bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Identification of Novel Genomic Variations in Susceptibility to Nonsyndromic Cleft Lip and Palate Patients
Authors: Avasthi Kapil Kumar , Muthuswamy Srinivasan , Asim Ambreen , Agarwal Amit , Agarwal Sarita
Published: December 2021

Background: Nonsyndromic cleft lip with or without palate (NSCL/P) is a multifactorial and common birth malformation caused by genetic and environmental factors, as well as by teratogens. Genome-wide association studies found genetic variations with modulatory effects of NSCL/P formation in Chinese and Iranian populations. We aimed to identify the susceptibility of single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) to nonsyndromic cleft lip with or without palate in the Indian population. Material and Methods: The present study was conducted on NSCL/P cases and controls. Genomic DNA was extracted from peripheral blood and Axiom- Precision Medicine Research Array (PMRA) was performed. The Axiom-PMRA covers 902,527 markers and several thousand novel risk variants. Quality control-passed samples were included for candidate genetic variation identification, gene functional enrichment, and pathway and network analysis. Results: The genome-wide association study identified fourteen novel candidate gene SNPs that showed the most significant association with the risk of NSCL/P, and eight were predicted to have regulatory sequences. Conclusion: The GWAS study showed novel candidate genetic variations in NSCL/P formations. These findings contribute to the understanding of genetic predisposition to nonsyndromic cleft lip with or without palate.
Safety of Cerebrolysin for Neurorecovery after Acute Ischemic Stroke: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Twelve Randomized-Controlled Trials
Authors: Strilciuc Stefan , Vécsei László , Boering Dana , Pražnikar Aleš , Kaut Oliver , Riederer Peter , Battistin Leontino
Published: December 2021

We performed a systematic search and meta-analysis of available literature to determine the safety profile of Cerebrolysin in acute ischemic stroke, filling existing safety information gaps and inconsistent results. We searched EMBASE, PubMed, and Cochrane Databases of Systematic Reviews and Clinical Trials up to the end of February 2021. Data collection and analysis were conducted using methods described in the Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions. All safety outcomes were analyzed based on risk ratios (RR) and their 95% confidence intervals. The meta-analysis pooled 2202 patients from twelve randomized clinical trials, registering non-statistically significant (p > 0.05) differences between Cerebrolysin and placebo throughout main and subgroup analyses. The lowest rate of Serious Adverse Events (SAE), as compared to placebo, was observed for the highest dose of Cerebrolysin (50 mL), highlighting a moderate reduction (RR = 0.6). We observed a tendency of superiority of Cerebrolysin regarding SAE in high dose treatment courses for moderate-severe ischemic stroke, suggesting some effect of the agent against adverse events. This comprehensive safety meta-analysis confirms the safety profile for patients treated with Cerebrolysin after acute ischemic stroke, as compared to placebo.
Engineering 3D Printed Microfluidic Chips for the Fabrication of Nanomedicines
Authors: Kara Aytug , Vassiliadou Athina , Ongoren Baris , Keeble William , Hing Richard , Lalatsa Aikaterini , Serrano Dolores R.
Published: December 2021

Currently, there is an unmet need to manufacture nanomedicines in a continuous and controlled manner. Three-dimensional (3D) printed microfluidic chips are an alternative to conventional PDMS chips as they can be easily designed and manufactured to allow for customized designs that are able to reproducibly manufacture nanomedicines at an affordable cost. The manufacturing of microfluidic chips using existing 3D printing technologies remains very challenging because of the intricate geometry of the channels. Here, we demonstrate the manufacture and characterization of nifedipine (NFD) polymeric nanoparticles based on Eudragit L-100 using 3D printed microfluidic chips with 1 mm diameter channels produced with two 3D printing techniques that are widely available, stereolithography (SLA) and fuse deposition modeling (FDM). Fabricated polymeric nanoparticles showed good encapsulation efficiencies and particle sizes in the range of 50–100 nm. SLA chips possessed better channel resolution and smoother channel surfaces, leading to smaller particle sizes similar to those obtained by conventional manufacturing methods based on solvent evaporation, while SLA manufactured nanoparticles showed a minimal burst effect in acid media compared to nanoparticles fabricated with FDM chips. Three-dimensional printed microfluidic chips are a novel and easily amenable cost-effective strategy to allow for customization of the design process for continuous manufacture of nanomedicines under controlled conditions, enabling easy scale-up and reducing nanomedicine development times, while maintaining high-quality standards.
Fast Optimization Design of the Flexure for a Space Mirror Based on Mesh Deformation
Authors: Liu Fengchang , Li Wei , Zhao Weiguo , Wang Xiaodong , Wang Xiaoyu
Published: December 2021

