bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Large-Volume Focused-Ultrasound Mild Hyperthermia for Improving Blood-Brain Tumor Barrier Permeability Application
Authors: Chan Hsin , Chang Hsin-Yun , Lin Win-Li , Chen Gin-Shin
Published: September 2022

Mild hyperthermia can locally enhance permeability of the blood-tumor barrier in brain tumors, improving delivery of antitumor nanodrugs. However, a clinical transcranial focused ultrasound (FUS) system does not provide this modality yet. The study aimed at the development of the transcranial FUS technique dedicated for large-volume mild hyperthermia in the brain. Acoustic pressure, multiple-foci, temperature and thermal dose induced by FUS were simulated in the brain through the skull. A 1-MHz, 114-element, spherical helmet transducer was fabricated to verify large-volume hyperthermia in the phantom. The simulated results showed that two foci were simultaneously formed at (2, 0, 0) and (−2, 0, 0) and at (0, 2, 0) and (0, −2, 0), using the phases of focusing pattern 1 and the phases of focusing pattern 2, respectively. Switching two focusing patterns at 5 Hz produced a hyperthermic zone with an ellipsoid of 7 mm × 6 mm × 11 mm in the brain and the temperature was 41–45 °C in the ellipsoid as the maximum intensity was 150 W/cm2 and sonication time was 3 min. The phased array driven by switching two mode phases generated a 41 °C-contour region of 10 ± 1 mm × 8 ± 2 mm × 13 ± 2 mm in the phantom after 3-min sonication. Therefore, we have demonstrated our developed FUS technique for large-volume mild hyperthermia.
In Vitro and In Vivo Relevant Antineoplastic Activity of Platinum(II) Complexes toward Triple-Negative MDA-MB-231 Breast Cancer Cell Line
Authors: Maciel Leide Laura Figueiredo , Silva Marina Barreto , Moreira Rafaela Oliveira , Cardoso Ana Paula , Fernandes Christiane , Horn Adolfo , de Aquino Almeida João Carlos , Kanashiro Milton Masahiko
Published: September 2022

Two platinum complexes [Pt(HL3)Cl]·H2O (3) and [Pt(HL4)Cl]·H2O (4) containing α- and β-naphthyl groups, respectively, were investigated in more detail in vitro and in vivo for antineoplastic activity. The cytotoxicity activity induced by these platinum(II) compounds against breast cancer (MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7), lung (A549), prostate (PC3), pancreas (BXPC-3), and normal peripheral blood mononuclear (PBMC) cells were evaluated by MTT assay. The cell viability MTT assay showed that complex (4) was more cytotoxic to all cancer cell lines tested and less cytotoxic against human PBMC. Therefore, complex (4) was selected to further investigate the mechanism of cytotoxic effects involved against MDA-MB-231 cell line (human triple-negative breast cancer). Sub-G1 analysis of the cell cycle showed that this complex induces cell death by apoptosis due to the cell loss of DNA content detected in flow cytometry. The cytotoxic effect induced by complex (4) was associated with the capability of the complex to induce mitochondrial membrane depolarization, as well as increase ROS levels and caspase activation, as a result of the activation of both extrinsic and intrinsic apoptosis pathways. Ultrastructural alterations were observed using scanning and transmission electron microscopy (SEM and TEM), such as membrane blebbing, filopodia reduction, empty mitochondrial matrix, and DNA fragmentation. Furthermore, complex (4) was tested in an MDA-MB-231 tumor nodule xenograft murine model and demonstrated a remarkable reduction in tumor size in BALB/c nude mice, when compared to the control animals.
Qualitative and Quantitative Anatomical Analysis of the Constitutive Bark of Q. ilex x Q. suber Hybrids
Authors: de Burgos Gonzalo , Díez-Morales Eduardo , López de Heredia Unai , Soto Álvaro
Published: September 2022

Hybridization and introgression between cork oak (Quercus suber) and holm oak (Q. ilex) have traditionally been reckoned as undesirable processes, since hybrid individuals lack the profitable bark characteristics of cork oak. Nevertheless, a systematic and quantitative description of the bark of these hybrids at the microscopic level, based on a significant number of individuals, is not available to date. In this work we provide such a qualitative and quantitative description, identifying the most relevant variables for their classification. Hybrids show certain features intermediate between those of the parent species (such as phellem percentage in the outer bark, which was approximately 40% as a mean value for hybrids, 20% in holm oak and almost 99% in cork oak), as well as other unique features, such as the general suberization of inactive phloem (up to 25% in certain individuals), reported here for the first time. These results suggest a relevant hybridization-induced modification of the genetic expression patterns. Therefore, hybrid individuals provide a valuable material to disentangle the molecular mechanisms underpinning bark development in angiosperms.
Carbon Sequestration in Turfgrass–Soil Systems
Authors: Wang Ruying , Mattox Clint M. , Phillips Claire L. , Kowalewski Alec R.
Published: September 2022

