bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Application of Aloe vera Gel as Coating Agent to Maintain the Quality of Tomatoes during Storage
Authors: Jati Ignasius Radix A. P. , Setijawaty Erni , Utomo Adrianus Rulianto , Darmoatmodjo Laurensia Maria Y. D.
Published: October 2022

Aloe vera is widely used to manufacture medicinal products, cosmetics, and hair treatments. The polysaccharide components in A. vera gel can be used as ingredients for edible films or coatings. The edible film can also be applied to fresh fruits and vegetables using the coating principle. Tomatoes are one of the fruit commodities that can be maintained in terms of quality during storage using an edible coating. This study aims to determine the effect of an edible coating made from A. vera on tomatoes’ physical, chemical, and organoleptic properties during storage. The A. vera gel was prepared and used for coating the tomatoes, and the tomatoes were then stored for twelve days. The analysis was conducted every three days, and a comparison with non-coated tomatoes was performed for tomatoes’ physicochemical and organoleptic properties. The results show that the application of A. vera as a coating agent could prolong the shelf life of tomatoes, as described in the ability to decrease moisture content and weight loss. The coated tomatoes had lower titratable acidity value, pH, and total soluble solid contents than the non-coated tomatoes. From the organoleptic test, the non-coated tomatoes were preferred by the panelists for color, but the glossiness, skin appearance, and texture of the coated tomatoes were preferred. The coating process could maintain the hardness of tomatoes and prevent the production of phenolic compounds, flavonoids, and lycopene; thus, the antioxidant activity could be conserved.
Microstructure and Corrosion Resistance of Two-Dimensional TiO2/MoS2 Hydrophobic Coating on AZ31B Magnesium Alloy
Authors: Lai Longjie , Wu Heng , Mao Guobing , Li Zhengdao , Zhang Li , Liu Qi
Published: October 2022

The corrosion resistance of magnesium alloys can be effectively improved by surface treatment. In this study, a hydrophobic two-dimensional (2D) TiO2/MoS2 nanocomposite coating was fabricated on AZ31B magnesium alloy by an electrophoretic deposition method. The corrosion resistance of the coating was evaluated using potentiodynamic polarization and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy analyses. After being modified by a silane coupling agent (KH570), the TiO2/MoS2 coating changed from hydrophilic to hydrophobic, and the static water contact angle increased to 131.53°. The corrosion experiment results indicated that the hydrophobic 2D TiO2/MoS2 coating had excellent anticorrosion performance (corrosion potential: Ecorr = −0.85 VAg/AgCl, and corrosion current density: Icorr = 6.73 × 10−8 A·cm−2). TiO2/MoS2 films have promising applications in magnesium alloy corrosion protection.
On the Inverse Symmetric Division Deg Index of Unicyclic Graphs
Authors: Albalahi Abeer M. , Ali Akbar
Published: October 2022

The symmetric division deg (SDD) index is among the 148 discrete Adriatic indices that were developed about a decade ago. Motivated by the success of the SDD index, Ghorbani et al. in a recent paper proposed the inverse version of this index and called it the inverse symmetric division deg (ISDD) index. In the aforementioned paper, the graphs possessing the maximum and minimum ISDD index over the set of all tree graphs having the given order were found. The present paper addresses the problem of finding the graphs having the largest and smallest ISDD index from the set of all connected unicyclic graphs having the specified order.
Tracking Down of a Selected Panel of Parabens: A Validated Method to Evaluate Their Occurrence in Skin Layers
Authors: Di Lorenzo Ritamaria , Neri Ilaria , Russo Giacomo , Laneri Sonia , Grumetto Lucia
Published: October 2022

A method was set up and validated to identify and quantify seven parabens in each of the three skin layers, i.e., Stratum Corneum, Epidermis, and Dermis, because, even if only some analogues are legally allowed in Europe, forbidden parabens are also detected in many personal care products and therefore can be absorbed by the skin. A solid/liquid extraction followed by a gradient elution chromatographic separation method was performed and validated according to European guidelines. Our validated method afforded the detection of all seven parabens with limit of detection values ranging from 0.026 to 0.090 μg mL−1 and recoveries ranging from 61.80 to 105.73 μg mL−1 at high and low concentration values (50.0–5.0 μg mL−1), respectively. The proposed method can help assess paraben’s skin bioaccumulation since people are repeatedly exposed to consumer goods containing parabens in their daily routine, posing a chronic risk to human health.
A Lection in Humbleness: Crystallization of Chiral and Zwitterionic APIs Baclofen and Phenibut
Authors: Herbst Marco , Komisarek Daniel , Strothmann Till , Vasylyeva Vera
Published: October 2022

