bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Brain Hemispheric Asymmetry in Schizophrenia and Bipolar Disorder
Authors: Pinto Diogo , Martins Ricardo , Macedo António , Castelo Branco Miguel , Valente Duarte João , Madeira Nuno
Published: May 2023

Background: This study aimed to compare brain asymmetry in patients with schizophrenia (SCZ), bipolar disorder (BPD), and healthy controls to test whether asymmetry patterns could discriminate and set boundaries between two partially overlapping severe mental disorders. Methods: We applied a fully automated voxel-based morphometry (VBM) approach to assess structural brain hemispheric asymmetry in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) anatomical scans in 60 participants (SCZ = 20; BP = 20; healthy controls = 20), all right-handed and matched for gender, age, and education. Results: Significant differences in gray matter asymmetry were found between patients with SCZ and BPD, between SCZ patients and healthy controls (HC), and between BPD patients and HC. We found a higher asymmetry index (AI) in BPD patients when compared to SCZ in Brodmann areas 6, 11, and 37 and anterior cingulate cortex and an AI higher in SCZ patients when compared to BPD in the cerebellum. Conclusion: Our study found significant differences in brain asymmetry between patients with SCZ and BPD. These promising results could be translated to clinical practice, given that structural brain changes detected by MRI are good candidates for exploration as biological markers for differential diagnosis, besides helping to understand disease-specific abnormalities.
Advances in Hip Replacement Surgery
Authors: Blakeney William G. , Kuster Markus
Published: May 2023

Total hip arthroplasty (THA) is one of the most successful types of surgical operation, with some considering it “the operation of the century” [...]
Changes in the Composition of Bloom-Forming Toxic Pseudo-nitzschia Diatoms in Surface Waters in Ussuri Bay, Northwestern Sea of Japan, during the Autumn Seasons of 2017–2022
Authors: Stonik Inna V. , Zinov Anton A.
Published: May 2023

Diatoms of the genus Pseudo-nitzschia are producers of the neurotoxin domoic acid that causes serious damage to marine fauna and aquaculture farms. These microalgae are known as the most abundant group of toxic phytoplankton in Peter the Great Bay, Northwestern Sea of Japan, during the bloom season, which, as was previously reported for members of this group in the study region, lasts in the autumn months. Autumnal blooms of toxic diatoms Pseudo-nitzschia spp. were studied in the period from 2017 to 2022 in Ussuri Bay, the largest body of water in Peter the Great Bay, which harbors numerous recreational area and aquaculture farms. As a result, the following changes in the composition of bloom-forming species were recorded: blooms were caused by the Pseudo-nitzschia delicatissima group in the period from 2017 to 2020 and by P. multistriata in 2021–2022. An assumption has been made that one of the factors responsible for blooms of P. multistriata, known as one of the most widespread species in Asian warm-water areas, is an abnormally high water temperature in the autumn of 2021 in the study area.
Using High-Order Particle Velocity Gradient Polarization Characteristics to Detect Underwater Coherent Interference
Authors: Wu Di , Zhang Lanyue , Wang Jia , Hu Xueru
Published: May 2023

Detection of underwater coherent interference is necessary as its presence affects the estimation of the desired target. In this work, a method based on high-order particle velocity gradient polarization characteristics is proposed to distinguish the presence of coherent interference. Characteristics including ellipse ratio and inclination angles of the high-order particle velocity gradient are chosen as effective detection features because they remain unchanged at different orders of the desired target but changed at different orders of coherent signals when there is coherent interference. Based on such altered properties, a quick and effective marine detection system can be established. Both simulation and experimental results validate the proposed detection method.
Sensitivity Analysis of Forecasting Performance for ST6 Parameterization in High-Resolution Wave Model Based on WAVEWATCH III
Authors: Roh Min , Oh Sang-Myeong , Chang Pil-Hun , Kang Hyun-Suk , Kim Hyung-Suk
Published: May 2023

A regional wave forecasting system in East Asia, including the Korean Peninsula, was built based on WAVEWATCH III using offshore wind forecast data from the Global Data Assimilation Prediction System. The numerical simulations were performed on the sensitivity of the interaction between input wind and wave development. The forecasts for each condition were compared and verified with the observational data of marine meteorological buoys from 1 August to 30 September 2020. The sensitivity conditions were configured to have a specific range of variables related to the directional distribution of input winds (SINA0) and variables indicating the development of input wind–wave (CDFAC) in the ST6. The results were presented by calculating the mean error and root mean square error for all observation points. Overall, as the CDFAC increased, the mean error tended to decrease according to the forecast time and the root mean square error increased. Although the effect of SINA0 at the same CDFAC was insignificant, when SINA0 increased in sections where the significant wave height decreased rapidly, the significant wave height tended to decrease. In addition, the main variables that affect the physical process of wind–wave interaction should be considered to improve wave model forecasting performance and accuracy.
Detection of Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation from Dynamic ECG Recordings Based on a Deep Learning Model
Authors: Hu Yating , Feng Tengfei , Wang Miao , Liu Chengyu , Tang Hong
Published: May 2023

