bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Laparoendoscopic Single-Site Inguinal Herniorrhaphy: Experience of a Single Institute
Authors: Tee Wei-Quen , Wu Yen-Ting , Wang Hung-Jen , Chuang Yao-Chi , Lee Wei-Chia , Tsai Chia-Hung , Lee Long-Yuan , Chen Chien-Hsu
Published: February 2023

Background: Minimally invasive techniques for inguinal herniorrhaphy have focused on developing the laparoendoscopic single-site (LESS) procedure to improve cosmesis. Outcomes of total extraperitoneal (TEP) herniorrhaphy vary considerably because of being performed by different surgeons. We aimed to evaluate the perioperative characteristics and outcomes of patients undergoing the LESS-TEP approach for inguinal herniorrhaphy and to determine its overall safety and effectiveness. Methods: Data of 233 patients who underwent 288 laparoendoscopic single-site total extraperitoneal approach (LESS-TEP) herniorrhaphies at Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital between January 2014 and July 2021 were reviewed retrospectively. We reviewed the experiences and results of LESS-TEP herniorrhaphy performed by a single surgeon (CHC) using homemade glove access and standard laparoscopic instruments with a 50 cm long 30° telescope. Results: Among 233 patients, 178 patients had unilateral hernias and 55 patients had bilateral hernias. About 32% (n = 57) of patients in the unilateral group and 29% (n = 16) of patients in the bilateral group were obese (body mass index ≥ 25). The mean operative time was 66 min for the unilateral group and 100 min for the bilateral group. Postoperative complications occurred in 27 (11%) cases, which were minor morbidities except for one mesh infection. Three (1.2%) cases were converted to open surgery. Comparison of the variables between obese and non-obese patients found no significant differences in operative times or postoperative complications. Conclusion: LESS-TEP herniorrhaphy is a safe and feasible operation with excellent cosmetic results and a low rate of complication, even in obese patients. Further large-scale prospective controlled studies and long-term analyses are needed to confirm these results.
Predictive Value of Prognostic Nutritional Index for Early Postoperative Mobility in Elderly Patients with Pertrochanteric Fracture Treated with Intramedullary Nail Osteosynthesis
Authors: Faust Leon Marcel , Lerchenberger Maximilian , Gleich Johannes , Linhart Christoph , Keppler Alexander Martin , Schmidmaier Ralf , Böcker Wolfgang , Neuerburg Carl , Zhang Yunjie
Published: February 2023

Background: Early postoperative mobilization is essential for orthogeriatric patients. The prognostic nutritional index (PNI) is widely used to evaluate nutritional status. This study sought to investigate the predictive value of PNI for early postoperative mobility in patients with pertrochanteric femur fractures. Materials and methods: This study included 156 geriatric patients with pertrochanteric femur fractures treated with TFN-Advance™ (DePuy Synthes, Raynham, MA, USA). Mobility was evaluated on the third postoperative day and by discharge. Stepwise logistic regression analyses were performed to evaluate the association significance of PNI with postoperative mobility together with comorbidities. The optimal PNI cut-off value for mobility was analyzed using the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. Results: Three days postoperatively, PNI was an independent predictor of mobility (OR: 1.14, 95% CI: 1.07–1.23, p < 0.01). By discharge, it was found that PNI (OR: 1.18, 95% CI: 1.08–1.30, p < 0.01) and dementia (OR: 0.17, 95% CI: 0.07–0.40, p < 0.001) were significant predictors. PNI correlated weakly with age (r = −0.27, p < 0.001). The PNI cut-off value for mobility on the third postoperative day was 38.1 (specificity = 78.5%, sensitivity = 63.6%). Conclusions: Our findings indicate that PNI is an independent predictor of early postoperative mobility in geriatric patients with pertrochanteric femur fractures treated with TFNA™.
The Putative Role of Neuroinflammation in the Interaction between Traumatic Brain Injuries, Sleep, Pain and Other Neuropsychiatric Outcomes: A State-of-the-Art Review
Authors: Herrero Babiloni Alberto , Baril Andrée-Ann , Charlebois-Plante Camille , Jodoin Marianne , Sanchez Erlan , De Baets Liesbet , Arbour Caroline , Lavigne Gilles J. , Gosselin Nadia , De Beaumont Louis
Published: February 2023

Sleep disturbances are widely prevalent following a traumatic brain injury (TBI) and have the potential to contribute to numerous post-traumatic physiological, psychological, and cognitive difficulties developing chronically, including chronic pain. An important pathophysiological mechanism involved in the recovery of TBI is neuroinflammation, which leads to many downstream consequences. While neuroinflammation is a process that can be both beneficial and detrimental to individuals’ recovery after sustaining a TBI, recent evidence suggests that neuroinflammation may worsen outcomes in traumatically injured patients, as well as exacerbate the deleterious consequences of sleep disturbances. Additionally, a bidirectional relationship between neuroinflammation and sleep has been described, where neuroinflammation plays a role in sleep regulation and, in turn, poor sleep promotes neuroinflammation. Given the complexity of this interplay, this review aims to clarify the role of neuroinflammation in the relationship between sleep and TBI, with an emphasis on long-term outcomes such as pain, mood disorders, cognitive dysfunctions, and elevated risk of Alzheimer’s disease and dementia. In addition, some management strategies and novel treatment targeting sleep and neuroinflammation will be discussed in order to establish an effective approach to mitigate long-term outcomes after TBI.
Collagen Membranes Functionalized with 150 Cycles of Atomic Layer Deposited Titania Improve Osteopromotive Property in Critical-Size Defects Created on Rat Calvaria
Authors: Faverani Leonardo P. , Astaneh Sarah Hashemi , Costa Monique Gonçalves da , Delanora Leonardo A. , Lima-Neto Tiburtino J. , Barbosa Stéfany , Ariani Maretaningtias Dwi , Takoudis Christos , Sukotjo Cortino
Published: February 2023

