bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Characterizations of a Class-I BASIC PENTACYSTEINE Gene Reveal Conserved Roles in the Transcriptional Repression of Genes Involved in Seed Development
Authors: Ma Xianjin , Yu Yifan , Hu Zhikang , Huang Hu , Li Sijia , Yin Hengfu
Published: September 2022

The developmental regulation of flower organs involves the spatio-temporal regulation of floral homeotic genes. BASIC PENTACYSTEINE genes are plant-specific transcription factors that is involved in many aspects of plant development through gene transcriptional regulation. Although studies have shown that the BPC genes are involved in the developmental regulation of flower organs, little is known about their role in the formation of double-flower due. Here we characterized a Class I BPC gene (CjBPC1) from an ornamental flower—Camellia japonica. We showed that CjBPC1 is highly expressed in the central whorls of flowers in both single and doubled varieties. Overexpression of CjBPC1 in Arabidopsis thaliana caused severe defects in siliques and seeds. We found that genes involved in ovule and seed development, including SEEDSTICK, LEAFY COTYLEDON2, ABSCISIC ACID INSENSITIVE 3 and FUSCA3, were significantly down-regulated in transgenic lines. We showed that the histone 3 lysine 27 methylation levels of these downstream genes were enhanced in the transgenic plants, indicating conserved roles of CjBPC1 in recruiting the Polycomb Repression Complex for gene suppression.
Phosphorus Regulates the Level of Signaling Molecules in Rice to Reduce Cadmium Toxicity
Authors: Chen Qiaoyu , Hu Yanyan , Yang Lijun , Zhu Benguo , Luo Feng
Published: September 2022

Phosphorus treatment can reduce Cd accumulation and Cd toxicity in rice, but alterations in the internal regulatory network of rice during this process have rarely been reported. We have removed the effect of cadmium phosphate precipitation from the hydroponic system, treated a pair of different Cd-response rice varieties with different levels of phosphorus and cadmium and examined the changes in physiological indicators and regulatory networks. The results demonstrated that phosphorus treatment significantly reduced Cd accumulation in both types of rice, although the antioxidant systems within the two types of rice produced opposite responses. Overall, 3 mM phosphorus treatment to Cd-N decreased the expression of OsIAA17 and OsACO1 by 32% and 37%, respectively, while increasing the expression of OsNR2 by 83%; these three genes regulate the synthesis of auxin, ethylene, and nitric oxide in rice. IAA and NO levels in rice shoots increased by 24% and 96%, respectively, and these changes contribute to Cd detoxification. The cadmium transporter genes OsHMA2, OsIRT1, and OsABCC1 were significantly down-regulated in Cd-N roots after triple phosphorus treatment. These data suggest that phosphorus treatment can reduce Cd accumulation and enhance Cd resistance in rice by affecting the expression of signaling molecules.
Aggressiveness of Grade 4 Gliomas of Adults
Authors: Deacu Mariana , Docu Axelerad Any , Popescu Steliana , Topliceanu Theodor Sebastian , Aschie Mariana , Bosoteanu Madalina , Cozaru Georgeta Camelia , Cretu Ana Maria , Voda Raluca Ioana , Orasanu Cristian Ionut
Published: September 2022

Grade 4 adult gliomas are IDH-mutant astrocytomas and IDH-wildtype glioblastomas. They have a very high mortality rate, with survival at 5 years not exceeding 5%. We aimed to conduct a clinical imaging and morphogenetic characterization of them, as well as to identify the main negative prognostic factors that give them such aggressiveness. We conducted a ten-year retrospective study. We followed the clinical, imaging, and morphogenetic aspects of the cases. We analyzed immunohistochemical markers (IDH1, Ki-67, and nestin) and FISH tests based on the CDKN2A gene. The obtained results were analyzed using SPSS Statistics with the appropriate parameters. The clinical aspects representing negative prognostic factors were represented by patients’ comorbidities: hypertension (HR = 1.776) and diabetes mellitus/hyperglycemia (HR = 2.159). The lesions were mostly supratentorial, and the temporal lobe was the most affected. The mean volume was 88.05 cm3 and produced a midline shift with an average of 8.52 mm. Subtotal surgical resection was a negative prognostic factor (HR = 1.877). The proliferative index did not influence survival rate, whereas CDKN2A gene mutations were shown to have a major impact on survival. We identified the main negative prognostic factors that support the aggressiveness of grade 4 gliomas: patient comorbidities, type of surgical resection, degree of cell differentiation, and CDKN2A gene mutations.
N-b-Hydroxyethyl Oleyl Imidazole as Synergist to Enhance the Corrosion Protection Effect of Natural Cocoyl Sarcosine on Steel
Authors: Kaskah Saad E. , Ehrenhaft Gitta , Gollnick Jörg , Fischer Christian B.
Published: September 2022

