bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Study of Essential Oil Isolated from Achiote (Bixa orellana) Leaves: Chemical Composition, Enantiomeric Distribution and Antimicrobial, Antioxidant and Anticholinesterase Activities
Authors: Valarezo Eduardo , Torres-Torres Silvia , Pineda-Guarnizo Nohely , Jaramillo-Fierro Ximena , Cartuche Luis , Morocho Vladimir , Meneses Miguel Angel
Published: April 2023

Bixa orellana is a native and cultivated species of Ecuador commonly known as achiote (annatto), this species is very versatile with a wide variety of uses and applications of its leaves, fruits and seeds. In this study, the chemical composition, enantiomeric distribution and biological activity of essential oil isolated from the leaves of Bixa orellana were determined. Hydrodistillation was used to isolate the essential oil. Gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry was used to determine the qualitative composition, a gas chromatograph equipped with a flame ionization detector was used to determine quantitative composition and gas chromatography on an enantioselective column was used to determine enantiomeric distribution. Antibacterial activity was determined using the broth microdilution method, for which we used three Gram-positive cocci bacteria, a Gram-positive bacilli bacterium and three Gram-negative bacilli bacteria. 2,2′-azinobis-3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic (ABTS) acid radical cation and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydryl (DPPH) free radical were used as reagents for determining the antioxidant activity of the essential oil. The spectrophotometric method was used to analyze acetylcholinesterase inhibitory effect of the essential oil. The yield of leaves in essential oil was 0.13 ± 0.01% (v/w). A total of 56 chemical compounds, which represent 99.25% of the total composition, were identified in the essential oil. Sesquiterpene hydrocarbons were the most representative group in number of compounds and relative abundance with 31 compounds and 69.06%, respectively. The principal constituents were found to germacrene D (17.87 ± 1.20%), bicyclogermacrene (14.27 ± 0.97%), caryophyllene < (E)– > (8.56 ± 1.24%) and pinene <α-> (6.34 ± 0.13%). Six pairs of enantiomers were identified in the essential oil of Bixa orellana. The essential oil presented strong activity against the Enterococcus faecium (ATCC 27270) with an MIC of 250 μg/mL and weak activity against Enterococcus faecalis (ATCC 19433) and Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 25923) with an MIC of 1000 μg/mL. The antioxidant activity of the essential oil was strong according to ABTS methods with a SC50 of 61.49 ± 0.04 µg/mL and was moderate in DPPH with a SC50 of 224.24 ± 6,4 µg/mL. Additionally, the essential oil reported moderate anticholinesterase activity with an IC50 of 39.45 ± 1.06 µg/mL.
Comparing the Synergistic and Antagonistic Interactions of Ciprofloxacin and Levofloxacin Combined with Rifampin against Drug-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus: A Time–Kill Assay
Authors: Kang Yu Ri , Chung Doo Ryeon , Ko Jae-Hoon , Huh Kyungmin , Cho Sun Young , Kang Cheol-In , Peck Kyong Ran
Published: April 2023

Background: Treatment of device-related infections by drug-resistant Staphylococcus aureus can be challenging, and combination therapy has been proposed as a potential solution. We compared the effectiveness of levofloxacin–rifampin and ciprofloxacin–rifampin combinations in killing methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) using a time–kill assay. Methods: We randomly selected 15 vancomycin-susceptible S. aureus (VSSA) strains, 3 vancomycin-intermediate S. aureus (VISA) strains, and 12 heterogeneous VISA (hVISA) strains from the Asian Bacterial Bank. Time–kill experiments were performed in duplicate for each isolate. Viable bacterial counts were determined at 0 h, 4 h, 8 h, and 24 h for the ciprofloxacin– and levofloxacin–rifampin combinations at 1× MIC and 0.5× MIC. We compared synergistic and antagonistic interactions between the two combinations. Results: The viable bacterial count significantly decreased after 24 h of exposure to ciprofloxacin–rifampin and levofloxacin–rifampin combinations, with synergy observed more frequently in isolates exposed to ciprofloxacin–rifampin (43.3%) than levofloxacin–rifampin (20.0%) (p = 0.0082). The synergistic interactions of both combinations were more frequently observed in resistant strains with high MICs of ciprofloxacin (≥16 mg/L) and levofloxacin (≥8 mg/L). Levofloxacin tended to exhibit more frequent antagonistic interactions with rifampin than ciprofloxacin, although there was no statistical difference in antagonism between the two combinations. Conclusions: Our study demonstrated that ciprofloxacin exhibits superior synergistic activity against MRSA strains, including VISA/hVISA, when combined with rifampin compared with levofloxacin. High MICs of fluoroquinolones were found to predict synergism. Our results suggest that ciprofloxacin may be a more effective choice than levofloxacin for combination therapy with rifampin in the treatment of MRSA infections.
Prevalence, Genetic Homogeneity, and Antibiotic Resistance of Pathogenic Yersinia enterocolitica Strains Isolated from Slaughtered Pigs in Bulgaria
Authors: Angelovska Maya , Zaharieva Maya Margaritova , Dimitrova Lyudmila L. , Dimova Tanya , Gotova Irina , Urshev Zoltan , Ilieva Yana , Kaleva Mila Dobromirova , Kim Tanya Chan , Naydenska Sevda , Dimitrov Zhechko , Najdenski Hristo
Published: April 2023

