considering the problem of a vertical magnetic levitation bearing system, the rotor eccentric fall is more likely to cause the failure of the protective bearing. In this paper, a rotor drop collision model and a protective bearing dynamics model are constructed. It compares and analyzes the evolution of collision force values of the rotor eccentric drop as well as the non-eccentric drop. Further, this paper discusses the law of influence of three factors, rotor quality, rotational speed, and axial protection clearance, on the collision characteristics of the protected bearing in eccentric and non-eccentric cases. It has also experimentally verified this characteristic of rotor speed. The results show that compared with the non-eccentric condition, the axial impact force and radial impact forces of the rotor in the eccentric condition increase by 14% and 114%, respectively. Compared with the non-eccentric condition, with the increase in rotor quality, the axial and radial impact force increase by 68% on average, and the axial depth amplitude of the rotor increases by 350%. With the increase of rotor speed, the axial impact force without an eccentric drop is basically unchanged; the axial impact force of an eccentric drop increases slightly, and the radial impact force increases by 110%. With the increase of axial protection clearance, the radial displacement vibration of the rotor axis increases; the average increase of the maximum axial force is 120 N, and the average increase of the maximum radial force is 100%.
Unexpected C–O Bond Cleavage by a Copper–Phosphido Compound
Authors: Dannenberg Steven G. , Waterman Rory
Published: June 2023

Copper methoxide compound IPrCuOMe was unexpectedly formed in a reaction of IPrCuPPh2 with methyl acrylate. The alkoxide product was identified from the reaction mixture spectroscopically and structurally characterized. This C–O bond cleavage reaction likely depends on nucleophilicity of the Cu–P bond of IPrCuPPh2.
Special Issue “Fracture Mechanics and Fatigue Damage of Materials and Structures”
Authors: Lesiuk Grzegorz , Rozumek Dariusz
Published: June 2023

One of the most important aspects of engineering assessment of the technical condition of structures and materials is the ability to assess the fatigue behavior of materials and structures [...]
Structural Evolution of Polyaluminocarbosilane during the Polymer–Ceramic Conversion Process
Authors: Xie Fucheng , Duan Yangpeng , Mo Gaoming , Huang Qing , Huang Zhengren
Published: June 2023

Polyaluminocarbosilane (PACS) is an important precursor for silicon carbide (SiC) fibers and ceramics. The structure of PACS and the oxidative curing, thermal pyrolysis, and sintering effect of Al have already been substantially studied. However, the structural evolution of polyaluminocarbosilane itself during the polymer–ceramic conversion process, especially the changes in the structure forms of Al, are still pending questions. In this study, PACS with a higher Al content is synthesized and the above questions are elaborately investigated by FTIR, NMR, Raman, XPS, XRD, and TEM analyses. It is found that up to 800–900 °C the amorphous SiOxCy, AlOxSiy, and free carbon phases are initially formed. With increasing temperature, the SiOxCy phase partially separates into SiO2 then reacts with free carbon. The AlOxSiy phase changes into Al3C4 and Al2O3 by reaction with free carbon at around 1100 °C. The complicated reactions between Al3C4, Al2O3, and free carbon occur, leading to the formation of the Al4O4C and Al2OC phases at around 1600 °C, which then react with the SiC and free carbon, resulting in the formation of the Al4SiC4 phase at 1800 °C. The amorphous carbon phase grows with the increasing temperature, which then turns into a crystalline graphitic structure at around 1600 °C. The growth of β-SiC is inhibited by the existence of the Al4O4C, Al2OC, and Al4SiC4 phases, which also favor the formation of α-SiC at 1600–1800 °C.
Plate Load Tests of Soft Foundations Reinforced by Soilbags with Solid Wastes for Wind Farms
Authors: Zhang Chenchen , Liao Jie , Zhang Yuchi , Wang Liujiang
Published: June 2023

