bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Targeted Primary and Secondary Metabolite Analysis of Colored Potato “Michuñe Negra” Grown in Soilless Culture and during Prolonged Cold Storage: Implications in Acrylamide Formation during Frying
Authors: García-Ríos Diego , Alvaro Juan E. , Zuñiga María Elvira , Campos David , Aguilar-Galvez Ana , Mariotti-Celis María Salomé , Pedreschi Franco , Pedreschi Romina
Published: April 2023

Colored potatoes have been of interest because of their nutritional and health-promoting properties. However, their aptitude for processing regarding acrylamide formation levels is highly variable and for the most part unknown. In this work, the effect of cultivation season (summer and winter), and postharvest cold storage (1, 2, and 5 months at 5 °C ± 1 °C) on the Maillard reaction precursors (reducing sugars, sucrose, and asparagine), phenolic compounds (anthocyanins, phenolic acids and other flavonoids), and acrylamide after frying (GC-MS) were assessed on the “Michuñe negra” potato cultivar from the southern region of Chile grown under fertigation. Acrylamide levels were surveyed on six samples of commercial colored potato chips for comparison purposes. Cultivation season and cold storage showed an effect on both main primary and secondary metabolites. The amount of reducing sugars such as fructose increased with cold storage. Anthocyanin and phenolic contents were higher in the winter season and increased with cold storage. Acrylamide levels were high, surpassing the EFSA benchmark value (750 µg kg−1) in all cases, notably in chips made after one month of cold storage (2125% higher). Additional measures in both agronomical and processing stages of the purple-fleshed potato need to be implemented to lower the acrylamide levels down to acceptable values.
Sugar Beet Cultivation in the Tropics and Subtropics: Challenges and Opportunities
Authors: Tayyab Muhammad , Wakeel Abdul , Mubarak Muhammad Umair , Artyszak Arkadiusz , Ali Sajid , Hakki Erdogan Esref , Mahmood Khalid , Song Baiquan , Ishfaq Muhammad
Published: April 2023

Sugar beet, an important sugar crop, is particularly cultivated in humid regions to produce beet sugar, fulfilling about 25% of the world’s sugar requirement, supplementing cane sugar. However, sugar beet is not well adopted in the farming system of the tropics and subtropics, which is largely due to the historically well-established production technology of sugarcane and the lower awareness among local growers of sugar beet cultivation. Thus, the poor understanding of pest and disease management and the lack of processing units for sugar beet partially hinder farmers in the large-scale adaptation of sugar beet in the tropics and subtropics. Recent climatic developments have drawn attention to sugar beet cultivation in those regions, considering the low water demand and about half the growing duration (5–6 months) in contrast to sugarcane, sparing agricultural land for an extra crop. Nevertheless, a considerable knowledge gap exists for sugar beet when closely compared to sugarcane in tropical and subtropical growth conditions. Here, we examined the leverage of existing published articles regarding the significance and potential of sugar beet production in the tropics and subtropics, covering its pros and cons in comparison to sugarcane. The challenges for sugar beet production have also been identified, and possible mitigation strategies are suggested. Our assessment reveals that sugar beet can be a promising sugar crop in tropical and subtropical regions, considering the lower water requirements and higher salt resistance.
SNP-Based Heritability of Osteochondrosis Dissecans in Hanoverian Warmblood Horses
Authors: Zimmermann Elisa , Distl Ottmar
Published: April 2023

Before the genomics era, heritability estimates were performed using pedigree data. Data collection for pedigree analysis is time consuming and holds the risk of incorrect or incomplete data. With the availability of SNP-based arrays, heritability can now be estimated based on genotyping data. We used SNP array and 1.6 million imputed genotype data with different minor allele frequency restrictions to estimate heritabilities for osteochondrosis dissecans in the fetlock, hock and stifle joints of 446 Hanoverian warmblood horses. SNP-based heritabilities were estimated using a genomic restricted maximum likelihood (GREML) method and accounting for patterns of regional linkage disequilibrium in the equine genome. In addition, we employed GREML for family data to account for different degrees of relatedness in the study population. Our results indicate that we were able to capture a larger proportion of additive genetic variance compared to pedigree-based estimates in the same population of Hanoverian horses. Heritability estimates on the linear scale for fetlock-, hock- and stifle-osteochondrosis dissecans were 0.41–0.43, 0.62–0.63, and 0.23–0.25, respectively, with standard errors of 0.11–0.14. Accounting for linkage disequilibrium patterns had an upward effect on the imputed data and a downward impact on the SNP array genotype data. GREML for family data resulted in higher heritability estimates for fetlock-osteochondrosis dissecans and slightly higher estimates for hock-osteochondrosis dissecans, but had no effect on stifle-osteochondrosis dissecans. The largest and most consistent heritability estimates were obtained when we employed GREML for family data with genomic relationship matrices weighted through patterns of regional linkage disequilibrium. Estimation of SNP-based heritability should be recommended for traits that can only be phenotyped in smaller samples or are cost-effective.
Response of Parasite Community Composition to Aquatic Pollution in Common Carp (Cyprinus carpio L.): A Semi-Experimental Study
Authors: Pravdová Markéta , Kolářová Jitka , Grabicová Kateřina , Janáč Michal , Randák Tomáš , Ondračková Markéta
Published: April 2023

