bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Development of an Online Quality Control System for Injection Molding Process
Authors: Tsai Ming-Hong , Fan-Jiang Jia-Chen , Liou Guan-Yan , Cheng Feng-Jung , Hwang Sheng-Jye , Peng Hsin-Shu , Chu Hsiao-Yeh
Published: April 2022

This research developed an adaptive control system for injection molding process. The purpose of this control system is to adaptively maintain the consistency of product quality by minimize the mass variation of injection molded parts. The adaptive control system works with the information collected through two sensors installed in the machine only—the injection nozzle pressure sensor and the temperature sensor. In this research, preliminary experiments are purposed to find master pressure curve that relates to product quality. Viscosity index, peak pressure, and timing of the peak pressure are used to characterize the pressure curve. The correlation between product quality and parameters such as switchover position and injection speed were used to produce a training data for back propagation neural network (BPNN) to compute weight and bias which are applied on the adaptive control system. By using this system, the variation of part weight is maintained to be as low as 0.14%.
Inhibition of Carrageenan-Induced Acute Inflammation in Mice by the Microgramma vacciniifolia Frond Lectin (MvFL)
Authors: de Siqueira Patriota Leydianne Leite , de Brito Marques Ramos Dalila , e Silva Mariana Gama , dos Santos Angela Caroline Lima Amorim , Silva Yasmym Araújo , Paiva Patrícia Maria Guedes , Pontual Emmanuel Viana , de Albuquerque Lidiane Pereira , Mendes Rosemairy Luciane , Napoleão Thiago Henrique
Published: April 2022

Most anti-inflammatory drugs used nowadays have an excessive cost and their prolonged use has been connected with several injurious effects. Thus, the search for new anti-inflammatory agents is increasing. Lectins are carbohydrate-interacting proteins that can modulate immune response and the release of inflammation mediators. The Microgramma vacciniifolia frond lectin (MvFL) was previously reported to be an immunomodulatory agent in vitro. This work aimed to evaluate the effects of MvFL on the in vivo inflammatory status in the carrageenan-induced peritonitis and paw edema, using female Swiss mice. The animals were pretreated intraperitoneally with MvFL (5 and 10 mg/kg). In the peritonitis assay, the total and differential migration of white blood cells was evaluated, as well as the levels of cytokines, nitric oxide (NO), and total proteins in the peritoneal fluid. In the paw edema evaluation, the paw volume was measured in the early (from 30 min–2 h) and late (3–4 h) phases of edema formation. MvFL (5 and 10 mg/kg) was efficient in reducing neutrophil infiltration, pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-6, IL-17, and TNF-α), NO, and protein content in the peritoneal fluid. It also repressed the edema formation in the late phase of the assay. In conclusion, MvFL showed inhibitory effects in in vivo acute inflammation, which encouraged future studies exploiting its immunomodulatory ability.
Phase Behaviors of ABA Star Polymer and Nanoparticles Confined in a Sphere with Soft Inner Surface
Authors: Sun Minna , Zhang Zhiwei , Li Ying , Li Wen , Liao Qingwei , Qin Lei
Published: April 2022

The phase behaviors of an ABA star polymer and nanoparticles confined in a sphere with soft inner surface, which is grafted with homopolymer brushes have been studied by the self-consistent field theory (SCFT). The morphologies of mixture in the center slice of sphere were focused. Two cases are considered: one is that the nanoparticles interact with the B blocks and the other is that the nanoparticles preferentially wet the B blocks. Under the two conditions, through changing the block ratio of the ABA star polymer, the concentration and radius of the nanoparticles, the phase behaviors of the mixtures confined the soft sphere are studied systematically. With increasing the concentration of nanoparticles, the entropy and the steric repulsive interaction of nanoparticles, and the nanoparticle density distributions along the perpendicular line through the center of sphere are plotted. The phase diagram is also constructed to analyze the effects of the nanoparticle volume fraction and radius on morphologies of ABA star polymers, and to study the effect of confinement on the phase behaviors. The results in this work provide a useful reference for controlling the ordered structures in experiment, which is an effective way to fabricate the newly multifunctional materials.
Expandable Graphite as a Multifunctional Flame-Retarding Additive for Highly Filled Thermal Conductive Polymer Formulations
Authors: Tomiak Florian , Schneider Kevin , Schoeffel Angelina , Rathberger Klaus , Drummer Dietmar
Published: April 2022

Expandable graphite (EG) and graphite (G) were assessed as multifunctional additives improving both flame retardancy and thermal conductivity in highly filled, thermal conductive polymeric materials based on polyamide 6 (PA6). Fire testing was conducted using modern UL-94, LOI and cone calorimeter test setups. It is demonstrated that thermal conductivity can significantly influence the time to ignition, although offering little fire resistance once ignited even in highly filled systems. Thus, for PA6 formulations containing solely 70 wt.% G, the peak heat release rate (pHRR) measured in cone calorimeter tests was 193 kW/m², whereas PA6 formulations containing 20 wt.% EG/50 wt.% G did not exhibit a measurable heat development. Particular attention was paid to effect separation between thermal conductivity and residue formation. Good thermal conductivity properties are proven to be particularly effective in test scenarios where the heat impact is comparatively low and the testing environment provides good heat dissipation and convective cooling possibilities. For candle-like ignition scenarios (e.g., LOI), filling levels of >50 wt.% (G or EG/G) are shown to be sufficient to suppress ignition exclusively by thermal conductivity. V0 classifications in UL-94 vertical burning tests were achieved for PA6 formulations containing ≥70 wt.% G, ≥25 wt.% EG and ≥20 wt.% EG/25 wt.% G.
Mechanical and Moisture Barrier Properties of Epoxy–Nanoclay and Hybrid Epoxy–Nanoclay Glass Fibre Composites: A Review
Authors: Merah Necar , Ashraf Farhan , Shaukat Mian M.
Published: April 2022

