bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Coastal Flood at Gâvres (Brittany, France): A Simulated Dataset to Support Risk Management and Metamodels Development
Authors: Idier Déborah , Rohmer Jérémy , Pedreros Rodrigo , Le Roy Sylvestre , Betancourt José , Bachoc François , Lecacheux Sophie
Published: June 2023

Given recent scientific advances, coastal flooding events can be modelled even in complex environments. However, such models are computationally expensive, preventing their use for forecasting. At the same time, metamodelling techniques have been explored for coastal hydrodynamics, showing promising results. Developing such techniques for predicting coastal flood information (e.g., inland water depths) requires large enough learning datasets providing such inland information. However, detailed inland coastal flood observations are scarce and—when available—only correspond to a limited number of events. This paper aims at demonstrating how we can fill this gap by introducing a publicly available dataset, presenting its setup, and providing examples of use and recommendations. It has been built for the site of Gâvres (France), relying on the joint use of spectral wave (WW3) and non-hydrostatic wave-flow (SWASH) models, accounting for wave overtopping. It compiles 250 scenarios (defined by time-varying forcing conditions; including real and stochastically generated events) and the resulting maximal flooded areas and water depths (on 64,618 inland points). Its construction required the equivalent of 2 years of simulations on 48 cores. The examples of use of the dataset focus on method developments (metamodelling, forecast), local knowledge, and risk management.
Vessel Trajectory Similarity Computation Based on Heterogeneous Graph Neural Network
Authors: Luo Sizhe , Zeng Weiming
Published: June 2023

As AIS data play an increasingly important role in intelligent shipping and shipping regulation, research on AIS trajectories has attracted more attention. Effective measurement is a critical issue in AIS trajectory research. It directly impacts downstream research areas such as anomaly detection, trajectory clustering, and trajectory prediction. However, the extremely time-consuming and labor-intensive traditional pairwise methods for calculating different types of distances between trajectories hinders the large-scale application and further analysis of AIS data. To tackle these issues, we introduce AISim—a metric learning framework that utilizes heterogeneous graph neural networks. This framework includes a spatial pre-training graph and a hierarchical heterogeneous graph, which incorporate spatial and sequential dependency to extract latent features from vessel trajectories. This approach enhances the model’s ability to capture a more accurate representation of the trajectories and approximate various similarity measurements. Extensive experiments on multiple real trajectory datasets have verified the effectiveness and generality of the proposed framework. AISim outperforms advanced learning-based models by 5% to 66% on the HR10 metric in top-k search tasks. The experimental results demonstrate that the proposed framework facilitates research on AIS trajectory similarity learning, thereby promoting the development of AIS trajectory analysis.
Patient’s Scar Satisfaction after Conventional Thyroidectomy for Differentiated Thyroid Cancer
Authors: Campagnoli Massimo , Dell’Era Valeria , Rosa Maria , Negri Fabiola , Malgrati Eric , Garzaro Massimiliano , Valletti Paolo
Published: June 2023

Differentiated thyroid carcinoma (DTC) is the most frequent endocrine neoplasm. Its treatment is based on surgery with consequent impact on patients’ quality of life (QoL) and aesthetic implication. The aim of the present study is to assess scar satisfaction in patients affected by DTC who underwent total or partial thyroidectomy. A comparison was also made between scar satisfaction with different subcuticular suture. Validated questionnaires have been employed during a 3-month follow-up: Patient and Observer Scar Assessment Scale (POSAS) and the Patient Scar Assessment Questionnaire (PSAQ). Eventually, the impact of thyroid cancer on QoL of patients was performed in the studied population employing the Thyroid-related patient-reported outcome questionnaire (ThyPRO) and European Organisation for Research Additionally, Treatment of Cancer—Quality of Life questionnaire-C30 (EORTC QLQ-C30). It was conducted in a single center observational study considering 74 patients respecting inclusion criteria. Overall scar satisfaction was found to improve during follow-up, reaching the best scores at 3 months from surgery. Subcuticular suture does not seem to influence the scar satisfaction. In our study male patients seem to be more satisfied, on the other hand age does not seem to influence satisfaction. Overall, the ThyPRO questionnaire and EORTC QLQ-C30 scores did not statistically differ between preoperative and postoperative suggesting a small impact of DTC in QoL.
Unilateral Cleft Lip and Palate Has Asymmetry of Bony Orbits: A Retrospective Study
Authors: Kormi Eeva , Peltola Elina , Lusila Niilo , Heliövaara Arja , Leikola Junnu , Suojanen Juho
Published: June 2023

