bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effect of Cooling Rate on Crystallization Behavior during Solidification of Hyper Duplex Stainless Steel S33207: An In Situ Confocal Microscopy Study
Authors: Wang Yong , Mu Wangzhong
Published: July 2023

Hyper duplex stainless steel (HDSS) is a new alloy group of duplex stainless steels with the excellent corrosion resistance and mechanical properties among the existing modern stainless steels. Due to the incorporation of the high content of alloying elements, e.g., Cr, Ni, Mo, etc., the crystallization behavior of δ-ferrite from liquid is of vital importance to be controlled. In this work, the effect of the cooling rate (i.e., 4 °C/min and 150 °C/min) on the nucleation and growth behavior of δ-ferrite in S33207 during the solidification was investigated using a high-temperature confocal scanning laser microscope (HT-CLSM) in combination with electron microscopies and thermodynamic calculations. The obtained results showed that the solidification mode of S33207 steel was a ferrite–austenite type (FA mode). L→δ-ferrite transformation occurred at a certain degree of undercooling, and merging occurred during the growth of the δ-ferrite phase dendrites. Similar microstructure characteristics were observed after solidification under two different cooling rates. The variation in the area fraction of δ-ferrite with different temperatures and time intervals during the solidification of S33207 steels was calculated at different cooling rates. The post-microstructure as well as its composition evolution were also briefly investigated. This work shed light on the real-time insights for the crystallization behavior of hyper duplex stainless steels during their solidification process.
Detection of Monkeypox Cases Based on Symptoms Using XGBoost and Shapley Additive Explanations Methods
Authors: Farzipour Alireza , Elmi Roya , Nasiri Hamid
Published: July 2023

The monkeypox virus poses a novel public health risk that might quickly escalate into a worldwide epidemic. Machine learning (ML) has recently shown much promise in diagnosing diseases like cancer, finding tumor cells, and finding COVID-19 patients. In this study, we have created a dataset based on the data both collected and published by Global Health and used by the World Health Organization (WHO). Being entirely textual, this dataset shows the relationship between the symptoms and the monkeypox disease. The data have been analyzed, using gradient boosting methods such as Extreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost), CatBoost, and LightGBM along with other standard machine learning methods such as Support Vector Machine (SVM) and Random Forest. All these methods have been compared. The research aims to provide an ML model based on symptoms for the diagnosis of monkeypox. Previous studies have only examined disease diagnosis using images. The best performance has belonged to XGBoost, with an accuracy of 1.0 in reviews. To check the model’s flexibility, k-fold cross-validation is used, reaching an average accuracy of 0.9 in 5 different splits of the test set. In addition, Shapley Additive Explanations (SHAP) helps in examining and explaining the output of the XGBoost model.
Can an Authentic Assessment Task Improve the Health Behaviours of Undergraduate Students?
Authors: Meincke Jake , Gwynne Kylie , Chiu Christine L. , Bhatti Alexandra J. , Christie Vita , Janszen Jordan , Nazareth Leah , Needham Isabella , Kirwan Morwenna
Published: July 2023

Currently, more than ever, the mental and physical well-being of university students have been identified as priorities, and universities are well placed to address well-being by integrating health promotion into their courses. This study looks at the effectiveness of embedding an authentic assessment task to improve health-seeking behaviours related to sleep, stress, and nutrition into the curricula of undergraduate health-science students. Qualitative and quantitative data were gathered both pre- and post-test, and content was qualitatively analysed. The study found that students were willing and able to improve health-seeking behaviours, with a significant increase in fruit consumption. There was no reported change in stress or sleep.
Fast Algorithm for CU Size Decision Based on Ensemble Clustering for Intra Coding of VVC 3D Video Depth Map
Authors: Song Wenjun , Li Guanxin , Zhang Qiuwen
Published: July 2023

As many new coding techniques and coding structures have been introduced to further improve the coding efficiency of depth maps in 3D video extensions, the coding complexity has been greatly increased. Fast algorithms are now needed to improve coding unit (CU) depth decisions as well as the coding pattern decision based on the coding. This paper presents an innovative machine learning-based approach aimed at mitigating the complexity associated with in-frame coding algorithms. We build different clustering models for different CU sizes to cluster CUs of the same size to decide their CU sizes. This is achieved by augmenting ensemble clustering through the expedited propagation of clustering similarities, considering CU with the same or similar texture complexity the same as for CU depth selection, which is informed by a comprehensive analysis of the original texture and its neighboring elements. The experimental findings demonstrate that the proposed scheme yields a substantial average reduction of 44.24% in the coding time. Remarkably, the corresponding Bjøntegaard delta bit rate (BDBR) increment observed for the synthetic view is a mere 0.26%.
Gaze Estimation Method Combining Facial Feature Extractor with Pyramid Squeeze Attention Mechanism
Authors: Wei Jingfang , Wu Haibin , Wu Qing , Iwahori Yuji , Yu Xiaoyu , Wang Aili
Published: July 2023