Background and Objectives: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is one of the most common arrhythmias clinically. Aging tends to increase the risk of AF, which also increases the burden of other comorbidities, including coronary artery disease (CAD), and even heart failure (HF). The precise detection of AF is a challenge due to its intermittence and unpredictability. A method for the accurate detection of AF is still needed. Methods: A deep learning model was used to detect atrial fibrillation. Here, a distinction was not made between AF and atrial flutter (AFL), both of which manifest as a similar pattern on an electrocardiogram (ECG). This method not only discriminated AF from normal rhythm of the heart, but also detected its onset and offset. The proposed model involved residual blocks and a Transformer encoder. Results and Conclusions: The data used for training were obtained from the CPSC2021 Challenge, and were collected using dynamic ECG devices. Tests on four public datasets validated the availability of the proposed method. The best performance for AF rhythm testing attained an accuracy of 98.67%, a sensitivity of 87.69%, and a specificity of 98.56%. In onset and offset detection, it obtained a sensitivity of 95.90% and 87.70%, respectively. The algorithm with a low FPR of 0.46% was able to reduce troubling false alarms. The model had a great capability to discriminate AF from normal rhythm and to detect its onset and offset. Noise stress tests were conducted after mixing three types of noise. We visualized the model’s features using a heatmap and illustrated its interpretability. The model focused directly on the crucial ECG waveform where showed obvious characteristics of AF.
Defining the Patient with Lumbar Discogenic Pain: Real-World Implications for Diagnosis and Effective Clinical Management
Authors: Lorio Morgan P. , Beall Douglas P. , Calodney Aaron K. , Lewandrowski Kai-Uwe , Block Jon E. , Mekhail Nagy
Published: May 2023

There is an enormous body of literature that has identified the intervertebral disc as a potent pain generator. However, with regard to lumbar degenerative disc disease, the specific diagnostic criteria lack clarity and fail to capture the primary components which include axial midline low back pain with or without non-radicular/non-sciatic referred leg pain in a sclerotomal distribution. In fact, there is no specific ICD-10-CM diagnostic code to classify and define discogenic pain as a unique source of pain distinct from other recognized sources of chronic low back pain including facetogenic, neurocompressive including herniation and/or stenosis, sacroiliac, vertebrogenic, and psychogenic. All of these other sources have well-defined ICD-10-CM codes. Corresponding codes for discogenic pain remain absent from the diagnostic coding vernacular. The International Society for the Advancement of Spine Surgery (ISASS) has proposed a modernization of ICD-10-CM codes to specifically define pain associated with lumbar and lumbosacral degenerative disc disease. The proposed codes would also allow the pain to be characterized by location: lumbar region only, leg only, or both. Successful implementation of these codes would benefit both physicians and payers in distinguishing, tracking, and improving algorithms and treatments for discogenic pain associated with intervertebral disc degeneration.
An Individualized Prognostic Model in Patients with Locoregionally Advanced Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Based on Serum Metabolomic Profiling
Authors: Zhou Jiayu , Deng Yishu , Huang Yingying , Wang Zhiyi , Zhan Zejiang , Cao Xun , Cai Zhuochen , Deng Ying , Zhang Lulu , Huang Haoyang , Li Chaofeng , Lv Xing
Published: May 2023

Purpose: This study aims to evaluate the value of a serum metabolomics-based metabolic signature for locoregionally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma (LA-NPC) patients, thereby assisting clinical decisions. Methods: In this retrospective study, a total of 320 LA-NPC patients were randomly divided into a training set (ca. 70%; n = 224) and a validation set (ca. 30%; n = 96). Serum samples were analyzed using widely targeted metabolomics. Univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses were used to identify candidate metabolites related to progression-free survival (PFS). Patients were categorized into high-risk and low-risk groups based on the median metabolic risk score (Met score), and the PFS difference between the two groups was compared using Kaplan–Meier curves. The predictive performance of the metabolic signature was evaluated using the concordance index (C-index) and the time-dependent receiver operating characteristic (ROC), and a comprehensive nomogram was constructed using the Met score and other clinical factors. Results: Nine metabolites were screened to build the metabolic signature and generate the Met score, which effectively separated patients into low- and high-risk groups. The C-index in the training and validation sets was 0.71 and 0.73, respectively. The 5-year PFS was 53.7% (95% CI, 45.12–63.86) in the high-risk group and 83.0% (95%CI, 76.31–90.26) in the low-risk group. During the construction of the nomogram, Met score, clinical stage, pre-treatment EBV DNA level, and gender were identified as independent prognostic factors for PFS. The predictive performance of the comprehensive model was better than that of the traditional model. Conclusion: The metabolic signature developed through serum metabolomics is a reliable prognostic indicator of PFS in LA-NPC patients and has important clinical significance.
Treatment with Terminalia chebula Extract Reduces Insulin Resistance, Hyperglycemia and Improves SIRT1 Expression in Type 2 Diabetic Rats
Authors: Agrawal Ojaskumar D. , Kulkarni Yogesh A.
Published: May 2023

