bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
CaSiO3-HAp Metal-Reinforced Biocomposite Ceramics for Bone Tissue Engineering
Authors: Papynov Evgeniy K. , Shichalin Oleg O. , Belov Anton A. , Buravlev Igor Yu , Mayorov Vitaly Yu , Fedorets Alexander N. , Buravleva Anastasiya A. , Lembikov Alexey O. , Gritsuk Danila V. , Kapustina Olesya V. , Kornakova Zlata E.
Published: May 2023

Reconstructive and regenerative bone surgery is based on the use of high-tech biocompatible implants needed to restore the functions of the musculoskeletal system of patients. Ti6Al4V is one of the most widely used titanium alloys for a variety of applications where low density and excellent corrosion resistance are required, including biomechanical applications (implants and prostheses). Calcium silicate or wollastonite (CaSiO3) and calcium hydroxyapatite (HAp) is a bioceramic material used in biomedicine due to its bioactive properties, which can potentially be used for bone repair. In this regard, the research investigates the possibility of using spark plasma sintering technology to obtain new CaSiO3-HAp biocomposite ceramics reinforced with a Ti6Al4V titanium alloy matrix obtained by additive manufacturing. The phase and elemental compositions, structure, and morphology of the initial CaSiO3-HAp powder and its ceramic metal biocomposite were studied by X-ray fluorescence, scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, and Brunauer–Emmett–Teller analysis methods. The spark plasma sintering technology was shown to be efficient for the consolidation of CaSiO3-HAp powder in volume with a Ti6Al4V reinforcing matrix to obtain a ceramic metal biocomposite of an integral form. Vickers microhardness values were determined for the alloy and bioceramics (~500 and 560 HV, respectively), as well as for their interface area (~640 HV). An assessment of the critical stress intensity factor KIc (crack resistance) was performed. The research result is new and represents a prospect for the creation of high-tech implant products for regenerative bone surgery.
Time Use and Cognitive Achievement among Adolescents in China: Depression Symptoms as Mediators
Authors: Cao Xiaojie , Liu Xinqiao
Published: May 2023

Everyone’s time is limited, and there is competition between different aspects of time use; this requires comprehensive consideration of the effects of different aspects of time use on cognitive achievement in adolescents. This study uses a dataset of 11,717 students from a nationally representative large-scale survey project conducted in 2013 to 2014 to clarify the relationship between time use (including working on homework, playing sports, surfing the Internet, watching TV, and sleeping) and cognitive achievement among Chinese adolescents, and explores the mediating role of depression symptoms in the relationship between time use and cognitive achievement. The results of the correlation analysis show that the average daily time spent on homework, playing sports, and sleeping is significantly positively correlated with cognitive achievement (p < 0.01), while time spent surfing the Internet and watching TV are significantly negatively correlated with cognitive achievement (p < 0.01). The results of the mediating effect model show that depression symptoms play a mediating role in the relationship between time use and cognitive achievement among Chinese adolescents. Specifically, time spent playing sports (indirect effect = 0.008, p < 0.001) and sleeping (indirect effect = 0.015, p < 0.001) have a positive effect on cognitive achievement when using depression symptoms as mediators; time spent on homework (indirect effect = −0.004, p < 0.001), surfing the Internet (indirect effect = −0.002, p = 0.046), and watching TV (indirect effect = −0.005, p < 0.001) have a negative effect on cognitive achievement when using depression symptoms as mediators. This study contributes to the understanding of the relationship between time use and cognitive achievement among Chinese adolescents.
The Paleoenvironment and Mechanisms of Organic Matter Enrichment of Shale in the Permian Taiyuan and Shanxi Formations in the Southern North China Basin
Authors: Wang Yanan , Cheng Xiulei , Fan Kai , Huo Zhipeng , Wei Lin
Published: May 2023

The organic-rich shale of the Permian Taiyuan Formation (TYF) and Shanxi Formation (SXF) in the Southern North China Basin (SNCB) is considered a potential shale gas source. The shale was formed in a marine-continental transitional sedimentary environment, which has rarely been studied, with the enrichment mechanisms of organic matter (OM) remaining unclear. This study investigated the controlling factors and enrichment mechanisms of OM by analyzing the total organic carbon (TOC) content, paleoclimate, paleoproductivity, sedimentation rate, redox, and paleosalinity. The TOC of the TYF ranged from 0.92 to 7.43 wt.%, with an average of 2.48 wt.%, which was higher than that of the SXF (TOC = 0.36–5.1 wt.%, average of 1.68 wt.%). These geochemical indices suggest that both the TYF and SXF were deposited in warm and humid paleoclimates, with relatively high biological productivity and sedimentation rates. During the deposition process, the TYF experienced frequent transgression and regression events, leading to an enhancement of water reducibility, a relatively high sedimentation rate, reduced OM oxidation, and rapid deposition of OM, which were conducive to the preservation of OM. Moreover, a high biological productivity increased respiratory oxygen consumption in the water column, which could lead to OM accumulation. However, the regression event experienced by the SXF reduced the paleoproductivity and sedimentation rate and increased water oxidation, leading to a decrease in OM. The main controlling factors for the enrichment of OM in the TYF and SXF were the sedimentation rate, paleoproductivity, and redox conditions, thus establishing the enrichment models for OM in the TYF and SXF. This study is conducive to understanding shale enrichment mechanisms and guiding shale gas exploration.
Investigation of Soil Heaving and Penetration Resistance of Bucket Foundation with Inner Bucket and Cruciform Skirts
Authors: Xiao Zhong , Ma Teng , Wang Hongwei , Bian Feng , Jin Haifeng , Yu Tengjiao , Zhang Wei , Hu Pan , Li Jinhui
Published: May 2023

