bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Assessment of Engine Performance and Emissions with Eucalyptus Oil and Diesel Blends
Authors: Chivu Robert Mădălin , Martins Jorge , Popescu Florin , Gonçalves Margarida , Uzuneanu Krisztina , Frătița Michael , Brito Francisco P.
Published: July 2024

This research evaluates the feasibility of using eucalyptus oil blended with conventional diesel fuel in diesel engines. Eucalyptus globulus is one of the main tree species cultivated for paper pulp in western European countries such as Portugal, and eucalyptus oil is one of the byproducts that so far has not been sufficiently evaluated as a biofuel. This study assesses the impact of using this additive on engine performance parameters and emissions as a means to contribute to reducing fossil fuel consumption and pollutant and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The analysis revealed that the addition of eucalyptus oil had a positive effect on torque, a critical performance parameter, with biofuel blends showing consistent torque increases at lower engine speeds. However, torque tended to decrease towards the higher range of engine speed for eucalyptus oil–diesel blends. Several blends showed lower brake specific fuel consumption compared to regular diesel at high engine loads and low engine speeds. Brake thermal efficiency did not vary substantially at lower engine speeds and loads but decreased at higher speeds and loads. Pollutant emissions, particularly unburned hydrocarbons and nitrogen oxides, were influenced by fuel composition, with biofuel blends showing both increases and decreases compared to diesel. It is noteworthy that eucalyptus oil blends exhibited up to a 60% reduction in smoke opacity under specific operating conditions at low speed and high load for 10% incorporation (10EU90D), suggesting that in addition to the already positive effects of cutting down fossil CO2 emissions in proportion to the substitution of fossil diesel with nearly carbon-neutral eucalyptus oil, more environmental benefits may be expected from the incorporation of this product. Although the present economic viability of using eucalyptus oil as a biofuel is still not guaranteed, the present study seems to reinforce its technical viability. Future prospects for the improvement of oil yield through biotechnology, the economic interest of this product for several countries, and the updating and upscaling industrial processes may allow the viability of this biofuel to remain a possibility in the future
Renewable Hydrogen from Biomass: Technological Pathways and Economic Perspectives
Authors: Rey José Ramón Copa , Mateos-Pedrero Cecilia , Longo Andrei , Rijo Bruna , Brito Paulo , Ferreira Paulo , Nobre Catarina
Published: July 2024

Hydrogen is undeniably one of the most promising options for producing energy with minimal environmental impact. However, current hydrogen production is still derived from carbon-intensive processes relying on fossil fuels. Biomass is a sustainable and versatile resource that can be converted into hydrogen through biological and thermochemical pathways from a large variety of feedstocks and technologies. This work reviews and compares existing biomass-to-hydrogen technologies, focusing on their characteristics, maturity level, benefits, limitations, and techno-economic and lifecycle environmental impacts. Less-developed biological conversion methods are characterized by low efficiencies and hydrogen productivity. More mature thermochemical routes enable higher efficiencies and hydrogen yields. Overall, while thermochemical processes suit centralized large-scale hydrogen production, biological pathways offer decentralized options, necessitating continued innovation for integration into future energy strategies. Some of these technologies, such as anaerobic digestion (best-case: 1.28 EUR/kgH2) and conventional gasification (best-case: 1.79 EUR/kgH2), emerge as promising, sustainable, and affordable alternatives for renewable hydrogen generation, offering production costs comparable to those of natural gas steam reforming (0.92–2.8 EUR/kgH2).
Assessment of Energy Footprint of Pure Hydrogen-Supplied Vehicles in Real Conditions of Long-Term Operation
Authors: Sitnik Lech J. , Andrych-Zalewska Monika , Dimitrov Radostin , Mihaylov Veselin , Mielińska Anna
Published: July 2024

The desire to maintain CO2 concentrations in the global atmosphere implies the need to introduce ’new’ energy carriers for transport applications. Therefore, the operational consumption of each such potential medium in the ’natural’ exploitation of vehicles must be assessed. A useful assessment method may be the vehicle’s energy footprint resulting from the theory of cumulative fuel consumption, presented in the article. Using a (very modest) database of long-term use of hydrogen-powered cars, the usefulness of this method was demonstrated. Knowing the energy footprint of vehicles of a given brand and type and the statistical characteristics of the footprint elements, it is also possible to assess vehicle fleets in terms of energy demand. The database on the use of energy carriers, such as hydrogen, in the long-term operation of passenger vehicles is still relatively modest; however, as it has been shown, valuable data can be obtained to assess the energy demand of vehicles of a given brand and type. Access to a larger operational database will allow for wider use of the presented method.
Effect of Thickness on the Breakdown Characteristics of Organic Insulation Materials under Microsecond Pulse Voltage
Authors: Li Xudong , Liu Xin , Ru Jiasheng , Zeng Zhibin , Bian Haoran , Li Yuefang , Zhong Hua , Chen Lei
Published: July 2024

