bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Review of the Fungi That Degrade Plastic
Authors: Ekanayaka Anusha H. , Tibpromma Saowaluck , Dai Donqin , Xu Ruifang , Suwannarach Nakarin , Stephenson Steven L. , Dao Chengjiao , Karunarathna Samantha C.
Published: July 2022

Plastic has become established over the world as an essential basic need for our daily life. Current global plastic production exceeds 300 million tons annually. Plastics have many characteristics such as low production costs, inertness, relatively low weight, and durability. The primary disadvantage of plastics is their extremely slow natural degradation. The latter results in an accumulation of plastic waste in nature. The amount of plastic waste as of 2015 was 6300 million tons worldwide, and 79% of this was placed in landfills or left in the natural environment. Moreover, recent estimates report that 12,000 million tons of plastic waste will have been accumulated on the earth by 2050. Therefore, it is necessary to develop an effective plastic biodegradation process to accelerate the natural degradation rate of plastics. More than 400 microbes have been identified as capable of plastic degradation. This is the first paper of the series on plastic-degrading fungi. This paper provides a summary of the current global production of plastic and plastic waste accumulation in nature. A list is given of all the plastic-degrading fungi recorded thus far, based on the available literature, and comments are made relating to the major fungal groups. In addition, the phylogenetic relationships of plastic-degrading fungi were analyzed using a combined ITS, LSU, SSU, TEF, RPB1, and RPB2 dataset consisting of 395 strains. Our results confirm that plastic-degrading fungi are found in eleven classes in the fungal phyla Ascomycota (Dothideomycetes, Eurotiomycetes, Leotiomycetes, Saccharomycetes, and Sordariomycetes), Basidiomycota (Agaricomycetes, Microbotryomycetes, Tremellomycetes, Tritirachiomycetes, and Ustilaginomy-cetes), and Mucoromycota (Mucoromycetes). The taxonomic placement of plastic-degrading fungal taxa is briefly discussed. The Eurotiomycetes include the largest number of plastic degraders in the kingdom Fungi. The results presented herein are expected to influence the direction of future research on similar topics in order to find effective plastic-degrading fungi that can eliminate plastic wastes. The next publication of the series on plastic-degrading fungi will be focused on major metabolites, degradation pathways, and enzyme production in plastic degradation by fungi.
Holarctic Species in the Pluteus romellii Clade. Five New Species Described and Old Names Reassessed
Authors: Ševčíková Hana , Malysheva Ekaterina , Ferisin Giuliano , Dovana Francesco , Horak Egon , Kalichman Jacob , Kaygusuz Oğuzhan , Lebeuf Renée , González Guillermo Muñoz , Minnis Andrew M. , Russell Stephen D. , Sochor Michal , Dima Bálint , Antonín Vladimír , Justo Alfredo
Published: July 2022

We studied the taxonomy of Pluteus romellii, and morphologically similar Holarctic species in the/romellii clade of section Celluloderma, using morphological and molecular data (nrITS, TEF1-α). Pluteus romellii is lectotypified and epitypified and accepted as an exclusively Eurasian species. Pluteus lutescens and P. pallescens are considered synonyms of P. romellii. Pluteus fulvibadius is accepted as a related, but separate, North American species. Five species in the/romellii clade are described as new to science: two from North America (P. austrofulvus and P. parvisporus), one from Asia (P. parvicarpus), one from Europe (P. siccus), and one widely distributed across the Holarctic region (P. vellingae). Basidioma size, pileus color, lamellae color, basidiospore size, hymenial cystidia shape and size, habitat and geographical distribution help separate the species described here, but in some instances only molecular data allows for confident identification. The current status of P. californicus, P. melleipes, P. romellii var. luteoalbus, P. splendidus, P. sternbergii and P. sulphureus is discussed.
Identification and Functional Characterization of Adenosine Deaminase in Mucor circinelloides: A Novel Potential Regulator of Nitrogen Utilization and Lipid Biosynthesis
Authors: Li Shaoqi , Yang Junhuan , Mohamed Hassan , Wang Xiuwen , Pang Shuxian , Wu Chen , López-García Sergio , Song Yuanda
Published: July 2022

Adenosine deaminase (ADA) is an enzyme distributed in a wide variety of organisms that cleaves adenosine into inosine. Since inosine plays an important role in nitrogen metabolism, ADA may have a critical function in the regulation of fatty acid synthesis. However, the role of ADA in oleaginous fungi has not been reported so far. Therefore, in this study, we identified one ada gene encoding ADA (with ID scaffold0027.9) in the high lipid-producing fungus, Mucor circinelloides WJ11, and investigated its role in cell growth, lipid production, and nitrogen metabolism by overexpressing and knockout of this gene. The results showed that knockout of the ada altered the efficiency of nitrogen consumption, which led to a 20% increment in the lipid content (25% of cell dry weight) of the engineered strain, while overexpression of the ada showed no significant differences compared with the control strain at the final growth stage; however, interestingly, it increased lipid accumulation at the early growth stage. Additionally, transcriptional analysis was conducted by RT-qPCR and our findings indicated that the deletion of ada activated the committed steps of lipid biosynthesis involved in acetyl-CoA carboxylase (acc1 gene), cytosolic malic acid enzyme (cme1 gene), and fatty acid synthases (fas1 gene), while it suppressed the expression of AMP-activated protein kinase (ampk α1 and ampk β genes), which plays a role in lipolysis, whereas the ada-overexpressed strain displayed reverse trends. Conclusively, this work unraveled a novel role of ADA in governing lipid biosynthesis and nitrogen metabolism in the oleaginous fungus, M. circinelloides.
Fire, Herbivores, and Vegetation Type Shape Soil Biochemistry in Sodic Patches of a Semi-Arid Savanna Ecosystem
Authors: Malongweni Siviwe Odwa , van Tol Johan
Published: July 2022

