bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Combined Well Multi-Parameter Logs and Low-Flow Purging Data for Soil Permeability Assessment and Related Effects on Groundwater Sampling
Authors: De Filippi Francesco Maria , Sappa Giuseppe
Published: January 2023

Cost-effective remediation is increasingly dependent on high-resolution site characterization (HRSC), which is supposed to be necessary prior to interventions. This paper aims to evaluate the use of low-flow purging and sampling water level data in estimating the horizontal hydraulic conductivity of soils. In a new quali-quantitative view, this procedure can provide much more information and knowledge about the site, reducing time and costs. In case of high heterogeneity along the well screen, the whole procedure, as well as the estimation method, could be less effective and rigorous, with related issues in the purging time. The result showed significant permeability weighted sampling, which could provide different results as the pump position changes along the well screen. The proposed study confirms this phenomenon with field data, demonstrating that the use of multiparameter well logs might be helpful in detecting the behaviour of low-permeability layers and their effects on purging and sampling. A lower correlation between low-flow permeability estimations and LeFranc test results was associated with high heterogeneity along the screen, with a longer purging time. In wells P43, MW08 and MW36, due to the presence of clay layers, results obtained differ for almost one order of magnitude and the purging time increases (by more than 16 min). However, with some precautions prior to the field work, the low-flow purging and sampling procedure could become more representative in a shorter time and provide important hydrogeological parameters such as hydraulic conductivity with many tests and high-resolution related results.
Isolated Sphenoid Sinus Disease in Children
Authors: Kotowski Michal , Szydlowski Jaroslaw
Published: January 2023

The rarity of isolated sphenoid sinus disease (ISSD) and the specificity of pediatric populations meant that a separate analysis was required in this study. This study aimed to present and discuss the results of an analysis of clinical manifestations, radiological findings and surgical methods based on a large series of exclusively pediatric patients. The study group covered 28 surgically treated children (aged 5.5–17.5 years). The medical data were retrospectively analyzed and meticulously discussed with regards to presenting signs and symptoms, radiographic findings, surgical approaches, complications, post-op care, histopathological results and follow-ups. The dominant symptom was a persistent headache (78%). Four children presented visual symptoms, diplopia in two cases, visual acuity disturbances in one case and both of these symptoms in one patient. Sixteen children presented chronic isolated rhinosinusitis without nasal polyps, six suffered from mucocele and one presented chronic sphenoiditis with sphenochoanal polyp. Four patients turned out to exhibit neoplastic lesions and developmental bony abnormality was diagnosed in one case. No fungal etiology was revealed. The transnasal approach was used in 86% of patients. A transseptal approach with concurrent septoplasty was used in four patients. The patient with visual acuity disturbances completely recovered after the surgery. All children with visual symptoms reported improvement in the vision immediately after surgery. No postoperative complications were observed. Fungal etiology was extremely rare in the pediatric population with ISSD. The surgical treatment should be a minimally invasive procedure regarding a limited range of the pathology in ISSD. Emergency surgery should be performed if ISSD produces any visual loss.
Factors Contributing to Traffic Accidents in Hospitalized Patients in Terms of Severity and Functionality
Authors: Canonica Alexandra Carolina , Alonso Angelica Castilho , da Silva Vanderlei Carneiro , Bombana Henrique Silva , Muzaurieta Aurélio Alberto , Leyton Vilma , Greve Júlia Maria D’Andrea
Published: January 2023

Trauma-related injuries in traffic-accident victims can be quite serious. Evaluating the factors contributing to traffic accidents is critical for the effective design of programs aimed at reducing traffic accidents. Therefore, this study identified which factors related to traffic accidents are associated with injury severity in hospitalized victims. Factors related to traffic accidents, injury severity, disability and data collected from blood toxicology were evaluated, along with associated severity and disability indices with data collected from toxicology on victims of traffic accidents at the largest tertiary hospital in Latin America. One hundred and twenty-eight victims of traffic accidents were included, of whom the majority were young adult men, motorcyclists, and pedestrians. The most frequent injuries were traumatic brain injury and lower-limb fractures. Alcohol use, hit-and-run victims, and longer hospital stays were shown to lead to greater injury severity. Women, elderly individuals, and pedestrians tend to suffer greater disability post-injury. Therefore, traffic accidents occur more frequently among young male adults, motorcyclists, and those who are hit by a vehicle, with trauma to the head and lower limbs being the most common injury. Injury severity is greater in pedestrians, elderly individuals and inebriated individuals. Disability was higher in older individuals, in women, and in pedestrians.
The Impact of Biosecurity on Biological and Psychosocial Risks for Health Workers of COVID Hospitals in Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico
Authors: Galván-Ramírez María de la Luz , Preciado-Serrano María de Lourdes , Gallegos-Bonifaz Mildred
Published: January 2023