Plants are key components of the terrestrial ecosystem carbon cycle. Atmospheric CO2 is assimilated through photosynthesis and stored in plant biomass and in the soil. The use of turfgrass is expanding due to the increasing human population and urbanization. In this review, we summarize recent carbon sequestration research in turfgrass and compare turfgrass systems to other plant systems. The soil organic carbon (SOC) stored in turfgrass systems is comparable to that in other natural and agricultural systems. Turfgrass systems are generally carbon-neutral or carbon sinks, with the exception of intensively managed areas, such as golf course greens and athletic fields. Turfgrass used in other areas, such as golf course fairways and roughs, parks, and home lawns, has the potential to contribute to carbon sequestration if proper management practices are implemented. High management inputs can increase the biomass productivity of turfgrass but do not guarantee higher SOC compared to low management inputs. Additionally, choosing the appropriate turfgrass species that are well adapted to the local climate and tolerant to stresses can maximize CO2 assimilation and biomass productivity, although other factors, such as soil respiration, can considerably affect SOC. Future research is needed to document the complete carbon footprint, as well as to identify best management practices and appropriate turfgrass species to enhance carbon sequestration in turfgrass systems.
Involvement of Calcium and Calmodulin in NO-Alleviated Salt Stress in Tomato Seedlings
Authors: Qi Nana , Wang Ni , Hou Xuemei , Li Yihua , Liao Weibiao
Published: September 2022

Salt stress is an adverse impact on the growth and development of plants, leading to yield losses in crops. It has been suggested that nitric oxide (NO) and calcium ion (Ca2+) act as critical signals in regulating plant growth. However, their crosstalk remains unclear under stress condition. In this study, we demonstrate that NO and Ca2+ play positive roles in the growth of tomato (Lycopersicum esculentum) seedlings under salt stress. Our data show that Ca2+ channel inhibitor lanthanum chloride (LaCl3), Ca2+ chelator ethylene glycol-bis (2-aminoethylether)-N,N,N,N-tetraacetic acid (EGTA), or calmodulin (CaM) antagonist N-(6-aminohexyl)-5-chloro-1-naphthalenesulfona-mide hydrochloride (W-7) significantly reversed the effect of NO-promoted the growth of tomato seedlings under salt stress. We further show that NO and Ca2+ significantly decreased reactive oxygen accumulation, increased proline content, and increased the activity of antioxidant enzymes, as well as increased expression of antioxidant enzymes related genes. However, LaCl3, EGTA, and W-7 prevented the positive roles of NO. In addition, the activity of downstream target enzymes related to Ca2+/CaM was increased by NO under salt stress, while LaCl3, EGTA, and W-7 reversed this enhancement. Taken together, these results demonstrate that Ca2+/CaM might be involved in NO-alleviate salt stress.
Functional Traits of Male and Female Leaves of Hippophae tibetana on the Eastern Edge of the Tibetan Plateau and Their Altitudinal Variability
Authors: Fan Baoli , Ma Zongqi , Gao Pengfei , Lu Jing , Ding Nana , Sun Kun
Published: September 2022

To date, there have been few studies of the functional traits of the dioecious Hippophae tibetana Schlecht leaves, either male or female, in response to ecological factors such as altitude. Elucidating these relationships will establish an important scientific basis for vegetation restoration and reconstruction of the Tibetan Plateau ecosystem. The natural populations of H. tibetana, distributed across three field sites, at 2868 m, 3012 m and 3244 m, in Tianzhu, Gansu, were studied by field survey sampling and laboratory analysis. In particular, the adaptions of leaf functional traits to elevation in these dioecious plants were analyzed. The results show that: (1) there is no “midday depression” of photosynthetic activity in either male or female plants. Over a one-day period, the net photosynthetic rate (Pn) and transpiration rate (Tr) of H. tibetana female plants were higher than those of male plants (p < 0.05). This correlated to the period of vigorous fruit growth in the female plant. The measured Pn and Tr were maximal at the intermediate altitude (3012 m). The light compensation point (LCP) of the leaves of male and female plants were 57.6 and 43.2 μmol·m−2·s−1, respectively, and the light saturation points (LSP) of the leaves were 1857.6 and 1596.8 μmol·m−2·s−1. (2) Altitude had a significant effect on plant and leaf functional traits of male and female H. tibetana (p < 0.05), and no significant difference was noted between plants at the same altitude. The values for leaf area (LA), specific leaf weight (LMA), leaf phosphorus content per unit mass (Pmass) and leaf phosphorus content per unit area (Parea) were also maximal at the intermediate altitude. Leaf nitrogen content per unit area (Narea) and leaf nitrogen content per unit mass (Nmass) increased with altitude. This indicated that the functional traits of male and female plants and leaves of H. tibetana showed a strong “trade-off relationship” with altitude. (3) Pearson correlation analysis showed that there were significant correlations among functional traits of H. tibetana leaves. Redundancy analysis (RDA) showed that soil water content (SWC), altitude (Alt) and soil organic carbon (SOC) had significant effects on the functional traits of H. tibetana leaves (p < 0.05).
Anti-Apoptotic and Anti-Inflammatory Effects of an Ethanolic Extract of Lycium chinense Root against Particulate Matter 10-Induced Cell Death and Inflammation in RBL-2H3 Basophil Cells and BALB/c Mice
Authors: Lee Jisun , Ree Jin , Kim Hyeon Jeong , Kim Hee Jin , Kim Woo Jung , Choi Tae Gyu , Lee Sanghyun , Hong Yun Ki , Hong Seong Bin , Park Yong Il
Published: September 2022

