bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Review on Low-Dimensional Nanomaterials: Nanofabrication, Characterization and Applications
Authors: Paras  , Yadav Kushal , Kumar Prashant , Teja Dharmasanam Ravi , Chakraborty Sudipto , Chakraborty Monojit , Mohapatra Soumya Sanjeeb , Sahoo Abanti , Chou Mitch M. C. , Liang Chi-Te , Hang Da-Ren
Published: December 2022

The development of modern cutting-edge technology relies heavily on the huge success and advancement of nanotechnology, in which nanomaterials and nanostructures provide the indispensable material cornerstone. Owing to their nanoscale dimensions with possible quantum limit, nanomaterials and nanostructures possess a high surface-to-volume ratio, rich surface/interface effects, and distinct physical and chemical properties compared with their bulk counterparts, leading to the remarkably expanded horizons of their applications. Depending on their degree of spatial quantization, low-dimensional nanomaterials are generally categorized into nanoparticles (0D); nanorods, nanowires, and nanobelts (1D); and atomically thin layered materials (2D). This review article provides a comprehensive guide to low-dimensional nanomaterials and nanostructures. It begins with the classification of nanomaterials, followed by an inclusive account of nanofabrication and characterization. Both top-down and bottom-up fabrication approaches are discussed in detail. Next, various significant applications of low-dimensional nanomaterials are discussed, such as photonics, sensors, catalysis, energy storage, diverse coatings, and various bioapplications. This article would serve as a quick and facile guide for scientists and engineers working in the field of nanotechnology and nanomaterials.
Pectin in Metabolic Liver Disease
Authors: Hu Wanchao , Cassard Anne-Marie , Ciocan Dragos
Published: December 2022

Alterations in the composition of the gut microbiota (dysbiosis) are observed in nutritional liver diseases, including non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and alcoholic liver disease (ALD) and have been shown to be associated with the severity of both. Editing the composition of the microbiota by fecal microbiota transfer or by application of probiotics or prebiotics/fiber in rodent models and human proof-of-concept trials of NAFLD and ALD have demonstrated its possible contribution to reducing the progression of liver damage. In this review, we address the role of a soluble fiber, pectin, in reducing the development of liver injury in NAFLD and ALD through its impact on gut bacteria.
Effects of Dietary Diversity on Growth Outcomes of Children Aged 6 to 23 Months in India: Evidence from National Family and Health Survey
Authors: Saha Jay , Chouhan Pradip , Malik Najma Iqbal , Ghosh Tanmoy , Das Puja , Shahid Muhammad , Ahmed Farooq , Tang Kun
Published: December 2022

Low dietary diversity significantly interplays with children’s growth failure. However, evidence of its crucial role in children’s health remains inconclusive in developing countries such as India. This study attempts to find the association between dietary diversity and growth outcomes among children aged between 6 and 23 months in India using the fourth round of the National Family Health Survey (NFHS), 2015–2016. A total of 67,278 mother-child pairs of children between the ages of 6–23 months and mothers aged 15–49 years were included in this study. Pearson’s chi-square significance test and multivariable logistic regression were used to determine the association between dietary diversity and child growth outcomes (stunted, wasted, and underweight). The study found that the prevalence of stunting and severe stunting among children aged between 6 and 23 months were 35.9% and 16.2%; 23.8% and 8.5% represented wasting, and severe wasting; and more than 32%, 10% were underweight and severely underweight respectively. This present study found that having an inadequate minimum dietary diversity (<4 food groups) significantly increases the risk of being stunted (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 1.29; 95% confidence interval (CI); 1.21–1.38), wasted (AOR = 1.29; 95% CI; 1.21–1.38), and underweight (AOR = 1.47; 95% CI; 1.39–1.56). Further, it was noted that children who did not intake dairy products, eggs, and other fruits and vegetables were more likely to be stunted, wasted, and underweight and more likely to be severely stunted, wasted, and underweight. Therefore, additional nutrition-specific interventions are urgently needed to strengthen and enhance existing feeding interventions aimed at improving infant and young child feeding (IYCF) practices, including complementary feeding practices among children aged between 6 and 23 months in India. The Government should focus such interventions more on states or regions where the prevalence of adequate minimum dietary diversity (MDD) and malnutrition is high.
A Pleiotropic Nuclear Hormone Labelled Hundred Years Ago Vitamin D
Authors: Carlberg Carsten
Published: December 2022

This year we are celebrating 100 years of the naming of vitamin D, but the molecule is, in fact, more than one billion years old [...]
Features of Non-Alcoholic Beer on Cardiovascular Biomarkers. Can It Be a Substitute for Conventional Beer?
Authors: Sancén Marco , Léniz Asier , Macarulla María Teresa , González Marcela , Milton-Laskibar Iñaki , Portillo María P.
Published: December 2022