To address the issue of reduced gaze estimation accuracy caused by individual differences in different environments, this study proposes a novel gaze estimation algorithm based on attention mechanisms. Firstly, by constructing a facial feature extractor (FFE), the method obtains facial feature information about the eyes and locates the feature areas of the left and right eyes. Then, the L2CSNet (l2 loss + cross-entropy loss + softmax layer network), which integrates the PSA (pyramid squeeze attention), is designed to increase the correlation weights related to gaze estimation in the feature areas, suppress other irrelevant weights, and extract more fine-grained feature information to obtain gaze direction features. Finally, by integrating L2CSNet with FFE and PSA, FPSA_L2CSNet was proposed, which is fully tested on four representative publicly available datasets and a real-world dataset comprising individuals of different backgrounds, lighting conditions, nationalities, skin tones, ages, genders, and partial occlusions. The experimental results indicate that the accuracy of the gaze estimation model proposed in this paper has been improved by 13.88%, 11.43%, and 7.34%, compared with L2CSNet, FSE_L2CSNet, and FCBA_L2CSNet, respectively. This model not only improves the robustness of gaze estimation but also provides more accurate estimation results than the original model.
Forest Phenology under Differing Topographic Conditions: A Case Study of Changbai Mountain in Northeast China
Authors: Jiang Jie , Yu Quanzhou , Mickler Robert A. , Tang Qingxin , Liang Tianquan , Zhang Hongli , Song Kaishan , Wang Shaoqiang
Published: July 2023

Forest phenology is sensitive to climate change, and its responses affect many land surface processes, resulting in a feedback effect on climate change. Human activities have been the main driver of climate change’s long-term shifts in temperature and weather patterns. Forest phenology, understood as the timing of the annual cycles of plants, is extremely sensitive to changes in climate. Quantifying the responses of temperate forest phenology under an elevational range of topographic conditions that mimic climate change is essential for making effective adaptive forest ecosystem management decisions. Our study utilized the Google Earth Engine (GEE), gap filling, and the Savitzky–Golay (GF-SG) algorithm to develop a long-time series spatio-temporal remote sensing data fusion. The forest phenology characteristics on the north slope of Changbai Mountain were extracted and analyzed annually from 2013 to 2022. Our study found that the average start of the growing season (SOS) on the north slope of Changbai Mountain occurred between the 120th–150th day during the study period. The end of the growing season (EOS) occurred between the 270th–300th day, and the length of the growing season (LOS) ranged from the 110th–190th day. A transect from the northeast to southwest of the study area for a 10-year study period found that SOS was delayed by 39 d, the EOS advanced by 32 d, and the LOS was gradually shortened by 63 d. The forest phenology on the north slope of Changbai Mountain showed significant topographic differentiations. With an increase of 100 m in altitude, the mean SOS was delayed by 1.71 d (R2 = 0.93, p < 0.01). There were no obvious trends in EOS variation within the study area altitude gradient. LOS decreased by 1.23 d for each 100 m increase in elevation (R2 = 0.90, p < 0.01). Forests on steep slopes had an earlier SOS, a later EOS, and a longer LOS than forests on gentle slopes. For each degree increase in slope, SOS advanced by 0.12 d (R2 = 0.53, p = 0.04), EOS was delayed by 0.18 d (R2 = 0.82, p = 0.002), and the LOS increased by 0.28 d (R2 = 0.78, p = 0.004). The slope aspect had effects on the EOS and the LOS but had no effect on the SOS. The forest EOS of the south aspect was 3.15 d later than that of the north aspect, and the LOS was 6.47 d longer. Over the 10-year study period, the phenology differences between the north and south aspects showed that the LOS difference decreased by 0.85 d, the SOS difference decreased by 0.34 d, and the EOS difference decreased by 0.53 d per year. Our study illustrates the significance of the coupling mechanism between mountain topography and forest phenology, which will assist our future understanding of the response of mountain forest phenology to climate change, and provide a scientific basis for further research on temperate forest phenology.
A Worldwide Analysis of Adipose-Derived Stem Cells and Stromal Vascular Fraction in Orthopedics: Current Evidence and Applications
Authors: Ossendorff Robert , Menon Alessandra , Schildberg Frank A. , Randelli Pietro S. , Scheidt Sebastian , Burger Christof , Wirtz Dieter C. , Cucchi Davide
Published: July 2023

The biological enhancement of tissue regeneration and healing is an appealing perspective in orthopedics. We aimed to conduct a systematic review to describe the global distribution of studies investigating the use of adipose tissue derivates in orthopedics and to provide information on their quality and on the products available. The quality of the included studies was assessed using the modified Coleman Methodology Score (mCMS) and the Cochrane risk-of-bias tool for randomized trials. Eighty-two studies were included, with a total of 3594 patients treated. In total, 70% of the studies investigated the treatment of knee disorders, predominantly osteoarthritis; 26% of all studies dealt with expanded adipose-derived stem/stromal cells (ADSCs), 72% of which had stromal vascular fraction (SVF); 70% described the injection of adipose tissue derivates into the affected site; and 24% described arthroscopies with the addition of adipose tissue derivates. The mean mCMS for all studies was 51.7 ± 21.4 points, with a significantly higher score for the studies dealing with expanded ADSCs compared to those dealing with SVF (p = 0.0027). Our analysis shows high heterogeneity in terms of the types of performed procedures as well as the choice and processing of adipose tissue derivates.
Mortality Risk Factors of Severely Injured Polytrauma Patients (Prehospital Mortality Prediction Score)
Authors: Vorbeck Jana , Bachmann Manuel , Düsing Helena , Hartensuer René
Published: July 2023