According to the requirements of high force-thermal stability and high performance of a space telescope, a space mirror assembly must not be influenced by environmental factors. In this study, a space mirror assembly under load conditions, such as gravity, thermal, and assembly error, is considered. After the mirror is optimized, the surface shape error is reduced by 22%, and the mass is increased by 0.113 kg. In order to improve the efficiency of integration optimization, we present a fast optimization method using mesh deformation to be applied to the flexure. The size parameters of flexure and axial mount position are obtained by optimization. With our method, the single optimization time reduces from 10 min to 40 s, which can improve the efficiency of multi-objective optimization. The mirror assembly is fabricated and assembled based on optimization results. Finite element analysis (FEA) and test results for the space mirror assembly confirm the validity and feasibility of the fast optimization method, and we believe that the flexure based on fast optimization meets the requirements of a space mirror assembly for space applications.
Spontaneous Emission Enhancement by a Rectangular-Aperture Optical Nanoantenna: An Intuitive Semi-Analytical Model of Surface Plasmon Polaritons
Authors: Zhang Xinyue , Zhai Xuelin , Tao Can , Wang Ning , Zhong Ying , Liu Haitao
Published: December 2021

The spontaneous-emission enhancement effect of a single metallic rectangular-aperture optical nanoantenna on a SiO2 substrate was investigated theoretically. By considering the excitation and multiple scattering of surface plasmon polaritons (SPPs) in the aperture, an intuitive and comprehensive SPP model was established. The model can comprehensively predict the total spontaneous emission rate, the radiative emission rate and the angular distribution of the far-field emission of a point source in the aperture. Two phase-matching conditions are derived from the model for predicting the resonance and show that the spontaneous-emission enhancement by the antenna comes from the Fabry–Perot resonance of the SPP in the aperture. In addition, when scanning the position of the point source and the aperture length, the SPP model does not need to repeatedly solve the Maxwell’s equations, which shows a superior computational efficiency compared to the full-wave numerical method.
Influence of Magnetic Field on Characteristics of Corona Discharge in Wire-Cylinder Electrodes Configuration
Authors: Wais Sabah Ibrahim , Mohammed Pirzheen Ageed
Published: December 2021

The behavior of corona discharge was investigated in wire–cylinder electrodes under the effect of a crossed magnetic field. Townsend’s formula was used commonly with a modified empirical formula to evaluate the different parameters of corona discharge in positive and negative discharge. By using a least-squares fitting, the dimensional constants A, K, and the exponent n displayed a significant dependence on the applied magnetic field. An improvement of pre-breakdown has been achieved by using a crossed magnetic field. For both polarities, while the magnetic field is present, breakdown voltage VB and corona inception voltage V0 increased, whereas the corona current decreases. In addition, the corona inception voltage was greater in positive corona in the absence of a magnetic field, while the opposite occurred regarding the crossed magnetic field. Furthermore, the breakdown streamer demonstrated significant triggering in the negative corona by applying the magnetic field.
Bio-Based Bisbenzoxazines with Flame Retardant Linker
Authors: Haubold Thorben Sören , Puchot Laura , Adjaoud Antoine , Verge Pierre , Koschek Katharina
Published: December 2021

This work explores the strategy of incorporating a highly substituted reactive flame retardant into a benzoxazine moiety. For this purpose, a DOPO-based flame retardant received a chain extension via reaction with ethylene carbonate. It was then reacted with phloretic acid to obtain a diphenol end-capped molecule, and further reacted with furfurylamine and paraformaldehyde to obtain a benzoxazine monomer via a Mannich-like ring closure reaction. This four-step synthesis yielded a partly bio-based halogen-free flame retardant benzoxazine monomer (DOPO-PA-fa). The successful synthesis was proven via NMR, IR and MS analysis. The polymerization behavior was monitored by DSC and rheological analysis both showing the polymerization starts at 200 °C to yield pDOPO-PA-fa. pDOPO-PA-fa has a significant thermal stability with a residual mass of 30% at 800 °C under ambient atmosphere. Furthermore, it reached a V-0 rating against small flames and an OI of 35%. Blended with other benzoxazines, it significantly improves their thermal stability and fire resistance. It emphasizes its potential as flame retardant agent.
Review of Recent Developments of Glass Transition in PVC Nanocomposites
Authors: Tomaszewska Jolanta , Sterzyński Tomasz , Woźniak-Braszak Aneta , Banaszak Michał
Published: December 2021

This review addresses the impact of different nanoadditives on the glass transition temperature (Tg) of polyvinyl chloride (PVC), which is a widely used industrial polymer. The relatively high Tg limits its temperature-dependent applications. The objective of the review is to present the state-of-the-art knowledge on the influence of nanofillers of various origins and dimensions on the Tg of the PVC. The Tg variations induced by added nanofillers can be probed mostly by such experimental techniques as thermomechanical analysis (TMA), dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and dielectric thermal analysis (DETA). The increase in Tg is commonly associated with the use of mineral and carbonaceous nanofillers. In this case, a rise in the concentration of nanoadditives leads to an increase in the Tg due to a restraint of the PVC macromolecular chain’s mobility. The lowering of Tg may be attributed to the well-known plasticizing effect, which is a consequence of the incorporation of oligomeric silsesquioxanes to the polymeric matrix. It has been well established that the variation in the Tg value depends also on the chemical modification of nanofillers and their incorporation into the PVC matrix. This review may be an inspiration for further investigation of nanofillers’ effect on the PVC glass transition temperature.
The Influence of Decontamination Procedures on the Surface of Two Polymeric Liners Used in Prosthodontics
Authors: Mańka-Malara Katarzyna , Trzaskowski Maciej , Gawlak Dominika
Published: December 2021

