bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Improvement of Mechanical, Thermal, and Physical Behaviors of Jute/Cotton Biocomposites Reinforced by Spent Tea Leaf Particles
Authors: Rahman Atiqur , Chowdhury Mohammad Asaduzzaman , Hossain Nayem , Shuvho Md. Bengir Ahmed , Kowser Md. Arefin , Rahman Md. Rezaur , Chani Muhammad Tariq Saeed , Kuok Kuok King , Rahman Mohammed M.
Published: May 2022

Natural fibers such as jute, cotton, and bamboo composites are becoming alternative materials to synthetic fiber composites, as their use raises awareness of environmental protection. Among natural fibers, jute and cotton fibers were used in this research to fabricate six-layered composites reinforced by spent tea leaves. Varying amounts (0, 5, 10, and 15 g) of spent tea leaf powder were incorporated as reinforcement with resin to improve and observe properties and determine usability. The prepared composites were investigated comparatively in terms of mechanical, microstructural, morphological, and thermal properties. As regards mechanical characterization, tensile, compression, and bending properties were tested in this research to compare the obtained data with the data available in the literature to show its practical application. The results indicated that significant improvements in mechanical properties were obtained from the composites up to a certain proportion of reinforcement. The addition of 10 g reinforcement of spent tea leaves improved tensile strength by 33.46% and compressive strength by 38.86%. In terms of microstructural, morphological, and thermal characterization, in-depth SEM, EDS, XRD, UV, FTIR, TGA, and DSC analyses were performed. The results revealed that advanced microstructural, morphological, and thermal properties were improved with a certain proportion of spent tea leaf reinforcement.
Comparison of Polishing Systems on the Surface Roughness of Resin Based Composites Containing Different Monomers
Authors: Augusto Marina Gullo , de Andrade Guilherme Schmitt , Mathias-Santamaria Ingrid Fernandes , Dal Piva Amanda Maria de Oliveira , Tribst João Paulo Mendes
Published: May 2022

Changes in the organic matrix of composite resins have been proposed to improve their surface properties. However, polishing systems may perform differently in different materials. This study compared the effect of polishing systems on the surface roughness of four composite resins containing different resin monomers: Admira Fusion (nanohybrid containing pure ormocer), Aura Bulkfill (nanohybrid containing Bis-GMA, UDMA), Charisma Diamond (nanohybrid containing TCD-DI-HEA) and Vittra APS (nanofilled containing UDMA). Cylinders (N = 120, n = 10) were prepared from each material and the top surface of each specimen was grounded using a diamond finishing bur. Baseline measurements of surface roughness (Ra) were recorded using a contact profilometer and the specimens of each composite were divided into three subgroups according to the polishing system: one-step, two-step, three-step. Ra measurements were recorded also after polishing. Data were analyzed using three-way ANOVA and Tukey’s test (p < 0.05). The baseline roughness of all composites was significantly reduced after polishing (p < 0.001). The two-step polishing system provided the smoothest surface for Admira Fusion (0.0770 ± 0.0171) and Charisma (0.1091 ± 0.0090), whereas for Aura and Vittra no significantly differences were found for the three polishing systems tested. The surface smoothness seems to be more material dependent than step dependent, but all tested systems provided clinically acceptable results.
Organic Matter Burial in Deep-Sea Fans: A Depositional Process-Based Perspective
Authors: Hussain Arif , Al-Ramadan Khalid
Published: May 2022

Organic matter burial in the deep-sea fan sediments is an important component of the long-term carbon cycle. Although there is increasing recognition of the importance of organic matter in deep-sea sediments, a major focus has been on mudstones, commonly interpreted as the background sediments, deposited by pelagic or hemipelagic vertical suspension fallout in low-energy fan environments. Emerging evidence suggests that relatively coarse-grained sediment gravity flow deposits (e.g., turbidites and hybrid event beds) can also store a significant quantity of organic carbon, implying that a wide range of depositional processes can result in the concentration and enrichment of organic matter in submarine fans. However, the role of these processes on carbon burial is still not fully understood. This review aims to discuss the impact of three widely documented deep-sea depositional mechanisms/processes, namely vertical suspension settling, grain-by-grain (incremental aggradation), and the en-masse deposition on distribution, burial, and preservation of organic matter in deep-marine deposits. Organic matter accumulated from slowly settling suspension in mud caps (Te or H5 divisions of turbidites and hybrid beds, respectively) is prone to higher oxidation compared to the carbon buried in sandy components of turbidity currents (Ta-Tc units) and hybrid beds (H2/H3 divisions). The burial of organic matter in sandy parts of the deposits has important implications for understanding the fundamental physical processes that control carbon accumulation and preservation in deep-marine rock record.
Spasticity Management after Spinal Cord Injury: The Here and Now
Authors: Billington Zackery J. , Henke Austin M. , Gater David R.
Published: May 2022

Spasticity is a common comorbidity of spinal cord injury (SCI) that is characterized by velocity dependent tone and spasms manifested by uninhibited reflex activity of muscles below the level of injury. For some, spasticity can be beneficial and facilitate functional standing, transfers, and some activities of daily living. For others, it may be problematic, painful, and interfere with mobility and function. This manuscript will address the anatomy and physiology of neuromuscular reflexes as well as the pathophysiology that occurs after SCI. Spasticity assessment will be discussed in terms of clinical history and findings on physical examinations, including responses to passive and active movement, deep tendon reflexes, and other long tract signs of upper motor neuron injury, as well as gait and function. Management strategies will be discussed including stretch, modalities, pharmacotherapy, neurolysis, and surgical options.
Serum and Synovial Markers in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis and Periprosthetic Joint Infection
Authors: Ren Yi , Biedermann Lara , Gwinner Clemens , Perka Carsten , Kienzle Arne
Published: May 2022

