bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Potential of Fluoride-Containing Zinc Oxide and Copper Oxide Nanocomposites on Dentin Bonding Ability
Authors: Altankhishig Bayarchimeg , Matsuda Yasuhiro , Nagano-Takebe Futami , Okuyama Katsushi , Yamamoto Hiroko , Sakurai Masahiko , Naito Katsuaki , Hayashi Mikako , Sano Hidehiko , Sidhu Sharanbir K. , Saito Takashi
Published: April 2022

Despite recent advances in bonding restorations, which are the basis of restorative dentistry, secondary caries are still able to form. Previously, a novel fluoride-containing zinc and copper (ZCF) nanocomposite was introduced to prevent the formation of caries due to its antibacterial activity. In this study, we studied the impact of ZCF nanoparticles on the adhesive strength of bonding restorations through micro-tensile bond strength (µTBS) testing. The impact of antibacterial and matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) inhibitors on the nanoparticles was also examined. The nanocomposites were prepared using a simple one-step homogeneous co-precipitation method at a low temperature. A self-etch adhesive was applied to 10 extracted caries-free human molars with (test group) and without (control group) the ZCF nanoparticles. This was followed by composite resin build-up and µTBS testing, MMP activity assays, and evaluation of the antibacterial effects. The results showed no significant differences in the µTBS between the ZCF and the control groups. However, the ZCF exhibited a significant inhibitory effect against MMP-2, MMP-8, and MMP-9, in addition to an antibacterial effect on Streptococcus mutans. Therefore, the present study demonstrated that the addition of ZCF nanoparticles to adhesive systems can result in MMP inhibition and antibacterial action while maintaining the mechanical properties of the bonding restorations.
Delivery Systems Based on Innovative Nanomaterials
Authors: Santos de Almeida Tânia , Pereira-Leite Catarina
Published: April 2022

There has been an increasing interest in using nanomaterials to develop innovative delivery systems [...]
Highly Sensitive NO2 Gas Sensors Based on MoS2@MoO3 Magnetic Heterostructure
Authors: Li Wei , Shahbazi Mahboobeh , Xing Kaijian , Tesfamichael Tuquabo , Motta Nunzio , Qi Dong-Chen
Published: April 2022

Recently, two-dimensional (2D) materials and their heterostructures have attracted considerable attention in gas sensing applications. In this work, we synthesized 2D MoS2@MoO3 heterostructures through post-sulfurization of α-MoO3 nanoribbons grown via vapor phase transport (VPT) and demonstrated highly sensitive NO2 gas sensors based on the hybrid heterostructures. The morphological, structural, and compositional properties of the MoS2@MoO3 hybrids were studied by a combination of advanced characterization techniques revealing a core-shell structure with the coexistence of 2H-MoS2 multilayers and intermediate molybdenum oxysulfides on the surface of α-MoO3. The MoS2@MoO3 hybrids also exhibit room-temperature ferromagnetism, revealed by vibrating sample magnetometry (VSM), as a result of the sulfurization process. The MoS2@MoO3 gas sensors display a p-type-like response towards NO2 with a detection limit of 0.15 ppm at a working temperature of 125 °C, as well as superb selectivity and reversibility. This p-type-like sensing behavior is attributed to the heterointerface of MoS2-MoO3 where interfacial charge transfer leads to a p-type inversion layer in MoS2, and is enhanced by magnetic dipole interactions between the paramagnetic NO2 and the ferromagnetic sensing layer. Our study demonstrates the promising application of 2D molybdenum hybrid compounds in gas sensing applications with a unique combination of electronic and magnetic properties.
Are People with Obesity Attracted to Multidisciplinary Telemedicine Approach for Weight Management?
Authors: Gilardini Luisa , Cancello Raffaella , Cavaggioni Luca , Bruno Amalia , Novelli Margherita , Mambrini Sara P. , Castelnuovo Gianluca , Bertoli Simona
Published: April 2022

The forced isolation due to the COVID-19 pandemic interrupted the lifestyle intervention programs for people with obesity. This study aimed to assess: (1) the behaviors of subjects with obesity towards medical care during the pandemic and (2) their interest in following a remotely delivered multidisciplinary program for weight loss. An online self-made survey addressed to subjects with obesity was linked to the official website of our institute. Four hundred and six subjects completed the questionnaire (90% females, 50.2 ± 11.6 years). Forty-six percent of the subjects cancelled any scheduled clinical assessments during the pandemic, 53% of whom had chronic disease. Half of the subjects were prone to following a remotely delivered lifestyle intervention, especially with a well-known health professional. About 45% of the respondents were favorable towards participating in remote psychological support and nutritional intervention, while 60% would practice physical activity with online tools. Male subjects and the elderly were more reluctant than those female and younger, especially for online psychological support. Our survey showed an interest on the part of the subjects with obesity to join a multidisciplinary weight loss intervention remotely delivered. Male subjects and the elderly seem less attracted to this intervention, and this result highlights that, even with telemedicine, the approach to weight management should be tailored.
Carica papaya Leaf Juice for Dengue: A Scoping Review
Authors: Teh Bee Ping , Ahmad Norzahirah Binti , Mohamad Saharuddin Bin , Tan Terence Yew Chin , Mohd Abd Razak Mohd Ridzuan Bin , Afzan Adlin Binti , Syed Mohamed Ami Fazlin Binti
Published: April 2022

