bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
First Report on Choanephora cucurbitarum Causing Choanephora Rot in Chenopodium Plants and Its Sensitivity to Fungicide
Authors: Yin Hui , Tian Miao , Peng Yufei , Qin Nan , Lü Hong , Ren Lu , Zhao Xiaojun
Published: August 2023

Choanephora rot of Chenopodium plants (CRC) was observed at the flowering stages in seven plantations of Shanxi Province, China. CRC had caused leaf, stem, and panicle neck rot of C. quinoa, panicle neck and stem rot of C. formosanum, and stem rot of C. album. Typical symptoms included water-soaked, rapid soft rotting, and abundant sporulation on the whole panicle necks, stems, and leaves. Based on morphological characteristics, phylogenetic analyses, and pathogenicity tests, the pathogens were identified as Choanephoraceae cucurbitarum. Sporangiola and sporangiospore of C. cucurbitarum germinated at 30 °C and were able to germinate by two h post-inoculation (hpi). The germination rates of sporangiola and sporangiospore significantly increased at 3 to 4 hpi, and the germination rates ranged from 91.53 to 97.67%. The temperature had a significant effect on the pathogenicity of C. cucurbitarum the optimum pathogenic temperatures for stems of C. quinoa, C. formosanum and C. album were 30 °C after one day post-inoculation. Choanephoraceae cucurbitarum could infect white and red quinoa panicle necks between 20 and 30 °C, and the average lesion lengths were 0.21 to 3.62 cm. Among the five tested fungicides (boscalid, dimethomorph, isopyrazam, propiconazole, and tebuconazole), isopyrazam showed higher sensitivity to sporangiola germination of C. cucurbitarum, with an EC50 value of 0.6550 μg/mL. Isopyrazam and tebuconazole strongly inhibited the sporangiospore germination of C. cucurbitarum, which showed EC50 values of 0.4406 and 0.3857 μg/mL. To our knowledge, the present study found for the first time that C. cucurbitarum is a pathogen causing panicle neck of C. formosanum and stem rot of C. formosanum and C. album, while CRC first appeared in the quinoa panicle necks, and gradually expanded to stems and leaves.
Mercury Content in Impacted Wisdom Teeth from Patients of the Legnica–Głogów Copper Area—An In Vitro Pilot Study
Authors: Rayad Sadri , Dobrzyński Maciej , Kuźniarski Amadeusz , Styczyńska Marzena , Diakowska Dorota , Gedrange Tomasz , Klimas Sylwia , Gębarowski Tomasz , Dominiak Marzena
Published: August 2023

The aim of this study was to determine the content of mercury in impacted third molars from Legnica–Głogów Copper Area residents to emphasize the effects of environmental pollution on the human body. A group of 72 patients with an average age of 27.3 ± 6.9 years participated in the study. Within this study, the research group (Legnica–Głogów Copper Area residents) comprised 51 individuals, while the control group (residents of Wrocław) consisted of 21 participants. A higher number of female individuals participated in the research (55). The amount of mercury present in the samples was determined through atomic absorption spectrometry with the use of a SpectraAA atomic absorption spectrometer and a V2 AA240FS flame attachment that utilized an air–acetylene flame. The accumulation of Hg in the teeth of members of the control group residing in Wrocław was studied, with a focus on identifying the risk factors that contribute to this phenomenon. The final model analyzed the presence of various factors, including thyroid and parathyroid gland diseases, cardiac diseases, and interval-scale Vit. D3 concentration. Among these factors, the presence of cardiac diseases was deemed statistically significant in relation to an increase in Hg concentration in third molars (rate ratio = 2.27, p < 0.0001). The concentration of mercury increased with the age and time of residence in the L-G Copper District.
Implantable Intracranial Pressure Sensor with Continuous Bluetooth Transmission via Mobile Application
Authors: Elsawaf Yasmeen , Jaklitsch Erik , Belyea Madison , Rodriguez Levon , Silverman Alexandra , Valley Halyn , Koleilat Issam , Yaghi Nasser K. , Jaeggli Michael
Published: August 2023

Hydrocephalus is a clinical disorder caused by excessive cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) buildup in the ventricles of the brain, often requiring permanent CSF diversion via an implanted shunt system. Such shunts are prone to failure over time; an ambulatory intracranial pressure (ICP) monitoring device may assist in the detection of shunt failure without an invasive diagnostic workup. Additionally, high resolution, noninvasive intracranial pressure monitoring will help in the study of diseases such as normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH) and idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH). We propose an implantable, continuous, rechargeable ICP monitoring device that communicates via Bluetooth with mobile applications. The design requirements were met at the lower ICP ranges; the obtained error fell within the idealized ±2 mmHg margin when obtaining pressure values at or below 20 mmHg. The error was slightly above the specified range at higher ICPs (±10% from 20–100 mmHg). The system successfully simulates occlusions and disconnections of the proximal and distal catheters, valve failure, and simulation of A and B ICP waves. The mobile application accurately detects the ICP fluctuations that occur in these physiologic states. The presented macro-scale prototype is an ex-vivo model of an implantable, rechargeable ICP monitoring system that has the potential to measure clinically relevant ICPs and wirelessly provide accessible and continuous data to aid in the workup of shunt failure.
The Divergent Resistance and Resilience of Forest and Grassland Ecosystems to Extreme Summer Drought in Carbon Sequestration
Authors: Lu Jie , Yan Fengqin
Published: August 2023

