bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Analysis of the Contribution of Land Registration to Sustainable Land Management in East Gojjam Zone, Ethiopia
Authors: Gedefaw Abebaw Andarge
Published: May 2023

Land registration programs on a large scale aimed at strengthening the land rights of farm households in Ethiopia have been executed in different degrees across different regions since 1998. This study investigates the contribution of land registration on the perceived tenure security of farmers, farmer confidence, women and marginalized groups, and sustainable land-management practice after receiving a land holding certificate in the dryland areas of East Gojjam Zone, Ethiopia. Face-to-face interviews were conducted with 385 households selected by using stratified random sampling techniques. Furthermore, focus group discussions and key informants are primary data sources. According to an investigation of qualitative and quantitative data, 163 households have a mean of 0.40 ha of agricultural land on steep slope areas, and approximately 26% of households are afraid of land redistribution and farm loss in the next five years. Moreover, 22% of households fear the government taking their farm plot at any time. Respondents, on the other hand, believe that land registration has reduced the landlessness of women, the disabled, and the poorest of the poor while increasing the landlessness of youths. After land registration, household participation in land-management practices increased by 15%. Despite this, the difference in the mean of major crop yields per household is insignificant, except for wheat, which decreased significantly at the p < 0.1 level. The study determined household head age, household size, land management training and advice, livestock holdings, and the mean distance from farm to settlement as influential factors for increasing construction of water-harvesting systems. Land registration, in general, enhances land tenure security, land-management practice, and land rights of women and marginalized groups of societies, but did not improve crop productivity. The findings should persuade policymakers to address potential sources of insecurity, such as future land redistribution issues.
Multicropping Pattern Reveals Human Adaptation at the Wanbei Site (ca. 5.7–4.4 ka cal. BP) in the Middle and Lower Huai River Valley, China
Authors: Tian Weixin , Luo Wuhong , Yang Yuzhang , Gan Huiyuan , Cheng Zhijie , Sun Yajie , Zhang Dailing , Lin Liugen , Zhang Juzhong
Published: May 2023

The middle and lower Huai River Valley, located between the Yangtze and Yellow Rivers, was a key transitional zone for the northward spread of rice and southward migration of millet agriculture in central-eastern China during the Holocene. Knowing when millets spread here, how they were combined with rice in mixed farming, the reasons for their spread, and the temporal variation of cropping patterns is of crucial significance to the development of our understanding of ancient adaptation strategies adopted by human societies in response to climatic and cultural changes. Focusing on crops, phytolith analyses of the soil samples, in tandem with radiocarbon dating from the Wanbei site, reveal evidence of a multicropping pattern of combining rice (Oryza sative), broomcorn millet (Panicum miliaceum), and foxtail millet (Setaria italica) during the Dawenkou culture period between 5720 and 4426 cal. BP in the middle and lower Huai River Valley, China. The data show that rice was always the principal crop of the pattern, and that domesticated rice was developed during the early and middle Dawenkou culture periods. However, its domestication rate became lower during the late Dawenkou culture period. Broomcorn millet and foxtail millet with domesticated traits appeared only in lower proportions of the total produced throughout the period. The proportions of rice and foxtail millet increased slightly, while the proportions of broomcorn millet decreased over time. Finally, the formation of the multicropping pattern at Wanbei may have been primarily influenced by both the warm and wet climatic environment and the cultural exchange and communication between the Haidai region and the middle and lower Huai River Valley during the Dawenkou culture period. The findings in this paper may not only contribute to mapping the spatiotemporal route for the northward expansion of rice agriculture and southward spread of millet agriculture, but also assist in understanding the human adaptation strategies employed in eastern China during the Holocene.
Tense as a Grammatical Category in Sinitic: A Critical Overview
Authors: Arcodia Giorgio Francesco
Published: May 2023

Sinitic languages are very often described as tenseless, since they are generally seen as lacking ‘true’ grammatical markers of tense: thus, the interpretation of time reference relies on other factors, such as aspect, modal verbs, and the use of time expressions. However, the debate concerning the tenseless nature of Chinese has not been settled yet: several types of items in Sinitic have been analyzed as expressing both aspect and tense, tense and modality, or even tense only. In this paper, we offer a critical analysis of the proposals made in the description of Standard Mandarin Chinese and (so-called) Chinese dialects concerning grammatical exponents of tense. We shall show that there appears to be a very broad degree of variation within Sinitic in the type and nature of tense(-like) meanings expressed, with different degrees of overlap between tense and other TAM categories (i.e., aspect and modality), and different degrees of grammaticalisation of alleged tense markers. Furthermore, the most grammaticalised tense markers are located in subregions within northern China: we shall thus discuss the relevance of our data for the areal typology of Sinitic.
Novel Anti-Acetylcholinesterase Effect of Euonymus laxiflorus Champ. Extracts via Experimental and In Silico Studies
Authors: Nguyen Van Bon , Wang San-Lang , Phan Tu Quy , Doan Manh Dung , Phan Thi Kim Phung , Phan Thi Kim Thu , Pham Thi Huyen Thoa , Nguyen Anh Dzung
Published: May 2023