In the Kruger National Park (KNP), the lower slopes of catenas have open patches referred to as sodic patches. Fire and herbivores are dominant mediators of vegetation in sodic patches. The effect of fire and herbivores on soil properties of sodic patches remains largely understudied. Moreover, the co-existence of trees and grasses and how they influence savanna soils is an important but poorly understood phenomenon in ecology. Therefore, the present study aimed to determine the influence of 20 years of fire, herbivores, vegetation type, and their interaction on soil biochemistry of sodic patches on the Nkuhlu exclosures in the Kruger National Park, South Africa. We found a higher main effect of fire on available phosphorus, cation exchange capacity, and soil organic matter. The presence of herbivores caused an increase in soil exchangeable cations (K+, Ca2+, Na+, and Mg2+), organic matter, cation exchange capacity, and microbial activity. Tree canopies had a higher effect on total nitrogen, exchangeable Ca and Mg, soil organic matter, and cation exchange capacity than open grassland zones. Our results indicate that changes in vegetation structure due to fire and herbivores and their secondary impact on soil properties should be taken into consideration in managing savannas. Moreover, fire and herbivores play an important role in the maintenance of vegetation type (trees and grasses) in sodic patches.
The Protective Effect of Lycium Ruthenicum Murr Anthocyanins in Cr (VI)-Induced Mitophagy in DF-1 Cells
Authors: Guo Shuhua , Qi Mengzhu , Li Hongyan , Cui Yukun , Qi Changxi , Cheng Guodong , Lv Meiyun , Zheng Pimiao , Liu Jianzhu
Published: July 2022

Cr (VI) is an extremely toxic environment and professional pollutant that seriously damages mitochondrial dysfunction when it enters a cell. Anthocyanins possess anti-oxidant, antiaging, and antifatigue properties. The regulatory effect of Lycium ruthenicum Murr anthocyanin (LRMA) on Cr (VI)-induced mitophagy in DF-1 cells was determined. The experimental design was divided into blank group, groups subjected to Cr (VI) and Cr (VI), and LRMA co-treatment groups. Cell viability was determined by the CCK-8 assay. Mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) and reactive oxygen species (ROS) were assessed by flow cytometry and immunofluorescence. Mitophagy was monitored by ELISA and Western blot. Data showed that Cr (VI) caused the overexpression of autophagy-related proteins (LC3, Beclin-1) and reduced the expressions of autophagy protein p62 and TOMM20. Compared with the Cr (VI) group, the LRMA group showed considerably decreased mitochondrial damage and mitophagy. LRMA decreased the mitochondrial protein expression of PINK1 and Parkin’s transfer from the cytoplasm to mitochondria. LRMA may confer protective effects by reducing PINK1/Parkin-mediated mitophagy in Cr (VI)-induced DF-1 cell models.
Organ-Specific Differentiation of Human Adipose-Derived Stem Cells in Various Organs of Xenotransplanted Rats: A Pilot Study
Authors: Park Jung Ho , Choi Yeon Ju , Kang So Young , Ju Hyunjeong , Min Kyueng-Whan , Kim Nan Young , Park Ha Young , Kim Eun Soo , Kwon Mi Jung , Suh Yong Joon
Published: July 2022

Adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs) are potential therapeutics considering their self-renewal capacity and ability to differentiate into all somatic cell types in vitro. The ideal ADSC-based therapy is a direct injection into the relevant organs. The objective of this study was to investigate the viability and safety of intra-organ human ADSC (h-ADSC) xenotransplants in vivo. Subcutaneous adipose tissue from the abdominal area of 10 patients was sampled. h-ADSCs were isolated from adipose tissue samples and identified using immunofluorescence antibodies. Multi-differentiation potential assays for adipocytes, osteocytes, and chondrocytes were performed. Cultured h-ADSCs at passage 4 were transplanted into multiple organs of 17 rats, including the skin, subcutaneous layer, liver, kidney, pancreas, and spleen. The h-ADSC-injected organs excised after 100 days were examined, and the survival of h-ADSCs was measured by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) using specific human and rat target genes. h-ADSCs confirmed by stem cell phenotyping were induced to differentiate into adipogenic, osteogenic, and chondrogenic lineages in vitro. All rats were healthy and exhibited no side effects during the study; the transplanted h-ADSCs did not cause inflammation and were indiscernible from the native organ cells. The presence of transplanted h-ADSCs was confirmed using qRT-PCR. However, the engrafted survival rates varied as follows: subcutaneous fat (70.6%), followed by the liver (52.9%), pancreas (50.0%), kidney (29.4%), skin (29.4%), and spleen (12.5%). h-ADSCs were successfully transplanted into a rat model, with different survival rates depending on the organ.
Artificial Scaffolds in Cardiac Tissue Engineering
Authors: Roacho-Pérez Jorge A. , Garza-Treviño Elsa N. , Moncada-Saucedo Nidia K. , Carriquiry-Chequer Pablo A. , Valencia-Gómez Laura E. , Matthews Elizabeth Renee , Gómez-Flores Víctor , Simental-Mendía Mario , Delgado-Gonzalez Paulina , Delgado-Gallegos Juan Luis , Padilla-Rivas Gerardo R. , Islas Jose Francisco
Published: July 2022