The aim of this study was to analyze the mortality of polytrauma patients and identify prediction parameters. A further aim was to create from the results a score for the prehospital predictive evaluation of 30-day survival. The study was conducted with a retrospective, observational design and was carried out unicentrically at a Level 1 Trauma Center. During the 4-year investigation period, patients with an Injury Severity Score (ISS) ≥ 16 were examined and their demographic basic data, laboratory values, and vital parameters were recorded. The mortality data analysis was performed using Kaplan–Meier Analysis and Log-Rank tests. Cox regressions were carried out to determine influencing factors and Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curves were plotted to establish limit values for potential influencing factors. All statistical tests were conducted at a significance level of p ≤ 0.05. Coronary Heart Disease (CHD), cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), age at admission, sex, and Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) had a significant impact on the survival of polytrauma patients. The identified prediction parameters were combined with the shock index (SI). The generated score showed a sensitivity of 93.1% and a specificity of 73.3% in predicting the mortality risk. The study was able to identify significant influencing prehospital risk factors on 30-day survival after polytrauma. A score created from these parameters showed higher specificity and sensitivity than other prediction scores. Further studies with a larger number of participants and the inclusion of slightly injured patients could verify these findings.
A Change in Global Sagittal Alignment after Transforaminal Epidural Steroid Injections in Lumbar Spinal Stenosis
Authors: Manakul Park , Siribumrungwong Koopong , Dhanachanvisith Naphakkhanith
Published: July 2023

Patients’ functional adaptation to pain can affect global sagittal alignment. This study evaluated the short-term spinal sagittal alignment change after transforaminal epidural steroid injection (TFESI) in lumbar spinal stenosis patients. Patients with lumbar spinal stenosis who underwent TFESI were retrospectively examined. Clinical outcomes were assessed using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) and Oswestry Disability Index (ODI). Before and two weeks after the intervention, whole-spine lateral standing view radiographs were taken. Radiographic parameters including the Sagittal Vertical Axis (SVA), C2C7 Cobb, Thoracic Kyphosis (TK), Lumbar Lordosis (LL), Pelvic Incidence (PI), Pelvic Tilt (PT), Sacral Slope (SS), and Lumbopelvic Mismatch (PI-LL) were measured. Ninety-nine patients (mean age 64.3 ± 9.2 years) were included in this study. Both VAS and ODI outcomes were statistically improved after two weeks of intervention. Radiographic parameters showed that SVA, PT, and PI-LL mismatch were significantly decreased, while C2C7 Cobb, TK, SS, and LL were significantly increased after the intervention. SVA was improved by 29.81% (52.76 ± 52.22 mm to 37.03 ± 41.07 mm, p < 0.001). PT also decreased significantly from 28.71° ± 10.22° to 23.84° ± 9.96° (p < 0.001). Transforaminal epidural steroid injection (TFESI) significantly improves VAS, ODI, and global sagittal parameters in lumbar spinal stenosis patients.
Significance of Early Postoperative Magnetic Resonance Imaging following Intracranial Meningioma Resection
Authors: Inoue Mizuho , Miyazaki Masaya , Oya Soichi
Published: July 2023

The significance of early postoperative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for meningioma resection has not yet been evaluated. We retrospectively reviewed patients with intracranial meningiomas resected at our institute between 2011 and 2021. Early postoperative MRI with contrast enhancement was routinely performed within 48 h after surgery while first follow-up MRI was performed approximately after 6 months. MRI findings were reviewed, and the risk factors for postoperative infarction and early recurrence were analyzed. Among the 245 resections performed, early postoperative MRI was performed in 200 cases. Postoperative radiological and symptomatic infarctions occurred in 54 (27%) and 17 patients (9%), respectively. Diameter > 5 cm (p = 0.015) and skull base location (p = 0.010) were independent risk factors for radiological infarctions. Follow-up postoperative MRI performed in 180 patients (90%) detected early recurrence in 24 patients (13%). Non-gross total resection was an independent risk factor for early recurrence (p < 0.0001). Additionally, early recurrence after gross total resection occurred significantly more frequently in meningiomas with dural sinus involvement than in those without (8.3% vs. 0%, p = 0.018). Thus, early postoperative MRI may enable the timely assessment of postoperative neurological deficits, especially after large skull base meningioma resections along with accurate detection of early recurrence, which is critical for meningiomas with dural sinus involvement.
Pulmonary Function Tests in the Evaluation of Early Lung Disease in Cystic Fibrosis
Authors: Walicka-Serzysko Katarzyna , Postek Magdalena , Borawska-Kowalczyk Urszula , Milczewska Justyna , Sands Dorota
Published: July 2023

