bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Multi-Criteria Decision Making Methods for Selection of Lightweight Material for Railway Vehicles
Authors: Sharma Varun , Zivic Fatima , Adamovic Dragan , Ljusic Petar , Kotorcevic Nikola , Slavkovic Vukasin , Grujovic Nenad
Published: January 2023

This paper deals with the selection of the optimal material for railway wagons, from among three different steel and three aluminium based materials, by using four different Multicriteria Decision Making Methods (MCDM) and comparing their ranking of the materials. We analysed: Dual-Phase 600 steel, Transformation-Induced Plasticity (TRIP) 700 steel, Twinning-Induced Plasticity (TWIP) steel, Aluminium (Al) alloys, Al 6005-T6, and Al 6082-T6, and porous Al structure with closed cells. Four different MCDM methods were used: VIKOR, TOPSIS, PROMETTHEE and the Weighted aggregated sum product assessment method (WASPAS). Key material properties that were used in the MCDM analysis were: density, yield strength (Y.S.), tensile strength (T.S.), Y.S./T.S. ratio, Youngs modulus (Y.M.), cost and corrosion resistance (C.R.). Research results indicate that aluminium and its alloys prove to be the most suitable material, based on setup criteria. Advanced steels also achieved good ranking, making them a valid option, immediately behind lightweight aluminium alloys. Porous aluminium did not perform well, according to the used MDCM methods, mainly due to the significantly lower strength exhibited by the porous structures in general.
Hot Deformation Behavior of TA1 Prepared by Electron Beam Cold Hearth Melting with a Single Pass
Authors: Zhang Zhibo , Huang Weiwei , Zhao Weidong , Sun Xiaoyuan , Ji Haohang , Yin Shubiao , Chen Jin , Gao Lei
Published: January 2023

The Gleeble-3800 thermal simulator was used for hot compression simulation to understand the hot deformation performance of TA1 prepared by the single-pass electron beam cold hearth (EB) process. The deformation degree is 50% on a thermal simulator when the temperature range is 700–900 °C, with a strain rate of 0.01–10−1 s. According to the thermal deformation data, the true stress-strain curve of TA1 was studied. Meanwhile, the constitutive model and processing map were established through the experimental data. These results indicate that the deformation temperature negatively affects strain rate and flow stress. The heat deformation activation energy of EB produced TA1 sample was lower than that of VAR produced TA1 sample in the studied range. The best processing areas of EB-produced TA1 were strain rates of 0.05–0.01 s−1, within 700–770 °C; or strain rates of 0.01–0.15 s−1; 840–900 °C. The results of this paper enrich the fundamental knowledge of the thermal deformation behavior of TA1 prepared by EB furnaces.
On Transformation Form-Invariance in Thermal Convection
Authors: Dai Gaole , Wang Jun
Published: January 2023

Over the past two decades, effective control of physical fields, such as light fields or acoustics fields, has greatly benefited from transforming media. One of these rapidly growing research areas is transformation thermotics, especially embodied in the thermal conductive and radiative modes. On the other hand, transformation media in thermal convection has seldom been studied due to the complicated governing equations involving both fluid motion and heat transfer terms. The difficulty lies in the robustness of form invariance in the Navier–Stokes equations or their simplified forms under coordinate transformations, which determines whether the transformation operations can be executed on thermal convection to simultaneously regulate the flow and thermal fields. In this work, we show that thermal convection in two-dimensional Hele–Shaw cells keeps form-invariance, while its counterpart in general creeping flows or general laminar flows does not. This conclusion is numerically verified by checking the performances of invisible devices made of transformation media in convective environments. We further exploit multilayered structures constituted of isotropic homogeneous natural materials to realize the anisotropic inhomogeneous properties required for transformation media. Our results clarify the long-term confusion about the validation of the transformation method in thermal convection and provide a rigorous foundation and classical paradigm on inspiring various fascinating metadevices in both thermal and flow fields.
A Phase-Field Model for In-Space Manufacturing of Binary Alloys
Authors: Ghosh Manoj , Hendy Muhannad , Raush Jonathan , Momeni Kasra
Published: January 2023

The integrity of the final printed components is mostly dictated by the adhesion between the particles and phases that form upon solidification, which is a major problem in printing metallic parts using available In-Space Manufacturing (ISM) technologies based on the Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) methodology. Understanding the melting/solidification process helps increase particle adherence and allows to produce components with greater mechanical integrity. We developed a phase-field model of solidification for binary alloys. The phase-field approach is unique in capturing the microstructure with computationally tractable costs. The developed phase-field model of solidification of binary alloys satisfies the stability conditions at all temperatures. The suggested model is tuned for Ni-Cu alloy feedstocks. We derived the Ginzburg-Landau equations governing the phase transformation kinetics and solved them analytically for the dilute solution. We calculated the concentration profile as a function of interface velocity for a one-dimensional steady-state diffuse interface neglecting elasticity and obtained the partition coefficient, k, as a function of interface velocity. Numerical simulations for the diluted solution are used to study the interface velocity as a function of undercooling for the classic sharp interface model, partitionless solidification, and thin interface.
Production of Activated Biochar Derived from Residual Biomass for Adsorption of Volatile Organic Compounds
Authors: David Elena
Published: January 2023