The membranes used in bone reconstructions have been the object of investigation in the field of tissue engineering, seeking to improve their mechanical strength and add other properties, mainly the osteopromotive. This study aimed to evaluate the functionalization of collagen membranes, with atomic layer deposition of TiO2 on the bone repair of critical defects in rat calvaria and subcutaneous biocompatibility. A total of 39 male rats were randomized into four groups: blood clot (BC), collagen membrane (COL), COL 150—150 cycles of titania, and COL 600—600 cycles of titania. The defects were created in each calvaria (5 mm in diameter) and covered according to each group; the animals were euthanized at 7, 14, and 28 days. The collected samples were assessed by histometric (newly bone formed, soft tissue area, membrane area, and residual linear defect) and histologic (inflammatory cells and blood cells count) analysis. All data were subjected to statistical analysis (p < 0.05). The COL150 group showed statistically significant differences compared to the other groups, mainly in the analysis of residual linear defects (1.5 ± 0.5 × 106 pixels/µm2 for COL 150, and around 1 ± 0.5 × 106 pixels/µm2 for the other groups) and newly formed bone (1500 ± 1200 pixels/µm for COL 150, and around 4000 pixels/µm for the others) (p < 0.05), demonstrating a better biological behavior in the chronology of defects repair. It is concluded that the collagen membrane functionalized by TiO2 over 150 cycles showed better bioactive potential in treating critical size defects in the rats’ calvaria.
Patient-Reported Measures Associated with the Return to Pre-Injury Levels of Sport 2 Years after Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction
Authors: Nawasreh Zakariya H. , Yabroudi Mohammad A. , Al-Shdifat Anan B. , Obaidat Sakher M. , Daradkeh Sharf M. , Kassas Mohamed N. , Bashaireh Khaldoon M.
Published: February 2023

The International Knee Documentation Committee Subjective Knee Form (IKDC2000) and the Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS) are knee-specific measures. However, their association with a return to sports after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) is unknown. This study aimed to investigate the association between the IKDC2000 and the KOOS subscales and the return to the same pre-injury level of sport two years after ACLR. Forty athletes that were two years post-ACLR participated in this study. Athletes provided demographic information, filled out the IKDC2000 and KOOS subscales, and indicated whether they returned to any sport and whether they returned to the same pre-injury level (same duration, intensity, and frequency). In this study, 29 (72.5%) athletes returned to play any sport and eight (20%) returned to the same pre-injury level. The IKDC2000 (r: 0.306, p = 0.041) and KOOS quality of life (KOOS-QOL) (r: 0.294, p = 0.046) significantly correlated with the return to any sport, but it was age (r: −0.364, p = 0.021), BMI (r: −0.342, p = 0.031), IKDC2000 (r: 0.447, p = 0.002), KOOS-pain (r: 0.317, p = 0.046), KOOS sport and recreation function (KOOS-sport/rec)(r: 0.371, p = 0.018), and KOOS QOL (r: 0.580, p > 0.001) that significantly correlated with a return to the same pre-injury level. High KOOS-QOL and IKDC2000 scores were associated with returning to any sport, and high KOOS-pain, KOOS-sport/rec, KOOS-QOL, and IKDC2000 scores were all associated with returning to the same pre-injury level of sport.
Reporting Climate Change Impacts on Coastal Ports (NW Iberian Peninsula): A Review of Flooding Extent
Authors: Ribeiro Américo Soares , Lopes Carina Lurdes , Sousa Magda Catarina , Gómez-Gesteira Moncho , Vaz Nuno , Dias João Miguel
Published: February 2023

Ports significantly impact the economic activity in coastal areas. Future climate change projections indicate that the frequency and intensity of extreme sea levels (ESL) will increase, putting several port facilities at risk of flooding with impacts on the port’s reliability and operability. The northwest Iberian Peninsula (NWIP) coast is crossed by one of the most important and busiest shipping lanes in the Atlantic Ocean and features several ports that provide an essential gateway to Europe. In this context, the main aim of this study is to present a review of the extent of flooding under future climatic scenarios in selected NWIP ports, considered representative of the diversity of the coastal areas in this region. The ports of Aveiro (lagoon), Lisbon (estuary), Vigo (Ria) and A Coruña Outer Port (marine) are considered in this study due to their location in different coastal environments, which brings distinct challenges related to climate change local impact. For each port area, the risk of flooding was assessed under climate change scenarios using CMIP5 RCP8.5 for the climate periods between 1979–2005, 2026–2045 and 2081–2099, considering the return periods of 10, 25 and 100 years for storm surges, riverine input and wave regime. The flood pattern varies significantly according to the location of the ports. The ports in lagoons and estuaries are more prone to floods by ESL due to their location in low and flat topography regions. Rias, with a funnel-shaped valley and irregular topography, make the ports in this environment resilient to a sea level rise. Marine environments are exposed to harsh oceanic drivers, however, the ports in these areas are usually built to withstand significant wave conditions with return periods of a hundred years, making them resilient to climate change impacts.
Containment of Fusarium culmorum and Its Mycotoxins in Various Biological Systems by Antagonistic Trichoderma and Clonostachys Strains
Authors: Błaszczyk Lidia , Ćwiek-Kupczyńska Hanna , Hoppe Gromadzka Karolina , Basińska-Barczak Aneta , Stępień Łukasz , Kaczmarek Joanna , Lenc Leszek
Published: February 2023