Background: Some data support that health care workers (HCWs) must have sufficient and good quality personal protective equipment (PPE) and the necessary training to manage COVID patients to avoid contagion that can lead to death. The objective of this study was to determine the relationship between biosafety on the biological risks of SARS-CoV-2 and risks of fatigue, anxiety, or depression in health workers who care for patients in COVID hospitals, from September 2020 to August 2021. Material and methods: The questionnaire used in this study (Q6S64I) consisted of 6 spheres: Sociodemographic aspects, working conditions; Personal Protection Equipment; safety and health; training and knowledge about COVID-19, the form of transport, and personal health conditions. The answers were online. The Goldberg questionnaire (EADG) measures anxiety and depression, and the questionnaire measures fatigue (Barrientos-Gutiérrez et al.) (PSSF). Results: In total, 76.5% of the HCWs were doctors, 25.2% worked in the emergency services, 79.3% received PPE from their institution, 82.9% cared for COVID-19 patients, and 27.9% tested positive for COVID-19. The PPE provided by the employer was 80%, but the quality was deficient, insufficient, and associated with a relative risk of 4.6. A total of 99% acquired better PPE on their own. The exposure to COVID-19 and the surgical mask provided by the institution had an associated relative risk of 2.8 for the HCWs. A total of 39% of the HCWs reported being calm. Conclusions: PPE, risk exposure, and safety at work were significantly associated with drowsiness and heaviness, difficulty concentrating, anxiety, and depression.
An Urgent Call to Integrate the Health Sector into the Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework
Authors: King Simon , Lemieux Christopher J. , Lem Melissa
Published: January 2023

There is a rapidly closing window of opportunity to stop biodiversity loss and secure the resilience of all life on Earth. In December 2022, Parties to the United Nations (UN) Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) will meet in Montreal, Canada, to finalize the language and terms of the Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework (Post-2020 GBF). The Post-2020 GBF aims to address the shortcomings of the previous Strategic Plan on Biodiversity 2011–2020, by introducing a Theory of Change, that states that biodiversity protection will only be successful if unprecedented, transformative changes are implemented effectively by Parties to the CBD. In this policy perspective, we explore the implications of the Theory of Change chosen to underpin the Post-2020 GBF, specifically that broad social transformation is an outcome that requires actors to be specified. We detail how the health sector is uniquely positioned to be an effective actor and ally in support of the implementation of the Post-2020 GBF. Specifically, we highlight how the core competencies and financial and human resources available in the health sector (including unique knowledge, skill sets, experiences, and established trust) provide a compelling, yet mostly untapped opportunity to help create and sustain the enabling conditions necessary to achieve the goals and targets of the framework. While by no means a panacea for the world’s biodiversity problems, we posit that explicitly omitting the health sector from the Post-2020 GBF substantially weakens the global, collective effort to catalyze the transformative changes required to safeguard biodiversity.
Effect of Ionization Degree of Poly(amidoamine) Dendrimer and 5-Fluorouracil on the Efficiency of Complex Formation—A Theoretical and Experimental Approach
Authors: Szota Magdalena , Wolski Pawel , Carucci Cristina , Marincola Flaminia Cesare , Gurgul Jacek , Panczyk Tomasz , Salis Andrea , Jachimska Barbara
Published: January 2023

Due to their unique structure, poly(amidoamine) (PAMAM) dendrimers can bind active ingredients in two ways: inside the structure or on their surface. The location of drug molecules significantly impacts the kinetics of active substance release and the mechanism of internalization into the cell. This study focuses on the effect of the protonation degree of the G4PAMAM dendrimer and the anticancer drug 5-fluorouracil (5FU) on the efficiency of complex formation. The most favorable conditions for constructing the G4PAMAM-5FU complex are a low degree of protonation of the dendrimer molecule with the drug simultaneously present in a deprotonated form. The fluorine components in the XPS spectra confirm the formation of the stable complex. Through SAXS and DLS methods, a decrease in the dendrimer’s molecular size resulting from protonation changes at alkaline conditions was demonstrated. The gradual closure of the dendrimer structure observed at high pH values makes it difficult for the 5FU molecules to migrate to the interior of the support structure, thereby promoting drug immobilization on the surface. The 1H NMR and DOSY spectra indicate that electrostatic interactions determine the complex formation process. Through MD simulations, the localization profile and the number of 5FU molecules forming the complex were visualized on an atomic scale.
Image Geo-Site Estimation Using Convolutional Auto-Encoder and Multi-Label Support Vector Machine
Authors: Jain Arpit , Verma Chaman , Kumar Neerendra , Raboaca Maria Simona , Baliya Jyoti Narayan , Suciu George
Published: January 2023

The estimation of an image geo-site solely based on its contents is a promising task. Compelling image labelling relies heavily on contextual information, which is not as simple as recognizing a single object in an image. An Auto-Encode-based support vector machine approach is proposed in this work to estimate the image geo-site to address the issue of misclassifying the estimations. The proposed method for geo-site estimation is conducted using a dataset consisting of 125 classes of various images captured within 125 countries. The proposed work uses a convolutional Auto-Encode for training and dimensionality reduction. After that, the acquired preprocessed input dataset is further processed by a multi-label support vector machine. The performance assessment of the proposed approach has been accomplished using accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, and F1-score as evaluation parameters. Eventually, the proposed approach for image geo-site estimation presented in this article outperforms Auto-Encode-based K-Nearest Neighbor and Auto-Encode-Random Forest methods.
Acoplanarity, Aromaticity, Chirality, and Helical Twisting Power of Chlorin e6 13(N)-Methylamide-15,17-dimethyl Ester Complexes: Effect of a Metal
Authors: Burmistrov Vladimir , Aleksandriiskii Viktor , Novikov Igor , Batrakova Alena , Belykh Dmitry , Startseva Olga , Koifman Oskar I.
Published: January 2023