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) released in air represent a major potential for environmental pollution. Capture methods based on activated biochar have attracted attention because of their low cost and for the high removal capacity of the material due to its physical and chemical properties. In this paper, activated biochars were developed and their adsorption performance for VOC capture was evaluated. In the first step, biochars derived from rapeseed cake (RSC) and walnut shells (WSC) were obtained through a carbonization process and then were activated using basic/acid agents (KOH/H2SO4) to increase their performance as adsorbents. Acetone and toluene were used as the VOC templates. The adsorption capacities of toluene and acetone for non-activated biochars were reduced (26.65 mg/g), while that of activated biochars increased quite significantly, up to 166.72 mg/g, and the biochars activated with H2SO4 presented a higher adsorption capacity of VOCs than the biochars activated with KOH. The higher adsorption capacity of biochars activated with H2SO4 can be attributed to their large surface area, and also to their larger pore volume. This activated biochar adsorbent could be used with good results to equip air purification filters to capture and remove VOCs.
Evaluation of the Role of the Activating Application Method in the Cold Sintering Process of ZnO Ceramics Using Ammonium Chloride
Authors: Smirnov Andrey V. , Kornyushin Maxim V. , Kholodkova Anastasia A. , Melnikov Sergey A. , Stepanov Artem D. , Fesik Elena V. , Mnatsakanyan Vilen V. , Smirnov Anton , Ivakin Yurii D.
Published: January 2023

The influence of the method of applying the activating additive ammonium chloride and its concentration on the density and microstructure of zinc oxide ceramic obtained by cold sintering at 244 °C was investigated. The activating agent was applied by two methods: impregnation and subsequent autoclave treatment. When the powder was activated by the impregnation method, the crystal sizes remained at the initial level of 0.17–0.19 μm. After the autoclave treatment, the crystal sizes increased to 0.31–0.53 μm. Samples of cold sintering ZnO with relative density up to 0.96 and average grain sizes 0.29–0.86 μm were obtained. ZnO powders and ceramic samples were analyzed using SEM, TGA/DSC, and XRD to reveal the effect of the powder activation method and cold sintering conditions on the material microstructure. The effect of ammonium chloride concentration on grain growth and microstructure of ceramic samples is shown. It was found that the average grain size of ceramic samples with an increase in additive concentration passes through a minimum. In cold sintering of the autoclave activated powder, the effect of reducing the average grain size was observed. The results of this work are discussed on the basis of the idea of the solid-phase mobility of the crystal structure arising when interacting with an aqueous medium.
Electrodeposition of Bi from Choline Chloride-Malonic Acid Deep Eutectic Solvent
Authors: Cao Xiaozhou , Wang Hao , Liu Tianrui , Shi Yuanyuan , Xue Xiangxin
Published: January 2023

Deep eutectic solvent (DES) has been widely used in the field of metal electrodeposition as an economical and environmentally friendly green solvent. Metallic bismuth films were prepared by electrodeposition from choline chloride-malonic acid (ChCl-MA) deep eutectic solvent (DES) containing BiCl3. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and Raman spectroscopy were used to study the structure of ChCl-MA-BiCl3, and the results showed that Bi(III) was in the form of [BiCl6]3− ions. The viscosity of ChCl-MA-BiCl3 ranges from 200 to 1200 mPa·s at temperatures from 363 K to 323 K. The conductivity of 0.01 M Bi(III) in ChCl–MA is 3.24 ms·cm−1 at 363 K. The electrochemical behavior and electrodeposition of Bi(III) in DES were investigated by cyclic voltammetry (CV) and chronoamperometry. The results showed that the electrodeposition reaction was a quasi-reversible reaction controlled by the diffusion and the nucleation of bismuth was a three-dimensional instantaneous nucleation. The diffusion coefficient of Bi(III) in ChCl-MA was 1.84 × 10−9 cm2·s−1. The electrodeposition product was observed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and the results showed that the deposition potential has a significant influence on the morphology of the bismuth film. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) shows that bismuth and bismuth oxides are present in the deposited film obtained by electrodeposition.
Refined Composite Multiscale Fluctuation Dispersion Entropy and Supervised Manifold Mapping for Planetary Gearbox Fault Diagnosis
Authors: Su Haocheng , Wang Zhenya , Cai Yuxiang , Ding Jiaxin , Wang Xinglong , Yao Ligang
Published: January 2023

A novel fault diagnosis scheme was developed to address the difficulty of feature extraction for planetary gearboxes using refined composite multiscale fluctuation dispersion entropy (RCMFDE) and supervised manifold mapping. The RCMFDE was first utilized in this scheme to fully mine fault features from planetary gearbox signals under multiple scales. Subsequently, as a supervised manifold mapping method, supervised isometric mapping (S-Iso) was applied to decrease the dimensions of the original features and remove redundant information. Lastly, the marine predator algorithm-based support vector machine (MPA-SVM) classifier was employed to achieve intelligent fault diagnosis of planetary gearboxes. The suggested RCMFDE combines the composite coarse-grained construction and refined computing technology, overcoming unstable and invalid entropy in the traditional multiscale fluctuation dispersion entropy. Simulation experiments and fault diagnosis experiments from a real planetary gearbox drive system show that the complexity measure capability and feature extraction effectiveness of the proposed RCMFDE outperform the multiscale fluctuation dispersion entropy (MFDE) and multi-scale permutation entropy (MPE). The S-Iso’s visualization results and dimensionality reduction performance are better than principal components analysis (PCA), linear discriminant analysis (LDA), and isometric mapping (Isomap). Moreover, the suggested fault diagnosis scheme has an accuracy rate of 100% in identifying bearing and gear defects in planetary gearboxes.
Recent Advancements in Agriculture Robots: Benefits and Challenges
Authors: Cheng Chao , Fu Jun , Su Hang , Ren Luquan
Published: January 2023

