bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Numerical Study on the Heating Effect of a Spring-Loaded Actuator—Part Ⅰ: Temperature and Humidity Distribution Characteristics
Authors: Xi Lei , Zhao Zhen , Ruan Qicheng , Yang Zhengheng , Xu Liang , Gao Jianmin , Li Yunlong
Published: June 2023

Inappropriate distributions of temperature and humidity will cause the failure of the spring-loaded actuators. Therefore, it is essential to understand the temperature and humidity distribution characteristics in typical spring-loaded actuators, to guarantee the safe operation of the spring-loaded actuators. In this work, a numerical simulation study on the temperature and humidity distribution characteristics in a spring-loaded actuator was conducted. The influence laws of ambient temperature, heater power, and heater size on the temperature and humidity distributions inside the spring-loaded actuator were analyzed. The practical empirical correlations for the spring-loaded actuators were fitted. The results show that the air temperature around and directly above the heater is the highest and the corresponding relative humidity is the lowest. Then, the air temperature gradually decreases, and the relative humidity increases with the lateral flow of air. When the ambient temperature increases from 233.15 K (−40 °C) to 313.15 K (40 °C), the minimum temperature inside the actuator is increased by 34%, the maximum humidity first increases and then decreases, and the maximum temperature on the heater surface is increased by 30%. When the heating power increases from 10 W to 150 W at ambient temperatures of 273.15 K and 298.15 K, the minimum temperature inside the actuator is increased by 3.40% and 3.61%, the maximum humidity is decreased by 51.97% and 58.63%, and the maximum temperature on the heater surface is increased by 30.33% and 33.25%, respectively. The influence of heater length, width, and height on the minimum temperature and maximum relative humidity inside the spring-loaded actuator is relatively small. Within the study range, the increase in heater length, width, and height makes the maximum temperature on the heater surface decrease by 9.15%, 7.59%, 4.63% at ambient temperatures of 273.15 K, and 10.74%, 9.01%, 4.73% at ambient temperature of 298.15 K, respectively. The results may provide a reference for predicting temperature and humidity distributions inside general spring-loaded actuators and provide a calculation basis for the design of their heaters.
Hybrid Work Model: An Approach to Work–Life Flexibility in a Changing Environment
Authors: Krajčík Martin , Schmidt Dušana Alshatti , Baráth Matúš
Published: June 2023

Employees’ work environment has drastically shifted from offices to homes. Telework is often a desired employee benefit, but employers consider it a temporary setting. The lasting COVID-19 pandemic has changed the concept of telework. Home office has gained importance and will likely become an essential part of the working environment even after the pandemic. This paper aims to identify the preferences of employees from culturally diverse backgrounds in relation to the setting of their work location and time after the end of the pandemic. A web-based questionnaire survey as a quantitative research method was used. Data were collected from employees in Slovakia and Kuwait. The research findings indicate that employees value time flexibility, although localization flexibility is also growing in importance. The proposed hybrid work model seems to be the most suitable solution in line with the employees’ preferences. It is crucial to understand employees’ needs in terms of working time and place because only workplaces that are designed for employees and show organizational resiliency can survive and maintain competitiveness in the future.
Bucket Size Optimization for Metering Device in Garlic Planter Using Discrete Element Method
Authors: Im Dongu , Lee Ho-Seop , Kim Jae-Hyun , Moon Dong-Joo , Moon Tae-Ick , Yu Seung-Hwa , Park Young-Jun
Published: June 2023

In this study, the discrete element method was used to optimize the bucket size for the metering device in a garlic planter for enhancing the productivity of garlic farming according to the garlic size. Statistical information concerning the actual shape of garlic cloves was incorporated, and the mechanical properties of garlic were determined using the bulk density, sliding test, and repose angle test for enhancing the fidelity of the simulation model. The optimal bucket size achieving the target plant rate of 97.5% was determined using the developed discrete element model for the three garlic size groups. The linear search method was used for optimization, and batch simulation was performed to validate the optimized results and confirm the performance index of the metering device. A Gaussian distribution based on statistical information accounted for the various garlic sizes in each group. Finally, a metering test verified the reliability of the optimization technique. The differences between the simulation and test results were within 10% for all performance indices, including missing plant rate, multi-plant rate, and planting rate, indicating the high reliability of the analysis model. Subsequently, the larger garlic groups (Groups 2 and 3) exhibited metering performance close to the target plant rate.
Mapping Irrigated Areas Based on Remotely Sensed Crop Phenology and Soil Moisture
Authors: Zuo Wenjun , Mao Jingjing , Lu Jiaqi , Zheng Zhaowen , Han Qin , Xue Runjia , Tian Yongchao , Zhu Yan , Cao Weixing , Zhang Xiaohu
Published: June 2023