Thickness affects the electrical breakdown strength (EBD) of insulation materials, and the variation of EBD with thickness (d) is an important basis for insulation design. In this paper, the effect of d on three kinds of organic insulation materials (OIMs), namely polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), polyetheretherketone (PEEK), and polyethylene terephthalate (PET), on their breakdown characteristics under microsecond pulse voltage (MSPV) was studied, and a breakdown probability prediction model was established based on Weibull distribution. The breakdown mechanisms of the OIMs under MSPV were also discussed. The results showed that the EBD of all three materials decreased with increasing d. The relationship between characteristic EBD and d all satisfied the inverse power model, and their inverse power coefficients were all close to 1/2.3, which was much larger than 1/8 for that under nanosecond pulse voltage. A general breakdown probability prediction model of the OIMs was established by combining the Weibull distribution and β = 2.3 so as to guide engineering design in the absence of basic test data under MSPV. The breakdown mechanism of the OIMs under MSPV was an energy-related composite physical breakdown mechanism, which was verified by analysis of energy accumulation characteristics and experimental evidence of the little influence of pulse width on EBD under MSPV. The research results lay the foundation for the insulation design and further study on the breakdown modeling of OIM under MSPV.
Sex Disparity in Stroke Mortality among Adults: A Time Series Analysis in the Greater Vitoria Region, Brazil (2000–2021)
Authors: de Souza Orivaldo Florencio , Araújo Alexandre Castelo Branco , Vieira Lorenna Baião , Bachur José Alexandre , Lopez Alberto Grover Prado , Gonçalves Thiago Gomes , de Abreu Luiz Carlos
Published: July 2024

The disparity between the sexes in stroke mortality has been demonstrated in people from different locations. The objective of this study was to analyze the disparity between sexes in stroke mortality in adults in the metropolitan area of Greater Vitoria between 2000 and 2021. Ecological time series design was conducted with a database of the Brazilian Health System Informatics Department. The annual percentage change and average annual percentage change were calculated through joinpoint regression. Pairwise comparisons using parallelism and coincidence tests were applied to compare temporal trends between men and women. Men had higher mortality rates in most years between 2000 and 2021. In contrast, women had higher proportional mortality values in all years evaluated from 2000 to 2021. The paired comparison revealed a disparity between the sexes in the proportional mortality time series (parallelism test: p = 0.003; coincidence test: p < 0.001). However, the time series of the mortality rates showed no disparity between the sexes (parallelism test: p = 0.114; coincidence test: p = 0.093). From 2000 to 2021, there was a disparity in proportional mortality from stroke between the sexes of the population in the metropolitan area of Greater Vitoria, Brazil. However, the time series of mortality rates between the sexes did not reveal any disparity in the study period.
Comparison of the Controlled Atmosphere Treatment for Submerged and Solid-State Fermentation of Inonotus obliquus
Authors: Chen Hsin-Jung , Chen Yuh-Shuen , Lin Kuo-Min , Tsai Shuo-Wen , Liao Mei-Jine , Yeh Chia-Sheng , Liu Shih-Lun
Published: July 2024

In this study, a controlled atmosphere (CA) treatment was used in the submerged (SM) and solid-state (SS) fermentation of Inonotus obliquus to determine the optimal conditions. The goal was to accelerate the artificial fermentation to obtain I. obliquus as an ingredient for dietary supplements. The results indicated that when CA treatment was used, the SM and SS fermentation of I. obliquus yielded polysaccharide and betulinic acid contents 2–2.5 times higher than those obtained when such treatment was not used. The two fermentation methods yielded similar outcomes in terms of DPPH scavenging ability, bioactivity, and antioxidant activity. Although SS fermentation yielded highly bioactive fruiting bodies when the period of fermentation was extended to 60 days, the mycelia produced by SM reached a similar bioactivity quality with only 30 days of fermentation. It was indicated that SM fermentation is more economically feasible than SS fermentation in the production of I. obliquus.
Genome-Wide Identification of the PIP5K Gene Family in Camellia sinensis and Their Roles in Metabolic Regulation
Authors: Wang Xiaoping , Xiong Yuanyuan , Tang Xiaobo , Zhang Ting , Ma Weiwei , Wang Yun , Li Chunhua
Published: July 2024

Spider mite infestation has a severe impact on tea growth and quality. In this study, we conducted a deep exploration of the functions and regulations of the CsPIP5K gene family using chromosomal localization and collinearity analysis. Additionally, we carefully examined the cis elements within these genes. To fully understand the metabolic response of CsPIP5K under spider mite infection, we integrated previously published metabolomic and transcriptomic data. Our analysis revealed that multiple CsPIP5K genes are associated with phospholipid metabolism, with CsPIP5K06 showing the strongest correlation. Therefore, we employed qPCR and subcellular localization techniques to determine the expression pattern of this gene and its functional location within the cell. Overall, this study not only comprehensively elucidated the characteristics, structure, and evolution of the CsPIP5K gene family but also identified several candidate CsPIP5K genes related to phospholipid biosynthesis and associated with spider mites based on previously published data. This research makes a significant contribution to enhancing the resistance of tea to spider mite and maintaining optimal tea quality.
Assessing Mental Health Conditions in Women with Gestational Diabetes Compared to Healthy Pregnant Women
Authors: Grinberg Keren , Yisaschar-Mekuzas Yael
Published: July 2024