Cardiovascular diseases are a leading cause of death worldwide. Current treatments directed at heart repair have several disadvantages, such as a lack of donors for heart transplantation or non-bioactive inert materials for replacing damaged tissue. Because of the natural lack of regeneration of cardiomyocytes, new treatment strategies involve stimulating heart tissue regeneration. The basic three elements of cardiac tissue engineering (cells, growth factors, and scaffolds) are described in this review, with a highlight on the role of artificial scaffolds. Scaffolds for cardiac tissue engineering are tridimensional porous structures that imitate the extracellular heart matrix, with the ability to promote cell adhesion, migration, differentiation, and proliferation. In the heart, there is an important requirement to provide scaffold cellular attachment, but scaffolds also need to permit mechanical contractility and electrical conductivity. For researchers working in cardiac tissue engineering, there is an important need to choose an adequate artificial scaffold biofabrication technique, as well as the ideal biocompatible biodegradable biomaterial for scaffold construction. Finally, there are many suitable options for researchers to obtain scaffolds that promote cell–electrical interactions and tissue repair, reaching the goal of cardiac tissue engineering.
Validation of Experimental and Finite Element Biomechanical Evaluation of Human Cadaveric Mandibles
Authors: Ingawale Shirish M. , Krishnan Deepak G. , Goswami Tarun
Published: July 2022

Background: Biomechanical analysis of human mandible is important not only to understand mechanical behavior and structural properties, but also to diagnose and develop treatment options for mandibular disorders. Therefore, the objective of this research was to generate analytical and experimental data on mandibles, construct custom 3D models, and compare the analytically derived maximum strains with strain gage data in five areas of interest for each mandible. Methods: We investigated the surface strains in the cadaveric human mandibles under different configurations of cyclic compressive loads in an experimental setting and compared these experimental strain data with results derived from computational finite element analysis (FEA), accurately replicating the experiments. Strains on the surface of each mandible were measured with strain gauges, and subsequently a subject-specific finite element (FE) volume mesh was generated from computed tomography (CT) scans of each mandible. Strain patterns of each mandible were derived from the FEA simulating the experimental setup and matched with the experimental data. Findings: Analysis of experimental data showed that strain as measured at the condylar locations was significantly different from those at other locations on the mandible, and that the sex and age of the subject did not have a significant correlation with the strain. Comparing the FE numerical predictions with the experimental data, we found a good statistical correlation and statistical agreement between in-vitro measurements and FE results. Interpretation: The study demonstrates that our methodology of generating subject-specific FE models is a valid and accurate, non-invasive method to evaluate the complex biomechanical behavior of human mandibles.
Prediction of Remaining Service Life of Rolling Bearings Based on Convolutional and Bidirectional Long- and Short-Term Memory Neural Networks
Authors: Zhong Zhidan , Zhao Yao , Yang Aoyu , Zhang Haobo , Zhang Zhihui
Published: July 2022

Predicting the remaining useful life (RUL) of a bearing can prevent sudden downtime of rotating machinery, thereby improving economic efficiency and protecting human safety. Two important steps in RUL prediction are the construction of a health indicator (HI) and the prediction of life. Traditional methods simply use the time-series characteristics of the vibration signal, for example, using root mean square (RMS) as HI, but this HI does not reflect the true degradation of the bearing. Meanwhile, existing prediction models often cannot consider both the time and space characteristics of the signal, thus limiting prediction accuracy. To address the above problems, in this study, wavelet packet transform (DWPT) and kernel principal component analysis (KPCA) were combined to extract HI from the original vibration signal. Then, a CNN-BiLSTM (convolutional and bidirectional long- and short-term memory) prediction network with root mean square as input and HI as output was constructed by combining convolutional neural network (CNN) and bi-directional long- and short-term memory neural network (BiLSTM). The network improved prediction accuracy by considering the temporal and spatial characteristics of the input signal. Experimental results on the PHM2012 dataset showed that the method proposed in this paper outperformed existing methods.
In Situ Measurement of the Strain Field at the Fatigue Crack Tip Based on Sub-Image Stitching and Matching DIC
Authors: Lin Zhiyuan , Shang Hongbin , Gao Hongli , Huang Xinwei
Published: July 2022

