bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Study on the Influence Law of Ce on Microstructure and High-Temperature Oxidation Resistance of Ti-Al-Si Composite Coating
Authors: Zeng Siqi , Li Faguo
Published: July 2023

High-temperature titanium alloys are widely used in aerospace hot parts; however, the thermal barrier temperature of 600 °C limits its service temperature. In this paper, a two-step hot-dip plating method is proposed to prepare the composite coating containing Ce on the surface of titanium alloy, which can make the oxidation resistance temperature of titanium alloy reach 800 °C The microstructure, phase composition, and element distribution of Ce-containing Ti-Al-Si hot-dip coating, Ce-containing Ti-Al-Si pre-oxidation coating and Ce-containing Ti-Al-Si high-temperature oxidation coating were studied. The results showed that the Ti-Al-Si hot-dip coating containing Ce was mainly composed of (Ti,Ce)(Al,Si)3 alloy phase layer, and the Ti-Al-Si pre-oxidation coating containing Ce was mainly composed of Ti-Al binary system phase layer and dense Al2O3 layer rich in CeO2. Ce in the high-temperature oxidation coating of Ti-Al-Si containing Ce was mainly distributed in Ti3Al, TiAl, TiAl3 + Ti5Si3 mixed phase layer and Al2O3. The addition of Ce could improve the uniformity of composite coating, prevent the spread of cracks, and improve the high-temperature oxidation resistance of Ti-Al-Si coating.
Heparin with Different Molecular Weight on Hemocompatibility and Adsorption of Activated Carbon
Authors: Lei Jincan , Wang Haiyan , Dang Qi , Wang Xiang , Li Chungong , Huang Jing , Hou Jingzhou , Fang Kejing , Zhao Shixian
Published: July 2023

Activated carbon (AC) is an effective adsorbent for creatinine removal in hemoperfusion. However, the hemocompatibility and adsorption capacity of AC was required to be improved further. Heparin has different anticoagulant mechanisms due to its different molecular weights. Thus, it was necessary to study the surface modification with unfractionated heparin (UFH) or low-molecular-weight heparin (LMWH) on improvement of hemocompatibility and adsorption. In this study, UFH and LMWH were, respectively, grafted on AC through polyethyleneimine as an intermediate layer. The modification of AC regarding morphology, mechanical strength, and pore structure was characterized by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), scanning electron microscope (SEM), texture analyzer (TA), and surface area analyzer. It was found that, compared with AC, the morphology and mechanical strength of AC-UFH and AC-LMWH could be well maintained, but the specific surface area was decreased due to the grafting of macromolecules. Furthermore, AC-UFH and AC-LMWH showed better hemocompatibility on protein adsorption, clotting time, and platelet activation compared with AC, in which AC-LMWH had lower fibrinogen adsorption and longer clotting time than AC-UFH. In addition, it was found that AC, AC-UFH, and AC-LMWH had no significant effect on blood cell composition. Finally, the adsorption capacity of adsorbents for creatinine was evaluated. Although there was no significant difference between AC-UFH and AC-LMWH, it was found that heparin could be interacted with creatinine to enhance the adsorption capacity when compared with polyethyleneimine-modified AC. This study deepened the understanding of anticoagulation of heparinized surface and provided a theoretical basis for adsorption in hemoperfusion.
Natural Antioxidant-Loaded Nanoemulsions for Sun Protection Enhancement
Authors: Galani Eleni , Galatis Dimitrios , Tzoka Kyriaki , Papadimitriou Vassiliki , Sotiroudis Theodore G. , Bonos Antonios , Xenakis Aristotelis , Chatzidaki Maria D.
Published: July 2023

The aim of this study was to formulate nanodispersions to encapsulate antioxidants extracted from olive mill wastewater (OMW) and phycocyanin extracted from Spirulina maxima to act as enhancers for the skin’s protection against UV radiation. For this purpose, two water-in-oil nanoemulsions were prepared using a low-energy homogenization method. Both systems were based on isopropyl myristate as the continuous phase, while water or a mixture of glycerol and water was used as the dispersed phase. Then, antioxidants extracted from OMW and phycocyanin from Spirulina maxima were encapsulated in the water core of the nanoemulsions. The empty and antioxidant-loaded systems were then structurally studied using dynamic light scattering for the detection of their droplet size and stability over time. Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy using adequate probes was applied for the characterization of the surfactants’ monolayer in the presence and absence of antioxidants. It was found that the mean droplet diameter of the emulsions was 200 nm. The nanoemulsions remained stable for over 2 months. The encapsulated antioxidants were assessed for their scavenging activity of a model stable radical by applying EPR spectroscopy. It was found that the loaded systems exhibited an increased antioxidant capacity compared with the empty ones. Finally, the most stable system was added to commercial sunscreen lotions and the overall sun protection factor (SPF) was assessed. The sunscreen lotions that contained the nanoemulsions loaded with OMW extracts or phycocyanin showed an increase in their SPF value.
Multiparametric Contrast-Enhanced Ultrasound in Early Prediction of Response to Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy and Recurrence-Free Survival in Breast Cancer
Authors: Wan Caifeng , Zhou Liheng , Li Hongli , Wang Lin , Li Fenghua , Yin Wenjin , Wang Yaohui , Jiang Lixin , Lu Jinsong
Published: July 2023

