bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Cross-Domain Identity Authentication Protocol of Consortium Blockchain Based on Face Recognition
Authors: Chen Xiang , Xu Shouzhi , Ma Kai , Chen Peng
Published: November 2022

A consortium system can leverage information to improve workflows, accountability, and transparency through setting up a backbone for these cross-company and cross-discipline solutions, which make it become a hot spot of market application. Users of a consortium system may register and log in different target domains to get the access authentications, so how to access resources in different domains efficiently to avoid the trust-island problem is a big challenge. Cross-domain authentication is a kind of technology that breaks trust islands and enables users to access resources and services in different domains with the same credentials, which reduces service costs for all parties. Aiming at the problems of traditional cross-domain authentication, such as complex certificate management, low authentication efficiency, and being unable to prevent the attack users’ accounts, a cross-domain authentication protocol based on face recognition is proposed in this paper. The protocol makes use of the decentralized and distributed characteristics of the consortium chain to ensure the reliable transmission of data between participants without trust relationships, and achieves biometric authentication to further solve the problem of account attack by applying a deep-learning face-recognition model. An asymmetric encryption algorithm is used to encrypt and store the face feature codes on the chain to ensure the privacy of the user’s face features. Finally, through security analysis, it is proved that the proposed protocol can effectively prevent a man-in-the-middle attack, a replay attack, an account attack, an internal attack, and other attacks, and mutual security authentication between different domains can be realized with the protocol.
Impact of Planting Date and Insecticide Application Methods on Melanaphis sorghi (Hemiptera: Aphididae) Infestation and Forage Type Sorghum Yield
Authors: Uyi Osariyekemwen , Reay-Jones Francis P. F. , Ni Xinzhi , Buntin David , Jacobson Alana , Punnuri Somashekhar , Toews Michael D.
Published: November 2022

Studies on the management of the invasive Melanaphis sorghi are essential to refining integrated pest management strategies against M. sorghi in forage sorghum in the USA. The objective of this study was to determine the impact of planting date (early planting and late planting) and in-furrow and foliar insecticide application of flupyradifurone, on M. sorghi infestation and forage sorghum yield in Tifton, Georgia and Florence, South Carolina, USA, in 2020 and 2021. Early planted sorghum supported slightly higher aphid density and severity of infestation as evident in the greater cumulative insect days values in the early planted sorghum at both Florence and Tifton in 2020 and 2021. A single foliar application reduced aphid infestations below the threshold level of 50 aphids per leaf. In contrast, in-furrow insecticidal application in selected plots at both locations significantly suppressed M. sorghi density to near-zero levels. Yield results in Florence in 2020 showed that sorghum yield was over 50% greater in early planted plots compared to late planted plots. Both insecticide treatments (foliar and in-furrow) resulted in significantly higher yield than untreated plots. These data indicate that early planting coupled with in-furrow and foliar insecticide applications can suppress M. sorghi infestations and improve silage production in forage sorghum in the USA.
Assessment of Heavy Metals Eluted from Materials Utilized in Artificial Reefs Implemented in South Korea
Authors: Park Seongsik , Kim Jong Ryol , Kim Young Ryun , Yoon Seokjin , Kim Kyunghoi
Published: November 2022

In this study, we aimed to investigate the effect of artificial reefs (ARs) made from concrete, steel, and steel slag on the concentrations of As, Cd, Cr6+, Cu, Hg, Ni, Pb, and Zn in marine ecosystems. We conducted a field investigation of the concentration of heavy metals (HMs) in seawater and marine organisms in the East Sea, South Korea and complemented it with an indoor elution experiment. The concentrations of the eight HMs in the field investigation and elution experiment satisfied the environmental standards. In the elution experiment, elution of Cr6+ from the concrete models was confirmed; however, it may be insignificant in marine ecosystems. These results revealed that the effect of ARs made from concrete, steel, and steel slag on the concentration of HMs in the marine environment was insignificant.
Impact of the Disk Diffusion Test on Fluconazole De-Escalation in Patients with Candidemia
Authors: Tantasuwan Suchavadee , Chongtrakool Piriyaporn , Waesamaae Amiroh , Chayakulkeeree Methee
Published: November 2022

Disk diffusion (DD) is a simple antifungal susceptibility method for Candida. This study examined the impact of fluconazole DD testing on antifungal de-escalation. We enrolled patients with candidemia whose Candida isolates were tested for fluconazole susceptibility using DD between January 2019 and January 2020. The historical controls were patients with candidemia who underwent fluconazole susceptibility testing using the broth microdilution (BMD) method. Clinical data including antifungal therapy were analyzed. In total, 108 patients were enrolled. Most baseline characteristics were comparable between the groups. C. tropicalis was the predominant isolate (54.6%), followed by C. albicans (17.6%). The rates of antifungal de-escalation within 72 h were 25.9 and 9.3% in the DD and BMD groups, respectively (p = 0.023). The median time to de-escalation was 3 days in the DD group, versus 6 days in the BMD group (p = 0.037). The 14-day mortality rate and antifungal cost tended to be lower in the DD group. There were no differences in the length of hospital stay and treatment-related complications between the two groups. The agreement between the DD and BMD results was 90%. DD testing can be substituted for BMD to enhance antifungal de-escalation and antifungal stewardship.
A Study on the Effect of Graphene in Enhancing the Electrochemical Properties of SnO2-Fe2O3 Anode Materials
Authors: Zhu Guanglin , Gao Bo , Zhang Ying , Shi Zeyuan , Li Zongbin , Tu Ganfeng
Published: November 2022

