bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Fintech Innovations in the Financial Service Industry
Authors: Anifa Mansurali , Ramakrishnan Swamynathan , Joghee Shanmugan , Kabiraj Sajal , Bishnoi Malini Mittal
Published: June 2022

Digital transformation underscored by the fourth industrial revolution has led to the emergence of sophisticated technology-enabled financial services known as fintech, that has swiftly altered traditional financial services space. Global adoption of fintech is rapidly increasing due to its disruptive nature and is largely embraced by participants who are underserved by traditional financial service providers. Global investments in fintech are growing rapidly year by year owing to increased interconnectivity with the digital revolution. Fintech is expansive, engulfing a plethora of innovative applications in various services including payments, financing, asset management, insurance, etc. There exists a gap in the literature and visualization research on impact and future pathway of fintech innovations in payments and financial services and role of financial regulations. This study aims to enrich the understanding of fintech innovations in payments and financing and investigate the correlation and significance of regulatory framework in maintaining a fair ecosystem. With this objective, an extant systematic review was performed using research articles published in peer-reviewed journals for the period 2014–2022 when there has been a burgeoning of interest in ‘fintech’ globally. The findings of this study contribute to the theoretical constructs of fintech innovations in the financial services industry and show that such innovations play a crucial role in shaping the nature of future of business. The results of this study have implications for researchers who could deploy this research as a reference point to get a holistic insight and a detailed mapping of innovations in fintech.
A Revised Technology–Organisation–Environment Framework for Brick-and-Mortar Retailers Adopting M-Commerce
Authors: Justino Mateus Vicente , Tengeh Robertson Khan , Twum-Darko Michael
Published: June 2022

This paper argues that brick-and-mortar retail Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) can benefit significantly from the capabilities of mobile commerce (m-commerce) to respond to the unpredictable changes in the business environment, accommodate new consumer experiences, boost sales of products/services, and achieve a competitive advantage. Consequently, this study explored the potential application of the Technology–Organisation–Environment (TOE) framework for m-commerce by brick-and-mortar retail SMEs. The study adopted the positivist paradigm and followed a cross-sectional study design. A structured questionnaire was used to collect data from a sample of 263 retail business personnel. The Analysis of Moment Structures (AMOS) software was used to analyse the data. The findings unveil that all the proposed constructs associated with the organisational context and technological context are critical for the use of m-commerce. The proposed framework provides a fresh set of contextual variables which align with brick-and-mortar retailer operations and mobile commerce practices. It is envisaged that the extended framework may help conventional businesses to understand and identify the requisite factors in the adoption and use of m-commerce and assist business supporters in the process of technological innovation transfer.
Designing a Valuation System for Property Tax: The Case of Zanzibar, Tanzania
Authors: Kang Sung-Hoon , Kim Bong-Joon
Published: June 2022

In most African countries, property taxes fail to efficiently generate sufficient revenue to provide adequate local services. One of the crucial reasons for this is that market values are not reflected in the taxable value because of a lack of property transaction market data. When market data are inaccessible, buildings are evaluated using the replacement cost method, which does not reflect locational values. In this study, we examine methods to improve the valuation system using the case of Zanzibar, Tanzania. We recommend the simple and systematic mass assessment model, with details that can be used to derive locational values for all taxable buildings and improvements. In this model, (1) the taxable areas are divided into sub-regions based on land value stratification, (2) land value ranges are set for each sub-region, (3) land value determinants are identified, and (4) land price ratio tables for the identified land value determinants are created. In this assessment method, individual valuers play an essential role in capturing locational values because their knowledge and experience are helpful in dividing the area targeted for property tax assessment into several regions, thereby reducing the intraregional variance in land values. Improving the valuation system is one of the key factors in determining the importance of property tax as a revenue generator in developing countries.
Trifid Mandibular Condyle: Case Report and Current Review of the Literature
Authors: Zoabi Nour , Kats Lazar , Ram Alon , Emodi-Perlman Alona
Published: June 2022

Trifid mandibular condyle (TMC) is a rare anatomical variation characterized by the duplication of the mandibular condyle. The aim of this study is to report a new case of a 26-year-old female patient with a left TMC and to review the current existing literature on TMC, the relevant cases, etiology, symptoms and different treatment modalities. The database engines PubMed, EMBASE, Scopus, Web of science, Scientific Electronic Library Online, Cochrane and CINAHL were searched for TMC cases from inception until April of 2022. Only 13 previous cases of TMC were found. Although it is a rare anatomical entity, TMC is increasingly being detected due to more advanced imaging techniques, especially computed tomography (CT), cone beam CT (CBCT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) emerging in the field of dentistry. The etiology and pathogenesis of TMC and its relationship with TMD are still unclear. Further studies and follow-up may help to better understand this anatomic variant and possible interactions with local pathologies.
Non-Inferiority of Sutureless Aortic Valve Replacement in the TAVR Era: David versus Goliath
Authors: Zubarevich Alina , Szczechowicz Marcin , Amanov Lukman , Arjomandi Rad Arian , Osswald Anja , Torabi Saeed , Ruhparwar Arjang , Weymann Alexander
Published: June 2022

