bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Study on erosion characteristics of gas-liquid-solid three-phase flow on drilling four-way
Authors: Liu Pu , zhang ruiqi , Wang Zhiping , Tan Ruifeng , Li Kaixuan
Published: September 2024

In the process of drilling oil and gas Wells, due to the complexity of the formation fluid pressure system and the subjective and objective factors in drilling operations, the original pressure balance in the wellbore may be destroyed, resulting in the formation fluid entering the well and causing the overflow phenomenon. When studying the erosion wear of drilling four-pass, most of them focus on the wear effect caused by two-phase flow, while ignoring the impact caused by gas-liquid-solid three-phase flow. Aiming at the erosion wear problem of four-pass pipeline during the well killing process when gas encroachment occurs, based on the DPM erosion prediction model, FLUENT software is used to numerically simulate the erosion wear rule of four passes when gas encroachment occurs, and the change rule of the erosion wear position and maximum erosion rate of drilling four passes caused by different particle size and flow rate of cuttings is analyzed. The results show that the erosion damage is mainly concentrated in the bypass inlet intersecting line and bypass channel. The gas-liquid-solid three-phase flow caused by gas invasion will aggravate the erosion wear. When the mass flow rate of cuttings is constant, the maximum erosion rate at the intersecting line also increases with the increase of particle size. Only the mass flow rate of cuttings is changed, and the maximum erosion rate increases with the mass flow rate increasing.
A multi-fidelity transfer learning strategy for surface deformation measurement of large reflector antennas
Authors: Zhang Zihan , Ye Qian , Wang Na , Meng Guoxiang
Published: September 2024

As the observation frequency of large-aperture antennas increases, the requirements for measuring main reflector deformation have become more stringent. Recently, the rapid development of deep learning has led to its application in antenna deformation prediction. However, achieving high accuracy requires a large number of high-fidelity deformation samples, which is often challenging to obtain. To address these problems, this paper establishes a high-accuracy antenna surface deformation measurement model based on a multi-fidelity transfer learning neural network (MF-TLNN). Firstly, a low-fidelity surrogate model is constructed using a large number of simulation deformation samples to ensure its robustness. Secondly, the MF-TLNN structure is designed and trained using a small number of high-fidelity samples obtained from actual measurements of the main reflector deformation. Thirdly, a Zernike correction module is utilized to provide additional constraints and ensure the stability of the results. Experimental results show that the proposed method can closely approximate radio holography measurements in terms of accuracy and is almost real-time in terms of speed.
Novel immunogenic cell death inducer combined with autophagy inhibitor to amplify photodynamic synergistic immunotherapy for triple-negative breast cancer
Authors: Yuan Gankun , Yang Ruyue , Wen Wenjing , Wei Zhaoyi , Song Meiru , Zhang Lingyang , Hou Kun , Liang Gaofeng
Published: September 2024

Background Activating immunogenic cell death (ICD) represents a promising therapeutic strategy for tumor immunotherapy. However, photodynamic therapy (PDT)-mediated ICD effects are severely limited due to the extremely short half-life and limited diffusion radius of reactive oxygen species (ROS) hinder effective endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress induction. In addition, targeted therapy of triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) remain hugely challenging due to the lack of expression of multiple receptors.
Results Herein, we synthesized a hierarchical targeting and controllable intelligent nanodelivery material Da-CD@CET@CQ, loaded with highly efficient ER-targeted photosensitizers CET and autophagy inhibitor chloroquine (CQ). Excitingly, Da-CD@CET@CQ NPs can selectively target TNBC tumor cells and the CET was effectively released in the tumor microenvironment, enabling local accumulation of photosensitizers in the ER and in situ ROS production, which causing stronger ER stress and amplifying the ICD effect, further increasing the immune suppression of tumor growth. More importantly, CQ released by Da-CD@CET@CQ NPs can inhibit autophagy to destroy damaged cell repair, and further enhance the anti-tumor ability of PDT.
Conclusions Our findings indicate that we reported a novel strategy of photosensitizing ICD inducer to amplify ICD effects and combination with autophagy inhibition, which provides a meaningful guideline for targeted PDT synergistic immunotherapy of TNBC in the future.
An Inverter based OTA with Novel Tunable Pseudoresistor and its Application in Arrhythmia Detection using Machine Learning Algorithms
Authors: FARSHORI MOHAMMAD , NIZAMUDDIN M , HASHMI FARAZ , ASLAM FAIZ , ZULQARNAIN MOHAMMAD
Published: September 2024

In this work, inverter based operational trans-conductance amplifier (OTA) is designed using different configurations of FinFET and CNTFET. Performance parameters (gain, power, bandwidth, and output resistance) of the OTA have been analyzed with variation of CNT parameters. In addition, inverter based OTA is used as a core amplifier in chopper stabilized amplifier. Three different novel configurations of tunable pseudoresistor are used as feedback resistor in chopper stabilized amplifier and their impact on OTA design has been observed. Also, a machine learning based model is designed for arrhythmia diagnosis. The performance of the designed model is evaluated using training accuracy and training loss for various algorithms. Confusion matrix is also used to show the performance of various algorithms.
Clinical and basic longitudinal analyses of root canal therapy
Authors: Júnior Wilson Bambirra , Guimarães Victor Hugo Dantas , Maia Lucas Moreira , de Brito Luciana Carla Neves , Vieira Leda Quercia , Guimarães André Luiz Sena , Marquiore Larissa Fassarela , Sobrinho Antônio Paulino Ribeiro , Tavares Warley Luciano Fonseca
Published: September 2024

