bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Systematic Approach of Optimal Land-Use Planning by Applying Geo-Environmental Techniques: A Case Study
Authors: Morsy Essam A.
Published: January 2023

This article demonstrates the capabilities and integrity of the environmental geological and geophysical techniques for planning the suitability of the extension of Helwan city for construction and engineering purposes. The geological and topographical mapping were utilized as well as environmental geophysical techniques (seismic refraction, ground penetrating radar (GPR), and resistivity soundings) for optimal land-use planning. The seismic refraction profiles were conducted to evaluate the geotechnical characteristics of the bedrock, GPR was applied to define the main subsurface reflectors, and the geoelectrical resistivity survey was used to identify the subsurface stratigraphic sequence and the distribution of main structural elements impacting the investigated area. The integrated results and findings of the environmental geological and geophysical survey inferred two major distinctive subsurface layers: a thin surface layer represented by highly weathered limestone, with an average thickness of 3 m, and a bottom layer equivalent to the bedrock composed of hard limestone. In addition, GPR performed an analysis of two remarkable subsurface layers, which supported the generated model of other geophysical surveying techniques. Finally, all the geological and various geophysical techniques were integrated and merged to generate the optimal land-use plan of the extension of Helwan city for construction and engineering purposes and to avoid high-risk areas to reserve the sustainability of the new urban communities.
Effect of SiC and WC Reinforcements on Microstructural and Mechanical Characteristics of Copper Alloy-Based Metal Matrix Composites Using Stir Casting Route
Authors: Samal Priyaranjan , Tarai Harihar , Meher Arabinda , Surekha B. , Vundavilli Pandu R.
Published: January 2023

This study focuses on a comparative analysis of mechanical behavior and microstructural characteristics of Cu matrix (C87600) based hybrid composites reinforced with SiC-Grp and WC-Grp fabricated by the stir casting process. The graphite particle percentage was kept constant, whereas the content of SiC and WC in the respective composites was varied to analyze the mechanical properties of the fabricated composites. The morphological observation was carried out by field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM), which revealed uniform dispersion of the reinforced particles in the hybrid composites. Clear phases of SiC and WC along with the Cu alloy were identified by the x-ray diffractometer (XRD). Further, a comparative study was conducted to analyze the mechanical behavior of the Cu-SiC-Gr and Cu-WC-Gr hybrid composites. With the addition of the hard ceramic materials, the tensile behavior and microhardness of both the Cu-based MMCs were improved. The WC-Gr reinforced composites exhibited higher mechanical properties than the SiC-Gr reinforced hybrid composites. Further, the fracture surfaces were also characterized to study the tensile behavior of the fabricated copper-based hybrid composites, which shows that ductile fracture was mainly associated with both hybrid composites.
Novel Method for Bridge Structural Full-Field Displacement Monitoring and Damage Identification
Authors: Duan Xin , Chu Xi , Zhu Weizhu , Zhou Zhixiang , Luo Rui , Meng Junhao
Published: January 2023

Currently, measurement points in bridge structural health monitoring are limited. Consequently, structural damage identification is challenging due to sparse monitoring data. Hence, a structural full-field displacement monitoring and damage identification method under natural texture conditions is proposed in this work. Firstly, the feature points of a structure were extracted via image scale-invariant feature transform. Then, the mathematical model was analyzed respecting the relative position change of the feature points before and after deformation, and a calculation theory was proposed for the structure’s full-field displacement vector (FFDV). Next, a test beam was constructed to obtain the FFDV calculation results for the beam under different damage conditions. Validation results showed that the maximum length error of the FFDV was 0.48 mm, while the maximum angle error was 0.82°. The FFDV monitoring results for the test beam showed that the rotation angle of the displacement vector at the damage location presented abnormal characteristics. Additionally, a damage identification index was proposed for the rotation-angle change rate. Based on the validation test, the index was proven to be sensitive to the damage location. Finally, a structural damage identification program was proposed based on the FFDV monitoring results. The obtained results will help to expand structural health monitoring data and fundamentally solve damage identification issues arising from sparse monitoring data. This study is the first to implement structural full-field displacement monitoring under natural texture conditions. The proposed method exhibits outstanding economic benefits, efficiency, and visualization advantages compared with the conventional single-point monitoring method.
Study on Stratified Settlement and Weak Reflectivity Fiber Grating Monitoring of Shield Tunnel Crossing Composite Strata
Authors: Zhao Fucai , Lu Xingli , Shi Hongbing , Liu Bin , Liu Shaoran , Dai Kaohong , Fan Ying
Published: January 2023