Artificial irrigation is critical for improving soil moisture conditions and ensuring crop growth. Its irrational deployment can lead to ecological and environmental issues. Mapping and understanding the changes in irrigated areas are vital to effectively managing limited water. However, most researchers map irrigated areas with a single data resource, which makes it hard to detect irrigated signals in complex situations. The case study area for this paper was China’s winter wheat region, and an irrigated area map was generated by analyzing the effects of artificial irrigation on crop phenological characteristics and soil moisture time series. The mapping process involved three steps: (1) generating a basic irrigated map by employing the ISODATA classification method on the Kolmogorov–Smirnov test irrigation signals from the microwave remote sensing data and reanalysis data; (2) creating the other map with the maximum likelihood ratio classification and zoning scheme on the phenological parameters extracted from the NDVI time series; and (3) fusing these two maps at the decision level to obtain the final map with a higher spatial resolution of 1 km. The map was evaluated against existing irrigated area data and was highly compatible with GMIA 5.0. The overall accuracy (OA) was 73.49%.
Genetic Diversity Analysis of the Red Swamp Crayfish Procambarus clarkii in Three Cultured Populations Based on Microsatellite Markers
Authors: Liu Jiaqing , Sun Yunfei , Chen Qianqian , Wang Miaomiao , Li Qin , Zhou Wenzong , Cheng Yongxu
Published: June 2023

With the increasing scale of crayfish breeding, the self-propagation and “catch large and keep small” breeding patterns have led to serious degradation of the fry, so the selection and breeding of high-quality fry is very important. Selecting a population with a high genetic diversity as the base population for breeding can greatly improve the breeding efficiency. Fifteen microsatellite loci were used to understand the genetic structure and diversity of three Procambarus clarkii populations in Chongming, Shanghai; Gaoyou, Jiangsu; and Xuancheng, Anhui. The results indicated that the three populations were diverse and the number of alleles, observed heterozygosity, expected heterozygosity, Shannon information index, and polymorphic information content ranged from 4.8 to 6.2, 0.5567 to 0.6257, 0.6166 to 0.7086, 1.1292 to 1.3987, and 0.5446 to 0.6452, respectively. The Xuancheng population had the highest genetic diversity. The genetic differentiation coefficient and gene flow of the three populations were between 0.0553 and 0.1068 and 2.0908 and 4.2708, respectively, and there was extensive genetic exchange between the Chongming and Xuancheng populations. Analyses of molecular variance indicated that the genetic variation was mainly within the population (91.51%) and inter-population genetic variation accounted for 8.49%. The unweighted pair group method with an arithmetic mean clustering map was utilised based on the genetic distance between groups, and the results showed that the Gaoyou group was grouped alone, while the Chongming and Xuancheng groups were clustered together. The structural results indicated that the Chongming and Xuancheng groups had the same origin, although the Xuancheng group possessed a more complex genetic structure. This study indicated that all three populations had a high genetic diversity, with the Xuancheng population exhibiting the highest diversity. The results of the study provide a reference for the selection of base populations in breeding programs and confirm that the Xuancheng population in Anhui has a better genetic background. The selection of the Xuancheng population as one of the base populations for genetic breeding will be more efficient to accumulate superior traits.
Phyto-Inhibitory and Antimicrobial Activity of Brown Propolis from Romania
Authors: Vică Mihaela Laura , Glevitzky Mirel , Heghedűş-Mîndru Ramona Cristina , Dumitrel Gabriela-Alina , Heghedűş-Mîndru Gabriel , Popa Maria , Faur Doriana Maria , Bâlici Ștefana , Teodoru Cosmin Adrian
Published: June 2023

The objective of this paper was to study the phyto-inhibitory and antimicrobial activity of brown propolis collected from the counties of four regions in Romania. The main physico-chemical and functional properties of 16 samples of propolis from different landforms of geographical regions were determined. Their antimicrobial activities were established against 5 bacterial strains (Pseudomonas fluorescens, Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus cereus, Escherichia coli, and Proteus mirabilis) and 5 fungal strains (Alternaria alternata, Cladosporium cladosporioides, Fusarium oxysporum, Mucor racemosus, and Aspergillus niger). Simultaneously, the phyto-inhibitory effect of propolis samples on different cereals was highlighted: hexaploid bread wheat (Triticum aestivum), maize (Zea mays L.), oats (Avena sativa L.), and barley (Hordeum vulgare L.). Correlations between the antioxidant activity and total flavonoid and phenol content of the propolis samples were identified, respectively, and the statistical analysis highlighted that the diameter of the inhibition zone was influenced by the strain type (bacterial and fungal) and the geographical regions of propolis. Principal component analysis (PCA) indicated that out of seven principal components, only two exhibited > 0.5. Pearson’s correlation coefficient showed a low and moderate positive linear relationship between the diameter of the inhibition zone and the flavonoid and phenol concentration of the propolis samples.
Beneficial Effects of Catalpol Supplementation during In Vitro Maturation of Porcine Cumulus-Oocyte Complexes
Authors: Wang Yanxin , Xu Ye , Li Sijia , Yan Xi , Yang Xiaofen , Chen Mengjia , Wang Yun , Jia Ruru , Zhou Dongping , Shi Deshun , Lu Fenghua
Published: June 2023

