bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Fully automatic transfer and measurement system for structural superlubric materials
Authors: Chen Li , Lin Cong , Shi Diwei , Huang Xuanyu , Zheng Quanshui , Nie Jinhui , Ma Ming
Published: October 2023

Structural superlubricity, a state of nearly zero friction and no wear between two contact surfaces under relative sliding, holds immense potential for research and application prospects in micro-electro-mechanical systems devices, mechanical engineering, and energy resources. A critical step towards the practical application of structural superlubricity is the mass transfer and high throughput performance evaluation. Limited by the yield rate of material preparation, existing automated systems, such as roll printing or massive stamping, are inadequate for this task. In this paper, a machine learning-assisted system is proposed to realize fully automated selective transfer and tribological performance measurement for structural superlubricity materials. Specifically, the system has a judgment accuracy of over 98% for the selection of micro-scale graphite flakes with structural superlubricity properties and complete the 100 graphite flakes assembly array to form various pre-designed patterns within 100 mins, which is 15 times faster than manual operation. Besides, the system is capable of automatically measuring the tribological performance of over 100 selected flakes on Si3N4, delivering statistical results for new interface which is beyond the reach of traditional methods. With its high accuracy, efficiency, and robustness, this machine learning-assisted system promotes the fundamental research and practical application of structural superlubricity.
Colossal negative magnetoresistance in field-induced Weyl semimetal of magnetic half-Heusler compound
Authors: Ueda Kentaro , Yu Tonghua , Hirayama Motoaki , Kurokawa Ryo , Nakajima Taro , Saito Hiraku , Kriener Markus , Hoshino Manabu , Hashizume Daisuke , Arima Taka-hisa , Arita Ryotaro , Tokura Yoshinori
Published: October 2023

The discovery of topological insulators and semimetals triggered enormous interest in exploring emergent electromagnetic responses in solids. Particular attention has been focused on ternary half-Heusler compounds, whose electronic structure bears analogy to the topological zinc-blende compounds while also including magnetic rare-earth ions coupled to conduction electrons. However, most of the research in this system has been in band-inverted zero-gap semiconductors such as GdPtBi, which still does not fully exhaust the large potential of this material class. Here, we report a less-studied member of half-Heusler compounds, HoAuSn, which we show is a trivial semimetal or narrow-gap semiconductor at zero magnetic field but undergoes a field-induced transition to a Weyl semimetal, with a negative magnetoresistance exceeding four orders of magnitude at low temperatures. The combined study of Shubnikov-de Haas oscillations and first-principles calculation suggests that the exchange field from Ho 4f moments reconstructs the band structure to induce Weyl points which play a key role in the strong suppression of large-angle carrier scattering. Our findings demonstrate the unique mechanism of colossal negative magnetoresistance and provide pathways towards realizing topological electronic states in a large class of magnetic half-Heusler compounds.
PdCu nanoalloy decorated photocatalysts for efficient and selective oxidative coupling of methane in flow reactors
Authors: Li Xiyi , Wang Chao , Yang Jianlong , Xu Youxun , Yang Yi , Yu Jiaguo , Delgado Juan J. , Martsinovich Natalia , Sun Xiao , Zheng Xu-Sheng , Huang Weixin , Tang Junwang
Published: October 2023

Methane activation by photocatalysis is one of the promising sustainable technologies for chemical synthesis. However, the current efficiency and stability of the process are moderate. Herein, a PdCu nanoalloy (~2.3 nm) was decorated on TiO2, which works for the efficient, stable, and selective photocatalytic oxidative coupling of methane at room temperature. A high methane conversion rate of 2480 μmol g−1 h−1 to C2 with an apparent quantum efficiency of ~8.4% has been achieved. More importantly, the photocatalyst exhibits the turnover frequency and turnover number of 116 h−1 and 12,642 with respect to PdCu, representing a record among all the photocatalytic processes (λ > 300 nm) operated at room temperature, together with a long stability of over 112 hours. The nanoalloy works as a hole acceptor, in which Pd softens and weakens C-H bond in methane and Cu decreases the adsorption energy of C2 products, leading to the high efficiency and long-time stability.
Synthesis of piperidines and pyridine from furfural over a surface single-atom alloy Ru1CoNP catalyst
Authors: Qi Haifeng , Li Yurou , Zhou Zhitong , Cao Yueqiang , Liu Fei , Guan Weixiang , Zhang Leilei , Liu Xiaoyan , Li Lin , Su Yang , Junge Kathrin , Duan Xuezhi , Beller Matthias , Wang Aiqin , Zhang Tao
Published: October 2023

The sustainable production of value-added N-heterocycles from available biomass allows to reduce the reliance on fossil resources and creates possibilities for economically and ecologically improved synthesis of fine and bulk chemicals. Herein, we present a unique Ru1CoNP/HAP surface single-atom alloy (SSAA) catalyst, which enables a new type of transformation from the bio-based platform chemical furfural to give N-heterocyclic piperidine. In the presence of NH3 and H2, the desired product is formed under mild conditions with a yield up to 93%. Kinetic studies show that the formation of piperidine proceeds via a series of reaction steps. Initially, in this cascade process, furfural amination to furfurylamine takes place, followed by hydrogenation to tetrahydrofurfurylamine (THFAM) and then ring rearrangement to piperidine. DFT calculations suggest that the Ru1CoNP SSAA structure facilitates the direct ring opening of THFAM resulting in 5-amino-1-pentanol which is quickly converted to piperidine. The value of the presented catalytic strategy is highlighted by the synthesis of an actual drug, alkylated piperidines, and pyridine.
Development and validation of the pandemic fatigue scale
Authors: Lilleholt Lau , Zettler Ingo , Betsch Cornelia , Böhm Robert
Published: October 2023

