bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Critical Review of Existing Test-Methods for External Sulfate Attack
Authors: Jabbour Mike , Metalssi Othman Omikrine , Quiertant Marc , Baroghel-Bouny Véronique
Published: October 2022

External sulfate attack (ESA) of cementitious materials has been studied worldwide for a very long time. This physical/chemical interaction between sulfate ions and the cement hardened elements affects the long-term durability of concrete structures: cracking, spalling or strength loss of concrete structures. To study these damaging phenomena, some standardized and non-standardized accelerated aging tests are used to evaluate the performance of cements in sulfate-rich environments. However, these existing methods do not adequately predict field performance and some shortcomings or deficiencies still exist: change of degradation mechanisms when using high concentrations of sulfate, variable boundary conditions and small specimens compared to the real concrete structures. In this work, a critical review of some existing test methods and foreign national standard methods for ESA are presented, analyzed, and discussed. This results in some proposed recommendations for improving these methods to meet the needs of structure managers.
Experimental Study on Vibration Fatigue Behavior of Aircraft Aluminum Alloy 7050
Authors: Teng Yunnan , Xie Liyang , Zhang Hongyuan
Published: October 2022

It has been previously noted that the development of aerospace material technology and breakthroughs are inseparable when obtaining great achievements in the aerospace industry. Materials are the basis and precursor of modern high technology and industry. As one of the most powerful aluminium alloys, 7050 is widely used in the aerospace field. In this manuscript, the vibration fatigue behaviour of aircraft aluminium alloy 7050 is studied based on experiments. A vibration fatigue experiment and the traditional fatigue testing of aluminium alloy 7050 were performed. We found that there was an extreme difference between the vibration fatigue and the traditional fatigue curves. In addition, the experimental end criteria for the vibration fatigue experiment of aluminium alloy 7050 was obtained from the acceleration reduction and the frequency reduction value. For the acceleration experimental end criterion, 2% was the acceleration reduction value for the vibration fatigue experimental end criteria of aluminium alloy 7050. For the frequency experimental end criterion, 2% was the frequency reduction value for the vibration fatigue experimental end criteria of aluminium alloy 7050.
Error Correction Based Deep Neural Networks for Modeling and Predicting South African Wildlife–Vehicle Collision Data
Authors: Nandutu Irene , Atemkeng Marcellin , Mgqatsa Nokubonga , Toadoum Sari Sakayo , Okouma Patrice , Rockefeller Rockefeller , Ansah-Narh Theophilus , Ebongue Kedieng Fendji Jean Louis , Tchakounte Franklin
Published: October 2022

The seasonal autoregressive integrated moving average with exogenous factors (SARIMAX) has shown promising results in modeling small and sparse observed time-series data by capturing linear features using independent and dependent variables. Long short-term memory (LSTM) is a promising neural network for learning nonlinear dependence features from data. With the increase in wildlife roadkill patterns, the SARIMAX-only and LSTM-only models would likely fail to learn the precise endogenous and/or exogenous variables driven by this wildlife roadkill data. In this paper, we design and implement an error correction mathematical framework based on LSTM-only. The framework extracts features from the residual error generated by a SARIMAX-only model. The learned residual features correct the output time-series prediction of the SARIMAX-only model. The process combines SARIMAX-only predictions and LSTM-only residual predictions to obtain a hybrid SARIMAX-LSTM. The models are evaluated using South African wildlife–vehicle collision datasets, and the experiments show that compared to single models, SARIMAX-LSTM increases the accuracy of a taxon whose linear components outweigh the nonlinear ones. In addition, the hybrid model fails to outperform LSTM-only when a taxon contains more nonlinear components rather than linear components. Our assumption of the results is that the collected exogenous and endogenous data are insufficient, which limits the hybrid model’s performance since it cannot accurately detect seasonality on residuals from SARIMAX-only and minimize the SARIMAX-LSTM error. We conclude that the error correction framework should be preferred over single models in wildlife time-series modeling and predictions when a dataset contains more linear components. Adding more related data may improve the prediction performance of SARIMAX-LSTM.
On Novel Fractional Operators Involving the Multivariate Mittag–Leffler Function
Authors: Samraiz Muhammad , Mehmood Ahsan , Naheed Saima , Rahman Gauhar , Kashuri Artion , Nonlaopon Kamsing
Published: October 2022

The multivariate Mittag–Leffler function is introduced and used to establish fractional calculus operators. It is shown that the fractional derivative and integral operators are bounded. Some fundamental characteristics of the new fractional operators, such as the semi-group and inverse characteristics, are studied. As special cases of these novel fractional operators, several fractional operators that are already well known in the literature are acquired. The generalized Laplace transform of these operators is evaluated. By involving the explored fractional operators, a kinetic differintegral equation is introduced, and its solution is obtained by using the Laplace transform. As a real-life problem, a growth model is developed and its graph is sketched.
Energy-Aware Cloud-Edge Collaborative Task Offloading with Adjustable Base Station Radii in Smart Cities
Authors: Su Qian , Zhang Qinghui , Zhang Xuejie
Published: October 2022