In the development of digital agriculture, agricultural robots play a unique role and confer numerous advantages in farming production. From the invention of the first industrial robots in the 1950s, robots have begun to capture the attention of both research and industry. Thanks to the recent advancements in computer science, sensing, and control approaches, agricultural robots have experienced a rapid evolution, relying on various cutting-edge technologies for different application scenarios. Indeed, significant refinements have been achieved by integrating perception, decision-making, control, and execution techniques. However, most agricultural robots continue to require intelligence solutions, limiting them to small-scale applications without quantity production because of their lack of integration with artificial intelligence. Therefore, to help researchers and engineers grasp the prevalent research status of agricultural robots, in this review we refer to more than 100 pieces of literature according to the category of agricultural robots under discussion. In this context, we bring together diverse agricultural robot research statuses and applications and discuss the benefits and challenges involved in further applications. Finally, directional indications are put forward with respect to the research trends relating to agricultural robots.
Preface to “Applications of Partial Differential Equations in Engineering”
Authors: Ureña Francisco , García Ángel , Vargas Antonio M.
Published: January 2023

Many problems in the broad spectrum of science require the solution of a partial differential equation [...]
Higher-Order Associativity in Field Algebras
Authors: Kim Namhoon
Published: January 2023

Field algebras were defined by Bakalov and Kac as an associative analogue of vertex algebras. We define the notion of higher-order associativity for field algebras and construct examples to show that higher-order associativity imposes a strictly stronger condition on field algebras than lower-order associativity.
Reliability Tests as a Strategy for the Sustainability of Products and Production Processes—A Case Study
Authors: Realyvásquez-Vargas Arturo , Robles-Heredia Ramón , García-Alcaraz Jorge Luis , Díaz-Reza José Roberto
Published: January 2023

Nowadays, manufacturing companies are looking to improve their sustainability to respond to the market and customers’ demands for sustainable products. Therefore, companies must improve their production processes to increase sustainability (economic, environmental, social, technological, efficiency, energy, performance management, manufacturing, and quality). This paper presents a case study of a manufacturing company located in Tijuana (Mexico) that produces wired and wireless communication devices. Previously, this company developed four projects to produce Universal Serial Buses (USB) and their duration should have been no more than 2 weeks; however, these lasted from 2.7 to 4.5 weeks. Moreover, different types of defects were also identified and, currently, the company is carrying out a project to develop a headset model. This research aims to demonstrate the application of reliability testing for the sustainability of products and manufacturing processes by reducing project development times and defects. The failure mode and effect analysis (FMEA), design of experiments (DOE), and analysis of variance (ANOVA) techniques are applied. The results indicated that the time between the start and completion of the headset project was 1.8 weeks, which is below the company’s limit of 2 weeks and, additionally, defects were reduced significantly compared to previous projects. Based on the findings, it is concluded that applying statistical tools improves the sustainability of production processes and products. This implies that manufacturing companies can increase their sustainability indexes by reducing their processes/tasks times and the number of defective parts, increasing quality and customer satisfaction.
ζ-Conformally Flat LP-Kenmotsu Manifolds and Ricci–Yamabe Solitons
Authors: Haseeb Abdul , Bilal Mohd , Chaubey Sudhakar K. , Ahmadini Abdullah Ali H.
Published: January 2023

In the present paper, we characterize m-dimensional ζ-conformally flat LP-Kenmotsu manifolds (briefly, (LPK)m) equipped with the Ricci–Yamabe solitons (RYS) and gradient Ricci–Yamabe solitons (GRYS). It is proven that the scalar curvature r of an (LPK)m admitting an RYS satisfies the Poisson equation Δr=4(m−1)δ{β(m−1)+ρ}+2(m−3)r−4m(m−1)(m−2), where ρ,δ(≠0)∈R. In this sequel, the condition for which the scalar curvature of an (LPK)m admitting an RYS holds the Laplace equation is established. We also give an affirmative answer for the existence of a GRYS on an (LPK)m. Finally, a non-trivial example of an LP-Kenmotsu manifold (LPK) of dimension four is constructed to verify some of our results.
A Complete Procedure for a Constraint-Type Fictitious Time Integration Method to Solve Nonlinear Multi-Dimensional Elliptic Partial Differential Equations
Authors: Chen Yung-Wei , Shen Jian-Hung , Chang Yen-Shen , Tan Ching-Chuan
Published: January 2023

