bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Design and Evaluation of an Integrated Autonomous Control Method for Automobile Terminals
Authors: Görges Michael , Freitag Michael
Published: October 2022

Background: Automobile terminals play a key role in global finished car supply chains. Due to their connecting character between manufacturers on the one side and distributers on the other side, they are continuously faced with volatile demand fluctuations and unforeseen dynamic events, which cannot be handled adequately by existing planning methods. Autonomous control concepts already showed promising results coping with such dynamics. Methods: This paper describes the causes of dynamics and the terminal systems’ inherent shortcomings in dealing with such dynamics. On this basis, it derives terminal’s demand for novel planning approaches and presents a new integrated autonomous control method for automobile terminals. This novel autonomous control approach combines yard and berth assignments. This paper evaluates the performance of the new approach in a small comprehensive generic scenario. It compares classical planning approaches with the new autonomous control approach, by using a discrete event simulation model. Moreover, it analyses all relevant parameters of the new approach in a full factorial experiment design. In a second step this paper proves the applicability of the combined autonomous control approach to real-world terminals. It presents a simulation model of a real-world terminal and compares the new method with the existing terminal planning approaches. Results: This paper will show that the autonomous control approach is capable of outperforming existing centralized planning methods. In the generic and in the real-world case the new combined method leads to the best logistic target achievement. Conclusions: The new approach is highly suitable to automobile terminal systems and helps to overcome existing shortcomings. Especially in highly dynamic and complex settings, autonomous control performs better than conventional yard planning approaches.
Improved In Vitro and In Vivo Corrosion Resistance of Mg and Mg Alloys by Plasma Ion Implantation and Deposition Techniques—A Mini-Review
Authors: Jamesh MOHAMMED-IBRAHIM
Published: October 2022

Enhanced in vitro corrosion resistance, cytocompatibility, in vitro antibacterial activities, in vivo antibacterial activities, in vivo corrosion resistance and in vivo stimulation of bone formation on plasma-modified biodegradable Mg and its alloys are reviewed, where the plasma modification includes plasma ion implantation (PII), plasma immersion ion implantation (PIII), or plasma immersion ion implantation and deposition (PIII&D) techniques. PII, PIII, and PIII&D are useful surface modification techniques, which can alter the surface properties of the biomaterials while preventing the bulk properties, which is much desirable factor especially for Mg based biomaterials. At first, this paper reviews the improved corrosion resistance by the formation of protective passive surface layer containing Zr-O, Zr-N, N, Si, Al-O, Zn-Al, Cr-O, Ti-O, Ti-N, Fe, Y, Sr, P, Pr, Ce, Nd, Hf, Ta, or C on Mg or its alloys using PII, PIII, or PIII&D techniques. Then, this paper reviews the improved biological properties such as cytocompatibility, in vitro antibacterial activities, and in vivo antibacterial activities on plasma-modified Mg or its alloys. Finally, this paper reviews the improved in vivo corrosion resistance and in vivo stimulation of bone formation on plasma modified Mg alloys. This review suggests that PII, PIII, and PIII&D techniques are effective techniques to improve the in vitro and in vivo corrosion resistance of Mg and its alloys for the development of degradable bio-implants.
Implications of the Use of Biodiesel on the Longevity and Operation of Particle Filters
Authors: Kamp Carl Justin , Bagi Sujay Dilip
Published: October 2022

While biodiesel is one of many necessary steps forward in a cleaner transportation future, alkali metal residuals, including Na and K (in the form of oxides, sulfates, hydroxides, and carbonates) originating from fuel production catalysts were found to be detrimental to emissions control components. Na + K and Ca + Mg (also biodiesel production byproducts) are regulated by ASTM-D6751 standards (American Society for Testing and Materials) to be less than 5 ppm for B100; however, the literature gives examples of physical and chemical degradation of automotive emissions catalysts and their substrates with these Na and K residuals. The purpose of this study is to investigate the impacts of ash from Na-doped biodiesel fuel (B20) on a diesel particulate filter (DPF). Investigations found that the Na-ash accumulated in the DPF has several unique properties which help to fundamentally explain some of the interactions and impacts of biodiesel on the particle filter. The biodiesel-related Na-ash was found to (1) have a significantly lower melting temperature than typical ash from inorganic lubricant additives and Ultra Low Sulfur Diesel (ULSD) fuel resulting in ash particles sintered to the DPF catalyst/substrate, (2) have a primary particle size which is about an order of magnitude larger than typical ash, (3) produce a larger amount of ash resulting in significantly thick wall ash layers and (4) penetrate the DPF substrate about 3× deeper than typical ULSD and lubricant-related ash. This study utilizes numerous characterization techniques to investigate the interactions between biodiesel-related ash and a DPF, ranging from visualization to composition to thermal analysis methods. The findings suggest the need for tighter control of the thermal environment in the DPF when using biodiesel, additional/improved DPF cleaning efforts, and avoidance of unregulated biodiesel with high Na/K levels.
Thermal–Optical Evaluation of an Optimized Trough Solar Concentrator for an Advanced Solar-Tracking Application Using Shape Memory Alloy
Authors: Hariri Nasir Ghazi , Nayel Kamal Mohamed , Alyoubi Emad Khalid , Almadani Ibrahim Khalil , Osman Ibrahim Sufian , Al-Qahtani Badr Ahmed
Published: October 2022