The existence and nature of pandemic fatigue–defined as a gradually emerging subjective state of weariness and exhaustion from, and a general demotivation towards, following recommended health-protective behaviors, including keeping oneself informed during a pandemic–has been debated. Herein, we introduce the Pandemic Fatigue Scale and show how pandemic fatigue evolved during the COVID-19 pandemic, using data from one panel survey and two repeated cross-sectional surveys in Denmark and Germany (overall N = 34,582). We map the correlates of pandemic fatigue and show that pandemic fatigue is negatively related to people’s self-reported adherence to recommended health-protective behaviors. Manipulating the (de)motivational aspect of pandemic fatigue in a preregistered online experiment (N = 1584), we further show that pandemic fatigue negatively affects people’s intention to adhere to recommended health-protective behaviors. Combined, these findings provide evidence not only for the existence of pandemic fatigue, but also its psychological and behavioral associations.
Oxygen respiration and polysaccharide degradation by a sulfate-reducing acidobacterium
Authors: Dyksma Stefan , Pester Michael
Published: October 2023

Sulfate-reducing microorganisms represent a globally important link between the sulfur and carbon cycles. Recent metagenomic surveys expanded the diversity of microorganisms putatively involved in sulfate reduction underscoring our incomplete understanding of this functional guild. Here, we use genome-centric metatranscriptomics to study the energy metabolism of Acidobacteriota that carry genes for dissimilation of sulfur compounds in a long-term continuous culture running under alternating anoxic and oxic conditions. Differential gene expression analysis reveals the unique metabolic flexibility of a pectin-degrading acidobacterium to switch from sulfate to oxygen reduction when shifting from anoxic to oxic conditions. The combination of facultative anaerobiosis and polysaccharide degradation expands the metabolic versatility among sulfate-reducing microorganisms. Our results highlight that sulfate reduction and aerobic respiration are not mutually exclusive in the same organism, sulfate reducers can mineralize organic polymers, and anaerobic mineralization of complex organic matter is not necessarily a multi-step process involving different microbial guilds but can be bypassed by a single microbial species.
Achieving decent living standards in emerging economies challenges national mitigation goals for CO2 emissions
Authors: Huo Jingwen , Meng Jing , Zheng Heran , Parikh Priti , Guan Dabo
Published: October 2023

Emerging economies, low- and middle-income countries experiencing rapid population and GDP growth, face the challenge of improving their living standards while stabilizing CO2 emissions to meet net-zero goals. In this study, we quantify the CO2 emissions required for achieving decent living standards (DLS) in emerging economies. The results show that, compared to other regions, achieving DLS in emerging Asian and African economies will result in more additional CO2 emissions, particularly in the DLS indicators of Mobility and Electricity. Achievement of DLS in emerging economies will result in 8.6 Gt of additional CO2 emissions, which should not jeopardize global climate targets. However, a concerning trend arises as more than half of the emerging economies (62 out of 121) will face substantial challenges in aligning their expected emission growth for achieving DLS with their national emission mitigation targets.
Positive regulation of oxidative phosphorylation by nuclear myosin 1 protects cells from metabolic reprogramming and tumorigenesis in mice
Authors: Venit Tomas , Sapkota Oscar , Abdrabou Wael Said , Loganathan Palanikumar , Pasricha Renu , Mahmood Syed Raza , El Said Nadine Hosny , Sherif Shimaa , Thomas Sneha , Abdelrazig Salah , Amin Shady , Bedognetti Davide , Idaghdour Youssef , Magzoub Mazin , Percipalle Piergiorgio
Published: October 2023

Metabolic reprogramming is one of the hallmarks of tumorigenesis. Here, we show that nuclear myosin 1 (NM1) serves as a key regulator of cellular metabolism. NM1 directly affects mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) by regulating mitochondrial transcription factors TFAM and PGC1α, and its deletion leads to underdeveloped mitochondria inner cristae and mitochondrial redistribution within the cell. These changes are associated with reduced OXPHOS gene expression, decreased mitochondrial DNA copy number, and deregulated mitochondrial dynamics, which lead to metabolic reprogramming of NM1 KO cells from OXPHOS to aerobic glycolysis.This, in turn, is associated with a metabolomic profile typical for cancer cells, namely increased amino acid-, fatty acid-, and sugar metabolism, and increased glucose uptake, lactate production, and intracellular acidity. NM1 KO cells form solid tumors in a mouse model, suggesting that the metabolic switch towards aerobic glycolysis provides a sufficient carcinogenic signal. We suggest that NM1 plays a role as a tumor suppressor and that NM1 depletion may contribute to the Warburg effect at the onset of tumorigenesis.
Subventricular zone cytogenesis provides trophic support for neural repair in a mouse model of stroke
Authors: Williamson Michael R. , Le Stephanie P. , Franzen Ronald L. , Donlan Nicole A. , Rosow Jill L. , Nicot-Cartsonis Mathilda S. , Cervantes Alexis , Deneen Benjamin , Dunn Andrew K. , Jones Theresa A. , Drew Michael R.
Published: October 2023

