bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Detection of Stroke with Retinal Microvascular Density and Self-Supervised Learning Using OCT-A and Fundus Imaging
Authors: Pachade Samiksha , Coronado Ivan , Abdelkhaleq Rania , Yan Juntao , Salazar-Marioni Sergio , Jagolino Amanda , Green Charles , Bahrainian Mozhdeh , Channa Roomasa , Sheth Sunil A. , Giancardo Luca
Published: December 2022

Acute cerebral stroke is a leading cause of disability and death, which could be reduced with a prompt diagnosis during patient transportation to the hospital. A portable retina imaging system could enable this by measuring vascular information and blood perfusion in the retina and, due to the homology between retinal and cerebral vessels, infer if a cerebral stroke is underway. However, the feasibility of this strategy, the imaging features, and retina imaging modalities to do this are not clear. In this work, we show initial evidence of the feasibility of this approach by training machine learning models using feature engineering and self-supervised learning retina features extracted from OCT-A and fundus images to classify controls and acute stroke patients. Models based on macular microvasculature density features achieved an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) of 0.87–0.88. Self-supervised deep learning models were able to generate features resulting in AUCs ranging from 0.66 to 0.81. While further work is needed for the final proof for a diagnostic system, these results indicate that microvasculature density features from OCT-A images have the potential to be used to diagnose acute cerebral stroke from the retina.
An Understanding of the Vulnerability of Datasets to Disparate Membership Inference Attacks
Authors: Moore Hunter D. , Stephens Andrew , Scherer William
Published: December 2022

Recent efforts have shown that training data is not secured through the generalization and abstraction of algorithms. This vulnerability to the training data has been expressed through membership inference attacks that seek to discover the use of specific records within the training dataset of a model. Additionally, disparate membership inference attacks have been shown to achieve better accuracy compared with their macro attack counterparts. These disparate membership inference attacks use a pragmatic approach to attack individual, more vulnerable sub-sets of the data, such as underrepresented classes. While previous work in this field has explored model vulnerability to these attacks, this effort explores the vulnerability of datasets themselves to disparate membership inference attacks. This is accomplished through the development of a vulnerability-classification model that classifies datasets as vulnerable or secure to these attacks. To develop this model, a vulnerability-classification dataset is developed from over 100 datasets—including frequently cited datasets within the field. These datasets are described using a feature set of over 100 features and assigned labels developed from a combination of various modeling and attack strategies. By averaging the attack accuracy over 13 different modeling and attack strategies, the authors explore the vulnerabilities of the datasets themselves as opposed to a particular modeling or attack effort. The in-class observational distance, width ratio, and the proportion of discrete features are found to dominate the attributes defining dataset vulnerability to disparate membership inference attacks. These features are explored in deeper detail and used to develop exploratory methods for hardening these class-based sub-datasets against attacks showing preliminary mitigation success with combinations of feature reduction and class-balancing strategies.
Combined Culture and DNA Metabarcoding Analysis of Cyanobacterial Community Structure in Response to Coral Reef Health Status in the South China Sea
Authors: Kang Jianhua , Mohamed Hala F. , Liu Xinming , Pei Lulu , Huang Shuhong , Lin Xiangyuan , Zheng Xinqing , Luo Zhaohe
Published: December 2022

Cyanobacteria occupy an extraordinarily diverse array of ecological niches in coral reefs because they play multifaceted roles, including primary carbon and nitrogen fixation, calcification, nutrient cycling, and oxygen production, as well as coral reef degradation through skeletal biocorrosion and polymicrobial diseases. In this study, cyanobacterial diversity in sediment, water, and coral tissues were explored in relation to coral health status (slightly, moderately, and severely damaged) of coral reefs at Weizhou Island, South China Sea. Microscopy of taxa morphological characteristics was combined with 16S rRNA gene metabarcoding. Fifteen and forty-three cyanobacterial genera were identified based on universal prokaryotic 16S rRNA gene primers and cyanobacteria-specific 16S rRNA gene primers metabarcoding, respectively, indicating a more sophisticated efficiency of the latter. In addition, three out of seven cyanobacterial strains that were isolated and identified based on morphology and phylogeny could not be detected using either molecular method. Therefore, culture-based combined cyanobacteria-specific 16S rRNA gene metabarcoding are highly recommended in future routine surveys. There was a clear distinction in cyanobacterial assemblage composition among locations with different coral health statuses, with degraded reefs exhibiting approximately a 1.25-fold increase in species compared to healthy habitats. In addition, the spreading of potentially toxic cyanobacteria, such as Nostoc and Lyngbya, in the degraded reef implies putative links to reef degradation. This study provides novel insights into the taxonomical diversity of cyanobacteria in tropical coral reefs. Metabarcoding is recommended as an effective tool for revealing cyanobacterial diversity patterns and thereby providing critical information for the effective management of coral reef ecosystems.
Marine Engines Performance and Emissions II
Authors: Lamas Galdo María Isabel
Published: December 2022

Engines are one of the most important components of ships [...]
Shoreline Prediction Modelling as a Base Tool for Coastal Management: The Catania Plain Case Study (Italy)
Authors: Laksono Fx Anjar Tri , Borzì Laura , Distefano Salvatore , Di Stefano Agata , Kovács János
Published: December 2022

