bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Clinical Characteristics and Potential Pathogenesis of Cardiac Necrotizing Enterocolitis in Neonates with Congenital Heart Disease: A Narrative Review
Authors: Burge Kathryn Y. , Gunasekaran Aarthi , Makoni Marjorie M. , Mir Arshid M. , Burkhart Harold M. , Chaaban Hala
Published: July 2022

Neonates with congenital heart disease (CHD) are at an increased risk of developing necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC), an acute inflammatory intestinal injury most commonly associated with preterm infants. The rarity of this complex disease, termed cardiac NEC, has resulted in a dearth of information on its pathophysiology. However, a higher incidence in term infants, effects on more distal regions of the intestine, and potentially a differential immune response may distinguish cardiac NEC as a distinct condition from the more common preterm, classical NEC. In this review, risk factors, differentiated from those of classical NEC, are discussed according to their potential contribution to the disease process, and a general pathogenesis is postulated for cardiac NEC. Additionally, biomarkers specific to cardiac NEC, clinical outcomes, and strategies for achieving enteral feeds are discussed. Working towards an understanding of the mechanisms underlying cardiac NEC may aid in future diagnosis of the condition and provide potential therapeutic targets.
Factors Affecting the Success of Endodontic Microsurgery: A Cone-Beam Computed Tomography Study
Authors: Bieszczad Daniel , Wichlinski Jaroslaw , Kaczmarzyk Tomasz
Published: July 2022

The purpose of this retrospective study was to verify preoperative local parameters of periapical lesions evaluated on cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) scans as a potential prognostic factor in endodontic microsurgery (EMS). Among 89 cases, local factors (dimensions of lesion, bone destruction pattern, presence/absence of cortical bone destruction, height of buccal bone plate, apical extend of root canal filling, presence/absence of communication with anatomical cavities, type of lesion restriction) were measured on preoperative CBCT images before EMS. At least one year after surgery, the outcome of EMS was classified as a success or a failure. Ten cases (11.24%) were classified as a failure and 79 as a success (88.76%). Symptomatic lesions (OR = 0.088 (95% CI 0.011–0.731); p = 0.024), apicomarginal lesions (OR = 0.092 (0.021–0.402); p = 0.001) and an association with molar teeth (OR = 0.153 (0.032–0.732); p = 0.019) were found as negative predictive factors in the univariate analysis, whereas large apicocoronal dimension (OR = 0.664 (0.477–0.926); p = 0.016), apicomarginal lesions (OR = 0.058 (0.006–0.55); p = 0.013), and an association with molar teeth (OR = 0.047 (0.003–0.869); p = 0.04) were identified as negative predictive factors in the multivariate analysis model. Symptomatic lesions, apicomarginal lesions, lesions associated with molar teeth and large apicocoronal dimensions are significantly associated with the failure of EMS.
A Bibliometric Analysis of Electrospun Nanofibers for Dentistry
Authors: Jin Shixin , Yeung Andy Wai Kan , Zhang Chengfei , Tsoi James Kit-Hon
Published: July 2022

Electrospun nanofibers have been widely used in dentistry due to their excellent properties, such as high surface area and high porosity, this bibliometric study aimed to review the application fields, research status, and development trends of electrospun nanofibers in different fields of dentistry in recent years. All of the data were obtained from the Web of Science from 2004 to 2021. Origin, Microsoft Excel, VOSviewer, and Carrot2 were used to process, analyze, and evaluate the publication year, countries/region, affiliations, authors, citations, keywords, and journal data. After being refined by the year of publication, document types and research fields, a total of 378 publications were included in this study, and an increasing number of publications was evident. Through linear regression calculations, it is predicted that the number of published articles in 2022 will be 66. The most published journal about electrospun dental materials is Materials Science & Engineering C-Materials for Biological Applications, among the six core journals identified, the percent of journals with Journal Citation Reports (JCR) Q1 was 60%. A total of 17.60% of the publications originated from China, and the most productive institution was the University of Sheffield. Among all the 1949 authors, the most productive author was Marco C. Bottino. Most electrospun dental nanofibers are used in periodontal regeneration, and Polycaprolactone (PCL) is the most frequently used material in all studies. With the global upsurge in research on electrospun dental materials, bone regeneration, tissue regeneration, and cell differentiation and proliferation will still be the research hotspots of electrospun dental materials in recent years. Extensive collaboration and citations among authors, institutions and countries will also reach a new level.
Injectable, Anti-Cancer Drug-Eluted Chitosan Microspheres against Osteosarcoma
Authors: Zhao Jiebing , Tian Hao , Shang Fusheng , Lv Tao , Chen Dagui , Feng Jianjun
Published: July 2022