Epoxy clay nanocomposites have been proven to have improved mechanical, thermal and physical properties over pristine matrix. Thus, the fields of application of epoxy–clay nanocomposites along with their hybrid glass/carbon fibre reinforced composites have grown tremendously during the last few decades. The present review paper covers the research work performed on epoxy clay nanocomposites. It includes the influence of the processing techniques and parameters on the morphology of the nanocomposite, the methods of characterization and the effects of adding nanoclay on the mechanical and physical properties of composite. The improvements in the liquid barrier properties brought about by the addition of nanoclay platelets to epoxy resin are discussed. The variation of physical and mechanical properties with nanoclay type and content are reviewed along with the effects of moisture uptake on these properties. The advances in the development, characterization and applications of hybrid glass fibre reinforced epoxy–clay nanocomposites are discussed. Findings of the research work on the influence of nanoclay addition and exposure to water laden atmospheres on the behaviour of the hybrid glass fibre epoxy–nanoclay composites are presented. Finally, the potential health and environmental issues related to nanomaterials and their hybrid composites are reviewed.
Melting Temperature Depression of Polymer Single Crystals: Application to the Eco-Design of Tie-Layers in Polyolefinic-Based Multilayered Films
Authors: Vega Juan F. , Souza-Egipsy Virginia , Expósito M. Teresa , Ramos Javier
Published: April 2022

In this paper, we describe a method for determining polymer compatibility, which will aid in establishing the requirements of polyolefinic materials for the eco-design of multilayer films for mechanical recycling while avoiding the use of reactive tie layers. Our ultimate goal is to define the molecular characteristics of the polyolefinic structural layer that improve compatibility with the tie layer during mechanical recycling. We have investigated the melting temperature depression of single crystals of various polyethylenes embedded in commercial polymeric matrices with various functionalities (ester, acrylate, acetate and methacrylic acid sodium ionomer), which can be potentially used as tie layers. We demonstrate how the concentration and molecular architecture of the matrices affect the melting temperature of the embedded single crystals differently depending on the latter’s molecular architecture. The main finding indicates that the tie layers are more compatible with linear polyethylene than with branched polyethylenes. Indeed, our results show that the heterogeneous Ziegler–Natta linear low-density polyethylene is incompatible with all of the tie layers tested. The depression of melting temperatures observed are in excellent agreement with the results obtained by investigating the rheological behaviour and morphological features of solution-mixed blends in which segmental interactions between polymeric chains have been, in theory, maximized. Because Ziegler–Natta linear density polyethylene is one of the most commonly used polymers as a structural layer in multi-layer applications, the findings of this study are useful as they clearly show the unsuitability of this type of polyethylene for recycling from an eco-design standpoint. The specific molecular requirements for polyethylene layers (branching content less than 0.5/100 carbon atoms) can be specified for use in packaging, guiding the eco-design and valorisation of recycled multi-layered films containing this material.
Mechanics of a Biomimetic Moisture Sensitive Actuator Based on Compression Wood
Authors: Sinn Gerhard , Fizek Elisabeth , Wimmer Rupert , Lichtenegger Helga
Published: April 2022

Various mechanisms of plant organ movements have been reported, including the close association of two layers with expressed differences in hygroscopic properties. Following this principle, actuator beams composed of thin veneers out of normal and compression wood cut from Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) were prepared by using two types of adhesives. The mismatch of the swelling properties of the two layers in tight combination resulted in an expressed bending deflection in response to set humidity changes. The resulting curvatures were measured and analyzed by the Timoshenko bi-metal-model, as well as with an enhanced three-layer model, with the latter also considering the mechanical influence of the glueline on the actuator bending. The thermally induced strain in the original model was replaced by another strain due to moisture changes. The strain was modelled as a function of wood density, along with changes in wood moisture. Experiments with free movement of the bilayer to measure curvature, and with constraints to determine forces, were performed as well. Deformation and magnitude of actuators movements were in close agreement with the enhanced bilayer-model for the phenol-resorcinol-formaldehyde adhesive, which deviated substantially from the casein adhesive glued actuators. The obtained results are seen as critical for wood-based actuator systems that are potentially used in buildings or other applications.
Hydrophobic Ag-Containing Polyoctylmethylsiloxane-Based Membranes for Ethylene/Ethane Separation in Gas-Liquid Membrane Contactor
Authors: Grushevenko Evgenia , Balynin Alexey , Ashimov Ruslan , Sokolov Stepan , Legkov Sergey , Bondarenko Galina , Borisov Ilya , Sadeghi Morteza , Bazhenov Stepan , Volkov Alexey
Published: April 2022