Objective
To quantitatively assess the gene expression of microbial rRNA 16S and fragments of the Internal Transcribed Spacer (ITS) region of fungi within infected root canals.
Materials and methods
Twenty-two individuals undergoing endodontic treatment were divided into two groups: 11 with infected teeth and 11 without infection. #20 paper points were inserted into the pulp cavity at various time points (T0, T1, T2, and T3) during the cleaning and shaping procedure. Real-time PCR was utilized to analyze the gene expression of microbial 16S rRNA and fragments of the ITS region of the gDNA of Candida species, as well as the expressions of cytokine and chemokine genes.
Results
The expression levels of 16S mRNA, IL-1β, and IL-17 decreased after cleaning and shaping procedures, while an initial increase in Candida abundance was noted in infected teeth. TNF-α expression significantly increased in both groups. No significant differences were observed in the expression of IFN-γ, IL-10, CCL-2, CCL-5, ITGAL, and ITGA5. Over time, expressions of ITGA1 and ITGA4 in the experimental group notably decreased. The mRNA expression of the macrophage cell marker (CD64) showed no significant differences between the groups. In contrast, mRNA expression in fibroblasts (S100A4) significantly increased 15 days post-treatment.
Conclusion
A correlation was found between bacterial load, yeast abundance in root canal systems, and mRNA expression of cytokines and chemokines.
Clinical Relevance
The undertaking of fundamental scientific research is indispensable in comprehending the dynamics of molecules and microorganisms, enabling the assessment of factors that directly or indirectly impact the clinical framework.
Asymptotic normality for the estimators in heteroscedastic semiparametric EV models with α-mixing errors
Authors: Wang Xuejun , Xi Mengmei , Huang Haiwu , Wang Rui
Published: September 2024

In this paper, the heteroscedastic semi-parametric errors-in-variables (EV) model, yi = ξiβ + g(ti) + ϵi, xi = ξi + μi, is considered, where ϵi = σiei, σ2 i = f(ui), β is an unknown parameter to be estimated, g(·) and f(·) are unknown functions to be estimated. The asymptotic normalities for the estimators of β, g(·) and f(·) are presented under α-mixing random errors in either the errors are homoscedastic or heteroscedastic. Simulation studies are concerned to verify the finite sample behavior of the estimators.
Mathematical Subject Classification: 62E20; 62F12; 62G20
Integrating self-efficacy and career anchor: a multi-dimensional model to enhance vocational college students' employment competitiveness
Authors: shuangshuang liu
Published: September 2024

With With the growth of the digital economy and the advancement of China's “Made in 2025” initiative, people pay more and more attention to the employment competitiveness of graduates from vocational colleges. Based on career anchor theory and self-efficacy theory, this study uses a partial least square structural equation model to analyze the sample data. It discusses the influence mechanism of cross-professional learning, career development and planning, and career network expansion on employment competitiveness. The results show that these factors significantly improve students' employment competitiveness, while self-efficacy and employment matching play an important mediating role. This study provides valuable insights for governments in formulating education policies, emphasizes the importance of supporting cross-disciplinary learning and providing systematic and personalized career development and planning guidance, and makes specific recommendations to strengthen career guidance and services. This study innovatively integrates self-efficacy theory and career anchor theory to build a brand new theoretical framework. Such cross-theoretical integration not only deepens the understanding of the psychological mechanism of individual career development, but also provides a new research path and perspective for subsequent research.
Effectiveness of Yoga Pranayama in Reducing Anxiety Levels Among Caregiver of Children With Mental Disorders in Denpasar
Authors: Putra Surya Pradnyana , Ardani I Gusti Ayu Indah , Sutrisna I Putu Belly , Putra I Wayan Gede Artawan Eka
Published: September 2024

Background: Caregivers of children with mental disorders often face significant psychological challenges, including elevated anxiety levels. This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of yoga pranayama as a non-pharmacological intervention in reducing anxiety among these caregivers in Denpasar.
Method: The research employed a pre-experimental design with a one-group pre-post-test approach involving 36 caregivers recruited from the Disability Service Center in Denpasar City. The intervention consisted of 30-minute yoga pranayama sessions conducted once a week for four consecutive weeks. Anxiety levels were measured using the Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HARS) before and after the intervention period.
Results: The results revealed a significant decrease in HARS scores from pre-test (29.5 ± 8.56) to post-test (6.42 ± 3.65), with paired t-test analysis showing a mean difference of 23.083 points (95% CI: 20.205 - 25.962, p < 0.001).
Conclusion: These findings demonstrate that yoga pranayama is an effective strategy for reducing anxiety levels among caregivers of children with mental disorders in Denpasar. The substantial and statistically significant reduction in anxiety scores suggests that integrating yoga pranayama into support programs for caregivers could be a valuable approach to improving their mental well-being. This study contributes to the growing evidence supporting mind-body interventions in caregiversupport. It highlights the potential of yoga pranayama as an accessible and beneficial practice for this population.
Green Synthesis of Silver Nanoparticles using Alkanna Tinctoria Aqueous Leaf Extract and its Antibacterial and Antioxidant Activity Against Cancer Cell Lines
Authors: Alotaibi Rajeh , Alshammari Riyadh H. , Almadhhi Sultan , Alobaidi Ahmed , Alshammari Saad , Rady Ahmad
Published: September 2024

