bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Application of Reproductive Technologies to the Critically Endangered Baw Baw Frog, Philoria frosti
Authors: Silla Aimee J. , Hobbs Rebecca J. , Gilbert Deon J. , Goodall Damian , Parrott Marissa L. , Lee Adam , O’Brien Justine K. , Byrne Phillip G.
Published: July 2023

Reproductive technologies (RTs) can assist integrated conservation breeding programs to attain propagation targets and manage genetic diversity more effectively. While the application of RTs to enhance the conservation management of threatened amphibians has lagged behind that of other taxonomic groups, a recent surge in research is narrowing the divide. The present study reports on the first application of RTs (hormone-induced spawning, hormone-induced sperm-release, and sperm cryopreservation) to the critically endangered Baw Baw frog, Philoria frosti. To determine the effect of hormone therapy on spawning success, male–female pairs were administered either 0 μg/g gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist (GnRHa), 0.5 μg/g GnRHa, or 0.5 μg/g GnRHa + 10 μg/g metoclopramide (MET) (n = 6–7 pairs/treatment), and the number of pairs ovipositing, total eggs, and percent fertilisation success were quantified. To determine the effect of hormone therapy on sperm-release and to establish the peak time to collect sperm post-hormone administration, males were administered 0 IU/g (n = 4), or 20 IU/g hCG (n = 16). Total sperm, sperm concentration, and percent viability were quantified at 0, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, and 12 h post-hormone administration. Overall, the percentage of pairs ovipositing was highest in the GnRHa + MET treatment, with 71% of pairs ovipositing, compared to 57% and 33% of pairs in the GnRHa and control treatments, respectively. The quantity of sperm released from males in response to hCG peaked at 4 h post-hormone administration, though it remained high up to 12 h. The percent sperm viability also peaked at 4 h post-administration (94.5%), exhibiting a steady decline thereafter, though viability remained above 77% throughout the 12 h collection period. The remaining sperm samples (n = 22) were cryopreserved using established protocols and biobanked for long-term storage and future conservation applications. The mean post-thaw sperm viability was 59%, and the percent total motility was 17%. The results from this preliminary study will direct further applications of RTs to the critically endangered Baw Baw frog to assist with species recovery.
Relationship between Pulp–Tooth Area Ratio and Chronological Age among Saudi Arabian Adults: A Cone Beam Computed Tomography Image Analysis
Authors: Alqarni Abdullah , Ajmal Muhammed , Hakami Reem Mohammed , Alassmi Abeer Abdullah , Chalikkandy Sandeepa Nuchilakath , Arem Saeed
Published: July 2023

The pulp–tooth area ratio (PTR) from radiographic dental archives is considered useful for age estimation in the forensic field. Since there have been no studies conducted in the Saudi Arabian population using the PTR method, this study aimed to assess the relationship between the pulp–tooth area ratio of maxillary canines and central incisors and chronological age among Saudi Arabian adults using CBCT and to compare the selected teeth’s predictive power. For this, 100 CBCT scans of 62 male and 38 female patients aged between 20 and 60 years were assessed using OnDemand 3D DentalTM software (Cybermed Co., Tustin, CA, USA) in the axial and sagittal section of each tooth. The mean age estimated using the PTR of the maxillary incisors (39.98 years) was higher than the canines’ (37.9 years). A negative correlation coefficient ‘r’ value was seen between PTR and age. The strongest inverse correlation was noted between age and incisor axial view (0.47) (p < 0.05), Maxillary central incisors had higher R2 in both genders (males: PTRS-0.18, PTRA-0.17; females: PTRS-0.19, PTRA-0.35) than canines. We conclude a weak correlation between the pulp–tooth ratio and chronological age estimation. CBCT pulp–tooth ratios of axial and sagittal sections of incisors were inconclusive in estimating the age of Saudi Arabian individuals owing to their low coefficient of estimation. Among the tooth types studied, maxillary incisors were better predictors than canines.
Exploring the Synergistic Impacts of Cover Crops and Fertilization on Soil Microbial Metabolic Diversity in Dryland Soybean Production Systems Using Biolog EcoPlates
Authors: Chinthalapudi Durga P. M. , Pokhrel Sapna , Kingery William L. , Shankle Mark W. , Ganapathi Shanmugam Shankar
Published: July 2023