We aimed to explore the value of contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) in early prediction of pathologic complete response (pCR) and recurrence-free survival (RFS) in locally advanced breast cancer (LABC) patients treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC). LABC patients who underwent CEUS before and during NAC from March 2014 to October 2018 were included and assessed. Logistic regression analysis and the Cox proportional hazards model were used to identify independent variables associated with pCR and RFS. Among 122 women, 44 underwent pCR. Molecular subtype, peak intensity (PEAK) and change in diameter were independent predictors of pCR after one cycle of NAC (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve [AUC], 0.81; 95% CI: 0.73, 0.88); Molecular subtype, PEAK and change in time to peak (TTP) were independently associated with pCR after two cycles of NAC (AUC, 0.85; 95% CI: 0.77, 0.91). A higher clinical T (hazard ratio [HR] = 4.75; 95% CI: 1.75, 12.87; p = 0.002) and N stages (HR = 3.39; 95% CI: 1.25, 9.19; p = 0.02) and a longer TTP (HR = 1.06; 95% CI: 1.01, 1.11; p = 0.02) at pre-NAC CEUS were independently associated with poorer RFS. CEUS can be used as a technique to predict pCR and RFS early in LABC patients treated with NAC.
Digital Health Information Systems in the Member States of the Commonwealth of Independent States: Status and Prospects
Authors: Semyonov Alexandr , Bogdan Elena , Shamal Elena , Sargsyan Aelita , Davtyan Karapet , Azzopardi-Muscat Natasha , Novillo-Ortiz David
Published: July 2023

This paper examines the status of the development of national digital health information systems (HIS) in Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) member states. Data for research were collected using a questionnaire adapted from the questionnaire of the WHO’s Third Global Survey on eHealth. The results showed that the digital transformation of HIS was occurring in all seven CIS member states (participating in the study), which were financed by different resources. Laws and regulations on electronic medical records (EMR) use were present in almost all participating CIS member states. Various international standards and classifications were used to support development and the interoperability of digital health information system (d-HIS), including International Classification of Diseases (ICD), Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine (DICOM), ISO 18308, Logical Observation Identifiers, Names, and Codes (LOINC), Systematized Nomenclature of Medicine Clinical Terms (SNOMED CT), and ISO TC 215. Several CIS member states had adopted a national information security strategy for the safe processing of both personal data and medical confidential information. The digital transformation of healthcare and the Empowerment through Digital Health initiative are taking place in all CIS member states, which are at different stages of introducing electronic medical and health records.
Treatment of Periodontitis Affecting Human Primary Teeth—A Systematic Review
Authors: Guha Biswas Protyusha , Mohan Anusha , Kandaswamy Eswar
Published: July 2023

The aim of this systematic review is to report the treatment options (Intervention) and outcomes (O) for primary teeth affected by periodontitis (Population) and if the treatment of primary teeth can prevent the spread of periodontitis to permanent teeth (Outcomes). The following databases were searched for papers published before December 2022: PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and Ebscohost. Studies on children affected by periodontitis involving the primary teeth were included and those on children who presented with periodontitis as a manifestation of systemic disease were excluded. Narrative synthesis and methodological quality assessments were performed for the included studies. Three interventional studies (without a control group) that evaluated treatments involving scaling and root planing (SRP with antibiotics) and extraction were included (total n = 60 patients). Additionally, twelve case reports/case series articles (n = 19 patients) were identified. The diagnoses ranged from aggressive periodontitis to juvenile periodontitis and pre-pubertal periodontitis. Based on a limited number of published studies, it was found that the early treatment of periodontitis affecting the primary teeth using SRP and systemic antibiotics resulted in favorable improvements in PD and CAL. Limited evidence suggests that SRP and the extraction of the primary teeth involved have the potential to prevent periodontitis affecting permanent teeth. Future trials are required to standardize the treatment protocols and to confirm these findings.
Disease-Associated Mutation A554V Disrupts Normal Autoinhibition of DNMT1
Authors: Switzer Rebecca L. , Hartman Zach J. , Hewett Geoffrey R. , Carroll Clara F.
Published: July 2023

DNA methyltransferase 1 (DNMT1) is the enzyme primarily responsible for propagation of the methylation pattern in cells. Mutations in DNMT1 have been linked to the development of adult-onset neurodegenerative disorders; these disease-associated mutations occur in the regulatory replication foci-targeting sequence (RFTS) domain of the protein. The RFTS domain is an endogenous inhibitor of DNMT1 activity that binds to the active site and prevents DNA binding. Here, we examine the impact of the disease-associated mutation A554V on normal RFTS-mediated inhibition of DNMT1. Wild-type and mutant proteins were expressed and purified to homogeneity for biochemical characterization. The mutation increased DNA binding affinity ~8-fold. In addition, the mutant enzyme exhibited increased DNA methylation activity. Circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy revealed that the mutation does not significantly impact the secondary structure or relative thermal stability of the isolated RFTS domain. However, the mutation resulted in changes in the CD spectrum in the context of the larger protein; a decrease in relative thermal stability was also observed. Collectively, this evidence suggests that A554V disrupts normal RFTS-mediated autoinhibition of DNMT1, resulting in a hyperactive mutant enzyme. While the disease-associated mutation does not significantly impact the isolated RFTS domain, the mutation results in a weakening of the interdomain stabilizing interactions generating a more open, active conformation of DNMT1. Hyperactive mutant DNMT1 could be responsible for the increased DNA methylation observed in affected individuals.
The Chatbots’ Challenge to Education: Disruption or Destruction?
Authors: Birenbaum Menucha
Published: July 2023