To enhance the conductivity and volume expansion during the charging and discharging of transition metal oxide anode materials, rGO-SnO2-Fe2O3 composite materials with different contents of rGO were prepared by the in situ hydrothermal synthesis method. The SEM morphology revealed a sphere-like fluffy structure, particles of the 0.4%rGO-10%SnO2-Fe2O3 composite were smaller and more compact with a specific surface area of 223.19 m2/g, the first discharge capacity of 1423.75 mAh/g, and the specific capacity could be maintained at 687.60 mAh/g even after 100 cycles. It exhibited a good ratio performance and electrochemical reversibility, smaller charge transfer resistance, and contact resistance, which aided in lithium-ion transport. Its superior electrochemical performance was due to the addition of graphene, which made the spherical particle size distribution more uniform, effectively lowering the volume expansion during the process of charging and discharging and improving the electrochemical cycle stability of the anode materials.
Tribological Properties of Carbon Fabric/Epoxy Composites Filled with FGr@MoS2 Hybrids under Dry Sliding Conditions
Authors: Zhong Wen , Chen Siqiang , Ma Lei , Tong Zhe
Published: November 2022

Hybrids of fluorinated graphite/MoS2 (FGr@MoS2) were prepared via a hydrothermal method and used as lubricating additives to take full advantage of the synergy between FGr and MoS2 in carbon-fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP). The results show a 21.6% reduction in the friction coefficient compared to the neat sample when the CFRP was filled with 1.2 wt.% FGr@MoS2 hybrids. The addition of 1.5 wt.% FGr@MoS2 resulted in a 60.9% reduction in the wear rate compared to neat CFRP. For the 1.2 wt.% FGr@MoS2-reinforced CFRP, the friction coefficient maintained a relatively steady value of approximately 0.46 at various temperatures, indicating frictional stability. However, the wear rate increased by 13.95% at 60 °C compared to that at room temperature. The interfacial bonding force between the FGr@MoS2 hybrid and the matrix, as well as the adhesive force with the surface of the counterpart ball, is improved, caused by the heterostructure of FGr@MoS2, resulting in enhanced mechanical properties and formation efficiency as well as the transfer film on the surface of the counterpart ball. The results suggest that an FGr@MoS2 micro-nano structure is a promising additive to be applied in polymer tribology.
Effect of Lanthanum Addition on Formation Behaviors of Inclusions in Q355B Weathering Steel
Authors: Mao Ning , Yang Wensheng , Chen Dehong , Lu Wenli , Zhang Xiaowei , Chen Shiying , Xu Minglei , Pan Bo , Han Liguo , Zhang Xiaoqiang , Wang Zhiqiang
Published: November 2022

The effect of lanthanum addition on the formation behaviors of inclusions in Q355B weathering steel was investigated by laboratory experiments and thermodynamic calculations. The results demonstrate that the main inclusions in weathering steel without La addition are large-sized irregular Al2O3 and MnS, with an average size of about 5.35 μm. As La content increases from 0.0075 to 0.0184 wt.%, the dominant inclusions transform from MnS, LaAlO3, and Al2O3-LaAlO3 into MnS, La2O3, and LaAlO3-La2O3. Meanwhile, the average size of inclusions significantly decreases from 3.4 to 2.48 μm and the distribution is more dispersive. When the La content increases to 0.0425 wt.%, the original MnS and Al2O3 inclusions are completely modified into La2O2S and La2O3 but the inclusions demonstrate serious agglomeration and growth. The thermodynamic calculations indicate that Al2O3 and various lanthanum-containing inclusions are formed in the liquid phase. As the La content in molten steel increases from 0 to 0.0425 wt.%, the Al2O3 inclusion is inclined to be modified into lanthanum oxide and lanthanum oxysulfide and the modification process is Al2O3 → LaAlO3 → La2O3 → La2O2S, which is very consistent with the experimental observations.
In Situ ZrB2 Formation in B4C Ceramics and Its Strengthening Mechanism on Mechanical Properties
Authors: Yao Wankai , Yan Junbing , Li Xiangcheng , Chen Pingan , Zhu Yingli , Zhu Boquan
Published: November 2022

In order to reduce the sintering temperature and improve the mechanical properties of B4C ceramics, ZrB2 was formed in situ using the SPS sintering method with ZrO2 and B4C as raw materials. Thermodynamic calculations revealed that CO pressure affected the formation of ZrB2 at temperatures from 814 °C to 1100 °C. The experimental results showed that the ZrB2 grain size was <5 µm and that the grains were uniformly distributed within the B4C ceramics. With an increase in ZrO2 content, the Vickers hardness and flexural strength of the B4C ceramics first increased and then decreased, while the fracture toughness continuously increased. When the content of ZrO2 was 15 wt%, the Vickers hardness, fracture toughness and flexural strength of B4C ceramics were 35.5 ± 0.63 GPa, 3.6 ± 0.24 MPa·m1/2 and 403 ± 10 MPa, respectively. These results suggest that ZrB2 inhibits B4C grain growth, eliminates crack tip stress, and provides fine grain to strengthen and toughen B4C ceramics.
Horse Riding Simulator Design to Replicate Human Walking Gait for Hippotherapy in Cerebral Palsy Rehabilitation
Authors: Trusaji Wildan , Satriawan Ardianto , Rahadini Septia Susanti , Hasanuddin Muhammad Ogin , Setianingsih Casi , Pratomo Nurseptian , Selekta Mayang Cendikia , Sungkar Ellyana
Published: November 2022