The metabolic diversity of soil microbiota embodies diverse functional capabilities that support ecosystem resilience, driving essential biogeochemical processes and facilitating the optimization of sustainable agricultural systems. Integrating cover crops into agricultural systems cultivates a diverse array of metabolic activities among soil microbes, synergistically enhancing ecosystem services and bolstering soil health for sustainable and productive farming practices. In an effort to gain deeper insights and expand our knowledge, we conducted a study examining the effects of cover crops and fertilizer sources, thereby shedding light on their combined impacts on the metabolic activity dynamics of soil microbial communities. In this investigation, we employed a split-plot design with two factors: (a) cover crop with three solo cover crop species—Cereal rye (Secale cereale), wheat (Triticum aestivum), hairy vetch (Vicia villosa), and one mixture of mustard (Brassica rapa) and cereal rye (Secale cereale) (CC-mix), (b) Fertilizer source includes poultry litter, chemical fertilizer, and no-fertilizer treatments. We assessed the metabolic potential of soil microbiota by using carbon substrates utilizing Biolog EcoPlates. The findings revealed that the plots with CC-mix treatment exhibited greater metabolic diversity compared to the other treatments, while among the fertilizer sources, poultry litter demonstrated higher metabolic activity. Furthermore, both treatment factors predominantly metabolized carbohydrates and polymers compared to other carbon substrate categories. The principal component analysis accounted for 46.4% of the variance, collectively represented by PC1 and PC2, emphasizing the substantial contributions of carbohydrates, amino acids, and carboxylic acids to the observed metabolic diversity. Canonical correspondence analysis revealed that pH had positively correlated with microbial functional diversity, whereas total carbon (TC), total nitrogen (TN), and water-stable aggregates (WSA) showed a negative correlation. In conclusion, cover cropping and type of fertilizer source had a notable impact on soil microbial functional diversity, with the cover crop mixture exhibiting a more pronounced influence than the individual cover crop treatments.
Model-Based State-of-Charge and State-of-Health Estimation Algorithms Utilizing a New Free Lithium-Ion Battery Cell Dataset for Benchmarking Purposes
Authors: Neupert Steven , Kowal Julia
Published: July 2023

State estimation for lithium-ion battery cells has been the topic of many publications concerning the different states of a battery cell. They often focus on a battery cell’s state of charge (SOC) or state of health (SOH). Therefore, this paper introduces, on the one hand, a new lithium-ion battery dataset with dynamic validation data over degradation and, on the other hand, a model-based SOC and SOH estimation based on this dataset as a reference. An unscented Kalman-filter-based approach was used for SOC estimation and extended with a holistic ageing model to handle the SOH estimation. The paper describes the dataset, the models, the parameterisation, the implementation of the state estimations, and their validation using parts of the dataset, resulting in SOC and SOH estimations over the entire battery life. The results show that the dataset can be used to extract parameters, design models based on it, and validate it with dynamically degraded battery cells. The work provides an approach and dataset for better performance evaluations, applicability, and reliability investigations.
Method for Benchmarking Li Metal Anodes: A Mandatory Step toward Reliable Lithium Metal Batteries
Authors: Delaporte Nicolas , Perea Alexis , Léonard Mireille , Matton Julie , Demers Hendrix , Collin-Martin Steve , Rozon David , Clément Daniel , Guerfi Abdelbast , Kim Chisu
Published: July 2023

All-solid-state batteries are known to be the new energy storage holy grail that will lead to safer batteries with higher energy density than current Li-ion batteries. The use of a solid electrolyte enables the use of lithium metal as the anode material. However, its composition, its thickness, and the quality/nature of its passivation layer can strongly affect the performance of the battery. For this reason, we propose a simple benchmarking method that evaluates and compares the quality and electrochemical performance of various Li anodes. This method can be easily reproduced, especially concerning the electrochemical evaluation that uses a commercial liquid electrolyte and the widely spread coin-cell format. In total, ~285 coin cells were assembled to benchmark our in-house lithium metal foil (Lithium HQ) with two commercial ones and the results showed the superior performance of our Li metal anode. The performance of the cells seems closely related to the quality and uniformity of the Li surface. In addition, we propose including in the benchmarking method the effect of Li aging in a dry room on the electrochemical performance. This effect is important to consider because the fabrication of all-solid-state batteries is conducted in such an environment.
Spatial Omics Sequencing Based on Microfluidic Array Chips
Authors: Shi Jianyu , Pan Yating , Liu Xudong , Cao Wenjian , Mu Ying , Zhu Qiangyuan
Published: July 2023

Spatial profiling technologies fill the gap left by the loss of spatial information in traditional single-cell sequencing, showing great application prospects. After just a few years of quick development, spatial profiling technologies have made great progress in resolution and simplicity. This review introduces the development of spatial omics sequencing based on microfluidic array chips and describes barcoding strategies using various microfluidic designs with simplicity and efficiency. At the same time, the pros and cons of each strategy are compared. Moreover, commercialized solutions for spatial profiling are also introduced. In the end, the future perspective of spatial omics sequencing and research directions are discussed.
Semantic Relation Priming Is Not Constituent-Specific—Evidence from Electrophysiology
Authors: Jia Xiaofei , Zhou Changle , Wang Tao
Published: July 2023

Compound words in psycholinguistics pose a significant challenge for researchers as their meaning involves more than the sum of their parts. The role of semantic relations in this process is crucial, and studies have reported a phenomenon known as relation priming. It suggests that previously encountered relations enhance the processing of subsequent words with the same relation. Notably, this priming effect is limited to cases where there is morpheme repetition between the priming and target words. In the present study, 33 samples from the target group were selected, and the within-subject design of 3 morphemes (modifier-shared, head-shared, non-repeated) × 2 relations (relation-same, relation-different) was adopted to explore whether the relation priming effect would occur without morpheme repetition and its time course. Significant relation priming effects were found in both behavioral and electrophysiological experimental results. These findings indicating relation priming can occur independently of morpheme repetition, and it has been activated at a very early stage (about 200 ms). As the word processing progresses, this activation gradually strengthens, indicating that the relation role is slowly increasing in the process of compound word recognition. It may first be used as context information to help determine the constituent morphemes’ meaning. After the meaning access of the constituent morphemes, they begin to play a role in the semantic composition process. This study uses electrophysiological technology to precisely describe the representation of relation and its time course for the first time, which gives us a deeper understanding of the relation priming process, and at the same time, sheds light on the meaning construction process of compounds.
The Mediating Role of Customer Satisfaction between Antecedent Factors and Brand Loyalty for the Shopee Application
Authors: Zaato Solomon Gbene , Zainol Noor Raihani , Khan Sania , Rehman Ateekh Ur , Faridi Mohammad Rishad , Khan Ali Ahmed
Published: July 2023

