bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Purification of Lithium Carbonate from Radioactive Contaminants Using a MnO2-Based Inorganic Sorbent
Authors: Gileva Olga , Aryal Pabitra , Choe JunSeok , Kim Yena , Kim Yeongduk , Lee Eunkyung , Lee Moo Hyun , Milyutin Vitaly , Shin KeonAh , Yeon Hyojin
Published: October 2023

The possibility of deep radiochemical purification of Li2CO3 has been examined in the context of the purification program of the AMoRE collaboration. In this experiment, commercial Li2CO3 was converted into LiNO3. Co-precipitation with inorganic salt-based carriers followed by membrane filtration and sorption using MDM inorganic sorbent methods were tested for the removal of alkaline-earth and transition metals, potassium, magnesium, aluminum, uranium, thorium, and radium. The calcium molybdate-based carrier was the most efficient for removing Th, U, and K. Subsequently, the radium, calcium, and barium contamination was removed with MDM sorbent. After the impurities’ removal, the final Li2CO3 product was synthesized with NH4HCO3 sludge. The separation factors were derived by means of ICP-MS and HPGe analyses of the initial material and the intermediate and final products. The study showed the optimum conditions of co-precipitation and sorption to reach a high yield and radiopurity of lithium carbonate used for low-radioactive-background experiments. The developed method is an important step toward performing next-generation large-scale (1-ton) neutrino experiments using Li-containing detectors.
Multi-Channel Time-Domain Boring-Vibration-Enhancement Method Using RNN Networks
Authors: Xu Xiaolin , Li Juhu , Zhang Huarong
Published: October 2023

The larvae of certain wood-boring beetles typically inhabit the interior of trees and feed on the wood, leaving almost no external traces during the early stages of infestation. Acoustic techniques are commonly employed to detect the vibrations produced by these larvae while they feed on wood, significantly increasing detection efficiency compared to traditional methods. However, this method’s accuracy is greatly affected by environmental noise interference. To address the impact of environmental noise, this paper introduces a signal separation system based on a multi-channel attention mechanism. The system utilizes multiple sensors to receive wood-boring vibration signals and employs the attention mechanism to adjust the weights of relevant channels. By utilizing beamforming techniques, the system successfully removes noise from the wood-boring vibration signals and separates the clean wood-boring vibration signals from the noisy ones. The data used in this study were collected from both field and laboratory environments, ensuring the authenticity of the dataset. Experimental results demonstrate that this system can efficiently separate the wood-boring vibration signals from the mixed noisy signals.
Mixer Design and Flow Rate as Critical Variables in Flow Chemistry Affecting the Outcome of a Chemical Reaction: A Review
Authors: Myachin Ilya V. , Kononov Leonid O.
Published: October 2023

Flow chemistry offers several advantages for performing chemical reactions and has become an important area of research. It may seem that sufficient knowledge has already been acquired on this topic to understand how to choose the design of microreactor/micromixer and flow rate in order to achieve the desired outcome of a reaction. However, some experimental data are difficult to explain based on commonly accepted concepts of chemical reactivity and performance of microfluidic systems. In this mini review, we attempt to identify such data and offer a rational explanation of unusual results based on the supramer approach. We demonstrate that variation in flow regime (determined by mixer design and flow rate) can either improve or worsen the reactivity and lead to completely different products, including stereoisomers. It is not necessary to mix the reagents with maximum efficiency. The real challenge is to mix reagents the right way since at a too high or too low flow rate (in the particular mixer), the molecules of reagents are incorrectly presented on the surface of supramers, leading to altered stereoselectivity, or form tight supramers, in which most of the molecules are located inside the supramer core and are inaccessible for attack, leading to low yields.
The Association between Advanced Maternal Age and the Manifestations of Preeclampsia with Severe Features
Authors: Gilboa Itamar , Kupferminc Michael , Schwartz Anat , Landsberg Ashereh Yisca , Yogev Yariv , Rappaport Skornik Avital , Klieger Chagit , Hiersch Liran , Rimon Eli
Published: October 2023

This retrospective cohort study aimed to explore the association between advanced maternal age and the clinical manifestations as well as laboratory parameters of preeclampsia with severe features. This study included 452 patients who were diagnosed with preeclampsia with severe features. The clinical and laboratorial characteristics of patients with preeclampsia with severe features aged ≥40 years old (study group) were compared to those of patients aged <40 years old (control group). Multivariant analysis was applied to assess the association between advanced maternal age and the manifestations of preeclampsia with severe features, adjusting for the variables that exhibited significant differences between the study and control groups. The multivariate analysis revealed that a maternal age of ≥40 years old was an independent risk factor for acute kidney injury (OR = 2.5, CI = 1.2–4.9, p = 0.011) and for new-onset postpartum preeclampsia (OR = 2.4, CI = 1.0–5.6, p = 0.046). Conversely, a maternal age ≥ 40 years old was associated with a reduced risk of HELLP syndrome (OR = 0.4, CI = 0.2–0.9, p = 0.018) and thrombocytopenia (OR = 0.5, CI = 0.3–0.9, p = 0.016) compared to that of the patients < 40 years of age. In conclusion, this study demonstrates that maternal age is significantly associated with the clinical manifestations and laboratory parameters of preeclampsia with severe features, highlighting the importance of age-specific management.
Association between Serum Ferritin and Prognosis in Patients with Ischemic Heart Disease in Intensive Care Units
Authors: Liu Shun , Chen Mingxian , Tang Liang , Li Xuping , Zhou Shenghua
Published: October 2023