Coastal dynamic is the complex result of multiple natural and human processes, and past and future coastal behavior studies become fundamental to support coastal zone management. However, the reliability of coastal evolution studies is strongly dependent on the analyzed time interval. The longer the period is, the more reliable the past shoreline change analysis and the forecast of shoreline position will be. The present study showed the 50-years shoreline evolution of the Catania coastal plain (Southern Italy), a densely populated area where human-induced processes profoundly changed natural dynamics. Landsat and Sentinel imageries were used to extract shorelines’ position over the time between 1972 and 2022 and the DSAS tool was used to calculate the shoreline change rates. The shoreline evolution in 2032 and 2042 was performed by the Kalman filter method, a tool largely applied to forecast short-term shoreline future position. Most of the Catania coastal plain was mainly retreating over the last decades. However, the most significant changes were registered in correspondence with the coastal structures and the river deltas. The reliability of the forecasting model was highly related to the coastal morphology. As such, the lower RMSE values were calculated in correspondence with the uniform coastal subsectors.
Port Strategy to Minimise COVID-19 Risk in Cruise Ports: Application to the Port of Arrecife in Lanzarote
Authors: Camarero Orive Alberto , González-Cancelas Nicoletta , Avilés López Noelia
Published: December 2022

The main objective of this article is to develop a methodology to detect, assess and prevent biosecurity-related risks. Currently, the main risk found in our daily life is COVID-19, which has triggered a serious global pandemic. As a result, economic and social activity has suffered a decline in its development and evolution compared to previous years. All activity has come to a standstill and we are in a process of improvement that needs time. With the help of this methodology, focused on cruise traffic, it will be possible to identify the greatest existing threat and the process by which this high level of risk occurs. Once identified, a series of measures can be proposed to mitigate and prevent the risk, in order to make the port a safer place. The main aim is to recover cruise traffic as soon as possible, as it makes an important contribution to the tourism sector and to the cities and countries where cruise ships call.
Mucin (MUC) Family Influence on Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia in Cancer and Non-Cancer Native American Populations from the Brazilian Amazon
Authors: Alcântara Angélica Leite de , Pastana Lucas Favacho , Gellen Laura Patrícia Albarello , Vieira Giovana Miranda , Dobbin Elizabeth Ayres Fragoso , Silva Thays Amâncio , Pereira Esdras Edgar Batista , Rodrigues Juliana Carla Gomes , Guerreiro João Farias , Fernandes Marianne Rodrigues , Assumpção Paulo Pimentel de , Cohen-Paes Amanda de Nazaré , Santos Sidney Emanuel Batista Dos , Santos Ney Pereira Carneiro dos
Published: December 2022

The mucin (MUC) family includes several genes aberrantly expressed in multiple carcinomas and mediates diverse pathways essentials for oncogenesis, in both solid and hematological malignancies. Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL) can have its course influenced by genetic variants, and it seems more frequent in the Amerindian population, which has been understudied. Therefore, the present work aimed to investigate the MUC family exome in Amerindian individuals from the Brazilian Amazon, in a sample containing healthy Native Americans (NAMs) and indigenous subjects with ALL, comparing the frequency of polymorphisms between these two groups. The population was composed of 64 Amerindians from the Brazilian Amazon, from 12 different isolated tribes, five of whom were diagnosed with ALL. We analyzed 16 genes from the MUC family and found a total of 1858 variants. We compared the frequency of each variant in the ALL vs. NAM group, which led to 77 variants with a significant difference and, among these, we excluded those with a low impact, resulting in 63 variants, which were distributed in nine genes, concentrated especially in MUC 19 (n = 30) and MUC 3A (n = 18). Finally, 11 new variants were found in the NAM population. This is the first work with a sample of native Americans with cancer, a population which is susceptible to ALL, but remains understudied. The MUC family seems to have an influence on the development of ALL in the Amerindian population and especially MUC19 and MUC3A are shown as possible hotspots. In addition, the 11 new variants found point to the need to have their clinical impact analyzed.
Social Behavioral Deficits in Krushinsky-Molodkina Rats, an Animal Model of Audiogenic Epilepsy
Authors: Rebik Anastasiya A. , Riga Vyacheslav D. , Smirnov Kirill S. , Sysoeva Olga V. , Midzyanovskaya Inna S.
Published: December 2022

In clinical practice, epilepsy is often comorbid with the autism spectrum disorders (ASDs). This warrants a search of animal models to uncover putative overlapping neuronal mechanisms. The Krushinsky-Molodkina (KM) rat strain is one of the oldest inbred animal models for human convulsive epilepsies. We analyzed the behavioral response of adult seizure-naive KM males in three-chambered tests for social preference. We found that a presence of social stimuli (encaged unfamiliar Wistar rats of the same age and sex) evoked a reduced or reversed exploratory response in freely moving KM individuals. The epilepsy-prone rats demonstrated remarkably shortened bouts of social contacts and displayed less locomotion around the stranger rat-containing boxes, together with a pronounced freezing response. The decrease in social preference was not due to a general decrease in activity, since relative measures of activity, the index of sociability, were decreased, too. The susceptibility to audiogenic seizures was verified in the KM cohort but not seen in the control Wistar group. We propose the KM rat strain as a new animal model for comorbid ASD and epilepsy.
Using Historical Aerial Photography in Landslide Monitoring: Umka Case Study, Serbia
Authors: Đorđević Dejan Radovan , Đurić Uroš , Bakrač Saša Tomislav , Drobnjak Siniša Milanko , Radojčić Stevan
Published: December 2022