Current diagnostic standards for PJI rely on inflammatory markers that are typically elevated in autoimmune diseases, thus making the diagnosis of PJI in patients with rheumatoid arthritis and joint replacement particularly complicated. There is a paucity of data on differentiating PJI from rheumatoid arthritis in patients with previous arthroplasty. In this study, we retrospectively analyzed the cases of 17 patients with rheumatoid arthritis and 121 patients without rheumatoid disease who underwent surgical intervention due to microbiology-positive PJI of the hip or knee joint. We assessed clinical patient characteristics, laboratory parameters, and prosthesis survival rates in patients with and without rheumatoid arthritis and acute or chronic PJI. ROC analysis was conducted for the analyzed parameters. In patients with chronic PJI, peripheral blood CRP (p = 0.05, AUC = 0.71), synovial WBC count (p = 0.02, AUC = 0.78), synovial monocyte cell count (p = 0.04, AUC = 0.75), and synovial PMN cell count (p = 0.02, AUC = 0.80) were significantly elevated in patients with rheumatoid arthritis showing acceptable to excellent discrimination. All analyzed parameters showed no significant differences and poor discrimination for patients with acute PJI. Median prosthesis survival time was significantly shorter in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (p = 0.05). In conclusion, routinely used laboratory markers have limited utility in distinguishing acute PJI in rheumatoid patients. In cases with suspected chronic PJI but low levels of serum CRP and synovial cell markers, physicians should consider the possibility of activated autoimmune arthritis.
FOCUSeR: A Fog Online Context-Aware Up-to-Date Sensor Ranking Method
Authors: Costa Felipe S. , Nassar Silvia M. , Dantas Mario A. R.
Published: May 2022

Data obtained from sensors connected to wireless sensor networks must be stored and processed to enable environments such as smart cities. However, with the exponential growth in the number of devices at the edge of the network, it is necessary to implement robust techniques, capable of selecting reliable data sources and meeting low latency requirements, in order to serve critical applications. Thus, to overcome these challenges, this research work presents FOCUSeR, a method for ranking sensors. The method uses the evaluation of data as a criterion for the ranking, allowing us to identify occurrences of failures in sensors and anomalies in environments. In order to meet the requirements inherent to WSNs, the proposed method was developed to run in a fog computing environment, using online learning and constant updating over time to avoid effects such as time drift. The generated ranking lists are managed through distributed hash tables. To provide reliability to the experimental results, a real experimental environment was developed. Moreover, using this developed testbed, a dataset with labels was created, to support the evaluation of the method. In addition, four other real datasets were used, three of which were labeled through artificial fault injection. These datasets were labeled in a related work that focused on injecting artificial faults. The experimental results obtained demonstrate that the proposed approach can provide reliability in the use of sensor data, using low computational resources and reducing latency in the sensor selection process. Precision rates are approximately 98% and Accuracy rates are greater than 94% across all datasets. In addition, the analyses carried out show that the Accuracy has an increasing rate as the number of samples also increases. Results obtained in the failure data recovery also demonstrate the feasibility of the proposal in this resource.
Hollow Hemispherical Lithium Iron Silicate Synthesized by an Ascorbic Acid-Assisted Hydrothermal Method as a Cathode Material for Li Ion Batteries
Authors: Li Huaifu , Li Yunsong , Cheng Xuan , Gong Chaoyang
Published: May 2022

High-capacity and high-voltage cathode materials are required to meet the increasing demand for energy density in Li ion batteries. Lithium iron silicate (Li2FeSiO4) is a cathode material with a high theoretical capacity of 331 mAh·g−1. However, its poor conductivity and low Li ion diffusion coefficient result in poor capability, hindering practical applications. Morphology has an important influence on the properties of materials, and nanomaterials with hollow structures are widely used in electrochemical devices. Herein, we report a novel hollow hemispherical Li2FeSiO4 synthesized by a template-free hydrothermal method with the addition of ascorbic acid. The hollow hemispherical Li2FeSiO4 consisted of finer particles with a shell thickness of about 80 nm. After carbon coating, the composite was applied as the cathode in Li ion batteries. As a result, the hollow hemispherical Li2FeSiO4/C exhibited a discharge capacity as high as 192 mAh·g−1 at 0.2 C, and the average capacities were 134.5, 115.5 and 93.4 mAh·g−1 at 0.5, 1 and 2 C, respectively. In addition, the capacity increased in the first few cycles and then decayed with further cycling, showing a warm-up like behavior, and after 160 cycles the capacities maintained 114.2, 101.6 and 79.3 mAh·g−1 at 0.5, 1 and 2 C, respectively. Such a method of adding ascorbic acid in the hydrothermal reaction can effectively synthesize hollow hemispherical Li2FeSiO4 with the enhanced electrochemical performance.
An Application of a Magnetic Impulse for the Bending of Metal Sheet Specimens
Authors: Moravec Ján , Blatnický Miroslav , Dižo Ján
Published: May 2022