The application of gas-liquid membrane contactors for ethane-ethylene separation seems to offer a good alternative to conventional energy-intensive processes. This work aims to develop new hydrophobic composite membranes with active ethylene carriers and to demonstrate their potential for ethylene/ethane separation in gas-liquid membrane contactors. For the first time, hybrid membrane materials based on polyoctylmethylsiloxane (POMS) and silver tetrafluoroborate, with a Si:Ag ratio of 10:0.11 and 10:2.2, have been obtained. This technique allowed us to obtain POMS-based membranes with silver nanoparticles (8 nm), which are dispersed in the polymer matrix. The dispersion of silver in the POMS matrix is confirmed by the data IR-spectroscopy, wide-angle X-ray diffraction, and X-ray fluorescence analyses. These membranes combine the hydrophobicity of POMS and the selectivity of silver ions toward ethylene. It was shown that ethylene sorption at 600 mbar rises from 0.89 cm3(STP)/g to 3.212 cm3(STP)/g with an increase of Ag content in POMS from 0 to 9 wt%. Moreover, the membrane acquires an increased sorption affinity for ethylene. The ethylene/ethane sorption selectivity of POMS is 0.64; for the membrane with 9 wt% silver nanoparticles, the ethylene/ethane sorption selectivity was 2.46. Based on the hybrid material, POMS-Ag, composite membranes were developed on a polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) porous support, with a selective layer thickness of 5–10 µm. The transport properties of the membranes were studied by separating a binary mixture of ethylene/ethane at 20/80% vol. It has been shown that the addition of silver nanoparticles to the POMS matrix leads to a decrease in the ethylene permeability, but ethylene/ethane selectivity increases from 0.9 (POMS) to 1.3 (9 wt% Ag). It was noted that when the POMS-Ag membrane is exposed to the gas mixture flow for 3 h, the selectivity increases to 1.3 (0.5 wt% Ag) and 2.3 (9 wt% Ag) due to an increase in ethylene permeability. Testing of the obtained membranes in a gas-liquid contactor showed that the introduction of silver into the POMS matrix makes it possible to intensify the process of ethylene mass transfer by more than 1.5 times.
Can 3D-Printed Bioactive Glasses Be the Future of Bone Tissue Engineering?
Authors: Dukle Amey , Murugan Dhanashree , Nathanael Arputharaj , Rangasamy Loganathan , Oh Tae-Hwan
Published: April 2022

According to the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study, cases of bone fracture or injury have increased to 33.4% in the past two decades. Bone-related injuries affect both physical and mental health and increase the morbidity rate. Biopolymers, metals, ceramics, and various biomaterials have been used to synthesize bone implants. Among these, bioactive glasses are one of the most biomimetic materials for human bones. They provide good mechanical properties, biocompatibility, and osteointegrative properties. Owing to these properties, various composites of bioactive glasses have been FDA-approved for diverse bone-related and other applications. However, bone defects and bone injuries require customized designs and replacements. Thus, the three-dimensional (3D) printing of bioactive glass composites has the potential to provide customized bone implants. This review highlights the bottlenecks in 3D printing bioactive glass and provides an overview of different types of 3D printing methods for bioactive glass. Furthermore, this review discusses synthetic and natural bioactive glass composites. This review aims to provide information on bioactive glass biomaterials and their potential in bone tissue engineering.
Microencapsulation of Red Banana Peel Extract and Bioaccessibility Assessment by In Vitro Digestion
Authors: Ramírez Damián Morayma , Meza-Márquez Ofelia Gabriela , Osorio-Revilla Guillermo , Gallardo-Velázquez Tzayhri , Téllez-Medina Darío Iker , Ramos-Monroy Oswaldo Arturo
Published: April 2022

The use of food agricultural wastes as a source of bioactive compounds is an alternative to reduce their environmental impact and generate the possibility of producing value-added products as functional foods. This study aimed to extract and microencapsulate the bioactive compounds from the red banana peel (Musa acuminata Colla AAA “Red”) by spray drying and to evaluate the bioaccessibility of the bioactive compounds by in vitro digestion. The microencapsulation of bioactive compounds was carried out using two wall materials gum arabic (GA) and soy protein isolate (SPI). Microencapsulation using GA and SPI proved to be an effective technique to protect the phenolic compounds, flavonoids and antioxidant capacity of banana peel extract under in vitro digestion conditions. The extract without the encapsulation process suffered a significant (p ≤ 0.05) decrease in bioactive compounds and antioxidant capacity after in vitro digestion. Although microcapsules with SPI held the bioactive compounds for longer in the matrix, no significant difference (p ≤ 0.05) in bioactive compounds retention after in vitro digestion was observed between the microcapsules with GA or SPI. These results indicate that the microcapsules obtained may be used in the food industry as potential ingredients for developing functional foods to promote health benefits.
Event-Triggered Filtering for Delayed Markov Jump Nonlinear Systems with Unknown Probabilities
Authors: Chen Huiying , Liu Renwei , Xia Weifeng , Li Zuxin
Published: April 2022

