bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Enhanced Effects of Chronic Restraint-Induced Psychological Stress on Total Body Fe-Irradiation-Induced Hematopoietic Toxicity in Trp53-Heterozygous Mice
Authors: Wang Bing , Katsube Takanori , Tanaka Kaoru , Ninomiya Yasuharu , Hirakawa Hirokazu , Liu Cuihua , Maruyama Kouichi , Varès Guillaume , Kito Seiji , Nakajima Tetsuo , Fujimori Akira , Nenoi Mitsuru
Published: April 2022

Humans are exposed to both psychological stress (PS) and radiation in some scenarios such as manned deep-space missions. It is of great concern to verify possible enhanced deleterious effects from such concurrent exposure. Pioneer studies showed that chronic restraint-induced PS (CRIPS) could attenuate Trp53 functions and increase gamma-ray-induced carcinogenesis in Trp53-heterozygous mice while CRIPS did not significantly modify the effects on X-ray-induced hematopoietic toxicity in Trp53 wild-type mice. As high-linear energy transfer (LET) radiation is the most important component of space radiation in causing biological effects, we further investigated the effects of CRIPS on high-LET iron-particle radiation (Fe)-induced hematopoietic toxicity in Trp53-heterozygous mice. The results showed that CRIPS alone could hardly induce significant alteration in hematological parameters (peripheral hemogram and micronucleated erythrocytes in bone marrow) while concurrent exposure caused elevated genotoxicity measured as micronucleus incidence in erythrocytes. Particularly, exposure to either CRISP or Fe-particle radiation at a low dose (0.1 Gy) did not induce a marked increase in the micronucleus incidence; however, concurrent exposure caused a significantly higher increase in the micronucleus incidence. These findings indicated that CRIPS could enhance the deleterious effects of high-LET radiation, particularly at a low dose, on the hematopoietic toxicity in Trp53-heterozygous mice.
Compassionate Treatment of Brainstem Tumors with Boron Neutron Capture Therapy: A Case Series
Authors: Chen Yi-Wei , Lee Yi-Yen , Lin Chun-Fu , Huang Ting-Yu , Ke Shih-Hung , Mu Pei-Fan , Pan Po-Shen , Chen Jen-Kun , Lan Tien-Li , Hsu Ping-Chuan , Liang Muh-Lii , Chen Hsin-Hung , Chang Feng-Chi , Wu Chih-Chun , Lin Shih-Chieh , Lee Jia-Cheng , Chen Shih-Kuan , Liu Hong-Ming , Peir Jinn-Jer , Tsai Hui-Yu , Lin Ko-Han , Peng Nan-Jing , Chen Kuan-Hsuan , Wu Yuan-Hung , Kang Yu-Mei , Yang Wan-Chin , Liou Shueh-Chun , Huang Wei-Hsuan , Tanaka Hiroki , Wong Tai-Tong , Chao Yee , Chou Fong-In
Published: April 2022

Brainstem tumors are heterogenous and cancerous glioma tumors arising from the midbrain, pons, and the medulla that are relatively common in children, accounting for 10% to 20% of all pediatric brain tumors. However, the prognosis of aggressive brainstem gliomas remains extremely poor despite aggressive treatment with chemotherapy and radiotherapy. That means there are many life-threatening patients who have exhausted all available treatment options and are beginning to face end-of-life stage. Therefore, the unique properties of highly selective heavy particle irradiation with boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT) may be well suited to prolong the lives of patients with end-stage brainstem gliomas. Herein, we report a case series of life-threatening patients with end-stage brainstem glioma who eligible for Emergency and Compassionate Use, in whom we performed a scheduled two fractions of salvage BNCT strategy with low treatment dosage each time. No patients experienced acute or late adverse events related to BNCT. There were 3 patients who relapsed after two fractionated BNCT treatment, characterized by younger age, lower T/N ratio, and receiving lower treatment dose. Therefore, two fractionated low-dose BNCT may be a promising treatment for end-stage brainstem tumors. For younger patients with low T/N ratios, more fractionated low-dose BNCT should be considered.
Thermodynamic and Kinetic Sequence Selection in Enzyme-Free Polymer Self-Assembly inside a Non-equilibrium RNA Reactor
Authors: Göppel Tobias , Rosenberger Joachim H. , Altaner Bernhard , Gerland Ulrich
Published: April 2022