Numerous studies have revealed the beneficial effects of moderate beer consumption on cardiovascular diseases. However, the presence of alcohol in beer can represent a matter of concern, since alcohol intake poses a risk to some individuals. Additionally, adults who are life-long abstainers should not be encouraged to consume alcohol for health purposes. Consequently, the benefits of beer consumption remain a controversial issue. In this scenario, the present review gathers the reported information concerning the cardiovascular effects of non-alcoholic beer, and makes a comparison between these effects and those of conventional beer. Despite the scarcity of published results to date describing the effects of non-alcoholic beer consumption, the available literature indicates that it is more effective than conventional beer in preventing oxidative stress (lower lipid and protein oxidation), preserving the endothelial function (lower endothelial dysfunction) and inhibiting thrombogenic activity (lowered oxidized LDL). By contrast, conventional beer has shown to induce greater increases in HDL-cholesterol levels (known as a cardiovascular protective factor) compared to non-alcoholic beer. This effect cannot be solely attributed to alcohol content, since the polyphenol content in conventional beer tends to be higher than that found in non-alcoholic beer.
NAD Supplement Alleviates Intestinal Barrier Injury Induced by Ethanol Via Protecting Epithelial Mitochondrial Function
Authors: Li Wenli , Zhou Yujia , Pang Nengzhi , Hu Qianrong , Li Qiuyan , Sun Yan , Ding Yijie , Gu Yingying , Xiao Ying , Gao Mengqi , Ma Sixi , Pan Jie , Fang Evandro Fei , Zhang Zhenfeng , Yang Lili
Published: December 2022

Background: The epithelial tight junction is an important intestinal barrier whose disruption can lead to the release of harmful intestinal substances into the circulation and cause damage to systemic injury. The maintenance of intestinal epithelial tight junctions is closely related to energy homeostasis and mitochondrial function. Nicotinamide riboside (NR) is a NAD booster that can enhance mitochondrial biogenesis in liver. However, whether NR can prevent ethanol-induced intestinal barrier dysfunction and the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Methods: We applied the mouse NIAAA model (chronic plus binge ethanol feeding) and Caco-2 cells to explore the effects of NR on ethanol-induced intestinal barrier dysfunction and the underlying mechanisms. NAD homeostasis and mitochondrial function were measured. In addition, knockdown of SirT1 in Caco-2 cells was further applied to explore the role of SirT1 in the protection of NR. Results: We found that ethanol increased intestinal permeability, increased the release of LPS into the circulation and destroyed the intestinal epithelial barrier structure in mice. NR supplementation attenuated intestinal barrier injury. Both in vivo and in vitro experiments showed that NR attenuated ethanol-induced decreased intestinal tight junction protein expressions and maintained NAD homeostasis. In addition, NR supplementation activated SirT1 activity and increased deacetylation of PGC-1α, and reversed ethanol-induced mitochondrial dysfunction and mitochondrial biogenesis. These effects were diminished with the knockdown of SirT1 in Caco-2 cells. Conclusion: Boosting NAD by NR alleviates ethanol-induced intestinal epithelial barrier damage via protecting mitochondrial function in a SirT1-dependent manner.
Synthesis and Cytotoxicity Evaluation of Novel Coumarin–Palladium(II) Complexes against Human Cancer Cell Lines
Authors: Avdović Edina H. , Antonijević Marko , Simijonović Dušica , Roca Sunčica , Topić Dražen Vikić , Grozdanić Nađa , Stanojković Tatjana , Radojević Ivana , Vojinović Radiša , Marković Zoran
Published: December 2022

Two newly synthesized coumarin–palladium(II) complexes (C1 and C2) were characterized using elemental analysis, spectroscopy (IR and 1H-13C NMR), and DFT methods at the B3LYP-D3BJ/6-311+G(d,p) level of theory. The in vitro and in silico cytotoxicity of coumarin ligands and their corresponding Pd(II) complexes was examined. For in vitro testing, five cell lines were selected, namely human cervical adenocarcinoma (HeLa), the melanoma cell line (FemX), epithelial lung carcinoma (A549), the somatic umbilical vein endothelial cell line (EA.hi926), and pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (Panc-1). In order to examine the in silico inhibitory potential and estimate inhibitory constants and binding energies, molecular docking studies were performed. The inhibitory activity of C1 and C2 was investigated towards epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK), and B-cell lymphoma 2 (BCL-2). According to the results obtained from the molecular docking simulations, the inhibitory activity of the investigated complexes towards all the investigated proteins is equivalent or superior in comparison with current therapeutical options. Moreover, because of the low binding energies and the high correlation rate with experimentally obtained results, it was shown that, out of the three, the inhibition of RTK is the most probable mechanism of the cytotoxic activity of the investigated compounds.
Long-Term Sleep Deprivation-Induced Myocardial Remodeling and Mitochondrial Dysfunction in Mice Were Attenuated by Lipoic Acid and N-Acetylcysteine
Authors: Song Fei , Lin Jiale , Zhang Houjian , Guo Yuli , Mao Yijie , Liu Zuguo , Li Gang , Wang Yan
Published: December 2022

