bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
In Situ Electrodeposition of Pb and Ag Applied on Fluorine Doped Tin Oxide Substrates: Comparative Experimental and Theoretical Study
Authors: Rebey Ahmed , Hamdi Ridha , Massoudi Imen , Hammami Bechir
Published: December 2022

A comparison between lead and silver electrodeposition onto fluorine-doped tin oxide (FTO) electrodes from nitrate solution was investigated in this work. Chronoamperometry has been used as an in situ technique to track the dynamics of the electrodeposition during advanced nucleation phases. The experimental results are correlated with a theoretical evaluation. It has shown that they have a strong correlation with each other. After that, the obtained deposits are characterized and compared as well by X-ray diffraction (XRD), energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and impedance spectroscopy. The data reflects the effect of the material under investigation on current density, deposition density, and dielectric properties. Additionally, the electrodeposition approach (a two-in-one technique) can be followed in order to make well-controlled thin films that can be used for various purposes in addition to recovering heavy metals from wastewater.
D-Ribose-Induced Glycation and Its Attenuation by the Aqueous Extract of Nigella sativa Seeds
Authors: Balyan Prairna , Ola Mohammad Shamsul , Alhomida Abdullah S. , Ali Ahmad
Published: December 2022

Background and Objectives: Glycation and oxidative stress are the major contributing factors responsible for diabetes and its secondary complications. Aminoguanidine, a hydrazine derivative, is the only approved drug that reduces glycation with its known side effects. As a result, research into medicinal plants with antioxidant and antiglycation properties is beneficial in treating diabetes and its consequences. This investigation aimed to examine the efficacy of the aqueous extract of Nigella sativa seeds against the D-ribose-induced glycation system. Materials and Methods: The suppression of α-amylase and α-glucosidase enzymes were used to assess the antidiabetic capacity. UV–Visible, fluorescence, and FTIR spectroscopy were used to characterize the Nigella sativa seed extract and its efficacy in preventing glycation. The inhibition of albumin glycation, fluorescent advanced glycation end products (AGEs) formation, thiol oxidation, and amyloid formation were used to evaluate the extracts’ antiglycation activity. In addition, the extent of glycoxidative DNA damage was analyzed using agarose gel electrophoresis. Results: The IC50 for the extract in the α-amylase and α-glucosidase enzyme inhibition assays were approximately 1.39 ± 0.016 and 1.01 ± 0.022 mg/mL, respectively. Throughout the investigation, it was found that the aqueous extract of Nigella sativa seeds (NSAE) inhibited the level of ketoamine, exerted a considerable drop in fluorescence intensity, and reduced carbonyl production and thiol modification when added to the D-ribose-induced glycation system. In addition, a reduction in the BSA-cross amyloid formation was seen in the Congo red, thioflavin T assay, and electrophoretic techniques. NSAE also exhibited a strong capability for DNA damage protection. Conclusion: It can be concluded that Nigella sativa could be used as a natural antidiabetic, antiglycation treatment and a cost-effective and environmentally friendly source of powerful bioactive chemicals.
Postoperative Pain Management after Full Endoscopic Lumbar Discectomy: An Observational Study
Authors: Lin Guang-Xun , Sun Li-Wei , Jhang Shang-Wun , Chen Chien-Min , Rui Gang , Hu Bao-Shan
Published: December 2022

Background: Surgical incision pain, rebound pain, and recurrence can manifest themselves in different forms of postoperative pain after full endoscopic lumbar discectomy (FELD). This study aims to evaluate various postoperative pains after FELD and summarize their characteristics. Methods: Data about the demographic characteristics of patients, pain intensity, and functional assessment results were collected from January 2016 to September 2019. Clinical outcomes including Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) and visual analog scale (VAS) scores, were obtained. Results: A total of 206 patients were enrolled. ODI and VAS of the patients significantly decreased after FELD at 12-month follow-up. A total of 193 (93.7%) patients had mild surgical incision pain after FELD and generally a VAS < 4, and it mostly resolved on its own within 3 days. A total of 12 (5.8%) patients experienced rebound pain, which was typically characterized by pain (mainly leg pain with or without back pain), generally occurring within 2 weeks after FELD and lasting < 3 weeks. The pain levels of rebound pain were equal to or less than those of preoperative pain, and generally scored a VAS of < 6. The recurrence rate was 4.4%. Recurrence often occurs within three months after surgery, with the pain level of the recurrence being greater than or equal to the preoperative pain. Conclusions: Different types of postoperative pain have their own unique characteristics and durations, and treatment options are also distinct. Conservative treatment and analgesia may be indicated for rebound pain and surgical incision pain, but recurrence usually requires surgical treatment.
The Efficacy of Urinary Continence in Patients Undergoing Robot-Assisted Radical Prostatectomy with Bladder-Prostatic Muscle Reconstruction and Bladder Neck Eversion Anastomosis
Authors: Luan Yang , Ding Xue-Fei , Lu Sheng-Ming , Huang Tian-Bao , Chen Ji , Xiao Qin , Wang Li-Ping , Chen Hao-Peng , Han Yue-Xing
Published: December 2022