Yersiniosis is the third most commonly reported foodborne zoonosis in the European Union. Here, we evaluated the prevalence of pathogenic Yersinia enterocolitica among healthy pigs (as a major reservoir) in a slaughterhouse in Bulgaria. A total of 790 tonsils and feces from 601 pigs were examined. Isolation and pathogenicity characterization was carried out by the ISO 10273:2003 protocol and Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR), detecting the 16S rRNA gene, attachment and invasion locus (ail), Yersinia heat-stable enterotoxin (ystA), and Yersinia adhesion (yadA) genes. Genetic diversity was assessed by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE), and antimicrobial resistance by the standard disk diffusion method. Of all the pigs tested, 6.7% were positive for Y. enterocolitica. All isolates belonged to Y. enterocolitica bioserotype 4/O:3. ail, and ystA genes were detected in all positive strains (n = 43), while the plasmid Yersinia virulence plasmid (pYV) was detected in 41. High homogeneity was observed among the strains, with all strains susceptible to ceftriaxone, amikacin and ciprofloxacin, and resistant to ampicillin. In conclusion, a low prevalence of Y. enterocolitica 4/O:3 was found in healthy pigs slaughtered in Bulgaria, not underestimating possible contamination of pork as a potential risk to consumer health.
Cross-Sectional Survey on the Current Role of Clinical Pharmacists among Antimicrobial Stewardship Programmes in Catalonia: Much Ado about Nothing
Authors: Echeverria-Esnal Daniel , Hernández Sergi , Murgadella-Sancho Anna , García-Paricio Ramón , Ortonobes Sara , Barrantes-González Melisa , Padullés Ariadna , Almendral Alexander , Tuset Montse , Limón Enric , Grau Santiago ,   on behalf of the Catalan Infection Control Antimicrobial Stewardship Programme (VINCat-ASP)
Published: April 2023

Background. Antimicrobial resistance killed 1.27 million people in 2019, so urgent actions are desperately needed. Antimicrobial stewardship programmes (ASPs) are essential to optimize antimicrobial use. The objective was to acknowledge the current role of clinical pharmacists engaged in ASP activities in Catalonia. Methods. This was a cross-sectional survey shared through the Catalan Infection Control Programme (VINCat). The survey consisted of four sections and was sent by e-mail. Results. A total of 69.0% of the centres answered. Pharmacists dedicated a median of 5.0 h per week (2.1 h/week/100 acute care beds), representing 0.15 full time equivalents. The ASP lacked information technology (IT) support, as only 16.3% of centres automatically calculated defined daily doses and days of therapy. Those with less than 15% of their time available for ASPs conducted fewer clinical activities, especially prospective audits and feedback. Those without official infectious diseases training also performed fewer clinical activities, but training was less determinant than IT support or time. Pharmacists performed interventions mostly through annotation in the medical records. Conclusions. Clinical pharmacists from Catalonia dedicated to ASPs present an important lack of time and IT support to perform clinical activities. Pharmacists should also improve their clinical skills and try to conduct clinical advice to prescribers, either by phone or face-to-face.
Antibiotic Misuse Behaviours of Older People: Confirmation of the Factor Structure of the Antibiotic Use Questionnaire
Authors: Schramm Loni , Byrne Mitchell K. , Sweetnam Taylor
Published: April 2023

Antibacterial resistance (AR) is responsible for steadily rising numbers of untreatable bacterial infections, most prevalently found in the older adult (OA) population due to age-related physical and cognitive deterioration, more frequent and long-lasting hospital visits, and reduced immunity. There are currently no established measures of antibiotic use behaviours for older adults, and theory-informed approaches to identifying the drivers of antibiotic use in older adults are lacking in the literature. The objective of this study was to identify predictors of antibiotic use and misuse in older adults using the Antibiotic Use Questionnaire (AUQ), a measure informed by the factors of the Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB): attitudes and beliefs, social norms, perceived behavioural control, behaviour, and a covariate—knowledge. A measure of social desirability was included, and participants scoring highly were excluded to control for social desirability bias. Confirmatory Factor Analyses and regression analyses were conducted to test the hypotheses in a cross-sectional, anonymous survey. A total of 211 participants completed the survey, 47 of which were excluded due to incompletion and high social desirability scores (≥5). Results of the factor analysis confirmed that some (but not all) factors from previous research in the general population were confirmed in the OA sample. No factors were found to be significant predictors of antibiotic use behaviour. Several suggestions for the variance in results from that of the first study are suggested, including challenges with meeting requirement for statistical power. The paper concludes that further research is required to determine the validity of the AUQ in an older adult population.
Fast and Sensitive Method for Simultaneous Quantification of Meropenem and Vaborbactam in Human Plasma Microsamples by Liquid Chromatography–Tandem Mass Spectrometry for Therapeutic Drug Monitoring
Authors: Barone Rossella , Conti Matteo , Giorgi Beatrice , Gatti Milo , Cojutti Pier Giorgio , Viale Pierluigi , Pea Federico
Published: April 2023