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most common form of dementia, which is recorded as a global health issue. Natural acetylcholinesterase inhibitors (AChEIs) are considered a helpful therapy for the management of symptoms of patients with mild-to-moderate AD. This work aimed to investigate and characterize Euonymus laxiflorus Champ. (ELC) as a natural source of AChEIs compounds via in vitro and virtual studies. The screening parts used, including the leaves, heartwood, and trunk bark of ELC, revealed that the trunk bark extract possessed the highest activity, phenolics and flavonoid content. The in vitro anti-Alzheimer activity of ELC trunk bark was notably reclaimed for the first time with comparable effect (IC50 = 0.332 mg/mL) as that of a commercial AChEI, berberine chloride (IC50 = 0.314 mg/mL). Among various solvents, methanol was the most suitable to extract ELC trunk bark with the highest activity. Twenty-one secondary metabolites (1–21) were identified from ELC trunk bark extract, based on GCMS and UHPLC analyses. Of these, 10 volatile compounds were identified from this herbal extract for the first time. One phenolic (11) and seven flavonoid compounds (15–21) were also newly found in this herbal extract. Of the identified compounds, chlorogenic acid (11), epigallocatechin gallate (12), epicatechin (13), apigetrin (18), and quercetin (20) were major compounds with a significant content of 395.8–2481.5 μg/g of dried extract. According to docking-based simulation, compounds (11–19, and 21) demonstrated more effective inhibitory activity than berberine chloride, with good binding energy (DS values: −12.3 to −14.4 kcal/mol) and acceptable RMSD values (0.77–1.75 Å). In general, these identified compounds processed drug properties and were non-toxic for human use, based on Lipinski’s rule of five and ADMET analyses.
ByLimb: Development of a New Technique to Implant Intracorneal Ring-Segments from the Perilimbal Region
Authors: Albertazzi Roberto , Zaldivar Roger , Rocha-de-Lossada Carlos
Published: May 2023

A new technique that allows implanting intracorneal ring-segments (ICRS) from the limbal zone is described. Using a femtosecond laser (FSL), a 360° corneal tunnel is created with an internal diameter of 5.4 mm and an external diameter of 7.0 mm, with a wider area (0.2 mm inner and 0.2 mm outer) in the upper 60° of the tunnel (called landing zone). Next, a 4.36 mm-long corneal-limbal incision was created with the FSL, which connects to the bubbles created in the landing zone. The entire procedure was performed using intraoperative optical coherence tomography (OCT). Once the two incisions were connected using blunt-edged Mac Pherson forceps, the bubbles were released from the surgical plane. The programmed ICRS(s), 6 mm in diameter, are then placed in the corneal tunnel from the limbal incision with the aid of Sinskey forceps. Finally, when the ICRS is in place, the surgery is complete.
Absence of Long-Lasting Morning Stiffness at the Time of Diagnosis as Paraneoplastic Warning in Patients with Polymyalgia Rheumatica (PMR): Data from Italian Single-Center Study
Authors: Manzo Ciro , Castagna Alberto , Isetta Marco
Published: May 2023

Background: There is little literature on the paraneoplastic value of the absence of long-lasting morning stiffness (MS) at the time of diagnosis of polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR). We investigated whether and to what extent this finding was related to the probability of diagnosing a neoplasia. Patients and Methods: This was an observational, retrospective, single-center cohort study. We enrolled all patients consecutively referred to our rheumatologic outpatient clinic between January 2015 and December 2020, who could be classified as PMR according to 2012 EULAR/ACR criteria. In particular, we assessed all patients scoring a minimum of five points with a combination of clinical and ultrasound (US) criteria. The exclusion criteria were as follows: (a) follow-up duration <two years; (b) malignancy prior to PMR; (c) first-degree familiarity of malignancy; (d) incomplete data; and (e) diagnostic change during follow-up in different rheumatologic diseases. Results: 143 patients (108 women; median age: 71.5 years) were enrolled, and 35 of them did not have long-standing MS at the time of PMR diagnosis. In 10 patients (6.9%), a neoplasia was diagnosed in the first 6 months of follow-ups; among these, 7 did not have long-lasting MS. Among the remaining 133 PMR patients without subsequent malignancy, 28 did not have long-lasting MS. The odds of cancer were 0.114 (C.I. 95% 0.028, 0.471). Long-lasting MS was inversely associated with the development of neoplasias. In all eight PMR patients diagnosed with solid cancers during follow-ups, the removal of the neoplastic mass led to a fast disappearance of clinical, ultrasound and laboratory findings, thus supporting the diagnosis of paraneoplastic PMR. Finally, a positive response to glucocorticoids (GCs) was present in 100% of the 28 PMR patients without long-lasting MS at the time of diagnosis and without neoplasia during their follow-ups. On the contrary, a positive response to GCs was present in 71% of PMR patients without long-lasting MS and neoplasias during follow-up. Among the variables we assessed, a positive response to GCs was the only one that was statistically significant (p < 0.0001). These data suggested that an inadequate response to GCs in PMR patients without long-lasting MS at the time of diagnosis should strengthen investigations to rule out neoplasias. Conclusions: The absence of long-standing MS at the time of diagnosis can be a paraneoplastic warning in patients classified as PMR. A thorough investigation is therefore needed in this subset of patients to rule out neoplasia, before diagnosing an idiopathic PMR and starting treatment with GCs.
Immunomodulatory Effects of Natural Feed Additives for Meat Chickens
Authors: Phillips Clive J. C. , Hosseintabar-Ghasemabad Babak , Gorlov Ivan F. , Slozhenkina Marina I. , Mosolov Aleksandr A. , Seidavi Alireza
Published: May 2023