Facial asymmetry is common in unilateral clefts. Since virtual surgical planning (VSP) is becoming more common and automated segmentation is utilized more often, the position and asymmetry of the orbits can affect the design outcome. The aim of this study is to evaluate whether non-syndromic unilateral cleft lip and palate (UCLP) patients requiring orthognathic surgery have asymmetry of the bony orbits. Retrospectively, we analyzed the preoperative cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) or computed tomography (CT) data of UCLP (n = 15) patients scheduled for a Le Fort 1 (n = 10) or bimaxillary osteotomy (n = 5) with VSP at the Cleft Palate and Craniofacial Center, Helsinki University Hospital. The width, height, and depth of the bony orbit and the distance between the sella turcica and infraorbital canal were measured. A volumetric analysis of the orbits was also performed. The measurements were tested for distribution, and the cleft side and the contralateral side were compared statistically with a two-sided paired t-test. To assess asymmetry in the non-cleft population, we performed the same measurements of skeletal class III patients undergoing orthognathic surgery at Päijät-Häme Central Hospital (n = 16). The volume of bony orbit was statistically significantly smaller (p = 0.014), the distance from the infraorbital canal to sella turcica was shorter (p = 0.019), and the anatomical location of the orbit was more medio-posterior on the cleft side than on the contralateral side. The non-cleft group showed no statistically significant asymmetry in any measurements. According to these preliminary results, UCLP patients undergoing orthognathic surgery show asymmetry of the bony orbit not seen in skeletal class III patients without a cleft. This should be considered in VSP for the correction of maxillary hypoplasia and facial asymmetry in patients with UCLP.
A Framework Using Open-Source Software for Land Use Prediction and Climate Data Time Series Analysis in a Protected Area of Portugal: Alvão Natural Park
Authors: Folharini Saulo , Vieira António , Bento-Gonçalves António , Silva Sara , Marques Tiago , Novais Jorge
Published: June 2023

Changes in land use and land cover (LULC) in protected areas can lead to an ecological imbalance in these territories. Temporal monitoring and predictive modeling are valuable tools for making decisions about conserving these areas and planning actions to reduce the pressure caused by activities such as agriculture. This study accordingly developed an LULC analysis framework based on open-source software (QGIS and R language) and predictive methodology using artificial neural networks in the Alvão Natural Park (PNA), a protected area in northern Portugal. The results show that in 2041, Agriculture and Open Space/Non-vegetation classes will evidence the greatest decrease, while Forest and Bushes will have expanded the most. Spatially, the areas to the west and northeast of the protected area will experience the most significant changes. The relationship of land use classes with data from the climate model HadGEM3-GC31-LL (CMIP6) utilizing scenarios RCP 4.5 and 8.5 demonstrates how through the period 2041–2060 there is a tendency for increased precipitation, which when combined with the dynamics of a retraction in classes such as agriculture, favors the advancement of natural classes such as bushes and forest; however, the subsequent climate data period (2061–2080) projects a decrease in precipitation volumes and an increase in the minimum and maximum temperatures, defining a new pattern with an extension of the period of drought and precipitation being concentrated in a short period of the year, which may result in a greater recurrence of extreme events, such as prolonged droughts that result in water shortages and fires.
Spatial and Temporal Evolution Patterns of Habitat Quality under Tea Plantation Expansion and Multi-Scenario Simulation Study: Anxi County as an Example
Authors: Li Wen , Geng Jianwei , Bao Jingling , Lin Wenxiong , Wu Zeyan , Fan Shuisheng
Published: June 2023

The expansion of tea plantations has caused changes in land use structure, which, in turn, has affected the regional habitat quality. Exploring the characteristics of changes in land use structure and habitat quality under different development scenarios is important for the formulation of regional land planning policies and the guarantee of ecological security. This study quantified the habitat quality of the study area from 2010 to 2020 based on the InVEST habitat quality module and explored the land use distribution patterns and habitat quality change characteristics under different scenarios in combination with the PLUS model. The results show that, from 2010 to 2020, the area of tea plantations expanded by 153.0126 km2, and the mean value of habitat quality increased from 0.6502 to 0.6919; in different development scenarios, the area of tea plantations was from large to small in the order of scenario 1 (871.2468), scenario 3 (599.4531) and scenario 2 (518.5440), and the mean value of habitat quality was from high to low in the order of scenario 1 (0.7385), scenario 2 (0.7162) and scenario 3 (0.6919). This study mainly explored the structural changes of land use and habitat quality evolution characteristics under different development scenarios in the study area, and the results of the study can provide a reference basis for rational land development and utilization and habitat conservation in the large-scale tea plantation area.
Reciprocals in Turkish
Authors: Atlamaz Ümit , Öztürk Balkız
Published: June 2023

This paper discusses various reciprocalization strategies in Turkish, including lexical, pronominal, and verbal reciprocals, as well as the collective and discontinuous constructions that appear with symmetric predicates. We propose that there are two distinct sources of reciprocity in Turkish: symmetry and distributivity–reciprocity. Lexical and verbal reciprocals are established via symmetry, whereas pronominal reciprocals are formed via distributor–reciprocator operators introduced by the reciprocal pronoun birbiri ‘each other’. We argue that the verbal reciprocal morpheme -(I)ş is ambiguous between a symmetric reciprocal head (vRECP) and a pluractional head (vRL). The symmetric reciprocal head vRECP turns an asymmetric transitive predicate into a symmetric transitive predicate by creating two event variables as subevents of a single eventuality and permutes the thematic roles across the arguments of the predicate. Our proposal builds on the idea that symmetric predicates introduce plural events consisting of atomic subevents as their parts. This double-sourced analysis allows us to account for a range of facts involving collective and discontinuous constructions. We argue that both discontinuous and collective constructions are transitive and that collective constructions are formed through a combination of the two reciprocal sources (symmetry and distributivity–reciprocity) with an unpronounced reciprocal pronoun. We also provide an account of the reciprocal–pluractional syncretism of the -(I)ş suffix, arguing that the symmetric reciprocal head vRECP and the pluractional head vRL share a common [pl] feature spelled out as -(I)ş.
Phosphorylation Mimetic of Myosin Regulatory Light Chain Mitigates Cardiomyopathy-Induced Myofilament Impairment in Mouse Models of RCM and DCM
Authors: Kazmierczak Katarzyna , Liang Jingsheng , Maura Luis G. , Scott Natissa K. , Szczesna-Cordary Danuta
Published: June 2023