The response of parasite communities to aquatic contamination has been shown to vary with both type of pollutant and parasite lifestyle. In this semi-experimental study, we examined uptake of pharmaceutical compounds in common carp (Cyprinus carpio L.) restocked from a control pond to a treatment pond fed with organic pollution from a sewage treatment plant and assessed changes in parasite community composition and fish biometric parameters. The parasite community of restocked fish changed over the six-month exposure period, and the composition of pharmaceutical compounds in the liver and brain was almost the same as that in fish living in the treatment pond their whole life. While fish size and weight were significantly higher in both treatment groups compared to the control, condition indices, including condition factor, hepatosomatic index, and splenosomatic index, were significantly higher in control fish. Parasite diversity and species richness decreased at the polluted site, alongside a significant increase in the abundance of a single parasite species, Gyrodactylus sprostonae. Oviparous monogeneans of the Dactylogyridae and Diplozoidae families and parasitic crustaceans responded to pollution with a significant decrease in abundance, the reduction in numbers most likely related to the sensitivity of their free-living stages to pollution.
GLAD Scale for Ranking Welfare of Horses on Arrival after Transport to Slaughterhouses
Authors: Padalino Barbara , Benedetti Beatrice , Felici Martina , Bicout Dominique Joseph
Published: April 2023

To date, there is no official method for measuring horse welfare after transport. This study aimed to develop a scale to classify horses into four categories: good shape; light affected; affected; down (GLAD) based on their welfare impairment measured at unloading. To this end, 15 animal-based measures (ABMs), previously recorded from 1019 horses, were scored. Weight and severity scores provided by welfare experts, alongside the number of welfare principles highlighted by the ABM, were assigned to each ABM. The welfare impairment (S) of each horse was then calculated as the weighted sum of the severity scores of the 15 ABMs. Three thresholds were also set to define the four GLAD categories; the ABM “down” (i.e., horses unable to stand and walk on arrival, also considered by the law as the indicator of the worst welfare) was used as the higher threshold, Sdown, (category D); the intermediate threshold, S2, was defined by the ABM “injuries”, assumed to represent highly impaired welfare (category A); the threshold, S1, was defined assuming that significant welfare impairment starts from 20% of S2 (L category). Horses with an S value below S1 were considered physically and mentally fit (G category). Out of 1019, 43% of horses fell into category G, 48% into L, 9% into A, and 0.3% into D. Our scale could be useful for veterinarians to decide whether a horse can be slaughtered immediately (G), needs rest (L), needs attention (A), or euthanasia (D), but further validation is needed.
A Pilot Study on Behavioural and Physiological Indicators of Emotions in Donkeys
Authors: Seganfreddo Samanta , Fornasiero Diletta , De Santis Marta , Mutinelli Franco , Normando Simona , Contalbrigo Laura
Published: April 2023

Recognizing animal emotions is critical to their welfare and can lead to a better relationship with humans and the environment, especially in a widespread species like the donkey, which is often prone to welfare issues. This study aims to assess the emotional response of donkeys through an operant conditioning task with two presumed different emotional contents. Specifically, a within-subject design including positive and negative conditions was conducted, collecting behavioural and physiological (heart rate variability and HRV) parameters. Facial expressions, postures, and movements were analysed by principal component analysis and behavioural diversity indexes (frequencies, activity budgets, richness, Shannon and Gini-Simpson). During the positive condition, both ears were held high and sideways (left: r = −0.793, p < 0.0001; right: r = −0.585, p = 0.011), while the ears were frontally erected (left: r = 0.924, p < 0.0001; right: r = 0.946, p < 0.0001) during the negative one. The latter was also associated with an increased tendency to walk (r = 0.709, p = 0.001), walk away (r = 0.578, p = 0.012), more frequent changes in the body position (VBody position = 0, p = 0.022), and greater behavioural complexity (VGini-Simpson Index = 4, p = 0.027). As for HRV analysis, the root mean square of successive beat-to-beat differences (rMSSD) was significantly lower after the negative condition. These non-invasive parameters could be considered as possible indicators of donkeys’ emotional state.
Testing the Accuracy of Wearable Technology to Assess Sleep Behaviour in Domestic Dogs: A Prospective Tool for Animal Welfare Assessment in Kennels
Authors: Schork Ivana Gabriela , Manzo Isabele Aparecida , Oliveira Marcos Roberto Beiral de , Costa Fernanda Vieira , Young Robert John , De Azevedo Cristiano Schetini
Published: April 2023

