bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Application of Artificial Neural Network for the Prediction of Copper Ore Grade
Authors: Tsae Ntshiri Batlile , Adachi Tsuyoshi , Kawamura Youhei
Published: May 2023

Precise prediction of ore grade is essential in feasibility studies, mine planning, open-pit and underground optimization, and ore grade control. Conventional methods, such as geometric and geostatistical methods, are the most popular techniques for mineral resource estimation but fail to capture the complexity of orebodies. Due to this limitation, grades are incorrectly estimated, leading to inaccurate mine plans and costly financial decisions. Here, we propose an ore grade prediction method using an artificial neural network (ANN). We collected 14,294 datasets from the Jaguar mine in Western Australia. The proposed model was developed by incorporating lithology, alteration, eastings, northwards, altitude, dip, and azimuth to predict the grade, and the performance evaluation metrics were measured based on the mean absolute error (MAE), mean square error (MSE), root mean square error (RMSE), correlation coefficient, R, and coefficient of determination (R2). The proposed ANN model outperformed classic machine learning methods with R2, R, MAE, MSE, and RMSE of 0.584, 0.765, 0.0018, 0.0016, and 0.041, respectively. The Shapley technique was used to evaluate the feature importance of the input variables for the grade prediction. Lithology demonstrated the highest influence on ore prediction, whereas eastings had the least impact on output. The proposed approach is promising for ore model prediction.
Edible Halophytes with Functional Properties: In Vitro Protein Digestibility and Bioaccessibility and Intestinal Absorption of Minerals and Trace Elements from Australian Indigenous Halophytes
Authors: Srivarathan Sukirtha , Addepalli Rama , Adiamo Oladipupo Qudus , Kodagoda Gethmini Kavindya , Phan Anh Dao Thi , Wright Olivia Renee Louise , Sultanbawa Yasmina , Osborne Simone , Netzel Michael Erich
Published: May 2023

Halophytes are considered emerging functional foods as they are high in protein, minerals, and trace elements, although studies investigating halophyte digestibility, bioaccessibility, and intestinal absorption are limited. Therefore, this study investigated the in vitro protein digestibility, bioaccessibility and intestinal absorption of minerals and trace elements in saltbush and samphire, two important Australian indigenous halophytes. The total amino acid contents of samphire and saltbush were 42.5 and 87.3 mg/g DW, and even though saltbush had a higher total protein content overall, the in vitro digestibility of samphire protein was higher than the saltbush protein. The in vitro bioaccessibility of Mg, Fe, and Zn was higher in freeze-dried halophyte powder compared to the halophyte test food, suggesting that the food matrix has a significant impact on mineral and trace element bioaccessibility. However, the samphire test food digesta had the highest intestinal Fe absorption rate, whereas the saltbush digesta exhibited the lowest (37.7 vs. 8.9 ng/mL ferritin). The present study provides crucial data about the digestive “fate” of halophyte protein, minerals, and trace elements and increases the understanding of these underutilized indigenous edible plants as future functional foods.
Enrichment of Cookies with Fruits and Their By-Products: Chemical Composition, Antioxidant Properties, and Sensory Changes
Authors: Krajewska Anna , Dziki Dariusz
Published: May 2023

Cookies made from wheat have become increasingly popular as a snack due to their various advantages, such as their convenience as a ready-to-eat and easily storable food item, wide availability in different types, and affordability. Especially in recent years, there has been a trend towards enriching food with fruit additives, which increase the health-promoting properties of the products. The aim of this study was to examine current trends in fortifying cookies with fruits and their byproducts, with a particular focus on the changes in chemical composition, antioxidant properties, and sensory attributes. As indicated by the results of studies, the incorporation of powdered fruits and fruit byproducts into cookies helps to increase their fiber and mineral content. Most importantly, it significantly enhances the nutraceutical potential of the products by adding phenolic compounds with high antioxidant capacity. Enriching shortbread cookies is a challenge for both researchers and producers because the type of fruit additive and level of substitution can diversely affect sensory attributes of cookies such as color, texture, flavor, and taste, which have an impact on consumer acceptability.
Layered-Oxide Cathode Materials for Fast-Charging Lithium-Ion Batteries: A Review
Authors: Meng Xin , Wang Jiale , Li Le
Published: May 2023

Layered oxides are considered prospective state-of-the-art cathode materials for fast-charging lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) owning to their economic effectiveness, high energy density, and environmentally friendly nature. Nonetheless, layered oxides experience thermal runaway, capacity decay, and voltage decay during fast charging. This article summarizes various modifications recently implemented in the fast charging of LIB cathode materials, including component improvement, morphology control, ion doping, surface coating, and composite structure. The development direction of layered-oxide cathodes is summarized based on research progress. Further, possible strategies and future development directions of layered-oxide cathodes to improve fast-charging performance are proposed.
Semisynthesis, Biological Evaluation and Molecular Docking Studies of Barbatic Acid Derivatives as Novel Diuretic Candidates
Authors: Yu Xiang , Sui Yi , Xi Yinkai , Zhang Yan , Luo Guoyong , Long Yi , Yang Wude
Published: May 2023