Studying the in situ measurement and evolution of the strain field at the crack tip during fatigue crack growth (FCG) is of great significance for understanding the fracture characteristics of materials and predicting fatigue life. Herein, a new method is proposed for the in-situ measurement of the strain field at the fatigue crack tip based on microscopic digital image correlation (DIC). The method proposed solves the problem of the existing in situ strain field measurement method being unable to dynamically track the crack tip and take the crack tip image due to the limitation of the field of view of the microscopic camera. A macroscopic camera is used to capture the global crack images on one side of the compact tension (CT) specimen. Meanwhile, a microscopic camera is used to track and capture the crack propagation speckle image on the other side of the CT specimen. The proposed method was verified by experiments with Quenching and Partitioning 980 (Q&P980) steel, and the results showed that the method has high accuracy, with the average measurement error being less than 5% and the maximum error being less than 10%. A butterfly shape of the measured strain field and the strain concentration near the crack tip were observed. The success of this method will help to obtain better insight into and understanding of the fracture behavior of metal materials as well as precise prediction of the fatigue life of metal materials.
Gas-Sensing Properties of B/N-Modified SnS2 Monolayer to Greenhouse Gases (NH3, Cl2, and C2H2)
Authors: Zhang Aijuan , Dong Aijuan , Gui Yingang
Published: July 2022

The adsorption capacity of intrinsic SnS2 to NH3, Cl2 and C2H2 is very weak. However, non-metallic elements B and N have strong chemical activity, which can significantly improve the conductivity and gas sensitivity of SnS2. Based on density functional theory, SnS2 was modified with B and N atoms to analyze its adsorption mechanism and gas sensitivity for NH3, Cl2 and C2H2 gases. The optimal structure, adsorption energy, state density and frontier molecular orbital theory are analyzed, and the results are in good agreement with the experimental results. The results show that the adsorption of gas molecules is exothermic and spontaneous. Only the adsorption of NH3 and Cl2 on B-SnS2 belongs to chemical adsorption, whereas other gas adsorption systems belong to physical adsorption. Moderate adsorption distance, large adsorption energy, charge transfer and frontier molecular orbital analysis show that gas adsorption leads to the change of the conductivity of the modified SnS2 system. The adsorption capacity of B-SnS2 to these gases is Cl2 > NH3 > C2H2. The adsorption capacity of N-SnS2 is NH3 > C2H2 > Cl2. Therefore, according to different conductivity changes, B-SnS2 and N-SnS2 materials can be developed for greenhouse gas detection of gas sensors.
Experimental and Statistical Investigation to Evaluate Impact Strength Variability and Reliability of Preplaced Aggregate Concrete Containing Crumped Rubber and Fibres
Authors: Swaminathan Packirisamy , Karthikeyan Kothandapani , Subbaram Siva Ramakrishnan , Sudharsan Jayaraman Sethuraman , Abid Sallal R. , Murali Gunasekaran , Vatin Nikolai Ivanovich
Published: July 2022

The proper disposal of used rubber tires has emerged as a primary concern for the environment all over the globe. Millions of tires are thrown away, buried and discarded every year, posing a major environmental concern owing to their slow decomposition. As a result, it is advantageous to use recycled waste rubber aggregates as an additional building resource. Recycling crushed rubber would lead to a long-term solution to the problem of decreasing natural aggregate resources while conserving the environment. This study examines the impact strength variability and reliability of preplaced aggregate concrete containing crumped rubber and fibres. Ten different mixtures were prepared by replacing natural aggregate with crumped rubber (5, 10, 15 and 20%). The crumped rubber was pretreated by the water with sodium hydroxide dilution for 30 min before usage. Hooked-end steel fibres were used at a dosage of 1.5%. The compressive strength, impact strength, impact ductility index and failure pattern were examined and discussed. In addition, a statistical method called Weibull distribution is used to analyze the scattered experimental results. The results showed that when the crumb rubber content was raised, the retained first cracking and failure impact numbers increased. As a result of substituting crumb rubber for 20% of the coarse aggregate in plain and fibrous mixes, the percentage development in first crack and failure was between 33% and 76% and 75% to 129%, respectively.
Partial Least Squares Regression for Binary Responses and Its Associated Biplot Representation
Authors: Vicente-Gonzalez  Laura , Vicente-Villardon Jose Luis
Published: July 2022

In this paper, we propose a generalization of Partial Least Squares Regression (PLS-R) for a matrix of several binary responses and a a set of numerical predictors. We call the method Partial Least Squares Binary Logistic Regression (PLS-BLR). That is equivalent to a PLS-2 model for binary responses. Biplot and even triplot graphical representations for visualizing PLS-BLR models are described, and an application to real data is presented. Software packages for the calculation of the main results are also provided. We conclude that the proposed method and its visualization using triplots are powerful tools for the interpretation of the relations among predictors and responses.
On the Constrained Solution of RBF Surface Approximation
Authors: Pasioti Anastasia
Published: July 2022

In this contribution, a scattered data approximation problem, chosen from the literature and using the Radial Basis Function (RBF) approach, is considered for the application of point cloud modelling. Three solutions are investigated for the approximation problem. First, a technique known from the literature is investigated using a linear combination of thin-plate splines and linear polynomials, with additional constraint equations. Then, using the same approximation function as before, a technique is developed for a rigorous consideration of the constraint equations. Finally, a technique is presented in which the approximation function consists only of a linear combination of thin-plate splines, without the introduction of linear polynomials and constraint equations. In addition, some interpolation problems with the RBF approach are discussed to present the differences between an interpolation with thin-plate splines only and an interpolation with thin-plate splines together with linear polynomials and constraint equations. Numerical examples are given to illustrate and discuss the solutions from the different techniques.
Image Encryption Algorithm Based on a Novel Wide-Range Discrete Hyperchaotic Map
Authors: Zhong Huiyan , Li Guodong , Xu Xiangliang , Song Xiaoming
Published: July 2022