Background: Properly evaluating respiratory system dysfunction is essential in children with cystic fibrosis (CF). This prospective study aimed to assess the course of early lung disease based on multiple breath nitrogen washout (MBNW), impulse oscillometry (IOS), and conventional techniques, such as spirometry and body plethysmography. Methods: Over a 2 year recruitment period, subjects with CF aged 7–18 performed pulmonary function tests (PFTs). Moreover, the nutritional and microbiological status, frequency of pulmonary exacerbations (PExs), and patients’ health-related quality of life (HRQoL) were assessed. Results: The mean age of the children (n = 69) was 14.09 ± 3.26 years; F/M 37/32. Spirometry-based diagnoses of normal lung function (forced expiratory volume in 1 s, FEV1 ≥ 90%pred), mild (FEV1 70–89%pred) and moderate (FEV1 40–69%pred) lung diseases were established in 34 (49.3%), 25 (36.2%), and 10 (14.5%) patients, respectively. An elevated lung clearance index (LCI > 6.98) was observed in 85% of the subjects with normal FEV1. The presence of Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection (n = 16) and the number of PExs treated with IV antibiotics were associated with significantly worse PFT results. Conclusions: MBNW and IOS are more helpful tools than conventional techniques in assessing early lung disease in CF. LCI is a more useful parameter for detecting functional abnormalities than FEV1 in school-age children.
Molecular Insights into Royal Jelly Anti-Inflammatory Properties and Related Diseases
Authors: Bagameri Lilla , Botezan Sara , Bobis Otilia , Bonta Victorita , Dezmirean Daniel Severus
Published: July 2023

Royal jelly (RJ), a highly nutritious natural product, has gained recognition for its remarkable health-promoting properties, leading to its widespread use in the pharmaceutical, food, and cosmetic industries. Extensive investigations have revealed that RJ possesses a broad spectrum of therapeutic effects, including anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antitumor, anti-aging, and antibacterial activities. Distinctive among bee products, RJ exhibits a significantly higher water and relatively lower sugar content. It is characterized by its substantial protein content, making it a valuable source of this essential macronutrient. Moreover, RJ contains a diverse array of bioactive substances, such as lipids, phenolic compounds, flavonoids, organic acids, minerals, vitamins, enzymes, and hormones. This review aims to provide an overview of current research on the bioactive components present in RJ and their associated health-promoting qualities. According to existing literature, these bioactive substances hold great potential as alternative approaches to enhancing human health. Notably, this review emphasizes the anti-inflammatory properties of RJ, particularly in relation to inflammatory diseases, such as multiple sclerosis (MS), rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD). Furthermore, we delve into the antitumor and antioxidant activities of RJ, aiming to deepen our understanding of its biological functions. By shedding light on the multifaceted benefits of RJ, this review seeks to encourage its utilization and inspire further investigation in this field.
Study on the Leaching Conditions of the Shihongtan Uranium Deposit
Authors: Yuan Xin , Liu Jinhui , Xu Lingling , Zhou Yipeng , Zhao Kai , Hu Mintao
Published: July 2023

CO2 + O2 is a relatively mature, neutral, in situ leaching process that has been widely used. However, the decrease in uranium concentration in the leaching solution during production has become a serious problem in the western section of the south ore belt of the Shihongtan deposit in Xinjiang, China. In order to solve this problem, mineralogy and batch tests were carried out to explore the reason for the low uranium resource leaching efficiency and determine better leaching process parameters. A total of 16 tests were carried out under different conditions of CO2/O2 ratios and HCO3− concentrations. The results show that: (1) The uranium minerals in the ore were mainly pitchblende and titanium-bearing uranium mineral. Part of the uranium resources were mixed in quartz, which were difficult to activate and recover. The high content of calcium carbonate and clay minerals in ore and the high TDS (total dissolved solid) content in groundwater would cause a reduction in porosity. (2) According to the uranium concentration and uranium leaching rate, a better leaching efficiency was obtained when the pH was lower than 6.6, and the HCO3− concentration was 800 mg/L. This result could serve as a reference for production in other similar mines.
The Tribocorrosion Behavior of High-Nitrogen Bearing Stainless Steel in Acetic Acid at Various Applied Loads
Authors: Su Qiong , Wang Xuhui , Wang Hongling , Huang Yaqi , Wang Yanbin , Li Zhenhua
Published: July 2023

High-nitrogen stainless steels, which are developed by replacing nickel with nitrogen, have been widely applied in manufacturing wear parts in mechanical engineering. In this study, the tribocorrosion performance of a ferritic high-nitrogen bearing stainless steel (40Cr15Mo2VN) under acetic acid solution with a pH of 3.0 was investigated under different loads ranging from 25 N to 125 N. Quantitative calculations indicated that pure mechanical wear was the predominant cause of material degradation, while the corrosion-accelerated wear component also played a crucial role. The material loss induced by both tribocorrosion and mechanical wear increased with increasing load, leading to severe delamination at sliding surfaces and larger wear debris.
The Role of Reductive Carbonaceous Surrounding Rocks in the Formation of Porphyry Mo Deposits
Authors: Guo Dongwei , Li Yanhe , Duan Chao , Fan Changfu , Sun Pengcheng
Published: July 2023

