bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Numerical Investigation of Bio-Aviation Fuel: Dubai’s Future Perspective
Authors: Aldarrai Houreya , Alsuwaidi Dhabya , Khan Beenish , Xu Haoyang , Tolouei Elham
Published: March 2023

As part of the United Arab Emirates’ and the world’s aviation goal of reaching net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, this paper studied the potential of successfully implementing both biofuel “drop-in” alternatives and aerodynamically efficient configurations to decarbonize the aviation industry. By investigating various proposed designs through a PUGH analysis, it was concluded that the optimum design has a Transonic Truss-Braced Wing configuration and runs on 60% biofuel. Although the design stipulates a 1.3% increase in weight, this does not negate the reduction in emissions and fuel consumption. This study also explored the various types of biofuels and found camelina seeds to be the best choice. The effects of biofuels in comparison with Jet-A fuel were further deliberated in a fuel combustion simulation performed on the Ansys-Fluent software. The results of the simulation showed a reduction of 50% in carbon monoxide (CO) and 24% in carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions when burning camelina biofuel rather than Jet-A, making it an ideal alternative to those conventional jet fuels. A primary cost analysis of biofuel applications showed an increase of 453 USD (1653.18 AED) per passenger flying on board 100%-biofuel-powered aircrafts. Yet, considering the trend of the cost increase with the biofuel blend ratio, a solution may exist to the increased cost of biofuel-powered aircrafts.
Estimation of Fv/Fm in Spring Wheat Using UAV-Based Multispectral and RGB Imagery with Multiple Machine Learning Methods
Authors: Wu Qiang , Zhang Yongping , Xie Min , Zhao Zhiwei , Yang Lei , Liu Jie , Hou Dingyi
Published: March 2023

The maximum quantum efficiency of photosystem II (Fv/Fm) is a widely used indicator of photosynthetic health in plants. Remote sensing of Fv/Fm using MS (multispectral) and RGB imagery has the potential to enable high-throughput screening of plant health in agricultural and ecological applications. This study aimed to estimate Fv/Fm in spring wheat at an experimental base in Hanghou County, Inner Mongolia, from 2020 to 2021. RGB and MS images were obtained at the wheat flowering stage using a Da-Jiang Phantom 4 multispectral drone. A total of 51 vegetation indices were constructed, and the measured Fv/Fm of wheat on the ground was obtained simultaneously using a Handy PEA plant efficiency analyzer. The performance of 26 machine learning algorithms for estimating Fv/Fm using RGB and multispectral imagery was compared. The findings revealed that a majority of the multispectral vegetation indices and approximately half of the RGB vegetation indices demonstrated a strong correlation with Fv/Fm, as evidenced by an absolute correlation coefficient greater than 0.75. The Gradient Boosting Regressor (GBR) was the optimal estimation model for RGB, with the important features being RGBVI and ExR. The Huber model was the optimal estimation model for MS, with the important feature being MSAVI2. The Automatic Relevance Determination (ARD) was the optimal estimation model for the combination (RGB + MS), with the important features being SIPI, ExR, and VEG. The highest accuracy was achieved using the ARD model for estimating Fv/Fm with RGB + MS vegetation indices on the test sets (Test set MAE = 0.019, MSE = 0.001, RMSE = 0.024, R2 = 0.925, RMSLE = 0.014, MAPE = 0.026). The combined analysis suggests that extracting vegetation indices (SIPI, ExR, and VEG) from RGB and MS remote images by UAV as input variables of the model and using the ARD model can significantly improve the accuracy of Fv/Fm estimation at flowering stage. This approach provides new technical support for rapid and accurate monitoring of Fv/Fm in spring wheat in the Hetao Irrigation District.
Oral Vaccination of Largemouth Bass (Micropterus salmoides) against Largemouth Bass Ranavirus (LMBV) Using Yeast Surface Display Technology
Authors: Zhang Mengjie , Chen Xiaoyu , Xue Mingyang , Jiang Nan , Li Yiqun , Fan Yuding , Zhang Peng , Liu Naicheng , Xiao Zidong , Zhang Qinghua , Zhou Yong
Published: March 2023

Largemouth bass ranavirus (LMBV) infects largemouth bass, leading to significant mortality and economic losses. There are no safe and effective drugs against this disease. Oral vaccines that directly target the intestinal mucosal immune system play an important role in resisting pathogens. Herein, the B subunit of Escherichia coli heat-labile enterotoxin (LTB, a mucosal immune adjuvant) and the LMBV main capsid protein (MCP) were expressed using Saccharomyces cerevisiae surface display technology. The yeast-prepared oral vaccines were named EBY100-OMCP and EBY100-LTB-OMCP. The candidate vaccines could resist the acidic intestinal environment. After 7 days of continuous oral immunization, indicators of innate and adaptive immunity were measured on days 1, 7, 14, 21, 28, 35, and 42. High activities of immune enzymes (T-SOD, AKP, ACP, and LZM) in serum and intestinal mucus were detected. IgM in the head kidney was significantly upregulated (EBY100-OMCP group: 3.8-fold; BY100-LTB-OMCP group: 4.3-fold). IgT was upregulated in the intestines (EBY100-OMCP group: 5.6-fold; EBY100-LTB-OMCP group: 6.7-fold). Serum neutralizing antibody titers of the two groups reached 1:85. Oral vaccination protected against LMBV infection. The relative percent survival was 52.1% (EBY100-OMCP) and 66.7% (EBY100-LTB-OMCP). Thus, EBY100-OMCP and EBY100-LTB-OMCP are promising and effective candidate vaccines against LMBV infection.
Mediterranean Diet Improves Plasma Biomarkers Related to Oxidative Stress and Inflammatory Process in Patients with Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease
Authors: Quetglas-Llabrés Maria Magdalena , Monserrat-Mesquida Margalida , Bouzas Cristina , Llompart Isabel , Mateos David , Casares Miguel , Ugarriza Lucía , Martínez J. Alfredo , Tur Josep A. , Sureda Antoni
Published: March 2023