Meropenem (MRP)-Vaborbactam (VBR) is a novel beta-lactam/beta-lactamase inhibitor used for the management of difficult-to-treat Gram-negative infections. Among critically ill patients, MRP-VBR shows remarkable inter-individual variability in pharmacokinetic behavior, thus justifying the implementation of therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) for improving real-time management in different challenging scenarios. In this study, we developed and validated a fast and sensitive Liquid Chromatography–Tandem Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) method for the simultaneous quantification of MRP and VBR in human plasma microsamples of 3 microliters. The analysis required only a single-step sample preparation and was performed by means of a fast chromatographic run of 4 min, followed by positive electrospray ionization and detection on a high-sensitivity triple quadrupole tandem mass spectrometer operated in multiple reaction monitoring modes. The straightforward analytical procedure was successfully validated, based on the EMA guidelines, in terms of specificity, sensitivity, linearity, precision, accuracy, matrix effect, extraction recovery, the limit of quantification, and stability. The novel method was successfully applied for simultaneously measuring MRP and VBR concentrations in more than 42 plasma samples collected from critically ill patients affected by carbapenem-resistant Gram-negative bacteria infections.
Observation of Cytotoxicity of Phosphonium Derivatives Is Explained: Metabolism Inhibition and Adhesion Alteration
Authors: Nazarov Pavel , Khrulnova Svetlana , Kessenikh Andrew , Novoyatlova Uliana , Kuznetsova Svetlana , Bazhenov Sergey , Sorochkina Alexandra , Karakozova Marina , Manukhov Ilya
Published: April 2023

The search for new antibiotics, substances that kill prokaryotic cells and do not kill eukaryotic cells, is an urgent need for modern medicine. Among the most promising are derivatives of triphenylphosphonium, which can protect the infected organs of mammals and heal damaged cells as mitochondria-targeted antioxidants. In addition to the antioxidant action, triphenylphosphonium derivatives exhibit antibacterial activity. It has recently been reported that triphenylphosphonium derivatives cause either cytotoxic effects or inhibition of cellular metabolism at submicromolar concentrations. In this work, we analyzed the MTT data using microscopy and compared them with data on changes in the luminescence of bacteria. We have shown that, at submicromolar concentrations, only metabolism is inhibited, while an increase in alkyltriphenylphosphonium (CnTPP) concentration leads to adhesion alteration. Thus, our data on eukaryotic and prokaryotic cells confirm a decrease in the metabolic activity of cells by CnTPPs but do not confirm a cytocidal effect of TPPs at submicromolar concentrations. This allows us to consider CnTPP as a non-toxic antibacterial drug at low concentrations and a relatively safe vector for delivering other antibacterial substances into bacterial cells.
Subcritical Water Extraction of Rosmarinic Acid from Lemon Balm (Melissa officinalis L.) and Its Effect on Plant Cell Wall Constituents
Authors: Atanasova Ana , Petrova Ani , Teneva Desislava , Ognyanov Manol , Georgiev Yordan , Nenov Nenko , Denev Petko
Published: April 2023

Rosmarinic acid (RA), an ester of caffeic acid and 3,4-dihydroxyphenyllactic acid, is a potent radical scavenger, a chelator of prooxidant ions, and an inhibitor of lipid peroxidation. RA-containing extracts are widely used natural antioxidants in food products, and many herbal preparations and food supplements, containing RA, are marketed with claims of beneficial health effects. The current study investigated the effectiveness of subcritical water extraction (SWE) for the recovery of RA from lemon balm (Melissa officinalis), as a “green” alternative to conventional hydro-alcoholic extraction. Different durations (10 min and 20 min) and extraction temperatures (100 °C and 150 °C) were applied. Subcritical water applied at a temperature of 100 °C was equally efficient as 50% ethanol in extracting RA. However, the further elevation of temperature to 150 °C decreased RA content by up to 20% due to thermal degradation. The content of RA in dried extracts was between 2.36% and 5.55% and the higher temperature of SWE increased extract yield by up to 41%. The higher extraction yield resulted from the degradation of plant material by subcritical water as evidenced by the increased extraction and degradation of proteins, pectin, and cellulose. These results reveal that SWE is an efficient technology for the extraction of RA and other antioxidants from lemon balm at reduced extraction time and without the use of toxic organic solvents. Furthermore, by modification of SWE conditions, dry extracts with different purity and content of RA are obtained. These extracts could be used in the food industry as food antioxidants, or in the development of food supplements and functional foods.
Effective Improvement of the Oxidative Stability of Acer truncatum Bunge Seed Oil, a New Woody Oil Food Resource, by Rosemary Extract
Authors: Qi Yue , Huang Yeqin , Dong Yanmei , Zhang Wenying , Xia Fei , Bai Hongtong , Stevanovic Zora Dajic , Li Hui , Shi Lei
Published: April 2023