Crystallization and multicomponent crystal formation of active pharmaceutical ingredients Baclofen and Phenibut with dicarboxylic acid co-formers are discussed. The crystallization process of several crystalline entities is elucidated via single crystal—as well as powder X-ray—diffraction, followed by thermal analysis and phase stability studies over time. Both APIs form increasingly complex crystalline phases with co-formers malic and tartaric acid, where phase purity of a desired compound is not necessarily a given. Therefore, the influence of different solution and milling environments during crystallization on the outcome is studied. Emphasis is laid on how molecular influences such as the chirality, propensity to form hydrates as well as low solubility of Baclofen and Phenibut impede attempts to gather high-quality single crystals. The results highlight that targeted crystallization of these compounds with dicarboxylic acids can be difficult and unreliable.
A New Insight into the Role of Silicate-Type Binders on the Crushing Strength of Alumina Foams
Authors: Oliveira Fernando de Almeida Costa , Pommier Stéphane , Fernandes Jorge Cruz , Dias Diamantino
Published: October 2022

Semi-closed cell macroporous alumina foams with relative densities ranging from 0.26 to 0.35 have been produced by the well-established replication method based on the coating of a polyurethane (PU) template foam by a ceramic slurry, followed by burnout of the PU template, and sintering of the ceramic skeleton. Collapse of the three-dimensional structure upon the volatilisation of the PU sponge can only be prevented using appropriate binders. Scarce data are available on the slurry formulations of commercial alumina foams. The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of silicate-type binders, namely kaolin and bentonite additives, on the crushing strength of alumina foams. The highest crushing strength of around 10 MPa was observed at a porosity of 66 ± 2%. The open-cell model is inadequate to fit the crushing strength data of such semi-closed cell type structures. Both microscopic and macroscopic flaws resulting from the foam processing method contribute to the wide scatter of the strength, thereby explaining the Weibull modulus ranging from 4 to 7. Both flaw populations require further improvement to maximise the crushing strength of these foams with high potential for the design of structured catalyst carriers and molten aluminium filters.
Acoustic Sensor Based on a Cylindrical Resonator for Monitoring a Liquid Flow
Authors: Gueddida Abdellatif , Pennec Yan , Silveira Fiates Ana Luiza , Vellekoop Michael Johannes , Bonello Bernard , Djafari-Rouhani Bahram
Published: October 2022

We present a numerical investigation of an acoustic sensor based on a cylindrical resonator to monitor the acoustic properties of liquids flowing in a tube. The sensor design consists of a hollow cylindrical washer surrounding the tube, which carries the liquid, and which can be filled during the sensing process. Due to the impedance mismatch between the liquid and the solid washer, we demonstrate the presence of high-quality factor resonances associated with the acoustic properties of the liquid (such as velocity, density, or viscosity) appearing as sharp spectral features in the transmission and detection measurements. An appropriate choice of geometrical parameters allows either to obtain two distinct resonances associated with the liquid and the surrounding washer or to overlap the narrow resonance of the liquid with the broad resonance of the washer and achieve a Fano-type resonance from their interaction. The sensitivity of the resonances to the acoustic properties of the liquid are investigated as a function of the geometrical parameters. We show that for highly viscous fluids, the vanishing of very narrow peaks can be avoided by increasing the thickness of the washer and, therefore, decreasing the quality factors. The calculations are performed in the framework of a finite element method. Our design provides a promising platform for sensing several acoustic characteristics of liquids flowing in tubes.
Crystallographic Studies of Enzymes (Volume II)
Authors: Kim T. Doohun , Kim Kyeong Kyu
Published: October 2022

Enzymes play a major role in the control of key biological processes by accelerating chemical reactions [...]
Tunable Electronic Property and Robust Type-II Feature in Blue Phosphorene/MoSi2N4 Bilayer Heterostructure
Authors: Cai Xiaolin , Zhang Zhengwen , Chen Guoxing , Wang Qin , Jia Yu
Published: October 2022

Constructing novel van der Waals heterostructures (vdWHs) is one of the effective methods for expanding the properties and applications of single materials. In this contribution, a blue phosphorene (Blue P)/MoSi2N4 vertical bilayer vdWH was constructed, and its crystal and electronic structures as well as optical properties were systematically studied via first principles calculation. It was found that the Blue P/MoSi2N4 vdWH with good thermal and dynamic stabilities belongs to the type-II indirect bandgap semiconductor with the bandgap of 1.92 eV, which can efficiently separate electrons and holes. Additionally, the two band edges straddle the redox potential of water, and the charge transfer follows the Z-scheme mode, making the Blue P/MoSi2N4 vdWH a promising catalyst of hydrogen production through splitting water. Meanwhile, the Blue P/MoSi2N4 vdWH has higher optical absorption than its two component monolayers. Both the external electric field and vertical strain can easily tailor the bandgap of Blue P/MoSi2N4 vdWH while still preserving its type-II heterostructure characteristics. Our proposed Blue P/MoSi2N4 vdWH is a promising photovoltaic two-dimensional material, and our findings provided theoretical support for the related experimental exploration.
Orientation Selection of Supported Au Nanoparticles on (111)- and (001)-Terminated SrTiO3 Substrates
Authors: Kuang Wangwang , Zhu Guozhen
Published: October 2022