Background and Objectives: To evaluate the efficacy of bladder-prostatic muscle reconstruction and bladder neck eversion anastomosis in the recovery of urinary continence after robot-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP). Materials and Methods: From January 2020 to May 2022, 69 patients who underwent RARP in our hospital were recruited. Thirty-seven patients underwent RARP with the Veil of Aphrodite technique (control group). On the basis of the control group, 32 patients underwent bladder-prostatic muscle reconstruction and bladder neck eversion anastomosis during RARP (observation group). The recovery of urinary continence was followed up at 24 h and 1, 4, 12, and 24 weeks after catheter removal. Results: There were no significant differences in operative time (127.76 ± 21.23 min vs. 118.85 ± 24.71 min), blood loss (118.27 ± 16.75 mL vs. 110.77 ± 19.63 mL), rate of leakage (3.13% vs. 2.70%), rate of positive surgical margin (6.25% vs. 10.81%), or postoperative Gleason score [7 (6–8) vs. 7 (7–8)] between the observation group and the control group (p > 0.05). After catheter removal, the rates of urinary continence at 24 h, 1 week, 4 weeks, 12 weeks, and 24 weeks were 46.88%, 68.75%, 84.38%, 90.63%, and 93.75% in the observation group, respectively. Meanwhile, the rates of urinary continence in the control group were 21.62%, 37.84%, 62.16%, 86.49%, and 91.89%, respectively. There was a significant difference between the two groups (p = 0.034), especially at 24 h, 1 week, and 4 weeks after catheter removal (p < 0.05). Conclusions: Bladder-prostatic muscle reconstruction and bladder neck eversion anastomosis were beneficial to the recovery of urinary continence after RARP, especially early urinary continence.
Synergistic Electric and Thermal Effects of Electrochromic Devices
Authors: Yuan Meng , Yin Hanlin , Liu Yitong , Wang Xiaohua , Yuan Long , Duan Yu
Published: December 2022

Electrochromic devices are the preferred devices for smart windows because they work independently of uncontrollable environmental factors and rely more on the user’s personal feelings to adjust actively. However, in practical applications, the ambient temperature still has an impact on device performance, such as durability, reversibility and switching performance, etc. These technical issues have significantly slowed down the commercialization of electrochromic devices (ECDs). It is necessary to investigate the main reasons for the influence of temperature on the device and make reasonable optimization to enhance the effectiveness of the device and extend its lifetime. In recent years, with the joint efforts of various outstanding research teams, the performance of electrochromic devices has been rapidly improved, with a longer lifetime, richer colors, and better color contrast. This review highlights the important research on temperature–dependent electrochromic properties in recent years. Also, the reported structures, mechanisms, characteristics, and methods for improving electrochromic properties are discussed in detail. In addition, the challenges and corresponding strategies in this field are presented in this paper. This paper will inspire more researchers to enrich the temperature–dependent properties of ECDs and their related fields with innovative means and methods to overcome the technical obstacles faced.
Rapid Detection of Lipopolysaccharide and Whole Cells of Francisella tularensis Based on Agglutination of Antibody-Coated Gold Nanoparticles and Colorimetric Registration
Authors: Byzova Nadezhda A. , Zherdev Anatoly V. , Gorbatov Alexey A. , Shevyakov Anton G. , Biketov Sergey F. , Dzantiev Boris B.
Published: December 2022

The paper presents development and characterization of a new bioanalytical test system for rapid detection of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and whole cells of Francisella tularensis, a causative agent of tularemia, in water samples. Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) coated by the obtained anti-LPS monoclonal antibodies were used for the assay. Their contact with antigen in tested samples leads to aggregation with a shift of absorption spectra from red to blue. Photometric measurements at 530 nm indicated the analyte presence. Three preparations of AuNPs with different diameters were compared, and the AuNPs having average diameter of 34 nm were found to be optimal. The assay is implemented in 20 min and is characterized by detection limits equal to 40 ng/mL for LPS and 3 × 104 CFU/mL for whole cells of F. tularensis. Thus, the proposed simple one-step assay integrates sensitivity comparable with other immunoassay of microorganisms and rapidity. Selectivity of the assay for different strains of F. tularensis was tested and the possibility to choose its variants with the use of different antibodies to distinguish virulent and non-virulent strains or to detect both kinds of F. tularensis was found. The test system has been successfully implemented to reveal the analyte in natural and tap water samples without the loss of sensitivity.
Obesity, Fat Distribution and Risk of Cancer in Women and Men: A Mendelian Randomisation Study
Authors: Loh Nellie Y. , Wang Wenyi , Noordam Raymond , Christodoulides Constantinos
Published: December 2022

Obesity and upper-body fat distribution are independent, cardiometabolic risk factors but whether they also display comparable associations with cancer risk is unknown. We investigated the causal relationships between body mass index (BMI) and BMI-adjusted waist-to-hip ratio (WHRadjBMI) and cancer risk and searched for potential drivers linking these traits to carcinogenesis using two-sample and multivariable Mendelian randomisation. In women, genetically instrumented higher BMI was associated with lower breast (OR = 0.87, 95% CI 0.81–0.93) and higher endometrial (OR = 1.75, 95% CI 1.55–1.96) cancer risk whilst WHRadjBMI was associated with higher colon cancer risk (OR = 1.22, 95% CI 1.07–1.42). In men, elevated BMI was associated with lower prostate cancer risk (OR = 0.91, 95% CI 0.85–0.98). Mechanistically, testosterone and insulin mediated 21% and 35%, respectively of the total, genetically determined association of BMI with endometrial cancer risk whilst HDL cholesterol and IGF-1 mediated 40% and 22%, respectively of the association between BMI and breast cancer risk. In men, testosterone mediated 21% of the association between BMI and prostate cancer risk. Colon cancer aside, the total amount of body fat might be more important than its location in modulating cancer susceptibility due to differential effects of obesity and fat distribution on adiposity-associated cancer drivers.
Potential Role of Bioactive Proteins and Peptides Derived from Legumes towards Metabolic Syndrome
Authors: Garcés-Rimón Marta , Morales Diego , Miguel-Castro Marta
Published: December 2022