Since concrete is cheaper and more resistant to corrosion than steel, the wide-shallow concrete bucket foundation is being used extensively in ocean engineering. By adding the inner bucket and cruciform skirts, both the bearing capacity and rigidity of the wide-shallow concrete bucket foundation increase significantly. When compared to the hollow steel bucket foundation, the inclusion of thicker skirts, as well as the addition of inner bucket and cruciform skirts, would cause changes to the soil flow mechanism, resulting in soil heave within each compartment and changes in soil strength evolution and penetration resistance during installation in clay. In order to study the influence of the addition of the inner bucket and cruciform skirts on the soil heaving inside each compartment, soil softening and penetration resistance, three-dimensional large deformation finite element (LDFE) models for the bucket foundation with and without inner bucket, and cruciform skirts considering soil remolding were established using the Coupled Eulerian–Lagrangian (CEL) approach. It was found that the inner bucket significantly changes the soil flow and softening of the soil during penetration of the bucket foundation. According to the theoretical analysis and numerical results, the diameter of the optimal inner bucket is equal to 5/8 of the outer diameter. The adhesion coefficient observed in this study falls within the range of 0.5 to 0.8, which is higher than the theoretical value of 0.25 that assumes the soil is fully remolded. The reason for this discrepancy is that the soil is only partially remolded during the actual installation of the bucket foundation. The neglect of the softening of the soil or considering the soil as completely softened will result in significant variation in the predicted penetration resistance; hence, partial softening of the soil should be taken into account.
Semi-Active Heave Compensation for a 600-Meter Hydraulic Salvaging Claw System with Ship Motion Prediction via LSTM Neural Networks
Authors: Zhang Fengrui , Ning Dayong , Hou Jiaoyi , Du Hongwei , Tian Hao , Zhang Kang , Gong Yongjun
Published: May 2023

Efficiently salvaging shipwrecks is of the utmost importance for safeguarding shipping safety and preserving the marine ecosystem. However, traditional methods find it difficult to salvage shipwrecks in deep water. This article presents a novel salvage technology that involves multiple hydraulic claws for directly catching and lifting a 2500-ton shipwreck at 600 m depth. To ensure lifting stability, a semi-active heave compensation (SAHC) system was employed for each lifter to mitigate the effects of sea waves. However, the response delays arising from the hydraulic, control, and filtering systems resist the heave compensation performance. Predicting the barge motion to mitigate measuring and filtering delays and achieve leading compensation is necessary for the salvage. Therefore, a multivariate long short-term memory (LSTM) based neural network was trained to forecast the barge’s heave and pitch motions, exhibiting satisfactory results for the next 5 s. According to the results of numerical simulations, the proposed LSTM-based motion predictive SAHC system demonstrates remarkable effectiveness in compensating for shipwreck motion.
Autophagy-Related Gene 4 Participates in the Asexual Development, Stress Response and Virulence of Filamentous Insect Pathogenic Fungus Beauveria bassiana
Authors: Ding Jin-Li , Wei Kang , Feng Ming-Guang , Ying Sheng-Hua
Published: May 2023

Autophagy is a conserved mechanism for the turnover of intracellular components. Among the ‘core’ autophagy-related genes (ATGs), the cysteine protease Atg4 plays an important role in the activation of Atg8 by exposing the glycine residue at its extreme carboxyl terminus. In the insect fungal pathogen Beauveria bassiana, a yeast ortholog of Atg4 was identified and functionally analyzed. Ablation of the BbATG4 gene blocks the autophagic process during fungal growth under aerial and submerged conditions. Gene loss did not affect fungal radial growth on various nutrients, but ΔBbatg4 exhibited an impaired ability to accumulate biomass. The mutant displayed increased sensitivity to stress caused by menadione and hydrogen peroxide. ΔBbatg4 generated abnormal conidiophores with reduced production of conidia. Additionally, fungal dimorphism was significantly attenuated in gene disruption mutants. Disruption of BbATG4 resulted in significantly weakened virulence in topical and intrahemocoel injection assays. Our study indicates that BbAtg4 contributes to the lifecycle of B. bassiana via its autophagic roles.
Fungal Aeroallergens—The Impact of Climate Change
Authors: Sztandera-Tymoczek Monika , Szuster-Ciesielska Agnieszka
Published: May 2023

The incidence of allergic diseases worldwide is rapidly increasing, making allergies a modern pandemic. This article intends to review published reports addressing the role of fungi as causative agents in the development of various overreactivity-related diseases, mainly affecting the respiratory tract. After presenting the basic information on the mechanisms of allergic reactions, we describe the impact of fungal allergens on the development of the allergic diseases. Human activity and climate change have an impact on the spread of fungi and their plant hosts. Particular attention should be paid to microfungi, i.e., plant parasites that may be an underestimated source of new allergens.
Brain Network Topology in Deficit and Non-Deficit Schizophrenia: Application of Graph Theory to Local and Global Indices
Authors: Vecchio Daniela , Piras Fabrizio , Ciullo Valentina , Piras Federica , Natalizi Federica , Ducci Giuseppe , Ambrogi Sonia , Spalletta Gianfranco , Banaj Nerisa
Published: May 2023