Orientation-dependent performance has been demonstrated in different materials consisting of nanoparticles on substrates. The fabrication of desirably oriented nanoparticles requires knowledge of orientation selection rules. Based on the Wulff–Kaishew theory, our analysis shows that the energy-favorable orientation(s), is influenced by the surface energy of particles, in addition to the dominant factor, i.e., the energy difference between particle/substrate interfacial energy and surface energy of the substrate. To verify this, a model system of dewetted Au nanoparticles on SrTiO3 is studied. The {111}-terminated SrTiO3 supports only {111}-orientated Au particles, with the lowest interfacial energy. On the other hand, {100}-terminated SrTiO3 supports multiple Au particles, with {111}-, {100}-, {110}- orientations, as a possible result of close surface energy contributions. The above orientations can be additionally manipulated by changing the heat treatment temperature. Our results provide fundamental insights into fabricating supported nanoparticles for practical applications.
Preparation of Large Volume Solid Argon Crystal and Its Feasibility Test as a Scintillation Material
Authors: Zhang Lei , Qiao Chenkai , Zhu Jingjun , Liu Yu , Yan Yulu , Lin Shin-Ted , Liu Shukui , Tang Changjian , Xing Haoyang
Published: October 2022

An important background to the liquid argon detectors is that they are caused by the diffusion of radioactive isotopes in a scintillator (liquid phase). This radioactive isotope is produced in argon’s surrounding devices, such as circulation pipelines and liquid argon containers. The solid argon as a scintillation material in the detector can inhibit the diffusion and drift of radioactive isotopes in a solid phase scintillator. Additionally, the structure of a solid argon detector is simple and reduces the total source of radioactive background. In the CDEX-300 detection system, solid argon could substitute for liquid argon as the veto detector, preventing radioactive isotopes drifting to the central main detector (HPGe detectors array) surface to reduce backgrounds. Therefore, solid argon has great potential in the experiments since it is especially helpful to get the lower background in a larger active volume than liquid argon required in those low background detection experiments. This work introduces the preparation process and device of the large volume transparent crystalline argon, the acquisition of scintillation light, and the pulse amplitude spectrum of 137Cs obtained from a prototype detector of transparent solid argon crystal. The results show that the scheme proposed in this study can successfully produce a large volume transparent crystalline argon detector, the scintillation light signals can be effectively obtained from the solid argon scintillator, and the corresponding pulse amplitude spectrum is given. This work indicates that it is feasible to develop a solid argon crystal scintillation detector by using our approach.
Prospective Study Investigating the Efficacy and Safety of a Scalp Cooling Device for the Prevention of Alopecia in Women Undergoing (Neo)Adjuvant Chemotherapy for Breast Cancer
Authors: Carbognin Luisa , Accetta Cristina , Di Giorgio Danilo , Fuso Paola , Muratore Margherita , Tiberi Giordana , Pavese Francesco , D’Angelo Tatiana , Fabi Alessandra , Giannarelli Diana , Di Leone Alba , Magno Stefano , Garganese Giorgia , Sanchez Alejandro Martin , Terribile Daniela Andreina , Franceschini Gianluca , Masetti Riccardo , Scambia Giovanni , Paris Ida
Published: October 2022

The prevention of chemotherapy-induced alopecia still represents an urgent need for every day clinical practice. In this regard, this prospective single-center study included breast cancer (BC) patients who underwent a scalp cooling device (Dignicap®) during (neo)adjuvant chemotherapy with the aim to evaluate the efficacy and safety of this device in preventing alopecia. One hundred and seventy-eight patients (median age 43 years) were enrolled. The chemotherapy regimen included anthracycline and taxane-based chemotherapy (68.1%), docetaxel and cyclophosphamide (25.8%), anthracycline and taxane-based plus carboplatin (3.9%), and paclitaxel alone (2.2%). In 25.3% of cases, a dose dense schedule was used. Overall, the success rate was 68.0%: 100% in paclitaxel alone, 87.0% in docetaxel-cyclophosphamide, 59.5% in anthracycline and taxane, and 71.4% in the sequential regimen plus carboplatin group (anthracycline and taxane-based chemotherapy versus taxane-based chemotherapy, p ≤ 001. No difference in terms of hair preservation between dose-dense or standard schedule was found (p = 0.557). Early discontinuation of the scalp cooling was observed in 50 patients (28.1%). Although 138 patients (77.5%) experienced adverse events, 70.2% of patients were satisfied with this device. In conclusion, this large prospective study confirmed the helpful effect of the scalp cooling system in preventing alopecia in BC patients also undergoing sequential anthracyclines and taxane-based chemotherapy.
The Association between Survivorship Care Plans and Patient-Reported Satisfaction and Confidence with Follow-Up Cancer Care Provided by Primary Care Providers
Authors: Chu Alanna K. , Mutsaers Brittany , Lebel Sophie
Published: October 2022

Survivorship care plans aim to facilitate a smooth transition from tertiary to primary care settings after primary cancer treatment is completed. This study sought to identify the sociodemographic factors associated with receiving a survivorship care plan and examine the relationship between receiving a plan and confidence in follow-up care delivered by primary care providers. A cross-sectional analysis of the Canadian Partnership Against Cancer’s Experiences of Cancer Patients in Transition Study was conducted (n = 9970). Separate adjusted multinomial logistic regression models assessed the relationship between survivorship care plans and follow-up care outcomes. Proportion of survivors more likely to receive a survivorship care plan varied by numerous sociodemographic and medical factors, such as cancer type (colorectal and prostate), gender (male), and education (high school or less). In unadjusted and adjusted models, individuals who received a Survivorship Care Plan had significantly higher odds of: having felt their primary care providers were involved; agreeing that their primary care providers understood their needs, knew where to find supports and services, and were able to refer them directly to services; and were confident that their primary care provider could meet their follow-up care needs.
The Implementation of a Primary HPV Self-Testing Cervical Screening Program in Malaysia through Program ROSE—Lessons Learnt and Moving Forward
Authors: Woo Yin Ling , Khoo Su Pei , Gravitt Patti , Hawkes David , Rajasuriar Reena , Saville Marion
Published: October 2022