The impact of long-term sleep deprivation on the heart and its underlying mechanisms are poorly understood. The present study aimed to investigate the impact of chronic sleep deprivation (CSD) on the heart and mitochondrial function and explore an effective drug for treating CSD-induced heart dysfunction. We used a modified method to induce CSD in mice; lipoic acid (LA) and N-acetylcysteine (NAC) were used to treat CSD mice. Echocardiography, hematoxylin-eosin (H&E) staining, Sirius red staining, and immunohistochemistry were used to determine heart function and cardiac fibrosis. The serum levels of brain natriuretic peptide (BNP), superoxide Dismutase (SOD), micro malondialdehyde (MDA), and glutathione (GSH) were measured to determine cardiovascular and oxidative stress-related damage. Transmission electron microscopy was used to investigate mitochondrial damage. RNA-seq and Western blotting were used to explore related pathways. We found that the left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and fraction shortening (LVFS) values were significantly decreased and myocardial hypertrophy was induced, accompanied by damaged mitochondria, elevated reactive oxygen species (ROS), and reduced SOD levels. RNA-sequence analysis of the heart tissue showed that various differentially expressed genes in the metabolic pathway were enriched. Sirtuin 1 (Sirt1) and Glutathione S-transferase A3 (Gsta3) may be responsible for CSD-induced heart and mitochondrial dysfunction. Pharmacological inhibition of ROS by treating CSD mice with LA and NAC effectively reduced heart damage and mitochondrial dysfunction by regulating Sirt1 and Gsta3 expression. Our data contribute to understanding the pathways of CSD-induced heart dysfunction, and pharmacological targeting to ROS may represent a strategy to prevent CSD-induced heart damage.
Raw Materials, Technology, Healthcare Applications, Patent Repository and Clinical Trials on 4D Printing Technology: An Updated Review
Authors: Khan Mohammad Sameer , Khan Sauban Ahmed , Shabbir Shaheen , Umar Md , Mohapatra Sradhanjali , Khuroo Tahir , Naseef Punnoth Poonkuzhi , Kuruniyan Mohamed Saheer , Iqbal Zeenat , Mirza Mohd Aamir
Published: December 2022

After the successful commercial exploitation of 3D printing technology, the advanced version of additive manufacturing, i.e., 4D printing, has been a new buzz in the technology-driven industries since 2013. It is a judicious combination of 3D printing technologies and smart materials (stimuli responsive), where time is the fourth dimension. Materials such as liquid crystal elastomer (LCE), shape memory polymers, alloys and composites exhibiting properties such as self–assembling and self-healing are used in the development/manufacturing of these products, which respond to external stimuli such as solvent, temperature, light, etc. The technologies being used are direct ink writing (DIW), fused filament fabrication (FFF), etc. It offers several advantages over 3D printing and has been exploited in different sectors such as healthcare, textiles, etc. Some remarkable applications of 4D printing technology in healthcare are self-adjusting stents, artificial muscle and drug delivery applications. Potential of applications call for further research into more responsive materials and technologies in this field. The given review is an attempt to collate all the information pertaining to techniques employed, raw materials, applications, clinical trials, recent patents and publications specific to healthcare products. The technology has also been evaluated in terms of regulatory perspectives. The data garnered is expected to make a strong contribution to the field of technology for human welfare and healthcare.
CAT-Site: Predicting Protein Binding Sites Using a Convolutional Neural Network
Authors: Petrovski Žan Hafner , Hribar-Lee Barbara , Bosnić Zoran
Published: December 2022

Identifying binding sites on the protein surface is an important part of computer-assisted drug design processes. Reliable prediction of binding sites not only assists with docking algorithms, but it can also explain the possible side-effects of a potential drug as well as its efficiency. In this work, we propose a novel workflow for predicting possible binding sites of a ligand on a protein surface. We use proteins from the PDBbind and sc-PDB databases, from which we combine available ligand information for similar proteins using all the possible ligands rather than only a special sub-selection to generalize the work of existing research. After performing protein clustering and merging of ligands of similar proteins, we use a three-dimensional convolutional neural network that takes into account the spatial structure of a protein. Lastly, we combine ligandability predictions for points on protein surfaces into joint binding sites. Analysis of our model’s performance shows that its achieved sensitivity is 0.829, specificity is 0.98, and F1 score is 0.517, and that for 54% of larger and pharmacologically relevant binding sites, the distance between their real and predicted centers amounts to less than 4 Å.
A Biomimetic, Silaffin R5-Based Antigen Delivery Platform
Authors: Reichinger Daniela , Reithofer Manuel , Hohagen Mariam , Drinic Mirjana , Tobias Joshua , Wiedermann Ursula , Kleitz Freddy , Jahn-Schmid Beatrice , Becker Christian F. W.
Published: December 2022

Nature offers a wide range of evolutionary optimized materials that combine unique properties with intrinsic biocompatibility and that can be exploited as biomimetic materials. The R5 and RRIL peptides employed here are derived from silaffin proteins that play a crucial role in the biomineralization of marine diatom silica shells and are also able to form silica materials in vitro. Here, we demonstrate the application of biomimetic silica particles as a vaccine delivery and adjuvant platform by linking the precipitating peptides R5 and the RRIL motif to a variety of peptide antigens. The resulting antigen-loaded silica particles combine the advantages of biomaterial-based vaccines with the proven intracellular uptake of silica particles. These particles induce NETosis in human neutrophils as well as IL-6 and TNF-α secretion in murine bone marrow-derived dendritic cells.
Selective Photonic-Structure Cavity for High-Cyclotron-Harmonic Gyrotrons
Authors: Savilov Andrei , Shchegolkov Dmitriy
Published: December 2022