One of the modern methods for enhancing the efficiency of photovoltaic (PV) systems is implementing a solar tracking mechanism in order to redirect PV modules toward the sun throughout the day. However, the use of solar trackers increases the system’s electrical consumption, hindering its net generated energy. In this study, a novel self-tracking solar-driven PV system is proposed. The smart solar-driven thermomechanical actuator takes advantage of a solar heat collector (SHC) device, in the form of a parabolic trough solar concentrator (PTC), and smart shape memory alloy (SMA) to produce effective mechanical energy for solar tracking applications from sun rays. Furthermore, a thermal–optical analysis is presented to evaluate the performance of the solar concentrator for the simulated weather condition of Dammam City, Saudi Arabia. The numerical results of the thermal and optical analyses show the promising feasibility of the proposed system in which SMA springs with an activation temperature between 31.09 °C and 45.15 °C can be utilized for the self-tracking operations. The work presented adds to the body of knowledge an advanced SMA-based SHC device for solar-based self-actuation systems, which enables further expansions within modern and advanced solar thermal applications.
Particle Size Inversion Constrained by L∞ Norm for Dynamic Light Scattering
Authors: Zhang Gaoge , Wang Zongzheng , Wang Yajing , Shen Jin , Liu Wei , Fu Xiaojun , Li Changzhi
Published: October 2022

Particle size inversion of dynamic light scattering (DLS) is a typically ill-posed problem. Regularization is an effective method to solve the problem. The regularization involves imposing constraints on the fitted autocorrelation function data by adding a norm. The classical regularization inversion for DLS data is constrained by the L2 norm. In the optimization equation, the norm determines the smoothness and stability of the inversion result, affecting the inversion accuracy. In this paper, the Lp norm regularization model is constructed. When p is 1, 2, 10, 50, 100, 1000, and ∞, respectively, the influence of their norm models on the inversion results of data with different noise levels is studied. The results prove that overall, the inversion distribution errors show a downward trend with the increase of p. When p is larger than 10, there is no significant difference in distribution error. Compared with L2, L∞ can provide better performance for unimodal particles with strong noise, although this does not occur in weak noise cases. Meanwhile, L∞ has lower sensitivity to noise and better peak resolution, and its inverse particle size distribution is closer to the true distribution for bimodal particles. Thus, L∞ is more suitable for the inversion of DLS data.
Effect of Laser Welding Parameters on Joint Structure of AZ31B Magnesium Alloy and 304 Stainless Steel
Authors: Wu Zhe , Wan Jiaqi , Zhang Yang , Xue Bo , Wu Ruizhi , Yang Chunmei
Published: October 2022

The effects of laser welding parameters on the interface microstructure of AZ31B magnesium alloy and 304 stainless steel were investigated. After welding, a scanning electron microscope and ultra-depth of field microscope were used to observe the microstructure of the welded material, to analyze the effects of power on the interface morphology. The simulation of laser welding of magnesium and steel was carried out by the COMSOL software. The results showed that when the power was 15 W–20 W, the temperature did not reach the melting point of magnesium alloy, there was MgO at the welding, and the interface had poor connection strength. When the power was 35 W–50 W, the temperature reached or even exceeded the boiling point of magnesium alloy, and the interface formed hot cracks, pores, and oxides and had poor joint strength. When the power was 25 W–30 W, the temperature was between the melting point and boiling point of magnesium, and the interface had excellent connection strength.
Hardox 450 Weld in Microstructural and Mechanical Approaches after Welding at Micro-Jet Cooling
Authors: Silva Abílio P. , Węgrzyn Tomasz , Szymczak Tadeusz , Szczucka-Lasota Bożena , Łazarz Bogusław
Published: October 2022

The demand for high-strength steel welds, as observed in civil and transport engineering, is related to a mass reduction in vehicles. Container-type trucks are examples of this kind of transport means because their boxes are able to be produced using Hardox grade steels. Therefore, this study reflects on the properties of welds in the MAG welding of Hardox 450, obtained through an innovative micro-jet cooling process with helium. This joining technology aims to reduce the formation of defects and to obtain a joint with very good assumed mechanical properties. Structural components of grade steel require welds with acceptable mechanical parameters with respect to operational loading conditions. That is, this study focuses on selecting welding parameters for the Hardox 450 steel and determining the weld quality with respect to microstructural observations and mechanical tests, such as the Charpy, tensile and fatigue tests. Weld fracturing under increasing monotonic force was examined and was strongly related to both stress components, i.e., axial and shear. The joint response under fatigue was expressed through differences in the fracture zones, i.e., at a stress value lower than the proportional limit, and weld degradation occurred in the shear and axial stress components. The data indicate that the hourglass specimen, with the weld in the centre zone of the measurement section, can be directly used to determine a weld response under cyclic loading. The impact test results showed attractive behaviour in the tested joint, as represented by 47 J at −20 °C. The recommended MAG welding parameters for Hardox 450 steel are low-oxygen when using an Ar + 18% CO2 shielding mixture. The collected results can be directly used as a guide to weld thin-walled structures (6 mm) made of Hardox grade steel, while the data from mechanical tests can support the modelling, designing and manufacturing of components made from this kind of steel grade.
Homogenous Cr and C Doped 3D Self-Supporting NiO Cellular Nanospheres for Hydrogen Evolution Reaction
Authors: Tan Zhaojun , Li Chuanbin , Wang Lijun , Kang Mingjie , Wang Wen , Tang Mingqi , Li Gang , Feng Zaiqiang , Yan Zhenwei
Published: October 2022

Hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) is one promising technique to obtain high-purity hydrogen, therefore, exploiting inexpensive and high-efficiency HER electrocatalysts is a matter of cardinal significance under the background of achieving carbon neutrality. In this paper, a hydrothermal method was used to prepare the Cr-NiC2O4/NF (Ni foam) precursor. Then, the NiO-Cr-C/NF self-supporting HER catalyst was obtained by heating the precursor at 400 °C. The catalyst presents a 3D cellular nanospheres structure which was composed of 2D nanosheets. Microstructure characterization shows that Cr and C elements were successfully doped into NiO. The results of electrochemical measurements and density functional theory (DFT) calculations show that under the synergy of Cr and C, the conductivity of NiO was improved, and the Gibbs free energy of H* (∆GH*) value is optimized. As a result, in 1.0 M KOH solution the NiO-Cr-C/NF-3 (Ni:Cr = 7:3) HER catalyst exhibits an overpotential of 69 mV and a Tafel slope of 45 mV/dec when the current density is 10 mA·cm−2. Besides, after 20 h of chronopotentiometry, the catalytic activity is basically unchanged. It is demonstrated that C and Cr co-doping on the lattice of NiO prepared by a simple hydrothermal method and subsequent heat treatment to improve the catalytic activity and stability of the non-precious metal HER catalysts in an alkaline medium is facile and efficient.
Assessment of Waste Marble Powder on the Mechanical Properties of High-Strength Concrete and Evaluation of Its Shear Strength
Authors: El-Mandouh Mahmoud A. , Hu Jong-Wan , Mohamed Ayman S. , Abd El-Maula Ahmed S.
Published: October 2022

Currently, the costs of building materials, especially cement, are increasing. Waste marble powder (WMP) could be used as a cement replacement material to produce environmentally friendly concrete to help preserve resources and reduce environmental pollution. The study’s goals are (1) to evaluate the effects of using marble powder in place of cement in high-strength concrete (HSC) on the material’s mechanical properties and durability characteristics. (2) The study is expanded to assess the effect of using partial WMP on the shear behavior of HSC beams under static loads. Eight half-scale simply supported reinforced beams with and without WMP have been tested. Each beam’s cross-section was 120 × 200 mm, and each beam had a total length of 1000 mm. The ratios of the used WMP were 0%, 2.5%, 5%, 7.5% by weight, and two different stirrup ratios, 0% and 0.47%, were used. When applied to HSC beams with and without WMP, the shear strength provisions of two of the most used codes, such as the locally used Egyptian Code (ECP 207) and the internationally used American Concrete Institute’s (ACI-2019), were examined. Using the ABAQUS software, the experimental results were compared to the findings of the nonlinear finite element analysis. The results established that partial replacement of cement by WMP led to increases in the concrete’s compressive and tensile strengths of about 15% and 16%, respectively. When tested specimens were exposed to acid attack, there were slight losses in weight and compressive strength (1.25% to 2.47%) for both with and without the addition of WMP. Both the concrete with and without WMP showed the same level of water absorption. Additionally, WMP led to an enhancement in the shear capacities for all beams. Increasing the WMP ratio from 0% to 2.5%, 5%, and 7.5% increased the shear capacity by about 13%, 20%, and 28%, respectively, for beams without stirrups, while for beams with stirrups, the shear capacity improved by 12%, 19%, and 25%, respectively. The enhancement in the beams’ shear capacities could be attributed to the advanced concrete matrix produced by WMP’s extremely small particle size.
The Release of Pollutants through the Bleeding of Cemented Phosphogypsum Backfill: Link to Protocols for Slurry Preparation
Authors: Min Chendi , Shi Ying , Zhou Yanan , Liu Zhixiang
Published: October 2022

The present study investigated the effects of protocols for slurry preparation on the release of pollutants into bleeding water from cemented phosphogypsum (PG) backfill. Backfill slurry was prepared using four different protocols in which different parameters varied, including binder/PG ratio, solid concentration, binder type and mixing procedure. The concentrations of phosphate, fluoride and sulfate and the pH values of the obtained bleeding water were measured. The results demonstrated that the slurry preparation protocols affected the quantities of pollutants through the concentrations of pollutants in bleeding water and the bleeding rate. On the one hand, the binder/PG ratio was the key factor influencing the concentrations of all pollutants in bleeding water. Comparatively speaking, the binder type and mixing procedure had an obvious influence on the fluoride concentration but had little influence on the phosphate and sulfate concentrations in the bleeding water. On the other hand, the protocols for slurry preparation affected the bleeding rate by determining the water retention and water content of the backfill slurry. The most effective protocol for slurry preparation for cemented PG backfill could reduce the bleeding rate and enhance the immobilization of pollutants, minimizing the phosphate concentration in bleeding water to below 0.2 mg/L. However, it appeared that the fluoride concentration was still tens of milligrams per liter (over the limit of 10 ten milligrams per liter), to which attention should be paid.
A Review on the Incorporation of Diatomaceous Earth as a Geopolymer-Based Concrete Building Resource
Authors: Kipsanai Janet J. , Wambua Paul M. , Namango Saul S. , Amziane Sofiane
Published: October 2022

