bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Handgrip Strength and Muscle Quality: Results from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey Database
Authors: Wen Zhangxin , Gu Jiaxuan , Chen Rong , Wang Qinyi , Ding Na , Meng Lingqiong , Wang Xiangbing , Liu Hong , Sheng Zhifeng , Zheng Houfeng
Published: April 2023

Background: Handgrip strength (HGS) and the appendicular lean mass index (ALMI) are important determinants of sarcopenia. Muscle quality (MQ) is a measure of muscle strength relative to muscle mass. We examined trends in handgrip strength, the appendicular lean mass index, and analyzed their relationship with age, anthropometry, and body composition in a sample of participants in the United States (US). Methods: This cross-sectional study analyzed data from 14,741 US males (49.7%) and females (50.3%) 6–80 years old who responded to the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) from 2011 to 2014. Dual X-ray absorptiometry was used to measure appendicular skeletal muscle mass. HGS was evaluated using the Takei Digital Grip Strength Dynamometer. Smoothed normative curves for HGS and the ALMI were constructed using a generalized additive model. Multiple regression analyses were used to examine associations of HGS and the ALMI with age, nutrition-related factors, physical activity, and body composition. Results: Mean HGS and the ALMI declined with advancing age. While mean HGS increased with the ALMI, it decreased with the fat mass index. HGS increased in males with an increase in body mass index, energy intake, the ALMI, and vitamins; however, HGS in females increased with albumin, but it had a negative association with the fat mass index and age, but not with increasing adiposity. Conclusions: HGS and the ALMI change with age: HGS increases with age, then stabilizes and declines; the ALMI increases with age, then stabilizes. In addition, we provide evidence for the effect of anthropometry, nutrition, physical activity, and body composition on HGS and the ALMI in US population.
Sinonasal Malignancies Involving the Frontal Sinus: A Mono-Institutional Experience of 84 Cases and Systematic Literature Review
Authors: Sileo Giorgio , Valentini Marco , Gravante Giacomo , Monti Giulia , Arosio Alberto D. , Bignami Maurizio , Battaglia Paolo , Castelnuovo Paolo , Turri-Zanoni Mario
Published: April 2023

Frontal sinus involvement by malignant tumors is a rare finding. Therefore, a systematic literature review along with a personal case series may contribute to defining more accurately the epidemiology, treatment options, and outcomes of these neoplasms. This is a retrospective review of patients affected by frontal sinus malignancies surgically treated in a tertiary-care referral center over a period of 20 years. Moreover, a systematic literature review of studies describing frontal sinus cancers from 2000 to date was performed according to PRISMA guidelines in order to analyze current evidence about the treatment and outcomes of such a rare disease. Our retrospective review was basedon 84 cases, treated with an exclusive endoscopic approach in 43 cases (51.2%), endoscopic approach with frontal osteoplastic flap in 6 cases (7.1%), and transfacial or transcranial approaches in 35 cases (41.7%). The five-year overall, disease-specific, disease-free, and recurrence-free survivals were 54.6%, 62.6%, 33.1%, and 59.1%, respectively. Age, dural involvement, type of surgical resection, and surgical margin status were significantly associated with the survival endpoints. In conclusion, the involvement of the frontal sinus is associated with a poor prognosis. Multidisciplinary management, including specific histology-driven treatments, represents the gold standard for improving outcomes and minimizing morbidity.
Study on the Relationship between Resistivity and the Physical Properties of Seafloor Sediments Based on the Deep Neural Learning Algorithm
Authors: Sun Zhiwen , Fan Zhihan , Zhu Chaoqi , Li Kai , Sun Zhongqiang , Song Xiaoshuai , Xue Liang , Liu Hanlu , Jia Yonggang
Published: April 2023

The occurrence of deep-sea geohazards is accompanied by dynamic changes in the physical properties of seafloor sediments. Therefore, studying the physical properties is helpful for monitoring and early warnings of deep-sea geohazards. Existing physical property inversion methods have problems regarding the poor inversion accuracy and limited application scope. To address these issues, we establish a deep learning model between the resistivity of seafloor sediment and its density, water content, and porosity. Compared with empirical formulas, the deep learning model has the advantages of a more concentrated prediction range and a higher prediction accuracy. This algorithm was applied to invert the spatial distribution characteristics and temporal variation of the seafloor sediment density, water content, and porosity in the South China Sea hydrate test area for 12 days. The study reveals that the dynamic changes in the physical properties of seafloor sediments in the South China Sea hydrate zone exhibit obvious stratification characteristics. The dynamic changes in the physical properties of seafloor sediments are mainly observed at depths of 0–0.9 m below the seafloor, and the sediment properties remain stable at depths of 0.9–1.8 m below the seafloor. This study achieves the monitoring and early warning of dynamic changes in the physical properties of seafloor sediments and provides a guarantee for the safe construction of marine engineering.
Vibration Suppression Trajectory Planning of Underwater Flexible Manipulators Based on Incremental Kriging-Assisted Optimization Algorithm
Authors: Huang Hui , Tang Guoyuan , Chen Hongxuan , Wang Jianjun , Han Lijun , Xie De
Published: April 2023