Typically, cavities of sub-terahertz electron cyclotron masers (gyrotrons) have oversized dimensions. That leads to a problem of the dense mode spectrum and, as a result, to a problem of the mode selectivity in the process of realization of gyrotrons operating at high cyclotron harmonics. Open (mirror) type systems have a much sparser mode spectrum than closed-type systems. We suggest a way to further reduce the mode spectrum by implementing a cavity based on a photonic structure formed by two parallel corrugated mirrors, which are considerably offset from being in front of each other so that no mode can be supported by mirror reflection from them. The operating mode is contained by backward reflection from the corrugated mirrors based on the (−1)st order diffraction mechanism. The proposed system has intrinsic dispersion compensation properties which make it usable in a wide (~20%) frequency band. Simulated characteristics of a 2D prototype are presented and possible application for a gyrotron operating at a harmonic of the cyclotron frequency is discussed.
High Optical Feedback Tolerance of a Detuned DBR Laser for 10-Gbps Isolator-Free Operation
Authors: Yang Qiulu , Lu Dan , He Yiming , Zhou Daibing , Zhao Lingjuan
Published: December 2022

The optical feedback tolerance (OFT) of a distributed Bragg reflector (DBR) laser was investigated experimentally. The static and modulation performance of the DBR laser under optical feedback was examined by evaluating its relative intensity noise (RIN) and bit error rate (BER). It is shown that the OFT of the DBR laser is closely related to its peak wavelength detuning relative to the Bragg wavelength. A high tolerance to optical feedback was demonstrated, both in the continuous wave (CW) and the direct modulation (DM) states, when the DBR laser was red-detuned relative to the Bragg wavelength. The excess RIN induced by optical feedback was well suppressed to a level of −140 dB/Hz at a feedback level of −9 dB in the CW state. In a 10 Gbps direct modulation state, bit error rates (BER) below 1 × 10−9 and 3 × 10−7 were obtained under a feedback level of −15 dB and −9 dB, respectively, for the case of back-to-back transmission. After 20 km fiber transmission, the BER still maintained below 1 × 10−7 under a feedback level of −15 dB, with a power penalty of less than 1 dB.
An Experimental and Numerical Study on Impact and Compression after Impact of Stiffened Composite Panels
Authors: Wang Peiyan , Chen Yongshun , Yue Chunxia , Zhao Wei , Lian Chenchen , Zhang Ke , Zheng Jie , Yue Zhufeng
Published: December 2022

To develop the full application potential of composite materials, research on the post-buckling behavior of composite stiffened panels is of great significance. In this paper, the impact and compression after impact (CAI) behaviors of four different types of composite stiffened panels were studied by numerical simulation and experimental methods. The low-velocity impact damage simulated dynamically was introduced as the initial state in the compression simulation, and a two-dimensional shell model with Hashin failure criteria and stiffness degradation was adopted to estimate the failure load of composite stiffened panels under impact and CAI. The error between simulation results and test results was less than 10%, showing that the method used in this study achieved considerable accuracy in experimental results. Analysis of the impact test results revealed that the extent of damage is related to many factors, including the cross-sectional size of stiffeners, the spacing of stiffeners, and the material and thickness of the skin. In addition, the influence of fatigue damage on residual strength after impact was also studied experimentally, with results showing that the buckling and failure loads decreased by about 5% under 106 flight fatigue loads. However, there were obvious fluctuations in the load-displacement curves, which may have been caused by debonding between the stiffeners and the skin. Experimental results and the simulation matrix show that the post-buckling ratio increased with the increase of the stiffness ratio, then was stable after 2.0. Furthermore, the thinner the skin, the greater the post-buckling ratio. The experimental and simulation results provide an important reference for the structural design and failure-mechanism analysis of composite stiffened panels.
Segregation of Benzoic Acid in Polymer Crystalline Cavities
Authors: Cozzolino Antonietta , Monaco Guglielmo , Rizzo Paola , Guerra Gaetano
Published: December 2022

Benzoic acid (BA) and its derivatives are very attractive because of their pharmacological properties, such as antioxidant, radical-regulating, antiviral, antitumor, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial and antifungal. Syndiotactic polystyrene (sPS) and poly(2,6-dimethyl-1,4-phenylene)oxide (PPO) films exhibiting co-crystalline phases with BA were prepared and characterized by WAXD, FTIR and polarized FTIR measurements. The FTIR measurements clearly showed that BA was present mainly as a dimer in the crystalline channels of the ε form of sPS as well as in the α form of PPO, as generally occurs not only in the solid state but also in organic dilute solutions. BA was instead present as isolated molecules in the crystalline cavities of the δ form of sPS. In fact, the FTIR spectra of BA guest molecules exhibited vibrational peaks close to those of BA in its vapor phase. Hence, the nanoporous-crystalline δ form of sPS not only avoids additive aggregation but also leads to the separation of dimeric molecules and the segregation of monomeric BA.
Dewetting Process of Silver Thin Films and Its Application on Percolative Pressure Sensors with High Sensitivity
Authors: Cho Chia-Yu , Chang Jui-Chen , Cai Min-Xian , Lin Pei-Ting , Yang Yao-Joe
Published: December 2022