Soilbags are expandable three-dimensional geosynthetic bags made from high-density polyethylene or polypropylene. This study conducted a series of plate load tests to explore the bearing capacity of soft foundations reinforced by soilbags filled with solid wastes based on an onshore wind farm project in China. The effect of contained material on the bearing capacity of the soilbag-reinforced foundation was investigated during the field tests. The experimental studies indicated that soilbag reinforcement with reused solid wastes could substantially improve the bearing capacity of soft foundations under vertical loading conditions. Solid wastes like excavated soil or brick slag residues were found to be suitable as contained material, and the soilbags with plain soil mixed with brick slag had higher bearing capacity than those with pure plain soil. The earth pressure analysis indicated that stress diffusion occurred through the soilbag layers to reduce the load transferred to the underlying soft soil. The stress diffusion angle of soilbag reinforcement obtained from the tests was approximately 38°. In addition, combining soilbag reinforcement with bottom sludge permeable treatment was an effective foundation reinforcement method, which required fewer soilbag layers due to its relatively high permeability. Furthermore, soilbags are considered sustainable construction materials with advantages such as high construction efficiency, low cost, easy reclamation and environmental friendliness while making full use of local solid wastes.
Conventional and Digital Impressions for Fabrication of Complete Implant-Supported Bars: A Comparative In Vitro Study
Authors: Vieira Samanta N. V. , Lourenço Matheus F. , Pereira Rodrigo C. , França Esdras C. , Vilaça Ênio L. , Silveira Rodrigo R. , Silva Guilherme C.
Published: June 2023

Obtaining accurate models and well-fitting prostheses during the fabrication of complete implant-supported prostheses has been a significant challenge. Conventional impression methods involve multiple clinical and laboratory steps that can lead to distortions, potentially resulting in inaccurate prostheses. In contrast, digital impressions may eliminate some of these steps, leading to better-fitting prostheses. Therefore, it is important to compare conventional and digital impressions for producing implant-supported prostheses. This study aimed to compare the quality of digital intraoral and conventional impressions by measuring the vertical misfit of implant-supported complete bars obtained using both types of techniques. Five digital impressions using an intraoral scanner and five impressions using elastomer were made in a four-implant master model. The plaster models produced with conventional impressions were scanned in a laboratory scanner to obtain virtual models. Screw-retained bars (n = five) were designed on the models and milled in zirconia. The bars fabricated using digital (DI) and conventional (CI) impressions were screwed to the master model, initially with one screw (DI1 and CI1) and later with four screws (DI4 and CI4), and were analyzed under a SEM to measure the misfit. ANOVA was used to compare the results (p < 0.05). There were no statistically significant differences in the misfit between the bars fabricated using digital and conventional impressions when screwed with one (DI1 = 94.45 µm vs. CI1 = 101.90 µm: F = 0.096; p = 0.761) or four screws (DI4 = 59.43 µm vs. CI4 = 75.62 µm: F = 2.655; p = 0.139). Further, there were no differences when the bars were compared within the same group screwed with one or four screws (DI1 = 94.45 µm vs. DI4 = 59.43 µm: F = 2.926; p = 0.123; CI1 = 101.90 µm vs. CI4 = 75.62 µm: F = 0.013; p = 0.907). It was concluded that both impression techniques produced bars with a satisfactory fit, regardless of whether they were screwed with one or four screws.
A Quad-Band and Polarization-Insensitive Metamaterial Absorber with a Low Profile Based on Graphene-Assembled Film
Authors: Jin Shiyi , Zu Haoran , Qian Wei , Luo Kaolin , Xiao Yang , Song Rongguo , Xiong Bo
Published: June 2023