To investigate the corrosion protection behavior of naturally derived cocoyl sarcosine in combination with N-b-hydroxyethyl oleyl imidazole for steel CR4 in 0.1 M NaCl, different evaluation systems (weight loss, electrochemical measurements, and spray corrosion tests) were used. Both compounds were tested in different concentrations (25–100 mmol/L) and with variable dip coating times (1–30 min), first individually and then in combination, to check any synergistic effects for surface protection. Both showed only an insignificant corrosion inhibiting effect with less than 50% efficiency at all concentrations and dip coating times if used alone. In contrast, compound combinations revealed an improved corrosion inhibition correlated with higher concentrations. Across all methods, the compound combination concentration of 100 mmol/L resulted in improved efficiency of up to 83% for gravimetric tests, up to 84% for the impedance measure and more than 91% for potentiodynamic polarization. Dip coating variations proved 10 min to be the best option for all compounds with a maximum efficiency of up to 86% for the compound combination.
A High Proportion Reuse of RAP in Plant-Mixed Cold Recycling Technology and Its Benefits Analysis
Authors: Li Yanan , Zhang Yuzhen , Zhang Shucai
Published: September 2022

The concept of the “no-waste city” has focused increasing attention on the recycling of solid waste. One such waste is reclaimed asphalt pavement (RAP), which is generated during road maintenance. The potential to reuse this resource has attracted extensive attention in recent years. This paper explores this concept via a case study of the reconstruction of two sections of the Beijing-Taipei Expressway (from Bengbu to Hefei, sections K69–K69 + 500 and K69 + 500–K69 + 900). The upper base layer of one section was paved with a novel mixture of emulsified asphalt, mixed with a high proportion of RAP made using plant-mixed cold recycling technology (EAPM-HPRAP). For comparison, the upper base layer of the other section was paved with a conventional large-stone porous asphalt mix (LSPM). The proportions of the components of EAPM-HPRAP were optimized via laboratory-based proportioning design followed by proportioning verification. The results showed that the high-temperature stability, water damage resistance and pavement strength of the EAPM-HPRAP met the specifications of relevant engineering standards. Next, the economic and environmental benefits of this novel approach were estimated. The approach was estimated to save CNY (China Yuan) 1.5–1.8 million in engineering costs per km of road (roadbed width = 27.5 m) and CNY 158–189 million for the whole project (105 km in length). It was also estimated to reduce energy consumption equivalent to 67.41 tons of standard coal per km. Further calculations showed that every km of pavement could reduce CO2 emissions by 176.6 tons, SO2 emissions by 0.6 tons, NOX emissions by 0.5 tons, ash emissions by 17.6 tons and soot emissions by 1.0 tons compared with conventional methods. For the whole road section, this is equivalent to reducing CO2 emissions by 18,543 tons, SO2 emissions by 60.2 tons, NOX emissions by 52.5 tons, ash emissions by 1848 tons, and soot emissions by nearly 105 tons. In summary, it is feasible for EAPM-HPRAP to be used as the upper base layer in highway renovation projects. It reduces the need to mine new ores and allocate land to RAP storage, which is associated with soil and water pollution due to chemical leaching from aged asphalt. This approach provides great economic and environmental benefits compared with the use of conventional pavement technology.
Preparation and Properties of UV and Aziridine Dual–Cured Polyurethane Acrylate Emulsion
Authors: Wang Rui , Zhang Zexu , Bai Xuqiu , Xu Zhichun , Zheng Jun , Pan Fei , Yuan Caideng
Published: September 2022

For the UV–curable waterborne polyurethane acrylate (WPUA) emulsion, the free carboxylic groups in the molecular chains introduced by hydrophilic monomers are the inherent disadvantage. We prepared UV and aziridine dual–cured WPUA (UV/AZ–WPUA) emulsion that the carboxylic groups can be crosslinked by the trifunctional aziridine crosslinking agent, trimethylolpropane tris(2-methyl-1-aziridinepropionate) (Sac–100). The effects of Sac–100 content on the gel fraction, tensile properties, hardness, wear resistance, water resistance, and surface morphology of the cured films and coatings were investigated. The results show that, with the increase of the Sac–100 content, the gel fraction, tensile strength, elongation at break, and toughness of the films increase first and then decrease and the wear weight loss and water absorption ratio gradually decrease; in addition, Sac–100 also has an effect on the surface roughness of the coatings. Through comprehensive evaluation, it is considered that the optimum Sac–100 content is 4 wt% in UV/AZ–WPUA system. With the optimum Sac–100 content, the gel fraction of the coating film is 89.78 wt%, the tensile strength is 34.58 MPa, the elongation at break is 343.64%, the toughness is 65.08 MJ/m3, the wear loss is 4.7 mg, and the equilibrious water–absorption ratio is 11.63 wt%. Compared with the UV–cured film without Sac–100, the tensile strength, toughness, and hardness of the dual–cured films increase by 155.4%, 129.3%, and 25.7%, respectively, and the water absorption ratio decreases by 27.1%.
Simulation of Particle Interaction with Surface Microdefects during Cold Gas-Dynamic Spraying
Authors: Aleksieieva Olha , Dereviankina Liliia , Breuninger Paul , Bozoglu Mustafa , Tretiakov Pavlo , Toporov Andrii , Antonyuk Sergiy
Published: September 2022

