bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Upturn Strategies for Arachidonic Acid-Induced MC3T3-E1—625 nm Irradiation in Combination with NSAIDs: Dissipating Inflammation and Promoting Healing
Authors: Liu Danyang , Kim Byunggook , Fu Wenqi , Zhu Siyu , Kang Jaeseok , Kim Oksu , Kim Okjoon
Published: May 2023

Oral surgery, such as tooth extractions and dental implantations, can cause inflammation in the surrounding tissue, especially in bones. Anti-inflammatory drugs are crucial for pain relief and wound healing. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and light-emitting diode irradiation (LEDI) at 625 nm have been used as therapies to reduce inflammation, which ultimately promotes wound healing. The mechanism of these two methods, however, is different, which possibly makes the combined use of the two approaches effective. Therefore, the efficacy of 625 nm LEDI, NSAIDs, or a combination of both on anti-inflammatory and wound healing effects were analyzed in MC3T3-E1. In this study, piroxicam, ibuprofen, indomethacin, and celecoxib were selected as the NSAIDs. The effect of LEDI at 625 nm was investigated by cell viability, prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) release, and the expression of inflammation-related proteins and cell migration-related proteins were evaluated. Additionally, alkaline phosphatase staining with activity, cell migration assay and BrdU cell proliferation assays were performed. Both LEDI and NSAIDs reduced cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and PGE2. Additionally, LEDI promoted cell migration, proliferation, and bone formation as well, but not by NSAIDs. Thus, a combination of LEDI and NSAIDs can benefits the cells in inflammation, which provides upturn strategies for bone healing after tooth extraction.
High-Efficiency Integrated Color Routers by Simple Identical Nanostructures for Visible and Near-Infrared Wavelengths
Authors: Zhong Rongxuan , Xu Xiayuan , Zhou Yongle , Liang Haowen , Li Juntao
Published: May 2023

Imaging in both the visible and the near-infrared ranges has various applications in computational photography and computer vision. Comparing it with the traditional imaging system, integrating pixel-level metasurfaces on the imaging sensor is effective to plot the route of visible and near-infrared light to the right pixels, while the previously reported nanostructures were complicated to design and fabricate. Here, a pixel-level color router based on metalens, which provides a much simpler construction to improve the visible and near-infrared imaging efficiencies to 59% and 60%, is designed.
Nonlinear Optical Response of Dispersed Medium Based on Conjugates Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes with Phthalocyanines
Authors: Vasilevsky Pavel N. , Savelyev Mikhail S. , Tolbin Alexander Yu. , Kuksin Artem V. , Vasilevskaya Yulia O. , Orlov Andrey P. , Shaman Yury P. , Dudin Alexander A. , Pavlov Alexander A. , Gerasimenko Alexander Yu.
Published: May 2023

Nanosecond lasers have recently been widely involved in human activity. However, high-intensity laser radiation can cause severe damage to organs of vision and expensive photonic devices. Radiation in the near UV range is especially dangerous for human eyes, since it is strongly absorbed by biological media and is also invisible, i.e., the reaction time of the eye to such radiation is much lower than that of visible light. Passive limiters have high transmission (>70%) at a low light intensity and begin to “darken” only when the threshold value of the laser radiation intensity is reached. In this work, we studied liquid nanodispersed nonlinear optical limiters based on hybrids of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) with metal-free tetra(hydroxy)phthalocyanine (OH)4PcHH). The value of the hydrodynamic radius of separate particles after (OH)4PcHH binding increased from 288 ± 55 nm to 350 ± 60 nm, which confirms the attachment of phthalocyanine complexes to nanotubes. The third harmonic of a Nd:YAG nanosecond laser (355 nm, 20 ns) was used to study the nonlinear optical response. Based on a Z-scan with open-aperture and input-output dependence curves, third-order nonlinear optical absorption coefficients of 149, 236, and 229 cm/GW were obtained for dispersions of composites of SWCNTs and (OH)4PcHH in water, dimethylformamide (DMF), and dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO), respectively. Threshold values did not exceed 100 mJ/cm2. The Z-scan showed a gradual decrease in the duration of the laser pulse by 53%; however, near the focus, there was a sharp increase in the duration of the transmitted pulse, reaching a value of 29 ns in z = 0. This phenomenon confirms the occurrence of reverse saturable absorption in the investigated media and can be used in photonic devices to control the temporal characteristics of the signal. Thus, the possibility of protection of sensitive photonic devices and human eyes from nanosecond laser pulses in the near UV range by nanodispersed liquid media based on composites of SWCNTs with (OH)4PcHH has been discussed in this paper.
Optimization and Demonstration of Direct LD Pumped High-Power Fiber Lasers to Balance SRS and TMI Effects
Authors: Zeng Lingfa , Wang Xiaolin , Wang Li , Ye Yun , Wang Peng , Yang Baolai , Xi Xiaoming , Pan Zhiyong , Zhang Hanwei , Shi Chen , Han Kai , Xu Xiaojun
Published: May 2023