Oxidative stress degrades oocytes during in vitro maturation (IVM). Catalpol, a well-known iridoid glycoside, exhibits antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antihyperglycemic effects. In this study, catalpol supplementation was tested on porcine oocyte IVM and its mechanisms. Corticalgranule (GC) distribution, mitochondrial function, antioxidant capacity, DNA damage degree, and real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction were used to confirm the effects of 10 μmol/L catalpol in the maturation medium during IVM. Catalpol treatment significantly increased the first-pole rate and cytoplasmic maturation in mature oocytes. It also increased oocyte glutathione (GSH), mitochondrial membrane potential and blastocyst cell number. However, DNA damage as well as reactive oxygen species (ROS) and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels. Mitochondrial membrane potential and blastocyst cell number were also increased. Thus, the supplementation of 10 μmol/L catalpol in the IVM medium improves porcine oocyte maturation and embryonic development.
Oxidative Stress in Aquatic Organisms
Authors: Song Changyou , Sun Cunxin , Liu Bo , Xu Pao
Published: June 2023

Oxidative stress mainly refers to the imbalance between reactive oxygen species production and antioxidant defense systems in organisms [...]
Mechanisms for the Formation of an Exceptionally Gently Inclined Basal Shear Zone of a Landslide in Glacial Sediments—The Ludoialm Case Study
Authors: Dai Xiaoru , Schneider-Muntau Barbara , Krenn Julia , Zangerl Christian , Fellin Wolfgang
Published: June 2023

The Ludoialm landslide, which is located in the municipality of Münster in Tyrol, Austria, represents a large-scale translational landslide in glacial soil sediments characterised by an exceptionally low inclined basal shear zone of only 12°. Although a temporal coincidence between meteorological events and slope displacement is obvious, the hydromechanical coupled processes responsible for the initial landslide formation and the ongoing movement characteristics have not yet been identified. This article provides a comprehensive analysis of the predisposition factors and the initial failure mechanism of this landslide from geological and geotechnical perspectives. We use a prefailure geometry of the cross section to simulate the initial slope failure process by a limit equilibrium analysis (LEA), a strength-reduction finite element method (SRFEM), and a finite element limit analysis (FELA). The shape and location of the computationally obtained basal sliding zone compare well with the geologically assumed one. Based on the computational study, it turns out that a high groundwater table probably caused by snow melting in combination with different permeabilities for the different layers is needed for the formation of the exceptionally low inclined basal shear zone. This paper presents the failure mechanism of the Ludoialm landslide and discusses the role of the shear band propagation in the process of slope destabilization.
A DEM Study on Bearing Behavior of Floating Geosynthetic-Encased Stone Column in Deep Soft Clays
Authors: Liu Feng , Guo Panpan , Hu Xunjian , Li Baojian , Hu Haibo , Gong Xiaonan
Published: June 2023

The use of geosynthetic-encased stone columns has been proven to be an economical and effective method for soft soil foundation treatment. This method is widely used in civil engineering projects at home and abroad. When the geosynthetic-encased stone columns are applied to deep soft clays, they are in a floating state. The load-bearing deformation mechanism of geosynthetic-encased stone columns has changed. The interaction between the aggregates, geogrid, and soil is worth studying, especially at the bottom of the column. In this paper, the discrete element method is used to simulate a floating geosynthetic-encased stone column with a 280 mm encasement depth in deep soft clays. The load-bearing deformation characteristics and mesoscopic mechanism of the floating geosynthetic-encased stone column are studied. The results show that there are large vertical and radial stresses in the top region. Moreover, the porosity and sliding fraction of aggregates in this region increase with settlement, and the coordination number decreases with settlement. The vertical and radial stresses of the soil near the column body are not affected much by the column body. When the encasement depth exceeds 280 mm, the bearing capacity of the FGESC does not increase much. The encasement depth controls the failure mode of the floating geosynthetic-encased stone column. As the encasement depth increases, the failure mode of the floating geosynthetic-encased stone column gradually transitions from swelling deformation to penetration failure.
Special Issue on Applications of Speech and Language Technologies in Healthcare
Authors: Hernáez-Rioja Inma , Gonzalez-Lopez Jose A. , Christensen Heidi
Published: June 2023

In recent years, the exploration and uptake of digital health technologies have advanced rapidly with a real potential impact to revolutionise healthcare delivery and associated industries [...]
Short Words for Writer Identification Using Neural Networks
Authors: Koukiou Georgia
Published: June 2023

In biometrics, it is desirable to distinguish a person using only a short sample of his handwriting. This problem is treated in the present work using only a short word with three letters. It is shown that short words can contribute to high-performance writer identification if line characteristics are extracted using morphological directional transformations. Thus, directional morphological structuring elements are used as a tool for extracting this kind of information with the morphological opening operation. The line characteristics are organized based on Markov chains so that the elements of the transition matrix are used as feature vectors for identification. The Markov chains describe the alternation in the directional line features along the word. The analysis of the feature space is carried out using the Fisher linear discriminant method. The identification performance is assessed using neural networks, where the simplest neural structures are sought. The capabilities of these simple neural structures are investigated theoretically concerning the achieved separability into the feature space. The identification capabilities of the neural networks are further assessed using the leave-one-out method. It is proved that the neural methods achieve identification performance that approaches 100%. The significance of the proposed method is that it is the only one in the literature that presents high identification performance using only one short word. Furthermore, the features used as well as the classifiers are simple and robust. The method is independent of the language used regardless of the direction of writing. The NIST database is used for extracting short-length words having only three letters each.
Materials and Technique: The First Look at Saturnino Gatti
Authors: Bonizzoni Letizia , Caglio Simone , Galli Anna , Lanteri Luca , Pelosi Claudia
Published: June 2023