Acer truncatum Bunge is a versatile, oil-producing, woody tree natively and widely distributed in northern China. In 2011, The People’s Republic of China’s Ministry of Health certified Acer truncatum seed oil (Aoil) as a new food resource. Unsaturated fatty acids account for up to 92% of the entire Aoil. When Aoil is processed or stored, it can easily oxidize. In this study, the effects of rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis L.) extract on the oxidation stability of Aoil were analysed from multiple angles. The results of radical scavenging ability, malondialdehyde, and free fatty acid reveal that rosemary crude extract (RCE), rosmarinic acid (RA), and carnosic acid (CA) can significantly inhibit the oxidation of Aoil, and CA has the best oxidative stability for Aoil among the tested components of the crude rosemary. The delayed oxidation ability of CA for Aoil was slightly weaker than that of tert-butylhydroquinone (TBHQ), but stronger than that of butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA), butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT), and α-tocopherol (α-T), which was confirmed by microstructures, kinematic viscosity, Aoil weight change, and functional group. Additionally, CA-enriched Aoil had the smallest content of volatile lipid oxidation products. Moreover, lecithin-CA particles were added to enhance the oxidative stability of Aoil. These findings show that CA is a potent antioxidant, capable of successfully preventing Aoil oxidation.
Oxidative and Glycation Damage to Mitochondrial DNA and Plastid DNA during Plant Development
Authors: Tripathi Diwaker , Oldenburg Delene J. , Bendich Arnold J.
Published: April 2023

Oxidative damage to plant proteins, lipids, and DNA caused by reactive oxygen species (ROS) has long been studied. The damaging effects of reactive carbonyl groups (glycation damage) to plant proteins and lipids have also been extensively studied, but only recently has glycation damage to the DNA in plant mitochondria and plastids been reported. Here, we review data on organellar DNA maintenance after damage from ROS and glycation. Our focus is maize, where tissues representing the entire range of leaf development are readily obtained, from slow-growing cells in the basal meristem, containing immature organelles with pristine DNA, to fast-growing leaf cells, containing mature organelles with highly-fragmented DNA. The relative contributions to DNA damage from oxidation and glycation are not known. However, the changing patterns of damage and damage-defense during leaf development indicate tight coordination of responses to oxidation and glycation events. Future efforts should be directed at the mechanism by which this coordination is achieved.
Multifunctional Metallothioneins as a Target for Neuroprotection in Parkinson’s Disease
Authors: Miyazaki Ikuko , Asanuma Masato
Published: April 2023

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is characterized by motor symptoms based on a loss of nigrostriatal dopaminergic neurons and by non-motor symptoms which precede motor symptoms. Neurodegeneration accompanied by an accumulation of α-synuclein is thought to propagate from the enteric nervous system to the central nervous system. The pathogenesis in sporadic PD remains unknown. However, many reports indicate various etiological factors, such as oxidative stress, inflammation, α-synuclein toxicity and mitochondrial impairment, drive neurodegeneration. Exposure to heavy metals contributes to these etiopathogenesis and increases the risk of developing PD. Metallothioneins (MTs) are cysteine-rich metal-binding proteins; MTs chelate metals and inhibit metal-induced oxidative stress, inflammation and mitochondrial dysfunction. In addition, MTs possess antioxidative properties by scavenging free radicals and exert anti-inflammatory effects by suppression of microglial activation. Furthermore, MTs recently received attention as a potential target for attenuating metal-induced α-synuclein aggregation. In this article, we summarize MTs expression in the central and enteric nervous system, and review protective functions of MTs against etiopathogenesis in PD. We also discuss neuroprotective strategies for the prevention of central dopaminergic and enteric neurodegeneration by targeting MTs. This review highlights multifunctional MTs as a target for the development of disease-modifying drugs for PD.
All-in-One Collimating Splitter Based on a Meta-Fiber Platform
Authors: He Nan , Guo Tingbiao , Jin Yi , He Sailing
Published: April 2023

The use of array generators has become ubiquitous in various applications such as laser fabrication, face identification, and motion sensing. The Dammann grating, a diffractive optical element, is the mainstream approach for generating uniform spot arrays. However, its limited capability and the contradiction between the performance and the complexity of fabrication hinder its application. To address this issue, an all-in-one collimating splitter based on metasurfaces is theoretically proposed by synthesizing the phase of an inverse-optimized Dammann grating and a collimating lens. Leveraging both the diffraction effect of Dammann grating and the Fourier transformation of the collimating lens, the number of spot arrays can be largely increased with a single lenslet. The proposed design shows a large field of view of 62° × 62° and a high uniformity of 1.29% in generating a spot array of 3 × 3 on a single-fiber platform, confirmed by both the scalar and full-wave simulation. Further, a larger spot array up to 15 × 15 is also derived in the far field by integrating the proposed metasurface on a 5 × 5 fiber array platform, confirmed by the scalar simulation. Our design may be transplanted to the vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser platform, and shows great potential in various applications including face identification and motion sensing.
Fire Scenarios Inside a Room-and-Pillar Underground Quarry Using Numerical Modeling to Define Emergency Plans
Authors: Nematollahi Sarvestani Amir , Oreste Pierpaolo , Gennaro Sandro
Published: April 2023