The development of geopolymer building composites at a lower cost with a smaller carbon footprint may lessen the growing concerns about global warming brought on by emissions of a critical greenhouse gas (CO2) paired with the high production costs in the cement sector. Diatomaceous earth, commonly used as an admixture or partial replacement of cement owing to its most effective pozzolanic properties, has been investigated as a precursor in geopolymer concrete development. Several studies have been examined to develop a greater understanding of its characterization, inclusion status, and impacts on the performance aspects of concrete. The literature review showed that using diatomaceous earth is one of the effective ways to create sustainable, insulating, lightweight building materials while minimizing the harmful economic and environmental effects of industrial solid wastes. However, since most studies have focused on its integration as a partial cement substitute or a replacement for fine aggregate, further research on diatomaceous earth-based clinker-free concrete is required. A lack of research on geopolymer concrete’s reinforcement with either natural or synthetic fibers, or a combination of the two, was also discovered. This review also showed that there has been remarkably little effort made towards theoretical property correlation modeling for predicting concrete performance. It is anticipated that the detailed overview presented herein will guide potential researchers in defining their future paths in the study area.
Recyclable Materials for Ecofriendly Technology
Authors: Fediuk Roman , Ali Mujahid
Published: October 2022

This Special Issue (SI), “Recyclable Materials for Ecofriendly Technology”, has been proposed and organized as a means to present recent developments in the field of environmentally friendly designed construction and building materials. For this purpose, dozens of articles were included or considered for inclusion in this SI, covering various aspects of the topic. A comparison of these articles with other modern articles on this topic is carried out, which proves the prospects and relevance of this SI. Furthermore, per the editorial board’s journal suggestion, the second volume of this successful SI is being organized, in which authors from various countries and organizations are invited to publish their new and unpublished research work.
Nanoaggregates of Biphilic Carboxyl-Containing Copolymers as Carriers for Ionically Bound Doxorubicin
Authors: Artyukhov Alexander A. , Nechaeva Anna M. , Shtilman Mikhail I. , Chistyakov Evgeniy M. , Svistunova Alina Yu. , Bagrov Dmitry V. , Kuskov Andrey N. , Docea Anca O. , Tsatsakis Aristides M. , Gurevich Leonid , Mezhuev Yaroslav O.
Published: October 2022

Application of nanocarriers for drug delivery brings numerous advantages, allowing both minimization of side effects common in systemic drug delivery and improvement in targeting, which has made it the focal point of nanoscience for a number of years. While most of the studies are focused on encapsulation of hydrophobic drugs, delivery of hydrophilic compounds is typically performed via covalent attachment, which often requires chemical modification of the drug and limits the release kinetics. In this paper, we report synthesis of biphilic copolymers of various compositions capable of self-assembly in water with the formation of nanoparticles and suitable for ionic binding of the common anticancer drug doxorubicin. The copolymers are synthesized by radical copolymerization of N-vinyl-2-pyrrolidone and acrylic acid using n-octadecyl-mercaptan as a chain transfer agent. With an increase of the carboxyl group’s share in the chain, the role of the electrostatic stabilization factor of the nanoparticles increased as well as the ability of doxorubicin as an ion binder. A mathematical description of the kinetics of doxorubicin binding and release is given and thermodynamic functions for the equilibrium ionic binding of doxorubicin are calculated.
Calculation and Analysis of Temperature Damage of Shimantan Concrete Gravity Dam Based on Macro–Meso Model
Authors: Jiao Yantao , Cheng Liping , Wang Ning , Wang Sizhe , Ma Luyao
Published: October 2022

Considering that ANSYS software will automatically quit or the computer will freeze when generating random aggregate models of concrete by using some existing methods that are based on the ANSYS parametric design language (APDL), a new method of random aggregate placement using the ESEL command in APDL and the rotation of the local coordinate system is proposed in this paper. According to this method, a multiscale macroscopic and mesoscopic finite element model of the No. 9 non-overflow dam section of Shimantan dam is constructed. In addition, considering that most of the damage models adopted by the existing mesoscale simulation of concrete damage and fracture cannot take into account the interaction between aggregates, interfacial transition zone (ITZ), and mortar, an improved anisotropic temperature damage model is proposed in this paper. The aggregate placement simulation results show that the method presented in this paper can quickly generate two-dimensional (2D) random concrete aggregates, and the generation of three-dimensional (3D) aggregates can also be completed in a very short time, which can greatly improve the aggregate generation efficiency. Moreover, the aggregate shape generated by this method is very close to the real concrete aggregate shape. The crack propagation simulation results show that the sudden rise and fall of temperature can cause damage in the mortar and ITZ of concrete inside the dam body, which is the main reason for the generation of macroscopic through-cracks in the No. 9 non-overflow dam section of Shimantan dam during the operation period. Finally, it can be learned from the results that the method presented in this paper is reasonable and feasible, and can be extended to the crack propagation simulation of some other concrete gravity and arch dams.
Experimental Investigation on the Use of a PEI Foam as Core Material for the In-Situ Production of Thermoplastic Sandwich Structures Using Laser-Based Thermoplastic Automated Fiber Placement
Authors: Denkena Berend , Schmidt Carsten , Schmitt Christopher , Kaczemirzk Maximilian
Published: October 2022