As part of the study project of the pictorial cycle, attributed to Saturnino Gatti, in the church of San Panfilo at Villagrande di Tornimparte (AQ), image analyses were performed in order to document the general conservation conditions of the surfaces, and to map the different painting materials to be subsequently examined using spectroscopic techniques. To acquire the images, radiation sources, ranging from ultraviolet to near infrared, were used; analyses of ultraviolet fluorescence (UVF), infrared reflectography (IRR), infrared false colors (IRFC), and optical microscopy in visible light (OM) were carried out on all the panels of the mural painting of the apsidal conch. The Hypercolorimetric Multispectral Imaging (HMI) technique was also applied in selected areas of two panels. Due to the accurate calibration system, this technique is able to obtain high-precision colorimetric and reflectance measurements, which can be repeated for proper surface monitoring. The integrated analysis of the different wavelengths’ images—in particular, the ones processed in false colors—made it possible to distinguish the portions affected by retouching or repainting and to recover the legibility of some figures that showed chromatic alterations of the original pictorial layers. The IR reflectography, in addition to highlighting the portions that lost materials and were subject to non-original interventions, emphasized the presence of the underdrawing, which was detected using the spolvero technique. UVF photography led to a preliminary mapping of the organic and inorganic materials that exhibited characteristic induced fluorescence, such as a binder in correspondence with the original azurite painting or the wide use of white zinc in the retouched areas. The collected data made it possible to form a better iconographic interpretation. Moreover, it also enabled us to accurately select the areas to be investigated using spectroscopic analyses, both in situ and on micro-samples, in order to deepen our knowledge of the techniques used by the artist to create the original painting, and to detect subsequent interventions.
Analysis of Sealing Characteristics of Lip Seal Rings for Deep-Sea Separable Pressure Vessels
Authors: Liu Xuepeng , He Shiping , Zheng Jianhua
Published: June 2023

Deep-sea pressure vessels are specialized pressure vessels designed for automatic deployment from underwater to the surface. These vessels find extensive applications in underwater life-saving and transportation. Their interiors are furnished with a pair of sealing rings, one of which is lip-shaped, and the other is a convex shape, to ensure a dependable seal. With increasing water depth, the sealing rings experience augmented pressure, resulting in a gradual pressing of the rings into the sealing groove. Using ANSYS workbench finite element software, a two-dimensional axisymmetric lip seal finite element model using forces for overall constraint was established, the complete process of progressive pressing into the sealing groove was simulated, and the deformation, contact stress, maximum shear stress, and von Mises stress distribution was also simulated. We also conducted a comparative analysis of lip seals under low and high-water pressure sealing conditions. The findings of the study indicate that when subjected to a combined effect of the installation pre-tightening force and the working water pressure, the lip seal experiences complete compression into the sealing groove at a specific water depth. When subjected to the simultaneous influence of water pressure on the sealing ring material and friction force on the contact surface, two extremes of contact stress manifest in the primary sealing zone of the lip seal. These extremes have the capacity to elevate the contact stress and the effective sealing width, ultimately leading to an improvement in the sealing performance. Concurrently, as the water pressure gradually increases, the inner concave circle of the sealing ring experiences stretching, leading to a reduction in stress concentration, equivalent stress, and shear stress to a considerable extent. This mechanism ensures that the lip-shaped sealing ring retains sufficient strength. This study offers a viable solution for conducting sealing studies on deep-sea separable pressure vessels.
Two-Stage Short-Term Power Load Forecasting Based on SSA–VMD and Feature Selection
Authors: Huang Weijian , Song Qi , Huang Yuan
Published: June 2023