It is projected that extreme drought events will become more frequent and more severe across many regions of the globe by the end of the 21st century. Despite the substantial efforts that have been made to explore the impacts of droughts on terrestrial ecosystems, our understanding of the response of diverse ecosystems, including resistance and resilience, remains unclear. A total of 16 site years of eddy covariance-based carbon flux data were used to reveal the different responses of forest and grassland ecosystems to two extreme summer droughts. We found that the carbon fluxes of the forest, namely gross primary productivity (GPP), ecosystem respiration (Re), and the net ecosystem carbon exchange (NEE), exhibited distinct seasonal patterns with a single peak. However, GPP and NEE of grassland showed multiple peaks owing to hay harvesting throughout one year. Meanwhile, all climate factors jointly affected the seasonal dynamics in the NEE of the forest, whereas solar radiation only dominated the variability in the NEE of grassland. Moreover, the optimal response relationship was quadratic between the vapor pressure deficit (VPD) and the NEE, with the thresholds being 5.46 and 5.84 for forest and grassland, respectively. Owing to the large increase in VPD during the droughts of 2003 and 2018, the carbon sequestration of forest and grassland reduced sharply and even altered from carbon sink to carbon source. Compared with grassland, forest GPP showed stronger resistance with weaker resilience to droughts. However, larger resilience appeared for both forest and grassland NEE relative to their resistance. All analyses reflect the different adaptive strategies among plant functional types, which is crucial to evaluate ecosystem carbon sequestration to overcome future climate change.
Research on Spatial–Temporal Characteristics and Driving Factors of Urban Development Intensity for Pearl River Delta Region Based on Geodetector
Authors: Yu Hanguang , Liu Dongya , Zhang Chunxiao , Yu Le , Yang Ben , Qiao Shijiao , Wang Xiaoli
Published: August 2023

The Pearl River Delta (PRD) is one of the most dynamic economic regions in the Asia-Pacific region. At present, it still faces many problems, such as the over-exploitation of urban land and unbalanced development. Through the study of the spatial–temporal characteristics of the development intensity of the PRD region and its driving factors, the key points and difficulties of urban development can be intuitively found. In previous studies, geodetector was widely used to determine the impact of driving factors. This paper uses several different research methods, including the Moran index, the semi-variability index, hot and cold spots, etc., based on the land use data of the PRD region in 1990, 2000, 2010, and 2020 to analyze the spatial–temporal characteristics of the development intensity. Combined with the socio-economic data of the statistical yearbook, factor detection and interaction detection of the 10 driving factors of development intensity are carried out based on geodetector, and reasonable optimization suggestions are put forward for the current situation of the region. The main conclusions are as follows: (1) The overall development intensity of the PRD region shows an upward trend, showing a “core periphery” spatial pattern of high center and low periphery centered around the Pearl River estuary. (2) The spatial distribution of cold and hot spots shows agglomeration, mainly in the form of high aggregation and low aggregation. (3) The driving factors for the development intensity for the PRD region in the past 30 years mainly include population agglomeration level, industrial structure level, economic strength level, terrain slope, etc. Among them, any two factors have a stronger interaction than a single factor, and all are enhanced by two factors. The dominant factors of interaction in different periods are different.
Migration Mechanism of Chlorine during Hydrothermal Treatment of Rigid PVC Plastics
Authors: Zhang Ling , Wang Qing , Xu Faxing , Wang Zhenye
Published: August 2023

Rigid PVC plastics (R-PVC) contain large amounts of chlorine, and improper disposal can adversely affect the environment. Nevertheless, there is still a lack of sufficient studies on hydrothermal treatment (HTT) for the efficient dechlorination of R-PVC. To investigate the migration mechanism of chlorine during the HTT of R-PVC, R-PVC is treated with HTT at temperatures ranging from 220 °C to 300 °C for 30 min to 90 min. Hydrochar is characterized via Fourier transform infrared spectrometry and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The results revealed that the hydrothermal temperature is the key factor that affects the dechlorination of R-PVC. Dramatic dechlorination occurs at temperatures ranging from 240 °C to 260 °C, and the dechlorination efficiency increases with the increase in the hydrothermal temperature. The main mechanism for the dechlorination of R-PVC involves the nucleophilic substitution of chlorine by -OH. CaCO3 can absorb HCl released by R-PVC and hinder the autocatalytic degradation of R-PVC; hence, the dechlorination behavior of R-PVC is different from that of pure PVC resins. Based on these results, a possible degradation process for R-PVC is proposed. This study suggests that HTT technology can be utilized to convert organochlorines in R-PVC to calcium chloride, achieving the simultaneous dechlorination of R-PVC and utilization of products.
Determination of Thermal Properties of Mineral Wool Required for the Safety Analysis of Sandwich Panels Subjected to Fire Loads
Authors: Ablaoui El Mehdi , Malendowski Michał , Szymkuc Wojciech , Pozorski Zbigniew
Published: August 2023