The cold gas-dynamic spray (CGDS) technique is utilized for repairing processes of a large number of metallic components in mechanical and process engineering, such as bridges or vehicles. Fine particles impacting on the component surface can be severely deformed and penetrate into the defects, filling and coating them, resulting in possible protection against corrosion or crack propagation. This work focuses on the investigation of the impact behavior of cold sprayed particles with the wall surface having microdefects in the form of cavities. The collision of fine single particles with the substrate, both made from AISI 1045 steel, was simulated with the finite element method (FEM) using the Johnson–Cook failure model. The impact phenomena of particles on different microdefect geometries were obtained and compared with the collision on a smooth surface. The particle diameter and defect were varied to investigate the influence of the size on the deformation behaviour. The different impact scenarios result in different temperature and stress distributions in the contact zone, penetration and deformation behavior during the collision.
Adsorption Capacity of Tetracycline in Solution by Cu-BTC@Carboxyl-Functionalized Carbon Nanotubes@Copper Alginate Composite Aerogel Beads
Authors: Zhang Yang , Li Yanhui , Wang Mingzhen , Chen Bing , Sun Yaohui , Chen Kewei , Du Qiujv
Published: September 2022

In order to remove tetracycline (TC) from sewage more effectively, the adsorption performance of TC on alginate composite aerogel beads containing carbon nanomaterials was studied systematically. Carboxylated functionalized carbon nanotubes (F-CNTs)@Cu-based metal-organic framework (Cu-BTC) carbon nanomaterial composites (F-C) were prepared by a hydrothermal method, and the F-C powders were coated and fixed by macromolecular polymer copper alginate (CA). Then, F-CNTs@Cu-BTC@CA composite aerogel beads (F-C-CA) were prepared by a vacuum freeze-drying method. The new composite was characterized by BET, SEM, FTIR, and TGA, and its physical and chemical properties were analyzed. The results of batch adsorption experiments showed that F-C-CA aerogel beads had excellent adsorption capacity for TC. At 303 K, 10 mg F-C-CA aerogel beads adsorbed 20 mL 100 mg·L−1 TC solution; the removal rate reached 94% after 48 h. After kinetic analysis, the adsorption process of F-C-CA on TC was found to be more coherent with the pseudo-second-order kinetic model (chemisorption process). The isotherm fitting analysis indicated that the adsorption behavior was more suitable to the Langmuir model (monolayer adsorption), and the fitted maximum adsorption was 297 mg·g−1.
Self-Lubricating Pulsed Ion Beam-Assisted PTFE Coating of Titanium in Argon Discharge to Tailor Wear Resistance and Friction
Authors: Khan Shahbaz , Tag-ElDin ElSayed M. , Majid Abdul , Alkhedher Mohammad
Published: September 2022

Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) ions were deposited on titanium substrate by using a 1.5 kJ Mather plasma focus device in argon, equipped with a PTFE source. The PTFE and argon ions generated during different number of shots of dense plasma focus (DPF) resulted in deposition of PTFE on the Ti surface. Prepared samples were characterized for structural properties, elemental composition, surface morphology, wear resistance and frictional behavior by X-ray diffraction, energy dispersive X-ray, scanning electron microscope and pin on disc test, respectively. The area of the coherent X-ray scattering region of PTFE coated on Ti estimated by XRD is 9 nm. Both XRD and SEM show that the area of the coherent X-ray scattering region increases with the increase in the number of focus shots. The EDX results confirmed that the concentration of carbon and fluorine on the Ti substrate increases with the increase in energy of ion flux. Finally, the pin on disc test confirms that PTFE ion plasma coating on the Ti surface reduces the friction up to 35% and enhances wear resistance of the Ti surface up to 89%. The above analysis reflects that PTFE coating shows remarkable tribological behavior with low value of friction coefficient and enhanced value of wear resistance. Moreover, this study provides an intuition for organizing the design of self-lubricating and effective wear-resistant coatings.
Nucleation, Coalescence, and Thin-Film Growth of Triflate-Based Ionic Liquids on ITO, Ag, and Au Surfaces
Authors: Teixeira Mariana S. M. , Santos Luís M. N. B. F. , Costa José C. S.
Published: September 2022

This study investigates the nucleation and growth of micro-/nanodroplets of triflate-based ionic liquids (ILs) fabricated by vapor deposition on different surfaces: indium tin oxide (ITO); silver (Ag); gold (Au). The ILs studied are constituted by the alkylimidazolium cation and the triflate anion—[CnC1im][OTF] series. One of the key issues that determine the potential applications of ILs is the wettability of surfaces. Herein, the wetting behavior was evaluated by changing the cation alkyl chain length (C2 to C10). A reproducible control of the deposition rate was conducted employing Knudsen cells, and the thin-film morphology was evaluated by high-resolution scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The study reported here for the [CnC1im][OTF] series agrees with recent data for the [CnC1im][NTf2] congeners, highlighting the higher wettability of the solid substrates to long-chain alkylimidazolium cations. Compared to [NTf2], the [OTF] series evidenced an even more pronounced wetting ability on Au and coalescence processes of droplets highly intense on ITO. Higher homogeneity and film cohesion were found for cationic groups associated with larger alkyl side chains. An island growth was observed on both Ag and ITO substrates independently of the cation alkyl chain length. The Ag surface promoted the formation of smaller-size droplets. A quantitative analysis of the number of microdroplets formed on Ag and ITO revealed a trend shift around [C6C1im][OTF], emphasizing the effect of the nanostructuration intensification due to the formation of nonpolar continuous domains.
Numerical Analysis of Gas Flow Instabilities in Simplified Vertical HVPE GaN Reactors
Authors: Zenk Markus , Lukin Gleb , Bastin Dirk , Doradziński Roman , Beyer Franziska C. , Meissner Elke , Friedrich Jochen
Published: September 2022