It is of great significance to expand the functions of submarines by carrying underwater manipulators with a large working space. To suppress the flexible vibration of underwater manipulators, an improved sparrow search algorithm (ISSA) combining an elite strategy and a sine algorithm is proposed for the trajectory planning of underwater flexible manipulators. In this method, the vibration evaluation function is established based on the precise dynamic model of the underwater flexible manipulator and considering complex motion and vibration constraints. Simulation results show that the ISSA algorithm requires only 1/3.68 of the time of PSO. Compared to PSO, SSA and the opposition-based learning sparrow search algorithm (OBLSSA), the optimization performance is improved by 17.3%, 13.1% and 9.7%, respectively. However, because the complex dynamics model of the underwater flexible manipulator leads to large computational effort and a long optimization time, ISSA is difficult to apply directly in practice. To obtain a large number of optimization results in a shorter time, an incremental Kriging-assisted ISSA (IKA-ISSA) is proposed in this paper. Simulation results show that IKA-ISSA has good nonlinear approximation ability and the optimization time is only 3% of that of the ISSA.
Influence of Axial Matching between Inducer and Impeller on Energy Loss in High-Speed Centrifugal Pump
Authors: Cui Baoling , Li Chaofan
Published: April 2023

Studying the axial matching between the inducer and impeller is crucial for optimizing the structure of centrifugal pumps. In this paper, the SST k-ω turbulence model is used to analyze the influence of three axial positions on the internal flow and the energy loss of a centrifugal pump. Additionally, the entropy generation method is used to evaluate the energy loss in the pump. Three sets of inducer design schemes are selected based on the ratio of the distance from the trailing edge of the inducer to the impeller inlet and the impeller inlet diameter, which are λ = 0.6, λ = 0.9 (original scheme), and λ = 1.2, respectively. The results indicate that changing the axial position of the inducer between λ = 0.6 and λ = 1.2 has only a negligible effect on the overall performance of the centrifugal pump. At flow rates of 0.6Qd and 1.0Qd, the inlet pressure coefficient of λ2 is significantly lower compared to λ1 and λ3. As the flow rate increases, the pressure coefficient difference between the inlet and outlet in the inducer decreases, which leads to a more uniform streamline distribution and better development of the vortex in the flow channel. The energy loss in the inducer mainly occurs at the rim, the trailing edge, and outlet near the wall. As the flow rate increases, the entropy generation rate at the inducer rim decreases slightly and remains around 1000 W·m−3·K−1. At flow rates of 1.0Qd and 1.2Qd, the energy loss in the impeller reduces as the axial distance increases, with the exception of the flow rate 0.6Qd.
Accelerated Soil Erosion and Sedimentation Associated with Agricultural Activity in Crater-Lake Catchments of Western Uganda
Authors: De Crop Wannes , Verschuren Dirk , Ryken Nick , Basooma Rose , Okuonzia Judith Tomma , Verdoodt Ann
Published: April 2023

Intensifying agricultural activity associated with rapid population growth in rural western Uganda exerts immense pressure on natural resources, threatening not only soil fertility in the uplands but also water quality of the region’s many small crater lakes. To assess the relative risk of excess sediment and nutrient loading to individual lakes due to (inter) rill erosion within the catchments, we used the revised universal soil loss equation (RUSLE) and sediment delivery distributed model (SEDD) to estimate soil loss and sedimentation in 75 crater-lake catchments with diverse types and intensities of land use, including 17 catchments situated partly or entirely in national parks. We found that variation in potential soil loss (Ap) among all studied catchments was strongly related to differences in mean slope within each catchment. We also found substantial seasonal variation in vegetation cover, and thus, estimated actual soil loss (Am), on both cultivated land and protected savanna grassland, whereas the vegetation cover of protected semi-deciduous tropical forest was seasonally stable. Lacking detailed field data to validate model output, we used the ratio between estimated actual soil loss (Am) and potential soil loss (Ap) to evaluate the relative influences of land-use intensity and type, as well as the impact of protective measures. Our results showed that due to their characteristically steep slopes (21% on average), all crater catchments were highly susceptible to soil loss, and because most of them were small (203 ha on average), a large portion of the eroded material was transported to and deposited in the lakes. Given the strong dependence of the local population on these crater lakes as source of water and fish protein, and on the surrounding land for crop production, increased effort by environmental planners and managers is required to safeguard or restore the long-term availability of these natural resources. Avoiding bare soil conditions by restoring natural vegetation or employing agricultural techniques that provide high vegetation cover throughout the year are likely to result in considerable improvements.
Spatial–Temporal Evolution of the Coupling Coordination Degree between Water and Land Resources Matching and Cultivated Land Use Eco-Efficiency: A Case Study of the Major Grain-Producing Areas in the Middle and Lower Reaches of the Yangtze River
Authors: Fan Zhenggen , Luo Qingqing , Yu Hu , Liu Ji , Xia Wentong
Published: April 2023