This study focuses on mimicking constitutive phosphorylation in the N-terminus of the myosin regulatory light chain (S15D-RLC) as a rescue strategy for mutation-induced cardiac dysfunction in transgenic (Tg) models of restrictive (RCM) and dilated (DCM) cardiomyopathy caused by mutations in essential (ELC, MYL3 gene) or regulatory (RLC, MYL2 gene) light chains of myosin. Phosphomimetic S15D-RLC was reconstituted in left ventricular papillary muscle (LVPM) fibers from two mouse models of cardiomyopathy, RCM-E143K ELC and DCM-D94A RLC, along with their corresponding Tg-ELC and Tg-RLC wild-type (WT) mice. The beneficial effects of S15D-RLC in rescuing cardiac function were manifested by the S15D-RLC-induced destabilization of the super-relaxed (SRX) state that was observed in both models of cardiomyopathy. S15D-RLC promoted a shift from the SRX state to the disordered relaxed (DRX) state, increasing the number of heads readily available to interact with actin and produce force. Additionally, S15D-RLC reconstituted with fibers demonstrated significantly higher maximal isometric force per cross-section of muscle compared with reconstitution with WT-RLC protein. The effects of the phosphomimetic S15D-RLC were compared with those observed for Omecamtiv Mecarbil (OM), a myosin activator shown to bind to the catalytic site of cardiac myosin and increase myocardial contractility. A similar SRX↔DRX equilibrium shift was observed in OM-treated fibers as in S15D-RLC-reconstituted preparations. Additionally, treatment with OM resulted in significantly higher maximal pCa 4 force per cross-section of muscle fibers in both cardiomyopathy models. Our results suggest that both treatments with S15D-RLC and OM may improve the function of myosin motors and cardiac muscle contraction in RCM-ELC and DCM-RLC mice.
Influence of Grease Properties on False Brinelling Damage of Rolling Bearings
Authors: Tetora Serhii , Schadow Christian , Bartel Dirk
Published: June 2023

False brinelling damage in rolling bearings can lead to reduced component lifetimes and increased noise emissions, adversely affecting machine performance. Therefore, minimizing or avoiding such damage is very important. Environmental or operating conditions that can lead to false brinelling damage often cannot be avoided. Alternatively, such damage can be significantly reduced with suitable lubricants. This study utilized a test method from the research project FVA 540 to examine the impact of the base oil viscosity and NLGI class of greases on false brinelling damage at different temperatures. The results showed a clear dependency between the base oil viscosity of greases and the extent of false brinelling damage. Two different thickeners (lithium hydroxystearate/diurea) and different base oil types (PAO/esters) were investigated for this purpose. The results indicate that temperature had a significant effect on the physical and rheological properties of greases and show the potential for reducing false brinelling damage through the selection of appropriate lubricants. These results provide valuable information to improve the performance and lifetime of rolling bearings in industrial settings.
Reproducibility Study of the Thermoplastic Resin Transfer Molding Process for Glass Fiber Reinforced Polyamide 6 Composites
Authors: Martins Filipe P. , Santos Laura , Torcato Ricardo , Lima Paulo S. , Oliveira José M.
Published: June 2023

Polyamide 6 (PA6) thermoplastic composites have higher recyclability potential when compared to conventional thermoset composites. A disruptive liquid molding manufacturing technology named Thermoplastic Resin Transfer Molding (T-RTM) can be used for processing composites due to the low viscosity of the monomers and additives. In this process, polymerization, crystallization and shrinkage occur almost at the same time. If these phenomena are not controlled, they can compromise the reproducibility and homogeneity of the parts. This work studied the influence of packing pressure, as a process variable, throughout the filling and polymerization stages. To assess the process reproducibility and parts’ homogeneity, physical, thermal and mechanical properties were analyzed in different areas of neat PA6 and composite parts. This study showed that a two-stage packing pressure can be successfully used to increase parts’ homogeneity and process reproducibility. The use of 3.5 bar packing pressure during the polymerization stage resulted in mechanical properties with lower standard deviations, indicating a higher degree of homogeneity of the manufactured parts and higher process reproducibility. These results will be used for establishing the actual state of the technology and will be a base for future process optimization.
The Influence of Manganese Addition on the Properties of Biodegradable Zinc-Manganese-Calcium Alloys
Authors: Mamrilla Wanda , Molčanová Zuzana , Ballóková Beáta , Džupon Miroslav , Džunda Róbert , Csík Dávid , Michalik Štefan , Lisnichuk Maksym , Saksl Karel
Published: June 2023