The experimental and theoretical study of the influence of metal complexing on geometry, aromaticity, chirality, and the ability to twist the nematic phase by complexes based on modified natural chlorin e6 was carried out. The geometry optimization of the chlorin e6 13(N)-methylamide-15,17-dimethyl ester (MADMECl) and its Zn, Cu, and Ni complexes by DFT (CAM-B3LYP/6–31 G(d,p) functional) method was performed. Based on these calculations, the acoplanarity degree of the macrocyclic ligand and the distortion energy of its dianion were estimated, which allowed the arrangement of the MADMECl complexes in the series Ni > Cu > Zn. Aromaticity was evaluated using the NICS criterion (nuclear independent chemical shift). An increase in the degree of aromaticity of the macrocycle upon complex formation was established. At the same time, the aromaticity of the inner conjugation contour corresponds to the same series as the acoplanarity, while the outer π-delocalization is characterized by the reverse sequence. An experimental evaluation of the electron circular dichroism of the Soret and the Q-bands, as well as the g-factor of dissymmetry, was carried out. The growth of these parameters with an increase in the degree of acoplanarity and aromaticity of the internal conjugation contour was determined. The induction of helical phases in mixtures of nematic liquid crystals (LCs) based on cyanobiphenyls and MADMECl macrocyclic metal complexes was studied by polarization microscopy, and the clearance temperatures and helix pitch of the mesophases were measured. A strong effect of the metal on the phase transition temperature and helical twisting power was established.
Angle-Resolved Time-of-Flight Electron Spectrometer Designed for Femtosecond Laser-Assisted Electron Scattering and Diffraction
Authors: Ishikawa Motoki , Ishida Kakuta , Kanya Reika , Yamanouchi Kaoru
Published: January 2023

We developed an apparatus for measuring kinetic energy and two-dimensional angular distributions of femtosecond laser-assisted electron scattering (LAES) signals with a high detection efficiency, consisting of a photocathode-type ultrashort pulsed electron gun, a gas injection nozzle, an angle-resolved time-of-flight analyzer, and a time-and-position sensitive electron detector. We also established an analysis method for obtaining the kinetic energy and two-dimensional angular distributions of scattered electrons from raw data of their flight times and the detected positions at the detector recorded using the newly developed apparatus. From the measurement of the LAES processes of Ar atoms in a femtosecond near-infrared intense laser field, we obtained a two-dimensional angular distribution image of the LAES signals and showed that the detection efficiency of the LAES signals was raised by a factor of 40 compared with that achieved before in 2010.
Clinical Characteristics of Coronary-to-Pulmonary Artery Fistula in Patients with Pulmonary Atresia and Ventricular Septal Defect
Authors: Sumitomo Naofumi F. , Kodo Kazuki , Inoue Tadashi , Oyanagi Takayuki , Yamagishi Hiroyuki
Published: January 2023

The existence of a coronary-to-pulmonary artery fistula (CPF) in pulmonary atresia with ventricular septal defect (PAVSD) potentially affects treatment; however, its clinical features have not been comprehensively described due to the disease’s rarity. We reviewed 69 cases from 42 studies to reveal the clinical overview of patients with CPF and PAVSD. Among the included patients, the male-to-female ratio was exactly 1:1, and only two patients (3%) exhibited the 22q11.2 microdeletion syndrome. Regarding anatomical features, CPFs originated from the left coronary artery in 65% of patients, and 62% had other major aortopulmonary collateral arteries. Thirty-nine percent of patients had a definitive CPF diagnosis at 0 years of age, whereas 10% were diagnosed in adulthood. Seventy percent underwent catheter angiography to obtain a definitive CPF diagnosis. Ninety-five percent of patients underwent cardiac surgery, and among them, 43% underwent palliative surgery, whereas 52% underwent one-stage repair. Four patients including three adult patients developed cardiac dysfunction due to myocardial ischemia, and three of them exhibited improved cardiac function after the intervention for CPF. Of all the patients, 88% survived and 12% died. The surgical strategy and prognosis were similar to those in PAVSD patients without CPF. This review provides detailed clinical phenotypes that are potentially useful in enhancing the management of patients with this rare disease.
Association between Optic Nerve Sheath Diameter and Lamina Cribrosa Morphology in Normal-Tension Glaucoma
Authors: Lee Seung Hyen , Kim Tae-Woo , Lee Eun Ji , Kil Hyunkyung
Published: January 2023