Background: Terminalia chebula Retz., Family Combretaceae (T. chebula) is one of the important plants mentioned in Ayurveda, a traditional system of medicine. The present work was designed to study the effect of the aqueous extract of T. chebula fruits in type 2 diabetic rats. Methods: The aqueous extract of the fruits was prepared by the double maceration technique. The extract was subjected to HPTLC analysis, which showed the presence of ellagic acid and gallic acid. Type 2 diabetes was induced in rats with a low dose of Streptozotocin (35 mg/kg) after administering a high-fat diet for fourteen days. Diabetic animals were treated with 500 and 1000 mg/kg of aqueous extract of T. chebula fruits for six weeks. Results: Diabetic rats showed a significantly (511.7 ± 17.6) (p < 0.001) high plasma glucose level compared to the normal group (106 ± 3.358). The T. chebula treatment group showed a significant (p < 0.001) reduction in plasma glucose at 500 mg/kg (394.3 ± 10.35) and 1000 mg/kg (368.6 ± 30.08) doses when compared with the diabetic control group. Treatment with aqueous extract significantly reduced lipid parameters in diabetic animals when compared to the animals in the diabetic control group. Treatment with extract at a dose of 500 mg/kg and 1000 mg/kg showed a significant reduction in AST (p < 0.01, p < 0.001) when compared with diabetic control rats. Treatment with extract significantly reduced ALT at 500 mg/kg (p < 0.05) and 1000 mg/kg (p < 0.001) doses when compared with diabetic control rats. The extract treatment improved insulin sensitivity and insulin sensitivity index (ISI) and significantly decreased HOMR-IR. Treatment with T. chebula aqueous extract at 1000 mg/kg significantly increased the level of GSH (p < 0.05) when compared to diabetic control rats. T. chebula treatment at 1000 mg/kg significantly increased levels of CAT (p < 0.01). Histopathology of pancreatic tissue revealed that the extract has a protective effect against the damage caused by hyperglycemia. Immunohistochemistry of pancreatic tissue showed increased expression of SIRT1 in diabetic animals treated with the extract. Conclusions: The results of the present study indicate that the extract of T. chebula has significant effects in the management of type 2 diabetes.
Sacubitril/Valsartan vs. Standard Medical Therapy on Exercise Capacity in HFrEF Patients
Authors: Campanile Alfonso , Visco Valeria , De Carlo Stefania , Ferruzzi Germano Junior , Mancusi Costantino , Izzo Carmine , Mongiello Felice , Di Pietro Paola , Virtuoso Nicola , Ravera Amelia , Bonadies Domenico , Vecchione Carmine , Ciccarelli Michele
Published: May 2023

Sacubitril/valsartan (Sac/Val) reduces mortality in patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) compared to enalapril. However, its effects on functional capacity remain uncertain; consequently, we sought to compare Sac/Val vs. standard medical therapy, in terms of effects on prognostically significant CPET parameters, in HFrEF patients during a long follow-up period. We conducted a single-center, observational study in an HF clinic; specifically, we retrospectively identified that 12 patients switched to Sac/Val and 13 patients that managed with standard, optimal medical therapy (control group). At each visit, baseline, and follow-up (median time: 16 months; IQ range: 11.5–22), we collected demographic information, medical history, vital signs, cardiopulmonary exercise testing, standard laboratory data, pharmacological treatment information, and echocardiographic parameters. The study’s primary end-point was the change from baseline in peak VO2 (adjusted to body weight). We did not observe significant differences between the two study groups at baseline. Similarly, we did not observe any significant differences during the follow-up in mean values of peak VO2 corrected for body weight: Sac/Val baseline: 12.2 ± 4.6 and FU: 12.7 ± 3.3 vs. control group: 13.1 ± 4.2 and 13.0 ± 4.2 mL/kg/min; p = 0.49. No significant treatment differences were observed for changes in VE/VCO2 slope: Sac/Val baseline: 35.4 ± 7.4 and FU: 37.2 ± 13.1 vs. control group: 34.6 ± 9.1 and 34.0 ± 7.3; p = 0.49. In conclusion, after a median follow-up period of 16 months, there was no significant benefit of Sac/Val on peak VO2 and other measures of CPET compared with standard optimal therapy in patients with HFrEF.
Tribological Behavior of Ti-Coated Diamond/Copper Composite Coating Fabricated via Supersonic Laser Deposition
Authors: Zhang Qunli , Chen Yiyun , Li Bo , Wang Changyi , Wu Lijuan , Yao Jianhua
Published: May 2023

Diamond/copper composite coating is promising for wear-resistant applications, owing to the extreme hardness of the diamond reinforcement. Ti-coated diamond/copper composite coatings with various laser powers were successfully fabricated employing the novel manufacturing technology of supersonic laser deposition (SLD). Ti-coated diamond, which was able to enhance the wettability between diamond and copper, was prepared at the optimal parameters via salt bath. Nano-spherical titanium carbides were uniformly distributed on the diamond’s surface to generate a favorable interface bonding with a copper matrix though mechanical interlocking and metallurgical bonding during impact. Furthermore, the results showed that the transition layer acted as a buffer, preventing the breakage of the diamond in the coating. SLD can prevent the graphitization of the diamonds in the coating due to its low processing temperature. The coordination of laser and diamond metallization significantly improved the tribological properties of the diamond/copper composite coatings with the SLD technique. The microhardness of the diamond/copper composite coating at a laser power of 1000 W reached about 172.58 HV0.1, which was clearly harder than that of the cold sprayed copper. The wear test illustrated that the diamond/copper composite coating at a laser power of 1000 W exhibited a low friction coefficient of 0.44 and a minimal wear rate of 11.85 μm3·N−1·mm−1. SLD technology shows great potential in the field of preparing wear-resistant hard reinforced phase composite coatings.
Analysis of Electrical Resistivity Characteristics and Damage Evolution of Soil–Rock Mixture under Triaxial Shear
Authors: Zhao Mingjie , Chen Songlin , Wang Kui , Liu Gang
Published: May 2023