The article addresses the positive and negative implications of the growing spread of chatbots based on large language models (LLMs) on instruction, learning, and assessment in education. It is based on extensive conversations with ChatGPT regarding pedagogy-related issues and relevant documents. Discussed are the challenges of chatbots like ChatGPT to educators—on the one hand, their potential to advance deep learning and the roles of the instructor and the school context in causing it to happen. On the other hand, it underscores the pedagogical drawbacks of improper usage of such chatbots and the instructional practices and school contexts that could escalate learning. Three school-culture components, namely classroom learning, teacher professional learning, and school leadership, are the essential aspects of pedagogical approaches that, in a particular constellation, could enhance and, in another, impede a chatbot’s potential to advance deep learning. The underlying theoretical framework is assessment-driven, contrasting assessment for learning (AfL) and assessment for grading, distinguishing assessment cultures from testing cultures. Patterns of chatbot usage that align with the principles of each culture are discussed. A sample of quotes from the conversations with ChatGPT is presented to support the insights gained from the chatting experience and the conclusions drawn.
Dimensions of Subject Knowledge and Their Perceived Significance for Teachers in Romania
Authors: Lăzăreanu Carmen Gabriela , Apetrăcheoae Alexandra
Published: July 2023

Knowing the content of the matter one is teaching seems to be an implicit requirement. There are, however, some nuances between learning, understanding, needing to reproduce information exactly or adapt it. In this quantitative study, we tried to assess teachers’ perceptions on this issue based on their professional experience. Thus, we tried to highlight which aspects of knowledge are important and valued in the direct experience with pupils and how these are reflected in the evaluations and competitions organised institutionally for teacher tenure. The sample consists of 1154 Romanian teachers in pre-university education, with national representativeness and a proportional distribution per country region. The main motivation of this study is the need to support Romanian educational policies to find appropriate evaluation formulas for candidates in accordance with the concrete requirements of the profession, as shown in the direct work with students. This approach could encourage candidates to better prepare both for the qualification exam and to develop the skills needed to engage with pupils to improve classroom work in a more realistic way, adjusted to concrete conditions. The results of the research invite us to consider the importance of evaluating teachers in accordance with classroom needs.
Gaze-Based Human–Computer Interaction for Museums and Exhibitions: Technologies, Applications and Future Perspectives
Authors: Dondi Piercarlo , Porta Marco
Published: July 2023

Eye tracking technology is now mature enough to be exploited in various areas of human–computer interaction. In this paper, we consider the use of gaze-based communication in museums and exhibitions, to make the visitor experience more engaging and attractive. While immersive and interactive technologies are now relatively widespread in museums, the use of gaze interaction is still in its infancy—despite the benefits it could provide, for example, to visitors with motor disabilities. Apart from some pioneering early works, only the last few years have seen an increase in gaze-based museum applications. This literature review aims to discuss the state of the art on this topic, highlighting advantages, limitations and current and future trends.
Research on Perception and Control Technology for Dexterous Robot Operation
Authors: Zhang Tengteng , Mo Hongwei
Published: July 2023

Robotic grasping in cluttered environments is a fundamental and challenging task in robotics research. The ability to autonomously grasp objects in cluttered scenes is crucial for robots to perform complex tasks in real-world scenarios. Conventional grasping is based on the known object model in a structured environment, but the adaptability of unknown objects and complicated situations is constrained. In this paper, we present a robotic grasp architecture of attention-based deep reinforcement learning. To prevent the loss of local information, the prominent characteristics of input images are automatically extracted using a full convolutional network. In contrast to previous model-based and data-driven methods, the reward is remodeled in an effort to address the sparse rewards. The experimental results show that our method can double the learning speed in grasping a series of randomly placed objects. In real-word experiments, the grasping success rate of the robot platform reaches 90.4%, which outperforms several baselines.
IRC-CLVul: Cross-Programming-Language Vulnerability Detection with Intermediate Representations and Combined Features
Authors: Lei Tianwei , Xue Jingfeng , Wang Yong , Liu Zhenyan
Published: July 2023

The most severe problem in cross-programming languages is feature extraction due to different tokens in different programming languages. To solve this problem, we propose a cross-programming-language vulnerability detection method in this paper, IRC-CLVul, based on intermediate representation and combined features. Specifically, we first converted programs in different programming languages into a unified LLVM intermediate representation (LLVM-IR) to provide a classification basis for different programming languages. Afterwards, we extracted the code sequences and control flow graphs of the samples, used the semantic model to extract the program semantic information and graph structure information, and concatenated them into semantic vectors. Finally, we used Random Forest to learn the concatenated semantic vectors and obtained the classification results. We conducted experiments on 85,811 samples from the Juliet test suite in C, C++, and Java. The results show that our method improved the accuracy by 7% compared with the two baseline algorithms, and the F1 score showed a 12% increase.
Research on Fraud Detection Method Based on Heterogeneous Graph Representation Learning
Authors: Zheng Xuxu , Feng Chen , Yin Zhiyi , Zhang Jinli , Shen Huawei
Published: July 2023