Polymeric liners are materials commonly used in prosthodontics to reshape denture surfaces contacting the soft tissues of the oral cavity. The aim of the study was to determine the impact of different cleaning methods on two polymeric materials used in prosthodontics as non-adhesive permanent liners. The material for the research consisted of samples made from Mollosil Plus (Detax, Ettlingen, Germany)—direct polysiloxan liner; and Plastitanium (Pressing Dental, San Marino, Republic of San Marino)—an injection-molded liner. A total of 198 samples were made, 99 of each assessed material. They were exposed to different cleaning methods—a toothbrush, a toothbrush and soap, a toothbrush and toothpaste (BlendaMed, Procter&Gamble, Cincinnati, OH, USA), a toothpaste and denture cleaning paste (Protefix Hygiene Denture Paste, Queisser Pharma, Germany), denture cleansing tablets (Protefix Hygiene Cleaning Tablets, Queisse Pharma, Germany), and a disinfecting spray (Aftermat, Port Jefferson Station, New York City, NY, USA)—for 1 min, 5 min, 10 min, and 15 min. The image acquisition was performed with scanning electron microscopy and samples were analyzed for the homogeneity of their surfaces—the presence of holes, grooves, precipitate, and small and large separating pieces of the material marking departures from this homogeneity. For each type of damage, one point was given. Continuous data from two groups were compared with Mann–Whitney U testing. Due to a small sample size and distribution of variables other than normal, to compare more than two groups, Kruskal–Wallis testing with post hoc analysis (Dunn test with Bonferroni correction) was used. Categorical data were compared with the chi-square test and the Fisher’s exact test. The Mollosil Plus material should be decontaminated with the use of a toothbrush or toothbrush with soap, while Plastitanium material should be disinfected. Plastitanium samples are more susceptible to damage during the decontamination procedures than Mollosil Plus.
Hydrogen Recovery by Mixed Matrix Membranes Made from 6FCl-APAF HPA with Different Contents of a Porous Polymer Network and Their Thermal Rearrangement
Authors: Soto Cenit , Torres-Cuevas Edwin S. , González-Ortega Alfonso , Palacio Laura , Prádanos Pedro , Freeman Benny D. , Lozano Ángel E. , Hernandez Antonio
Published: December 2021

Mixed matrix membranes (MMMs) consisting of a blend of a hydroxypolyamide (HPA) matrix and variable loads of a porous polymer network (PPN) were thermally treated to induce the transformation of HPA to polybenzoxazole (β-TR-PBO). Here, the HPA matrix was a hydroxypolyamide having two hexafluoropropyilidene moieties, 6FCl-APAF, while the PPN was prepared by reacting triptycene (TRP) and trifluoroacetophenone (TFAP) in a superacid solution. The most probable size of the PPN particles was 75 nm with quite large distributions. The resulting membranes were analyzed by SEM and AFM. Up to 30% PPN loads, both SEM and AFM images confirmed quite planar surfaces, at low scale, with limited roughness. Membranes with high hydrogen permeability and good selectivity for the gas pairs H2/CH4 and H2/N2 were obtained. For H2/CO2, selectivity almost vanished after thermal rearrangement. In all cases, their hydrogen permeability increased with increasing loads of PPN until around 30% PPN with ulterior fairly abrupt decreasing of permeability for all gases studied. Thermal rearrangement of the MMMs resulted in higher permeabilities but lower selectivities. For all the membranes and gas pairs studied, the balance of permeability vs. selectivity surpassed the 1991 Robeson’s upper bound, and approached or even exceeded the 2008 line, for MMMs having 30% PPN loads. In all cases, the HPA-MMMs before thermal rearrangement provided good selectivity versus permeability compromise, similar to their thermally rearranged counterparts but in the zone of high selectivity. For H2/CH4, H2/N2, these nonthermally rearranged MMMs approach the 2008 Robeson’s upper bound while H2/CO2 gives selective transport favoring H2 on the 1991 Robeson’s bound. Thus, attending to the energy cost of thermal rearrangement, it could be avoided in some cases especially when high selectivity is the target rather than high permeability.
Composite Polymers from Leather Waste to Produce Smart Fertilizers
Authors: Stefan Daniela , Bosomoiu Magdalena , Constantinescu Rodica , Ignat Madalina
Published: December 2021

The leather industry is facing important environmental issues related to waste disposal. The waste generated during the tanning process is an important resource of protein (mainly collagen) which can be extracted and reused in different applications (e.g., medical, agricultural, leather industry). On the other side, the utilization of chemical fertilizers must be decreased because of the negative effects associated to an extensive use of conventional chemical fertilizers. This review presents current research trends, challenges and future perspectives with respect to the use of hide waste to produce composite polymers that are further transformed in smart fertilizers. Hide waste contains mostly protein (collagen that is a natural polymer), that is extracted to be used in the cross-linking with water soluble copolymers to obtain the hydrogels which are further valorised as smart fertilizers. Smart fertilizers are a new class of fertilizers which allow the controlled release of the nutrients in synchronization with the plant’s demands. Characteristics of hide and leather wastes are pointed out. The fabrication methods of smart fertilizers and the mechanisms for the nutrients release are extensively discussed. This novel method is in agreement with the circular economy concepts and solves, on one side, the problem of hide waste disposal, and on the other side produces smart fertilizers that can successfully replace conventional chemical fertilizers.
Factors Determining the Involvement in Non-Religious Activities in the Parish: A Cross-Sectional Study of the Catholic Laity
Authors: Jurek Krzysztof , Plewko Jadwiga , Szyszka Małgorzata
Published: December 2021