In smart cities, the computing power and battery life of terminal devices (TDs) can be effectively enhanced by offloading tasks to nearby base stations (BSs) with richer resources. With the goal of TDs being fully served and achieving low-carbon energy savings for the system, this paper investigates task offloading in cloud-edge collaborative heterogeneous scenarios with multiple BSs and TDs. According to the proportional relationship between the energy and coverage radii of BSs, a complete coverage task offloading model with adjustable BS radii is proposed. The task offloading problem is formulated as an integer linear program with multidimensional resource constraints to minimize the sum of energy consumption of BS coverage, offloading tasks to BSs and the cloud data center (CC). Since this task offloading problem is NP-hard, two approximate algorithms with polynomial time complexity are designed based on the greedy strategy of seeking the most energy-effective disk and the primal–dual method of constructing primal feasible solutions according to dual feasible solutions. Experimental results show that both the greedy and primal–dual algorithms can achieve good approximation performance, but each of them has its own advantages due to different design principles. The former is superior in execution time and energy consumption, while the latter has advantages in balancing loads among BSs and alleviating core network bandwidth pressure.
The Influence of Maternal Psychological Manifestations on the Mother–Child Couple during the Early COVID-19 Pandemic in Two Hospitals in Timisoara, Romania
Authors: Dragomir Cristina , Popescu Roxana , Bernad Elena , Boia Marioara , Iacob Daniela , Dima Mirabela , Laza Ruxandra , Soldan Nicoleta , Bernad Brenda-Cristiana , Semenescu Alin , Dragomir Ion , Angelescu-Coptil Claudiu , Nitu Razvan , Craina Marius , Balaceanu-Stolnici Constantin , Dehelean Cristina
Published: October 2022

Background and objectives: The postpartum maternal physical and psychological state played a fundamental role in the mother–child relationship at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. The aim of the study is to analyze the influence of maternal psychological manifestations on the mother–child couple through three objectives (briefly expressed): (I) Determination of the main acute and chronic conditions of newborns/infants. (II) Verification of the hypothesis of the existence of a link between the following neonatal variables: gestational age, birth weight, number of days of hospitalization, and specific neonatal therapies (oxygen, surfactant, and blood products’ transfusion). (III) Verification of the influence of postpartum maternal psychological status on the mother–child couple through three hypotheses. Materials and methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in two hospitals in Timișoara, Romania, between 1 March and 1 September 2020, and included 165 mothers and their 175 newborns. Mothers answered the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale, Spielberger’s Inventory of State-Trait Anxiety, and the Collins and Read Revised Adult Attachment Scale. Results: (I) The acute and chronic pathology of the infants in the study group was polymorphic. (II) Large correlations were identified between the following infant variables: gestational age with birth weight, and number of hospitalization days with birth weight, gestational age, and use of blood product transfusion (all p < 0.001). (III) (1) State anxiety was the only significant predictor of number of hospitalization days (p = 0.037), number of acute disorders (p = 0.028), and number of infant chronic diseases (p = 0.037). (2) Maternal depressive symptoms were the only predictor of postpartum maternal attachment (p = 0.018). (3) Depressive symptoms, state, and trait anxiety were non-significant in all models studied (all p > 0.05). Conclusions: Postpartum maternal physical and psychological state plays a fundamental role on the mother–child relationship in the new social and complex family conditions.
Mechanical Properties and Microstructural Evolution of Ti-25Nb-6Zr Alloy Fabricated by Spark Plasma Sintering at Different Temperatures
Authors: Zhu Qing , Chen Peng , Xiao Qiushuo , Li Fengxian , Yi Jianhong , Prashanth Konda Gokuldoss , Eckert Jürgen
Published: October 2022

High-energy ball milling and spark plasma sintering (SPS) are used to create high-strength Ti-25Nb-6Zr biomedical alloys with β structures. The Ti-25Nb-6Zr alloy microstructure and mechanical properties were examined as a function of the sintering temperatures. The results showed that as the sintering temperature was raised, the densification process was expedited, and the comprehensive mechanical characteristics increased at first, then dropped slightly. Moreover, under high temperatures, the fracture morphology of the Ti-25Nb-6Zr biomedical alloys exhibited more dimples, indicating enhanced plasticity of the material. Evaluating the mechanical properties of the Ti-25Nb-6Zr biomedical alloy sintered at 1623 K indicated a high compressive strength of 1678.4 ± 5 MPa and an elongation of 12.4 ± 0.5%. The strengthening mechanisms are discussed in terms of the formation and distribution of bcc-Ti in the matrix as well as the homogeneous distribution of Nb and Zr. This research presents a new method for fabricating Ti-25Nb-6Zr biomedical alloys with high strength and low modulus values. The theoretical grounds for the development of high-performance Ti-Nb-Zr alloys will be laid by detailed research of this technology and its strengthening mechanisms.
Multialgorithm Fusion for Milling Tool Abrasion and Breakage Evaluation Based on Machine Vision
Authors: Wu Chao , Hu Yixi , Wang Tao , Peng Yeping , Qin Shucong , Luo Xianbo
Published: October 2022