Porphyry Mo deposits are the most important type of Mo resource. They result from a high oxygen fugacity of the parent magma, which acts as an effective indicator for evaluating the mineralization. In the ore-forming system of porphyry Mo deposits, sulfur exists mainly as sulfate in highly oxidized magma but as sulfide in ores. What triggers the reduction in the mineralization system that leads to sulfide precipitation has not yet been determined. Most of the previous studies have focused on the origin and evolution of the ore-forming parent magma, and the effects of reductive surrounding rocks on porphyry mineralization have been ignored. In this study, a comprehensive geological–geochemical investigation and review have been performed on the typical porphyry Mo deposits, the Nannihu-Sandaozhuang, Yuchiling, and Shapingou deposits in China, and the Mt. Emmons deposits in America. Black carbonaceous sedimentary layers commonly surround porphyry Mo ores, which are widely altered and discolored during mineralization. CH4 is commonly present in fluid inclusions in the main mineralization stage, and the δ13CV-PDB values of calcite and fluid inclusions from the altered surrounding rocks and ore minerals are generally low and significantly different from those of marine sedimentary carbonate rocks, indicating that the involvement of reductive components from carbonaceous surrounding rocks might be key to the redox state transformation leading to mineral precipitation. On the other hand, the CH4 produced by the thermal decomposition of organic matter or carbonaceous reaction with H2O can diffuse into the ore-forming system along the structural fractures and reduce the SO42− in the ore-forming hydrothermal fluids to form sulfide precipitation without direct contact between the intrusion and the carbonaceous surrounding rocks. Moreover, the CH4 content controls the location of the orebody formation with the high content producing orebodies mainly in the porphyry intrusion, while the low CH4 content results in the orebodies mainly occurring at the contact zone between the porphyry and carbonaceous surrounding rocks. Compared to the magmatic stage of mineralization, the involvement of reductive components in the carbonaceous surrounding rocks during the hydrothermal stage is more favorable for forming giant/large Mo deposits. The highly oxidized porphyry with reductive carbonaceous surrounding rocks or Fe-rich volcanic rocks offers a new indicator for efficiently evaluating porphyry Mo mineralization.
Recovery of Rare Earth Elements from Coal Fly Ash with Betainium Bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide: Different Ash Types and Broad Elemental Survey
Authors: Liu Ting , Hower James C. , Huang Ching-Hua
Published: July 2023

Previously, proof-of-concept studies have demonstrated that rare-earth elements (REEs) can be preferentially extracted from coal fly ash (CFA) solids using a recyclable ionic liquid (IL), betainium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide ([Hbet][Tf2N]). When the suspension of aqueous solution—IL-CFA—is heated above 65 °C, the majority of REEs will separate from the bulk elements in the solids and partition to the IL phase. Acid stripping of the IL removes REEs and regenerates the IL for reuse in additional extraction cycles. The objective of this study is to showcase the applicability and effectiveness of the optimized method to recover REEs from various CFAs. Six CFA samples with different characteristics (feed coal basins, coal beds, and ash collecting points) and classifications (Class C and Class F) were examined. The process performance was evaluated for a broad range of elements (33 total), including 15 REEs, two actinides, six bulk elements, and 10 trace metals. Results confirmed good recovery of total REEs (ranging from 44% to 66% among the CFA samples) and the recovery process’ high selectivity of REEs over other bulk and trace elements. Sc, Y, Nd, Sm, Gd, Dy, and Yb consistently showed high leaching and partitioning into the IL phase, with an average recovery efficiency ranging from 53.8% to 66.2%, while the other REEs showed greater variability among the different CFA samples. Some amounts of Al and Th were co-extracted into the IL phase, while Fe co-extraction was successfully limited by chloride complexation and ascorbic acid reduction. These results indicated that the IL-based REE-CFA recovery method can maintain a high REE recovery efficiency across various types of CFA, therefore providing a promising sustainable REE recovery strategy for various coal ash wastes.
Nanocrystal Array Engineering and Optoelectronic Applications of Organic Small-Molecule Semiconductors
Authors: Gong Haoyu , Lin Jinyi , Sun Huibin
Published: July 2023

Organic small-molecule semiconductor materials have attracted extensive attention because of their excellent properties. Due to the randomness of crystal orientation and growth location, however, the preparation of continuous and highly ordered organic small-molecule semiconductor nanocrystal arrays still face more challenges. Compared to organic macromolecules, organic small molecules exhibit better crystallinity, and therefore, they exhibit better semiconductor performance. The formation of organic small-molecule crystals relies heavily on weak interactions such as hydrogen bonds, van der Waals forces, and π–π interactions, which are very sensitive to external stimuli such as mechanical forces, high temperatures, and organic solvents. Therefore, nanocrystal array engineering is more flexible than that of the inorganic materials. In addition, nanocrystal array engineering is a key step towards practical application. To resolve this problem, many conventional nanocrystal array preparation methods have been developed, such as spin coating, etc. In this review, the typical and recent progress of nanocrystal array engineering are summarized. It is the typical and recent innovations that the array of nanocrystal array engineering can be patterned on the substrate through top-down, bottom-up, self-assembly, and crystallization methods, and it can also be patterned by constructing a series of microscopic structures. Finally, various multifunctional and emerging applications based on organic small-molecule semiconductor nanocrystal arrays are introduced.
A 3D Multilevel Heterostructure Containing 2D Vertically Aligned MoS2 Nanosheets and 1D Sandwich C-MoS2-C Nanotubes to Enhance the Storage of Li+ Ions
Authors: Zhao Yiyang , Luo Wenhao , Luo Huiqing , Liu Xiaodi , Zheng Wenjun
Published: July 2023