Barbatic acid, a compound isolated from lichen, has demonstrated a variety of biological activities. In this study, a series of esters based on barbatic acid (6a–q′) were designed, synthesized, and evaluated for their diuretic and litholytic activity at a concentration of 100 μmol/L in vitro. All target compounds were characterized using 1H NMR, 13C NMR, and HRMS, and the spatial structure of compound 6w was confirmed using X-ray crystallography. The biological results showed that some derivatives, including 6c, 6b′, and 6f′, exhibited potent diuretic activity, and 6j and 6m displayed promising litholytic activity. Molecular docking studies further suggested that 6b′ had an optimal binding affinity to WNK1 kinases related to diuresis, while 6j could bind to the bicarbonate transporter CaSR through a variety of forces. These findings indicate that some barbatic acid derivatives could be further developed into novel diuretic agents.
Analogy of the Reactions of Aromatic and Aliphatic π-Electrophiles with Nucleophiles
Authors: Barbasiewicz Michał , Fedoryński Michał , Loska Rafał , Mąkosza Mieczysław
Published: May 2023

The aim of this essay is to disclose the similarity of a great variety of reactions that proceed between nucleophiles and π-electrophiles—both aromatic and aliphatic. These reactions proceed via initial reversible addition, followed by a variety of transformations that are common for the adducts of both aliphatic and aromatic electrophiles. We hope that understanding of this analogy should help to expand the scope of the known reactions and inspire the search for new reactions that were overlooked.
The Development of Tungsten Biochemistry—A Personal Recollection
Authors: Hagen Wilfred R.
Published: May 2023

The development of tungsten biochemistry is sketched from the viewpoint of personal participation. Following its identification as a bio-element, a catalogue of genes, enzymes, and reactions was built up. EPR spectroscopic monitoring of redox states was, and remains, a prominent tool in attempts to understand tungstopterin-based catalysis. A paucity of pre-steady-state data remains a hindrance to overcome to this day. Tungstate transport systems have been characterized and found to be very specific for W over Mo. Additional selectivity is presented by the biosynthetic machinery for tungstopterin enzymes. Metallomics analysis of hyperthermophilic archaeon Pyrococcus furiosus indicates a comprehensive inventory of tungsten proteins.
Preclinical Evaluation of a PSMA-Targeting Homodimer with an Optimized Linker for Imaging of Prostate Cancer
Authors: Murce Erika , Beekman Savanne , Spaan Evelien , Handula Maryana , Stuurman Debra , de Ridder Corrina , Seimbille Yann
Published: May 2023

Prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) targeting radiopharmaceuticals have been successfully used for diagnosis and therapy of prostate cancer. Optimization of the available agents is desirable to improve tumor uptake and reduce side effects to non-target organs. This can be achieved, for instance, via linker modifications or multimerization approaches. In this study, we evaluated a small library of PSMA-targeting derivatives with modified linker residues, and selected the best candidate based on its binding affinity to PSMA. The lead compound was coupled to a chelator for radiolabeling, and subject to dimerization. The resulting molecules, 22 and 30, were highly PSMA specific (IC50 = 1.0–1.6 nM) and stable when radiolabeled with indium-111 (>90% stable in PBS and mouse serum up to 24 h). Moreover, [111In]In-30 presented a high uptake in PSMA expressing LS174T cells, with 92.6% internalization compared to 34.1% for PSMA-617. Biodistribution studies in LS174T mice xenograft models showed that [111In]In-30 had a higher tumor and kidney uptake compared to [111In]In-PSMA-617, but increasing T/K and T/M ratios at 24 h p.i. Tumors could be clearly visualized at 1 h p.i. by SPECT/CT after administration of [111In]In-22 and [111In]In-PSMA-617, while [111In]In-30 showed a clear signal at later time-points (e.g., 24 h p.i.).
Influence of Natural Mordenite Activation Mode on Its Efficiency as Support of Nickel Catalysts for Biodiesel Upgrading to Renewable Diesel
Authors: Fani Konstantina , Lycourghiotis Sotiris , Bourikas Kyriakos , Kordouli Eleana
Published: May 2023

In the present work, natural mordenite originated from volcanic soils in Greek islands, activated using HCl solution and HCl solution followed by NaOH solution, was used as support for preparing two metallic nickel catalysts (30 wt.% Ni). The catalysts were thoroughly characterized (XRF, N2 adsorption–desorption, SEM, XRD, TEM, H2-TPR, NH3-TPD) and evaluated for biodiesel upgrading to green (renewable) diesel. Double activation of natural mordenite optimized its supporting characteristics, finally resulting in a supported nickel catalyst with (i) enhanced specific surface area (124 m2 g−1) and enhanced mean pore diameter (14 nm) facilitating mass transfer; (ii) easier nickel phase reduction; (iii) enhanced Ni0 dispersion and thus high active surface; (iv) balanced population of moderate and strong acid sites; (v) resistance to sintering; and (vi) low coke formation. Over the corresponding catalyst, the production of a liquid consisting of 94 wt.% renewable diesel was achieved, after 9 h of reaction at 350 °C and 40 bar H2 pressure, in a semi-batch reactor under solvent-free conditions.
Diagnosis and Treatment of Fungal Infections in Lung Transplant Recipients
Authors: Escamilla Jesus E. , January Spenser E. , Vazquez Guillamet Rodrigo
Published: May 2023