Detecting fraudulent users in social networks could reduce online fraud and telecommunication fraud cases, which is essential to protect the lives and properties of internet users and maintain social harmony and stability. We study how to detect fraudulent users by using heterogeneous graph representation learning and propose a heterogeneous graph representation learning algorithm to learn user node embeddings to reduce human intervention. The experimental results show promising results. This article investigates how to use better heterogeneous graph representation learning to detect fraudulent users in social networks and improve detection accuracy.
Wideband DOA Estimation Utilizing a Hierarchical Prior Based on Variational Bayesian Inference
Authors: Li Ninghui , Zhang Xiaokuan , Zong Binfeng , Lv Fan , Xu Jiahua , Wang Zhaolong
Published: July 2023

The direction-of-arrival (DOA) estimation of wideband signals, based on sparse signal reconstruction, has recently been proposed, owing to its unique high-resolution performance. As a typical tool of sparse signal reconstruction, sparse Bayesian learning (SBL) enhances little sparsity in most works, leading to a non-robust local fitting. To significantly enhance sparsity, we proposed a novel hierarchical Bayesian prior framework, and deduced a novel iterative approach. It was discovered that the iterative approach had a lower computational complexity than the majority of current state-of-the-art algorithms. Besides, the proposed approach achieves a high angular estimation accuracy and sparsity performance, by utilizing the joint sparsity of the multiple measurement vector (MMV) models. Moreover, the approach stabilizes the estimated values between different frequencies or snapshots, so as to obtain a flat spatial spectrum. Extensive simulation results are presented, to demonstrate the superior performance of our method.
Fault-Tolerant Control Strategy for Phase Loss of the Flywheel Energy Storage Motor
Authors: Zheng Xuechen , Wu Zhenkui , Jia Yu , Zhang Jihong , Yang Peihong , Zhang Zilei
Published: July 2023

This study presents a bridge arm attached to the FESS motor’s neutral point and reconstructs the mathematical model after a phase-loss fault to assure the safe and dependable functioning of the FESS motor after such fault. To increase the fault tolerance in FESS motors with phase-loss faults, 3D-SVPWM technology was utilized to operate the motor. The parameters of the zero-axis current compensation control were modified based on the dual-closed-loop control strategy for the speed and current. The simulation experiments conducted in this study demonstrate that the fault-tolerant control strategy adopted can significantly reduce excessive torque pulsation after the phase failure of the FESS motor, stabilize the motor output torque, and improve the fault-tolerance performance of the FESS motor’s control system for the FESS motor.
Evaluation of the Solar Energy Nowcasting System (SENSE) during a 12-Months Intensive Measurement Campaign in Athens, Greece
Authors: Raptis Ioannis-Panagiotis , Kazadzis Stelios , Fountoulakis Ilias , Papachristopoulou Kyriakoula , Kouklaki Dimitra , Psiloglou Basil E. , Kazantzidis Andreas , Benetatos Charilaos , Papadimitriou Nikolaos , Eleftheratos Kostas
Published: July 2023

Energy nowcasting is a valuable asset in managing energy loads and having real-time information on solar irradiation availability. In this study, we evaluate the spectrally integrated outputs of the SENSE system for solar irradiance nowcasting for the period of the ASPIRE (atmospheric parameters affecting spectral solar irradiance and solar energy) campaign (December 2020–December 2021) held in Athens, Greece. For the needs of the campaign, several ground-based instruments were operating, including two pyranometers, a pyrheliometer, a cloud camera, a CIMEL sunphotometer, and a precision spectral radiometer (PSR). Global horizontal irradiance (GHI) estimations were more accurate than direct normal irradiance (DNI). SENSE estimations are provided every 15 min, but when comparing bigger time intervals (hours-days), the statistics improved. A dedicated assessment of the SENSE’s inputs is performed in respect to ground-based retrievals, considering cloud conditions (from a sky imager), AOD, and precipitable water vapor from AERONET. The factor that established the larger errors was the visibility of the solar disc, which cannot be defined by the available sources of model inputs. Additionally, there were discrepancies between the satellite estimation of the clouds and the ground picture, which caused deviations in results. AOD differences affected more the DNI.
Advanced Characterization of 1 eV GaInAs Inverted Metamorphic Solar Cells
Authors: Galiana Beatriz , Navarro Amalia , Hinojosa Manuel , Garcia Ivan , Martin-Martin Diego , Jiménez Juan , García-Tabarés Elisa
Published: July 2023