Hippotherapy is a popular rehabilitation method for children with cerebral palsy (CP), which is done by riding an actual horse or a horse riding simulator (HRS) device. Riding a real horse is more expensive than using an HRS device due to its high maintenance cost. However, most HRS devices commonly sold in the market are designed as exercise devices, not rehabilitation devices. Most of them are designed to simulate a horse’s walk, trot, canter, or gallop gait at various speeds. Hippotherapy aims to improve the walking ability of CP patients. Therefore, the device should aim to replicate the walking gait of a healthy human, the end goal of hippotherapy. This problem motivates us to design and build a specialized HRS device replicating the walking gait of a healthy human that is suitable for hippotherapy, which is achievable by simulating a horse walking gait with several adjustments. We first studied and observed the walking gait cycle of a horse, then analyzed and derived a formulation of it. We then continue by designing an HRS device using a single electrical rotational motor and mechanical means to replicate the walking gait of a horse, then tune it to an extent to replicate a human walking gait. To measure the performance of our design, we compare the gait of the user when riding our device versus walking.
Investigating the Combined Effect of Multiple Dent and Bump Faults on the Vibrational Behavior of Ball Bearings
Authors: Atef Mahmoud M. , Khair-Eldeen Wael , Yan Jiwang , Nassef Mohamed G. A.
Published: November 2022

The rolling element bearing is a fundamental component of any rotating machinery. During operation, wear debris and lubricant impurities create dents and bumps on the bearing raceway surfaces. Such localized defects produce transient vibration impulses at one of the bearing characteristic frequencies. Having a combination of multiple types of point defects on the raceway results in superimposed vibration patterns, which reduce the ability to recognize these defects’ effects. In this paper, a 6-DOF dynamic model is developed to accurately investigate the vibration characteristic of a ball bearing with a multipoint defect comprising a dent and bump on its raceway surface. The model considers the effects of time-varying contact force produced due to defects, lubricant film damping, bearing preload, and the inertia effect of rolling elements. The simulation results reveal the vibration behavior of multipoint defect bearings. In addition, bearing vibration response is affected by the number of defects, the angle between them, and the type and size of each defect. Furthermore, it is challenging to predict bearing defects parameters such as the numbers, types, sizes, and angles between adjacent defects from acceleration signal analysis without jerk signal analysis. The validation of the model is proved using signals from the Case Western University test setup.
Laminaria japonica Peptides Suppress Liver Cancer by Inducing Apoptosis: Possible Signaling Pathways and Mechanism
Authors: Wu Yingzi , Li Yuanhui , Guo Wenhai , Liu Jie , Lao Weiguo , Hu Penghui , Lin Yiguang , Chen Hongjie
Published: November 2022

The anticancer properties of Laminaria japonica peptides (LJPs) have never been studied. Here, we extracted LJPs from fresh seaweed and explored their anti-liver cancer activity (in vivo and in vitro). LJPs were isolated/purified by HPLC-ESI-MS. HepG2 cell apoptosis and cell cycle were evaluated. MTT assays were used to examine the cytotoxicity of LJPs. Caspase activation of caspases 3 and 9, cleaved caspases 3 and 9, and cleaved PARP was examined by Western blotting. The PI3K/AKT pathway and the phosphorylation states of MAPKs (p38 and JNK) were examined. We found that the LJP-1 peptide had the most antiproliferative activity in H22 cells in vitro. LJP-1 blocked H22 cells in the G0/G1 phase, accompanied by inhibition of cyclin expression. LJP-1 induced apoptosis through caspase activation and regulation of the ASK1/MAPK pathway. Concurrent in vivo studies demonstrated that LJP-1 significantly inhibited tumor growth and induced tumor cell apoptosis/necrosis. In conclusion, LJPs, particularly LJP-1, exert strong inhibitory effects on liver cancer growth in vivo and in vitro. LJP-1 induces HCC cell apoptosis through the caspase-dependent pathway and G0/G1 arrest. LJP-1 induces caspase-dependent apoptosis, in part by inhibiting PI3K, MAPK signaling pathways, and cell cycle proteins. LJP-1 has the potential to be a novel candidate for human liver cancer therapeutics.
Investigation of Transport Processes through Ion-Exchange Membranes Used in the Production of Amines from Their Salts Using Bipolar Electrodialysis
Authors: Karpenko Tatyana , Kovalev Nikita , Shramenko Vladislava , Sheldeshov Nikolay
Published: November 2022

The influence of the nature of amine solutions on the frequency spectrum of the electrochemical impedance of the bipolar membrane aMB-2m is investigated. Moreover, the effect of the circulation rate of solutions in the electrodialyzer chambers on the volt-ampere characteristics of the Ralex AMH and MA-40L anion-exchange membranes and the aMB-2m bipolar membrane has been investigated. The diffusion characteristics of various types of anion-exchange membranes in a system containing dimethylammonium sulfate ((DEA)2H2SO4), as well as the diffusion characteristics of the Ralex AMH membrane in systems with methylammonium sulfate, dimethylammonium sulfate, diethylammonium sulfate, and ethylenediammonium sulfate ((MA)2H2SO4, (DMA)2H2SO4, (DEA)2H2SO4, EDAH2SO4) have been studied. It is shown that diffusion permeability depends on the structure and composition of anion-exchange membranes, as well as on the nature of amines. The technical and economic characteristics of the electromembrane processes for the production of amines and sulfuric acid from amine salts are determined. It is shown that when using Ralex AMH anion-exchange membranes in an electrodialyzer together with bipolar aMB-2m membranes, higher concentrations of diethylamine and sulfuric acid are achieved, compared with the use of MA-40L anion-exchange membranes.
Label-Free Quantitative Proteomic Analysis Reveals Inflammatory Pattern Associated with Obesity and Periodontitis in Pregnant Women
Authors: Foratori-Junior Gerson Aparecido , Ventura Talita Mendes Oliveira , Grizzo Larissa Tercilia , Carpenter Guy Howard , Buzalaf Marília Afonso Rabelo , Sales-Peres Silvia Helena de Carvalho
Published: November 2022