Program ROSE (removing obstacles to cervical screening) is a primary HPV-based cervical screening program that incorporates self-sampling and digital technology, ensuring that women are linked to care. It was developed based on the principles of design thinking in the context of Malaysia. The program illustrates the importance of collaborative partnerships and addressing the multi-faceted barriers from policy changes, and infrastructure readiness to the implementation of a radically new cervical screening program in communities. The paradigm shift in cervical cancer requires a monumental and concerted effort in educating both the healthcare providers and the general public. In this short review, we highlight how Pilot Project ROSE incorporated evidence-based tools that rapidly scaled up to Program ROSE. These ideas and solutions can be adapted and adopted by other countries. Notwithstanding the impact of COVID-19, it is incumbent on countries to pave the road towards the elimination of cervical cancer with pre-existing footpaths.
Immunotherapy and Radiotherapy as an Antitumoral Long-Range Weapon—A Partnership with Unsolved Challenges: Dose, Fractionation, Volumes, Therapeutic Sequence
Authors: Mireștean Camil Ciprian , Iancu Roxana Irina , Iancu Dragoș Teodor
Published: October 2022

Immunotherapy, the modern oncological treatment with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), has been part of the clinical practice for malignant melanoma for more than a decade. Anti-cytotoxic T-lymphocyte antigen 4 (CTLA4), anti-programmed cell death Protein 1 (PD-1), or anti programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) agents are currently part of the therapeutic arsenal of metastatic or relapsed disease in numerous cancers; more recently, they have also been evaluated and validated as consolidation therapy in the advanced local stage. The combination with radiotherapy, a treatment historically considered loco-regional, changes the paradigm, offering—via synergistic effects—the potential to increase immune-mediated tumor destruction. However, the fragile balance between the tumoricidal effects through immune mechanisms and the immunosuppression induced by radiotherapy means that, in the absence of ICI, the immune-mediated potentiation effect of radiotherapy at a distance from the site of administration is rare. Through analysis of the preclinical and clinical data, especially the evidence from the PACIFIC clinical trial, we can consider that hypofractionated irradiation and reduction of the irradiated volume, in order to protect the immune-infiltrated tumor microenvironment, performed concurrently with the immunotherapy or a maximum of 2 weeks before the start of ICI treatment, could bring maximum benefits. In addition, avoiding radiation-induced lymphopenia (RILD) by protecting some anatomical lymphoid structures or large blood vessels, as well as the use of irradiation of partial tumor volumes, even in plurimetastatic disease, for the conversion of a "cold" immunological tumor into a “hot” immunological tumor are modern concepts of radiotherapy in the era of immunotherapy. Low-dose radiotherapy could also be proposed in plurimetastatic cases, the effect being different (modeling of the TME) from that of high doses per fraction irradiation (cell death with release of antigens that facilitates immune-mediated cell death).
Wide Dissection Trans-Sulcal Approach for Resection of Deep Intra-Axial Lesions in Eloquent Brain Areas
Authors: Kaye Brandon , Correa Bastianon Santiago Raphael Augusto , MacKinnon Gerard , Dabecco Rocco , Ibrahim Bilal , Ali Assad , Santos Romel , Johansen Phillip , Ranjan Surabhi , Obrzut Michal , Borghei-Razavi Hamid , Adada Badih
Published: October 2022

Introduction: Resection of intra-axial tumors (IaT) in eloquent brain regions risks major postoperative neurological deficits. Awake craniotomy is often used to navigate these areas; however, some patients are ineligible for awake procedures. The trans-sulcal approach (TScal) was introduced to reduce parenchymal trauma during tumor resection. We report our experiences utilizing TScal for resection of deep IaT located in eloquent areas. Materials and Methods: This is a single-center retrospective analysis of patients who underwent IaT resection in eloquent areas via TScal from January 2013 to April 2021. Seventeen cases were reviewed, and relevant data was collected. Fluorescence-guided surgery with 5-aminolevulinic acid (ALA) and intraoperative ultrasound was performed in some cases. Results: Seventeen patients (10 males, 7 females) averaging 61.2 years-old (range, 21–76) were included in this study. Average length of stay was 4.8 days, and only 2 patients (11.8%) required hospital readmission within 30 days. Gross total resection (GTR) was achieved in 15 patients (88.2%), while subtotal resection occurred in 2 patients (11.8%). Eleven patients (64.7%) reported full resolution of symptoms, 4 patients (23.5%) reported deficit improvement, and 2 patients (11.8%) experienced no change from their preoperative deficits. No patient developed new permanent deficits postoperatively. Discussion: GTR, preoperative deficit reduction, and complications were comparable to awake craniotomy and other TScal studies. Ancillary intraoperative techniques, such as brain mapping, 5-ALA and intraoperative ultrasound, are afforded by TScal to improve resection rates and overall outcomes. Conclusions: TScal can be an option for patients with deep lesions in eloquent areas who are not candidates for awake surgeries.
Adherence to Mediterranean Diet and Nutritional Status in Women with Breast Cancer: What Is Their Impact on Disease Progression and Recurrence-Free Patients’ Survival?
Authors: Mantzorou Maria , Tolia Maria , Poultsidi Antigoni , Vasios Georgios K. , Papandreou Dimitrios , Theocharis Stamatios , Kavantzas Nikolaos , Troumbis Andreas Y. , Giaginis Constantinos
Published: October 2022