The application of remote sensing methods provides useful information that can be used for numerous research. Thus, spatial changes in soil, vegetation, hydrography and such can be analyzed. By analyzing the data obtained by remote sensing methods, high-quality and important data can be obtained for monitoring changes in soil movement caused by landslides. This method provides the possibility of determining the state of the observed space over a longer period of time. Historical aerial imagery has a high level of spatial detail analysis. Comparative analysis of the aerial imagery from the past, recent ones and other surveys can certainly provide information on the trend of ground movement, as well as lead to conclusions for taking specific measures. The present paper gives an example of the analysis of the particular area of the “Umka” landslide based on historical surveys. The “Umka” landslide is located along the right bank of the Sava River near the city of Belgrade, which, with its long-term activity, jeopardizes residential buildings, infrastructure facilities and the population that still lives on it.
The Relationship between Habitat Diversity and Tourists’ Visual Preference in Urban Wetland Park
Authors: Zhang Jiani , Zhu Xun , Gao Ming
Published: December 2022

The increasing number of visitors to wetland parks has caused varying degrees of impact on wetland life. How to reduce the damage to wetland biodiversity caused by recreational activities in parks, improve tourists’ recreational experience, and balance the relationship between the two are urgent problems that need to be solved. Therefore, four urban wetland parks were selected as subjects for this study. The present study utilized social media data to study the diversity of urban wetland habitats and tourists’ wetland landscape preferences from the spatial dimension and explore the relationship between the two. This is a practice different from the traditional ecological research (survey, measurement, monitoring, questionnaire survey) of wetland habitat diversity assessment. The research revealed the following findings: (1) There was a significant positive correlation between habitat saturation and positive artificial elements, such as landscape structures and aerial walkways; (2) Landscape complexity is negatively correlated with landscape instantaneity and wilderness degree; (3) Habitat diversity was negatively correlated with landscape instantaneity but positively correlated with naturalness and positive artificial elements. This study proposes wetland habitat construction as a strategy to optimize the management of habitat diversity in urban wetland parks and enhance its ecological education function.
Does Rural Operation System Reform Enhance Agricultural Output? Evidence from Sichuan Province
Authors: Rui Ai , Shishun Xiao , Ankrah Twumasi Martinson
Published: December 2022

Rural operation system reform is vital in promoting rural revitalisation and agricultural and rural modernisation in China. Based on the sample data of 153 counties in Sichuan Province from 2012 to 2020, this paper constructs a PSM-DID evaluation model to analyse the effectiveness of rural operation system reform on agricultural development from the perspective of policy action mechanism, variable differentiation and other aspects. The results show that: (1) rural operation system reform has significantly boosted the economic development of the counties implementing the pilot reform of the rural operation system; (2) rural operation system reform mainly has two components: rural land system reform and agriculture organisation innovation; both have an impact on county economic and social development, but the degrees of impact are different; (3) the effectiveness of the rural operation system reform policy has a specific time lag. The results of this paper enrich the effectiveness evaluation of the reform policy on economic development and have policy implications for further promotion of agricultural and rural reform in China.
Endogenous Driving Forces in Ecology-Production-Living Space Changes at Micro-Scale: A Mountain Town Example in Inland China
Authors: Han Dong , Qiao Jiajun , Zhu Qiankun , Xiao Jie , Ma Yuling
Published: December 2022

Studying land use transition and restructuring has value for promoting sustainable regional development, especially in China’s vast rural areas, which are undergoing rapid changes. Current research tends to focus on the macro level, and analyses of driving forces are mostly based on the correlation analysis of influencing factors. However, in the case of villages and towns, which are at the micro level, it is important to know who promotes land use transition and how to promote it under the influence of the macro environment. This study, therefore, focused on the endogenous driving force behind land use transition and its characteristics at the micro level of villages and towns. On the basis of our theoretical framework, an empirical study was carried out on the transformation and restructuring of ecology–production–living (EPL) spaces in the town of Zhulin in Central China over the past 30 years. We found the following: (1) The overall distribution of EPL spaces in Zhulin shifted from mixed distribution to relatively concentrated distribution, and the spatial transfer of EPL spaces showed fluctuations in the expansion and contraction of different types of spaces. (2) Land use transition was more active in spatial interface areas than in noninterface areas, where the interconversion of ecological space and agricultural production space was concentrated at the terrain interface. In addition, transformation processes related to living space and non-agricultural production space were concentrated at the urban–rural interface. (3) Macro-level social and economic changes were the root cause of land use transformation, and the autonomous spatial governance capability of villagers’ self-organization institutions was key to regulating land use transformation. The spatial interface was a sensitive area for land use transformation in a natural state. An endogenous driving mode of active response to land use transformation based on rural autonomous spatial governance capability and spatial interface sensitivity is proposed. How to improve the rural governance capacity of key local actors in different regions and at different levels is an aspect worthy of further consideration.
Public Perceptions of the Socioeconomic Importance of Urban Green Areas in the Era of COVID-19: A Case Study of a Nationwide Survey in Greece
Authors: Kolimenakis Antonios , Solomou Alexandra D. , Proutsos Nikolaos , Avramidou Evangelia V. , Korakaki Evangelia , Karetsos Georgios , Kontogianni Aimilia B. , Kontos Konstantinos , Georgiadis Christos , Maroulis Georgios , Papagiannis Eleftherios , Lagouvardos Konstantinos , Tsagkari Konstantinia
Published: December 2022

