bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Intraamygdaloid Oxytocin Increases Time Spent on Social Interaction in Valproate-Induced Autism Animal Model
Authors: Vörös Dávid , Kiss Orsolya , Ollmann Tamás , Mintál Kitti , Péczely László , Zagoracz Olga , Kertes Erika , Kállai Veronika , László Bettina Réka , Berta Beáta , Toth Attila , Lénárd László , László Kristóf
Published: June 2023

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a pervasive neurodevelopmental disorder that affects about 1.5% of children worldwide. One of the core symptoms is impaired social interaction. Since proper treatment has not been found yet, an investigation of the exact pathophysiology of autism is essential. The valproate (VPA)-induced rat model can be an appropriate way to study autism. Oxytocin (OT) may amend some symptoms of ASD since it plays a key role in developing social relationships. In the present study, we investigated the effect of the intraamygdaloid OT on sham and intrauterine VPA-treated rats’ social interaction using Crawley’s social interaction test. Bilateral guide cannulae were implanted above the central nucleus of the amygdala (CeA), and intraamygdaloid microinjections were carried out before the test. Our results show that male Wistar rats prenatally exposed to VPA spent significantly less time on social interaction. Bilateral OT microinjection increased the time spent in the social zone; it also reached the level of sham-control animals. OT receptor antagonist blocked this effect of the OT but in itself did not significantly influence the behavior of the rats. Based on our results, we can establish that intraamygdaloid OT has significantly increased time spent on social interaction in the VPA-induced autism model, and its effect is receptor-specific.
Phosphatidic Acid Stimulates Lung Cancer Cell Migration through Interaction with the LPA1 Receptor and Subsequent Activation of MAP Kinases and STAT3
Authors: Gomez-Larrauri Ana , Gangoiti Patricia , Camacho Laura , Presa Natalia , Martin Cesar , Gomez-Muñoz Antonio
Published: June 2023

Phosphatidic acid (PA) is a key bioactive glycerophospholipid that is implicated in the regulation of vital cell functions such as cell growth, differentiation, and migration, and is involved in a variety of pathologic processes. However, the molecular mechanisms by which PA exerts its pathophysiological actions are incompletely understood. In the present work, we demonstrate that PA stimulates the migration of the human non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) A549 adenocarcinoma cells, as determined by the transwell migration assay. PA induced the rapid phosphorylation of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) ERK1-2, p38, and JNK, and the pretreatment of cells with selective inhibitors of these kinases blocked the PA-stimulated migration of cancer cells. In addition, the chemotactic effect of PA was inhibited by preincubating the cells with pertussis toxin (PTX), a Gi protein inhibitor, suggesting the implication of a Gi protein-coupled receptor in this action. Noteworthy, a blockade of LPA receptor 1 (LPA1) with the specific LPA1 antagonist AM966, or with the selective LPA1 inhibitors Ki1645 or VPC32193, abolished PA-stimulated cell migration. Moreover, PA stimulated the phosphorylation of the transcription factor STAT3 downstream of JAK2, and inhibitors of either JAK2 or STAT3 blocked PA-stimulated cell migration. It can be concluded that PA stimulates lung adenocarcinoma cell migration through an interaction with the LPA1 receptor and subsequent activation of the MAPKs ERK1-2, p38, and JNK, and that the JAK2/STAT3 pathway is also important in this process. These findings suggest that targeting PA formation and/or the LPA1 receptor may provide new strategies to reduce malignancy in lung cancer.
Biosensing Platform for the Detection of Biomarkers for ALI/ARDS in Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid of LPS Mice Model
Authors: Alekhmimi Nuha Khalid , Cialla-May Dana , Ramadan Qasem , Eissa Shimaa , Popp Jürgen , Al-Kattan Khaled , Zourob Mohammed
Published: June 2023

Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is a worldwide health concern. The pathophysiological features of ALI/ARDS include a pulmonary immunological response. The development of a rapid and low-cost biosensing platform for the detection of ARDS is urgently needed. In this study, we report the development of a paper-based multiplexed sensing platform to detect human NE, PR3 and MMP-2 proteases. Through monitoring the three proteases in infected mice after the intra-nasal administration of LPS, we showed that these proteases played an essential role in ALI/ARDS. The paper-based sensor utilized a colorimetric detection approach based on the cleavage of peptide–magnetic nanoparticle conjugates, which led to a change in the gold nanoparticle-modified paper sensor. The multiplexing of human NE, PR3 and MMP-2 proteases was tested and compared after 30 min, 2 h, 4 h and 24 h of LPS administration. The multiplexing platform of the three analytes led to relatively marked peptide cleavage occurring only after 30 min and 24 h. The results demonstrated that MMP-2, PR3 and human NE can provide a promising biosensing platform for ALI/ARDS in infected mice at different stages. MMP-2 was detected at all stages (30 min–24 h); however, the detection of human NE and PR3 can be useful for early- (30 min) and late-stage (24 h) detection of ALI/ARDS. Further studies are necessary to apply these potential diagnostic biosensing platforms to detect ARDS in patients.
A Quantitative Investigation of Mental Fatigue Elicited during Motor Imagery Practice: Selective Effects on Maximal Force Performance and Imagery Ability
Authors: Di Rienzo Franck , Rozand Vianney , Le Noac’h Marie , Guillot Aymeric
Published: June 2023