Patients with deficit schizophrenia (SZD) suffer from primary and enduring negative symptoms. Limited pieces of evidence and neuroimaging studies indicate they differ from patients with non-deficit schizophrenia (SZND) in neurobiological aspects, but the results are far from conclusive. We applied for the first time, graph theory analyses to discriminate local and global indices of brain network topology in SZD and SZND patients compared with healthy controls (HC). High-resolution T1-weighted images were acquired for 21 SZD patients, 21 SZND patients, and 21 HC to measure cortical thickness from 68 brain regions. Graph-based metrics (i.e., centrality, segregation, and integration) were computed and compared among groups, at both global and regional networks. When compared to HC, at the regional level, SZND were characterized by temporoparietal segregation and integration differences, while SZD showed widespread alterations in all network measures. SZD also showed less segregated network topology at the global level in comparison to HC. SZD and SZND differed in terms of centrality and integration measures in nodes belonging to the left temporoparietal cortex and to the limbic system. SZD is characterized by topological features in the network architecture of brain regions involved in negative symptomatology. Such results help to better define the neurobiology of SZD (SZD: Deficit Schizophrenia; SZND: Non-Deficit Schizophrenia; SZ: Schizophrenia; HC: healthy controls; CC: clustering coefficient; L: characteristic path length; E: efficiency; D: degree; CCnode: CC of a node; CCglob: the global CC of the network; Eloc: efficiency of the information transfer flow either within segregated subgraphs or neighborhoods nodes; Eglob: efficiency of the information transfer flow among the global network; FDA: Functional Data Analysis; and Dmin: estimated minimum densities).
Unsupervised Machine Learning Driven Analysis of Verbatims of Treatment-Resistant Schizophrenia Patients Having Followed Avatar Therapy
Authors: Hudon Alexandre , Beaudoin Mélissa , Phraxayavong Kingsada , Potvin Stéphane , Dumais Alexandre
Published: May 2023

(1) Background: The therapeutic mechanisms underlying psychotherapeutic interventions for individuals with treatment-resistant schizophrenia are mostly unknown. One of these treatment techniques is avatar therapy (AT), in which the patient engages in immersive sessions while interacting with an avatar representing their primary persistent auditory verbal hallucination. The aim of this study was to conduct an unsupervised machine-learning analysis of verbatims of treatment-resistant schizophrenia patients that have followed AT. The second aim of the study was to compare the data clusters obtained from the unsupervised machine-learning analysis with previously conducted qualitative analysis. (2) Methods: A k-means algorithm was performed over the immersive-session verbatims of 18 patients suffering from treatment-resistant schizophrenia who followed AT to cluster interactions of the avatar and the patient. Data were pre-processed using vectorization and data reduction. (3): Results: Three clusters of interactions were identified for the avatar’s interactions whereas four clusters were identified for the patient’s interactions. (4) Conclusion: This study was the first attempt to conduct unsupervised machine learning on AT and provided a quantitative insight into the inner interactions that take place during immersive sessions. The use of unsupervised machine learning could yield a better understanding of the type of interactions that take place in AT and their clinical implications.
Robot-Assisted Radical Cystectomy with Modified Vesica Ileale Padovana (VIP) Neobladder Configuration Using a Hybrid Approach: Initial Experience
Authors: Shimizu Fumitaka , Muto Satoru , Kitamura Kosuke , China Toshiyuki , Shirakawa Tomoya , Kimura Tomoki , Ieda Takeshi , Nagata Masayoshi , Isotani Shuji , Nakagawa Yuki , Horie Shigeo
Published: May 2023

Purpose: We developed a new technique to fold a neobladder (NB) simply by using a modified Vesica Ileale Padovana (VIP) with a hybrid approach. We provide a step-by-step description of our technique as it was used in this initial experience. Methods: A total of 10 male patients with a median age of 66 years underwent robot-assisted radical cystectomy (RARC) with an orthotopic NB via a hybrid approach from March 2022 to February 2023. After the isolation of the bladder and bilateral pelvic lymphadenectomy, Wallace plate creation was performed, and the robot was undocked. We extracorporeally performed the removal of the specimen and a side-to-side ileoileal anastomosis, and then the VIP NB posterior plate was rotated 90 degrees counterclockwise using a 45 cm detubularized ileum. The robot was redocked; then, circumferential urethra–ileal anastomosis, side-to-middle anterior wall closure, and ureteric afferent limb anastomosis were performed. Results: The median estimated blood loss was 524 mL, and the mean operative time was 496 min. Patients had a high continence rate, and no high-grade complications were observed. Conclusion: The NB configuration using the modified VIP method for a hybrid approach is a feasible surgical technique to minimize the movement of robotic forceps. In particular, it may be more useful in Asian individuals with narrow pelvises.
The Effects of Climate Change to Weather-Related Environmental Hazards: Interlinkages of Economic Factors and Climate Risk
Authors: Halkos George , Zisiadou Argyro
Published: May 2023