The RNA world is one of the principal hypotheses to explain the emergence of living systems on the prebiotic Earth. It posits that RNA oligonucleotides acted as both carriers of information as well as catalytic molecules, promoting their own replication. However, it does not explain the origin of the catalytic RNA molecules. How could the transition from a pre-RNA to an RNA world occur? A starting point to answer this question is to analyze the dynamics in sequence space on the lowest level, where mononucleotide and short oligonucleotides come together and collectively evolve into larger molecules. To this end, we study the sequence-dependent self-assembly of polymers from a random initial pool of short building blocks via templated ligation. Templated ligation requires two strands that are hybridized adjacently on a third strand. The thermodynamic stability of such a configuration crucially depends on the sequence context and, therefore, significantly influences the ligation probability. However, the sequence context also has a kinetic effect, since non-complementary nucleotide pairs in the vicinity of the ligation site stall the ligation reaction. These sequence-dependent thermodynamic and kinetic effects are explicitly included in our stochastic model. Using this model, we investigate the system-level dynamics inside a non-equilibrium ‘RNA reactor’ enabling a fast chemical activation of the termini of interacting oligomers. Moreover, the RNA reactor subjects the oligomer pool to periodic temperature changes inducing the reshuffling of the system. The binding stability of strands typically grows with the number of complementary nucleotides forming the hybridization site. While shorter strands unbind spontaneously during the cold phase, larger complexes only disassemble during the temperature peaks. Inside the RNA reactor, strand growth is balanced by cleavage via hydrolysis, such that the oligomer pool eventually reaches a non-equilibrium stationary state characterized by its length and sequence distribution. How do motif-dependent energy and stalling parameters affect the sequence composition of the pool of long strands? As a critical factor for self-enhancing sequence selection, we identify kinetic stalling due to non-complementary base pairs at the ligation site. Kinetic stalling enables cascades of self-amplification that result in a strong reduction of occupied states in sequence space. Moreover, we discuss the significance of the symmetry breaking for the transition from a pre-RNA to an RNA world.
Experimental and Computational Studies of Compression and Deformation Behavior of Hafnium Diboride to 208 GPa
Authors: Burrage Kaleb , Lin Chia-Min , Chen Cheng-Chien , Vohra Yogesh K.
Published: April 2022

The compression behavior of the hexagonal AlB2 phase of Hafnium Diboride (HfB2) was studied in a diamond anvil cell to a pressure of 208 GPa by axial X-ray diffraction employing platinum as an internal pressure standard. The deformation behavior of HfB2 was studied by radial X-ray diffraction technique to 50 GPa, which allows for measurement of maximum differential stress or compressive yield strength at high pressures. The hydrostatic compression curve deduced from radial X-ray diffraction measurements yielded an ambient-pressure volume V0 = 29.73 Å3/atom and a bulk modulus K0 = 282 GPa. Density functional theory calculations showed ambient-pressure volume V0 = 29.84 Å3/atom and bulk modulus K0 = 262 GPa, which are in good agreement with the hydrostatic experimental values. The measured compressive yield strength approaches 3% of the shear modulus at a pressure of 50 GPa. The theoretical strain-stress calculation shows a maximum shear stress τmax~39 GPa along the (1−10) [110] direction of the hexagonal lattice of HfB2, which thereby can be an incompressible high strength material for extreme-environment applications.
Effects of Fiber Orientation on the Coefficient of Thermal Expansion of Fiber-Filled Polymer Systems in Large Format Polymer Extrusion-Based Additive Manufacturing
Authors: Colón Quintana José Luis , Slattery Lucinda , Pinkham Jon , Keaton Joanna , Lopez-Anido Roberto A. , Sharp Keith
Published: April 2022

Large format polymer extrusion-based additive manufacturing has been studied recently due to its capacity for high throughput, customizable bead size and geometry, and ability to manufacture large parts. Samples from three fiber-filled amorphous thermoplastic materials 3D printed using a Masterprint 3X machine from Ingersoll Machine Tools were studied, along with their neat counterparts. Characterization techniques included thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and thermo-mechanical analysis (TMA). TGA results showed that the fillers decreased the degradation temperature for most of the materials investigated, with a 30 °C decrease for polycarbonate (PC) and a 12 °C decrease for polyethylene terephthalate glycol (PETG). For all the materials used, heat capacity increases with increasing temperature. Moreover, results show that a highly conductive filler increases the heat capacity. In contrast, a material with a lower conductivity decreases the heat capacity indicated in the 15.2% and 2.54% increase for acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) and PC and a 27.68% decrease for PETG. The TMA data show that the printed bead exhibits directional properties consistent with an orthotropic material. Smaller strains and coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) were measured along the bead direction and across the bead compared to the through bead thickness showing that fillers are predominantly oriented in the bead direction, which is consistent with the literature. CTE values through bead thickness and neat material are similar in magnitude, which corresponds to the CTE of the matrix material. The experimental results serve to characterize the effect of fiber filler on the part thermal strains in three principal directions and two-part locations during the extrusion and bead deposition of large-format polymer extrusion-based additive manufacturing technologies.
Influence of Modified Epoxy Dian Resin on Properties of Nitrile-Butadiene Rubber (NBR)
Authors: Chudzik Joanna , Bieliński Dariusz M. , Demchuk Yuriy , Bratychak Michael , Astakhova Olena
Published: April 2022

Due to the increasingly higher requirements for rubber vulcanizates, following the example of previous research on the effect of resin addition on mechanical properties and adhesion of rubbers, the following studies investigated the relationship between the addition of adipic acid-modified epoxy dian resin (ED-24 AK) to butadiene-acrylonitrile rubber (NBR). It can be seen that the addition of ED-24 AK, compared to the reference additive ED-20 (Epidian 5), additionally increase crosslinking density of the system, changes its mechanical and tribological properties, and exerts a positive effect on adhesion of the rubber vulcanizates to glass fiber. ED-20 and ED-24 AK resins do not enter the structure of the vulcanized rubber but act as the additives. ED-20 acts without changes in its structure, and ED-24 AK is a partially crosslinked additive. Modification, especially with ED-24 AK, makes mechanical strength of NBR increased even up to 240% in comparison to virgin rubber vulcanizate. This is responsible for lower friction of the vulcanizates. The decrease in the friction force of NBR due to the modified dian resin addition can reach up to 40%. Adhesion of the modified NBR to glass fibers increases due to its modification with the epoxy resins, however this time the ED-24 is more efficient than ED-24 AK reaching ca. 50% increase comparing to ca. 20% improvement, respectively. The best performance of the resins Generally, the best modification results were obtained when the addition of resins did not exceed 5 phr.
Enhanced Mechanical and Durability Properties of Cement Mortar by Using Alumina Nanocoating on Carbon Nanofibers
Authors: Al Qader Huda , Jasim Ahmed M. , Salim Hani , Xing Yangchuan , Stalla David
Published: April 2022