Purpose: Recent years have seen a clear link established between elevated ferritin levels and COVID-19 prognosis. However, the impact of heightened ferritin levels on the prognosis of individuals with severe ischemic heart disease remains uncertain. Methods: We utilized the MIMIC IV database to identify a cohort of ischemic heart disease patients who underwent serum ferritin testing. We conducted regression analyses, employed the overlap propensity score weighting model, and utilized the restricted cubic splines model to comprehensively investigate the associations between serum ferritin levels and clinical outcomes. Results: Our cohort included 1173 patients with diagnosed ischemic heart disease, categorized into high and low serum ferritin groups. After meticulous adjustment for confounding factors in a fully adjusted model, the hazard ratios (HRs) for 90-day and 1-year mortality were 1.63 (95% CI: 1.27–2.09) and 1.49 (95% CI: 1.19–1.86), respectively, in the high-ferritin group compared to the low-ferritin group. Subsequent analyses with propensity score weighting confirmed these results. Remarkably, restricted cubic spline analysis revealed an almost linear relationship between log-transformed serum ferritin levels and the risk of both 90-day and 1-year all-cause mortality. Moreover, incorporating ferritin into conventional severity of illness scores significantly improved the area under the curve for both 90-day and 1-year mortality. Conclusions: This study provides compelling evidence regarding the prognostic significance of serum ferritin in predicting 90-day and one-year mortality rates among patients diagnosed with ischemic heart disease.
The Association between Acetabulum Fractures and Subsequent Coxarthrosis in a Cohort of 77 Patients—A Retrospective Analysis of Predictors for Secondary Hip Osteoarthritis
Authors: Wójcicki Rafał , Pielak Tomasz , Erdmann Jakub , Walus Piotr , Małkowski Bartłomiej , Ohla Jakub , Łapaj Łukasz , Wiciński Michał , Zabrzyński Jan
Published: October 2023

Objective: the aim of this study was to document the occurrence of THA after acetabulum surgery and examine the factors that predict its occurrence. Methods: This study included 77 consecutive patients who were admitted for acetabulum fracture surgery between 2012 and 2019. The inclusion criteria were acetabular fractures and indications for operative management. The exclusion criteria were acetabular fractures treated non-operatively, fractures requiring primary THA, and periprosthetic acetabular fractures. Data concerning demographics, date of injury, date of surgery, surgical approach, stabilization, and further reconstructive surgery were collected retrospectively. The number of patients who underwent THA and their risk factors were recorded. The minimum follow-up for each patient was 2 years of observation. A total of 77 patients with a mean age of 53 years were included. Results: At a mean follow-up of 2 years, THA was performed in 16 (20.8%) patients due to post-traumatic arthritis. An analysis of the surgical approaches showed that the Kocher–Langenbeck approach increased the risk of THA nearly 12 times compared with the ilioinguinal approach (p = 0.016). Furthermore, the duration of the waiting period for surgery significantly impacted the occurrence of THA, with each additional day leading to an 89% increase in the risk of prosthesis usage (p = 0.001). Conclusions: This study suggests that acetabular fractures may lead to post-traumatic hip osteoarthritis. The surgical approach and the waiting time for surgery are potential factors that may predict secondary hip osteoarthritis and the need for subsequent THA. However, further investigations should be performed to establish predictors for secondary hip osteoarthritis, and especially to determine the impact of the surgical approach.
Relationships, Current Issues, Safety and Efficacy of Oral Anticoagulation in Cancer Patients with Atrial Fibrillation
Authors: Franchina Antonio Gabriele , Rocchetti Matteo , Sala Elena , Laricchia Alessandra , Minardi Alessandro , Spangaro Andrea , Guazzi Marco , Lucreziotti Stefano , Cereda Alberto
Published: October 2023

A relationship between malignancy and impaired hemostasis has been proven, and balancing clotting and bleeding risks can be challenging. Half of cancer patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) do not receive any oral anticoagulation (OAC). Using PubMed on the relationship between cancer and AF and their association with hemostasis, targeting studies comparing vitamin K antagonists (VKAs) and direct OAC (DOAC) strategies in AF cancer patients, three RCTs (>3000 patients) and eight observational studies (>250,000 patients) comparing different OACs were retrieved. The VKA prescribed was always warfarin. Dabigatran was the only DOAC not analyzed in the RCTs but the most used in non-randomized studies, whereas edoxaban-treated patients were the majority in the RCTs. Overall, the DOAC patients showed similar or lower rates of efficacy (thromboembolic) and safety (bleeding) outcomes compared to the VKA patients. DOACs are subject to fewer interactions with antineoplastic agents. DOACs may be preferable to VKAs as a thromboembolic prophylaxis in cancer patients with non-valvular AF.
Placental Vessel Segmentation Using Pix2pix Compared to U-Net
Authors: van der Schot Anouk , Sikkel Esther , Niekolaas Marèll , Spaanderman Marc , de Jong Guido
Published: October 2023