Considering the emerging challenges posed by the spread of COVID-19, this study was designed to evaluate citizens’ perceptions of the role of urban green areas in the era of COVID-19 in Greece. The evaluation was based on the implementation of an electronic questionnaire survey through the Google Forms platform, which was conducted nationwide. The survey was conducted in 2020 and 735 responses were collected in total based on 14 structured questions. Among the key findings of the study, of notable importance is that citizens considered urban green areas as an important means of improving public health, while citizens were willing to accept an increase of EUR1 to EUR20 in their municipal taxes for improving the services offered by the urban green areas. Results indicate that in a period of both climatic and public health crises, healthy and green urban environments can play a seminal role for alleviating and mitigating different challenges and impacts, while at the same time ensuring sustainability of urban ecosystems. A certain necessity arises for investigating the socioeconomic importance of urban green areas both from an ecosystemic and public health perspective considering the novel challenges of COVID-19 to public policy and decision making.
The Becoming of a Prehistoric Landscape: Palaeolithic Occupations and Geomorphological Processes at Lojanik (Serbia)
Authors: Lesage Camille , Barbieri Alvise , Galfi Jovan , Jovanović Dragan , Bogosavljević Petrović Vera
Published: December 2022

Accomplishing long-term plans to harvest and modify natural resources has been a crucial skill for the survival of our species since early Prehistory. Research on this first step of production mostly focuses on the provenience study of lithic artifacts uncovered at archaeological sites, using petrographic and geochemical analyses to correlate the artifacts with potential geological outcrops. Although fundamental for understanding key aspects of landscape use and mobility, regional raw material economy, and extraction technology, Palaeolithic raw material sources have been less intensively investigated, as they are often difficult to locate and challenging to tackle with traditional archaeological approaches. Lojanik in the Central Balkans is one of the largest Prehistoric quarrying areas known in Europe, showing numerous lithic raw material outcrops exploited from the Middle Palaeolithic to the Chalcolithic periods, over an area of 18 hectares. In this paper, we present the results from our renewed research program in this region. Combining airborne LIDAR mapping, geomorphological and archaeological survey, and techno-typological analysis of lithic artifacts, we were able to reconstruct the geomorphological evolution of the landscape and its use by prehistoric societies.
The Bacterial Compositions of Nasal Septal Abscess in Patients with or without Diabetes
Authors: Luan Chih-Wei , Tsai Ming-Shao , Tsai Yao-Te , Hsu Cheng-Ming , Liu Chia-Yen , Yang Yao-Hsu , Wu Ching-Yuan , Chang Geng-He
Published: December 2022

The nasal septal abscess (NSA) is a rare but potentially fatal disease causing intracranial infection. Treatments for NSA include antibiotics, surgical incision and drainage. Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a risk factor for NSA. Therefore, we assessed the pathogenic bacterial composition of NSA in diabetic patients. We analyzed the Chang Gung Memorial Hospital database to collect 79 NSA patients who received surgical incisions and drainage from 2004 to 2015. We divided them into DM and non-DM groups for analysis. We integrated the bacteria cultured from each patient, listed the top three with the highest frequency and divided the bacterial species into facultative anaerobes or aerobes and anaerobes. The microbiological cultures revealed mono-microbial infection in most of the cases. The top three facultative anaerobes or aerobes with the highest frequency of NSA-DM were Klebsiella pneumoniae (37.5%), methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA; 25%) and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA; 12.5%). The top three for NSA-non-DMs were MSSA (24%), MRSA (20%) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (16%). The top three anaerobes causing NSA were Prevotella intermedia (25%), Peptostreptococcus species (12.5%) and Propionibacterium acnes (12.5%) in DM patients. The top three in non-DM patients were P. intermedia (25%), P. acnes (16.7%) and Fusobacterium nucleatum (12.5%). When treating NSA in diabetic patients, clinicians should choose empirical antibiotics for K. pneumoniae and P. intermedia, and when treating patients with NSA-non-DM, MSSA and P. intermedia should be considered first.
Correlations between Endoscopic and Histopathological Assessment of Helicobacter pylori-Induced Gastric Pathology—A Cross-Sectional Retrospective Study
Authors: Dănilă Cătălina , Cardos Ioana Alexandra , Pop-Crisan Andrea , Marc Felicia , Hoza Anica , Chirla Razvan , Pascalău Andrei , Magheru Calin , Cavalu Simona
Published: December 2022