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) shows liver fat depots without alcohol consumption. NAFLD does not have specific drug therapies, with a healthy lifestyle and weight loss being the main approaches to prevent and treat NAFLD. The aim was to assess the antioxidant and pro-inflammatory state in patients with NAFLD after 12-month-lifestyle intervention depending on the change in adherence to a Mediterranean diet (AMD). Antioxidant and inflammatory biomarkers were measured in 67 adults (aged 40–60 years old) diagnosed with NAFLD. Anthropometric parameters and dietary intake were measured by a validated semi-quantitative 143-item food frequency questionnaire. The nutritional intervention improved anthropometric and biochemical parameters after a 12-month follow-up. However, decreases in alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and C reactive protein (CRP) were higher in participants with high AMD, which also showed higher improvement in physical fitness (Chester step test) and intrahepatic fat contents. The intervention reduced plasma levels of malondialdehyde, myeloperoxidase, zonulin, and omentin, and increased resolvin D1 (RvD1), whereas the decrease in leptin, ectodysplasin-A (EDA), cytokeratin-18 (CK-18), interleukin-1ra (IL-1ra) and endotoxin was only significant in participants with higher AMD. The current study showed that a one-year nutritional intervention improved main NAFLD features such as body mass index, IFC, liver enzymes, and prooxidant and proinflammatory status. There was also a decrease in the concentration of plasmatic endotoxin, suggesting an improvement in intestinal permeability. These health benefits were more evident in participants that improved AMD to a greater extent. The trial was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov with registry number NCT04442620.
Effects of Pyrolysis and Ball-Milling on the Physicochemical and Rhodamine B Removal Characteristics of Rice-Bran-Derived Biochar
Authors: Kim Da-Young , Jung Gyeong-Bok
Published: March 2023

Biochar has attracted considerable attention in numerous industrial and environmental applications because of its advantageous properties. Pyrolysis, a cost-effective and eco-friendly engineering technique for improving biochar’s physicochemical and adsorption properties, is important in a variety of environmental applications. The effect of pyrolysis temperature and ball-milling time on the physicochemical properties of biochar derived from rice bran was investigated in this study, and its effectiveness in the aqueous removal of rhodamine B (RhB) dye was evaluated. The biochar was prepared by pyrolyzing rice bran at various temperatures, i.e., 400, 500, 600, and 700 ℃ (RB 400, RB 500, RB 600, and RB 700, respectively). In addition, in order to investigate the effect of the ball-milling time on the RB 600 biochar, it was milled for 30, 60, 120, 180, and 240 min. The surfaces of the raw material and biochar exhibited honeycomb-like pores and a layered structure. The biochar structure shrank, became fragile, and cracked as the pyrolysis temperature increased. After ball milling, the honeycomb-like pores and layered structure of the pristine biochar were transformed into irregular particles. The particle size decreased as milling time increased. Furthermore, the physicochemical properties of ball-milled biochar were superior to those of pristine biochar. According to the Raman spectral analysis, the ID/IG ratio decreased as the pyrolysis temperature and the milling time increased, indicating a decreased disorder and an increased graphitization in the biochar. The efficiency of RhB removal increased as the pyrolysis temperature and ball-milling time increased, and up to 82% of RhB was removed from 50 mg of biochar milled for 180 min at 600 °C.
Critical Current Degradation in HTS Tapes for Superconducting Fault Current Limiter under Repeated Overcurrent
Authors: Hajdasz Sylwia , Kempski Adam , Solak Krzysztof , Marc Maciej , Rusinski Jacek , Szczesniak Pawel
Published: March 2023

Superconducting fault current limiters (SFCL) can be an alternative to conventional devices limiting short-circuit currents in power systems. SFCL use high-temperature superconducting tapes of the second generation (HTS 2G) in SFCL, which, after reaching the characteristic critical current of the tape, go into the resistive state (quenching), limiting the short-circuit current. The critical current determines the moment of activation of the SFCL. Therefore, its value should not change during the operation of the device due to repeated limitation of short-circuit currents. The constancy of the critical current is a prerequisite for proper cooperation with the power system protection devices. Multiple quenching can cause microdamage in the superconducting layers responsible for lowering of the value of the critical current of the HTS tapes. The article presents the research results on the degradation processes of 2G HTS tapes intended for the construction of SFCL due to the action of prospective short-circuit currents with values exceeding the critical current of the tested tapes. The decrease in the value of the critical current of the HTS tape as a result of multiple transitions to the resistive state was investigated. The amount of energy emitted during the test current pulse of 0.2 s duration was determined. The limitation values of the voltage drop on the tape, which does not cause accelerated degradation processes, were defined. The microstructural tests of cross-sections of new HTS tapes subjected to prospective short-circuit currents were performed.
An Analysis on Finnish Wooden Bridge Practices
Authors: Seppälä Miro , Ilgın Hüseyin Emre , Karjalainen Markku , Pajunen Sami
Published: March 2023