In the present study, we examined the development of mental fatigue during the kinesthetic motor imagery (MI) of isometric force contractions performed with the dominant upper limb. Participants (n = 24) underwent four blocks of 20 MI trials of isometric contractions at 20% of the maximal voluntary contraction threshold (20% MVCMI) and 20 MI trials of maximal isometric contractions (100% MVCMI). Mental fatigue was assessed after each block using a visual analogue scale (VAS). We assessed maximal isometric force before, during and after MI sessions. We also assessed MI ability from self-report ratings and skin conductance recordings. Results showed a logarithmic pattern of increase in mental fatigue over the course of MI, which was superior during 100% MVCMI. Unexpectedly, maximal force improved during 100% MVCMI between the 1st and 2nd evaluations but remained unchanged during 20% MVCMI. MI ease and vividness improved during 100% MVCMI, with a positive association between phasic skin conductance and VAS mental fatigue scores. Conversely, subjective measures revealed decreased MI ability during 20% MVCMI. Mental fatigue did not hamper the priming effects of MI on maximal force performance, nor MI’s ability for tasks involving high physical demands. By contrast, mental fatigue impaired MI vividness and elicited boredom effects in the case of motor tasks with low physical demands.
A Case Study on the Application of 3D Scanning Technology in Deformation Monitoring of Slope Stabilization Structure
Authors: Yu Fengxiao , Tong Jianpeng , Peng Yipu , Chen Li , Wang Shuangyu
Published: June 2023

Traditional deformation monitoring suffers from issues such as the point-based representation of surfaces and low measurement efficiency. Moreover, the majority of researchers study the deformation of slopes using methods such as 3S technology, synthetic aperture radar interferometry, distributed fiber optic sensing technology, etc. Based on this, a slope stabilization structure deformation monitoring method based on 3D laser scanning technology is proposed. First, with the slope stabilization structure of Caihong Road as the engineering background, point cloud data of the slope stabilization structure is obtained using a Trimble SX10 device. Second, the point deformation, overall deformation, and line deformation of the two-phase slope stabilization structure point cloud data are analyzed. Finally, the measurement accuracy of the 3D laser scanning technology is evaluated. The results show that the deformation analysis of points, lines, and surfaces can complement each other, thereby comprehensively assessing the situation of slope stabilization structure deformation. Moreover, the maximum displacement value in the deformation of points, lines, and surfaces is 8.52 mm, which does not exceed the standard, and 93.61% of the point deformation is between −0.76~0.92 mm, indicating that the slope stabilization structure is in a safe and stable state. The independent sample t-test has a test statistic of t = 2.074, verifying that the 3D laser scanning technology and the total station measurement accuracy are highly consistent and can meet the needs of actual engineering. The results of this study can provide a reasonable theoretical and methodological reference for analyzing similar engineering deformation monitoring in the future.
BIM Search Engine: Effects of Object Relationships and Information Standards
Authors: Molsa Maciej , Demian Peter , Gerges Michael
Published: June 2023

As Building Information Modeling (BIM) models are getting bigger, with more information linked to geometrical 3D models, a dedicated BIM search engine is important. A BIM search engine was developed to examine the value of exploiting a 3D object’s topological relationships to other 3D objects when assessing that object’s relevance to a query. The impacts of two information standards, the Industry Foundation Classes (IFC) and Uniclass-2015, on information retrieval (IR) performance were also measured. The 3DIR Autodesk Revit toolset was used on a structural model of a 16-story building from an industry partner. The retrieval performance measures of Precision and Recall did not clearly highlight the benefit, although the increased relevance values of those objects deemed by experts to be relevant demonstrates the promise of such contextual measures. The effect of shifting from the native Revit file format to various standards was tested: IR performance was poor with the Uniclass-2015 dataset and was comparable to the Revit native model with the IFC model. Although not shown conclusively to improve retrieval performance, the contextual relevance measures presented in this paper are promising and constitute a significant original contribution. Future research is needed to fine-tune these measures and fully realize their potential.
Systematic Literature Review of Open Infrastructure BIM
Authors: Salzano Antonio , Intignano Mattia , Mottola Carla , Biancardo Salvatore Antonio , Nicolella Maurizio , Dell’Acqua Gianluca
Published: June 2023

Representation and modeling using the building information modeling (BIM) methodology of civil works have become the subject of increasing attention in recent years, thanks to the potential offered by Open Infrastructure BIM (I-BIM). However, the complexity of infrastructure works, i.e., the variety of construction and technological systems, makes Open I-BIM very complex and challenging. The lack of systemic knowledge on the subject is another challenging factor. The aim of the following research work is to provide a synoptic overview of the existing scientific research, accompanied by the most recent studies in the field of computer modeling, its applications, and the main opportunities that Open I-BIM offers to the infrastructure sector. After a thorough review of 198 scientific articles published between 2013 and 2023, this study systematically presents a holistic review and critical reflection on the current status of the use of Open BIM in the infrastructure sector, with a focus on the development of the tools and methods used. The outcome of this work constitutes a systematic review of the literature with a bibliometric analysis on Open I-BIM, which is able to provide a knowledge base for identifying research trends, common problems, and the potential of developed methods.
A Review of Phase Change Materials as a Heat Storage Medium for Cooling Applications in the Built Environment
Authors: Masood Usman , Haggag Mahmoud , Hassan Ahmed , Laghari Mohammad
Published: June 2023