Fungal infections are a significant source of morbidity in the lung transplant population via direct allograft damage and predisposing patients to the development of chronic lung allograft dysfunction. Prompt diagnosis and treatment are imperative to limit allograft damage. This review article discusses incidence, risk factors, and symptoms with a specific focus on diagnostic and treatment strategies in the lung transplant population for fungal infections caused by Aspergillus, Candida, Coccidioides, Histoplasma, Blastomyces, Scedosporium/Lomentospora, Fusarium, and Pneumocystis jirovecii. Evidence for the use of newer triazole and inhaled antifungals to treat isolated pulmonary fungal infections in lung transplant recipients is also discussed.
Clinical Presentation, Microbiological Characteristics, and Their Implications for Perioperative Outcomes in Xanthogranulomatous Pyelonephritis: Perspectives from a Real-World Multicenter Practice
Authors: Gauhar Vineet , Robles-Torres José Iván , Wroclawski Marcelo Langer , Trujillo-Santamaría Hegel , Teoh Jeremy Yuen Chun , Tanidir Yiloren , Mahajan Abhay , Gadzhiev Nariman , Ragoori Deepak , Kumar Santosh , Ganpule Arvind , Maheshwari Pankaj Nandkishore , García-Chairez Luis Roberto , Enrriquez-Ávila Joana Valeria , Monzón-Falconi Juan Francisco , Esqueda-Mendoza Antonio , Flores-Tapia Juan Pablo , Duarte-Santos Hugo Octaviano , Farooq Mudasir , Arjunrao Gite Venkat , Mani Sinha Mriganka , Somani Bhaskar K. , Castellani Daniele
Published: May 2023

Xanthogranulomatous pyelonephritis (XGP) is an uncommon chronic granulomatous infection of renal parenchyma. XGP is often associated with long-term urinary tract obstruction due to stones and infection. We aimed to analyze the clinical, laboratory, and microbial culture profiles from bladder and kidney urine of patients who were diagnosed with XGP. Databases of patients with histopathological diagnosis of XGP from 10 centers across 5 countries were retrospectively reviewed between 2018 and 2022. Patients with incomplete medical records were excluded. A total of 365 patients were included. There were 228 (62.5%) women. The mean age was 45 ± 14.4 years. The most common comorbidity was chronic kidney disease (71%). Multiple stones were present in 34.5% of cases. Bladder urine culture results were positive in 53.2% of cases. Kidney urine culture was positive in 81.9% of patients. Sepsis and septic shock were present in 13.4% and 6.6% of patients, respectively. Three deaths were reported. Escherichia coli was the most common isolated pathogen in both urine (28.4%) and kidney cultures (42.4%), followed by Proteus mirabilis in bladder urine cultures (6.3%) and Klebsiella pneumoniae (7.6%) in kidney cultures. Extended-spectrum beta-lactamases producing bacteria were reported in 6% of the bladder urine cultures. On multivariable analysis, urosepsis, recurrent urinary tract infections, increased creatinine, and disease extension to perirenal and pararenal space were independent factors associated with positive bladder urine cultures. On multivariable analysis, only the presence of anemia was significantly more frequent in patients with positive kidney cultures. Our results can help urologists counsel XGP patients undergoing nephrectomy.
Advanced Study of Optical Imaging Systems for Virtual Reality Head-Mounted Displays
Authors: Ren Zhongju , Fu Xiuhua , Dong Keyan , Lai Ying , Zhang Jingjing
Published: May 2023

Driven by the rapid innovation of science and technology and industrial manufacturing technology, virtual reality display technology has developed rapidly. At present, the application of virtual reality display technology is expanding in many fields such as military, medical, aviation and education. This paper analyzes the imaging principle of the human vision system and the optical performance requirements of VR heads-up display, summarizes the current design scheme of VR heads-up optical imaging system, focuses on the principle and index parameters of each optical system, and compares the advantages and disadvantages of different schemes. The development prospects and directions of virtual reality headset displays are also prospected.
Sample Delivery Systems for Serial Femtosecond Crystallography at the PAL-XFEL
Authors: Park Jaehyun , Nam Ki Hyun
Published: May 2023

Serial femtosecond crystallography (SFX) using an X-ray free electron laser (XFEL) enables the determination of room-temperature structures without causing radiation damage. Using an optical pump-probe or mix-and-injection, SFX enables the intermediate state visualization of a molecular reaction. In SFX experiments, serial and stable microcrystal delivery to the X-ray interaction point is vital for reasonable data collection and efficient beam time. The Pohang Accelerator Laboratory X-ray Free Electron Laser (PAL-XFEL) facility established SFX instruments at a nanocrystallography and coherent imaging (NCI) experimental station. Various sample delivery methods, including injection, fixed-target scanning, and hybrid methods, have been developed and applied to collect XFEL diffraction data. Herein, we report the currently available sample delivery methods for SFX at the NCI experimental station at the PAL-XFEL. This article will help PAL-XFEL users access the SFX system for their experiments.
Understanding the Mechanisms of Fe Deficiency in the Rhizosphere to Promote Plant Resilience
Authors: Molnár Zoltán , Solomon Wogene , Mutum Lamnganbi , Janda Tibor
Published: May 2023