This paper investigates the gas flow and the mass transport in simplified axial-symmetric vertical HVPE reactors for the growth of GaN bulk crystals through numerical simulations. We evaluate the relative significance of different flow and transport phenomena in dependence on the direction of gravity. The performed simulations show that buoyancy effects due to density differences between neighboring gas lines are the main factor causing the deformation of laminar flow patterns and the formation of recirculation cells within the growth zone. Baroclinic instabilities have been identified as the source for these phenomena. In contrast, typical vertical temperature gradients show only a minor impact on the stability of the gas flow within the growth zone in the vicinity of the growing crystal. Based on these results, major differences of the species transport in vertical HVPE reactors, where the flow is parallel or anti-parallel to the direction of gravity, referred to as down-flow and up-flow, respectively, are summarized. The performed analysis of the interplay and relative significance of different flow effects in the HVPE environment allows a general recommendation for reactor design and scaling with respect to stable gas flow conditions within the growth zone.
The Griffith Crack and the Interaction between Screw Dislocation and Semi-Infinite Crack in Cubic Quasicrystal Piezoelectric Materials
Authors: Pi Jiandong , Li Lianhe
Published: September 2022

The Griffith crack problem and the interaction between screw dislocation and semi-infinite crack in cubic quasicrystal piezoelectric materials are studied by using the complex variable function method. The stress intensity factors and electric displacement intensity factors are obtained. The effects of the linear force and coupling elastic coefficient on the stress intensity factor of phonon field and phason fields are discussed in detail. By numerical examples, it is found that the linear force and the coupling elastic constant have a significant effect on the stress intensity factor.
Triple-Mode Switchable Terahertz Metamaterial Absorber with Tunable Absorption Characteristics
Authors: Zhang Ying , Dong Tianli , Li You , He Xunjun
Published: September 2022

Dynamically tunable terahertz metamaterial absorbers integrating with active materials have been widely explored. However, there are still problems that need to be urgently solved, such as modulation depth deficiency, a lack of multiparameter-tunable characteristics, and so on. In this paper, a multiparameter-tunable terahertz absorber composed of two concentric double-opening resonant rings is proposed. Semiconductor silicon and germanium are introduced to fill the openings, so that the absorber possesses three different absorption modes. Regulating semiconductor conductivities using different pump lasers allows dynamic switching among the three absorption modes to be realized. Adjusting the polarization angle of incident THz waves through device rotation facilitates easy and convenient modulation of the absorption amplitude. Calculation results show that the maximum modulation range for amplitude is 0 to 90.1%. Thus, due to the existence of two regulatory degrees of freedom, absorption mode switching and amplitude modulation are realized simultaneously. Most importantly, continuous modulation of the absorption amplitude is obtained at every resonant point in all three absorption modes without frequency drift. This scheme provides a new perspective for exploring future terahertz absorbers.
A Comparative Study of Three Constitutive Models concerning Thermo-Mechanical Behavior of Q345 Steel during Hot Deformation
Authors: Zhao Guanghui , Tian Yinghao , Song Yaohui , Li Juan , Li Huaying , Zhang Jian
Published: September 2022

The Gleeble-3800 thermal simulator was used to perform hot compression experiments on Q345 steel at a temperature of 1123~1373 K, a strain rate of 0.01~10 s−1, and 60% deformation. Analysis of the flow curves of Q345 steel revealed that flow stress decreases with the increase of deformation temperature and decrease of strain rate. According to the stress–strain curve of Q345 steel, three constitutive models of Johnson–Cook, Modified Johnson–Cook and strain-compensated Arrhenius were established. By comparison, it was found that the strain-compensated Arrhenius model has higher accuracy, and its correlation coefficient and average relative error are 0.995 and 4.93%, respectively. In addition, the thermal processing map of Q345 steel was established, and the optimal processing range was temperature 1253–1373 K, strain rate 0.5–10 s−1.
Seasonal Occurrence and Relative Abundance of Marine Fish Larval Families over Healthy and Degraded Seagrass Beds in Coastal Kenya
Authors: Mwaluma James M. , Okemwa Gladys M. , Mboga Alphine M. , Ngisiange Noah , Winder Monika , Kyewalyanga Margareth S. , Kilonzo Joseph , Kinyua Immaculate M.
Published: September 2022

Seagrass beds provide critical nursery habitats and spawning grounds for new generations of fish. The habitats are under threat from human activities and climate change, and with that, an important ocean service is lost that limits fish production. The present study investigates patterns in the larval occurrence and abundance in seagrass meadows at two locations with varying degrees of seagrass fragmentation. Monthly ichthyoplankton sampling was conducted during the northeast monsoon (NEM) and southeast monsoon (SEM) seasons in 2019 and 2020. A total of 42 larval fish families belonging to 37 genera and 21 species were identified. Dominant families were Labridae (29.5%), Blenniidae (28.7%), Gobiidae (26.0%), Engraulidae (23.3%) and Scaridae (22.3%). Canonical Correspondence Analysis and regression analysis revealed water temperature, dissolved oxygen and pH as the most important abiotic variables driving taxonomic composition of larval assemblages, while zooplankton and chlorophyll-a were the most important biotic factors. Fish larvae were more abundant in healthy seagrass habitats as compared to degraded ones. However, despite some loss in functionality, the degraded sites equally played a role in supporting some species, including Gobiidae and Blenniidae. Seasonality influenced larval abundance at the two sites, with a peak in mean abundance coinciding with the NEM season. Interannual variability in fish larval abundance was observed at both sites, indicating that factors controlling larval production varied between the years. This study demonstrates the important role of seagrass meadows in the replenishment of fish stocks and supportive evidence for their management and conservation.
Testing of a Low-Cost Dry Cell Prototype for Oxyhydrogen Production
Authors: Bunge Lisa , Silva Hugo G. , Cruz Pedro L. , Iten Muriel
Published: September 2022