The purpose of this study is to fabricate different anti-cancer drug-eluted chitosan microspheres for combination therapy of osteosarcoma. In this study, electrospray in combination with ground liquid nitrogen was utilized to manufacture the microspheres. The size of obtained chitosan microspheres was uniform, and the average diameter was 532 μm. The model drug release rate and biodegradation rate of chitosan microspheres could be controlled by the glutaraldehyde vapor crosslinking time. Then the 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), paclitaxel (PTX), and Cis-dichlorodiammine-platinum (CDDP) eluted chitosan microspheres were prepared, and two osteosarcoma cell lines, namely, HOS and MG-63, were selected as cell models for in vitro demonstration. We found the 5-FU microspheres, PTX microspheres, and CDDP microspheres could significantly inhibit the growth and migration of both HOS and MG-63 cells. The apoptosis of both cells treated with 5-FU microspheres, PTX microspheres, and CDDP microspheres was significantly increased compared to the counterparts of control and blank groups. The anti-cancer drug-eluted chitosan microspheres show great potential for the treatment of osteosarcoma.
Analysis and Comparison of Different Approaches to Implementing a Network-Based Parallel Data Processing Algorithm
Authors: Skliarova Iouliia
Published: July 2022

It is well known that network-based parallel data processing algorithms are well suited to implementation in reconfigurable hardware recurring to either Field-Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGA) or Programmable Systems-on-Chip (PSoC). The intrinsic parallelism of these devices makes it possible to execute several data-independent network operations in parallel. However, the approaches to designing the respective systems vary significantly with the experience and background of the engineer in charge. In this paper, we analyze and compare the pros and cons of using an embedded processor, high-level synthesis methods, and register-transfer low-level design in terms of design effort, performance, and power consumption for implementing a parallel algorithm to find the two smallest values in a dataset. This problem is easy to formulate, has a number of practical applications (for instance, in low-density parity check decoders), and is very well suited to parallel implementation based on comparator networks.
A Theory for Estuarine Delta Formation with Finite Beach Length under Sediment Supplied from the River
Authors: Duy Dinh Van , Tanaka Hitoshi , Larson Magnus , Viet Nguyen Trung
Published: July 2022

Analytical solutions for a one-line model for shoreline changes are employed to investigate the formation of two wave-dominated river delta coastlines, along with a small-scale laboratory experiment. Since the present analytical solution can be applied only to a river delta with infinite shorelines, a new analytical solution was developed to consider the effects of lateral boundaries to the evolution of delta coastlines. It was determined that two demarcations represented by the dimensionless times t* can be used to judge whether the lateral boundaries have affected the coastline evolution or not. After the successful application of a new analytical solution to the experimental data, the new analytical solution was applied to predict the formation and deformation of the shorelines of the Ombrone River and Funatsu River deltas. Results obtained from the analysis showed that the new analytical solution can be used to describe well the formation and deformation of finite river-delta shorelines. Based on the two demarcations as represented by the dimensionless time t*, the shorelines of the Ombrone River and Funatsu River deltas are classified as finite shorelines.
Identification and Characterization of Calonectria Species Associated with Plant Diseases in Southern China
Authors: Zhang Yunxia , Chen Cantian , Chen Chao , Chen Jingwen , Xiang Meimei , Wanasinghe Dhanushka N. , Hsiang Tom , Hyde Kevin D. , Manawasinghe Ishara S.
Published: July 2022

Calonectria species are important plant pathogens on a wide range of hosts, causing significant losses to plant production worldwide. During our survey on phytopathogenic fungi from 2019 to 2021, diseased samples were collected from various hosts in Guangdong Province, China. In total, 16 Calonectria isolates were obtained from leaf spots, stem blights and root rots of species of Arachis, Cassia, Callistemon, Eucalyptus, Heliconia, Melaleuca and Strelitzia plants. Isolates were identified morphologically, and a multigene phylogenetic analysis of combined partial sequences of calmodulin (cmdA), translation elongation factor 1-alpha (tef1-α) and beta-tubulin (β-tubulin) was performed. These sixteen isolates were further identified as nine Calonectria species, with five new species: Ca. cassiae, Ca. guangdongensis, Ca. melaleucae, Ca. shaoguanensis and Ca. strelitziae, as well as four new records: Ca. aconidialis from Arachis hypogaea, Ca. auriculiformis from Eucalyptus sp., Ca. eucalypti from Callistemon rigidus, and Ca. hongkongensis from Eucalyptus gunnii. Moreover, we provide updated phylogenetic trees for four Calonectria species complexes viz. Ca. colhounii, Ca. cylindrospora, Ca. kyotensis and Ca. reteaudii. Our study is the first comprehensive study on Calonectria species associated with various hosts from subtropical regions in China. Results from the present study will be an addition to the biodiversity of microfungi in South China.
A Novel Surrogate Nomogram Capable of Predicting OncotypeDX Recurrence Score©
Authors: Davey Matthew G. , Jalali Amirhossein , Ryan Éanna J. , McLaughlin Ray P. , Sweeney Karl J. , Barry Michael K. , Malone Carmel M. , Keane Maccon M. , Lowery Aoife J. , Miller Nicola , Kerin Michael J.
Published: July 2022