This paper proposes a set of field test technology system for layered settlement of composite strata based on weak reflectivity fiber Bragg grating sensing technology based on the shield project of “Keyuan Station ~ Shenzhen University Station” section of Shenzhen Metro Line 13, and through the comparison and verification of three-dimensional numerical simulation and field monitoring, the law and distribution characteristics of disturbance settlement of ground surface and overlying strata during shield tunneling are systematically analyzed, and the vertical and horizontal zoning (layer) system for the spatial and temporal evolution of layered settlement of composite strata during shield tunneling is constructed. On this basis, the targeted settlement control technical measures and recommendations are proposed. The findings show that the weak reflectivity fiber grating sensing technology can better perceive the evolution law and distribution characteristics of vertical and horizontal settlement of composite strata caused by shield tunneling, which is in good agreement with the numerical simulation results, and has the advantages of automation and high precision, it can be used as a supplement and alternative method for traditional measurement methods. The stratum deformation is small and layered settlement is not obvious in shield approaching stage (−5D~0), after shield crossing and shield tail falling (0~3D), the stratum is the longitudinal main deformation zone of shield tunneling disturbance, and the influence range of the whole tunneling disturbance is about (−1D~3D). Meanwhile, according to the influence degree of shield tunneling disturbance, the overlying strata of the tunnel can be divided into main disturbance layer and secondary disturbance layer, and the main disturbance layer is located in the range of 0.5D above the tunnel. In addition, based on the different stages of shield tunneling and the vertical and horizontal zoning (layers) of existing structures such as buildings (structures), the settlement control measures and suggestions are proposed. The research results demonstrate the feasibility of weak reflectivity fiber grating for distributed and continuous strata monitoring. It has important guiding value for improving the understanding of settlement law produced from shield construction in composite strata and analyzing and predicting potential risks resulting from shield construction. It also provides reference value for future subway design and construction.
The Permeability Evolution of Sandstones with Different Pore Structures under High Confining Pressures, High Pore Water Pressures and High Temperatures
Authors: Li Yanzhi , Wu Yue , Qiao Weiguo , Zhang Shuai , Li Xungang
Published: January 2023

Seepage from the pores of sandstone exposed in deep mines is difficult to block by grouting. In this paper, the permeability evolution of four subcategories of sandstone with different pore structures under different confining pressures, pore water pressures and temperatures is analyzed by experiments. (1) With increasing confining pressure, the permeabilities of the four tested subcategories of sandstone all decrease, but at different rates and to different extents. (2) With increasing pore water pressure, the permeability of subcategory I1, I2 and II1 sandstones increases linearly, while that of subcategory II2 sandstone decreases following a power function under low confining pressures and tends to be stable under high confining pressures. (3) With increasing temperature, the permeabilities of the four sandstone subcategories decrease at different rates. (4) The orthogonal experimental results show that the confining pressure has the greatest influence on the permeability, followed by the water pressure and temperature. (5) The confining pressure, pore water pressure and temperature produce stress-strain in sandstone and thus change the sandstone pore structure and permeability. The permeability evolution of sandstones varies with pore structure. The findings of this study can inform the classified grouting of deep sandstone and optimize grouting parameters.
Smart City for Sustainable Development: Applied Processes from SUMP to MaaS at European Level
Authors: Russo Francesco , Rindone Corrado
Published: January 2023

Urban areas constitute one of the main issues of sustainability as defined by the United Nations with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The recent smart city concept represents a way for achieving the urban sustainability goals. The European Commission (EC) bases the smart city concept on three pillars: energy, transport and Information and Communication Technologies (ICT). The main objective of the paper is to investigate the European smart city process, by focusing on urban mobility and their interconnections with the other two pillars. The methodological approach of territorial planning is used by identifying the plan dimensions and then analyzing the processes at master and sectorial level. The applied processes are verified with a review of the European documents that constitute the rules for defining and implementing the smart city concept. European guidelines indicate the SUMP as the integrated master plan that contributes to reach the convergence among energy, transport and ICT processes. By focusing on people mobility sector, European cities are implementing the Mobility as a Service (MaaS) plan at the sectorial level. This implies the necessity to enhance the knowledge of mobility phenomenon, in relation to emerging ICT and their impact on energy consumptions. The contribution of the work is given by the identification of a planning and implementation path focused on smart city, in urban areas, which connects the general goals of Agenda 2030 with the daily implications for citizens and therefore with the specific results. The paper results are useful: from one side, for researchers that work on advancements of theories, and from another side, for planners and decision makers to explore the European attempts towards urban sustainability and the real implementations on urban mobility systems.
A Systematic Literature Review of Autonomous and Connected Vehicles in Traffic Management
Authors: Alanazi Fayez
Published: January 2023

The emergence of autonomous vehicles and the advancement of technology over the past several decades has increased the demand for intelligent intersection management systems. Since there has been increased interest in researching how autonomous vehicles manage traffic at junctions, a thorough literature analysis is urgently needed. This study discovered peer-reviewed publications published between 2012 and 2022 in the most prestigious libraries to address this problem. After that, 100 primary studies were identified, and the chosen literature was subjected to systematic analysis. According to the findings, there are four primary categories of approaches, i.e., rule-based, optimization, hybrid, and machine learning procedures, which are used to achieve diverse driving objectives, including efficacy, safety, ecological, and passenger ease. The analyses illustrate the many attributes, limits, and views of the current solutions. This analysis enables the provision of potential future difficulties and directions in this study area.
Analysis of the Bacterial Community of Metal Scrap Using an Enrichment Culture Approach
Authors: Akita Hironaga , Shinto Yoshiki , Kimura Zen-ichiro
Published: January 2023