Up to now, transverse mode instability (TMI) and stimulated Raman scattering (SRS) have become the main factors limiting the power scaling of conventional ytterbium-doped fiber laser. Many technologies are proposed to suppress the SRS or TMI individually, but most of them are contradictions in practical application. In this article, we focus on the technologies that can balance the suppression of both SRS and TMI, including fiber coiling optimization, pump wavelength optimization, pump configuration optimization, and novel vary core diameter active fiber. Firstly, we validate the effectiveness of these technologies in both theoretical and relatively low-power experiments, and introduce the abnormal TMI threshold increasing in a few-mode fiber amplifier with fiber coiling. Then, we scale up the power through various types of fiber lasers, including wide linewidth and narrow linewidth fiber lasers, as well as quasi-continuous wave (QCW) fiber lasers. As a result, we achieve 5~8 kW fiber laser oscillators, 10~20 kW wide linewidth fiber laser amplifiers, 4 kW narrow linewidth fiber amplifiers, and 10 kW peak power QCW fiber oscillators. The demonstration of these new technical schemes is of great significance for the development of high-power fiber lasers.
Improved Target Laser Capture Technology for Hexagonal Honeycomb Scanning
Authors: Jia Bing , Jin Fan , Lv Qiongying , Li Yubing
Published: May 2023

In laser tracking systems, capturing moving targets is a prerequisite to guaranteeing a tracking system’s performance. Previous studies have confirmed that the capture probability of hexagonal spiral scanning is higher than that for other scanning methods, but there is still room for improvement. This article proposes an improved hexagonal honeycomb scanning capture method based on hexagonal spiral scanning for a prior moving target model with a Gaussian distribution positioned within the scanning range of the visual threshold. Through experimental verification, it was found that, within the same scanning field of view, the capture probability can be increased by 3% compared to that in traditional hexagonal spiral scanning, making the capture probability greater than 98%. The improved hexagonal honeycomb structure scanning method proposed in this article provides a new solution for target acquisition problems in fields such as laser communication, laser docking, and airborne radar.
Scintillation of Computational Ghost Imaging with a Finite Bucket Detector through Atmospheric Turbulence
Authors: Deng Hanling , Wu Pengfei , Tao Zhiwei , Li Xinmiao , Li Yanling , Rao Ruizhong , Ren Yichong
Published: May 2023

Based on the extended Huygens–Fresnel principle and infinitely long phase screen, the scintillation index and the aperture averaging effect of partially coherent beams in computational ghost imaging (CGI) with a finite bucket detector through atmospheric turbulence is investigated analytically and numerically. The signal–to–noise ratio (SNR) is used to evaluate the image quality of computational ghost imaging. It is found that a strong phase modulation effect due to increasing turbulence intensity, leads to a degradation in image quality, as well as an increase in the scintillation index. In addition, the scintillation–saturation phenomenon occurs for strong turbulence. On the other hand, reducing the propagation distance, and the degree of source coherence results in a decrease in the scintillation index and an improvement of image quality. However, deteriorating the degree of beam source coherence could weaken the aperture averaging effect. Thus, the optimal beam and bucket detector aperture size require a trade–off between the scintillation index, the aperture averaging effects, and the image quality in CGI.
Nitric Oxide and Strigolactone Alleviate Mercury-Induced Oxidative Stress in Lens culinaris L. by Modulating Glyoxalase and Antioxidant Defense System
Authors: Kapoor Riti Thapar , Ahmad Ajaz , Shakoor Awais , Paray Bilal Ahamad , Ahmad Parvaiz
Published: May 2023

Developmental activities have escalated mercury (Hg) content in the environment and caused food security problems. The present investigation describes mercury-incited stress in Lens culinaris (lentil) and its mitigation by supplementation of sodium nitroprusside (SNP) and strigolactone (GR24). Lentil exposure to Hg decreased root and shoot length, relative water content and biochemical variables. Exogenous application of SNP and GR24 alone or in combination enhanced all of the aforementioned growth parameters. Hg treatment increased electrolyte leakage and malondialdehyde content, but this significantly decreased with combined application (Hg + SNP + GR24). SNP and GR24 boosted mineral uptake and reduced Hg accumulation, thus minimizing the adverse impacts of Hg. An increase in mineral accretion was recorded in lentil roots and shoots in the presence of SNP and GR24, which might support the growth of lentil plants under Hg stress. Hg accumulation was decreased in lentil roots and shoots by supplementation of SNP and GR24. The methylglyoxal level was reduced in lentil plants with increase in glyoxalase enzymes. Antioxidant and glyoxylase enzyme activities were increased by the presence of SNP and GR24. Therefore, synergistic application of nitric oxide and strigolactone protected lentil plants against Hg-incited oxidative pressure by boosting antioxidant defense and the glyoxalase system, which assisted in biochemical processes regulation.
The Potential of Allelochemicals from Microalgae for Biopesticides
Authors: Casanova Livia Marques , Macrae Andrew , de Souza Jacqueline Elis , Neves Junior Athayde , Vermelho Alane Beatriz
Published: May 2023

Improvements in agricultural productivity are required to meet the demand of a growing world population. Phytopathogens, weeds, and insects are challenges to agricultural production. The toxicity and widespread application of persistent synthetic pesticides poses a major threat to human and ecosystem health. Therefore, sustainable strategies to control pests are essential for agricultural systems to enhance productivity within a green paradigm. Allelochemicals are a less persistent, safer, and friendly alternative to efficient pest management, as they tend to be less toxic to non-target organisms and more easily degradable. Microalgae produce a great variety of allelopathic substances whose biocontrol potential against weeds, insects, and phytopathogenic fungi and bacteria has received much attention. This review provides up-to-date information and a critical perspective on allelochemicals from microalgae and their potential as biopesticides.
Synthesis of Dense 1,2,3-Triazole Oligomers Consisting Preferentially of 1,5-Disubstituted Units via Ruthenium(II)-Catalyzed Azide–Alkyne Cycloaddition
Authors: Taguchi Ryoichi , Nakahata Masaki , Kamon Yuri , Hashidzume Akihito
Published: May 2023

