bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Exploratory Data Analysis for the Evaluation of Tribological Properties of Wear-Resistant Surface Layers Modified with Rare-Earth Metals
Authors: Malinowski Paweł , Kasińska Justyna , Rutkowski Sławomir , Madej Monika
Published: March 2022

The role of rare Earth metals in the improvement of the properties of metals and alloys has been analysed and described in multiple studies. Their effects on changes in microstructure and mechanical properties are most pronounced. This paper focuses on the beneficial effect of rare Earth metal oxides on the wear resistance of surface layers applied to castings intended for structural elements of machinery and equipment in mining and recycling. The experiment involved modifying prepared surfaces by adding CeO2, Y2O3, and La2O3. Hardness measurements, a scratch test, and tribological tests were performed under dry and fluid friction. The maximum wear track depth and track area were measured from the surface profile. To determine correlations between the results, exploratory data analysis was employed. Heatmaps were used to illustrate strong positive and negative interactions. The addition of oxides at increasing carbon content resulted in increased hardness, lower coefficient of friction, and reduced track area and maximum track depth. Strong negative interactions between the track area and maximum track depth were found. The differences resulting from the test conditions (fluid and dry friction) were discussed. This study demonstrated the suitability of exploratory data analysis for analysing research results and confirmed the improvement of modified surface wear resistance.
A Loop-Mediated Isothermal Amplification (LAMP) Assay Specific to Trichomonas tenax Is Suitable for Use at Point-of-Care
Authors: Matthew Maurice A. , Christie Jevan , Yang Nawu , Yao Chaoqun
Published: March 2022

Trichomonas tenax is a flagellated protozoan that inhabits the human and canine oral cavity in patients with poor oral hygiene and periodontal disease. The loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) assay could provide clinicians with a quick, cheap and reliable diagnostic test used for the detection of T. tenax in various settings. In this study, we aimed to develop a LAMP assay that can detect T. tenax with high sensitivity and specificity. A set of LAMP primers were specifically designed to detect the ITS and 5.8S rRNA gene of T. tenax. The newly developed LAMP assay was 1000 times more sensitive than conventional PCR. The limit of detection of the LAMP assay was 10 fg of genomic DNA, or 0.2–1 cell. Moreover, the LAMP assay was specific, resulting in no cross-reaction even with a closely related protozoan T. vaginalis or other microorganisms (Streptococcus pyogenes, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Enterococcus faecalis, and Candida albicans) used. The present LAMP assay can be performed directly without prior DNA extraction, making the assay an easy, fast, cheap, specific and sensitive diagnostic tool for the detection of T. tenax at the point-of-care of both medical and veterinary clinics in developed and developing countries.
Improved Characteristics of CdSe/CdS/ZnS Core-Shell Quantum Dots Using an Oleylamine-Modified Process
Authors: Chang Kai-Ping , Yeh Yu-Cheng , Wu Chung-Jui , Yen Chao-Chun , Wuu Dong-Sing
Published: March 2022

CdSe/CdS with ZnS/ZnO shell quantum dots (QDs) are synthesized by a one-pot method with various oleylamine (OLA) contents. The crystal structures of the QDs were analyzed by X-ray diffractometry, which showed ZnS diffraction peaks. It was represented that the ZnS shell was formed on the surface of the CdSe/CdS core. Interestingly, QDs with a high OLA concentration exhibit diffraction peaks of ZnS/ZnO. As a result, the thermal stability of QDs with ZnS/ZnO shells exhibits better performance than those with ZnS shells. In addition, the photoluminescence intensity of QDs with ZnS/ZnO shells shows a relatively slow decay of 7.1% compared with ZnS shells at 85 °C/85% relative humidity aging test for 500 h. These indicate that QDs with different OLA modifications can form ZnS/ZnO shells and have good stability in a harsh environment. The emission wavelength of QDs can be tuned from 505 to 610 nm, suitable for micro-LED display applications.
A Community Prenatal Intervention in Social Nutrition: Evaluating the Impact on Pregnancy and Birthweight Outcomes
Authors: Carbonneau Elise , Dumas Alex , Brodeur-Doucet Annie , Fontaine-Bisson Bénédicte
Published: March 2022

This study aims to assess the associations between structural features of the Montreal Diet Dispensary’s social nutrition intervention and pregnancy (i.e., anemia, gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), gestational weight gain (GWG), hypertension) and birthweight outcomes (i.e., small- or large-for-gestational-age) among pregnant women, most of them recent immigrants. The study consists of a secondary analysis of the digital client database of the Montreal Diet Dispensary (n = 2925). Logistic regressions were used to estimate the odds of pregnancy and birthweight outcomes, depending on structural features of the intervention. Pregnant women who attended a welcoming group session presented lower odds of GDM and anemia compared to those who did not attend. A longer duration of intervention was also associated with lower odds of GDM and anemia. Each additional appointment with a dietitian was associated with higher odds of excessive GWG and lower odds of insufficient GWG only among women with a pre-pregnancy BMI lower than 25 kg/m2. This study emphasizes the importance of providing nutritional services early in pregnancy to reduce the risk of GDM and anemia. It also stresses the importance of using appropriate nutritional guidelines to avoid increasing the risk of excessive GWG.
Alcohol, Coffee, and Milk Intake in Relation to Epilepsy Risk
Authors: Zhang Zhizhong , Wang Mengmeng , Yuan Shuai , Liu Xinfeng
Published: March 2022