Background: The rapid development of transcatheter treatment methods has made transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) a feasible alternative to conventional surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR). Recently, indications for TAVR have been expanded to intermediate- and low-risk patients, although there still remains a portion of ineligible patients. We sought to evaluate and compare our experience with sutureless SAVR and transapical TAVR in the “grey-area” of patients unsuitable for transfemoral access. Methods: Between April 2018 and June 2021, 248 consecutive patients underwent a sutureless SAVR (SU-SAVR) or TA-TAVR at our institution. We performed a pair-matched analysis and identified 56 patient pairs based on the EuroSCORE II. All transcatheter procedures were performed using SAPIEN XT/3™ prostheses, while all surgical procedures deployed the Perceval (LivaNova) aortic valve. Results: All patients presented with multiple comorbidities as reflected by the median EuroSCORE-II of 3.1% (IQR 1.9–5.3). Thirty-four patients from the surgical group (60.7%) underwent a concomitant myocardial revascularization. There was no significant difference in major adverse events, pacemaker implantation or postoperative mortality during follow-up. Both interventions demonstrated technical success with similar mean postoperative pressure gradients at follow-up and no cases of paravalvular leakage. Conclusions: Sutureless aortic valve replacement constitutes a feasible treatment alternative for patients with aortic valve disease who are ineligible for transfemoral access route and/or require concomitant coronary revascularization. With its excellent hemodynamic performance, similar survival compared to TA-TAVR, and high cost-efficiency without compromising the postoperative outcomes and in-hospital length of stay SU-AVR might be considered for patients in the “grey-area” between TAVR and SAVR.
Impact of Freeze–Thaw Cycles on the Long-Term Performance of Concrete Pavement and Related Improvement Measures: A Review
Authors: Luo San , Bai Tianwen , Guo Mingqin , Wei Yi , Ma Wenbo
Published: June 2022

Freeze–thaw damage is one of the most severe threats to the long-term performance of concrete pavement in cold regions. Currently, the freeze–thaw deterioration mechanism of concrete pavement has not been fully understood. This study summarizes the significant findings of concrete pavement freeze–thaw durability performance, identifies existing knowledge gaps, and proposes future research needs. The concrete material deterioration mechanism under freeze–thaw cycles is first critically reviewed. Current deterioration theories mainly include the hydrostatic pressure hypothesis, osmolarity, and salt crystallization pressure hypothesis. The critical saturation degree has been proposed to depict the influence of internal saturation on freeze–thaw damage development. Meanwhile, the influence of pore solution salinity on freeze–thaw damage level has not been widely investigated. Additionally, the deterioration mechanism of the typical D-cracking that occurs in concrete pavement has not been fully understood. Following this, we investigate the coupling effect between freeze–thaw and other loading or environmental factors. It is found that external loading can accelerate the development of freeze–thaw damage, and the acceleration becomes more evident under higher stress levels. Further, deicing salts can interact with concrete during freeze–thaw cycles, generating internal pores or leading to crystalline expansion pressure. Specifically, freeze–thaw development can be mitigated under relatively low ion concentration due to increased frozen points. The interactive mechanism between external loading, environmental ions, and freeze–thaw cycles has not been fully understood. Finally, the mitigation protocols to enhance frost resistance of concrete pavement are reviewed. Besides the widely used air-entraining process, the freeze–thaw durability of concrete can also be enhanced by using fiber reinforcement, pozzolanic materials, surface strengthening, Super Absorbent Polymers (SAPs), and Phase Change Materials. This study serves as a solid base of information to understand how to enhance the freeze–thaw durability of concrete pavement.
Three-Body Abrasive Wear Behavior of WC-10Cr3C2-12Ni Coating for Ball Mill Liner Application
Authors: Hu Qiang , Ji Dehui , Shen Mingxue , Zhuang Hui , Yao Hailong , Zhao Huoping , Guo Hui , Zhang Youliang
Published: June 2022

Carbide coatings are frequently used to improve the wear resistance of industrial components in various wear environments. In this research, aiming at the service characteristics of easy wear and short service life of ball mill liners, WC–10Cr3C2–12Ni coatings were prepared by supersonic flame spraying technology (HVOF). The reciprocating sliding tests were conducted under four different WC particle size conditions, and the differences in the tribological behavior of the coatings and three–body abrasive wear mechanism were obtained. The findings reveal that the average nanohardness of the WC–Cr3C2–Ni coating is nearly five times greater than that of the steel substance. The COF of tribo-pairs decreases and then increases as the particle size increases. In the case of no particles, the surface of the coating is slightly worn, with fatigue and oxidative wear being the primary wear mechanisms. Small particles (1.5 μm and 4 μm) are crushed and coated on the coating surface, in which the extremely fine particles are plasticized to form friction layers that have a protective effect on the coatings. The protective effect of the particles disappears as the particle size increases and is replaced by a powerful chiseling effect on the coatings, resulting in serious material loss. The particle size has a direct relationship with coating wear.
Properties of Ceramic Coating on Heating Surface of Waste Incineration Boiler Prepared by Slurry Method
Authors: Wei Zengzhi , Wu Lijun , Liang Xingyuan
Published: June 2022