(1) Background: To compare optic nerve sheath diameter (ONSD) in normal-tension glaucoma (NTG) and healthy eyes and to investigate the association between ONSD and lamina cribrosa (LC) morphology. (2) Methods: This cross-sectional study included 69 NTG eyes and 69 healthy eyes matched for age, axial length, and intraocular pressure. The LC curvature index (LCCI) was measured from horizontal Cirrus HD-OCT B-scan images from five uniformly divided positions vertically of the optic nerve. The average LCCI was defined as the mean of the measurements at these five locations. ONSD was measured as the width of the optic nerve sheath at the site perpendicular 3 mm behind the posterior globe. LCCI and ONSD were compared in eyes with NTG and healthy eyes. The clinical factors that could affect LCCI were analyzed. (3) Results: NTG eyes had significantly smaller mean ONSD (4.55 ± 0.69 mm vs. 4.97 ± 0.58 mm, p < 0.001) and larger average LCCI (11.61 ± 1.43 vs. 7.58 ± 0.90, p < 0.001) than matched healthy control eyes. LCCI was significantly correlated with smaller ONSD, higher intraocular pressure, thinner global retinal nerve fiber thickness, and worse visual field loss in all subjects (all Ps ≤ 0.022). (4) Conclusions: NTG eyes had smaller ONSD and greater LCCI than healthy control eyes. In addition, a negative correlation was observed between ONSD and LCCI. These findings suggest that cerebrospinal fluid pressure, which ONSD indirectly predicts, may affect LC configuration. Changes in the retrolaminar compartment may play a role in glaucoma pathogenesis.
Dyslipidemia and Cardiovascular Disease: Current Knowledge, Existing Challenges, and New Opportunities for Management Strategies
Authors: Du Zhiyong , Qin Yanwen
Published: January 2023

Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide, and dyslipidemia is one of the major risk factors [...]
Early Cardiopulmonary Fitness after Heart Transplantation as a Determinant of Post-Transplant Survival
Authors: Hanff Thomas , Zhang Yuhui , Zhang Robert , Genuardi Michael , Molina Maria , McLean Rhondalyn , Mazurek Jeremy , Tanna Monique , Wald Joyce , Atluri Pavan , Acker Michael , Goldberg Lee , Zamani Payman , Birati Edo
Published: January 2023

Background: Decreased peak oxygen consumption during exercise (peak Vo2) is a well-established prognostic marker for mortality in ambulatory heart failure. After heart transplantation, the utility of peak Vo2 as a marker of post-transplant survival is not well established. Methods and Results: We performed a retrospective analysis of adult heart transplant recipients at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania who underwent cardiopulmonary exercise testing within a year of transplant between the years 2000 to 2011. Using time-to-event models, we analyzed the hazard of mortality over nearly two decades of follow-up as a function of post-transplant percent predicted peak Vo2 (%Vo2). A total of 235 patients met inclusion criteria. The median post-transplant %Vo2 was 49% (IQR 42 to 60). Each standard deviation (±14%) increase in %Vo2 was associated with a 32% decrease in mortality in adjusted models (HR 0.68, 95% CI 0.53 to 0.87, p = 0.002). A %Vo2 below 29%, 64% and 88% predicted less than 80% survival at 5, 10, and 15 years, respectively. Conclusions: Post-transplant peak Vo2 is a highly significant prognostic marker for long-term post-transplant survival. It remains to be seen whether decreased peak Vo2 post-transplant is modifiable as a target to improve post-transplant longevity.
Enhanced Coalescence of Fine Droplets by Medium Coalescence under an Electric Field
Authors: Feng Silong , Wu Shihan , Li Yudong , Yang Xiuna , Yu Ying , Liu Yiqian , Lu Hao
Published: January 2023

As more and more oilfields enter later stages of extraction, demulsification of water-in-oil (W/O) emulsions with high water content has become a challenging problem. To upgrade the current offshore oil treatment process, a compact and efficient demulsification treatment is highly desirable. In this paper, a novel enhanced treatment combining a direct current (DC) electric field and medium coalescence was proposed. Based on this idea, an electric-medium demulsifier was also designed for deep purification of W/O emulsions. The effects of operating conditions, emulsions characteristics and medium bed parameters on demulsification performance were investigated. The enhanced treatment showed better performance compared to electrostatic demulsification and medium coalescence alone, and was especially suitable for treating emulsions with strong emulsification. In short, at U = 3 kV, the demulsification efficiency increased by approximately 30% compared to that at U = 0 kV. This research provided a new approach for the treatment of W/O emulsions that has the advantages of wide operational flexibility, a tolerance for deteriorated characteristics and a rapid and thorough treatment process.
Spatiotemporal Variation in Extreme Precipitation in Beijiang River Basin, Southern Coastal China, from 1959 to 2018
Authors: Liu Zhanming , Yang Hong , Wei Xinghu , Liang Zhaoxiong
Published: January 2023

Extreme precipitation events have caused serious impacts on natural ecosystem and human society and have attracted increasing attention in recent years. IPCC AR6 WG I report highlighted a lack of conclusive consensus on the change trend of extreme precipitation in some basins and variation (increase or decrease) between regions. Based on seven precipitation indexes defined by ETCCDI, using daily precipitation data observed by 18 national reference meteorological stations in China during 1959–2018, this study analysed spatiotemporal variation trend of extreme precipitation in the Beijiang River Basin, Southern Coastal China, in recent 60 years, using Mann–Kendall (M-K) trend test, coefficient of variation, and continuous wavelet transformation. M-K test results showed that there were mutations in all seven precipitation indexes, and mutation points were mainly concentrated in two periods (1986–1991 and 2005–2010). The change range of each index after mutation was generally greater than that before mutation. Continuous wavelet transformation showed that each indicator had a significant oscillation period of 2–4 year in most time domains. The southeastern part of the basin (Fogang and Qingyuan) was the center of extremely heavy precipitation, and most precipitation indexes decreased from this area to the surrounding area. As far as the basin as a whole was concerned, consecutive wet days (CWD) declined significantly (passing 0.05 of confidence test), and there was a significantly positive correlation between annual distribution of R95ds and monthly precipitation (p < 0.001). The research results expand our understanding of regional water cycle and extreme climate change, guide the allocation and management of water resources related to regional industrial and agricultural activities, and provide reference for disaster prevention and mitigation.
Design and Mass Optimization of Numerical Models for Composite Wind Turbine Blades
Authors: Zhang Zhiqiang , Zhang Chunyan , Qiao Yinhu , Zhou Yudie , Wang Shuaishuai
Published: January 2023