Nanotechnology plays a pivotal role in advancing materials science, particularly through the development of nanoparticles, which are integral in a variety of industrial applications. This study focuses on silver nanoparticles (AgNPs), which are highly valued in multiple sectors due to their unique physical, chemical, and biological properties. We explore the green synthesis of AgNPs using the aqueous leaf extract of “Alkanna tinctorial”. This method not only ensures a sustainable and eco-friendly approach but also facilitates the production of nanoparticles with controlled sizes and shapes, which are crucial for their efficacy and application versatility. The synthesized AgNPs were characterized using advanced techniques including X-ray Diffraction (XRD), UV-visible Spectroscopy (UV-Vis), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR), and Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM). These characterizations confirm the successful synthesis and desired physicochemical properties of the AgNPs. The research highlights the broad applications of these AgNPs, demonstrating significant antimicrobial properties and potential anticancer activities. The nanoparticles showed a notable efficacy against a range of bacterial strains and exhibited promising anticancer properties in vitro, particularly tested against the HepG2 cell line. The AgNPs induce apoptosis and inhibit cellular proliferation, showcasing their potential as therapeutic agents in medical applications. This study substantiates the potential of biogenically synthesized AgNPs to serve as a safer, more efficient alternative to conventional nanoparticles, offering significant advantages in healthcare and beyond, owing to their tailored functionalities and reduced toxicity. The findings promote further exploration and development of green synthesis methods in nanoparticle production, ensuring sustainability and broad applicability in modern technology and medicine.
Laser methane emission monitoring based on harmonic ratio feature and estimation of absorption pulse parameters
Authors: Nguyen Bach , Baryskievic Anatol , Baryskievic Illa , Tsviatkou Viktar
Published: September 2024

Monitoring of methane from oil and natural gas operations is essential to mitigate environmental risks and promote sustainable practices. The method is an effective tool to detect methane presence and compute methane concentration under condition of low signal to noise ratio. The proposed adaptive time synchronous moving average, multiband decomposition and pulse signal fusion of laser signal allow to reduce measurement noise. The harmonic ratio features and time-amplitude features improve taking into consideration the properties of the absorption signal and pulse allow to improve the methane estimation accuracy. Experimental results show that the methane detection accuracy and classification accuracy are equal to 100% and 86.5%, respectively. The estimation accuracy of methane concentration in terms of R2 value equal to 0.995.
How universal adhesive systems with nanoencapsulated flavonoids improve long-term bonding to caries-affected dentin
Authors: Falconi-Páez Camila , Núñez Alejandra , Navarro Tobia Gastón , González-Vaca Claudia Carolina , Campos Lucas Arrais , Dávila-Sánchez Andrés , Arrais Cesar Augusto Galvão
Published: September 2024

Objectives
To evaluate the effect of nano-encapsulated flavonoids in universal adhesives on resin-dentin bond-strength (µTBS) and nanoleakage (NL) on artificial caries-affected dentin (CAD).
Materials and Methods
Artificial CAD was created on the occlusal dentin surfaces of 60 human third molars by a microbiological assay. Nanoencapsulated quercetin (Q) and naringin (N) were incorporated into Prime&Bond Universal (PBU; Dentsply-Sirona) and Single Bond Universal (SBU, 3M ESPE). The adhesive systems with and without (control) flavonoids were applied to the CAD surface, which was validated by Knoop microhardness (KNH), and a 4-mm resin composite block (TPH Spectrum, Dentsply Sirona) was built up and light-cured. Specimens were sectioned into resin-dentin sticks and tested in tension in a universal testing machine. µTBS and NL tests were performed after 24-h and 6-month water storage (WS). The HL was subjected to micro-raman analysis to detect N and Q. µTBS and NL data were analyzed using a non-parametric three-way repeated measures ANOVA test followed by Bonferroni's test (α = 5%). KNH data was analyzed using a paired Student´s t test.
Results
CAD exhibited significantly lower KNH values than sound dentin. N and Q nanocapsules increased µTBS and reduced NL values after WS. At 24-h, PBU group showed higher NL values than SBU group, and the values decreased after WS. Q and N were detected within the HL.
Conclusions
Incorporating nanoencapsulated flavonoids may improve longevity of universal bonding systems applied to CAD.
Clinical Relevance:
Adhesives restorations with therapeutical compounds might be an option to create stable bonding over time.
Transforming Mental Healthcare: A Crude Return-on-Investment Analysis of the Chhattisgarh Community Mental Healthcare Tele-Mentoring Program (CHaMP), India
Authors: Maheshwari Prerna , Mukherjee Sukriti , Suchandra Hari Hara , Patley Rahul , Ibrahim Ferose Azeez , Jain Sumi , H Harsha A , Manjunatha Narayana , Kumar Channaveerachari Naveen , Math Suresh Bada
Published: September 2024