This paper focuses on the problem of event-triggered H∞ asynchronous filtering for Markov jump nonlinear systems with varying delay and unknown probabilities. An event-triggered scheduling scheme is adopted to decrease the transmission rate of measured outputs. The devised filter is mode dependent and asynchronous with the original system, which is represented by a hidden Markov model (HMM). Both the probability information involved in the original system and the filter are assumed to be only partly available. Under this framework, via employing the Lyapunov–Krasovskii functional and matrix inequality transformation techniques, a sufficient condition is given and the filter is further devised to ensure that the resulting filtering error dynamic system is stochastically stable with a desired H∞ disturbance attenuation performance. Lastly, the validity of the presented filter design scheme is verified through a numerical example.
Expanding the Horizons of Manufacturing, towards Wide Integration, Smart System, and Tools
Authors: Puigjaner Luis , Espuña Antonio , Muñoz Edrisi , Capón-García Elisabet
Published: April 2022

This research topic aims at enterprise-wide modeling and optimization (EWMO) through the development and application of integrated modeling, simulation and optimization methodologies, and computer-aided tools for reliable and sustainable improvement opportunities within the entire manufacturing network (raw materials, production plants, distribution, retailers, and customers) and its components [...]
The Regression Rate-Based Preliminary Engineering Design of Hybrid Rocket Combustion System
Authors: Predoi Ştefan , Grigorean Ştefan , Dumitraşcu Gheorghe
Published: April 2022

The paper presents a useful engineering model for the design of preliminary hybrid rocket engines. This model involves the experimentally obtained equation regarding the speed of the burning interface between solid fuel and gaseous phase, called the regression rate. This regression rate characterizes the mass rate of the burning fuel and additionally the mass rate of the oxidizer through the imposed ratio of these mass rates during combustion. The preliminary design is applied to combustion using pure HTPB and gaseous oxygen and was developed for three cases, constant regression rate, constant oxygen mass flow rate and constant O/F (ratio of mass rates of oxygen and of fuel). The design evaluates the initial fuel port geometry, the initial mass of fuel and oxygen, the combustion time, the thrust at sea level, and the time-dependent functions of regression rate, of fuel and oxygen mass rates, and of thrust. It was assumed that the regression rate formula applies at any time of combustion. These evaluations can also be applied for other fuel/oxygen couples by knowing the correct formula for the regression rate.
Convective Heat and Mass Transfer in Third-Grade Fluid with Darcy–Forchheimer Relation in the Presence of Thermal-Diffusion and Diffusion-Thermo Effects over an Exponentially Inclined Stretching Sheet Surrounded by a Porous Medium: A CFD Study
Authors: Abbas Amir , Shafqat Ramsha , Jeelani Mdi Begum , Alharthi Nadiyah Hussain
Published: April 2022

The current study aims to investigate the thermal-diffusion and diffusion-thermo effects on heat and mass transfer in third-grade fluid with Darcy–Forchheimer relation impact over an exponentially inclined stretching sheet embedded in a porous medium. The proposed mechanism in terms non-linear and coupled partial differential equations is reduced to set of ordinary differential equations by employing an appropriate similarity variable formulation. The reduced form of equations is solved by using the MATLAB built-in numerical solver bvp4c. The numerical results for unknown physical properties such as velocity profile, temperature field, and mass concentration along with their gradients such as the skin friction, the rate of heat transfer, and the rate of mass transfer at angle of inclination α=π/6 are obtained under the impact of material parameters that appear in the flow model. The solutions are displayed in forms of graphs as well as tables and are discussed with physical reasoning. From the demonstration of the graphical results, it is inferred that thermal-diffusion parameter Sr velocity, temperature, and concentration profiles are augmented. For the increasing magnitude of the diffusion-thermo parameter Df the fluid velocity and fluid temperature rise but the opposite trend in mass concentration is noted. The current results are compared with the available results in the existing literature, and there is good agreement between them that shows the validation of the present study.
Investigating the Enhancement in Biogas Production by Hydrothermal Carbonization of Organic Solid Waste and Digestate in an Inter-Stage Treatment Configuration
Authors: Ferrentino Roberta , Langone Michela , Mattioli Davide , Fiori Luca , Andreottola Gianni
Published: April 2022

In recent years, sewage sludge (SS) and bio-waste management have attracted increasing environmental attention. In this study, hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) technology is investigated in the framework of a co-treatment of sewage sludge digestate (SSD) and an organic fraction of municipal solid waste (OW). The proposed configuration integrates HTC with anaerobic digestion (AD) in an inter-stage configuration (AD1 + HTC + AD2). The effects of different percentages of OW added to SSD in the HTC treatment are evaluated in terms of characteristics and methane yield of the produced HTC liquor (HTCL) and HTC slurry (i.e., the mixture hydrochar-HTCL), as well as dewaterability of the HTC slurry. Results show that, with the increase in the percentage of OW in the OW-SSD mixture fed to the HTC process, production of biogas and biomethane of both HTC slurry and HTCL increases. The highest biogas production is achieved when a mixture consisting of half SSD and half OW is used, reaching 160 ± 10 and 240 ± 15 mL biogas g−1 CODadded, respectively, for HTCL and HTC slurry. Furthermore, sludge dewaterability is significantly improved by the combined AD1-HTC-AD2 process. Finally, an energy assessment allows estimating that the co-treatment of OW with SSD in HTC can cover up to 100% of the energy consumption of the system.
Simultaneous Achievement of High-Yield Hydrogen and High-Performance Microwave Absorption Materials from Microwave Catalytic Deconstruction of Plastic Waste
Authors: Wang Hui , Zhang Bowen , Luo Pan , Huang Kama , Zhou Yanping
Published: April 2022