One of the most significant constraints on agricultural productivity is the low availability of iron (Fe) in soil, which is directly related to biological, physical, and chemical activities in the rhizosphere. The rhizosphere has a high iron requirement due to plant absorption and microorganism density. Plant roots and microbes in the rhizosphere play a significant role in promoting plant iron (Fe) uptake, which impacts plant development and physiology by influencing nutritional, biochemical, and soil components. The concentration of iron accessible to these live organisms in most cultivated soil is quite low due to its solubility being limited by stable oxyhydroxide, hydroxide, and oxides. The dissolution and solubility rates of iron are also significantly affected by soil pH, microbial population, organic matter content, redox processes, and particle size of the soil. In Fe-limiting situations, plants and soil microbes have used active strategies such as acidification, chelation, and reduction, which have an important role to play in enhancing soil iron availability to plants. In response to iron deficiency, plant and soil organisms produce organic (carbohydrates, amino acids, organic acids, phytosiderophores, microbial siderophores, and phenolics) and inorganic (protons) chemicals in the rhizosphere to improve the solubility of poorly accessible Fe pools. The investigation of iron-mediated associations among plants and microorganisms influences plant development and health, providing a distinctive prospect to further our understanding of rhizosphere ecology and iron dynamics. This review clarifies current knowledge of the intricate dynamics of iron with the end goal of presenting an overview of the rhizosphere mechanisms that are involved in the uptake of iron by plants and microorganisms.
Reproductive Biology and Breeding Systems of Two Opisthopappus Endemic and Endangered Species on the Taihang Mountains
Authors: Wang Yiling , Lan Yafei , Ye Hang , Feng Xiaolong , Qie Qiyang , Liu Li , Chai Min
Published: May 2023

Opisthopappus is a perennial, endemic herb of the Taihang Mountains in China. Two species of this genus (O. longilobus and O. taihangensis) are important wild genetic resources for Asteraceae; however, their reproductive biology has been lacking until now. This study is the first detailed report on the reproductive biology and breeding systems of two Opisthopappus species. Through field observations, the floral syndromes of O. longilobus and O. taihangensis were found to possess a similar pattern, although O. taihangensis has a relatively larger capitulum, more ray ligules, and disc florets. The flowers of both O. longilobus and O. taihangensis are protandrous, a character that can prevent autogamy at the single-flower level, and insects are required for pollination. Further, brightly ligules, brightly bisexual florets, unique fragrance, and amount of nectar suggest that these species propagate via an entomophilous pollination system. Hymenopteran and Diptera species were observed as the effective pollinators for these two species. The outcrossing index, pollen/ovule ratio and the results of hand pollination indicated that these Opisthopappus species might have a mixed mating system that combines cross-fertilization and partial self-fertilization for O. longilobus and O. taihangensis, outcrossing predominated in the breeding system, while self-pollination played an important role in seed production when insect pollination was unavailable, particularly in a harsh environment, such as the Taihang Mountains cliffs. Meanwhile, O. taihangensis might better adapt to severe surroundings with relatively complex floral syndromes, specifically through the attraction of visiting insects and a high seed set rate. The above results not only provide reference information toward a better understanding of the survival strategies of O. longilobus and O. taihangensis in the Taihang Mountains but also lay a solid foundation for further exploring the molecular mechanisms that underly their adaptation under cliff environments.
The Molecular Mechanism of GhbHLH121 in Response to Iron Deficiency in Cotton Seedlings
Authors: Li Jie , Nie Ke , Wang Luyao , Zhao Yongyan , Qu Mingnan , Yang Donglei , Guan Xueying
Published: May 2023

Iron deficiency caused by high pH of saline–alkali soil is a major source of abiotic stress affecting plant growth. However, the molecular mechanism underlying the iron deficiency response in cotton (Gossypium hirsutum) is poorly understood. In this study, we investigated the impacts of iron deficiency at the cotton seedling stage and elucidated the corresponding molecular regulation network, which centered on a hub gene GhbHLH121. Iron deficiency induced the expression of genes with roles in the response to iron deficiency, especially GhbHLH121. The suppression of GhbHLH121 with virus-induced gene silence technology reduced seedlings’ tolerance to iron deficiency, with low photosynthetic efficiency and severe damage to the structure of the chloroplast. Contrarily, ectopic expression of GhbHLH121 in Arabidopsis enhanced tolerance to iron deficiency. Further analysis of protein/protein interactions revealed that GhbHLH121 can interact with GhbHLH IVc and GhPYE. In addition, GhbHLH121 can directly activate the expression of GhbHLH38, GhFIT, and GhPYE independent of GhbHLH IVc. All told, GhbHLH121 is a positive regulator of the response to iron deficiency in cotton, directly regulating iron uptake as the upstream gene of GhFIT. Our results provide insight into the complex network of the iron deficiency response in cotton.
Iron in the Symbiosis of Plants and Microorganisms
Authors: Liu Yi , Xiong Zimo , Wu Weifeng , Ling Hong-Qing , Kong Danyu
Published: May 2023