Background
Mental illness poses a significant public health concern globally, with depressive and anxiety disorders alone costing over $1 trillion annually in lost productivity. In Chhattisgarh, India, a resource-limited state, the Chhattisgarh Community Mental Healthcare Tele-Mentoring Program (CHaMP) is operational to train Primary Care Doctors (PCDs) in mental health diagnosis and treatment. This paper evaluates its economic impact using a crude return on investment (ROI) analysis.
Methods
A total of 2,056 PCDs received over 1,600 hours of training, resulting in the diagnosis and treatment of 51,738 patients with mental health disorders from September 2019 to September 2022. The program's impact was evaluated by comparing costs between consultations at tertiary care hospitals and PHCs, factoring in expenses for travel, food, incidental fees, and wage losses. Stakeholders involved in cost estimations included psychiatrists, government officials, program participants, and beneficiaries. The calculated financial metrics included return on investment (ROI) by calculating the percentage of the net profit by the cost of investment. The initiative's total investment encompassed training materials, salaries, and logistical expenses for trainers visiting districts.
Result
The total project cost was INR 1,19,71,000 (142,706 USD), while the savings from reduced out-of-pocket expenditure and wage losses amounted to INR 5,82,83,182 (694,792 USD), yielding a net profit of INR 4,63,12,182 (552,086 USD) and an ROI of 386%, indicating that the gains from the program's investment are 3.8 times the cost of implementation, yielding significant economic benefits. This means that for every 1 rupee the government invests, the public saves approximately 4 rupees in out-of-pocket expenditure. This demonstrates that the program effectively reduces the cost of providing primary mental healthcare to the community.
Conclusion
The study emphasizes the effectiveness of integrating mental health services into primary healthcare by leveraging technology for training. The provision of community-based care is associated with a significant return on investment. Further studies are needed with formal cost-benefit methods.
Brain dynamics of speech modes encoding: Loud and Whispered speech versus Standard speech
Authors: Sanders Bryan , Lancheros Monica , Bourqui Marion , Laganaro Marina
Published: September 2024

Loud speech and whispered speech are two distinct speech modes that are part of daily verbal exchanges, but that involve a different employment of the speech apparatus. However, a clear account of whether and when the motor speech (or phonetic) encoding of these speech modes differs from standard speech has not been provided yet. Here, we addressed this question using Electroencephalography (EEG)/Event related potential (ERP) approaches during a delayed production task to contrast the production of speech sequences (pseudowords) when speaking normally or under a specific speech mode: loud speech in experiment 1 and whispered speech in experiment 2. Behavioral results demonstrated that non-standard speech modes entail a behavioral encoding cost in terms of production latency. Standard speech and speech modes’ ERPs were characterized by the same sequence of microstate maps, suggesting that the same brain processes are involved to produce speech under a specific speech mode. Only loud speech entailed electrophysiological modulations relative to standard speech in terms of waveform amplitudes but also temporal distribution and strength of neural recruitment of the same sequence of microstates in a large time window (from approximatively − 220 ms to -100 ms) preceding the vocal onset. Alternatively, the electrophysiological activity of whispered speech was similar in nature to standard speech. On the whole, speech modes and standard speech seem to be encoded through the same brain processes but the degree of adjustments required seem to vary subsequently across speech modes.
Chitosan-Gallic Acid Conjugate with Enhanced Functional Properties and Synergistic Wound Healing Effect
Authors: Hiatsevich Katsiaryna V. , Hileuskaya Kseniya S. , Nikalaichuk Viktoryia V. , Ladutska Alena I. , Akhmedov Oliy R. , Abrekova Nadjiye N. , You Lijun , Shao Ping , Odonchimeg Munkhjargal M.
Published: September 2024

Chitosan-gallic acid conjugates were synthesized by carbodiimide method and characterized by physicochemical methods (UV-vis, FTIR, 1H NMR, TGA). The FTIR and NMR assays confirmed that the chemical interaction occurred solely due to the formation of an amide bond. It was established that by varying the ratio of the components during synthesis it is possible to obtain conjugates with desired conjugation ratio, grafting efficiency and gallic acid content up to 8%, 71% and 80 µg gallic acid/mg chitosan, respectively. Chitosan-gallic acid conjugate with a 5% conjugation ratio demonstrated excellent antioxidant properties: the IC50 value for ABTS radical scavenging activity was 0.0073±0.0001 mg/mL. In vitro tests showed that conjugation of chitosan with phenolic acid provided the antiglycemic activity of the material and its good biocompatibility. A low level of cytotoxicity was recorded in the HaCaT cell line model (IC50 was 1030.4 μg/mL). The received eco-friendly chitosan-gallic acid conjugate effectively inhibited the growth of thermophilic spore-forming bacteria G. thermodenitrificans and the resistant to classical antibiotics strain A. palidus. The results of an in vivo comparative analysis showed that chitosan-gallic acid conjugate had excellent wound healing properties due to the synergism of the polysaccharide and the natural antioxidant.
The Oxylipin Dependent Quorum Sensing System enhances Pseudomonas aeruginosa dissemination during burn-associated infection
Authors: Martinez Eriel , Im Hansol , Campos-Gomez Javier , Orihuela Carlos J.
Published: September 2024