Charitable activities of the Catholic Church in Poland are carried out primarily at two levels: national church organizations, diocesan and religious, and at the level of less formalized parish organizations. The data show a relatively low percentage of people who are strongly involved in parish activities and in non-religious (social, charitable) affairs of the parish community. The first purpose of this paper is to indicate the socio-demographic features that characterize people who are socially engaged. The second aim is to search for model regularities indicating determinants of social activity of parishioners. We conducted the research in parishes of Lublin Archdiocese in 2020. The research sample was 1867 people, of whom 70% were women. The average age of the respondents was 54.31 years. We have selected predictors that characterise the participants of the non-religious activities in the parish. Referring to the theoretical model of social participation and the concept of social capital, we have indicated the factors that shape the pro-social attitudes of parish members.
A Systematic Review on Recent Trends, Challenges, Privacy and Security Issues of Underwater Internet of Things
Authors: Mary Delphin Raj Kesari , Ko Eunbi , Kim Seung-Geun , Yum Sun-Ho , Shin Soo-Young , Park Soo-Hyun
Published: December 2021

Owing to the hasty growth of communication technologies in the Underwater Internet of Things (UIoT), many researchers and industries focus on enhancing the existing technologies of UIoT systems for developing numerous applications such as oceanography, diver networks monitoring, deep-sea exploration and early warning systems. In a constrained UIoT environment, communication media such as acoustic, infrared (IR), visible light, radiofrequency (RF) and magnet induction (MI) are generally used to transmit information via digitally linked underwater devices. However, each medium has its technical limitations: for example, the acoustic medium has challenges such as narrow-channel bandwidth, low data rate, high cost, etc., and optical medium has challenges such as high absorption, scattering, long-distance data transmission, etc. Moreover, the malicious node can steal the underwater data by employing blackhole attacks, routing attacks, Sybil attacks, etc. Furthermore, due to heavyweight, the existing privacy and security mechanism of the terrestrial internet of things (IoT) cannot be applied directly to UIoT environment. Hence, this paper aims to provide a systematic review of recent trends, applications, communication technologies, challenges, security threats and privacy issues of UIoT system. Additionally, this paper highlights the methods of preventing the technical challenges and security attacks of the UIoT environment. Finally, this systematic review contributes much to the profit of researchers to analyze and improve the performance of services in UIoT applications.
An Improved Backoff Scheme and Its Performance Analysis for Full Duplex MAC Protocols in VLC Networks
Authors: Sawa Yuta , Sanada Kosuke , Hatano Hiroyuki , Mori Kazuo
Published: December 2021

IEEE 802.15.7 Visible Light Communication (VLC) networks suffer from performance degradation caused by the hidden device collisions due to the directional transmission with narrow beamwidth. One of the solutions for mitigating the hidden device collisions is to employ a full-duplex transmission technique. As a side effect of the full-duplex transmission in the VLC networks, however, the data-packet discard due to the retransmission limitation occurs frequently in the networks. This paper proposes an improved backoff scheme and its performance analysis to suppress the packet discard. The proposed backoff scheme increases the Backoff Exponent (BE) and the Number of Backoff stage (NB) in IEEE 802.15.7 only when the data packet transmission fails. To evaluate the system performance theoretically, this paper also provides the Markov-chain model for channel access with the proposed scheme. The performance evaluations through simulation and theoretical analysis show the effectiveness of the proposed scheme.
A 5G-Enabled Smart Waste Management System for University Campus
Authors: Longo Edoardo , Sahin Fatih Alperen , Redondi Alessandro E. C. , Bolzan Patrizia , Bianchini Massimo , Maffei Stefano
Published: December 2021

Future university campuses will be characterized by a series of novel services enabled by the vision of Internet of Things, such as smart parking and smart libraries. In this paper, we propose a complete solution for a smart waste management system with the purpose of increasing the recycling rate in the campus and provide better management of the entire waste cycle. The system is based on a prototype of a smart waste bin, able to accurately classify pieces of trash typically produced in the campus premises with a hybrid sensor/image classification algorithm, as well as automatically segregate the different waste materials. We discuss the entire design of the system prototype, from the analysis of requirements to the implementation details and we evaluate its performance in different scenarios. Finally, we discuss advanced application functionalities built around the smart waste bin, such as optimized maintenance scheduling.
Phishing Website Detection Based on Deep Convolutional Neural Network and Random Forest Ensemble Learning
Authors: Yang Rundong , Zheng Kangfeng , Wu Bin , Wu Chunhua , Wang Xiujuan
Published: December 2021