Aiming at the problem that the current tool status monitoring system cannot measure the area of the abrasion and breakage from the milling tool images at the same time, a new detection fusion method for milling tool abrasion and breakage based on machine vision is proposed. This method divides the milling tool status into abrasion and breakage. The abrasion is recognized by an adaptive region localization growing method, and the breakage is recognized by an edge fitting reconstruction method based on distance threshold. Then, the area of tool damage can be accurately measured based on the identified abrasion and breakage information. Experiments show that the proposed method could effectively detect both the tool abrasion and breakage, and provide a better monitoring effect than that of the conventional method that only considers tool abrasion status. The proposed approach was verified by the experimental results, and the accuracy of the tool damage area characteristic was over 95%.
Congruence and Complementarity of Differential Mobility Spectrometry and NMR Spectroscopy for Plasma Lipidomics
Authors: Ghorasaini Mohan , Tsezou Konstantina Ismini , Verhoeven Aswin , Mohammed Yassene , Vlachoyiannopoulos Panayiotis , Mikros Emmanuel , Giera Martin
Published: October 2022

The lipid composition of lipoprotein particles is determinative of their respective formation and function. In turn, the combination and correlation of nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR)-based lipoprotein measurements with mass spectrometry (MS)-based lipidomics is an appealing technological combination for a better understanding of lipid metabolism in health and disease. Here, we developed a combined workflow for subsequent NMR- and MS-based analysis on single sample aliquots of human plasma. We evaluated the quantitative agreement of the two platforms for lipid quantification and benchmarked our combined workflow. We investigated the congruence and complementarity between the platforms in order to facilitate a better understanding of patho-physiological lipoprotein and lipid alterations. We evaluated the correlation and agreement between the platforms. Next, we compared lipid class concentrations between healthy controls and rheumatoid arthritis patient samples to investigate the consensus among the platforms on differentiating the two groups. Finally, we performed correlation analysis between all measured lipoprotein particles and lipid species. We found excellent agreement and correlation (r > 0.8) between the platforms and their respective diagnostic performance. Additionally, we generated correlation maps detailing lipoprotein/lipid interactions and describe disease-relevant correlations.
The Road to Unconventional Detections: Paper-Based Microfluidic Chips
Authors: Jin Yuhang , Aziz Aziz ur Rehman , Wu Bin , Lv Ying , Zhang Hangyu , Li Na , Liu Bo , Zhang Zhengyao
Published: October 2022

Conventional detectors are mostly made up of complicated structures that are hard to use. A paper-based microfluidic chip, however, combines the advantages of being small, efficient, easy to process, and environmentally friendly. The paper-based microfluidic chips for biomedical applications focus on efficiency, accuracy, integration, and innovation. Therefore, continuous progress is observed in the transition from single-channel detection to multi-channel detection and in the shift from qualitative detection to quantitative detection. These developments improved the efficiency and accuracy of single-cell substance detection. Paper-based microfluidic chips can provide insight into a variety of fields, including biomedicine and other related fields. This review looks at how paper-based microfluidic chips are prepared, analyzed, and used to help with both biomedical development and functional integration, ideally at the same time.
Drug Delivery Systems and Flavonoids: Current Knowledge in Melanoma Treatment and Future Perspectives
Authors: Cunha Catarina , Daniel-da-Silva Ana L. , Oliveira Helena
Published: October 2022

Melanoma is an aggressive form of skin cancer with a high prevalence in the population. An early diagnosis is crucial to cure this disease. Still, when this is not possible, combining potent pharmacological agents and effective drug delivery systems is essential to achieve optimal treatment and improve patients’ quality of life. Nanotechnology application in biomedical sciences to encapsulate anticancer drugs, including flavonoids, in order to enhance therapeutic efficacy has attracted particular interest. Flavonoids have shown effectiveness against various types of cancers including in melanoma, but they show low aqueous solubility, low stability and very poor oral bioavailability. The utilization of novel drug delivery systems could increase flavonoid bioavailability, thereby potentiating its antitumor effects in melanoma. This review summarizes the potential of different flavonoids in melanoma treatment and the several nanosystems used to improve their biological activity, considering published information that reported improved biological and pharmacological properties of encapsulated flavonoids.
Parameters and Measurement Techniques of Reconfigurable Intelligent Surfaces
Authors: Rana Biswarup , Cho Sung-Sil , Hong Ic-Pyo
Published: October 2022

Reconfigurable intelligent surface (RIS)-aided wireless communications systems are one the promising wireless communication system where the wave can be guided by the RIS. It is envisioned that beyond-5G/6G communication will have a low-cost, high spectral efficiency, high energy efficiency, and smart wireless environment. In this paper, initially, different measurement techniques of the RIS have been discussed, which are available in the literature. Then, a new type of RIS has been proposed. Finally, a different parameter measurement technique for our proposed RIS has been presented. A low-cost FR4 substrate with a height of 1.6 mm was considered to design the RIS in the sub-6 GHz frequency band. Another important thing is that our proposed IRS is a single-layer substrate backed by a copper plate. The area of each unit cell was 42 mm × 42 mm. The RIS was designed to operate at the central frequency of the 3.5 GHz frequency band. The novelty of the proposed RIS is that it is a polarization-independent structure. Thus, polarization-related losses can be overcome using this structure. A 10×10-unit cell array was designed to check the radiation performance. The magnitude of the reflection coefficients was measured in our laboratory for the proposed configuration.
Microstructural Evolution of T91 in High Temperature Conditions and under Combined Effect of Stress and Temperature
Authors: Tonti Andrea , Lega Daniela , Antonini Alessandra , Alvino Antonello , Ricciardi Loriana , Campanile Luana
Published: October 2022