A quad-band metamaterial absorber using a periodically arranged surface structure placed on an ultra-thin substrate is demonstrated in this paper. Its surface structure consists of a rectangular patch and four L-shaped structures distributed symmetrically. The surface structure is able to have strong electromagnetic interactions with incident microwaves, thereby generating four absorption peaks at different frequencies. With the aid of the near-field distributions and impedance matching analysis of the four absorption peaks, the physical mechanism of the quad-band absorption is revealed. The usage of graphene-assembled film (GAF) provides further optimization to increase the four absorption peaks and promotes the low-profile characteristic. In addition, the proposed design has good tolerance to the incident angle in vertical polarization. The proposed absorber in this paper has the potential for filtering, detection, imaging, and other communication applications.
Radionuclides’ Recovery from Seawater Using FIC and FIC A Sorbents
Authors: Bezhin Nikolay A. , Milyutin Vitaliy V. , Kuzmenkova Natalia V. , Shibetskaia Iuliia G. , Kozlovskaia Ol’ga N. , Slizchenko Evgeniy V. , Razina Victoria A. , Tananaev Ivan G.
Published: June 2023

To solve radioecological and oceanological problems (estimate the vertical transport, flows of particulate organic carbon, phosphorus biodynamics, submarine groundwater discharge, etc.), it is necessary to determine the natural values of the radionuclides’ activity in seawater and particulate matter. For the first time, the radionuclides’ sorption from seawater was studied using sorbents based on activated carbon modified with iron(III) ferrocyanide (FIC) and based on activated carbon modified with iron(III) hydroxide (FIC A—activated FIC) obtained by FIC sorbent treatment with sodium hydroxide solution. The possibility of trace amounts of phosphorus, beryllium, and cesium recovery in laboratory conditions has been investigated. Distribution coefficients, dynamic, and total dynamic exchange capacities were determined. The physicochemical regularities (isotherm and kinetics) of sorption have been studied. The results obtained are characterized via Langmuir, Freindlich, and Dubinin–Radushkevich isotherm equations, as well as pseudo-first and pseudo-second-order kinetic models, intraparticle diffusion, and the Elovich model. Under expeditionary conditions, the sorption efficiency of 137Cs using FIC sorbent, 7Be, 32P, and 33P—using FIC A sorbent with a single-column method by adding a stable tracer, as well as the sorption efficiency of radionuclides 210Pb and 234Th with their natural content by FIC A sorbent in a two-column mode from large volumes of seawater was assessed. High values of efficiency of their recovery by the studied sorbents were achieved.
Study on the Performance and Mechanism of Cement Solidified Desulfurization Manganese Residue
Authors: Wang Shicheng , Wang Fang , Che Jialing , Ma Lihua
Published: June 2023

Desulfurized manganese residue (DMR) is an industrial solid residue produced by high-temperature and high-pressure desulfurization calcination of electrolytic manganese residue (EMR). DMR not only occupies land resources but also easily causes heavy metal pollution in soil, surface water, and groundwater. Therefore, it is necessary to treat the DMR safely and effectively so that it can be used as a resource. In this paper, Ordinary Portland cement (P.O 42.5) was used as a curing agent to treat DMR harmlessly. The effects of cement content and DMR particle size on flexural strength, compressive strength, and leaching toxicity of a cement-DMR solidified body were studied. The phase composition and microscopic morphology of the solidified body were analyzed by XRD, SEM, and EDS, and the mechanism of cement-DMR solidification was discussed. The results show that the flexural strength and compressive strength of a cement-DMR solidified body can be significantly improved by increasing the cement content to 80 mesh particle size. When the cement content is 30%, the DMR particle size has a great influence on the strength of the solidified body. When the DMR particle size is 4 mesh, the DMR particles will form stress concentration points in the solidified body and reduce its strength. In the DMR leaching solution, the leaching concentration of Mn is 2.8 mg/L, and the solidification rate of Mn in the cement-DMR solidified body with 10% cement content can reach 99.8%. The results of XRD, SEM, and EDS showed that quartz (SiO2) and gypsum dihydrate (CaSO4·2H2O) were the main phases in the raw slag. Quartz and gypsum dihydrate could form ettringite (AFt) in the alkaline environment provided by cement. Mn was finally solidified by MnO2, and Mn could be solidified in C-S-H gel by isomorphic replacement.
Flexural Strength Characteristics of Fiber-Reinforced Cemented Soil
Authors: Pedroso Gabriel Orquizas Mattielo , dos Santos Junior Ricardo Domingos , Lins da Silva Jefferson , Motta Mariana Ferreira Benessiuti , Félix Emerson Felipe
Published: June 2023