In this paper, an efficient and straightforward numerical procedure is constructed to solve multi-dimensional linear and nonlinear elliptic partial differential equations (PDEs). Although the numerical procedure for the constraint-type fictitious time integration method overcomes the numerical stability problem, the parameter’s definition, numerical accuracy and computational efficiency have not been resolved, and the lack of initial guess values results in reduced computational efficiency. Therefore, the normalized two-point boundary value solution of the Lie-group shooting method is proposed and considered in the numerical procedure to avoid the problem of the initial guess value. Then, a space-time variable, including the minimal fictitious time step and convergence rate factor, is introduced to study the relationship between the initial guess value and convergence rate factor. Some benchmark numerical examples are tested. As the results show, this numerical procedure using the normalized boundary value solution can significantly converge within one step, and the numerical accuracy is better than that demonstrated in the previous literature.
Privacy-Preserving Data Aggregation Scheme Based on Federated Learning for IIoT
Authors: Hongbin Fan , Zhi Zhou
Published: January 2023

The extensive application of the Internet of Things in the industrial field has formed the industrial Internet of Things (IIoT). By analyzing and training data from the industrial Internet of Things, intelligent manufacturing can be realized. Due to privacy concerns, the industrial data of various institutions cannot be shared, which forms data islands. To address this challenge, we propose a privacy-preserving data aggregation federated learning (PPDAFL) scheme for the IIoT. In federated learning, data aggregation is adopted to protect model changes and provide data security for industrial devices. By utilizing a practical Byzantine fault tolerance (PBFT) algorithm, each round selects an IIoT device from each aggregation area as the data aggregation and initialization node, and uses data aggregation to protect the model changes of a single user while resisting reverse analysis attacks from the industrial management center. The Paillier cryptosystem and secret sharing are combined to realize data security, fault tolerance, and data sharing. A security analysis and performance evaluation show that the scheme reduces computation and communication overheads while guaranteeing data privacy, message authenticity, and integrity.
Single Image Super-Resolution Reconstruction with Preservation of Structure and Texture Details
Authors: Zhang Yafei , Huang Yuqing , Wang Kaizheng , Qi Guanqiu , Zhu Jinting
Published: January 2023

In recent years, deep-learning-based single image super-resolution reconstruction has achieved good performance. However, most existing methods pursue a high peak signal-to-noise ratio (PSNR), while ignoring the quality of the structure and texture details, resulting in unsatisfactory performance of the reconstruction results in terms of human subjective perception. To solve this issue, this paper proposes a structure- and texture-preserving image super-resolution reconstruction method. Specifically, two different network branches are used to extract features for image structure and texture details. A dual-coordinate direction perception attention (DCDPA) mechanism is designed to highlight structure and texture features. The attention mechanism fully considers the complementarity and directionality of multi-scale image features and effectively avoids information loss and possible distortion of image structure and texture details during image reconstruction. Additionally, a cross-fusion mechanism is designed to comprehensively utilize structure and texture information for super-resolution image reconstruction, which effectively integrates the structure and texture details extracted by the two branch networks. Extensive experiments verify the effectiveness of the proposed method and its superiority over existing methods.
A Transformation-Based Improved Kriging Method for the Black Box Problem in Reliability-Based Design Optimization
Authors: Lu Li , Wu Yizhong , Zhang Qi , Qiao Ping
Published: January 2023

In order to overcome the drawbacks of expensive function evaluation in the practical reliability-based design optimization (RBDO) problem, researchers have proposed the black box-based RBDO method. The algorithm flow of the commonly employed RBDO method for the black box problem consists of the outer construction loop of the surrogate model of the constraint function and the inner surrogate model-based solving loop. To improve the solving ability of the black box RBDO problem, this paper proposes a transformation-based improved kriging method to increase the effectiveness of the two loops identified above. For the outer loop, a sample distribution-based learning function is suggested to improve the construction efficiency of the surrogate model of the constraint function. For the inner loop, a paired incremental sample-based limit reliability boundary construction approach is suggested to transform the RBDO problem into an equivalent deterministic design optimization problem that can be efficiently solved by classical optimization algorithms. The test results of five cases demonstrate that the proposed method can accurately construct the surrogate model of the constraint function and efficiently solve the black box RBDO problem.
Queueing Inventory System in Transport Problem
Authors: Al Maqbali Khamis A. K. , Joshua Varghese C. , Mathew Ambily P. , Krishnamoorthy Achyutha
Published: January 2023

In this paper, we consider the batch arrival of customers to a transport station. Customers belonging to each category is considered as a single entity according to a BMMAP. An Erlang clock of order m starts ticking when the transport vessel reaches the station. When the Lth stage of the clock is reached, an order for the next vessel is placed. The lead time for arrival of the vessel follows exponential distribution. There are two types of rooms in this system: the waiting rooms and the service rooms for customers in the transport station and in the vessel, respectively. The waiting room capacity for customers of type 1 is infinite whereas those for customer of type 2,…,k are of finite capacities. The service room capacity Cj for customer type j,j=1,2,…,k is finite. Upon arrival, customers of category j occupy seats designated for that category in the vessel, provided there is at least one vacancy belonging to that category. The total number of vessels with the operator is h*. The service time of each vessel follows exponential distribution with parameter μ. Each group of customers belong to category j searches independently for customers of this category to mobilize passengers when the Erlang clock reaches L1 where L1<L. The search time for customers of category j follows exponential distribution with parameter λj. The stability condition is derived. Some performance measures are estimated.
Hot Workability and Microstructural Evolution of Ti-5.5Al-5Mo-5V-2Nb-1Fe-1Zr Titanium Alloy Based on the Different Phase Zones during Plastic Deformation at High Temperatures
Authors: Gao Yushe , Liu Xianghong , Chen Haisheng , Xue Xiangyi , Gao Huixian , Luo Wenzhong , Wang Kaixuan , Li Shaoqiang , Du Yuxuan
Published: January 2023