To date, the share of research, teaching materials, and practices related to the use of timber in bridge projects in Finland are quite limited compared to other materials, such as concrete. This article, which also includes a structural design example for dimensioning a girder bridge, focuses on the status, applications and prospects of wood use in bridge construction, reflecting the Finnish professionals’ point of view. Key findings highlighted that: (1) the ideal use of wood would be in private road bridges and light traffic bridges; (2) while the use of wood in the bridge was assessed to be advantageous in terms of ecology, aesthetics, and environmental friendliness, it was reported to be disadvantageous in terms of long-term durability and connection details; (3) concrete and steel, whose prices fluctuate, could gradually be replaced by wood, a renewable material; (4) timber-concrete composite bridges were expected to become widespread in the future; (5) cross-laminated timber (CLT) could open up an opportunity for bridge decks; and (6) service limit state is often decisive for the dimensioning of wooden bridges. It is recommended to implement large-scale public projects for the wooden bridges by creating sustainable business models that will be supported both legitimately and economically by the local government. In this sense, close cooperation between authorities and other key market stakeholders is crucial.
C-R Immersions and Sub-Riemannian Geometry
Authors: Barletta Elisabetta , Dragomir Sorin , Esposito Francesco
Published: March 2023

On any strictly pseudoconvex CR manifold M, of CR dimension n, equipped with a positively oriented contact form θ, we consider natural ϵ-contractions, i.e., contractions gϵM of the Levi form Gθ, such that the norm of the Reeb vector field T of (M, θ) is of order O(ϵ−1). We study isopseudohermitian (i.e., f∗Θ=θ) Cauchy–Riemann immersions f:M→(A,Θ) between strictly pseudoconvex CR manifolds M and A, where Θ is a contact form on A. For every contraction gϵA of the Levi form GΘ, we write the embedding equations for the immersion f:M→A,gϵA. A pseudohermitan version of the Gauss equation for an isopseudohermitian C-R immersion is obtained by an elementary asymptotic analysis as ϵ→0+. For every isopseudohermitian immersion f:M→S2N+1 into a sphere S2N+1⊂CN+1, we show that Webster’s pseudohermitian scalar curvature R of (M, θ) satisfies the inequality R≤2n(f∗gΘ)(T,T)+n+1+12{∥H(f)∥gΘf2+∥traceGθΠH(M)∇⊤−∇∥f∗gΘ2} with equality if and only if B(f)=0 and ∇⊤=∇ on H(M)⊗H(M). This gives a pseudohermitian analog to a classical result by S-S. Chern on minimal isometric immersions into space forms.
Anaerobic Digestion of Solid Agricultural Biomass in Leach-Bed Reactors
Authors: Pyykkönen Ville , Winquist Erika , Seppänen Ari-Matti , Vainio Markku , Virkkunen Elina , Koppelmäki Kari , Rasi Saija
Published: March 2023

This study focuses on the feasibility of the dry anaerobic digestion of solid agricultural biomass for efficient renewable-energy production and nutrient recycling. Methane production and the amount of nitrogen in the digestates were measured in pilot- and farm-scale leach-bed reactors. In the pilot scale, with a digestion time of 133 days, the methane production of a mixture of whole crop fava bean and horse manure corresponded to 94% and 116%, respectively, of the methane potentials of the solid substrates. The mono-digestion of fava beans resulted in relatively low methane production (production/potential ratios of 59% and 57%). In two full-scale experiments, the methane production of mixtures of clover-grass silage, chicken manure, and horse manure corresponded to 108% and 100% of their respective methane potentials with digestion times of 117 and 185 days. In co-digestion, the production/potential ratios were similar in the pilot and farm experiments. High nitrogen loss was observed in the farm scale when the digestate was stored in a stack covered with a tarpaulin during summertime. Thus, although the technology seems promising, attention needs to be paid to management practices to minimise nitrogen losses and greenhouse gas emissions.
Identification and Functional Analysis of Known and New Mutations in the Transcription Factor KLF1 Linked with β-Thalassemia-like Phenotypes
Authors: Catapano Rosa , Sessa Raffaele , Trombetti Silvia , Cesaro Elena , Russo Filippo , Izzo Paola , Makis Alexandros , Grosso Michela
Published: March 2023