Sleep is a physiological process that has been shown to impact both physical and psychological heath of individuals when compromised; hence, it has the potential to be used as an indicator of animal welfare. Nonetheless, evaluating sleep in non-human species normally involves manipulation of the subjects (i.e., placement of electrodes on the cranium), and most studies are conducted in a laboratory setting, which limits the generalisability of information obtained, and the species investigated. In this study, we evaluated an alternative method of assessing sleep behaviour in domestic dogs, using a wearable sensor, and compared the measurements obtained to behavioural observations to evaluate accuracy. Differences between methods ranged from 0.13% to 59.3% for diurnal observations and 0.1% to 95.9% for nocturnal observations for point-by-point observations. Comparisons between methods showed significant differences in certain behaviours, such as inactivity and activity for diurnal recordings. However, total activity and total sleep recorded did not differ statistically between methods. Overall, the wearable technology tested was found to be a useful, and a less-time consuming, tool in comparison to direct behavioural observations for the evaluation of behaviours and their indication of wellbeing in dogs. The agreement between the wearable technology and directly observed data ranged from 75% to 99% for recorded behaviours, and these results are similar to previous findings in the literature.
Safety Profile of Medicines Used for the Treatment of Drug-Resistant Tuberculosis: A Descriptive Study Based on the WHO Database (VigiBase®)
Authors: Duga Alemayehu Lelisa , Salvo Francesco , Kay Alexander , Figueras Albert
Published: April 2023

Background: The introduction of new drugs that increase the usage of repurposed medicines for managing drug-resistant tuberculosis (DR-TB) comes with challenges of understanding, properly managing, and predicting adverse drug reactions (ADRs). In addition to the health consequences of ADRs for the individual, ADRs can reduce treatment adherence, thus contributing to resistance. This study aimed to describe the magnitude and characteristics of DR-TB-related ADRs through an analysis of ADRs reported to the WHO database (VigiBase) in the period from January 2018 to December 2020. Methods: A descriptive analysis was performed on selected reports from VigiBase on the basis of medicine-potential ADR pairs. The ADRs were stratified by sex, age group, reporting country, seriousness, outcome of the reaction, and dechallenge and rechallenge. Results: In total, 25 medicines reported to be suspected individual medicines or as a fixed-dose combination in the study period were included the study. Pyrazinamide (n = 836; 11.2%) was the most commonly reported medicine associated with ADRs, followed by ethionamide (n = 783; 10.5%) and cycloserine (n = 696; 9.3%). From the report included in this analysis, 2334 (31.2%) required complete withdrawal of the suspected medicine(s), followed by reduction of the dose (77; 1.0%) and an increased dose (4; 0.1%). Almost half of the reports were serious ADRs mainly caused by bedaquiline, delamanid, clofazimine, linezolid, and cycloserine that are the backbone of the DR-TB treatment currently in use. Conclusions: A third of the reports required medication withdrawal, which impacts treatment adherence and ultimately leads to drug resistance. Additionally, more than 40% of the reports indicated that ADRs appeared two months after the commencement of treatment, thus it’s important to remain alert for the potential ADRs for the entire duration of the treatment.
A New Technical Ear Training Game and Its Effect on Critical Listening Skills
Authors: Kim Sungyoung , Cozzarin Jacob
Published: April 2023

Technical ear training has proven to be an effective tool for developing the skills of junior audio engineers and enhancing their proficiency in audio and music production. To provide a comprehensive auditory training experience, the authors have created a gamified training program that encompasses four modules: spectral identification, auditory localization, consistent judgment, and memory of a mix balance. Each module is designed to give trainees closed-loop audiomotor training, allowing them to instantly assess their performance and identify areas where they need to improve. This new ear-training game helped players to be more engaged and resulted in the improvement of trained audio engineering skills. Moreover, the game also benefited a non-trained auditory skill, speech understanding in noise.
Pareto-Optimized AVQI Assessment of Dysphonia: A Clinical Trial Using Various Smartphones
Authors: Maskeliūnas Rytis , Damaševičius Robertas , Blažauskas Tomas , Pribuišis Kipras , Ulozaitė-Stanienė Nora , Uloza Virgilijus
Published: April 2023

Multiparametric indices offer a more comprehensive approach to voice quality assessment by taking into account multiple acoustic parameters. Artificial intelligence technology can be utilized in healthcare to evaluate data and optimize decision-making processes. Mobile devices provide new opportunities for remote speech monitoring, allowing the use of basic mobile devices as screening tools for the early identification and treatment of voice disorders. However, it is necessary to demonstrate equivalence between mobile device signals and gold standard microphone preamplifiers. Despite the increased use and availability of technology, there is still a lack of understanding of the impact of physiological, speech/language, and cultural factors on voice assessment. Challenges to research include accounting for organic speech-related covariables, such as differences in conversing voice sound pressure level (SPL) and fundamental frequency (f0), recognizing the link between sensory and experimental acoustic outcomes, and obtaining a large dataset to understand regular variation between and within voice-disordered individuals. Our study investigated the use of cellphones to estimate the Acoustic Voice Quality Index (AVQI) in a typical clinical setting using a Pareto-optimized approach in the signal processing path. We found that there was a strong correlation between AVQI results obtained from different smartphones and a studio microphone, with no significant differences in mean AVQI scores between different smartphones. The diagnostic accuracy of different smartphones was comparable to that of a professional microphone, with optimal AVQI cut-off values that can effectively distinguish between normal and pathological voice for each smartphone used in the study. All devices met the proposed 0.8 AUC threshold and demonstrated an acceptable Youden index value.
Analysis of Variables Influencing Scour on Large Sand-Bed Rivers Conducted Using Field Data
Authors: Harasti Antonija , Gilja Gordon , Adžaga Nikola , Žic Mark
Published: April 2023