Following severe burn injury, Pseudomonas aeruginosa is the leading cause of life-threatening infection. Herein, we unveil how P. aeruginosa strategically employs host-derived oleic acid, released as consequence of burn-injury, to induce a hypervirulent phenotype via its Oxylipin Dependent Quorum Sensing system (ODS). ODS activation enhanced P. aeruginosa invasion of burned skin and promoted its dissemination to distant organs in vivo. ODS regulation of P. aeruginosa virulence involved the control of nitic oxide levels, a key signaling molecule in bacteria, through upregulation of the nitric oxide reductases NorCB. Immunization with OdsA, one of the enzymes involved in oxylipin generation, or treatment with a pharmacological inhibitor of OdsA, protected mice against lethal P. aeruginosa infection following burn-injury. Our findings reveal a new mechanism underlying P. aeruginosa hypervirulence in burn wounds and identifies OdsA as a promising target for preventing disseminated infections following burns.
Bioengineered 3D microvessels reveal novel determinants of Trypanosoma congolense sequestration
Authors: Porqueddu Teresa , De Niz Mariana , Casas-Sánchez Aitor , Introini Viola , Zorrinho-Almeida Maria , Sender Silvia Sanz , Carrasqueira Diana , Figueiredo Luisa , Bernabeu Maria , Pereira Sara Silva
Published: September 2024

In the mammalian host, Trypanosoma congolense cytoadheres to the vascular endothelium in a process known as sequestration. Although sequestration influences clinical outcome, disease severity and organ pathology, its determinants and mediators remain unknown. Challenges such as the variability of animal models, the only-recently developed tools to genetically manipulate the parasite, and the lack of physiologically relevant in vitro models have hindered progress. Here, we engineered brain and cardiac 3D bovine endothelial microvessel models that mimic the bovine brain microvasculature and the bovine aorta, respectively. By perfusing these models with two T. congolense strains, we simulated physiologically relevant conditions and investigated the roles of flow for parasite sequestration and tropism for different endothelial beds. We discovered that sequestration is dependent on cyclic AMP signalling, closely linked to parasite proliferation, but not associated with parasite transmission to the tsetse fly vector. Finally, by comparing the expression profiles of sequestered and non-sequestered parasites collected from a rodent model, we showed gene expression changes in sequestered parasites, including of the surface variant antigens. This work presents a physiologically-relevant platform to study trypanosome interactions with the vasculature and provides a deeper understanding of the molecular and biophysical mechanisms underlying T. congolense sequestration.
Mobius Assembly for Plant Systems highlights promoter-coding sequences-terminator interaction in gene regulation
Authors: Nakayama Naomi , Kocaoglan Elif Gediz , Andreou Andreas , Nirkko Jessica , Villarreal Marisol , Loake Gary
Published: September 2024

Plants are the primary biological platforms for producing food, energy, and materials in agriculture; however, they remain a minor player in the recent synthetic biology-driven transformation in bioproduction. Molecular tools and technologies for complex, multigene engineering in plants are as yet limited, with the challenge to enhance their stability and predictivity. Here, we present a new standardized and streamlined toolkit for plant synthetic biology, Mobius Assembly for Plant Systems (MAPS). It is based on small plant binary vectors pMAPs, which contain a fusion origin of replication that enhances plasmid yield in both Escherichia coli and Rhizobium radiobacter. MAPS includes a new library of promoters and terminators with different activity levels; part sizes were minimized to improve construct stability and transformation efficiency. These promoters and terminators were characterized using a high-throughput protoplast expression assay. We observed a significant influence of terminators on gene expression, as the strength of a single promoter can change more than seven-folds in combination with different terminators. Changing the coding sequence changed the relative strength of promoter and terminator pairs, thus uncovering combinatorial gene regulation among all parts of a transcriptional unit. We further gained insights into the mechanisms of such interactions by analyzing RNA folding, with which we suggest a design principle for more predictive and context-independent genetic parts in synthetic biology of plant systems and beyond.
Geographic Information System based multi-criteria decision-making for onshore wind farm site selection in Brazil
Authors: Garbellini Lucas , Ke Shangjun , Gummidi Srinivasa Raghavendra Bhuvan , Dong Di , Birkved Morten , Liu Gang
Published: September 2024

