bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Impact of 52-Week Single Inhaler Device Triple Therapy versus Dual Therapy on the Mortality of COPD Patients: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials
Authors: Lai Chih-Cheng , Chen Chao-Hsien , Chen Kuang-Hung , Wang Cheng-Yi , Huang Tsan-Ming , Wang Ya-Hui , Wang Hao-Chien
Published: January 2022

There are more single inhaler device triple therapy available for COPD patients now. However, the effect of long-term triple therapy fixed dose combination (FDC) on mortality remains unclear. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of one-year single inhaler device triple therapy, including long-acting β2-agonists (LABAs), long-acting muscarinic receptor antagonists (LAMAs), and inhaled corticosteroids (ICSs), with dual therapies, comprised of either LABA/LAMA or ICS/LABA, on the mortality of patients with COPD. We searched the PubMed, Cochrane library, Web of Science, Embase databases, and clinical trial registry of clinicaltrials.gov and WHO ICTRP. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) compared single inhaler device triple and dual therapies for 52 weeks were selected for the meta-analysis. The primary endpoint was all-cause mortality. A total of 6 RCTs were selected for the meta-analysis, including 10,274 patients who received single inhaler device triple therapy (ICS/LABA/LAMA FDC) and 12,395 patients who received ICS/LABA or LABA/LAMA dual therapy. Risk of death was significantly lower in the ICS/LABA/LAMA FDC group compared to the LABA/LAMA group (RR = 0.69, 95% CI = 0.53–0.90, p = 0.007). There was no significant difference in mortality between the ICS/LABA/LAMA FDC and ICS/LABA therapy groups (RR = 0.94, 95% CI = 0.72–1.24, p = 0.66). In addition, patients receiving ICS/LABA/LAMA FDC therapy had less moderate or severe exacerbations compared with the dual therapy groups (RR = 0.76, 95% CI = 0.73–0.80, p < 0.001 for LABA/LAMA; RR = 0.84, 95% CI = 0.78–0.90, p < 0.001 for ICS/LABA). By contrast, the risk of pneumonia in the ICS/LABA/LAMA FDC group was higher than in the LABA/LAMA group (RR = 1.43, 95% CI = 1.21–1.68, p < 0.001). In conclusion, ICS/LABA/LAMA FDC therapy could help improve the clinical outcomes of patients with COPD. However, triple therapy could increase the risk of pneumonia in comparison with LABA/LAMA dual therapy.
Down-Regulation of C1GALT1 Enhances the Progression of Cholangiocarcinoma through Activation of AKT/ERK Signaling Pathways
Authors: Khiaowichit Juthamas , Talabnin Chutima , Dechsukhum Chavaboon , Silsirivanit Atit , Talabnin Krajang
Published: January 2022

Alteration of mucin-type O-glycosylation is implicated in tumor progression and metastasis of cholangiocarcinoma (CCA). Core 1 β1-3 Galactosyltransferase (C1GALT1) is a primary enzyme that regulates the elongation of core 1-derived mucin-type O-glycans. Dysregulation of C1GALT1 has been documented in multiple cancers and is associated with aberrant core 1 O-glycosylation and cancer aggressiveness; however, the expression of C1GALT1 and its role in CCA progression remains unknown. Our study demonstrated that C1GALT1 was downregulated in CCA tissues at both the mRNA and protein levels. The biological function of C1GALT1 using siRNA demonstrated that suppression of C1GALT1 in the CCA cell lines (KKU-055 and KKU-100) increased CCA progression, evidenced by: (i) Induction of CCA cell proliferation and 5-fluorouracil resistance in a dose-dependent manner; (ii) up-regulation of growth-related genes, ABC transporter genes, and anti-apoptotic proteins; and (iii) an increase in the activation/phosphorylation of AKT and ERK in silencing C1GALT1 cells. We demonstrated that silencing C1GALT1 in CCA cell lines was associated with immature core 1 O-glycosylation, demonstrated by high expression of VVL-binding glycans and down-regulation of other main O-linked glycosyltransferases β1,3-N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase 6 (B3GNT6) and ST6 N-Acetylgalactosaminide Alpha-2,6-Sialyltransferase 1 (ST6GALNAC1) in C1GALT1 knockdown. Our findings demonstrate that down-regulation of C1GALT1 in CCA increases the expression of immature core 1 O-glycan, enhancing CCA progression, including growth and 5-fluorouracil resistance via the activation of the AKT/ERK signaling pathway.
Evaluating the Impact of Intraoperative MRI in Neuro-Oncology by Scientometric Analysis
Authors: Deora Harsh , Ferini Gianluca , Garg Kanwaljeet , Narayanan M. D. Krishna , Umana Giuseppe Emmanuele
Published: January 2022

