bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Advanced Technologies in the Fabrication of a Micro-Optical Light Splitter
Authors: Stella Giovanna , Saitta Lorena , Ongaro Alfredo Edoardo , Cicala Gianluca , Kersaudy-Kerhoas Maïwenn , Bucolo Maide
Published: March 2023

In microfluidics, it is important to confine and transport light as close as possible to the sample by guiding it into a small volume of the microfluidic channel, acquiring the emitted/transmitted radiation. A challenge in this context is the miniaturization of the optical components and their integration into the microfluidic device. Among all of the optical components, a particular role is played by the beam splitter, an important optical device capable of splitting light into several paths. In this paper, a micro-splitter is designed and realized by exploiting low-cost technologies. The micro-splitter consists of a micro-mirror in-between two micro-waveguides. This component was fabricated in different materials: poly-dimethyl-siloxane (PDMS), poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA), and VeroClear RGD810. A 3D printing master–slave fabrication protocol was used with PDMS, a direct 3D printing approach with VeroClear, and a laser cutting procedure with PMMA. The experimental results obtained show the high potential of the proposed fabrication protocols, based on low-cost technologies, for the realization of micro-optical components, which could also be easily integrated with microfluidics systems.
Suramin Disturbs the Association of the N-Terminal Domain of SARS-CoV-2 Nucleocapsid Protein with RNA
Authors: Guo Chenyun , Xu Hao , Li Xiao , Yu Jiaxin , Lin Donghai
Published: March 2023

Suramin was originally used as an antiparasitic drug in clinics. Here, we demonstrate that suramin can bind to the N-terminal domain of SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid protein (N-NTD) and disturb its interaction with RNA. The BLI experiments showed that N-NTD interacts suramin with a dissociate constant (Kd = 2.74 μM) stronger than that of N-NTD with ssRNA-16 (Kd = 8.37 μM). Furthermore, both NMR titration experiments and molecular docking analysis suggested that suramin mainly binds to the positively charged cavity between the finger and the palm subdomains of N-NTD, and residues R88, R92, R93, I94, R95, K102 and A156 are crucial for N-NTD capturing suramin. Besides, NMR dynamics experiments showed that suramin-bound N-NTD adopts a more rigid structure, and the loop between β2-β3 exhibits fast motion on the ps-ns timescale, potentially facilitating suramin binding. Our findings not only reveal the molecular basis of suramin disturbing the association of SARS-CoV-2 N-NTD with RNA but also provide valuable structural information for the development of drugs against SARS-CoV-2.
Possible Side Effects of Polyphenols and Their Interactions with Medicines
Authors: Duda-Chodak Aleksandra , Tarko Tomasz
Published: March 2023

Polyphenols are an important component of plant-derived food with a wide spectrum of beneficial effects on human health. For many years, they have aroused great interest, especially due to their antioxidant properties, which are used in the prevention and treatment of many diseases. Unfortunately, as with any chemical substance, depending on the conditions, dose, and interactions with the environment, it is possible for polyphenols to also exert harmful effects. This review presents a comprehensive current state of the knowledge on the negative impact of polyphenols on human health, describing the possible side effects of polyphenol intake, especially in the form of supplements. The review begins with a brief overview of the physiological role of polyphenols and their potential use in disease prevention, followed by the harmful effects of polyphenols which are exerted in particular situations. The individual chapters discuss the consequences of polyphenols’ ability to block iron uptake, which in some subpopulations can be harmful, as well as the possible inhibition of digestive enzymes, inhibition of intestinal microbiota, interactions of polyphenolic compounds with drugs, and impact on hormonal balance. Finally, the prooxidative activity of polyphenols as well as their mutagenic, carcinogenic, and genotoxic effects are presented. According to the authors, there is a need to raise public awareness about the possible side effects of polyphenols supplementation, especially in the case of vulnerable subpopulations.
A Superior Corrosion Protection of Mg Alloy via Smart Nontoxic Hybrid Inhibitor-Containing Coatings
Authors: Gnedenkov Andrey S. , Filonina Valeriia S. , Sinebryukhov Sergey L. , Gnedenkov Sergey V.
Published: March 2023

The increase of corrosion resistance of magnesium and its alloys by forming the smart self-healing hybrid coatings was achieved in this work in two steps. In the first step, using the plasma electrolytic oxidation (PEO) treatment, a ceramic-like bioactive coating was synthesized on the surface of biodegradable MA8 magnesium alloy. During the second step, the formed porous PEO layer was impregnated with a corrosion inhibitor 8-hydroxyquinoline (8-HQ) and bioresorbable polymer polycaprolactone (PCL) in different variations to enhance the protective properties of the coating. The composition, anticorrosion, and antifriction properties of the formed coatings were studied. 8-HQ allows controlling the rate of material degradation due to the self-healing effect of the smart coating. PCL treatment of the inhibitor-containing layer significantly improves the corrosion and wear resistance and retains an inhibitor in the pores of the PEO layer. It was revealed that the corrosion inhibitor incorporation method (including the number of steps, impregnation, and the type of solvent) significantly matters to the self-healing mechanism. The hybrid coatings obtained by a 1-step treatment in a dichloromethane solution containing 6 wt.% polycaprolactone and 15 g/L of 8-HQ are characterized by the best corrosion resistance. This coating demonstrates the lowest value of corrosion current density (3.02 × 10−7 A cm−2). The formation of the hybrid coating results in the corrosion rate decrease by 18 times (0.007 mm year−1) as compared to the blank PEO layer (0.128 mm year−1). An inhibitor efficiency was established to be 83.9%. The mechanism of corrosion protection of Mg alloy via smart hybrid coating was revealed.
Structural Insights into the Ligand–LsrK Kinase Binding Mode: A Step Forward in the Discovery of Novel Antimicrobial Agents
Authors: Listro Roberta , Milli Giorgio , Pellegrini Angelica , Motta Chiara , Cavalloro Valeria , Martino Emanuela , Kirchmair Johannes , Pietrocola Giampiero , Rossi Daniela , Linciano Pasquale , Collina Simona
Published: March 2023