To overcome the disadvantages of the MoS2 anode for LIBs in terms of low intrinsic conductivity, poor mechanical stability, and adverse reaction with electrolytes, a 3D multilevel heterostructure (VANS-MoS2-CNTs) has been successfully prepared by a simple hydrothermal method followed by thermal treatment. VANS-MoS2-CNTs are made up of 2D vertically aligned MoS2 nanosheets (VANS) and 1D sandwich C-MoS2-C nanotubes (CNTs). The sandwich-like nanotube is the core part, which is made up of the MoS2 nanotube covered by carbon layers on both side surfaces. Due to the special heterostructure, VANS-MoS2-CNTs have good conductivity, high structured stability, and excellent Li+/electron transport, resulting in high discharge capacity (1587 mAh/g at a current density of 0.1 A/g), excellent rate capacity (1330 and 730 mAh/g at current densities of 0.1 and 2 A/g, respectively), and good cyclic stability (1270 mAh/g at 0.1 A/g after 100 cycles).
Scattering Amplitude of Surface Plasmon Polariton Excited by a Finite Grating
Authors: Dyshlyuk Anton V. , Proskurin Alexey , Bogdanov Andrey A. , Vitrik Oleg B.
Published: July 2023

Unusual optical properties of laser-ablated metal surfaces arise from the excitation of local plasmon resonances in nano- and microstructures produced by laser-processing and from the mutual interaction of those structures through surface plasmon polariton (SPP) waves. This interaction provides a synergistic effect, which can make the optical properties of the composite nanostructure drastically different from the properties of its elements. At the same time, the prediction and analysis of these properties are hampered by the complexity of the analytical solution to the problem of SPP excitation by surface objects of arbitrary configuration. Such a problem can be reduced to a simpler one if one considers the geometry of a structured surface as a superposition of harmonic Fourier components. Therefore, the analytical solution to the problem of surface plasmon polariton excitation through the scattering of light by a sinusoidally perturbed plasmonic metal/vacuum boundary becomes very important. In this work, we show that this problem can be solved using a well-known method for calculating guided-mode amplitudes in the presence of current sources, which is used widely in the waveguide theory. The calculations are carried out for the simplest 2D cases of (1) a sinusoidal current of finite length and (2) a finite-length sinusoidal corrugation on a plasmonic metal surface illuminated by a normally incident plane wave. The analytical solution is compared with the results of numerical simulations. It is shown that, in the first case, the analytical and numerical solutions agree almost perfectly. In the second case, the analytical solution correctly predicts the optimum height of the corrugation xopt, providing the maximum SPP excitation efficiency. At the same time, the analytical and numerical values of the SPP amplitude agree very well when the corrugation height x turns out to be x≪xopt or x≫xopt (at least up to 3xopt); at x=xopt, the mismatch of those does not exceed 25%. The limitations of the analytical model leading to such a mismatch are discussed. We believe that the presented approach is useful for modeling various phenomena associated with SPP excitation.
The Effect of Ripening Stages on the Accumulation of Polyphenols and Antioxidant Activity of the Fruit Extracts of Solanum Species
Authors: Staveckienė Jūratė , Kulaitienė Jurgita , Levickienė Dovilė , Vaitkevičienė Nijolė , Vaštakaitė-Kairienė Viktorija
Published: July 2023

The aim of the research was to evaluate the influence of the ripening stage on the accumulation of polyphenols and antioxidant activity in fruits of Solanum species. The experiment included two factors: I—four different Solanum species (S. melanocerasum, S. nigrum, S. villosum, and S. retroflexum) and II—three ripening stages. High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was used to analyze the individual phenolic compounds (flavonoids and phenolic acids), and the spectrophotometric method was applied to determine antioxidant activity. The results revealed that the accumulation of polyphenols and antioxidant activity in fruits of Solanum species depends on the stage of ripening and species. All studied Solanum species fruits had the highest content of total phenolic acid at ripening stage III and the greatest antioxidant activity at ripening stage I. Fully ripe fruits of S. melanocerasum contained significantly more total flavonoids, whereas S. nigrum contained significantly more total phenolic acids than other investigated Solanum species fruits. The significantly highest antioxidant activity was found in S. melanocerasum fruits at ripening stage I.
Identification of GA2ox Family Genes and Expression Analysis under Gibberellin Treatment in Pineapple (Ananas comosus (L.) Merr.)
Authors: Zhu Wenhui , Qi Jingang , Chen Jingdong , Ma Suzhuo , Liu Kaichuang , Su Han , Chai Mengnan , Huang Youmei , Xi Xinpeng , Cao Zhuangyuan , Qin Yuan , Cai Hanyang
Published: July 2023

Gibberellin (GAs) plays an important regulatory role in the development and growth of pineapple (Ananas comosus (L.) Merr.). Bioinformatics was used to confirm the differential expression of GA2 gibberellin oxidase gene AcGA2oxs in the pineapple genome, which laid the foundation for exploring its role in pineapple. In this study, 42 GA2ox genes (AcGA2oxs) were identified in the pineapple genome, named from AcGA2ox1 to AcGA2ox42, and divided into four groups according to phylogenetic analysis. We also analyzed the gene structure, conserved motifs and chromosome localization of AcGA2oxs. AcGA2oxs within the same group had similar gene structure and motifs composition. Collinear analysis and cis-element analysis provided the basis for understanding the evolution and function of GA2ox genes in pineapple. In addition, we selected different tissue parts to analyze the expression profile of AcGA2oxs, and the results show that 41 genes were expressed, except for AcGA2ox18. AcGA2ox18 may not be expressed in these sites or may be pseudogenes. qRT-PCR (real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR) was used to detect the relative expression levels of the GA2ox gene family under different concentrations of GA3 treatment, and it was found that AcGA2ox gene expression was upregulated in different degrees under GA3 treatment. These results provide useful information for further study on the evolution and function of the GA2ox family in pineapple.
Characterization and Valorization of Maize Landraces from Aosta Valley
Authors: Lezzi Alessandra , Stagnati Lorenzo , Madormo Francesca , Chabloz Denise , Lanubile Alessandra , Letey Marilisa , Marocco Adriano , Bassignana Mauro , Busconi Matteo
Published: July 2023