The potential therapeutic effect of Carica papaya leaf juice has attracted wide interest from the public and scientists in relieving dengue related manifestations. Currently, there is a lack of evaluated evidence on its juice form. Therefore, this scoping review aims to critically appraise the available scientific evidence related to the efficacy of C. papaya leaf juice in dengue. A systematic search was performed using predetermined keywords on two electronic databases (PubMed and Google Scholar). Searched results were identified, screened and appraised to establish the association between C. papaya and alleviating dengue associated conditions. A total of 28 articles (ethnobotanical information: three, in vitro studies: three, ex vivo studies: one, in vivo study: 13, clinical studies: 10) were included for descriptive analysis, which covered study characteristics, juice preparation/formulations, study outcomes, and toxicity findings. Other than larvicidal activity, this review also reveals two medicinal potentials of C. papaya leaf juice on dengue infection, namely anti-thrombocytopenic and immunomodulatory effects. C. papaya leaf juice has the potential to be a new drug candidate against dengue disease safely and effectively.
Ultrastructure of Myzocytosis and Cyst Formation, and the Role of Actin in Tubular Tether Formation in Colpodella sp. (ATCC 50594)
Authors: Sam-Yellowe Tobili Y. , Fujioka Hisashi , Peterson John W.
Published: April 2022

Free-living relatives of the Apicomplexa such as Colpodella species, Alphamonas species, and Voromonas pontica are predators that prey on ciliate, bodonid, and algal prey using the process of myzocytosis. During myzocytosis, the pseudoconoid is used to attach to the prey leading to aspiration of cytoplasmic contents of the prey into a posterior food vacuole formed in the predator, aided by secretions from the apical complex organelles. The conoid and associated proteins are conserved among the apicomplexa. However, the organization and function of the pseudoconoid during myzocytosis are not well understood. In this study, we investigated the morphology and ultrastructure of Colpodella sp. (ATCC 50594) during the stages of myzocytosis and cyst formation in the life cycle using light microscopy and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) in order to identify the organization of the tubular tether involved in nutrient aspiration by Colpodella sp. Tubular tethers of varying lengths were identified by light microscopy. We report that initial contact by Colpodella sp. trophozoites with Parabodo caudatus prey is by an area posterior to the apical tip of the rostrum that engulfs the membrane of the prey pulling it into the cytoplasm of the predator. The tubular tether that forms contains membranes of both predator and prey and is facilitated by microtubule organization and the cytoskeleton at the point of contact. Cytochalasin D treatment of diprotist cultures resulted in morphological distortions of trophozoites and the tubular tether suggesting a role of actin in the formation of the tubular tether. This mechanism of predation may provide insight into the mode of invasion observed in pathogenic apicomplexan zoites during host cell entry.
Candida albicans: A Major Fungal Pathogen of Humans
Authors: Richardson Jonathan P.
Published: April 2022

Fungal infections kill ~1 [...]
Patient Satisfaction and Perceived Quality of Care with Telemedicine in a Pediatric Gastroenterology Clinic
Authors: Love Michael , Hunter Anna K. , Lam Gillian , Muir Linda V. , Lin Henry C.
Published: April 2022

Introduction: The coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic necessitated a shift to telemedicine for many clinics. This study aimed to better understand patient perception regarding telemedicine visits in a pediatric subspecialty clinic and to describe differences in management provided virtually versus in-person. Materials and Methods: This survey study and chart review was conducted at the Doernbecher Children’s Hospital gastroenterology outreach clinics from May to June, 2020. The main hospital is located in Portland, Oregon, with the outreach clinics located in Salem, Eugene, and Medford, Oregon. Families were surveyed within 2 weeks of their visit, with a 6-month follow up survey. Results: There were 111 respondents to the initial survey (34% response rate). The majority of patients had initial positive impressions of telemedicine, with 75% feeling that the quality of telemedicine visits were as good as or better than in-person visits. At 6 months, there were 80 respondents (34% response rate), and this positive impression persisted with 72% of families reporting no negatives from their telemedicine experience. New patients seen via telemedicine were prescribed medications more frequently than those seen in-person (73% versus 45%, p = 0.02). Discussion: Patients and families felt the benefits of telemedicine visits outweighed the limitations both initially and at 6-month follow up. Telemedicine offers an effective alternative for pediatric subspecialty care especially for select conditions and follow up visits. However, the more frequent prescriptions could reflect the adaptation of clinical practice with the telemedicine platform, and further studies are needed.
Synthesis of Novel Conjugated Linoleic Acid (CLA)-Coated Superparamagnetic Iron Oxide Nanoparticles (SPIONs) for the Delivery of Paclitaxel with Enhanced In Vitro Anti-Proliferative Activity on A549 Lung Cancer Cells
Authors: Ngema Lindokuhle M. , Adeyemi Samson A. , Marimuthu Thashree , Ubanako Philemon , Wamwangi Daniel , Choonara Yahya E.
Published: April 2022