Microbiologically influenced corrosion (MIC) of metal alloys is promoted by biofilms formed on metal surfaces. In the marine environment, MIC causes serious metal infrastructure problems, which lead to significant economic losses. In this study, we used an enrichment culture approach to examine the bacterial community that grows on metal surface at levels below the detection limit as a preliminary study for developing guidelines to prevent biofilm formation. An enrichment culture approach was employed to analyze the bacterial community on metal surface without biofilms and corrosion. Genomic DNA was extracted from culture sample after incubation in the enrichment culture with a metal piece, and then the V3–V4 variable regions of the bacterial 16S rRNA gene were amplified using the extracted genomic DNA as the template. Subsequently, using a next-generation sequencing approach, the amplified V3–V4 regions were sequenced, and the bacterial community was analyzed using the QIIME 2 microbiome bioinformatics platform. Using this enrichment culture approach, more than 80 bacterial genera were detected with Sphingomonas bacteria exhibiting the highest relative abundance (44%). These results demonstrated that this method could be useful for bacterial community analysis for bacteria below detection limits, and will serve as a basis for the development of the guidelines.
Microbial Translocation Disorders: Assigning an Etiology to Idiopathic Illnesses
Authors: Sfera Adonis , Hazan Sabine , Klein Carolina , del Campo Carlos Manuel Zapata-Martín , Sasannia Sarvin , Anton Johnathan J. , Rahman Leah , Andronescu Christina V. , Sfera Dan O. , Kozlakidis Zisis , Nicolson Garth L.
Published: January 2023

Gut microbes are immunologically tolerated in the gastrointestinal tract but trigger aggressive immune responses upon translocation across the gut barrier. Although oral tolerance, a physiological process that dampens immune responses to food proteins and commensal microbiota, remains poorly defined, significant progress was made during and after the Human Immunodeficiency Virus epidemic in the 1980s and the discovery of regulatory T cells in 1995. Additional insight was gained after the discoveries of innate lymphoid cells in 2008 and the functional elucidation of mucosal mast cells. Prior to the historical discovery of human pathogens, the etiologies of most human diseases were considered unknown. The same was true about many genetic disorders prior to the Human Genome Project. Here, we hypothesize that many of the remaining idiopathic conditions, including autoimmune, fibroproliferative, and neuropsychiatric diseases as well as some cancers, can be considered microbial translocation disorders triggered by the host immune responses to extraintestinal gut microbes and/or their constituent parts. In addition to microbial translocation, we also discuss potential interventions for intestinal barrier rehabilitation, including antibodies against tumor necrosis factor-like ligand 1A and membrane lipid replacement supplements.
The Saka ‘Animal Style’ in Context: Material, Technology, Form and Use
Authors: Amir Saltanat , Roberts Rebecca C.
Published: January 2023

The Iron Age Saka population of the eastern Eurasian Steppe is considered one of the earliest of the Scythian groups to emerge at the beginning of the 1st millennium BCE, consequently producing some of the earliest expressions of ‘animal style’ art. Recent excavations of burial mounds (kurgans) in the East Kazakhstan region have provided invaluable data on the depositional contexts of such objects. This paper combines contextual archaeological data and visual analysis with data on the chemical composition and technological production (through X-ray fluorescence and optical microscopy) of some of the gold artefacts from the Eleke Sazy funerary complex in East Kazakhstan. It is demonstrated that the positioning of wearable ornaments within undisturbed archaeological contexts can give vital information about their form and function, while evidence of production techniques and use-wear indicate the time investment and status the objects may have held. It is concluded that the Saka engaged in a complex process of design and execution of their art, depicting many different elements of the natural world. Further research is needed into understanding Saka lifeways and belief systems in relation to large-scale processes of climate change, land use, time, and society from securely dated and well-documented funerary and domestic archaeological contexts.
Vehicle Pollutant Dispersion in the Urban Atmospheric Environment: A Review of Mechanism, Modeling, and Application
Authors: Liang Mingzhang , Chao Ye , Tu Yu , Xu Te
Published: January 2023

In recent years, vehicle emissions have become one of the important pollutant sources of the urban atmosphere. Scholars and decision-makers are constantly expected to accurately grasp the dispersion of vehicle pollutants to formulate a series of policies and strategies which can facilitate a friendly and sustainable urban environment, such as controlling the total number of vehicles, requiring higher emission standards, promoting new energy vehicles, improving public transit service, and optimizing non-motorized transportation systems. This paper provides a review of the mechanism research methods and mathematical modeling approaches for urban vehicle pollutant dispersion. The mechanism research methods reviewed include field measurements, wind tunnel experiments, and numerical simulations. The modeling approaches involve two kinds of popular models: Box models (STREET, CPBM, AURORA, PBM) and Gaussian models (CALINE, HIWAY, OSPM, CALPUFF, R-LINE, ADMS series, EPISODE, CityChem, SIRANE, MUNICH). Moreover, this paper clarifies the basic assumption, fundamental principle, related research, applicable conditions, and limitations of these mechanism research methods and modeling approaches.
Electron Capture by Proton Beam in Collisions with Water Vapor
Authors: Maurya Sanjeev Kumar , Bhogale Abhijeet , Tribedi Lokesh C.
Published: January 2023