The paper presents theoretical, experimental and numerical studies on the thermal behavior of mineral wool used in sandwich panels. The aim of this study is to investigate the thermal properties of mineral wool at elevated temperatures and provide a simple model that would allow us to determine the heat propagation in sandwich panels during a fire. The paper proposes a new method to experimentally evaluate thermal diffusivity, derived from theoretical premises. Experiments are conducted in a laboratory furnace where specimens are placed and temperatures inside specimens are measured. Different methods are used to process the test results and calculate the thermal diffusivity of mineral wool. Finally, a numerical analysis of heat transfer using the finite element method (FEM) is performed to validate the obtained thermal properties.
Optimization Design and Mechanical Performances of Plant-Mix Hot Recycled Asphalt Using Response Surface Methodology
Authors: Liu Honglin , Wang Jinping , Lu Weiwei , Zhang Naitian
Published: August 2023

This study aimed to explore the influence of material design parameters on the physical and mechanical properties of recycled asphalt. A Box–Behnken design was employed to determine the optimal preparation scheme for 17 groups of recycled asphalt. The effects of styreneic methyl copolymer (SMC) regenerant content, styrene–butadiene–styrene (SBS)-modified asphalt content, and shear temperature on the mechanical properties of recycled asphalt were analyzed using conventional and high/low-temperature rheological tests. The optimal processing parameters were determined by a response surface model based on multiple response indexes. The results revealed that the SBS-modified asphalt content had the most significant effect on the penetration of recycled asphalt. An increase in SMC regenerant content led to a gradual decrease in the rutting factor, while SBS-modified asphalt content had the opposite effect. The usage of SMC regenerant helped to reduce non-recoverable creep compliance by adjusting the proportion of viscoelastic–plastic components in recycled asphalt. Furthermore, the stiffness modulus results indicated that the addition of SMC regenerant improved the recovery performance of recycled asphalt at a low temperature. The recommended contents of SMC regenerant and SBS-modified asphalt are 7.88% and 150%, respectively, with a shear temperature of 157.7 °C.
Mesoporous Materials for Metal-Laden Wastewater Treatment
Authors: Grozdov Dmitrii , Zinicovscaia Inga
Published: August 2023

Rapid technological, industrial and agricultural development has resulted in the release of large volumes of pollutants, including metal ions, into the environment. Heavy metals have become of great concern due to their toxicity, persistence, and adverse effects caused to the environment and population. In this regard, municipal and industrial effluents should be thoroughly treated before being discharged into natural water or used for irrigation. The physical, chemical, and biological techniques applied for wastewater treatment adsorption have a special place in enabling effective pollutant removal. Currently, plenty of adsorbents of different origins are applied for the treatment of metal-containing aqueous solution and wastewater. The present review is focused on mesoporous materials. In particular, the recent achievements in mesoporous materials’ synthesis and application in wastewater treatment are discussed. The mechanisms of metal adsorption onto mesoporous materials are highlighted and examples of their multiple uses for metal removal are presented. The information contained in the review can be used by researchers and environmental engineers involved in the development of new adsorbents and the improvement of wastewater treatment technologies.
Seismic Performance of Drained Piles in Layered Soils
Authors: Yang Yaohui , Xin Gongfeng , Chen Yumin , Stuedlein Armin W. , Wang Chao
Published: August 2023

The provision of drains to geotechnical elements subjected to strong ground motion can reduce the magnitude of shaking-induced excess pore pressure and the corresponding loss of soil stiffness and strength. A series of shaking table tests were conducted within layered soil models to investigate the effectiveness of drained piles to reduce the liquefaction hazard in and near pile-improved ground. The effect of the number of drains per pile and the orientation of the drains relative to the direction of shaking were evaluated in consideration of the volume of porewater discharged, the magnitude of excess pore pressure generated, and the amount of de-amplification in the ground’s motion. The following main conclusions can be drawn from this study. Single, isolated piles and a group of drained piles were tested in three series of shake table tests. Relative to conventional piles, the drained piles exhibited improved performance with regard to the generation and dissipation of excess pore pressure and stiffness of the surrounding soil, with increases in performance correlated with increases in the discharge capacity of the drained pile. The acceleration time histories observed within the pile-improved soil indicated a coupling of the rate and magnitude of porewater discharge, excess pore pressure generated, and de-amplification of strong ground motion. The amount of de-amplification reduced with increases in the number of drains per pile and corresponding reductions in excess pore pressure. The improved performance should prove helpful in the presence of sloping ground characterized with low-permeability soil layers that inhibit the dissipation of pore pressure and have demonstrated the significant potential for post-shaking slope deformation.
Silica-Based Materials Containing Inorganic Red/NIR Emitters and Their Application in Biomedicine
Authors: Vorotnikov Yuri A. , Vorotnikova Natalya A. , Shestopalov Michael A.
Published: August 2023