Ruthenium(II)-catalyzed azide–alkyne cycloaddition (RuAAC) polymerization of t-butyl 4-azido-5-hexynoate (tBuAH), i.e., a heterobifunctional monomer carrying azide and alkyne moieties, was investigated in this study. RuAAC of the monofunctional precursors of tBuAH yielded a dimer possessing a 1,5-disubstituted 1,2,3-triazole moiety. 1H NMR data showed that the dimer was a mixture of diastereomers. Polymerization of tBuAH using ruthenium(II) (Ru(II)) catalysts produced oligomers of Mw ≈ (2.7–3.6) × 103 consisting of 1,5-disubstituted 1,2,3-triazole units (1,5-units) as well as 1,4-disubstituted 1,2,3-triazole units (1,4-units). The fractions of 1,5-unit (f1,5) were roughly estimated to be ca. 0.8 by comparison of signals of the methine and triazole protons in 1H NMR spectra, indicating that RuAAC proceeded preferentially and thermal Huisgen cycloaddition (HC) somehow took place during the polymerization. The oligomer samples obtained were also characterized by solubility test, size exclusion chromatography (SEC), ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) absorption spectroscopy, and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The UV-Vis and TGA data indicated that the oligomer samples contained a substantial amount of Ru(II) catalysts. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report on dense 1,2,3-triazole oligomers consisting of 1,5-units linked via a carbon atom.
Porous Chitosan Hydrogels Produced by Physical Crosslinking: Physicochemical, Structural, and Cytotoxic Properties
Authors: Fletes-Vargas Gabriela , Espinosa-Andrews Hugo , Cervantes-Uc José Manuel , Limón-Rocha Isaías , Luna-Bárcenas Gabriel , Vázquez-Lepe Milton , Morales-Hernández Norma , Jiménez-Ávalos Jorge Armando , Mejía-Torres Dante Guillermo , Ramos-Martínez Paris , Rodríguez-Rodríguez Rogelio
Published: May 2023

Chitosan hydrogels are biomaterials with excellent potential for biomedical applications. In this study, chitosan hydrogels were prepared at different concentrations and molecular weights by freeze-drying. The chitosan sponges were physically crosslinked using sodium bicarbonate as a crosslinking agent. The X-ray spectroscopy (XPS and XRD diffraction), equilibrium water content, microstructural morphology (confocal microscopy), rheological properties (temperature sweep test), and cytotoxicity of the chitosan hydrogels (MTT assay) were investigated. XPS analysis confirmed that the chitosan hydrogels obtained were physically crosslinked using sodium bicarbonate. The chitosan samples displayed a semi-crystalline nature and a highly porous structure with mean pore size between 115.7 ± 20.5 and 156.3 ± 21.8 µm. In addition, the chitosan hydrogels exhibited high water absorption, showing equilibrium water content values from 23 to 30 times their mass in PBS buffer and high thermal stability from 5 to 60 °C. Also, chitosan hydrogels were non-cytotoxic, obtaining cell viability values ≥ 100% for the HT29 cells. Thus, physically crosslinked chitosan hydrogels can be great candidates as biomaterials for biomedical applications.
A Comparison of Interpolyelectrolyte Complexes (IPECs) Made from Anionic Block Copolymer Micelles and PDADMAC or q-Chitosan as Polycation
Authors: Azeri Özge , Schönfeld Dennis , Dai Bin , Keiderling Uwe , Noirez Laurence , Gradzielski Michael
Published: May 2023

Block copolymers synthesized via Atom Transfer Radical Polymerization from alkyl acrylate and t-butyl acrylate and the subsequent hydrolysis of the t-butyl acrylate to acrylic acid were systematically varied with respect to their hydrophobic part by the variation in the alkyl chain length and the degree of polymerisation in this block. Depending on the architecture of the hydrophobic part, they had a more or less pronounced tendency to form copolymer micelles in an aqueous solution. They were employed for the preparation of IPECs by mixing the copolymer aggregates with the polycations polydiallyldimethylammonium chloride (PDADMAC) or q-chit. The IPEC structure as a function of the composition was investigated by Static Light and Small Angle Neutron Scattering. For weakly-associated block copolymers (short alkyl chain), complexation with polycation led to the formation of globular complexes, while already existing micelles (long alkyl chain) grew further in mass. In general, aggregates became larger upon the addition of further polycation, but this growth was much more pronounced for PDADMAC compared to q-chit, thereby leading to the formation of clusters of aggregates. Accordingly, the structure of such IPECs with a hydrophobic block depended largely on the type of complexing polyelectrolyte, which allowed for controlling the structural organisation via the molecular architecture of the two oppositely charged polyelectrolytes.
Identification of Cement Pavement with Temperature Effect and Evaluation of Polymer Grouting Effect
Authors: Du Xifeng , Cheng Haoyuan , Xu Shengjie , Pei Wenjun
Published: May 2023