This study focuses on the preparation and characterization of zinc-based alloys containing magnesium, calcium, and manganese. The alloys were prepared by the melting of pure elements, casting them into graphite molds, and thermo-mechanically treating them via hot extrusion. The phase compositions of the samples were analyzed using X-ray diffraction technique and SEM/EDX analysis. The analysis confirmed that in addition to the Zn matrix, the materials are reinforced by the CaZn13, MgZn2, and Mn-based precipitates. The mechanical properties of the alloys were ascertained by tensile, compressive, and bending tests, measurement of the samples microhardness and elastic modulus. The results indicate that an increase in Mn content leads to an increase in the maximum stress experienced under both tension and compression. However, the plastic deformation of the alloys decreases with increasing Mn content. This study provides valuable insights into the microstructural changes and mechanical behavior of zinc-based alloys containing magnesium, calcium, and manganese, which can be used to design alloys for specific biomedical applications.
Influence of Martensite/Bainite Dual Phase-Content on the Mechanical Properties of EA4T High-Speed Axle Steel
Authors: Zhang Yan , Cao Yu , Huang Guangjie , Wang Yanyang , Li Qilei , He Jie
Published: June 2023

In this work, we have investigated the effect of martensite/bainite dual phase content on the mechanical properties of EA4T high-speed axle steel. For evaluation and control of the strength, ductility, and toughness of steel, the microstructure of lath martensite (LM) and granular bainite (GB) was clarified through an optical microscope (OM), electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Besides, the tensile fracture morphology was studied by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). For this purpose, this study conducted a quantitative analysis of the LM and GB fractions using the Pro Imaging software-2018 of OM. The remarkable effect of the LM/GB structure on mechanical properties is discussed. The results have shown that by increasing the volume fraction of the GB structure, the LM structure is refined and its microhardness and strength are improved. Meanwhile, the micro strength of LM follows the Hall–Petch relationship with the lath martensite packet size. Subsequently, the mechanical property prediction model of EA4T steel based on the LM/GB content was established by regression analysis of all experiment dates. When the LM fraction in the steel is about 40–70%, a superior combination of strength, ductility, and toughness can be obtained in EA4T steel.
Damage Imaging Identification of Honeycomb Sandwich Structures Based on Lamb Waves
Authors: Su Chenhui , Zhang Wenchao , Liang Lihua , Zhang Yuhang , Sui Qingmei
Published: June 2023

In the field of structural health monitoring, Lamb Wave has become one of the most widely used inspection tools due to its advantages of wide detection range and high sensitivity. In this paper, a new damage detection method for honeycomb sandwich structures based on frequency spectrum and Lamb Wave Tomography is proposed. By means of simulation and experiment, a certain number of sensors were placed on the honeycomb sandwich plate to stimulate and receive the signals in both undamaged and damaged cases. By Lamb Wave Tomography, the differences of signals before and after damage were compared, and the damage indexes were calculated. Furthermore, the probability of each sensor path containing damage was analyzed, and the damage image was finally realized. The technology does not require analysis of the complex multimode propagation properties of Lamb Wave, nor does it require understanding and modeling of the properties of materials or structures. In both simulation and experiment, the localization errors of the damage conform to the detection requirements, thus verifying that the method has certain feasibility in damage detection.
Influence of Strengthened Nodes on the Mechanical Performance of Aeolian Sand–Geogrid Interface
Authors: Du Wei , Nie Rusong , Tan Yongchang , Zhang Jie , Qi Yanlu , Zhao Chunyan
Published: June 2023

Node thickening is a way to strengthen the nodes of a geogrid. Increasing the node thickness in conventional biaxial geogrids enhances the interface frictional strength parameters and improves its three-dimensional reinforcement effect. Based on the triaxial tests of aeolian sand, single-rib strip tests of geogrids, and pull-out tests of geogrid in aeolian sand, a three-dimensional discrete element pull-out model for geogrids with strengthened nodes was developed to investigate the mechanical performance of an aeolian sand–geogrid interface. The influences of increasing node thickness, the number of strengthened nodes, and the spacing between adjacent nodes on the mechanical performance of the geogrid–soil interface were extensively studied used the proposed model. The results demonstrated that strengthened nodes effectively optimize the reinforcing performance of the geogrid. Among the three node-thickening methods, that in which both the upper and lower sides of nodes are thickened showed the most significant improvement in ultimate pull-out resistance and interface friction angle. Moreover, when using the same node-thickening method, the ultimate pull-out resistance increase shows a linear relationship with the node thickness increase and the strengthened node quantity. In comparison with the conventional geogrid, the strengthened nodes in a geogrid lead to a wider shear band and a stronger ability to restrain soil displacement. When multiple strengthened nodes are simultaneously applied, there is a collective effect that is primarily influenced by the spacing between adjacent nodes. The results provide a valuable reference for optimizing the performance of geogrids and determining the spacing for geogrid installation.
Evaluation of Thermochemical Treatments for Rice Husk Ash Valorisation as a Source of Silica in Preparing Geopolymers
Authors: Bouzón Noelia , Font Alba , Borrachero María Victoria , Soriano Lourdes , Monzó José , Tashima Mauro M. , Payá Jordi
Published: June 2023