Throughout the lifespan of a bridge, morphological changes in the riverbed affect the variable action-imposed loads on the structure. This emphasizes the need for accurate and reliable data that can be used in model-based projections targeted for the identification of risk associated with bridge failure induced by scour. The aim of this paper is to provide an analysis of scour depth estimation on large sand-bed rivers under the clear water regime, detect the most influential (i.e., explanatory) variables, and examine the relationship between them and scour depth as a response variable. A dataset used for the analysis was obtained from the United States Geological Survey’s extensive field database of local scour at bridge piers, i.e., the Pier-Scour Database (PSDB-2014). The original database was filtered to exclude the data that did not reflect large sand-bed rivers, and several influential variables were omitted by using the principal component analysis. This reduction process resulted in 10 influential variables that were used in multiple non-linear regression scour modeling (MNLR). Two MNLR models (i.e., non-dimensional and dimensional models) were prepared for scour estimation; however, the dimensional model slightly overperformed the other one. According to the Pearson correlation coefficients (r), the most influential variables for estimating scour depth were as follows: Effective pier width (r = 0.625), flow depth (r = 0.492), and critical and local velocity (r = 0.474 and r = 0.436), respectively. In the compounded hydraulic-sediment category, critical velocity had the greatest impact (i.e., the highest correlation coefficient) on scour depth in comparison to densimetric Froude and critical Froude numbers that were characterized by correlation coefficients of r = 0.427 and r = 0.323, respectively. The remaining four variables (local and critical bed shear stress, Froude number, and particle Reynolds number) exhibited a very weak correlation with scour depth, with r < 0.3.
Risk Assessment of Fixed Obstacles along Roads
Authors: Kocián Karel , Nováček Jakub
Published: April 2023

The primary objective of this article is to determine and subsequently verify the severity of a traffic accident caused by a collision with a fixed obstacle located in rural area sections along international roads in the Czech Republic. The aim is to create a unified assessment tool of fixed obstacles along roads. In this way, it is possible to determine in advance the level of risk of fixed obstacles along roads before traffic accidents could occur at these locations. The work is based on the assumption that the severity level of fixed obstacles in road traffic is determined by the product of the probability of hitting the object and the severity of the consequences. On the basis of these parameters, 54 specific combinations of fixed obstacles and surrounding terrain are determined, to which the specific severity of the combination is assigned in relation to the potential impact on the health of the vehicle occupants. Subsequently, a hypothesis is established that confirms or refutes, in a clear and unified manner, the initial, subjective views on the possible consequences of a traffic accident related to a fixed-obstacle impact. The verification of the hypothesis is carried out using a statistical apparatus based on the principles of conditional probability on 280 traffic accidents related to hitting a fixed obstacle. The proposed procedure verified 36 out of 54 (almost 67%) individual combinations of fixed obstacles and surrounding terrain. It was determined that there were 13 combinations with a high risk, where there is a significant probability of serious injury to occupants; 6 combinations with a moderate severity of injury to occupants; 3 cases with a low severity; and 14 cases where it was shown that the impact with a fixed obstacle was most probably not going to result in personal injury but only in material damage to the vehicle. The results of this research, which applies a unified approach to the risk analysis of fixed obstacles, will systematically improve the level of traffic safety. This primarily means preventing accidents with fixed obstacles, saving lives and reducing economic losses.
Seismic Performance of Frame Structure with Hysteretic Intermediate Discontinuity
Authors: Di Egidio Angelo , Pagliaro Stefano , Contento Alessandro
Published: April 2023

The introduction of an intermediate discontinuity in frame structures is commonly named inter-storey isolation. Inter-storey isolation is an effective technique for the seismic protection of new or existing frame structures. The devices that are used to perform the discontinuity, mainly of the structural stiffness, are placed at a higher storey level of the structure and not at the base level. In the latter years, this technique has gained increasing interest because, especially for existing buildings, it is cheaper and technically easier to implement than base isolation. In this paper, the attention is focused on the effects on a frame structure of an intermediate elasto-plastic discontinuity that can be described by a Bouc-Wen model. The frame structure with the intermediate discontinuity is modelled with a 3-DOF reduced model. Its dynamical behaviour is investigated by considering both harmonic and seismic external excitation. The results are summarized in gain maps aimed at finding the parameters that optimize the seismic behaviour of the structure.
STEAM Education and the Innovative Pedagogies in the Intelligence Era
Authors: Zhan Zehui , Hu Qintai , Liu Xuan , Wang Shan
Published: April 2023

As we delve into the era of intelligence, the importance of STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics) education has become increasingly evident [...]
Evaluation of Measurement Strategy for Track Side Monitoring of Railway Wheels
Authors: Rantatalo Matti , Chandran Praneeth , Thiery Florian , Odelius Johan , Gustafsson Christian , Asplund Mathias , Kumar Uday
Published: April 2023