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infects about half of the world’s population and can lead to premalignant lesions and gastric cancer. Updated data about the correlation of histopathological diagnostics with endoscopic diagnostics are scarce. The objective of this study was to identify the concordance between endoscopic and histopathologic findings, with a focus on premalignant lesions. We performed a cross sectional, retrospective study over a 4-year period (2017–2021) on adult patients with dyspeptic symptoms and positive RUT (rapid urease test) in a single hospital centre, with a total of 133 patients infected with H. pylori being included in the study. Statistical associations between endoscopic appearance and histopathological results were found for atrophic antral gastritis (p = 0.001), intestinal metaplasia of the antrum (p = 0.018), gastric polyps (p < 0.001) and gastric corpus cancer (p = 0.012). Females were more likely to be diagnosed through endoscopy with gastric atrophy or intestinal metaplasia (p = 0.031), while chronic atrophic gastritis in corpus was more prevalent in patients older than 65 (p = 0.024). Overall, our study reveals only 21% concordance between Giemsa stain and RUT, highlighting the importance of combining rapid testing with endoscopic and histopathological diagnostic methods for a more accurate early diagnosis and prevention of gastric cancer.
Potential Role of JAK Inhibitors in the Treatment of Systemic Sclerosis-Associated Interstitial Lung Disease: A Narrative Review from Pathogenesis to Real-Life Data
Authors: Fiorentini Elisa , Bonomi Francesco , Peretti Silvia , Orlandi Martina , Lepri Gemma , Matucci Cerinic Marco , Bellando Randone Silvia , Guiducci Serena
Published: December 2022

Background: Systemic sclerosis-associated interstitial lung disease (SSc-ILD) is one of the most relevant complications of SSc and the major cause of death. The pathogenesis of SSc-ILD involves a complex interplay of multiple cell types and different molecular pathways, with both inflammation and fibrosis as pathological hallmarks. To date, there are no treatments able to target both components of the disease. Janus kinase inhibitors (JAKinibs) represent an interesting therapeutic option because they exert both anti-inflammatory and anti-fibrotic properties. Methods: Here, we performed a narrative review concerning the potential role of JAKinibs in SSc-ILD to define the state of art and to evaluate the pathogenetic rationale behind this type of treatment. Results: Currently, few studies investigated SSc-ILD response to JAKinibs treatment. Data were analyzed from three clinical studies and four case reports and progression of SSc-ILD was not evident in 93.5% of patients treated with JAKinibs. Conclusions: Available evidence of efficacy of JAKinibs in SSc-ILD is sparse but promising. JAKinibs could be an interesting treatment in SSc-ILD because of their potential inhibition of the fibrotic processes combined with their anti-inflammatory action. Moreover, JAKinibs were also shown in some studies to have a potential effect on pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), another threatening complication in SSc. More data are necessary to define JAKinibs role in SSc-ILD treatment.
Evaluation of the Role of Lubricant Additives in Emission Control
Authors: Shao Huifang , Roos Joseph , Remias Joseph
Published: December 2022

In the last several decades, emission regulations have become a significant driving force for vehicle technologies, from powertrain design to emission control. These technologies will experience continuous improvement and may require a paradigm shift to address more stringent emission regulations. As essential components of powertrain systems, fuel and lubricant additives have uniquely enabled powertrain performance and durability. This review focuses on the complex interactions between the fluids and the emissions control system. Investigations into the impact of fuel aromatic content on both primary and secondary emissions are discussed. This work provides the methodologies and context to evaluate the studies into the interactions between fluids and the emission system components. Research on lubricants interactions with particulate filters shows that the lubricant, when formulated appropriately, does not substantively degrade particulate filter performance. In fact, it was found that the lubricant additives can have positive impact on carbonaceous accumulation in the filter and improve particulate emissions. This work provides an overview and context for assessing the role of lubricant additives in the performance of the complete emission system. Understanding the full impact of the fluids, lubricant and fuel, and the powertrain hardware provides the foundation to design additives to deliver optimized performance for the vehicle with advanced emission control systems.
Assessment of Mineralogical Characteristics of Clays and the Effect of Waste Materials on Their Index Properties for the Production of Bricks
Authors: Danish Aamar , Totiç Ermedin , Bayram Muhammed , Sütçü Mücahit , Gencel Osman , Erdoğmuş Ertuğrul , Ozbakkaloglu Togay
Published: December 2022