In order to alleviate the problem of high-temperature fly ash corrosion and slag on the heating surface of a high-parameter waste incinerator, a ceramic coating material that can be prepared in situ on the heating surface by the slurry method was studied. The ceramic coating can be formed by sintering at a lower temperature of 750 °C. Its surface and profile are very dense, and the porosity is less than 1%. The mechanical properties test results show that the ceramic coating can withstand 60 cycles of water-cooled thermal shock at 700 °C, and the bonding strength is 25.14 ± 2.21 MPa. It will not fall off in a large area when subjected to pressure load, and it has a certain degree of processable plasticity. High-temperature wettability experiments show that the ceramic coating has lower liquid-bridge force, smaller adhesion area, and shorter fouling cycle for molten corrosive fouling, and potential self-cleaning properties. Its practical mechanical properties make the coating valuable for production applications and meet expectations, and excellent antifouling properties to reduce average fouling thermal resistance and corrosion.
Supercritical CO2 Curing of Resource-Recycling Secondary Cement Products Containing Concrete Sludge Waste as Main Materials
Authors: Kim Min-Sung , Sim Sang-Rak , Ryu Dong-Woo
Published: June 2022

This study aims to develop highly durable, mineral carbonation-based, resource-recycling, secondary cement products based on supercritical carbon dioxide (CO2) curing as part of carbon capture utilization technology that permanently fixes captured CO2. To investigate the basic characteristics of secondary cement products containing concrete sludge waste (CSW) as the main materials after supercritical CO2 curing, the compressive strengths of the paste and mortar (fabricated by using CSW as the main binder), ordinary Portland cement, blast furnace slag powder, and fly ash as admixtures were evaluated to derive the optimal mixture for secondary products. The carbonation curing method that can promote the surface densification (intensive CaCO3 formation) of the hardened body within a short period of time using supercritical CO2 curing was defined as “Lean Carbonation”. The optimal curing conditions were derived by evaluating the compressive strength and durability improvement effects of applying Lean Carbonation to secondary product specimens. As a result of the experiment, for specimens subjected to Lean Carbonation, compressive strength increased by up to 12%, and the carbonation penetration resistance also increased by more than 50%. The optimal conditions for Lean Carbonation used to improve compressive strength and durability were found to be 35 °C, 80 bar, and 1 min.
Intelligent Design of Construction Materials: A Comparative Study of AI Approaches for Predicting the Strength of Concrete with Blast Furnace Slag
Authors: Wu Xiangping , Zhu Fei , Zhou Mengmeng , Sabri Mohanad Muayad Sabri , Huang Jiandong
Published: June 2022

Concrete production by replacing cement with green materials has been conducted in recent years considering the strategy of sustainable development. This study researched the topic of compressive strength regarding one type of green concrete containing blast furnace slag. Although some researchers have proposed using machine learning models to predict the compressive strength of concrete, few researchers have compared the prediction accuracy of different machine learning models on the compressive strength of concrete. Firstly, the hyperparameters of BP neural network (BPNN), support vector machine (SVM), decision tree (DT), random forest (RF), K-nearest neighbor algorithm (KNN), logistic regression (LR), and multiple linear regression (MLR) are tuned by the beetle antennae search algorithm (BAS). Then, the prediction effects of the above seven machine learning models on the compressive strength of concrete are evaluated and compared. The comparison results show that KNN has higher R values and lower RSME values both in the training set and test set; that is, KNN is the best model for predicting the compressive strength of concrete among the seven machine learning models mentioned above.
Magnetic Collapse in Fe3Se4 under High Pressure
Authors: Begunovich Lyudmila V. , Korshunov Maxim M. , Ovchinnikov Sergey G.
Published: June 2022

Electronic structure and magnetic properties of Fe3Se4 are calculated using the density functional approach. Due to the metallic properties, magnetic moments of the iron atoms in two nonequivalent positions in the unit cell are different from ionic values for Fe3+ and Fe2+ and are equal to M1=2.071μB and M2=−2.042μB, making the system ferrimagnetic. The total magnetic moment for the unit cell is 2.135μB. Under isotropic compression, the total magnetic moment decreases non-monotonically and correlates with the non-monotonic dependence of the density of states at the Fermi level N(EF). For 7% compression, the magnetic order changes from the ferrimagnetic to the ferromagnetic. At 14% compression, the magnetic order disappears and the total magnetic moment becomes zero, leaving the system in a paramagnetic state. This compression corresponds to the pressure of 114 GPa. The magnetic ordering changes faster upon application of an isotropic external pressure due to the sizeable anisotropy of the chemical bondings in Fe3Se4. The ferrimagnetic and paramagnetic states occur under pressures of 5.0 and 8.0 GPa, respectively. The system remains in the metallic state for all values of compression.
Theoretical and Experimental Study on the Effect of Selected Parameters in a New Method of Extrusion with a Movable Sleeve
Authors: Winiarski Grzegorz
Published: June 2022