Legumes have been widely consumed and used to isolate bioactive compounds, mainly proteins. The aim of this study was to review the beneficial actions of different legumes proteins and peptides updating the main findings that correlate legumes consumption and the effects on non-transmissible chronic diseases, specifically metabolic syndrome. An exhaustive revision of five relevant bioactivities (antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antihypertensive, hypocholesterolemic -all of them linked to metabolic syndrome- and antitumoral) of proteins and peptides from legumes focused on isolation and purification, enzymatic hydrolysis and in vitro gastrointestinal digestion was carried out. The promising potential of bioactive hydrolysates and peptides from pulses has been demonstrated by in vitro tests. However, only a few studies validated these biological activities using animal models. No clinical trials have been carried out yet; so further research is required to elucidate their effective health implications.
Resveratrol against Cervical Cancer: Evidence from In Vitro and In Vivo Studies
Authors: Nadile Matteo , Retsidou Maria Ilektra , Gioti Katerina , Beloukas Apostolos , Tsiani Evangelia
Published: December 2022

Cervical cancer affects many women worldwide, with more than 500,000 cases diagnosed and approximately 300,000 deaths each year. Resveratrol is a natural substance of the class of phytoalexins with a basic structure of stilbenes and has recently drawn scientific attention due to its anticancer properties. The purpose of this review is to examine the effectiveness of resveratrol against cervical cancer. All available in vitro and in vivo studies on cervical cancer were critically reviewed. Many studies utilizing cervical cancer cells in culture reported a reduction in proliferation, cell cycle arrest, and induction of apoptosis. Apart from apoptosis, induction of autophagy was seen in some studies. Importantly, many studies have shown a reduction in the HPV oncoproteins E6 and E7 and increased levels of the tumor suppressor p53 with resveratrol treatment. A few studies examined the effects of resveratrol administration in mice ectopic-xenografted with cervical cancer cells showing reduced tumor volume and weight. Overall, the scientific data show that resveratrol has the ability to target/inhibit certain signaling molecules (EGFR, VEGFR, PKC, JNK, ERK, NF-kB, and STAT3) involved in cervical cancer cell proliferation and survival. Further in vivo experiments and clinical studies are required to better understand the potential of resveratrol against cervical cancer.
Bioactive Oligopeptides from Ginseng (Panax ginseng Meyer) Suppress Oxidative Stress-Induced Senescence in Fibroblasts via NAD+/SIRT1/PGC-1α Signaling Pathway
Authors: Zhu Na , Xu Mei-Hong , Li Yong
Published: December 2022

The physicochemical properties and multiple bioactive effects of ginseng oligopeptides (GOPs), plant-derived small molecule bioactive peptides, suggest a positive influence on health span and longevity. Given this, cellular senescence is the initiating factor and key mechanism of aging in the organism, and thus the current study sought to explore the effects of GOPs on H2O2-induced cellular senescence and its potential mechanisms. Senescence was induced in mouse embryonic fibroblasts NIH/3T3 by 4 h of exposure to 200 µM H2O2 and confirmed using CCK-8 assay and Western blot analyses of p16INK4A and p21Waf1/Cip1 after 24 h of growth medium administration with or without GOPs supplementation (25, 50, and 100 µg/mL). We found that GOPs delayed oxidative stress-induced NIH/3T3 senescence by inhibiting the G1 phase arrest, increasing DNA synthesis in the S phase, decreasing the relative protein expression of p16INK4A and p21Waf1/Cip1, promoting cell viability, protecting DNA, and enhancing telomerase (TE) activity. Further investigation revealed that the increase in antioxidative capacity and anti-inflammation capacity might form the basis for the retarding of the senescence effects of GOPs. Furthermore, GOPs supplementation significantly improved mitochondrial function and mitochondrial biogenesis via the NAD+/SIRT1/PGC-1𝛼 pathway. These findings indicate that GOPs may have a positive effect on health span and lifespan extension via combating cellular senescence, oxidative stress, and inflammation, as well as modulating longevity regulating pathway NAD+/SIRT1/PGC-1𝛼.
A Multi-Spectral Thermal Gas Detection Imager Using Uncooled Infrared Camera
Authors: Cui Fang-Xiao , Zhao Yue , Wang An-Jing , Ma Feng-Xiang , Wu Jun , Li Yang-Yu , Li Da-Cheng , Dong Wang-Chao
Published: December 2022