The low absorption of biological substances and living tissues in the red/near-infrared region (therapeutic window) makes luminophores emitting in the range of ~650–1350 nm favorable for in vitro and in vivo imaging. In contrast to commonly used organic dyes, inorganic red/NIR emitters, including ruthenium complexes, quantum dots, lanthanide compounds, and octahedral cluster complexes of molybdenum and tungsten, not only exhibit excellent emission in the desired region but also possess additional functional properties, such as photosensitization of the singlet oxygen generation process, upconversion luminescence, photoactivated effects, and so on. However, despite their outstanding functional applicability, they share the same drawback—instability in aqueous media under physiological conditions, especially without additional modifications. One of the most effective and thus widely used types of modification is incorporation into silica, which is (1) easy to obtain, (2) biocompatible, and (3) non-toxic. In addition, the variety of morphological characteristics, along with simple surface modification, provides room for creativity in the development of various multifunctional diagnostic/therapeutic platforms. In this review, we have highlighted biomedical applications of silica-based materials containing red/NIR-emitting compounds.
Intrinsic Fatigue Limit and the Minimum Fatigue Crack Growth Threshold
Authors: Chapetti Mirco D. , Gubeljak Nenad , Kozak Dražan
Published: August 2023

In the field of long-life fatigue, predicting fatigue lives and limits for mechanical components is crucial for ensuring reliability and safety. Fracture mechanics tools have enabled the estimation of fatigue lives for components with small cracks or defects. However, when dealing with defects larger than the microstructural characteristic size, estimating the fatigue resistance of a material requires determining the cyclic resistance curve for the defect-free matrix, which depends on knowledge of the material’s intrinsic fatigue limit. This study focuses on the experimental evidence regarding the intrinsic fatigue limit and its correlation with naturally nucleated non-propagating cracks. Fracture mechanics models for small crack propagation are introduced, and their disparities and limitations are analyzed. The concept of intrinsic fatigue limit is then introduced and applied to reanalyze a recent publication. Methods for estimating the intrinsic fatigue limit are explored and applied to experimental results reported in the literature. The need to clarify and accurately predict the intrinsic fatigue limit is highlighted in alloys where the processing generates defects larger than the microstructural size of the matrix, as often observed in materials and components produced using additive manufacturing.
Foot-Powered Machines, a Functional Taxonomy in the Age of Sustainability
Authors: Franco Walter , Marchis Vittorio , Pozzi Marco
Published: August 2023

Since the Middle Ages, human-powered tools and machines have played an important role in societies. Prominent among these are pedal-powered machines, which harness the overall power from the strongest muscles in the human body. The article identifies a historical taxonomy of pedal-powered machines to provide designers with an orientation map for devising new solutions, suggesting some contexts in which today’s pedal-powered machines can re-purpose ancient mechanisms to perform an innovative function. The reduction in energy consumption, the low environmental impact, and the autonomy of the process, in fact, can represent not only a technical rediscovery of engineering, but also a new way of supporting human subsistence.
Forecasting the Dynamic Response of Rotating Machinery under Sudden Load Changes
Authors: Jauregui-Correa Juan Carlos
Published: August 2023

This paper analyzes vibration data that shows sudden amplitude changes due to non-stationary load conditions. The data were recorded in a wind turbine that operated under gusty winds and showed high peaks during short periods. Data were analyzed with the auto-regressive integrated moving average (ARIMA) algorithm, and the results were compared to the exponential forecasting method. Other methods have been applied for forecasting vibration data, but the simplicity of this method makes it suitable for rotating machinery with high variable loading conditions. The analysis of the method’s parameters is included in this paper, and the results showed that the optimum configuration depends on the data variations and the existence of significant trends. Forecasting vibration data is challenging; it depends on the source data quality, the preprocessing algorithms, and the deterioration of the mechanical elements. Predictions become less accurate when the machine operates under sudden changes, and evaluating damaging effects caused by the sudden event is difficult to estimate.
Modeling and Application of an SMA-Actuated Lightweight Human-Inspired Gripper for Aerial Manipulation
Authors: Perez-Sanchez Vicente , Garcia-Rubiales Francisco Javier , Nekoo Saeed Rafee , Arrue Begoña , Ollero Anibal
Published: August 2023

The increasing usage of multi-rotor aerial platforms and the reliability of flights enabled researchers to add equipment and devices to them for application. The addition of lightweight manipulators, grippers, and mechanisms to fulfill specific tasks has been reported frequently recently. This work pushes the idea one step ahead and uses an Artificial Human Hand (AHH) in an uncrewed aerial vehicle for aerial manipulation, device delivery, and co-operation with human workers. This application requires an effective end-effector capable of grasping and holding objects of different shapes. The AHH is a lightweight custom-made human-inspired design actuated using Shape Memory Alloy (SMA) materials. The SMA actuators offer significantly high forces with respect to their light weights though the control of these new actuators is a challenge that has been successfully demonstrated in this paper. The control of the SMA actuators could be achieved via heat exchange on the actuator, indirectly carried out by changing the current. The benefit of using this new actuator is removing the motors and mechanical mechanisms and simplifying the design. A soft cover is developed for the AHH to add friction and make it closer to a human hand. The modeling of the structured actuators on the system through tendons is presented, and a series of experiments for handling and manipulating different objects have been conducted. The objects were chosen with different weights and shapes to show the effectiveness of the design. An analysis of a generated torque of the manipulator for different cylindrical objects has been carried out. An analysis and comparison for grasping a series of items, pressure and temperature analysis, and the weight-to-volume ratio have been presented.
Low-Cost Digital Twin Approach and Tools to Support Industry and Academia: A Case Study Connecting High-Schools with High Degree Education
Authors: Acker James , Rogers Ishmael , Guerra-Zubiaga David , Tanveer Muhammad Hassan , Moghadam Amir Ali Amiri
Published: August 2023