Stroke enhances proliferation of neural precursor cells within the subventricular zone (SVZ) and induces ectopic migration of newborn cells towards the site of injury. Here, we characterize the identity of cells arising from the SVZ after stroke and uncover a mechanism through which they facilitate neural repair and functional recovery. With genetic lineage tracing, we show that SVZ-derived cells that migrate towards cortical photothrombotic stroke in mice are predominantly undifferentiated precursors. We find that ablation of neural precursor cells or conditional knockout of VEGF impairs neuronal and vascular reparative responses and worsens recovery. Replacement of VEGF is sufficient to induce neural repair and recovery. We also provide evidence that CXCL12 from peri-infarct vasculature signals to CXCR4-expressing cells arising from the SVZ to direct their ectopic migration. These results support a model in which vasculature surrounding the site of injury attracts cells from the SVZ, and these cells subsequently provide trophic support that drives neural repair and recovery.
Photothermally heated colloidal synthesis of nanoparticles driven by silica-encapsulated plasmonic heat sources
Authors: Biswas Aritra , Lemcoff Nir , Shelonchik Ofir , Yesodi Doron , Yehezkel Elad , Finestone Ella Yonit , Upcher Alexander , Weizmann Yossi
Published: October 2023

Using photons to drive chemical reactions has become an increasingly important field of chemistry. Plasmonic materials can provide a means to introduce the energy necessary for nucleation and growth of nanoparticles by efficiently converting visible and infrared light to heat. Moreover, the formation of crystalline nanoparticles has yet to be included in the extensive list of plasmonic photothermal processes. Herein, we establish a light-assisted colloidal synthesis of iron oxide, silver, and palladium nanoparticles by utilizing silica-encapsulated gold bipyramids as plasmonic heat sources. Our work shows that the silica surface chemistry and localized thermal hotspot generated by the plasmonic nanoparticles play crucial roles in the formation mechanism, enabling nucleation and growth at temperatures considerably lower than conventional heating. Additionally, the photothermal method is extended to anisotropic geometries and can be applied to obtain intricate assemblies inaccessible otherwise. This study enables photothermally heated nanoparticle synthesis in solution through the plasmonic effect and demonstrates the potential of this methodology.
Gottesman-Kitaev-Preskill qubit synthesizer for propagating light
Authors: Takase Kan , Fukui Kosuke , Kawasaki Akito , Asavanant Warit , Endo Mamoru , Yoshikawa Jun-ichi , van Loock Peter , Furusawa Akira
Published: October 2023

Practical quantum computing requires robust encoding of logical qubits in physical systems to protect fragile quantum information. Currently, the lack of scalability limits the logical encoding in most physical systems, and thus the high scalability of propagating light can be a game changer. However, propagating light also has difficulty in logical encoding due to weak nonlinearity. Here, we propose a synthesizer that encodes Gottesman-Kitaev-Preskill (GKP) qubits in propagating light by exploiting the nonlinearity of photon detectors. This synthesizer is based on an approach what we call Gaussian breeding, leading to the following four advantages: (i) systematic and rigorous synthesis of arbitrary GKP qubits, (ii) use of minimal resources, (iii) high fidelity and high success probability, and (iv) robustness against loss. There has been no protocol that incorporates all these advantages, and thus the proposed synthesizer excels in both performance and feasibility. By employing our method, one can generate GKP qubits using a few to several squeezed light sources, beam splitters and photon detectors.
Large anomalous Hall effect and unusual domain switching in an orthorhombic antiferromagnetic material NbMnP
Authors: Kotegawa Hisashi , Kuwata Yoshiki , Huyen Vu Thi Ngoc , Arai Yuki , Tou Hideki , Matsuda Masaaki , Takeda Keiki , Sugawara Hitoshi , Suzuki Michi-To
Published: October 2023

Specific antiferromagnetic (AF) spin configurations generate large anomalous Hall effects (AHEs) even at zero magnetic field through nonvanishing Berry curvature in momentum space. In addition to restrictions on AF structures, suitable control of AF domains is essential to observe this effect without cancellations among its domains; therefore, compatible materials remain limited. Here we show that an orthorhombic noncollinear AF material, NbMnP, acquired AF structure-based AHE and controllability of the AF domains. Theoretical calculations indicated that a large Hall conductivity of ~230 Ω−1cm−1 originated from the AF structure of NbMnP. Symmetry considerations explained the production of a small net magnetization, whose anisotropy enabled the generation and cancellation of the Hall responses using magnetic fields in different directions. Finally, asymmetric hysteresis in NbMnP shows potential for the development of controllability of responses in AF materials.
ZTBus: A Large Dataset of Time-Resolved City Bus Driving Missions
Authors: Widmer Fabio , Ritter Andreas , Onder Christopher H.
Published: October 2023