The erythroid transcriptional factor Krüppel-like factor 1 (KLF1) is a master regulator of erythropoiesis. Mutations that cause KLF1 haploinsufficiency have been linked to increased fetal hemoglobin (HbF) and hemoglobin A2 (HbA2) levels with ameliorative effects on the severity of β-thalassemia. With the aim of determining if KLF1 gene variations might play a role in the modulation of β-thalassemia, in this study we screened 17 subjects showing a β-thalassemia-like phenotype with a slight or marked increase in HbA2 and HbF levels. Overall, seven KLF1 gene variants were identified, of which two were novel. Functional studies were performed in K562 cells to clarify the pathogenic significance of these mutations. Our study confirmed the ameliorative effect on the thalassemia phenotype for some of these variants but also raised the notion that certain mutations may have deteriorating effects by increasing KLF1 expression levels or enhancing its transcriptional activity. Our results indicate that functional studies are required to evaluate the possible effects of KLF1 mutations, particularly in the case of the co-existence of two or more mutations that could differently contribute to KLF1 expression or transcriptional activity and consequently to the thalassemia phenotype.
State of the Art of Cardiac Amyloidosis
Authors: Belfeki Nabil , Ghriss Nouha , Monchi Mehran , Moini Cyrus
Published: March 2023

Cardiac amyloidosis is defined by extracellular deposition of misfolded proteins in the heart. The most frequent cases of cardiac amyloidosis are caused by transthyretin and light chain amyloidosis. This condition is underdiagnosed, and its incidence has been continuously rising in recent studies because of the aging of the population and the development of noninvasive multimodal diagnostic tools. Amyloid infiltration affects all cardiac tunics and causes heart failure with preserved ejection fraction, aortic stenosis, arrythmia, and conductive disorder. Innovative, specific therapeutic approaches have demonstrated an improvement in affected organs and the global survival of patients. This condition is no longer considered rare and incurable. Thus, better knowledge of the disease is mandatory. This review will provide a digest of the clinical signs and symptoms of cardiac amyloidosis, the diagnostic tools used to confirm the diagnosis, and current symptomatic and etiopathogenic management considerations according to guidelines and recommendations.
Short-Term Growth Hormone Administration Mediates Hepatic Fatty Acid Uptake and De Novo Lipogenesis Gene Expression in Obese Rats
Authors: Likitnukul Sutharinee , Thammacharoen Sumpun , Sriwatananukulkit Orada , Duangtha Chanathip , Hemstapat Ruedee , Sunrat Chotchanit , Mangmool Supachoke , Pinthong Darawan
Published: March 2023

Obesity has been linked to metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes, and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Obesity causes a decrease in growth hormone (GH) levels and an increase in insulin levels. Long-term GH treatment increased lipolytic activity as opposed to decreasing insulin sensitivity. Nonetheless, it is possible that short-term GH administration had no impact on insulin sensitivity. In this study, the effect of short-term GH administration on liver lipid metabolism and the effector molecules of GH and insulin receptors were investigated in diet-induced obesity (DIO) rats. Recombinant human GH (1 mg/kg) was then administered for 3 days. Livers were collected to determine the hepatic mRNA expression and protein levels involved in lipid metabolism. The expression of GH and insulin receptor effector proteins was investigated. In DIO rats, short-term GH administration significantly reduced hepatic fatty acid synthase (FASN) and cluster of differentiation 36 (CD36) mRNA expression while increasing carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1A (CPT1A) mRNA expression. Short-term GH administration reduced hepatic FAS protein levels and downregulated gene transcription of hepatic fatty acid uptake and lipogenesis, while increasing fatty acid oxidation in DIO rats. DIO rats had lower hepatic JAK2 protein levels but higher IRS-1 levels than control rats due to hyperinsulinemia. Our findings suggest that short-term GH supplementation improves liver lipid metabolism and may slow the progression of NAFLD, where GH acts as the transcriptional regulator of related genes.
Development of Single-Channel Dual-Element Custom-Made Ultrasound Scanner with Miniature Optical Position Tracker for Freehand Imaging
Authors: Chen Yen-Lung , Chiang Huihua Kenny
Published: March 2023

Handheld ultrasound has great potential in resource-limited areas, and can improve healthcare for rural populations. Single-channel ultrasound has been widely used in many clinical ultrasound applications, and optical tracking is considered accurate and reliable. In this study, we developed a 10 MHz lead magnesium niobate–lead titanate (PMN-PT) dual-element ultrasound transducer combined with a miniature optical position tracker, and then measured the rectus femoris of the thigh, upper arm, and cheek muscles. Compared to single-element transducers, dual-element transducers improve the contrast of near-field signals, effectively reduce noise, and are suitable for measuring curved surfaces. The purpose of position tracking is to calculate the location of the ultrasound transducer during the measurement process. By utilizing positioning information, 2D ultrasound imaging can be achieved while maintaining structural integrity. The dual-element ultrasound scanner presented in this study can enable continuous scanning over a large area without a scanning width limitation. The custom-made dual-element ultrasound scanner has the advantage of being a portable, reliable, and low-cost ultrasound device, and is helpful in popularizing medical care for remote villages.
Supported Ionic Liquid Catalysts for the Oxidation of S- and N-Containing Compounds—The Effect of Bronsted Sites and Heteropolyacid Concentration
Authors: Gorbunov Vladislav , Buryak Aleksey , Oskolok Kirill , Popov Andrey G. , Tarkhanova Irina
Published: March 2023