Robotics and automation have been a growing area within K–12 educational institutions for the past decade. Across secondary educational institutions, students are introduced to robotics in classes, after-school clubs, and competition leagues through various educational platforms, vendors, and kits. Robotics was initially implemented in schools to help drive more interest in STEM through hands-on application of mechanical, electrical, structural, and computer engineering concepts. Recently, the trend of K–12 robotics has become very niche, focusing more on mobile robotics or robotics competitions. Because of this trend, students have limited exposure to emerging technological advances, such as those found in Industry 4.0. Exciting technological areas, such as digital twins, are not covered in curricula, and this lack of exposure negatively influences the direction of student interest in the “T” and “E” of STEM, with many students never pursuing computer science, technology, or robotics in higher education. The primary goal of this research is to provide a methodology to expose secondary students to Industry 4.0 technologies by leveraging accessible technologies, such as Unity and the Robot Operating System (ROS), to develop a low-cost, high-fidelity digital twin of a pick-and-place robot in a smart warehouse operation. This digital twin prototype will help students to learn about Industry 4.0 trends, such as next-generation automation systems, digital twins, digital manufacturing, intelligent automation, and additive manufacturing, using ROS–Unity integration and hardware accessible to secondary schools to simulate a pick-and-place robotic application. By harnessing the accessibility of Unity and ROS to create a low-cost digital twin prototype for a secondary school, this research has a secondary goal of improving the pipeline of students interested in pursuing STEM-related learning in higher education, thereby ensuring a future STEM workforce that can research, design, develop, operate, and maintain the systems and technologies of Industry 4.0.
Media Tone and Stock Price Crash Risk: Evidence from China
Authors: Zhao Ruwei , Fan Ruixin , Xiong Xiong , Wang Jianli , Hilliard Jitka
Published: August 2023

Following the 2008 financial crisis, multiple studies have contributed to the research on stock price crashes. However, most of the studies on stock price crashes are from the corporate management perspective, focusing on factors such as the board’s character, the CEO’s power, the brand’s capital, and ESG performance. Few studies have taken external information, such as media coverage, into consideration. Meanwhile, in the era of 5G, internet media has witnessed exponential growth, heavily enhancing the speed of information transmission; this could possibly impact the future risk associated with stock price crashes. From this perspective, our study extends the coverage by investigating the relationship between internet media coverage and the potential risk of stock price crashes. Using a comprehensive dataset of the Chinese stock market from 2008 to 2021, we found that the optimistic (pessimistic) tones of internet media were positively (negatively) correlated with the future risk of crashes. These findings remained firm after accounting for winsorization, corporate governance control, firm fixed effects, and instrumental variable analysis. Further analyses showed that media tone impacts were more pronounced for firms with higher analyst coverage. Our study indicates that investors, especially retail investors, who are more easily influenced by internet media, should be more cautious about the increasingly favorable internet coverage of listed companies, which could result in a heightened future risk of stock price crashes. Moreover, regulators should inform investors when listed companies are experiencing more favorable internet coverage to minimize potential stock market fluctuations and investment losses for investors.
Graph Convolutional Network Design for Node Classification Accuracy Improvement
Authors: Sejan Mohammad Abrar Shakil , Rahman Md Habibur , Aziz Md Abdul , Baik Jung-In , You Young-Hwan , Song Hyoung-Kyu
Published: August 2023

Graph convolutional networks (GCNs) provide an advantage in node classification tasks for graph-related data structures. In this paper, we propose a GCN model for enhancing the performance of node classification tasks. We design a GCN layer by updating the aggregation function using an updated value of the weight coefficient. The adjacency matrix of the input graph and the identity matrix are used to calculate the aggregation function. To validate the proposed model, we performed extensive experimental studies with seven publicly available datasets. The proposed GCN layer achieves comparable results with the state-of-the-art methods. With one single layer, the proposed approach can achieve superior results.
Exploring Hybrid H-bi-Ideals in Hemirings: Characterizations and Applications in Decision Making
Authors: Hadi Asmat , Khan Asghar , Faiz Nosheen , Khan Dost Muhammad , Bantan Rashad A. R. , Elgarhy Mohammed
Published: August 2023

The concept of the hybrid structure, as an extension of both soft sets and fuzzy sets, has gained significant attention in various mathematical and decision-making domains. In this paper, we delve into the realm of hemirings and investigate the properties of hybrid h-bi-ideals, including prime, strongly prime, semiprime, irreducible, and strongly irreducible ones. By employing these hybrid h-bi-ideals, we provide insightful characterizations of h-hemiregular and h-intra-hemiregular hemirings, offering a deeper understanding of their algebraic structures. Beyond theoretical implications, we demonstrate the practical value of hybrid structures and decision-making theory in handling real-world problems under imprecise environments. Using the proposed decision-making algorithm based on hybrid structures, we have successfully addressed a significant real-world problem, showcasing the efficacy of this approach in providing robust solutions.
Dynamics and Solutions of Higher-Order Difference Equations
Authors: Folly-Gbetoula Mensah
Published: August 2023

