bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
In-Silico Analysis of Deleterious SNPs of FGF4 Gene and Their Impacts on Protein Structure, Function and Bladder Cancer Prognosis
Authors: Lim Ee Chen , Lim Shu Wen , Tan Kenneth JunKai , Sathiya Maran , Cheng Wan Hee , Lai Kok-Song , Loh Jiun-Yan , Yap Wai-Sum
Published: July 2022

Dysregulation of fibroblast growth factors is linked to the pathogenesis of bladder cancer. The role of FGF1 and FGF3 is evident in bladder cancer; however, the role of FGF4 is vague. Despite being reported that FGF4 interacts with FGF1 and FGF3 in MAPK pathways, its pathogenesis and mechanism of action are yet to be elucidated. Therefore, this study aimed to elucidate pathogenic nsSNPs and their role in the prognosis of bladder cancer by employing in-silico analysis. The nsSNPs of FGF4 were retrieved from the NCBI database. Different in silico tools, PROVEAN, SIFT, PolyPhen-2, SNPs&GO, and PhD-SNP, were used for predicting the pathogenicity of the nsSNPs. Twenty-seven nsSNPs were identified as “damaging”, and further stability analysis using I-Mutant 2.0 and MUPro indicated 22 nsSNPs to cause decreased stability (DDG scores < −0.5). Conservation analysis predicted that Q97K, G106V, N164S, and N167S were highly conserved and exposed. Biophysical characterisation indicated these nsSNPs were not tolerated, and protein-protein interaction analysis showed their involvement in the GFR-MAPK signalling pathway. Furthermore, Kaplan Meier bioinformatics analyses indicated that the FGF4 gene deregulation affected the overall survival rate of patients with bladder cancer, leading to prognostic significance. Thus, based on these analyses, our study suggests that the reported nsSNPs of FGF4 may serve as potential targets for diagnoses and therapeutic interventions focusing on bladder cancer.
Understanding of Hormonal Regulation in Rice Seed Germination
Authors: Gong Diankai , He Fei , Liu Jingyan , Zhang Cheng , Wang Yanrong , Tian Shujun , Sun Chi , Zhang Xue
Published: July 2022

Seed germination is a critical stage during the life cycle of plants. It is well known that germination is regulated by a series of internal and external factors, especially plant hormones. In Arabidopsis, many germination-related factors have been identified, while in rice, the important crop and monocot model species and the further molecular mechanisms and regulatory networks controlling germination still need to be elucidated. Hormonal signals, especially those of abscisic acid (ABA) and gibberellin (GA), play a dominant role in determining whether a seed germinates or not. The balance between the content and sensitivity of these two hormones is the key to the regulation of germination. In this review, we present the foundational knowledge of ABA and GA pathways obtained from germination research in Arabidopsis. Then, we highlight the current advances in the identification of the regulatory genes involved in ABA- or GA-mediated germination in rice. Furthermore, other plant hormones regulate seed germination, most likely by participating in the ABA or GA pathways. Finally, the results from some regulatory layers, including transcription factors, post-transcriptional regulations, and reactive oxygen species, are also discussed. This review aims to summarize our current understanding of the complex molecular networks involving the key roles of plant hormones in regulating the seed germination of rice.
Quantifying the Benefits of Digital Supply Chain Twins—A Simulation Study in Organic Food Supply Chains
Authors: Binsfeld Tom , Gerlach Benno
Published: July 2022

Background: Digital supply chain twins (DSCT) are gaining increased attention in academia and practice and their positive impact on logistics and supply chain management (LSCM) performance is often highlighted. Still, LSCM executives are hesitant regarding DSCT implementation. One reason is the difficulty of making a reasonable cost–benefit comparison, because the benefits of using a DSCT are rarely quantified. Moreover, there seems to be no method of quantifying these benefits as of today. Methods: This article builds upon an extensive simulation study of a constructed organic food supply chain (FSC), containing as many as 40 simulation experiments. In this simulation study, three volatility scenarios in the FSC were simulated and their effects on LSCM performance were measured. Subsequently, dynamic simulation experiments were run to emulate DSCT use. The benefits of using a DSCT were then quantified using a newly developed approach. Results: A conclusive method for quantifying the benefits of using a DSCT is presented and validated. Moreover, the performance evaluation of using a DSCT for the multi-echelon inventory management of an organic FSC is given. Conclusions: The study leads towards a method for quantifying the use of DSCTs that is of importance for research and practice alike. For managers, it additionally provides an exemplary application of said method in the context of organic FSCs.
Influence of Different Binders and Severe Environmental Conditions on the Tribological and Electrochemical Behaviour of WC-Based Composites
Authors: Pereira Pedro , Vilhena Luís , Sacramento Joaquim , Senos Ana , Malheiros Luís , Ramalho Amílcar
Published: July 2022

Cemented carbides are highly resistant to abrasion, erosion and sliding wear and are frequently used in drilling and cutting tool operations. In the present investigation, different submicrometric (0.8 µm) WC (tungsten carbide)-based composites were developed, containing various binders of Co, Ni, NiCr, NiMo, and NiCrMo. The main objective of the work was simultaneous tribological and electrochemical characterization to investigate the mechanisms of surface degradation when subjected to mechanical wear and how they interconnect with chemical or electrochemical processes and each other. By comparison with previous tribological tests, under dry sliding and the same contact conditions of load and frequency, it can be concluded that a synergistic effect was not observed and that the solution works mainly as lubrication, resulting in increased combined wear–corrosion resistance.
Research Progress of p-Type Oxide Thin-Film Transistors
Authors: Ouyang Zhuping , Wang Wanxia , Dai Mingjiang , Zhang Baicheng , Gong Jianhong , Li Mingchen , Qin Lihao , Sun Hui
Published: July 2022