(1) Objective—Intraoperative Magnetic Resonance Imaging (IOMRI) guided surgery has revolutionized neurosurgery and has especially impacted the field of Neuro-Oncology, with randomized controlled trails demonstrating improved resection, fewer postoperative deficits and enhanced survival rates. Bibliometric analysis allows for analysing chronological trends and measuring the impact and directions of research in a particular field. To the authors’ knowledge, this is the first Bibliometric analysis conducted on IOMRI. (2) Methods—a title specific search of the Web of Science database was executed using the keywords ‘intraoperative MRI’, ‘intraoperative magnetic resonance imaging’, and “IOMRI’ on 23rd April 2021. Results—663 articles met the inclusion criteria and were included in the final analysis. In addition, the 100 most cited were analysed as well. Among these 100 articles, 76 were original research papers, while 14 others were review articles. Amongst all the authors, Ganslandt contributed the maximum number of articles, with USA being the largest single source of these articles, followed by Germany. Interestingly, a shift of trends from “Image guided surgery’ and ‘accuracy’ in the early 2000s to ‘extent of resection’, ‘impact’, and ‘survival’ in the later years was noted. (3) Conclusions—IOMRI has now become an integral part of neurosurgery, especially in neuro-oncology. Focus has now shifted from implementation to refinement of technique in the form of functional and oncological outcomes. Therefore, future research in this direction is imperative and will be of more impact that in any other sub-field related to IOMRI.
Effect of Combined Balance Exercises and Kinesio Taping on Balance, Postural Stability, and Severity of Ankle Instability in Female Athletes with Functional Ankle Instability
Authors: Khalili Sara Mahmoudzadeh , Barati Amir , Oliveira Rafael , Nobari Hadi
Published: January 2022

Ankle sprain is a common musculoskeletal injury, and recurrent ankle sprains often lead to ankle instability. This study aimed to examine whether a 6-week balance training on a wobble board (WB) combined with kinesio taping (KT) is effective in improving balance, postural stability, and ankle stability among female athletes with functional ankle instability (FAI). Twenty-four female athletes with FAI were randomly assigned to study (SG) or control groups (CG). SG attended a 6-week training protocol of combined balance training on the wobble board with KT applied to ankles during exercise. CG only went through a 6-week balance training procedure that was the same as the SG. Before and after the training program, balance and postural stability and the severity of ankle instability were assessed by single-leg Biodex Balance system and Cumberland Ankle Instability Tool (CAIT), respectively. The analysis revealed that the scores of balance and postural stability decreased after the 6-week training for CG (p = 0.002) and SG (p = 0.001), which indicates an improvement for these variables, and the score of CAIT increased, which means the severity of instability reduced (p = 0.001 for both groups). Significant between-group differences were found for balance and postural stability (t = 2.79, p = 0.011, g = −1.99) and the severity of instability (t = 2.082, p = 0.049, g = 1.36), favoring SG compared with CG. This study showed that the addition of KT to balance training is more effective than balance training alone in improving balance, postural stability, and severity of ankle instability in female athletes with FAI. Our findings could provide a preliminary reference for designing combined balance and KT programs for delivering health benefits to females with FAI.
Trends and Outlooks in Synthetic Biology: A Special Issue for Celebrating 10 Years of Life and Its Landmarks
Authors: Ichihashi Norizaku , Stano Pasquale
Published: January 2022

Since its inception in December 2011, Board Editors, Guest Editors, as well as the Editorial Office of Life have been working hard to make Life an outstanding journal that receives the highest-quality submissions [...]
The Role of Sirtuin 1 in Palmitic Acid-Induced Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress in Cardiac Myoblasts
Authors: Yang Hsiang-Yu , Chen Jhao-Ying , Huo Yen-Nien , Yu Pei-Ling , Lin Pei-Zhen , Hsu Shih-Che , Huang Shih-Ming , Tsai Chien-Sung , Lin Chih-Yuan
Published: January 2022

Background: Lipotoxicity causes endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, leading to cell apoptosis. Sirtuin 1 (Sirt1) regulates gene transcription and cellular metabolism. In this study, we investigated the role of Sirt1 in palmitate-induced ER stress. Methods: Both H9c2 myoblasts and heart-specific Sirt1 knockout mice fed a palmitate-enriched high-fat diet were used. Results: The high-fat diet induced C/EBP homologous protein (CHOP) and activating transcription factor 4 (ATF4) expression in both Sirt1 knockout mice and controls. The Sirt1 knockout mice showed higher CHOP and ATF4 expression compared to those in the control. Palmitic acid (PA) induced ATF4 and CHOP expression in H9c2 cells. PA-treated H9c2 cells showed decreased cytosolic NAD+/NADH alongside reduced Sirt1′s activity. The H9c2 cells showed increased ATF4 and CHOP expression when transfected with plasmid encoding dominant negative mutant Sirt1. Sirt1 activator SRT1720 did not affect CHOP and ATF4 expression. Although SRT1720 enhanced the nuclear translocation of ATF4, the extent of the binding of ATF4 to the CHOP promoter did not increase in PA treated-H9c2 cells. Conclusion: PA-induced ER stress is mediated through the upregulation of ATF4 and CHOP. Cytosolic NAD+ concentration is diminished by PA-induced ER stress, leading to decreased Sirt1 activity. The Sirt1 activator SRT1720 promotes the nuclear translocation of ATF4 in PA-treated H9c2 cells.
Development of Actuators for Repairing Cracks by Coating W Wires with Reactive Multilayers
Authors: Santos Silva Gabriel , Maj Lukasz , Morgiel Jerzy , Vieira Maria Teresa , Ramos Ana Sofia
Published: January 2022