LsrK is a bacterial kinase that triggers the quorum sensing, and it represents a druggable target for the identification of new agents for fighting antimicrobial resistance. Herein, we exploited tryptophan fluorescence spectroscopy (TFS) as a suitable technique for the identification of potential LsrK ligands from an in-house library of chemicals comprising synthetic compounds as well as secondary metabolites. Three secondary metabolites (Hib-ester, Hib-carbaldehyde and (R)-ASME) showed effective binding to LsrK, with KD values in the sub-micromolar range. The conformational changes were confirmed via circular dichroism and molecular docking results further validated the findings and displayed the specific mode of interaction. The activity of the identified compounds on the biofilm formation by some Staphylococcus spp. was investigated. Hib-carbaldehyde and (R)-ASME were able to reduce the production of biofilm, with (R)-ASME resulting in the most effective compound with an EC50 of 14 mg/well. The successful application of TFS highlights its usefulness in searching for promising LsrK inhibitor candidates with inhibitor efficacy against biofilm formation.
The Novel Chiral 2(5H)-Furanone Sulfones Possessing Terpene Moiety: Synthesis and Biological Activity
Authors: Khabibrakhmanova Alsu M. , Faizova Roza G. , Lodochnikova Olga A. , Zamalieva Regina R. , Latypova Liliya Z. , Trizna Elena Y. , Porfiryev Andrey G. , Tanaka Katsunori , Sachenkov Oskar A. , Kayumov Airat R. , Kurbangalieva Almira R.
Published: March 2023

Over the past decades, 2(5H)-furanone derivatives have been extensively studied because of their promising ability to prevent the biofilm formation by various pathogenic bacteria. Here, we report the synthesis of a series of optically active sulfur-containing 2(5H)-furanone derivatives and characterize their biological activity. Novel thioethers were obtained by an interaction of stereochemically pure 5-(l)-menthyloxy- or 5-(l)-bornyloxy-2(5H)-furanones with aromatic thiols under basic conditions. Subsequent thioethers oxidation by an excess of hydrogen peroxide in acetic acid resulted in the formation of the corresponding chiral 2(5H)-furanone sulfones. The structure of synthesized compounds was confirmed by IR and NMR spectroscopy, HRMS, and single crystal X-ray diffraction. The leading compound, 26, possessing the sulfonyl group and l-borneol moiety, exhibited the prominent activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus subtilis with MICs of 8 μg/mL. Furthermore, at concentrations of 0.4–0.5 μg/mL, the sulfone 26 increased two-fold the efficacy of aminoglycosides gentamicin and amikacin against S. aureus. The treatment of the model-infected skin wound in the rat with a combination of gentamicin and sulfone 26 speeded up the bacterial decontamination and improved the healing of the wound. The presented results provide valuable new insights into the chemistry of 2(5H)-furanone derivatives and associated biological activities.
Advances in the Modification of Silane-Based Sol-Gel Coating to Improve the Corrosion Resistance of Magnesium Alloys
Authors: Li Jiao , Bai Huanhuan , Feng Zhiyuan
Published: March 2023

As the lightest structural materials, magnesium (Mg) alloys play a significant role in vehicle weight reduction, aerospace, military equipment, energy saving, and emission reduction. However, the poor corrosion resistance of Mg alloys has become a bottleneck restricting its wide application. Developing a good surface protective coating can effectively improve the corrosion resistance of Mg alloys. The silane-based sol-gel coating technology has been widely used in the corrosion protection of Mg alloys in recent years due to its advantages of simple process, accessible tailoring of film composition and structure, and excellent corrosion resistance. Whereas the synthesis of sol-gel coatings includes the hydrolysis and dehydration process, which may inherently contain micron or nano defects in the coatings, thereby making it detrimental to the anti-corrosion effect. Therefore, in order to enhance their protection against corrosion, the appropriate modification of sol-gel coatings has become a current research hotspot. This review is based on the modification methods of silane-based sol-gels on the surface of Mg alloys, which are divided into four categories: bare sol-gel, nanoparticles, corrosion inhibitors, and sol-gel-based composite coatings. The modification methods and corrosion protection mechanism are discussed respectively, and the application, development, and research strategies of silane-based sol-gel coatings are included.
Chemical Composition and Biological Activities of Essential Oils of Four Asarum Species Growing in Vietnam
Authors: Minh Pham Thi Hong , Tuan Nguyen Thuong , Van Nguyen Thi Hong , Bich Hoang Thi , Lam Do Tien
Published: March 2023