Gas remote detection is useful for early warning of gas leakage and toxic chemicals. Optical gas imaging (OGI) built with an uncooled infrared camera is superior to cooled detectors in terms of cost. Current mainstream OGI technologies fall short in their detection of gases at ambient temperature and their ability to classify multiple gases. A multi-spectral uncooled imager is developed to try to solve these problems, which is constructed from a commercial uncooled thermal camera and wide band filters. To solve filter self-radiation and unevenness, a correction method is devised, with an ambient temperature blackbody placed in front and subtracted from the measured image. Based on waveband cutoffs, filters are classified into target-sensitive filters and background filters. Multi-spectra are simulated according to wide band filter transmittance, which can be used in gas classification. A sulfur hexafluoride (SF6) experiment is conducted outdoors at a distance of 10 m. An SVM model is trained to classify gas release in real time. Detection with a cold sky background is improved with the aid of data cube differences in a time sequence. The SF6 outdoor experiment concluded with preliminary effective results of ambient temperature gas remote detection.
Time-Based Formulation Strategies for Colon Drug Delivery
Authors: Gazzaniga Andrea , Moutaharrik Saliha , Filippin Ilaria , Foppoli Anastasia , Palugan Luca , Maroni Alessandra , Cerea Matteo
Published: December 2022

Despite poor absorption properties, delivery to the colon of bioactive compounds administered by the oral route has become a focus of pharmaceutical research over the last few decades. In particular, the high prevalence of Inflammatory Bowel Disease has driven interest because of the need for improved pharmacological treatments, which may provide high local drug concentrations and low systemic exposure. Colonic release has also been explored to deliver orally biologics having gut stability and permeability issues. For colon delivery, various technologies have been proposed, among which time-dependent systems rely on relatively constant small intestine transit time. Drug delivery platforms exploiting this physiological feature provide a lag time programmed to cover the entire small intestine transit and control the onset of release. Functional polymer coatings or capsule plugs are mainly used for this purpose, working through different mechanisms, such as swelling, dissolution/erosion, rupturing and/or increasing permeability, all activated by aqueous fluids. In addition, enteric coating is generally required to protect time-controlled formulations during their stay in the stomach and rule out the influence of variable gastric emptying. In this review, the rationale and main delivery technologies for oral colon delivery based on the time-dependent strategy are presented and discussed.
Co-Delivery System of Curcumin and Colchicine Using Functionalized Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticles Promotes Anticancer and Apoptosis Effects
Authors: AbouAitah Khaled , Soliman Ahmed A. F. , Swiderska-Sroda Anna , Nassrallah Amr , Smalc-Koziorowska Julita , Gierlotka Stanislaw , Lojkowski Witold
Published: December 2022

Purpose: Many natural agents have a high anticancer potential, and their combination may be advantageous for improved anticancer effects. Such agents, however, often are not water soluble and do not efficiently target cancer cells, and the kinetics of their action is poorly controlled. One way to overcome these barriers is to combine natural agents with nanoparticles. Our aim in the current study was to fabricate an anticancer nanoformulation for co-delivery of two natural agents, curcumin (CR) and colchicine (CL), with a core-shell structure. Using cancer cell lines, we compared the anticancer efficacy between the combination and a nanoformulation with CL alone. Methods: For the single-drug nanoformulation, we used phosphonate groups to functionalize mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) and loaded the MSNs with CL. Additional loading of this nanoformulation with CR achieved the co-delivery format. To create the structure with a core shell, we selected a chitosan–cellulose mixture conjugated with targeting ligands of folic acid for the coating. For evaluating anticancer and apoptosis effects, we assessed changes in important genes and proteins in apoptosis (p53, caspase-3, Bax, Bcl-2) in several cell lines (MCF-7, breast adenocarcinoma; HCT-116, colon carcinoma; HOS, human osteosarcoma; and A-549, non–small cell lung cancer). Results: Nanoformulations were successfully synthesized and contained 10.9 wt.% for the CL single-delivery version and 18.1 wt.% for the CL+CR co-delivery nanoformulation. Anticancer effects depended on treatment, cell line, and concentration. Co-delivery nanoformulations exerted anticancer effects that were significantly superior to those of single delivery or free CL or CR. Anticancer effects by cell line were in the order of HCT-116 > A549 > HOS > MCF-7. The lowest IC50 value was obtained for the nanoformulation consisting of CL and CR coated with a polymeric shell conjugated with FA (equivalent to 4.1 ± 0.05 µg/mL). With dual delivery compared with the free agents, we detected strongly increased p53, caspase-3, and Bax expression, but inhibition of Bcl-2, suggesting promotion of apoptosis. Conclusions: Our findings, although preliminary, indicate that the proposed dual delivery nanoformulation consisting of nanocore: MSNs loaded with CL and CR and coated with a shell of chitosan–cellulose conjugated folic acid exerted strong anticancer and apoptotic effects with potent antitumor activity against HCT-116 colon cells. The effect bested CL alone. Evaluating and confirming the efficacy of co-delivery nanoformulations will require in vivo studies.
The Illusions of Time Passage: Why Time Passage Is Real
Authors: Montemayor Carlos , Wittmann Marc
Published: December 2022

The passage of time pertains to the dynamic happening of anticipated future events merging into a present actuality and subsequently becoming the past. Philosophers and scientists alike often endorse the view that the passage of time is an illusion. Here we instead account for the phenomenology of time passage as a real psycho-biological phenomenon. We argue that the experience of time passage has a real and measurable basis as it arises from an internal generative model for anticipating upcoming events. The experience of passage is not merely a representation by a passive recipient of sensory stimulation but is generated by predictive processes of the brain and proactive sensorimotor activity of the whole body. Although some philosophical approaches to time consider some psycho-biological evidence, the biological basis of the passage of time has not been examined in detail from a thorough scientific perspective. This paper proposes to remedy this omission.
Porous Membranes of Polysulfone and Graphene Oxide Nanohybrids for Vanadium Redox Flow Battery
Authors: Lin Chien-Hong , Chien Ming-Yen , Chuang Yi-Cih , Lai Chao-Chi , Sun Yi-Ming , Liu Ting-Yu
Published: December 2022