This work aims to study the production of oxyhydrogen gas by a small low-cost prototype consisting of six dry cells. Firstly, a molecular composition study of the gas was carried out, presenting concentrations of 67% H2 and 28% O2. The deviation from the stoichiometric yield is discussed to be caused by water vapor production and/or oxygen dissolution in the liquid phase. Secondly, an efficiency study was done, considering the ratio between the reversible voltage of an electrolytic cell and the voltage applied to the dry cell by an external power source. Different working conditions (electrolyte concentration, 3% (w/w) of KHO and 20% (w/w) of KHO) have been tested to analyze their effect on the efficiency of the system. The results show that a lower electrolyte concentration increases the applied cell voltage, and so the necessary power input for gas production to occur, resulting in lower cell efficiency. Overall, the efficiencies are below 69.8 ± 0.6% for the studied electrolyte concentrations and approach approximately the same value around 50% for higher powers.
Risk Predictors of Advanced Fibrosis in Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease
Authors: Olteanu Vasile-Andrei , Balan Gheorghe G. , Timofte Oana , Dascalu Cristina Gena , Gologan Elena , Gilca-Blanariu Georgiana-Emanuela , Diac Madalina-Maria , Sandu Ion , Stefanescu Gabriela
Published: September 2022

The assessment of fibrosis in chronic liver diseases using non-invasive methods is an important topic in hepatology. The aim of this study is to identify patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and advanced liver fibrosis by establishing correlations between biological/ultrasound markers and non-invasively measured liver stiffness. This study enrolled 116 patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, which were evaluated clinically, biologically, and by ultrasound. Liver fibrosis was quantified by measuring liver stiffness by shear wave elastography (SWE). Multiple correlation analysis of predictors of liver fibrosis identified a number of clinical, biological, and ultrasound parameters (BMI, blood glucose, albumin, platelet count, portal vein diameter, bipolar spleen diameter) that are associated with advanced liver fibrosis in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. The correlations between the degree of liver fibrosis and the risk values of some serological and ultrasound markers obtained in our study could be useful in clinical practice for the identification of advanced fibrosis in patients with NAFLD.
Usefulness of Contrast-Enhanced Harmonic Endoscopic Ultrasonography for Diagnosis of Malignancy in Intraductal Papillary Mucinous Neoplasm
Authors: Yamashita Yasunobu , Kawaji Yuki , Shimokawa Toshio , Yamazaki Hirofumi , Tamura Takashi , Hatamaru Keiichi , Itonaga Masahiro , Ashida Reiko , Kawai Manabu , Kitano Masayuki
Published: September 2022

Intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms (IPMNs) have a wide pathologic spectrum and it can be difficult to diagnose malignancy, including pathological grade. The aim of this study was to evaluate contrast-enhanced harmonic endoscopic ultrasonography (CH-EUS) for the diagnosis of malignant IPMN and IPMN-associated invasive carcinoma (invasive IPMC). From 5009 patients diagnosed with IPMN at Wakayama medical university between December 2009 and December 2021, 115 patients who underwent contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CE-CT), conventional EUS, CH-EUS, and surgical resection were enrolled. The detection of mural lesions was compared with pathological findings. Malignant IPMN and invasive IPMC were also assessed according to mural lesion size and vascularity on CH-EUS. CH-EUS and conventional EUS showed significantly higher accuracy than CE-CT in the detection of mural nodules (92%, 83%, and 72%, respectively) and diagnosis of malignant IPMN (75%, 73%, and 63%, respectively). An early wash-out pattern on CH-EUS was observed in significantly more patients with invasive IPMC than in those with low-, intermediate-, or high-grade dysplasia. When compared with CE-CT, CH-EUS was significantly more accurate for detecting mural nodules and more useful for diagnosing malignant IPMN. The vascular pattern on CH-EUS was also useful for diagnosing invasive IPMC.
Prognostic Model of ICU Admission Risk in Patients with COVID-19 Infection Using Machine Learning
Authors: Islam Khandaker Reajul , Kumar Jaya , Tan Toh Leong , Reaz Mamun Bin Ibne , Rahman Tawsifur , Khandakar Amith , Abbas Tariq , Hossain Md. Sakib Abrar , Zughaier Susu M. , Chowdhury Muhammad E. H.
Published: September 2022