The application of Superparamagnetic Iron Oxide Nanoparticles (SPIONs) as a nanomedicine for Non-Small Cell Lung Carcinoma (NSCLC) can provide effective delivery of anticancer drugs with minimal side-effects. SPIONs have the flexibility to be modified to achieve enhanced oading of hydrophobic anticancer drugs such as paclitaxel (PTX). The purpose of this study was to synthesize novel trans-10, cis-12 conjugated linoleic acid (CLA)-coated SPIONs loaded with PTX to enhance the anti-proliferative activity of PTX. CLA-coated PTX-SPIONs with a particle size and zeta potential of 96.5 ± 0.6 nm and −27.3 ± 1.9 mV, respectively, were synthesized. The superparamagnetism of the CLA-coated PTX-SPIONs was confirmed, with saturation magnetization of 60 emu/g and 29 Oe coercivity. CLA-coated PTX-SPIONs had a drug loading efficiency of 98.5% and demonstrated sustained site-specific in vitro release of PTX over 24 h (i.e., 94% at pH 6.8 mimicking the tumor microenvironment). Enhanced anti-proliferative activity was also observed with the CLA-coated PTX-SPIONs against a lung adenocarcinoma (A549) cell line after 72 h, with a recorded cell viability of 17.1%. The CLA-coated PTX-SPIONs demonstrated enhanced suppression of A549 cell proliferation compared to pristine PTX, thus suggesting potential application of the nanomedicine as an effective site-specific delivery system for enhanced therapeutic activity in NSCLC therapy.
Ultrasound-Mediated Blood–Brain Barrier Disruption for Drug Delivery: A Systematic Review of Protocols, Efficacy, and Safety Outcomes from Preclinical and Clinical Studies
Authors: Gandhi Kushan , Barzegar-Fallah Anita , Banstola Ashik , Rizwan Shakila B. , Reynolds John N. J.
Published: April 2022

Ultrasound-mediated blood–brain barrier (BBB) disruption has garnered focus as a method of delivering normally impenetrable drugs into the brain. Numerous studies have investigated this approach, and a diverse set of ultrasound parameters appear to influence the efficacy and safety of this approach. An understanding of these findings is essential for safe and reproducible BBB disruption, as well as in identifying the limitations and gaps for further advancement of this drug delivery approach. We aimed to collate and summarise protocols and parameters for achieving ultrasound-mediated BBB disruption in animal and clinical studies, as well as the efficacy and safety methods and outcomes associated with each. A systematic search of electronic databases helped in identifying relevant, included studies. Reference lists of included studies were further screened to identify supplemental studies for inclusion. In total, 107 articles were included in this review, and the following parameters were identified as influencing efficacy and safety outcomes: microbubbles, transducer frequency, peak-negative pressure, pulse characteristics, and the dosing of ultrasound applications. Current protocols and parameters achieving ultrasound-mediated BBB disruption, as well as their associated efficacy and safety outcomes, are identified and summarised. Greater standardisation of protocols and parameters in future preclinical and clinical studies is required to inform robust clinical translation.
Comparison between Cylindrical, Trigonal, and General Symmetry Models for the Analysis of Polarization-Dependent Second Harmonic Generation Measurements Acquired from Collagen-Rich Equine Pericardium Samples
Authors: Mari Meropi , Tsafas Vassilis , Staraki Despina , Fotakis Costas , Filippidis George
Published: April 2022

Polarization-dependent second harmonic generation (PSHG) microscopy is used as an innovative, high-resolution, non-destructive, and label-free diagnostic imaging tool to elucidate biological issues with high significance. In the present study, information on the structure and directionality of collagen fibers in equine pericardium tissue was collected using PSHG imaging measurements. In an effort to acquire precise results, three different mathematical models (cylindrical, trigonal, and general) were applied to the analysis of the recorded PSHG datasets. A factor called the “ratio parameter” was calculated to provide quantitative information. The implementation of the trigonal symmetry model to the recorded data led to the extraction of improved results compared with the application of the widely used cylindrical symmetry model. The best outcome was achieved through the application of the general model that does not include any kind of symmetry for the data processing. Our findings suggest that the trigonal symmetry model is preferable for the analysis of the PSHG datasets acquired from the collagenous tissues compared with the cylindrical model approach although an increased computational time is required.
Smilax weniae, a New Species of Smilacaceae from Limestone Areas Bordering Guizhou and Guangxi, China
Authors: Feng Jie-Ying , Jin Xin-Jie , Zhang Sheng-Lu , Yang Jia-Wen , Fei Shi-Peng , Huang Yu-Song , Liu Yan , Qi Zhe-Chen , Li Pan
Published: April 2022

A new species, Smilax weniae (Smilacaceae), from Southwest China, is described and illustrated. The new species bears peltate leaves, which was previously a unique feature of S. luei. However, it differs from the latter by having a broad ovate leaf blade, longer peduncle, and sexual dimorphic flowers. Further phylogenetic analyses revealed that the new species were placed in a unique position in a subclade of Old World Smilax based on ptDNA and nrITS sequences. Combining detailed morphological comparisons and molecular evidence, we validated that S. weniae is an undescribed new species. Moreover, the plastome characteristics of S. weniae are reported.
Sucrose Synthase and Fructokinase Are Required for Proper Meristematic and Vascular Development
Authors: Lugassi Nitsan , Stein Ofer , Egbaria Aiman , Belausov Eduard , Zemach Hanita , Arad Tal , Granot David , Carmi Nir
Published: April 2022