Construction of engineering structures in geomaterials with soil–rock mixture (S-RM) is often a challenging task for engineers. When analyzing the stability of the engineering structures, the mechanical properties of S-RM often receive the most attention. To study the mechanical damage evolution characteristics of S-RM under triaxial loading conditions, a modified triaxial apparatus was used to conduct shear test on S-RM, and the change of electrical resistivity was measured simultaneously. The stress–strain–electrical resistivity curve and stress–strain characteristics under different confining pressures were obtained and analyzed. Based on the electrical resistivity, a mechanical damage model was established and verified to analyze the damage evolution regularities of S-RM during shearing. The results show that the electrical resistivity of S-RM decreases with increasing axial strain and that the differences in decrease rates correspond to the different deformation stages of the samples. With the increase in loading confining pressure, the stress–strain curve characteristics change from a slight strain softening to a strong strain hardening. Additionally, an increase in rock content and confining pressure can enhance the bearing capacity of S-RM. Moreover, the derived damage evolution model based on electrical resistivity can accurately characterize the mechanical behavior of S-RM under triaxial shear. Based on the damage variable D, it is found that the damage evolution process of S-RM can be divided into a non-damage stage, a rapid damage stage and a stable damage stage. Furthermore, the structure enhancement factor, which is a model modification parameter for the effect of rock content difference, can accurately predict the stress–strain curves of S-RMs with different rock contents. This study sets the stage for an electrical-resistivity-based monitoring method for studying the evolution of internal damage in S-RM.
Bearing Current and Shaft Voltage in Electrical Machines: A Comprehensive Research Review
Authors: Tawfiq Kotb B. , Güleç Mehmet , Sergeant Peter
Published: May 2023

The reliability assessment of electric machines plays a very critical role in today’s engineering world. The reliability assessment requires a good understanding of electric motors and their root causes. Electric machines mostly fail due to mechanical problems and bearing damage is the main source of this. The bearings can be damaged by mechanical, electrical, and thermal stresses. Among all stresses, the researcher should give special attention to the electrical one, which is bearing current and shaft voltage. This review paper introduces a comprehensive study of bearing current and shaft voltage for inverter-fed electric machines. This study aims to discuss several motor failure processes, as well as the sources and definitions of bearing current and shaft voltage. The different kinds of bearing currents are addressed and the parasitic capacitances, which are the key component to describe bearing current, are determined. Several measurement approaches of bearing current will be discussed. Furthermore, modeling of bearing current will be covered together with the machine’s parasitic capacitances. Moreover, the different bearing current mitigation techniques, as described in many papers, will be thoroughly addressed. The use of rewound multiphase machines for mitigation of bearing current will be proposed and compared to a three-phase machine. Finally, various pulse width modulation techniques of multiphase systems that reduce bearing current and shaft voltage will be investigated, and the findings described in the literature will be summarized for all techniques.
Performance Analysis and Assessment of Type 2 Diabetes Screening Scores in Patients with Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease
Authors: Fitriyani Norma Latif , Syafrudin Muhammad , Ulyah Siti Maghfirotul , Alfian Ganjar , Qolbiyani Syifa Latif , Yang Chuan-Kai , Rhee Jongtae , Anshari Muhammad
Published: May 2023

Type 2 diabetes (T2D) and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) are worldwide chronic diseases that have strong relationships with one another and commonly exist together. Type 2 diabetes is considered one of the risk factors for NAFLD, so its occurrence in people with NAFLD is highly likely. As the high and increasing number of T2D and NAFLD, which potentially followed by existing together number, an analysis and assessment of T2D screening scores in people with NAFLD is necessary to be done. To prevent this potential case, an effective early prediction model is also required to be developed, which could help the patients avoid the dangers of both existing diseases. Therefore, in this study, analysis and assessment of T2D screening scores in people with NAFLD and the early prediction model utilizing a forward logistic regression-based feature selection method and multi-layer perceptrons are proposed. Our analysis and assessment results showed that the prevalence of T2D among patients with NAFLD was 8.13% (for prediabetes) and 37.19% (for diabetes) in two population-based NAFLD datasets. The variables related to clinical tests, such as alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT), and systolic blood pressure (SBP), were found to be statistically significant predictors (p-values < 0.001) that indicate a strong association with T2D among patients with NAFLD in both the prediabetes and diabetes NAFLD datasets. Finally, our proposed model showed the best performance in terms of all performance evaluation metrics compared to existing various machine learning models and also the models using variables recommended by WHO/CDC/ADA, with achieved accuracy as much as 92.11% and 83.05% and its improvement scores after feature selection of 1.35% and 5.35%, for the first and second dataset, respectively.
On 2-Rainbow Domination of Generalized Petersen Graphs P(ck,k)
Authors: Brezovnik Simon , Rupnik Poklukar Darja , Žerovnik Janez
Published: May 2023