In low energy ion-molecule collisions, electron capture is one of the most important channels. A new experimental setup was developed to study the electron capture process using low-energy ion beams extracted from an electron cyclotron resonance (ECR) plasma-based ion accelerator. Experiments were carried out with the proton beam colliding with water vapor in the energy range of 70–300 keV. Capture events were detected using a position-sensitive detection system comprising micro channel plates (MCPs) and a delay line detector (DLD). These e-capture events can be a result of pure capture reactions as well as transfer ionization. The capture cross section was found to decrease sharply with the beam energy and agreed well with previous measurements. The setup was also used to detect the events that gave rise to the single and multiple e-capture (integrated over all recoil-ion charge states) of C4+ ions. The capture cross-sections for one, two, three, and four electrons were measured for 100 keV C4+ ions. The ratio of multielectron capture yield to that for single e-capture decreased with the number of captured electrons.
Towards an Intrinsic Doppler Correction for X-ray Spectroscopy of Stored Ions at CRYRING@ESR
Authors: Kröger Felix Martin , Weber Günter , Allgeier Steffen , Andelkovic Zoran , Bernitt Sonja , Borovik Alexander , Duval Louis , Fleischmann Andreas , Forstner Oliver , Friedrich Marvin , Glorius Jan , Gumberidze Alexandre , Hahn Christoph , Herfurth Frank , Hengstler Daniel , Herdrich Marc Oliver , Hillenbrand Pierre-Michel , Kalinin Anton , Kiffer Markus , Kubullek Maximilian , Kuntz Patricia , Lestinsky Michael , Löher Bastian , Menz Esther Babette , Over Tobias , Petridis Nikolaos , Pfäfflein Philip , Ringleb Stefan , Sidhu Ragandeep Singh , Spillmann Uwe , Trotsenko Sergiy , Warczak Andrzej , Zhu Binghui , Enss Christian , Stöhlker Thomas
Published: January 2023

We report on a new experimental approach for the Doppler correction of X-rays emitted by heavy ions, using novel metallic magnetic calorimeter detectors which uniquely combine a high spectral resolution with a broad bandwidth acceptance. The measurement was carried out at the electron cooler of CRYRING@ESR at GSI, Darmstadt, Germany. The X-ray emission associated with the radiative recombination of cooler electrons and stored hydrogen-like uranium ions was investigated using two novel microcalorimeter detectors positioned under 0∘ and 180∘ with respect to the ion beam axis. This new experimental setup allowed the investigation of the region of the N, M → L transitions in helium-like uranium with a spectral resolution unmatched by previous studies using conventional semiconductor X-ray detectors. When assuming that the rest-frame energy of at least a few of the recorded transitions is well-known from theory or experiments, a precise measurement of the Doppler shifted line positions in the laboratory system can be used to determine the ion beam velocity using only spectral information. The spectral resolution achievable with microcalorimeter detectors should, for the first time, allow intrinsic Doppler correction to be performed for the precision X-ray spectroscopy of stored heavy ions. A comparison with data from a previous experiment at the ESR electron cooler, as well as the conventional method of conducting Doppler correction using electron cooler parameters, will be discussed.
Variational Study of Atomic Properties of Ions and Atoms from He to Ne
Authors: Arista Néstor R.
Published: January 2023

An extension of the variational approach for the study of atomic properties of ions and atoms containing up to 10 electrons is presented. The study includes exact analytical calculations of all the interaction terms, including direct Coulomb interactions and exchange interactions. Two alternative formulations are considered, with one and with two variational parameters. The exact and numerical values of these parameters are obtained and tabulated. The results of this study are compared with Hartree–Fock calculations. Sample applications to electron-atom scattering and energy losses of ions in Tokamak plasmas are presented.
Geometrical Structure in a Relativistic Thermodynamical Fluid Spacetime
Authors: Siddiqi Mohd. Danish , Mofarreh Fatemah , Siddiqui Aliya Naaz , Siddiqui Shah Alam
Published: January 2023

The goal of the present research paper is to study how a spacetime manifold evolves when thermal flux, thermal energy density and thermal stress are involved; such spacetime is called a thermodynamical fluid spacetime (TFS). We deal with some geometrical characteristics of TFS and obtain the value of cosmological constant Λ. The next step is to demonstrate that a relativistic TFS is a generalized Ricci recurrent TFS. Moreover, we use TFS with thermodynamic matter tensors of Codazzi type and Ricci cyclic type. In addition, we discover the solitonic significance of TFS in terms of the Ricci metric (i.e., Ricci soliton RS).
Application of First Principles Computations Based on Density Functional Theory (DFT) in Cathode Materials of Sodium-Ion Batteries
Authors: Wang Yuqiu , Yu Binkai , Xiao Jin , Zhou Limin , Chen Mingzhe
Published: January 2023