Underground fires are still one of the most significant risks in mines today. In order to manage this risk, it is necessary to know the potential evolution of a fire and the effects it can have on people and other objects. Ventilation plays an essential role in the development of a fire; it also influences the propagation of toxic fumes and the variation of temperatures in all other areas of a mine. Currently, it is possible to jointly analyze, through numerical modeling, the ventilation circuit and a fire for different possible scenarios in order to define, in detail, the emergency plans that need to be adopted. In this paper, a numerical study was conducted via the use of Ventsim Software (an integrated mine and tunnel ventilation numerical package that is able to analyze airflows, pressures, heat, gases, and fires along all of a defined circuit over time using an iterative procedure to solve Kirchhoff’s current law). Furthermore, in this study, it is illustrated how the joint numerical modeling of the ventilation circuit and fire, when applied to an underground gypsum mine in the northwest of Italy, provides all the elements necessary to define the safety procedures that should be adopted in standard conditions as well as during an emergency due to a fire. More specifically, it was possible to identify suitable escape routes depending on the location of the possible fire and the time available for the staff to be able to evacuate safely.
An Interplay between a Face-Centred Composite Experimental Design and Solid-Phase Microextraction for Wine Aroma GC/MS Analysis
Authors: Tesoro Carmen , Acquavia Maria Assunta , Giussani Barbara , Bianco Giuliana , Pascale Raffaella , Lelario Filomena , Ciriello Rosanna , Capece Angela , Pietrafesa Rocchina , Siesto Gabriella , Di Capua Angela
Published: April 2023

For oenological products, most of the intrinsic and extrinsic drivers of perceived quality are associated with specific aromatic profiles. Aromatic diversity has been recognized as a central element in perceived quality as it is able to transmit the complex interactions between grape variety, geographical characteristics, and viticultural and winemaking practices, including the fermentative process. A comprehensive characterization of flavour compounds by headspace solid-phase microextraction (HS-SPME) and gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometric analysis is often needed in order to ascertain the quality of wine. HS-SPME requires a proper optimization that can be achieved through an adequate experimental design. Here, a HS-SPME/GC-MS based method was developed to investigate the volatile compounds of wine samples obtained by laboratory-scale fermentations. This was performed by inoculating a commercial Saccharomyces cerevisiae strain, which is used both as single starter and as mixed starter, with an indigenous Hanseniaspora osmophila strain. The experimental conditions of HS-SPME (extraction temperature and time) were optimized by applying a face-centred composite experimental design. Up to 95% of the total variance was explained by the proposed model. The optimized method allowed us to confirm the usefulness of combining the inoculation of grapes with selected yeast strains in co-culture situations in order to improve the wine bouquet.
An Abstractive Summarization Model Based on Joint-Attention Mechanism and a Priori Knowledge
Authors: Li Yuanyuan , Huang Yuan , Huang Weijian , Yu Junhao , Huang Zheng
Published: April 2023

An abstractive summarization model based on the joint-attention mechanism and a priori knowledge is proposed to address the problems of the inadequate semantic understanding of text and summaries that do not conform to human language habits in abstractive summary models. Word vectors that are most relevant to the original text should be selected first. Second, the original text is represented in two dimensions—word-level and sentence-level, as word vectors and sentence vectors, respectively. After this processing, there will be not only a relationship between word-level vectors but also a relationship between sentence-level vectors, and the decoder discriminates between word-level and sentence-level vectors based on their relationship with the hidden state of the decoder. Then, the pointer generation network is improved using a priori knowledge. Finally, reinforcement learning is used to improve the quality of the generated summaries. Experiments on two classical datasets, CNN/DailyMail and DUC 2004, show that the model has good performance and effectively improves the quality of generated summaries.
The Cyclic Fatigue Resistance of Different Lengths of CM Gold Wire and CM Blue Wire NiTi Alloy Endodontic Rotary Files: An In Vitro Study
Authors: Faus-Matoses Vicente , Faus-Llácer Vicente , Ruiz-Sánchez Celia , Prats Gallego Sofía , Zubizarreta-Macho Álvaro , Solano-Mendoza Beatriz , Biedma Benjamín Martín , Faus-Matoses Ignacio
Published: April 2023

Background: The objective of the present study was to measure and compare how the length of CM Gold Wire and CM Blue Wire NiTi alloy endodontic rotary files impacts their resistance to cyclic fatigue. Methods: A total of 40 sterile endodontic rotary files were chosen and allocated to the following study groups: (A) 25.06 CM Gold wire NiTi alloy endodontic rotary files, 31 mm in length (n = 10); (B) 25.06 CM Gold wire NiTi alloy endodontic rotary files, 25 mm in length (n = 10); (C) 25.06 CM Gold wire NiTi alloy endodontic rotary files, 21 mm in length (n = 10); and (D) 25.06 CM Blue wire NiTi alloy endodontic rotary files, 17 mm in length (n = 10). A specialized device was designed using artificial root canal systems made from stainless steel for the dynamic cyclic fatigue tests, with an apical diameter of 250 µm, curvature angle of 60°, radius of curvature of 5 mm, lengths of 31, 25, 21, and 17 mm, and a 6% taper. An individual operator determined failure of the endodontic rotary instrument through direct observation and the tests were filmed so as to precisely measure the exact time to failure. The results were analyzed using ANOVA and Weibull statistical analysis. Results: The results found statistically significant differences across all study groups (p < 0.05). Conclusions: Rotary file length is inversely proportional to the cyclic fatigue resistance of the 25.06 CM Gold wire NiTi alloy at 31 mm, 25 mm, and 21 mm in length and of the 25.06 CM Blue wire NiTi alloy 17 mm length endodontic rotary files, with a greater length contributing to lower resistance to cyclic fatigue.
Classification of Research Papers on Radio Frequency Electromagnetic Field (RF-EMF) Using Graph Neural Networks (GNN)
Authors: Jang Youngsun , Won Kwanghee , Choi Hyung-do , Shin Sung Y.
Published: April 2023