Sucrose synthase (SuSy) and fructokinase (FRK) work together to control carbohydrate flux in sink tissues. SuSy cleaves sucrose into fructose and UDP-glucose; whereas FRK phosphorylates fructose. Previous results have shown that suppression of the SUS1,3&4 genes by SUS-RNAi alters auxin transport in the shoot apical meristems of tomato plants and affects cotyledons and leaf structure; whereas antisense suppression of FRK2 affects vascular development. To explore the joint developmental roles of SuSy and FRK, we crossed SUS-RNAi plants with FRK2-antisense plants to create double-mutant plants. The double-mutant plants exhibited novel phenotypes that were absent from the parent lines. About a third of the plants showed arrested shoot apical meristem around the transition to flowering and developed ectopic meristems. Use of the auxin reporter DR5::VENUS revealed a significantly reduced auxin response in the shoot apical meristems of the double-mutant, indicating that auxin levels were low. Altered inflorescence phyllotaxis and significant disorientation of vascular tissues were also observed. In addition, the fruits and the seeds of the double-mutant plants were very small and the seeds had very low germination rates. These results show that SUS1,3&4 and FRK2 enzymes are jointly essential for proper meristematic and vascular development, and for fruit and seed development.
Electric Field-Enhanced Cadmium Accumulation and Photosynthesis in a Woody Ornamental Hyperaccumulator—Lonicera japonica Thunb.
Authors: Liu Zhouli , Chen Qinglin , Lin Maosen , Chen Mengdi , Zhao Cong , Lu Qingxuan , Meng Xiangyu
Published: April 2022

The multi-system of electro-phytotechnology using a woody ornamental cadmium (Cd) hyperaccumulator (Lonicera japonica Thunb.) is a new departure for environmental remediation. The effects of four electric field conditions on Cd accumulation, growth, and photosynthesis of L. japonica under four Cd treatments were investigated. Under 25 and 50 mg L−1 Cd treatments, Cd accumulation in L. japonica was enhanced significantly compared to the control and reached 1110.79 mg kg−1 in root and 428.67 mg kg−1 in shoots influenced by the electric field, especially at 2 V cm−1, and with higher bioaccumulation coefficient (BC), translocation factor (TF), removal efficiency (RE), and the maximum Cd uptake, indicating that 2 V cm−1 voltage may be the most suitable electric field for consolidating Cd-hyperaccumulator ability. It is accompanied by increased root and shoots biomass and photosynthetic parameters through the electric field effect. These results show that a suitable electric field may improve the growth, hyperaccumulation, and photosynthetic ability of L.japonica. Meanwhile, low Cd supply (5 mg L−1) and medium voltage (2 V cm−1) improved plant growth and photosynthetic capacity, conducive to the practical application to a plant facing low concentration Cd contamination in the real environment.
Unfunctionalized and Functionalized Multiwalled Carbon Nanotubes/Polyamide Nanocomposites as Selective-Layer Polysulfone Membranes
Authors: Alterary Seham S. , Alyabes Raya M. , Alshahrani Ahmed A. , Al-Alshaikh Monirah A.
Published: April 2022

Nowadays, reverse osmosis is the most widely utilized strategy in membrane technology due to its continuous improvement. Recent studies have highlighted the importance of the surface characteristics of support layers in thin-film membranes to improve their reverse osmosis performance. In this study, interfacial polymerization was used to generate the membranes by employing polyamide as a selective layer on top of the polysulfone supporting sheet. Different membranes, varying in terms of the concentrations of unfunctionalized and functionalized multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs), as well as ethanol, have been fabricated. The efficiency of the membrane has been increased by increasing its permeability towards water with high salt rejection. Different characterization techniques were applied to examine all of the fabricated membranes. PA-EtOH 30% (v/v), as a selective layer on polysulfone sheets to enhance the membrane’s salt rejection, was shown to be the most efficient of the suggested membranes, improving the membrane’s salt rejection. The water permeability of the polyamide membrane with EtOH 30% (v/v) was 56.18 L/m2 h bar, which was more than twice the average permeability of the polyamide membrane (23.63 L/m2 h bar). The salt rejection was also improved (from 97.73% for NaCl to 99.29% and from 97.39% for MgSO4 to 99.62% in the same condition). The PA-MWCNTs 0.15% membrane, on the other hand, had a reduced surface roughness, higher hydrophobicity, and higher water contact angle readings, according to SEM. These characteristics led to the lowest salt rejection, resulting from the hydrophobic nature of MWCNTs.
An Overview on Carbon Fiber-Reinforced Epoxy Composites: Effect of Graphene Oxide Incorporation on Composites Performance
Authors: Sharma Harsh , Kumar Ajay , Rana Sravendra , Guadagno Liberata
Published: April 2022

Carbon fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP) composites are used in a variety of applications such as aircraft, automobiles, body armors, and the sports sector owing to their ultra-strong and lightweight characteristics. However, the incorporation of an untreated pristine carbon fiber surface leads to a weak interfacial interaction with the polymeric matrix, thus triggering catastrophic failure of the composite material. Graphene oxide, a 2D-macromolecule consisting of several polar functional groups such as hydroxyl, carboxyl, and carbonyl on the basal planes and edges, tends to increase the surface area and has thus been applied between the fiber and matrix, helping to improve CFRP properties. Herein, we condense different routes of functionalization of GO nanosheets and their incorporation onto a fiber surface or in a carbon fiber-reinforced epoxy matrix, helping to improve the interfacial adhesion between the fiber and matrix, and thus allowing effective stress transfer and energy absorption. The improvement of the interfacial adhesion between the fiber and carbon fiber-reinforced epoxy matrix is due to the peculiar structure of GO nanoparticles composed of polar groups, especially on the edges of the nanosheets, able to provide strong interaction with the hosting cured epoxy matrix, and the “core” part similar to the structure of CFs, and hence able to establish strong π-π interactions with the reinforcing CFs. The article also covers the effect of functionalized graphene oxide incorporation on the mechanical, thermal, electrical, and viscoelastic properties of composite materials reinforced with carbon fibers.
Latent Recycling Potential of Multilayer Films in Austrian Waste Management
Authors: Koinig Gerald , Rutrecht Bettina , Friedrich Karl , Barretta Chiara , Vollprecht Daniel
Published: April 2022