Short-term power load forecasting is of great significance for the reliable and safe operation of power systems. In order to improve the accuracy of short-term load forecasting, for the problems of random fluctuation in load and the complexity of load-influencing factors, this paper proposes a two-stage short-term load forecasting method, SSA–VMD-LSTM-MLR-FE (SVLM–FE) based on sparrow search algorithm (SSA), to optimize variational mode decomposition (VMD) and feature engineering (FE). Firstly, an evaluation criterion on the loss of VMD decomposition is proposed, and SSA is used to find the optimal combination of parameters for VMD under this criterion. Secondly, the first stage of forecasting is carried out, and the different components obtained from SSA–VMD are predicted separately, with the high-frequency components input to a long short-term memory network (LSTM) for forecasting and the low-frequency components input to a multiple linear regression model (MLR) for forecasting. Finally, the forecasting values of the components obtained in the first stage are input to the second stage for error correction; factors with a high degree of influence on the load are selected using the Pearson correlation coefficient (PCC) and maximal information coefficient (MIC), and the load value at the moment that has a great influence on the load value at the time to be predicted is selected using autocorrelation function (ACF). The forecasting values of the components are fused with the selected feature values to construct a vector, which is fed into the fully connected layer for forecasting. In this paper, the performance of SVLM–FE is evaluated experimentally on two datasets from two places in China. In Place 1, the RMSE, MAE, and MAPE are 128.169 MW, 102.525 MW, and 1.562%, respectively; in Place 2, the RMSE, MAE, and MAPE are 111.636 MW, 92.291 MW, and 1.426%, respectively. The experimental results show that SVLM–FE has high accuracy and stability.
Effects of Short-Term Sodium Nitrate versus Sodium Chloride Supplementation on Energy and Lipid Metabolism during High-Intensity Intermittent Exercise in Athletes
Authors: Blau Larissa Sarah , Gerber Jan , Finkel Armin , Lützow Moritz , Maassen Norbert , Röhrich Magdalena Aleksandra , Hanff Erik , Tsikas Dimitrios , Shushakov Vladimir , Jantz Mirja
Published: June 2023

The aim of this study was to investigate the possible effects of chronic nitrate supplementation on the metabolites of energy metabolism during high-intensity, high-volume intermittent training (HIHVT). In this placebo-controlled double-blind study, 17 participants exercised 3 times a week on a cycle ergometer. Sodium nitrate or sodium chloride as the placebo was supplemented daily at 8.5 mg/kg body weight for 10 days. The training exercise consisted of a warm-up, a 45-min interval period, and a post-exercise period. Oxygen uptake, respiratory exchange ratio, and various parameters were measured in the venous blood and plasma. During training, the oxygen uptake and respiratory exchange ratio did not differ between the nitrate and the placebo group. Venous plasma concentrations of nitrate and nitrite were significantly increased in the nitrate group (p < 0.001 and p = 0.007, respectively). Triglyceride concentrations were significantly lower in the nitrate group than in the placebo group (p = 0.010). The concentration of free fatty acids in the plasma did not change upon nitrate supplementation and no significant differences were observed in the contribution of fat to energy metabolism during exercise. An increase in plasma ammonia concentration was observed in the nitrate group during and after exercise (p = 0.048). Metabolites of energy-rich phosphates did not differ between the nitrate and chloride groups, suggesting no improvement in efficiency through the supplemented nitrate. It was concluded that nitrate supplementation did not reduce oxygen uptake and adenosine triphosphate resynthesis by hydrolysis or through creatine kinase activity during high-intensity, high-volume intermittent exercise. Although, lipid metabolism as well as amino acid metabolism might be affected by nitrate supplementation during HIHVT.
An Integrated Data-Driven Predictive Resilience Framework for Disaster Evacuation Traffic Management
Authors: Afrin Tanzina , Aragon Lucy G. , Lin Zhibin , Yodo Nita
Published: June 2023

Maintaining smooth traffic during disaster evacuation is a lifesaving step. Traffic resilience is often used to define the ability of a roadway during disaster evacuation to withstand and recover its functionality from disturbances in terms of traffic flow caused by a disaster. However, a high level of variances due to system complexity and inherent uncertainty associated with disaster and evacuation risks poses great challenges in predicting traffic resilience during evacuation. To fill this gap, this study aimed to propose a new integrated data-driven predictive resilience framework that enables incorporating traffic uncertainty factors in determining road traffic conditions and predicting traffic performance using machine learning approaches and various space and time (spatiotemporal) data sources. This study employed an augmented Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM)-based approach with correlated spatiotemporal traffic data to predict traffic conditions, then to map those conditions to traffic resilience levels: daily traffic, segment traffic, and overall route traffic. A case study of Hurricane Irma’s evacuation traffic was used to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed framework. The results indicated that the proposed method could effectively predict traffic conditions and thus help to determine traffic resilience. The data also confirmed that the traffic infrastructures along the US I-75 route remained resilient despite the disturbances during the disaster evacuation activities. The findings of this study suggest that the proposed framework is applicable to other disaster management scenarios to obtain more robust decisions for the emergency response during disaster evacuation.
SFCA: A Scalable Formal Concepts Driven Architecture for Multi-Field Knowledge Graph Completion
Authors: Sun Xiaochun , Wu Chenmou , Yang Shuqun
Published: June 2023