Particulate matters (PMs) from polluted air cause diverse pulmonary and cardiovascular diseases, including lung inflammation. While the fruits (Goji) of Lycium trees are commonly consumed as traditional medicine and functional food ingredients, the majority of their roots are discarded as by-products. To enhance the industrial applicability of Lycium roots, we prepared an ethanol extract (named GR30) of L. chinense Miller roots and evaluated its potential protective effects against particulate matter 10 (PM10)-induced inflammation and immune cell death. The GR30 treatment (0–500 μg/mL) significantly attenuated the PM10-induced cell cycle arrest, DNA fragmentation and mitochondria-dependent apoptosis in RBL-2H3 basophil cells. GR30 also significantly antagonized the PM10-induced expression of proinflammatory cytokines (IL-4, IL-13, and TNF-α) and COX2 expression through downregulation of MAPKs (ERK and JNK) signalling pathway. Oral administration of GR30 (200–400 mg/kg) to PM10 (20 mg/mL)-challenged mice significantly reduced the serum levels of IgE and the expression of TNF-α and Bax in lung tissues, which were elevated by PM10 exposure. These results revealed that the ethanolic extract (GR30) of L. chinense Miller roots exhibited anti-inflammatory and cyto-protective activity against PM10-induced inflammation and basophil cell death, and thus, it would be useful in functional food industries to ameliorate PM-mediated damage to respiratory and immune systems.
Characterization of Bacillus velezensis RDA1 as a Biological Control Agent against White Root Rot Disease Caused by Rosellinia necatrix
Authors: Sawant Shailesh S. , Song Janghoon , Seo Ho-Jin
Published: September 2022

White root rot disease, caused by Rosellinia necatrix, poses a threat to several tree crops; hence, effective and sustainable strategies to control this disease remain warranted. This study identified an effective R. necatrix biocontrol agent by isolating 32 strains from soil samples collected from white root rot-infested organic pear orchards, among which RDA1 exhibited the most potent growth-inhibitory effects. Microbiological and 16S rRNA gene sequencing analyses revealed that the bacterial isolate belonged to the Bacillus genus and exhibited 100% nucleotide sequence similarity with Bacillus velezensis species in the GenBank. This strain showed strong antifungal activity against four Rosellinia necatrix strains and harbored genes essential for lipopeptide, polyketide, and tripeptide bacilysin biosynthesis. RDA1 produced volatile compounds that suppressed the development of phytopathogens and possessed plant growth-promoting traits, such as phosphate solubilization, and indole-3-acetic acid and siderophore production. B. velezensis RDA1 has a significant potential application in sustainable agriculture and can be used to suppress white root rot disease infections and to improve plant growth.
Chelator Iminodisuccinic Acid Regulates Reactive Oxygen Species Accumulation and Improves Maize (Zea mays L.) Seed Germination under Pb Stress
Authors: Zhang Yifei , Sun Yishan , Li Weiqing , Li Jiayu , Xu Rongqiong , Du Jiarui , Li Zesong , Li Guibin , Yang Kejun
Published: September 2022

To explore the effects of iminodisuccinic acid (a chelating agent) on maize (Zea mays L.) seed germination under lead (Pb) stress, we comparatively analyzed the effects of applying different concentrations of iminodisuccinic acid (0, 5, 20, and 100 mmol·dm−3) and combined an addition of exogenous substances regulating reactive oxygen species production on maize seed germination, seedling growth, H2O2 content, NADPH oxidase activity, and antioxidant enzyme activities under Pb-stressed and Pb-free conditions. Iminodisuccinic acid (100 mmol·dm−3) significantly delayed seed germination under normal germination conditions and alleviated the inhibitory effects of Pb stress (20 mmol·dm−3) on seed germination. Under normal conditions (without Pb stress), the iminodisuccinic acid-induced inhibition of seed germination was enhanced by treatment with dimethylthiourea (a specific scavenger of reactive oxygen species) or diphenyleneiodonium chloride (a specific inhibitor of NADPH oxidase), but diminished by treatment with H2O2, CaCl2, diethyldithiocarbamic acid (a specific inhibitor of superoxide dismutase), or aminotriazole (a specific inhibitor of catalase). Under Pb stress, iminodisuccinic acid partially eliminated the excessive H2O2 accumulation, improved superoxide dismutase and catalase activity, and weakened the high NADPH oxidase activity. In addition, Ca2+ chelation may be essential for maintaining the reactive oxygen species’ balance and improving seed germination and seedling growth by iminodisuccinic acid supplementation in maize under Pb stress. The proposed iminodisuccinic acid supplementation-based method improved maize seed germination in Pb-polluted soil.
Effect of Hygrothermal Ageing on the Mechanical and Fire Properties of a Flame Retardant Flax Fiber/Epoxy Composite
Authors: Campana Charlotte , Léger Romain , Sonnier Rodolphe , Ienny Patrick , Ferry Laurent
Published: September 2022