Improving the coupling coordination degree between water and land resources matching (WLRM) and cultivated land use eco-efficiency (CLUE) is crucial to ensuring national food security and constructing an ecological civilization. This study is based on the data of 71 prefecture-level cities in the major grain-producing areas in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River from 2008 to 2020. The unit area water resource method, the slacks-based measurement (SBM)-undesirable, the Theil–Sen median analysis, the Mann–Kendall trend test, the coupling coordination degree model, and the spatial autocorrelation model are adopted to measure and analyze the WLRM, the CLUE, and the coupling and coordination level, and their spatial–temporal evolution characteristics quantitatively. Results show the following: (1) From 2008 to 2020, the average value of WLRM in the study areas is 18,200 m3/hm2, which is at a medium level, and the provinces show the characteristics of “high in the south and low in the north, with decreasing gradients”. (2) The annual average of CLUE is 0.777, which is in the medium level, and each province has the remarkable characteristics of “one high and four low”. (3) The coupling coordination degree of WLRM and CLUE is in the primary coordination level, which shows a significant positive correlation in space. In the local perspective, it shows the agglomeration characteristics of “high in the south and low in the north, nodule distribution”. In the future, the neighboring prefecture-level cities should actively build a synergistic mechanism for agricultural development, strengthen the reasonable use of water and land resources and pollution control techniques, drive the transformation of low–low aggregation areas to high–high aggregation areas, and improve the overall coordination of the study areas. This approach aims to promote the construction of ecological civilization and guarantee grain security and sustainable development of agriculture in China.
Impact of the Marketization of Industrial Land Transfer on Regional Carbon Emission Intensity: Evidence from China
Authors: Peng Shiguang , Wang Le , Xu Lei
Published: April 2023

With the implementation of deep-market-oriented reforms in China, an accurate interpretation of the effect and transmission mechanism of the marketization of industrial land transfer on carbon emission reduction can provide references for further elevating the role of land policy in China’s low-carbon economic transition. Based on the balanced panel data of China’s provincial level from 2009 to 2020, this paper uses carbon emission intensity to quantify emission reduction targets, and studies the effects of the marketization of industrial land transfer on regional carbon emission intensity, as well as its internal mechanism, by describing the typical characteristics. Moreover, this paper analyzes the moderating role of environmental governance and conducts area heterogeneity analysis. The main results show that (1) the marketization of industrial land transfer can significantly reduce regional carbon emission intensity, and the negative effect is stronger in the mid-west compared with the effect in the east. (2) Environmental governance can play a positive moderating role in the relationship between the marketization of industrial land transfer and the carbon emission intensity. (3) Industry selection is the internal mechanism by which the effect of the marketization of industrial land transfer on regional carbon emission intensity operates, and the mechanism is represented more prominently in the mid-west. The main conclusions provide inspiration for land policy regulation in relation to carbon emission reduction. China’s local governments should implement specific strategies to improve the market-based operation mechanism of land, attracting industries with high energy efficiency and low carbon emissions, and strengthening the intensity of environmental governance.
Ronald Dworkin: Seeking Truth and Justice through Responsibility
Authors: Ibric Samra
Published: April 2023

According to Dworkin, “truth” is an interpretative concept. Why? Moral judgements are often the subject of disagreement because they are often the result of divergent conceptual understandings. If, on the other hand, we want to interpret concepts correctly, we have to deal with the analysis of the underlying values we attach to these concepts. Dworkin understands the true as a matter of interpretation, which—and this is often misunderstood—is capable of producing a correct conception of the truth. The truth is thereby directly related to justice. Dworkin even ties his theory of interpretation to an objective truth that can only produce conclusive reasons for a specific advocacy of a particular position in an argument after responsible and intensive debate—in the sense of his two-stage theory. In fact, it turns out that Dworkin’s search for and conception of an objective truth describes a (historical) process. We interpret what our ancestors have already interpreted and continue to understand (in a modified way). This reflexive responsibility is ours to bear; according to Dworkin, it is our responsibility to always stand up for truth through good arguments.
Preliminary In Vitro and In Vivo Insights of In Silico Candidate Repurposed Drugs for Alzheimer’s Disease
Authors: Savva Kyriaki , Zachariou Margarita , Kynigopoulos Demos , Fella Eleni , Vitali Maria-Ioanna , Kosofidou Xeni , Spyrou Michail , Sargiannidou Irene , Panayiotou Elena , Dietis Nikolas , Spyrou George M.
Published: April 2023