Broiler chickens are increasingly kept in large numbers in intensive housing conditions that are stressful, potentially depleting the immune system. With the prohibition of the use of antibiotics in poultry feed spreading worldwide, it is necessary to consider the role of natural feed additives and antibiotic alternatives to stimulate the chickens’ immune systems. We review the literature to describe phytogenic feed additives that have immunomodulatory benefits in broilers. We initially review the major active ingredients from plants, particularly flavonoids, resveratrol and humic acid, and then describe the major herbs, spices, and other plants and their byproducts that have immunomodulatory effects. The research reviewed demonstrates the effectiveness of many natural feed additives in improving the avian immune system and therefore broiler health. However, some, and perhaps all, additives have the potential to reduce immunocompetence if given in excessive amounts. Sometimes additives are more effective when given in combination. There is an urgent need to determine tolerance levels and optimum doses for additives deemed most suitable to replace antibiotics in the diet of broiler chickens. Effective replacement is most likely with readily available additives, such as olive oil byproducts, olive leaves and alfalfa. It is concluded that effective replacement of antibiotic function with plant-derived additives will be possible, but that further research is necessary to determine optimum doses.
The Value of Indocyanine Green Image-Guided Surgery in Patients with Primary Liver Tumors and Liver Metastases
Authors: Weixler Benjamin , Lobbes Leonard A. , Scheiner Luis , Lauscher Johannes C. , Staubli Sebastian M. , Zuber Markus , Raptis Dimitri A.
Published: May 2023

Introduction: Successful R0 resection is crucial for the survival of patients with primary liver cancer (PLC) or liver metastases. Up to date, surgical resection lacks a sensitive, real-time intraoperative imaging modality to determine R0 resection. Real-time intraoperative visualization with near-infrared light fluorescence (NIRF) using indocyanine green (ICG) may have the potential to meet this demand. This study evaluates the value of ICG visualization in PLC and liver metastases surgery regarding R0 resection rates. Materials and Methods: Patients with PLC or liver metastases were included in this prospective cohort study. ICG 10 mg was administered intravenously 24 h before surgery. Real-time intraoperative NIRF visualization was created with the SpectrumTM fluorescence imaging camera system. First, all liver segments were inspected with the fluorescence imaging system and intraoperative ultrasound for identification of the known tumor, as well as additional lesions, and were compared to preoperative MRI images. PLC, liver metastases, and additional lesions were then resected according to oncological principles. In all resected specimens, the resection margins were analyzed with the fluorescence imaging system for ICG-positive spots immediately after resection. Histology of additional detected lesions, as well as ICG fluorescence compared to histological resection margins, were assessed. Results: Of the 66 included patients, median age was 65.5 years (IQR 58.7–73.9), 27 (40.9%) were female, and 18 (27.3%) were operated on laparoscopically. Additional ICG-positive lesions were detected in 23 (35.4%) patients, of which 9 (29%) were malignant. In patients with no fluorescent signal at the resection margin, R0 rate was 93.9%, R1 rate was 6.1%, and R2 rate was 0% compared to an ICG-positive resection margin with an R0 rate of 64.3%, R1 rate of 21.4%, and R2 rate of 14.3% (p = 0.005). One- and two-year overall survival rates were 95.2% and 88.4%, respectively. Conclusion: The presented study provides significant evidence that ICG NIRF guidance helps to identify R0 resection intraoperatively. This offers true potential to verify radical resection and improve patient outcomes. Furthermore, implementation of NIRF-guided imaging in liver tumor surgery allows us to detect a considerable amount of additional malignant lesions.
Effect of Annular Laser Metal Deposition (ALMD) Process Parameters on Track Geometry and Thermal History on Ti6Al4V Alloy Clad
Authors: Zhang Jinchao , Cao Yupeng , Wang Heng , Shi Tuo , Su Boyong , Zhang Lei
Published: May 2023

Annular laser metal deposition (ALMD) is a rising technology that fabricates near-net-shaped components. In this research, a single factor experiment with 18 groups was designed to study the influence of process parameters on the geometric characteristics (bead width, bead height, fusion depth, and fusion line) and thermal history of Ti6Al4V tracks. The results show that discontinuous and uneven tracks with pores or large-sized incomplete fusion defects were observed when the laser power was less than 800 W or the defocus distance was −5 mm. The laser power had a positive effect on the bead width and height, while the scanning speed had the opposite effect. The shape of the fusion line varied at different defocus distances, and the straight fusion line could be obtained with the appropriate process parameters. The scanning speed was the parameter that had the greatest effect on the molten pool lifetime and solidification time as well as the cooling rate. In addition, the microstructure and microhardness of the thin wall sample were also studied. Many clusters with various sizes in different zones were distributed within the crystal. The microhardness ranged from 330 HV to 370 HV.
Green Nanomaterials for Smart Textiles Dedicated to Environmental and Biomedical Applications
Authors: Popescu Melania , Ungureanu Camelia
Published: May 2023