In this article, a series of effective catalysts based on betaine and sulfuric or phosphomolybdic acids was obtained. These compositions were characterized by various physicochemical methods and tested in the oxidation of sulfur- and nitrogenous-containing compounds by H2O2. An increase in the amount of heteropolyacid (HPA) leads to a non-linear change in acidity, and the degree of removal of sulfur-containing compounds correlates with the concentration of Bronsted acid sites on the surface. On the contrary, the degree of pyridine removal is determined primarily by the content of heteropolyacids in the catalyst.
Effect of Oral Intake of Flammulina velutipes (Enokitake) on Skin Condition in Healthy Adult Women: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study on Mental and Physical Health
Authors: Nagae Masumi , Isa Akiko , Ishikawa Satoshi , Muta Shinichi , Shimizu Kuniyoshi
Published: March 2023

Nutritional foods are concentrated sources of molecules with a nutritional or physiological effect which contain nutrients. There is a category, “nutricosmetics”, defined as ingestible natural health products that enhance the function and appearance of human skin, nails, and hair. A new variety of Flammulina velutipes (F. velutipes), Oki-Shirayuki 919, was explored to ascertain whether its components have functions of nutricosmetics. We focused on physiological effects for enhancing the human skin condition, such as moisturizing or barrier functions in F. velutipes. A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical study was performed between January and March 2022. Among healthy men and women (n = 30) aged 20 to 59 years, the test group (n = 15) took a test product which included F. velutipes dry powder, and the placebo group (n = 15) took a placebo (a similar product in which the F. velutipes dry powder was replaced with plum fruit paste). Since the amount of increase in skin hydration over four weeks in the test group was significantly larger than that in the placebo group, a significant difference between the two groups was observed (p = 0.033). F. velutipe was suggested to have some physiological functions such as improving skin moisture.
Neuro-Evolutive Modeling of Transition Temperatures for Five-Ring Bent-Core Molecules Derived from Resorcinol
Authors: Drăgoi Elena Niculina , Cârlescu Irina , Puf Răzvan , Vasiliu Tudor , Epure Elena-Luiza
Published: March 2023

Determining the phase transition temperature of different types of liquid crystals based on their structural parameters is a complex problem. The experimental work might be eliminated or reduced if prediction strategies could effectively anticipate the behavior of liquid crystalline systems. Neuro-evolutive modeling based on artificial neural networks (ANN) and a differential evolution (DE) algorithm was applied to predict the phase transition temperatures of bent-core molecules based on their resorcinol core. By these means, structural parameters such as the nature of the linking groups, the position, size and number of lateral substituents on the central core or calamitic wings and the length of the terminal chains were taken into account as factors that influence the liquid crystalline properties. A number of 172 bent-core compounds with symmetrical calamitic wings were selected from the literature. All corresponding structures were fully optimized using the DFT, and the molecular descriptors were calculated afterward. In the first step, the ANN-DE approach predicted the mesophase presence for the analyzed compounds. Next, ANN models were determined to predict the transition temperatures and whether or not the bent-core compounds were mesogenic. Simple structural, thermophysical and electronic structure descriptors were considered as inputs in the dataset. As a result, the models determined for each individual temperature have an R2 that varied from 0.89 to 0.98, indicating their capability to estimate the transition temperatures for the selected compounds. Moreover, the impact analysis of the inputs on the predicted temperatures showed that, in most cases, the presence or not of liquid crystalline properties represents the most influential feature.
Effects of Crack Formation on the Mechanical Properties of Bilayer Graphene: A Comparative Analysis
Authors: Yu Taotao , Li Jianyu , Yang Ziqiang , Li Haipeng , Peng Qing , Tang Ho-Kin
Published: March 2023

We present a molecular dynamics simulation study on the effects of crack formation on the mechanical properties of bilayer graphene. Bilayer graphene possesses unique electronic properties that can be modified by applying a voltage, making it an attractive material for various applications. We examined how the mechanical properties of bilayer graphene vary under various crack configurations and temperatures, measuring Young’s modulus, fracture toughness, fracture strain, and fracture stress. We compared the effect of crack presence on single and both layers and found the appearance of double peaks in the stress–strain curves in the case of a monolayer crack, indicating a subsequent fracture of the cracked layer and the uncracked layer. We also examined the effect of crack shape, size, and orientation on mechanical properties, including circular, hexagonal, and rectangular cracks along two axes. We found that both circular and hexagonal cracks had a smaller Young’s modulus and toughness than rectangular cracks, and the orientation of the crack had a significant impact on the mechanical properties, with a 2.5-times higher toughness for cracks with a length of 15Å. Additionally, we found that Young’s modulus decreases with increasing temperature in bilayer graphene with cracks on both layers. Our findings provide valuable insights into the potential applications of bilayer graphene in the design of advanced nanoscale electronic devices.
Assessing the Antifungal Activity of a Soft Denture Liner Loaded with Titanium Oxide Nanoparticles (TiO2 NPs)
Authors: Ahmed Amal Qasim , Al-Hmedat Sattar Jabbar Abdul-Zahra , Hanweet Dunya Malhan , Haider Julfikar
Published: March 2023