Iron is an essential element for most organisms. Both plants and microorganisms have developed different mechanisms for iron uptake, transport and storage. In the symbiosis systems, such as rhizobia–legume symbiosis and arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) symbiosis, maintaining iron homeostasis to meet the requirements for the interaction between the host plants and the symbiotic microbes is a new challenge. This intriguing topic has drawn the attention of many botanists and microbiologists, and many discoveries have been achieved so far. In this review, we discuss the current progress on iron uptake and transport in the nodules and iron homeostasis in rhizobia–legume symbiosis. The discoveries with regard to iron uptake in AM fungi, iron uptake regulation in AM plants and interactions between iron and other nutrient elements during AM symbiosis are also summarized. At the end of this review, we propose prospects for future studies in this fascinating research area.
Phase Behavior of Aqueous Mixtures of Sodium Alginate with Fish Gelatin: Effects of pH and Ionic Strength
Authors: Kolotova Daria S. , Borovinskaya Ekaterina V. , Bordiyan Vlada V. , Zuev Yuriy F. , Salnikov Vadim V. , Zueva Olga S. , Derkach Svetlana R.
Published: May 2023

The phase behavior of aqueous mixtures of fish gelatin (FG) and sodium alginate (SA) and complex coacervation phenomena depending on pH, ionic strength, and cation type (Na+, Ca2+) were studied by turbidimetric acid titration, UV spectrophotometry, dynamic light scattering, transmission electron microscopy and scanning electron microscopy for different mass ratios of sodium alginate and gelatin (Z = 0.01–1.00). The boundary pH values determining the formation and dissociation of SA-FG complexes were measured, and we found that the formation of soluble SA-FG complexes occurs in the transition from neutral (pHc) to acidic (pHφ1) conditions. Insoluble complexes formed below pHφ1 separate into distinct phases, and the phenomenon of complex coacervation is thus observed. Formation of the highest number of insoluble SA-FG complexes, based on the value of the absorption maximum, is observed at рHopt and results from strong electrostatic interactions. Then, visible aggregation occurs, and dissociation of the complexes is observed when the next boundary, pHφ2, is reached. As Z increases in the range of SA-FG mass ratios from 0.01 to 1.00, the boundary values of рНc, рHφ1, рHopt, and рHφ2 become more acidic, shifting from 7.0 to 4.6, from 6.8 to 4.3, from 6.6 to 2.8, and from 6.0 to 2.7, respectively. An increase in ionic strength leads to suppression of the electrostatic interaction between the FG and SA molecules, and no complex coacervation is observed at NaCl and CaCl2 concentrations of 50 to 200 mM.
Dynamic Magnetoelectric Effect of Soft Layered Composites with a Magnetic Elastomer
Authors: Makarova Liudmila A. , Alekhina Iuliia A. , Khairullin Marat F. , Makarin Rodion A. , Perov Nikolai S.
Published: May 2023

Multilayered magnetoelectric materials are of great interest for investigations due to their unique tuneable properties and giant values of magnetoelectric effect. The flexible layered structures consisting of soft components can reveal lower values of the resonant frequency for the dynamic magnetoelectric effect appearing in bending deformation mode. The double-layered structure based on the piezoelectric polymer polyvinylidene fluoride and a magnetoactive elastomer (MAE) with carbonyl iron particles in a cantilever configuration was investigated in this work. The gradient AC magnetic field was applied to the structure, causing the bending of the sample due to the attraction acting on the magnetic component. The resonant enhancement of the magnetoelectric effect was observed. The main resonant frequency for the samples depended on the MAE properties, namely, their thickness and concentration of iron particles, and was 156–163 Hz for a 0.3 mm MAE layer and 50–72 Hz for a 3 mm MAE layer; the resonant frequency depended on bias DC magnetic field as well. The results obtained can extend the application area of these devices for energy harvesting.
Analytical Investigation on the Shear Propagation Mechanism of Multi-Cracks in Brittle Tight Rocks under Compressive and Shear Loading Conditions
Authors: Luo Tianyu , Wu Qilin , Wu Di , Li Bin
Published: May 2023

There is abundant shale oil in the ocean and on land. Due to the tight lithology of the reservoir, volume fracturing technology is needed to improve the oil and gas productivity. It is very important to study the expansion law of multiple natural fractures in rock masses and its influencing factors in the process of volume fracturing for the formation of fracture networks. Based on the theory of online elastic fracture mechanics, the calculation method of the stress intensity factor at the end of any I–II composite fracture is established by using effective shear stress and considering the influence of T-stress. The calculation model of the stress intensity factor of any fracture on the main fracture wall or the horizontal section of the main fracture wall is established according to the concrete stress conditions in the process of hydraulic fracturing. Based on the principle of stress superposition, the combined interference stress calculation model of fracture ends is established for the case of multiple penetrating cracks in infinite-plane rock masses. Based on the theory of shear failure and plane strain, a model of the initiation direction and condition of natural cracks on the horizontal section of the main fracture wall and both sides of the main fracture in brittle rock is established when there are many coaxial natural cracks under the action of remote site stress and water pressure on the fracture surface. According to the simulation results, on the main fracture wall, when σH > σv > σh or σH > σh > σv, when the crack angle (CA) is within a certain range and multiple natural cracks (MNC) exist, the required pressure for shear failure decreases. When the fracture angle exceeds a certain size, the required pressure increases. When there are MNC in the horizontal or perpendicular sections of the rock mass on both sides of the main fracture, the required net pressure for shear failure decreases within a certain CA range. When the CA exceeds a certain range, it increases or remains basically unchanged. On the whole, the presence of MNC reduces the net pressure for shear failure, which is conducive to the formation of fracture networks.
An Improved Method of Model-Free Adaptive Predictive Control: A Case of pH Neutralization in WWTP
Authors: Li Jufeng , Tang Zhihe , Luan Hui , Liu Zhongyao , Xu Baochang , Wang Zhongjun , He Wei
Published: May 2023

