bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Metamorphism and P-T Evolution of High-Pressure Granulites from the Fuping Complex, North China Craton
Authors: Zhang Zijing , Zheng Changqing , Liang Chenyue , Santosh M. , Hao Junjie , Dong Lishuai , Hou Jianjun , Hou Feifei , Li Meihui
Published: January 2024

Granulite facies rocks provide important keys to evaluating collisional metamorphism in orogenic belts. The mafic granulites of Baoding in the Fuping Complex of the North China Craton occur within the Trans-North China Orogen (TNCO), a major Paleoproterozoic collisional orogen. Here, we present results from detailed investigations on newly discovered garnet pyroxenite, garnet two-pyroxene granulite, and garnet-bearing-plagioclase amphibolite using petrographic, mineralogical, geochemical, and zircon U-Pb dating methods. Our results show that the Fuping Complex metamorphic evolution in this study evolved in four stages: prograde (M1), high-pressure granulite facies (M2), granulite facies (M3), and retrograde (M4) stages. The mineral assemblage of the prograde stage (M1) consists of Amp + Pl + Q within garnet cores. The mineral assemblage of high-pressure granulite facies at the peak stage (M2) consists of Gt + Cpx + Pl + Q ± Amp, forming the garnet pyroxenite. The granulite facies stage M3 is characterized by the occurrence of orthopyroxene, with a mineral assemblage of Gt + Cpx + Opx + Amp+ Pl + Q. The early retrograde stage M4-1 includes clinopyroxenes scattered inside amphiboles, following the breakdown of garnet and clinopyroxene. The mineral assemblage of this stage comprises Amp + Pl + Q + Ilm ± Cpx. Later, in the late retrograde stage M4-2, the composition of amphiboles changed to actinolite, and epidote and chlorite started to appear in the matrix. Traditional geothermobarometry yielded P-T conditions of 700~706 °C and 6.0~6.2 kbar for prograde stage M1, 854~920 °C and 13.0~13.8 kbar for high-pressure granulite facies stage M2, 912~939 °C and 8.1~9.9 kbar for M3, 661~784 °C and 3.1~4.4 kbar for M4-1, and 637~638 °C, 1.1~1.3 kbar for M4-2, along a clockwise P-T path with a nearly isothermal decompression (ITD) and slight heating. Zircon LA-ICP-MS U-Pb dating constrains the timing of the high-pressure granulite facies metamorphic event to be between 1.83 and 1.86 Ga. Geochemical features suggest that the protoliths of the high-pressure granulites may have formed in an island arc environment within a convergent margin setting. Together with results from previous studies, our data suggest that the ~1.85 Ga metamorphic age recorded in the Fuping Complex represents a regional metamorphism in the TNCO, associated with the subduction–collision and assembly of the Eastern and Western Blocks of the NCC.
Study on the Size Dependence of the Shell-Breaking Response of Micro/Nano Al Particles at High Temperature
Authors: Zhou Zhengqing , Chai Lujia , Wang Tianyi , Jiang Huiling , Bai Zhiming , Yuan Wenbo , Sang Jinguo
Published: January 2024

The reactivity of Al nanoparticles is significantly higher than that of micron Al particles, and the thermal reaction properties exhibit notable distinctions. Following the previous studies on micron Al particles, the shell-breaking response of Al nanoparticles under vacuum conditions was analyzed using COMSOL simulation. Relationships between thermal stabilization time, shell-breaking cause, shell-breaking response time, and particle size were obtained, and a systematic analysis of the differences between micrometer and nanometer-sized particles was conducted. The results indicate that the thermal stabilization time of both micrometer and nanometer particles increases with the enlargement of particle size. The stress generated by heating Al nanoparticles with sizes ranging from 25–100 nm is insufficient to rupture the outer shell. For particles within the size range of 200 nm to 70 μm, the primary cause of shell-breaking is compressive stress overload, while particles in the range of 80–100 μm experience shell rupture primarily due to tensile stress overload. These results provide an important basis for understanding the shell-breaking mechanism of microns and nanoparticles of Al and studying the oxidation mechanism.
High Thermal Performance Ultraviolet (368 nm) AlGaN-Based Flip-Chip LEDs with an Optimized Structure
Authors: Sun Guanlang , Dong Taige , Luo Aixin , Yang Jiachen , Dong Ying , Du Guangda , Hong Zekai , Qin Chuyu , Fan Bingfeng
Published: January 2024

In this study, we have fabricated a 368 nm LED with an epitaxial Indium Tin Oxide (ITO) contact layer. We analyze the thermal performance of the flip-chip LED with a symmetric electrode and metal reflective layer, applying ANSYS to build a coupled electro-thermal finite element model (FEM) of the temperature distribution in the multiple quantum wells (MQWs). We compare our system with the traditional Au-bump flip-chip LED and a flip-chip LED with a Distributed Bragg Reflector (DBR) layer. The simulation results have shown that the flip-chip LED with a metal reflective layer and symmetric electrode exhibits better heat dissipation performance, particularly at high input power. The influence of the insulating layer on the LED chip junction temperature is also examined. The simulation data establish an effect due to the thermal conductivity of the insulating layer in terms of heat dissipation, but this effect is negligible at an insulation layer thickness ≤1 µm.
Structural, Electronic and Vibrational Properties of B24N24 Nanocapsules: Novel Anodes for Magnesium Batteries
Authors: Corona Domenico , Buonocore Francesco , Bechstedt Friedhelm , Celino Massimo , Pulci Olivia
Published: January 2024