In engineering applications, natural fiber composites must comply with fire requirements including the use of flame retardant. Furthermore, biocomposites are known to be water sensitive. Whether flame retardants affect the water sensitivity and whether water absorption affects the fire behavior and the mechanical performance of biocomposites are the two main topics addressed in this work. In this study, a flax fiber/epoxy composite flame retardant with 9,10-dihydro-9-oxa-10-phosphaphenanthrene-10-oxide (DOPO) or aluminum diethyl phosphinate (AlPi) was aged in humid atmosphere or by immersion in water. Water absorption kinetics revealed that DOPO induces an increase in equilibrium water content by approximately a factor of 2 due to its intrinsic hygroscopicity and/or its plasticizing effect on the epoxy matrix. In contrast, AlPi does not significantly change the water sensitivity of the biocomposite. Mechanical testing highlighted that, whatever the FR, the evolution of mechanical properties with ageing is governed by the moisture content. The drop of elastic modulus was attributed to a decrease in fiber rigidity due to plasticization, while the increase in tensile strength was assigned to an increase in fiber/matrix friction due to fiber swelling. As regards flame retardancy, only the highest water contents modified the fire behavior. For the AlPi containing biocomposite, the water release resulted in an increase by 50% of the time to ignition, while for the DOPO flame retardant biocomposite the water release was mainly postponed after ignition.
The Synergistic Effects of Hybrid Micro and Nano Silica in Influencing the Mechanical Properties of Epoxy Composites—A New Model
Authors: Raja Othman Raja Nor , Subramaniam Dinesh Kumar , Ezani Nursa’adah , Abdullah Mohamad Faizal , Ku Ahmad Ku Zarina
Published: September 2022

Epoxy nano composites containing micro and nano silica were prepared by varying the filler’s weight loading as an attempt to investigate the effects of incorporating these fillers in influencing its mechanical properties. Mechanical properties characterizations include the evaluation of tensile. The mechanical properties of the epoxy composites were found to tremendously increase as both micro and nano silica were added together at a 1:1 wt.% ratio. For example, the highest values of Young’s modulus were recorded to be 5.39 GPa for 25 wt.% loading (12.5 wt.% Micro + 12.5 wt.% nano), while Young’s modulus values of 5.22 MPa and 5.32 MPa were recorded for micro and nano silica, respectively, at the same weight loading. The most outstanding results were observed at 25 wt.% hybrids (12.5 wt.% micro silica + 12.5 wt.% nano silica), where the values of Young’s modulus were increased by 228% compared to the neat epoxy. This study successfully demonstrated synergistic effects demonstrated by combining micro and nano silica fillers, which created an interaction that significantly enhanced the Young’s modulus of epoxy composites.
Theoretical Study of the Effect of Fibre Porosity on the Heat Conductivity of Reinforced Gypsum Composite Material
Authors: Shalwan A. , Alajmi Abdalrahman , Yousif B. F.
Published: September 2022

In recent years, there has been an increasing demand for engineering materials that possess good mechanical and thermal properties and are cheap an d environmentally friendly. From an industrial and academic point of view, there is a need to study the heat conductivity of newly developed polymer composites and the influence of porosity on the insulation performance of polymer composites. Experimental and theoretical studies were conducted on mainly sisal/glass fibre gypsum composites with different fibre volumes (0, 20, 25, 30, and 35 wt.%). The outcomes from the theoretical model in ANSYS have shown that there is a high possibility to simulate the experimental work and high accuracy for reflecting the experimental findings. Moreover, the results show that natural fibre polymer composites with a high-volume fraction of natural fibres have higher insulation performance than synthetic polymer composites with the same volume fraction of synthetic fibres. Furthermore, the results suggest and support that the improved performance of natural fibre-based composites was due at least in part to the internal porosity of the fibres.
A Review of Rigid Polymeric Cellular Foams and Their Greener Tannin-Based Alternatives
Authors: Borrero-López Antonio M. , Nicolas Vincent , Marie Zelie , Celzard Alain , Fierro Vanessa
Published: September 2022

This review focuses on the description of the main processes and materials used for the formulation of rigid polymer foams. Polyurethanes and their derivatives, as well as phenolic systems, are described, and their main components, foaming routes, end of life, and recycling are considered. Due to environmental concerns and the need to find bio-based alternatives for these products, special attention is given to a recent class of polymeric foams: tannin-based foams. In addition to their formulation and foaming procedures, their main structural, thermal, mechanical, and fire resistance properties are described in detail, with emphasis on their advanced applications and recycling routes. These systems have been shown to possess very interesting properties that allow them to be considered as potential substitutes for non-renewable rigid polymeric cellular foams.
Precise Control of the Preparation of Proton Exchange Membranes via Direct Electrostatic Deposition
Authors: Liu Hao , Tian Runmin , Liu Chunxu , Zhang Jinghan , Tian Mingwei , Ning Xin , Hu Xingyou , Wang Hang
Published: September 2022

In this work, we reported a novel preparation method for a proton exchange membrane (PEM) named, the direct electrostatic deposition method. In theory, any required thickness and size of PEM can be precisely controlled via this method. By direct electrostatic spraying of Nafion solution containing amino modified SiO2 nanoparticles onto a metal collector, a hybrid membrane of 30 μm thickness was fabricated. The DMFC assembled with a prepared ultrathin membrane showed a maximum power density of 124.01 mW/cm2 at 40 °C and 100% RH, which was 95.29% higher than that of Nafion. This membrane formation method provides potential benefits for the preparation of ultrathin PEMs.
Numerical Simulation Study on the Effect of Port Water Injector Position on the Gasoline Direct Injection Engine
Authors: Zhang Zhongjie , Dai Xuejiao , Zheng Zhaolei
Published: September 2022