With the proliferation of Knowledge Graphs (KGs), knowledge graph completion (KGC) has attracted much attention. Previous KGC methods focus on extracting shallow structural information from KGs or in combination with external knowledge, especially in commonsense concepts (generally, commonsense concepts refer to the basic concepts in related fields that are required for various tasks and academic research, for example, in the general domain, “Country” can be considered as a commonsense concept owned by “China”), to predict missing links. However, the technology of extracting commonsense concepts from the limited database is immature, and the scarce commonsense database is also bound to specific verticals (commonsense concepts vary greatly across verticals, verticals refer to a small field subdivided vertically under a large field). Furthermore, most existing KGC models refine performance on public KGs, leading to inapplicability to actual KGs. To address these limitations, we proposed a novel Scalable Formal Concept-driven Architecture (SFCA) to automatically encode factual triples into formal concepts as a superior structural feature, to support rich information to KGE. Specifically, we generate dense formal concepts first, then yield a handful of entity-related formal concepts by sampling and delimiting the appropriate candidate entity range via the filtered formal concepts to improve the inference of KGC. Compared with commonsense concepts, KGC benefits from more valuable information from the formal concepts, and our self-supervision extraction method can be applied to any KGs. Comprehensive experiments on five public datasets demonstrate the effectiveness and scalability of SFCA. Besides, the proposed architecture also achieves the SOTA performance on the industry dataset. This method provides a new idea in the promotion and application of knowledge graphs in AI downstream tasks in general and industrial fields.
Non-Surgical Lower-Limb Rehabilitation Enhances Quadriceps Strength in Inpatients with Hip Fracture: A Study on Force Capacity and Fatigue
Authors: Scano Alessandro , Re Rebecca , Tomba Alessandro , Amata Oriana , Pirovano Ileana , Brambilla Cristina , Contini Davide , Spinelli Lorenzo , Amendola Caterina , Caserta Antonello Valerio , Cubeddu Rinaldo , Panella Lorenzo , Torricelli Alessandro
Published: June 2023

Measuring muscle fatigue and resistance to fatigue is a topical theme in many clinical research studies. Multi-domain approaches, including electromyography (EMG), are employed to measure fatigue in rehabilitation contexts. In particular, spectral features, such as the reduction in the median frequency, are accepted biomarkers to detect muscle fatigue conditions. However, applications of fatigue detection in clinical scenarios are still limited and with margin for improvement. One of the potential applications of such methodology in clinics concerns the evaluation of the rehabilitation after hip fracture. In this work, 20 inpatients, in the acute phase after hip fracture surgery and with lower limb weakness, performed isometric contractions with their healthy lower limb (quadriceps muscle) and their resistance to fatigue before and after 2 weeks of rehabilitation program was measured. Multi-channel EMG and Maximum Voluntary Contractions (MVC, force) were recorded on five muscle heads. We found that, after performing the same number of repetitions (repetitions pre-treatment: 19.7 ± 1.34; repetitions post-treatment: 19.9 ± 0.36; p = 0.223), MVC improved (MVC pre-treatment: 278 ± 112 N; MVC post-treatment: 322 ± 88 N; p = 0.015) after rehabilitation for most of the patients and fatigue did not change. These results suggest that higher force exertion was performed after rehabilitation, with the same level of fatigue (fatigued muscles pre-treatment: 1.40 ± 1.70; fatigued muscles post-treatment: 1.15 ± 1.59; p = 0.175) after. Results are discussed addressing the potential of multifactorial instrumental assessments for describing patients’ status and provide data for clinical decision making.
Influence of Waste Filler on the Mechanical Properties and Microstructure of Epoxy Mortar
Authors: Rahman Masood Ur , Li Jing
Published: June 2023

This paper presents experimental investigations on epoxy mortar produced using industrial wastes. In some recent studies, coal bottom ash and polyethylene terephthalate (PET) waste have been chosen as a filler to replace sand, and fly ash and silica fume have been chosen as micro fillers for epoxy mortar production; enhanced results in terms of compressive and tensile strengths and durability have been achieved. However, these approaches failed to boost the strength and durability compared to the epoxy steel slag, epoxy sand, epoxy marble dust, and epoxy polyvinyl chloride (PVC) waste. This present research work has investigated the influence of waste filler on the mechanical properties and microstructure of epoxy mortar, produced by using sand and industrial wastes, i.e., steel slag, marble dust, and polyvinyl chloride waste. Based on the composition ratio, the prepared samples of epoxy resin mortar containing 25% epoxy binder (epoxy resin plus epoxy hardener) and 75% filler (1:3) were compared to the cement mortar. However, each specimen of epoxy resin mortar was prepared by mixing with different fillers. The properties such as compressive strength, tensile strength, and microstructural changes were measured using different characterization techniques including X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared radiation spectroscopy (FTIR), and scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDX). From the obtained results, it was found that the strength of the specimens increases when blended with steel slag and marble dust, which is attributed to their peak densities and enhanced particle interactions. The XRD, SEM, FTIR, and SEM-EDX analyses showed the formation of calcium, magnesium, and other phases in the microstructure of epoxy resin-based mortars. This resulted in lower water absorption and porosity, as well as improvements in both compressive and tensile strengths. This research can help in understanding the important role of different industrial wastes as feasible fillers in epoxy resin-based composites.
Effects of the Addition of Pecan Nuts on the Nutritional Properties and Final Quality of Merino Lamb Burgers
Authors: Martín-Mateos María Jesús , León Lucía , Ortiz Alberto , Tejerina David , Barraso Carmen , López-Parra María Montaña , Curbelo Palmira , García-Torres Susana
Published: June 2023