The invariance method, known as Lie analysis, consists of finding a group of transformations that leave a difference equation invariant. This powerful tool permits one to lower the order, linearize and more importantly, obtain analytical solutions of difference and differential equations. In this study, we obtain the solutions and periodic solutions for some family of difference equations. We achieve this by performing an invariance analysis of this family. Eventually, symmetries are derived and used to construct canonical coordinates required for the derivation of the solutions. Moreover, periodic aspects of these solutions and the stability character of the equilibrium points are investigated.
Dynamics of Optimal Cue Integration with Time-Varying Delay in the Insects’ Navigation System
Authors: Li Molan , Li Da , Zhang Junxing , Xiang Xuanlu , Zhao Di
Published: August 2023

Neural networks with a ring structure are considered biologically plausible and have the ability of enforcing unique and persistent heading representations, yielding realistic homing behaviors. Recent studies have found that insects optimally integrate sensory information from the environment for head direction by using ring attractor networks. Optimal cue integration as the basic component of a complex insect navigation system proves to consist of a ring attractor network that is coupled by some integration neurons and some uniform inhibition neurons. The dynamics of the coupled mechanisms between neurons in optimal cue integration determine whether the insects’ homing capability is affected by environmental noises. Furthermore, time delays caused by communication between different kinds of neurons may induce complex dynamical properties. These dynamical behaviors are essential for understanding the neural mechanisms of insect homing behaviors, but there is a lack of relevant research on the dynamics of optimal cue integration with time-varying delay in the insects’ navigation system. In this paper, we discuss the dynamical properties of optimal cue integration with time-varying delay and show that it is asymptotically stable and leads to a unique insect home direction. These results are critical in providing the theoretical basis for further research on insect homing behaviors and the establishment of autonomous robots that mimic insect navigation mechanisms in the future.
Enhancing the Security: A Lightweight Authentication and Key Agreement Protocol for Smart Medical Services in the IoHT
Authors: Wu Tsu-Yang , Wang Liyang , Chen Chien-Ming
Published: August 2023

The Internet of Things (IoT) has witnessed significant growth with advancements in Internet and wireless technologies. In the medical field, the Internet of Health Things (IoHT) has emerged as an extension of the IoT, enabling the exchange of remote data and real-time monitoring of patients’ health conditions. Through the IoHT, doctors can promptly provide diagnoses and treatment for patients. As patient data are transmitted over public channels, security issues may arise, necessitating security mechanisms. Recently, Amintoosi et al. proposed an authentication protocol for smart medical services in the IoHT. However, their protocol exhibited security weaknesses, including vulnerabilities to privileged insider attacks. To address the security concerns, we propose an enhanced authentication and key agreement protocol. The security of our protocol is rigorously analyzed using the Real-Or-Random model, informal security analysis, and the AVISPA tool. Finally, the results of our analysis demonstrate that our proposed protocol ensures sufficient security while maintaining a performance level similar to existing protocols.
Antioxidant, Collagenase Inhibitory, and Antibacterial Effects of Bioactive Peptides Derived from Enzymatic Hydrolysate of Ulva australis
Authors: Kang You-An , Kim Ye-Jin , Jin Sang-Keun , Choi Hwa-Jung
Published: August 2023

The protein extract of Ulva australis hydrolyzed with Alcalase and Flavourzyme was found to have multi-functional properties, including total antioxidant capacity (TAC), collagenase inhibitory, and antibacterial activities. The #5 fraction (SP5) and #7 fraction (SP7) of U. australis hydrolysate from cation-exchange chromatography displayed significantly high TAC, collagenase inhibitory, and antibacterial effects against Propionibacterium acnes, and only the Q3 fraction from anion-exchange chromatography displayed high multi-functional activities. Eight of 42 peptides identified by MALDI-TOF/MS and Q-TOF/MS/MS were selected from the results for screening with molecular docking on target proteins and were then synthesized. Thr-Gly-Thr-Trp (TGTW) displayed ABTS [2,2′-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid)] radical scavenging activity. The effect of TAC as Trolox equivalence was dependent on the concentration of TGTW. Asn-Arg-Asp-Tyr (NRDY) and Arg-Asp-Arg-Phe (RDRF) exhibited collagenase inhibitory activity, which increased according to the increase in concentration, and their IC50 values were 0.95 mM and 0.84 mM, respectively. Peptides RDRF and His-Ala-Val-Tyr (HAVY) displayed anti-P. Acnes effects, with IC50 values of 8.57 mM and 13.23 mM, respectively. These results suggest that the U. australis hydrolysate could be a resource for the application of effective nutraceuticals and cosmetics.
Carotenoids from Starfish Patiria pectinifera: Therapeutic Activity in Models of Inflammatory Diseases
Authors: Popov Aleksandr M. , Kozlovskaya Emma P. , Klimovich Anna A. , Rutckova Tatyana A. , Vakhrushev Aleksey I. , Hushpulian Dmitry M. , Gazaryan Irina G. , Makhankov Vyacheslav V. , Son Oksana M. , Tekutyeva Liudmila A.
Published: August 2023