The essential oils (EOs) of the aerial parts of four Asarum species (A. geophilum, A. yentunensis, A. splendens and A. cordifolium) were isolated by steam distillation and analyzed by the GC/MS method. The A. cordifolium EO contains 33 constituents with the main component being elemicine (77.20%). The A. geophilum EO was contains 49 constituents with the main components being determined as 9-epi-(E)-caryophyllene (18.43%), eudesm-7(11)-en-4-ol (13.41%), β-caryophyllene (8.05%) and phytol (7.23%). The A. yentunensis EO contains 26 constituents with the main components being safrole (64.74%) and sesquicineole (15.34%). The EO of A. splendens contains 41 constituents with the main components being 9-epi-(E)-caryophyllene (15.76%), eudesm-7(11)-en-4-ol (14.21%), β-caryophyllene (9.52%) and trans-bicyclogermacrene (7.50%). For antimicrobial activity, the A. yentunensis EO exhibited the highest inhibition activity against Staphylococcus aureus and the A. cordifolium EO against Bacillus subtillis (MIC values of 100 μg/mL). For antioxidant activity, the A. geophilum EO showed the highest potential with an SC (%) value of 63.34 ± 1.0%, corresponding to an SC50 value of 28.57 µg/mL. For anti-inflammatory activity, the A. splendens EO exhibited the highest potential with an IC50 value of 21.68 µg/mL, corresponding to an inhibition rate of NO production of 69.58 ± 1.3% and the percentage of cell life was 81.85 ± 0.9%.
Qualitative Analysis of Novel Flavonoid Adducts from Nerve Agent Tabun-Exposed Arabidopsis thaliana (L.) Based on Quadrupole–Time of Flight Mass Spectrometry
Authors: Xing Zhongfang , Zhang Ruiqian , Zhao Zhehui , Yuan Ling , Yu Huilan , Yang Yang , Yang Yuntao , Liu Shilei , Pei Chengxin
Published: March 2023

Flavonoids are a kind of secondary metabolite which widely exist in plants. They contain a lot of active hydroxyls, which can react with toxic chemicals to produce potential exposure biomarkers. In this article, the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana (L.) was exposed to the nerve agent O-Ethyl N,N-dimethyl phosphoramidocyanidate (Tabun). By comparing with the plant not exposed to Tabun, some characteristic ions were identified by quadrupole–time of flight mass spectrometry in the acetonitrile extract of the exposed leaves. These characteristic ions were selected as parent ions to produce product ion mass spectra (PIMS). Some interesting fragmentation pathways were revealed, including neutral loss of glucoside, rhamnose and ethylene. O-Ethyl N,N-dimethyl phosphoryl modified flavonoids were deduced from assignment of the PIMS. The element components and the accurate mass of the product ions from each parent ion matched well with those of the proposed fragmentation pathways. Through comparison with the PIMS of structurally closely related chemical of Isobutyl methylphosphonyl modified flavonoids, the structures and the fragmentation pathways of the O-Ethyl N,N-dimethyl phosphoryl modified flavonoids were finally confirmed. Successfully finding and identifying these three specific exposure biomarkers in plants provided a new strategy for the retrospective analysis of organophosphorus exposure and forensic analysis.
Deciphering Selectivity Mechanism of BRD9 and TAF1(2) toward Inhibitors Based on Multiple Short Molecular Dynamics Simulations and MM-GBSA Calculations
Authors: Wang Lifei , Wang Yan , Yu Yingxia , Liu Dong , Zhao Juan , Zhang Lulu
Published: March 2023

BRD9 and TAF1(2) have been regarded as significant targets of drug design for clinically treating acute myeloid leukemia, malignancies, and inflammatory diseases. In this study, multiple short molecular dynamics simulations combined with the molecular mechanics generalized Born surface area method were employed to investigate the binding selectivity of three ligands, 67B, 67C, and 69G, to BRD9/TAF1(2) with IC50 values of 230/59 nM, 1400/46 nM, and 160/410 nM, respectively. The computed binding free energies from the MM-GBSA method displayed good correlations with that provided by the experimental data. The results indicate that the enthalpic contributions played a critical factor in the selectivity recognition of inhibitors toward BRD9 and TAF1(2), indicating that 67B and 67C could more favorably bind to TAF1(2) than BRD9, while 69G had better selectivity toward BRD9 over TAF1(2). In addition, the residue-based free energy decomposition approach was adopted to calculate the inhibitor–residue interaction spectrum, and the results determined the gatekeeper (Y106 in BRD9 and Y1589 in TAF1(2)) and lipophilic shelf (G43, F44, and F45 in BRD9 and W1526, P1527, and F1528 in TAF1(2)), which could be identified as hotspots for designing efficient selective inhibitors toward BRD9 and TAF1(2). This work is also expected to provide significant theoretical guidance and insightful molecular mechanisms for the rational designs of efficient selective inhibitors targeting BRD9 and TAF1(2).
Antioxidant and Lipid-Lowering Effects of Buriti Oil (Mauritia flexuosa L.) Administered to Iron-Overloaded Rats
Authors: de Souza Aquino Jailane , Batista Kamila Sabino , Araujo-Silva Gabriel , dos Santos Darlan Coutinho , de Brito Naira Josele Neves , López Jorge A. , da Silva João Andrade , das Graças Almeida Maria , Pincheira Carla Guzmán , Magnani Marciane , de Pontes Pessoa Débora C. Nepomuceno , Stamford Tânia L. Montenegro
Published: March 2023