The aim of this research work was to optimize the coating of tungsten wires with reactive multilayer thin films and promote an exothermic self-propagating reaction. The ultimate goal is to use this heat to liquify low melting temperature materials, and thus block crack propagation in metallic materials. Ni/Me (Me = Al, Ti) multilayers were deposited by a DC (direct current) magnetron sputtering onto tungsten wires with diameters of 0.05 and 0.20 mm. The depositions were carried out to obtain films with near equiatomic average chemical composition and a modulation period (bilayer thickness) between 20 and 50 nm. The cross-section of the films was analyzed using electron microscopy before and after electrical ignition. A new substrate holder was developed to improve the quality of the Al/Ni films, allowing a reduction in the defects previously observed. The Ni/Ti thin films showed no discernible defects, regardless of the substrate holder. However, after ignition, the Ni + Ti reaction occurred in a non-self-propagating mode. Passing an electric current through a wire (ϕ = 0.05 mm) coated with an Al/Ni thin film, promoted a flash of light that was associated with the start of a self-propagating reaction. The reaction product was a B2-AlNi intermetallic phase. W wires coated with reactive multilayers may contribute to crack filling, and have potential to be self-healing actuators.
Natural Cellulosic Fiber Reinforced Concrete: Influence of Fiber Type and Loading Percentage on Mechanical and Water Absorption Performance
Authors: Jamshaid Hafsa , Mishra Rajesh Kumar , Raza Ali , Hussain Uzair , Rahman Md. Lutfor , Nazari Shabnam , Chandan Vijay , Muller Miroslav , Choteborsky Rostislav
Published: January 2022

The paper reports experimental research regarding the mechanical characteristics of concrete reinforced with natural cellulosic fibers like jute, sisal, sugarcane, and coconut. Each type of natural fiber, with an average of 30 mm length, was mixed with a concrete matrix in varying proportions of 0.5% to 3% mass. The tensile and compressive strength of the developed concrete samples with cellulosic fiber reinforcement gradually increased with the increasing proportion of natural cellulosic fibers up to 2%. A further increase in fiber loading fraction results in deterioration of the mechanical properties. By using jute and sisal fiber reinforcement, about 11.6% to 20.2% improvement in tensile and compressive strength, respectively, was observed compared to plain concrete, just by adding 2% of fibers in the concrete mix. Bending strength increased for the natural fiber-based concrete with up to 1.5% fiber loading. However, a decrease in bending strength was observed beyond 1.5% loading due to cracks at fiber−concrete interface. The impact performance showed gradual improvement with natural fiber loading of up to 2%. The water absorption capacity of natural cellulosic fiber reinforced concrete decreased substantially; however, it increased with the loading percent of fibers. The natural fiber reinforced concrete can be commercially used for interior or exterior pavements and flooring slabs as a sustainable construction material for the future.
State of the Art in Gold Nanoparticle Synthesisation via Pulsed Laser Ablation in Liquid and Its Characterisation for Molecular Imaging: A Review
Authors: Mat Isa Siti Zaleha , Zainon Rafidah , Tamal Mahbubunnabi
Published: January 2022

With recent advances in nanotechnology, various nanomaterials have been used as drug carriers in molecular imaging for the treatment of cancer. The unique physiochemical properties and biocompatibility of gold nanoparticles have developed a breakthrough in molecular imaging, which allows exploration of gold nanoparticles in drug delivery for diagnostic purpose. The conventional gold nanoparticles synthetisation methods have limitations with chemical contaminations during the synthesisation process and the use of higher energy. Thus, various innovative approaches in gold nanoparticles synthetisation are under development. Recently, studies have been focused on the development of eco-friendly, non-toxic, cost-effective and simple gold nanoparticle synthesisation. The pulsed laser ablation in liquid (PLAL) technique is a versatile synthetic and convincing technique due to its high efficiency, eco-friendly and facile method to produce gold nanoparticle. Therefore, this study aimed to review the eco-friendly gold nanoparticle synthesisation method via the PLAL method and to characterise the gold nanoparticles properties for molecular imaging. This review paper provides new insight to understand the PLAL technique in producing gold nanoparticles and the PLAL parameters that affect gold nanoparticle properties to meet the desired needs in molecular imaging.
Effect of Sb and Zn Addition on the Microstructures and Tensile Properties of Sn–Bi-Based Alloys
Authors: Yamauchi Akira , Kurose Masashi
Published: January 2022

The tensile behavior of Sn–Bi–Cu and Sn–Bi–Ni alloys has been widely investigated. Reportedly, the addition of small amounts of a third element can refine the microstructures of the eutectic Sn-58mass% Bi solder and improve its ductility. However, the superplasticity mechanism of Sn-based alloys has not been clearly established. Therefore, in this study, the effects of Sb and Zn addition on the microstructures and tensile properties of Sn–Bi-based alloys were investigated. The alloys were subjected to tensile tests under various strain rates and temperatures. We found that Zn- and Sb-added Sn–Bi-based alloys demonstrated superplastic deformation at high temperatures and low strain rates. Sb addition significantly affected the elongation of the Sn–Bi–Sb alloys because the metal dissolves in both the primary Sn phase and the eutectic Sn–Bi matrix. The segregation of Zn and formation of needle-like Zn particles at the eutectic Sn–Bi phase boundary affected the superplastic deformation of the alloys. The deformation of the Sn–40Bi-based alloys at high temperatures and low strain rates led to dynamic recovery, dynamic recrystallization, and/or grain boundary slip because of the accumulation of voids.
Production of Particleboard Using Various Particle Size Hemp Shives as Filler
Authors: Zvirgzds Kristaps , Kirilovs Edgars , Kukle Silvija , Gross Uldis
Published: January 2022