Porous nanohybrid membranes of polysulfone (PSF) with graphene oxide (GO) nanosheets (PSF/GO membrane) were developed to serve as proton exchange membranes in a vanadium redox flow battery (VRFB). Various ratios of PSF/GO and thickness were investigated to evaluate the optimal voltage efficiency (VE), coulombic efficiency (CE), and energy efficiency (EE) of the VRFB. The pore size, distribution, and hydrophilicity of PSF/GO membranes were studied using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images and contact angles. Functional groups of GO were evaluated using Raman spectroscopy. The mechanical properties and thermal stability of PSF/GO membranes were analyzed using a tensile tester and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), respectively. The results show that the mechanical properties of the PSF porous membrane with GO nanosheets were significantly improved, indicating that the addition of graphene oxide nanosheets consolidated the internal structure of the PSF membrane. Cyclic voltammetry revealed an obviously different curve after the addition of GO nanosheets. The CE of the VRFB in the PSF/GO membrane was significantly higher than that in the pristine PSF membrane, increasing from 80% to 95% at 0.6 wt.% GO addition. Moreover, PSF/GO membranes displayed great chemical stability during long-term operation; thus, they can evolve as potential porous membranes for application in VRFBs for green energy storage.
Study on the Performances of Waste Battery Powder Modified Asphalt and Asphalt Mixture
Authors: Gan Xinli , Chen Peng , Yu Bin , Zhang Wengang
Published: December 2022

As an asphalt modifier, waste battery powder (WBP) has been proven to be possible. This paper studies the modification effect of WBP on asphalt. The Flight Test Instrumentation Requirements (FITR) of WBP, Dynamic Shear Rheology (DSR) test, and Full Section Fracture Energy Test (FSFET) of asphalt are carried out. The high-temperature rheological properties and low-temperature properties of WBP modified asphalt are analyzed. The high-temperature stability, low-temperature crack resistance and water stability of WBP modified asphalt mixture are tested. The research results show that the modification of asphalt by WBP is essentially physical modification but the mixing of WBP has a certain enhancement effect on the bond energy of the methylene group, which is helpful to improve the technical performance of modified asphalt. The proportion of elastic components in asphalt can be significantly increased by adding WBP, thus enhancing the deformation resistance of asphalt under high-temperature conditions. The dynamic shear modulus of 10% waste battery powder is about 1.5–2.0 times that of 0% waste battery powder. The mixing of WBP reduces the proportion of viscous components in asphalt which is unfavorable to the crack resistance under low temperatures. The greater the amount of WBP, the smaller the fracture energy density, the content of WBP is 6% and 10%, the fracture energy density is about 60–80% and 40–60% of the original asphalt, and the low temperature cracking resistance of asphalt decreases. The modification effect of WBP on asphalt is much lower than that of SBS.
Evaluation of the Strength of the Interface for Abaca Fiber Reinforced Hdpe and Biope Composite Materials, and Its Influence over Tensile Properties
Authors: Seculi Faust , Espinach Francesc X. , Julián Fernando , Delgado-Aguilar Marc , Mutjé Pere , Tarrés Quim
Published: December 2022

In this study, tensile properties of abaca-reinforced HDPE and BioPE composites have been researched. The strength of the interface between the matrix and the reinforcement of a composite material noticeably impacts its mechanical properties. Thus, the strength of the interface between the reinforcements and the matrices has been studied using micromechanics models. Natural fibers are hydrophilic and the matrices are hydrophobic, resulting in weak interfaces. In the study, a coupling agent based on polyethylene functionalised with maleic acid was used, to increase the strength of the interface. The results show that 8 wt% coupling agent contents noticeably increased the tensile strength of the composites and the interface. Tensile properties obtained for HDPE and BioPE-based coupled composites were statistically similar or better for BioPE-based materials. The use of bio-based matrices increases the possibility of decreasing the environmental impact of the materials, obtaining fully bio-based composites. The article shows the ability of fully bio-based composites to replace others using oil-based matrices.
Biopolymeric Capsules Containing Different Oils as Rejuvenating Agents for Asphalt Self-Healing: A Novel Multivariate Approach
Authors: Concha Jose L. , Arteaga-Pérez Luis E. , Gonzalez-Torre Irene , Liu Quantao , Norambuena-Contreras Jose
Published: December 2022

This study evaluated the effect of two encapsulation methods (i.e., dropping funnel and syringe pump), two concentrations of the alginate-based encapsulating material (2%, and 3%), and three oils as bitumen rejuvenators (virgin sunflower oil, waste cooking oil, and virgin engine oil) on the morphological, physical, chemical, thermal, and mechanical properties of encapsulated rejuvenators for asphalt self-healing purposes. A general factorial design 2 × 2 × 3 was proposed to design 12 different Ca-alginate capsules. Significant differences on the morphological, physical, and mechanical properties of the capsules were analysed by three-way ANOVA and Tukey HSD Post Hoc analyses. The effect of the type of oil on the self-healing capacity of cracked bitumen samples was also evaluated. The main results showed that the design parameters and their interactions significantly affected the morphological, physical, and mechanical properties of the capsules. Capsules synthesised via syringe pump method, with virgin cooking oil and 2% alginate was the most appropriate for asphalt self-healing purposes since its uniform morphology, encapsulation efficiency up to 80%, thermal degradation below 5% wt., and compressive strength above the reference asphalt compaction load of 10 N. Finally, the healing tests showed that virgin cooking oil can be potentially used as a rejuvenator to promote asphalt crack-healing.
Physicochemical and Photocatalytic Properties of 3D-Printed TiO2/Chitin/Cellulose Composite with Ordered Porous Structures
Authors: Li Lei , Li Jingdan , Luo Hao , Li Shengjuan , Yang Junhe
Published: December 2022