Smart textiles recently reaped significant attention owing to their potential applications in various fields, such as environmental and biomedical monitoring. Integrating green nanomaterials into smart textiles can enhance their functionality and sustainability. This review will outline recent advancements in smart textiles incorporating green nanomaterials for environmental and biomedical applications. The article highlights green nanomaterials’ synthesis, characterization, and applications in smart textile development. We discuss the challenges and limitations of using green nanomaterials in smart textiles and future perspectives for developing environmentally friendly and biocompatible smart textiles.
Assessment of the Suitability of Coke Material for Proppants in the Hydraulic Fracturing of Coals
Authors: Suponik Tomasz , Labus Krzysztof , Morga Rafał
Published: May 2023

To enhance the extraction of methane gas from coal beds, hydraulic fracturing technology is used. However, stimulation operations in soft rocks, such as coal beds, are associated with technical problems related mainly to the embedment phenomenon. Therefore, the concept of a novel coke-based proppant was introduced. The purpose of the study was to identify the source coke material for further processing to obtain a proppant. Twenty coke materials differing in type, grain size, and production method from five coking plants were tested. The values of the following parameters were determined for the initial coke: micum index 40; micum index 10; coke reactivity index; coke strength after reaction; and ash content. The coke was modified by crushing and mechanical classification, and the 3–1 mm class was obtained. This was enriched in heavy liquid with a density of 1.35 g/cm3. The crush resistance index and Roga index, which were selected as key strength parameters, and the ash content were determined for the lighter fraction. The most promising modified coke materials with the best strength properties were obtained from the coarse-grained (fraction 25–80 mm and greater) blast furnace and foundry coke. They had crush resistance index and Roga index values of at least 44% and at least 96%, respectively, and contained less than 9% ash. After assessing the suitability of coke material for proppants in the hydraulic fracturing of coal, further research will be needed to develop a technology to produce proppants with parameters compliant with the PN-EN ISO 13503-2:2010 standard.
7Be Recovery from Seawater by Sorbents of Various Types
Authors: Bezhin Nikolay A. , Shibetskaia Iuliia G. , Kozlovskaia Ol’ga N. , Slizchenko Evgeniy V. , Tananaev Ivan G.
Published: May 2023

For the first time, a comprehensive study of sorbents based on manganese dioxide was carried out for beryllium sorption from seawater in laboratory and expeditionary conditions. The possibility of using several commercially available sorbents based on manganese dioxide (Modix, MDM, DMM, PAN-MnO2) and phosphorus(V) oxide (PD) for 7Be recovery from seawater for solving oceanological problems was evaluated. Beryllium sorption under static and dynamic conditions was studied. The distribution coefficients and dynamic and total dynamic exchange capacities were determined. Sorbents Modix (Kd = (2.2 ± 0.1) × 103 mL/g) and MDM (Kd = (2.4 ± 0.2) × 103 mL/g) showed high efficiency. The dependences of the degree of recovery on time (kinetics) and the capacity of the sorbent on the beryllium equilibrium concentration in solution (isotherm) were established. The data obtained were processed using kinetic models (intraparticle diffusion, pseudo-first and pseudo-second orders, Elovich model) and sorption isotherm equations (Langmuir, Freindlich, Dubinin–Radushkevich). The paper contains results of expeditionary studies to evaluate the sorption efficiency of 7Be from large volumes of the Black Sea water by various sorbents. We also compared the sorption efficiency of 7Be for the considered sorbents with aluminum oxide and previously obtained sorbents based on iron(III) hydroxide.
Effect of Stabilized Martensite on the Long-Term Performance of Superelastic NiTi Endodontic Files
Authors: Sánchez Patricia , Vidi Benedetta , Mena-Alvarez Jesús , Gil Javier , Rico Cristina , Aragoneses Juan Manuel
Published: May 2023

One of the most used rotary files in endodontics is NiTi files due to their superelastic properties. This property means that this instrument has extraordinary flexion that can adapt to large angles inside the tooth canals. However, these files lose their superelasticity and fracture during use. The aim of this work is to determine the cause of fracture of the endodontic rotary files. For this purpose, 30 NiTi F6 SkyTaper® files (Komet, Germany) were used. Their chemical composition was determined by X-ray microanalysis, and their microstructure was determined by optical microscopy. Successive drillings were carried out with artificial tooth molds at 30, 45, and 70°. These tests were carried out at a temperature of 37 °C with a constant load controlled by a high sensitivity dynamometer of 5.5 N, and every five cycles were lubricated with an aqueous solution of sodium hypochlorite. The cycles to fracture were determined, and the surfaces were observed by scanning electron microscopy. Transformation (austenite to martensite) and retransformation (martensite to austenite) temperatures and enthalpies were determined by Differential Scanning Calorimeter at different endodontic cycles. The results showed an original austenitic phase with a Ms temperature of 15 °C and Af of 7 °C. Both temperatures increase with endodontic cycling, indicating that martensite forms at higher temperatures, and the temperature must be increased with cycling to retransform it to austenite. This fact indicates the stabilization of martensite with cycling, which is confirmed by the decrease in both transformation and retransformation enthalpies. The martensite is stabilized in the structure due to defects and does not retransform. This stabilized martensite has no superelasticity and, therefore, fractures prematurely. It has been possible to observe the stabilized martensite by studying the fractography, observing that the mechanism is by fatigue. The results showed that the files fracture earlier the greater the angle applied (for the tests at 70° at 280 s, at 45° at 385 s, and at 30° at 1200 s). As the angle increases, there is an increase in mechanical stress, and, therefore, the martensite stabilizes at lower cycles. To destabilize the martensite, a heat treatment can be carried out at 500 °C for 20 min, and the files recovers all its superelasticity.
Study on Cage Wear of Railway Traction Motor Bearings Based on Analysis of Rolling Element Motion
Authors: Suzuki Daisuke , Takahashi Ken , Itoigawa Fumihiro , Maegawa Satoru
Published: May 2023