Climate change has become an increasingly intense global phenomenon in recent years. A great number of researchers support the idea that climate change is strongly connected to some environmental hazards, and specifically, those correlated to extreme weather events. Following the Paris Agreement, and due to the increased concern regarding climate change impacts, several indices have been established. The Climate Change Performance Index (CCPI) includes 59 countries and the EU, which cumulatively emit 92% of global greenhouse gases (GHGs), while the Global Climate Risk Index (CRI) analyzes to what extend countries have been affected by impacts of weather-related loss events. Both indices provide annual scores to each country and rank them based on those scores indicating the existing environmental situation. Our main purpose is to examine whether there is an interconnection between those two indices as well as testify whether economic growth is a great contributor to country’s environmental performance and as a result to climate risk. Using a sample of the reported countries for the year 2019, the latest reported year for both indices, and following a cross-sectional econometric analysis, we provide evidence regarding the connection of CCPI and CRI by using graphs, mapping visualization and econometric estimations in order to draw lines between indices. Moreover, we examine the interlinkages, and we estimate the influence caused by socio-economic factors and emissions levels per country. We provide evidence regarding the high-ranked and low-ranked countries and how they perform not only to an environmental base, but also to an economic base. Regarding the major finding, based on our analysis, no proven causality between CRI and CCPI was observed. Economic growth appears to have a significant impact on CRI but not on the CCPI, for the year 2019, while population density has an impact on both indices. Regarding greenhouse gas emissions, the econometric estimations provide evidence of significance for CRI but not for CCPI. An in-depth understanding of the current situation as well as of the factors affecting the climate conditions will give us the needed elements in order to minimize the adverse impact, if not improve the current situation. It is well known and stated that climate action should be taken so that we bequeath a safer and more sustainable planet to the next generations.
Storage and Stability of Soil Organic Carbon in Two Temperate Forests in Northeastern China
Authors: Liu Dongwei , Li Shanlong , Zhu Weixing , Wang Yongyang , Zhang Shasha , Fang Yunting
Published: May 2023

Forests worldwide store large quantities of carbon (C), particularly in soils as soil organic C (SOC). In northeastern China, two dominant forest types, secondary mixed forest (MF) and larch plantation forest (LF), cover extensive areas. However, we lack an understanding of the patterns and the mechanisms of SOC storage and stabilization in MF and LF, especially in deep soil layers. This research aims to illustrate the vertical distribution and mineral protection of SOC over soil depth; we also used δ13C values of soil fractions to evaluate SOC stability. Samples from the surface litter (Oi), organic layer (Oa+e), and 0–40 cm mineral soils were collected from both MF and LF plots. We used two different methods to separate bulk soils into distinguished fractions: (1) macro- and micro-aggregates and the non-aggregated fraction, and (2) particulate organic matter (POM) and mineral-associated organic matter (MAOM). The C concentrations, C stocks, and δ13C of all soil fractions were determined. Our findings were as follows: (1) SOC was mainly stored in mineral soils and was 13.6% lower in LF (8609 ± 1180 g C m−2) than MF (9969 ± 2084 g C m−2). (2) In both MF and LF, the SOC stock was mainly stored in aggregates (averaged 92.7%); macroaggregates dominated in the surface layers (Oa+e layer and 0–10 cm) but microaggregates dominated in the deep layers (10–20 cm and 20–40 cm). In mineral soils, MAOM was the dominant fraction of the C stock (averaged 81.6%). (3) The proportion of C distributed in microaggregates and MAOM increased from Oa+e to the 20–40 cm layer. (4) The C/N ratios and δ13C values of MAOM were smaller and heavier compared to those of POM. Our study demonstrated that in both forests, aggregate formation and mineral association predominantly contributed to SOC storage, and large stocks of SOC were distributed in the deep soil. The increasing proportion of SOC in microaggregates and MAOM along the soil depth, most likely derived from microbial turnover and microbial necromass, influenced SOC stability in both forest types.
Soil Quality Assessment of Several Kinds of Typical Artificial Forestlands in the Inner Mongolia Basin of the Yellow River
Authors: Zhu Jiazheng , Yang Zhenqi , Qin Fucang , Guo Jianying , Zhang Tiegang , Miao Ping
Published: May 2023

Located in the middle and upper parts of the Yellow River Basin, Qingshuihe County, Inner Mongolia, is a typical hilly and gully loess region and one of areas under the implementation of major ecological protection and restoration projects in the key ecological areas of Yellow River. Scientifically and accurately constructing a soil quality evaluation system for different types of artificial forest land and evaluating their soil quality are essential because they help optimize the structure of artificial forest land and improve the soil quality in the loess hilly area of Yellow River Basin. In this study, soil from four representative types of artificial forest land in the middle and upper reaches of the Yellow River Basin in Inner Mongolia was selected as the study object, with natural non-forest land as the control. Sixteen soil property indices in five classes, namely, soil texture, acid–base properties, moisture, pore, and nutrient, were screened using correlation analysis, minimum dataset (MDS), and principal component analysis methods, and an MDS of soil quality evaluation was constructed. Results showed that (1) the evaluation indices of artificial forest land soil quality based on the MDS included total potassium content, total phosphorus content, alkali-hydrolyzed nitrogen content, total nitrogen content, sand content, moisture content, and non-capillary porosity. (2) No significant differences were observed in the soil quality index among the MDS, total dataset, and significant dataset (SDS), all of which exhibited significant positive correlations. (3) The soil quality of the different types of forest land was sorted from high to low as follows: mixed coniferous and broad-leaved forests, larch forests, mixed arbor and shrub forests, Armeniaca sibirica forests, and natural non-forest land.
Accumulation of SOC and Carbon Fractions in Different Age Red Fescue Permanent Swards
Authors: Skersiene Aida , Slepetiene Alvyra , Stukonis Vaclovas , Norkeviciene Egle
Published: May 2023