Introduction: Nutritional status impacts the survival of patients with cancer. There are few studies that investigate the role of nutritional status on breast cancer survival in women with breast cancer, and even fewer regarding the impact of adhering to the Mediterranean diet (MD). The present study aims to assess the nutritional status, MD adherence, physical activity levels and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in women diagnosed with breast cancer and evaluate these parameters regarding recurrence-free survival. Methods: A total of 114 women, aged 35–87 years old, diagnosed with breast cancer in Larissa, Greece, participated in the study. Tumor histopathology was reported, and anthropometric indices were measured by a trained nurse, while questionnaires regarding nutritional status (via mini nutritional assessment), HRQOL via EORTC QLQ-C30, physical activity levels via IPAQ and Mediterranean diet adherence via MedDietScore were administered. The participants were followed-up for a maximum time interval of 42 months or until recurrence occurred. Results: A total of 74% of patients were overweight or obese, while 4% of women were undernourished, and 28% were at risk of malnutrition. After 42 months of follow-up, 22 patients (19.3%) had relapsed. The median time to recurrence was 38 months (IQR: 33–40 months) and ranged between 23 to 42 months. Higher levels of MD adherence were significantly associated with lower body mass index (BMI) values, earlier disease stage, smaller tumor size, absence of lymph node metastases and better physical activity levels (p < 0.05). Normal nutritional status was significantly associated with higher BMI values and better health-related quality of life (p ≤ 0.05). In univariate analysis, patients with higher levels of MD adherence and well-nourished patients had significantly longer recurrence-free survival (p < 0.05). In multivariate analysis, MD adherence and nutritional status were independently associated with recurrence-free patients’ survival after adjustment for several confounding factors (p < 0.05). Conclusions: The impact of MD on time to recurrence is still under investigation, and future interventional studies need to focus on the role of adhering to the MD before and after therapy in survival and breast cancer progression. Furthermore, the present study also highlights the importance of an adequate nutritional status on disease progression, and the need for nutritional assessment, education and intervention in women with breast cancer.
Freshwater Fish Biodiversity in a Large Mediterranean Basin (Guadalquivir River, S Spain): Patterns, Threats, Status and Conservation
Authors: Sáez-Gómez Pedro , Prenda José
Published: October 2022

The Guadalquivir River Basin is one of the largest in the Iberian Peninsula and has a remarkable freshwater biodiversity. Although many studies on hydrological regimes or water quality have been conducted in this basin the biodiversity of freshwater fish, as well as their distribution and conservation status, has never been globally addressed as in other Iberian basins. In this context, we synthesized information on freshwater fish using field procedures and a bibliographic search. Fish distribution patterns at different spatial scales and general environmental conditions were analyzed as well as the conservation status of the fish community. We documented the presence of 40 species (20 native and 20 exotic) in the basin during the 20th century until today. However, we only captured 18 species during the field sampling, with a prevalence for any native species of less than 23% (except Luciobarbus sclateri). The highest species richness was found in mid reaches, while the lower reaches had very low diversity values. Around 50% of species are threatened; according to the IUCN, several species are declining at an alarming rate and others are probably extinct and/or their current status is unknown. Human disturbances during the last few decades have caused serious changes in fish distribution and consequently to their conservation status. Hydrological alterations, intensive agriculture and introduced species are probably the principal reasons for Guadalquivir’s ichthyofauna imperilment. Our study indicates an urgent and real need to identify important areas for fish conservation to guarantee a minimum fish biodiversity conservation over the long term, as well as effective strategies for fish recovery where it still is possible.
Choiromyces sichuanensis sp. nov., a New Species from Southwest China, and Its Mycorrhizal Synthesis with Three Native Conifers
Authors: Wang Ran , Wan Shanping , Yang Juan , Yu Fuqiang
Published: October 2022