This paper explores the effects of six different cases of port water injection on the combustion, knock suppression and emissions of a supercharged gasoline direct injection (GDI) engine through numerical simulation. The six different intake port water injection cases included three vertical distances from cylinder center to water injector and two different injection directions. The results showed that cases 2 and 4 allowed more water and air to enter the cylinder and thus suppressed the knock, so the pressure oscillation was small. Case 2 had the largest turbulent kinetic energy in the center of the cylinder, which in turn facilitated the propagation of flame to the cylinder wall and suppressed the knock. The water injection cases shortened the combustion delay period compared to the no water cases. At the same time, the strong low temperature reaction of the end mixture produced a large amount of CH2O that decomposed into HCO. A high concentration and a large area of HCO distribution can predict the occurrence of a knock. In addition, the water injection cases (except for case 6) reduced the in-cylinder soot, unburned hydrocarbon (UHC) and CO emissions compared to the no water cases, but it increased NOX emissions.
Downstream Torrefaction of Wood Pellets in a Rotary Kiln Reactor—Impact on Solid Biofuel Properties and Torr-Gas Quality
Authors: Mutlu Özge , Roy Poulami , Zeng Thomas
Published: September 2022

Solid biofuels produced from torrefaction have improved coal-like properties in comparison to raw biofuels, yet ensuring uniform product quality is still a challenge. In this study, downstream torrefaction of wood pellets was performed at temperatures between 200 and 270 °C in a rotary kiln reactor to understand the effect of torrefaction temperature on product quality. The torrefied solid biofuel was compared with dedicated fuel properties defined in ISO/TS 17225-8:2016-12. Based on the results, the optimal temperature for downstream torrefaction was found at temperatures of 230 and 250 °C. Above this temperature, the effect of bulk density superimposes not only the increased net calorific value but also values for mechanical durability, amount of fines, and bulk density of the solid biofuel, which were below the thresholds of the fuel standard. Moreover, increasing process temperatures caused higher heavy metal concentrations in torrefied pellets. The composition of condensable and non-condensable fractions of the torr-gas substantially increased between temperatures of 230 and 250 °C and remained on a similar level at higher temperatures. Thus, the utilization of torr-gas for energy recovery purposes and as a precursor for the recovery of valuable chemicals should be balanced with the quality of the solid biofuel in the aforementioned range of torrefaction temperatures to enable the utilization of torrefaction products at further steps.
Exploring the Molecular Mechanism of Zhi Bai Di Huang Wan in the Treatment of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Based on Network Pharmacology and Molecular Docking Techniques
Authors: Zhuang Yanping , Zhang Xuan , Luo Simin , Wei Fangzhi , Song Yitian , Lin Guiling , Yao Minghui , Gong Aimin
Published: September 2022

Objective: To investigate the molecular mechanism and simulated validation of Zhi Bai Di Huang Pill (ZBDHP) for the treatment of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) using network pharmacology and molecular docking techniques. Methods: The active ingredients of ZBDHP were obtained through the TCMSP database and the Canonical SMILES of the active ingredients were queried through Pubchem. The targets of the active ingredients were predicted in the SwissTarget database based on the SMILES. The SLE-related disease targets were obtained through the GeneCards, OMIM and DisGenets databases, and the intersection targets of ZBDHP and SLE were obtained using the Venny 2.1.0 online platform. Intersection targets build a visual protein interaction network (PPI) through the STRING database, and the core targets were identified by network topology analysis. GO analysis and KEGG pathway enrichment analysis of the intersecting targets were performed using the DAVID database. Finally, the molecular docking of the first four active ingredients and the first four core target genes were verified by Pubchem, the PDB database and CB-Dock online molecular docking technology. Results: ZBDHP screened 91 potential active ingredients and 816 potential targets. Among them, 141 genes were intersected by ZBDHP and SLE. The network topology analysis showed that the main active ingredients were Hydroxygenkwanin, Alisol B, asperglaucide, Cerevisterol, etc., and the key target genes were TNF, AKT1, EGFR, STAT3, etc. GO and KEGG enrichment analysis showed that common targets interfere with biological processes or molecular functions such as signal transduction protein phosphorylation, inflammatory response, transmembrane receptor protein tyrosine kinase activity, etc., through multiple signaling pathways, such as pathways in cancer, Kaposi sarcoma-associated herpesvirus infection, the PI3K-Akt signaling pathway, lipid and atherosclerosis, hepatitis B, etc. Molecular docking results showed that the active components of ZBDHP have good binding activity to the core targets of SLE. Conclusions: This study reveals that the ZBDHP treatment of SLE is a complex mechanistic process with multi-components, multi-targets and multi-pathways, and it may play a therapeutic role in SLE by inhibiting the production, proliferation and apoptosis of inflammatory factors. In conclusion, the present study provides a theoretical basis for further research on ZBDHP.
Digital Technology and Innovative Technology to Promote the Professional Development of Digital Media Based on Green Energy under COVID-19
Authors: Xu Qianqian , Zheng Bing , Zhou Hongmi , Chen Jingfan , Zhang Zhifeng , Wu Xueping
Published: September 2022