This work presents a hand sorting trial of Austrian plastic packaging, which showed that according to an extrapolation of the 170,000 t separately collected waste collected in Austria, 30 wt% are flexible 2D plastic packaging. Further, the applications for these materials have been catalogued. The composition of these films was evaluated via Fourier-Transformed Infrared Spectroscopy, which showed that 31% of all films were made of polyethene, 39% of polypropylene, 11% of polyethene–polyethene terephthalate composite, and 8% of a polyethene–polypropylene composite, further resulting in the calculation that of all flexible packaging, 20 wt% are multilayer films. These findings were used to calculate the latent potential for raising the current recycling quota of 25.7% to the mandated rate of 55% in 2030. To this end, scenarios depicting different approaches to sorting and recycling small films were evaluated. It was calculated that through improving the sorting of films the recycling rate could be increased to 35.5%. This approach allows for the recycling of monolayer films by avoiding contamination with foreign materials introduced by multilayer films that impede the recyclates’ mechanical properties. The evaluation showed that sorting multilayer films of this fraction could raise the recycling quota further to 38.9%.
Synthesis and Characterization of Cyclodextrin-Based Polyhemiaminal Composites with Enhanced Thermal Stability
Authors: Jabedul Hoque Mohammed , Toda Mitsuo , Mase Nobuyuki
Published: April 2022

Polyhemiaminal (PHA) polymers are a new class of thermosetting polymers that have recently gained attention owing to their high mechanical strength and excellent recycling behavior. However, low thermal stability is a common issue in PHA polymers due to the thermally labile crosslinked knots. Herein, crosslinked PHA polymer composites were synthesized by reacting formaldehyde with a precursor solution of 4,4ʹ-oxydianiline (ODA) and cyclodextrins (CDs) (α-, β-, and γ-). The material obtained under optimal conditions (ODA:CD molar ratio of 1:0.5, 37% aqueous solution of formaldehyde (formalin)) exhibited good film formability and high thermal stability with two characteristic decomposition phenomena and a high char yield. The early decomposition of CDs and char formation led to high thermal stability. Time-resolved NMR analysis was conducted to study hemiaminal bond formation via a condensation reaction between ODA and formaldehyde. Furthermore, PHA matrix formation was confirmed by the dissolution of the deposited CD layer in a solution of N-methyl-2-pyrrolidinone containing 8–9 wt.% LiBr at 80 °C and FTIR analysis. Based on the elemental analysis results, PHA network formation was confirmed by considering a single unit of the PHA network with CD composition, including the solvent and water.
Performance Analysis of Full Assembly Glass Fiber-Reinforced Polymer Composite Cross-Arm in Transmission Tower
Authors: Syamsir Agusril , Nadhirah Afiqah , Mohamad Daud , Beddu Salmia , Asyraf Muhammad Rizal Muhammad , Itam Zarina , Anggraini Vivi
Published: April 2022

The usage of glass fiber reinforced polymer (GFRP) composite cross-arms in transmission towers is relatively new compared to wood timber cross-arms. In this case, many research works conducted experiments on composite cross-arms, either in coupon or full-scale size. However, none performed finite element (FE) analyses on full-scale composite cross-arms under actual working load and broken wire conditions. Thus, this work evaluates the performance of glass fiber reinforced polymer (GFRP) composite cross-arm tubes in 275 kV transmission towers using FE analysis. In this study, the performance analysis was run mimicking actual normal and broken wire conditions with five and three times more than working loads (WL). The full-scale assembly load test experiment outcomes were used to validate the FE analysis. Furthermore, the mechanical properties values of the GFRP composite were incorporated in simulation analysis based on the previous experimental work on coupons samples of GFRP tubes. Additionally, parametric studies were performed to determine the ultimate applied load and factor of safety for both normal and broken wire loading conditions. This research discovered that the GFRP composite cross-arm could withstand the applied load of five times and three times working load (WL) for normal and broken wire conditions, respectively. In addition, the factor of safety of tubes was 1.08 and 1.1 for normal and broken wire conditions, respectively, which can be considered safe to use. Hence, the composite cross-arms can sustain load two times more than the design requirement, which is two times the working load for normal conditions. In future studies, it is recommended to analyze the fatigue properties of the composite due to wind loading, which may induce failure in long-term service.
Impact of Bis-O-dihydroferuloyl-1,4-butanediol Content on the Chemical, Enzymatic and Fungal Degradation Processes of Poly(3-hydroxybutyrate)
Authors: Carboué Quentin , Fadlallah Sami , Werghi Yasmine , Longé Lionel , Gallos Antoine , Allais Florent , Lopez Michel
Published: April 2022