This work reports on an innovative dewetting process of silver thin films to realize percolative nanoparticle arrays (NPAs) and demonstrates its application on highly sensitive pressure sensors. The dewetting process, which is a simple and promising technique, synthesizes NPAs by breaking the as-deposited metal film into randomly distributed islands. The NPA properties, such as the mean particle size and the spacing between adjacent particles, can be easily tailored by controlling the dewetting temperature, as well as the as-deposited metal-film thickness. The fabricated NPAs were employed to develop gauge pressure sensors with high sensitivity. The proposed sensor consists of a sealed reference-pressure cavity, a polyimide (PI) membrane patterned with an interdigital electrode pair (IEP), and a silver NPA deposited on the IEP and the PI membrane. The operational principle of the device is based on the NPA percolation effect with deformation-dependence. The fabricated sensors exhibit rapid responses and excellent linearity at around 1 atm. The maximum sensitivity is about 0.1 kPa−1. The advantages of the proposed devices include ultrahigh sensitivity, a reduced thermal disturbance, and a decreased power consumption. A practical application of this pressure sensor with high resolution was demonstrated by using it to measure the relative floor height of a building.
Physico-Chemical Characterization of Keratin from Wool and Chicken Feathers Extracted Using Refined Chemical Methods
Authors: Mattiello Sara , Guzzini Alessandro , Del Giudice Alessandra , Santulli Carlo , Antonini Marco , Lupidi Giulio , Gunnella Roberto
Published: December 2022

In this work, the characteristic structure of keratin extracted from two different kinds of industrial waste, namely sheep wool and chicken feathers, using the sulfitolysis method to allow film deposition, has been investigated. The structural and microscopic properties have been studied by means of scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Raman spectroscopy, atomic force microscopy (AFM), and infrared (IR) spectroscopy. Following this, small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) analysis for intermediate filaments has been performed. The results indicate that the assembly character of the fiber can be obtained by using the most suitable extraction method, to respond to hydration, thermal, and redox agents. The amorphous part of the fiber and medium range structure is variously affected by the competition between polar bonds (reversible hydrogen bonds) and disulfide bonds (DB), the covalent irreversible ones, and has been investigated by using fine structural methods such as Raman and SAXS, which have depicted in detail the intermediate filaments of keratin from the two different animal origins. The preservation of the secondary structure of the protein obtained does offer a potential for further application of the waste-obtained keratin in polymer films and, possibly, biocomposites.
Construction of Porous Organic/Inorganic Hybrid Polymers Based on Polyhedral Oligomeric Silsesquioxane for Energy Storage and Hydrogen Production from Water
Authors: Mohamed Mohamed Gamal , Elsayed Mohamed Hammad , Ye Yunsheng , Samy Maha Mohamed , Hassan Ahmed E. , Mansoure Tharwat Hassan , Wen Zhenhai , Chou Ho-Hsiu , Chen Kuei-Hsien , Kuo Shiao-Wei
Published: December 2022

In this study, we used effective and one-pot Heck coupling reactions under moderate reaction conditions to construct two new hybrid porous polymers (named OVS-P-TPA and OVS-P-F HPPs) with high yield, based on silsesquioxane cage nanoparticles through the reaction of octavinylsilsesquioxane (OVS) with different brominated pyrene (P-Br4), triphenylamine (TPA-Br3), and fluorene (F-Br2) as co-monomer units. The successful syntheses of both OVS-HPPs were tested using various instruments, such as X-ray photoelectron (XPS), solid-state 13C NMR, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analyses. All spectroscopic data confirmed the successful incorporation and linkage of P, TPA, and F units into the POSS cage in order to form porous OVS-HPP materials. In addition, the thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and N2 adsorption analyses revealed the thermal stabilities of OVS-P-F HPP (Td10 = 444 °C; char yield: 79 wt%), with a significant specific surface area of 375 m2 g–1 and a large pore volume of 0.69 cm3 g–1. According to electrochemical three-electrode performance, the OVS-P-F HPP precursor displayed superior capacitances of 292 F g−1 with a capacity retention of 99.8% compared to OVS-P-TPA HPP material. Interestingly, the OVS-P-TPA HPP showed a promising HER value of 701.9 µmol g−1 h−1, which is more than 12 times higher than that of OVS-P-F HPP (56.6 µmol g−1 h−1), based on photocatalytic experimental results.
Study on Rapid Detection Method for Degradation Performance of Polyolefin-Based Degradable Plastics
Authors: Zhou Jinglun , Li Linlin , Wang Dengxu , Wang Lihong , Zhang Yuanqi , Feng Shengyu
Published: December 2022

In order to accurately determine the degradation performance of polyolefin-based degradable plastics, the concept of bioassimilated carbon is proposed for the first time in this paper; the bioactive and hydrophilic organic carbon in plastic degradation products is defined as bioassimilation carbon. A method for the detection of the carbonyl index and bioassimilated carbon conversion rate in polyolefin degradable plastics was developed to quickly identify its degradation performance. The measurement results show that the bioassimilated carbon conversion rate of more than 70% can be used to replace the biodegradation rate index to achieve the purpose of quickly identifying the degradation performance of plastics. The deterioration detection cycle proposed by the current common standards implemented in American Society of Testing Materials: ASTM D6400 “Specification for Composting Plastics” can be shortened from 1 year to 1 month. The standard system for catalytic degradation of plastics provides detection methods for polyolefin-based catalytic degradation materials (microplastics), and solves the problems of long detection cycle and poor detection efficiency. Thus, this method has promise for use as a relevant standard method for accurately providing a reference for the assessment.
Electrochemical Characterization of Biodiesel from Sunflower Oil Produced by Homogeneous Catalysis and Ultrasound
Authors: Vital-López Lourdes , Mercader-Trejo Flora , Rodríguez-Reséndiz Juvenal , Zamora-Antuñano Marco Antonio , Rodríguez-López Aarón , Esquerre-Verastegui Jorge Eduardo , Farrera Vázquez Neín , García-García Raul
Published: December 2022