A new Choiromyces species was discovered at local wild mushroom markets in Songpan County, Sichuan, southwest China where it has been considered as a Chinese white truffle. Based on both morphological and phylogenetic analyses, the collection was described as Choiromyces sichuanensis sp. nov. This study confirms the occurrence of members of Choiromyces in China. In addition, the mycorrhizal synthesis via spore inoculation between C. sichuanensis and Pinus armandii or two Picea species of Pi. likiangensis and Pi. crassifolia was attempted in a greenhouse. Both morphoanatomical and molecular analyses evidenced well-developed mycorrhization between C. sichuanensis and P. armandii, but not in Picea seedlings. Our current study provides data about the species diversity and mycorrhizal research of this genus for further studies. In addition, a successful mycorrhization between C. sichuanensis and selected tree species, irrespective of Pinus genus or other plant species, would broaden the set of species for a successful mycorrhization in greenhouse conditions and potential outplanting for cultivation purposes.
Biogeography of Black Mold Aspergillus niger: Global Situation and Future Perspective under Several Climate Change Scenarios Using MaxEnt Modeling
Authors: Alkhalifah Dalal Hussien M. , Damra Eman , Khalaf Sameh M. H. , Hozzein Wael N.
Published: October 2022

Climate change impacts represent one of the most important ecological and medical issues during this century. Several fungal species will change their distribution through space and time as a response to climate changes. This will rearrange many fungal diseases throughout the world. One of the most important and very common fungi is the black mold Aspergillus niger. The COVID-19 pandemic reforms the way in which mycologists think about this fungus as an emerging healthy issue. Through this work, about one thousand records of Aspergillus niger were used to model its current and future global distribution using 19 bioclimatic variables under several climate change scenarios. Maximum entropy implemented in Maxent was chosen as the modeling tool, especially with its accuracy and reliability over the other modeling techniques. The annual mean temperature (bio 1) forms the most contributed climatological parameter to black mold distribution. The produced current distribution model came compatible with the real distribution of the species with a cosmopolitan range. The rise of temperature due to global warming will form a limitation to Aspergillus niger through several parts of its range. The generated maps of the future status of this fungus under two different RCPs for 2050 and 2070, indicate several parts that become free from black mold due to temperature limitations. The present results need more intensive future evaluation using data science and GIS, especially on a local scale including more ecological parameters other than climatological data.
Identification of INS Sensor Errors from Navigation Data Based on Improved Pigeon-Inspired Optimization
Authors: Li Zhihua , Deng Yimin , Liu Wenxue
Published: October 2022

The error level of inertial sensor parameters determines the navigation accuracy of an inertial navigation system. For many applications, such as drones, errors in horizontal gyroscopes and accelerometers, can significantly affect the navigation results. Different from most methods of filter estimation, we innovatively propose using evolutionary algorithms, such as the improved pigeon-inspired optimization (PIO) method, to identify sensor errors through navigation data. In this method, the navigation data are firstly collected; then, the improved carrier pigeon optimization method is used to find the optimal error parameter values of the horizontal gyroscope and accelerometer, so as to minimize the navigation result error calculated by the navigation data. At the same time, we propose a new improved method for pigeon-inspired optimization with dimension vectors adaptive mutation (DVPIO for short) that can avoid local optima in the later stages of the iteration. In the DVPIO method, 2n particles with poor fitness are selected for the following variation, with 2n dimension vectors when it is judged that the position is premature, where n represents the number of parameters to be identified; a dimension vector only represents the positive or negative change of a parameter, whose change amount is d can be adjusted adaptively. DVPIO method has better stability, faster convergence speed, and higher accuracy. This work has potential to reduce the need for the disassembly and assembly of the INS and return it to the manufacturer for calibration.
Information Theory for Biological Sequence Classification: A Novel Feature Extraction Technique Based on Tsallis Entropy
Authors: Bonidia Robson P. , Avila Santos Anderson P. , de Almeida Breno L. S. , Stadler Peter F. , Nunes da Rocha Ulisses , Sanches Danilo S. , de Carvalho André C. P. L. F.
Published: October 2022

In recent years, there has been an exponential growth in sequencing projects due to accelerated technological advances, leading to a significant increase in the amount of data and resulting in new challenges for biological sequence analysis. Consequently, the use of techniques capable of analyzing large amounts of data has been explored, such as machine learning (ML) algorithms. ML algorithms are being used to analyze and classify biological sequences, despite the intrinsic difficulty in extracting and finding representative biological sequence methods suitable for them. Thereby, extracting numerical features to represent sequences makes it statistically feasible to use universal concepts from Information Theory, such as Tsallis and Shannon entropy. In this study, we propose a novel Tsallis entropy-based feature extractor to provide useful information to classify biological sequences. To assess its relevance, we prepared five case studies: (1) an analysis of the entropic index q; (2) performance testing of the best entropic indices on new datasets; (3) a comparison made with Shannon entropy and (4) generalized entropies; (5) an investigation of the Tsallis entropy in the context of dimensionality reduction. As a result, our proposal proved to be effective, being superior to Shannon entropy and robust in terms of generalization, and also potentially representative for collecting information in fewer dimensions compared with methods such as Singular Value Decomposition and Uniform Manifold Approximation and Projection.
Dynamic Mixed Data Analysis and Visualization
Authors: Grané Aurea , Manzi Giancarlo , Salini Silvia
Published: October 2022