Wheelsets form an indispensable part of the railway rolling stock and need to be periodically inspected to ensure stable, safe, reliable, and sustainable rail operation. Wheel profiles are usually inspected and measured in a workshop environment using handheld equipment or by utilizing wayside measuring equipment. A common practice for both methods is to measure the wheel profile at one position along the circumference of the wheel, resulting in a one-slice measurement strategy, based on the assumption that the wheel profile has the same shape independent of the measurement position along the wheel. In this article, the representability of a one-slice measurement strategy with respect to the wheel profile parameters is investigated using handheld measurement equipment. The calculated range of standard deviation of the parameters estimated such as flange height, flange width, flange slope, and hollow wear from the measurements shows a spread in the parameter value along the circumference of the wheel. As an initial validation of the results, measurements from the wayside monitoring systems were also investigated to see if a similar spread was visible. The spread was significantly higher for flange height, flange width, and flange slope estimated from wayside measurement equipment than for the same parameters estimated using the handheld measurement equipment.
Application of Whale Optimization Algorithm Based FOPI Controllers for STATCOM and UPQC to Mitigate Harmonics and Voltage Instability in Modern Distribution Power Grids
Authors: Mahmoud Mohamed Metwally , Atia Basiony Shehata , Esmail Yahia M. , Ardjoun Sid Ahmed El Mehdi , Anwer Noha , Omar Ahmed I. , Alsaif Faisal , Alsulamy Sager , Mohamed Shazly A.
Published: April 2023

In recent modern power systems, the number of renewable energy systems (RESs) and nonlinear loads have become more prevalent. When these systems are connected to the electricity grid, they may face new difficulties and issues such as harmonics and non-standard voltage. The proposed study suggests the application of a whale optimization algorithm (WOA) based on a fractional-order proportional-integral controller (FOPIC) for unified power quality conditioner (UPQC) and STATCOM tools. These operate best with the help of their improved control system, to increase the system’s reliability and fast dynamic response, and to decrease the total harmonic distortion (THD) for enhancing the power quality (PQ). In this article, three different configurations are studied and assessed, namely: (C1) WOA-based FOPIC for UPQC, (C2) WOA-based FOPIC for STATCOM, and (C3) system without FACTS, i.e., base case, to mitigate the mentioned drawbacks. C3 is also considered as a base case to highlight the main benefits of C1 and C2 in improving the PQ by reducing the %THD of the voltage and current system and improving the systems’ voltage waveforms. With C2, voltage fluctuation is decreased by 98%, but it nearly disappears in C1 during normal conditions. Additionally, during the fault period, voltage distortion is reduced by 95% and 100% with C2 and C1, respectively. Furthermore, when comparing C1 to C2 and C3 under regular conditions, the percentage reduction in THD is remarkable. In addition, C1 eliminates the need for voltage sag, and harmonic and current harmonic detectors, and it helps to streamline the control approach and boost control precision. The modeling and simulation of the prepared system are performed by MATLAB/Simulink. Finally, it can be concluded that the acquired results are very interesting and helpful in the recovery to the steady state of wind systems and nonlinear loads, thereby increasing their grid connection capabilities.
A License Plate Recognition System with Robustness against Adverse Environmental Conditions Using Hopfield’s Neural Network
Authors: Rajebi Saman , Pedrammehr Siamak , Mohajerpoor Reza
Published: April 2023

License plates typically have unique color, size, and shape characteristics in each country. This paper presents a general method for character extraction and pattern matching in license plate recognition systems. The proposed method is based on a combination of morphological operations and edge detection techniques, along with the bounding box method for identifying and revealing license plate characters while removing unwanted artifacts such as dust and fog. The mathematical model of foggy images is presented and the sum of gradients of the image, which represents the visibility of the image, is improved. Previous works on license plate recognition have utilized non-intelligent pattern matching techniques. The proposed technique can be applied in a variety of settings, including traffic monitoring, parking management, and law enforcement, among others. The applied algorithm, unlike SOTA-based methods, does not need a huge set of training data and is implemented only by applying standard templates. The main advantages of the proposed algorithm are the lack of a need for a training set, the high speed of the training process, the ability to respond to different standards, the high response speed, and higher accuracy compared to similar tasks.
Lithium Niobate for Fast Cycling in Li-ion Batteries: Review and New Experimental Results
Authors: Hüger Erwin , Riedel Lukas , Zhu Jing , Stahn Jochen , Heitjans Paul , Schmidt Harald
Published: April 2023