Existing hyperchaotic systems suffer from a small parameter range and small key space. Therefore, we propose herein a novel wide-range discrete hyperchaotic map(3D-SCC) based on the mathematical model of the Sine map. Dynamic numerical analysis shows that this map has a wide-range of parameters, high sensitive, high sensitivity of sequences and good ergodicity, which proves that the system is well suited to the field of communication encryption. Moreover, this paper proposes an image encryption algorithm based on a dynamic cycle shift scramble algorithm and image-sensitive function. First, the image feature is extracted by the image-sensitive function to input into the chaos map. Then, the plaintext image is decomposed by an integer wavelet, and the low-frequency part is scrambled by a dynamic cyclic shifting algorithm. The shuffled low-frequency part and high-frequency parts are reconstructed by wavelet, and the chaotic matrix image is bitwise XOR with it to obtain the final ciphertext. The experimental results show that the average NPCR is 99.6024%, the average UACI is 33.4630%, and the average local Shannon entropy is 7.9029, indicating that the statistical properties of the ciphertext are closer to the ideal value. The anti-attack test shows that the algorithm can effectively resist cutting attacks and noise attacks. Therefore, the algorithm has great application value in the field of image encryption.
Working Capital Management as Crucial Tool for Corporate Performance in the Transport Sector: A Case Study of Slovakia and the Czech Republic
Authors: Mazanec Jaroslav
Published: July 2022

Working capital management is one of the decisive factors in increasing business performance through the efficient use of current assets such as inventories, receivables, funds, and current liabilities. The primary aim is to identify how working capital management using a wide range of liquidity and activity indicators affects the corporate performance of transport companies broken down by company size into small, medium, large, and very large companies in Slovakia and the Czech Republic using multiple linear regression analysis with achieving competitive R-square as a relevant statistical metric compared to other models from previous research. Our research focuses on a different industry than the traditional production industry. Descriptive statistics show that more than half of the assets are impelled assets in the corporate finances of transport companies. We deal with the impact of working capital management on corporate performance, considering the corporate size. This output delivers specific findings for small, medium, large, and very large businesses separately. All multiple linear regression models for estimating corporate performance are proposed for transport companies in the Czech and Slovak Republics. The results show that liquidity has a negative impact, in contrast to activity indicators except for DPO, on corporate performance in Czech transport companies. On the other hand, Slovak small, medium, and large enterprises must effectively manage free cash and cash equivalents, too. However, activity indicators, except DRO for an aggregated group of large and very large enterprises, also harm business performance. These outputs are beneficial for business management and making relevant decisions to increase business performance, the models identify the strengths and weaknesses of working capital management. In general, this research helps to make specific decisions focused on receivables, inventory management, and cash management as part of working capital management.
An Inverse Problem for a Non-Homogeneous Time-Space Fractional Equation
Authors: El Hamidi Abdallah , Kirane Mokhtar , Tfayli Ali
Published: July 2022

We consider the inverse problem of finding the solution of a generalized time-space fractional equation and the source term knowing the spatial mean of the solution at any times t∈(0,T], as well as the initial and the boundary conditions. The existence and the continuity with respect to the data of the solution for the direct and the inverse problem are proven by Fourier’s method and the Schauder fixed-point theorem in an adequate convex bounded subset. In the published articles on this topic, the incorrect use of the estimates in the generalized Mittag–Leffler functions is commonly performed. This leads to false proofs of the Fourier series’ convergence to recover the equation satisfied by the solution, the initial data or the boundary conditions. In the present work, the correct framework to recover the decay of fractional Fourier coefficients is established; this allows one to recover correctly the initial data, the boundary conditions and the partial differential equations within the space-time domain.
Face Recognition via Compact Second-Order Image Gradient Orientations
Authors: Yin He-Feng , Wu Xiao-Jun , Hu Cong , Song Xiaoning
Published: July 2022

Conventional subspace learning approaches based on image gradient orientations only employ first-order gradient information, which may ignore second-order or higher-order gradient information. Moreover, recent researches on the human vision system (HVS) have uncovered that the neural image is a landscape or a surface whose geometric properties can be captured through second-order gradient information. The second-order image gradient orientations (SOIGO) can mitigate the adverse effect of noise in face images. To reduce the redundancy of SOIGO, we propose compact SOIGO (CSOIGO) by applying linear complex principal component analysis (PCA) in SOIGO. To be more specific, the SOIGO of training data are firstly obtained. Then, linear complex PCA is applied to obtain features of reduced dimensionality. Combined with collaborative-representation-based classification (CRC) algorithm, the classification performance of CSOIGO is further enhanced. CSOIGO is evaluated under real-world disguise, synthesized occlusion, and mixed variations. Under the real disguise scenario, CSOIGO makes 2.67% and 1.09% improvement regarding accuracy when one and two neutral face images per subject are used as training samples, respectively. For the mixed variations, CSOIGO achieves a 0.86% improvement in terms of accuracy. These results indicate that the proposed method is superior to its competing approaches with few training samples, and even outperforms some prevailing deep-neural-network-based approaches.
The Statistical Estimation Averaging Method to Express the Effective Electromagnetic Parameters over a Planar Information Meta-Surface
Authors: Gu Ting-Ting , Cui Tie-Jun
Published: July 2022