With the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of critically sick patients in intensive care units (ICUs) has increased worldwide, putting a burden on ICUs. Early prediction of ICU requirement is crucial for efficient resource management and distribution. Early-prediction scoring systems for critically ill patients using mathematical models are available, but are not generalized for COVID-19 and Non-COVID patients. This study aims to develop a generalized and reliable prognostic model for ICU admission for both COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 patients using best feature combination from the patient data at admission. A retrospective cohort study was conducted on a dataset collected from the pulmonology department of Moscow City State Hospital between 20 April 2020 and 5 June 2020. The dataset contains ten clinical features for 231 patients, of whom 100 patients were transferred to ICU and 131 were stable (non-ICU) patients. There were 156 COVID positive patients and 75 non-COVID patients. Different feature selection techniques were investigated, and a stacking machine learning model was proposed and compared with eight different classification algorithms to detect risk of need for ICU admission for both COVID-19 and non-COVID patients combined and COVID patients alone. C-reactive protein (CRP), chest computed tomography (CT), lung tissue affected (%), age, admission to hospital, and fibrinogen parameters at hospital admission were found to be important features for ICU-requirement risk prediction. The best performance was produced by the stacking approach, with weighted precision, sensitivity, F1-score, specificity, and overall accuracy of 84.45%, 84.48%, 83.64%, 84.47%, and 84.48%, respectively, for both types of patients, and 85.34%, 85.35%, 85.11%, 85.34%, and 85.35%, respectively, for COVID-19 patients only. The proposed work can help doctors to improve management through early prediction of the risk of need for ICU admission of patients during the COVID-19 pandemic, as the model can be used for both types of patients.
Lymphoepithelial Subtype of Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma: Report of an EBV-Negative Case and Literature Review
Authors: Emfietzoglou Rodopi , Pettas Efstathios , Georgaki Maria , Papadopoulou Erofili , Theofilou Vasileios , Papadogeorgakis Nikolaos , Piperi Evangelia , Lopes Marcio , Nikitakis Nikolaos
Published: September 2022

Lymphoepithelial carcinoma (LEC) of the oral mucosa is a rare histopathologic subtype of squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), which shares morphologic similarities with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC), non-keratinizing undifferentiated subtype. The admixture of neoplastic epithelial tumor cells and a dense lymphoplasmacytic infiltrate makes microscopic diagnosis challenging. LEC etiopathogenesis has been variably associated with Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) infection, depending on the specific anatomic location and racial predilection, with a higher incidence in endemic populations. Although described in several subsites of the head and neck region, including the major salivary glands, the oral mucosa is considered an infrequent location for LEC development, deriving either from minor salivary glands (MSGs) or the surface epithelium. Herein, we report a rare case of an EBV-negative LEC arising from the oral surface epithelium, presenting as gingival swelling, and review the pertinent English-language literature, which revealed only 26 previously reported oral LECs. Our case is only the fourth oral LEC originating from the surface epithelium and the first one to affect the gingiva.
The Joint Meeting of the 23rd International Chromosome Conference (ICC) and the 24th International Colloquium in Animal Cytogenetics and Genomics (ICACG)
Authors: Griffin Darren K.
Published: September 2022

As the coronavirus struck the globe, we were all affected, and cytogenetic conferences were no exception [...]
Aerodynamic Numerical Simulation Analysis of Water–Air Two-Phase Flow in Trans-Medium Aircraft
Authors: Wei Jun , Sha Yong-Bai , Hu Xin-Yu , Yao Jin-Yan , Chen Yan-Li
Published: September 2022

A trans-medium aircraft is a new concept aircraft that can both dive in the water and fly in the air. In this paper, a new type of water–air multi-medium span vehicle is designed based on the water entry and exit structure model of a multi-rotor UAV. Based on the designed structural model of the cross-media aircraft, the OpenFOAM open source numerical platform is used to analyze the single-medium aerodynamic characteristics and the multi-medium spanning flow analysis. The rotating flow characteristics of single-medium air rotor and underwater propeller are calculated by sliding mesh. In order to prevent the numerical divergence caused by the deformation of the grid movement, the overset grid method and the multiphase flow technology are used for the numerical simulation of the water entry and exit of the cross-medium aircraft. Through the above analysis, the flow field characteristics of the trans-medium vehicle in different media are verified, and the changes in the body load and attitude at different water entry angles are also obtained during the process of medium crossing.
Scheduling and Securing Drone Charging System Using Particle Swarm Optimization and Blockchain Technology
Authors: Torky Mohamed , El-Dosuky Mohamed , Goda Essam , Snášel Václav , Hassanien Aboul Ella
Published: September 2022

Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) have emerged as a powerful technology for introducing untraditional solutions to many challenges in non-military fields and industrial applications in the next few years. However, the limitations of a drone’s battery and the available optimal charging techniques represent a significant challenge in using UAVs on a large scale. This problem means UAVs are unable to fly for a long time; hence, drones’ services fail dramatically. Due to this challenge, optimizing the scheduling of drone charging may be an unusual solution to drones’ battery problems. Moreover, authenticating drones and verifying their charging transactions with charging stations is an essential associated problem. This paper proposes a scheduling and secure drone charging system in response to these challenges. The proposed system was simulated on a generated dataset consisting of 300 drones and 50 charging station points to evaluate its performance. The optimization of the proposed scheduling methodology was based on the particle swarm optimization (PSO) algorithm and game theory-based auction model. In addition, authenticating and verifying drone charging transactions were executed using a proposed blockchain protocol. The optimization and scheduling results showed the PSO algorithm’s efficiency in optimizing drone routes and preventing drone collisions during charging flights with low error rates with an MAE = 0.0017 and an MSE = 0.0159. Moreover, the investigation to authenticate and verify the drone charging transactions showed the efficiency of the proposed blockchain protocol while simulating the proposed system on the Ethereum platform. The obtained results clarified the efficiency of the proposed blockchain protocol in executing drone charging transactions within a short time and low latency within an average of 0.34 s based on blockchain performance metrics. Moreover, the proposed scheduling methodology achieved a 96.8% success rate of drone charging cases, while only 3.2% of drones failed to charge after three scheduling rounds.
Detecting the Critical States of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Based on Degree Matrix Network Entropy by Cross-Tissue Analysis
Authors: Yang Yingke , Tian Zhuanghe , Song Mengyao , Ma Chenxin , Ge Zhenyang , Li Peiluan
Published: September 2022