Background: OncotypeDX Recurrence Score© (RS) is a commercially available 21-gene expression assay which estimates prognosis and guides chemoendocrine prescription in early-stage estrogen-receptor positive, human epidermal growth factor receptor-2-negative (ER+/HER2−) breast cancer. Limitations of RS testing include the cost and turnaround time of several weeks. Aim: Our aim is to develop a user-friendly surrogate nomogram capable of predicting RS. Methods: Multivariable linear regression analyses were performed to determine predictors of RS and RS > 25. Receiver operating characteristic analysis produced an area under the curve (AUC) for each model, with training and test sets were composed of 70.3% (n = 315) and 29.7% (n = 133). A dynamic, user-friendly nomogram was built to predict RS using R (version 4.0.3). Results: 448 consecutive patients who underwent RS testing were included (median age: 58 years). Using multivariable regression analyses, postmenopausal status (β-Coefficient: 0.25, 95% confidence intervals (CIs): 0.03–0.48, p = 0.028), grade 3 disease (β-Coefficient: 0.28, 95% CIs: 0.03–0.52, p = 0.026), and estrogen receptor (ER) score (β-Coefficient: −0.14, 95% CIs: −0.22–−0.06, p = 0.001) all independently predicted RS, with AUC of 0.719. Using multivariable regression analyses, grade 3 disease (odds ratio (OR): 5.67, 95% CIs: 1.32–40.00, p = 0.037), decreased ER score (OR: 1.33, 95% CIs: 1.02–1.66, p = 0.050) and decreased progesterone receptor score (OR: 1.16, 95% CIs: 1.06–1.25, p = 0.002) all independently predicted RS > 25, with AUC of 0.740 for the static and dynamic online nomogram model. Conclusions: This study designed and validated an online user-friendly nomogram from routinely available clinicopathological parameters capable of predicting outcomes of the 21-gene RS expression assay.
Effect of Pravastatin and Simvastatin on the Reduction of Cytochrome C
Authors: Csomó Krisztián , Belik Andrea , Hrabák András , Kovács Benedek , Fábián Orsolya , Valent Sándor , Varga Gábor , Kukor Zoltán
Published: July 2022

Statins are used to treat hypercholesterolemia, with several pleiotropic effects. Alongside their positive effects (for example, decreasing blood pressure), they can also bring about negative effects/symptoms (such as myopathy). Their main mechanism of action is inducing apoptosis, the key step being the release of cytochrome c from the mitochondria. This can be facilitated by oxidative stress, through which glutathione is oxidized. In this research, glutathione was used as a respiratory substrate to measure the mitochondrial oxygen consumption of rat liver with an O2 electrode. The reduction of cytochrome c was monitored photometrically. Hydrophilic (pravastatin) and lipophilic (simvastatin) statins were used for the measurements. Pravastatin reduces the reduction of cytochrome c and the oxygen consumption of the mitochondria, while simvastatin, on the other hand, increases the reduction of cytochrome c and the mitochondrial oxygen consumption. The results make it seem probable that statins influence the mitochondrial oxygen consumption through cytochrome c. Simvastatin could enhance the oxidizing capacity of free cytochrome c, thereby increasing oxidative stress and thus facilitating apoptosis. The observed effects could further the understanding of the mechanism of action of statins and thereby aid in constructing optimal statin therapy for every patient.
Artificial Intelligence and Firm Performance: Does Machine Intelligence Shield Firms from Risks?
Authors: Ho Linh Tu , Gan Christopher , Jin Shan , Le Bryan
Published: July 2022

We estimate and compare the impact of the coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19) on the performance of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and conventional listed firms using stock market indices. The single-group and multiple-group Interrupted Time-Series Analyses (ITSA) with panel data were used with four interventions: when the news of COVID-19 spread and the pandemic entered the first, second, third, and fourth months (24 February 2020, 23 March 2020, 20 April 2020, and 18 May 2020, respectively). The results show that the negative impact of COVID-19 on the AI stock market was less severe than on the conventional stock market in the first month of the pandemic. The performance of the AI stock market recovered quicker than the conventional stock market when the pandemic went into its third month. The results suggest that the AI stocks were more resilient than conventional stocks when the financial market was exposed to uncertainty caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The deployment of AI in firms serves as a resilient, crucial driver for sustainable performance in challenging environments. Observing the performance of AI-adopted firms is an interesting direction for technical and fundamental analysts. Investors and portfolio managers should consider an AI market index to minimize risk or invest in stocks of AI-adopted listed firms to maximize excess returns.
Evaluating the Impact of the Highway Infrastructure Construction and the Threshold Effect on Cultivated Land Use Efficiency: Evidence from Chinese Provincial Panel Data
Authors: Lu Xinhai , Hou Jiao , Tang Yifeng , Wang Ting , Li Tianyi , Zhang Xupeng
Published: July 2022

Highway infrastructure construction is regarded as one of the effective policy tools used to promote the flow of production factors and upgrade the industrial structure in China, and it may also be an important precondition to improving Cultivated Land Use Efficiency (CLUE). This paper uses a slack-based model (SBM) based on provincial-level panel data from China from 2004 to 2017 to measure CLUE. Then a dynamic spatial Durbin model and a panel threshold regression model were established to analyze the spatial spillover effect and threshold effect of highway infrastructure construction on CLUE. The results showed that the CLUE of China has a fluctuating but overall rising trend. The dynamic spatial Durbin model demonstrated that the Chinese government’s policy of supporting highway infrastructure construction has played an important role in promoting CLUE by spatial spillover effects, and the driving effect of expressways and first–second highways on CLUE is particularly significant in this regard. More interestingly, the results of the panel threshold regression indicated that there is a single threshold effect in the influence of highway infrastructure construction on CLUE. This paper suggested that the spatial correlation between regions should be considered in the construction of regional highway infrastructure and land use planning to improve CLUE. Moreover, the planning of highway infrastructure construction should be balanced according to the actual demand of economic and agricultural development, so as to promote the full flow and reasonable allocation of cultivated land use factors among regions.
Territory Matters: A Methodology for Understanding the Role of Territorial Factors in Transforming Local Food Systems
Authors: Felici Francesca Benedetta , Mazzocchi Giampiero
Published: July 2022