Hot workability and microstructural evolution of Ti-5.5Al-5Mo-5V-2Nb-1Fe-1Zr titanium alloy, which is also called Ti555211 titanium alloy, are investigated during compressive deformation at different temperatures and strain rates. It can be found that Ti555211 samples deformed at 750 and 850 °C comprised α and β phases, while Ti555211 samples deformed at 950 and 1050 °C consist of single β phase. When Ti555211 sample undergoes compressive deformation in the α + β phase region, microstructures of β phase vary more substantially than those of α phase, which means that plastic deformation of Ti555211 sample is governed by β phase. The process parameters are optimized by establishing processing maps based on dynamic material model. Ti555211 alloy generally possesses the better hot workability in the β phase zone. In the β phase zone of Ti555211 alloy, the best hot process area involves temperature range from 925 to 1025 °C and a strain rate range of 0.005 to 0.03 s−1.
Low-Temperature Deformation and Fracture of Cr-Mn-N Stainless Steel: Tensile and Impact Bending Tests
Authors: Narkevich Natalia , Vlasov Ilya , Volochaev Mikhail , Gomorova Yulia , Mironov Yury , Panin Sergey , Berto Filippo , Maksimov Pavel , Deryugin Evgeny
Published: January 2023

The paper presents the results of tensile and impact bending tests of 17%Cr-19%Mn-0.53%N high-nitrogen austenitic stainless steel in temperatures ranging from −196 to 20 °C. The steel microstructure and fracture surfaces were investigated using transmission and scanning electron microscopes, as well as X-ray diffraction analysis. The steel experiences a ductile-to-brittle transition (DBT); however, it possessed high tensile and impact strength characteristics, as well as the ductile fracture behavior at temperatures down to −114 °C. The correspondence between γ–ε microstructure and fracture surface morphologies was revealed after the tensile test at the temperature of −196 °C. In this case, the transgranular brittle and layered fracture surface was induced by ε-martensite formation. Under the impact bending test at −196 °C, the brittle intergranular fracture occurred at the elastic deflection stage without significant plastic strains, which preceded a failure due to the high internal stresses localized at the boundaries of the austenite grains. The stresses were induced by: (i) segregation of nitrogen atoms at the grain boundaries and in the near-boundary regions, (ii) quenching stresses, and (iii) reducing fcc lattice volume with the test temperature decrease and incorporation of nitrogen atoms into fcc austenite lattice. Anisotropy of residual stresses was revealed. This was manifested in the localization of elastic deformations of the fcc lattice and, consequently, the stress localization in <100>-oriented grains; this is suggested to be the reason of brittle cleavage fracture.
Obstructive Sleep Apnea, Circadian Clock Disruption, and Metabolic Consequences
Authors: Malicki Mikołaj , Karuga Filip Franciszek , Szmyd Bartosz , Sochal Marcin , Gabryelska Agata
Published: January 2023

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a chronic disorder characterized by recurrent episodes of apnea and hypopnea during sleep. It is associated with various cardiovascular and metabolic complications, including type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and obesity. Many pathways can be responsible for T2DM development in OSA patients, e.g., those related to HIF-1 and SIRT1 expression. Moreover, epigenetic mechanisms, such as miRNA181a or miRNA199, are postulated to play a pivotal role in this link. It has been proven that OSA increases the occurrence of circadian clock disruption, which is also a risk factor for metabolic disease development. Circadian clock disruption impairs the metabolism of glucose, lipids, and the secretion of bile acids. Therefore, OSA-induced circadian clock disruption may be a potential, complex, underlying pathway involved in developing and exacerbating metabolic diseases among OSA patients. The current paper summarizes the available information pertaining to the relationship between OSA and circadian clock disruption in the context of potential mechanisms leading to metabolic disorders.
Current State and Future Perspectives on Personalized Metabolomics
Authors: Trifonova Oxana P. , Maslov Dmitry L. , Balashova Elena E. , Lokhov Petr G.
Published: January 2023