Li-Nb-O-based insertion layers between electrodes and electrolytes of Li-ion batteries (LIBs) are known to protect the electrodes and electrolytes from unwanted reactions and to enhance Li transport across interfaces. An improved operation of LIBs, including all-solid-state LIBs, is reached with Li-Nb-O-based insertion layers. This work reviews the suitability of polymorphic Li-Nb-O-based compounds (e.g., crystalline, amorphous, and mesoporous bulk materials and films produced by various methodologies) for LIB operation. The literature survey on the benefits of niobium-oxide-based materials for LIBs, and additional experimental results obtained from neutron scattering and electrochemical experiments on amorphous LiNbO3 films are the focus of the present work. Neutron reflectometry reveals a higher porosity in ion-beam sputtered amorphous LiNbO3 films (22% free volume) than in other metal oxide films such as amorphous LiAlO2 (8% free volume). The higher porosity explains the higher Li diffusivity reported in the literature for amorphous LiNbO3 films compared to other similar Li-metal oxides. The higher porosity is interpreted to be the reason for the better suitability of LiNbO3 compared to other metal oxides for improved LIB operation. New results are presented on gravimetric and volumetric capacity, potential-resolved Li+ uptake and release, pseudo-capacitive fractions, and Li diffusivities determined electrochemically during long-term cycling of LiNbO3 film electrodes with thicknesses between 14 and 150 nm. The films allow long-term cycling even for fast cycling with rates of 240C possessing reversible capacities as high as 600 mAhg−1. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) shows that the film atomic network is stable during cycling. The Li diffusivity estimated from the rate capability experiments is considerably lower than that obtained by EIS but coincides with that from secondary ion mass spectrometry. The mostly pseudo-capacitive behavior of the LiNbO3 films explains their ability of fast cycling. The results anticipate that amorphous LiNbO3 layers also contribute to the capacity of positive (LiNixMnyCozO2, NMC) and negative LIB electrode materials such as carbon and silicon. As an outlook, in addition to surface-engineering, the bulk-engineering of LIB electrodes may be possible with amorphous and porous LiNbO3 for fast cycling with high reversible capacity.
The Role of Protective Surface Coatings on the Thermal Stability of Delithiated Ni-Rich Layered Oxide Cathode Materials
Authors: Reissig Friederike , Ramirez-Rico Joaquin , Placke Tobias Johannes , Winter Martin , Schmuch Richard , Gomez-Martin Aurora
Published: April 2023

To achieve a broader public acceptance for electric vehicles based on lithium-ion battery (LIB) technology, long driving ranges, low cost, and high safety are needed. A promising pathway to address these key parameters lies in the further improvement of Ni-rich cathode materials for LIB cells. Despite the higher achieved capacities and thus energy densities, there are major drawbacks in terms of capacity retention and thermal stability (of the charged cathode) which are crucial for customer acceptance and can be mitigated by protecting cathode particles. We studied the impact of surface modifications on cycle life and thermal stability of LiNi0.90Co0.05Mn0.05O2 layered oxide cathodes with WO3 by a simple sol–gel coating process. Several advanced analytical techniques such as low-energy ion scattering, differential scanning calorimetry, and high-temperature synchrotron X-ray powder diffraction of delithiated cathode materials, as well as charge/discharge cycling give significant insights into the impact of surface coverage of the coatings on mitigating degradation mechanisms. The results show that successful surface modifications of WO3 with a surface coverage of only 20% can prolong the cycle life of an LIB cell and play a crucial role in improving the thermal stability and, hence, the safety of LIBs.
Downscaling Industrial-Scale Syngas Fermentation to Simulate Frequent and Irregular Dissolved Gas Concentration Shocks
Authors: Puiman Lars , Almeida Benalcázar Eduardo , Picioreanu Cristian , Noorman Henk J. , Haringa Cees
Published: April 2023

In large-scale syngas fermentation, strong gradients in dissolved gas (CO, H2) concentrations are very likely to occur due to locally varying mass transfer and convection rates. Using Euler-Lagrangian CFD simulations, we analyzed these gradients in an industrial-scale external-loop gas-lift reactor (EL-GLR) for a wide range of biomass concentrations, considering CO inhibition for both CO and H2 uptake. Lifeline analyses showed that micro-organisms are likely to experience frequent (5 to 30 s) oscillations in dissolved gas concentrations with one order of magnitude. From the lifeline analyses, we developed a conceptual scale-down simulator (stirred-tank reactor with varying stirrer speed) to replicate industrial-scale environmental fluctuations at bench scale. The configuration of the scale-down simulator can be adjusted to match a broad range of environmental fluctuations. Our results suggest a preference for industrial operation at high biomass concentrations, as this would strongly reduce inhibitory effects, provide operational flexibility and enhance the product yield. The peaks in dissolved gas concentration were hypothesized to increase the syngas-to-ethanol yield due to the fast uptake mechanisms in C. autoethanogenum. The proposed scale-down simulator can be used to validate such results and to obtain data for parametrizing lumped kinetic metabolic models that describe such short-term responses.
Responding to ACL Injury and its Treatments: Comparative Gene Expression between Articular Cartilage and Synovium
Authors: Donnenfield Jonah I. , Proffen Benedikt L. , Fleming Braden C. , Murray Martha M.
Published: April 2023