Taking as an example the practical teaching of the design of children’s solar-energy-based ultraviolet disinfection products, we analyzed the practical activities in four stages of teaching—case background, research methods, product design, and practical results—in the practical teaching mode based on solar green energy. This paper presents and proposes a design solution for a solar-powered green energy-based multifunctional inductive UV disinfection product for children to provide additional services for school interventions and improve public health in primary and secondary schools. This new innovative design for a children’s disinfection product is based on solar green energy and enhances the graded disinfection strategy in schools, reducing the number of viruses and the potential risk of virus transmission in the educational environment. The proposed program aims to be project-oriented, combining green energy concepts with innovative educational concepts, classroom content with social prevention products, digital technology with innovative thinking, promoting the development of innovative and digital abilities of teachers and students, and promoting the development of practical teaching in digital media. The practical results show that the model has positive teaching effects, practical value for students, schools and society, cultivation of digital innovation ability of teachers and students, and reference significance for practical teaching.
Integration of Decay Time Analysis and Radiation Measurement for Quantum-Dot-Based Scintillator’s Characterization
Authors: Min Sujung , Ko Kwang-Hoon , Seo Bumkyoung , Roh Changhyun , Hong Sangbum
Published: September 2022

In this study, we demonstrated the process of an integrated apparatus for decay time analysis and gamma radiation measurement with a liquid-scintillator-based cadmium-doped zinc oxide (CZO) nanomaterial. Generally, time-resolved photon counting is an essential analysis method in the field of precision measurement in the quantum domain. Such photon counting equipment requires a pulse laser that can be repeated quickly while having a sharp pulse width of picoseconds or femtoseconds as a light source. Time-correlated single photon counting (TCSPC) equipment, which is currently a commercial product, is inconvenient for recent development research because the scintillator size and shape are limited. Here, neodymium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet (Nd/YAG) laser TCSPC equipment was constructed to analyze the fluorescence characteristics of scintillators having various sizes and shapes. Then, a liquid scintillator added with CZO nanomaterial was prepared and the Nd/YAG laser TCSPC equipment test was performed. As a result of measuring the scintillator using the manufactured Nd/YAG laser TCSPC equipment, the non-CZO liquid scintillator was analyzed at 2.30 ns and the liquid scintillator equipped with CZO-loaded nanomaterial was analyzed at 11.95 ns. It showed an error within 5% when compared with the result of commercial TCSPC equipment. In addition, it was verified that the Nd/YAG laser TCSPC system can sufficiently measure the decay time in nanoseconds (ns). Moreover, it was presented that the Compton edge energy of Cs−137 is 477.3 keV, which hardly generates a photoelectric effect, and Compton scattering mainly occurs.
The Effect of Soybean Peptides on Improving Quality and the ACE Inhibitory Bioactivity of Extruded Rice
Authors: Hou Shuangdi , Zhao Jiafeng , Zu Yuan , Zheng Jiaxuan , Wang Chunyu , Liu Xia
Published: September 2022

It is crucial to address the dietary problems of hypertensive patients. The effect and mechanism of different contents of soybean protein on cooking quality and angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitory action in the extruded rice were firstly investigated. The results showed that the extruded rice with soybean protein possessed the higher taste value (90.32 ± 2.31), hardness (2.65 ± 0.01 g), and good pasting quality (p ≤ 0.05). Meanwhile, the soybean protein notably retarded the starch digestibility; the sample with 6% soybean protein showed the fewest rapidly digestible starch (RDS) content (78.82 ± 0.01 mg g−1) and the most slowly digestible starch (SDS) content (8.97 ± 0.45 mg g−1). Importantly, the ACE inhibition rate improved from 17.09 ± 0.01% to 74.02 ± 0.65% in the 6% soybean protein sample because of the production of peptides. The peptide composition of samples were compared, which showed that the effective ACE-inhibitory peptides usually contain 2~20 amino acids, and Pro, Leu, Ile, Val, Phe, and Ala were the main components. Overall, moderate soybean protein would give a good quality and lower ACE activity in extruded food.
Data-Driven Intelligent Model for the Classification, Identification, and Determination of Data Clusters and Defect Location in a Welded Joint
Authors: Oleka Chijioke Jerry , Aikhuele Daniel Osezua , Omorogiuwa Eseosa
Published: September 2022

In this paper, a data-driven approach that is based on the k-mean clustering and local outlier factor (LOF) algorithm has been proposed and deployed for the management of non-destructive evaluation (NDE) in a welded joint. The k-mean clustering and LOF model algorithm, which was implemented for the classification, identification, and determination of data clusters and defect location in the welded joint datasets, were trained and validated such that three (3) different clusters and noise points were obtained. The noise points, which are regarded as the welded joint defects/flaws, allow for the determination of the cluster size, heterogeneity, and silhouette score of the welded joint data. Similarly, the LOF model algorithm was implemented for the detection, visualization, and management of flaws due to internal cracks, porosity, fusion, and penetration in the welded joint. It is believed that the management of welded joint flaws would aid the actualization of the Industry 4.0 concept in the development of lightweight products for manufacturing.
Virtual Angstrom-Beam Electron Diffraction Analysis for Zr80Pt20 Metallic Glasses
Authors: Hirata Akihiko
Published: September 2022

To analyze amorphous structure models obtained by a molecular dynamics (or reverse Monte Carlo) simulation, we propose a virtual angstrom-beam electron diffraction analysis. In this analysis, local electron diffraction patterns are calculated for the amorphous models at equal intervals as performed in the experiment, and the local structures that generate paired diffraction spots in the diffraction patterns are further analyzed by combining them with a Fourier transform and a Voronoi polyhedral analysis. For an example of Zr80Pt20, an aggregate of coordination polyhedra is formed which generates similar diffraction patterns from most parts within the aggregate. Furthermore, the coordination polyhedra are connected in certain orientational relationships which could enhance the intensity of the diffraction spots.
Plastic Waste Management through the Development of a Low Cost and Light Weight Deep Learning Based Reverse Vending Machine
Authors: Zia Huma , Jawaid Muhammad Uzair , Fatima Hafiza Sundus , Hassan Imtiaz Ul , Hussain Azmat , Shahzad Sheryar , Khurram Muhammad
Published: September 2022