This study evaluated the effect of carbon nanofibers (CNFs) coated by aluminum oxide Al2O3 as a reinforcement on compressive strength, frost resistance, and drying shrinkage of cement mortars. Three weight ratios of 0.125%, 0.25%, and 0.5% of Al2O3/CNFs and bare CNF cement mortars were compared with reference cement mortar samples. The reactive porous and high surface area layer of alumina induced the hydration reaction and promoted the production of well-distributed hydration gel. Derivative thermal analysis–differential thermogravimetric (TGA-DTG) and X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) characterization showed that Al2O3/CNFs reinforcement led to greater hydration gel production than bare CNFs. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were performed to study the coating and microstructure of the cement mortars evaluated in this paper. The results show that the optimum enhancement of the cement mortar properties was obtained at ratios of 0.125% for Al2O3/CNFs and 0.25% for CNFs. This enhancement was greater with Al2O3/CNFs-reinforced specimens in terms of high compressive strength, less compressive strength degradation after 150 cycles, and less drying shrinkage. The low use of the CNFs in Al2O3/CNFs samples indicates the coating is an economical and promising approach for improving the performance of cement mortars.
Langmuir Probe Perturbations during In Situ Monitoring of Pulsed Laser Deposition Plasmas
Authors: Irimiciuc Ștefan-Andrei , Chertopalov Sergii , Novotný Michal , Craciun Valentin , Lancok Jan , Agop Maricel
Published: April 2022

The recent advancements in pulsed laser deposition (PLD) control via plasma diagnostics techniques have been positive and raised questions on the limitation of some techniques, such as the Langmuir probe (LP). The particularities of laser-produced plasma can lead to incorrect interpretation of collected electrical signal. In this paper, we explored the limitations of LP as a technique for in situ PLD control by performing investigations on several metallic plasmas, expanding in various Ar atmosphere conditions. Sub-microsecond modulation was seen in the reconstructed IV characteristics attributed to non-equilibrium dynamics of the ejected charges. A perturbative regime was recorded for Ar pressures higher than 2 Pa, where ionic bursts were observed in the electron saturation region. This perturbation was identified as a plasma fireball. A non-linear multifractal model was developed here to explore these new regimes of the LP. The strange attractors characterizing each fireball were reconstructed, and their evolution with the Ar pressure is discussed. Both short- and long-time non-linear behavior were correlated via probe bias, and the pressure effect on the strange attractor’s defining the fireball-like behavior was investigated. A good correlation was noticed between the simulated data and experimental findings.
Smart Graphite–Cement Composites with Low Percolation Threshold
Authors: Frąc Maksymilian , Szołdra Paulina , Pichór Waldemar
Published: April 2022

The objective of this work was to obtain cement composites with low percolation thresholds, which would reduce the cost of graphite and maintain good mechanical properties. For this purpose, exfoliated graphite was used as a conductive additive, which was obtained by exfoliating the expanded graphite via ultrasonic irradiation in a water bath with surfactant. To obtain evenly distributed graphite particles, the exfoliated graphite was incorporated with the remaining surfactant into the matrix. This study is limited to investigating the influence of exfoliated graphite on the electrical and mechanical properties of cement mortars. The electrical conductivity of the composites was investigated to determine the percolation threshold. The flexural and compressive strength was tested to assess the mechanical properties. In terms of the practical applications of these composites, the piezoresistive, temperature–resistivity, and thermoelectric properties were studied. The results showed that the incorporation of exfoliated graphite with surfactant is an effective way to obtain a composite with a percolation threshold as low as 0.96% (total volume of the composite). In addition, the mechanical properties of the composites are satisfactory for practical application. These composites also have good properties in terms of practical applications. As a result, the exfoliated graphite used can significantly facilitate the practical use of smart composites.
Bobbin Tool Friction Stir Welding of Aluminum: Parameters Optimization Using Taguchi Experimental Design
Authors: Ahmed Mohamed M. Z. , Touileb Kamel , El-Sayed Seleman Mohamed M. , Albaijan Ibrahim , Habba Mohamed I. A.
Published: April 2022