The indiscriminate use of oral ferrous sulfate (FeSO4) doses induces significant oxidative damage to health. However, carotene-rich foods such as buriti oil can help the endogenous antioxidant defense and still maintain other body functions. This study aimed to assess the effects of buriti oil intake in iron-overloaded rats by FeSO4 administration. Buriti oil has β-carotene (787.05 mg/kg), α-tocopherol (689.02 mg/kg), and a predominance of monounsaturated fatty acids (91.30 g/100 g). Wistar rats (n = 32) were subdivided into two control groups that were fed a diet containing either soybean or buriti oil; and two groups which received a high daily oral dose of FeSO4 (60 mg/kg body weight) and fed a diet containing either soybean (SFe) or buriti oil (Bfe). The somatic and hematological parameters, serum lipids, superoxide dismutase (SOD), and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) were determined after 17 days of iron overload. Somatic parameters were similar among groups. BFe showed a decrease in low-density lipoprotein (38.43%) and hemoglobin (7.51%); an increase in monocytes (50.98%), SOD activity in serum (87.16%), and liver (645.50%) hepatic GPx (1017.82%); and maintained serum GPx compared to SFe. Buriti oil showed systemic and hepatic antioxidant protection in iron-overloaded rats, which may be related to its high carotenoid, tocopherol, and fatty acid profile.
Pyrrole-2-carboxaldehydes: Origins and Physiological Activities
Authors: Matsugo Seiichi , Nakamura Yutaka
Published: March 2023

Pyrrole-2-carboxaldehyde (Py-2-C) derivatives have been isolated from many natural sources, including fungi, plants (roots, leaves, and seeds), and microorganisms. The well-known diabetes molecular marker, pyrraline, which is produced after sequential reactions in vivo, has a Py-2-C skeleton. Py-2-Cs can be chemically produced by the strong acid-catalyzed condensation of glucose and amino acid derivatives in vitro. These observations indicate the importance of the Py-2-C skeleton in vivo and suggest that molecules containing this skeleton have various biological functions. In this review, we have summarized Py-2-C derivatives based on their origins. We also discuss the structural characteristics, natural sources, and physiological activities of isolated compounds containing the Py-2-C group.
Cytotoxic Activity of Amaryllidaceae Plants against Cancer Cells: Biotechnological, In Vitro, and In Silico Approaches
Authors: Trujillo Lina , Bedoya Janeth , Cortés Natalie , Osorio Edison H. , Gallego Juan-Carlos , Leiva Hawer , Castro Dagoberto , Osorio Edison
Published: March 2023

Cancer is a major cause of death and an impediment to increasing life expectancy worldwide. With the aim of finding new molecules for chemotherapeutic treatment of epidemiological relevance, ten alkaloid fractions from Amaryllidaceae species were tested against six cancer cell lines (AGS, BT-549, HEC-1B, MCF-7, MDA-MB 231, and PC3) with HaCat as a control cell line. Some species determined as critically endangered with minimal availability were propagated using in vitro plant tissue culture techniques. Molecular docking studies were carried out to illustrate binding orientations of the 30 Amaryllidaceae alkaloids identified in the active site of some molecular targets involved with anti-cancer activity for potential anti-cancer drugs. In gastric cancer cell line AGS, the best results (lower cell viability percentages) were obtained for Crinum jagus (48.06 ± 3.35%) and Eucharis bonplandii (45.79 ± 3.05%) at 30 µg/mL. The research focused on evaluating the identified alkaloids on the Bcl-2 protein family (Mcl-1 and Bcl-xL) and HK2, where the in vitro, in silico and statistical results suggest that powelline and buphanidrine alkaloids could present cytotoxic activity. Finally, combining experimental and theoretical assays allowed us to identify and characterize potentially useful alkaloids for cancer treatment.
Community Mobilization and Community Incentivization (CoMIC) Strategy for Child Health in a Rural Setting of Pakistan: Study Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Das Jai K. , Salam Rehana A. , Rizvi Arjumand , Soofi Sajid B. , Bhutta Zulfiqar A.
Published: March 2023

Despite the decline in under-five mortality by over 60% in the last three decades, majority of child mortality is still attributable to communicable and infectious diseases that are not only preventable, but they are also treatable. We evaluated the potential impact of a participatory community engagement and innovative community incentivization (C3I) strategy for improving the coverage of child health interventions in a rural setting in Pakistan. We first undertook formative research to assess community knowledge and the likelihood of collective community strategy and conditional incentives for improving existing preventive and care-seeking practices for childhood diarrhea and pneumonia. We developed options for community incentivization and improving group practices, taking local norms and customs into account in the design of the community mobilization strategies and messages. These interventions were then formally evaluated prospectively in a three-arm cluster randomized controlled trial. Clusters were randomly assigned by a computer algorithm using restricted randomization by an external statistician (1:1:1) into three groups: community mobilization and incentivization (CMI); community mobilization only using an enhanced communication package (CM); and control group. The C3I was an innovative strategy as it involved serial incremental targets of collective improvement in community behavior related to improvement in the coverage of a composite indicator of fully immunized children (FIC), oral rehydration salt (ORS), and the sanitation index (SI). The evaluation was done by an independent data collection and analysis team at baseline and end line (after 24 months).
Facilitation by Haloxylon persicum Shrubs Enhances Density and Richness of Soil Seed Bank of Annual Plants in a Hyper-Arid Ecosystem
Authors: Gomaa Nasr H. , Hegazy Ahmad K. , Alhaithloul Haifa Abdulaziz S.
Published: March 2023