In this paper, a constrained optimization by linear approximation (COBYLA) algorithm is used to optimize the design of a 5 MW wind turbine blade. In the process of blade material modeling, the actual manufacturing conditions are considered, and the load of blades under 50 m/s wind conditions is analyzed based on the blade element momentum (BEM) method. Mass optimization was achieved by removing material from the shear webs. In addition, constraints such as tip displacement, stress, and frequency during blade design were considered. The results show that the mass is reduced by about 1.7% after removing material from blade webs, while the structural response of the blade remains unchanged. This case provides a practical reference for commercial wind turbine blades.
Walkability Measurement of 15-Minute Community Life Circle in Shanghai
Authors: Yang Yue , Qian Yongsheng , Zeng Junwei , Wei Xuting , Yang Minan
Published: January 2023

Improvement of the walkability of the 15-min community life circle can enhance convenience for residents to obtain daily service facilities. In this paper, by obtaining the Point of Interest (POI) data of daily facilities used by Shanghai residents, we calculate the walk scores of community residents within 15-min walking distance using the walkability assessment tool and analyze the results with population density for spatial correlation. The results show that communities with high walk scores are concentrated in central areas, with low walk scores are scattered in the suburbs of the city. Walking scores are high for access from communities to bus stops and commercial services but low for access to parks and primary schools. The formation of a compact and accessible spatial layout can significantly improve the walkability of the community. Walkability is not only related to the construction of facilities in terms of quantity and space but is also influenced by the degree of spatial clustering in the community. It needs to be reasonably configured in conjunction with the spatial distribution of the community in order to effectively improve the utilization of facilities. Finally, community walkability is significantly and positively correlated with population density.
3D-QSAR Studies, Molecular Docking, Molecular Dynamic Simulation, and ADMET Proprieties of Novel Pteridinone Derivatives as PLK1 Inhibitors for the Treatment of Prostate Cancer
Authors: Er-rajy Mohammed , El fadili Mohamed , Imtara Hamada , Saeed Aamir , Ur Rehman Abid , Zarougui Sara , Abdullah Shaef A. , Alahdab Ahmad , Parvez Mohammad Khalid , Elhallaoui Menana
Published: January 2023

Overexpression of polo-like kinase 1 (PLK1) has been found in many different types of cancers. With its essential role in cell proliferation, PLK1 has been determined to be a broad-spectrum anti-cancer target. In this study, 3D-QSAR, molecular docking, and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations were applied on a series of novel pteridinone derivatives as PLK1 inhibitors to discover anti-cancer drug candidates. In this work, three models—CoMFA (Q² = 0.67, R² = 0.992), CoMSIA/SHE (Q² = 0.69, R² = 0.974), and CoMSIA/SEAH (Q² = 0.66, R² = 0.975)—of pteridinone derivatives were established. The three models that were established gave Rpred2 = 0.683, Rpred 2= 0.758, and Rpred 2= 0.767, respectively. Thus, the predictive abilities of the three proposed models were successfully evaluated. The relations between the different champs and activities were well-demonstrated by the contour chart of the CoMFA and CoMSIA/SEAH models. The results of molecular docking indicated that residues R136, R57, Y133, L69, L82, and Y139 were the active sites of the PLK1 protein (PDB code: 2RKU), in which the more active ligands can inhibit the enzyme of PLK1. The results of the molecular dynamic MD simulation diagram were obtained to reinforce the previous molecular docking results, which showed that both inhibitors remained stable in the active sites of the PLK1 protein (PDB code: 2RKU) for 50 ns. Finally, a check of the ADME-Tox properties of the two most active molecules showed that molecular N° 28 could represent a good drug candidate for the therapy of prostate cancer diseases.
New Polymer Composites with Aluminum Phosphates as Hybrid Flame Retardants
Authors: Dziuba Kamil , Wnuczek Krystyna , Wojtachnio Patryk , Sonnier Rodolphe , Podkościelna Beata
Published: January 2023

Polymeric aluminum organophosphates are a class of nanostructured aluminum-based compounds that can be considered organic and inorganic hybrid materials. Aluminum phosphates have attracted considerable interest due to their ability to enhance composite materials’ mechanical characteristics, lightweight, and thermal properties. Extensive studies have shown the potential of aluminum organophosphates as a component in the development of fire-retardant materials. Aluminum–organophosphorus hybrid (APH) materials have been prepared by reacting aluminum oxide hydroxide (boehmite) with alkyl and aryl phosphoric acids and used to prepare composites with epoxy resin. Boehmite is an aluminum oxide hydroxide (γ-AlO(OH)) mineral, a component of the aluminum ore bauxite. In this work, the composites based on epoxy resin Epidian 601 and commercial curing agent IDA were obtained. Pure boehmite and APH hybrids were added as flame retardants. FTIR and TGA analysis showed that obtained APH possesses a hybrid structure, high thermostability, and various morphologies. These new APH were incorporated into epoxy resin. The infrared spectroscopy confirmed the structure of hybrids and composites. Pyrolysis combustion flow calorimetry (PCFC) and cone calorimeter analyses were performed to assess the flame retardant properties of the composites. The results showed that the incorporation of 17 wt% APH allows a reduction of heat release rate but to a limited extent in comparison to pure boehmite, which is due to the different decomposition mechanisms of both boehmite and hybrids. The cone calorimetry test showed that residue contents correspond quite well to the mineral fraction from boehmite only. The hybrid APHs appear no more efficient than pure boehmite because the mineral fraction in APH is reduced while phosphate fraction cannot promote significant charring.
Effect of Abrasive Grain Size on the Abrasion Volume Loss of Subfossil and Recent Oak Wood in Three Characteristic Sections
Authors: Essert Sara , Rede Vera , Barišić Josip
Published: January 2023