Introduction: Pregnant women with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) experience higher psychological stress levels than healthy pregnant women. The objectives of the current study were to examine (1) the differences in anxiety, depression, stress, and somatization levels between women diagnosed with GDM and healthy pregnant women, and (2) the differences in anxiety, depression, stress, and somatization levels among women with well-controlled blood sugar levels compared to those who are not well controlled. Methods: A quantitative cross-sectional study was conducted, involving 103 women who had been pregnant at least once, including 40 women diagnosed with GDM and 63 healthy pregnant women. An online questionnaire was distributed that included three parts: socio-demographic parameters, the DASS-21 questionnaire assessing anxiety, depression, and stress, and the Brief Symptom Inventory (BSI) questionnaire assessing somatization. Results: Differences in the anxiety (t = 14.470, <0.001), depression (t = 8.17, <0.001), stress (t = 16.354, <0.001), and somatization (t = 13.679, <0.001) levels between women diagnosed with GDM and healthy pregnant women were found. Women diagnosed with GDM reported higher levels of anxiety, depression, stress, and somatization compared to those without GDM. Additionally, women with better blood sugar control, as indicated by lower glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) levels had lower anxiety (t (38) = −2.04, p < 0.05), depression (t(38) = −2.88, p < 0.01), stress (t(38) = −1.88, p < 0.05), and somatization (t(38) = −1.88, p < 0.05) levels compared to women with poorer blood sugar control. Conclusions: Pregnant women diagnosed with GDM report higher levels of negative mental health conditions such as anxiety, depression, stress, and somatization compared to healthy pregnant women.
Enhancing Response Rates in Web-Based Surveys: The Impact of Direct Participant Contact
Authors: Suppan Mélanie , Suppan Laurent , Beckmann Tal Sarah , Samer Caroline Flora , Savoldelli Georges Louis
Published: July 2024

Achieving a high participation rate is a common challenge in healthcare research based on web-based surveys. A study on local anesthetic systemic toxicity awareness and usage among medical practitioners at two Swiss university hospitals encountered resistance in obtaining personal email addresses from Heads of Departments. Participants were therefore divided into two groups: those who were directly invited via email (personal invitation group) and those who received a generic link through intermediaries (generic link group). The latter group was eventually excluded from survey data analysis. To determine whether one method of survey administration was more effective than another, we carried out a retrospective analysis of response rates and the proportion of new questionnaires completed after initial invitation and subsequent reminders. The results showed significantly higher response rates in the personal invitation group (40.2%, 313/779) compared to the generic link group (25.3%, 22/87), emphasizing the effectiveness of personal invitations on response rate (+14.9%, p = 0.007). The personal invitation group consistently yielded a higher number of completed questionnaires following the initial invitation and each reminder. The method of survey administration can greatly influence response rates and should be acknowledged as a quality criterion when conducting web-based surveys.
Unpacking Perceptions on Patient Safety: A Study of Nursing Home Staff in Italy
Authors: Tocco Tussardi Ilaria , Tardivo Stefano , Mazzi Maria Angela , Rimondini Michela , Visentin Donatella , Busch Isolde Martina , Torri Emanuele , Moretti Francesca
Published: July 2024

Nursing homes (NHs) are crucial for de-hospitalization and addressing the needs of non-self-sufficient individuals with complex health issues. This study investigates the patient safety culture (PSC) in NHs within a northern Italian region, focusing on factor influencing overall safety perceptions and their contributions to subjective judgements of safety. A cross-sectional study was conducted on 25 NHs in the Autonomous Province of Trento. The Nursing Home Survey on Patient Safety Culture (NHSPSC) was utilized to assess PSC among NH staff. Multilevel linear regression and post hoc dominance analyses were conducted to investigate variabilities in PSC among staff and NHs and to assess the extent to which PSC dimensions explain overall perceptions of PS. Analysis of 1080 questionnaires (44% response rate) revealed heterogeneity in PSC across dimensions and NHs, with management support, organizational learning, and supervisor expectations significantly influencing overall safety perceptions. Despite some areas of concern, overall safety perceptions were satisfactory. However, the correlation between individual dimensions and overall ratings of safety was moderate, suggesting the need to enhance the maturity level of PSCs. Promoting a shift in PSC could enhance transparency, prioritize resident safety, empower nursing staff, and increase family satisfaction with care provided in NHs. The support provided by management to PSC appears essential to influence NH staff perceptions of PS.
Relationship of Genetic Polymorphisms and Microbial Composition with Binge Eating Disorder: A Systematic Review
Authors: Monserrat Hernández Montserrat , Jiménez-Rodríguez Diana
Published: July 2024