One of the practices often mentioned to achieve climate change mitigation is the long-term cultivation of perennial plants. The objective of the study was to estimate changes in the accumulation of soil organic carbon (SOC) and its fractions in 0–10, 10–20, 20–30 cm, and within 0–30 cm soil layer of red fescue (Festuca rubra L.) swards that differ in age (5, 10 and 15 years) as well as to compare them with the arable field. Our results show that SOC accumulation at 5-year-old cultivation of red fescue is high, later this SOC increase slowed down from 71% in the 0–30 cm soil layer when land use was converted from arable field to 5-year-old sward to 1% from 10 to 15 years. The level of water extractable organic carbon (WEOC) in the 0–30 cm soil layer of swards was significantly higher compared to the arable field. The positive effect of these swards in the accumulation and stabilization of organic carbon during humification in the soil was also determined. The largest amounts of mobile humic substances (MHS) and mobile humic acids (MHA) accumulated in the 0–10 cm layer of sward soil (3.30–4.93 and 1.53–2.48 g kg−1, respectively). In conclusion, the findings suggest that a conversion from arable to soil under permanent grass cover significantly improves carbon status.
Investigations of Ascorbic Acid Synthesis and Distribution in Broiler Tissues at Different Post-Hatch Days
Authors: Gan Liping , Zhao Yifeng , Wang Peng , Zhao Chenkai , Li Yilei , Huang Weihao , Shi Liuying , Cui Yaoming , Qiao Hanzhen , Wang Jinrong , Guo Yuming
Published: May 2023

Ascorbic acid (AA) is an indispensable nutrient required to sustain optimal poultry health and performance, which is commonly excluded from the diet of broilers. To investigate the synthesis and distribution of AA during broiler growth and clarify its possible turnover, 144 1 d old healthy Arbor Acres broilers with a body weight of approximately 41 g were randomly assigned to eight groups of 18 broilers each. The kidney, liver, ileum, and spleen of one bird from each group were collected every week until 42 d to detect the synthesis capacity, tissue distribution, and transporter gene expression of AA. The results showed that kidney L-gulonolactone oxidase (GLO) activity responded quadratically (p < 0.001), with maximum activity observed at 7 to 21 d old. Hepatic total AA and dehydroascrobate (DHA) concentration increased linearly (p < 0.001) with age, as did splenic total AA (p < 0.001). In the ileum, mRNA expression of sodium vitamin C transporter 1/2 (SVCT1/2) decreased with the growing age of the broilers (p < 0.05). The expression of SVCT1 in the kidney was not influenced by the growing age of the broilers. The progressive buildup of AA in the liver and spleen of broilers as they age implies an amplified demand for this nutrient. The waning synthesis capacity over time, however, raises concerns regarding the possible inadequacy of AA in the latter growth phase of broilers. The addition of AA to the broilers’ diet might have the potential to optimize their performance. However, the effectiveness of such dietary supplementation requires further investigation.
Effect of Adherence to the Mediterranean Diet on Maternal Iron Related Biochemical Parameters during Pregnancy and Gestational Weight Gain
Authors: Morales-Suárez-Varela María , Peraita-Costa Isabel , Perales-Marín Alfredo , Marcos Puig Beatriz , Llopis-Morales Juan , Picó Yolanda
Published: May 2023

Gestation is a crucial life stage for both women and offspring, and outcomes are affected by many environmental factors, including diet. The Mediterranean dietary pattern (MD) is considered a healthy eating pattern that can provide the nutritional requirements of pregnancy. Meanwhile, iron deficiency anemia is one of the most frequent complications related to pregnancy. This study aimed to evaluate how the level of adherence to the MD influences maternal gestational weight gain and specific iron-related maternal biochemical parameters during the pregnancy. Accordingly, an observational, population-based study using data from pregnant women conducted over the entire course of their pregnancy was carried out. Adherence to the MD was assessed once using the MEDAS score questionnaire. Of the 506 women studied, 116 (22.9%) were classified as demonstrating a high adherence, 277 (54.7%) a medium adherence, and 113 (22.3%) a low adherence to the MD. No differences were observed in gestational weight gain among the MD adherence groups but the adequacy of weight gain did vary among the groups, with the proportions of inadequate (insufficient or excessive) weight gain presenting the most notable differences. Total anemia prevalence was 5.3%, 15.6%, and 12.3%, respectively, during the first, second, and third trimesters. For iron-related biochemical parameters, no differences are observed among the adherence groups during pregnancy. With high adherence to the MD as the reference group, the crude odds of iron deficiency diagnosis are significant in the first trimester for both the medium [OR = 2.99 (1.55–5.75)] and low [OR = 4.39 (2.15–8.96)] adherence groups, with deficient adherence to the Mediterranean dietary pattern being responsible for 66.5% (35.5–82.6) and 77.2% (53.5–88.8) of the risk of iron deficiency diagnosis for medium and low adherence, respectively. However, adjusted odds ratios were not significant, possibly due to the small sample size. Our data suggest that MD adherence could be related to gestational weight gain adequacy and that optimal adherence could reduce iron deficiency and/or anemia during pregnancy in the studied population.
Gender-Related Differences in the Levels of Ambulatory BP and Intensity of Antihypertensive Treatment in Patients Undergoing Peritoneal Dialysis
Authors: Kontogiorgos Ioannis , Georgianos Panagiotis I. , Vaios Vasilios , Vareta Georgia , Georgianou Eleni , Karligkiotis Apostolos , Sgouropoulou Vasiliki , Kantartzi Konstantia , Zebekakis Pantelis E. , Liakopoulos Vassilios
Published: May 2023

