bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The cortical thickness of tricenarian cocaine users assembles features of an octogenarian brain
Authors: Rothmann Leonardo Melo , Tondo Lucca Pizzato , Borelli Wyllians Vendramini , Esper Nathalia Bianchini , Portolan Eduardo Tavares , Franco Alexandre Rosa , Portuguez Mirna Wetters , Ferreira Pedro Eugênio , Bittencourt Augusto Martins Lucas , Soder Ricardo Bernardi , Viola Thiago Wendt , da Costa Jaderson Costa , Grassi‐Oliveira Rodrigo
Published: December 2023

It has been suggested that substance use disorders could lead to accelerated biological aging, but only a few neuroimaging studies have investigated this hypothesis so far. In this cross‐sectional study, structural neuroimaging was performed to measure cortical thickness (CT) in tricenarian adults with cocaine use disorder (CUD, n1 = 30) and their age‐paired controls (YC, n1 = 30), and compare it with octogenarian elder controls (EC, n1 = 20). We found that CT in the right fusiform gyrus was similar between CUD and EC, thinner than the expected values of YC. We also found that regarding CT of the right inferior temporal gyrus, right inferior parietal cortex, and left superior parietal cortex, the CUD group exhibited parameters that fell in between EC and YC groups. Finally, CT of the right pars triangularis bordering with orbitofrontal gyrus, right superior temporal gyrus, and right precentral gyrus were reduced in CUD when contrasted with YC, but those areas were unrelated to CT of EC. Despite the 50‐year age gap between our age groups, CT of tricenarian cocaine users assembles features of an octogenarian brain, reinforcing the accelerated aging hypothesis in CUD.
Bayesian random‐effects meta‐analysis with empirical heterogeneity priors for application in health technology assessment with very few studies
Authors: Lilienthal Jona , Sturtz Sibylle , Schürmann Christoph , Maiworm Matthias , Röver Christian , Friede Tim , Bender Ralf
Published: December 2023

In Bayesian random‐effects meta‐analysis, the use of weakly informative prior distributions is of particular benefit in cases where only a few studies are included, a situation often encountered in health technology assessment (HTA). Suggestions for empirical prior distributions are available in the literature but it is unknown whether these are adequate in the context of HTA. Therefore, a database of all relevant meta‐analyses conducted by the Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG, Germany) was constructed to derive empirical prior distributions for the heterogeneity parameter suitable for HTA. Previously, an extension to the normal‐normal hierarchical model had been suggested for this purpose. For different effect measures, this extended model was applied on the database to conservatively derive a prior distribution for the heterogeneity parameter. Comparison of a Bayesian approach using the derived priors with IQWiG's current standard approach for evidence synthesis shows favorable properties. Therefore, these prior distributions are recommended for future meta‐analyses in HTA settings and could be embedded into the IQWiG evidence synthesis approach in the case of very few studies.
Breaking free from academic scams: Five key reflections on the cloned journal conundrum
Authors: Vijay Solomon Rajadurai
Published: December 2023

Key points

Emerging as a novel cybercrime, cloned (or hijacked) journals with identical ISSNs to legitimate ones have surfaced.

These cloned journals employ various tactics, and this article identifies and discusses the top five.

Fraudulent journals primarily focus on print‐only publications, using parallel websites to mislead researchers.

Cloned journals are using videos on their homepages to deceitfully showcase indexing in databases like Scopus or Web of Science.
Predicting the presence of hypoxic hypolimnia in lakes at large spatial scales
Authors: LaBrie Richard , Maranger Roxane
Published: December 2023

Lakes and reservoirs provide multiple essential ecosystem services to humans, and several of these require the presence of a cool, oxygen‐rich hypolimnion. These ecosystem services include supporting habitat for recreational fish species and the maintenance of a non‐eutrophic state by limiting internal nutrient loading. However, changes in land use and global warming are modifying the thermal structure of lakes worldwide, creating episodic or prolonged periods of hypoxia, changing a lakes ability to deliver certain ecosystem services. Here, we used National Lake Assessment data and machine learning approaches to identify which lake or watershed features determined the presence of a hypolimnion and which contributed to the development of hypoxia. A random forest of 1000 trees predicted the presence of a hypolimnion with 85% accuracy using commonly measured morphometric and physicochemical variables as well as land use. Mean and maximum depths had a disproportionate influence, entirely obscuring the influence of variables commonly associated with lake mixing, such as light penetration and fetch. In contrast, depth had a more restrained role to predict the presence of hypoxia; the latter was predicted with an overall accuracy of 85%, from epilimnetic nitrogen and carbon concentrations. Although the nutrient‐color groups had a minor influence in the random forests, there was a clear trend of increased hypoxia with higher turbidity. Our approach allows for the broad‐scale assessment of lakes with hypolimnia and suggests that increasing eutrophication and browning will promote profundal hypoxia, altering the delivery of certain ecosystems services.
Study on lap joining and characterization of tin (Sn) powder on stainless steel SS304 using microwave heating
Authors: Tayier W. , Janasekaran S. , Tai V. C.
Published: December 2023