Lately, smartphones have had a significant impact on how individuals act, mainly when they shop. In Malaysia, Shopee is the online shopping website that has garnered the most traffic from e-commerce sites. Shopee Express recognizes the importance of customer happiness and brand loyalty in measuring consumer purchasing behavior for long-term performance. Some prior studies have had mixed results on the factors that influence online shopping apps’ brand loyalty with the interactive effect of other variables. To contribute to resolving these varied views, this study proposes that customer satisfaction mediates the antecedent factors that influence students’ loyalty to the Shopee app. As a cross-sectional online survey, we obtained data from 298 university students using the Shopee application. Partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) was used to analyze data, whereby the results confirmed a significant effect of the accuracy of delivery on brand loyalty and customer satisfaction, the price of delivery and customer satisfaction, and information quality on brand loyalty and customer satisfaction. Furthermore, easy payment also significantly affected brand loyalty and customer satisfaction, and customer satisfaction mediates delivery accuracy and brand loyalty, the price of delivery, information quality, and the brand loyalty link of students to the Shopee application. This study’s novelty is uncovering the intervening role of customer satisfaction in the antecedent factors of brand loyalty of the Shopee app. This study further contributes by providing helpful information to the stream of online logistic firms like Shopee to meet client needs and by providing valuable insights for scholars.
Research on Architectural Art and Sustainable Design of Ginling College Historic District (Nanjing, China)
Authors: Wang Hechi , Yan Zhaoyi , He Xinyi , Song Yingqiu , Huang Yanyan , Zhang Junxue , Zhou Qi , Yan Zerong , Jiang Xinran
Published: July 2023

Ginling College is the first women’s college founded by the American Christian Church in Nanjing, China, in the early 20th century. The architectural style of the school reflects the orientation of the “Chinese localization” of the Christian Church at that time. It is a representative work of the revival of traditional Chinese architecture. It is known as a “Renaissance of Chinese traditional architecture” and profoundly influenced later generations. Due to its important historical status and artistic value, the Ginling College complex has been designated by the Chinese government as a national key cultural relic protection unit and China’s 20th-century architectural heritage, and the protection scope of the Ginling College historical district has been specially designated for overall protection. Currently, little research has been conducted on this historic area, so the authors undertook this project. This paper adopts a combination of qualitative and quantitative methods for research, starting from the two aspects of architectural art and sustainable design, and analyzes in detail the artistic characteristics of the project, the structural materials obtained locally, and the sustainable design method that utilizes natural lighting and ventilation to explore a modern campus design method based on the concept of sustainable design with a “combination of Chinese and Western architectural art”. Through artistic creation and technological innovation, traditional Chinese revival architecture has realized a harmonious coexistence between man and nature, embodying the design concept of sustainable development, and promoting the development of architecture and the region.
Function in Cancer Patients: Disease and Clinical Determinants
Authors: Qin Evelyn S. , Richards Blair , Smith Sean R.
Published: July 2023

Patients with cancer often experience changes in function during and after treatment but it is not clear what cancer types, and associated clinical factors, affect function. This study evaluated patient-reported functional impairments between specific cancer types and risk factors related to disease status and non-cancer factors. A cross-sectional study evaluating 332 individuals referred to cancer rehabilitation clinics was performed at six U.S. hospitals. The PROMIS Cancer Function Brief 3D Profile was used to assess functional outcomes across the domains of physical function, fatigue, and social participation. Multivariable modeling showed an interaction between cancer type and cancer status on the physical function and social participation scales. Subset analyses in the active cancer group showed an effect by cancer type for physical function (p < 0.001) and social participation (p = 0.008), but no effect was found within the non-active cancer subset analyses. Brain, sarcoma, prostate, and lymphoma were the cancers associated with lower function when disease was active. Premorbid neurologic or musculoskeletal impairments were found to be predictors of lower physical function and social participation in those with non-active cancer; cancer type did not predict low function in patients with no evidence of disease. There was no differential effect of cancer type on fatigue, but increased fatigue was significantly associated with lower age (0.027), increased body mass index (p < 0.001), premorbid musculoskeletal impairment (p < 0.015), and active cancer status (p < 0.001). Anticipatory guidance and education on the common impairments observed with specific cancer types and during specific stages of cancer care may help improve/support patients and their caregivers as they receive impairment-driven cancer rehabilitation care.
Diagnostic Potential of Endometrial Cancer DNA from Pipelle, Pap-Brush, and Swab Sampling
Authors: Wang Yinan , Du Hui , Dai Wenkui , Bao Cuijun , Zhang Xi , Hu Yan , Xie Zhiyu , Zhao Xin , Li Changzhong , Zhang Wenyong , Wu Ruifang
Published: July 2023