ASTM A213 T91 steel is widely used in power plants and petrochemical industry for long-term service components. Due to its high resistance to creep, thermomechanical fatigue and corrosion, the use of grade 91 steel allows usual plant service parameters to be raised up to ultra-supercritical conditions (600 °C, 300 bar) so that performances are remarkably increased. The strongest factors that affect performances are the time of exposure, the temperature and the applied stress: such parameters can dramatically decrease the service life of a plant component. The improved mechanical properties of grade 91 are strictly related to its specific microstructure: a tempered martensite matrix with fine precipitates embedded in. Two typologies of secondary phases are present: M23C6 carbides (where M = Cr/Fe/Mo/Mn) and finely dispersed MX-type carbonitrides (where M = V/Nb and X = C/N). This study is focused on the microstructure evolution of grade 91 steel under creep conditions. First, three sets of laboratory-aged specimens heated in oven at 550 °C, 600 °C and 650 °C were examined; the exposure time was up to 50,000 h. Furthermore, the influence of stress on the microstructure in two sets of samples was evaluated: a first batch of specimens cut from an ex-service tube of a petrochemical plant (over 100,000 h of service at 580 °C and 19–25 bar) and a second set of samples coming from another ex-service tube under ultra-supercritical conditions (605 °C, 252 bar) in a power plant. The microstructures were characterized by optical, scanning electron and transmission electron microscopy and the results were compared to the literature. Some interesting trends were evidenced, in terms of secondary phases precipitation and coarsening, as well as martensite recovery. Furthermore, the applied stress seems to influence size and number of Laves phase particles.
The Emergence and Dynamics of Tick-Borne Encephalitis Virus in a New Endemic Region in Southern Germany
Authors: Lang Daniel , Chitimia-Dobler Lidia , Bestehorn-Willmann Malena , Lindau Alexander , Drehmann Marco , Stroppel Gabriele , Hengge Helga , Mackenstedt Ute , Kaier Klaus , Dobler Gerhard , Borde Johannes
Published: October 2022

Tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) is the most important viral tick-borne infection in Europe and Asia. It is emerging in new areas. The mechanisms of emergence are fairly unknown or speculative. In the Ravensburg district in southern Germany, TBE emerged, mainly over the last five years. Here, we analyzed the underlying epidemiology in humans. The resulting identified natural foci of the causal TBE virus (TBEV) were genetically characterized. We sampled 13 potential infection sites at these foci and detected TBEV in ticks (Ixodes ricinus) at eight sites. Phylogenetic analysis spurred the introduction of at least four distinct TBEV lineages of the European subtype into the Ravensburg district over the last few years. In two instances, a continuous spread of these virus strains over up to 10 km was observed.
New Therapeutic Options in Mild Moderate COVID-19 Outpatients
Authors: Ucciferri Claudio , Di Gasbarro Alessandro , Borrelli Paola , Di Nicola Marta , Vecchiet Jacopo , Falasca Katia
Published: October 2022

Background: In recent years, the therapeutic options for COVID have significantly improved; however, the therapies are expensive with restricted access to drugs, and expeditious and difficult to manage at home. We investigated the effect of pidotimod in preventing hospitalization in patients with mild-moderate COVID-19. Methods: A total of 1231 patients between January and June 2021 were screened. A total of 184 patients with mild-moderate COVID-19 were enrolled and divided into two groups: group-A (97) had undergone therapy with pidotimod 800 mg bid for 7–10 days and group-B (87) had other therapies. We excluded those who had undergone complete vaccination course, monoclonal anti-spike/antivirals or the co-administration of pidotimod-steroid. The primary outcome chosen was the emergency room, hospitalization, and deaths for COVID-related causes; the secondary outcome chosen was the duration of COVID-19 illness. Results: A total of 34 patients (18.5%) required hospital treatment, 11 in group-A and 23 in group-B (11.3% vs. 26.4%, p = 0.008). The median disease duration in group-A was 21 days (IQR 17–27) vs. 23 (IQR 20–31) in group-B (p = 0.005). Patients in the pidotimod group had higher SpO2 in the walking test (IQR 96–99% vs. IQR 93–98%, p = 0.01) and a lower need for steroid rescue therapy (11.5% vs. 60.9%, p < 0.001). Conclusions: In the first phase of disease, pidotimod can represent an effective, low-cost, weapon, without restrictions of use, that is able to prevent a second aggressive phase and promote faster virological recovery.
Analysis of Soil As Pollution and Investigation of Dominant Plants in Abandon Gold Mining Area
Authors: Chen Rui , Han Lei , Liu Zhao , Zhao Yonghua , Zhai Yunmeng , Li Risheng , Xia Longfei
Published: October 2022