Laser-based thermoplastic automated fiber placement (TAFP) is nowadays mainly used to produce pure carbon fiber-reinforced plastic (CFRP) structures. This paper investigates the feasibility of a novel application: The deposition of thermoplastic prepreg tapes onto a thermoplastic foam for the production of thermoplastic sandwich structures. Therefore, simple deposition experiments of thermoplastic PEEK/CF prepreg tapes on a PEI closed-cell foam were carried out. 3D surface profile measurements and peel tests according to DIN EN 28510-1 standard were used to investigate the joining area and bonding quality. The results show that a cohesive bond is formed between the deposited tapes and the foam core, however the foam structure in the area of the deposited tapes deforms in dependence of the process parameters, and increasingly with higher deposition temperatures. Due to the deformations that occur during tape deposition, the thermomechanical foam behavior under the TAFP process conditions was investigated in more detail in a subsequent study for an extensive parameter space using a simple experimental setup. Results show that for suitable process parameters, namely a short contact time and a high temperature, the foam deformation can be minimized with the simultaneous formation of a thin melting layer required for cohesive bonding. The inner foam core structure remains unaffected.
High-Cycle Fatigue Behavior and Corresponding Microscale Deformation Mechanisms of Metastable Ti55511 Alloy with A Basket-Weave Microstructure
Authors: Luo Hengjun , Yuan Wuhua , Xiang Wei , Deng Hao , Yin Hui , Chen Longqing , Cao Sheng
Published: October 2022

High-cycle fatigue (HCF) is a critical property of metastable β Ti alloys in aerospace applications. In this work, the HCF behavior and corresponding microscale deformation mechanisms of a metastable Ti-5Al-5Mo-5V-1Cr-1Fe (Ti55511) alloy with a basket-weave structure were investigated. HCF and its deformation mechanisms of a Ti55511 alloy were systematically studied in the deformed condition by using a scanning electron microscope (SEM), a transmission electron microscope (TEM), and electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD). It was found that the Ti55511 alloy exhibited an excellent HCF strength (107 cycles, Kt = 1, R = 0.06) of 738 MPa. The fractographic investigation demonstrated that fatigue striations and secondary cracks were the main features in the crack initiation zone. Dislocation analyses indicated that the HCF deformation of the basket-weave microstructure was mainly affected by the dislocation slipping of the primary α (αp) phase. In addition, the dislocation pile-up at the αp/βtrans interface led to crack initiation. EBSD analyses indicated that the prismatic  type slip system of the αp phase was preferentially activated during the HCF deformation process of the Ti55511 alloy, followed by the basal  type and pyramid  type systems.
Antibacterial Activity of Copper Particles Embedded in Knitted Fabrics
Authors: Ivanauskas Remigijus , Bronusiene Asta , Ivanauskas Algimantas , Šarkinas Antanas , Ancutiene Ingrida
Published: October 2022

The composition and antibacterial properties of copper particles synthesized by a very simple reduction method were studied. For the preparation of particles in knitted fabrics, copper(II) sulfate was used as a precursor and ascorbic acid as a reducing natural agent. X-ray diffraction analysis showed the crystalline nature of the obtained particles. The round or oval particles and their agglomerates in knitted fabrics consisted of copper with traces of copper(I) oxide—cuprite. The element maps and energy dispersive X-ray spectra showed a high content of copper in the samples. The samples of wool and cotton knitted fabrics with copper particles had excellent antibacterial activity against gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) and gram-negative Escherichia coli (E. coli) bacterial strains. The maximum zones of inhibition were 19.3 mm for S. aureus and 18.3 mm for E. coli using wool knitted fabric and 14.7 mm and 15.3 mm using cotton knitted fabric, respectively. The obtained results showed that the modified wool and cotton fabrics are suitable for use as inserts in reusable masks due to their noticeable and long-term activity against pathogenic bacteria.
Continuous Variable Quantum Secret Sharing with Security Enhancement in Practical Quantum Communications
Authors: Mao Yun , Zhu Yiwu , Wang Yijun , Guo Ying
Published: October 2022

Quantum communications can be conveniently implemented by two participants, but quantum secret key sharing (QSS) through multi-participant communication seems difficult in practice. In this paper, we propose a multi-participant QSS scheme with the local local oscillator (LLO) in continuous variable (CV) quantum communications. It allows an honest participant called a dealer to share a secret key with the others, making it possible to establish a secret key if and only if all participants gather together. The LLO scheme, which eliminates the need for the local oscillator (LO) to be propagated in insecure channels, can be used to avoid the potential LO attack in the traditional CVQSS scheme. Numerical simulation shows that the performance of the LLO-based CVQSS can be improved in terms of the maximal transmission distance even if it is performed with the partially trusted noise.
Infinite Turing Bifurcations in Chains of Van der Pol Systems
Authors: Kashchenko Sergey
Published: October 2022