Research was performed into the use of hemp shive as a fast-growing and carbon-storing agricultural waste material in the production of particleboard for the construction industry. Hemp shives were acquired and prepared for board production with the use of milling and sieving to reach two target groups with 0.5 mm to 2 mm and 2 mm to 5.6 mm particle size ranges. The cold pressing method was used to produce hemp boards with Kleiberit urea formaldehyde resin as a binder. The boards were made as 19 mm thick single-layer parts with a density range of 300 ± 30 kg/m3, which qualifies them as low-density boards. Exploratory samples were made using milled hemp fibers with higher density. Additional components such as color pigments and wood finishes were added to test improved features over raw board samples. Tests were performed to determine moisture contents, density range, structural properties, and water absorption amounts. Produced board bending strength reached 2.4 MPa for the coarser particle group and thermal conductivity of 0.057 ± 0.002 W/(mK). The results were compared with existing materials used in the industry or in the development stage to indicate options of developed board applications as indoor insulation material in the construction industry.
Microstructures of FeCoNiMo and CrFeCoNiMo Alloys, and the Corrosion Properties in 1 M Nitric Acid and 1 M Sodium Chloride Solutions
Authors: Tsau Chun-Huei , Tsai Meng-Chi , Wang Wei-Li
Published: January 2022

FeCoNiMo and CrFeCoNiMo equimolar alloys were prepared by arc-melting. The microstructures of the as-cast alloys were examined by SEM, HREM and XRD; and a potentiodynamic polarization test of the as-cast alloys was undertaken to evaluate the corrosion resistance in the solutions. Results showed that both of FeCoNiMo and CrFeCoNiMo equimolar alloys had a dendritic structure. The dendrites of these two alloys were a single phase which was a simple cubic (SC) structure with large lattice constant; and the interdendrities of these two alloys had a dual-phased eutectic structure in which the phases were face-centered cubic (FCC) and simple cubic (SC). The hardness of CrFeCoNiMo alloy was higher than that of FeCoNiMo alloy. Additionally, the potentiodynamic polarization test showed that CrFeCoNiMo alloy was better than FeCoNiMo alloy in 1 M nitric acid and 1 M sodium chloride solutions. Adding chromium into FeCoNiMo alloy could increase corrosion resistance in these two solutions. All of the results indicated that the CrFeCoNiMo alloy surpassed FeCoNiMo alloy.
Investigation on Residual Strength and Failure Mechanism of the Ceramic/UHMWPE Armors after Ballistic Tests
Authors: Chen Zhiyong , Xu Yingqiang , Li Miaoling , Li Bin , Song Weizhi , Xiao Li , Cheng Yulong , Jia Songyan
Published: January 2022

In this paper, the ballistic damage mechanism and residual bearing capacity of ceramic/backing plate armor were investigated. First, a series of lightweight armors were prepared, consisting of ceramic and ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene fiber-reinforced resin matrix composite (UHMWPE) plates, and were wrapped in a high-strength fabric. Then, the ceramic/UHMWPE armors were hit by one or two bullets, and finally subjected to compression testing. The results showed that the main failure mode of integral ceramic/UHMWPE armors was ceramic brittle fracture. Many zigzag patterns on the compression curve indicated that the specimens had undergone the stages of crack propagation, ceramic fragment reorganization, plastic deformation of UHMWPE backing plate, interlaminar tearing, and overall fracture. The failure of spliced ceramic/UHMWPE armors was mainly due to the dislocation between ceramic sheets; the smooth compression curves indicated that there was no recombination of ceramic fragments and obvious interlayer debonding during the compression. Under the maximum load, each ceramic/UHMWPE armor with ballistic damage did not suddenly break and fail. The structure and thickness of ceramic plates all had an impact on residual strength: under the same structure, the greater the thickness, the greater the residual strength, but the relationship between them was not linear; under the same thickness, the residual strength of the spliced ceramic/UHMWPE armor was higher. The residual strength was also related to the number of shots: after two bullets hit, its value was only one-third of that after one bullet hit.
Numerical Analysis of the Relationship between Friction Coefficient and Repose Angle of Blast Furnace Raw Materials by Discrete Element Method
Authors: Wei Shiyu , Wei Han , Saxen Henrik , Yu Yaowei
Published: January 2022

In recent years, the discrete element method (DEM) has been widely used to study the factors affecting the repose angle and calibrate particle parameters for simulations. In this paper, DEM is used to study the effects of the coefficient of rolling and static friction of pellet, sinter and coke particles on the repose angle. By comparison of the results of simulations and physical experiments, the coefficients of rolling and static friction suitable for simulation work are determined. The results demonstrate that repose angle increases with the coefficient of rolling and static friction, but the rate of increase gradually decays, when the coefficient of rolling friction exceeds 0.4 or the coefficient of static friction exceeds 0.35. The coefficient of static friction has a greater impact on the repose angle than the coefficient of rolling friction. The rougher of the base surface, the larger the repose angle of the formed particle piled. It can be concluded that appropriate coefficient of rolling and static friction for simulations can be obtained by the outlined procedure.
Research on the Morphology Reconstruction of Deep Cryogenic Treatment on PtRu/nitrogen-Doped Graphene Composite Carbon Nanofibers
Authors: Lv Shuaishuai , Zhu Yangyang , Wang Xingxing , Zhu Yu , Wang Kaixuan , Ni Hongjun , Gu Ruobo
Published: January 2022