Metal bonding via joints of low melting point materials such as zinc and tin has been technically challenging. This paper presents a unique technique for bonding small dimensions and the low melting point of materials through the microwave hybrid heating (MHH) process. Joint of stainless steel SS304 was applied to the joint with the tin (Sn) powder with the application of microwave radiation by using domestic microwave oven at 2.45 GHz of constant frequency, 200–360 W of microwave power, 120–180 s of exposure time, and 10–20 % of the epoxy rate. A developed heat chamber was used as a susceptor and insulator in the microwave hybrid heating (MHH) process. The tin powder and parent metals were strongly bonded as lap position by the microwave hybrid heating (MHH) process at 360 W of microwave power, 180 s of constant exposure time, and 20 % of the constant epoxy rate. Characterization of the joint was evaluated through microhardness and x‐ray diffraction (XRD) analysis techniques. It was found that the intermetallic compounds (phase) of nickel tin (NiSn), iron tin (Fe1.84Sn), sulfur tin (SSn), chromium tin (Cr2Sn3), chromium tin (CrSn2), and tin phosphorus (SnP) at the joint surface with highest microhardness obtained at 498.4 HV 0.05 at 360 W of microwave power.
Effects of precipitation hardening on cutting force, surface roughness and tool wear in turning of 15‐5PH stainless steel
Authors: Elyasi M. , Maghsoudpour A. , Soleimanimehr H. , Akhavan Farid A.
Published: December 2023

15‐5PH steel is a group of martensitic stainless steel which is strengthened by precipitation hardening. This paper is aimed to evaluate the effects of precipitation hardening on the machinability of 15–5PH. Machining was carried out at different feed rates and cutting speeds under heat treatment conditions H900 (meaning heat treatment at 900 °F) and H1150. The cutting force, work‐piece's surface roughness and tool wear were compared to the results of turning in solution condition. Scanning electron microscopy observation revealed that crater and flank wear were the main tool wear types in the turning of 15–5PH under the H900, solution and H1150 conditions. In addition, turning in the H900 condition causes defects such as “side flow” of the workpiece surface and “plowing” by the tool, compared to turning in the solution condition. The analysis of variance indicated that H1150 had the highest performance in reducing the cutting force, tool wear and surface roughness. The comparison between turning in H900 and solution conditions showed that the average cutting force and tool's flank wear in the H900 condition are 18 % and 11 % higher than solution condition, respectively. However, the mean roughness was 14 % lower under H900 than the solution condition.
Investigation of controlled drug release of ibuprofen with prepared and characterized innovative bigel materials
Authors: Kizilhan E. , Özcan Y. , Erden Gönenmiş D. , Mutlu D. , Gök C. , Arslan Ş.
Published: December 2023

New systems called bigels have been discovered recently, alongside other consolidations of hydrogels and organogels. The purpose of this research is to develop bigels using span 40, alginate, centaury oil, black cumin oil and sorbitan monopalmitate for controlled ibuprofen release. Characterization of prepared materials was performed using various analysis by fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and differential scanning calorimetry. The pH 7.2 level was used for the swelling test of bigels. Cytocompatibility of bigels was determined by using human immortalized human keratinocyte cells. Bigels have been tested for their effectiveness as controlled medication delivery formulations by in vitro studies. The prepared bigels did not show any toxic effects on human cells. This indicates that the prepared materials were biocompatible. For controlled drug release kinetics, zeroth‐order, first‐order, Higuchi, and Korsmeyer‐Peppas kinetic models were used. According to results, the kinetic modeling of bigels by Korsmeyer‐Peppas is also highly compatible. Consequently, controlled drug release was successfully carried out by the novel bigel materials formed by adding an active ingredient. Our results clearly indicate that bigels have been an alternative potential material for controlled drug delivery systems by the properties of biocompatibility, slower release of the drug and the diffusion release mechanism.
Empirical modeling of profile roughness parameters during end milling of aluminium alloy 5052/tungsten carbide/graphite hybrid composite
Authors: Dhas D.S.E.J. , Wins K.L.D. , Beatrice B.A.
Published: December 2023

This study presents an empirical modeling approach to reveal the effect of end milling parameters on the profile roughness parameters. Aluminium hybrid composite was melt‐stir die cast into the required work material, setting a predetermined weight fraction of reinforcements. The experimental design was adopted using the Taguchi meta‐heuristic algorithm for the selection of the levels of the end milling parameters. The profile roughness parameters namely arithmetic average roughness (Ra), root mean square roughness (Rq), and mean roughness depth (Rz) were considered as output responses, which were measured using stylus type surface roughness tester. Non‐linear second‐order empirical models were formulated and from them, the profile response parameters were predicted with 95 % accuracy. The results revealed that the depth of cut and spindle speed are contributing 54.22 % and 38.6 % respectively among the selected input parameters on the cumulative output.
Effect of copper interlayer to the microstructure and strength of alumina/304 stainless steel joint brazed with silver‐copper‐titanium filler
Authors: Li A. H. , Li T. , Chen X. G. , Guo W. B. , Xue H. T. , Chen C. X.
Published: December 2023