Sodium-ion batteries (SIBs) have been widely explored by researchers because of their abundant raw materials, uniform distribution, high-energy density and conductivity, low cost, and high safety. In recent years, theoretical calculations and experimental studies on SIBs have been increasing, and the applications and results of first-principles calculations have aroused extensive interests worldwide. Herein, the authors review the applications of density functional (DFT) theory in cathode materials for SIBs, summarize the applications of DFT in transition-metal oxides/chalcogenides, polyanionic compounds, Prussian blue, and organic cathode materials for SIBs from three aspects: diffusion energy barrier and diffusion path, energy calculation and structure, and electronic structure. The relationship between the structure and performance of the battery material will be comprehensively understood by analyzing the specific working principle of battery material through theoretical calculation and combining with high-precision experimental characterization technologies. Selecting materials with good performance from a large number of electrode materials through theoretical calculation can avoid unnecessary complex experiments and instrument characterizations. With the gradual deepening of research, the DFT calculation will play a greater role in the sodium-ion battery electrode field.
Limiting Factors Affecting the Ionic Conductivities of LATP/Polymer Hybrid Electrolytes
Authors: Méry Adrien , Rousselot Steeve , Lepage David , Aymé-Perrot David , Dollé Mickael
Published: January 2023

All-Solid-State Lithium Batteries (ASSLB) are promising candidates for next generation lithium battery systems due to their increased safety, stability, and energy density. Ceramic and solid composite electrolytes (SCE), which consist of dispersed ceramic particles within a polymeric host, are among the preferred technologies for use as electrolytes in ASSLB systems. Synergetic effects between ceramic and polymer electrolyte components are usually reported in SCE. Herein, we report a case study on the lithium conductivity of ceramic and SCE comprised of Li1.4Al0.4Ti1.6(PO4)3 (LATP), a NASICON-type ceramic. An evaluation of the impact of the processing and sintering of the ceramic on the conductive properties of the electrolyte is addressed. The study is then extended to Poly(Ethylene) Oxide (PEO)-LATP SCE. The presence of the ceramic particles conferred limited benefits to the SCE. These findings somewhat contradict commonly held assumptions on the role of ceramic additives in SCE.
Integration of Electrode Markings into the Manufacturing Process of Lithium-Ion Battery Cells for Tracking and Tracing Applications
Authors: Sommer Alessandro , Leeb Matthias , Weishaeupl Lukas , Daub Ruediger
Published: January 2023

One of the major challenges of battery cell manufacturing is the reduction of production costs. Production defects and manufacturing inaccuracies, combined with high value streams, cause cost-intensive scrap rates. Conventional batch tracing is insufficient to detect rejects at an early stage, since the quality-critical intermediate products are not considered in a differentiated manner. To address this deficiency, tracking and tracing approaches in battery cell production are becoming increasingly popular. To obtain sufficient resolutions of the production data, the allocation of process and product data must be performed at the electrode sheet level. An interface is required for this, which can be realized by marking the individual electrodes. This paper investigates the integration of two well-known marking technologies: laser and ink marking. Integrating these marking technologies requires the consideration of physical boundary conditions in the process chain. For this purpose, the necessary investigations are presented in a structured manner to ensure that the marking does not have a negative influence on the process chain and vice versa. A pilot production line is used as an example to demonstrate the necessary tests for the integration of laser or ink markings.
Neural Network-Based Li-Ion Battery Aging Model at Accelerated C-Rate
Authors: Hoque Md Azizul , Hassan Mohd Khair , Hajjo Abdulrahman , Tokhi Mohammad Osman
Published: January 2023

Lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries are widely used in electric vehicles (EVs) because of their high energy density, low self-discharge, and superior performance. Despite this, Li-ion batteries’ performance and reliability become critical as they lose their capacity with increasing charge and discharging cycles. Moreover, Li-ion batteries are subject to aging in EVs due to load variations in discharge. Monitoring the battery cycle life at various discharge rates would enable the battery management system (BMS) to implement control parameters to resolve the aging issue. In this paper, a battery lifetime degradation model is proposed at an accelerated current rate (C-rate). Furthermore, an ideal lifetime discharge rate within the standard C-rate and beyond the C-rate is proposed. The consequence of discharging at an accelerated C-rate on the cycle life of the batteries is thoroughly investigated. Moreover, the battery degradation model is investigated with a deep learning algorithm-based feed-forward neural network (FNN), and a recurrent neural network (RNN) with long short-term memory (LSTM) layer. A comparative assessment of performance of the developed models is carried out and it is shown that the LSTM-RNN battery aging model has superior performance at accelerated C-rate compared to the traditional FNN network.
Two-Dimensional VO2 Nanosheets with a Controllable Crystalline-Preferred Orientation for High-Performance Zinc-Ion Batteries
Authors: Shi Shanshan , Yu Yang , Feng Xiaochen , Qi Ruijuan , Zhao Yufeng
Published: January 2023