A chain of coupled systems of Van der Pol equations is considered. We study the local dynamics of this chain in the vicinity of the zero equilibrium state. We make a transition to the system with a continuous spatial variable assuming that the number of elements in the chain is large enough. The critical cases corresponding to the Turing bifurcations are identified. It is shown that they have infinite dimension. Special nonlinear parabolic equations are proposed on the basis of the asymptotic algorithm. Their nonlocal dynamics describes the local behavior of solutions to the original system. In a number of cases, normalized parabolic equations with two spatial variables arise while considering the most important diffusion type couplings. It has been established, for example, that for the considered systems with a large number of elements, the dynamics change significantly with a slight change in the number of such elements.
On Subsampling Procedures for Support Vector Machines
Authors: Bárcenas Roberto , Gonzalez-Lima Maria , Ortega Joaquin , Quiroz Adolfo
Published: October 2022

Herein, theoretical results are presented to provide insights into the effectiveness of subsampling methods in reducing the amount of instances required in the training stage when applying support vector machines (SVMs) for classification in big data scenarios. Our main theorem states that under some conditions, there exists, with high probability, a feasible solution to the SVM problem for a randomly chosen training subsample, with the corresponding classifier as close as desired (in terms of classification error) to the classifier obtained from training with the complete dataset. The main theorem also reflects the curse of dimensionalityin that the assumptions made for the results are much more restrictive in large dimensions; thus, subsampling methods will perform better in lower dimensions. Additionally, we propose an importance sampling and bagging subsampling method that expands the nearest-neighbors ideas presented in previous work. Using different benchmark examples, the method proposed herein presents a faster solution to the SVM problem (without significant loss in accuracy) compared with the available state-of-the-art techniques.
An Improved Optimization Algorithm for Aeronautical Maintenance and Repair Task Scheduling Problem
Authors: Li Changjiu , Zhang Yong , Su Xichao , Wang Xinwei
Published: October 2022

The maintenance of carrier-based aircraft is a critical factor restricting the availability of aircraft fleets and their capacity to sortie and operate. In this study, an aeronautical maintenance and repair task scheduling problem for carrier-based aircraft fleets in hangar bays is investigated to improve the maintenance efficiency of aircraft carrier hangar bays. First, the operational process of scheduling aeronautical maintenance tasks is systematically analyzed. Based on maintenance resource constraints and actual maintenance task requirements, a wave availability index and load balance index for the maintenance personnel are proposed for optimization. An aeronautical maintenance task scheduling model is formulated for carrier-based aircraft fleets. Second, model abstraction is performed to simulate a multi-skill resource-constrained project scheduling problem, and an improved teaching-learning-based optimization algorithm is proposed. The algorithm utilizes a serial scheduling generation scheme based on resource constraint advancement. Finally, the feasibility and effectiveness of the modeling and algorithm are verified by using simulation cases and algorithm comparisons. The improved teaching-learning-based optimization algorithm exhibits improved solution stability and optimization performance. This method provides theoretical support for deterministic aeronautical maintenance scheduling planning and reduces the burden associated with manual scheduling and planning.
Another Case of Degenerated Discrete Chenciner Dynamic System and Economics
Authors: Lugojan Sorin , Ciurdariu Loredana , Grecu Eugenia
Published: October 2022

The non-degenerate Chenciner bifurcation of a discrete dynamical system is studied using a transformation of parameters which must be regular at the origin of the parameters (the condition CH.1 of the well-known treatise of Kuznetsov). The article studies a complementary case, where the transformation is no longer regular at the origin, representing a degeneration. Four different bifurcation diagrams appear in that degenerated case, compared to only two in the non-degenerated one. Degeneracy may cause volatility in economics systems modeled by discrete Chenciner dynamical systems.
Effects of Random Environmental Perturbation on the Dynamics of a Nutrient–Phytoplankton–Zooplankton Model with Nutrient Recycling
Authors: Chen Lifan , Yu Xingwang , Yuan Sanling
Published: October 2022

A stochastic nutrient–phytoplankton–zooplankton model with instantaneous nutrient recycling is proposed and analyzed in this paper. When the nutrient uptake function and the grazing function are linear and the ingested phytoplankton is completely absorbed by the zooplankton, we establish two stochastic thresholds R0S and R1S, which completely determine the persistence and extinction of the plankton. That is, if R0S<1, both the phytoplankton and the zooplankton eventually are eliminated; if R0S>1 and R1S<1, the phytoplankton is persistent in mean but the zooplankton is extinct; while for R1S>1, the entire system is persistent in mean. Furthermore, sufficient criteria for the existence of ergodic stationary distribution of the model are obtained and the persistent levels of the plankton are estimated. Numeric simulations are carried out to illustrate the theoretical results and to conclude our study. Our results suggest that environmental noise may cause the local bloom of phytoplankton, which surprisingly can be used to explain the formation of algal blooms to some extent. Moreover, we find that the nonlinear nutrient uptake function and grazing function may take credit for the periodic succession of blooms regardless of whether they are in the absence or presence of the environmental noises.
Fuzzy Strong Nash Equilibria in Generalized Fuzzy Games with Application in Urban Public-Sports Services
Authors: Huang Tieying , Liu Jiuqiang
Published: October 2022