In this work, 1 eV Ga0.7In0.3As inverted metamorphic (IMM) solar cells were analyzed to achieve a deeper understanding of the mechanism limiting their improvement. For this purpose, high-resolution X-ray diffraction (HRXRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), high-resolution cross-sectional cathodoluminescence (CL), and transient in situ surface reflectance were carried out. Additionally, the photovoltaic responses of the complete devices were measured using the external quantum efficiency (EQE) and numerically simulated through Silvaco TCAD ATLAS. The combination of structural characterization of the semiconductor layers and measurements of the solar cell photovoltaic behavior, together with device modeling, allows us to conclude that the lifetime of the bulk minority carriers is the limiting factor influencing the PV response since the recombination at the interfaces (GaInP window–GaInAs emitter and GaInAs base–GaInP back surface field (BSF)) does not impact the carrier recombination due to the favorable alignment between the conduction and the valance bands. The advanced characterization using cross-sectional cathodoluminescence, together with transient in situ surface reflectance, allowed the rejection of the formation of traps related to the GaInAs growth conditions as being responsible for the decrement in the minority-carrier lifetime. Conversely, the TEM and HRXRD revealed that the presence of misfit dislocations in the GaInAs layer linked to strain relaxation, which were probably formed due to an excessive tensile strain in the virtual substrate or an incorrect combination of alloy compositions in the topmost layers, was the dominant factor influencing the GaInAs layer’s quality. These results allow an understanding of the contributions of each characterization technique in the analysis of multi-junction solar cells.
Load Forecasting for the Laser Metal Processing Industry Using VMD and Hybrid Deep Learning Models
Authors: Aksan Fachrizal , Suresh Vishnu , Janik Przemysław , Sikorski Tomasz
Published: July 2023

Electric load forecasting is crucial for the metallurgy industry because it enables effective resource allocation, production scheduling, and optimized energy management. To achieve an accurate load forecasting, it is essential to develop an efficient approach. In this study, we considered the time factor of univariate time-series data to implement various deep learning models for predicting the load one hour ahead under different conditions (seasonal and daily variations). The goal was to identify the most suitable model for each specific condition. In this study, two hybrid deep learning models were proposed. The first model combines variational mode decomposition (VMD) with a convolutional neural network (CNN) and gated recurrent unit (GRU). The second model incorporates VMD with a CNN and long short-term memory (LSTM). The proposed models outperformed the baseline models. The VMD–CNN–LSTM performed well for seasonal conditions, with an average RMSE of 12.215 kW, MAE of 9.543 kW, and MAPE of 0.095%. Meanwhile, the VMD–CNN–GRU performed well for daily variations, with an average RMSE value of 11.595 kW, MAE of 9.092 kW, and MAPE of 0.079%. The findings support the practical application of the proposed models for electrical load forecasting in diverse scenarios, especially concerning seasonal and daily variations.
Artificial Intelligence and Mathematical Models of Power Grids Driven by Renewable Energy Sources: A Survey
Authors: Srinivasan Sabarathinam , Kumarasamy Suresh , Andreadakis Zacharias E. , Lind Pedro G.
Published: July 2023

To face the impact of climate change in all dimensions of our society in the near future, the European Union (EU) has established an ambitious target. Until 2050, the share of renewable power shall increase up to 75% of all power injected into nowadays’ power grids. While being clean and having become significantly cheaper, renewable energy sources (RES) still present an important disadvantage compared to conventional sources. They show strong fluctuations, which introduce significant uncertainties when predicting the global power outcome and confound the causes and mechanisms underlying the phenomena in the grid, such as blackouts, extreme events, and amplitude death. To properly understand the nature of these fluctuations and model them is one of the key challenges in future energy research worldwide. This review collects some of the most important and recent approaches to model and assess the behavior of power grids driven by renewable energy sources. The goal of this survey is to draw a map to facilitate the different stakeholders and power grid researchers to navigate through some of the most recent advances in this field. We present some of the main research questions underlying power grid functioning and monitoring, as well as the main modeling approaches. These models can be classified as AI- or mathematically inspired models and include dynamical systems, Bayesian inference, stochastic differential equations, machine learning methods, deep learning, reinforcement learning, and reservoir computing. The content is aimed at the broad audience potentially interested in this topic, including academic researchers, engineers, public policy, and decision-makers. Additionally, we also provide an overview of the main repositories and open sources of power grid data and related data sets, including wind speed measurements and other geophysical data.
A Hybrid Artificial Ecosystem Optimizer and Incremental-Conductance Maximum-Power-Point-Tracking-Controlled Grid-Connected Photovoltaic System
Authors: Abdullah Burhan U Din , Lata Suman , Jaiswal Shiva Pujan , Bhadoria Vikas Singh , Fotis Georgios , Santas Athanasios , Ekonomou Lambros
Published: July 2023