Significant research investigations on the characteristics of unexplored clay deposits are being conducted in light of the growing need for clay in the ceramic industry and the variable chemistry of clays. Parallel to this, the generation of waste materials like fly ash, ferrochrome slag, and silica fume is also increasing, responsible for environmental degradation. This paper aims to study the mineralogical properties of pure clays (one specimen from Siberia and five specimens from different locations in Turkey), and the effect of mentioned waste materials on the index properties of clays obtained. This study is divided into two phases, wherein in the first phase, the pure clay specimens are analyzed against mineralogical properties (i.e., chemical composition, thermal analysis, and particle size distribution). While in the second phase, index properties of pure clay specimens and clay specimens modified with 0–50% fly ash, ferrochrome slag, and silica fume are analyzed. The results reveal that the clay specimens from Turkey (USCS classification: CL) are fit for the ceramic industry and bricks production, and incorporation of waste materials can further improve their index properties. It is also observed that incorporation of 10–30% fly ash and ferrochrome slag have higher efficiency in reducing the plasticity index of clays studied as compared to the addition of silica fume.
A Review of Current Research on the Use of Geopolymer Recycled Aggregate Concrete for Structural Members
Authors: Ahmed Muhammad , Colajanni Piero , Pagnotta Salvatore
Published: December 2022

Geopolymer cement (GPC) is a sustainable alternative to ordinary Portland cement (OPC) that considerably cuts the emission of carbon dioxide linked to the building of concrete structures. Over the last few decades, while a large number of papers have been written concerning the use of GPC with natural aggregates and OPC with recycled aggregates, few papers have been devoted to investigating the use of Geopolymer Recycled Aggregate Concrete (GRAC) in structural members. Most of them show more interest in the mechanical strength of the material, rather than the structural behavior of RC members. This review critically compiles the present and past research on the behavior of structural members cast with different types and compositions of GRAC. The focus is on the few research studies investigating the structural behavior of GRAC elements, with an analysis of the load-bearing capacity, the load-deflection mechanism, shear behavior, tensile and flexural strength, and ductility of GRAC structural members. This review aims to indicate the research and experimental tests needed in the future for characterizing the behavior of structural members made up of GRAC.
Nanoarchitectonics of Spherical Nucleic Acids with Biodegradable Polymer Cores: Synthesis and Evaluation
Authors: Kalinova Radostina , Mladenova Kirilka , Petrova Svetla , Doumanov Jordan , Dimitrov Ivaylo
Published: December 2022

Spherical nucleic acids (SNAs) have gained significant attention due to their unique properties allowing them to overcome the challenges that face current nanocarriers used for gene therapies. The aim of this study is to synthesize and characterize polymer–oligonucleotide conjugates of different architecture and to evaluate the possibility of forming SNAs with biodegradable cores. Initially, two types of azide (multi)functional polyester-based (co)polymers were successfully synthesized and characterized. In the next step, short oligonucleotide strands were attached to the polymer chains applying the highly efficient and metal-free “click” reaction, thus forming conjugates with block or graft architecture. Both conjugates spontaneously self-assembled in aqueous media forming nanosized SNAs with a biodegradable polyester core and a surface of oligonucleotide chains as evidenced from dynamic and electrophoretic light scattering measurements. The nano-assemblies were in vitro evaluated for potential cytotoxicity. Furthermore, the interactions of the newly synthesized SNAs with membrane lipids were studied. The preliminary results indicate that both types of polymer-based SNAs are good candidates for potential application in gene therapy and that it is worth to be further evaluated.
Synthesis of ((CeO2)0.8(Sm2O3)0.2)@NiO Core-Shell Type Nanostructures and Microextrusion Printing of a Composite Anode Based on Them
Authors: Simonenko Tatiana L. , Simonenko Nikolay P. , Gorobtsov Philipp Yu. , Grafov Oleg Yu. , Simonenko Elizaveta P. , Kuznetsov Nikolay T.
Published: December 2022

The process of the hydrothermal synthesis of hierarchically organized nanomaterials with the core-shell structure with the composition ((CeO2)0.8(Sm2O3)0.2)@NiO was studied, and the prospects for their application in the formation of planar composite structures using microextrusion printing were shown. The hydrothermal synthesis conditions of the (CeO2)0.8(Sm2O3)0.2 nanospheres were determined, and the approach to their surface modification by growing the NiO shell with the formation of core-shell structures equally distributed between the larger nickel(II) oxide nanosheets was developed. The resulting nanopowder was used as a functional ink component in the microextrusion printing of the corresponding composite coating. The microstructure of the powders and the oxide coating was studied by scanning (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM), the crystal structure was explored by X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD), the set of functional groups in the powders was studied by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) spectroscopy, and their thermal behavior in an air flow by synchronous thermal analysis (TGA/DSC). The electronic state of the chemical elements in the resulting coating was studied using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The surface topography and local electrophysical properties of the composite coating were studied using atomic force microscopy (AFM) and Kelvin probe force microscopy (KPFM). Using impedance spectroscopy, the temperature dependence of the specific electrical conductivity of the obtained composite coating was estimated.
Effects of Alternate Wet and Dry Conditions on the Mechanical and Physical Performance of Limestone Calcined Clay Cement Mortars Immersed in Sodium Sulfate Media
Authors: Odhiambo Vincent Odhiambo , Scheinherrová Lenka , Abuodha Silvester Ochieng , Mwero John Nyiro , Marangu Joseph Mwiti
Published: December 2022