In this study, we printed three-dimensional (3D) titanium dioxide (TiO2)/chitin/cellulose composite photocatalysts with ordered interconnected porous structures. Chitin microparticles were mixed with cellulose in the N-methylmorpholine-N-oxide (NMMO) solution to prepare the printing “ink”. TiO2 nanoparticles were embedded on the chitin/cellulose composite in the NMMO removal process by water before the freeze-drying process to build the 3D cellulosic photocatalysts with well-defined porous structures. The 3D-printed TiO2/chitin/cellulose composites were characterized by X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), and Energy Disperse Spectroscopy (EDS). The XRD and FTIR analyses showed that chitin had an interference effect on the crystal regeneration of cellulose and resulted in a large amount of amorphous phase. The SEM images show that the printed cellulosic strands had a hollow structure, and the EDS analysis showed that TiO2 nanoparticles were embedded on the chitin/cellulose composite surfaces. In the photocatalytic degradation process of methylene blue (MB) dye in an aqueous solution, the TiO2/chitin/cellulose 3D composite photocatalysts demonstrated efficient MB degradation activities with excellent reusability and stability, in which the chitin content performed the function of adjusting the MB degradation efficiency.
Three-Component Condensation of β-Ketonitriles, 4-Fluorobenzaldehyde, and Secondary Cyclic Amines
Authors: Osipov Dmitry V. , Korzhenko Kirill S. , Osyanin Vitaly A.
Published: December 2022

A new three-component condensation of β-ketonitriles, 4-fluorobenzaldehyde, and secondary cyclic amines was developed. A possible reaction mechanism has been proposed including Knoevenagel condensation followed by aromatic nucleophilic substitution. It was found that in the case of 3-oxopropanenitrile bearing the 6-amino-1,3-dimethyluracil moiety, the reaction is not accompanied by fluorine substitution in the Knoevenagel adduct, and the Michael addition of a secondary amine occurs followed by oxidation.
Significance of the Śrāvastī Miracles According to Buddhist Texts and Dvāravatī Artefacts
Authors: Sirisawad Natchapol
Published: December 2022

The story of the Śrāvastī miracles is one episode of the Buddha’s biography that is depicted in the art forms of Dvāravatī from about the 7th to the 11th centuries CE. The fact that many artefacts were produced—in such variety, over such a long period, and at so many sites—shows the popularity of the scene of the Śrāvastī miracles in the Dvāravatī culture. The objective of this research paper is to analyze the significance of the story of the Śrāvastī miracles that affected the creation of Dvāravatī art in Thailand by examining the textual sources together with the Dvāravatī artefacts. The analysis shows that the stories of the Śrāvastī miracles were significant in various ways, being one of the Buddha’s necessary deeds, a principal miracle only performed by the Buddha, a means of converting others to Buddhism, and a key source for the idea of making Buddha images as an act of merit. These significant features may explain the popularity of the Śrāvastī miracle theme in Dvāravatī culture.
The Eternal Plan of the Father and the Immaculate Conception of the Mother: The Foundations of an Objective Mariology in the Theology of Blessed John Duns Scotus
Authors: Kunka Sławomir Jerzy
Published: December 2022

This article explores selected aspects of the Mariology of Blessed John Duns Scotus, a medieval Franciscan philosopher and theologian. Even though the Subtle Doctor did not develop a theological synthesis as mature as that of St. Thomas Aquinas, his observations continue to provide a relevant source of inspiration for a more in-depth look at Franciscan protological and soteriological concepts. Duns Scotus earned his place in the history of theology as a eulogist of the mystery of the Incarnation and defender of the truth about the Immaculate Conception. In fact, what he had accomplished laid the necessary foundation for the dogmatic ruling on that matter in 1854. The article begins by presenting the scholar’s view of the relation between creation and Redemption from the standpoint of Christ’s perfect mediation. The Marian Doctor was an advocate of emphasizing the objectivity of Redemption, although he himself stopped short of the “threshold” of the mystery of the Father with respect to the Mother of the Son of God, the most perfect Mediator—also for the Virgin Mary. In the end, the Subtle Doctor did not draw all the possible conclusions from his theological vision of creation and salvation history. Next, the article outlines the perspective of God’s eternal plan. Blessed John Duns Scotus’s theology reveals a vision of history in which everything is directed toward the fulfilment of God’s eternal plan: the very plan of which St. Paul wrote very forcefully yet subtly and to which St. John Paul II often referred. The interpretation of that plan is the foundation of an “objective Mariology”. Finally, the author addresses the question of the freedom of both the Creator and His creation from the perspective of the Creator’s plan and in accordance with the Marian Doctor’s assumptions. An analysis of Duns Scotus’s Mariology reveals its depth and innovative character and, at the same time, certain limitations which—in his time—were mentally unsurmountable.
Real-Time Human Activity Recognition with IMU and Encoder Sensors in Wearable Exoskeleton Robot via Deep Learning Networks
Authors: Jaramillo Ismael Espinoza , Jeong Jin Gyun , Lopez Patricio Rivera , Lee Choong-Ho , Kang Do-Yeon , Ha Tae-Jun , Oh Ji-Heon , Jung Hwanseok , Lee Jin Hyuk , Lee Won Hee , Kim Tae-Seong
Published: December 2022