This work aims to optimize the performance evaluation characteristics such as the temperature at the weld center of the lap joint (Tw), the tensile shear load (TSL), and the hardness using an experimental design experiment for bobbin tool friction stir welding (BT-FSW) of AA1050 lap joints. BT-FSW is characterized by a fully penetrated pin and double-sided shoulder that promote symmetrical solid-state welds. This study contributes to improving the quality of 10 mm thick lap joints and addressing challenges to obtaining a sound weld deprived of any defects. Taguchi L9 orthogonal array (OA) experimental design was performed. Three different pin shapes (cylindrical, triangular, and square) and three levels of welding travel speeds of 200, 400, and 600 mm/min were selected as input controllable process parameters at a constant tool rotation speed of 600 rpm. A travel speed of 200 mm/min with square pin geometry significantly improves the TSL of the joint up to 6491 N. However, the hardness characteristic is optimized by using 600 mm/min travel speed and a cylindrical tool pin. The minimum temperature in the weld joint can be obtained using 600 mm/min or more with triangular pin geometry. From ANOVA results, it was seen that the BT-FSW of AA 1050 thick lap joints performance in terms of TLS and Tw were greatly influenced by travel speed; however, the tool shape influences the hardness more. For the validation of the models, BT-FSW experiments have been carried out for AA1050 using the applied processing parameters. Furthermore, regression models were developed to predict the Tw, TSL, and hardness. The calculated performance properties from the mathematical models were in an acceptable range compared to the measured experimental values.
Microstructure, Mechanical and Tribological Properties of Si3N4/Mo-Laminated Composites
Authors: Li Huaqiang , Chen Wei , Zhao Ziqiang , Wang Zhaoxun , Zhang Chen , Gao Jinghui , Zhong Lisheng
Published: April 2022

(1) Background: the applications of ceramic materials in a friction pair and a moving pair are limited, just because of their poor toughness and unsatisfactory tribological characteristics. In view of this, Mo as a soft metal layer was added into a Si3N4 matrix to improve its toughness and tribological characteristics. (2) Methods: The microstructure and metal/ceramic transition layer were examined using X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscope, electron dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, and Vickers hardness. Bending strength and fracture toughness were also measured. Tribological characteristics were obtained on the pin-on-disc wear tester. (3) Results: It can be found that the multilayer structure could improve the fracture toughness of laminated composite compared with single-phase Si3N4, but the bending strength was significantly reduced. Through microstructure observation, the transition layer of Si3N4/Mo-laminated composite was revealed as follows: Si3N4→MoSi2→Mo5Si3→Mo3Si→Mo. Moreover, the addition of the Mo interface to silicon nitride ceramic could not significantly improve the tribological properties of Si3N4 ceramic against titanium alloy in seawater, and the friction coefficients and wear rates of the sliding pairs increased with the increase in load. (4) Conclusions: The process failed to simultaneously improve the comprehensive mechanical properties and tribological performance of Si3N4 ceramic by adding Mo as the soft interfacial layer. However, the utilization of metal interfacial layers to enhance the toughness of ceramics was further recognized and has potential significance for the optimization of ceramic formulation.
Road Pavement Thickness and Construction Depth Optimization Using Treated and Untreated Artificially-Synthesized Expansive Road Subgrade Materials with Varying Plasticity Index
Authors: Amakye Samuel Y. O. , Abbey Samuel J. , Booth Colin A. , Oti Jonathan
Published: April 2022

Road pavement thickness and their depth of construction take a chunk of the overall cost of road construction. This has called for a need for reduced road pavement thickness by improving the engineering properties of subgrade such as the California bearing ratio (CBR). The CBR of road subgrade has been a major determining factor for road pavement thickness, and expansive subgrades generally have a low CBR, resulting in major road defects. In this study, road pavement thickness and construction depth optimization were conducted using the CBR values achieved in this study. Additives proportions of 8% lime and 20% cement were used in expansive subgrade to improve their engineering properties, making them suitable for use in road construction. The study investigated the characteristics, mineral structure, Atterberg limit, compaction, CBR, swell and microstructural properties of expansive subgrade. The results show a reduction in road pavement thickness and a construction depth with an increase in CBR value. All CBR values for treated samples were above 2%, making them usable in road construction. A reduction in swell potential up to 0.04% was observed for treated expansive subgrade. The study concluded that pavement thickness and construction depth can be reduced by enhancing subgrade materials and using cement and lime as binders.
Consideration of Critical Parameters for Improving the Efficiency of Concrete Structures Reinforced with FRP
Authors: Ostrowski Krzysztof Adam , Chastre Carlos , Furtak Kazimierz , Malazdrewicz Seweryn
Published: April 2022

Fibre-reinforced polymer materials (FRP) are increasingly used to reinforce structural elements. Due to this, it is possible to increase the load-bearing capacity of polymer, wooden, concrete, and metal structures. In this article, the authors collected all the crucial aspects that influence the behaviour of concrete elements reinforced with FRP. The main types of FRP, their characterization, and their impact on the load-carrying capacity of a composite structure are discussed. The most significant aspects, such as type, number of FRP layers including fibre orientation, type of matrix, reinforcement of concrete columns, preparation of a concrete surface, fire-resistance aspects, recommended conditions for the lamination process, FRP laying methods, and design aspects were considered. Attention and special emphasis were focused on the description of the current research results related to various types of concrete reinforced with FRP composites. To understand which aspects should be taken into account when designing concrete reinforcement with composite materials, the main guidelines are presented in tabular form.
Study on Influencing Factors of Phase Transition Hysteresis in the Phase Change Energy Storage
Authors: Lu Dingyu , Xu Xiaofeng , Zhang Xuelai , Xie Wenhao , Gao Yintao
Published: April 2022