Alumina and 304 stainless steel were brazed with silver‐copper‐titanium filler+copper foil. The effect of adding copper foil to the filler on the microstructure of the alumina/304 joint was studied, and the reasons for the effect of adding copper foil with different thicknesses on the joint performance were also analyzed. The standard microstructure of alumina/304 joint with silver‐copper‐titanium+copper foil filler is alumina ceramic/copper compound with titanium and oxygen (3 : 3 : 1) (Cu3Ti3O) continuous layer+copper titanide (TiCu)/silver solid solution+copper solid solution/titanium compound with iron (1 : 2) (TiFe2)+iron‐chromium compound/304 stainless steel. The added copper foil inhibits the diffusion of titanium elements, thereby reducing the formation of the brittle copper compound with titanium and oxygen (3 : 3 : 1) (Cu3Ti3O) and alleviating the residual stress. In addition, after adding copper foil, the copper solid solution is distributed in blocks in the joint, which also improves the plastic deformation ability of the joint. Under the synergistic effect of these two effects after adding copper foil, the joint strength is improved. When the copper foil was 200 μm, the shear strength is 198.10 MPa.
Mechanical and thermal behaviour of stir cast sillimanite/red mud/LM25 Al‐alloy metal matrix composite
Authors: Yadav A. K. , Kumar N.
Published: December 2023

This paper investigates the mechanical and thermal characterization of hybrid metal matrix composites of sillimanite/red mud/LM25 aluminium alloy produced by stir casting process. The weight percentage of red mud and sillimanite are taken 5 %, 10 % and 15 % in the ratio of 1 : 1. Energy dispersive spectroscopy confirmed that both reinforcements are present in the base alloy. The aluminium‐metal matrix composites exhibit symmetrical distribution of red mud and sillimanite particles when observed through microscopic images, with minimal agglomeration. A detailed analysis is performed on the composites to determine the effects of sillimanite and red mud content on its tensile strength, thermal conductivity and hardness. Experimental results show that the accumulation of reinforcing material enhances the ultimate tensile strength and hardness at the expense of percentage elongation and thermal conductivity.
Physical and mechanical characterization of glass fiber‐grewia optiva fiber reinforced hybrid polymer composite fabricated by vacuum assisted resin transfer moulding
Authors: Verma S. K. , Gupta A. , Gangil B.
Published: December 2023

The natural and synthetic fibers are combined in a single composite to achieve a balance between the desired strength and cost considerations. In this study, the vacuum resin transfer moulding process was used to prepare an epoxy‐based composite. The composite consisted of grewia optiva as the natural fiber and glass fiber as the synthetic fiber, both with a fixed weightage of 10 %. Dolomite was used as a filler with varying content (0 %, 5 %, 10 %, and 15 weight %). The physical, mechanical, erosion wear and morphological behavior of the epoxy‐based composite were investigated. The inclusion of dolomite filler significantly increased the composite hardness and impact strength but reduced its tensile and flexural strength. At a dolomite filler content of 10 weight %, the erosive wear was reduced, while it increased at higher dolomite filler contents. The composite was examined using the L16 array, and the minimum wear rate was observed at an impingement angle of 30°, a velocity of 10 m/s, and an erodent size of 150 μm. Morphological studies were conducted to explore the possible mechanism for the variation in erosive wear at different dolomite contents in the hybrid composites.
A novel self‐interference cancellation architecture based on asymmetrical power divider and its closed‐loop control
Authors: Qing Shijun , Zhu Ningli , Li Huimin , Chen Yihong , Feng Quanyuan , Xiang Qianyin
Published: December 2023

The asymmetric radio frequency (RF) self‐interference cancellation (SIC) architecture is studied, and the closed‐loop control of RF SIC based on software radio is realized. This system uses a circulator to isolate the receiving and transmitting chains, and its RF reconstruction chain is composed of a 4‐tap filter with fixed delay and tunable attenuation for each tap. The optimization of tap filter and asymmetric power divider's power allocation ratio is discussed. In the experiment, sensing, calibration, optimization algorithms and hardware control programs were proposed. A closed‐loop gradient descent algorithm for tuning the variable attenuator is implemented on the GNU Radio. From 910 MHz to 930 MHz, the isolation between the receiving and transmitting ports increases 40 dB, achieving an isolation of more than 65 dB and the transmission energy efficiency increases by 60%.
Finite analytical method on corner‐point grid for fluid flow in heterogeneous porous media
Authors: Liu Tianyu , Wang Xiangzeng , Liu Zhifeng , Liang Quansheng , Wang Xiaohong , Li Jian
Published: December 2023

The three‐dimensional (3D) corner‐point grid system, as an industrial standard, has been widely used in oil reservoir geological modeling and numerical simulation due to its versatility compared to traditional orthogonal grids. The finite analytical method (FAM) is proposed for corner‐point grid systems in this article, which can greatly improve the simulation accuracy, especially for strongly heterogeneous porous media. Based on the approximate analytical solution around the edge of the corner‐point cells, the internodal transmissibility of two adjacent cells is recalculated to replace the traditional one. The traditional internodal transmissibility is calculated based on the harmonic mean of the permeabilities of the two adjacent cells, which will greatly underestimate the transmissibility and lead to an uncontrollable error as the strength of heterogeneity increases. The proposed FAM can calculate the internodal transmissibility rather accurately, and its accuracy is irrelevant to the strength of the heterogeneity, which is the main advantage of FAM. Numerical tests show that the simulation results of the proposed FAM converge much faster than the traditional method as the cells are refined. The proposed FAM can be easily extended to the simulation of multiphase flow and be easily embedded in commercial reservoir numerical simulation software.
Noninvasive tests to identify liver fibrosis in metabolic dysfunction‐associated steatotic liver disease are affected by race
Authors: Bril Fernando , Gray Meagan
Published: December 2023

Objective

The objective of this study was to assess the performance of noninvasive tests (NITs) across different racial and ethnic groups in a large multiethnic cohort.