Spatial planning and development of wind energy is key to reducing fossil fuels dependency and promoting green economic growth. However, site selection for wind farms is complex involving multiple techno-economic, social, and environmental perspectives. Here, we used a Geographic Information System-based Multi-Criteria Decision-Making approachto conduct the first nationwide onshore wind farm site selection for Brazil, one of the world’s top countries for wind resources and renewable energy. The approach involved 6 evaluation criteria and 14 constraint factors based on the Brazilian country profile, and weights for these criteria were generated using the Analytic Hierarchy Process method based on the result of a survey carried out among Brazilian experts. Under the Wind Power Expansion scenario (to identify all minimally suitable areas for future wind farms), nearly 20% (1,67 million km²) of theBrazilian land was identified suitable, equivalent to a theoretical wind power capacity of 15,812 GW. In comparison, the High Economic Reward scenario (to reveal the most suitable and available areas for future wind farms) indicated a suitable area of 14,268 km², and the best options for installing onshore wind farms were found to be mainly concentrated along the eastern coast, withRio Grande do Norte, Paraiba, and Bahia as the leading states. Our method can be extended to other regions and countries and our empirical results provide precise geographic insights into spatial planning for newonshore wind farm projects for Brazilian decision-makers.
Physicochemical characteristics of safflower oil to expand its production in Egypt
Authors: El-Baset Walid S. Abd , Almoselhy Rania I.M. , Abd-Elmageed Susan M.M.
Published: September 2024

Background: Increasing demand for sustainable and economical non-traditional edible oils as alternatives to common oils is pivotal to bridge the edible oils gap, accompanied by negative impacts of climate change on the agroecological settings for common oilseed crop productivity. Safflower is one of the fast-growing medicinal oilseed crops rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids, known as the “king of linoleic acid”, with capability for growing under high temperatures, drought, salinity, and marginal environments.
Aims: The current research aimed to study in-depth the physicochemical characteristics along with the lipid nutritional indices of safflower oil to validate its potential for expansion in production in Egypt.
Materials and Methods: Safflower oils extracted from seeds of two spineless varieties of Egypt were subjected to proximate composition, physicochemical, fatty acid composition, and α-tocopherol analyses. A frying stability test was carried out for safflower oil and its blends with soybean oil in different ratios, monitored by analyses of free fatty acid, peroxide value, and total polar compounds. Lipid nutritional indices were calculated to explore their health-related applications.
Results: Safflower oil revealed similar proximate composition as sunflower oil with similar physicochemical characteristics. The fatty acid composition of safflower oil was greatly similar to sunflower oil, with smaller oleic acid and greater linoleic acid contents, along with recognized stability in the frying process. Lipid nutritional indices calculated from the fatty acid composition supported the medicinal uses of safflower oil as a valuable source of ω-6 fatty acids and revealed optimum indices of atherogenicity (IA), thrombogenicity (IT), and hypocholesterolemic/hypercholesterolemic (HH) with the health-promoting index (HPI) along with the powerful antioxidant effect of the high content of α-tocopherol.
Conclusions: Safflower oil successfully demonstrated its potential as a promising non-traditional edible oil qualified for expansion in production in Egypt.
Análise de lesões cutâneas para detecção de melanoma: explorando o potencial da visão computacional
Authors: Silva Caio Damasceno , Brito Rhyan Ximenes de , Vieira Neto Mateus Alves , Oliveira Saulo Anderson Freitas de , Ximenes Janaide Nogueira de Sousa
Published: September 2024

O melanoma é uma doença que acomete pessoas no mundo inteiro, ocorrendo quando as células responsáveis pela pigmentação da pele tornam-se cancerígenas. O intuito deste estudo é examinar o desempenho de algoritmos de segmentação de imagens como, Otsu, Watershed, Chan-Vese, de extração de atributos, Gray Level Co-occurrence Matrix, Local Binary Pattern e Structural Co-occurrence Matrix, seguidos de algoritmos de classificação, como Random Forest, K-Nearest Neighbors e MultilayerPerceptron. Nesse sentido, o conjunto de dados PH2 foi utilizado para avaliar as estratégias sugeridas. Os resultados obtidos mostraram taxas de acurácia de 95%, precisão de 96%, revocação de 100%, especificidade de 92% e score-F1 de 95%, o que indica a efetividade dessas abordagens na identificação do melanoma. Esses resultados fornecem informações relevantes para futuras pesquisas e aplicações clínicas no campo do diagnóstico assistido por computador.
Use of hyperboloid as an adjunct in functional jaw orthopedics – case report
Authors: Augusto Novo Borghi Fabiana
Published: September 2024

Anterior open bite can be defined as a malocclusion with a negative vertical discrepancy between the incisal edges of the upper and lower anterior teeth, which do not have occlusal contacts with the antagonists and sometimes extends to the canines and, less frequently, to the premolars is one of the malocclusions with the greatest aesthetic and/or functional impairment. Anterior open bite can have several etiologies: finger sucking and/or pacifier, oral breathing, onychophagia, lip interposition, atypical swallowing, tongue interposition when uttering phonemes and anterior posture of the tongue at rest. Orofacial myofunctional disorders are present in cases of anterior open bite, generally associated with etiologies and adapt to this altered morphological condition. Regarding the anterior opening amplitude, the anterior open bite is classified as: minimum up to 1 mm, moderate between 1 and 5 mm and severe +5 mm [1]. Open bite can be classified into: maxillary, mandibular and hybrid open bite [2]. Myofunctional therapy is considered a treatment method that can increase muscle strength, cause changes in functional patterns and thus prevent deviations in craniofacial development, as it promotes new posture of structures at rest and during the performance of the functions of the stomatognathic system [3]. The hyperboloid is an instrument for increasing muscle tone and when used in chewing, it is efficient in inducing growth and remodeling. The hyperboloid fills a gap in the modern diet, with the consistency of hard, raw and dry foods [4]. Exercises with a size M hyperboloid with wire were prescribed as an initial approach. After 2 months of treatment, there was an improvement in the interincisor distance. The exercise was maintained for another 5 months. He stopped attending appointments for 2 years and 2 months. Upon his return, the results of the functional examination of swallowing, chewing, protrusion and laterality were observed, and we opted for the installation of the SN3. the hyperboloid, in this case, showed its efficiency in balancing the stomatognathic system.
Dynamic responses of large-diameter variable-section group-piles subjected to shaking-table tests with varying scour depths
Authors: Xiao Bing , Cai Jie , Dong Jiansong
Published: September 2024