Soil arsenic (As) pollution in mining areas have seriously affected the surrounding environment and human health. To explore the degree of soil As contamination and phytoremediation strategies, a study was undertaken to identify suitable native plants for the phytoremediation in mining area. Geo-accumulation index and potential ecological risk index were sed to assess the As pollution degree. As content in dominant plants was analyzed by enrichment coefficient. The results show that (1) The pulp deposition area had the most serious As pollution of soil and the largest potential ecological risk index. (2) The composition of the plant community in the study area was dominated by herbaceous plants, among which gramineous, composites and legumes are the dominant plant types in the vegetation community restoration in the mining area. (3) The plant species diversity was lower in As polluted area. (4) The plants with strong As enrichment ability were Erigeron annuus (L.) Pers., Periploca sepium Bunge, and Setaria viridis (L.) Beauv., which can be considered as As-repair plants. This study can provide a basis and reference for phytoremediation and ecological restoration of As contamination in mining areas.
Evaluation of Radionuclide Levels in Drinking Water from Communities near Active and Abandoned Gold Mines and Tailings in the West Rand Region, Gauteng, South Africa
Authors: Mohuba Seeke Carol , Abiye Tamiru , Nhleko Sifiso
Published: October 2022

The history of gold mining in the Witwatersrand Basin has led to exponential growth in the economy, residential development, and the abundance of radionuclides in the environment, including the water system. This study aimed to evaluate the radionuclide levels in drinking water (municipal water and groundwater) and the health risks associated with the ingestion of the water in the communities of the West Rand region of Gauteng Province. The activity concentrations of uranium, radium, and thorium radioisotopes were established through alpha spectrometry and the activities were subsequently used to assess the health impacts. The results indicated that the groundwaters contain elevated activities of most radionuclides owing to prolonged periods of water–rock interactions. Similarly, the highest annual effective doses were recorded in groundwaters with a range of 0.0237–0.3106 mSv/yr, with most samples exceeding the WHO- and EU-prescribed limits of 0.1 mSv/yr. Cancer morbidity and mortality risks were higher in females than in males due to the higher life expectancy of females. Nonetheless, all morbidity and mortality risks were well below the USEPA radiological risk limit of 0.001. Based on the findings of this study, continuous monitoring is paramount to ensure that the activities remain below recommended regulatory limits.
Effect of Traditional Cooking and Sous Vide Heat Treatment, Cold Storage Time and Muscle on Physicochemical and Sensory Properties of Beef Meat
Authors: Gil Marian , Rudy Mariusz , Stanisławczyk Renata , Duma-Kocan Paulina
Published: October 2022

Consumers are avoiding the consumption of highly processed foods, aware of the negative effects of the additives or high temperatures used on the biological value of the food. This causes an interest in ways of minimal processing or low-temperature cooking procedures. However, to achieve the desired organoleptic quality, it is necessary to know the relationship between the parameters of the treatments and the type of raw material. The purpose of this study was to investigate the complex effects of traditional cooking and sous vide heat treatment, cold storage time and muscle on the physicochemical and sensory properties of beef. The study material consisted of samples of musculus longissimus thoracis and musculus semitendinosus obtained from beef half-carcasses. The muscles were subjected to traditional cooking in water at 95 °C until the temperature inside the piece reached 65 °C and sous vide treatment at 65 °C for 2 h. The study was performed after 2 and 21 days of cold storage. Instrumental evaluation of texture parameters, color and sensory evaluation of meat was carried out. Meat stored for 21 days was characterized by more favorable TPA test (Texture Profile Analysis) results compared to meat evaluated 48 h post mortem. The study also showed positive effects of sous vide heat treatment on texture parameters and sensory properties (especially on tenderness and palatability), as well as differences in the formation of quality traits between muscles. Given the trends associated with energy-saving technologies, it is desirable to seek the optimal combination of temperature and time of fixation treatments at an acceptable level of quality. The use of low-temperature cooking for as little as 2 h, yields positive results in sensory evaluation of juiciness, tenderness, or palatability.
Recovery of Acid and Alkaline from Industrial Saline Wastewater by Bipolar Membrane Electrodialysis under High-Chemical Oxygen Demand Concentration
Authors: Lü Xiangfei , Shao Shuai , Wu Jinlong , Zhao Yongguo , Lu Bishuai , Li Jieying , Liang Linlin , Tian Lei
Published: October 2022

Actual high saline wastewater containing concentrated organics and sodium chloride is a bioenergy and renewable resource. This study compared two different bipolar membrane electrodialysis membranes from two companies’ stacks to recover HCl and NaOH from sodium chloride solution and actual chemical wastewater. The results demonstrated that the electrolysis rates were around 1.5 kg/m2h, the HCl and NaOH production rates were about 0.9 kg/m2h, energy consumption was in the range of 1.05–1.27 kWh/kg, and the economic benefits were above 1 yuan/h in BMED systems. From analyzing the performance of seven different BMED membrane stacks, the B2 stack was chosen for electrolyzing actual high salt wastewater to observe the effect of chemical oxygen demand on BMED systems, where electrolytic salt performance, HCl-NaOH alkali production rates, and energy consumption show linear dependence on time for 5000 mg/L chemical oxygen demand wastewater. It illustrated chemical oxygen demand can enhance energy consumption and reduce electrolytic salt performance and the acid and alkali production rates, due to improving the membrane area resistance. In this study, the effect of high COD saline wastewater on the performance of a BMED membrane stack was clarified and the mechanism was analyzed for its practical application in treating chemical high salt wastewater.
Variation of the Antioxidative Defense in Elaeis guineensis Jacq. Facing Bud Rot Disease in the Coastal Area of Ecuador
Authors: Mihai Raluca A. , Guacollantes Galo M. Canchignia , Villacrés Mesias Sebastián A. , Florescu Larisa I. , Catana Rodica D.
Published: October 2022