To improve the performance of PtRu/nitrogen-doped graphene composite carbon nanofibers, the composite carbon nanofibers were thermally compensated by deep cryogenic treatment (DCT), which realized the morphology reconstruction of composite carbon nanofibers. The effects of different DCT times were compared: 12 h, 18 h, and 24 h. The morphology reconstruction mechanism was explored by combining the change of inner chain structure and material group. The results showed that the fibers treated for 12 h had better physical and chemical properties, where the diameter is evenly distributed between 500 and 800 nm. Combined with Fourier infrared analysis, the longer the cryogenic time, the more easily the water vapor and nitrogen enter polymerization reaction, causing changes of chain structure and degradation performance. With great performance of carbonization and group transformation, the PtRu/nitrogen-doped graphene composite carbon nanofibers can be used as an efficient direct alcohol fuel cell catalyst and promote its commercialization.
3D Porous MXene (Ti3C2Tx) Prepared by Alkaline-Induced Flocculation for Supercapacitor Electrodes
Authors: Chen Weihua , Tang Jiancheng , Cheng Peidong , Ai Yunlong , Xu Yi , Ye Nan
Published: January 2022

2D layered MXene (Ti3C2Tx) with high conductivity and pseudo-capacitance properties presents great application potential with regard to electrode materials for supercapacitors. However, the self-restacking and agglomeration phenomenon between Ti3C2Tx layers retards ion transfer and limits electrochemical performance improvement. In this study, a 3D porous structure of Ti3C2Tx was obtained by adding alkali to a Ti3C2Tx colloid, which was followed by flocculation. Alkaline-induced flocculation is simple and effective, can be completed within minutes, and provides 3D porous networks. As 3D porous network structures present larger surface areas and more active sites, ions transfer accelerates, which is crucial with regard to the improvement of the superior capacitance and rate performance of electrodes. The sample processed with KOH (K-a-Ti3C2Tx) exhibited a high capacity of approximately 300.2 F g−1 at the current density of 1 A g−1. The capacitance of the samples treated with NaOH and LiOH is low. In addition, annealing is essential to further improve the capacitive performance of Ti3C2Tx. After annealing at 400 °C for 2 h in a vacuum tube furnace, the sample treated with KOH (K-A-Ti3C2Tx) exhibited an excellent specific capacitance of approximately 400.7 F g−1 at a current density of 1 A g−1, which is considerably higher than that of pristine Ti3C2Tx (228.2 F g−1). Furthermore, after 5000 charge–discharge cycles, the capacitance retention rate reached 89%. This result can be attributed to annealing, which can further remove unfavourable surface groups, such as –F or –Cl, and then improve conductivity capacitance and rate performance. This study can provide an effective approach to the preparation of high-performance supercapacitor electrode materials.
New Horizons for Hydroxyapatite Supported by DXA Assessment—A Preliminary Study
Authors: Litak Jakub , Grochowski Cezary , Rysak Andrzej , Mazurek Marek , Blicharski Tomasz , Kamieniak Piotr , Wolszczak Piotr , Rahnama-Hezavah Mansur , Litak Grzegorz
Published: January 2022

Dual Energy X-ray Absorptiometry (DXA) is a tool that allows the assessment of bone density. It was first presented by Cameron and Sorenson in 1963 and was approved by the Food and Drug Administration. Misplacing the femoral neck box, placing a trochanteric line below the midland and improper placement of boundary lines are the most common errors made during a DXA diagnostic test made by auto analysis. Hydroxyapatite is the most important inorganic component of teeth and bone tissue. It is estimated to constitute up to 70% of human bone weight and up to 50% of its volume. Calcium phosphate comes in many forms; however, studies have shown that only tricalcium phosphate and hydroxyapatite have the characteristics that allow their use as bone-substituted materials. The purpose of this study is aimed at analyzing the results of hip densitometry and hydorxyapatite distribution in order to better assess the structure and mineral density of the femoral neck. However, a detailed analysis of the individual density curves shows some qualitative differences that may be important in assessing bone strength in the area under study. To draw more specific conclusions on the therapy applied for individual patients, we need to determine the correct orientation of the bone from the resulting density and document the trends in the density distribution change. The average results presented with the DXA method are insufficient.
Hexagonal Nano and Micro Boron Nitride: Properties and Lubrication Applications
Authors: Senyk Szymon , Chodkiewicz Arkadiusz , Gocman Krzysztof , Szczęśniak Barbara , Kałdoński Tadeusz
Published: January 2022

The article presents a discussion on the use of hexagonal boron nitride as an additive to lubricants. Based on the analysis of the research, factors determining its application were identified. These include particle size distribution, their morphology, specific surface area, and porosity. Next, the research identifying these properties for the four types of h-BN was described. Based on the results, the possible mechanisms of the influence of individual h-BN types were described. It was also found that the use of h-BN nanoparticles as lubricants seems to be promising.
Irradiation of W and K-Doped W Laminates without or with Cu, V, Ti Interlayers under a Pulsed 6 MeV Electron Beam
Authors: Ticoș D. , Galaţanu M. , Galaţanu A. , Dumitru M. , Mitu M. L. , Udrea N. , Scurtu A. , Ticoș C. M.
Published: January 2022