We report on DFT-TDDFT studies of the structural, electronic and vibrational properties of B24N24 nanocapsules and the effect of encapsulation of homonuclear diatomic halogens (Cl2, Br2 and I2) and chalcogens (S2 and Se2) on the interaction of the B24N24 nanocapsules with the divalent magnesium cation. In particular, to foretell whether these BN nanostructures could be proper negative electrodes for magnesium-ion batteries, the structural, vibrational and electronic properties, as well as the interaction energy and the cell voltage, which is important for applications, have been computed for each system, highlighting their differences and similarities. The encapsulation of halogen and chalcogen diatomic molecules increases the cell voltage, with an effect enhanced down groups 16 and 17 of the periodic table, leading to better performing anodes and fulfilling a remarkable cell voltage of 3.61 V for the iodine-encapsulated system.
Fresh Parent’s Own Milk for Preterm Infants: Barriers and Future Opportunities
Authors: Briere Carrie-Ellen , Gomez Jessica
Published: January 2024

While direct at-the-breast feeding is biologically optimal, Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) admission due to infant immaturity or illness often necessitates the expression and storage of parent’s milk. The provision of freshly expressed (never stored) parent’s own milk to preterm infants is not widely prioritized, and this article provides an exploration of NICU practices and their implications for feeding premature or ill infants with parent’s own milk. In this article, we discuss the potential biological benefits of fresh parent’s own milk, highlighting its dynamic components and the changes incurred during storage. Research suggests that fresh milk may offer health advantages over stored milk. The authors advocate for further research, emphasizing the need for standardized definitions. Research is needed on the biological impact of fresh milk, both short- and long-term, as well as defining and understanding healthcare economics when using fresh milk.
Exclusive Enteral Nutrition Beneficially Modulates Gut Microbiome in a Preclinical Model of Crohn’s-like Colitis
Authors: Geesala Ramasatyaveni , Recharla Neeraja , Zhang Ke , Johnson John C. , Golovko George , Khanipov Kamil , Brining Douglas L. , Shi Xuan-Zheng
Published: January 2024

Exclusive enteral nutrition (EEN) is an established dietary treatment for Crohn’s disease (CD) by alleviating inflammation and inducing remission. However, the mechanisms of action of EEN are incompletely understood. As CD is associated with gut microbiome dysbiosis, we investigated the effect of EEN on the microbiome in a rat model of CD-like colitis. The rat model of CD-like colitis was established by an intracolonic instillation of TNBS at 65 mg/kg in 250 µL of 40% ethanol. Sham control rats were instilled with saline. Rats were fed ad libitum with either regular pellet food or EEN treatment with a clear liquid diet (Ensure). Rats were euthanized at 7 days. Fecal pellets were collected from the distal colon for 16S rRNA sequencing analysis of gut microbiota. In addition, colon tissues were taken for histological and molecular analyses in all the groups of rats. EEN administration to TNBS-induced CD rats significantly improved the body weight change, inflammation scores, and disease activity index. The mRNA expression of IL-17A and interferon-γ was significantly increased in the colonic tissue in TNBS rats when fed with regular food. However, EEN treatment significantly attenuated the increase in IL-17A and interferon-γ in TNBS rats. Our 16S rRNA sequencing analysis found that gut microbiota diversity and compositions were significantly altered in TNBS rats, compared to controls. However, EEN treatment improved alpha diversity and increased certain beneficial bacteria such as Lactobacillus and Dubosiella and decreased bacteria such as Bacteroides and Enterorhabdus in CD-like rats, compared to CD-like rats with the regular pellet diet. In conclusion, EEN treatment increases the diversity of gut microbiota and the composition of certain beneficial bacteria. These effects may contribute to the reduced inflammation by EEN in the rat model of CD-like colitis.
Adherence to a Mediterranean Diet Is Inversely Associated with Anxiety and Stress but Not Depression: A Cross-Sectional Analysis of Community-Dwelling Older Australians
Authors: Allcock Lisa , Mantzioris Evangeline , Villani Anthony
Published: January 2024

Diet quality may be an important modifiable risk factor for mental health disorders. However, these findings have been inconsistent, particularly in older adults. We explored the independent associations between adherence to a Mediterranean diet (MedDiet) and severity of symptoms related to depression, anxiety and stress in older adults from Australia. This was a cross-sectional analysis of older Australians ≥ 60 years. MedDiet adherence was assessed using the Mediterranean Diet Adherence Screener (MEDAS), and the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS−21) was used to assess the severity of negative emotional symptoms. A total of n = 294 participants were included in the final analyses (70.4 ± 6.2 years). Adherence to a MedDiet was inversely associated with the severity of anxiety symptoms (β = −0.118; CI: −0.761, −0.012; p = 0.043) independent of age, gender, BMI, physical activity, sleep, cognitive risk and ability to perform activities of daily living. Furthermore, MedDiet adherence was inversely associated with symptoms of stress (β = −0.151; CI: −0.680, −0.073; p = 0.015) independent of age, gender, BMI, physical activity and sleep. However, no relationship between MedDiet adherence and depressive symptoms was observed. We showed that adherence to a MedDiet is inversely associated with the severity of symptoms related to anxiety and stress but not depression. Exploring these findings with the use of longitudinal analyses and robust clinical trials are needed to better elucidate these findings in older adults.
Impact of Dietary Nutrients on the Prevalence of Dry Eye Syndrome among Korean Women Aged 40 and above: Evidence from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey
Authors: Kim Jeong-Mee , Choi Yean-Jung
Published: January 2024