The development of transparent electronics has advanced metal–oxide–semiconductor Thin-Film transistor (TFT) technology. In the field of flat-panel displays, as basic units, TFTs play an important role in achieving high speed, brightness, and screen contrast ratio to display information by controlling liquid crystal pixel dots. Oxide TFTs have gradually replaced silicon-based TFTs owing to their field-effect mobility, stability, and responsiveness. In the market, n-type oxide TFTs have been widely used, and their preparation methods have been gradually refined; however, p-Type oxide TFTs with the same properties are difficult to obtain. Fabricating p-Type oxide TFTs with the same performance as n-type oxide TFTs can ensure more energy-efficient complementary electronics and better transparent display applications. This paper summarizes the basic understanding of the structure and performance of the p-Type oxide TFTs, expounding the research progress and challenges of oxide transistors. The microstructures of the three types of p-Type oxides and significant efforts to improve the performance of oxide TFTs are highlighted. Finally, the latest progress and prospects of oxide TFTs based on p-Type oxide semiconductors and other p-Type semiconductor electronic devices are discussed.
Antibacterial Activity and Cell Responses of Vancomycin-Loaded Alginate Coating on ZSM-5 Scaffold for Bone Tissue Engineering Applications
Authors: Aslani Z. , Nazemi N. , Rajabi N. , Kharaziha M. , Bakhsheshi-Rad H. R. , Kasiri-Asgarani M. , Najafinezhad A. , Ismail A. F. , Sharif S. , Berto F.
Published: July 2022

Despite the significant advancement in bone tissue engineering, it is still challenging to find a desired scaffold with suitable mechanical and biological properties, efficient bone formation in the defect area, and antibacterial resistivity. In this study, the zeolite (ZSM-5) scaffold was developed using the space holder method, and a novel vancomycin-loaded alginate coating was developed on it to promote their characteristics. Our results demonstrated the importance of alginate coating on the microstructure, mechanical, and cellular properties of the ZSM-5 scaffold. For instance, a three-fold increase in the compressive strength of coated scaffolds was observed compared to the uncoated ZSM-5. After the incorporation of vancomycin into the alginate coating, the scaffold revealed significant antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus). The inhibition zone increased to 35 mm. Resets also demonstrated 74 ± 2.5% porosity, 4.3 ± 0.07 MPa strength in compressive conditions, acceptable cellular properties (72.3 ± 0.2 (%control) cell viability) after 7 days, good cell attachment, and calcium deposition. Overall, the results revealed that this scaffold could be a great candidate for bone tissue engineering.
A Review on Synthetic Fibers for Polymer Matrix Composites: Performance, Failure Modes and Applications
Authors: Rajak Dipen Kumar , Wagh Pratiksha H. , Linul Emanoil
Published: July 2022

In the last decade, synthetic fiber, as a reinforcing specialist, has been mainly used in polymer matrix composites (PMC’s) to provide lightweight materials with improved stiffness, modulus, and strength. The significant feature of PMC’s is their reinforcement. The main role of the reinforcement is to withstand the load applied to the composite. However, in order to fulfill its purpose, the reinforcements must meet some basic criteria such as: being compatible with the matrix, making chemical or adhesion bonds with the matrix, having properties superior to the matrix, presenting the optimal orientation in composite and, also, having a suitable shape. The current review reveals a detailed study of the current progress of synthetic fibers in a variety of reinforced composites. The main properties, failure modes, and applications of composites based on synthetic fibers are detailed both according to the mentioned criteria and according to their types (organic or inorganic fibers). In addition, the choice of classifications, applications, and properties of synthetic fibers is largely based on their physical and mechanical characteristics, as well as on the synthesis process. Finally, some future research directions and challenges are highlighted.
Thermal Aspects in Edge Trimming of Bio-Filled GFRP: Influence of Fiber Orientation and Silica Sand Filler in Heat Generation
Authors: Elfarhani Makram , Guesmi Fethi , Mkaddem Ali , Ghazali Sami , Rubaiee Saeed , Jarraya Abdessalem
Published: July 2022