Alcohol, coffee and milk intakes have been explored in relation to epilepsy risk in observational studies; however, the results were not consistent. We performed a Mendelian randomisation (MR) study to evaluate the causality of these relationships. Genetic variants associated with alcohol, coffee and milk intake were adopted as instrumental variables. We obtained the summary data of epilepsy from the International League Against Epilepsy (ILAE) Consortium (15,212 cases and 29,677 controls) and FinnGen consortium (4588 cases and 144,780 controls). Genetically predicted alcohol intake was associated with a higher risk of epilepsy in the ILAE Consortium (odds ratio (OR): 1.22, 95% confidence intervals (CI): 1.02–1.45). The association in the FinnGen consortium remained consistent in direction. Combined analysis of ILAE and FinnGen databases further indicated that genetically predicted alcohol intake was associated with a higher risk of epilepsy (OR = 1.24; 95% CI, 1.06–1.47, p = 0.009). Genetically predicted coffee intake was not related to epilepsy risk, while higher genetically predicted milk intake was related to a lower risk of epilepsy (OR = 0.957; 95% CI, 0.917–0.999, p = 0.044). Our results suggest a detrimental effect of alcohol intake on the risk of epilepsy, while milk intake might be associated with a decreased risk of epilepsy.
Higher Serum DHA and Slower Cognitive Decline in Patients with Alzheimer’s Disease: Two-Year Follow-Up
Authors: Chu Che-Sheng , Hung Chi-Fa , Ponnusamy Vinoth Kumar , Chen Kuan-Chieh , Chen Nai-Ching
Published: March 2022

Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), especially eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) have been associated with slower rates of cognitive decline. We investigated the association between omega-3 PUFAs and cognitive function in patients with Alzheimer’s disease (AD) receiving acetylcholinesterase inhibitors (AChEIs). This was a prospective cohort study using registered data. Patients with AD receiving AChEIs were recruited from 1 May 2016 to 30 April 2019 and were followed up for two years. Their daily diet record and blood concentration of omega-3 PUFAs were analyzed. Multiple linear and binary logistic regression was used to determine the factors associated with cognitive decline (continuous and dichotomized cognitive change). In the research, 129 patients with AD were identified with a mean age of 76.5 ± 6.6. Patients with AD with lower baseline omega-3 PUFAs levels were associated with a higher risk of cognitive decline than those with higher levels (odds ratio [OR] = 1.067, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.012, 1.125; p = 0.016) after adjustment. Patients with AD with a lower baseline DHA (OR = 1.131, 95% CI: 1.020, 1.254; p = 0.020), but not EPA, were associated with a higher risk of cognitive decline. We found that higher Mini-Nutritional Assessment scores (beta = −0.383, 95% CI = −0.182–−0.048, p = 0.001) and total fat (beta = −0.248, 95% CI = −0.067–−0.003, p = 0.031) were independently associated with slow cognitive decline in patients with AD receiving AChEIs. The baseline blood levels of omega-3 PUFAs were associated with cognitive decline in patients with AD receiving AChEIs. Future randomized controlled trials are needed to clarify whether this association is causal.
Linseed, Baru, and Coconut Oils: NMR-Based Metabolomics, Leukocyte Infiltration Potential In Vivo, and Their Oil Characterization. Are There Still Controversies?
Authors: Figueiredo Priscila Silva , Martins Taynara Nogueira , Ravaglia Luciana Marçal , Alcantara Glaucia Braz , Guimarães Rita de Cássia Avellaneda , Freitas Karine de Cássia , Nunes Ângela Alves , de Oliveira Lincoln Carlos Silva , Cortês Mário Rodrigues , Michels Flavio Santana , Kadri Mônica Cristina Toffoli , Bonfá Iluska Senna , Filiú Wander Fernando de Oliveira , Asato Marcel Arakaki , de Faria Bernardo Bacelar , Nascimento Valter Aragão do , Hiane Priscila Aiko
Published: March 2022

Different fatty acid proportions produce potential inflammatory and metabolic changes in organisms. However, the evidence for how each fatty acid mediates the metabolic pathway, and its lipid stability remains controversial. To resolve this controversy, the present study investigated the metabolic effects of cold-pressed linseed (LG), coconut (CG), and baru (BG) oils in comparison to those of soybean oil (SG) in mice, in terms of their oil characterization and stability. The quality analysis showed less oxidative behavior among PUFA-rich oils (SO, BO, and LO, with induction periods lower than 2 h compared to 39.8 h for CG), besides the high contents of tocopherols and carotenoids in SG and LG. In the experimental study, CG presented higher triglyceride (257.93 ± 72.30) and VLDL-cholesterol levels (51.59 ± 14.46, p < 0.05), while LG reduced LDL levels (59.29 ± 7.56, p < 0.05) when compared to SG (183.14 ± 22.06, 36.63 ± 4.41 and 131.63 ± 29.0, respectively). For visceral fats, the adiposity index was lower for BG (7.32 ± 3.13) and CG (9.58 ± 1.02, p < 0.05) in relation to SG (12.53 ± 2.80), and for leukocyte recruitment, CG presented lower polymorphonuclear (PMN) (p < 0.0001) and mononuclear (MN) (p < 0.05) cell infiltration, demonstrating anti-inflammatory potential. In NMR-based metabolomics, although CG presented higher values for the glucose, lactate, and LDL/VLDL ratio, this group also evidenced high levels of choline, a lipotropic metabolite. Our study emphasized the controversies of saturated fatty acids, which impair serum lipids, while alfa-linolenic acid presented cardioprotective effects. However, coconut oil also has a positive immunomodulatory pathway and was found to reduce visceral bodyfat in mice. Therefore, for future applications, we suggest a combination of lauric and al-fa-linolenic acid sources, which are present in coconut and linseed oil, respectively. This combination could be less obesogenic and inflammatory and exert cardioprotective action.
Association between Proton Pump Inhibitor Use and Parkinson’s Disease in a Korean Population
Authors: Kim Ji-Hee , Oh Jae-Keun , Kim Yoo-Hwan , Kwon Mi-Jung , Kim Joo-Hee , Choi Hyo-Geun
Published: March 2022