Small multilayered laminated samples consisting of stacks of W (or K-doped W) foils without an interlayer or with interlayers from Cu, V, and Ti were exposed to a pulsed electron beam with an energy of 6 MeV in several irradiation sessions. All samples maintained their macroscopic integrity, suggesting that the W-metal laminate concept is compatible with high heat flux applications. The surface of the samples was analyzed using a scanning electron microscope (SEM) before and after each irradiation session. The experimental results indicate that electron beam irradiation induces obvious modifications on the surface of the samples. Morphological changes such as the appearance of nanodroplets, nanostructures, and melting and cracking, depending on the sample type and the electron beam fluence, are observed. The irradiation is carried out in a vacuum at a pressure of 2 to 4 × 10−2 torr, without active cooling for the samples. The structures observed on the surface of the samples are likely due to electron beam heating and vaporization followed by vapor condensation in the volume adjacent to the surface.
Multi-Technique Diagnostic Analysis of Plasters and Mortars from the Church of the Annunciation (Tortorici, Sicily)
Authors: Spoto Sebastiano Ettore , Paladini Giuseppe , Caridi Francesco , Crupi Vincenza , D’Amico Sebastiano , Majolino Domenico , Venuti Valentina
Published: January 2022

Plasters and mortars of the Church of the Annunciation (Tortorici, Sicily) were characterized, for the first time, both at the elemental and molecular levels, by means of portable X-ray fluorescence (XRF) and Raman spectroscopy, to achieve information on the “state of health” of the whole structure. The understanding of their degradation mechanisms and the identification of consequent degradation patterns can define the environmental factors responsible for interpreting the potential pathological forms that can impact the general building vulnerability. In this sense, the results obtained in this article provide relevant information to identify and address both the characterization of building materials and the fundamental causes of their deterioration. At the same time, if coupled with the attempt to supply a chronological order of the major restoration interventions carried out on the investigated site, they provide new insights to calibrate the models for building vulnerability studies.
Design and Analysis of a Stiffness-Enhanced 3-PPS Parallel Mechanism for Fault-Tolerant Underwater Vectored Thrusters
Authors: Jiang Dexin , Zheng Tianjiang , Yang Guilin , Tian Yingzhong , Fang Zaojun , Li Huamin , Zhang Chi , Ye Hongwu
Published: January 2022

Vectored thrusters can significantly improve the maneuverability of underwater vehicles. However, due to the harsh underwater environment and severe working conditions, the thrust-vectoring device needs to be designed with high stiffness and high reliability. In this paper, a 3-degree-of-freedom (3-DOF) 3-PPS parallel mechanism is employed for the 2-DOF thrust-vectoring device, which has the advantages of high stiffness and a certain level of fault tolerance. The stiffness of the 3-PPS parallel mechanism is enhanced through employing additional passive prismatic joints. Based on the zero-torsion characteristics of the parallel mechanism, closed-form solutions are obtained for displacement analyses, and the orientation workspace of the moving platform under an actuation failure, i.e., one of the active prismatic joints is locked, is particularly investigated through an equi-volumetric partition method. To analyze the orientation workspace distribution under the actuation failure, the fault-tolerant workspace and the maximum inscribed workspace are defined. Furthermore, a new fault-tolerant index is proposed to evaluate the fault tolerance of the parallel mechanism. The proposed design analysis is validated through experiments on an engineering prototype of the parallel mechanism.
Acoustic Signal Classification Using Symmetrized Dot Pattern and Convolutional Neural Network
Authors: Wu Jian-Da , Luo Wen-Jun , Yao Kai-Chao
Published: January 2022

The classification of sound signals can be applied to the fault diagnosis of mechanical systems, such as vehicles. The traditional sound classification technology mainly uses the time-frequency domain characteristics of signals as the basis for identification. This study proposes a technique for visualizing sound signals, and uses artificial neural networks as the basis for signal classification. This feature extraction method mainly uses a principle to convert a time domain signal into a coordinate symmetrized dot pattern, and presents it in the form of snowflakes through signal conversion. To verify the feasibility of this method to classify different noise characteristic signals, the experimental work is divided into two parts, which are the identification of traditional engine vehicle noise and electric motor noise. In sound measurement, we first use the microphone and data acquisition system to measure the noise of different vehicles under the same operating conditions or the operating noise of different electric motors. We then convert the signal in the time domain into a symmetrized dot pattern and establish an acoustic symmetrized dot pattern database, and use a convolutional neural network to identify vehicle types. To achieve a better identification effect, in the process of data analysis, the effect of the time delay coefficient and weighting coefficient on the image identification effect is discussed. The experimental results show that the method can be effectively applied to the identification of traditional engine and electric vehicle classification, and can effectively achieve the purpose of sound signal classification.
An Effective Multi-Scale Feature Network for Detecting Connector Solder Joint Defects
Authors: Zhang Kaihua , Shen Haikuo
Published: January 2022