This paper presents a new method for forming hollow flanged products. The method involves extrusion with the use of a sleeve moving in the opposite direction to that of the punch. A tube with a constant hole diameter and two different outside diameters, made of aluminum alloy EN AW 6060 was used as a material. Numerical calculations were performed using Deform 2D/3D. Experiments were conducted on the PYE 160SS hydraulic press equipped with a specially designed device in which the punch is driven by the press slide while the moveable sleeve is driven by two hydraulic servomotors. Both numerical simulations and experiments were conducted under cold forming conditions. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of selected parameters (flange diameter, height of the cavity in the moveable sleeve, and the chamfer angle between the regions with different outside diameters on the workpiece and in the moveable sleeve cavity) on the stability of the extrusion process. Results were then used to undertake detailed comparative analyses of underfill, flange heights, and flange flank inclination angles. Findings of the analyses served as a basis for drawing conclusions regarding the effect of the analyzed parameters on the investigated extrusion process.
The Role of Prussian Blue-Thallium and Potassium Similarities and Differences in Crystal Structures of Selected Cyanido Complexes of W, Fe and Mo
Authors: Hodorowicz Maciej , Szklarzewicz Janusz , Jurowska Anna
Published: June 2022

The synthesis and single X-ray crystal structures of Tl2[W(CN)6(bpy)]·H2O, Tl[W(CN)6(bpy)], Tl57[{Fe(CN)6}12{NO3}9]·9H2O, Tl4[W(CN)8] and Tl4[Mo(CN)8] are described. Salts crystalize in the monoclinic or trigonal (Fe) space group. For all complexes, the very unusual “side-on” coordination of Tl to C and N of cyanido ligands is observed and compared to potassium cations. The very strong bonding to cyanido ligands with an 8–13 coordination number of thallium is described and discussed. The difference between potassium and thallium bonding is an indication of the biological activity of thallium and the role of Prussian blue in the thallium detoxification procedure.
Biting Innovations of Mosquito-Based Biomaterials and Medical Devices
Authors: Dixon Angela R. , Vondra Isabelle
Published: June 2022

Mosquitoes are commonly viewed as pests and deadly predators by humans. Despite this perception, investigations of their survival-based behaviors, select anatomical features, and biological composition have led to the creation of several beneficial technologies for medical applications. In this review, we briefly explore these mosquito-based innovations by discussing how unique characteristics and behaviors of mosquitoes drive the development of select biomaterials and medical devices. Mosquito-inspired microneedles have been fabricated from a variety of materials, including biocompatible metals and polymers, to mimic of the mouthparts that some mosquitoes use to bite a host with minimal injury during blood collection. The salivary components that these mosquitoes use to reduce the clotting of blood extracted during the biting process provide a rich source of anticoagulants that could potentially be integrated into blood-contacting biomaterials or administered in therapeutics to reduce the risk of thrombosis. Mosquito movement, vision, and olfaction are other behaviors that also have the potential for inspiring the development of medically relevant technologies. For instance, viscoelastic proteins that facilitate mosquito movement are being investigated for use in tissue engineering and drug delivery applications. Even the non-wetting nanostructure of a mosquito eye has inspired the creation of a robust superhydrophobic surface coating that shows promise for biomaterial and drug delivery applications. Additionally, biosensors incorporating mosquito olfactory receptors have been built to detect disease-specific volatile organic compounds. Advanced technologies derived from mosquitoes, and insects in general, form a research area that is ripe for exploration and can uncover potential in further dissecting mosquito features for the continued development of novel medical innovations.
A Sequenced Study of Improved Dielectric Properties of Carbon Nanotubes and Metal Oxide-Reinforced Polymer Composites
Authors: Faiza  , Qammar Memoona , Butt Safi , Malik Zahida , Alahamadi Ahmad , Khattak Abraiz
Published: June 2022

Polymers have gained attraction at the industrial level owing to their elastic and lightweight nature, as well as their astonishing mechanical and electrical applications. Their scope is limited due to their organic nature, which eventually leads to the degradation of their properties. The aim of this work was to produce polymer composites with finely dispersed metal oxide nanofillers and carbon nanotubes (CNTs) for the investigation of their charge-storage applications. This work reports the preparation of different polymeric composites with varying concentrations of metal oxide (MO) nanofillers and single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs). The successful synthesis of nanofillers (i.e., NiO and CuO) was carried out via the sonication and precipitation methods, respectively. After, the smooth and uniform polymeric composite thin films were prepared via the solution-casting methodology. Spectroscopy and diffraction techniques were used for the preliminary characterization. Scanning electron microscopy was used to check the dispersion of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and MOs in the polymer matrix. The addition of nanofillers and carbon nanotubes (CNTs) tuned the bandgap, reduced the strain, and enhanced the elastic limit of the polymer. The addition of CNT enhanced the mechanical strength of the composite; however, it increased the conductivity, which was tuned by using metal oxides. By increasing the concentration of NiO and CuO from 2% to 6% bandgap of PVA, which is 5–6 eV reduced to 4.41 and 4.34 eV, Young’s moduli of up to 59 and 57.7 MPa, respectively, were achieved. Moreover, improved dielectric properties were achieved, which shows that the addition of metal oxide enhances the dielectric behavior of the material.
An Exploratory DEA and Machine Learning Framework for the Evaluation and Analysis of Sustainability Composite Indicators in the EU
Authors: Tsaples Georgios , Papathanasiou Jason , Georgiou Andreas C.
Published: June 2022