Here, FeAlOx catalytic deconstruction of polyethylene in a domestic microwave oven is reported. With the starting weight ratio of FeAlOx to polyethylene at 1:1, the concentration and yield of H2 reach up to 67.85 vol% and 48.1 mmol g−1plastic, respectively. CNTs@Fe3O4/Fe3C/Fe composite, which exhibits excellent microwave absorption properties, is generated simultaneously. The minimum reflection loss (RLmin) of the solid product reaches −54.78 dB at 15 GHz with an effective absorption bandwidth of 4.5 GHz at the thickness of 1.57 mm.
Exploring the Essence of Servo Pump Control
Authors: Yan Guishan , Jin Zhenlin , Zhang Tiangui , Zhang Cheng , Ai Chao , Chen Gexin
Published: April 2022

The electrohydraulic servo variable speed volume pump control system (hereinafter referred to as ESPCS) is integrated with a permanent magnet synchronous motor (hereinafter referred to as servo motor), a fixed-displacement pump, and a hydraulic cylinder. By controlling the servo motor speed, the output flow of the system can be controlled, as can the displacement, force, and speed of the hydraulic cylinder. Compared with the traditional electro-hydraulic servo valve control system, the ESPCS has the advantages of high power-to-weight ratio, energy saving, and environmental friendliness. However, due to the extremely nonlinear flow output of the ESPCS, further improvement of system control performance is greatly hindered. This paper focuses on the nonlinear characteristics of servo motor, fixed-displacement pump, hydraulic cylinder, and other key components in the system. A compensation method based on nonlinear characteristic mapping is proposed. Compared with the traditional PID control method (pressure control accuracy ± 0.12 MPa), the pressure control accuracy of the system is greatly improved (pressure control accuracy ± 0.037 MPa), which opens up a new way to improve the pressure control accuracy of the ESPCS.
A New LC-MS Method for Evaluating the Efficacy of Pesticide Residue Removal from Fruit Surfaces by Washing Agents
Authors: Zarębska Magdalena , Hordyjewicz-Baran Zofia , Wasilewski Tomasz , Zajszły-Turko Ewa , Stanek Natalia
Published: April 2022

Modern agriculture uses pesticides to improve the quality and quantity of crops. However, pesticide residues can remain on agricultural products, posing very serious risks to human health and life. It is recommended to wash fruits and vegetables before consumption. To assess the removal efficacy of pesticide residue, a sensitive and reliable method based on ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS/MS) was developed and optimized for the simultaneous determination of four pesticide residues (acetamiprid, boscalid, pyraclostrobin, and pendimethalin). Isotope-labeled standards were used to validate the method in terms of recovery, linearity, matrix effects, precision, and sensitivity. The mean recovery values for both low-quality control (LQC) and high-quality control (HQC) transitions were in the range of 89–105%, and the intra-day precision was less than 13.7%. The limits of detection (LOD) and quantification (LOQ) were 0.003 mg/kg and 0.01 mg/kg, respectively. The proposed method is suitable for evaluating the quality of detergents for removing pesticide residues from fruit surfaces.
Amine-Based Deep Eutectic Solvents for Alizarin Extraction from Aqueous Media
Authors: Yasir Nihal , Khan Amir Sada , Akbar Noor , Hassan Muhammad Faheem , Ibrahim Taleb H. , Khamis Mustafa , Siddiqui Ruqaiyyah , Khan Naveed Ahmed , Nancarrow Paul
Published: April 2022

Alizarin dye is toxic and has a negative influence on human life and the environment. Consequently, the scientific community faces a difficult issue in developing efficient approaches for removing alizarin from water streams. Six distinct deep eutectic solvents (DESs) containing different hydrogen bond acceptors (HBAs), namely trioctylphosphine, trioctylamine and trihexylamine, and two hydrogen bond donors (HBDs), namely salicylic acid and malonic acid, were used to rapidly remove alizarin from high concentration solutions up to 2000 mg/L at room temperature using the liquid–liquid micro-extraction method (LLE). DES-3 had the highest extraction efficiency for alizarin among the other synthesized DESs. The effect of process variables such pH, contact time, dye initial concentration, volume ratio, temperature and salt on alizarin extraction efficiency from water stream was explored, optimized and reported. Statistical analysis was conducted to ensure the accuracy of values for the optimized parameters. For a 1000 mg/L solution of alizarin with a DES/alizarin volume ratio of 1:10 at room temperature, the maximum elimination of 98.02 percent was achieved in 5 min. FTIR was used to analyze the structural properties of DES and the interaction between DES and alizarin. The thermal stability of DES-3 was determined using thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and indicated that DES-3 has excellent thermal stability up to 320 °C. Human saline was used to test the toxicity of the synthesized DES in vitro. It was determined that synthesized DES is less harmful and more effective at removing alizarin.
Investigation on Creep Behavior of Aggregates of Loess by a Discrete Element Method
Authors: Sun Jian-Qiang , Li Xi-An , Bi Mei-Le , Zhang Kai-Xuan , Zhang Jing
Published: April 2022