When tracking the peak power point in PV systems, incremental conductance is the most common technique used. This approach preserves the first trap in the local peak power point, but it is unable to quickly keep up with the ever-changing peak power point under varying irradiance and temperature conditions. In this paper, the authors propose a hybrid algorithm, combining an artificial ecosystem optimizer and an incremental-conductance-based MPPT to solve these issues of traditional MPPT under varying irradiance and temperature conditions. The proposed hybrid algorithm has been applied to three scenarios, namely the constant irradiance condition, the varying irradiance condition, and the varying temperature condition. Under the constant irradiance condition, the PV array is maintained at a temperature of 25 °C and an irradiance of 1000 W/m2. The voltage of the DC link of the neutral-pointed-clamped inverter is maintained at 1000 V. Under the varying irradiance condition, the irradiance of the PV array is increased from 400 W/m2 to 1000 W/m2with a step size of 0.2 s. The same step size is maintained while decreasing the irradiance level from 1000 W/m2 to 400 W/m2, with a step change of 0.2 s. However, the temperature is maintained at 25 °C. Under the varying temperature condition, the temperature of the PV array varies from 35 °C, 25 °C, 15 °C, 10 °C, 15 °C, 25 °C, and 35 °C with a step size of 0.2 s, and the irradiance is maintained at 1000 W/m2. The DC link voltage in all three conditions is maintained at 1000 V, which confirms that the hybrid algorithm has been able to vary the duty cycle of the pulse wave modulation generator in such a manner that the variable DC voltage produced by the PV array has been changed by the flyback converter into a stable DC voltage. The simulation results show that the total harmonic distortion (THD) under all the simulated scenarios is within 5%, which agrees with IEEE standards. In the future, this algorithm may be compared with other types of available MPPTs under partial shading.
Mental Health and Recreational Angling in UK Adult Males: A Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Wilson Jason J. , Trott Mike , Tully Mark A. , Lindsay Rosie K. , Fossey Matt , Godier-McBard Lauren , Butler Laurie T. , Torrance Andy , Smith Lee
Published: July 2023

Exposure to aquatic environments (i.e., blue spaces) can lead to improved mental health and well-being. One meaningful way to spend time in blue spaces is through recreational angling, although limited scientific literature exists on this topic. The present study aims to examine the relationship between recreational angling and mental health and well-being in a sample of UK adult male anglers. A cross-sectional online survey asked questions about demographic characteristics, participation in recreational angling, physical activity levels, diagnosis of psychiatric disorders, and mental health and well-being. Relationships between angling status (i.e., how often and how long participants angled for) and mental health variables were determined using regression models adjusted for age. In total, 1752 participants completed the survey. The regression models found that those who took part in angling more regularly had reduced odds of having depression (p < 0.001), schizophrenia (p = 0.001), suicidal thoughts (p < 0.001), and deliberately self-harming (p = 0.012), in addition to having a higher mental well-being and lower symptoms of depression and anxiety compared to those taking part in angling less frequently. In general, the findings suggest that encouraging frequent participation in recreational angling could be a dual method strategy for promoting relaxation and positive mental health, as well as encouraging increased levels of physical activity in those with mental health issues.
Extracellular Enzyme Activity and Nutrient Characteristics of Pinus massoniana Lamb. Families with Different Growth Levels: Insights into the Ectomycorrhizal Fungal Community and Rhizosphere Soil
Authors: Zhang Jun , Zhao Yuanxiang , He Hongyang , Wang Haoyun , Wu Feng
Published: July 2023

The symbiosis between ectomycorrhizal (ECM) fungal species and the root system of Pinus massoniana is important for its growth. However, the characteristics of ECM fungal communities and their relationships with extracellular enzyme activities and nutrients in the rhizosphere soil of different P. massoniana genotypes have not been well characterized. In this study, P. massoniana families (groups of offspring from different parents) with different levels of growth were selected for investigating ECM fungal communities, soil nutrients, extracellular enzyme activity, and leaf nutrient concentrations to explore the relationships between P. massoniana and the composition of the ECM fungal community. The high-growth (HG) family of P. massoniana had more different ECM fungal communities than the medium-growth (MG) and low-growth (LG) families; each family had a unique and dominant genera (HG: Amphinema and Pseudoclathrosphaerina; MG: Russula and Auricularia; and LG: Russula and Amanita). Amphinema was the main contributor to the differences among the three families (contribution: HG-MG 0.225 and HG-LG 0.17) and had rich extramatrical mycelium, which favored the growth of the HG family and positively affected the accumulation of soil organic carbon. Structural equation modelling showed that the dominant genera in the HG family had significant positive effects on the activity of three extracellular enzymes (BG, NAG, and AP) (weak to moderate positive effects of Amphinema on BG, NAG, and AP and moderate positive effects of Pseudoclathrosphaerina on BG, NAG, and AP), which might have contributed to the differences in extracellular enzyme activities among the families with different growth levels. Redundancy analysis indicated that P. massoniana growth traits (tree height, diameter at breast height, and timber volume), soil total nitrogen, and the N/P ratio significantly influenced ECM fungal communities. The study revealed the characteristics of ECM fungal communities, soil extracellular enzyme activity, and nutrient features of P. massoniana with different growth levels, which help improve our understanding of the relationship between P. massoniana genotype and ECM fungal communities.
Effect of Bacillus Probiotics on the Immunological Responses of Nile Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus): A Review
Authors: Shija Vicent Michael , Amoah Kwaku , Cai Jia
Published: July 2023

The use of antibiotics and therapeutics for Nile tilapia has increased along with its increased production and intensification. Probiotics have been studied as an alternative to the excessive use of antibiotics in fish diets. Studies have demonstrated that dietary Bacillus probiotic inclusion promotes faster growth and disease resistance in farmed fish species. Despite advances in research, there is still uncertainty about the mechanisms controlling the immune response of fish. In this review, we summarize and discuss recent research on the immune responses of Nile tilapia to Bacillus probiotics. Through the use of immunological information including phagocytosis, lysozyme activity, respiratory activity, antioxidant proteins, complement activity, and immune-related gene expression, researchers hope to develop effective strategies for successfully using Bacillus probiotics in Oreochromis niloticus farming.
Effects of IGF1 and IGF2 on In Vitro Ovarian Follicle Maturation in Rainbow Trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss
Authors: Weber Gregory M.
Published: July 2023