Humans are the result of an evolutionary process, and because of this, many biological processes are interconnected with each other. The intestine–brain axis consists of an intricately connected neuronal–neuroendocrine circuit that regulates the sensation of hunger and satiety. Genetic variations and the consumption of unnatural diets (ultra-processed foods, high contents of sugars, etc.) can override this circuit and cause addiction to certain foods and/or the inability to feel satiety in certain situations. The patients who come to consultations (mainly psychology or nutrition) in an attempt to resolve this problem sometimes fail, which leads to them looking for new strategies based on biological predisposition. This investigation aims to evaluate the genetic studies regarding the microbiota carried out in the last 12 years in humans to try to determine which genes and microbes that have been recently studied are related to patients diagnosed with binge eating disorder or compulsive eating (presenting obesity or not). The protocol followed the PRISMA statement, and the following databases were searched from 2012 until the present day: PubMed, PsycINFO, SCOPUS, and Web of Science. Twenty-four international articles were analyzed, including cross-sectional or exploratory studies; five of them referred to the microbial composition, and in nineteen, the existence of genetic polymorphisms present in binge eating disorder or in compulsive eating could be observed: DRD2, OPRM1, COMT, MC4R, BNDF, FTO, SLC6A3, GHRL, CARTPT, MCHR2, and LRP11. Even though there is still much to investigate on the subject, it must be highlighted that, in the last 4 years, a two-fold increase has been observed in potential markers and in studies related to the matter, also highlighting the importance of different analyses in relation to psychosocial factors and their interaction with the genetic and microbial factors, for which research on the matter must be continued.
Intensive Care Unit Nurses’ Experiences in Caring for End-of-Life Patients in Saudi Arabia: A Qualitative Study
Authors: Alanazi Naif H.
Published: July 2024

Background: Although extensive research on appropriate treatments has been conducted, how nurses provide care to patients at the end-of-life (EOL) is unclear, particularly among intensive care unit (ICU) nurses in Saudi Arabia. Purpose: To explore intensive care unit nurses’ experiences in providing end-of-life care in Saudi Arabia. Methods: This study utilized an exploratory, descriptive, qualitative approach. A purposive sampling technique was used to recruit ICU nurses (n = 10) working in ICUs at a tertiary teaching hospital in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Using a semi-structured interview guide, ten individual interviews were conducted. Data were analyzed using thematic analysis. The trustworthiness of this study was ensured by following Lincoln and Guba’s (1985) criteria. Findings: Four major themes related to ICU nurses’ experiences of providing EOL care emerged, including: “feeling challenged but driven”, “holistic caring”, “collaborative working ethics”, and “caring for the undying and dying”. Conclusions: This study adds to the body of knowledge about the experience of ICU nurses caring for EOL patients. It offers valuable insights into challenges, coping strategies, holistic caring, collaboration, and the management of critical or dying patients at EOL in the ICUs.
Dietary Minerals and Incident Cardiovascular Outcomes among Never-Smokers in a Danish Case–Cohort Study
Authors: Fruh Victoria , Babalola Tesleem , Sears Clara , Wellenius Gregory A. , Webster Thomas F. , Mann Koren K. , Harrington James , Tjønneland Anne , Raaschou-Nielsen Ole , Claus Henn Birgit , Meliker Jaymie R.
Published: July 2024

Background: Diet is known to impact cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk, but evidence for the essential minerals of magnesium (Mg), calcium (Ca), and potassium (K) is inconsistent. Methods: We conducted a case–cohort study within a non-smoking subgroup of the Danish Diet, Cancer and Health cohort, a prospective study of 50–64-year-olds recruited between 1993–1997. We identified incident heart failure (HF), acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and stroke cases through 2015 with an 1135-member subcohort. We measured the dietary intake of minerals, also known as elements, and calculated a combined dietary intake (CDI) score based on joint Ca, Mg and K intakes (mg/d) from Food Frequency Questionnaires. We estimated adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) with Cox proportional hazard models. Results: Most HRs examining associations between CDI score and CVD were null. However, the third quartile of CDI was associated with a lower risk for heart failure (HR: 0.89; 95% CI: 0.67, 1.17), AMI (HR: 0.79; 95% CI: 0.60, 1.04), and stroke (HR: 0.63; 95% CI: 0.44, 0.88). Conclusions: We did not find consistent evidence to suggest that higher levels of essential minerals are associated with incident HF, AMI, and stroke, though results suggest a potential U-shaped relationship between select minerals and CVD outcomes.
Prevalence and Factors Related to High Risk of Multiple Chemical Sensitivity among Japanese High School Students
Authors: Suzuki Tamami , Bai Yoshiko , Ohno Yuko
Published: July 2024