Aim: Soft denture lining materials are susceptible to be colonized by different microorganisms, especially by Candida albicans (C. albicans), causing denture-induced stomatitis. This study was designed to evaluate the effectiveness of incorporating titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO2 NPs) into a soft denture liner towards reducing microbial activity. Method: A total of 40 PEMA-TiO2 nanocomposites samples were fabricated by adding 0.0 wt.% (control), 1.0 wt.%, 1.5 wt.%, and 2 wt.% TiO2 NPs to a heat cured soft denture lining material (polyethyl methacrylate, PEMA). The prepared samples were divided into four groups (n = 10) according to the content of TiO2 NPs. The uniformity of TiO2 NPS distribution within the denture liner matrix was assessed using a Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM). The viable count of C. albicans was evaluated to test the antifungal resistance of the developed composite. Results: The SEM images showed fairly homogeneous dispersion, with patches of TiO2 NPs agglomeration within the PEMA matrix and an increasing concentration of NPs with higher NP content. The particle map and EDX analysis confirmed the evidence of the TiO2 NPs. The mean viable count results for the control (0.0 wt.%) and 1.0 wt.%, 1.5 wt.%, and 2 wt.% TiO2 groups were 139.80, 12.00, 6.20, and 1.00, respectively, with a significant difference from the control group (p < 0.05). The antifungal activity also increased with the increase in the concentration of TiO2 NPs. Conclusions: The addition of TiO2 NPs into a heat-cured soft denture liner provided antifungal activity as evidenced by the reduced colonization of C. albicans. The antimicrobial activity of the liner material increased with the increased concentration of TiO2 NPS.
Teacher Educator Wellbeing, Stress and Burnout: A Scoping Review
Authors: Turner Kristina , Garvis Susanne
Published: March 2023

Research reveals that due to the intensifying demands of higher education work environments, academic staff are reporting increased levels of burnout and stress and decreasing wellbeing. Teacher educators are academic staff who are involved with teaching and research in the field of Initial Teacher Education (ITE). This scoping review aimed to draw together research about teacher educator wellbeing, stress and burnout, and to identify where there are gaps in evidence-based knowledge. This study revealed that teacher educator wellbeing, stress and burnout is a relatively new and under-researched area, and that there is a dearth of current evidence-based literature in this field. As a result of this finding, it is recommended that extensive qualitative and quantitative research be conducted to better understand teacher educator wellbeing, stress and burnout. It is hoped that this scoping review will drive innovation and reform in ITE by identifying what is known and unknown in the field, thus informing future research to better support teacher educator wellbeing.
Effects of Mobile Learning in English Language Learning: A Meta-Analysis and Research Synthesis
Authors: Garzón Juan , Lampropoulos Georgios , Burgos Daniel
Published: March 2023

English has become the most important language for communication worldwide, but learning it as a second language presents multiple challenges. Given its multimedia nature, mobile learning is an ally in learning this language. However, although the use of mobile devices in English education has been broadly documented, there is little evidence of its effect on students’ learning. This article presents a meta-analysis of 62 studies to assess the effects of mobile learning on students’ learning. Moreover, the study considered the moderating effect of education level, pedagogical approach, learning environment, mobile device, and control treatment. The results show that mobile learning has a large effect (g=0.89) on students’ learning. Regarding education level, the best results were found at the Bachelor’s level. Similarly, collaborative learning provided the best results among the pedagogical approaches. As for the learning environment, semi-formal settings, such as field trips and outdoor activities, performed better than formal settings within classrooms or laboratories. Furthermore, smartphones yielded better results than any other mobile device. Finally, the results indicated that mobile learning produces better results than traditional lectures, traditional pedagogical tools, or other multimedia resources. Therefore, it should be promoted as a pedagogical alternative to foster quality education for all.
Top-Gate Transparent Organic Synaptic Transistors Based on Co-Mingled Heterojunctions
Authors: Xing Junjie , Qin Shixian , Lai Binglin , Li Bowen , Li Zhida , Zhang Guocheng
Published: March 2023

The rapid development of electronics and materials science has driven the progress of various electronic devices, and the new generation of electronic devices, represented by wearable smart products, has introduced transparent new demands on the devices. The ability of biological synapses to enhance or inhibit information when it is transmitted is thought to be the biological mechanism of artificial synaptic devices. The advantage of the human brain over conventional computers is the ability to perform efficient parallel operations when dealing with unstructured and complex problems. Inspired by biologically powerful neural networks, it is important to simulate biological synaptic functions on a single electronic device, and organic artificial synaptic transistors are artificially intelligent and very suitable artificial synaptic devices. Therefore, this paper proposes an organic artificial synaptic transistor with transparency (≥75%), provides a new solution for transparent top-gate synapses, and shows their promise for the next generation of organic electronics.
A Preliminary Empirical Study of the Power Efficiency of Matrix Multiplication
Authors: Jammal Fares , Aljabri Naif , Al-Hashimi Muhammad , Saleh Mostafa , Abulnaja Osama
Published: March 2023

Matrix multiplication is ubiquitous in high-performance applications. It will be a significant part of exascale workloads where power is a big concern. This work experimentally studied the power efficiency of three matrix multiplication algorithms: the definition-based, Strassen’s divide-and-conquer, and an optimized divide-and-conquer. The study used reliable on-chip integrated voltage regulators for measuring the power. Interactions with memory, mainly cache misses, were thoroughly investigated. The main result was that the optimized divide-and-conquer algorithm, which is the most time-efficient, was also the most power-efficient, but only for cases that fit in the cache. It consumed drastically less overall energy than the other two methods, regardless of placement in memory. For matrix sizes that caused a spill to the main memory, the definition-based algorithm consumes less power than the divide-and-conquer ones at a high total energy cost. The findings from this study may be of interest when cutting power usage is more vital than running for the shortest possible time or least amount of energy.
Survey of Sustainable Energy Sources for Microgrid Energy Management: A Review
Authors: Hoummadi Mohammed Amine , Bouderbala Manale , Alami Aroussi Hala , Bossoufi Badre , El Ouanjli Najib , Karim Mohammed
Published: March 2023