This work deals with the flexural performance of a soil-cement for pavement reinforced by polypropylene and steel fibers, and the main purpose is to evaluate the effect of different curing times. In this sense, three different curing times were employed to investigate the influence of fibers on the material’s behavior at varying levels of strength and stiffness as the matrix became increasingly rigid. An experimental program was developed to analyze the effects of incorporating different fibers in a cemented matrix for pavement applications. Polypropylene and steel fibers were used at 0.5/1.0/1.5% fractions by volume for three different curing times (3/7/28 days) to assess the fiber effect in the cemented soil (CS) matrices throughout time. An evaluation of the material performance was carried out using the 4-Point Flexural Test. The results show that steel fibers with 1.0% content improved by approximately 20% in terms of initial strength and peak strength at small deflections without interfering the flexural static modulus of the material. The polypropylene fiber mixtures had better performance in terms of ductility index reaching values varying from 50 to 120, an increase of approximately 40% in residual strength, and improved cracking control at large deflections. The current study shows that fibers significantly affect the mechanical performance of CSF. Thus, the overall performance presented in this study is useful for selecting the most suitable fiber type corresponding to the different mechanisms as a function of curing time.
Three-Layered Thin Films for Simultaneous Infrared Camouflage and Radiative Cooling
Authors: Zhang Luyu , Zhang Wenjie , Liu Yuanbin , Liu Linhua
Published: June 2023

With the rapid advancements in aerospace technology and infrared detection technology, there are increasing needs for materials with simultaneous infrared camouflage and radiative cooling capabilities. In this study, a three-layered Ge/Ag/Si thin film structure on a titanium alloy TC4 substrate (a widely used skin material for spacecraft) is designed and optimized to achieve such spectral compatibility by combining the transfer matrix method and the genetic algorithm. The structure exhibits a low average emissivity of 0.11 in the atmospheric windows of 3–5 μm and 8–14 μm for infrared camouflage and a high average emissivity of 0.69 in 5–8 μm for radiative cooling. Furthermore, the designed metasurface shows a high degree of robustness regarding the polarization and incidence angle of the incoming electromagnetic wave. The underlying mechanisms allowing for the spectral compatibility of the metasurface can be elucidated as follows: the top Ge layer selectively transmits electromagnetic waves ranging from 5–8 μm while it reflects those in the ranges of 3–5 μm and 8–14 μm. The transmitted electromagnetic waves from the Ge layer are first absorbed by the Ag layer and then localized in the Fabry-Perot resonance cavity formed by Ag layer, Si layer and TC4 substrate. Ag and TC4 make further intrinsic absorptions during the multiple reflections of the localized electromagnetic waves.
Evaluation of Physical–Chemical Properties of Contemporary CAD/CAM Materials with Chromatic Transition “Multicolor”
Authors: Lukomska-Szymanska Monika , Radwanski Mateusz , Kharouf Naji , Mancino Davide , Tassery Herve , Caporossi Corrado , Inchingolo Francesco , de Almeida Neves Aline , Chou Yu , Sauro Salvatore
Published: June 2023