One method that has been proposed for the measurement of sustainability is Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA). Despite its advantages, the method has limitations: First, the efficiency of Decision-Making Units is calculated with weights that are favorable to themselves, which might be unrealistic, and second, it cannot account for different perceptions of sustainability; since there is not an established and unified definition, each analyst can use different data and variations that produce different results. The purpose of the current paper is twofold: (a) to propose an alternative, multi-dimensional DEA model that handles weight flexibility using a different metric (an alternative optimization criterion) and (b) the inclusion of a computational stage that attempts to incorporate different perceptions in the measurement of sustainability and integrates machine learning to explore country sustainability composite indices under different perceptions and assumptions. This approach offers insights in areas such as feature selection and increases the trust in the results by exploiting an inclusive approach to the calculations. The method is used to calculate the sustainability of the 28 EU countries.
Integrating Activity-Guided Strategy and Fingerprint Analysis to Target Potent Cytotoxic Brefeldin A from a Fungal Library of the Medicinal Mangrove Acanthus ilicifolius
Authors: Wang Cui-Fang , Ma Jie , Jing Qian-Qian , Cao Xi-Zhen , Chen Lu , Chao Rong , Zheng Ji-Yong , Shao Chang-Lun , He Xiao-Xi , Wei Mei-Yan
Published: June 2022

Mangrove-associated fungi are rich sources of novel and bioactive compounds. A total of 102 fungal strains were isolated from the medicinal mangrove Acanthus ilicifolius collected from the South China Sea. Eighty-four independent culturable isolates were identified using a combination of morphological characteristics and internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequence analyses, of which thirty-seven strains were selected for phylogenetic analysis. The identified fungi belonged to 22 genera within seven taxonomic orders of one phyla, of which four genera Verticillium, Neocosmospora, Valsa, and Pyrenochaeta were first isolated from mangroves. The cytotoxic activity of organic extracts from 55 identified fungi was evaluated against human lung cancer cell lines (A-549), human cervical carcinoma cell lines (HeLa), human hepatoma cells (HepG2), and human acute lymphoblastic leukemia cell lines (Jurkat). The crude extracts of 31 fungi (56.4%) displayed strong cytotoxicity at the concentration of 50 μg/mL. Furthermore, the fungus Penicillium sp. (HS-N-27) still showed strong cytotoxic activity at the concentration of 25 µg/mL. Integrating cytotoxic activity-guided strategy and fingerprint analysis, a well-known natural Golgi-disruptor and Arf-GEFs inhibitor, brefeldin A, was isolated from the target active strain HS-N-27. It displayed potential activity against A549, HeLa and HepG2 cell lines with the IC50 values of 101.2, 171.9 and 239.1 nM, respectively. Therefore, combining activity-guided strategy with fingerprint analysis as a discovery tool will be implemented as a systematic strategy for quick discovery of active compounds.
Current Status and Perspective on the Use of Viral-Based Vectors in Eukaryotic Microalgae
Authors: Bolaños-Martínez Omayra C. , Mahendran Ganesan , Rosales-Mendoza Sergio , Vimolmangkang Sornkanok
Published: June 2022

During the last two decades, microalgae have attracted increasing interest, both commercially and scientifically. Commercial potential involves utilizing valuable natural compounds, including carotenoids, polysaccharides, and polyunsaturated fatty acids, which are widely applicable in food, biofuel, and pharmaceutical industries. Conversely, scientific potential focuses on bioreactors for producing recombinant proteins and developing viable technologies to significantly increase the yield and harvest periods. Here, viral-based vectors and transient expression strategies have significantly contributed to improving plant biotechnology. We present an updated outlook covering microalgal biotechnology for pharmaceutical application, transformation techniques for generating recombinant proteins, and genetic engineering tactics for viral-based vector construction. Challenges in industrial application are also discussed.
Diabetes Mellitus and Other Predictors for the Successful Treatment of Metastatic Colorectal Cancer: A Retrospective Study
Authors: Roman Deiana , Saftescu Sorin , Timar Bogdan , Avram Vlad , Braha Adina , Negru Șerban , Bercea Andrei , Serbulescu Monica , Popovici Dorel , Timar Romulus
Published: June 2022

Background and Objectives: In the last decades there has been an increasing body of research identifying the positive correlation between diabetes mellitus (DM) and solid malignancies, moreover, having shown DM as an independent risk factor for colorectal cancer (CRC). The aim of the present study was to assess the impact of DM on metastatic CRC (mCRC), and to identify possible predictive factors in the successful treatment of mCRC. Materials and Methods: 468 patients with mCRC were included in this retrospective, observational study. A total of 8669 oncological treatment cycles related to 988 distinct chemotherapy lines were analyzed. Data regarding lines of treatment and blood panel values were obtained from the Oncohelp Hospital database. Results: The presence of DM in male patients >70 years was a negative predictor (RR = 1.66 and a p = 0.05). DM seemed to have a detrimental effect in patients whose treatment included bevacizumab (median time to treatment failure -TTF- 94 days for DM+ cases compared to 114 days for DM-patients, p = 0.07). Analysis of treatments including bevacizumab based on DM status revealed lower values of mean TTF in DM+ female patients versus DM-(81.08 days versus 193.09 days, p < 0.001). It was also observed that DM+ patients had a higher mean TTF when undergoing anti-EGFR (epidermal growth factor) therapy (median TTF 143 days for DM+ patients versus 97.5 days for those without DM, p = 0.06). Conclusions: The favorable predictive factors identified were the inclusion of antiangiogenic agents, a higher hemoglobin value, a higher lymphocyte count, the inclusion of anti-EGFR treatment for DM+ patients, a higher creatinine, and a higher lymphocyte count in treatment lines that included anti-EGFR treatment. Unfavorable predictive factors were represented by the presence of DM in female patients undergoing antiangiogenic treatment, neutropenia in male patients, the association of oxaliplatin and antiangiogenic agents, and a higher monocyte count in the aforementioned treatment lines.
Joining of Macroscopic 3D Steel Transition Wire Structures to Steel Sheets: Study on the Mechanical, Microstructural, and Phase Characteristics of Brazed and Glued Joints
Authors: Palaniyappan Saravanan , Todt Andreas , Trautmann Maik , Röder Felix , Binotsch Carolin , Awiszus Birgit , Wagner Guntram
Published: June 2022