Currently, classical methods for the creation of various shapes and bending angles of metal sheet parts are applied. They are represented by the so-called all-metal forming tools. Non-standard methods, which in some cases exceed conventional technical solutions, are used in the practice to a minor extent. This is an area of interest from the point of view of ecology, because the shaping process performed in this way does not burden the environment in any considerable way. The knowledge presented in this work is obtained based on experiments in laboratory conditions. The list of literature contains mainly works from the recent period. The research represents a contribution to the great mosaic of magnetism. The aim of the current paper is to also verify the possibilities of the suitability of a special tool in the formation of metal sheet specimens using the application of the so-called forming with a free core. Additional benefits of the experimental work and their results are anticipated. The contribution is complemented by detailed calculations and diagrams. The practical contribution and research is that the device used for forming has been successfully tested. It turns out that the presented method is suitable for further development. The method has proven that is it suitable for industrial applications where simple shapes are produced.
Synthesis and Characterization of Mesoporous Aluminum Silicate and Its Adsorption for Pb (II) Ions and Methylene Blue in Aqueous Solution
Authors: Jo Hye-Soo , Kim Hyeonjin , Yoon Seog-Young
Published: May 2022

Aluminum silicate powder was prepared using two different syntheses: (1) co-precipitation and (2) two-step sol-gel method. All synthesized powders were characterized by various techniques including XRD, FE-SEM, FT-IR, BET, porosimeter, and zetasizer. The particle morphology of the synthesized aluminum silicate powder was greatly different depending on the synthesis. The synthesized aluminum silicate powder by co-precipitation had a low specific surface area (158 m2/g) and the particle appeared to have a sharp edge, as though in a glassy state. On the other hand, synthesized aluminum silicate powder by the two-step sol-gel method had a mesoporous structure and a large specific surface area (430 m2/g). The aluminum silicate powders as adsorbents were characterized for their adsorption behavior towards Pb (II) ions and methylene blue in an aqueous solution performed in a batch adsorption experiment. The maximum adsorption capacities of Pb (II) ions and methylene blue onto the two-step sol-gel method powder were over four-times and seven-times higher than that of the co-precipitation powder, respectively. These results show that the aluminum silicate powder synthesized with a two-step sol-gel method using ammonia can be a potential adsorbent for removing heavy metal ions and organic dyes from an aqueous solution.
Characterization and Performance Evaluation of Metakaolin-Based Geopolymer Foams Obtained by Adding Palm Olein as the Foam Stabilizer
Authors: Yu Qinglin , Li Xueying , Wang Zheng , Xue Jing
Published: May 2022

Geopolymer foams with different pore structures can be used in construction, water treatment, and heavy metal adsorption. The preparation of high porosity geopolymer foams using vegetable oil as a foam stabilizer is a feasible and cost-effective route. In this study, metakaolin-based geopolymer foams with hierarchical pore structures were fabricated by adding H2O2 as the foaming agent with palm olein as the foam stabilizer. The effects of H2O2 and palm olein content on the chemical features and pore structure of geopolymer foams were evaluated. Water absorption, thermal conductivity, and mechanical behaviors of geopolymer foams were also investigated. The results indicate that fatty acid salt surfactants were generated in situ in the geopolymer matrix due to the addition of palm olein. Geopolymer foams with H2O2 and palm olein addition possess a homogeneously concentrated macropore distribution. Palm olein exhibits a refining effect on intrinsic pores formed by geopolymerization. In addition, using appropriate amounts of palm olein and H2O2, geopolymer foams can achieve higher open porosity and better pore connectivity, resulting in the improvement of water absorption and thermal insulation capacity.
Conservation Environments’ Effect on the Compressive Strength Behaviour of Wood–Concrete Composites
Authors: Khelifi Walid , Bencedira Selma , Azab Marc , Riaz Malik Sarmad , Abdallah Mirvat , Abdel Baki Zaher , Krauklis Andrey E. , Aouissi Hani Amir
Published: May 2022

This paper addresses the issues in making wood–concrete composites more resilient to environmental conditions and to improve their compressive strength. Tests were carried out on cubic specimens of 10 × 10 × 10 cm3 composed of ordinary concrete with a 2% redwood- and hardwood-chip dosage. Superficial treatments of cement and lime were applied to the wood chips. All specimens were kept for 28 days in the open air and for 12 months in: the open air, drinking water, seawater, and an oven. Consequently, the compressive strength of ordinary concrete is approximately 37.1 MPa. After 365 days of exposure to the open air, drinking water, seawater, and the oven, a resistance loss of 35.84, 36.06, 42.85, and 52.30% were observed, respectively. In all environments investigated, the untreated wood composite concrete’s resistance decreased significantly, while the cement/lime treatment of the wood enhanced them. However, only 15.5 MPa and 14.6 MPa were attained after the first 28 days in the cases of the redwood and the hardwood treated with lime. These findings indicate that the resistance of wood–concrete composites depends on the type of wood used. Treating wood chips with cement is a potential method for making these materials resistant in conservation situations determined by the cement’s chemical composition. The current study has implications for researchers and practitioners for further understanding the impact of these eco-friendly concretes in the construction industry.
What Elevation Makes 2.5D Prints Perceptually Natural?
Authors: Kadyrova Altynay , Pedersen Marius , Westland Stephen
Published: May 2022