The carotenoids mixture (MC) isolated from the starfish Patiria. pectinifera contains more than 50% astaxanthin, 4–6% each zeaxanthine and lutein, and less pharmacologically active components such as free fatty acids and their glycerides. Astaxanthin, the major component of MC, belongs to the xanthophyll class of carotenoids, and is well known for its antioxidant properties. In this work, in vitro and in vivo studies on the biological activity of MC were carried out. The complex was shown to exhibit anti-inflammatory, anti-allergic and cancer-preventive activity, without any toxicity at a dose of 500 mg/kg. MC effectively improves the clinical picture of the disease progressing, as well as normalizing the cytokine profile and the antioxidant defense system in the in vivo animal models of inflammatory diseases, namely: skin carcinogenesis, allergic contact dermatitis (ACD) and systemic inflammation (SI). In the skin carcinogenesis induced by 7,12-dimethylbenzanthracene, the incidence of papillomas was decreased 1.5 times; 1% MC ointment form in allergic contact dermatitis showed an 80% reduced severity of pathomorphological skin manifestations. Obtained results show that MC from starfish P. pectinifera is an effective remedy for the treatment and prevention of inflammatory processes.
Strategies to Mitigate Biofouling of Nanocomposite Polymer-Based Membranes in Contact with Blood
Authors: Wójtowicz Dominika , Stodolak-Zych Ewa
Published: August 2023

An extracorporeal blood purification method called continuous renal replacement therapy uses a porous hollow-fiber polymeric membrane that is exposed to prolonged contact with blood. In that condition, like with any other submerged filtration membrane, the hemofilter loses its properties over time and use resulting in a rapid decline in flux. The most significant reason for this loss is the formation of a biofilm. Protein, blood cells and bacterial cells attach to the membrane surface in complex and fluctuating processes. Anticoagulation allows for longer patency of vascular access and a longer lifespan of the membrane. Other preventive measures include the modification of the membrane itself. In this article, we focused on the role of nanoadditives in the mitigation of biofouling. Nanoparticles such as graphene, carbon nanotubes, and silica effectively change surface properties towards more hydrophilic, affect pore size and distribution, decrease protein adsorption and damage bacteria cells. As a result, membranes modified with nanoparticles show better flow parameters, longer lifespan and increased hemocompatibility.
Controlling the Amount of Copper Formate Shells Surrounding Cu Flakes via Wet Method and Thermo-Compression Sinter Bonding between Cu Finishes in Air Using Flakes
Authors: Choi Woo Lim , Lee Jong-Hyun
Published: August 2023

To bond a semiconductor power chip on a substrate using the formation of bondlines exhibiting long-term mechanical durability at high temperatures such as 300 °C, compression-assisted sinter bonding between Cu finishes was carried out at 300–350 °C in air. Cu flakes of approximately 7 µm were used as the main filler material; their surfaces were modified by pretreatment using a formic acid solution, and the existing oxide layers were transformed into copper formate shells. To increase the amount of the copper formate shells, the shell transformation reaction was controlled by the deliberate addition of 30 nm Cu2O particles and sustained for 50 min. The formate shells formed decomposed at a peak temperature of 250 °C, forming pure Cu, which rapidly induced sintering between the flakes and at the Cu-finish–flake interfaces. Therefore, the paste containing Cu flakes showed a sufficient shear strength of 26.3 MPa even in air after sinter bonding for only 3 min under 5 MPa at 350 °C. Although the bimodal-type paste presented near-full-density bondline structures within 3 min of adding 350 nm pure Cu particles, the strengths with respect to bonding time showed trends of values less than 26.3 MPa, owing to the excessive oxidation of the 350 nm Cu.
A Novel Quantitative Analysis Method for Lead Components in Waste Lead Paste
Authors: Zhang Zhuang , Xie Feng , Wang Wei , Bai Yun-Long
Published: August 2023

In this study, a method for determining the lead components in waste lead paste was proposed, using simulated and spent lead paste as research objects. To compare the effectiveness of different determining methods, we selected three methods for comparison and investigated the reasons for measurement deviation. The results indicate that the measurement deviation in the current method primarily stems from the following three factors: (1) Pb is soluble in an acetic acid solution under certain conditions; (2) Pb and PbO2 undergo redox reactions; and (3) hydrogen peroxide can undergo redox reactions with Pb. It is feasible to determine the lead content using the kinetic rules of Pb and PbO2 in the acetic acid-hydrogen peroxide system. The method of determination proposed in this paper is as follows. Firstly, lead dioxide is dissolved in hydrogen peroxide under acidic conditions. Subsequently, the concentration of lead dioxide is determined, and the quantity of hydrogen peroxide consumed is recorded. Then, a new sample is taken, and the lead oxide is dissolved in an acetic acid solution. The concentration of lead oxide is determined using the EDTA·2Na titration method. The residue of lead sulfate in the filtrate is dissolved in a sodium chloride solution, and its concentration is determined using the EDTA·2Na titration method. Based on the previously recorded volume of hydrogen peroxide, the remaining lead dioxide in the residue is dissolved in a mixture of acetic acid and hydrogen peroxide. The remaining lead dioxide is then removed from the new sample employing kinetic principles. Finally, the residual metallic lead in the sample is dissolved in a nitric acid solution, and its concentration is determined using the EDTA·2Na titration method.
Superelasticity of Geometrically Graded NiTi Shape Memory Alloys
Authors: Chen Weimei , Xi Rui , Jiang Hao , Li Xiaoqiang , Dong Guiwei , Wang Xiebin
Published: August 2023