Poly-β-hydroxybutyrate (PHB) is a very common bio-based and biocompatible polymer obtained from the fermentation of soil bacteria. Due to its important crystallinity, PHB is extremely brittle in nature, which results in poor mechanical properties with low extension at the break. To overcome these issues, the crystallinity of PHB can be reduced by blending with plasticizers such as ferulic acid derivatives, e.g., bis-O-dihydroferuloyl-1,4-butanediol (BDF). The degradation potential of polymer blends of PHB containing various percentages (0, 5, 10, 20, and 40 w%) of BDF was investigated through chemical, enzymatic and fungal pathways. Chemical degradation revealed that, in 0.25 M NaOH solution, the presence of BDF in the blend was necessary to carry out the degradation, which increased as the BDF percentage increased. Whereas no enzymatic degradation could be achieved in the tested conditions. Fungal degradation was achieved with a strain isolated from the soil and monitored through imagery processing. Similar to the chemical degradation, higher BDF content resulted in higher degradation by the fungus.
Laser Cutting Technologies and Corresponding Pollution Control Strategy
Authors: He Yingyong , Xie Honghu , Ge Yongjun , Lin Yishan , Yao Zhitong , Wang Binhui , Jin Meiqing , Liu Jie , Chen Xinyang , Sun Yuhang
Published: April 2022

In conjunction with the increasing demand for material cutting, such as the decommissioning and dismantling of nuclear facilities, advanced cutting technologies need be developed to increase precision and cost-effectiveness. As compared with other cutting technologies, laser cutting offers advantages of greater cutting precision, accuracy, and customization. In this work, we investigated the constitution, classification, and current status of this technology. Pollutant emission during laser cutting, corresponding pollution control methods and apparatus were proposed as well. Laser cutting equipment mainly comprises an automated system integrating a fiber laser, industrial computer, servo motor control, electrical control, and detection technology. It mainly consists of mechanical and electrical control parts. Laser cutting equipment is distinguished by light source, power, and cutting dimensions. Known variants of laser cutting technology involve vaporization, fusion, reactive fusion, and controlled fracture cutting. During the cutting process, dust, smoke, and aerosols can be released, which is an environmental concern and poses a threat to public health. The selection of the dedusting method and design of apparatus should take into account the dust removal rate, initial capital cost, maintenance cost, etc. Multi-stage filtration such as bag filtration combined with activated carbon filtration or electrostatic filtration is accepted.
3D Modeling of the Adsorption Rate of Pyridine on Activated Carbon Cloth in a Stirred Tank under Turbulent Conditions
Authors: García-Hernández Elias , Aguilar-Madera Carlos Gilberto , Herrera-Hernández Erik Cesar , Flores-Cano José Valente , Bailón-García Esther , González Ana Teresa Finol , Aguilar-Aguilar Angelica , Ocampo-Pérez Raúl
Published: April 2022

The experimental and numerical analysis of pyridine adsorption onto activated carbon cloth in a stirred batch adsorber under transition and turbulent regime is presented in this work. Three-dimensional numerical modeling of the adsorption process was implemented for the identification of local velocity, local concentration, and concentration gradients inside the adsorber. This represents a costly computational effort in comparison with conventional batch adsorption models, as for instance the Langmuir kinetic model. Both types of modeling yield comparable results, but the advantage of the 3D modeling is a more detailed resolution of variables, thus avoiding the perfectly mixed assumption. Varying the agitation rate (30–200 rpm) and pyridine initial concentration (99 to 487 mg/L), several kinetic and transport parameters were reported. Hydrodynamic and mass boundary layers are identified around the activated carbon adsorbent following the trajectory of agitation. Furthermore, the major pyridine mass flux takes place around the adsorbent, mainly in the posterior zone regarding the agitation direction. This information is crucial in searching for and designing more efficient and intensive adsorbent systems.
Low-Cost and Efficient Solution for the Automation of Laboratory Scale Experiments: The Case of Distillation Column
Authors: Enyedi Florian , Do Thi Huyen Trang , Szanyi Agnes , Mizsey Peter , Toth Andras Jozsef , Nagy Tibor
Published: April 2022

Chemical laboratories badly need efficient support for human works when experiments are carried out. Process control and data acquisition at the laboratory scale are still practical challenges among others, due to equipment prices and the relative complexity of the different scientific disciplines. There is, however, a large demand recently for the so-called Internet of Things (IoT), intelligent/smart labeled solutions that also include laboratory equipment items. Such solutions have enormous potential in making research activity and routine laboratory work efficient and easy by implementing proper data acquisition and control for laboratory-scale equipment items. To solve these practical challenges, an efficient and simple solution was designed and completed for the control and data acquisition of a laboratory-scale rectification process by a well-known microcontroller connected to MATLAB/Simulink. The straightforward application of this solution is demonstrated in case study measurements. The data acquired were used also for process identification. The data were then further processed for various simple and more advanced tunings that were applied, evaluated, and compared. By implementing gain scheduling, significant improvements can be achieved compared to model-based PID tunings while the application of self-tuning by adaptive interaction demands too much consideration for better evaluation with low benefit. Furthermore, the developed device introduces the advantages of digitalization and the 4.0 industrial revolution in the laboratory as well as supports human laboratory work. It also narrows the gap between the laboratory and industrial environment items since the final design can provide a complete process control experience already at the laboratory scale.
Oily Wastewater Treatment: Methods, Challenges, and Trends
Authors: Medeiros Alexandre D’Lamare Maia de , Silva Junior Cláudio José Galdino da , Amorim Julia Didier Pedrosa de , Durval Italo José Batista , Costa Andréa Fernanda de Santana , Sarubbo Leonie Asfora
Published: April 2022