Due to the environmental friendliness, cost-effectiveness and inherent safety, rechargeable aqueous zinc ion batteries have attracted much interest as a promising energy storage device. VO2 is one of the most common materials for rechargeable zinc ion batteries. The insertion/extraction of zinc ions within VO2 is highly anisotropic, with different channel sizes along different axes. Therefore, it is quite important to control the orientation of VO2 crystals so as to manipulate the transportation of Zn2+ ions more effectively and sufficiently. Herein, a novel intercalation-type two-dimensional VO2 nanosheet with preferred orientation (PO-VO2) of the c-axis was prepared. Benefitting from the structural merits, the PO-VO2 nanosheets demonstrate an attractive capacity of 511.6 mAh g−1 at a current density of 0.05 A g−1 in a voltage of 0.2–1.6 V, which is obviously better than that of many vanadium oxide-based cathodes reported until now. The PO-VO2//Zn aqueous zinc ion full cell exhibits a high energy density of 290.5 Wh kg−1 at a power density of 38.4 W kg−1 (based on the mass of the VO2 cathode electrode). The outstanding energy storage behavior, together with the facile and affordable synthesis route, endows the PO-VO2 nanosheets with promising applications for aqueous zinc ion batteries.
Evaluating the Role of Mashing in the Amino Acid Profiles of Worts Produced from Gluten-Free Malts
Authors: Ledley Andrew J. , Elias Ryan J. , Cockburn Darrell W.
Published: January 2023

A successful wort fermentation depends on both the sugar and the free amino nitrogen (FAN) content of a wort. The primary goal of the mashing step is to generate fermentable sugars, as FAN is regarded as being primarily determined by malt quality; however, the role of mashing in modifying FAN has not been extensively studied, especially with respect to non-barley brewing materials. In this study, the FAN content of gluten-free (GF) worts varied greatly from barley (73–490 mg/L vs. 201 mg/L, respectively) and yielded different amino acid profiles, including lower proline and higher γ-aminobutyric acid concentrations. While most of the amino acids were present in the malt or generated in a brief window early in the mashing, significant increases in amino acid concentrations could be generated by mashing at temperatures below 55 °C. Overall, GF malts are promising brewing ingredients that can produce quality worts if appropriate mashing conditions are implemented.
Analysis of Postoperative Remodeling Characteristics after Modular Inner Branched Stent-Graft Treatment of Aortic Arch Pathologies Using Computational Fluid Dynamics
Authors: Li Fen , Zhu Yating , Song Hui , Zhang Hongpeng , Chen Lingfeng , Guo Wei
Published: January 2023

The modular inner branched stent-graft (MIBSG), a novel interventional therapy, has demonstrated good effects in the endovascular treatment of aortic arch pathologies, especially those involving the supra-aortic branches. Nevertheless, the long-term efficacy of the MIBSG and in-depth quantitative evaluation of postoperative outcomes remain to be examined. Moreover, the regularity of postoperative vascular remodeling induced by MIBSG implantation has yet to be explored. To address these questions, we constructed four models (normal, preoperative, 1 week postoperative, and 6 months postoperative) based on a single patient case to perform computational fluid dynamics simulations. The morphological and hemodynamic characteristics, including the velocity profile, flow rate distribution, and hemodynamic parameter distribution (wall shear stress and its derivative parameters), were investigated. After MIBSG implantation, the morphology of the supra-aortic branches changed significantly, and the branch point moved forward to the proximal ascending aorta. Moreover, the curvature radius of the aortic arch axis continued to change. These changes in morphology altered the characteristics of the flow field and wall shear stress distribution. As a result, the local forces exerted on the vessel wall by the blood led to vessel remodeling. This study provides insight into the vascular remodeling process after MIBSG implantation, which occurs as a result of the interplay between vascular morphological characteristics and blood flow characteristics.
Porcelain Veneers in Vital vs. Non-Vital Teeth: A Retrospective Clinical Evaluation
Authors: Zarow Maciej , Hardan Louis , Szczeklik Katarzyna , Bourgi Rim , Cuevas-Suárez Carlos Enrique , Jakubowicz Natalia , Nicastro Marco , Devoto Walter , Dominiak Marzena , Pytko-Polończyk Jolanta , Bereziewicz Wioletta , Lukomska-Szymanska Monika
Published: January 2023

Nowadays, the ceramic veneer approach can be considered more predictable than direct composite veneer. To date, there is a lack of studies comparing the clinical performance of anterior veneers cemented on vital teeth (VT) and non-vital teeth (NVT). This longitudinal clinical study investigated the performance of ceramic veneers in VT or anterior NVT. A total of 55 patients were evaluated in the study. Two groups were defined based on the vitality status of the teeth (93 teeth—vital and 61 teeth—non-vital). The United States Public Health Service (USPHS) criteria were used to assess the clinical status. The data were evaluated statistically with the Mann–Whitney U test. All restorations were considered acceptable, and only one veneer in VT failed for the criteria of secondary caries. There were no statistically significant differences in any of the criteria evaluated (p ≤ 0.671). The ceramic veneers evaluated showed a satisfactory clinical performance both in VT and NVT.
Contactless Stethoscope Enabled by Radar Technology
Authors: Lenz Isabella , Rong Yu , Bliss Daniel
Published: January 2023