With the rapid development of industry, people’s requirements for the functionality, stability, and safety of electronic products are becoming higher and higher. As an important medium for power supply and information transmission functions of electronic products, high-quality soldering of cables and connectors ensures that the devices can operate normally. In this paper, we propose a multi-level feature detection network based on multi-level feature maps fusion and feature enhancement for detecting connector solder joints, classifying and locating qualified solder joints, and detecting seven common defective solder joints. This paper proposes a new feature map up-sampling algorithm and introduces a feature enhancement module, which better preserves the semantic information of higher-level feature maps, while at the same time enhancing the fused feature maps and weakening the effect of noise. Through comparison experiments, the mAP of the network proposed in this paper reaches 0.929 and the top-1 accuracy reaches 92%. The detection capability of each type of solder joint is greatly improved compared with the effect of other networks, which can assist engineers in the detection of weld joint quality and thus reduce the workload.
An Observer-Based Harmonic Extraction Method with Front SOGI
Authors: Xu Maoguang , Sang Zhongqing , Li Xiang , You Yimin , Dai Dongyun
Published: January 2022

With the further development of harmonic pollution in the power system, scientists have carried out research on harmonics. Among them, harmonic detection is the first step in harmonic research. In this paper, a harmonic detection method based on an observer is proposed. This method first uses the cascaded Second-Order Generalized Integration (SOGI) algorithm, which can filter the Direct Current (DC) component of the input signal to extract the fundamental frequency, and then uses a time-varying observer to extract the harmonics. This can be used to extract harmonics from a distorted online grid signal. The effectiveness of the proposed method was evaluated on the Speedgoat Rapid Control Prototype (RCP) platform. The results show that it can complete the convergence within 0.05 s, and the standard deviation after stability will not exceed 1%.
The Effect of Music Listening on EEG Functional Connectivity of Brain: A Short-Duration and Long-Duration Study
Authors: Mahmood Danyal , Nisar Humaira , Yap Vooi Voon , Tsai Chi-Yi
Published: January 2022

Music is considered a powerful brain stimulus, as listening to it can activate several brain networks. Music of different kinds and genres may have a different effect on the human brain. The goal of this study is to investigate the change in the brain’s functional connectivity (FC) when music is used as a stimulus. Secondly, the effect of listening to the subject’s favorite music is compared with listening to specifically formulated relaxing music with alpha binaural beats. Finally, the effect of the duration of music listening is studied. Subjects’ electroencephalographic (EEG) signals were captured as they listened to favorite and relaxing music. After preprocessing and artifact removal, the EEG recordings were decomposed into the delta, theta, alpha, and beta frequency bands, and the grand-averaged connectivity matrices were generated using Inter-Site Phase Clustering (ISPC) for each frequency band and each type of music. Furthermore, each lobe of the brain was analyzed separately to understand the effect of music on specific regions of the brain. EEG-FC among different channels was accessed by using graph theory and Network-based Statistics (NBS). To determine the significance of the changes in brain networks after listening to music, statistical analysis was conducted using Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) and t-test. The study of listening to music for a short duration verifies that either favorite or preferred music can affect the FC of the subject and induce a relaxation state. The short duration study also verifies a significant (ANOVA and t-test: p < 0.05) effectiveness of relaxing music over favorite music to induce relaxation and alertness in the subject. In the study of long duration, it is concluded that listening to relaxing music can increase functional connectivity and connections strength in the frontal lobe of the subject. A significant increase (ANOVA and t-test: p < 0.05) in FC in alpha and theta band and a significant decrease (ANOVA and t-test: p < 0.05) in FC in beta band in the frontal and parietal lobe of the brain verifies the hypothesis that the relaxing music can help the subject to achieve relaxation, activeness, and alertness.
An Enhanced Grey Wolf Optimizer with a Velocity-Aided Global Search Mechanism
Authors: Rezaei Farshad , Safavi Hamid Reza , Abd Elaziz Mohamed , El-Sappagh Shaker H. Ali , Al-Betar Mohammed Azmi , Abuhmed Tamer
Published: January 2022

This paper proposes a novel variant of the Grey Wolf Optimization (GWO) algorithm, named Velocity-Aided Grey Wolf Optimizer (VAGWO). The original GWO lacks a velocity term in its position-updating procedure, and this is the main factor weakening the exploration capability of this algorithm. In VAGWO, this term is carefully set and incorporated into the updating formula of the GWO. Furthermore, both the exploration and exploitation capabilities of the GWO are enhanced in VAGWO via stressing the enlargement of steps that each leading wolf takes towards the others in the early iterations while stressing the reduction in these steps when approaching the later iterations. The VAGWO is compared with a set of popular and newly proposed meta-heuristic optimization algorithms through its implementation on a set of 13 high-dimensional shifted standard benchmark functions as well as 10 complex composition functions derived from the CEC2017 test suite and three engineering problems. The complexity of the proposed algorithm is also evaluated against the original GWO. The results indicate that the VAGWO is a computationally efficient algorithm, generating highly accurate results when employed to optimize high-dimensional and complex problems.
Remaining Useful Life Estimation of Aircraft Engines Using Differentiable Architecture Search
Authors: Mao Pengli , Lin Yan , Xue Song , Zhang Baochang
Published: January 2022