Methods

Data were derived from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2017 through 2020. Participants without valid transient elastography measurements or with alternative etiologies of liver steatosis disease were excluded from the study.

Results

Among the 6359 adults included in the study, fatty liver index and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease liver fat scores performed well for the prediction of metabolic dysfunction‐associated steatotic liver disease, without significant changes across racial and ethnic groups. However, significant differences were observed across racial and ethnic groups for the prediction of advanced fibrosis and cirrhosis. The fibrosis‐4 (FIB‐4) index, aspartate aminotransferase to platelet ratio index (APRI), and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease fibrosis score underperformed in non‐Hispanic Black patients for the detection of cirrhosis. For the detection of advanced fibrosis, their performance was also numerically worse in non‐Hispanic Black patients but only reached statistical significance for APRI. Using a cutoff point of 12 kPa for advanced fibrosis, both APRI and the FIB‐4 index performed significantly worse in non‐Hispanic Black patients.

Conclusions

In a large, diverse national cohort, the performance of NITs was overall poor compared with transient elastography, and NITs showed differences across racial and ethnic groups. Given the widespread use of NITs, it is imperative that the scores are equitable across racial and ethnic groups.
Simultaneously enhancing tribological and mechanical properties of epoxy composites using basalt fiber/reduced graphene oxide/paraffin wax
Authors: Liu Hongyu , Fan Xiaobing , Pan Bingli , Zhou Yuxuan , Zhang Longlong , Li Menghan , Li Ziying , Pang Xinchang
Published: December 2023

Epoxy composites with simultaneously enhanced tribological and mechanical properties filled with basalt belt/reduced graphene oxide/paraffin wax (EP/BF/RGO/PW) have been successfully prepared. Experimental results indicated that the mechanical property of the composites was reinforced by basalt belt, and the tribological property was greatly improved by reduced graphene oxide/paraffin wax at the same time. Thanks to the synergy of PW and RGO sheets, the optimized coefficient of friction and wear rate of the composite declined by 77.5% and 14.4% than pure EP under dry friction conditions of 60 N and 0.42 m s−1. In comparison to pure EP, the tensile strength and modulus of the optimized composite increased by 75.5% and 100% on account of the robust basalt fibers. Thus, the combination of basalt fiber and reduced graphene oxide/paraffin wax can readily realize the introduction of enhancer and oil‐impregnation in EP, offering a promising approach for simultaneously improving the mechanical and tribological properties of epoxy.

Highlights

A novel BF/RGO/PW 3D skeleton was developed via a facile hydrothermal method.

The BF/RGO/PW can enhance the mechanical and tribological properties of EP.

The basalt fibers account for the improvement in mechanical property.

A reduction of 77.5% in COF and a decrease of 14.4% in wear rate were realized.
Synergistic effect of combining metallic and mineral nanoparticles on the improvement of the performance of active poly(butylene adipate‐co‐terephthalate) packaging films
Authors: Seray Manel , Hadj‐Hamou Assia Siham
Published: December 2023

Active ternary nanocomposite films based on poly(butylene adipate‐co‐terephthalate) (PBAT), ZnO nanoparticles (NPs), and cloisite (C15A, C30B) were fabricated through solvent casting. The structural and morphological characteristics of these hybrid metal‐oxide‐clay nanocomposites were analyzed using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X‐ray diffraction, atomic force microscopy, and UV‐visible spectrophotometry. Due to the synergistic effect resulting from the combination of ZnO and cloisites, PBAT‐based nanocomposite films have demonstrated a significant improvement in their mechanical and barrier properties. Hardness recorded increase of 87.75% and 41.05%, while Young's modulus showed improvement of 218.13% and 102.68% for PBAT/ZnO/C15A and PBAT/ZnO/C30B films, respectively, compared to the pure PBAT matrix. Additionally, an enhancement in water vapor barrier properties was estimated at 81.28% for PBAT/ZnO/C15A film and 90.88% for PBAT/ZnO/C30B, in comparison with the PBAT alone. Furthermore, the incorporation of clay into the PBAT/ZnO matrix led to a notable slowdown in the release rate of Zn2+ ions, mainly attributed to the entrapment of ZnO NPs within the Cloisite galleries. As these particles dissolve into Zn2+ ions, they undergo a gradual diffusion process through the clay sheets. In addition, the simultaneous presence of both types of nanofillers exhibited a more pronounced antibacterial effect compared to that induced by ZnO NPs alone. However, it is noteworthy that antibacterial performance was closely linked to the type of clay used. Indeed, the PBAT/ZnO/C15A film demonstrated complete inhibition of in vitro bacterial growth within just 3 to 4 days, whereas the PBAT/ZnO/C30B film did not exhibit the same level of effectiveness.

Highlights

Development of active PBAT/ZnO/clay packaging films.

ZnO NPs entrapped in clay galleries yielded slow Zn2+ ion diffusion.

Synergistic combination of ZnO and Cloisite NPs exhibits strong antibacterial activity.