The air conditioning demand varies significantly in the hot and desert climates of the UAE due to diurnal temperature variation, seasonal shifts, and occupancy patterns. One of the challenges faced by the relatively higher energy-consuming UAE building stock is to optimize cooling capacity utilization and prevent excessive energy loss due to undesired cooling. A potential route to achieving such a goal involves cooling energy storage during low demand and releasing the stored cooling at peak demand times via thermal energy storage (TES). Latent heat thermal energy storage (LHTES) employing phase change materials (PCMs) provides impactful prospects for such a scheme, thus gaining tremendous attention from the scientific community. The primary goal of the current article is to provide a comprehensive state-of-the-art literature review on PCM-based TES for cooling applications to understand its efficacy, limitations, and future prospects. The article involves various applications, designs, and validations. The article emphasizes the importance of material innovations and heat transfer augmentation strategies to render this technology feasible for real-life integration into cooling systems.
Experimental Study on the Sulfuric Acid Corrosion Resistance of PHC Used for Pipe Pile and NSC Used in Engineering
Authors: Xiao Jie , Huang Huanqiang , Zeng Hehui , Liu Lingfei , Li Long , Jiang Haibo , Zhong Zucai , Chen Anyang
Published: June 2023

In order to compare and investigate the sulfuric acid corrosion resistance of concrete for PHC pipe piles and two kinds of concrete commonly used in engineering, acid accelerated corrosion tests were conducted on specimens with three different strength grades of C30, C50, and C80 in a sulfuric acid solution with pH ≈ 0.85. The appearance of the specimens was observed, and the changes in mass loss percentage, corrosion depth, and stress–stain curves under uniaxial compressive loading were calculated and obtained with the corrosion time. From the comparison of corrosion depth and mass loss percentage of the concrete specimens with three different strength grades of C30, C50, and C80, it was found that the higher the strength grade of the concrete, the more severe the corrosion degree. The shapes of the stress–strain curves of three different strength grades of concrete specimens were basically the same. As the corrosion time was prolonged, the peak stress and the elastic modulus of concrete decreased. From the perspective of long-term corrosion, C80 specimens had a relatively smaller percentage of peak stress loss and a stronger resistance to peak stress loss. The research results provide references for the durability design of concrete structures and the prediction of concrete’s service life in a sulfuric acid environment.
Optimized Ni, Co, Mn Oxides Anchored on Graphite Plates for Highly Efficient Overall Water Splitting
Authors: Lin Jie , Ding Yihong , Jin Huile , Zeng Tianbiao
Published: June 2023

Nickel, cobalt, and manganese oxides are easily obtainable non-noble metal catalysts for water splitting. However, the relationship between composition and catalysts’ performance still needs systematic studies. Herein, guided by theoretical calculations, a low overpotential, easily prepared Mn-doped Co3O4 was deposited on graphite plates for water splitting. The 30% Mn-doped Co3O4 (Co2.1Mn0.9O4) required the lowest overpotential for oxygen evolution reaction (OER), in which the Co2.1Mn0.9O4 reached 20, 30, and 50 mA cm−2 in the overpotentials of 425, 451, and 487 mV, respectively, with 90% IR compensation. Under overall water-splitting conditions, the current density reached 30 mA cm−2 at an overpotential of 0.78 V without IR compensation. Charge density difference analysis illustrates that doped Mn provides electrons for O atoms, and that Mn doping also promotes the electron fluctuation of Co atoms. XPS analysis reveals that Mn-doping increases the chemical valence of the Co atom, and that the doped Mn atom also exhibits higher chemical valence than the Mn of Mn3O4, which is advantageous to boost the form of based-OOH* radical, then decrease the overpotential. Considering the particular simplicity of growing the Co2.1Mn0.9O4 on graphite plates, this work is expected to provide a feasible way to develop the high-performance Co-Mn bimetallic oxide for water splitting.
Light-Assisted Catalysis in Water and Indoor Air Cleaning: Challenges and Perspectives
Authors: Balint Ioan , Pavel Monica
Published: June 2023

The detrimental effects of environmental pollution on human health, combined with global climate change, make it a critical contemporary problem [...]
Cu and Cu-Fe Bi-Metal Nanoparticles Encapsulated in Hollow S-1 Zeolite for Reverse Water Gas Shift Reaction
Authors: Hu Rui , Wang Tianye , Li Hongwei , Zhu Yuan , Wang Yifan , Wen Fuli , Xing Enhui , Wu Yu , Da Zhijian
Published: June 2023

The hollow hierarchical structure Cu@S and CuFe0.5@S catalysts were successfully synthesized through the “dissolution-recrystallization” (D-R) method for the reverse water gas shift reaction (RWGS). The encapsulated catalysts had a hierarchical porous structure and better dispersion of Cu particles than the Cu-S and CuFe0.5-S samples prepared via the conventional impregnation method. Furthermore, CuFe0.5-S and CuFe0.5@S catalysts showed higher CO2 conversion and 100% selectivity of CO at the entire temperature range investigated in this work compared to the monometallic catalysts Cu-S and Cu@S. Interestingly, the reaction activity of all the samples increased according to the sequence: CuFe0.5@S > CuFe0.5-S > Cu@S > Cu-S at 400–550 °C under atmospheric pressure. These results indicate that the higher dispersion of encapsulation structure and the enhanced surface basicity derived from the addition of Fe play crucial roles in enhancing the catalytic performance of Cu-based catalysts in the RWGS reaction.
Could a Non-Cellular Molecular Interactome in the Blood Circulation Influence Pathogens’ Infectivity?
Authors: Hardy Eugenio , Sarker Hassan , Fernandez-Patron Carlos
Published: June 2023