Computer-assisted technologies have made significant progress in fetoscopic laser surgery, including placental vessel segmentation. However, the intra- and inter-procedure variabilities in the state-of-the-art segmentation methods remain a significant hurdle. To address this, we investigated the use of conditional generative adversarial networks (cGANs) for fetoscopic image segmentation and compared their performance with the benchmark U-Net technique for placental vessel segmentation. Two deep-learning models, U-Net and pix2pix (a popular cGAN model), were trained and evaluated using a publicly available dataset and an internal validation set. The overall results showed that the pix2pix model outperformed the U-Net model, with a Dice score of 0.80 [0.70; 0.86] versus 0.75 [0.0.60; 0.84] (p-value < 0.01) and an Intersection over Union (IoU) score of 0.70 [0.61; 0.77] compared to 0.66 [0.53; 0.75] (p-value < 0.01), respectively. The internal validation dataset further validated the superiority of the pix2pix model, achieving Dice and IoU scores of 0.68 [0.53; 0.79] and 0.59 [0.49; 0.69] (p-value < 0.01), respectively, while the U-Net model obtained scores of 0.53 [0.49; 0.64] and 0.49 [0.17; 0.56], respectively. This study successfully compared U-Net and pix2pix models for placental vessel segmentation in fetoscopic images, demonstrating improved results with the cGAN-based approach. However, the challenge of achieving generalizability still needs to be addressed.
Correlation between Degenerative Thoracolumbar Kyphosis and Lumbar Posterior Muscle
Authors: Guo Chen , Xu Shuai , Liang Yan , Zheng Bin , Zhu Zhenqi , Liu Haiying
Published: October 2023

The relationship between spinal alignment, particularly degenerative thoracolumbar kyphosis (DTLK) combined with lumbar spine stenosis (LSS), and paraspinal muscle content remains underexplored. This study aimed to elucidate the characteristics of paraspinal muscle distribution in DTLK patients and its association with lumbar lordosis (LL) and body mass index (BMI). Methods: A case–control study was conducted comparing 126 patients with DTLK and LSS against 87 control patients. The lumbar crossing indentation value (LCIV) was introduced as a novel measurement for paraspinal muscle content, and its relationship with thoracolumbar kyphosis (TLK), BMI, and LL was assessed. Results: LCIV in DTLK patients was found to be lower than in the control group, with a progressive increase from the upper to lower lumbar spine. In the control group, paraspinal muscle content was observed to increase with age and BMI, and LCIV was higher in males. However, the DTLK group showed no gender difference. LCIV in the DTLK group was more pronounced in patients with increased LL. The degree of TLK was not influenced by BMI but was associated with the content of the paravertebral muscle. Conclusions: Paraspinal muscle content, as measured by LCIV, is significantly associated with DTLK and LSS. The study emphasizes the importance of considering paraspinal muscle health in DTLK patients and offers valuable insights for diagnosis and therapeutic interventions.
Improved Cropland Abandonment Detection with Deep Learning Vision Transformer (DL-ViT) and Multiple Vegetation Indices
Authors: Karim Mannan , Deng Jiqiu , Ayoub Muhammad , Dong Wuzhou , Zhang Baoyi , Yousaf Muhammad Shahzad , Bhutto Yasir Ali , Ishfaque Muhammad
Published: October 2023

Cropland abandonment is a worldwide problem that threatens food security and has significant consequences for the sustainable growth of the economy, society, and the natural ecosystem. However, detecting and mapping abandoned lands is challenging due to their diverse characteristics, like varying vegetation cover, spectral reflectance, and spatial patterns. To overcome these challenges, we employed Gaofen-6 (GF-6) imagery in conjunction with a Vision Transformer (ViT) model, harnessing self-attention and multi-scale feature learning to significantly enhance our ability to accurately and efficiently classify land covers. In Mianchi County, China, the study reveals that approximately 385 hectares of cropland (about 2.2% of the total cropland) were abandoned between 2019 and 2023. The highest annual abandonment occurred in 2021, with 214 hectares, followed by 170 hectares in 2023. The primary reason for the abandonment was the transformation of cropland into excavation activities, barren lands, and roadside greenways. The ViT’s performance peaked when multiple vegetation indices (VIs) were integrated into the GF-6 bands, resulting in the highest achieved results (F1 score = 0.89 and OA = 0.94). Our study represents an innovative approach by integrating ViT with 8 m multiband composite GF-6 imagery for precise identification and analysis of short-term cropland abandonment patterns, marking a distinct contribution compared to previous research. Moreover, our findings have broader implications for effective land use management, resource optimization, and addressing complex challenges in the field.
Controlled Delivery of 2-Mercapto 1-Methyl Imidazole by Metal–Organic Framework for Efficient Inhibition of Copper Corrosion in NaCl Solution
Authors: Zhu Zhishun , Zhang Xiulan
Published: October 2023