The relationship between cartilage and synovium is a rapidly growing area of osteoarthritis research. However, to the best of our knowledge, the relationships in gene expression between these two tissues have not been explored in mid-stage disease development. The current study compared the transcriptomes of these two tissues in a large animal model one year following posttraumatic osteoarthritis induction and multiple surgical treatment modalities. Thirty-six Yucatan minipigs underwent transection of the anterior cruciate ligament. Subjects were randomized to no further intervention, ligament reconstruction, or ligament repair augmented with an extracellular matrix (ECM) scaffold, followed by RNA sequencing of the articular cartilage and synovium at 52 weeks after harvest. Twelve intact contralateral knees served as controls. Across all treatment modalities, the primary difference in the transcriptomes was that the articular cartilage had greater upregulation of genes related to immune activation compared to the synovium—once baseline differences between cartilage and synovium were adjusted for. Oppositely, synovium featured greater upregulation of genes related to Wnt signaling compared to articular cartilage. After adjusting for expression differences between cartilage and synovium seen following ligament reconstruction, ligament repair with an ECM scaffold upregulated pathways related to ion homeostasis, tissue remodeling, and collagen catabolism in cartilage relative to synovium. These findings implicate inflammatory pathways within cartilage in the mid-stage development of posttraumatic osteoarthritis, independent of surgical treatment. Moreover, use of an ECM scaffold may exert a chondroprotective effect over gold-standard reconstruction through preferentially activating ion homeostatic and tissue remodeling pathways within cartilage.
Natural Killer Cells, as the Rising Point in Tissues, Are Forgotten in the Kidney
Authors: Ma Ke , Zheng Zi-Run , Meng Yu
Published: April 2023

Natural killer (NK) cells are members of a rapidly expanding family of innate lymphoid cells (ILCs). NK cells play roles in the spleen, periphery, and in many tissues, such as the liver, uterine, lung, adipose, and so on. While the immunological functions of NK cells are well established in these organs, comparatively little is known about NK cells in the kidney. Our understanding of NK cells is rapidly rising, with more and more studies highlighting the functional significance of NK cells in different types of kidney diseases. Recent progress has been made in translating these findings to clinical diseases that occur in the kidney, with indications of subset-specific roles of NK cells in the kidney. For the development of targeted therapeutics to delay kidney disease progression, a better understanding of the NK cell with respect to the mechanisms of kidney diseases is necessary. In order to promote the targeted treatment ability of NK cells in clinical diseases, in this paper we demonstrate the roles that NK cells play in different organs, especially the functions of NK cells in the kidney.
Two-Pore-Domain Potassium Channel TREK–1 Mediates Pulmonary Fibrosis through Macrophage M2 Polarization and by Direct Promotion of Fibroblast Differentiation
Authors: Zhang Yunna , Fu Jiafeng , Han Yang , Feng Dandan , Yue Shaojie , Zhou Yan , Luo Ziqiang
Published: April 2023

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a devastating disease characterized by myofibroblast proliferation and abnormal accumulation of extracellular matrix in the lungs. After lung injury, M2 macrophages mediate the pathogenesis of pulmonary fibrosis by secreting fibrotic cytokines that promote myofibroblast activation. The TWIK-related potassium channel (TREK–1, also known as KCNK2) is a K2P channel that is highly expressed in cardiac, lung, and other tissues; it worsens various tumors, such as ovarian cancer and prostate cancer, and mediates cardiac fibrosis. However, the role of TREK–1 in lung fibrosis remains unclear. This study aimed to examine the effects of TREK–1 on bleomycin (BLM)-induced lung fibrosis. The results show that TREK–1 knockdown, mediated by the adenovirus or pharmacological inhibition of TREK–1 with fluoxetine, resulted in diminished BLM-induced lung fibrosis. TREK–1 overexpression in macrophages remarkably increased the M2 phenotype, resulting in fibroblast activation. Furthermore, TREK–1 knockdown and fluoxetine administration directly reduced the differentiation of fibroblasts to myofibroblasts by inhibiting the focal adhesion kinase (FAK)/p38 mitogen-activated protein kinases (p38)/Yes-associated protein (YAP) signaling pathway. In conclusion, TREK–1 plays a central role in the pathogenesis of BLM-induced lung fibrosis, which serves as a theoretical basis for the inhibition of TREK–1 as a potential therapy protocol for lung fibrosis.
Modular Set of Reagents in Lateral Flow Immunoassay: Application for Antibiotic Neomycin Detection in Honey
Authors: Barshevskaya Lyubov V. , Sotnikov Dmitriy V. , Zherdev Anatoly V. , Dzantiev Boris B.
Published: April 2023

A scheme of modular competitive immunochromatography with an analyte-independent test strip and changeable specific immunoreactants has been proposed. Native (detected) and biotinylated antigens interact with specific antibodies during their preincubation in solution, that is, without the immobilization of reagents. After this, the detectable complexes on the test strip are formed by the use of streptavidin (which binds biotin with high affinity), anti-species antibodies, and immunoglobulin-binding streptococcal protein G. The technique was successfully applied for the detection of neomycin in honey. The visual and instrumental detection limits were 0.3 and 0.014 mg/kg, respectively, and the degree of neomycin revealed in honey samples varied from 85% to 113%. The efficiency of the modular technique with the use of the same test strip for different analytes was confirmed for streptomycin detection. The proposed approach excludes the necessity of finding the condition of immobilization for each new specific immunoreactant and transferring the assay to other analytes by a simple choice of concentrations for preincubated specific antibodies and the hapten–biotin conjugate.
Sleep Quality Should Be Assessed in Inpatient Rehabilitation Settings: A Preliminary Study
Authors: Winters Benjamin , Serpas Dylan , Fullmer Niko , Hughes Katie , Kincaid Jennifer , Rosario Emily R. , Schnakers Caroline
Published: April 2023