The present work aims to determine the influence of Glass Fiber-Reinforced Polymer (GFRP) laminating configuration in heat generation during the dry edge trimming process. Temperature measurement experiments were conducted on pure epoxy matrix, 15% unidirectional glass fiber reinforced epoxy, and 28% silica sand-filled GFRP specimens through eight type-K thermocouples evenly distributed along the trim plans and connected to a data acquisition system. Infrared thermographic measurements were also conducted to investigate the tool temperature evolution while processing. It was found that perpendicular fiber edge milling induces a sharp increase with peak temperature measurements reaching 119 °C, while machining parallel to fiber leads to a maximum temperature history of 41 °C, which is very close to that obtained from the pure epoxy test. It was also found that the addition of silica sand grains in the GFRP matrix reduces both tool and specimen temperature magnitudes up to 67% for 90° plies and 14% for 0° plies compared to silica sand-free composite initial values. The heat partition was calculated from the measured (electric) and estimated energies for the tool, the workpiece, and chips, respectively. It appears from predictions that the addition of silica sand grains increases the heat conductivity of the GFRP materials (with rates of 20% for 0° fiber orientation and 10% for 90° fiber direction), while it reduces that conducted to the milling tool. Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) inspections helped detect the dominating machining defects relative to each GFRP configuration and explained the heat generation and dissipation effects in light of peak temperature measurements.
Impact of Low-Pressure Plasma Treatment of Wool Fabric for Dyeing with PEDOT: PSS
Authors: Petkevičiūtė Julija , Sankauskaitė Audronė , Jasulaitienė Vitalija , Varnaitė-Žuravliova Sandra , Abraitienė Aušra
Published: July 2022

This study presents the effect of non-thermal plasma modification on the changes of surface morphology, color characteristics and electrical conductivity of wool fabric dyed with intrinsically conductive polymer (ICP) poly (3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) polystyrene sulfonate (PEDOT: PSS). The wool fabric was treated with an aqueous dispersion of PEDOT: PSS, Clevios F ET, providing electrically conductive properties to textiles. The wool fabric, containing basic groups of amines (NH2), was pre-activated with low-pressure plasma of non-polymer forming nitrogen (N2) gas before exhaust dyeing with PEDOT: PSS at 90 °C was applied. This treatment imparted hydrophilicity, reduced felting, increased adhesion, improved dye ability and ensured that more PEDOT: PSS negatively charged sulfonate (−SO3−) counter ions would be electrostatically bounded with the cationic protonated amine groups of the wool fiber. Initially, before (N2) plasma treatment and after fabrics were evaluated according to the test method for aqueous liquid repellency, the surface morphology of the plasma-modified and -unmodified wool dyed fabric was observed with scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The functional groups introduced onto the surface after N2 gas plasma treatment of wool fabric were characterized by X-ray photoelectron and FTIR-ATR spectroscopy. The results of color difference measurements show that N2 gas plasma treatments provide more intense color on Clevios F ET dyed wool fabric and retain its electrical conductivity.
Selected Properties of a Zr-Containing AlSi5Cu2Mg Alloy Intended for Cylinder Head Castings
Authors: Bolibruchová Dana , Širanec Lukáš , Matejka Marek
Published: July 2022

The aim of this paper was to analyze the impact of the addition of different amounts of zirconium (0.05; 0.10; 0.15 and 0.20 wt. % Zr in the form of the AlZr20 master alloy) on selected properties of AlSi5Cu2Mg aluminum alloy. This is a new alloy for cylinder head castings and has only been used for a relatively short time. The specificity of this alloy is its chemical composition—specifically the low permitted Ti content, which makes it impossible to refine the grain structure of this alloy using standard Al-Ti-B grain refiners. The aim of our ongoing research is to find a suitable alloying element that would positively mainly affect the mechanical and also physical properties of this alloy, which are crucial for complex automotive castings such as cylinder heads. The results of our research showed that increasing zirconium content had no effect on the increase in ultimate tensile strength, yield strength and hardness of as-cast samples. After T7 heat treatment, a more significant increase in UTS, YS and thermal conductivity occurred due to the precipitation of Cu- and Mg-rich strengthening precipitates. Zirconium-rich intermetallic phases were observed in the shape of separate thick needles or as a cluster of two crossed thinner needles. SEM observations showed that these phases crystallized near to the intermetallic phases based on Cu and Fe. Increasing the Zr content was accompanied by an increase in liquidus temperature, the density index and the area fraction of porosity values.
Hot Formability Study of Cr5 Alloy Steel by Integration of FEM and 3D Processing Maps
Authors: Chen Xuewen , Si Yahui , Bai Rongren , Zhang Xiaopeng , Li Zhipeng
Published: July 2022

Microstructure is an important factor that affects the mechanical properties and service life of forgings. Through the full study of the formability of the material, the internal microstructure of the material can be effectively controlled. In order to accurately describe the formability of materials during thermal processing, 3D hot processing maps containing strains were established in this paper, and the 3D hot processing maps were coupled with the finite element method for simulation calculation. The Cr5 alloy steel was subjected to unidirectional thermal compression at a strain rate of 0.005–5 s−1 and temperature range of 900–1200 °C on a Gleeble-1500D thermal simulation machine, in order to obtain the date of true stress and strain. Based on the dynamic material model (DMM), the 3D processing maps of Cr5 alloy steel was established, and the 3D processing maps were associated with the analysis of microstructure evolution during hot deformation. The results show that the optimum thermal deformation conditions are as follows: temperature of 1000–1125 °C, strain rate of 0.01–0.2 s−1, and peak power dissipation of 0.41. The 3D processing maps were coupled with the finite element software FORGE® to simulate the hot working process, and the distribution and change of power dissipation and flow instability domain on the metal deformation under different thermal deformation conditions were obtained. The comparison between the simulation results and metallographic images of typical regions of metal deformation shows that they are in good agreement. This method can effectively predict and analyze the formability of materials during hot processing and provide guidance for practical industrial production.
Graphene Reinforced Anticorrosion Transparent Conductive Composite Film Based on Ultra-Thin Ag Nanofilm
Authors: Fan Xiaowei , Zhao Zenghua , Liang Xiaoping , Huai Xuguo , Wang Chan , Liu Juncheng , Duan Chunyang
Published: July 2022