Cylindrical roller bearings used in traction motors for railway vehicles are used at high rotational speeds and under light loads. Under these operating conditions, the life due to cage wear is much shorter than the life due to raceway fatigue. Therefore, bearing life can be extended by reducing cage wear. The authors thought that to reduce cage wear, it is necessary to establish a dynamic analysis method for the contact between the roller and the cage, and to identify the wear mode of the cage. If cage wear follows Archard’s equation, then cage wear is proportional to the impulse caused by the contact between the rollers and the cage. Therefore, in this paper, a simple model consisting only of a roller and a cage was constructed, and the impulse was obtained via dynamic analysis. The impulses calculated by the dynamic analysis were in good agreement with those measured. In addition, the experiments showed that cage wear is proportional to the impulse and revealed the wear mode of the cage. These allow the method proposed in this paper to be used to predict cage wear and to determine bearing specifications to reduce cage wear.
Research on the Surfactant-Assisted Synthesis of MnZn Ferrite Precursor Powders
Authors: Xu Zhanyuan , Zhao Wei , Liu Jiefu , Fan Jinglian
Published: May 2023

MnZn ferrite precursor powders were prepared by the nano in situ composite method. Three surfactants, which include polyethylene glycol 400 (PEG-400), cetyltrimethyl ammonium bromide (CTAB), and sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), were usedM and the impact of the surfactants on the precursor sol solutions and precursor powders was studied. X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, a field emission scanning electron microscope (FE-SEM), a transmission electron microscope (TEM), a Zeta potential meter, a BET surface analyzer, and a vibrational sample magnetometer (VSM) were used to characterize the precursor sol solutions and the precursor powders. The results showed that these surfactants can improve the dispersion state and Zeta potentials of sol particles and increase the specific surface areas of the precursor powders. Moreover, the precursor powders were composed of MnZn ferrite, and some were amorphous. CTAB was the optimum surfactant and the zeta potential of the sol particles and the specific surface area of the precursor powders named P-0.1CTAB are 10.7 mV and 129.07 m2/g, respectively. In addition, the nano-particles that were made up of the P-0.1CTAB precursor powders had smaller sizes and more uniform particle distributions than the others. The magnetic properties’ improvement was attributed to the addition of surfactants, and CTAB is the optimal type. In addition, the novel nano in situ composite method will inspire fresh thinking and investigation into the research of ferrite.
A Novel Model Validation Method Based on Area Metric Disagreement between Accelerated Storage Distributions and Natural Storage Data
Authors: Suo Bin , Qi Yang , Sun Kai , Xu Jingyuan
Published: May 2023

It has been a challenge to quantify the credibility of the accelerated storage model until now. This paper introduces a quantitative measurement named the CMADT (Creditability Metric of Accelerated Degradation Test), which quantifies the credibility of the accelerated aging model based on available data. The relevant criterion data are obtained from the natural storage test. CMADT is a credibility metric obtained by measuring the difference in the metric area between the probability distribution of the accelerated storage model and its criterion data. In addition, the accelerated aging model might include multiple parameters resulting in several single-parameter CMADTs. This paper proposes a method that integrates several single-parameter CMADT metrics into a single metric to assess the overall credibility of the accelerated storage model. Moreover, CMADT is universal for different scales of sample data. The cases addressed in this paper show that CMADT helps designers and decision-makers judge the credibility of the result obtained by the accelerated storage model intuitively and makes it easier to compare various products horizontally.
Design of Nonlinear Marine Predator Heuristics for Hammerstein Autoregressive Exogenous System Identification with Key-Term Separation
Authors: Mehmood Khizer , Chaudhary Naveed Ishtiaq , Cheema Khalid Mehmood , Khan Zeshan Aslam , Raja Muhammad Asif Zahoor , Milyani Ahmad H. , Alsulami Abdulellah
Published: May 2023