This study compares the performance of graph convolutional neural network (GCN) models with conventional natural language processing (NLP) models for classifying scientific literature related to radio frequency electromagnetic field (RF-EMF). Specifically, the study examines two GCN models: BertGCN and the citation-based GCN. The study concludes that the model achieves consistently good performance when the input text is long enough, based on the attention mechanism of BERT. When the input sequence is short, the composition parameter λ, which combines output values of the two subnetworks of BertGCN, plays a crucial role in achieving high classification accuracy. As the value of λ increases, the classification accuracy also increases. The study also proposes and tests a simplified variant of BertGCN, revealing performance differences among the models under two different data conditions by the existence of keywords. This study has two main contributions: (1) the implementation and testing of a variant of BertGCN and citation-based GCN for document classification tasks related to radio frequency electromagnetic fields publications, and (2) the confirmation of the impact of model conditions, such as the existence of keywords and input sequence length, in the original BertGCN. Although this study focused on a specific domain, our approaches have broader implications that extend beyond scientific publications to general text classification.
A Novel Wideband Common-Mode Noise Suppression Filter That Combines Mushroom and Defected Corrugated Reference Plane Structures
Authors: Yu Chung-Ke , Lin Ding-Bing , Lin Hsin-Piao
Published: April 2023

A novel wideband common-mode (CM) suppression filter is proposed for high-speed transmission. The filter is embedded in 3 10 mm × 10 mm layers of a printed circuit board (PCB) that combines a mushroom structure and a defected corrugated reference plane structure (MDCRP). Using the novel MDCRP structure generates more resonance frequencies in the CM current return path. This generates a wider CM noise suppression performance. We used a simulation method to obtain the best geometric parameters for the MDCRP structure. The experimental results proved that the full-wave simulation results were consistent with the actual measurement results. This novel filter shows good signal integrity according to actual measurements, and the insertion loss can be kept to less than −2.306 dB from DC to 21 GHz in differential mode (DM). The CM noise can be suppressed by over −10 dB from 5.09 GHz to 20.62 GHz. The fractional bandwidth is 120.8%, and the CM noise improves by 64.5%. An eye diagram proves that the filter can support a 20 Gb/s transmission rate with complete differential signal transmission capability. The MDCRP structure filter can support HDMI 2.0, PCI Express 4.0, USB 3.2, and SATA Express. Therefore, the filter meets current computer and server system products’ design needs.
Detecting Arcing Faults in Switchgear by Using Deep Learning Techniques
Authors: Mohammed Alsumaidaee Yaseen Ahmed , Yaw Chong Tak , Koh Siaw Paw , Tiong Sieh Kiong , Chen Chai Phing , Tan Chung Hong , Ali Kharudin , Balasubramaniam Yogendra A. L.
Published: April 2023

Switchgear and control gear are susceptible to arc problems that arise from slowly developing defects such as partial discharge, arcing, and heating due to faulty connections. These issues can now be detected and monitored using modern technology. This study aims to explore the effectiveness of deep learning techniques, specifically 1D-CNN model, LSTM model, and 1D-CNN-LSTM model, in detecting arcing problems in switchgear. The hybrid model 1D-CNN-LSTM was the preferred model for fault detection in switchgear because of its superior performance in both time and frequency domains, allowing for analysis of the generated sound wave during an arcing event. To investigate the effectiveness of the algorithms, experiments were conducted to locate arcing faults in switchgear, and the time and frequency domain analyses of performance were conducted. The 1D-CNN-LSTM model proved to be the most effective model for differentiating between arcing and non-arcing situations in the training, validation, and testing stages. Time domain analysis (TDA) showed high success rates of 99%, 100%, and 98.4% for 1D-CNN; 99%, 100%, and 98.4% for LSTM; and 100%, 100%, and 100% for 1D-CNN-LSTM in distinguishing between arcing and non-arcing cases in the respective training, validation, and testing phases. Furthermore, frequency domain analysis (FDA) also demonstrated high accuracy rates of 100%, 100%, and 95.8% for 1D-CNN; 100%, 100%, and 95.8% for LSTM; and 100%, 100%, and 100% for 1D-CNN-LSTM in the respective training, validation, and testing phases. Therefore, it can be concluded that the developed algorithms, particularly the 1D-CNN-LSTM model in both time and frequency domains, effectively recognize arcing faults in switchgear, providing an efficient and effective method for monitoring and detecting faults in switchgear and control gear systems.
Carbon Storage Potential and Carbon Dioxide Emissions from Mineral-Fertilized and Manured Soil
Authors: Sosulski Tomasz , Srivastava Amit Kumar , Ahrends Hella Ellen , Smreczak Bożena , Szymańska Magdalena
Published: April 2023