In this paper, zeolitic imidazolate framework-8 was modified by N-(3-aminopropyl)-imidazole to obtain a novel MOF called AMOF. Subsequently, AMOF served as a carrier for the delivery of 2-mercapto-1-methyl imidazole (MMI) to inhibit the corrosion of Cu. Scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and X-ray diffraction were applied to characterize the morphologies and structures of AMOF and AMOF@MMI. Ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy and thermogravimetric analysis were adopted to value the capacity of the load and release of the AMOF, respectively. The mass ratio of loaded MMI molecules was 18.15%. In addition, the inhibition behavior of AMOF@MMI for Cu was evaluated by polarization curves and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. The results indicated that the AMOF loaded MMI successfully, and the released MMI could adsorb on the Cu surface and inhibit the Cu corrosion. The inhibition efficiency could reach 88.2%. The binding and interaction energies between the AMOF surface and the MMI were −16.41 kJ/mol and −20.27 kJ/mol.
Improved Fault Classification and Localization in Power Transmission Networks Using VAE-Generated Synthetic Data and Machine Learning Algorithms
Authors: Khan Muhammad Amir , Asad Bilal , Vaimann Toomas , Kallaste Ants , Pomarnacki Raimondas , Hyunh Van Khang
Published: October 2023

The reliable operation of power transmission networks depends on the timely detection and localization of faults. Fault classification and localization in electricity transmission networks can be challenging because of the complicated and dynamic nature of the system. In recent years, a variety of machine learning (ML) and deep learning algorithms (DL) have found applications in the enhancement of fault identification and classification within power transmission networks. Yet, the efficacy of these ML architectures is profoundly dependent upon the abundance and quality of the training data. This intellectual explanation introduces an innovative strategy for the classification and pinpointing of faults within power transmission networks. This is achieved through the utilization of variational autoencoders (VAEs) to generate synthetic data, which in turn is harnessed in conjunction with ML algorithms. This approach encompasses the augmentation of the available dataset by infusing it with synthetically generated instances, contributing to a more robust and proficient fault recognition and categorization system. Specifically, we train the VAE on a set of real-world power transmission data and generate synthetic fault data that capture the statistical properties of real-world data. To overcome the difficulty of fault diagnosis methodology in three-phase high voltage transmission networks, a categorical boosting (Cat-Boost) algorithm is proposed in this work. The other standard machine learning algorithms recommended for this study, including Support Vector Machine (SVM), Decision Trees (DT), Random Forest (RF), and K-Nearest Neighbors (KNN), utilizing the customized version of forward feature selection (FFS), were trained using synthetic data generated by a VAE. The results indicate exceptional performance, surpassing current state-of-the-art techniques, in the tasks of fault classification and localization. Notably, our approach achieves a remarkable 99% accuracy in fault classification and an extremely low mean absolute error (MAE) of 0.2 in fault localization. These outcomes represent a notable advancement compared to the most effective existing baseline methods.
Associations between the Avatar Characteristics and Psychometric Test Results of VK Social Media Users
Authors: Stoliarova Valeriia , Bushmelev Fedor , Abramov Maxim
Published: October 2023

Online social media has an increasing influence on people’s lives, providing tools for communication and self–representation. People’s digital traces are gaining attention as a reflection of their personality traits, enhancing the personality computing tasks in various areas. This study aims at the identification of statistical associations between psychometric scores from three questionnaires—the Big Five Inventory, Plutchik’s Lifestyle Index and the Eysenck Personality Questionnaire—and a set of graphical features of avatar images from the VK online social media that include the pixel characteristics from the HSV and RGB color models and the number of persons and faces depicted in an avatar. The problem is considered from the statistical point of view. The dependency between psychometric scores and the number of faces/persons is assessed with the Kruskal–Wallis test with Dunn test pairwise comparisons. The color-pixel characteristics that are associated with the psychometric scores are selected with several fits of the regularized regression with L2 and MCP penalties. The data for the study were collected via a specially developed application for the online social media platform VK. The results of the analysis support existing research on how colors express personality and discover certain color-pixel image characteristics that could be used for personality computing models.
Multi-Objective Q-Learning-Based Brain Storm Optimization for Integrated Distributed Flow Shop and Distribution Scheduling Problems
Authors: Zhang Shuo , Xu Jianyou , Qiao Yingli
Published: October 2023

In recent years, integrated production and distribution scheduling (IPDS) has become an important subject in supply chain management. However, IPDS considering distributed manufacturing environments is rarely researched. Moreover, reinforcement learning is seldom combined with metaheuristics to deal with IPDS problems. In this work, an integrated distributed flow shop and distribution scheduling problem is studied, and a mathematical model is provided. Owing to the problem’s NP-hard nature, a multi-objective Q-learning-based brain storm optimization is designed to minimize makespan and total weighted earliness and tardiness. In the presented approach, a double-string representation method is utilized, and a dynamic clustering method is developed in the clustering phase. In the generating phase, a global search strategy, a local search strategy, and a simulated annealing strategy are introduced. A Q-learning process is performed to dynamically choose the generation strategy. It consists of four actions defined as the combinations of these strategies, four states described by convergence and uniformity metrics, a reward function, and an improved ε-greedy method. In the selecting phase, a newly defined selection method is adopted. To assess the effectiveness of the proposed approach, a comparison pool consisting of four prevalent metaheuristics and a CPLEX optimizer is applied to conduct numerical experiments and statistical tests. The results suggest that the designed approach outperforms its competitors in acquiring promising solutions when handling the considered problem.
Percutaneous Vertebroplasty in a Patient with Chronic Back Pain Caused by Multiple Schmorl’s Nodes: A Case Report
Authors: Park Hyung-Joon , Jo Hyun-Ji , Lee Jaeeun , Choi Sang-Sik , Lee Chung-Hun
Published: October 2023