The falling weight deflectometer (FWD) detection system benefits from its outstanding characteristics of no damage, fast speed, and high precision. The warping deformation of cement concrete pavement occurs due to the temperature difference along the depth of the slab, which makes FWD detect different results under different temperature fields. In this study, we systematically carried out the cement pavement’s temperature field and deflection test. The experimental data were analyzed to obtain the temperature variation law of the top and bottom of the pavement slab every day. By establishing a three-dimensional finite element model of cement pavement with a multi-layer elastic foundation type, the influence of the temperature difference at the bottom of the slab on the deflection of the center point of the slab corner load under different working conditions, different seasons, different loads and whether there is polymer filling in the void area was studied. We summarize the correlation between the temperature difference and the influence coefficient and propose the cement pavement void identification and polymer grouting effect evaluation method considering the temperature effect.
Preventing the Distortion of CoO6 Octahedra of LiCoO2 at High-Voltage Operation of Lithium-Ion Battery: An Organic Surface Reinforcement
Authors: Wang Fu-Ming
Published: May 2023

Lithium cobalt oxide (LiCoO2, LCO) has been widely used in electronic markets due to its high energy density and wide voltage range applications. Recently, high-voltage (HV, >4.5 V) operation has been required to obey the requirements of high energy density and cycle life in several applications such as electric vehicles and energy storage. However, the HV operation causes structure instability due to the over de-lithiation of LCO, as well as decomposing common carbonate solvents, thereby incurring the decay of battery performance. Moreover, a distortion of the CoO6 octahedra of LCO during de-lithiation induces a rehybridization of the Co 3d and O 2p orbitals. According to above reasons, decreasing the Co-O covalent bond promptly triggers high risks that significantly limit further use of LCO. In this research, an organic surface reinforcement by using bismaleimide–uracil (BU) that electrochemically forms a cathode electrolyte interphase (CEI) on LCO was explored. The results of electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and battery performance, such as the c-rate and cyclability tests, demonstrated that the modified CEI formed from BU significantly prevents the distortion of CoO6 octahedra. X-ray photoelectronic spectroscopy and in situ XAS indicated less LiF formation and higher bond energy of Co-O improved. Finally, the differential scanning calorimetry showed the onset temperature of decomposition of LCO was extended from 245 to 270 °C at 100% state of charge, which is about a 25 °C extension. The exothermic heat of LCO decreased by approximately 30% for high-safety use. This research confirms that the BU is eligible for high voltage (>4.5 V) LCO and presents outstanding electrochemical properties and safety performances.
Evolutionary Multi-Objective Optimization of Extrusion Barrier Screws: Data Mining and Decision Making
Authors: Gaspar-Cunha António , Costa Paulo , Delbem Alexandre , Monaco Francisco , Ferreira Maria José , Covas José
Published: May 2023

Polymer single-screw extrusion is a major industrial processing technique used to obtain plastic products. To assure high outputs, tight dimensional tolerances, and excellent product performance, extruder screws may show different design characteristics. Barrier screws, which contain a second flight in the compression zone, have become quite popular as they promote and stabilize polymer melting. Therefore, it is important to design efficient extruder screws and decide whether a conventional screw will perform the job efficiently, or a barrier screw should be considered instead. This work uses multi-objective evolutionary algorithms to design conventional and barrier screws (Maillefer screws will be studied) with optimized geometry. The processing of two polymers, low-density polyethylene and polypropylene, is analyzed. A methodology based on the use of artificial intelligence (AI) techniques, namely, data mining, decision making, and evolutionary algorithms, is presented and utilized to obtain results with practical significance, based on relevant performance measures (objectives) used in the optimization. For the various case studies selected, Maillefer screws were generally advantageous for processing LDPE, while for PP, the use of both types of screws would be feasible.
3D ZnO/Activated Carbon Alginate Beads for the Removal of Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria and Antibiotic Resistance Genes
Authors: Liu Zhe , Yu Xi , Zhou Zhenchao , Zhou Jinyu , Shuai Xinyi , Lin Zejun , Chen Hong
Published: May 2023

The worldwide prevalence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria (ARB) and antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) have become one of the most urgent issues for public health. Thus, it is critical to explore more sustainable methods with less toxicity for the long-term removal of both ARB and ARGs. In this study, we fabricated a novel material by encapsulating zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoflowers and activated carbon (AC) in an alginate biopolymer. When the dosage of ZnO was 1.0 g (≈2 g/L), the composite beads exhibited higher removal efficiency and a slight release of Zn2+ in water treatment. Fixed bed column experiments demonstrated that ZnO/AC alginate beads had excellent removal capacities. When the flow rate was 1 mL/min, and the initial concentration was 107 CFU/mL, the removal efficiency of ARB was 5.69-log, and the absolute abundance of ARGs was decreased by 2.44–2.74-log. Moreover, the mechanism demonstrated that ZnO significantly caused cell lysis, cytoplasmic leakage, and the increase of reactive oxygen species induced subsequent oxidative stress state. These findings suggested that ZnO/AC alginate beads can be a promising material for removing ARB and ARGs from wastewater with eco-friendly and sustainable properties.
TCAD Device Simulation of All-Polymer Solar Cells for Indoor Applications: Potential for Tandem vs. Single Junction Cells
Authors: Alanazi Tarek I.
Published: May 2023