The unsustainability of the globalized food system is a relevant debate. Despite the vast amount of literature on sustainable food systems, there is little research explaining how food system innovations can scale impact and influence systemic change. Moreover, not much literature considers the territorial context in which innovations take place, as a key factor in fostering transition. In this paper, we attempt to understand how territorial factors, such as actors and networks, influence sustainable food system transition. To achieve this goal, we built and applied an original methodology that was able to map the specific territorial context and dynamics. Considering a case study of 12 urban food system innovations in Montpellier (France), we reconstructed the relational context, in order to demonstrate the key role of embedded territorial dynamics in fostering sustainable transition. The application of our methodology produced about seven territorial conditions, which are defined by the differences between innovations, power relations and dynamics, the role of politics and the so-called “spaces of governance”. Each of these conditions plays a critical role in the transition to a sustainable food system.
The Effect of Code-Switching Experience on the Neural Response Elicited to a Sentential Code Switch
Authors: Blackburn Angélique M. , Wicha Nicole Y. Y.
Published: July 2022

Switching between languages, or codeswitching, is a cognitive ability that multilinguals can perform with ease. This study investigates whether codeswitching during sentence reading affects early access to meaning, as indexed by the robust brain response called the N400. We hypothesize that the brain prioritizes the meaning of the word during comprehension with codeswitching costs emerging at a different stage of processing. Event-related potentials (ERPs) were recorded while Spanish–English balanced bilinguals (n = 24) read Spanish sentences containing a target noun that could create a semantic violation, codeswitch or both. Self-reported frequency of daily codeswitching was used as a regressor to determine if the cost of reading a switch is modulated by codeswitching experience. A robust N400 to semantic violations was followed by a late positive component (LPC). Codeswitches modulated the left anterior negativity (LAN) and LPC, but not the N400, with codeswitched semantic violations resulting in a sub-additive interaction. Codeswitching experience modulated the LPC, but not the N400. The results suggest that early access to semantic memory during comprehension happens independent of the language in which the words are presented. Codeswitching affects a separate stage of comprehension with switching experience modulating the brain’s response to experiencing a language switch.
The Effect of Humic Substances as an Organic Supplement on the Fattening Performance, Quality of Meat, and Selected Biochemical Parameters of Rabbits
Authors: Lacková Zuzana , Zigo František , Farkašová Zuzana , Ondrašovičová Silvia
Published: July 2022

In this study, we assessed the effect of humic substances, as an organic supplement in feed, on the fattening performance, meat quality and selected lipid and mineral parameters from the blood serum of rabbits. Three groups of the Giant Saris rabbit breed were used (one control and two experimental), with 16 animals per group. The animals in the control group were fed a standard pellet diet, the humic substances group received a basal diet supplemented with 5% humic substances, and the third group received a basal diet with 5% humic–fatty substances preparation during the entire experiment (from 35 to 120 days of age). There were 85 days of fattening; then, the rabbits were slaughtered. In the group supplemented with 5% humic–fatty substances addition, we noticed a higher final weight (p < 0.05) and higher average daily gains compared to the control group at the end of the fattening period, at 120 days of age. On the other hand, a slightly lower final weight (p > 0.05) in the group supplemented with humic substances was found compared to the control group. In the comparison of the individual parameters of the meat quality in rabbits, we observed a positive effect in the reduction in the intramuscular fat content and the lipid parameters as well as a lower total cholesterol from the blood serum in both supplemented groups. Regarding the mineral parameters, we observed elevated blood serum values of calcium and phosphorus in both experimental groups. The addition of humic–fatty substances appears to be the most effective way of supplementing rabbit feed due to the synergistic effect of humates and vegetable oils for their optimal growth development and the production of reduced-fat meat.
Non-Newtonian Thermo-Elastohydrodynamics and Sub-Surface Stress Field of High-Performance Racing Spur Gears
Authors: Sivayogan Gajarajan , Dolatabadi Nader , Johns-Rahnejat Patricia , Rahmani Ramin , Rahnejat Homer
Published: July 2022