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a metabolic disease caused by multiple etiologies, the development of which can be divided into three states: normal state, critical state/pre-disease state, and disease state. To avoid irreversible development, it is important to detect the early warning signals before the onset of T2DM. However, detecting critical states of complex diseases based on high-throughput and strongly noisy data remains a challenging task. In this study, we developed a new method, i.e., degree matrix network entropy (DMNE), to detect the critical states of T2DM based on a sample-specific network (SSN). By applying the method to the datasets of three different tissues for experiments involving T2DM in rats, the critical states were detected, and the dynamic network biomarkers (DNBs) were successfully identified. Specifically, for liver and muscle, the critical transitions occur at 4 and 16 weeks. For adipose, the critical transition is at 8 weeks. In addition, we found some “dark genes” that did not exhibit differential expression but displayed sensitivity in terms of their DMNE score, which is closely related to the progression of T2DM. The information uncovered in our study not only provides further evidence regarding the molecular mechanisms of T2DM but may also assist in the development of strategies to prevent this disease.
The Impact of Environmental Uncertainty on Accounting Information Relevance and Performance: A Contingency Approach
Authors: Pires Rui , Alves Maria-Ceu G.
Published: September 2022

This paper examines the association between environmental uncertainty, accounting information relevance, and organizational performance. From a contingency approach, this paper attempts to contribute to a stream of research that investigates the relationship between accounting information relevance and organizational performance. The presence of environmental uncertainty in this relationship has not been fully established. This paper contributes to this area by suggesting a framework to study and explain this connection. An online questionnaire-based survey was conducted, which produced 119 valid responses (a response rate of 23%) from large manufacturing companies operating in Portugal. The results suggest that in contexts of environmental uncertainty, the relevance of non-financial information increases. However, the relevance of financial information continues to outstrip that of non-financial information. The results also suggest that financial information and non-financial information are complementary, and not substitutes, and can be used simultaneously in different situations. These results have several implications for professionals involved in decision-making activities. It offers findings which are potentially useful for both theory and practice. The study addresses an identified gap in the literature and adds to the existing body of work analyzing the association between environmental uncertainty, accounting information relevance for decision-making purposes, and organizational performance.
Implementing Sustainability into Virtual Simulation Games in Business Higher Education
Authors: Gawel Aleksandra , Strykowski Sergiusz , Madias Konstantinos
Published: September 2022

The paper aims to determine how sustainability can be implemented into virtual business simulators dedicated to higher education due to the need for raising environmental awareness among students. Climate and natural environmental changes caused by human activities require adjustments in society’s mindsets and activities, especially in the business-related sector, which makes the implementation of sustainability in business higher education of crucial importance. Virtual business simulators are innovative tools in business higher education. Their use, as a part of game-based learning, is attracting increasing interest, as this method allows us to understand interactions between business decisions and their results. In this paper, we present our case study of an IT-based business simulator, which includes aspects of sustainability, and the initial experience of a group of test students participating in the business game. The paper discusses the authors’ own IT solutions and the possibilities of implementing the concept of sustainability into business-oriented higher education. This paper proposed the manner of implementing sustainability, including pseudocodes, into a virtual business simulator. The results show how challenging it is to implement sustainability into game-based business education, as it increases the complexity of interactions among different aspects of running a business, including the goal of making a company more diversified.
E-Learning Enhancement through Multidisciplinary Teams in Higher Education: Students, Teachers, and Librarians
Authors: Lopes Cristina , Bernardes Óscar , Gonçalves Maria José Angélico , Terra Ana Lúcia , da Silva Manuel Moreira , Tavares Célia , Valente Iolanda
Published: September 2022

The societal disturbance created by the rapid outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic has shaken the entire globe, profoundly affecting all levels of education. The challenge presented by COVID-19 is broad, rapidly evolving, and complex; it threatens everyone’s well-being, the global economy, the environment, and all societal and cultural standards and our daily activities. Throughout the Coronavirus outbreak and any future lockdowns, it is crucial that the needs of students be ultimately and regularly met and that they are supported effectively. We intend to address skill shortages and mismatches, particularly regarding the readiness to teach in an online environment that encourages flexible and innovative learning. The main contribution of this paper is addressing this subject with an integrated vision of three different players in higher education: students, teachers and librarians. Using the Technology Adoption Model (TAM) and the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT), a conceptual model was developed to explain both the behavior and intentions of users when using e-learning systems. Among Portuguese students, 91% of e-learning satisfaction can be attributed to perceived usefulness, actual use, and personal considerations. For educators, satisfaction appears to be mostly dependent on perceived usefulness and usability, while librarians’ satisfaction is negatively dependent on technological factors. Students’ actual use of technology is 89% dependent on organizational and technological variables. However, the actual use by teachers appears to be primarily dependent on personal and technological factors. Similarly, 91% of the variability of the use of e-learning tools by librarians can be explained by organizational, personal and technological factors, with the personal factors having a negative impact on the actual use.
Development and Analysis of a Novel High-Gain CUK Converter Using Voltage-Multiplier Units
Authors: Haider Zeeshan , Ulasyar Abasin , Khattak Abraiz , Zad Haris Sheh , Mohammad Alsharef , Alahmadi Ahmad Aziz , Ullah Nasim
Published: September 2022