Multiple chemical sensitivity (MCS) onset in minors can greatly impact learning and future employment. This study investigated the prevalence of MCS and related factors in high school students to determine whether it was the same as in adults. A comprehensive survey was conducted on 80 high schools in Gunma Prefecture, Japan. The survey incorporated the Quick Environmental Exposure and Sensitivity Inventory, as well as items related to allergies, the living environment, and lifestyle. Of the 4630 students analyzed, according to Hojo’s cut-off value, 9.0% were classified as high-risk for MCS and 77.9% reported some allergy-like symptoms. Significant factors associated with elevated MCS risk included female sex, having various allergic conditions, having experienced living in a new home or home renovations or extensions, proximity to environmental stressors (freeways, national highway, factories, rubbish dumps, or sources of offensive odors), insufficient physical activity (exercising less than once a week outside of physical education classes), having cold hands and feet, being fatigued, having a bedtime earlier than 11 p.m., and having moderate–frequent subjective stress. Overall, 9.0% of high school students in Japan are at high risk for MCS. Enhancing awareness of MCS-like symptoms and addressing allergies, living environments, and lifestyle habits may mitigate these symptoms.
Conserved Signaling Pathways in the Ciona robusta Gut
Authors: Gerdol Marco , Greco Samuele , Marino Rita , Locascio Annamaria , Plateroti Michelina , Sirakov Maria
Published: July 2024

The urochordate Ciona robusta exhibits numerous functional and morphogenetic traits that are shared with vertebrate models. While prior investigations have identified several analogies between the gastrointestinal tract (i.e., gut) of Ciona and mice, the molecular mechanisms responsible for these similarities remain poorly understood. This study seeks to address this knowledge gap by investigating the transcriptional landscape of the adult stage gut. Through comparative genomics analyses, we identified several evolutionarily conserved components of signaling pathways of pivotal importance for gut development (such as WNT, Notch, and TGFβ-BMP) and further evaluated their expression in three distinct sections of the gastrointestinal tract by RNA-seq. Despite the presence of lineage-specific gene gains, losses, and often unclear orthology relationships, the investigated pathways were characterized by well-conserved molecular machinery, with most components being expressed at significant levels throughout the entire intestinal tract of C. robusta. We also showed significant differences in the transcriptional landscape of the stomach and intestinal tract, which were much less pronounced between the proximal and distal portions of the intestine. This study confirms that C. robusta is a reliable model system for comparative studies, supporting the use of ascidians as a model to study gut physiology.
Osmotically Sensitive TREK Channels in Rat Articular Chondrocytes: Expression and Functional Role
Authors: Ponce Arturo , Ogazon del Toro Alejandro , Jimenez Lidia , Roldan Maria Luisa , Shoshani Liora
Published: July 2024

Articular chondrocytes are the primary cells responsible for maintaining the integrity and functionality of articular cartilage, which is essential for smooth joint movement. A key aspect of their role involves mechanosensitive ion channels, which allow chondrocytes to detect and respond to mechanical forces encountered during joint activity; nonetheless, the variety of mechanosensitive ion channels involved in this process has not been fully resolved so far. Because some members of the two-pore domain potassium (K2P) channel family have been described as mechanosensors in other cell types, in this study, we investigate whether articular chondrocytes express such channels. RT-PCR analysis reveals the presence of TREK-1 and TREK-2 channels in these cells. Subsequent protein expression assessments, including Western blotting and immunohistochemistry, confirm the presence of TREK-1 in articular cartilage samples. Furthermore, whole-cell patch clamp assays demonstrate that freshly isolated chondrocytes exhibit currents attributable to TREK-1 channels, as evidenced by activation by arachidonic acid (AA) and ml335 and further inhibition by spadin. Additionally, exposure to hypo-osmolar shock activates currents, which can be attributed to the presence of TREK-1 channels, as indicated by their inhibition with spadin. Therefore, these findings highlight the expression of TREK channels in rat articular chondrocytes and suggest their potential involvement in regulating the integrity of cartilage extracellular matrix.
PARP Inhibitors in Brain Metastases from Epithelial Ovarian Cancer through a Multimodal Patient Journey: Case Reports and Literature Review
Authors: Frezzini Simona , Tasca Giulia , Borgato Lucia , Sartor Lucia , Ferrero Annamaria , Artioli Grazia , Modena Alessandra , Baldoni Alessandra
Published: July 2024

Epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) is the deadliest gynecological malignancy worldwide. Brain metastasis (BM) is quite an uncommon presentation. However, the likelihood of central nervous system (CNS) metastasization should be considered in the context of disseminated disease. The therapeutic management of BMs is an unmet clinical need, to date. We identified, across different cancer centers, six cases of both BRCA wild-type and BRCA-mutated EOCs spreading to the CNS. They presented either with a single brain lesion or with multiple lesions and most of them had intracranial-only disease. All cases received Poly-ADP ribose polymerase inhibitor (PARPi) maintenance, as per clinical practice, for a long time within a multimodal treatment approach. We also provide an insight into the available body of work regarding the management of this intriguing disease setting, with a glimpse of future therapeutic challenges. Despite the lack of unanimous guidelines, multimodal care pathways should be encouraged for the optimal disease control of this unfortunate patient subset. Albeit not being directly investigated in BM patients, PARPi maintenance is deemed to have a valuable role in this setting. Prospective research, aimed to implement worthwhile strategies in the multimodal patient journey of BMs from EOC, is eagerly awaited.
Yield and Agronomic Performance of Sweet Corn in Response to Inoculation with Azospirillum sp. under Arid Land Conditions
Authors: Contreras-Liza Sergio , Villadeza Cristofer Yasiel , Rodriguez-Grados Pedro M. , Palomares Edison Goethe , Arbizu Carlos I.
Published: July 2024