We advance the notion that much like artificial nanoparticles, relatively more complex biological entities with nanometric dimensions such as pathogens (viruses, bacteria, and other microorganisms) may also acquire a biomolecular corona upon entering the blood circulation of an organism. We view this biomolecular corona as a component of a much broader non-cellular blood interactome that can be highly specific to the organism, akin to components of the innate immune response to an invading pathogen. We review published supporting data and generalize these notions from artificial nanoparticles to viruses and bacteria. Characterization of the non-cellular blood interactome of an organism may help explain apparent differences in the susceptibility to pathogens among individuals. The non-cellular blood interactome is a candidate therapeutic target to treat infectious and non-infectious conditions.
EpoR Activation Stimulates Erythroid Precursor Proliferation by Inducing Phosphorylation of Tyrosine-88 of the CDK-Inhibitor p27Kip1
Authors: Pegka Fragka , Ben-Califa Nathalie , Neumann Drorit , Jäkel Heidelinde , Hengst Ludger
Published: June 2023

Erythrocyte biogenesis needs to be tightly regulated to secure oxygen transport and control plasma viscosity. The cytokine erythropoietin (Epo) governs erythropoiesis by promoting cell proliferation, differentiation, and survival of erythroid precursor cells. Erythroid differentiation is associated with an accumulation of the cyclin–dependent kinase inhibitor p27Kip1, but the regulation and role of p27 during erythroid proliferation remain largely unknown. We observed that p27 can bind to the erythropoietin receptor (EpoR). Activation of EpoR leads to immediate Jak2–dependent p27 phosphorylation of tyrosine residue 88 (Y88). This modification is known to impair its CDK–inhibitory activity and convert the inhibitor into an activator and assembly factor of CDK4,6. To investigate the physiological role of p27–Y88 phosphorylation in erythropoiesis, we analyzed p27Y88F/Y88F knock–in mice, where tyrosine–88 was mutated to phenylalanine. We observed lower red blood cell counts, lower hematocrit levels, and a reduced capacity for colony outgrowth of CFU–Es (colony–forming unit–erythroid), indicating impaired cell proliferation of early erythroid progenitors. Compensatory mechanisms of reduced p27 and increased Epo expression protect from stronger dysregulation of erythropoiesis. These observations suggest that p27–Y88 phosphorylation by EpoR pathway activation plays an important role in the stimulation of erythroid progenitor proliferation during the early stages of erythropoiesis.
Prdx5 in the Regulation of Tuberous Sclerosis Complex Mutation-Induced Signaling Mechanisms
Authors: Bovari-Biri Judit , Abdelwahab ElHusseiny Mohamed Mahmoud , Garai Kitti , Pongracz Judit E.
Published: June 2023

(1) Background: Tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) mutations directly affect mTORC activity and, as a result, protein synthesis. In several cancer types, TSC mutation is part of the driver mutation panel. TSC mutations have been associated with mitochondrial dysfunction, tolerance to reactive oxygen species due to increased thioredoxin reductase (TrxR) enzyme activity, tolerance to endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, and apoptosis. The FDA-approved drug rapamycin is frequently used in clinical applications to inhibit protein synthesis in cancers. Recently, TrxR inhibitor auranofin has also been involved in clinical trials to investigate the anticancer efficacy of the combination treatment with rapamycin. We aimed to investigate the molecular background of the efficacy of such drug combinations in treating neoplasia modulated by TSC mutations. (2) Methods: TSC2 mutant and TSC2 wild-type (WT) cell lines were exposed to rapamycin and auranofin in either mono- or combination treatment. Mitochondrial membrane potential, TrxR enzyme activity, stress protein array, mRNA and protein levels were investigated via cell proliferation assay, electron microscopy, etc. (3) Results: Auranofin and rapamycin normalized mitochondrial membrane potential and reduced proliferation capacity of TSC2 mutant cells. Database analysis identified peroxiredoxin 5 (Prdx5) as the joint target of auranofin and rapamycin. The auranofin and the combination of the two drugs reduced Prdx5 levels. The combination treatment increased the expression of heat shock protein 70, a cellular ER stress marker. (4) Conclusions: After extensive analyses, Prdx5 was identified as a shared target of the two drugs. The decreased Prdx5 protein level and the inhibition of both TrxR and mTOR by rapamycin and auranofin in the combination treatment made ER stress-induced cell death possible in TSC2 mutant cells.
Early Detection of Prostate Cancer: The Role of Scent
Authors: Grizzi Fabio , Bax Carmen , Hegazi Mohamed A. A. A. , Lotesoriere Beatrice Julia , Zanoni Matteo , Vota Paolo , Hurle Rodolfo Fausto , Buffi Nicolò Maria , Lazzeri Massimo , Tidu Lorenzo , Capelli Laura , Taverna Gianluigi
Published: June 2023