High conversion gain is often required for the grid integration of renewable energy resources such as PV, fuel cells, and wind. It is desired that the stress across switches is lower when higher voltage gain is attained. Similarly, it is also preferred that the converter can achieve high voltage gain without operating at higher duty cycle values. This article presents a novel high-gain CUK converter (HGCC) that uses voltage-multiplier units. The HGCC is a combination of a modified CUK converter and voltage-multiplier units (VMUs). The converter utilizes a boost converter as an input to the modified CUK converter, resulting in an increase in the gain value. The voltage gain of HGCC is increased further by placing VMUs. Based on its overall design, the HGCC inherits various advantages of the CUK converter, such as continuous input and output current, resulting in low input and output current ripples. A mathematical model is developed for the HGCC, which helps calculate its voltage gain at different stages. The model is developed considering ideal elements without conduction and switching losses. Generalized equations for output voltage and gain are derived for n level converter. A simulation study was performed in MATLAB/Simulink that further highlights the advantages of the HGCC. Voltage stresses across different components and the switching of MOSFET and diodes are studied in simulations. An experimental setup is established for hardware prototyping of the converter and validation with the simulation and Mathematical models.
Development of a Low-Cost Portable Cluster for Numerical Weather Prediction
Authors: Chen Chih-Ying , Yeh Nan-Ching , Chuang Yao-Chung , Lin Chuan-Yao
Published: September 2022

Numerical weather prediction (NWP) systems are crucial tools in atmospheric science education and weather forecasting, and high-performance computing (HPC) is essential for achieving such science. The goals of NWP systems are to simulate different scales of weather systems for educational purposes or to provide future weather information for operational purposes. Supercomputers have traditionally been used for NWP systems; however, supercomputers are expensive, have high power consumption, and are difficult to maintain and operate. In this study, the Raspberry Pi platform was used to develop an easily maintained high-performance NWP system with low cost and power consumption—the Improved Raspberry Pi WRF (IRPW). With 316 cores, the IRPW had a power consumption of 466 W and a performance of 200 Gflops at full load. IRPW successfully simulated a 48-h forecast with a resolution of 1 km and a domain of 32,000 km2 in 1.6 h. Thus, IRPW could be used in atmospheric science education or for local weather forecasting applications. Moreover, due to its small volume and low power consumption, it could be mounted to a portable weather observation system.
Features of Electron Runaway in a Gas Diode with a Blade Cathode
Authors: Zubarev Nikolay M. , Zubareva Olga V. , Yalandin Michael I.
Published: September 2022

Conditions for electron runaway in a gas diode with a blade cathode providing a strongly inhomogeneous distribution of the electric field in the interelectrode gap have been studied theoretically. It has been demonstrated that the character of electron runaway differs qualitatively for cathodes with a different rounding radius of the edges. In the case of a relatively large edge radius (tens of microns or more), the conditions for the transition of electrons to the runaway mode are local in nature: they are determined by the field distribution in the immediate vicinity of the cathode where the electrons originate from. Here, the relative contribution of the braking force acting on electrons in a dense gas reaches a maximum. This behavior is generally similar to the behavior of electrons in a uniform field. For a cathode with a highly sharpened edge, the relative contribution of the braking force is maximum in the near-anode region. As a consequence, the runaway condition acquires a nonlocal character: it is determined by the electron dynamics in the entire interelectrode gap.
Design of a Power Regulated Circuit with Multiple LDOs for SoC Applications
Authors: Khan Danial , Basim Muhammad , Ain Qurat ul , Shah Syed Adil Ali , Shehzad Khuram , Verma Deeksha , Lee Kang-Yoon
Published: September 2022

In this paper, a power regulated circuit (PRC) is proposed for system-on-a-chip (SoC) applications. The proposed PRC is composed of a limiter, a bandgap reference (BGR), three low-dropout regulators (LDOs), and a bias generator. A high output voltage of an active rectifier is given to the limiter, which limits it to a desired supply voltage for circuits in PRC. The curvature-compensated BGR robust to process, voltage and temperature (PVT) variations are designed to provide a stable reference voltage for three LDOs. The three LDOs are implemented to generate regulated output dc voltages. The proposed PRC is designed and fabricated in 130 nm bipolar-CMOS-DMOS (BCD) technology with die area of 1.9 mm × 0.860 mm, including pads. The measurement results show that the limiter limits the input voltage of (6 V to 20 V) to 5.3 V. The BGR produces a stable reference voltage of 1.24 V with a power supply rejection ratio (PSRR) of −58.6 dB and −51.9 dB at 10 Hz and 1 kHz, respectively. The LDO_5V, LDO_3V, and LDO_1.5V generate regulated output dc voltages of 5 V, 3 V, and 1.5 V, respectively, with dc load regulations of 0.43 mV/mA, 0.70 mV/mA, and 0.28 mV/mA while delivering load currents of 300 mA, 100 mA, and 100 mA, respectively.