Phishing has become one of the biggest and most effective cyber threats, causing hundreds of millions of dollars in losses and millions of data breaches every year. Currently, anti-phishing techniques require experts to extract phishing sites features and use third-party services to detect phishing sites. These techniques have some limitations, one of which is that extracting phishing features requires expertise and is time-consuming. Second, the use of third-party services delays the detection of phishing sites. Hence, this paper proposes an integrated phishing website detection method based on convolutional neural networks (CNN) and random forest (RF). The method can predict the legitimacy of URLs without accessing the web content or using third-party services. The proposed technique uses character embedding techniques to convert URLs into fixed-size matrices, extract features at different levels using CNN models, classify multi-level features using multiple RF classifiers, and, finally, output prediction results using a winner-take-all approach. On our dataset, a 99.35% accuracy rate was achieved using the proposed model. An accuracy rate of 99.26% was achieved on the benchmark data, much higher than that of the existing extreme model.
Feature Fusion of a Deep-Learning Algorithm into Wearable Sensor Devices for Human Activity Recognition
Authors: Yen Chih-Ta , Liao Jia-Xian , Huang Yi-Kai
Published: December 2021

This paper presents a wearable device, fitted on the waist of a participant that recognizes six activities of daily living (walking, walking upstairs, walking downstairs, sitting, standing, and laying) through a deep-learning algorithm, human activity recognition (HAR). The wearable device comprises a single-board computer (SBC) and six-axis sensors. The deep-learning algorithm employs three parallel convolutional neural networks for local feature extraction and for subsequent concatenation to establish feature fusion models of varying kernel size. By using kernels of different sizes, relevant local features of varying lengths were identified, thereby increasing the accuracy of human activity recognition. Regarding experimental data, the database of University of California, Irvine (UCI) and self-recorded data were used separately. The self-recorded data were obtained by having 21 participants wear the device on their waist and perform six common activities in the laboratory. These data were used to verify the proposed deep-learning algorithm on the performance of the wearable device. The accuracy of these six activities in the UCI dataset and in the self-recorded data were 97.49% and 96.27%, respectively. The accuracies in tenfold cross-validation were 99.56% and 97.46%, respectively. The experimental results have successfully verified the proposed convolutional neural network (CNN) architecture, which can be used in rehabilitation assessment for people unable to exercise vigorously.
Radio Channel Capacity with Directivity Control of Antenna Beams in Multipath Propagation Environment
Authors: Ziółkowski Cezary , Kelner Jan M. , Krygier Jarosław , Chandra Aniruddha , Prokeš Aleš
Published: December 2021

The basic technology that will determine the expansion of the technical capabilities of fifth generation cellular systems is a massive multiple-input-multiple-output. Therefore, assessing the influence of the antenna beam orientations on the radio channel capacity is very significant. In this case, the effects of mismatching the antenna beam directions are crucial. In this paper, the methodology for evaluating changes in the received signal power level due to beam misalignment for the transmitting and receiving antenna systems is presented. The quantitative assessment of this issue is presented based on simulation studies carried out for an exemplary propagation scenario. For non-line-of-sight (NLOS) conditions, it is shown that the optimal selection of the transmitting and receiving beam directions may ensure an increase in the level of the received signal by several decibels in relation to the coaxial position of the beams. The developed methodology makes it possible to analyze changes in the radio channel capacity versus the signal-to-noise ratio and distance between the transmitter and receiver at optimal and coaxial orientations of antenna beams for various propagation scenarios, considering NLOS conditions. In the paper, the influence of the directional antenna use and their direction choices on the channel capacity versus SNR and the distance between the transmitter and receiver is shown.
Simultaneous Determination of Droplet Size, pH Value and Concentration to Evaluate the Aging Behavior of Metalworking Fluids
Authors: Wahrendorff Patrick , Stefanakis Mona , Steinbach Julia C. , Allnoch Dominik , Zuber Ralf , Kapfhammer Ralf , Brecht Marc , Kandelbauer Andreas , Rebner Karsten
Published: December 2021

Metalworking fluids (MWFs) are widely used to cool and lubricate metal workpieces during processing to reduce heat and friction. Extending a MWF’s service life is of importance from both economical and ecological points of view. Knowledge about the effects of processing conditions on the aging behavior and reliable analytical procedures are required to properly characterize the aging phenomena. While so far no quantitative estimations of ageing effects on MWFs have been described in the literature other than univariate ones based on single parameter measurements, in the present study we present a simple spectroscopy-based set-up for the simultaneous monitoring of three quality parameters of MWF and a mathematical model relating them to the most influential process factors relevant during use. For this purpose, the effects of MWF concentration, pH and nitrite concentration on the droplet size during aging were investigated by means of a response surface modelling approach. Systematically varied model MWF fluids were characterized using simultaneous measurements of absorption coefficients µa and effective scattering coefficients µ’s. Droplet size was determined via dynamic light scattering (DLS) measurements. Droplet size showed non-linear dependence on MWF concentration and pH, but the nitrite concentration had no significant effect. pH and MWF concentration showed a strong synergistic effect, which indicates that MWF aging is a rather complex process. The observed effects were similar for the DLS and the µ’s values, which shows the comparability of the methodologies. The correlations of the methods were R2c = 0.928 and R2P = 0.927, as calculated by a partial least squares regression (PLS-R) model. Furthermore, using µa, it was possible to generate a predictive PLS-R model for MWF concentration (R2c = 0.890, R2P = 0.924). Simultaneous determination of the pH based on the µ’s is possible with good accuracy (R²c = 0.803, R²P = 0.732). With prior knowledge of the MWF concentration using the µa-PLS-R model, the predictive capability of the µ’s-PLS-R model for pH was refined (10 wt%: R²c = 0.998, R²p = 0.997). This highlights the relevance of the combined measurement of µa and µ’s. Recognizing the synergistic nature of the effects of MWF concentration and pH on the droplet size is an important prerequisite for extending the service life of an MWF in the metalworking industry. The presented method can be applied as an in-process analytical tool that allows one to compensate for ageing effects during use of the MWF by taking appropriate corrective measures, such as pH correction or adjustment of concentration.
Measurement Noise Covariance-Adapting Kalman Filters for Varying Sensor Noise Situations
Authors: Chhabra Anirudh , Venepally Jashwanth Rao , Kim Donghoon
Published: December 2021