The electromagnetic scattering of a meta-surface, formed by a honeycomb substrate or periodical arranged meta-materials, has great meanings to communication technologies. In a conventional treatment to investigate the properties of these interfaces, either a variational approach or series expansions had been applied, instead of estimating the effective permittivity or permeability by the mean value of its spatial discretized statistics due to spatiotemporal fusion. Following this, this study has re-examined the problem by the Statistic Estimation Averaging method (SEAm), through the transferred conditional structural Probability Density Functions (PDFs) to realize the structural determinations by homogenization. The parameters estimated by SEAm, which exploited the concept of a homogenized medium to express properties of a structural complex medium, has been verified of validity and accuracy by comparing with the measured results of a honeycomb structure. The method can be extended to estimate the parameters of an equivalent surface, such as randomly scattering from information metamaterials. As a new wireless communication relay technology, considering that information metamaterials can modulate the electromagnetic characteristics of communication links and wireless channels simultaneously by means of spatiotemporal sequence coding, the study also gives a preliminary proposition on state estimation method of information meta-surface, which would interpret the modulation effect of wireless channels caused by its inhomogeneity of antenna wavefront by statistical estimation average information entropy.
Some Important Points of the Josephson Effect via Two Superconductors in Complex Bases
Authors: Causanilles Fernando S. Vidal , Baskonus Haci Mehmet , Guirao Juan Luis García , Bermúdez Germán Rodríguez
Published: July 2022

In this paper, we study the extraction of some analytical solutions to the nonlinear perturbed sine-Gordon equation with the long Josephson junction properties. The model studied was formed to observe the long Josephson junction properties separated by two superconductors. Moreover, it is also used to explain the Josephson effect arising in the highly nonlinear nature of the Josephson junctions. This provides the shunt inductances to realize a Josephson left-handed transmission line. A powerful scheme is used to extract the complex function solutions. These complex results are used to explain deeper properties of Josephson effects in the frame of impedance. Various simulations of solutions obtained in this paper are also reported.
Insight into Significance of Bioconvection on MHD Tangent Hyperbolic Nanofluid Flow of Irregular Thickness across a Slender Elastic Surface
Authors: Ashraf Muhammad Zeeshan , Rehman Saif Ur , Farid Saadia , Hussein Ahmed Kadhim , Ali Bagh , Shah Nehad Ali , Weera Wajaree
Published: July 2022

This numerical investigation effectively establishes a unique computing exploration for steady magnetohydrodynamic convective streams of tangent hyperbolic nanofluid traveling across a nonlinearly elongating elastic surface with a variable thickness. In addition, the importance of an externally imposed magnetic field of tangent hyperbolic nanofluid is comprehensively analyzed by considering the substantial impact of thermal conductivity and thermal radiation consequences. The governing PDEs (partial differential equations) are transmuted into a nonlinear differential structure of coupled ODEs (ordinary differential equations) using a series of variable similarity transformations. Furthermore, these generated ODEs (ordinary differential equations) are numerically set using a novel revolutionary Runge-Kutta algorithm with a shooting approach constructed in a MATLAB script. In this regard, extensive comparison studies are carried out to validate the acquired numerical results. The interactions between the associated profiles and the relevant parameters are rationally explored and shown using graphs and tabular forms. The velocity distribution declined with improving Weissengberg number We and power-law index m, while the reverse performance can be observed for temperature. As enhancement in Brownian motion, Thermophoretic and radiation parameters significantly rise in temperature distribution. The use of many different technological and industrial systems, including nano-bioconvective systems, nano-droplet evaporation, nano-ink jet printing, and microbial fuel cells, would benefit this research study.
A New Type-3 Fuzzy Logic Approach for Chaotic Systems: Robust Learning Algorithm
Authors: Tian Man-Wen , Yan Shu-Rong , Liu Jinping , Alattas Khalid A. , Mohammadzadeh Ardashir , Vu Mai The
Published: July 2022

The chaotic systems have extensive applications in various branches of engineering problems such as financial problems, image processing, secure communications, and medical problems, among many others. In most applications, a synchronization needs to be made with another favorite chaotic system, or output trajectories track the desired signal. The dynamics of these systems are complicated, they are very sensitive to the initial conditions, and they exhibit a stochastic unpredictable behavior. In this study, a new robust type-3 fuzzy logic control (T3-FLC) is designed that can be applied for a large case of chaotic systems under faulty actuators and unknown perturbed dynamics. The dynamic uncertainties are estimated by the online learned type-3 fuzzy logic systems (T3-FLSs). The rules of T3-FLS are optimized by the Lyapunov theorem. The actuator nonlinearities are identified by a new method. The effects of approximation error (AE), dynamic perturbations and unknown time-varying control gains are tackled by the designed adaptive compensator. The designed compensator is constructed by online estimation of the upper bound of AE. By several simulations and comparison with the new FLS-based controllers, the better performance of the designed T3-FLC is shown. In addition, the performance of the designed controller is examined in a secure communication system.
Multi-Step Quantum Numerical Techniques for Finding the Solutions of Nonlinear Equations
Authors: Nonlaopon Kamsing , Khan Awais Gul , Ameen Farah , Awan Muhammad Uzair , Cesarano Clemente
Published: July 2022