One of the consequences of the big data revolution is that data are more heterogeneous than ever. A new challenge appears when mixed-type data sets evolve over time and we are interested in the comparison among individuals. In this work, we propose a new protocol that integrates robust distances and visualization techniques for dynamic mixed data. In particular, given a time t∈T={1,2,…,N}, we start by measuring the proximity of n individuals in heterogeneous data by means of a robustified version of Gower’s metric (proposed by the authors in a previous work) yielding to a collection of distance matrices {D(t),∀t∈T}. To monitor the evolution of distances and outlier detection over time, we propose several graphical tools: First, we track the evolution of pairwise distances via line graphs; second, a dynamic box plot is obtained to identify individuals which showed minimum or maximum disparities; third, to visualize individuals that are systematically far from the others and detect potential outliers, we use the proximity plots, which are line graphs based on a proximity function computed on {D(t),∀t∈T}; fourth, the evolution of the inter-distances between individuals is analyzed via dynamic multiple multidimensional scaling maps. These visualization tools were implemented in the Shinny application in R, and the methodology is illustrated on a real data set related to COVID-19 healthcare, policy and restriction measures about the 2020–2021 COVID-19 pandemic across EU Member States.
Quantum Chaos in the Extended Dicke Model
Authors: Wang Qian
Published: October 2022

We systematically study the chaotic signatures in a quantum many-body system consisting of an ensemble of interacting two-level atoms coupled to a single-mode bosonic field, the so-called extended Dicke model. The presence of the atom–atom interaction also leads us to explore how the atomic interaction affects the chaotic characters of the model. By analyzing the energy spectral statistics and the structure of eigenstates, we reveal the quantum signatures of chaos in the model and discuss the effect of the atomic interaction. We also investigate the dependence of the boundary of chaos extracted from both eigenvalue-based and eigenstate-based indicators on the atomic interaction. We show that the impact of the atomic interaction on the spectral statistics is stronger than on the structure of eigenstates. Qualitatively, the integrablity-to-chaos transition found in the Dicke model is amplified when the interatomic interaction in the extended Dicke model is switched on.
Long-Term Changes in Abundance and Composition of Forest-Floor Small Mammal Communities in a Landscape with Cumulative Clearcutting
Authors: Sullivan Thomas P. , Sullivan Druscilla S.
Published: October 2022

Responses of forest-floor small mammals to clearcutting are species-specific with generalists occupying a range of habitats, and specialists persisting on clearcuts for variable periods. We investigated the responses in abundance and species composition of small mammal communities to cumulative clearcutting of coniferous forests on a landscape that had four independent clearcutting events (Periods 1 to 4) over a 42-year interval from 1979 to 2020 in south-central British Columbia, Canada. We ask if the small mammal communities have changed significantly over these decades owing to removal of old-growth forest by clearcut harvesting. Hypotheses (H) predicted that the small mammal community would (H1) increase in abundance, species richness, and diversity on new clearcuts owing to the availability of early seral post-harvest habitats from cumulative clearcutting; and (H2) have higher mean abundance, species richness, and species diversity in clearcut than uncut forest sites, owing to availability of vegetative food and cover. A third hypothesis (H3) predicted that abundance of (i) early seral vegetation (herbs and shrubs) and (ii) small mammal populations, will be greater in ungrazed clearcut sites than in those grazed by cattle (Bos taurus). Mean total numbers of small mammals on new clearcuts declined in Periods 3 and 4, and hence did not support the abundance part of H1. Much of this decline was owing to low numbers of the long-tailed vole (Microtus longicaudus) and meadow vole (M. pennsylvanicus). Two generalist species: the deer mouse (Peromyscus maniculatus) and northwestern chipmunk (Neotamias amoenus), contributed to high mean species richness and diversity in Periods 2 and 3 before these metrics declined in Period 4, and hence partly supported H1. The similarity in mean total numbers of small mammals in Periods 2 to 4 did not support the abundance prediction of H2 that total numbers would be higher in clearcut than uncut forest sites. Higher mean species richness (Periods 2 and 3) and diversity (Period 3) measurements on clearcut than forest sites, particularly in the early post-harvest years, did support these parts of H2. The vegetation part (i) of H3 was not supported for herbaceous plants but it was for shrubs. The small mammal part (ii) of H3 that populations would be higher in ungrazed than grazed clearcut sites was supported for abundance but not for species richness or diversity. The decline and near disappearance of both species of Microtus was possibly related to the reduction in plant community abundance and structure from grazing (at least for shrubs) and potentially from drought effects associated with climate change. Loss of microtines from these early seral ecosystems may have profound negative effects on various ecological functions and predator communities.
A No-Reference Quality Assessment Method for Screen Content Images Based on Human Visual Perception Characteristics
Authors: Hong Yuxin , Wang Caihong , Jiang Xiuhua
Published: October 2022