The antibacterial performance is directly linked to the type of clay used.
Predicting encapsulant delamination in photovoltaic modules bridging photochemical reaction kinetics and fracture mechanics
Authors: Liu Kuan , Thornton Patrick , D'hooge Dagmar R. , Dauskardt Reinhold H.
Published: December 2023

Photovoltaic (PV) modules are subjected to environmental stressors (UV exposure, temperature, and humidity) that cause degradation within the encapsulant and its interfaces with adjacent glass and cell substrates. To save experimental time and to enable long‐term assessment with intensive degradation only taking place after many years, the development of predictive models is indispensable. Previous works have modeled the delamination of the ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) encapsulant/glass and encapsulant/cell interfaces under field aging conditions with fundamental photochemical degradation reactions that lead to molecular scission and loss of interfacial adhesion, characterized by the fracture resistance, Gc. However, these models were fundamentally limited in that the following aspects were not incorporated: (i) molecular crosslinking in the field, (ii) synergistic autocatalytic interactions of degradation mechanisms, (iii) connection between degraded encapsulant structure and its mechanical properties, and (iv) rigorous treatment of the plasticity contribution to Gc with finite element models. Here, we present a time‐dependent multiscale model that addresses these limitations and is applicable to a wide range of encapsulants and interfaces. For the reference EVA encapsulant and its interfaces with the glass and cell, the presented model predicts an initial rise in Gc in the first 3 years of field aging from crosslinking, then a subsequent sharp decline from degradation mechanisms. We used nanoindentation to measure the changes in EVA mechanical properties over exposure time to tune the model parameters. The model predictions of Gc and mechanical properties match with experimental data and show an improvement compared to previous models. The model can even predict switches in failure interfaces, such as the observed EVA/cell to EVA/glass transition. We also conducted a sensitivity analysis study by varying the degradation and crosslinking kinetic parameters to demonstrate their effects on Gc. Model extensions to polyolefin elastomer‐ and silicone‐encapsulants and their interfaces are also demonstrated.
Collection and analysis of hydrocarbon gas buried onshore pipeline accidents in Indonesia as the databases for failure frequency assessment in a quantitative risk analysis
Authors: Mukharror Darmawan Ahmad , Maulana Ibnu , Yusuf Muhammad , Devianto Hary , Sommeng Andy Noorsaman , Kartohardjono Sutrasno , Hermansyah Heri
Published: December 2023

As of May 31, 2022, approximately 18,687 km of gas pipeline has been built in Indonesia. However, the pipeline failure data are yet to be gathered or evaluated. In quantitative risk assessment (QRA), the pipeline failure frequency is calculated by a generic failure frequency approach. Most of these generic failure frequency data are based on other region pipeline incident databases. This paper aims to provide the basis of data for the failure frequency of Indonesia's buried onshore pipeline. Accident data from 1127.9 km of underground onshore gas pipelines within 30 years (1976–2006) in Indonesia were gathered and assessed to provide the cause and effect of pipeline age and diameter on the generic failure rate. This research reveals the average failure rate of 5.32E‐04/km‐year of onshore pipelines in Indonesia. The study concluded that baseline failure frequencies from this analysis could be used for buried onshore pipeline quantitative risk assessment purposes. Further pipeline failure research for a relatively current period (e.g., from 2006 to 2022), type of installation (e.g., buried, or non‐buried), and other applications of the pipeline (e.g., offshore pipeline) should be conducted as a way forward for this study to have a complete database for Indonesian accidents.
Astilbin protects from sepsis‐induced cardiac injury through the NRF2/HO‐1 and TLR4/NF‐κB pathway
Authors: Fang Zhao , Wang Guangji , Huang Rui , Liu Chengyin , Yushanjiang Feierkaiti , Mao Tuohua , Li Jun
Published: December 2023

Cardiac dysfunction and arrhythmia are severe complications of sepsis‐induced cardiomyopathy and are associated with an increased risk of morbidity and mortality. Currently, the precise mechanism for sepsis‐induced myocardial damage remains unclear. Astilbin, a flavonoid, is reported to have anti‐inflammatory, antioxidative, and antiapoptotic properties. However, the effects of astilbin on sepsis‐induced cardiomyopathy have not been studied so far. This study aims to investigate the effect of astilbin in sepsis‐induced myocardial injury and elucidate the underlying mechanism. In vivo and in vitro sepsis models were created using lipopolysaccharide (LPS) as an inducer in H9C2 cardiomyocytes and C57BL/6 mice, respectively. Our results demonstrated that astilbin reduced myocardial injury and improved cardiac function. Moreover, astilbin prolonged the QT and corrected QT intervals, attenuated myocardial electrical remodeling, and promoted gap junction protein (Cx43) and ion channels expression, thereby reducing the susceptibility of ventricular fibrillation. In addition, astilbin alleviated LPS‐induced inflammation, oxidative stress, and apoptosis. Astilbin suppressed the toll‐like receptor 4 (TLR4)/nuclear factor‐κB (NF‐κB) pathway in vivo and in vitro models. Astilbin remarkedly upregulated the nuclear factor erythroid 2‐related factor 2 (NRF2) and heme oxygenase 1 (HO‐1) expression. The in vitro treatment with an NRF2 inhibitor reversed the inhibition of the TLR4/NF‐κB pathway and antioxidant properties of astilbin. Astilbin attenuated LPS‐induced myocardial injury, cardiac dysfunction, susceptibility to VF, inflammation, oxidative stress, and apoptosis by activating the NRF2/HO‐1 pathway and inhibiting TLR4/ NF‐κB pathway. These results suggest that astilbin could be an effective and promising therapeutics target for the treatment of sepsis‐induced cardiomyopathy.
Using water‐landing, fixed‐wing UAVs and computer vision to assess seabird nutrient subsidy effects on sharks and rays
Authors: Schiele Melissa , Rowcliffe J. Marcus , Clark Ben , Lepper Paul , Letessier Tom B.
Published: December 2023