Subfossil wood is a valuable and rare material often used for production of expensive furniture and decorative artistic items of unique beauty. Its mechanical and tribological properties are still being studied and are considered specific due to the particular conditions of its long-lasting formation in aqueous sediment sludge. Various elements that have been impregnated into the wood tissue over many years make the machining and grinding of this type of wood rather difficult compared to normal recent wood. The main objective of this study was to determine the influence of the abrasive grain size of sandpaper on the abrasion volume loss of recent and two subfossil oak samples in three characteristic sections (cross, radial, and tangential). The results showed that the average size of abrasive grains and the orientation of the wood structure have an influence on the abrasion volume loss of all three samples. The phenomenon of the critical size of abrasive grains was observed in all samples and on all sections. As the size of abrasive grains increased to the critical size, the abrasive volume loss of the sample increased simultaneously. The lowest abrasion volume loss was observed on recent oak. In all samples, the lowest volume loss was measured on the cross sections, and the tangential and radial sections had mutually equal values. It was also found that the increase in the size of abrasive grains to a critical value resulted in the increasing value of the absolute difference between the abrasion volume loss of the cross, radial, and tangential section samples, while the relative relations between the abrasive volume loss values of three different sections (C/R, C/T, R/T) within the same grit of sandpaper remained quite similar.
The Effect of B4C Powder on Properties of the WAAM 2319 Al Alloy
Authors: Song Xueping , Niu Jinke , Huang Jiankang , Fan Ding , Yu Shurong , Ma Yuanjun , Yu Xiaoquan
Published: January 2023

With ER2319 and B4C powder as feedstocks and additives, respectively, a wire arc additive manufacturing (WAAM) system based on double-pulse melting electrode inert gas shielded welding (DP-MIG) was used to fabricate single-pass multilayer 2319 aluminum alloy. The results showed that, compared with additive manufacturing component without B4C, the addition of which can effectively reduce the grain size (from 43 μm to 25 μm) of the tissue in the deposited layer area and improve its mechanical properties (from 231 MPa to 286 MPa). Meanwhile, the mechanical properties are better in the transverse than in the longitudinal direction. Moreover, the strengthening mechanism of B4C on the mechanical properties of aluminum alloy additive manufacturing mainly includes dispersion strengthening from fine and uniform B4C granular reinforcing phases and fine grain strengthening from the grain refinement of B4C. These findings shed light on the B4C induced grain refinement mechanism and improvement of WAAM 2319 Al alloy.
Near-Infrared (NIR) Silver Sulfide (Ag2S) Semiconductor Photocatalyst Film for Degradation of Methylene Blue Solution
Authors: Mubarokah Zahrah Ramadlan , Mahmed Norsuria , Norizan Mohd Natashah , Mohamad Ili Salwani , Abdullah Mohd Mustafa Al Bakri , Błoch Katarzyna , Nabiałek Marcin , Baltatu Madalina Simona , Sandu Andrei Victor , Vizureanu Petrica
Published: January 2023

A silver sulfide (Ag2S) semiconductor photocatalyst film has been successfully synthesized using a solution casting method. To produce the photocatalyst films, two types of Ag2S powder were used: a commercialized and synthesized powder. For the commercialized powder (CF/comAg2S), the Ag2S underwent a rarefaction process to reduce its crystallite size from 52 nm to 10 nm, followed by incorporation into microcrystalline cellulose using a solution casting method under the presence of an alkaline/urea solution. A similar process was applied to the synthesized Ag2S powder (CF/syntAg2S), resulting from the co-precipitation process of silver nitrate (AgNO3) and thiourea. The prepared photocatalyst films and their photocatalytic efficiency were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and UV-visible spectroscopy (UV-Vis). The results showed that the incorporation of the Ag2S powder into the cellulose films could reduce the peak intensity of the oxygen-containing functional group, which indicated the formation of a composite film. The study of the crystal structure confirmed that all of the as-prepared samples featured a monoclinic acanthite Ag2S structure with space group P21/C. It was found that the degradation rate of the methylene blue dye reached 100% within 2 h under sunlight exposure when using CF/comAg2S and 98.6% for the CF/syntAg2S photocatalyst film, and only 48.1% for the bare Ag2S powder. For the non-exposure sunlight samples, the degradation rate of only 33–35% indicated the importance of the semiconductor near-infrared (NIR) Ag2S photocatalyst used.
Quasi-2D SnO2 Thin Films for Gas Sensors: Chemoresistive Response and Temperature Effect on Adsorption of Analytes
Authors: Petrunin Alexander A. , Glukhova Olga E.
Published: January 2023