Metabolomics is one of the most promising ‘omics’ sciences for the implementation in medicine by developing new diagnostic tests and optimizing drug therapy. Since in metabolomics, the end products of the biochemical processes in an organism are studied, which are under the influence of both genetic and environmental factors, the metabolomics analysis can detect any changes associated with both lifestyle and pathological processes. Almost every case-controlled metabolomics study shows a high diagnostic accuracy. Taking into account that metabolomics processes are already described for most nosologies, there are prerequisites that a high-speed and comprehensive metabolite analysis will replace, in near future, the narrow range of chemical analyses used today, by the medical community. However, despite the promising perspectives of personalized metabolomics, there are currently no FDA-approved metabolomics tests. The well-known problem of complexity of personalized metabolomics data analysis and their interpretation for the end-users, in addition to a traditional need for analytical methods to address the quality control, standardization, and data treatment are reported in the review. Possible ways to solve the problems and change the situation with the introduction of metabolomics tests into clinical practice, are also discussed.
Metabolic Changes and Their Associations with Selected Nutrients Intake in the Group of Workers Exposed to Arsenic
Authors: Sijko Monika , Janasik Beata , Wąsowicz Wojciech , Kozłowska Lucyna
Published: January 2023

Arsenic (As) exposure causes numerous adverse health effects, which can be reduced by the nutrients involved in the metabolism of iAs (inorganic As). This study was carried out on two groups of copper-smelting workers: WN, workers with a urinary total arsenic (tAs) concentration within the norm (n = 75), and WH, workers with a urinary tAs concentration above the norm (n = 41). This study aimed to analyze the association between the intake level of the nutrients involved in iAs metabolism and the signal intensity of the metabolites that were affected by iAs exposure. An untargeted metabolomics analysis was carried out on urine samples using liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry, and the intake of the nutrients was analyzed based on 3-day dietary records. Compared with the WN group, five pathways (the metabolism of amino acids, carbohydrates, glycans, vitamins, and nucleotides) with twenty-five putatively annotated metabolites were found to be increased in the WH group. In the WN group, the intake of nutrients (methionine; vitamins B2, B6, and B12; folate; and zinc) was negatively associated with six metabolites (cytosine, D-glucuronic acid, N-acetyl-D-glucosamine, pyroglutamic acid, uridine, and urocanic acid), whereas in the WH group, it was associated with five metabolites (D-glucuronic acid, L-glutamic acid, N-acetyl-D-glucosamine, N-acetylneuraminic acid, and uridine). Furthermore, in the WH group, positive associations between methionine, folate, and zinc intake and the signal intensity of succinic acid and 3-mercaptolactic acid were observed. These results highlight the need to educate the participants about the intake level of the nutrients involved in iAs metabolism and may contribute to further considerations with respect to the formulation of dietary recommendations for people exposed to iAs.
Process Optimization and Performance Evaluation of TSV Arrays for High Voltage Application
Authors: Feng Liuhaodong , Zeng Shuwen , Su Yongquan , Wang Lihao , Xu Yang , Guo Song , Chen Shuo , Ji Yucheng , Peng Xinlin , Wu Zhenyu , Wang Shinan
Published: January 2023

In order to obtain high-quality through-silicon via (TSV) arrays for high voltage applications, we optimized the fabrication processes of the Si holes, evaluated the dielectric layers, carried out hole filling by Cu plating, and detected the final structure and electric properties of the TSVs. The Si through-hole array was fabricated in an 8-inch Si substrate as follows: First, a blind Si hole array was formed by the Si deep reactive etching (DRIE) technique using the Bosch process, but with the largest width of the top scallops reduced to 540 nm and the largest notch elimidiameternated by backside grinding, which also opens the bottom ends of the Si blind holes and forms 500-μm-deep Si through holes. Then, the sidewalls of the Si holes were further smoothed by a combination of thermal oxidation and wet etching of the thermal oxide. The insulating capability of the dielectric layers was evaluated prior to metal filling by using a test kit. The metal filling of the through holes was carried out by bottom-up Cu electroplating and followed by annealing at 300 °C for 1 h to release the electroplating stress and to prevent possible large metal thermal expansion in subsequent high-temperature processes. The TSV arrays with different hole diameters and spacing were detected: no visible defects or structure peeling was found by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) observations, and no detectable interdiffusion between Cu and the dielectric layers was detected by energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) analyses. Electric tests indicated that the leakage currents between two adjacent TSVs were as low as 6.80 × 10−10 A when a DC voltage was ramped up from 0 to 350 V, and 2.86 × 10−9 A after a DC voltage was kept at 100 V for 200 s.
Broadband Piezoelectric Energy Harvester Based on Coupling Resonance Frequency Tuning
Authors: Hu Kun , Wang Min
Published: January 2023

The bandwidth of piezoelectric energy harvesters (PEHs) can be broadened by resonance-based frequency tuning approaches, including mechanical tuning and electrical tuning. In this work, a new coupling tuning mechanism for regulating the near-open-circuit resonance frequency by changing the effective electrode coverage (EEC) is presented. A linear model of a bimorph piezoelectric cantilever with segmented electrodes is used to evaluate the power harvesting behavior near the open-circuit resonance frequency when EEC changes from 0 to 100%. According to the theoretical analysis, it is found that the variation of EEC brings about the change in coupling strength, which is positively associated with the near-open-circuit resonance frequency of PEH. Two cantilever PEHs with segmented electrodes based on PZT and PZT-PT are constructed for validation of the coupling tuning mechanism. The analytical and experimental results illustrate remarkable improvements in both bandwidth and average power through the coupling resonance frequency tuning method. In addition, adopting extraordinary piezoelectric single crystals and optimizing the proof mass and piezoelectric layer dimensions were theoretically shown to be effective methods for further improvement of bandwidth.
Applications of Smart Material Sensors and Soft Electronics in Healthcare Wearables for Better User Compliance
Authors: Ghosh Arnab , Nag Sagnik , Gomes Alyssa , Gosavi Apurva , Ghule Gauri , Kundu Aniket , Purohit Buddhadev , Srivastava Rohit
Published: January 2023