Nitrogen is the most common limiting factor for crop productivity, and most maize cultivars require fertilizing. Here, we report on the possibility of partially replacing the nitrogenous fertilizer in sweet corn inoculated with a native strain of Azospirillum sp. in arid land on the coast of Peru. We performed an agronomic experiment in a crop field with arid soil under drip irrigation in Huacho (Peru) using a commercial variety of sweet corn. The treatments were two levels of nitrogen (90 and 180 kg N ha−1), one or two applications of a native strain of Azospirillum sp. (1 × 108 CFU/mL) and a control treatment with only nitrogen fertilizer. Eleven agronomic variables related to productive aspects were evaluated by performing statistical analyses and the comparison of treatment means. Inoculation with Azospirillum sp. did not significantly (p > 0.05) affect the total weight of ears, the number of ears per plant and the number of male flowers, but it significantly (p < 0.05) influenced the grain yield per hectare, the survival of plants, grain weight per plant, and the diameter and length of the cob. In some productive characteristics of sweet corn cv “Pardo”, a significant effect was found following inoculation with Azospirillum sp., which outperformed the control with only nitrogen fertilization in grain yield, suggesting that it is possible to complement the application of nitrogen to soil with the inoculation of this strain, replacing up to 50% of the levels of fertilizer application, since the benefit/cost ratio increases.
A Taxonomic Study of Candolleomyces Specimens from China Revealed Seven New Species
Authors: Han Xi-Xi , Phurbu Dorji , Ma Guo-Fei , Li You-Zhi , Mei Yu-Jiao , Liu Dong-Mei , Lin Fu-Cheng , Zhao Rui-Lin , Thongklang Naritsada , Cao Bin
Published: July 2024

Based on phylogenetic analysis, Candolleomyces (Psathyrellaceae, Agaricales) was established with Psathyrella candolleana as the type species. The basidiomes range from small to large and are typically terrestrial, lignicolous, and rarely fimicolous. We analysed the Candolleomyces species collected during five years in China, and based on morphological and molecular data (nrITS, nrLSU, and tef-1α), we propose seven new Candolleomyces species viz. C. brevisporus, C. gyirongicus, C. lignicola, C. luridus, C. shennongdingicus, C. shennongjianus, and C. sichuanicus. Full descriptions, colour photographs, illustrations, phylogenetic analyses results, and comparisons with related Candolleomyces species of the new taxa are provided. This study enriches the species diversity of Candolleomyces in China.
Exploring the Interplay of Language Exposure, Language Skills and Language and Cultural Identity Construction in French-English Bilingual Adolescents: A Longitudinal Case Study
Authors: Cohen Cathy , Demazel Romane , Witko Agnès
Published: July 2024

This study explores dual language acquisition according to three interrelated factors which have been found to account for individual differences in bilingual development. These are child-internal, proximal and distal factors. This five-year longitudinal case study investigates the complex interplay between language exposure, language skills and language and cultural identity construction in three French-English bilingual adolescents (from age 10 to 14), from three different home language backgrounds (French dominant; English dominant; both French and English), attending the same bilingual programme in France. Data were collected annually. Parent questionnaires provided information on the children’s exposure to French and English from birth, within the family and in school and other social environments. Semi-structured interviews with the children explored their current language exposure and their language practices with close family and friends, and in language-based activities, such as reading. Language skills were assessed in both languages through (1) a narrative task evaluating lexical diversity and grammatical accuracy, and (2) a standard receptive vocabulary task. Identity construction was explored through semi-structured interviews and a language portrait activity. Our findings showed, first, that higher exposure to a language at home and school did not necessarily align with higher level skills in that language. High-level skills were also observed in the language where exposure was quantitatively lower, but qualitatively rich. Secondly, despite higher exposure to one language, children sometimes identified more with the language and culture they were exposed to less. We highlight the importance of exploring children’s exposure and language biographies in depth to distinguish the sources and types of exposure received from birth. We also show the impact of children’s agency on their language investment and language development.
Preparation and Application of Nanostructured ZnO in Radiation Detection
Authors: Chen Jingkun , Yang Xuechun , Ning Yuandong , Yang Xue , Huang Yifei , Zhang Zeqing , Tang Jian , Zheng Pu , Yan Jie , Zhao Jingtai , Li Qianli
Published: July 2024

In order to adapt to the rapid development of high-speed imaging technology in recent years, it is very important to develop scintillators with an ultrafast time response. Because of its radiation-induced ultrafast decay time, ZnO has become an important material for radiation detection and dosimetry. According to different detection sources and application scenarios, ZnO is used in various radiation detectors in different structures, including nanoarrays and nanocomposites. In this paper, the synthesis methods and research status of various nanostructured ZnO-based materials and their applications in the detection of high-energy rays (X-rays, γ-rays) and high-energy particles (α, β and neutron) are reviewed. The performance discussion mainly includes spatial resolution, decay time and detection efficiency.
Effects of Resting Conditions on Tensile Properties of Acid Aggregate Hydraulic Asphalt Concrete
Authors: Bao Lei , He Min , Wang Shu , Wu Xinshuang
Published: July 2024