The use of materials for computer-aided design/computer-aided manufacturing (CAD/CAM) has been rapidly increasing in daily practice. However, one of the main issues regarding modern CAD/CAM materials is their aging in the oral environment, which may lead to significant changes in their overall properties. The aim of this study was to compare the flexural strength, water sorption, cross-link density (softening ratio%), surface roughness, and SEM analysis of three modern CAD/CAM “multicolor” composites. Grandio (Grandio disc multicolor—VOCO GmbH, Cuxhaven, Germany), Shofu (Shofu Block HC—Shofu Inc., Kyoto, Japan), and Vita (Vita Enamic multiColor—Vita Zahnfabrik, Bad Sackingen, Germany) were tested in this study. They were prepared in stick-shaped specimens and submitted to different tests after several aging protocols, such as thermocycling and mechanical cycle loading challenge. Further disc-shaped specimens were also created and tested for water sorption, cross-link density, surface roughness, and SEM ultramorphology, before and after storage in an ethanol-based solution. For flexural strength and ultimate tensile strength, Grandio showed the greatest values both at baseline and after aging (p < 0.05). Grandio and Vita Enamic presented the highest modulus of elasticity and the lowest water sorption (p < 0.05). A significant reduction (p < 0.05) in microhardness after ethanol storage (softening ratio%) was observed especially in Shofu. Grandio had the lowest roughness parameters compared to the other tested CAD/CAM materials, while ethanol storage significantly increased the Ra and RSm values in Shofu (p < 0.05). Despite the comparable modulus of elasticity of Vita and Grandio, this latter showed greater flexural strength and ultimate tensile strength both at baseline and after aging. Hence, Grandio and Vita Enamic may be employed for the anterior teeth and for those restorations requiring load-bearing capacity. Conversely, aging seems to affect several properties of Shofu, so its use for permanent restorations should be well-pondered based on the clinical situation.
Neuro-Cognitive Locomotion with Dynamic Attention on Topological Structure
Authors: Saputra Azhar Aulia , Botzheim János , Kubota Naoyuki
Published: June 2023

This paper discusses a mechanism for integrating locomotion with cognition in robots. We demonstrate an attentional ability model that can dynamically change the focus of its perceptual area by integrating attention and perception to generate behavior. The proposed model considers both internal sensory information and also external sensory information. We also propose affordance detection that identifies different actions depending on the robot’s immediate possibilities. Attention is represented in a topological structure generated by a growing neural gas that uses 3D point-cloud data. When the robot faces an obstacle, the topological map density increases in the suspected obstacle area. From here, affordance information is processed directly into the behavior pattern generator, which comprises interconnections between motor and internal sensory neurons. The attention model increases the density associated with the suspected obstacle to produce a detailed representation of the obstacle. Then, the robot processes the cognitive information to enact a short-term adaptation to its locomotion by changing its swing pattern or movement plan. To test the effectiveness of the proposed model, it is implemented in a computer simulation and also in a medium-sized, four-legged robot. The experiments validate the advantages in three categories: (1) Development of attention model using topological structure, (2) Integration between attention and affordance in moving behavior, (3) Integration of exteroceptive sensory information to lower-level control of locomotion generator.
Degradation-Sensitive Control Algorithm Based on Phase Optimization for Interleaved DC–DC Converters
Authors: Jeong Jaeyoon , Kwak Sangshin , Choi Seungdeog
Published: June 2023

As the use of interleaved DC–DC converters in electric vehicles (EVs) increases, research on reliability improvement is required. In the case of interleaved DC–DC converters, degradation occurs between transistors and capacitors. In particular, transistor degradation imbalances cause an increase in output capacitor RMS current, which increases power loss and accelerates capacitor degradation. This degradation affects system reliability by increasing thermal stress. In this paper, based on a degraded 2-leg interleaved DC–DC boost converter, research to reduce the converter’s output capacitor RMS current was conducted. The output capacitor RMS current according to the transistor degradation imbalance was analyzed. As a result, it was confirmed that the transistor degradation imbalance causes an increase in the capacitor RMS current. To address this issue, a phase optimization algorithm for reducing increased capacitor RMS current is presented in this paper. Next, the phase optimization algorithm is mathematically analyzed. Finally, its efficacy is proved through simulations and experiments.
Mobile Robot Navigation Based on Embedded Computer Vision
Authors: Marroquín Alberto , Garcia Gonzalo , Fabregas Ernesto , Aranda-Escolástico Ernesto , Farias Gonzalo
Published: June 2023