Obesity and pregnancy may have synergistic effects on periodontal condition, and proteomics could be an ideal approach to highlight the pathophysiological mechanisms associated with these outcomes. This study analyzed the salivary proteomics related to obesity and periodontitis in women during pregnancy (T1) and after delivery (T2). Initially, 126 women were recruited and forty were allocated into groups: with obesity and periodontitis (OP); with obesity, but without periodontitis (OWP); with normal BMI, but with periodontitis (NP); with normal BMI and without periodontitis (NWP). Whole-mouth saliva was collected in T1 and T2, and proteins were extracted and individually processed by label-free proteomics (nLC-ESI-MS/MS). The up-regulations of Heat shock 70 kDa protein 1A, 1B, and 1-like were related to both obesity and periodontitis, separately. Albumin and Thioredoxin were up-regulated in periodontitis cases, while Cystatins (mainly S, SA, SN) and Lactotransferrin were down-regulated. The high abundances of Submaxillary gland androgen-regulated protein 3B, Protein S100-A8, Matrix metalloproteinase-9, Heat shock 70 kDa protein 2 and 6, Putative Heat shock 70 kDa protein 7, Heat shock 71 kDa protein, Haptoglobin and Plastin-1 were significant in the combination of obesity and periodontitis. Obesity and periodontitis remarkably altered the proteome of the saliva during pregnancy with substantial alterations after delivery.
The Effect of a Rotating Cone on Horseradish Peroxidase Aggregation on Mica Revealed by Atomic Force Microscopy
Authors: Ivanov Yuri D. , Tatur Vadim Y. , Shumov Ivan D. , Kozlov Andrey F. , Valueva Anastasia A. , Ivanova Irina A. , Ershova Maria O. , Ivanova Nina D. , Stepanov Igor N. , Lukyanitsa Andrei A. , Ziborov Vadim S.
Published: November 2022

Our study reported herein aims to determine whether an electromagnetic field, induced triboelectrically by a metallic cone, rotating at a frequency of 167 Hz, has an effect on the properties of the horseradish peroxidase (HRP) enzyme. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) was employed to detect even the most subtle effects on single enzyme molecules. In parallel, a macroscopic method (spectrophotometry) was used to reveal whether the enzymatic activity of HRP in solution was affected. An aqueous solution of the enzyme was incubated at a distance of 2 cm from the rotating cone. The experiments were performed at various incubation times. The control experiments were performed with a non-rotating cone. The incubation of the HRP solution was found to cause the disaggregation of the enzyme. At longer incubation times, this disaggregation was found to be accompanied by the formation of higher-order aggregates; however, no change in the HRP enzymatic activity was observed. The results of our experiments could be of interest in the development of enzyme-based biosensors with rotating elements such as stirrers. Additionally, the results obtained herein are important for the correct interpretation of data obtained with such biosensors.
Heat Transfer Performance of 3D-Printed Aluminium Flat-Plate Oscillating Heat Pipes for the Thermal Management of LEDs
Authors: Chang Chao , Yang Yaoguang , Pei Lilin , Han Zhaoyang , Xiao Xiu , Ji Yulong
Published: November 2022

With the rapid development of electronic technologies towards high integration, high power and miniaturization, thermal management has become an increasingly important issue to guarantee the reliability and service life of electronic devices. The oscillating heat pipe (OHP), which was governed by thermally excited oscillating motion, was considered as a promising technology to dissipate high-density heat and had excellent application prospects in many important industrial processes. A flat-plate OHP, however, was fabricated by traditional welding methods, which were difficult and inefficient, resulting in increasing the cost and wasting the production time. In this work, we adopted a new metal 3D printing technology to develop an aluminum flat-plate OHP, which made it facile to build complex inner channels with high-precision molding at one time. AlSi10Mg powders, as raw materials, were selectively melted and solidified to form the container of the flat-plate OHP. The sintered inner surface presented excellent wettability to the working fluid, which facilitated the evaporation of the working fluid. Acetone was chosen as the working fluid, and the filling ratios with a range of 40–70% were loaded into the flat-plate oscillating heat pipe to analyze its effect on heat transfer performance. It was found that the 3D-printed flat-plate OHP with a 60% filling ratio had a better heat transfer performance and a lower thermal resistance, and it was able to work properly in both vertical and horizontal operation modes. The 3D-printed flat-plate OHP had been successfully applied for the thermal management of high-power LEDs, and the results showed that the temperature of LEDs was maintained within 60 °C, and its service life was prolonged.
Fungal Communities in Leaves and Roots of Healthy-Looking and Diseased Ulmus glabra
Authors: Marčiulynas Adas , Marčiulynienė Diana , Lynikienė Jūratė , Bakys Remigijus , Menkis Audrius
Published: November 2022