Prevention of fungal diseases caused by Fusarium species, including F. culmorum, and thus the accumulation of mycotoxins in wheat ears, is a constant challenge focused on the development of new, effective crop management solutions. One of the currently most ecologically attractive approaches is biological control using natural antagonistic microorganisms. With this in mind, the antagonistic potential of thirty-three Clonostachys and Trichoderma strains was assessed in this work. Screening tests were carried out in in vitro cultures, and the observed potential of selected Trichoderma and Clonostachys strains was verified in field and semi-field experiments with two forms of wheat: winter cv. Legenda and spring cv. Bombona. Three strains, namely C. rosea AN291, T. atroviride AN240 and T. viride AN430 were reported to be most effective in inhibiting the growth of F. culmorum KF846 and the synthesis of DON, 3AcDON and ZEN under both laboratory and semi-controlled field conditions. Observations of the contact zones of the tested fungi in dual cultures exposed their mycoparasitic abilities against KF846. In addition, studies on liquid cultures have demonstrated the ability of these strains to eliminate F. culmorum toxins. Meanwhile, the strains of T. atroviride AN35 and T. cremeum AN392 used as soil inoculants in the field experiment showed a different effect on the content of toxins in ears (grains and chaffs), while improved wheat yield parameters, mainly grain health in both wheat cultivars. It is concluded that the selected Trichoderma and Clonostachys strains have a high potential to reduce the adverse effects of F. culmorum ear infection; therefore, they can be further considered in the context of potential biocontrol factors and as wheat crop improvers.
ESG Investing in “White Gold”: The Case of Lebanese Salinas
Authors: Boustani Nada Mallah , Abidib Sana
Published: February 2023

Lebanese sea salt is historically known as “white gold”. Traditional coastal sea salt production now survives mainly in the coastal city of Anfeh, and is facing various constraints due to regulations, as well as environmental threats which affect the quality of the sea salt. This research points out the case of Lebanese Salinas that invested in ESG to improve the salt quality through social implications and diverse environmental techniques. Based on ESG investments and innovation theory, the main objectives of this research action project were to: create a plastic-free area and implement plastic-free sea salt production at 10 Salinas, using a local innovative tool to filter sea water that consists of a windmill, pump, metallic tube, and filter, which is placed on the main basin of a Salina to prevent the leakage of microplastics into the water used in sea salt extraction, to obtain a plastic-free sea salt. This would create a sustainable, ecofriendly process via the sorting of plastics at the source, clean-up activities, awareness activities, and incentive activities, resulting in the production of better sea salt and the promotion of local products and coastal tourism. The goal of the study was to implement methods that were recommended in the “S.O.S. (Save our Salt)” initiative, which was put into place by the Green Community NGO to protect Lebanese sea salt production and guarantee a reduction in the amount of these microparticles in sea salt. Data gathered from the project, as well as from in-person interviews and follow-ups with the project team, were used to conduct the empirical analysis. The amount of plastic that was present was reduced, resulting in one of the best sea salts in the area. Findings aligned with ESG investment for an increasing and sustainable firm performance and have several practical implications for many stakeholders, both internally and externally, including managers, investors, lenders, policymakers, government, and the public. Our results highlight the significance of formulating regulations for Lebanese Salinas to collectively handle production risks and enhance technical efficacy, and for regulators to lessen marine pollution.
Digital Twin for Active Stakeholder Participation in Land-Use Planning
Authors: Adade David , de Vries Walter
Published: February 2023

The active participation of stakeholders is a crucial requirement for effective land-use planning (LUP). Involving stakeholders in LUP is a way of redistributing the decision-making power and ensuring social justice in land-management interventions. However, owing to the growing intricacy of sociopolitical and economic relations and the increasing number of competing claims on land, the choice of dynamic land use has become more complex, and the need to find balances between social, economic, and environmental claims and interests has become less urgent. These facts reflect a paradigm shift from top-down, noninteractive, and one-directional policymaking approaches to a more negotiable, bottom-up, deliberative, and responsible one. Geospatial industries claim that digital twin technology is a potential facilitator that improves the degree of stakeholder participation and influences land-use planning. The validity of this claim is, however, unknown. By adopting the integrative literature review, this study identifies where in LUP is stakeholder participation much needed and currently problematic, as well as how digital twin could potentially improve. The review shows that digital twins provide virtual visualisation opportunities for the identification of land-use problems and the assessment of the impacts of the proposed land uses. These offer the opportunity to improve stakeholder influence and collaboration in LUP, especially in the agenda-setting phase, where land-use issues could be identified and placed on the LUP agenda. This relies on the ability and willingness of local planning institutions to adopt digital twins, and stakeholders’ perception and willingness to use digital twins for various land-use goals. Despite the assertion that digital twins could improve the influence of stakeholders in LUP, the focus and the development of digital twins have not accomplished much for those features of the technology that could improve stakeholder influence in LUP. By adopting the principles of the social construction of technology, this study proposes a “technological fix” of digital twins to focus more on improving stakeholder influence on land-use planning.
The Urban Public Space between Land and Sea: The Case of Quarteira, Portugal
Authors: Barreiros Proença Sérgio , Dal Cin Francesca , Valente Monteiro Cristiana , Franco Maria Inês , Matos Silva Maria , Saeed Al Mushayt Nawaf
Published: February 2023