The soil seed bank is an essential functional component of plant communities. In arid ecosystems, the island-like distribution of shrubs influences the spatial distribution of the soil seed bank. Very little is known about seed banks in deserts of the Middle East. The present study aimed to evaluate the facilitative effects of Haloxylon persicum shrubs on the soil seed bank of annual plants in a sandy desert region in northwestern Saudi Arabia during two consecutive growing seasons (2017–2018 and 2018–2019) with contrasting rainfall. A total of 480 soil samples at 12 stands were collected from two microhabitats, under shrubs and in open areas, soon after the two growing seasons. The germinable seed bank of annual plants was estimated by controlled seedling emergence method. Shrubs significantly facilitated the accumulation of seed bank beneath their canopies after the two growing seasons. In both microhabitats, the size and species richness of soil seed bank were significantly greater after the wet growing season (2018–2019) than following the dry season (2017–2018). The facilitative effects of shrubs were greater following the moister growing season than after the dry season. The effect of shrubs on seed bank–annual vegetation similarity varied between growing seasons, being greater in shrub interspaces than beneath shrub canopies for the dry growing season, while during the wet season, the similarity of the seed bank with standing annual vegetation was greater in sub-canopy microhabitat than in bare soil.
Applying Access Control Enabled Blockchain (ACE-BC) Framework to Manage Data Security in the CIS System
Authors: Alharbi Abdullah
Published: March 2023

Cybersecurity information sharing (CIS) is important in different business processes to secure data transmission, because it comprises Internet of Things (IoT) connectivity, workflow automation, collaboration, and communication. The shared information is influenced by intermediate users and alters the originality of the information. Although risk factors such as confidentiality and privacy of the data are reduced when using a cyber defense system, existing techniques rely on a centralized system that may be damaged during an accident. In addition, private information sharing faces rights issues when accessing sensitive information. The research issues influence trust, privacy, and security in a third-party environment. Therefore, this work uses the Access Control Enabled Blockchain (ACE-BC) framework to enhance overall data security in CIS. The ACE-BC framework uses attribute encryption techniques to manage data security, while the access control mechanism limits unauthorized user access. The effective utilization of blockchain techniques ensures overall data privacy and security. The efficiency of the introduced framework was evaluated using experimental results, and the experimental outcome indicated that the recommended ACE-BC framework enhanced the data confidentiality ratio (98.9%), the throughput ratio (98.2%), the efficiency ratio (97.4%), and the latency rate (10.9%) when compared to other popular models.
Better Data from AI Users: A Field Experiment on the Impacts of Robot Self-Disclosure on the Utterance of Child Users in Home Environment
Authors: Lee Byounggwan , Park Doeun , Yoon Junhee , Kim Jinwoo
Published: March 2023

Data are one of the important factors in artificial intelligence (AI). Moreover, in order for AI to understand the user and go beyond the role of a simple machine, the data contained in the user’s self-disclosure is required. In this study, two types of robot self-disclosures (disclosing robot utterance, involving user utterance) are proposed to elicit higher self-disclosure from AI users. Additionally, this study examines the moderating effects of multi-robot conditions. In order to investigate these effects empirically and increase the implications of research, a field experiment with prototypes was conducted in the context of using smart speaker of children. The results indicate that both types of robot self-disclosures were effective in eliciting the self-disclosure of children. The interaction effect between disclosing robot and involving user was found to take a different direction depending on the sub-dimension of the user’s self-disclosure. Multi-robot conditions partially moderate the effects of the two types of robot self-disclosures.
Experimental Investigation of Relative Localization Estimation in a Coordinated Formation Control of Low-Cost Underwater Drones
Authors: Soriano Thierry , Pham Hoang Anh , Gies Valentin
Published: March 2023

This study presents a relative localization estimation method for a group of low-cost underwater drones (l-UD), which only uses visual feedback provided by an on-board camera and IMU data. It aims to design a distributed controller for a group of robots to reach a specific shape. This controller is based on a leader–follower architecture. The main contribution is to determine the relative position between the l-UD without using digital communication and sonar positioning methods. In addition, the proposed implementation of the EKF to fuse the vision data and the IMU data improves the prediction capability in cases where the robot is out of view of the camera. This approach allows the study and testing of distributed control algorithms for low-cost underwater drones. Finally, three robot operating system (ROS) platform-based BlueROVs are used in an experiment in a near-realistic environment. The experimental validation of the approach has been obtained by investigating different scenarios.
Serotonin-Derived Fluorophore: A Novel Fluorescent Biomaterial for Copper Detection in Urine
Authors: Lettieri Mariagrazia , Scarano Simona , Caponi Laura , Bertolini Andrea , Saba Alessandro , Palladino Pasquale , Minunni Maria
Published: March 2023