Swarm-based metaheuristics have shown significant progress in solving different complex optimization problems, including the parameter identification of linear, as well as nonlinear, systems. Nonlinear systems are inherently stiff and difficult to optimize and, thus, require special attention to effectively estimate their parameters. This study investigates the parameter identification of an input nonlinear autoregressive exogenous (IN-ARX) model through swarm intelligence knacks of the nonlinear marine predators’ algorithm (NMPA). A detailed comparative analysis of the NMPA with other recently introduced metaheuristics, such as Aquila optimizer, prairie dog optimization, reptile search algorithm, sine cosine algorithm, and whale optimization algorithm, established the superiority of the proposed scheme in terms of accurate, robust, and convergent performances for different noise and generation variations. The statistics generated through multiple autonomous executions represent box and whisker plots, along with the Wilcoxon rank-sum test, further confirming the reliability and stability of the NMPA for parameter estimation of IN-ARX systems.
A Quantum Computing-Based Accelerated Model for Image Classification Using a Parallel Pipeline Encoded Inception Module
Authors: Alsubai Shtwai , Alqahtani Abdullah , Binbusayyis Adel , Sha Mohemmed , Gumaei Abdu , Wang Shuihua
Published: May 2023

Image classification is typically a research area that trains an algorithm for accurately identifying subjects in images that have never been seen before. Training a model to recognize images within a dataset is significant as image classification generally has several applications in medicine, face detection, image reconstruction, etc. In spite of such applications, the main difficulty in this area involves the computation in the classification process, which is vast, leading to slow speed of classification. Moreover, as conventional image classification approaches have fallen short in terms of attaining high accuracy, an optimal model is needed. To resolve this, quantum computing has been developed. Due to their parallel computing ability, quantum-based algorithms could accomplish the classification of vast amounts of image data. This has theoretically confirmed the feasibility and advantages of incorporating a quantum computing-based system with traditional image classification methodologies. Considering this, the present study quantizes the layers of the proposed parallel encoded Inception module to improvise the network performance. This study exposes the flexibility of DL (deep learning)-based quantum state computational methodologies for missing computations by creating a pipeline for denoising, state estimation, and imputation. Furthermore, controlled parameterized rotations are regarded for entanglement, a vital component in quantum perceptron structure. The proposed approach not only possesses the unique features of quantum mechanics, but it also maintains the weight sharing of the kernel. Finally, the MNIST (Modified National Institute of Standards and Technology) and Fashion MNIST image classification outcomes are attained by measuring the quantum state. Overall performance is assessed to prove its effectiveness in image classification.
Graphical Local Genetic Algorithm for High-Dimensional Log-Linear Models
Authors: Roach Lyndsay , Gao Xin
Published: May 2023

Graphical log-linear models are effective for representing complex structures that emerge from high-dimensional data. It is challenging to fit an appropriate model in the high-dimensional setting and many existing methods rely on a convenient class of models, called decomposable models, which lend well to a stepwise approach. However, these methods restrict the pool of candidate models from which they can search, and these methods are difficult to scale. It can be shown that a non-decomposable model can be approximated by the decomposable model which is its minimal triangulation, thus extending the convenient computational properties of decomposable models to any model. In this paper, we propose a local genetic algorithm with a crossover-hill-climbing operator, adapted for log-linear graphical models. We show that the graphical local genetic algorithm can be used successfully to fit non-decomposable models for both a low number of variables and a high number of variables. We use the posterior probability as a measure of fitness and parallel computing to decrease the computation time.
A Model in Which Well-Orderings of the Reals First Appear at a Given Projective Level, Part II
Authors: Kanovei Vladimir , Lyubetsky Vassily
Published: May 2023

We consider the problem of the existence of well-orderings of the reals, definable at a certain level of the projective hierarchy. This research is motivated by the modern development of descriptive set theory. Given n≥3, a finite support product of forcing notions similar to Jensen’s minimal-Δ31-real forcing is applied to define a model of set theory in which there exists a good Δn1 well-ordering of the reals, but there are no Δn−11 well-orderings of the reals (not necessarily good). We conclude that the existence of a good well-ordering of the reals at a certain level n≥3 of the projective hierarchy is strictly weaker than the existence of a such well-ordering at the previous level n−1. This is our first main result. We also demonstrate that this independence theorem can be obtained on the basis of the consistency of ZFC− (that is, a version of ZFC without the Power Set axiom) plus ‘there exists the power set of ω’, which is a much weaker assumption than the consistency of ZFC usually assumed in such independence results obtained by the forcing method. This is our second main result. Further reduction to the consistency of second-order Peano arithmetic PA2 is discussed. These are new results in such a generality (with n≥3 arbitrary), and valuable improvements upon earlier results. We expect that these results will lead to further advances in descriptive set theory of projective classes.
Rewarding Developers by Storing Applications on Non-Fungible Tokens
Authors: Kalhoro Ayesha , Wagan Asif Ali , Khan Abdullah Ayub , Lin Jim-Min , Ku Chin Soon , Por Lip Yee , Yang Jing
Published: May 2023

Non-fungible tokens (NFTs) are individual tokens with valuable information stored inside them over blockchain technology. They can be purchased and sold like other physical and virtual art pieces because their worth is mostly determined by the market and demand. The unique data of NFTs render it simple to verify and authenticate their ownership and transfer of tokens between owners. However, in Pakistan, developers cannot acquire different licences to accomplish their projects not because they cannot afford it, but because they cannot invest in every piece of software to accomplish each new sensitive task. Rather, they can render the product platform independent. Considering this technology, this paper provides IT professionals with a new NFT approach and business policies that solely belong to the information technology domain. In addition, this paper also introduces how NFT tokens can hold software applications. Since we can store files, we can let NFTs also store complete applications to help developers in further utilising virtuality and having the metaverse at their fingertips. Whenever they succeed in a project, they never receive rewards, and their skills only pay the bills. In a nutshell, this paper presents a prototype of NFTs that would be further polished to save and utilise applications in a decentralised manner while rewarding the developers.
Endomorphism Type of P(3m + 1,3)
Authors: Gu Rui , Hou Hailong
Published: May 2023