Elaeis guineensis Jacq. has gained a reputation in the food industry as an incredible crop capable of supplying the world’s largest edible oil production. In Ecuador, an important oil palm-producing country, this crop is affected in a high percentage by the bud rot disease, which is responsible for palm death. The main objective of the investigation was dedicated to understanding the palm defense mechanism facing bud rot disease, translated in the induction of reactive oxygen species, activation of defensive machinery comprising enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidative components, secondary metabolites, carotenoids accumulation in the palm during all stages of disease infection. For this, a survey was conducted in different oil palm plantations in the Esmeraldas province, one of the most representative for its highest incidence of bud rot disease. The survey completed DPPH, FRAP, ABTS, and other spectrophotometric analyses to underline the biochemical, biological, and physiological palm response front of bud rot incidence. The palm defense strategy in each disease stage could be represented by the phenolic compound’s involvement, an increment of antioxidant activity, and the high enzymatic activity of phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL). The results of the investigation made understandable the palm defense strategy front of this disease, respectively, the antioxidative defense and the palm secondary compounds involved.
Effects of Heavy Ion Irradiation on the Thermoelectric Properties of In2(Te1−xSex)3 Thin Films
Authors: Pandian Mannu , Krishnaprasanth Alageshwaramoorthy , Palanisamy Matheswaran , Bangaru Gokul , Meena Ramcharan , Dong Chung-Li , Kandasami Asokan
Published: October 2022

Ion irradiation is an exceptionally effective approach to induce controlled surface modification/defects in semiconducting thin films. In this investigation, ion-irradiated Se–Te-based compounds exhibit electrical transport properties that greatly favor the transformation of waste heat into electricity. Enhancements of both the Seebeck coefficient (S) and the power factor (PF) of In2(Te0.98Se0.02)3 films under 120 MeV Ni9+ ion irradiation were examined. The maximum S value of the pristine film was about ~221 µVK−1. A significantly higher S value of about ~427 µVK−1 was obtained following irradiation at 1 × 1013 ions/cm2. The observed S values suggest the n-type conductivity of these films, in agreement with Hall measurements. Additionally, Ni ion irradiation increased the PF from ~1.23 to 4.91 µW/K2m, demonstrating that the irradiated films outperformed the pristine samples. This enhancement in the TE performance of the In2(Te0.98Se0.02)3 system is elucidated by irradiation-induced effects that are revealed by structural and morphological studies.
Multi-Effect Enhanced Raman Scattering Based on Au/ZnO Nanorods Structures
Authors: Lin Yi , Zhang Jun , Zhang Yalan , Yan Sai , Nan Feng , Yu Yanlong
Published: October 2022

Surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) was considered a potential spectroscopic technique for applications of molecular detection and has drawn great research interest during the past decade. So far, fabrications of cost-effective SERS substrates with high sensitivity and stability and the corresponding enhanced mechanisms are always among the list of research topics, although great progress has been made. In this work, Au particles were decorated on Si, ZnO film and ZnO nanorod arrays simultaneously by an economical method of ion sputtering, generating three kinds of SERS substrates for R6G detection. The morphology difference of Au particles on different samples and the consequent influence on Raman scattering were studied. The experiment results exhibited that substrates with Au particles decorated on ZnO nanorods had the highest Raman enhancement factor. Furthermore, multi-effect enhanced mechanisms summarized as localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) filed coupling, electron transferring induced by LSPR of Au particles and whispering gallery mode (WGM) effect of the ZnO cavity were presented. This work provides a convenient and efficient method of fabricating SERS substrates and indicates that such proper metal/semiconductor composite structures are promising candidates for SERS applications.
The pH Influence on the Water-Splitting Electrocatalytic Activity of Graphite Electrodes Modified with Symmetrically Substituted Metalloporphyrins
Authors: Taranu Bogdan-Ovidiu , Fagadar-Cosma Eugenia
Published: October 2022