A stress plateau with a strain of 5–8% normally occurs during the stress-induced martensite transformation (SIM) of NiTi shape memory alloys. Within the stress plateau, the correlation between the stress and strain is lost, which limits their application in certain fields which require accurate control of inelastic deformation. In order to address this limitation, a series of step-like NiTi samples with graded cross-sectional area were designed and fabricated. Multiple stress plateaus were achieved by varying the sample width and adjusting the number of steps; for instance, two and three stress plateaus were obtained in the samples with two and three steps, respectively. Also, linear force–strain response was obtained by changing gradually the width of the samples. The functional stability of the geometrically graded samples was significantly improved by incomplete recrystallization annealing (600 °C) followed by low-temperature (250 °C) aging treatment. The incompletely recrystallized specimens contained many dislocations and grain and sub-grain boundaries, which promoted the uniform precipitation of Ni4Ti3 nanoparticles during aging treatment. The homogeneously and densely dispersed Ni4Ti3 nanoparticles were able to strengthen the matrix considerably and prevent plastic activities during stress-induced martensite transformation. As a result, the functional stability of the geometrically graded NiTi samples was much improved. After aging at 250 °C for 120 h, all the samples showed a small residual strain of <1.0% after 20 loading–unloading cycles.
Selective Laser Melting of Al-Cu-Mn-Mg Alloys: Processing and Mechanical Properties
Authors: Zhang Shenghua , Zhang Senming , Li Fudong , Li Zhonghua , Wang Yu , Liu Bin
Published: August 2023

Al-Cu-Mn-Mg alloys containing Zr were produced via selective laser melting (SLM). The processing parameters were analyzed via an orthogonal experiment, and the microstructure and mechanical properties of the specimens were investigated. The results showed that the laser power and scanning speed were the main factors affecting the density and hardness of the specimens. The optimal parameters for the SLM processing of Al-Cu-Mn-Mg alloy were a laser power of 300 W, scanning speed of 1100 mm/s, and hatch spacing of 0.12 mm. The microstructure of the specimen was made of fine equiaxed grains and columnar grains, and Al2Cu precipitates were found in the as-printed alloy. The alloy was isotropic, and the hardness was around 100 HV. The tensile and yield strength of the alloy were 361 MPa and 266 MPa, and the elongation was 5.4%. The superior mechanical properties can be attributed to the synergy effect of the strengthening of the grain boundary, solid solution, and precipitation.
Unravelling Effects of Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis L.) Extract on Hepatic Fat Accumulation and Plasma Lipid Profile in Rats Fed a High-Fat Western-Style Diet
Authors: Madsen Sidsel , Bak Steffen Yde , Yde Christian Clement , Jensen Henrik Max , Knudsen Tine Ahrendt , Bæch-Laursen Cecilie , Holst Jens Juul , Laustsen Christoffer , Hedemann Mette Skou
Published: August 2023

The objective of the study was to investigate the preventive effect on obesity-related conditions of rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis L.) extract (RE) in young, healthy rats fed a high-fat Western-style diet to complement the existing knowledge gap concerning the anti-obesity effects of RE in vivo. Sprague Dawley rats (71.3 ± 0.46 g) were fed a high-fat Western-style diet (WD) or WD containing either 1 g/kg feed or 4 g/kg feed RE for six weeks. A group fed standard chow served as a negative control. The treatments did not affect body weight; however, the liver fat percentage was reduced in rats fed RE, and NMR analyses of liver tissue indicated that total cholesterol and triglycerides in the liver were reduced. In plasma, HDL cholesterol was increased while triglycerides were decreased. Rats fed high RE had significantly increased fasting plasma concentrations of Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1). Proteomics analyses of liver tissue showed that RE increased enzymes involved in fatty acid oxidation, possibly associated with the higher fasting GLP-1 levels, which may explain the improvement of the overall lipid profile and hepatic fat accumulation. Furthermore, high levels of succinic acid in the cecal content of RE-treated animals suggested a modulation of the microbiota composition. In conclusion, our results suggest that RE may alleviate the effects of consuming a high-fat diet through increased GLP-1 secretion and changes in microbiota composition.
Virus Behavior after UV254 Treatment of Materials with Different Surface Properties
Authors: Bernardy Castine , Malley James
Published: August 2023

The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the limitations in scientific and engineering understanding of applying germicidal UV to surfaces. This study combines surface characterization, viral retention, and the related UV dose response to evaluate the effectiveness of UV254 as a viral inactivation technology on five surfaces: aluminum, ceramic, Formica laminate, PTFE and stainless steel. Images of each surface were determined using SEM (Scanning Electron Microscopy), which produced a detailed characterization of the surfaces at a nanometer scale. From the SEM images, the surface porosity of each material was calculated. Through further analysis, it was determined that surface porosity, surface roughness, contact angle, and zeta potential correlate to viral retention on the material. The imaging revealed that the aluminum surface, after repeated treatment, is highly oxidized, increasing surface area and surface porosity. These interactions are important as they prevent the recovery of MS-2 without exposure to UV254. The dose response curve for PTFE was steeper than ceramic, Formica laminate and stainless steel, as inactivation to the detection limit was achieved at 25 mJ/cm2. These findings are consistent with well-established literature indicating UV reflectivity of PTFE is maximized. Statistical testing reinforced that the efficacy of UV254 for surface inactivation varies by surface type.