Transparent conductive films are widely used in electronic products and industrial fields. Ultra-thin Ag conductive nanofilm (ACF) was prepared on a soda lime silica glass (ordinary architectural glass) substrate with industrial magnetron sputtering equipment with AZO (Al2O3 doped ZnO) as the crystal bed and wetting layer. In order to improve the corrosion resistance and conductivity of the ACF, graphene nanosheets were modified on the surface of the ACF by electrospraying for the first time. The results show that this graphene modification could be carried out continuously on a meter scale. With the modification of the graphene layer, the corrosion rate of graphene-decorated ACF (G/ACF) can be reduced by 74.56%, and after 72 h of salt spray test, the conductivity of ACF samples without modification of graphene can be reduced by 34.1%, while the conductivity of G/ACF samples with modification of graphene can be reduced by only 6.5%. This work proves the potential of graphene modified ACF to prepare robust large-area transparent conductive film.
Effect of Hydrogen on the Structure and Mechanical Properties of 316L Steel and Inconel 718 Alloy Processed by Selective Laser Melting
Authors: Maksimkin Igor P. , Yukhimchuk Arkadiy A. , Malkov Igor L. , Boitsov Igor E. , Musyaev Rafael K. , Buchirin Aleksey V. , Baluev Victor V. , Vertei Anton V. , Shevnin Evgeniy V. , Shotin Sergey V. , Chuvil’deev Vladimir N. , Gryaznov Mikhail Yu.
Published: July 2022

The interaction of hydrogen with specimens of 316L steel and Inconel 718 alloy processed by selective laser melting (SLM) was studied. The effect of hydrogen on the mechanical properties of SLM materials, hydrogen permeability, and microstructure was investigated; besides, these values were compared with the properties of conventionally produced materials. It was shown that SLM can be successfully used to produce parts for operation in hydrogen environments at high pressure at room temperature.
Surface Morphology of Textured Transparent Conductive Oxide Thin Film Seen by Various Probes: Visible Light, X-rays, Electron Scattering and Contact Probe
Authors: Juraić Krunoslav , Dubček Pavo , Bohač Mario , Gajović Andreja , Bernstorff Sigrid , Čeh Miran , Hodzic Aden , Gracin Davor
Published: July 2022

Fluorine-doped tin oxide thin films (SnO2:F) are widely used as transparent conductive oxide electrodes in thin-film solar cells because of their appropriate electrical and optical properties. The surface morphology of these films influences their optical properties and therefore plays an important role in the overall efficiencies of the solar cells in which they are implemented. At rough surfaces light is diffusely scattered, extending the optical path of light inside the active layer of the solar cell, which in term improves light absorption and solar cell conversion efficiency. In this work, we investigated the surface morphology of undoped and doped SnO2 thin films and their influence on the optical properties of the films. We have compared and analysed the results obtained by several complementary methods for thin-film surface morphology investigation: atomic force microscopy (AFM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and grazing-incidence small-angle X-ray scattering (GISAXS). Based on the AFM and TEM results we propose a theoretical model that reproduces well the GISAXS scattering patterns.
Force Systems Produced by Different Cantilever Configurations during Deactivation
Authors: Bilinska Malgorzata , Golliez Isabel Meret , Dalstra Michel
Published: July 2022

Intrusion with a three-piece arch is routinely achieved during orthodontic treatment. This study aimed to experimentally determine how the cantilever design influences the generated force system. Both straight and arch-formed cantilever designs: tip-back (TB), flat curve (FC) deep curve (DC), and 3 mm and 6 mm high utility arch (UA3; UA6) were activated for 5 mm and 10 mm. Force systems were determined by a hexapod. Typodonts simulating a three piece-intrusion arch were scanned using an intraoral scanner (3Shape, TRIOS, Denmark) before (T0) and after (T1) the experiment and superimposed with Mimics software (Materialise, Leuven, Belgium). Data were analyzed. All straight designs displayed an extrusive force in the vertical plane, and all arch-formed an intrusive force. DC and TB showed a retrusive force in the sagittal plane and UA6 a protrusive. For the medial/lateral forces, DC and TB displayed a medial, and UA6 a lateral force. Configurations can be distinctively ranked from DC, FC, TB to UA3, and UA6 according to the increasing protrusive nature of the generated sagittal forces. A DC or TB configuration should be used for intrusion and retraction, while for an intrusion and a protrusion, a UA6 configuration. All straight configurations showed a higher force level than the arch-formed configurations.
Experimental Study on the Properties of Mortar and Concrete Made with Tunnel Slag Machine-Made Sand
Authors: Tang Yu , Qiu Weichao , Liu Dunwen , Zhang Wanmao , Zhang Ruiping
Published: July 2022