Sulfate attack in concrete structures significantly reduces their durability. This article reports the experimental findings on the effects of sodium sulfate on limestone calcined clay cement (LC3) in an alternate wet and dry media. The samples underwent wet–dry conditions of 28 cycles. Two types of LC3 were studied, one made from clay (LC3-CL) and the other made from fired rejected clay bricks (LC3-FR). The composition of each LC3 blend by weight was 50% clinker, 30% calcined clay, 15% limestone, and 5% gypsum. The reference compressive strength was evaluated at 2, 7, and 28 days of age. Then, ordinary Portland cement (OPC) and LC3-CL blends were subjected to alternate wet–dry cycle tests, immersion in a 5% sodium sulfate solution, or in water. For all exposed samples, sorptivity tests and compressive strength were done. The results showed that LC3 blends met the requirements for KS-EAS 18-1:2017 standard, which specifies the composition and conformity criteria for common cements in Kenya. The LC3 blend also had a lower rate of initial absorption compared to OPC. Additionally, LC3 blend also showed good resistance to sodium sulfate when exposed to alternating wetting and drying environment. OPC showed higher compressive strength than LC3 blends for testing ages of 2, 7, and 28 days. However, the LC3 samples utilized in the sodium sulfate attack experiment, which were later tested after 84 days, exhibited higher compressive strengths than OPC tested after the same period.
Efficient Activation of Peroxymonosulfate by V-Doped Graphitic Carbon Nitride for Organic Contamination Remediation
Authors: Deng Zhi , Huang Zhenhua , Liu Jun , Huang Yongkui , Lu Peili
Published: December 2022

Advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) based on peroxymonosulfate (PMS) activation have been developed as an ideal pathway for completely eradication of recalcitrant organic pollutants from water environment. Herein, the V-doped graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) is rationally fabricated by one-step thermal polymerization method to activate PMS for contamination decontamination. The results demonstrate the V atoms are successfully integrated into the framework of g-C3N4, which can effectively improve light absorption intensity and enhance charge separation. The V-doped g-C3N4 displays superior catalytic performance for PMS activation. Moreover, the doping content has a great influence on the activation performances. The radical quenching experiments confirm •O2−, SO4•−, and h+ are the significant species in the catalytic reaction. This work would provide a feasible strategy to exploit efficient g-C3N4-based material for PMS activation.
Design and Validation of a Testing 4D Mechatronic System for Measurement and Integrated Control of Processes
Authors: Ilie Iulian , Machado José
Published: December 2022

Measurements are crucial for research in the fields of microelectromechanical (MEMS), nanoelectromechanical (NEMS) and industrial applications. In this work, the design approach for the development and construction of a testing 4D mechatronic system, and respective validation, including the detailed description of the used components and parts as well as the performed tests for respective validation in the working environment, are presented. Because this is testing equipment, the measurement feature is presented and validated, in detail, making this system available and reliable for the mentioned purposes of use. An important result in this work is the possibility of on-site control or the remote control of the 4D mechatronic system for measurement and integrated control of processes, with the aim of reducing the cost of obtaining the necessary measurements.
Closed-Form Solution for the Natural Frequencies of Low-Speed Cracked Euler–Bernoulli Rotating Beams
Authors: Muñoz-Abella Belén , Rubio Lourdes , Rubio Patricia
Published: December 2022

In this study, two closed-form solutions for determining the first two natural frequencies of the flapwise bending vibration of a cracked Euler–Bernoulli beam at low rotational speed have been developed. To solve the governing differential equations of motion, the Frobenius method of solution in power series has been used. The crack has been modeled using two undamaged parts of the beam connected by a rotational spring. From the previous results, two novel polynomial expressions have been developed to obtain the first two natural frequencies as a function of angular velocity, slenderness ratio, cube radius and crack characteristics (depth and location). These expressions have been formulated using multiple regression techniques. To the knowledge of the authors, there is no similar expressions in the literature, which calculate, in a simple way, the first two natural frequencies based on beam features and crack parameters, without the need to know or solve the differential equations of motion governing the beam. In summary, the derived natural frequency expressions provide an extremely simple, practical, and accurate instrument for studying the dynamic behavior of rotating cracked Euler–Bernoulli beams at low angular speed, especially useful, in the future, to establish small-scale wind turbines’ maintenance planes.
Inverse Sum Indeg Index (Energy) with Applications to Anticancer Drugs
Authors: Altassan Alaa , Rather Bilal Ahmad , Imran Muhammad
Published: December 2022

For a simple graph with vertex set {v1,v2,…,vn} with degree sequence dvi of vertex vi,i=1,2,…,n, the inverse sum indeg matrix (ISI-matrix) AISI(G)=(aij)n×n of G is defined by aij=dvidvjdvi+dvj, if vi is adjacent to vj, and zero, otherwise. The multiset of eigenvalues of AISI(G) is the ISI-spectrum of G and the sum of their absolute values is the ISI-energy of G. In this paper, we modify the two results of (Li, Ye and Broersma, 2022), give the correct characterization of the extremal graphs and thereby obtain better bounds than the already known results. Moreover, we also discuss the QSPR analysis and carry the statistical modelling (linear, logarithmic and quadratic) of the physicochemical properties of anticancer drugs with the ISI-index (energy).
Microstructure and Microhardness Evolution of Additively Manufactured Cellular Inconel 718 after Heat Treatment with Different Aging Times
Authors: Salgado-Lopez Juan Manuel , Martinez-Franco Enrique , Cruz-Gonzalez Celso , Corona-Castuera Jorge , Villada-Villalobos Jhon Alexander
Published: December 2022