With an increased demand for the combination of different material classes in lightweight applications like automobiles, aircraft construction, etc., the need for simple and energy-efficient joining technologies to join these different material classes has been extensively researched over the last decades. One such hybrid material combination is the metal–plastic hybrid structure, which offers the combinational characteristics of high strength and stiffness of the metal part along with characteristic elasticity and low density of the plastic part. In this research work, the focus is laid on generating a graded property transition at the interface of metal–plastic joints by brazing a three-dimensional (3D) macroscopic transition wire structure (TWS) strucwire®, over the metal part before being molded with plastic at a later stage using an injection over-molding process. This helps in providing a mechanical interlocking facility and thereby achieving a higher load transfer at the interface of metal–plastic hybrid joints. The graded steel wire structures with different carbon content were brazed onto the galvanized steel sheets using the hotplate brazing technique. In addition to the Zinc layer on the galvanized steel sheets, electroplated Zinc coatings were fabricated on the wire structures to provide better brazing quality. The microstructural, mechanical, and intermetallic phase characteristics of the resulting brazed joints were evaluated using light microscopy, adhesion tests, and scanning electron microscopy, respectively.
Fatigue Analysis of Long-Span Steel Truss Arched Bridge Part I: Experimental and Numerical Study of Orthotropic Steel Deck
Authors: Liu Peng , Chen Yixuan , Lu Hongping , Zhao Jian , An Luming , Wang Yuanqing , Liu Jianping
Published: June 2022

The orthotropic steel deck is sensitive to fatigue, and a number of cracks have been found in existing bridges. Based on the long-span Guangzhou Mingzhu Bay steel arched bridge, this paper focus on the cracking process, fatigue mechanism, and fatigue performance evaluation of an orthotropic steel bridge deck under traffic load. A finite element model of a three-U-rib and three-span bridge deck was first established to investigate the stress state and the most unfavorable wheel loading position under the longitudinal wheel load. Then, four full-scale single-U-rib specimens were fabricated with high-strength lower alloy structural steel Q370qD in compliance with construction standards. High-cycle loading was subsequently implemented according to the Specification for Design of Highway steel bridge (JTG D64-2015), and the crack initiation, propagation process, and fatigue failure modes were studied. The results showed the stress at structural concern points is larger than in other locations, which was located around 35 mm from the welding seam of the U-rib and the lower end of the diaphragm plate. The Mingzhu Bay steel bridge deck meets the fatigue design requirements. However, the bottom of the welding seam between the U-rib and diaphragm plate is a dangerous fatigue position, and attention should be paid to the welding quality at this position during construction.
9–12% Cr Heat-Resistant Martensitic Steels with Increased Boron and Decreased Nitrogen Contents
Authors: Dudova Nadezhda
Published: June 2022

As a promising alloying approach, the modification of chemical composition by increasing the B content and decreasing the N content has been applied to improve the creep resistance of various 9–12% Cr heat-resistant martensitic steels. This paper presents an overview of the creep strength and related microstructural features of the 9% Cr and 10–12% Cr martensitic steels with high B and low N contents. The factors that determine the optimal B/N ratio in steels are considered. The creep properties are compared with those for similar steels with conventional B and N contents. The relationships between the stability of lath structure and precipitates of M23C6, Laves, and MX phases and the creep strength of steels are considered. Further perspectives of this modification of alloying by high boron and low nitrogen are outlined.
Whole Exome Sequencing Enhanced Imputation Identifies 85 Metabolite Associations in the Alpine CHRIS Cohort
Authors: König Eva , Rainer Johannes , Hernandes Vinicius Verri , Paglia Giuseppe , Del Greco M. Fabiola , Bottigliengo Daniele , Yin Xianyong , Chan Lap Sum , Teumer Alexander , Pramstaller Peter P. , Locke Adam E. , Fuchsberger Christian
Published: June 2022