Background and Objectives: Schmorl’s nodes (SNs), formed by the herniation of intervertebral discs into adjacent vertebral bodies, are generally asymptomatic and do not require treatment. However, certain types of SNs can cause intractable back pain. Case Presentation: A 63-year-old man presented to our hospital with back pain after a fall 1 month prior. Physical examination revealed back pain that worsened with movement and paraspinal tenderness. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) performed immediately after presentation revealed subacute to chronic compression fractures with SNs at the upper endplates of the 11th and 12th thoracic and 1st lumbar vertebrae. Pain (numeric rating scale (NRS), 7–8/10) persisted despite 6 months of conservative treatment and MRI revealed increased signal intensity in T2-weighted images in the regions around the SNs. Based on these findings, an epidural nerve block was performed, and then repeated; however, no significant improvement was observed. Percutaneous vertebroplasty (PVP) was performed at the 11th and 12th thoracic and 1st lumbar vertebrae. Pain levels decreased substantially 1 week after PVP (NRS, 3–4/10). Subsequent treatment with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and steroids for two weeks further reduced pain levels (NRS, 1–2/10), following which steroid use was discontinued and NSAID use became intermittent. At the six-month follow-up, pain levels remained low and the patient reported an improvement in activity levels of 90% or more. Conclusions: This case report demonstrates that PVP safely and effectively improved symptoms in a patient with multiple SNs and intractable back pain. Nevertheless, further research, particularly large-scale randomized prospective studies, is necessary to validate the long-term efficacy and safety of this intervention.
Comparison of Efficacy of Lidocaine and Articaine as Inferior Alveolar Nerve Blocking Agents in Patients with Symptomatic Irreversible Pulpitis: Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Hassan Sobia , Ahmed Alia , Saqib Warda , Abulhamael Ayman M. , Habib Syed Rashid , Javed Muhammad Qasim
Published: October 2023

Background and Objectives: Lidocaine Hydrochloride has been the standard choice for local anesthesia in dentistry and Articaine’s unique structure and growing popularity make it a viable alternative. Due to contradictory results in prior research and a scarcity of trials conducted in the Pakistani population, this study aims to compare the anesthetic efficacy of Lidocaine with Articaine for inferior alveolar nerve blocks in patients with symptomatic irreversible pulpitis. Materials and Methods: This double-blinded, randomized controlled trial included 152 patients who were selected by consecutive non-probability sampling. The participants included patients who presented with symptomatic irreversible pulpitis in mandibular posterior teeth (molars and premolars) and depicted normal apical tissue radiographically. The patients were equally and randomly divided into two groups. The control group received 2% Lidocaine Hydrochloride injections, and the experiment group received 4% Articaine Hydrochloride injections. Participants scored their pain on the HP-VAS both before and after the administration of anesthesia. A value of 54 mm or less on the scale indicated effective anesthesia. The data obtained were analyzed using SPSS. Chi-square test was applied to analyze data for statistical significance. Results: There was no statistically significant difference in the efficacy of the two anesthetic agents. During access cavity preparation, Lidocaine demonstrated a success rate of 93%, whereas Articaine exhibited a slightly higher success rate of 97%. During initial instrumentation, the success rates for Lidocaine and Articaine were 72% and 71%, respectively. This suggests that both Lidocaine and Articaine were effective in achieving anesthesia during the dental procedure in patients with symptomatic irreversible pulpitis, with Articaine showing a slightly better success rate, although the difference was not statistically significant. Conclusions: The anesthetic efficacy of Articaine is similar to that of lidocaine in subjects with symptomatic irreversible pulpitis. Hence, Articaine can serve as an alternative to Lidocaine for local anesthesia administration in dentistry.
Review of Characterization on Hydrogen Embrittlement by Micro-Sample Testing Methods
Authors: Tao Ping , Zhou Wei , Miao Xinting , Peng Jian , Liu Wenming
Published: October 2023

Conventional-sized specimens have been well and widely applied in research on hydrogen embrittlement. However, when the limited-size core components (nozzles and valves, etc.) of hydrogen energy equipment are evaluated for service damage, traditional testing with conventional-sized samples is no longer applicable and micro-sample testing methods are required. In this paper, recent progress in the characterization of hydrogen embrittlement achieved via a small-sized sample tensile test, small punch test and nanoindentation test is reviewed. The commonly used geometries and dimensions of various small-sized specimens are first described and the in situ hydrogen-containing environment testing cases equipped with small-sized specimens are presented, proving the advantages of direct observations of hydrogen influences on the mechanical property and microstructure evolution. Then, the quantitative analysis of hydrogen embrittlement sensitivity involving a small punch test is discussed, with a focus on the comparisons of the hydrogen embrittlement index calculated using different definition methods. Finally, the nanoindentation test of investigation on the interaction between hydrogen and dislocation in metals and the effect of indentation strain rate are summarized. Furthermore, the specific research directions and applications of micro-size specimens for further investigation on hydrogen embrittlement are identified.
Physical Factors Controlling Large Shape Memory Effect in FCC ↔ HCP Martensitic Transformation in CrMnFeCoNi High-Entropy-Alloy Single Crystals
Authors: Kireeva Irina V. , Chumlyakov Yuriy I. , Saraeva Anastasia A. , Vyrodova Anna V.
Published: October 2023