Phase change energy storage is a new type of energy storage technology that can improve energy utilization and achieve high efficiency and energy savings. Phase change hysteresis affects the utilization effect of phase change energy storage, and the influencing factors are unknown. In this paper, a low-temperature eutectic phase change material, CaCl2·6H2O-MgCl2·6H2O, was selected as the research object, combined with the mechanism of phase change hysteresis characteristics, using a temperature acquisition instrument to draw the step cooling curve. A differential scanning calorimeter was used to measure the DSC (differential scanning calorimetry) curve, and the hysteresis characteristics of phase transformation were studied by factors, such as heat storage temperature, cooling temperature, and cooling rate. The experimental results show that when heating temperature increases by 30 °C, phase transition hysteresis decreases by about 3 °C. The cooling temperature decreased by 10 °C, and the phase transition hysteresis increased by 2.69 °C. This paper provides a new idea for optimizing the properties of phase change energy storage materials and provides a possibility for realizing the parametric control of phase change hysteresis factors.
Energy Transport along α-Helix Protein Chains: External Drives and Multifractal Analysis
Authors: Sefidkar Narmin , Fathizadeh Samira , Nemati Fatemeh , Simserides Constantinos
Published: April 2022

Energy transport within biological systems is critical for biological functions in living cells and for technological applications in molecular motors. Biological systems have very complex dynamics supporting a large number of biochemical and biophysical processes. In the current work, we study the energy transport along protein chains. We examine the influence of different factors such as temperature, salt concentration, and external mechanical drive on the energy flux through protein chains. We obtain that energy fluctuations around the average value for short chains are greater than for longer chains. In addition, the external mechanical load is the most effective agent on bioenergy transport along the studied protein systems. Our results can help design a functional nano-scaled molecular motor based on energy transport along protein chains.
Meshing Stiffness Calculation of Disposable Harmonic Drive under Full Load
Authors: Zhang Yuxin , Pan Xudong , Li Yuefeng , Wang Guanglin , Wu Guicheng
Published: April 2022

Mechanical equipment in the field of aerospace that is used only once is called disposable machinery. As a piece of typical disposable machinery, disposable harmonic gear exhibit stiffness failure with a large load. This manuscript distinguishes disposable harmonic gear from conventional harmonic gear in terms of the application environment and structure. Then, this paper determines the single-tooth stiffness of the disposable harmonic gear under full load by using the non-uniform beam model and the improved energy method. In addition, the multi-tooth meshing in the disposable harmonic drive is considered, and the improved energy method is modified. Besides, the normal contact force and comprehensive elastic displacement at each meshing position are calculated according to the finite element model. Additionally, curves of the single-tooth stiffness and the comprehensive meshing stiffness are obtained. The theoretical results of the modified analytical method and FEM are compared to verify the correctness of the proposed method in terms of calculating the meshing stiffness of the disposable harmonic drive. Finally, FEM is used to obtain the failure form of the disposable harmonic gear under overload.
Magnetic Force Microscopy in Physics and Biomedical Applications
Authors: Vokoun David , Samal Sneha , Stachiv Ivo
Published: April 2022

Magnetic force microscopy (MFM) enables to characterize magnetic properties with submicron (nanoscale) resolution and without much demand on sample surface preparation. MFM can operate in a wide range of temperatures and environmental conditions, that is, vacuum, liquid, or air, therefore this technique has already become the most common tool used to characterize variety of magnetic materials ranging from ferromagnetic thin films and 2D materials to biomedical and/or biological materials. The purpose of this review is to provide a summary of MFM basic fundamentals in the frame of other related methods and, correspondingly, a brief overview of physics and chiefly biomedical as well as biological applications of MFM.
Efficient and Secure Measure-Resend Authenticated Semi-Quantum Key Distribution Protocol against Reflecting Attack
Authors: Wang Hung-Wen , Tsai Chia-Wei , Lin Jason , Huang Yu-Yun , Yang Chun-Wei
Published: April 2022

In 2021, Chang et al. proposed an authenticated semi-quantum key-distribution (ASQKD) protocol using single photons and an authenticated channel. However, an eavesdropper can launch a reflective attack to forge the receiver’s identity without being detected. In addition, Chang et al.’s ASQKD protocol assumes an authenticated classical channel between the sender and the receiver. It is considered illogical to have an authenticated channel in the ASQKD protocol. If these security issues are not addressed, the ASQKD protocol will fail to deliver the secret key. Therefore, this study proposes an efficient and secure ASQKD protocol to circumvent these problems using only single photons. Security analysis proves that the proposed ASQKD protocol can effectively avoid reflecting attacks, collective attacks, and other typical attacks. Compared with the existing ASQKD protocols, this study has the following advantages: based on a single photon, it demands less advanced quantum devices, the communication efficiency is higher than most protocols, it reduces the length of the required pre-shared keys, endures reflecting attacks, collective attacks, and there is no need for the classical channel.
Double Image Encryption Scheme Based on Compressive Sensing and Double Random Phase Encoding
Authors: Zhang Rui , Xiao Di
Published: April 2022