This study aimed to assess the prevalence of dry eye syndrome among Korean women aged 40 and above and explore the correlation between the syndrome and daily dietary nutrient intake. We analyzed data from 92,888 female participants (mean age: 63.35 ± 8.86 years) from the 8th Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES 2019). Dietary intake was evaluated using a personalized 24 h recall method for 21 nutrients, including macronutrients, macro- and micro-minerals, and both water- and fat-soluble vitamins. Associations between nutrient intake and dry eye syndrome were determined using odds ratios from multivariate logistic regression. We found a 7.7% prevalence of dry eye syndrome in the population studied. Intake of dietary fiber (adjusted OR: 0.72), protein (adjusted OR: 0.84), omega-3 fatty acids (adjusted OR: 0.90), water (adjusted OR: 0.76), calcium (adjusted OR: 0.82), phosphate (adjusted OR: 0.87), potassium (adjusted OR: 0.88), magnesium (adjusted OR: 0.87), vitamin A (adjusted OR: 0.78), vitamin C (adjusted OR: 0.73), and vitamin E (adjusted OR: 0.86) was inversely associated with dry eye syndrome prevalence (p < 0.0001 for all). Conversely, a higher intake of carbohydrates (adjusted OR: 1.23), sugar (adjusted OR: 1.30), fat (adjusted OR: 1.25), cholesterol (adjusted OR: 1.32), sodium (adjusted OR: 1.18), iron (adjusted OR: 1.28), and zinc (adjusted OR: 1.26) correlated with an increased risk (p < 0.0001 for all). No significant associations were found between the prevalence of dry eye syndrome and the intake of omega-6 fatty acids and vitamin D. Our study identified significant associations between specific dietary nutrients and the risk of dry eye syndrome among Korean women aged 40 and above. These findings suggest that dietary choices could influence the likelihood of developing dry eye syndrome, indicating a potential role for dietary intervention in its management. However, it is important to note that these observations are preliminary, and further research is necessary to confirm these relationships and explore their implications for dietary recommendations in dry eye syndrome prevention and management.
Design of High-Payload Ascorbyl Palmitate Nanosuspensions for Enhanced Skin Delivery
Authors: Park Jun-Soo , Choi Jun-Hyuk , Joung Min-Yeong , Yang In-Gyu , Choi Yong-Seok , Kang Myung-Joo , Ho Myoung-Jin
Published: January 2024

A high-payload ascorbyl palmitate (AP) nanosuspension (NS) was designed to improve skin delivery following topical application. The AP-loaded NS systems were prepared using the bead-milling technique, and softly thickened into NS-loaded gel (NS-G) using hydrophilic polymers. The optimized NS-G system consisted of up to 75 mg/mL of AP, 0.5% w/v of polyoxyl-40 hydrogenated castor oil (Kolliphor® RH40) as the suspending agent, and 1.0% w/v of sodium carboxymethyl cellulose (Na.CMC 700 K) as the thickening agent, in citrate buffer (pH 4.5). The NS-G system was embodied as follows: long and flaky nanocrystals, 493.2 nm in size, −48.7 mV in zeta potential, and 2.3 cP of viscosity with a shear rate of 100 s−1. Both NS and NS-G provided rapid dissolution of the poorly water-soluble antioxidant, which was comparable to that of the microemulsion gel (ME-G) containing AP in solubilized form. In an ex vivo skin absorption study using the Franz diffusion cell mounted on porcine skin, NS-G exhibited faster absorption in skin, providing approximately 4, 3, and 1.4 times larger accumulation than that of ME-G at 3, 6, and 12 h, respectively. Therefore, the high-payload NS makes it a promising platform for skin delivery of the lipid derivative of ascorbic acid.
Fixed-Dose Combination Formulations in Solid Oral Drug Therapy: Advantages, Limitations, and Design Features
Authors: Wilkins Christi A. , Hamman Hannlie , Hamman Josias H. , Steenekamp Jan H.
Published: January 2024

Whilst monotherapy is traditionally the preferred treatment starting point for chronic conditions such as hypertension and diabetes, other diseases require the use of multiple drugs (polytherapy) from the onset of treatment (e.g., human immunodeficiency virus acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, tuberculosis, and malaria). Successful treatment of these chronic conditions is sometimes hampered by patient non-adherence to polytherapy. The options available for polytherapy are either the sequential addition of individual drug products to deliver an effective multi-drug regimen or the use of a single fixed-dose combination (FDC) therapy product. This article intends to critically review the use of FDC drug therapy and provide an insight into FDC products which are already commercially available. Shortcomings of FDC formulations are discussed from multiple perspectives and research gaps are identified. Moreover, an overview of fundamental formulation considerations is provided to aid formulation scientists in the design and development of new FDC products.
Scalable Photonic Digital-to-Analog Converters
Authors: Masnad Md Mahadi , Safaee S. Mohammad Reza , Najeeb Najla , Mojaver Kaveh Rahbardar , Fouda Mohamed , Peinke Emanuel , Liboiron-Ladouceur Odile
Published: January 2024