Among the European coastal territories most vulnerable to the effects of mean sea level rise, such as flooding and erosion phenomena, are the 943 km of the Portuguese coastline where approximately 70 per cent of the population lives (Bigotte et al, 2014), a percentage that rises to around 80 per cent in the summer months, due to tourism (Andrade et al, 2002), especially in the Algarve region (southern Portugal). The case study of this research is the urban public space in the coastal city of Quarteira, which is particularly vulnerable. This space between the land and the sea has been recently framed in the inter-municipal climate change adaptation plan PIAAC-AMAL (Plano Intermunicipal de Adaptação às Alterações Climáticas do Algarve). The aim of the article is to explore the natural and anthropogenic process of formation and transformation of the urban space between the land and sea that occurred over time, up to the definition of the seashore street. Interpretative drawing is used as a methodology to understand the form of the public space. This is considered the first step for designing the public space between the land and the sea that deals both with the effects of climate change and the seasonal cycles of summer tourism. Through this analysis, it is argued that the understanding of the form (morphological characteristics) of this continuous space between land and sea is fundamental for consistent and robust adaptation design.
Establishing Reliability and Validity of an Online Placement Test in an Omani Higher Education Institution
Authors: Naqvi Samia , Srivastava Reema , Al Damen Tareq , Al Aufi Asma , Al Amri Amal , Al Adawi Suleiman
Published: February 2023

Although placing students in the appropriate proficiency levels of post-secondary English programs is crucial for optimal learning, the evaluation of placement tests (PTs) in terms of establishing their reliability and validity is relatively under-researched. This study assesses the validity, reliability, and effectiveness of an in-house online PT. The content validity was established through the internal and external moderation of the question papers and answer keys while criterion-related concurrent validity was established via IELTS benchmarking. New Student Survey was used to investigate the face validity. The internal consistency and reliability of the reading test items were measured using Cronbach’s alpha while descriptive statistics were calculated for the listening test. Paired sample t-test (dependent t-test) was used to assess the inter-rater reliability of the speaking and writing tests which were double-marked. The data analysis revealed that the PT was effective in placing students at different levels of the foundation program (FP) and the statistical analyses conducted to test the reliability and validity showed positive results for most of the test versions. The study offers useful insights to test developers and policymakers regarding the authentication of in-house tests and the creation of guidelines for PT design and evaluation.
A Kinetic Stem Cell Counting Analysis of the Specific Effects of Cell Culture Medium Growth Factors on Adipose-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells
Authors: Sherley James L.
Published: February 2023

A recently described kinetic stem cell (KSC) counting method was used to investigate the stem-cell-specific effects of commercial growth factor supplements used for expanding stem cells in adipose-tissue-derived mesenchymal cell preparations. The supplements were a proprietary growth factor product, a source of fetal bovine serum, two sources of pooled human sera, and two sources of human platelet lysate. KSC counting analyses were performed to monitor effects on the fraction and viability of stem cells in serial cultures with their respective supplements. Serial cultures supplemented with the proprietary growth factor product or fetal bovine serum showed a similar high degree of maintenance of stem cell fraction with passage. In contrast, cultures supplemented with human sera or human platelet lysate showed rapid declines in stem cell fraction. KSC counting was used to discover the cellular basis for the decreasing stem cell fractions. For human platelet lysate, it was attributable to lower rates of self-renewing symmetric stem cell divisions. For human sera, both low rates of symmetric division and high rates of stem cell death were responsible. These results demonstrate the power of the KSC counting method to provide previously inaccessible information for improving future tissue stem cell biomanufacturing.
Study of Geopolymers Obtained from Wheat Husk Native to Northern Mexico
Authors: Hernández-Escobar Claudia Alejandra , Conejo-Dávila Alain Salvador , Vega-Rios Alejandro , Zaragoza-Contreras Erasto Armando , Farias-Mancilla José Rurik
Published: February 2023