Endometrial cancer (EC) is a major gynecological malignancy with rising morbidity and mortality worldwide. The aim of this study was to explore a safe and readily available sample and a sensitive and effective detection method and its biomarkers for early diagnosis of EC, which is critical for patient prognosis. This study designed a panel targeting variants for EC-related genes, assessed its technical performance by comparing it with whole-exon sequencing, and explored the diagnostic potential of endometrial biopsies using the Pipelle aspirator, cervical samples using the Pap brush, and vaginal specimens using the swab from 38 EC patients and 208 women with risk factors for EC by applying targeted panel sequencing (TPS). TPS produced high-quality data (Q30 > 85% and mapping ratios > 99.35%) and was found to have strong consistency with whole-exome sequencing (WES) in detecting pathogenic mutations (92.11%), calculating homologous recombination deficiency (HRD) scores (r = 0.65), and assessing the microsatellite instability (MSI) status of EC (100%). The sensitivity of TPS in detection of EC is slightly better than that of WES (86.84% vs. 84.21%). Of the three types of samples detected using TPS, endometrial biopsy using the Pipelle aspirator had the highest sensitivity in detection of pathogenic mutations (81.87%) and the best consistency with surgical tumor specimens in MSI (85.16%). About 84% of EC patients contained pathogenic mutations in PIK3CA, PTEN, TP53, ARID1A, CTNNB1, KRAS, and MTOR, suggesting that this small gene set can achieve an excellent pathogenic mutation detection rate in Chinese EC patients. The custom panel combined with ultra-deep sequencing serves as a sensitive method for detecting genetic lesions from endometrial biopsy using the Pipelle aspirator.
Atrial Cardiomyopathy in Valvular Heart Disease: From Molecular Biology to Clinical Perspectives
Authors: Molnár Andrea Ágnes , Sánta Attila , Pásztor Dorottya Tímea , Merkely Béla
Published: July 2023

This review discusses the evolving topic of atrial cardiomyopathy concerning valvular heart disease. The pathogenesis of atrial cardiomyopathy involves multiple factors, such as valvular disease leading to atrial structural and functional remodeling due to pressure and volume overload. Atrial enlargement and dysfunction can trigger atrial tachyarrhythmia. The complex interaction between valvular disease and atrial cardiomyopathy creates a vicious cycle of aggravating atrial enlargement, dysfunction, and valvular disease severity. Furthermore, atrial remodeling and arrhythmia can predispose to atrial thrombus formation and stroke. The underlying pathomechanism of atrial myopathy involves molecular, cellular, and subcellular alterations resulting in chronic inflammation, atrial fibrosis, and electrophysiological changes. Atrial dysfunction has emerged as an essential determinant of outcomes in valvular disease and heart failure. Despite its predictive value, the detection of atrial fibrosis and dysfunction is challenging and is not included in the clinical routine. Transthoracic echocardiography and cardiac magnetic resonance imaging are the main diagnostic tools for atrial cardiomyopathy. Recently published data have revealed that both left atrial volumes and functional parameters are independent predictors of cardiovascular events in valvular disease. The integration of atrial function assessment in clinical practice might help in early cardiovascular risk estimation, promoting early therapeutic intervention in valvular disease.
Maxillary Sinus Augmentation Using Autologous Platelet Concentrates (Platelet-Rich Plasma, Platelet-Rich Fibrin, and Concentrated Growth Factor) Combined with Bone Graft: A Systematic Review
Authors: Malcangi Giuseppina , Patano Assunta , Palmieri Giulia , Di Pede Chiara , Latini Giulia , Inchingolo Alessio Danilo , Hazballa Denisa , de Ruvo Elisabetta , Garofoli Grazia , Inchingolo Francesco , Dipalma Gianna , Minetti Elio , Inchingolo Angelo Michele
Published: July 2023

Background: The current review aims to provide an overview of the most recent research on the potentials of concentrated growth factors used in the maxillary sinus lift technique. Materials and methods: “PRP”, “PRF”, “L-PRF”, “CGF”, “oral surgery”, “sticky bone”, “sinus lift” were the search terms utilized in the databases Scopus, Web of Science, and Pubmed, with the Boolean operator “AND” and “OR”. Results: Of these 1534 studies, 22 publications were included for this review. Discussion: The autologous growth factors released from platelet concentrates can help to promote bone remodeling and cell proliferation, and the application of platelet concentrates appears to reduce the amount of autologous bone required during regenerative surgery. Many authors agree that growth factors considerably enhance early vascularization in bone grafts and have a significantly positive pro-angiogenic influence in vivo when combined with alloplastic and xenogeneic materials, reducing inflammation and postoperative pain and stimulating the regeneration of injured tissues and accelerating their healing. Conclusions: Even if further studies are still needed, the use of autologous platelet concentrates can improve clinical results where a large elevation of the sinus is needed by improving bone height, thickness and vascularization of surgical sites, and post-operative healing.
SHIP1 Is Present but Strongly Downregulated in T-ALL, and after Restoration Suppresses Leukemia Growth in a T-ALL Xenotransplantation Mouse Model
Authors: Ehm Patrick , Rietow Ruth , Wegner Wiebke , Bußmann Lara , Kriegs Malte , Dierck Kevin , Horn Stefan , Streichert Thomas , Horstmann Martin , Jücker Manfred
Published: July 2023

Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is the most common cause of cancer-related death in children. Despite significantly increased chances of cure, especially for high-risk ALL patients, it still represents a poor prognosis for a substantial fraction of patients. Misregulated proteins in central switching points of the cellular signaling pathways represent potentially important therapeutic targets. Recently, the inositol phosphatase SHIP1 (SH2-containing inositol 5-phosphatase) has been considered as a tumor suppressor in leukemia. SHIP1 serves as an important negative regulator of the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway, which is frequently constitutively activated in primary T-ALL. In contrast to other reports, we show for the first time that SHIP1 has not been lost in T-ALL cells, but is strongly downregulated. Reduced expression of SHIP1 leads to an increased activation of the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway. SHIP1-mRNA expression is frequently reduced in primary T-ALL samples, which is recapitulated by the decrease in SHIP1 expression at the protein level in seven out of eight available T-ALL patient samples. In addition, we investigated the change in the activity profile of tyrosine and serine/threonine kinases after the restoration of SHIP1 expression in Jurkat T-ALL cells. The tyrosine kinase receptor subfamilies of NTRK and PDGFR, which are upregulated in T-ALL subgroups with low SHIP1 expression, are significantly disabled after SHIP1 reconstitution. Lentiviral-mediated reconstitution of SHIP1 expression in Jurkat cells points to a decreased cellular proliferation upon transplantation into NSG mice in comparison to the control cohort. Together, our findings will help to elucidate the complex network of cell signaling proteins, further support a functional role for SHIP1 as tumor suppressor in T-ALL and, much more importantly, show that full-length SHIP1 is expressed in T-ALL samples.
Obesity in Childhood and Adolescence: The Role of Motivation for Physical Activity, Self-Esteem, Implicit and Explicit Attitudes toward Obesity and Physical Activity
Authors: Scotto di Luzio Silvia , Martinent Guillaume , Popa-Roch Maria , Ballereau Mathilde , Chahdi Soufyane , Escudero Lucie , Guillet-Descas Emma
Published: July 2023

The purpose of the present study was to compare attitudes toward body weight and physical activity in both regular-weight and overweight/obese children and adolescents, and assessing relations between attitudes and self-esteem, motivation for physical activity, life satisfaction and level of physical activity. A total of 126 children (Mage = 12.2, SD = 3.4), divided into two subsamples (i.e., overweight/obese, N = 44, and regular-weight), voluntarily participated in the study. A series of univariate analyses of variance was conducted to examine the differences in the study variables across the subsamples. Correlational analyses were conducted to examine the relationships among the variables. The results indicated that obese/overweight participants expressed a more positive implicit attitude toward the thin category than regular-weight participants. Furthermore, among overweight/obese participants, implicit attitude toward physical activity was significantly negatively correlated with explicit attitude toward physical activity and general self-esteem. Significant differences between obese/overweight and regular-weight participants indicated that the status in terms of weight played a key role in attitudes toward the explored constructs.
Investigation of the Microstructure and Properties of CoCrFeNiMo High-Entropy Alloy Coating Prepared through High-Speed Laser Cladding
Authors: Zhang Qi , Li Meiyan , Wang Qin , Qi Fuhao , Kong Mengkai , Han Bin
Published: July 2023

High-speed laser cladding was introduced to prepare a CoCrFeNiMo high-entropy alloy (HEA) coating. The microstructure, composition distribution, micromechanical properties, and corrosion resistance of the CoCrFeNiMo coating were characterized. As a result, the coating exhibited a dual FCC- and BCC-phase structure, and the grain size of the coating prepared through high-speed laser cladding was only 2~5 μm. The upper and lower parts of the coating were composed of equiaxed cellular crystals and slender columnar crystals, respectively. The interdendritic structure was a Mo-rich phase that was distributed in a network-like pattern. The nanoindentation tests revealed that the interdendritic BCC phase had high hardness and an elastic modulus as well as excellent resistance to deformation, while the intradendritic FCC phase possessed superior crack propagation resistance. In addition, the two phases could generate cooperative elastic deformation during the elastic deformation stage. The electrochemical performance of the coating was tested in 3.5 wt% NaCl solution, and the corrosion potential Ecorr and corrosion current density Icorr of the coating were −0.362 V and 3.69 × 10−6 A/cm2, respectively. The high-speed laser cladding CoCrFeNiMo HEA coating had excellent corrosion resistance thanks to the presence of the easily passivating element Mo and grain refinement.
Tannic Acid/FeIII Complexes Coating PAN Nanofibrous Membrane for Highly Efficient Photocatalytic Degradation of Dyeing Wastewater
Authors: Chen Xuefei , Zha Lubing , Zeng Fangmeng , Meng Jie , Pan Tiandi , Lv Jindan
Published: July 2023