Meshing teeth pairs of involute spur gears often form the final drive of high-performance motorsport transmissions. They are subject to high normal and shear loading. Under transient conditions pertaining to a meshing cycle, the contact conditions alter from the onset of teeth pair engagement through to maximum normal loading, followed by contact separation. Sliding motion only ceases instantaneously at the pitch point. The regime of lubrication remains mostly in non-Newtonian thermo-elastohydrodynamic conditions. The results show that a starved inlet boundary is attained throughout most of the meshing cycle which leads to the diminution of the pressure spike at the exit from the contact conjunction. The reversing sub-surface shear stresses are the main source of the onset of any inelastic deformation, which is dominated by the primary pressure peak in compliance with the Hertzian maximum pressure. The shear stress field is supplemented by an induced field due to the presence of the pressure spike. Under starved conditions this secondary stress field is diminished. The combined solution of elastohydrodynamics with a thermal network model, non-Newtonian lubricant traction, and sub-surface stress evaluation provides for a comprehensive solution not hitherto reported in the literature.
Dynamic Performance Analysis of Cage in Four-Point Contact Ball Bearing
Authors: Li Yeteng , Li Wenchao , Zhu Yongsheng , He Gaobo , Ma Shuaijun , Hong Jun
Published: July 2022

Due to the special structure of double-half inner rings, four-point contact ball bearings are prone to uneven forces in the inner raceway during movement, which affects the dynamic performance of the rolling element and cage, and even leads to cage sliding. Dynamic performance of the cage is an important factor affecting the working stability of bearings. In this paper, in order to grasp the operation law of the cage so as to guide the application of four-point contact ball bearings, the dynamic model of four-point contact ball bearings is established by the secondary development of Automatic Dynamic Analysis of Mechanical Systems (ADAMS). The dynamic performance of the cage is analyzed and evaluated with the indexes of vortex radius ratio and vortex velocity deviation ratio of the cage centroid trajectory. The results show the following: the cage stability increases and then decreases to a certain degree with rotating speed-rise; it increases and then decreases with the increase in the pure axial load; under a combination of axial and radial load, the cage moves more smoothly with smaller radial force. Rotating speed has little effect on cage stability, while radial force has a great influence on cage stability, followed by axial load. In order to verify the simulation results, a test bench for rolling bearing cages is developed, and the accuracy of the simulation results is verified by the test results.
Study on Dynamic Characteristics of Single-Phase Grounding Fault of 1000 MW Hydro Generator under Different Grounding Modes
Authors: Xiong Bin , Zhou Long , Ding Shuye
Published: July 2022

The continuous operation of 1000 MW large hydro generators in China is of great value to the implementation of “double carbon strategy” and power grid safety. However, with the continuous increase of single unit capacity of the hydro generator, the problems of unit fault grounding current and neutral point voltage drift become more and more prominent, and the traditional analysis methods cannot accurately obtain the fault dynamic data. Therefore, starting from the neutral point grounding mode of the large hydro generator, taking a 1000 MW hydro generator as the research object, this paper establishes the single-phase grounding fault model under the condition of three-phase parameter asymmetry of stator winding and analyzes the dynamic characteristics of fault current, transient overvoltage, and neutral point voltage drift under different grounding modes by using transient analysis method; the influence of frequency offset on neutral voltage drift and the dynamic characteristics of single-phase grounding fault of the large hydro generator under different grounding modes are also obtained. Finally, according to the analysis results, the selection and optimization method of neutral grounding parameters are proposed, which provides a reference for the selection of neutral grounding mode and the research of protection strategy of the large hydro generator.
Manufacturing Maps, a Novel Tool for Smart Factory Management Based on Petri Nets and Big Data Mini-Terms
Authors: Llopis Javier , Lacasa Antonio , Garcia Eduardo , Montés Nicolás , Hilario Lucía , Vizcaíno Judith , Vilar Cristina , Vilar Judit , Sánchez Laura , Latorre Juan Carlos
Published: July 2022

This article defines a new concept for real-time factory management—manufacturing maps. Manufacturing maps are generated from two fundamental elements, mini-terms and Petri nets. Mini-terms are sub-times of a technical cycle, the time it takes for any component to perform its task. A mini-term, by definition, is a sub-cycle time and it would only make sense to use the term in connection with production improvement. Previous studies have shown that when the sub-cycle time worsens, this indicates that something unusual is happening, enabling anticipation of line failures. As a result, a mini-term has dual functionality, since, on the one hand, it is a production parameter and, on the other, it is a sensor used for predictive maintenance. This, combined with how easy and cheap it is to extract relevant data from manufacturing lines, has resulted in the mini-term becoming a new paradigm for predictive maintenance, and, indirectly, for production analysis. Applying this parameter using big data for machines and components can enable the complete modeling of a factory using Petri nets. This article presents manufacturing maps as a hierarchical construction of Petri nets in which the lowest level network is a temporary Petri net based on mini-terms, and in which the highest level is a global view of the entire plant. The user of a manufacturing map can select intermediate levels, such as a specific production line, and perform analysis or simulation using real-time data from the mini-term database. As an example, this paper examines the modeling of the 8XY line, a multi-model welding line at the Ford factory in Almussafes (Valencia), where the lower layers are modeled until the mini-term layer is reached. The results, and a discussion of the possible applications of manufacturing maps in industry, are provided at the end of this article.
Application of Fuzzy-Based Support Vector Regression to Forecast of International Airport Freight Volumes
Authors: Yang Cheng-Hong , Shao Jen-Chung , Liu Yen-Hsien , Jou Pey-Huah , Lin Yu-Da
Published: July 2022