In order to overcome the shortcomings of the standard compressive sensing (CS) encryption framework, a novel fusion application scheme of CS and optical transformation technology is proposed. The proposed scheme, making full use of the feature of CS to achieve compression and encryption simultaneously, compresses and encrypts two images into one image, which not only reduces storage space and transmission bandwidth, but also improves the security performance of encryption. In the proposed scheme, the two original images are first sampled with CS, and then double random phase coding is performed to obtain two small-sized images. Meanwhile, the two original images are directly encrypted with double random phase coding to obtain the authentication information. Next, we combine two small-sized images and authentication information into one image, and finally perform double random phase coding again to obtain the final encrypted image. It should be emphasized that the proposed scheme has the function of image authentication. Experiment results validate the effectiveness and advancement of the proposed fusion application scheme.
Research on Location-Routing Problem of Maritime Emergency Materials Distribution Based on Bi-Level Programming
Authors: Peng Zhongxiu , Wang Cong , Xu Wenqing , Zhang Jinsong
Published: April 2022

To solve the location-routing problem of maritime emergency materials distribution (MEMD-LRP) of multi-agent joint decision, a bi-level programming model of MEMD-LRP is constructed. The model is established on the premise of considering the rescue time window and emergency materials distribution priority, aiming at the strong regional characteristics of maritime accidents, strong timeliness of maritime rescue, great difficulty of rescue, high cost of rescue, and so on. From the point of view of the emergency management department, the upper level makes the location decision to minimize the construction cost of the shore-based emergency materials reserves and the time satisfaction loss cost of the accident point. From the point of view of the commercial rescue unit, the lower level plans the routes by minimizing the cost of emergency material distribution, ship transportation, ship dispatch, and time penalty. A hybrid algorithm of the ant colony and tabu search is designed to solve the model, and an example is designed and analyzed based on the case of the Bohai Sea to verify the effectiveness of the model and algorithm. Modeling and algorithm design based on bi-level programming can help decision-makers at different levels in maritime emergency logistics systems to make more scientific and reasonable decisions to improve the service capability of the maritime emergency logistics system.
Topology Adaptive Graph Estimation in High Dimensions
Authors: Lederer Johannes , Müller Christian L.
Published: April 2022

We introduce Graphical TREX (GTREX), a novel method for graph estimation in high-dimensional Gaussian graphical models. By conducting neighborhood selection with TREX, GTREX avoids tuning parameters and is adaptive to the graph topology. We compared GTREX with standard methods on a new simulation setup that was designed to assess accurately the strengths and shortcomings of different methods. These simulations showed that a neighborhood selection scheme based on Lasso and an optimal (in practice unknown) tuning parameter outperformed other standard methods over a large spectrum of scenarios. Moreover, we show that GTREX can rival this scheme and, therefore, can provide competitive graph estimation without the need for tuning parameter calibration.
A New Diffusive Representation for Fractional Derivatives, Part II: Convergence Analysis of the Numerical Scheme
Authors: Diethelm Kai
Published: April 2022

Recently, we have proposed a new diffusive representation for fractional derivatives and, based on this representation, suggested an algorithm for their numerical computation. From the construction of the algorithm, it is immediately evident that the method is fast and memory-efficient. Moreover, the method’s design is such that good convergence properties may be expected. In this paper, we commence a systematic investigation of these convergence properties.
Phycocyanin Ameliorates Colitis-Associated Colorectal Cancer by Regulating the Gut Microbiota and the IL-17 Signaling Pathway
Authors: Pan Dongjin , Huang Bingyao , Gan Yuman , Gao Chenghai , Liu Yonghong , Tang Zhenzhou
Published: April 2022

Phycocyanin (PC) is a pigment-protein complex. It has been reported that PC exerts anti-colorectal cancer activities, although the underlying mechanism has not been fully elucidated. In the present study, azoxymethane (AOM)/dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced mice were orally administrated with PC, followed by microbiota and transcriptomic analyses to investigate the effects of PC on colitis-associated cancer (CAC). Our results indicated that PC ameliorated AOM/DSS induced inflammation. PC treatment significantly reduced the number of colorectal tumors and inhibited proliferation of epithelial cell in CAC mice. Moreover, PC reduced the relative abundance of Firmicutes, Deferribacteres, Proteobacteria and Epsilonbacteraeota at phylum level. Transcriptomic analysis showed that the expression of genes involved in the intestinal barrier were altered upon PC administration, Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analysis revealed the IL-17 signaling pathway was affected by PC treatment. The study demonstrated the protective therapeutic action of PC on CAC.
Dual Mobility Cups as the Routine Choice in Total Hip Arthroplasty
Authors: Aguado-Maestro Ignacio , de Blas-Sanz Inés , Sanz-Peñas Ana Elena , Campesino-Nieto Silvia Virginia , Diez-Rodríguez Jesús , Valle-López Sergio , Espinel-Riol Alberto , Fernández-Díez Diego , García-Alonso Manuel
Published: April 2022