This paper presents the Zurich Transit Bus (ZTBus) dataset, which consists of data recorded during driving missions of electric city buses in Zurich, Switzerland. The data was collected over several years on two trolley buses as part of multiple research projects. It involves more than a thousand missions across all seasons, each mission usually covering a full day of operation. The ZTBus dataset contains detailed information on the vehicle’s power demand, propulsion system, odometry, global position, ambient temperature, door openings, number of passengers, dispatch patterns within the public transportation network, etc. All signals are synchronized in time and include an absolute timestamp in tabular form. The dataset can be used as a foundation for a variety of studies and analyses. For example, the data can serve as a basis for simulations to estimate the performance of different public transit vehicle types, or to evaluate and optimize control strategies of hybrid electric vehicles. Furthermore, numerous influencing factors on vehicle operation, such as traffic, passenger volume, etc., can be analyzed in detail.
Investigating links between creativity anxiety, creative performance, and state-level anxiety and effort during creative thinking
Authors: Daker Richard J. , Viskontas Indre V. , Porter Grace F. , Colaizzi Griffin A. , Lyons Ian M. , Green Adam E.
Published: October 2023

Identifying ways to enable people to reach their creative potential is a core goal of creativity research with implications for education and professional attainment. Recently, we identified a potential barrier to creative achievement: creativity anxiety (i.e., anxiety specific to creative thinking). Initial work found that creativity anxiety is associated with fewer real-world creative achievements. However, the more proximal impacts of creativity anxiety remain unexplored. In particular, understanding how to overcome creativity anxiety requires understanding how creativity anxiety may or may not impact creative cognitive performance, and how it may relate to state-level anxiety and effort while completing creative tasks. The present study sought to address this gap by measuring creativity anxiety alongside several measures of creative performance, while concurrently surveying state-level anxiety and effort. Results indicated that creativity anxiety was, indeed, predictive of poor creative performance, but only on some of the tasks included. We also found that creativity anxiety predicted both state anxiety and effort during creative performance. Interestingly, state anxiety and effort did not explain the associations between creativity anxiety and creative performance. Together, this work suggests that creativity anxiety can often be overcome in the performance of creative tasks, but likewise points to increased state anxiety and effort as factors that may make creative performance and achievement fragile in more demanding real-world contexts.
A hybrid attention and dilated convolution framework for entity and relation extraction and mining
Authors: Shan Yuxiang , Lu Hailiang , Lou Weidong
Published: October 2023

Mining entity and relation from unstructured text is important for knowledge graph construction and expansion. Recent approaches have achieved promising performance while still suffering from inherent limitations, such as the computation efficiency and redundancy of relation prediction. In this paper, we propose a novel hybrid attention and dilated convolution network (HADNet), an end-to-end solution for entity and relation extraction and mining. HADNet designs a novel encoder architecture integrated with an attention mechanism, dilated convolutions, and gated unit to further improve computation efficiency, which achieves an effective global receptive field while considering local context. For the decoder, we decompose the task into three phases, relation prediction, entity recognition and relation determination. We evaluate our proposed model using two public real-world datasets that the experimental results demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed model.
Deep convolutional neural network with fusion strategy for skin cancer recognition: model development and validation
Authors: Juan Chao-Kuei , Su Yu-Hao , Wu Chen-Yi , Yang Chi-Shun , Hsu Chung-Hao , Hung Che-Lun , Chen Yi-Ju
Published: October 2023

We aimed to develop an accurate and efficient skin cancer classification system using deep-learning technology with a relatively small dataset of clinical images. We proposed a novel skin cancer classification method, SkinFLNet, which utilizes model fusion and lifelong learning technologies. The SkinFLNet's deep convolutional neural networks were trained using a dataset of 1215 clinical images of skin tumors diagnosed at Taichung and Taipei Veterans General Hospital between 2015 and 2020. The dataset comprised five categories: benign nevus, seborrheic keratosis, basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and malignant melanoma. The SkinFLNet's performance was evaluated using 463 clinical images between January and December 2021. SkinFLNet achieved an overall classification accuracy of 85%, precision of 85%, recall of 82%, F-score of 82%, sensitivity of 82%, and specificity of 93%, outperforming other deep convolutional neural network models. We also compared SkinFLNet's performance with that of three board-certified dermatologists, and the average overall performance of SkinFLNet was comparable to, or even better than, the dermatologists. Our study presents an efficient skin cancer classification system utilizing model fusion and lifelong learning technologies that can be trained on a relatively small dataset. This system can potentially improve skin cancer screening accuracy in clinical practice.
Relationships between Legionella and Aeromonas spp. and associated lake bacterial communities across seasonal changes in an anthropogenic eutrophication gradient
Authors: Grabowska-Grucza Karolina , Kiersztyn Bartosz
Published: October 2023