The utilization of indoor photovoltaics makes it feasible to harvest energy from artificial light sources. Although single-junction indoor photovoltaics have demonstrated exceptional efficacy when using LED lighting, there is still a need for more comprehensive testing of tandem structures. Herein, the first systematic TCAD simulation study on the potential for tandem all-polymer solar cells (all-PSCs) for indoor applications is provided. The presented all-PSCs are based on experimental work in which the top wide bandgap subcell comprises a polymer blend PM7:PIDT, while the bottom narrow bandgap subcell has a polymer blend PM6:PY-IT. Standalone and tandem cells are simulated under AM1.5G solar radiation, and the simulation results are compared with measurements to calibrate the physical models and material parameters revealing PCE values of 10.11%, 16.50%, and 17.58% for the front, rear, and tandem cells, respectively. Next, we assessed the performance characteristics of the three cells under a white LED environment for different color temperatures and light intensities. The results showed a superior performance of the front cell, while a deterioration in the performance was observed for the tandem cell, reflecting in a lower PCE of 16.22% at a color temperature of 2900 K. Thus, an optimized tandem for outdoor applications was not suitable for indoor conditions. In order to alleviate this issue, we propose designing the tandem for indoor lightening by an appropriate choice of thicknesses of the top and bottom absorber layers in order to achieve the current matching point. Reducing the top absorber thickness while slightly increasing the bottom thickness resulted in a higher PCE of 27.80% at 2900 K.
Cellulose Nanocrystals Induced Loose and Porous Graphite Phase Carbon Nitride/Porous Carbon Composites for Capturing and Determining of Organochlorine Pesticides from Water and Fruit Juice by Solid-Phase Microextraction
Authors: Li Huimin , Dong Panlong , Long Anying , Feng Suling , Fan Jing , Xu Shengrui
Published: May 2023

Herein, novel, loose, and porous graphite phase carbon nitride/porous carbon (g-C3N4@PC) composites were prepared by decorating cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs). The characterization results demonstrate that the as-prepared composites presented high specific surface areas, porous structures, and abundant chemical groups, with the modification of CNCs. In view of the unique advantages, g-C3N4@PC was used as the coating material for the solid-phase microextraction (SPME) of organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) in water and juice samples. The g-C3N4@PC-coated fibers showed better extraction efficiencies than commercial fibers (100/7 μm PDMS and PA) toward the OCPs, with the enrichment factors of the g-C3N4@PC-coated fibers 5–30 times higher than the latter. Using a gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS) instrument, the g-C3N4@PC-coated fibers exhibited a gratifying analytical performance for determining low concentrations of OCPs, with a wide linear range (0.1–1600 ng L−1 for water; 0.1–1000 ng L−1 for juice), low limits of detection (0.0141–0.0942 ng L−1 for water; 0.0245–0.0777 ng L−1 for juice), and good reproducibility and repeatability in optimal conditions. The established method showed good sensitivity and recovery in the determination of OCPs in the water and fruit juice samples, which displayed broad prospects for analyzing organic pollutants from environmental samples.
Effective Strategies for Mitigating Feather Pecking and Cannibalism in Cage-Free W-36 Pullets
Authors: Bist Ramesh Bahadur , Subedi Sachin , Yang Xiao , Chai Lilong
Published: May 2023

Pecking is one of the most concerning poultry welfare issues in the layer houses, especially in the cage-free (CF) housing system. Pecking behavior may lead to severe feather pecking (SFP) and cannibalism when birds feel frustrated, stressed, and dominant over other birds. Since pecking is caused by multi-factorial problems (e.g., hormonal influence, environment, dietary composition, and genetic differences), it is very important to find optimal strategies for reducing pecking damage. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of pullet age and management practices on pecking behavior and to identify the optimal pecking mitigation strategy. Four climate-controlled rooms were used, each housing 200 Hy-Line W36 pullets, for a total of 800 pullets from 0 to 16 weeks of age (WOA). Pecking mitigation strategies were tested at different ages, including an isolated chamber (IC) at 14 WOA, an IC with lotion (water, aloe vera gel, tea tree oil, calendula, and methyl anthranilate), and a pecking block from 15 to 16 WOA. Data on severe feather pecking (SFP) and mortality were collected daily from 13 to 16 WOA during the pecking block, IC, and IC with lotion treatments and from 0 to 16 WOA for the entire pullet cycle of age treatment. Results show that the SFP significantly increased with the bird’s age (p < 0.01). The SFP started with 5 WOA. About 16% of birds were found with severe peck damages by 16 WOA. In this study, pecking blocks did not show a reduction in pecking order, possibly due to pecking at alarming rates. Isolating birds with SFP damages into the IC and applying lotion resulted in a significant decrease in SFP (p < 0.05) and cannibalism (p < 0.05). This study provides a reference for commercial CF egg producers to develop on-farm management strategies for mitigating pecking damage and cannibalism.
Investigating the Influence of Joint Angles on Rock Mechanical Behavior of Rock Mass Using Two-Dimensional and Three-Dimensional Numerical Models
Authors: Zhao Yang , Zhao Ye , Zhang Zhe , Wang Wenhai , Shu Jiaming , Chen Yang , Ning Jianguo , Jiang Lishuai
Published: May 2023