Contactless vital sign measurement technologies have the potential to greatly improve patient experiences and practitioner safety while creating the opportunity for comfortable continuous monitoring. We introduce a contactless alternative for measuring human heart sounds. We leverage millimeter wave frequency-modulated continuous wave radar and multi-input multi-output beamforming techniques to capture fine skin vibrations that result from the cardiac movements that cause heart sounds. We discuss contact-based heart sound measurement techniques and directly compare the radar heart sound technique with these contact-based approaches. We present experimental cases to test the strengths and limitations of both the contact-based measurement techniques and the contactless radar measurement. We demonstrate that the radar measurement technique is a viable and potentially superior method for capturing human heart sounds in many practical settings.
Machine Learning Methods for Cancer Classification Using Gene Expression Data: A Review
Authors: Alharbi Fadi , Vakanski Aleksandar
Published: January 2023

Cancer is a term that denotes a group of diseases caused by the abnormal growth of cells that can spread in different parts of the body. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), cancer is the second major cause of death after cardiovascular diseases. Gene expression can play a fundamental role in the early detection of cancer, as it is indicative of the biochemical processes in tissue and cells, as well as the genetic characteristics of an organism. Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) microarrays and ribonucleic acid (RNA)-sequencing methods for gene expression data allow quantifying the expression levels of genes and produce valuable data for computational analysis. This study reviews recent progress in gene expression analysis for cancer classification using machine learning methods. Both conventional and deep learning-based approaches are reviewed, with an emphasis on the application of deep learning models due to their comparative advantages for identifying gene patterns that are distinctive for various types of cancers. Relevant works that employ the most commonly used deep neural network architectures are covered, including multi-layer perceptrons, as well as convolutional, recurrent, graph, and transformer networks. This survey also presents an overview of the data collection methods for gene expression analysis and lists important datasets that are commonly used for supervised machine learning for this task. Furthermore, we review pertinent techniques for feature engineering and data preprocessing that are typically used to handle the high dimensionality of gene expression data, caused by a large number of genes present in data samples. The paper concludes with a discussion of future research directions for machine learning-based gene expression analysis for cancer classification.
Expression of IDO1 and PD-L2 in Patients with Benign Lymphadenopathies and Association with Autoimmune Diseases
Authors: Abdulla Maysaa , Sundström Christer , Lindskog Cecilia , Hollander Peter
Published: January 2023

The expression patterns of IDO1 and PD-L2 have not been thoroughly investigated in benign lymphadenopathies. The aim with this study was to elucidate how IDO1 and PD-L2 are expressed in benign lymphadenopathies in patients with autoimmune diseases (AD) compared to patients without AD. Formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded lymph nodes from 22 patients with AD and 57 patients without AD were immunohistochemically stained to detect IDO1 and PD-L2. The material was previously stained with EBER in situ hybridization to detect cells harboring the Epstein–Barr virus (EBV). IDO1 and PD-L2 were generally expressed by leukocytes to low degrees, while follicular IDO1+ cells were very rare. IDO1+ cells in single germinal centers were detected in five patients, and there was a high co-occurrence of follicular EBV+ cells in these cases (three of five patients). There were also significant correlations between interfollicular EBV+ cells and interfollicular IDO1+ cells (Spearman rho = 0.32, p = 0.004) and follicular IDO1+ cells (Spearman rho = 0.34, p = 0.004). High or low amounts of IDO1+ or PD-L2+ cells were not statistically significantly associated with patients with AD. However, the lymphadenopathy with the highest amount of interfollicular IDO1+ cells, which was also the only lymphadenopathy in which endothelial cells expressed IDO1, was in a patient with sarcoidosis. This study further supports that the EBV induces the expression of IDO1 and our findings should be recognized by future studies on IDO1 and PD-L2 in inflammatory and malignant conditions.
DNA Gyrase as a Target for Quinolones
Authors: Spencer Angela C. , Panda Siva S.
Published: January 2023

Bacterial DNA gyrase is a type II topoisomerase that can introduce negative supercoils to DNA substrates and is a clinically-relevant target for the development of new antibacterials. DNA gyrase is one of the primary targets of quinolones, broad-spectrum antibacterial agents and are used as a first-line drug for various types of infections. However, currently used quinolones are becoming less effective due to drug resistance. Common resistance comes in the form of mutation in enzyme targets, with this type being the most clinically relevant. Additional mechanisms, conducive to quinolone resistance, are arbitrated by chromosomal mutations and/or plasmid-gene uptake that can alter quinolone cellular concentration and interaction with the target, or affect drug metabolism. Significant synthetic strategies have been employed to modify the quinolone scaffold and/or develop novel quinolones to overcome the resistance problem. This review discusses the development of quinolone antibiotics targeting DNA gyrase to overcome bacterial resistance and reduce toxicity. Moreover, structural activity relationship (SAR) data included in this review could be useful for the development of future generations of quinolone antibiotics.
Modulating Morphological and Redox/Glycative Alterations in the PCOS Uterus: Effects of Carnitines in PCOS Mice
Authors: Palmerini Maria Grazia , Macchiarelli Guido , Cocciolone Domenica , Mascitti Ilaria Antenisca , Placidi Martina , Vergara Teresa , Di Emidio Giovanna , Tatone Carla
Published: January 2023