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease and is the most common type of dementia. Although a considerably large amount of money has been invested in drug development for AD, no disease modifying treatment has been detected so far. In our previous work, we developed a computational method to highlight stage-specific candidate repurposed drugs against AD. In this study, we tested the effect of the top 13 candidate repurposed drugs that we proposed in our previous work in a severity stage-specific manner using an in vitro BACE1 assay and the effect of a top-ranked drug from the list of our previous work, tetrabenazine (TBZ), in the 5XFAD as an AD mouse model. From our in vitro screening, we detected 2 compounds (clomiphene citrate and Pik-90) that showed statistically significant inhibition against the activity of the BACE1 enzyme. The administration of TBZ at the selected dose and therapeutic regimen in 5XFAD in male and female mice showed no significant effect in behavioral tests using the Y-maze and the ELISA immunoassay of Aβ40. To our knowledge, this is the first time the drug tetrabenazine has been tested in the 5XFAD mouse model of AD in a sex-stratified manner. Our results highlight 2 drugs (clomiphene citrate and Pik-90) from our previous computational work for further investigation.
Advancement in Solubilization Approaches: A Step towards Bioavailability Enhancement of Poorly Soluble Drugs
Authors: Kumari Lakshmi , Choudhari Yash , Patel Preeti , Gupta Ghanshyam Das , Singh Dilpreet , Rosenholm Jessica M. , Bansal Kuldeep Kumar , Kurmi Balak Das
Published: April 2023

A drug’s aqueous solubility is defined as the ability to dissolve in a particular solvent, and it is currently a major hurdle in bringing new drug molecules to the market. According to some estimates, up to 40% of commercialized products and 70–90% of drug candidates in the development stage are poorly soluble, which results in low bioavailability, diminished therapeutic effects, and dosage escalation. Because of this, solubility must be taken into consideration when developing and fabricating pharmaceutical products. To date, a number of approaches have been investigated to address the problem of poor solubility. This review article attempts to summarize several conventional methods utilized to increase the solubility of poorly soluble drugs. These methods include the principles of physical and chemical approaches such as particle size reduction, solid dispersion, supercritical fluid technology, cryogenic technology, inclusion complex formation techniques, and floating granules. It includes structural modification (i.e., prodrug, salt formation, co-crystallization, use of co-solvents, hydrotrophy, polymorphs, amorphous solid dispersions, and pH variation). Various nanotechnological approaches such as liposomes, nanoparticles, dendrimers, micelles, metal organic frameworks, nanogels, nanoemulsions, nanosuspension, carbon nanotubes, and so forth have also been widely investigated for solubility enhancement. All these approaches have brought forward the enhancement of the bioavailability of orally administered drugs by improving the solubility of poorly water-soluble drugs. However, the solubility issues have not been completely resolved, owing to several challenges associated with current approaches, such as reproducibility in large scale production. Considering that there is no universal approach for solving solubility issues, more research is needed to simplify the existing technologies, which could increase the number of commercially available products employing these techniques.
Beneficial Microorganisms Improve Agricultural Sustainability under Climatic Extremes
Authors: Jalal Arshad , Oliveira Carlos Eduardo da Silva , Rosa Poliana Aparecida Leonel , Galindo Fernando Shintate , Teixeira Filho Marcelo Carvalho Minhoto
Published: April 2023

The challenging alterations in climate in the last decades have had direct and indirect influences on biotic and abiotic stresses that have led to devastating implications on agricultural crop production and food security. Extreme environmental conditions, such as abiotic stresses, offer great opportunities to study the influence of different microorganisms in plant development and agricultural productivity. The focus of this review is to highlight the mechanisms of plant growth-promoting microorganisms (especially bacteria and fungi) adapted to environmental induced stresses such as drought, salinity, heavy metals, flooding, extreme temperatures, and intense light. The present state of knowledge focuses on the potential, prospective, and biotechnological approaches of plant growth-promoting bacteria and fungi to improve plant nutrition, physio-biochemical attributes, and the fitness of plants under environmental stresses. The current review focuses on the importance of the microbial community in improving sustainable crop production under changing climatic scenarios.
Tribological Properties of Nano-ZrO2 and PEEK Reinforced PTFE Composites Based on Molecular Dynamics
Authors: Qi Yuan , Sun Bugong , Zhang Yang , Gao Gui , Zhang Peng , Zheng Xiaobao
Published: April 2023

Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) is a polymeric material with excellent self-lubricating properties. In this study, in order to improve the wear resistance of PTFE, the PTFE matrix was filled with soft-phase polyetheretherketone (PEEK) particles and hard-phase nano-ZrO2 particles in varying volume ratios. A linear reciprocating friction tester was used to test the tribological properties of the PTFE composites. Optical microscopy (OM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were utilized to observe the formation and evolution of the transfer film on the surface of the counterpart metal during the friction process. Molecular dynamics simulation software (Materials Studio MS) was used to simulate and analyze the frictional behavior between the molecular structures of PTFE composites and the counterpart iron atoms on a microscopic scale. The results showed that the uniformity and firmness of the transfer film had an important influence on the wear resistance of the material. PEEK and ZrO2 nanoparticles were able to improve the firmness and formation rate of the transfer film, respectively, resulting in significant improvement in the wear resistance of PTFE (volume wear rate reduced from 7.7 × 10−4 mm3/Nm for pure PTFE to 1.76 × 10−6 mm3/Nm for nano-ZrO2/PEEK/PTFE). Molecular dynamics simulations revealed that the poor wear resistance of PTFE was due to significant interlayer slippage within its molecular chains. PEEK molecular chains could effectively adsorb PTFE molecular chains and formed a strong bond. ZrO2 nanoparticles also contributed to the overall stability of the PTFE matrix. Both soft and hard fillers significantly inhibited interlayer slippage between PTFE molecular chains, enhancing the shear deformation resistance of the material and thus improving the wear resistance of PTFE composites.
Combined Micro-Structural Effects of Linearly Increasing Reynolds Number and Mean Inflow Velocity on Flow Fields with Mesh Independence Analysis in Non-Classical Framework
Authors: Hajano Nazim Hussain , Khan Muhammad Sabeel , Liu Lisheng , Kaloi Mumtaz Ali , Mei Hai
Published: April 2023