We took advantage of the fluorescent features of a serotonin-derived fluorophore to develop a simple and low-cost assay for copper in urine. The quenching-based fluorescence assay linearly responds within the concentration range of clinical interest in buffer and in artificial urine, showing very good reproducibility (CVav% = 4% and 3%) and low detection limits (16 ± 1 μg L−1 and 23 ± 1 μg L−1). The Cu2+ content was also estimated in human urine samples, showing excellent analytical performances (CVav% = 1%), with a limit of detection of 59 ± 3 μg L−1 and a limit of quantification of 97 ± 11 μg L−1, which are below the reference value for a pathological Cu2+ concentration. The assay was successfully validated through mass spectrometry measurements. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first example of copper ion detection exploiting the fluorescence quenching of a biopolymer, offering a potential diagnostic tool for copper-dependent diseases.
Mass-Manufacturable 3D Magnetic Force Sensor for Robotic Grasping and Slip Detection
Authors: Le Signor Théo , Dupré Nicolas , Didden Jeroen , Lomakin Eugene , Close Gaël
Published: March 2023

The manipulation of delicate objects remains a key challenge in the development of industrial robotic grippers. Magnetic force sensing solutions, which provide the required sense of touch, have been demonstrated in previous work. The sensors feature a magnet embedded within a deformable elastomer, which is mounted on top of a magnetometer chip. A key drawback of these sensors lies in the manufacturing process, which relies on the manual assembly of the magnet–elastomer transducer, impacting both the repeatability of measurements across sensors and the potential for a cost-effective solution through mass-manufacturing. In this paper, a magnetic force sensor solution is presented with an optimized manufacturing process that will facilitate mass production. The elastomer–magnet transducer was fabricated using injection molding, and the assembly of the transducer unit, on top of the magnetometer chip, was achieved using semiconductor manufacturing techniques. The sensor enables robust differential 3D force sensing within a compact footprint (5 mm × 4.4 mm × 4.6 mm). The measurement repeatability of these sensors was characterized over multiple samples and 300,000 loading cycles. This paper also showcases how the 3D high-speed sensing capabilities of these sensors can enable slip detection in industrial grippers.
Quantification of Movement Error from Spiral Drawing Test
Authors: Yoon Hyunjin , Ahn Minkyu
Published: March 2023

Parkinson’s disease is a neurodegenerative disease that often comes with symptoms such as muscle stiffness, slowness of movement, and tremors at rest. Since this disease negatively influences the quality of life in patients, an early and accurate diagnosis is important for slowing the progression of the disease and providing effective treatment to patients. One of the quick and easy methods for diagnosing is the spiral drawing test and the differences between the target spiral picture and the drawing by patients can be used as an indicator of movement error. Simply, the average distance between paired samples of the target spiral and the drawing can be easily calculated and used as the level of movement error. However, finding the correct pair of samples between the target spiral and the drawing is relatively difficult, and the accurate algorithm to quantify the movement error has not been thoroughly studied. In this study, we propose algorithms applicable to the spiral drawing test, that ultimately can be used to measure the level of movement error in Parkinson’s disease patients. They are equivalent inter-point distance (ED), shortest distance (SD), varying inter-point distance (VD), and equivalent angle (EA). To evaluate the performance and sensitivity of the methods, we collected data from simulation and experiments with healthy subjects and evaluated the four methods. As a result, in normal (good drawing) and severe symptom (poor drawing) conditions, the calculated errors were 3.67/5.48 from ED, 0.11/1.21 from SD, 0.38/1.46 from VD and 0.01/0.02 from EA, meaning that ED, SD, and VD measure movement error with high noise while EA is sensitive to even small symptom levels. Similarly, in the experiment data, only EA shows the linear increase of error distance to changing symptom levels from 1 to 3. In summary, we found that EA is the most effective algorithm in finding the correct pair of samples between the spiral and the drawing, and consequently yields low errors and high sensitivity to symptom levels.
A New Acoustical Autonomous Method for Identifying Endangered Whale Calls: A Case Study of Blue Whale and Fin Whale
Authors: Sattar Farook
Published: March 2023

In this paper, we study to improve acoustical methods to identify endangered whale calls with emphasis on the blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus) and fin whale (Balaenoptera physalus). A promising method using wavelet scattering transform and deep learning is proposed here to detect/classify the whale calls quite precisely in the increasingly noisy ocean with a small dataset. The performances shown in terms of classification accuracy (>97%) demonstrate the efficiency of the proposed method which outperforms the relevant state-of-the-art methods. In this way, passive acoustic technology can be enhanced to monitor endangered whale calls. Efficient tracking of their numbers, migration paths and habitat become vital to whale conservation by lowering the number of preventable injuries and deaths while making progress in their recovery.
Back-Projected Signal-Based Self-Interferometric Phase Analysis Technique for Sea Surface Observation Using a Single Scatterometer System
Authors: Hwang Ji-hwan , Kim Duk-jin
Published: March 2023