The growing interest in innovations regarding the treatment of oily wastewater stems from the fact that the oil industry is the largest polluter of the environment. The harm caused by this industry is seen in all countries. Companies that produce such wastewater are responsible for its treatment prior to disposal or recycling into their production processes. As oil emulsions are difficult to manage and require different types of treatment or even combined methods, a range of environmental technologies have been proposed for oil-contaminated effluents, such as gravity separation, flotation, flocculation, biological treatment, advanced oxidation processes, and membranes. Natural materials, such as biopolymers, constitute a novel, sustainable solution with considerable potential for oily effluent separation. The present review offers an overview of the treatment of oily wastewater, describing current trends and the latest applications. This review also points to further research needs and major concerns, especially with regards to sustainability, and discusses potential biotechnological applications.
Spiritual Needs as Expressed by People Living with HIV: A Systematic Review
Authors: de Oliveira Valente Tania Cristina , da Silva Leonardo Motta , Cavalcanti Ana Paula Rodrigues
Published: April 2022

It has been previously demonstrated that religiosity and spirituality can help support people living with HIV. Despite this, little work has been undertaken on this theme. Using the PRISMA methodology, we reviewed academic literature from 2008 to 2020 to summarize how people living with HIV define spiritual needs. We found fifty-nine distinct types of approach that were related to this theme and were grouped into four main categories: religious needs, social needs, existential needs, and emotional needs. Religious needs were more frequently cited, including individual prayers, the ingestion of miraculous medicines, and so on. The study calls attention to the concept’s multidimensionality and the cultural differences in the included papers. It reveals the need of each culture to research, to find an adequate meaning of spirituality, and to cater to the spiritual needs for people living with HIV as part of their healthcare, before setting health policies.
Assessment of Adjacency Correction over Inland Waters Using Sentinel-2 MSI Images
Authors: Paulino Rejane S. , Martins Vitor S. , Novo Evlyn M. L. M. , Barbosa Claudio C. F. , de Carvalho Lino A. S. , Begliomini Felipe N.
Published: April 2022

Satellite remote sensing data have been used for water quality mapping, but accurate water reflectance retrieval is dependent on multiple procedures, such as atmospheric and adjacency corrections. For the latter, physical-based methods are used to minimize the adjacency effects caused by neighboring land targets close to water pixels, and implementation requires atmospheric and environmental parameters, such as aerosol optical depth and horizontal range (i.e., distance in meters) of the adjacency effect (HAdj). Generally, the HAdj is empirically defined by users and can lead to substantial errors in water reflectance when incorrectly used. In this research, a physical-based approach with three empirical methods to determine the HAdj (fixed, SIMilarity Environment Correction—SIMEC, and Adaptative Window by Proportion—AWP-Inland Water) were used to correct and characterize the adjacency effects in Sentinel-2 images over Brazilian inland waters. An interactive inversion method of the deep blue waveband estimated the aerosol loading for the atmospheric correction procedure. The results of atmospheric and adjacency corrections were validated against in-situ reflectance data. The inverted aerosol loading achieved a good agreement with in-situ measurements, especially at visible wavelengths (Mean Absolute Percentage Error—MAPE for eutrophic (~56%), bright (~80%), and dark (~288%) waters). The adjacency correction performance was near similar between the SIMEC and AWP-Inland Water methods in eutrophic and bright waters (MAPE difference < 3%). However, only the AWP-Inland Water method provided a smaller error (MAPE ~53%) for dark waters compared to the fixed (~108%) and SIMEC (~289%) methods, which shows how critical HAdj parametrization is for low water reflectance values. Simulations of different atmospheric and adjacency effects were performed, and they highlighted the importance of adjacency correction under aerosol loading higher 0.1, which is a typical aerosol loading in a dry climate season, and over extremely dark, low-reflectance waters. This paper contributes to further understanding adjacency effects in medium spatial resolution imagery of inland waters using a physical-based approach including the uncertainties in HAdj determination.
Facilitating Typhoon-Triggered Flood Disaster-Ready Information Delivery Using SDI Services Approach—A Case Study in Hainan
Authors: Hu Lei , Fang Zhe , Zhang Mingda , Jiang Liangcun , Yue Peng
Published: April 2022

Natural disaster response and assessment are key elements of natural hazard monitoring and risk management. Currently, the existing systems are not able to meet the specific needs of many regional stakeholders worldwide; traditional approaches with field surveys are labor-intensive, time-consuming, and expensive, especially for severe disasters that affect a large geographic area. Recent studies have demonstrated that Earth observation (EO) data and technologies provide powerful support for the natural disaster emergency response. However, challenges still exist in support of the entire disaster lifecycle—preparedness, response, and recovery—which build the gaps between the disaster Spatial Data Infrastructure (SDI) already-in-place requirements and the EO capabilities. In order to tackle some of the above challenges, this paper demonstrates how to facilitate typhoon-triggered flood disaster-ready information delivery using an SDI services approach, and proposes a web-based remote sensing disaster decision support system to facilitate natural disaster response and impact assessment, which implements on-demand disaster resource acquisition, on-the-fly analysis, automatic thematic mapping, and decision report release. The system has been implemented with open specifications to facilitate interoperability. The typhoons and floods in Hainan Province, China, are used as typical scenarios to verify the system’s applicability and effectiveness. The system improves the automation level of the natural disaster emergency response service, and provides technical support for regional remote-sensing-based disaster mitigation in China.
Adaptive Multi-Pedestrian Tracking by Multi-Sensor: Track-to-Track Fusion Using Monocular 3D Detection and MMW Radar
Authors: Zhu Yipeng , Wang Tao , Zhu Shiqiang
Published: April 2022