Background and Objectives: Total hip arthroplasty (THA) is considered the most successful surgical procedure in orthopedics. However, dislocation remains the main indication for surgical revision. New designs of dual mobility cups (DMC) have lowered the classical complications and have extended the indications of DMC in elective surgeries. Our aim is to assess the trend of DMC indications in THA as well as the incidence of their dislocation. Materials and Methods: We retrospectively reviewed all patients undergoing THA with DMC during the years 2015 and 2021. The original indication for DMC included patients sustaining neck of femur fractures (NOF#) and associated risk factors for dislocations. Five years later, DMC was considered our standard of care in total hip arthroplasty. The approach (anterolateral or posterolateral) was chosen by the surgeon according to his/her preferences, as was the implant. Data collected included patients’ demographics, diagnosis, admission time, surgical approach, cup models, and inclination and complications. Patients sustaining a hip dislocation were prospectively reviewed and assessed for treatment received, new dislocations, and need for surgical revision. Two groups were created for the analysis according to the presence or absence of dislocation during follow-up. Results: In the analysis, 531 arthroplasties were included (mean age 72.2 years) with a mean follow-up of 2.86 years. The trend of indications for DMC increased from 16% of THA in 2015 to 78% of THA in 2021. We found a total of 8 dislocations (1.5%), none of them associated with elective surgery. Closed reduction was unsatisfactory in four cases (50%). There was one case of intraprosthetic dislocation. Dislocations were associated to smaller heads (22 mm) (1.5% vs. 25%, p = 0.008) and cups (51.2 mm vs. 48.7 mm, p = 0.038) and posterior approach (62.5% vs. 37.5%, p = 0.011). Conclusion: Dual mobility cups are a great option to reduce the risk of dislocation after a THA both in the neck of femur fractures and elective cases. The use of an anterolateral approach in THA after a neck or femur fracture might considerably decrease the risk of dislocation.
Experimental Investigations of Expansion Strength of Hydraulic Expansion Joints Interconnecting Tube and Fins Heat Exchanger
Authors: Han Haimei , Yang Lianfa , Jiang Jingyu , Ma Jianping
Published: April 2022

As a high expansion strength corresponds to a high heat transfer efficiency, this study investigated the expansion strength of an air-conditioning heat exchanger jointed by hydraulic expansion. A device that would be reliable and adaptable to different types of tubes and fins was designed and developed for testing hydraulic expansion. The device was used to perform a non-pulsating hydraulic expansion experiment on samples comprising tubes and fins to determine the hydraulic pressure range. The expansion strength was tested by performing tensile tests to evaluate the pull-out force at different bulging zones of the same sample with the selected hydraulic pressure. A series of pulsating hydraulic expansion experiments were performed on the joints of tubes and fins with different pulsating amplitudes and frequencies. Tensile tests were performed on the pulsating hydraulic expansion samples to study the influence of the pulsation parameters on the pull-out force. When the amplitude was fixed, an increase in frequency led to uniform expansion in the exchanger. This indicates that joint expansion in tubes and fins results in a more reliable heat exchanger performance.
Metabolomic Abnormalities in Serum from Untreated and Treated Dogs with Hyper- and Hypoadrenocorticism
Authors: Imbery Carolin Anna , Dieterle Frank , Ottka Claudia , Weber Corinna , Schlotterbeck Götz , Müller Elisabeth , Lohi Hannes , Giger Urs
Published: April 2022

The adrenal glands play a major role in metabolic processes, and both excess and insufficient serum cortisol concentrations can lead to serious metabolic consequences. Hyper- and hypoadrenocorticism represent a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge. Serum samples from dogs with untreated hyperadrenocorticism (n = 27), hyperadrenocorticism undergoing treatment (n = 28), as well as with untreated (n = 35) and treated hypoadrenocorticism (n = 23) were analyzed and compared to apparently healthy dogs (n = 40). A validated targeted proton nuclear magnetic resonance (1H NMR) platform was used to quantify 123 parameters. Principal component analysis separated the untreated endocrinopathies. The serum samples of dogs with untreated endocrinopathies showed various metabolic abnormalities with often contrasting results particularly in serum concentrations of fatty acids, and high- and low-density lipoproteins and their constituents, which were predominantly increased in hyperadrenocorticism and decreased in hypoadrenocorticism, while amino acid concentrations changed in various directions. Many observed serum metabolic abnormalities tended to normalize with medical treatment, but normalization was incomplete when compared to levels in apparently healthy dogs. Application of machine learning models based on the metabolomics data showed good classification, with misclassifications primarily observed in treated groups. Characterization of metabolic changes enhances our understanding of these endocrinopathies. Further assessment of the recognized incomplete reversal of metabolic alterations during medical treatment may improve disease management.
High Selectivity, Low Damage ICP Etching of p-GaN over AlGaN for Normally-off p-GaN HEMTs Application
Authors: Zhang Penghao , Wang Luyu , Zhu Kaiyue , Yang Yannan , Fan Rong , Pan Maolin , Xu Saisheng , Xu Min , Wang Chen , Wu Chunlei , Zhang David
Published: April 2022

A systematic study of the selective etching of p-GaN over AlGaN was carried out using a BCl3/SF6 inductively coupled plasma (ICP) process. Compared to similar chemistry, a record high etch selectivity of 41:1 with a p-GaN etch rate of 3.4 nm/min was realized by optimizing the SF6 concentration, chamber pressure, ICP and bias power. The surface morphology after p-GaN etching was characterized by AFM for both selective and nonselective processes, showing the exposed AlGaN surface RMS values of 0.43 nm and 0.99 nm, respectively. MIS-capacitor devices fabricated on the AlGaN surface with ALD-Al2O3 as the gate dielectric after p-GaN etch showed the significant benefit of BCl3/SF6 selective etch process.
Digital Microfluidic Mixing via Reciprocating Motions of Droplets Driven by Contact Charge Electrophoresis
Authors: Kim Jaewook , Kim Taeyung , Ji Inseo , Hong Jiwoo
Published: April 2022