This manuscript presents a self-interferometric phase analysis technique for sea surface observation using a single scatterometer system. The self-interferometric phase is proposed to complement the imprecise analysis results due to the very meager signal strength measured at a high incident angle of more than 30°, which is a vulnerability of the existing analysis method using the Doppler frequency based on the backscattered signal strength. Moreover, compared to conventional interferometry, it is characterized by the phase-based analysis using consecutive signals from a single scatterometer system without any auxiliary system or channel. To apply the interferometric signal process on the moving sea surface observation, it is necessary to secure a reference target; however, this is hard to solve in practice. Hence, we adopted the back-projection algorithm to project the radar signals onto a fixed reference position above the sea surface, where the theoretical model for extracting the self-interferometric phase was derived from the radar-received signal model applying the back-projection algorithm. The observation performance of the proposed method was verified using the raw data collected at the Ieodo Ocean Research Station in Republic of Korea. In the observation result for wind velocity at the high incident angles of 40° and 50°, the self-interferometric phase analysis technique shows a better performance of a correlation coefficient of more than about 0.779 and an RMSE (root-mean-square error) of about 1.69 m/s compared to the existing method of a correlation coefficient of less than 0.62 and RMSE of more than 2.46 m/s.
Acoustic Source Localization in CFRP Composite Plate Based on Wave Velocity-Direction Function Fitting
Authors: Zhang Yu , Feng Yu , Rui Xiaobo , Xu Lixin , Qi Lei , Yang Zi , Hu Cong , Liu Peng , Zhang Haijiang
Published: March 2023

Composite materials are widely used, but they are often subjected to impacts from foreign objects, causing structural damage. To ensure the safety of use, it is necessary to locate the impact point. This paper investigates impact sensing and localization technology for composite plates and proposes a method of acoustic source localization for CFRP composite plates based on wave velocity-direction function fitting. This method divides the grid of composite plates, constructs the theoretical time difference matrix of the grid points, and compares it with the actual time difference to form an error matching matrix to localize the impact source. In this paper, finite element simulation combined with a lead-break experiment is used to explore the wave velocity-angle function relationship of Lamb waves in composite materials. The simulation experiment is used to verify the feasibility of the localization method, and the lead-break experimental system is built to locate the actual impact source. The results show that the acoustic emission time-difference approximation method can effectively solve the problem of impact source localization in composite structures, and the average localization error is 1.44 cm and the maximum localization error is 3.35 cm in 49 experimental points with good stability and accuracy.
Calibration Model Optimization for Strain Metrology of Equal Strength Beams Using Deflection Measurements
Authors: Yan Yonggang , Wu Zhengxing , Cui Jianjun , Chen Kai , Tang Yanhong , Yang Ning
Published: March 2023

Strain sensors, especially fiber Bragg grating (FBG) sensors, are of great importance in structural health monitoring, mechanical property analysis, and so on. Their metrological accuracy is typically evaluated by equal strength beams. The traditional strain calibration model using the equal strength beams was built based on an approximation method by small deformation theory. However, its measurement accuracy would be decreased while the beams are under the large deformation condition or under high temperature environments. For this reason, an optimized strain calibration model is developed for equal strength beams based on the deflection method. By combining the structural parameters of a specific equal strength beam and finite element analysis method, a correction coefficient is introduced into the traditional model, and an accurate application-oriented optimization formula is obtained for specific projects. The determination method of optimal deflection measurement position is also presented to further improve the strain calibration accuracy by error analysis of the deflection measurement system. Strain calibration experiments of the equal strength beam were carried out, and the error introduced by the calibration device can be reduced from 10 με to less than 1 με. Experimental results show that the optimized strain calibration model and the optimum deflection measurement position can be employed successfully under large deformation conditions, and the deformation measurement accuracy is improved greatly. This study is helpful to effectively establish metrological traceability for strain sensors and furthermore improve the measurement accuracy of strain sensors in practical engineering scenarious.
Development of Innovative Online Modularized Device for Turbidity Monitoring
Authors: Chu Chen-Hua , Lin Yu-Xuan , Liu Chun-Kuo , Lai Mei-Chun
Published: March 2023

Given progress in water-quality analytical technology and the emergence of the Internet of Things (IoT) in recent years, compact and durable automated water-quality monitoring devices have substantial market potential. Due to susceptibility to the influence of interfering substances, which lowers measurement accuracy, existing automated online monitoring devices for turbidity, a key indicator of a natural water body, feature a single light source and are thus insufficient for more complicated water-quality measurement. The newly developed modularized water-quality monitoring device boasts dual light sources (VIS/NIR), capable of measuring the intensity of scattering, transmission, and reference light at the same time. Coupled with a water-quality prediction model, it can attain a good estimate for continuing monitoring of tap water (<2 NTU, error < 0.16 NTU, relative error < 19.6%) and environmental water samples (<400 NTU, error < 3.86 NTU, relative error < 2.3%). This indicates the optical module can both monitor water quality in low turbidity and provide water-treatment information alerts in high turbidity, thereby materializing automated water-quality monitoring.
Trustworthy Users: Using IOTA and IPFS for Attribute Validation in CP-ABE and dCP-ABE Schemes
Authors: Mosteiro-Sanchez Aintzane , Barcelo Marc , Astorga Jasone , Urbieta Aitor
Published: March 2023