Bird colonies on islands sustain elevated productivity and biomass on adjacent reefs, through nutrient subsidies. However, the implications of this localized enhancement on higher and often more mobile trophic levels (such as sharks and rays) are unclear, as spatial trends in mobile fauna are often poorly captured by traditional underwater visual surveys. Here, we explore whether the presence of seabird colonies is associated with enhanced abundances of sharks and rays on adjacent coral reefs. We used a novel long‐range water‐landing fixed‐wing unoccupied aerial vehicle (UAV) to survey the distribution and density of sharks, rays and any additional megafauna, on and around tropical coral islands (n = 14) in the Chagos Archipelago Marine Protected Area. We developed a computer‐vision algorithm to distinguish greenery (trees and shrubs), sand and sea glitter from visible ocean to yield accurate marine megafauna density estimation. We detected elevated seabird densities over rat‐free islands, with the commonest species, sooty tern, reaching densities of 932 ± 199 per km−2 while none were observed over former coconut plantation islands. Elasmobranch density around rat‐free islands with seabird colonies was 6.7 times higher than around islands without seabird colonies (1.3 ± 0.63 vs. 0.2 ± SE 0.1 per km2). Our results are evidence that shark and ray distribution is sensitive to natural and localized nutrient subsidies. Correcting for non‐sampled regions of images increased estimated elasmobranch density by 14%, and our openly accessible computer vision algorithm makes this correction easy to implement to generate shark and ray and other wildlife densities from any aerial imagery. The water‐landing fixed‐wing long‐range UAV technology used in this study may provide cost effective monitoring opportunities in remote ocean locations.
Unveiling the complexities of sustainable development: An investigation of economic growth, globalization and human development on carbon emissions in 64 countries
Authors: Patel Nikunj , Kautish Pradeep , Shahbaz Muhammad
Published: December 2023

To achieve Sustainable Development Goals, countries face the challenge of expanding economic activities while mitigating pollution. Using the panel autoregressive distributed lag and panel non‐linear autoregressive distributed lag approach, this study investigates the effects of globalization, economic development, human development, industrialization, non‐renewable energy, and population density on the carbon emissions (CO2) of 64 countries. This study validates the Environmental Kuznets Curve hypothesis in upper‐ and lower‐middle‐income countries. However, low‐income countries exhibit a U‐shaped relationship, while high‐income countries have successfully mitigated CO2 emissions to some extent. The analysis shows bidirectional causality between CO2 emissions and other variables, except for one‐way causality from globalization to CO2 emissions. Manufacturing in upper‐ and lower‐middle‐income countries depends on conventional energy sources, indicating the need for policies to promote renewable energy sources. The findings have significant policy implications for enhancing environmental sustainability and achieving sustainable economic growth while mitigating CO2 emissions to achieve the SDGs.
Epidermolytic Hyperkeratosis of the Vulva: Case Report and Review of the Literature
Authors: Sachedina Dilshad , Villa-Ruiz Camila , Brem Candice , Sahni Debjani
Published: December 2023

Epidermolytic hyperkeratosis is a rare histopathological phenomenon which has been reported in a number of dermatological conditions. It is rare but can cause chronic and intractable symptoms which can impede the quality of life of those affected. Treatment options are variable and not enough data exists to provide a definitive protocol for management. We present this case to highlight a simple, efficacious way for dermatologists to treat the condition and provide a literature review.
Recent Advances in Electrochemiluminescence Biosensors for MicroRNA Detection
Authors: Meng Xiangdan , Pang Xuejiao , Yang Junyan , Zhang Xueji , Dong Haifeng
Published: December 2023

Electrochemiluminescence (ECL) as an analytical technology with a perfect combination of electrochemistry and spectroscopy has received considerable attention in bioanalysis due to its high sensitivity and broad dynamic range. Given the selectivity of bio‐recognition elements and the high sensitivity of the ECL analysis technique, ECL biosensors are powerful platforms for the sensitive detection of biomarkers, achieving the accurate prognosis and diagnosis of diseases. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are crucial biomarkers involved in a variety of physiological and pathological processes, whose aberrant expression is often related to serious diseases, especially cancers. ECL biosensors can fulfill the highly sensitive and selective requirements for accurate miRNA detection, prompting this review. The ECL mechanisms are initially introduced and subsequently categorize the ECL biosensors for miRNA detection in terms of the quenching agents. Furthermore, the work highlights the signal amplification strategies for enhancing ECL signal to improve the sensitivity of miRNA detection and finally concludes by looking at the challenges and opportunities in ECL biosensors for miRNA detection.
Functional Sulfate Additive‐Derived Interfacial Layer for Enhanced Electrochemical Stability of PEO‐Based Polymer Electrolytes
Authors: Kim Sun Ho , Park Namjun , Bo Lee Won , Park Jong Hyeok
Published: December 2023