The widespread application of screen content images (SCIs) has met the needs of remote display and online working. It is a topic that is challenging and worthwhile discussing in research on quality assessment for SCIs. However, existing methods focus on extracting artificial features to predict image quality, which are subjective and incomplete, or lack good interpretability. To overcome these problems, we propose an effective quality assessment method for SCIs based on human visual perceptual characteristics. The proposed method simulates the multi-channel working mechanism of the human visual system (HVS) through pyramid decomposition and the information extraction process of brains with the help of dictionary learning and sparse coding. The input SCIs are first decomposed at multiple scales, and then dictionary learning and sparse coding are applied to the images at each scale. Furthermore, the sparse representation results are analyzed from multiple perspectives. First, a pooling scheme about generalized Gaussian distribution and log-normal distribution is designed to describe the sparse coefficients with and without zero values, respectively. Then the sparse coefficients are used to characterize the energy characteristics. Additionally, the probability of each atom is calculated to describe the statistical property of SCIs. Since the above process only deals with brightness, color-related features are also added to make the model more general and robust. Experimental results on three public SCI databases show that the proposed method can achieve better performance than existing methods.
Numerical Simulation of Hot Dry Rock Fracture Monitoring by Time-Lapse Magnetotelluric Method
Authors: Bai Lige , Li Jing , Zeng Zhaofa
Published: October 2022

The spatial distribution of rock fractures during water injection in hot dry rock (HDR) geothermal is essential information for evaluating geothermal well fracturing. The rock fractures produce anisotropic electrical characteristics, which may facilitate geophysical methods for monitoring fracture distribution. This paper studies the anisotropic magnetotelluric (MT) response in water injection fracturing based on the finite difference method (FEM). It uses the residual phase tensor (PT) method to calculate the characteristics of fracture strike and dip angle. The feasibility analysis of the technique under a different angle and resistivity conditions in geothermal reservoir investigation is discussed in detail. The results demonstrate that the MT can explain the characteristics of anisotropic resistivity structure changes from the water injection fracturing of HDR at the 5 km depth. The time-lapse MT monitoring method can provide a reliable scientific basis for fracture distribution direction and spreading characteristics.
Thermo-Economic Assessments on a Heat Storage Tank Filled with Graded Metal Foam
Authors: Liu Gang , Li Yuanji , Wei Pan , Xiao Tian , Meng Xiangzhao , Yang Xiaohu
Published: October 2022

To save and better deploy waste heat, the use of a mobilized heat storage system (MHSS) with phase change enhancement means is developed. In this paper, three kinds of gradient structures (positive gradient, negative gradient, and non-gradient) are designed in the MHSS system. The uniform porosity is 94% in the non-gradient structure, and the gradient porosities are 86%, 93%, and 98% in the gradient structure, respectively. Numerical models are developed to explore the contribution of the graded metal foam structure to the heat storage and release process. An economic analysis and comparison of MHSS systems with different heat transfer models are carried out. The results show that the positive gradient case can promote the thermal cycle of the melting and solidification process, while the negative gradient case inhibits the thermal cycle. The positive gradient case can reduce the melting time by 9.7% and the solidification time by 4.4%, while the negative gradient can prolong the melting time by 31.4% and the solidification time by 35.9%. Although graded metal foam increases the initial investment by 76.09%, the 1 KW·h heat cost of graded metal foam is reduced by 10.63% compared to pure phase change material (PCM). It is cost-effective in the long run of thermal cycles.
The Control of Sea Level Change over the Development of Favorable Sand Bodies in the Pinghu Formation, Xihu Sag, East China Sea Shelf Basin
Authors: Chen Zhong , Wei Wei , Lu Yongchao , Zhang Jingyu , Zhang Shihui , Chen Si
Published: October 2022

The Pinghu Formation consists primarily of marine-continental transitional deposits. The widely distributed fluvial and tidal transgressive sand bodies comprise the main reservoirs of the Baochu slope zone in the Xihu Sag in the East China Sea Shelf Basin. These sand bodies are deeply buried, laterally discontinuous, and are frequently interrupted by coal-bearing intervals, thereby making it extremely difficult for us to characterize their hydrocarbon potential quantitatively via seismic inversion techniques, such as multi-attribute seismic analysis and post-stack seismic inversion, hindering further hydrocarbon exploration in the Xihu Sag. Here, a prestack seismic inversion approach is applied to the regional seismic data to decipher the spatiotemporal distribution pattern of the sand bodies across the four sequences, i.e., SQ1, SQ2, SQ3, and SQ4, from bottom up, within the Pinghu Formation. In combination with detailed petrology, well log, and seismic facies analysis, the secular evolution of the sedimentary facies distribution pattern during the accumulation of the Pinghu Formation is derived from the sand body prediction results. It is concluded that the sedimentary facies and sand body distribution pattern rely on the interplay between the hydrodynamics of fluvial and tidal driving forces from the continent and open ocean, respectively. Drops in the sea level led to the gradual weakening of tidal driving forces and relative increases in riverine driving forces. The direction of the sand body distribution pattern evolves from NE–SW oriented to NW–SE oriented, and the dominant sand body changes from tidal facies to fluvial facies. In addition, the sea level drop led to the decrease in the water column salinity, redox condition, organic matter composition, and the development of coal seams, all of which directly influenced the quality of reservoir and source rocks. The sand bodies in SQ2 and SQ3 are favorable reservoirs in the Pinghu Formation due to their good reservoir properties and great thickness. The high-quality source rock in SQ1 could provide significant hydrocarbons and get preserved in the sand body within SQ2 and SQ3. This contribution provides an insight into the control of the sea level change over the development of hydrocarbon reservoirs in the petroleum system from marginal-marine environments such as the Xihu Sag.