pH neutralization reaction process plays a crucial role in Waste Water Treatment Process (WWTP). Traditional PID Proportion Integral Differential, (or even advanced PID control) algorithms have poor performance on WWTP due to the strong non-linearity, large time lag, and large inertia characteristics of pH neutralization. Therefore, finding a superior control method to maintain the pH value of wastewater within the normal range will greatly help to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of wastewater treatment. The chemical reaction mechanism of pH neutralization reaction process is first analyzed, and a mechanistic model of pH neutralization reaction process is developed based on the reaction of ions during acid-alkali neutralization and the electric balance equation. Then, combining the characteristics of generalized predictive control and Model-Free Adaptive Control (MFAC), a Model-Free Adaptive Predictive Control (MFAPC) method based on compact format dynamic linearization is introduced. An Improved Model Free Adaptive PI Predictive Control algorithm (IMFAPC) with proportional (P) and integral (I) algorithms is proposed to further improve the control performance. IMFAPC is proposed on the basis of MFAPC, combining the advantages of generalized predictive control, introducing a PI module consisting of error and error sum, and predicting the PI module, making it possible to produce more accurate constraints on the control inputs, avoiding increasing errors, and improving the control effect of delayed systems at the same time. pH neutralization process simulation experimental results show that compared with the ordinary Model-Free Adaptive Control (MFAC) and MFAPC, the IMFAPC control algorithms has the best performance in terms of accuracy, overshoot, and the robustness.
Computational and In Vitro Assessment of a Natural Triterpenoid Compound Gedunin against Breast Cancer via Caspase 3 and Janus Kinase/STAT Modulation
Authors: Hussain Talib , Alanazi Muteb , Alanazi Jowaher , Alharby Tareq Nafea , Unnisa Aziz , Awadelkareem Amir Mahgoub , Elkhalifa AbdElmoneim O. , Algahtani Mohammad M. , Shahid SMA , Rizvi Syed Mohd Danish
Published: May 2023

Breast cancer is the most prevalent type of malignancy among females as per the report of the World Health Organization. There are several established chemotherapeutic regimes for the clinical management of different solid cancers; however, the after-effects of these therapeutics serve as a significant limiting factor. The natural triterpenoid compound, gedunin is one of the principal phytoconstituent found in Azadirachta indica. In this study, we have investigated the anticancer potential of gedunin against human breast cancer MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7 cells. Based on computational studies, gedunin exhibited significantly higher binding affinity of −7.1 and −6.2 Kcal/mol towards Janus kinase (JAK) and STAT proteins, respectively. Further, the anticancer potential of gedunin against human breast cancer was studied using hormone-independent and -dependent MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cell lines, respectively. The results indicated that gedunin inhibited the growth and multiplication of both MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cells. The nuclear fragmentation and ROS were qualitatively enhanced in the treated MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cells in comparison to untreated cells. The caspase-3 level was significantly enhanced with a concomitant decline in JAK1 and STAT3 mRNA expression. Based on these results, gedunin might be considered as a potential therapeutic lead against hormone-dependent and -independent breast cancer MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cells, respectively. However, further detailed mechanistic studies are warranted to conclusively establish the anti-breast cancer effects.
Study on Failure Mechanism of Roadway Surrounding Rock and Hierarchical Continuous Support Technology in Unidirectional Fault Area
Authors: Xie Zhengzheng , Mu Fengchun , Guo Feng , Zhang Nong , Li Yongle , Chen Ruiji , Chen Qinghua
Published: May 2023

A fault is a common geological structure in coal mining. Large deformation or even instability and collapse often occur in roadways in fault areas, which restricts the safe and efficient production of mines. With the track roadway of the 5206 working face of Xin’an Coal Mine as the engineering background, this study aims to explore the failure mechanism of surrounding rock under the influence of fault structures. Field investigation and numerical simulation were used comprehensively to analyze the failure characteristics of the surrounding rock under the influence of a unidirectional fault structure. Based on the principle of thick-layer transboundary anchorage, the hierarchical continuous support technology of transboundary anchoring in the fault structure area was proposed. The results show that the stress near the fault area is relatively concentrated, and the rock mass strength is low, which may easily cause the deformation and failure of the surrounding rock under the dynamic stress response. Using the new technology to reconstruct the bearing structure of the broken surrounding rock mass, the deformation of the surrounding rock can be effectively restrained. According to the monitoring feedback, the roadway deformation in the roof and two sides is reduced by 68.5% and 35.4%, respectively; and the maximum evolutionary depth of the roof crack is reduced to 3.5 m from 7.5 m in the original support scheme. Moreover, this study also explored the necessity of wedge anchorage for corner anchor cables and the deformation characteristics of surrounding rock at different fault dip angles. These results provide an important reference for the maintenance and control of coal roadways under the influence of unidirectional fault structures.
Isolation, Genomic, and Proteomic Characterization of a Novel Neotropical Strain of Bacillus thuringiensis with Mosquitocidal Activities
Authors: Alves Giselly Batista , Dias Marcelo Leite , Oliveira Eugenio Eduardo de , Santos Gil Rodrigues dos , Ribeiro Bergmann Morais , Aguiar Raimundo Wagner de Souza
Published: May 2023