Numerical testing is an ideal testing method in the research on the mechanical behaviors of jointed rock. However, there are few systematic studies focused on the comparison between the two-dimensional (2D) and the three-dimensional (3D) simulation effects on rock mechanical behaviors, particularly those of jointed rock. In this paper, a particle flow model was established by utilizing PFC2D and PFC3D to represent the rock materials, and the rock (especially jointed rock) mechanical behaviors (uniaxial compressive strength UCS, tensile strength TS, crack initiation stress level Kσ, and the pattern of crack initiation) between 2D and 3D models were compared and analyzed. As expected, the result shows that the UCS and TS showed an increasing tendency with the increase in the joint angle (β) for both the 2D and the 3D models, and the strength of the 3D model was less than that of the 2D model under uniaxial compression but was greater than that of the 2D model under uniaxial tension. The crack initiation and Kσ of the specimens were essentially the same for the 2D and 3D models, and the tensile stresses are more concentrated than the compressive stresses before the failure of the specimen; the uniaxial tensile failure more closely approached abrupt failure than the uniaxial compression failure. The tensile cracks were often initiated at the tips of the joints for both the 2D and 3D models, but they were initiated in the middle of the joints when β was low (β = 0° and β = 15° in both the 2D and 3D models) under uniaxial compression and when β reached 90° under uniaxial tensile. The test results were validated and further analyzed with mathematical analysis. This study has relative referential value to experiments on jointed rock and to analysis of the instability fractures of engineering rock mass.
Research on a Three-Dimensional Fuzzy Active Disturbance Rejection Controller for the Mechanical Arm of an Iron Roughneck
Authors: Zhang Kaige , Liu Yanjun , Jia Hua , Yan Feng , Xue Gang
Published: May 2023

In the position control of the mechanical arm of an iron roughneck (MAIR), a controller with high responsiveness, high accuracy, and high anti-interference capability is necessary. An MAIR consists of two proportional-valve-controlled single-extension (PVCSE) hydraulic cylinders, and a traditional proportional–integral–derivative (PID) controller cannot easily achieve the accuracy and robustness requirements of the hydraulic cylinders. In this paper, a three-dimensional fuzzy active disturbance rejection controller (TF-ADRC) is proposed for an MAIR, which adds a three-dimensional fuzzy module to a classical active disturbance rejection controller (ADRC) to adjust the controller output according to the tracking of differential deviation, deviation change rate, and deviation change acceleration rate. Firstly, the trajectory planning of the MAIR was carried out using the quintic polynomial interpolation method to improve the smoothness of the target trajectory. Then, the reliability of the established model was verified by experiments. Finally, the comprehensive performance of a PID controller, fuzzy PID controller, ADRC, and TF-ADRC were compared based on the AMESim-Simulink model. The system with the TF-ADRC exhibits higher position control accuracy and better anti-interference capability than the system with a PID or Fuzzy PID controller, and accuracy is higher compared with the common ADRC.
HPLC-UV Analysis of Chrysophanol in Senna occidentalis Extract Obtained by Using the RSM-Optimized Ultrasonic Extraction Process
Authors: Al-Hamoud Gadah , Alam Perwez , Fantoukh Omer , Hawwal Mohammed , Akhtar Ali
Published: May 2023

In this experiment, chrysophanol analysis in Senna occidentalis (aerial parts) extract obtained by optimizing ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) variables (temperature, time, and liquid-to-solid ratio) using response surface methodology (RSM) was performed by employing the HPLC-UV method. For UAE process optimization, a highly significant quadratic model (p < 0.001) was projected to attain maximum chrysophanol yield. The extraction temperature, time, and liquid-to-solid ratio for the best UAE method were determined to be 49.3 °C, 57.7 min, and 18.7 mL/g, respectively. The optimized extract was subjected to a chrysophanol analysis utilizing HPLC-UV (fitted with a Pinnacle C18 column), and a gradient mobile phase composed of 0.5% formic acid (solvent A), acetonitrile (solvent B), methanol (solvent C), at a flow rate of 1.0 mL/min, and an optimum wavelength of 279 nm, respectively. It furnished a compact and intense peak of chrysophanol at Rt = 23.809 min. The experimental value (20.47 mg/g) of chrysophanol obtained was close to the predicted value (19.32 mg/g), indicating that they agreed under the optimized extraction condition. UAE also displayed remarkable improvement in chrysophanol extraction compared with the conventional solvent extraction (CSE) method. Hence, our improved ultrasonic extraction process showed a potential use for effective chrysophanol extraction from commercial herbal supplements comprising the Senna species.
Dissipative Particle Dynamics Simulation and Microscopic Experimental Study of Emulsification Performance of Surfactant/Polymer Flooding
Authors: Zhang Biao , Guan Baoshan , Liu Weidong , Peng Baoliang , Cong Sunan
Published: May 2023