The need for innovation in the healthcare sector is essential to meet the demand of a rapidly growing population and the advent of progressive chronic ailments. Over the last decade, real-time monitoring of health conditions has been prioritized for accurate clinical diagnosis and access to accelerated treatment options. Therefore, the demand for wearable biosensing modules for preventive and monitoring purposes has been increasing over the last decade. Application of machine learning, big data analysis, neural networks, and artificial intelligence for precision and various power-saving approaches are used to increase the reliability and acceptance of smart wearables. However, user compliance and ergonomics are key areas that need focus to make the wearables mainstream. Much can be achieved through the incorporation of smart materials and soft electronics. Though skin-friendly wearable devices have been highlighted recently for their multifunctional abilities, a detailed discussion on the integration of smart materials for higher user compliance is still missing. In this review, we have discussed the principles and applications of sustainable smart material sensors and soft electronics for better ergonomics and increased user compliance in various healthcare devices. Moreover, the importance of nanomaterials and nanotechnology is discussed in the development of smart wearables.
Journey of the Probiotic Bacteria: Survival of the Fittest
Authors: Mendonça Allyson Andrade , Pinto-Neto Walter de Paula , da Paixão Giselle Alves , Santos Dayane da Silva , De Morais Marcos Antonio , De Souza Rafael Barros
Published: January 2023

This review aims to bring a more general view of the technological and biological challenges regarding production and use of probiotic bacteria in promoting human health. After a brief description of the current concepts, the challenges for the production at an industrial level are presented from the physiology of the central metabolism to the ability to face the main forms of stress in the industrial process. Once produced, these cells are processed to be commercialized in suspension or dried forms or added to food matrices. At this stage, the maintenance of cell viability and vitality is of paramount for the quality of the product. Powder products requires the development of strategies that ensure the integrity of components and cellular functions that allow complete recovery of cells at the time of consumption. Finally, once consumed, probiotic cells must face a very powerful set of physicochemical mechanisms within the body, which include enzymes, antibacterial molecules and sudden changes in pH. Understanding the action of these agents and the induction of cellular tolerance mechanisms is fundamental for the selection of increasingly efficient strains in order to survive from production to colonization of the intestinal tract and to promote the desired health benefits.
Serotype Screening of Salmonella enterica Subspecies I by Intergenic Sequence Ribotyping (ISR): Critical Updates
Authors: Guard Jean , Jones Deana R. , Gast Richard K. , Garcia Javier S. , Rothrock Michael J.
Published: January 2023

(1) Background: Foodborne illness from Salmonella enterica subspecies I is most associated with approximately 32 out of 1600 serotypes. While whole genome sequencing and other nucleic acid-based methods are preferred for serotyping, they require expertise in bioinformatics and often submission to an external agency. Intergenic Sequence Ribotyping (ISR) assigns serotype to Salmonella in coordination with information freely available at the National Center for Biotechnology Information. ISR requires updating because it was developed from 26 genomes while there are now currently 1804 genomes and 1685 plasmids. (2) Methods: Serotypes available for sequencing were analyzed by ISR to confirm primer efficacy and to identify any issues in application. Differences between the 2012 and 2022 ISR database were tabulated, nomenclature edited, and instances of multiple serotypes aligning to a single ISR were examined. (3) Results: The 2022 ISR database has 268 sequences and 40 of these were assigned new NCBI accession numbers that were not previously available. Extending boundaries of sequences resolved hdfR cross-alignment and reduced multiplicity of alignment for 37 ISRs. Comparison of gene cyaA sequences and some cell surface epitopes provided evidence that homologous recombination was potentially impacting results for this subset. There were 99 sequences that still had no match with an NCBI submission. (4) The 2022 ISR database is available for use as a serotype screening method for Salmonella enterica subspecies I. Finding that 36.9% of the sequences in the ISR database still have no match within the NCBI Salmonella enterica database suggests that there is more genomic heterogeneity yet to characterize.
Biofilm Inhibitory Activity of Actinomycete-Synthesized AgNPs with Low Cytotoxic Effect: Experimental and In Silico Study
Authors: AboElmaaty Sabah A. , Shati Ali A. , Alfaifi Mohammad Y. , Elbehairi Serag Eldin I. , Sheraba Norhan S. , Hassan Mervat G. , Badawy Mona Shaban E. M. , Ghareeb Ahmed , Hamed Ahmed A. , Gabr Ebtsam Z.
Published: January 2023