Metabolites are intermediates or end products of biochemical processes involved in both health and disease. Here, we take advantage of the well-characterized Cooperative Health Research in South Tyrol (CHRIS) study to perform an exome-wide association study (ExWAS) on absolute concentrations of 175 metabolites in 3294 individuals. To increase power, we imputed the identified variants into an additional 2211 genotyped individuals of CHRIS. In the resulting dataset of 5505 individuals, we identified 85 single-variant genetic associations, of which 39 have not been reported previously. Fifteen associations emerged at ten variants with >5-fold enrichment in CHRIS compared to non-Finnish Europeans reported in the gnomAD database. For example, the CHRIS-enriched ETFDH stop gain variant p.Trp286Ter (rs1235904433-hexanoylcarnitine) and the MCCC2 stop lost variant p.Ter564GlnextTer3 (rs751970792-carnitine) have been found in patients with glutaric acidemia type II and 3-methylcrotonylglycinuria, respectively, but the loci have not been associated with the respective metabolites in a genome-wide association study (GWAS) previously. We further identified three gene-trait associations, where multiple rare variants contribute to the signal. These results not only provide further evidence for previously described associations, but also describe novel genes and mechanisms for diseases and disease-related traits.
Convolutional Neural Network-Based Compound Fingerprint Prediction for Metabolite Annotation
Authors: Gao Shijinqiu , Chau Hoi Yan Katharine , Wang Kuijun , Ao Hongyu , Varghese Rency S. , Ressom Habtom W.
Published: June 2022

Metabolite annotation has been a challenging issue especially in untargeted metabolomics studies by liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (LC-MS). This is in part due to the limitations of publicly available spectral libraries, which consist of tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) data acquired from just a fraction of known metabolites. Machine learning provides the opportunity to predict molecular fingerprints based on MS/MS data. The predicted molecular fingerprints can then be used to help rank putative metabolite IDs obtained by using either the precursor mass or the formula of the unknown metabolite. This method is particularly useful to help annotate metabolites whose corresponding MS/MS spectra are missing or cannot be matched with those in accessible spectral libraries. We investigated a convolutional neural network (CNN) for molecular fingerprint prediction based on data acquired by MS/MS. We used more than 680,000 MS/MS spectra obtained from the MoNA repository and NIST 20, representing about 36,000 compounds for training and testing our CNN model. The trained CNN model is implemented as a python package, MetFID. The package is available on GitHub for users to enter their MS/MS spectra and corresponding putative metabolite IDs to obtain ranked lists of metabolites. Better performance is achieved by MetFID in ranking putative metabolite IDs using the CASMI 2016 benchmark dataset compared to two other machine learning-based tools (CSI:FingerID and ChemDistiller).
Exercise Regulates the Metabolic Homeostasis of Methamphetamine Dependence
Authors: Li Xue , Li Kefeng , Zhu Zhicheng , Jin Yu , Gao Zhanle , Xu Jisheng , Zhang Li
Published: June 2022

Physical exercise is effective in enhancing cognitive function, reducing anxiety and depressive symptoms, reducing cravings, and improving quality of life in methamphetamine (METH) addiction. However, little is known about the effect of exercise on metabolic profiles. We performed LC/MS-based targeted metabolic profiling on serum samples to investigate the metabolic characteristics of METH dependence and find the differences between METH-dependent individuals and nonusers and evaluated the metabolomic profiles of individuals with METH dependence following aerobic exercise training. We identified a total of 201 metabolites, among which 115 were differentially expressed under METH use. Among the differentially regulated metabolites, 72 were selected as potential biomarkers. Further analysis identified 19 pathways, among which glyoxylate and dicarboxylate metabolism; alanine, aspartate, and glutamate metabolism; and citrate cycle were most significantly affected by METH. The aerobic exercise intervention differentially regulated 55 metabolites, of which 51 were selected as potential biomarkers and were mainly enriched in 10 pathways. Interestingly, alanine, aspartate, and glutamate metabolism and nitrogen metabolism were the remarkably affected pathways. Furthermore, METH increased the serum levels of glutamate and decreased GABA, whereas exercise decreased the serum levels of glutamate and increased GABA. Results suggested that METH dependency disturbed normal metabolic homeostasis, whereas exercise restored metabolism.
A Nonlinear Probabilistic Pitting Corrosion Model of Ni–Ti Alloy Immersed in Shallow Seawater
Authors: Ivošević Špiro , Vastag Gyöngyi , Kovač Nataša , Majerič Peter , Rudolf Rebeka
Published: June 2022

The degradation of metal materials in a marine environment represents the consequence of the electrochemical corrosion of metals under the influence of the environment. The application of new materials in the maritime industry requires experimental, real-world research on the form of corrosive damage and the intensity of the corrosion. This paper analyses the pitting corrosion of a rod-shaped nickel–titanium (Ni–Ti) alloy that was produced by means of the continuous casting method. In total, three samples were posted in a real seawater environment and analysed after 6, 12, and 18 months. Pits were detected on the Ni–Ti alloy after 18 months of exposure to the marine environment. The database on pitting corrosion was created by measuring depth in mm, which was performed by means of a nonlinear method, and by the generation of an artificial database of a total of 120, gauged in critical pit areas. The data were obtained by the application of a nonlinear model, and under the assumption that corrosion starts after 12 months of exposure in the corrosive marine environment. The EDX analysis of the Ni–Ti alloy composition inside the pits and on the edges of the pits indicated that the corrosion process in the hole of the pit occurs due to the degradation of the Ni.
Design and Characterization of Wideband Terahertz Metamaterial Stop-Band Filter
Authors: Li Hao , Wang Junlin , Wang Xin , Feng Yao , Sun Zhanshuo
Published: June 2022