Agro-industrial wastes such as wheat husk (WH) are renewable sources of organic and inorganic substances, including cellulose, lignin, and aluminosilicates, which can be transformed into advanced materials with high added value. The use of geopolymers is a strategy to take advantage of the inorganic substances by obtaining inorganic polymers, which have been used as additives, e.g., for cement and refractory brick products or ceramic precursors. In this research, the WH native to northern Mexico was used as a source to produce wheat husk ash (WHA) following its calcination at 1050 °C. In addition, geopolymers were synthesized from the WHA by varying the concentrations of the alkaline activator (NaOH) from 16 M to 30 M, namely Geo 16M, Geo 20M, Geo 25M, and Geo 30M. At the same time, a commercial microwave radiation process was employed as the curing source. Furthermore, the geopolymers synthesized with 16 M and 30 M of NaOH were studied for their thermal conductivity as a function of temperature, in particular at 25, 35, 60, and 90 °C. The chemical composition of the WHA, determined by ICP, revealed a SiO2 content close to 81%, which is similar to rice husk. The geopolymers were characterized using various techniques to determine their structure, mechanical properties, and thermal conductivity. The findings showed that the synthesized geopolymers with 16M and 30M of NaOH had significant mechanical properties and thermal conductivity, respectively, compared to the other synthesized materials. Finally, the thermal conductivity regarding the temperature revealed that Geo 30M presented significant performance, especially at 60 °C.
Glassy Carbon Open-Celled Foams as a Reinforcement in Polymer Matrix Composites Dedicated for Tribological Applications
Authors: Myalski Jerzy , Godzierz Marcin , Olszowska Karolina , Szeluga Urszula , Pusz Sławomira , Roskosz Stanisław , Myalska-Głowacka Hanna , Posmyk Andrzej
Published: February 2023

This work presents the results of a tribological examination of polymer matrix composites reinforced with carbon foams with different porosity. The application of open-celled carbon foams allows an easy infiltration process by liquid epoxy resin. At the same time, carbon reinforcement remains its initial structure, which prevents its segregation in polymer matrix. Dry friction tests, conducted under 0.7, 2.1, 3.5 and 5.0 MPa loads, show that higher friction load results in higher mass loss, but it strongly lowers the coefficient of friction (COF). The change in coefficient of friction is related to the size of the pores of the carbon foam. Open-celled foams with pores size below 0.6 mm (40 and 60 ppi), used as a reinforcement in epoxy matrix, allow to obtain COF twice lower than composite reinforced with 20 ppi open-celled foam. This phenomenon occurs due to a change of friction mechanisms. In composites reinforced with open-celled foams, general wear mechanism is related to destruction of carbon components, which results in solid tribofilm formation. The application of novel reinforcement, in the form of open-celled foams with stable distance between carbon components, allows the decrease of COF and the improvement of stability, even under a very high friction load.
Carbon-Coated CuNb13O33 as A New Anode Material for Lithium Storage
Authors: Gao Jiazhe , Li Songjie , Wang Wenze , Ou Yinjun , Gao Shangfu , Liu Xuehua , Lin Chunfu
Published: February 2023

Niobates are very promising anode materials for Li+-storage rooted in their good safety and high capacities. However, the exploration of niobate anode materials is still insufficient. In this work, we explore ~1 wt% carbon-coated CuNb13O33 microparticles (C-CuNb13O33) with a stable shear ReO3 structure as a new anode material to store Li+. C-CuNb13O33 delivers a safe operation potential (~1.54 V), high reversible capacity of 244 mAh g–1, and high initial-cycle Coulombic efficiency of 90.4% at 0.1C. Its fast Li+ transport is systematically confirmed through galvanostatic intermittent titration technique and cyclic voltammetry, which reveal an ultra-high average Li+ diffusion coefficient (~5 × 10–11 cm2 s−1), significantly contributing to its excellent rate capability with capacity retention of 69.4%/59.9% at 10C/20C relative to 0.5C. An in-situ XRD test is performed to analyze crystal-structural evolutions of C-CuNb13O33 during lithiation/delithiation, demonstrating its intercalation-type Li+-storage mechanism with small unit-cell-volume variations, which results in its capacity retention of 86.2%/92.3% at 10C/20C after 3000 cycles. These comprehensively good electrochemical properties indicate that C-CuNb13O33 is a practical anode material for high-performance energy-storage applications.
Historical Silk: A Novel Method to Evaluate Degumming with Non-Invasive Infrared Spectroscopy and Spectral Deconvolution
Authors: Geminiani Ludovico , Campione Francesco Paolo , Canevali Carmen , Corti Cristina , Giussani Barbara , Gorla Giulia , Luraschi Moira , Recchia Sandro , Rampazzi Laura
Published: February 2023

To correctly manage a collection of historical silks, it is important to detect if the yarn has been originally subjected to degumming. This process is generally applied to eliminate sericin; the obtained fiber is named soft silk, in contrast with hard silk which is unprocessed. The distinction between hard and soft silk gives both historical information and useful indications for informed conservation. With this aim, 32 samples of silk textiles from traditional Japanese samurai armors (15th–20th century) were characterized in a non-invasive way. ATR-FTIR spectroscopy has been previously used to detect hard silk, but data interpretation is challenging. To overcome this difficulty, an innovative analytical protocol based on external reflection FTIR (ER-FTIR) spectroscopy was employed, coupled with spectral deconvolution and multivariate data analysis. The ER-FTIR technique is rapid, portable, and widely employed in the cultural heritage field, but rarely applied to the study of textiles. The ER-FTIR band assignment for silk was discussed for the first time. Then, the evaluation of the OH stretching signals allowed for a reliable distinction between hard and soft silk. Such an innovative point of view, which exploits a “weakness” of FTIR spectroscopy—the strong absorption from water molecules—to indirectly obtain the results, can have industrial applications too.
Optimization of Chaboche Material Parameters with a Genetic Algorithm
Authors: Dvoršek Nejc , Stopeinig Iztok , Klančnik Simon
Published: February 2023