Few studies have shown an increased risk of Parkinson’s disease (PD) with the use of proton pump inhibitors (PPIs), and the pathophysiological mechanism for this association has not been unveiled. This study examined the relationship between PPI use and PD in a Korean population. We investigated 3026 PD patients and 12,104 controls who were matched by age, sex, income, and region of residence at a ratio of 1:4 in the Korean National Health Insurance Service, National Sample Cohort between 2002 and 2015. We estimated the associations between current and past use of PPIs and PD using odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) in a conditional/unconditional logistic regression after adjusting for probable confounders. Compared with PPI nonusers, both current users and past users had significantly greater odds of having PD, with ORs of 1.63 (95% CI = 1.44–1.84) and 1.12 (95% CI = 1.01–1.25), respectively. A significant association with PD was observed in individuals who used PPIs for 30–90 days and ≥90 days (OR = 1.26 and 1.64, 95% CI = 1.12–1.43 and 1.43–1.89) but not among those who used PPIs for <30 days. Both current and past use of PPIs associated with a higher probability of PD in the Korean population. Our study provides evidence regarding the association between PPI exposure and PD, but further investigation and possible explanations are warranted.
Topical Ocular Administration of Progesterone Decreases Photoreceptor Cell Death in Retinal Degeneration Slow (rds) Mice
Authors: Alambiaga-Caravaca Adrián M. , Cantó Antolín , Rodilla Vicent , Miranda María , López-Castellano Alicia
Published: March 2022

Retinitis pigmentosa (RP) is an inherited eye disorder which triggers a cascade of retinal disorders leading to photoreceptor cell death and for which there is currently no effective treatment. The purpose of this research was to study whether ocular administration of a solution of progesterone (PG) in β-cyclodextrins (CD) could delay photoreceptor cell death and counteract the gliosis process in an animal model of RP (rds mice). The possible effect of PG reaching the contralateral eye through the circulatory system was also evaluated. Finally, this research discusses and evaluates the diffusion of the drug from possible topical formulations for ocular administration of PG. A group of rds mice received one drop of a solution of PG in CD every 12 h for 10 days to the left eye, while the right eye was left untreated. Another group of rds mice (control) received the drug vehicle (PBS) on the left eye and, again, the right eye was left untreated. Once the treatment was finished on postnatal day 21, the animals were euthanized and histological immunofluorescence studies (TUNEL, GFAP, and DAPI staining) were carried out. Our results showed that the administration of a solution of PG in CD (CD-PG) as drops significantly decreased cell death and inflammation in the retina of the PG-treated eyes of rds mice. No effect was seen in the contralateral eye from PG that may have entered systemic circulation. In conclusion, CD-PG applied topically as drops to the eye decreases photoreceptor cell death in the early stages of RP, delaying vision loss and decreasing gliosis.
Carajurin Induces Apoptosis in Leishmania amazonensis Promastigotes through Reactive Oxygen Species Production and Mitochondrial Dysfunction
Authors: Silva-Silva João Victor , Moragas-Tellis Carla J. , Chagas Maria S. S. , Souza Paulo Victor R. , Moreira Davyson L. , Hardoim Daiana J. , Taniwaki Noemi N. , Costa Vanessa F. A. , Bertho Alvaro L. , Brondani Daniela , Zapp Eduardo , de Oliveira Aldo Sena , Calabrese Kátia S. , Behrens Maria D. , Almeida-Souza Fernando
Published: March 2022

Carajurin is the main constituent of Arrabidaea chica species with reported anti-Leishmania activity. However, its mechanism of action has not been described. This study investigated the mechanisms of action of carajurin against promastigote forms of Leishmania amazonensis. Carajurin was effective against promastigotes with IC50 of 7.96 ± 1.23 μg.mL−1 (26.4 µM), and the cytotoxic concentration for peritoneal macrophages was 258.2 ± 1.20 μg.mL−1 (856.9 µM) after 24 h of treatment. Ultrastructural evaluation highlighted pronounced swelling of the kinetoplast with loss of electron-density in L. amazonensis promastigotes induced by carajurin treatment. It was observed that carajurin leads to a decrease in the mitochondrial membrane potential (p = 0.0286), an increase in reactive oxygen species production (p = 0.0286), and cell death by late apoptosis (p = 0.0095) in parasites. Pretreatment with the antioxidant NAC prevented ROS production and significantly reduced carajurin-induced cell death. The electrochemical and density functional theory (DFT) data contributed to support the molecular mechanism of action of carajurin associated with the ROS generation, for which it is possible to observe a correlation between the LUMO energy and the electroactivity of carajurin in the presence of molecular oxygen. All these results suggest that carajurin targets the mitochondria in L. amazonensis. In addition, when assessed for its drug-likeness, carajurin follows Lipinski’’s rule of five, and the Ghose, Veber, Egan, and Muegge criteria.
Assessment of Avermectins-Induced Toxicity in Animals
Authors: Salman Muhammad , Abbas Rao Zahid , Mehmood Khalid , Hussain Riaz , Shah Sehar , Faheem Mehwish , Zaheer Tean , Abbas Asghar , Morales Bernardo , Aneva Ina , Martínez José L.
Published: March 2022