The use of geopolymers has revolutionized research in the field of construction. Although their carbon footprint is often lower than that of traditional mortars with Portland cement, activators such as sodium silicate have a high environmental impact in the manufacturing of materials. Employing alternative alkali sources to produce geopolymers is necessary to obtain materials with a lower carbon footprint. The present research explores the use of rice husk ash (RHA) as an alternative source of silica to produce alkaline activators by four methods: reflux; high pressure and temperature reaction; thermal bath at 65 °C; and shaking at room temperature. To evaluate the efficiency of these methods, two types of experiments were performed: (a) analysing silica dissolved by the filtering/gravimetric method; and (b) manufacturing mortars to compare the effectiveness of the treatment in mechanical strength terms. The percentages of dissolved silica measured by the gravimetric method gave silica dissolution values of 70–80%. The mortars with the best mechanical strength results were the mixtures prepared with the thermal bath treatment at 65 °C. Mortar cured for 1 day (at 65 °C), prepared with this activator, yielded 45 MPa versus the mortar with commercial reagents (40.1 MPa). It was generally concluded that utilising original or milled RHA in preparing activators has minimal influence on either the percentage of dissolved silica or the mechanical strength development of the mortars with this alternative activator.
Permeability Prediction of Nanoscale Porous Materials Using Discrete Cosine Transform-Based Artificial Neural Networks
Authors: Li Dongshuang , You Shaohua , Liao Qinzhuo , Lei Gang , Liu Xu , Chen Weiqing , Li Huijian , Liu Bo , Guo Xiaoxi
Published: June 2023

The permeability of porous materials determines the fluid flow rate and aids in the prediction of their mechanical properties. This study developed a novel approach that combines the discrete cosine transform (DCT) and artificial neural networks (ANN) for permeability analysis and prediction in digital rock images, focusing on nanoscale porous materials in shale formations. The DCT effectively captured the morphology and spatial distribution of material structure at the nanoscale and enhanced the computational efficiency, which was crucial for handling the complexity and high dimensionality of the digital rock images. The ANN model, trained using the Levenberg–Marquardt algorithm, preserved essential features and demonstrated exceptional accuracy for permeability prediction from the DCT-processed rock images. Our approach offers versatility and efficiency in handling diverse rock samples, from nanoscale shale to microscale sandstone. This work contributes to the comprehension and exploitation of unconventional resources, especially those preserved in nanoscale pore structures.
Synthesis and DC Electrical Conductivity of Nanocomposites Based on Poly(1-vinyl-1,2,4-triazole) and Thermoelectric Tellurium Nanoparticles
Authors: Zhmurova Anna V. , Prozorova Galina F. , Korzhova Svetlana A. , Pozdnyakov Alexander S. , Zvereva Marina V.
Published: June 2023

In this work, the structural characteristics and DC electrical conductivity of firstly synthesized organic–inorganic nanocomposites of thermoelectric Te0 nanoparticles (1.4, 2.8, 4.3 wt%) and poly(1-vinyl-1,2,4-triazole) (PVT) were analyzed. The composites were characterized by high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffractometry, UV-Vis spectroscopy, and dynamic light scattering analysis. The study results showed that the nanocomposite nanoparticles distributed in the polymer matrix had a shape close to spherical and an average size of 4–18 nm. The average size of the nanoparticles was determined using the Brus model relation. The optical band gap applied in the model was determined on the basis of UV-Vis data by the Tauc method and the 10% absorption method. The values obtained varied between 2.9 and 5.1 nm. These values are in good agreement with the values of the nanoparticle size, which are typical for their fractions presented in the nanocomposite. The characteristic sizes of the nanoparticles in the fractions obtained from the Pesika size distribution data were 4.6, 4.9, and 5.0 nm for the nanocomposites with percentages of 1.4, 2.8, and 4.3%, respectively. The DC electrical conductivity of the nanocomposites was measured by a two-probe method in the temperature range of 25–80 °C. It was found that the formation of an inorganic nanophase in the PVT polymer as well as an increase in the average size of nanoparticles led to an increase in the DC conductivity over the entire temperature range. The results revealed that the DC electrical conductivity of nanocomposites with a Tellurium content of 2.8, 4.3 wt% at 80 °C becomes higher than the conventional boundary of 10−10 S/cm separating dielectrics and semiconductors.
Low-Temperature Treatment of Boehmitic Bauxite Using the Bayer Reductive Method with the Formation of High-Iron Magnetite Concentrate
Authors: Shoppert Andrei , Valeev Dmitry , Loginova Irina , Pankratov Denis
Published: June 2023

The Bayer process is the main method of alumina production worldwide. The use of low-quality bauxites for alumina production results in the formation of a significant amount of technogenic waste—bauxite residue (BR). The Bayer reductive method is one possible way to eliminate BR stockpiling, but it requires high-pressure leaching at temperatures higher than 220 °C. In this research, the possibility of boehmitic bauxite atmospheric pressure leaching at both the first and second stages or high-pressure leaching at the second stage with the simultaneous reduction of hematite to magnetite was investigated. Bauxite and solid residue after NaOH leaching were characterized using XRD, SEM-EDS, and Mössbauer spectroscopy methods. The first stage of leaching under atmospheric pressure with the addition of Fe(II) species in a strong alkali solution (330–400 g L–1 Na2O) resulted in a partial reduction of the iron minerals and an extraction of more than 60% of Si and 5–25% of Al (depending on caustic modulus of solution) after 1 h. The obtained desilicated bauxite was subjected to atmospheric leaching at 120 °C in a strong alkali solution (350 g L−1) or high-pressure leaching at 160–220 °C using the Bayer process mother liquor in order to obtain a concentrate with a magnetite content higher than 83 wt. %.
The Evolutions of Microstructure, Texture and Hardness of A1050 Deformed by HPT at the Transition Area
Authors: Ni Hongjun , Ding Chenchen , Wang Haoyu , Lv Shuaishuai , Wang Xingxing , Liu Yu
Published: June 2023