This work introduces a novel architecture for implementing a parallel coherent photonic digital-to-analog converter (PDAC), designed to transform parallel digital electrical signals into corresponding analog optical output, convertible to analog electrical signals using photodiodes. The proposed architecture incorporates microring resonator-based modulators (MRMs), phase shifters, and symmetric multimode interference couplers. Efficient modulation is achieved by MRMs utilizing carrier depletion-induced refractive index changes, while metal heaters facilitate tuning of the ring resonator resonance wavelength. The proposed architecture is scalable to higher bit resolutions and exhibits a dynamic range limited by MRM’s sensitivity to applied bias and noise levels. Experimental results of the fabricated chip in the silicon-on-insulator (SOI) platform showcase the successful realization of a 4 GSample/sec conversion rate in a 2-bit resolution operation, along with a stationary conversion of four parallel DC digital signals into 16 analog intensity levels in a 4-bit PDAC configuration. The study encompasses a proof-of-concept experimental demonstration of 8 Gbps data conversion, along with a 50 Gbps data conversion rate using the optimized design in the simulation, affirming the accuracy and quality of the PDAC architecture. These findings contribute to the advancement of PDAC technology, providing insights into performance characteristics, limitations, and potential applications.
Optimization of the Spot Spacings for Reducing Roughness in Laser-Induced Optical Breakdown Processes for Corneal Laser Vision Correction
Authors: Amann Helen , Arba Mosquera Samuel
Published: January 2024

The aim of this work is to implement an algorithm that simulates a simplified cutting surface based on laser-induced optical breakdown (LIOB). The algorithm includes the definition of a possible positioning of the laser pulses and calculation of the roughness for different parameter settings (including LIOB threshold, pulse energies, and spot spacings) as the difference between simulated and ideal target cut (local differences within the cut, i.e., the waviness of the simulated cut vs. the homogeneity of the ideal target cut). Furthermore, optimizations of specific variables, such as spot distance (along the pathway), track distance (between lines/tracks), and pulse energy, are performed. The simulations suggest that lower pulse energies (well above the LIOB threshold) combined with asymmetric spacings (spot-to-track distance ratio >> 1) may be effective to lower the roughness of laser cuts generated by LIOB processes. The importance of lowering pulse energies (well above the threshold) emphasizes the need for the LIOB threshold to remain low (as low as possible). Reducing roughness by decreasing spacings (thus, increasing dose for same pulse energies) may have negative implications in visual recovery (risk for overdose). In all cases, the roughness is multiple times larger (rougher) than equivalent simulations for ablative procedures.
Water Deficit Diagnosis of Winter Wheat Based on Thermal Infrared Imaging
Authors: Ma Shouchen , Liu Saisai , Gao Zhenhao , Wang Xinsheng , Ma Shoutian , Wang Shengfeng
Published: January 2024

Field experiments were conducted to analyze the effectiveness of the crop stress index (CWSI) obtained by infrared thermal imaging to indicate crop water status, and to determine the appropriate CWSI threshold range for wheat at different growth stages. The results showed that the sensitivity of plant physiological parameters to soil water was different at different growth stages. The sensitivity of stomatal conductance (Gs) and transpiration rate (Tr) to soil water was higher than that of leaf relative water content (LRWC) and photosynthetic rate (Pn). The characteristics of plant physiology and biomass (yield) at each growth stage showed that the plant production would not suffer from drought stress as long as the soil water content (SWC) was maintained above 57.0% of the field water capacity (FWC) during the jointing stage, 63.0% of the FWC during the flowering stage and 60.0% of the FWC during the filling stage. Correlation analysis showed that the correlation of CWSI with Gs, Tr and Pn was lower than that with LRWC and SWC at the jointing stage. CWSI was extremely significantly negatively correlated with SWC and LRWC (p < 0.01), but significantly negatively correlated with Gs, Tr and Pn (p < 0.05). At the flowering stage, CWSI was extremely significantly negatively correlated with all physiological and soil parameters (p < 0.01). The regression analysis showed that the CWSI of winter wheat was correlated with biomass (grain yield) in a curvilinear relationship at each growth stage. When the CWSI increased to a certain extent, the biomass and yield showed a decreasing trend with the increase in CWSI. Comprehensive analysis of all indexes showed that CWSI can be used as a decision-making index to guide the water-saving irrigation of winter wheat, as long as the CWSI threshold of plants was maintained at 0.26–0.38 during the jointing stage, 0.27–0.32 during the flowering stage and 0.30–0.36 during the filling stage, which could not only avoid the adverse effects of water stress on crop production, but also achieve the purpose of water saving.
Phytomonitoring and Phytoremediation of Environmental Pollutants
Authors: Sorrentino Maria Cristina , Giordano Simonetta , Spagnuolo Valeria
Published: January 2024

Since 1973, with the activation of the Environmental Action Program (EAP), the European Union has produced a substantial body of legislative packages aimed at improving the environmental quality; as a result, air, water, and soil pollution have significantly been reduced, as stated by the European Commission in the EAP 2020 [...]
Identifying the Growth Status of Hydroponic Lettuce Based on YOLO-EfficientNet
Authors: Wang Yidong , Wu Mingge , Shen Yunde
Published: January 2024