In this paper, we apply the existence of solutions of the Ky Fan minimax inequality to establish the existence of fuzzy strong Nash equilibria in generalized fuzzy games and strong Nash equilibria in fuzzy coalition generalized games. We then show some applications of our existence results about the strong Nash equilibrium in urban public-sports services.
Correction: Haque et al. Marine Natural Products in Clinical Use. Mar. Drugs 2022, 20, 528
Authors: Haque Neshatul , Parveen Sana , Tang Tingting , Wei Jiaen , Huang Zunnan
Published: October 2022

The authors would like to make corrections to a recently published paper [...]
Towards the Development of Microbial Ecotoxicology Testing Using Chlorpyrifos Contaminated Sediments and Marine Yeast Isolates as a Model
Authors: Echeverri-Jaramillo Gustavo , Jaramillo-Colorado Beatriz , Junca Howard , Consuegra-Mayor Claudia
Published: October 2022

Chlorpyrifos (CP), a widely used pesticide, and its metabolite 3,5,6-trichloro-2-pyridinol (3,5,6-TCP), are xenobiotic compounds detected in many biomes, notably in marine sediments, all over the world. These compounds are posing a serious environmental and health problem given their toxicity to wildlife and possible exposure effects to human neurodevelopment. Microorganisms at CP-impacted environments could harbor metabolic capabilities that can be used as indicators of the biological effects of the contaminant and could encode selected functions reactive against contaminants. Those features could be used for microbial ecotoxicology applications by collectively using analytical, enzymatic, microbiological and toxicological techniques in order to assess the biological effects of pollutants and other environmental/climatic stressors in ecosystems. The objective of this study was to assess the variability in the metabolic responses of yeast isolates from CP-contaminated marine sediments as potential biological indicators for microbial ecotoxicology testing. Sediment samples from a South Caribbean tropical shore (Cartagena Bay, Colombia) were collected, and deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) was recovered from lyophilized aliquots. The DGGE (Denaturing Gradient Gel Electrophoresis) technique targeting fungal Internal Transcribed Spacer (ITS) showed the great diversity of fungal types. Simultaneously, yeast strains were isolated from the freshly collected sediment samples. Physiological characterization including API 20C and antibiosis tests, growth patterns at salt concentrations (2/4/10/25%), temperatures (4/25/37/45 °C), esterase activity assay and resistance tests to CP/TCP toxicity resulted in 10 isolated yeast strains, identified as Candida spp. (6), Cryptococcus spp. (3). and Rhodotorula spp. (1), showing promising characteristics to be used as a test for yeast-based ecotoxicity indicators. The patterns of carbohydrate assimilation, low antibiosis, presence of esterases/lipases, growth in a wide range of temperatures and salt concentrations, and tolerance to minimal inhibitory concentrations of CP and TCP are factors useful for testing environmental samples.
Deformation Termination of the Kanggur Ductile Shear Zone in Eastern Tianshan, NW China: Insights from U-Pb Dating of Zircon and Apatite
Authors: Li Ping , Liang Ting , Zhao Tong-Yang , Feng Yong-Gang , Chen Gang , Zhu Zhi-Xin
Published: October 2022

The Kanggur ductile shear zone (KDSZ), located in the south margin of the Central Asia Orogenic Belt (CAOB), plays a critical role in the tectonic evolution and mineralization in eastern Tianshan. Although different isotopic chronologies have been reported, the termination of the KDSZ deformation remains controversial. Here, we provide new data obtained by U-Pb dating of zircon and apatite from Huangshandong synkinematic granite (HSG) and Huludong deformed granite (HDG) to constrain the termination of the KDSZ deformation. The U-Pb age of apatite from HSG (249.1 ± 1.8 Ma) is identical to that of zircon (256.5 ± 2.1 Ma) within the error range. In contrast, the U-Pb age of apatite from HDG (248.1 ± 4.0 Ma) is significantly younger than that of zircon (347.3 ± 2.5 Ma). The HDG and HDG have the geochemical characteristics of I-type granites petrogenesis, including high SiO2 (up to 75.47%), high alkaline (K2O + Na2O = 6.39%–8.05%), low FeOT/MgO (2.4–3.4), and peraluminous (A/CNK = 1.01–1.08). Combined with previous Sr-Nd isotope compositions, the positive zircon εHf(t) values and TDM2 ages indicate that the ca. 347 Ma HDG originated from the re-melting of juvenile crust crustal-derived magma in a volcanic arc environment during the northward subduction of the Kanggur oceanic basin, and the ca. 257 Ma HSG originated from the partial melting of thickened juvenile crust in a post-collisional environment. Although trace elements of zircon show typical magmatic characteristics, apatite does not. With the presence of distinct major and trace elements in apatite, the apatite from HSG is characterized by high Mn (>2500 ppm), slight enrichment in the middle rare earth elements (MREEs), and obvious negative Eu anomalies (δEu = 0.09–0.21), indicating that it is related to magmatic apatite. In contrast, the apatite from HDG, with low Mn (<860 ppm), depleted light rare earth elements (LREEs), and variable Eu anomalies (δEu = 0.30–1.34), demonstrated fluid metasomatism with metamorphic overprinting. Combined with the regional geology and published geochronology data, the HSG is interpreted to be derived from the magma experiencing cooling crystallization in the plastic state from 256.5 to 249.1 Ma, while the HDG is considered to have experienced metamorphism and deformation between 347.3 and 248.1 Ma. Owing to the relatively low closure temperature of the U-Pb isotopic system, the apatite U-Pb ages are interpreted as Early Triassic tectono-magmatism events, corresponding to the end of deformation of the KDSZ. This is inferred to be related to the continuous evolution of the Paleo-Asian Ocean in the Late Permian to Early Triassic.
The Use of Photodynamic Therapy in the Treatment of Brain Tumors—A Review of the Literature
Authors: Bartusik-Aebisher Dorota , Żołyniak Aleksandra , Barnaś Edyta , Machorowska-Pieniążek Agnieszka , Oleś Piotr , Kawczyk-Krupka Aleksandra , Aebisher David
Published: October 2022