Contact charge electrophoresis (CCEP) is an electrically controllable manipulation technique of conductive droplets and particles by charging and discharging when in contact with the electrode. Given its straightforward operation mechanism, low cost, and ease of system construction, it has gained traction as a versatile and potential strategy for the realistic establishment of lab-on-a-chip (LOC) in various engineering applications. We present a CCEP-based digital microfluidics (DMF) platform with two parallel electrode modules comprising assembled conventional pin header sockets, allowing for efficient mixing through horizontal and vertical shaking via droplet reciprocating motions. The temporal chromic change caused by the chemical reaction between the pH indicator and base solutions within the shaking droplets is quantitatively analyzed under various CCEP actuation conditions to evaluate the mixing performance in shaking droplets by vertical and horizontal reciprocating motions on the DMF platform. Furthermore, mixing flow patterns within shaking droplets are successfully visualized by a high-speed camera system. The suggested techniques can mix samples and reagents rapidly and efficiently in droplet-based microreactors for DMF applications, such as biochemical analysis and medical diagnostics.
Novel Record Replacement Algorithm and Architecture for QoS Management over Local Area Networks
Authors: Tung Yi-Chih , Law Yuk-Wing , Hwang Wen-Jyi , Tai Tsung-Ming , Ho Chih-Hsiang , Chen Cheng-Chang
Published: April 2022

An effective System-on-Chip (SoC) for smart Quality-of-Service (QoS) management over a virtual local area network (LAN) is presented in this study. The SoC is implemented by field programmable gate array (FPGA) for accelerating the delivery quality prediction for a service. The quality prediction is carried out by the general regression neural network (GRNN) algorithm based on a time-varying profile consisting of the past delivery records of the service. A novel record replacement algorithm is presented to update the profile, so that the bandwidth usage of the service can be effectively tracked by GRNN. Experimental results show that the SoC provides self-aware QoS management with low computation costs for applications over virtual LAN.
Red and Green Quantum Dot Color Filter for Full-Color Micro-LED Arrays
Authors: Zhao Bingxin , Wang Qingqian , Li Depeng , Yang Hongcheng , Bai Xue , Li Shang , Liu Pai , Sun Xiaowei
Published: April 2022

This work demonstrated color-conversion layers of red and green quantum dots color filter for full-color display arrays. Ligands exchange using (3-glycidyloxypropyl) trimethoxysilane with epoxy functional groups to treat QDs in the liquid phase was performed for photolithography use. The combination of ligands of QDs with photo-initiator played a protective role on QDs. Moreover, the pixel size of green QDCF can be reduced to 50 μm, and a high optical density (OD) of 1.2 is realized.
COVID-19 in Italy: Comparison of CT Findings from Time Zero to the Delta Variant
Authors: Maggialetti Nicola , Villanova Ilaria , Castrì Annalisa , Greco Chiara Noemi , Inchingolo Francesco , Virgilio Daniele , Moschetta Marco , Sardaro Angela , Stabile Ianora Amato Antonio , Scardapane Arnaldo
Published: April 2022

On 12 March 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the novel Coronavirus (CoV) disease a global Pandemic and an emerging risk. In order to understand patterns that are typical in COVID-19 pneumonia and track the evolution of the disease, the role of the chest computed tomography (CT) is pivotal. The impact of the illness as well as the efficiency of the therapy are also monitored carefully when performing this imaging exam. Coronaviruses, specifically CoV-2, as RNA viruses, have a tendency to frequently change their genome, giving the virus beneficial characteristics such as greater transmissibility, pathogenicity and the possibility to escape the previously acquired immunity. Therefore, genome evaluation became an extremely important routine practice worldwide. In particular, in Italy, four variants have been recognised and each of them represent a specific temporal wave of the disease. Hence, our goal was to describe imaging findings of COVID-19 pneumonia, specifically its most typical imaging identified during the period of our study, and to assess whether or not SARS-CoV-2 variants determine different CT patterns. Our analyses revealed that the SARS-CoV-2 genotype seems not to interfere with the severity of CT patterns and, in particular, bilateral Ground Glass Opacities (GGOs) are the most frequent findings in all COVID-19 waves.
Biodegradation of Quinoline by a Newly Isolated Salt-Tolerating Bacterium Rhodococcus gordoniae Strain JH145
Authors: Jiang Yinhu , Zhang Fuyin , Xu Siqiong , Yang Pan , Wang Xiao , Zhang Xuan , Hong Qing , Qiu Jiguo , Chu Cuiwei , He Jian
Published: April 2022

Quinoline is a typical nitrogen-heterocyclic compound with high toxicity and carcinogenicity which exists ubiquitously in industrial wastewater. In this study, a new quinoline-degrading bacterial strain Rhodococcus sp. JH145 was isolated from oil-contaminated soil. Strain JH145 could grow with quinoline as the sole carbon source. The optimum growth temperature, pH, and salt concentration were 30 °C, 8.0, and 1%, respectively. 100 mg/L quinoline could be completely removed within 28 h. Particularly, strain JH145 showed excellent quinoline biodegradation ability under a high-salt concentration of 7.5%. Two different quinoline degradation pathways, a typical 8-hydroxycoumarin pathway, and a unique anthranilate pathway were proposed based on the intermediates identified by liquid chromatography–time of flight mass spectrometry. Our present results provided new candidates for industrial application in quinoline-contaminated wastewater treatment even under high-salt conditions.