This study addresses the issue of construction stagnation affecting the adhesion and tensile properties of hydraulic asphalt concrete with acid aggregate. It investigates the impact of rest periods on the tensile characteristics of such materials under standard construction conditions. The influence of varying rest durations and asphalt temperatures on the tensile behavior of the concrete is assessed through indoor experiments. The bonding between asphalt and aggregate is examined, along with the tensile property variations of the concrete. The study found that the standstill time significantly affects the adhesion of asphalt, with the adhesion decreasing progressively with increased temperature and rest time, irrespective of the addition of anti-stripping agents. However, the inclusion of these agents can mitigate the reduction in adhesion. Furthermore, the study identified that rest duration has a more substantial impact on adhesion than temperature. The splitting tests demonstrate that the tensile properties of asphalt concrete are considerably affected by the resting time. Over a period of 0, 10, 20, and 30 days of rest, an increase in splitting strength and a decrease in splitting displacement were observed. The findings offer valuable insights for predicting the tensile performance of asphalt concrete in practical engineering applications after a period of rest.
Assessment of Digital Image Correlation Effectiveness and Quality in Determination of Surface Strains of Hybrid Steel/Composite Structures
Authors: Romanowicz Paweł J. , Szybiński Bogdan , Wygoda Mateusz
Published: July 2024

The application of the digital image correlation (DIC) contactless method has extended the possibilities of reliable assessment of structure strain fields and deformations throughout the last years. However, certain weak points in the analyses using the DIC method still exist. The fluctuations of the results caused by different factors as well as certain deficiencies in the evaluation of DIC accuracy in applications for hybrid steel/composite structures with adhesive joints are one of them. In the proposed paper, the assessment of DIC accuracy based on the range of strain fluctuation is proposed. This relies on the use of a polynomial approximation imposed on the results obtained from the DIC method. Such a proposal has been used for a certain correction of the DIC solution and has been verified by the introduction of different error measures. The evaluation of DIC possibilities and accuracy are presented on the examples of the static tensile tests of adhesively bonded steel/composite joints with three different adhesives applied. The obtained results clearly show that in a non-disturbed area, very good agreement between approximated DIC and FEM results is achieved. The relative average errors in an area, determined by comparison of DIC and FEM strains, are below 15%. It is also observed that the use of approximated strains by polynomial function leads to a more accurate solution with respect to FEM results. It is concluded that DIC can be successfully applied for the analyses of hybrid steel/adhesive/composite samples, such as determination of strain fields, non-contact visual detection of faults of manufacturing and their development and influence on the whole structure behavior during the strength tests, including the elastic response of materials.
The Research Progress of Magnesium Alloy Building Formwork
Authors: Wang Jinxing , Wan Zhicheng , Wang Jiaxu , Zou Yi , Xu Junyao , Wang Jingfeng , Pan Fusheng
Published: July 2024

Building formwork is a kind of temporary supporting structure consumable material used in the construction field. In recent years, building formwork has gradually developed to become lighter, more environmentally friendly, and have higher performance. This sets higher requirements for the materials used to make building formwork. There is an urgent need to find a lighter and more durable material for building formwork. Magnesium alloys possess the advantages of low density, high alkali resistance, and high strength. As a building formwork material, it can reduce the weight of formwork and improve its durability. Therefore, a magnesium alloy is considered a material with high potential for building formwork. Currently, magnesium alloy building formwork has attracted the attention of many companies and research and development institutions, with preliminary research applications and good feedback on usage effects. It is highly possible to obtain the opportunity to put it into market application. However, to be applied on a large scale, there are still some important problems that need to be solved. These problems fall into three main areas, including the relatively low processing efficiency of magnesium alloy materials, the unstable price of magnesium alloys, and the fact that the formwork is easily corroded during storage. Firstly, at present, the main processing methods for magnesium alloy building formwork are casting and extrusion, and the production efficiency of both methods needs to be improved. Secondly, high-performance magnesium alloy materials are usually more expensive, which is not conducive to the large-scale application of the formwork. The price of magnesium alloys has fluctuated greatly in recent years, which increases the difficulty of promoting magnesium alloy building formwork. Thirdly, in the atmosphere, the oxide film on the surface of the magnesium alloy cannot play an effective role in corrosion resistance. So, surface treatment is necessary for magnesium alloy building formwork. Among the various surface treatment methods for magnesium alloys, the chemical conversion method has the advantages of being easy to operate, cost-effective, and having good corrosion resistance. It may be a very suitable protective method for large-scale applications of magnesium alloy building formwork and possesses excellent potential for application. The future of magnesium alloy building formwork will focus on new low-cost materials, high-efficiency processing technology, and low-cost green anti-corrosion technology. With in-depth research and the maturation of technology, magnesium alloy formwork is expected to play a more important role in the construction industry.
A Comprehensive Analytical Framework under Practical Constraints for a Cooperative NOMA System Empowered by SWIPT IoT
Authors: Tran Huu , Sur Samarendra , Lee Byung
Published: July 2024