This paper attempts to analyse lamb burgers from meat cuts of lower commercial value to which various amounts of freeze-dried pecan nuts (5%, 10% and 15%) were added to study the influence of the addition of pecans on the quality of the burger. One hundred eight burgers were evaluated by means of physicochemical, sensory and microbiological analyses. The addition of pecan nuts mainly affected the meat’s fatty acid profile. Fat content was higher as the amount of pecan nuts was increased, and the monounsaturated fatty acid (MUFA) and polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) levels also increased (p < 0.001), whereas the saturated fatty acid content decreased (p < 0.001). Pecan nuts also proved able to increase the antioxidant capacity of the product, significantly reducing the oxidation values of lipids (p < 0.001) and proteins (p < 0.05). In general, no significant differences were identified in the sensory attributes under study. In conclusion, we found that the use of pecan nuts improves the nutritional content of the hamburgers without negatively affecting the technological or sensory properties.
The “Perfect” Warehouse: How Third-Party Logistics Providers Evaluate Warehouse Features and Their Performance
Authors: Baglio Martina , Creazza Alessandro , Dallari Fabrizio
Published: June 2023

The recent trends in logistics outsourcing have led to the need to investigate the 3PL (third-party logistics) industry better. However, the attention has always been focused on operative performance, and the role of the warehouse has been skimmed over. This research aims to define the relationship between warehouse features and the performance indicators of 3PLs, filling the literature gap. This research provides insight into 3PLs’ way of thinking, helping 3PLs identify the right warehouse features to improve their performance and providing guidance for real estate companies in designing warehouses meeting 3PLs’ needs. The analysis uses a case study approach, carried out by interviewing 3PLs that provided data coded according to the dimensions of the Kano model. This methodology was used to generate an in-depth understanding of how 3PLs evaluate the different warehouse features that are able to drive their performance. The “perfect warehouse” is placed in an accessible location; it has loading bays, a standard layout, and a height suitable to optimize the flow of goods, and it utilises the spaces to make the service flexible and responsive. In addition, the warehouse should have internal areas, such as mezzanines, to deliver value-added services.
Experimental Assessment of Correlative Approaches for the Prediction of Leakage Flow through Labyrinth Seals
Authors: Castelli Niccolò , Bacci Tommaso , Picchi Alessio , Winchler Lorenzo , Facchini Bruno
Published: June 2023

Simple analytical models can be employed to estimate the leakage mass flow rate from labyrinth seals, resulting in a quick procedure, well suited for the early design process. Different formulas were proposed by many authors during the past decades and most of them employ a carry-over factor and a flow coefficient to predict the mass flow rate across the clearance area. The present work aims to compare the analytical prediction with the results of an experimental campaign. The experimental results were retrieved from a dedicated test rig for both a straight-through and a stepped labyrinth seal. Hence, for each seal, the effect of the clearance size, the Reynolds number and the pressure ratio has been investigated. Starting from the experimental required inputs, six different correlations are considered, with both direct and indirect methods. The results are shown as a function of pressure ratio and clearance gap. Despite some differences in the comparison, and most of the used correlation underestimate the measured mass flow rate, some general trends and guidelines can be highlighted.
Applying the Action Principle of Classical Mechanics to the Thermodynamics of the Troposphere
Authors: Kennedy Ivan R. , Hodzic Migdat
Published: June 2023

Advances in applied mechanics have facilitated a better understanding of the recycling of heat and work in the troposphere. This goal is important to meet practical needs for better management of climate science. Achieving this objective may require the application of quantum principles in action mechanics, recently employed to analyze the reversible thermodynamics of Carnot’s heat engine cycle. The testable proposals suggested here seek to solve several problems including (i) the phenomena of decreasing temperature and molecular entropy but increasing Gibbs energy with altitude in the troposphere; (ii) a reversible system storing thermal energy to drive vortical wind flow in anticyclones while frictionally warming the Earth’s surface by heat release from turbulence; (iii) vortical generation of electrical power from translational momentum in airflow in wind farms; and (iv) vortical energy in the destructive power of tropical cyclones. The scalar property of molecular action (@t ≡ ∫mvds, J-sec) is used to show how equilibrium temperatures are achieved from statistical equality of mechanical torques (mv2 or mr2ω2); these are exerted by Gibbs field quanta for each kind of gas phase molecule as rates of translational action (d@t/dt ≡ ∫mr2ωdϕ/dt ≡ mv2). These torques result from the impulsive density of resonant quantum or Gibbs fields with molecules, configuring the trajectories of gas molecules while balancing molecular pressure against the density of field energy (J/m3). Gibbs energy fields contain no resonant quanta at zero Kelvin, with this chemical potential diminishing in magnitude as the translational action of vapor molecules and quantum field energy content increases with temperature. These cases distinguish symmetrically between causal fields of impulsive quanta (Σhν) that energize the action of matter and the resultant kinetic torques of molecular mechanics (mv2). The quanta of these different fields display mean wavelengths from 10−4 m to 1012 m, with radial mechanical advantages many orders of magnitude greater than the corresponding translational actions, though with mean quantum frequencies (v) similar to those of radial Brownian movement for independent particles (ω). Widespread neglect of the Gibbs field energy component of natural systems may be preventing advances in tropospheric mechanics. A better understanding of these vortical Gibbs energy fields as thermodynamically reversible reservoirs for heat can help optimize work processes on Earth, delaying the achievement of maximum entropy production from short-wave solar radiation being converted to outgoing long-wave radiation to space. This understanding may improve strategies for management of global changes in climate.
Editorial of the Special Issue “General Relativistic Atomic Structure Program—GRASP”
Authors: Bieroń Jacek , Fischer Charlotte Froese , Jönsson Per
Published: June 2023