An accurate and reliable positioning system (PS) is a significant topic of research due to its broad range of aerospace applications, such as the localization of autonomous agents in GPS-denied and indoor environments. The PS discussed in this work uses ultra-wide band (UWB) sensors to provide distance measurements. UWB sensors are based on radio frequency technology and offer low power consumption, wide bandwidth, and precise ranging in the presence of nominal environmental noise. However, in practical situations, UWB sensors experience varying measurement noise due to unexpected obstacles in the environment. The localization accuracy is highly dependent on the filtering of such noise, and the extended Kalman filter (EKF) is one of the widely used techniques. In varying noise situations, where the obstacles generate larger measurement noise than nominal levels, EKF cannot offer precise results. Therefore, this work proposes two approaches based on EKF: sequential adaptive EKF and piecewise adaptive EKF. Simulation studies are conducted in static, linear, and nonlinear scenarios, and it is observed that higher accuracy is achieved by applying the proposed approaches as compared to the traditional EKF method.
Extraction and Back-Extraction Behaviors of La(III), Ce(III), Pr(III), and Nd(III) Single Rare Earth and Mixed Rare Earth by TODGA
Authors: Qiu Lina , Li Jiandi , Zhang Weiwei , Gong Aijun , Yuan Xiaotao , Liu Yang
Published: December 2021

N,N,N′,N′-Tetraoctyl diglycolamide (TODGA), as a new extraction agent, is effective for its excellent performance and low environmental hazard, and it is very welcome for the rare earth separation process. In this paper, by controlling the extraction time, diluent type, acid type and its concentration, rare earth concentration, etc., the optimum extraction and back-extraction effects of TODGA on La(III), Ce(III), Pr(III), and Nd(III) and mixed rare earths were obtained. The experiment showed that 0.10 mol·L−1 TODGA had the best extraction effect on single rare earth under the conditions of using petroleum ether as diluent, 5 mol·L−1 nitric acid, 20 min extraction time, and 0.01 mol·L−1 rare earth. In the mixed rare earth extraction, the percentage concentrations of La(III), Ce(III), Pr(III), and Nd(III) could be achieved from 21.7%, 19.9%, 30.8%, and 22.2% at the initial stage to 90.5%, 37%, 51%, and 62% after extraction, respectively, by controlling the number of back-extraction cycles and the concentrations of hydrochloric acid and nitric acid in the back-extraction system. The TODGA–rare earth carrier system showed the best back-extraction effect when the hydrochloric acid concentration was 1 mol·L−1 and the back-extraction time was 20 min. At the same time, the mixed rare earth liquid system with low initial concentration was selected for extraction and separation of mixed rare earth. The separation effect was better, and the recovery rate was higher than that of mixed rare earth liquid system with a high initial concentration.
Instantaneous, Dual-Frequency, Multi-GNSS Precise RTK Positioning Using Google Pixel 4 and Samsung Galaxy S20 Smartphones for Zero and Short Baselines
Authors: Yong Chien Zheng , Odolinski Robert , Zaminpardaz Safoora , Moore Michael , Rubinov Eldar , Er Jeremiah , Denham Mike
Published: December 2021

The recent development of the smartphone Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) chipsets, such as Broadcom BCM47755 and Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 embedded, makes instantaneous and cm level real-time kinematic (RTK) positioning possible with Android-based smartphones. In this contribution we investigate the instantaneous single-baseline RTK performance of Samsung Galaxy S20 and Google Pixel 4 (GP4) smartphones with such chipsets, while making use of dual-frequency L1 + L5 Global Positioning System (GPS), E1 + E5a Galileo, L1 + L5 Quasi-Zenith Satellite System (QZSS) and B1 BeiDou Navigation Satellite System (BDS) code and phase observations in Dunedin, New Zealand. The effects of locating the smartphones in an upright and lying down position were evaluated, and we show that the choice of smartphone configuration can affect the positioning performance even in a zero-baseline setup. In particular, we found non-zero mean and linear trends in the double-differenced carrier-phase residuals for one of the smartphone models when lying down, which become absent when in an upright position. This implies that the two assessed smartphones have different antenna gain pattern and antenna sensitivity to interferences. Finally, we demonstrate, for the first time, a near hundred percent (98.7% to 99.9%) instantaneous RTK integer least-squares success rate for one of the smartphone models and cm level positioning precision while using short-baseline experiments with internal and external antennas, respectively.
Effect of Ultrasound-Assisted Pretreatment on Extraction Efficiency of Essential Oil and Bioactive Compounds from Citrus Waste By-Products
Authors: Sandhu Harloveleen Kaur , Sinha Prachi , Emanuel Neela , Kumar Nishant , Sami Rokayya , Khojah Ebtihal , Al-Mushhin Amina A. M.
Published: December 2021