The aim of this study was to investigate fungal communities associated with leaves and roots of healthy-looking and declining U. glabra trees. The study was expected to demonstrate whether and how the diversity and composition of fungal communities change in these functional tissues following the infection by Dutch elm disease-causing fungi. The study sites included six U. glabra sites in Lithuania, where leaves and roots were sampled. DNA was isolated from individual samples, amplified using ITS2 rRNA as a marker, and subjected to high-throughput sequencing. The sequence analysis showed the presence of 32,699 high-quality reads, which following clustering, were found to represent 520 non-singleton fungal taxa. In leaves, the fungal species richness was significantly higher in healthy-looking trees than in diseased ones (p < 0.05). In roots, a similar comparison showed that the difference was insignificant (p > 0.05). The most common fungi in all samples of roots were Trichocladium griseum (32.9%), Penicillium restrictum (21.2%), and Unidentified sp. 5238_7 (12.6%). The most common fungi in all samples of leaves were Trichomerium sp. 5238_8 (12.30%), Aureobasidium pullulans (12.03%), Cladosporium sp. 5238_5 (11.73%), and Vishniacozyma carnescens (9.86%). The results showed that the detected richness of fungal taxa was higher in samples collected from healthy-looking trees than from diseased ones, thereby highlighting the negative impact of the Dutch elm disease on the overall fungal diversity.
The Effect of Clay Minerals on Fayalite Slag Structure and Refractory Brick Wear during Copper Smelting
Authors: Ossandón Julio , Voisin Leandro , Pizarro Camila
Published: November 2022

Metallic copper production via the pyrometallurgical route is hindered due to the increased presence of gangue in the clay minerals in copper sulfide concentrates and its unpredictable effect on this operation. In this study, the relationship between smelting copper slag composition, including the clay components and the refractory brick wear, was investigated in experimental laboratory tests. Synthetic fayalite slags doped with 2, 5, or 8 wt% high-purity kaolinite or montmorillonite were introduced into magnesia chromite refractory crucibles and melted in an electrical furnace under the controlled partial pressure of oxygen (10−8 atm) for 12 h at temperatures of 1250 and 1300 °C. After the experimental time, the crucibles were quenched in water, and the obtained samples were analyzed using the XRD, SEM, and ICP techniques. According to the results, at 1300 °C the presence of montmorillonite in the fayalite-based slag promoted infiltration through the refractory brick and increased the dissolution of the magnesia component from the hot face. In the case of the kaolinite, the infiltration was even higher, but the magnesia dissolution was delayed.
Triboelectric Generator Based on Oriented Self-Assembled Peptide Microbelts
Authors: Slabov Vladislav , Vidal João , Zelenovskii Pavel , Kopyl Svitlana , Soares dos Santos Marco P. , Kholkin Andrei
Published: November 2022

Along with piezoelectric nanogenerators, triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) collecting energy from mechanical vibrations proved to be simple, low-cost, and efficient sources of electricity for various applications. In view of possible biomedical applications, the search for TENGs made of biomolecular and biocompatible materials is demanding. Diphenylalanine (FF) microstructures are promising for these applications due to their unique characteristics and ability to form various morphologies (microribbons, spherical vesicles, fibrils, micro- and nanotubes, nanorods, etc.). In this work, we developed a contact-separate mode TENG based on arrays of oriented FF microbelts deposited by dip-coating technique and studied their performance under various temperature treatments. We show that these TENGs outperform piezoelectric nanogenerators based on FF microbelts in terms of short-circuit current (ISC), open-circuit voltage (VOC), and output power. It was found that bound water captured in FF nanochannels mainly affects VOC, whereas mobile water increases ISC. We also found that the cyclization of FF molecules increases the performance of TENG likely due to an increase in surface energy and surface flattening.
Application of the Updated WCRF/AICR Cancer Prevention Score as an Outcome for Cancer Survivors Participating in a Tailored and Intensive Dietary and Physical Activity Intervention
Authors: Hill Emily B. , Grainger Elizabeth M. , Young Gregory S. , Clinton Steven K. , Spees Colleen K.
Published: November 2022

The World Cancer Research Fund/American Institute for Cancer Research (WCRF/AICR) has defined evidence-based guidelines for cancer prevention. These recommendations have been operationalized into a quantitative index for individual assessment. Survivors of cancer are increasingly desiring guidance for diet and lifestyle, and in the absence of research in survivors, are often instructed to follow cancer prevention and public health guidelines. In this study, we examine the utility of the quantitative updated WCRF/AICR scoring criteria to assess change among cancer survivors with overweight/obesity (OW/OB) following an intensive behavioral intervention. We applied the WCRF/AICR scoring criteria (range 0–7) to examine changes over the duration of the study by paired t-tests. Two cancer survivor cohorts with OW/OB (n = 91) completed a six-month phase II clinical trial designed to improve dietary and physical activity patterns. At enrollment and post-intervention, participants completed assessments including anthropometrics, food frequency questionnaires, and objective evaluation of physical activity. Participants improved adherence to all scored recommendations, with a significant increase in mean score from enrollment (3.22 ± 1.06) to post-intervention (4.28 ± 1.04) (p < 0.001). Mean BMI and waist circumference improved (both p < 0.001). The greatest improvements were noted for fruit and non-starchy vegetable intakes (+39%, p < 0.001); the greatest decreases were observed for processed meat consumption (−70%, p < 0.001). The updated WCRF/AICR Score can be applied to cancer survivor intervention studies and provides a tool to compare trials in regard to the baseline status of populations enrolled and the success of the intervention. Future interventions incorporating standardized assessments will help guide effective strategies to improve the health and quality of life for cancer survivors.
Effectiveness of a Two-Year Multicomponent Intervention for the Treatment of Overweight and Obesity in Older People
Authors: Rumbo-Rodríguez Lorena , Zaragoza-Martí Ana , Sánchez-SanSegundo Miriam , Ferrer-Cascales Rosario , Laguna-Pérez Ana , Hurtado-Sánchez Jose A.
Published: November 2022