Anthropogenic eutrophication of lakes threatens their homeostasis and carries an increased risk of development of potentially pathogenic microorganisms. In this paper we show how eutrophication affects seasonal changes in the taxonomic structure of bacterioplankton and whether these changes are associated with the relative abundance of pathogenic bacteria of the genera Legionella and Aeromonas. The subject of the study was a unique system of interconnected lakes in northern Poland (Great Masurian Lakes system), characterized by the presence of eutrophic gradient. We found that the taxonomic structure of the bacterial community in eutrophic lakes was significantly season dependent. No such significant seasonal changes were observed in meso-eutrophic lakes. We found that there is a specific taxonomic composition of bacteria associated with the occurrence of Legionella spp. The highest positive significant correlations were found for families Pirellulaceae, Mycobacteriaceae and Gemmataceae. The highest negative correlations were found for the families Sporichthyaceae, Flavobacteriaceae, the uncultured families of class Verrucomicrobia and Chitinophagaceae. We used also an Automatic Neural Network model to estimate the relative abundance of Legionella spp. based on the relative abundance of dominant bacterial families. In the case of Aeromonas spp. we did not find a clear relationship with bacterial communities inhabiting lakes of different trophic state. Our research has shown that anthropogenic eutrophication causes significant changes in the taxonomic composition of lake bacteria and contributes to an increase in the proportion of potentially pathogenic Legionella spp.
Phytocompound screening, antioxidant activity and molecular docking studies of pomegranate seed: a preventive approach for SARS-CoV-2 pathogenesis
Authors: Ashfaq Fauzia , Barkat Md. Abul , Ahmad Tanvir , Hassan Mohd. Zaheen , Ahmad Rumana , Barkat Harshita , Idreesh Khan Mohammad , Saad Alhodieb Fahad , Asiri Yahya I. , Siddiqui Sahabjada
Published: October 2023

A global hazard to public health has been generated by the coronavirus infection 2019 (COVID-19), which is spreading quickly. Pomegranate is a strong source of antioxidants and has demonstrated a number of pharmacological characteristics. This work was aimed to analyze the phytochemicals present in ethanolic pomegranate seed extract (PSE) and their in vitro antioxidant potential and further in-silico evaluation for antiviral potential against crystal structure of two nucleocapsid proteins i.e., N-terminal RNA binding domain (NRBD) and C-terminal Domain (CTD) of SARS-CoV-2. The bioactive components from ethanolic extract of PSE were assessed by gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy (GC–MS). Free radical scavenging activity of PSE was determined using DPPH dye. Molecular docking was executed through the Glide module of Maestro software. Lipinski’s 5 rule was applied for drug-likeness characteristics using cheminformatics Molinspiration software while OSIRIS Data Warrior V5.5.0 was used to predict possible toxicological characteristics of components. Thirty-two phytocomponents was detected in PSE by GC–MS technique. Free radical scavenging assay revealed the high antioxidant capacity of PSE. Docking analysis showed that twenty phytocomponents from PSE exhibited good binding affinity (Docking score ≥ − 1.0 kcal/mol) towards NRBD and CTD nucleocapsid protein. This result increases the possibility that the top 20 hits could prevent the spread of SARS-CoV-2 by concentrating on both nucleocapsid proteins. Moreover, molecular dynamics (MD) simulation using GROMACS was used to check their binding efficacy and internal dynamics of top complexes with the lowest docking scores. The metrics root mean square deviation (RMSD), root mean square fluctuation (RMSF), intermolecular hydrogen bonding (H-bonds) and radius of gyration (Rg) revealed that the lead phytochemicals form an energetically stable complex with the target protein. Majority of the phytoconstituents exhibited drug-likeness with non-tumorigenic properties. Thus, the PSE phytoconstituents could be useful source of drug or nutraceutical development in SARS-CoV-2 pathogenesis.
Impact of foliar spray with Se, nano-Se and sodium sulfate on growth, yield and metabolic activities of red kidney bean
Authors: Abouelhamd Nada , Gharib Fatma Abd El Lateef , Amin A. A. , Ahmed Eman Zakaria
Published: October 2023

Sulfur (S) is an essential microelement for plants. Based on the chemical similarity between Se and S, selenium may affects sulphur uptake by plants. This work aimed at investigating the effect of foliar spray with sodium selenate, gum arabic coated selenium nanoparticles (GA-SeNPs ≈ 48.22 nm) and sodium sulfate on red kidney bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) plants. Each treatment was used at 0.0, 1, 5, 10 and 50 µM, alone or combination of sodium sulfate with either Se or nano-Se, each at 0.5, 2.5 and 5 µM concentrations. The effect of foliar spray on vegetative growth, seed quality, and some metabolic constituents of red kidney bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) plants were investigated. Selenium nanoparticles have been synthesized through the green route using gum arabic (as a stabilizing and coating agent. Foliar application of different concentrations of Se, nano-Se, Na2SO4 up to 10 μM and their interaction were effective in increasing the growth criteria (i.e. shoot and root lengths, plant fresh and dry weights, number of leaves and photosynthetic area (cm2 plant−1).There was also a significant increase in photosynthetic pigment contents, yield (i.e., 100-seed weight), total carbohydrate, crude proteins and mineral contents in both leaf as compared to their untreated control plants. Furthermore, interaction between sodium sulfate with nano-Se or Se, each at 5 µM significantly increased the vegetative growth, 100-seed weight, and pigment contents in leaves and improved the nutritional value and quality of red kidney bean seeds.
Investigation of olive leaf extract as a potential environmentally-friendly corrosion inhibitor for carbon steel
Authors: Elhady Sherifa , Inan Hatice , Shaaban Mahmoud , Fahim Irene S.
Published: October 2023