Prior studies have shown that among patients with chronic kidney disease not yet on dialysis, the faster progression of kidney injury in men than in women is, at least partly, explained by sex differences in ambulatory blood pressure (BP) control. The present study aimed to investigate potential differences in the levels of ambulatory BP and intensity of antihypertensive treatment between men and women with end-stage kidney disease undergoing long-term peritoneal dialysis (PD). In a case-control design, 48 male PD patients were matched for age and heart failure status with 48 female patients in a 1:1 ratio. Ambulatory BP monitoring was performed with an oscillometric device, the Mobil-O-Graph (IEM, Stolberg, Germany). The BP-lowering medications actually taken by the patients were prospectively recorded. No gender-related differences were observed in 24 h systolic BP (129.0 ± 17.9 vs. 128.5 ± 17.6 mmHg, p = 0.890). In contrast, 24 h diastolic BP was higher in men than in women (81.5 ± 12.1 vs. 76.8 ± 10.3 mmHg, p = 0.042). As compared with women, men were being treated with a higher average number of antihypertensive medications daily (2.4 ± 1.1 vs. 1.9 ± 1.1, p = 0.019) and were more commonly receiving calcium-channel-blockers (70.8% vs. 43.8%, p = 0.007) and β-blockers (85.4% vs. 66.7%, p = 0.031). In conclusion, the present study shows that among PD patients, the levels of ambulatory BP and intensity of antihypertensive treatment are higher in men than in women. Longitudinal studies are needed to explore whether these gender-related differences in the severity of hypertension are associated with worse cardiovascular outcomes for male patients undergoing PD.
Exploring the Effectiveness of Isatin–Schiff Base as an Environmentally Friendly Corrosion Inhibitor for Mild Steel in Hydrochloric Acid
Authors: Al-Amiery Ahmed A. , Betti Nadia , Isahak Wan Nor Roslam Wan , Al-Azzawi Waleed Khalid , Wan Nik Wan Mohd Norsani
Published: May 2023

A recent study has shown that Schiff base OHMHI is an effective inhibitor of the corrosion of mild steel in acidic media. The study utilized weight loss measurements and electrochemical techniques, such as EIS and potentiodynamic polarization, to analyze the corrosion inhibition efficiency of OHMHI. The results of the study show that the presence of OHMHI in the corrosive environment significantly reduced the corrosion rate of mild steel and increased its corrosion resistance. The impedance spectra analysis indicated that OHMHI was adsorbed on the surface of mild steel, providing a protective layer. The potentiodynamic polarization study confirmed the protective role of OHMHI by showing an increase in the passive current density of the mild steel in the presence of OHMHI. The inhibitory efficiency of OHMHI was found to be 96.1%, indicating that it is an effective corrosion inhibitor for mild steel. The study also investigated the optimal conditions for the use of OHMHI as a corrosion inhibitor, with a concentration of 0.5 mM and a temperature of 303 K being chosen. The Langmuir adsorption isotherm concept was used to demonstrate the physical and chemical adsorption of OHMHI on the surface of mild steel. Morphological investigations of the uninhibited and inhibited surfaces of the mild steel specimen were examined using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis. Furthermore, computational investigations using density functional theory (DFT) and experimental data were merged to explore the corrosion inhibition efficiency and mechanism of inhibition. Although the results are promising, further studies are needed to determine the long-term effects of OHMHI on mild steel corrosion and to evaluate its effectiveness under different environmental conditions. Overall, the study highlights the potential of OHMHI as an effective corrosion inhibitor for mild steel in acidic media.
Crystal Structures of a Series of Hydroxamic Acids
Authors: Sow Ibrahima Sory , Gelbcke Michel , Dufrasne François , Robeyns Koen
Published: May 2023

The structure of four hydroxamic acids (HA) that show antifungal activities in complexes with several metals is revealed by single crystal diffraction. The structures of HA with C2, C6, C10, and C12 hydrocarbon chains are reported. The smallest member of the series, N-hydroxyacetamide (HA2), crystallizes in the centrosymmetric space group P21/c while those with longer chain lengths N-hydroxyhexanamide (HA6), N-hydroxydecanamide (HA10), and N-hydroxydodecanamide (HA12) crystallize in the space group P21, and display remarkable packing.
Designing Behaviors of Robots Based on the Artificial Emotion Expression Method in Human–Robot Interactions
Authors: Li Liming , Zhao Zeang
Published: May 2023