In loess the aggregate is the basic structural unit, and its stability is an important factor affecting the composition, water stability and strength of loess. However, due to the difficulty of sample preparation, few scholars have done independent research on it. In this manuscript, a numerical model of aggregate is constructed by the discrete element method. Under the continuous action of certain stress, the uninterrupted development process of sample deformation with time was observed, that is, the creep of aggregate structures. The results show that the creep of aggregates is closely related to the relative movement, rotation and rearrangement of internal structural elements, and the most intuitive mesoscopic evolution of the adjustment process of structural elements is the change of contact number, namely the coordination number. The microscopic parameters and evolutionary characteristics of fabric can reveal the microscopic mechanism behind the macroscopic creep phenomenon. With the creep process, the creep stress is gradually borne by the normal contact force rather than the tangential contact force and has anisotropic characteristics. As a result of creep, the contact points of particles increase, and the interaction between aggregates changes from point contact to overlap contact. The constraint between aggregates increases, and the skeleton tends to be a more stable structure, which can bear a larger load.
Analysis of the Formation Mechanism of Surface Cracks of Continuous Casting Slabs Caused by Mold Wear
Authors: Zhou Jingyi , Zhu Liguang , Sun Ligen , Wang Bo , Xiao Pengcheng
Published: April 2022

Surface cracks are easily produced after friction between continuous casting billets and copper layers in mold cavity, but the formation mechanism is not clear. Based on a steel-based hot-dip copper plating experiment, this study simulated the action behavior of copper adhering to the surface of a continuous casting billet after mold wear and systematically analyzed the formation mechanism of cracks caused by copper infiltration on the surface of the continuous casting billet. It is shown that when the copper liquid adheres to the surface of the slab, in addition to the diffusion of Cu in the steel, Fe is also dissolved in the copper liquid, accelerating the solidification of the copper liquid on the surface of the slab and forming a stable fusion combination between copper and steel. At the same time, due to the enrichment of the Fe-C phase and a large number of vacancies at the grain boundary, the grain boundary becomes the dominant area of copper–steel fusion bonding. For a continuous casting process in which the temperature is kept higher than 900 ℃, Cu’s solubility is high and the diffusion coefficient is very low in Fe, which makes it very difficult for Cu accumulated in the grain boundary to diffuse into the steel matrix during the continuous casting process, resulting in a grain boundary with a greatly weakened strength becoming the origin of cracks in the bending and straightening deformation of the billet.
Quantitative Proteogenomic Characterization of Inflamed Murine Colon Tissue Using an Integrated Discovery, Verification, and Validation Proteogenomic Workflow
Authors: Rajczewski Andrew T. , Han Qiyuan , Mehta Subina , Kumar Praveen , Jagtap Pratik D. , Knutson Charles G. , Fox James G. , Tretyakova Natalia Y. , Griffin Timothy J.
Published: April 2022

Chronic inflammation of the colon causes genomic and/or transcriptomic events, which can lead to expression of non-canonical protein sequences contributing to oncogenesis. To better understand these mechanisms, Rag2−/−Il10−/− mice were infected with Helicobacter hepaticus to induce chronic inflammation of the cecum and the colon. Transcriptomic data from harvested proximal colon samples were used to generate a customized FASTA database containing non-canonical protein sequences. Using a proteogenomic approach, mass spectrometry data for proximal colon proteins were searched against this custom FASTA database using the Galaxy for Proteomics (Galaxy-P) platform. In addition to the increased abundance in inflammatory response proteins, we also discovered several non-canonical peptide sequences derived from unique proteoforms. We confirmed the veracity of these novel sequences using an automated bioinformatics verification workflow with targeted MS-based assays for peptide validation. Our bioinformatics discovery workflow identified 235 putative non-canonical peptide sequences, of which 58 were verified with high confidence and 39 were validated in targeted proteomics assays. This study provides insights into challenges faced when identifying non-canonical peptides using a proteogenomics approach and demonstrates an integrated workflow addressing these challenges. Our bioinformatic discovery and verification workflow is publicly available and accessible via the Galaxy platform and should be valuable in non-canonical peptide identification using proteogenomics.
Saints, Heroes, and the ‘Other’: Value Orientations of Contemporary Greek Orthodoxy
Authors: Kessareas Efstathios
Published: April 2022

This article examines contemporary public discourses and practices of clerical and lay actors who are mainly members of the Orthodox Church of Greece. First, it explains the ubiquitous presence of the Church in the Greek public sphere with reference to its religious functions and to its close association with both the state and the nation. Then, it shows how different interpretations of the category of the person support contrasting visions about the Church’s role in today’s world. On the one hand, those who espouse ethnoreligious schemata of thought promote the heroic figures of the Neomartyr and Ethnomartyr in their attempt to secure the institutional power of the Church and legitimize its role as ‘ark of the nation’. On the other hand, actors who are motivated by a desire to bring the Church into a constructive dialogue with modernity and the secular world employ the postmodern idea and value of the ‘Other’, which they link to the religious value of the neighbor. Finally, the paper calls attention to the social conditions that make ecclesiastical and social strata prone to support one of the above visions for the Church.
Philosophical Practice as Spiritual Exercises towards Truth, Wisdom, and Virtue
Authors: Ding Xiaojun , Yu Feng
Published: April 2022