Objectives: In this preliminary, longitudinal study, our objective was to assess changes in sleep quality during an inpatient stay in a rehabilitation setting in the United States and to relate changes to patients’ demographic and clinical characteristics (i.e., age, gender, BMI, ethnicity, reason for hospitalization, pre-hospital living setting, prior diagnosis of sleep disorders, and mental health status). Methods: A total of 35 patients participated in this preliminary study (age = 61 ± 16 years old, 50% <65; BMI = 30 ± 7 kg/m2; 51% female; 51% Caucasian). The average length of hospitalization was 18 ± 8 days. Reasons for hospitalization included orthopedic-related issues (28%), spinal cord injury (28%), stroke (20%), and other (23%). In this sample, 23% had prior sleep disorders (mostly sleep apnea), and 60% came from an acute care unit. Patients’ sleep quality was assessed using the Pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI) at admission and before discharge. Demographic and medical data were collected. Patients’ mental health status was also assessed at the same intervals. Nighttime sound levels and the average number of sleep disturbances were also collected throughout the study (6 months). Results: Our data revealed that most patients had poor sleep (PSQI > 5) at admission (86%) and discharge (80%). Using a repeated ANOVA, a significant interaction was obtained between sleep quality and the presence of a diagnosed sleep disorder [F (1, 33) = 12.861, p = 0.001, η2p = 0.280]. The sleep quality of patients with sleep disorders improved over their stay, while the sleep of patients without such disorders did not. The mean nighttime sound collection level averages and peaks were 62.3 ± 5.1 dB and 86.1 ± 4.9 dB, respectively, and the average number of sleep disturbances was 2.6 ± 1.1. Conclusion: The improved sleep observed in patients with vs. without sleep disorders might be related to the care received for treating such disorders over the stay. Our findings call for the better detection and management of poor sleep in acute inpatient rehabilitation settings. Furthermore, if our findings are replicated in the future, studies on the implementation of quiet times for medical staff, patients, and family should be performed to improve sleep quality in the inpatient rehabilitation setting.
A Perceptual Approach to the Impact of CSR on Organizational Financial Performance
Authors: Cazacu Marian , Dumitriu Simona , Georgescu Iulian , Berceanu Dorel , Simion Dalia , Vărzaru Anca Antoaneta , Bocean Claudiu George
Published: April 2023

Corporate social responsibility (CSR) is a progressively significant issue for organizations and governments. To benefit from a good reputation that reflects on organizational performance, organizations must ensure the balance between stakeholders’ needs. This paper studies the direct and indirect effects of CSR on organizational financial performance as perceived by employees of organizations. The investigation used structural equation modeling to evaluate and describe the nature of the relationship between these two variables. The empirical study uses a perceptual approach, evaluating the perceptions of the closest stakeholders (employees). Data on the perceptions of 431 employees in Romanian organizations were collected following a questionnaire-based survey. The results indicate a strong effect of social responsibility on both direct and mediated organizational financial performance. The relationships established with the stakeholders ultimately affect organizational financial performance through variables such as the attraction and retention of employees, the attraction and loyalty of customers, more accessible access to capital, and the organization’s reputation.
Application of Emerging Technologies to Improve Construction Performance
Authors: Xu Shuyuan , Wang Jun , Liu Yong , Yu Feng
Published: April 2023

Over the preceding several decades, the architectural, engineering, and construction (AEC) industries have witnessed significant advances due to the rapid development of information technology [...]
Non-Destructive Damage Detection of Structural Joint by Coaxial Correlation Method in 6D Space
Authors: Buka-Vaivade Karina , Kurtenoks Viktors , Serdjuks Dmitrijs
Published: April 2023

Failure of joints can lead to structural collapse. It is vital to monitor joint stiffness during operation to prevent such failures. This paper proposes a novel method for the quality assessment of structural joints using coaxial correlation in 6D space. Coaxially placed 6D sensors on either side of the joint implemented by 3D accelerometers and 3D gyroscopes with wide frequency range, automatic synchronisation between the input signal and receivers and response signal averaging are presented. The root mean square (RMS) value from the obtained signals convolution is proposed as a measure of the similarity between two signals for monitoring joint degradation. The method’s effectiveness was tested on steel beam splice connection, where it was found that the RMS of convolution signals in 6D space showed a direct correlation between the calculated RMS value in X, Y, GX, and GY axes directions and the stiffness grades of the joint. The paper concludes that the nature of the RMS during the degradation of the joint may change in different axes, and wrongly chosen axes may lead to wrong conclusions regarding the state of the investigated joint, especially in the case of complex joints, so that the measurements in 6D provide higher reliability of the result interpretation.