Macrocyclic lactones, particularly the avermectins, have completely revolutionized the approaches aimed at control of parasites. These avermectins are the most widely used anti-parasitic drugs in veterinary field with sales exceeding one billion US dollars annually. However, before clinical usage, their safety evaluation in the animals is a major critical factor that must be considered. Many studies have reported the negative effects of avermectins like ivermectin, abamectin, doramectin, and eprinomectin on the host animals. These harmful effects arise from avermectins targeting GABA and glutamate-gated chloride channels present both in the parasites and the host animals. In this review, various modes of avermectins action along with the negative effects on the host like nephrotoxicity, hepatotoxicity, neurotoxicity, reproductive toxicity, and endocrine disruption were discussed in detail. Furthermore, other important issues like ecotoxicity, drug resistance, and drug residues in milk associated with avermectins usage were also discussed, which need special attention.
Comparative Analysis of Urso- and Tauroursodeoxycholic Acid Neuroprotective Effects on Retinal Degeneration Models
Authors: Daruich Alejandra , Picard Emilie , Guégan Justine , Jaworski Thara , Parenti Léa , Delaunay Kimberley , Naud Marie-Christine , Berdugo Marianne , Boatright Jeffrey H. , Behar-Cohen Francine
Published: March 2022

Ursodeoxycholic (UDCA) and tauroursodeoxycholic (TUDCA) acids have shown neuroprotective properties in neurodegenerative diseases, but differential effects of the two bile acids have been poorly explored. The aim of this study was to evaluate the neuroprotective effects of UDCA versus TUDCA in a neuroretinal degeneration model and to compare transcriptionally regulated pathways. The WERI-Rb-1 human cone-like cell line and retinal explants were exposed to albumin and TUDCA or UDCA. Viability, cell death, and microglial activation were quantified. Transcriptionally regulated pathways were analyzed after RNA sequencing using the edgeR bioconductor package. Pre-treatment of cone-like cells with UDCA or TUDCA significantly protected cells from albumin toxicity. On retinal explants, either bile acid reduced apoptosis, necroptosis, and microglia activation at 6 h. TUDCA induced the regulation of 463 genes, whilst 31 genes were regulated by UDCA. Only nineteen common genes were regulated by both bile acids, mainly involved in iron control, cell death, oxidative stress, and cell metabolism. As compared to UDCA, TUDCA up-regulated genes involved in endoplasmic reticulum stress pathways and down-regulated genes involved in axonal and neuronal development. Either bile acid protected against albumin-induced cell loss. However, TUDCA regulated substantially more neuroprotective genes than UDCA.
RETRACTED: Hellinen et al. Drug Flux across RPE Cell Models: The Hunt for an Appropriate Outer Blood–Retinal Barrier Model for Use in Early Drug Discovery. Pharmaceutics 2020, 12, 176
Authors: Hellinen Laura , Hongisto Heidi , Ramsay Eva , Kaarniranta Kai , Vellonen Kati-Sisko , Skottman Heli , Ruponen Marika
Published: March 2022

The published article [...]
Self-Supervised Deep Learning for Improved Image-Based Wave-Front Sensing
Authors: Xu Yangjie , Guo Hongyang , Wang Zihao , He Dong , Tan Yi , Huang Yongmei
Published: March 2022

Phase retrieval from supervised learning neural networks is restricted due to the problem of obtaining labels. To address this situation, in the present paper, we propose a phase retrieval model of self-supervised physical deep learning combined with a complete physical model to represent the image-formation process. The model includes two parts: one is MobileNet V1, which is used to map the input samples to the Zernike coefficients, the other one is an optical imaging system and it is used to obtain the point spread function for training the model. In addition, the loss function is calculated based on the similarity between the input and the output to realize self-supervised learning. The root-mean-square (RMS) of the wave-front error (WFE) between the input and reconstruction is 0.1274 waves in the situation of D/r0 = 20 in the simulation. By comparison, The RMS of WFE is 0.1069 waves when using the label to train the model. This method retrieves numerous wave-front errors in real time in the presence of simulated detector noise without relying on label values. Moreover, this method is more suitable for practical applications and is more robust than supervised learning. We believe that this technology has great applications in free-space optical communication.
Polymer/Carbon Nanotube Based Nanocomposites for Photovoltaic Application: Functionalization, Structural, and Optical Properties
Authors: Zaidi Boubaker , Smida Nejmeddine , Althobaiti Mohammed G. , Aldajani Atheer G. , Almdhaibri Saif D.
Published: March 2022