The concept of spirituality has a long philosophical history. Based on detailed studies of a history of spiritual exercises from Socrates, the Stoics, Epicureanism, to early Christianity, the former catholic priest Pierre Hadot conceives philosophical practice as spiritual exercises in learning how to live a philosophical life. Following this idea, a number of philosophers such as Gerd B. Achenbach started the contemporary movement of philosophical practice in the 1980s, which aimed to apply philosophical theories and methods to discussions about issues people constantly encounter in life, mainly in the forms of philosophical counseling and philosophical therapy. In this paper, after showing that philosophical practice has already become a new frontier in philosophical research, we further argue that philosophical practice as spiritual exercises is an exercise of reason and logos, while certain kinds of religious exercises such as Zen arts can also constitute an important part of philosophical practice. We conclude that in light of the distinct plurality of the methods and modes of philosophical practice and the spiritual exercises involved, philosophical practice can be considered a meaningful and applicable approach to pursuing truth, wisdom, and virtue, which is of great didactic and ethical significance in the post-COVID-19 era.
Nodes and Hubs: An Exploration of Yiguandao Temples as ‘Portals of Globalization’
Authors: Broy Nikolas
Published: April 2022

This paper takes a fresh look at the global spread of the Chinese–Taiwanese new religious movement Yiguandao (一貫道; the emic transcription is “I-Kuan Tao”) by directing attention to the concrete places where transnational connections and interactions actually transpire, i.e., temples, shrines, and other sites of worship. Emically known as “Buddha halls” (fotang 佛堂), these places range from large-scale temple complexes, to small niches of worship in people’s private residences. Yet, they all share the potential of becoming venues of transregional interactions through processes of migration, the circulation of personnel, and local outreach. I argued that we need to take the distinct character of these localities more seriously, in order to fully understand the global networks of Yiguandao groups. Through their specific embeddedness in both local affairs and transnational projects, these temples are not simply local chapters of the (mostly) Taiwanese headquarters, but instead they are “translocalities” or even “portals of globalization”—two concepts developed in migration and global studies to help understand the significance of place in the recent phase of so-called globalization. By exploring Yiguandao temples across the globe, this paper critically evaluated these approaches, and their usefulness for the study of global religions. Empirically, it drew on both print and online material, as well as ethnographic fieldwork conducted by the author in Taiwan, Vienna (Austria), California, South Africa, and Japan from 2016 to 2018.
Multiculturalism and Women’s Rights: Implications for Victims of Female Genital Cutting
Authors: Nyangweso Mary
Published: April 2022

The evolution of the discourse surrounding human rights has led to calls for multiculturalism in modern society. While human rights originate from a perceived universal need to protect the rights of the individual, their appeal has not been universal, as they are perceived to be a threat to cultural rights by some. This is because of the perceived conflict or dilemma of negotiating both as entitlements. While arguments for both human rights and cultural rights are compelling, they expose a tension or conflict of rights. Calls for multiculturalism emerged in defense of cultural diversity and other forms of rights. The central question surrounding this tension is as follows: Can human and cultural rights be reconciled without compromising basic individual rights? Attempts to answer this question have occupied scholarship for several decades, with works on cross-cultural universalism and intersectionality emerging as a bridge for the seeming unbridgeable controversy. This essay explores some of these works that relate to the question of women’s rights and the implications for the controversial practice of female genital cutting (FGC).
Spiritual Care Competences among Health Care Professionals in Pakistan: Findings from a Cross-Sectional Survey
Authors: Sohail Malik Muhammad , Frick Eckhard , Büssing Arndt
Published: April 2022

Introduction: There is a gap in healthcare literature related to the spiritual competence of physicians and nurses practicing in South Asian Muslim communities. To fill that gap, the Spiritual Care Competence Questionnaire (SCCQ) was applied which was developed to address multi-professional spiritual care competences. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study among 294 health professionals (61% physicians, 17% nurses, and 22% other professions) in 10 hospitals in Punjab, Pakistan. Results: The highest scoring competences were “Dealing with patients/Communication competences”, while “Team Spirit” scored lowest. There were no gender related differences, but there were effects related to professions. “Team Spirit”, “Dealing with patients/Communication competences”, and “Empowerment competences” scored significantly higher in nurses as compared to physicians and other health care professionals, while there were no significant differences for their “Perception/Documentation competences”. These competences were not relevantly related to the intensity of their prayer/meditation activity. Conclusions: Health care professional from Punjab were preferred to tolerate the pain and the suffering of patients and their relatives rather than to talk about spiritual care issues. Their spiritual care competences were less developed. Thus, there is a clear need for further specific education and training of health professionals.
“Are You God? Damn Your Family!”: The Islam–Gender Nexus in Right-Wing Populism and the New Generation of Muslim Feminist Activism in Turkey
Authors: Unal Didem
Published: April 2022