Scouring leads to soil loss around piles, which, in turn, changes the ground-vibration characteristics and influences the seismic performance of bridges. In this study, the Xiang’an Bridge was used as a reference for constructing a large shaking-table test model to investigate the dynamic characteristics of the pore-pressure ratio of saturated sandy soils, accelerations, and bending moments of the piles, as well as the horizontal displacements of the pile-top at scouring depths of 10, 20, and 32 cm, with ground-vibration intensities ranging from 0.10-0.45 g. The results indicated that as the scour depth increased, the pile acceleration of the group piles increased and changed abruptly at the variable cross-section and soil-stratum interface. The peak values of the horizontal displacement of the pile-top and bending moment of the pile exhibited an increasing trend. As the ground-shaking intensity increased, the pore-pressure ratio of the saturated sandy soil, pile acceleration of the group piles, horizontal displacement of the pile-top, and bending moment of the pile body gradually increased, whereas the base frequency of the pile foundation gradually decreased. This study can serve as a reference for the seismic design and reinforcement of scour bridges in areas prone to seismic activity.
A sandwich-type Winkler-Pasternak double elastic foundation beam model for analysis of nut column load transfer systems of shiplifts
Authors: Liao Lekang
Published: September 2024

The rack and pinion shiflifts feature its capability of fortification against extreme accidents of unbalance of ship chamber. This requires the load transfer systems of nut columns to be able to transfer the huge and centralized loads from the safety mechanisms to the tower columns in a distributive bearing way. Aiming at exploring a design-oriented computation method for the nut column load transfer systems (NCLTSs), a sandwich-type semi-infinite coupling Winkler-Pasternak double elastic foundation beam model (DEFBM) has been established, with a distributive assumption of the axial constrain force on the interfaces between the nut columns, mortar beds, adjusting beams and the second stage concrete based on the physical model test, has been proposed. A set of formulars for describing the distribution of deflections, internal forces and stress of nut columns and adjusting beams have been derived. A case study of the Three-Gorges shiplift has been conducted to demonstrate the approach of calculation of internal forces and stress by applying the formulas based on sandwich-type Winkler-Pasternak DEFBM, showing the convenience and rationality of the method to parametric layout design of the nut columns and adjusting beams in NCLTSs. Not only to NCLTSs and rack load transfer systems of shiplifts, the sandwich-type Winkler-Pasternak DEFBM also supplies the reference to the modeling and analysis of the rail-embedment structural systems broadly applied in hydraulic engineering.
Comparative Study on Precision and Interference of Maltose and Vitamin C among three Glucometers Commonly Used in United Arab Emirates (U.A.E)
Authors: Ali Shajitha Farvin Akbar , Krimi Bassma , Alhamadi Mona , Ghazal Aya , Zuburtikudis Ioannis , Alawami Mohammed , Dickson Lynnsay
Published: September 2024

Aim:

To evaluate the suitability of commercially available glucometers in the UAE in terms of accurate and reliable blood glucose measurements.

Background:

Portable glucometers are employed for measuring blood glucose levels, offering distinct advantages such as providing instant results and being
user-friendly when compared to laboratory reference analyzers. However, certain molecules, such as those found in medications, can interfere with
the accuracy of glucometer readings.

Objective:

To evaluate the precision and interference in the presence of maltose and vitamin C of three glucometers commercially available in the UAE.

Results:

Accu-Chek InstantTM demonstrated the highest precision among the glucometers tested, with a coefficient of variation of less than 5% for all
measured glucose values. In contrast, OneTouch Select Plus FlexTM and Trister GlucoscanTM exhibited higher variability in precision, with
coefficients of variation of 11.4% and 11%, respectively. Accu-Chek InstantTM consistently performed well in terms of bias and precision in the
presence of interferences, and does not display glucose readings above 50mg/dL of Vitamin C. Notably, Ascorbic acid induced a greater bias
compared to Maltose for all three glucometers.

Methods:

We utilized plasma samples to conduct two types of experiments: a precision experiment and an interference experiment. We compared the
precision of three glucometer brands available in the United Arab Emirates [Accu-Chek InstantTM, One Touch Select Plus FlexTM, and Trister
GlucoScanTM] in the presence or not of various interfering molecules, such as Maltose and Ascorbic Acid [Vitamin C].