The monolithic Eulerian formulation has widely been employed for solving numerically fluid–structure interaction (FSI) problems of finite structural displacement using the same mathematical variational formulation for fluid and structural dynamics. Recently, different physical features of fluid flow have been analyzed using this approach to such coupling problems by computing the classical benchmark solutions in a non-classical framework. Despite producing decent results, the analysis of micro-structural characteristics of fluid flow by applying the classical benchmark solutions still needs to be enhanced and extended further for such coupling problems. In this paper, the classical benchmark solutions have been enhanced and extended further for analyzing the combined micro-structural effects of linearly increasing Reynolds number Re and mean inflow velocity U¯ on flow fields with mesh independence analysis by employing a monolithic Eulerian formulation in a non-classical framework. To this aim, the Cosserat fluids theory is taken into account for the present coupling problem by considering three micro-rotational degrees of freedom (dof) of fluid particles. The model equations of the proposed Cosserat fluid–structure interaction (CFSI) problem are derived using underlying laws of continuum mechanics. A numerical section presents the implementation of the benchmark problem with test examples followed by a detailed evaluation of the obtained results. The results obtained indicate that a uniform linear increase in Reynolds number Re and mean inflow velocity U¯ produce the significant combined micro-structural effects on the micro-rotation velocity field ω, and this effect is found increasing on the increase of both parameters. This combined effect of increasing Re and U¯ on the velocity field u is also observed to be very significant in a sense that horizontal and vertical flow velocity profiles experience great variation by maintaining the same pattern on each increasing value of Re and U¯ at any particular location in the computational domain. Further, the mesh independence analysis is employed to verify the convergence of obtained results. The study concludes that the linear increase in Reynolds number and mean inflow velocity affect micro-rotational velocity field significantly at the micro-structural level with mesh independence analysis. Finally, some future recommendations to enhance and extend the study with some of its limitations are presented.
Three-Dimensional Swirling Flow of Nanofluid with Nanoparticle Aggregation Kinematics Using Modified Krieger–Dougherty and Maxwell–Bruggeman Models: A Finite Element Solution
Authors: Alsulami M. D. , Abdulrahman Amal , Kumar R. Naveen , Punith Gowda R. J. , Prasannakumara B. C.
Published: April 2023

The current study explores a three-dimensional swirling flow of titania–ethylene glycol-based nanofluid over a stretchable cylinder with torsional motion. The heat transfer process is explored subject to heat source/sink. Here, titania–ethylene glycol–water-based nanofluid is used. The Maxwell–Bruggeman models for thermal conductivity and modified Krieger–Dougherty models for viscosity are employed to scrutinize the impact of nanoparticle aggregation. A mathematical model based on partial differential equations (PDEs) is developed to solve the flow problem. Following that, a similarity transformation is performed to reduce the equations to ordinary differential equations (ODEs), which are then solved using the finite element method. It has been proven that nanoparticle aggregation significantly increases the temperature field. The results reveal that the rise in Reynolds number improves the heat transport rate, whereas an increase in the heat source/sink parameter value declines the heat transport rate. Swirling flows are commonly found in many industrial processes such as combustion, mixing, and fluidized bed reactors. Studying the behavior of nanofluids in these flows can lead to the development of more efficient and effective industrial processes.
An Efficient Fractional Chebyshev Chaotic Map-Based Three-Factor Session Initiation Protocol for the Human-Centered IoT Architecture
Authors: Meshram Chandrashekhar , Lee Cheng-Chi , Bahkali Ismail , Imoize Agbotiname Lucky
Published: April 2023

One of the most frequently used signaling techniques for initiating, sustaining, and dismissing sessions on the internet is a session initiation protocol (SIP). Currently, SIPs are gaining widespread applications in the human-centered Internet of Things (HC-IoT) domain. In HC-IoT environments, sensitive user data are transmitted over open communication channels that require secure authentication to protect sensitive user information from unlawful exploitation. In order to provide robust authentication for critical user data, SIP-based authentication mechanisms have been proposed; however, these authentication schemes have not provided perfect authentication and effective security for users. Additionally, the existing schemes are computationally intensive and cost-prohibitive in design and implementation. In order to address this problem, especially in the human-centered IoT context, this work introduces a provably secure, lightweight, three-factor SIP-based scheme to tackle the shortcomings of traditional schemes. The presented scheme is based on an extended fractional Chebyshev chaotic map. A formal security verification of the session key in the real-or-random (ROR) model is conducted to evaluate the projected scheme. The investigation results indicate that the new scheme is SIP compatible and achieves secure mutual authentication with robust security features compared to the existing schemes. Therefore, the proposed SIP-enabled scheme can be deployed in the human-centered Internet of Things to secure critical user information.
An Implicit Finite Difference Scheme and Neural Network Approach for Non-Newtonian Nanofluid Flow Using Induced Magnetic Field
Authors: Al Salman Hassan J. , Nawaz Yasir , Al Ghafli Ahmed A.
Published: April 2023