In this paper, we analyze the q-iterative schemes to determine the roots of nonlinear equations by applying the decomposition technique with Simpson’s 13-rule in the setting of q-calculus. We discuss the convergence analysis of our suggested iterative methods. To check the efficiency and performance, we also compare our main outcomes with some well known techniques existing in the literature.
On the Use of High-Order Shape Functions in the SAFE Method and Their Performance in Wave Propagation Problems
Authors: Mirzaee Kakhki Elyas , Rezaeepazhand Jalil , Duvigneau Fabian , Pahlavan Lotfollah , Makvandi Resam , Juhre Daniel , Moavenian Majid , Eisenträger Sascha
Published: July 2022

In this research, high-order shape functions commonly used in different finite element implementations are investigated with a special focus on their applicability in the semi-analytical finite element (SAFE) method being applied to wave propagation problems. Hierarchical shape functions (p-version of the finite element method), Lagrange polynomials defined over non-equidistant nodes (spectral element method), and non-uniform rational B-splines (isogeometric analysis) are implemented in an in-house SAFE code, along with different refinement strategies such as h-, p-, and k-refinement. Since the numerical analysis of wave propagation is computationally quite challenging, high-order shape functions and local mesh refinement techniques are required to increase the accuracy of the solution, while at the same time decreasing the computational costs. The obtained results reveal that employing a suitable high-order basis in combination with one of the mentioned mesh refinement techniques has a notable effect on the performance of the SAFE method. This point becomes especially beneficial when dealing with applications in the areas of structural health monitoring or material property identification, where a model problem has to be solved repeatedly.
Matairesinol Induces Mitochondrial Dysfunction and Exerts Synergistic Anticancer Effects with 5-Fluorouracil in Pancreatic Cancer Cells
Authors: Lee Woonghee , Song Gwonhwa , Bae Hyocheol
Published: July 2022

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is one of the most aggressive types of cancer and exhibits a devastating 5-year survival rate. The most recent procedure for the treatment of PDAC is a combination of several conventional chemotherapeutic agents, termed FOLFIRINOX, that includes irinotecan, leucovorin, oxaliplatin, and 5-fluorouracil (5-FU). However, ongoing treatment using these agents is challenging due to their severe side effects and limitations on the range of patients available for PDAC. Therefore, safer and more innovative anticancer agents must be developed. The anticarcinoma activity of matairesinol that can be extracted from seagrass has been reported in various types of cancer, including prostate, breast, cervical, and pancreatic cancer. However, the molecular mechanism of effective anticancer activity of matairesinol against pancreatic cancer remains unclear. In the present study, we confirmed the inhibition of cell proliferation and progression induced by matairesinol in representative human pancreatic cancer cell lines (MIA PaCa-2 and PANC-1). Additionally, matairesinol triggers apoptosis and causes mitochondrial impairment as evidenced by the depolarization of the mitochondrial membrane, disruption of calcium, and suppression of cell migration and related intracellular signaling pathways. Finally, matairesinol exerts a synergistic effect with 5-FU, a standard anticancer agent for PDAC. These results demonstrate the therapeutic potential of matairesinol in the treatment of PDAC.
New Carboxamides and a New Polyketide from the Sponge-Derived Fungus Arthrinium sp. SCSIO 41421
Authors: She Jianglian , Chen Yi , Ye Yuxiu , Lin Xiuping , Yang Bin , Xiao Jiao , Liu Yonghong , Zhou Xuefeng
Published: July 2022

New carboxamides, (±)-vochysiamide C (1) and (+)-vochysiamide B (2), and a new polyketide, 4S,3aS,9aR-3a,9a-deoxy-3a hydroxy-1-dehydroxyarthrinone (3), were isolated and identified from the sponge-derived fungus Arthrinium sp. SCSIO 41421, together with other fifteen known natural products (4–18). Their structures including absolute configurations were determined by detailed NMR, MS spectroscopic analyses, calculated electronic circular dichroism (ECD), as well as quantum-chemical NMR calculations. Preliminary bioactivity screening and molecular docking analysis revealed that several natural products exhibited obvious enzyme inhibitory activities against acetylcholinesterase (AChE), such as 2,3,6,8-tetrahydroxy-1-methylxanthone (4) with an inhibitory rate 86% at 50 μg/mL.
Therapeutic Potential of Marine Bioactive Peptides against Human Immunodeficiency Virus: Recent Evidence, Challenges, and Future Trends
Authors: Al-Khayri Jameel Mohammed , Asghar Waqas , Khan Sipper , Akhtar Aqsa , Ayub Haris , Khalid Nauman , Alessa Fatima Mohammed , Al-Mssallem Muneera Qassim , Rezk Adel Abdel-Sabour , Shehata Wael Fathi
Published: July 2022

Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) is a chronic and potentially fatal ailment caused by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and remains a major health problem worldwide. In recent years, the research focus has shifted to a greater emphasis on complementing treatment regimens involving conventional antiretroviral (ARV) drug therapies with novel lead structures isolated from various marine organisms that have the potential to be utilized as therapeutics for the management of HIV-AIDS. The present review summarizes the recent developments regarding bioactive peptides sourced from various marine organisms. This includes a discussion encompassing the potential of these novel marine bioactive peptides with regard to antiretroviral activities against HIV, preparation, purification, and processing techniques, in addition to insight into the future trends with an emphasis on the potential of exploration and evaluation of novel peptides to be developed into effective antiretroviral drugs.
Decorative Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotubes by ZnO: Synthesis, Characterization, and Potent Anti-Toxoplasmosis Activity
Authors: Al-Humaidi Jehan Y. , Hagar Mohamed , Bakr Basant A. , Elwakil Bassma H. , Moneer Esraa Abdelhamid , El-Khatib Mostafa
Published: July 2022