A study was carried out on the effect of the level of external stresses, σex, and test temperature on the shape memory effect (SME), governed by the FCC ↔ HCP martensitic transformation, in single crystals of the Cr20Mn20Fe20Co34.5Ni5.5 (at.%) high-entropy alloy (HEA) along two different crystallographic orientations, i.e., [1¯23] and [011], under tensile strain. It was shown that the SME depends on the crystal orientation and the level of external stresses, σex, in the “cooling-heating” cycle under constant σex. In the “cooling-heating” cycle under constant σex, a maximum SME of 13.6 ± 0.2% was observed in [011]-oriented crystals at an external tensile stress of 150 MPa while in the [1¯23]-oriented crystals, a SME of 8.4 ± 0.2% was found under an external tensile stress of 170 MPa. In the “stress-strain” cycle, the maximum SME had similar values of 13–14% in studied orientations. General physical factors (the stress level of the FCC phase, short-range order, and change in the value of dislocation splitting in the external stress field) were established and ensured a large SME and its dependence on the crystal orientation in the Cr20Mn20Fe20Co34.5Ni5.5 HEA single crystals. For the studied orientations, a large SME in the FCC ↔ HCP MT was obtained for the first time.
In Vivo Production, Development and Storage of Oscheius myriophila (Nematoda: Rhabditida) in Galleria mellonella (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae)
Authors: Guadarrama-Avila Tania Marel , Ramírez-Trujillo José Augusto , Rodríguez-Ocampo Thania Gisel , Peña-Chora Guadalupe , Arenas-Sosa Iván , Hernández-Velázquez Víctor Manuel
Published: October 2023

Entomopathogenic nematodes have been used in biological control for some time and are an alternative for the control of insect pests, but during their implementation, situations have arisen that can be improved. These vary with each species and include their production and storage. Oscheius myriophila, an entomopathogenic nematode (EPN), was monitored for its performance when produced in vivo, as well as its development using Galleria mellonella larvae, using the MC5-2014 strain isolated from soil samples in the municipality of Tepalcingo, Morelos, México. For a study with native strains of EPNs, a wide range of tests must be conducted because the required conditions can be very specific. In vivo production was quantified at initial infective juvenile (IJ) inocula of 50, 100 and 500, and we obtained the same production for the three inocula. The life cycle of the EPNs lasted 12 days, and two generations were observed in which adults were found at days 5 and 9. Both evaluations were performed at a temperature of 27 °C in G. mellonella larvae. In addition, the temperatures of 8, 12, 20 and 24 °C were evaluated for their storage, and we observed that the EPNs can be kept for at least 6 months, maintaining a survival rate of 58.67% and a good infective capacity at a temperature of 12 °C, remaining above 60%.
Porphyrin-Based Compounds: Synthesis and Application
Authors: Monteiro Carlos J. P. , Faustino M. Amparo F. , Serpa Carlos
Published: October 2023

Porphyrin-based compounds are an attractive and versatile class of molecules that have attracted significant attention across different scientific disciplines [...]
Tandem Mass Spectrometry de novo Sequencing of the Skin Defense Peptides of the Central Slovenian Agile Frog Rana dalmatina
Authors: Samgina Tatiana Yu. , Vasileva Irina D. , Trebše Polonca , Torkar Gregor , Surin Alexey K. , Meng Zhaowei , Zubarev Roman A. , Lebedev Albert T.
Published: October 2023

Peptides released on frogs’ skin in a stress situation represent their only weapon against micro-organisms and predators. Every species and even population of frog possesses its own peptidome being appropriate for their habitat. Skin peptides are considered potential pharmaceuticals, while the whole peptidome may be treated as a taxonomic characteristic of each particular population. Continuing the studies on frog peptides, here we report the peptidome composition of the Central Slovenian agile frog Rana dalmatina population. The detection and top-down de novo sequencing of the corresponding peptides was conducted exclusively by tandem mass spectrometry without using any chemical derivatization procedures. Collision-induced dissociation (CID), higher energy collision-induced dissociation (HCD), electron transfer dissociation (ETD) and combined MS3 method EThcD with stepwise increase of HCD energy were used for that purpose. MS/MS revealed the whole sequence of the detected peptides including differentiation between isomeric Leu/Ile, and the sequence portion hidden in the disulfide cycle. The array of the discovered peptide families (brevinins 1 and 2, melittin-related peptides (MRPs), temporins and bradykinin-related peptides (BRPs)) is quite similar to that of R. temporaria. Since the genome of this frog remains unknown, the obtained results were compared with the recently published transcriptome of R. dalmatina.
Integrated Behavior Therapy for Exclusively Anxious Selective Mutism: A Nonconcurrent Multiple-Baseline Design across Five Participants
Authors: Siroky Allison K. , Carlson John S. , Kotrba Aimee
Published: October 2023