This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of a two-year intervention based on the Mediterranean diet for the treatment of overweight and obesity in a sample of 51 older people from the Mediterranean city of Alicante (Spain). We also examined the effects of the intervention on psychological well-being. The participants were randomly assigned to the experimental and control groups. The experimental group received group nutritional education sessions, an individualized dietary–nutritional treatment based on a Mediterranean diet, and a physical activity program; the control group received Mediterranean nutritional education in a written format. The experimental group showed a greater loss in weight (p = 0.017) and percentage of fat mass (p = 0.049), and a greater reduction in body mass index (BMI) (p = 0.014) and waist circumference (p = 0.010). Both groups improved their depression scores using the PHQ-9; however, no significant improvement was seen in adherence to the Mediterranean diet (PREDIMED) and anxiety level (GAD-7). These results suggest that a two-year intervention based on the Mediterranean diet allows an older population with overweight or obesity to achieve greater weight loss and a greater decrease in BMI, waist circumference, and fat mass percentage. In relation to psychological well-being, depression levels improved at the end of said intervention.
Alginate–Chitosan Hydrogel Formulations Sustain Baculovirus Delivery and VEGFA Expression Which Promotes Angiogenesis for Wound Dressing Applications
Authors: Schaly Sabrina , Islam Paromita , Abosalha Ahmed , Boyajian Jacqueline L. , Shum-Tim Dominique , Prakash Satya
Published: November 2022

Hydrogel wound dressings are effective in their ability to provide a wound-healing environment but are limited by their ability to promote later stages of revascularization. Here, a biosafe recombinant baculovirus expressing VEGFA tagged with EGFP is encapsulated in chitosan-coated alginate hydrogels using ionic cross-linking. The VEGFA, delivered by the baculovirus, significantly improves cell migration and angiogenesis to assist with the wound-healing process and revascularization. Moreover, the hydrogels have an encapsulation efficiency of 99.9%, no cytotoxicity, antimicrobial properties, good blood compatibility, promote hemostasis, and enable sustained delivery of baculoviruses over eight days. These hydrogels sustain baculovirus delivery and may have clinical implications in wound dressings or future gene therapy applications.
Effect of Chelating Agents on the Structural, Optical, and Dye-Degradation Properties of Tungsten Oxide Nanoparticles
Authors: Thangavel Preethi , Karuppanan Senthil , Muthusamy Poomalai Pachamuthu , Sakthivel Ashokan , Nandagopalan Geetha , Bellucci Stefano
Published: November 2022

A simple co-precipitation method was used to create pure tungsten oxide (WO3) nanoparticles using phthalic acid, citric acid, and oxalic acid as chelating agents. The influences of chelating agents on the structural, morphological, and optical properties were investigated. X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns of WO3 nanoparticles showed the existence of combined phase of anorthic-monoclinic for all the samples, and the crystalline size was found to be reduced while using oxalic acid. The vibrational band observed in the region around (500–800 cm−1) in the FTIR spectra indicates the formation of WO3 nanoparticles. SEM images revealed the formation of WO3 agglomerates. The energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX) spectra of the WO3 nanoparticles confirmed the purity of synthesized nanoparticles. The enhanced light-absorption ability of oxalic-acid-assisted WO3 nanoparticles are inferred from the decreased band gap energy in UV–vis absorption spectra. The PL spectra showed emission in both the UV and visible regions. The optimized reaction parameters for obtaining high catalytic efficiency are identified by varying the concentrations of oxidant, catalyst, and dye during the catalytic reaction. The synthesized WO3 nanoparticles exhibited better catalytic degradation of CV than MB and RB dyes even with the lesser quantity of catalyst material.
Frequency Division Multiplexing and Normalized Harmonic Method for WMS Detection System in Multi-gas Detection
Authors: Yao Jiaqi , Yuan Wenyang , Gong Ping , Xie Liang
Published: November 2022

A frequency division multiplexing (FDM) WMS system for multi-gas detection is reported in this paper. The distributed feedback lasers with different wavelengths adopt different modulation frequencies to achieve multi-components gas detection by the FDM technology. Combining optical path extension, normalized harmonic detection and wavelength modulation spectroscopy technology, the highly self-made system realized high sensitivity, high precision and short response time. The performance of this system was evaluated through the mixed gas of methane and hydrogen chloride. Experimental results show great linear response between gas concentration and normalized second harmonic (2f/1f) signal, the minimum detection limit (MDL) of the system is calculated to be 30.16 ppb for CH4 and 31.6 ppb for HCl with the integration time of 15 s. The MDL could be further enhanced to 11 ppb for CH4 and 13.1 ppb for HCl with an extended integration time. The maximum relative error is 2.16% and 3.19% for CH4 and HCl respectively.
Reliability-Based Design Analysis for FRP Reinforced Compression Yield Beams
Authors: Feng Lin , Li Peng-Da , Huang Xiao-Xu , Wu Yu-Fei
Published: November 2022