Machine-made sand is gradually replacing natural sand to achieve sustainable development. Experimental studies and gray-correlation analysis were used to study the properties of tunnel slag machine-made mortar and concrete. The properties of machine-made mortar with different stone powder content were analyzed through experiments. By analyzing the performance of machine-made sand concrete with equal amounts of cement replaced by stone powder, the optimum replacement ratio is obtained. Gray-correlation analysis was used to compare the degree of influence of fineness modulus and stone powder content on the performance of concrete. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray diffractometry (XRD) were used to analyze the microstructure of tunnel slag sand concrete. The test results showed that the flexural and compressive strengths of the machine-made sand concrete were greater than the standard sand with the same stone powder content. The 28-day flexural and compressive strengths had a maximum difference of more than 30%. The best stone powder content of the machine-made mortar is in the range of 5% to 8%. When the replacement cement content of stone powder is about 6%, the mechanical and working properties of machine-made sand concrete achieve the optimal state. The lower the stone powder content, the closer the mechanical and working properties of machine-made sand concrete and river sand concrete. The correlation between the performance of machine-made sand concrete and fineness modulus is the largest. When the stone powder content is low, it has almost no effect on the compressive strength of concrete. The results point out the direction for the quality control of tunnel slag machine-made sand concrete.
A Quantile Dependency Model for Predicting Optimal Centrifugal Pump Operating Strategies
Authors: Stephen Bruce , Brown Blair , Young Andrew , Duncan Andrew , Helfer-Hoeltgebaum Henrique , West Graeme , Michie Craig , McArthur Stephen D. J.
Published: July 2022

Used in many industrial applications, centrifugal pumps have optimal operating criteria specified at design. These criteria may not be precisely adhered to during operation which will ultimately reduce the life of the asset. Operators would therefore benefit from anticipating how often the design point is deviated from and hence how much asset degradation results. For centrifugal pumps, a novel set of covariates were proposed in this paper which formally partition observed operating zones with an Empirical Bivariate Quantile Partitioned distribution. This captured the dependency relation between operating parameters across plant configurations to predict the component wear that results from particular settings. The effectiveness of this was demonstrated through an operational case study in civil nuclear generation feedwater pumps where corroboration with bearing movements provides an indicator of plant wear. Such a technique is envisaged to inform operators of optimal plant configuration from multiple possibilities in advance of undertaking them.
An Efficient Heap Based Optimizer Algorithm for Feature Selection
Authors: Ali Mona A. S. , P. P. Fathimathul Rajeena , Abd Elminaam Diaa Salama
Published: July 2022

The heap-based optimizer (HBO) is an innovative meta-heuristic inspired by human social behavior. In this research, binary adaptations of the heap-based optimizer B_HBO are presented and used to determine the optimal features for classifications in wrapping form. In addition, HBO balances exploration and exploitation by employing self-adaptive parameters that can adaptively search the solution domain for the optimal solution. In the feature selection domain, the presented algorithms for the binary Heap-based optimizer B_HBO are used to find feature subsets that maximize classification performance while lowering the number of selected features. The textitk-nearest neighbor (textitk-NN) classifier ensures that the selected features are significant. The new binary methods are compared to eight common optimization methods recently employed in this field, including Ant Lion Optimization (ALO), Archimedes Optimization Algorithm (AOA), Backtracking Search Algorithm (BSA), Crow Search Algorithm (CSA), Levy flight distribution (LFD), Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO), Slime Mold Algorithm (SMA), and Tree Seed Algorithm (TSA) in terms of fitness, accuracy, precision, sensitivity, F-score, the number of selected features, and statistical tests. Twenty datasets from the UCI repository are evaluated and compared using a set of evaluation indicators. The non-parametric Wilcoxon rank-sum test was used to determine whether the proposed algorithms’ results varied statistically significantly from those of the other compared methods. The comparison analysis demonstrates that B_HBO is superior or equivalent to the other algorithms used in the literature.
The Suitability-Feasibility-Acceptability Strategy Integrated with Bayesian BWM-MARCOS Methods to Determine the Optimal Lithium Battery Plant Located in South America
Authors: Hashemkhani Zolfani Sarfaraz , Bazrafshan Ramin , Ecer Fatih , Karamaşa Çağlar
Published: July 2022

This study aims to help managers develop a proper strategy and policy for their company’s future. After the global COVID-19 pandemic, developed countries decided to change their production and relocate and re-industrialize. The U.S.’s big electronics and automobile companies are not an exception to this rule. The lithium batteries are the main instrument of mobile phone and electric vehicles. The leading lithium battery supplier for the U.S mobile phone companies is China. Argentina, Bolivia, and Chile (in South America) have some of the largest lithium mines in the world; these countries are known as the lithium triangle. Among the 86 million tonnes of lithium resources worldwide, 49.9 million tonnes exist in this area. The researchers in this study surveyed the best country for constructing a battery for companies in the U.S. Because of the growth of electric vehicles and their use of the lithium battery, the world is facing astronomical prices for lithium. To emphasize this issue and help managers create good policy, this study combined multiple methods. The improved suitability-feasibility-acceptability (SFA) strategy is integrated with the Bayesian best-worst method (BBWM) and measurement of alternatives and rankings according to compromise solution (MARCOS) multicriteria methods to determine the best destination. For comparison, based on the SFA strategy, seven criteria are introduced: commercially viable reserves, national minimum wage, corporate income tax, accessibility to mining companies, accessibility to the waterway, population, and political stability index. The Bayesian BWM analysis reveals that the foremost factor is corporate income tax, whereas MARCOS’s findings indicate that Chile is the best country to construct the lithium battery industry. To verify the proposed approach, a comparison analysis also is performed.
Research on Maximum Likelihood b Value and Confidence Limits Estimation in Doubly Truncated Apparent Frequency–Amplitude Distribution in Rock Acoustic Emission Tests
Authors: Xia Changgen , Chen Daolong , He Wei , Liu Huini , Liu Xiling
Published: July 2022