Renewable energy sources are nowadays a viable choice to satisfy the rising energy consumption and promote the advancement of sustainable development. These systems are integrated into microgrids using a variety of technological solutions to ensure customer communication and distributed generation facilities in an optimal way. Energy management in microgrids refers to the information and control system that provides the necessary functionality to guarantee that the generating and distribution systems produce energy at the lowest expenses. This study analyzes the various optimization objectives, constraints, problem-solving techniques, and simulation tools used for connected and freestanding microgrids. It reviews the literature on energy control in microgrids powered by sustainable energy. Energy storage technology is also viewed as an intriguing alternative to managing the intermittent nature of renewable energy because of its advanced techniques, increased energy efficiency, and capacity to perform tasks such as frequency response. The final phase suggests future suggestions, particularly for the model-based prediction of energy storage systems.
Analysis of 3D Transient Flow in a High-Speed Scroll Refrigeration Compressor
Authors: Li Xiaoran , Wu Weifeng , Zhang Jing , Guo Chengqiang , Ke Feng , Jiang Fuqiang
Published: March 2023

In mobile devices such as aircraft and electric vehicles, due to limited space, there are strict requirements on the volume and weight of the compressor mounted on the vehicle. Therefore, high-speed scroll compressors have attracted more and more attention because of their small size and light weight. In this paper, the numerical calculations and analysis of the three-dimensional (3D) transient flows in a high-speed scroll refrigeration compressor were established and validated. Circumferential gas intake was used in the simulation. According to the actual compressor size, the mesh generation accurately considers clearances. The radial and the axial clearances were both set as 0.01 mm. A dynamic and high-quality hexahedral structured mesh was generated for the working chamber, and the problem of insufficient grid density in radial clearance was solved. When the rotational speed was set as 3000 rpm, 6000 rpm, and 9000 rpm alternatively, the difference in the volume efficiency of the simulation and the experiment results was below 6.3%. The results show that the higher rotational speed contributed to the greater pressure fluctuation in the compression chamber and the discharge process, and the over-compression phenomenon was more obvious. The maximum leakage velocity was 160 m/s, and the tangential leakage velocity was higher than the radial leakage velocity. Meanwhile, radial leakage velocity will increase significantly in high-speed operation mode. With the increasing rotational speed, the position of the maximum axial and tangential leakage velocity was closer to the start of the scroll. Therefore, the seal of the scroll starting part is very important in the design of a high-speed scroll compressor.
An Ultra-Short-Term PV Power Forecasting Method for Changeable Weather Based on Clustering and Signal Decomposition
Authors: Zhang Jiaan , Hao Yan , Fan Ruiqing , Wang Zhenzhen
Published: March 2023

Photovoltaic (PV) power shows different fluctuation characteristics under different weather types as well as strong randomness and uncertainty in changeable weather such as sunny to cloudy, cloudy to rain, and so on, resulting in low forecasting accuracy. For the changeable type of weather, an ultra-short-term photovoltaic power forecasting method is proposed based on affinity propagation (AP) clustering, complete ensemble empirical mode decomposition with an adaptive noise algorithm (CEEMDAN), and bi-directional long and short-term memory network (BiLSTM). First, the PV power output curve of the standard clear-sky day was extracted monthly from the historical data, and the photovoltaic power was normalized according to it. Second, the changeable days were extracted from various weather types based on the AP clustering algorithm and the Euclidean distance by considering the mean and variance of the clear-sky power coefficient (CSPC). Third, the CEEMDAN algorithm was further used to decompose the data of changeable days to reduce its overall non-stationarity, and each component was forecasted based on the BiLSTM network, so as to obtain the PV forecasting value in changeable weather. Using the PV dataset obtained from Alice Springs, Australia, the presented method was verified by comparative experiments with the BP, BiLSTM, and CEEMDAN-BiLSTM models, and the MAPE of the proposed method was 2.771%, which was better than the other methods.
Exploring the Driving Factors and Their Spatial Effects on Carbon Emissions in the Building Sector
Authors: Wei Jia , Shi Wei , Ran Jingrou , Pu Jing , Li Jiyang , Wang Kai
Published: March 2023

This study measured the lifecycle carbon emissions of buildings in 30 Chinese provinces from 2005 to 2020 and decomposed the drivers of carbon emissions in the materialization stage and operation stage of building, respectively, using the Stochastic Impacts with the Regression on Population, Affluence, and Technology (STIRPAT) model in order to investigate the drivers of carbon emissions and their spatial influence effects in the building sector. The spatial Durbin model (SDM) was used to thoroughly investigate the spatial effects of carbon emissions and their drivers in the building sector under geographic and economic distances. According to the findings, China’s building sector has a high concentration of carbon emissions in the east and a low concentration in the west. There is also a sizable spatial autocorrelation, and the spatial spillover effects in the materialization and operation stages shift in opposite directions. To help the building sector to achieve the carbon peaking and neutrality goals, specific policy recommendations are made based on the study’s findings.
Machine Learning for Geothermal Resource Exploration in the Tularosa Basin, New Mexico
Authors: Mudunuru Maruti K. , Ahmmed Bulbul , Rau Elisabeth , Vesselinov Velimir V. , Karra Satish
Published: March 2023