The combination of genomic and proteomic analyses is a useful tool for the study of novel Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) strains, as these approaches allow the accurate identification of pesticidal proteins and virulence factors produced. Here, we isolated and evaluated the potential of a novel Neotropical Bt strain (TOD651) for controlling larvae of Aedes aegypti and Culex quinquefasciatus mosquitoes. Aiming for the full comprehension of the TOD651 larvicidal potential, we further evaluated the whole TOD651 genome and conducted the proteomic analysis of the TOD651 spore–crystal mixtures. Our results showed that Bt TOD651 similarly killed both A. aegypti (0.011 µg/mL) and C. quinquefasciatus (0.023 µg/mL) larvae, exhibiting similar potency to the commercial Bt strain. The genome sequence revealed that Bt TOD651 harbors cry11Aa3, cry10Aa4, cry4Aa4, cry4Ba5, cyt1Aa5, cyt1Ca1, cyt2Ba13, mpp60Aa3, and mpp60Ba3. The proteomic analysis revealed no expression of Mpp60Aa3, while all the other pesticidal proteins were expressed (Cry4Ba5 was more abundant than Cyt1Aa5). The expression of the Mppe showed the major proportions between proteases. The virulent factor neutral protease B and spore coat proteins were also expressed. The expression of relevant pesticidal proteins (e.g., Cry, Cyt, Mpp, and other pathogenic factors), whose actions can occur in a synergic relation, indicates that the biocontrol using Bt TOD651 may contribute to delaying the selection of resistant individuals.
Accelerating Plastic Circularity: A Critical Assessment of the Pathways and Processes to Circular Plastics
Authors: Tan Jovan , Jia Shuyue , Ramakrishna Seeram
Published: May 2023

Achieving plastic circularity is imperative to using plastics without adverse effects. Today, only 9% of global plastic waste is recycled, signifying the need for more substantial advancements to accelerate our progress toward achieving plastic circularity. This article contributes to our collective efforts to accelerate plastic circularity by critically assessing the state-of-the-art, gaps, and outlook of the pathways and processes to circular plastics. It employs qualitative methods to derive new insights that empower scholars and practitioners to prescribe effective strategies to shape the future of plastic circularity and its research agenda. This article concludes that today’s circularity pathways for plastics are not economically viable, significantly hindering their scalability and widespread adoption. It further validates that focusing on the product design and effectiveness of the available collection and sorting systems can considerably improve our progress in achieving plastic circularity.
Proteomics Methodologies: The Search of Protein Biomarkers Using Microfluidic Systems Coupled to Mass Spectrometry
Authors: De Figueiredo Isabel , Bartenlian Bernard , Van der Rest Guillaume , Pallandre Antoine , Halgand Frédéric
Published: May 2023

Protein biomarkers have been the subject of intensive studies as a target for disease diagnostics and monitoring. Indeed, biomarkers have been extensively used for personalized medicine. In biological samples, these biomarkers are most often present in low concentrations masked by a biologically complex proteome (e.g., blood) making their detection difficult. This complexity is further increased by the needs to detect proteoforms and proteome complexity such as the dynamic range of compound concentrations. The development of techniques that simultaneously pre-concentrate and identify low-abundance biomarkers in these proteomes constitutes an avant-garde approach to the early detection of pathologies. Chromatographic-based methods are widely used for protein separation, but these methods are not adapted for biomarker discovery, as they require complex sample handling due to the low biomarker concentration. Therefore, microfluidics devices have emerged as a technology to overcome these shortcomings. In terms of detection, mass spectrometry (MS) is the standard analytical tool given its high sensitivity and specificity. However, for MS, the biomarker must be introduced as pure as possible in order to avoid chemical noise and improve sensitivity. As a result, microfluidics coupled with MS has become increasingly popular in the field of biomarker discovery. This review will show the different approaches to protein enrichment using miniaturized devices and the importance of their coupling with MS.
Streamable Services: Affinities for Streaming in Pre-Pandemic Congregational Worship
Authors: Roso Joseph
Published: May 2023

Following the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020, many congregational leaders had to scramble to set up streaming or recording systems in order to continue their worship services without putting congregants at risk, but some congregations had already set up such systems in the years leading up to the pandemic. Previous research has found that these capabilities were not evenly distributed throughout the population of congregations, but this work has primarily focused on how technological divides are the result of a lack of economic resources. However, economic resources were not the only factor associated with whether congregations had streaming options or not. Using Wave 4 of the National Congregations Study (NCS) conducted in 2018–2019, I find that, prior to the pandemic, Catholic congregations and Protestant congregations with more enthusiastic worship services were more likely to have streaming or recording systems even after controlling for economic resources, technological knowledge, and other organizational features. The elective affinities between certain worship practices and online streaming meant that some congregations were in a better position to meet the unexpected challenges posed by the coronavirus pandemic. These findings highlight the important role congregations’ cultural beliefs and practices can play in shaping their activities.
Sentinel-1 Interferometry and UAV Aerial Survey for Mapping Coseismic Ruptures: Mts. Sibillini vs. Mt. Etna Volcano
Authors: Menichetti Marco , Roccheggiani Matteo , De Guidi Giorgio , Carnemolla Francesco , Brighenti Fabio , Barreca Giovanni , Monaco Carmelo
Published: May 2023