Biofuel production has increased significantly in several countries in recent decades. Different evaluation techniques are required for their characterization. The study measures the properties of the obtained biodiesel and a commercial diesel sample, using the techniques of open circuit potential, linear scanning voltammetry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. The transesterification reaction between sunflower oil and methanol was carried out with ultrasound as the energy source. The determination of triglyceride conversion to biodiesel is performed by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), obtaining up to 99.79% with a yield of 93.40% at a transesterification temperature of 50 ∘C for 60 min with a methanol/oil molar ratio of 6:1. The potassium hydroxide catalyst concentration was 1.0 g catalyst/100 g oil. The biodiesel samples generally showed open circuit potential (OCP) values less than 790 mV and stabilization time less than 120 s, Linear sweep voltammograms (LSV) show no reaction peaks with current densities on the order of NanoAmpere, Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) showed a capacitive system with impedances on the order of MΩ cm2 at low frequency; This information could help characterize biofuels and other similar materials.
Digitalization of Supply Chain Management with Industry 4.0 Enabling Technologies: A Sustainable Perspective
Authors: Chauhan Sanjay , Singh Rajesh , Gehlot Anita , Akram Shaik Vaseem , Twala Bhekisipho , Priyadarshi Neeraj
Published: December 2022

Supply chain management is one of the most prominent areas that needs to incorporate sustainability to achieve responsible consumption and production (SDG 11).It has been identified that there are limited studies that have presented the significance of different Industry 4.0 technologies from the perspective of sustainable SCM. The purpose of this study is to discuss the role of Industry 4.0 technologies in the context of sustainable SCM, as well as to identify important areas for future research. The PRISM framework is followed to discuss the role and significance of sustainable SCM and the integration of Industry 4.0-enabling technologies such as the Internet of Things (IoT), cloud computing, big data, artificial intelligence (AI), blockchain, and digital twin for sustainable SCM. The findings of the study reveal that there are limited empirical studies for developing countries and the majority are emphasized in case studies. Additionally, a few studies have focused on operational aspects, economics, and automation in SCM. The current study is able to contribute to the significance and application of IoT, cloud computing, big data, AI, blockchain, and digital twin in achieving sustainable SCM in the future. The current study can be expanded to discuss the Industry 4.0-enabling technologies in analyzing sustainability performance in any organization using environmental, social, and governance (ESG) metrics.
An Invisible School: Social-Cultural Work of the Mosque Organizations
Authors: Yar Hasan
Published: December 2022

There is a knowledge gap in the contribution of socio-cultural work in Islamic organisations to the participants’ learning and development. This article focuses on the role of the socio-cultural work of Islamic organizations as a form of non-formal education. Education is the internal process of a person which leads to a better understanding of themself and their situation, a critical appreciation of their situation and a conscious and targeted use of the possibilities in their social situation. Therefore, what volunteers learn when they participate in socio-cultural work in mosque organizations will be investigated. The research is based on the case study of a Turkish faith-based organization Milli Görüş Amsterdam-West (MGAW) and its volunteers. The method of the research is ethnographic field research. The research focuses on a specific group of participants, namely, the volunteers who are active at the MGAW. One of the results of the research is that the participants who follow the social-cultural activities of MGAW for a certain period develop a cohesive worldview whereby volunteering becomes a virtue.
Corrections of Mesoscale Eddies and Kuroshio Extension Surface Velocities Derived from Satellite Altimeters
Authors: Cao Yuhan , Dong Changming , Qiu Zehao , Bethel Brandon J. , Shi Haiyun , Lü Haibin , Cheng Yinhe
Published: December 2022

Oceanic datasets derived from satellite altimeters are of great significance to physical oceanography and ocean dynamics research and the protection of marine environmental resources. Ageostrophic velocity induced by centrifugal force is not considered in altimeter products. This study introduces an iterative method to perform cyclogeostrophic corrections of mesoscale eddies’ surface velocities derived from satellite altimeters. The corrected eddy velocity field and geostrophic velocity field were compared by combining eddy detection and mathematical statistics methods. The results show that eddies with small curvature radii, high roundness, or Rossby number larger than 0.1 illustrate that cyclogeostrophic correction is required. The cyclogeostrophic velocity is greater (less) than the geostrophic velocity in anticyclonic (cyclonic) eddies. Additionally, the iterative method is applied to cyclogeostrophic-corrected multi-year (1998–2012) Kuroshio surface velocities. The effect of cyclogeostrophic correction is significant for the Kuroshio Extension region, where the maximum relative difference of velocities with and without correction is about 10% and the eddy kinetic energy is 20%.
A Robust LiDAR SLAM Method for Underground Coal Mine Robot with Degenerated Scene Compensation
Authors: Yang Xin , Lin Xiaohu , Yao Wanqiang , Ma Hongwei , Zheng Junliang , Ma Bolin
Published: December 2022