We present a systematic review of nanostructured organic materials, including synthesis methods, functionalization, and applications. First, we report the chemical and physical procedures used for preparing the polymer/carbon nanotube composites described in the literature over the last decade. We compare the properties of different polymer-based prototypes of organic nanocomposites functionalized with carbon nanotubes. Theoretical and experimental vibrational investigations provide evidence of the molecular structure describing the interaction between both components, showing that the allowed amount of carbon nanotubes and their dispersion states differ across polymers. Moreover, the nature of the solvent used in the preparation has a significant impact on the dispersion process. The integration of these materials in photovoltaic applications is discussed, where the impact of nanoparticles is evidenced through the correlation between experimental analyses and theoretical approaches based on density functional theory. Alterations in optical properties, evaluated from the absorption and luminescence process, are coherent with the solar spectrum, and a good distribution of donor/acceptor interpenetration was observed. In all cases, it was demonstrated that the performance improvement is physically related to the charge transfer from the organic matrix to the nanoparticles.
Degradation Performance Investigation of Hydrothermally Stressed Epoxy Micro and Nanocomposites for High Voltage Insulation
Authors: Faiza  , Khattak Abraiz , Alahamdi Ahmad Aziz , Iqbal Muhammad Bilal
Published: March 2022

Epoxy resins have demonstrated remarkable properties with potential for usage as high voltage insulators. However, a loss of these properties has been observed in high temperature and humid environments. In order to enhance the hydrothermal stability of epoxy resins, micro (15% SiO2) and nano (5% SiO2) silica-based composites of epoxy were fabricated and subjected to standard long term and short term accelerated hydrothermal conditions. To analyze the effect of these stresses, the samples were analyzed periodically through Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) for structure analysis; scanning electron microscopy (SEM) for surface analysis of long-term aged samples; and optical microscopy for the surface topography of short-term aged samples. The Swedish Transmission Research Institute (STRI) classification and contact angle measurement techniques were used for hydrophobicity analysis of long-term and short-term aged samples, respectively. After aging in both conditions, the nanocomposite showed better results as compared to the other samples. After 1000 h of aging, it showed HC-5 class of hydrophobicity, whereas EMC and NE degraded to the HC-6. In case of short-term aging, the contact angle decreased to the 64.15° and 75.05° from 104.15° and 114.9° for ENC and EMC, respectively. Also, in terms of structural degradation, ENC showed the highest structural stability after 1000 h of aging with the highest stable peak of aromatic ether at 1300–1500 cm−1. Microscopic observation through scanning electron and optical techniques also revealed superior performance of the nanocomposites.
Hair Growth-Promoting Activities of Glycosaminoglycans Extracted from the Tunics of Ascidian (Halocynthia roretzi)
Authors: Neri Therese Ariane N. , Palmos Grace N. , Park Shin Young , Jung Tae Sung , Choi Byeong-Dae
Published: March 2022

Throughout the ages, hair has had psychological and sociological importance in framing the personality and general appearance of an individual. Despite efforts to solve this problem, no groundbreaking measures have been proposed. Glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) and associated proteoglycans have important functions in homeostatic maintenance and regenerative processes of the skin. However, little is known about the role of these molecules in the regulation of the hair follicle cycle. Three fractions (F1, F2 and F3) were obtained after separation and purification of GAGs from ascidian tunics. F1 was observed to contain a small amount of amino sugar while high contents of galactose and N-acetylglucosamine were noted in F2 and F3. 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-3-O-(β-D-gluco-4-enepyranosyluronic acid)-6-O-sulfo-D-galactose (∆Di-6S) and 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-3-O-(β-D-gluco-4-enepyranosyluronic acid)-4-O-sulfo-D-galactose (∆Di-4S) were the main disaccharide components. F3 exhibited the highest proliferation activity on human follicle dermal papilla (HFDP) cells. In addition, mixed samples (FFM) of F2 and F3 at different concentrations showed peak activities for five days. After cell culture at a concentration of 10 mg/mL and dihydrotestosterone (DHT), the inhibition effect was higher than that for Minoxidil. Application of 10 mg of FFM to the hair of mice for 28 days resulted in a hair growth effect similar to that of Minoxidil, a positive control.
Towards Sustainable Composite Manufacturing with Recycled Carbon Fiber Reinforced Thermoplastic Composites
Authors: Palola Sarianna , Laurikainen Pekka , García-Arrieta Sonia , Goikuria Astorkia Egoitz , Sarlin Essi
Published: March 2022

Currently, the vast majority of composite waste is either landfilled or incinerated, causing a massive burden on the environment and resulting in the loss of potentially valuable raw material. Here, conventional pyrolysis and reactive pyrolysis were used to reclaim carbon fibers from aeronautical scrap material, and to evaluate the feasibility of using reclaimed carbon fibers in structural components for the automotive sector. The need for fiber sizing was investigated as well as the behavior of the fiber material in macroscopic impact testing. The fibers were characterized with the single fiber tensile test, scanning electron microscopy, and the microbond test. Critical fiber length was estimated in both polypropylene and polyamide matrices. Tensile strength of the fiber material was better preserved with the reactive pyrolysis compared to the conventional pyrolysis, but in both cases the interfacial shear strength was retained or even improved. The impact testing revealed that the components made of these fibers fulfilled all required deformation limits set for the components with virgin fibers. These results indicate that recycled carbon fibers can be a viable option even in structural components, resulting in lower production costs and greener composites.
Synthesis and Performance of a Novel Cotton Linter Based Cellulose Derivatives Dispersant for Coal–Water Slurries
Authors: Ding Chengli , Zhu Xiao , Ma Xue , Yang Hongsheng
Published: March 2022