Toxoplasmosis may become a fatal disease in immunodeficient, diabetic patients, pregnant women, and infants. Hence, the diligent search for new effective treatment is among the major concerns worldwide. The well-dispersed multi-walled carbon nanotubes lined with ZnO (ZnO-MWCNT), graphene oxide (GO-NPs), and zinc oxide (ZnO-NPs) were successfully synthesized through rapid and facile hydrothermal arc discharge technique (HTADT). The antiparasitic effects of ZnO-NPs, GO-NPs, and ZnO-MWCNT were investigated in mice infected with Toxoplasma gondii. The percent of tachyzoites reduction were detected. The observed results demonstrated that ZnO-MWCNT revealed a significant reduction in the parasite count reached 61% in brain tissues, followed by liver (52%), then spleen (45%). The assessments of antiparasitic, inflammatory, and anti-inflammatory cytokines confirmed the superior activity of ZnO-MWCNT as antiparasitic agent, which paves the way for the employment of ZnO-MWCNT as a treatment for the acute RH strain of T. gondii infection in vivo.
Effects of Element (Al, Mo, Sn and Fe) Doping on Phase Structure and Mechanical Properties of the Ti-Nb-Based Alloys
Authors: Gu Suyi , Zhou Zhengcun , Min Na
Published: July 2022

In the paper, Ti-18Nb-5X (X = Mo and Sn) and Ti-33Nb-2X (X = Al, Sn, Fe and Mo) alloys were investigated to evaluate the effects of Al, Mo, Sn and Fe doping and different heat treatments on the properties and microstructures of the Ti-Nb-based alloys. The results show that Al decreased the volume of βM in the water-quenched Ti-33Nb-2Al alloy and promoted the formation of β phase in the furnace-cooled Ti-33Nb-2Al alloy. Fe-doping was proven to stabilize the β phase. Sn-doping plays a complicated role to promote the formation of α′′ phase in the water-quenched Ti-33Nb-2Sn alloys but increases the β phase in the furnace-cooled Ti-33Nb-2Sn alloys and Ti-18Nb-5Mo-5Sn. The alloys containing α′′ and βM phases show larger superelastic strains and lower Young’s moduli. In the water-quenched Ti-based alloys, the Young’s modulus decreases, and the superelastic strain is enhanced with the increasing volume of α′′.
Infective Endocarditis in High-Income Countries
Authors: Nappi Francesco , Martuscelli Giorgia , Bellomo Francesca , Avtaar Singh Sanjeet Singh , Moon Marc R.
Published: July 2022

Infective endocarditis remains an illness that carries a significant burden to healthcare resources. In recent times, there has been a shift from Streptococcus sp. to Staphylococcus sp. as the primary organism of interest. This has significant consequences, given the virulence of Staphylococcus and its propensity to form a biofilm, rendering non-surgical therapy ineffective. In addition, antibiotic resistance has affected treatment of this organism. The cohorts at most risk for Staphylococcal endocarditis are elderly patients with multiple comorbidities. The innovation of transcatheter technologies alongside other cardiac interventions such as implantable devices has contributed to the increased risk attributable to this cohort. We examined the pathophysiology of infective endocarditis carefully. Inter alia, the determinants of Staphylococcus aureus virulence, interaction with host immunity, as well as the discovery and emergence of a potential vaccine, were investigated. Furthermore, the potential role of prophylactic antibiotics during dental procedures was also evaluated. As rates of transcatheter device implantation increase, endocarditis is expected to increase, especially in this high-risk group. A high level of suspicion is needed alongside early initiation of therapy and referral to the heart team to improve outcomes.
A High Efficiency and Precision Smoothing Polishing Method for NiP Coating of Metal Mirror
Authors: Xu Chao , Peng Xiaoqiang , Liu Junfeng , Hu Hao , Lai Tao , Yang Qilin , Xiong Yupeng
Published: July 2022

The NiP coating has excellent wear and corrosion resistance, and electroless nickel-phosphorus coating is one of the best measures for surface modification of metal optical devices. The NiP layer could be processed by single-point diamond turning (SPDT). However, the periodic marks on the surface of the NiP coating processed by SPDT will lead to diffraction and stray light, which will reduce the reflectivity and image quality of the mirror. This paper studied smoothing polishing based on chemical mechanical polishing to remove turning periodic marks efficiently. Firstly, we studied the chemical corrosion and mechanical removal mechanism of smoothing polishing of the NiP coating through theoretical analysis. Then, the influencing factors of processing the quality of smoothing polishing are analyzed, and the optimal machining parameters and polishing slurry formula are formulated. Finally, through the developed process, the surface roughness of Root Mean Square (RMS) 0.223 nm is realized on the NiP coating, and an ultra-smooth surface that can meet the service accuracy of a hard X-ray mirror is obtained. Our research simplifies the high-precision machining process of the NiP coating and improves the machining efficiency. Therefore, it can be used as a new high-precision manufacturing NiP coating method.