We performed in silico calculations of electrical conductivity of quasi-2D SnO2 thin films with a (110) surface–prospect material for sensitive element of gas sensors. Electronic structure, charge transfer and chemoresistive response of quasi-2D SnO2 thin films during adsorption of alcohol molecules (ethanol, methanol, isopropanol and butanol) and ketones (acetone, cyclopentanone and cyclohexanone) were calculated. It was found that the electrical conductivity of quasi-2D SnO2 thin films decreases within 4–15% during adsorption of analytes. The influence of temperature on the concentration of analytes on the surface of quasi-2D SnO2 thin films was explored in dependence analyte’s type.
Optimization of Milling Processes: Chatter Detection via a Sensor-Integrated Vice
Authors: Stavropoulos Panagiotis , Souflas Thanassis , Manitaras Dimitris , Papaioannou Christos , Bikas Harry
Published: January 2023

The future of the milling process is the fully autonomous operation of the machine tools. Developments in terms of automation and machine tool design are now enabling fully autonomous operation. However, the optimization and stability of the process itself still remains a challenge. Chatter is the most significant bottleneck, and as such, it should be constantly monitored to ensure a stable process. This work proposes a sensor-integrated milling vice using an MEMS accelerometer as a non-invasive monitoring solution for chatter detection. The system is comprised by low-cost, industrial-grade components suitable for implementation in real production scenarios. The dynamic analysis of the sensor-integrated vice enables the definition of the sensor-integration point to ensure measurement quality. The use of advanced signal process algorithms for the demodulation of the vibration signal, along with the use of artificial intelligence for chatter detection, led to a high-performance system at a low cost. A wide set of milling experiments that has been conducted showcased that the proposed solution enables continuous, real-time process optimization in milling through in-process chatter detection.
Process Simulation and Optimization of Arc Welding Robot Workstation Based on Digital Twin
Authors: Zhang Qinglei , Xiao Run , Liu Zhen , Duan Jianguo , Qin Jiyun
Published: January 2023

For the welding cell in the manufacturing process of large excavation motor arm workpieces, a system framework, based on a digital twin welding robot cell, is proposed and constructed in order to optimize the robotic collaboration process of the welding workstation with digital twin technology. For the automated welding cell, combined with the actual robotic welding process, the physical entity was digitally modeled in 3D, and the twin welding robot operating posture process beats and other data were updated in real time, through real-time interactive data drive, to achieve real-time synchronization and faithful mapping of the virtual twin as well as 3D visualization and monitoring of the system. For the robot welding process in the arc welding operation process, a mathematical model of the kinematics of the welding robot was established, and an optimization method for the placement planning of the initial welding position of the robot base was proposed, with the goal of smooth operation of the robot arm joints, which assist in the process simulation verification of the welding process through the virtual twin scenario. The implementation and validation process of welding process optimization, based on this digital twin framework, is introduced with a moving arm robot welding example.
Impact of Silica-Modification and Oxidation on the Crystal Structure of Magnetite Nanoparticles
Authors: Dzeranov Artur , Bondarenko Lyubov , Pankratov Denis , Dzhardimalieva Gulzhian , Jorobekova Sharipa , Saman Daniel , Kydralieva Kamila
Published: January 2023

At present, the widespread use of iron oxide nanoparticles, including for commercial purposes, requires strict preservation of their phase composition during their application. The choice of nanoparticle modifier and modification conditions is decisive due to their high sensitivity to oxygen in the case of using real conditions (O2, pH change, etc.). In this work, we studied the change in the phase composition of magnetite nanoparticles after modification with 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APTES) and oxidation with nitric acid in order to estimate the protective potential of the silica shell. After modification by APTES and oxidation with nitric acid, the nonstoichiometric nature of the magnetite nanoparticles according to XRD data increased, which indicates an increase in transition forms compared to the initial sample (magnetite content decreased to 27% and 24%, respectively). In contrast, Mössbauer spectroscopy data detected a decrease in the nonstoichiometric index due to APTES modification conditions, but strong oxidation after exposure to nitric acid. It also showed that by analyzing the data of the diffraction analysis and Mössbauer spectroscopy for the same sample, one can obtain information not only about the ionic composition of “magnetite”, but also about the distribution of iron ions of different charges over the crystalline and amorphous parts of the preparation.
Magnetizable Membranes Based on Cotton Microfibers, Honey, Carbonyl Iron, and Silver Nanoparticles: Effects of Static Magnetic Fields and Medium-Frequency Electric Fields on Electrical Properties
Authors: Bica Ioan , Anitas Eugen Mircea , Sfirloaga Paula
Published: January 2023

In this work, we present the manufacturing process of magnetizable membranes based on cotton microfibers, honey, carbonyl iron, and three different concentrations of silver microparticles. Each membrane is used as a dielectric material for the fabrication of electrical devices. By using the plane capacitor method, the electrical capacitance and dielectric loss tangent are measured in a medium-frequency alternating field superimposed on a static magnetic field. From the obtained data, the time constants of the devices, the components of complex dielectric permittivity, and the electrical conductivity of the membranes as a function of the electric field frequency and magnetic flux density can be extracted. The results show that the obtained membranes can be useful for the fabrication of low-cost and environmentally friendly magneto-active membranes that are required for various technical and biomedical applications.
Preface to the Special Issue on “Mathematical Methods and Operation Research in Logistics, Project Planning, and Scheduling”
Authors: Kosztyán Zsolt Tibor , Kovács Zoltán
Published: January 2023