The treatment of neoplastic disease of the brain is still a challenge for modern medicine. Therefore, advanced methodologies are needed that can rationally and successfully contribute to the early diagnosis of primary and metastatic tumors growing within the brain. Photodynamic therapy (PDT) seems to be a valuable method of treatment for precancerous and cancerous lesions including brain tumors. The main advantage of PDT is its high efficiency, minimal invasiveness and no serious side effects, compared with chemotherapy and radiotherapy. This review was conducted through a comprehensive search of articles, scientific information databases and the websites of organizations dealing with cancer treatment. Key points from clinical trials conducted by other researchers are also discussed. The common databases such as PubMed, Google Scholar, EBSCO, Scopus, and Elsevier were used. Articles in the English language of reliable credibility were mainly analyzed. The type of publications considered included clinical and preclinical studies, systematic reviews, and case reports. Based on these collected materials, we see that scientists have already demonstrated the potential of PDT application in the field of brain tumors. Therefore, in this review, the treatment of neoplasm of the Central Nervous System (CNS) and the most common tumor, glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), have been explored. In addition, an overview of the general principles of PDT, as well as the mechanism of action of the therapy as a therapeutic platform for brain tumors, is described. The research was carried out in June 2022.
Development of Biotechnological Photosensitizers for Photodynamic Therapy: Cancer Research and Treatment—From Benchtop to Clinical Practice
Authors: Aires-Fernandes Mariza , Botelho Costa Ramon , Rochetti do Amaral Stéphanie , Mussagy Cassamo Ussemane , Santos-Ebinuma Valéria C. , Primo Fernando Lucas
Published: October 2022

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a noninvasive therapeutic approach that has been applied in studies for the treatment of various diseases. In this context, PDT has been suggested as a new therapy or adjuvant therapy to traditional cancer therapy. The mode of action of PDT consists of the generation of singlet oxygen (¹O2) and reactive oxygen species (ROS) through the administration of a compound called photosensitizer (PS), a light source, and molecular oxygen (3O2). This combination generates controlled photochemical reactions (photodynamic mechanisms) that produce ROS, such as singlet oxygen (¹O2), which can induce apoptosis and/or cell death induced by necrosis, degeneration of the tumor vasculature, stimulation of the antitumor immune response, and induction of inflammatory reactions in the illuminated region. However, the traditional compounds used in PDT limit its application. In this context, compounds of biotechnological origin with photosensitizing activity in association with nanotechnology are being used in PDT, aiming at its application in several types of cancer but with less toxicity toward neighboring tissues and better absorption of light for more aggressive types of cancer. In this review, we present studies involving innovatively developed PS that aimed to improve the efficiency of PDT in cancer treatment. Specifically, we focused on the clinical translation and application of PS of natural origin on cancer.
Nardoguaianone L Isolated from Nardostachys jatamansi Improved the Effect of Gemcitabine Chemotherapy via Regulating AGE Signaling Pathway in SW1990 Cells
Authors: Zheng Yi-Dan , Ma Li-Mei , Lu Jin-Jian , Chai Tian , Naghavi Mohammad Reza , Ma Jun-Yi , Sang Chun-Yan , Yang Jun-Li
Published: October 2022

Pancreatic cancer is the seventh leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide and is known as “the king of cancers”. Currently, gemcitabine (GEM) as the clinical drug of choice for chemotherapy of advanced pancreatic cancer has poor drug sensitivity and ineffective chemotherapy. Nardoguaianone L (G-6) is a novel guaiane-type sesquiterpenoid isolated from Nardostachys jatamansi DC., and it exhibits anti-tumor activity. Based on the newly discovered G-6 with anti-pancreatic cancer activity in our laboratory, this paper aimed to evaluate the potential value of the combination of G-6 and GEM in SW1990 cells, including cell viability, cell apoptosis, colony assay and tandem mass tags (TMT) marker-based proteomic technology. These results showed that G-6 combined with GEM significantly inhibited cell viability, and the effect was more obvious than that with single drug. In addition, the use of TMT marker-based proteomic technology demonstrated that the AGE-RAGE signaling pathway was activated after medication-combination. Furthermore, reactive oxygen species (ROS) and mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) assays were used to validate the proteomic results. Finally, apoptosis was detected by flow cytometry. In conclusion, G-6 combined with GEM induced an increase in ROS level and a decrease in MMP in SW1990 cells through the AGE-RAGE signaling pathway, ultimately leading to apoptosis. G-6 improved the effect of GEM chemotherapy and may be used as a potential combination therapy for pancreatic cancer.