Elevation plays a considerable role in naturalness perception of 2.5D prints. The necessary level of elevation to make 2.5D prints look perceptually natural may vary from application to application. Therefore, one needs to know the right elevation for specific applications to make the prints look perceptually natural. In this work, we investigated what elevation makes 2.5D prints of wood images perceptually natural. We worked with various wood content images such as wooden wicker, wall, roof, and floor. We found that the optimal elevation that makes 2.5D prints of wood images perceptually natural is content-dependent and in a range between 0.3 mm and 0.5 mm. Moreover, we found that the optimal elevation becomes 0.5 mm if we consider images of wood regardless of the wood content. In addition, there was a high correlation between majority of observers on naturalness perception of 2.5D prints of wood images.
Experiment on the Properties of Soda Residue-Activated Ground Granulated Blast Furnace Slag Mortars with Different Activators
Authors: Lin Yonghui , Xu Dongqiang , Ji Wenguang , Zhao Xianhui
Published: May 2022

Soda residue (SR), a solid waste generated in the production of Na2CO3 during the ammonia soda process, with a high pH value of 12, can be used as an activator of alkali-activated ground granulated blast furnace slag (GGBFS) cementitious materials. Three groups of experiments on SR-activated GGBFS mortars were designed in this paper to assess the role of the dominant parameters on fluidity and compressive strength of mortars. The results indicate that for fluidity and mechanical properties, the optimal scheme of SR-activated GGBFS mortars is 16:84–24:76 S/G, 0.01 NaOH/b, 0.05 CaO/b, and 0.50 w/b, with fluidity and compressive strength (28 d) of the mortars being 181–195 mm and 32.3–35.4 MPa, respectively. Between 2.5–10% CaCl2 addition to CaO (5%)-SR (24%)-activated GGBFS mortar is beneficial to the improvement of the compressive strength of C2, whereas the addition of CaSO4 is harmful. The main hydration products of mortars are ettringite, Friedel’s slat, and CSH gels. The results provide a theoretical basis and data support for the utilization of SR.
Coupling Effect Suppressed Compact Surgical Robot with 7-Axis Multi-Joint Using Wire-Driven Method
Authors: Yoon Kicheol , Cho Sung-Min , Kim Kwang Gi
Published: May 2022

Currently, the most prevalent surgical treatment method is laparoscopic surgery. Robotic surgery has many advantages over laparoscopic surgery. Therefore, robotic surgery technology is currently constantly evolving. The advantages of robotic surgery are that it can minimize incision, bleeding, and sequelae. Other advantages of robotic surgery are that it can reduce hospitalization, recovery period, and side effects. The appeal of robotic surgery is that it requires fewer surgical personnel compared to laparoscopic surgery. This paper proposes an ultra-compact 7-axis vertical multi-joint robot that employs the wire-driven method for minimally invasive surgery. The proposed robot analyzes the degree of freedom and motion coupling for control. The robot joint is composed of a total of seven joints, and among them, the 7-axis joint operates the forceps. At this time, the forceps joint (#7 axis) can only operate open and close functions, while the link is bent and rotatable, regardless of position change. This phenomenon can be analyzed by Forward Kinematics. Also, when the DOF rotates, the passing wires become twisted, and the wire is generated through length change and coupling phenomenon. The maximum rotation angle of DOF is 90° and the rotating passing wire is wound by the rotation of the wire pulley. If the DOF is rotated to the full range of 120°, the second DOF will be rotated to 90°, and at this time, the coupling phenomenon caused by the first DOF rotation can be eliminated. The length change and the robot joint angle change related to the motor drive, based on the surgical robot control using the wire-driven method, are correlated, and the values for the position and direction of the end effector of the robot can be obtained through a forward kinematic analysis. The coupling problem occurring in the wire connecting the robot driving part can be solved through a kinematic analysis. Therefore, it was possible to test the position of the slave robot and the performance of the surgical forceps movement using the master system.
Effect of Thermal Radiation and Double-Diffusion Convective Peristaltic Flow of a Magneto-Jeffrey Nanofluid through a Flexible Channel
Authors: Kotnurkar Asha S. , Beleri Joonabi , Badruddin Irfan Anjum , H.M.T. Khaleed , Kamangar Sarfaraz , Ahammad Nandalur Ameer
Published: May 2022

The noteworthiness of double-diffusive convection with magneto-Jeffrey nanofluid on a peristaltic motion under the effect of MHD and porous medium through a flexible channel with the permeable wall has been theoretically examined. A non-linearized Rosseland approximation is utilized to show the thermal radiation effect. The governing equations are converted to standard non-linear partial differential equations by using suitable non-dimensional parameters. Solutions of emerging equations are obtained by using the multi-step differential transformation method (Ms-DTM). The differential transformation method (DTM) can be applied directly to nonlinear differential equations without requiring linearization and discretization; therefore, it is not affected by errors associated with discretization. The role of influential factors on concentration, temperature, volume fraction, and velocity are determined using graphs. A significant outcome of the present article is that the presence of double-diffusive convection can change the nature of convection in the system. The present results have a wide biological applicability, including for biomicrofluidic devices that regulate the fluid flow through a flexible endoscope and other medical pumping systems.
Optimum Approximation for ς–Lie Homomorphisms and Jordan ς–Lie Homomorphisms in ς–Lie Algebras by Aggregation Control Functions
Authors: Eidinejad Zahra , Saadati Reza , Mesiar Radko
Published: May 2022