Considering photocatalytic degradation technology has recently attracted great attention for dyeing wastewater treatment, the polyacrylonitrile (PAN) nanofibrous membrane coated with the TA/FeIII complexes was proposed as a novel photocatalyst in this work. The successful self-assembly of TA/FeIII complexes on the PAN nanofibrous membrane after layer-by-layer deposition of TA and FeIII was confirmed by the analyses of chemical structure, morphology, and hydrophilicity. With the number of coating cycles, more TA/FeIII complexes coated on the PAN nanofibrous membrane, which contributed to the excellent photocatalytic activity. Whereas, when the coating cycles reached seven, the photocatalytic performance of the modified PAN nanofibrous membrane deteriorated due to the serious aggregation of TA/FeIII complexes. Under optimum five coating cycles, owing to its great light absorbance capability, the modified PAN nanofibrous membrane achieved 98% degradation efficiency of RhB after 360 min illumination. This work would offer a promising high-performance photocatalyst for dyeing wastewater treatment.
Design of Metamaterial-Inspired High-Temperature Microwave Sensor on Alumina Ceramics
Authors: Wang Bo , Han Bei , Li Youwei , Gao Fei , Chen Chaohui , He Junqiang , Wang Ke
Published: July 2023

The issues of high costs and sophisticated circuit structures limit applicability of traditional chipped sensors. This paper innovatively designs a chipless sensor based on the split-ring resonator combined with temperature-sensitive material as the substrate. The alumina ceramics are used as the sensitive material for reflecting the environment temperature in accordance with its characteristic that its dielectric constant increases monotonically with rising temperature. The simulation demonstrates that the resonant frequency of the sensor monotonically decreases from 8.58 GHz to 8.22 GHz with an offset of 0.36 GHz and a sensitivity of 0.9 MHz/°C for a variation from 500 °C and 900 °C. The sensor designed in this paper has good resonance characteristics, is wireless, passive, and low cost, has a planar structure, and is suitable for various harsh environments.
Disulfide-Modified Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticles for Biomedical Applications
Authors: Venedicto Melissa , Carrier Jake , Na Ha , Chang Chen-Yu , Radu Daniela R. , Lai Cheng-Yu
Published: July 2023

Mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) are highly porous carriers used in drug and gene delivery research for biomedical applications due to their high surface area, narrow particle size distribution, and low toxicity. Incorporating disulfide (SS) bonds into the walls of MSNs (MSN-SSs) offers a dual pathway for drug release due to the pore delivery and collapsing porous structure after cellular engulfment. This study explores the effect of embedding disulfide bonds into MSNs through various structural and biological characterization methods. Raman spectroscopy is employed to detect the SS bonds, SEM and TEM for morphology analyses, and a BET analysis to determine the required amount of SSs for achieving the largest surface area. The MSN-SSs are further loaded with doxorubicin, an anticancer drug, to assess drug release behavior under various pH conditions. The MSN-SS system demonstrated an efficient pH-responsive drug release, with over 65% of doxorubicin released under acidic conditions and over 15% released under neutral conditions. Cleaving the SS bonds using dithiothreitol increased the release to 94% in acidic conditions and 46% in neutral conditions. Biocompatibility studies were conducted using cancer cells to validate the engulfment of the nanoparticle. These results demonstrate that MSN-SS is a feasible nanocarrier for controlled-release drug delivery.
Utilization, Delivery, and Outcomes of Dance/Movement Therapy for Pediatric Oncology Patients and their Caregivers: A Retrospective Chart Review
Authors: Bryl Karolina , Tortora Suzi , Whitley Jennifer , Kim Soo-Dam , Raghunathan Nirupa J. , Mao Jun J. , Chimonas Susan
Published: July 2023

Children with cancer and their caregivers face physical and psychosocial challenges during and after treatment. Dance/movement therapy (DMT) has been used to improve well-being, promote healthy coping, and mitigate the impact of illness, but limited knowledge exists regarding DMT utilization, delivery, and outcomes in pediatric oncology. This retrospective study aimed to identify reasons for referral to DMT, DMT visit characteristics, key DMT techniques and processes, and clinician-reported outcomes. We examined the electronic medical records of 100 randomly selected pediatric patients (resulting in 1160 visits) who received DMT services between 2011 and 2021. Sociodemographic, clinical, and visit characteristics, referral reasons, and clinician-reported outcomes were reported as frequency and proportions. Qualitative thematic analysis was used to identify key DMT techniques and processes. Among 100 patients (63% female, aged 0–27 years), 77.9% were referred for psychological distress and 19.6% for pain. Two distinct DMT approaches were used during visits: a traditional DMT approach (77%) and a multisensory DMT approach (23%). The most common visit length was 15–25 min (41.6%), followed by sessions of 30–45 min (22.5%) and ≤10 min (18.1%). A total of 61.9% of DMT visits were inpatient and 38.1% outpatient. Of all visits, 8.8% were new and 91.2% were follow-ups. Caregivers were engaged in treatment in 43.7% of visits, and 5.5% of visits focused entirely on the work with the caregiver. DMT intervention focused on self-expression, emotional self-regulation, coping strategies, socialization, and caregiver–child interaction. Clinician-reported outcomes included enhanced coping with hospital experience (58%), improved pain management (27%), improved self-regulation (21%), and increased physical activation (13.2%). The results suggest DMT as a supportive intervention for psychological distress and pain management in pediatric oncology patients and provide insights into DMT practices and outcomes to guide intervention development and future research.
Relationship between Milk Yield and Udder Morphology Traits in White Fulani Cows
Authors: Bello Oladipupo Ridwan , Salako Adebowale Emmanuel , Akinade Adebayo Samson , Yakub Maaruf
Published: July 2023