Selective mutism (SM) is a rare childhood anxiety disorder which may be markedly detrimental to a child’s academic and social functioning if left untreated. Cognitive–behavioral treatments for social anxiety disorders have been found to be effective for SM, yet a paucity of published studies have explored manualized treatment approaches carried out by novice clinicians. The purpose of the present study was to examine the adherence, effectiveness, and acceptability of a condensed, 16-session version of Integrated Behavior Therapy for Selective Mutism (IBTSM; Bergman, 2013), the first manualized treatment for SM. A nonconcurrent multiple-baseline single-case design was used across five children diagnosed with SM, exclusively anxious subtype. IBTSM was implemented with excellent adherence (M = 98%) over an average of 19 weeks (range = 16–22 weeks). Visual analyses of weekly caregiver ratings of social anxiety and speaking behaviors did not demonstrate a replicated intervention effect; however, Tau-U effect sizes and Reliable Change Index (RCI) calculations demonstrated significant individual improvements in social anxiety and speaking behaviors over time on several measures. Three children (60%) no longer met diagnostic criteria for SM following treatment. All caregivers rated IBTSM as acceptable, with specific endorsements of acceptability in the areas of time required and treatment quality.
Interval Adjustable Dual-Wavelength Erbium-Doped Fiber Laser Based on Cascaded Two Mach-Zehnder Interferometers
Authors: Tian Xiuying , Zhang Liqiang , Yao Yicun , Xu Hailong , Zhu Kexin , Zhang Xia , Nie Zhaogang
Published: October 2023

An interference filter is designed by cascading two Mach-Zehnder interferometers (MZIs), which is then utilized in the construction of a wavelength interval adjustable dual-wavelength Erbium-doped fiber laser (EDFL). Each MZI consists of two 3 dB optical couplers (OCs) connected in series. The input light is split into two arms at the first OC and recombined at the second OC. The first MZI (MZI 1) has a smaller free spectral range (FSR) and is used for selecting the output wavelength of the laser. The second MZI (MZI 2) has a larger FSR and forms an envelope structure on the comb-like spectrum of MZI 1. By adjusting the optical path difference between the two arms of MZI 2, the FSR of the envelope can be changed, thereby altering the interval of the output wavelengths. The implemented filter is inserted into the EDFL to achieve stable dual-wavelength output. By stretching one arm of MZI 2, the interval of the dual-wavelength can be adjusted from 4.64 to 13.94 nm, with the side-mode suppression ratio of over 44 dB for all wavelengths.
A 5 kW Nearly-Single-Mode Monolithic Fiber Laser Emitting at ~1050 nm Employing Asymmetric Bi-Tapered Ytterbium-Doped Fiber
Authors: Meng Xiangming , Li Fengchang , Yang Baolai , Wang Peng , Yan Zhiping , Ye Yun , Xi Xiaoming , Zhang Hanwei , Pan Zhiyong , Wang Xiaolin , Xi Fengjie
Published: October 2023

Limited by stimulated Raman scattering (SRS), amplified spontaneous emission (ASE) and transverse mode instability (TMI), it is challenging to achieve high-power laser output in ytterbium-doped fiber (YDF) lasers with operating wavelengths less than 1060 nm. In high-power fiber lasers, bi-tapered YDF can provide a balance between the suppression of SRS and TMI. In this work, we designed and fabricated a new double-cladding asymmetric bi-tapered YDF to suppress ASE and SRS in the 1050 nm monolithic fiber laser. The asymmetric bi-tapered YDF has an input end with a core/cladding diameter of ~20/400 μm, a middle section with a core/cladding diameter of ~30/600 μm and an output end with a core/cladding diameter of ~25/500 μm. The working temperature of the non-wavelength-stabilized 976 nm laser diodes was optimized to improve the TMI threshold. An output power of over 5 kW with an efficiency of 83.1% and a beam quality factor M2 of about 1.47 were achieved. To the best of our knowledge, this represents the highest power nearly-single mode in 1050 nm fiber lasers. This work demonstrates the potential of asymmetric bi-tapered YDF for achieving a high-power laser with high beam quality in 1050 nm fiber lasers.
Spectrum of Terahertz Emission from Single-Color Filament Plasma under Different Laser Beam Focusing
Authors: Rizaev Georgy , Pushkarev Dmitrii , Seleznev Leonid
Published: October 2023

The spectrum of terahertz radiation generated in plasma of a single-color laser filament is observed, using a new technique based on obtaining two-dimensional angular distributions at different frequencies. It is shown that the maximum of the spectrum occurs in the low-frequency region for different laser pump focusing conditions. It is demonstrated that with the initial beam numerical aperture growth the generation of terahertz radiation at high frequencies increases more intensely compared to low frequencies.
In Vitro Antioxidant and Antifungal Activities of Four Essential Oils and Their Major Compounds against Post-Harvest Fungi Associated with Chickpea in Storage
Authors: Et-tazy Lamyae , Lamiri Abdeslam , Satia Laila , Essahli Mohamed , Krimi Bencheqroun Sanae
Published: October 2023