The main objective of this study is to research and develop a genetic algorithm (GA) for optimizing Chaboche material model parameters within an industrial environment. The optimization is based on 12 experiments (tensile, low-cycle fatigue, and creep) that are performed on the material, and corresponding finite element models were created using Abaqus. Comparing experimental and simulation data is the objective function that the GA is minimizing. The GA’s fitness function makes use of a similarity measure algorithm to compare the results. Chromosome genes are represented with real-valued numbers within defined limits. The performance of the developed GA was evaluated using different population sizes, mutation probabilities, and crossover operators. The results show that the population size had the most significant impact on the performance of the GA. With a population size of 150, a mutation probability of 0.1, and two-point crossover, the GA was able to find a suitable global minimum. Comparing it to the classic trial and error approach, the GA improves the fitness score by 40%. It can deliver better results in a shorter time and offer a high degree of automation not present in the trial and error approach. Additionally, the algorithm is implemented in Python to minimize the overall cost and ensure its upgradability in the future.
Intercolonial Microdamage and Cracking Micromechanisms during Wire Drawing of Pearlitic Steel
Authors: Toribio Jesús , Ayaso Francisco-Javier , Rodríguez Rocío
Published: February 2023

This paper studies the drawing-induced intercolonial microdamage (ICMD) in pearlitic microstructures. The analysis was performed from the direct observation of the microstructure of the progressively cold-drawn pearlitic steel wires associated with the distinct steps (cold-drawing passes) of a real cold-drawing manufacturing scheme, constituted by seven cold-drawing passes. Three types of ICMD were found in the pearlitic steel microstructures, all affecting two or more pearlite colonies, namely: (i) intercolonial tearing; (ii) multi-colonial tearing; and (iii) micro-decolonization. The ICMD evolution is quite relevant to the subsequent fracture process of cold-drawn pearlitic steel wires, since the drawing-induced intercolonial micro-defects act as weakest links or fracture promoters/initiators, thereby affecting the microstructural integrity of the wires.
Textural, Microstructural and Chemical Characterization of Ferritic Stainless Steel Affected by the Gold Dust Defect
Authors: Amaya Dolores Beatriz , Ruiz Flores Andrés , Núñez Galindo Andrés , Calvino Gámez José Juan , Almagro Juan F. , Lajaunie Luc
Published: February 2023

The “gold dust defect” (GDD) appears at the surface of ferritic stainless steels (FSS) and degrades their appearance. Previous research showed that this defect might be related to intergranular corrosion and that the addition of aluminium improves surface quality. However, the nature and origin of this defect are not properly understood yet. In this study, we performed detailed electron backscatter diffraction analyses and advanced monochromated electron energy-loss spectroscopy experiments combined with machine-learning analyses in order to extract a wealth of information on the GDD. Our results show that the GDD leads to strong textural, chemical, and microstructural heterogeneities. In particular, the surface of affected samples presents an α-fibre texture which is characteristic of poorly recrystallised FSS. It is associated with a specific microstructure in which elongated grains are separated from the matrix by cracks. The edges of the cracks are rich in chromium oxides and MnCr2O4 spinel. In addition, the surface of the affected samples presents a heterogeneous passive layer, in contrast with the surface of unaffected samples, which shows a thicker and continuous passive layer. The quality of the passive layer is improved with the addition of aluminium, explaining the better resistance to the GDD.
Experimental Study on the Dissolution Characteristics and Microstructure of Carbonate Rocks under the Action of Thermal–Hydraulic–Chemical Coupling
Authors: Meng Jinzhu , Chen Sili , Wang Junxiang , Chen Zhi , Zhang Jingyu
Published: February 2023

Microdamage in a rock induces a change in the rock’s internal structure, affecting the stability and strength of the rock mass. To determine the influence of dissolution on the pore structure of rocks, the latest continuous flow microreaction technology was used, and a rock hydrodynamic pressure dissolution test device simulating multifactor coupling conditions was independently developed. The micromorphology characteristics of carbonate rock samples before and after dissolution were explored using computed tomography (CT) scanning. To conduct the dissolution test on 64 rock samples under 16 groups of working conditions, 4 rock samples under 4 groups were scanned by CT under working conditions, twice before and after corrosion. Subsequently, the changes in the dissolution effect and pore structure before and after dissolution were quantitatively compared and analyzed. The results show that the dissolution results were directly proportional to the flow rate, temperature, dissolution time, and hydrodynamic pressure. However, the dissolution results were inversely proportional to the pH value. The characterization of the pore structure changes before and after sample erosion is challenging. After erosion, the porosity, pore volume, and aperture of rock samples increased; however, the number of pores decreased. Under acidic conditions near the surface, carbonate rock microstructure changes can directly reflect structural failure characteristics. Consequently, heterogeneity, the presence of unstable minerals, and a large initial pore size result in the formation of large pores and a new pore system. This research provides the foundation and assistance for predicting the dissolution effect and evolution law of dissolved pores in carbonate rocks under multifactor coupling, offering a crucial guide for engineering design and construction in karst areas.
The Effects of Diatomite as an Additive on the Macroscopic Properties and Microstructure of Concrete
Authors: Li Chunqing , Li Guoyu , Chen Dun , Gao Kai , Cao Yapeng , Zhou Yu , Mao Yuncheng , Fan Shanzhi , Tang Liyun , Jia Hailiang
Published: February 2023