We obtain new results on the 2-rainbow domination number of generalized Petersen graphs P(ck,k). Exact values are established for all infinite families where the general lower bound 45ck is attained. In all other cases lower and upper bounds with small gaps are given.
Various Blockchain Governance Games: A Review
Authors: Kim Song-Kyoo (Amang)
Published: May 2023

Blockchain Governance Game (BGG) is the stochastic model for describing the innovative security enhancement of decentralized network architectures. This hybrid model provides the best strategies to prepare for preventing network failures by attackers. Strategic alliance for the Blockchain Governance Game, a successor to BGG, adds the strategic alliance to prevent attacks by adapting the concept from business domains. The multi-layered Blockchain Governance Game was developed by combining these two basic models to defend complex networks. This paper not only provides a brief summary of each game model, but also identifies two key network security applications based on BGGs that could serve as a guide for actual implementation. This review is intended to encourage people to be inspired for their future research. The author hopes to encourage readers working in related research areas who might integrate BGG models into their research.
Averting an Unnecessary Revision of a Roux-en-Y Hepaticojejunostomy by Surgically Creating an Access Point for the Endoscopic Assessment of the Anastomosis: A Report of a Case
Authors: Symeonidis Dimitrios , Paraskeua Ismini , Samara Athina A. , Bompou Effrosyni , Valaroutsos Alexandros , Ntalouka Maria P. , Zacharoulis Dimitrios
Published: May 2023

Introduction: Primary sclerosing cholangitis sets the scene for several pathologies of both the intrahepatic and the extrahepatic biliary tree. Surgical treatment, when needed, is almost unanimously summarized in the creation of a Roux-en-Y hepaticojejunostomy, a procedure with a relatively high associated failure rate. Presentation of case: A 70-year-old male, diagnosed with primary sclerosing cholangitis, was submitted to a Roux-en-Y hepaticojejunostomy due to a dominant stricture of the extrahepatic biliary tree. Recurrent episodes of acute cholangitis dictated a workup in the direction of a possible stenosis at the level of the anastomosis. The imaging studies were inconclusive while both the endoscopic and the transhepatic approach failed to assess the status of the anastomosis. A laparotomy, with the intent to revise a high suspicion for stenosis hepaticojejunostomy, was decided. Intraoperatively, a decision to assess the hepaticojejunostomy prior to the scheduled surgical revision, via endoscopy, was made. In this direction, an enterotomy was made on the short jejunal blind loop in order to gain luminal access and an endoscope was propelled through the enterotomy towards the biliary enteric anastomosis. Results: The inspection of the anastomosis under direct endoscopic vision showed no evidences of stenosis and averted an unnecessary, under these circumstances, revision of the anastomosis. Conclusions: The surgical revision of a Roux-en-Y hepaticojejunostomy is a highly demanding operation with an increased associated morbidity, and it should be reserved as the final resort in the treatment algorithm. An approach of utilizing surgery to facilitate the endoscopic assessment prior to proceeding to the surgical revision of the anastomosis appears justified.
Mn-Ce catalysts/LDPC Modified by Mo for Improving NH3-SCR Performance and SO2 Resistance at Low Temperature
Authors: Zhou Tao , Jin Jiang , Zhang Hua
Published: May 2023

Mn-Ce catalysts modified by Mo were loaded on low-density porous ceramics (LDPC) for simultaneous denitrification and dust removal. The Mn-Ce-Mo catalyst on LDPC had nearly 99% NOx conversion efficiency from 120 °C to 200 °C and still maintained more than 90% NOx conversion efficiency when the filtration velocity reached to 4 m/min. Mn-Ce-Mo catalysts/LDPC not only exhibited excellent catalytic performance at low temperature, they also exhibited good resistance to H2O and SO2. The NOx conversion efficiency remained above 89% at 160 °C when the flue gas contained 100 ppm SO2 and 7 vol.% H2O. The analysis of NH3-TPD and XPS confirmed that Mn2Ce1Ox catalysts modified with Mo had the stronger surface acidity and more adsorbed oxygen, leading to higher NH3-SCR activity and better resistance to SO2 and H2O.
Collision Cross Section Prediction Based on Machine Learning
Authors: Li Xiaohang , Wang Hongda , Jiang Meiting , Ding Mengxiang , Xu Xiaoyan , Xu Bei , Zou Yadan , Yu Yuetong , Yang Wenzhi
Published: May 2023

Ion mobility-mass spectrometry (IM-MS) is a powerful separation technique providing an additional dimension of separation to support the enhanced separation and characterization of complex components from the tissue metabolome and medicinal herbs. The integration of machine learning (ML) with IM-MS can overcome the barrier to the lack of reference standards, promoting the creation of a large number of proprietary collision cross section (CCS) databases, which help to achieve the rapid, comprehensive, and accurate characterization of the contained chemical components. In this review, advances in CCS prediction using ML in the past 2 decades are summarized. The advantages of ion mobility-mass spectrometers and the commercially available ion mobility technologies with different principles (e.g., time dispersive, confinement and selective release, and space dispersive) are introduced and compared. The general procedures involved in CCS prediction based on ML (acquisition and optimization of the independent and dependent variables, model construction and evaluation, etc.) are highlighted. In addition, quantum chemistry, molecular dynamics, and CCS theoretical calculations are also described. Finally, the applications of CCS prediction in metabolomics, natural products, foods, and the other research fields are reflected.
Multiplexing Linear and Nonlinear Bragg Diffractions through Volume Gratings Fabricated by Femtosecond Laser Writing in Lithium Niobate Crystal
Authors: Lai Pailin , Chang Chun , Liu Xinyu , Wei Dunzhao
Published: May 2023