Hydrogen, considered to be an alternative fuel to traditional fossil fuels, can be generated by splitting water molecules into hydrogen and oxygen via the use of electrical energy, in a process whose efficiency depends directly on the employed catalytic material. The current study takes part in the relentless search for suitable and low-cost catalysts relevant to the water-splitting field by investigating the electrocatalytic properties of the O2 and H2 evolution reactions (OER and HER) of two metalloporphyrins: Zn(II) 5,10,15,20-tetrakis(4-pyridyl)-porphyrin and Co(II) 5,10,15,20-tetrakis(3-hydroxyphenyl)-porphyrin. The TEM/STEM characterisation of the porphyrin samples obtained using different organic solvents revealed several types of self-assembled aggregates. The HER and OER experiments performed on porphyrin-modified graphite electrodes in media with different pH values revealed the most electrocatalytically active specimens. For the OER, this specimen was the electrode manufactured with one layer of Co-porphyrin applied from dimethylsulfoxide, exhibiting an overpotential of 0.51 V at i = 10 mA/cm2 and a Tafel slope of 0.27 V/dec. For the HER, it was the sample obtained by drop casting one layer of Zn-porphyrin from N,N-dimethylformamide that displayed a HER overpotential of 0.52 V at i = −10 mA/cm2 and a Tafel slope of 0.15 V/dec.
RETRACTED: The Design, Fabrication and Characterization of Grating Couplers for SiGe Photonic Integration Employing a Reflective Back Mirror
Authors: Huang Qiang , Zhang Yi , Tang Jie , Sun Junqiang
Published: October 2022

We propose and demonstrate an efficient grating coupler for integrated SiGe photonic devices. A bottom metal layer is adopted to enhance the coupling efficiency on the wafer backside. A low coupling loss of −1.34 dB and −0.79 dB can be theoretically obtained with optimal parameters for uniform and apodized grating couplers, respectively. The fabrication process is CMOS compatible without need of wafer bonding. The influence of fabrication errors on the coupling efficiency is analyzed in terms of substrate thickness, grating dimension and material refractive index. The results indicate a large tolerance for the deviations in practical fabrication. The measured coupling loss of the uniform grating is −2.7 dB at approximately 1465 nm with a 3 dB bandwidth of more than 40 nm. The proposed grating coupler provides a promising approach to realize efficient chip-fiber coupling for the SiGe photonic integration.
MXene-Based Porous Monoliths
Authors: Yang Yang , Li Kaijuan , Wang Yaxin , Wu Zhanpeng , Russell Thomas P. , Shi Shaowei
Published: October 2022

In the past decade, a thriving family of 2D nanomaterials, transition-metal carbides/nitrides (MXenes), have garnered tremendous interest due to its intriguing physical/chemical properties, structural features, and versatile functionality. Integrating these 2D nanosheets into 3D monoliths offers an exciting and powerful platform for translating their fundamental advantages into practical applications. Introducing internal pores, such as isotropic pores and aligned channels, within the monoliths can not only address the restacking of MXenes, but also afford a series of novel and, in some cases, unique structural merits to advance the utility of the MXene-based materials. Here, a brief overview of the development of MXene-based porous monoliths, in terms of the types of microstructures, is provided, focusing on the pore design and how the porous microstructure affects the application performance.
Adsorption of Peptides onto Carbon Nanotubes Grafted with Poly(ethylene Oxide) Chains: A Molecular Dynamics Simulation Study
Authors: Benková Zuzana , Čakánek Peter , Cordeiro Maria Natália D. S.
Published: October 2022

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) display exceptional properties that predispose them to wide use in technological or biomedical applications. To remove the toxicity of CNTs and to protect them against undesired protein adsorption, coverage of the CNT sidewall with poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) is often considered. However, controversial results on the antifouling effectiveness of PEO layers have been reported so far. In this work, the interactions of pristine CNT and CNT covered with the PEO chains at different grafting densities with polyglycine, polyserine, and polyvaline are studied using molecular dynamics simulations in vacuum, water, and saline environments. The peptides are adsorbed on CNT in all investigated systems; however, the adsorption strength is reduced in aqueous environments. Save for one case, addition of NaCl at a physiological concentration to water does not appreciably influence the adsorption and structure of the peptides or the grafted PEO layer. It turns out that the flexibility of the peptide backbone allows the peptide to adopt more asymmetric conformations which may be inserted deeper into the grafted PEO layer. Water molecules disrupt the internal hydrogen bonds in the peptides, as well as the hydrogen bonds formed between the peptides and the PEO chains.
Flavonoid Intake in Relation to Colorectal Cancer Risk and Blood Bacterial DNA
Authors: Speciani Michela Carola , Cintolo Marcello , Marino Mirko , Oren Maya , Fiori Federica , Gargari Giorgio , Riso Patrizia , Ciafardini Clorinda , Mascaretti Federica , Parpinel Maria , Airoldi Aldo , Vangeli Marcello , Leone Pierfrancesco , Cantù Paolo , Lagiou Pagona , Del Bo’ Cristian , Vecchi Maurizio , Carnevali Pietro , Oreggia Barbara , Guglielmetti Simone , Bonzi Rossella , Bonato Giulia , Ferraroni Monica , La Vecchia Carlo , Penagini Roberto , Mutignani Massimiliano , Rossi Marta
Published: October 2022