Hydroponic lettuce was prone to pest and disease problems after transplantation. Manual identification of the current growth status of each hydroponic lettuce not only consumed time and was prone to errors but also failed to meet the requirements of high-quality and efficient lettuce cultivation. In response to this issue, this paper proposed a method called YOLO-EfficientNet for identifying the growth status of hydroponic lettuce. Firstly, the video data of hydroponic lettuce were processed to obtain individual frame images. And 2240 images were selected from these frames as the image dataset A. Secondly, the YOLO-v8n object detection model was trained using image dataset A to detect the position of each hydroponic lettuce in the video data. After selecting the targets based on the predicted bounding boxes, 12,000 individual lettuce images were obtained by cropping, which served as image dataset B. Finally, the EfficientNet-v2s object classification model was trained using image dataset B to identify three growth statuses (Healthy, Diseases, and Pests) of hydroponic lettuce. The results showed that, after training image dataset A using the YOLO-v8n model, the accuracy and recall were consistently around 99%. After training image dataset B using the EfficientNet-v2s model, it achieved excellent scores of 95.78 for Val-acc, 94.68 for Test-acc, 96.02 for Recall, 96.32 for Precision, and 96.18 for F1-score. Thus, the method proposed in this paper had potential in the agricultural application of identifying and classifying the growth status in hydroponic lettuce.
Defense Regulatory Network Associated with circRNA in Rice in Response to Brown Planthopper Infestation
Authors: Yang Hou-Hong , Wang Ya-Xuan , Xiao Jing , Jia Yi-Fan , Liu Fang , Wang Wei-Xia , Wei Qi , Lai Feng-Xiang , Fu Qiang , Wan Pin-Jun
Published: January 2024

The brown planthopper (BPH), Nilaparvata lugens (Stål), a rice-specific pest, has risen to the top of the list of significant pathogens and insects in recent years. Host plant-mediated resistance is an efficient strategy for BPH control. Nonetheless, BPH resistance in rice cultivars has succumbed to the emergence of distinct virulent BPH populations. Circular RNAs (circRNAs) play a pivotal role in regulating plant–environment interactions; however, the mechanisms underlying their insect-resistant functions remain largely unexplored. In this study, we conducted an extensive genome-wide analysis using high-throughput sequencing to explore the response of rice circRNAs to BPH infestations. We identified a total of 186 circRNAs in IR56 rice across two distinct virulence groups: IR-IR56-BPH (referring to IR rice infested by IR56-BPH) and IR-TN1-BPH, along with a control group (IR-CK) without BPH infestation. Among them, 39 circRNAs were upregulated, and 43 circRNAs were downregulated in the comparison between IR-IR56-BPH and IR-CK. Furthermore, in comparison with IR-CK, 42 circRNAs exhibited upregulation in IR-TN1-BPH, while 42 circRNAs showed downregulation. The Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes enrichment analysis revealed that the targets of differentially expressed circRNAs were considerably enriched in a multitude of biological processes closely linked to the response to BPH infestations. Furthermore, we assessed a total of 20 randomly selected circRNAs along with their corresponding expression levels. Moreover, we validated the regulatory impact of circRNAs on miRNAs and mRNAs. These findings have led us to construct a conceptual model that circRNA is associated with the defense regulatory network in rice, which is likely facilitated by the mediation of their parental genes and competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) networks. This model contributes to the understanding of several extensively studied processes in rice-BPH interactions.
Morphology Distribution in Injection Molded Parts
Authors: Liparoti Sara , Salomone Rita , Speranza Vito , Pantani Roberto
Published: January 2024

A more sustainable use of plastic parts makes it necessary to replace current plastic parts with recyclable components, also allowing the modulation of the part properties through the process. Injection molding is one of the most widely used technologies for obtaining rigid plastic parts, so it is crucial to understand how to tailor properties by adopting the correct processing conditions. One way is to perform annealing steps directly inside the mold: in-mold annealing improves the structural integrity and durability of the material, reduces defects, increases the resistance of parts against certain chemicals, reduces wear and tear, increases ductility, and lowers brittleness. In this work, several in-mold annealing steps were conducted, changing the mold temperature and annealing duration selected on the basis of the half crystallization time of the adopted isotactic polypropylene. The typical molded part morphology, composed of oriented layers at the surface, transition zones, and spherulitic core, is strongly affected by in-mold annealing. In particular, the thickness of the oriented layer, which forms in the early phase of the process, decreases, and the spherulites increase in size. Concerning mechanical behavior, the orientation degree mostly determines the elastic modulus value close to the surface, whereas the conditions under which crystallization occurs determine the modulus in the core.
Experimental Verification of the Impact of the Contact Area between the Defect Site and the Scaffold on Bone Regeneration Efficacy
Authors: Kim You Min , Ghim Min-Soo , Quan Meiling , Kim Young Yul , Cho Young-Sam
Published: January 2024