The femtosecond-laser-writing technique provides a flexible method for fabrication of nonlinear photonic crystals in three dimensions, providing structures that enable efficient complex nonlinear wave interactions and modulation for applications including nonlinear holography, nonlinear beam shaping, and waveguide-integrated wavelength conversion. However, the tightly focused laser pulse inevitably causes structural modification and then changes the local refractive index, resulting in additional linear modulation of the interacting waves. Here, we use the same periodic distributions of the refractive index and the second-order nonlinear coefficient for grating arrays engineered in lithium niobate crystals by femtosecond laser writing to achieve polarization-dependent linear and nonlinear Bragg diffractions simultaneously. The experimental results show that the linear and nonlinear diffraction efficiencies range up to 31% and 2.9 × 10−5, respectively, for grating arrays with dimensions of 100 μm (x) × 100 μm (y) × 100 μm (z). This work paves the way toward the realization of the multiplexing of linear and nonlinear optical modulations in a single structure for potential applications that include multidimensional optical data storage and optical coding.
Impacts of Myrtle Rust Induced Tree Mortality on Species and Functional Richness within Seedling Communities of a Wet Sclerophyll Forest in Eastern Australia
Authors: Stevenson Kristy , Pegg Geoff , Wills Jarrah , Herbohn John , Firn Jennifer
Published: May 2023

Austropuccinia psidii is an introduced plant pathogen known to have caused significant declines in populations of several Australian native Myrtaceae species. However, limited research has focused on the impacts of the pathogen on plant communities in the aftermath of its invasion. This study investigated the relationship between disease impact level, plant species diversity, and functional richness in seedling communities in a wet sclerophyll forest in southeast Queensland. A clear shift was found from early colonizer Myrtaceae species in the mid- and understory to a more diverse non-Myrtaceae seedling community indicative of secondary succession. Comparisons of key Myrtaceae species and the seedling community suggest that there may also be a shift towards species that produce drupes and larger seeds, and overall, a current reduction in fruit availability due to the dramatic loss of previously dominant species. Seedling diversity showed no significant correlation with tree mortality, possibly due to favorable rainfall conditions during the study period. The more subtle changes in forest composition, such as changes in fruit type and availability due to myrtle rust, however, could affect the visitation of local bird species in the short term and certainly reduce the store of early colonizing native shrub and tree species.
Microencapsulation of Chia Oil Using Whey Protein and Gum Arabic for Oxidation Prevention: A Comparative Study of Spray-Drying and Freeze-Drying Methods
Authors: Wangkulangkool Monchawan , Ketthaisong Danupol , Tangwongchai Ratchada , Boonmars Thidarut , Lomthaisong Khomsorn
Published: May 2023

Encapsulation is one of the most widely utilized strategies for preventing oil oxidation. Chia oil is a source of oils that are high in omega-3s and was used as a core material in this study. Whey protein and gum arabic were used as wall materials, and the whey protein:gum arabic ratios were 1:0, 1:1, 1:2, 2:1, 1:3 and 3:1. Preparation of chia oil microcapsules was conducted by spray-drying or freeze-drying methods. All microcapsules were stored in an opaque and airtight laminate pouch for 3 and 6 months to determine the effect of time on the fatty acid composition, encapsulation efficiency and chemical properties. Encapsulation had a positive protective effect on oil quality. The two drying methods resulted in different powder characteristics: spray drying resulted in a spherical shape, whilst freeze drying led to flakes and a porous surface. Spray drying microcapsules resulted in greater encapsulation efficiency than freeze drying microcapsules. In addition, encapsulated powders stored for 6 months showed both acid and peroxide values below the Codex limit. These results indicate a possible encapsulation process to protect chia oil from oxidation.
Overall Stability Valorization of Printed Sustainable Packaging Paper Containing Triticale Straw Pulp
Authors: Rudolf Maja , Plazonić Ivana , Petric Maretić Katja , Bates Irena
Published: May 2023

Due to the rising problem of deforestation, slow renewability, and higher cost of wood sources, it is of great importance for the paper and packaging industry to find suitable, environmentally friendly alternative sources of cellulose fibers. Much of the research has focused on studying the use of non-wood sources from various annual or perennial plants from which cellulose fibers can be obtained with equal quality to those from wood sources, since they are a fast-growing, renewable, and cheap source of fibers. This research focuses on the laboratory production and stability valorization of a paper substrate for packaging containing virgin fibers from triticale straw mixed with recycled wood pulp in various amounts up to 30%, printed with black ink through a simulation of the offset printing technique under controlled conditions. For stability analysis, printed paper substrates were subjected to three treatments essential for packaging: aging, rubbing, and chemical treatment. The stability of the prints was evaluated after treatments though spectrophotometric measurements (ΔE*ab, ΔR, ΔL*, Δa*, Δb*) and Fourier transform infrared analysis. The aging, rubbing, and chemical stability of the prints with the addition of triticale virgin fibers was improved for all product packaging except for products containing soybean oil.
A New Method for Mobility Logging Evaluation Based on Flowing Porosity in Shale Oil Reservoirs
Authors: Shen Bo , Tao Yunhe , Wang Gang , Fan Haitao , Wang Xindong , Sun Ke
Published: May 2023