The study examined the relationship between milk yield and udder morphology traits in White Fulani cows. Fifty-eight apparently healthy cows in early lactation at 2nd, 3rd, and 4th parity were used in the study. The data obtained from the cows were test day milk yield (TDMY) from single milking and udder morphology traits comprising udder length (UL), udder width (UW), udder depth (UD), fore teat length (FTL), rear teat length (RTL), fore teat diameter (FTD), and rear teat diameter (RTD). There was no significant effect of parity on TDMY or the udder morphology traits. Phenotypic correlations between TDMY, UL, UW, and UD were positive and significant. Notably, phenotypic correlations between UL and TDMY at different parities were the strongest. Teat measurements had no significant correlation with TDMY. Stepwise and principal component regressions were implemented to assess the relationship between milk yield and udder morphology traits. Interestingly, UL was the only trait that entered the reduced models. The results suggest a probable genetic correlation between milk yield and udder length. Therefore, since udder conformation traits are heritable, when selecting for udder length in White Fulani cows, a correlated response in milk yield is expected.
Dynamic Weighted Multitask Learning and Contrastive Learning for Multimodal Sentiment Analysis
Authors: Wang Xingqi , Zhang Mengrui , Chen Bin , Wei Dan , Shao Yanli
Published: July 2023

Multimodal sentiment analysis (MSA) has attracted more and more attention in recent years. This paper focuses on the representation learning of multimodal data to reach higher prediction results. We propose a model to assist in learning modality representations with multitask learning and contrastive learning. In addition, our approach obtains dynamic weights by considering the homoscedastic uncertainty of each task in multitask learning. Specially, we design two groups of subtasks, which predict the sentiment polarity of unimodal and bimodal representations, to assist in learning representation through a hard parameter-sharing mechanism in the upstream neural network. A loss weight is learned according to the homoscedastic uncertainty of each task. Moreover, a training strategy based on contrastive learning is designed to balance the inconsistency between training and inference caused by the randomness of the dropout layer. This method minimizes the MSE between two submodels. Experimental results on the MOSI and MOSEI datasets show our method achieves better performance than the current state-of-the-art methods by comprehensively considering the intramodality and intermodality interaction information.
Numerical Studies on Hydrogen Production from Ammonia Thermal Cracking with Catalysts
Authors: Yuan Peikai , Chen Longwei , Liu Chengzhou , Wang Zhiwei
Published: July 2023

To explore and optimize the process of hydrogen production from plasma-assisted ammonia-cracking, a tubular ammonia-cracking on-site hydrogen production device with plasma-assisted ammonia combustion flue gas as the heat source was developed. Using the Temkin–Pyzhev kinetic model and the local thermal equilibrium (LTE) hypothesis, the effects of operating conditions, such as combustion flue gas temperature and ammonia flow rates, on ammonia-cracking efficiency were investigated. The numerical results are quantitatively consistent with the experiment. Ammonia cracking efficiency is notably influenced by the initial combustion gas temperature. When the gas velocity of the cracking system is less than or equal to 0.03 m/s, the cracking rate increases by 63% when the inlet temperature of the heat pipe changes from 700 K to 800 K. The cracking rate of ammonia decreased with the increase of ammonia flow rate, and this trend reached the maximum and began to weaken when the flow rate was 0.3 m/s. Longer catalyst bed length does not always mean higher cracking efficiency; the length of the cracking tube over 0.6 m shows little effect on cracking efficiency. Response surface methodology was used to conduct multi-factor analysis of the three main factors affecting the cracking rate of the cracker, namely, the temperature of the heating tube, the flow rate of flue gas in the heating process, and the inlet flow rate of the catalytic bed. It was found that the flow rate of the catalytic bed was the most significant factor affecting the cracking rate, which could be used as the main control method. The numerical results would provide technical guidance for industrial applications of on-site hydrogen production devices from ammonia decomposition.
Development of a Control Unit for the Angle of Attack of a Vertically Axial Wind Turbine
Authors: Fazylova Alina , Tultayev Baurzhan , Iliev Teodor , Stoyanov Ivaylo , Beloev Ivan
Published: July 2023

This article presents the possibility of increasing the efficiency of a vertical-axis wind generator through the introduction of an automatic control system for the angle of attack of the blades. The calculation of the optimal position of the wind turbine blades for the maximum generation of electrical energy is given, and a developed scheme for controlling the blades using the sensors of the angular speed of rotation of the wind wheel by the anemometer and the current position of the blades is presented. The automatic control system implies the use of a PD controller. A comparison is made of two laboratory experimental models of vertical-axis wind turbines with and without the developed control system. This article focuses on optimizing the angle of attack and developing an automatic control system for vertical-axis wind turbines to increase their efficiency in generating electrical energy.
Integrated Circulating Fluidized Bed Gasification System for Sustainable Municipal Solid Waste Management: Energy Production and Heat Recovery
Authors: Krūmiņš Jānis , Kļaviņš Māris
Published: July 2023