In this work, by considering a class of matrix valued fuzzy controllers and using a (κ,ς)-Cauchy–Jensen additive functional equation ((κ,ς)-CJAFE), we apply the Radu–Mihet method (RMM), which is derived from an alternative fixed point theorem, and obtain the existence of a unique solution and the H–U–R stability (Hyers–Ulam–Rassias) for the homomorphisms and Jordan homomorphisms on Lie matrix valued fuzzy algebras with ς members (ς-LMVFA). With regards to each theorem, we consider the aggregation function as a matrix value fuzzy control function and investigate the results obtained.
A Hybridized Mixed Approach for Efficient Stress Prediction in a Layerwise Plate Model
Authors: Salha Lucille , Bleyer Jeremy , Sab Karam , Bodgi Joanna
Published: May 2022

Building upon recent works devoted to the development of a stress-based layerwise model for multilayered plates, we explore an alternative finite-element discretization to the conventional displacement-based finite-element method. We rely on a mixed finite-element approach where both stresses and displacements are interpolated. Since conforming stress-based finite-elements ensuring traction continuity are difficult to construct, we consider a hybridization strategy in which traction continuity is relaxed by the introduction of an additional displacement-like Lagrange multiplier defined on the element facets. Such a strategy offers the advantage of uncoupling many degrees of freedom so that static condensation can be performed at the element level, yielding a much smaller final system to solve. Illustrative applications demonstrate that the proposed mixed approach is free from any shear-locking in the thin plate limit and is more accurate than a displacement approach for the same number of degrees of freedom. As a result, this method can be used to capture efficiently strong intra- and inter-laminar stress variations near free-edges or cracks.
Configuration of Ten Limit Cycles in a Class of Cubic Switching Systems
Authors: Wang Xiangyu , Niu Wei
Published: May 2022

The bifurcation of limit cycles is an important part in the study of switching systems. The investigation of limit cycles includes the number and configuration, which are related to Hilbert’s 16th problem. Most researchers studied the number of limit cycles, and only few works focused on the configuration of limit cycles. In this paper, we develop a general method to determine the configuration of limit cycles based on the Lyapunov constants. To show our method by an example, we study a class of cubic switching systems, which has three equilibria: (0,0) and (±1,0), and compute the Lyapunov constants based on Poincaré return map, then find at least 10 small-amplitude limit cycles that bifurcate around (1,0) or (−1,0). Using our method, we determine the location distribution of these ten limit cycles.
Applications of the Sine Modified Lindley Distribution to Biomedical Data
Authors: Tomy Lishamol , G Veena , Chesneau Christophe
Published: May 2022

In this paper, the applicability of the sine modified Lindley distribution, recently introduced in the statistical literature, is highlighted via the goodness-of-fit approach on biological data. In particular, it is shown to be beneficial in estimating and modeling the life periods of growth hormone guinea pigs given tubercle bacilli, growth hormone treatment for children, and the size of tumors in cancer patients. We anticipate that our model will be effective in modeling the survival times of diseases related to cancer. The R codes for the figures, as well as information on how the data are processed, are provided.
Comparative Efficacy of Different Oral Doses of Clindamycin in Preventing Post-Operative Sequelae of Lower Third Molar Surgery—A Randomized, Triple-Blind Study
Authors: Janas-Naze Anna , Torbicka Gaja , Chybicki Damian , Lipczyńska-Lewandowska Małgorzata , Zhang Wei
Published: May 2022

Background and Objectives. Antibiotic regimen optimization is a major concern in post extraction sequelae management following third molar surgery, mostly owing to the absence of universal guidelines. Hence, this study aimed to determine the effect of antibiotic prophylaxis using three different doses of clindamycin on the prevention of infection and other complications following mandibular third molar disimpaction. The secondary outcome was testing whether clindamycin exhibits activity in acute or chronic models of pain using the visual analog scale of pain and the necessity for post-operative rescue analgesia. The tertiary outcome was to assess clindamycin penetration into the saliva by measuring its concentration using liquid chromatography/electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry. Materials and Methods. A randomized, two-center, triple-blind, controlled clinical trial was conducted, in which the patients were randomly allocated to three groups: I, receiving 150 mg clindamycin every 8 h; II, receiving 300 mg clindamycin every 8 h; and III, receiving 600 mg clindamycin every 12 h. Each group continued the therapy for five days. Results. An overall decrease in the risk of infection and other post-operative complications, such as trismus, edema, dysphagia, and lymphadenopathy, was achieved, with the best results in group I. Conclusion. As no statistical association was observed between clindamycin concentration in saliva and degree of post-operative inflammation, clindamycin concentration, or pain intensity, smaller doses of clindamycin administered over shorter time periods is recommended.
Transferring A4 Paper to FeNi3/NiCx Coated Carbon Skeleton for Efficient Absorption of Multiband Microwave
Authors: Wang Jian , Yin Pengfei , Liu Junchi , Zhang Tao , Wang Shusheng , Liu Lei
Published: May 2022

Herein, A4 typing paper was used as a novel source to manufacture FeNi3 and NiCx coated carbon skeleton via facile routes. The product was examined for its ability to absorb electromagnetic emission which can be a health hazard. The impact of precursor concentration on the final electromagnetic wave absorption of samples was evaluated; the composite prepared under suitable concentration possesses outstanding multiband absorption ability of −34.64 dB and −26.7 dB at 2.32 GHz and 17.2 GHz, respectively, together with an ultra-wide effective absorption bandwidth of 9.58 GHz at only 3.9 mm. The strong dipole polarization and broad frequency range of preferable impedance matching, along with the coupling of other auxiliary mechanisms, are responsible for this excellent property. The as-prepared absorber has great potency for multiband absorption of electromagnetic waves.
Preparation and Application of a New Two-Component Superhydrophobic Coating on Aluminum Alloy
Authors: Qiu Chao , Liang Shuai , Li Meng , Cheng Han , Qin Wenfeng
Published: May 2022