Solid‐state electrolyte batteries have attracted significant interest as promising next‐generation batteries due to their achievable high energy densities and nonflammability. In particular, curable polymer network gel electrolytes exhibit superior ion conductivity and interfacial adhesion with electrodes compared to oxide or sulfide solid electrolytes, bringing them closer to commercialization. However, the limited electrochemical stability of matrix polymers, particularly those based on poly (ethylene oxide) (PEO), presents challenges in achieving stable electrochemical performance in high‐voltage lithium metal batteries. Here, these studies report a sulfate additive‐incorporated thermally crosslinked gel‐type polymer electrolyte (SA‐TGPE) composed of a PEO‐based polymer matrix and a functional sulfate additive, 1,3‐propanediolcyclic sulfate (PCS), which forms stable interfacial layers on electrodes. The electrode‐electrolyte interface modified by the PCS enhances the electrochemical stability of the polymer electrolyte, effectively alleviating decomposition of the PEO‐based polymer matrix on the cathode. Moreover, it also mitigates side reactions of the Ni‐rich NCM cathode and dendrites of lithium metal anode. These studies provide a novel perspective by utilizing interfacial modification through electrolyte additives to resolve the electrochemical instability of PEO‐based polymer electrolytes in high‐voltage lithium metal batteries.
High‐Durability Stacked Disc‐Type Rolling Triboelectric Nanogenerators for Environmental Monitoring Around Charging Buoys of Unmanned Ships
Authors: Wang Xiangyi , Chen Litu , Xu Zhiqiang , Chen Pengfei , Ye Cuiying , Chen Baodong , Jiang Tao , Hong Zhanyong , Wang Zhong Lin
Published: December 2023

Triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) as a means of energy harvesting can effectively harvest ocean wave energy, but the energy conversion efficiency and stability of the device during long‐term operations are still problems that must be solved for TENGs. Decreasing the frictional resistance between two triboelectric material surfaces is one of the critical approaches for improving the device efficiency and durability. In this work, a novel stacked disc‐type rolling triboelectric nanogenerator (SDR‐TENG) is designed and fabricated for low‐frequency water wave energy harvesting. After 860 000 working cycles, the electrical output attenuation of the SDR‐TENG basic unit is less than 5%, showing excellent device durability. Under the simulated water wave conditions, the SDR‐TENG with four rolling TENG units can produce an output current of 84.4 µA and an output power of 7.6 mW, corresponding to an effective power density of 16.8 W m−3. This work not only proposes a strategy to effectively enhance the durability of the devices, but also provides a feasible solution for monitoring the surrounding environment of the charging buoys of unmanned ships.
Determination of Gallium Concentration in Silicon from Low‐Temperature Photoluminescence Analysis
Authors: Abdul Fattah Tarek O. , Jacobs Janet , Markevich Vladimir P. , Abrosimov Nikolay V. , Hawkins Ian D. , Halsall Matthew P. , Crowe Iain F. , Peaker Anthony R.
Published: December 2023

Increasing the understanding of the electronic properties of gallium (Ga) in silicon (Si) used nowadays to manufacture p‐type Si solar cells is of key technological importance. In this contribution, the results of the effect of Ga concentration on the low‐temperature photoluminescence (PL) spectra in crystalline Si are reported. The Ga‐doped Si samples studied have negligible boron concentrations, which can complicate spectral analysis of the bound exciton (BE) lines. The split Ga BE ground state atT = 10 K is analyzed and the PL intensity ratios for the BE to free exciton peaks are compared. By comparing these to known Ga concentrations, derived from capacitance–voltage measurements, an all‐optical (PL) calibration curve for the quantification of Ga concentration in Si is established. The effects of both temperature and excitation power on the PL intensity ratios are also studied. By combining the temperature‐induced changes in the PL intensity ratios with the calibration curve at 10 K, a calibration function has been determined. It is found that the decay rates of the PL intensity ratios as a function of excitation power are independent of the chosen (split) BE peak. The major benefits of this method and its limitations are discussed.
Formal specification and verification of a team formation protocol using TLA+
Authors: Niyogi Rajdeep , Nath Amar
Published: December 2023

Team formation in an environment where some relevant parameters are not known in advance is a challenging problem. Communicating automata and distributed algorithms have been used to describe protocols for team formation. A high‐level specification provides a mathematical description of a protocol or a program. TLA is a formal specification language designed to provide high‐level specifications of concurrent and distributed systems. The associated model checker known as TLC is capable of model checking the TLA specifications. Recently, formal specification of a team formation protocol is given using TLA when there is a single initiator (an agent or a robot) that initiates the team formation. Using TLA, we examine the formal specification for the multiple initiator situation and demonstrate that a composition technique can yield a single monolithic specification for the multiple initiator situation from the single initiator situation specification. We have used models of varying sizes, and the TLC model checker has confirmed that the protocol's specifications meet certain desired characteristics in each case.
Valorization of Agro‐Industrial Plantain (Musa × paradisiaca) By‐Products: Alternative Sources of Carbohydrates and Bioactive Compounds
Authors: Ferreiro Omayra , Martin Liliana Avila , Chacon Wilson Daniel Caicedo , Duarte Shirley , Perilla Jairo E. , Ayala Valencia Germán
Published: December 2023