Accurate and reliable tracking of multi-pedestrian is of great importance for autonomous driving, human-robot interaction and video surveillance. Since different scenarios have different best-performing sensors, sensor fusion perception plans are believed to have complementary modalities and be capable of handling situations which are challenging for single sensor. In this paper, we propose a novel track-to-track fusion strategy for multi-pedestrian tracking by using a millimeter-wave (MMW) radar and a monocular camera. Pedestrians are firstly tracked by each sensor according to the sensor characteristic. Specifically, the 3D monocular pedestrian detections are obtained by a convolutional neural network (CNN). The trajectory is formed by the tracking-by-detection approach, combined with Bayesian estimation. The measurement noise of the 3D monocular detection is modeled by a detection uncertainty value obtained from the same CNN, as an approach to estimate the pedestrian state more accurately. The MMW radar utilizes the track-before-detection method due to the sparseness of the radar features. Afterwards, the pedestrian trajectories are obtained by the proposed track-to-track fusion strategy, which can work adaptively under challenging weather conditions, low-illumination conditions and clutter scenarios. A group of tests are carried out to validate our pedestrian tracking strategy. Tracking trajectories and optimal sub-pattern assignment (OSPA) metric demonstrate the accuracy and robustness of the proposed multi-sensor multi-pedestrian tracking system.
Зарубіжний досвід кримінально-правової протидії торгівлі людьми
Authors: Андрушко А.
Published: April 2022

У статті на підставі вивчення законодавства 54 держав світу проаналізовано зарубіжний досвід кримінально-правової протидії торгівлі людьми. Зроблено висновок про те, що на сьогодні більшість національних законодавців наблизили своє розуміння сутності вказаного діяння із його визначенням, сформульованим у Палермському протоколі та в Конвенції Ради Європи про заходи щодо протидії торгівлі людьми.
Організаційно-правові засади використання поліцією України зарубіжного досвіду кримінологічної теорії розбитих вікон
Authors: Копан О. , Вознюк А. , Тичина Д.
Published: April 2022

У статті розкрито багатогранність, складність системи заходів, спрямованих на захист прав і свобод людини й громадянина, честі та гідності особи, через призму положень теорії розбитих вікон як окремого напряму спеціально-кримінологічного запобігання злочинності.

Розкрито істотні ознаки теорії розбитих вікон, до яких віднесено мету, принципи, суб’єкти, об’єкт запобіжного впливу, а також заходи у формі здійснення владою міста, поліцією спільно із громадськістю, соціальними службами і агенціями підтримки (матеріальної, фізичної, психологічної) груп ризику (осіб, які мають судимість; наркоманів; вихідців із неблагополучних сімей тощо) та благоустрою міста, ліквідації пустирів, прибирання територій.

Доведена доступність і зрозумілість такої теорії, здатність принести корисні результати як для соціуму, так і кожного громадянина.

Акцентовано увагу на організаційних формах взаємодії поліції і громадськості. Розглянуто поняття, ґенезу та міжнародний досвід застосування кримінологічної теорії розбитих вікон, висвітлені питання форм взаємодії поліції з громадськістю у запобіганні кримінальним правопорушенням та вирішенні інших проблем громади тощо.
Реформування поліцейських сил Чеської Республіки: основні напрями правового забезпечення
Authors: Копча В. , Фрідманський Р.
Published: April 2022

Стаття присвячена аналізу законодавчого забезпечення реформуванню поліцейських сил в Чеській Республіці. Особливу увагу приділено напрямам реформування поліції, які знайшли відображення в законодавстві. Дослідження реформи поліцейських сил у державах Центральної Європи і, зокрема, в Чеській Республіці є актуальним завданням, виходячи з низки аргументів. Перше, реформа поліції в Україні, яку було розпочато після Революції гідності 2014 р., потребує врахування досвіду реформаторських зусиль у тих державах, які успішно провели подібні реформи і Чеська Республіка належить до таких країн. Друге, серед багатьох аспектів реформи у цьому напрямі важливим є акцент на створення якісного законодавства, яке би створило основи для ефективної діяльності поліції, з одного боку, а, з іншого – забезпечило безумовне дотримання прав людини. Зроблено висновок, що вектор реформи поліції в цій державі відбувався у декілька етапів, протягом яких поліцейські сили набували нової якості поліцейської служби в державі, заснованій на верховенстві права. Об'єктивно відповідні ключові показники містилися у вимогах Європейського Союзу, підготовка до вступу до якого передбачала активне й цілеспрямоване реформування поліції на основі цих стандартів. Крім того, зміст і предмет законодавства Чеської Республіки щодо поліції може стати в нагоді для вітчизняного законодавця у таких аспектах як: а) організація поліцейської діяльності; б) окреслення спеціальних повноважень поліції; в) статусу поліцейських.