Fiber-reinforced polymers (FRPs) provide promising prospects for replacing steel bars in traditional reinforced concrete structures. However, the use of FRP as tension bars in concrete beams leads to insufficient ductility because of its elastic characteristics. A newly developed compression-yielding (CY) beam has successfully solved this issue. Instead of tensile reinforcement yield, the ductile deformation of a CY beam is realized by the compression yield of a CY block in the compressive region. Another important feature is that the CY block is also the fuse of the beam, where material damage to the beam is concentrated in the CY block region and can be easily replaced. As a load-bearing recoverable and ductile structure, it is necessary to conduct a reliability-based design analysis and recommend reduction factors for this new structure. In this study, the function for calculating the failure probability of CY beams is proposed, semi-probabilistic design recommendations are presented, and Monte Carlo simulation (MCS) is adopted as a reliability analysis method. This study discusses the influence of the possible characteristics of the critical variables on reliability and provides the reliability index with different reduction factors to guide the design of the CY beam. These analyses indicate that the reliability index can be improved from the material design of the CY block in greater strength fb, smaller depth, smaller coefficient of variation of fb, and yield modulus ratio ξ. This study also shows that compared with the design of FRP concrete beams, the ductile failure mode of the CY beams allows a lower safety factor to meet safety requirements, which significantly reduces construction costs and avoids over-designing the load-bearing capacity.
Synergy of Fiber Surface Chemistry and Flow: Multi-Phase Transcrystallization in Fiber-Reinforced Thermoplastics
Authors: Looijmans Stan F. S. P. , Spanjaards Michelle M. A. , Puskar Ljiljana , Cavallo Dario , Anderson Patrick D. , van Breemen Lambèrt C. A.
Published: November 2022

Fiber-reinforced polymer composites are largely employed for their improved strength with respect to unfilled matrices. Considering semi-crystalline materials under relevant processing conditions, the applied pressure and flow induce shear stresses at the fiber–polymer interface. These stresses may strongly enhance the nucleation ability of the fiber surface with respect to the quiescent case. It is thus possible to assume that the fiber features are no longer of importance and that crystallization is dominated by the effect of flow. However, by making use of an advanced experimental technique, i.e., polarization-modulated synchrotron infrared microspectroscopy (PM-SIRMS), we are able to show that the opposite is true for the industrially relevant case of isotactic polypropylene (iPP). With PM-SIRMS, the local chain orientation is measured with micron-size spatial resolution. This orientation can be related to the polymer nucleation density along the fiber surface. For various combinations of an iPP matrix and fiber, the degree of orientation in the cylindrical layer that develops during flow correlates well with the differences in nucleation density found in quiescent conditions. This result shows that the morphological development during processing of polymer composites is not solely determined by the flow field, nor by the nucleating ability of the fiber surface alone, but rather by a synergistic combination of the two. In addition, using finite element modeling, it is demonstrated that, under the experimentally applied flow conditions, the interphase structure formation is mostly dominated by the rheological characteristics of the material rather than perturbations in experimental conditions, such as shear rate, layer thickness, and temperature. This once again highlights the importance of matrix–filler interplay during flow and, thus, of material selection in the design of hybrid and lightweight composite technologies.
Biochemical and Microbiological Changes Associated with Fermentation of Durum Wheat for Lemzeïet Processing, a Traditional Algerian Fermented Food
Authors: Becila Fatima Zohra , Bouasla Abdallah , Turchiuli Christelle , Boussekine Rania , Bekhouche Farida , Wójtowicz Agnieszka
Published: November 2022

In Algeria, “Lemzeïet” is prepared by the natural fermentation of wheat. This study aimed to follow the evolution of microbiological and biochemical properties of Lemzeïet with and without vinegar addition for 3, 6, 9 and 12 months. Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) were identified and the microbial count, as well as pH, acidity, protein, fat, ash and starch contents were determined. Results showed that Lemzeïet samples represented a safe product after the gradual absence of fungi. It also contained a significant load of LAB that were cocci or rods, white or yellow, grouped in chain, pair and tetrad. LAB isolates were mannitol positive, grew between 10 and 45 °C, showed resistance at 63.5 °C and the majority were homo-fermentative. Results showed a significant decrease in pH during fermentation regardless of the vinegar addition. Protein content increased up to 14.90% and 15.50% at the end of fermentation. The fat and starch contents decreased after 12 months of fermentation, regardless of the vinegar addition. Ash content remained high (1.41% and 1.45%) after six months of fermentation with and without vinegar, respectively. The microbiological and the biochemical characteristics of Lemzeïet make it a very interesting raw material in the manufacturing of healthy foods.
Intelligent Recognition Algorithm of Multiple Myocardial Infarction Based on Morphological Feature Extraction
Authors: Xu Wenchang , Wang Lei , Wang Biao , Cheng Wenbo
Published: November 2022