The manufacture of cellular structures using high-performance materials is possible thanks to the additive manufacturing of metals. However, it is well known that the mechanical and microstructural properties of metals manufactured by this technique do not correspond to those of the same metals manufactured by conventional methods. It is well known that the mechanical properties depend on the direction of manufacture, the size of the pieces, and the type of cell structure used. In addition, the effect of heat treatments on parts manufactured by additive manufacturing differs from parts manufactured by conventional methods. In this work, the microstructure and microhardness of cellular structures of Inconel 718, manufactured by additive manufacturing under heat treatments with different aging times, were evaluated. It was found that the time of the first aging impacts the microhardness and its homogeneity, affecting the microstructure. The highest hardness was obtained for an aging time of 8 h, while the lowest standard deviation was obtained at 10 h. Finally, it is shown that the aging time influences a more homogeneous distribution of the elements and phases.
Targeted Metabolome Profiling of Indonesian Shallots and Japanese Long-Day/Short-Day Bulb Onions
Authors: Matsuse Kanako , Abdelrahman Mostafa , Ariyanti Nur Aeni , Tsuji Fumitada , Hirata Sho , Nakajima Tetsuya , Sato Muneo , Hirai Masami Yokota , Manochai Benya , Shigyo Masayoshi
Published: December 2022

In this study, targeted metabolome analysis was applied to identify the discriminative metabolites between Indonesian shallot landraces, Japanese long-day onion (LDO) varieties, and Japanese short-day onion (SDO) varieties. In total, 172 metabolite signal intensities were subjected to multivariate PLS-DA, VIP, and random forest modeling to gain further insight into genotype-specific metabolites. PLS-DA divides the examined genotypes into three different clusters, implying that shallot landraces exhibited a distinct metabolite profile compared with Japanese LDO and SDO varieties. The PLS-DA, VIP, and random forest results indicated that the shallot and LDO are richer in metabolite constituents in comparison with the SDO. Specifically, amino acids and organosulfur compounds were the key characteristic metabolites in shallot and LDO genotypes. The analysis of S-alk(en)yl-L-cysteine sulfoxide (ACSO) compounds showed higher accumulation in the shallot landraces relative to LDO and SDO varieties, which explains the stronger pungency and odor in shallots. In addition, the LDO showed higher ACSO content compared with the SDO, implying that long-day cultivation might enhance sulfur assimilation in the Japanese onion. The LDO ‘Super Kitamomiji’ and the shallots ‘Probolinggo’ and ‘Thailand’ showed higher ACSO content than other varieties, making it useful for Allium breeding to improve the flavor and stress tolerance of onions.
Fabrication and Properties of InGaZnO Thin-Film Transistors Based on a Sol–Gel Method with Different Electrode Patterns
Authors: Yan Xingzhen , Li Bo , Song Kaian , Zhang Yiqiang , Wang Yanjie , Yang Fan , Wang Chao , Chi Yaodan , Yang Xiaotian
Published: December 2022

The preparation of thin-film transistors (TFTs) with InGaZnO (IGZO) channels using sol–gel technology has the advantages of simplicity in terms of process and weak substrate selectivity. We prepared a series of TFT devices with a top contact and bottom gate structure, in which the top contact was divided into rectangular and circular structures of drain/source electrodes. The field-effect performance of TFT devices with circular pattern drain/source electrodes was better than that with a traditional rectangular structure on both substrates. The uniform distribution of the potential in the circular electrode structure was more conducive to the regulation of carriers under the same channel length at different applied voltages. In addition, with the development of transparent substrate devices, we also constructed a hafnium oxide (HfO2) insulation layer and an IGZO active layer on an indium tin oxide conductive substrate, and explored the effect of circular drain/source electrodes on field-effect properties of the semitransparent TFT device. The IGZO deposited on the HfO2 dielectric layer by spin-coating can effectively reduce the surface roughness of the HfO2 layer and optimize the scattering of carriers at the interface in TFT devices.
High-Aperture-Ratio Dual-View Integral Imaging Display
Authors: Zhao Bai-Chuan , Yang Fan , Wu Fei
Published: December 2022

Low aperture ratio is a problem in the conventional dual-view integral imaging (DVII) display using a point light source array. A high-aperture-ratio DVII display using a gradient width point light source array is reported in this work. The elemental Images 1 and 2, which are alternatively aligned on a liquid crystal panel, are illuminated by the light rays emitted from an assigned point light source. The optical path is optimized by optimizing the widths of the point light sources. The aperture ratio of the proposed DVII display was demonstrated as 1.88 times the conventional DVII display. Experiments showed that the vertical viewing range is related to the vertical width of the first row point light source, whereas the aperture ratio is related to the vertical widths of all point light sources. By optimizing the widths of the point light sources, the aperture ratio is enhanced without loss of viewing range.