High-pressure torsion (HPT) is an effective severe plastic deformation method to produce ultrafine-grained (UFG) and nanocrystalline (NC) materials. In the past, most studies have focused on the evolutions in the microstructure, texture and mechanical properties of HPT-deformed materials at peripheral regions. The corresponding evolutions at a special area were observed in this study to reveal the potential plastic deformation mechanism for face-centred cubic (FCC) material with high stacking fault energy. A decreasing trend was found in grain size, and the final grain size was less than 1 μm. However, close observation revealed that the general trend could be divided into different sub-stages, in which grain elongation and grain fragmentation were dominant, respectively. Additionally, microhardness demonstrated a non-linear increase with the development of plastic deformation. Finally, the microhardness reached a high level of ~64 HV. At the early stages of HPT, the C component was transformed into a cube component, suggesting the material flows around the shear plane normal (SPN) axis at these stages. However, finally they will be replaced by ideal simple shear orientations.
Using Machine Learning with Eye-Tracking Data to Predict if a Recruiter Will Approve a Resume
Authors: Pina Angel , Petersheim Corbin , Cherian Josh , Lahey Joanna Nicole , Alexander Gerianne , Hammond Tracy
Published: June 2023

When job seekers are unsuccessful in getting a position, they often do not get feedback to inform them on how to develop a better application in the future. Therefore, there is a critical need to understand what qualifications recruiters value in order to help applicants. To address this need, we utilized eye-trackers to measure and record visual data of recruiters screening resumes to gain insight into which Areas of Interest (AOIs) influenced recruiters’ decisions the most. Using just this eye-tracking data, we trained a machine learning classifier to predict whether or not a recruiter would move a resume on to the next level of the hiring process with an AUC of 0.767. We found that features associated with recruiters looking outside the content of a resume were most predictive of their decision as well as total time viewing the resume and time spent on the Experience and Education sections. We hypothesize that this behavior is indicative of the recruiter reflecting on the content of the resume. These initial results show that applicants should focus on designing clear and concise resumes that are easy for recruiters to absorb and think about, with additional attention given to the Experience and Education sections.
Three-Part Composite Pareto Modelling for Income Distribution in Malaysia
Authors: Majid Muhammad Hilmi Abdul , Ibrahim Kamarulzaman , Masseran Nurulkamal
Published: June 2023

Income distribution models can be useful for describing the economic properties of a population. In this study, three-part composite Pareto models are fitted to the income distribution in Malaysia for the years 2007, 2009, 2012, 2014, and 2016. The three-part composite Pareto models divide the population into three parts, each following a different distribution model. The lower part follows the inverse Pareto distribution, the upper part follows the Pareto distribution, and the middle part follows another unspecified distribution model. For application in income data, the use of Gaussian mixture distribution is proposed for the middle part, making the inverse Pareto–Gaussian mixture-Pareto distribution model semi-parametric. From the model, it is found that the levels of income inequality in the lower and upper income groups decrease over the period of study. Additionally, the proportion of data following the inverse Pareto distribution in the model is highly correlated with the official absolute poverty incidence.
Further Studies on the Dynamics of a Lotka–Volterra Competitor–Competitor–Mutualist System with Time-Varying Delays
Authors: Cao Liang , Halik Azhar , Muhammadhaji Ahmadjan
Published: June 2023

In this paper, a Lotka–Volterra (L-V) competitor–competitor–mutualist system with time-varying delays is studied. Some dynamical behaviors of the considered system are investigated. Firstly, we obtain the boundedness, permanence and periodic solution of the system using the comparison principle of differential equations and inequality estimation method. Then, the global attractiveness of the system is analyzed by multiple Lyapunov functionals. Meanwhile, the existence and global attractivity of positive periodic solutions is derived. In the third section, in order to validate the practicability and feasibility of the obtained theoretical results, we conducted numerical simulations using MATLAB function ddesd. Finally, the fourth section is where conclusions are drawn.
Exploring Patient Adherence to Post-Surgical Follow-Up in Pelvic Endometriosis
Authors: Szabo Tamas , Mitranovici Melinda-Ildiko , Crisan Andrada , Melinte Ioana Marta , Cotrus Teodora , Tudorache Vlad , Moraru Liviu , Moraru Raluca , Micu Romeo
Published: June 2023