The b value deduced from the Gutenberg–Richter law is an important parameter for sequence and precursory analyses, both in laboratory acoustic emission tests and seismology. As the b value is a statistical value, the maximum likelihood estimation is mostly used to estimate the b value. However, traditional singly truncated maximum likelihood estimation in seismology only considers the minimum magnitude, while the acquisition device in rock acoustic emission tests will set the threshold value and maximum value of the amplitude; therefore, maximum likelihood estimation will estimate the b value in a doubly truncated size distribution, and its confidence limits need to be discussed. Here, in this study, we derive the calculation equations of the b value and the corresponding confidence limits for the maximum likelihood estimation with a narrow amplitude span in a doubly truncated frequency–amplitude distribution. The maximum likelihood b values estimated by the scheme of a singly and doubly truncated frequency–amplitude distribution are compared through acoustic emission data with the known underlying distribution. The results show that the maximum likelihood b value and confidence limits estimation scheme derived for rock acoustic emission tests with a narrow amplitude span is more reasonable. Then, the derived estimation scheme is applied to the rock dilation rupturing test; the results confirm its applicability.
Phase Prediction, Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of Fe–Mn–Ni–Cr–Al–Si High Entropy Alloys
Authors: Mahmoud Essam R. I. , Shaharoun Awaluddin , Gepreel Mohamed A. , Ebied Saad
Published: July 2022

The selection of high-entropy alloys (HEAs), which are relatively lightweight and have unique mechanical properties, remains a substantial challenge. In this study, six new HEAs were designed from the relatively low-cost Fe–Mn–Ni–Cr–Al–Si system using Thermo-Calc software, and then manufactured using a casting process. The effects of the atomic ratio of the alloying elements on the microstructures and mechanical properties of these alloys in the as-cast condition were systematically investigated. Brittle body-centered cubic BCC/B2 and silicide phases were found in relatively large amounts in the form of dendritic structure within large equiaxed grains with fine needle-shaped phases in the Fe30Mn15Ni20Cr15Al10Si10 and Fe35Mn15Ni20Cr15Al10Si5 alloys, in addition to the face-centered cubic (FCC) phase. When the contents of Mn and Ni were increased in the Fe35Mn25Ni15Cr15Al5Si5 and Fe35Mn20Ni20Cr15Al5Si5 alloys, the amounts of brittle phases were reduced; however, the ductile FCC phase is not significant. The FCC phase amount, which appeared as a honeycombed structure, was more than enough when the Si content was decreased to 3%. Broad relationships between the chemical composition of the alloys, especially the Si content, and the hardness and compression properties’ measurements were established. As the Si content decreased, both the hardness and compression properties of the resulting alloy also decreased. The experimental observation of the six HEAs matched the equilibrium phases predicted by the Thermo-Calc calculations.
Effect of Ni-MOF Derivatives on the Electrochemical Corrosion Behavior of Sn-0.7Cu Solders
Authors: Lu Guoge , Lin Bo , Gao Zhan , Li Yingxin , Wei Fuxiang
Published: July 2022

The corrosion resistance of solder joints is a critical factor affecting the service life of electronic products during long-term operation. In this study, the corrosion behavior of Sn-0.7Cu-xNi@C (x = 0, 0.04, 0.08, and 0.12 wt.%) composite solders was investigated using a Tafel polarization curve in 3.5 wt.% NaCl solution, and the result demonstrated that it was the Ni@C that enhanced the corrosion resistance of the composite solder. The corrosion rate of the composite solders decreased with increasing Ni@C content and reached the lowest value of 0.205 mm/y when the content of Ni@C reached 0.08 wt.%. Ni@C changed the morphologies of corrosion products Sn3O(OH)2Cl2 from thick flakes to dense fine needles and flakes, which made it more difficult for Cl– to break down corrosion products. Thus, the corrosion resistance of composite solder was improved. The carbon skeleton in Ni@C served as an inert physical barrier to inhibit further corrosion. Furthermore, the potential difference between IMC and β-Sn decreased with the addition of Ni@C, which reduced the corrosion rate of the electric couple and enhanced the corrosion resistance of the composite solder.
Effect of Rotation Speed on Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of Continuous Drive Friction Welded Dissimilar Joints of 6061-T6 Al and Copper
Authors: Zhu Xianyong , Fan Yuexiang , Xie Liangwen , Xiao Xiong , Wang Peng , Yang Song , Jiang Cheng
Published: July 2022

The continuous drive friction welding of 6061-T6 Al and copper was investigated herein. The results show that with an increase in rotation speed, the width of the welded zone was gradually increased with the generation of higher temperatures, and the grain size in the dynamic recrystallization zone on the Al side first decreased and then increased due to the combined effect of heat and force. The microhardness on the bonding surface was significantly greater than that of the base materials due to the presence of intermetallic compounds, and there was a softening zone on both sides of the bonding surface, which was progressively more significant with an increase in the rotation speed. The ultimate tensile strength (UTS) of the welded joints first increased and then decreased with an increase in rotation speed. When the rotation speed was 1000 rpm, the UTS was at its peak value of 212 MPa, which reached 73.1% of the strength of the 6061-T6 Al base material.
NAD+ Precursors: A Questionable Redundancy
Authors: Canto Carles
Published: July 2022