A novel sulfonic-cellulose succinate half ester (S-CSHE) dispersant for coal–water slurry (CWS) was successfully synthesized using cotton linters, sulfamic acid and succinic anhydride in DMF by a one-pot synthesis. The effects of the synthetic condition of S-CSHE as a dispersant for CWS were studied. An S-CSHE with a maximum degree of substitution of 0.98 was obtained under these optimized conditions. The synthesized samples were characterized by GPC, FT-IR spectroscopy, 13C-NMR, and SEM. The molecular weight was from 2.2 × 103 to 1.2 × 104, revealed by GPC; FT-IR spectra analysis revealed characteristic absorptions of the sulfonic-cellulose succinate half ester; SEM images showed smooth cellulose structures, while the S-CSHE had a compact surface. Effects of S-CSHE on the fluidity of application as the dispersants for the CWS prepared from Chinese Zhundong coal were studied further. The CWS application performance investigations showed that S-CSHE can most effectively reduce CWS viscosity, and perform excellent dispersity and stability. When the dosage of S-CSHE was up to 0.5 wt.%, the maximum coal content of CWS may reach 70 wt.%, and the apparent viscosity of CWS was 487 mPa·s. The CWS prepared using S-CSHE (0.38 wt.%) for Zhundong coal showed the rheological characteristics of shear-thinning, and is consistent with the Herschel–Bulkley model. This work found a new route for utilizing cotton linters cellulose and enlarged the selecting range of the dispersant for CWS. It has a positive significance for efficient and clean utilization of Xinjiang Zhundong coal.
Assessment of Belief Constructs to Support an Intervention in Municipal Solid Waste Separation at the Source in Low–Middle-Income Countries: Observations from the Greater Accra Region of Ghana
Authors: Oduro-Appiah Kwaku , Afful Abraham , Osei-Tutu Henrietta
Published: March 2022

This article uses a modified model of the theory of planned behaviour to assess salient beliefs of household heads towards the separation of municipal solid waste at its source in the Greater Accra Region of Ghana. Structural equation modelling was used to analyse the responses of 598 household heads to a questionnaire in a cross-sectional design. Whilst the default model produced an acceptable fit to the data and explained 37% of the variance in households’ intention to separate waste at its source, the modified model with moral norms as an additional construct fitted the data excellently, explaining 52% of the variance in intention. Moral norms and perceived behavioural control were the predominant latent constructs to influence intentions. Control beliefs related to the availability of waste receptacles, provision of regular waste collection services, and access to knowledge of the separation process had the greatest tendency to facilitate households’ intentions. Pro-environmental interventions designed in a participatory manner to promote moral correctness, responsibility, respect for the environment, and positive affect may empower households to separate waste at its source. This research contributes to the development of a municipal solid waste strategy in the region, and may further support research in waste diversion and the circular economy in other jurisdictions.
The Queen of Sheba in the Sunni Exegetical Tradition
Authors: Lala Ismail
Published: March 2022

Sunni exegetes repeatedly assert the authority of the Qur’an to explain itself, and the authority of the prophetic tradition (ḥadīth) or early interpretations when explanations cannot be found in the Qur’an. Yet the treatment that the Queen of Sheba receives by the exegetes reveals that, contrary to their assertions, they are influenced by and are products of their cultural and social milieux. This leads to increasingly androcentric accretions in the Sunni exegetical tradition that depart noticeably from the plain reading of the text. Early tafsīrs, such as that of Muqātil ibn Sulaymān (d. 150/767), generally remain more faithful to the literal Qur’anic reading and promulgate a highly positive impression of the Queen of Sheba’s character and leadership style. Later commentaries, however, including those of Ibn Jarīr al-Ṭabarī (d. 310/923) and ‘Imād al-Dīn ibn Kathīr (d. 774/1373), inevitably influenced by their time, seem to present a more androcentric interpretation that diminishes the agency of the Queen.
Individual Tree Detection in Urban ALS Point Clouds with 3D Convolutional Networks
Authors: Schmohl Stefan , Narváez Vallejo Alejandra , Soergel Uwe
Published: March 2022

Since trees are a vital part of urban green infrastructure, automatic mapping of individual urban trees is becoming increasingly important for city management and planning. Although deep-learning-based object detection networks are the state-of-the-art in computer vision, their adaptation to individual tree detection in urban areas has scarcely been studied. Some existing works have employed 2D object detection networks for this purpose. However, these have used three-dimensional information only in the form of projected feature maps. In contrast, we exploited the full 3D potential of airborne laser scanning (ALS) point clouds by using a 3D neural network for individual tree detection. Specifically, a sparse convolutional network was used for 3D feature extraction, feeding both semantic segmentation and circular object detection outputs, which were combined for further increased accuracy. We demonstrate the capability of our approach on an urban topographic ALS point cloud with 10,864 hand-labeled ground truth trees. Our method achieved an average precision of 83% regarding the common 0.5 intersection over union criterion. 85% percent of the stems were found correctly with a precision of 88%, while tree area was covered by the individual tree detections with an F1 accuracy of 92%. Thereby, we outperformed traditional delineation baselines and recent detection networks.
Dual Modality Collaborative Learning for Cross-Source Remote Sensing Retrieval
Authors: Ma Jingjing , Shi Duanpeng , Tang Xu , Zhang Xiangrong , Jiao Licheng
Published: March 2022