Prostate cancer (PCa) represents the cause of the second highest number of cancer-related deaths worldwide, and its clinical presentation can range from slow-growing to rapidly spreading metastatic disease. As the characteristics of most cases of PCa remains incompletely understood, it is crucial to identify new biomarkers that can aid in early detection. Despite the prostate-specific antigen serum (PSA) levels, prostate biopsy, and imaging representing the actual gold-standard for diagnosing PCa, analyzing volatile organic compounds (VOCs) has emerged as a promising new frontier. We and other authors have reported that highly trained dogs can recognize specific VOCs associated with PCa with high accuracy. However, using dogs in clinical practice has several limitations. To exploit the potential of VOCs, an electronic nose (eNose) that mimics the dog olfactory system and can potentially be used in clinical practice was designed. To explore the eNose as an alternative to dogs in diagnosing PCa, we conducted a systematic literature review and meta-analysis of available studies. PRISMA guidelines were used for the identification, screening, eligibility, and selection process. We included six studies that employed trained dogs and found that the pooled diagnostic sensitivity was 0.87 (95% CI 0.86–0.89; I2, 98.6%), the diagnostic specificity was 0.83 (95% CI 0.80–0.85; I2, 98.1%), and the area under the summary receiver operating characteristic curve (sROC) was 0.64 (standard error, 0.25). We also analyzed five studies that used an eNose to diagnose PCa and found that the pooled diagnostic sensitivity was 0.84 (95% CI, 0.80–0.88; I2, 57.1%), the diagnostic specificity was 0.88 (95% CI, 0.84–0.91; I2, 66%), and the area under the sROC was 0.93 (standard error, 0.03). These pooled results suggest that while highly trained dogs have the potentiality to diagnose PCa, the ability is primarily related to olfactory physiology and training methodology. The adoption of advanced analytical techniques, such as eNose, poses a significant challenge in the field of clinical practice due to their growing effectiveness. Nevertheless, the presence of limitations and the requirement for meticulous study design continue to present challenges when employing eNoses for the diagnosis of PCa.
Interfacial Microstructure Evaluation of Precisely Controlled Friction Stir Welding Joints of Al/Mg Dissimilar Alloys with Zn Interlayer
Authors: Wang Gang , Xie Jilin , Yin Limeng , Chen Yuhua
Published: June 2023

In this study, a penetration-controlled friction stir welding (FSW) technique was employed to lap weld dissimilar Al/Mg alloys, incorporating a Zn interlayer. The joint’s microstructure, interfacial reaction, and phase composition were analyzed through optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and X-ray diffraction. The findings demonstrate the formation of a hybrid joint comprising a FSWed region and a diffusion bonding region achieved by introducing a pure Zn interlayer at the Al/Mg interface. Within the FSWed region, the zinc was fully extruded, leading to favorable interface bonding. In contrast, the diffusion bonding region exhibited an aluminum–zinc diffusion reaction layer, an incompletely reacted zinc layer, and a zinc–magnesium diffusion reaction layer. Notably, no Al-Mg intermetallic compounds (IMCs) were observed in either the FSWed or diffusion bonding regions of the hybrid joint. This study further explored the underlying mechanism behind the joint’s formation.
Progress in Ammonothermal Crystal Growth of Gallium Nitride from 2017–2023: Process, Defects and Devices
Authors: Stoddard Nathan , Pimputkar Siddha
Published: June 2023

Gallium nitride continues to be a material of intense interest for the ongoing advancement of electronic and optoelectronic devices. While the bulk of today’s markets for low-performance devices is still met with silicon and blue/UV LEDs derived from metal–organic chemical vapor deposition gallium nitride grown on foreign substrates such as sapphire and silicon carbide, the best performance values consistently come from devices built on bulk-grown gallium nitride from native seeds. The most prominent and promising of the bulk growth methods is the ammonothermal method of high-pressure solution growth. The state-of-the-art from the last five years in ammonothermal gallium nitride technology is herein reviewed within the general categories of growth technology, characterization and defects as well as device performance.
Two-Dimensional VSi2X2N2 (X = P, As, Sb, Bi) Janus Monolayers: Spin-Polarized Electronic Structure and Perpendicular Magnetic Anisotropy
Authors: Zhao Zhenxian , Wang Xiaocha , Mi Wenbo
Published: June 2023

The discovery of ferromagnetic two-dimensional (2D) materials provides reference value for the exploration of low-dimensional magnetism and new spintronic devices. The VSi2N4 monolayer is ferromagnetic with half-metallic characteristics, which is a new 2D material in the field of spintronics. Here, the electronic structure and magnetic anisotropy of two-dimensional VSi2X2N2 (X = P, As, Sb, Bi) Janus monolayers are studied systematically via first-principles calculations. The results show that VSi2P2N2, VSi2As2N2 and VSi2Bi2N2 are magnetic, but VSi2Sb2N2 is nonmagnetic. At X = P, As and Bi, VSi2X2N2 Janus monolayers are metallic and ferromagnetic. VSi2P2N2 and VSi2As2N2 show the in-plane magnetic anisotropy, while VSi2Bi2N2 shows the perpendicular magnetic anisotropy (PMA). As the tensile strain increases, the spin-down energy band of the VSi2P2N2 monolayer gradually moves up and the spin-up channel moves down. At ε = +12%, the spin-down band shifts above the Fermi level, showing the half-metallic characteristic with a band gap of 0.775 eV calculated using the Perdew–Burke–Ernzerhof (PBE) exchange–correlation function. The magnetic moment of VSi2Sb2N2 is induced at an electric field of −0.4 V/Å and +0.2 V/Å, where PMA appears. These data provide basic theoretical guidance for the development of low-dimensional spintronic devices.
Recent Advances and Challenges in Thin-Film Fabrication Techniques for Low-Temperature Solid Oxide Fuel Cells
Authors: Choolaei Mohammadmehdi , Vostakola Mohsen Fallah , Horri Bahman Amini
Published: June 2023

Solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) are amongst the most widely used renewable alternative energy systems with near-zero carbon emission, high efficiency, and environment-friendly features. However, the high operating temperature of SOFCs is still considered a major challenge due to several issues regarding the materials’ corrosion, unwanted reactions between layers, etc. Thus, low-temperature SOFCs (LT-SOFCs) have gained significant interest during the past decades. Despite the numerous advantages of LT-SOFCs, material selection for each layer is of great importance as the common materials have not shown a desirable performance so far. In addition to the selection of the materials, fabrication techniques have a great influence on the properties of the SOFCs. As SOFCs with thinner layers showed lower polarisation resistance, especially in the electrolyte layer, different thin-film fabrication methods have been employed, and their effect on the overall performance of SOFCs has been evaluated. In this review, we aim to discuss the past and recent progress on the materials and thin-film fabrication techniques used in LT-SOFCs.
Rare-Earth Fluorite-like Li0.42La4.58Mo3O15.76±δF0.42±ε Molybdates: Crystal Growth and Atomic Structure
Authors: Orlova Ekaterina I. , Sorokin Timofei A. , Kvartalov Vladimir B. , Antipin Alexander M. , Novikova Nataliya E. , Kharitonova Elena P. , Sorokina Nataliya I. , Alekseeva Olga A. , Voronkova Valentina I.
Published: June 2023

Rare-earth fluorine-containing molybdates of the Ln5Mo3O16+δ oxygen–electron conductor family with the LiLa4Mo3O15F composition were synthesized for the first time as single crystals by the flux method. An accurate X-ray diffraction analysis of the obtained crystals was carried out at 20 and −183 °C. The LiLa4Mo3O15F compound is isostructural to the fluorine-free analogue with a cubic structure (space group Pn3¯n). It is shown that lithium atoms replace one of the two positions of lanthanum in the more distorted LaO8 polyhedron. According to X-ray diffraction analysis, fluorine atoms replace the positions of over-stoichiometric oxygen located in the vast cavities of the structure. So, fluorine anions can promote the interstitial conductivity of F-containing LiLa4Mo3O15F molybdates.
Complexes of the Antibiotic Drug Oxolinic Acid with Fe(III), Zn(II), Ca(II), and Mg(II) Ions: Preparation, Characterization, and In Vitro Evaluation of Biological Activity
Authors: Almehizia Abdulrahman A. , Al-Omar Mohamed A. , Naglah Ahmed M. , Bhat Mashooq A. , Alanazi Fhdah S. , Alotaibi Fatimah A. , Refat Moamen S. , Adam Abdel Majid A.
Published: June 2023

The chemical reaction between quinolone antibiotic oxolinic acid (OA) and Fe(III), Zn(II), Ca(II), and Mg(II) ions results in the formation of metal-based complexes with the following formulas: [Fe(OA)(H2O)2Cl2]·2H2O, [Zn(OA)(H2O)Cl]·2H2O, [Ca(OA)(H2O)Cl], and [Mg(OA)(H2O)Cl]. We used analytical (C, N, H, Cl, metal analysis) and spectral (FT-IR, 1H NMR, UV-visible) data to structurally characterize the synthesized metal-based complexes of the OA molecule. We found that the OA molecule utilizes the two oxygen atoms of the carboxylate group and the pyridone C=O group to bind the investigated metal ions. The morphological properties of the synthesized OA complexes were assessed using X-ray powder diffractometry (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The biological properties, specifically antibacterial and antifungal activity, of the synthesized complexes were evaluated in vitro using the Kirby–Bauer disc diffusion protocol with five bacterial and three fungal strains. The complex containing Ca(II) ions exhibited remarkable antibacterial and antifungal activity against all tested microbial strains, surpassing or equaling the potency of the standard drugs (streptomycin for antibacterial assays and ketoconazole for antifungal assays).
Comparing Magnetic Resonance Fingerprinting (MRF) and the MAGiC Sequence for Simultaneous T1 and T2 Quantitative Measurements in the Female Pelvis: A Prospective Study
Authors: Huang Bo-Syuan , Hsieh Ching-Yi , Chai Wen-Yen , Lin Yenpo , Huang Yen-Ling , Lu Kuan-Ying , Chiang Hsin-Ju , Schulte Rolf , Lin Chien-Yuan , Lin Gigin
Published: June 2023

The aim of this study was to explore the potential of magnetic resonance fingerprinting (MRF), an emerging quantitative MRI technique, in measuring relaxation values of female pelvic tissues compared to the conventional magnetic resonance image compilation (MAGiC) sequence. The study included 32 female patients who underwent routine pelvic MRI exams using anterior and posterior array coils on a 3T clinical scanner. Our findings demonstrated significant correlations between MRF and MAGiC measured T1 and T2 values (p < 0.0001) for various pelvic tissues, including ilium, femoral head, gluteus, obturator, iliopsoas, erector spinae, uterus, cervix, and cutaneous fat. The tissue contrasts generated from conventional MRI and synthetic MRF also showed agreement in bone, muscle, and uterus for both T1-weighted and T2-weighted images. This study highlights the strengths of MRF in providing simultaneous T1 and T2 mapping. MRF offers distinct tissue contrast and has the potential for accurate diagnosis of female pelvic diseases, including tumors, fibroids, endometriosis, and pelvic inflammatory disease. Additionally, MRF shows promise in monitoring disease progression or treatment response. Overall, the study demonstrates the potential of MRF in the field of female pelvic organ imaging and suggests that it could be a valuable addition to the clinical practice of pelvic MRI exams. Further research is needed to establish the clinical utility of MRF and to develop standardized protocols for its implementation in clinical practice.
Thoracic Aorta: Anatomy and Pathology
Authors: di Gioia Cira Rosaria Tiziana , Ascione Andrea , Carletti Raffaella , Giordano Carla
Published: June 2023