Corrosion constitutes a significant issue in industries that handle metals. Corrosion inhibitors with a low impact on the environment provide a significant economic benefit in various engineering applications. In this work, the effectiveness of olive leaves extract is evaluated as a cost-effective and environmentally-friendly corrosion inhibitor. The corrosion of carbon steel in different concentrations of hydrochloric acid (0.1, 1.0, and 2.0 M) when protected by an aqueous solution of olive leaf extract of concentrations ranging from 10 to 60 ppm is investigated. A green extraction process based upon water extraction is used to ensure minimum impact on the environment. Results show that the corrosion inhibition efficiency increased as the concentration of the olive leaf extract increased. An analysis of variance showed a significant effect of acidic molarity, temperature, and inhibitor concentration on the corrosion rate. A significant statistical model indicates that the inhibitor exhibits higher efficiencies at higher acidic molarity. Results of SEM and EDX also demonstrated that a protective film of the inhibitor on the specimen surface plays a role in corrosion inhibition, suggesting that the inhibitor molecules are adsorbed at the interface between the carbon steel and the acid solution. The study provides an insight on the corrosion mechanism and highlights the potential of olive oil extract as an eco-friendly alternative to traditional corrosion inhibitors.
Impact of critical eddy diffusivity on seasonal bloom dynamics of Phytoplankton in a global set of aquatic environments
Authors: Mondal Arpita , Banerjee Sandip
Published: October 2023

The intensity of eddy diffusivity and the spatial average of water velocity at the depths of the water column in oceans and lakes play a fundamental role in phytoplankton production and phytoplankton and zooplankton biomass, and community composition. The critical depth and intensity of turbulent mixing within the water column profoundly affect phytoplankton biomass, which depends on the sinking characteristic of planktonic algal species. We propose an Nutrient-Phytoplankton-Zooplankton (NPZ) model in 3D space with light and nutrient-limited growth in a micro-scale ecological study. To incorporate micro-scale observation of phytoplankton intermittency in bloom mechanism in stationary as well as oceanic turbulent flows, a moment closure method has been applied in this study. Experimental observations imply that an increase in turbulence is sometimes ecologically advantageous for non-motile planktonic algae. How do we ensure whether there will be a bloom cycle or whether there can be any bloom at all when the existing phytoplankton group is buoyant, heavier, motile, or non-motile? To address these questions, we have explored the effects of critical depth, the intensity of eddy diffusivity, spatial average of water velocity, on the concentration as well as horizontal and vertical distribution of phytoplankton and zooplankton biomass using a mathematical model and moment closure technique. We quantify a critical threshold value of eddy diffusivity and the spatial average of water velocity and observe the corresponding changes in the phytoplankton bloom dynamics. Our results highlight the importance of eddy diffusivity and the spatial average of water velocity on seasonal bloom dynamics and also mimic different real-life bloom scenarios in Mikawa Bay (Japan), Tokyo Bay (Japan), Arakawa River (Japan), the Baltic Sea, the North Atlantic Ocean, Gulf Alaska, the North Arabian Sea, the Cantabrian Sea, Lake Nieuwe Meer (Netherlands) and several shallower lakes.
Study on the influence of slit structure on safe and efficient directional fracture blasting effect
Authors: Tian Yingxiang , Zhang Yiping , Lin Huaying , Chi Enan
Published: October 2023

In order to study the influence of slit structure on the blasting effect of slit charge, the super dynamic strain test system and photographic equipment were used to study the dynamic response of slit charge blasting and the distribution of blasting cracks under different slit shapes and slit angles. The results show that changing the shape of the slit does not make the energy-gathering and damage-reducing blasting effect of the slit cartridge disappear, but it will affect its effect. Compared with the round hole slit, the peak strain in the slit direction of the strip slit cartridge blast is larger, the directional crack forming is more obvious, and the blasting effect is better. The energy accumulation and loss reduction effect of the blasting of the strip slotted cartridge increase first and then decrease with the increase of the slit angle. When the slit angle is 20°, the energy accumulation and loss reduction effect of strip slit charge blasting are the largest, the distribution of blasting cracks is the best, and the directional fracture blasting effect of slit charge is the best. Finally, based on the research results of model test, combined with the actual situation of the construction site, the slotted cartridge is applied to the pre-splitting blasting of open-pit slope. Compared with the ordinary cartridge pre-splitting blasting, the slope roughness after blasting is reduced by 46.2%, the half-hole rate of blast hole is increased by 20.5%, the blasting vibration intensity is reduced by 60.3%, and the directional fracture control blasting effect is good.
Orbital blood vessels changes on color duplex imaging in diabetics with and without diabetic retinopathy
Authors: Noureldine Alia M. , Abdelmaksoud Aya Montasser Sayed , Mostafa Hisham Adel Abdel Fatah , Macky Tamer , ElBohy Abo Elmagd
Published: October 2023