Superhydrophobic surfaces have been widely used for their corrosion resistance, self-cleaning and anti-icing characteristics. A new two-component superhydrophobic coating was prepared on aluminum alloy, and some application properties were studied. With appropriate silica, the contact angle of the two-component superhydrophobic coating can be 164.4°, and it has good resistance to the continuous hitting of water droplets and the corrosion of acid. Even when it had been continuous impacted by acid droplets for 300 min, the contact angle of the coating was still lager than 150°. However, the coating was easily corroded by sodium hydroxide. Moreover, it can not only reduce its freezing point by more than 5 °C, but also delay the freezing of droplets on aluminum alloy by about 20 s at the temperature of −20 °C. More than that, the growth of ice or frost on it can only cause extremely minor mechanical damage to it.
Effects of Reinforcement Volume Fraction on Mechanical Properties and Microstructures of 7075Al Matrix Composites Reinforced by FeCoCrNiAl High-Entropy Alloy Particles
Authors: Gao Changqi , Wang Qiaobo , Wei Mingyu , Fan Hongjing , Zhao Libo , Wei Yupeng , Ma Qin
Published: May 2022

High-entropy alloy particles reinforcements improve the mechanical properties of aluminum matrix composites while increasing its density. Investigating the effects of the reinforcement content is conducive to the fabrication of lightweight and high strength composites. FeCoCrNiAl high-entropy alloy particles (HEAp) reinforced 7075Al matrix composites (HEAp/Al) with different HEAp volume fractions of 5, 10, 15, and 20 vol% were fabricated via a vacuum ball milling and vacuum hot pressing sintering, and then the microstructures, interface, density, and mechanical properties of the HEAp/Al composites were characterized. The results indicated that composites with high relative density can be obtained with a holding time of 10 min at 580 °C, 30 MPa; the HEAp distribution was homogeneous as the increase of reinforcement volume fraction decreases and forms agglomeration, especially when the volume fraction is up to 15 vol% and 20 vol%; the density and hardness of HEAp/Al composites improved with the increase of reinforcements’ volume fraction, whereas the flexural strength and fracture toughness of HEAp/Al composites increased at first and then decreased; the HEAp/Al composites reinforced by 10 vol% HEAp showed the maximum flexural strength and fracture toughness, which were increased by 124.6% and 107% compared with 7075Al, respectively; the improvement of mechanical properties was attributed to the dislocation strengthening behavior and load transfer effect of the HEAp reinforcement.
Outlier Elimination in Rough Surface Profilometry with Focus Variation Microscopy
Authors: Xu Xin , Hagemeier Sebastian , Lehmann Peter
Published: May 2022

Rough surfaces such as metal additive manufactured surfaces are quite challenging for measurement. Artifacts caused by irregular and difficult-to-measure geometries are inevitable. Removing all the artifacts would cause a portion of surface information to be missing. Different from previous works, the postprocessing in this paper includes an additional step to eliminate artifacts based on autocorrelation functions of particular subimages instead of simply removing them. This increases the accuracy with respect to surface roughness and provides a more comprehensive view on the topography. In addition, a dome shape LED array ring light is proposed to provide all-round lighting due to the high degree of irregularity of workpiece surfaces. The experimental results obtained from FVM are validated and compared with the given roughness values of a Rubert Microsurf 329 comparator test panel as well as measurement results of a metal additive workpiece by a confocal microscope.
Hfq Is a Critical Modulator of Pathogenicity of Dickeya oryzae in Rice Seeds and Potato Tubers
Authors: Shi Zurong , Wang Qingwei , Wang Shunchang , Wang Chengrun , Zhang Lian-Hui , Liang Zhibin
Published: May 2022

The frequent outbreaks of soft-rot diseases caused by Dickeya oryzae have emerged as severe problems in plant production in recent years and urgently require the elucidation of the virulence mechanisms of D. oryzae. Here, we report that Hfq, a conserved RNA chaperone protein in bacteria, is involved in modulating a series of virulence-related traits and bacterial virulence in D. oryzae EC1. The findings show that the null mutation of the hfqEC1 gene totally abolished the production of zeamine phytotoxins and protease, significantly attenuated the production of two other types of cell wall degrading enzymes, i.e., pectate lyase and cellulase, as well as attenuating swarming motility, biofilm formation, the development of hypersensitive response to Nicotiana benthamiana, and bacterial infections in rice seeds and potato tubers. QRT-PCR analysis and promoter reporter assay further indicated that HfqEC1 regulates zeamine production via modulating the expression of the key zeamine biosynthesis (zms) cluster genes. Taken together, these findings highlight that the Hfq of D. oryzae is one of the key regulators in modulating the production of virulence determinants and bacterial virulence in rice seeds and potato tubers.
Heterologous Expression, Purification, and Immunomodulatory Effects of Recombinant Lipoprotein GUDIV-103 Isolated from Ureaplasma diversum
Authors: Santos-Junior Manoel Neres , Neves Wanderson Souza , Santos Ronaldo Silva , Almeida Palloma Porto , Fernandes Janaina Marinho , Guimarães Bruna Carolina de Brito , Barbosa Maysa Santos , da Silva Lucas Santana Coelho , Gomes Camila Pacheco , Sampaio Beatriz Almeida , Rezende Izadora de Souza , Correia Thiago Macedo Lopes , Neres Nayara Silva de Macedo , Campos Guilherme Barreto , Bastos Bruno Lopes , Timenetsky Jorge , Marques Lucas Miranda
Published: May 2022