Diatomite is a siliceous sedimentary rock containing amorphous silica, which can be used as a green mineral admixture to improve the properties of concrete. This study investigates the affecting mechanism of diatomite on concrete performance by macro and micro tests. The results indicate that diatomite can reduce the fluidity of concrete mixture and change its water absorption, compressive strength, resistance to chloride penetration (RCP), porosity, and microstructure. The low fluidity of concrete mixture containing diatomite can reduce workability. With increasing diatomite as partial replacement for cement in concrete, water absorption of concrete decreases before increasing, while compressive strength and RCP rise first and then drop. When diatomite is added to the cement at a content of 5% by weight, the concrete has the lowest water absorption and the highest compressive strength and RCP. Through the mercury intrusion porosimetry (MIP) test, we determined that the addition of 5% diatomite reduces the porosity of concrete from 12.68% to 10.82% and changes the proportion of pores with different sizes in concrete, the proportion of harmless and less harmful pores increases, and the proportion of harmful pores reduces. Based on the microstructure analysis, the SiO2 in diatomite can react with CH and produce C-S-H. C-S-H is responsible for developing concrete because it fills pores and cracks, forms a platy structure, and makes the concrete much denser, thereby improving its macroscopic performance and microstructure.
Surface-Bulk 2D Spin-Crossover Nanoparticles within Ising-like Model Solved by Using Entropic Sampling Technique
Authors: Cazelles Catherine , Ndiaye Mamadou , Dahoo Pierre , Linares Jorge , Boukheddaden Kamel
Published: February 2023

We model the thermal effects in different 2D spin-crossover (SCO) square lattices within the frame of the Ising-like model using Monte Carlo entropic sampling (MCES) method to enhance the scan of macrostates beyond the most probable thermal ones. In fact, MCES allows access to the metastable states, and it is then well adapted to study thermal hysteresis properties. In this contribution, we distinguish, for the first time, the interaction between molecules located in bulk at the surface and those connecting the bulk and surface regions of an SCO lattice. In addition, an extra ligand field contribution is assigned to surface molecules through an interaction parameter L. In the absence of environmental effects on surface nanoparticles, a single thermal hysteresis loop increasing with the lattice size is simulated with a unique bulk and surface equilibrium temperature Teq=Teqbulk= Teqsurf. When environmental effects are accounted for, a two-step behavior associated with two hysteresis loops of widths ΔTS (for the surface) and ΔTB (for the bulk) with an intermediate plateau 14 K wide is obtained in the thermal dependence of the high-spin (HS) fraction for the 6 × 6 lattice. The surface and bulk equilibrium temperatures are then different, both decreasing towards lower values, and the L parameter controls the three states’ behavior as well as the hysteresis loop interval. Size effects show that the equilibrium temperature is governed by the surface atoms for a small lattice size (5 × 5) and by the bulk atoms for a large lattice size (7 × 7). Moreover, a change in the size of the lattice results in a variation of the order–disorder (or Curie) temperature, TO.D., and the surface equilibrium temperature, Teq, while only TO.D. changes in bulk.
The Multivariate Skewed Log-Birnbaum–Saunders Distribution and Its Associated Regression Model
Authors: Martínez-Flórez Guillermo , Vergara-Cardozo Sandra , Tovar-Falón Roger , Rodriguez-Quevedo Luisa
Published: February 2023

In this article, a multivariate extension of the unit-sinh-normal (USHN) distribution is presented. The new distribution, which is obtained from the conditionally specified distributions methodology, is absolutely continuous, and its marginal distributions are univariate USHN. The properties of the multivariate USHN distribution are studied in detail, and statistical inference is carried out from a classical approach using the maximum likelihood method. The new multivariate USHN distribution is suitable for modeling bounded data, especially in the (0,1)p region. In addition, the proposed distribution is extended to the case of the regression model and, for the latter, the Fisher information matrix is derived. The numerical results of a small simulation study and two applications with real data sets allow us to conclude that the proposed distribution, as well as its extension to regression models, are potentially useful to analyze the data of proportions, rates, or indices when modeling them jointly considering different degrees of correlation that may exist in the study variables is of interest.
Transformer-Based Seq2Seq Model for Chord Progression Generation
Authors: Li Shuyu , Sung Yunsick
Published: February 2023

Machine learning is widely used in various practical applications with deep learning models demonstrating advantages in handling huge data. Treating music as a special language and using deep learning models to accomplish melody recognition, music generation, and music analysis has proven feasible. In certain music-related deep learning research, recurrent neural networks have been replaced with transformers. This has achieved significant results. In traditional approaches with recurrent neural networks, input sequences are limited in length. This paper proposes a method to generate chord progressions for melodies using a transformer-based sequence-to-sequence model, which is divided into a pre-trained encoder and decoder. A pre-trained encoder extracts contextual information from melodies, whereas a decoder uses this information to produce chords asynchronously and finally outputs chord progressions. The proposed method addresses length limitation issues while considering the harmony between chord progressions and melodies. Chord progressions can be generated for melodies in practical music composition applications. Evaluation experiments are conducted using the proposed method and three baseline models. The baseline models included the bidirectional long short-term memory (BLSTM), bidirectional encoder representation from transformers (BERT), and generative pre-trained transformer (GPT2). The proposed method outperformed the baseline models in Hits@k (k = 1) by 25.89, 1.54, and 2.13 %, respectively.
Hybrid Harmony Search Optimization Algorithm for Continuous Functions
Authors: Brambila-Hernández José Alfredo , García-Morales Miguel Ángel , Fraire-Huacuja Héctor Joaquín , Villegas-Huerta Eduardo , Becerra-del-Ángel Armando
Published: February 2023