As freight volumes increase, airports are likely to require additional infrastructure development, increased air services, and expanded facilities. Prediction of freight volumes could ensure effective investment. Among the computational intelligence models, support vector regression (SVR) has become the dominant modeling paradigm. In this study, a fuzzy-based SVR (FSVR) model was used to solve the freight volume prediction problem in international airports. The FSVR model can use a fuzzy time series of historical traffic changes for predictions. A fuzzy classification algorithm was used for elements of similar levels in the time series to appropriately divide traffic changes into fuzzy sets, generate membership function values, and establish a fuzzy relationship to produce a fuzzy interpolation with a minimal error. A comparison of the FSVR model with other models revealed that the FSVR model had the lowest mean absolute percentage error (all < 2.5%), mean absolute error, and root mean square error for all types of traffic at all the analyzed airports. Fuzzy sets can handle uncertainty and imprecision in time series. Therefore, the prediction accuracy of the entire time series model is improved by taking advantage of SVR and fuzzy sets. By using the highly accurate FSVR model to predict the future growth of air freight volume, airport management could analyze their existing facilities and service capacity to identify operational bottlenecks and plan future development. The FSVR model is the most accurate forecasting model for air traffic forecasting.
An Improved Model for Kernel Density Estimation Based on Quadtree and Quasi-Interpolation
Authors: Wang Jiecheng , Liu Yantong , Chang Jincai
Published: July 2022

There are three main problems for classical kernel density estimation in its application: boundary problem, over-smoothing problem of high (low)-density region and low-efficiency problem of large samples. A new improved model of multivariate adaptive binned quasi-interpolation density estimation based on a quadtree algorithm and quasi-interpolation is proposed, which can avoid the deficiency in the classical kernel density estimation model and improve the precision of the model. The model is constructed in three steps. Firstly, the binned threshold is set from the three dimensions of sample number, width of bins and kurtosis, and the bounded domain is adaptively partitioned into several non-intersecting bins (intervals) by using the iteration idea from the quadtree algorithm. Then, based on the good properties of the quasi-interpolation, the kernel functions of the density estimation model are constructed by introducing the theory of quasi-interpolation. Finally, the binned coefficients of the density estimation model are constructed by using the idea of frequency replacing probability. Simulation of the Monte Carlo method shows that the proposed non-parametric model can effectively solve the three shortcomings of the classical kernel density estimation model and significantly improve the prediction accuracy and calculation efficiency of the density function for large samples.
IT-PMF: A Novel Community E-Commerce Recommendation Method Based on Implicit Trust
Authors: Wu Jun , Song Xinyu , Niu Xiaxia , Shi Li , Gao Lu , Geng Liping , Wang Dan , Zhang Dongkui
Published: July 2022

It is well-known that data sparsity and cold start are two of the open problems in recommendation system research. Numerous studies have been dedicated to dealing with those two problems. Among these, a method of introducing user context information could effectively solve the problem of data sparsity and improve the accuracy of recommendation algorithms. This study proposed a novel approach called IT-PMF (Implicit Trust-Probabilistic Matrix Factorization) based on implicit trust, which consists of local implicit trust relationships and in-group membership. The study started from generating the user commodity rating matrix based on the cumulative purchases for items according to their historical purchase records to find the similarity of purchase behaviors and the number of successful interactions between users, which represent the local implicit trust relationship between users. The user group attribute value was calculated through a fuzzy c-means clustering algorithm to obtain the user’s in-group membership. The local implicit trust relationship and the user’s in-group membership were adjusted by the adaptive weight to determine the degree of each part’s influence. Then, the author integrated the user’s score of items and the user’s implicit trust relationship into the probabilistic matrix factorization algorithm to form a trusted recommendation model based on implicit trust relationships and in-group membership. The extensive experiments were conducted using a real dataset collected from a community E-commerce platform, and the IT-PMF method had a better performance in both MAE (Mean Absolute Error) and RMSE (Root Mean Square Error) indices compared with well-known existing algorithms, such as PMF (Probabilistic Matrix Factorization) and SVD (Single Value Decomposition). The results of the experiments indicated that the introduction of implicit trust into PMF could improve the quality of recommendations.
Behavior Analysis of a Class of Discrete-Time Dynamical System with Capture Rate
Authors: Du Xiongxiong , Han Xiaoling , Lei Ceyu
Published: July 2022

In this paper, we study the stability and bifurcation analysis of a class of discrete-time dynamical system with capture rate. The local stability of the system at equilibrium points are discussed. By using the center manifold theorem and bifurcation theory, the conditions for the existence of flip bifurcation and Hopf bifurcation in the interior of R+2 are proved. The numerical simulations show that the capture rate not only affects the size of the equilibrium points, but also changes the bifurcation phenomenon. It was found that the discrete system not only has flip bifurcation and Hopf bifurcation, but also has chaotic orbital sets. The complexity of dynamic behavior is verified by numerical analysis of bifurcation, phase and maximum Lyapunov exponent diagram.
Exophilone, a Tetrahydrocarbazol-1-one Analogue with Anti-Pulmonary Fibrosis Activity from the Deep-Sea Fungus Exophiala oligosperma MCCC 3A01264
Authors: Hong Ming-Jun , Hao Meng-Jiao , Zhang Guang-Yu , Li Hou-Jin , Shao Zong-Ze , Liu Xiu-Pian , Ma Wen-Zhe , Xu Jun , Mahmud Taifo , Lan Wen-Jian
Published: July 2022