The management of the abundant amount of used plastic bottle waste is a major concern nowadays, because it is a major contributor to landfills and overburdens waste processing facilities. Once disposed of, plastic can take centuries to break down, hence, recycling not only manages the waste efficiently, but it reduces the environmental impact and creates economic opportunities, as well. An incentive-based Reverse Vending machine (RVM) is an effective way to involve the general public in the management of plastic waste. The existing solutions are either very expensive, from a computation and cost perspective, or they lack the robustness and durability necessary for deployment. In this research, we have developed an incentive-based low-cost RVM for the collection, identification, classification, and sorting of used plastic bottles with the addition of a reward-based user application. The developed RVM includes a low-cost computing device running a lightweight image processing algorithm, sensors, camera, and a self-designed mechanical arm. To support the low computing device in the RVM, a lightweight MobileNet model has been trained using transfer learning. A dataset of 10,983 pet bottle images was collected using a camera installed inside the machine for the classification model. The results of the study show that MobileNet achieved 99.2% testing accuracy, which is better than the existing bottle-classification approaches. Moreover, the weight of the developed model was only 12 Mb, which is fourteen and six times less than inceptionV3 and Res-Net (Residual Neural Networks), respectively. Furthermore, the developed RVM costs a fraction of the price, compared to the existing solutions. Two versions of the machine have been deployed at a University for more than 6 months, collecting over 650 kg of plastic waste.
Race and the Politics of Pilgrimage for African American Christians in Palestine and Israel
Authors: Baumann Roger
Published: September 2022

African American Christian travel to Israel and Palestine demonstrates the role of overlapping racial and religious identities in shaping how travelers understand their experiences in the Holy Land variously as traditional religious pilgrimage, tourism, and political engagement. While traditional accounts of pilgrimage frame it as an experience set apart from mundane realities and social hierarchies, new perspectives in the study of pilgrimage show how the social identities of travelers may shape religiously inspired travel. Four case studies of African American Christian travel to Palestine and Israel—including Christian Zionist and Palestinian solidarity tours—show how participant experiences and interpretations of sites are shaped by overlapping religious and racial collective identities, which affect the religious, economic, and political perceptions of travelers. The relevance of race to pilgrimage varies depending on past experiences of racial and religious histories, perceptions of racial injustice, race-specific theologies, and religious ethics. Solidarities with resident Israelis and Palestinians are encouraged or rejected depending on participant interpretations of overlapping racial and religious identities.
Conflicting Rights? Dutch-Turkish Muslim Parents Fostering a Religiously Coloured Agency
Authors: Aantjes Rosanne M. S.
Published: September 2022

This article is an in-depth exploration of the roles of Dutch-Turkish Muslim parents in facilitating their children’s freedom of thought, conscience and religion, and the rights of these parents to provide their children with religious direction. A limited number of four semi-structured, in-depth interviews was conducted, with a total of six Dutch-Turkish Muslim parents. The interview data were analysed by both inductive and deductive analysis, so-called abductive analysis. Instead of fostering child agency by promoting their children’s individual choice, the parents seek to promote a religiously coloured agency. The findings indicate five ways the parents integrate a religious direction while fostering the child’s agency.
Pilgrimage and Religious Tourism in Society, in the Wake of the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Paradigmatic Focus on ‘St. Paul’s Route’ in the Central Macedonia Region, Greece
Authors: Tsironis Christos N.
Published: September 2022

The adverse effects of the COVID-19 pandemic have transformed the worldwide socio-economic environment in various and unpredicted ways. More specifically, the pandemic restrictions and the necessary social distancing have generated questions concerning the ‘day after’ of religious tourism, especially in association with the value attributed to proximity, sharing, and communal worship in the Orthodox Church tradition. For the time being, pilgrimages and religious tourism in the Greek Orthodox context are quite stable and resilient, and seem to be intertwined with cultural heritage, the modern search for authenticity, and the touristic experience. This analysis aims to explore the key factors that may shape the future trends and plans for pilgrimage and religious tourism in the Greek Orthodox segment. For this reason, it will focus paradigmatically on the region of Central Macedonia in Greece, which is known for its religious and cultural heritage. This is an area in Northern Greece, linked to the missionary journeys of Apostle Paul, and to iconic religious destinations, such as mount Athos and UNESCO World Heritage sites like the Byzantine monuments in Thessaloniki. The analysis will further examine the possibilities of developing new and multidimensional forms of tourism, focused on visits to religious sites.
Visible Light-Driven Photocatalytic Degradation of Ciprofloxacin, Ampicillin and Erythromycin by Zinc Ferrite Immobilized on Chitosan
Authors: Hassan Mohamed Nehad Ahmed , Shamma Rehab Nabil , Elagroudy Sherien , Adewuyi Adewale
Published: September 2022