Wearable exoskeleton robots have become a promising technology for supporting human motions in multiple tasks. Activity recognition in real-time provides useful information to enhance the robot’s control assistance for daily tasks. This work implements a real-time activity recognition system based on the activity signals of an inertial measurement unit (IMU) and a pair of rotary encoders integrated into the exoskeleton robot. Five deep learning models have been trained and evaluated for activity recognition. As a result, a subset of optimized deep learning models was transferred to an edge device for real-time evaluation in a continuous action environment using eight common human tasks: stand, bend, crouch, walk, sit-down, sit-up, and ascend and descend stairs. These eight robot wearer’s activities are recognized with an average accuracy of 97.35% in real-time tests, with an inference time under 10 ms and an overall latency of 0.506 s per recognition using the selected edge device.
A Bidirectional Wavelength Division Multiplexed (WDM) Free Space Optical Communication (FSO) System for Deployment in Data Center Networks (DCNs)
Authors: El-Nahal Fady , Xu Tianhua , AlQahtani Dokhyl , Leeson Mark
Published: December 2022

Data centers are crucial to the growth of cloud computing. Next-generation data center networks (DCNs) will rely heavily on optical technology. Here, we have investigated a bidirectional wavelength-division-multiplexed (WDM) free space optical communication (FSO) system for deployment in optical wireless DCNs. The system was evaluated for symmetric 10 Gbps 16—quadrature amplitude modulation (16-QAM) intensity-modulated orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing (OFDM) downstream signals and 10 Gbps on-off keying (OOK) upstream signals, respectively. The transmission of optical signals over an FSO link is demonstrated using a gamma–gamma channel model. According to the bit error rate (BER) results obtained for each WDM signal, the bidirectional WDM-FSO transmission could achieve 320 Gbps over 1000 m free space transmission length. The results show that the proposed FSO topology offers an excellent alternative to fiber-based optical interconnects in DCNs, allowing for high data rate bidirectional transmission.
Implementing a Compression Technique on the Progressive Contextual Excitation Network for Smart Farming Applications
Authors: Prakosa Setya Widyawan , Leu Jenq-Shiou , Hsieh He-Yen , Avian Cries , Bai Chia-Hung , Vítek Stanislav
Published: December 2022

The utilization of computer vision in smart farming is becoming a trend in constructing an agricultural automation scheme. Deep learning (DL) is famous for the accurate approach to addressing the tasks in computer vision, such as object detection and image classification. The superiority of the deep learning model on the smart farming application, called Progressive Contextual Excitation Network (PCENet), has also been studied in our recent study to classify cocoa bean images. However, the assessment of the computational time on the PCENet model shows that the original model is only 0.101s or 9.9 FPS on the Jetson Nano as the edge platform. Therefore, this research demonstrates the compression technique to accelerate the PCENet model using pruning filters. From our experiment, we can accelerate the current model and achieve 16.7 FPS assessed in the Jetson Nano. Moreover, the accuracy of the compressed model can be maintained at 86.1%, while the original model is 86.8%. In addition, our approach is more accurate than ResNet18 as the state-of-the-art only reaches 82.7%. The assessment using the corn leaf disease dataset indicates that the compressed model can achieve an accuracy of 97.5%, while the accuracy of the original PCENet is 97.7%.
Analysis on the Vulnerability of a Tunnel Entrance under Internal Explosion
Authors: Liu Zichao , Wu Jun , Chen Qinyi , Li Shutao , Yan Qiushi , Yu Haitao
Published: December 2022

Tunnels play an essential role in the transportation network. Tunnel entrances are usually buried at a shallow depth. In the event of an internal explosion, the blast pressure will cause severe damage or even collapse of the tunnel entrance, paralyzing the traffic system. Therefore, an accurate assessment of the damage level of tunnel entrances under internal blast loading can provide effective assistance for the anti-blast design of tunnels, post-disaster emergency response, and economic damage assessment. In this paper, four tunnel entrance specimens were designed and fabricated with a scale ratio of 1/5.5, and a series of field blast tests were carried out to examine the damage pattern of the tunnel entrances under internal explosion. Subsequently, static loading tests were conducted to obtain the maximum bearing capacity of the intact specimen and residual bearing capacities of the post-blast specimens. After that, an explicit non-linear analysis was carried out and a numerical finite element (FE) model of the tunnel entrance under internal blast loading was established by adopting the arbitrary Lagrangian–Eulerian (ALE) method and validated based on the data obtained from the field blast and static loading tests. A probabilistic vulnerability analysis of a typical tunnel entrance subjected to stochastic internal explosions (assuming various charge weights and detonation points) was then carried out with the validated FE model. For the purpose of damage assessment, the residual bearing capacity of the tunnel entrance was taken as the damage criterion. The vulnerability curves corresponding to various damage levels were further developed based on the stochastic data from the probabilistic vulnerability analysis. When the charge weight was 200 kg, the tunnel entrance exhibited slight or moderate damage, while the tunnel entrance suffered severe or even complete damage as the charge weight increased to 1000 kg. However, the tunnel entrance’s probability of complete damage was less than 10% when the TNT charge weight did not exceed 1000 kg.
Dual-Band Wide-Angle Reflective Circular Polarization Converter with Orthogonal Polarization Modes
Authors: Zhang Bianmei , Zhu Chenghui , Zhang Ran , Yang Xiaofan , Wang Ye , Liu Xiaoming
Published: December 2022