A new compound, exophilone (1), together with nine known compounds (2–10), were isolated from a deep-sea-derived fungus, Exophiala oligosperma. Their chemical structures, including the absolute configuration of 1, were elucidated using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, high-resolution electrospray ionization mass spectroscopy (HRESIMS), and electronic circular dichroism (ECD) calculation. Compounds were preliminarily screened for their ability to inhibit collagen accumulation. Compounds 1, 4, and 7 showed weaker inhibition of TGF-β1-induced total collagen accumulation in compared with pirfenidone (73.14% inhibition rate). However, pirfenidone exhibited cytotoxicity (77.57% survival rate), while compounds 1, 4, and 7 showed low cytotoxicity against the HFL1 cell line. Particularly, exophilone (1) showed moderate collagen deposition inhibition effect (60.44% inhibition rate) and low toxicity in HFL1 cells (98.14% survival rate) at a concentration of 10 μM. A molecular docking study suggests that exophilone (1) binds to both TGF-β1 and its receptor through hydrogen bonding interactions. Thus, exophilone (1) was identified as a promising anti-pulmonary fibrosis agent. It has the potential to be developed as a drug candidate for pulmonary fibrosis.
Two New Phenylhydrazone Derivatives from the Pearl River Estuary Sediment-Derived Streptomyces sp. SCSIO 40020
Authors: Liu Wei , Ma Liang , Zhang Liping , Chen Yuchan , Zhang Qingbo , Zhang Haibo , Zhang Weimin , Zhang Changsheng , Zhang Wenjun
Published: July 2022

Two new phenylhydrazone derivatives and one new alkaloid, penzonemycins A–B (1–2) and demethylmycemycin A (3), together with three known compounds including an alkaloid (4) and two sesquiterpenoids (5–6), were isolated from the Streptomyces sp. SCSIO 40020 obtained from the Pearl River Estuary sediment. Their structures and absolute configurations were assigned by 1D/2D NMR, mass spectroscopy and X-ray crystallography. Compound 1 was evaluated in four human cancer cell lines by the SRB method and displayed weak cytotoxicity in three cancer cell lines, with IC50 values that ranged from 30.44 to 61.92 µM, which were comparable to those of the positive control cisplatin. Bioinformatic analysis of the putative biosynthetic gene cluster indicated a Japp–Klingemann coupling reaction involved in the hydrazone formation of 1 and 2.
Phycobiliproteins—A Family of Algae-Derived Biliproteins: Productions, Characterization and Pharmaceutical Potentials
Authors: Chen Huaxin , Qi Hongtao , Xiong Peng
Published: July 2022

Phycobiliproteins (PBPs) are colored and water-soluble biliproteins found in cyanobacteria, rhodophytes, cryptomonads and cyanelles. They are divided into three main types: allophycocyanin, phycocyanin and phycoerythrin, according to their spectral properties. There are two methods for PBPs preparation. One is the extraction and purification of native PBPs from Cyanobacteria, Cryptophyta and Rhodophyta, and the other way is the production of recombinant PBPs by heterologous hosts. Apart from their function as light-harvesting antenna in photosynthesis, PBPs can be used as food colorants, nutraceuticals and fluorescent probes in immunofluorescence analysis. An increasing number of reports have revealed their pharmaceutical potentials such as antioxidant, anti-tumor, anti-inflammatory and antidiabetic effects. The advances in PBP biogenesis make it feasible to construct novel PBPs with various activities and produce recombinant PBPs by heterologous hosts at low cost. In this review, we present a critical overview on the productions, characterization and pharmaceutical potentials of PBPs, and discuss the key issues and future perspectives on the exploration of these valuable proteins.
Asperopiperazines A and B: Antimicrobial and Cytotoxic Dipeptides from a Tunicate-Derived Fungus Aspergillus sp. DY001
Authors: Youssef Diaa T. A. , Shaala Lamiaa A. , Genta-Jouve Grégory
Published: July 2022

Investigation of the cytotoxic fractions of the ethyl acetate extract of the fermentation broth of the tunicate-derived Aspergillus sp. DY001 afforded two new dipeptides, asperopiperazines A and B (1 and 2), along with the previously reported compounds (+)-citreoisocoumarin (3) and (−)-6,8-di-O-methylcitreoisocoumarin (4). Analyses of the 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopic data of the compounds supported their structural assignments. Asperopiperazine A (1) is a cyclic dipeptide of leucine and phenylalanine moieties, which are substituted with an N-methyl and an N-acetyl group, respectively. On the other hand, asperopiperazine B (2) is a cyclic dipeptide of proline and phenylalanine moieties with a hydroxyl group at C-2 of the proline part. The absolute configuration of the amino acid moieties in 1 and 2 were determined by Marfey’s analyses and DFT NMR chemical shift calculations, leading to their assignment as cyclo(l-NMe-Leu-l-NAc-Phe) and cyclo(d-6-OH-Pro-l-Phe), respectively. Asperopiperazines A and B displayed higher antimicrobial effects against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus than Candida albicans. Furthermore, compounds 1–4 displayed variable growth inhibitory effects towards HCT 116 and MDA-MB-231 cells, with asperopiperazine A as the most active one towards HCT 116.
Seaweed and Dendritic Growth in Unsaturated Fatty Acid Monolayers
Authors: Gellert Florian , Ahrens Heiko , Wulff Harm , Helm Christiane A.
Published: July 2022