Shale oil reservoirs differ from conventional reservoirs in several aspects, including the sedimentary model, accumulation mechanism, and reservoir characteristics, which pose significant challenges to their exploration and development. Therefore, identifying the location of optimal spots is crucial for the successful exploration and development of shale oil reservoirs. Mobility, particularly in low-permeability shale oil reservoirs with nano-scale pores, is a crucial petrophysical property that determines the development plan. However, two-dimensional nuclear magnetic resonance (2D-NMR) is expensive and has limited applicability, although it can estimate shale oil mobility. Hence, it is of great significance to find a precise method for evaluating shale oil mobility using conventional logging. In this paper, we propose a new method for assessing shale oil mobility based on free oil porosity derived from the difference in flowing porosity detected at different ranges of logging, utilizing the Maxwell conductivity model and conductivity efficiency theory. Our study shows that longitudinal-T2 (T1-T2) NMR logging can accurately evaluate the mobility of shale oil. This is demonstrated by comparing the processing results obtained from our proposed method with those from 2D-NMR and laboratory NMR experiments. The predicted results based on conventional well logs also show good agreement with experimental results, confirming the effectiveness and reliability of our new method. Our proposed method carries reference significance for evaluating shale oil reservoir quality.
Gas Injection Capacity of Slotted Liner and Perforation Completion in Underground Natural Gas Storage Reservoirs
Authors: Wang Jia , Dai Jiacheng , Xie Bin , Du Junjun , Li Jie , Liu Hailong , Wang Tianyu , Mu Zongjie , Tian Shouceng
Published: May 2023

The use of Horizontal wells is a common method of underground natural gas storage (UGS), but there is still a need to discuss whether they are more suitable for slotted liner or perforation completions. To address this issue, a numerical model is developed to predict the gas injection rate of horizontal wells while considering the skin factor. Here, a novel uncoupled iteration method is employed to determine the skin factor deriving from turbulence in each time step when the bottom hole pressure is fixed. The uncoupled method begins with an estimate of the initial gas injection rate, which is then used to calculate a turbulent skin factor. This turbulent skin factor is then used to update the gas injection rate, iterating continuously until convergence is achieved. The effects of slotted liner and perforation design parameters, formation damage, and injection pressure on the skin factor are analyzed. The main findings suggest that the error in the gas injection rate calculated by the non-coupled model compared with the coupled model is only 0.6%, yet it can reduce the number of sub-iterations to 1/10 of that required by the coupled model. Moreover, the uncoupled model can provide results within four steps, even when the convergence condition is 10−14. The open area and perforation density play a significant role in determining the connection degree between the horizontal well and the reservoir, with a larger perforation density resulting in a negative skin factor. Perforations are more suitable than slotted liners for reservoirs with severe formation damage, and the difference in skin factor between the two can reach a value of 40.87 when the ratio of the damage zone’s permeability to that of the normal reservoir zone is 0.05. It is easier to reduce turbulence damage in slotted liner completions than perforation completions, with the turbulence damage of the slotted liner being only 15.9% of that of the perforation. However, to avoid damage it is crucial to prevent the screen tube from being plugged in, as it might otherwise rise to three to ten times the original level. This study provides a theoretical basis and practical reference for the application of slotted liner and perforation method in UGS horizontal wells.
Grinding Characteristics of New Varieties of Winter Triticale Grain
Authors: Dziki Dariusz , Hassoon Waleed H. , Kramek Aneta , Krajewska Anna
Published: May 2023

Triticale (× Triticosecale Wittmack), developed by crossing rye and wheat, is increasingly applied in food production. The aim of this paper was to study the grinding process of eight new triticale grain (TG) varieties harvested in 2020 and 2021. TG was tempered to 12% of moisture and a knife mill was used for the size reduction. The following parameters characterizing the grinding process of TG were determined: specific grinding energy, Sokołowski grinding index, particle size distribution and average particle size. Additionally, the basic chemical composition, total phenolic content and antiradical activity of TG were determined. The protein content of TG was strongly influenced both by the variety and harvesting year, while other components were mostly affected by the genetic factor. The strongest influence on the grinding indices has a variety of TG. Specific grinding energy varied in the range of 14.0 kJ kg−1–17.8 kJ kg−1 and was positively correlated with the size of ground particles. Especially, the grain of Belcanto required lower grinding energy requirements and showed the strongest antioxidant capacity compared with other varieties of TG.
Nature Prescribes Laws to Humans: The Ziran of the Myriad Things in Early Daoism
Authors: Liu Jing
Published: May 2023