In the last decade, the Industrial Revolution 4.0 brought flexible supply chains and flexible design projects to the fore [...]
Cyber Security for Detecting Distributed Denial of Service Attacks in Agriculture 4.0: Deep Learning Model
Authors: Aldhyani Theyazn H. H. , Alkahtani Hasan
Published: January 2023

Attackers are increasingly targeting Internet of Things (IoT) networks, which connect industrial devices to the Internet. To construct network intrusion detection systems (NIDSs), which can secure Agriculture 4.0 networks, powerful deep learning (DL) models have recently been deployed. An effective and adaptable intrusion detection system may be implemented by using the architectures of long short-term memory (LSTM) and convolutional neural network combined with long short-term memory (CNN–LSTM) for detecting DDoS attacks. The CIC-DDoS2019 dataset was used to design a proposal for detecting different types of DDoS attacks. The dataset was developed using the CICFlowMeter-V3 network. The standard network traffic dataset, including NetBIOS, Portmap, Syn, UDPLag, UDP, and normal benign packets, was used to test the development of deep learning approaches. Precision, recall, F1-score, and accuracy were among the measures used to assess the model’s performance. The suggested technology was able to reach a high degree of precision (100%). The CNN–LSTM has a score of 100% with respect to all the evaluation metrics. We used a deep learning method to build our model and compare it to existing systems to determine how well it performs. In addition, we believe that this proposed model has highest possible levels of protection against any cyber threat to Agriculture 4.0.
Mathematical Modeling: Cisplatin Binding to Deoxyribonucleic Acid
Authors: Alshehri Mansoor H.
Published: January 2023

The discovery of the cisplatin drug attracted considerable research attention as scientists strove to understand the drug’s mechanism in the human body that is responsible for destroying cancer cells, particularly the coordination between the cisplatin drug and deoxyribonucleic acid. Here, the binding energies of a cisplatin molecule relative to double-stranded deoxyribonucleic acid are obtained. The interactions of the system are determined by performing double integrals, and the analytical expressions are derived from the Lennard–Jones function and the continuum approximation; here, it is assumed that a discrete atomic structure might be replaced by surfaces with a constant average atomic density. The results observed that the cisplatin molecule is binding to the double-stranded deoxyribonucleic acid at either the minor or major grooves. By minimizing the interaction energies between the cisplatin molecule and the minor and major grooves, for arbitrary distances λ and arbitrary tilt angles φ from the axis of the helix of the double-stranded deoxyribonucleic acid, the binding energies are determined, and their values are ≈−6 and ≈−12.5 (kcal/mol), respectively. Thus, we may deduce that the major groove in double-stranded deoxyribonucleic acid is the most preferred groove for linking with the cisplatin molecule. The current analysis might help in the equivalent continuum modeling of deoxyribonucleic acids and nanocomposites.
Mapping between Spin-Glass Three-Dimensional (3D) Ising Model and Boolean Satisfiability Problem
Authors: Zhang Zhidong
Published: January 2023

The common feature for a nontrivial hard problem is the existence of nontrivial topological structures, non-planarity graphs, nonlocalities, or long-range spin entanglements in a model system with randomness. For instance, the Boolean satisfiability (K-SAT) problems for K ≥ 3 MSATK≥3  are nontrivial, due to the existence of non-planarity graphs, nonlocalities, and the randomness. In this work, the relation between a spin-glass three-dimensional (3D) Ising model  MSGI3D  with the lattice size N = mnl and the K-SAT problems is investigated in detail. With the Clifford algebra representation, it is easy to reveal the existence of the long-range entanglements between Ising spins in the spin-glass 3D Ising lattice. The internal factors in the transfer matrices of the spin-glass 3D Ising model lead to the nontrivial topological structures and the nonlocalities. At first, we prove that the absolute minimum core (AMC) model MAMC3D exists in the spin-glass 3D Ising model, which is defined as a spin-glass 2D Ising model interacting with its nearest neighboring plane. Any algorithms, which use any approximations and/or break the long-range spin entanglements of the AMC model, cannot result in the exact solution of the spin-glass 3D Ising model. Second, we prove that the dual transformation between the spin-glass 3D Ising model and the spin-glass 3D Z2 lattice gauge model shows that it can be mapped to a K-SAT problem for K ≥ 4 also in the consideration of random interactions and frustrations. Third, we prove that the AMC model is equivalent to the K-SAT problem for K = 3. Because the lower bound of the computational complexity of the spin-glass 3D Ising model CLMSGI3D  is the computational complexity by brute force search of the AMC model CUMAMC3D, the lower bound of the computational complexity of the K-SAT problem for K ≥ 4 CLMSATK≥4  is the computational complexity by brute force search of the K-SAT problem for K = 3  CUMSATK=3. Namely, CLMSATK≥4=CLMSGI3D≥CUMAMC3D=CUMSATK=3. All of them are in subexponential and superpolynomial. Therefore, the computational complexity of the K-SAT problem for K ≥ 4 cannot be reduced to that of the K-SAT problem for K < 3.