While there is a rich collection of maize germplasm from Italy, it lacks genetic resources from the Aosta Valley, an isolated mountain region where landraces have been preserved in the absence of modern germplasm introductions. These local materials, which are still cultivated mainly at household level, can have high importance from a genetic and historical point of view. In the present study, five landraces named, after the collecting sites, Arnad, Arnad-Crest, Châtillon, Entrebin and Perloz, were sampled in Aosta Valley and subjected to historic, morphologic and genetic characterization. This study provided evidence for the landraces’ long presence in Aosta Valley, a significant genetic variability and differentiation among the investigated landraces. Globally, 67 different alleles were detected ranging from 4 for markers phi127 and p-bnlg176 to 10 for phi031, with a mean of 6.7 alleles per locus. Observed heterozygosity levels were comprised from 0.16 to 0.51 and are generalkly lower than expected heterozigosity supporting fixation at some loci. STRUCTURE analysis revealed clear separation between accessions revealing the presence of four ancestral populations. This may be explained by the long reproductive isolation experienced by these materials. Finally, morphological observations confirm the high diversity between landraces revealing that they generally have flint kernels, variable color from yellow to dark red (Châtillon) while Perloz showed kernels with an apical beak. The present work confirms the importance of mountain areas in conserving biodiversity and increases the rich Italian maize germplasm with materials well adapted to marginal areas. Such new genetic variability may be used to breed new materials for more resilient agriculture.
Ultra-Low-Density Drilling Fluids for Low-Pressure Coefficient Formations: Synergistic Effects of Surfactants and Hollow Glass Microspheres
Authors: Chen Haodong , Luo Ming , Zhang Wandong , Han Cheng , Xu Peng
Published: July 2023

With the increase in drilling fluid density requirements in low-pressure coefficient formations, traditional hollow bead drilling fluids and foam drilling fluids each have different degrees of deficiencies. Through extensive indoor experiments, an amphoteric surfactant (cocoamidopropyl betaine) with better foaming performance was selected to formulate an ultra-low-density drilling fluid that combines a foaming agent and hollow glass microbeads to reduce the density of the fluid, with the following specific formulation: 3% bentonite slurry + 0.3% xanthan gum + 0.5% carboxymethyl cellulose + 0.5% starch + 2% lignite resin + 2% blocking agent + 4% hollow glass microspheres + 0.5% foaming agent + 2% nano blocking agent. The performance of the system was evaluated, and the results showed that: the density of the ultra-low-density drilling fluid did not change much before and after aging at 80 °C and was relatively stable; the filter loss amount of the drilling fluid (tested by API) reached 4.6 mL, which meets the requirements for filter loss of drilling fluid; it can bear the pressure of 12 MPa under a 60–90-mesh sand bed and has better pressure sealing capability than hollow glass microbead drilling fluid.
“Who Will Take Better Care of Him Than Me?!” Perpetuating Institutional Culture in Families of Children with Disabilities in Bulgaria
Authors: Dimitrova Ina , Goncharova Galina
Published: July 2023

The right to live in the community is fundamental and is directly related to the possibility of independent living for persons with disabilities, a central principle of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), ratified by Bulgaria in 2012. The opposite of these principles is living in an institution, and being compelled to reside in a space where one does not have the ability or one is not allowed to exercise control over one’s life and day-to-day decisions. Through oral history and anthropological reconstructive analysis, with a special focus on the cultural contexts and social meanings of personal experience, we explore how families of children with disabilities are simultaneously victims of the local disabling legacies, environments and practices, and key agents that effectuate and perpetuate institutional culture. We highlight the dynamics and interactions of the traumatic images on the legacy of state socialism, the actual barriers during the transition period, the coping strategies chosen by families and, ultimately, the grim effects with regard to the affirmation and implementation of the idea of independent living for people with disabilities in Bulgaria.
The Parole Officials’ Views Concerning the Parole System in Rehabilitating Offenders: Experiences from Brits Community Correction Centre in South Africa
Authors: Letlape Olebogeng Wendy , Dube Misheck
Published: July 2023