Polymers can increase the viscosity of water, reduce the relative permeability of the water phase, and enhance the flowability of the oil phase; surfactants can form molecular films at the oil–water interface boundaries, thereby reducing interfacial tension. Surfactant/polymer (S/P) flooding technology for enhancing oil recovery has become a major way to increase crude oil production. This study used dissipative particle dynamics (DPD) technology to simulate the emulsification process of a four-component composite system consisting of oil, water, sodium dodecylbenzene sulfonate (SDBS), and partially hydrolyzed polyacrylamide (HPAM). By changing the concentration of the S/P system, the effect on emulsification behavior was analyzed. Combined with particle distribution diagrams and interfacial tension parameters, the effect of the emulsification behavior on the performance of the S/P binary system was analyzed. On this basis, the effect of different emulsion performances on the recovery factor was evaluated using micro-experiments. The study found that the S/P system that produced stable emulsification had a lower interfacial tension and relatively good effect on improving the recovery factor. Increasing the concentration of the polymer and surfactant may cause changes in the interfacial film of the emulsion, thereby affecting the ability of the S/P system to reduce interfacial tension and may not improve the oil recovery factor. The research results help to better analyze and screen the S/P system used for oil extraction and improve crude oil recovery.
Analysis of Factors of Single-Use Plastic Avoidance Behavior for Environmental Sustainability in China
Authors: Gu Feng , Zhu Zhaowei , Ali Sharafat
Published: May 2023

Governments have been introducing strategies to reduce plastic waste. The reduction in plastic waste can be possible through single-use plastic avoidance. However, this is only possible with the proper understanding of the behavioral factors of single-use plastic avoidance behavior (SPAB). This study explores the factors that influence the decision-making process regarding SPAB in China, a major environmental problem, climate change, and global warming. The authors used a questionnaire survey to collect data from 421 respondents and analyze it using structural equation modeling (SEM). The study examines the effects of attitude, subjective norms (SNs), perceived behavior control (PBC), and policy intervention (PI) on single-use plastic avoidance behavior (SPAB) mediated by plastic avoidance behavioral intentions (PABI) and plastic-related environmental concerns (PREC). The analysis reveals that attitude, PBC, and PI significantly affect PABI, which affects SPAB. Moreover, PREC influences both PABI and SPAB. Furthermore, PI significantly impacts SPAB through PABI and PREC. The study suggests that effective PIs are crucial to reducing single-use plastic waste by shaping attitude, PBC, PABI, and PREC among the public and promoting pro-environmental behavior to achieve the objective of environmental sustainability.
Numerical Validation of a New Analytical Solution for Helical (Earth-Basket) Type Ground Heat Exchangers
Authors: Reichl Christoph , Witte Henk J. L.
Published: May 2023

In this paper, we show that an analytical solution based on the Finite Line Source and G-function approach is both sufficiently fast and accurate for design calculations of ground heat exchangers with a complex (spiral) geometry. Detailed validations were performed for the steady-state and transient responses of analytical models with different time scales (10 h and 250 h). A comparison with a detailed computational fluid dynamics model (Ansys Fluent) and the analytical method for different boundary conditions showed a very good agreement (maximum root mean square error) smaller than 0.25 K.
Proteomic Research of Extracellular Vesicles in Clinical Biofluid
Authors: Fan Shipan , Poetsch Ansgar
Published: May 2023

Extracellular vesicles (EVs), the lipid bilayer membranous structures of particles, are produced and released from almost all cells, including eukaryotes and prokaryotes. The versatility of EVs has been investigated in various pathologies, including development, coagulation, inflammation, immune response modulation, and cell–cell communication. Proteomics technologies have revolutionized EV studies by enabling high-throughput analysis of their biomolecules to deliver comprehensive identification and quantification with rich structural information (PTMs, proteoforms). Extensive research has highlighted variations in EV cargo depending on vesicle size, origin, disease, and other features. This fact has sparked activities to use EVs for diagnosis and treatment to ultimately achieve clinical translation with recent endeavors summarized and critically reviewed in this publication. Notably, successful application and translation require a constant improvement of methods for sample preparation and analysis and their standardization, both of which are areas of active research. This review summarizes the characteristics, isolation, and identification approaches for EVs and the recent advances in EVs for clinical biofluid analysis to gain novel knowledge by employing proteomics. In addition, the current and predicted future challenges and technical barriers are also reviewed and discussed.
Enslavement, Religion, and Cultural Commemoration in Livorno
Authors: Herzig Tamar
Published: May 2023

This essay critically reexamines the career of Bernardetto Buonromei (d. c. 1616), a physician who is celebrated today as one of Livorno’s founding fathers. It argues that Buonromei’s expertise as a medical practitioner was instrumental for turning the Tuscan port city of Livorno into a major stronghold of the early modern Mediterranean slave trade. Buonromei’s fame in the early seventeenth century, it proposes, reflected the high esteem with which the Medici Grand Dukes held his contribution to the Tuscan state’s involvement in religiously justified slaving. The essay analyzes documentary evidence regarding Buonromei’s exceptionally cruel treatment of enslaved Jews and Muslims who were placed under his care while he was serving as the physician in charge of Livorno’s slave prison. It demonstrates that Cosimo II continued to back Buonromei despite repeated complaints about the physician’s excessively ruthless conduct. The final part of the essay delineates the varied manifestations of Buonromei’s cultural commemoration from the seventeenth to the twenty-first century. The continuous textual, artistic, and performative celebrations of Buonromei’s accomplishments, it concludes, complements the erasure of the suffering he had inflicted on enslaved non-Catholics in Livorno.
Between Repentance and Desire: Women Poets and the Word in Early Modern Italy
Authors: Prodan Sarah Rolfe
Published: May 2023