The survey and structural analysis of surface coseismic ruptures are essential tools for characterizing seismogenic structures. In this work, a procedure to survey coseismic ruptures using satellite interferometric synthetic aperture radar (InSAR) data, directing the survey using Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV), is proposed together with a field validation of the results. The Sentinel-1 A/B Interferometric Wide (IW) Swath TOPSAR mode offers the possibility of acquiring images with a short revisit time. This huge amount of open data is extremely useful for geohazards monitoring, such as for earthquakes. Interferograms show the deformation field associated with earthquakes. Phase discontinuities appearing on wrapped interferograms or loss-of-coherence areas could represent small ground displacements associated with the fault’s ruptures. Low-altitude flight platforms such as UAV permit the acquisition of high resolution images and generate 3D spatial geolocalized clouds of data with centimeter-level accuracy. The generated topography maps and orthomosaic images are the direct products of this technology, allowing the possibility of analyzing geological structures from many viewpoints. We present two case studies. The first one is relative to the 2016 central Italian earthquakes, astride which the InSAR outcomes highlighted quite accurately the field displacement of extensional faults in the Mt. Vettore–M. Bove area. Here, the geological effect of the earthquake is represented by more than 35 km of ground ruptures with a complex pattern composed by subparallel and overlapping synthetic and antithetic fault splays. The second case is relative to the Mt. Etna earthquake of 26 December 2018, following which several ground ruptures were detected. The analysis of the unwrapped phase and the application of edge detector filtering and other discontinuity enhancers allowed the identification of a complex pattern of ground ruptures. In the Pennisi and Fiandaca areas different generation of ruptures can be distinguished, while previously unknown ruptures pertaining to the Acireale and Ragalna faults can be identify and analyzed.
Moving Point Target Detection Based on Temporal Transient Disturbance Learning in Low SNR
Authors: Gao Weihua , Niu Wenlong , Wang Pengcheng , Li Yanzhao , Ren Chunxu , Peng Xiaodong , Yang Zhen
Published: May 2023

Moving target detection in optical remote sensing is important for satellite surveillance and space target monitoring. Here, a new moving point target detection framework under a low signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) that uses an end-to-end network (1D-ResNet) to learn the distribution features of transient disturbances in the temporal profile (TP) formed by a target passing through a pixel is proposed. First, we converted the detection of the point target in the image into the detection of transient disturbance in the TP and established mathematical models of different TP types. Then, according to the established mathematical models of TP, we generated the simulation TP dataset to train the 1D-ResNet. In 1D-ResNet, the structure of CBR-1D (Conv1D, BatchNormalization, ReLU) was designed to extract the features of transient disturbance. As the transient disturbance is very weak, we used several skip connections to prevent the loss of features in the deep layers. After the backbone, two LBR (Linear, BatchNormalization, ReLU) modules were used for further feature extraction to classify TP and identify the locations of transient disturbances. A multitask weighted loss function to ensure training convergence was proposed. Sufficient experiments showed that this method effectively detects moving point targets with a low SNR and has the highest detection rate and the lowest false alarm rate compared to other benchmark methods. Our method also has the best detection efficiency.
Multi-Sensors for Human Activity Recognition
Authors: Tsanousa Athina , Meditskos Georgios , Vrochidis Stefanos , Kompatsiaris Ioannis
Published: May 2023

Human activity recognition (HAR) has made significant progress in recent years, with growing applications in various domains, and the emergence of wearable and ambient sensors has provided new opportunities in the field [...]
Fast and Accurate ROI Extraction for Non-Contact Dorsal Hand Vein Detection in Complex Backgrounds Based on Improved U-Net
Authors: Zhang Rongwen , Zou Xiangqun , Deng Xiaoling , Wang Ziyang , Chen Yifan , Lin Chengrui , Xing Hongxin , Dai Fen
Published: May 2023

In response to the difficulty of traditional image processing methods to quickly and accurately extract regions of interest from non-contact dorsal hand vein images in complex backgrounds, this study proposes a model based on an improved U-Net for dorsal hand keypoint detection. The residual module was added to the downsampling path of the U-Net network to solve the model degradation problem and improve the feature information extraction ability of the network; the Jensen–Shannon (JS) divergence loss function was used to supervise the final feature map distribution so that the output feature map tended to Gaussian distribution and improved the feature map multi-peak problem; and Soft-argmax is used to calculate the keypoint coordinates of the final feature map to realize end-to-end training. The experimental results showed that the accuracy of the improved U-Net network model reached 98.6%, which was 1% better than the original U-Net network model; the improved U-Net network model file was only 1.16 M, which achieved a higher accuracy than the original U-Net network model with significantly reduced model parameters. Therefore, the improved U-Net model in this study can realize dorsal hand keypoint detection (for region of interest extraction) for non-contact dorsal hand vein images and is suitable for practical deployment in low-resource platforms such as edge-embedded systems.