Ovarian follicle maturation (OFM), including the resumption of meiosis in the oocyte, is under hormonal regulation. Insulin-like growth factors (IGF) have been shown to participate in the regulation of OFM with species-specific actions in teleost fishes. In the present study, in vitro treatment of rainbow trout ovarian follicles with recombinant human insulin-like growth factor-1 (rhIGF1) or rhIGF2 did not induce germinal vesicle breakdown (GVBD), a marker for the resumption of meiosis, in the oocytes. Co-incubation of follicle-enclosed oocytes with rhIGF1 and the maturation-inducing steroid (MIS) in rainbow trout, 17α,20β-dihydroxy-4-pregnen-3-one (17,20βP), also did not induce GVBD in follicles from rainbow trout that were not able to respond to the MIS alone suggesting IGFs cannot induce oocyte maturational competence (OMC), which is the ability of the oocyte to respond to the MIS. Nevertheless, the addition of rhIGF1 with the MIS increased the proportion of oocytes completing GVBD compared with MIS alone, although this potentiation was small and varied greatly among clutches of follicles from fish with oocytes at different stages of germinal vesicle migration. Collectively, these observations suggest IGFs may have synergistic actions with the MIS but cannot induce resumption of meiosis directly at the oocyte and are not potent inducers of OMC in rainbow trout. Rainbow trout are the first teleost fish in which IGFs were found to induce neither OMC nor resumption of meiosis in vitro.
Copper-Induced Ionoregulatory Disturbance, Histopathology, and Transcriptome Responses in Freshwater Mussel (Anodonta woodiana) Gills
Authors: Chen Xiubao , Liu Hongbo , Liber Karsten , Jiang Tao , Yang Jian
Published: July 2023

Copper (Cu) contamination has become a severe problem in freshwater environments worldwide. The freshwater mussel Anodonta woodiana is used as a unique bioindicator to monitor Cu contamination in freshwater environments. However, Cu toxicity and response mechanisms in A. woodiana are still largely unknown. A sublethal acute exposure experiment (2.0 mg/L Cu exposure for 72 h) was conducted to investigate the effects of Cu bioaccumulation on ionoregulatory homeostasis, histological features, and transcriptome responses using A. woodiana gills as indicator tissue. The gill bioaccumulation capacity was up to 474. Cu bioaccumulation decreased Na+ and Mg2+ concentrations (p < 0.05) by 82% and 17%, respectively, and induced cilia loss, epithelial desquamation, and filament atrophy of the gills. Transcriptome analysis identified 3160 differentially expressed genes (DEGs), including 1870 upregulated and 1290 downregulated genes. GO enrichment analysis showed that cellular processes, metabolic processes, biological regulation, and responses to stimuli contained the most DEGs in the biological processes. KEGG pathway analysis showed that apoptosis, arginine and proline metabolism, the toll-like receptor signaling pathway, apoptosis-multiple species, histidine metabolism, beta-alanine metabolism, cytokine–cytokine receptor interaction, and the p53 signaling pathway were significantly enriched. These findings provide comprehensive evidence for exploring Cu toxicity and response mechanisms in freshwater mussels.
Experimental Study on the Effect of the Angle of Attack on the Flow-Induced Vibration of a Harbor Seal’s Whisker
Authors: Wei Yuhan , Ji Chunning , Yuan Dekui , Song Liqun , Xu Dong
Published: July 2023

A harbor seal’s whisker is able to sense the trailing vortices of marine organisms due to its unique three-dimensional wavy shape, which suppresses the vibrations caused by its own vortex-shedding, while exciting large-amplitude and synchronized vibrations in a wake flow. This provides insight into the development of whisker-inspired sensors, which have broad applications in the fields of ocean exploration and marine surveys. However, the harbor seal’s whisker may lose its vibration suppression ability when the angle of attack (AoA) of the incoming flow is large. In order to explore the flow-induced vibration (FIV) features of a harbor seal’s whisker at various angles of attack (θ=0–90∘), this study experimentally investigates the effect of AoA on the vibration response of a whisker model in a wide range of reduced velocities (Ur = 3–32.2) and the Reynolds number, Re = 400–7000, in a circulating water flume. Meanwhile, for the sake of comparison, the FIV response of an elliptical cylinder with the same equivalent diameters is also presented. The results indicate that an increase in AoA enhances the vibration amplitude and expands the lock-in range for both the whisker model and the elliptical cylinder. The whisker model effectively suppresses vibration responses at θ=0∘ due to its unique three-dimensional wavy shape. However, when θ≥30∘, the wavy surface structure gradually loses its suppression ability, resulting in large-amplitude vibration responses similar to those of the elliptical cylinder. For θ = 30∘ and 45∘, the vibration responses of the whisker model and the elliptical cylinder undergo three vibration regimes, i.e., vortex-induced vibration, transition response, and turbulent-induced vibration, with the increasing Ur. However, at θ = 60∘ and 90∘, the vortex-shedding gradually controls the FIV response, and only the vortex-induced vibration is observed.
Chemical Compositions and Characteristics of Biocalcium from Asian Sea Bass (Lates calcarifer) Scales as Influenced by Pretreatment and Heating Processes
Authors: Nilsuwan Krisana , Pomtong Saowakon , Chedosama Afeefah , Sookchoo Pornsatit , Benjakul Soottawat
Published: July 2023