Attribute spoofing is a major security threat in information exchange solutions based on Ciphertext-Policy Attribute-Based-Encryption (CP-ABE) and distributed CP-ABE (dCP-ABE), which can compromise privacy and security. This threat occurs when an attacker forces the Attribute Authorities to generate keys for attributes they do not possess. This paper analyzes the threat of attribute spoofing and identifies the primary attack vectors, including direct interference with the Attribute Authority and compromise of the shared attribute storage database. The authors propose a solution based on IOTA, a DAG-type DLT, and Interplanetary File System (IPFS) to prevent attribute spoofing. The solution requires distributed attribute storage, validation, and user authentication to counteract the two attack vectors effectively. The proposed solution mitigates the consequences of attribute spoofing, including privilege escalation and reduction, acquisition of private keys, and cutoff of data access. The authors also evaluate their proposal through a value-chain use case and conclude that it effectively mitigates the consequences of attribute spoofing.
Analyzing Air Pollution and Traffic Data in Urban Areas in Luxembourg
Authors: Aggoune-Mtalaa Wassila , Laib Mohamed
Published: March 2023

Monitoring air quality is gaining popularity in the research community since it can help policymakers make the right decisions for mitigating the negative effects of the ever-increasing pollution in cities. One of the significant sources of air pollution in urban areas is road transport. Assessing and understanding the relationship between urban traffic and local pollutants is crucial to maintaining sustainable urban mobility. This paper presents an exploratory data analysis of air pollution and traffic in some cities in Luxembourg. Furthermore, we studied the link that several pollutants have with other parameters, such as temperature and humidity. The paper also focuses on traffic and offers more insights for sustainable urban mobility.
Silica and Biochar Amendments Improve Cucumber Growth under Saline Conditions
Authors: Al-Toobi Manar , Janke Rhonda R. , Khan Muhammad Mumtaz , Ahmed Mushtaque , Al-Busaidi Waleed M. , Rehman Abdul
Published: March 2023

Rapidly increasing salinization of arable land is a major threat to crop production globally, and the soil of regions with arid environments, such as Oman, are more prone to this menace. In this work, two complementary studies were carried out to evaluate the effect of soil amendments on soil physicochemical properties and growth of cucumber seedlings. In the first study, high- and low-saline soils were used with or without perlite. The amendments tested included mango wood biochar, silica, and biochar + silica, while no amendment was taken as the control. The second study included two cucumber cultivars and irrigation water with two salinity treatments, along with the same four soil amendments. The results showed that soil amendment with biochar alone or with silica enhanced the soil organic matter and NO3, P, and K concentration, while silica amendment substantially enhanced the soil Si level in both studies. Saline soil and irrigation water inhibited seedling emergence and plant growth in both experiments. However, the addition of biochar and silica alone or in combination increased the cucumber seedling dry weight from 39.5 to 77.3% under salt stress compared to the control. Likewise, silica and biochar + silica reduced the sap Na accumulation by 29–31.1% under high salinity. Application of biochar under high salinity resulted in 87.2% increase in sap K. Soil amendments with biochar and silica or their combination have the potential to reduce the adverse effect of salt stress on cucumber.
Impact of Entrepreneurial Activity and ICT Development on Sustainable Development: Evidence from High-Income Countries
Authors: Karabetyan Lina
Published: March 2023

Sustainable development has become a vital issue in the globalizing world given the food insecurity, climate change, significant degradation of the environment and depletion of natural resources, and biodiversity loss. Therefore, the identification of the key factors behind sustainable development is important for the planning and application of the proper policies by countries. In this context, the institutional, demographic, social, and economic determinants of overall sustainable development have been extensively explored, but the interplay among sustainable development, entrepreneurial activity, and ICT development has stayed relatively untouched. This article investigates the effect of entrepreneurial activity, proxied by total early-stage entrepreneurial activity and ICT development, on the overall sustainable development of 15 high-income countries over the 2002–2018 period; it uses the Westerlund and Edgerton cointegration test with a structural break, taking notice of the gap in the empirical literature regarding the determinants of sustainable development. The cointegration analysis shows that entrepreneurial activity and ICT development have a positive influence on sustainable development in the long run, but that the effect of ICT on overall sustainable development is shown to be stronger in comparison to entrepreneurial activity. ICT penetration and entrepreneurial activity should be encouraged through institutional, educational, and fiscal incentives to make progress in sustainable development.
Symmetry of Identical Particles, Modern Achievements in the Pauli Exclusion Principle, in Superconductivity and in Some Other Phenomena
Authors: Columbié-Leyva Ronald , López-Vivas Alberto , Soullard Jacques , Miranda Ulises , Kaplan Ilya G.
Published: March 2023

In this review, the modern achievements in studies of the Pauli exclusion principle (PEP) and the properties of the identical particle systems when PEP is not fulfilled are discussed. The validity of conception of the spin in the framework of density functional theory (DFT) approaches is analyzed. The modern state of the recently discovered Fe-based superconductors is discussed in detail. These materials belong to the paramagnetic semimetal family and become superconductors upon doping. Recently, in 2020, room-temperature superconductivity was realized. However, from the following discussion in the SC community, it was not evident that the results of room-temperature superconductivity have been repeated by other laboratories. Thus, the question “is room temperature really achieved?” is still open. In the concluding remarks, we present the explanation of why the PEP limitations on the symmetry of identical particles system exist in nature, and following from it, some important consequences.