The antifungal and antioxidant properties of essential oils (EOs) derived from four plants were assessed in vitro: Rosmarinus officinalis, Myrtus communis, Origanum compactum, and Eugenia aromatica. These plants are renowned for their diverse biological activities. Antioxidant activities were evaluated using DPPH, ABTS, and TAC tests. Antifungal activity was tested against four postharvest pathogens associated with chickpea in storage: Fusarium culmorum, Rhizopus oryzae, Penicillium italicum, and Aspergillus niger, using the broth microdilution technique. Additionally, the efficacy of several major compounds against fungi found in the EOs 1,8-cineole, carvacrol, and eugenol was evaluated. Furthermore, this study explored the potential synergy of combining eugenol and carvacrol in various ratios. Based on the results, E. aromatica EO exhibited the highest antioxidant activity, as evidenced by its lowest IC50 values for a DPPH of 0.006 mg/mL. This EO also demonstrated the best antifungal activity, with MIC values ranging from 0.098 to 0.13 μL/mL. The high concentration of eugenol in this oil was identified as a contributing factor to its potent antifungal effects. The individual application of eugenol displayed significant antifungal efficacy, which was further enhanced by incorporating carvacrol at a 1:3 ratio. This synergistic combination presents promising potential for the development of specific formulations aimed at optimizing grain protection during storage.
QTLs and Candidate Genes for Seed Protein Content in Two Recombinant Inbred Line Populations of Soybean
Authors: Park Hye Rang , Seo Jeong Hyun , Kang Beom Kyu , Kim Jun Hoi , Heo Su Vin , Choi Man Soo , Ko Jee Yeon , Kim Choon Song
Published: October 2023

This study aimed to discover the quantitative trait loci (QTL) associated with a high seed protein content in soybean and unravel the potential candidate genes. We developed two recombinant inbred line populations: YS and SI, by crossing Saedanbaek (high protein) with YS2035-B-91-1-B-1 (low protein) and Saedanbaek with Ilmi (low protein), respectively, and evaluated the protein content for three consecutive years. Using single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP)-marker-based linkage maps, four QTLs were located on chromosomes 15, 18, and 20 with high logarithm of odds values (5.9–55.0), contributing 5.5–66.0% phenotypic variance. In all three experimental years, qPSD20-1 and qPSD20-2 were stable and identified in overlapping positions in the YS and SI populations, respectively. Additionally, novel QTLs were identified on chromosomes 15 and 18. Considering the allelic sequence variation between parental lines, 28 annotated genes related to soybean seed protein—including starch, lipid, and fatty acid biosynthesis-related genes—were identified within the QTL regions. These genes could potentially affect protein accumulation during seed development, as well as sucrose and oil metabolism. Overall, this study offers insights into the genetic mechanisms underlying a high soybean protein content. The identified potential candidate genes can aid marker-assisted selection for developing soybean lines with an increased protein content.
Wear Prediction of Tool Based on Modal Decomposition and MCNN-BiLSTM
Authors: He Zengpeng , Liu Yefeng , Pang Xinfu , Zhang Qichun
Published: October 2023

Metal cutting is a complex process with strong randomness and nonlinear characteristics in its dynamic behavior, while tool wear or fractures will have an immediate impact on the product surface quality and machining precision. A combined prediction method comprising modal decomposition, multi-channel input, a multi-scale Convolutional neural network (CNN), and a bidirectional long-short term memory network (BiLSTM) is presented to monitor tool condition and to predict tool-wear value in real time. This method considers both digital signal features and prediction network model problems. First, we perform correlation analysis on the gathered sensor signals using Pearson and Spearman techniques to efficiently reduce the amount of input signals. Second, we use Complete ensemble empirical mode decomposition with adaptive noise (CEEMDAN) to enhance the local characteristics of the signal, then boost the neural network’s identification accuracy. In addition, the deconstructed signal is converted into a multi-channel input matrix, from which multi-scale spatial characteristics and two-way temporal features are recovered using multi-scale CNN and BiLSTM, respectively. Finally, this strategy is adopted in simulation verification using real PHM data. The wear prediction experimental results show that, in the developed model, C1, C4, and C6 have good prediction performance, with RMSE of 8.2968, 12.8521, 7.6667, and MAE of 6.7914, 9.9263, and 5.9884, respectively, significantly lower than SVR, B-BiLSTM, and 2DCNN models.
Inversely Finding Peculiar Reaction Conditions toward Microfluidic Droplet Synthesis
Authors: Akitsu Takashiro
Published: October 2023

With the development of microfluidics, there are increasing reports of syntheses using not only conventional laminar flow at the microscale, but also the dissociation and aggregation of microdroplets. It is known, to some extent, that the microfluidics scale differs from normal scales in terms of the specific surface area, mass diffusion, and heat conduction; these are opposite to those in scale-up in-plant chemical engineering. However, it is not easy to determine what changes when the microdroplet flows through the channel. In this context, the author would like to clarify how the behavior of chemical species, which is expected to appear unique at the nanoscale, contributes to chemical reactions. What do we need in order to develop a completely new theory of chemical reactions? The characteristics of chemical reactions on the nanoscale are clarified via the encountering of solutions by the microfluidic device itself, or the chemical reaction of nanoscale droplets generated by the microfluidic device. Specifically, in recent years, experimental reports have accumulated that are expected to develop a fluidic device that can stably generate nanodroplets, and complex reactions of different reactivity are expected to occur that are specific to the nanoscale. In this short article, microfluidic devices, nanoscale droplets, experimental synthetic examples, and findings that may provide solutions are described.