There are six different classes of endomorphisms for a graph. The sets of these endomorphisms always form a chain under the inclusion of sets. In order to study these different endomorphisms more systematically, Böttcher and Knauer proposed the concept of the endomorphism type of a graph in 1992. In this paper, we explore the six different classes of endomorphisms of graph P(3m+1,3). In particular, the endomorphism type of P(3m+1,3) is given.
Robust Cascade Control inside a New Model-Matching Architecture
Authors: Rico-Azagra Javier , Gil-Martínez Montserrat
Published: May 2023

Whenever additional states of a plant can be measured, closing nested feedback loops can be exploited in a variety of ways. The goal here is to reduce the bandwidth of feedback controllers and thus reduce the amplification of sensor noise that can otherwise spoil the expected performance when the actuator saturates. This can be particularly relevant for demanding tracking specifications and large plant uncertainties. In this context, the current work proposes a novel model-matching control architecture with a feedforward controller and two feedback controllers, which is accompanied by a new robust design method in the frequency domain of Quantitative Feedback Theory (QFT). The use of a feedforward controller reduces the amount of feedback to the minimum necessary to constrain the spread of the tracking error responses as specified. Furthermore, this amount of feedback is quantitatively distributed along the frequency between the inner and outer loops to reduce the total sensor noise at the control input as much as possible. A theoretical example illustrates the method and highlights the advantages of the new architecture over two other previously feasible QFT solutions: one with double feedback and another with single feedback plus feedforward. The importance of choosing the correct switching frequency between loops is also demonstrated. Finally, the angle of rotation of a commercial servo motor is successfully controlled using the motor speed as an internal measure.
Software Defect Prediction with Bayesian Approaches
Authors: Hernández-Molinos María José , Sánchez-García Angel J. , Barrientos-Martínez Rocío Erandi , Pérez-Arriaga Juan Carlos , Ocharán-Hernández Jorge Octavio
Published: May 2023

Software defect prediction is an important area in software engineering because it helps developers identify and fix problems before they become costly and hard-to-fix bugs. Early detection of software defects helps save time and money in the software development process and ensures the quality of the final product. This research aims to evaluate three algorithms to build Bayesian Networks to classify whether a project is prone to defects. The choice is based on the fact that the most used approach in the literature is Naive Bayes, but no works use Bayesian Networks. Thus, K2, Hill Climbing, and TAN are used to construct Bayesian Networks. On the other hand, three public PROMISE data sets are used based on McCabe and Halstead complexity metrics. The results are compared with the most used approaches in the literature, such as Decision Tree and Random Forest. The results from different performance metrics applied to a cross-validation process show that the classification results are comparable to Decision Tree and Random Forest, with the advantage that Bayesian algorithms show less variability, which helps engineering software to have greater robustness in their predictions since the selection of training and test data do not give variable results, unlike Decision Tree and Random Forest.
A New Spike Membership Function for the Recognition and Processing of Spatiotemporal Spike Patterns: Syllable-Based Speech Recognition Application
Authors: Ramírez-Mendoza Abigail María Elena , Yu Wen , Li Xiaoou
Published: May 2023

This paper introduces a new spike activation function (SPKAF) or spike membership function for fuzzy adaptive neurons (FAN), developed for decoding spatiotemporal information with spikes, optimizing digital signal processing. A solution with the adaptive network-based fuzzy inference system (ANFIS) method is proposed and compared with that of the FAN-SPKAF model, obtaining very precise simulation results. Stability analysis of systems models is presented. An application to voice recognition using solfeggio syllables in Spanish is performed experimentally, comparing the methods of FAN-step activation function (STEPAF)-SPKAF, Augmented Spiking Neuron Model, and Augmented FAN-STEPAF-SPKAF, achieving very good results.
Wound Restorative Power of Halimeda macroloba/ Mesenchymal Stem Cells in Immunocompromised Rats via Downregulating Inflammatory/Immune Cross Talk
Authors: Zahran Eman , Mohyeldin Reham , El-Mordy Fatma , Maher Sherif , Tammam Omar , Saber Entesar , Altemani Faisal , Algehainy Naseh , Alanazi Mohammad , Jalal Mohammed , Elrehany Mahmoud , Abdelmohsen Usama
Published: May 2023