In the field of bone tissue engineering, which is being developed for the ideal restoration of bone defects, researchers are exploring the improvement of the bone regeneration efficacy of scaffolds through various approaches involving osteoconductive, osteoinductive, and angiogenic factors. In the current trend of research, there is also a suggestion that the topological factors of recent scaffolds may influence the attachment, migration, proliferation, and differentiation of bone cells. Building upon experimental confirmation of the effect of scaffold conformity with the defect site on enhanced bone regeneration in previous studies, we conducted this research to experimentally investigate the relationship between contact area with the defect site and bone regeneration efficacy. The results demonstrated that as the contact area of the scaffold increased, not only did the resistance to bone tissue growth increase, more significant bone regeneration also occurred, as evidenced through histological analysis and micro-CT analysis. This research confirms that the contact area between the scaffold and the defect site is a critical variable affecting bone regeneration efficacy, emphasizing its importance when designing customized scaffolds. This finding holds promising implications for future studies and applications in the field.
“Nano in Nano”—Incorporation of ZnO Nanoparticles into Cellulose Acetate–Poly(Ethylene Oxide) Composite Nanofibers Using Solution Blow Spinning
Authors: Voorhis Caroline , González-Benito Javier , Kramar Ana
Published: January 2024

In this work, the preparation and characterization of composites from cellulose acetate (CA)–poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) nanofibers (NFs) with incorporated zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs) using solution blow spinning (SBS) is reported. CA–PEO nanofibers were produced by spinning solution that contained a higher CA-to-PEO ratio and lower (equal) CA-to-PEO ratio. Nanoparticles were added to comprise 2.5% and 5% of the solution, calculated on the weight of the polymers. To have better control of the SBS processing conditions, characterization of the spinning suspensions is carried out, which reveals a decrease in viscosity (two- to eightfold) upon the addition of NPs. It is observed that this variation of viscosity does not significantly affect the mean diameters of nanofibers, but does affect the mode of the nanofibers’ size distribution, whereby lower viscosity provides thinner fibers. FESEM–EDS confirms ZnO NP encapsulation into nanofibers, specifically into the CA component based on UV-vis studies, since the release of ZnO is not detected for up to 5 days in deionized water, despite the significant swelling of the material and accompanied dissolution of water-soluble PEO. Upon the dissolution of CA nanofibers into acetone, immediate release of ZnO is detected, both visually and by spectrometer. ATR–FTIR studies reveal interaction of ZnO with the CA component of composite nanofibers. As ZnO nanoparticles are known for their bioactivity, it can be concluded that these CA–PEO–ZnO composites are good candidates to be used in filtration membranes, with no loss of incorporated ZnO NPs or their release into an environment.
The Crystallization and Melting Behavior of Neodymium-Based Butadiene Rubber Blends
Authors: Li Xiaofan , Zhang Xiaohu , Ji Huan , Wei Yanxing , Xie Xinzheng , Zhu Wenbin , Bi Jifu
Published: January 2024

This study investigates the influence of poly(butadiene-isoprene) copolymer rubber (BIR) and TDAE oil on the crystallization and melting behavior of neodymium-based butadiene rubber (Nd-BR). The study demonstrates that the melting points of Nd-BR and its blends decrease with lower crystallization temperatures. Below the critical crystallization temperature (Tc,c), the melting behavior shows dual peaks in distinct temperature ranges, which are attributed to different spherulitic sizes. The addition of BIR or TDAE oil lowers the Tc,c, with TDAE oil exerting a more substantial effect. These diluents mainly influence the nucleation temperature and crystallinity level of Nd-BR while having a minimal effect on the crystallization mechanism. A master curve, which overlaps for various samples, is developed by correlating the peak melting temperature (Tm,peak) with the Tc. This curve facilitates a quantitative assessment of the effects of BIR and TDAE oil on Nd-BR, highlighting the greater influence of TDAE oil on the crystalline structure compared with BIR at equivalent mass fractions. By applying the Lorentz equation and multi-peak fitting, a relationship between the melting points and crystallization temperatures is established, enabling the calculation of the equilibrium melting points (Tm0) for different samples. The findings show a reduction in the Tm0 due to the diluents; specifically, the Tm0 is approximately 0 °C for pure Nd-BR, and it decreases to −4.579 °C and −6.579 °C for samples with 50 PHR TDAE oil and 60 wt.% BIR, respectively.
Preparation and Properties of Atomic-Oxygen Resistant Polyimide Films Based on Multi-Ring Fluoro-Containing Dianhydride and Phosphorus-Containing Diamine
Authors: Wang Zhenzhong , Ren Xi , Zhang Yan , Yang Changxu , Han Shujun , Qi Yuexin , Liu Jingang
Published: January 2024