Content-based remote sensing (RS) image retrieval (CBRSIR) is a critical way to organize high-resolution RS (HRRS) images in the current big data era. The increasing volume of HRRS images from different satellites and sensors leads to more attention to the cross-source CSRSIR (CS-CBRSIR) problem. Due to the data drift, one crucial problem in CS-CBRSIR is the modality discrepancy. Most existing methods focus on finding a common feature space for various HRRS images to address this issue. In this space, their similarity relations can be measured directly to obtain the cross-source retrieval results straight. This way is feasible and reasonable, however, the specific information corresponding to HRRS images from different sources is always ignored, limiting retrieval performance. To overcome this limitation, we develop a new model for CS-CBRSIR in this paper named dual modality collaborative learning (DMCL). To fully explore the specific information from diverse HRRS images, DMCL first introduces ResNet50 as the feature extractor. Then, a common space mutual learning module is developed to map the specific features into a common space. Here, the modality discrepancy is reduced from the aspects of features and their distributions. Finally, to supplement the specific knowledge to the common features, we develop modality transformation and the dual-modality feature learning modules. Their function is to transmit the specific knowledge from different sources mutually and fuse the specific and common features adaptively. The comprehensive experiments are conducted on a public dataset. Compared with many existing methods, the behavior of our DMCL is stronger. These encouraging results for a public dataset indicate that the proposed DMCL is useful in CS-CBRSIR tasks.
Distinct Susceptibility Patterns of Active and Relict Landslides Reveal Distinct Triggers: A Case in Northwestern Turkey
Authors: Loche Marco , Lombardo Luigi , Gorum Tolga , Tanyas Hakan , Scaringi Gianvito
Published: March 2022

To understand the factors that make certain areas especially prone to landslides, statistical approaches are typically used. The interpretation of statistical results in areas characterised by complex geological and geomorphological patterns can be challenging, and this makes the understanding of the causes of landslides more difficult. In some cases, landslide inventories report information on the state of activity of landslides, adding a temporal dimension that can be beneficial in the analysis. Here, we used an inventory covering a portion of Northwestern Turkey to demonstrate that active and relict landslides (that is, landslides that occurred in the past and are now stabilised) could be related to different triggers. To do so, we built two landslide susceptibility models and observed that the spatial patterns of susceptibility were completely distinct. We found that these patterns were correlated with specific controlling factors, suggesting that active landslides are regulated by current rainfalls while relict landslides may represent a signature of past earthquakes on the landscape. The importance of this result resides in that we obtained it with a purely data-driven approach, and this was possible because the active/relict landslide classification in the inventory was accurate.
Underwater Hyperspectral Imaging of Arctic Macroalgal Habitats during the Polar Night Using a Novel Mini-ROV-UHI Portable System
Authors: Summers Natalie , Johnsen Geir , Mogstad Aksel , Løvås Håvard , Fragoso Glaucia , Berge Jørgen
Published: March 2022

We describe an Underwater Hyperspectral Imager (UHI) deployed on an instrument-carrying platform consisting of two interconnected mini-ROVs (Remotely Operated Vehicle) for the mapping and monitoring of Arctic macroalgal habitats in Kongsfjorden (Svalbard) during the Polar Night. The mini-ROV-UHI system is easy to transport, assemble and deploy from shore, even under the dark, icy and cold conditions of the Arctic Polar Night. The system can be operated by two persons, keeping the operational costs low. In vivo hyperspectral reflectance of collected specimens of brown, red and green macroalgae was measured with a spectrometer in the lab to provide a spectral library for supervised pigment group classification based on UHI photomosaics. The in situ UHI-photomosaics provided detailed information of the areal coverage of the seafloor substrate (16%), as well as brown (51% habitat cover), red (18%), and green (14%) macroalgae, with spatial resolution in the range of cm and spectral resolution of 2 nm. The collected specimens from the mapped area were also used for species identification and health state evaluation. This innovative UHI sampling method provides significant information about macroalgal distribution and physiology, and due to its flexibility in terms of deployment, it is applicable to a variety of environments.
Remotely Monitoring Vegetation Productivity in Two Contrasting Subtropical Forest Ecosystems Using Solar-Induced Chlorophyll Fluorescence
Authors: Liu Guihua , Wang Yisong , Chen Yanan , Tong Xingqing , Wang Yuandong , Xie Jing , Tang Xuguang
Published: March 2022

Subtropical forests can sequester a larger amount of atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) relative to other terrestrial ecosystems through photosynthetic activity and act as an important role in mitigating global climate warming. Compared with the model-based gross primary production (GPP) products, satellite-derived solar-induced fluorescence (SIF) opens a new window for quantification. Here, we used the remotely sensed SIF retrievals, two satellite-driven GPP products including MODIS (GPPMOD) and BESS (GPPBESS), and tower-based GPP measurements at two contrasting subtropical forests to provide a systematic analysis. Our results revealed that GPP and the associated environmental factors exhibited distinct seasonal patterns. However, the peak GPP values had large differences, with stronger GPP in the evergreen needleleaf forest site (8.76 ± 0.71 g C m−2 d−1) than that in the evergreen broadleaf forest site (5.71 ± 0.31 g C m−2 d−1). The satellite-derived SIF retrievals showed great potential in quantifying the variability in GPP, especially for the evergreen needleleaf forest with r reaching up to 0.909 (p < 0.01). GPPMOD and GPPBESS showed distinctly different performances for the two subtropical forests, whereas the GPP estimates by exclusive use of satellite-based SIF data promised well to the tower-based GPP observations. Multi-year evaluation again confirmed the good performance of the SIF-based GPP estimates. These findings will provide an alternative framework for quantifying the magnitude of forest GPP and advance our understanding of the carbon sequestration capacity of subtropical forest ecosystems.
Past, Present and Future Marine Microwave Satellite Missions in China
Authors: Lin Mingsen , Jia Yongjun
Published: March 2022