Conclusion:

The performance of the glucometer is affected by its testing methodology. Accu-Chek InstantTM shows improved precision and is able to detect the
presence of Vitamin C. When it comes to Maltose interference, it results in a higher bias change but lower variability, which can be addressed by
applying a correction factor.
Lipid-based Non-viral Vector: Promising Approach for Gene Delivery
Authors: Panday Anupama , Dixena Bhupendra , Jain Nishant , Jain Akhlesh Kumar
Published: September 2024

Objectives:

The present review aims to discuss various strategies to overcome intracellular and extracellular
barriers involved in gene delivery as well as the advantages, challenges, and mechanisms of gene delivery
using non-viral vectors. Additionally, patents, clinical studies, and various formulation approaches related
to lipid-based carrier systems are discussed.

Methods:

Data were searched and collected from Google Scholar, ScienceDirect, Pubmed, and Springer.

Results:

In this review, we have investigated the advantages of non-viral vectors over viral vectors. The advantage
of using non-viral vectors are that they seek more attention in different fields. They play an important role
in delivering the genetic materials. However, few non-viral vector-based carrier systems have been found in
clinical settings. Challenges are developing more stable, site-specific gene delivery and conducting thorough
safety assessments to minimize the undesired effects.

Conclusion:

In comparison to viral vectors, non-viral vector-based lipid nanocarriers have more advantages
for gene delivery. Gene therapy research shows promise in addressing health concerns. Lipid-based nanocarriers
can overcome intracellular and extracellular barriers, allowing efficient delivery of genetic materials. Nonviral
vectors are more attractive due to their biocompatibility, ease of synthesis, and cost-effectiveness. They
can deliver various nucleic acids and have improved gene delivery efficacy by avoiding degradation steps. Despite
limited clinical use, many patents have been filed for mRNA vaccine delivery using non-viral vectors.
A Captivating Potential of Schiff Bases Derivatives for Antidiabetic Activity
Authors: Sahu Rakesh , Shah Kamal
Published: September 2024

A double bond between the nitrogen and carbon atoms characterizes a wide class of compounds
known as Schiff bases. The flexibility of Schiff bases is formed from several methods and may be combined
with alkyl or aryl substituents. The group is a part of organic compounds, either synthetic or natural, and it
serves as a precursor and an intermediate in drugs that have therapeutic action. The review focuses on molecular
docking and structure-activity relationship (SAR) analysis for antidiabetic effects of the different nonmetal
Schiff bases. Many studies have found that Schiff bases are used as linkers in an extensive range of synthesized
compounds and other activities. Thus, this current study aims to give the scientific community a
thoughtful look at the principal ideas put forward by investigators regarding antidiabetic actions exhibited by
certain Schiff-based derivatives, as this review covered many aspects, including docking and SAR analysis.
For individuals who intend to create novel antidiabetic compounds with Schiff bases as pharmacophores or
physiologically active moieties, it will be an invaluable informational resource.
Organic Transformations through Cooperative Bimetallic Catalysis: An Overview
Authors: Podder Susmita
Published: September 2024

Under the broad domain of multimetallic catalysis, the utilisation of two transition
metals (either homometallic or heterometallic) as catalysts in a cooperative way to
enhance reactivity and promote higher stereoselectivity and versatility has witnessed remarkable
advancements in organic synthesis in the last two decades. This review attempts
to provide an account of the development in the recent past to its progress now in this area,
highlighting the importance of simultaneous catalytic cycles in the mechanistic pathway
and optimal reaction conditions for organic transformations leading to building blocks of
importance in biology and pharmaceutical applications. The reactions presented here include,
among others, C-H activation, reductive cross-coupling, allenylation, tandem isomerisation-
allylation, heteroarylation, and asymmetric synthesis.
An Insight into Ethanopharmacology, Phytochemistry, and Pharmacological Properties of Genus Andrographis
Authors: Nooreen Zulfa , Teli Sangappa , Srivastava Parul , Dash Biswajit , Wal Ankita , Imran Mohd , Gasmi Amin
Published: September 2024

Andrographis is a member of the family Acantheceae. It contains approximately
44 accepted species. Among them, Andrographis paniculata has been extensively studied
during the last decade. The genus contains triterpenoids as the main class of compound,
along with carotenoids, flavonoids, glycosides, xanthones, phenolic compounds, and fatty
acid compounds. A. paniculata has been reported in Ayurveda, homeopathy, naturopathy,
and Siddha. Traditionally, the genus is utilized in treating diarrhea, parasitic problems, liver
illness, various skin problems, fever, snake bites, cough and many more. Pharmacological
activities like antioxidant, neuroprotective, anti-inflammatory, antimalarial, hepatoprotective,
antibacterial antiviral, anticancer, and antidiabetic have been documented in it with
scientific evidence. Various components found in this genus show broad biological opportunities
for novel medicinal medicines. Andrographolide is the major chemical constituent present in almost all
the species. It has been reported for various pharmacological activities, mostly for antioxidant and anticancer.
The genus is widely spread among India, China, Southeast Asia, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, Thailand, and basically
tropical and subtropical Asia. In India, it is found in Nallamala Hills, Andhra Pradesh, and South India. The
present review has provided a critically analyzed vision of phytochemistry, traditional uses, and pharmacological
applications of the genus Andrographis. The current information was collected systematically from scientific
databases, including Google Scholar, PubMed, ACS Publications, SciFinder, Science Direct, and Web of
Science.