Ureaplasma diversum is a bacterial pathogen that infects cattle and can cause severe inflammation of the genital and reproductive systems. Lipid-associated membrane proteins (LAMPs), including GUDIV-103, are the main virulence factors in this bacterium. In this study, we heterologously expressed recombinant GUDIV-103 (rGUDIV-103) in Escherichia coli, purified it, and evaluated its immunological reactivity and immunomodulatory effects in bovine peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). Samples from rabbits inoculated with purified rGUDIV-103 were analysed using indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and dot blotting to confirm polyclonal antibody production and assess kinetics, respectively. The expression of this lipoprotein in field isolates was confirmed via Western blotting with anti-rGUDIV-103 serum and hydrophobic or hydrophilic proteins from 42 U. diversum strains. Moreover, the antibodies produced against the U. diversum ATCC 49783 strain recognised rGUDIV-103. The mitogenic potential of rGUDIV-103 was evaluated using a lymphoproliferation assay in 5(6)-carboxyfluorescein diacetate succinimidyl ester–labelled bovine PBMCs, where it induced lymphocyte proliferation. Quantitative polymerase chain reaction analysis revealed that the expression of interleukin-1β, toll-like receptor (TLR)-α, TLR2, TLR4, inducible nitric oxide synthase, and caspase-3–encoding genes increased more in rGUDIV-103–treated PBMCs than in untreated cells (p < 0.05). Treating PBMCs with rGUDIV-103 increased nitric oxide and hydrogen peroxide levels. The antigenic and immunogenic properties of rGUDIV-103 suggested its suitability for immunobiological application.
An Improved Method for Quantification of Viable Fusarium Cells in Infected Soil Products by Propidium Monoazide Coupled with Real-Time PCR
Authors: Chen Lida , Li Lei , Xie Xuewen , Chai Ali , Shi Yanxia , Fan Tengfei , Xie Jianming , Li Baoju
Published: May 2022

Fusarium is a soil-borne pathogen that causes root rot disease in cucumber. To date, quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) is a common tool to detect the content of Fusarium in soil. However, qPCR cannot distinguish between viable and nonviable cells. The aim of this study was to develop a detection technique to pretreat tissue fluid with propidium monoazide (PMA) followed by extract DNA, and then to quantify viable Fusarium cells in contaminated soil. In this work, the specific primer pair F8-1/F8-2 was designed based on the translation elongation factor (EF) gene and a PMA-qPCR assay was established to amplify and quantify soils of viable Fusarium cells. The PMA pretreatment test was optimized, which indicated that the optimal PMA concentration and light exposure time were 50 mmol L−1 and 15 min, respectively. The lowest limit of viable cells in suspension detected and soil by PMA-qPCR were 82 spore mL−1 and 91.24 spore g−1, respectively. For naturally contaminated soil, viable Fusarium cells were detected in eight of the 18 samples, and the Fusarium amount ranged from 104 to 106 spore g−1. In conclusion, the PMA-qPCR method has the characteristics of high sensitivity, efficiency, and time saving, which could support nursery plants to avoid Fusarium infection and agro-industry losses.
Iron Ore Sinter Macro- and Micro-Structures, and Their Relationships to Breakage Characteristics
Authors: Cheng Siyu , Hayes Peter Charles , Jak Evgueni
Published: May 2022

A systematic analysis of industrial iron ore sinter product and associated sinter returns was undertaken. The samples were characterised through identification of the major macro- and micro-structural types present in these materials. Examination of the breakage surfaces of the particles indicates a strong correlation between mechanical sinter strength and sinter microstructure. Preferential breakage was observed to occur in sinter materials having high porosity and those microstructures consisting of isolated hematite grains in a glass matrix. The bulk of the sinter product consisted of material with a microstructure of magnetite and silico-ferrite of calcium and aluminium (SFCA). The phases formed and the reaction sequences responsible for the formation of the principal microstructure types are explained by the non-equilibrium solidification of melts in the “Fe2O3”-Al2O3-CaO-SiO2 system.
CO2-Water-Rock Interactions in Carbonate Formations at the Tazhong Uplift, Tarim Basin, China
Authors: Ahmat Kaisar , Cheng Jianmei , Yu Ying , Zhao Ruirui , Li Jie
Published: May 2022

The effects of CO2-water-rock interactions on the injectivity and safety of CO2 geological storage have drawn wide attention. The geochemical reaction mechanisms in carbonate formations after CO2 injection are still controversial. To better understand the transformation of injected CO2 in carbonates and the involved geochemical reactions, we first conducted autoclave experiments reproducing the in-situ conditions of the Lianglitage Formation, Yingshan Formation, and Qiulitage Formation at the Tazhong Uplift in the Tarim Basin. We then established a batch model using TOUGHREACT-ECO2H, validated with the experimental results, to simulate the long-term CO2-water-rock interactions. It was found that the initial mineral compositions and water chemistry have important effects on the CO2-water-rock interactions in carbonate formations. The experiment results show that the dissolution of calcite and dolomite dominates in the early reaction period. However, we still observed some secondary minerals, such as ankerite, montmorillonite, calcite, and dolomite. The CO2-water-rock reactions can be more dramatic when the contents of calcite and dolomite in carbonates are closer. Moreover, the long-term simulation results show that calcite, magnesite, and hematite are the main formed secondary minerals, whereas dolomite is the major dissolved mineral. This study is helpful for a better understanding of the CO2 mineral trapping mechanism in carbonate formations.
Gas-Sensing Property of TM-MoTe2 Monolayer towards SO2, SOF2, and HF Gases
Authors: Zhang Aijuan , Dong Qunfeng , Gui Yingang , Li Jinfang , Wan Feng
Published: May 2022