The aim of this contribution is to propose a numerical scheme for solving linear and nonlinear boundary value problems. The scheme is implicit and it is constructed on three grid points. The stability of the proposed implicit scheme is provided. In addition to this, a mathematical model for heat and mass transfer using induced magnetic field (IMF) is modified. Furthermore, this model is transformed into boundary value problems by employing similarity transformations. The dimensionless model of boundary value problems is solved using the proposed numerical scheme. The scheme is applied with a combination of a shooting approach and an iterative method. From the obtained results, it can be seen that velocity profile declines with enhancing Weissenberg number. The results are also compared with those given in past research. In addition to this, a neural network approach is applied that is based on the input and outputs of the considered model with specified values of parameters.
A NumericalInvestigation for a Class of Transient-State Variable Coefficient DCR Equations
Authors: Azis Mohammad Ivan
Published: April 2023

In this paper, a combined Laplace transform (LT) and boundary element method (BEM) is used to find numerical solutions to problems of anisotropic functionally graded media that are governed by the transient diffusion–convection–reaction equation. First, the variable coefficient governing equation is reduced to a constant coefficient equation. Then, the Laplace-transformed constant coefficients equation is transformed into a boundary-only integral equation. Using a BEM, the numerical solutions in the frame of the Laplace transform may then be obtained from this integral equation. Then, the solutions are inversely transformed numerically back to the original time variable using the Stehfest formula. The numerical solutions are verified by showing their accuracy and steady state. For symmetric problems, the symmetry of solutions is also justified. Moreover, the effects of the anisotropy and inhomogeneity of the material on the solutions are also shown, to suggest that it is important to take the anisotropy and inhomogeneity into account when performing experimental studies.
Performance Evaluation of Grid-Connected DFIG-Based WECS with Battery Energy Storage System under Wind Alterations Using FOPID Controller for RSC
Authors: Singh Pradeep , Arora Krishan , Rathore Umesh C. , Yang Eunmok , Joshi Gyanendra Prasad , Son Kwang Chul
Published: April 2023

In the present energy scenario, wind energy is the fastest-growing renewable energy resource on the globe. However, wind-energy-based generation systems are also associated with increasing demands for power quality and active power control in the power network. With the advancements in power-electronics-based technology and its use in non-conventional energy conversion systems, it has witnessed tremendous growth in wind energy conversion systems (WECSs). At the same time, integrating wind farms into the grid system also results in many power quality issues in the power system that involve these renewable energy sources feeding power networks. This paper reports the effectiveness of grid-connected doubly fed induction generator (DFIG)-based WECS with a battery energy storage system (BESS) under variable wind conditions. In this study, a rotor side converter (RSC) is controlled to achieve the optimal torque for a given maximal wind power. The control scheme is simulated using MATLAB for a 2 MW-rated DFIG used in a WECS. Additionally, in this paper, a new fraction order proportional integral derivative (FOPID) controller is introduced into the system’s RSC, and its performance is also observed. The BESS technique is used with a DC link to improve the overall performance of the DFIG-based WECS under different wind conditions. To control the BESS, a proportional integral (PI) controller is introduced to increase the charging and discharging rates. Two models are developed in MATLAB/Simulink: one model is a basic model, and other model is equipped with a BESS and a PI controller in the BESS. The results validate the effectiveness of the proposed PI-controller-equipped BESS at improving the overall performance of the WECS system under study.
Optimizing Retaining Walls through Reinforcement Learning Approaches and Metaheuristic Techniques
Authors: Lemus-Romani José , Ossandón Diego , Sepúlveda Rocío , Carrasco-Astudillo Nicolás , Yepes Victor , García José
Published: April 2023

The structural design of civil works is closely tied to empirical knowledge and the design professional’s experience. Based on this, adequate designs are generated in terms of strength, operability, and durability. However, such designs can be optimized to reduce conditions associated with the structure’s design and execution, such as costs, CO2 emissions, and related earthworks. In this study, a new discretization technique based on reinforcement learning and transfer functions is developed. The application of metaheuristic techniques to the retaining wall problem is examined, defining two objective functions: cost and CO2 emissions. An extensive comparison is made with various metaheuristics and brute force methods, where the results show that the S-shaped transfer functions consistently yield more robust outcomes.
Dynamic Evaluation of Product Innovation Knowledge Concerning the Interactive Relationship between Innovative Subjects: A Multi-Objective Optimization Approach
Authors: Zhang Fanshun , Zhang Zhuorui , Zhang Quanquan , Zhu Xiaochun
Published: April 2023