Two important goals of sustainable agriculture are food production and preserving and improving soil health. The soil organic carbon content is considered an indicator of soil health. The evaluation of the methods to increase the soil organic carbon content in long-term experiments is usually carried out without considering its environmental effects, (e.g., CO2–C soil emission). This study hypothesized that sandy soils have a low carbon storage potential, and that the carbon accumulation in the soil is accompanied by increased CO2–C emissions into the atmosphere. The study was carried out as a long-term fertilization experiment in Central Poland using a rye monoculture. The changes in the soil organic carbon content (SOC), CO2–C emissions from soil, and plant yields were examined for two soil treatments: one treated only with mineral fertilizers (CaNPK) and one annually fertilized with manure (Ca + M). Over the 91 years of the experiment, the SOC content of the manure-fertilized treatment increased almost two-fold, reaching 10.625 g C kg−1 in the topsoil, while the content of the SOC in the soil fertilized with CaNPK did not change (5.685 g C kg−1 in the topsoil). Unlike mineral fertilization, soil manuring reduced the plant yields by approximately 15.5–28.3% and increased the CO2–C emissions from arable land. The CO2–C emissions of the manured soil (5365.0 and 5159.2 kg CO2–C ha−1 in the first and second year of the study, respectively) were significantly higher (by 1431.9–2174.2 kg CO2–C ha−1) than those in the soils that only received mineral fertilizers (3933.1 and 2975.0 kg CO2–C ha−1 in the first and second year of the study, respectively). The results from this experiment suggest that only long-term fertilization with manure might increase the carbon storage in the sandy soil, but it is also associated with higher CO2–C emissions into the atmosphere. The replacement of mineral fertilizers with manure, predicted as a result of rising mineral fertilizer prices, will make it challenging to achieve the ambitious European goal of carbon neutrality in agriculture. The increase in CO2–C emissions due to manure fertilization of loamy sand soil in Central Poland also suggests the need to research the emissivity of organic farming.
Interdisciplinary Studies for Sustainable Mining
Authors: Choi Yosoon
Published: April 2023

Mining is an essential sector for economic development, as it provides valuable resources that are crucial for modern living.
Topology Optimization Design of Multi-Input-Multi-Output Compliant Mechanisms with Hinge-Free Characteristic and Totally Decoupled Kinematics
Authors: Cai Shouyu , Zhou Wenshang , Wei Hongtao , Zhu Mingfu
Published: April 2023

A new multi-constraint optimization model with the weighted objective function is proposed to design the multi-input-multi-output (MIMO) compliant mechanisms. The main feature of this work is that both the two notable problems related to the de facto hinge and the movement coupling are tackled simultaneously in the topological synthesis of MIMO compliant mechanisms. To be specific, the first problem is the severe stress concentration in the flexible hinge areas, and it is solved by the introduction of input and output compliances into the objective function, which could facilitate the optimization to strike a good balance between structural flexibility and stiffness. The second problem is the high degree of control complexity caused by the coupled outputs and inputs, and it is addressed by achieving the complete decoupling with two groups of extra constraints that are used to suppress the input coupling and the output coupling, respectively. As the most common and effective topology optimization method, the Solid Isotropic Material with Penalization (SIMP)-based density method is adopted here to obtain the optimized configurations. After the analytical sensitivity deduction related to the weighted objective function and constraints, two typical numerical examples are presented to demonstrate the validity of the proposed topology optimization framework in designing the hinge-free and completely decoupled MIMO compliant mechanisms.
An Optical Remote Sensing Image Matching Method Based on the Simple and Stable Feature Database
Authors: Zhao Zilu , Long Hui , You Hongjian
Published: April 2023

Satellite remote sensing has entered the era of big data due to the increase in the number of remote sensing satellites and imaging modes. This presents significant challenges for the processing of remote sensing systems and will result in extremely high real-time data processing requirements. The effective and reliable geometric positioning of remote sensing images is the foundation of remote sensing applications. In this paper, we propose an optical remote sensing image matching method based on a simple stable feature database. This method entails building the stable feature database, extracting local invariant features that are comparatively stable from remote sensing images using an iterative matching strategy, and storing useful information about the features. Without reference images, the feature database-based matching approach potentially saves storage space for reference data while increasing image processing speed. To evaluate the performance of the feature database matching method, we train the feature database with various local invariant feature algorithms on different time phases of Gaofen-2 (GF-2) images. Furthermore, we carried out matching comparison experiments with various satellite images to confirm the viability and stability of the feature database-based matching method. In comparison with direct matching using the classical feature algorithm, the feature database-based matching method in this paper can essentially improve the correct rate of feature point matching by more than 30% and reduce the matching time by more than 40%. This method improves the accuracy and timeliness of image matching, potentially solves the problem of large storage space occupied by the reference data, and has great potential for fast matching of optical remote sensing images.
A Vision Detection Scheme Based on Deep Learning in a Waste Plastics Sorting System
Authors: Wen Shengping , Yuan Yue , Chen Jingfu
Published: April 2023