Impaired skin wound healing is still a major challenge, especially with immunocompromised patients who express delayed healing and are susceptible to infections. Injection of rat-derived bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMMSCs) via the tail vein accelerates cutaneous wound healing via their paracrine activity. The present work aimed to investigate the combined wound-healing potential of BMMSCs and Halimeda macroloba algae extract in immunocompromised rats. High-resolution liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (HR-LC-MS) investigation of the extract revealed the presence of variant phytochemicals, mostly phenolics, and terpenoids, known for their angiogenic, collagen-stimulating, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant properties. The BMMSCs were isolated and characterized for CD markers, where they showed a positive expression of CD90 by 98.21% and CD105 by 97.1%. Twelve days after inducing immunocompromise (40 mg/kg hydrocortisone daily), a circular excision was created in the dorsal skin of rats and the treatments were continued for 16 days. The studied groups were sampled on days 4, 8, 12, and 16 after wounding. The gross/histopathological results revealed that the wound closure (99%), thickness, density of new epidermis and dermis, and skin elasticity in the healed wounds were considerably higher in the BMMSCs/Halimeda group than the control group (p < 0.05). RT-PCR gene expression analysis revealed that the BMMSCs/Halimeda extract combination had perfectly attenuated oxidative stress, proinflammatory cytokines, and NF-KB activation at day 16 of wounding. The combination holds promise for regenerative medicine, representing a revolutionary step in the wound healing of immunocompromised patients, with still a need for safety assessments and further clinical trials.
The Efficacy of Low-Dose Risperidone Treatment for Post-Surgical Delirium in Elderly Orthopedic Patients
Authors: Raphael Lotan , Edna Epstein , Irina Kaykov , Oded Hershkovich
Published: May 2023

Background: Delirium is an acute and typically reversible failure of essential cognitive and attentional functions and is a growing public health concern, with an incidence of 20–50% in patients older than 65 after major surgery and 61% in patients undergoing hip fracture surgery. Numerous treatment strategies have been examined with no conclusive results. The purpose of this study is to assess the efficacy of a three-day low-dose risperidone treatment protocol, 0.5 mg BID, in treating delirium in elderly hospitalized orthopedic surgery department patients. Methods: This study is a prospective non-randomized study involving the senior patient population, older than 65, in an Orthopedic Surgery Department in 2019 and 2020. Delirium was diagnosed by a confusion assessment method (CAM) questionnaire. A three-day 0.5 mg risperidone BID treatment protocol was initiated following diagnosis. Patient data collected included age, gender, chronic diseases, type of surgery and anesthesia and delirium characteristics. Results: The delirium study group included 47 patients with an average age of 84.4 years (±8.6), of whom 53.2% were females. Delirium incidence was 3.7% in all patients older than 65 (1759 patients) and 9.3% in the proximal femoral fracture group. We did not correlate electrolyte imbalance, anemia, polypharmacy and chronic diseases to delirium onset characteristics. Following the three-day low-dose risperidone treatment protocol, 0.5 mg BID, 14.9% of the patients showed CAM score normalization after one day of treatment, and 93.6% within two days. Conclusions: We found our rigid three-day low-dose risperidone treatment protocol, 0.5 mg BID, efficacious in fast delirium resolution, without side effects.
Treatment of Aniline Wastewater by Membrane Distillation and Crystallization
Authors: Zhang Fangli , Hou Wei , Yang Zhonglin , Wang Zhaohui , Chen Rizhi , Drioli Enrico , Wang Xiaozu , Cui Zhaoliang
Published: May 2023

Aniline is a highly toxic organic pollutant with “carcinogenic, teratogenic and mutagenesis” characteristics. In the present paper, a membrane distillation and crystallization (MDCr) process was proposed to achieve zero liquid discharge (ZLD) of aniline wastewater. Hydrophobic polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) membranes were used in the membrane distillation (MD) process. The effects of the feed solution temperature and flow rate on the MD performance were investigated. The results showed that the flux of the MD process was up to 20 L·m−2·h−1 and the salt rejection was above 99% under the feeding condition of 60 °C and 500 mL/min. The effect of Fenton oxidation pretreatment on the removal rate of aniline in aniline wastewater was also investigated, and the possibility of realizing the ZLD of aniline wastewater in the MDCr process was verified.
First-Principles Study of Oxygen in ω-Zr
Authors: Chen Yonghao , Liu Zhixiao , Wang Dong , Zhao Yi
Published: May 2023

Zirconium alloys, which are widely used as cladding materials in nuclear reactors, are prone to react with oxygen (O). Furthermore, the ω-Zr in zirconium alloys can significantly increase the strength and hardness of these alloys, but there is a lack of reports on the behavior of oxygen in ω-Zr in the current literature. To investigate their interactions, we have studied the behavior of O in ω-Zr using the first-principles approach. In this work, we examined the effects of vacancy and alloying elements (Nb, Sn) on the behavior of O in ω-Zr. The results show that O with a formation energy of −5.96 eV preferentially occupies an octahedral interstitial position in ω-Zr. A vacancy reduces the formation energy of O in a tetrahedral interstitial position in ω-Zr. Nb and Sn decrease the formation energy of O in the octahedral interstitial position by 6.16 eV and 5.08 eV. Vacancy effectively reduces the diffusion barrier of O around it, which facilitates the diffusion of O in ω-Zr. Nb and Sn preferentially occupy the 1b and 2d substitution sites in ω-Zr, respectively. Nb makes the diffusion barrier of O in ω-Zr lower and promotes the diffusion of O in ω-Zr. Moreover, Sn makes the diffusion of O around Sn difficult. It was further found that O is less prone to form clusters in ω-Zr and tends to independently occupy interstitial positions in ω-Zr. In particular, a single vacancy would make the binding energy between O atoms to be further reduced.