Product innovation knowledge, in prior studies, has been subjectively evaluated by a single stakeholder, resulting in a notable bias toward the chosen solution. Specifically, the selected product innovation solution may fail to incorporate the interests and demands of innovation subjects, potentially leading to conflicting innovation solutions and inefficiencies. Recently, many external parties, such as consumers and supply chain partners, have been involved in innovative work to create a substantial amount of the product interactive innovation knowledge (PIIK). The value of PIIK is hard to evaluate since this knowledge has evolved as a dynamic relationship among external parties. Thus, a novel method that integrates dynamic knowledge evolution and multiple stakeholders should be developed to dynamically evaluate the value of PIIK. Specially, the objectives in this paper are the knowledge evaluation scores of different innovative aspects and the ability of a model to identify the optimal solutions that receive the highest score from the innovative subjects. Then, the dynamic characteristic is captured by the participation of new parties, the departure of original parties, and the new knowledge created by the existing parties. To verify the effectiveness of feasibility of this model, case studies based on the innovation of a cell phone were implemented. The results show the following: (i). When the interactive relationship is not considered, parties prefer to choose the solution that fits well with their benefits, but the solution may conflict with other solutions chosen by their partners; (ii). Although the best solution is not separately selected by all parties when the interactive relationship is considered, the solution combined with the satisfactory result presents a better performance on product innovation; (iii). Dynamic characteristic should be considered in evaluation process, especially when the core parties are changed.
Extraction, Characterization and Osteogenic Activity of a Type I Collagen from Starfish (Asterias amurensis)
Authors: Li Lingcui , Yu Yu , Wu Wenhui , Wang Peipei
Published: April 2023

Outbreaks of starfish (Asterias amurensis) pose a major threat to aquaculture and marine ecosystems in Qingdao, China, and no effective methods have been found to control them. A comprehensive study of collagen in starfish could be an alternative to high efficient utilization. Based on this, collagen was firstly extracted from Qingdao A. amurensis. Then, its protein pattern, amino acid composition, secondary structure, microstructure and thermal stability were investigated. The results showed that the A. amurensis collagen (AAC) is a type I collagen composed of α1, α2, and β chains. Glycine, hydroxyproline, and alanine were the major amino acids. The melting temperature was 57.7 °C. From FTIR, UV spectra and CD chromatography, the AAC had an intact triple helix and secondary structure, and microstructural analysis showed that the AAC had a loose, fibrous porous structure. Next, the osteogenic differentiation effect of AAC on Mouse bone marrow stem cells (BMSCs) was investigated, and the results showed that AAC induced osteogenic differentiation of cells by promoting the proliferation of BMSCs, enhancing alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity, promoting cell mineralization nodules and upregulating the expression of mRNA of relevant osteogenic genes. These results suggest that AAC might have the potential application to bone health-related functional foods.
A Bibliometric and In Silico-Based Analysis of Anti-Lung Cancer Compounds from Sea Cucumber
Authors: Zare Afshin , Izanloo Safoura , Khaledi Sajed , Maratovich Mussin Nadiar , Kaliyev Asset Askerovich , Abenova Nurgul Abdullayevna , Rahmanifar Farhad , Mahdipour Mahdi , Bakhshalizadeh Shabnam , Shirazi Reza , Tanideh Nader , Tamadon Amin
Published: April 2023

Lung cancer is one of the most lethal malignancies in the world. However, current curative approaches for treating this type of cancer have some weaknesses. Therefore, scientists are attempting to discover new anti-lung cancer agents. Sea cucumber is a marine-derived source for discovering biologically active compounds with anti-lung cancer properties. To explore the anti-lung cancer properties of sea cucumber, we analyzed surveys using VOSviewer software and identified the most frequently used keywords. We then searched the Google Scholar database for compounds with anti-lung cancer properties within that keyword family. Finally, we used AutoDock 4 to identify the compounds with the highest affinity for apoptotic receptors in lung cancer cells. The results showed that triterpene glucosides were the most frequently identified compounds in studies examining the anti-cancer properties of sea cucumbers. Intercedenside C, Scabraside A, and Scabraside B were the three triterpene glycosides with the highest affinity for apoptotic receptors in lung cancer cells. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first time that anti-lung cancer properties of sea cucumber-derived compounds have been examined in in silico conditions. Ultimately, these three components displayed anti-lung cancer properties in in silico conditions and may be used for the manufacture of anti-lung cancer agents in the near future.
Functionalization and Surface Modification of Mesoporous Hydrophobic Membranes by Oligomers and Target Additives via Environmental Crazing
Authors: Yarysheva Alena Yu. , Klyamkin Semen N. , Yarysheva Larisa M. , Arzhakova Olga V.
Published: April 2023