To compare changes in ophthalmic artery (OA) and its branches in diabetics with and without diabetic retinopathy (DR) using color duplex imaging (CDI), and to correlate these changes with the disease variables. 60 eyes of 60 diabetic patients were enrolled, divided into 3 groups: without DR (Group A), with Non-Proliferative DR (Group B) and with Proliferative DR (PDR) (Group C). Laboratory testing including HbA1c was done. Patients underwent CDI, by which OA, Central Retinal Artery (CRA) and Ciliary Arteries were identified; for each of them we measured Peak systolic velocity (PSV), End Diastolic velocity (EDV) and Resistivity Index (RI). Results were compared to clinical, laboratory and fundus examination. OA EDV was significantly lower and OA RI was found to be significantly higher in Group C (p = 0.027 and 0.025 respectively). CRA PSV and EDV were significantly lower in Group C (p = 0.017 and 0.001 respectively). PCA RI was significantly higher in Group C (p = 0.008). HbA1c was negatively correlated with CRA PSV (p = 0.041), also it was negatively correlated with CRA EDV (p = 0.0001), as well as with PCA EDV (p = 0.002). There was direct significant correlation between HbA1c and PCA RI (p = 0.012). Duration since diagnosis was negatively correlated with CRA EDV (p = 0.004). Multivariate linear regression showed that DR is an independent predictor for low OA EDV, high OA RI, low CRA EDV and high PCA RI. DR is an independent risk factor for orbital and ocular vessels flow alteration, thus can be used as a prognostic tool in diabetic patients. CDI can be reliably used in diabetics to predict early changes or progression of DR.
Increase of radiologically determined muscle area in patients with liver cirrhosis after transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt
Authors: March Christine , Thormann Maximilian , Geipel Sarah , Sowa Jan-Peter , Barajas Ordonez Felix , Pech Maciej , Omari Jazan , Lemmer Peter
Published: October 2023

Sarcopenia is common in patients with liver cirrhosis and related to higher mortality. Implantation of a transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) is a feasible method for reducing cirrhosis-related portal hypertension, but also possible improvement of the patient`s muscle status. We aimed to analyze changes in muscle quantity and prevalence of sarcopenia after TIPS. We retrospectively surveyed the muscle status in 52 patients (mean age 54.2 years) before and after TIPS by evaluating skeletal (SMI) and psoas muscle indices (PMI) in CT and MR images. Model for End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD), Freiburg index of post-TIPS survival (FIPS), and their underlying laboratory parameters (e.g., Albumin) were analyzed. Prevalence of sarcopenia was 84.6%. After a median follow-up of 16.5 months after TIPS, SMI (0.020) and PMI (p < 0.001) increased, and sarcopenia decreased by 14.8% (0.109). MELD and PMI after TIPS were negatively correlated (r = − 0.536, p < 0.001). Albumin levels increased in patients with increased SMI after TIPS (p = 0.022). Confirming the positive impact of TIPS implantation on muscle indices in patients with liver cirrhosis, we found indications for improved survival and possible indications for altered metabolism with increased albumin levels in patients with increased muscle quantity.
Assessment of early diabetic retinopathy severity using ultra-widefield Clarus versus conventional five-field and ultra-widefield Optos fundus imaging
Authors: Xiao Yuanyuan , Dan Handong , Du Xiaofeng , Michaelide Michel , Nie Xiaodong , Wang Wanxiao , Zheng Miao , Wang Dongdong , Huang Zixu , Song Zongming
Published: October 2023

To compare early diabetic retinopathy (DR) severity level and the abilities in detecting early DR lesions among conventional five-field, ultrawide-field (UWF) Optos, and UWF Clarus fundus imaging methods. This was a single-center, prospective, clinic-based, and comparative study. In total, 157 consecutive patients with diabetes mellitus were enrolled in this study. All patients underwent comprehensive ophthalmological examinations. Following mydriasis, each eye was examined with conventional five-field, UWF Optos, and UWF Clarus fundus imaging methods. The initial UWF images were overlaid with a template mask that obscured the retina, which created a five-field view from UWF images (covered UWF images). The covered UWF images were then graded, after which the template mask was removed, and the original UWF images were also evaluated. All images were graded using the International Clinical DR severity scale. DR grades were compared and analyzed by weighted kappa statistics among the three fundus imaging methods. In total, 157 consecutive patients with diabetes (302 eyes) were enrolled in this study. Weighted kappa statistics for agreement were 0.471 (five-field vs. covered Optos), 0.809 (five-field vs. covered Clarus), 0.396 (covered Optos vs. covered Clarus), 0.463 (five-field vs. Optos), 0.521 (five-field vs. Clarus 133°), 0.500 (five-field vs. Clarus 200°), 0.323 (Optos vs. Clarus 133°), and 0.349 (Optos vs. Clarus 200°). The area under curve of covered Clarus images was higher than that of conventional five-field images at three different thresholds. Compared with conventional five-field and Optos fundus imaging methods, Clarus fundus imaging methods exhibited excellent performance in assessing early DR severity. Thus, Clarus fundus imaging methods were superior for early detection of DR.
Deep learning based channel estimation method for mine OFDM system
Authors: Wang Mingbo , Wang Anyi , Liu Zhaoyang , Chai Jing
Published: October 2023