This essay examines the nature of things in early Daoism via the lens of comparative philosophy. Daoism uses ziran 自然 (spontaneity) to express the nature of things. I explore the ziran or spontaneity of the myriad things through the analysis of de 德, sheng 生 (xing 性), and freedom (ziyou 自由). The sections on de 德 and sheng 生 reveal that the spontaneity of things is the ultimate reality, which contains the oneness of one and many, essence and appearance, change and changelessness. The section on freedom revolves around two essential questions in metaphysics: What are things? What is the relation between things and humans? Different from the motto of modern metaphysics, “humans prescribes laws to nature”, early Daoism believes that human existence belongs to the constant ziran. I call this “nature prescribes laws to humans”.
A Survey on AI Implementation in Finance, (Cyber) Insurance and Financial Controlling
Authors: Aleksandrova Aleksandrina , Ninova Valentina , Zhelev Zhelyo
Published: May 2023

Artificial intelligence is changing the world in unprecedented ways and redefining all areas of human activity. In recent decades, the development of AI has progressed at an extraordinary pace. This study examines the scope of implementing AI in the financial sector, insurance, and financial controlling. The research team focuses on these areas, as the main objective of this review is to provide a comprehensive walk-through and to fill the gaps in the literature related to AI implementation in finance, insurance, and financial control from an economic perspective. We provide a comprehensive overview of AI implementation in finance, insurance, and financial controlling, highlighting crucial issues in that process and identifying the relationship between the development of these economic sectors and AI. The authors’ team identifies the trends and main themes in the existing literature in AI-related publications in finance, insurance, and financial control. We discuss the main advantages and disadvantages of AI implementation, identified by our research, and also make some suggestions regarding future research having in mind the interdisciplinary of the topic, the vast development of AI and technologies, and the increasing demand for AI-based solutions, services and products.
Robotic Writing of Arbitrary Unicode Characters Using Paintbrushes
Authors: Zingrebe David Silvan , Gülzow Jörg Marvin , Deussen Oliver
Published: May 2023

Human handwriting is an everyday task performed regularly by most people. In the domain of robotic painting, multiple calligraphy machines exist which were built to replicate some aspects of human artistic writing; however, most projects are limited to a specific style of handwriting, often Chinese calligraphy. We propose a two-stage pipeline that allows industrial robots to write text in arbitrary typefaces and scripts using paintbrushes. In the first stage, we extract a set of strokes from character glyphs which are similar to how humans choose strokes during writing. In the second stage, we generate corresponding brush trajectories by applying a brush model to the extracted strokes. Our brush model computes the required brush pressure to achieve the given stroke width while also accounting for brush lag. We also present a method to automatically measure the parameters needed to predict brush lag by painting and recording calibration patterns. Our method generates trajectories for text in any given typeface, which, when executed by a robotic arm, results in legible written text. We can render most writing systems, excluding emoji and ligatures, in which arbitrary texts can be specified to write.
Improved 3D Pavement Texture Reconstruction Method Based on Interference Fringe via Optimizing the Post-Processing Method
Authors: Chu Chu , Wei Ya , Wang Haipeng
Published: May 2023

The surface quality of pavement has a significant influence on the driving comfort and the skid resistance performance of roads. The 3D pavement texture measurement provides the basis for engineers to calculate the pavement performance index, such as the international roughness index (IRI), the texture depth (TD), and the rutting depth index (RDI), of different types of pavements. The interference-fringe-based texture measurement is widely used because of its high accuracy and high resolution, by which the 3D texture measurement has excellent accuracy in measuring the texture of workpieces with a diameter of <30 mm. When measuring the engineering products with a larger area (or larger areas), such as pavement surfaces, however, the accuracy is deficient because unequal incident angles due to the beam-divergence angle of the laser beam are ignored during the postprocessing of the measured data. This study aims to improve the accuracy of 3D pavement texture reconstruction based on the interference fringe (3D-PTRIF) by considering the influence of the unequal incident angles during postprocessing. It is found that the improved 3D-PTRIF has better accuracy than the traditional 3D-PTRIF, reducing the reconstruction errors between the measured value and the standard value by 74.51%. In addition, it solves the problem of a reconstructed slant surface, which deviates from the horizontal plane of the original surface. Compared to the traditional post-processing method, for the case of smooth surface, the slope can be decreased by 69.00%; for the case of coarse surface, the slope can be decreased by 15.29%. The results of this study will facilitate accurate quantifying of the pavement performance index by using the interference fringe technique, such as IRI, TD, and RDI.
Design of a Completely Vertical, Polarization-Independent Two-Dimensional Grating Coupler with High Coupling Efficiency
Authors: Lin Chung-Chih , Lu Yen-Cheng , Liu Yu-Hsuan , Wang Likarn , Na Neil
Published: May 2023

An efficient optical coupler to transfer the signal between an optical fiber and a silicon waveguide is essential for realizing the applications of silicon photonic integrated circuits such as optical communication and optical sensing. In this paper, we numerically demonstrate a two-dimensional grating coupler based on a silicon-on-insulator platform to obtain completely vertical and polarization-independent couplings, which potentially ease the difficulty of packaging and measurement of photonic integrated circuits. To mitigate the coupling loss induced by the second-order diffraction, two corner mirrors are respectively placed at the two orthogonal ends of the two-dimensional grating coupler to create appropriate interference conditions. Partial single-etch is assumed to form an asymmetric grating to obtain high directionalities without a bottom mirror. The two-dimensional grating coupler is optimized and verified with finite-difference time-domain simulations, achieving a high coupling efficiency of −1.53 dB and a low polarization-dependent loss of 0.015 dB when coupling to a standard single-mode fiber at approximately 1310 nm wavelength.