Over the past 60 years, China has made fruitful achievements in the field of ocean microwave remote sensing satellite technology. A long-term plan has now been formulated for the development of Chinese ocean satellites, as well as the construction of a constellation of ocean dynamic environmental and ocean surveillance satellites. These will gradually form China’s ocean monitoring network from space, thereby playing important roles in future ocean resource and environmental monitoring, marine disaster prevention and reduction, and global climate change. In this review manuscript, the developmental history of ocean microwave satellites and the development status of oceanic microwave remote sensing satellites in China are reviewed. In addition, China’s achievements in the field of oceanic microwave remote sensing satellite technology are summarized, and the future development of China’s ocean microwave remote sensing satellite program is analysed.
Estimation of Winter Wheat Tiller Number Based on Optimization of Gradient Vegetation Characteristics
Authors: Wu Fei , Wang Junchan , Zhou Yuzhuang , Song Xiaoxin , Ju Chengxin , Sun Chengming , Liu Tao
Published: March 2022

Tiller are an important biological characteristic of wheat, a primary food crop. Accurate estimation of tiller number can help monitor wheat growth and is important in forecasting wheat yield. However, because of leaf cover and other factors, it is difficult to estimate tiller number and the accuracy of estimates based on vegetation indices is low. In this study, a gradual change feature was introduced to optimize traditional prediction models of wheat tiller number. Accuracy improved in optimized models, and model R2 values for three varieties of winter wheat were 0.7044, 0.7060, and 0.7357. The optimized models improved predictions of tiller number in whole wheat fields. Thus, compared with the traditional linear model, the addition of a gradual change feature greatly improved the accuracy of model predictions of wheat tiller number.
Feasibility of Using Shear Wave Ultrasonic Probes as Pump-Wave Sources in Concrete Microcrack Detection and Monitoring by Nonlinear Ultrasonic Coda Wave Interferometry
Authors: Galaz Donoso Belfor A. , Avudaiappan Siva , Saavedra Flores Erick I.
Published: March 2022

This paper represents a first attempt to study the feasibility of using shear wave (SW) ultrasonic probes as pump-wave sources in concrete microcrack detection and monitoring by Nonlinear Ultrasonic Coda Wave Interferometry (NCWI). The premise behind our study is that the nonlinear elastic hysteretic behavior at microcracks may depend on their orientation with respect to the stationary wave-field induced by the pump-wave source. In this context, the use of a SW probe as a pump-wave source may induce the nonlinear elastic behavior of microcracks oriented in directions not typically detected by a conventional longitudinal pump-wave source. To date, this premise is hard to address by current experimental and numerical methods, however, the feasibility of using SW probes as a pump-wave source can be experimentally tested. This idea is the main focus of the present work. Under laboratory conditions, we exploit the high sensitivity of the CWI technique to capture the transient weakening behaviour induced by the SW pump-wave source in concrete samples subjected to loading and unloading cycles. Our results show that after reaching a load level of 40% of the ultimate stress, the material weakening increases as a consequence of microcrack proliferation, which is consistent with previous studies. Despite the lack of exhaustive experimental studies, we believe that our work is the first step in the formulation of strategies that involve an appropriate selection and placement of pump-wave sources to improve the NCWI technique. These improvements may be relevant to convert the NCWI technique into a more suitable non-destructive testing technique for the inspection of microcracking evolution in concrete structures and the assessment of their structural integrity.
Monitoring and Predictive Maintenance of Centrifugal Pumps Based on Smart Sensors
Authors: Chen Lei , Wei Lijun , Wang Yu , Wang Junshuo , Li Wenlong
Published: March 2022

Centrifugal pumps have a wide range of applications in industrial and municipal water affairs. During the use of centrifugal pumps, failures such as bearing wear, blade damage, impeller imbalance, shaft misalignment, cavitation, water hammer, etc., often occur. It is of great importance to use smart sensors and digital Internet of Things (IoT) systems to monitor the real-time operating status of pumps and predict potential failures for achieving predictive maintenance of pumps and improving the intelligence level of machine health management. Firstly, the common fault forms of centrifugal pumps and the characteristics of vibration signals when a fault occurs are introduced. Secondly, the centrifugal pump monitoring IoT system is designed. The system is mainly composed of wireless sensors, wired sensors, data collectors, and cloud servers. Then, the microelectromechanical system (MEMS) chip is used to design a wireless vibration temperature integrated sensor, a wired vibration temperature integrated sensor, and a data collector to monitor the running state of the pump. The designed wireless sensor communicates with the server through Narrow Band Internet of Things (NB-IoT). The output of the wired sensor is connected to the data collector, and the designed collector can communicate with the server through 4G communication. Through cloud-side collaboration, real-time monitoring of the running status of centrifugal pumps and intelligent diagnosis of centrifugal pump faults are realized. Finally, on-site testing and application verification of the system was conducted. The test results show that the designed sensors and sensor application system can make good use of the centrifugal pump failure mechanism to automatically diagnose equipment failures. Moreover, the diagnostic accuracy rate is above 85% by using the method of wired sensor and collector. As a low-cost and easy-to-implement solution, wireless sensors can also monitor gradual failures well. The research on the sensors and pump monitoring system provides feasible methods and an effective means for the application of centrifugal pump health management and predictive maintenance.