Prognostics and health management (PHM) applications can prevent engines from potential serious accidents by predicting the remaining useful life (RUL). Recently, data-driven methods have been widely used to solve RUL problems. The network architecture has a crucial impact on the experiential performance. However, most of the network architectures are designed manually based on human experience with a large cost of time. To address these challenges, we propose a neural architecture search (NAS) method based on gradient descent. In this study, we construct the search space with a directed acyclic graph (DAG), where a subgraph represents a network architecture. By using softmax relaxation, the search space becomes continuous and differentiable, then the gradient descent can be used for optimization. Moreover, a partial channel connection method is introduced to accelerate the searching efficiency. The experiment is conducted on C-MAPSS dataset. In the data processing step, a fault detection method is proposed based on the k-means algorithm, which drops large valueless data and promotes the estimation performance. The experimental result shows that our method achieves superior performance with the highest estimation accuracy compared with other popular studies.
A Novel Method to Use Coordinate Based Meta-Analysis to Determine a Prior Distribution for Voxelwise Bayesian Second-Level fMRI Analysis
Authors: Han Hyemin
Published: January 2022

Previous research showed that employing results from meta-analyses of relevant previous fMRI studies can improve the performance of voxelwise Bayesian second-level fMRI analysis. In this process, prior distributions for Bayesian analysis can be determined by information acquired from the meta-analyses. However, only image-based meta-analysis, which is not widely accessible to fMRI researchers due to the lack of shared statistical images, was tested in the previous study, so the applicability of the prior determination method proposed by the previous study might be limited. In the present study, whether determining prior distributions based on coordinate-based meta-analysis, which is widely accessible to researchers, can also improve the performance of Bayesian analysis, was examined. Three different types of coordinate-based meta-analyses, BrainMap and Ginger ALE, and NeuroQuery, were tested as information sources for prior determination. Five different datasets addressing three task conditions, i.e., working memory, speech, and face processing, were analyzed via Bayesian analysis with a meta-analysis informed prior distribution, Bayesian analysis with a default Cauchy prior adjusted for multiple comparisons, and frequentist analysis with familywise error correction. The findings from the aforementioned analyses suggest that use of coordinate-based meta-analysis also significantly enhanced performance of Bayesian analysis as did image-based meta-analysis.
On the Interplay of Mathematics and Education: Advancing Computational Discovery from Recognition to Observation
Authors: Abramovich Sergei
Published: January 2022

The paper promotes the notion of computational experiment supported by a multi-tool digital environment as a means of the development of new mathematical knowledge in the context of education. The main study of the paper deals with the issues of teaching this knowledge to secondary teacher candidates within a graduate capstone mathematics education course. The interplay of mathematics and education is considered through the lens of using technology to enhance one’s mathematical background by advancing ideas from mostly known to genuinely unknown. In this paper, the knowns consist of Fibonacci numbers, Pascal’s triangle, and continued fractions; among the unknowns are Fibonacci-like polynomials and generalized golden ratios in the form of cycles of various lengths. The paper discusses the interplay of pragmatic and epistemic uses of digital tools by the learners of mathematics. The data for the study were collected over the years through solicited comments by teacher candidates enrolled in the capstone course. The main results indicate the candidates’ appreciation of the need for deep mathematical knowledge as an instrument of the modern-day pedagogy aimed at making high schoolers interested in the subject matter.
Optimal Power Flow Analysis Based on Hybrid Gradient-Based Optimizer with Moth–Flame Optimization Algorithm Considering Optimal Placement and Sizing of FACTS/Wind Power
Authors: Mohamed Amal Amin , Kamel Salah , Hassan Mohamed H. , Mosaad Mohamed I. , Aljohani Mansour
Published: January 2022

Optimal power flow (OPF) is one of the most significant electric power network control and management issues. Adding unreliable and intermittent renewable energy sources to the electrical grid increase and complicates the OPF issue, which calls for using modern optimization techniques to solve this issue. This work presents the optimal location and size of some FACTS devices in a hybrid power system containing stochastic wind and traditional thermal power plants considering OPF. The FACTS devices used are thyristor-controlled series compensator (TCSC), thyristor-controlled phase shifter (TCPS), and static var compensator (SVC). This optimal location and size of FACTS devices was determined by introducing a multi-objective function containing reserve costs for overestimation and penalty costs for underestimating intermittent renewable sources besides active power losses. The uncertainty in the wind power output is predicted using Weibull probability density functions. This multi-objective function is optimized using a hybrid technique, gradient-based optimizer (GBO), and moth–flame optimization algorithm (MFO).
Biometric Template Protection for Dynamic Touch Gestures Based on Fuzzy Commitment Scheme and Deep Learning
Authors: Bajaber Asrar , Elrefaei Lamiaa
Published: January 2022

Privacy plays an important role in biometric authentication systems. Touch authentication systems have been widely used since touch devices reached their current level of development. In this work, a fuzzy commitment scheme (FCS) is proposed based on deep learning (DL) to protect the touch-gesture template in a touch authentication system. The binary Bose–Ray-Chaudhuri code (BCH) is used with FCS to deal with touch variations. The BCH code is described by the triplet (n, k, t) where n denotes the code word’s length, k denotes the length of the key and t denotes error-correction capability. In our proposed system, the system performance is investigated using different lengths k. The learning-based approach is applied to extract touch features from raw touch data, as the recurrent neural network (RNN) is used based on a convolutional neural network (CNN). The proposed system has been evaluated on two different touch datasets: the Touchalytics dataset and BioIdent dataset. The best results obtained were with a key length k = 99 and n = 255; the false accept rate (FAR) was 0.00 and false reject rate (FRR) was 0.5854 for the Touchalytics dataset, while the FAR was 0.00 and FRR was 0.5399 with the BioIdent dataset. The FCS shows its effectiveness in dynamic authentication systems, as good results are obtained and compared with other works.