Flavonoids have been inversely associated to colorectal cancer (CRC) and are plausible intermediaries for the relation among gut microbiome, intestinal permeability and CRC. We analyzed the relation of flavonoid intake with CRC and blood bacterial DNA. We conducted a case–control study in Italy involving 100 incident CRC cases and 200 controls. A valid and reproducible food–frequency questionnaire was used to assess dietary habits and to estimate six flavonoid subclass intakes. We applied qPCR and 16S rRNA gene profiling to assess blood bacterial DNA. We used multiple logistic regression to derive odds ratios (ORs) of CRC and Mann–Whitney and chi-–square tests to evaluate abundance and prevalence of operational taxonomic units (OTUs) according to flavonoid intakes. Inverse associations with CRC were found for anthocyanidins (OR for the highest versus the lowest tertile = 0.24, 95% confidence interval, CI = 0.11–0.52) and flavanones (OR = 0.18, 95% CI = 0.08–0.42). We found different abundance and prevalence according to anthocyanidin and flavanone intake for OTUs referring to Oligoflexales order, Diplorickettsiaceae family, Staphylococcus, Brevundimonas, Pelomonas and Escherischia–Shigella genera, and Flavobacterium and Legionella species. The study provides evidence to a protective effect of dietary anthocyanidins and flavanones on CRC and suggests an influence of flavonoids on blood bacterial DNA, possibly through intestinal permeability changes.
Federal Food Assistance Program Participation during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Participant Perspectives and Reasons for Discontinuing
Authors: Melnick Emily M. , Ganderats-Fuentes Montserrat , Ohri-Vachaspati Punam
Published: October 2022

This study aims to describe reasons for discontinuing participation and experiences participating in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and the Special Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) during the COVID-19 pandemic. We analyzed data from a cross-sectional online survey distributed to a national sample, restricted to (1) households that discontinued participating in SNAP (n = 146) or WIC (n = 149) during the pandemic and (2) households that participated in SNAP (n = 501) or WIC (n = 141) during spring 2021—approximately one year into the pandemic. We conducted thematic analyses of open-ended survey questions and descriptive statistics for Likert-scale items. Themes raised by respondents who discontinued participating in SNAP or WIC included difficulty recertifying and virus exposure concerns. Former WIC participants reported the program was not worth the effort and former SNAP participants reported failing to requalify. Respondents participating in WIC or SNAP during the pandemic mentioned transportation barriers and insufficient benefit value. WIC participants had trouble redeeming benefits in stores and SNAP participants desired improved online grocery purchasing experiences. These results suggest that enhancements to WIC and SNAP, such as expanded online purchasing options, program flexibilities, and benefit increases, can improve program participation to ensure access to critical nutrition supports, especially during emergencies.
A Review of Current Evidence on the Relationship between Phosphate Metabolism and Metabolic Syndrome
Authors: Wong Sok Kuan
Published: October 2022

Phosphorus, present as phosphate in biological systems, is an essential mineral for various biological activities and biochemical processes. Numerous studies have indicated that disturbed phosphate balance may contribute to the development of metabolic syndrome (MetS). However, no consistent result was found on the association between phosphorus intake and serum phosphate concentration with MetS. It is believed that both positive and negative impacts of phosphorus/phosphate co-exist in parallel during MetS condition. Reduced phosphate level contributed to the development of obesity and hyperglycaemia. Low phosphate is believed to compromise energy production, reduce exercise capacity, increase food ingestion, and impair glucose metabolism. On the other hand, the effects of phosphorus/phosphate on hypertension are rather complex depending on the source of phosphorus and subjects’ health conditions. Phosphorus excess activates sympathetic nervous system, renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system, and induces hormonal changes under pathological conditions, contributing to the blood pressure-rising effects. For lipid metabolism, adequate phosphate content ensures a balanced lipid profile through regulation of fatty acid biosynthesis, oxidation, and bile acid excretion. In conclusion, phosphate metabolism serves as a potential key feature for the development and progression of MetS. Dietary phosphorus and serum phosphate level should be under close monitoring for the management of MetS.
Alcohol Drinking Patterns and Laboratory Indices of Health: Does Type of Alcohol Preferred Make a Difference?
Authors: Niemelä Onni , Aalto Mauri , Bloigu Aini , Bloigu Risto , Halkola Anni S. , Laatikainen Tiina
Published: October 2022

Although excessive alcohol consumption is a highly prevalent public health problem the data on the associations between alcohol consumption and health outcomes in individuals preferring different types of alcoholic beverages has remained unclear. We examined the relationships between the amounts and patterns of drinking with the data on laboratory indices of liver function, lipid status and inflammation in a national population-based health survey (FINRISK). Data on health status, alcohol drinking, types of alcoholic beverages preferred, body weight, smoking, coffee consumption and physical activity were recorded from 22,432 subjects (10,626 men, 11,806 women), age range 25–74 years. The participants were divided to subgroups based on the amounts of regular alcohol intake (abstainers, moderate and heavy drinkers), patterns of drinking (binge or regular) and the type of alcoholic beverage preferred (wine, beer, cider or long drink, hard liquor or mixed). Regular drinking was found to be more typical in wine drinkers whereas the subjects preferring beer or hard liquor were more often binge-type drinkers and cigarette smokers. Alcohol use in all forms was associated with increased frequencies of abnormalities in the markers of liver function, lipid status and inflammation even at rather low levels of consumption. The highest rates of abnormalities occurred, however, in the subgroups of binge-type drinkers preferring beer or hard liquor. These results demonstrate that adverse consequences of alcohol occur even at moderate average drinking levels especially in individuals who engage in binge drinking and in those preferring beer or hard liquor. Further emphasis should be placed on such patterns of drinking in policies aimed at preventing alcohol-induced adverse health outcomes.