Asian sea bass scales discarded from the fish processing industry contain collagen and calcium. The production of biocalcium can increase their value. The effect of alkaline pretreatment on non-collagenous protein removal from scales was investigated. The alkaline pretreatment of scales was optimal when 2 M NaOH solution was used for 10 min. The impacts of heating processes of varying times on chemical compositions and characteristics of biocalcium (BC) powder from alkali-pretreated scales were also studied. A lower loss of hydroxyproline (HYP) and decreased hardness of scales were obtained when the scales were treated with a boiling process. BC powders from the scales subjected to boiling (B-BC) had higher yield and HYP content than BC powders using a high-pressure heating (HP-BC) process. An augmented heating time (10–30 min) lowered yield, HYP, moisture, and protein contents in BC powder regardless of the heating processes. HP-BC powder had higher ash, calcium, and phosphorus contents than B-BC powder. A whiter color and larger mean particle size were attained for the B-BC powders. X-ray diffractograms revealed that all BC powders had hydroxyapatite, which had a crystallinity of 53.60–66.54%, as a major component. FTIR spectra confirmed that all BC powders comprised proteins and inorganic matter. BC powder from scales with high yield and satisfactory characteristics could be used in calcium supplements.
Nutritional, Physico-Chemical, Phytochemical, and Rheological Characteristics of Composite Flour Substituted by Baobab Pulp Flour (Adansonia digitata L.) for Bread Making
Authors: Dossa Sylvestre , Negrea Monica , Cocan Ileana , Berbecea Adina , Obistioiu Diana , Dragomir Christine , Alexa Ersilia , Rivis Adrian
Published: July 2023

The aim of this paper is to improve the nutritional quality of bakery products by replacing wheat flour (WF) with different proportions (10%, 20%, and 30%) of baobab flour (BF). The composite flours and bread obtained were evaluated from nutritional, physical-chemical, phytochemical, organoleptic, and rheological points of view. The results obtained show that BF is a rich source of minerals (K: 13,276.47 ± 174 mg/kg; Ca: 1570.67 ± 29.67 mg/kg; Mg: 1066.73 ± 9.97 mg/kg; Fe: 155.14 ± 2.95 mg/kg; Na: 143.19 ± 5.22 mg/kg; and Zn: 14.90 ± 0.01 mg/kg), lipids (1.56 ± 0.02 mg/100 g), and carbohydrates (76.34 ± 0. 06 mg/100 g) as well as for the phytochemical profile. In this regard, the maximum contents for the total polyphenols content (TPC) were recorded in the case of bread with 30% BF (297.63 ± 1.75 mg GAE/100 g), a total flavonoids content (TFC) of 208.06 ± 0.002 mg QE/100 g, and 66.72 ± 0.07% for antioxidant activity (AA). Regarding the physical-chemical, rheological, and organoleptic analysis, the bread sample with 10% BF (BWB1) was the best among the samples with different proportions of BF. It presented a smooth, porous appearance (73.50 ± 0.67% porosity) and an elastic core (85 ± 0.27% elasticity) with a volume of 155.04 ± 0.95 cm3/100 g. It had better water absorption (76.7%) than WF (55.8%), a stability of 5.82 min, and a zero-gluten index. The scores obtained by BWB1 for the organoleptic test were as follows: Appearance: 4.81; color: 4.85; texture: 4.78; taste: 4.56; flavor: 4.37; and overall acceptability: 4.7. This study shows that BF improved the nutritional quality of the product, organoleptic properties, α-amylase activity, viscosity, and phytochemical profile, resulting in composite flour suitable for the production of functional bread.
Cold-Chain-Food-Related COVID-19 Surveillance in Guangzhou between July 2020 and December 2022
Authors: Chen Zongqiu , Li Xiaoning , Zhou Jinhua , Zhou Tengfei , Lin Tianji , Xu Conghui , Yu Jianhai , Li Kuibiao , Zhang Zhoubin , Zhao Wei
Published: July 2023

Objective: To monitor severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) RNA contamination in samples linked to imported cold-chain food and assess the situation from the implementation of a centralized supervision warehouse system in Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China. Methods: Swabs of workers and frozen-food-related samples were collected between July 2020 and December 2023 in Guangzhou, Guangdong Province. SARS-CoV-2 RNA was extracted and analyzed by a real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction using the commercially available SARS-CoV-2 nucleic acid test kit. The risk level and food source were monitored simultaneously. Results: A total of 283 positive cold-chain events were found in Guangzhou since the first cold-chain-related event of the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic was identified in July 2020. Most positive samples were a low-to-medium risk, and the cycle threshold value was >30. No live virus was detected, and no staff came into direct contact with a live virus. In total, 87.63% of positive events were identified through sampling and testing at the centralized food warehouse. Conclusion: Cold-chain food has a relatively low risk of transmitting SARS-CoV-2. Centralized food storage can be used as an effective method to control this risk, and this measure can also be used for other food-related, contact-transmitted diseases.