How to express emotions through motion behaviors of robots (mainly for robotic arms) to achieve human–robot emotion interactions is the focus of this paper. An artificial emotion expression method that accords with human emotion that can deal with external stimuli and has the capability of emotion decision-making was proposed based on the motion behaviors of robot. Firstly, a three-dimensional emotion space was established based on the motion indexes (deviation coefficient, acceleration, and interval time). Then, an artificial emotion model, which was divided into three parts (the detection and processing of external events, the generation and modification of emotion response vectors, and the discretization of emotions) was established in the three-dimensional emotion space. Then emotion patterns (love, excited, happy, anxiety, hate) and emotion intensity were calculated based on the artificial emotion model in human–robot interaction experiments. Finally, the influence of motion behaviors of humanoid robot NAO on the emotion expression of experimenters was studied through human–robot emotion interaction experiments based on the emotion patterns and emotion intensity. The positive emotion patterns (love, excited, happy) and negative emotion patterns (anxiety, hate) of the experimenters were evaluated. The experimental results showed that the personalized emotion responses could be generated autonomously for external stimuli, and the change process of human emotions could be simulated effectively according to the established artificial emotion model. Furthermore, the experimenters could recognize the emotion patterns expressed by the robot according to the motion behaviors of the robot, and whether experimenters were familiar with robots did not influence the recognition of different emotion patterns.
Neural Network Approximation for Time Splitting Random Functions
Authors: Anastassiou George A. , Kouloumpou Dimitra
Published: May 2023

In this article we present the multivariate approximation of time splitting random functions defined on a box or RN,N∈N, by neural network operators of quasi-interpolation type. We achieve these approximations by obtaining quantitative-type Jackson inequalities engaging the multivariate modulus of continuity of a related random function or its partial high-order derivatives. We use density functions to define our operators. These derive from the logistic and hyperbolic tangent sigmoid activation functions. Our convergences are both point-wise and uniform. The engaged feed-forward neural networks possess one hidden layer. We finish the article with a great variety of applications.
Quality Control Testing with Experimental Practical Illustrations under the Modified Lindley Distribution Using Single, Double, and Multiple Acceptance Sampling Plans
Authors: Tashkandy Yusra , Emam Walid , Ali M. Masoom , Yousof Haitham M. , Ahmed Basma
Published: May 2023

Quality control testing under acceptance sampling plans involves inspecting a representative sample of products or materials from a larger lot or batch to determine whether the lot meets predetermined quality standards. In this research, the modified Lindley distribution is used as a model for lifetime study. When a life test is amputated at a pre-appropriated time to decide on the admission or refusal of the submitted batches, the problems of the single, double, and multiple (three and four stages) acceptance sampling strategies are introduced. The optimal sample sizes are computed for single, double, and multiple acceptance sampling plans to ensure that the veritable mean life is greater than the prescribed mean life at the stipulated consumer’s risk. The operating characteristic functions are investigated at diverse quality levels. For single, double, and multiple acceptance sampling plans, the minimal ratios of the veritable mean life to the prescribed mean life at the established percent of the producer’s risk are obtained. To demonstrate the uses of single, double, and multiple, some numerical experiments are presented.
Influence of the Crack Angle on the Deformation and Failure Characteristics of Sandstone under Stepped Cyclic Uniaxial Compression with a Constant Lower Limit
Authors: Wang Yuanmin , Wang Yunqiang , Luo Song , Liu Hao , Yi Guansheng , Peng Kang
Published: May 2023

Engineering rock structures containing joints and fissures are frequently subjected to discontinuous periodic disturbances of varying amplitudes. To attain the quantitative relationship between the crack angle and the mechanical and deformation properties of rock under complex stress paths, uniaxial cyclic loading and unloading tests with increasing stress gradients were conducted on sandstone specimens containing a single crack of different angles. Our results showed that the bearing capacity of the sandstone increased as the crack angle increased. The irreversible strain and elastic moduli of the rock presented a sudden increase when entering the next cycle of the stepped loading. However, the entire loading process can be divided into three stages according to their respective trends. These three stages correspond to the three stages of rock deformation, i.e., the pore crack compaction stage, the elastic deformation to the stable micro-elastic crack development stage, and the unstable crack development stage. In addition, the crack angle of sandstone showed a negative correlation with the irreversible strain, but a positive correlation with the elastic modulus. With the increasing crack angle, the failure mode of the rock changed from the tensile-shear failure to the shear failure, and then to the interlayer dislocation failure.
Generalized Bayes Estimation Based on a Joint Type-II Censored Sample from K-Exponential Populations
Authors: Abdel-Aty Yahia , Kayid Mohamed , Alomani Ghadah
Published: May 2023

Generalized Bayes is a Bayesian study based on a learning rate parameter. This paper considers a generalized Bayes estimation to study the effect of the learning rate parameter on the estimation results based on a joint censored sample of type-II exponential populations. Squared error, Linex, and general entropy loss functions are used in the Bayesian approach. Monte Carlo simulations were performed to assess how well the different approaches perform. The simulation study compares the Bayesian estimators for different values of the learning rate parameter and different losses.
Analysis of the Vibro-Impact Nonlinear Damped and Forced Oscillator in the Dynamics of the Electromagnetic Actuation
Authors: Herisanu Nicolae , Marinca Bogdan , Cveticanin Livija , Marinca Vasile
Published: May 2023