Geothermal energy is considered an essential renewable resource to generate flexible electricity. Geothermal resource assessments conducted by the U.S. Geological Survey showed that the southwestern basins in the U.S. have a significant geothermal potential for meeting domestic electricity demand. Within these southwestern basins, play fairway analysis (PFA), funded by the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Geothermal Technologies Office, identified that the Tularosa Basin in New Mexico has significant geothermal potential. This short communication paper presents a machine learning (ML) methodology for curating and analyzing the PFA data from the DOE’s geothermal data repository. The proposed approach to identify potential geothermal sites in the Tularosa Basin is based on an unsupervised ML method called non-negative matrix factorization with custom k-means clustering. This methodology is available in our open-source ML framework, GeoThermalCloud (GTC). Using this GTC framework, we discover prospective geothermal locations and find key parameters defining these prospects. Our ML analysis found that these prospects are consistent with the existing Tularosa Basin’s PFA studies. This instills confidence in our GTC framework to accelerate geothermal exploration and resource development, which is generally time-consuming.
A Contribution to Knowledge of Russula Section Ingratae (Russulales, Russulaceae) in China: Two New Taxa and Amended Descriptions of One Known Species
Authors: Han Yunxiao , Liang Zhiqun , Zeng Niankai
Published: March 2023

Russula, one of the main genera of Russulaceae (Russulales), is both ecologically and economically important. It is a large and complex genus including eight subgenera. Although many studies have focused on Russula in China, the diversity still remains incompletely understood. In the present study, several collections of Russula subgen. Heterophyllidiae sect. Ingratae from China were studied based on morphology and molecular phylogenetic analyses. Three species were recognized, two of them described as new, R. fujianensis and R. oraria, and one of them already a known taxon, R. rufobasalis. Detailed descriptions, color photos of fresh basidiomata, and line-drawings of microstructures of the three species are presented.
Biogas Production from Steam-Exploded Maize Stover: Results from Continuous Anaerobic Tank Bioreactor Tests
Authors: Shevidi Abbas , Lizasoain Javier , Wlcek Bernhard , Frühauf Susanne , Gronauer Andreas , Bauer Alexander
Published: March 2023

Steam explosion pretreatment of lignocellulosic biomass presents a promising technology for agricultural residues before anaerobic degradation. This study aimed to assess biogas production in continuously stirred tank reactors using steam-exploded maize stover mono-digestion. The continuous digestion tests were carried out in four fermenters with a capacity of 150 L under mesophilic and thermophilic conditions. Maize stover was pretreated at 173 °C for 15 min. Four different organic loading rates (OLR) were tested, the biogas and methane production rate was monitored, and parameters such as dry matter (DM), volatile solids (VS), pH, and C:N were analyzed. The results of the tests showed that using steam-exploded maize stover in a continuous system over the range of an OLR from 1.0 to 3.5 kg VS m–3 d–1 is feasible with nitrogen as an additive only. The maximum methane yield, 637 LN m–3 d–1, was measured under thermophilic conditions with an OLR of 3.5 kg VS m–3 d–1. The trend of an increased gas production rate with an increasing OLR was observed over the range of the applied OLRs, although the average gas yield in the thermophilic mode was higher than it was in the mesophilic one.
Description of a Novel Fish Pathogen, Plesiomonas shigelloides subsp. oncorhynchi, Isolated from Rainbow Trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss): First Genome Analysis and Comparative Genomics
Authors: Duman Muhammed , García Valdés Elena , Ay Hilal , Altun Soner , Saticioglu Izzet
Published: March 2023

Plesiomonas shigelloides is the only species in its genus and has zoonotic importance due to the serious implications resulting from the consumption of contaminated seafood. This is the first report on the genomic features of the whole-genome sequence (WGS) of P. shigelloides strain V78, recovered from diseased rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss. The genome of P. shigelloides V78 consists of 4,478,098 base pairs (bps), which encode 3730 proteins, and has a G + C content of 51.1%. The bioinformatics analysis of WGS of V78 confirmed the presence of 121 tRNA genes and 42 rRNA genes (15 genes for 5S rRNA, 13 genes for 16S rRNA, and 14 genes for 23S rRNA). Comprehensive genome analyses revealed that the strain encodes secondary metabolites, antimicrobial resistance, and virulence genes. The strain V78 has 31 known antibiotic resistance models, which encode many antimicrobial resistances. In addition, strain V78 has 42 different virulence genes, such as adhesion, a secretion system, and motility. The digital DNA–DNA hybridization value against P. shigelloides NCTC 10360 was 74.2%, while the average nucleotide identity value was 97.1%. Based on the scrutinized analysis of genomic data, strain V78 should be considered a novel subspecies of P. shigelloides, for which Plesiomonas shigelloides subsp. oncorhynchi is proposed, with V78T as the type strain (=LMG 33380T=DSM 117059T).