We propose and design a metamaterial broadband stop-band filter with a steep cut-off in the terahertz region. The filter is based on the flexible structure of metal-dielectric-metal-dielectric-metal (MDMDM). Simulation results show that the filter has a center frequency of 1.08 THz, the square ratio reaches 0.95, and the −20 dB bandwidth reaches 1.07 THz. In addition, it has excellent flat-top characteristics with an average transmission rate in the resistive band of no more than 5%. The relative bandwidth has been up to 99%, and stopband absorption rate has reached more than 98%. The effects of the main structural parameters on the transmission characteristics are discussed. The role of each layer of metal in the filter is explored by studying the effect of the variation of the number of metal layers on the filter. The symmetry of the structure ensures the polarization insensitivity of the filter at normal incidence. The correctness of the simulation results was verified by analyzing the effective permittivity and magnetic permeability. To investigate the transmission characteristics of the metamaterial filter in-depth, we analyzed the electric field strength and surface current distribution at the center frequency of the filter. The designed terahertz filter may have potential applications in terahertz communications, sensors, and emerging terahertz technologies.
Design and Thermal Analysis of Flexible Microheaters
Authors: Li Dezhao , Ruan Yangtao , Chen Chuangang , He Wenfeng , Chi Cheng , Lin Qiang
Published: June 2022

With the development of flexible electronics, flexible microheaters have been applied in many areas. Low power consumption and fast response microheaters have attracted much attention. In this work, systematic thermal and mechanical analyses were conducted for a kind of flexible microheater with two different wire structures. The microheater consisted of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) substrate and copper electric wire with graphene thin film as the middle layer. The steady-state average temperature and heating efficiency for the two structures were compared and it was shown that the S-shaped wire structure was better for voltage-controlled microheater other than circular-shaped structure. In addition, the maximum thermal stress for both structures was from the boundary of microheaters, which indicated that not only the wire structure but also the shape of micro heaters should be considered to reduce the damage caused by thermal stress. The influence resulting from the thickness of graphene thin film also has been discussed. In all, the heating efficiency for flexible microheaters can be up to 135 °C/W. With the proposed PID voltage control system, the response time for the designed microheater was less than 10 s. Moreover, a feasible fabrication process flow for these proposed structures combing thermal analysis results in this work can provide some clues for flexible microheaters design and fabrication in other application areas.
Genesis of Color Zonation and Chemical Composition of Penglai Sapphire in Hainan Province, China
Authors: Wang Guang-Ya , Yu Xiao-Yan , Liu Fei
Published: June 2022

The Penglai sapphires are mainly hosted in alkaline basalts and derived in alluvial sediments. Previous studies have investigated the formation of the Penglai sapphires; however, the genesis of color zoning remains ambiguous. In this paper, we report spectral and chemical composition data of sapphires using ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy (UV–Vis), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and laser-ablation–inductively coupled plasma–mass spectrometry (LA–ICP–MS). The results show that the Penglai sapphire has a magmatic origin, mostly showing various shapes of incomplete girdles, barrels, and flakes. The content of Ti in rims is higher than in cores of color-banded sapphire, which results from ubiquitous Ti-bearing inclusions within grown bands. The main chromophore of the deep-blue core is Fe2+-Ti4+, which pairs with Fe3+-Fe3+, Cr3+, and V3+ in the core, likely producing purple-hued blue in an oxidizing environment. The yellowish-brown rim is due to Fe3+ and Cr3+ in a reduced environment. Compared with the basaltic sapphires worldwide, the Fe content is moderately higher than those of most Asian sapphires but obviously lower than those of Changle sapphires in Shandong, China, and overlaps with those of African sapphires.
Research on Leaching of V and Ni in Spent FCC Catalyst Using Oxalic Acid/H2O2 under Microwave-Assisted Conditions
Authors: Zheng Dalong , Zhang Yimin , Liu Tao , Huang Jing , Cai Zhenlei , Zhang Ruobing
Published: June 2022

In this work, we propose a rapid and facile method (oxalic acid leaching under microwave-assisted conditions) to study the simultaneous recovery of vanadium (V) and nickel (Ni) from spent fluid catalytic cracking (SFCC) catalysts. The central issue in all of these studies is to test the modeling and experimental results of excellent fitting effects of leaching parameters. In order to maximize the recovery of V and Ni, leaching parameters were investigated. Furthermore, response surface methodology (RSM) was applied to optimize the leaching parameters. The optimum conditions obtained were as follows: oxalic acid concentration of 1.8 mol/L; leaching time of 91 min; microwave-assisted power of 500 W; H2O2 concentration of 1.1 mol/L. The maximum leaching rates of V and Ni reached the values of 91.36% and 46.35%, respectively. The results showed that microwave energy was very helpful in improving the efficiency of the leaching process and shortening the leaching time by 75%. According to the shrinking core model, test results showed that a surface chemical reaction was the controlling step of the overall reaction kinetics. The activation energy of V and Ni during the leaching reaction was calculated to be 3.28 and 34.41 kJ/mol, respectively.