This work offers an ecologically friendly and facile approach for the modification of high-tonnage commercial polymers, including polypropylene (PP), high-density polyethylene (HDPE), and poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET), and preparation of nanocomposite polymeric membranes via incorporation of modifying oligomer hydrophilic additives, such as poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG), poly(propylene glycol) (PPG), polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), and salicylic acid (SA). Structural modification is accomplished via the deformation of polymers in PEG, PPG, and water-ethanol solutions of PVA and SA when mesoporous membranes are loaded with oligomers and target additives. The content of target additives in nanocomposite membranes is controlled by tensile strain, and the level of loading can achieve 35–62 wt.% for PEG and PPG; the content of PVA and SA is controlled by their concentration in the feed solution. This approach allows for the simultaneous incorporation of several additives which are shown to preserve their functional performance in the polymeric membranes and their functionalization. The porosity, morphology, and mechanical characteristics of the prepared membranes were studied. The proposed approach allows an efficient and facile strategy for the surface modification of hydrophobic mesoporous membranes: depending on the nature and content of target additives, their water contact angle can be reduced to 30–65°. Water vapor permeability, gas selectivity, antibacterial, and functional properties of the nanocomposite polymeric membranes were described.
Understanding Protein and Polysaccharide Fouling with Silicon Dioxide and Aluminum Oxide in Low-Pressure Membranes
Authors: Alresheedi Mohammad T.
Published: April 2023

Humic, protein, and polysaccharide substances have been recognized as significant types of foulants in membrane systems. Despite the remarkable amount of research that has been performed on the interaction of these foulants, particularly humic and polysaccharide substances, with inorganic colloids in RO systems, little attention has been paid to the fouling and cleaning behavior of proteins with inorganic colloids in UF membranes. This research examined the fouling and cleaning behavior of bovine serum albumin (BSA) and sodium alginate (SA) with silicon dioxide (SiO2) and α-aluminum oxide (Al2O3) in individual and combined solutions during dead-end UF filtration. The results showed that the presence of SiO2 or Al2O3 in water alone did not cause significant fouling or a flux decline in the UF system. However, the combination of BSA and SA with inorganics was observed to have a synergistic effect on membrane fouling, in which the combined foulants caused higher irreversibility than individual foulants. Analysis of blocking laws demonstrated that the fouling mechanism shifted from cake filtration to complete pore blocking when the combined organics and inorganics were present in water, which resulted in higher BSA and SA fouling irreversibility. The results suggest that membrane backwash needs to be carefully designed and adjusted for better control of BSA and SA fouling with SiO2 and Al2O3.
Definition of a Dietary Pattern Expressing the Intake of Vegetables and Fruits and Its Association with Intestinal Microbiota
Authors: Yamauchi Toshitaka , Koyama Naoko , Hirai Ayumi , Suganuma Hiroyuki , Suzuki Shigenori , Murashita Koichi , Mikami Tatsuya , Tamada Yoshinori , Sato Noriaki , Imoto Seiya , Itoh Ken , Nakaji Shigeyuki
Published: April 2023

Daily dietary habits directly or indirectly influence the intestinal microbiota, and the resulting changes in its composition and metabolic activity alter the health conditions of the host. Although many studies have analyzed the association between individual nutrients/food items and intestinal microbiota, the assessment of the diet and intestinal microbiota from a macroscopic perspective has not yet been performed in Japan. Therefore, we focused on vegetables and fruits and aimed to identify dietary patterns of high intake of these foods and to examine their relationship with the intestinal microbiota. This cross-sectional study included 1019 healthy individuals aged ≥20 years in a rural area in northern Japan. Six dietary patterns were detected by factor analysis using the brief-type self-administered diet history questionnaire (BDHQ) data to identify the “vege pattern”, which was the dietary pattern rich in vegetables and fruits. Permutational multivariate analysis of variance revealed changes in β-diversity according to dietary patterns. In multivariable-adjusted models, the adherence to the vege pattern was positively correlated with α-diversity. This is the first study to reveal a correlation between intestinal microbiota and dietary habits rich in vegetables and fruits in a rural area of Japan.
Meal-Based Intervention on Health Promotion in Middle-Aged Women: A Pilot Study
Authors: Shon Jinyoung , Seong Yehee , Choi Yeji , Kim Yeri , Cho Mi Sook , Ha Eunhee , Kwon Oran , Kim Yuri , Park Yoon Jung , Kim Yangha
Published: April 2023

Middle-aged women belong to a risk group for metabolic dysregulation and menopausal symptoms, mainly due to a dramatic hormonal shift. Supplementation with functional compounds or a single nutrient has been dominantly explored as a nutritional approach for improving aging-related health parameters. However, a meal-based approach might be another strategy for promoting the overall health of the target population. This pilot study aimed to develop a meal-based intervention for middle-aged women and to evaluate its potential health benefits. Considering the nutrient intake status of Korean middle-aged women, diets enriched with four major nutrients (isoflavone, omega-3, fiber, and calcium) were designed and provided to forty-nine women aged 50 to 65 with mild levels of menopausal symptoms for 8 weeks. In the post-intervention phase, they showed reduced body weight and body fat, and improved biochemical metabolic parameters with decreased levels of cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol, ApoB, and fasting insulin. Moreover, bone resorption markers and menopause symptoms were lower in the post-intervention phase. In conclusion, the meal-based intervention might be a prominent strategy for overall health promotion in relatively healthy middle-aged women and further investigation is needed to test its efficacy with a randomized controlled study.