Unless the views of parole officials are unpacked and understood with regard to rehabilitating offenders in correctional centres with limited resources in South Africa, there will be less effort devoted towards ensuring the effectiveness of the parole system. This paper captures the working experiences of the parole officials at Brits Community Corrections in South Africa with regard to the use of parole in the rehabilitation of offenders. Using a qualitative approach and an exploratory descriptive design, the study employed total population purposive sampling to ensure the inclusion of all parole officials in the study to provide their working experience. In-depth interviews that provided data saturation with four parole officials were analysed thematically, critically discussed and compared to existing literature. The major findings were that the challenges faced by parolees in the communities were the main problems preventing the successful implementation of parole services. This led to endemic frustrations among the parole officials in the execution of parole services in the Brits area. This paper recommends relevant holistic approaches as interventions to improve the parole systems in the area and improve the working experiences of parole officials.
ORTA ASYA HALK HEKİMLİĞİNDE DUA, VİRD VE ZİKİR
Authors: SHADKAM ZUBAIDA , KYDYRBAYEVA UMIT , TUYAKBAYEV OMIR
Published: July 2023

It is of great importance for us to unearth and examine such Turkic texts, which are important both in terms of history and geography of Turkic world and shed light on a large part of it. Finding and examining historical texts written in Central Asia is one of the important steps to be taken, especially in Turkic medical history studies. One of these values is the reflection of Yesevilik and Sufism, which reflects the culture, Islamic understanding and philosophy of Turkiс tribes’ life, in prayers and virds, which are important actions for mental and physical health. The manuscript “Dastūr al-‘Ilāj” written in the Chagatai language by Sultan Ali Tabīb Khorasani, who was chief physician in palace of Kyoskunju Khan of 16th century, is discussed. In the text, various prayers and rituals are used in addition to the drugs and classical methods used in the treatment of various diseases. In this classical and traditional medicine book written in the 16th century Central Asia, the treatment methods of various diseases, its functions and reasons of prayers used with drugs will be explained with examples. In the study, the meaning and importance of prayer and its effect in traditional medicine, that is, in folk medicine, as well as the fact that it is a supportive and auxiliary power and method besides medical treatment on the basis of domestic and foreign sources compiled from various scientific publications, the importance of spiritual treatment used on the basis of prayer, its psychodynamics are still up-to-date in Turkic culture. It has been emphasized that our spiritual values and mystical views play an important role in not being forgotten. Keywords: Traditional Medicine In Turks, Spiritual Treatment, Religious Rituals, Yesevilik, Historical Medical Texts.
TEKKE EŞYALARI TASVİRLERİNE SAHİP BİR CAMİİ: AFYONKARAHİSAR BAŞMAKÇI RECEP BEY CAMİİ
Authors: ALGAÇ ŞEYDA
Published: July 2023

Wall paintings, which started to be seen in Ottoman society from the 15th century, became widespread in civil architecture in Istanbul from the second half of the 18th century. They spread to all Anatolia and the Balkans in a short time anda re observed even in small-scale village mosques. In this study, the architecture of the Recep Bey mosque, which is located in the center of Başmakçı district in the southeast of Afyonkarahisar, was assessed in terms of Sufi culture by considering the embroideries made using the hand-drawn technique in the interior part, depictions, writing program, possible iconographic meanings that the depictions may have, and depictions of tekke items found in the structure. Mosques with two and four minarets, salsabil pool with arch and curtain on it, curtain and oil lamp placed in the niche of the mihrab, pitcher, clock, scales and scissors, eight-door, five-story paradise with a tree of heaven placed upside down on it and tekke items depictions were used on the walls of the work. According to the master inscription found on the west wall, the hand-drawn decorations were made by a master named “Hüseyin Arif” on “5 Muharram 1310” (G. July 30, 1892). The depiction of many tekke items found on the same wall suggests that “Hüseyin Arif” was working with a tekke. In the study, the depictions of the tekke items in the structure and the writing program were examined in detail, and it was concluded that the master could be Bektashi or Rifai, and the relations of these sects with each other as well as the futuwwa and ahi organizations were examined. With its depictions, the mosque is an original example of small-scale village mosques, which are frequently encountered in the region, and is an important representative of tekke art with its tekke item depictions. Keywords: Turkish Art, Afyonkarahisar, Recep Bey Mosque, Wall Paintings, Hand- drawn Decoration, Bektashism, Rifaism, Ahi Order and Futuwwa.
ANADOLU DANS GELENEĞİNDE TÜRK DİNÎ DANSLARI VE HAYVAN SEMBOLİZMİ
Authors: FERATAN MUHARREM , SOLMAZ ERHAN
Published: July 2023

Dance, which emerged as an entertainment element today, was seen as an element of worship in primitive times. The dances, which were performed to please the gods or to protect them from their wrath in the first years, aimed to reach the god and become one with him in the following years. In order to achieve this goal, people imitated nature and animals in their religious dances. People observing the behavior of animals sometimes felt fear and sometimes admiration for them. This feeling of fear and admiration has revealed the human effort to identify with the animal and acquire its virtues. They believed that acquiring these features could only be achieved by imitating animal movements. This situation is also supported by the figures and hymns of the religious dances exhibited today and the words these hymns contain. For this reason, this study aimed to find answers to questions such as which Turkish religious dances in the Anatolian area are, the animals symbolized in these dances and what these animals mean in Turkish-Islamic culture. In order to achieve this aim, document analysis and critical discourse analysis techniques, which include the examination and analysis of written and visual materials related to the subject, were used by applying the qualitative research method. In addition, the images of the religious dances in question were added to the study with the QR code system. In our study, Turkish religious dances in the Anatolian area and the animal symbolism seen in these dances were discussed. Keywords: Mysticism, Religious Dance, Animal, Symbolism, Ritual.