The preliminary sorting of plastic products is a necessary step to improve the utilization of waste resources. To improve the quality and efficiency of sorting, a plastic detection scheme based on deep learning is proposed in this paper for a waste plastics sorting system based on vision detection. In this scheme, the YOLOX (You Only Look Once) object detection model and the DeepSORT (Deep Simple Online and Realtime Tracking) multiple object tracking algorithm are improved and combined to make them more suitable for plastic sorting. For plastic detection, multiple data augmentations are combined to improve the detection effect, while BN (Batch Normalization) layer fusion and mixed precision inference are adopted to accelerate the model. For plastic tracking, the improved YOLOX is used as a detector, and the tracking effect is further improved by optimizing the deep cosine metric learning and the metric in the matching stage. Based on this, virtual detection lines are set up to filter and extract information to determine the sorted objects. The experimental results show that the scheme proposed in this paper makes full use of vision information to achieve dynamic and real-time detection of plastics. The system is effective and versatile for sorting complex objects.
A Review on Recent Trends and Applications of IoT in Additive Manufacturing
Authors: Chigilipalli Bharat Kumar , Karri Teja , Chetti Sathish Naidu , Bhiogade Girish , Kottala Ravi Kumar , Cheepu Muralimohan
Published: April 2023

The Internet of Things (IoT) is a new way of communicating that is changing the way things are monitored and controlled from a distance. Gradually, companies want to digitalize their production processes and implement control and monitoring systems on the shop floor. On the basis of the Industry 4.0 concept, internet features and database services have been incorporated into processes in order to reinvent manufacturing. This study proposes a proof-of-concept system for the management of additive manufacturing (AM) machines, where an internet integration of beacon technology in the manufacturing environment enables the rapid and intuitive interchange of production data retrieved from machines with mobile devices in various applications. Even though AM technologies can be used to customize the final product, they cannot be used to make a lot of 3D-printed jobs at once for commercial usage. Therefore, this research-based study aims to understand IoT technologies to improve the understanding and reliability of AM processes and 3D print smart materials in large quantities for manufacturers around the world. This study demonstrates the significance of the successful use of internet-based technologies in AM by examining its practical consequences in various fields. This paper gives an overview of IoT-based remote monitoring and control systems that could solve problems in AM, particularly in digital twin, human augmentation (HA), 3D bioprinters, 3D scanners, input parameters optimization, and electronics fields. IoT in AM makes production processes more efficient, reduces waste, and meets customer needs.
Source Apportionment of Ambient Particulate Matter (PM) in Two Western African Urban Sites (Dakar in Senegal and Bamako in Mali)
Authors: Doumbia Thierno , Liousse Catherine , Ouafo-Leumbe Marie-Roumy , Ndiaye Seydi Ababacar , Gardrat Eric , Galy-Lacaux Corinne , Zouiten Cyril , Yoboué Véronique , Granier Claire
Published: April 2023

Following population growth and rapid urbanization, West African cities have become major sources of anthropogenic pollution. Additionally, Saharan dust has had a significant impact, representing a potentially toxic mix of sources for the population. This study characterizes the atmospheric composition and its sources in two African capitals, Bamako, Mali and Dakar, Senegal. TSP, PM10 and PM2.5 samples were collected during the dry season in 2009 when pollution levels were high: chemical analysis included organic carbon (OC), elemental carbon (EC), ions, and metals. PM2.5 and PM10 concentrations were 5–10 times and 3–8 times higher, respectively, than the 2005 WHO 24 h standards. Using PCA and PMF methodologies, five sources were identified in each city. In Bamako, traffic (motor vehicles and resuspended road dust) was the prevailing source of PM2.5 and PM10, accounting for 47% and 45%, respectively. Crustal dust was the second most important source (24–30%), followed by solid fuel combustion (16–13%) and secondary aerosols (10–16%). In Dakar, the following sources of PM2.5 and PM10 are identified: traffic (49%), mineral dust (16–25%), sea salts (15–20%) and industries (10–11%). Our study provides crucial information about the historical change in source characteristics in these two African cities, which can help for future mitigation strategies.
Analysis of Generalized Bessel–Maitland Function and Its Properties
Authors: Usman Talha , Khan Nabiullah , Martínez Francisco
Published: April 2023

In this article, we introduce the generalized Bessel–Maitland function (EGBMF) using the extended beta function and some important properties obtained. Thus, we first show interesting relationships of this function with Laguerre polynomials and the Whittaker functions. We also introduce and prove some properties of the derivatives associated with EGBMF. In this sense, we establish a result relative to the extended fractional derivatives of Riemann–Liouville. Furthermore, the Mellin transform of this function is evaluated in terms of the generalized Wright hypergeometric function, and its Euler transform is also obtained. Finally, we derive several graphical representations using the Gauss quadrature and the Laguerre–Gauss quadrature methods, which show that the numerical and theoretical simulations are consistent. The results derived from this research can be potentially useful in applications in several fields, in particular, physics, applied mathematics, and engineering.
An Overview of the Design and Optimized Operation of Vanadium Redox Flow Batteries for Durations in the Range of 4–24 Hours
Authors: Viswanathan Vilayanur V. , Crawford Alasdair J. , Thomsen Edwin C. , Shamim Nimat , Li Guosheng , Huang Qian , Reed David M.
Published: April 2023

An extensive review of modeling approaches used to simulate vanadium redox flow battery (VRFB) performance is conducted in this study. Material development is reviewed, and opportunities for additional development identified. Various crossover mechanisms for the vanadium species are reviewed, and their effects on its state of charge and its state of health assessed. A stack design focusing on flow fields and an electrode design tailored to various flow fields are reviewed. An operational strategy that takes these parameters into account is reviewed for various operating envelopes, chosen based on end user preference in terms of minimizing capital cost or operation and maintenance cost. This work provides a framework for the design and operation of a VRFB for various grid services.