In this work, the effect of vibro-impact nonlinear, forced, and damped oscillator on the dynamics of the electromagnetic actuation (EA) near primary resonance is studied. The vibro-impact regime is given by the presence of the Hertzian contact. The EA is supplied by a constant current generating a static force and by an actuation generating a fast alternative force. The deformations between the solids in contact are supposed to be elastic and the contact is maintained. In this study, a single degree of freedom nonlinear damped oscillator under a static normal load is considered. An analytical approximate solution of this problem is obtained using the Optimal Auxiliary Functions Method (OAFM). By means of some auxiliary functions and introducing so-called convergence-control parameters, a very accurate approximate solution of the governing equation can be obtained. We need only the first iteration for this technique, applying a rigorous mathematical procedure in finding the optimal values of the convergence-control parameters. Local stability by means of the Routh-Hurwitz criteria and global stability using the Lyapunov function are also studied. It should be emphasized that the amplitude of AC excitation voltage is not considered much lower than bias voltage (in contrast to other studies). Also, the Hertzian contact coupled with EA is analytically studied for the first time in the present work. The approximate analytical solution is determined with a high accuracy on two domains. Local stability is established in five cases with some cases depending on the trace of the Jacobian matrix and of the discriminant of the characteristic equation. In the study of global stability, the estimate parameters which are components of the Lyapunov function are given in a closed form and a graphical form and therefore the Lyapunov function is well-determined.
Dynamic Event-Triggered Consensus Control for Markovian Switched Multi-Agent Systems: A Hybrid Neuroadaptive Method
Authors: Luo Xue , Wang Jingyi , Feng Jianwen , Cai Jiayi , Zhao Yi
Published: May 2023

This paper presents a solution to the consensus problem for a particular category of uncertain switched multi-agent systems (MASs). In these systems, the communication topologies between agents and the system dynamics are governed by a time-homogeneous Markovian chain in a stochastic manner. To address this issue, we propose a novel neuroadaptive distributed dynamic event-triggered control (DETC) strategy. By leveraging stochastic Lyapunov theory and matrix inequality methodology, we establish sufficient conditions for practical ultimate mean square consensus (UMSBC) of MASs using a combination of neural networks (NNs) adaptive control strategy and DETC method. Our approach employs a distributed adaptive NNs DETC mechanism in MASs with unknown nonlinear dynamics and upgrades it at the moment of event sampling in an aperiodic manner, resulting in significant savings in computation and resources. We also exclude the Zeno phenomenon. Finally, we provide numerical examples to demonstrate the feasibility of our proposed approach, which outperforms existing approaches.
Bubble Sliding Characteristics and Dynamics of R134a during Subcooled Boiling Flow in a Narrow Gap
Authors: Yu Bo , Wang Jinfeng , Xie Jing , Wang Bingjun , Wang Fei , Deng Meng
Published: May 2023

The numerical method was used to study bubble sliding characteristics and dynamics of R134a during subcooled flow boiling in a narrow gap. In the numerical method, the volume of fraction (VOF) model, level set method, Lee phase change model and the SST k − ω turbulent model were adopted for the construction of the subcooled flow boiling model. In order to explore bubble sliding dynamics during subcooled flow boiling, the bubble sliding model was introduced. The bubble velocity, bubble departure diameter, sliding distance and bubble sliding dynamics were investigated at 0.2 to 5 m/s inlet velocities. The simulation results showed that the bubble velocity at the flow direction was the most important contribution to bubble velocity. Additionally, the bubble velocity of 12 bubbles mostly oscillated with time during the sliding process at 0.2 to 0.6 m/s inlet velocities, while the bubble velocity increased during the sliding process due to the bubble having had a certain inertia at 2 to 5 m/s inlet velocities. It was also found that the average bubble velocity in flow direction accounted for about 80% of the mainstream velocities at 0.2 to 5 m/s. In the investigation of bubble sliding distance and departure diameter, it was concluded that the ratio of the maximum sliding distance to the minimum sliding distance was close to two at inlet velocities of 0.3 to 5 m/s. Moreover, with increasing inlet velocity, the average sliding distance increased significantly. The average bubble departure diameter obviously increased from 0.2 to 0.5 m/s inlet velocity and greatly reduced after 0.6 m/s. Finally, the investigations of the bubble sliding dynamics showed that the surface tension dominated the bubble sliding process at 0.2 to 0.6 m/s inlet velocities. However, the drag force dominated the bubble sliding process at 2 to 5 m/s inlet velocities.
Convolution, Correlation, and Uncertainty Principles for the Quaternion Offset Linear Canonical Transform
Authors: Urynbassarova Didar , Teali Aajaz
Published: May 2023

Quaternion Fourier transform (QFT) has gained significant attention in recent years due to its effectiveness in analyzing multi-dimensional signals and images. This article introduces two-dimensional (2D) right-sided quaternion offset linear canonical transform (QOLCT), which is the most general form of QFT with additional free parameters. We explore the properties of 2D right-sided QOLCT, including inversion and Parseval formulas, besides its relationship with other transforms. We also examine the convolution and correlation theorems of 2D right-sided QOLCT, followed by several uncertainty principles. Additionally, we present an illustrative example of the proposed transform, demonstrating its graphical representation of a given signal and its transformed signal. Finally, we demonstrate an application of QOLCT, where it can be utilized to generalize the treatment of swept-frequency filters.
Periodic Solutions for a Neutral System with Two Volterra Terms
Authors: Mesmouli Mouataz Billah , Alesemi Meshari , Mohammed Wael W.
Published: May 2023

In this paper, we propose a system of equations containing two kernels. In our transformation of the system, we use the integrable dichotomy condition, where we extract the term of the integration matrix from one of the kernels. We then use the fixed-point theory to prove that the system has periodic solutions that are unique under sufficient conditions. An illustrative example at the end of the article is given.