The lateral movement in lipid membranes depends on their diffusion constant within the membrane. However, when the flux of the subphase is high, the convective flow beneath the membrane also influences lipid movement. Lipid monolayers of an unsaturated fatty acid at the water–air interface serve as model membranes. The formation of domains in the liquid/condensed coexistence region is investigated. The dimension of the domains is fractal, and they grow with a constant growth velocity. Increasing the compression speed of the monolayer induces a transition from seaweed growth to dendritic growth. Seaweed domains have broad tips and wide and variable side branch spacing. In contrast, dendritic domains have a higher fractal dimension, narrower tips, and small, well-defined side branch spacing. Additionally, the growth velocity is markedly larger for dendritic than seaweed growth. The domains’ growth velocity increases and the tip radius decreases with increasing supersaturation in the liquid/condensed coexistence region. Implications for membranes are discussed.
Effect of Axial Normal Stress and Bending Moment between Contact and Non-Contact Zone on Forming Accuracy for Flexible Stretch Bending Formation
Authors: Teng Fei , Liang Jicai , Wang Shaoqiang , Han Qigang
Published: July 2022

Flexible 3D stretch bending (FSB) is a technology that uses multi-point molds instead of traditional integral molds to bend and deform profiles. Since the position of a multi-point mold can be adjusted in the horizontal and vertical directions, a set of molds can be used to form profile products with different contour structures. Due to the contact area and non-contact area between the multi-point mold and the surface of the profile, the forming accuracy of different areas is different. Thus, the axial normal stress and bending moment of the contact zone and non-contact zone between the profile and roller dies are studied in this article. By simulating the change in axial normal stress at the same position in the middle of a web along the axial direction, it is found that the axial normal stress shows little difference in the contact zone and non-contact zone. The value of axial normal stress in the non-contact zone is relatively stable, and there is a small increase on the side near the clamp. By simulating the axial normal stress of different cross-sections in the middle areas of three groups of webs, it is found that there is a linear relationship between the axial normal stress and the distance from inner curved surface. The bending moment of the profile in the contact zone is obviously greater than that in the non-contact zone, and the bending moment gradually decreases to near zero from the contact zone to the non-contact zone. The bending deformation of the profile in the contact zone is obviously greater than that in the non-contact zone, which results in the deviation between simulated bending displacement and theoretical bending displacement in the contact zone and non-contact zone.
Casting Process at Roll Bite in Strip Cast Using Vertical-Type High-Speed Twin-Roll Caster
Authors: Haga Toshio , Kurahashi Yukihiro
Published: July 2022

The solidification process in strip casting using a vertical-type high-speed twin-roll caster was clarified by inserting a 0.1 mm diameter K-type thermocouple into a strip during casting. The roll speeds of the copper rolls were 10 m/min and 30 m/min, and the roll loads were 5 kN and 20 kN. Al-Si alloys with a Si content of 2%, 6%, and 12% were used to investigate the influence of latent heat and viscosity in the semisolid state. The strip temperature increased after exiting the rolls. This indicated that the inside of the strip had not completely solidified at the roll bite, and secondary cooling was necessary to rapidly solidify the inside of the strip. The distance from the roll bite to the solidification starting position ranged from 30 mm to 63 mm. The cooling rate and degree of supercooling increased as the Si content decreased. The cooling rate ranged from 400 °C/s to 4000 °C/s. The cooling rate and degree of supercooling decreased as the viscosity of the semisolid increased.
Floating Particles in the Melt during the Growth of β-Ga2O3 Single Crystals Using the Czochralski Method
Authors: Liu Yingying , Guo Xiangwei , Xia Ning , Hong Zijian , Zhang Hui , Yang Deren
Published: July 2022

Floating particles often appear during the Czochralski (CZ) growth of β-Ga2O3 in the Ir crucible, thereby impeding the seeding process. Identifying the floating nanoparticles and then inhibiting or removing them is critical for growing high-quality β-Ga2O3 single crystals. We grew β-Ga2O3 crystals containing floating particles using the CZ method. It is indicated that the floating particles were composed of Ir with a face-centered cubic (fcc) structure. In addition, the β-Ga2O3/Ir interface was comprehensively characterized, showing sharp and straight configuration on the whole with small fluctuations at the nanoscale. Combined with density functional theory (DFT) calculation, we found that Ir-O bonding was responsible for stabilizing the interface. Accordingly, the atomic configuration of the interface with the stablest structure, including the relaxed one, was determined. Based on the formation mechanism of the floating particles, we propose three effective strategies, including blowing sufficient oxygen into the bottom of the Ir crucible, coating a protective layer on its inwall and equipping a mechanical arm for inhibiting or removing them.