The management of municipal solid waste presents significant challenges globally. This study investigates the potential of an integrated waste-to-energy system based on circulating fluidized bed gasification technology to address these challenges, while also contributing to renewable energy generation. Using a MATLAB-based simulation model, the study determines the optimal operational parameters for various units within the system, including waste processing, gasification, ash handling, syngas treatment, and emission control. The proposed waste-to-energy system demonstrates a remarkable energy efficiency of 70% under these optimal conditions, notably outperforming conventional waste-to-energy technologies. Sensitivity and uncertainty analyses reveal that waste composition, gasification temperature, and the oxygen-to-solid recovered fuel ratio are key determinants of the system’s output and performance. The system’s performance remained robust despite variations in these parameters, underscoring its potential as a reliable solution for waste management and energy generation. While the findings are promising, future research should focus on comprehensive lifecycle assessment and consider regional factors for practical implementation. This study contributes to the ongoing development of efficient waste-to-energy systems and highlights their potential in promising sustainable waste management and renewable energy production.
Technical Review and Survey of Future Trends of Power Converters for Fast-Charging Stations of Electric Vehicles
Authors: Kilicoglu Halise , Tricoli Pietro
Published: July 2023

The development and implementation of electric vehicles have significantly increased and are profoundly reshaping the automotive sector. However, long charging times, limited driving range, and difficulties as to suitable charger converter design are the main limitations of the adoption of EV technology. DC fast-chargers offer the best solution for mitigating the charging time problems of EVs. This paper provides an extensive review of the status of the technical development of fast-charging infrastructure architectures and standards, and a classification of fast-charging methods. Key power electronic converter topologies for fast-charging systems, with their advantages and comparisons, are also addressed.
Review of Cyberattack Implementation, Detection, and Mitigation Methods in Cyber-Physical Systems
Authors: Mtukushe Namhla , Onaolapo Adeniyi K. , Aluko Anuoluwapo , Dorrell David G.
Published: July 2023

With the rapid proliferation of cyber-physical systems (CPSs) in various sectors, including critical infrastructure, transportation, healthcare, and the energy industry, there is a pressing need for robust cybersecurity mechanisms to protect these systems from cyberattacks. A cyber-physical system is a combination of physical and cyber components, and a security breach in either component can lead to catastrophic consequences. Cyberattack detection and mitigation methods in CPSs involve the use of various techniques such as intrusion detection systems (IDSs), firewalls, access control mechanisms, and encryption. Overall, effective cyberattack detection and mitigation methods in CPSs require a comprehensive security strategy that considers the unique characteristics of a CPS, such as the interconnectedness of physical and cyber components, the need for real-time response, and the potential consequences of a security breach. By implementing these methods, CPSs can be better protected against cyberattacks, thus ensuring the safety and reliability of critical infrastructure and other vital systems. This paper reviews the various kinds of cyber-attacks that have been launched or implemented in CPSs. It reports on the state-of-the-art detection and mitigation methods that have been used or proposed to secure the safe operation of various CPSs. A summary of the requirements that CPSs need to satisfy their operation is highlighted, and an analysis of the benefits and drawbacks of model-based and data-driven techniques is carried out. The roles of machine learning in cyber assault are reviewed. In order to direct future study and motivate additional investigation of this increasingly important subject, some challenges that have been unaddressed, such as the prerequisites for CPSs, an in-depth analysis of CPS characteristics and requirements, and the creation of a holistic review of the different kinds of attacks on different CPSs, together with detection and mitigation algorithms, are discussed in this review.
Harnessing the Power of Artificial Intelligence for Collaborative Energy Optimization Platforms
Authors: Stecyk Adam , Miciuła Ireneusz
Published: July 2023

This scientific paper highlights the critical significance of energy in driving sustainable development and explores the transformative potential of Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools in shaping the future of energy systems. As the world faces mounting challenges in meeting growing energy demands while minimizing environmental impact, there is a pressing need for innovative solutions that can optimize energy generation, distribution, and consumption. AI tools, with their ability to analyse vast amounts of data and make intelligent decisions, have emerged as a promising avenue for advancing energy systems towards greater efficiency, reliability, and sustainability. This paper underscores the importance of energy in sustainable development and investigates how AI tools can catalyse the next phase of human civilization. This paper presents a comprehensive review of the Collaborative Energy Optimization Platform (CEOP), an innovative model that utilizes AI algorithms in an integrated manner. The review of the CEOP model is based on an in-depth analysis of existing literature, research papers, and industry reports. The methodology encompasses a systematic review of the model’s key features, including collaboration, data-sharing, and AI algorithm integration. The conducted research demonstrates the effectiveness of applying MCDM methods, specifically fuzzy AHP and TOPSIS, in evaluating and ranking the performance of five Collaborative Energy Optimization Platforms (CEOP models) across 20 sub-criteria. The findings emphasize the need for a comprehensive and holistic approach in assessing AI-based energy optimization systems. The research provides valuable insights for decision-makers and researchers in the field, fostering the development and implementation of more efficient and sustainable AI-powered energy systems.