In early modern Italy, lyric poets of spiritual verse experimented with engaging and depicting the divine Word in novel ways. They aestheticized bodies, including that of Christ, and they imagined eroticized encounters between themselves and the Word made flesh. This article examines the sensual spiritual poetry of three early modern Italian women who, between 1530 and 1630, dedicated themselves to crafting and reinvigorating the poetic word and to expressing and (re)presenting the divine Word. Exploring the introspective and subjective spiritual lyrics of Vittoria Colonna (1492–1547), Laura Battiferri (1523–1589), and Francesca Turini Bufalini (1553–1641) in the context of the Italian literary Renaissance and Counter-Reformation, it aims to highlight and to elucidate the conflation of the sacred and the erotic in their verse. In so doing, this article reveals how these early modern female poets deployed the sensual strategically in their verse to elevate the erotic and how they raised the Italian religious lyric to new literary heights by spiritualizing the dominant poetic idiom.
The Lonely Girl. External Factors in the Conversion and Failed Ransom of the Turkish–Algerian Fatima (1608–1622)
Authors: Pomara Saverino Bruno
Published: May 2023

Research into various aspects of slavery and the related conversions has multiplied in recent years. This contribution investigates the case of Fatima, a young woman belonging to the Turkish–Algerian elite, who was captured in 1608 by the Tuscan Knights of Saint Stephen. Rescued by her parents and entrusted to some Corsican merchants for her safe return home, she remained in Calvi (Corsica) because she embraced Christianity. Thus, the local bishop pretended to keep her under his protection. Because of her conversion, her homecoming became considerably more complicated until it was decreed impracticable. The intervention of Fatima’s parents led to the opening of protracted negotiations between the political (Algerian, Ottoman, Spanish, Genoese) and ecclesiastical (Papal, Episcopal, Trinitarian) authorities. In dissatisfaction, the Algerian governors lashed out at one hundred and thirty Christian captives in Algiers whose rescue operation by Trinitarian redeemers was suddenly halted. Historiography, to narrate this case study, has paid attention predominantly to Spanish records and explained the political and economic mechanisms of the rescue machine with all its complications. Through other unpublished Spanish, Vatican and Genoese sources, this article focuses with a micro-glocal lens on the many psychological pressures used by political and religious agencies that accompanied such a young person by leveraging the decisive role of the Ecclesiastical authorities.
The Religiousness of Cultivation in the Zhuangzi: “The Unity of Self” of Zuowang 坐忘
Authors: Ma Shanshan
Published: May 2023

From the perspective of mysticism, the interpretation of zuowang 坐忘 as the breath-meditation technique with a transcendental goal establishes the religious basis of Zhuangzi’s cultivation. In contrast, most Chinese scholars argue instead that zuowang is primarily the mental state independent of meditative techniques, and that the techniques are devoid of philosophical significance. The pivot of the two seemingly irreconcilable views is the holistic concept of qi 氣. Combining the two interpretations can lead to a consummate understanding. There is an innate connection between the physical and nonphysical qi, and the latter can be considered as the root and basis. Deep exploration of the mysticism paradigm represented by Harold Roth reveals that the interpretation of meditative techniques is a necessary step in gaining mystical experiences not contradictory to the one that construes it as mental cultivation. The mind–body transformation shows that the pursuit of authenticity and wholeness of humanity can broaden one’s concern with fellow human beings and other realms of existence, as the same process is followed in the perpetual growth and change of the universe. This allows us to experience resonance with the universe toward the goal of “the unity of self” so to speak. The religiousness of Zhuangzi’s cultivation is, thus, substantiated.
The Inquisitor at the Table: Food and Identity in the Mediterranean Tribunals of the Roman Inquisition
Authors: Dursteler Eric R.
Published: May 2023

This article explores the Roman Inquisition’s interest in the dietary practices of suspected heretics throughout the Roman Catholic Mediterranean. In an era marked by rampant religious nomadism and a deep uncertainty about assaying and fixing confessional identity, dietary practices were often used to determine religious belonging. For the Roman Inquisition, non-conforming diets served as a clue to potentially more serious spiritual infractions. In the early modern Mediterranean, what one ate was considered a sign of what one believed.
Conclusions
Authors: Tutino Stefania
Published: May 2023

Generalizations are always difficult to make, often imprecise, and sometimes misleading [...]
Deus sine nomine: Dialectic as a Tool for the Christian Interpretation of Boethius’s Consolatio III, m. 9, by Adalbold of Utrecht
Authors: Otisk Marek
Published: May 2023

The Consolation of Philosophy by Boethius was not only widely read during the Middle Ages, but it was also frequently glossed, commented on, and discussed. The ninth poem of the third book, which offers a Platonic image of the creation of the cosmos and the governance over it, had a specific place in the reception of this Boethius’s work. Today we know of numerous debates about the possible interpretations of this poem and its Christian understanding, dating back at least to the 9th century. This paper deals with the commentary on this poem written by Adalbold of Utrecht († 1026). Attention is focused in particular on the role of dialectic in selected passages of this Adalbold’s text and on the inspirational sources of his dialectical knowledge. Specifically, the paper deals with the possibility of definition or description of God (Deus sine nomine), and arguments explaining the appropriateness or inappropriateness of conceptualizing God as the form of the highest good (forma summi boni).