Endometriosis is a significant cause of disability that affects 5–10% of reproductive-aged women. Laparoscopy with histological confirmation is the gold standard in establishing the diagnosis as therapeutic management surgery is addressed to a certain category of patients. The objective of this study was to assess patient adherence to follow-up after surgery for endometriosis as the primary endpoint, pain symptoms, quality of life, mental health, and fertility as the secondary endpoints. We have analyzed patients’ adherence to follow-up after surgery for endometriosis after 1, 3, 5, and 7 years. Out of the 2538 total number of surgeries, 453 patients replied just to the first questionnaire (group A), 528 to the first and second (group B), and only 356 carried out the entire follow-up schedule. General health was significantly lower for group A (46.6 vs. 56.4) but with no statistical difference in the post-surgical improvement in both groups. Pain level score improvement was lower for group A (10.5 vs. 18.8), which is statistically significant. In this light, laparoscopy still remains the gold standard in diagnosis only. Furthermore, no malignancy was discovered. The mental component was improved by laparoscopy based on SF-36 in group B. Studies on patient preference for surgery versus alternative treatment are needed.
Validity and Reliability of Rule Orientation Scale among Romanian Physicians—A Pilot Study
Authors: Plaiasu Maria Cristina , Alexandru Dragos Ovidiu , Hanganu Bianca , Nanu Codrut Andrei , Ioan Beatrice Gabriela
Published: June 2023

Background and Objectives: Legal compliance is influenced by several factors, including individuals’ attitudes about when breaking the law may be acceptable or justifiable. The rule orientation scale provides a measurement capable of predicting an individual’s offensive behavior, regardless of the legal punishment. The current research is the first that aims to evaluate the construct validity of the translated Romanian version of the rule orientation scale. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted online among Romanian physicians in Dolj County. A 12-item questionnaire previously validated in the United States was used for this study. Results: A total of 69 physicians responded to the survey with a mean age of 38.53 ± 8.28 and an average experience of 10.49 ± 8.27 years. Physicians were prone to adhere to the law and found only a few instances when legal breaches were acceptable. Nonetheless, they deemed it permissible to violate the law when they did not know its content. These attitudes were not affected by respondents’ ages, genders, numbers of years in practice, industries, or specialties. The internal consistency of the questionnaire was high (Cronbach’s α = 0.925). Conclusions: The rule orientation scale validated in the Romanian language can be used to determine conditions under which individuals find it acceptable to break the law.
Gene Identification in Inflammatory Bowel Disease via a Machine Learning Approach
Authors: Alfonso Perez Gerardo , Castillo Raquel
Published: June 2023

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is an illness with increasing prevalence, particularly in emerging countries, which can have a substantial impact on the quality of life of the patient. The illness is rather heterogeneous with different evolution among patients. A machine learning approach is followed in this paper to identify potential genes that are related to IBD. This is done by following a Monte Carlo simulation approach. In total, 23 different machine learning techniques were tested (in addition to a base level obtained using artificial neural networks). The best model identified 74 genes selected by the algorithm as being potentially involved in IBD. IBD seems to be a polygenic illness, in which environmental factors might play an important role. Following a machine learning approach, it was possible to obtain a classification accuracy of 84.2% differentiating between patients with IBD and control cases in a large cohort of 2490 total cases. The sensitivity and specificity of the model were 82.6% and 84.4%, respectively. It was also possible to distinguish between the two main types of IBD: (1) Crohn’s disease and (2) ulcerative colitis.
Performance Evaluation of UF Membranes Derived from Recycled RO Membrane, a Step towards Circular Economy in Desalination
Authors: Rehman Zia Ur , Amjad Hira , Khan Sher Jamal , Yasmeen Maria , Khan Aftab Ahmad , Khanzada Noman Khalid
Published: June 2023

Reverse osmosis (RO) spiral wound membrane generation reached 93.5% in 2020, resulting in 14,000 tons of used RO membranes being discarded annually into landfills, which is unprecedented. The current study aims to chemically convert the end-of-life RO membrane, followed by its performance evaluation and microbial removal efficiency on three different sources of water, i.e., tap water (TW), integrated constructed wetland permeate (ICW-P), and membrane bio-rector permeate (MBR-P), respectively. This was accomplished by selecting 6 years of spent Filmtech (LC-LE-4040) thin film composite type brackish water reverse osmosis (BWRO) membrane, followed by alkaline and acidic cleaning for 2 h. Finally, the conversion was carried out by 6% sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) with 300,000 ppm/h exposure by active system (AS) using the clean in place CIP pump at 2 bars for 10 h duration. The membrane demonstrated 67% water recovery and 1% saltwater rejection, which means RO membrane now converted into recycled RO (R-RO) or (UF) by removal of the polyamide (PA) layer. Water recovery was 67% for TW, 68% for ICW-P, and 74% for MBR-P, respectively, with the consistent saltwater rejection rate of 1% being observed, while R-RO exhibited an effective COD removal of 65.79%, 62.96%, and 67.72% in TW, ICW-P, and MBR-P, respectively. The highest turbidity removal of 96% in the ICW-P was also recorded for R-RO. For morphological properties, SEM analysis of the R-RO membrane revealed a likewise appearance as a UF membrane, while pore size is also comparable with the UF membrane. The most probable number (MPN) also showed complete removal of total coliforms after passing through the R-RO membrane. These features made the R-RO membrane an excellent choice for drinking water treatment and wastewater treatment polishing steps. This solution can help developing nations to be efficient in resource recovery and contribute to the circular economy.
Multi-Component Evaporation and Uneven Aluminum Distribution during High-Power Vacuum Laser Welding of Ti-6Al-4V Titanium Alloy
Authors: Wang Bingqi , Zhang Shuaifeng , Tan Xinyue , Lv Yifan , Liang Lvjie , Liao Zhiqian , Huang Anguo
Published: June 2023