Simultaneous localization and mapping (SLAM) is the key technology for the automation of intelligent mining equipment and the digitization of the mining environment. However, the shotcrete surface and symmetrical roadway in underground coal mines make light detection and ranging (LiDAR) SLAM prone to degeneration, which leads to the failure of mobile robot localization and mapping. To address these issues, this paper proposes a robust LiDAR SLAM method which detects and compensates for the degenerated scenes by integrating LiDAR and inertial measurement unit (IMU) data. First, the disturbance model is used to detect the direction and degree of degeneration caused by insufficient line and plane feature constraints for obtaining the factor and vector of degeneration. Second, the degenerated state is divided into rotation and translation. The pose obtained by IMU pre-integration is projected to plane features and then used for local map matching to achieve two-step degenerated compensation. Finally, a globally consistent LiDAR SLAM is implemented based on sliding window factor graph optimization. The extensive experimental results show that the proposed method achieves better robustness than LeGO-LOAM and LIO-SAM. The absolute position root mean square error (RMSE) is only 0.161 m, which provides an important reference for underground autonomous localization and navigation in intelligent mining and safety inspection.
Comparison of Phenological Parameters Extracted from SIF, NDVI and NIRv Data on the Mongolian Plateau
Authors: Ersi Cha , Bayaer Tubuxin , Bao Yuhai , Bao Yulong , Yong Mei , Lai Quan , Zhang Xiang , Zhang Yusi
Published: December 2022

The phenological parameters estimated from different data may vary, especially in response to climatic factors. Therefore, we estimated the start of the growing season (SOS) and the end of the growing season (EOS) based on sunlight-induced chlorophyll fluorescence (SIF), the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) and the near-infrared reflectance of vegetation (NIRv). The SIF, NDVI and NIRv breakpoints were detected, and the trends and change-points of phenological parameters based on these data were analyzed. The correlations between the phenological parameters and snow-related factors, precipitation, temperature, soil moisture and population density were also analyzed. The results showed that SIF and NIRv could identify breakpoints early. SIF could estimate the latest SOS and the earliest EOS. NDVI could estimate the earliest SOS and the latest EOS. The change-points of SOSSIF were mostly concentrated from 2001 to 2003, and those of SOSNDVI and SOSNIRv occurred later. The change-points of EOSSIF and EOSNIRv were mostly concentrated from 2001 to 2007, and those of EOSSIF occurred later. Differently from the weak correlation with SOSSIF, SOSNDVI and SOSNIRv were significantly correlated with snow-related factors. The correlation between the meteorological factors in the summer and autumn and EOSSIF was the most significant. The population density showed the highest degree of interpretation for SOSNIRv and EOSNDVI. The results reveal the differences and potentials of different remote-sensing parameters in estimating phenological indicators, which is helpful for better understanding the dynamic changes in phenology and the response to changes in various influencing factors.
Comparison of Machine Learning Algorithms for Flood Susceptibility Mapping
Authors: Seydi Seyd Teymoor , Kanani-Sadat Yousef , Hasanlou Mahdi , Sahraei Roya , Chanussot Jocelyn , Amani Meisam
Published: December 2022

Floods are one of the most destructive natural disasters, causing financial and human losses every year. As a result, reliable Flood Susceptibility Mapping (FSM) is required for effective flood management and reducing its harmful effects. In this study, a new machine learning model based on the Cascade Forest Model (CFM) was developed for FSM. Satellite imagery, historical reports, and field data were used to determine flood-inundated areas. The database included 21 flood-conditioning factors obtained from different sources. The performance of the proposed CFM was evaluated over two study areas, and the results were compared with those of other six machine learning methods, including Support Vector Machine (SVM), Decision Tree (DT), Random Forest (RF), Deep Neural Network (DNN), Light Gradient Boosting Machine (LightGBM), Extreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost), and Categorical Boosting (CatBoost). The result showed CFM produced the highest accuracy compared to other models over both study areas. The Overall Accuracy (AC), Kappa Coefficient (KC), and Area Under the Receiver Operating Characteristic Curve (AUC) of the proposed model were more than 95%, 0.8, 0.95, respectively. Most of these models recognized the southwestern part of the Karun basin, northern and northwestern regions of the Gorganrud basin as susceptible areas.
A Distributed Big Data Analytics Architecture for Vehicle Sensor Data
Authors: Alexakis Theodoros , Peppes Nikolaos , Demestichas Konstantinos , Adamopoulou Evgenia
Published: December 2022

The unceasingly increasing needs for data acquisition, storage and analysis in transportation systems have led to the adoption of new technologies and methods in order to provide efficient and reliable solutions. Both highways and vehicles, nowadays, host a vast variety of sensors collecting different types of highly fluctuating data such as speed, acceleration, direction, and so on. From the vast volume and variety of these data emerges the need for the employment of big data techniques and analytics in the context of state-of-the-art intelligent transportation systems (ITS). Moreover, the scalability needs of fleet and traffic management systems point to the direction of designing and deploying distributed architecture solutions that can be expanded in order to avoid technological and/or technical entrapments. Based on the needs and gaps detected in the literature as well as the available technologies for data gathering, storage and analysis for ITS, the aim of this study is to provide a distributed architecture platform to address these deficiencies. The architectural design of the system proposed, engages big data frameworks and tools (e.g., NoSQL Mongo DB, Apache Hadoop, etc.) as well as analytics tools (e.g., Apache Spark). The main contribution of this study is the introduction of a holistic platform that can be used for the needs of the ITS domain offering continuous collection, storage and data analysis capabilities. To achieve that, different modules of state-of-the-art methods and tools were utilized and combined in a unified platform that supports the entire cycle of data acquisition, storage and analysis in a single point. This leads to a complete solution for ITS applications which lifts the limitations imposed in legacy and current systems by the vast amounts of rapidly changing data, while offering a reliable system for acquisition, storage as well as timely analysis and reporting capabilities of these data.
A Training Smartphone Application for the Simulation of Outdoor Blind Pedestrian Navigation: Usability, UX Evaluation, Sentiment Analysis
Authors: Theodorou Paraskevi , Tsiligkos Kleomenis , Meliones Apostolos , Filios Costas
Published: December 2022