This paper proposes a hybrid harmony search algorithm that incorporates a method of reinitializing harmonies memory using a particle swarm optimization algorithm with an improved opposition-based learning method (IOBL) to solve continuous optimization problems. This method allows the algorithm to obtain better results by increasing the search space of the solutions. This approach has been validated by comparing the performance of the proposed algorithm with that of a state-of-the-art harmony search algorithm, solving fifteen standard mathematical functions, and applying the Wilcoxon parametric test at a 5% significance level. The state-of-the-art algorithm uses an opposition-based improvement method (IOBL). Computational experiments show that the proposed algorithm outperforms the state-of-the-art algorithm. In quality, it is better in fourteen of the fifteen instances, and in efficiency is better in seven of fifteen instances.
Repair and Mechanism of Oligopeptide SEP-3 on Oxidative Stress Liver Injury Induced by Sleep Deprivation in Mice
Authors: Hou Xin , Yi Chong , Zhang Zekun , Wen Hui , Sun Yufeng , Xu Jiaxin , Luo Hongyu , Yang Tao
Published: February 2023

To investigate the effects of bonito oligopeptide SEP-3 on the repair of liver damage and regulation of liver biorhythm in sleep-deprived mice (SDM), C57BL/6 male mice were subjected to sleep deprivation by modified multi-platform water environment method, and were given different doses of bonito oligopeptide SEP-3 in groups. To determine the liver organ index, liver tissue-related apoptotic protein levels, Wnt/β-Catenin pathway-related protein expression levels, serum alanine transaminase (ALT), glutamicum transaminase (AST), glucocorticoid (GC), and adrenocorticotropin (ACTH) content in each group of mice, four time points were selected to examine the mRNA expression levels of circadian clock-related genes in mouse liver tissue. The results showed that low, medium, and high doses of SEP-3 significantly increased SDM, ALT, and AST (p < 0.05), and medium and high doses of SEP-3 significantly reduced SDM liver index and GC and ACTH. As SEP-3 increased the apoptotic protein and Wnt/β-Catenin pathway, mRNA expression gradually tended to normal (p < 0.05). This suggests that sleep deprivation can cause excessive oxidative stress in mice, which can lead to liver damage. Additionally, oligopeptide SEP-3 achieves the repair of liver damage by inhibiting SDM hepatocyte apoptosis, activating liver Wnt/β-Catenin pathway, and promoting hepatocyte proliferation and migration, and suggests that oligopeptide SEP-3 is closely related to repair of liver damage by regulating the biological rhythm of SDM disorder.
Evaluation of Robotic Systems on Cytotoxic Drug Preparation: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Shin Sangyoon , Koo Jamin , Kim Suk Won , Kim Seungyeon , Hong So Yeon , Lee Euni
Published: February 2023

Background and Objectives: With the increased prevalence of patients with cancer, the demand for preparing cytotoxic drugs was increased by health-system pharmacists. To reduce the workload and contamination of work areas in pharmacies, compounding robots preparing cytotoxic drugs have been introduced, and the use of the robots has been expanded in recent years. As reports on the comprehensive and quantitative evaluation of compounding robots remain lacking, a systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted to provide descriptive and quantitative evaluations of the accuracy of preparing injectable cytotoxic drugs. Materials and Methods: A systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted using published studies up to 2020. To identify eligible studies, PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane Library were used. All studies reporting the outcomes relevant to drug-compounding robots such as accuracy, safety, and drug contamination were included. Outcomes from included studies were descriptively summarized. Drug contamination by the robot was quantitatively analyzed using the odds ratio (OR) with a 95% confidence interval (CI). The risk of bias was assessed using the Risk of Bias Assessment tool for Non-randomized Studies (RoBANS). Results: A total of 14 compounding robot studies were eligible for review and 4 studies were included in the meta-analysis. Robotic compounding showed failure rates of 0.9–16.75%, while the accuracy range was set at 5%. Two studies reported that robotic compounding needed more time than manual compounding, two reported that robotic compounding needed less time, and one just reported preparation time without a control group. In a meta-analysis regarding the contamination of the compounding area, manual compounding was associated with lower contamination, although the result was not statistically significant (OR 4.251, 95% CI 0.439–51.772). For the contamination of infusion bags, the robot was associated with lower contamination (OR 0.176, 95% CI 0.084–0.365). Conclusions: Robotic compounding showed better accuracy than manual compounding and, without control groups, showed a high accuracy rate and also reduced the risk of drug contamination and compounding workload. The preparation time of the robot was not consistent because the type of robot and introduced system were different. In conclusion, robotic compounding showed mixed results compared to the manual compounding of drugs, so the system should be introduced considering the risks and benefits of robots.