This article examines young Muslim women’s dissident mentalities, practices, and subjectivities that confront the epistemological conditions whereby right-wing populist (RWP) gender politics operates in Turkey. Relying on frame theory in social movement research and the Foucauldian approach to resistance, dissent, and protest, it explores Muslim feminist critique of RWP gender discourse mainly with a focus on the following issues: (i.) Instrumentalization of the headscarf, (ii.) familialist policies, and (iii.) violence against women and the Istanbul Convention (the Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence Against Women and Domestic Violence). As a result, it demonstrates that young Muslim women’s dissident mentalities and subjectivities generate a new “political project”, i.e., a set of new meanings and social goals directed at bringing about social change, which comes into being through the act of resistance against RWP gender grammar and carves out new forms of knowledge reclaiming the Islam–gender nexus for a progressive feminist agenda.
Cryptocurrency as an Investment: The Malaysian Context
Authors: Sukumaran Shangeetha , Bee Thai Siew , Wasiuzzaman Shaista
Published: April 2022

Cryptocurrency is gaining popularity worldwide, with some countries already starting to regulate and accept cryptocurrency in their financial services. Malaysia’s Securities Commission (SC) announced in October 2021 that over MYR 16 billion (USD 3.85 billion) involving digital assets and cryptocurrencies were traded between August 2020 and September 2021. Since cryptocurrencies are issued by private corporations and are technically beyond the federal government’s control, criminals may use them for illegal reasons such as money laundering and terrorist funding. Consequently, it is vital to examine why investors are engaged in cryptocurrency in the first place. This study aims to provide insight into Malaysian investors’ perceptions by evaluating the influence of perceived risk and perceived value on their cryptocurrency adoption decision. The retail investors’ demographic characteristics (gender, age, education, income, and investment experience) were analyzed as control variables. Data were gathered using purposive sampling, and responses from 211 respondents from various cities in Malaysia were used in the final analysis. Data were examined using Smart PLS Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM). Based on the finding’s, perceived value was found to have a significant influence on cryptocurrency adoption. Meanwhile, perceived risk had no significant influence on the adoption of cryptocurrency among the Malaysian investors.
Impacts of Climate Oscillation on Offshore Wind Resources in China Seas
Authors: Xu Qing , Li Yizhi , Cheng Yongcun , Ye Xiaomin , Zhang Zenghai
Published: April 2022

The long-term stability and sustainability of offshore wind energy resources are very important for wind energy exploration. In this study, the Cyclostationary Empirical Orthogonal Function (CSEOF) method, which can determine the time varying spatial distributions and long-term fluctuations in the cyclostationary geophysical process, was adopted to investigate the geographical and temporal variability of offshore wind resources in China Seas. The CSEOF analysis was performed on wind speeds at 70 m height above the sea surface from a validated combined Quick Scatterometer (QuikSCAT) and Advanced Scatterometer (ASCAT) wind product (2000–2016) with high spatial resolution of 12.5 km, and Climate Forecast System Reanalysis (CFSR) wind data (1979–2016) with a grid size of 0.5° × 0.5°. The decomposition results of the two datasets indicate that the first CSEOF mode represents the variability of wind annual cycle signal and contributes 77.7% and 76.5% to the wind energy variability, respectively. The principal component time series (PCTS) shows an interannual variability of annual wind cycle with a period of 3–4 years. The second mode accounts for 4.3% and 4.7% of total wind speed variability, respectively, and captures the spatiotemporal contribution of El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) on regional wind energy variability. The correlations between the mode-2 PCTS of scatterometer or CFSR winds and the Southern Oscillation Index (SOI) are greater than 0.7, illustrating that ENSO has a significant impact on China’s offshore wind resources. Moreover, the mode-1 or mode-2 spatial pattern of CFSR winds is basically consistent with that of scatterometer data, but CFSR underestimates the temporal variability of annual wind speed cycle and the spatial changes of wind speed related to ENSO. Compared with reanalysis data, scatterometer winds always demonstrate a finer structure of wind energy variability due to their higher spatial resolution. For ENSO events with different intensities, the impact of ENSO on regional wind resources varies with time and space. In general, El Niño has reduced wind energy in most regions of China Seas except for the Bohai Sea and Beibu Bay, while La Niña has strengthened the winds in most areas except for the Bohai Sea and southern South China Sea.
Temporal Dynamics of the Goose Habitat in the Middle and Lower Reaches of the Yangtze River
Authors: He Ke , Lei Jialin , Jia Yifei , Wu Entao , Sun Gongqi , Lu Cai , Zeng Qing , Lei Guangchun
Published: April 2022

The middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River are the most important areas for geese to overwinter in the East Asian–Australasian Flyway, where about 180,000 geese fly to overwinter each year. Over the past 20 years, the region has experienced extensive and rapid land cover changes that may have exceeded the adaptability of geese, and have led to suitable goose habitat area loss, thereby, reducing the stability of the geese population. In order to identify the suitable goose habitat areas in this region, based on ensemble modeling and satellite tracking data, in this study, we simulated the spatial distribution changes in the suitable goose habitat areas over the past 20 years. The results showed that the suitable goose habitat areas had suffered varying degrees of loss, among which, the lesser white-fronted goose had the greatest suitable goose habitat area loss of over 50%. Moreover, we found that wetlands, lakes, and floodplains were the key components of suitable goose habitat areas, and the categories (land use) showed significant differences in different periods (p < 0.01). This may be one of the main reasons for the decrease in suitable goose habitat areas. The results of this study provide an important reference for the adaptive management and protection of geese in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River.