The current computational advance allows the development of technological solutions using tools, such as mobile robots and programmable electronic systems. We present a design that integrates the Khepera IV mobile robot with an NVIDIA Jetson Xavier NX board. This system executes an algorithm for navigation control based on computer vision and the use of a model for object detection. Among the functionalities that this integration adds to the Khepera IV in generating guided driving are trajectory tracking for safe navigation and the detection of traffic signs for decision-making. We built a robotic platform to test the system in real time. We also compared it with a digital model of the Khepera IV in the CoppeliaSim simulator. The navigation control results show significant improvements over previous works. This is evident in both the maximum navigation speed and the hit rate of the traffic sign detection system. We also analyzed the navigation control, which achieved an average success rate of 93%. The architecture allows testing new control techniques or algorithms based on Python, facilitating future improvements.
Bifurcation of Limit Cycles and Center in 3D Cubic Systems with Z3-Equivariant Symmetry
Authors: Huang Ting , Gu Jieping , Ouyang Yuting , Huang Wentao
Published: June 2023

This paper focuses on investigating the bifurcation of limit cycles and centers within a specific class of three-dimensional cubic systems possessing Z3-equivariant symmetry. By calculating the singular point values of the systems, we obtain a necessary condition for a singular point to be a center. Subsequently, the Darboux integral method is employed to demonstrate that this condition is also sufficient. Additionally, we demonstrate that the system can bifurcate 15 small amplitude limit cycles with a distribution pattern of 5−5−5 originating from the singular points after proper perturbation. This finding represents a novel contribution to the understanding of the number of limit cycles present in three-dimensional cubic systems with Z3-equivariant symmetry.
Ordinal Time Series Analysis with the R Package otsfeatures
Authors: López-Oriona Ángel , Vilar José A.
Published: June 2023

The 21st century has witnessed a growing interest in the analysis of time series data. While most of the literature on the topic deals with real-valued time series, ordinal time series have typically received much less attention. However, the development of specific analytical tools for the latter objects has substantially increased in recent years. The R package otsfeatures attempts to provide a set of simple functions for analyzing ordinal time series. In particular, several commands allowing the extraction of well-known statistical features and the execution of inferential tasks are available for the user. The output of several functions can be employed to perform traditional machine learning tasks including clustering, classification, or outlier detection. otsfeatures also incorporates two datasets of financial time series which were used in the literature for clustering purposes, as well as three interesting synthetic databases. The main properties of the package are described and its use is illustrated through several examples. Researchers from a broad variety of disciplines could benefit from the powerful tools provided by otsfeatures.
Solving Nonlinear Transcendental Equations by Iterative Methods with Conformable Derivatives: A General Approach
Authors: Candelario Giro , Cordero Alicia , Torregrosa Juan R. , Vassileva María P.
Published: June 2023

In recent years, some Newton-type schemes with noninteger derivatives have been proposed for solving nonlinear transcendental equations by using fractional derivatives (Caputo and Riemann–Liouville) and conformable derivatives. It has also been shown that the methods with conformable derivatives improve the performance of classical schemes. In this manuscript, we design point-to-point higher-order conformable Newton-type and multipoint procedures for solving nonlinear equations and propose a general technique to deduce the conformable version of any classical iterative method with integer derivatives. A convergence analysis is given and the expected orders of convergence are obtained. As far as we know, these are the first optimal conformable schemes, beyond the conformable Newton procedure, that have been developed. The numerical results support the theory and show that the new schemes improve the performance of the original methods in some aspects. Additionally, the dependence on initial guesses is analyzed, and these schemes show good stability properties.
Stabilization of n-Order Function Differential Equations by Parametric Distributed Control Function with Palindromic Parameters Set
Authors: Volinsky Irina , Shklyar Roman
Published: June 2023

Stabilization by a parametric distributed control function plays a very important role in aeronautics, aerospace and physics. Choosing the right parameters is necessary for handling the distributed control. In the current paper, we introduce stabilization criteria for an n-order functional-differential equation with a parametric distributed control function in n-term integrals and 2n parameter sets. In our article, we use properties of unimodal and log-concave polynomials.