Colorless and transparent polyimide (CPI) films with good atomic oxygen (AO) resistance and high thermal endurance are highly required in low earth orbit (LEO) space exploration. Conventional CPI films based on fluoro-containing 4,4′-(hexafluoroisopropylidene)diphthalic anhydride (6FDA) have been widely used in space applications. However, the AO erosion yields and glass transition temperatures (Tg) of the 6FDA-based CPI films have to be modified in order to meet the severe serving environments. In the current work, novel CPI films based on a multi-ring fluoro-containing 9,9-bis(trifluoromethyl)xanthene-2,3,6,7-tetracarboxylicdianhydride (6FCDA) monomer were developed. In order to enhance the AO resistance of the derived CPI film, a phosphorus-containing aromatic diamine, 2,5-bis[(4-aminophenoxy)phenyl]diphenylphosphine oxide (BADPO) was used to polymerize with the dianhydride to create the organo-soluble resin. Then, two phosphorus-containing CPI films (PPI), including PPI-1 (6FDA-BADPO) and PPI-2 (6FCDA-BADPO) were prepared by thermally curing of the PPI solutions at elevated temperatures. The PPI films maintained good optical transparency with transmittance values over 80% at a wavelength of 450 nm. PPI-2 exhibited a Tg value of 311.0 °C by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) measurement, which was 46.7 °C higher than that of the PPI-1 counterpart (Tg = 264.3 °C). In addition, the PPI-2 film showed a coefficient of linear thermal expansion (CTE) value of 41.7 × 10−6/K in the range of 50~250 °C, which was apparently lower than that of the PPI-1 sample (CTE = 49.2 × 10−6/K). Lastly, both of the two PPI films exhibited good AO resistance with the erosion yields (Ey) of 6.99 × 10−25 cm3/atom for PPI-1 and 7.23 × 10−25 cm3/atom for PPI-2 at an exposure flux of 5.0 × 1020 atoms/cm2. The Ey values of the current PPI films were obviously lower than that of the standard polyimide (PI) film based on pyromellitic dianhydride (PMDA) and 4,4′-oxydianiline (ODA) (Ey = 3.0 × 10−24 cm3/atom).
Using a Machine Learning Regression Approach to Predict the Aroma Partitioning in Dairy Matrices
Authors: Anker Marvin , Borsum Christine , Zhang Youfeng , Zhang Yanyan , Krupitzer Christian
Published: January 2024

Aroma partitioning in food is a challenging area of research due to the contribution of several physical and chemical factors that affect the binding and release of aroma in food matrices. The partition coefficient measured by the Kmg value refers to the partition coefficient that describes how aroma compounds distribute themselves between matrices and a gas phase, such as between different components of a food matrix and air. This study introduces a regression approach to predict the Kmg value of aroma compounds of a wide range of physicochemical properties in dairy matrices representing products of different compositions and/or processing. The approach consists of data cleaning, grouping based on the temperature of Kmg analysis, pre-processing (log transformation and normalization), and, finally, the development and evaluation of prediction models with regression methods. We compared regression analysis with linear regression (LR) to five machine-learning-based regression algorithms: Random Forest Regressor (RFR), Gradient Boosting Regression (GBR), Extreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost, XGB), Support Vector Regression (SVR), and Artificial Neural Network Regression (NNR). Explainable AI (XAI) was used to calculate feature importance and therefore identify the features that mainly contribute to the prediction. The top three features that were identified are log P, specific gravity, and molecular weight. For the prediction of the Kmg in dairy matrices, R2 scores of up to 0.99 were reached. For 37.0 °C, which resembles the temperature of the mouth, RFR delivered the best results, and, at lower temperatures of 7.0 °C, typical for a household fridge, XGB performed best. The results from the models work as a proof of concept and show the applicability of a data-driven approach with machine learning to predict the Kmg value of aroma compounds in different dairy matrices.
In-Situ and Ex-Situ Processes during Production, Transportation and Refinery of Heavy Oil
Authors: Aliev Firdavs , Nurgaliev Danis
Published: January 2024

Heavy oil and natural bitumen are expected to be alternatives to the depleting conventional crude oil resources for the coming decades, mainly due to their sustainability, safety and huge number of reserves worldwide [...]
Multi-Criteria Optimization Conditions for the Recovery of Bioactive Compounds from Levisticum officinale WDJ Koch Roots Using Green and Sustainable Ultrasound-Assisted Extraction
Authors: Plawgo Michał , Kocira Sławomir , Bohata Andrea
Published: January 2024

Given that ultrasound-assisted aqueous extraction is gaining importance within “green technology” and to increase the efficiency of extracting bioactive compounds from Levisticum officinale root waste, optimization of its parameters was undertaken. Multi-objective (multi-criteria) optimization can be an extremely promising tool not only for designing and analyzing the extraction process, but also for making process-control decisions. Therefore, the main objective of this study was to develop and optimize an environmentally friendly ultrasound-assisted extraction methodology for the aqueous extraction of bioactive compounds from the roots of Levisticum officinale, which are considered a by-product. The focus was on determining the optimal extraction conditions of the independent variables, such as solid–liquid ratio, extraction time and ultrasound power, so that the optimized extracts present the highest bioactive potential expressed in terms of levels of phenolic compounds, flavonoids, sugars and antioxidant potential. Based on the Pareto-optimal solution sets, it was found that to maximize the criteria, aqueous extraction should be carried out at a Levisticum officinale biomass/solvent ratio of 0.0643 g/mL for a time of 8.1429 to 9.0000 min, with ultrasound assistance of 162.8571 to 201.4286 W. Among the compromise solutions, the so-called “best efficient solution” was indicated as the solution for which the Euclidean distance from the ideal point of Utopia was the smallest (among all analyzed points of the collection), which had coordinates x1comp = 0.0750 g/mL, x2comp = 9.0000 min and x3comp = 214.2857 W. The results obtained will provide a valuable tool to assist in the decision-making process of controlling such an extraction process.
Experimental Study on Gas–Liquid Two-Phase Flow Upstream and Downstream of U-Bends
Authors: Ma Xiaoxu , Gu Zongyao , Ni Delong , Li Chuang , Zhang Wei , Zhang Fengshan , Tian Maocheng
Published: January 2024