Waste or by-product use is in focus for reducing the environmental threat and acquiring wealth out of waste. The current study aim was to investigate the effects of ultrasound pretreatment on the extraction of bioactive compounds and composition of essential oils extracted from citrus waste. The response surface methodology (RSM) was used to optimize higher yield extraction parameters. Pretreatment of ultrasound-assisted extraction recovered 33% enhanced yield with reduced time and was economical as compared to conventional hydro-distilled process. The functional quality of essential oil was determined using FTIR and GC-MS. Antioxidants from citrus peel and pulp/pomace were extracted and analyzed by spectroscopic techniques. The quantification of bioactive compounds from citrus waste was performed using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Mass transfer rate of antioxidants from peel and pomace were 30% increased as a result of ultrasound-assisted treatment. The significantly (p ≤ 0.05) higher TPC (735.54 mg/100 g) and antioxidant activity (44.26%) was recorded in Citrus sinensis Pulp and peel respectively. The bioactive compounds such as hesperidin (31.52 mg/100 g) was significantly higher in (p ≤ 0.05) in Citrus sinensis pulnd extract. Vanillin was found 1.21 mg/100 g in peel extract of citrus fruit, moreover vanillin was not detected in pulp extract. Myrecitin was not detected in both the samples. The bioactive natural compounds extracted from citrus peel can be used in food and pharma sector as natural anti-oxidantcompounds.
Nodding Syndrome: A Scoping Review
Authors: Abd-Elfarag Gasim Omer Elkhalifa , Edridge Arthur Wouter Dante , Spijker René , Sebit Mohamed Boy , van Hensbroek Michaël B.
Published: December 2021

Nodding syndrome (NS) is a debilitating yet often neglected neurological disease affecting thousands of children in several sub-Saharan African countries. The cause of NS remains unknown, and effective treatment options are lacking. Moreover, knowledge regarding NS is scarce and is based on a limited number of publications, with no comprehensive overview published to date. Therefore, the aim of this scoping review was to summarise the current evidence and identify existing knowledge gaps in order to help clinicians, scientists, and policymakers develop guidelines for prioritising this severe condition. We searched the Medline (Ovid), Embase (Ovid), Scopus, and Global Health Library databases in accordance with the PRISMA extension for scoping review guidance and in accordance with the Joanna Briggs Institute guidelines and methodology for a scoping review, using keywords describing NS. We then extracted and presented the original data regarding the epidemiology, aetiology, pathophysiology, clinical features, diagnosis, management, and outcomes of NS, as well as community perceptions and the psychosocial and economic impact of NS. Out of 1470 identified articles, a total of 69 were included in this scoping review. Major gaps exist in understanding the aetiology and pathogenesis of NS. Future research is urgently needed not only to address these gaps, but also to study the treatment options, epidemiology, and psychosocial and economic impacts of NS. Innovative interventions and rehabilitation programmes designed to address the psychosocial and economic burdens associated with NS are also urgently needed.
SARS-CoV-2 and Variant Diagnostic Testing Approaches in the United States
Authors: Thomas Emmanuel , Delabat Stephanie , Carattini Yamina L. , Andrews David M.
Published: December 2021

Purpose of Review Given the rapid development of diagnostic approaches to test for and diagnose infection with SARS-CoV-2 and its associated variants including Omicron (B.1.1.529), many options are available to diagnose infection. Multiple established diagnostic companies are now providing testing platforms whereas initially, testing was being performed with simple PCR-based tests using standard laboratory reagents. Recent Findings Additional testing platforms continue to be developed, including those to detect specific variants, but challenges with testing, including obtaining testing reagents and other related supplies, are frequently encountered. With time, the testing supply chain has improved, and more established companies are providing materials to support these testing efforts. In the United States (U.S.), the need for rapid assay development and subsequent approval through the attainment of emergency use authorization (EUA) has superseded the traditional arduous diagnostic testing approval workflow mandated by the FDA. Through these efforts, the U.S. has been able to continue to significantly increase its testing capabilities to address this pandemic; however, challenges still remain due to the diversity of the performance characteristics of tests being utilized and newly discovered viral variants. Summary This review provides an overview of the current diagnostic testing landscape, with pertinent information related to SARS-CoV-2 virology, variants and antibody responses that are available to diagnose infection in the U.S.
Historical Water Supply System of the City of Brno—Social-Environmental Consequences
Authors: Honek David , Forejtníková Milena , Rozkošný Miloš , Vyskočil Aleš
Published: December 2021