The year 2022 marked the 10th anniversary not only of the ATOMS journal but also of the international collaboration on Computational Atomic Structure [...]
Modeling Anisotropic Transport in Polycrystalline Battery Materials
Authors: Daubner Simon , Weichel Marcel , Hoffrogge Paul W. , Schneider Daniel , Nestler Britta
Published: June 2023

Hierarchical structures of many agglomerated primary crystals are often employed as cathode materials, especially for layered-oxide compounds. The anisotropic nature of these materials results in a strong correlation between particle morphology and ion transport. In this work, we present a multiphase-field framework that is able to account for strongly anisotropic diffusion in polycrystalline materials. Various secondary particle structures with random grain orientation as well as strongly textured samples are investigated. The observed ion distributions match well with the experimental observations. Furthermore, we show how these simulations can be used to mimic potentiostatic intermittent titration technique (PITT) measurements and compute effective diffusion coefficients for secondary particles. The results unravel the intrinsic relation between particle microstructure and the apparent diffusivity. Consequently, the modeling framework can be employed to guide the microstructure design of secondary battery particles. Furthermore, the phase-field method closes the gap between computation of diffusivities on the atomistic scale and the effective properties of secondary particles, which are a necessary input for Newman-type cell models.
A Nickel-Based Coordination Compound with Tunable Morphology for High-Performance Anode and the Lithium Storage Mechanism
Authors: Lu Yifei , Wang Lei , Lou Zhenzhu , Wang Leilei , Zhao Yi , Sun Weiwei , Lv Liping , Wang Yong , Chen Shuangqiang
Published: June 2023

Metal-organic coordination compounds (MCCs) have received a lot of attention as anodes for lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) due to their abundant structural configuration, tunable morphology, high surface area, and low cost, but the lithium storage mechanism of MCCs is still a mystery. Herein, we synthesized a kind of nickel-based coordination compound (marked as Ni-PP-x, x = 1, 2, or 3) with tunable morphologies and different solvent ratios via a microwave irradiation solvothermal method and then applied them as anodes for LIBs. Among them, the Ni-PP-2 electrode, with a hollow and urchin-like structure, showed the longest lifespan and maintained a high capacity of 713 mAh g−1 at 2.0 A g−1 after 800 cycles. Measured by ex situ X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and ex situ Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), the Ni-PP-2 electrode was confirmed by a redox reaction mechanism of Li+ cations with a benzene ring and O-Ni2+/O-Ni0 coordination bonds, and the cyclic voltammetry curves have exhibited a capacitive dominated lithium storage behavior. This work provides a new type of Ni-based coordination compound and an in-depth understanding of their lithium storage mechanism, paving the way for the application of MCC compounds in the future.
The Interplay between Dysregulated Metabolism and Epigenetics in Cancer
Authors: Bassal Mahmoud Adel
Published: June 2023

Cellular metabolism (or energetics) and epigenetics are tightly coupled cellular processes. It is arguable that of all the described cancer hallmarks, dysregulated cellular energetics and epigenetics are the most tightly coregulated. Cellular metabolic states regulate and drive epigenetic changes while also being capable of influencing, if not driving, epigenetic reprogramming. Conversely, epigenetic changes can drive altered and compensatory metabolic states. Cancer cells meticulously modify and control each of these two linked cellular processes in order to maintain their tumorigenic potential and capacity. This review aims to explore the interplay between these two processes and discuss how each affects the other, driving and enhancing tumorigenic states in certain contexts.
Fibroblasts—Warriors at the Intersection of Wound Healing and Disrepair
Authors: Roman Jesse
Published: June 2023

Wound healing is triggered by inflammation elicited after tissue injury. Mesenchymal cells, specifically fibroblasts, accumulate in the injured tissues, where they engage in tissue repair through the expression and assembly of extracellular matrices that provide a scaffold for cell adhesion, the re-epithelialization of tissues, the production of soluble bioactive mediators that promote cellular recruitment and differentiation, and the regulation of immune responses. If appropriately deployed, these processes promote adaptive repair, resulting in the preservation of the tissue structure and function. Conversely, the dysregulation of these processes leads to maladaptive repair or disrepair, which causes tissue destruction and a loss of organ function. Thus, fibroblasts not only serve as structural cells that maintain tissue integrity, but are key effector cells in the process of wound healing. The review will discuss the general concepts about the origins and heterogeneity of this cell population and highlight the specific fibroblast functions disrupted in human disease. Finally, the review will explore the role of fibroblasts in tissue disrepair, with special attention to the lung, the role of aging, and how alterations in the fibroblast phenotype underpin disorders characterized by pulmonary fibrosis.