In this study, the influence of U-bends on the flow and pressure propagation characteristics of a gas–liquid two-phase flow in upstream and downstream straight pipes was investigated experimentally. The superficial velocities of the gas and liquid are 0.18–25.11 m/s and 0.20–1.98 m/s, respectively, covering plug flow, slug flow, and annular flow. The experiments were conducted in U-tubes with inner diameters of 9 mm and 12 mm and with a curvature ratio of 8.33. The U-tube was C-shaped. The pressure fluctuations at the axial measurement points of the straight tubes were measured. Flow images of the distal straight tubes and U-bends were obtained. The disturbance from U-bends in the two-phase flow in the vicinity of the bend is very obvious. The perturbation from U-bends in the fluid in the adjacent straight tubes is highly related to the incoming flow pattern. The slug flow has the most significant influence, whereas the effects of the plug and annular flows are small. Fundamentally, it mainly depends on the weight relationship between the gravity, centrifugal force, and inertial force of the gas–liquid two-phase fluid. The pressure fluctuation propagates in the form of a wave with the same dominant frequency in the straight pipes of the U-tube. The pressure pulsation energy in the straight tubes strengthens with decreasing distance from the 180° return bend. In addition, the pressure fluctuation energy downstream of the U-bend is greater than that upstream of the return bend.
Environmental Ethics and the Cambridge Platonist Henry More
Authors: Lyonhart Jonathan David
Published: January 2024

Christian environmental ethics have always navigated the thin line between the Scylla of pantheism and the Charybdis of deism. On the one hand, removing God from the world avoids pantheism but can inadvertently render the divine a distant, absentee father who cares little about what we do with the environment. On the other hand, if we bring the Creator too close to creation, we may begin to blur the distinction between them, fringing on pantheism. While making nature divine might at first seem to heighten the environmental desecration of the earth by making it a literal de-sacralizing of the sacred, this may be only a surface-level reading (or, at least, only true of very carefully nuanced versions of pantheism). For the pantheist, God would not just be the trees but the machines that log them; God would not just be the polar bears but the carbon dioxide that is evicting them. God would be no more present in that which is desecrated than in that which does the desecration (e.g., God would be one with the pesticides, bulldozers, and factory smoke). By making God everything, it becomes difficult to call any person, act, legislation, or event godless. This paper offers Henry More’s view of divine space as a constructive, Platonic Christian middle way between these two extremes, charting a God who is spatially present to nature without being pantheistically reducible to it, in the same way that space is intimately close to the objects within it while nonetheless remaining distinct from them. The bulk of the paper counters potential opponents to this proposal, specifically defending Morean space from the charge that it would break down the Creator–creature distinction and/or cave to the environmental Scylla of pantheism.
RETRACTED: Abdallah, I.B.; Bouteraa, Y. A Newly-Designed Wearable Robotic Hand Exoskeleton Controlled by EMG Signals and ROS Embedded Systems. Robotics 2023, 12, 95
Authors: Abdallah Ismail Ben , Bouteraa Yassine
Published: January 2024

The Robotics Editorial Office retracts the article, “A Newly Designed Wearable Robotic Hand Exoskeleton Controlled by EMG Signals and ROS Embedded Systems” [...]
BIMBot for Autonomous Laser Scanning in Built Environments
Authors: Liang Nanying , Ang Yu Pin , Yeo Kaiyun , Wu Xiao , Xie Yuan , Cai Yiyu
Published: January 2024

Accurate and complete 3D point clouds are essential in creating as-built building information modeling (BIM) models, although there are challenges in automating the process for 3D point cloud creation in complex environments. In this paper, an autonomous scanning system named BIMBot is introduced, which integrates advanced light detection and ranging (LiDAR) technology with robotics to create 3D point clouds. Using our specially developed algorithmic pipeline for point cloud processing, iterative registration refinement, and next best view (NBV) calculation, this system facilitates an efficient, accurate, and fully autonomous scanning process. The BIMBot’s performance was validated using a case study in a campus laboratory, featuring complex structural and mechanical, electrical, and plumbing (MEP) elements. The experimental results showed that the autonomous scanning system produced 3D point cloud mappings in fewer scans than the manual method while maintaining comparable detail and accuracy, demonstrating its potential for wider application in complex built environments.
A 3D World Interpreter System for Safe Autonomous Crane Operation
Authors: ter Haar Frank Bart , Ruis Frank , van Manen Bastian Thomas
Published: January 2024

In an effort to improve short-sea shipping in Europe, we present a 3D world interpreter (3DWI) system as part of a robotic container-handling system. The 3DWI is an advanced sensor suite combined with AI-based software and the communication infrastructure to connect to both the crane control and the shore control center. On input of LiDAR data and stereo captures, the 3DWI builds a world model of the operating environment and detects containers. The 3DWI and crane control are the core of an autonomously operating crane that monitors the environment and may trigger an emergency stop while alerting the remote operator of the danger. During container handling, the 3DWI scans for human activity and continuously updates a 3D-Twin model for the operator, enabling situational awareness. The presented methodology includes the sensor suite design, creation of the world model and the 3D-Twin, innovations in AI-detection software, and interaction with the crane and operator. Supporting experiments quantify the performance of the 3DWI, its AI detectors, and safety measures; the detectors reach the top of VisDrone’s leaderboard and the pilot tests show the safe autonomous operation of the crane.