Myocardial infarction is a type of heart disease marked by rapid progression and high mortality. In this paper, a novel intelligent recognition algorithm of multiple myocardial infarctions using a bidirectional long short-term memory (BiLSTM) neural network classification was proposed. This algorithm was based on morphological feature extraction, which can greatly improve the diagnostic efficiency of doctors for different kinds of myocardial infarction diseases. The algorithm includes noise reduction and beat segmentation of electrocardiogram (ECG) signals from the Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt (PTB) database. According to the medical diagnosis guide, the distance feature of the whole waveform and the amplitude feature of the branch lead waveform are extracted. According to the extracted features, the long short-term memory network (LSTM) and the BiLSTM neural networks are built to classify and recognize heartbeats. The experimental results show that the accuracy of the morphological feature + BiLSTM algorithm in MI detection is 99.4%. At the same time, among the six common myocardial infarction diseases, the location and recognition rate of the culprit vessel is high. The sensitivity, specificity, PPV, NPV, and F1 score parameters all reach more than 98.4%, and the kappa coefficient also reaches 0.983, while the overall accuracy reaches 98.6%. The accuracy of this algorithm is improved by at least 1% compared with that of other existing algorithms. Thus, this study exhibits a very important clinical application value.
Process Design and Assessment of the Performance of Three Macrophytes in a Biorefinery Polishing Partly Treated Sewage in Novel SHEFROL Bioreactors
Authors: -Abbasi Tabassum , Patnaik Pratiksha , Abbasi S. A.
Published: November 2022

The development of a biorefinery is described based on rapid polishing of partially treated sewage with three different species of macrophytes in the recently developed SHEFROL® bioreactor which functions almost entirely on solar and gravitational energy, requiring no chemicals. It was seen that at a hydraulic retention time (HRT) of just 2 h, suspended solids, COD, BOD, total Kjeldahl nitrogen, soluble phosphorus, zinc, copper, nickel, and manganese are reduced to the extents of 92–95%, 76–78%, 77–81%, 56–61%, 60–66%, 43–46%, 45–48%, 30–35%, and 31–33%, respectively. The treated water meets the water quality standards set for the discharge into surface water bodies. M. quadrifolia was seen to be most effective of the three macrophytes, followed by P. stratiotes and S. molesta, as a sewage cleansing agent, but the difference in the performance of the macrophytes was only marginal, and not highly significant statistically (p ≥ 0.5). The paper also shows that it is possible to extract energy precursors in the form of volatile fatty acids (VFAs) from the harvested macrophyte biomass and then convert the biomass into organic fertiliser. All the steps associated with the closed loop circular biorefinery occur at ambient temperatures and pressures, requiring little consumption of energy and materials, and leaving negligible footprints.
How to Cope with Loneliness during the COVID-19 Pandemic? Perspectives of Confucianism, Daoism, and Buddhism
Authors: Ding Xiaojun , Shang Bingxing , Yu Feng
Published: November 2022

The sudden outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic has changed people’s long-standing group life, and “less gathering” has become a popular slogan during this period. People will probably feel lonely when they are physically, socially, or mentally distanced and isolated or excluded, and they usually perceive a deficiency in the quality or quantity of their social relationships. Although loneliness is easily conflated with solitude, loneliness as an emotion is generally regarded as negative while solitude can be positive. There are various causes and effects of loneliness during the COVID-19 pandemic, and loneliness has been found to have significant impacts on poorer physical and mental health. Religiosity and spirituality are specifically proven to have a great impact on handling loneliness during the COVID-19 pandemic. When regarding belongingness as the opposite of loneliness and social isolation, religious belonging means a feeling of being “at home” and “connected”. In this paper, from a comparative approach, we attempt to investigate how the three most prominent traditions in East Asia, i.e., Confucianism, Daoism, and Buddhism, can help manage the feeling of loneliness. Due to different understandings of loneliness, their coping strategies for loneliness also vary. Through a preliminary study of “benevolence and rites,” “wu-wei and freedom,” and “mindfulness and spiritual realization,” we can learn from the ancient wisdom about how to reduce loneliness and promote spiritual well-being during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Prediction of Future Spatial and Temporal Evolution Trends of Reference Evapotranspiration in the Yellow River Basin, China
Authors: Jian Shengqi , Wang Aoxue , Su Chengguo , Wang Kun
Published: November 2022

Reference evapotranspiration (ET0) is an integral part of the regional hydrological cycle and energy balance and is extremely sensitive to climate change. Based on temperature data from 24 global climate models (GCMs) in the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 6 (CMIP6), this study developed a multi-model ensemble based on delta statistical downscaling with multiple interpolation methods and evaluation indicators to predict the spatial and temporal evolution trends of ET0 in the Yellow River Basin (YRB) under four emission scenarios (SSP126, SSP245, SSP370, and SSP585) for the near- (2022–2040), mid- (2041–2060), and long- (2081–2100) term future. Results demonstrate that regional data generated based on delta statistical downscaling had good simulation performance for the monthly mean, maximum, and minimum temperatures in the YRB, and the developed multi-model ensemble had better simulation capability than any single model. Compared to the historical period (1901–2014), the annual ET0 showed a highly significant increase for different future emission scenarios, and the increase is faster with increasing radiative forcing. The first main cycle of ET0 change was 52, 53, 60, and 48 years for the SSP126, SSP245, SSP370, and SSP585, respectively. ET0 in the YRB had positive values for EOF1 under all four emission scenarios, responding to a spatially consistent trend across the region. Compared to the historical period, the spatial distribution of ET0 under different future emission scenarios was characterized by being larger in the west and smaller in the east. As the radiative forcing scenario increased and time extended, ET0 significantly increased, with a maximum variation of 112.91% occurring in the western part of the YRB in the long-term future under the SSP585 scenario. This study can provide insight into the water cycle patterns of watersheds and scientific decision support for relevant departments to address the challenges of climate change.