Over the past decade, there has been notable attention directed towards spectrum and energy efficiency in conjunction with simultaneous wireless information and power transfer (SWIPT), aimed at extending the operational lifespan of energy-constrained wireless devices within cooperative non-orthogonal multiple access (C-NOMA) systems. This article delves into a system model comprising a transmitter, a relay, and two users, where the time-switching receiver (TSR) protocol is employed for energy harvesting at the relay. The objective of this study is to evaluate the performance of the system in terms of outage probability (OP), and system throughput (ST), and to determine the optimal time-switching (TS) factor. Our analysis encompasses the evaluation of OP, ST, and the determination of the optimal TS factor. Numerical simulation results reveal that the Nakagami-m fading channel exhibits the lowest outage probability, and that system throughput escalates with the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) augmentation. These findings underscore the potential of the Nakagami-m fading channel to enhance energy efficiency in C-NOMA systems and suggest promising directions for future research.
STAR-RIS-Assisted Millimeter-Wave Secure Communication with Multiple Eavesdroppers
Authors: Qian Binghui , Qiao Jingping , Zhang Chuanting
Published: July 2024

Aiming to address the limited coverage of conventional reconfigurable intelligent surfaces (RISs), this study proposes a millimeter-wave secure communication scheme based on the simultaneously transmitting and reflecting reconfigurable intelligent surface (STAR-RIS). It uses the transmission and reflection functions of the STAR-RIS to achieve multiple users’ full-area communication coverage and meet the security communication needs of different users. To maximize the system sum rate under the security communication requirements of users in the transmission and reflection regions, this study proposes a joint optimization design scheme consisting of transmit beamforming at the base station (BS) and transmitting and reflecting coefficients at the STAR-RIS based on the energy-splitting protocol, and it models the rate optimization problem with information leakage constraints under imperfect eavesdroppers’ channel state information (ECSI). First, a series of transformations is proposed to solve the coupling between the optimization variables, and then, an efficient iterative algorithm based on successive convex approximation (SCA) and semi-definite relaxation (SDR) is proposed. Aiming to address the amplitude and phase constraints of the STAR-RIS, an optimization method comprising a penalty concave–convex procedure is adopted. The simulation results show that, compared with the conventional RIS, the proposed STAR-RIS assistance scheme can achieve the full coverage of the communication system and effectively improve the system sum rate while ensuring the safe transmission of information. The combination of STAR-RIS and millimeter-wave can promote the efficient and safe transmission of information in dense cities.
Cohomology and Crossed Modules of Modified Rota–Baxter Pre-Lie Algebras
Authors: Zhu Fuyang , Teng Wen
Published: July 2024

The goal of the present paper is to provide a cohomology theory and crossed modules of modified Rota–Baxter pre-Lie algebras. We introduce the notion of a modified Rota–Baxter pre-Lie algebra and its bimodule. We define a cohomology of modified Rota–Baxter pre-Lie algebras with coefficients in a suitable bimodule. Furthermore, we study the infinitesimal deformations and abelian extensions of modified Rota–Baxter pre-Lie algebras and relate them with the second cohomology groups. Finally, we investigate skeletal and strict modified Rota–Baxter pre-Lie 2-algebras. We show that skeletal modified Rota–Baxter pre-Lie 2-algebras can be classified into the third cohomology group, and strict modified Rota–Baxter pre-Lie 2-algebras are equivalent to the crossed modules of modified Rota–Baxter pre-Lie algebras.
A Hierarchical Authorization Reversible Data Hiding in Encrypted Image Based on Secret Sharing
Authors: Jiang Chao , Zhang Minqing , Kong Yongjun , Jiang Zongbao , Di Fuqiang
Published: July 2024

In the current distributed environment, reversible data hiding in encrypted domain (RDH-ED) cannot grant corresponding privileges according to users’ identity classes. To address this issue, this paper proposes a hierarchical authorization structure embedding scheme based on secret image sharing (SIS) and users’ hierarchical identities. In the first embedding, the polynomial coefficient redundancy generated in the encryption process of the SIS is utilized by the image owner. For the second, the participants are categorized into two parts. One is core users with adaptive difference reservation embedding, and the other is ordinary users with pixel bit replacement embedding. At the time of reconstruction, more than one core user must provide pixel differences, which grants more privileges to core users. The experimental results demonstrate that the average embedding rate (ER) of the test images is 4.3333 bits per pixel (bpp) in the (3, 4) threshold scheme. Additionally, the reconstructed image achieves a PSNR of +∞ and an SSIM of 1. Compared to existing high-performance RDH-ED schemes based on secret sharing, the proposed scheme with a larger ER maintains strong security and reversibility. Moreover, it is also suitable for multiple embeddings involving multilevel participant identities. In conclusion, the results underscore the efficacy of our technique in achieving both security and performance objectives within a complex distributed setting.