The last decade has seen a strong proliferation of therapeutic strategies for the treatment of metabolic and age-related diseases based on increasing cellular NAD+ bioavailability. Among them, the dietary supplementation with NAD+ precursors—classically known as vitamin B3—has received most of the attention. Multiple molecules can act as NAD+ precursors through independent biosynthetic routes. Interestingly, eukaryote organisms have conserved a remarkable ability to utilize all of these different molecules, even if some of them are scarcely found in nature. Here, we discuss the possibility that the conservation of all of these biosynthetic pathways through evolution occurred because the different NAD+ precursors might serve specialized purposes.
Source/Drain Trimming Process to Improve Gate-All-Around Nanosheet Transistors Switching Performance and Enable More Stacks of Nanosheets
Authors: Chen Kun , Yang Jingwen , Liu Tao , Wang Dawei , Xu Min , Wu Chunlei , Wang Chen , Xu Saisheng , Zhang David Wei , Liu Wenchao
Published: July 2022

A new S/D trimming process was proposed to significantly reduce the parasitic RC of gate-all-around (GAA) nanosheet transistors (NS-FETs) while retaining the channel stress from epitaxy S/D stressors at most. With optimized S/D trimming, the 7-stage ring oscillator (RO) gained up to 27.8% improvement of delay with the same power consumption, for a 3-layer stacked GAA NS-FETs. Furthermore, the proposed S/D trimming technology could enable more than 4-layer vertical stacking of nanosheets for GAA technology extension beyond 3 nm CMOS technology.
Mutual Coupling Reduction through Defected Ground Structure in Circularly Polarized, Dielectric Resonator-Based MIMO Antennas for Sub-6 GHz 5G Applications
Authors: Ali Anwar , Tong Jijun , Iqbal Javed , Illahi Usman , Rauf Abdul , Rehman Saeed Ur , Ali Haider , Qadir Muhammad Mansoor , Khan Muhammad Amir , Ghoniem Rania M.
Published: July 2022

This paper describes a singly-fed circularly polarized rectangular dielectric resonator antenna (RDRA) for MIMO and 5G Sub 6 GHz applications. Circular polarization was achieved for both ports using a novel-shaped conformal metal strip. To improve the isolation between the radiators, a “S” shaped defective ground plane structure (DGPS) was used. In order to authenticate the estimated findings, a prototype of the suggested radiator was built and tested experimentally. Over the desired band, i.e., 3.57–4.48 GHz, a fractional impedance bandwidth of roughly 36.63 percent (−10 dB as reference) was reached. Parallel axial ratio bandwidth of 28.33 percent is achieved, which is in conjunction with impedance matching bandwidth. Between the ports, isolation of −28 dB is achieved Gain and other far-field parameters are also calculated and found to be within their optimum limits
Emerging Bioanalytical Devices and Platforms for Rapid Detection of Pathogens in Environmental Samples
Authors: Ngashangva Lightson , Hemdan Bahaa , El-Liethy Mohamed , Bachu Vinay , Minteer Shelley , Goswami Pranab
Published: July 2022

The development of robust bioanalytical devices and biosensors for infectious pathogens is progressing well with the advent of new materials, concepts, and technology. The progress is also stepping towards developing high throughput screening technologies that can quickly identify, differentiate, and determine the concentration of harmful pathogens, facilitating the decision-making process for their elimination and therapeutic interventions in large-scale operations. Recently, much effort has been focused on upgrading these analytical devices to an intelligent technological platform by integrating them with modern communication systems, such as the internet of things (IoT) and machine learning (ML), to expand their application horizon. This review outlines the recent development and applications of bioanalytical devices and biosensors to detect pathogenic microbes in environmental samples. First, the nature of the recent outbreaks of pathogenic microbes such as foodborne, waterborne, and airborne pathogens and microbial toxins are discussed to understand the severity of the problems. Next, the discussion focuses on the detection systems chronologically, starting with the conventional methods, advanced techniques, and emerging technologies, such as biosensors and other portable devices and detection platforms for pathogens. Finally, the progress on multiplex assays, wearable devices, and integration of smartphone technologies to facilitate pathogen detection systems for wider applications are highlighted.
Mycelium vs. Fruiting Bodies of Edible Fungi—A Comparison of Metabolites
Authors: Berger Ralf G. , Bordewick Sven , Krahe Nina-Katharina , Ersoy Franziska
Published: July 2022