In this paper, we present a channel estimation approach based on deep learning to solve the problem that the orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) system channel estimation algorithm cannot accurately obtain the channel state information in the complex environment of the mine, resulting in system performance degradation. First, LS channel estimation matrix is considered as a low-resolution image and the actual channel state information is considered as a high-resolution image. Then the optimization of the LS channel estimation matrix is achieved by the FSRCNN image super-resolution algorithm. We validate the effectiveness of the proposed algorithm by conducting experiments in different channel environments, different number of pilots, and mismatched signal-to-noise ratio scenarios. The simulation results show that the proposed scheme is much better than the traditional LS channel estimation method and the DFT-LS channel estimation method, and the accuracy of the proposed scheme approaches that of the MMSE channel estimation method when the number of pilots is low.
Characteristics of multi-channel intermuscular directional coupling based on time-varying partial directional coherence analysis
Authors: Du Yihao , Fan Qiang , Chang Chaoqun , Bai Xiaolin , Cao Tianfu , Zhang Yanfu , Wang Xiaoran , Xie Ping
Published: October 2023

The human body transmits directional information between muscles during upper limb movements, and this will be particularly evident when the dominant muscle changes during movement transitions. By capturing the electromyography (EMG) signals of wrist flexion and extension continuous transition movements, we investigated the characteristics of multichannel intermuscular directional coupling and directional information transmission, and consequently explored the control mechanism of Central nervous system (CNS) and the coordination mechanism of motor muscles. Multi-channel EMG was collected from 12 healthy subjects under continuous translational movements of wrist flexion and extension, and the time-varying biased directional coherence analysis (TVPDC) model was constructed using partial directional coherence analysis (PDC) frequency domain directionality to study the directional information transfer characteristics in the time–frequency domain, screen closely related muscle pairs and perform directional coupling significance analysis. Palmaris longus (PL) played a dominant role under wrist flexion movements(WF), Extensor Carpi Radialis (ECR) played a dominant role under wrist extension movements(WE), and the remaining muscles responded to them with information and Biceps Brachii (BB) played a responsive role throughout the movement; flexor pairs had the highest positive coupling values in the beta band during Conversion action1 (MC1) and WF phases, and extensor pairs had the highest positive coupling values in the gamma band during Conversion action2(MC2) phase and the highest coupling values in the beta band during WE phase. TVPDC can effectively analyze the multichannel intermuscular directional coupling and information transmission relationship of surface electromyography under wrist flexion and extension transition movements, providing a reference for exploring the control mechanism of CNS and abnormal control mechanism in patients with motor dysfunction in a new perspective.
Revisiting the relationship between illusory hand ownership induced by visuotactile synchrony and cardiac interoceptive accuracy
Authors: Yamagata Toyoki , Ichikawa Kaito , Mizutori Shogo , Haruki Yusuke , Ogawa Kenji
Published: October 2023

Multisensory integration plays an important role in the experience of the bodily self. Recently, the relationship between exteroception and interoception has been actively debated. The first evidence was a report that the susceptibility of the sense of ownership over a fake hand (i.e., illusory hand ownership: IHO) in the typical rubber hand illusion is negatively modulated by the accuracy of the heartbeat perception (i.e., cardiac interoceptive accuracy: CIA). If reliable, this would suggest an antagonism between the exteroceptive and interoceptive cues underlying the bodily self. However, some inconsistent data have been reported, raising questions about the robustness of the initial evidence. To investigate this robustness, we estimated the extent of the modulatory effect of CIA on IHO susceptibility by applying Bayesian hierarchical modeling to two independent datasets. Overall, our results did not support that IHO susceptibility is modulated by CIA. The present estimates with high uncertainty cannot exclude the hypothesis that the relationship between IHO susceptibility and CIA is so weak as to be negligible. Further studies with larger sample sizes are needed to reach a conclusion about the extent of the modulatory effect. These findings highlight the lack of robustness of key evidence supporting the “antagonism hypothesis”.
Experimental study on the buffering effects of urban trees group in dike-break floods
Authors: Liu Shuyu , Zhang Xiaolei , Xu Zhiheng , Zhao Jiankun , Dong Boliang
Published: October 2023

The process of dike-break flood propagation in typical urban street is highly complex. The presence of buildings and trees groups in urban street profoundly alters the flood dynamics, impacting the drainage capacity of the area. In this study, a generalized sink model representing a typical urban street was established, including trees groups, buildings, sidewalks, and stormwater drainage systems. The study measured the fluctuation of water levels within the street block and the pressure variation in the pressurized stormwater drainage network during the dike-break flood propagation. Furthermore, it conducted a comparative analysis to assess the influence of different arrangements of trees groups on the maximum water depth in buildings and the discharge capacity of the pressurized stormwater drainage network. Dike-break floods give rise to large-scale water leaps and the formation of thin layer water sheets near the buildings under the influence of buildings, water tank sidewalls, and tree groups. The water leap zones exhibit lateral migration and superposition on the sidewalks during the flood propagation, gradually dissipating and disappearing in the longitudinal direction of the street. In the presence of tree groups, the water levels significantly decrease in buildings and downstream street, while the discharge capacity of the pressurized stormwater drainage network shows a slight improvement as the road’s flood-carrying capacity increases. The pressure in the main pipes fluctuates due to the switching of the grate inlet drainage mode and the hydraulic transition process in the branch pipes. The research findings not only provide valuable validation data for numerical simulations but also offer theoretical guidance for urban flood management and landscape design.