Cultivated plantain (Musa spp.) is valuable for nutritional and socioeconomic security for millions of people in Africa and the America. The plantain agroindustry generates a large amount of waste such as pseudostems, leaves, inflorescences, peels, and rejected fruits. The current review discusses the different wastes obtained in the plantain agroindustry and their potential value for recovery of macromolecules and bioactive compounds. In general, cellulose and starches can be isolated from plantain peels and rejected fruits, respectively. Starch isolated from plantain has been used as a food ingredient and as a macromolecule to manufacture films with potential packaging applications, whereas cellulose has been used in the fermentation process to obtain biofuels. Furthermore, bioactive compounds such as anthocyanins, flavonoids, anthraquinones, and phlorotannins can be recovered from pseudostems, leaves, and inflorescences. These chemical compounds have antimicrobial, antioxidant, and color‐indicator properties that have potential food applications. Therefore, plantain wastes are a potential source of macromolecules and bioactive compounds that have potential use in packaging applications. The valorization of plantain wastes is a promissory alternative for the sustainable development of the food industry.
Path to modeling dynamic performance shaping factors in nuclear power plants operation – A review
Authors: Xu Zhihui , Yang Gaoguang , Lu Yi , Xue Jiaxin , Wu Guanyin , Ren Bingxuan , Fu Shan
Published: December 2023

The evolution of the mechanism of human behavior formation analysis has significantly influenced the development of human reliability analysis (HRA), which aims to calculate human error probability (HEP) with performance shaping factors (PSFs). This paper reviews the typical HRA methods in different generations, the role of PSFs, and their interrelation‐ships in human risk modeling, with the background of nuclear power plants (NPPs). In a retrospective of typical HRA methods, PSF plays a fundamental role in assessing human performance during task operation. However, the subjectivity in defining and evaluating PSFs often leads to a partial representation of human behavior characteristics and human risk evolution, resulting in the neglect of PSF inter‐relationships and conservative HEP estimation. Recent studies have emphasized employing simulation platforms to simulate the task process and obtain data relevant to PSFs that can enable the exploration of the mutual effects to support the calculation of HEP more accurately. Compared to certain previous methods involving over‐simplification and inappropriate assumptions resulting in inaccurate results, current HRA methods are prone to the construction of HEP models based on objective data acquisition and dynamic calculations with process models. This shift enables a better illustration of the intricate relationships among PSFs. Reflecting on the current trend of HRA methodology, this paper proposes a possible PSF quantification based on physiological measurement providing accessible and objective data. It improves the shortcomings in data scarcity and time‐invariance of HEP calculation, thus more accurately and realistically responds to the accumulation and fluctuation of human risks throughout a task.
Seroprevalence and molecular characterisation of infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) in broiler farms in Sabah, Malaysia
Authors: Bhuiyan Md. Safiul Alam , Sarker Subir , Amin Zarina , Rodrigues Kenneth Francis , Bakar Ag Muhammad Sagaf Abu , Saallah Suryani , Md. Shaarani Sharifudin , Siddiquee Shafiquzzaman
Published: December 2023

Background

Infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) is classified as a highly contagious viral agent that causes acute respiratory, reproductive and renal system pathology in affected poultry farms. Molecular and serological investigations are crucial for the accurate diagnosis and management of IBV.

Objectives

The purpose of this study was to determine the seroprevalence of IBV and to characterise the circulating IBV in poultry farms in Sabah Province, Malaysia.

Methods

To determine IBV antibodies, a total of 138 blood samples and 50 organ samples were collected from 10 commercial broiler flocks in 3 different farms by using the enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) (IDEXX Kit) and reverse transcription‐polymerase chain reaction (RT‐PCR) followed by sequencing.

Results

A total of 94.2% (130/138) of the samples were seropositive for IBV in the vaccinated flock, and 38% (52/138) of the birds was the IBV titre for infection. The selected seropositive samples for IBV were confirmed by RT‐PCR, with 22% (11/50) being IBV positive amplified and sequenced by targeted highly conserved partial nucleocapsid (N) genes. Subsequently, phylogenetic analysis constructed using amplified sequences again exposed the presence of Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Chinese QX variants circulating in poultry farms in Sabah, Malaysia.

Conclusions

The unexpectedly increasing mean titres in serology indicated that post infection of IBV and highly prevalent IBV in selected farms in this study. The sequencing and phylogenetic analysis revealed the presence of multiple IBV variants circulating in Malaysian chicken farms in Sabah, which further monitoring of genetic variation are needed to better understand the genetic diversity.
Radio, Women, and Life Within Marriage
Authors: Heywood Emma
Published: December 2023

Focusing on the output of a radio studio in Mali and in Niger, this chapter enters the complex domain of marriage and women’s role within it and examines the associated structural, cultural, and legal entanglements from the perspectives of radio listeners on the one hand and radio on the other. The chapter focuses on various aspects: definitions of empowerment among listeners whose opinions must not be sidelined, as they are the very target of empowerment campaigns; the voices used by radio for certain topics with the potentially inevitable risk of stereotyping; hegemonic masculinities as a pattern of practice; and the use of testimonies to convey important information to listeners.