Edible mushrooms are widely appreciated for their appealing flavours, low caloric values and high content of presumably health-protecting metabolites. Their long history of safe use together with the looming worldwide food crisis have revived the idea of generating meat analogues and protein isolates by the controlled fermentation of mycelia of these edible fungi as a dietary option. The occurrence of proteins, polysaccharides, smaller metabolites, metal ions and toxins in mycelia and fruiting bodies is compared among the three most popular species, Agaricus bisporus (button mushroom), Pleurotus ostreatus (oyster mushroom), Lentinus edodes (shiitake) and some closely related species. Large effects of substrate chemistry, strain, developmental stage and ecological interactions result in a wide variation of the concentrations of some metabolites in both mycelial cells and fruiting bodies. This is obviously a result of the high adaptation abilities required to survive in natural habitats. Fungal bioprocesses are decoupled from agricultural production and can be operated anytime, anywhere, and on any scale according to demand. It is concluded that fungal biomass, if produced under food-grade conditions and on an industrial scale, could provide a safe and nutritious meat substitute and protein isolates with a high biological value for future vegan foods.
Analysis of Microbiota Persistence in Quebec’s Terroir Cheese Using a Metabarcoding Approach
Authors: Raymond-Fleury Annick , Lessard Marie-Hélène , Chamberland Julien , Pouliot Yves , Dugat-Bony Eric , Turgeon Sylvie L. , St-Gelais Daniel , Labrie Steve
Published: July 2022

Environmental short amplicon sequencing, or metabarcoding, is commonly used to characterize the bacterial and fungal microbiota of cheese. Comparisons between different metabarcoding studies are complicated by the use of different gene markers. Here, we systematically compare different metabarcoding molecular targets using V3–V4 and V6–V8 regions of the bacterial 16S rDNA and fungal ITS1 and ITS2 regions. Taxonomic profiles varied depending on the molecular markers used. Based on data quality and detection capacity of the markers toward microorganisms usually associated with the dairy environment, the ribosomal regions V3–V4 and ITS2 were selected and further used to evaluate variability in the microbial ecosystem of terroir cheeses from the province of Quebec in Canada. Both fungal and bacterial ecosystem profiles were described for 32 different ready-to-eat bloomy-, washed- and natural-rind specialty cheese varieties. Among them, 15 were studied over two different production years. Using the Bray–Curtis dissimilarity index as an indicator of microbial shifts, we found that most variations could be explained by either a voluntary change in starter or ripening culture composition, or by changes in the cheesemaking technology. Overall, our results suggest the persistence of the microbiota between the two years studied—these data aid understanding of cheese microbiota composition and persistence during cheese ripening.
Bacterial Stress Responses as Potential Targets in Overcoming Antibiotic Resistance
Authors: Dawan Jirapat , Ahn Juhee
Published: July 2022

Bacteria can be adapted to adverse and detrimental conditions that induce general and specific responses to DNA damage as well as acid, heat, cold, starvation, oxidative, envelope, and osmotic stresses. The stress-triggered regulatory systems are involved in bacterial survival processes, such as adaptation, physiological changes, virulence potential, and antibiotic resistance. Antibiotic susceptibility to several antibiotics is reduced due to the activation of stress responses in cellular physiology by the stimulation of resistance mechanisms, the promotion of a resistant lifestyle (biofilm or persistence), and/or the induction of resistance mutations. Hence, the activation of bacterial stress responses poses a serious threat to the efficacy and clinical success of antibiotic therapy. Bacterial stress responses can be potential targets for therapeutic alternatives to antibiotics. An understanding of the regulation of stress response in association with antibiotic resistance provides useful information for the discovery of novel antimicrobial adjuvants and the development of effective therapeutic strategies to control antibiotic resistance in bacteria. Therefore, this review discusses bacterial stress responses linked to antibiotic resistance in Gram-negative bacteria and also provides information on novel therapies targeting bacterial stress responses that have been identified as potential candidates for the effective control of Gram-negative antibiotic-resistant bacteria.
Microbial Inoculation Improves Growth, Nutritional and Physiological Aspects of Glycine max (L.) Merr.
Authors: Reis Mateus Neri Oliveira , Vitorino Luciana Cristina , Lourenço Lucas Loram , Bessa Layara Alexandre
Published: July 2022

Considering a scenario where there is a low availability and increasing costs of fertilizers in the global agricultural market, as well as a finitude of important natural resources, such as phosphorus (P), this study tested the effect of the inoculation of rhizospheric or endophytic microorganisms isolated from Hymenaea courbaril and Butia purpurascens on the growth promotion of Glycine max (L.) Merr. The tests were conducted in a controlled greenhouse system, and the effects of biofertilization were evaluated using the following parameters: dry biomass, nutritional content, and photochemical and photosynthetic performance of plants. Seed biopriming was performed with four bacterial and four fungal isolates, and the results were compared to those of seeds treated with the commercial product Biomaphos®. Overall, microbial inoculation had a positive effect on biomass accumulation in G. max, especially in strains PA12 (Paenibacillus alvei), SC5 (Bacillus cereus), and SC15 (Penicillium sheari). The non-inoculated control plants accumulated less nutrients, both in the whole plant and aerial part, and had reduced chlorophyll index and low photosynthetic rate (A) and photochemical efficiency. Strains PA12 (P. alvei), SC5 (B. cereus), and 328EF (Codinaeopsis sp.) stood out in the optimization of nutrient concentration, transpiration rate, and stomatal conductance. Plants inoculated with the bacterial strains PA12 (P. alvei) and SC5 (B. cereus) and with the fungal strains 328EF (Codinaeopsis sp.) and SC15 (P. sheari) showed the closest pattern to that observed in plants treated with Biomaphos®, with the same trend of direction of the means associated with chlorophyll index, (A), dry mass, and concentration of important nutrients such as N, P, and Mg. We recommend the use of these isolates in field tests to validate these strains for the production of biological inoculants as part of the portfolio of bioinputs available for G. max.