The emergence of resistance by biofilm-forming bacteria has reached alarming and dangerous levels that threaten human civilization. The current study sought to investigate the antibiofilm potential of green-synthesized silver nanoparticles, mediated by a new Streptomyces strain. Zeta potential, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and UV-Vis spectroscopy were used to analyze the biosynthesized AgNPs. Results revealed that silver nanoparticles had a size of (5.55 and 45.00 nm) nm and a spherical shape, with surface plasmon resonance (SPR) absorption at 400–460 nm in the UV-vis spectra establishing the formation of Streptomyces-Ag-NPs. The biosynthesized AgNPs showed a pronounced antibacterial efficacy against Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Bacillus subtilis, and Staphylococcus aureus. Moreover, the obtained Streptomyces-AgNPs exerted biofilm inhibition activity against nosocomial hospital-resistant bacteria, including Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus, and Escherichia coli. The mechanism of biogenic AgNPs antibacterial action was visualized using TEM, which indicated the AgNPs accumulation and disruption of bacterial cell membrane function. Additionally, a molecular docking study was conducted to evaluate the binding mode of AgNPs with an Escherichia coli outer membrane. Furthermore, the cytotoxic profile of the AgNPs was evaluated toward three cell lines (MCF-7, HepG2 & HCT 116), and the low cytotoxic effects of the obtained nanoparticles indicated their possible medical application with low risks to human health.
Gut Microbiota–MicroRNA Interactions in Intestinal Homeostasis and Cancer Development
Authors: Nikolaieva Nataliia , Sevcikova Aneta , Omelka Radoslav , Martiniakova Monika , Mego Michal , Ciernikova Sona
Published: January 2023

Pre-clinical models and clinical studies highlight the significant impact of the host–microbiota relationship on cancer development and treatment, supporting the emerging trend for a microbiota-based approach in clinical oncology. Importantly, the presence of polymorphic microbes is considered one of the hallmarks of cancer. The epigenetic regulation of gene expression by microRNAs affects crucial biological processes, including proliferation, differentiation, metabolism, and cell death. Recent evidence has documented the existence of bidirectional gut microbiota–microRNA interactions that play a critical role in intestinal homeostasis. Importantly, alterations in microRNA-modulated gene expression are known to be associated with inflammatory responses and dysbiosis in gastrointestinal disorders. In this review, we summarize the current findings about miRNA expression in the intestine and focus on specific gut microbiota–miRNA interactions linked to intestinal homeostasis, the immune system, and cancer development. We discuss the potential clinical utility of fecal miRNA profiling as a diagnostic and prognostic tool in colorectal cancer, and demonstrate how the emerging trend of gut microbiota modulation, together with the use of personalized microRNA therapeutics, might bring improvements in outcomes for patients with gastrointestinal cancer in the era of precision medicine.
Exploiting the Native Microorganisms from Different Food Matrices to Formulate Starter Cultures for Sourdough Bread Production
Authors: Hernández-Parada Natali , González-Ríos Oscar , Suárez-Quiroz Mirna Leonor , Hernández-Estrada Zorba Josué , Figueroa-Hernández Claudia Yuritzi , Figueroa-Cárdenas Juan de Dios , Rayas-Duarte Patricia , Figueroa-Espinoza María Cruz
Published: January 2023

The use of sourdough for bread production involves fermentation, which is dominated by lactic acid bacteria (LAB) and yeast. Sourdough can be inoculated with a starter culture or through a food matrix containing microorganisms to initiate sourdough fermentation. Sourdough is used as leavening agent for bread making, and metabolites produced by LAB and yeast confer a specific aroma and flavor profile to bread, thus improving its sensory attributes. However, few publications report the effect of microorganisms from different food products and by-products on sourdough fermentation. This review focuses on using different starter cultures from various food sources, from wheat flour to starter cultures. Additionally, included are the types of sourdough, the sourdough fermentation process, and the biochemical transformations that take place during the sourdough fermentation process.
One-Year Surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 Exposure in Stray Cats and Kennel Dogs from Northeastern Italy
Authors: Bellinati Laura , Campalto Mery , Mazzotta Elisa , Ceglie Letizia , Cavicchio Lara , Mion Monica , Lucchese Laura , Salomoni Angela , Bortolami Alessio , Quaranta Erika , Magarotto Jacopo , Favarato Mosè , Squarzon Laura , Natale Alda
Published: January 2023

Dogs and cats are susceptible to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). During the pandemic, several studies have been performed on owned cats and dogs, whereas limited data are available on the exposure to stray animals. The objective of this study was to investigate the exposure to SARS-CoV-2 of feral cats and kennel dogs in northeastern Italy, through serological and molecular methods. From May 2021 to September 2022, public health veterinary services collected serum, oropharyngeal, and rectal swab samples from 257 free-roaming dogs newly introduced to shelters, and from 389 feral cats examined during the routinely trap–neutered–return programs. The swabs were analyzed for viral RNA through a real-time reverse transcriptase PCR (rRT-PCR), and sera were tested for the presence of the specific antibody against SARS-CoV-2 (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay). Serology was positive in nine dogs (9/257) and three cats (3/389), while two asymptomatic cats tested positive to rRT-PCR. One cat turned out to be positive both for serology and molecular analysis. In addition, this study described the case of a possible human-to-animal SARS-CoV-2 transmission in a cat that travelled in close contact to a COVID-19-positive refugee from Ukraine. This study shows that SARS-CoV-2 can infect, in natural conditions, stray cats and kennel dogs in northeastern Italy, although with a low prevalence.