Detecting the characteristic decomposition products (SO2, SOF2, and HF) of SF6 is an effective way to diagnose the electric discharge in SF6-insulated equipment. Based on first-principles calculations, Au, Ag, and Cu were chosen as the surface modification transition metal to improve the adsorption and gas-sensing properties of MoTe2 monolayer towards SO2, SOF2, and HF gases. The results show that Au, Ag, and Cu atoms tend to be trapped by TH sites on the MoTe2 monolayer, and the binding strength increases in the order of Ag < Au < Cu. In gas adsorption, the moderate adsorption energy provides the basis that the TM-MoTe2 monolayer can be used as gas-sensing material for SO2, SOF2, and HF. The conductivity of the adsorption system changes significantly. The conductivity decreases upon gases adsorption on TM-MoTe2 monolayer, except the conductivity of Ag-MoTe2 monolayer increases after interacting with SOF2 gas.
Further Studies on the [1,2]-Wittig Rearrangement of 2-(2-Benzyloxy)aryloxazolines
Authors: Aitken R. Alan , Harper Andrew D. , Inwood Ryan A.
Published: May 2022

The behaviour of 14 ortho-functionalised 2-aryloxazolines (11 of them prepared and characterised for the first time) with butyllithium has been examined. Significant limitations to the Wittig rearrangement of such systems are revealed. In terms of asymmetric Wittig rearrangement, good diastereoselectivity is obtained with a valine-derived 4-isopropyl oxazoline, but this is compromised by racemisation upon hydrolysis. More encouraging selectivity is achieved in the Wittig rearrangement of an acyclic phenylalanine-derived ortho-benzyloxy benzamide.
4,5-Bis(arylethynyl)-1,2,3-triazoles—A New Class of Fluorescent Labels: Synthesis and Applications
Authors: Govdi Anastasia I. , Tokareva Polina V. , Rumyantsev Andrey M. , Panov Maxim S. , Stellmacher Johannes , Alexiev Ulrike , Danilkina Natalia A. , Balova Irina A.
Published: May 2022

Cu-catalyzed 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of ethyl 2-azidoacetate to iodobuta-1,3-diynes and subsequent Sonogashira cross-coupling were used to synthesize a large series of new triazole-based push–pull chromophores: 4,5-bis(arylethynyl)-1H-1,2,3-triazoles. The study of their optical properties revealed that all molecules have fluorescence properties, the Stokes shift values of which exceed 150 nm. The fluorescent properties of triazoles are easily adjustable depending on the nature of the substituents attached to aryl rings of the arylethynyl moieties at the C4 and C5 atoms of the triazole core. The possibility of 4,5-bis(arylethynyl)-1,2,3-triazoles’ application for labeling was demonstrated using proteins and the HEK293 cell line. The results of an MTT test on two distinct cell lines, HEK293 and HeLa, revealed the low cytotoxicity of 4,5-bis(arylethynyl)triazoles, which makes them promising fluorescent tags for labeling and tracking biomolecules.
Anti-Inflammatory Potential of Fucoidan for Atherosclerosis: In Silico and In Vitro Studies in THP-1 Cells
Authors: Huwait Etimad , Al-Saedi Dalal A. , Mirza Zeenat
Published: May 2022

Several diseases, including atherosclerosis, are characterized by inflammation, which is initiated by leukocyte migration to the inflamed lesion. Hence, genes implicated in the early stages of inflammation are potential therapeutic targets to effectively reduce atherogenesis. Algal-derived polysaccharides are one of the most promising sources for pharmaceutical application, although their mechanism of action is still poorly understood. The present study uses a computational method to anticipate the effect of fucoidan and alginate on interactions with adhesion molecules and chemokine, followed by an assessment of the cytotoxicity of the best-predicted bioactive compound for human monocytic THP-1 macrophages by lactate dehydrogenase and crystal violet assay. Moreover, an in vitro pharmacodynamics evaluation was performed. Molecular docking results indicate that fucoidan has a greater affinity for L-and E-selectin, monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 (MCP-1), and intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) as compared to alginate. Interestingly, there was no fucoidan cytotoxicity on THP-1 macrophages, even at 200 µg/mL for 24 h. The strong interaction between fucoidan and L-selectin in silico explained its ability to inhibit the THP-1 monocytes migration in vitro. MCP-1 and ICAM-1 expression levels in THP-1 macrophages treated with 50 µg/mL fucoidan for 24 h, followed by induction by IFN-γ, were shown to be significantly suppressed as eight- and four-fold changes, respectively, relative to cells treated only with IFN-γ. These results indicate that the electrostatic interaction of fucoidan improves its binding affinity to inflammatory markers in silico and reduces their expression in THP-1 cells in vitro, thus making fucoidan a good candidate to prevent inflammation.