Training blind and visually impaired individuals is an important but often neglected aspect of Assistive Technology solutions (ATs) that can benefit from systems utilizing multiple sensors and hardware devices. Training serves a dual purpose as it not only enables the target group to effectively utilize the ATs but, also, helps in improving their low acceptance rate. In this paper, we present the design, implementation, and validation of a smartphone-based training application. It is a form of immersive system that enables users to learn the features of an outdoor blind pedestrian navigation application and, simultaneously, to help them develop long-term Orientation and Mobility (O&M) skills. The system consists of an Android application leveraging, as data sources, an external high-accuracy GPS sensor for real-time pedestrian mobility tracking, a second custom-made device attached to traffic lights for identifying their status, and an ultra-sonic sensor for detecting near-field obstacles on the navigation path of the users. The training version running as an Android application employs route simulation with audio and haptic feedback, is functionally equivalent to the main application, and was used in the context of specially designed user-centered training sessions. A Usability and User Experience (UX) evaluation revealed the positive attitude of the users towards the training version as well as their satisfaction with the skills acquired during their training sessions (SUS = 69.1, UEQ+ = 1.53). Further confirming the positive attitude was the conduct of a Recursive Neural Network (RNN)-based sentiment analysis on user responses with a score of 3 on a scale from 0 to 4. Finally, we conclude with the lessons learned and the proposal of general design guidelines concerning the observed lack of accessibility and non-universal interfaces.
A Method of Damage Detection Efficiency Enhancement of PZT Sensor Networks under Influence of Environmental and Operational Conditions
Authors: Dziendzikowski Michal , Heesch Mateusz , Gorski Jakub , Kowalczyk Kamil , Dragan Krzysztof , Dworakowski Ziemowit
Published: December 2022

Two performance parameters are particularly important for the assessment of structural health monitoring (SHM) systems, i.e., their damage detection capabilities and risk of false positive indications due to varying environmental and operational conditions (EOCs). A reduced ratio of false-positive indications can be of significant importance for particular applications, for example, in aerospace, where the costs of unplanned maintenance procedures can be very high. In such cases, the reduction of the false calls ratio can be critical for the possibility of the practical application of the system, apart from damage detection efficiency and system costs. Among various sensor technologies, PZT networks are proven to be one of the most universal approaches to SHM, and they were successfully applied in different scenarios. Moreover, many EOCs which may have an impact on the risk of false positive indications have been identified. Over the years, different approaches to the influence of EOCs compensation have been proposed. Compensation methods can be tailored to the particular way in which a given measurement condition, for example, ambient temperature, alters signals acquired by the PZT network or can be formulated to be also applied in the more general case. In the paper, a method for enhancement of damage detection efficiency under influence of EOCs of general nature is proposed. The particular measurement condition affecting signals acquired by PZT sensors neither needs to be measured, which could be hard in some cases, but also nor even have to be identified. The efficiency of the proposed compensation algorithms is verified based on the example of experimental results obtained under varying temperatures.
Portable Prussian Blue-Based Sensor for Bacterial Detection in Urine
Authors: Psotta Carolin , Chaturvedi Vivek , Gonzalez-Martinez Juan F. , Sotres Javier , Falk Magnus
Published: December 2022

Bacterial infections can affect the skin, lungs, blood, and brain, and are among the leading causes of mortality globally. Early infection detection is critical in diagnosis and treatment but is a time- and work-consuming process taking several days, creating a hitherto unmet need to develop simple, rapid, and accurate methods for bacterial detection at the point of care. The most frequent type of bacterial infection is infection of the urinary tract. Here, we present a wireless-enabled, portable, potentiometric sensor for E. coli. E. coli was chosen as a model bacterium since it is the most common cause of urinary tract infections. The sensing principle is based on reduction of Prussian blue by the metabolic activity of the bacteria, detected by monitoring the potential of the sensor, transferring the sensor signal via Bluetooth, and recording the output on a laptop or a mobile phone. In sensing of bacteria in an artificial urine medium, E. coli was detected in ~4 h (237 ± 19 min; n = 4) and in less than 0.5 h (21 ± 7 min, n = 3) using initial E. coli concentrations of ~103 and 105 cells mL−1, respectively, which is under or on the limit for classification of a urinary tract infection. Detection of E. coli was also demonstrated in authentic urine samples with bacteria concentration as low as 104 cells mL−1, with a similar response recorded between urine samples collected from different volunteers as well as from morning and afternoon urine samples.