The aorta is the largest elastic artery in the human body and is classically divided into two anatomical segments, the thoracic and the abdominal aorta, separated by the diaphragm. The thoracic aorta includes the aortic root, the ascending aorta, the arch, and the descending aorta. The aorta’s elastic properties depend on its wall structure, composed of three distinct histologic layers: intima, media, and adventitia. The different aortic segments show different embryological and anatomical features, which account for their different physiological properties and impact the occurrence and natural history of congenital and acquired diseases that develop herein. Diseases of the thoracic aorta may present either as a chronic, often asymptomatic disorder or as acute life-threatening conditions, i.e., acute aortic syndromes, and are usually associated with states that increase wall stress and alter the structure of the aortic wall. This review aims to provide an update on the disease of the thoracic aorta, focusing on the morphological substrates and clinicopathological correlations. Information on anatomy and embryology will also be provided.
Muscle Coactivation Index during Walking in People with Multiple Sclerosis with Mild Disability, a Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Molina-Rueda Francisco , Fernández-Vázquez Diego , Navarro-López Víctor , López-González Raúl , Carratalá-Tejada María
Published: June 2023

Background: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease characterized by axonal degeneration and demyelination. Changes in gait, related to joint kinematics and kinetics, especially at the ankle and knee, have been observed in people with MS (pwMS). Muscle coactivation plays an important role in joint stabilization; however, excessive coactivation may interfere with gait. The aim of this study was to analyze the differences in muscle activation during gait in pwMS compared to healthy individuals. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted involving pwMS and healthy controls. Surface electromyography was used to record muscle activity during gait. The main outcome measures were the coactivation index (CI) and the area under the curve (AUC), which were calculated for several pairs of lower extremity muscles. Results: Nine pwMS and nine healthy controls were included. When comparing the MS group to the control group, the AUC was significantly higher in the lateral gastrocnemius (p = 0.023) and the CI for the lateral gastrocnemius-anterior tibialis (p = 0.022) and gluteus maximus-lateral gastrocnemius (p = 0.047). Conclusion: Mildly affected pwMS have altered muscle coactivation patterns during gait, especially in the most affected limb. The results highlight the importance of muscle coactivation in pwMS and its possible role in the early detection of gait abnormalities.
Contemporary Understanding of the Etiology and Management of Molar Incisor Hypomineralization: A Literature Review
Authors: Alzahrani Ahmed Yahya , Alamoudi Najlaa Mohammed Hussain , El Meligy Omar Abd El Sadek
Published: June 2023

Molar incisor hypomineralization (MIH) is a significant health problem that can affect the child’s quality of life by negatively affecting their esthetics and function. This review aimed to summarize the etiology and pathogenesis of MIH. It also aimed to summarize the recent studies on MIH in children and adolescents, focusing on diagnosis, prevention, and clinical management. An electronic search on the PubMed, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, MEDLINE, MedlinePlus, WHO reports, and Google Scholar databases was performed. The volume of research on the etiology, presentation, and clinical management of MIH is still expanding. The creation and validation of indices for the diagnosis and management of MIH, as well as any potential genetic aspects appear to be the main areas of current research. Notably, MIH was linked to childhood illnesses, the use of antibiotics, and early childhood fever. Although many studies discuss the different options for managing MIH lesions, evidence-based studies that address the long-term outcomes of MIH are still lacking. Indeed, future clinical studies should be directed to evaluate the impact of each systemic etiological factor and its different types of management on normal amelogenesis. Regarding the diagnosis, future research should focus on the pre-eruption diagnosis and early approaches to prevent the post-eruption breakdown and caries. Regarding the treatment of MIH, future investigations should emphasize further improvements in adhesion and the use of new materials and techniques, such as digital dentistry.
Collaborative Learning in Teaching Culture Studies to Further Training Program Students
Authors: Rubtsova Anna , Zheleznyakova Olga , Anosova Natalia , Dashkina Alexandra
Published: June 2023

Today, educational practices are modified in accordance with the demands of the industrial and economic environment. Further training programs have become an important part of university students learning. This article investigates strategies of collaborative learning and their effectiveness in improving learning outcomes. The authors prove that various forms of co-operative work such as problem-based learning, peer teaching and small group discussions are effective in training university students within further training programs in Special Translation. The study participants were students of the “Special Translation and Editing of Technical, Economic and Media Texts” further training program. The experiment was conducted within the module referred to as “The Translation of Culture Specific Realities”. The authors highlight the importance of comprehending cultural issues apart from extensive knowledge of translation techniques for specialists in translation, since intercultural misunderstanding can be a major obstacle in the way of effective communication. The conducted survey also revealed the importance of collaborative learning in increasing the motivation of the students to develop intercultural competencies and master communication strategies. Today, students are much more inquisitive than they were in the past because they are familiar with resources that make the learning process more interesting. Applying strategies of collaborative learning when students are working co-operatively in pairs or groups can significantly improve learning outcomes and boost motivation.
Using SenseMaker® to Understand the Prioritization of Self-Care and Mental Health of Minoritized Engineering Students during the 2020 Global Pandemic
Authors: Lewis Racheida S. , Fletcher Trina , Paul Animesh , Abdullah Diane , Sealey Zaniyah V.
Published: June 2023