(1) Background: Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is a common and multifactorial disease affecting reproductive-age women. Although PCOS ovarian and metabolic features have received extensive research, uterine dysfunction has been poorly investigated. This research aims to investigate morphological and molecular alterations in the PCOS uterus and search for modulating effects of different carnitine formulations. (2) Methods: CD1 mice were administered or not with dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA, 6 mg/100 g body weight) for 20 days, alone or with 0.40 mg L-carnitine (LC) and 0.20 mg acetyl-L-carnitine (ALC) in the presence or absence of 0.08 mg propionyl-L-carnitine (PLC). Uterine horns from the four groups were subjected to histology, immunohistochemistry and immunoblotting analyses to evaluate their morphology, collagen deposition, autophagy and steroidogenesis. Oxidative-/methylglyoxal (MG)-dependent damage was investigated along with the effects on the mitochondria, SIRT1, SOD2, RAGE and GLO1 proteins. (3) Results: The PCOS uterus suffers from tissue and oxidative alterations associated with MG-AGE accumulation. LC-ALC administration alleviated PCOS uterine tissue alterations and molecular damage. The presence of PLC prevented fibrosis and maintained mitochondria content. (4) Conclusions: The present results provide evidence for oxidative and glycative damage as the main factors contributing to PCOS uterine alterations and include the uterus in the spectrum of action of carnitines on the PCOS phenotype.
Effect of pH, Ionic Strength and Agitation Rate on Dissolution Behaviour of 3D-Printed Tablets, Tablets Prepared from Ground Hot-Melt Extruded Filaments and Physical Mixtures
Authors: Nashed Nour , Chan Stephanie , Lam Matthew , Ghafourian Taravat , Nokhodchi Ali
Published: January 2023

With the current focus on 3D-printing technologies, it is essential to understand the processes involved in such printing methods and approaches to minimize the variability in dissolution behaviour to achieve better quality control outcomes. For this purpose, two formulations of theophylline tablets were prepared using hydroxypropyl cellulose (HPC) and ethyl cellulose (EC). Among the two types of tablets, three different methods (physical mixture (PM), hot-melt extrusion (HME) and 3D-printing fused deposition modelling (FDM)) were applied and their dissolution behaviours were studied under various conditions using a biodissolution tester. This was carried out at pH values of 1.2, 2.2, 5.8, 6.8, 7.2 and 7.5, mimicking the medium in the gastrointestinal tract. Dissolution tests under two dipping rates (10 dpm and 20 dpm) and two ionic strengths (0.2 M and 0.4 M) were conducted to mimic fed and fasting conditions. The dissolution efficiency (DE%), release rate, similarity factor (f2) and difference factor (f1) were calculated. When comparing the DE%, the formulation containing EC showed less sensitivity to changes in the dipping rate and ionic strength compared to the HPC formulation. As for the manufacturing method, 3D-printing FDM could improve the robustness of the dissolution behaviour of both formulations to dipping rate changes. However, for ionic strength changes, the effect of the manufacturing method was dependent on the formulation composition. For example, the 3D-printed tablets of the HPC formulation were more sensitive to changes in ionic strength compared to the EC-containing formulation. The release mechanism also changed after the thermal process, where n values in the Korsmeyer–Peppas model were much higher in the printing and HME methods compared to the PM. Based on the formulation composition, the 3D-printing method could be a good candidate method for tablets with a robust dissolution behaviour in the GI tract. Compared to HPC polymers, using hydrophobic EC polymers in printable formulations can result in a more robust dissolution behaviour in fed and fasting states.
Sex Differences in Intestinal Microbiota and Their Association with Some Diseases in a Japanese Population Observed by Analysis Using a Large Dataset
Authors: Hatayama Kouta , Kono Kanako , Okuma Kana , Hasuko Kazumi , Masuyama Hiroaki , Benno Yoshimi
Published: January 2023

In recent years, many studies have focused on the relationship between intestinal microbiota and human health, but the impact of sex has not yet been sufficiently investigated. In this study, sex differences in the intestinal microbiota of a Japanese population were investigated by age group, using a large dataset constructed for a cross-sectional study. α-diversity analysis indicated that the impact of sex differences varied among the 20s–50s age groups but tended to be smaller among the 60s–70s age groups. Fusobacterium, Megamonas, Megasphaera, Prevotella, and Sutterella were more common among males, whereas Alistipes, Bacteroides, Bifidobacterium, Odoribacter, and Ruthenibacterium were common among females. Next, intestinal bacteria potentially associated with 12 diseases were investigated for each sex. The results indicate that many of these differ between males and females, and among age groups. Thus, sex and age should be considered for studies on intestinal microbiota and disease association, prevention, and treatment approaches that target them.