Herein a dual-band wide-angle reflective circular polarization converter, based on a metasurface was developed. The unit cell is composed of a split square ring and a nested square patch. The split square ring plays the role of creating polarization conversion. The square patch is useful for improving the quality of axial ratio. It was verified that the structure could transform the x-polarized incident wave into left-hand circular polarization in the lower frequency band, and to right-hand circular polarization in the higher frequency band. For y-polarized incidence, the transformation has orthogonal modes to that for x-polarized incidence. Moreover, the 3 dB axial ratio takes place in the ranges of 8.42–12.32 GHz and 18.74–29.73 GHz, corresponding to a relative bandwidth of 37.61%, and 45.35%, respectively. In addition, the polarization conversion efficiency is greater than 99% in the ranges of 8.65–11.83 GHz and 19.55–29.36 GHz. Furthermore, for oblique incidence, the axial ratio remains stable, even at 50° incidence, for the lower frequency band. Lastly, a prototype is fabricated and measured for experimental verification. The measured and simulated results were in good agreement. Compared with other designs in the literature, the proposed converter operates with good performance in dual-band, with high-efficiency, and with angular stability.
Path Loss Measurement of Outdoor Wireless Channel in D-band
Authors: Bian Chengzhen , Li Weiping , Wang Mingxu , Wang Xinyi , Wei Yi , Zhou Wen
Published: December 2022

D-band (110–170 GHz) has received much attention in recent years due to its larger bandwidth. However, analyzing the loss characteristics of the wireless channel is very complicated at the millimeter-wave (MMW) band. Research on D-band wireless channels has been focused on indoor short-distance transmissions, with few studies looking at outdoor long-distance wireless channels. In this paper, we provide the design of the D-band outdoor long-distance transmission system, propose the outdoor line-of-sight (LOS) propagation measurements, and study the outdoor D-band propagation loss characteristics with distances up to 800 m. The path loss model uses the Floating Intercept (FI) and the Close-In (CI) model is established based on the least square method. In the CI model, the path loss exponent is greater than 2 and increases with frequency, while in the FI model, the path loss exponent has no apparent frequency dependence. The results show that D-band path loss in long-distance outdoor scenarios is greater than that in free space, indicating that the propagation condition is worse than in free space. The results show that both models have similar performance. Under this basis, the model with the smallest number of parameters would be the optimal choice. In addition, these results prospectively provide a theoretical model for designing and optimizing high frequency mm-wave propagation measurements at a distance of 200 m and beyond.
A Heterogeneous Ensemble Approach for Travel Time Prediction Using Hybridized Feature Spaces and Support Vector Regression
Authors: Chughtai Jawad-ur-Rehman , Haq Irfan ul , Islam Saif ul , Gani Abdullah
Published: December 2022

Travel time prediction is essential to intelligent transportation systems directly affecting smart cities and autonomous vehicles. Accurately predicting traffic based on heterogeneous factors is highly beneficial but remains a challenging problem. The literature shows significant performance improvements when traditional machine learning and deep learning models are combined using an ensemble learning approach. This research mainly contributes by proposing an ensemble learning model based on hybridized feature spaces obtained from a bidirectional long short-term memory module and a bidirectional gated recurrent unit, followed by support vector regression to produce the final travel time prediction. The proposed approach consists of three stages–initially, six state-of-the-art deep learning models are applied to traffic data obtained from sensors. Then the feature spaces and decision scores (outputs) of the model with the highest performance are fused to obtain hybridized deep feature spaces. Finally, a support vector regressor is applied to the hybridized feature spaces to get the final travel time prediction. The performance of our proposed heterogeneous ensemble using test data showed significant improvements compared to the baseline techniques in terms of the root mean square error (53.87±3.50), mean absolute error (12.22±1.35) and the coefficient of determination (0.99784±0.00019). The results demonstrated that the hybridized deep feature space concept could produce more stable and superior results than the other baseline techniques.
Anatomical Proposal for Botulinum Neurotoxin Injection Targeting the Platysma Muscle for Treating Platysmal Band and Jawline Lifting: A Review
Authors: Yi Kyu-Ho , Lee Ji-Hyun , Lee Kangwoo , Hu Hye-Won , Lee Hyung-Jin , Kim Hee-Jin
Published: December 2022

The platysma muscle is a thin superficial muscle that covers the entire neck and lower part of the face. The platysma muscle is the primary target muscle for botulinum neurotoxin injection therapy aimed at treating platysmal band and lower facial lifting. In the procedure of botulinum neurotoxin injection therapy, a lack of knowledge of the anatomy of the platysma muscle and the properties of botulinum neurotoxin can lead to side effects such as dysphagia, dysphonia, and weakness of the neck muscles. Anatomically safe injection sites have been proposed for the platysma muscle, and the appropriate injection technique has been reviewed. We proposed optimal injection sites based on the external anatomical features of the mandible. The aim of these proposal was to standardize the procedure for the effective use of botulinum neurotoxin injections by minimizing the dose unit and injection points and thereby preventing adverse events.