The 2020 global pandemic caused by COVID-19 forced higher education institutions to immediately stop face-to-face teaching and transition to virtual instruction. This transition has been difficult for engineering education, which has strong hardware, software, and practical/laboratory components, and has further exacerbated the personal and professional experiences of minoritized students in engineering. This study sought to answer the following overarching research question: How has the abrupt transition to online instruction due to COVID-19 affected students traditionally underrepresented in engineering? The abrupt transition for minoritized students and their decision to prioritize their mental health was further explored to answer the following: (1) How many minoritized students chose to prioritize their mental health? (2) How do minoritized students describe their experiences and choices to prioritize (or not) their mental health? Using SenseMaker, participants shared stories using the following prompt: Imagine you are chatting with a friend or family member about the evolving COVID-19 crisis. Tell them about something you have experienced recently as an engineering student. After completing their narrative, a series of triadic, dyadic, and sentiment-based multiple-choice questions were presented. Student responses varied, including positive experiences, which resulted in a strong prioritization, while others had negative experiences resulting in varied prioritizations. Some students chose to prioritize their mental health to remain mentally and emotionally healthy; some with negative experiences abandoned self-care strategies in order to tend to the needs of academics and family. Participants’ decisions to prioritize their mental health were not monolithic.
Managing Considerable Distributed Resources for Demand Response: A Resource Selection Strategy Based on Contextual Bandit
Authors: Li Zhaoyu , Ai Qian
Published: June 2023

The widespread adoption of distributed energy resources (DERs) leads to resource redundancy in grid operation and increases computation complexity, which underscores the need for effective resource management strategies. In this paper, we present a novel resource management approach that decouples the resource selection and power dispatch tasks. The resource selection task determines the subset of resources designated to participate in the demand response service, while the power dispatch task determines the power output of the selected candidates. A solution strategy based on contextual bandit with DQN structure is then proposed. Concretely, an agent determines the resource selection action, while the power dispatch task is solved in the environment. The negative value of the operational cost is used as feedback to the agent, which links the two tasks in a closed-loop manner. Moreover, to cope with the uncertainty in the power dispatch problem, distributionally robust optimization (DRO) is applied for the reserve settlement to satisfy the reliability requirement against this uncertainty. Numerical studies demonstrate that the DQN-based contextual bandit approach can achieve a profit enhancement ranging from 0.35% to 46.46% compared to the contextual bandit with policy gradient approach under different resource selection quantities.
Adaptive-Mode PAPR Reduction Algorithm for Optical OFDM Systems Leveraging Lexicographical Permutations
Authors: Niwareeba Roland , Cox Mitchell A. , Cheng Ling
Published: June 2023

In direct current optical orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (DCO-OFDM) systems, the high peak-to-average power ratio (PAPR) has been a significant challenge. Recently, lexicographical symbol position permutation (LSPP) using random permutations has been introduced as an efficient solution to reduce high PAPR. In this paper, we aim to evaluate the effectiveness of LSPP by comparing both adjacent and interleaved lexicographical permutation sequences with random lexicographical permutation sequences. Our findings demonstrate that random permutation yields superior PAPR reduction performance results when compared to adjacent and interleaved permutation. However, in scenarios with a limited number of sub-blocks, the use of adjacent and interleaved permutation becomes more favorable, as they can eliminate the possibility of generating identical permutation sequences, a drawback of random permutation. Additionally, we propose a novel algorithm to determine the optimal number of candidate permutation sequences that can achieve acceptable PAPR reduction performance while adhering to computational complexity constraints defined by the system requirements.
Research on Double LCC Compensation Network for Multi-Resonant Point Switching in Underwater Wireless Power Transfer System
Authors: Zhou Yongqin , Qiu Minghu , Wang Qiaobei , Ma Zhengnan , Sun Hao , Zhang Xiaoyu
Published: June 2023

This paper introduces a control method suitable for AUVs to transmit underwater radio energy that improves the stability of AUV charging under water based on double LCC compensation. The coupling coefficient decreases with the rise of the coil offset in the underwater wireless power transfer system, such that the power transmission capability is reduced. To solve the above-mentioned problem, a double LCC resonant compensation network impedance characteristic is proposed in this study through the analysis of the double LCC resonant compensation network. To be specific, the wireless power transmission method for multi-resonant point switching of the LCC compensation network is developed. The multiple resonance points of the developed method are not correlated with the load impedance in the double LCC resonance compensation network, and the multiple resonance points are consistent with the power transmission characteristics. Moreover, the appropriate resonance frequency is matched based on different coupling coefficients, and the multi-resonance points are switched to each other to increase the system’s transmission power and transmission efficiency. As revealed by the results of the simulation and experimental studies, the double LCC compensation network with multi-resonance point switching is capable of achieving the output characteristics of constant-voltage/constant-current of the wireless power transfer system, reducing the system current harmonics effectively, and enhancing the power transmission capability and anti-offset capability.