This study investigated the synthesis of zinc ferrite immobilized on chitosan (ZnFe2O4@Chitosan) and its application in the photodegradation of ciprofloxacin (CIP), ampicillin (AMP) and erythromycin (ERY) in aqueous solution. Results from Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) revealed peaks suggesting its synthesis, while signals from X-ray diffraction (XRD) showed diffraction patterns confirming the synthesis of ZnFe2O4@Chitosan with a crystallite size of 35.14 nm. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) revealed a homogeneous morphology with a surface area of 12.96 m2 g−1 from the Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) analysis. The vibrating sample magnetometry (VSM) result revealed a saturation magnetization of 2.38 emu g−1. The photodegradation study of CIP, AMP and ERY showed that both photodegradation and adsorption were taking place at the same time with the percentage degradation efficiency in the order CIP (99.80 ± 0.20%) > AMP (94.50 ± 0.10%) > ERY (83.20 ± 0.20%). ZnFe2O4@Chitosan exhibited high stability with capacity > 90% even at the 15th regeneration cycle, suggesting a viable economic value of ZnFe2O4@Chitosan.
Development of an End-Effector Type Therapeutic Robot with Sliding Mode Control for Upper-Limb Rehabilitation
Authors: Khan Md Mahafuzur Rahaman , Swapnil Asif Al Zubayer , Ahmed Tanvir , Rahman Md Mahbubur , Islam Md Rasedul , Brahmi Brahim , Fareh Raouf , Rahman Mohammad Habibur
Published: September 2022

Geriatric disorders, strokes, spinal cord injuries, trauma, and workplace injuries are all prominent causes of upper limb disability. A two-degrees-of-freedom (DoFs) end-effector type robot, iTbot (intelligent therapeutic robot) was designed to provide upper limb rehabilitation therapy. The non-linear control of iTbot utilizing modified sliding mode control (SMC) is presented in this paper. The chattering produced by a conventional SMC is undesirable for this type of robotic application because it damages the mechanical structure and causes discomfort to the robot user. In contrast to conventional SMC, our proposed method reduces chattering and provides excellent dynamic tracking performance, allowing rapid convergence of the system trajectory to its equilibrium point. The performance of the developed robot and controller was evaluated by tracking trajectories corresponding to conventional passive arm movement exercises, including several joints. According to the results of experiment, the iTbot demonstrated the ability to follow the desired trajectories effectively.
RoboNav: An Affordable Yet Highly Accurate Navigation System for Autonomous Agricultural Robots
Authors: Galati Rocco , Mantriota Giacomo , Reina Giulio
Published: September 2022

The paper presents RoboNav, a cost-effective and accurate decimeter-grade navigation system that can be used for deployment in the field of autonomous agricultural robots. The novelty of the system is the reliance on a dual GPS configuration based on two u-blox modules that work in conjunction with three low-cost inertial sensors within a Gaussian Sum Filter able to combine multiple Extended Kalman filters dealing with IMU bias and GPS signal loss. The system provides estimation of both position and heading with high precision and robustness, at a significantly lower cost than existing equivalent navigation systems. RoboNav is validated in a commercial vineyard by performing experimental tests using an all-terrain tracked robot commanded to follow a series of GPS waypoints, trying to minimize the crosstrack error and showing average errors on the order of 0.2 m and 0.2∘ for the measurement of position and yaw angle, respectively.
Assisted Operation of a Robotic Arm Based on Stereo Vision for Positioning near an Explosive Device
Authors: Montoya Angulo Andres , Pari Pinto Lizardo , Sulla Espinoza Erasmo , Silva Vidal Yuri , Supo Colquehuanca Elvis
Published: September 2022

This document presents an assisted operation system of a robotic arm for positioning near an explosive device selected by the user through the visualization of the cameras on the screen. Two non-converging cameras mounted on the robotic arm in camera-in-hand configuration provide the three-dimensional (3D) coordinates of the object being tracked, using a 3D reconstruction technique with the help of the continuously adaptive mean shift (CAMSHIFT) algorithm for object tracking and feature matching. The inverse kinematics of the robot is implemented to locate the end effector close to the explosive so that the operator can perform the operation of grabbing the grenade more easily. Inverse kinematics is implemented in its geometric form, thus reducing the computational load. Tests conducted with various explosive devices verified the effectiveness of the system in locating the robotic arm in the desired position.
A New Design Identification and Control Based on GA Optimization for An Autonomous Wheelchair
Authors: Shamseldin Mohamed A. , Khaled Eissa , Youssef Abdelrahman , Mohamed Diaaeldin , Ahmed Shady , Hesham Abdallah , Elkodama Amira , Badran Mohamed
Published: September 2022

The daily lifestyle of an average human has changed drastically. Robotics and AI systems are applied to many fields, including the medical field. An autonomous wheelchair that improves the degree of independence that a wheelchair user has can be a very useful contribution to society. This paper presents the design and implementation of an autonomous wheelchair that uses LIDAR to navigate and perform SLAM. It uses the ROS framework and allows the user to choose a goal position through a touchscreen or using deep learning-based voice recognition. It also presents a practical implementation of system identification and optimization of PID control gains, which are applied to the autonomous wheelchair robot. Input/output data were collected using Arduino, consisting of linear and angular speeds and wheel PWM signal commands, and several black-box models were developed to simulate the actual wheelchair setup. The best-identified model was the NLARX model, which had the highest square error (0.1259) among the other candidate models. In addition, using MATLAB, Optimal PID gains were obtained from the genetic algorithm. Performance on real hardware was evaluated and compared to the identified model response. The two responses were identical, except for some of the noise due to the encoder measurement errors and wheelchair vibration.