Titanium alloy is an important material for the manufacture of key components of deep-sea submersibles. High-power vacuum laser welding is an important method for welding TC4 thick plate (40–120 mm) structures. However, due to the low melting point of aluminum, its uneven distribution in the weld caused by evaporation during welding affects the quality of joints. This paper conducted experimental and simulation studies to investigate the effect of process parameters on multi-component evaporation and uneven aluminum distribution. Based on a three-dimensional model of vacuum laser welding, the mechanism of the uneven distribution of aluminum in the weld is explained. The results show that the uneven distribution of aluminum in the weld is mainly related to the metal vapor behavior and keyhole morphology. As the welding speed rises from 1 m/min to 3 m/min, the proportion of aluminum in the metal vapor and the degree of compositional unevenness increase. When the laser power increases from 6 kW to 18 kW, the proportion of aluminum in the metal vapor and degree of unevenness increase, peak at 12 kW, and then decrease. This work facilitates the selection of suitable process parameters to reduce aluminum evaporation during the high-power vacuum welding of Ti-6Al-4V alloys. Joints with a more stable performance can be obtained by avoiding the uneven distribution of aluminum.
Laser Weld Aspect Optimization of Thin AISI 316 SS Using RSM in Relation with Welding Parameters and Sulfur Content
Authors: Touileb Kamel , Attia Elawady , Djoudjou Rachid , Benselama Abdallah , Ibrahim Albaijan , Boubaker Sahbi , Ponnore Jose , Ahmed Mohamed M. Z.
Published: June 2023

A quantitative and qualitative study of the effect of laser (light amplification by stimulated emissions of radiation) welding parameters, such as focus point, welding speed, power beam and shield gas on bead profile in relation with microchemistry compositions differences of two thin AISI 316 industrial stainless steel casts have been studied. One cast contains 60 ppm (0.006%) of sulfur considered as high sulfur content and the other one contains 10 ppm (0.001 %) sulfur which can be considered as low sulfur content. A set of 27 tests were carried out by combining three welding speeds (1500, 3000, and 4500 mm/min), three shield gases (helium (He), mixture of 40% helium and 60% argon (Ar) and mixture of 70% helium and 30% argon) with flow rate of 15 L/min, and three focal lengths (+2, +7, and +12 mm). The depth, aspect ratio (the ratio between the penetration depth weld and the weld width) and the bead cross section profile are investigated using response surface methodology (RSM). Linear and quadratic polynomial models for predicting the weld bead geometry were developed. The results of the preliminary validation indicated that the proposed models predict the responses adequately. The geometry of the welded area was analyzed using optical microscopy, and correlations between weld morphology (depth, weld aspect parameter and weld area) and welding parameters were performed. For the cast 316 HS (high sulfur content), the main input factor influencing the depth weld (Yd) is the focus point with a contribution up to 19.32. On the other hand, the main input factor affecting the depth weld (Yd) of the cast 316 LS (low sulfur content) is the combination effect of focus point and power input energy with contribution up to 10.65%. Sulfur as the surfactant element contributes to determining the laser weld bead shape up to 71% when the welds are partially penetrated and diminishes to 50% when the welds are fully penetrated with the occurrence of the keyhole mechanism.
Bioactive Lichen Secondary Metabolites and Their Presence in Species from Chile
Authors: Poulsen-Silva Erick , Gordillo-Fuenzalida Felipe , Atala Cristian , Moreno Adrián A. , Otero María Carolina
Published: June 2023

Lichens are symbiotic organisms composed of at least one fungal and one algal species. They are found in different environments around the world, even in the poles and deserts. Some species can withstand extreme abiotic conditions, including radiation and the vacuum of space. Their chemistry is mainly due to the fungal metabolism and the production of several secondary metabolites with biological activity, which have been isolated due to an increasing interest from the pharmaceutical community. However, beyond the experimental data, little is known about their mechanisms of action and the potential pharmaceutical use of these kinds of molecules, especially the ones isolated from lesser-known species and/or lesser-studied countries. The main objective of this review is to analyze the bibliographical data of the biological activity of secondary metabolites from lichens, identifying the possible mechanisms of action and lichen species from Chile. We carried out a bibliographic revision of different scientific articles in order to collect all necessary information on the biological activity of the metabolites of these lichen species. For this, validated databases were used. We found the most recent reports where in vitro and in vivo studies have demonstrated the biological properties of these metabolites. The biological activity, namely anticancer, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory activity, of 26 secondary metabolites are described, as well as their reported molecular mechanisms. The most notable metabolites found in this review were usnic acid, atranorin, protolichesterinic acid, and lobaric acid. Usnic acid was the most investigated metabolite, in addition to undergoing toxicological and pharmacological studies, where a hepatotoxicity effect was reported due to uncoupling oxidative phosphorylation. Additionally, no major studies have been made to validate the pharmacological application of these metabolites, and few advancements have been made in their artificial growth in bioreactors. Despite the described biological activities, there is little support to consider these metabolites in pharmaceutical formulations or to evaluate them in clinical trials. Nevertheless, it is important to carry out further studies regarding their possible human health effects. These lichen secondary metabolites present a promising research opportunity to find new pharmaceutical molecules due to their bioactive properties.