This paper provides a detailed look into the historical development of the water supply system of a big industrial city and its impact on the river environment and needs of the wastewater treatment system. The city of Brno, Czech Republic, was chosen for this study because it has a long history in the field of water supply, and the city has changed rapidly over the last 200 years. The city’s development necessitated an adaptation of drinking water sources, most significantly the use of the Březová nad Svitavou facility, which resulted in a change of condition of the Svitava River. The notable decrease in river flow, aided by industrial development of settlements within the Svitava River catchment between 1850 and 1950, strongly contributed to the spread of river pollution. However, the construction of wastewater treatment plants during recent decades led to a restoration of river quality and, consequently, of the entire environment of the Svitava River catchment. This paper also presents a view on activities connected with the long term surface water quality monitoring and improvement with regard to water quality conditions in spring areas and the river network influenced by the water supply system.
Determination of Water Quality Characteristics and Nutrient Exchange Flux at the Sediment—Water Interface of the Yitong River in Changchun City, China
Authors: Zhao Ke , Fu Hang , Wang Qian , Lu Hai
Published: December 2021

In this paper, the characteristics of water pollution in Yitong River were analyzed by the comprehensive pollution index method. Combined with the pore water concentration gradient method and Fick’s first law, the release characteristics of nutrients at the sediment–water interface of Yitong River (Jilin Province, China) were studied. The results showed that the distribution trend of nitrogen and phosphorus content in the overlying and interstitial water of the Yitong River was the same, and the highest values appeared at the S3 and S5 points in the urban section. The water quality was mainly affected by nitrogen pollutants in domestic sewage. The evaluation results of the water quality comprehensive pollution index showed that the pollution degree of interstitial water in urban areas was much higher than that of the overlying water, and the endogenous nitrogen and phosphorus pollutants had the risk of diffusion to the overlying water. The exchange flux analysis of ammonia nitrogen (NH4+-N), total dissolved nitrogen (TDN), and total dissolved phosphorus (TDP) in water showed that the diffusion flux of NH4+-N ranged from 0.03 to 6.52 mg·(m2·d)−1, and the sediment was the “source” of ammonia nitrogen pollutants. The range of TDN diffusion flux was −1.57 to 11.6 mg·(m2·d) −1, and the difference between points was large. The sediment was both the “source” and “sink” of nitrogen pollutants. The range of TDP diffusion flux was −0.05 to 0.22 mg·(m2·d) −1. Except for point S8, the TDP diffused from sediment into the water body. Among all the sampling points, the diffusion fluxes of NH4+-N, TDN, and TDP at the S3 point were the largest, the release rate of endogenous pollutants was the most rapid, and the pollution to the water quality was the most serious. The results are of great significance to the exchange flux of nutrients at the sediment–water interface of rivers and the prevention and control of water eutrophication. It also provides a reference for the study of nutrient exchange flux at the sediment–water interface of rivers and other surface water bodies worldwide.
Assessment of Climatic and Anthropogenic Controls on Bridge Deck Drainage and Sediment Removal
Authors: Michalek Alexander , Husic Admin , Roundy Joshua , Hansen Amy T.
Published: December 2021

Bridge deck drainage is essential to prevent hydroplaning and maintain safety along major roadways. With projected changes in climate, current designs may not be sufficient and a better understanding of the primary controls (climate, bridge deck, and inlet design) on the hydraulic efficiency and sediment removal of drainage systems is needed to maintain public safety. To evaluate the controls on hydraulic drainage efficiency, 576 controlled laboratory experiments were conducted testing grate type (rectangular bar vs. curved vane) and downspout configuration (square vs. circular and 20 cm vs. 25 cm) across a range of flow rates, cross slopes, and longitudinal slopes. An additional 144 sediment erosion experiments were performed to identify controls on the removal of sediment. Hydraulic testing indicated that inflow driven by climate is a primary control on drainage efficiency and spread of water on a roadway. For anthropogenic controls, downspout opening size was found to be the primary control followed by longitudinal slope. Sediment removal results indicated that inflow regime and grate type were the primary controls on the sediment removal rate. Given that inflow, driven by climate, is a control on both hydraulic and sediment removal performance, hydraulic engineers should consider forecasted changes in rainfall intensity in their present-day drainage designs. We provide design guidance and discussion for developing a proactive approach to hydraulic infrastructure in the face of future climate uncertainty.
Semiotics of digital cacogastromania
Authors: Marino Gabriele
Published: December 2021

cucinaremale (“badcooking” or “cookingbadly”) is an Italian Facebook group created in 2014 which now (February 2020) counts more than 126,000 members. It was conceived to let members post their everyday culinary disasters and amusingly show solidarity with each other, while struggling in a cruel world where — as the official description suggests — everybody seems to have become a professional cook, capable of distinguishing even the different types of salt on the market: “Enough with this craze for cooking: hurray for pre-cooked food!”. The article proposes an analysis of the culinary ideologies at stake and a typology of the textual practices carried out by the cattivicuochi (“badcooks”). cucinaremale provides a true manifesto against the global food craze better known as gastromania — a true cacogastromania (“bad gastromania” or “mania for the bad food”).